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Dubai: No cash, no card, no worries. Motorists in Dubai can refuel their vehicles in a new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enabled cashless system at all Enoc petrol stations.
Known as VIP or Vehicle Identification Pass, the prepaid system, similar to Salik has been in place for two years exclusively for corporate customers.
Going live from Monday, VIP will allow all motorists to register and install RFID tags, available at all 112 Enoc stations.
Balance in the VIP account can be topped up either at Enoc stations or online at www.vipselect.enoc.ae.
The one time registration and purchase of RFID tag will cost Dh250.
A motorist can register multiple cars under a single account but tags will have to be purchased for all the vehicles.
The system is expected to save a minimum of 3 minutes per customer at petrol stations, as VIP is a fully automated system with minimal human interference.
"All that attendant needs to do is place the fuel nozzle inside the fuel tank, everything else is automated. Customers can even preset the amount for each refuelling and the type of petrol can also be pre-selected," said Burhan Al Hashemi, Managing Director of Enoc, after launching VIP at a petrol station in Al Twar.
Motorists will receive an SMS and email after every transaction and will be able to manage their accounts online.
Al Hashemi said that Enoc will launch the VIP mobile app in the third quarter of this year.


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IBL News | New York
Five years ago, The New York Times, in an extensively quoted report among academics keynoting on higher-ed conferences, had determined that MOOCs were dead. Low completion rates being below 5%, no business model behind them, and no impact on skyrocketing tuitions were the main reasons. In other words, disruption never occurred, and education wasn’t democratized.
Yesterday, however, the Gray Lay of the journalism–the New York Times–certified a new reality. “Remember the MOOCs? After Near-Death, They’re Booming,” was the headline. The confinement at home and the online move due to the pandemic has mostly caused “a jolt that could signal a renaissance for big online learning networks that had struggled for years,” wrote the veteran reporter Steve Lohr.
After millions of adults have signed up for online classes in the last two months, Coursera added 10 million new users from mid-March to mid-May–that is seven times the pace of new sign-ups in the previous year, according to the Times. Enrollments at edX and Udacity have jumped by similar multiples.
“Crises lead to accelerations, and this is the best chance ever for online learning,” said Sebastian Thrun, Founder of Udacity.
“Active learning works, and social learning works,” said Anant Agarwal, CEO at edX.

domain: news


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As in past years, the most organic businesses can be found in California and the upper Northwest, the upper Midwest and Northeast, Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas.
Earlier this month, my agency – the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – released data showing that there are now more than 21,000 certified organic operations in the United States, and more than 31,000 around the world. These numbers represent an increase of almost 12 percent between 2014 and 2015, continuing the trend of rapid growth in the organic sector as consumer demand grows.
It’s not just the numbers themselves that are exciting, though. The announcement also marks the first time we released the data through the recently launched Organic Integrity Database, a modernized system for tracking certified organic operations. In the past, AMS’s National Organic Program (NOP) published the number of certified organic operations once a year, using data submitted annually by accredited organic certifying agencies. Read more »
Investing in local food systems creates market opportunities for businesses entrepreneurs to sell fresh local products in unique ways. El Bosque Garlic Farms sells their hand-tied garlic at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Peter Wood, USDA.
Every community wants to support initiatives that promote economic growth and create new jobs, but sometimes it can be hard to decide on the best way to accomplish these goals. Now there is a new resource to help communities make the economic case for investments in local food. Today, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of “The Economics of Local Food Systems: A Toolkit to Guide Community Discussions, Assessments and Choices” at the Good Food Festival’s Financing and Innovation Conference in Chicago. Secretary Vilsack highlighted USDA’s continued support of local and regional food systems, much of which is coordinated through USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative. Read more »
The U.S. OECD Seed Schemes Program works with counterparts in 57 countries to ensure U.S. seed shipments avoid import barriers.
The U.S. seed industry and the international market continue to grow to keep up with feeding the world’s population. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is helping to ensure the availability of products that start with seeds through the enforcement of laws and management of international programs that promote the interests of the U.S. seed industry.
AMS promotes the research and development of new plants and crops by protecting plant breeders’ rights through laws such as the Plant Variety Protection Act and the Federal Seed Act. AMS also protects the interest of U.S. businesses – including the $1.5 billion U.S. seed industry – by representing them at international meetings, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes. Read more »
Families interact with cutting edge technology on display outside of the new American Enterprise Exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The exhibit features American innovation and entrepreneurship through history, focusing on advancements in agriculture. The exhibit opened July 1, 2015.
This summer we were given the opportunity to intern with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and throughout our experiences we have learned a lot about the agricultural industry and rural America. Today, agriculture plays a huge role in driving the rural economy and the American economy at large, but we realized it is also important to know how far we have come and what it took for us to get here. To get a better understanding, we took a field trip across the National Mall to Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History American Enterprise exhibit, which launched on July 1st. We were excited to learn more about the role the USDA plays in people’s lives and the immense amount of history we are a part of.
The exhibit encompassed the history of American businesses from corporate companies to small farms and everything in between. We were pleased to see how much the exhibit focused on the journey of American agriculture, from the mid-1700s to present day. We were able to interact with pieces of history that represented major successes as well as the setbacks that agriculture faced as we proceeded through a life-sized timeline of videos, pictures, historical trivia, and games. Read more »
USDA will release the National Monthly Grass Fed Lamb and Goat Meat report. This is the one of the first reports of its kind, filling a significant data gap for the industry and increasing transparency in the marketplace.
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, there are over five million head of sheep and lambs in the United States, and over 2.6 million head of goats. A growing trend is producing these animals using grass fed production systems, especially for small to mid-sized producers.
In response to the changing and widening marketplace, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will begin releasing the National Monthly Grass Fed Lamb and Goat Meat report through their USDA Market News service today, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. This is one of the first reports of its kind, filling a significant data gap for the industry and increasing transparency in the marketplace. Read more »
Spring is now upon us and many local farmers markets are opening with displays of brilliant and vibrant colors. Farmers across the country are making local foods available to their communities. USDA photo courtesy of Peter Wood, AMS.
Spring is upon us and many local farmers markets are opening with displays of brilliant and vibrant colors. The fresh air has more people talking about and buying local foods. In fact, data from the USDA Economic Research Service suggests that farmers across the country sold an estimated $6.1 billion in locally marketed foods in 2012. My agency, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), plays a role in increasing these numbers by creating marketing opportunities for American farmers and local food businesses through the combination of applied research, technical services, and grant support.
As the demand for local food increases, food hubs are one way farmers can deliver more fresh food to retailers, schools, hospitals and restaurants. That’s why expanding local food efforts have focused on creating more food hubs. A food hub is an enterprise that helps farmers collect and gather local and regional agricultural products for distribution and marketing to wholesale, retail, and institutional customers. Read more »


