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- Amazon is being sued by the FTC over its pricing practices and seller fees.
- The FTC alleges that Amazon's practices have led to higher prices for consumers.
- Much of the data has been redacted from the FTC's filing.
Amazon is facing a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general alleging that the company engages in monopolistic practices.
The suit claims that Amazon's decisions to raise seller fees and prevent them from discounting on other sales channels contribute to higher overall prices for consumers.
Amazon typically charges four fees to sellers on its marketplace: a selling fee (which can be charged monthly or per item), a "referral fee" based on the price of an item sold, a fulfillment and delivery fee, and advertising fees.
Though much of the data and many of the examples supporting the FTC's claims have been redacted in the filing, the regulators outlined several ways that Amazon has raised the cost of selling in its marketplace. They wrote that fees charged for using the company's fulfillment services, FBA, went up by an average of 30% between 2020 and 2022. Because using FBA is a prerequisite for being eligible for Prime, the FTC argues that Amazon is locking sellers into higher fees, often forcing them to raise prices on their goods and keeping them from looking to competing fulfillment providers.
Marketplace Pulse reported in February that Amazon sellers are paying as much as 50% of their revenue to Amazon in fees, a point that is echoed in the FTC's suit.
"Amazon also recognizes that sellers believe 'that it has become more difficult over time to be profitable on Amazon,'" the FTC filing reads. "One of the only ways left for sellers to eke out a profit is to raise the prices paid by shoppers."
Advertising fees are another key point in the suit. According to the filing, Amazon's ads reach 96% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 54 each month. Yet Amazon has added more promoted listings to its search function in recent years, making it difficult for products to appear near the top of results organically. Products that are advertised on Amazon are 46 times more likely to be clicked on than those that are not, according to the filing.
"According to an internal Amazon study, Amazon's sellers live 'in constant fear' of Amazon arbitrarily interfering with their ability to sell on Amazon, which 'put[s] their businesses and livelihoods at risk,'" the complaint reads. "Amazon's ability to profitably hike fees while maintaining its iron grip over sellers is further evidence of its monopoly power."
David Zapolsky, senior vice president of global public policy and general counsel at Amazon, said in a statement provided to Insider that the FTC's suit is "wrong on the facts and the law."
"The practices the FTC is challenging have helped to spur competition and innovation across the retail industry, and have produced greater selection, lower prices, and faster delivery speeds for Amazon customers and greater opportunity for the many businesses that sell in Amazon's store," Zapolsky said. "If the FTC gets its way, the result would be fewer products to choose from, higher prices, slower deliveries for consumers, and reduced options for small businesses — the opposite of what antitrust law is designed to do."
In a longer statement posted to Amazon's blog, Zapolsky said that the FTC's argument that FBA, Amazon Prime, and the company's pricing practices are anticompetitive reflect a "fundamental misunderstanding of retail."
Using a 'sophisticated surveillance network' to monitor prices
The FTC's filing also reveals several practices that it says Amazon uses to ensure its prices are the lowest available online. It describes Amazon's use of a "sophisticated surveillance network of web crawlers that constantly monitor the internet, searching for discounts that might threaten Amazon's empire."
"When Amazon detects elsewhere online a product that is cheaper than a seller's offer for the same product on Amazon, Amazon punishes that seller," it reads.
The suit alleges that Amazon does this in a few ways, one of which is removing a seller's products from the "Buy Box," the button on a product listing that allows shoppers to easily add the item to their cart. Another is to "bury discounting sellers so far down in Amazon's search results that they become effectively invisible."
The FTC's suit argues that these practices limit Amazon's rivals' ability to compete and ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers.
"The result is that rivals' growth is stunted, and shopper prices are pushed higher than they would be in a world without Amazon's anti-discounting scheme," it reads.
The FTC also alleges that Amazon used a secret algorithmic tool called "Project Nessie." Discussion of Project Nessie takes up nearly four pages in the FTC's 172-page filing, and it is mentioned 16 times, but all details have been redacted. In a 2018 company blog post, "Nessie" is described as a " system used to monitor spikes or trends on Amazon.com."
"We share the frustration that much of the data and quotes by Amazon executives in the complaint that describe what we allege is monopolistic and illegal behavior is redacted," FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar told Insider. He added that Amazon has 14 days to provide "legitimate justification" for the redactions.
"We do not believe that there are compelling reasons to keep much of this information secret from the public," he said.


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EA see FIFA 'beating' Pro Evo
Speaking to MCV, EA European chief Jens Uwe Intat says that the FIFA series is "beating the heck" out of Konami's rival Pro Evo series.
Once a critical darling, the Pro Evo series has fallen on hard times in recent years, with FIFA not only earning the higher review averages but also larger sales.
"We continue to beat the heck of Pro Evo and across Europe we're taking 75 per cent of the football space," Intat beamed.
"FIFA was neck and neck with Modern Warfare 2 [in 2009] to be the best-selling game across Europe."
- Ultra Street Fighter IV coming to PS4 at the end of May
- Ubisoft to publish Homeworld Remastered Collection at retail next month
- Journey, Flower and FlOw heading to the PS4 in a retail package
- Phil Harrison's departure from Microsoft has been confirmed
- Here's the first look at Star Wars: Battlefront
- Project CARS will feature 110 courses across over 30 iconic locations
- Gratuitous Space Battles 2 arrives today
- First Star Wars: Battlefront details arrive including a release date
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's release date is now set in stone

domain: news


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Vietnam and the EU have completed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the contents of future trade negotiations on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN-EU Economic Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang finalised preparations for official negotiations on bilateral free trade agreements on March 31.
The completion of the preparatory work is an important milestone in promoting trade negotiations between Vietnam and the EU as this document will serve as the main framework of the negotiation process.
Trade Commissioner De Gucht said that the decision reflects a clear desire to develop trade relations and improve the business environment for both sides, offering new opportunities for importers, exporters and consumers, and contributing to the development of both economies. The EU is committed to increasing its involvement in the dynamic Asian markets to boost trade and stimulate growth.
Both sides have agreed on several areas of focus in the future negotiations such as the elimination of import tariffs, non-tariff barriers and issues related to intellectual property and fair competition.
The MoU aims to ensure that both parties will engage in the negotiation process with common goals. Vietnam will be the EU's third partner in the Southeast Asia region after Singapore and Malaysia, with which it has already started negotiations for a free trade agreement.
Bilateral trade between the EU and Vietnam reached more than EUR18 billion in 2011. The EU is also one of the biggest investors in Vietnam with total investment capital of nearly US$1.8 billion.


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Communications company the KCOM Group has revealed that it has met its expectations in terms of its recent trading performance.
In its latest interim management statement, the parent company of broadband provider Eclipse Internet revealed that its "good" cash performance helped it reach a strong financial position at the end of December.
The firm added that confidence is high that its actions over the past 18 months will improve the overall quality of its interests.
Bill Halbert, Executive Chairman of the company, said: "The group continues to make good progress, focusing on strengthening the profitability of the activities that we undertake and the delivery of higher value-added, recurring revenues."
The company is set to announce its preliminary results on May 25th.
News of the management statement has come around two months after its Eclipse Internet subsidiary was named the recommended broadband provider of SimplicITy Computers, a company which has designed a new PC operating system for older people.


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The ABI has warned drivers that “any bargain may come at a price”
Motor claims have increased by more than a fifth (21%) on Black Friday since 2015.
This is according to claims data from Co-op Insurance. The firm said that this “peak Christmas shopping day” (today) signals the start of the motor claims season.
The ABI has warned drivers in search of a Christmas good deal to take care on the roads, “as any bargain may come at a price.”
Black Friday is a tradition which began in America and taken hold in the UK due to popularity, it is the biggest sales day of the year with stores offering a range of bargains.
Ian Kershaw, head of claims at the Co-op, said that the firm’s data shows over recent years that Black Friday’s sales lead to “more traffic on UK roads and therefore an increasing number of incidents.”
He added: “Unfortunately, we do see a spike in collisions at this time of year, when drivers seem to be more alert to bargains than the traffic, so we’re urging drivers to take extra care when they’re out on the roads. This weekend signals the start of our busy claims period, which ramps up pre-Christmas, before we see a calmer, festive period.”
On top of this, he added: “Perhaps living up to its name, Cyber Monday [26 November] does see fewer accidents reported in comparison to Black Friday so this may be a safer time to drive for many across the UK as it seems as though a lot of us stay at home.”
This could be due to bargain hunters more likely to head to the shops on Friday but stay at home on Monday, the firm said.
The Co-op Insurance arm recently announced that it had entered a ”formal exclusivity period” with Markerstudy to buy the business for £300m.
Subscribers read more


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Last Call: Buy Your Own Grant Achatz-Approved Infuser
Kickstarter: The designers behind the Porthole, an infusion device used at Grant Achatz’s restaurants have received more than twice their Kickstarter goal within the first day. The campaign doesn’t end until September 4. Wow, people really like the weird things at Grant’s restaurants, huh?
Daily Meal: A new iPhone add-on will scan food to determine how organic it is. …Yeah, we don’t really get it, either.
New York Post: If you’re looking to piss off a bartender, order a mojito: they hate making them because the drink is too costly and labor intensive. Plus, you’ll have to deal with them overtly judging you in front of the entire bar.
Grub Street: Cocaine and heroin were found stashed in cookies and chocolate in a drug bust at JFK Airport. Great, now everyone needs to be suspicious of their cookies. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Huffington Post: McDonald’s in Austrailia will introduce a “Serious Lamb Burger” which will feature a lamb patty, beets and an egg. Meanwhile, Americans have the McRib. We’re not sure who wins here, honestly.
New York Times: Starbucks is teaming up with Square to help people pay for their drinks using only their smartphone. This sounds like a recipe for identity theft and/or bankruptcy.
Have a tip we should know? firstname.lastname@example.org


