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APPLE PARADISE TURNS TOXIC: HIMACHAL GOES THE CANNABIS WAY While the world was busy celebrating India’s spectacular closing ceremony of the G 20 Presidentship, one state silently slipped into darkness. In Himachal Pradesh a committee comprising lawmakers that explored the possibility of legal cultivation of cannabis, recently recommended cultivation of cannabis for “non-narcotic use of cannabis for medicinal, industrial, and scientific use”.
The bigger fear is looming large. Will the state be able to control its growth as per the permissions granted. Will it be efficient enough to not allow any slippage of the banned drug into the market.
What is the government stand on this decision?
Ironically, the government took the stand of supporting farmers. It said, allowing cannabis cultivation would also reaffirm the government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of the farmers, who have been long demanding to lift the ban on cultivation.
Those in favour of its cultivation point out that hemp has multiple uses ranging from phytoremediation, fibre-cloth manufacturing, medicinal use, and use in the pulp and paper industry.
Himachal has been an Apple paradise. The efforts should have been directed towards cultivating export quality apples and giving all possible policy, financial and operational support to augment the income of the farmers.
A State to Worry for
We already have a State (Punjab) that has fallen to the evil designs of our neighbour in inculcating a culture of drug among the youth. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSC) of the early 1980s in the state of Punjab, forced many youths into the vicious network of drug and drug abuse. With great difficulty the nation could get back these Bravehearts on track. If you happen to travel to Punjab, one can spot drug rehab centres as a spanning business.
The Bollywood and the fan base of many pop stars the state has produced got their hands dirty in glorifying the drug culture. With Himachal close to Punjab, will it end up being another supplier of the banned drug. Many questions rise in the horizon.
With the Himachal Pradesh government taking steps to legalise cannabis (hemp) cultivation in the State, growers are upbeat and optimistic about getting an economic boost. Hemp is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use.
Himachal and its history of Cannabis
It is produced in parts of Himachal Pradesh, though it is illegal under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The NDPS Act of 1985, imposes a ban on extracting the resin and flowers from the plant, but the law determines the method and extent of its cultivation for medicinal and scientific purposes.
Section 10 (a) (iii) of the Act empowers the States to make rules regarding the cultivation of any cannabis plant, production, possession, transport, consumption, use and purchase and sale, and consumption of cannabis (except charas).
The States are empowered to permit, by general or special order, the cultivation of hemp only for obtaining fibre or seeds or for horticultural purposes.
Which is the First State to legalise cannabis cultivation ?
Uttarakhand was the first state to allow commercial cultivation of hemp in 2018, followed by Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. A few other states are allowing cannabis for industrial and medical purposes. As per an estimated about half of India’s 28 states are at some stage of considering legalization of cannabis cultivation.
What is prompting this trend ?
In countries around the world, cannabis is rapidly becoming a booming business: After long, futile attempts at prohibition, governments are finally realizing its medical and economic potential.
Countries where it is legal ?
Countries like Canada and South Africa have legalized cannabis for many uses, including recreational. Others, like most nations in Latin America, and parts of Australia have decriminalized it—cannabis isn’t legal, but the use and limited possession of it aren’t persecuted.
In the US, some states have legalized cannabis for recreational use, and others have decriminalized it.
Now Indian entrepreneurs, sensing boundless opportunities, are pushing for similar reforms and working with individual states to update old laws.
Using the US as a template, states have allowed for production of cannabis with a maximum of 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis) content. This is controlled cultivation for medicinal, scientific and industrial purpose.
Is Cannabis growing wildly in India ?
Yes. However, most of the cannabis growing wildly in India contains higher levels, and so far research, including several projects in partnership with the government, has focused on developing a hybrid that would be able to produce lower levels of THC irrespective of the environmental conditions it is being grown in.
Does it really have that medicinal value ?
The medicinal powers of cannabis, too, have been known to India for millennia. Its calming properties, for instance, are described in detail in the Vedas, and used in traditional medicine, or ayurveda.
The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) allows licensed practitioners as well as medical doctors to prescribe cannabis extract. However, the fruit and flower of cannabis (ganja) remain illegal.
However, it must be administered in compounds including other elements, as cannabis by itself is classified as a toxic, though medically important, substance.
There are social concerns, especially of adolescents and youth being drawn towards the use and abuse of cannabis, the nexus between illegal producers and suppliers of cannabis getting stronger, the risk of pilferage, and the occurrence of amotivational syndrome.
The youth are already undergoing tremendous stress in matters related to education, job, health, managing relations etc. The easy availability of this drug shouldn’t open another pandoras box that cannot be shut without paying a heavy price for it.
We have seen how a country like Tibet, USSR paid a heavy price with institutionalised drug abuse targeting the youth for vested interests.
Jai Hind Credits
Major SPS Oberoi Academic Advisor
Ekam IAS Academy, Hyderabad[/ux_text] [/col] [/row] [/section] [ux_text text_align=”left”] [/ux_text]


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The car industry’s crisis is over. Its long-term problems are not
THE mood at the Detroit motor show this year was very different from the dark days of 2009. Then, bosses of American car companies wondered if their firms would survive. Now, thanks to $60 billion of federal finance and the cold shower of bankruptcy to wash away their debts, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler are still alive, while Ford's canny financial manoeuvring before the crisis allowed it to clean up its act and roar back to record profits.
Yet the industry's problems are not behind it. The American rescues averted catastrophe, but they—along with continued European subsidies—have exacerbated the overcapacity that has dogged the sector for years. The car industry can produce 94m cars a year, against global demand of 64m. Unless that changes, it will never return to health.
The top-line numbers coming out of America are remarkably good (see article). Sales may reach nearly 14m this year after plunging to just over 10m two years ago. Yet America's car companies are still under pressure. GM is making money but Chrysler, although it has closed factories and slashed costs, is struggling. In Europe, meanwhile, demand is still falling and there is reckoned to be about 30% too much capacity. Nobody is making much money there. Fiat and the European arms of GM and Ford are losing plenty.
During the economic crisis, government scrappage schemes encouraged people to buy big expensive models on which carmakers enjoy fat margins; but, now that those schemes have gone, the shift towards smaller, more efficient cars has resumed. It's happening because of high fuel costs, environmental concerns and ageing populations: older people, with no children and less testosterone, shun big cars and powerful engines. For carmakers, this shift is a problem, because small cars are less profitable than large ones. The car giants can increase margins by, for instance, extending lean manufacturing processes to distribution and retailing so cars are made to order rather than stocked expensively along the distribution chain. Such fixes can alleviate manufacturers' problems; but in an overcrowded business, they cannot solve them.
A hard road
Developments in China are likely to make things worse still for rich-world companies. China too has a surplus of car manufacturers, excess capacity and a problem with demand. Annual sales growth is forecast to fall from 30% to around 10% from this year as other parts of the country follow Beijing's move to restrict the number of cars in the city. That should squeeze the domestic market further, hurt Western firms selling into China (including the luxury brands enjoying a boom, see article) and encourage Chinese manufacturers to look abroad. Some are already selling cars successfully around Asia and the Middle East. One of them, Geely, has bought Sweden's Volvo, a brand with a small but faithful customer base in America. Provided it manages its acquisition well, Geely could use the Volvo brand to grow in America. The Chinese government would like to see the joint ventures it has set up with the likes of GM and Volkswagen (VW) start exporting. Eventually, Chinese cars will flood into American and European markets.
Given their current problems and their future prospects, European companies need to cut capacity and boost productivity. But tough labour laws and government stakes in some firms—a German Land, Lower Saxony, owns 20% of VW, for instance, and the French government owns 15% of Renault—discourage them from shedding workers. As a result, despite the biggest crisis in living memory in the industry, firms are failing to rationalise.
That needs to change. The brutal downsizing America's car companies have undergone means that they have a chance of flourishing in the lean times ahead. Unless the weaker European firms take similar steps, they don't.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "Danger ahead"
From the January 15th 2011 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
Another term for the populist Jair Bolsonaro would be bad for Brazil and the world
Donors should press the government to lift martial law
No one should be forced to kill or die for Vladimir Putin’s vanity

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June 11th, 2008 by Geoff Thomsen
The USA Racquetball National Singles Championships has traditionally been title sponsored by Ektelon, so they have been the only manufacturer allowed to to set up a booth showcasing the new season’s products. The other companies were forced to host suites back at the sponsoring hotel, where sponsored players would congregate to see the new products and enjoy some snacks. This year, four of the major racquetball equipment manufacturers had booths in the players’ village. Ektelon, Head, E-Force, and Gearbox were all on-site showing off new products.
Ektelon – I’d say that Ektelon definitely had the largest presence, with their typical huge banners, and tons of products from their entire line (racquets, apparel, etc) both for see and for sale. As Ektelon brings this setup to all of the major national events, it’s no surprise that they have a fine-tuned event machine.
Head – A big presence at the US OPEN, it was nice to see Head with a big display at National Singles. Besides showcasing the forthcoming technology, they also a HUGE display of old racquets to stir up the racquetball memories. And to keep you always coming back for more, Head also had a TV in the booth running Fran’s instructional DVD’s, and Tennis Channel broadcasts for past US OPEN events.
Gearbox – Still relatively new on the scene, Gearbox brought a worthy booth to National Singles. New apparel, as well as some new racquet designs were on display, and the Gearbox staff of Joel Arredondo and Rafael Filippini were always ready to chat about anything racquetball related.
E-Force – The guys at E-Force kinda got the bum location of all the vendors, way back in the corner of the players’ village. You kinda missed it when walking in, and by the time you’re leaving the club after a long day, stopping by a booth seemed like the last thing on your mind. The new racquets looked and felt GREAT, and I think Chris Crowther was all the advertisement they needed. He was absolutely CRUSHING every single shot of every rally. Bar-none, he had the most powerful game of anyone at the event.
- 2008 USA Racquetball National Singles Championships – Info
- New Racquets from Gearbox
- 2008 Racquetball National Singles Players’ Village
- New Pro Contracts
- 2008 Racquetball Racquets – Ektelon / Head


