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Glen Raven Custom Fabrics and Sunbury Textile Mills welcomed guests to Sunbury’s showroom in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood last week to celebrate the 20th-anniversary of their business partnership.
Greg Rosendale, Mark Grigalunas and David Swers
Guests of the event included Sherri Donghia, Susan Lyons of DesignTex, John Dransfield of Dransfield & Ross, Andy Kahnke of Dedon and interior designer Mark Alden Lukas.
Randy Trull, Sherri Donghia, Susan Lyons and Greg Voorhis
Since 1994, Sunbrella and Sunbury have worked together to offer superior weaving capabilities, durability, fade resistance and ease of cleaning to the casual and residential furniture markets. Showcased around the showroom were best-selling fabrics from the past 20 years, a teaser of the new Anniversary Collection, as well as designs that resulted from a recent design competition with the Textile Design program at Philadelphia University for which students were challenged to imagine the future of Sunbrella fabrics.
“I would consider the partnership we have with Sunbury more of a marriage,” said David Swers, President of Glen Raven Custom Fabrics. “It’s a relationship built on trust, and everyone is in it for the right reasons.”
Hannah Alderson, Greg Rosendale, Brian Burke, Latoya Johnson and Marteen Allen
“The importance of this anniversary is not solely about recognizing what we’ve accomplished together over these past 20 years. It’s just as much, if not more, about looking ahead and celebrating the next 20 years,” said Mark Grigalunas, Sunbury’s Senior Vice President of Design, who donned a diamond-encrusted pin in the shape of a question mark. “What’s Next? Well, some of that is a secret but the growth that we are capable of has no end in sight.”
Photos by Andrea Fischman, article by Kate Jerde


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Deal arrives ahead of Quibi's launch next spring, and adds a new wrinkle to T-Mobile's video game plan.
But platforms that bundle streaming video services, backed by single sign-on systems, could benefit both OTT and pay-TV players alike.
Netflix's Q3 numbers were in-line, but OTT video giant warns of 'some modest headwind' to near-term growth as a batch of new, major streaming services such as Disney+ and Apple TV+ near launch.
Netflix, Amazon and Hulu have staked out their turf in the subscription VoD market, but will they be able to hold that coveted ground as Disney, Apple, WarnerMedia and NBCU enter the streaming fray?
Concerns about new direct-to-consumer competition alongside pressure on Netflix's pricing power is misunderstood or overblown, contends LightShed Partners analyst Richard Greenfield.
Says a preliminary injunction against Maine's new law sought by Comcast and programmers is based on 'purely hypothetical' allegations, as state towns have no present plan to act upon or enforce the new law.
Top Comcast execs discuss the benefits and capabilities of the company's new virtual access network and how Comcast is applying lessons from its cloud-based X1 platform.
Private equity firm has pitched a restructuring that would spin off DirecTV and combine it with Dish under a new company that would be controlled by AT&T, Fox Business says.
A push into bundles is not going to guarantee success for the ailing UK telco amid a blizzard of competitive and regulatory challenges.
Allen Broome comes on board as the video software company explores the development of a virtualized, software-as-a-service model for the OTT and pay-TV service provider market.
Strauss, a longtime Comcast exec, has been named chairman of Peacock, a streaming service set to launch in the spring of 2020.
Also in today's EMEA regional roundup: 5G arrives at London train stations; EBU wants 5G-Broadcast mode; UK doesn't want Facebook encryption.
Both sides declare victory in mixed court opinion centered on a TiVo video search patent.
Charter's Craig Cowden expands on the MSO's interests and intentions involving the CBRS band and provides updates on the company's recent set of fixed wireless, mobile-facing 'dual-SIM' market trials.
Company adds TiVo Edge models for cable customers and cord-cutters, tags content partners for soon-to-launch ad-based OTT service called TiVo+.
Faced with a copyright lawsuit led by major Hollywood studios, Omniverse accuses its erstwhile partner of breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation.
China's smallest 5G operator has begun 5G trials, but it remains a long way behind its bigger rivals.
Locast, which has filed counterclaims, asserts RCN pulled back a $750,000 donation commitment 'as a result of intimidation from the broadcasters.'
Whispers about Comcast's next-video platform began to spread a decade ago at Cable-Tec Expo in Denver. Here's a look back at its journey from a secretive project originally called 'Excalibur' to a widely deployed product under the X1 banner.
New name and logo will adorn devices that conform to an emerging next-gen broadcast TV signaling standard designed to support 4K interactivity and aimed for widespread deployment in 2020.

domain: news


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Banks have already deployed around 1.3 lakh micro ATMs in the country, of which more than 1 lakh terminals are interoperable, said NPCI Chief AP Hota.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most ambitious bet for turning India into a less-cash economy has to be Aadhaar Pay .
"It is meant for those who cannot use other means of digital payment, particularly if they don’t have a mobile phone or they are financially illiterate."
The app is expected to revolutionise digital payments, especially in rural India, as it is extremely easy to use for merchants as well as customers.
Finance ministry has asked all PSBs to board Aadhaar Pay by April 14
Aadhaar Pay is meant for merchants to receive digital payments from customers over the counter through Aadhaar authentication.
The minister's written reply came in response to a question on how the authority plans to increase biometric authentication capacity of Aadhaar to push Aadhaar enabled payment system.
The feature, which enables payment to an Aadhaar number linked to a bank account, was made live on the BHIM app about a month ago.
Jaitley said that the government’s early work on the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan Accounts, Aadhaar and Mobile) has helped the current push for dig transactions.
Keen to push digital payments among the poor and illiterate in rural areas of the country, the government is pushing to popularise Aadhaar Pay which ensures financial transactions by just using fingerprint. This won't need any card and smartphone as this app works on any Android-based smartphone.


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Deal near for $150 million grain terminal
Grain elevator would be the first new facility in U.S. in 25 years
- Erik Siemers
- Business Journal staff writer
(Page 2 of 3)
The addition of another player in the grain business might taste even more sour today, at a time when grain shipments are down about 30 percent in the region.
Through April, 133 grain ships have called on the four companies in the region: CLD, Columbia Grain Inc., Kalama Export Co. and United Harvest LLC. That’s a 30 percent drop from the 192 grain ships from the same time last year, when the region’s grain exporters saw an unusually high growth rate.
But this year’s ship calls are still lower than previous years when growth was tempered, such as the 154 ship calls in 2007 and the 148 in 2006.
The principal agricultural export commodity in the region is white wheat, and industry exports believe the region’s existing grain facilities in Portland, Vancouver and Kalama have more than enough capacity to handle those volumes.
“We don’t need another elevator to handle white wheat off this coast,” said Dave Gordon, general manager of Northwest Grain Growers Inc., a Walla Walla, Wash.-based cooperative that handles and ships grain from 19 facilities bound for Portland-area export facilities.
Wheat is Oregon’s largest export after electronic components. Combined, Oregon and Washington exported more than $4.4 billion of wheat in 2008, capturing 14 percent of the market, according to the U.S. Census.
Both Gordon and O’Hollaren believe it’s possible the new grain terminal will attract export cargo like corn and soybeans that is now shipped through the Gulf of Mexico.
Others are skeptical.
“The facility in Longview in my opinion will not bring incremental volumes in either beans, corn or wheat to the West Coast,” Schaufler said.
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If you own a Mazda that came with the Mazda Connect infotainment system going back to the 2014 year model, the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay retrofit hardware has been priced up. The hardware itself will cost you $199. That $199 isn’t all it will cost you though. The unknown bit with pricing is that
Android Auto is now available in additional Mazda models through a pricey dealer-installed upgrade
Manufacturer infotainment systems are, by and large, not good. More and more automakers are picking up the standardized solutions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is s step in the right direction. Mazda started shipping the interface in some new vehicles this year, and now dealerships will be able to install it in model year 2014 or newer Mazdas.


