text:
Although demand for the wireless Web in North America is currently minimal, it will evolve as marketers grow to understand consumer behavior. According to a new Technographics® Report from Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR), even though consumers are unable to articulate an interest in the wireless Web, there is strong evidence pointing to the emergence of a successful market. By following four rules of latent demand, wireless Web providers will plot a course for growth.
“Consumers don’t think they want the wireless Web yet, but they will. They have adopted an Internet lifestyle, and the wireless Web will simply be the next step,” said Patrick Callinan, analyst at Forrester Research. “Also, the market will succeed as competition undermines prices for voice minutes — forcing operators to roll out wireless data. Furthermore, the mad adoption of wireless technology in Japan and Europe provide North American developers with confidence that their turn is just around the corner.”
Forrester defines latent demand as demand for a technology product or service that consumers are unable to define in advance of using it. By following the four rules of latent demand, Forrester believes, the wireless Web industry can tap into latent demand and realize its full potential. First, successful innovations will create new behaviors while accommodating old habits. Interacting with the Web via a mobile device is new behavior, but expecting data anytime, anywhere is not. Need, urgency, and location will determine which services will be adopted. The ultimate goal is to accommodate existing habits while extending functionality.
Second, companies must build on existing technology — the installed base of supporting technologies dictates an innovation’s launching point. The two most obvious technology platforms on which to build wireless Web services are the digital cell phone and the wireless PDA. Consumers prefer the full-featured PDA, but the mobile phone has the speed-of-adoption advantage. Sixty-nine percent of those interested in mobile data would like to access their personal calendars on a wireless PDA, but only 51% would do so on an Internet cell phone.
Third, understanding consumer need and expectations will help wireless vendors create the perfect combination of features, as well as open the door to multiple opportunities. Consumers are most concerned about price, followed by the form of the device and its primary function. The “free” model is most preferred, followed by pay-as-you-go programs.
Finally, mobile Commerce will evolve as companies open pockets of new opportunity. The first step is accepting that the wireless Web will not be adopted until the current market has matured. Two-thirds of North American consumers are uncomfortable with the idea of making transactions using the data capabilities of an Internet cell phone. At the dawn of Web-based commerce, it took nearly two years for consumers to gain the confidence necessary to purchase online. As the Web matured, the lag decreased. Now, 24% of online customers new to the Net purchase in their first six months online. Companies must accept that consumers of mobile commerce will experience a similar learning curve.
“If the rules of latent demand are not followed exactly, failure is certain,” added Callinan. “So even though we predict that the wireless Web will succeed — not all innovators will bask in the glow of that success.”
For the Report “Latent Demand For A Wireless Web” Forrester surveyed 9,000 representative American and Canadian householders to measure interest in the wireless Web. Today, half of US households do not subscribe to cellular service — 34% of US households say they are not at all likely to purchase cellular services.


text:
“I think the economy will respond pretty strongly, and we’ll see a strong rebound,” Bostic said. “Right now, my team and I, our models project that will start more robustly in the summertime.”
In the meantime, however, the economy will likely need still more help, he said. And he tempered optimism by warning of continued risks, including financial “scarring” of households and a widening skills mismatch between jobless Georgians and new job openings.
With the pandemic triggering unprecedented layoffs and business closures, Congress in March provided fiscal aid in the form of loans to businesses and payments to households. As the nation’s central bank, the Fed’s role is primarily monetary, and it has aggressively cut interest rates and backstopped loans.
Bostic was named Atlanta Fed president in June 2017 when the economy was growing and unemployment was low. Nearly three years later, the pandemic slammed the brakes on the economy, slashing gross domestic product by more than 30% as many businesses shut down and workers stayed home. Activity rebounded as many restrictions were lifted, but some sectors remain virtually crippled — especially those that relay on in-person spending.
Only when people have assurance that their health is not at risk from the virus, are they expected to return to restaurants, concerts, hotels, bars and travel.
The nation still has about 10 million fewer jobs than before the pandemic. Georgia has about 139,000 fewer jobs now than in February. That damage is not spread evenly: Much of the loss has been among blue-collar workers that can least afford extended income loss.
“We have a lot of families and businesses right now that are in a precarious position,” Bostic said.
In the past year, the number of Georgia jobs paying less than $27,000 has plunged nearly 20%, according to researchers at Harvard who have been tracking the recovery. Jobs in leisure and hospitality are down 24% since the pandemic started, according to the researchers.
Yet Bostic thinks it could be much worse and that the CARES Act provided crucial benefits that kept many families out of poverty and prevented a tidal wave of evictions.
“There have been a number of studies and almost all of them I’ve seen show that prompt and vigorous action by the Congress and state and local governments — eviction moratorium, that sort of thing — all made a huge difference,” he said. “And for those who say Congress can’t get anything done, they actually got something big done and it made a big difference.”
With unemployment still high and growth apparently stalling out, Congress passed another relief package in late December, a mix of benefits that runs into March.
The aim is to keep households financially afloat until the economy recovers enough for them to find work. The fear is that the help might not keep them above water — or might lapse too soon.
“A lot of people ask, ‘Is this enough?’” Bostic said. “It’s hard to know because we’ve never been through anything like this before.”
The Fed has taken a series of often-aggressive measures to prop up the economy during the pandemic, including loans to banks, backstopping some financial markets and loosening regulations.
Bostic, a member of the Fed’s rate-setting committee, which has pushed interest rates to record lows, is comfortable with the central bank’s position. “I think our policy right now is in a good place.”
A retreat from those measures is coming, but only as the economy grows stronger, he said. “So much of this will depend on what the facts on the ground are when we get there. If (the economy) comes back super-strong, it’s warranted to start having a conversation about how we get out of our more emergency position stance.”
Fed officials will talk publicly about that retreat for a long time before actually backing away, he said. “We should signal that we are talking about these things well before we’re planning on actually making the move.”
There is a more insidious, longer-term danger: What if the pandemic is reshaping the economy in ways that leave many workers without the skills that will get them decent jobs? That is a kind of economic “scarring” that does permanent damage to households as well as the larger economy, he said.
“Well, that’s a concern,” Bostic said. “That is why we are working so hard around issues of workforce development.”
The Atlanta Fed has created a Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity aimed at providing information about what skills are in increasing demand and offering resources for how to get those skills.
Right now, the future is especially hard to read. Even as the economy struggles from pandemic to vaccine and — perhaps — normality, the questions pile up: How quickly will the vaccines be distributed? How effective will they be? Can the virus be conquered? And will consumers feel confident enough to return to old habits? Can businesses expect current demand for their goods and services to last?
The result now is a hesitation to make investments or hire, a prudence signaled by a reliance on temp workers rather than permanent hiring.
“A lot of business leaders have seen these spikes in demand, because there’s so much swirl, they are not sure they are solid, they’re not sure they are going to endure,” Bostic said. “One thing I learned in Economics 101 is that business hates uncertainty. Everybody hates uncertainty.”

domain: news


text:
Dezeen reports that a team of US scientists from Northwestern University have created a hair dye that contains the nontoxic hair-protecting material graphene. One of the strongest substances known to science, graphene colors hair without causing breakage or frizz to luscious locks.
Jiaxing Huang, one of the researchers on the project, shares with Dezeen that “Current permanent hair dyes generate color by doing a set of chemical reactions, right on top of your head.” If not executed properly, these chemicals can cause skin irritation, but with graphene-based dyes, salon-goers can kiss irritation goodbye.
Applied in the form of a spray before being brushed through and dried off, the graphene coats each hair and gradually changes color without the need for heat, explains Dezeen. Lighter and darker shades can be created by applying less or more of the product. The scientists claim that graphene solution lasts as long as salon-standard dyes and remains vibrant for up to 30 washes. In addition, the antistatic and antibacterial properties of graphene help prevent flyaway strands and keep hair cleaner for longer.
To read more about the miracle material changing the hair-coloring game, head to Dezeen.
Photo: Sam Manns via Unsplash


text:
Finance Minister Yisrael Katz signed an order on Thursday authorizing the tax-free import of various vegetables into Israel until late July 2021.
“This decision will lead to an immediate drop in the prices of vegetables for the consumers,” Katz promised. “I will continue to work to lower the cost of living for citizens.”
The announcement was not greeted as warmly as might have been expected. Accordingly to The Jerusalem Post, such decisions have in the past been made weeks before Rosh Hashana to allow time for the measure to take effect in time for the pre-chagim shopping season. This year, in particular, with so many people out of work, a timely price adjustment was acutely needed.
Instead, the Israeli shopper has been confronted with soaring prices. A decision by Agriculture Minister Alon Schuster to allow imports from Jordan resulted in cucumber prices 60% above their cost a week ago, red peppers up 34% and the price of tomatoes grew by 26%. The Post did not explain Shuster’s reasoning.
Katz’s tax-free import measure will apply to those vegetables, as well as potatoes, according to a press release from the ministry. In all, some 45,000 tons of vegetables will be imported to the country tax-free.
The Finance Minister also promised to advance a proposal to lower the salaries of ministers and Knesset members. Presumably, including him.