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Whether fueled by gas, electricity or an alternative energy source, all connected or autonomous vehicles require large quantities of data to operate — information that must be safeguarded.
Odia Kagan tracks rapidly evolving issues at the intersection of transportation and data security to advise automotive industry clients on how to keep their data secure and comply with domestic and international data privacy laws and regulations. A thought leader in this emerging field, Odia is a frequent author and presenter on data protection for vehicles employing autonomous and computer-aided navigation.
New research, detailed in an article distributed by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, suggests location data is vulnerable to reidentification, even in a very large dataset.
The European Data Protection Board has issued final guidelines for the processing of personal data related to autonomous vehicles.
U.S. lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to protect connected devices.
The California Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill regarding consumer choice related to the installation and use of in-vehicle cameras.
Israel's Ministry of Justice has issued a call for public comments regarding the regulation of autonomous vehicles, with a focus on the tort and insurance aspects.
France’s CNIL, the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés, has opined on the “Global Security law” and use of drones by law enforcement.
The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) have issued a joint guidance on “Cybersecurity Challenges in the Update of Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Driving.
German Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer predicts the new rules will make Germany "a world leader in autonomous driving."
Automated vehicle manufacturers beware: Blurred images can still be personal data under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), says French Data Protection Authority CNIL in a statement on the use of drones by French police.
The European Parliament issued a detailed study on the impact of smart mobility applications on the future of transport and addressed some data protection issues.
Article: German Transport Authority, Information Security Office Plan Cooperation on Autonomous Vehicles
The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) recently signed an administrative agreement for cross-departmental cooperation to facilitate and accelerate the safe development of automated and networked driving.
Due to the importance of data protection law for employee monitoring practices, a careful and considered approach must be taken when potentially highly intrusive methods, such as tracking employee vehicles, are used.
A detailed summary of the data protection and privacy provisions included in the federal Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research in Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act.
Wards Auto: Today’s computer-aided vehicles compile a broad range of location, communication and other data, some of which can be used to identify the individuals using the car, or the car itself. This personal data falls under the scope of privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
The EU recommendations for safeguarding basic privacy rights include obtaining informed consent for data processing, offering users various levels of privacy, protecting the rights of groups such as pedestrians, drivers and passengers and adopting transparency strategies.
Privacy Compliance & Data Security: Training autonomous vehicle navigation systems requires the collection of copious amounts of visual data, including images of license plates and recognizable faces. A regional German Data Protection Authority offers guidelines for processing and protecting that data.
OneTrust Data Guidance: The European Data Protection Board’s guidelines encourage vehicle manufacturers to build-in “protection of personal data” during the design phase and call on all stakeholders, from car dealerships and repair shops to in-vehicle entertainment system providers, to prioritize data privacy.
The European Data Protection Board published broad guidance on safeguarding the data collected by connected vehicles, including three categories requiring special attention: location data, biometric data and data that could reveal traffic offenses.
In this OneTrust webinar, Odia joins Andreea Lisievici, Head of Group Data Protection Compliance at Volvo Car Corporation in Sweden to discuss the types of data that connected vehicles process and how that data is governed by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act.


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People are feeling sticker shock over Seattle’s sugary drink tax.
You might’ve seen a picture circulating on social media that shows a more than $10 tax on a $15.99 case of Gatorade at Costco. On Friday, shoppers were taking their own pictures, stunned by the new prices.
Advocates of the tax held a press conference on Friday, to explain how the city plans to use the $15 million expected to be raised from the tax in 2018.
One Costco shopper loaded a case of Coca-Cola into her cart, not noticing the new price until KIRO7 pointed it out.
“That much!” said Vilma Villagran, who was buying the case for her family.
The regular case of Coke is now $7.35 more expensive than the Diet Coke or Coke Zero.
“I knew it was going to be high, but not that crazy high,” Villagran said.
Other shoppers closely read the sign, which explains that as of Jan. 1, Seattle shoppers are paying 1.75 cents per ounce on sugar-sweetened beverages – something shoppers are really noticing when buying in bulk.
The tax has many people opting for the diet soda.
Supporters of the tax said that’s the point – not necessarily to switch to diet soda, but getting consumers to go for healthier options.
“I’m just very excited,” said Jim Krieger, who is on the committee for Seattle Healthy Kids Coalition and is the executive director of Health Food America.
"The hope is consumption of the unhealthy product -- which causes heart disease, diabetes -- will go down, the sugary drinks to go down, and we fully expect that to be the case," Krieger said.
The other purpose is tax dollars.
The $15 million Seattle expects to raise from the tax will go toward programs that will help people who are in need have better access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The money will also fund education programs. See the full breakdown provided at the end of the article.
But back at Costco, signs above each taxed sugary drink remind shoppers you can leave the city and buy the product without paying the tax.
And that’s what Villagran plans to do. “It’ll have to be Tukwila, the closest to me,” she said.
KIRO7 has talked with worried business owners, but City Council members say they’ve looked at data from other cities that have this tax.
“Do you have any concerns at all about this hurting local businesses and driving shoppers out of Seattle?” KIRO7’s Deedee Sun asked City Council members at the press conference on Friday.
“We did not see any data that really shored up the argument that this hurts local businesses,” said Lorena González, a Seattle City Council member.
“There’s not a lot of cross-border shopping. People realize it’s not worth my while,” Krieger said. One of his roles with the Seattle Healthy Kids Coalition is to follow the impact of the sugary drink taxes in other cities.
Most of the 2018 tax money has already been allocated to programs and one-time administrative costs. The city said that, for the first year, there are higher administrative costs to implement the tax, as well as to set up and expand programs.
Right now, there’s still about $3 million of the $15 million to be allocated for 2018.
Eleven people have been selected to be part of a special coalition that will make recommendations to City Council on which organizations will get the money. The coalition is expected to make its recommendations by April, and there will be an opportunity for public input before the City Council votes.
Breakdown of sugary beverage tax allocations, as provided by Seattle Healthy Kids Coalition:
Programs that the City Council has approved funding ($5,658,494) for in 2018
- Fresh Bucks, Food Action Plan ($2,404,359)
- 13th Year Promise Scholarship ($1,381,885)
- Innovation High School, Summer Learning, Summer Melt ($1,004,500)
- Our Best ($189,000)
- Parent-Child Home Program ($525,000)
- Food Banks ($153,750)
Proposed investments ($4,120,639) awaiting review by CAB in Spring 2018:
- Farm to Table
- Fresh Bucks to Go
- Food Banks
- Out-of-School Time Nutrition Program
- Early learning programs
In addition to these investments, revenue from the new sugary drinks tax will also support evaluation work ($500,000) to track the tax’s effectiveness and impacts, job retraining support ($500,000) for those employed within the local distribution network for the beverage industry and general administrative support ($1,082,000) in city government.
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Cox Media Group


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Official Transportation Partner for #ForeverisNow by Art D’Egypte
AGM is honored to serve as the official transportation partner for #ForeverisNow, an exceptional art exhibition presented by Art D’Egypte. For three years, London Cab - Abou Ghaly Motors has ensured a seamless transportation experience for all event attendees. Join us in celebrating the success, inspiration, and creativity that Forever is Now Edition III brings to the art world.
GEELY Auto Global General Manager Mr. Michael Song Visit to Abou Ghaly Motors – EGYPT
GEELY Auto Global General Manager Mr. Michael Song Visit to Abou Ghaly Motors – EGYPT, 18-09-2023
The new GX3 Pro was announced by Geely Abou Ghaly Motors.
In a grand ceremony that took place on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 in the National Museum of Civilizations. In presence of representatives of Abou Ghaly Motors and Geely International, as well as Geely Egypt authorized dealers.
Abou Ghaly Motors Group and National Bank of Egypt Partnership
We are proud to announce the signing of a cooperation protocol between Abou Ghaly Motors Group and National Bank of Egypt.
Abou Ghaly Motors recognized as a top achiever in GEELY Global Distributor Service Performance Evaluation 2022
First in Africa, and 6th in the world. Abou Ghaly Motors (AGM), the sole distributor of Geely in Egypt, has achieved remarkable success in the first year of its collaboration with Geely international.
Geely Auto Egypt proudly introduces the Geometry C
As part of building a greener future, Abou Ghaly Motors officially announces Geely Auto Egypt 's first all new Electric Vehicle in Egypt and Africa.
Abou Ghaly Motors Art Week edition 1
We are proud to launch Abou Ghaly Motors Art Week first edition.
London Cab – The official transporter for Art D’Egypte
We are proud we’ve participated in Art D’Egypte as the official transportation provider.
EBRD – AGM partnership signing ceremony
As a leading mobility solutions provider in Egypt, we are delighted to continue our long-term partnership with the EBRD.
Abou Ghaly Motors Group and Orange Egypt Partnership
Abou Ghaly Motors Group signing partnership agreement with Orange Egypt


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Home Posts tagged Mr. Gaurav Khatri
Tag: Mr. Gaurav Khatri, Noise, Rohit Sharma, Sports
Noise ropes in cricketer Rohit Sharma as its Brand Ambassador
MediaInfolineJan 28, 2020
Noise, a new-age smart-tech consumer electronics brand, has substantially ‘upped its game’ by announcing its partnership with India’s run machine and ICC ODI...