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Leading up to October 31, Hershey joined Rubie’s Costumes and The Addams Family movie to create a digital one-stop-shop called Halloween Headquarters. We got the scoop from Brad Santanna, the candy maker’s digital commerce lead.
The confectioner anchored its showcase at the National Association of Confectioners (NACS) show with Trolli Crunchy Crawlers, complemented by innovations for SweeTarts, Laffy Taffy, Now and Later, and Fun Dip.
Brands looking to capitalize on the ‘permissible indulgence’ trend have turned to the candy aisle for inspiration. Catch a glimpse of what we saw at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual show in Atlanta, October 1-4.
The six-year-old company had landed $35m in funding as recently as 2017, but it said a challenging retail environment led to this financial pitfall. Six of its more than two dozen stores will close immediately.
Biens Chocolate Centerpieces (Biens CC) dessert catering services for corporations in New York, is launching a Bien, chocolate cake truffle, patented “Bien Towers” for holiday gifts for customers or clients.
Bazooka Candy Brands, makers of the namesake bubble gum as well as Rings Pops and Baby Bottle Pops, have officially entered the gummy category while harnessing nostalgia to capitalize on the interactive nature of its core portfolio.
We talked with Euromonitor analyst Jared Koerten at the National Confectioners Association’s annual expo in Chicago about the rise of premium snacks, textured candies, functional ingredients and consumption occasions. Here’s what he had to say.*
ConfectioneryNews talked with the Ferrara team at the National Confectioners Association’s annual Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago about this growth – and what the future holds for established brands like Butterfinger and Crunch, as well as its powerful...
The newest addition to Yowie, which aims to educate children about the animal kingdom and the environment, combines two bite-sized chocolates with a collectible animal toy and a puzzle piece that eventually creates a small world map.
Global environmental campaign organization set up to protect forests, conserve oceans, and address climate change publishes its annual report card on chocolate companies. ICCO pledges more dialogue with EU on deforestation.
Of the four major holidays, Easter boasts the largest percentage (nearly 30%) of non-chocolate candy sales, according to Brach’s, a division of Ferrara Candy Co. Jellybeans alone account for 32% of those sales.


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In Canada, there are a number of benefits that come from Tax Freedom Day. It is a day in which Canada celebrates having paid their taxes to the three levels of government, and people can spend money as they please.
Small businesses have health savings accounts and health spending accounts, which account for their employees health care. Dental insurance for small businesses exist as well, which take care of the oral hygiene of employees. The health benefits for small businesses are instrumental to the design of business.
Employees are always well taken care of due to the health benefits for small businesses. For medical insurance canada is one of the best countries. People are always taken care of under the guidelines set by small business health plans in Canada.
People often have to pay outlandish taxes for things in Canada. On Tax Freedom Day, the day in which the nation has theoretically earned enough to pay all of its expenses, people can celebrate the tax breaks. Helpful info also found here: www.myrhsa.com
Blogging news websites have grown over the years from a smattering of amateurs to a wide range of highly professional and proficient journalists. While certain people may have an image of blogger news websites being rather amateurish, others have learned just how helpful blogging news sites can be. There are a number of reasons that account for the growing popularity of great blogs, aside from the fact that they can deliver a wide range of news subjects.
Blogging news websites can be read from just about anywhere. Most of the time, you have to be in front of the television or radio to hear your favorite program, unless there is a DVR or other similar recording device set up. Finding blogs can be much easier, thanks to the fact that they are available on the internet. As long as one can access the internet with a laptop, tablet or other mobile device, they will be able to read up on all of the latest blogging news.
Blogging news sites can also be advantageous because they are more often free than not. Most people would not want to sign up for a news service that requires a subscription, yet they still do it because a big name is attached to it. Nowadays however, blogging websites can provide people with the same high quality news and entertainment reporting that other websites can.
Blogging news can cover a wide range of subjects. Some people may only want the latest political news, while others may be into sports. From human interest and environmental news to celebrity gossip and entertainment stories, blogging news websites will probably have it covered. All one needs to do is find the right website for their preferences, and they will never have to worry about being left out of the loop again.
RV parks are just one of the many types of camping that are available. Whether people prefer cabin camping, yurt camping, tent camping or Rv camping, they could find exactly with they need with the right campground directory. Staying at the most beautiful RV parks could allow one to take a break from the internet, videos games and television. Getting back to mother nature could be the ultimate rewarding experience for any family.
RV parks and cabin rentals could be the perfect getaway for parents of young children. Many children may end up having a terrific time, since camping is not synonymous with “roughing it” these days. In fact, it can be a luxurious and comfortable experience. The American Camp Association has recently reported that 63 percent of kids continued new activities from camp after coming back home.
Those that are planning to go camping in one of the gorgeous Rv parks across the country should always observe a carry in, carry out rule. That way, they will never inadvertently leave litter or trash behind.


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India plans to change the law where private miners can’t extract Lithium. It will be changed, and private miners will be allowed to extract Lithium. Lithium is the key component of batteries. Electric vehicles use these batteries. Thus, it automatically makes Lithium a key component of an electric vehicle. According to reports, the Government of India is seeking lawmakers to approve these changes in the policy. Private companies are currently restricted from extracting several minerals, out of which eight will be taken off that list. India wants to reduce the imports of some minerals.
India is moving towards carbon neutrality and wants to produce various zero-emission technologies. They want to become a carbon-neutral nation by 2070. However, India is planning and executing these plans to become a carbon-neutral country. Read the full article to know more about India’s plans for zero-emission technologies.
What Is India Planning For Carbon Neutrality?
India is planning on becoming self-sufficient in the new electronic technologies. The nation will be adding 500 gigawatts of clean power capacity by 2030. India is also in the process of building storage spaces for batteries to use over time. The country is on steps to providing a cleaner and greener future.
According to the reports, government agencies are exploring Lithium. One small site is located in the southern part of Karnataka. Ministry of mines informed about the same, saying that this is just one site out of many hidden mines in the country. However, removing the reliability of imports from other countries for the supply of Lithium and other minerals will reduce once we find new deposits.
Imports Of Raw Materials And Future Plans
India is importing most of its battery components and battery packs from various suppliers worldwide. The nation’s imports are increased by 54 percent compared to last year’s figures. During the cold war with China, when India boycotted made-in-China products. Even then, India imported 87 percent of its electric components from China and Hong Kong.
India is forming a joint venture of three state companies to extract the mines overseas. These three state companies are National Aluminum Co., Hindustan Copper ltd, and Mineral exploration corp. India is dependent on overseas countries to acquire cobalt as well. India has formed this joint venture to reduce imports and increase local manufacturing.
Also Read: Tata’s Plans For Next 5 Years
India is promoting the local production of Lithium and other minerals and increasing the mining activities to extract more minerals and other valuable components. This step is the first step in the process toward a cleaner nation. However, projects like these will require the government’s support and incentives. Also, for more such articles, keep reading DaxStreet.


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Small Business Spotlight: Connected To The Case
Who: Morgan Wright, @C2Case
What: A website for social media crimestoppers
Where: Washington, DC
How: According to its founder, Connected To The Case operates under the assumption that we are all connected to victims, suspects and missing persons. By crowdsourcing tips from users on social media, the company says law enforcement will be better able to develop leads and tips, and work more efficiently to find missing persons and wanted fugitives.
The company's model is “Click – Connect – Share – Solve.” The belief is that every share and tweet helps make a difference when it comes to solving crimes.
Quote from the owner: “We've had significant interest from all levels of law enforcement, including one federal agency which said that this was ‘The future of law enforcement.’ ”
We’re highlighting small businesses from around the country as nominated by you, our readers. If your favorite small business is using Twitter to communicate with customers, let us know about it @fbsmallbiz with the hashtag #mysbc, and it may be featured as an upcoming Small Business Spotlight.


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DuPont de Nemours: Q1 Earnings Snapshot
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) _ DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD) on Tuesday reported first-quarter net income of $5.39 billion, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.
On a per-share basis, the Wilmington, Delaware-based company said it had profit of $8.90. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 91 cents per share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 77 cents per share.
The specialty chemicals maker posted revenue of $3.98 billion in the period.
For the current quarter ending in July, DuPont de Nemours expects its per-share earnings to range from 93 cents to 95 cents.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $3.93 billion to $4.03 billion for the fiscal second quarter. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $3.85 billion.
DuPont de Nemours expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.60 to $3.75 per share, with revenue ranging from $15.7 billion to $15.9 billion.
DuPont de Nemours shares have increased 10% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P’s 500 index has risen 12%. The stock has climbed 74% in the last 12 months.


