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Showing results for
Toraño Vault LFC
It’s been three years since Toraño announced it would be handling its own distribution as a result of CAO’s move to the General Cigar Co….
Toraño will have a new line at the IPCPR trade show, Salutem. The new blend features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan Jalapa binder, and a…


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FedEx Boosts Profit Forecast, Cites Cost Cuts as Effective
FedEx Corp.’s shares jumped the most in nine months after the courier boosted its profit outlook, signaling efforts to cut costs are helping counter a decline in package volume.
FedEx Pilots Plan Strike Authorization Vote as Labor Talks Stall
FedEx Corp. pilots are inching closer to a potential strike as negotiations stall on a new labor agreement.
FedEx Express’ Bolduc Looks to Turn Back the Clock
Five years ago, Roland Bolduc was grand champion at the National Truck Driving Championships. He's hoping history repeats itself in August.
FedEx to Invest $100 Million in Logistics Company in India
FedEx Express Corp. on July 16 said it has entered into equity and commercial agreements with Delhivery, a logistics and supply chain services company in India, which will utilize their combined strengths to unlock India’s international trade potential.
FedEx Posts Loss in Q4, Shows Improvement From Year Ago
FedEx said its fourth-quarter net income was a loss of $334 million, or negative $1.28 a share, compared with a loss of $1.97 billion, or negative $7.56 a share, in the 2019 period.
FedEx Names Don Colleran New CEO of Express
FedEx Corp. named company veteran Don Colleran president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express, the latest change linked to a shakeup of the shipping company’s top executives last month.March 19, 2019
FedEx Express Agrees to Buy International Business From Israeli Firm
FedEx Express is acquiring the international express delivery business of Flying Cargo Group, a company based in Israel that has been a service partner with FedEx since 1990, company officials announced Jan. 15.January 25, 2019
Ryder Buys 900 Commercial Electric Vehicles From Chanje
Ryder System Inc. announced it is buying 900 Class 5 electric vehicles from truck maker Chanje Energy Inc., and that FedEx Corp. will lease the vehicles from Ryder and buy 100 of the same all-electric trucks itself.
FedEx Posts $3 Billion Profit in Fiscal 2017; Freight Division Lags Express, Ground
FedEx Corp. reported a sharp increase in annual profits, rocketing 65% year-over-year and easily beating forecasts by a consensus of industry analysts.

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Google's Marlin And Sailfish Will Not Have Nexus Or HTC BrandingBy cheatmaster 07:28 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 Comments
If a recent report allegedly coming from "several people familiar with Google's plans" is to be believed, then the Nexus program is dead. The Huawei Nexus 6P and LG Nexus 5X from last year have been the last Nexus-branded smartphones ever.
The highly anticipated (and much-leaked) two handsets built by HTC that we thought would be 2016's Nexuses will instead have different branding, the same unnamed sources go on to claim. This isn't detailed any further, so it could just be that they will be called Google phones or something like that.
Furthermore, the Marlin and Sailfish won't have HTC's brand anywhere on them either, despite the fact that the Taiwanese company is producing them. With Nexus handsets, the manufacturer's brand featured alongside the Nexus logo. This won't be the case anymore.
All of this kind of fits with what Google CEO Sundar Pichai assumed in June, namely that the company would acquire involved in phone design more than before. The Marlin and Sailfish handsets will ship with "additional software and a tweaked interface atop vanilla Android", differentiating their user experience from the Nexus phones which basically all shipped with 'pure' Android. We've already heard that such alterations to the Operating System (OS) include a recent launcher, a recent design for the software navigation buttons, and the integration of Google Assistant throughout.
Finally, one source was apparently able to confirm that Google is also working on two smartwatches that will be released before the discontinue of the year, something first uttered in a leak from July.
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The nation's first Eagles lodge will move from Georgetown to a former quilting store on Lake City Way.
The nation’s original Eagles lodge has found a new home: A former quilting store on Seattle’s Lake City Way just off Interstate 5.
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 1, which sold its old building in Georgetown to a developer in September, bought the former In The Beginning store at 8201 Lake City Way N.E. for $2.1 million, according to county records.
Marc Eisberner, a trustee and former president, said the lodge plans to remodel the building’s interior and occupy it in four to six months. After renovations it will include meeting rooms, a bar, kitchen, dining area and museum where items from the Eagles archives will be displayed, he said.
Aerie No. 1 was the Eagles’ first lodge, established in 1898. It moved to Georgetown in the 1980s from its longtime home in downtown Seattle, a building once known as the Eagles Auditorium that now houses A Contemporary Theatre (ACT).
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Eisberner said the two-story, 10,000-square-foot building on Lake City Way is a better fit for the Eagles, whose membership, like that of most fraternal organizations, has declined.
The Georgetown building, a former bowling alley, “was way too big,” he said. “We had three or four times the membership when we moved there.”
Broker Norman Ives, who represented the lodge in the transaction, said the 1985 structure also should mean fewer maintenance headaches than the old space.
The In The Beginning shop once was a mecca for quilters and crafters. The Yenter family, which owns the company, closed the retail store several years ago to focus on fabric design.
Since then it has been used mostly for storage, said the family’s broker, Greg Inglin, of Pacific Real Estate Partners.
Eric Pryne: 206-464-2231 or email@example.com


