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You’d almost think Uber had cosigned Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban.”
The outrage is palpable, the headlines ubiquitous. Esquire: “Here’s Why All Your Friends Are Deleting Their Uber Accounts.” The Huffington Post: “People Are Deleting Uber for Undermining Strike Against Muslim Ban.” Vox: “Why People Are Deleting Uber From Their Phones After Trump’s Executive Order.” Those are just the current top three results from a Google search of “delete Uber,” a topic that also spent a large portion of this weekend trending on Twitter.
So what did Uber do exactly? Something about Trump, something about strike-breaking… either way, something about which you should be very, very upset.
Or, try this: Uber did nothing wrong. Except find itself in the firehose of righteous liberal anger.
Here’s what what happened on Saturday (Jan. 28) at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, the site of one of several protests against Trump’s Jan. 27 executive order on immigration, and ground zero for the Uber backlash:
- Shortly before 5pm, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, an association of professional drivers in New York City with a large Muslim and immigrant membership, tweeted and posted on Facebook that its members would stop pickups at JFK from 6pm to 7pm, to protest Trump’s immigration order.
- At 7:22pm, as protestors amassed at the airport, JFK tweeted that the AirTrain, which provides service from nearby subway stops to the actual terminals, would only admit ticketed passengers and airport employees to “control crowding.”
- Also at 7:22pm, the Port Authority emphasized that the AirTrain limitations were being implemented for public safety.
- At 7:36pm, Uber’s New York City account tweeted that surge pricing—its system of increasing fares in areas with high demand—had been turned off at JFK.
- At 8:06pm, New York governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the Port Authority to reverse its AirTrain decision.
Then, at 8:38pm, it happened: A Twitter user spotted Uber’s tweet about surge pricing, and reissued it with scathing criticism.
From there the fallout was swift. Amid thousands of retweets, the same Twitter user pointed out that Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was serving on Trump’s business advisory team, saying Kalanick would “partner with anyone in the world” to increase his own profits. #DeleteUber was born.
Uber competitor Lyft seized on the moment, announcing a $1 million donation to the American Civil Liberties Union over the next four years. Kalanick, who earlier that day had said Uber was working to identify and compensate drivers affected by the immigration ban, came back with a stronger statement, calling it ”wrong and unjust.” He also said Uber’s lawyers would be on call to offer drivers legal support, and that the company was creating a $3 million fund to help thousands of drivers “with immigration and translation services.”
It was too late. The cycle of liberal outrage was fully underway, and that cycle is incredibly difficult—if not impossible—to stop.
Let’s return to Saturday night at JFK. The moment the taxi workers’ strike began and AirTrain service for non-ticketed passengers (i.e., protestors) was suspended, Uber was, operationally speaking, in a bind. If the company allowed prices to increase due to congestion—as it usually would—riders would have been furious and accused Uber of gouging during a civil protest (worse, imagine a newly released detainee having to pay five times the normal fare to get home). If Uber suspended service at JFK entirely—in solidarity with the taxi strike—protestors and people trying to get to their flights would largely be stranded, while drivers who did want to work wouldn’t have the option. So Uber did what was logically best: It turned off surge, ensuring that those who needed a ride could get one without paying extra, but didn’t force or even encourage drivers to keep working.
To be sure, there are plenty of reasons to dislike Uber. The company has broken local laws, attacked politicians, and offended entire cities. It has signed thousands of people into auto-financing arrangements with questionable terms and systematically misled its US drivers about how much they can really make on the platform. Uber has played fast-and-loose with user privacy, championing it to prying regulators while all but forcing riders to let its app track them constantly. Kalanick, before he refined his image, was known for saying obnoxious things like “hashtag winning” and “Boob-er.”
But for the most part, the people who got behind #deleteUber this weekend weren’t citing any of those reasons. Many seemed to not even understand what had happened. Instead, they read unsubstantiated claims that Uber had tried to bust a protest at JFK, or that its CEO had just joined a Trump advisory group (Kalanick joined the council on Dec. 14, and no one was deleting Uber then). They decided that Uber stood for everything wrong with corporate America. Many then installed Lyft, which has surged to fourth place among free downloads in the iOS app store. Had people mobilized behind a similarly unsubstantiated conservative cause, we might say they were duped by ”fake news.”
Could Uber have done more? Sure. Did it do a lot? Absolutely. Uber and the rest of Silicon Valley are in a league of their own when it comes to standing up to Trump on immigration. The tech industry’s rebuke to the president, which began with a careful statement from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Jan. 27, cascaded as the weekend wore on. Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Y Combinator president Sam Altman joined protesters at San Francisco International Airport. Venture capitalists matched donations to the ACLU in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Meanwhile, corporate dissenters outside the Valley can be counted on one hand: Goldman Sachs, GE, Mastercard, Ford, Starbucks. But consumers aren’t pledging to stop eating at McDonald’s, shopping at Walmart, or buying cars from General Motors. And why would they? Those businesses don’t claim to care about the public good in the same way. While Google’s slogan was “don’t be evil,” McDonald’s was ”I’m lovin’ it.” Tech companies spent years catering to liberal values; when those values came on the line this weekend, the standards of corporate social responsibility were high only for them.
This story has been updated to include the date Travis Kalanick joined Trump’s business advisory council.


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INTERNATIONAL food manufacturer Gourmania aims to expand its production after moving from Malaga to a bigger facility in Bayswater.
The business, which has been running since 1986, is the first to open in the Tonkin Highway Industrial Estate.
It specialises in mass food production for catering companies, Perth Airport, hospitals, restaurant groups and international brands.
“Relocating to the Tonkin Highway Industrial Estate is fundamental to Gourmania activating its expansion and modernisation plan, whilst ensuring we stay well-connected to key stakeholders,” he said.
Chief executive Raj Jeyarajah said the goal was to grow the business at the new facility.
“We are also moving towards logistics and management,” he said.
“Some of the freezer space is now being leased out to third parties.”
Director Daniel Romano said the business also launched two online meal delivery websites called Feed Me meals and Paleo Meals Direct.
Bayswater Mayor Dan Bull said the City looked forward to having more businesses moving into the estate, creating new job opportunities.

domain: news


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Poros Yacht Show Attracts Professionals of Global Yachting Sector – Photo Report
Yacht brokers, travel agents and tour operators from around the world had the chance to admire a collection of Greek luxury crewed yachts for charter and engage in trade agreements with their owners at the East Med Yacht Show-Poros 2015 from April 29 to May 4.
In its 14th year, the yacht show is an international exhibition where the finest crewed charter yachts were presented to the most prestigious charter agencies and brokers worldwide. The show included pavilions of companies of the yacht charter industry that promoted their services to professionals.
“The yacht show was also an opportunity to showcase Greece’s marine tourism industry and the island of Poros as a holiday destination”, the organizers underlined in an announcement.
During the yacht show, a series of cultural events organized by the Municipality of Poros were held. Events included a concert by the Burger Project on Sunday afternoon.
The East Med Yacht Show 2015 was organized by the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association (EPEST), the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association (HYBA), the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA) the Region of Attica and the Municipality of Poros. It was held under the auspices of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) and the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.
GTP was a communication sponsor of the yacht show.


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By: Sarah Mitschke | Category: Other | Issue: April 2007
AVSB’s executive management team is led by President and Chief Executive Officer Terry Almon.
Arkansas Valley State Bank has been in business since before many of today’s Broken Arrow and Tulsa residents inhabited the area. Its original location at Main Street and Dallas was founded in 1905 and continues to offer its banking services as the current corporate headquarters. While AVSB has grown throughout the years by adding two additional locations to serve its customers, 2007 brings more growth and advancement for the company.
Older than the state of Oklahoma, AVSB has plans to expand into more success and customer service this summer. The bank will open its fourth branch in the growing Stone Wood Hills area of Broken Arrow to continue its 102 years of quality products and services. The opening of its new branch will allow the institution to better serve its customers, while offering additional convenience.
“We are excited to announce our fourth location, which will provide full banking services, plus a special place for our mortgage center,” says AVSB President and CEO, Terry Almon. “This location was chosen due to office and retail growth in the northern part of Broken Arrow, in addition to its excellent, high-profile visibility. We are already gaining new customers who are anxiously anticipating our opening, and we expect many existing customers will enjoy the additional convenience.”
While the 10,000 square foot, two-story building is being built, a temporary facility will be open this summer to offer all of AVSB’s services to customers. Once open, the new, full-service branch will offer investments, business, personal and retail banking and consumer, commercial and mortgage lending. Construction should be completed sometime this fall.
AVSB’s fourth branch will open this summer in the Stone Wood Hills development of Broken Arrow.
In its fourth generation of being a family-owned institution, AVSB continues to carry on its strong tradition of community service. As customers are members of the community, the institution has made top priority of both. The AVSB staff volunteers hours of their time to various local organizations, and the bank contributes each year to several local, charitable organizations. AVSB recognizes the importance of the community and aims to invest in the neighborhoods, communities, schools and businesses in Broken Arrow and Tulsa.
Visit www.avsb.com or call (918) 251-9611 for more information about AVSB’s services. Be sure to visit the new branch this summer for the highest-quality customer service.