text:
This Maharashtra Day, Star India all set to launch Star Pravah HD From 01 May 2016.
To celebrate the auspicious occasion of Maharashtra Day, India’s leading media conglomerate Star India welcomes viewers of Marathi general entertainment (MGE) to experience Star Pravah HD.
The move to introduce Star Pravah HD is in line with the objective of enabling viewers of Marathi content to experience the world of high definition television. Now MGE viewers will enjoy World Television Premier of ‘Dagdi Chawl’ with superlative picture quality and great sound in HD at 1:00 p.m.& 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, 1st May. Among the new shows for Star Pravah viewers, includes a multi-starrer new fiction show ‘Lek Majhi Laadki ’ to be launched on 2nd May at 9:00 p.m. coming up in the same week as Mother’s Day. Lek Majhi Laadki is an emotional story of mother and daughter, who are separated at birth, longing to unite. Maharashtra’s favorite real life couple Aishwarya & Avinash Narkar will be coming together on screen in this show.
Since its inception in 2008, Star Pravah has been at the forefront of entertaining Maharashtrian viewers with culturally relevant stories like the mega historical saga of Raja Shivchatrapati, family dramas like Agnihotra, PudhchaPaaul and Devyani. Speaking on the launch of Star Pravah HD, Star India’s spokesperson said, “With the increasing demand for High Definition TV viewing, this was a great opportunity for the channel to enter the space. We have always strived to offer best to our viewers. With the launch of our HD channel, the Marathi general entertainment viewers will now be able to enjoy their favorite shows, events and blockbusters in richer colors, greater clarity and sharper images.”
With the launch of Star Pravah HD, among the first few Marathi channels to be available in high definition, Star India is reinforcing the start of a new HD revolution in the regional genre. Star Pravah HD will available on all leading carriers. To begin with, the Star Pravah HD schedules will be similar to that of the SD Channel.


text:
Lime hit the one million ride milestone in Edmonton as it launched a groundbreaking shared scooter program in neighbouring St. Albert. Strong ridership in Edmonton highlights the popularity of the mode of transport, and micromobility in Canadian cities. Lime expects to see residents of and visitors to St. Albert embrace shared scooters as well.
“Edmonton riders have embraced our scooters to the tune of over one million rides and two million kilometers traveled. That's equal to traversing the circumference of the earth almost 50 times over. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by launching a new program in St. Albert,” said Chelsea Habermas, General Manager of Lime Canada.
Lime began offering shared electric vehicles in Edmonton in August of 2019. By riding green on sustainable e-scooters rather than taking cars, Lime riders have saved an estimated 104 metric tons of carbon emissions. Lime riders have replaced an estimated 250,000-plus car trips so far.
Lime’s expansion to St. Albert is a direct result of the success of its Edmonton program. Lime will take its lessons learned globally and in Edmonton to design a scooter experience to suit St. Albert, focusing especially on safe riding and proper parking. Riders are required to review the rules and regulations governing scooter use in the City, including that riders are to ride only on sidewalks or paved trails but not on roadways, and speeds will be capped at 15 km/hr.
To address concerns of pedestrians using sidewalks, Lime will conduct outreach to its riders reminding them of these rules, and on how to park properly to ensure roadways, loading zones, wheelchair ramps, and other rights of way remain clear.


text:
After lengthy months of lockdowns and curfews Europeans are wanting ahead to jetting off for a little bit of solar and sand – solely to discover that their dream vacation dangers turning into a nightmare as no rental automobiles can be found.
In many areas standard with vacationers automobiles are merely not obtainable or subcompacts are going for a stiff 500 euros ($600 per week).
Car rental comparability web sites present simply how costly renting a car has develop into for vacationers this summer season.
According to Carigami, renting a car for a week this summer season will set vacationers again a mean of 364 euros in contrast to 277 euros two years in the past.
For Italy, the determine is 407 euros this summer season in contrast to 250 euros in 2019. In Spain, the common price has jumped to 263 euros from 185 euros.
According to one other web site, Liligo, each day rental prices have practically doubled on the French island of Corsica. At the resort metropolis of Palma on the Spanish island of Mallorca, rental costs have practically tripled.
Today’s drawback is a direct results of the coronavirus pandemic.
Faced with close to absence of shoppers, promoting off automobiles to increase money made a lot of sense for car rental corporations struggling to survive.
“Everyone drastically reduced their fleet,” mentioned the pinnacle of Europcar, Caroline Parot.
Until the spring, most corporations nonetheless had fleets roughly a third smaller than in 2019, she mentioned.
Car rental corporations are used to often promoting their automobiles and changing them, so rebuilding their stock mustn’t have been a drawback.
Except the pandemic despatched demand for client electronics surging, creating a scarcity of semiconductors, or chips, which are used not solely in computer systems however more and more in automobiles.
“A key contributor to the challenge right now is the global chip shortage, which has impacted new vehicle availability across the industry at a time when demand is already high,” mentioned a spokesman for Enterprise.
It mentioned it was working to purchase new automobiles however that in the imply time it’s shifting automobiles round in order to higher meet demand.
No automobiles, attempt a van
“We’ve begun to warn people: if you want to come to Italy, which is finally reopening, plan and reserve ahead,” mentioned the pinnacle of the affiliation of Italian car rental corporations, Massimiliano Archiapatti.
He mentioned they have been working laborious to meet the surge in demand at vacation spots.
“But we’ve got two big islands that are major international tourism destinations,” he mentioned, which makes it troublesome to transfer automobiles round, particularly because the journey to Sardinia takes half a day.
“The ferries are already full with people bringing their cars,” he added.
“Given the law of supply and demand, there is a risk it will impact on prices,” Archiapatti mentioned.
The improve in demand can also be being seen for rentals between people.
GetAround, a internet platform that organises such rentals, mentioned it has seen “a sharp increases in searches and rentals” in European markets.
Since May more than 90 p.c of automobiles obtainable on the platform have been rented on weekends, and plenty of have already been booked for a lot of the summer season.
GetAround has used the surge in demand to develop the variety of cities it serves.
For some, their arrival cannot come quick sufficient.
Bruno Riondet, a 51-year-old aeronautics technician, rents automobiles to attend matches of his favorite British soccer membership, Brighton.
“Before, to rent a car I was paying between 25 and 30 euros per day. Today, it’s more than 90 euros, that’s three times more expensive,” he mentioned.
In the United States, the place costs shot greater in the course of the spring, vacationers visiting Hawaii turned to renting vans.
In France, there are nonetheless automobiles, in accordance to Jean-Philippe Doyen, who handles shared mobility on the National Council of Automobile Professionals.
“Clients have a tendency to reserve at the last minute, even more so in the still somewhat uncertain situation,” he mentioned.
They will usually wait till simply a few days earlier than their journey, which suggests car rental corporations haven’t got a full overview of upcoming demand, he added.
He mentioned enterprise is recovering however that income has but to attain pre-pandemic ranges as journey isn’t but utterly unfettered.
Download Server Watch Online Full HD


text:
The overarching trend is that traditional tv and movie content rights owners are moving to digital distribution, over the top (OTT) if you like.
So with that, there are macro trends that are taking place:
This is only the beginning of innovation around the digital consumption of TV content.
2. During the pandemic, what are the most important recent developments in your field of business (Brightcove for instance), and what developments should the market be aware of that they aren’t already?
We’re seeing three things:
3. Can audio/video streaming companies in Asia work out a sustainable business model to begin to earn a profit?
4.What in your opinion are the most pressing challenges that inhibit the OTT industry in Asia? What can be done to overcome them?
One challenge is actually starting to fade: Consumers are now equipped to consume your content. (Five years ago, they lacked internet access, money for fees, credit cards and smartphones). Content democratization and access to content is better than ever.
Now, many Asians have good devices and money to pay for content.
Now the challenges are:
5.Tell us more about the session that Brightcove is going to host at the show. What do attendees stand to gain from it?
In the Brightcove hosted session, attendees will gain:
I look forward to seeing you there!
Either way, we have tons of free content on our website at Brightcove.com. And see our own OTT channel, called PLAY TV.
You can also catch the complete interview here:
Subscribe now for latest news, expert analysis, and first-hand reports from AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Mobility, CIO.


text:
Repairs are being carried out at a Tesco store forced to shut today after being battered by strong winds.
The Tesco Express branch in Blythe Bridge had to close yesterday and was unable to open after high winds caused damage to the roof.
But shoppers are being urged to check online to see when the Uttoxeter Road shop will reopen.
It comes as Storm Franklin has caused disruption across North Staffordshire with strong winds felling trees on busy roads while some areas have been hit with flooding.
Tesco is aiming to reopen the store tomorrow (February 22).
More Storm Franklin news
A spokesman said: "Our Blythe Bridge Express store remains closed today following high winds that have caused some damage to the roof.
"Once the wind stops and it is safe for the repairs to be made, we can reopen the store.”
Shoppers are being being urged to check online for details of when the store will be back open. For details click here.
Not signed up to the newsletter? Try it out here
Sign up now to receive it for free here


text:
The company Apple recently upgraded computers to MacBook Pro, it has been observed that the keyboard on the new models somewhat quieter compared to the keyboard used in the previous models. As you probably know, has received Apple’s many complaints due to mechanical problems in the keyboard used in the previous generation of computers MacBook Pro, has approved Apple recently those problems and launched a program to fix computers eligible users free of charge. The company conducted some minor changes on the keyboard in the computers MacBook Pro the new to become the best in keeping out dust.
The team iFixit specialized in equipment dismantling work dismantling the keyboard’s own by 15-inch MacBook Pro 2018 new and found that the keyboard now includes a membrane of silicone under each button to ensure that the ingress of dust and other particles like a girl inside. I have bought many of the users of the damage to the buttons because of that in the previous models.
Proposed patent belonging to Apple back in March of this year that the company has explored this method to determine the resistance of the dust in the keyboard. The description of the patent that the mechanism of this protection will be effective in preventing contaminants such as dust and crumbs from entering the keyboard and causing damage to the buttons. It seems that the membrane of silicon does not connect to the base of the button so when it is pressed because there is a gasket between them.
This helps to ensure that the separation of the membrane from the norm even when using the keyboard. It has been said also that the new keyboard has become a little quieter because of this membrane the new.
The post keyboard in computers MacBook Pro new become better at repelling dust appeared first on electronic.