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China 4th largest economy
China 4th largest economy- yep, and it's only a matter of time before we are overshadowed by our Most favored nation trade partner
Date: 12/21/2005 10:01:27 AM ( 16 y ) ... viewed 1321 times
Experts See China as World's 4th Largest Economy - and Climbing
By DAVID BARBOZA and DANIEL ALTMAN
Published: December 20, 2005
SHANGHAI, Dec. 20 -- Many economists have long suspected that official government statistics were a slighter shadow of reality.
With China's announcement on Monday that its economy was far bigger than previously estimated, economists and financial prognosticators are scrambling to rethink their assessment of China's rise and its role on the world stage.
China's new figures suggest that it has likely passed France, Italy and Britain to become the world's fourth-largest economy this year.
Now, some economists are even accelerating their timetables for when China might eclipse the United States as the world's biggest economy. With the new economic figures, some experts said China could overtake the United States in 2035, instead of 2040.
"We now have a new snapshot of the Chinese economy," said Hong Liang, an economist at Goldman Sachs. "This is not slightly bigger, it's a significantly bigger economy."
China said it revised its economic data on Monday after a yearlong nationwide economic census uncovered about $280 billion in hidden economic output in China last year. The new economic output was the equivalent of an economy the size of Turkey or Indonesia - or 40 percent of the size of India's economy.
As a result, China's gross domestic product for last year was nearly $2 trillion, not the $1.65 trillion that had previously been reported, and it translates into an adjusted increase of 17 percent, making China the sixth largest economy in the world in 2004.
With China expected to report another year of sizzling economic growth in 2005, China's economy may already be ranked number four, trailing only that of the United States, Japan and Germany. Moreover, even after two decades of hypergrowth, China continues to be the world's fastest-growing major economy, jumping more than 9 percent over the past few years.
The United States economy is still far out in front, with a value of about $11.7 trillion last year.
Though its statisticians are highly trained, China is still quite secretive about its statistical methods and means of gathering data. The lack of transparency over its figures has generated a longtime debate among economists, much as did the Soviet Union's economic figures: some economists think China's figures disguise weakness, while others think they are hiding strength.
The figures for China's national accounts - the numbers that measure gross domestic product, including spending and trade - are supplied by the National Bureau of Statistics, the official keeper of most of China's economic statistics.
The bureau publishes several sets of statistics - some as often as monthly - based either on its own estimates or upon number supplied by China's local governments. But those figures can vary widely. Totting up regional gross domestic product in 2003, for example, gives a figure of $1.6 trillion, 12 to 15 percent higher than the bureau's own estimates.
The discrepancy also underscores a difference in incentives. Provincial and municipal authorities want to impress Beijing and limit any embarrassments, as the delays in reporting avian flu cases and the chemical spill in Jilin province have shown. But Beijing worries more about its reputation in the rest of the world, where accuracy is paramount.
There are other reasons that huge swathes of the Chinese economy are likely to be unreported, said Frank FX. Gong, the chief China economist for J.P. Morgan Chase.
"The way they collect the G.D.P. is really from supply-side, production-based statistics," Mr. Gong said.
He suggested that collecting data from the demand side - what consumers actually spend - would be more telling. But in a system left over from a time when China was more truly a Communist nation, all the factories and supermarkets report their own sales and spending.
"That's problematic," Mr. Gong said. "The service part - the cash component of the economy - can be omitted easily. That's why the statistics tend to understate the actual level of activity."
Economists say the new figures provide good news for China, suggesting that the economy here is healthier, more diversified and more sustainable than previously believed.
The revised figures, for instance, show that a much stronger services sector has emerged in the Chinese economy, taking some weight off the manufacturing sector.
Dong Tao, an economist at Credit Suisse First Boston, said in a statement today that China may still be underestimating the size of its services sector, by about $200 billion
The new figures also relieve some worries that the economy was too heavily dependent on investment and could overheat. And they show that there are more small and medium-sized companies in the country. Stephen Green, a senior economist at Standard Chartered Bank, said the new figures should calm some fears about imbalances in the economy here.
"It's all good," Mr. Green said. "A bigger economy means all the dangerous ratios, such as investment as a percentage of G.D.P., all fall. And they are usually cited as showing the Chinese economy is in danger or headed for a fall."
The new figures are also expected to affect government planners and policymakers here, altering everything from monetary policy and inflation forecasts to how to government officials allocate money to various regions and sectors of the economy.On a more technical note, Mr. Guo pointed out a fundamental problem with China's numbers. Most wealthy nations use a changing base for their gross domestic product series, to allow for differences over time in the basket of goods and services that consumers demand. Economists would not, for example, use the price of a 1985 home computer in calculating today's gross domestic product.
But China uses a fixed base for several years at a time, Mr. Guo said, which results in a growing bias. Like the underreporting of the service sector, this issue is especially serious, since it could affect the accuracy not just of the level of gross domestic product but also of its growth rate over time.
The statistics bureau has acknowledged several of these problems and, unlike the old Soviet scorekeepers, is eager to improve the quality of its figures. The bureau is working with the World Bank to develop a "master plan" for its statistical apparatus, which would include reconciling the national and local figures.
"The most significant implication of this is: Does China have some structural illness or cancer? Or is there an error with the x-ray?" said Ms. Hong at Goldman Sachs. "The last few years, so many famous economists cited the very high investment to G.D.P. ratio as a serious problem. Now it looks like the X-ray machine had a problem, not the patient."
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The singer who wears black dress is the guest who will inspire the designers to create an avant-garde outfit.
How Lady GaGa will make her grand entrance to "Launch My Line" has been previewed through two new photos and a video preview courtesy of Bravo TV. The singer will be hidden in the closet while hosts Dean and Dan Caten tease the remaining contestants with clue of their guest.
The fashion competition show is taking a holiday break to return with the GaGa episode on January 6. Six contestants are still in competition and they will be asked to create a "boundary-pushing" outfit which is the singer's signature. The design, nevertheless, should not leave behind the avant-garde and classy elements.
Pairing designers from across the United States with professional designers, "Launch My Line" will grant the winner a chance to have their line of fashion launched. Meanwhile, the designer pro will win $50,000 prize.


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The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) broke the law after reports claimed the EpiPen maker prevented schools from buying competing allergy treatments.
In a letter penned to the FTC, committee chairman Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) wrote, “increasing patient access to safe, effective and affordable medications has long been a shared priority of ours. We also share a strong belief that potential anti-competitive actions by drug industry participants must be aggressively investigated because of their impact on competition and drug costs.”
The Senate request comes weeks before the committee will meet to review a pending $465 million settlement that Mylan has offered to resolve claims that it underpaid the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid for years, misclassifying its device as a generic and paying a 13% rebate, instead of the 23% rebate for a branded drug.
The Canonsburg, Pa.-based company has been under fire since August, when reports surfaced that it raised the price of its EpiPen product by more than 500% over the past decade.
Mylan shares closed down -8% last week at $33.76 apiece, after the U.S. Justice Dept. said it would file charges against several generic pharmaceutical companies for potential price collusion by the end of the calendar year.
Yesterday, MYL shares rose nearly +9% and peaked at $36.79 per share. Today, it was trading at $36.42 apiece, down -0.36%.


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A teardown conducted by iFixit shows that Apple has included NXP’s 66V10 controller in the new iPhone 6s models — a different chip to the 65V10 module included in the iPhone 6. NXP declined to comment on the differences between the two parts when asked by NFC World.
- India to rank states on digital transactions
- HSBC to launch Hong Kong P2P mobile payments app
- Indian mobile wallet adds healthcare services
- Singapore commuters to get NFC-enabled transport payment wearables
- Call to ‘digitise Indian rupee’ using blockchain


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The crypto market is constantly changing, with new coins and tokens emerging every week.
Now that September is well underway, it’s a good time for traders to review their watchlists and identify potential breakout opportunities for the weeks ahead.
Next Cryptocurrency To Explode 2023
Below we highlight eight cryptocurrencies poised for potential price surges by month-end and into Q4 2023, helping investors stay informed about the market.
1. Wall Street Memes (WSM)
Wall Street Memes (WSM) kicks off our discussion of the next cryptocurrencies to potentially explode in September.
Building on the immense popularity of the Wall Street Memes community, which has over one million followers globally, WSM has become a viral sensation – raising over $25 million during its presale phase.
This presale is now in its final stage, with investors given a narrow window to buy WSM tokens for the low price of $0.0337 ahead of their exchange debut in two weeks.
Amplifying the buzz further is the fact that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has interacted with Wall Street Memes’ socials on several occasions, further boosting WSM’s credibility.
With a rapidly approaching market debut, many early backers are touting WSM as the next PEPE – making it one to watch in the weeks ahead.
2. Bitcoin BSC (BTCBSC)
Bitcoin BSC (BTCBSC) is another token making waves, positioning itself as a greener BEP-20 version of Bitcoin on the BNB Smart Chain.
Offered at the low price of $0.99, mirroring BTC’s value back in 2011, BTCBSC presents an opportunity for retail investors to capitalize on Bitcoin’s legacy without its sky-high valuation.
However, BTCBSC differentiates itself from Bitcoin by offering passive income opportunities through staking – with daily payouts and yields of over 300% per year.
These elements have created a significant early buzz around Bitcoin BSC’s presale, with over $1.5 million in funding raised in less than two weeks.
As such, Bitcoin BSC looks primed to make a strong debut on decentralized exchanges in the coming weeks, potentially becoming a new favorite of crypto investors.
3. Launchpad XYZ (LPX)
Launchpad XYZ (LPX) is another token investors may wish to add to their watchlists in September, mainly due to its exciting feature set and presale bonus structure.
The platform states that it will help investors discover the “next 10x trades” through various tools, including an AI-powered assistant called Apollo.
Launchpad XYZ will also boast its own ranking system called the Launchpad Quotient, which uses 400+ data points to rank cryptocurrencies and NFTs based on their future price potential.
Investors can even join the Launchpad Signals Telegram channel, which provides real-time alerts and insights into trending coins.
With investors still able to obtain an 18% token bonus through the ongoing presale, many early backers believe now could be an opportune moment to check out Launchpad XYZ before it gains mainstream traction.
4. yPredict (YPRED)
yPredict (YPRED) is rapidly emerging as a potential game-changer in the crypto space, offering an “all-in-one” analytics ecosystem for investors.
Boasting features like real-time signals, sentiment analysis, and automatic chart pattern recognition, yPredict offers users unparalleled precision – enabling them to make more informed trading decisions.
yPredict’s key selling point is its integration of AI and machine learning technologies, which has led to over 20,000 people joining the platform’s waiting list.
Underpinning yPredict’s ecosystem is the YPRED token, which is used to pay for platform fees and staking.
With yPredict’s presale now in its penultimate stage and YPRED tokens still available at a discount, this project could be worth monitoring throughout September.
5. Orchid (OXT)
Orchid provides a unique crypto-powered approach to virtual private networks (VPNs) – something that has yet to be offered successfully in the cryptocurrency market.
Using probabilistic nanopayments on the Ethereum blockchain, Orchid seeks to provide users with enhanced internet privacy and freedom.
As censorship and surveillance continue to grow, many believe that demand for Orchid’s services will increase rapidly.
At the time of writing, OXT tokens are trading for $0.061, with CoinMarketCap data revealing that daily trading volume is up 18% in the past 24 hours.
If interest in so-called “privacy coins” continues to rise, OXT undoubtedly looks set to benefit, making it an under-the-radar token to watch this month.
6. VeChain (VET)
Another cryptocurrency that could explode in September is VeChain – an enterprise-focused blockchain platform that aims to enhance supply chain management and business processes.
Using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, VeChain provides a trustless ecosystem for transparent data sharing across many stakeholders.
VeChain has partnered with several major brands like Walmart China, helping VET tokens build steady traction.
With a clear focus on business applications, VeChain looks well-positioned to expand as more companies adopt blockchain technology.
As such, VET could be poised for significant gains in September, thanks to its utility-driven approach and robust development activity.
7. Aptos (APT)
Aptos is a layer-1 blockchain that launched its mainnet in October 2022 to significant fanfare.
Built by former Meta Platforms engineers, Aptos aims to bring crypto to the mainstream through its high-speed network and Move programming language.
Though APT has yet to prove itself in the crypto domain, the project shows immense promise thanks to its strong technical foundation and backing by top crypto funds like a16z.
At the time of writing, APT tokens are trading around the $5.16 level, which is 73% lower than January’s all-time high.
However, the token’s price appears to be rejecting a solid support zone around $5.00 – hinting that APT could be gearing up for a rebound in the coming weeks.
8. Compound (COMP)
Wrapping up our list is Compound, another cryptocurrency poised for potential growth in September.
Compound is a leading decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol that allows users to earn interest on crypto deposits and take out collateralized loans.
The protocol revolutionized the DeFi sector with its auto-adjusting interest rates and community governance, making COMP one of the most popular tokens in the space.
According to DeFiLlama, Compound has over $1.16 billion in total value locked (TVL), making it the 16th largest DeFi protocol globally.
Though COMP is now trading 95% below May 2021’s all-time high, there’s a growing belief among some traders that it could be poised for a resurgence, especially as the broader DeFi sector continues to expand.