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Ford has announced that they will sell Volvo to Geely for a sum of $1.8 billion — subject to negotiations on Volvo’s pension deficit, as well as their debt. However, the Detroit automaker did say that they did not expect to see all of that sum once deductions for said items were taken into account.
Ford have yet to say how much they will end up getting in the deal, but it will certainly be a huge boost for them. Ford has lost a huge amount of money with Volvo, they paid over $6.5bn in 1999 —showing how much of a loss-maker the Swedish carmaker has been to them.
The Telegraph reports that Unions have expressed concerns over how much commitment Geely would give to Volvo, although it has been suggested that the Chinese company has $2.7bn to invest into Volvo.
This deal could be the kind of injection that Volvo needs, as they will get a huge boost by entering into the profitable Chinese auto market.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Mortal Kombat 11 Reveals Another New Character, The Kollector
Mortal Kombat 11 developer NetherRealm has given fans their first look at another playable character. During today’s Kombat Kast livestream, the studio unveiled the Kollector, an entirely new fighter making his debut in the upcoming fighting game.
“A proud servant of the Outworld Empire, the Kollector cares only for his wealth and status and will kill anyone to keep it,” NetherRealm said of the character. Much like Goro, the Kollector has four arms that he takes full advantage of in battle, as you can see in his reveal trailer above. The video also gives us a look at one of the Kollector’s Fatalities, which sees him literally ripping an opponent apart.
The Kollector is the third brand-new playable character announced for MK 11 thus far. Earlier this week, NetherRealm revealed Cetrion, an Elder God capable of wielding elemental powers in battle. Before that, the studio unveiled Geras, the loyal servant of MK 11 boss Kronika. Geras has the power to conjure up objects made of sand and even manipulate time.
More than 20 playable characters have been confirmed for the game so far, including an assortment of returning favorites like Kung Lao, Liu Kang, and Jax, who were revealed during Sony’s inaugural State of Play presentation. NetherRealm also unveiled one of MK 11’s DLC characters, Shang Tsung, whose likeness this time is based on Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the actor who portrayed him in the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie.
Mortal Kombat 11 launches for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch on April 23. The Switch version is being developed by Shiver Entertainment with oversight from NetherRealm; we had a chance to check it out at PAX East 2019 and found it ran and played perfectly fine on the console despite being a visual downgrade. You can read more about Mortal Kombat 11 in our pre-order guide.
Source: Read Full Article


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On Thursday, at the Converge22 event in San Francisco, Circle announced the acquisition of the payment orchestration company Elements. Circle explained that the acquisition includes plans to “quickly scale payment offerings.” Circle says the new service will make it easier for merchants to integrate their existing points of contact with Circle’s crypto solutions. Circle […]
Сross-continental forum on affiliate marketing is now expanding globally. The first KINZA event to be held far beyond the CIS will take place in Dubai, the world’s new mecca for business and pleasure. On October 26-27, over 3000 experts will attend KINZA Dubai for networking, experience-sharing, and establishing new partnerships. Festival Arena, which is one […]
The post KINZA 360 is Going to Dubai: Visit One of the 2022 Grandest Affiliate Marketing Events appeared first on NullTX.
Abu Dhabi, UAE – After the first successful event in Lagos, Nigeria, the Web3 Delight is moving to the thriving capital of UAE. Abu Dhabi Web3 Delight is a unique next-generation event dedicated to developing and adopting blockchain in the growth markets. It’s the second in the series of Web3 conferences organized by SwiftMotion Media, […]
The post Web3 Delight Abu Dhabi – Unleashing the Potential for the Future Tech Development appeared first on NullTX.
Abuse expands with use in the case of cryptocurrency, Europol has acknowledged while also noting that blockchain technologies offer authorities a new opportunity to fight crime. Europe’s law enforcement agency also says they can help investigate money laundering networks. Understanding Cryptocurrencies Is Vital to Tackling Organized Crime, Europol Says The growing use of cryptocurrency […]
Istanbul Fair Center will be home to the first Blockchain technologies Expo in Türkiye on December 22-25, 2022. All actors operating in the sector around the world will get their first chance to meet in Istanbul. “Blockchain Expo World” will feature an unprecedented event in the sector, bringing together all actors in Metaverse, Cryptocurrencies, NFTs, […]
The post Istanbul to Host the First Blockchain-Metaverse Expo Fair in Turkey appeared first on NullTX.
About the Conference The World Market Center (Las Vegas) will be hosting Pulse Con 2022. It is a 2 day conference that will be centered around an upcoming revolutionary crypto blockchain, The Pulse Chain Network. The conference will host billionaire keynote speakers, millionaire panelists, along with tech developers, social media influencers, and affluent business people […]
The post The World’s Largest Crypto Event in Las Vegas Sep 6-8 appeared first on NullTX.
A unique event, “WOW MetaVentures Bangkok,” will be held on December 14-15 in Bangkok. The organizers are the venture capital fund “MetaVentures” and WOW Summit. The “WOW MetaVentures” brand is reorganized into a venture capital fund focused on digital projects related to Metaverse, NFT, Digital Art, and other promising areas of the cryptocurrency industry. “WOW […]
The post International Summit “Wow MetaVentures Bangkok” to Be Held on Dec. 14–15 appeared first on NullTX.
The MetaWeek conference will take place on September 11-14, 2022. Thousands of web 3.0 enthusiasts and thought leaders worldwide will convene in Dubai to set the future trends of metaverse applications. After huge success in launching the first MetaWeek in early March 2022, NexChange Group presents the second edition of the large-scale international event in […]
The post Metaverse, Web 3.0 Disruption, and Blockchain Advancement to be Discussed at MetaWeek in Dubai appeared first on NullTX.
The tech investment world has increased in the last 20 years since the dot com boom. Investors have gone from investing in microchip manufacturing companies to internet marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. And even though investors understand the rapid changes & growth of the tech world, they have been having a hard time investing […]
The post Dubai to Be the Web 3 & Metaverse Capital of the World appeared first on NullTX.
The First edition will be held in Berlin, Germany, from 23-24 November 2022, with more than 5000 attendees. 4 months from now, the Berlin Station will be the most important place on the European blockchain map, linking together the most important names from the blockchain industry. “We are bringing founders, investors, and blockchain experts together […]
The post Next Block Expo Is Aiming to Become the Biggest Blockchain Festival in Europe appeared first on NullTX.


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»On the heels of a string of successful infiltrations at PBS, Nintendo and Sony Pictures, a vigilante hacker collective, known as LulzSec, compromised the website of the Atlanta chapter of InfraGard, an FBI partner organization. The hacking group, whose tagline is “laughing at your security since 2011,” defaced the site and posted online the names, email addresses, usernames and cracked passwords of the site's 180 members. LulzSec said it targeted InfraGard, a public-private partnership that aims to share information about cyberthreats, in response to a report that the Obama administration was considering classifying hacking as an act of war. LulzSec has promised more attacks against others.»New rogue anti-virus (AV) malware scams targeting the Mac OS X have grown increasingly nefarious, leading to a significant uptick in infections. The malware – dubbed MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector and MacGuard – aims to trick users into providing their credit card numbers to purchase phony AV products. Variants have been spreading since early May through poisoned Google image search results. The latest strains are able to install themselves automatically, without prompting for username and password.
»A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would update a 25-year-old digital privacy law to require authorities to obtain a court-issued search warrant before retrieving a person's email and other content stored in the cloud. The proposed legislation, introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., would amend a 1986 law, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). The newly introduced ECPA Amendments Act requires authorities to obtain a search warrant before obtaining customer information from electronics communications or other providers.
»The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is heading a five-year, $10 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security project to investigate cybersecurity methods and how they can benefit government. The program, called Homeland Open Security Technology, is aimed at identifying open-source approaches that can support federal security objectives while saving agencies money. As part of the program, GTRI researchers are reaching out to members of government, industry and academia to learn how such solutions have been successfully implemented and where challenges remain.
»While a vast majority of organizations have policies around mobile device use, risky behaviors are commonplace, according to a report from McAfee and Carnegie Mellon University. The study, which focused on the consumerization of IT and its impact on security, found that there is a “serious disconnect” between policy and reality in the enterprise mobile computing environment. A survey of more than 1,500 mobile device end-users and senior IT decision-makers found that 95 percent of organizations have mobile security policies in place.


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Recently Just Don and Jordan Brand collaborated on a limited release of the Air Jordan 2, but this wasn’t the first time the two came together for a pair. In 2013, Don C and Jordan Brand auctioned off pairs of the Air Jordan 1 and a Just Don snapback. A total of 37 pairs went to eBay to celebrate the 37th anniversary of Black History Month. Two years later and the two are back together with another auction.
This time around Just Don and Jordan Brand produced a limited Air Jordan 1 High Strap in all white, gold lace tips and hints of black. The auction is to celebrate the 39th anniversary of Black History Month and all net proceeds will benefit the Ever Higher Fund.
The Just Don x Air Jordan 1 High Strap BHM went live today at 2:00 PM and will run until February 28th till 5:00 PM PST. Good luck to everyone bidding. You can place your bid HERE.


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The women’s footwear retailer launched more than five years ago under Nordstrom’s off-price HauteLook brand.
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“Consumers are channel chameleons,” Bazzone adds. “This is no longer the battle of the channel. It’s the battle of the brand. Catalogs are a great way to present your brand. And the company that allows customers to interact with it as they please will win the war.”
Jean Lawrence is a freelance writer based in Chandler, Ariz.