text:
Government needs to give drivers better guidance on which car fuel type to choose
Motor industry expert says drivers need to be educated on the pros and cons of different fuel types and incentivised to buy electric cars
The Government needs to educate drivers on the pros and cons of different car fuel types and offer more incentives for them to switch to electric vehicles (EVs), according to a motor industry expert.
Stephen Latham, head of operations at the NFDA (National Franchised Dealers Association), told Auto Express the Government’s “demonisation” of diesel confused consumers and that since then there has been “no further guidance” from the Treasury, leading some motorists to stay in older, dirtier models instead of moving to cleaner Euro 6 models.
He also called the Government’s decision to reduce the Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) for EVs from £4,500 to £3,500 and scrap it altogether for hybrid models a “retrograde step”. He argued it would have made more sense to reduce the hybrid grant to a lower level if necessary and use the extra money to push the PiCG for full EVs up to £5,000 or more.
Latham pointed out that hybrids are usually “the first step on the way to having a clean, green car”, suggesting that once drivers get used to owning a hybrid, they’ll be more likely to commit to a full EV. He described the cuts to the PiCG as “crazy”.
Although he admitted some members of the public probably wouldn’t listen to the Government, Latham said many would relish clear, well-publicised guidance, as they don’t know what they’re supposed to do.
Latham said he believes consumers do not understand the problems of different fuel types, such as the fact that petrol engines are better than diesels for NOx emissions but worse for CO2. He argued the Government should better inform car buyers and encourage them to take a “strong view” on the matter, reminding them that diesel is still a “proper option”.
The Government has announced that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2040, with some groups calling for this deadline to be brought forward to 2032.
What do you think about the general level of understanding of the different car fuel options among UK drivers? Let us know below...


text:
Workers in the UK are missing out on £5.69 billion in wages each year due to a lack of technical skills, according to a study carried out by Virgin Media O2. It found that five million people in the country were unable to do simple tasks such as send emails and that aside from the lost wages, the UK economy was also being hurt to the tune of £12.8 billion.
Of those surveyed, 34% of respondents said they felt their lack of technical knowledge held back their earning potential and 31% believe they missed out on a promotion or pay rise due to a gap in their technical skills. To help people like this, Virgin Media O2 is teaming up with the Good Things Foundation to provide people with free digital skills classes as part of Get Online Week, which runs between October 17 – 23.
By taking part in the scheme, people will learn to do tasks such as word processing, sending emails, and accessing important online services such as banking and medical appointments. Commenting on the opportunity, Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2 said:
“With the cost-of-living crisis deepening and Brits facing rising bills, it’s more important than ever that people can gain vital digital skills, so they can apply for better-paid jobs and increase their incomes while boosting the UK’s economy by almost £13 billion.
Together with Good Things Foundation, we’re hosting free digital skills masterclasses in community centres across the UK to improve the nation’s digital skills, as part of Get Online Week.
It’s part of our ambition to upgrade the UK, where we’re committed to improving the digital skills and confidence of two million people by the end of 2025.”
Further findings from the study found that 21% want to improve their digital skills, so they can get a higher paying job in response to the cost of living crisis, 29% said they wanted better online skills so they could shop around for better deals to save money, and 44% said a lack of digital skills affects their mental health as they struggle to book online appointments or apply for welfare.
Source: PA Media (Yahoo! Finance)
2 Comments - Add comment


text:
2014-2016 Yamaha WR250R Recall
Yamaha Motor Corporation , USA (Yamaha) has announced it is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 WR250R dual-sport motorcycles due to leaking oil. Recall documents indicate as many as 2,550 bikes are affected by the recall.
The affected units were manufactured from August 1, 2013, to June 1, 2016. The recall was triggered due to an incorrect assembly process, which may cause the clutch push lever oil seal may crack, allowing engine oil to leak out. If oil leaks from the engine, the oil may get on the rear tire, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Yamaha has indicated it will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clutch push lever oil seal, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2016. Owners may contact Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926. Yamaha’s number for this recall is 990108.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
About the WR250R
With fuel injection feeding a liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve 249cc single with titanium intake valves, the WR250R puts out usable power, which peaks at a staggering 10,000 rpm. This helps to keep the bike on song.
Read our Yamaha WR250R Review.


text:
Recreational pot sales booming during first week in Michigan
Windsor continues to miss out on the growing economic boom of retail cannabis sales, while other nearby jurisdictions are cashing in on tax revenues and economic spinoff benefits, say local supporters in favour of getting a local pot store opened up.
Five retail shops that opened their doors across Michigan were able to tally US$1.6 million in sales of recreational marijuana during their first eight days of business, the Detroit Free Press reported on Wednesday.
After years of debate, the state for the first time made available the legal sale of cannabis products starting on Dec. 1.
Combined sales through Dec. 8 at the five locations equated to $1,629,007 with an added $162,900 from the 10 per cent state excise tax and $107,514 from the six per cent state sales tax, the Free Press said.
Three of the store locations sold out of their supply or products.
“Obviously they have moved without dragging their feet,” said Coun. Rino Bortolin, among those frustrated locally over ongoing delays in Windsor to open a retail outlet in the 500 block of Ouellette Avenue which is awaiting final approval from the province.
“Just look at the 13 per cent in tax revenues this would generate. You are losing jobs and economic stimulus for the downtown.
“The average person would spend $100 and there are lineups for these stores. On average, that would be 3,000 (in Michigan) people at each store. The only thing that generates that type of crowd downtown here is WIFF and other large festivals. Imagine the foot traffic. We are missing out. That’s all you can say.”
It has been estimated by the state government that once retail outlets selling recreational marijuana are fully established across Michigan by late 2020, annual sales could reach $949 million, plus millions more in tax revenues, the Free Press reported.
Of the first five stores to open in Michigan, three are in Ann Arbor, another in Morenci, just north of the Ohio border, with the fifth in the small northern town of Evart.
The state began accepting applications for recreational marijuana business licenses on Nov. 1 and has since awarded 21 licences, the Free Press said.
“It’s always great to see more stores open,” said local cannabis activist Jon Liedtke.
But he remains frustrated on this side of the border, not only because retail sales of cannabis products are not only taking way too long to get in place in Windsor, but all across Ontario. He supports the downtown location on Ouellette.
“Across the province you only have 24 stores open and no store in Windsor,” he said.
Liedtke believes the longer the process get to get retail outlets open here, the harder it’s going to be to drive sales.
“We know there is going to be high demand, but we also know the black market continues to have very high sales,” he said. “Right now, the black market can offer better prices, is more accessible and has a higher quality product. It’s going to take time to grow the legal sales market.”


text:
15 Sep The World’s Richest Doctor Got His Start with a #ReverseMerger
Sometimes I get tired of the industry touting Blockbuster, Berkshire Hathaway, Occidental Petroleum and Texas Instruments as the poster children for reverse takeovers. They’re certainly helpful, but I’m always on the lookout for stellar, recent examples. I just finished reading an interesting piece in Forbes about how the world’s richest doctor–Patrick Soon-Shiong–is trying to fix medicine with a combination of capital, big data and true grit. It’s a fascinating piece that not only outlines his plans for completely altering the landscape, structure and ultimate costs of the healthcare system, but also showcases that he began his foray into the billionaire boys club with a little reverse merger. Forbes writes:
…in 1991 he invented the drug that made his fortune: Abraxane, which packages the top-selling cancer drug, Taxol, inside the protein albumin. The idea was that tumors would eat the albumin and get the poison.
Top oncologists called it “old wine in a new bottle.” But Soon-Shiong was convinced he was on to something big. He decided on a novel–and personally risky–approach to fund Abraxane’s development. Rather than sell stakes to venture capitalists, the traditional route to bankrolling biotech research, he instead took out loans to buy a small, publicly traded generic drug business, which he renamed American Pharmaceutical Partners, folding his Abraxane initiative inside it. A physician buying group, which purchased drugs from APP, invested in it. Some said this was a conflict of interest; Soon-Shiong says the group contributed to help prevent drug shortages and sold its shares as soon as APP went public. But his reputation had been dinged again.
In 2005 he won a huge victory: The FDA approved Abraxane, defying short-seller interest, which ran as high as 100%. Shares jumped 47%. But once again Soon-Shiong became the center of controversy when, a few months later, he merged APP with a private vehicle he owned. Brian Laegeler, an analyst at Morningstar, called it a “raw deal for minority shareholders as it serves only to line the pockets of Patrick Soon-Shiong.” The stock dropped 18% the day the deal was announced. Soon-Shiong says the long-term rise of the shares vindicated the move.
It was a savvy move by a savvy doctor and an even more savvy businessman.
In 2007 after a wild ride which included a recall of competing brands due to a number of deaths and massive increases in the value of his companies’ stocks, he sold out: “The generics business, including heparin, went to Fresenius in 2008 for $4.6 billion. In 2010 the drug business, Abraxis, was bought by biotech giant Celgene for $4.5 billion. Soon-Shiong owned some 80% of each.” It shouldn’t take you long to do the simple math. I do want to be very clear: funding a startup with a reverse merger is actually an extremely risky proposition. Luckily Soon-Shiong’s long bet on himself and his technology paid off. Now he’s using his money to revolutionize things again. It’s a great story. Well worth the read.


text:
Withings announces Activité Steel fitness tracker
French company Withings is not a big name when talking about fitness trackers, but its products deliver a lot to those looking for a stylish fitness tracker that does not need to be charged on a regular basis. Their latest product, known as Activité Steel, promises to deliver no less than 8 months of autonomy and uses a standard watch battery (CR2025 button cell).
Withings Activité Steel tracks steps, runs, swims, calories, but it is also capable of analyzing sleep patterns. It uses Bluetooth 4.0 LE to connect to both Android and iOS devices and syncs data thanks to the freely available Health Mate app. Withings Activité Steel has a 316L stainless steel case and a silicone sport strap, being rated as water-resistant up to 165 feet.
Exclusively available from Withings' website, the Activité Steel can be purchased in the US for $169.95 USD. While the US Withings online store has this wearable in stock and ready to ship, its European counterpart will only begin shipments on November 19th.