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On September 12, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals that legendary John Elias that was behind many of Apple's original multitouch patents that made the iPhone a reality is now back at refining the patent claims of a smart pen design that he first introduced in 2011.
On August 29, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a new and elaborate collaboration system for videoconferencing that could be useful for the enterprise or for future distant leaning applications. The system introduces new interactive pie menus that will work with a sophisticated pen that will include memory and other advanced functions. Apple notes that as the pen advances toward the menu presented on a large presentation screen, an opening will automatically be created in the menu so that no content is covered by the presenter's hand or arm. Additionally, Apple notes that the new menu system will work with custom applications designed for this system yet also work with traditional software such as Photoshop, PowerPoint, and other common applications. Apple must think this is an important invention considering that this is a follow-up application to their already granted patent issued back in March.
Every once in a while we check out various IP databases around the world to see if we could find any Apple activity. Well, Bingo, we found three all new smart pen patents from Apple that are chock full of great ideas. In between Apple's US patent filings published in May and December, Apple's engineers were filing new patents in Europe that were published just two months ago. These have not been published in the US yet and so they're new to us. And boy does Apple go deeply into the rabbit hole or what. Apple has a ton of new ideas on how to advance the smart pen. Yet the one twist that I thought was intriguing is that Apple appears to be seriously thinking of turning smart pen tips into an accessory business. Do you want your pen to be a brush? No problem, here is a new pen tip for that: Ka-Ching. Do you want your pen to double as a bar code reader? No Problem, here is a tip for that: Ka-Ching. And there are a lot of "Ka-Chingy" ideas in these three new patents to go around. Check it out.
Our last patent report for 2012 goes to a new patent application that was published by the US Patent office last week regarding an advanced "Active Stylus." Over the years, Apple has stated that they weren't interested in a 7" iPad and now it's going to be one of Apple's hottest selling products in 2013. Apple denied they had interest in a cellphone of their own and storing data in the sky, now the cloud, was quite humorous to Steve Jobs. Yes, Apple has said they weren't interested in certain products just to turn around and actually deliver them as the next great thing. The old boring dumb stick called the stylus is another one that Steve Jobs supposedly didn't like and at the time it made sense. Yet it's just a known fact that Apple's engineers have been working on "reinventing" the stylus for years now, contrary to their public stance. Even the idea that it was too easy to lose a stylus has been overcome with the advent of Apple's work with encoded magnets that's behind the iPad's Smart Cover product. Today, the stylus is more like a crayon than a pen. Samsung's Galaxy Note product with a stylus is a case in point. It just sucks as a pen. Apple's latest invention introduces the "active stylus" to overcome common stylus problems and names the iPhone and iPad by name as products that may be able to take advantage of the active stylus in the future.
On May 24, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two major patent applications from Apple relating to a future iPen. In our first report published this morning titled "Apple Sheds More Light on their iPen & Graphics Program," we covered Apple's push into specialized haptics for a future iPen. In our second report, we focus on Apple's consideration of using an optical based iPen. The unique angle taken by Apple's optical pen is a fascinating approach to determine a pen's location on a tablet surface. One of the secrets utilized in this approach uses invisible indicia.
On May 24, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that sheds more light on their future iPen and related graphics program. Apple continues to spend time and R&D funding on a future iPen device that's being designed to work with all of Apple's tablet-styled iDevices. The focus found in today's invention is twofold. Firstly, Apple is thinking of adding advanced haptics to the iPen so that the end user will be able to feel brush strokes and/or line thicknesses for example. Secondly, Apple is designing the iPen with a built-in mini speaker so as to provide users with various forms of audio feedback. To make all of this interesting and relevant, Apple sheds a little light on how their iPen will work with either a new graphics/paint program of their own and/or with known apps such as Autodesk and Microsoft's Paint.
Once in a while we're treated to a new Apple invention that virtually contains a new self-contained world of possibilities and vocabulary to enrich it. It comes out of the blue and feeds our need for meaty new technology brimming with potential. Today is such a day. This is such an invention. Apple's invention reveals a wild world of programmable magnetic devices, and more particularly, to security for computing devices and peripherals that may be provided by programmable magnets. And yet, it reveals so much more than that. Apple envisions this technology eventually working into iOS devices to produce wild haptic effects using Ferrofluids on touchscreens and virtual keyboards. It will also allow Apple's iOS to present light based points on the display as a way to guide a user through a process like a teacher. This is wild stuff folks and it only scratches the surface of what's to come. Grab a coffee, sit back and really enjoy one of the most fascinating patent applications to have surfaced in some time. Update 4 PM MST: Apple reveals inductive charging and/or other wireless charging using coded magnetscoming to a new MacBook Dock in a secondary patent.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 18 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. One of the most important patents within this group is for a super smart-pen. In fact, it's so smart that it's described as being a portable computer. The smart-pen, which is noted as using an ARM processor, is also likely to incorporate recording capabilities and act as a pager, as the pen incorporates a tiny LCD. The patent notes that the device's rechargeable battery may also incorporate pyroelectricity and a custom-built solar cell. It should be noted that Apple has likely acquired this patent from a Great Britain inventor who originally filed the patent in 1998 or nine years prior to Livescribe coming to market. This is important – as a recent Apple patent application which reflects Livescribe-like capabilities is actually building on the foundation of this newly granted patent and advances the smart pen to include voice, face and object recognition modules and more. This is Apple's thirteenth smart-pen related patent since 2009. The trend illustrates that Apple is attempting to develop a family of smart pens for future iOS devices that would appeal to both the artist and enterprise user. The depth of innovation illustrated in Apple's string of smart-pen patents goes far beyond purely defensive measures.
According to our Smart Pen Archives, Apple has now filed more than a dozen smart pen patent applications over the last few years with each one getting more innovative and detailed. One of the most advanced patent applications on smart pens to date was published this past April and one of two patent applications on this subject published today illustrates that Apple is really trying to find a smart pen solution that could also work with ordinary paper. Students and professional doodlers alike could work on ordinary paper and/or notebooks and then simply transfer their data to the device of their choosing when they're done. Other equally innovative ideas that surfaced today include a unique heating element that provides the iPen's tip with smooth action on the display in any temperature and even an integrated iPen dock to charge the Pen's battery. With Apple working on so many advanced iPen options of late, it's evident that the Crazy Ones in Cupertino think that they're closing in on the perfect smart pen.
A number of patents have surfaced over the last two years concerning light pens and apps moving to touch screens. While one of the first detailed patents surfaced in 2009 in relation to business forms, we've since seen some serious advances in Apple's pursuit of the Smart-Pen including a huge leap in the field of graphics pens. It's the latter that's interesting in light of Apple's latest patent revelation that Aperture is coming to touch displays including handhelds like the iPad. It may even come to future desktops and laptops that offer touch displays, according to Apple. An advanced graphics pen would be great for fast photo touch-ups and appreciated by photographers using Aperture on-the-go. Who knows, maybe Apple is even gearing this up for future hybrid systems. Time will tell.
If I didn't carefully read the overview of a recent Apple patent, I could have easily missed the entire revelation of a new smart pen system that is being worked on in Apple's hallowed Cupertino labs. Although Apple has been amassing smart pen patents over recent years, nothing comes close to this one. The funny thing about this one is – there's not a single smart pen graphic to be had. No, this patent is different. This patent provides us with an overview, a master plan of how a smart pen could fit into the bigger picture. Apple is working on a very complex information collecting and retrieval system that is military grade and the smart pen simply plays a major role. Prior to the iPhone coming to market, the naysayers said that Apple would never get into the phone business. They just didn't get Apple's vision of "Think Different" – no matter their lip-service to the concept. Well, it's time to think different, again – whether they like it, or not.
In our second granted patent report of the day, we present you with a number of Apple's granted patents relating to Mail, Aperture and iPhoto. Yet perhaps the more important granted patents of the day go to two specific patents covering Apple's e-ink and magnetometer technologies; the latter of which is central to Apple's geo-location services found in all current iPhone and 3G iPad devices.
Last July Apple was granted a patent for a graphics tablet and since then several other specialty pen and display patents have come to light. Today's patent report covers a new stylus-friendly touch display designed to work with a new kind of stylus that works with a conductive disk and unique pivoting head. While the proposed pen system could be used with standard iPhone apps, the patent clearly points to the system being more graphics oriented as it mentions working with brush tools and the like. And lastly, the new pen even has a gaming angle to it that could be fun.
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 18 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notables within this first group includes one that relates to Apple's portable device retail packaging that Steve Jobs lent a hand in somehow and another for invisible light transitive displays that have, in-part, already been put into action on MacBooks. Lastly, Apple has won their fourth and fifth Light Sensitive displays in the last four months. The proof of a future display working with an advanced light-pen is certainly gathering steam.


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Protests broke out at Foxconn’s largest iPhone factory in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou today. is iPhone production in jeopardy?
Foxconn factory jeopardizes iPhone production
Riots broke out at Foxconn, the world’s largest iPhone manufacturer in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou. At least, that’s what it turns out videos shared on social media. There we see how hundreds of Foxconn employees protest and clash with the local police.
The reason behind these strikes seems to be the failure to keep promises. However, the Foxconn factory has been in the news more often in recent years. We already know this about the strikes and we tell you if iPhone production is really in danger.
Is iPhone production in danger?
Zhengzhou is home to the largest iPhone factory with about 200,000 employees. About 70 percent of the iPhones that Apple sells roll off this assembly line. In recent years, the factory has had a lot of trouble with the Chinese government’s corona policy. Employees were often unable to go to work … or back again due to these covid blockages. When they get there, and another lockdown is announced, they are stuck at work.
The employees also complain about the food they (don’t) get. Other noises are about the lack of promised bonuses. Due to staffing problems at the factory, iPhone production is expected to drop by as much as 30 percent. Foxconn has tried to solve the delivery problems by offering bonuses. These promises have therefore not been fulfilled.
Foxconn often faces (personnel) problems
The Chinese factory that produces the new iPhone 14, among other things, has not been completely free of problems in recent times. For example, the delivery date of the iPhone 14 would have been at risk due to circumstances. In September, for example, we did not yet know whether the iPhone 14 would be in stores on time.
Last week, Apple’s factories also (still) had supply problems due to the recent pandemic. Apple says these delivery issues are not unexpected. The company has previously warned that iPhone production was at risk. It doesn’t look like the situation is getting better any time soon. Major chip makers say demand will continue to outpace supply in the coming year. The strikes in the factories do not help to solve this either.
iPhone production at risk? Apple factory workers strike
RealityOS: all the rumors surrounding Apple’s new operating system
Black Friday 2022: all AirPods deals in a row
When is the release of Apple Music Classical?
iPhone (2007) vs iPhone 14 Pro (2022): 15 years of changes


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Don`t wanna miss a post?
HTC, a Taiwan-based telecommunications manufacturer has joined hands with Bitcoin.com. This partnership seeks to integrate a wallet that supports bitcoin...
Opening of cryptocurrency trading platform with tokenized stocks will allow investors to trade in such companies as Tesla and Google
Over half of South Korea’s crypto exchanges failed to pass a recent government security check, according to a report by CoinDesk Korea.
Yesterday, the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) unveiled its 4,000-square-foot Blockchain Center, reiterating its belief in the long-term benefits of this technology.
Talking about the most promising altcoins to watch in 2019 and the reasons why these projects are very likely to survive the crypto winter
IOTA Foundation announced its new partnership with Crypto Storage AG with the aim of developing an institution-grade storage solution for the IOTA token
Swiss bank and brokerage company Swissquote witnessed record profits last year. This latest development is, in part, attributable to its entry into the cryptocurrency trading space.
Slowmist released an analytical report on the recent 51% attack against Ethereum Classic. Several exchanges were affected by the attack.
Swiss startup Zulu Republic is developing a bot that allows users to send and receive cryptocurrencies via the Facebook Messenger app.
Since the cryptocurrency market and the blockchain industry is currently at the downtrend, is there a chance for mass adoption of crypto?
Despite the bear market, most experts believe that the adoption cryptocurrencies will remain steadfast. Here are 9 predictions for 2019.


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TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) — American Honda Motor Co. Inc. said Tuesday its U.S. sales jumped 24 percent in the last month of the year, but fell 19.5 percent for all of 2009.
BY THE NUMBERS: Sales jumped to 107,143 vehicles from 86,085 in December of 2008. For all of 2009, sales fell to 1,150,784 from 1,428,765.
THE DIVISIONS: Sales in the Honda division rose 18.9 percent in December compared with 2008. But the company’s Acura division reported a 8.1 decline.
TOP SELLER: Accord sales increased 17.3 percent in December to 28,238.
HOT MODELS: The CR-V increased sales by 24.5 percent to 18,686 to hit a new December record.


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Coty posted a decline in net revenues during the first quarter, driven by a slowdown in the mass nail and fragrance markets, and consequently reduced low orders and trade destocking particularly in the U.S. mass channel.
Coty has announced that, effective July 1, Stephen Mormoris will be appointed SVP global marketing American fragrances for Coty Prestige. In addition, Johanna Businelli has been promoted to the newly created role of SVP color cosmetics for Coty Beauty.
Coty announced on Friday the unveiling of its new corporate website, which modernizes the company's digital presence and is designed to reflect Coty's innovative "Faster. Further. Freer." corporate culture.
Thanks to technological innovations within mascara, the category has driven sales of eye makeup, and looking forward, mascara formulas that are infused with eyelash-enhancing treatments and packaging that offers greater customization not only will volumize lashes but also sales at retail.


