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REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 16, 2011 — American families have experienced a deluge of technology in the home over the past decade, and much has been made about how screen time is impacting family time. However, according to a new survey commissioned by Microsoft Corp., parents say that technology is playing a positive role in their family relationships. The survey, conducted by Impulse Research, found that 64 percent of U.S. parents aged 22 to 40 who were surveyed report that technology helps bring their family closer together. Relying on technology to stay connected is even more apparent among younger parents (aged 22 to 30), with 74 percent reporting the same.
PCs have gone from productivity machines, hidden in the home office, to entertainment centers that help create family moments, with most parents (43 percent) saying a PC or tablet is the main technology device they use at home with their family. More than half, or 51 percent, of parents say their children are helping them be technologically savvy in finding ways to stay connected as a family.
But just how do you take advantage of all technology has to offer and help ensure screens don’t become a barrier to connecting? Alex Guarnaschelli, chef, Food Network personality and busy mother, shares how she uses Microsoft technology to help her during the holidays and connect with her friends and family.
Windows Phone 7.5’s intelligent multitasking makes it possible to run multiple apps at once, so customers can pause an application to check email and then go back to the application where they left it.
Lean on your smartphone. Use a smartphone, such as the Windows Phone, to remember your appointments, tasks and holiday to-do items. “My phone is like an alarm clock — I set reminders to alert me if I need to make a phone call or run an errand,” Guarnaschelli said. “If an alarm isn’t going off, I feel relaxed and safe knowing I’m not forgetting something. When I’m home with my daughter, I want to be really present for her, and technology liberates me to focus on her.”
Leave shopping to the experts. Are you clueless as to what to wear to your holiday party or what gift to purchase for your picky niece? Utilize the Bing Shopping guides to shop handpicked gift ideas for everyone on your list, deck the halls with festive decorations and get fashion advice on what to wear for a holiday party.
Host holiday meals stress-free. Are you hosting a big holiday meal or party this season? Keep track of favorite holiday recipes through online notebooks such as Microsoft OneNote, a handy resource that comes with Office 2010 and can be used for organization, as well as meal planning and keeping track of ingredients. Guarnaschelli uses OneNote Web App on her smartphone to have shopping lists at her fingertips. “If I think of a recipe I want to add to that week’s menu while I’m on the subway, or I’m in the kitchen and notice we’re low on ingredients, I just grab my Windows Phone and update my list,” she said. You can even share your documents with family and friends, whether or not they have Microsoft Office, by saving them online using free Office Web Apps.
Get active as a family. Combat constant indulging and stay active during the season by adding active entertainment to family holiday traditions. With Kinect for Xbox 360, you can stay active without worrying about what the weather outside holds. Play football, ski and dance away holiday baked goods while finding new activities to connect with your family, friends or inevitable houseguests.
Stay active with your family by playing Kinect Sports Season Two, the sequel to last year’s No. 1 Kinect hit.
“As a society, we’re in a moment of major gadget lust and overwhelming choice. We think we have an opportunity to help people understand how they can get the most out of their technology,” said David Webster, general manager, Brand & Marketing Strategy for the Corporate Marketing Group, Microsoft. “This holiday, we hope to show families that staying connected and spending time together is made easier with an array of Microsoft products including Windows-based PCs, Windows Phones, Xbox and Office.”
More information on how to maximize the holidays with your family with the help of technology can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/family.
Use Bing’s Shopping guides to shop handpicked gift ideas for everyone on your list, deck the halls with festive decorations, and get fashion advice on what to wear for a holiday party.
About the Survey
The survey was conducted online with a random sample of 1,008 parents aged 22 to 40, all members of the Impulse Research proprietary online panel. The panel closely matches U.S. population demographics, and the respondents are representative of American parents aged 22 to 40. Research was conducted in October 2011. The overall sampling error rate for this survey is +/-3 percent at the 95 percent rate of confidence.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.


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Hasselblad will soon announce a new X1D Mark II Medium Format Mirrorless Camera. This camera has already got registered at Bluetooth.com.
Zenit today has announced a new rangefinder camera named Zenit M, it is based on Leica M Typ 240 platform. Zenit M will be available from December 2018 in Europe and from January 2019 in Russia at both Zenit’s online store and selected photo shops.
Read More »
Blackmagic Design has officially announced rumored Pocket Cinema Camera 4K today. The US price for Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is $1,295, now available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video/Adorama, will be shipping on September 3, 2018. The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K is built around a Four Thirds sensor with dual native ISO and a native DCI 4K (4096×2160) resolution, and will record DCI 4K at 60 fps and windowed HD (a native 1080 crop) at up to 120 fps in either 10-bit ProRes or 12-bit Raw formats. Various internal recording media are supported including standard SD cards, UHS-II cards, and CFast 2.0 cards.
Hasselblad has just announced the X1D (B&H Photo Video, Adorama), a medium-format mirrorless camera with a 50MP CMOS sensor. With dust and weather-sealing the X1D isn’t afraid to step outside of the studio, and offers a 100-25600 ISO range and is capable of 1080/30p HD video. Its hot shoe is compatible with Nikon Speedlights and the camera can sync with flashes at its maximum shutter speed: 1/2000 sec.

domain: news


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The Football Manager series of games has become notorious over the last 20 years, reeling in thousands of keen football fans with its realistic simulation of the game.
Whether it's setting up your formation, sorting out your goalkeeper training or chasing that 17-year-old Brazilian wonderkid, there's an insane amount to keep you busy.
Devoted fans have been clamouring for a release date for months, but Miles Jacobsen, the studio director of the game's designers, Sport Interactive, has held his tongue: “I get so many requests for the release date on Twitter, but we’ll only ever announce a date when we’re sure we’re going to hit it,” he told us.
This year's edition gets a wealth of new features, including more realistic transfers and contracts;improved interaction with players, staff and media; enhanced user interface; improved match engine; and more sophisticated board interaction.
All the more reason to test yourself as the new Jose Mourinho , if you ask us.
When is it released?
Football Manager 2014 is released in the UK on October 31 . You can buy the game for PC, Mac and Linux, and it will later be released on PlayStation Vita.


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Allen Stanford attempts to surrender in Texas
Sir Allen Stanford, the Texas billionaire facing civil fraud charges, attempted to turn himself in at the federal courthouse in Houston on Thursday, but was turned away because there is no warrant for his arrest.
'There are all these rumors flying around about an indictment coming soon,' said Dick DeGuerin, Stanford's criminal attorney.
'We want the authorities to to know that Allen Stanford is going to stand and fight, he's not going to run.'
Stanford and DeGuerin went to the federal courthouse Thursday afternoon, but the U.S. Marshals would not take Stanford into custody, the lawyer said.
Sir Allen Stanford is accused of an £8bn fraud
Stanford, who does not face criminal charges, but has said he expects to be indicted, will try to turn himself in again next week, DeGuerin said.
'I said to the marshals, if you get a warrant, give me a call,' DeGuerin said.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Houston could not immediately be reached for comment.
Stanford, two other executives and three of his companies are accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of an $8 billion fraud involving high-yield certificates of deposit issued by Stanford International Bank in Antigua.
Stanford, a colorful financier and sports patron who owns luxury homes in the Caribbean and Florida, told Reuters in an interview earlier this month that he has done nothing wrong.
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Thomas Cook future unclear
- Credit: Archant
THE long-term future of Thomas Cook in Nailsea has been thrown into doubt.
The firm has announced plans to close 195 on the 1,069 stores it currently operates.
Around 2,500 jobs will go too, although the majority of these will be back office staff members.
So far the travel company has not confirmed which of its stores will close, but it could jeopardise the future of the shop in Nailsea’s Somerset Square.
Thomas Cook announced pre-tax losses of more than £480million last September.
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Its continental Europe and UK chief executive, Peter Fankhauser, said Thomas Cook would continue to have a High Street presence across the country.
He said: “It is never easy to make decisions that impact directly on our people, but we also owe it to our customers to shape the business effectively and ensure that, when they book their holiday with us, our administrative costs are as low as possible.”
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Jamaica is to host The Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event next year.
The 37th Caribbean Travel Marketplace will be held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on January 29-31, 2019.
Confirmation came from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association as a state of emergency in the Montego Bay region was extended until May 2 following an outbreak of violence and shootings.
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace will be held in collaboration with the Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association and the Jamaica Tourist Board.
It follows this year’s event in Puerto Rico which organisers’ said “exceeded expectations” by showcasing the resilience of the people of the island and other parts of the Caribbean which are rebounding from the impact of two devastating hurricanes last autumn.
CHTA director general and chief executive Director General of Frank Comito said: “Jamaica is synonymous with exceptional hospitality, world renowned culture and incredible beauty.
“We look forward to continuing to offer our participants a high quality programme to engage with industry peers and promote travel to our region.”
Jamaica tourism minister Edmund Bartlett added: “I am very pleased to announce that Jamaica will once again play host to an important tourism event.
“It is an incredible achievement for our country and I am certain we will reap significant benefits.”
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Google is set to announce some new hardware at an event next week, including, of course, the new Pixel 4. While many aspects of the phone have been leaked over the past few weeks and months, it looks like there could be more to the new devices. A report from Nikkei indicates that the Mountain View giant is planning a 5G variant of the Pixel 4, which could be announced alongside the 4G models next week.
Nikkei cites sources close to the matter, saying that the 4G Pixel 4 and 4 XL are already in mass production ahead of next week's event, but the 5G model is in test production now. This indicates that the 5G model will be available at a later date, and the report even goes on to suggest that Google could end up announcing the 5G phone next spring, alongside the purported budget-oriented Pixel 4a models. Even then, Google would be beating Apple to the punch when it comes to 5G support, though at this point, that won't matter for the majority of people.
Many aspects of the Pixel 4 have either been leaked or confirmed officially by Google. We've seen the available color options, camera samples, rumors of a 90Hz display, and an overdue increase in RAM to 6GB. Google has also confirmed a dual-camera setup on the back and the use of its own Soli radar technology for hand gestures.
In addition to new Pixel 4 devices, Google's event will likely bring a handful of other products. According to previous reports, these could include a new generation of the Google Home Mini, to be called Nest Mini, a new Google WiFi router - which will also pack Assistant integration and adopt the Next branding - and a new Pixelbook laptop. Google has reportedly given up on tablets, so we won't be seeing a successor to the Pixel Slate.


