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2023 Chevrolet Colorado Release Date, Price, & Review – The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck has become spotted on public roadways for the first time using the glass of a camera lens, and our spy professional photographers have been able to show to us proof of the truck’s living. The new GM midsize truck will contend directly with the next-generation Ford Ranger, which is fairly recently spotted testing on community roadways, as well.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado Redesign
The GM midsize truck photographed outside the company’s Milford Showing Reasons is in crew cab settings, and what appeared to be a “short box” truck bed. Whilst not however fit with generation-intention lighting, the front lights appear to have a narrower check out them, probable signifying a proceed to Light-emitting diodes across the selection. Spy photography lovers declare that the truck may have become a little bit in size in comparison to present-day Colorado while maintaining a six-lug bolt design wheel that’s covered close to a variant of the Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude tire, which is the identical tire at the moment used on non Z71 or ZR2 versions of the truck. It is at the moment not clear if the 2023 Colorado and Canyon can come in a single cab or extended cab variants to port beneath the crew cab.
MCAndT was first to report that the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon would follow a reworked version of the GM 31xx structure that underpins the current trucks. Offers to introduce a completely new 32xx architecture have been scrapped in 2018, pursuing a massive future product stock portfolio shakeup that axed several courses that incorporated a sixth-generation Camaro Z/28, as properly as a midsize body-on-framework SUV that would have presumably gone right after the Toyota 4Runner. Initiatives and capital have instead been rerouted into electric vehicle plans these kinds as the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado Engine
Other exclusive details that we’ve documented on the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is that it will throw away both the 3.6L V6 and 2.8L Duramax diesel engine for the 2.7L turbo-four that is located in the larger sized Chevrolet Silverado and Cadillac CT4-V. The engine will almost certainly come in different outputs depending on the setup of the truck. Delivering power to the wheels will be a 10-speed automatic transmission that’s found by itself in just about every RWD-based vehicle in the GM family.
MC&T knows that General Motors will retire the 2.8L Duramax upon the discontinuation of the recent Colorado and Canyon midsize trucks. However, GM’s midsize pickups by no means acquired the Gen V small prohibit engines that would have been perfect fits; the 4.3L V6 and 5.3L V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado Release Date & Price
If plans go unaffected, expect the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon pickup trucks to officially debut at some point the following year. Here’s to hoping that the global microchip shortage will be taken care of by then.
Between next-generation Colorado, the selection is nevertheless expected to be the sought-after ZR2 version, which will allegedly get a new Baja function environment that ought to target the capabilities of the Jeep Gladiator Mojave and Ford Ranger Raptor. The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon will be built in America at the GM Wentzville Construction plant in Missouri, which has been allotted $1.5 billion to develop upcoming products.


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Alfred Farmers Market fundraising for Mascho Farm
ALFRED — On May 4, 2020, Mascho Homestead Farm in Belmont suffered a tremendous loss when fire destroyed two chicken coops containing 60 laying hens and a garage with freezers full of their meat products.
Insurance did not come close to covering the amount of loss. On May 18, the Alfred Farmers Market started a Gofund me online at https://gofundme.com/f/mascho-homestead-farm-fire-relief-fund.
With the help of so many in the community and some time to heal, the Maschos are one step closer to normalcy. Around $6,000 has been raised from various markets, those who donated online, and those that gave checks, with a goal of $40,000.
Earlier in August, a check was presented to the Maschos by the Alfred Farmers Market Board members to help defray the cost of their loss.
Supporters and patrons of the farm continue to fundraise, and checks can be mailed to the Alfred Farmers Market at PO Box 142, Alfred Station, NY 14803, with Mascho written on the memo line.
The market has been organizing and compiling all donations for the farm in multiple formats. There is a donation can at the Manager’s Tent at the Alfred Farmers Market which meets on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alfred University Bandstand at the corner of Main Street and Saxon Drive. Stop by, meet Danelle and James Mascho and Danelle’s mother Gretchen Vincent, and learn about their farming practices. They sell pasture-raised pork and grass-fed beef and have been busy restocking their meat supplies after the fire.
“We feel so grateful that we can help this family in their time of recovery,” said Market President Amanda Khodorkovskaya. “They have been a staple vendor at our market for many years and it warms my heart to know that the community has been able to give back to them what they have given to Allegany County.”
The Maschos participate in local farmers markets and Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Farm to School program, where their beef can be found in multiple local school districts. Their products can be purchased on their farm in Belmont as well as at the Rogue Carrot in Alfred.
For more information or to get involved, contact Alfred Market Manager at email@example.com.

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If you've been hankering to visit Cuba , the Trump administration's recent move to limit travel there may have you thinking you can't go. Not true, but there are limits. Traveling as an individual won't be allowed, which is bad news for independent.
Our globetrotting readers have been traveling around the world, visiting Jordan, Cuba , Florida and more. Now they're sharing images and travel tips in one of our most beloved reader features, Wish You Were Here. JORDAN: Fifth-generation San Jose .
When it comes to booking air travel , note that some U.S. search engines still can't show you results for Cuba for legal reasons. At the time of purchase, you'll be asked your purpose of travel . You can't go as a tourist, but that doesn't mean that you.
We've been watching Cuba's rise in popularity since December 2014, when President Obama first announced plans to restore a diplomatic relationship between the United States and Cuba . That's when it started becoming easier for Americans to visit the .
Check out these posts and tips on what you should know before traveling to Cuba. We have a new/old U.S. Embassy open in Cuba for the first time since 1961. Are you planning a trip to Cuba now that travel restrictions are being removed? If so, these posts.
The thaw of relations between Cuba and the United States is good news for travelers—but don't think it's as simple as buying a ticket and showing up. Legal travel to the island still requires careful planning, and we're here to help with every step of.
A Senate Democrat's Federal Corruption Trial Starts Next Week. Here's What You Need to Know. Townhall.
quot;One of my best tips for customers is to speak to hotel staff and find out what their favorite local restaurants are," she told Travel + Leisure. "I have received some of the best recommendations from hotel bartenders. Finding that local gem gets you.
Traveling to Cuba is a humanitarian and educational experience... a mission trip. Probably a painful expedition, especially for a Cuban exile like me. I am extremely blessed to have been able to travel back to my homeland after many years. The profound .
How to pack a perfect carry-on when traveling.Travel tips and a packing guide: carry-on must have items. What to Bring to Cuba: Packing List, What to Wear & Essential Tips - https://shershegoes.com/what-to-bring-to-cuba-packing-list-attire/ Do you know.
Cruises to Cuba have been on the rise, with Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruises all announcing new routes in 2016, among others. Even if the White House returns to pre-Obama regulations on travel licenses, cruise operators .
Cubans see December 2014, when Obama announced a rollback of restrictions on travel to Cuba , as a turning point for their economy. It brought an influx of rich U.S. tourists ("Americans tip twice as much as other visitors," a former Cuban diplomat says.


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With the end of Sunday, EVO Japan will finally conclude the weekend festivities and the weekend was, frankly, an organizational mess. However, that did not stop plenty of competitors from delivering some dazzling play, and even featured some pretty great announcements to top it off. Continue reading
On the official Dead Or Alive Facebook page, Tecmo Koei released a (not very friendly) chart that details the various pre-order incentives among the differing versions of the game. Perhaps the marketing team thought it would be a good idea to centralize the differences and put them in plain view. It has backfired. Whomever decided these incentives, the team has now earned the ire of virtually the entire fanbase by highlighting the ridiculous need for this clarification in the first place. Continue reading
Earlier this morning, Capcom posted information about the new, upcoming North American Street Fighter Pro League that starts its first wave in April. While the prospect of an official non-CPT 3v3 League should sound like an interesting project, Capcom’s version of the upcoming League already seems to have multiple warts that serve as a detriment to the experience for all involved. Continue reading
Yesterday, Capcom took to Street Fighter’s official twitter to announce that a piece of a special crossover costume for Ryu was available via Extra Battle. The skin features Ryu dressed as Jin Saotome, the iconic Capcom character from Capcom’s Cyberbots series who is more well-known for his appearances in Capcom crossover fighting games than his lead series. However, there is an immediate problem Capcom has on its hands: many players are taking umbrage with the fact that they don’t have enough fight money to afford to fight for the first piece of it. Continue reading
It appears that Project Soul has been hard at work developing a newer philosophy regarding Soul Calibur VI, and a new patch has recently been released. Due to an error, the link and .pdf for the patch notes was broken until late last night/early this morning, and there are some… quite strange developments in this patch. Continue reading
Today, NetherRealm Studios held a long-anticipated Mortal Kombat 11 Reveal Event in London, UK. It was streamed on Twitch, with a special side-stream taking place on Warner Bros. Games’ own Twitch channel. The event totaled just under 4 hours including breaks and set-up time, and certainly had its ups and downs throughout. Continue reading
Yesterday, ARIKA announced something that was a bit of a surprise- there would be official merchandise released in Japan to support Fighting Ex Layer. Rather than detail the news fully on its own website, one of the team at ARIKA went to twitter to detail how the merch release would be handled in Japan and a step-by-step for those of us overseas: Continue reading
On the 24th in the West (25th in Japan), SNK released a brand new balance patch for the PS4 version of the game. While the patch addresses a number of bug fixes, there are some pretty significant changes to certain characters in the roster, with one gargantuan bundle of changes to one character in particular. Continue reading
Arc System Works hit one hell of a home run after announcing and then successfully releasing one of the most popular fighting games of this generation: Dragon Ball FighterZ. With the awesome cel-shaded polish of Guilty Gear combined with the ease of access with autocombos, the game immediately hit its stride with the near-perfect balance of accessibility and tactical depth that even old veteran FGC members could appreciate. The game’s success has had its own hiccups, however, but none of them have anything to really do with the gameplay. Instead, it’s a party member not even actively involved with the game itself who is the problem, and it highlights an area in which was always bound to be an issue- the license holder of Dragon Ball is actively keeping the competitive scene from engaging in the product they paid for. Continue reading
Since getting revealed at the end of October this year, there has been a ton of hype and confusion about the date of the inclusion of 2B to the roster of Soul Calibur 6. Well, wonder no more! 2B has now been confirmed to be coming to the game on December 18th via Bandai Namco’s website.
Strangely enough, Bandai Namco didn’t add a new section to their site… they just edited the existing news page for it. Weird.