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Following an earlier leak of the name “Assassin's Creed Mirage” and a few details, Ubisoft has now confirmed at least some of the leak is true. Images of the what seems to be cover art was leaked to Twitter a few days and Ubisoft began to copyright strike the images.
While Ubisoft was originally trying to take down the leaked images, it seems to have just accepted the fact the everyone knows the game exists now. The company has officially revealed on Twitter that the next Assassin's Creed game will be Mirage.
From the image provided on Twitter by Ubisoft, it looks like Assassin's Creed Mirage will be taking players to the middle east. At first glance it appears to be India and the main character is wearing the classic assassin shroud, complete with the assassin gauntlet and blade.
We'll be getting our first real look at the new game during the Ubisoft Forward event on September 10th next week. The event will be livestreamed online at 9pm CEST | 12pm PT next weekend.


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LONDON – European shares ended lower on Tuesday after tracking Wall Street down in late trade, although media stocks were strong following recent underperformance and speculation that Dow Jones might be sold.
The UK's FTSEurofirst 300 (search) index unofficially closed 4 points lower at 1,188.59, after earlier inching up towards three-year highs before U.S. markets opened down.
The Dow Jones industrial average in New York was 67 points weaker at 1530 GMT after a disappointing outlook from retail giant Wal-Mart (WMT), a mixed bag of inflation data and a lower-than-expected rise in U.S. industrial production last month.
"We have basically replicated what the U.S markets are doing. The U.S. CPI inflation figures, the oil price creeping up and Wal-Mart being nothing special have hurt," said a trader.
"We have also had a good run, and European stock markets seem to be running out of steam. Lots of companies have reported, which was giving steam to the market, but now that impetus is not there."
The European media sector was the lead gainer as it rebounded from recent underperformance, while a report that members of Dow Jones's controlling shareholder family were pressing for a sale also helped.
France's Vivendi Universal gained 1 percent, and Reuters rose after dealers said JP Morgan and financial group Man were upbeat on the stock.
"The media sector has been a bit weak, but there is not one particular influence for why it has been strong today," said Paul Bates, an analyst at brokers Charles Stanley.
Other stocks on the increase were German industrial conglomerate Linde, which rose on renewed takeover rumours, and drug firm AstraZeneca, which added 1.3 percent.
Britain's FTSE 100 index lost 22 points and was weaker even before the Dow opened as high petrol prices helped UK inflation rise above its target in July to the highest level since 1997, denting hopes of further interest rate cuts.


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A proposal to introduce a mandatory minimum 5 year expiry date on gift vouchers is being considered.
At the moment there is no regulation in this area.
Minister for Enterprise Heather Humphries says the current system is frustrating for consumers because the vouchers are not clear about their cut off point.
She is to bring forward legislation in the near future.
- Digital Desk


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Posted Feb 01, 2013
Sport Obermeyer founder Klaus Obermeyer, 93, talks about the Aspen based company and how they continue to innovate after 65 years. Obermeyer produces men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel sold at more than 600 specialty retailers around the world.
Palestinian refugees in Egypt say they have it worse than those who fled to other countries because they do not rec
Teams compete to build the most impressive human towers in Catalonia where the tradition is common during festival
Twenty-eight firefighters from 18 departments were at EXDO Event Center to try out for a spot on the 2014 Colorado


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Weight Watchers International Inc. &#x 2019; s unlikely rally has fresh momentum.
0; weight-loss business &#x 2019; s shares increased as much as 22 percent to $54.47 on Tuesday after it increased its revenue projection. The gain would put the stock &#x 2019; s year-to-date rise at about 375 percent.
Weight Watchers likewise continued its streak of including customers, another indication that its innovation financial investments and marketing project
0; are settling. Secret to the effort is board member Oprah Winfrey , who obtained a stake in business 2 years ago
0; and consented to end up being the face of the program.
With the current increase, Winfrey &#x 2019; s holdings in the business have actually now produced nearly $300 million in possible earnings for the media magnate.
&#x 201C; It &#x 2019; s strong development, &#x 201D; Chief Executive Officer Mindy Grossman stated in an interview. &#x 201C; The group has actually done an actually excellent task concentrating on the quality of the numbers. &#x 201D;
Winfrey will as soon as again appear in advertisements throughout the critical winter, Grossman stated.
For the 3rd quarter, revenues totaled up to 65 cents a share, beating the 51-cent price quote. Weight Watchers now anticipates full-year earnings of as much as $1.83, up from a previous high-end projection of $1.67.
Grossman, 60, took control of at the business in July after years of running the shopping network HSN Inc. She acquired a service that was on the rebound after years of stock decreases and client losses.
Winfrey, 63, obtained a 10 percent stake in Weight Watchers in 2015 and accepted pitch the brand name. She likewise got alternatives that would bring her holdings to nearly 15 percent. Her participation with the business assisted stimulate a temporary rally that fizzled in 2016. The shares have actually come roaring back in 2017.
When she obtained her 10 percent stake, the stock was trading listed below $7. She acquired the holding for about $43.2 million. That stake was now worth about $334 million on Tuesday, bringing her a possible windfall of approximately $290 million.
Including the alternatives, her complete financial investment is now worth more than $500 million.
An upgraded diet plan program and a much better digital platform have actually added to the business &#x 2019; s development. Weight Watchers likewise has actually revamped its conferences, which long acted as an essential part of the five-decade-old system.
&#x 201C; We are positive our organisation momentum will continue throughout the balance of the year, &#x 201D; Chief Financial Officer Nick Hotchkin stated .


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Casey's Appoints C-store Industry Veteran as New President & CEO
ANKENY, Iowa — Darren Rebelez is taking reins as the new president and CEO of Casey's General Stores Inc.
The convenience store retailer's board of directors appointed Rebelz to fill the position when Terry Handley, current president and CEO, retires this month. The changing of the guard becomes effective June 24.
Rebelz will also join Casey's board.
He joins Casey's with more than 25 years of business leadership experience focused on operations, marketing and merchandising for large corporations in each of the convenience store, fuel and restaurant industries. He currently serves as president of IHOP, a unit of Dine Brands Global.
"We are thrilled to welcome Darren to the Casey's family," said H. Lynn Horak, chairman of the board. "Darren brings a remarkable combination of leadership experience in the convenience store, fuel and restaurant industries, and he has an impressive track record of driving performance and innovation.
"We have enjoyed getting to know Darren through our succession planning process and are confident that he will build on Casey's strong heritage of customer service, employee development, giving back to our communities, and our focus on creating sustainable growth and profitability," Horak added.
At IHOP, Rebelz has overseen operational performance and segment earnings growth, developed and implemented digital strategies to connect guests via mobile platforms and online channels, and grown the brand to become the largest full-service restaurant concept in the United States by unit count, according to Casey's.
"I am honored to join the Casey's team at an exciting and dynamic time for both the company and the industry," Rebelez said. "I have long admired Casey's and look forward to working closely with its talented team to continue providing outstanding service to local communities across our markets and creating value for all of Casey's stakeholders."
Prior to joining IHOP in 2015, Rebelez worked for nearly eight years with 7-Eleven Inc., where he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Before Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven, he held numerous management roles within ExxonMobil and at Thornton Oil Corp.
Handley is stepping down after 38 years with Casey's.
"On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Terry for his dedication and tremendous contributions to Casey's over his nearly four decades with the company," Horak said. "The company has benefited greatly from Terry's contributions over the years. We wish Terry many years of enjoyment and fulfillment in his retirement."
Handley leaves as the c-store retailer moves into the second year of its value creation plan. The multi-year, long-term strategy is comprised of several key programs and value drivers: new fleet card program, retail price optimization, digital engagement transformation, and a focus on controlling operating expenses and capital allocation, as Convenience Store News previously reported.
"I would like to sincerely thank everyone at Casey's for their support and partnership throughout my career," he said. "I have great pride in our many accomplishments and the hard work and dedication of all Casey's employees. It has been a privilege to lead and be part of such a talented team, and I look forward to seeing Casey's continue to build on its momentum in fiscal 2020 and beyond."
Ankeny-based Casey's General Stores operates 2,100 convenience stores in 16 states throughout the Midwest.
Casey's secured the No. 5 spot on the 2019 Convenience Store News Top 20 Growth Chains ranking by adding the most stores between January 2018 and January 2019.


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Free Registration Now Available for Annual Virtual Event on January 12, 2022
Exploring How Micro Electric Vehicles are Radically Improving our World
Bird Global, Inc. (NYSE:BRDS), a leader in shared environmentally friendly electric transportation, today announced its participation in Micromobility World, a global summit hosted by Micromobility Industries.
The event’s marquee presentation, “The Macro of Micromobility,” will feature a fireside chat with Micromobility Industries Founder and creator of the term “micromobility,” Horace Dediu and the Founder and CEO of Bird, Travis VanderZanden. The live event marks the first time the two visionaries will publicly discuss a variety of topics ranging from the future of micro electric transportation, vehicle design, evolution of policy in this space as well as other industry and business updates.
The thought-provoking discussion, taking place at 10:15 a.m. Pacific Time on January 12, 2022, will provide valuable insights and industry updates for policy makers, city stakeholders and transportation planners alike.
About Micromobility World
Micromobility World 2022 is a free event that will highlight global changes in the ways in which we move things and people. Fueled by the relentless growth of cities, micromobility devices—including hoverboards, scooters, e-bikes, pod vehicles and everything in-between—have emerged as the world’s most popular form of EVs, eclipsing cars. Registration is free and can be obtained at this link.
Bird is an electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solutions such as e-scooters and e-bikes to communities across the world. Founded in 2017 by transportation pioneer Travis VanderZanden, Bird is rapidly expanding. Today, it provides fleets of shared micro electric vehicles to riders in more than 350 cities globally and makes its products available for purchase at www.bird.co and via leading retailers and distribution partners. Bird partners closely with the cities in which it operates to provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for people who live and work there.