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Mattressman expansion answers bigger online need
- Credit: Eastern Daily Press Â© 2009
Norwich-based Mattressman said an upsurge in online orders has inspired a move to expand further into London and Essex.
The growth plans will see a 1,600 sq feet store opened in Newbury Park, Ilford, and a 2,000 sq feet site launched on Deacon Industrial Estate, Chingford – creating five new jobs.
And the firm is also eyeing-up opportunities to bolster its presence further by opening more stores in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, and around the M25.
Mr Kerry's expansion flies in the face of recent economic forecasts which suggest businesses will close bricks and mortar shops as their online sales increase.
Mattressman's latest results showed a slight dip in turnover from £14.7m in 2011 to £14.1m in 2012 after the firm saw a slow down in orders caused by the recession.
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But it is aiming to boost revenues this year to £16m by opening new stores.
Mr Kerry said its decision to open smaller retail outlets came from its success with furniture supplier Focus before the company collapsed into administration.
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He said: 'If you can keep the overheads low by having smaller premises then you can afford to do well both online and with a bricks and mortar store. It is about changing the dynamic from a large-scale premises.
'We saw success of having a 2,000 sq ft bricks and mortar store when we had a presence in Focus before it closed.'
'Today, retailers have to be flexible to succeed and offer customers the option of ordering on-line or having the opportunity to go and see the goods for themselves and discuss them with knowledgeable and friendly staff. That is why we are continuing to open more stores.
'We were sending two lorries a day from our Norwich HQ to London to service our on-line customers so we knew there was a demand for our products in that area.
He said: 'We will be opening more stores around the M25 in the greater London area so we have the capital and its huge population covered. Then we will turn our attention to Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.'
Last year, the firm opened the British Bed Company factory in Norwich with plans to double its workforce in three years.


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As China’s population ages, the world’s factory struggles to recruit young migrant workers
- For a new generation of Chinese migrant workers, labour-intensive factory work no longer has the same appeal as it did for their parents
- As the country’s migrant workforce gets older and smaller, labour shortages are starting to be felt in some traditional manufacturing sectors
This is the third in a series of stories on China’s job market, looking at its history, the role of migrant workers, inequality and the future for its graduates entering the workforce.
After riding out the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese factory owner Cai Zhongpeng is turning his attention to another, arguably more dangerous long-term threat: a shortage of workers.
The 37-year-old businessman, who makes infrared heating bulbs for livestock, is one of scores of small manufacturers dotted across the world’s second largest economy who is finding it increasingly difficult to find employees as the nation’s migrant workforce shrinks and ages.
“There are about 60 workers in my factory and most of them are in their early 50s,” said Cai, a second-generation businessman who runs Fengrun Electric Lighting in Huzhou, a city in the eastern province of Zhejiang.
“Most of the workers in factories around the country are in their 40s and 50s now, and it’s rare to see young manufacturing workers.”
In 2019, the percentage of migrant workers over 50 years old reached 24.6 per cent, more than doubling from 11.4 per cent in 2008, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Since 2013, that figure has grown at about 1 to 2 percentage points per year.
Today, some 285 million rural migrant workers are estimated to be employed on production lines, construction sites or cleaning houses for the wealthy.
Although the central government is pushing for automation to fill the gap, many smaller firms cannot afford to replace their workforce with robots, especially if export orders start to slow after the recent pandemic-driven boom.
In the meantime, increasing automation in factories is exacerbating the labour problem, driving down wages and making factory work even less appealing for younger generations who are uninterested in working gruelling hours for low pay.
China 2020 census records slowest population growth in decades
About 49 per cent of migrant workers are employed in secondary industries, with most working in manufacturing and construction, according to NBS’ annual migrant workers monitoring survey report in 2019.
But as China’s economy matures and turns towards domestic consumption, the younger generation is increasingly opting for the services sector.
Li Ming, a food courier in the southern export hub of Guangzhou, typifies the negative attitude towards factory work held by many in his generation.
“I am sick of working six days a week, 10 hours a day in a factory. I will never work as a factory worker like my parents,” said Li, who is in his late 20s and was briefly employed at the same factory as his mum and dad.
He said his current monthly income is better than what he could earn in his old job and he has more time to play mobile games and spend on social media.
Last year, a survey of young migrant workers by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences found that 78 per cent of nearly 6,000 respondents came from migrant worker families, and nearly 40 per cent had left children behind to work in cities.
Frequent job changes were the norm for the group, with more than a third of respondents believing their work was meaningless and another quarter unsure if their work was meaningful.
Disillusionment among young migrant workers is proving a major recruitment challenge for smaller companies.
“Now except for those giant factories with 10,000 workers or more, it’s usually difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to recruit workers in their 20s and 30s,” said Liu Kaiming, founder of the Shenzhen-based Institute of Contemporary Observation, which monitors working conditions and performance among contract manufacturers.
Stagnating wages in China’s factories are another major deterrent for young people.
“Take the digital textile industry as an example. Since October last year, factories have been saturated with orders but the wages of production line workers are lower than in 2018 and 2019,” said Peng Biao, an analyst with Fashionprint.com, which closely monitors supply chains.
“The same job earning 6,000 yuan (US$928) in 2018, now only earns 5,000 yuan.”
Intelligent sorting systems help China's JD.com cope with demand during Covid-19 pandemic
Labour costs as a proportion of overall factory expenses have dropped by 20 per cent compared to 2019, as more companies launch automated production lines, according to Liu.
“In the bathroomware industry, for example, labour now accounts for about 10 per cent of the total cost, and this figure should be at a medium level compared to other industries,” he said.
Hu Haifeng, sales manager of Rokae Robotics, said demand for automation is peaking because of the pandemic.
“There is an urgent need among manufacturers, because a high level of automation means strong anti-risk capacity in the future for either the ageing of China’s population or the recurrence of the pandemic,” said Hu, whose 6-year-old company expects sales to rise to 300 million yuan (US$46.4 million) this year from 100 million last year.
But not everyone is able to retool their workforce so easily.
“It is difficult for me to invest in more industrial robots to replace the rest of my workers. Because if all the production process is automated, it will cause my yield rate to drop a lot,” said Cai, referring to the larger number of defective products produced by automation.
“Assuming 20 years from now automation can replace half of the current workforce, if the Chinese manufacturing industry maintains its current, or even greater capacity than now, then where can we find the required labour?”
China could even risk going down the same path as the United States, Cai added.
“A shrinking manufacturing industry will cause a large number of factory jobs to disappear … and costs will increase exponentially,” he said.
Chinese smart van system provides seamless automated delivery service
China had 23.4 million births per year in between 1963 and 1990, helping fuel its rise as a manufacturing power, said Yi Fuxian, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a long-standing critic of Beijing’s birth restrictions.
The country increased its share of global manufacturing exports from 2.5 per cent in 1992 to 19.6 in 2015, Yi said, but that number is on a downward trend.
“The official number of births has been declining since 1990, with only 12 million births in 2020 – just half of India’s – meaning that many Chinese industries will soon have a shortage of young workers, which could lead to a decline in exports,” he said, adding he estimated births actually fell below 10 million last year.
A long-term downward trend in exports will undermine the profitability of China’s manufacturing sector, reducing job opportunities for migrant workers and further lowering incomes.
China’s increasingly tense relationship with the US and Europe – which has been complicated by the pandemic – and the rising cost of labour, land and taxes are all complicating the situation.
“Due to geopolitical relations, most electronics factories I know have plans to relocate some production capacity out of China,” Liu said.
“Perhaps the pandemic stalled the speed [of relocations] in the past two years, but they have not stopped, especially in electronics, medicines and new energy.”
In the meantime, factories will continue struggling to find enough young people to work their production lines. The share of migrant workers aged 16-20 dropped from 10.7 per cent in 2008 to 2 per cent in 2019, while those aged 21-30 fell from more than 35 per cent in 2008 to 23.1 per cent over the same period, official statistics showed.
That worries some observers like Liu, who wonder how China will replenish its manufacturing workforce.
“These older workers, who are willing to endure years of boring, repetitive overtime work on the assembly line, are the cornerstone of China’s success as the world’s factory,” he said.
“Meanwhile, the next generation will certainly say no to this factory life and will be only willing to work in the freer services sector.”


