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Rapidly maturing processing technologies are also allowing 3D Printing to increasingly compete on an economic basis and the first low volume manufacturing applications are emerging. Adding electronics functionality to 3D Printed parts to produce complete mechatronic systems is the next logical step in this evolution.
To support the growth of Sartomer, the world leader in specialty photocure resins, Arkema has announced a project to expand by over 30% production capacity at its Nansha facility in China.
AM Ventures Holding GmbH (AMV), sister company of EOS GmbH, has made a significant investment in Australian-based Additive Manufacturing (AM) operation Conflux Technology.
Midwest Prototyping has announced that its operations have been certified compliant with the ISO 9001:2015 standard, an internationally recognized achievement for operational excellence (OE).
In 2000, Concept Laser was founded by Frank and Kerstin in a small area of a factory, where the construction of the very first machine was conducted. In the following year, the first laser-driven 3D printer for metals was presented at Euromold in Frankfurt.
At DesignBox3D, we have always been extremely discerning about the companies and brands that we choose to represent.
Hall Flow testing is the latest laboratory service datasheet to be released by LPW Technology Ltd.
Inovsys SAS, a well-known service company in innovation and the technologies transfer, located in Marignane, France, has recently signed an agreement including the acquisition of the advanced 3D printer of Roboze.
Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, has opened a new state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing learning and development center, located at Parker's Corporate Technology Ventures facility in Macedonia, Ohio.
Experts from the University of Liverpool - Department of Physics, and The Royal Marsden and Royal Liverpool University Hospitals have been working to develop an imaging system (known as DEPICT) that will better quantify the absorbed radiation and help facilitate personalised treatment planning.
When it comes to 3D fabrication and printing, Volumatik brings everything together in one place. The company works with an international team as well as with freelance professionals around the globe, to offer assistance to any type of customer.
UL, a global safety science organization, releases the proceedings from “Safety Science of 3D Printing,” a leadership summit with participation from more than 45 stakeholders—including printer manufacturers, material suppliers, public health professionals, academic researchers, school users, and government organizations.
At the Empa and Eawag NEST building in Dübendorf, eight ETH Zurich professors are collaborating with business partners to build the three-storey DFAB HOUSE.
New Valence Robotics (NVBOTS), the only provider of Built to Share™ automated 3D printing solutions, has announced that it has begun exporting internationally its landmark automated 3D printer, the NVPro, to customers in Japan and China.
3D Printing of structural components in polymers, metals and ceramics is becoming well established industry driven by the unique freedom of design benefits that are unattainable with other traditional manufacturing techniques.


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With Eid-ul-Fitr just around the corner, shopping malls in Sylhet city are bustling with crowd as shoppers are busy completing their last-minute shopping.
Due to excessive hot weather over the last few days, shopper turnout was almost dry. However, after Monday's rain, people started turning out in numbers as the weather has slightly changed for the better.
Shopping hotspots in the city include Nayasarak, Zindabazar, Kumarpara, Lamabazar and Amberkhana -- where most shopping malls and brand shops are located.
On the other hand, low and lower-middle income people are thronging the makeshift shops on footpaths and roads in Bandarbazar, Zindabazar and Chowhatta areas of the city.
While talking to this correspondent, customers spoke of bitter-sweet experiences regarding their Eid shopping.
Shawan Ahmed, a travel agency businessman from Dakshin Surma, was busy shopping at Maha, where almost all Eid items are found under one roof, in Nayasarak area with his family.
“I am shopping with my mother, wife and other family members and this is more fun than Eid,” he said.
College teacher Kamrul Haque was shopping in Lamabazar area.
He said, “My family and I prefer traditional tant clothing, no matter if it is Tangail, Manipuri or Khadi, for all festivals as we find them comfortable and affordable.”
There are many brand and non-brand shops. In terms of choosing the best outfit for the Eid meeting the budget, the options are limited, he added.
Jakaria Ahmed, a banker, who was shopping at Shukria Market in Zindabazar area, echoed the same.
According to him, the prices of quality clothes are much higher this time in comparison with last year.
On the other hand, shop owners are happy with the volume of sale.
Mahiuddin Ahmed Saleem, owner of Maha, said their shop remains abuzz with customers till midnight.
“These days, we close our shop around 3:00am as people keep pouring in till Sehri time. This year, customers are happy with our collection and we are doing good business,” he said.
Humayun Kabir Jewel, owner of traditional clothing store Shororitu in Lamabazar area, said the sale has been quite satisfactory.
Nihar Kumar Roy, managing director of Kamala Bhandar, a hundred-year-old shop famous for jewellery and clothing at Nayasarak, said it is customary for the Sylhet people to shop at the last moment.
Therefore, shopping malls are experiencing a huge crowd with the Eid approaching.
Meanwhile, to boost Eid sale, many brand shops are offering discounts while many are running promotional campaigns -- both online and offline.

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WASHINGTON — The Bangladesh government is mulling over a U.S. offer that would allow the entry of 175,000 dozen pairs of cotton trousers that were embargoed at the end of July, but with a penalty reducing next year’s quota by three times...
WASHINGTON — The Bangladesh government is mulling over a U.S. offer that would allow the entry of 175,000 dozen pairs of cotton trousers that were embargoed at the end of July, but with a penalty reducing next year’s quota by three times the amount, according to industry sources.
David Spooner, special textile negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, sent the proposal on behalf of the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements to the Bangladeshi Embassy Wednesday, and gave officials there a deadline of Friday to accept or reject the offer, sources said.
Don Foote, director of the agreements division at the Commerce Department’s Office of Textiles and Apparel, confirmed the Bangladeshi Embassy received the proposal, but would not disclose its content.
The offer comes at a time of political sensitivity. The Bush administration is bending over backward to show it is helping the flagging textile industry at the same time several House Republicans from textile-producing states are fighting for reelection in November.
Ten senators from textile-producing states weighed in on the matter Tuesday in a letter to administration officials and urged officials to deny the request from Bangladesh to exceed its 2002 limits on cotton trousers, as reported. They argued that the White House would renege on a promise — if it granted more quota to Bangladesh — to help U.S. textile makers compete internationally by forcing foreign countries to follow trade agreements.
"Bangladesh overships quota every year," said Charles Bremer, vice president of international trade at the American Textile Manufacturers Institute.
Bremer said it will establish a "bad" precedent because other countries will expect similar special treatment. He pointed to China, which is close to filling several quota categories.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking down for retailers like Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, which need to get their trousers into stores for fall and holiday selling. Retailers are stuck because Bangladesh miscalculated its quota after orders were taken and shipped. An estimated 150,000 to 200,000 dozen — or up to 2.4 million pairs — were overshipped and currently sit in U.S. ports or are in transit.
The Bangladesh quota for these garments is 3.8 million dozen and the limits were exceeded by about 5 percent."I don’t see how the domestic industry would be hurt if it was granted or benefit if it wasn’t granted," said Erik Autor, vice president and international trade counsel at the National Retail Federation. "In the meantime, [retailers] were left holding the tab."
Autor said the country could fill its quota as early as April 2003 because of the penalty, assuming it hasn’t driven off the business. "Because of the quota mismanagement, people are thinking twice about doing business there."
Etro’s show, titled “The Tree of Life,” was a celebration of the house’s 50th anniversary. “My father founded the company in 1968, which was the year of counterculture and psychedelia. It’s really a show that celebrates that and the paisley design of India and its origin,” said Veronica Etro. #wwdfashion #mfw #ss18 (📷: @delphineachard)
For @msgm’s spring 2018 show, creative director @massimogiorgetti said “Words, sounds, colors. Synthesis and therapy of a collection,” were the inspirations behind the collection, showing today. Read the rest of Milan spring 2018 inspirations on WWD.com. #mfw #wwdfashion #ss18
For her first solo album in over 10 years, Fergie tapped Carine Roitfeld, Mert and Marcus, Giovanni Bianco and more to create a fashion-focused video approach for the record, Double Dutchess. "Giovanni really helped me get back in touch with my tomboy side, my hardside," said the singer. #wwdeye #wwdfashion ( : @slovekinpics)
“Volumes and Graphic Art of the Nineties are the main inspirations of the new Aquilano.Rimondi SS 2018 collection,” said cocreative directors Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi. #wwdfashion #mfw #ss18


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Nokia X3 officially gets a CDMA / EV-DO candybar version (not for Verizon, but for China)
The CDMA Nokia X3 spotted not long ago will not be launched by Verizon after all. Instead, Nokia continues its Chinese saga with the launch of a brand new X3, made in CDMA / EV-DO flavor for China Telecom.
The new X3 has a different form factor: while the original X3 is a slider, the China-bound one is a candybar. It features a 2.4 inch QVGA display, China-specific services, FM radio, 3.5mm headset jack, and a 3.2MP camera with Led flash.
The handset also has “a unique three-dimensional texture” on the back case, and it looks like a more polished X2:
The Nokia X3 candybar is expected to be available at China Telecom before the end of this quarter (most probably in June). No word yet on the phone’s price.
Via Press release


