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BlackBerry Ltd.’s decision to consider takeover offers is fueling speculation that investors could band together to keep the company in Canadian hands, avoiding the national embarrassment that followed Nortel Networks Corp.’s failure four years ago.
The Waterloo, Ontario-based smartphone maker said Monday that it’s forming a committee to consider joint ventures, partnerships or an outright sale of the company. Prem Watsa, a Toronto businessman and BlackBerry’s largest shareholder, also announced plans to step down from the board, raising the possibility that he may play a role in rescuing the company.
Assembling a Canadian team of investors – potentially including some of the nation’s biggest pension funds – would allow the company to go private and tackle its challenges without the harsh light of public markets. A local bid also would be more palatable to regulators, who review foreign takeovers to determine if they have a “net benefit” to Canada.
“Given the sensitive nature of the brand and the product and the information the company possesses, any sale to a party outside Canada is going to have a lot of scrutiny around it,” said Brian Huen, managing partner with Red Sky Capital Management Ltd. in Toronto. His firm oversees C$220 million in assets, including shares of BlackBerry. “There’s certainly going to be an effort to keep it in Canada,” he said.
[BlackBerry maintains a research and development operation in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. Nortel at one time employed some 8,000 people in RTP.]
The idea may draw the interest of pension managers. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Chief Executive Officer Mark Wiseman, who runs the country’s second-largest pension-fund management firm, said last week he would consider an investment in BlackBerry if the company decided to go private.
Alberta Investment Management Corp. CEO Leo De Bever made similar remarks yesterday, while saying it’s still “early days.”
“No one has approached us with anything that is baked,” he said in an interview.
In considering strategic alternatives, BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins is trying to prevent the company from being sold off in parts — something that happened to another former star of the Canadian technology industry: Nortel. That company, which was once North America’s largest telephone-equipment maker, filed for bankruptcy in January 2009 before being broken up and sold at auction to foreign buyers.
Heins hired JPMorgan Chase & Co. and RBC Capital Markets to advise the company on strategic alternatives last year, though at the time he said a sale wasn’t the “main direction” he was considering. The company’s outlook has worsened since then, with the revamped BlackBerry 10 — the linchpin of a turnaround strategy — meeting tepid demand.
Its market value has plummeted almost $80 billion over the past five years, falling to $5.65 billion. That gives BlackBerry the cheapest valuation among communications-equipment rivals in North America, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The company has been struggling to regain market share lost to Apple Inc. and Google Inc.’s Android platform, which together accounted for more than 90 percent of smartphone shipments last quarter. BlackBerry’s share shrank to 2.9 percent in the period, according to research firm IDC.
Watsa, CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., is now seen as a potential savior, said Peter Misek, an analyst with Jefferies & Co. in New York.
“Prem Watsa’s resignation from the board supports a possible leveraged buyout,” said Misek, who recommends buying BlackBerry shares. “We believe Fairfax — along with other Canadian pension funds and banks — are considering taking BlackBerry private.”
Misek estimates that Canada’s biggest pension funds and major banks own or control about 17 percent of BlackBerry shares. Their stakes represent 0.3 percent of those organizations’ equity assets, giving them plenty of room to increase that investment, he said.
Paul Rivett, president of Fairfax, said yesterday that he and Watsa wouldn’t comment on the matter.
A homegrown bid for BlackBerry could sidestep some regulatory scrutiny. The Canadian government automatically reviews all foreign takeovers of companies with asset values of more than C$344 million ($334 million) to determine whether the transactions are a “net benefit” to the country.
James Moore, Canada’s new industry minister, declined to comment on BlackBerry’s announcement yesterday. His predecessor in the job, though, was more vocal in expressing support for the smartphone maker.
“When you have a national champion like BlackBerry, you hope they remain a national champion,” Christian Paradis, the former industry minister, said in a March interview.
Speculation about possible foreign bidders has focused on Lenovo Group Ltd., the Chinese maker of personal computers, which is looking to expand its mobile-devices business. Lenovo Chief Financial Officer Wong Wai Ming told Bloomberg News in January that his company was looking at “all opportunities,” including BlackBerry. Brion Tingler, a Lenovo spokesman, said yesterday that the company has no comment.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in January that the government would “look carefully” at a bid for BlackBerry by Lenovo.
The new BlackBerry 10 lineup, introduced at a lavish event in New York in January, has yet to spur a comeback at the company. The new touch-screen Z10, meant to compete directly with the iPhone, missed analysts’ estimates by almost a million units last quarter. That contributed to a loss in the period, and BlackBerry is forecasting more red ink for this quarter.
The sluggish demand for its phones may be the biggest challenge in attempting a takeover of the company, said Mark Shafir, head of mergers and acquisitions at New York-based Citigroup Inc. While buyers may be interested in BlackBerry’s services business and patent portfolio, bundling them together with the hardware business might be less appealing. That makes a breakup more likely, he said.
“The hardware business is a bit of an albatross,” Shafir said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. “The question is, can you sell it to a discrete buyer or do you break it up?”


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OnePlus launches the OnePlus 7T Pro in London today. The OnePlus 7T Pro is the successor to the OnePlus 7 Pro and follows the same design strategy as the Oneplus 7 Pro. Let's take a look at everything the 7T Pro brings to the consumers.
Updated : October 11, 2019, 11:31 am
As the enforcement directorate goes after high-profile opposition leaders, the government faces charges of mounting a political witch-hunt. India Today investigates.
Updated : October 11, 2019, 11:19 am
Chinese President Xi Jinping will land in Chennai around 2pm and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi around 5 pm in Mamallapuram. He is on a two-day trip.
Updated : October 11, 2019, 11:17 am
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet for the the second informal summit in Tamil Nadu's Mamallapuram on Friday.
The timing of this meeting is significant as it comes against the backdrop of heated exchange of words between the two sides over the Kashmir issue following India's decision to revoke the special status enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hit back at the Opposition over Rafale 'shastra puja' row. "People can say whatever they want. I did what I thought was right and will continue to do so. This is our faith, that there is a superpower and I have believed it since childhood," Rajnath Singh said.
Updated : October 11, 2019, 11:12 am
Hours after a sharp exchange of words between India and China over Kashmir, the Congress has hit out the Centre. Congress leader Manish Tewari asked why is India not raising issues like Hong Kong protests, oppression in Tibet with China when it repeatedly raises the Kashmir issue.
Updated : October 11, 2019, 10:57 am
Nokia 6.2 is now listed on Amazon India and can be purchased starting today.
Updated : October 11, 2019, 10:46 am
OnePlus launched the standard OnePlus 7T Pro and McLaren Edition of the smartphone in London today. The OnePlus 7T Pro comes with pop-up camera, triple rear cameras, Snapdragon 855 Plus, among other top-notch features.
Updated : October 11, 2019, 2:31 am
In his new book The Anarchy, William Dalrymple maps the rise and fall of the mighty East India Company, a story that holds lessons for our times
Updated : October 11, 2019, 12:26 am
English news daily The Sun had published a front-page story headlined “Stokes’ Secret Tragedy” that revealed tragic past about the all-rounder's family.
Updated : October 10, 2019, 11:41 pm
Distancing himself from the U.S. political drama, Ukraine's president said he faced "no blackmail" from President Donald Trump in their phone call that led to an impeachment inquiry.
Updated : October 10, 2019, 11:24 pm
The OnePlus 7T Pro is an upgrade to the OnePlus 7 Pro with finer improvements made in key areas. The McLaren Edition offers more of OnePlus goodness fused with the cool factor of the McLaren brand.
Updated : October 10, 2019, 10:18 pm
India vs South Africa 2nd Test: Kagiso Rabada dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara for 58 in the 1st innings. Rabada, however, was unlucky not to get Pujara out on zero due to a dropped catch
Updated : October 10, 2019, 10:11 pm
The police said that they are already investigating the matter and added that there is no political involvement in the murder case.
Updated : October 10, 2019, 9:16 pm
An RSS worker, his pregnant wife and their minor son were found murdered at their residence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.
Updated : October 10, 2019, 7:23 pm
A 30-year-old man was allegedly shot dead on Thursday as a result of an argument over a cricket match at Kot village in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh.
Updated : October 10, 2019, 7:18 pm