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Clash of Clans sells controlling interest for $1.5 billion
The most addictive game on the iOS right now is Clash Of Clans and you need a lot of cash to get your walls updated to the highest level, I must add it a very time consuming and expensive game to play because it always craves you to spend and do things faster by paying real-life money.
But it’s brilliantly made and very gameplay is very addictive and now it’s Finnish Developer Supercell sells a 51 percent stake in the company to Softbank and GungHo.
Clash of Clans developer Supercell has sold a 51 percent take in the company to Japanese telecommunications giant Softbank and developer Gungho Online Entertainment in a deal worth $1.5 billion, the Finnish company announced today.
Gungho is responsible for 20 percent of the $1.5 billion investment, or around $300 million.
In a blog post on the Supercell website, CEO Ilkka Paananen explained the thinking behind the buyout, saying it will “accelerate Supercell towards our goal of being the first truly global games company.”
“The combination of tablets, mobile, and the free-to-play business model has created a new market for games, one that will be accessible to billions of consumers, more people than ever before in the history of games,” Paananen said. “This truly is a new era of gaming and has opened up exciting opportunities for new kinds of companies.”
Specifically, Softbank’s investment provides Supercell with a “massive selection” of strategic resources, Paananen said, adding that he believes Softbank founder Masayoshi Son is “all about the long-term.”
“When we first met, he told me he has a 300-year vision, and I thought he was joking until the following day when he ran me through what it actually looks like and it is indeed very real and extremely inspirational,” Paananen said.
Though Softbank will have a controlling interest in Supercell, Paananen said the company remains “in full control of our future” and will continue to run the business independently.
“In fact, and this may sound surprising to some, I feel that with this deal, we’re now more independent and in control of our future than we ever have been,” he said.
In April 2013, Clash of Clans was generating $2.4 million per day for Supercell.


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River’s Lightning service is the backbone for Chivo Wallet in El Salvador and removes the need for developers to have their own Lightning infrastructure.
- River Financial launches a new Lightning Network product for businesses and institutions.
- RLS has been the backend service provider of El Salvador’s Chivo Wallet for over a year.
- River has other well-known customers in the works to be onboarded to the Lightning Network.
River Financial, a fintech company focused on Bitcoin services, has released River Lightning Services (RLS), a Lightning Network integration to help businesses, and institutions leverage the network, per a release sent to Bitcoin Magazine.
RLS has already been active in El Salvador for over a year, serving as the backend Lightning integration for the Chivo Wallet. Additionally, the company noted that other “well-known customers” will also be coming onboard.
“RLS is the next step on River’s mission to accelerate the adoption of Bitcoin,” said Alex Leishman, founder and CEO of River. “We’re incredibly proud to be serving the people of El Salvador and look forward to bringing the power of this incredible technology to the world.”
RLS makes the process of integrating Lightning easier by not requiring developers to run any Lightning infrastructure themselves. By utilizing an application-programmable interface (API) “RLS is doing for Bitcoin what Stripe did for credit card processing,” said the release.
Indeed, River has been operating within the Lightning ecosystem for the past four years and currently runs some of the largest nodes on the network. Thus, the company explained that running a high-uptime node with a high payment success rate is difficult to manage.
Therefore, RLS attempts to strip away at the complexities of the Lightning Network enabling developers to engage with the ecosystem without needing to manage its technical hurdles.
Additionally, River noted that “due to its fast moving protocol, upcoming multi-asset & stablecoin capabilities via Taro, and instant and cheap transactions,“ the Lightning Network is key to accelerating the adoption of Bitcoin.


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Mobile broadband startup LightSquared has raised another US$265 million that it can use for building its 4G LTE network, despite the uncertainty of that network being approved by the FCC.
With consumers these days living ever more mobile and connected lives, it seems only natural that we'd move toward a more connected automobile. After all, the average urban American spends the equivalent of 8.3 days a year commuting, according to The...
A GPS industry group dismissed mobile startup LightSquared's alternative proposal for an LTE network that would operate on frequencies close to the GPS band, saying the company hasn't presented any clear plan to reduce interference.
There's little disagreement about what a test report expected this week will say about LightSquared's proposed LTE network: It knocks out GPS on many devices. There's far less consensus about what causes the problem and what to do about it.
A U.S. House of Representatives committee has stepped into the fray over startup LightSquared's planned mobile data network, and passed a bill that would block the Federal Communications Commission from spending any money granting the carrier a waiv...
The coast is not yet clear for LightSquared's hybrid satellite-LTE network despite the company's announcement on Monday that it has found a solution to interference with GPS.
LightSquared said it may ask for another two weeks to compile a report on possible interference between its planned cellular network and the GPS system, as a Wednesday deadline for the report loomed.
NBN Co intends to clarify the speeds attainable via satellite under the National Broadband Network (NBN) once the interim solution goes live in July this year.
Damaged caused to telecommunications networks in Japan by the March 11 earthquake will take months to fully repair.
Optus today announced the announced that a new satellite, Optus 10, is scheduled to be deployed for Australia and New Zealand by 2013.
LightSquared has begun planning for GPS interference tests that will determine whether it can roll out a combination satellite-LTE mobile data network and issued the first of several required monthly reports on the process.
The International Telecommunication Union is sending satellite phones to Japan to help rescue work and to reconnect communities cut off by last Friday's earthquake.
Mobile startup LightSquared announced a deal with rural carrier Open Range on Friday that is designed to extend broadband into remote parts of the U.S. through satellite and terrestrial wireless networks.
Could you live without your satellite navigation system?
In-flight Wi-Fi provider Aircell unveiled plans for its second generation of wireless links from aircraft to the Internet on Wednesday, promising higher capacity and the capability to offer its service outside the U.S.
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As per the latest reports, Snapdeal has accepted Flipkart’s revised buyout offer of $900-950 million. The company will seek views of its shareholders, including Ratan Tata and PremjiInvest, to finalize the proposed buyout offer.
The board of Jasper Infotech that runs the e-commerce company, has apparently approved Flipkart’s bid of $900 million-$950 million last week.
SoftBank, the largest investor in Snapdeal has been proactively mediating the deal for the past few months. Earlier this month, Snapdeal had rejected a $700-$750 million offer from Flipkart. The company had rejected the offer on the grounds that the amount was lower than its $1 billion valuations.
Snapdeal had received Rs. 113 crores from Nexus Venture Partners earlier in May. Meanwhile, Flipkart acquired eBay India and also raised $1.4 billion funding in April. Flipkart managed to secure this investment taking its total valuation to $11.6 billion from the likes of Tencent, eBay, and Microsoft.
Snapdeal, the Indian e-commerce company based out of New Delhi, was founded in February 2010. The company was started by Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal. Snapdeal has a number of investors including Alibaba Group, PremjiInvest, Ratan Tata, Foxconn, Temasek and BlackRock among others.
So, the buyout deal between Snapdeal and Flipkart, if completed, would mark the biggest acquisition in the Indian online market place and will affect big players like Amazon India.


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KARACHI: The first half of 2013 was marked with a general slowdown for the major consumer goods companies listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) – an indication of a general slowdown across the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. With no real growth in income from either rural or urban areas, analysts say the growth in the FMCG sector will take a while to pick up pace.
Revenues of major FMCG companies listed on the KSE witnessed subdued growth in the first half of the 2013. Engro Foods, one of the country’s largest FMCG companies, saw its revenues decline 4% year-on-year in the first half of 2013. Nestle Pakistan – the Pakistani subsidiary of the world’s largest foods and consumer goods company – saw its revenues grow a meagre 3% in the period under review.
Unilever Pakistan, the Anglo-Dutch foods and consumer goods giant, was better in terms of revenue growth, which clocked in at 8.3% YoY, but the recently delisted company termed the six-month period of 2013 to be a challenging one with the prevailing energy crisis, adverse security environment, market closures and dampened consumer demand.
“If one looks at the results of the FMCG sector for the first half of 2013, the profits of most companies were driven mainly by high-margin products (core margins) and not revenues,” AKD Securities Deputy Head of Research Ayub Ansari said. “Generally, there has been a slowdown in demand,” Ansari added.
Explaining this, Ansari said the agriculture income and remittances were driving the growth in the FMCG sector during the past five years. “Remittances in the first half have remained flat while agriculture income has decreased,” he said. There has been some increase in crops prices, he said, but input cost – fertiliser, oil and electricity for example – has gone up, reducing agriculture income.
In addition to a general slowdown in the sector’s growth, companies like Nestle Pakistan and Engro Foods had problems with their distribution networks, Elixir Securities Head of Research Azfar Naseem said while responding to a question – another factor behind subdued revenue growth.
Naseem, however, also attributed the general slowdown mainly to the agriculture income, which did not increase on a real basis.
“There was semi-urbanisation in rural areas for the past five years on the back of higher agriculture income but that process is saturating now,” Naseem said. Explaining, he said that although there has been nominal growth in rural sector’s income but there is no real growth. The prices of wheat and cotton, two major crops that drive agriculture income, have been stagnant, he said.
Additionally, he said, there was a decline of about 5% in the international commodity prices during the first five months of 2013, which also affected agriculture income.
Naseem further went on to say that it will take a couple of years for urban income to revive. There is no development in urban areas as such, the banks and other firms are not hiring either, he said. So the urban income is also not growing on a real basis, he said.
“Although there is no data available on the real income growth, but it is safe to say that consumer income didn’t grow on real basis during the period,” Naseem said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2013.
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Bobby Ghosh, foreign affairs columnist and commentator, joined CBSN's Elaine Quijano on Monday to describe how some companies are finding alternatives to mining an important and expensive metal that's used in 21st century tech gadgets and products around the world. Ghosh explained the significance of cobalt in the wake of a that found children mining cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
"Lithium batteries are everywhere -- they are in our cars, our phones, our laptops ... there are three or four different kinds of lithium batteries ... one kind has about 50 percent cobalt ... a very, very important component," he said. "It's very hard to think about lithium batteries without cobalt."
"Maybe 15 years ago cobalt was worth nothing," he added. "There were cobalt mines in Idaho ... in Canada ... that shut down because nobody wanted it. Now with all our new tech batteries ... cobalt is a very big deal ... $80,000 a ton."
About 60 percent of cobalt originates from the DRC, while 6 percent comes from Canada.
to buy cobalt directly from mines, removing the middleman processes. Ghosh agreed with that plan.
"That would be a good thing," he said. "You have a greater control over who is producing the cobalt and how it's bringing brought back. There are environmentally sustainable ways and avoiding child labor ... you're paying a fair price. The prices listed on that factory were ridiculous."
Ghosh also suggested that it would be better if the mining of this material would be moved closer to the places where they are being produced.
"Right now, Congo -- like a lot of places -- are exporting most of this raw material and the refining, where the real value addition is done, is done outside," Ghosh explained. "The government of Congo would like people to come do that refining in the Congo, that would probably be a good thing."
Ghosh touched on the topic of Tesla and its plan to mine cobalt in North America for its batteries that power the company's electric cars. It's expected that electric cars will double the world's demand for cobalt by 2025.
"The place they're looking for is ironically called 'Cobalt' ... it's in Ontario, Canada ... there are deposits of cobalt there, but I'm not sure how much," Ghosh said. "The fact that Tesla thinks it can get enough cobalt from there to produce its battery is a good sign. But it will be much more expensive ... but we can be sure that it will be mined under strict controls ... there will not be child labor."
Ghosh pointed out that that plan wouldn't eradicate child labor in DRC, as some buyers won't care when they purchase it from that region.
"We may feel better about ourselves, but those kids will still be working those mines, unless a larger effort is made to save them from that," he added.