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Christmas is coming and with it the words “celebration” and “gifts”. However, you do not have to choose between the two when choosing where the holiday will be. CNN Travel has listed seven destinations that, in addition to having good Christmas celebrations, have options for fairs and shops to buy souvenirs and Christmas gifts.
Check out seven of these cities below:
VIENNA, AUSTRIA – This may be the most traditional destination on the list. The first Christmas market in the Austrian capital was held in 1298 and today the city has more than 20 events to choose from. Few cities immerse themselves in the Christmas spirit like Vienna. First-time tourists should prioritize the Viennese Christmas Market, which takes place in front of the town hall. It runs until Christmas Eve, with 151 stalls serving Christmas drinks to Austrian sausages. There is a huge ice rink to skate and play curling, and reindeer rides for kids.
MONTREAL, CANADA – Now, in the second year, the Grand Christmas Market in Montreal, Canada, is inspired by the biggest holiday events in Europe. Between December 1st and 24th, on the sidewalk of Ste Catherine Street, there will be more than 60 wooden houses selling goods, from winter drinks to Christmas decorations. The market is especially good for children, with a goblin workshop, Santa’s sleigh and an igloo. Although it closes its doors on Christmas Eve, the Grand Christmas Market reopens a week later for the New Year. Local DJs offer entertainment as the clock strikes midnight.
FLORENCE, ITALY – The annual Christmas market in Florence, Italy, runs until December 18 in Piazza Santa Croce. With the Franciscan Basilica providing a backdrop to the 50 stalls, this is the perfect place to shop. The Piazza del Duomo is also worth the visit to the celebration and to see the Christmas tree, which has been lit since December 8, as part of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Krakow, Poland – For those who want a Christmas with snow, Krakow usually takes orders. The city’s Christmas market is held in its main square, the Rynek Glowny, which normally receives a lot of snow during December, making the visit to Poland even more magical than some of the great European names. Hand-painted Christmas tree balls are a local specialty, as are seasoned nuts and cooked sweets. This can be considered one of the most complete Christmas shopping experiences.
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – The British city is not the first place you’d expect to find a traditional Christmas market, but bustling Birmingham boasts “the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria.” Held in Victoria Square until December 24, Birmingham has copied European countries with 180 stalls selling everything from jewelry to handmade toys. The big draw, however, is Chris Moose, the singer moose, found outside the entrance of the Council Board of the market, giving things a distinctly British air. There is also the nearby Christmas Craft Market on Centenary Square with 30 stalls selling local beers and British sausages.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – The Fira de Santa Llúcia had its origins in 1786. It began as a one-day event to commemorate the day of Santa Llúcia on December 13, but has since become a three-week Christmas fair. Positioned in front of the Cathedral of Barcelona, the market has about 300 stalls selling from Christmas decorations, trees and Christmas figurines to musical instruments, hand puppets and jewels. The festivities begin on November 24 and run through December 23. The main attraction is a piñata that pours candy and presents.
ZAGREB, CROATIA – Advent in Zagreb, Croatia, has been voted the “best destination in the Christmas market” by users of the Europe Best Destinations travel portal for two consecutive years. Based on the streets surrounding Jelacic Square, the numerous attractions offered include an ice rink, ice sculptures, street food stalls and outdoor music stages. However, the Jolly Christmas Tram is a hard-to-beat attraction. In it, children and adults can cross the center of town accompanied by Santa and his elves.


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Destiny 2 Brings Back the Gjallarhorn as Part of Bungie's 30th Anniversary
Celebrate Bungie's 30th Anniversary this December.
Destiny 2 is finally bringing back the fan-favorite rocket launcher Gjallarhorn as part of a special 30th Anniversary Pack releasing this December.
Bungie is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and will host a massive in-game celebration to commemorate the milestone. There will be loads of free events and items players in Destiny 2 can experience, including a new 6-player match-made activity celebrating Bungie's history.
There will also be a special 30th Anniversary Pack available for purchase. This pack includes a new three-player dungeon, exotic weapon, four emotes, exotic ship and sparrow, two universal ornament sets, and a unique helmet ornament.
Hidden in this dungeon is a weapon that players have been begging for to return: Gjallarhorn.
Gjallarhorn has been updated for the Destiny 2 sandbox, so expect it to function up to the specs of Destiny 2 and not the previous game.
Bungie is bringing this fan-favorite weapon to life as well. In a partnership with Nerf a dart-firing version of Gjallarhorn is also coming down the pipeline, though sadly it wasn't shown during the Showcase.
Destiny 2's big showcase finally revealed the new trailer and release date for its upcoming expansion, The Witch Queen. While details leaked ahead of the show, they were all accurate including its February 22, 2022 release date, new Glaive weapon type, weapon crafting, and more.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.


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[This article was first published in the July, 2011, issue of
Larry’s Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.]
Alex Gollner has posted a new, FREE, effect for Final Cut Pro X — it’s an eight-point mask. “I added four more points and some more controls: including the facility to define the strength of the mask inside and outside of the defined shape.”
Alex added: “You should also know that there is a bug in Motion effect rendering that means that Apple’s and my effect don’t animate properly when keyframed. This is related to the way effects’ On Screen Controls are managed using Motion behaviours.”
Ben Balser has created a drop shadow effect for FCP X. The “Drop Shadow Utility” Effect template is on the Tutorials & Downloads page at:
NEW & Updated!
Edit smarter with Larry’s latest training, all available in our store.


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(Ecofin Agency) - Kenya announced the upcoming launch of a credit guarantee facility worth $92 million for businesses across the country. The new scheme mainly targets micro, small, and medium enterprises, which significantly contribute to the economy. It is expected to be operational from October 2020.
The government wants to ease recovery after the pandemic that has shattered the economy and affected the turnover of companies while increasing their cash needs. According to Albert Mwenda, acting director-general, budget fiscal and economic affairs, National Treasury, the measure is part of the country’s covid-19 response plan.
"The guarantee aims to facilitate access to affordable credit to MSMEs by reducing their default risk on loans," Mwenda said. Despite the pandemic, Kenya hopes to maintain a positive growth this year thanks to the rollout of a strong response plan and the resilience of the Agriculture sector. The Parliamentary Budget Office forecasted a growth between 1% and 2% by the end of the year.
Moutiou Adjibi Nourou


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A new study has found that CBD induces autophagy in nematodes, leading to anti-aging and neuroprotective effects.
Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells.
The results of this new study are the first to explain the anti-aging mechanisms of CBD, forming a basis for the possible application of CBD in improving neuronal health and longevity.
What is autophagy?
Autophagy is the mechanism through which the body removes defective cells and recycles parts of them to create new cells. In this way, autophagy promotes the regeneration of the body.
“Auto” means self in Greek and “phagy” means eat. So the literal meaning of autophagy is “self-eating.” While that may sound a bit scary, it’s actually a vital process that your body uses to keep you healthy.
Impaired autophagy is associated with accelerated ageing, meaning things that induce autophagy may have anti-aging effects.
Things that induce autophagy include fasting or calorie restriction, a ketogenic diet, exercise and, of course, CBD.
Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid from the cannabis plant, has a range of positive health effects, including antipsychotic, pro-cognitive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Recently, CBD treatment has also been shown to increase lifespan and improve healthspan in different models, such as the nematode worm and zebrafish. However, the exact mechanism through which CBD modulates lifespan is unclear.
While CBD has been shown to induce autophagy in cultured neuronal cells, this new study is the first to show CBD can trigger autophagy in vivo (an animal model rather than petri dish).
Published on April 20, also known as 4/20 (a worldwide cannabis appreciation day), the new study looked at caenorhabditis elegans (a nematode worm about 1mm long) as they were exposed to CBD throughout their lifespan.
The findings show that CBD improves healthspan and neuronal morphology associated with ageing in C. elegans by inducing neuronal autophagy and increasing overall autophagy.
Put in simpler terms, neuronal ageing, which is associated with a decline in behavioural and cognitive functions of the brain, is reduced by CBD.
In fact, CBD improved almost all the age-associated physiological functions, including reproduction, total brood size, pumping rate, and body bends.
It was also found that CBD induced autophagy to produce anti-aging and neuroprotective effects by acting upon the SIRT1/sir-2.1 genes.
The study authors summarised: “Our study provides evidence that CBD contributed to extending lifespan and ameliorating the deterioration of aging-related physical functions in C. elegans.
“Our results are the first to provide the anti-aging mechanisms of CBD promoting lifespan and ameliorating neuronal aging, which forms a basis for the possible application of CBD in improving neuronal health and longevity.”


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A superfast, lightening-speed optical chip has been invented by researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology and the Technical University Denmark. The chip is capable of transmitting the entire load of the internet in just one second. It is capable of pushing optical fiber communications to higher levels and is a part of the latest experiments in this direction.
Speed of the Super fast Optical Chip
Did you know that this super fast optical chip can transmit data at 1.84 petabits (Pbits) per second? According to the Researchers, in entirety, the Internet is believed to be a small fraction lower than 1 Pbit a second. This effectively means that data transmission can take place instantly with the new chip.
To explain further, 1.84 Pbits is 20 times speedier than ESnet6. This is the speed to which scientific networks have upgraded themselves recently. Additionally, the fastest available Internet speed, globally, is 10 gigabits currently. One petabit measures 1 million gigabits. This effectively means that the new optic chip is all set to advance optic technology further.
Additional Benefits of Super fast Optic Chip
The most impressive part about this superfast optic chip is that it is capable of delivering such impressive speeds with a singular light source. Created with the help of infrared lasers, it beams into a frequency comb. Thereafter, the light source splits into different light colors and frequencies.
The data present on different light streams is recombined and encoded into a single beam to be transmitted via the optic fiber. The unconventional and futuristic design of the superfast optical chip makes it fast and powerful.
Certainly, the optic chip is a revolution in itself.
The Last Word
At ROI Software Solutions, our experts believe that the super fast optic chip is all set to push the use of Wi-Fi beyond unimaginable speeds. With time, the usage of the super-fast optic chip can change the face of Internet accessibility and data transmission worldwide.