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"The idea that you can replace the 10 trips with one autonomous car and travel less distance, that’s the biggest misconception," says Fagnant. "You can get rid of vehicles, but not vehicle miles traveled. Without ridesharing, there's an 8 to 10 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled based on simulations we've run in Austin. You’re not replacing trips [..] the vehicle has to bounce between locations, and relocate to where it’s needed. Those in-between miles will create a lot of extra travel." — curbed.com
When Apple finishes its new $5 billion headquarters in Cupertino, California, the technorati will ooh and ahh over its otherworldly architecture, and Apple will pat itself on the back for yet another example of "innovation." ...But few are aware that Apple’s monumental project is already outdated, mimicking a half-century of stagnant suburban corporate campuses that isolated themselves—by design—from the communities their products were supposed to impact. — Fast Company Design
This post is brought to you by BQE ArchiOffice. Are you an architect who always had that special entrepreneurial drive? Were you mentored by another successful architect or by a friend or family member who was successful in their own business endeavor and aspired to be like them? Perhaps you were...
Renewable energy like solar and wind is booming across the country as the costs of production have come down. But the sun doesn't always shine, and the wind doesn't blow when we need it to. [...]
A company called SolarReserve may have found a solution: It built a large solar plant in the Nevada desert that can store heat from the sun and generate electricity for up to 10 hours even after sundown. — npr.org
The idea is that perhaps we should be looking at these mentors, at these biological elders. They have figured out how to create a sustainable world. So rather than inventing it from scratch, why don’t we take our cues from them?
A striking circular building at Darling Harbour will house a new City of Sydney library for the area’s existing and incoming residents, following an agreement with Lendlease.
The six storey community and retail centre, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, will be built by developer Lendlease at Darling Square. — the City of Sydney
The British company developing the uses of a super black, light absorbent material called Vantablack S-VIS is working with leading architects as well as the British artist Anish Kapoor.
The founder and chief technology officer of Surrey NanoSystems, Ben Jensen, says that the company is working with “some large and well respected global architects,” and that the coating is already available for “suitable applications”. He declined to name the architects involved “due to prior agreements”. — theartnewspaper.com
Google said on Monday it bears "some responsibility" after one of its self-driving cars struck a municipal bus in a minor crash earlier this month.
The crash may be the first case of one of its autonomous cars hitting another vehicle and the fault of the self-driving car. [...]
Google said in the filing the autonomous vehicle was traveling at less than 2 miles per hour, while the bus was moving at about 15 miles per hour. — reuters.com
Related stories in the Archinect news:U.S. says computers qualify as drivers in Google's autonomous vehicles; won't even have to go to the DMVThe U.S. just got $4 billion to spend on self-driving carsAdapting self-driving cars to the world of humansDawn of the self-driving car: testing out Tesla's...
The NYPD has used cell-site simulators, commonly known as Stingrays, more than 1,000 times since 2008, according to documents turned over to the [NYCLU]. The documents represent the first time the department has acknowledged using the devices.
The NYPD also disclosed that it does not get a warrant before using a Stingray, which sweeps up massive amounts of data. Instead, the police obtain a “pen register order” from a court... [which] do not require the police to establish probable cause... — theintercept.com
Stephen Lund considers the Canadian city of Victoria his canvas and a bicycle his brush. And the paint? Strava, a GPS tracking system which marks his routes with crimson lines.
So far, he has pedaled around in the shapes of critters such as an angler fish, giraffe, giant anteater, and nine-banded armadillo; mythical and interplanetary creatures such as the Siren of the Salish Sea, the Sea Serpent of Haro Strait, and the Dark Lord of the Sith. — atlasobscura.com
Most small manufacturers — a big chunk of the nation’s supply chain — are running older, pre-Internet equipment. “One of the issues we have to address,” said Harris, “is this legacy equipment.”
The digital thread can be hard to trace in an entrepreneur like Ellegiers’ plan to ship an app for making a desk, instead of a finished product.
“Most shops are definitely not ready for this,” Ellegiers said. — marketplace.org
After staging [a 48-hr long continuous VR experience], [Thorsten] Wiedemann is convinced that “long period VR trips” are possible, and that current technology is sufficient for such purposes. The only problem was when he had a panic attack after the 25th hour, when he was pretty close to giving up.
“I had no physical problems, no burning eyes, killing headaches or nausea,” Wiedemann says. “The path to the future is now prepared..." — the Creators Project
Online visitors from around the world can now explore the interior of the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum through Google Street View technology. Additionally, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, in collaboration with the Google Cultural Institute, has made available over 120 artworks from its collection for online viewing. [...]
The Guggenheim’s architecture presented unique challenges for Google’s engineers and Street View team. — guggenheim.org
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The Framepoint® sales and quoting app helped Shropshire installer GoldStar Windows Ltd secure a £50,000 order for windows and doors. Noel Preece, owner of Goldstar Windows used the platform to present to the developer and buyers of two new build plots, thanks to its stunning, detailed visuals. He was told his presentation was by far the best, and says Framepoint® played a major part in helping him win the order.
The Framepoint® platform, from TommyTrinder.com, was developed by installers for installers to help them simplify quoting, wow homeowners and win orders.
GoldStar Windows installs a wide range of PVC-U and aluminium windows as well as conservatories, orangeries, patio, French and bi-fold doors, with a showroom and head office in Ludlow. “I’d only started using the app a few weeks after lockdown eased, when the opportunity to pitch for the new build plot came up,” explains Noel. “Framepoint® was an immediate hit with homeowners – but we also service upmarket developers too and used the app to really stand out from the competition. It makes the sales process so much more enjoyable: it’s so easy to click and change styles and colours, and you’re able to hone in on the detail. Glass options, cills, astragal bars, handles, different material options and finishes are all photo-realistic, with inside and outside views. It’s like nothing else on the market – and it’s paid for itself many, many times over!”
“If you sell a variety of products in different material options – and let’s face it, most installers do now – Framepoint® really can transform your business,” adds Chris Brunsdon, CEO of Tommy Trinder.
For more installer stories and reviews of Framepoint® app visit www.tommytrinder.com


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LG curved battery will power next smartphone line-up
LG is trying to put an end to traditional, squared, and rectangular batteries, by announcing its readiness to mass produce different-shaped power packs, in curved, stepped — an integral type of a battery in which two batteries are added on top of each other in the shape of “step design.” –, and cable shapes. The company is already mass producing stepped and curved batteries; furthermore, the stepped battery is used, according to the press release, to power the G2.
As far as the curved battery is concerned, it will power devices with curved screen or flexible designs, especially phones, watches, and glasses. LG recently bragged about its flexible screen and now the wording says that these new curved batteries “will power the next smart phone line up of LG Electronics” — meaning we might see not one, but more devices with a curved shape.
Read more about each battery at the source below


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A consumer protest by Americans has successfully forced Target Corp. to walk a few steps away from its disastrous $10 billion decision to back the radical transgender lobby.
Instead of opening all bathrooms and changing rooms to both sexes — for the benefit of a small number of transgender people — as the company promised in April, it is now set to spend $20 million on building new lockable, single-user restrooms.
However, Target is still insisting that it won’t offer single-sex changing rooms to customers. Instead, Target’s changing rooms remain open to both sexes as a sign of support for sexually mixed transgender people.
A spokesperson for the retailer admitted that the new bathroom expenditure is a reaction to feedback from angry customers.
But Cathy Smith, Target’s finance chief, insisted that the massive losses seen since April have nothing to do with company’s decision to implement the radical gay lobby’s agenda of suppressing the differences between men and women. But she Smith did admit that many customers have told the company that its policy is disliked. “It’s clear that some of our guests like and some dislike our inclusive bathroom policy,” Smith told reporters as she reported on the $20 million expenditure on new bathrooms, according to Fortune magazine.
In its original April 19 statement, Target portrayed the decision as protecting rights of a few transgender people, saying “we welcome transgender team members and [customer] guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”
But the “gender identity” term largely hides the far-reaching ambition of the transgender ideology. That ideology says that people are free to pick their own sex –regardless of biology — and that government should force Americans to accept each person’s “gender identity,” and also to end normal deference to the different needs and preferences of men and women.
To implement that ideology, President Barack Obama and other progressives are now barring K-12 schools, agencies and federal parks and government-funded homeless shelters from offering any single-sex bathrooms or showers, and they’re allowing transgender people to serve as soldiers. They’re also threatening opponents with lawsuits and funding-cuts.
When Target announced its cooperation with the transgender ideology, the resulting consumer boycott reached 1.2 million supporters in only a month. The opposition did much damage to the company’s brand, and a massive sell-off on Wall Street chopped the company’s share price from almost $84 on April 19 to $75.70 on May 11, cutting $10 billion from its value on Wall Street.
The value slowly recovered, but fell on August 17 when Target admitted that its net income fell to $680 million during the boycott, down from $753 million a year ago. Total sales fell to $16.7 billion, down from $17.43 billion. That news slashed the company’s value on Wall Street by $3 billion.
Despite the massive loss, Target’s CEO initially insisted the bathroom policy had noting to do with its losses, defended it, and insisted the company had no intentions of changing the policy.
Meanwhile, rival retailer Walmart has reported a major jump in share value — from $69 per share in mid-April to $74 per share in mid-August — and has just beat its projection on earnings and sales, USA Today reported.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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With a disappointing 2016 in the books, BMW is off with a sliver of good news to start the new year! January monthly year-on-year sales edged up a slim 0.1% compared to last year. When 2016 saw BMW USA drop from Luxury Sales Leader of 2015 to third behind Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, this sliver of growth is good news indeed.
But looking deeper at the numbers, it’s a mixed bag. Yes, BMW outpaced Lexus in January deliveries (moving up one notch in Luxury Sales volume to 2nd), and outpaced the US light vehicle industry as a whole that dropped 1.9%. But Matt’s Luxury Index grew 1.7% in January and Mercedes-Benz is the luxury volume leader by over 9,000 units! Also, BMW passenger cars tanked 14.1% despite the classification of the X1 as a passenger car. Some of this is surely due to the 5-series barely showing up in the sales numbers due to the mid-February release of it’s successor.
Two other interesting numbers: First is if one adds up all the unit deliveries of the i-, 2-, 6- and 7- series with the Z4, X4 and X6, the 2,603 units delivered is just slightly higher than X1 and slightly lower than X5 sales. The second number of interest is that used BMW deliveries totaled 110 units MORE than new car deliveries. Live by the lease, die by the lease!
Official News: Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 1, 2017… Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 0.1 percent in January for a total of 18,109 compared to 18,082 vehicles sold in January, 2016.
Notable vehicle sales in January include the BMW X1 which increased 21.4 percent, the BMW X3 which increased 57.5 percent, and the BMW X5 which increased 26.8 percent.
“The increased availability of the highly popular BMW X models is paying off as our X model U.S. sales in January topped the all-important 50 percent mark for the second month in a row,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “Now, with February here, we are very much looking forward to the launch of our brilliant next generation 5 Series, only two weeks away.”
BMW Group Sales
In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported January sales of 21,219 vehicles, a decrease of 0.5 percent from the 21,320 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago.
BMW Pre-Owned Vehicles
- January 2017 sales of BMW Certified Pre-Owned set a January record with 10,202 vehicles, an increase of 24.2 percent from January 2016.
- Total BMW Pre-Owned sales also set a January record with 18,219 vehicles, an increase of 32.6 percent from January 2016.