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Are you in the holiday spirit yet? We here at Label Insight sure are! We decided to take a look into our database to see just how winter spirited we are. So grab a mug of hot chocolate and cuddle up by the fire as we dive into Label Insight’s product database.
In October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement about the concern of growing sesame allergies in the U.S. Today in the U.S, sesame is not one of the “Big 8” food allergens which include egg, fish, milk, peanut, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat – which currently require labeling. Sesame is, however, a major food allergen in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all member countries of the United Kingdom and the European Union, and therefore require explicit labeling of sesame in products sold there.
You might've thought you were in the clear to eat romaine lettuce after the scare this past summer. Nope – scratch salad off the list of dishes you're planning to serve, or to bring if you're the guest. Here's why.
Americans are cutting back on sugars: nearly half of consumers (47 percent) reported planning to eat less sugar or buy more 'no sugar added' products this year. Yet, a trip around the Thanksgiving table shows that hidden sugars are piling up, long before the pumpkin pie.
Temperatures have started to cool, school is back in session, and Halloween candy is already being prominently displayed. You know what that means -- pumpkin spice season is upon us. In fact, Starbucks has already started selling its much-anticipated Pumpkin Spice Latte. Fans of the popular drink are thrilled they didn’t have to wait until September to get their “PSL fix.”
The leisurely pace of summer is over and parents across the country are preparing to resume their early-morning lunch packing ritual. But which favorite food and beverage items will they be packing this year? Research shows that more Americans than ever before are focused on avoiding sugar and eating sustainably. And with rising numbers of children struggling with obesity and diabetes, several organizations and researchers have urged parents to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce these risks.
Fourth of July weekend is upon us and Americans across the country are stocking up on their BBQ essentials. But are the ever-popular hot dogs still at the top of the shopping list this year?
These 4 Cs aren’t for carats, but regardless of cut or color, their benefits will give you clarity. What are the 4 C’s? Earlier this year, Label Insight attended Natural Products Expo West with a group of trendspotters on the hunt for what we should expect to see in the coming months and year. Topping the list of trends we saw were the “4 Cs”: collagen, coconut, chickpeas, and cauliflower.
December 13th is National Ice Cream Day, so what better time to dig into one of our favorite treats? Though ice cream is typically thought of as a guilty pleasure, it turns out today’s ice cream brands might just be healthier than you think. With the rising popularity of trendy ice cream brands like Halo Top, Enlightened and Vixen Kitchen, we’re seeing greater focus on including “better for you” ingredients. Image via Enlightened's Official Facebook Page
Cold and flu season has arrived and soon you’ll likely find yourself strolling down the medicine aisle at your local supermarket. But solutions to those common viruses and their pesky symptoms can actually be found throughout the store. A number of widely known food ingredients are proven to be effective at preventing and treating colds and flu.


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Amazon working on strange smart glasses, other hardware for this holiday season
Amazon has been moving incredibly fast over the last year, releasing a series of Alexa-enabled products which is rapidly cementing itself as the smart device leader in the field of digital personal assistants, all designed to driv...
Microsoft acquires $150 million in Near Eye Display patents
TechCrunch reports that Microsoft has acquired the IP of military Heads-up display company Osterhout Design Group for $150 million. The company specializes in wearable computing devices and other gadgets, primarily for the militar...


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It is no secret that Reliance Jio’s foray into the Indian market last year had a (still has a) big effect on the incumbent telecom operators in the country. While the dust is still settling, the new entrant in the telecom sector is eying to disrupt a different sector now. Yes, the feature phone market (no points for guessing). And, it seems like the smartphone vendors are prepping to compete against the likes of Jio already by seizing a fair share of the market even before the telco launches a feature phone.
Recently, Lava, the domestic smartphone manufacturer had unveiled a 4G enabled feature phone called Lava 4G Connect M1. Priced at Rs. 3,333, the feature phone is aimed to cater the needs of people who need a 4G VoLTE capable phone without spending a fortune.
Now, Micromax, another home-grown smartphone vendor is tipped to unveil a VoLTE capable feature phone in April to compete against the yet-to-be-launched feature phone from Jio.
As a matter of fact, both the feature phones are not released yet, and there’s only very little amount of information available for us to comment on either of them. But, what we can certainly do is comment on the pricing. With Reliance Jio, it has always been pricing that made the difference. It forayed into the Indian telecom market, offered unprecedented plans, and within a short period it is now ruling the industry.
We can expect a similar scenario with the feature phones as well. If rumours are anything to go by, the telco is speculated to price its feature phones anywhere close to Rs. 1,200. On the other hand, Micromax is rumoured to price the Bharat 1, it’s upcoming feature phone close to Rs. 2,500. If true, that would be twice as much as what Jio is asking for.
Obviously, folks would choose Jio’s offering over any other phone for the affordable price tag. However, Micromax’s phone should have its set of advantages. For instance, users will have the ability to swap SIM cards as needed on Bharat 1 which, in all its likelihood, won’t be possible with Jio’s offering. But, that itself may not be good enough for people to choose Bharat 1 over Reliance’s offering when its made available in the future.
Micromax has to really up to the game with Bharat 1 to sustain the competition offered by Jio. Will that happen? Well, only time can answer that question. But, what do you think? Can Micromax offer tough competition to Reliance Jio? Will you be interested in Micromax’s offering if it turns out to be decent enough? Let us know in the comments section below.


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Honda CBR 650F India launch on August 4
Popular 2 wheeler maker in India, HMSI ( Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India ) has made an official announcement that Honda CBR 650F is going to be launched on 4th of August 2015 in India. This will be Honda‘s 10th launch out of the planned 15 launches this year. Booking for Honda CBR650F has already been started across all authorised Honda dealerships with a payment of Rs 50,000/-.
Under the hood, 650F is powered by a 4 cylinder, 649 cc, liquid-cooled engine which churns out a maximum power of 86 bhp at 11,000 RPM and a maximum torque of 63Nm at 8000 rpm. The engine is mated with six-speed automatic transmission. Sources reveal that the bike would be sold across 20 different cities in India. Honda is going to manufacture and assemble the bikes at the rate of 2 bikes per day with a localisation of 5%.
All new Honda CBR 650 is going to be offered in a single body color option, which is based on a twin-spar steel frame. When it comes to dimensions of this new bike, it measures 2110mm in length, 755mm in width, and 1145mm in height with a wheelbase of 1450mm.
As for suspension system of Honda CBR 650F, a 41 mm telescopic fork does the duty at front, while a swingarm monoshock strut is at helm at the rear. The bike features 320 mm twin-piston caliper disc at the front and a 240 mm single-piston caliper disc at the rear. There is a digital speedometer with a couple of tripmeters on offer as standard feature. Honda CBR 650F would be challenging the likes of Kawasaki Ninja 650, Triumph Street Triple and the Ducati Monster 795, while being priced at around INR 9 lakhs (on-road). For those asking, HMSI, around a week back, launched the new 110cc commuter motorcycle Livo in the country at an introductory price of INR 55,000 (on-road).


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UPPER CUMBERLAND – Employee information is stolen. Important data is compromised. A bank account is hacked. If your business is victim to any of the above cyber attacks, are you prepared?
Most are not, according to a recent survey by Chubb, a national property and casualty insurer. An estimated 57 percent of companies do not include cyber liability insurance as part of their plan. And such situations, often times, are not covered on a standard general liability policy.
The Upper Cumberland should take notice, local insurance professionals said, as small businesses are increasingly under attack. According to security software developer Symantec, companies with fewer than 250 employees were the focus of 31 percent of all cyber attacks in 2012 — a jump from 18 percent in 2011.
“Cyber liability is kind of a specialized coverage, but there are a lot of carriers who offer it,” said Chuck Sparks, vice president and agency manager at BB&T-Legge Insurance in Cookeville.
Sparks said cyber liability insurance, which can be written for businesses, government entities or non-profits, has been gaining in popularity for the last six or seven years. And that will likely continue, as more business is driven online – and with greater public awareness following breaches like Target.
“We have seen an increase in that coverage being important to our clients, because the cost can be devastating to a business that doesn’t have it,” he said. “The potential cost to a business if they don’t have it is just as great now as it is insuring your home against fire.”
So who needs it exactly? If you accept online payments or make payments online – either personally or through a business – it’s highly recommended. If narrowing the scope, Steve Copeland at Cumberland Insurance Agency in Cookeville said, medical facilities, car dealerships, banks, credit unions, etc., are all high priorities.
Premiums vary greatly, but Copeland said a quality policy would likely cost a minimum of $1,500 annually. CIA most commonly offers data breach coverage.
“Every business is different,” Copeland said. “We offer it, and we tell them what it covers, show them the risk they have, and then they make their decision based on where their data is stored and who’s got control. We try to offer it to every customer,” he added, “but at the same time, some are more susceptible to breaches than others.”
BB&T also offers identity theft coverage, which is optional on a homeowner’s policy, but, Sparks said, “We don’t sell one without it.” Even if the customer’s not thinking about it, we’re thinking about it,” he said. “There are full-time criminals all over the world, where this is all they do, figuring out a way into your system. Every time you open the paper anymore, there’s another situation where credit card numbers or Social Security numbers have been compromised. And it’s not going to go away.”


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SWsoft has released a smaller-scale, less expensive version of its Virtuozzo software in an effort to encourage new users of the virtualization product, the company plans to announce Wednesday.
Virtuozzo Enterprise Starter Pack, like its full-fledged alternative, divides a single instance of Linux or Windows into several somewhat independent containers, each with its own higher-level software. Its differences are that it costs less, runs on servers with a maximum of two processors, and limits customers to running a maximum of four virtual environments.
The starter pack cost is $1,198, including a year of "silver-level" support. The regular Virtuozzo costs $1,250 per processor socket.
Virtualization is a hot area as customers seek to consolidate work onto fewer servers, cutting energy and maintenance bills and in some cases leading to a more flexible computing infrastructure. When it comes to virtualization on mainstream x86 servers, the market leader is EMC subsidiary VMware, whose revenue in the first quarter grew 95 percent to $256 million.
SWsoft's approach consumes fewer system resources than that of VMware, whose virtual machines have their own operating systems, but it's less flexible in the sense that all the software must use the same version of the operating system. And in the case of Linux, it requires the operating systems' kernel be modified from the standard version that comes from a supplier such as Red Hat.
SWsoft is working on partnerships to assure customers its software isn't disruptive, though. Linux sellers approve of the lightweight virtualization employed by Virtuozzo and have expressed some enthusiasm for the open-source project at its foundation, OpenVZ. Virtuozzo is certified to work with some existing products, including IBM's DB2 database, and SWsoft sells an approved version of Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise Server bundled with its software.
Among Virtuozzo customers are General Electric, Sony, CNN, America Online, Hilton Hotels, Credit Suisse Group, Intuit, Lucent Technologies, the Federal Aviation Administration, Moody's, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Lockheed Martin, Siemens, Cox Communications, Bertelsmann, the United States Congress, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Pennsylvania.