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Google has announced some awesome improvements to its Android-based Google TV service. The service has been out for around two years now, and while it hasn't quite taken off the way Google may have hoped, it is slowly gaining
YouTube has just announced a new update that makes it easy to pair your smartphone with a Google TV. This is designed to create a seamless experience where users can select a YouTube video on their phone and be watching it on
The folks from Mountain View clearly have a huge foot in the mobile game, not to mention they've been stepping up that game over the past 6 months with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and their new Nexus line. According to a note to
We have great news for the millions of Android users still not running the newest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or even Ice Cream Sandwich. We've been enjoying an awesome new user interface on YouTube for quite a while, and today
Google Play already has a wide selection of movies and TV shows to watch on your Android devices, but get ready for even more. Over 600 new titles from Twentieth Century Fox are coming to both Google Play and YouTube. All of the
Today some rather interesting news has just hit the web regarding Apple and their iPhone going after Google again. This week Apple has released their latest beta for iOS 6 -- the OS version that will grace their next iPhone.
Google has issued a set of updates for multiple applications today, and a few were worth mentioning. First up was Google Movies & TV, but that wasn't anything special. The important ones are YouTube and the Nexus Q companion app.
Who has a Google TV? Do you love it and use YouTube? Today Google has just announced another update for GTV, although this is just for the YouTube app. It won't do anything revolutionary but they are claiming the video playback
So far for 2012 the HTC One series of smartphones looks to be near the top of most peoples purchase list, that or the Galaxy S III of course. With the One series starting to finally break cover this week, and being available as


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May 10, 2013
HTML5 predicted to be the future of TV
Back in May 2011 we wrote a blog about how we were designing with the future in mind using HTML5. You can read the full article here <<link>>, but it looked at how the web was about to experience a huge makeover thanks to the boom in mobile devices as well as the development of HTML5 and CSS3. We were saying goodbye to the days of a uniform, one-size-fits-all approach and looking to the future of responsive web design.
Two years on and it’s now pretty widely accepted that HTML5 is also the future of mobile. For example, free software provider Mozilla debuted its Firefox OS web browser only a couple of months ago, with this new mobile platform built entirely on open web standards including HTML5 launching on handsets from ZTE and Alcatel.
Mozilla wants to power the switch from feature phone to smartphone with Firefox OS. It’s a noble idea. Billions of people are currently priced out of the smartphone market all over the globe and it claims Firefox OS will get them online and using smartphones for the first time.
What isn’t perhaps so widely discussed is that HTML5 is the future of TV too.
YouTube recently took advantage of the technology to launch the free-to-air satellite TV service, Freesat, as part of its plan to position itself as a platform for premium, broadcast-quality content. Built in HTML5, Freesat is designed to provide a ’TV-optimised’ viewing experience via a set-top box, meaning YouTube is now officially available on a subscription-free UK TV platform.
Freesat is a fast-growing player in the broadcast market with three million boxes sold in the last four years and it too has built its hybrid broadcast broadband offering on HTML5. In the process it has make the integration of third-party content and services into connected TV services potentially far easier.
Ben Halliday, oneagency.co’s senior developer, sees web standards breaking down the barriers between the linear TV experience and an on-demand web experience. “TV built on open web standards is a great thing and will speed up the development of connected TV experiences,” he says. “The fact that there are a few industry-wide initiatives taking place to help drive the adoption of open web standards into TV further cements its future.”
In summary: the future is HTML5. And if you want to make sure you’re following the trend and maximising on the latest proven technology, give us a call on 01603 252555.


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DENVER — October 13, 2020 — VF Corp. today announced organizational changes in support of its ongoing business model transformation and to ensure greater alignment in the management of its Core and Emerging Brands portfolio.
With these changes, the leaders of VF’s three Core Brands (Vans®, The North Face® and Timberland®) and its Emerging Brands (all other brands in its portfolio) now report directly to Chairman, President and CEO, Steve Rendle.
Reporting to Rendle is the following brand leadership team:
- Doug Palladini, global brand president, Vans.
- Steve Murray, global brand president, The North Face. Previously VF’s president of the Americas Region, Murray replaces Arne Arens who has stepped down to pursue other opportunities outside of VF. In line with the company’s transformation initiative, VF has eliminated the role of president of the Americas.
- Martino Scabbia Guerrini, president of the EMEA Region and interim global brand president for Timberland. Scabbia Guerrini continues to lead the Timberland brand while the company seeks a permanent Global Brand President.
- Kevin Bailey, president of the Asia Pacific Region and Emerging Brands.
“As we work to become a more integrated brand-building company, we must operate differently and manage our Core and Emerging Brands in differentiated ways in order to help each of them achieve their full potential,” Rendle said. “As we do this, it’s critical that we place our strongest talent on our most important opportunities to drive long-term, sustainable growth across our portfolio and in all geographies.”
In appointing Murray to global brand president of The North Face, VF is tapping into Murray’s extensive experience built over a successful 30-year career leading several global apparel and footwear brands. Murray served as president of Vans following VF’s acquisition of the brand in 2004 and was later appointed as president of VF’s Action Sports Coalition in 2009. He has also held leadership roles with iconic youth brands, including serving as CEO of Airwair International (Dr. Martens), global brand president of Urban Outfitters, and EMEA President for Deckers Brands. Earlier in his career, Murray was the global head of Apparel for Reebok International.
Rendle concluded, “Steve is an incredibly strong and well-respected leader who knows our industry inside and out. I look forward to working even more closely with him, Doug, Martino and Kevin to accelerate our business model transformation and pursue the many opportunities ahead for all brands in the VF portfolio.”
In addition to VF’s brand leadership, the company’s enterprise function leaders also continue reporting to Rendle as members of VF’s Executive Leadership Team.
Posted October 14, 2020
Source: VF Corp.


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Photoshop Strikes Again: Demi Moore Becomes Latest Victim of Overzealous Editing
Demi Moore doesn’t look like herself in the new Helena Rubenstein cosmetics ad. She doesn’t even look human. And this needs to stop!
This? This is why the advertising industry needs a major overhaul. True, a heck of a lot of industries need major overhauls… but I mean, seriously!
It’s no secret that Photoshopping has become a real problem in ads. Whether it’s disproportionate limbs or missing hair, models are regularly tweaked and edited to disastrous result. And now Demi Moore has become Photoshop’s most recent victim in an ad for Helena Rubenstein cosmetics.
The cosmetics company is finding itself under fire this week for what they’ve done to Demi’s face in their new campaign. Demi has been through a lot lately, so it’s unsurprising that she’s been looking a little under the weather. She’s only human, after all; hardships wreak havoc on the best of us. But in this new ad, the 49-year-old actress looks roughly 20 years younger than she is, her skin looks like it’s been bleached, and her face is so smooth that it looks like a mask.
Long story short? Demi looks not at ALL like herself, and it’s horrifying.
So what’s been done to her? The Daily Mail talked to a picture editor for Life & Style to get a pro’s opinion. According to the picture editor, the work would have been done “by someone very expert” and would have taken at least a day to do. He remarked that he can really only speculate on what exactly has been done without having seen the original photos, but that he suspected her skin had been “heavily airbrushed” to eliminate hairs, pores, moles, etc.—and that in Demi’s case, they left pretty much nothing behind. Her cheekbones “look as though they have been heavily defined in after-effects,” and her naturally hazel eyes have been made green. There also may have been some “liquefication,” a process that reshapes the face. Even if each element was subtle in its change, when you combine them together, they “change the resulting face shape quite dramatically.”
Oof. Just… oof.
This isn’t the first time Helena Rubenstein cosmetics have gone overboard in their editing of Demi, either. Back in 2009, Jezebel unearthed the original image of Demi shot for a Helena Rubenstein perfume ad in its un-Photoshopped state—and the difference between it and the finished ad was shocking. But at least she still looks like herself (relatively speaking), which is more than can be said for the new ad.
What I find the most baffling is how any sane person could think that images like this will successfully sell cosmetics. In the new ad, Demi doesn’t look like she has “flawless coverage.” She doesn’t look like her cosmetics have magically erased the ravages of time. She doesn’t even look like a person. She looks like a robot, and frankly, an automaton version of a well-known personage touting a product is not going to make me want to BUY said product. It’s going to make me want to run away in terror. It’s also a crime to treat Demi Moore like that! I mean, she’s Demi Moore! She may have had her troubles, but she’s still kind of awesome! Why would you do that to her?!
As Jezebel pointed out during the 2009 incident, it’s not that Demi looks bad because of the Photoshopping. It’s that the Photoshopping makes her look not like a human being. And if the standard of beauty—at least in ad campaigns—is such that people no longer look like people? That’s a problem. A big problem.
The really disheartening thing, though, is that the changes that would need to happen in the industry in order to fix these issues are so huge that they are unlikely to happen anytime soon. But in the meantime, maybe we can still learn to adjust our way of thinking. It’s okay to look your age. In fact, it’s better to look your age than to look like you’re made of plastic. Remember these ladies who have mastered the art of aging gracefully? That’s how we should aspire to be. Because we’re all awesome, no matter how old we are.
Now we just need to convince the rest of the world of that fact.
Lucia Peters is BettyConfidential’s associate editor.