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As you have already heard, Nokia has announced the discontinuance of the Intellisync suite of products, which Novell has OEMed as GroupWise Mobile Server. We did not receive any forewarning of this announcement, and it was equally a surprise to our Intellisync contacts within Nokia.
This leaves a lot of questions, some of which we are still working out the details to, however, Nokia will continue to support Intellisync Mobile Suite for an additional 2 years, and Novell still has distribution rights for the product.
Obviously we need to come up with a strategy to continue to support your mobile devices going forwards, and we have already been working on that strategy for some time. The recent announcement from Nokia simply accelerates that strategy, which is not necessarily a bad thing. As we solidify the details we will be able to share that strategy more publically, but in the meantime please be assured that this is a top priority for the GroupWise team and Novell as a whole.
We are considering everything, though we already had a roadmap in mind and accelerating that roadmap is the most likely course of action. It should be noted that the Nokia press release did menton that Nokia were not planning on selling the business.


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A study in the Journal of Marketing Research finds that the traditional Thanksgiving meal may affect brain chemistry in such a way as to lessen the likelihood of impulse buying during Black Friday's store sales. Listen to this Podcast
Photo by mamichan
Here in the U.S., it's Thanksgiving week. And many of us are getting ready to stuff our faces, watch football and take advantage of all those Black Friday sales. But eat enough turkey and you may not want to shop. Because a new study, in the Journal of Marketing Research, shows that people who enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal are less likely to buy things on impulse.
We all know that turkey with all the trimmings can make you sleepy, in part because the bird is chock full of tryptophan. Tryptophan gets converted into serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood and behavior. In previous studies, serotonin's been shown to inhibit impulsive behavior. So scientists got to wondering whether eating turkey would curb the urge to reach for a credit card. They asked subjects to fill out a questionnaire after dinner on Thanksgiving. And they found that people who'd eaten the traditional turkey were less willing to jump on a bargain than those who'd had lasagna or a burrito.
Mind you, the think-before-you-buy effects of serotonin wear off after a few hours. So to stop from shopping on Black Friday, you may need to top up with a late-night turkey club. And start the day with a turkey scramble.-Karen Hopkin
[The above text is an exact transcript of the audio in the podcast.]
Northwest Pacific winter storms are now 10 percent stronger than they were 30 years ago, before Asian countries began their industrial boom, according to research published April 14 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Read Story >
The ethereal glow of the so-called zodiacal light glows over California's stark Death Valley in this amazing image captured by a patient amateur astronomer.Read Story >


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Yorkshire pharmaceutical firm wins ground-breaking £1.25m investment
A pharmaceutical company started by a team of senior managers has been awarded £1.25m by Finance Yorkshire’s Equity Fund – the investor’s largest investment to date.
Wakefield-based Boston Healthcare will use the cash injection to procure, market and distribute its recently acquired portfolio of over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products, which includes well-known brands such as Uvistat sun protection and Dalavit multi-vitamins.
The founders, all of whom were already working within healthcare before starting the company in April 2010, have more than 60 years’ industry experience between them. Explaining their plans for the investment, executive chairman Steve Stocks said:
“Our focus is on OTC brands that people know and have trusted in the past. We are looking to bring them back to life through more creative and innovative marketing, through partnering with our retail and wholesale customers and by increasing the on-shelf presence of each of our products.”
Colin Darroch, managing director of Boston Healthcare, added: “Every product is going to have its own individual website – I am a strong believer in digital marketing.”
The ground-breaking investment concludes Finance Yorkshire’s first year of investing in business. Supported financially by the European Union, the organisation provides seed corn, loan and equity linked investments – ranging from £15,000 to £2m – to small businesses, for growth and development.
Having attracted a £30m investment from the European Regional Development Fund’s Yorkshire and Humber Programme, as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development, Finance Yorkshire has also acquired £15m from Yorkshire Forward’s Single Programme , and £45m match funding from the European Investment Bank.
Reflecting on the Boston Healthcare deal, Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire said: “This is a significant investment and demonstrates that Finance Yorkshire can operate at this level.
“The company needed investment and Finance Yorkshire was able to provide the right equity package to fit their needs. We intend to build on this success by completing more of these types of deals in the future.”


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Dozens of young businessmen gathered in an exhibition that was held in Kabul, hoping to grow their businesses.
The exhibition showcased jewelry, foodstuff, and technology equipments in 104 different sections and was held to support young businessmen / businesswomen in growing their ideas and businesses.
“We exported about 1000 Tonnes of dried fruits to many other countries. However, we need young people to help us in this case because if we have them, we can increase the number to 2000.” said Younis Momand, financial deputy of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Meanwhile, one of the businessmen who is working on Saffron products complains about inattention of the government in helping businessmen to grow their works.
Nawab Azimi, an Afghan businessman said “We have been never supported by the government; we even have to pay for the small place that we have rented.”
On the other hand, a number of youths who are working on different fields are not satisfied the support of government.
“Youths have important roles in country’s economic growth; the government has to pay attention to their works and support them.” said Ismael Faizi, a visitor in the exhibition.
Businessmen ask the government to pay attention to their works on different fields, That way, they can increase the number of exportation to the other countries and it will help them to prevent importations of low-quality products.
Reported by: Lyda Niazi


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Ukraine obtained the favorable conditions on the trade liberalization
Ukraine obtained the favorable conditions on the trade liberalization of the agricultural commodities with the European Union, declared the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Igor Schwayka on May 15, 2014.
I.Schwayka reminded that after the agreement with the EU comes into force the import duties will be canceled for 83% of agricultural commodities. At the same time, there will be 15% of commodities with the duty rate at the zero level.
The Minister added that at first Ukraine will liberalize its trade for the 35% of tariff lines. Meanwhile, for another 3% (most sensitive) there will be quotas imposed, and for the rest ones, the Government to reduce the duties during the transitional period.
I.Schwayka stated Ukraine will increase the confectionery products' exports owing the import duties' zero setting. At the same time, there are prospects for commodities of sugar and starch industries.
You should be authorized to post comment
Allseeds became the sponsor of International Sunflower Oil Symposium
Economic growth in Ukraine to start in the coming months – P.Poroshenko
Large-scale Ukrainian producers of flour and groats to present their products on September 24
Ukraine harvested over 37.1 mln tonnes of grains - Ministry of Agrarian Policy
Russia: drought caused losses at 7.9 bln RUR - Ministry of Agriculture
Ukraine to supply grains, chicken and egg powder to Iran – O.Pavlenko


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A Bathing Ape has been all over the place this summer, from a NYC tribute to a Godzilla themed release, and now they are back, this time taking inspiration from the classic “Solar Red” Air Yeezy 2 colorway.
The Roadsta returns in a premium leather upper, featuring the classic star branding on the side, reminiscent of how Nike displays the swoosh on their sneakers. Alongside the anticipated Yeezy inspired colorway, an all white Roadsta is coming as well, found with gold branding.
Release dates are not available yet, however, expect these to hit retailers soon, as the season continues. As always, follow @ModernNotoriety for the latest news.


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- A national brand of pharmacies has dropped a store in Thurgood outside Albury from its franchise chain after a social media outcry over its reluctance to dispense contraceptives. The pharmacist inserts notes into contraceptive packets, urging customers to have their prescriptions filled ...Friday 14 February 2014
Explore by Topic
Latest Pharmaceuticals stories on ABC Goulburn Murray
Latest Pharmaceuticals stories on ABC Online
- Daily medication, or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), has been found to massively reduce the risk of being infected by HIV for those in at-risk populations, yet not everyone agrees it should be widely available....Thursday 27 November 2014
- More evidence has emerged about the potentially devastating side effects from products used to support weak pelvic floor muscles. Shine Lawyers are pursuing a class action against manufacturer American Medical Systems after women allegedly suffered painful complications their products. ...Tuesday 18 November 2014
- The World Health Organisation lists antibiotic resistance as one of the most pressing global threats to human health. Patients are now coming into hospital in Australia and overseas, carrying resistant bacteria acquired in the community. These bacteria produce infections that are difficult ...Monday 17 November 2014
- Brown snake antivenom evidence questioned...Wednesday 12 November 2014
- Prescription painkillers are some of the most commonly misused drugs in Australia. So why are doctors prescribing these medications in increasing numbers? And how can people with chronic pain safely use prescription opioids?...Monday 10 November 2014
Explore ABC Goulburn Murray by Topic
- Victorian Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh commits $500,000 to upgrade the Euroa saleyards.
- The perks of setting up house at a tip
- Candidates bicker over marginal merits
- Secret Santa in demand
- Mark Bailey from Goulburn-Murray Water says the chance of a low-reliability irrigation allocation in Victoria is slim.