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No Man’s Sky is coming to Xbox One alongside a massive update to the base game itself. The update, called No Man’s Sky Next, is being referred to as the biggest addition of features to the game yet. It arrives on July 24.
Check out the trailer for the update:
According to No Man’s Sky creator Sean Murray, the team decided to call this update Next because “it’s an important next step on a longer journey for us and the community.” He goes on to say that the team has been “working their socks off” on this update and that it will be free to No Man’s Sky owners.
The Next update introduces online multiplayer to the game. Players will be able to explore the galaxy and go on quests together, as well as build bases (you can build them anywhere you want and have multiple bases across the galaxy) and much more. A new third-person perspective is also being added to the game. Best of all, you can interact with random players during your travels — and even fight them.
The Xbox One version of the game will feature HDR and 4K support as well as every major content update released for the game thus far (which includes the Foundation, Pathfinder, and Atlas Rises updates).
“We’ve learned a lot over the last few years, faster than we would have liked!” said Murray. “I’d love to avoid talking completely and just make things people can play, but we knew this was going to leak anyway, and I think it’s news that should make a lot of folks happy.”
That statement – as well as some statements in the official press release – seem to be the team’s way of referencing the controversial launch of No Man’s Sky. As you might remember, the game was blasted by many for its overall lack of content and for not living up to some of the ambitious promises that preceded its highly-anticipated release. There was a time when the game looked to be dead and buried.
However, a series of regular updates to the game have brought No Man’s Sky closer to becoming the experience that it probably should have been at the start. We’re eager to see whether or not this next update will bring the game even closer to being a title worth coming back to even if it burned you initially.


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Increase in sector spending: 27.8%
Like other stores in Portland, Cloud Caps Games in Sellwood has had to adapt in the face of the pandemic. The store is now accepting online reservations for curbside pickup; four or five patrons are allowed inside at a time, instead of dozens.
The product line that saved the store: puzzles.
Stuck at home, 20-30 year olds have joined the traditional senior clientele, buying puzzles to occupy them at home. “It’s been difficult ordering puzzles from our distributors,” says Alex Babakitis, 31, who bought the store in July with an associate after working there for five years. He stocked big business, but also pomegranate puzzles: “They’re local, so they’re easier to get.”
Cloud Cap managed to match last year’s sales numbers for November, thanks to a decent Black Friday and a better Saturday. “We managed to have a better small business Saturday than last year. I keep looking at the numbers,” he says. “It’s just been awesome to see how the community has proven to support businesses like us.”
TOP THREE SELLING CLOUD CAP GAMES
Ravenswood Puzzles is the most popular brand. But customers usually choose a puzzle because they like the picture.
These saw a boom in popularity after the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit became a hit.
Two player games
Popular editions include Jaipur and Aqualine.
Businesses booming amid Oregon freeze
Golden Retriever breeder in Oregon discovers everyone wants a pandemic puppy
As Tasting Rooms Closed, Fullsail Brewing Turned to Hard Kombucha
What does running a McDonald’s look like during a pandemic? Orders are growing
Jovani Prince seized his opportunity. It was made of crackers.
How puzzles saved a Sellwood game store
When the living room doubles as an office, school and gym, Portlanders think: maybe it’s time to renovate it
Pendleton Woolen Mills sells many blankets to Oregonians and a sweater
Sunriver is Oregon’s Most Wanted “Zoom Town”


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Xbox has announced their games with gold Xbox is kicking off the new year with cool new games for Xbox.
Outlast II, Steep, Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster, Red Dead Online, and more added to Xbox GamePass in May.
More coming and some other leaving. Microsoft announced that new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC.
Grand Theft Auto V, Zombie Army 4: Dead War, Rain on Your Parade, and more added to Xbox Game Pass in April
NHL 21 Plus Disney games. Microsoft has announced new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC in.
Sony Interactive Entertainment-made game goes free on Xbox. MLB The Show 21 will be available via Xbox Game Pass for Console.
The ID@Xbox showcase on Twitch showed off a huge number of titles coming to Xbox soon. Here’s every Xbox game.
Xbox Game Pass gets Empire of Sin, Torchlight III, Octopath Traveler, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, and more in late March
Another big list of upcoming titles. Here are the details below.■ Coming SoonMarch 16Undertale (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox –.


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With only two days left to ship Christmas packages, Joanie Roberts, mother and avid volunteer about Conway, walks through the doors of Shipping & Postal Unlimited with an armful of colorfully wrapped Christmas gifts.
She has to make two more trips to her car with the help of Shipping & Postal Unlimited staff to get close to 20 boxes and bags on the front counter.
"That’s what happens when you have a big family, and you don’t go home for Christmas," Roberts said.
Roberts has been trusting Shipping & Postal Unlimited to get her packages to family and friends since her kids were little, she said.
"They’re good people — very friendly," she said. "I’ve been happy with their business, and I feel like I can trust them."
Shipping & Postal Unlimited has been in Conway for 23 and a half years. They were originally established as Mailboxes Inc. in the Conway Towne Center in 1990, but moved to 813 Oak St. Suite 10 in 1992, soon after the Towne Center Walmart closed.
They changed their name and became an independent retailer about three years ago since UPS bought Mailboxes, Inc.
"We didn’t want to just offer UPS," said original owner and operator Linda Nabors. "We wanted to offer all postal carriers."
Since becoming an independent store, the former Mailboxes Inc. has transformed into a family owned and operated establishment with Christmas decorations in the windows and two cats that freely roam the store.
Over the 23 holiday seasons Nabors has been working in the postal and shipping industry, she has noticed lower volume this holiday season. She said she thinks it is due to the convenience of online shopping and gift cards.
"People don’t buy gifts like they used to," she said. "They buy online and have it shipped to the recipients."
With Thanksgiving falling one week later this year, the Christmas shopping and shipping season is one week shorter.
Nabors says many customers can’t believe Christmas is next week.
"It sneaked up on them," she said.
Roberts said she held several Christmas parties this year, and had to spend some time getting over an ailment, so she didn’t have as much time for shopping, wrapping and postal services this year.
Shipping & Postal Unlimited assured Roberts all her gifts should arrive by Christmas using ground shipping except one package labeled for South Korea.
"My niece teaches English to kindergarteners over there," Roberts said. "She teaches them by singing English Christmas and Happy Birthday songs."
Nabors says if customers ship their presents by Friday to a surrounding city or state including Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and some cities in Kentucky, ground service should get it there by Christmas Day.
For farther states, Nabors suggests using UPS or FedEx second day air shipping.
(Staff writer Michelle Corbet can be reached by email at email@example.com or by phone at 505-1215. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
Key Shipping information
For the ultimate last minute shopper, FedEx can get a gift to its recipient Christmas Day with FedEx SameDay, but it will cost them with rates starting at $173.
Last day for FedEx 2Day and 2Day A.M. is Saturday. Packages picked up on Saturday are subject to a $15 per package pickup charge.
The last day for Standard Overnight, Priority Overnight and First Overnight through FedEx is Monday.
Packages shipped with UPS 2nd Day Air on Saturday will arrive on Christmas Eve.
If customers can’t make it to the UPS store this weekend, packages shipped with UPS Next Day Air Monday, will also arrive the day before Christmas.
US Postal Service
Friday is the last day for the United States Postal Service to deliver Christmas cards and parcels weighing 13 ounces or less by Christmas Day using their First Class Mail Service.
Saturday will be the last day to mail packages through the USPS’ Priority Mail Service, and Priority Mail Express Service allows shipping until Monday.