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General decline in new vehicle sales in 2020
JOHANNESBURG - Vehicle sales started the year on a weak note, with the new vehicle market continuing to show a decline in January as sales fell 8.1percent year-on-year, hit by weak demand.
Data from the Department of Trade and Industry yesterday showed aggregate domestic sales at 39475 units, a decline of 3481 units, from the 42 956 vehicles sold in January last year. Export sales at 11373 units also fell by 6877 units, or 37.7percent, compared to 18250 vehicles exported in January last year.
The January 2020 new passenger car market saw a decline of 5.1percent to 28116 units from 29616 new cars sold in the same period last year. Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and minibuses dipped 16.3percent to 9791 units from 11700 light commercial vehicles sold during the corresponding month last year.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) said sustained weak demand for domestic new vehicles continued in January on the back of depressed consumer and business confidence, weak economic growth, record-high unemployment and power utility Eskom’s electricity supply crisis.
However, Naamsa said the momentum of vehicle exports over the course of the year should increase further. Naamsa said industry export sales for the year could reach about 390000 units compared to the record 387125 vehicles exported last year.
In some reprieve for motorists, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe has announced on Monday that motorists will be paying 13 cents per litre less for petrol and 5 c/l less for diesel from midnight on Tuesday.
In a statement released on Monday, Mantashe said the reason for the decrease in the fuel prices was due to lower global crude oil prices during the period under review.


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Marks and Spencer sorry for automated filter that banned words 'gay' and 'Jesus Christ' from gift messages
Marks and Spencer has apologised for banning the words ‘gay’ and ‘Jesus Christ’ from being used in personalised gift messages.
The retailer had refused to approve the words when a customer would type them in for a customised message to be included with a delivery of flowers.
If any banned words were used, a message would come up that said: “Sorry, there’s something in your message we can’t write.”
But now it appears that M&S allows the words. However, explicit words such as ‘f***’ and ‘b******’ are still prohibited.
In a statement to Pink News, the retailer said: “We apologise for any offence caused, it was certainly never our intention.
“An automatic phrase checker is in place to prevent the use and misuse of certain words and it includes hundreds of words of varying nature.”
Nutella recently came under fire for banning the words ‘Muslim’, ‘Jew’ and ‘lesbian’ in a personalised jar advertising campaign in France.
The company explained that an algorithm was designed to filter them out, including the words ‘palm oil’ – in reference to a controversial ingredient included in the chocolate spread.
Sports brand Adidas was also criticised last year when it banned the word ‘gay’ from customisable trainers, shortly after announcing Tom Daley – an Olympic diver who came out at the end of 2013 – as the new face of their NEO label.
A spokesperson from the brand said that the decision to ban words alluding to a person’s sexuality in order to prevent offensive phrases reflected “the sad reality of the society we live in”.
Belfast Telegraph Digital


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Online shoppers in the U.S. spent $32.6 billion during the 2010 holiday season – a 12% increase when compared to last year and, according to online analytics company comScore, an “all-time record for the season.” Interestingly, while the power of Cyber Monday has often been downplayed recently as online shoppers don’t have to go to work to get online anymore, this year’s Monday after Thanksgiving was the busiest online shopping day of the season. Online shoppers spent slightly more than $1 billion on this day alone (up 16% from last year) – making it the first day to top the billion dollar mark since comScore started tracking this data.
Half of All Transactions Included Free Shipping
It doesn’t come as a surprise that the 2010 holiday season performed much better than last year’s. After all, the U.S. was still in the throes of a major recession. This year, the availability of free shipping offers also gave shoppers more reasons to buy online. According to comScore almost half of all e-commerce transactions were shipped for free.


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ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers 15-04-2021
ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
Crude Oil Prices Trend
Occidental Petroleum subsidiary Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV) and biotechnology firm Cemvita Factory are planning to build a bioethylene production facility that will produce monomer from artificial carbon dioxide (CO2), the company said.
The pilot plant will have a capacity of 1 ton per month and will produce bioethylene using artificial carbon dioxide, water and light. Production is due to start in 2022. The companies did not say where the plant will be built. The technology is competitive with ethylene derived from hydrocarbons, although the company did not specify prices.
If successful, the project could provide Occidental with another source of ethylene, which it uses to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), said Robert Zeller, vice president of technology for OLCV.
The process being developed by Cemvita and OLCV is not the only one that can produce ethylene from artificial carbon dioxide.
For over a decade, the Brazilian polyolefin manufacturer Braskem has been producing ethylene by dehydrating ethanol at its Triunfo facility in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Braskem previously announced plans to expand the plant’s capacity.
Ethylene is the main raw material for the production of polyethylene (PE).
New additives solutions make regional debut for packaging & greenhouse films
More support for sustainable innovation in China’s plastics industry & application sectors ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
Building a footprint for collaboration and tailored solutions
At Chinaplas 2021, Clariant will debut new high-end sustainable additive solutions for plastics to support local manufacturers in adapting quickly to the requirements of highly-demanding new applications and environmental goals (Booth 15E39).
As China embraces new sustainability targets, its manufacturing segments are adopting a more environmentally-considerate approach to innovation and answering application trends. In response, Clariant is increasing local access to performance-boosting, resource-efficient additives encouraging reduction, re-use and recycling of plastics. As well as greater use of renewable feedstocks and biopolymers for more applications. All part of a wider stepping up of its local production footprint and collaborative, joint development focus to help the plastics value chain advance technology, performance and the shift to circularity in China’s growth markets.
Viridor and Tomra have formed a partnership in a bid for the design, build and operate the Scottish deposit return scheme (DRS) counting and sorting centres.
Scotland is set to launch a DRS initiative in 2022, which it hopes will drive collection rates on drinks containers to levels in excess of 90 per cent, reducing littering and contributing to net zero climate goals. The counting and sorting centres represent a critical part of the infrastructure required to underpin the efficient and accurate function of the DRS. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
Viridor’s director of business development (Polymers), Luke Burgess, said: “Viridor, has a long history of investing in Scottish recycling infrastructure, and the DRS offers the opportunity to supplement that investment and contribute to green job creation and the development of a truly circular economy.
Cooking up your dish of instant noodles or soup could soon get even faster: the all-important tastemaker, which now comes packaged in aluminum foil pouches, could soon be marketed in sachets that could be eaten.
Having developed the technology for the preparation of edible, biodegradable and functional seaweed film using red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and green seaweed (Ulva lactuca), scientists at the Visakhapatnam Research Centre of the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIGF) are in the final stages of offering this technology for commercial production. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
While the technology to use edible biopolymers and biodegradable films and sachets from macroalgae or seaweed in the food industry isn’t new — it was famously used for the first time in the 2019 London Marathon, when runners going past Mile 23 were handed out edible sachets containing a Lucozade energy drink which they could either swallow or discard — this is arguably the first time this revolutionary technology has been developed in India. The environmental advantages of using edible sachets can be gauged from the fact that while these sachets biodegrade in four to six weeks, a plastic water bottle takes approximately 450 years to biodegrade completely.
The proverbial rising tide that lifts all boats doesn’t seem to be working out for Europe’s plastics converting industry. The sector is experiencing “severe shortages of raw materials and [unprecedented] price increases,” according to the European Plastics Converters (EUPC) association. The shortages are caused by an “improving global economy” combined with exports of material to Asia and North America, according to EUPC, which is driving up prices.
The predicament is having a significant impact on small to medium-size (SME) businesses, which are fighting for their economic survival, said EUPC in a press release distributed today. Manufacturers of plastic products across Europe have suffered from bottlenecks in the materials supply chain since the beginning of the year, affecting polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, along with other plastics and additives. The disruption, added the EUPC, is a manifestation of Europe’s supply/demand imbalance. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
Honeywell UOP technologies have been selected to capture and sequester up to 1.65 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually and produce clean hydrogen energy from a repurposed gasification plant in West Terre Haute, Indiana.
Wabash Valley Resources selected the technology for the project which is expected to be one of largest carbon sequestration initiatives in the US to date.
Under the contact, UOP will provide technology licenses, basic engineering, and specialty equipment including a modular MOLSIV™ molecular sieve dehydration unit, modular Ortloff CO2 Fractionation unit, and Polybed™ pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit to sequester CO2 and process synthesis gas from the gasification unit.
The Ortloff CO2 Fractionation technology will produce a high-purity liquid CO2 stream while separating a hydrogen-rich stream that will be purified by the PSA unit.
The CO2 stream will be sent for permanent geological storage, while the hydrogen stream can fuel a hydrogen turbine to generate electrical power. The hydrogen stream can also be used in chemical synthesis or marketed as a clean transportation fuel. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
CNN — Tiny bits of plastic from your packaging and soda bottles could be traveling in the atmosphere across entire continents, carried by winds, a new study found.
Most of our plastic waste gets buried in landfills, incinerated or recycled — but up to 18% ends up in the environment. Since plastic isn’t easily decomposable it instead fragments into smaller and smaller pieces until the microplastics are small enough to be swept into the air. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
“Akin to global biogeochemical cycles, plastics now spiral around the globe,” said the study, led by researchers from Utah State University and Cornell University, and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
That means much of the plastic that gets dumped in the sea and across the land is broken down and spat back out, posing potential risks for our ecosystems. And though there has been some progress with the creation of biodegradable polymers, the researchers warned microplastics “will continue to cycle through the earth’s systems.”
Avient’s new ColorMatrix Optica blue toners and colorants formulated for addition to virgin and recycled PET for injection and extrusion processes.
New blue toners and colorants that are said to enhance the recyclability of PET packaging has been introduced by Avient Corp.. Formulated for addition to virgin PET and recycled PET (rPET), heat-stable ColorMatrix Optica blue toners work to correct and reduce the yellowing or color variation that typically occurs during the recycling process. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
Variations in the aesthetic appearance of rPET, which can include yellowing and other color variations, as well as reduced processing efficiencies have been shown to be caused by multiple heat cycles, as the material is recovered and reused.
Avient’s new Cesa Nofog Plus performs in both hot and cold food packaging as well as agricultural and protective films.
A next-generation of antifog additive for food packaging applications has been launched by Avient Corp., spurred by the rapid growth in ready-to-eat foods, ready-to-cook foods, and food-delivery services. The new Cesa Nofog Plus additive is designed for both hot and cold packaging. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
By reducing moisture accumulation, Cesa Nofog Plus reportedly helps prolong the shelf life of packaged foods. It can clear fogging immediately in hot conditions, and within minutes in cold conditions. Lids and protective films produced with this food contact-safe additive are also said to remain clear, so that consumers can observe the food quality.
Company says it is the first step in weaning consumers away from throwaway items
ANepali company has tried to address the growing problem of plastic pollution in Nepal by manufacturing biodegradable plastic products.
The Nepal government has tried and failed several times to impose a ban on single-use plastic, and the throwaway items have clogged drains and rivers across the country. Many of these take more than 500 years to decompose in dumping sites.
Now, Kathmandu-based Jain Trading Concern is introducing plastic bags and other items that degrade within three months of disposal. Although this does not reduce the use of plastic, environmentalists say it is a first step in reducing the amount of garbage on landfill sites, dumping sites and rivers. ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers
ChemicalRecycling PETBottle Polyesterfibers