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It seems like the long arm of the law is getting closer in reach to the world of online commerce everyday. First it was talk of whether or not online auction sales are taxable this past tax season, and now this from Reuters:
I was under the impression that this was yet another move to promote some sort of green agenda, but after a brief chat with an eBay spokesperson I learned that their focus lies elsewhere. "Since the rules regarding the trade of ivory are very complicated," she began, "this is less about outlining them explicitly and more about maintaining a marketplace that supports buyer confidence when it comes to legality."
This snippet from the official press release takes this point a step further:
I'm still trying to figure out exactly how expansive the site's ivory market is to begin with, but it'll be interesting to see how the users react. eBay's recent move makes a lot of sense in terms of promoting a safe buying environment and social responsibility, but once legal concerns are cited as a reason for limiting content there's bound to be some dessension in the ranks. I've already outlined some of the hurdles that can be encountered in scenarios like this one, so my interest is piqued as to what the general public's reaction will be.


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The Big Mac, McDonald’s iconic hamburger, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its national rollout with the issuing of a special MacCoin global currency on Thursday — which is the 100th birthday of the man who created the big burger.
McDonald’s says more than 6.2 million MacCoins will be distributed globally in more than 50 countries. They’ll have five different designs — one for each decade of the Big Mac — and can be redeemed for a free Big Mac.
But while the “two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun” has become a global fast-food icon, here are five things you may not know about the pride of the Golden Arches:
1. The Big Mac is really older than 50
Despite McDonald’s celebrating the Big Mac’s 50th birthday this year, it’s really more like 51 years old. The Big Mac originated at a McDonald’s in Uniontown, Pa., and was the creation of franchisee Jim Delligatti.
An advertisement in the local The Morning Herald newspaper proclaimed the birth of the Big Mac: “Starting Saturday, April 22, 1967. New! Big Mac. Made with 2 freshly ground patties, tangy melted cheese, crisp lettuce, picked and our own Special Sauce. Only 45 cents.”
The ad also included a coupon that would let customers sample the new burger creation for just 29 cents at Delligatti’s McDonald’s in the Uniontown Shopping Center. The Big Mac proved so popular, McDonald’s decided to offer it nationally in 1968.
“When my great-grandfather Jim Delligatti invented the Big Mac at his grill in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, he just wanted to make his local customers happy,” Nick Delligatti, a fourth-generation McDonald’s owner-operator and great-grandson of Jim Delligatti, said in a news release.
“August 2 would have been my great-grandfather’s 100th birthday, and I believe he would be very proud knowing his humble sandwich has made such a lasting impression that people all around the world can enjoy it wherever they find a McDonald’s.”
Well, that’s not how McDonald’s described the Big Mac at its launch. In fact just calling it Big Mac wasn’t enough — some ads touted it as the “BIG MAC Supersandwich.”
In the Pittsburgh Press newspaper on April 15, 1968, an advertisement carried this description; “McDonald’s BIG MAC Supersandwich: Two giant patties of lean beef. Cheddar-blend melty cheese. Crisp fresh lettuce. Tangy dill pickle chip. Double dab of McDonald’s special Gourmet Sauce. All piled high on a big, fresh sesame seed bun sliced club-style!”
Yeah, that doesn’t have the same zip as the famous commercial jingle, does it?
3. Wait, which Big Mac are you talking about?
If you did a quick search on “Big Mac” in newspaper archives around the time of the burger’s launch, you’ll get lots of results — but not many for the “supersandwich.”
In 1968, “Big Mac” was a registered trademark for a brand of Penn-Prest work clothes that were sold at J.C. Penneys.
As Penneys described its Big Mac, “This Penn-Prest polyester/cotton fineline twill work set will stay fresh and new looking wash after wash without ironing. Just machine wash and tumble dry! The shirts are tailored with French fronts, two front flap pockets and long sleeves. The pants have plain fronts, cuffed hems and a study brass zipper.”
Big Mac pants were $5.98 and shirts $4.98 at Penneys.
Also, IGA Supermarkets carried a line of canned-goods called “Big Mac” that included vegetables and other items.
But, eventually, Big Mac became synonymous McDonald’s big burger.
4. The Big Mac is old, but the Whopper is older
Sure, the Big Mac is getting all the attention for its 50th birthday, but rival Burger King’s Whopper is already past 60 years old.
Burger King started in Miami, and co-founder Jame McLamore introduced the Whopper burger in 1957. At that time, he had burger rivals in South Florida including Royal Castle, Burger Castle and Krystal, among others. According to Wikipedia, he supposedly noticed a rival was selling a large burger, but he wanted to have one even better. He came up with the name “Whopper” because of its “imagery of something big.”
A story in the Miami News in 1959 noted, “Speaking of food, if you’d like a 39-cent meal, try ‘Whopper’ at a Burger King. Whole hamburger meal.”
Both Burger King and McDonald’s would later create versions of their rivals’ signature burger. McDonald’s “Whopper” sandwich was called “Big N Tasty.” Burger King’s “Big Mac” sandwich was called “Big King” — perhaps an acknowledgement that the Big Mac is indeed the king of all burgers.
5. When did Florida get the Big Mac?
With Burger King being based in Miami, Florida was maybe more of a Burger King state than a McDonald’s state when the Big Mac was rolled out. Perhaps because of that, the Sunshine State was slow to adopt the new-fangled burger.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the Big Mac arrived there in September 1968. Tampa-St. Petersburg and West Palm Beach got the burger in November — as did Brevard County McDonald’s.
A story in Cocoa’s Today newspaper on Nov 30, 1969 noted, “You can sink your teeth into the Big Mac. It weights only seven and half ounces but it has three pieces of sesame seed bun and two hamburger patties. With it comes a tartar-like sauce, cheese, lettuce, pickles and onion, all for 49 cents. It is served wrapped in foil with a cardboard ring around it to hold it all together, and height alone makes it a real jawstretcher.”
While those Space Coast residents were chowing down on their Big Macs, ads began to appear in the Orlando Sentinel saying, “Big Mac is coming!”
Sure enough, some time in December 1968, Orlando’s McDonald’s restaurants finally got to taste the Big Mac.


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By Michael Ward, Volunteer
This July, the UK saw record breaking peaks in temperature all around the country. Britons eager to enjoy the tropical heat flocked to the beach, donning their umbrella hats, and of course tucking into a cone of cool ice cream. But there’s a bitter taste on the horizon, with public health experts pushing for a ‘pudding tax’ to be imposed on ice cream and other sweet foods.
The UK is no stranger to such taxes. In April 2018, the introduction of a sugar tax imposed a levy upon the production of sugary drinks of up to 24p per litre – a cost that manufacturers can decide to pass onto customers.
When the sugar tax was announced by George Osborne in 2016, it was expected to raise around £500 million per year. As ever, this was optimistic. This figure has fallen to £240 million, as over 50 per cent of soft drinks manufacturers made changes to their recipes to avoid the levy. While supporters would claim this as a sign of success, manufacturers have simply adapted their recipes, lowering the sugar contents and replacing it with artificial sweeteners.
These same supporters are convinced that sin taxes work in curving consumption, but in reality the effect on consumption is not significant. One study found that only 1 per cent of consumers actually stopped drinking soft drinks after the introduction of the UK sugar tax. This is indicative of the effects of sin taxes around the world. For example, in Mexico, a sugar tax was introduced in 2014. The annual sales of soft drinks averaged 160 litres between 2007-13, rising to 162 litres in 2014 and only slightly decreasing to 161 litres post-tax. In other words, although sin taxes do impact consumption, they aren’t the most effective measures. Daniel Pryor of the Adam Smith Institute explains this phenomenon, stating that ‘many of those hit by the sugar tax will simply substitute more expensive soft drinks for cheaper alternatives.’
The same also applies to other sin taxes. Research by the Institute of Economic Affairs found that, while on average less alcohol is consumed in low income households, possibly an effect of the alcohol duty, alcohol-related health concerns were much higher. This is a phenomenon known as The Alcohol Harm Paradox. Among other reasons, this can be partly contributed to consumption patterns, with expensive alcohol prices forcing people to drink at home rather than in the safety of numbers at a pub or bar, incentivising lonely binge drinking. This again brings the health benefits of sin taxes into question.
The fairness and regressive nature of sin taxes must also be questioned, as according to the Office for National Statistics, around 30 per cent of the poorest households’ disposable income goes on indirect taxes such as VAT and alcohol duty.
When asked about the regressive nature of sin taxes, Michael Bloomberg – multi-billionaire and champion of the soda tax in the US – agreed that they were regressive, but that it was a good thing ‘because the problem is in the people that don’t have a lot of money’. This is not only a patronising view, but it is also making a large assumption that people will abandon their vices when the price of the good increases. As we’ve seen, it’s often the case that people will simply switch to a cheaper substitute.
It seems that the new prime minister, Boris Johnson, agrees with this view. A green paper published under Theresa May looked to extend taxes further to sugary milk-based drinks, suggesting that the government ‘may’ extend the sugar tax to milkshakes. This however, is looking unlikely under Johnson, who has stated that he believed sin taxes ‘clobber those who can least afford it’, and promised to review the effectiveness of these taxes.
The new government needs to put an end to these regressive taxes. The uncomfortable truth is that public health campaigners will constantly be advocating for further taxes on ‘unhealthy’ products. This is seen with the proposed ‘milkshake tax’ and even suggestions for taxes on red meat which would see a 79% levy on processed meat, these taxes would further leave consumers out of pocket, and likely not have the effect on consumption that public health experts claim. That is why the TPA continues to campaign against them.
Let’s not sugar coat it: sin taxes don’t work and punish the most hard-up in society. Boris Johnson is right to question the legitimacy of these taxes, and should put an end to any proposal to expand upon them. Everyone should be able to enjoy the warm weather, with an ice cream, without these unnecessary and patronising taxes.