text:
Salesforce Dreamforce 2023 finished last week, and AI was the big theme of the company’s flagship event. This will come as no surprise for anyone who attended Salesforce’s World Tour London event in the summer, which came subtitled as “AI Day” with the expected chibi-style branding of Albert Einstein caricatures. Said subtitle was writ large to the extent the World Tour aspect was almost blink and you’ll miss it.
In other words, Salesforce is all in on AI. And who isn’t these days? But there’s another aspect to the SFDC story, noticeable at the London event when it pledged to invest $4bn in its UK business over five years, focusing on AI innovation, customer success and growth in the UK. That announcement came with a ringing endorsement from the British Prime Minister, and a reminder that the company had already rolled out a five-year UK investment of $2.5bn back in 2018.
Similar milestones on the road to Dreamforce 2023 included Salesforce’s donation of $20m in new grants to U.S. school districts, alongside joining a charter of rules from the White House aimed at Big Tech to limit the risks of AI as the tech gears ahead in the public space.
Alongside the likes of Adobe, Nvidia, IBM, Palantir and more, SFDC has agreed to voluntary rules ensuring AI products are safe before introducing them to customers. That echoes the company messaging out of the World Tour and Dreamforce 2023, but this time with another cementing of relations between Salesforce and the state. Regulations are much bandied in this brave new age of GenAI – as to be expected with the current ESG focus for enterprise tech.
Would Einstein approve of SFDC’s AI “dreamforce”?
If we turn playful one second, one could draw a link to the responsibility needed around AI to when J. Robert Oppenheimer “fathered” the atomic bomb (see the eponymous film from this summer which you no doubt know about).
Cinemagoers may remember that Oppenheimer and fellow scientific legend Albert Einstein knew one another – and, to be even more playful, their discussions of what, if anything, the state “owed” them for their work. Both Oppenheimer and Einstein encountered the cold shoulder at some point from their respective governments; this was a long, long time, of course, before Salesforce named their AI suite Einstein after the aforementioned legend.
What, therefore, would the real Einstein make of Salesforce in this current moment? The investments from Salesforce’s UK operation could foster AI evolution, which would likely please a scientist well-versed in research and development.
Speaking with Salesforce, ERP Today enquired what the company had learnt from its prior investment in 2018 that may influence the success of this year’s announcement. In response, a spokesperson commented that its free online learning platform, Trailhead, has “helped more than 5 million people build their skills and prepare for the future of work with AI. Salesforce is committed to addressing the training and re-skilling imperative – equipping people with tools to take on jobs that the digitally transforming economy demands.”
“The latest investment will build on Salesforce’s long-standing commitment to customer success and the UK market,” Salesforce tells us. “Growth is based on the mutual success of customers, empowering them to take advantage of rapidly evolving technological opportunities.”
In other words, SFDC is going for success based on upskilling outside of its client base, whilst also building on customer implementation of its wares.
The difference now is more use of the term “AI” which, arguably, wasn’t so needed back in 2018. Likewise, the many mentions of “trust”.
According to Salesforce, AI and automation are ushering in a new economic era, and the company is “at the forefront of this watershed moment for the tech industry – a trusted partner to business leaders and an AI first company.”
This was why Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE, CEO UKI of Salesforce, talked about fighting “privacy, hallucinations, data control, bias and toxicity” at the London AI Day, things which also weren’t too much of a consideration for ERP and CRM until the rise of Chat-GPT – and which make a scientific mockery of artificial intelligence.
Large action models are the future
Salesforce’s ethical messaging may cut through all the GenAI chatter. Consider the status of its competitors – SAP is currently mired in a debate on AI cloud updates versus on premises demands. Microsoft developments come slightly obscured by its close relationship with the much “hipper” OpenAI. IBM’s Watson AI wares come overshadowed by failed implementation in healthcare. Google Cloud’s AI is synonymous with ethical debates and firings at Googleplex. AWS is still playing catch up with everyone else.
As pretty much a pure CRM brand, Salesforce doesn’t come with such baggage when it comes to AI. In this regard, newer brands like ServiceNow are closer comparisons vendor-wise than the hyperscaler brigade (although Oracle are arguably doing fine enough on AI, too).
What comes next is how SFDC plays ball with government regs worldwide. In a press briefing on the eve of Dreamforce, ERP Today heard KPMG remind the audience that R&D had to somehow remain unhampered by too much red tape:
“I fear if we don’t take a lead on [AI ethics] and wait for regulations, that you might have an accident”, warned Atif Zaim, national managing principal for advisory at KPMG, on the Salesforce stage.
To ensure that lead, AI has to be modified before governments realize the genie is out of the bottle (case in point: any belated Senate hearing on Facebook, TikTok and social media ills that we’ve seen the last few years).
And for Salesforce to ensure any lead for AI amongst vendors, it needs to see where all this is going. While most brands are talking about the here and now, and standing firm on ethics, ERP Today noticed some of the real Einstein spirit on its World Tour, as what may separate Salesforce from the pack is its AI forecasting.
Brands used to be sheepish about artificial intelligence in fear of an AI winter, so you’d be lucky to get a mention of present-day AI use in marketing materials, let alone any future mapping of the technology.
Nowadays, every vendor is looking to an ethical future where AI makes no mistakes and is on its best behavior. But looking closely at Salesforce, there is more nuance on display, and a real understanding of what the tech can achieve and how that might appeal to its customer base.
At World Tour London, Ryan Nichols, GM Service Cloud at Salesforce, told ERP Today that the next step of GenAI is taking action for human users. Where chatbots now give guidance to customers on how to carry out a task, Salesforce is looking at “large action models” wherein the AI takes actions on a client’s behalf.
“What that requires raises the trust bar even more, because when you’re taking actions autonomously on behalf of customers, we need to be very careful about how that works in a very concrete grounding. Not just your knowledge library, but now your ‘action library’.”
Finishing our conversation with Nichols, ERP Today used the true extent of its own “dreamforce” to ask if the exec foresaw a future where Salesforce AI assistants go beyond the written word and respond to customers in audio, perhaps even in cartoon form like those characters and mascots of which Einstein is one of.
“Coming soon,” Nichols teases. “Let’s make that our next conversation.”
As Einstein himself would agree, sometimes you need to be playful in order to foster true innovation – all you need to do is not forget your ethics.


text:
What we do
Vodafone’s Partner Markets team works to form strategic alliances with local operators all over the world to market a range of global products and services that extend our reach into local markets.
Our agreements vary from Vodafone branding to product branding, roaming and service re-sale.
The Partner Markets division was originally set up in 2002 and it has now grown and expanded to 29 partners in over 40 countries – from Chile to Russia, Iceland to Singapore and most recently, Angola.
Vodafone Group Plc is one of the world's leading telecommunications groups, with a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific through the company's subsidiaries, joint ventures, associated undertakings and investments.
Vodafone's Partner Markets division was originally set up in 2002 and it has now grown and expanded to 28 partners in over 40 countries.
partners in over 40 countries
Partner Markets news
27 Mar 2019
Vodafone and Movicel Angola today announced a strategic consultancy agreement as part of Vodafone’s Partner Markets programme in Africa.
05 Sep 2018
Vodafone and Telecom Argentina today jointly announced a new Partner Market agreement for Argentina. Under the non-equity agreement Vodafone provides strategic advice to Telecom Argentina and shares global best practice in a range of areas including customer service and retail, technology, IT and procurement.
13 Jul 2018
Vodafone and Tunisie Telecom today jointly announced a new Partner Market agreement for Tunisia. This will be Vodafone’s first such partnership in North Africa.
05 Dec 2017
Vodafone, one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, and SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”), a leading Japanese telecommunications company, today jointly announced they have entered into a strategic alliance in mobile services for enterprise customers.
04 Jun 2017
Vodafone and LG UPlus today jointly announced a new Partner Market agreement for South Korea, the first strategic partnership by LG Uplus with a global telecommunications company since the company’s founding in 2010.


text:
Top chefs, food and drink producers, and industry insiders from Devon and Cornwall have come together in a show of solidarity in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, which forced the mass closure of businesses and left the sector and its employees facing an uncertain future.
They have pledged to create a “beautiful digital cookbook to inspire comfort in adversity,” and to make the publication available to all through the JustGiving platform, asking people to give what they can in this time of financial hardship.
The production team describe the cookbook as: “A snapshot of the unique and diverse food and drink culture we have nurtured here in the West Country, and the rich network of chefs, producers and entrepreneurs who together make the region a world-class gourmet destination.”
Each dish will be matched with a suggested drink produced in Devon or Cornwall – the team are enlisting the help of wine merchants, vineyard owners, brewers, coffee roasters, mixologists, distillers and cider makers. A ‘resources’ section will include advice from local growers, foragers and food writers.
Everyone involved is giving their time and expertise free of charge, with all funds going directly to Hospitality Action, a national charity which supports hospitality workers and has launched a Covid-19 Emergency Appeal.
A JustGiving page has been set up and everyone who donates any amount, large or small, will be sent a link to download the cookbook when it is ready.
Mark Lewis, chief executive of Hospitality Action, said: “Our support has never been more urgently needed by so many people as it is now, and we need many more donations if we are to continue supporting people in acute need. We are therefore hugely grateful to the team behind this project and all the chefs who are supporting them in this wonderful initiative. On behalf of the people we’ll be able to help through your generosity, thank you.”
The cookbook, entitled ‘Comfort’, will feature recipes from chefs including Mitch Tonks, Michael Caines, Nathan Outlaw, Elly Wentworth, Paul Ainsworth, Emily Scott, Ben Tunnicliffe, Mick Smith, Jude Kereama and Chris Eden; each will be easy for families to prepare at home using local, seasonal produce – with links through to websites where the ingredients can be purchased.
The project is a collaboration between writer Lucy Studley, whose PR and marketing agency Cornwall Content specialises in food and drink; Gabriella Dyson, who is Editor at publisher The Maverick Guide; and experienced food stylist, photographer and designer, Ali Green.
Lucy Studley came up with the idea after speaking to clients devastated at having to close their businesses and tell staff to stay at home.
She explained: “During the last few weeks I’ve been talking to clients every day who are heartbroken at having to close their doors just before Easter – it amounted to a collective cry of anguish. Business owners who faced losing everything repeatedly said to me, ‘if this saves one life it will be worth it.’ I wanted to do something to help – to create a positive story at this dark time and to financially support hospitality workers who face hardship.”


