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Amazon isn’t getting sued because it’s too big, but because it isn’t playing fair according to the FTC and 17 states. The basis of the suit is that the company’s conduct blocks competition, enabling it to use monopoly power to inflate prices, degrade quality, overcharge sellers, and prevent rivals from fairly competing. Those are not trivial charges.
The complaint says Amazon engages in exclusionary conduct that prevents current competitors from growing and new competitors from emerging. Stifling competition on price, product selection, and quality, the company prevents rivals from attracting a critical mass of shoppers and sellers. Amazon is accused of far-reaching schemes that impact hundreds of billions of dollars in retail sales annually, touch hundreds of thousands of products sold by businesses big and small, and affect over a hundred million shoppers.
Amazon is said to be using monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices and degrading service for the tens of millions of American families who shop on its platform and the hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely on Amazon to reach them.
Amazon’s anticompetitive conduct is said to occur in two markets—the online superstore market that serves shoppers and the online marketplace services purchased by sellers. Accusations include:
- Amazon uses anti-discounting measures to punish sellers and deter other online retailers from offering prices lower than Amazon. Should a seller offer lower-priced goods elsewhere, Amazon can bury discounting sellers so far down in Amazon’s search results that they are effectively invisible.
- “Prime” eligibility is pushed onto sellers to use Amazon’s costly fulfillment service, making it more expensive for sellers on Amazon to also offer their products on other platforms. The coercion limits a competitor’s ability to compete against Amazon effectively.
Amazon is said to extract enormous monopoly rents from everyone within its reach, including:
- Replacing relevant, organic search results with paid advertisements—and increasing junk ads that worsen search quality, frustrate buyers that seek products, and sellers promised a return on their advertising purchase.
- Biasing search results to preference Amazon’s own products over ones that Amazon knows are of better quality.
- Charging costly fees on the hundreds of thousands of sellers that currently have no choice but to rely on Amazon to stay in business. From a monthly fee sellers must pay for each item sold, to advertising fees necessary for sellers to do business. Many sellers pay close to 50% of their total revenues to Amazon, and buyers pay increased prices for thousands of products sold on or off Amazon.
The FTC seeks a permanent injunction in federal court prohibiting Amazon from engaging in its unlawful conduct and to stop Amazon’s monopolistic control to restore competition.
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin joined the Commission’s lawsuit. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file for a permanent injunction and other equitable relief in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington was 3-0.


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'Titanic' Has Cruise Execs Singing 'Our Profits Will Go On and On'
Cruise sales have been spurred by hit movie. World's largest ship set sail May 27.
Thank you, Leonardo.
The success of the film "Titanic" has cruise industry executives, like so many Celine Dions, warbling the praises of the iceberg epic and its baby-faced star, Leonardo DiCaprio.
Before the film's release, the industry was concerned the story of a disaster at sea would send the market plummeting to the bottom of the ocean. But "the romantic character of the story prevailed and had a positive effect on the public," says Francesco Di Cesare, a Venice-based industry analyst.
As a result, the wake of the top-grossing film of all time is sloshing even more money into the coffers of Europe's lucrative cruise industry. "In Europe, 'Titanic' guaranteed a 20 percent increase in the sales of cruises," says Vincenzo Zaccagnino, editor of the Italian magazine Cruises.
Sailing on this high tide of popularity, the largest superliner in the world set forth for the first time this week from Istanbul, Turkey, on a 12-day trip to Barcelona, Spain. Capable of accommodating 2,600 passengers and a crew of 1,200, Grand Princess is twice the size of the Titanic - also touted as the largest ship afloat before it sank during its maiden voyage in 1912.
Despite its tragic plot, "the film really brought to people's attention just how grand cruising can be, just how splendid a sea cruise is," says Gill Haynes, marketing manager of Britain's P&O Princess Cruises, which commissioned the Grand Princess. "Titanic re-aroused this hidden desire. Certainly among the young, who are now asking their parents to take them on a cruise," agrees Mario Martini, marketing manager of Genoa-based Costa Crociere, Italy's market leader in the sector.
Mr. Di Cesare adds that one cannot compare yesterday's Titanic to today's cruises. "One thing is transport, another is a holiday. The use and perception of ships by customers has changed significantly," he says.