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Federal health officials have identified vitamin E acetate in the lung fluids of 29 people sickened in the outbreak of unsafe vaping-related lung injuries.
While the CDC's initial warnings included telling people to avoid "e-cigarettes", they have finally updated their message to state that by e-cigarettes they really mean vaping products, and that right now they're specifically concerned about THC vapes.
It isn't clear how widespread the use of vitamin E acetate is in e-cigarette and vaping products.
"For the first time, we have detected a potential toxin of concern, vitamin E acetate, from biological samples from patients", Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's principal deputy director, said at a news briefing, according to the New York Times.
In the CDC analysis, THC was detected in 23 of 28 patient samples of lung cells, including from three patients who said they did not use THC products.
The study, which examined lung fluid from 29 patients who either fell ill or died after vaping, discovered that every specimen contained vitamin E acetate - an oil derived from the vitamin.
Vitamin E acetate is a common additive in many cosmetic and food products; it is considered safe when applied to the skin or consumed, but evidence indicates that it may be risky when inhaled. Numerous injured also reported using counterfeit or black-market products containing THC, notably those marketed as "Dank Vapes".
The chemical has shown up in tests in other labs, too, including a U.S. Food and Drug Administration lab in Cincinnati that found vitamin E acetate in half of the more than 400 THC samples. But none of them were found in the lung fluid samples. THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, was found in the majority of samples and nicotine was found in about half of samples.
Officials tested the samples for a variety of substances, including mineral oils, plant oils, diluent terpenes, cannabinoids, and nicotine, as well as a common component of lung secretions. Past research from the CDC indicates that when consumed or applied topically, vitamin E acetate isn't harmful.
He described vitamin E Acetate as "oily - not kind of a common oil, but it's an oily substance".
The CDC's study was published today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Some earlier work by non-CDC researchers has suggested that it could interfere with normal lung function when inhaled, Schuchat noted to reporters Friday.
The findings reinforce the agency's recommendation that people should not use vaping products containing THC, particularly those obtained from informal sources. It usually does not cause harm when swallowed, but its effects when inhaled have not been extensively studied.


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As the world is gripped by panic over the Coronavirus outbreak, global automakers are facing problems in their businesses in China and this could impact an already slowing global economy.
Wuhan is said to be one of the country’s motor cities as it is home to multiple auto plants that supply the world’s biggest market for cars. Companies like GM, Nissan, Renault, Honda and PSA are some of the carmakers that have huge manufacturing plants in Wuhan.
All the western carmakers run the plants under joint ventures with Chinese automakers such as GM’s partnership with SAIC’s and Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Wuhan has been under a partial lockdown after the airport and railway stations were closed on Thursday, public transport has been suspended as well.
The global car industry is already facing a deep recession which isn’t showing signs of easing and this could add to the misery. China is the world’s biggest market for cars and last year the number of cars sold fell by 2.3 million as per LMC Automotive. Officials in China have said that sales could decrease again in 2020.
“We are studying carefully the issue internally through the different departments and China,” Renault’s Yamane said. “We are of course respecting the Chinese authorities’ regulations,” she added.
GM has said that they are monitoring the situation and asking employees who aren’t feeling well to skip work.
“The most important thing is to contain the virus – production is secondary to the health of the team and community,” said GM spokesman Jim Cain.
Let us know what you think in the comments below?


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. customer issues against banking institutions dropped by nearly a 3rd last year, while issues against payday lenders significantly more than doubled, based on information introduced on by the Better Business Bureau thursday.
The information, which monitor customer issues much more than 4,000 business groups, revealed a rise of 6 percent to 894,868 total last year, but registered more dramatic swings in certain crucial service that is financial.
Banking institutions got the fifth-largest wide range of grievances last year, but saw a fall of 30 % from 2010.
â€œTo me personally, the daunting tale let me reveal that the numbers(the grievances) tend to be tiny in comparison to exactly how criticized the banking institutions were in the last 3 years,â€ said Jaret online payday loans Arkansas residents Seiberg, a senior plan analyst at Guggenheim Securities’ Washington analysis Group.
â€œAs the business copes with Dodd-Frank, debit card limitations, in accordance with new mortgage principles — despite these severe functions modifications, issues continue to be coming down,â€ Seiberg stated.
Financial institutions have actually faced brand new regulations because the crisis that is financial of, such as the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform legislation additionally the Credit Card Act.
Into the runup to your financial meltdown, loan providers freely longer mortgages to subprime consumers with little to no documents of these capacity to repay. A majority of these financial financial loans emerged packed with opaque terms that lead to skyrocketing payments, pressing huge variety of consumers into property foreclosure.
Consumers also reported about widespread abuses into the bank card business, mentioning concealed costs, arbitrary spikes in rates of interest, and customer service that is poor.
The reforms enforced hard restrictions in route finance companies provide and website consumer items like mortgages and bank cards, while having injured the industry’s important thing.
While banking institutions got a significantly better report card, grievances against payday loan providers, organizations that offer high interest, short term installment loans, rose 162 %, although the group rated 56th among all industries.
Jean Ann Fox, manager of financial solutions during the customer Federation of The united states, stated consumers may be achieving off to the BBBs with pay day loan complaints because they’re trying to cope calling the developing quantity of online payday lenders.
The Federal Trade Commission recently filed a few administration activities against internet based payday lenders for aggressive selections, maybe not disclosing yearly portion prices, and recharging consumers for products they didn’t purchase.
The latest customer Financial cover Bureau — produced by Dodd-Frank to police customer items like mortgages and bank cards — has vowed to scrutinize the loan that is short-term closely.
Seiberg stated he was astonished here are not more grievances against payday loan providers, noting that customers whom count in it may well not understand where you should switch when they are having issues.
â€œThis might be the reason why this can be a priority that is top the buyer Financial cover Bureau,â€ he stated.
Grievances linked to charge cards and programs dropped 28 %, while those against home loans dropped 31 per cent.
The mortgage brokerage business features â€œbeen within the dumps,â€ said Kathleen Day, a spokeswoman when it comes to Center for Responsible Lending. She stated the fall can be as a result of decline in how many home mortgages made a year ago, plus the Federal Reserve’s 2011 rule rendering it unlawful to improve mortgage broker pay for billing higher home loan interest levels.
Grievances linked to financial loans and business financial loans additionally dropped 36 and 38 % respectively.
â€œThrough several of this brand-new legislation, there is even more concentrate on disclosures of exactly what individuals are getting along with that quality from the forward end you will view a drop when you look at the complaints,â€ said Cary Hurt, chief executive officer of this Council of Better company Bureaus.
Forms of businesses that obtained the absolute most grievances were phone that is cell and equipment providers, auto dealers, and tv transmission companies.
Issues against organizations tend to be classified because of the solution Better Business Bureau deems to end up being the business’s primary business.
Modifying by Gerald E. McCormick and Carol Bishopric


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Federal appeals court rules that state was wrong to demand Ocheesee Creamery add vitamins or change skim milk label
After five years of battling the State of Florida over their skim milk, Calhoun County’s Ocheesee Creamery finally got some good news.
On March 20, three federal appeals court judges agreed that the state can’t stop the Wesslehoeft family from labeling the milk they get from their own cows on their own farm and bottle themselves as “skim milk.”
The state told the small business they had to add vitamins to their all-natural product before selling it as skim milk. If they wanted to continue as they had before, they would be required to add the word “imitation” to the label.
The federal appeals court disagreed. Now, the family will wait out the next three months to see if the state will appeal that decision. If the state accepts the decision, then the creamery can return to selling its all natural skim milk.
The family business, located just inside Calhoun County next to the Jackson County line, has had to pour out thousands of gallons of the skim milk each month throughout their battle with the state. All that extra skim milk is produced when they remove the cream to make their butter, yogurt and ice cream that is popular with their customers. Their products are sold at their farm and in stores throughout the panhandle.
One of the federal judges who ruled in their favor last week told the family, “This is something that should have never gone to court.” During last week’s hearing, one of the judges noted, “Back in the 70s, everybody knew what skim milk was - it’s milk with the cream taken off. What the state is doing is trying to take two words out of the dictionary and change their meaning.”
“All we wanted to do was be honest about our milk,” said Mary Lou Wesselhoeft.