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Nokia recently announced that they have partnered with Microsoft to launch Windows Phones, during the Nokia World conference. The company didn't offer many details of the new smart phones, but they did give consumers a little taste of what they can expect from the Nokia-Microsoft partnership.
Stephen Elop, who announced the Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 710 phones, expressed pride in the new devices, saying that the company is driving innovation in smarter mobile phones and new smartphone experiences. Time will tell how Windows Phones hold up against their Apple and Android competitors.
The news came as a bit of a surprise, as Microsoft hasn't offered much previous competition in the smart phone market. The smart phone industry is largely ruled by two major players: Apple and Android. Apple is no stranger to competing with Microsoft's Windows in the operating system and PC industry. In the past, Apple was considered the underdog, developing alternative PCs to the very popular Microsoft brand. It appears that the tables may have turned. Now that Apple holds a huge portion of the smart phone market, Microsoft is looking like the underdog.
One strong advantage the Windows Phone has over Apple and Android is the exclusive People Hub feature. It serves as a one-stop-app for all your social media and contact needs. Users can access Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to keep their social network updated, and stay updated with their contacts. From the People Hub, users can also call, text or instant message their contacts individually or grouped. The Nokia phones will also have built-in, popular Nokia Maps and Nokia Music features, although they will not be exclusive to Windows Phones.
Nokia is in on the ground floor, being the first company to produce phones that use Microsoft's Windows Phone interface. The Nokia Lumia 800 is the higher-end model. A price is not listed yet, but this phone has a few more impressive features than the Lumia 710. It is beautifully designed, with a sleek, modern look. The 3.7-inch curved display screen almost appears to be floating off the phone.
It includes a built-in Carl Zeiss 8MP wide angle camera lens. The Nokia Lumia 800 runs on a 1.4 GHz Single Core/Qualcomm processor, with a 8-hour running and 16-day sleeping battery charge. This phone will soon be available to customers in the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands.
The Nokia Lumia 710 is great for the more budget-conscious smart phone market. The major differences in the two models are in the design, camera and speed. The design of the Lumia 710 is more fun than sleek, but still quite beautiful. The touchscreen uses ClearBlack display technology, which allows optimal visual quality whether you're in or outdoors.
The phone includes a 5MP camera with LED flash and autofocus. It runs on a 1.4 GHz Snapdragon Single Core processor, with a 8-hour running and 18-day sleeping battery charge. The Nokia Lumia 710 will soon be available in Hong Kong, Russia, Taiwan, Singapore and India.


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Thirty-four senior bureaucrats have been made nodal officers to assist states and supervise the implementation of Prime Minister Street Vendor's Atma Nirbhar Nidhi scheme in the country, officials said on Thursday.
The scheme, to be implemented from July 1, is aimed at providing affordable loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that had been hit due to lockdown.
Under the scheme, vendors can avail a working capital of up to Rs 10,000, repayable in monthly installments in one year. On timely/early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy @7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on a six-monthly basis.
"The nodal officers will be responsible for supervising the implementation of the scheme and also assist states in resolving issues that may arise," a Personnel Ministry order said.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will provide the charter of duties of the nodal officers, contact details of stakeholders in the states/union territories/cities and all the necessary support, it said.
All nodal officers, except Niranjan Kumar Singh of Indian Forest Service, belong to the Indian Administrative Service. They all are of a joint-secretary level.
Singh has been made the nodal officer for Gujarat, M C Jauhari for the northeastern region states, Neerja Sekhar for Haryana, Hukum Singh Meena for Bihar, Rajat Kumar Mishra and Tanmay Kumar for Rajasthan and Rajesh Kumar Sinha for Kerala.
Kamran Rizvi, Leena Johri, Amit Kumar Ghosh and Partha Sarthi Sensharma have been appointed nodal officers for Uttar Pradesh, the Personnel Ministry order said.
Amit Agrawal will be nodal officer for Chhattisgarh, Rakesh Kumar Verma and Alaknanda Dayal for Punjab and G Jayalakshmi for Telangana, it said.
Over 50 lakh people, including vendors and hawkers, in different areas/contexts are likely to benefit from this scheme. The goods supplied by them range from vegetables, fruits, ready-to-eat street foods, tea, pakodas, breads, eggs, textiles, apparel, footwear, artisan products, books/stationaries etc. The services include barber shops, cobblers, pan shops, laundry services etc.


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Hot on the heels of the launch of its first active speaker range, British audio specialist Q Acoustics has today launched its new HD wireless music system.
Badged the M20, the system boasts wireless hi-res stereo and its propriety tech including point-to-point ‘P2PTM’ cabinet bracing, alongside aptXTM HD Bluetooth® 5.0 connectivity for wireless playback from smartphones, tablets, laptops, network streamers and the like (up to 24-bit/48kHz) plus more traditional connectivity for games consoles, TVs, turntables, and CD players with up to 24bit/192kHz catered for via USB.
Inside each M20 beats a digital 65W amplifier, driving a decoupled 22mm tweeter and 125mm mid/bass driver, with rear-firing bass reflex port for extra low end wallop. And if that’s not enough, there’s also connectivity for an external sub too.
Priced at £399, these look like another audio bargain from Q Acoustics, which has carved out a respected reputation for quality audio at sensible prices.


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Hotels.com Price Index Shows Hotel Pricing Up 4 Percent Worldwide
By Claudette Covey
September 04, 2012 1:38 PM
The news on the hotel front seems to be taking on an increasingly rosier hue these days. Another survey of hotel pricing, the Hotel Price Index (HPI) released by Hotels.com on Sept. 4, paints a more positive picture the hotel market today, similar to the PwC and PKF surveys unveiled late last month. For the first time in five years, travelers paid more (up 4 percent on average) for hotel rooms on a global basis during the first six months of 2012 compared to the same period last year, according to the index.
That good news, however, was tempered by the fact that average prices remain at 2005 levels, according to the HPI. The index stood at 108 for this period, meaning that, despite the latest increase, hotel prices in general were still considerably lower than in the first half of 2007 when the HPI was at its peak of 119. The HPI analyzes prices that people paid for hotel rooms globally.
“The hotel industry bounced back in the first half of this year from a number of natural and political crises in 2011 and it is encouraging to see growth in the sector,” said Hotels.com President David Roche. “While initially it may not seem good news for consumers, hotel prices are still only around their 2005 level, representing great value for travelers when both wages and other prices have risen considerably.”
During the first six months of 2012, Pacific hotel rates were up 6 percent, North America was up 5 percent and Asia was up 4 percent. Latin America, Europe and the Middle East experienced the most sluggish growth, up just one percent each.
Following the turmoil of the Arab Spring in early 2011, the wave of demonstrations extending through the Middle East and North Africa, confidence returned to large portion of the Middle East and North Africa, and hotel prices rose accordingly, the HPI indicated. Roche said the impact of the Arab Spring on hotels is much diminished in 2012.
Like the Middle East, Asia hotel prices recovered once the Japanese began to travel again after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster last year, but it was the sizeable number of Chinese travelers that really helped to jumpstart higher rates, according to the HPI.
In the U.S., a rise in business travel coupled with higher consumer spending helped boost pricing and occupancy. In the Pacific, the mining boom in Australia translated into high occupancies, in Western Australia with international business visitors vying with mining executives for rooms.
Although rates rose as a whole in Europe, the results showed a mixed picture. One of the areas where prices dropped was in parts of the euro area where falling consumer confidence and spending power led to lower occupancy in the major cities and resort areas.