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Customers complain of price gouging as hand sanitizer sells out in stores
The global spread of coronavirus has sparked panic buying of hand sanitizer and some customers are complaining retailers that still have it in stock are jacking up the price, taking advantage of people’s desperation.
Hand sanitizer is a hot commodity these days, and many stores across North America have run out. That’s because health experts say the best way to protect yourself is to keep your hands clean, either with soap and water or — if that’s not available — an alcohol-based sanitizer.
On Monday, CBC News visited several Shoppers Drug Marts in Toronto, all of which had run out of hand sanitizer and were running low on antiseptic cleaning wipes.
Frances Steciuk said she managed to find hand sanitizer at her local Shoppers in Toronto last week, but didn’t buy it because she felt the price was inflated.
“I kind of hit the roof,” said Steciuk, recalling her reaction when she saw travel-size, 60-ml bottles of hand sanitizer selling for $3.99 each. Steciuk said she recalls paying half that price previously.
“While I can afford the $3.99 price, I didn’t buy on principle,” she said. “It struck me that those on tighter budgets might find the product unaffordable.”
Loblaws, which owns Shoppers Drug Mart, told CBC News the brand Steciuk’s local store was selling wasn’t one of its typical brands.
Spokesperson Catherine Thomas said that — to meet local demand — the store had to go with a different brand that was still available. Based on the wholesale cost, the $3.99 price tag is still in line with its usual price structure, she said.
Thomas also said Loblaws is addressing supply shortages at some of its Shoppers stores. “Our teams have increased inventory on those products and are working to get stock back in,” she wrote in an email.
Victory Battle was also concerned about price gouging when he found hand sanitizer at an independently-owned dollar store in Toronto and didn’t like the price — $8 for a 236-ml bottle.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Battle who opted not to buy the product. “I would rather take on the virus than take on people gouging me.”
The store’s manager, Carmella Limsiaco, told CBC News the store had no choice but to up the price if it wanted to keep supplying customers with hand sanitizer.
Limsiaco said that the store sold a similar product for $3 each, but that — due to a supply shortage — it, too, had to source a different brand from a different supplier that charged a higher wholesale price.
$184 for hand sanitizer?
Major online retailers are also facing criticism that third-party sellers on their sites are selling hand sanitizer at inflated prices.
A quick search for the product on Amazon’s Canadian site revealed some outlandish offers by third-party dealers, such as $184.99 for the same hand sanitizer for which the Toronto dollar store was charging $8.
Other examples on Amazon include two 236-ml bottles selling for $99.99 and a pack of 10 travel-sized bottles priced at $300.
Similar inflated prices have appeared on Amazon’s U.S. site, prompting U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts to send a complaint letter on March 4 to the retail giant’s owner, Jeff Bezos.
“Corporate American has a responsibility to prevent profiteering on the sales of items such as hand-sanitizer,” wrote Markey. “No one should be allowed to reap a windfall from fear and human suffering.”
Amazon told CBC News that it’s actively monitoring its site and removing sellers that are inflating prices for hand sanitizer.
“There is no place for price gouging on Amazon,” said spokesperson Andrew Gouveia in an email. “We are disappointed that bad actors are attempting to artificially raise prices on basic need products during a global health crisis.”
On March 5, online shopping and auction site eBay also announced it was taking action against price gouging, stating that it had decided to ban from its site listings for coronavirus-related products such as disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers.
CBC News asked eBay why, five days after the announcement, it was still easy to find hand sanitizer offers on the site, including ones at inflated prices.
“We are making every effort to ensure that anyone who sells on our platform follows local laws and eBay policies,” said eBay Canada in an emailed response.
Solution: wash your hands
Back in Toronto, Shoppers customer Steciuk said she hopes to see government action on coronavirus-related price gouging in Canada.
“It is something that should be on their radar,” she said. “Putting profits before public safety — it shouldn’t be allowed.”
Canada’s Competition Bureau, which enforces the Competition Act, said it couldn’t reveal if it’s investigating the issue. However, the bureau did confirm that it has received consumer complaints related to product sales associated with the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Steciuk still hasn’t been able to find in stores what’s she looking for: travel-sized bottles of hand sanitizer at what she deems a reasonable price.
“What can you do?” she said “I’m just washing my hands.”
And that may be the best solution for everyone, as health experts say Soap is actually the most effective way to keep hands germ-free.
Redes Sociais - Comentários


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Samsung in Talks with CPSC over Exploding Washing Machine
Samsung is in talks with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) after a lawsuit against the South Korean company over “exploding” washing machines.
The CPSC warned of problems with some of Samsung’s top-load machines.
It comes as a US law firm filed a suit against the tech giant, saying the fault can lead to injury or damage.
Models sold outside North America are not affected by this issue, a spokesperson said.
The problems follow Samsung’s global recall of its Note 7 smartphone over “exploding” batteries.
Both Samsung and the CPSC said that certain top-loading washing machines from March 2011 to April 2016 were affected.
In a statement, the company said: “In rare cases, affected units may experience abnormal vibrations that could pose a risk of personal injury or property damage when washing bedding, bulky or water-resistant items.”
Samsung advises consumers with affected models to use the lower-speed delicate cycle when washing those materials.
The company does not name the models, but allows customers to enter the serial number to see whether their machine is among those affected.
Samsung also faces a suit from a US law firm which alleges that some of its “top-loading washing machines explode in owners’ homes,” leading to potential injury or damage, according to attorney Jason Lichtman.
“Users have reported Samsung top-load washers exploding as early as the day of installation, while other owners have seen their machines explode months or even more than a year after purchase,” the firm said in a statement.
The faulty washing machines come right as Samsung is in the midst of a global recall of its flagship smartphone Galaxy Note 7.
Samsung was forced to urge 2.5 million phones to be returned because of faulty batteries causing some phones to catch fire and users reporting “exploding devices”.
The tech giant said on September 29 it would start selling new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in South Korea this week.
The revamped smartphone will start being sold in other markets, including some European countries, on October 28.
A Samsung spokeswoman said: “We would like to reassure everyone that new Note 7 phones are operating properly and pose no safety concerns.”


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- Britons 'crucial to Dubai's Atlantis' Hemmings, Olivia // Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland;11/16/2007, Issue 2793, p6
The article reports on developers' claim that British tourists will be critical when the Atlantis resort opens in the Palm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2008. According to Brett Armitage, sales senior vice president at developer Kerzner International, Great Britain will be the largest source...
- Catching the World's Attention. Arellano, Luisa Esquiroz // Travel Agent;06/19/2000, Vol. 300 Issue 3, p70
Focuses on tourist trade developments in Brazil as of June 2000. Factors helping the growth of tourist trade in the country; Opening of Holiday Inn hotels; Shortcomings in the marketing effort of the industry; Developments that could increase the number of United States visitors to Brazil.
- Loss of US trade pushes five-star rates down. // Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland;5/6/2002, Issue 2512, p36
Focuses on the better deals being received by British travelers at upmarket hotels in Europe following a decline in the number of U.S. visitors. Conditions of five-star hotels; Example of an added-value package.
- Booming city has 'plenty to offer tourists' // Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland;10/7/2002, Issue 2534, p37
Reports on the tourist attractions and accommodations in Las Vegas, Nevada. Number of hotel rooms; Hotels under construction; Number of visitors from Great Britain; Efforts of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to increase the average stay for European visitors from three nights. ...
- Casting the net beyond Dubai. Machan, Teresa // Travel Weekly: The Choice of Travel Professionals;6/10/2005, Issue 1773, p57
The article reports on the attempts of the emirate of Fujairah to woo British visitors who are looking for an alternative holiday destination due to shortage of hotel beds in neighbouring Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The emirate has seen a 48 per cent growth in arrivals between 2003 and 2004...
- Southwest Florida Update. Folmer, Fred // Travel Agent;2/14/2005, Vol. 320 Issue 2, p22
The article focuses on recent developments in the tourism industry in Southwest Florida, as of February 14, 2005. The new $438 million airport terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport is replacing the existing terminal, which will be torn down. In Naples, hotel renovations are...
- Foreign visitors bypassing NYC, hurting tourism. Fickenscher, Lisa // Crain's New York Business;4/18/2005, Vol. 21 Issue 16, p1
This article reports that New York City is bustling with tourists. Hotels are full. Reservations at top restaurants are hard to come by. The top tour operators from around the world and 300 travel journalists will be getting an earful about New York from the city's tourism bureau Ms. Cristyne L....
- AUSTRALIA TOURISM. // Acquisdata Industry SnapShot: Australia Tourism;8/21/2015, Issue 3266, preceding p1
An industry report of tourism in Australia as of August 21, 2015 is presented from publisher Acquisdata Pty. Ltd., with topics including hotel industry advocacy, lease on Sydney Airport's Terminal 3, and overviews of the industry's leading companies including JetStar Airways and Webjet.
- Executive Summary. // India Tourism Report;Q2 2009, p5
The article presents a market report on the tourism industry of India for the second quarter of 2009. Figures released by the Ministry of Tourism in February showed that foreign visitor arrivals increased by 5.6% year-on-year in 2008 despite of the global economic downturn. It details market...


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24 hours from now, we'll get to see the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. It's been the feature of a lot of leaks so far. These point towards an alleged Iris scanner and similar performance and camera specifications to the Galaxy S7 lineup. The Snapdragon 821 just might make it on the device too. The 821 should prove to be sufficient for devices this year. For 2017, flagship processors will make the jump to 10nm, according to sources.
Samsung's Next Exynos Will Be Dubbed Internally as 'Kanchen' And Feature On Galaxy S8
For processors, 2016 has been somewhat of a slow year. As customary, both the Exynos 8890 and the Snapdragon 820 came with their share of performance claim. For Qualcomm, it was about Kryo and overall integration through HSA principles. For Samsung, it was the Mongoose M1 which served as the 'big' cluster.
When it came to benchmark scores however, the Exynos clearly dominated over its counterpart. Qualcomm had faced problems in the past and while the 820 still under-performed. To that effect, we saw the Snapdragon 821 launched earlier this month. The new processor from the company is expected to be 10% faster than its predecessor.
The final bit in the puzzle for 2016 now is Apple's upcoming iPhone 7. Even as 10nm has shifted to 2017, some interesting rumors such as InFO have surfaced for it. Recently however, it's the Snapdragon 830 which has surfaced on the rumor mill. Qualcomm's next generation will deliver on 10nm and potentially feature redesigned Kryo cores.
Following trends, the Exynos 8895 finally surfaced in a leak two days back. We haven't seen any key performance specifications surface so far. Samsung does look to be testing the processor, with boards featuring the chip surfacing on Zauba. Now, sources from China have added some more information in the mix.
According to them, the Exynos 8895 does exist and is being dubbed 'Kanchen' internally at Samsung. This follows the Exynos 8890, which ran with the name 'Jungfrau'. Furthermore, it is also expected to power next year's Galaxy S8. While we've seen plenty of alleged information for the iPhone 8, details on Samsung's next flagship smartphone have remained scarce.
The little details which have surfaced suggest strong display upgrades. Both 2.5K RGB and 4K AMOLED have been rumored for the device so far, combined with 6GB of RAM. Plug in the Exynos 8895 and the Snapdragon 830 and you'll see a rough picture. Thoughts? Let us know what you think in the comments section below and stay tuned for the latest.