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The head of an Internet security company that claimed to have found dangerous loopholes in U.S. military computers was arrested and indicted Monday on six counts of conspiracy to access military, government and private computers, said U.S. Attorney Carol Lam.
The indictment accuses Brett Edward O'Keefe, 36, of sharing military files with news media to generate favorable publicity for his company, ForensicTec Solutions. O'Keefe allegedly had unauthorized possession of files from NASA, the Army, the Navy, the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. O'Keefe said the company's goal was to call attention to the need for better security and "get some positive exposure" for the fledgling firm.
The indictment identifies O'Keefe as president of ForensicTec. The FBI raided ForensicTec's offices shortly after an August 2002 story in The Washington Post said ForensicTec claimed to have identified 34 military sites where network security and confidential files were easily compromised, including Army computers at Fort Hood, Texas, NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and Navy facilities in Maryland and Virginia.
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High-tech billboard at Piccadilly: Coca-Cola unveiled one of the world's biggest and most sophisticated billboards in London's Piccadilly Circus -- a 99-foot-wide neon colossus which can respond to the weather and interact with people looking at it from the ground.
The billboard was switched on at dawn Tuesday, lighting up with the message "Hello London" in red and white. It's the biggest billboard in Britain and the widest in the world, beating even the monster Coca-Cola sign that reigns over Tokyo's Ginza shopping district. The billboard is three times bigger than the previous Coke sign on the same site.
"This is an intelligent sign, with state-of-the-art computer technology, built-in cameras and an on-board, heat-sensitive weather station," Coca-Cola said in a statement.
"When it's raining, big drops will appear on the screen and when it's breezy, the Coke sign can ripple as if it's being blown by the wind," a spokeswoman for the company said. It will also be able to recognize if people are waving at it from the ground below and, eventually, will be able to respond to text messages from mobile phones, she said.
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Advanced wireless chips: IBM will announce a new chip design Tuesday that it says will quadruple the performance of future wireless devices and reduce their power consumption by 80 percent. The new complementary metal oxide semiconductor and silicon germanium bipolar chips will use one-fifth as much power as current technology, IBM said.
The new chip combines computing and communications capabilities on one "silicon on insulator" wafer that is thin enough to maximize both components, IBM said. The company expects the new chip design to be implemented within five years to boost the performance of applications such as streaming video on cell phones.
The chips will be manufactured using next-generation 65 nanometer (equal to one-500th the width of a human hair) or even smaller 45 nanometer processes, IBM said. The smaller the circuitry and space between transistors the more that can fit on a chip, increasing the computing power with no increase in cost or size.
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Media centers in your living room: Microsoft launched a major upgrade Tuesday to its multimedia personal computer software, which it hopes will bring more computers into people's living rooms.
Windows XP Media Center 2004 is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system for PCs that double as digital video recorders, music players and image viewers. Media Center PCs have a remote control that allows users to control multimedia functions. At the slightest nudge of a mouse, however, the computers revert to the Windows desktop.
In a sign of the increasing acceptance of the software platform, Dell and Sony said they would build PCs for Media Center. Sony long has promoted its own multimedia designs, and Dell's endorsement of the product signals that it believes the platform is achieving wider acceptance.
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Compiled by Kari L. Dean. Reuters and AP contributed to this report.


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Continuously striving to position itself as a 3D printing powerhouse, 3D Systems has acquired yet another company to add to its diverse portfolio of 3D printing technologies. With the acquisition of Figulo Corporation, the industry leader now possesses ceramics 3D printing technology.
Figulo, which operates a cloud-based ceramics printing service relying on technology rooted in 3D Systems ColorJet Printing (CJP), produces 3D printed ceramic objects for consumers, as well as architects, designers, and artists. 3D Systems plans to incorporate Figulo’s 3D printed ceramics into its Quickparts cloud-based 3D printing service and into its Cubify ecosystem, with the additional goal of commercializing Figulo’s own end-user ceramic 3D printers for those wishing to 3D print their own ceramic items.
Andrew Jeffery, President and CEO of Figulo Corporation, gave his reaction to the acquisition: “I couldn’t think of a better home for Figulo than 3DS. This is a dream combination of 3D Systems’ powerful CJP full color technology with Figulo’s extensive ceramic materials and process know-how to accelerate online and at home adoption and to unleash the full potential of professional and consumer ceramic 3D printing.”
CEO of 3DS, Avi Reichental, explained how the purchase would strengthen the company and ready ceramic 3D printing for the public, “With Figulo on board, we are enhancing both our Cubify and Quickparts capabilities and significantly expanding our materials and process expertise and know-how to fast track the commercialization of ceramic 3D printers. Ceramic 3D printing creates a unique experience for this time honored art form and is sure to induce a new breed of artists, designers and major décor labels to incorporate 3D printing into their professional toolbox while consumers enjoy the next dimension of décor and art.”
Since the acquisition, it seems that Figulo’s shop on Shapeways has been removed, which I suppose means that they will no longer be supplying 3D printed ceramics for the online service bureau, leaving Shapeways looking a little like the robot at this link. The good news is, maybe we’ll be able to buy our own 3D ceramic printers soon!