The advent of the airline industry earlier this century caused a near collapse for passenger liners. But in the 1970s, interest in cruises started to grow again in the United States, boosted in part by the television series "The Love Boat."
In the 1980s, cruises also took off in Europe as the price of vacation packages decreased. "Today the US market is consolidated and has been fully exploited. Great expansion, however, is taking place in Europe," says Di Cesare.
According to the latest official figures, in 1996, 6 million people went on cruises, a 40 percent increase from 1990. Cruise ship production is mainly European.
Grand Princess is shipbuilder Fincantieri's latest creation. At a cost of $450 million, it isn't only the biggest passenger vessel ever constructed, but also the most expensive. Later this year, the Italian firm is set to break another world record with Disney Magic. The 964-foot ship, due to be handed over to Disney Cruise Lines in July, will be the world's longest.
Completion of Grand Princess was not without problems. The ship was originally due to sail May 14 from Southampton, England, to New York - the same route as the Titanic's - but the trip had to be canceled at the last minute. "We needed an extra week.... Finishing touches are very complex on a ship with its style of innovation," says marketing manager Haynes, adding that passengers were given a full refund and other compensation.
The sheer size of the Grand Princess is overwhelming: At 201 feet high and 159 feet wide it is higher than Niagara Falls and too broad to fit through the Panama Canal.
But size isn't everything. "She is the outcome of an extremely innovative design," says Fincantieri chairman Corrado Antonini. "She is a unique ship that we like to define [as] third generation - a ship for the third millennium."
Grand Princess boasts 1,300 cabins, including 28 designed for disabled passengers. The sports deck includes a 9-hole putting green and a computerized golf center. "There's an enormous range of ... innovative facilities, like the first virtual reality center and the first wedding chapel at sea," says Haynes.
Perhaps the most spectacular addition is the glass-walled nightclub suspended 150 feet above the stern and reached through a glass-enclosed "travellator."
"When you're up there, it's almost like hovering in a helicopter over the back of the ship," says Haynes. "That's when you really know you are on the world's largest cruise ship."

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London Mayor announces multi-million pound initiative to help safely reopen central London
The news will be well-received by West End venues
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a "major new campaign to promote a return to central London's hospitality, retail and cultural districts".
Five million pounds' investment will aim to welcome both tourists and Londoners back into the capital – all in a safe and sustainable way. Khan believes "the safe reopening of Central London will be fundamental to the long-term future prosperity of the capital."
According to proposals, major events will showcase central London's public spaces and cultural riches – more information on what events to expect is to be revealed.
Within a report created alongside London School of Economics, it was highlighted that "there is particular concern regarding the future of London's arts and cultural sectors and the retail sector" and that major economic support is necessary to safeguard areas like the West End.
The Mayor has also allocated £2.3 million for a Culture at Risk fund to help some of London's most imperilled creative and night-time businesses.
Bernard Donoghue, director at ALVA (Association of Leading Visitor Attractions) said: "We warmly welcome this announcement of significant support for the recovery of London's visitor economy. Tourism is one of London's largest and most economically significant sectors, and we need our cultural attractions, theatres, pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels to reopen safely and sustainably to welcome back domestic and inbound visitors.
"We have worked closely with the Mayor and backed all of his asks of Government for the right policy and financial support, so we are delighted that he's investing in making London more welcoming, more open and more sustainable than ever before."
Cultural figures have made calls for the UK government to spearhead similar schemes in areas across the UK – to help provide sustainable and safe increases in footfall as the vaccine drive continues and case numbers, hopefully, come down.
Last year, Khan warned that London faced an "existential threat" due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic.


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Manufacturing order books lunged lower in August, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said August 24, while slashing its forecasts for economic growth this year. The CBI said that 41% of firms reported total order books below normal in its monthly industrial trends survey, while 13% said they were above normal. The resulting negative reading of -29% was the worst figure since October 2003, and compared with -20% in July and analysts' forecasts of a modest improvement.
The employers' body also cut its annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 1.9% from 2.5% previously -- well below British finance chief Gordon Brown's budget projection of between 3.0-3.5%.
Ian McCafferty, the CBI's chief economist, said the loss of momentum was likely to be enough to hold off inflation in the face of sky-high oil prices, meaning that interest rates may stay unchanged through to 2006.