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It's just a few short months from April, when the 2022 Alaska cruise season starts in earnest.
The tourism-dependent towns in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia need a healthy 2022 cruise season. Last year, Transport Canada's ban on cruising from Canadian ports meant that the Alaska season was truncated, not starting until mid-July, with the arrival of Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas.
On paper, 2022 could be a banner year for Alaskan ports of call. But as the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to cause disruptions across cruise and other travel sectors around the world, it's beginning to look like modifications -- either to itineraries, ships or sail dates -- could be in the cards as the pandemic continues to evolve.
Where do things stand right now with cruises to Alaska in 2022? Here's a look at what cruisers can expect as we look at the 2022 season.
In 2022, most of the world's major cruise lines are scheduled to return to Alaska, with sailings primarily operating from Seattle, Vancouver, Seward, and Whittier.
Alaskan heavyweights Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are planning a full deployment to the region. The two lines -- which collectively have over a century of experience in the region -- are pulling out all the stops, sending six ships apiece to Alaska.
Princess, meanwhile, is sending its newest cruise ship -- Discovery Princess -- on weeklong voyages to Alaska from Seattle, while Royal Princess, Majestic Princess (read our review from our 2021 sailing here), and Grand Princess will be based in Vancouver doing seven-day northbound and southbound runs between the Canadian city and Whittier, Alaska. Crown Princess also joins Discovery Princess in sailing from Seattle's Pier 91.
Norwegian Cruise Line, too, is increasing its Alaska cruise presence significantly over past years, with five ships sailing to the Last Frontier in 2022.
Norwegian Jewel will be based in Vancouver for the entire season, offering sailings between Vancouver and Seward that can be paired with overland tours to Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Anchorage.
The 1998-built Norwegian Spirit returns to Vancouver for the first time since 2005, offering some unique one-off itineraries that sail between Vancouver, Alaska, Honolulu and Los Angeles. The ship otherwise spends most of its season sailing from Seattle on five- to 11-night roundtrip Alaska cruises.
Norwegian has been building its presence in Seattle steadily; indeed, the line was the first to pioneer cruises from Seattle back in 1999 aboard Norwegian Dynasty. In 2022, it pulls out all the stops, sending Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sun, and the newer Norwegian Encore (read our review of our Norwegian Encore 2021 cruise to Alaska) and Norwegian Bliss.
Royal Caribbean and sister-brand Celebrity also have robust Alaska deployments planned for 2022. Royal Caribbean will deploy Alaskan stalwart Radiance of the Seas on one-way voyages between Vancouver and Seward, while sister-ship Serenade of the Seas offers voyages roundtrip from Vancouver. Sisters Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas offer cruises from Seattle.
Celebrity will deploy three ships to Alaska in 2022: Celebrity Millennium takes up Celebrity's one-way voyages between Vancouver and Seward, while Celebrity Eclipse offers weeklong roundtrip sailings from Canada Place. Celebrity Solstice, meanwhile, calls Seattle home this summer.
Even Carnival, which has sent a single ship to Alaska in recent years, is planning on sending two vessels in 2022 -- Carnival Freedom and Carnival Miracle -- which will homeport from Seattle and San Francisco, respectively.
Add to that a number of luxury and premium lines returning to the region this year -- including Cunard, Disney, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea -- and the 2022 Alaska cruise season looks robust, diverse and potentially record-breaking.
At least, on paper.
The real wrinkle in the 2022 Alaska cruise season is, once again, Canada.
The Canadian government, under the guise of Transport Canada, hasn't allowed cruise ships to call on any Canadian port since 2019, owing to the ongoing global health pandemic. Transport Canada had banned cruises through the 2020 and 2021 seasons, forcing Alaskan delegates to obtain a temporary waiver to the U.S. Passenger Vessel Services Act that would allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to operate closed-loop cruises from Seattle without the customary stop in Victoria, British Columbia, that is, in actuality, required by U.S. law.
That PVSA waiver was a temporary thing, valid for just one year. And while Transport Canada has said it will allow cruises to call on Canadian ports in 2022, no formal guidelines have been issued that would allow this to happen, and details on what would be required of passengers arriving into Canadian ports of call are still reportedly being hammered out.
Add to that the fact that Canada is still mired in the omicron wave, with restrictions in place across the country on gatherings, indoor dining venues and leisure activities. The country's willingness to welcome cruise ships back in just a few short months is questionable.
Travelers to Canada will have to contend with rules and regulations surrounding COVID-19 that are more stringent than many other countries, too.
Proof of vaccination, plus a negative PCR test, are currently required to enter Canada. A second "on-arrival" PCR test is required upon landing in any Canadian airport for those travelers coming from all destinations other than the U.S.
Vaccinations for those over 12 are mandatory to fly domestically within Canada, or to take a train or long-distance bus.
In addition, numerous businesses -- including restaurants, bars, lounges, theaters and other public venues aside from retail shops -- require proof of vaccination and photo identification. Mask usage is common throughout Canada, and refusing to wear one in hotels, shops, restaurants, bars, lounges or other indoor public areas can result in you being ejected from the establishment. Masking is also required on all public transportation, on ferries, and in all indoor spaces in most parts of the country.
As of January 2022, even some outdoor attractions, like Victoria's famous Butchart Gardens, will require patrons to mask up or be denied entry.
Should Transport Canada elect to cancel cruise activity for the third year running, it would have a three-fold effect: one-way and roundtrip cruises from Vancouver would be canceled. That would also modify cruise tours that have stops planned in Canada.
A continued ban would also make cruising from Seattle impossible once again, because of the PVSA mandates a call on a "distant foreign port". Absent of one, another exemption to the law would need to be drawn up and passed through Congress, as the original waiver was valid only for the 2021 cruise season.
At the moment, yes -- cruise tours to Alaska will be offered again in 2022 and are scheduled by all major lines.
Cruise lines like Holland America and Princess Cruises operate their own lodges in Alaska's Denali National Park, their own fleet of motorcoaches, and even have branded railcars as part of the Alaska Railroad traveling from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Expect these lines, and others, take a vested interest in ensuring as much of this season's overland ours go ahead as planned.
If Canada remains closed, some cruise tour options will need to be modified. While cruisers could still get off their ship at an Alaska port and take the train to Denali, visiting parks such as Banff and Jasper in British Columbia and Alberta aboard the Rocky Mountaineer would be off the table. Holland America would also have to cut the Yukon portion of their cruise tours.
Within the next few months, the picture should be clear about what to expect in Alaska in 2022.
For their part, Alaskans have decided to take matters into their own hands once again this year. Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski pre-emptively submitted a proposal for a permanent exemption to the Passenger Vessel Services Act in September of last year.
"Right now our borders with Canada are in a much better place than they were in 2020, but what happens if Canada decides, nope, we’re not taking any risks with omicron so we’re going to put in place the same limits on our passenger vessels" Murkowski told the Alaska Journal of Commerce. "I want to address this and I think the proposal that I have is absolutely one that is worthy of advancing."
Representative Don Young has also tabled similar legislation that would allow cruise ships bound for Alaska to bypass Canadian ports of call.
Transport Canada has not updated its cruise ship information page since late 2021. It states in part that, "Transport Canada has been and will continue to pursue a series of consultations and engagements to establish and develop a plan for a successful restart of cruise ship sailing in Canada for the 2022 season."
The government body concedes, however, that not opening up cruise this year risks substantial loss of tourism dollars should Murkowski and Young's bills pass into law.
"If either of these bills are passed, it would have a negative impact on Canada’s tourism industry, particularly in British Columbia," Transport Canada notes. "The Government of Canada’s plan to restart cruising for the 2022 season should help to reduce the risk of this occurring."