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Governments have set different timelines for when 100% of the vehicles produced should be electric:
Not only are the governments leading the way with various omission policies and grants for EV owners, but people themselves are increasingly opting for EVs due to concerns about the environment.
This all has resulted in a 92% spike in EV sales during the first half of 2019, opening the way toward a greener future for everyone.
Below, we’ll take a look at how many EVs are at the road, EV sales in the US and around the world, EV user demographics and some interesting stats about EVs.
Global EV Market Outlook – How Many EVs Are There on the Road?
According to the IEA report, the total number of EVs on the road in the beginning of 2019 jumped to 5.6 million, an increase of 63% from the previous year.
Unofficial reports claim the number of EVs to be 6 million. In 2017, the total number of EVs was at 3 million. [IEA]
Percentage of Electric Cars in the World (China, US, Europe)
Of the 5.6 million, around 45% of electric cars on the road in 2018 were in China – a total of 2.3 million – compared to 39% in 2017. In comparison, Europe accounted for 24% of the global fleet, and the United States 22%.
This data shows that as of the end of 2018, Norway had the highest percentage of people buying and using EVs (2.1%), as well as the most EVs per capita – 55.9 of units per 1,000 people.
In China, this number is merely 1.6 per 1,000 people but China has by far the highest number of EVs on the road – over 2.2 million. The world average is 0.7 per 1,000 people. [Wikipedia]
According to the figures for 2019, Germany is now the largest market for EVs, with 50,000 new sales in the first half of 2019. Norway follows in second place. [EV Volumes]
For those wondering what is the number of electric vehicles in the US – there are over 1.1 million electric vehicles in the US with 3.4 EVs per 1000 people.
EV Sales Around the World
To promote electric car adoption, governments have established grants and tax credit on purchase of new electric cars.
The U.S. government offers a federal income tax credit up to $7,500, and several states have additional incentives.
The UK offers a Plug-in Car Grant up to a maximum of £4,500 ($5,929). In Europe, some countries are offering purchase grants from €4,000 to €6,000.
Despite a decline in global auto sales entering its third year, which analysts call at “peak car”, EVs share in new sales continue to increase. Namely, global sales figures show us that 4.89 million EV units were sold between January and October of 2019, marking an increase of 20% in comparison to the same period the year before. [JATO]
What Percentage of Cars Sold are Electric in the US?
In 2019, around 17 million light vehicles were sold in the U.S., including approximately 4.7 million cars and 12.2 million light truck units. (Statista) Of this number, 245,000 were EVs – 1.44% (or 5.21% if you only count cars). (Statista)
Within the U.S., some states were far ahead of the rest in terms of EV take-up in 2018, with California regularly topping the tables. In both 2017 and 2018, EV market shares in California amounted to 5.02% and 7.84% respectively. Here’s how the situation looked like for California and 10 other states behind it:
Who Are the Main EV Makers?
The major manufacturers of EVs include:
As of September 2019, the two best-selling electric vehicles were the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf. They have EPA-rated ranges reaching up to 370 miles (600 km) and 151 miles (243 km), respectively. [Green Car Reports, Tesla]
Tesla Market Share
More than 300,000 Tesla’s Model 3 were sold in 2019, making it the most popular plug-in electric vehicle. [Statista]
Tesla dominated electric vehicle sales in the United States again in 2019 as it sold 80% of all electric vehicles in the US. Whereas the Tesla Model 3 was the 9th best selling car in the country and had more than 150,000 sales in the USA.
Tesla has increased its share on the U.S. automotive market over the course of 2019, gradually rising it to roughly 1.3%. In terms of the U.S. EV market itself, Tesla is the ultimate market leader in EV sales.
Tesla Market Share in the UK
In 2019, around 2.7 million motor vehicles were sold in the UK, of which 3.15% were EVs, which equals to roughly 85,050 EVs units sold. Tesla’s market share in the UK rose to 2.2% in September 2019, delivering a total of 6,244 units during the year’s third quarter. [Market Realist]
Tesla Market Share in Europe
In 2019, there were 564,206 EVs sold in Europe. As per data from July 2019, Tesla’s market share in Europe jumped from 0.16% to 0.54% year on year in the first half of 2019. [Jato]
Tesla Market Share in China
Tesla was the 8th best-selling EV in China – the biggest EV market – in the first half of 2019, selling a total of 21,830 units. (Inside EVs) Between January and June, approximately 430,700 battery electric vehicles were sold in China, which equals to Tesla market share of 5.07% among EVs. [Statista]
EV User Demographics
According to a survey conducted in the Nordic countries in 2018, EVs are more popular among men who reported more driving experience with such vehicles (28.7% men vs. 15.4% of women).
A research by Hedges & Company revealed less than 1% of new EV buyers are age 24 and younger. The percentage is the highest in the 25-54 age group – 46%. The 55-64 age group contains 22% of new EV buyers, while 32% of respondents in the age group of 65+ have bought an EV.
EVs are mostly purchased by buyers with household income of over $100,000 (60%). [Hedges & Company]
Electric Vehicle Range Anxiety – A Thing of the Past
Range anxiety is a fear associated and primarily used in reference to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) where an individual fears the vehicle has insufficient range to reach its destination. Apart from cost and charging infrastructure, it is one of the biggest barriers to mass adoption of electric vehicles.
Apparently range anxiety is a real thing and according to GM president, the sweet spot of 300 miles of electric range is what it takes for most people to feel comfortable in an EV. Though the number of EV charging stations at home is increasing which means a lot of customers are moving towards owing electric vehicles.
The range of top-selling EVs has risen 20% since 2011 and as automakers enter mass production, the range is expected to improve. Today, the median EV range is more than 125 miles while the top end is 335 miles.
According to CleanTechnica, Average range of EV will be 400 miles by 2028.
Where in the World Is It the Cheapest to Drive an EV?
The cheapest place to drive an EV in is Chile, where it costs approximately $0.27 per mile. Below you see what it would cost to charge up a Tesla Model S with a 100 kWh battery pack.
Bear in mind electricity prices vary, not just from country to country, but from state to state in some countries. This is a generalized overview.
|Country||Price of kW in USD||Cost to Charge Fully in USD||Cost per Mile in USD||Cost per 100 Miles in USD|
In the period 2011-2019, the prices of battery EVs have decreased in China by almost half, while they have increased in the West by 42-55%. In China, a battery EV costing the equivalent of $1 in 2011, would cost $0.52 in 2019. In contrast, the same car costing $1 in 2011, would now cost $1.55 in the US and $1.42 in Europe. [JATO]
- The EV market is still driven by early adopters rather than the mainstream.
- California has seen EVs capture 8% of new sales (all-electric and plug-in hybrid), the rest of the country has not yet caught on.
- China is the biggest EV market, with more than 2.2 million units on the roads.
- Norway saw the highest market share in EVs in 2017.
- Norway plans to go 100% electric by 2025.
- Battery costs are dropping fast over time.
- EV sales spiked by 92% in the H1 2019.
- Some countries, like the USA, the UK, and Australia, offer incentives for the purchase of EVs.
- Some of the best-selling EV manufacturers include Tesla, Nissan, Chevrolet, Kia, and BAIC.
- The Tesla Model 3 was the most popular EV in 2019, with over 300,000 units sold.
- During the past eight years, the price of EVs has increased by around 50% in the West, while it has halved in China.
- EVs are the cheapest to drive an EV in is Chile, where it costs only $0.27 per mile. In Denmark, it will cost you $1.31 per mile to drive an EV.
Things in the EV industry and on the worldwide scale are moving in a positive and optimistic direction – systematically driving and encouraging development, sales, and popularity of EVs. If they continue on the same road, we’re definitely going to secure a better, healthier, and more sustainable world for ourselves and the generations to come.


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There can be massive closures of retail stores because of the latest round of US tariffs on China and tit-for-tat tariffs from China on US goods imported into the country.
A new list of Chinese goods worth about $300 billion imported into the US was issued by the US President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday which includes products that are being considered to be taxed by as much as 25%. The latest list includes a wide range of products from clothing and sneakers to sporting goods and accessories. These are the products that are most often found in retail stores in supermarkets.
“The market is not realizing how much brick & mortar retail is incrementally struggling and how new 25% tariffs could force widespread store closures,” UBS analyst Jay Sole said in a research note. “We think potential 25% tariffs on Chinese imports could accelerate pressure on these company’s profit margins to the point where major store closures become a real possibility.”
Tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods imported into the US were imposed a higher tariff of 25% just last week. However that somehow kept the retailers insulated while the agriculture sector was hit as many of the products on that tariff list was related to that sector. While the list included furniture, handbags and some consumer electronics, it excluded apparel and shoes.
Following the US action, China announced tariffs on about $60 billion of U.S. goods imported into the country.
The most recent is the fresh list that the Trump administration is considering to impose further tariffs and includes goods such as performance wear, windbreakers, headbands, gloves, bathing suits and ski suits.
Predictions of closure of almost 21,000 stores in the US by 2026 have already been made by UBS. But following the latest round of new tariffs imposed by both the countries, the UBS now estimates that about half of that number of stores would be forced to down their shutters by the next one year, instead of four, if the situation persists. Sole said that this list of stores are only of those companies that are publicly traded.
“We continue to think the apparel and footwear consumer’s willingness to spend remains tepid at best.”
Signs of struggling is already evident in a number many stores- especially those that are into clothing even minus the threat of tariffs. Stores have been shut by many of companies in the US such as Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Gymboree, Chico’s, Payless Shoesource and Charlotte Russe. According to analysts, these companies were unable to find strategies that can help to differentiate them from the popular fast-fashion brands like Zara, and up-start brands like Everlane, Rockets of Awesome and ThirdLove.
The number of announced store closures so far this year has already surpassed the number of closures that were recorded for the entire of 2018.
“Taxing Americans on everyday products like clothes and shoes is not the answer for holding China accountable,” said Matthew Shay, CEO and president of the National Retail Federation. “Slapping tariffs on everything U.S. companies import from China – goods that support U.S. manufacturing and provide consumers with affordable products – will jeopardize American jobs and increase costs for consumers.”
According to the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), goods imported from China into the US accounted for about 41% of all apparel, 72% of all footwear and 84% of all travel goods in 2017. And additional cost of about $500 each year for an average family of four could be the costs for another round of tariffs, AAFA said. That estimate does not take into account any other increase in prices that could be implemented by suppliers in addition to what they would be forced to because of the tariffs.
(Adapted from CNBC.com)


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If there’s one simple way we known how to get in the festive spirit it’s by watching one of our favourite Christmas films.
The Stella Theatre is making that all the easier this year, as they are showing some of the best Christmas films around this festive season!
The recently-revamped Rathmines cinema is planning on hosting some very special screenings of iconic Christmas flicks over the coming weeks.
For starters, the cinema will be showing The Holiday – the Christmas classic featuring Hollywood stars Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet and Jack Black.
The one-off screening of The Holiday is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 15, at 1.35pm.
Love Actually will be shown on December 6, and Saturday December 8, while It’s a Wonderful Life will be shown on December 4, and Elf will be shown on December 5.
Home Alone will be shown on Sunday December 9, at 9am, while Miracle on 34th Street will be screened on December 22, at 10am.
As you can imagine, tickets for the special screening of these iconic Christmas films are sure to sell out quickly.
For more information on pricing, times, and to book your tickets – click here.
See you at the popcorn stand!


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Horizon: Zero Dawn Gets New Cinematic Story Trailer Revealing New Friends and Foes
Today, Guerrilla Games released a new trailer for its upcoming action RPG Horizon: Zero Dawn.
As you may know, previous Horizon: Zero Dawn trailers have offered glimpses into the game’s post-post-apocalyptic world and its numerous stunning — and sometimes equally dangerous — machines, as well as its gameplay, mechanics, and its technical prowess. However, today, Guerrilla Games revealed a bit more about the game’s story and characters with a cinematic, story-type trailer, that specifically focuses on the new threats that Aloy and her tribe face, including new foes.
The trailer also provides a glimpse at some of the allies who can join Aloy on her journey that will reveal a dark plot that stands to change her world forever.
Horizon: Zero Dawn is set to release for PS4 on February 28, 2017 in North America, and on March 1st in Europe and the UK. Below, you can check out the new trailer:


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The Apple Watch was off to a strong start on its first day of advance sales last Friday, with roughly 1 million people in the U.S. ordering the trendy device, according to a Palo Alto market research firm.
Most shoppers bought the cheapest model, the Apple Watch Sport, on Friday, spending an average of $382.83 per device, according to Slice Intelligence, which tracks shoppers’ electronic receipts. Customers who stepped up to the next price tier, ordering the Apple Watch, spent $707.04, the firm said. The watch’s components can be bought separately, and buyers tended to opt for the “pricier case but the cheapest band,” according to Slice Intelligence’s research.


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Motor shopping is moving up a gear with the launch of a brand new car shop in Dublin this weekend.
Linders Renault and Dacia will launch Ireland’s first car store this Saturday in the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords.
The new concept aims to take the hassle out of buying a new car by letting customers find their perfect motor in three simple steps.
First off, potential customers can use the Renault app to design their car.
Secondly, their trade-in is valued via an independent third party online market valuation app.
Finally, they can apply for smart finance from Renault’s own bank RCI (Renault Bank).
So buying a car will be as stress free as buying a new dress.
Pavilions Shopping Centre spokesman Ian Hunter said: “Having Ireland’s first car store set up shop with us has been an exciting venture.
"We think our customers will relish the opportunity to have the car showroom come to them, where they like to shop.”