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The advantages of drones
While there are many advantages to having this technology as a part of a military, there are also disadvantages there are the expenses of buying and operating the machines, unexpected malfunctions and things to go wrong while in the air, and hackers that can get into the drone's hardware. Hey click here for info on quadcopter vs hexacopter vs octocopter watch videos, read user reviews and find cool drones on droneblycom. The first commercial drones in the us will have to stay lower than 500 feet and within sight of an operator, and fly during daytime only, federal regulators say an economic analysis to justify opening the nation's skies to small commercial unmanned aircraft, obtained by bloomberg news, provides. The drone advantage fully integrating drone technology to the grid is more a matter of when than how gene wolf drones have been tagged as the hottest technology on the planet they have long been the darling of the military today, civilian hobbyists have embraced the technology by. Posts about drone benefits written by thetruthaboutdrones explosions rang out as propane tanks blew up during the fire, one of which was launched from the site and hit the wall of a neighboring business, kovarik said. Are privacy issues keeping state and local governments from enjoying the benefits of drones drone hobbyists and public safety officials are pushing governments to keep an open mind when it comes to the unmanned aerial vehicles (uav) that have been used in the war on terrorism in recent years. Armed with an array of sensors, commercial drones are about to become a new source for digital information we expect the drone market to surge to nearly $7 billion by 2020 globally, driven by regulatory clarification, continuously decreasing component costs, and - most important- ongoing. The benefits of a drone hobby don't end with fun and excitement find out what it can do to improve your health, too.
When a story broke last week that news and gossip site tmz had applied for a permit to put a drone in the air the pros and cons of journalists using drones by kathleen bartzen in 2011 the footage shows the clear advantage of nimble aerial photography the daily drone begins at. Will drones be part of your business's future here's a guide to the reality of what it may take to incorporate drones into your business. Beyond economic and logistical advantages, drones currently on the market are often equipped with intelligent flight planning software that allows first responders to easily create highly customizable flight paths that focus on specific areas of interest. These best use of drones assist in conservation, archaeology, farming, finding landmines, early storm detection, marketing, surveying, search and rescue. The use of drones in agriculture facts & figures what are the benefits for farmers combining drones & smart machines european agricultural machinery association questions & answers on the use of drones in agriculture 1 how high can an agricultural drone fly. Any system has advantage and disadvantage and drones can not be exceptional drones are aircraft devices that are capable of flying and carrying materials above the ground the formal name of the device is an.
The benefits and challenges of uavs while the association for unmanned vehicle systems international believes that private drone sales will break $82 billion in the first decade the advantage of this design is that this type of uav consumes lower amount of energy compared to uav with. Benefits of drones: for aerial filming and photography, drones are cheaper than a helicopter and less intrusive, plus are fast to set-up and safe.
Military uses of drones and non-military uses of drones explained what are the unique and creative uses of drones how to use drone for drone for agriculture tips from professionals. Drones a benefit for law enforcement, but raise concerns so far, 26 states have enacted drone-related privacy laws, and all but a handful of states have at least considered such laws. Drones have a positive role to play on the african continent, from delivering medicines to fighting poaching and even giving visitors to game parks a head-up on where to spot the game.
Drone specialist dr jonathan johns opens up the world of unmanned aerial imagery and looks at the performance advantages it can deliver report courtesy of seahorse magazine increasingly the use of drones at sea in a sailing environment has become more popular, however do we truly understand their. We strive to innovate drone advertising with cutting edge drone technology are we ready the pros and cons how quickly we start to reap the benefits of drone use will depend on the resisting attitudes of drone doubters and the regulations set to monitor this new technology. The benefits of unmanned aircraft systems uas provide a host of societal benefits that make our citizens safer, more secure and more productive these aircraft help police, fire and other first responders save lives in the event of natural disasters.
The advantages of drones
6 benefits of using drones to market real estate so how do real estate agents and brokers benefit from using camera drones in their marketing, in the real world. As this new technology continues to gain popularity, there are a lot of drone uses, advantages and disadvantages that preppers need to know about.
Like all technology, drones can be used for goodand for the not so good. Why commercial drones are the best or worst things to happen to the world in a long time meanwhile, matternet leans on the advantages of drones to fly healthcare goods and supplies to often far-flung and inaccessible areas. Discussion about drones has to date mostly centred around their use in military operations in the middle east public opinion has been predominantly negative however, part of the problem was th. The drawbacks of delivery drones may outweigh the benefits how might you feel about having one of these hovering over your neighborhood you might think i'm a luddite, which is strange for a technology analyst. Let the military run drone warfare by adam b schiff march 12, 2014 in a fight against a hidden enemy who operates in lawless safe havens, drones offer many obvious advantages and have taken many dangerous adversaries off the battlefield. Free essay: do the advantages of drones outweigh the negatives the first recorded use of attack drones occurred on aug 22, 1849 when the habsburg austrian. Drones offer huge advantages for those looking to conduct aerial roofing surveys & inspections, & in this article we look at what the many benefits are.
Brussels, belgium --- as part of a sustained parliamentary debate on the impact of drone technology, the nato parliamentary assembly released a new draft report, entitled unmanned aerial vehicles: opportunities and challenges for the alliance. From a high-level examination, drones are slightly more cost effective to acquire and operate than conventional manned aerial vehicles the question of cost effectiveness should instead be one of operational advantage: whether the strategic advantage and human protection afforded by the use of drones in overseas operations outweighs the.


text: While Samsung and AT&T haven’t officially announced a price for the new Magnet, Samsung assures us that it will be highly affordable. Given its smartphone form factor and comfortable keyboard, we think that budget wary phone buyers that aren’t interested in clamshell phones will appreciate its candy bar style. While the specs are fairly limited, users will appreciate its large display, thin design, and spacious keyboard. We do wonder, however, whether its form factor will lead some people to wonder if it’s a smart phone, so it will be up to the carriers to distinguish this from other phones like the BlackBerry Curve, which offers infinitely more functionality. Although honestly, its orange coloring should deter the hardcore smartphone users anyhow. Stay tuned for more as we get this into the office and as pricing is revealed, but we can confidently say we think heavy duty SMSers on a budget will want to check the Samsung Magnet out.


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US Gov’t Eyes Boost in Small Business Lending
US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday that the agency is now looking for ways to boost small businesses lending, which in turn could pickup the pace of economic recovery and reduce unemployment rate in the country.
The United States Federal Reserve on Monday disclosed that it is now looking for ways to boost small businesses lending, which in turn could pickup the pace of economic recovery and reduce unemployment rate in the country.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the output from these small businesses is the critical ingredient to the economic recovery that continued to elude the country, months after the financial crisis.
“More must be done. Making credit accessible to sound small businesses is crucial to our economic recovery,” Bernanke said.
Small and medium enterprises often rely on financial loans from banks in order for them to expand their operations and hiring capabilities. History also told that SMEs are the key factors in job creation during recovery process.
However, Bernanke said that tight credit from banks and other financial institutions is hurting the hiring capability of many of the SMEs in the US.
“Small and medium businesses accounts to more than half of the employment in the country and accounts to about 60 percent of the gross job creation,” the official added.
With this, Bernanke urged banks to beef up its lending to creditworthy small businesses, particularly those less than two years old since they accounted for roughly one-quarter of gross job creation past 20 years.
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The consequences of price increases:
Sea bamboo corals appear fake coral posing Askar
Coral lower prices in several years, the fraud is not much. From 2012 to now, Guangzhou has several jewelry testing center have detected a number of fraud cases. Among them, especially really sea bamboo coral (cheap variety) staining false “Aka” Coral phenomenon most; after testing personnel destructive process, there have been bright red coral jewelry severe discoloration.
Items Yin Biao, director of Canton jewelry reminds consumers: “Askar coral texture is very delicate, showing the natural oblique transverse stripes; and coarse-grained sea coral beads, showing the radial distribution, there is no law; Askar natural replica Cartier jewelry coral color over shiny, layered, Haizhu coral color uniform dull, chromatic aberration small. Askar corals have white core, for which only made egg noodles with spherical, do rings, pendants more generally not made beaded. ”
He and colleagues are considered, compared to high-grade jade, and Hetian jade, red coral also has traditional cultural advantages, moderate price, the larger the possibility of future upward oscillation, the collectors can be given proper attention; but consumers do not blindly sought after.
Only less than 30% of companies have standardized operating license
Reporters from the Guangdong Geological Research Institute and other authorities Cartier jewelry replicas learned that red coral jewelry belonging organic jewelry, red coral mining business enterprise must hold the replica Hermes Clic Clac H bracelet Ministry of Agriculture issued by wild aquatic franchise business use permit, and the local fishery sector filing; after the business “certified”, jewelry before shelves.
But the reporter in an interview with Kang Road line, almost none of the businesses knockoff Cartier jewelry can be issued on the spot above documents. Several boss to reporters phone license photos, that only processing plants have the kind of documents, did not put stalls.
And another old stall Lin said: “The fact of unlicensed indeed for the industry.” He also revealed that supply Kang Road processing enterprises, the production of tons of red coral lot of people. Only less than 30% of companies have standardized the use of the franchise license.
It is understood that the illegal acquisition of companies, many of them cite destructive to imitation Cartier jewelry the environment, such as the move from live coral in the ocean, a large number of destructive acquisition. But there are also people in the industry that once strengthened supervision, red coral future price rise speed may be faster.