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Real11 has named Indian Cricketer, Kuldeep Yadav as its brand ambassador. The company said the association with the cricketer will help it reach a wider audience in the nation.
This partnership will play a pivotal role for the brand as the game of skill industry is growing at a brisk pace and the brand strives to set a benchmark in the space in near future, the company said in a statement.
Kuldeep said, “I am excited and looking forward to working with one of India’s leading fantasy sports companies. Being an athlete, consistency is important. Over the years, the fastest growing fantasy sports platform has managed to maintain steadiness. I’m happy to be linked with a brand that has a global appeal.”
The champion cricketer first came into spotlight during the 2014 Under 19 World Cup where he acquired the distinction of becoming the only Indian bowler to take a hattrick in the history of the tournament. He also became the leading wicket taker for India in that edition. His heroics finally paid off in 2017 when he earned his maiden test call. Later that year, he made his first ODI appearance against the Windies. Ever since, the chinaman has not looked back. He then went on two hat-tricks against Australia and West Indies respectively; making him the only bowler to register two hat-tricks in the limited overs.
In the past, the company has worked with Aakash Chopra. It also has Gautam Gambhir, Ravinder Pahal and Taniya Bhatia as its other brand ambassadors.
Amit Yadav, founder and CEO of the company said, “We are elated about the addition of Kuldeep Yadav to our group of inspiring ambassadors, he is a natural fit for the brand. His passion for the sport of cricket and his continual fame fuses well with our vision to carve a niche for ourselves in the booming space. Kuldeep is one of the most respected cricketers and he remains to be an icon for aspiring cricketers across the globe.”
Founded in 2019, Real11 is a fantasy sports platform known for its innovations and creative solutions within the skill game realm. With over 5 million users, it is also the fastest growing fantasy sports operator in India. Apart from proficiency in the field of fantasy cricket, Real11 lets users enjoy fantasy kabaddi and football. Unlike others in this hyper competitive space, Real11 is unique in its own way. Loaded with features, it is amongst the first few that introduced the Live Fantasy and Second Innings Contest variants into the fantasy cricket realm.


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SUMMARY – HILTON HOTEL AND OTHER COMPANIES IN KENYA SHUT DOWN IN 2022 DUE TO ECONOMIC PRESSURE AND CHALLENGES. RISING OPERATIONAL COSTS, DIFFICULT MARKET CONDITIONS, AND CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP CONTRIBUTED TO THESE CLOSURES, IMPACTING BOTH EMPLOYEES AND THE OVERALL BUSINESS LANDSCAPE IN THE COUNTRY.
The year 2022 witnessed a wave of business closures due to global inflation and economic challenges. Hilton Hotel, an iconic establishment that has served Kenya since independence, became the latest casualty. With a history of 53 years, the hotel made the difficult decision to shut down its operations. From July 2021 to February 2022, Statista reported that more than 1,365 companies stopped operating in Kenya.
Unfortunately, some businesses closed their doors after a brief existence of fewer than five years.
Hilton Hotel (Closure Date: December 31, 2022)
Hilton Hotel, located in Nairobi, will cease operations on December 31, 2022. The closure will impact numerous employees. In May 2022, the hotel management made the announcement following extensive discussions with stakeholders. The government owns 40.57% of Hilton Hotel, and the closure is attributed to the state’s failure as a key stakeholder.
Notify Logistics (Closure Date: August 30, 2022)
On August 30, 2022, Notify Logistics, a Kenyan startup, announced the closure of its operations in Nairobi. The company cited the high cost of operation as the reason behind its decision. Notify Logistics, established five years ago, offered shelf-renting services to facilitate cost-sharing among businesses. Director Hellen Nyambura revealed that the company faced management issues due to the escalating operating costs.
We-Farm Shop (Closure Date: September 2022)
In September 2022, the Agritech company We-Farm declared the closure of its mobile application shop. The decision was driven by challenging market conditions. Sofie Mala, WeFarm’s Director of Growth, explained that the current market landscape posed significant obstacles to setting up and scaling the shop. CIO Africa quoted her as saying, “We have taken the difficult decision to discontinue one of our services: the WeFarm shop.”
NopeaRide (Closure Date: November 2022)
In November 2022, NopeaRide’s minority shareholder in Kenya, InfraCo Africa Limited, initiated the liquidation process of the company at the High Court. The taxi brand immediately took its fleet of electric vehicles off the road and informed its staff and corporate clients. The exit followed the insolvency declaration by the majority shareholder in Finland. NopeaRide extended apologies to its drivers and staff for the unfortunate circumstances.
GSK Plans Operations Transfer (October 2022)
British pharmaceutical company GSK announced in October 2022 its intention to transfer its operations in Kenya to a third party. Despite this change, GSK Kenya assured continued product supply to the East African region through a distributor-led model. The company aims to find ways to meet customers’ needs and expectations while grappling with rising operational costs. Unfortunately, this move will result in an unexpected number of employee layoffs.


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Ford’s factory-stock F-150 Raptor race truck has wrapped up the 2016 off-road racing season, covering a total of 2,481 bumpy miles littered with dirt, sand, rocks, and the like with a production-spec 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and 10-speed automatic.
The last race of the Best In The Desert season – the Pahrump Nugget 250 in Nevada – saw the Ford Performance/Greg Foutz Motorsports F-150 Raptor capture 432 points, finishing in 10 hours, 21 minutes, and 59 seconds. The truck features some requisite safety, lighting, and navigation equipment, plus a slightly different suspension setup from the production version, but is otherwise identical to the road-going vehicle.
It even has factory air-conditioning and satellite radio.
“We didn’t slap our name on a trophy truck like other manufacturers do,” says Ford F-150 Raptor Marketing Manager Brian Bell. That’s good news for buyers, who stand to benefit from the immense amount of data and real-world torture testing produced by the 2016 Best In The Desert Season and SCORE Baja 1000. What’s more: the F-150 Raptor ended the off-road season with its original 3.5L engine. The 10-speed automatic transmission was swapped out mid-season for evaluation.
“I know how much we abused that truck, and [Ford was] able to capture a lot of data and provide updates as the Raptor readied for production,” says Driver/Team Owner Greg Foutz. The new F-150 Raptor spent more than 100 total hours being driven at the edge this season.


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Willard Romney: Humanitarian.
There are already two Twitter accounts dedicated to Romney Storm tips and @ShitWillardSez is offering his own tips for survival during Hurricane Sandy.
During a hurricane, it's always a good idea to crack your windows to depressurize the house. Or you can just roll them down. #Mittsstormtips— Willard Romney (@ShitWillardSez) October 29, 2012


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NEW YORK, NY, May 7, 2018 – MTS Logistics is proud to announce our 8th Annual Bike Tour with MTS for Autism, to be held on Saturday, June 9th, 2018. Building on the success of last year’s bike event, we would also like to announce that we have already raised over $21,500 from a variety of sponsors, far exceeding last year’s donations.
Event sponsors include MSC, Godiva, Chobani, Orient Star Transport, MTS Istanbul, MTS Izmir, Pacific Green Trucking, EFL India, Sino Connections Logistics, Maersk, Livingston International, and INTTRA.
The largest biking event in the logistics and transportation industry, the annual event helps spread awareness of autism and assists in the fight against it. Over the last 7 years, MTS Logistics has held the event as a healthy and fun way to raise awareness of a great cause.
All proceeds raised will be donated to Spectrum Works, a unique nonprofit that provides job training and employment to young adults with autism by building inclusive workforces at its partner companies.
Each participant will be provided a bike if needed, a biking jersey, and a bottle of water. They will receive a box of chocolates courtesy of MTS Logistics customer and gold sponsor Godiva. There will be a complimentary healthy brunch at Volna Café in Brooklyn, courtesy of MTS Logistics. The company will hold a raffle to give away a grand prize – a new bike, and an additional prize of two Fit-Bits.
Sedat Saka, President of MTS Logistics said, “We contributed to a great cause over the last 7 years and look forward to continuing to make a difference in 2018. I would like to thank all of our sponsors who have helped us raise over $21,500. MTS Logistics is dedicated to giving back, and we hope to see everyone at this year’s event.”
If you would like to donate to the cause of autism awareness, you can make an individual donation at this page. All donations will go directly to Spectrum Works.
To participate, email [email protected]. The deadline to notify the company of your participation is Friday, May 25, 2018.