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A lot of amazing foods are less than gorgeous. Bone broth in a glass jar isn’t a beautiful sight, for one—and lots of superfoods (like maca, ho shou wu, and miso) don’t look particularly appetizing until you cook them up, take a bite, and take in their health-boosting goodness.
So why do we have such a problem with fresh, healthy produce that’s less than picture-perfect?
According to the US Department of Agriculture, the US trashes roughly one-third of its food supply, USA Today reports, while the National Resources Defense Council says we waste up to 40 percent of our food.
California-based startup Imperfect Produce and Maryland’s Hungry Harvest (you may have seen them on Shark Tank) want to change that.
They are championing so-called ugly food and have convinced mega-chains Whole Foods and Giant Eagle that just because an apple is too discolored for grocery store aisles doesn’t mean it should go to waste. (“Ugly” doesn’t mean spoiled, by the way—they’re usually too big or too small, or slightly off-color, or an unusual shape.)
Giant Eagle will offer these fruits and veggies at five of its Pittsburgh, locations, Civil Eats reports. And Whole Foods will start selling them at several of its Northern California stores starting next month, USA Today reports.
“Our goal is zero waste and we’re always looking for ways to reduce our collective impact and positively influence the industry,” Whole Foods told USA Today in a statement. (Don’t expect to see imperfect product on display, though—they’ll be added to its pre-bundled offerings.)
So with the cooking-with-scraps trend already on the rise at restaurants, ugly produce is the next wave of efforts to eliminate food waste. And why not? It’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Who else is doing their part to cut down on food waste? Top chefs are now cooking with kitchen scraps—and then there’s that one woman whose trash for the past two years fits in a mason jar.
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U.S. stock futures were pointing to gains at Friday's open after early strong advances Thursday turned into steep losses by the close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 405 points, or 1.45%. The S&P 500 retreated 1.8%. The Nasdaq saw the biggest decline of 2%. All three stock benchmarks have closed lower for four of the past five sessions. The Nasdaq was tracking for its worst week since March. The Dow and S&P 500 were pacing for their biggest weekly declines since late June. (CNBC)
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will hold moments of silence at 9:20 a.m. ET, 10 minutes before Wall Street opens, to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Friday marks 19 years since Islamic extremists from Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror group hijacked and crashed planes in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
The government is out with its August consumer price index at 8:30 a.m. ET. Investors will be watching these figures following the Federal Reserve's announcement last month that it will let inflation run hotter than normal. (CNBC)
Shares of Peloton Interactive jumped about 12% in Friday's premarket trading after the fitness equipment and exercise platform company said that fiscal fourth-quarter sales surged 172% to $607.1 million. Peloton's high-tech stationary bikes and treadmills have become two of the hottest commodities for people looking to work out at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Peloton swung to a per-share profit of 27 cents from a year-ago loss of $2.07 per share. The company also gave rosier guidance. (CNBC)
Senate Republicans failed to advance their latest coronavirus stimulus bill. The so-called skinny relief package on Thursday fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward as all Democrats and one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed it. The GOP legislation included reinstating enhanced unemployment insurance, but at $300 per week from the previous $600, and authorizing new small business loans. (CNBC)
Dining out raises the risk of contracting Covid-19 more than other activities, such as shopping or going to a salon, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings come as many states consider the safest ways to reopen businesses, especially restaurants. (NBC News)
* FDA chief says he has 'no intention' of overruling career staff on coronavirus vaccine decision (CNBC)
* Fauci says to 'hunker down' for the rest of the year (CNBC)
* Stanford Medical faculty lambaste former colleague and Trump coronavirus advisor Dr. Scott Atlas (CNBC)
* Trump says everyone knew the coronavirus was airborne in February: It's 'no big thing' (CNBC)
* Trump pushes universities to keep students on campus despite rising coronavirus cases (CNBC)
The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City beat the Houston Texans 34-20 last night before a socially distanced crowd of about 17,000 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Before the game, players protested against racial injustice. (AP)
More than 150 business leaders in New York City, including CEOs of Goldman Sachs, Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) and JetBlue (JBLU), joined together to warn Mayor Bill de Blasio that he needs to take more decisive action to address crime and other quality-of-life issues that they said were jeopardizing the city's economic recovery. (NY Times)
A series of events — some unforeseeable, others more squarely under Michael Corbat's responsibility — made him speed up plans to retire as CEO of Citigroup. On Thursday, he announced he would step down in February and that Citi appointed Jane Fraser to take his place, which will make her the first female CEO of a major U.S. bank. (CNBC)
Trump said the deadline set for Chinese company ByteDance to sell its popular short-video app TikTok's U.S. assets would not be extended. A bid from Microsoft (MSFT) and Walmart (WMT) and an offer from Oracle are considered the leading candidates in those sales talks. (Reuters)
Russian government hackers have targeted at least 200 organizations tied to the 2020 U.S. election in recent weeks, including national and state political parties and political consultants working for both Republicans and Democrats, according to Microsoft (MSFT). (WSJ)
Britain and Japan today agreed in principle to a trade deal, in a move that sees the U.K. strike its first major agreement post-Brexit. It comes as Britain struggles to secure an agreement with its closest trading partners in the European Union. (CNBC)
Deadly wildfires in heavily populated northwest Oregon were growing, with more than 10% of the 4.2 million people in the state, told to flee encroaching flames. In California, the death toll could rise as searchers look for 16 missing people. (AP)
Oracle (ORCL) reported quarterly profit of 93 cents per share, 7 cents a share above estimates. The business software giant's revenue also beat Wall Street forecasts. Oracle's results were helped by an increased focus on cloud-based products and services as more people work remotely.
Chewy (CHWY) lost 8 cents per share for its latest quarter, half the loss that Wall Street was expecting. Revenue also came in above forecasts. The online pet products seller added more customers in the first half of this year than it did all of last year, as homebound consumers ordered more of their pet supplies online.
Dave & Buster's (PLAY) reported a quarterly loss of $1.24 per share, smaller than the anticipated loss of $1.40. The restaurant chain's revenue came in below Wall Street estimates, however, and was 85% below year-ago levels. Dave & Buster's re-opened 27 locations during the quarter, but is still not providing fiscal 2020 guidance amid Covid-19 related uncertainty.
Crocs (CROX) said it expected current-quarter revenue to grow about 10% from the year-ago total of $312.8 million, saying the brand has shown tremendous resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The projected revenue for the quarter ending Sept. 30 would be above the current consensus estimate of $305.2 million.
Zumiez (ZUMZ) earned $1.01 per share for its second quarter, well above the consensus estimate of $1.01 a share. The retailer of action sports apparel and equipment reported better-than-expected revenue as well. Comparable sales at re-opened stores were up more than 37% from a year ago. About 95% of the company's stores have now reopened following pandemic-related closures.
Tesla (TSLA) plans to export China-made Model 3 cars to Asian and European markets, according to multiple reports, with mass production of vehicles intended for export to begin during the fourth quarter.
Ebay (EBAY) founder Pierre Omidyar has stepped down from the online marketplace operator's board of directors as part of a board overhaul. Ebay said this and other departures are not related to any disagreement with the company. Elliott Management partner Jesse Cohn is also leaving the eBay board.


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General Motors is temporarily closing four assembly plants in North America as it adjusts to disruptions in the supply chain resulting from the recent earthquakes in Japan.
Beginning on April 25, GM North America assembly facilities in Spring Hill, Tennessee, Oshawa, Ontario, Lordstown, Ohio and Fairfax, Kansas are expected to be idle for two weeks. These plants are responsible for producing the Buick LaCrosse and Regal, the Cadillac XTS and XT5, the Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox, Impala and Malibu and the GMC Acadia. The redesigned 2016 Cruze and the 2017 Acadia and 2017 XT5 recently began shipping to dealers from Lordstown and Spring Hill.
GM indicated that it dos not expect the shutdowns to affect annual production plans or impact financial results for GM North America.
The GM shutdowns follow Toyota and Nissan, both of which have halted production in the past week.
The earthquakes claimed the lives of 48 people and resulted in more than 1,000 injuries.