text:
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida consumers who are struggling with the high price of everything from gasoline to food should consider a new budget mantra: “Is it a need or a want?”
That is the latest advice from veteran investment specialists who see a new trend in 2022′s inflation economy.
[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Veteran financial planner Nancy Hecht told News 6 the cost of living is on an upward trend thanks in part to the Federal Reserve’s rate hike strategy.
“We are looking at (a minimum) of two more interest rate hikes, which means everything will go up again,” Hecht said this week. “I guarantee six months from now everything is going to cost more.”
That surge in consumer prices may explain the results of a recent LendingTree.com survey that found more than half of the 1,200 people surveyed admitted using credit cards to cover their monthly expenses.
Hecht has long advised against using a credit card unless the consumer is able to ”pay the bill off“ every month.
If not, “Credit card purchases should not be done unless you have no other choice,“ Hecht told News 6.
Matt Schulz, the chief credit analyst for Lending Tree, said consumers are faced with a mismatch between after-tax income, emergency savings and the monthly bills.
According to Lending Tree, for many with a salary of $35,000 or less, there may be no other choice but the credit card.
“Inflation has changed their financial margin for error,” Schulz told News 6. “A zero-percent balance transfer can be enormously helpful.”
According to Schulz, consumers could also consider a low-interest loan to consolidate debt and reduce interest.
Schulz, who worked as a financial adviser for years, said something consumers never think of is to just ask their credit card company for a lower rate.
“70 percent of people that ask for that (lower rate) get their way,” he said. “It surprises a lot of people, but far too few people ask.”
Both Hecht and Schulz advise every consumer to prepare an overview of personal expenses for both monthly and annual bills.
Hecht, a longtime financial adviser with Certified Financial Group, has prepared a personal expense summary sheet for News 6 viewers so they can take a good look at their expenses and budget within their means.
“You have to look at your lifestyle,” Hecht said. " When it comes to grocery shopping you have to be judicious in your choices, do a thorough shopping list.”
Hecht said the personal budget sheet covers everything from mortgage and rent to communications, pets and personal care. You can access this document at the bottom of this story.
She admits using store-bought hair color to supplement visits to her hairstylist and looking at labels to make sure she is getting the best price per item.
If you would like additional financial advice, email Nancy Hecht at firstname.lastname@example.org
For a complete look at the LendingTree consumer survey, click here.


text:
UNITED STATES: Volkswagen fans have something to look forward to with the brand’s latest offerings, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and its two-row counterpart, the Atlas Cross.
The vehicles are set to debut a fresh facelift and upgraded powertrain options at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.
Starting with the exterior, the Atlas has a bold new look with larger LED headlights that wrap around a mesh grille that has replaced the faux chrome accents with black.
The hood features a new light bar that stretches across, connecting to the headlights and illuminating the VW logo.
The roof spoiler has been slightly increased in size, while the rear features a large light bar that spans the trunk lid, excluding the base trim, which features standard taillights.
The Atlas also gets a new wheel design that ranges from 18 to 20 inches, with the sporty R-Line version opting for 21-inch aluminium alloys and unique R-Line badging.
Inside, the Atlas boasts high-quality materials, with the dash and centre console opting for leatherette instead of hard plastic, and door panels that feature the same new front and rear materials.
The refreshed cabin also features a 12.0-inch “floating” touchscreen, replacing last year’s 10.3-inch unit, and a new 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, as is wireless charging with six USB-C and two USB-A ports.
Volkswagen has prioritised safety in the 2024 Atlas, with the standard inclusion of its IQ. Drive driver assistance technology, which includes lane centering, lane-keeping assist, and automatic braking.
Adaptive cruise control is an add-on, as well as a head-up display.
Under the hood, the Atlas has ditched last year’s VR6 engine option for a now-standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that delivers 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque while maintaining the V6’s towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is the only option available, with front-wheel drive as the standard and 4Motion all-wheel drive as an option.
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas will hit dealerships later this year, with pricing details to be announced closer to the on-sale date.
Based on the 2023 model, which starts at $36,445 with the destination fee included, and the 2023 Atlas Cross at $35,755, the 2024 model is expected to hike in price slightly.
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross are set to impress with their refreshed looks, upgraded powertrain options, and improved cabin. With a focus on safety, the Atlas is poised to be a top pick for families and adventure-seekers.
Also Read: Celebrities Gather at Saudi Arabia’s 2023 Joy Awards in Riyadh


text:
Glass Maker Sues Tobacco Shop For Allegedly Selling Counterfeit Products
(October 13, 2016, 1:31 PM EDT) -- LOS ANGELES — A German tobacco glass pipe maker on Oct. 11 filed suit in California federal court against a retail smoke shop, claiming that the shop has sold and continues to sell counterfeit products made by the pipe maker without its express permission (Sream Inc. v. MP Tobacco Inc., No. 5:16-cv-2143, C.D. Calif.).
(Complaint available. Document #04-161019-004C.)
Sream Inc., doing business as RooR in California, says in its complaint that MP Tobacco Inc., the owner of Main Street Smoke Shop in Hesperia, Calif., has sold...


text:
Posted 2 years ago | by Ben Armstrong
UK Fintech Firm Ziglu Introduces P2P Payment Services
A fresh face in the cryptocurrency industry - Ziglu - just rolled out its peer-to-peer (P2P) payment platform. The new service targets both fiat money and cryptocurrency, according to a recent announcement.
Launched in June, Ziglu’s mission is to provide simple and reliable asset management in any currency. The platform is continuously being developed and a lot more features are planned for the future.
Ziglu is New FinTech
Speaking with media about the process of becoming fully licensed, Ziglu founder and CEO Mark Hipperson described it as hard and time consuming, but he also outlined the importance of getting e-money licensees in setting up a legit position within the crypto space.
It is particularly tough to convince the 5 MLD regulators, but eventually Ziglu made it through thanks to the fact that the platform technically does not permit cryptocurrency transfer to and from the ecosystem, thus taking complete control over the sources in case an issue happens.
Users can buy crypto within the app and send P2P to other users. The key is to simplify, according to Hipperson, “although the 5MLD licence that we hold allows us to do all of the same things that a licenced exchange can, and third-party crypto transfers are certainly on the future road-map.”
Hardcore Crypto Users Won't Compromise
Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Ether (ETH), with XRP (XRP) are all going available currency this September on the platform. Ziglu will add approximately one coin every two weeks as demanded by customers.
The system supports multi-trading and often checks them for the best deal when a consumer wants to purchase each cryptocurrency.
According to a press release from last in January, the launch of Ziglu came along with a promising chance for multi-currency support and a debit card for crypto-fiat exchange at POS terminals.
Ziglu has already undertaken testing on debit cards and the launch is expected to come later in September. Following its speedy development, the company is working on multi-currency support for customers.
Additionally, the crypto with Ziglu is completely protected for up to 50,000 pounds,
“We are one of the only companies in the world which offers a £50,000 insurance policy on crypto held with us which is quite unique.”
Articles on Bitboy may contain affiliate links that help us to remain profitable. It might come as a surprise, but all these great articles aren’t cheap to produce. If you don’t mind helping us out, please click on the links!


text:
Analysts: Google Play Characteristics Are Killing Developer Revenue
Android continues to be a disruptive element in the mobile industry and analysts repeatedly point out its biggest drawback: monetization. A new story popped out recently reporting that Android developers only get on average 24 cents for every dollar of revenue from Apple’s iOS
Originally it was thought that the problem was caused by transactional inefficiency. Google fails to provide a seamless way for users to pay, which cause them to feel reluctant to slog through the paid apps section of Google Play Store. A follow-up report highlights another reason that may hold back developers from making more money
Some analysts hypothesized that Google needs a curated store, but that’s impossible due to inefficient app distribution model.
Android developers currently get 89 cents from Amazon Appstore, for every dollar iOS developers generate, which may seem to confirm the hypothesis.
Looking at the above figures, it’s difficult to imagine that curation doesn’t have a role in revenue generated by developers. On the other hand it is hard to define factors that can be fully attributed to the curation characteristics of a mobile apps store and those that are affected by other forces in the market.


text:
This post is about the Netflix WhatsApp partnership for the messaging app’s enterprise solutions feature.
Netflix has confirmed its upcoming integration with the popular messaging service, WhatsApp. In a response to the killer features’ query, the company said, “We can confirm The WhatsApp integration in India.”
This is going to be one of the biggest partnerships to mark a perfect ending to 2017 in the technology kingdom. When the same folks contacted WhatsApp later, they confirmed that Netflix is one of the test partners for Enterprise solutions. Other big names that are already on the list include the famous BookMyShow app.
The messaging company had earlier revealed that it has more than 200 million users in India. This will be very useful for Netflix to invite more users to use its services. Its main competitor, Amazon Prime is already winning more users, thanks to its affordable price of Rs 999 per year. Though Netflix is priced a little higher comparatively, I feel that one should not complain about it considering the content it offers. What are your thoughts about it? However, now Netflix offline will allow you to download movies offline on Android and iOS.
However, share your views on this latest partnership between Netflix and WhatsApp by commenting in the comments section below.
For more similar latest updates, stay tuned with our NEWS section.


text:
Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) Kochi-based non-banking financial company (NBFC) Muthoot Finance Limited announced on Wednesday that it recorded a net profit of Rs.183.15 crore in the first quarter (April to June) of 2015.
According to the unaudited quarterly results posted on Muthoot’s website, the profits grew by a mere 1.65 percent from the corresponding quarter of 2014 which clocked Rs.180.18 crore.
Muthoot’s total income from operations for Q1 2015 is Rs.1,140.05 crore, it was Rs.1,087.55 crore in the year ago quarter. It grew by Rs.52.5 crore at a rate of 4.82 percent.
Total expenses for the quarter rose by Rs.8.56 crore at Rs.292.13 crore against Rs.283.57 crore in Q1, 2014 — a rise of 3 percent.
Public shareholding in Muthoot increased by 0.18 percent. As much as 25.18 percent of the company’s shares are owned by retail investors, the statement said.
During the quarter April-June, 2015, Muthoot allotted 33,541 shares to employees under the Muthoot Employee Stock Ownership plan (ESOP) Scheme 2013, the statement added.