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A video that shows OnePlus 2 running Antutu benchmark has been leaked, take a look at what kind of performance the flagship killer is capable of as per the leaked video.
With the official launch of the highly anticipated OnePlus 2 flagship smartphone less than 24 hours away, a new video shows the device running the Antutu benchmark. The OnePlus 2 scores 49,221 points as per the leaked video. Currently, high end smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge score much higher than this, while both the LG G4 and Sony Xperia Z3 Plus are nearer.
The Oneplus 2 runs on the cooler second generation of Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, it is a 64-bit capable chip with Adreno 430 GPU. The OnePlus 2 offers 4GB RAM as per the official info released by OnePlus ahead of its launch. Apart from the core specs, the device offers a fingerprint sensor and USB type C connector. Apart from these official leaks, the OnePlus 2 also hinted at a smaller display which should translate to a more compact form factor, something that can be seen in the video as well. Apart from these specs, Marques Brownlee, popular youtuber known for high quality tech videos and leaks also gave us an alleged preview of what the 13MP camera on the OnePlus 2 is capable of.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, which is the SoC in question here, is a powerful processor, and has been reported by various sources, including us, to have heating issues. OnePlus does say that they have used the second generation of the SoC, which is cooler but if cooler temperatures are being achieved at the cost of performance, the OnePlus 2 might not be the flagship killer that you expected.
The OnePlus One which remains a great success story for the small phone manufacturer is still the choice for many who are buying phones on the mid-tier segment. The recent price drops in the price, and the availability of the phone without invites, has made it an even more popular choice amongst new buyers. However, for the OnePlus 2, the company has a new invite system in place. You can register now if you want.
The OnePlus 2 is launching tomorrow at 7:30 am IST and the launch event will have a special VR format that can be viewed by a OnePlus or other Cardboard VR headset, OnePlus has been selling the Cardboard VR on the Amazon India website, priced at Rs. 99. The VR headset went out of stock almost immediately on the day of its availability in India. OnePlus has also confirmed that it won’t be selling more of these OnePlus Cardboard headsets.
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SOUTHEAST TEXAS - The average price for one gallon of unleaded gasoline in Beaumont remains the lowest in the state, according to the weekly AAA Texas survey released Thursday.
Click here to check the AAA gas price survey
The Beaumont average is $3.14, down 9 cents from last week. The price was $3.21 one year ago. The record high in Beaumont was $4 a gallon in July 2008.
The highest average in Texas is $3.38 in El Paso.
The Texas average is $3.23, down 7 cents. The national average is $3.46, down a nickel.
(Irving, TX) – From AAA Texas - The price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Texas fell seven cents over the last week to $3.23. Drivers in El Paso are paying the most on average at $3.38, and drivers in Beaumont are paying the least at $3.14. The statewide average is now 23 cents less than the national average of $3.46, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch.
Power outages and distribution issues in the wake of Hurricane Sandy led to some long lines at gas stations in New York and New Jersey over the last week. For motorists, those lines were an issue of electrical supply rather than a gasoline shortage. Without electricity fuel could not be delivered to gas stations and consumers. Once power is restored though, there is more than adequate gasoline supply ready to be delivered.
While gas prices in some storm affected areas have increased temporarily, ultimately the impact of Sandy will be on the decreased demand for gasoline and not the supply of gasoline. Sandy’s destruction on the demand for fuel added to the recent downward pressure on gas prices from already low demand, continued economic concerns, and the switch to less expensive, winter-blend gasoline. So, prices in areas not impacted by the storm have continued to fall.
“The recent drop in prices at the pumps will be a real benefit to Texans who are planning upcoming holiday road trips,” said AAA Texas/New Mexico Representative Doug Shupe. “The weather is cooling down around the state and people are looking forward to traveling to spend these fall weekends with friends and family.”
To help consumers identify quality auto repair shops that can assist in the maintenance and repair of their vehicles, AAA offers the Approved Auto Repair program as a free public service. AAA-approved repair facilities meet and maintain high professional standards for training, equipment, cleanliness and customer service. Motorists can look for the Approved Auto Repair sign at local auto repair facilities, or search for a nearby AAA-approved shop online at AAA.com/Repair.


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Consumer spending in the Colorado Springs area rebounded slightly in September from a decline in August, according to the latest sales tax revenue report from the Colorado Springs Finance Department.
The city’s sales tax revenue in October, which reflects September sales, rose 1.4% year over year to $16 million after a decline in September that stemmed mostly from an inflated total in September 2018. Vehicle sales surged in August last year after hailstorms in June and August, according to the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. Those storms triggered more than 38,000 auto insurance claims totaling $230 million.
The reason September revenue was nearly flat: Gains from grocery stores and business services slightly more than offset declines in building materials and commercial machines.
For the Full Story: The GazetteThe gazette
by Wayne Heilman
November 11, 2019


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London Home Show registration now open
Get free tickets to the capital’s biggest first time buyer event on April 13th
Share to Buy’s free London Home Show event will return to the QEII Centre for its 11th year on Saturday 13th April 2024, 10am to 5pm.
Check out our video from the autumn 2023 event and hear from some of our exhibitors including Censeo Financial, Dutton Gregory Solicitors, Bellway London, FABRICA by A2 Dominion, Guinness Homes, Hyde New Homes, Legal & General Affordable Homes, Moat Homes, NHG Homes, Peabody New Homes, Pocket Living, Red Loft, SiteSales, SO Resi and Square Roots.
Following the success of our autumn event in September 2023 where we welcomed over 3,800 potential purchasers to our 18th live London Home Show, Share to Buy is excited to welcome budding buyers back to the capital this spring.
In April 2024, Share to Buy will be celebrating it’s 11th year of the London Home Show, a bi-annual affordable homes exhibition in Westminster, helping Londoners to navigate their way through the market and take their first steps onto the property ladder. The event will play host to the capital’s leading housing providers with exhibitors offering hundreds of homes available across London and the Home Counties, as well as free advice on home-buying schemes such as Shared Ownership, Discount Full Ownership, London Living Rent and other affordable housing options.
Sponsors of the event include some of the biggest names in affordable housing, so come along to meet Abri Homes, FABRICA, Guinness Homes, L&Q, Legal & General Affordable Homes, NHG Homes, Peabody New Homes, SiteSales, SO Resi, Southern Housing New Homes and Square Roots.
Throughout the day, there will be live Q&As and seminars covering everything from perfecting your credit score to understanding eligibility criteria, as well affordability sessions, brand-new legal sessions and an array of other first time buyer workshops with industry experts. Independent mortgage advisors and conveyancing solicitors will also be on hand to offer financial and legal advice to anyone looking to buy their own home.
To date, the London Home Show has helped over 70,000 budding buyers on their journey to homeownership – and our upcoming exhibition could help you too! Want to know more? Hear from attendees at the London Home Show Autumn 2023 below:
Tickets for the London Home Show are free, but visitors must register in advance to attend. For more information, or to reserve your place at the capital’s no.1 first time buyer event, please visit the Eventbrite page. You can also follow @LDNHomeShow on Instagram for further FAQs, sponsor details, top tips, videos and more.
Share to Buy is a one stop shop for affordable homes. On our website, you can search for properties, compare mortgages and find out all you need to know about alternative home buying schemes such as Shared Ownership via our article index.


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Government Approves Rs 12,200 Crore PLI Scheme For Telecom Equipment
The union government on Wednesday approved a Rs 12,195 crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for telecom gear manufacturing in India which is expected to encourage production of equipment worth Rs 2.44 lakh crore and create direct and indirect employment for about 40,000 people, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The PLI scheme for telecom gear manufacturing will be operational from April 1, 2021.
"In the coming five years we hope to have incremental production of Rs 2,44,200 crore, export worth Rs 1,95,360 crore, direct and indirect employment to 40,000 people and tax revenue of approximately Rs 17,000 crore to the country," the telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said after a cabinet meeting approved the proposal.
According to an official statement, the scheme is expected to bring investment of over Rs 3,000 crore and generate significant direct and indirect employment and taxes both.
Addressing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Prasad said that the government is positioning India as a global powerhouse for manufacturing, and has created a conducive environment for ease of doing business.
"Cabinet has approved PLI for telecom sector... to ensure further progress of Make-in-India in telecom equipment space...5G equipment will also come...so it was important to give incentives. We held widespread consultation with stakeholders," Prasad said adding that the scheme also aims to promote MSMEs under the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat' program.
The scheme is expected to offset huge imports of telecom equipment worth more than Rs 50,000 crore and reinforce it with Made in India products both for domestic markets and exports, the release said.
The new scheme has an outlay of Rs 12,195 crore over five years, and its eligibility criteria include achievement of a minimum threshold of cumulative incremental investment and incremental sales of manufactured goods.
The incentive structure ranges between 4% and 7% for different categories and years. Financial year 2019-20 will be treated as the base year for computation of cumulative incremental sales of manufactured goods net of taxes, the release added.
Minimum investment threshold for MSMEs has been kept at Rs 10 crore and for others at Rs 100 crore.
"Once qualified, the investor will be incentivised up to 20 times of minimum investment threshold enabling them to utilise their unused capacity," the release said.
Prasad said that the government will soon come up with a PLI scheme to encourage production of laptops and tablet PCs.
In an apparent reference to China, the minister said that India has been able to attract 14 companies from a neighbouring country.
He said that the total value of electronics manufacturing in the country has grown to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in 2019-20 from Rs 1.9 lakh crore in 2014.