Looking ahead, the CBI said it hopes the recent cut in British interest rates would underpin consumer and business confidence and allow the economy to gain momentum. Doug Godden, the CBI's head of economic analysis, added: "The various cost pressures facing manufacturers will continue to impede profitability in the sector and will have a knock-on effect on investment and jobs."
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005


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OnePlus tries to be cool, but ends up being embarrassing with tweet from iPhone
- OnePlus embarrassed itself on Twitter recently.
- It made a comment to MKBHD regarding the YouTuber’s annual smartphone awards.
- OnePlus’ tweet originated from an iPhone.
Every year, YouTuber MKBHD (aka Marques Brownlee) publishes his awards for the best smartphones of the year. This year, OnePlus won an award — although not the one it likely hoped for. It won the “Bust of the Year” award for the OnePlus 10T, which Brownlee said has a “pretty big delta between expectations and possibilities versus actual results.”
OnePlus’ social media team tried to seize this opportunity by tweeting at MKBHD. The tweet first asked how to pick up the award, and then said it will “prove you wrong” in 2023 with the upcoming OnePlus 11.
At first, MKBHD responded kindly with a simple “respect” and an offer to DM the company so he could, presumably, get the trophy sent out. However, not long after, Brownlee tweeted a screenshot showing that OnePlus’ original tweet came from an iPhone.
This is not the first time OnePlus has tweeted from an iPhone, nor is it the first time Brownlee has called the company out on the practice. However, in this particular situation, it’s pretty ironic considering the “Bust of the Year” award and the cockiness about the OnePlus 11. OnePlus might have thought it was safe from being found out because Twitter recently removed the ability to see which device created a particular tweet. The API for this feature still exists, though, and other Twitter apps can still see this information.
Either way, OnePlus set out to be cool with Marques Brownlee and ended up looking quite foolish.


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Tablet shipments in India grew 7.8 percent in the third quarter of 2016 owing to the preparation for the festive season, a report said on Thursday.
Global printing and personal computer major HP Inc. maintained the top spot in the Indian PC market with an overall market share of 28.8 percent.
The ever-evolving global smartphone brand OPPO, stepped up the selfie experience today by launching the upgraded Selfie Expert F1s - which is now backed with 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM and available in a new variant - the Grey version.
Aiming to boost its prospects in the world of virtual reality (VR), Gionee has expanded its portfolio by launching the S6 Pro smartphone, the company`s first offering that supports VR and comes pre-loaded with a Gionee VR app.
If a slide from Nokia's Capital Markets Day 2016 is anything to go by, the one-time famous smartphone maker is planning to re-enter the business in 2017.
Clearly denying any accident to have taken place, Samsung on Thursday said that no untoward incident has occured with regard to Galaxy Note 7 in India as not even a single unit of the device was sold in the country.
Alcatel, TCL communication's mobile brand, on Wednesday launched a GPS-enabled smartwatch in India which allows kids to communicate with pre-approved contacts at Rs 4,799.
US security firm Kryptowire has identified Android smartphones with a "backdoor" software in the country that collected sensitive personal data and transmitted this data to third-party servers in China without disclosure or the users' consent.
The customers can buy any notebook launched in 2016 and the payment of EMIs will start from January 2017.
Expanding its Spark series portfolio, Micromax on Wednesday launched Canvas Spark 4G -- the first device in this line-up with a 4G/LTE feature -- for Rs 4,999.
Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a 4G Lyf phone, sold by RIL's retail arm Reliance Retail, reportedly exploded and burst into flames on Sunday.
China has unveiled its first satellite smartphone capable of covering the whole country and the disputed South China Sea.
South Korean multinational Samsung Electronics has announced offering of an artificial intelligence assistant service in the upcoming flagship smartphone, as the company seeks recovery from its global smartphone recalls.
Just after facing a major debacle in form of global recall of Galaxy Note 7, Samsung Electronics is reeling from another challenge.
Users can also avail product exchange offer to get up to Rs 25,000 off.
Customers will be able to open up the new notebook with Touch ID, the fingerprint reader also on iPhones, and customize the touch screen bar of keys.
Government has mandated support for Indian languages in all mobile phones to be sold in the country from July 1, 2017 onward.
Expanding the Surface family, Microsoft has unveiled Surface Studio, Surface Dial and a more powerful Surface Book along with an announcement that a major update is coming to more than 400 million Windows 10 devices in early 2017.