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Reliance Jio is expected to launch the new 5G smartphone in India with model number LS1654QB5 as was spotted on Geekbench. This smartphone will use a Snapdragon 480+ with an 8 nm platform unveiled in October 2021.
This is the second rumour that said the smartphone would be released with a Snapdragon 480 chipset. Previously, the rumour said this phone would have 4 GB RAM and runs on Android 11, but there’s a probability for the company to bring Android 12 to this device.
Jio has collaborated with Google to create Pragati OS; it’s a custom Android for JioPhone Next. In addition, the Jio Phone 5G will have a 6.5″ LCD with HD+ resolution, a 5,000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging through a USB-C port, a 13 MP triple camera setup.


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Trade fabricator Dekko Window Systems has supplied high-quality aluminium windows and doors worth more than £500,000 for a modular development in north Devon. Working with a modular housebuilder, Starship Group, Dekko has supplied £550,000 worth of its Räum bi-fold doors, patio doors and tilt-and-turn windows for the project. The products are to be used in nearly 60 leisure homes at the Highbullen Hotel and Country Club, for Starship Group’s client, London and Regional Properties John Allen.
Räum bi-folds, patio doors and windows all offer sleek sightlines, smooth operation and first-class thermal performance, its creators say, while meeting the necessary industry requirements for performance with regard to thermal, acoustic and insulating capacity. They reportedly provide a smooth but strong functionality which continues to work at optimum levels for many years, and are fitted with security locking systems to provide excellent levels of protection.
Sales of the Räum range have benefitted from soaring interest in premium aluminium glass and glazing products, Dekko’s representative has reported, adding that the range has helped installers across the country break into lucrative new markets. “We were proud to work with Starship Group in delivering our successful Räum products to this unique project,” said Kurt Greatrex, Dekko’s sales director. “Our products were sent to Starship Group’s factory in north Wales where they were fitted into the luxury holiday suites that will later be installed on site in north Devon.
“Modular construction is definitely a growing market within the UK, thanks to the time and cost it saves, and lower volumes of waste. We’re proud to have partnered with a developer that promotes these benefits. We’re very pleased with the outcome of this successful project, and we very much look forward to working with Starship Group on future developments.” For more information about Dekko, visit dekkowindows.com.


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AT&T has announced that the ‘HTC One’ smartphone will be available to purchase for $199 with a two-year agreement, sales are expected to begin on April 19, 2013. Here are the launch details.
The $199 two-year agreement offer is for the 32 GB memory model, with AT&T being the only U.S. wireless carrier to also offer a 64 GB of memory option. That model will cost $299.99 with a two-year commitment.
Pre-orders for the HTC: One will begin on April 4, 2013 starting at 1:00 p.m. CT. AT&T also offers a free ‘HTC Media Link HD wireless HDMI adaptor (which has an MSRP of $90) that allows users to wirelessly share content from your phone to your HD television.
The HTC One will run on AT&T 4G LTE and will be available in black and silver and boasts a powerful 1.7 GHz quad-core processor, and zero-gap aluminum unibody with a 4.7-inch full HD (1080p) screen and HTC Sense® innovations. The HTC ‘BlinkFeed’ provides “customized content and real-time updates streamed live on your home screen” according to a prepared statement sent to us from HTC earlier today. HTC BlinkFeed “aggregates your content from a variety of media sources, serving up fresh content all in one place, without the need to jump between multiple applications and web sites”.
The ‘HTC Zoe mode’ will allow customer to “grab the entire moment and bring it to life in three-second snippets. Special moments can be captured in HTC Zoe highlights, and displayed in a living gallery that you can set to music and special effects”. As for the camera, the ‘HTC UltraPixel Camera’ has sensors that gathers “300 percent more light than traditional smartphone camera sensors” according to the company. The ‘HTC Sense TV’ lets users use their device as an “interactive TV guide and remote control”.
Interested customers can check out all of the details, pricing and pre-order details about the HTC One by viewing the official website below.


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Wednesday, January 25, 2023, 11:46 AM ET|Posted by Will Richmond
Please save the date for VideoNuze’s third annual Connected TV Advertising PREVIEW: 2023 (virtual) on Tuesday afternoon, February 28th.
Connected TV is the hottest sector of the advertising industry, forecast by eMarketer to grow 27% in 2023 to $27 billion in the U.S. alone, despite significant economic headwinds.
VideoNuze’s Connected TV Advertising PREVIEW: 2023 (virtual) will feature senior industry executives sharing their thought leadership perspectives and insights on the year ahead for CTV advertising. PREVIEW is a one-of-a-kind virtual event, exclusively focused on CTV advertising.
The program will include a mix of cutting-edge research, keynote interviews, high-impact panel discussions and case studies (lots more news on the program and speakers soon). For attendees, CTV PREVIEW will be a must-attend afternoon of high-impact learning about what’s ahead for CTV in 2023.


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support local journalism become a community patron Community impact Newspaper's mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Consider supporting our journalism efforts by becoming a Community Patron today.
join us become a community member Community Members have access to our e-edition and can sign up for our daily e-newsletter
Hutto Flower Market to open on FM 1660
Misty Young will open Hutto Flower Market soon at 6020 N. FM 1660, Ste. D, Hutto. The business will sell fresh floral arrangements, potted plants, candles, gourmet chocolates and sweets. Young, who has 17 years experience in the floral industry, said she expects the floral shop to open in November. www.facebook.com/huttoflowermarket


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World Spa Awards – the global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in the spa and wellness sector – has opened voting for its 2021 programme.
Voting runs until September 8th.
During the 16-week voting window, both industry professionals and spa consumers are invited to vote for the brands they consider the very best of the best in spa and wellness.
Nominees cover the entire spectrum of the industry ranging from hotel spas, wellness retreats, spa destinations and detox programmes to aromatherapy brands and wellness apps.
The full list of nominees can be viewed here.
The winners will be unveiled on October 20th at the World Spa Awards Gala Ceremony 2021 in Dubai.
Rebecca Cohen, managing director, World Spa Awards, said: “We are delighted to open voting for our 2021 programme.
“We have been overwhelmed by the exceptional quality of entrants this year.
“It is an encouraging indicator that the spa and wellness sector is rebounding strongly from the challenges of the past year.”
Launched in 2015, World Spa Awards is the sister programme of World Travel Awards, which has been rewarding excellence in travel and tourism for the last 28 years.
World Spa Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in spa and wellness tourism.
Its annual awards programme aims to inspire exceptional standards and connect consumers with the very best in spa and wellness.
World Spa Awards offers brands an international status of excellence whilst also raising awareness for the industry.
For more information about World Spa Awards, visit the official website.


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Davies Turner & Co has increased turnover and pre-tax profits despite “tough trading conditions” last year, according to its latest annual results. Reporting its figures for the year ended 31 March 2018, the Coleshill-based company revealed a 12% rise in turnover to £132.9m (2017: £118.7m) and a 7% rise in pre-tax profits to £2.1m (2017: £2m). Davies Turner & Co, which is a subsidiary of Davies Turner Plc, specialises in freight forwarding, trailer services, ocean freight, warehousing, logistics and haulage. […]
Failed container haulier Deben Transport owed unsecured creditors close to £2.4m when it was placed into administration on 13 April, as well as more than £1.4m to HMRC.
The combination of the £16m sale of its former automotive logistics division and securing a “significant” customer wins towards the end of its last financial year helped Eddie Stobart Logistics generate a £21m surplus, which was used to repay its debt.
Great Bear Distribution delivered a stellar performance in the final financial year before Culina Group bought it in March.


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World Record Aperol Spritz Toast set. Cheers!
On June 29th thousands descended on the iconic Piazza San Marco in Venice for Aperol Spritz! Happy Record! to attempt a Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Aperol Spritz Toast’. 2,657 people joined in the social spirit of Aperol Spritz eager to clink their glasses to make history.
The world record attempt was overseen by Guinness World RecordsTM and a team of local judges. The successful setting of a new Guinness World Record was officially announced at 19:45 CET.
With all attendees dressed in orange T-shirts, they filled up Piazza San Marco and stood in the formation of an Aperol Spritz glass as they took their positions for the world’s ‘Largest Aperol Spritz Toast’ representing the distinctive colour and spirit of the drink.
Lorenzo Veltri, Guinness World Records™ adjudicator said: “To see so many people come together and set a Guinness World Record sharing in the spirit of Aperol Spritz was fantastic. It is always exciting when a brand new Guinness World Record is achieved and this has been a truly unique experience.”
The celebration saw a great participation from all over the country with 52% of people from Italy and 48% from abroad, joining in this social celebration.
Andrea Conzonato, Chief Marketing Officer, Gruppo Campari, said: “We wanted to give people a reason to socialize and celebrate with Aperol Spritz and what better way than setting a new Guinness World Record. By choosing Piazza San Marco we wanted as well to pay a tribute to the birthplace and the people that make one the most traditional and popular drink of the Veneto Region, an international appreciated drink. Aperol Spritz is the perfect accompaniment to socializing with friends and the place and this celebration show just that.”