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The redevelopment of the St Enoch Centre has created
a world-class retail and leisure destination in a key
location at the heart of Glasgow city centre.
In the first phase of redevelopment
250,000 ft2 of retail and leisure space has been
added, taking the facility to more than 1 million ft2 in
Up to 700 new retail jobs will be created as a result of
the St Enoch's Working Initiative.
An iconic new entrance has been created on the site of the old
Clydesdale Bank building. New facades and store fronts have been
added, shopper circulation improved and an ambitious lighting
programme has added to the centre's visual appeal.
World-famous toy store Hamleys has opened of its first UK store
outside London at St. Enoch and other top brands such as H&M,
Henleys, Costa Coffee, Folli Follie and Pulp have also be
opened major new stores. In addition, existing anchor retailers
Boots, Debenhams and Dorothy Perkins have invested heavily to
enhance their stores within the Centre.
The new food court, providing 720 seats, has wi-fi internet, a
children's soft play area and a pay-as-you-go internet kiosk.
Planning permission was granted in December 2006. Construction
began Spring 2007. initial stage of phase 1 completed November
2009. Final stage 1 completed May 2010.
2007 - 2010.


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New York, NY - The New York Giants' ticker tape parade on Tuesday created an estimated $38 million boost for downtown Manhattan, according to Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
Thousands of fans took to the Financial District of New York to cheer on Eli Manning and the rest of the New York Giants for their triumph over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday. With so many fans coming from outside of downtown Manhattan, it created a boon for local businesses and entrepreneurial types.
Throughout the streets of Lower Manhattan, sellers hawked a wide variety of Super Bowl commemorative clothing for anywhere from $5 for the lowest quality t-shirt to upward of $30 for a Super Bowl sweatshirt.
One seller named Steve came up from Washington, D.C. with seven other associates to sell t-shirts to the impressionable masses. Steve sold his $10 t-shirts in front of Chase bank on Broadway and expected his team to sell more than 1200 shirts over the course of the day.
There is a lot of money in t-shirts, he said. Who can come here and not buy a t-shirt in your hometown whey they won the Super Bowl?
Steve said that they began the process of selling the shirts right after the Super Bowl ended and it took about 10 hours to print up all of the shirts. His group of t-shirt sellers attends major sporting events throughout the country to sell merchandise, but noted that NASCAR events consistently are the most lucrative.
Elsewhere, patrons packed local eateries and watering holes after a long day waiting for the victory parade. Jim Brady's on Maiden wasn't too crowded immediately after the parade ended, but was bursting at the seams by the time Mayor Bloomberg took the stage at City Hall.
Fans danced, sang, and cheered while watching Bloomberg give keys to the city to Giants players on the restaurant's wall screen television. A hostess for the restaurant said that it was a significantly larger-than usual lunch crowd, as both the bar and dining areas of the restaurant were packed with Giants wearing customers.
At another bar - Killarney Rose off of William St. - the scene was quite similar. The bar was packed with fans in Eli Manning and Victor Cruz jerseys looking for a good Irish bar to throw back a few drinks before making the trek back to wherever they came from. Fans were seen indulging in a few Jameson shots while cheering on Cruz as he danced the salsa across the City Hall stage.
It was a nice mid-week boost for Lower Manhattan. The area that encases Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange is filled with financial businessmen, but the Time Square area in Midtown is oft-preferred by tourists.
But on Tuesday it was all about being downtown and having an opportunity to catch a glimpse of one of the newest Super Bowl champions.
You got to be in here to celebrate, Judy Daleo, who was joined by three of her friends at the parade. I've been a Giants fans since I was four years old and you have to be here when they come down this road to show them what they do for their fans is unbelievable.


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October 31, 2023
Bitget, the top crypto derivatives and copy trading platform, is hosting a series of events and videos to celebrate the 15th birthday of the release of the Bitcoin Whitepaper. The events will take place both online and offline, featuring street performances, a Bitcoin analysis report, prize giveaways, and more.
The purpose of these activities is to honor the landmark event in the blockchain industry and raise awareness about the increasing adoption and prospects of cryptocurrencies worldwide.
The celebration began with offline street performances in Austria and Taiwan, where a statue performer dressed as Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, attracted attention and generated media buzz. Online teasers and live performers have also been used to promote the event and encourage participation.
Bitget aims to engage as many users as possible in the celebration, offering special promotional events and giveaways, including an airdrop of BTC and Bitcoin-related souvenirs.
As a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web 3.0 company, Bitget is committed to inspiring individuals to embrace cryptocurrencies. The Bitcoin Whitepaper Day event aligns with their mission of educating and engaging participants in an enjoyable and interactive manner.
The ultimate goal of the Bitcoin Whitepaper Day is to attract new audiences to the decentralized space and promote the usability and adoption of cryptocurrencies as affordable and applicable financial instruments for users of all generations.
For more information about Bitget and the event, visit their website, Twitter, Telegram, LinkedIn, Discord, or Bitget Wallet.
Natasha "CryptoQueen" Fernandez bridges the gap between blockchain buzz and casino charisma. From New Zealand's serene landscapes to the volatile world of crypto, she's making waves in the online gaming sphere. With CryptoCasinoRank, she paints a future where chips meet chains seamlessly.


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Kennametal Inc. announced March 14 that Sanjay Chowbey, currently vice president, Kennametal Inc. and president, Metal Cutting Segment, will succeed Christopher Rossi as president and CEO.
Rossi has decided to retire from the company after nearly seven years as CEO, effective May 31, 2024. Chowbey was unanimously appointed by the Board of Directors as Rossi's successor, effective June 1, 2024.
"On behalf of the entire Board, I want to thank Chris for his many contributions to Kennametal and congratulate Sanjay on his well-deserved appointment as CEO," said William M. Lambert, Chairman of the Board. "Chris is leaving the company better than he found it, having successfully executed the company's Simplification/Modernization strategy, which improved the efficiency and customer service level of its factories while enabling the manufacturing of new product innovations. In addition, Chris led the company through the challenges of COVID-19, drove a significant and lasting cultural transformation and improved the underlying performance of the business."
Rossi will continue to serve on the company's Board of Directors until his retirement, at which time Chowbey will join the Board. Rossi and Chowbey will work together to ensure a seamless transition.
"Over the last seven years, we have made good progress in streamlining our organization, improving operations and sales effectiveness, enabling higher value-add product innovations and establishing our growth strategy," said Rossi. "While difficult to say goodbye to this great company and our employees around the world, it is the right time for me personally to make this transition, especially knowing that I leave Kennametal under the very capable leadership of my planned successor Sanjay."
Lambert added, "The Board has been appropriately focused on succession, so we know that Sanjay is well-prepared for this role and to advance our growth trajectory over the next few years. He is a proven business leader and change agent, who I am confident will help us continue to execute on a transformational strategy to deliver above market growth and margin expansion."
Chowbey joined Kennametal in 2021 as president of the Metal Cutting segment. Under his leadership the business has grown its customer base, consistently delivered sales growth, expanded its operating margins, launched more than 20 new products and improved employee engagement.
"I am honored and excited to serve as the next CEO of Kennametal," said Chowbey. "We have a proud 86-year legacy of helping customers make products that touch everyday life and enable people to drive, fly, power and build. We have extraordinary employees who are focused on serving stakeholders around the world and working to do things better than we did the day before. I look forward to accelerating our transformational journey to create shareholder value through growth, margin expansion and a balanced capital allocation strategy."
The company has launched a search for Chowbey's Metal Cutting successor, considering both internal and external candidates. Chowbey will also continue in his current role during this transition period until he officially steps into the CEO role.


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(Reuters) - Whitbread Plc <WTB.L> will buy back an additional £2 billion of shares using proceeds from its sale of the Costa Coffee chain to Coca Cola Co <KO.N>, the owner of Premier Inn said on Wednesday.
The group, which completed the $5.1 billion sale of Costa Coffee last month, has shifted focus completely to its hotels business.
In presentations for its annual Capital Markets Day, it also forecast a further 220 million pounds in savings over the next three years and predicted that its German operations would be profitable in fiscal year 2022.
Whitbread began a programme of share buybacks last month, targeting 500 million pounds in purchases. In Wednesday's presentations, it said it would now return at least 2.5 billion pounds to shareholders.
Investors have been looking for signs of an aggressive growth plan, with Whitbread flush with cash from the Costa sale. Analysts had long felt the coffee chain was dragging down Whitbread's overall business.
The company said in the presentation it was seeking to double its long-term network potential to more than 170,000 rooms in the UK and overseas.
It has been increasing its international presence, specially in Germany, and is targeting the UK budget market with "Zip" rooms that start from 19 pounds in an aim to boost revenue in its home market.
"Given the size of the market and level of fragmentation, Whitbread sees potential for at least 110,000 rooms in the UK," it said in a presentation to investors.
The company said it was targeting growth in Germany through investment in freehold and leasehold properties, combined with further acquisitions, to at least 60,000 rooms over the longer-term.
Whitbread has said previously that sustained inflation and a subdued UK environment posed a significant challenge and it also warned on costs on Wednesday, saying the inflation outlook remained challenging in the near term.
With Britain's exit from the European Union looming, lacklustre consumer confidence coupled with inflation is forcing Britons to rein in spending. Additionally, Premier Inn is facing increased competition from online platforms such as Airbnb and budget hotel platform OYO, which recently launched in Britain.
(Reporting by Sangameswaran S and Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)