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After anti-Semitic comments designer John Galliano allegedly made in public last week, fashion house Christian Dior has decided to sack him.
“I very firmly condemn what was said by John Galliano, which totally contradicts the values which have always been defended by Christian Dior,” the company’s chief executive Sidney Toledano said.
It’s thought footage has emerged of the designer allegedly shouting: “I love Hitler” to a customer in a Paris café. He also allegedly says to two women: “People like you would be dead today – your mothers, your forefathers would be gassed.” Nice.
A lawyer for Galliano says he denies the allegations.
Natalie Portman, who is the face of Miss Dior Cherie perfume, pictured here with Galliano in happier times, much happier times, has also released a statement: “In light of this video and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr Galliano in any way.
“I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”
We think that means he’s off her Hanukkah card list.
Pic: Goff Photos


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State to invest Rs1800 crore in Vidarbha textile industry
The State government will run a special program for the developments of Vidarbha
Nagpur: The State government will run a special program for the developments in Vidarbha. The Textile Industry department of the government will invest Rs 1800 crore under this program which will also create around 15,000 new jobs.
Currently, 500 textile businesses have already been started in the state, other will be started soon. 14 new textile business parks will be opened which will create 14 thousand additional job opportunities, informed the Textile Minister Mohammad Arif.
Private businessmen have given huge response to this new textile industry policy of the state government. The investment of Rs 3931 crore in 580 textile unites has already taken place. The process to give subsidy to the investors has been started online.
The government has introduced various programs to prevent the suicides of farmers in Vidarbha. This scheme to subsidies textile businesses in Vidarbha is part of it. Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh have produced 90 lakh cotton bales. After completing its process in the state, rest of the cotton will be exported.


text: Expanding tech presence ripples to all echelons of housing. The rapid job creation trend of this cycle faced headwinds in 2019, when the unemployment rate started the year below 3 percent. A diminished available labor supply is forcing employers to moderate hiring; however, the technology segment is maintaining its vigorous expansion in northwest Austin. Numerous Bay Area tech companies are establishing strongholds here, highlighted by Apple’s ongoing extension into a $1 billion facility. These companies continue to bring high-wage staff members into the metro, who often look toward luxury rental housing options because of their location, amenities and flexibility. Consumer spending is also being enhanced as more high-wage jobs emerge in Austin, boosting the presence of retailers and service industry employers. The workforce tied to these industries will aid Class B/C leasing, holding vacancy tight in the 4 percent range.


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A new research report found that autonomous vehicles will contribute over $18 trillion to the European economy by 2050. And vulnerable populations are seen as gaining the most from the emerging car technology.
Smart Cities World reported on the release of a Nissan-sponsored study Freeing the Road by the Policy Network think tank.
The report, which focused on the U.K., Germany and Spain, highlighted key economic data and government strategies around the development of autonomous vehicle policy.
The report found that self-driving cars will contribute 0.15% to Europe’s annual growth rate over the coming decades. There will be a 5.3% cumulative impact on the economies of the 28 countries comprising the EU. This amount will add up to $18.3 trillion by the year 2050.
For the full benefits of autonomous drive technologies to be realized, governments and municipalities across Europe should review the report’s findings, work hand in hand with the automotive industry, and play a vital role in ushering in this new technological era,” said Nissan Europe chairman Paul Willcox.
While Nissan sponsored the report, it said the research was independent with the car company exerting no editorial control over the content.
The report is supported by data from the pan-European survey “Nissan Social Index Consumer attitudes to autonomous drive.” The survey polled 6,000 consumers in U.K., Germany, France, Norway, Italy and Spain.
Most vulnerable members of society have most to gain?
Respondents felt vulnerable society members stood to gain the most from autonomous vehicle technology. 57% of polled Europeans saw disabled people directly benefiting from connected cars, followed by 34% who saw elderly benefiting and 33% citing gains for the visually impaired.
The benefits for older people was seen as especially potent, given the demographic shift towards larger populations of elderly folks across Europe. Autonomous cars are seen as providing increased mobility to aging Europeans while reducing isolation and dependency on the state and family for assistance.
The research also found that people saw health and well being benefits for the non-elderly population as well. 56% of respondents cited decreases in stress and car accidents as the top health benefits of robotic cars. As well, 39% saw autonomous vehicles beneficially reducing hit and run accidents while 30% saw the new car technology creating more free time for passengers.
The Nissan report comes shortly after rival automaker Ford announced it will begin testing autonomous vehicles on European roads as early as next year.


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Mirage has announced its Fall 2011 sales event, taking placing across North America, Sept. 26 to Nov. 15. During the event, consumers can take advantage of a $10 mail-in rebate per carton. All Mirage Classic, Engineered and Lock lines will be eligible for the promotion at participating dealers.
"In the fall, consumers want to add warmth and comfort to their home. Thanks to the $10 mail-in rebate per carton offered on our flooring during this sales event, it is the perfect time to save big while enjoying the quality Mirage floors are known for," said Luc Robitaille, Boa-Franc vp marketing.
Nearly 2,250 Mirage Maestro Dealers across North America are participating in the event. For rules and a list of participating dealers, visitwww.miragefloors.com.
NOTE:An earlier version of this story reported that nearly 250 dealers would be participating. The article was corrected to the proper number, 2,250.
Mirage sales event to feature rebate
September 6, 2011


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Burger King sell-off hit by more woe
AMERIKING, one of the largest Burger King franchisees in the US, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday, casting more doubt on Diageo's sale plans. However, Diageo insiders believe the sale of Burger King to private equity investor Texas Pacific Group will go ahead by the end of the year as planned.
Earlier this year, Texas Pacific's lenders balked at a sale price of $2.26bn (£1.44bn) leading to a revised offer of $1.5bn.
News of AmeriKing's demise comes amid a gloomy backdrop of sluggish sales in the fast food industry and a damaging price war between McDonald's, Burger King and other chains.
Given that situation, observers said it was no surprise Ameri-King was in trouble. 'It's just bad timing for another event like this to take place, which reinforces that the whole category has some real problems,' said Ron Paul, president of Chicago-based restaurants consulting firm Technomic. 'It's just another negative that our friends at Diageo have to face up to.'
AmeriKing, once ranked as the biggest US Burger King franchisee, is now second largest. It said it would close 23 underperforming restaurants, leaving it with 329. Burger King said it would work with the franchisee and its lenders and suppliers through the restructuring, but did not provide further details.
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Luxury is embracing social media. More and more luxury companies are using creative and targeted social media campaigns to raise engagement and brand awareness.
Recently, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group launched a new social media campaign to showcase the diverse tastes of a single dish served across its Asian locations.
Foodies on Facebook are invited to follow Mandarin Oriental on a virtual food tour across the hotel’s properties in Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Chinese city of Sanya. Each location serves Hainanese Chicken Rice, but each also prepares the dish with its own twist. Followers are asked to examine the chicken’s “evolving taste profile” and to imagine a “foodie itinerary” if they won their own stays at the Mandarin properties, telling about their planned vacations in 500 words and tagging a friend to bring along for the trip.
The contest runs through July 31, and answers will be judged according to relevance to Asian food culture and creativity. Winners will receive a one night stay in the Mandarin Oriental’s Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Sanya locations and will be announced in September.
According to Edwin Kluender, director of communications for Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, the campaign was the brainchild of Ms. Aqua Chiu, the social media manager for the same property, who realized that a few of Asia’s Mandarin hotels served the same dish “but with their own local sense of flavor.”
“The contest is to bring our guests and fans through this journey and discover the various flavors,” Kluender said in an interview with Luxury Daily.
She went on to explain that the hotel group’s attention to its cuisine reflects its larger mission to provide “21st-Century luxury with Oriental charm.” Mandarin features 10 restaurants and bars, three of which have Michelin stars.
“Our guests join us not only to relax or be invigorated at our spas, experience luxury in our guest rooms, but also to experience the best in customer service and food quality in our various restaurants where all the senses are touched.”
Mandarin’s Facebook contest is just one of the many innovative approaches hotels and eateries are taking to promote their food to discerning connoisseurs.
Leading Hotels of the World, for instance, is playing to its customers’ environmental concerns, offering food produced by sustainable farms over large-scale farming systems that negatively affect the environment. Harrods, a London department store, is capitalizing on the popularity of sharing photos of meals on Twitter, encouraging consumers to share their dining experiences during an unofficial “Restaurant Week.”
image credit: mandarin oriental hotel group


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Residents of Shanghai and Beijing can now ride the metro and pay for tickets with their China Telecom NFC smartphones. The carrier, which has 183m subscribers, is using Gemalto’s UpTeq multi-tenant NFC SIMs to deploy its secure NFC services.
- UK consumers eye up iris scanning for banking biometrics
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Leading charity Age UK has launched a basic handset targeted at older users (see image), the latest organisation to target what has become an increasingly popular demographic for the mobile industry.
The new phone, which is the size of a credit card and lightweight, enables users to call friends and family just by pressing a single button or a photo, in a process that is designed to be simpler than conventional handsets and hence more attractive to older users.
Other companies in the mobile industry who have targeted a similar demographic include specialist vendor Doro and Japan’s Docomo but Age UK is different because it is coming from outside the industry.
Instead the charity is working with Cycell, a UK MVNO which specialises in personalising handsets and services for specific customers. The new phone is called Age UK My Phone.
The company also devised the Onefone concept used by Age UK on its phone. Cycell describers it as being “a low cost cloud phone”. Part of its technology enables a subscriber to connect directly with a small group of friends and family by pressing a name or photo of the person they want to speak to.
The charity says its research shows over two-thirds (68 percent) of those aged 65 years-plus use a mobile phone but that figure drops to just over half (52 percent) among those aged 75 years-plus, so proving the need for some original thinking in this area.