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Info Edge, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, has invested Rs 3 crore in a real estate risk assessment platform Zippserv, which is run-and-owned by Ideaclicks Infolabs, the company informed BSE. The deal has been done on an 'arm's length' basis, which means both the companies will run independently. With this investment, Info Edge holds 45.31% stake in the company on fully converted and diluted basis. Note that Info Edge had previously invested Rs 2.4 crore in Zippserv.com for 28% stake, Info Edge's annual report 2016-17 shows. Founded in 2015, Bangalore-based Zippserv is an online assessment platform which provides risk assessment for safeguarding real estate investments, including legal & civil engineering due-diligence, fraud & forgery detection and technology to ascertain encroachments & city planning violations. The company has two flagship products -- CleanProperties and PricePoint. CleanProperties provides instant access to land titles, conversion records, building approvals, liens and litigations for ongoing apartment projects. PricePoint's analytics engine tracks recently registered sale transactions and gives granular actionable insights for buyers at a project level so that buyers get a leg up in negotiations. The company is currently offering its services for properties in Bangalore and Hyderabad, and will soon launch in Pune. The startup posted a turnover of Rs 32.87 lakh for FY 2018, as compared to Rs 14.95 lakh in FY 2017, and Rs 1.63 in FY 2016. Info Edge said in its filing that the deal will help the company to consolidate its presence into a new line of business within the Internet services industry.…
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Amazon announced that it will integrate its logistics network and SmartCommerce services with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
India's smartphone operating system BharOS has received much buzz in the media lately, but does it really merit this attention?
After using the Mapples app as his default navigation app for a week, Sarvesh draws a comparison between Google Maps and Mapples
In the case of the ‘deemed consent' provision in the draft data protection law, brevity comes at the cost of clarity and user protection
The regulatory ambivalence around an instrument so essential to facilitate data exchange – the CM framework – is disconcerting for several reasons.
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If you have not heard already, Kurt Cobain has been recreated on 'Guitar Hero 5.' Former Nirvana members Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl (as well as countless fans) have already made their disapproval known about a Kurt Cobain avatar on 'Guitar Hero 5.' Courtney Love nearly blew the Twitter bird off its tree with her constant complaints.
Now Jon Bon Jovi has sided with the protesters. In a statement about the Guitar Hero likeness the rocker said, “I don’t know that I would have wanted it either…to hear someone else’s voice coming out of a cartoon version of me? I don’t know. It sounds a little forced.”
Bon Jovi Joins Protest of 'Guitar Hero 5' Over Kurt Cobain Likeness
Brian G Randles — September 18, 2009 — Tech
References: rollingstone & news.bbc


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NEWS & EVENTS
In this section, you'll find all the latest (and the oldest) news relating to our books and authors, and to our Melbourne and London offices.
Awards, acquisitions, author tours, reprints, a bit of gossip, and the occasional job listing — it's all here.
So if it's your secret dream to work at Scribe, or you just like knowing what's happening in the world of publishing, then read on.
And then get back to reading a good book.
Winners Announced 13 February.Read
Winners announced on 13 February.Read
Winners announced on 26 March.Read
New year, new job?Read
1000 copies of Hédi Fried's book will go to schools and librariesRead
Merry Christmas from the team at Scribe UK!Read
Elisabeth Åsbrink's book is up for the £4000 prize.Read
Voting is open to the publicRead
Children’s booksellers! Win a luxury hamper full of treats in our All…Read
Scribble acquires Felicita Sala’s authorial debut, Lunch at No. 10…Read
Kruso and A Vineyard in Andalusia have been long listed for the…Read
The End of Epidemics: the looming threat to humanity and how to stop…Read
Elisabeth Åsbrink and Fiona Graham are up for the £1000 award.Read
This Isn't a Debate will be published in 2019.Read


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Mar 3, 2014 Endless snowstorms, freezing cold, and an uncertain economy has car sales skidding off the road in 2014. So carmakers are extending their incentive programs.
Jan 16, 2014 Ford's CEO got in some hot water after his comments about Ford cars collecting data on drivers worried some consumers. What are the emerging privacy issues we should be thinking about when it comes to new car technology.
Jan 13, 2014 Volkswagen says it plans to invest billions in North America. The VW brand, which continues to achieve low U.S. quality scores, says the bold move was a sign of a new commitment to the market.
Dec 25, 2013 Ford will unveil an F-150 pickup truck made with military-grade aluminum.
Kate Archer Kent
Sep 5, 2013 The maker of a three-wheeled vehicle wants to get rid of the monthly car payment altogether.
Aug 19, 2013 The U.S. wants to make it easier for American automakers to get their cars in front of Japanese customers.
Aug 16, 2013 Ford will pay owners of the hybrid car after being sued for misleading customers.
Aug 16, 2013 An index of the 50 finest Ferraris and Porsches increased by 53 percent over the past two years.
Jul 30, 2013 The company's long-awaited hybrid has some scratching their heads.


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A major player in Canada’s cannabis industry is acquiring one of only seven legal. director of Florida for Care, the group behind the constitutional amendment, said the size of the acquisition reflects expectations that the state will.
FDA on a Mission to Ban Kratom as it becomes more available in stores. 2 months ago. Add Comment. by Speciosa.org. By: Kelly Grosfield Posted: Feb 19, 2018 11:23 PM EST Updated: Feb 19, 2018 11:23 PM EST BAY COUNTY, Fla. – Kratom is a plant based drug that in most cases, offers relief from pain but officials say.
The Texarkana Gazette is the premier source for local news and sports in Texarkana and the surrounding Arklatex areas. Logo or No Go?: What is your opinion of the new Arkansas-side marketing materials?
Kratom Legality Map. Kratom is currently legal in Florida at this time although. Please sign this petition to keep kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) legal in the.
Nov 29, 2012. In recent months, MSNBC reported that kratom has sent users to the ER, the Daily called it a "hallucinogenic drug" with "potentially fatal side effects," Forbes asked if it was the next bath salts, and ABC Action News in Tampa claimed that "it can be more difficult to get off than heroin." Kratom is legal and.
April 9 2018 Update on my experiences with the use of Therapeutic Baths Conrad LeBeau In my first newsletter of this year, the Keep Hope Alive Journal vol 16 No 1, I reported on 15 specific benefits of using apple cider vinegar in my.
"We used to be the good guys in white hats, breaking down the barrier between students and law. and keep up with the influx of students across the state. And it’s not as if educators haven’t asked for more. Numerous groups, including the.
Apr 18, 2017. Not unlike the makers of the deadly opioid fentanyl working to keep marijuana illegal in Arizona, the action in Arkansas began with someone who most likely would profit from kratom's illegality. According to statistics from the American Society of Addiction Medicine, over 1.9 million Americans are currently.
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TMX Finance, which has opened 26 InstaLoan stores across Florida, skirts the ban on triple-digit interest rates by offering loans larded with costly and nearly useless insurance products. TMX is clearly violating "the spirit of the law,".
May 22, 2017. Kratom is currently legal in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, (most of) Florida (save for one county), Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
Marks said the intent is not to trample constitutional rights, but rather to keep guns purchased. under the same set of gun laws because gun laws are protected by the U.S. Constitution, and the Florida constitution. The bulk of them.
Botanical Legal Defense needs your help with "Florida Governor: Keep Kratom Legal In Florida". Join Botanical Legal and 5,218 supporters today. Sign this petition.
As folks know by now, each month we pore over the latest Orange Book Cumulative Supplement in an effort to keep our popular 180-Day Exclusivity Tracker as current as possible, and to look for interesting precedents. One recent.
Rick Scott to renew the existing compact with the tribe, which runs two Hard Rock Casinos near Hollywood and Tampa and four other casinos in Florida, and would keep it in force for. operations of its games, the bulk of the money.
Kratom Florida Legal Status and Laws. Where can you buy Kratom in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville? Info on Sarasota County ban.
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2016/09/30 · The DEA’s plan to place kratom on the Schedule I list of controlled substances has consumed most of my efforts during September. As a scientist-turned-journalist, I’ve given interviews to other reporters as much as I’ve.
Where To Buy Kratom. Various kratom products have started appearing in head shops across the United. Please sign this petition to keep Kratom legal in Florida!.
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Feb 7, 2018. Law enforcement is keeping an eye out for another potentially dangerous drug to hit the streets, kratom.
The Southeast Asian plant-based drug is currently in regulatory limbo, legal in New York. Village smoke shops that carry kratom. “I have a lot of first-time buyers, but also a lot of regular patients who buy it in bulk.” The varieties are.
Apr 11, 2017. Kratom is legal in all states except Indiana, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Vermont, Arkansas, and Alabama. Many of these states also have a large big pharma lobbying presence. Shocker right? Many states like Florida, North Carolina and New Hampshire have recently recognized that kratom has medicinal.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled House will vote on a school safety bill next week as Congress struggles to respond to the deadly assault on a Florida. bulk of the proposals discussed at the Feb. 28 meeting "bad policy".
2015/07/02 · Kratom is legal to buy from many reputable US sellers and suppliers online. Many head shops are also selling it to their consumers in many states. They sell kratom powders, extracts and teas to their patrons, who are.
Whether you're just an occasional protein shake drinker or buy your protein powder in bulk for regular use, it's. That was 18. Keep Kratom Legal In Florida".