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With a perfect figure, luscious long locks and access to one of the greatest on-set wardrobes ever, Blake Lively is easily one of the most envied women on the plane. […]
After Ultimo’s new face and body Abbey Clancy met with her adoring fans at the Debenhams in Oxford Street to showcase the new Ultimo Valentine’s collection, we grabbed five minutes […]
When we were invited to The May Fair Hotel for a tête-à-tête with former Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Paris, Carine Roitfeld, ahead of the release of her feature film, Mademoiselle C, […]
In case you haven’t been keeping up with our Twitter, we headed to the Intimissimi in Oxford Street on Tuesday, to meet and interview the wonderful Irina Shayk.
Oozing charm, charisma and style, Lou Doillon, 25, is fast becoming an international icon. Her c.v reads, model, actress, artist and now designer (her debut


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Android is not fragmented, it's merely differentiated, says Eric Schmidt
During a recent panel discussion at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Eric Schmidt defined ecosystem as a scalable network platform that delivers the best customer value. While expressing his view of the panel, he warmed up by turning the talks towards Google’s Android Operating system.
He expresses that Android platform are also running refrigerators now. He also believes that peoples have made most of the use with their Open Source Operating systems.
The term fragmentation was used by the panel moderator, CNET’s Molly Wood, for Android when Schmidt cut her speech and said it would be more appropriate to use the term differentiation rather than fragmentation as it seems quite negative.
With that he also revealed that Google has activated around 3.7 million Android phones on the Christmas Day as well as on the Christmas Eve. Later he also added that they want everybody to get under Ice Cream Sandwich. They also offer the developers to add or change anything as long as they are not breaking anything.
With Wood pushing him to say something about Microsoft’s Kinect and the Xbox not getting together, he replied that Microsoft is trapped in an architectural problem which might not get through.
Schmidt also mentioned about the Amazon’s Kindle Fire Tablet that runs on a highly altered version of Android. Schmidt said Google welcomed the customization but the tablet has some limitations which have been well documented.
Toward the end of the panel discussion, which was on the theme of the most important ecosystem among Hardware, content, service or software, Schmidt mentioned that they work together. He also said the significance of the ecosystems are realized by consumers only when experiences them as in the case of Apple, Amazon, and also Facebook.
So according to him everyone can be a winner as the open ecosystem allows multiple types of players to work together.


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Weyerhaeuser to close New Brunswick plant
Forest products giant Weyerhaeuser has announced it will permanently close its Miramichi, New Brunswick, oriented strand board plant permanently, effective June 6.
The facility has not operated since January 2007.
“We worked hard to sell the facility for more than one year,” said Craig Neeser, president of Weyerhaeuser’s Canadian operations. “A lack of buyer interest, the continuing poor state of the U.S. housing market and the high cost of maintaining this idled site led to the company’s decision to permanently close the facility.”
Weyerhaeuser will continue to “entertain serious offers” for the facility until June 6, 2008.
“Many parties worked in good faith for a different outcome, including local and provincial governments and Weyerhaeuser company representatives,” Neeser said. “It is unfortunate that these considerable efforts did not attract a viable new owner.”
Weyerhaeuser, one of the world’s largest forest products companies, is based in Federal Way, Wash.
BlueTarp, Orgill announce partnership
BlueTarp Financial and hardlines distributor Orgill have announced a partnership to provide credit and financial services to independent hardware and home improvement retailers.
Denise Sullivan, Orgill’s retail programs manager, said the additional financial services are meant to help strengthen relationships between retailers and contractors.
“Retailers will be able to offer more credit to contractors while increasing their cash flow. BlueTarp takes over the backroom duties plus provides contractors with a 24/7 online tracking system and the ability to earn rewards for purchases,” she explained.
BlueTarp Financial, based in Charlotte, N.C., offers commercial trade credit services to more than 1,500 building material dealers and over 30,000 contractors across the United States and Canada. Memphis, Tenn.-based Orgill serves more than 5,000 customers worldwide.
Stanley Q1 sales and earnings up
New Britain, Conn.-based Stanley Works reported first-quarter net earnings of $68 million, up 0.6 percent from $67.6 million last year. Net sales were $1.09 billion, up 3.3 percent from $1.06 billion last year.
John Lundgren, chairman and CEO of Stanley Works, noted the company’s consumer DIY sales were flat, but the company’s industrial segment saw growth.
“Our Engineered Solutions business was strong, and of course we were helped by foreign exchange,” he said. A stronger performance outside the United States, particularly in Europe, helped offset some of the sales declines as well, he added.
The company saw flat revenues in consumer tools and storage, as well as in the company’s Bostitch business.
“The U.S continues to be adversely impacted by the residential construction market. That of course affects consumer tools and storage as well as Bostitch,” Lundgren added. “In North America those businesses were both down low single digits in terms of revenue.”


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ISLAMABAD: Headline inflation in Pakistan fell from 9.3pc in July 2020 to 8.2pc in August, mainly due to a slight decrease in prices of essential food items, according to data provided by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Tuesday.
The decline in inflation during August was attributed to stable prices of food and perishable items. A decline of 9.8pc was recorded in the prices of perishable food items in August if the same is compared with the prices of July 2020.
The PBS data showed that chicken price dipped by 36.45pc in August from the previous month, while that of tomatoes lowered by 31.83pc, eggs 1.33pc, and fresh fruits 23.15pc, respectively. All varieties of pulses also posted a decline in retail price during the month under review.
But contrary to these, wheat prices surged by 11.95pc during the period under review; wheat flour rose 5.44pc and wheat products 6.85pc. Similarly, an increase of 13.53pc was noted in the retail price of sugar across the country.
The government has allowed import of wheat and sugar to arrest the shortfall in the domestic market.
As per the PBS data, there was a 2.9pc jump in the cost of transportation as economic activities increased in August after easing of lockdown in the country.
In urban areas, food items that saw an increase in prices during August included sugar (+13.53pc), wheat (+11.95pc), onions (+10.4pc), bakery and confectionary (+6.65pc), potatoes (+5.85pc), wheat flour (+5.44pc), beans (+5.01pc), fresh milk (+4.79pc), spices (+2.81pc), and rice (+0.31pc).
The items whose prices declined in urban areas included chicken (-36.45pc), tomatoes (-31.83pc), fresh fruits (-23.15pc), pulse moong (-6.5pc), vegetables (-2.78pc), pulse mash (-2.28pc), fish (-1.87pc), whole gram (-1.78pc), eggs (-1.33pc), pulse gram (-1.29pc), besan (-1.21pc), pulse masoor (-0.98pc), vegetable ghee (-0.86pc) and cooking oil (-0.59pc).
Similarly, in rural areas, price increase was seen in sugar (+13.31pc), wheat (+7.89pc), wheat flour (+4.36pc), potatoes (+3.73pc), sweetmeat (+2.63pc), fresh milk (+1.79pc), rice (+1.76pc), eggs (+1.43pc), cooked food (+0.91pc) and meat (+0.74pc).
On the other hand, drag in price levels came from tomatoes (-33.94pc), chicken (-31.9pc), fresh fruits (-25.42pc), pulse moong (-9.66pc), vegetables (-8.66pc), pulse mash (-4.55pc), spices (-3.51pc), pulse gram (-3.41pc), whole gram (-2.47pc), besan (-1.94pc), pulse masoor (-1.57pc) and onions (-0.4pc).
Meanwhile, non-food inflation in urban centres was recorded at 4.8pc year-on-year and 1.5pc month-on-month, whereas in rural areas, it rose by 6.8pc and 1.5pc, respectively. The increase in non-food inflation was mainly driven by a rise in oil prices in August.
The urban consumer price index covers 35 cities and 356 items, while the rural one tracks 27 centres and 244 products. The former grew by 7.1pc year-on-year in August whereas the latter jumped by 9.9pc.
Core inflation in urban areas was 5.6pc in August as against 5.3pc the previous month. In rural areas, the corresponding increase was 7.6pc.
Average inflation measured by the sensitive price index eased to 11.7pc during August from 13.7pc during the previous month, while the wholesale price index slightly up to 3.3pc during the month under review from 3.2pc in the previous month.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) determines the key policy rate currently at 7pc — based on the core inflation rate. The SBP has reduced the rate by a cumulative 625 basis points since March 17 to combat uncertainty amid growing coronavirus outbreak.


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The Co-Operative Group introduces 'modesty' bags across its stores, but Zoo, Nuts and The Sunday Sport decline to cover up using them
The Co-Operative will today ban so-called ‘lads mags’ from its shelves after the publishers refused to use sealed ‘modesty’ bags to hide their covers from display.
Magazines such as Nuts, Zoo and The Sunday Sport newspaper will all be impacted by the supermarket chain’s decision, taken in June, to ask them to cover up or else not be stocked.
Steve Murrells, chief executive of retail for The Co-operative Group, said that the decision had been taken having listened to members and customers.
"We believe individual, sealed modesty bags are the most effective way of addressing these concerns, so we will no longer be stocking the titles that have failed to meet our request,” he continued.
"This action will make our stores more attractive to families with young children, by creating a more family-friendly shopping environment."
The Co-Op has said that it will continue to sell Loaded magazine however, after its publishers agreed to use the ‘modesty’ bags.
In July, Loaded's editor Jamie Wallis, released a statement explaining why the title had agreed to use the bags, stating: “At loaded, we take great care with our covers, including sending them, via our distributor, to supermarkets for their approval.
“As the original men’s magazine, we pride ourselves in adhering to the guidelines set out by supermarkets. In recent months, our covers have portrayed imagery and wording in line with women’s lifestyle and fitness magazines, as well as men’s titles including FHM, Esquire and GQ.”
He added that Loaded covers were “no more overtly sexual than adverts in newspapers and on television shown before the 9pm watershed.”
Nuts also responded, by tweeting statement headlined 'Hands off our Nuts! and accusing the pressure group behind the move, Feminista of aiding censorship.