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Travelopia bosses have signalled its brands will be more trade friendly following the sale of Tui’s specialist businesses division to private equity firm KKR.
Tui confirmed the sale to KKR for £325 million last night. The deal, set to complete in the next six to 12 weeks, will see Travelopia’s 53 brands leave the corporate travel giant to become part of one of the world’s largest private equity companies.
Chief executive, Will Waggott, said the sale would come as a huge relief to the company’s 4,013 staff. He reassured them it was “business as usual” with no change to company locations or staff.
“This is going to be really good for everyone in the business to have a new owner who will focus on what makes these businesses good and invest in what they need to grow after nearly three years of uncertainty, which made it difficult for the whole of employee base,” he said.
A number of Travelopia brands will work more closely with travel agents, including tour operators Citalia, Exodus and Quark Expeditions.
Martin Froggatt, managing director, expeditions, education and events, said: “From the trade’s perspective, brands like Citalia will get a lot closer to the trade. Having been part of Tui, it has been difficult to do that.
“We have not had huge investment while we have been going through the sales process. I think KKR will be the key to unlocking that conundrum.”
Thomson agents will remain a key part of the brands’ distribution model as well as independent agents.
Waggott added that the deal would result in significant investment in technology, from brands’ websites to consolidating back-office systems, social media engagement and CRM, while the group was likely to expand into China, selling some of its brands to the Chinese market.
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corning March 5, 2014
corning January 6, 2014
In an effort to combat spreading germs and bacteria through sharing smart phones and touch screen devices, Corning announced today plans to produce a Gorilla Glass variant with an antimicrobial surface for inhibiting bacterial growth. This version of Corning Gorilla Glass is made up of an antibacterial agent and contains levels of ionic silver that sustains the germ fighting capabilities through the life of the surface, according to the company. expand full story
corning January 3, 2014
corning May 22, 2013
In case you needed some proof that the rumors of Apple switching from Corning glass to sapphire crystal are unlikely, Corning has posted a video on its website showing how its current Gorilla Glass is superior to sapphire for mobile devices.
Recently, speculation has arisen that manufactured sapphire crystal might become an alternative to Corning’s Gorilla Glass. “Sapphire’s performance as a cover for high-end watches probably leads to the current speculation. But those covers are much smaller than a mobile phone and are two to three times thicker than Gorilla Glass. In one of our commonly accepted strength tests, sapphire breaks more easily than Gorilla Glass after the same simulated use. Additionally, sapphire’s cost and environmental hit are huge issues,” Steiner said.
There have been a couple rumors floating around that smartphone makers are looking into using sapphire crystal as a replacement for other cover glass solutions. With Apple using the material as a cover for its camera lenses on iPhone 5 and the latest iPod touch, some have speculated it could use sapphire for other parts of its devices, such as the display’s cover glass or home button. However, that’s not likely, according to Corning, Gorilla Glass is “about half the weight”, requires 99 percent less energy in manufacturing, provides brighter displays, and “costs less than a tenth” of sapphire. expand full story
corning May 20, 2013
corning May 17, 2013


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Nassau’s major commercial shipping port yesterday revealed profits slumped by 34 percent during the three months to end-September as it detected further signs of a grim Christmas for retailers.
Dion Bethell, Arawak Port Development Company’s (APD) president and chief financial officer, told Tribune Business that the traditional spike in retail imports that traditionally occurs during the fall as merchants stock up on festive industry has been noticeably absent to-date.
Bahamian non-food retailers typically generate 15 percent of the Arawak Cay-based port’s imports, and Mr Bethell attributed the missed “peak” that normally boosts such activity to depressed consumer spending and COVID-19 restrictions that have slashed industry sales by forcing all operators to curb-side.
Suggesting that many merchants were sitting on old inventory they are unable to move, the APD chief told this newspaper: “What we usually see around now, but which has not occurred, is we’d be in the peak of the season where we see a lot of the Christmas volumes for a lot of retail stores.
“Our volumes indicate that, as a result of curb-side service and inventories that a lot of retailers are sitting on, a lot of those volumes are not coming through. If I were to take a guess, it’s about 15 percent of our [container] volumes where we would see an increase over and above what they normally would be between the months of October, November and the first two weeks in December.
“That is where we see that spike in the average monthly volumes. It has not happened as yet, and we’re beginning the first week of November and have not seen that occurring.”
Mr Bethell’s disclosures reinforce the concerns voiced last week by Tara Morley, the Bahamas Federation of Retailers’ co-president, who warned the Government that most merchants are simply not generating sufficient sales and cash flow to purchase their desired Christmas inventories because they have been forced to curb-side operations by the present COVID-19 restrictions.
Revealing that curb-side generated between 1 percent to 15 percent of the normal sales volume enjoyed by the Federation’s 100 members, Ms Morley blasted: “After being either shut down or only permitted to operate online/curbside for five out of the last eight months, retailers were relying on the November 1 [tourism] re-opening date to generate much needed income during the upcoming holiday season in order to avoid bankruptcy and further layoffs.
“Many retailers committed to orders based on the Prime Minister’s promise of ‘no more lockdowns’ in early September. However, in addition to the obligations faced by all businesses such as electricity bills, rent, payroll, Internet etc, they now find themselves with insufficient cash flow to clear these shipments meaning that they cannot even outfit their stores with the requisite inventory to sustain seasonal turnover.”
Mr Bethell confirmed this impact was also being felt at the Nassau Container Port, which BISX-listed APD operates, adding that present restrictions were likely driving Bahamian shoppers online to the benefit of courier companies/freight forwarders rather than the port and its shareholders (Bahamian public investors collectively own a 20 percent stake).
“I don’t know if it’s as a result of where we’re at,” the APD chief said of the reduced retail volumes. “A lot more persons are focused on purchasing online, and oftentimes when they do those volumes come into the country by air freight as opposed to ocean freight.
“Those small items, gifts that people purchase for significant others, family and friends, because they cannot go into retail stores and see, touch and purchase what they want, persons are looking for that merchandise online and forwarding it via air freight as opposed to the likes of Kelly’s bringing it in by ocean freight.
“I’m not suggesting the volumes are not coming in. They’re not coming in by ocean freight based on the volumes we’re seeing thus far.” Mr Bethell suggested APD’s import volumes were also reflecting that a similar situation is playing out with Bahamian new and used auto dealers, who have either halted or reduced vehicle orders because they are already sitting on significant inventories.
“On the vehicle side, our volumes are down quite a bit year-over-year by 41 percent, and even in terms of what we had budgeted they’re down by 34 percent,” he told Tribune Business of figures for the three months to end-September 2020.
“They’re still trying to turn that existing inventory, and in this environment many of the financial institutions are not lending, especially for that type of loan, for fear they will not get repaid. The banks may be lending, but it’s very limited. If I work at Atlantis and Baha Mar I would not be a candidate for a loan for a vehicle.”
Mr Bethell said the absence of the traditional spike in retail-related imports, together with the fall-off in vehicles coming across APD’s wharves and bulkheads, had helped to produce a continuation of the downward trend experienced since the pandemic began.
Revealing that the Nassau Container Port’s performance was not expected to improve before the 2021 calendar year’s first quarter, he told Tribune Business that all major indicators were down for the three months to end-September 2020, which is the first period of APD’s financial year.
“Revenues were down year-over-year by about 18 percent,” Mr Bethell said of the September 2020 quarter, “and ironically expenses are down year-over-year by the same amount. Overall, net earnings are down by 34 percent, and our TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) volumes are down by 13 percent year-over-year.
“Bulk tonnage is down by 31 percent, and vehicles are down by 41 percent year-over-year. That’s in-line with what we saw from March to April. The trend continues. What we saw in the first quarter of the 2021 financial year was a repetition of that. It’s principally because of the state of the economy and tourism, our number one driver.
“While the construction side made up for some of it, we’re still tracking or trending down. It’s not far off, though, from our projections. We had envisioned a downward trend continuing through the end of the year, and it’s been validated by what our actuals are,” the APD president continued.
“When we forecast, we envisioned there would be a fall-off in revenues and volumes through to December before we see any upward trend. We had envisioned that we would not see an improvement until the 2021 calendar first quarter at the earliest. I didn’t envision that occurring any time before the first quarter in 2021.”
Mr Bethell did not provide any dollar figures prior to APD’s upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) on November 19. He spoke after APD unveiled full-year profits for the 12 months to end-June 2020 which, while 10 percent down on the prior year’s $8.03m at $7.23m, came in close to the company’s budgetary forecasts.
Source: The Tribune