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The garment industry will to continue to decline next year as consumer demand diminishes and international safeguards that have protected Cambodian exports are removed, several speakers at an industry conference said Thursday.
Cambodia’s garment industry produced 4.6 percent less revenue for the first 10 months of the year compared to the same period in 2007, according to the Commerce Ministry figures distributed at the conference.
In the same 10-month period export volume growth decreased from 39 percent in 2006 to 15.5 percent in 2007 to only 2.5 percent in 2008, according to ministry figures.
“Revenue is dropping and this is alarming…. The garment industry is struggling,” said Kang Chandararot, executive director of the Cambodia Institute of Development Study, which helped organize the conference in Phnom Penh.
“It is hard to assess the magnitude of the effects,” he said.
Still, some effects are clear, Kang Chandararot said.
The garment industry can no longer accommodate new workers as it has done for more than a decade, when it fueled Cambodia’s economic boom, he said. Jobs are now actually in danger in the garment sector, he said, adding: “This is a crucial point for the economy.”
In addition to the global financial crisis hurting the country’s garment industry, speakers said Thursday, there is the pending removal of safeguards in the US that limit Chinese textile imports, which have helped small countries like Cambodia compete with the world’s garment giant.
Those safeguards will be lifted at the end of this year, just as the European Union lifted similar safeguards in 2007.
Ingeborg Wick, a researcher for Sudwind, a German non-profit that focuses on global economic issues, said the lifting of the safeguards will allow more brands to consolidate the sources of their products which will reduce costs. Good infrastructure, higher, faster productivity and access to high quality textiles will become increasingly important factors for garment sector competition, she said.
“Everybody wants to be a winner but not everyone can win,” she said, adding that Cambodia will lose an important advantage as a result.
Mean Sophea, director of the trade preference department at the Ministry of Commerce, said competition is a concern, and Cambodia needs to encourage more investment in the industry to become more competitive.
“How can we compete with countries that are so much bigger and stronger than us?” he asked. “The industry is a pie and the smaller and weaker will get a smaller piece than the stronger and smarter,” he said.
Kang Chandararot, however, said the financial crisis is likely to have more of an impact on Cambodia’s garment industry than the safeguards. The industry still has a relatively high profit margin, so profits will decrease in the absence of safeguards but that alone shouldn’t decrease the number of exports to the US, he said.
“The lower purchasing power in the US [due to the crisis] will have a large impact,” he said, also adding that more investment is needed in the industry.
Cambodian investors only finance 7 percent of the garment industry compared with the more than 70 percent being financed by South Korean, Taiwanese, Hong Kong and Chinese firms, he said.
“The capital coming in to the sector will be less than before or dry up,” he added.
Other signs of decline include 20 factories that have closed down this year, said Cheat Khemara, a strike coordinator for Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia.
As of July 2008, more than 62,000 garment workers had lost their jobs in 2008, according to the Ministry of Commerce. More than 400,000 people depend on the sector for employment, according to CIDS.
“There is a very limited amount of orders right now,” Cheat Khemara said. He also warned that strikes are on the rise, which in such a delicate economic environment could discourage investment.
For the first seven months of the year there were 66 strikes compared with 48 strikes in 2007, Cheat Khemara said, adding that many were illegal.
Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, said Thursday that more laws protecting workers rights would prevent strikes. He also said that the outlook for the industry was “serious.”
“The garment industry is in a decline,” he said.


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bullish•Indonesia 10Y•31 Aug 2023 07:58•Broker Report
BRI Danareksa Debt Research, Weekly Report, August 29, 2023
Powell’s hawkish tone in Jackson Hole The Fed’s chairman’s speech last Friday on annual Jackson meeting emphasized the potential need for The Fed...
bullish•Indonesia 10Y•23 Aug 2023 08:12•Broker Report
BRI Danareksa Debt Research, Weekly Report, August 22, 2023
entiment against the US’s economy US Retail Sales growth exceed expectation with 3.2% y-y (vs. cons: 1.5%), the fastest growth pace in 5-months.
bullish•Indonesia 10Y•18 Aug 2023 06:37•Broker Report
BRI Danareksa Debt Research, Weekly Report, August 15, 2023
US CPI climbed 3.2% YoY in July 2023, less than consensus of 3.3% YoY. Monthly inflation stood at 2% MoM, same with June increases.
bullish•Macroeconomics•12 Aug 2023 19:25•Broker Report
SEK rates weekly: Bond issuance about to level up
In September, issuance and QT in SGBs ramps up to more than 9 bn/month from nothing during the holidays. Reduced ECB buying and a rate hike pause...
bearish•Macroeconomics•12 Aug 2023 19:19•Broker Report


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The USA’s Next G Alliance released a report by its Societal and Economic Needs [SEN] working group last week titled “Beyond Speed: Promoting Social and Economic Opportunities through 6G and Beyond”. Especially when it comes to the vexed issue of trust, the report takes a deep dive into concrete solutions and actions.
GSMA Open Connect is one of the multiple approaches over the years that have sought to take advantage of mobile operators’ data. Yet they have been stymied repeatedly in using that data to its full extent.
There are, however, developments beyond the traditional telecoms domain that might help to turn that around.
While internet governance sounds only marginally relevant, there are some interesting opportunities available for those who can step in with solutions. Players in both internet and telecoms have the scope do exactly that, influencing the future of lives online as well as building whole new areas of business.
Edited by Dr Anand Prasad, this collection of 6G-focussed articles explores the role of green business models, quantum computing, privacy and more.


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Tesla unlikely to build Gigafactory in desert
Tesla probably won't build its next Gigafactory by the Salton Sea, but that shouldn't stop energy storage and battery technology from reshaping the region's energy and transportation landscapes.
Energy storage and electric vehicles were hot topics at Friday's Southern California Energy Summit in Palm Springs, where Tesla co-founder J.B. Straubel told The Desert Sun that his company is "keeping a close watch" on efforts to extract lithium from geothermal brine by the Salton Sea.
Lithium is a key ingredient in the batteries that power the electric vehicles produced by Tesla and other automakers. If large-scale lithium extraction by the Salton Sea proves commercially viable, the area's massive mineral resources could reshape global lithium markets and supply battery manufacturers around the world.
But Tesla chose to build its first battery factory in Nevada, which has no income taxes and a relatively low minimum wage. Straubel said Friday that where the company builds its next Gigafactory will be determined mostly by economic factors — not by whether there's plentiful lithium being produced by the Salton Sea.
The location of lithium production "doesn't have a very big impact on where we do production," Straubel, Tesla's chief technology officer, told The Desert Sun.
Straubel's assessment is likely to deflate local enthusiasm over the possibility of a Tesla arrival, a much buzzed-about topic while the electric automaker mulled where to build its first Gigafactory. That battery factory, which will be built near Reno, will employ about 6,500 people and could generate $100 billion in economic benefits, Nevada officials have estimated.
Locally, Tesla has been eying Simbol Materials, a Pleasanton-based company that has been testing an innovative lithium-extraction process by the Salton Sea. Tracy Sizemore, Simbol's vice president of business development, said he wasn't surprised to hear that Tesla probably won't build a battery factor in the Imperial Valley.
Lithium, Sizemore said, is "not a driver for battery costs."
"Their significant costs are electricity, land, taxes, labor," he said. "They're more supply-constrained than location-constrained."
Simbol plans to break ground in January on a facility that will produce 15,000 metric tons of lithium per year. While battery manufacturers might not flock to the region once that plant is finished, Sizemore acknowledged, he expects that Simbol will supply lithium for many electric automakers and battery manufacturers.
Whether Tesla will be one of those companies, however, is an open question.
"Lithium is a resource that here in the valley is in somewhat plentiful supply. There are some companies working on mining that," Straubel said during his presentation at the energy summit. "There are also a lot of other companies around the world trying to find new ways to extract resources cheaper."
Tesla aside, state officials and energy experts predicted at the summit that energy storage technology — including lithium-ion batteries — will radically change the way we power our homes and vehicles in the coming years. The technology is still too expensive to be deployed on a wide scale, but it's considered critical to integrating more renewable power into the state's energy mix.
Solar plants, for instance, generate the most electricity during the middle of the day, but peak energy use occurs in the evening. That's why most solar farms need to be supplemented by natural gas-fired power plants, which produce half as much carbon as coal-fired plants — but still far more than solar farms.
If electricity providers could store large quantities of solar power during the day and send it to consumers in the evening, it would be far easier for California to move toward 100 percent renewable energy — which, Straubel said, he would like to make possible.
"We're quite close to having the economics work to be able to do storage at this level, using the same type of batteries that are going into vehicles," he said.
Angelina Galiteva — a member of the board of governors of the California Independent System Operator, which manages the state's electricity grid — said a lack of storage has already forced state officials to turn excess solar power away from the grid.
"What's our biggest problem? Low-cost renewables — an abundance of them we have to curtail," Galiteva said. "Five years ago, that would have been good news. Now we're afraid of it."
State regulators have already taken action to boost energy storage. California Public Utilities Commission president Michael Peevey said the commission mandated last year that major utilities buy at least 1.3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2020, including 200 megawatts from private homes and businesses.
Peevey also cited efforts by rooftop solar companies like SolarCity to invest in battery storage technology. If those companies can help energy consumers produce and store their own electricity, they will essentially be taking their customers off the grid.
SolarCity's batteries, Peevey added, will probably be produced at Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk is also chairman of SolarCity.
Peevey and Galiteva both joined a panel about the future of the state's renewables portfolio standard, which currently mandates that utilities buy 33 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. The panelists generally agreed that California will need to increase that mandate to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, as mandated by executive order.
They cautioned, however, that policymakers will need to do more than raise the renewable energy mandate to meet that goal.
About 43 percent of the state's carbon emissions, Galiteva noted, come from the transportation sector. Stuart Hemphill, Southern California Edison's senior vice president for power supply and operational services, said electric vehicles have a key role to play in reducing the state's emissions.
"The biggest opportunity we have to reduce greenhouse gases today is in the transportation sector, and everybody who's looked at the math understands that," Hemphill said.
Straubel believes the transportation industry is approaching a "tipping point" where electric cars can compete with traditional gas-powered vehicles.
"The fundamental technology making that possible is continuing to improve," he said. "Gasoline is not getting much better. It doesn't really change."
However, California officials choose to promote emissions reductions, other states — and even countries — are likely to follow suit. If California were a country, Galiteva noted, it would have the seventh-largest economy in the world.
"We can't have the attitude, 'We need to wait for India or China to take action before we do,'" she said. "We only stand to win. We have the institutions, we have Silicon Valley, we have the technologies. If there's a global market for the export of our technologies, why not?"
Energy Reporter Sammy Roth can be reached at email@example.com, (760) 778-4622 and @Sammy_Roth.