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Congresswoman Beatty Supports Expedient Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank
Beatty Supports Expedient Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank
Bank is critical to Central Ohio and Nation
Washington, D.C. – Today’s Financial Services Committee hearing on the Export-Import Bank highlighted the importance of reauthorizing the job-creating, deficit reducing organization.
“Today’s hearing on the importance of the Export-Import Bank made clear what the majority of the Members of the House of Representatives want—a reauthorization of the Bank,” said Beatty. “Whether it is the thousands of companies and more than 200,000 jobs the Ex-Im Bank supports, or the federal deficit reducing operations of the Bank, it is clear that the House should swiftly approve legislation reauthorizing the Bank.”
The importance of the Ex-Im Bank to American jobs, small business, and the international competitiveness is readily apparent. In Ohio’s 3rd Congressional District, ten businesses, which include six small businesses and one minority-owned business, currently benefit from the Export-Import Bank, with more than $51 million in exports directly supported by the Bank.
Yesterday Congresswoman Beatty joined with Congressmen Heck and Clay as an original co-sponsor to the Protect American Jobs and Exports Act of 2014, H.R. 4950, legislation that would reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank for 7 years. Bipartisan Congressional support for reauthorizing the Bank continues to grow. In addition to the individual businesses specifically impacted by the Ex-Im Bank, business and labor groups including the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and AFL-CIO are pushing for a timely reauthorization before the Bank’s charter expires.
The Export-Import Bank is responsible for creating or guaranteeing financing mechanisms for U.S. companies to sell goods to foreign buyers. Currently, the Bank’s charter is slated for expiration September 30, 2014. Without Congressional action, U.S. manufacturers and exporters would be left without an ability to finance their operations. The Ex-Im bank supported an estimated $37.4 billion in U.S. sales in 2013, while returning over $1 billion to the American taxpayer.


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Information Possibly Outdated
The information presented on this page was originally released on May 23, 2017. It may not be outdated, but please search our site for more current information. If you plan to quote or reference this information in a publication, please check with the Extension specialist or author before proceeding.
MSU scientist part of regional organic project
VERONA, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University vegetable expert is part of a project designed to support and strengthen organic farming in the Southeast.
Casey Barickman, an assistant horticulture professor with the MSU Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, is working with colleagues from Tuskegee University, Auburn University, North Carolina State University, the Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network and Oregon State University to give organic growers the information they need to develop efficient production systems.
Consumer demand for organic produce continues to grow, but most Southern states lag behind in organic fruit and vegetable production. This project, funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will provide research and Extension support to increase the development of a sustainable organic agriculture industry.
Barickman, who has been at MSU for three years, studies a wide range of issues that impact local growers, including cover crops, organic-based fertilizers and irrigation efficiency in organic vegetable production systems. He is based at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona.
For more information about the grant-funded collaboration, visit http://bit.ly/2qSJWWI.


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Over the weekend we told you that the Mario Kart 8 promotion we wrote about a month ago is now live at McDonald’s, with several different racers from the franchise available. It turns out there’s another aspect to these toys, as each has their own special activity that can be activated inside the McPlay app for iOS/Android. By scanning each of the eight available racers, you can unlock special games in the McPlay app.
While the games that can be unlocked from these figurines are geared towards children, if you’re the type who likes to collect them all be sure and download the McPlay app on your iOS/Android device and give it a go while you’re collecting the racers from McDonald’s Happy Meals.
- Nintendo NX Mock-Up Looks Great
- Pokemon Go Plus delayed until September
- Nintendo posts huge quarterly loss
- Nintendo’s NX will feature detachable c
TAGS: mario kart 8, mcdonald's, Nintendo, wii u


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Up until early 2013, AdWords allowed advertisers to set up separate campaigns to target mobile devices. Best practice generally entailed targeting mobile, desktop and sometimes tablet users in unique campaigns.
Hawkinson's timing was good. Although home automation has been around for decades, it's still far from mainstream. At the same time that SmartThings launched, Nest Labs, a "smart thermostat" created by former Apple engineers Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, was hitting the market.
In January, Google bought Nest for $3.2 billion, demonstrating that the tech giant was keen on colonizing smart homes, much like how it colonized smartphones with the much-cheaper Android acquisition in 2005. In its World Wide Developer's Conference in June, Apple showed off its HomeKit concept, which envisioned a Siri-controlled home — and the race was on.
The intentions for this experiment are probably to help increase engagement. One could even argue that for content Twitter deems to be "breaking news," putting important tweets from the accounts a person's Twitter friends follow into that person's main timeline could be valuable.
The developers for BombGaza and Gaza Assault: Code Red could not immediately be reached for comment. Other games that simulate Israel's Iron Dome and Hamas rockets remain in the Play Store. Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.


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Victoria’s Secret model Irina Shayk didn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination on the first day of 2020 as she slipped into a plunging pink bikini. The beauty once again proved why she’s one of the most sought-after models in the game as she shared a seriously sizzling new photo with her 13 million followers to kick off January while she spent the very first day of the new year in her swimwear.
The photo, which Irina posted online on January 1, showed her as she lied down on her front in the bright two-piece during a trip to the beach.
The 33-year-old Russian model stunned fans in the hot new shot as she relaxed on what appeared to be a plush sun lounger with the sea and sand visible in the distance behind her. The gorgeous star also showed off her flawless natural beauty for the shot, as she kept her makeup to a minimum.
Irina flashed some skin in the plunging swimwear number, which appeared to be made up of a feminine bright pink crop-top style top that flashed plenty of her décolletage for the camera.
She paired the revealing top with a pair of equally skimpy bottoms, which appeared to be a thong design. Her followers got just a peek at her very toned booty in the tiny bottoms, as her bottom half was also visible in the beach shot while she got in a little rest and relaxation at the coast.
Irina posed casually on her tummy with her knees bent. Her feet were crossed at the ankles and up in the air as she looked away from the camera to her right and into the distance.
The supermodel appeared to have taken a dip into the water as her brunette hair was slightly wavy and looked to be wet under her beige bucket hat, which featured the Burberry logo.
Irina didn’t confirm in the caption exactly where the beach photo was taken, as she simply told fans that her beach day was how she was spending her first day of the new year.
The sizzling bikini shot has received more than 455,000 likes since she first shared it to social media on New Year’s Day as well as more than 1,400 comments from impressed fans.
“You are such a queen,” one fan told the gorgeous mom of one.
A second comment read, “relaxing and sizzling” with three fire emoji.
“This is gorgeous,” another said.
Irina’s not exactly a stranger to a bikini photo, though.
Back in November, Instagram users were stunned once again when she slipped into her swimwear alongside her fellow Victoria’s Secret model Stella Maxwell for a seriously hot photo as the twosome enjoyed a sunny vacation together.


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The Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act of 2020? Remember back in 2017 when the entire bitcoin community was debating over the actual use of Bitcoin in everyday transactions? The argument heated up as it was getting more and more expensive to do micro transactions in Bitcoin, both due to rising prices and mining fee.
The question is relevant today as well, as the Bitcoin network continues to carry on. It was argued that the main reason behind Bitcoin’s stunted growth has been its exclusion from everyday transactions. Will it ever be feasible to use Bitcoin to buy a coffee at Starbucks or pay for you subway ticket at the nearby station?
Although the problem is quite prevalent and persistent, it doesn’t stop regulators from speculating its likeliness when the problem will actually be solved.
What is the Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act of 2020
The US Government’s Stance on Cryptocurrency Gains
In January 2020. US Senators Suzan DelBene, David Schweikert, Darren Soto and Tom Emmer introduced “The Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act of 2020”. The VCTFA 2020 is basically an amendment to IRS tax code that would exempt cryptocurrency based gains under $200.
According to the bill, anyone with gains under $200 in a tax year won’t have to report anything cryptocurrency related on their tax returns. This means that any gain below $200, that is either realized or spent on goods and services. They fall below the minimum threshold and therefore need not be reported to the IRS. The exemption is traditionally known as a de minimis threshold.
In 2016, the United States made an amendment that raised the de minimis value threshold from $200 to $800 for all goods. The VCTFA proposes a special clause in the bill for gains on cryptocurrencies and other forms of Digital Assets.
One particular extract of the bill mentioned, “Gross income of an individual shall not include gain, by reason of changes in exchange rates, from the disposition of virtual currency in a personal transaction (as such term is defined in section 988(e)).
The preceding sentence shall not apply if the gain which would otherwise be recognized on the transaction exceeds $200.”
As the bill passes, tax payers can start considering their tax gains before 31st December 2019. They’re to be reported in the next tax year.
Taxing Your Crypto Gains
Worldwide, the regulations and taxation policies with respect to cryptocurrencies has been in the grey area for too long. Crypto users of many countries across the world have no idea how to file their cryptocurrency income or gains. Even worst for those using them for daily transactions.
The question is that how should a person who has earned crypto through some sale or service? What about those who made profit off the buying and selling of crypto file his/her tax statements?
If a person earns his salary in crypto, should he convert them into the sovereign currency? Or should he file it on the face value of the crypto at the year’s end?
What if he decides to spend his crypto earnings, should he pay tax before spending those earning or after?
If he is allowed to spend before tax, then can he spend all of it before the year’s end? Will that do away with paying tax? The Questions pile on.
And so, there is a dire need for Governments to come out with their stance on what they think the laws should be. Since cryptocurrencies are a new asset class altogether, it is the responsibility of the Government to clear the fog for their citizens so that innovation could strive.
With the US Government lending the way with introducing the VCTFA, other countries will take note to amend the laws as well.
As an expert on Bitcoin-related topics, I’ve found myself as a Journalist at CEX.IO – cryptocurrency exchange. I’m working on articles related to blockchain security, bitcoin purchase guides or bitcoin regulations in different countries.