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In August 2008, the world turned its attention to Beijing as the 49th Summer Olympics got underway.
At the time, Chinese eCommerce company Alibaba was still just nine years old and still some five years away from its eventual initial public offering.
12 years on and Alibaba is set to feature alongside some of the oldest and most well-known global brands as a Worldwide Olympic Partner for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Speaking with B&T, Alibaba Group CMO Chris Tung reflected on the importance of the partnership for the company.
“We really want to leverage our technologies to leave a positive impact around the world. The Olympics provides a very unique platform to support our globalisation strategy,” he said.
“It’s more than a traditional sponsorship in our minds – we see the partnership as a way to showcase our innovations and technologies to the world through the tradition of the Games.”
Alibaba, which started as a B2B marketplace site, now offers electronic payment services, shopping search engines and cloud computing services.
Although financial details of the deal have not been disclosed, Reuters has suggested the 12-year partnership is “likely valued at several hundred millions of dollars”.
“This is the perfect time for us to tell Alibaba’s story and introduce what Alibaba is about,” Tung said.
“We have built a very strong footprint in the majority of markets around the world through our eCommerce platform and also support businesses with Alibaba Cloud technology worldwide.
“Our mission as a company is to make it easier to do business anywhere in the world. This is who we are and we’d like to support the Olympic Games with our technology to share what we stand for and what we can do for the business sector as well.”
the young Olympics
Alongside credibility and sustainability, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has cited youth as a key pillar for the upcoming Tokyo Games.
Tung explained how this fits into Alibaba’s vision.
“The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is designed to be the most innovative and the youngest Games to date,” he said.
“Attracting more attention from younger generations is really critical for both the IOC and Alibaba.
“It’s also an opportunity to showcase how digital technology can make a difference in terms of engaging young generations.”
As well as playing a role in Aliabab’s globalisation efforts, the partnership is also aimed to be a source of pride among China, especially as excitement builds for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Alibaba will roll out campaigns and promotions to ramp up the Olympics excitement among its hundreds of millions Chinese users.
These include online challenges, virtual games, offline events and sports-themed deals on its Chinese platform Tmall.
“Through these creative campaigns, we will encourage more people to participate in sports and follow the games and leagues they like, wherever they are, and ignite imagination for a better sporting experience in the future,” Tung explained.
Omnicom agencies are committing to move beyond the binary to mark International Pronouns Day as part of Open Pride, a global employee resource group committed to inclusion and diversity. As part of the initiative, Omnicom agencies, including DDB, PHD and Clemenger Group, have committed to ensuring all policies promote gender-inclusive language and have encouraged staff […]
As part of Lions Live in June, Lions Live challenged under 30s with a brief in partnership with the World Food Programme. It was free to enter, and nearly 1,000 young adlanders entered. It was such a success, Lions Live plan to run a second competition during Lions Live this week. This time the brief […]
Festival for business and creativity, Pause Fest, has confirmed the event will run in 2021 – and will be its biggest to date. The 11th Pause Fest – named Changes – will migrate from its Melbourne home to the online world for the first time, running 1-12 March 2021. “Pause Fest has always been at […]
Shutterstock today announced the highly anticipated addition of Editorial Video, a new premium, full-service editorial video offering that is now available for license. Critical Past, Celebrity Footage and Viral Hog are just a few of the new partners who will distribute their engaging video content worldwide through Shutterstock’s Editorial Video. In addition, current partners’ epa […]
Today at Adobe MAX, Adobe unveiled significant innovation across its Creative Cloud applications and services. In addition to ground-breaking new features like Neural Filters in Photoshop, the company released major updates to its flagship applications including Lightroom, Premiere Pro and Illustrator. Adobe also underscored its commitment to accelerating the development of mobile and multi-surface apps, with […]
Cat litter brand, Breeders Choice, produced by FibreCycle, has made a bold move to get pet owners caring more about cats’ waste with a series of animated videos featuring a new tagline and a full marketing program. The “Choose Better, Choose Ginger” campaign launched this week via a unique collaboration of independent Melbourne agencies led […]
To mark a twenty-one year milestone the iconic Victorian ice cream brand, Timboon Fine Ice Cream, has revealed a modernised new look for their take home tubs. Tim Marwood, third generation farmer and founder of Timboon Fine Ice Cream, explains why the anniversary provoked the upgrade. “There’s not too many small family rural based ice […]
Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute have launched their latest advertising campaign titled, Our Heroes, which is a celebration of the role their students play in the community. “Within a few short years, our students are building our houses, nursing our sick, fixing our cars, caring for our children and pets, designing our clothes – all […]


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Southern Africa’s responsible tourism awards, the Imvelo Awards, were announced on 9 November 2011, World Responsible Tourism Day. Cape Town-based companies were well represented, comprising 12 of the 38 finalists and winning 6 of 14 awards (with 3 Cape Town finalists also part of a 7th award given to their hotel group and one finalist being highly commended). Special recognition goes to The Backpack & Africa Travel Centre for winning awards in two categories, and to the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company for being the overall winner of the 2011 Imvelo Awards. Imvelo, running for the tenth year, awards tourism […]
The 2011 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award winners were announced on 9 November, World Responsible Tourism Day. African nations were well represented among the winners and those highly commended, including Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya and Morocco. The full list of winners is the following: Joint overall winners: Robin Pope Safaris & Sockmob Events/Unseen Tours Best in responsible tourism writing – Tourism must tap into the water issue, by Catherine Mack Highly commended: Sicily’s First Eco Village Blooms, by Gail Virginia Simmons Telling the stories of their land/World’s Oldest Tour Guides Best destination – Destination Røros, Norway Highly commended: Forest of Bowland, […]
Anne van der Tuuk of Abang Africa Travel, was interviewed about responsible tourism and Cape Town at World Travel Market 2011 on World Responsible Tourism Day, 9 November.
Cape Town’s Energy Efficiency Forum is putting on an energy efficiency marketplace on Thursday 10 November 2011 to help owners and managers of commercial and public buildings – including hotels and guesthouses, meeting venues, restaurants and others in the tourism and hospitality sector – learn about and see for themselves various products, technologies and services that can help them reduce their electricity usage and save money. Meet the service providers, see the products in use, compare brands and companies, and ask your questions at no cost and no obligation. It’s a practical way to take the next step in energy […]


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Nigeria’s annual inflation rate has climbed to 22.79% in June, marking the sixth consecutive month of increase, according to a report by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The inflation rate had previously slowed to 21.3% in December but has been on the rise over the past six months.
Food Inflation Reaches 25.25%
In June, food inflation, which includes agricultural products, reached 25.25%, up from 24.82% in the previous month, as stated in the NBS report. The surge in food prices can be attributed to the higher costs of oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fruits, meat, vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs.
Electricity Tariffs and Energy Prices Contribute to Overall Price Increase
The overall increase in prices can primarily be attributed to the recent hike in electricity tariffs and energy prices. The price of diesel oil used in heavy transport has risen to 800 to 850 Nigerian naira ($1.03-$1.09) per liter compared to NGN350 to NGN400 a year ago. Moreover, petrol prices have more than doubled following the removal of subsidies on petroleum products by the government. Prior to this change at the end of May, petrol was sold at NGN195 per liter, while it is now being sold at prices ranging from 480 to 550 Nigerian naira per liter.
Depreciation of Naira Leads to Higher Prices
Additionally, the decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria to allow a free float of the national currency against global currencies, resulting in the depreciation of the naira, has driven up prices of various goods. This depreciation, combined with the increase in petrol prices, has led to significant rises in the prices of essential items such as food, transportation, housing, medicines, and groceries. It has also impacted production costs in the manufacturing sector, subsequently affecting employment.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s inflation rate continued to rise in June, with food inflation also reaching a significant level. The increase in prices can predominantly be attributed to higher electricity tariffs, energy prices, and the removal of petroleum subsidies. The depreciation of the national currency has further contributed to the overall inflationary pressures in the country.


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New Delhi, 13th July, 2023: Haworth, a 2.5 billion US dollar company, a global leader in premium office furniture and workplace solutions, today announced that it has strengthened its position in the Indian market with 20-25% of the market share in 2022-23. The premium office furniture market in India stood as $300 Million. India has emerged as a key growth market for Haworth, and the company remains committed to providing quality solutions that meet the evolving workplace requirements like design, well-being, flexibility, technology, and sustainability becomes a focal point for any organization and of its customers.
With presence in India since 1997, Haworth has pioneered the introduction of premium office furniture in the country and continues to educate and offer innovative products to enhance the work environment. The equity infusion in India currently stands at approximately $8 million, reflecting the company's confidence in the Indian market.
Chennai, in particular, has played a crucial role in Haworth's strategic goals, serving as a focal point for the company's operations in India. The city houses a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, a global shared service center, and a premium showroom and experience center in the country.
Henning Figge, President of Haworth International, said, "Haworth's expansion in India is a testament to our commitment to the country and its vibrant business landscape. We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable milestone of 75 years, symbolizing our commitment to global design and innovation.?
Reflecting on the growth journey, Praveen Rawal, Vice President, Sales Asia Pacific, Haworth, said, ?Haworth is leading the Return To Office (RTO) and hybrid initiatives with development of new products and excitedly looking towards investing further in localisation initiatives at our plant in India. The wide absorption of our product portfolio is vindication that insights of the business are working in the right direction getting us satisfied users at the new refurnished workspaces.?
Currently, Haworth employs around 300 people in India, including its Shared Service Center. The company's presence in India extends beyond Chennai, with five showrooms and offices across the country. Looking ahead, Haworth envisions India as a manufacturing hub for exporting products to its subsidiaries worldwide, further emphasizing the country's strategic importance.
Haworth's expansion in India underscores the company's commitment to providing top-notch workplace solutions to its customers and leveraging the immense potential of the Indian market. With the opening of a second state-of-the-art factory for the APAC region, Haworth aims to capitalize on India's promising market prospects.
Haworth helps create inspirational spaces. As a leading global furniture maker, the company is steeped in workplace expertise that fuels innovative designs for optimal performance. Haworth is a values-driven, family company with an entrepreneurial spirit and a design-forward approach. As a multicultural organisation, the company embraces the strength that comes from diversity of thought. At Haworth, we believe great spaces empower people to thrive. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Holland, Michigan, U.S.A, Haworth operates in more than 150 countries through a global network of 400 dealers and 8,000 employees.
User :- Amit Sharma
Mobile:- +91 9999448552


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Earlier this month, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Young Adult author Stacey Jay at Hicklebee’s book store who was there to promote her newest book, Princess of Thorns which is based on several different fairy tales such as
Axis 360, an eBook collection of popular materials, has just launched a new app, available for Android and iOS devices. The new app streamlines the eReader experience, making it easier to borrow and read your favorite eBooks.
The people of Silicon Valley are in for a special treat this spring. The San Jose Center for the Performing Arts and Symphony Silicon Valley will be presenting live orchestral and choral accompaniment to the three films in the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. The films will be shown live in HD on a giant 48 foot screen while 250 musicians perform in sync with the viewing.
There are only two venues showing this once-in-a-lifetime event, and the Lincoln Center performances sold out quickly.
You can get more information here, but before you do, consider reading the books and seeing the movies.