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Tesla has rolled out a new incentive for customers of its Solar program that includes two free months on any subscription.
A look at Tesla’s online configurator, which gives customers the option to choose from four different sizes of solar systems, reveals a new message under its subscription program that reads “Includes 2 free months.”
The subscription service enables solar customers to reap the benefits of having solar panels installed at their homes but without the upfront costs.
The two free months of service enables customers to save upwards of $500 on a 15.12 kW system.
Tesla offers the following sizes for its solar system:
- Small – 37.8 kW
- Produces an average of 14-19 kWh per day
- Medium – 7.56 kW
- Produces an average of 29-39 kWh per day
- Large – 11.34 kW
- Produces an average of 43-58 kWh per day
- X-Large – 15.12 kW
- Produces an average of 58-77 kWh per day
The new incentive bodes well for Tesla who’s coming off of a strong showing in solar production in Q4 2019. The company reported 54 MW of solar deployment in the final quarter of 2019, or 26% in growth compared to the quarter prior. The subscription service was a significant contributor to the growth of Tesla’s solar program. “Where offered, subscription solar has grown significantly in Q4. With a monthly subscription that can generate income from the first month of usage, there is no reason not to have solar panels installed.”
One member of Tesla’s solar subscription program, Carolyn Donlin, voiced her content with the ability to simply pay a small monthly fee to power her home through solar energy. In a blog post on Tesla’s website, Donlin writes about her decision to commit to a solar program after buying a Model 3 sedan.
“The Tesla team made going solar a smooth, effortless experience. Never once did I feel oversold as the energy specialists ensured I would receive the best system to accommodate my needs while making sure our home’s aesthetics wouldn’t change. I was thrilled to convert my roof into a power system,” said Donlin.
Tesla unveiled the Solar Subscription program to reduce the cost of entry for those interested in powering their homes via solar energy.
Typically, buying solar panels carries an average cost of between $18,000 and $20,000 for a typical 2,500 square foot home, the average size of a house in the United States. It usually takes eight years to break even after purchasing a full solar system for a home. Tesla’s Solar Subscription allows those involved to immediately begin generating income from their panels through a small monthly rental fee, instead of a large initial payment to buy a system outright.
Currently, Tesla’s Solar Subscription program is available in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Mexico.


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Video: YouTube: The newest Krispy krispy doughnuts hit the internet, but this time they’re not just some fancy creations of the Krispy gang.
In a video posted by the Krispys KrispyKreme Instagram account on Thursday, the company has introduced their newest “Cupcakes” to a new generation of fans.
“These new, revolutionary new Krispy doughnut flavors, all of which are hand-crafted in-house in the United States, will hit the shelves at the beginning of the month,” Krispy told The Verge in a statement.
“The new Cupcakes have been a dream for Krispy and Krispy family for years and we’re excited to bring them to our fans.
Each of the new Cups will be uniquely designed and presented to celebrate the Krispie family’s love of the delicious cupcakes.”
In an accompanying Instagram post, Krispy shared an inside look at the creation process, featuring their founder and co-founder and longtime executive chef, Kim Schramm.
“Kim’s the brains behind this new recipe.
We worked with her to ensure that the new flavors were truly unique and different from the original flavors.
This was a really fun project for her and the rest of the team,” Krispies Krispy said.
“When you combine all of our different flavors and textures, it’s really fun to watch the new Cupcakes pop up.
And of course, they will be just as delicious, too!”
This is a video I love and am excited about!
I want more Cupcake recipes!
#krispyskrisperys KRS PRODUCER AND CO-FOUNDER KIM SCHRAMM (@kim_schramm) August 31, 2018 “When I joined Krispy, I had no idea that it would turn into something so big and so big.
I was thrilled when we decided to do a new product with our brothers at Krispy and we are so proud to be the first to launch a new series of Krispy Doughnuts with the new “Cups.”
These new CUP CREW will create new designs and creations that are truly unique to each new product.”
While the brand has never done a full-on “Krispy Kremes” series, the original concept of these new cupcakes were made in the late ’80s, according to Krispy.
“We were looking for new things to do with the brand.
Krispy was growing and we wanted to find a new way to keep up with the growth.
So we started working with Kim,” Krispls CEO and cofounder Krispy Krabs said.
Krispry has been experimenting with new recipes for years, and these new creations may seem out of place in a family restaurant that has grown into one of the largest in the country.
But the new designs are also an extension of the family-friendly concept that Krispy is known for, and the brand hopes that fans of the brand will enjoy the new cupcake flavors as much as they have the old ones.
The new flavors are slated to hit the market in July.
“While the Cup Creators will not be the same, we’re bringing our family-oriented flavors to our consumers,” KrisPy said.
The first batch of the “CUP CREAMS” will be available on June 10, 2018, the day before Krispy opens the doors of its new location in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“With a little more time, we will be able to create new flavors for the family.
I think people are going to love these new flavors.
The CUP Creators is an extension to the family we are,” Krispie said.


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Motor Decisions Do Matter
With significant opportunities for energy and cost savings, not to mention environmental benefits, the Boston-based Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s Motor Decisions Matter campaign has continued to promote the benefits of premium-efficiency motors.
Fighting the general trend of building and plant owners looking for quick fixes and only considering short-term economics when motors fail, the campaign has been promoting the fact that a motor’s purchase price is typically just 2% of its total operating expenses over a lifetime, with 98% of the cost spent on electricity.
According to Consortium spokesperson Ted Jones, building owners often don’t realize that when they purchase a motor for $2,000, they will be spending $80,000 over the next 20 years to operate it.
Being that motors consume 23% of the nation’s electricity, the Consortium also stresses that energy-efficient motors can potentially save millions of dollars and an estimated 6 billion pounds of carbon dioxide, 77 million pounds of sulfur dioxide and 22 million pounds of nitrogen dioxide every year.
The campaign is a joint venture between a few dozen government agencies, environmental groups, academic institutions, utilities and motor manufacturers. To access a motor planning kit or to view case studies, visit: www.motorsmatter.org .


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Entertainer Dave Chappelle had dinner at Kith and Kin over the weekend, posing for pictures with Top Chef alum Kwame Onwuachi down at the southwest waterfront. “Glad you enjoyed the snapper and everything else! One of my hero’s!” Onwuachi wrote about the star of critically acclaimed Chappelle’s Show and cult classic Half Baked.
Decade-old Clarendon pizza stand Goody’s has closed. Co-owner Vanessa Reisis, who a few years back bemoaned that local diners were no longer “looking for a little mom and pop shop anymore,” tells Arlnow that she and her husband are retiring from the by-the-slice business. A tipster tells Arlnow new owners are already lined up.
D.C. restaurant openings
Popville reports that Park View’s new soul food restaurant, Sweetpea’s (2851 Georgia Avenue NW), is now scheduled to open at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10. Featured offerings include fried chicken, turkey wings, pork chops, and barbecue ribs, among others.
Restaurateur Bart Vandaele has reopened his rooftop drinking den, Betsy (514 Eighth Street SE), for the season. The bar, which boasts over four dozen types of gin and serves 40 twists on gin and tonics, offers happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.


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Great news, midsize sedan buyers! The Italian/American brain trust at the helm of the Pentastar has decided to keep the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger around for another two models years. Previously, past owners Cerberus had signaled its intentions to cull the slow selling duo after the 2010 model year, but according to reports, Fiat says that there weren't really any solid plans to replace the twins and it's not really feasible to pull out of the segment entirely until its own Italian-bred successors are ready.
Perhaps the automaker's new owners can find a way to make the platform a bit more competitive for its final two years in production. Next year's Sebring will see a few minor updates that should at least improve the ugly duckling's appearance, not the least of which is the deletion of the car's awkward ribbed hood. Current projections indicate that a more extensive freshening is in the works for 2011 for the Sebring and possibly a wee bit earlier for the Dodge Avenger, which isn't in quite so dire need of a facelift.