Users purchasing super TVs on Flipkart will get a cashback of Rs 3,000 using Citibank debit or credit cards from October 26 to October 28.
Chinese TV manufacturer TCL on Wednesday launched its new 65-inch, 4K Ultra HD LED smart TV in India. The set will be available at a special launch offer of Rs 79,990 on Amazon.
Google`s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones will be available in India from October 25.
Apple Watch Nike+ will be available in 38 mm at Rs 32,900 and 42mm at Rs 34,900 from Nike.com, select Nike retail stores, select Apple Authorised Resellers and select specialty stores.
Pinig Tech has launched a new range of tablets for children, providing a wider range of choices for different age groups.
At a time when India is poised to become a global manufacturing hub for mobile phones and components, Pankaj Mohindroo, National President, Indian Cellular Association (ICA), has asked Chinese companies to partner with Indian firms for setting up a manufacturing base in the country.
When Google launched artificial intelligence (AI)-powered premium devices Pixel and Pixel XL earlier this month, the message was clear: The device with the personal Google Assistant built right in sounded the threat bugle for Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Japan`s Transport Ministry on Friday said that a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone belonging to a foreign passenger was found emitting smoke at Kansai International Airport earlier this week.
Claiming that genuine Apple accessories like Lightning-to-USB cables and USB power adapters sold on Amazon and Groupon are 90 per cent fake, the Cupertino-based tech giant has filed a lawsuit against US-based Mobile Star LLC, accusing it of selling counterfeit accessories online.
Samsung India Electronics will make all future launches, including entry-level smart phones, with 4G facility and it expects to gain a bigger market share on the back of the new launches, a top company official said on Thursday.
The move highlights Xiaomi's latest efforts to revive declining sales as the Chinese smartphone market, its home turf, is reaching saturation.
- Patna sex racket: Non bailable warrant against Bihar Congress leader Brijesh Pandey
- People who demand proof for surgical strike are fools, says Paresh Rawal
- DNA: Passengers on Tejas Express steal headphones, damage screens
- Does India deserve the best facilities? Tejas Express defiled after first day of operations
- 17-year-old boy develops unique slipper called 'Electroshoe' for women's safety
- Intelligence Bureau issues alert for infiltration of 22 terrorists from Jaisalmer border
- Jharkhand: Naxals attack railway station, set goods train engine on fire
- 3 years of Modi govt: Zee Media's Exclusive with Radha Mohan Singh, Minister for Agriculture
- DNA: Analysing three years of Narendra Modi Government
- Watch: PM Modi inaugurates India's longest Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Assam
- Exclusive: In conversation with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu over changes in Indian Railway
- Soaps, shampoos distributed among locals in Kushinagar before Yogi Adityanath's visit
- Today in History, 26th May 2017
- Know how PM Modi changed India in 3 years
- Burhan Wani's successor Sabzar Bhat killed in Kashmir
- Rajasthan Board 12th Arts Result 2017: Check RBSE 12th Class Arts Result at rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in
- WBBSE Results 2017: www.wbresults.nic.in WBBSE Madhyamik (Class 10) Results 2017 to be declared soon
- WBBSE Result 2017: West Bengal Madhyamik Result/WBBSE Madhyamik (Class 10) Results 2017 declared; check www.wbresults.nic.in
- HSC Result 2017: mahresult.nic.in Maharashtra HSC Result 2017 to be declared by May 30, 2017
- Wreckage of Indian Air Force's missing Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet found
- Idea Data Jackpot Offer: Get 10 GB monthly data for 3 months at just Rs 100
- Tral encounter: Burhan Wani's successor Sabzar Bhat killed in Pulwama; shutdown in Kashmir Valley
- West Bengal Madhyamik Result: WBBSE Madhyamik (Class 10) Results 2017 to be declared shortly; check wbresults.nic.in
- Hizbul Commander Sabzar Bhat killed: Know how Burhan Wani's successor was tracked by intelligence agencies
- 21 Lashkar terrorists preparing for 'big terror attack' in India; Delhi Police on high alert
- Indian Army foils ambush by Pakistan's Border Action Team in Uri, two attackers gunned down
- Mitchell McCleneghan slams fan for anti-Muslim rant on Twitter
- Video of weeping toddler trying to breastfeed on dead mother is heartbreaking
- 'Sachin: A Billion Dreams' movie review: You don't have to be a cricket fan to love this film
- PM seeks people's feedback on three years of BJP govt as MODI Fest begins across 900 cities today


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Volkswagen AG Rating Increased to Outperform at BNP Paribas (VLKAY)
Volkswagen AG (NASDAQ:VLKAY) was upgraded by investment analysts at BNP Paribas from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, TheFlyOnTheWall.com reports.