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|Articles - April 2010|
|Thursday, March 25, 2010|
Oregon is the ninth-most trade dependent state in the country, so it took a significant hit when exports plummeted by 23% statewide in 2009.
But not all exports have suffered equally. While European markets have struggled with the Greek debt crisis of late, Asian economies have bounced back powerfully. That’s good news for Oregon because five of the state’s top six export markets are Asian nations.
The opportunity is richest in China, which shot past Japan and Canada last year to become Oregon’s most important trading partner. Exports from Oregon to China grew by 20% in 2009 while shrinking by 32% to Canada.
All of this has happened in spite of China’s notoriously undervalued currency, to the benefit of Nike, Intel and Schnitzer Steel, to name a few. Specialty manufacturers such as TriQuint Semiconductor of Hillsboro, which builds chips for handheld devices including the iPhone, have also targeted China with success. TriQuint saw its sales in China leap from $137 million in 2008 to $225.5 million in 2009.
With gains like that it’s not surprising that state officials recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to support the Obama Administration’s initiative to increase financing for small- and medium-sized exporters. Obama hopes to double exports and has singled out China as the market with the most potential. Policy-makers are also weighing how best to convince China to boost its currency to lessen the trade imbalance between China and the West.
Meanwhile, the rise of China as a global consumer as well as producer has compelled Northwest timber companies to boost exports of raw logs to China in unprecedented volumes. The Port of Astoria is negotiating a lease with Westerlund Log Handlers to develop a log exporting operation on the waterfront focusing on the Chinese market.
But while exporting raw logs to China may be a growing business, it creates few jobs in Oregon when compared to milling logs into lumber and then shipping them. In addition, many of the state’s top exporters have shifted manufacturing to China to capitalize on cheap labor. Oregon has lost about 60,000 manufacturing jobs over the past decade. An initiative to boost exports to China won’t necessarily bring those jobs back, but it may create different ones.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
PHOTOS BY JASON E. KAPLAN
Like all good journalists, OB editorial staff typically eschew freebies. But health care costs being what they are, digital news editor Jacob Palmer couldn't resist ZoomCare's offer of a three-in-one (cleaning, exam, whitening) dental office visit, guaranteed to take no more than 57 minutes.
Friday, May 22, 2015
BY HANNAH WALLACE
Travelers have always come to Oregon for its natural beauty. But will the increasing popularity of agritourism, European-style hiking getaways and forest resorts relax Oregon's notoriously strict land-use laws?
Thursday, May 28, 2015
BY LINDA BAKER | EDITOR
Reinventing capitalism. Office dumpster divers. Handprints versus carbon footprints.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
In 2014, total revenue for camping and day use in Oregon State Parks was a little more than $17 million. That figure may even higher this year "because we've had exceptionally nice weather," Hughes says.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
One year after he was appointed chair of the Portland Development Commission, Tom Kelly talks about PDC's longevity, Neil Kelly's comeback and his new role as Portlandia's landlord.
Friday, May 22, 2015
BY ROBERT MULLIN
Latest development in Nestlé plant saga sparks debate about the value of water.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
While most categories of commercial real estate have performed well, one of the most robust has been apartment buildings.
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Oregon-based Environments helps companies create inspired workspaces. “Simply put, we help companies future-proof their workspaces,” says Chris Corrado, president. Since 1988,Environments has witnessed firsthand the changing landscape of business. Native Portlander and Environments founder Corrado says, “We help our clients navigate the complex realities of the workplace today and plan for their future in a very mindful, strategic way. We think of ourselves as their partners in the process.”
One hundred years ago, the Willamette River might easily have been mistaken for a sewer. Unchecked industrial activity and decades of pollution made it unrecognizable compared to the clean river that now flows north for 187 miles from Eugene through the center of Portland.
3 Degrees Event Celebrates 5th Year Bringing Nonprofit and Business Professionals Together to Benefit Portland.
Bend energy leader brings passion for efficiency and renewable energy to the nonprofit.
Event in Forest Grove marks recognition of Global Food Safety Initiative Certification.


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Mercedes-Benz is considering launching a compact roadster in its range. According to Auto Evolution website, the German automaker could insert the new model, previously called SLA, just below the already consolidated SLK.
Toyota Aygo 2014 officially presented on Tuesday (4), first day of press conferences of the Geneva Motor Show. Co-developed with the French Citro?n C1 and Peugeot 108, the Japanese have a little bit fancier trim than the "cousins".
Matthias Muller, CEO of Porsche has revealed his desire to have a line of seven vehicles, stating that most cars have a life span of seven years. M?ller said that if Porsche had seven models, the company could make a big event every year.


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Nike Announces Pre-Launch of AAMU Shoe, Nov. 17
Nike has announced a special pre-launch of its new Alabama A&M University shoe. City G.E.A.R. will launch a limited quantity of the intricately-designed Terminator High kicks at its 2250 Sparkman Drive NW Huntsville location, Friday, November 17 from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The event will include a performance by the Alabama A&M Marching Maroon and White Band along with others special presentations and recognitions.
The first-ever AAMU Nike shoe is part of the brand’s Yardrunners program (originally launched in 2020) designed to empower Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This year, the AAMU-themed footwear joins shoes representing Spelman College, Tuskegee University, and Tennessee State to complete a bold collection of Terminator Highs for the 4.0 iteration of the Nike program.


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The future is encoded with crypto, so what does that mean for filmmakers and Hollywood?
The spectacle of NFTs is slowly revolutionizing how feature films will find funding and distribution. Everyday consumers can become film financiers by simply purchasing a profit share in a film through “pre-sale NFTs.”
Moviecoin.com, a crypto start-up, is leading the pack by partially financing the boxing biopic, Prizefighter, starring Russell Crowe and Ray Winstone. The lead developer of Moviecoin, James Hickey, told Express.co.uk that the groundbreaking inclusion of NFTs in the filmmaker process is “really to show that power can be returned to the artists and subsequently moved away from multiple intermediaries in a supply chain.”
Hickey continues promoting the inclusion of NFTs in Hollywood by saying, “By tokenizing movie pre-production and selling NFTs representative of future rights we truly believe the whole industry will be turned on its head or at the least forced to give people a better deal.”
The company plans to help fund low-budget films to see how the process of NFTs sales would affect a film production process. By taking a low risk with smaller budget films, the company can test the waters before diving fully into the big-budget machine of Hollywood.
One film Moviecoin has set to be 100 percent financed through presale NFTs is Mark O’Connor’s Oui Cannes. You can check out the presale NFTs for the film on the Opensea platform.
O’Connor also spoke to Express.co.uk, saying, “NFT pre-sales for the film won’t only change the model of financing, it will change the way films are made and the types of films that get made.”
Many filmmakers are not able to finance a film themselves, unless they are Francis Ford Coppola, and need the support of a studio to help finance their projects. The promise of NFTs financing films means that the creators who are often working under executive’s decisions are allowed to have full creative freedom, making the movie they want.
O’Connor says, “Blockchain moviemaking frees up the artists and can break down the impenetrable walls of Hollywood, opening up the industry to more diverse storytelling.”
So what do these presale NFTs look like?
Right now, they are digital certificates, stored forever on the blockchain, that state the owner of a piece of artwork, film property, memorabilia, and more. In the case of pre-sale NFTs purchased on Moviecoin, the ability to receive a profit share of the film years after it has been released is one of the bonuses of aiding the film’s finances.
O’Connor believes that NFTs could also be a new way of distribution for independent films. Those who purchase a pre-sale NFT to finance low-budget films could view the film once it is ready for distribution, allowing NFTs to act as a new way to stream films at home.
The possibilities of NFTs only seem to be growing, changing how artists will think about financing films in the future. If Moviecoin can successfully finance low-budget films, then the industry could be looking at major changes in how it does business with filmmakers. Could filmmakers finally be in charge of their big-budget vision? We will have to wait and see.
What do you think of pre-sale NFTs financing films? Could it work, or will it have disastrous consequences? Let us know in the comments below!


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World of Tank Developer Wargaming Opens Studio in Austin - NewsWilliam D'Angelo, posted on 02 August 2013 / 3,322 Views
Wargaming, the developer behind the free-to-play hit World of Tanks, has announced they will be opening a studio in Austin, Texas. This comes exactly 15 years since the developer was founded.
The new studio will serve as a central hub to help the communication between Wargaming's other studios. The studio will house its central technology, global business intelligence and producing center groups.
Wargaming also now owns the rights to two classic strategy games Total Annihilation and Master of Orion. The news was first announced at the Atari bankruptcy auction in July.
"Total Annihilation and Master of Orion are strategy game classics. Although it's too soon to disclose any details, we are more than willing to give a new lease of life to these games most of us grew up playing," said Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi in a statement. "It's exactly where our major focus will be."
Wargaming acquired Gas-Powered Games earlier this year, which was founded by the original designer of Total Annihilation Chris Taylor.


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China’s new development policy sounds a bit like a macrocosm of their manufacturing industry: it’s growing and producing higher quality products. Sure, it still churns out inexplicably cheap goods of little to no quality, but then there’s that iPhone that’s taken over your life. [I say “inexplicably”, but we can more or less blame incredibly...
THE Yangtze River is still home to some amazing marine life, but projects like the construction of the Xiaonanhai Dam, the latest in a series of 12 dams constructed by the Three Gorges Corporation, may spell the end for several rare species. Environmental groups, including China’s Friends of Nature (FON), believe that the Xiaonanhai Dam...
Thailand issues warrant for suspect in second Bangkok bomb blast
Fri, Aug 28, 2015 10:07AM UTC
Hong Kong student protest leader Joshua Wong faces new charges
Thu, Aug 27, 2015 6:10PM UTC
Chinese stock index jumps 5.3% as Asian stocks rise
Thu, Aug 27, 2015 5:08PM UTC