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Parisian fashion houses make a timid return to the catwalks
French fashion houses are tiptoeing back this week after more than a year of crisis that rocked the industry and left many wondering if the traditional calendar will ever return.
With the easing of pandemic restrictions, many in the Parisian fashion world are hoping that Men’s Fashion Week, starting Tuesday, marks the start of a return to normalcy.
Yet only six of the 72 brands that make up the official Parisian fashion calendar will be presenting live shows this week, although they include two big names in the form of Dior and HermÃ¨s.
It follows an equally tentative return to Milan, where only three of the 47 – Dolce and Gabbana, Etro and Armani – offered live events for this week’s Spring / Summer 2022 fashion show.
New York won’t be back in physical form until September, while the new gender-neutral London Fashion Week has also remained fully digital so far.
In Paris, many big names remain confined to computer screens, including Louis Vuitton, Dries Van Noten, Loewe and Tom Browne.
Pascal Morand, president of the French Federation of Haute Couture and Fashion, told AFP that there was “a very strong desire to go back to the physical”.
But he was not ashamed to use the word “phygital” for the current state of affairs.
“It will not be one or the other. It will be both, and it is a sign of innovation,” he insisted.
– ‘Obsolete’ –
Still, many top designers seem to think the days of the rigid spring / summer calendar are over in the four major fashion capitals.
Berluti, for example, said he would now follow his own schedule and showcased his men’s collection in Shanghai in April, reflecting the growing importance of Asian buyers.
Another big absentee from Paris this week is Hedi Slimane, head designer at CÃ©line.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, he declared the fashion calendar “obsolete”, telling Le Monde: “These days, creating a sense of event and scarcity seems more essential than compulsory exercise at a fixed time. “.
His last two collections for men and women, in February and April, were presented through poetic short films set in castles.
Morand played down those absences, saying there had always been names missing from the list and that the institution of the fashion calendar was not in jeopardy.
“C’est la vie,” he said of the missing brands, and highlighted the return of CourrÃ¨ges and Balenciaga to next month’s haute couture week, as well as the desire of many young brands to join. line-ups.
– ‘Made on Instagram’ –
Brazilian designer Francisco Terra, from young label Neith Nyer, is not among those keen to go back to the traditional way of doing things.
He withdrew from the official event in Paris this week to organize his own parade on Thursday followed by a four-day pop-up store “to directly test customer reactions.”
“I don’t think we really need the schedule,” he told AFP. “The image of a young brand is on Instagram, with celebrities and especially outside of the seasons.”
But some of the more golden names are gearing up for a comeback.
Chanel fashion director Bruno Pavlovsky called last month for “a return to a little discipline”, and the famous fashion house will be back on the catwalk for next month’s haute couture week in Paris.
Dior too, who already returned to live last week with his mid-season show in Athens.
– ‘A responsability’ –
It’s not just about coming back to champagne receptions.
Fashion houses have “a responsibility to their suppliers,” Dior women’s fashion designer Maria Grazia Chiuri told AFP, especially after the terrible economic blow that many have suffered from the pandemic.
However, small fashion houses, whose markets focus on clothing for the ultra-rich outside of Europe, say it is still too early to return to the podium.
âWe are not going to do a live broadcast knowing that opinion makers from China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United States cannot come,â said French designer Julien Fournie.
âAt the moment, there is not the right atmosphere,â added his contemporary StÃ©phane Rolland. “I don’t miss the live shows because I know they will come back eventually.”
Â© 2021 AFP


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On August 26, 2022, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a pre-publication copy of its much-anticipated proposed rule adding perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to the list of “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund). EPA asserts that this regulatory escalation of PFOA and PFOS will facilitate faster cleanup of contaminated sites and reduce exposures to these “forever chemicals.” If finalized, these hazardous substances designations will have significant and immediate impacts on many industries, from creating new reporting obligations to increased compliance, enforcement, and litigation risks related to site cleanup. EPA’s efforts involving PFOA and PFOS fall within the broader, whole-of-agency approach to addressing PFAS first announced in its PFAS Strategic Roadmap and represent its first ever exercise of its authority under CERCLA section 102(a) to designate a hazardous substance.
On July 28, 2022, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) preliminary dataset that provides public access to data about chemical releases, waste management, and pollution prevention activities that took place in calendar year 2021 at more than 20,000 federal and industrial facilities across the country. The 2021 preliminary dataset, which for the second year includes reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) added to the TRI by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), has not yet undergone the complete TRI data quality process. EPA plans to publish the quality-checked dataset in October 2022, at which time it will be the basis for the 2021 TRI National Analysis interpreting the information and examining trends that is expected to be published in early 2023. Companies should bear in mind that information collected under the TRI program can be used not only to inform regulatory action, but also as a basis for enforcement by EPA and citizen suits.…
On June 15, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released drinking water health advisories  for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), resulting in the establishment of:
- Near zero updated interim advisory levels for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) that are not only orders of magnitude below previously established levels, but that are also below detectable levels and, notably, were issued in advance of completion of peer review by EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB); and
- Newly issued final advisories at low levels for GenX and PFBS chemicals that have been used as replacement chemicals for PFOA and PFOS.
With the busy holiday shopping season underway, retailers should remain vigilant in their efforts to protect consumers and themselves from the risks of selling potentially unsafe, ineffective or misbranded products in violation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) federal pesticide law, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As concerns with the spread of COVID-19 and new variants increase over the winter months, consumers are likely to stock up disinfectant products and devices like air purifiers and air filters marketed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and other microorganisms. These products are tightly regulated under FIFRA, and retailers can unwittingly become entangled in regulatory enforcement actions for selling and distributing products that do not comply with EPA’s regulations. FIFRA extends legal liability not only to the makers of violative products, but also retailers who sell them to consumers, whether or not the retailer was necessarily aware of the violation. In addition to EPA, state agencies also enforce state regulatory requirements applicable to these products.
Continue Reading Five Questions Retailers Should Ask Themselves When Selling Pesticide Products and Devices


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MODA’s opening exhibition will provide a look at the design that turned Italian motorcycles into objects of desire at the same time that they dominated the racecourse. Passione Italiana: Design of the Italian Motorcycle opens to the public on March 20 and will run through June 13.
The exhibition presents 11 masterpieces of Italian motorcycle design spanning the last five decades including motorcycles by MV Agusta, Ducati, Bimota and Moto – Morini.
The museum’s Grand Opening Party will include a preview of Passione Italiana on March 19. Tickets will be available soon at www.museumofdesign.org or by calling 404.979.6455.


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As Apple rolls out its newest iPhone 15 lineup, and updates its Apple Watch models, Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) says that we’re reminded that the Apple ecosystem encourages multiple device ownership.
The three products together make up 60% of Apple revenues. And, these customers own Apple’s most important product, iPhone, and its two most significant iPhone accessories, Apple Watch and AirPods. CIRP says these customers also represent a relatively small share of all Apple customers. The research group estimates that about 12% of iPhone buyers own all three.
What’s more, CIRP’s data shows that among iPhone buyers surveyed, one in four are also Apple Watch owners but do not own AirPods. The number of new iPhone buyers who own Apple Watches climbs to 37% when adding Apple Watch owners who also have AirPods.
Article provided with permission from AppleWorld.Today


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Addressing modern slavery is becoming a business-critical issue for companies – for credibility with customers, investors, NGOs and the public – according to new research by Hult International Business School and The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). 77% of companies think there is a likelihood of modern slavery occurring in their supply chains, up from 71% last year, and it is perceived to be more widespread – in particular in the UK, and at the farthest reaches of the supply chain.
New report finds Modern Slavery Act is galvanising leadership action in progressive companies
Twice as many CEOs and other senior executives have become actively involved in addressing modern slavery in global supply chains since the Modern Slavery Act came into force on 29 October 2015.
The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and Hult International Business School investigated corporate leadership responses to modern slavery within leading companies ahead of the first anniversary of the Act. Their survey and report, Corporate Leadership on Modern Slavery, involved 71 prominent brands and retailers, including in-depth interviews with 25 companies.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires large firms who have operations in the UK to report on their efforts to ensure there is no slavery, forced labour or trafficking in their business or supply chains.
From 31 March 2016, all companies with global annual revenues of £36m or more will have to report against the transparency in supply chains requirement of the Modern Slavery Act.
At least 17,000 companies, both those based in the UK and international firms with UK operations who meet the revenue threshold, will need to produce an annual modern slavery statement which must be approved by the board of directors, and signed by a director or equivalent. Most organisations might think they are low risk, however, a recent study by Ashridge Business School and the Ethical Trading Initiative found that 71 per cent of companies believe there is a likelihood of modern slavery occurring at some point within their supply chains.
The requirement for medium and large companies is clear - but how does the Modern Slavery Act impact SMEs, Social Enterprises, Charities and public procurement practices?
71 per cent of companies believe there is a likelihood of modern slavery occurring at some point within their supply chains, according to a new study launched today.