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Disclaimer: Sponsored content articles do not reflect the opinions of New Jersey Business Magazine or the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.
Blue Foundry Bank, a financial institution that offers a full service, crafted banking experience, has announced the launch of its Blue Carbon Edge™ Business Checking account allowing the bank to deepen its commitment to supporting small and middle-market businesses. This new premier checking account builds on the bank’s existing Blue Carbon Business Checking products with even more offerings, going above and beyond in meeting each business’ specific challenges.
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Disclaimer: Sponsored content articles do not reflect the opinions of New Jersey Business Magazine or the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.Related Articles:


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During Myanmar’s socialist era, private trade in pulses and beans was dampened by death threats. “State buyers would tell farmers that if they didn’t sell them their beans they would be punished with death,” said Myint Zaw, executive member of the Myanmar Pulses, Beans & Sesame Seeds Merchants Association. Under military strongman Ne Win, the crop’s export was a state monopoly handled by the Myanmar Agriculture Produce Trading from 1962 to 1988, and side dealing was prohibited.
“But I don’t think anyone was ever executed for [black market] dealing in black gram lentils,” Myint Zaw said. Pulses and beans consistently ranked as the second-largest foreign income earner after timber for Myanmar, then called Burma, even as Ne Win’s 26 years of socialist policies failed to develop the economy, climaxing in mass protests and his retirement in 1988.
As the state moved away from socialism, private trade in pulses and beans developed, facing fewer state restrictions than the more socially sensitive rice crop under the juntas from 1988 to 2010. By 2000, under private management, Myanmar’s pulse and bean production was second only to India’s. But the legumes are not a major part of the country’s own diet, and their cultivation is a colonial import.
“In the colonial era, the British government brought many Indian farmers to Myanmar and at the same time they imported seeds of pulses and beans to be grown in Myanmar for the Indians to eat,” said Myint Oo, managing director of the Thein Yarzar Company, a pulses and beans exporter. Many Indians went home after Myanmar’s independence in 1948, or were forced to flee after Ne Win seized power with a coup in 1962. But the crops endured, shifting from domestic consumption to exports.
In the fiscal year to March 31, Myanmar exported 1.4 million tons of pulses and beans, earning about 0.9 billion dollars, second to natural gas exports of 3.7 billion dollars, according to Commerce Ministry figures. An estimated 80 to 85 percent of the exports went to India, with very little of the crops consumed in Myanmar. “It’s the only example I can think of where such a large percentage of farmers in a country grow a food crop that is essentially not consumed domestically,” said David Dawe, senior economist for the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Bangkok.
The thriving sector gave rise to the Commodity Exchange Centre in northern Yangon in 1992. Myanmar traders gather at the exchange each weekday from 10 am to 11 am, catering primarily to Indian purchasers who are not permitted to participate directly. The most popular pulses and beans for the export market include black gram, green mung, pigeon peas and chick peas. In the last year, the sector has suffered a decline, despite the political and economic reforms since the 2010 general election.
Exports are slightly down from the year that ended March 2012, which saw 1.45 million tons shipped, earning 1.1 billion dollars. Competition for Indian buyers is growing from Australia and Canada, whose huge, mechanised farms and efficient transport systems have shunted Myanmar from India’s leading supplier into third place. Although labour costs are low, other production and operation costs are high in Myanmar. “The freight charge from Myanmar to Malaysia is much lower than our domestic transport charges from the farms to the port,” Myint Zaw said.
The ageing port is another bottleneck. “Yangon port was built by the British government. After that we’ve had no new ports in Myanmar,” he said. “Another problem is currency exchange fluctuations, both the Indian rupee and the Myanmar kyat,” said Kyaw Aung, managing director of Kyaw Eleven Trading Company. “Many buyers don’t want to take the exchange rate risks, so they don’t buy.” Myanmar allowed its exchange rate to fluctuate against the dollar last year, after decades of a fixed rate. But the main reason for the falloff in Indian demand is natural. “It depends on the weather,” said Myint Zaw. “If there is a cyclone at the end of the rainy season, then all their fields are flooded and their pulses and beans will be gone. But if their weather is good, their crop is good, so they buy less from us.”Kyaw Ye Lynn And Peter Janssen, "Myanmar’s beans and pulses industry survives changing times," Business recorder. 2013-07-17.
Keywords: Social sciences , Social issues , Social needs , Social crisis , Social development , Economic issues , Myanmar , India


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Poland’s RDP allocated a ‘lump sum’ funding package for LEADER Local Actions Groups to help them prepare their Local Development Strategies for the 2014-2020 period.
Projects & Practice
An initiative to promote young farmers participation entrepreneurship and innovation
for sustainable rural areas
A LAG organised a series of tailored workshops to combat digital exclusion among people over 50 years old.
Using RDP support to implement a sustainable model of agriculture that combines the production of high quality products and environmental protection. Winning initiative of the 2019 Rural Inspiration Awards in the 'Environment & Climate Action' category.
Organising bicycle rallies as a means of promoting social interaction and integration.
A Polish NGO used EAFRD funding to promote local traditional foods from the Mazovia region through a culinary trail, a food contest and a series of educational courses.
In a rural area that is rather disadvantaged and in risk of abandonment, EAFRD and ESF support were combined in a project for the integration of migrants through work training.
Seven LAGs in the Lombardy region cooperated to create the 'Fair trade economic district', which is an innovative development model to promote economic and cultural growth in rural areas.
EAFRD supported the successful development of a local brand in a mountainous area in Lower Silesia, Poland. It enabled the local population to develop its unique cultural diversity into a successful, integrated touristic product.
This Lithuanian LEADER project empowered the women of a small village to create a brand for their organic fruit and vegetables, and increase the income they generate by selling their home produce.


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Bestseller seeks new partner
May shortly snap ties with franchisee - Prashant AggarwalDecember 17, 2013 | comments ( 0 ) |
Denmark-based fashion house Bestseller which is the owner of Jack & Jones and Vero Moda is all set to call off its four-year franchising relationship with its local partner -businessman Prashant Aggarwal.
The overseas player has questioned the way the Indian partner handled its marquee brands in the country. If sources are to be believed, Bestseller officials were upset with a few real estate deals that went wrong and impacted their bottom-line severely.
Apparently, Bestseller is in talks with other Indian companies for a tie up for all three of its brands, highlight media rep
- Manyavar launches another store in Punjab
- Ola raises Rs 150 crore from Flipkart's Co-Founder Sachin Bansal
- Ananth Narayanan steps down as Myntra Jabong CEO
- DailyNinja celebrates 15 million orders fulfilled
- John Jacobs looks to garner Rs 500 crore revenue by March 2021
- The Body Shop plans to launch 20 more stores in 2019
- Saya Homes to invest Rs 450 cr in its 1st retail project
- Tablez to introduce US-based Build-A-Bear in India
- LOTS Wholesale Solutions expands footprint with its third store in India
- Microsoft partners with retail chain Kroger to develop grocery stores


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Starting this summer, it should be possible to dispose of wine and spirit bottles in recycling machines if the Riigikogu can pass an amendment. Although Estonians are diligent in returning glass, the ever-tightening Euro directives are forcing officials to act.
"Currently, a bottle of juice can be brought back into the reverse vending machine, but if you have a bottle of champagne at home, it will not be accepted by the system," the ETV current affairs show "Aktuaalne kaamera" reported.
As nothing motivates people more than money, the Ministry of the Environment is planning to change the system of deposit pledges so that it would be possible to dispose of other glass containers in a reverse vending machine (RVM).
Kerli Rebane, advisor to the Department of Environmental Management at the environment ministry, said: "It is for strong and weak alcoholic beverages, such as vodka, cognac, whiskey or even wines and sparkling wine bottles. In addition, syrups and milk drinks."
While brewers are required to join the deposit system, vodka producers are not. In Rebane's opinion, there is no point in forcing them to join because, unlike other packages, glass bottles are already being taken to public glass containers diligently.
Kaupo Karba, CEO of Estonian Pandipak said this would seriously test capabilities. "If it was mandatory, the amount of glass would increase many times over and we are not sure whether we would be able to deal with it today and that is why a voluntary principle has been introduced," Karba said.
He sais he has repeatedly been asked why soup or jam jars could not be returned, but this could never happen for hygiene reasons.
"As a rule, beverage jars are empty after consumption, and a few drops of liquid remain in the jars, but if we look at soups, jams and everything else, then after consumption, there is quite a lot of food left, which would spoil in warm summer weather, which would mean that all of these reverse vending machine houses are going to be smelly places, "Karba explained.
If it becomes possible to dispense bottles of wine and vodka into RVMs, there will be fewer existing glass containers that have so far been paid for by alcohol producers.
Alder Harkmann, CEO of Estonian Packaging Circulation, said other packaging would probably be more expensive without an option to return bottles. "For us, fixed costs will remain the same, and if half of the glass revenue is lost, this missing portion should be distributed over other packaging," he noted.
The Liquor Producers Association said joining a pledge depends on handling fees and the technical capabilities of the RVMs.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Environment Kaupo Heinma told "Aktuaalne kaamera" there is no major problem with bottles going out of circulation in Estonia.
"We find less than 10 percent of the glass mixed with municipal waste. The majority ends up in the deposit system or in these green containers," Heinma said.
Although the ministry is still submitting the draft for approval, it is due to enter into force on July 5, as it is linked to several European Union directives coming into force.
Editor: Roberta Vaino