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Dhaka − 1 July 2019
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and global apparel retailer, Gap Inc., have launched a joint initiative to further strengthen social dialogue and industrial relations in Bangladesh’s garment sector. The three-year initiative, the ILO Bangladesh Social Dialogue Project, will be implemented by the ILO in all factories that Gap Inc. sources from in Bangladesh.
The initiative will help build the capacity of factory management, compliance staff, union members and workplace committee members through training sessions on a range of topics including: freedom of association, collective bargaining, international labour standards, HR management, communications and negotiation techniques, as well as increase the understanding of the Bangladesh Labour Act.
Launched at Radisson Hotel Dhaka on 27 June, the event was attended by representatives from the Government of Bangladesh, ILO, Gap Inc., leaders from employer and workers’ organisations, and executives from Gap Inc.’s supplier factories.
ILO’s flagship Better Work Bangladesh (BWB) Programme, jointly with the ILO’s Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations project will implement activities under the initiative.
The ILO and Gap Inc. have been working together since 2001 through the Better Work programme, which currently operates in eight countries. Gap Inc. partnered with the ILO to establish the Better Work Academy, a global project which supports companies to improve compliance in their supply chains.
This joint initiative is welcomed in Bangladesh, given that the garment industry is one of the main contributors to economic growth and is the country’s main export industry, comprising over 83% of total export revenue annually in 2017 and 2018. While notable progress in industrial relations has been made in recent years, both workers and employers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector acknowledge challenges with regards to industrial relations, particularly at the enterprise level.
“Bangladesh has gradually been transforming towards a rapid economic expansion driven by its industrial sector. The Government of Bangladesh is highly committed to ensuring labour rights and harmonious industrial relations to make such expansion and growth work for all.” Mr. Zillur Rahman, Additional Secretary, and Member, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), stated at the launch ceremony.
“This initiative is a very important addition to the work of the ILO, trade unions, employers and brands to strengthen social dialogue and industrial relations in Bangladesh’s garment industry. Gap Inc., has been a long-standing partner in supporting factory facing programmes and we see this initiative as something that will hopefully create common learning on how to work together and expand similar programmes to other industry members,” said Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director of ILO Bangladesh, at the launching event.
“The effort to improve working conditions and labour standards is a shared responsibility. We believe that improvements in social dialogue and industrial relations in Bangladesh has the potential to bring about real change for workers and employers alike, and that this project can contribute to the increased resilience and stability of Bangladesh’s garment sector,” said Keith White, Executive Vice President of Loss Prevention & Global Sustainability at Gap Inc.
The launching event was also addressed by Mr. Asif Ibrahim, Director, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA); Mr. Mostafa Jamal Pasha, Director, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA); Mr. Sukkur Mahmud, representative of National Coordination Committee on Workers Education (NCCWE); Mr. Kamran T. Rahman, President, Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF) and Mr. Md Giasuddin, Chairman, IndustriAll Bangladesh Council (IBC).
The representatives of the employers’ organisations highlighted their commitment to strengthening social dialogue and industrial relations, acknowledging that sustaining the growth in the country’s garment sector largely depends of the welfare of the workers.
The trade union representatives said sound industrial relations can deepen trust and make it a lot easier to resolve conflicts in the workplace.
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, Janie and Jack, and Hill City brands. Fiscal year 2018 net sales were $16.6 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information about the company’s commitment to ethical and sustainable sourcing, please visit Gap Inc.’s Global Sustainability website.
About Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations Project
The Promoting Social Dialogue and Harmonious Industrial Relations in the Bangladesh Ready-Made Garment Industry (SDIR) Project (jointly funded by the Governments of Sweden and Denmark), this project is part of the Global Deal initiative working to enhance workplace dialogue, rights, effective dispute resolution mechanisms and industrial relations in the Bangladesh ready-made garment (RMG) sector. The project intervention is primarily facilitating improved dialogue between employers and workers. For more information, please visit https://www.ilo.org/dhaka/Whatwedo/Projects/WCMS_419797/lang–en/index.htm
Better Work is a partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). On-the-ground in eight countries across three continents, Better Work brings together all levels of the garment industry to improve working conditions and respect of labour rights for workers, and boost the competitiveness of apparel businesses. In Bangladesh, the programme reaches 227 factories who work with 24 international brands.


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HTC is the latest company to launch its flagship smartphone for this year. The HTC U12+ has so far received largely positive reaction, but there also seems some confusion regarding the name. Unlike last year when HTC launched the U11 and the U11+, this year, the company has directly gone with the U12+ moniker. But the Taiwanese company has cleared some of the confusion.
HTC has revealed that the reason for naming its new smartphone U12+ is just its size. The company told AndroidHeadlines that the new smartphone is bigger than most flagship devices, and a shade smaller than most ‘Plus’ variants. With the Samsung Galaxy S9+ being the closest competitor in terms of size, features, and specifications, HTC decided to go with the U12+ name. Who says size doesn’t matter?
With the new U12+, HTC has brought in quite a few improvements in terms of design, specifications, and features. There’s a close focus on the smartphone’s photographic chops, and unsurprisingly, it has beat Huawei P20 to become second-highest rated smartphone camera on DxOMark.
For photography, the smartphone boasts four cameras – two at the back, and two at the front. At the back there is a combination of 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, and 16-megapixel telephoto lens. Up front, there is a pair of 8-megapixel snappers with f/2.0 aperture, 84-degree field of view, and support bokeh mode for portrait.
Watch:Huawei P20 Pro Review
HTC U12+ specifications, features
As far as specifications are concerned, the HTC U12+ flaunts a 6-inch QHD+ Super LCD 6 display with 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC paired with 6GB of RAM. There are two storage options to choose from – 64GB and 128GB.
Other features include a 3,500mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support, IP68 certified dust and water resistance, and connectivity options like 4G LTE support, NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. On the software front, the device runs Android 8.0 Oreo with support for Edge Sense 2.
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Amid the corona virus pandemic, many companies have only closed their doors since it reopened. Some managed, but what is not uncommon during this time is starting a business.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and juices are on the top of the list at Clean Eatz Pensacola. The new site opened its doors at 800 N Navy Blvd
The owner, Sam Poppel, is confident that he will distinguish his place from the nearby fast food restaurants. Dealing with established brands and opening up during the pandemic has not dampened his optimism.
“We found this old Arby restaurant and it was in the middle of all fast food restaurants, so I thought” this is where everyone is going for lunch “so I found out that we’d be the healthiest choice,” Poppel said. “We know that people need healthy food, and we are in this long term. We really want to be part of the Pensacola community.”
The risk is great in an industry hard hit by the restrictions of coronary contracting, but Clean Eatz is more than just a business. It is a passion for Popell who drives his own experience with healthy eating.
“At one point I was very heavy, I weighed 434 pounds and lost 170 clean foods,” Bubbel shared.
Bubbel Clin bought Itz in Shalimar which they attribute to weight loss.
After opening the new Pensacola site , it plans to expand further across Florida.


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Huawei P50 design has become clear. Introducing the new operating system HarmonyOS and several products at the event held today, Huawei also showed the design of the Huawei P50 model.
Introducing the new HarmonyOS operating system at an event in China, Huawei also announced the new tablet and a few more products. At the end of the launch, the company surprisingly showed the design of the Huawei P50 model.
Huawei P50 design clarified
The design of the Huawei P50, which has been on the agenda for a long time with its leaks, has become clear today. Although the Chinese manufacturer did not launch this phone, it made a small surprise and aroused curiosity in the users.
We are familiar with the shared official image of the Huawei P50 from the previously leaked render images. The Chinese manufacturer’s upcoming flagship will come with an oval camera setup with large lenses on the back.
On the other hand, Huawei states that its new flagships will be ultra-thin, while the rear camera protrusion will come in a very light and elegant appearance. Unfortunately, the company did not mention the technical specifications of these phones. But thanks to previous leaks, we’ve already learned about some of these features.
Huawei, which will appear with three P50s; The Huawei P50 will play its trump card with the P50 Pro and P50 Pro Plus models. Huawei, which will include the Kirin 9000 chipset in the P50 and P50 Pro Plus, will use the Kirin 9000E chipset in the standard model. It is already a matter of curiosity how successful these phones, which will come with HarmonyOS, will be.
So what do you think about Huawei’s new phones? Do you think these phones using HarmonyOS will be able to prevent the company from losing blood? Don’t forget to share your views with us in the comments.


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Production and import prices remain stable
The combined index for producer and import prices remained unchanged in August in comparison to the previous month.
The latest figures from the federal statistics office show that the producer price index increased by 0.1 per cent while that for imported goods fell by 0.1 per cent.
The short-term decline in oil prices steadied prices in August but recent rises will feed into September’s figures.
Year on year, the index is up 2.4 per cent.
In annual terms, the cost of imported goods has risen far more at 6.5 per cent than those produced at home, which show an increase of 0.7 per cent.
swissinfo with agencies
In compliance with the JTI standards


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Specifically, the aim of this joint effort is to launch a list of commonly-ordered parts that are feasible for 3D printing with or without certification respectively not feasible for 3D printing.
The findings of this research will help the maritime industry adopt additive manufacturing to optimise their spare parts supply.
Additive manufacturing technology has the potential to revolutionize the way marine spare parts are designed, manufactured, and distributed to end users. In addition, on-site manufacturing for maintenance becomes an important application of AM.
Additive manufacturing holds great opportunities for the maritime industry.
... stated Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Regional Manager South East Asia, Pacific & India, DNV GL – Maritime.
In addition, the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) underlined the disruptive potential of 3D printing, which so far has seen only a moderate uptake in the industry.
This technology can help not only to reduce costs of producing spare parts for vessels, but also to radically reinvent the production and logistics including using completely new and more suitable materials.
... Steen Brodsgaard Lund, chairman of the SSA technical committee commented.