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Sterling Holidays urges travellers to unveil little known facts of India
The brand has launched a digital campaign that highlights the rich heritage of India through facinating stories via its Facebook page and blog
Mark Twain once said, “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition…” Indians take pride in the country’s rich heritage and exotic architecture. However, there are a lot of hidden secrets about our motherland that are unexplored. Sterling Holidays, a leisure hospitality company, has launched a digital campaign titled ‘India Unveiling’, which focusses on presenting thereto little known facts about India.
Based on historical evidences, interesting nuggets of information about India are presented artistically on Sterling Holiday’s Facebook page and blog, creating a sense of national pride. Sterling believes that this campaign will showcase the rich heritage which makes India a destination where the more you explore, the more there is to discover!
The ‘India Unveiling’ campaign, conceptualised by Isobar, has been structured to feature one story a day about the country’s diverse culture, history and achievements through the month of October, with the potential of being extended through regular content updates and blogs.
Enabling better emotional engagement with people, Sterling aims to create holiday inspirations within the country.
The main idea of adopting the digital platform was the need to feel connected with customers – a sense that it was important to have a presence in something which constitutes such a large piece of the customers’ lives; a clear shift away from traditional marketing strategies.
The first story highlighted the fact that Mahabharat is 10 times the length of the world’s other great epics Iliad and Odyssey, making it the world’s longest epic. The second story said that India was the birthplace of the game of chess, which finds a mention in the world’s oldest political treatise Arthashastra.
Commenting on the initiative, Ramesh Ramanathan, Managing Director, Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) said, “We believe that a vital aspect of delivering memorable holiday experiences is to share knowledge about India and the destinations we operate in. A nation like India has much to offer to travellers – from historical achievements and geographical wonders to diverse cultures. The ‘India Unveiling’ campaign is a part of our effort to communicate fascinating aspects of India that will be of interest to travellers and Indians everywhere. Social media is the right medium for such an effort, especially since travel is a category which sees a great deal of community sharing.”
The campaign has seen a good response on Facebook, with some of the stories having more than 800 likes and 50 shares. The main objective behind the campaign is to drive awareness about India and make us feel proud about our country. It also wants to portray that there is a lot left to discover about India, making it a perfect holiday destination for tourists. This campaign will certainly develop interest among the tourists to know more about India. Some of the facts are striking – like the origin of shampoo in the eastern regions of the Mughal Empire, particularly in Bengal, where it was used as a head massage medicine, and Sanskrit being the most convenient language for computer software programming. However, some of the facts are very generic and known to all – like the science of yoga originated in India, and the connection between Gurgaon and Dronacharya.
This campaign will garner eye balls due to its uniqueness and urge tourists to discover more, but it will be more interesting if the brand highlights facts that are known to none.
WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook & Youtube


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ADELAIDE , young Australian Citizens are increasingly turning to hypnotherapy to treat addiction to social media. “It started when I broke up with my girlfriend,” said Natalie, 22. “Since then, I checked my Facebook page constantly. I see the whole picture., And even when he was standing next to another girl in a photograph, I’ll try to find out about the girl.” Natalie admits that the day he spent nearly eight…read..
Archive for: الف نيكة ونيكة Video موقع الفيس بوك Facebook
…bass). Technology with the world’s first sound zooming is actually also applied to the model BH9320H. “Home Theater 3D Sound Zooming is present as a result of LG innovations to continue to provide the best audio video system,” said Erwin Kurniawan, Audio Video Product Marketing PT. LG Electronics Indonesia. Through four floorstanding speakers slim (tallboy), two in front and two behind, forming a dome audio. At the summit, th…read..
…rs of the company’s long then abandoned once the new model began to emerge. “It’s important for us to show that we do not leave BB7. we launched Voice BBM connected with BB10, where we also added features video and screen sharing ,” said Bates. According to BlackBerry, BB7 devices are the mainstay of corporate as governments and financial institutions. The parties are said to still continue to buy the BB7. Prior to…read..


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- Over a third of overseas visitors’ expenditure in the city goes on dining out1
- Dublin booming as tourism grows 13.5% year-on-year in Q3 20182
Dublin/London, 20th December 2018: According to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index Indulgences report, visitors to Dublin in 2017 spent a greater proportion of their travel budget – over a third (36%) - on dining out than any other city studied. The Indulgences report dives into where and what overseas travelers spend the most on, and offers insight into two of life’s greatest pleasures - dining and shopping.
Dublin’s renowned culinary culture has become the top experience for overseas visitors to splash out on. Visitors spent USD $800m in 2017, per the Mastercard GDCI, which bodes well for the city’s gourmet scene.
In addition, data analysed by Mastercard SpendingPulse™ for the most recent Dublin Economic Monitor (Q3 2018), shows that tourism is booming in the city, with visitor expenditure growing 13.5% year-on-year. Mastercard SpendingPulse provides insights into overall retail spending trends across all payment types, including cash. This is the highest rate of growth since Q1 2016 and is being driven by travelers from the US, France and China.
Mastercard SpendingPulse also shows 10.6% growth YoY (Q3 2018) in overall tourism spending in Ireland - a welcome boost for the economy.
According to Mastercard’s GDCI Indulgences report, Dubai was the top city for the most amount spent by international visitors on dining out – USD $5.94bn. Other global cities such as Singapore and London were also in the top 10 for overall food and beverage spend, but it’s worth noting that travelers are spending a lower percentage of their travel budgets on food in those cities (12.9% and 17.6%, respectively).
The report also reveals that travelers are spending big in Dubai and London on shopping for clothes, souvenirs and other goods. But visitors to London, Seoul and Johannesburg might want to bring a bigger suitcase - international travelers to all three cities are spending at least 40 percent of their travel budgets on shopping.
Sonya Geelon, Country Manager for Mastercard in Ireland commented: “The quality of food and fantastic experiences available when dining out in Dublin is now globally renowned, and this report just shows that overseas travelers are coming from far and wide to enjoy and prioritise the culinary delights that our city has to offer.
“Experiences are at the heart of what travelers’ value, which is why we offer programs like Mastercard Priceless Ireland to allow travelers to dive into the country’s unique culture.”
Mastercard is focused on helping cardholders travel the world with peace of mind through seamless planning, conveniences and connectivity at the destination and worry-free acceptance at millions of locations around the globe. Compelling travel offerings and benefits help travelers every step of their journey. More information can be found at mastercard.com.
The Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index and GDCI: Play Index, a breakout report focused on the top leisure destinations, were released earlier this year.
Mastercard media contact:
+44 7966 308 213
Notes to Editor:
- 1According to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index Indulgences report
- 2According to Mastercard SpendingPulse™ for the Q3 2018 Dublin Economic Monitor
About Mastercard SpendingPulse
Mastercard SpendingPulse reports on national retail sales across all payment types in select markets around the world. The findings are based on aggregate sales activity in the Mastercard payments network, coupled with survey-based estimates for certain other payment forms, such as cash and cheques.
About the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index
The Mastercard Index of Global Destination Cities ranks cities in terms of the number of their total international overnight visitor arrivals and the cross-border spending by these same visitors in the destination cities in 2017, and gives international overnight visitor growth forecasts for 2018.
Public data is used in deriving the international overnight visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending in each of the 162 destination cities.
Forecasts are based upon the weighted average of the national level tourism forecasts and the actual 2018 monthly data at the destination level, which is available to the latest month before release.
This Index and the accompanying reports are not based on Mastercard volumes or transactional data.


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Hyundai S-A1 Flying Taxi Could Help Uber Go Airborne by 2023
【Summary】Unveiled at this year’s CES show in Las Vegas, the Hyundai S-A1 flying taxi has been jointly developed by Uber and Hyundai and could ferry up to four passengers at altitudes of up to 2,000 feet.
Roads are packed more than ever and some companies have decided to look up, quite literally, to the sky. Traditional automakers, ride-sharing companies, and even airplane companies have looked at ways to bring flying taxis to the market. The sky is the new frontier for taxis, it's a market no one else has explored yet, so there's still plenty of available space and room for growth. To that end, Uber and Hyundai have partnered to come out with an electric air taxi that could be flying as soon as 2023.
Flying Taxi Could Be Available By 2023
The electric flying taxi is called the S-A1 and has seating for five (including one pilot). The electric machine has an interesting design with four electric props, looking similarly to an oversized quadcopter drone. The company claims that cruising altitude is between 1,000 and 2,000 feet. When the machine gets that high above the ground, the electric props tilt to face forward, similar to an airplane for improved efficiency. With the props in this orientation, the S-A1 has a cruising speed of 200 mph and a range of roughly 60 miles, which is probably quicker and longer than your average Uber journey.
Once the S-A1 reaches its destination, the vehicle switches back to its VTOL mode to land. That's important, as urban areas usually don't have runway strips, but buildings to land on top of. It's also important for charging, as Hyundai claims the machine only needs five to seven minutes between trips for a full recharge.
The whole thing with the S-A1 is all about reducing the amount of time people travel. "We're looking at the dawn of a completely new era that opens the skies of our cities," Jaiwon Shin, head of Urban Air Mobility at Hyundai, said at CES. "With point-to-point air travel, we can reduce travel time drastically."
Safety is a big concern for air travel, especially in dense urban locations. To ensure that passengers are safe at all times, the S-A1 will have redundant rotors to make sure that if an engine were to go out, it wouldn't cause the machine to crash. If there's an emergency, the machine has a parachute that will deploy.
Hyundai Looking Past Cars
With Hyundai providing the aircraft, Uber is left to introduce a flying taxi service. "We're not an aircraft manufacturing company, and we have no intention of becoming one," stated Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate. "Our platform is becoming the operating system of cities around the world."
As many other automakers, Hyundai is looking to progress beyond just being an automaker. Instead, the brand, and many others, are looking to be mobility companies with all sorts of services and vehicles in the future. The other machines that Hyundai wants to have include pod cars, Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs) that could be modular, autonomous, and electric, as well as "S-Hubs" that are for riders going between shuttles or landing pads for the S-A1 flying taxi.
If Uber and Hyundai have their timelines correct, the vehicle could be flying in a city near you as soon as 2023. Though Euisun Chung, Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai, told Reuters that commercialization of urban air mobility service should take place in 2028, accounting for the time it takes for lays to be put into place.
Vineeth Joel Patel
Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Now PHEV Only
Acura Prevision EV Concept Previews Brand’s Electric Future
Hyundai Gets Serious About Electric Performance Cars, Shows off Two Concepts
Ford Looks to Have 100% of EV Sales Be Online
Volkswagen CEO Believes It Will Overtake Tesla in EV Sales by 2025
Report Claims Nissan Leaf Will Be Discontinued by 2025
Autonomous Vehicles Will Require Cities to Change Their Transportation Methods
Rivian, Mercedes-Benz Partner to Produce Electric Commercial Vans
- Ralph Nader Calls for NHTSA to Remove Tesla Full Self-Driving
- Volkswagen’s Software Unit CARIAD to Co-Develop a System-on-Chip With STMicroelectronics for the Automaker’s Future Software-defined Vehicles
- GM CEO Mary Barra Shares the First Look at the New Chevy Blazer EV Launching in Spring 2023
- The BMW 7-Series to Feature HD Live Maps From HERE Technologies for Hands-Free Highway Driving in North America at Speeds up to 80 MPH
- Prices For Used EVs Continue to Rise as Gas Cars Drop
- Here’s How Waymo Uses Hyper-Local Weather Data to Improve the Capabilities of its Self-Driving Vehicles
- Biden Administration Announces New Standards to Make EV Chargers More Accessible
- Facing Rising Production Costs, Automakers Ford, GM, Stellantis and Toyota Urge Congress to Lift the Cap on the $7,500 EV Tax Credit
- Panasonic Announces Multi-Year Agreement to Supply Electric Vehicle Batteries to Lucid Group
- Premium Chinese EV Brand Zeekr Seeks to Raise $1 Billion in U.S. IPO, According to Sources