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A month of new beginnings, January marks an important time of change in people’s lives. A time to carry out resolutions for worthy goals, it is a fitting month to kickstart the radically constructive lifestyle choice of ‘veganism’. A vegan January or ‘Veganuary’(#veganuary), is a potential juggernaut gaining momentum and bringing attention to a plant-based lifestyle.
Veganism is defined as a lifestyle devoid of animal products – in diet, apparel, medicines, cosmetics, and personal care products. Much more than a diet choice, veganism has far-reaching effects and a chance to heal our planet and health. Veganuary really brings this concept home and allows people to explore the vegan lifestyle, without the pressure of failing, while becoming part of a growing global community.
A green, clean, and caring beginning
The Veganuary movement was conceived by Jane Land and her husband Matthew Glover in York, England in 2014, as a means to combat animal cruelty, climate change, and poor health conditions. The website www.veganuary.com allows users to download starter kits that have vegan celebrity recipes, meal plans, and restaurant information. In 2022 this crowdfunded campaign saw 629,000 signups, with more than 220 countries participating. Veganuary reported that in 2021, by going vegan for a month, the lives of over 1 million cattle were saved, and carbon emissions equivalent to 450,000 flights were reduced. So why is plant-based food consumption superior for the environment?
World Sustaining Food Goals
United Nations Food and Agriculture has reported that dairy and meat production generates nearly 20% of total greenhouse emissions. Research from the German University of Bonn suggests that the solution to the growing food crisis is a drastic reduction in meat consumption. Currently, livestock farming occupies 83% of global farmland while contributing to only 18% of global calorie intake via meat and dairy. 90% of all soy and 50% of all grain are consumed by cattle. If this grain was consumed by humans directly, it would reduce starvation as well as carbon pollution. Meat Atlas has reported that the top 20 meat and dairy production brands have a larger carbon footprint than entire countries like Germany and France! The irrefutable fact remains that veganism is the saviour and future of humanity’s dietary needs.
‘Clean’ Fuel for the Human ‘Engine’
Besides environmental responsibility, Veganism is also good for individual health. Health Study conducted at Loma Linda University found that the estimated life expectancy of vegans is 15 years longer than that of meat eaters. In 2017, Harvard Health published a study conducted with over 76,000 participants which reported that meat eaters have a 25% higher chance of dying of heart disease than their vegan counterparts. Also, it was found that a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes by up to 50%. Being extremely low in saturated fats and dense in vitamins, minerals, and roughage, vegan food is less taxing on the digestive system and promotes emotional well-being. Studies published in the Nutrition Journal state that switching from a nonvegetarian to a vegan diet reduces anxiety levels and mood swings. Some proponents of veganism also believe switching to veganism will deliver on global peace based on the “Violence in, violence out” model of philosophy.
The Taste and Protein Issue
Despite the major health benefits, for a lot of people, ‘vegan’ somehow translates to unsatisfying and tasteless salads. The truth couldn’t be more different. The vegan diet is rich, flavourful, and has all types of dishes, even steaks! Beyond Meat and Vivera are very in-demand vegan meat examples.
Another concern is that a plant-based diet lacks proteins and leads to muscle loss. A misconception – a well-rounded plant-based diet is chock full of proteins. In fact, it is medically proven that plant proteins like legumes are better absorbed by the human body than animal ones. People practicing veganism have reported no loss in strength and stamina. Case in point – Venus Williams and Serena Williams are both vegan and outstanding athletes. Cricket player Virat Kohli abstains from animal proteins and is one of the most legendary cricketers in the world. The star-studded list of celebrities and athletes practicing veganism is long with the likes of Ariana Grande, Alec Baldwin, Will.i.am, Emma Stone, Woody Harelson, and Lewis Hamilton to name a few. Companies like Hermes are also joining the vegan movement, collaborating with vegan leather manufacturers.
Veganuary In UAE
With the world’s who is who trying veganism, UAE has embraced Veganuary heartily. A foodie paradise, Dubai and Abu Dhabi culinary scene has seen a sharp rise in vegan offerings. January will see specially dedicated plant-based menus popping up along with the regular fare. In fact, vegan foods and beverages are staples in almost all cafes and restaurants across Dubai – the real hallmark of a cosmopolitan city today.
Veganuary is a very necessary, positively reinforced step in the right direction. This movement entices rather than scares people into trying vegan foods. Social media posts of smiling, healthy people and cute animals are much more inspiring than disturbing posts of slaughterhouses and animal cruelty, eliciting a heartening response. More than ever, people are willing to change their eating habits for better health and a better planet and it would appear that we do need to give peas a chance.


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At least 500 million people use Facebook stories per day. From now-on-wards this feature is going to be more interesting. Now the first question that will come in your mind is HOW? Notably, Facebook on Tuesday launched a new feature on its Stories feature that will help users add digital birthday cards, photos or videos to a story celebrating birthdays of their friends, family and everyone in their community.
In a statement, the company said that the new feature will provide a happy birthday message that’s visual, memorable, interactive and fun. It will be similar to getting a personalised birthday card from everyone you care, regardless of where they are located in the world. Sharing such photos, videos and memories can make a birthday even more special, the social media giant added.
"We're launching birthday stories globally - a way for friends, family and everyone in your community to add digital birthday cards, photos or videos to a story celebrating your big day," said Jehan Damji, Product Manager at Facebook, in a blog post.
To use this new feature, just tap on the birthday notification, shoot or upload a photo or short video or use one of our digital birthday cards, and you’ve instantly got a birthday wish.
You can even add a music sticker to give your story a “Happy Birthday” soundtrack. Then, your wish gets added to your friend’s birthday story, creating a personalized slideshow for them.
Importantly, to celebrate the launch of the new birthday stories feature Facebook has partnered with bakeries across the US to give away free treats today. The company is also taking over Flour Shop in New York City in the US and turning it into a Birthday Stories Bakery from Facebook featuring free sweets. Facebook has also invited everyone to join them by reaching a participating location, where they will show users on how to use the new feature.


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CAHB: THE financial group missed the deadline end of last month to release its annual financial results but was able to deliver a good set of earnings figures. Commerce Asset-Holding pre-tax profit rose 45% to RM747.6mil while net profit surged 63% to RM558.5mil for the financial year ended Dec 31 last year. Lower loan loss provisions lifted last year’s earnings, despite higher-than-expected overheads in the fourth quarter. However, analysts expect overheads to fall because most expenses incurred were non-recurring. The group’s share buyback scheme will continue to support its share price. It has bought back 30.352 million shares to date.
IOI Corp: IOI Corp share price dropped like a rock to a 13-month low of RM4.70 last Friday. Selling was initially triggered by rising concerns over the impending downcycle in crude palm oil prices. The drop in share price intensified after the group proposed to buy 21,722ha of plantation land in Sabah from major shareholder Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng and his family at about RM32,000 per ha. The price is higher than its unit Palmco Holdings Bhd paid for Unilever plc’s plantations in De- cember last year. The acquisition should enhance earnings but investors are unhappy with the price tag and timing of the proposed related-party transaction.
Celcom: A LARGE majority of Celcom shareholders voted in favour of the proposed merger with Telekom Cellular Sdn Bhd last Thursday. Celcom share price climbed to a 10-month high of RM2.68, but that of Telekom Malaysia dipped further. Have all the obstacles been removed? The merger is now awaiting approval of Telekom shareholders who are voting next Monday. Deutsche Telekom, an 8% Celcom shareholder, voted against the merger at the EGM. It claimed veto rights over the merger under a deal with Celcom’s previous management. The German telco has vowed to fight on and pursued arbitration in Paris.
UDA Goldings: SHAREHOLDERS are unlikely to resist the proposed sale of the 41% stake in West Country Sdn Bhd to Magnum Corp Bhd at today’s EGM because the deal will boost UDA Holdings’ cash pile to about RM280mil. At the EGM, shareholders may, however, raise questions on the emergence of new major shareholder Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) in the property group. MRCB intends to acquire Landas Utama Sdn Bhd (LUSB), which owns nearly a 25% stake in UDA, via cash payment of RM88mil and taking over LUSB’s RM132mil debt. Minorities may ponder if debt-laden MRCB can enhance the prospects of cash-rich UDA.
Proton: THE MALAYSIAN Automotive As- sociation (MAA) said February vehicle sales were dragged down by lower sales of national cars. Proton car sales in February slid nearly 26% to 11,236 units from 15,146 a year ago. Month-on-month, the fall was sharper at 38% from 18,023 units a month ago. The weaker sales numbers reinforce analysts’ expectations of lower earnings in the fourth financial quarter ending March 31. Growing competition from affordably priced non-national cars and a possible delay in the launching of new models have sparked concern over the earnings prospects of the national carmaker.


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The price of LBR altcoin has dropped by 44% in the last week. This drop happened because of some events that made people worry about the project’s future.
Before, there were many stories about the LBR cryptocurrency project. It was found that a big part of the total value locked came from a group of popular people and secret addresses. It looks like these fans have recently gotten rid of all their LBR tokens.
The person with the most money in the staker blurr. eth group dumped all their tokens, which were worth about $70 million, on exchanges. The last time something was bought or sold was on January 15, 2024.
Sifuvisioneth, one of the top 5 people who hold and support cryptocurrencies, had more than 6 thousand ETH in staked altcoins, which is worth approximately $13 million, and sold all its tokens. The latest deal was written down a few hours ago.
Czarsamsunbeth is one of the top holders of LBR and has 4,000 ETH, which is worth about $8 million. They also sold all their tokens. The most recent payment was also logged a few hours ago.
Even famous people who promote cryptocurrencies have sold their digital coins, making people unsure about what will happen to LBR in the future. The market will show if LBR can make a comeback.
This is not a suggestion for how to invest your money.