text:
JUPITER, Fla. — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a news conference Friday morning at the Jupiter Lighthouse to discuss the next steps of her proposal to phase out polystyrene products from Florida grocery stores, markets, convenience stores and other businesses.
Polystyrene food packaging products like Styrofoam cups, plates and to-go-boxes can take more than 500 years to decompose and release hazardous chemicals that poison water resources, pollute the oceans and harm marine life.
"Polystyrene packaging like styrofoam may be convenient, but it doesn't mean it is safe for our health, good for our environment, or the best available option," Fried said.
In September, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced they began their rule making process to phase out polystyrene products from the more than 40,000 businesses regulated by the department.
Fried is sending those rules to the Florida Legislature in hopes they will be ratified.
The Democratic candidate for governor said her goal is to have businesses that are regulated by her office annually report the amount of polystyrene products they sell each year. She said she hopes those businesses will completely eliminate polystyrene products within this decade.
Fried said resources like hemp fiber and sugar cane extracts can be used to manufacture alternative food packaging instead of the current styrofoam packing commonly used and said those crops will be grown in Palm Beach County.


text:
Berlin – Germany, Europe’s largest and chief economy, has begun receiving successive jolts. Leading German economists forecast that the German economy, which slowed down last year due to the Corona pandemic, may reach a growth rate of only 2.7% this year. At the same time, the Federal Audit Office reports that the funds available to the German government are in a critical state. As Germany ranks fourth in the world’s economy, the jolts it may suffer would impact the global economy, claimed analysts.
Last year, the German economy had fallen as much as 4.9% after the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, from the beginning of this year, the cycle of the global economy had slowly begun to streamline. Moreover, as per the indications, the German economy appeared to be benefiting as well. Experts, as well as analysts, had predicted that the economy would recover. But in the last few months, the economy has once again begun experiencing jolts.
Germany is known as a manufacturing and export-oriented economy. The production and export of vehicles, machinery, chemicals, electronic products, and medicines are considered the backbone of the German economy. In 2019, exports accounted for 40% of Germany’s GDP. Germany’s manufacturing and export-oriented economic cycle have begun bearing huge shocks by the lockdown and other sanctions imposed in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.
It has surfaced that Germany’s industrial sector index has been declining for four consecutive months. The global supply chain crisis has contributed as a major factor to the decline. The crisis is hampering the German companies from getting the raw materials they need for production. Simultaneously, it is hampering the process of delivering the finished product in time.
Furthermore, the rising fuel prices have made electricity more expensive. Besides, some areas are suffering a power shortage crisis too. Therefore, many large German companies have begun shutting down their units. German entrepreneurs have been grudging that they cannot fulfil orders on account of a shortage of raw material supply and electricity. It has emerged that while the double crisis is affecting production, the outbreak of Corona in Germany has intensified in the last few weeks. It is also feared that it may affect domestic demand.
Some economists and the media speculate that Germany could hit the ‘Bottleneck Recession’. Other information surfacing in terms of the German economy also seems to endorse this. A new report released by Germany’s Federal Audit Office mentions that the state of funding available to the government is critical. The Federal Audit Office has advised that the next government must take immediate action to make the federal finances sustainable again.
If the situation continues, Germany may be noted as a retrograding European economy this year, Economist Holger Schmidt has claimed. Oliver Rakau of Oxford Economics said that the Corona pandemic is a key factor in the slowing down of the German economy. Katharina Utermöhl, an expert from Allianz, while drawing attention towards Germany’s inflation reaching its highest in three decades, made aware that this factor also could prove decisive to the economy.


text:
Sam Edelman and Skechers open at Westfield World Trade Center
Westfield World Trade Center officially opened on Tuesday housing over 100 fashion, beauty, lifestyle and technology brands including Under Armour, H&M, Cos and & Other Stories, Kate Spade, and John Varvatos. Brands Sam Edelman, Skechers, Turnbull & Asser and Kinetic Commerce, a partnership between Kinetic Café and The Aldo Group, also opened today as part of the development’s grand opening.
“The new shopping district at One World Trade Center is the place to be – gorgeous, massive and spectacular, it’s one of the biggest retail openings in the United States this decade,” said Michael Greenberg, president of SKECHERS. “The center’s new stores read like a who’s who list of iconic global brands – and we’re thrilled to take part in this huge retail phenomenon.”
The Skechers store at Westfield WTC is the brand’s first Lower Manhattan retail location, and it features black granite-tiled floors, large-scale graphics, state-of-the-art audio/video presentations and LED-lit shelves. The Manhattan Beach, California-based brand’s new location is one of over 1,600 Skechers stores that are expected to be open by the year’s end.
Sam Edelman occupies 2,046 square feet of Westfield WTC’s 350,000 square feet. Much like the brand’s Boston and Dallas stores that opened this year, Dagnall Folger of Architecture + Information designed the Westfield retail location, which features vintage furniture pieces, curated by Edelman himself, pops of the brand’s signature green color, reclaimed wood and raw concrete materials and custom-designed fixtures.
“I was born and raised in New York and am proud to be opening our second Manhattan location as part of the exciting retail experience that Westfield is bringing to downtown. It’s another step towards the great revival of the World Trade Center,” said Sam Edelman, designer, founder and division president for the Sam Edelman division of Caleres.
The Turnbull & Asser store at Westfield serves as a sister location to the brand’s New York City flagship store that opened on 50 East 57th Street in 1997. The new store offers bespoke shirting, made-to-measure suiting, and ready-to-wear including handmade shirts, ties, pocket squares and sleepwear among others.
Turnbull & Asser also launched the Gatsby Shirt and Tie, as worn by Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby in the 1974 film The Great Gatsby, exclusively at the Westfield WTC store. The shirt and tie will be on display with a replica of Jay Gatsby’s pink suit. The combo joins the brand’s Legends Collection of recreated archival clothing from British figures and cinematic icons Winston Churchill, James Bond, Gordon Gekko and the Joker.
Finally, Kinetic Commerce is Kinetic Café and Aldo’s innovative experience that utilizes Kinetic’s Retail Innovation Lab. The Lab works with retailers to conceptualize, design, prototype, test and commercialize retail environments and experiences. Kinetic Commerce currently powers Aldo Connected Stores throughout North America and now operates a retail experience located next to Aldo in Westfield WTC.
Westfield World Trade Center was initially slated to open in March 2015, but it was pushed back to early 2016 and finally August 2016.
Copyright © 2022 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


text:
Richmond BizSense – For the second time this month, a vacant former Stein Mart building has caught the eye of a new-to-market retailer — this time a Korean grocer. Lotte Plaza Market will open its first Richmond-area location at 7801 W. Broad St.
California-based Capstone Advisors owns Olde Towne Shopping Center and was represented in the deal by Colliers International’s Rob Black and Robby Brownfield. Their Colliers colleagues Peter Vick and Harrison Hall repped the tenant, as did Michael Patz out of KLNB’s Baltimore office.
The grocer is taking about half of the overall square footage at the 91,000-square-foot, 50-year-old shopping center. Capstone counts 21 other shopping centers around the country in its portfolio. Read full feature.


text:
Since mining has gotten more difficult and consumes too many resources, newcomers to digital assets find staking on exchanges to be a viable option. It’s
Reef Finance is a cross-chain DeFi operating system that was created with the goal of making DeFi accessible to everyone. Reef’s global liquidity aggregator examines
Polygon (MATIC), a cryptocurrency established in India, was created to make Ethereum blockchain transactions faster and cheaper. Anyone who has used Ethereum can understand how
This year has been a roller coaster ride. Coronavirus was followed by a nationwide lockdown. However, it didn’t stop Bitcoin from soaring from $7,000 to
Because cryptocurrency is such a volatile asset, many investors like trading it. Trading cryptocurrency may provide considerably greater returns than conventional investments if you can
Do you want to make money while you sleep by holding coins? Crypto lending is a possibility. If you’re a cryptocurrency investor, crypto lending may
As the world transitions to a cashless future, the payment system that surrounds us is evolving into a digital economy. Currently, just a tiny portion
We have come up with a guide for you to pick and choose from five cryptocurrencies which are likely to turn out as the most promising ones by 2022.
Cryptocurrency has grabbed the attention of investors. The skyrocketing value of digital currencies like Bitcoin has resulted in enormous riches for early investors. There is
Crypto fans have been attempting to identify the next bitcoin or best cryptocurrency to trade. So, this brings our list of the top cryptocurrencies for 2021 to help you begin investing in the future of finance – DeFi.


text:
Recordant Enters Agreement with Nexidia
ATLANTA - Recordant signed an agreement with Atlanta-based Nexidia that will turn up the volume on its audio analytics capabilities.
Nexidia is a developer of phonetic-based technology solutions for audio and video search. Recordant's next generation software platform, Sound Mirror 2.0, incorporates Nexidia's phonetic indexing and search technology through a licensing agreement with Nexidia. Nexidia's licensing agreement also includes word spotting and filtering systems resulting in improved processing speeds of Recordant's proprietary technology.
Recordant's technology enables retailers to identify, qualify, train, monitor, and reinforce change within the retail environment.
Companies and Suppliers Mentioned


text: Longbow Research said improving truckload fundamentals will likely spur profit and sales gains at Heartland Express (HTLD) and Knight Transportation (KNX). Longbow upgraded both to buy from neutral, with a 26 price target on both. The research firm said it upgraded Heartland on stronger pricing, along with cost and revenue synergies from its Gordon Trucking buy in Nov. Longbow said Knight could grow via M&A activity. Heartland shares rose 4.7% to 22.69. Knight rose 6.1% to 23.13.