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Jeep Grand Cherokee S Limited to Debut During Preseason as New Euro Flagship
Soccer enthusiasts have been trying to win over American fans for decades—without much success—but they can perhaps take heart in knowing they’ve convinced American automakers to support the sport: Not only has Chevrolet signed on to sponsor Manchester United, one of England’s top teams, but Jeep has gotten into the game as well, with a three-year deal with Italy’s Juventus club. The new partnership was actually announced in April, but it’s getting renewed buzz now thanks to both the Chevy situation and the recent public unveiling of Juventus’ new Jeep-branded jerseys.
On the odd chance you’re not already a member of the club’s global fanbase—Juventus claims some 295 million followers around the world—it’s one of the most storied teams in Italian football, with a tradition that stretches back to its founding in 1897. Juventus’ long list of accomplishments includes 28 league championships and nine victories in the Italy Cup, with the club winning both again last season, and team members have played key roles in all three of Italy’s World Cup crowns. Perhaps more pertinent here, however, may be the fact that Juventus is run by Italy’s Agnelli family, which also controls Fiat-Chrysler, which owns the Jeep brand.
The three-year deal between Jeep and Juventus is an important building block in the auto company’s plans to expand its global reach, as it will drastically boost awareness of the Jeep brand just as it is preparing to launch three all-new vehicles for the European market. The goal: Achieve annual sales of 125,000 Jeeps by 2015.
But ahead of those fresh launches, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee S Limited will be revealed in July during Juventus’ preseason activities and take its place as the acme of the brand’s European lineup. Wrapped in the same sophisticated sheet metal that adorns the U.S. Grand Cherokee, and sitting on the same highly capable platform, the S Limited has been fine-tuned for European buyers with big 20-inch alloy wheels that feature a glossy black finish, unique “black-out” styling accents, sport seats covered in fine Nappa leather and suede, and a dash of carbon fiber in the cabin.
Motivating the Grand Cherokee S Limited will be a robust 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine that relies on innovative Multijet II technology to deliver 241 hp and 406 lb.-ft. of torque.
The Multijet stuff? That’s some nifty Fiat-developed tech that enhances the fuel-injection process for a notable 2 percent improvement in fuel economy and a similarly sized reduction in emissions—compared to a traditional injection system—while also providing much quieter operation.
And yes, Jeep has confirmed that a diesel powerplant will be deployed in the U.S. Grand Cherokee beginning next year. Now, no one's admitted it will be the Multijet V6, but it has to be considered a likely candidate, right?


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Krebs Security 14.09.2022 23:46
A number of financial institutions in and around New York City are dealing with a rash of super-thin "deep insert" card skimming devices designed to fit inside the mouth of an ATM’s card acceptance slot. The card skimmers are paired with tiny pinhole cameras that are cleverly disguised as part of the cash machine. Here’s a look at some of the more sophisticated deep insert skimmer technology that fraud investigators have recently found in the wild.
Dark Reading 14.09.2022 22:00
New executive order stops short of mandating NIST’s guidelines, but recommends SBOMs for federal agencies across government.
Dark Reading 14.09.2022 18:15
Researchers link the APT to an attack on a Hong Kong university, which compromised multiple key servers using advanced Linux malware.
Dark Reading 14.09.2022 16:00
Interactive intrusion campaigns jumped nearly 50%, while the breakout time between initial access and lateral movement shrank to less than 90 minutes, putting pressure on defenders to react quickly.


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Nissan Recalls 270K Vehicles Worldwide To Fix Start ButtonsNissan says the buttons can stick and cause the switches to shut off the engine.
Nissan, BMW Recall Vehicles To Fix Problems With Fuel Pumps Nissan and BMW are recalling more than 94,000 vehicles because the fuel pumps can fail and cause stalling.
Nissan Recalls 640K Altima Sedans To Fix Hoods That Can Fly Open While DrivingNissan is recalling 640,000 more cars in the U.S. and Canada to fix a growing problem with faulty latches that can allow hoods to fly open while cars are being driven.
Nissan Recalls SUVs To Fix Electrical Shorts, Hood LatchesNissan is recalling nearly 768,000 SUVs worldwide to fix faulty hood latches and electrical shorts that could cause fires.
US Probes Jeep Cherokee Fires, Nissan Rogue Air Bag TroubleU.S. auto safety regulators are investigating engine compartment smoke or fire complaints in two Jeep Cherokees, and air bags that didn't inflate properly in two Nissan Rogues.
Auto Industry Acts Globally -- Except On Recalls
US Turns Up Heat On Takata Over Air Bag ProblemU.S. safety regulators are ordering Japanese auto supplier Takata Corp. to provide more information about air bags that can explode and shoot shrapnel toward drivers and passengers.
Nissan Recalls Infiniti SUVs To Fix Air BagsNissan says it's recalling more than 1,800 Infiniti SUVs in the U.S. for an air bag problem that could send shrapnel into the passenger compartment.
What You Need To Know About Massive Air Bag RecallSo far, more than 12 million vehicles worldwide with air bags made by Japanese parts supplier Takata Corp. have been recalled for the problem.
US Agency Warns Nearly 8 Million Car Owners To Get Air Bags FixedThe inflator mechanisms in the air bags can rupture, causing metal fragments to fly out when the bags are deployed in crashes.
List Of Cars Affected By Airbag RecallA defect in the devices can possibly kill or injure the driver or passengers.
Nissan Recalls 2013 Altima Cars Because Hoods Can Fly OpenNissan is recalling more than 220,000 Altima midsize cars in the U.S. because the hoods could fly open while they're being driven.
Feds Probe Nissan Cars For Unwanted AccelerationThe U.S. government's road safety agency is investigating complaints that a trim panel can cause unwanted acceleration in Nissan Versa small cars.
American Cars In Decline? GM's Role In The International Recall WarGM is on track to break the American automaker record for the most recalls in a single year, ever.
Nissan Issues Second Recall For Air Bag Problems In More Than 1 Million VehiclesIt's the company's second recall to fix air bags that may not inflate in a crash.


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After news recently broke about GDAX adding litecoin to their platform, there was some initial excitement. Many people hoped this would be the moment where Litecoin would finally take off and soar to higher values. Unfortunately, none of that has happened so far, and it looks like GDAX is seeing very little LTC trading volume.
The Initial Litecoin Excitement Has Come and Gone
For the longest time, people have been wondering why Litecoin is still relevant to this very day. From an investment perspective, it provides a cheap way to get into cryptocurrency, in the hopes of a price increase. Unfortunately, that price will not be coming anytime soon, as the number of use cases for Litecoin remains very limited.
That being said, when GDAX added Litecoin, the price per LTC saw some upward momentum. Things went from a US$3.6 price per Litecoin all the way to nearly US$4. Not the biggest of increases, but it represented a 10% value shift overnight. Getting this alternative cryptocurrency into the hands of as many people as possible is never a bad thing.
What people fail to realise is how getting listed on bigger exchanges is no guarantee for overnight success. If there is no reason for the average consumer to buy Litecoin, they won’t do so. If consumers show no interest in it, neither will big investors, as there are no indicators for future profit.
All of this has caused the initial Litecoin hype to quiet down. Moreover, the Litecoin price is slowly tracing back to its US$3.6 value where it was before the GDAX announcement. Despite Litecoin being traded against both the US Dollar and Bitcoin, GDAX does not have sufficient volume to make a warrant a price boost right now.
Until more use cases for Litecoin arrive, there is very little reason to get involved in it. Bitcoin may not do much more from a features point of view, but it far more widely accepted than Litecoin [will ever be]. There is no little to no appeal for retailers to accept Litecoin if they work with Bitcoin already.
Image credit 1
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Livestream Launches Live Video Streaming for the iPhone/iPod touch
--Service Requires No Application or Player to Be Downloaded
Livestream (formerly Mogulus), a New York-based company which offers a platform that enables amateurs and professionals to produce and distribute live TV on the Internet, last week announced the immediate availability of a free service for streaming live to the iPhone and iPod touch. According to the company, users of its flagship Livestream Procaster platform can now start streaming live to the iPhone/iPod touch audience over 3G or WiFi, with less than five minutes of set-up.
Livestream claims to be the first company to offer a turnkey streaming service that uses the new H.264 HTTP live streaming functionality included in the native QuickTime player that Apple has pre-installed in the iPhone. This, the company says, means that Livestream producers do not need to obtain iPhone App Store approval in order to launch their own iPhone live streaming channel and that their viewers do not need to install any application: streams are viewed using the iPhone's Safari browser, the company says.
Livestream also says that it is providing a simple Representational State Transfer (REST) API that will allow developers to integrate live streaming into their own iPhone Web sites or applications. According to the company, Livestream Procaster includes a free streaming encoder, which means that no third-party application or license needs to be purchased in order to stream live to the iPhone using Livestream. "A key breakthrough is that the service doesn't require any proprietary player or application to be installed on the iPhone," Livestream co-founder and CEO, Max Haot, said in a prepared statement. "Producers are free to integrate the iPhone live stream with their own Web site, iPhone portal or iPhone application using the API provided."
According to Livestream, in order to take advantage of its platform's iPhone live streaming capability--which debuted with a live stream of Thursday's NewTeeVee Live conference--producers must simply download and install Livestream Procaster for the PC or Mac from the company's Web site, connect their video camera or Web cam, select "iPhone 3G Quality," and press "Go Live." Viewers can then view the live stream on their iPhone or iPod touch by pointing their Safari browser to the channel they want to view at iphone.livestream.com, the company says.