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CHICAGO - Several major retail chains are now asking customers not to openly carry guns in stores, even if local laws allow it.
CVS, Walgreens, Wegmans, Kroger, and Albertson's are all asking customers not to openly bring weapons into stores unless their are law enforcement.
"There's nothing more important than the safety of our customers and employees," said Wegmans on Twitter. "The sight of someone with a gun can be alarming, and we don't want anyone to feel that way at Wegmans. For this reason, we prefer that customers not openly carry firearms in our stores."
"We want our stores to feel safe & welcoming for all, so we respectfully ask customers to not openly carry firearms in our stores unless they are authorized law enforcement officers," Albertsons said on Twitter.
And CVS said on Twitter: "We join a growing chorus of businesses in requesting that our customers, other than authorized law enforcement personnel, do not bring firearms into our stores.
However, the fabric and hobby chain Joanns is not joining that chorus. On Twitter, a company spokesperson wrote that the company preferred that people not bring in guns, but "if a customer lawfully brings a gun in, and is not disrupting other customers or is not perceived as a threat, then we generally will allow it."


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Trader Giotto's Penne Arrabbiata is shown in from of Trader Joe's Friday, July 31, 2020, in Salt Lake City. The popular grocery chain Trader Joe's says it won't be changing ethnic-sounding labels on its line of Mexican, Chinese and other international foods, adding they are not racist. Earlier this month the company said it was looking at changing some labels. But now it says it has no problem with ethnic-food labels like Trader Jose's, Trader Ming's and Arabian Joe. Other Trader Joe's names cited include Arabian Joe for Middle Eastern food, Trader Giotto's for Italian and Trader Joe San for Japanese cuisine. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trader Joe's, which said earlier this month it was moving to change the names of some of its products after an online petition denounced them as racist, now says it will stick with labels like Trader Jose's and Trader Ming's for Mexican and Asian food.
“We want to be clear: we disagree that any of these labels are racist," the popular grocery chain said in a statement posted on its website. It added, “We do not make decisions based on petitions.”
The petition posted on change.org by a high school student claims the names create “a narrative of exoticism that perpetuates harmful stereotypes.”
Other Trader Joe's names cited include Trader Giotto's and Trader Joe San for Italian and Japanese foods.
After the petition was launched Trader Joe's issued a statement saying it has been in the process of updating such product labels.
“While this approach to product naming may have been rooted in a lighthearted attempt at inclusiveness, we recognize that it may now have the opposite effect — one that is contrary to the welcoming, rewarding customer experience we strive to create every day,” company spokeswoman Kenya Friend-Daniel said at the time.
But in its recent statement the grocery chain said it still believes the names, many created decades ago, represent lighthearted efforts at inclusion, adding that its customers say they still like them.
“We thought then — and still do — that this naming of products could be fun and show appreciation for other cultures,” the company added.
That was news to Briones Bedell, the San Francisco Bay Area high school senior who launched the petition drive.
“It seems to be this complete reversal of their previous commitment to removing names from international foods that the corporation themselves have described as not being conducive to creating a welcoming customer experience,” she told The Associated Press.
In an email Friday, Friend-Daniel said the company has indeed dropped some names over the years, including Arabian Joe's and Armenian Joe's, and may drop others in the future. But that will be solely on input from its employees and customers and not Bedell's petition.
“Moving forward, we will continue to evaluate those products with name variations that remain in our stores," Friend-Daniel said. “If we find certain product names and-or products are not resonating with customers, we won’t hesitate to make changes."
Bedell, who described herself and her family as frequent Trader Joe's shoppers until she launched her petition drive, said she always found the names in question offensive.
But she didn't launch her petition drive, she said, until she looked into the history of the company founded by the late Joe Coulombe in 1958.
The chain's website describes how its name and South Pacific decor were inspired by his reading of the book “White Shadows in the South Seas” and a ride on the Disneyland Jungle Boat Cruise, a comical attraction that takes people along rivers populated by rhinos, native headhunters and others that threaten to attack them.
She saw the book and the ride as being filled with racist stereotypes of native savages and white gods that she says Trader Joe's appropriated to sell food and beverages.
“It’s intended to allow the consumer to build up this perceived sophistication through their knowledge of worldliness through their choice of food,” she said. “But it's not a cultural celebration or representation. This is exoticism. These brands are shells of the cultures they represent.”
Although her petition had more than 5,000 signatures Friday, it's brought Bedell some intense blow-black across social media, where she's been the frequent target of vile, sexist insults and other name-calling.
Interestingly enough, she said, the criticism has come from across the political spectrum, with conservatives denouncing her for promoting cancel culture while liberals accuse her of wasting time on a trivial issue.
Despite that, she wants the debate to continue.
“I’ve just been really grateful that this has sparked as much conversation as it has,” she said. “I hope in any future endeavors I can act as a facilitator so people can make up own minds about what is right.”
This story has been corrected to show the spelling of the last name of Trader Joe's founder is Coulombe.
6 Stocks to Help You Profit Off the Coronavirus PPE Boom
Every major global event brings with it changes to our national lexicon. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, few Americans knew what the initials PPE stood for. Today, virtually anyone knows that PPE stands for personal protective equipment.
At the onset of the mitigation policies, the goal of flattening the curve was being done to prevent our health care system from becoming overwhelmed. Part of that concern stemmed from a shortage of personal protective equipment. These are the masks, gloves, goggles and gowns that help protect medical workers against viral or bacterial infections.
As the novel coronavirus became labeled a global pandemic, the global mantra became to “flatten the curve” in an effort to prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed.
The United States is being referred to as being on a war time footing. Manufacturers that were already producing PPE have significantly ramped up capacity. And many companies are converting their excess manufacturing capacity to produce personal protective equipment.
In fairness, this may only be a reason for some of these companies to “keep the lights on” right now. But many of these companies have a good story to tell. And it’s that story that can make them solid investments in the future.
View the "6 Stocks to Help You Profit Off the Coronavirus PPE Boom".


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By Jason Green
A recent article on Kotaku really opened my eyes on a certain subject. It seems that the most taboo thing in the gaming industry, is talking about the games.
Announced in 2005 originally as a launch title for PS3, Final Fantasy Versus XIII has faced a huge number of delays, and, 7 years later it still hasn’t seen the light of day. When websites like Gamespot or IGN reach out for a status report, game developer Square Enix simply issues a basic statement saying “we have no comment at this time” or something to that effect.
Why, though? Why can’t a game developer comment on its own game that they said was once in development? We are the consumers who give these people money to make games. Why can’t we have even the slightest inkling of how the game is doing?
Square Enix isn’t the only company to give a unsatisfying response, pretty much all companies do that. Whenever a company is asked about a game, it seems to be an automatic response for the PR team sporting the words “no comment”.
There’s obviously some big business reason as to why they’re tight lipped over certain things. But than how come the movie industry is always open about their projects.
Directors and actors are always updating fans on projects whether it be from twitter or an interview, but if one was doing that for a video game, they’d be chastised. The only places us gamers ever find out news is at a big event, such as E3, when the developers send out an announcement, or precarious leaks.
My major at college is Public Relations. So, if one day I work in video game PR, maybe I’ll have an answer for this subject.


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|Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) visits Duisburg in Germany, March 29, 2014. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)|
Accompanied by German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, Chinese president Xi Jinping visited the Port of Duisburg on March 29, welcoming the arrival of a freight train from Chongqing in China. Put into operation in June 2011, this rail link will serve as a conduit for products traveling between China and Germany, but it also has more profound significance.
Reform is strengthening, and opening up is continuing. China is the world No. 1 in import and export volumes; China is the biggest trade partner of more than 120 countries. Since joining the WTO, China’s open economy has played a decisive role in the international arena.
Some of China’s coastal areas are taking the lead in opening up, others are advancing policies of reform; here China sets up a free trade zone in Shanghai, there China plans to establish a unified and open market system. Experience demonstrates that more connections between China and the world will stimulate China’s development, and that tighter connections between China and the world will lead to more economic opportunities being shared.
Compared with China’s coastal areas, central and western areas are still lagging behind in foreign trade and investment. But this also means that there is still significant potential for China in opening up new areas. A series of visions have been proposed - the Silk Road economic belt, the 21st century maritime Silk Road, the BCIM Economic Corridor, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor… China is now foreseeing a larger, broader, and deeper network of open economic activity.
Xi made a speech in Germany expressing the hope that China-Germany cooperation in manufacturing will create more high-quality products and bring better life to the people of both countries, and that closer cooperation between China and Germany will provide a greater contribution to economic growth, both for the two countries themselves and for the wider world.
The article is edited and translated from 《让开放创造更多共赢》, source: People's Daily, author: Cao Pengcheng


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The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trans Nzoia County has lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for the gradual reopening the economy. The chairman Martin Waliaula noted that the President’s speech was timely and his the move will help to stabilize a deteriorating economy.
Waliaula said that most traders have been adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic and that they’ve learnt lessons on curbing the spread of the virus. He said they have put up mechanisms of educating their customers on the Covid-19 virus and advising them on methods of preventing its spread.
He said KNCCI has put in place a partnership with Equity Bank to provide loans for small traders to help them in their businesses. He added that a County joint committee has been setup to look into the tribulations that traders have gone through, and will help to offer loans to traders stating that he will co-chair the committee.
He explained that for one to qualify for the loan, he or she must be a customer of the bank, be registered by the chamber of commerce and industry and will have to be taken for training by
Equity bank. He further urged traders to use the available time to register with KNCCI and apply for loans to help their businesses.