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The Jeep Compass has been a favourite of many premium small SUV buyers. On sale in a price bracket of Rs.15.35 – 21.94 lakh, the Compass has even managed to attract buyers of successful models like the Mahindra XUV500 and the Hyundai Creta. The Compass has already been bought by many celebrities and now, as per a recent update, it has even become a ‘politician car’. Soon, Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, will be seen using a Jeep Compass as his official vehicle. The Jeep Compass will replace the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara that Sisodia has been using till now.
After the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal started using a Toyota Innova while Deputy CM Manish Sisodia chose the Maruti Suzuki SUV. Now, however, the administration has bought a new Jeep Compass SUV that will be handed over to Manish Sisodia by next week. Two years ago, five Maruti Ciaz cars were purchased for the officers of the Principal Secretary level. However, it looks like the administration has now decided to splurge on a more expensive and premium vehicle in the form of the Jeep Compass. Sisodia’s Compass will get the ‘0017’ registration number.
Like we said, the Jeep Compass has been a hot favourite of many premium SUV buyers. It offers a five-seat cabin and rivals the likes of Hyundai Creta and even some bigger SUVs like the recently updated Mahindra XUV500. In spite of having a less powerful diesel engine and a lesser number of seats, the Jeep Compass has been selling really well. The India-spec Jeep Compass is available with two engine options – 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel. The petrol engine offers a maximum power of 160 bhp along with a peak torque of 250 Nm. On the other hand, the diesel engine offers a max power of 170 bhp along with a peak torque of 350 Nm. 4×4 is optional. The petrol engine offers two transmission options – 6-speed manual and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The diesel engine is available with a 6-speed manual transmission only.
Later this year, Jeep India is expected to roll out the Trailhawk version of the Compass. The Trailhawk is likely to mark the debut of the 9-speed automatic gearbox for the diesel engine. The Compass is produced at Fiat’s Ranjangaon facility, off Pune. This manufacturing facility is a global production hub for the right-hand drive variants of the Compass. The SUV is exported to countries around the world such as the UK, Japan and Australia.
Source – EenaduIndia


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CNN names Taiwan’s 40 best street eats
CNNGo regards braised pork over rice as one of Taiwan’s 40 best street snacks.
Taiwan’s diverse street food is now a signature feature of its culture, according to U.S.-based online travel guide CNNGo June 13.
In her report for the CNN affiliate, “40 Taiwanese Foods We Can’t Live Without,” Hong Kong-based writer Hiufu Wong described Taiwanese food as “a mash-up of the cuisines of Min Nan, Teochew and Hokkien Chinese communities, as well as Japanese cuisine.”
“The results of these culinary marriages are diversely delicious,” she added.
“Small eats are the big thing in Taiwan where the philosophy is eat often and eat well,” Wong said, adding that travel essentials for a visit are one’s passport, cash and an extra stomach.
The list features hot dishes such as braised-pork rice, beef noodle soup and oyster omelets, as well as night market sweets including bubble tea, aiyu jelly and shaved ice.
“Food is definitely an indispensable part of the Taiwan experience, and our mouthwatering dishes are sure to continue to whet the appetites of international travelers,” an official with the Tourism Bureau said.
The report coincides with a month-long campaign, Taste of Taiwan Cuisine, initiated early June by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and targeted at over 400,000 international exhibitors, buyers and visitors expected in Taipei for trade shows.
As part of an ongoing drive to promote Taiwan food culture, the ROC government launched a website late last year dedicated to showcasing the island’s gourmet culinary traditions, night market snacks and fusion cooking. (THN)
Source： Taiwan Today


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The nationwide scam demanding people quickly pay utility bills over the telephone using a Green Dot prepaid credit card has recorded its first incident in Saginaw County.
Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel, said a local business in Kochville Township and Consumers Energy customer was the target of the scam, and paid $500 using a Green Dot prepaid credit card.
“We want business owners and residents to know that the Green Dot scam is just that, a scam to take your money. We want to warn them to never be pressured into making payments over the phone using a prepaid credit card, or to share personal information over the phone with anyone they don’t know,” Federspiel said.
Reports of this scam have come from Consumers Energy customers across the state beginning in mid-2013. Since Aug. 16, 2013 a total of 293 people have reported incidents in which callers have falsely claimed to represent Consumers Energy.
A typical Green Dot scam usually involves a caller, who can speak English and Spanish, demanding payment for a Consumers Energy bill within an hour, and the customer is told to purchase a Green Dot prepaid credit card available at drug and food stores. People are then directed to call an 866 toll-free phone number to pay their bill using these cards.
Consumers Energy offers the following four tips to customers to help avoid scams:
- Consumers Energy never demands payment over the phone using only a Green Dot card.
- Customers should never give money or personal information such as account and credit card information over the phone to anyone they don’t know.
- Customers are encouraged to share information about this scam with friends, family and neighbors to help prevent additional victims.
- Residential or business customers who believe they may have been victims of this scam or who have related concerns should call their local law enforcement agency and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
Tips on avoiding utility fraud and other scams are available from the Michigan Public Service Commission.
- the ability to pay over a secure Internet site
- via U.S. mail
- in person at an authorized pay agent location
- by Visa, Mastercard or eCheck using an authorized Consumers Energy EasyPay agent


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How Bitcoin Is Positive 16 Oct 2019. It, therefore, characterizes how internet and social media behaviour. A positive mood on Twitter predicted a bitcoin's price rise 3–4 days later. which will impede innovation in the sector and its prospects to bring positive change to a broken financial system. Related. Data gathered by Buy Shares indicates that Bitcoin would rank
Under the PSA, the term “Virtual Currency Exchange.
These risks include leakage of users' crypto assets (“User.
The cryptocurrency exchange platform, Bit of Heaven, proud to announce the launching of their website. Bit of Heaven, specialized in Bitcoin and Ethereum, offering competitive services for customers.
Bitcoin For Dummies And Beginners Qatar Bitcoin Investment Review Qatar Chamber announced that it would hold a conference on the development of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on Tuesday, Qatar Airways (QR, Doha. I Invested $1000 and make $12,500 after just seven days of investing with caroline, the money i spent on the course, is a well spent money and a good
Some property developers and real estate agents in Dubai are accepting Bitcoin as a payment method by using Huobi.
Cryptocurrency market cap rankings, charts, and more.
Top 100 Cryptocurrencies by Market Capitalization. Filters. USD. Next 100 →View All. Rankings.
unsure about the use and benefit of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in their country. • Currently, there seems to be no cryptocurrency exchanges in.
21 Jan 2020.
Two of the world's most advanced cryptocurrency markets agree to exchange notes on blockchain regulation. Bitmain listing lifts lid on crypto.
Cryptocurrency (also referred to as virtual currency and digital currency) – a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit.
Coinbase Inc has started plans for a stock market listing that could come as early as this year, making it the first major.
South Korea is considering reclassifying cryptocurrencies as "goods" rather than currencies, meaning bitcoin would be subject.
If you were on Twitter late last night, you’ll have noticed it was far from a familiar place. Every blue-check verified.
According to Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange in which people buy and trade digital currency, the company prevented about.


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Summer is upon us! And you know what that means. The beach, summery drinks and even better weather than we Angelenos already get!
Summer means it’s time to fire up the grill and invite friends over for a barbecue, but it seems like unexpected guests always crash the party. No, not your in-laws — we’re talking about pesky bugs
One of the biggest challenges Los Angeles pet owners face is keeping their pets cool during the summer months. But there are a number of things pet owners can do to keep their animals comfortable on hot days.
Help your pet enjoy the Summer by preparing them with these five tips.
There’s only a month left until summer gets here, which means it’s time for season finales, summer songs, and the first signs of summer blockbusters.
A new study released Thursday revealed that summer is the least healthy time for children.
Summertime is often the most expensive time to travel but one expert who’s always looking for the best discounts offered tips.
Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig say they are now abandoning plans for a Lifetime TV movie after the secret project became public.
If you or your children are interested in cars, here are some of the best care shows in the Inland Empire this summer.
Designer Jesse J stopped by KCAL9 Tuesday to talk about the latest fashion trends you can expect to see throughout Spring and Summer.
Lifeguards estimated the crowd at more than 20,000.
Less than a week ago, it was snowing throughout much of Southern California. On Tuesday, people needed sunblock.
Some students of a South Los Angeles high school damaged in a fire returned to class Monday after summer break.
Summer is a delicious season of fresh produce, outdoor cooking and refreshing treats.
Beat the heat and the doldrums with water fun in your own backyard.