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Beginning May 18 and running through May 22, Cube Art Fair is back with its iconic public art fair, featuring physical and NFT artwork across 100+ billboards across New York City, including a 15,000 sq/ft billboard in Times Square.
In the middle of the pandemic in 2020, Cube Art Fair has found an innovative way to showcase artworks from established and emerging artists from around the world in a way that is safe and accessible to the public. In an unprecedented scale, the pieces will be shared on over 100 kiosks, newsstands, bus stops and billboards all around the city including a giant 15,000 sq/ft billboard located in the heart of Times Square as inspiration for everyone to #staycreative.
Critically acclaimed as “The World’s Largest Public Art Fair”, Cube Art Fair continuously demonstrates its ability to adapt to and embrace the ever-changing landscape and pushing boundaries. The art fair now features both physical and NFT works, establishing itself as introducing the first-of-its-kind NFT art show in New York City last June.
All the featured artworks on the billboards will be on view starting May 18, 2022 and will run through May 22, 2022. Each work is accompanied with QR code that leads viewers to a platform where artists can sell their works. Some of the artists participating are Helmut Koller, Brett Ashby, Sophie Raskopf, Jean Marie Ghislain, Rubem Robierb, and Chadwick Arcinue.


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Oberthur Technologies’s testimony on its partnership with Evolis and a successful banking project in Europe.
Oberthur Technologies is an industry leader in centralized card issuance. Therefore the move in its product offering to instant card issuance was a natural evolution for OT to get the card to the consumer in an immediate way.
In this video Oberthur explains that Evolis systems are considered essential in OT’s instant issuance product offering. The ease of use and reliability of the systems from Evolis make them an essential component in OT’s service perception.
Oberthur comes back to a successful banking project in 2015 where OT and Evolis have partnered to deliver card printers to a bank in Eastern Europe. This project has been rolled out within less than 5 months in over 60 branches to issue more than 100,000 payment cards.


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California’s creative economy is showing signs of resilience in the entertainment and media sectors, which were best able to pivot during the COVID-19 recession, while the fashion industry continues to decline, according to Otis College of Art and Design’s annual report released Wednesday.
Encompassing five sectors — entertainment and digital media; fine and performing arts; architecture and related services; creative goods and products, and fashion — the creative economy was responsible for an outsize impact on the state’s fiscal well-being, with total value added impact of $687.6 billion in 2020, the equivalent of roughly 23 percent of California’s nearly $3 trillion gross regional product, even though its 1.4 million workers only make up 7.8 percent of employment.
More from WWD
California’s creative industry employment overall increased by 15 percent in 2020, which is down from 22 percent in 2019 but still a positive trend line over the last 13-year period the Otis study has tracked.
(This year’s report studied 2020 is in depth since labor statistics are only fully available from that year, but also looked at macroeconomic conditions speaking to the recovery that occurred in 2021.)
No surprise, entertainment and digital media continued to be the most robust sector, employing nearly 1 million workers statewide, mostly in L.A. County and the Bay Area.
Driven largely by the rise in streaming video, California added 320,000 entertainment and digital media jobs from 2007 to 2020, but employment dipped 3.3 percent in 2020. Still, for scale, the total added GRP of the sector, $599.4 billion, would rank above that of the cities of Dallas and Seattle in economic impact.
By comparison, total added GRP for California’s fashion sector, with 3.8 percent of creative economy workers, was $17.4 billion. Still, if it were a city, its economic impact would rank above Gainesville, Fla., and Eugene, Ore.
Creative industry employment in L.A. County saw the sharpest declines, because of the higher concentration of workers (64 percent of the state total) in the lagging fashion sector — a victim of the steady, long-term decline of manufacturing in the U.S.
“SoCal was historically the blue jean capital, but labor costs have moved a lot of that activity to other areas,” said Adam Fowler, a partner of CVL Economics, the economic research firm that authored the report. “As fashion technology is becoming more accessible, we’re starting to see it come back a little but housed under retail where design prototyping and supply chain is being done in-house under a small, more entrepreneurial umbrella.”
As of 2020, the total number of fashion jobs in the state was 108,250, representing an annual decrease of 14.4 percent, the majority salaried workers.
One bright spot? The cosmetics subsector grew by more than 35 percent. That L.A. County cosmetics employment contracted by nearly 13 percent shows the center of gravity of this subsector is shifting to other regions.
Supply chain issues, inflation, labor shortages and global disruptions due to the pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine are expected to have continued impact on the creative economy.
Looking ahead, to promote growth, the report recommends the state focus on increasing affordable housing and affordable commercial real estate; adapting film and TV tax incentives to also include post-production, VFX, animation and the burgeoning gaming industries, and cultivate talent by partnering with the educational and commercial sectors.
In fashion specifically, Fowler noted potential in fashion technology, from Snapchat filters of a Levi’s T-shirt, as well as for lighting technicians and costume designers working in the virtual world.


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Chemicals & Manufacturing
Oxy is Occidental Petroleum, the California-based company that pulled a fortune from this rain forest from 1972 to 2000. It is also the company that Maynas and other Achuar leaders now blame for wreaking environmental havoc -- and leaving many of the people here ill.
The parents of a U.S. peace activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer built by the global machinery giant Caterpillar confronted the company Wednesday for the first time and urged shareholders at its annual meeting to end sales of "weaponised bulldozers to Israel".
In 2005 Blackwater accidentally dropped teargas on US soldiers, which has raised significant new questions about the role of private security contractors in Iraq, and whether they operate under the same rules of engagement and international treaty obligations that the American military observes.
As students celebrated anti-sweatshop victories at Wisconsin, Indiana, and other schools, sit-ins began at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Macalester College in Minneapolis.
As you read this article, there is a good chance that you or someone close to you is wearing clothing imported from Latin America. A quick check of the label may reveal that it is a shirt from the Gap made in Honduras, a pair of Lee Ryder jeans made in Brazil, Bali underpants made in Guatemala, a Levi's golf shirt made in the Dominican Republic, or a Haggar sports jacket made in Colombia.
The Concerned Citizens of Norco (CCN) and Shell Chemical LP (Shell) have engaged in a series of frank and open discussions in an attempt to understand and resolve their differences regarding the Voluntary Property Purchase Program, a program designed to create greenbelt space along the fence lines of the Shell and Motiva Enterprises (Motiva) facilities in Norco, Louisiana that was offered to residents living on two of the four streets that make up the tight-knit and historic Diamond neighborhood. CCN and Shell also discussed the Shell and Motiva Good Neighbor Initiative, which contains several programs to enhance the quality of life for all of Norco, including the Diamond neighborhood.
A bauxite mine and a proposed refinery in northern Queensland, Australia, to be developed by a Chinese mineral company, has divided local and traditional landowners. Part of a major industrialization scheme, it has also sparked worries among environmentalists.
Nissan Motor Co. Monday announced plans to slash more than 20,000 jobs world-wide, shift production out of Japan and seek government assistance from Japan, the U.S. and elsewhere, part of a broad new effort by the Japanese car maker to weather the economic downturn.
Ivory Coast plantation workers who claim they were sterilized by a U.S.-made pesticide can't sue the manufacturers and distributors of the chemical in the United States because they can't show the companies intended to harm them, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.


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Throughout the month of May, EBONY.com celebrated Black women with our first annual editorial series, "Women Up! Black Women Rising," with exclusive interviews, celebrity photos, first-person real-life accounts, custom video content, and hair and style inspiration. To wrap up our online series and to honor the sisters that Women Up! and our newly launched beauty and self-esteem column, “Beautifully Brown,” target each and every day, EBONY.com hosted a celebratory brunch at Beauty & Essex in Manhattan to celebrate EBONY.com's successful first year and toast 40 amazing Black women who are proven influencers in the world of media, business, community action, beauty and style. Our gracious sponsors MegaGrowth and Fashion Fair Cosmetics made it all possible!
Our resident team of women editors, including Editorial Director, Kierna Mayo spearheaded the event that included testimonials about the empowering space EBONY.com has been over the past year and a half and even featured a congratulatory letter from First Lady Michelle Obama, acknowledging EBONY.com's impact and celebrating its honorees. Johnson Publishing Co. COO Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, Fashion Fair president Clarisa Wilson were present to help us honor our distinguished guests, including Newark Mayor Cory Booker's director Sharon Macklin and his press secretary Dreena Whitfield, "The Gossip Game" stars, JasFly and Sharon Carpenter, activists and writers, Feminista Jones, Tanya Fields, Thembisa Mshaka, and more. Attendees received swag bags full of Fashion Fair & Mega Growth goodies and an iconic Ebony Magazine photo from the Ebony Collection.
The Women Up! brunch created a space for EBONY.com to wrap its arms around the sisters in our community who are consistently giving back and lifting us up. While enjoying a delicious and eclectic menu of red velvet waffles, lemon blackberry pancakes, creamy mascarpone grits and lobster tacos together, we laughed, cried and walked away feeling encouraged and ready to get back to being who we've always been: the backbone of our community.