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Newly released data from crypto exchange OKEx gives one possible explanation of how larger holders of bitcoin – or “whales” – were able to influence prices as bitcoin rallied to a new all-time high in November.
During that bitcoin run-up, institutions and whales were able to buy dips and oftentimes sell when prices went up. That left the majority of the retail investors scrambling to chase the rally, according to a newly released OKEx data report.
Trading data of the bitcoin/tether pair on OKEx’s platform between August and November showed that during the November bitcoin rally, whales’ such as individual investors with sizable holdings and, potentially, institutions were taking profits by selling their bitcoin. During that same month, smaller-sized traders, such as retail investors, continued buying as they did in September and October, despite higher prices in the oldest cryptocurrency, according to the report compiled by OKEx and blockchain data firm Kaiko.
Notably, during the end of November, as bitcoin’s price was approaching its new all-time high, a look at day-by-day trading activity of different groups of users on OKEx indicate that whales and institutions bought the Thanksgiving price dip, while retail and other smaller traders panic-sold their bitcoin during that small market crash on Nov. 26.
According to the report, the data indicated that while large bitcoin holders are “in the business of buying low and selling high,” they are not necessarily interested in buying bitcoin into rallies the way retail investors have been.
“Ultimately, [whales] seek to drive the market, shake out retail traders in panic and capitalize on opportunities to buy relatively cheap coins,” according to a the news release from OKEx. “For retail traders, and everyone else in between, the choice seems to be between two options: swimming with the tide or against it.”
A different take
Yet, data from another crypto analysis firm, CryptoQuant, has a slightly different take. Its view is that throughout 2020 bitcoin whales have almost never missed a “buy the dip” opportunity.
One CryptoQuant conclusion is the large-sized traders may have prevented bitcoin’s price from crashing further and instead drove each price rally, potentially making profits by selling bitcoin at higher prices.
New institutions turning whales into small fish
There appears to be two types of institutions in the crypto space in 2020: those crypto natives including crypto quant firms and family offices, and those who are from the traditional financial markets such as MicroStrategy or MassMutual.
The latter group is unlikely to be the cause of each price dip by intentionally selling their bitcoin in order to cause a market crash, according to analysts who spoke with CoinDesk.
Major institutions “have not disclosed selling positions that would indicate this,” John Todaro, told CoinDesk in an email response, citing MicroStrategy and Grayscale (CoinDesk’s sister company) as examples. Both companies have not been on the sell side of bitcoin.
Todaro added that although institutional money has been part of the reasons for this year’s rallies, it does not explain recent price gains because institutions often trade bitcoin through over-the-counter firms, which are designed to have minimal price impact on the market.
Over-the-counter (OTC) desks “have increased two-way markets as more counterparties are on-boarded, allowing them to match buyers and sellers more directly to have less impact on markets,” Todaro said. “Smaller institutions or whales, though, may be less reliant on OTC desks and more likely to utilize exchanges, even placing large market orders that could have a larger immediate impact on price.”
And as more large institutions enter the bitcoin market, small institutions and whales are increasingly becoming smaller market players, Todaro said.
As well, traditional institutions are unlikely to deliberately impact the market because they are buying the narrative that bitcoin is digital gold, said Matthew Hougan, chief investment officer of Bitwise Asset Management. Therefore, it’s unlikely this new class of bitcoin investors would sell into market crashes.
“They don’t sell into dips because they don’t have anything to sell, and because they feel they need to establish a position in the market given the macro conditions and the significant upside potential still left in crypto,” Hougan said.
Correction (Dec. 11, 2020 14:10 UTC): Whales buy low and sell high. The original headline misstated the direction.


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A1 Garage Door Service Announces the Acquisition of Armstrong Garage Door
Acquisition Expands A1 Garage Door Service’s presence in Florida
ORLANDO (June 30, 2023) – A1 Garage Door Service, an established national leader in the garage door service and sales industry, announced today the acquisition of Armstrong Garage Door. Beginning August 1, Armstrong will operate as A1 Garage Door Service and will continue to help new and existing customers in and around Orlando with their garage door needs.
“Expanding our service area in Florida remains a strategic focus for our company, as the demand for high-quality garage door services in the state is very high,” said Tommy Mello, founder and CEO of A1 Garage Door Service. “With this acquisition, we continue to expand our national footprint, bringing excellent service to customers across the United States.”
Founded by Billy Armstrong in 1991, Armstrong Garage Door is a family-owned business servicing Orlando, Clermont and Oviedo. Armstrong offers repair, maintenance, and installation services to both residential and commercial customers.
“We are proud of the family-oriented business we’ve built over the last 30+ years, and we are confident that A1 will continue to treat our employees and customers just as we would – like family,” said Billy Armstrong, founder and owner of Armstrong Garage Door.
About A1 Garage Door Service
A1 is a leading provider of residential repair and replacement garage door services across the United States. Founded in 2007, A1 has established a longstanding reputation for providing the highest quality customer service available in its 35 served markets. More information can be found at www.a1garage.com.
For media inquiries, please contact:
For acquisition inquiries, please contact:


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Even with the UK’s CMA decision, the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard seems to still be on the table. Microsoft is currently appealing the decision in hopes that it can get approved, and if it does then it will be one step closer to finalizing the deal. This would put the entirety of Activision Blizzard under Microsoft’s control and would give Xbox access to a plethora of unused franchises.
Since Activision Blizzard is one of the biggest video game publishers, it has control over many different iconic franchises. However, there are many franchises that have been left to gather dust over the years for various reasons. Sometimes the newest titles did not make an impact, the franchise only existed to capitalize on a trend, or Activision just chose to let it sit in favor of other experiences. Whatever the case may be, many of these franchises could see new life through Xbox Game Studios.
Guitar Hero was once one of the biggest names in music rhythm games, but it seems to have vanished from the public eye. It started in 2005 through a partnership between RedOctane and Harmonix. The thrilling music and guitar-shaped controller helped make this title extremely successful, and it would go on to spawn an entire franchise. After two successful titles, RedOctane would get acquired by Activision, and the Guitar Hero franchise became an Activision franchise.
Activision ended up handing Neversoft the reins to Guitar Hero, and it seemed to pay off immensely. Guitar Hero 3: Legend of Rock became a massive financial success, and allegedly was one of the first video games to reach over $1 billion in sales. However, things quickly changed as the music game genre became oversaturated, and the controllers proved expensive. The entire genre came to a screeching halt, and the last Guitar Hero game would hit store shelves in 2015. While it may never reach the heights of the genre’s early days, a series as iconic as Guitar Hero deserves to live on in some fashion.
Prototype was an action-adventure series from Radical Entertainment that made players feel like they were a superpowered mutant. It put players in control of an amnesiac shapeshifter named Alex Mercer who had to stop a virus outbreak in Manhattan. Players had incredible powers at their disposal, the world was filled with things to do, and the mature story kept them engaged. It ended up being a success for the studio but would only get one sequel.
Prototype 2 launched three years later, but it failed to make the impact its predecessor did. Players took control of U.S. Marine Sergeant James Heller as he hunted down Alex Mercer. They had a whole new set of powers to play with, a revised world to explore, and a new unique story to experience. While its reviews and sales were strong initially, it failed to find an audience and Radical Entertainment was reduced to a supporting role. However, with the rise of superhero media, it seems like the perfect time for Microsoft to revive this franchise.
Skylanders practically created the toys-to-life game genre back in 2011, but there does not seem to be a place for it nowadays. It was a massive series of games that kicked-off with the unique Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. Players were whisked away on a journey to a brand-new world besieged by the Dark Portal Master Kaos. He had shrunk every single Skylander down to toys and sent them to Earth, and it was up to the player to get them back to their world. It received generally positive reviews at launch and would go on to become a very successful series for Activision.
Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure would spawn multiple sequels that expanded the roster of Skylanders and introduced new gimmicks every time. While the quality stayed relatively consistent, the toys-to-life trend became awfully expensive. Not only would players have to buy every single new Skylanders game, but they also had to buy numerous toys if they wanted to experience everything the games had to offer. This would ultimately kill the genre, but a version of Skylanders could still exist. If Microsoft removed the toys-to-life aspect and just crafted a new Skylanders platformer, it could have a hit on its hands.
Spyro the Dragon
Spyro may have featured prominently in Skylanders, but he has also been the star of his own series since 1998. Originally, Spyro the Dragon was a PlayStation staple created by Insomniac Games, but it would be handed off to other developers after the release of Spyro: Year of the Dragon. After multiple platformers starring the purple dragon, Activision would end up acquiring the rights to the franchise in 2008.
Activision has not really done much with Spyro the Dragon since it acquired it. The publisher put him as the mascot of the Skylanders franchise and ended up releasing the Spyro Reignited Trilogy in 2018. While it was great to revisit these classic platformers, fans of the purple dragon also want something more. If Activision Blizzard does not explore this character further, then perhaps Microsoft should.
StarCraft was once one of Blizzard Entertainment’s largest franchises, but it seems to have forgotten about it. This sci-fi series first started in 1998 with StarCraft, and it was extremely successful at the time. It would become the best-selling PC game of that year and would garner some strong reviews. Blizzard ended up expanding it even further with various DLC packs, and even released some tie-in novels. It seemed like the studio had a massive hit on its hands, but it did not release the sequel until 2010.
2010’s StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty took everything good about the first game and did it better. It was met with critical acclaim and became one of the fastest-selling strategy games of all time. Blizzard would once again expand it with DLC, but it has not really done anything with it since 2016 while the last piece of major StarCraft content came with StarCraft: Remastered in 2017. Outside esports, it seems like Activision Blizzard has no plans for more StarCraft titles, but hopefully Microsoft does.
MORE: Would Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Give Xbox Too Much Power?