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Summerfest 2014: Parade Time at Kennywood
Dating site OKCupid is urging users to boycott Firefox and use another browser to find love over Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich's support of an anti-gay marriage campaign. Firefox is owned by Mozilla.
OKCupid is calling for a boycott of Firefox over its CEO's support of an anti-gay marriage campaign. Take a look at other brands and products that have been boycotted over LGBT viewpoints.
"Both of us knew it was wrong," 33-year-old Brian Smith tells police, according to the criminal complaint.


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According to Android Police, Google chairman Eric Schmidt has told Radio 4 that it won’t go on sale until sometime mid-way through next year.
Google Glass is a revolutionary new device that is barely more than a pair of glasses but contains a camera and small computer running Android with a reflected display that can update information in real time. It recently began shipment to early adopters or ‘Glass explorers’, who have been told not to sell or even loan the device to anyone else, otherwise, Google will remotely shut the device down.
Already, there are some interesting videos showing Google Glass in the wild on YouTube, but no doubt the applications for Glass are far beyond what we’ve seen so far.
Try these similar stories:
- Demand for iWatch devices matches pre-iPad launch levels
- Google’s Glass gets teardown treatment
- Samsung’s Galaxy S4 survives scratch torture test
- PIPO launches M9 Android 4.2 update ROM
- LG launches new 5.3-inch FHD panel just 2.2mm thick
- CheapCast project turns any mini PC, smartphone or tablet into Chromecast clone
- Google releases stock 4.2 keyboard to Google Play
- Google to launch LTE Nexus 4 in May
- HTC One Android 4.2.2 update begins seeding for non-carrier phones
- Cydia Impactor uses vulernability to root Android devices including Google Glass


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Australian departmental store Myer has made a commitment toward paying a living wage to garment workers who make clothes for its list of brands.
The move comes after human rights organisation, Oxfam Australia actively engaged with Myer for more than five years encouraging the company to be more transparent.
If Myer delivers on its commitment, garment workers of Miss Shop, Basque and Wayne by Wayne will be paid a living wage that covers basic essentials for family, housing, healthcare, transport and education.
Oxfam Australia’s economic justice strategic lead, Nayeem Emran, appreciated Myer for its commitment and added that brands that fail to provide a living wage are ‘perpetuating’ a system that keeps women in poverty.
“Myer has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring the payment of living wages – a universal human right for every working person around the world, including the women who make our clothes,” said Emran.
Oxfam says it is lobbying The Just Group, which owns Peter Alexander and Just Jeans, among other brands, to publicly commit to the policy for its source factories.


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For those venturing back to the mall for the first time in awhile, the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City might look a little different than you remember, thanks to some recent additions.
Four new stores have recently opened in the mall, at 1101 S. Hayes Street, with two more expected to open sometime in the next few weeks.
On the first level, denim retailer Levi’s has set up next to Altar’d State, overlooking the food court.
Down in the bottom-floor “dining pavilion” — the mall’s new term for its food court — there are a few additions underway. As Kelis attested in 2003, milkshakes are a popular attraction, and the new Day & Night Cereal Bar is offering a dozen specialized milkshakes and cereal bowls, along with coffee and flights of bacon.
The cereal-centric eatery has some unique combinations, like Marty McFly — a combination of Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops and gummy bears. Its website says it also offers oat milk and almond milk substitutions for those who are dairy averse.
A Subway had previously closed in the food court, but a new franchise for the sandwich chain is expected to open in November, a mall spokesman tells ARLnow.
Arlington Public Schools has a new internal social media platform for families but its anonymous commenting policy prompted a tense discussion among some School Board members. This year, the school…
An Arlington-based company that helps startup founders turn their ideas into viable ventures has a new permanent home in Rosslyn.
Through Christmas, ART bus trips in peak directions along the I-66 corridor, during rush hour, will be free.
Do you remember your first museum visit? Or a time you felt inspired walking around a museum? What if you had the chance to help give someone else their best…
Explore your creative side this fall at Art House 7 with our Fall 2 Session of art classes beginning October 30th. Whether you’re a budding artist or looking to unleash your artistic potential with something new, there’s a class for everyone!
Short and Drop-In Classes:
Dive into creativity with our short-term offerings, including a 3-week still-life painting course, a 3-week knitting class, a 5-week Painting the Portrait and Figure workshop led by acclaimed local artist Danni Dawson, and a mesmerizing 4-week exploration of Japanese Suminagashi and modern paper marbling. Plus, we have a drop-in class specially designed for parents and toddlers (2-4 years old) to introduce them to the world of art.
Classes for Young Kids:
At Generation Hope, we’re dedicated to supporting teen parents in college as they work toward earning their degrees. We are in need of caring child care volunteers for upcoming events on Saturday, October 21st (in Washington, DC), and Saturday, November 4th (in Arlington, VA). Join our growing volunteer community and support us at an event this fall!
At all of our events, we provide free onsite child care for the children of the teen parents we serve, creating a nurturing environment for the kiddos while their parents learn valuable life skills and build community.
If you enjoy working with children and are looking to make an immediate impact in your community, please visit https://www.generationhope.org/volunteer to learn more.
🌟 Calling all adventurous hearts! 🌟
💑 Get ready for an evening of excitement and connection as we present Speed Dating Night at The Renegade in Arlington, VA! 🌆
📅 Mark your calendars for Oct 20th, from 6-9 pm, because


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Bosch's new technician training centre has laid a path for the evolution of aftersales and will serve to encourage “pride in the brand”, Group Renault’s Mark Crockett has said.
Pentagon Motor Group has announced plans to close its Eccles Vauxhall dealership in early 2020, following Vauxhall’s decision to refranchise, termine its entire dealer network and issue new contracts to fewer dealers.
Nissan will "gradually discontinue" selling diesel cars in Europe, as it continues to push for electrification in its model ranges.
Thatcham Research has called for AEB to be fitted as standard on all EVs afte the Nissan LEAF set the standard with a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Demand for UK-built cars saw a double-digit decline during March to leave the manufacturing sector’s Q1 output down 6.1%, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has revealed.
Renault and Nissan could be preparing to cement their relationship with a merger that would see the French and Japanese car manufacturers form a single corporation, reports have claimed.
Thurlby Motors in Lincolnshire has ditched both its Nissan and Vauxhall franchises after it “suffered heavily” in 2016 and 2017 from demands to pre-register to hit increasing targets.
Automotive Management Live: Where franchised and independent dealers will find everything they need to know about operating a modern showroom and service and repair facility fit for the digital age.
When: November 12 2020
Where: Birmingham NEC
Find out what features are in this month's, and future, issues


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XBMC gets an upgrade that adds some of the most important features to date, namely better Raspberry Pi support, and PVR functionality
LG purchases WebOS, but the Open WebOS project is still apparently intact
The next Samsung Galaxy S release details will be discussed in New York on March 14th
No matter what technology exists, the wrong people seem to be in charge of turning the taps, argues Simon
Python is arguably the best programming language to build applications for Linux. This tutorial teaches Python by building a handy media converter application
Download the Ubuntu for Phones image now, as well as the Tablet version, and get a sneak peak of the developer build for the upcoming Mobile World Conference
The Ubuntu for Phones announcement has been quickly followed up by Ubuntu on Tablets, the image for which will be making an appearance tomorrow
Is this beta for one of the best community run distros around a good indicator for the full release, or a serious work in progress like last year?
A Mini ITX case with room for full grown components, the Node 304 has plenty of possible uses. Does it excel in any of them?
We interview Eben Upton about one year of Raspberry Pi, and highlight 10 of the best projects to grace the tiny PC all in the latest issue of Linux User & Developer
The international Firefox OS App days event finished just over a week ago, giving people a chance to make their own apps for Firefox OS
The secure boot loader image that the Linux Foundation promised has finally been released, and overcomes the controversial locked boot loaders of Windows 8 machines


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It's just now starting to feel like fall in earnest, but legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath is already preparing for the holidays. This week, Pat McGrath Labs released imagery teasing its 2018 holiday collection, featuring three new eye shadow palettes full of glittery pigments, a range of classic matte lipsticks and a line of shiny, shimmery lipsticks.
"When it comes to the holiday season, for me, it's all about adornment. These electrifyingly essential 18 shades are perfect for creating an infinite array of luxurious looks — from the subliminally sensual to the seductively sublime and the startlingly subversive," McGrath said of the eye shadow palettes in a release from the brand. "My fellow beauty junkies are always asking me on social media to bring back some of our most legendary labs. However, instead of reissuing them, I felt the time was right to create three new palettes."
In addition to new eye palettes, the collection also features Pat McGrath Labs' well-loved MatteTrance Lipstick collection outfitted in new, colorful packaging. The brand-new BlitzTrance collection of lipsticks, inspired by Bolan and Bowie, is the last part of the holiday drop.
Take a look at all the products from McGrath's Holiday 2018 collection.
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.