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Animoca Brands has reported unaudited revenue for the first four months of 2020 of $7.34 million amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Animoca Brands, the firm behind blockchain-powered games like The Sandbox, F1 Delta Time, and Crazy Defense Heroes.
The report highlighted that the first quarter of Animoca Brands’ had the strongest on record with $4.33 million in revenue, followed by a record month with $3 million during April.
@animocabrands is glowing🔥and growing📈! We are super excited to report record revenues of A$10.5m in the first quarter of 2⃣😱2⃣😱‼ Businesses globally have been affected by the pandemic lockdowns, but it has also resulted in more video game engagement: https://t.co/Hq5GyH1bSB — Animoca Brands (@animocabrands) July 8, 2020
Moreover, Animoca Brands held $6.08 million in fiat and crypto assets at the end of April. Roughly $770,000 of the company’s holdings comprised Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), alongside $1.12 million in various altcoins.
Animoca attributes the increase in its crypto holdings to successful sales involving NFTs like The Sandbox, F1 Delta Time, and Crazy Defense Heroes.
The founder of Animoca Yat Siu, recounted discovering NFTs in 2017 after acquiring a small Vancouver-based company called Fuelpowered, whose co-founder, Mik Naayem, also co-founded CryptoKitties.
Yat Siu likened the impact that NFTs will have on gaming to the introduction of property rights to feudal Europe while asserting that ownership over in-game items compensates gamers for the time and labor that they invest into playing games.
Yat Siu also discussed the firm’s strategy of acquiring established gaming companies with loyal users and making the benefits of blockchain technology available to them.
Siu said that mainstream blockchain adoption in a gaming context may be contingent on clever game design that conceals the complexities of blockchain technology:
“We’re not just acquiring a talented team […] but acquiring customers that already play the game […] We’re not acquiring them because we are just wanting them to continue to make mobile games. We have a very clear directive to ultimately move them onto the blockchain.”
Yat Siu also notes that while the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst for a significant increase in game users in the short term, some gamers may drop-off as the world returns to normalcy.
However, Siu also believes that the coronavirus lockdown has fostered a “change in behavior” among many new and ‘born-again’ gamers that will last into the longer-term with gaming becoming a cornerstone of their entertainment-seeking rituals.


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Killen's offering free food to hospitality workers affected by coronavirus shutdowns
Ronnie Killen has come to the rescue, again.
The Houston restaurateur announced his soon-to-opened Killen's restaurant in the Heights will offer free barbecue sandwiches and chips to all hospitality workers affected by the coronavirus shutdown starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday ordered all bars and clubs countywide to close for 15 days, and restricted restaurants to only take-out and delivery orders. The closures and restrictions have created a big dilemma for owners and will inevitably lead to huge financial losses and job cuts.
Killen's kind deed may come as no surprise to some. The famous pitmaster has offered similar handouts in the past when he helped feed workers affected by the government shutdown last year.
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The restaurant is located at the former Hickory Hollow space at 101 Heights Boulevard. Hospitality workers will be asked to show proof of their employment with a pay stub, restaurant representatives said. The food will be offered in a drive-thru setting.
Representatives said future dates will be offered at the same location, but details on those have yet to be released.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the event will be hosted at the Killen's restaurant in the Heights.


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While in Milan for EuroCucina 2012, Digital Retailer has been road testing the brand new Nikon Coolpix P510. We took this camera out to the San Siro to see how it captures the action from a Serie A match.
Unwired has earned $15.8 million and decreased its operating expenses by 6 per cent in the six months to 31 December 2006, meaning the internet provider has upped its revenue by 46 per cent from the same period in 2005.
The humble home phone has had to innovate to stay relevant in a market squeezed by the mass uptake of smartphones and decline of landline connections. Suppliers, however, are confident about the category’s future.


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SBI has installed ‘Tiny Branch’, at its hilly region branch of Seiling in Mizoram. Earlier bank was finding difficulty in tapping customers in the naxal-hit Dantewada or the hilly region of Seiling in Mizoram, thus it was looking for a solution which is low-cost, safe and easy to operate. When Anurag Gupta, founder and director of the Zero Mass Foundation (ZMF) approached SBI with his idea of the ‘Tiny Branch’, the bank accepted it.
The Tiny Branch costs Rs 15,000 per installation and comprises of a mobile phone and a fingerprint scanner. A Nokia phone has been designed specially for ZMF to identify RFID tags; it also has an inbuilt application that helps in new account opening and to carry out other banking transactions.
The phone will be able to hold data of up to 50,000 customers for a period of five years. The phone will also take pictures of the customer for making the account card and records his name in his own voice as a voice tag, to be used later for verification purposes.
Along with written details, during enrolment, five fingers are scanned and the fingerprints recorded. The equipment can record details in 11 languages including Arabic.
Once bank completes it procedure in all villages, ZMF will step in, looking for help from the village elders or the Panchayat to appoint Customer Service Points (CSPs). CSPs equipped with mobile phone and fingerprint scanner, will be responsible for acquiring customers and also undertake banking transactions in the village.
Gupta explained, “We mostly recruit women, preferably with matriculate level of education.” There are 24,000 CSPs that the assist ZMF to carry out the bank’s business out of which 98% are women. It is essential that local branch should be near for the Tiny Branch to deliver cash, form submissions/collections and issuing of new account cards.
The devices work on a battery that can be charged using a solar panel so there is no problem in the installation of the devices. Similarly there is no need of internet connectivity for enrolling customers or carrying out transactions. However, transactions have to be backed up on an hourly basis through GPRS. Sometimes there can be connectivity problem?
“CSPs sometimes tie the mobile phone to a bamboo stick and hoist it on top of their house to transmit data,” says Gupta about the ingenious ways used in difficult conditions.
Gupta has been always innovative, from being an architect to creating smart systems like mchek — a mobile payment platform to the GO Mumbai smart card. He said, “The Tiny Branch is one of our most important creations and I had to let go of others in order to concentrate on this.”
Although Rs 15,000 might be low-cost, Gupta is far from being satisfied. He has brought down the cost of the system, he also hopes to install 250,000 of these Tiny Branch’s across Indian villages.


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Automated Drone Company Airobotics Brings New Business Model to Market
The company, which raised $61 million to date, lists Intel and Israel Chemicals Ltd. as customers
"Those two models both rely on humans to operate the drones," said the Airobotics’ vice president of marketing Efrat Fenigson at Calcalist’s 2017 Tech conference in London on Thursday.
Earlier this month Airobotics announced it has raised $32.5 million in a series C funding round led by investment consultants BlueRun Ventures China Co. Ltd., with participation from Microsoft Ventures. It lists Intel and Israel-based Israel Chemicals Ltd. as customers.
The two models currently prevalent in the market rely on human operators, resulting in higher costs, accuracy problems and on-site availability problems in emergency situations, like a fire breaking out at night, Ms. Fenigson said.
Airobotics’ system includes a three ton box-shaped drone docking station that can be placed outdoors. The company’s drone weighs around 18 pounds, or 8 kg, and can carry different types of sensors and cameras, stay in the air for half an hour and fly at a radius of over 2 miles (3.5 kilometers) from the docking station.
Founded in 2014, the company raised a total of $61 million to date. Until now the company’s clients came mostly from the mining industry in Israel and Australia. Airobotics is now branching into homeland security, where drones could be of assistance in search and rescue efforts and fire outbreaks. "Regulation is going to be a challenge," Ms. Fenginson said.


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Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto are less distracting to drivers when compared to built-in vehicle infotainment systems designed by automakers, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
As an independent body shop, you have opportunities larger companies are often too big to truly capture—as long as you’re willing to connect with your community. Here’s the independent’s guide for becoming your market’s go-to, trusted collision repair shop.
Last year, Google announced the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) project, poised to change the mobile web experience. One year later, Business 2 Community evaluated AMP and how it's changed SEO opportunities for small businesses.