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Walgreens Boots Alliance saw its shares pop on Tuesday after reports that it is exploring going private.
The drug-store giant has held preliminary discussions with some of the world’s largest private equity firms about putting together what would be the biggest ever leveraged buyout, Reuters reported. Walgreens, which has a market value of more than $55 billion, operates Walgreens in the U.S. and Boots pharmacies in the U.K. and Europe.
The report comes amid increased competition in the drug store and consumer health care space. Walgreens’ rival CVS Health, which last year bought Aetna, the nation’s third largest health insurance company, is rolling out new formats with a health-and-wellness focus. In September, Walmart opened its first freestanding facility dedicated to health care.
Walgreens has selected investment bank Evercore Partners Inc. to explore whether a deal can be put together, the report said.
To read the full Reuters story, click here.
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With Southwest Airlines set embark on a new journey over the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii, nonstop flights from Las Vegas to the island chain may not be far behind.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority tightened ethics, travel and gift card policies after several employees, including former CEO Rossi Ralenkotter, were caught using airline cards for personal trips.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s board on Tuesday unanimously approved permitting CEO Steve Hill to investigate ways to reduce energy costs, either through NV Energy or a different provider.
The helipad would be used by Maverick Helicopters to transport customers to popular tourist destinations in the region.
The new year is shaping up to be a strong one for MGM Resorts International’s Strip properties as Park MGM and Mandalay Bay revive and convention attendance picks up, according to Wall Street banks.
The LVCVA board of directors on Tuesday will consider a request from President and CEO Steve Hill to pay an estimated $113,000 in compensation to Luke Puschnig and start the process of recruiting a new attorney to serve the LVCVA and its board.
The LVCVA board will consider purchasing power from an alternative provider, according to CEO Steve Hill. The departure would include the Las Vegas Convention Center and its $935 million, 1.4 million-square-foot expansion, scheduled to be completed by January 2021.
Security screeners at airports nationwide discovered a record number of firearms and unusual items in carry-on bags last year — including a grenade found in a bag in Las Vegas.
For couples quickly seeking a marriage license in time for Valentine’s Day, Clark County believes it has a solution: A pop-up office at McCarran International Airport.


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The company said it has become imperative to pass on some impact of the additional cost to the customers through a price rise.
Jagdish Khattar served two terms as the managing director of Maruti from 2002-2007
The auto giant achieved the milestone as a batch of products comprising S-Presso, Swift and Vitara Brezza left for South Africa from the Mundra Port in Gujarat.
The company, which currently offers CNG options in eight models out of total 14 available in the Indian market, is actively working to expand the portfolio.
The price cut along with other festive season offers should help Maruti Suzuki boost its sales figures
The move will help these two carmakers salvage components like steel, which is instrumental in making new cars, from old vehicles
Could the relatively cleaner fuel fill the gap that will be left by the absence of a diesel option?
India’s largest carmaker resorts to more drastic measures for inventory control during slowdown in the automotive industry
Reeling under severe slowdown, the auto major had reduced its production by 33.99 per cent in August, making it the seventh straight month of reduction.
How do the two MPVs from Maruti Suzuki differ visually despite being essentially the same underneath? Find out below
The new MPV comes with a few extra personalisation options too
Explore the new MPV in all its detail
Gets Honda City-like multi-reflector LED headlamp units with LED daytime running lamps
The next-gen Hyundai Creta and Tata’s upcoming H2X-based micro SUV are expected to be revealed at the 2020 Auto Expo
After Maruti Suzuki, Renault India is set to stop selling diesel-powered cars in the BS6 era
Toyota, Suzuki, Daihatsu Join Hands To Develop Compact EVs
The French carmaker intends to offer cars in the “heart” of the market, but won’t play the price card
How are different are two variants of the Maruti Baleno-based Toyota Glanza? We find out
BJP members pay tribute to 63 feet tall statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his 105th birth anniversary in Varanasi.PTI Photo
In this file image, Kamla Bhasin (R), feminist and a social activist launching a book Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile during a workshop in Dharamsala, India. Bhasin passed away at the age of 75 after being...Photo by Shyam Sharma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
In this file image, Author Kamla Bhasin, Former Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar and Amodkanth with Vinita Bakshi during seminar on 'Sex Trafficking of Girls and Women in the Subcontinent' in New Delhi. Bhasin passed away at...Photo by K Asif/The India Today Group via Getty Images
In this file image, MP Shashi Tharoor felicitated womens rights activist Kamla Bhasin during the Laadli awards in Mumbai. Bhasin passed away at the age of 75 after being diagnosed with cancer.PTI Photo
In this file image, Kamla Bhasin (R), feminist and a social activist launching a book Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile during a workshop in Dharamsala. Bhasin passed away at the age of 75 after being...Photo by Shyam Sharma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Opposition parties unite for implementation of a long-standing demand. Will the Modi Government bite the bullet?
There is no need to contextualise Hathras. It is a standalone story. A warning, a trigger, a tragedy.
A Dalit Sikh CM from the neglected Puad region is a smart move, queering the pitch for the grand old party’s rivals.
Virat Kohli will step down as T20 captain of India and RCB but that will not take away the fact that he remains a unique leader
With all foreign soldiers out of Afghanistan, the Taliban is now in a position to do pretty much what it wants.
It can be a crucial stepping stone to develop young minds to appreciate the importance of practising honesty throughout their academic journey and lay the foundations for successful professional careers.
One can be pro-religion, but against coerced religion; one can be pro-vaccines, but against coercion and mandates


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Used Cars Lebanon Pa – If you shop for cars, it is helpful to know the landscape. WTOP Car Guy Mike Parris gets the story inside by visiting the world’s largest automated auction facility. While the Manheim, Pennsylvania site, only for dealers, some insights from there can help save you money.
“This is a controlled mess,” Parris of the facility offers 36 auction lines on more than 400 acres in Lancaster County, about two and a half hours from DC “At the end of the day you will find out what speed the car is in the wholesale market – and when this will go up, “he said.
Used Cars Lebanon Pa
The ripple effect of the rates might be blamed for raising prices on the used car market. The idea is that if rates lead to higher prices for new cars, used cars will become more attractive to buyers – and the market has reacted. Manheim said prices saw reflections in the spring and then “normal increases” this summer. It said prices rose 5 percent compared to last year.
There is still relative bargaining. “Large luxury sedans definitely lose a lot of value,” said Parris. Electric vehicles also perform poorly on the resale market: “You can get them for pennies on the dollar.”
In contrast, larger pickups and SUVs have excellent value. Parris says the Jeep Wranglers and Toyota 4Runners are excellent players, with 4Runner “going for almost what was sold for two or three years ago” when new.
So, once the dealer buys a car at auction, how much do they get?
“If there’s a $ 10,000 car, you might see it around $ 11,000 to $ 12,000 at the dealership,” while high-end cars can see markups of $ 4,000 to $ 5,000, Parris said.
Manheim Pennsylvania, offers more than 500,000 vehicles for sale every year, and many make it to the D.C area. “Obviously if it was an off-lease vehicle, it was a very good opportunity that it actually came from Manheim,” said Parris.
Many car rental companies also auction their cars there. One of the biggest buyers at auction is CarMax, which can send 50 to 60 representatives to weekly sales.
Pictures gallery of Used Cars Lebanon Pa, Visit to massive Pa. dealer auction shows car prices rising
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Greek entrepreneurs have told Bloomberg that Greece’s government support to start-up companies will not be enough to turn around a labor market in which one out of four are unemployed.
Bloomberg notes that Greece has lost one-quarter of its GDP during the past six years of recession as austerity measures pushed unemployment above 26 percent, or 56 percent for those under 24 yeard old.
Greece needs small businesses that specialize in “new economy” to help boost the country’s growth, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said at a start-up event he attended with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Athens last week.
Greek start-ups employ about 1,500 people, doing anything from helping find a taxi to operating social networks and or staffing cupcake shops. The number of the new start-up companies reached 144 in 2013, compared to 65 in 2012 and 16 in 2010. Thirty of those new companies attracted investments of 42 million euros in 2013, compared to 500,000 euros in 2010, according to data from Endeavor used by Bloomberg.