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Lidl reaches major milestone in UK
Budget supermarket Lidl UK has reached a major milestone with the opening of five new stores to take its total number of UK stores to 700.
The new shops in Edinburgh, Stockton, Hull, Polegate and Rosehill form part of the supermarket’s accelerated expansion which includes the opening of up to 19 new stores over an eight week period in January and February this year.
The openings have created over 700 new jobs.
Ingo Fischer, Lidl UK board director for expansion and development, said: “As the UK’s fastest growing supermarket, surpassing 700 stores is yet further proof of our ambitious rate of expansion across Britain. It’s great that more people than ever before have access to our high quality, fresh and locally sourced products at incredible value, and that as a result, we’re able to create more jobs for local communities up and down the country.”
Lidl is investing £1.45 billion in its UK expansion across 2017 and 2018. This includes plans to open over 50 new stores and regenerate 30 existing stores in the 2018 financial year.
At the beginning of the year, the supermarket also announced plans for a major new regional distribution centre in Luton, in addition to a further five new warehouses already in the pipeline.
During the busy Christmas period, Lidl achieved sales growth of 16% year-on-year.
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What this means for streaming powerhouse
Anime—a popular Japanese cartoon style—seems to be on the rise as more people are starting to flock to the genre. Shows like Death Note or Full Metal Alchemist are inciting conversations that people want to be apart of and has created a huge fan base for anime lovers across the globe. Netflix is taking note of the growing interest and has ultimately decided to add to its extensive library with 30 new, exclusive anime series and movies. While there isn’t a definite list of what specific anime content fans can anticipate seeing, they can expect to revisit some cult classics. Not only will Netflix reach out to a more expansive user base by doing so, but it could possibly bring itself out of its financial turmoil as it competes with other streaming services.
While Netflix is a fairly new company—set to celebrate its 21st birthday this year—it has become a successful powerhouse, completely changing the way modern TV and movies are produced and consumed. But this shift hasn’t come easy. Recently, Netflix announced that they have raised $800 million dollars of debt, bringing their total long-term debt to over $3 billion—and a large portion of that new money will likely go to fund the company’s efforts in producing original content—including original anime content.
In hopes of breaking this vicious cycle, Netflix thinks anime fans and users who flock to the service will help the company reach record numbers and sales to keep it as one of the top streaming service providers. But for anyone who knows economics, they know that in order to bring in these records and sales, there are investments that must be made, adopting a “spend money to make money” mindset.
Overall, Netflix plans to spend a total of $8 billion on original content for 2018, and a sizable chunk of it will be invested in adding new anime. Some of these will include their own original anime series such as Neo Yokio—an American-Japanese co-produced animated television series created by Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig. Additionally, they have also recently debuted a live-action movie adaptation of the beloved anime and manga series Death Note and are producing a series based on the popular anime and web comic, Mob Psycho 100.
While 90 percent of people who watch anime are from Japan, the genre has been starting to receive some newfound popularity in the US that has certainly caught the attention of Netflix. In the past, it has been sidelined and seen as something that was “nerdy” or “geeky,” but it has recently started to trend. Additionally, celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Michael B. Jordan are bringing attention to the popular Japanese cartoons. Kim K. recently dyed her pair pink in inspiration of an anime character and Michael B. Jordan stated on Twitter how he’s a fan of Naruto and Bleach. It’s too soon to say how the new anime series will change the game for Netflix and affect the provider’s user base, but one thing is certain: audiences are in for hours of action-packed, vibrant, and fantastical programs.


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It sounds counter-intuitive, to say the least, but one of the latest offerings from Toyota is aimed at getting kids behind the steering wheel.
Billed as the world’s first car designed for juvenile drivers — with two cramped seats in back for their parents — the “Camatte” concept car was unveiled this week at the 2013 International Tokyo Toy Show.
“It’s basically no different than a regular car,” said Kenji Tsuji, a project manager for Toyota. “The power-train is an electric motor. The accelerator, brake, dashboard meters and seats are identical to those in conventional vehicles. The main difference is that it’s shorter, and sized to a kid’s proportions.”
About two-thirds the length of a conventional small car, the Camatte’s controls are geared to children as short as 120 centimeters, or around four feet. While the speedometer reads a top speed of about 44 mph, the car has an actual maximum speed of closer to 28 mph.
If even that cruising speed sends grownups into white-knuckle territory, the manufacturer has thoughtfully installed an override feature that allows parents to knock that top speed down to a crawl; as low as three mph.
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Europe Expands Electronic Waste Collection, Recycling Law
BRUSSELS, Belgium, January 20, 2012 (ENS) – Stricter rules governing the collection and disposal of electronic waste in the European Union were approved Thursday by the European Parliament.
The legislative update to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, WEEE, directive offers consumers new possibilities to return small waste items to retailers, will cut red tape for businesses and will enable better recovery of raw materials.
MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz steered the legislative update through Parliament (Photo by Pietro Naj-Oleari courtesy European Parliament)
“After difficult negotiations I am very satisfied that we have agreed ambitious but achievable collection rates with Council. Europe will now recover more raw materials, which is excellent news both for the economy and for the environment,” said rapporteur Karl-Heinz Florenz of Germany, a member of the European People’s Party, the largest in the European Parliament.
The 27 EU Member States will be required to collect 45 percent of electrical and electronic equipment put on their markets by 2016, and then achieve 65 percent by 2019. Alternatively, they can collect a comparable figure of 85 percent of e-waste generated.
Ten countries that need to improve their facilities will have an interim target of 40 percent and may take until 2021 to reach the final target.
All Member States must increase their collection of e-waste, whether or not they already meet the current flat-rate target of four kilograms (8.8 pounds) per person per year.
The current target represents about two million tons per year, out of around 10 million tonnes of WEEE generated per year. The total of e-waste currently collected and appropriately treated is higher than that, about one third of all the electrical and electronic waste generated across the European Union, according to the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch of government.
By 2020, the Commission estimates that the volume of WEEE will increase to 12 million tons. The new 85 percent target endorsed by Parliament would ensure that around 10 million tons, or roughly 20kg per capita, would be collected in 2020.
Under the updated law, consumers will be allowed to return small items such as mobile phones to large electrical goods shops, without being required to buy a new product.
Discarded electronic components from old computers wait to be processed and stripped of the metal they contain at a junk yard in Guiyu, Guangdong, China. (Photo by Natalie Behring courtesy Greenpeace)
Under the new law, waste management standards have been clarified, there will be a chance to address nanomaterials contained in electronic waste and in six years “the scope” will be opened, meaning the directive can be applied to more general products.
Parliament said that under the new regulations better processing will help to recover more valuable raw materials and prevent harmful substances going to landfill. “The best recycling techniques should be used and products should be designed to be recycled more easily,” Parliament said in a statement announcing the vote.
MEPs also negotiated tighter controls on illegal shipments of e-waste, to prevent the devices from being processed in countries where conditions are hazardous to workers and the environment. The burden of proof moves from customs officials to exporters, who must demonstrate that goods are being shipped for repair or reuse as appropriate.
Producers of e-goods will continue to contribute financially towards meeting processing targets although administrative burdens on industry are expected to decrease by around 66 million euros per year according to the European Commission.
Producers will benefit from simplified registration and reporting requirements and will be able to appoint representatives instead of being required to establish a legal seat in each country where they operate. New measures will prevent double charging of registration fees within Member States.
Now that the legislators have approved a common text, it must be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers, a move expected within weeks because the targets passed by Parliament were previously agreed with the Council.
EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik called the new measures “good news for health of our citizens, Europe’s competitiveness, and the environment.” He said the new targets reflect “a similar level of ambition to the Commission’s original proposal.”
Discarded electronics in Munich, Germany (Photo by Sochy)
“This means a major boost to resource efficiency in Europe for the years to come,” said Potocnik. “Proper treatment of WEEE is important to prevent harm to human health and the environment, and its systematic collection is the precondition for professional recycling of the valuable raw materials like gold, silver, copper and rare metals, contained in our used TVs, laptops and mobile phones.”
DIGITALEUROPE, the European electronics industry association, says it “has been delighted to play an active and positive role in the review process having assisted with the research studies, developed a constructive dialogue with officials and formally responded to stakeholder consultations.”
The new rules can open a path for new businesses. In August 2011, “Waste Management World” reported that a joint venture in Rome is to build and operate a 25,000 tonne per year e-waste plant. The new company will be 51 percent owned by U.S. recycling and energy specialist, Garb Oil & Power Corp. and 49 percent by an Italian waste recycling business. The facility will produce copper, aluminium, alloys and plastics.
The London-based nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency, EIA, welcomed the new regulations but warned they would be meaningless without strict enforcement.
EIA Campaigns Director Julian Newman, co-author of the 2011 report “System Failure,” which exposed the illegal e-waste trade in the UK, said, “It remains up to the EU’s individual member states to have strong penalties in place for illegal e-waste exporters – effective enforcement is the key to dealing with the growing mountain of e-waste we produce.”
Standing seven meters (23 feet) tall, this e-waste sculpture graces the Eden Project outdoor gardens in England. Mobile phones, mp3 players, and lawn mowers are his bones and sinews; his teeth are computer mice; his ears are satellite dishes; computer parts form his brain. (Sculpture by Paul Bonomini, photo courtesy Eden Project)
“The new targets are more ambitious than those currently in effect. It’s good that the EU has recognised its responsibility to deal with e-waste appropriately and to prevent it being illegally exported to poorer countries where it poses such a serious threat to the environment and to human health.
Europe’s largest association of nongovernmental organizations, the 140-member European Environmental Bureau, expressed concern that too many improvements have been left to future revisions.
EEB said it is “particularly outraged” by a clause that allows the shipment of defective and untested items to developing countries under “reuse status,” escaping waste shipment rules.
“These appliances often contain hazardous substances which the destination countries are often ill-equipped to deal with,” the green group warned.
EEB said it is disappointed that “many electrical and electronic waste management proposals have been watered down and the collection target deadlines, although ambitious, have been pushed back from 2016 to 2020.”
EEB’s Stephane Arditi said, “Collection targets have been delayed and the introduction of economic instruments for greener design, reuse targets and ambitious recycling targets have been left to a future revision, which is a bitter blow to the environment and Europe’s economic development.”
EEB took aim at the provision that requires only a few of the largest retailers to collect the smallest of appliances without requiring consumers to purchase an equivalent new product, while the rest have to do little or nothing to support consumers in waste disposal.
Arditi said, “Once more we can see a huge inconsistency between the political rhetoric about resource efficiency and job creation. In the end it will be the environment as well as European citizens and industry that will suffer from this lack of courage and consistency.”