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Electronics Production | March 04, 2008
Ceravision selects Sanmina-SCI as manufacturing partner
UK based company Ceravision, the company behind the ultra energy efficient Continuum 2.4 bulb system, has selected Sanmina-SCI as its worldwide manufacturing partner.
The Continuum 2.4 bulb was unveiled as the lead technical paper at the LS-11 lighting industry conference in Shanghai in May 2007. The Continuum 2.4 bulb is a high-energy efficiency lighting system which uses microwave technology. "Since we launched the Continuum 2.4 system in May 2007, we have been overwhelmed by the response we have had from the lighting industry. The Continuum 2.4 addresses a global need for high light quality and enhanced energy efficiency, with an almost limitless range of applications," said Tim Reynolds, CEO of Ceravision. "With a number of OEM customers evaluating our design and more keen to do so, we realised that we needed a world-class manufacturing partner we could rely on to supply products to some of the most demanding customers in the industry." "Sanmina-SCI understands the potential of the Continuum 2.4," said Dennis Young, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for Sanmina-SCI. "We are looking forward to manufacturing the key components of Ceravision's innovative technology in Europe. This technology dramatically improves the power efficiency of RF lighting systems, enabling the design of more power-efficient, smaller, lighter and more cost-effective illumination solutions. Sanmina-SCI's advanced production technology and quality systems have met the demanding requirements that Ceravision expects their manufacturing partner to provide and we are excited about the opportunity." The Continuum 2.4 lamp system is the first in a range of innovative lighting solutions that will be available for use by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across an extensive range of applications including UV lighting, fibre-optic lighting, architectural lighting, front-projection and digital signage.
dSPACE adds West Coast office Simulation and validation specialist dSPACE has opened a Silicon Valley office in San Jose, California as part of its strategic realignment.
Cogiscan, BasiCAE form strategic partnership Quebec-based Cogiscan Inc. has announced a partnership with China’s BasiCAE Technology, a provider of traditional shop control systems and software customization services.
Korea hits new record of industrial robots in operation The World Robotics report presented by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) shows a new record stock of about 300,000 operational industrial robots in the Republic of Korea in 2018 (+10%).
Keytronic starts production at its new Vietnam facility Keytronic Corporation says it has started shipping product from its new Da Nang, Vietnam manufacturing facility.
USI's looking to accelerate expansion - acquires Asteelflash It looks like we’re ending 2019 with a bang. One of the worlds biggest EMS providers wants to acquire one of Europe’s largest electronics manufacturers.
Devon manufacturer adds capabilities in Dorset via acqusition Devon-based PCB manufacturer, EuroTech Group, is acquiring PCB manufacturer Lyncolec, based in Poole, Dorset.
Kyocera and TactoTek collaborate on IMSE solution Kyocera and TactoTek has singed a marketing agreement which aims to bring IMSE solutions to several new market segments, including industrial and automotive components, electronic devices, and more.
IPC: Unanimous approval of USMCA needed IPC issued a statement this week expressing support of the recently bi-partisan approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and a strong desire for legislative approval by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Nordson's CFO to retire in 2020 after 30 years with the company Nordson's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Gregory A. Thaxton, plans to retire in 2020 after thirty successful years with the company, with the last 12 years as CFO.
KUKA restructures subdivision due to economic uncertainty KUKA is restructuring a subdivision in the Robotics segment that is responsible for automated manufacturing solutions such as cells and special machines.
PCB industry recovers slightly in Q3 PCB manufacturers in the D/A/CH region were able to increase sales sequentially in the third quarter of 2019 by 1.1%. However, sales figures are 11% lower than those recorded for the third quarter of 2018, reports the industry association ZVEI PCB and Electronic Systems.
Garz & Fricke moves into new HQ in Hamburg-Harburg Garz & Fricke GmbH continues to expand. As of late October, the business operations of the HMI and Panel PC specialist will be transferring to the new headquarters in in Hamburg-Harburg.
TF Massif Technologies taps new CEO British Columbia-based TF Massif Technologies has announced the appointment of Tom Peregoodoff as the company’s new chief executive officer.
DoJ: Google, Fitbit deal under review The U.S. Justice Department is looking into anti-trust issues concerning Google's bid to buy Fitbit Inc.
L3Harris Tech secures U.S. Marine Corps order L3Harris Technologies received a USD 50 million follow-on delivery order for Falcon III AN/PRC-160 HF radios and related equipment from the U.S. Marine Corps .
Metair completes Romanian lithium-Ion battery cell factory South African energy storage company, Metair Investments, says that its Romanian units Prime Batteries and Rombat have completed the installation of the group's first Lithium-Ion battery cell manufacturing and assembly facility in Bucharest, Romania.
£5m award marks ‘topping out’ of Cardiff research powerhouse An GBP 80 million Cardiff University powerhouse for Welsh scientific research has been ‘topped out’ by Bouygues UK – backed by over GBP5 million support from Welsh Government and industrial partners.
Advanced Energy expands with new lab near Frankfurt Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. has opened its Advanced Materials Processing (AMP) Showcase Lab near Frankfurt, Germany.
TTM Technologies unveils NY engineering center On the heels of its acquisition of manufacturing and IP assets from i3 Electronics Inc., TTM Technologies has announced the opening of a new engineering center in Binghamton, NY.
EU Commission to support pan-European battery development Seven member states will provide, in the coming years, up to EUR 3.2 billion in funding to support research and innovation in the common European priority area of batteries.
The pulse of the electronics industry Growth is slowing worldwide and the industry’s outlook is less optimistic than in previous quarters, although it is still generally positive, according to the results of IPC’s fourth-quarter 2019 Pulse of the Electronics Industry survey.
Teradyne delivers J750 semiconductor test system to Ardentec Teradyne has hit a milestone with the 6,000th shipment of the J750 family of semiconductor testers.
Season Group names new SvP for global business development Season Group has appointed Stephen Tsao as the company's new Senior Vice President, Global Business Development.
Zestron appoints new sales director Europe Mr. Adam Meinert recently joined ZESTRON as the Sales Director of Europe.Load more news


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Issuing a Q1 2016 trading update (period ending 31 March), Ladbrokes Plc governance praised its ongoing strategic plan which it stated was garnering positive results and encouraging customer metrics.
Ladbrokes detailed positive KPI metrics for both its retail and digital betting assets, despite suffering the “worst Cheltenham Festival in living memory”.
The FTSE-listed operator under CEO Jim Mullen has implemented a ‘multi-channel recreational customer strategy’ recorded a 10% year-on-year group revenue uplift, detailing growth in customer activity within all core betting divisions.
Highlighting drivers, Ladbrokes governance noted the positive performance of its online sports betting division which generated a 59% net revenue uplift driven by a 28% increase in active players.
Ladbrokes Trading Update – Q1 2016
Ladbrokes governance was pleased to announce the continued momentum of its online sportsbook which has now registered nine consecutive quarters of wagering growth.
Further implementing its multi-channel strategy, Ladbrokes was able to implement the first phase of its ‘UK Retail Capital Expenditure Programme’, which saw 73 shops refurbished.
Despite the negative impact of Cheltenham 2016 on its opening results, Ladbrokes stated that it would maintain a disciplined and consistent approach to trading and pricing on key sports as the operator prepares for Euro 2016 activity with new marketing campaigns.
Jim Mullen, Ladbrokes Chief Executive, commented on 2016 opening performance:
“We have had an encouraging start to the year. Results throughout the first few weeks were largely in our favour and our customer metrics have continued to be strong. In Retail, the favourable margin trends inevitably began to take their toll on customers’ staking levels. We see plenty of evidence that indicates our plan is working but we are still early in our turnaround strategy and our priority remains on continued growth in our recreational customer base.
“Our focus remains on best in class customer service, superior quality of product and maximising the multi-channel potential of our business. We continue to be pleased by the reaction to our increased marketing, our products, and multi-channel proposition. We have enjoyed record weeks across key metrics including actives and staking in digital, SSBTs and multi-channel sign ups in retail.
“We will continue to deliver the strategy I laid out last summer to engage the recreational customer and reinforce our status as the nation’s favourite bookmaker. At Cheltenham, we were reminded of the intense competition with offers and pricing at levels which, in our view, abandoned bookmaking principles. We competed hard but refused to pursue unsustainable strategies and our stance remains that we will compete where we know we can get the right returns from the right customers.


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Sevenoaks Town Council creates a Pop-Up Marketplace for Local Traders during May & June to help them trade whilst some pandemic restrictions remain in place
Since March 2020 it has been a difficult time for local businesses fuelled by uncertainty and changing restrictions during the pandemic needed to keep everyone safe.
With the new government guidelines for opening up town centres there is hope that businesses can start to operate again and welcome back customers. There are however some public health restrictions still in place and not all businesses have suitable premises or locations to meet them. Some cafes whilst being able to have outdoor seating are on narrow pavements and therefore cannot do this and their customers want somewhere to eat and drink the refreshments.
Due to the generous offer from Sevenoaks District Council, Sevenoaks Town Council is able to create a Pop-Up Marketplace in the town centre which will enable traders to have pop up stalls, a pleasant seating and entertainment area. This will be open throughout May and June, Mondays to Saturdays. The project is also supported by the Sevenoaks Town Team.
In addition, it is planned to produce a map indicating take away outlets and green open spaces and seating areas available to the public. This is an ambitious timetable to get this in place for 1st May 2021 and the Town Council is grateful to local businesses and traders who are already offering their support with this initiative.
Linda Larter MBE
Chief Executive / Town Clerk
1st April 2021