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The Coca-Cola Company and top Parisian fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (JC/DC) hosted a soiree Thursday night, in celebration of the exclusive JC/DC collection created to mark the company’s 125th anniversary year.
The ‘invitation-only’ event, held at the Paris venue Le Trianon, was one of the hottest party tickets at Paris Fashion Week, believes Coca-Cola.
The event saw a host of VIP attendees including Dita Von Teese and celebrated designer Ora Ito. The venue was also dressed to impress for the party, reproducing the collection’s retro/futuristic mood.
Earlier, to celebrate 125 years of its formation since the first Coca-Cola was offered on May 8, 1886, the company sent a spectacular visual “Thank You” through the world’s largest single building illumination of its headquarters tower in Atlanta. (Read: Coca-Cola Celebrates its 125th Birthday)
Le Trianon’s interior was decorated in the ‘Coca-Cola’ brand’s signature red colour and featured imagery from brand’s 125-year history, as envisaged by de Castelbajac himself.
The collection also includes a T-shirt design featuring a young Elvis Presley, as photographed by Alfred Wertheimer.
The crowd danced to music performances by TrentmOller, Tomorrow’s World, Busy P and Breakbot to fete the ‘Coca-Cola’ brand’s collaboration with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
“I fell in love with Coca-Cola at first sight! I was 16, and it was the only bottle who had the waist of a girl,” said Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
“I was thinking about a pipeline between the USA and France to import this American myth. My mentor Raymond Loewy designed for Coke, and Warhol helped made it an icon. I was honoured to create a collection and an event for the 125th anniversary, and be part of this long creative history!”
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MTN has started advertising contract deals for the LG G3 in its new August/September 2014 deal book.
LG South Africa held a launch event for the device on 17 July 2014, with Cell C, MTN, and Vodacom all confirming they would offer LG’s new flagship Android smartphone on contract from August 2014.
Vodacom said, at the time, the LG G3 should be available in its stores and online from 7 August 2014 for R499 on a Vodacom uChoose Flexi 200 contract, and at a recommended retail price of R8,754.
Orange currently lists the LG G3 for R7,120.
MTN didn’t reveal any pricing in July, but it’s new deal book – which was published at the start of August – lists a number of deals for the LG G3.
The deals listed are as follows:
|LG G3 MTN contracts||Price||Data||Minutes||SMS|
|My MTNChoice 100 *||R399||100MB||100||100|
|My MTNChoice 200 *||R519||300MB||200||100|
|My MTNChoice 350||R669||300MB||350 (+50 on-net)||100|
|My MTNChoice 500||R819||500MB||500 (+50 on-net)||100|
|*LG Quick Circle case (RRP: R299) included with My MTNChoice 100 and 200.|


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Savari Brings 5G to Connected Cars
【Summary】California based automation company Savari has recently joined the 5G Automotive Association, to bring cellular communications to connected cars.
California based automation company Savari has recently joined the 5G Automotive Association, to bring cellular communications to connected cars. This is the first time a V2X (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure) technology solution provider to join the group of leading automotive suppliers and automakers.
As a company founded in 2008 and based in Santa Clara, Savari claims to have more than 150 man-years of V2X learning and development, and 15 million-plus miles per year of public testing. The company builds software and hardware sensor solutions for OEM automotive car manufacturers, smart cities, and pedestrians with the vision of making transportation predictive, safer and more efficient.
"We believe cellular-V2X technology plays a very important role in the widespread adoption of V2X. Savari's V2X hardware, safety applications, and data services support either DSRC or cellular-V2X standards. We're pleased to join and collaborate with 5GAA's members on developing the standards for cellular-V2X communications, promoting interoperability across the industry, for connected and autonomous car applications," said Ravi Puvvala, CEO, Savari.
What's special about 5G technology?
5G simply stands for fifth generation, and refers to the next and newest mobile wireless standard. With the technology, cars can send and receive messages 10 times per second. According to Savari, when data can be processed in a much faster way, the car can provide warnings 3 seconds in advance to a driver when an accident happens.
5G communications also means the collected data can be uploaded to the cloud and distributed via cellular network to other cars using 5G technology. This way, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication (V2V) can be more efficient and occur sooner. Suppose there's a construction site currently blocking a road, cars using 5G technology and driving on that road can share the information via network, allowing other vehicles to receive a traffic alert to avoid that road until the project is completed.
For DSRC (dedicated short-range communications), which is already being tested in V2X communications for vehicles, it sends simple radio signals based on Wi-Fi technology. 5G technology is twice as fast as DSRC. When a self-driving car is gathering data to prevent crashes, it needs to quickly process information and react. The main advantage of DSRC is that it's been developed and tested for more than a decade; its stability and familiarity is likely to appeal to the NHTSA, the agency that will issue the mandate on V2X communications.
What is 5GAA?
Last September, AUDI AG, BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Nokia and Qualcomm announced the formation of the "5G Automotive Association". The association's mission is to "develop, test and promote communications solutions, support standardization and accelerate commercial availability and global market penetration." Their goal is to address society's connected mobility and road safety needs with applications such as connected automated driving, ubiquitous access to services, and integration into smart cities and intelligent transportation.
Upon joining the association, Savari says its role in the group will be to help create standards that work across the industry as semi-autonomous cars and fully autonomous cars are tested and eventually sold.The company got $8 million Series A funding in 2015 from major automakers in the U.S. and China.
Claire Peng has over 6 years of professional experience in the media industry, covering TV, newspaper and online media. She was once a reporter and producer for Fairchild Television based in Toronto Canada, and worked as an English news reporter for the Global Times in Beijing. She writes mainly about self-driving, companies investment, and the enterprise lab.
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Things get complex when you put safety tech innovation first, or so Volvo boss Stefan Jacoby is finding as the brand’s cars get increasingly confusing to use.
“Our cars are too complicated for the consumer. Our intention is to have an intuitive car that lets the driver actually feel like he’s in command,” Jacoby said. According to Jacoby, 75 percent of drivers don’t know how to access their car’s full capability.
It’s something he recognizes as a problem, not just for Volvo, but for car companies as a whole. With complicated electronic systems becoming commonplace in cars ranging from the entry level to most expensive, he feels simplicity needs an increasing emphasis.
Jacoby pointed to Apple’s operating systems and ease of use as an example of sophisticated tech that solves such issues with elegance.
“It’s so easy to control. You feel in control of that machine and that gives consumers a big confidence,” he said.
[Source: Automotive News]


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Friday, September 13, 2013
ICSC Says August Sales were Mixed, Zumiez Posts Big Gains
Hunter Communications Original News Source:
Link to article:
August Sales Mixed, Steeper Discounts on Horizon
Excerpt: "U.S. chain-store sales posted a 3.7 percent increase for August over the previous year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.
'August sales were softer in the apparel segment compared to July but were steady elsewhere,' said Michael P. Niemira, vice president of research and chief economist for ICSC. 'The Back-to-School apparel demand was uneven and late, and, overall, August BTS spending was stronger in the earlier part of the month compared to the end. As a result, September is likely to see steeper "end-of-season" discounts for BTS apparel to clear the remaining inventory.'
Going forward, ICSC is forecasting a 4 percent increase in sales in September.
Several retailers reported similar results..
Among those exceeding the average was Limited Brands, which operates 2,629 specialty stores under the Victoria’s Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel nameplates. The Columbus, Ohio–based company reported a 7 percent increase in net sales to $704.7 million and a 2 percent increase in same-store sales in August.
Zumiez Inc. also had a stellar August. The Lynwood, Wash.–based company reported a 14.3 percent increase in net sales in August to $85.9 million and a 3 percent increase in comp-store sales."


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Developer and Asset Manager, MEPC, has today announced its latest occupier to join the Wellington Place community – Cubo – an innovative co-working space concept created to address the changing needs of the modern worker.
Due to open its doors in February 2022, Cubo focuses on harnessing a fun, creative and enjoyable working environment, whether that be through private offices, a designated desk or hot desking. Providing flexible opportunities for prospective occupiers, including smaller businesses and shorter lease terms – the benefits of the Wellington Place community are even more accessible.
Having opened its first site in February 2020 in Derby, just before the start of the pandemic, Leeds will become Cubo’s fourth site, taking 19,821 sq. ft. on the third floor of 6 Wellington Place. The office opening forms part of the business’ drive for further expansion plans in the coming months.
Paul Pavia, commercial director at MEPC, said: “The quality of the Cubo brand and their people focused ethos marries up incredibly well with the existing proposition of Wellington Place and we’re delighted to have them joining the community. They recognise the changing needs of employers and workers and promote an experience-led lifestyle offering, alongside the traditional requirements of functionality. Cubo is a perfect fit and will provide even more choice and flexibility to the Wellington Place offering.”
Marc Brough, founder and managing director at Cubo, added: “Leeds is a top five UK city on pretty much all measures, so it has long been on our radar for expansion. Its diverse economy, leading universities and vibrant food and drink scene, all led to it being recently named the best UK city outside of London to start a new business. Leeds is a city with real momentum behind it and as soon as we saw the space at Wellington Place, we knew it was an ideal location for the Cubo brand and its members. Not only is it a great location – near the train station, hotels and the city centre – it also has a strong retail and hospitality offering, striking modern buildings with lots of natural light and great views, as well as amazing community initiatives.
“We are looking forward to working closely with MEPC to create unique opportunities for start-ups, SMEs and enterprises to have their own fully serviced, private office or hot desk memberships on flexible terms at a premier business address.”