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US: ITC proceeds with denim patent investigation
There are 20 respondents in the investigation, including Gap Inc and Abercrombie & Fitch
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has said it will proceed with the launch of an investigation into a patent infringement complaint regarding certain laser abraded denim garments.
The complaint was filed on behalf of RevoLaze and TechnoLines on 18 August, and alleges that laser abrasion process technology violates one or more of their patents.
The complainants have requested the ITC issue a general exclusion order, or a limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders.
Earlier this month, however, retailers and fashion businesses joined forces to call on the ITC to abandon the investigation.
In an open letter, they pointed out that while the complainant is targeting laser abrasion technology used by rival firms Jeanologia/GFT and Easy Laser, it has instead taken action against importers who are "merely purchasers of finished apparel products and therefore...not directly responsible for any of the violations being claimed".
The ITC said it has not yet made a decision on the merits of the case, and it has been assigned to one of its administrative law judges, who will schedule an evidentiary hearing.
The Commission said it will make a final decision on the investigation "at the earliest practicable time".
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Taiwan's export boom comes off the boil
Taiwanese export data show the growth rate cooling in the second quarter, corroborating recent PMI survey findings of slower export gains as the global economy cooled amid further COVID-19 waves. Strong pent-up demand for electronics goods in particular bodes well for Taiwan's export growth to pick up again, but this assumes recent supply chain disruptions will ease.
Official data showed Tawian's export orders rising some 31.1% above levels of a year ago in June, marking the sixteenth month of continuous year-on-year expansion. Although down from a peak of 49.3% in January, the annual rate of increase remains higher than anything seen since 2010.
Given that the global economy was struggling in the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic this time last year, it's perhaps not surprising that year-on-year growth has been strong in recent months. To get a more accurate picture of the current growth trend, it makes sense to look at month-on-month changes or, more preferably, three-month-on-three month changes, as the latter are usually less volatile and help identify turning points more easily.
However, such comparisons are not straightforward as the published Taiwanese export orders series is not adjusted for seasonality. Hence, we've run the raw data through the X12-ARIMA program, which is widely used by statistical offices to remove seasonality, to produce a seasonally adjusted series. As can be seen, this is far less lumpy than the unadjusted raw data.
The seasonal adjustment process results in a new series which suggests export orders peaked in April 2021 at US$58.4bn, and have since eased to $56.8bn, the lowest since March - though clearly still very elevated by historical standards.
The change in the latest three months compared to the prior three months is now running at 2.74% for the second quarter, that's down from 10.8% in the first quarter. This tallies with the message from the IHS Markit PMI survey, which showed export orders growth slowing in June to the weakest since November.
This slowing of growth in the Taiwanese PMI series corresponded with a cooling of global manufacturing output growth in June, which moderated to the slowest since February.
However, the good news is that the global economy continues to expand at a rate which is historically consistent with solid growth of demand for Taiwan's exports, with electronics goods and components seeing especially marked demand growth.
IHS Markit global electronics PMI in fact shows demand for electronic goods continuing to outstrip production, to a large extent due to input shortages curbing production capacity. Taiwan's electronics firms therefore look set to benefit from this developing backlog of work, assuming supply conditions can improve in coming months.
Such a supply improvement is by no means assured though, as the Delta variant continues to disrupt global supply lines, especially in Asia.
July's PMI surveys will provide updated insights into how Taiwan is faring amid the new virus waves, with data published 2nd August.
Contact firstname.lastname@example.org for further information.
Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist, IHS Markit
Tel: +44 207 260 2329
© 2021, IHS Markit Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI™) data are compiled by IHS Markit for more than 40 economies worldwide. The monthly data are derived from surveys of senior executives at private sector companies, and are available only via subscription. The PMI dataset features a headline number, which indicates the overall health of an economy, and sub-indices, which provide insights into other key economic drivers such as GDP, inflation, exports, capacity utilization, employment and inventories. The PMI data are used by financial and corporate professionals to better understand where economies and markets are headed, and to uncover opportunities.
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Scallops from the Abrolhos Islands, Octopus from Fremantle and Shark Bay prawns could be available on more menus and supermarket shelves as demand for sustainably sourced seafood grows.
Growing shareholder and consumer pressure on restaurants, hotels and supermarkets is helping drive a shift towards more sustainable seafood.
However, determining what wild-caught seafood can be classed as ‘sustainable in a world overfished oceans is difficult.
Many classifications rely on the findings of international accreditation bodies, the largest and best known London-based not for profit the Marine Stewardship Council, which has certified more than 400 fisheries around the world.
Western Australia’s Western Rock Lobster fishery was the first in the world to receive sustainability accreditation from the MSC in 200, and has since been reaccredited four times.
As of October 2021, the state government, in partnership with the WA Fishing Industry Council and Rec Fish West, has supported 11 WA Fisheries in achieving MSC certification.
The state government’s role in this process followed a 2012 decision to allocate $14.5 million for research and to help seafood businesses with costs associated with certification.
Receiving the MSC’d tick of approval can cost up to $120,000 USD and take a business between 12 and 18 months.
To become accredited, businesses must score 60 and above against three criteria: sustainable fish stocks, a healthy ecosystem, and compliance with relevant laws and adaptable to environmental changes.
If a fishery scores between 69 and 70, it will have five years to take action to improve performance so it scores above 80.
Once accredited, businesses can use the blue MSC label on their products. However, the credibility of the mSC has been questioned in the past.
In early 2020, Netflix released the controversial documentary ‘Seaspiracy’, which raised concerns about the thoroughness of the accreditation process in some cases.
A UK parliamentary inquiry called Sustainable Seas, in 2019, recommended the MSC update its procedures to ensure fisheries: use only certified fishing gear to catch certified stock; factor in carbon from ships; address concerns about shark finning; and remove barriers for small-scale fisheries to receiving certification.
The MSC updated its certification process in 2020 to ensure the correct equipment was being used to catch target fish and address concerns about shark finning.
Despite the criticism, the MSC standard is used by companies including Coles, Woolworths, and the Hyatt to determine whether products are considered sustainable.
MSC’s annual report showed the volume of certified seafood sold increased by 6% between April 2020 and March 2021 around the world.
The Abrolhos Island and Mid-West Trawl Managed Fishery last month became the 11th fishery to receive MSC Certification.
One of the companies to hold licenses in the area is family business Far West Scallops.
Sales and Marketing Manager Simon Ch’ng said suppliers, especially those from Hong Kong, had been asking when they were going to be certified for several years.
“We kept getting told (that) if we want to keep selling into this market, we need to have MSC certification.” Mr Ch’ng told Business News.
He hoped it might offer opportunities to sell into new markets.
“The other thing that it may lead to is potentially the opening up of new markets, particularly in Europe,” Mr Ch’ng said.
“MSC certification products can sell at a large premium”.
Mr Ch’ng said the business had been o track to achieve certification earlier, but was setback by a heatwave, which depleted scallop stocks and forced the fishery’s closure from 2012 to 2016.
He said Far West’s boats limited bycatch by using exclusion devices, which offered an escape hole in the net for larger animals such as turtles and dugongs.
Overfishing was also limited by the state government’s strict rules on how many scallops could be fished each year to ensure future fish stocks.
Prior to COVID-19, Far West Scallops sold 80 to 90 % of it’s product overseas, mainly to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Now, Mr Ch’ng said, most product was sold locally, with about 30 to 40 % going overseas.
A recent deal with Coles and a growth in the popularity of cooking scallops, which Mr Ch’ng credited to cooking shows such as Masterchef, as well as the closure of restaurants due to the pandemic, were behind the change he said.
The pressure to ensure the company had sustainable practices also came from Coles, which requires an audit of its own before selling products.
Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Chief Executive Darryl Hockey said initially he thought consumer demand would drive retailers to provide products with the blue tick, but instead businesses were making the decision for consumers by only choosing stock certified products.
“Quality and price are still the primary determinants when it comes to people doing their purchasing,” Mr Hockey told Business News.
“What we are seeing, particularly in regard t supermarkets or bigger stores, the business leaders are taking ownership and making decisions on behalf of the customers.”
He said this had put pressure on producers to become certified.
“It’s now becoming increasingly evident that if you want to sell your products across the community and have your product sought by the purchasers, then you are going to want to have those standards,” Mr Hockey said.
The state’s Octopus fishery is only one of two in the world to be MSC certified, providing a unique opportunity for WA Octopus businesses.
O’Connor based Fremantle Octopus controls over 56 % of the licenses in the state, with 81 % of those in the primary catch zone.
“When people are looking for a wild-caught fishery that’s sustainable, in other words, that the fishery has not been over-fished and the species isn’t in danger, our fishery is one of two accredited fisheries in the world where we go about fishing for Octopus sustainably,” Fremantle Octopus chief executive Glenn Wheeler told Business News.
Mr Wheeler said the fishery had huge capacity to grow.
Commercial Octopus fishing in WA is a relatively new business, with the state’s managed Octopus fishery established in 2015.
At the time, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation calculated there were between 8,000 to 12,000 tonnes of ‘biomass’, or Octopus, in the area.
It said businesses could catch a combined total 1,000 – 2,000t of biomass annually without depleting the resource. Mr Wheeler said the current catch of the fishery was about 250t.
Fremantle Octopus is planning to use momentum achieved through certification to list on the ASX within the next year.
It already has several investors, including SG Hitchcock, Acorn Capital, CBC, Tribeca, and well-known families including the Bunning family, which founded Bunnings, and the Down family, which is behind several fast-food companies.
Fremantle Octopus was first mover in the local sector, having invented a unique way to catch Octopus called the Trigger Trap, which eliminates bycatch.
The rectangular trap sits on the ocean floor and is activated when an adult-sized Octopus tries to eat the bait on the back wall of the box, catching the Octopus.
Fisheries Research Report No.270, 2016 said the invention kickstarted the commercial Octopus fishing industry in WA, increasing the number of vessels from six in 2009 to 17 by 2013.
There are now more than 356 vessels operating in the fishery, according to documents uploaded by the mSC website late last month.
Fremantle Octopus now catches enough to export to Hong Kong, China, the US, Singapore and Dubai, as well as supplying Australian restaurants.
Its products were first stocked in Coles stores in WA in 2020, with a roll-out to 619 stores nationally in March this year.
Mr Wheeler said the biggest challenge now was to ensure the business could take enough Octopus to fulfil orders, given the unpredictable nature of wold-catch fishing.
“The national and international demand for Octopus currently outweighs the capacity to catch,” he said.
“We worry that we run into Christmas and we run out of stock.”
A recent name change by ASX-listed Ocean Grown Abalone, now called Rare Foods Australia, highlights the volatility of relying on wild-caught seafood.
Rare Foods Australia chief executive officer Rob Jorden said the change accompanied the company’s decision to diversify.
Along with its ‘habitats’, which provide a home for green lip abalone to grow in the ocean before they are harvested, Rare Foods recently signed and agreement with Yumbah Aquaculture to investigate the feasibility of a hatchery and farmed abalone site in Esperance.
“The brand name change underpins what we are going to do, how we are going to de-risk our core business.” Mr Jorden told Business News.
The name name also allows the company to add different products to its repertoire as it grows.
Mr Jorden said the change also aligned with the company’s focus on premium seafoods and desire to position its Two Oceans Abalone product with high-end restaurants and chefs in the Australian market.
He said sustainability had been a large part of the business from the start, with the company’s patented ‘habitats’ designed to find a way to assist wild abalone to reproduce.
The process, developed over 20 years, involves juvenile abalone being grown in hatcheries on land and placed on artificial reefs made of concrete.
The abalone are sustained by the ocean and protected and monitored by divers until they are harvested three years after seeding.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is supporting an MSC assessment of Rare Food Australia’s ranching process.
If it is approved, it will become the state’s first certified aquaculture operation under the MSC scheme.
Opportunities to enter the local market and replace the large amounts of imported seafood are also growing as people become more interested in where their food comes from.
The Department of Agriculture estimates about 70 % of seafood eaten in Australia is imported.
Seafood supplier Endeavour Foods has been selling local and international products into some of the state’s top restaurants for the past two decades.
It sells to Crown Perth restaurants Modo Mio, Nobu, and Rockpool Bar & Grill, Young George in East Fremantle, Bib and Tucker at Leighton Beach and Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River.
Endeavour Foods founder John Sharland said the restaurant scene had changed since he started the business in 2000, with chefs and customers more interested in where products come from.
He said the trend had grown since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as people increased their focus on buying local products.
Endeavour Foods general Manager Sophie Sharland said smaller and price-friendly restaurants were figuring out how to get local products onto their menus.
“You’ve got certain restaurants that might have budgets which potentially suit an imported product more, but they try to review their menu and see how they can work an Australian alternative into their menu, whether that might be serving a slightly smaller portion or charging a slightly higher price without going too far, they are looking at those options,” Ms Sharland told Business News.
“Before it was a no-no area, but now they are understanding the importance of pushing Australian products on menus and the feedback they get from clients eating the product.”
Bycatch, the seafood unintentionally caught when fishing for a target species, is one of the key environmental issues in the fishing industry.
But Ms Sharland said some species caught as bycatch proud popular among local chefs and there were often waitlists to buy them.
“Bycatch is seen as a negative thing but the amount of bycatch these fisheries get on their boats is very limited.” she said.
“We often have waiting lists for those particular products that present great value because they are lesser-known species, but quality is amazing and they can do all sorts of things with that particular product.”
Written by Madeleine Stephens ‘Business News’