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FUKUOKA, Japan - Marking its debut in this vibrant city, Manufacturing World Fukuoka is expanding its horizons to provide an extensive international exhibition that focuses on the latest advancements in the manufacturing industry, set to take place at Marine Messe from November 29 to December 1, 2023.
Fukuoka is part of the Kyushu province, the fourth-largest economic area in Japan has grown into a manufacturing hub over the years. According to the Japan External Trade Organization, the city has a production capacity of over 1.5 million cars annually. It also houses a cluster of parts-manufacturing plants and R&D bases. Kyushu has a history of hosting major electronics and semiconductor manufacturers' factories and is renowned for being the birthplace of Japan's first large-scale steelworks.
Taking this into account, RX Japan, the country’s largest exhibition organizer, fittingly brings Manufacturing World to Fukuoka, after being held in Tokyo for 34 years, Osaka for 26 years, and Nagoya for 8 years. The show will comprise eight concurrent shows, each dedicated to a specific product category, and will focus on key areas, including DX (Digital Transformation), AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT solutions, additive manufacturing, factory automation, motion control, mechanical components, and factory facilities/equipment.
The conference program of Manufacturing World 2023 Fukuoka will be highlighting cutting-edge case studies and insights from industry leaders, and will present a distinguished line-up of speakers, each recognized for their expertise and contributions to the industry, such as Masanori Shimazoe, who serves as the General Manager of Kumamoto Factory and holds the position of Vice President at Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Mr. Shimazoe will shed light on the initiatives at the Kumamoto Plant, Honda’s fourth largest domestic site in Japan.
In addition, Manufacturing World 2023 Fukuoka will feature special lectures on Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' space business initiatives, to be delivered by Atsutoshi Tamura. As the Vice President and Senior General Manager of the Space Systems Division within the Integrated Defense & Space Systems of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Mr. Tamura will bring invaluable insights into this dynamic sector.
Moreover, attendees will have the privilege of engaging with experts from teTra aviation Corp., including Hidemi Arai, and many other industry leaders who will lead discussions on Japan and International Trends in eVTOL.
Manufacturing World 2023 Fukuoka will likewise highlight rich and diverse content, offering industry professionals a valuable opportunity to gain insights and forge connections with experts in their respective fields. To view the conference program, go to https://biz.q-pass.jp/f/7454/mwf23/seminar_register
Discover Fukuoka and Kyushu
In addition to the enlightening experience offered by Manufacturing World 2023 Fukuoka, participants can explore the rich cultural and natural offerings of Fukuoka and the Kyushu region. Beyond the manufacturing industry, Kyushu is celebrated for its culinary delights, offering some of Japan's finest seafood and local dishes. Visitors can indulge in the region's natural beauty, which boasts numerous hot springs, providing a tranquil and relaxing escape from the bustling world of manufacturing.
Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of Manufacturing World 2023 Fukuoka and explore the wonders of Kyushu. For more information and registration details, visit the official event website at https://www.manufacturing-world.jp/kyushu/en-gb.html.
About Manufacturing World Japan
Manufacturing World Japan is a leading international manufacturing event that brings together industry experts, innovators, and decision-makers to exchange knowledge, showcase technologies, and shape the future of manufacturing. With a diverse range of exhibitors, informative conferences, and networking opportunities, Manufacturing World Japan provides a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to stay abreast of emerging trends, establish connections, and drive business growth.


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Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura may be hinting at something new for Switch
This months issue of Nintendo Dream has an interview with Square Enixs Tetsuya Nomura and Masanobu Suzui from Indieszero. The two were pretty much there to promote Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, though the discussion closed out in an interesting way. Nintendo Dream ended the interview by asking what the two developers wanted to highlight about Melody of Memory.
Original Post By – N4G


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The Wall Street Journal is wondering about how Walt Disney World is going to do with the slower economy. Will bookings go down?
In late July, company officials said September bookings at Disney’s U.S. resorts were on par with last year, and that bookings for the holiday season were slightly ahead.
The company hasn’t provided any updated booking information since then. But analysts and other industry observers expect the global economic situation to soften demand for rooms at the company’s resorts and attendance at its parks in early 2009.
Disney’s stock has gone up and down recently, but in general it is the strongest of the studio stocks.


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Disgruntled former News of the World
employees are starting to anonymously gossip about the working conditions in Rebekah Brooks's newsroom. A lot of it is what you'd expect -- bullying demands for unwavering loyalty -- but the business of the reporter with the Harry Potter beat is just beyond the pale:
At Rupert Murdoch's tabloids, refusing to play ball meant being pushed to the sidelines. One reporter who said he went through that was Charles Begley, News of the World's Harry Potter correspondent in 2001 when Brooks was its editor.
With Brooks arrested, tabloid insiders open up
The then 29-year-old reporter said he wore a Harry Potter costume to work and officially changed his name to that of the fictional boy wizard, all part of the paper's attempt to tap into the Pottermania sweeping both sides of the Atlantic.
On Sept. 11, hours after the fall of the Twin Towers, Begley was stunned to be chewed out by News of the World management for not wearing his costume. He said he was then ordered to attend the next news meeting in full Potter regalia.
Shaken by the demand, Begley never showed up, and soon afterward parted ways with the paper.
We may be living in a “post-truth” culture where feelings trump facts (and Trump ignores facts) but the tabloids have been living there for years, and this week’s tabloid flights of fantasy are no different. “Drugs tearing Keith & Nicole Apart,” claims the ‘National Enquirer’ in an exposé about Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban […]
What are we coming to when the ‘National Enquirer’ accurately reports Donald Trump’s speech promising reforms in his “first 100 days” in office? They even add, in giant print on the front page, “in his own words” – because they know how rare it is for anyone quoted in the ‘Enquirer’ to actually be quoted […]
Now that all that election nonsense is behind us, let’s get back to what really matters in the world: Prince Charles has seized the British throne in a palace coup, Michael Jackson is having his first grandchild, Tom Cruise has a “$1 billion Doomsday bunker,” and U.S. Special Forces have killed a 15-ft tall red-haired […]
The Boing Boing Store’s Gift Guide is full of ideas for pretty much anyone in your life like hipster ice cub trays, Xbox controllers, Halo Boards, and even diamond necklaces. As always, all products in the Boing Boing Store come at great discounts, too. Shop by price bucket starting at under $20. Under $20:Bloxx Jumbo Ice Trays […]
Unlike traditional lighters, the SaberLight features an electronic plasma beam that’s both rechargeable and butane-free. This sleek lighter is even approved by TSA, so you’ll never be stuck buying lighters you’ll just have to throw away partially used. For some people, like me, this is a pretty big game-changer. The SaberLight’s beam is actually both hotter and cleaner […]
Holiday shopping is in full swing, and the Striiv Touch is one of the best gift ideas I’ve landed on. Its simple design works for females and males, and its wide range of features makes it suitable for even the non-fitness enthusiasts in your life.Unlike traditional fitness trackers, the Striiv Touch also acts as a smartwatch. It […]


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Health Minister Simon Burns has been criticised for claiming that the best-practice guidance developed with the medicines supply chain to tackle prescription drug shortages has been "very successful."
The Minister was speaking at an adjournment debate in the House of Commons called by Huw Irranca-Davies, Labour MP for Ogmore, to discuss the issue. Mr Irranca-Davies said that around 50 products used to treat a wide range of conditions including cancer, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, depression asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure, are now affected by supply problems.
Mr Burns told the House that parallel trade exports are currently reducing the supply of medicines available to UK patients but pointed out that the trade is legal. "Indeed, in the past, UK patients have benefited from medicines being imported to this country by the same process," he added.
"I cannot stress firmly enough that there are existing legal duties on manufacturers and distributors, within the limits of their responsibilities, to maintain a suitable supply of medicines to pharmacies so that the needs of patients are met, but regrettably a minority of operators in the supply chain are though to be putting profit before patients," said Mr Burns.
However, as a direct result of the arrangements put in place, "combined with the diligence and professionalism of the majority of the supply chain, patients overwhelmingly have access to the right medicines in a timely and efficient manner," he told the House.
Other European countries such as Germany, France and Italy have introduced a Patient Service Obligation (IPO), which incorporate supply obligations for manufacturers and wholesalers.
Commenting on these arrangements, the Minister said: "we are cautious about going down that road. It would vastly increase regulation on the industry and drive up costs across the board," and that was why the government has chosen to go down the route of best practice guidance instead.
"Best practice arrangements exist - they have been agreed with all parts of the supply chain and they have been very successful in minimising the impact of shortages. It is a much more flexible approach in comparison with statutory regulation," he added.
However, the Minister's claims have been strongly criticised by Sue Sharpe, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) who said: "the guidance has not been successful - patients and pharmacists have seen no improvement in the situation."
"The PSNC is trying to work with the Department of Health and the rest of the supply chain to resolve these issues, but these statements are at odds with the realities," she added.


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GabrielF writes: In a press release today, Apple confirmed that NBC TV shows will no longer be sold on iTunes. According to Apple, NBC, which accounted for 30% of Apple's TV sales, wanted to double the wholesale price of each episode, resulting in a new retail price of $4.99 an episode instead of $1.99. The other four networks, as well as more than 50 cable channels, will be selling their next season's shows on iTunes for $1.99 an episode.
GabrielF writes: "Steve Jobs has followed up on the success of his Thoughts on Music editorial by publishing a new piece on Apple's website aimed at responding to a different set of critics. In A Greener Apple, Steve acknowledges that Apple has been a frequent target of environmental groups such as Greenpeace for building products that "contain hazardous substances that other companies have abandoned." Jobs describes Apple's current use of a variety of toxic chemicals, contrasts his company with others in the industry and outlines ambitious plans for the future, for example, eliminating the use of arsenic in displays, and PVC plastics in all products by 2008 and expanding its recycling program to 19 million pounds per year by 2010, or 30% of the product weight Apple sold 7 years earlier. By comparison, Apple, Dell and HP each currently recycle about 10% of the product weight they sold seven years ago. How will this new piece be received by environmentalists? Will it help kick-start industry-wide changes like Thoughts on Music?"
Kevin Granata — Described as one of the top 5 biomechanics researchers in the US
Liviu Librescu — 76, a Romanian-born Israeli Holocaust survivor "recognized internationally for his research in aeronautical engineering". He reportedly saved the lives of his students by throwing himself in front of the shooter when the man tried to enter the classroom
GabrielF writes: "What could cause more speculation than a brief announcement involving two of Slashdot's most beloved companies: Apple and Google? Well, today, Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google joined Apple's already high-powered board of directors. Schmidt joins Al Gore and the CEOs of Intuit, J. Crew and Genentech on Apple's board. Does this move signal the start of a closer relationship between Apple and Google or is it just an irrelevant insider deal?"