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What we saw Apple do with each new generation of iPhones is providing new features while maintaining existing features with improved. That is why it is not surprising to learn that Apple may be interested in sensors, cameras, three-dimensional, at least according to a new report released recently from the website of Bloomberg.
According to the report, he says that he expected Sony to increase the number of sensors, cameras, three-dimensional manufactured by due attention to the growing number of smartphone manufacturers, including Apple. Said Satoshi Yoshihara, head of the Department of sensors in Sony : ” you made the cameras a revolution in the phones, and based on what I’ve seen, I have the same expectations for the sensor of the cameras and three-dimensional. Will vary the pace of a different board, but we’ll definitely adopt sensors, cameras, three-dimensional. I’m sure of it. “
The purpose of the use of sensors, cameras, three-dimensional this is not clear, but the scenario most likely scenario is the use of these sensors in order to add facial recognition technologies to mobile phones, or add cameras to the background in order to get better images in the mode to Portrait Mode.
When it comes to Apple company, the old Chinese Ming-Chi Kuo had indicated last November that it was possible to tell Apple to include an upgraded version of the feature Face ID in the iPhone next in the year 2019. However, it remains to be seen whether it is as a result of the use of the Apple sensors and a subsidiary of Sony or not.


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Chubb to offer 'identity theft' cover
CHUBB Insurance has launched the first ID protection cover, prompted by the explosion in so-called 'identity theft'.
The firm's Masterpiece homeowner's insurance will now come with the option of added ID fraud protection, offering cover of up to £10,000 in the event of identity theft.
Chubb says the average cost to victims of ID theft in rectifying their credit rating is between £1,000 and £5,000.
According to the UK fraud prevention service CIFAS, reported cases of the fraud have tripled in the last three years.
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January 22, 2007 (LBO) – Motorola Inc plans to introduce a low budget handset next month to popularize the use of cellular phones among less affluent people, officials said Monday. As at end last year, bank estimates around 5.8 million people were connected to the local cellular network.
Sri Lankans can pick up a MotoFone F3 at 5,000 rupees, which comes equipped with 8 hour talk time and two-week standby time, the world’s second largest mobile phone operator told reporters.
The F3 boasts number of features such as a high quality speaker that is designed to be clear and loud, a display using a concept call electronic paper that consumes less power and clearer.
“The phone has voice prompts,” Robert Gagnon Managing Director Motorola’s Mobile Devices in Emerging Markets said.
A voice prompt makes it easier for first-time users to navigate, place a call and retrieve messages, he explain


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In 2020, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic changed the way many Americans worked, as companies closed their doors to limit workplace contamination. The uncertainty around Covid-19 caused people to seek hope in religion and spirituality, resulting in industry growth. For many Black women, like Shontel Anestasia, the current spiritual boom is not only a way to connect to one’s higher self, but also a means of making money.
Anestasia, owner of the Urban Gurvi Mama shop, founded her business in 2017 to cultivate a safe space for women on their spiritual journey. She says she witnessed people seeking to “go back to their roots” at the start of the pandemic.
“For the last two years, there has been a surge of people wanting to go back to their roots. Last year, I did just as well being self-employed at my shop as I did working in corporate America,” she says.
From candles and crystals to metaphysical practices like tarot readings, the spiritual wellness industry saw significant growth. The psychic business, for example, reached 2.2 billion dollars in 2019. This number is expected to grow to 2.4 billion by 2026.
Furthermore, the number of psychic service businesses in the US is anticipated to grow from 93,939 to almost 100,000 over the next five years, according to IbisWorld.
Shantrelle Lewis is one of the many Black women who found their entrepreneurial niche in traditional African spirituality. The Lucumi Sango Priest and Co-Founder of SHOPPE BLACK used her decades of research on African Traditional Religions to establish the BEAUCOUP HOODOO ATRs Book Club.
“The resurgence of spirituality has created a market for people to want to purchase supplies that will allow them to create prosperity, to promote health, to bring in love and to bring in all the good things that they want to attract to themselves by supporting people that look just like them,” she says.
According to Kiana Cox, a research associate at the Pew Research Center, though most Black Americans identify as Christian, they have a wide array of spiritual practices and beliefs that go beyond Christianity.
Pew’s “Faith Among Black Americans” report asked survey participants 3 questions: Have you prayed at an altar or shrine? Have you consulted a divine or reader? And do you burn candles, incense, or sage as part of your religious or spiritual practice?
Twenty percent of Black Americans say they’ve prayed at an altar/shrine, while 12% say they’ve consulted a reader and used candles, incense, or sage.
“About 30% of Black people say that they believe prayers to their ancestors can protect them,” Cox says. “So we have that aspect. And about 40% of Black people say that they believe in reincarnation. So even though they’re not affiliated with African religions, some of these practices and beliefs that we might associate with non-Christian religions are there.”
The pandemic’s positive impact
For some Black women who were already in the spirituality space before Covid, the pandemic helped boost revenue.
Angele, better known as the Hoodoo Hussy, started her business, Hoodoo Hussy Conjure Enterprises, in 2017 while being a full-time educator. She handcrafts her “spirit medicines” by combining her knowledge of the Earth and African-American traditional religion, offering products such as spiritual bath, cleansing smoke and manifestation oils.
The self-proclaimed “root worker” has been able to use the money she’s earned during the pandemic to support her business’ upkeep.
“This is not something that’s is going to cover all of my costs right now. Money that I made during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was used to up my game and reinvest in my business,” she says. “Even though I’m about to celebrate 5 years of the business, I’m still setting the foundation for growth.”
The ability to make your culture your capital is something many Black women cherish, and they hope this new spiritual awakening opens the eyes of the generations to come.
“I’m very big on leaving a legacy behind and finishing what my grandma started. So being in this place I’m in right now gives me a strong sense of purpose,” Anestasia says. “When I’m not here anymore, I hope my kids will be doing this.”
Biden pledged to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court—meet 5 who could be up for the job
For the first time, 30% of all S&P 500 board directors are women
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It sometimes seems these days as if taking an herbal supplement is akin to gambling…you never know what you are going to get.
Just last week, the FDA issued its first mandatory recall of kratom products after Triangle Pharmaceuticals refused to comply with a March 30th agency request for a voluntary recall. That earlier action came after 87 people in 35 states became sick with salmonella after ingesting kratom supplements. Of those 87 people, 27 were sick enough to require hospitalization. Multiple companies that market kratom products conducted recalls, but Triangle Pharmaceuticals, despite having samples of their kratom products test positive for salmonella, refused to cooperate, forcing the FDA to issue the mandatory recall.
The recalled products include supplements such as Raw Form Organics Maeng Da Kratom Emerald Green, Raw Form Organics Maeng Da Kratom Ivory White, and Raw Form Organics Maeng Da Kratom Ruby Red.


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Security is as relevant as ever, and Intel is conducting research into ways to promote security using their existing hardware.
Intel Labs and the chip company’s Data Center Group are gradually unveiling their joint research project codenamed “Reliance Point.” The goal is to shield sensitive data and enable organizations to collate their databases with newfound ease and confidentiality. To that end, Intel is looking to create a neutral, secure environment to provide limited, shared access to data between multiple parties. Although this is still merely research -- and research in its early stages at that -- Reliance Point is being developed in collaboration with Intel’s product teams.
There is also a clear market demand for this kind of security in order to bolster big data whilst still protecting it, according to Intel.
Sridhar Iyengar, the head of security research for Intel Labs, spoke with EE Times about Reliance Point technology as it gradually begins to see the light of day. Iyengar said Intel makes observations into the ecosystem and looks at problems, as well as the hardware and software it will need to solve them.
“Security is a fine balance between a variety of spaces,” Iyengar said. “There is no absolute in security.”
There are many organizations that have large proprietary databases -- customer databases, products, technologies, etc. -- that would like to share their technology, Iyengar said.
One example that Iyengar used is US national security and the no-fly list. In this case, airlines have a database of passengers of their own aside from the one kept by the government. The two may want to combine their information to find out “if there is a bad guy on the flight.” At the same time, they may not want to give up their databases to each other completely -- it’s not an environment in which trust is fully there.
This is exactly the type of scenario in which Intel’s Reliance Point comes into play: Two sides want to protect their privacy while sharing data.
How does one allow multiple parties to share data even though they don’t trust each other?
Reliance Point enables multiple parties to combine to collate information. The middleware technology takes advantage of Intel’s hardware in a mutually trustworthy environment, a mutual broker-type environment. The technology enables the trust, where two parties may have not met before and have not built up a trust relationship.
Why has Intel chosen to move in this direction? Iyengar said Intel recognizes that this is a problem that needs to be solved. “As people discover new insights, they will find new uses and new processors and technologies that hadn’t been there before,” Iyengar said.
Nikhil Deshpande, senior business strategist in Intel Labs, told EE Times that Intel is looking specifically at big data, which enables consumers and anyone who wants to leverage “a whole bunch of analytics.” On the other hand, he said, “if data remains in silos, that doesn’t accomplish the goal. We think that Reliance Point helps break those barriers.”