text:
New type anesthesia cart and charging unit ready for delivery to UZ Gent
Posted on 16/07/2018
Our production team is doing the final preparations and checks of 40 anesthesia carts with a newly developed dual-zone closure for a delivery next week to UZ Gent. The battery of the anesthesia cart will be charged via the Belintra Roll-IT which has been modified to function as a docking station.
This concept was developed over the past months especially on customer demand and will – after comprehensive testing – actively be used by the employees of the University Hospital Ghent. Thanks to dual-zone closure different security levels can be activated and access to f.i. opiates can be very strictly limited.


text:
AAPL announced that its newly launched iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 will come with a SIM card. The SIM card allows users to switch between carriers through a user-friendly interface.
Quoted from Why did Apple launch a SIM card for its iPads? on ipad 3 features – Yahoo News Search Results
In the past, Apple's product launches were spread out across the year. A new iPhone would pop up during the summer. A new iPad would appear in March. The company now seems more intent on IMO, Apple released the iPhone X just so that they can keep up with the trend of bezel-less OLED displays. Since the iPhone 8/8+ are pretty much the same retained control of the design, 2007. closed its stores at 2:00pm local time to prepare for the 6:00pm iPhone , Why did Apple launch the It's no secret that iPhone sales in 2016 may take a dip for the first time in history. Hardly a point of speculation, even Tim Cook conceded this point Tags: apple, launch, iphone, with, According to DigiTimes Research, the downtrend in ’s (AAPL) iPad sales is expected to continue in the quarter ending this month. The research firm projects that will ship 9.8 million iPads during the quarter. the Watch Is One for the History Books. the Watch is, shipped only 378,000 jump out to a fast "That's the reason that we the Tim Cook visits store on iPhone X Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC


text:
LiveRamp said it will buy measurement company Data Plus Math in a cash and stock deal valued at $150 million.
In the deal, reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal, publicly owned LiveRamp will pay $120 million in cash upfront and $30 million in stock over time for Data Plus Math. The deal is expected to help LiveRamp, which matches customer data with advertisers and brands, better help its clients target ads for its clients on streaming and traditional TV.
Data Plus Math works with brands, agencies, cable operators streaming services and networks to determine who is watching their ads and tie it to other consumer behavior data.
“While TV continues to be the most engaging screen in the household, the landscape is shifting,” LiveRamp CEO Scott Howe said in a press release. “Data and technology have transformed the relationship a brand can have with its consumer on TV, creating tremendous opportunities to improve how TV inventory is bought, sold and measured. We are excited for Data Plus Math to join the LiveRamp family and look forward to working closely with its deeply experienced team of industry experts. Together, we will accelerate LiveRamp’s TV efforts and offerings and unlock the amazing power of data-driven TV for the entire ecosystem.”
The deal is expected to close in LiveRamp’s fiscal second quarter.
“This is an exciting acquisition for LiveRamp,” said GroupM North America CEO Tim Castree in a press release. “Our clients are seeking more precise solutions for people-based, cross-platform activation and measurement. The combination of LiveRamp’s identity management capabilities and Data Plus Math’s TV attribution expertise will certainly help us accelerate that.”
Data Plus Math has had a relationship with cable programmer A+E Networks for years, and the LiveRamp deal is expected to enhance that.
“This deal will continue to help elevate the groundbreaking, foundational work that Data Plus Math and LiveRamp have already done – as neutral constituents – to bolster cross-screen measurement and outcome attribution for advertisers, agencies and media companies,” A+E Networks EVP Ad Sales Peter Olsen said in a press release.
Data Plus Math is expected to contribute approximately $5 million in revenue in fiscal 2020 and increase the combined company’s operating loss by about $8 million. In addition, LiveRamp expects the transaction to increase operating losses by approximately $27 million due to higher non-cash compensation and estimated purchased intangible asset amortization.
As a result, LiveRamp has updated its guidance for 2020 and now expects to report:
- Revenue of $363 million to $377 million, an increase of between 27% and 32% year-over-year.
- GAAP operating loss from continuing operations of between $192.5 million and $172.5 million. This guidance is subject to final purchase accounting adjustments.
- Non-GAAP operating loss of between $78 million to $58 million.
The smarter way to stay on top of broadcasting and cable industry. Sign up below.
Thank you for signing up to Broadcasting & Cable. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.


text:
IBM is not the first destination for small to medium enterprises when it comes to business solutions, but that is something Jeanine Jennings, IBM’s new MidMarket Executive, and Andy Monshaw, MidMarket Global GM, want to change.
“Broadly speaking, for IBM South Africa, we have two things. We have identified customers who wanted to expand into Africa and thought about ways in which we can support them to do that. So we looked at big and key clients to see how we could support them. Secondly, we have established branches and infrastructure on a very rapid scale — we have opened offices in Ghana, Angola and Kenya. And then we signed a big contract with Bharti Airtel that accelerated us even more. We (have) opened up in 16 countries in the space of six months,” Jennings said during a press event.
Monshaw believes this is only the start of IBM’s expansion into Africa. “We have a very structured model for expansion. We (have) named a chairman of Africa, which is one of IBM’s top 60 executives, living in Johannesburg.”
While IBM focuses on Africa as a whole, Monshaw says South Africa specifically has the company’s undivided attention. “IBM’s growth plates include Smarter Planning, Cloud, Analytics and Growth Markets. Inside Growth Markets, I can easily say that right now Africa is at the top of the list of everyone’s attention.”
Monshaw hopes IBM’s programs will educate SMEs and show them IBM has solutions for their business.
Charlie Fripp – Online editor


text:
You’ve been granted free access to this subscribers only article.
TDA Market Recap
AUSTIN -- For the week ending March 29, feeder cattle prices reported by Texas auctions were mostly steady to $5 higher per hundredweight (cwt) compared to their previous sale. Some locations were as much as $10 higher, but a few were $3 lower on a portion of their offerings. Texas direct feeder cattle prices were $1 to $5 higher. Tight supplies and strong demand continue to support the feeder cattle market, but prices also fluctuate depending on the types and condition of cattle being sold and specific buyer requirements at each particular sale on a particular day. Fed cattle cash prices were steady at $150 per cwt. Wholesale beef values were lower.
Cotton prices ended a volatile week lower. On a more positive note for prices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reduced its estimates of cotton gins baled for this crop year. Dry conditions on the Texas High Plains and tight domestic supplies also remained supportive.
Wheat prices were modestly lower in spite of ongoing concerns about dry conditions in U.S. winter wheat areas and a decline in crop condition ratings. Corn and grain sorghum prices were higher in response to strong corn export data.
Much of the state recorded light precipitation last week, though totals of one-half inch or more were limited to parts of East, South, and South-Central Texas. Last week’s U.S. Drought Monitor showed overall conditions in Texas near unchanged, with the area of the state rated as abnormally dry or in drought holding steady at 85 percent. However, there was a major expansion of the two worst categories, as the area in extreme drought increased from 13 percent last week to 21 percent this week and areas in exception drought rose from 1 percent to 3 percent. Areas rated abnormally dry or in moderate to severe drought declined. Parts of West, South, and Southeast Texas remain drought-free. Nationally, 52 percent of the contiguous states were reported in some degree of abnormal dryness or drought, up one percent from a week ago.
Texas Cash Markets for the week ending March 29:
•Feeder steers, $173.36/cwt
•Fed cattle, $150.01/cwt
•Slaughter lambs, $168/cwt
•Slaughter goats, $248/cwt
•Grain sorghum, $8.79/cwt
•Cabbage, $6.50/50 lbs.
Futures markets: •Feeder cattle, $178.35/cwt
•Fed cattle, $146.50/cwt
All cash prices above are market averages for locations covered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Market News program and do not reflect any particular sale at any specific location. Feeder cattle prices are for Texas direct sales of 650-850 pound medium and large No.1 steers for current delivery. Futures prices are quoted for the nearest month contract on the last trading day of the week. Timber prices are from the Texas A&M Forest Service, bimonthly “Texas Timber Price Trends.” For additional information, contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at 800-835-5832 or visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov.
Your Opinions and Comments
Be the first to comment on this story!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Agriculture Today Archives
Cattlemen learn to combat brush to protect grazing (February 10, 2016)
Charolais for Profit Sale Feb. 13 (February 10, 2016)
Could live oak pose a hazard? (February 10, 2016)
EPA comment deadline nears (February 10, 2016)
Hay & Forage Report (February 10, 2016)
Livestock Market Reports (February 10, 2016)
Meat is in, sustainable [diets] are out … for now (February 10, 2016)
‘Grants For Growing’ news (February 10, 2016)
‘U.S. beef’ — What’s in a name? (February 10, 2016)
Cisco man arrested for horse theft (February 3, 2016)
EC livestock judging Feb. 27 (February 3, 2016)
Fletcher wins top individual at national contest (February 3, 2016)
Hay & Forage Report (February 3, 2016)
La Vernia stock show news (February 3, 2016)
Livestock Market Reports (February 3, 2016)
Poth ag mechanics welding for success (February 3, 2016)
Raccoons may be culprits behind missing suet blocks (February 3, 2016)
Texans can win lifetime license (February 3, 2016)
Trail ride dance Feb. 9 (February 3, 2016)
Trail Ride Schedules (February 3, 2016)
Who’s the boss? (February 3, 2016)
Yosko places second in nation (February 3, 2016)