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Popeyes Employee Caught Making The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich On Top Of A Trash Can
Who all is still feigning for the Popeyes chicken sandwich? 👀
Trashy photos (pun absolutely intended) have emerged showing a Popeyes worker making their in demand chicken sandwiches on top of a trash can. 🤢
According to the daily mail the pictures taken were from a branch of the fast food chain in Fairfax, Virginia, on Friday and show the burgers and buns resting on a tray right above the garbage bin.
The images are the latest in a series of disturbing incidents, including a fatal stabbing, to have occurred at Popeyes restaurants amid the return of its popular chicken sandwich, which has sparked chaos nationwide.
Y’all treating this sandwich like the sneaker heads treat a pair of Jordan’s. And that ain’t a compliment.


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Elon Musk is rated among the world’s modern business pioneers. After leaving South Africa, the country of his birth, he succeeded in building several disruptive businesses, placing him alongside the likes of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg for changing the way we live. Musk was a co-founder of PayPal before developing Tesla, the car company that has set the pace on electric vehicles, and SpaceX, a company that wants to take people to Mars. BizNews correspondent Barry Wood has been given rare access to the Tesla Gigafactory. – Jackie Cameron
Biznews’s man visits Elon Musk’s Gigabyte factory
By Barry Wood*
SPARKS, NEVADA: At Tesla’s annual general meeting June 11th Elon Musk observed that five years ago the Gigafactory didn’t exist. It was merely a vast expanse of rocks and dirt. Today it is a sprawling three-story red and grey building stretching across the desert. Its footprint equals a dozen football fields and is expected to become the world’s largest building.
This is where half of the world’s electric vehicle batteries are produced. Tesla’s partner, Japan’s Panasonic, occupies 30% of the building. It produces the cells contained in the small lithium ion batteries, 4,000 of which are arrayed in a pan beneath the floor of every Tesla Model 3 electric car. Over 10,000 employees work here in a three-shift 24-hour operation.
Gigafactory is what South African-born Musk calls the machine that builds the machine. Density – efficient use of space – is driving down costs. Production begins on the third floor while finished panels emerge at the bottom. 1,000 car sets per day go by truck five hours to the Tesla car assembly plant near the shores of San Francisco Bay. Plant manager Chris Lister, Tesla’s vice president of operations, describes the Gigafactory as a self-contained vertically integrated manufacturing facility.
The $6bn Gigafactory is a huge roll of the dice for the 15-year-old company that has yet to register an annual profit. Many analysts and investors who have shorted Tesla stock expect the company to fail. Others, big money investors and enthusiasts, are on the other side saying Tesla is winning and leading the transition to sustainable energy.
Last year Tesla doubled the size of its fleet. But Musk and his deputies emphasise that electric cars currently account for only 1% of the world’s cars. The future, they say, is limitless.
China is a critical market for Tesla. There are more electric vehicles in China than anywhere else and Tesla is building a large new production facility in Shanghai. Another production plant is planned for Europe, its location to be announced by the end of this year.
Musk told shareholders that Tesla’s Model Y, a mid-size sport utility vehicle, will go into production next year. Both a semi-truck and a pickup – which Musk says will combine the attributes of a Ford F-150 and a Porsche 911 – are in the works.
Musk told shareholders that lowering the cost of batteries is critical and he is confident the Gigafactory will achieve that objective. The company dismisses reports that lithium is in short supply and says car sales currently exceed car production.
Having put on weight over the past year ago and looking somewhat stressed, Musk said service and charging stations are the key to sales. On both counts, he said, Tesla is winning. In some markets Tesla personnel visits owners’ homes to change tires or make minor repairs and the number of superchargers is doubling. Vehicle range, said Musk, will soon expand to 400 miles (640 km).
I traveled from the annual meeting in the Silicon Valley to Sparks, Nevada as a passenger in a friend’s Model 3. Acceleration and comfort were first class, even awesome. It is indeed a computer on wheels. But autopilot remains a work in progress. Back home on the east coast the Tesla naysayers are in control. Here on Tesla’s home ground, the enthusiasts carry the day.
- Barry D. Wood writes about the global economy from Washington. He began journalism at the Financial Mail in 1974, was the Voice of America correspondent in Prague for three years, and has been returning to southern Africa regularly since 2010.