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Hankook Tire Named a General Motors 2018 Supplier of the Year Winner
Hankook Tire was named a GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors during its 27th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony.
Hankook Tire Receives Honda Supplier of the Year Double Award
Hankook Tire received recognition from Honda Motor Company as a Supplier of the Year during the 35th annual Honda Supplier Conference, held recently in Columbus, Ohio.
Hankook Tire Renamed ‘Hankook Tire & Technology’
Hankook Tire will change names of its holding companies and major affiliates, and has rebranded itself as “Hankook Tire & Technology.”
Hankook Tire Debuts e3 Wide DL21 Ultra-Super Drive Tire
Hankook Tire has released its latest ultra-super single drive tire to the company’s truck and bus radial (TBR) lineup.
Hankook Tire Canada Appoints New President And CEO
Hankook Tire Canada Corp. has announced the appointment of In Hyuk Rhee as president and CEO.
Hankook Tire Features New Lineup for 2019 Great Catch Rebate
With the 2019 baseball season underway, Hankook Tire has expanded the roster for its 2019 Great Catch Rebate.
Hankook Tire Showcases Three New Tires at 2019 MATS Show
Hankook Tire is presenting three new offerings in their truck and bus radial tire lineup at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS).
Hankook Tire Launches New Dynapro AT2 All-Terrain Tire
Hankook Tire has released the Dynapro AT2 (RF11), a redesigned all-terrain tire that Hankook says improves upon its predecessor, the AT-m, with even more sizes.
Hankook Tire Receives 2019 iF Design Award
Hankook Tire had three winning entries in the 2019 iF Design Awards in the categories of Professional Concept and Product.
Hankook Tire America Appoints Rob Williams As Senior Director of TBR Sales
Hankook Tire America Corp. has announced that tire industry veteran Rob Williams has joined the company as senior director of TBR sales.


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CCI invites comments from public in respect of proposed combination between Linde Aktiengesellschaft and Praxair, Inc.
by onlysureshot.com |
On 11th January, 2018, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) received a notice filed by LindeAktiengesellschaft (Linde) and Praxair, Inc. (Praxair) (together Parties) in relation to the merger of Linde and Praxair under a newly incorporated holding company Linde Plc. Linde, headquartered in Munich, Germany is primarily active in industrial gases and medical gases, specialty gases, helium and the related engineering and services sectors. Praxair, headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut, USA, is an international industrial gases company. Praxair also has a surface technologies business that supplies high-performance surface coatings and equipment.
The Commission is of the prima facie opinion that the proposed merger is likely to have an appreciable adverse effect on competition and, accordingly, has directed the Parties, in terms of Section 29(2) of the Competition Act, 2002,to publish details of the merger for bringing the same to the knowledge or information of the public and persons affected or likely to be affected by such merger.
As per the provisions of Section 29(3) of the Act, the Commission invites comments/objections/ suggestions in writing, from any person(s) adversely affected or likely to be affected by the proposed merger.


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October 25, 2013
Many Small Businesses Don’t Seek Legal Help Despite Risks
A new nationwide study released today by LegalShield shows a majority of America’s smallest businesses — those with 250 employees or less — go at it alone when it comes to dealing with legal issues that impact their business.
From debt collection, to contract disputes, to regulatory interpretations and employee issues, small business owners increasingly make critical decisions that could affect the success of their business without the benefit of advice or counsel from an attorney.
TheLegal Needs of Small Business Survey shows that more than 13 million small businesses — nearly 60 percent of all small businesses — experienced significant legal events in the past two years. However, a majority of those businesses (54 percent) did not seek the services of an attorney to help them deal with those issues. When asked why they did not hire an attorney, 57 percent reported they believed they could handle legal issues better on their own, while 40 percent said they did not use an attorney because of cost concerns.
The reluctance to use an attorney comes despite the fact that nearly all respondents listed at least one legal issue — debt collection, insurance disputes, government regulations, tax issues, contract concerns, intellectual property protection, product liability and threats of lawsuits by customers and employees — as one of the “greatest threats to their business.”
Legal expenses for small businesses can be significant. Owners reported spending an average ofÂ $7,600Â in legal expenses per year with 20 percent saying they spendÂ $10,000Â or more per year for legal help.
“Our study clearly points to a dangerous cost-benefit issue in the marketplace,” said LegalShield CEO Rip Mason. “A frightening number of small business owners deal with legal issues on their own because they don’t believe hiring an attorney is worth the significant cost they have to pay.”
Services such as the ones provided by LegalShield can be an affordable solution for a small business.Â For a fraction of what a small business would pay an attorney to handle a single issue, owners can have access to their own dedicated law firm for advice and counsel.Â With LegalShield Small Business plans, owners pay betweenÂ $75 and $125Â per month, depending on their number of employees, to have year-round access to a range of legal services they need to protect their businesses. LegalShield attorneys also provide consultation on such issues as incorporation, intellectual property protection, employment issues and vendor problems.


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Some islands like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and St. Martin have a ways to go in recovery ... it offers everything from UNESCO World Heritage sites to horse racing. Hotels range from all-inclusives like Sandals to three- and four-star and boutique.
Other notable roles include head chef at The Two Bulls in the United Kingdom, executive chef at Jakes Hotel in Jamaica, and senior executive sous chef at Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort in St. Lucia. In addition to his hospitality and culinary.
Initial site works are expected to commence in the fourth of quarter of 2017 or the first quarter of 2018 and the hotel is expected to be complete by the end of 2020. Sandals Resorts International has confirmed plans to add a fourth resort on Saint Lucia.
As of June 2017, twelve months after the present administration took office, the St . Lucia Chamber of Commerce has indicated that as a result of increased confidence, local businesses have registered an increase in sales. ... in December 2017, the.
The article is called Sandals Resorts Has Big Plans for St Lucia and is located at http ... CASTRIES, St Lucia, Friday July 7, 2017 – St Lucia remains a prime investment spot for the Caribbean’s leading hotel chain, Sandals International.
Hotels range from all-inclusives like Sandals to three and four star and boutique hotels . It's easy to rent a car and ... St Lucia for a customer who was maybe hoping for something like St John, where they could have a lot of outdoor eco-adventure.
PRESS RELEASE) – Sandals Resorts is thrilled to announce that it was named Hotel and Resort Operator of the Year for the ninth year running at the prestigious 2017 Travel Trade Gazette Awards, held at the Lyceum Theatre in London on Monday, .
Remarks by President Trump at the 2017 Values Voter Summit The White House.
Sandals , the biggest private employer in Jamaica, targets the luxury vacation market. The average daily rate across its portfolio of 6,000 rooms is around $550, according to Stewart. It's opening over-the-water suites in Jamaica and St . Lucia , which.
The Black Bay Master Development on St. Lucia's southern tip will feature a 180-room luxury hotel and villas as the central anchor of the development project. Work is expected to start in the first quarter of 2018. Sandals has confirmed plans for Sandals.
On the other hand, the legacy airlines such as America, Delta, JetBlue, Virgin and British Airways always fly wherever Sandals has a hotel .If we do our research, we would see it has happened in St Lucia , it has happened in Antigua, and it has happened.
Meanwhile, it's business as usual and as you know, we have had an amazing – and busy – year with the opening of the Caribbean's first-ever over-the-water suites and the announcement of new hotels in St . Lucia and Barbados. We're continuing to drive .
Their debut was followed by the launch of 12 overwater bungalows at the resort in March. Twelve overwater bungalows were introduced at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian resort in Saint Lucia during May, and another 12 are scheduled to open at Sandals  .
The hurricanes mainly impacted the Caribbean's northeastern Leeward Islands, which include among other destinations Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, St. Martin, Dominica, Anguilla and St. Barts. Largely unaffected were islands ... Hotels range from all.
PRESS RELEASE:-Tourism Minister, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that His Excellency, Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic, will headline a slate of distinguished speakers who will address the United Nations World Tourism .