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Facebook this week hit the magic number of 1 billion active users according to the social networking site.
To put that number into perspective, if Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world. It would be even bigger even that the United States which has 314 million residents.
One in seven people in the world are active users. If Facebook existed in 1804, everyone on earth would be posting status updates.
Facebook says over 80 percent of its users live outside the US. In August, Facebook admitted nearly nine percent of Facebook accounts are fakes. If true, that would put the number of actual Facebook users at 900 million.
One billion users in just 8 years, and still, Facebook doesn't have a solid way to make money from any of them.
Comcast and Time Warner Cable have begun capping how much data customers can use before paying more.
Comcast customers in two markets, Tuscon and Nashville, are the first to get new data plans. The cheapest is a $40 plan for 300 gigabytes. Customers who get close to the cap will get an e-mail from the cable company asking them to pay for additional data or consider upgrading their plan.
Most customers won't hit those limits, but if you stream a lot of movies from Netflix or Amazon, it is possible to reach the three hundred gigabyte limit.
Those plans will gradually be rolled out to other markets.
In New York, students who can't take their mobile devices to school can rent a truck to hold their device until after they leave.
A box truck sits outside some schools and charge students a dollar a day to keep their cell phones or tablets until the bell rings.
The downside is the trucks are at risk. In June the Associated Press reported a truck was held up causing some 200 students to lose their phones and iPods.
Last week's presidential debate set a new record on Twitter. There were 10.3 million tweets during the debate, making it the most tweeted event in U.S. politics history. Big bird prompted 17,000 tweets per minute.


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‘Go where their audiences are’: Why some brands are ‘prioritizing TikTok’ when it comes to influencer marketing
When it comes to influencer marketing some brands — particularly those targeting Gen Z — are starting to consider using TikTok creators over Instagram influencers in their campaigns.
The chance for seemingly anyone or anything to go viral, as well as the increased usage of the growing social platform, is alluring for marketers — leading some of them to earmark more influencer dollars to TikTok. Brands like Chobani, Verizon and Alaska Airlines, among others, have prioritized working with TikTok influencers as part of recent marketing efforts. At the same time, earlier this year, marketers began to see TikTok as more of a staple of the social media spending pie rather than simply an experiential app.
“Marketers will go where their audiences are, so while there are definitely brands who still prioritize Instagram based on their demographics, we’re seeing brands targeting Gen Z rapidly prioritizing TikTok over Instagram,” said Katy Wellhousen, account director at cultural marketing agency 160over90.
Over the last quarter, “there’s been a significant acceleration in the investments our brands are making on TikTok,” noted Brendan Gahan, chief social officer and partner at Mekanism. “It’s shocking how quickly they’ve managed to go from that experimental bucket to nearly being a campaign staple on par with Facebook. TikTok is not there yet, but you can see it trending that direction.”
The growth of TikTok spending, particularly with influencers and for those brands focused on younger audiences, comes as the app has broadened its popularity to millennials during the pandemic, noted Wellhousen, adding that the move is often coming from brands that want to be seen as part of culture. “But there are other reasons, like the ability to test content for a lower cost on TikTok — by nature, the app is more effective when you use it natively versus the more produced style of content you typically see on Instagram.”
SeatGeek is among the brands testing out content with TikTok creators now. The company currently allocates roughly 75% of its influencer budget to YouTube, 15-20% to TikTok and 5% to Instagram now, according to Ian Borthwick, senior director of influencer channels for SeatGeek, who did not provide exact figures.
“What’s exciting about TikTok is the unknown,” said Borthwick. “Marketers are trying to figure out the platform. If you do a video there’s a chance that video can go viral. And if you’re working with influencers, there’s a chance those videos could rack up a significant amount of views.”
Even as the unknown is appealing, the nascent platform isn’t likely to eclipse Instagram anytime soon, according to agency execs who say the maturity of Instagram’s platform, as well as its shopping capabilities, make its appeal lasting for brands.
At the same time, figuring out which influencers to work with on TikTok can be difficult and time-consuming for marketers, according to Borthwick. “For SeatGeek, we want to work with the talent directly so that’s a lot of work. As the space grows up it’ll get better but at first that’ll be tough if brands want to move their Instagram [influencer] dollars to TikTok,” Borthwick said.
Working with some TikTok influencers can also prove more difficult than Instagram for some, making them rethink spending with influencers on the platform. “TikTokers are very likely to reject client requests for usage and exclusivity, so more conservative clients are struggling,” noted Danielle Wiley, CEO at Sway Group. “We certainly are seeing a lot of client interest in TikTok as the bright and shiny new object, but then they realize the reality of working with the creators and many of them are backing down and retreating back to the safe space of Instagram.”
Digiday+ Research deep dive: YouTube holds strong as a reliable marketing channel for agencies and brands
YouTube might not be considered the most exciting marketing channel out there, but brands and agencies see the platform as a reliable marketing channel that delivers consistent success.
Pringles goes all in on social to put college athletes front-and-center for ‘March Mustache’ campaign
Pringles is turning to social media — particularly Instagram — to leverage some of the college athletes playing in the March Madness basketball tournament, with the goal of reaching college basketball fans on second screens.
L’Oreal uses social listening, in-house teams to tap into beauty trends ‘at the speed of culture’
The beauty behemoth is turning to in-house teams to accelerate content production that taps into trends within days, rather than the weeks or months of traditional marketing and advertising timelines.
SponsoredHow advertisers are leveraging omnichannel attribution and measurement to power CTV
Sponsored by MNTN Connected TV advertising has joined and expanded the larger ecosystem of campaigns that advertisers deploy. As such, omnichannel marketing strategies now encompass television and mobile devices, tablets and other screens such as out-of-home. And as customers engage across these different touchpoints, brands are seeking and moving their measurement and analytics efforts to […]
With Canva and Adobe’s new updates, the generative AI race enters the brand design space
Canva and Adobe are just two of several major design and visual platforms that are rapidly introducing new generative AI capabilities in the service of brands.
Why the esports community’s toxicity is becoming the industry’s most enduring problem with brands
As fan blowback becomes a regular occurrence in esports, the industry is turning into a potential minefield for the brands looking to use it as a vehicle to reach gamers.


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About eight years ago, after more than two decades in the textile industry in New York City, Jeffrey Rosenzweig faced his future. It wasn't enough that he owned his own business as a textile/garment broker; the industry was dying as more and more...
The Coconut Creek office of MotionPoint Corp., a website translation service company, resembles the United Nations, with employees from 40 countries including Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Korea, Spain, Russia and Zambia. Most of these technology...
Have a question for Dr. Blythe? Write to her at AskThePediatrician@tribune.com. For more information on Dr. Blythe, go to pediatricassociates.com. April 29, 2013 Q: My 5-year-old daughter just had her adenoids and tonsils removed because of snoring...
A time used to exist when we didn’t have to worry about harmful products being added to our foods, but now it is hard to find foods that are all-natural. The effect that these added ingredients have on our child’s growing bodies is not fully...
The beginning of a new school year means many challenges for our children, such as: new teachers and learning about new subjects. During this time, it is important that our children can count on a healthy breakfast that includes dairy products to ensure...
It’s hard to imagine that when ancient civilizations as far back as the 5thmillennium BC created the first incarnations of the frothy delight we now call beer that the billion-dollar brewing industry today would also give rise to some nifty adult...
Sisters Sue Gordon and Laurie Godbout took different paths to their careers that landed them side by side running the family's 75-year-old business, Algy Trimmings Co., in Hallandale. The company manufactures costumes for dance and pageantry; recitals;...
JewishJournal.com strives to offer its visitors the many advantages of Internet technology and to provide an interactive and personalized experience. This policy covers how we treat personally identifiable information and other information that we...
Who: Krystal Harvey What: Harvey is business and operations manager for Caliendo Foods & Imports, LLC. The Delray Beach-based importer of meats, cheeses, pastas, tomatoes and custom-blended signature items, specializes in importing container-sized...
Mayo on the Side: Broward news columnist Michael Mayo | Sun-Sentinel BlogsThis week's seafood special from the Gulf: Blackened shrimp. I know, there's nothing humorous about an environmental disaster the magnitude of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying. Everyone's on edge now,......
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We are bringing the very latest technology across our business to make banking easier and safer for our customers - David Crawford, head of effortless paymentsDavid Crawford, NatWest head of effortless payments, said that they are using the very latest technology across our business to make banking easier for our customers and biometric fingerprint cards are one of the many technologies we are exploring further. NatWest said to the reporters that they are still far to confirm that whether the NatWest biometric fingerprint debit cards whether it be debit or credit will ever eventually be rolled out to all customers or not and hence they're not yet ruling out the idea. Recently, NatWest has collaborated with digital security company Gemalto to make the cards, which will work in existing Visa and Mastercard machines so that customers won't be restricted to shopping in certain retailers.
India Coronavirus Cases Update 145,380 Total 4,167 (2.9%) Deaths 60,491 (41.6%) Recovered
27 May 2020, 12:23 PM (GMT)


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VAL's Pistol Whip Tournament!
The Virtual Athletics League (VAL) is launching an exciting, first-ever, worldwide high score Pistol Whip VR tournament with support from Oculus and iBUYPOWER, in association with the largest names in the VR community; VRespawn, SpringboardVR, LIV, VRML, and Splitverse. Pistol Whip, the action rhythm shooter is developed by VR veterans at Cloudhead Games, previously responsible for the award-winning, fantasy adventure series, The Gallery. Since launch, Pistol Whip has become a hit among VR esports athletes. The Tournament is a widely supported effort at scale with the best VR esports organizations in the world taking part. In concurrence with the high score tournament VRespawn and VAL are running a global social media contest in mixed reality. The social contests will be powered by LIV, this is a huge opportunity for creators and influencers to show the magic of VR. SpringboardVR is supporting and sponsoring efforts to involve their 500 VR arcade customers. Community leagues and media groups like VRML, VRespawn, and Splitverse are bringing players, media, and passion for VR esports as well as logistical support, while iBUYPOWER is providing the gaming platforms with their VR Ready PCs.