text:
Shares of Yum Brands (YUM) dropped sharply Friday after the company warned that same-store sales at its restaurants in China would fall in the fourth quarter.
Yum has expanded aggressively in China, which may not be a bad decision in the long term. The company is rapidly transitioning from an agrarian society to a more developed one. China's middle-class is the fastest growing in the world, making it a great place for fast food chains to expand. Unfortunately for Yum, giant economies don't undergo dramatic changes particularly smoothly, particularly when the economy in the rest of the world is struggling.
Yum may have made the mistake of expanding too fast in China, but with some patience, that investment will pay off for the company in the long run. China is home to more of Yum's restaurants than any other country, which means the company is going to buffeted by the ups and downs of China's economy for a while.
The good news for Yum is that once a nation starts to industrialize and develop a middle class, that process almost never reverses. China may move toward a consumer culture in fits and starts, but it is inevitable that it will eventually become a fully industrialized economy with the world's largest middle class. Yum's early start in the country will look brilliant once that happens.
Bobby Raines is the Managing Editor of the Market Intelligence Center. He has degrees in Mass Communications and History from Emory & Henry College. Bobby worked at a mid-sized daily newspaper before making a switch to covering the financial industry full time in the years leading up to the financial crisis. He has been a member of the Fresh Brewed Media team since 2011 and has served as a writer and analyst. You can write to him at firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
By Anna Patty
The Fair Work regulator has dropped its legal action against food delivery company Foodora a week after it decided Uber workers had no legal claim to workplace entitlements as employees.
The Fair Work Ombudsman on Friday said it had discontinued its legal action against Foodora Australia Pty Ltd which exited Australia in August last year.
Ombudsman Sandra Parker said it is highly unlikely that her agency's court action against Foodora would result in extra payments for workers, or financial penalties against the company.
“It is very disappointing for the Fair Work Ombudsman to discontinue this matter because the question of whether Foodora delivery workers were employees or independent contractors was an important matter for a court to consider,” Ms Parker said.
“Foodora’s administrators issued a report to creditors stating that it was more likely than not that the majority of Foodora’s delivery workers should have been engaged as casual employees rather than independent contractors, and that the Fast Food Industry Award applied to them.”
Ms Parker said Foodora’s decision to exit the Australian market should serve as a warning to businesses that they faced an unsustainable future if they failed to comply with workplace laws.
Foodora’s administrators sold the company’s assets late last year resulting in more than 1000 delivery workers receiving only 31 per cent of entitlements owed to them.
Three of these workers were involved in the FWO’s legal action which was discontinued, with both parties left to carry their own legal costs.
Joellen Riley, professor of labour law at the University of Sydney said the FWO decision was not surprising given that Foodora is insolvent and in no position to make payments.
"It would be a waste of the FWO’s resources to pursue this," she said.
Professor Riley said she did not think the decision altered the Fair Work Commission's decision in favour of former Foodora delivery rider Josh Klooger's successful claim against unfair dismissal. The decision held Mr Klooger was an employee of the online food delivery platform.
She said the FWO's Uber investigation only dealt with Uber's contract and arrangements.
Last week the FWO found that Uber Australia did not require drivers to perform work at particular times and this was a key factor in its decision that the commercial arrangement between the company and the drivers did not amount to that of an employer and employee.
"It is dangerous to assume all gig economy platforms are the same. Each needs to be assessed according to its own terms and practices," Professor Riley said.
Federal Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, who is the Transport Workers' Union (TWU) co-ordinator on the on-demand economy said Foodora riders received only 29 cents in the dollar for what they were owed in underpaid wages and superannuation, despite Mr Klooger's successful action.
"It’s disappointing that the FWO will not be pursuing any other means of getting this money to workers," he said.
"What’s more outrageous, is that Foodora has escaped the country with millions of dollars still owing to workers.
"The FWO with the government’s backing should be pursuing criminal liability against the company and its directors as a deterrent to other gig economy companies operating on a business model of exploitation."


text:
SHANGHAI - Chinese shoppers are becoming increasingly doubtful of the quality of products made in their own country. However, they seem to be willing to buy China-made goods in Japan, which they believe has stricter quality standards.
During the Lunar New Year holidays in mid-February, Chinese tourists flocked to Japan and went on a shopping spree. Heated toilet seats with warm water washing systems were a particular hit with the visitors, even though they are also sold in China. In fact, according to Chinese online media, the seats are made in a factory in Hangzhou, in China's Zhejiang Province.
This sparked intense debate on microblogging website Weibo, with comments including, "Why do Chinese tourists go all the way to Japan to buy Chinese products?" and "Have Chinese tourists lost their pride in being Chinese?"
A Chinese office worker who has visited Japan said the comments "come from jealous Chinese who have never been to Japan."
On the other hand, a Beijing man said, "Quality and safety standards for products are different in Japan and China. Products sold in Japan are high quality and reliable even when they are made in China."
Read the full article here.


text:
Over 6,400 guests from 70 countries attended the U.S. Travel Association’s 49th annual IPW convention this year, making it, once again, the largest generator of travel to the country. [Read more…]
City Sightseeing Worldwide opened its newest operation with Florida Dolphin Tours in Orlando this month, joining it with the 10 other U.S. cities in their lineup. [Read more…]
By Quinn Roseboom
Quinn takes a tour of the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, and gets to visit a few of the many locations the Game of Thrones crew used in filming the King’s Landing scenes for the show. [Read more…]
The annual GayDays LGBTQ event began on May 30th this year, and once again is the premiere vacation experience for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, thanks to a weeklong celebration full of events, and its inclusive and welcoming environment. [Read more…]
At the Celebrating Travel & Tourism luncheon hosted by Visit Orlando on Thursday, May 11, the City Beautiful took to appreciating all of those who supported and visited Orlando in a huge new way, as they accomplished a Guinness World Record for gathering the most hand-written thank you cards in 24 hours. [Read more…]
“Attractions Magazine” has a new weekly audio podcast called Expansion Drive! The name is inspired by the fact that the show expands on Attractions Magazine’s original mission of bringing you theme park and attractions news. We still bring you the best theme park news, but this show will expand upon that and bring you news and discussion about everything fun, including video games, television, movies, music and more.
Your host Mike Kerrigan is joined by friends Didi and Kelsey each week. You may know Mike from his “Daycation Kingdom with Mike and Frauke” family vlog on our YouTube channel. Kelsey and Didi have made frequent appearances on “Daycation Kingdom” and Kelsey has reported for “Attractions Magazine – The Show”. They’re both admittedly “geeky nerds” who love all things pop culture and have strong opinions about it.
You can find the show on iTunes, Google Play and Podbean, as well as below. We welcome your suggestions and want you to be a part of the discussion as well. Please send your comments to info@attractionsmagazine or connect with the show on Twitter @AttractionsEXP.
If you’re looking for our video podcast, “Attractions Magazine – The Show”, you can find it each Thursday here on our website and on our YouTube channel at YouTube.com/AttractionsMagazine.
Special thanks to Tony Longworth at tonylongworth.com for our theme song called “Chillwave”, and Cheryl Gamache for our logos.
Here’s our first episode. Enjoy!
The drive to your favorite theme parks aren’t always the most fun or entertaining, but now Legoland Florida Resort has turned that experience into an all-new adventure with their new app-based game. [Read more…]
By Seth Kubersky
Recently, the Walt Disney Company completed plans to purchase 100% ownership of the Disneyland Paris resort in France. If news that the Walt Disney Company was not always the sole owner of Disneyland Paris comes as a surprise, you may be interested to know Disney doesn’t completely (or even mostly) own many of the international attractions that bear its name. Here’s is a brief primer on who owns the Disney parks around the world: [Read more…]
With the premiere for Disney’s newest live-action film, “Beauty and the Beast,” HomeAway, an online vacation rental company, is teaming up with Disney to give one contest winner and up to 20 of their chosen guests a stay in a Scottish castle this summer. [Read more…]
We’re taking the trip of a lifetime to Asia! Over the next two and a half weeks starting this Saturday, a few of us at “Attractions Magazine” are going to Shanghai Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and more. You can follow all the fun on social media. [Read more…]
Dubai Parks and Resorts announced on July 3 that ground has been broken on Six Flags Dubai, which will be the destination’s fourth theme park and the first Six Flags park themed around other Six Flags parks. [Read more…]
Just in time for Independence Day, Legoland California Resort has unveiled its newest attraction: the tallest LEGO building in the United States of America, a model New York’s One World Trade Center. [Read more…]
Investors seeking to speculate on something really big may be interested in ThrillCorp, the newly-formed company from veteran thrill ride developer Bill Kitchen, which is going public in seeking funding for its Polercoaster vertical thrill parks and SkySpire observation attractions. [Read more…]
By Seth Kubersky
In the wake of this week’s horrific events, it may seem impossible to focus on anything as fun and frivolous as Orlando’s attractions. But in the spirit of “the show must go on,” Central Florida theme park employees, and beyond, have banded together to demonstrate their resilience and unity with an inspiring series of heart hand photographs that are currently going viral on Facebook. [Read more…]
Guests at Cedar Fair’s Carowinds outside Charlotte, N.C. now have more ways of cooling off, because the complex’s water park has been expanded and rechristened as Carolina Harbor, just in time for the 2016 summer season. [Read more…]
The Disney Cruise Line may be best known for sailing from the Port of Canaveral near Orlando, but in 2017 Mickey’s ships will be returning to New York, New York; Galveston, Texas; and San Diego, California. Disney Cruise Line has released information on 2017 sailings from New York, Texas, and California, including itineraries with visits to Canada, Cabo San Lucas, and even Walt Disney World. [Read more…]
If you’ve always wanted to travel to exotic places, meet interesting people, and become a national television star, plan on heading to the Fun Spot America on June 26 for the Amazing Race casting call. [Read more…]
Motiongate Dubai is celebrating the 15th birthday of DreamWorks’ favorite green ogre with new details about the Shrek land opening with the new theme park in October. [Read more…]


text:
On 10 February, Rock Ethos, a free-entry rock music festival and Bangalore’s answer to the Great Indian Rock festival (New Delhi) and Independence Rock (Mumbai) will be held at the Palace Grounds starting from about 12 noon. Hari Shenoy has more.
A number of recent verdicts from the IV Additional District Consumer Forum in the city is a virtual alert for consumers. The cases range from violation of MRP on goods to damaging household effects during shipping.
The city’s building bye-laws list out a number of amenities that public and semi-buildings must provide to disabled citizens. Malls are the most recent additions to modern Bengaluru, and Ayesha Aleem checks out a number of them to see if they are in compliance.