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Focusrite PLC (LON:TUNE) insider Timothy Paul Carrol sold 4,423 shares of Focusrite PLC stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 307 ($4.04), for a total value of £13,578.61 ($17,859.54).
Focusrite PLC (LON TUNE) opened at GBX 317.50 ($4.18) on Thursday. Focusrite PLC has a 1 year low of GBX 164 ($2.16) and a 1 year high of GBX 336.50 ($4.43).
Separately, Panmure Gordon lifted their price target on Focusrite PLC from GBX 345 ($4.54) to GBX 365 ($4.80) and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday.
About Focusrite PLC
Focusrite Plc is a music and audio products company supplying hardware and software products used by professional and amateur musicians. The Company is engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of professional audio and electronic music products. It operates through three segments: Focusrite, Novation and Distribution.
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ISSA and RAI to rebrand their family of shows
ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, and RAI Amsterdam, owner of “INTERCLEAN” the global independent trade show platform, announced today that they have restructured their agreement. The new agreement will allow both organizations to thrive in the global marketplace.
ISSA and RAI Amsterdam are committed to serving the professional cleaning and hygiene industry and are determined to ensure that exhibitors and attendees alike continue to have the ability to discover the latest innovations and take advantage of business opportunities at the industry’s premier shows in Amsterdam, Istanbul, and the Americas.
Both ISSA and INTERCLEAN trade show calendars will not change as a result of this agreement. The Amsterdam event May 15 – 18, 2018, will remain part of the RAI portfolio, along with Istanbul. The trade shows in America and Mexico will remain ISSA events.
As part of the restructured strategy, ISSA will rebrand its family of shows, starting with the ISSA Show 2018, October 29-November 1, in Dallas, TX, USA, and including all other ISSA shows in Mexico, Australia, and South Africa. RAI has indicated that the Amsterdam and Istanbul events will be renamed INTERCLEAN.
ISSA remains committed to providing member educational and networking programs, as well as benefits for exhibiting in Amsterdam. Both RAI and ISSA look forward to a productive future, supporting each other’s events and working together to develop and improve the global industry, while ensuring they create value for the future of the global cleaning industry.


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Things have been comparatively quiet from Madfinger Games, but that’s likely due to a lot of hard work, which has lead to the official Shadowgun Legends launch date being announced today by the developers. Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, the announcement came with a trailer that is definitely not quiet.
Shadowgun Legends promises an “epic” story campaign where players face off against an alien menace known as the Torment, multiplayer in both co-op and PvP flavors, a central social hub for players to interact in, and lots of loot to collect. The team is also already promising “massive player-driven updates” in the near future.
The mobile FPS will be making its way to your cellphone this coming Thursday, March 22nd. Players can choose to pre-register either through Google Play or a special website, where the number of pre-registered players will unlock extra in-game rewards such as a unique cosmetic and a special emote. You can also check out the aforementioned not-quiet trailer below.
Shadowgun Legends definitely looks like the closest thing to “proper” FPS gaming that the mobile games market will ever get, so we’re definitely ready to see this one make its full debut. Here’s hoping controlling a space marine guy on a touch screen doesn’t feel as ponderous as it sounds.
Source: press release


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Microsoft wanted us all to believe Windows 8 would spark a new wave of consumer upgrades, and finally put to rest all the doom and gloom stories about declining PC sales. Skeptics were skeptical (surprise), but at least a few of these naysayers have been proven right. Windows 8 hasn’t lit the PC world on fire, but can we all at least agree it’s just a bit too early to say Windows 8 is a flop? Blogs from around the web pounced on the Supersite’s headline declaring Windows 8 a failure, but the story here is much more complicated.
HP’s behavior in 2011 has been, well, erratic, to say the least. (The absolute least.) The PR missteps by the world’s top PC supplier has opened a crack just wide enough for other companies to sneak in and steal HP’s title of king of the PC hill. So which competitor has the gumption to take the top spot? Lenovo recently unseated Dell from the number two position, so it appears to hold the prime position for usurpation. Wrong! says one analyst – who expects Apple to become the global PC leader in in 2012.
Whenever you’re talking about the PC market these days, the talk inevitably turns to doom and gloom. HP ditching PCs! Tablets eating into sales! Everyone already has Windows 7! And on and on. Even our ever-optimistic PC enthusiasm can become kind of dulled in the midst of all the bad news. The dark cloud of slumping sales may soon be over, though; a new report expects the PC market to regain momentum in 2012.
You don’t get a leg up on your competitors by just sitting around (unless you’re a lemming, of course). Lenovo’s staying plenty active and reaping the dividends. The company slipped past Acer to claim the spot as the world's third-largest PC manufacturer in the second quarter thanks to a ridiculous 22.9 surge in shipments, a rarity in the otherwise sluggish PC market. Now, Lenovo Chairman Liu Chuanzhi is putting his mouth where his money is; he isn’t content with the bronze medal and says Lenovo will topple Dell as the second-largest PC manufacturer in all the land by the end of the year.
The tidings look grim on the PC front. Despite a surge in sales from the first quarter to the second in 2011 (maybe due to Witcher 2's awesomeness?), the total number of units moved have plummeted over the past year. Some manufacturers have managed to grab sunbeams between all the rain, though. A new report reveals that the ranks of the top five computer manufacturers have undergone a serious shift as some scramble for ground that others have given up.
Our very own Gordon Mah Ung may have given Intel’s Sandy Bridge an enthusiastic two thumbs up from a technical stand point, however it appears analysis are preparing to blame the dreaded Cougar Point chipset problem for a lack of consumer adoption. While it’s difficult to find fault in the way Intel handled the problem, it’s safe to say from a marketing stand point it was a train wreck that almost reached an “Antenagate” level of fervor at its peak. The company has since resumed shipments, but analysts for FBR are suggesting that the PC market hasn’t seen the expected uptick in sales promised by Intel after conducting interviews with six of the top tier PC makers.
PC vender Acer is on quite the roll as of late. They’ve finally become number two in worldwide notebook sales, beating out Dell. Now they expect to be able to ship 40 million notebooks in 2010, and take the number one spot from market leader HP.
Earlier this year Acer was predicting only 33 to 37 million units shipped, but better than expected performance in the second half of the year caused them to raise expectations. One of Acer’s major problems is the ongoing shortage of hardware, including optical drives, LCD panels, hard drives, and graphics chips. Acer Chairman, JT Wang, indicated that even with possible shortages the company would likely reach its goal.
Acer has become a major player in the last few years. Their notebook shipments have more than doubled, mostly due to the success of netbooks marketed heavily to consumers. They plan to continue on this path into next year.
Sales of PCs were up in the second quarter of 2009, according to market analytics firm, iSupply. Global shipments were up 1% over the first quarter to 67.2 million units. This is the first increase in six months. It’s not all roses though; sales were still down 4.3% from Q2 of last year. However, going into the end of the year, sales are expected to stay strong in part due to the October release of Windows 7. The likely advertising blitz will get PCs in many mainstream media outlets.
In this past quarter, HP managed to hold the top sales spot for the twelfth quarter in a row. HP’s sales were up 2% over last quarter, leaving it with a 20% market share. "HP is not only maintaining its leadership position but is also gaining market share due to its robust notebook business, which has outgrown the overall notebook segment for the past two quarters," said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst for iSuppli. Dell and Acer continued to fight it out for the number two spot.
Stamford-based IT research firm Gartner has revealed the worldwide PC industry’s sales figures for the second quarter. Overall, the global PC industry registered a growth of 16% as a total of 71.9 million units were shipped during the quarter. More and more people are turning to notebooks, as opposed to desktops, as notebook prices continue to plummet. However, the US PC industry couldn’t keep up with the highly promising growth rate seen globally and managed a much subdued rate of 4.2% - total shipments stood at 16.5 million units.
If its Q2 performance is anything to go by, HP is not moving an inch from its position as the top PC maker in the world. HP’s sales grew at a faster rate than even the global average. But Dell is not too keen on staying at No.2 either. It raised its market share to 15.6% and even outshone HP’s year-over-year growth rate. These days one can’t resist mentioning netbooks but they really didn’t leave much of a mark in the US; still early days, though.


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13 April 2016 - Jardine and BCA stage biggest sale to date
95% conversion as over 400 cars are sold
Jardine has staged a record breaking sale in its exclusive remarketing partnership with BCA, with over 400 cars sold at the Bedford auction centre on Monday 11th April.
The sale offered 426 cars direct from Jardine dealerships nationwide and entered for sale via the exclusive BCA Dealer Pro service. Every car was pre-sale prepared and the majority were offered with BCA Assured. The well-promoted event attracted over 200 buyers to BCA Bedford with hundreds more participating via BCA Live Online.
The bidding was fast and furious throughout and resulted in 405 cars sold – a record volume for a Jardine sale and equivalent to a 95% conversion that realised just short of 100% of CAP Clean. Notable sellers included the 54-registered Porsche 911 3.8 Coupe that sold for £25,000.
Richard Hollis, Head of Used Car Development for Jardine Motors commented “BCA delivered massive buying power for this special, record-breaking sale with hundreds of buyers participating as the sale progressed. There was confident bidding throughout the event, underlining that the combination of attractive stock and an engaged buyer base generates exceptional results.”
He added “BCA’s Auction View and Live Online services generate substantial buying power, while BCA Dealer Pro helps us to streamline the processing of part-exchange appraisals and valuations, identifying which vehicles should be remarketed or retained for retail. It’s a winning combination that ensures the best returns for Jardine.”
BCA’s Major Account Manager (Dealer Groups) Suzanne Spencer commented “This was a record breaking sale event for the BCA and Jardine partnership. Jardine offered a superb selection of desirable retail quality stock and it proved irresistible to our buyers.”


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Last year, one local store owner says he sold 4,000 "I vacationed with Obama" tee shirts. This year's hot-ticket item? T-shirts of former President Bush asking, “Miss me yet?’’
The honeymoon is over, but Obama's sixth vacation of 2010 is just beginning...
Countdown: Five Things Bill Clinton Forgot to Mention Last Night
Trump: I Hope The Russians Hacked and Reveal Hillary's Deleted Emails


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In this week's episode, Liz and Sarah interview podcast host, entrepreneur and pop culture commentator Kate Kennedy (Be There in 5; Twinkle, Twinkle Social Media Star). The women talk about how celebrities are reacting to the COVID-19 outbreak and how Kate, as a pop culture commentator, is dealing with this new normal.
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