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Hans-Jörg Niemeyer is a partner at Hengeler Mueller specialising in competition law. Recent highlights include representing the Japanese company Nippon Chemi-Con in General Court proceedings against a European Commission capacitors decision.
Anna Lyle-Smythe is a partner in Slaughter and May’s Brussels office. She has a broad competition practice, including advising on mergers, cartels, state aid and market investigations. Her highlights include advising DuPont on the EU investigation of the chloroprene rubber cartel, and in the subsequent appeals to the EU General Court, and European Court of Justice.
Bart de Rijke is a partner at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek who specialises in competition law with a special interest in technology-driven industries. He has significant experience in acting as coordinating counsel in multi-jurisdictional merger filings, has successfully litigated in abuse of dominance cases and regularly advises clients on related topics. His work includes advising and defending clients in cartel investigations by European and national regulators.
1 What kinds of infringement has the antitrust authority been focusing on recently? Have any industry sectors been under particular scrutiny?
Anna Lyle-Smythe: As regards cartel decisions, the Commission has more or less maintained its level of activity and decided four cases against 20 undertakings in 2018. The total amount of cartel fines imposed in 2018 amounted to €800 million, which is considerably less than the €3.7 billion record high in 2016. The largest individual fine imposed in 2018 was €207 million against Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics-EUKOR Carrier, in the Maritime Car Carriers decision. In terms of type of infringement, in addition to the inevitable attention on ‘classical’ cartel scenarios involving agreements on sales prices and market sharing, there has been growing focus on cases where the infringement involves competitors exchanging competitively sensitive information with one another and on cartels between buyers fixing purchase prices.
Bart de Rijke: And in addition, the Commission focused more on cases that affected online consumers in the EU. In the aftermath of the Commission’s e-commerce sector inquiry, the Commission opened proceedings against suspected online retail price maintenance and geo-blocking. In 2018, the Commission fined producers of electronic consumer goods for retail price maintenance. Furthermore, the Commission fined Guess for several online sales restrictions imposed on its retailers and illegal territorial sales restrictions. The Commission has been particularly keen on addressing territorial restrictions, also more broadly. For instance, the Geo-Blocking Regulation came into force in late 2018 and prohibits unilateral geo-blocking and geo-discrimination.
Hans-Jörg Niemeyer: The Commission’s practice has maintained its focus on two key industries previously in its attention – the automotive sector and the banking sector.
The Commission continued its series of investigations into the automotive sector in 2019 by fining a car safety equipment suppliers cartel. This is the second time that the Commission has sanctioned car safety equipment suppliers for participating in a cartel. Also in early 2019, the Commission addressed a Statement of Objections to BMW, Daimler and VW for restricting competition on emission-cleaning technology. In 2018, the Commission fined maritime car carriers and car parts suppliers for their involvement in cartels concerning spark plugs and braking systems. Overall, so far from 2013 until April 2019, the Commission has fined car parts cartels over €2 billion.
The Commission also continues its investigations into the banking sector – in 2019 it has sent a Statement of Objections to several banks allegedly involved in a cartel for acquiring and trading European government bonds. In 2018, the Commission issued a Statement of Objections to a cartel involving USD supra-sovereign, sovereign and agency bond trading. As a side note, in April 2019, the Commission also published its final study in the field of syndicated loans. The study recommended several important safeguards in the industry in order to limit competition risks in practice.
2 What do recent investigations in your jurisdiction teach us?
ALS: Most investigations are still triggered by leniency applications, suggesting that the Commission’s leniency programme remains a valuable tool for the enforcement of European competition law, even if data suggests that the rate of applications has declined. There are various reasons why a company may choose to apply for leniency. Very often, investigations in the same sector may prompt companies to conduct internal investigations and, as a consequence of information unearthed during that investigation, consider applying for leniency. Companies may, for example, learn that a competition authority has conducted an inspection (or dawn raid) at the business premises of a competitor or an undertaking active in a neighbouring market. These investigations are then often reported through press statements by the companies involved. In many cases, the Commission will then confirm the inspection, recent examples being in the kraft paper or the ethylene purchasing sectors. Once it becomes apparent that a particular industry is under scrutiny or that investigations have already started, there is always the risk of spillover to other companies or to neighbouring markets. As a result, companies active in those markets have an incentive to determine whether they are also at risk of investigation.
3 How is the leniency system developing, and which factors should clients consider before applying for leniency?
HJN: We have witnessed a decrease in leniency applications before the Commission over the past years. This trend goes hand in hand with the fact that, since 2017, the Commission has issued fewer decisions (four in 2018, one in 2019, as opposed to seven in 2017), and has imposed lower amounts of fines. The constant decrease of leniency applications signals not only the (apparent) reduction of cases handled by the Commission, but also the necessity for further incentives for companies to come forward with information and cooperate with the authority. We have followed with interest Eric van Ginderachter’s statements from October 2018. He expressed the Commission’s fear that the recent proliferation of different leniency regimes worldwide had resulted in uncertainty for companies that would once have been probed in a more limited number of jurisdictions. He also identified as a cause for the decrease in leniency applications the threat of civil litigation following cartel decisions, which means that EU authorities need to reconsider private damages in Europe.
BdR: The decline in leniency applications coincides with the increase of follow-on damage claims. The use of a Commission decision as evidence in those follow-on cases probably makes it less attractive to apply for leniency compared to the period when follow-on damage claims were infrequent. Also, the possible disclosure of internal documents relating to a leniency application in follow-on procedures makes it less attractive to apply.
ALS: Next to those internal documents, the employees involved in the cartel are usually the most important source for providing valuable information for a leniency application. If a company applies for leniency, all available information on the cartel must be disclosed to the Commission, including the information obtained from the company’s employees. There are no penalties imposed on individuals under EU law. However, the gathering of information from a company’s employees is a very delicate process. Companies and legal counsel need to observe many requirements, for example, data protection or labour law, which may differ from country to country.
4 What means exist in your jurisdiction to speed up or streamline the authority’s decision-making, and what are your experiences in this regard?
ALS: In 2008, the Commission introduced the possibility of a settlement procedure. The aim was to simplify and speed up administrative proceedings and reduce protracted appeals before the EU courts while ensuring effective competition enforcement. The Commission does not enter into plea bargaining or similar agreements. In its settlement procedures, the Commission neither argues nor bargains the use of evidence or the appropriate sanction. Instead, the companies must admit their liability for the cartel infringement and reach a common understanding with the Commission as regards the nature and scope of the illegal activity. To this end the companies agreeing to a settlement procedure are informed of the Commission’s anticipated objections and the evidence these objections are based on. The companies can then give their views regarding these preliminary findings. The Commission will also give the companies an indication of the potential fine they can expect.
BdR: In 2018, we have seen the development of a settlement procedure outside the field of purely horizontal cartels between competitors. The Commission applied this new settlement procedure in its case against the producers of electronic consumer goods; all four of them individually reached a settlement with the Commission. Later in 2018, Guess settled with the Commission in a verticals case and Nike settled in early 2019.
HJN: As recently as March 2019, the Commission launched its new eLeniency online tool, designed to facilitate for companies and their legal representatives the submission of statements and documents as part of leniency and settlement proceedings, among others. The novelty of eLeniency is that statements and submissions that were, until now, provided to the Commission in writing can be filed online. The platform itself offers the possibility of either (i) typing in directly in a specially designated field that is available for 24 hours; or (ii) uploading already existing documents from one’s computer desktop. Any document, for example, historical or contemporaneous evidence, that is uploaded (and therefore not typed) into the platform will be considered as a written statement. Any statement typed directly into the platform would be considered as an oral statement. This lightens the logistical burden of the companies and their representatives in terms of not having to submit the statements in person at the Commission’s premises. In the case of cartel settlement procedures, eLeniency can be used for submitting documents, providing comments or making formal settlement submissions to the Commission. In terms of confidentiality and legal protection of the oral statements, it is still unclear whether the new system provides the same guarantees as the ‘traditional procedure’.
5 Tell us about the authority’s most important decisions over the year. What made them so significant?
ALS: In 2018, the Commission continued its major investigation into cartels in the automotive parts sector. On 21 February, the Commission announced three separate decisions, fining four maritime car carriers €395 million, two suppliers of spark plugs €76 million and two suppliers of braking systems €75 million. The Maritime Car Carriers decision was the largest fine in 2018 and the Commission found that the carriers fined were responsible for the transportation of almost half of the motor vehicles imported to and exported from the EU.
BdR: Furthermore, over the past year, the first fines were imposed in the cases that resulted from the Commission’s e-commerce sector inquiry, which was finalised in 2017. It concerned the producers of electronic consumer goods which settled with the Commission with regard to online retail price maintenance. In early 2019, Nike settled with the Commission for restricting cross-border online sales of shirts of some football clubs and national teams through licensing agreements. Similar agreements by Sanrio, and Universal Studio’s with their respective wholesalers and retailers of Hello Kitty and Despicable Me merchandise, are still under the Commission’s scrutiny. Also, other cases that the Commission had opened as a result of the e-commerce sector inquiry are still ongoing. In early 2019, the Commission sent a statement of objections to video game producers and video game platforms that are accused of geo-blocking by making it impossible for gamers to purchase video games in other member states than where they reside.
HJN: From the Commission’s latest 2019 practice, the investigation concerning emissions technology – an investigation that broadly continues the series of previous EU antitrust investigations into the automotive sector.
6 What is the level of judicial review in your jurisdiction? Were there any notable challenges to the authority’s decisions in the courts over the past year?