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In 2020, Ford CEO Jim Farley teased that the electric Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck would “not go after the $100,000-plus market,” and that these upcoming EVs will be “affordable vehicles.” He went on to elaborate that all of Ford’s electric vehicles will be priced between $20,000 and $70,000. And as it turns out, the electric Ford F-150 Lightning price lands right in the middle of that range.
The base, work-truck oriented Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck will carry a starting price of $39,974, before any federal or state tax credits. That’s just over $11,000 more than the starting price of the gasoline-powered 2021 F-150. The mid-range Ford F-150 Lightning XLT model will carry a price of $52,974, or over $12,660 more than the standard F-150 XLT SuperCrew.
Nevermind that, though. Because electric pickup truck customer will be able to afford nearly three base F-150 Lightning trucks for the price of a new $112,000+ GMC Hummer EV Edition 1, which is expected to hit production later this year. It’s also nearly half the price of a Rivian R1T Launch Edition, which starts at $75,000.
Customers can reserve their Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck right now with a $100 deposit via Ford’s official website.
Ford F-150 Lightning Price: What $39,974 Gets You
With the base F-150 Lighting, customers get 426 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque. Step up to the larger battery and output jumps up to 563 horsepower, while torque stays fixed at 775 lb-ft. That makes this new truck the most powerful F-150 model yet, making it worthy of its muscle truck-inspired nameplate. More to the point, it will do 0-60 in a scant 4.4 seconds.
Ford says the truck should be able to do an EPA-estimated 230 miles with the smaller battery, while the larger unit bumps that figure up to 300 miles. Buyers who spec the standard range battery will receive a maximum payload capacity of 2,000 pounds, as well as a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds. The big battery truck has a lower payload capacity rating of 1,800 pounds, but can tow up to 10,000 pounds.
All 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks will be produced at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan, which also intends to be a zero-waste-to-landfill site. The vehicle is part of a $700 million investment into the Rouge Complex, adding 500 new jobs.
Despite the global microchip shortage kneecapping Ford’s truck production, the all-electric F-150 Lightning will hit dealerships by Spring 2022. The truck will be available in four series and two battery options at more than 2,300 EV-certified Ford dealers across the country, with the option for fleet customers to access Ford’s ecosystem of connected data and telematics services via
Ford Commercial Solutions.


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Decentralized finance (DeFi) is “the way forward for the place the business goes,” in line with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. In a Tuesday blog post he delineated how his cryptocurrency change will serve the rising demand for DeFi services.
“We’re seeing crypto shortly mature … to the buying and selling of 1000’s of latest belongings, and the adoption of latest use circumstances” together with DeFi, non-fungible tokens (NFT), sensible contracts, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and extra, Armstrong wrote.
Simply as Coinbase has “helped folks entry bitcoin for the primary time … we have to do the identical for the decentralized cryptoeconomy,” he stated.
Armstrong wrote that Coinbase expects so as to add belongings to the platform extra shortly, broaden its geographic focus to ship merchandise “that work globally” and assemble a crypto app retailer, akin to Apple’s.
Within the extra speedy future, Armstrong wrote, Coinbase would reduce the size of its authorized assessment to judge asset issuers from 70 to 12 questions and create a extra environment friendly compliance and safety assessment course of. Coinbase will even assemble what he termed “an experimental zone for brand spanking new belongings” guaranteeing the corporate can present a fuller image of their dangers for purchasers, and take steps in order that customers can entry “most belongings for fundamental pockets performance.”
Armstrong promised to ship extra merchandise to new worldwide markets, whereas nonetheless working with regulators “in additional established markets,” and that “any app constructed on decentralized crypto rails shall be accessible to customers of the Coinbase app.”
He added that prospects would have “the choice to do self-custody of their crypto in the principle Coinbase app.”


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The UK Lingerie Awards knocked Kate Middleton off the list of top stories on OK! Magazine’s web site today as paparazzi pictures from the star-studded party emerged.
The Only Way is Essex leading lady Lucy Mecklenburgh was described by the magazine as taking the dress code literally as she arrived on the red carpet in a dress that appeared to have her lacy bra on the outside.
“Lucy Mecklenburgh, who arrived alongside her beau Mario Falcone, donned a revealing red and black Vanilla Style body con frock with lace detail around the bust that showed off her enviable curves and cleavage,” OK! recorded.
The UK Lingerie Awards have become the British intimate apparel industry’s biggest night of the year, with the media coverage being splashed around the world on fashion, show business and celebrity web sites and magazines.
“The industry gets this single night every year to show the world what it has achieved. The finalists, winners and sponsors are getting the sort of global exposure that money cannot buy,” said Andy Martyniuk, UK Lingerie Awards event director.
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Higher-than-expected US 2017 cow/calf producer returns may erode for the next two years, possibly dropping into the red, if beef demand falters in any way, said the Livestock Marketing Information Center.
In its “Livestock Monitor,” the LMIC said cyclically, US calf crops are forecast to continue increasing throughout 2019. Beef tonnage for 2018 was expected to be record large and should rise again in 2019.
Unless beef demand is much better than anticipated, calf prices were forecast to slip for the next two years, LMIC said. It’s still possible that fourth-quarter 2018 and 2019 calf prices could remain above 2016’s depressed level, but any faltering in demand relative to 2017 could send cattle prices back down to 2016 levels.
2017 BETTER THAN EXPECTED
Fourth-quarter 2017 cattle prices were significantly stronger than expected, and the higher returns caused LMIC’s 2017 calculated cow/calf returns over cash costs plus pasture rent to be revised upward.
The LMIC’s original forecast was for returns to be negative, but they now look as though they will be positive.
Since the mid-1970’s, the LMIC has estimated annual cow/calf returns based on a typical commercial full-time spring calving and fall weaning operation. It said the estimates were not survey based and were developed for market analysis purposes. Calculations only include cash costs of production and pasture rent. Management and labor costs and returns, etc., were not included.
Using the USDA’s mid-November Southern Plains auction prices, the LMIC projected fourth-quarter 2017 steer calves weighing 500 to 600 pounds would be in the upper $160’s per cwt, a year-over-year increase of $28.00 to $29.00 per cwt, or about 21%.
Compared with the last quarter of 2015, Southern Plains steer calf prices this fall were projected lower by $36.00 to $37.00 per cwt, or about 18%.
But several demand factors came together supporting cattle prices despite a calf crop that was estimated to be the largest since 2007, with more beef production than in any year since 2010.
FOREIGN DEMAND STRONG
Foreign demand was better than expected, the LMIC said, resulting in record-large US beef exports. Packer demand for slaughter-ready animals was robust and helped pull animals through feedlots, keeping slaughter weights below 2016.
Additionally, US retailers battled for customers with active beef featuring, while a robust economy bolstered consumer incomes and reduced unemployment levels, factors supporting spending on beef meals at home and in restaurants.
For the year, per-cow cash production costs were slightly higher compared with a year earlier. Many areas of the US experienced natural disasters from drought, wildfires or flooding, which spiked local production costs.
The LMIC estimated cow/calf returns peaked in 2014, surging to about $535.00 a cow. However, by 2016 the return had crumbled into the red (-$21.00 per cow).
For 2017, the average LMIC calculation was for a positive $69.00 per cow–about the same as 2011.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
Cash cattle trading began last week at $118 per cwt on a live basis, down $1 from the bulk of last week’s action. However, more trade came late at $120 to $120.50, up $1 to $1.50.
The USDA’s choice cutout Friday was up $1.98 per cwt at $210.99, while select was off $0.79 at $187.85. The choice/select spread widened to $23.14 from $20.37 with 62 loads of fabricated product sold into the spot market.
The CME Feeder Cattle index for the seven days ended Thursday was $155.58 per cwt, down $0.78. This compares with Friday’s Jan settlement at $153.30 per cwt, up $0.57.


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Beauty is pain!
The reality star posted a Snap of her legs after the event, and they looked like an annoyed cat had gone on the attack.
Zoe Saldana can't do no wrong!
The actress upstaged everyone else at the Star Trek Into Darkness photocall in Berlin on Sunday, wearing a Calvin Klein Collection skirt and crop top, which featured crossed straps at the back.
She didn’t show off too much skin but just enough to be super seksi!
Nude Jimmy Choo heels and Dana Rebecca Designs earrings finished off her fräulein look.
Zoe’s up-do and bright red lip gave this a retro meets modern look that we can’t get enough of.
Give us more, Miz Saldana!!!
[Image via Patrick Hoffman/WENN.]


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In its quest to flesh out content for its rumored streaming service, Apple is turning to X-Men director Simon Kinberg to lead a new epic science fiction series.
According to Deadline, Apple and Kinberg are very close to agreeing on a deal that would get him on board for the untitled series. The deal is for 10 episodes initially but if it succeeds, more seasons could be ordered.
Kinberg is best known as the producer and writer of multiple X-Men movies, including X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past. He’ll make his directorial debut with the upcoming X-Men movie Dark Phoenix, which will hit theaters this summer. Beyond X-Men, Kinberg has produced notable Hollywood hits like The Martian, Cinderella and Sherlock Holmes.
There are no details about the plot of the series or when it is expected to be available to stream. In the meantime, Apple has been busy closing out deals with other Hollywood talent including Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon and more.