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By Colin Kellaher
Capital One Financial and Walmart Wednesday unveiled the Capital One Walmart Rewards program with the launch of a pair of new credit cards that will be available next week.
The companies said they will offer a co-branded Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard for purchases everywhere and a private-label Walmart Rewards card exclusively for Walmart purchases.
Both cards will offer 5% back on purchases at Walmart.com, along with an introductory 5% back on in-store purchases when using Walmart Pay for the first 12 months.
The companies said current Walmart cardholders will be converted to the new cards starting Oct. 11.
Capital One, a McLean, Va., financial-services company, and Walmart, the world's largest retailer, said they plan add more products and capabilities to the program over time.
Write to Colin Kellaher at email@example.com


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Solana is trending well at the moment and has recently increased by more than 10 percent. Many investors therefore ask themselves whether it is worth investing in SOL or whether it is already too late.
In fact, cryptowhales seem to be more focused on a new, different cryptocurrency at the moment.
Solana is up, but will it stay that way?
There has been good news for Solana in the last few months. That is why there seems to be a wing on the course at the moment.
Recently, NFT marketplace Magic Eden offered rewards for creating and trading Solana NFTs.
This premium allows even investors at Magic Eden free for SOL come. In addition, Magic Eden eliminated the subscription fees, but still charged 2 percent commission on trade.
Welcome to Chapter II It’s time to make some changes.
Starting today we:
✅ Launch NFT aggregation on Solana
✅ Embracing composability
✅ Maker fee -0.25% offered on ME for a limited time. Now you can earn SOL when your offers are accepted & listings are sold! 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/3b0QXal4re
— Magic of Eden 🪄 (@MagicEden) May 24, 2023
In late 2021, Magic Eden is essentially the the most famous and largest market for Solana NFTs. However, the platform is somewhat isolated with closed source code and various other limitations. The marketing move should change that.
Solana is a popular serial blockchain, but is that enough to keep the price going higher?
Solan there is a Tier 1 blockchain with the support of Smart Contracts. According to a unanimous opinion, the blockchain is one of the biggest competitors of Ethereum. This of course makes the cryptocurrency interesting for investors.
Blockchain is better known fast transactions and low fees. Therefore, many developers are relying on smart contracts in Solana. However, that is not necessarily enough to keep prices rising.
Even if SOL prices continue to rise, there is always the risk of taking a profit. In addition, the course has already gone well. Alternative addresses may cryptocurrencies or coins more money for investors Take in
💳 Banking x web3
🌍 Access to USD in emerging markets
⚡ Lowering friction for international transactions
🎧 Listen now: https://t.co/J10TktxUjl pic.twitter.com/7D2h94OtNS
— Validated (@ValidatedPod) June 28, 2023
A cross-chain bridge enables Solana to connect directly to Ethereum Virtual Machine-based blockchains
A new feature of the deBridge cross-chain bridge will allow Solana users to access other blockchains in the future. The fees for this should remain very low.
So Solana users can access blockchains based on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) without having access to other tokens. This is also good news for the SOL course.
1/ After 1+ years of development, deBridge is live @solanabringing seamless interoperability and liquidity transfers between Solana and the EVM blockchain.
The opportunity changes with Solana today 🧵 pic.twitter.com/wR6M8eN1XI
— deBridge (@deBridgeFinance) June 29, 2023
Corresponding solutions already exist, but they are not as seamless as the deBridge option. This new option removes all the drawbacks and allows seamless access to a variety of blockchains.
Even before this good news, the number of SOL users steadily increased and strengthened investors’ confidence in the cryptocurrency. In our price forecast for Solana, we explain how the price of SOL can develop.
Solana brings its own Web3 smartphone with Android
Parallel to the good news, Solana has launched its own Web3 smartphone with Android, which can also be used as a wallet to store cryptocurrencies, for example.
the third @Claynosaurz: Call of Saga mint will be going live next Wednesday 🌋
600 Claynos available 🦖
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
12pm PT / 3pm ET / 7pm UTC pic.twitter.com/0k6GjG0jm0
— Solana Mobile 🌱 (@solanamobile) June 23, 2023
On the smartphone, the main focus is on features for blockchain technologies. The smartphone is quite expensive, but the kit is basically a normal mid-range Android smartphone.
It is currently more likely that SOL can rise and is one of the most promising cryptocurrencies in 2023, but the price will probably not rise as high as the price of other cryptocurrencies that still have a lot of potential.
Can Thug Life be one of the biggest hits of 2023? Many crypto analysts believe in it
Looking for new cryptocurrencies that can quickly deliver high returns, interested investors quickly come across the new cryptocurrency Thug Life ($THUG).
This very interesting meme base seems worth a look. First of all, the pre-sale amount is quite low at two million US dollars. That leaves a lot of scope to raise prices quickly.
There is also a three-month liquidity block. This excludes short-term speculators and can ensure that prices rise quickly. 70 percent of the total offer is intended for pre-sale and more 15% for marketing purposes.
The developers are 15% reserved for community rewards. So it looks like an airdrop reward is coming up that will reward early investors.
So a successor to PEPE could emerge here. This would also be reflected in the fact that the $THUG pre-sale has ended quickly. Anyone who wants to take advantage of the new base should join as soon as possible.
Thug Life seems to be the best coin to invest in right now. Thug Life could be one of the cryptocurrencies that could skyrocket this year.
Cryptocurrencies with potential in 2023
Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile, unregulated investment product. Your capital is at risk.


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Consumer Affairs Victoria is reminding Victorians who need paper bills that they could be eligible for a fee exemption from their service provider.
An average customer receiving paper bills for their electricity, gas, banking, credit card and phone services could be paying $120 a year just on paper billing fees. However, there are ways to avoid these fees.
Many providers have exemptions from paper billing fees and will not charge the fee if customers:
- are older Victorians
- are registered for a concession
- receive income support
- are on a hardship program, or
- do not have access to the internet.
Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria Sam Jenkin said it was important consumers were aware of exemptions they may be entitled to.
“Contact your providers and ask if you are eligible for an exemption from paper bill fees, and how to apply,” Mr Jenkin said.
“It may be only a couple of dollars for each bill, but it can quickly add up - especially for people on a low income.”
There may also be an added incentive for businesses to exempt consumers. The Australian Government has asked businesses to increase their uptake of fee exemptions by late 2019 or face a possible ban on paper billing fees.
Consumers receiving and being charged for a paper bill that they do not want or need, are encouraged to contact their service provider to ask if they can be billed via email or the company’s app.


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The PALFINGER Group is further expanding its business in Russia and last week signed the contract for the complete takeover of Russian crane producer INMAN (Ischimbajskie Neftianiye Manipuliatory, JSC). The company with its headquarters in Ishimbay in the Republic of Bashkortostan (Volga region) has since 1992 been a producer and distributor of hydraulic lifting and loading systems, in particular knuckle boom cranes. With a staff of 415, INMAN is expected to generate revenue of approximately EUR 20 million in 2011.
INMAN operates two production facilities and is a major supplier to the Russian market. The company’s services range from the complete certification for the Russian market up to technical maintenance and spare parts. Primarily INMAN is a supplier to companies in the oil and gas industry as well as state-owned enterprises.
“We were looking for a well-established and reliable partner based in the CIS area in order to establish local value creation. INMAN is a manufacturer of premium, reliable products and has a very strong and long-standing brand name. Its product portfolio is the perfect addition to the PALFINGER products. The company’s good market position allows us in particular to open up the Ural region”, said Herbert Ortner, CEO of PALFINGER AG, on the strategic rationale behind the acquisition. INMAN will continue to exist as a separate brand within the PALFINGER Group. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the Supervisory Boards of both parties and the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation (FAS).
Since 2009 PALFINGER has expanded its Russian sales organization to a total of 50 dealers on both sides of the Ural. The acquisition of INMAN now provides the Group with local value creation and additional distribution channels – a major strategic step for the further development of the vast Russian market and the long-term growth strategy pursued in the CIS area.
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1.8m diameter thick-walled pipe made from Borouge’s polyethylene.
Khalifa Al Qabisi, Deputy Director General of ADFD, hosted Shaukat Ali Soudhan, Ambassador of Mauritius, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi,
EQT has announced that the EQT Infrastructure III and IV funds (EQT Infrastructure) have signed an agreement to sell a minority stake in GlobalConnect to Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala).
Borouge on Friday announced its financial results for the nine-month and three-month periods ended Sept.30, 2022, with the Company maintaining positive year-to-date performance
EcoFlow is delighted to announce that its innovative range of products will be available in Saudi Arabia through Amazon and Noon stores starting from October 1st, 2023.
More than 40 ministers and 120 leading energy industry executives from across the world, will come together in Abu Dhabi for ADIPEC 2023, where they will demonstrate progress,
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Expo Centre Sharjah to better serve the Emirate of Sharjah’s s investor community.


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British soft drinks company Britvic Plc has reported higher first-quarter revenue, driven by sales of low sugar and fruit-based beverages.
Britvic, whose brands include Tango, J2O, Fruit Shoot and Teisseire, said revenue rose 4.5% to £352.4 million in the quarter.
The FTSE 250 company is adapting to changing preferences of consumers as they opt for low sugar and healthier drinks and dealing with Britain's sugar tax levy that came into force last April.
It is also fending off competition from Nichols Plc and Refresco by adding citrus variants to its portfolio.
"Overall, we view this as a solid update and as a result there is no change to our positive view on the stock underpinned by a strong low-sugar focused portfolio of brands," said Goodbody analyst Patrick Higgins.
Britvic's Chief Executive Officer, Simon Litherland, said the firm was confident of making further progress in 2019.
"We have delivered a solid start to the new financial year, with performance in line with our expectations. Given the resilience of our business, the strength of our portfolio and exciting marketing and innovation plans, we are confident of making further progress in 2019,” he said.