HJN: One of the developments we have noticed is that the General Court seems to scrutinise Commission cartel decisions more thoroughly. The main reason in practice is the increasing number of settlement cases, which means that less decisions are appealed. Consequently, the General Court has more time at its disposal to look for reasoning errors and to test the Commission’s evidence on the margins, for instance challenging the entire duration, product or geographic scope of the infringement. Concerning the duration of proceedings, we noticed that 2017 has been an exceptional year since the average duration of a case was approximately 26.4 months. It appears from the 2018 figures that the duration of the cases is becoming more extensive without reaching the high levels of 2014–2015. The same evolution is evident in the number of completed competition law cases.
In terms of judicial review, one of the more prominent cases was the Keramag judgment of 3 July 2018, whereby the General Court had to reassess its own infringement of the obligation to state reasons and the rules applicable to the taking and appraisal of evidence by failing, for instance, to undertake a complete examination of the Commission’s decision and of the evidence, to examine the probative value of certain evidence mentioned in the Commission’s decision and to ascertain whether the evidence, viewed as a whole, could be mutually supporting. Following its analysis, the General Court concluded that the entirety of the body of evidence submitted for its assessment indicated that the companies that had been fined did in fact participate in the cartel and subsequently upheld the fine.
Another notable judgment was the 12 July 2018 Goldman Sachs case, where the Court stated that the Commission was not required to show that each of the projects to be implemented outside the EEA had a sufficient impact in the EU to justify the application of EU antitrust law, since the question of whether legal provisions apply must be assessed in the light of the effects of the allegedly collusive behaviour.
Last but not least, the General Court again focused on the definition of the restriction of competition by object in its Servier judgment of 12 December 2018. More precisely, the Court confirmed that certain patent settlement agreements may restrict competition by object. The Court’s assessment again puts into perspective the co-existence of antitrust and intellectual property law.
BdR: The Perindopril case against Servier and five generic drug producers also demonstrates that whether there is an anticompetitive pay-for-delay agreement is not a straightforward assessment. With regard to the agreements reached by Servier with one of the generics, the Court ruled that the Commission had erroneously qualified IP agreements as an illegal pay-for-delay-agreement. A side-deal may be an indication for the existence of an illegal pay-for-delay agreement, but entering into a licence agreement concerning the patent in dispute in addition to a settlement agreement is not considered an illegal side-deal. On the contrary, the Court considered that to be an appropriate deal to resolve the dispute.
ALS: We have also seen a notable ruling from the General Court, which issued a judgment on 3 July 2018 upholding the original €57 million fine imposed on Sanitec Europe and its subsidiaries for participating in a cartel in the bathroom fixtures and fittings market. The Commission’s initial 2010 decision imposed fines exceeding €622 million on 17 bathroom manufacturers for participating in a cartel between 1992 and 2004 that spanned six member states. On appeal in 2013, the General Court annulled the fines imposed on two of Sanitec’s subsidiaries and reduced the group’s total fine to €50 million. In 2017, however, the European Court of Justice set aside the General Court’s ruling, finding that the latter had not properly considered the evidence or verified whether the pieces of evidence, viewed as a whole, could be mutually supportive, and referred the case back to the General Court. In the 2018 judgment, the General Court viewed the evidence as a whole, concluding that even if there is no single compelling piece of evidence, several pieces of evidence taken together may be sufficient to prove an infringement.
7 How is private cartel enforcement developing in your jurisdiction?
ALS: There is no EU-level private cartel enforcement, and follow-on claims concerning Commission decisions must be brought before the national courts. We continue to see a lot of activity in those member states in which private actions for cartel damages are already well established (notably the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland). However, following the implementation of the EU Damages Directive we have started to see an increase in private damages cases across the EU.
BdR: The further growth of follow-on litigation cases in the EU also leads to an increase in the number of cases in which the differences between legal concepts in competition law and national private laws are questioned. The question is whether differences can co-exist or whether they have to converge. Important questions are, for example, whether the Woodpulp I-doctrine also influences questions in private international law about which judge is competent and which domestic civil law is applicable, and whether there can be parental liability in follow-on damages cases.
HJN: We followed with interest the latest developments from the EU’s top court in the case Skanska Industrial Solutions and others. At the heart of the case lies the question of whether the principle that the liability for antitrust fines rests on the concept of economic entity (which means that the parent company can be held responsible for the actions of its subsidiaries) would also apply to liability in a civil lawsuit. The court was called to decide whether the EU member states are the ones to determine their own rules for civil liability, while advocate general Nils Wahl argued that since liability is attached to assets (rather than a particular legal personality), the same undertaking that committed the infringement will be held liable for both public sanctions and private law damages. The Court agreed with the advocate general that actions for damages for infringement of EU competition rules are an integral part of the system for enforcement of those rules, which are intended to punish anticompetitive behaviour on the part of undertakings and to deter them from engaging in such conduct. Consequently, if undertakings responsible for damages caused by an infringement of the EU competition rules could avoid penalties by restructurings, sales or other legal or organisational changes, the objective of suppressing conduct that infringes the EU competition rules and preventing its reoccurrence by means of imposing penalties would be compromised. The Court therefore concluded that article 101 TFEU must be read as meaning that, in cases where all the shares in the companies having allegedly participated in a cartel prohibited by that article were acquired by other companies that have dissolved the former companies and continued their commercial activities, the acquiring companies may be held liable for the damage caused by the cartel in question.
8 What developments do you see in antitrust compliance?
HJN: We consider that even if there has been a decline in the number of Commission decisions and overall amount of imposed fines, antitrust compliance has to remain at the forefront of the companies’ activity. Regular antitrust compliance trainings, together with specialised outside counsel, ensure that employees are up to date with the latest developments in antitrust practice. We particularly value the interactive side of the antitrust compliance trainings, where employees can put forward the issues they are faced with in their daily activity. We also encourage attendees to trainings to work closely and proactively with their legal department to implement antitrust compliance.
ALS: In our experience, few companies rely solely on IT-based modules. They prefer to add other modules, for example, face-to-face training by external counsel or the firm’s legal department. These sorts of training sessions allow a company to reinforce its messaging on the importance of competition law compliance. Also, participants can interact with legal advisers in an informal setting, which helps to raise awareness and encourage open dialogue between commercial and legal teams. Some companies conduct periodic audits in which key documents are screened for antitrust compliance and interviews are conducted with key staff interviews. Other companies set up internal whistle-blower hotlines and offer rewards for whistle-blowing. Overall, the aim of every successful compliance programme should be to provide guidance and foster a culture of compliance. Everybody should be put in a position to conduct their business successfully and without the risk of a competition infringement.
BdR: This is similar to our experience. We also see that companies sometimes prefer a thematic approach to these compliance training sessions. Such training sessions can, for instance, focus on the latest developments in the area of competition law or specific issues that arise in the digital economy.
9 What changes do you anticipate to cartel enforcement policy or antitrust rules in the coming year? What effect will this have on clients?
HJN: Going back to the Commission’s latest investigation into the automotive sector – the Statement of Objections sent to BMW, Audi and VW for restricting competition on emission-cleaning technology; in commissioner Vestaeger’s own words, it is an innovative case when compared to the Commission’s 60 years of cartel investigations as the Commission is stating that a cartel that holds back innovation could be as harmful as one that fixes prices.
ALS: It is not really a change so much as an increase in emphasis on the role of technology-assisted review and other tools for streamlining document disclosure. These have been in use in the US for some time, so it’s great to see the EC starting to use them but there is scope for clarifying and improving the use of these procedures.
BdR: The current debate is about all aspects of competition law in the digital economy. With regard to cartels, the question is, for example, how to deal with tacit collusion resulting from the use of algorithms by competing undertakings and liability for algorithms more broadly. An extensive report on competition law in the digital era has been produced by experts commissioned by the Commission. This report may further stimulate the public debate on antitrust rules in the digital economy. Where the focus and changes will be exactly also depends on the new European Commission that will be appointed later this year.
The Inside Track
What was the most interesting case you worked on recently?
ALS: So much of the work we do on cartels we can’t talk about publicly – at least for many years – but we are waiting for the Court hearing on the Air Cargo case. It will be interesting to see how the Court reacts to the novel approach the Commission took to readoption.
BdR: I cannot mention names, but I worked on a case that raises novel legal questions specific to online markets and potential disruptors that is particularly interesting.
If you could change one thing about the area of cartel enforcement in your jurisdiction, what would it be?
HJN: We still consider that cartel cases are prone to have implications for more than one member state, and it is neither time efficient nor resource efficient for companies to submit pro forma markers or apply for leniency in several EU member states. We continue to support the idea of a one-stop-shop system, similar to the one we have for mergers and that would provide considerable efficiencies for companies applying for leniency.
ALS: I agree! As we have already discussed, the settlement procedure has proved very successful. However – and particularly given the increasing role of private damages actions – I wonder whether it is already time for a revamp. Some specific ideas include increasing the scope for bilaterally negotiated settlements, and reducing yet further the level of public disclosure of the terms of settlement. These would bring the EU practices closer in line with the US and would, in my view, reinforce the leniency programme as there would be even clearer benefits to cooperation with the authorities.
BdR: The biggest challenge in the area of cartel enforcement today is how to give companies sufficient incentives to come forward and apply for leniency again, in view of the significant increase in follow-on damages claims that currently create a clear disincentive to apply for leniency.
Hans-Jörg Niemeyer email@example.com
Hengeler Mueller - Brussels www.hengeler.com
Anna Lyle-Smythe firstname.lastname@example.org
Slaughter and May - Brussels www.slaughterandmay.com
Bart de Rijke email@example.com
De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek - Brussels www.debrauw.com