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Desktops and laptops will be quite interactive once you acquire the 3D depth-sensing cameras and wire-free. In a tech era of glossy gadgets, the future is set to make PCs quite interactive and fun with some of the new technologies in this article.
Apple’s iPad revolutionized the way people perceive computers and stirred PC innovation. Hardware designers acquired more ideas from mobile devices, 3D printers and gaming consoles to rethink the PC. So, the resulting innovation will have a massive effect on how desktops and laptops are used.
Chip maker Intel have come up with the most interesting idea, “wire-free” PC, where wireless technology will replace charging, display and data transfer cables. This experimental laptop has no ports and relies on wireless technology to connect to external storage and devices.
Quite interesting is that interactive computer will have 3D cameras that act like eyes and with the ability to recognize objects and measure distances. The sensory input through voice, sound and touch will enable PCs to respond to and expect our commands.
Though every year, PCs get thinner, faster, longer battery life and lighter, the new technology, however, will come with a price.
The following are the five ways the new technologies could have a massive change in computing era:
Intel sees this as a reality come next few years. You put a laptop on a table, and it will instantly start charging. There are no wires needed, no need to carry a power brick. Intel wants to make laptops with wireless chargers as easy to find a Wi-Fi signal and bring the technology as near as in cafes, airports and restaurants. This is technology is being rolled out and actually Intel has shown a few prototypes laptop being recharged on a table.
Beam the image
The technology has so much advanced that it could be feasible to fix laptops wirelessly to displays which could render the expensive Display Port display cables or HDMI useless. A wireless display enabled technology will start working as soon as a laptop is within range. Intel anticipates a laptop that could connect to multiple wireless monitors, which could be quite useful in meetings or classroom setup. This laptop will be able to stream to monitors on multiple desks.
Wireless displays might be famous for the growing use of WiGig, a much faster version of Wi-Fi that can handle wireless 4K video streams without any lag. Intel intents to bring WiGig to smartphones so that the users will be able to stream Netflix through the smartphone to a wireless TV. Display makers envision building WiGig technology into monitors and TVs in a couple of years.
The desktop has become a center of creativity and imagination because of technologies like 3D printing spinning and depth-sensing cameras off a variety of innovations. A good example is the HP’s Sprout, which resembles a normal all-in-one PC, but has the latest imaging and collaboration technology. Dell has developed a “smart desk,” with an all-in-one PC beaming virtual keyboard onto a desk on which users can type on.
Computers will become more interactive with a combination of voice, gesture and visual recognition technologies installed in PCs. The old 2D cameras in PCs will be replaced by Intel’s RealSense 3D cameras, which can recognize objects and even measure distances between items. While those won’t happen soon, the 3D camera will make Skype chats more fun.
In coming years, your body could log you into an email account. Intel is intending to provide software so that users can log in to websites through biometric authentication. Biometric authentication is reliable and secure and users won’t have to remember many passwords for various websites. The fingerprint reader will become useful in the coming years.
It won’t get any easier to buy laptops, hybrids or tablets, with so many options available and more innovative designs set to become available. Computers will offer longer battery life with the modern Skylake and Broadwell processors from Intel and Carrizo chips from Advanced Micro Devices.
If you find this article on new technologies useful, please share thisand subscribe for more tech news and tips.


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Announced at last year's E3, Godfall is what publisher Gearbox is calling a co-op "looter-slasher, melee action-RPG." As a Valorian knight, you (and up to two friends) will hack and slash your way through hordes of fantasy bad guys to take on the mad god, Macros.
The new trailer above, which was captured on PS5 for Sony's big reveal event today, shows off some the melee combat and loot you'll use to fell a god. It's also very shiny, and although Gearbox is the publisher and not the developer (Counterplay Games is making it), you can see the Borderlands marketing influence in the trailer's energy level.
Godfall is expected to release late this year, and it'll be an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC.


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Just In: Ingrid Sischy & Sandra Brant
Remember a year ago when, rather shockingly, Ingrid Sischy left her editor-in-chief position at Interview after eighteen years, along with publisher and gal pal Sandra Brant, who also sold her 50% stake in the parent company, Brant Publishing? Two smart and dedicated talents gone, just like that. Poof! Then Condé Nast piped up and said the duo had been hired to be International Editors of various global editions of Vanity Fair (Ingrid had already been contributing to American Vanity Fair since 1997). We remember thinking, "Oh, cool, that makes sense. And it's great they have a place to go." But then Condé Nast said they would spearhead future expansions into glamour fields, and we got all cynical and thought, "Yeah, right, because high-fashion and lesbians always go hand-in-hand." Well, it turns out it's true. Today Jonathan Newhouse, chairman of Condé Nast International, announced that Ingrid and Sandy have been named International Editors of German Vogue and Russian Vogue. (Disclaimer — We've had a thing for German Vogue ever since they featured Hint. And Russian Vogue, well, we love anything that caters to cashed-up emerging markets.) He went on to call them a "unique journalistic team...(with) considerable talents." You betcha.


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This National Pizza Chain's Sales are Exploding Right Now
The U.S. is, among other things, a nation of pizza lovers—as evidenced by the way we ate during the coronavirus shutdown. Case in point: Domino's pizza enjoyed a massive surge in sales during the second quarter of 2020, reporting a huge 16 percent increase in sales in just three months' time—the most the pizza chain has made during this period in the past nine years, according to CNBC and NRN.
The fact that Domino's experienced a surge in pizza delivery and takeout orders during the pandemic makes complete sense, especially considering so many restaurants across the country were closed throughout the spring and early summer. Also, when it comes to pizza delivery in general, Domino's certainly tops the list as one of the most popular and widespread options throughout the country. (Papa John's, we should note, has also been doing incredibly well during the pandemic.)
As Domino's CEO Ritch Allison explained in an earnings call with investors on Thursday, "Nearly 75% of our sales in the U.S. are coming through digital channels."
That's because the national pizza chain dramatically benefitted from its investment in its digital ordering and delivery platform, which suddenly became invaluable during the pandemic. Customers didn't have to go through a third-party delivery service like Postmates, DoorDash, or GrubHub to order Domino's, but rather, could order directly from their nearest franchise for some hot pizza and breadsticks. (Those third-party delivery apps, by the way? There's a reason why so many restaurants are angry with them.)
As we all know, the earliest days of the coronavirus outbreak were particularly challenging for a vast number of national restaurant chains. Past reports of paltry profits from nearly every other national fast-food franchise in the beginning of 2020 spelled doom for a number of beloved restaurant chains. But, as all of us have adapted to the new world, it's been the restaurants that specialize in delivery and takeout that have continued to survive… and even thrive. And one of them is certainly Domino's.
For more, check out these 12 fast-food ordering hacks that will blow your mind.
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- – This Sandwich Chain Has Gone From Struggling To Growing With 19 New Locations
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- – America's Largest Sandwich Chain Is Facing a Shortage of This Menu Staple, Insiders Claim
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- – 8 Chefs' Tips for Ordering the Best Meal at a Steakhouse


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The GPT Group have opened ‘The Quarter’, a $34-million dining and entertainment precinct at Casuarina Square. The Quarter will be Darwin’s key alfresco dining and entertainment destination, with 5,500m2 of dining and entertainment space and seven first-to-Darwin eateries. The new precinct will also be a place for families and people to socialise, including a Timezone, interactive kids play and water areas, a civic space and undercover parking.
The precinct was officially opened on 8 July with Casfest, a weekend of live music, entertainment, kids’ activities and special offers.
GPT’s Head of Retail, Vanessa Orth said GPT is very confident about the long-term economic outlook for Darwin.
“We are very excited to be delivering this food and leisure offering to the people of Darwin,” said Orth. “GPT is continuing to invest in Casuarina Square to service the needs of Darwin’s fast-growing population.”
“GPT has spent $34 million on the new food and leisure precinct, $35 million on a new student accommodation at Casuarina Square and $4.5 million on Australia’s largest rooftop solar installation at the centre,” she said.
The seven ‘first-to-Darwin’ eateries as part of the new dining precinct include: The Groove Train, Grill’d, PappaRich, Max Brenner, Cantina de Mad Mex, Nutrition Station Café, and Sushi Bay. Other food retailers in the precinct will include Hog’s Breath Café, Nandos, Baskin-Robbins, Chatime and Casuarina Square’s second Coffee Club. SCN


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All Contents © 2018The Kiplinger Washington Editors
If tariffs soar, the economy will take a hit. But firms that don't rely as much on global trade will be harmed less than those that do.
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EasyJet hacked: data breach affects 9 million customers
Lawrence Abrams reports:
EasyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has disclosed that they were hacked and that the email addresses and travel information for 9 million customers were exposed. For some of these customers, credit card details were also accessed by the attackers.
In a data breach notification disclosed today, EasyJet states that they have suffered a cyberattack, and an unauthorized third-party was able to gain access to their systems.
Read more on BleepingComputer.


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The Kmart in Conneaut, Ohio, will be closing its doors after more than 30 years because of an unresolved problem with the building's roof.
The store, located on Route 7 in the Gateway Plaza, has been plagued in recent months with a leaky roof.
Visitors to the store have reported that a series of tarps have been suspended from the ceiling to catch leaks, while fans have been set up through the store to dry wet spots.
Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings, which owns Kmart, said in an e-mailed response to questions posed by the Erie Times-News that the store has suffered "roof failure."
Riefs went on to say: "The Conneaut Fire Department marshal requires that the affected portion of the roof is properly repaired in order for the entire store to remain open. Unfortunately, the landlord refuses to repair the roof to the satisfaction of local officials."
A scaled-down version of the store is expected to remain open temporarily until the inventory has been sold. The final closing date is expected to be sometime in June, Riefs said.
The store has 43 employees, who will be eligible to apply for openings at other Sears or Kmart stores. Some employees will be eligible to apply for severance pay.
-- Jim Martin