Separately, analysts at Goldman Sachs downgraded shares of Volkswagen AG from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, August 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Volkswagen AG has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $30,000.00.
Shares of Volkswagen AG (NASDAQ:VLKAY) traded down 0.43% on Tuesday, hitting $44.778. 38,662 shares of the company’s stock traded hands. Volkswagen AG has a 52-week low of $43.22 and a 52-week high of $54.88. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $46.75 and its 200-day moving average is $50.26. The company has a market cap of $106.5 billion and a P/E ratio of 8.54.
Volkswagen AG is a Germany-based automobile manufacturer. The Company develops vehicles and components, and also produces and sells vehicles, in particular Volkswagen brand passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
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YouTube Kids Now Lets Parents Control What Content their Children Can View:
YouTube Kids has added a new feature that now lets parents whitelist videos and channels that their children can access. The feature has been rolled out to the Android platform in all regions currently. iOS users will have to wait a bit for the update to the YouTube Kids app for now.
Huawei is Going to Launch a Foldable Phone Within 1 Year:
Huawei just confirmed that it will launch its first, and probably the world’s first foldable smartphone (if Samsung doesn’t beat them to the punch) within a year. As the Chinese giant already gave us a deadline for when it’ll unveil the supposedly “next big thing” in the smartphone market, Samsung already laid arms and said that its foldable smartphone won’t be launching this year.
Playing Dirty: Windows 10 Now Warns Users Against Firefox and Chrome:
Addressing users which use its pre-installed browser to install Chrome or Firefox, Microsoft will show a new warning in future updates that directs users toward using Edge. The warning was noted by testers in the upcoming Windows 10 October Update, which is pretty much in its final stages now. It hasn’t been confirmed that the final version of the OS will come with it, though, chances of that are on the slimmer side.
Uber Launches New Look in a Major Rebrand:
Uber is going for a new look and just changed its logo to have a simpler, more recognizable font while using a similar black and white color scheme. As part of its rebranding efforts, that are being rolled out in the coming months, the popular ride-hailing company updated its website and mobile app with the new logo. Inside the app, there are no changes in the interface other than the main icon and the company logo.
Huawei Mate 20 Leak Shows a Tablet Sized 6.9-Inch AMOLED Display:
In the same vein as the recent iPhones, rumors are swirling for the upcoming Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro phones. The latest such leak comes courtesy of SlashLeaks, which obtained a shot of Mate 20 Pro’s front panel. The phone looks like pretty much any other 2018 flagship, with minimum bezels and a sizable notch at the top of the display panel. The expansive notch makes the 3D facial recognition capabilities possible on the phone, thanks to additional IR sensors alongside the 24 MP selfie shooter.
Apple Discontinues iPhone X, 6S, and SE:
Apple has officially discontinued the iPhone X, iPhone 6S, and iPhone SE following the launch of three new iPhone’s recently. It’s quite unusual for Apple to get rid of three previous models at the same time. Usually, the company announces a price decrease or other discounts for its earlier phones when a new iPhone comes out.
Use of Facebook for Checking News is Declining:
After numerous fake news scandals, privacy concerns, and other irregularities, people’s trust on Facebook is at a record low. According to the latest study, people are relying less on Facebook to check the latest news. This research was conducted by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) and Kantar Media, a data company, as they studied the latest trends of user activity on various social networks.
New Exploit Lets Hackers Bypass Encryption on Macs and PCs:
If you thought disk encryption was completely impervious to attacks from outside, you may need to reconsider. According to a new report by the security firm F-Secure, findings of which were published by TechCrunch, nearly all encryption methods are vulnerable to attacks during startup. During its testing, the company found a new exploit using the good-old cold boot. When your PC or laptop is turned off, it overwrites the memory so it can’t be read.