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The most influential candy bar goes to…
Some sweet news for chocoholics.
Time magazine interviewed candy experts and historians to determine which 13 bars had the biggest impact on the chocolate bar industry – and the world.
The Kit Kat bar has been named the most influential candy bar of all time.
According to Time, the Kit Kat was the first candy to be marketed around the concept sharing.
It was also one of the first candy bars to earn a global following.
And how can you forget that catchy “Gimme a Break” jingle?
Hershey’s milk Chocolate took second place on the list.
Toblerone, Nestle’s Milk Chocolate and Snickers round out the top five.


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Prefix Systems has launched a ‘100% Warm’ campaign, promote the fact that its Warmroof has been designed and engineered to be a true warm roof.
Not all solid, insulated warm roofs are of a 100% warm construction, Prefix said, and so the risk over time is that roofs manufactured using a cold roof construction can suffer from cold spots and condensation.
“This is particularly apparent the late autumn, throughout winter and in the early spring,” the company said. “With these roofs being sold as a long-term investment, the worry is that an increasing number of these roofs may fail to varying degrees.”
Chris Baron of Prefix Systems said: “Our ‘100% Warm’ campaign is designed to communicate the benefits of Warmroof which is fully insulated throughout, regardless of roof type or design. To be 100% Warm, the insulation needs to sit above the roof deck as our product has been designed to do so, helping to eliminate the potential for cold bridging, something that we are seeing on site with other systems. The risk for installers is considerable, particularly where 10-year warranties are the norm and so installations today may become liabilities for tomorrow and for years to come.”


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Because for the first time in US history more businesses are dying than starting. And most of the damage has been on Obama's painfully incompetent watch.
Gallup CEO Jim Clifton says, “for the first time in 35 years, American business deaths now outnumber business births...when small and medium-sized businesses are dying faster than they’re being born, so is free enterprise...”
The good news, now we know why. The bad news? Now we know why.


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He said the government was moving towards a cashless society and pushing the public to adopt the move as it has proven to be safer than using cash.
“For the first quarter of this year, mobile payment transactions stood at 25.126 million involving an amount of RM725.8mil,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Fahmi Fadzil (PH-PKR) during Question Time in Parliament on Wednesday (July 3).
Fahmi had asked the Ministry to reveal the latest figures on cashless transactions or e-wallets.
Amiruddin said the use of e-wallets would also make payments more efficient, as it was faster and safer.
“We want it to become a trend among the people. We no longer have to carry a physical wallet full of cash, but use an e-wallet for our future transactions,” he added.
He said any party, including financial institutions and non-banks, that wanted to provide such services would need the green light from Bank Negara Malaysia.
According to him, Bank Negara had approved 49 non-banking companies to provide digital electronic money (e-money), with 39 providing such services via an e-wallet, while 10 did via cards or online accounts.
As for the use of cryptocurrency, the Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC) has created a monitoring framework to facilitate the trading of digital assets.
“We already have guidelines issued by the SC, which is called Guidelines of Recognised Market, and it highlights what is allowed, the risks and others.
“But for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), to find funds for startup companies, the SC is still gathering input from the public so it can issue guidelines which would be finalised by the second quarter of next year.
“This is to ensure that once it takes off, it will have a proper, conducive and secure ecosystem,” said Amiruddin.
On the approval of digital coins, including the Harapan coins by Bank Negara, he said he could not give the full details, but such trading was approved by the authorities with the proper regulations.
“For the Harapan coin, we still do not have it,” he said.
It was reported that the Harapan coin, set to be the world's first political fundraising platform, would use two technologies.
It was first proposed by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad, who said it would need approval from Bank Negara and the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.


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San Francisco, Aug 25 (AP/UNB) — Apple believes some of its zealous customers will treasure its new titanium credit card so much that they will spend time polishing its white finish.
That's why Apple has posted instructions on how to clean the card properly and warned that some materials might leave blemishes that are difficult to remove.
The list of potential hazards includes leather and denim, prompting some people to conclude Apple's credit card is so special that it can't be stored in the wallets and pockets where most other credit cards reside.
But the company says it merely wants people to know that the dyes used in some types of leather and denim can leave stains. Those discoloring marks are unlikely in most kinds of wallets and jeans, something Apple alluded to in its post by advising that the card can be kept in a wallet or pocket made of "soft materials."
The reverence Apple seemed to be according its card triggered widespread derision on Twitter and elsewhere on the internet.
"Do not look directly at Apple Card," Alex Stamos, a former top security executive at Yahoo and Facebook, mocked in a tweet late Wednesday . "Do not speak to Apple Card. Do not denigrate Apple Card in Its Holy Presence."
In reality, Apple's cleaning instructions for the card mirrors the same practice it applies for its iPhone, iPad, Mac computers, ear buds and all other physical products. But while it's common for people to clean those devices, few consumers spend time sprucing up their credits cards.
Apple describes a two-step cleaning process involving microfiber cloths and isopropyl alcohol and includes a list of inappropriate cleaners. The instructions also warn against touching another credit card or "potentially abrasive objects" like coins or keys.
The Apple Card, announced in March in partnership with Goldman Sachs, started rolling out in the U.S. this month. Though industry experts say the card's financial benefits mirror many of those already out there for consumers, Apple is positioning it as a refreshing change from the thousands of other credit cards that have been available for decades.
In one of the biggest differences, the card is designed to be primarily used with the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch. But at retail stores, that requires merchants to accept Apple Pay. Apple and Goldman Sachs are giving people the option of a physical card to use when Apple Pay isn't an option.
The card is made of titanium and a sleek white finish to give it added flair and prestige. It's a strategy that has worked well for other high-end cards made of metallic alloys, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card .
As part of its effort to keep its new credit card customers happy, Apple is offering to replace any card that loses its sheen, at no extra charge.
Dhaka, Aug 20 (UNB)- Chinese brand Vivo has recently reduced prices of its three smartphones.
Now, the Vivo V15 Pro is available at BDT 35,990 instead of BDT 39,990. Similarly, The company’s v15 and Y17 are available respectively at BDT 25,990 and BDT 20,990. The previous prices of both phones were respectively BDT 27,990 and BDT 22,990, said a press release.
Managing Director of vivo Bangladesh Duke said that “We always value peoples’ emotion and desire. Eid brought happiness to our Bangladeshi customers and this price reduction will extend that happiness.”
The V15 Pro features 6.39-inch FHD+ display which supports 1080x2340 pixels resolution, 32MP front camera and 48 Million Quad Pixel Sensor + 8MP AI Super Wide-Angle Camera + 5MP Depth rear camera, is supported by a powerful 3700 mAh battery with Dual-Engine Fast Charging and runs on Android Funtouch OS 9.0.
The smart phone with in-display fingerprint sensor is equipped with 6 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM (supports micro SD card up to 256 GB) and Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 AIE Octa-core.
The vivo V15 with rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is powered by a 2.1GHz Octa-core processor. It comes with 6GB RAM and 64 GB ROM which supports micro SD card up to 256 GB. The phone runs Android Funtouch OS 9 and is powered by a 4,000mAh battery and supports dual-engine fast charging. This dual-SIM phone features 6.53-inch FHD+ display which supports 1080x2340 pixels resolution.
The V15 on the rear packs a 12-megapixel primary camera, a second 8-megapixel camera and a third 5-megapixel camera. The rear camera setup has autofocus. It sports a 32 megapixel pop up camera on the front for selfies.
The Y17 has 20 megapixel camera with AI technology on the front. On the rear it packs a 13 megapixel primary camera, a second 8-megapixel super wide camera and a third 2-megapixel depth camera. This Y series phone features 6.39-inch Helo FHD+ display which supports 1080x2316 pixels resolution. It houses 5000 mAh battery with dual-engine fast charging, 4GB RAM, 128 ROM and fifth generation in-display fingerprint sensor.
Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNB)- Local brand Walton has launched its new notch display smartphone at Tk 10,999 only with powerful battery in market.
The 4G network supported smartphone ‘Primo R6 Max’ comes in two different colors - blue and black and available at all Walton Plazas, brand and retail outlets across the country.
Asifur Rahman Khan, chief of Walton cellular phone sales department, said that the device features a 6.26-inch 19:9 U-Notch HD+ display with 1520X720 pixel screen resolutions. Runs on Android 9.0 Pie operating system, it sports a 1.6 GHz Octa-Core processor, 3GB DDR4 RAM, 32GB internal storage (expandable up to 128 GB) with 4000 mAh battery, finger print and face unlock etc.
It has 13MP and 2MP dual back cameras with LED flash and a set of attractive features along with another 8MP front camera for selfies.
Customers will also enjoy instant replacement warranty for 30 days for the device along with one-year regular service warranty.
Dhaka, Aug 15 (AP/UNB) - Federal safety officials have banned some Apple laptops from airline flights after Apple recalled the batteries because they could catch fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Wednesday that it alerted airlines last month about the recall involving batteries for some Apple MacBook Pro laptops.
Under FAA policy, some potentially dangerous items including lithium batteries can't be carried on board or placed in checked baggage if they are under a safety recall. The item must be repaired, replaced or made safe by a manufacturer-approved method before going on a plane.
On its website, Apple says a "limited number" of 15-inch MacBook Pros sold mostly between September 2015 and February 2017 have batteries that might overheat and pose a fire risk. Apple says it's replacing affected batteries for free.
Dhaka, Aug 11 (UNB) - Don’t be surprised to see a triple-camera setup on the next-generation iPad Pro. The information comes from Japanese blog Mac Otakara, who sites a supplier within China. If true, the 2019 iPad Pro could get top-notch photography experience similar to the rumoured iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max.
As per the unconfirmed report, Apple is currently planning to release two iPad Pro models. The launch will take place in October at a separate hardware event. The big thing, of course, is a square-shaped camera module on the rear. This time though, there will be three cameras on the rear.
Just like the upcoming iPhone 11, the next-generation iPad Pro will have a primary lens, the secondary camera with a telephoto lens and the third lens will have a wide-angle lens. The triple camera setup on the iPad Pro’s rear would allow for better-augmented reality (AR) experience. And let’s not forget: Apple has been pushing Augmented reality (AR) gaming on the iPad so hard. So it makes perfect sense for Apple to add multiple camera lenses on the future models of iPad Pro.
Another purpose of releasing an iPad Pro with three rear-facing cameras is to bring the same level of photography experience one would usually get with the iPhone. It may seem like a bizarre decision, but the truth is that people do take pictures using their iPads. Samsung is another company that has recently added two rear-facing cameras on the flagship Galaxy Tab S6. It just shows that there is an increasing number of users who would want to see superior cameras on tablets.
The report also notes that a 10.2-inch iPad will have a dual-camera lens. The setup will be similar to what you get on the iPhone 11R, a sequel to the iPhone XR.
The new iPad Pro models and the sixth-generation non-pro iPad are rumoured to launch in October. Last year, Apple updated its iPad Pro lineup by launching two models: 12.9-inch and 11-inch. The new iPads may get released alongside the 16-inch MacBook Pro.