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Botanists say delay in mass flowering could be due to climate change
The delay in flowering of kani konna or sara kondrai flower in several localities has led to many households searching for at least a bunch — on the eve of Vishu.
The fully bloomed yellow flower is an integral component of the Vishu kani ritual that many Kerala homes wake up to on Kerala New Year's day. According to botanists, climatic change could be the main reason behind not seeing any mass flowering this time of the year.
“April-May is the ideal flowering season of this ornamental flower. But, nowadays, plants are exposed to different kinds of pollution delaying their natural growth. When the plants do not get sufficient sunlight and moisture, particularly those within closed compound walls, there is bound to be such delay. Also, pruning and weeding needs to be done accordingly,” said M.N. Pushpa, curator, Botany Section, Government Museum.
She said the delay in konna flower is not an exception as many other plants faced similar challenges. During good times, the konna trees in Madras Kerala Samaj were a major source for many families, but since the last couple of years it only blooms between May and June, said Kumblegad Unnikrishnan, general secretary of the Samaj.
The two trees in Malayalee Club are also yet to bloom. To help members, the club sourced the flowers from different localities, which got sold out on Wednesday morning itself, said its members.
Flower vendors took advantage of the situation and were selling a bunch of the flower and foliage at Rs.145 at the Mylapore market. At the Aminjikarai market, vendors were selling three strands for Rs.80. “Many customers walked out as they felt it was overpriced for the little flowers and buds,” said a customer who bargained and got it for Rs.50.


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The increasing consumption of unhealthy snack foods in developing countries, such as Bangladesh, is raising health concerns among experts. Nutritionist Barry Popkin notes that these foods provide a quick energy boost but lack essential nutrients, leading to long-term health issues like diabetes and heart conditions. Source: theguardian.com
The rise in unhealthy snacking habits in developing countries represents a significant health concern, potentially impacting hundreds of millions of people. Economic pressures and aggressive marketing by the snack food industry have contributed to this trend, leading to an increase in non-communicable diseases. Without policy intervention and industry changes, this issue could exacerbate health disparities and hinder progress towards global health goals.
- Health implications: The rise in unhealthy snacking habits in developing countries is leading to serious health concerns. As these snacks lack essential nutrients, they contribute to malnutrition and an increase in non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart conditions. For instance, the article highlights how rickshaw rider Jewel Ahmed has lost weight and often feels hungry due to his reliance on these snacks.
- Economic factors: The shift towards unhealthy snacks is driven by economic pressures. Rising living costs and urbanization have made traditional, nutritious food unaffordable for many, forcing them to rely on cheap, unhealthy snacks. Jewel Ahmed's move from a fishing town to Dhaka, where he can only afford bun rotis, exemplifies this trend.
- Industry influence: The global snack food industry has played a significant role in promoting unhealthy eating habits. Companies have aggressively marketed ready-to-eat foods, especially in developing countries, leading to a doubling of ultra-processed food sales between 2006 and 2019. This trend is reflected in Mondelez's 2022 State of Snacking report, which found that 55% of people globally eat a meal of snack foods at least once a week.
- Policy and regulation: The current situation highlights the need for policy interventions and regulation to curb the sale and consumption of unhealthy snacks. Without effective measures, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases could continue to rise, placing a significant burden on healthcare systems in developing countries. The World Health Organization's recognition of the "double burden" of malnutrition underscores this urgency.


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When Libertyville Patch asked readers a week ago what they'd like to see in the old Frank's Nursery location that had already been designated as the home for a new grocery store, there was one name at the top of the wish list: Trader Joe's.
Well, your wish is coming true. Trader Joe's announced Wednesday that it will open a store in Libertyville in the old Frank's Nursery spot, the Daily Herald reported.
A sign at the property indicated that a grocery store would be built in that location.
"The developer is planning a grocery store there, but there has not been any announcement yet," Village Administrator Kevin Bowens told Patch last week.
Many readers last week told Patch that they'd love to see a Trader Joe's in town.
"I'd LOVE a Trader Joe's and think it will do well here in Libertyville," one reader said.
"We are hoping for a Trader Joe's as well—have been for many years," another reader commented.
According to the Daily Herald, groundbreaking on the new store is set for April.
This will be the second Trader Joe's store in Lake County, with one already located in Lake Zurich, the Daily Herald reports.
Tell us: What do you think of this news?


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Retailers are focusing on niches as the develop new stores, according to the Food Marketing Institute's report "Facts About Store Development 2006."
Overall, 14.5 percent of companies surveyed opened at least one niche-focused store in 2005 -- 44 percent of those were ethnic formats, mostly Hispanic. Natural and organic stores and gourmet outlets also were among the new openings.
Of the other new starts, nine in 10 companies feature prepared takeout foods, delis, fresh seafood and sections devoted to ethnic offerings, according to the survey. At least half are including a separate organic or natural food aisle or section.
FMI surveyed food retailers operating a total of 6,860 stores. Participating companies included retailers operating one to 10 stores (40 percent), 11 to 100 stores (38 percent) and more than 100 stores (22 percent).
Source: Food Marketing Institute


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From life-enhancing innovations to planet-saving designs
The sky’s the limit
Nigel Gifford OBE is a former member of the British Army Catering Corps who knew all about inaccurate and wasteful drones delivering supplies. He designed an aerial vehicle (UAV) called Pouncer which navigates via GPS, making flight and landing extremely accurate. Its wings and body are made of empty food containers to be filled as needed. Pouncer can carry 200 pounds of food, helping increase daily humanitarian food rations from 2,200 calories per person to 3,500.
How can deaf people ‘hear’ classical music? By wirelessly translating music into vibrations into a special shirt so people feel what the orchestra plays. Germany’s Junge Symphoniker Hamburg orchestra collaborated with wearable technology experts CuteCircuit to create the Sound Shirt, which interprets eight types of sound, including the double bass and large percussion, as data. The data is then sent wirelessly to the shirt, where 16 micro actuators vibrate.
Smartphone attachment for STD testing
Chlamydia affects roughly 35 million people each year in the US alone, and puts women at risk of infertility. Boston-based firm Luminostics has developed a smartphone device which removes the stigma of going and getting tested by checking for Chlamydia in the privacy of a user’s home. Luminostics can test saliva, blood or urine samples and uses the smartphone’s flash camera to measure the light emitted by the particles on the samples. The product is planning to launch in the US and Europe in 2018.
Blind mothers “see” ultrasound scans via 3D prints
Technology for expectant mothers often focuses on health. For those with sensory loss, however, additional considerations must be taken into account. In Poland, In Utero 3D allows blind parents to meet their unborn baby via a 3D bas-relief of the mother’s ultrasound scan. Polish parents are charged a nominal fee of PLN 1, and families outside the country pay EU 1 but must also pay to print the bas-relief in their own country.


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SolarEdge Collaborates with Google to Integrate EV Charging with the Google Assistant
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (“SolarEdge”) (NASDAQ: SEDG), a global leader in smart energy technology, announced today that electric vehicle (EV) consumers can now control SolarEdge’s EV-charging solar inverter using the Google Assistant. SolarEdge is one of the first companies to integrate EV charging with the Google Assistant. This news coincides with Google announcing all of the new Google Assistant features and with the SolarEdge EV charging solar inverter on display in the Google Assistant booth located outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) this week.
SolarEdge offers the world’s first EV charging solar inverter, which offers up to six times faster charging than standard Level 1 chargers through its innovative solar boost mode. The smart speaker integration with the Google Assistant makes EV charging simpler for consumers and answers demand for smart energy solutions.
“Smart homes have mainly been about convenience and interconnectivity, but the next step of the smart home is integrating smart energy management, such as EV charging,” stated Lior Handelsman, SolarEdge’s Founder and VP of Marketing and Product Strategy. “By merging the simplicity of smart homes with the value of smart energy through this collaboration with Google, SolarEdge is leading the way in making the power of smart solar energy more accessible to more people”
Consumers can now tell the Google Assistant to start and stop EV charging. SolarEdge plans to add functionality to the Google Assistant commands, including inquiring about charging status, checking average miles charged in the charging session, and pre-schedule charging.


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Commonwealth Bank customers with iPhones can now pay through the CommBank mobile app using a sticker containing near field communications (NFC) technology.
Near Field Communications (NFC) - News, Features, and Slideshows
Starting early next year, Westpac customers will be able to pay in stores by tapping their Android smartphones against payment terminals.
PayPal has embraced Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology for payments after writing off Near Field Communications (NFC).
The rise of near field communications (NFC) may require updated regulation, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in a report released today.
Gartner has predicted a bleak future for near field communications (NFC), a mobile payments technology that allows shoppers to pay by tapping their mobile smartphones against a payment terminal.
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Hot on the heels of its fabulous Heroes Of Bavaria exhibit, the BMW CCA Foundation has put together a terrific memorabilia packet—and now you can order your Heroes Of Bavaria Fan Bundle and save $15 while supplies last! You’ll get an exclusive 24×18 poster that features all 24 exhibition cars—what a lineup! You’ll also receive the official exhibition T-shirt, available in five colors and made with 100% pre-shrunk cotton. And they’re even including the 18×24 official event poster featuring the 2014 BMW E89 Z4 GTLM chasing the 1937 BMW 328!
Get it all for just $20 at the BMW CCA Foundation Store!