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Experts suggest that it takes around 28 days to either form a new habit or break an old one. Rather than making a string of limited resolutions that you will tend to forget by the month of February, this New Year, when you bid goodbye to 2015, you can consider jotting down a list of habits that you can make or break. Focus on taking care of them each month. However, the question is whether a flip of the calendar can change the diet and lifestyle habits of a regular American. Although this has always been a promise behind that part of the year when everybody resolves, very few can stick to the promises made.
If you’re someone who has tried his or her best to stick to your heartfelt resolutions, or at least tried to turn your life around, you should know about the bigger picture. A consumer market research group thinks that 2016 is finally going to be different. It’s through a combination of an improving global economy, personal growth and the desire to leave a better legacy for new generations. Here are some ‘game changers’ with respect to consumer behavior.
How will shopping and lifestyle change in 2016?
With the New Year, consumers will strive to spend more time with friends and family, away from office, and eat healthier lunches, in addition to adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle in order to leave a sustainable impact on the future generations.
- Shopping: In 2016, when consumers will want instant gratification while shopping, retailers will be ready to do the bidding of the consumers. You will be surprised to know that MasterCard, in alliance with Conde Nast, will allow online consumers to purchase items they see in a magazine ad or evenitems of clothing that are worn in a movie.
- Diets: In 2016, we’ll see more and more people changing the way they consume foods. Consumers will wake up to the fact that a better diet leads to a healthier lifestyle. This will be the year of food sensitivity and experts also predict that consumers will be more willing to pay more for food items that have specific benefits like additional nutrients.
- Lifestyle: Consumers will dig deeper and pay more for luxury goods, both for jewelry, clothing and even some downscale brands. People will be more concerned about looking good and staying good. Companies that produce items and devices for staying young and reducing signs of aging like Angel Lift will become even more popular.
- Sustainability: Global consumers will be figuring out how to become eco-warriors, and majority of the brands will try their best to reduce their carbon imprints on the environment.
Hence, before stepping into 2016, make sure you are aware of the different lifestyle, fashion and diet trends that will dominate the New Year.


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Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) were soaring Tuesday, climbing as much as 13% after the fast-casual chain delivered stellar second-quarter numbers. Comparable sales skyrocketed 17.3%, and the company beat analyst estimates on top and bottom lines. Best of all, it signaled that the strong growth would continue as management lifted its full-year guidance and said its business model is stronger than ever. The slide show below contains more important details about the stock's jump today, and explains what's next for Chipotle.
- Jul 22, 2014 at 2:56PM
- Consumer Goods


text: By: Editorial Staff WITH ALL THE gloom and doom about newspapers' loss of ad share that was presented at the Newspaper Association of America annual convention in Boston last week, publishers got some positive news from the co-chairman of one major retail chain. James Nordstrom of Seattle-based Nordstrom Inc. told of the "great results" his stores get from newspaper advertising. "We have got to have newspaper advertising," Nordstrom told publishers. One reason is that Nordstrom likes to do one-product ads to pull people into the stores and that is just not cost-effective to do on television. Nordstrom praised The Oregonian of Portland, the Washington Post and the New York Times for particularly good service and effective results. Nordstrom had Chicago Tribune executives in attendance beaming when he related a story about a successful ad promotion in that newspaper. He said a three-day shoe promotion increased sales in that department by 70%. "Our most profitable stores are in Chicago and the Chicago Tribune has been bending over backward to take care of us," he said. Nordstrom also praised the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune for their service and effectiveness as ad vehicles. "Most of our competitors who are using TV are losing money," Nordstrom said to the laughter of publishers in the audience. "Newspapers are so much better than television in so many ways." Nordstrom said his chain will be expanding into Philadelphia with its first outlet store, and other store openings are planned for Dallas, Denver and Detroit. Two more stores are also planned for the Chicago market, one in Connecticut and two more in New Jersey, including one in Short Hills.


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Got along to the opening weekend of the new Design Museum in London. Housed in the old Grade 11 listed Commonwealth Institute building with it's distinctive copper-roof, the venue is well worth a visit for anyone interested in the design industry, and as a new public space.
The Design Museum opens at it's spectacular new location on High Street Kensington on 24 November 2016. The move earlier this year from Shad Thames to larger premises is much anticipated by the design community and anyone interested in how good design plays a part in our everyday tasks and activities. A visit to the Grade 11 listed [...]
Liking the Cycle Revolution exhibition as London’s Design Museum celebrates the diversity of contemporary cycling in Britain from every day commuting to Olympic level competition and looks at where design and innovation may take the riders of the future.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Avon Products Inc. AVP, +1.16% on Thursday confirmed it will no longer provide mid-quarter updates. The cosmetics giant said in a statement that its decision is in line with practices of a majority of peer companies. Avon plans to release its second-quarter results on July 25.
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According to a new MasterCard SpendingPulse report on U.S. Retail Industry Segments, apparel retailers experience 3.6 percent sales’ rise in holiday shopping. The study was started from the Friday after Thanksgiving through midnight December 24.
The service, known as SpendingPulse, provides granular measures of the U.S. retail economy, both nationally and regionally, with a degree of speed and accuracy surpassing spending data estimates from traditional sources such as Department of Commerce and chain store sales.
The figures prove the strength of the 2007 holiday shopping season, which excited earlier less positive expectations, as U.S. economy faced a crisis. But still the results are low and bereaving of hope.
The close monitoring of the U.S. consumer showed that the named sector is seen as the buoy to keep the U.S. economy from slipping into a recession. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) may weaken in the fourth quarter and show either no expansion or up just by 1 percent.
U.S. specialty apparel chains, including Gap Inc, Aeropostale Inc and Urban Outfitters Inc, have brought 1.4 percent of increase over last year, a slight improvement from 0.5 percent at mid-season.
The United States does not recognize the entry of Ukrainian territories into Russia. Such a development will seriously complicate prospects for a diplomatic settlement


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Supporters of a North Texas ice cream shop are raising money to save it.
Howdy Homemade Ice Cream opened in 2015, primarily hiring adults with special needs. When the pandemic hit, the shop was forced to close for five weeks and since it reopened, traffic is down, according to the owner.
“I don’t want to let them down and I feel like that’s the hardest part about this,” owner Tom Landis said. “I just don’t want to let COVID or anything beat us.”
Landis is moving Howdy Homemade from its current location on Lovers Lane to a smaller shop at 12300 Inwood Road in Dallas to save money on rent.
Meanwhile, a supporter of the shop launched a Go Fund Me page to help cover moving costs.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the page had raised just over $21,000 towards its $75,000 goal since it launched on Friday.
Jaxie Alt hoped to raise enough money to pay for operations and an ice cream truck to bring Howdy Homemade directly to customers.
The latest news from around North Texas.
“You come for the ice cream, but you stay for the employees. I've seen adults with Down Syndrome, with autism, with physical disabilities be given chances that they never would in other cases," Alt said. “It’s a really special place and we just can't let it close."
“It’s been really hard, but we are trying to get out of this really fast,” said Coleman Jones, who has worked at Howdy Homemade since 2015.
Jones said he’s passionate about his work and hopeful the small business could navigate the rest of the pandemic successfully.
“I love it because I get to work with great and fun employees. Also, we get to interact with the best customers and that’s really important to me,” Coleman said.
Another employee, Lindsey Riddel, said she has been unable to work during the pandemic. She’s staying home to protect her father, who is immunocompromised.
Riddel said she wanted people to know how much the shop means to her.
“It’s like my second home, they’re like my family,” Riddel said.
She said she looked forward to returning to the new location once it’s safe.
“I love working there, it’s amazing. I love serving customers and the kids and seeing smiles on their faces when they first come into the store,” she said.


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Majority of Czech industry companies made profit in 2020, according to survey
The majority of Czech companies active in the industry sector will end their 2020 fiscal in profit, according to a January survey of 162 firms conducted by the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic.
A total of 45 percent of companies will have either reached, or exceeded their original profit margins. Meanwhile, 37 percent of related companies said that their profits for 2020 will be below expectations. Just 12 percent of industry businesses did not make a profit last year, or experienced an overall loss in their revenue.
According to the survey, the coronavirus crisis had the most significant impact on the automobile industry, where 63 percent of related companies recorded their profits to be lower than initially planned. The largest share of companies that recorded a loss last year came from the glass and machinery sector.