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Ghana Country Director, Free The Slaves
“Free the Slaves has been one of the Founding Board Members of ICI, and we are a proud of our collaboration so far. We believe that ICI’s role is crucial, as it unites a variety of actors around the common goal of child protection in the cocoa sector. Importantly, in 2018, ICI started innovating, and forced labour was identified as an issue which needs a deeper look, an enhanced understanding and action. Many children and their families lead a better life thanks to ICI’s efforts, and we hope that by addressing forced labour, ICI will also help others tackle forced labour risks in the cocoa supply chain.”
Mondelēz International, as a leader in the chocolate industry and a founding member of the International Cocoa Initiative, c...
"As a founding member of the International Cocoa Initiative, MARS has consistently valued and benefitted from ICI's knowledg...
ICI continues to provide leadership, knowledge and expertise, helping us to build a better future for children.


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A Salmonella outbreak linked to Del Monte vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin has sickened four people. The Salmonella attorneys at national food safety law firm, Pritzker Hageman, P.A., expect that number to rise.
The Pritzker Hageman Salmonella attorneys are representing more than 100 people who got parasitic infections after eating the same kind of Del Monte product last year. The vegetable trays, contaminated with the parasite Cyclospora, sickened 250 people in four states.
In both outbreaks, the vegetable trays packaged in plastic containers containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and dill dip, were sold at Kwik Trip stores.
Del Monte Vegetable Tray Salmonella Outbreak
In this outbreak, illnesses were reported between April 13 and April 27, 2019. Kwik Trip told Fox 9 News that it has removed the product from its shelves. However, health officials say other stores may also have received the product. And because a recall for the vegetable trays has not been issued they are advising consumers to keep an eye out and avoid eating products associated with this outbreak, Del Monte vegetable trays, sold in 6 oz and 12 oz sizes, that contain broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. These symptoms usually occur within six to 72 hours of exposure and last about a week.
If you became ill after eating one of these vegetable trays, contact the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Team for a free consultation. You can reach us by calling 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free), sending a text to 612-261-0856. Or, by using the form below. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.


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With a doctor’s order, the home collection kits will become available to consumers in most states in the coming weeks, the FDA said.
“Throughout this pandemic we have been facilitating test development to ensure patients access to accurate diagnostics, which includes supporting the development of reliable and accurate at-home sample collection options,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in the agency’s announcement.
“The FDA’s around-the-clock work since this outbreak began has resulted in the authorization of more than 50 diagnostic tests and engagement with over 350 test developers,” Hahn said. “Specifically, for tests that include home sample collection, we worked with LabCorp to ensure the data demonstrated from at-home patient sample collection is as safe and accurate as sample collection at a doctor’s office, hospital or other testing site. With this action, there is now a convenient and reliable option for patient sample collection from the comfort and safety of their home.”
The FDA noted that the emergency use authorization applies only to the LabCorp COVID-19 RT-PCR Test for at-home collection, which requires a nasal swab specimen for testing using the new home collection kit.
The FDA said in its announcement, “It is important to note that this is not a general authorization for at-home collection of patient samples using other collection swabs, media, or tests, or for tests fully conducted at home.”


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FREMONT (CBS SF) – Watch your back, Hooters. Your position as the premiere Bay Area restaurant chain for pub food with a side of sexy server is about to face a big challenge.
The Arizona-based Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery chain plans a big move into Northern California, with the San Francisco Business Times reporting that “Dublin and Fremont, as well as San Jose, Santa Clara, and other parts of Silicon Valley,” are among seven restaurant locations in the works for the Bay Area.
The chain currently has 100 locations up and running across the U.S. and Canada, and “boasts sexy servers, classic Celtic décor, traditional pub fare and sports all under one roof,” per their public relations team. “The new locations will join nine existing Tilted Kilt pubs in California’s Southland.”
A company executive said the Bay Area is particularly appealing because they hope to tap in to “a region that is known for having the most loyal fan base in the sporting world.”
It’s not immediately clear when the restaurants would open as locations are still being “vetted.”
The chain has faced some opposition in new markets in the past with some communities opposing chains from the so-called “breastaurant” sector – known for female servers revealing costumes – moving in to the area. It’s not clear at this point what opposition, if any, the franchises would face in the Bay Area.


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The success of “America’s Next Top Model” has spawned similar shows around the world, but never before one that spanned more than one country. That’s where “Asia’s Next Top Model” comes in, which will air late this year. To mark the occasion, show creator Tyra Banks flew to Singapore to help promote the show.
Banks is excited at the show’s opportunity to add more diversity to the world of modeling, stating, “Why should there be a moment? Asian models aren’t going anywhere. I don’t want it to be a fad.”
Follow us on Twitter @OCNNReport
OCNN Fashion and Entertainment Columnist – Brandyn Campbell @sports_muse


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SAN FRANCISCO: Uber Technologies Inc had US$50 billion in total bookings for its ride-service and food-delivery businesses last year, a testament to the size and global reach of the company as it prepares to woo investors in one of the biggest public stock listings to date.
But figures released by the company on Friday showed revenue grew just 2 percent in the fourth quarter, a sign that Uber continues to heavily subsidize rides in competitive markets, raising questions about its future growth prospects, report agencies.Uber's full-year revenue for 2018 was US$11.3 billion, up 43 percent from the prior year. Its losses before taxes, depreciation and other expenses were US$1.8 billion, an improvement over the US$2.2 billion loss posted in 2017.
Uber highlighted the annual bookings figure, which was up 45 percent over 2017, in its release on Friday of a smattering of selected figures for its fourth-quarter and full-year results, a practice it has had for the last several quarters as it anticipated going public. The full-year figures are particularly important to show potential investors the trajectory of the business, as opposed to Uber's more erratic quarterly results.
Uber in December filed confidentially for an initial public offering, which may come as early as the second quarter this year. It is racing neck-and-neck with rival Lyft to become the first ride-hailing IPO.
"Last year was our strongest yet, and Q4 set another record," Uber Chief Financial Officer Nelson Chai said in a statement.
Uber said gross bookings for the fourth quarter were a record US$14.2 billion, up 11 percent from the prior quarter. That marks an improvement after bookings growth slowed to just single-digit percentages throughout much of last year.
Uber's revenue in the fourth quarter reached US$3 billion, up 2 percent from the third quarter and a 24 percent increase over the previous year. The food-delivery service, Uber Eats, accounts for more than US$2.5 billion in bookings quarterly, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.


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The American Writers Museum, set to open in Chicago in early 2017, announced on Tuesday that it would be leasing a location on North Michigan Avenue, the city’s premier shopping strip, a short walk from attractions like Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The United States has many small museums dedicated to particular writers or genres. But the planned Chicago museum, which was founded in 2010 by Malcolm E. O’Hagan, a retired executive, bills itself as the first to celebrate American writers generally by exploring “their influence on our history, our identity, our culture and our daily lives.”
The 11,000-square-foot space will feature permanent and temporary exhibits, some with a strong interactive component, like a “Visitors’ Favorites” section where visitors can nominate favorite quotes, books and authors. In addition to a broad overview of the development of American literature and displays dedicated to classic authors, there will be sections dedicated to children’s literature and to westerns, mysteries and other genre fiction, as well as an exhibition about Chicago writers.
The institution has raised more than $3.3 million toward its planned startup costs of $10 million, according to Publishers Weekly. Nike Whitcomb, the museum’s executive director, told the magazine that it expected to draw some 120,000 visitors annually and net $1.75 million in revenue by 2021.