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Ports are one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, but a growing number of global fleets are struggling to keep up with demand.
That’s because of the rising costs of transporting goods, the challenges of managing supply chains and a general lack of infrastructure.
In a new report, Port logistics analyst Blue Grace has unveiled plans to open up 100 million of its fleet by 2020, an investment that could help the sector grow in future years.
Blue Grace’s fleet will be used by international and domestic fleets, with a focus on Europe and Asia.
The company’s CEO said the focus on the automotive sector and the expansion of its logistics network will allow it to “shape the future of the industry.”
Port logistics industry growth: More than 80% of global freight traffic is carried by freight containers, but shipping container traffic is expected to reach an all-time high of almost 3.5 billion tonnes in 2020, according to the International Container Institute.
That means the industry is poised to grow by more than 40% from 2015 to 2020, the industry’s main driver.
The sector is already growing at double-digit rates and the company says that trend is likely to continue.
Blue Grass’ new fleet will come with the added benefit of being able to deliver the kind of high-quality cargo that will enable the global economy to remain resilient in the face of climate change.
The Port of Hamburg, for example, has seen a 25% jump in container traffic over the last five years.
In the past, ports would typically need to invest in a fleet of more than 50 ships, but Blue Grass has taken the plunge.
In 2016, Blue Grace signed a contract with China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Corp. to build a fleet to deliver nearly 1.3 million containers a year, a huge increase over the 1.1 million ships that are currently being built.
As container traffic rises, ports will need to look for ways to boost capacity and reduce costs to help maintain the viability of their operations.
The new fleet, the first of its kind, will be based at Port of London in the U.K., a key port for shipping around the world.
The move has already helped port traffic grow by 20% over the past five years, according a port spokesperson.
Bluegrass says that the new fleet is not a one-size-fits-all solution for the industry, but will allow Port of Bristol to offer a better product to a broader clientele and better compete with other global fleets.
“The logistics industry is becoming increasingly diversified and has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years,” said Port of Britain’s CEO, Ian Taylor.
“This new fleet of trucks is an example of the strength and flexibility of the port’s fleet and its capabilities.”
The fleet will also be able to move containers through international airports at reduced costs.
Port of Boston recently announced a partnership with Blue Grass to develop a fleet capable of moving up to 30,000 containers a day.
Blue Grace’s new fleet comes with a unique feature: The company is able to track its fleet’s movements across the world and use a fleet management platform that tracks shipments and the speed at which they arrive.
This is similar to what FedEx and UPS do with their fleets, according the company.
The technology will allow port companies to track and provide a level of assurance for their fleets.
The platform, which is available for both commercial and commercial-use cargo, will allow them to track cargo in real time and provide feedback to port managers and other stakeholders.
BlueGrace will also provide a tool for tracking shipments and providing alerts for issues such as delayed deliveries.
The port also plans to use the technology to help the shipping industry develop new ways to improve its logistics.
The automaker says it will also create a “virtual logistics platform” to help companies better manage the logistics of the future.


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So what is going on with the Jaguar I-Pace? This luxury electric car has been released with much fanfare and managed to come away with the title of World Car of the Year in 2019, but it seems like its inventory numbers are not clearing as fast as they should be. Are Jaguar I-Pace sales slumping already? What does that say about the brand?
Jaguar I-Pace Sales Seem Slow
While the Jaguar I-Pace has accounted for about 10 percent of all Jaguar sales worldwide on average, its overall sales numbers are not that impressive. This leaves some concerned about the viability of long-term demand.
According to statistics, Jaguar sold 9,077 I-Pace vehicles over the first six months of 2019, only 1,309 of which occurred in the U.S. That said, apparently dealers have 1,338 collecting dust in their inventory. The car has only been on the market for the past nine months, meaning that dealers are sitting on about six months’ worth of inventory that should have been moving a lot faster.
Dealerships at Fault?
Some suggest that the main issue lies with Jaguar dealerships who are either unwilling or unable to sell electric vehicles to the ICE crowd. Most dealerships make a great deal of money through servicing the cars that they sell, and since electric cars in general require a lot less maintenance than their gas-powered counterparts, some dealers flat-out do not want them around. As a result, they do not carry stock of such vehicles.
On the other hand, a dealership who may have a little interest in selling the cars but has no knowledge or experience in doing so is not going to be able to push those sorts of sales, either. If customers have a question about an electric car that a salesman cannot answer, how likely are they to drop a huge chunk of money on it? Likewise, if a salesman cannot properly convey the benefits of driving an electric car over a gas-powered one, a customer might as well stick with the more traditional model.
With a price range between $69,500 and $85,000, the cost of the Jaguar I-Pace is comparable to other luxury brands. But is it really worth all that money? A lack of perceived value could be behind the slow sales as well.
Compared to its competitors, the I-Pace just is not cutting it in terms of performance and range. The lack of over-the-air programming also reduces its convenience. There are also complaints of less storage space and fewer features than the competition. The I-Pace also lacks autonomous features and does not appear to have any slated for future release, either. Charging is also an issue: some customers report that charging is slower than expected, plus there is the fact that there is no widespread supercharging network available for its CCS charging connector.
If a buyer can give $50k to Tesla or another electric car manufacturer and get more for their money, why shouldn’t they?


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Cambridge, Mass. – Modo Labs, a Cambridge-based provider of open-source content delivery technology for mobile platforms and devices, announced on Tuesday it has raised $4 million in a venture capital deal with Storm Ventures and New Magellan Ventures.
Modo said it will use the new funds to accelerate market adoption for its products.
Around 150 enterprises and universities are currently using Kurogo, which helps developers at educational institutions and enterprises to build advanced mobile websites and native applications.
Modo was founded in 2007 by a group of colleagues from MIT.
This article was also published in New England Tech Wire.


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Resilience Beer is a global collective effort that will raise funds for the Australian bushfires.
Tag Archives | news-2
Breweries dealing with the fires raging across Australia call for people’s support.
Pink Boots and Yakima Chief Hops have created 2020’s Pink Boots Hop Blend.
The Indie Beer Showcase is happening from 20-21 March 2020 with an indie beer focus.
The IBA has stated that Balter is no longer eligible to be a member.
Global Gathering is a collaborative brewing project to provide clean water for 100,000 people.
DogTap Brisbane is now open, with the brewery set to be functional by January.
Sales volumes grew by 2% on the back of new product launches.
Rob Murray, the former CEO of Lion, joins Hawke’s as an Advisory Chairman.
The Margaret River brewery is also now under new ownership.
Venues and breweries across Australia will be celebrating Indie Beer Day on 26 October.
The Toowoomba brewery is hoping to raise $200,000 to build a new brewhouse.
Get your tickets for this cutting edge industry event.
Musician creates piece of music to complement and enhance a new Hylander IPA.
The new brewery has a 2.5 million litre capacity and a taproom and visitor centre.
We have a chat with Steve ‘Hendo’ Henderson about homebrewing in Australia.
The beer is a Lithuanian Keptinis – a baked farmhouse ale.-
The proposed deal has attracted the attention of The ACCC.
Staves’ Pale Ale took top spot in a record-breaking competition.
When it comes to brewing and packaging beer, having the right equipment is key.
The Canberra brewery has taken on an identical space adjacent to its current operation.
The $11 million expansion is the brewery’s third in five years.
The ‘Beers 25 2019’ report details the world’s strongest and most valuable beer brands.
What does centrifugal technology bring to craft brewing?


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While the U.S. gave Huawei a 90-day reprieve, allowing American businesses to keep selling specific products to the Chinese firm, it also added more affiliates of the...Technologyread more
United States Steel Corp will temporarily lay off hundreds of workers at its Great Lakes facility in Michigan in coming weeks, according to a filing the steelmaker made with...US Marketsread more
Home Depot shares, which are valued at $228.8 billion, are up more than 21% this year.Retailread more
The attacks come after state and local ransomware attacks in New York, Louisiana, Maryland and Florida resulted in the loss of significant sums.Technologyread more
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the EU that a Brexit deal can still be approved by U.K. lawmakers if Brussels agrees to scrapping the contentious Irish "backstop."read more
Baidu posted better-than-expected earnings for the June quarter, swinging back to profit and managing to stabilize its core ad business.Technologyread more
Several big Pimco funds controlled by Ivascyn have reportedly been trimming their bond market positions in the U.K. and Europe.World Marketsread more
While Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam painted a bleak picture of the city's economy, she expressed hope that dialogue with protesters could provide "a way out."China Politicsread more
China's pursuit of the Middle East may spur growth in the Islamic finance sector.World Economyread more
Twitter and Facebook have suspended accounts believed to be tied to a state-backed disinformation campaign originating from inside China.Technologyread more
U.S. President Donald Trump and his former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci have had a public falling out recently.Politicsread more
Stripe, the online payments company that has essentially become the default acceptance service for startup companies in the U.S., has raised around $150 million in a new round of funding. The round values the company at $9.2 billion after the cash infusion, up from $5 billion last year.
Alphabet's late-stage investment arm, CapitalG (formerly Google Capital), co-led the round along with existing Stripe investor General Catalyst. Stripe has now raised more than $400 million in venture capital.
Stripe makes software that developers use to quickly start accepting credit card payments and other digital payments on their websites and apps. The company, run by brothers Patrick and John Collison, competes against PayPal-owned Braintree and other older services.
The $9 billion valuation has to leave some people scratching their heads at Square, the publicly-traded payments company with a market cap of $4.4 billion. Both companies make money by taking a cut of each card payment a merchant accepts, though Square's business is predominately at brick and mortar merchants while Stripe's is online.
More from Recode:
Popular shopping app Wish is raising around $500 million in a new investment
Full Video: Stripe co-founder John Collison at Code Commerce 2016
Payments startup Stripe says it's still too hard to sell stuff online
Square's payment volume is larger than Stripe's currently, but Stripe is nearing Square's volume and growing faster, according to a person familiar with this latest investment. Stripe also has a much smaller work force than Square — about 550 employees compared to more than 1,000.
On the flip side, Square is more diversified, generating revenue from non-payment products such as its Square Capital lending business and Caviar restaurant-delivery operation.
A Stripe spokesperson confirmed the funding news, but declined to comment on business figures. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
—By Jason Del Rey, Re/code.net.
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