Careem Announces Promo Codes for Multiple Ride Types in Islamabad:
It’s Thursday and well, everything feels absolutely terrific! How many of you out there love Careem and love to use is it on a regular basis? I guess everyone. I mean, is there anything that beats the convenience and affordability which Careem has brought to public transport. You really can’t disagree here! Not only that but they keep coming out with those much-coveted promo codes every now and then. Who doesn’t love them?! This time they’re here with another super duper promo.
Huawei Thanks Apple for “Keeping Things the Same”:
Apple launched its latest, most powerful trio of iPhones – including iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR – yesterday with the exact same designs as the older iPhone X, and pretty much similar features.
This was an important launch for smartphone companies, media channels, and other related entities, as Apple has remained one of the dominant figures in the smartphone market. Huawei, another smartphone-maker that has a significant presence in the market, decided to troll Apple over Twitter.
Nintendo announces raft of new games for Switch console:
Several Final Fantasy games, including VII, IX and X will arrive on the Switch console next year, Nintendo has announced. The Japanese firm also revealed a number of new Switch games, such as Animal Crossing and the latest in the Luigi’s Mansion series. These would also launch in 2019, according to the company.
EU network charges could revive roaming fees:
“Put back those roaming charges we’ve just scrapped? We wouldn’t dream of it!” That’s the public message coming from the UK mobile phone operators about the threat of higher costs for travellers from a “no deal” Brexit. But off the record there is a subtler message – it all depends on what our continental colleagues do.
Amazon chief Jeff Bezos gives $2bn to help the homeless:
Amazon chief Jeff Bezos is putting $2bn (£1.5bn) into a charitable fund he has established to help the homeless and set up a new network of schools.
The world’s richest man announced the move in a tweet, saying the charity would be called the Day One Fund. Mr Bezos – reportedly worth more than $164 billion – has faced criticism for not doing more philanthropic work. And US Senator Bernie Sanders has criticised working conditions in Amazon warehouses.
Edward Snowden surveillance powers ruled unlawful:
The UK’s bulk interception powers, exposed by the whistleblower Edward Snowden, have been found to be illegal by the European Court of Human Rights. In a landmark judgement, the court ruled agencies had violated rights as there were no proper safeguards. The court crucially said bulk interception was legitimate and it had seen no evidence it had been abused.
Apple iPhone XS unveiled alongside fall-detecting Watch:
Apple has updated its iPhone X handset with three more powerful models, two of which are larger than before.
The iPhone XS Max has a 6.5in (16.5cm) display. The iPhone XS has the same 5.8in-sized component as the original. The iPhone XR’s screen is 6.1in but is lower quality. A new smartwatch was also launched with an added fall-detection function.
Fear book: Amazon glitch mixes in L Ron Hubbard novel reviews:
Amazon placed reviews for a novel by the founder of scientology on to the page for a new book on Donald Trump, according to tech news site Gizmodo. “I found Fear to be the biggest piece of garbage I have ever read,” one reviewer of L Ron Hubbard’s Fear had written in 2000. This and other reviews of the novel were briefly linked to Fear: Trump in the White House, by Bob Woodward.
BBC solves World Cup streaming delay:
The BBC says it has worked out how to eliminate “streaming lag”, which causes live TV to be delayed by several seconds when watched online.
Many online viewers of football’s World Cup in the summer heard neighbours cheering goals they had not yet seen happen, because the online stream was a few seconds behind the TV broadcast. BBC Research & Development said it has now managed to “eliminate” the delay. However, its software is not ready to be rolled out to the public yet.
Google defends Trump election reaction:
Google has defended the way its bosses greeted the election of Donald Trump, after criticism by right-wing media.
A video published on Wednesday by the Breitbart website shows senior executives commenting the morning after the 2016 election. During the 60-minute presentation, Google co-founder Sergey Brin said he found the election “deeply offensive”.
Microsoft tests rival browser ‘warnings’:
Microsoft is testing pop-up warnings that trigger when users start to install the Chrome or Firefox web browsers.
The warnings appear on Windows 10 and remind people they already have Microsoft’s Edge browser installed. Text in the pop-up claims that Edge is a “faster, safer” browser for the Windows 10 operating system. The prompts are included in versions of Windows 10 that trial novel future features.


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Cincinnati-based The Kroger Co. and the Deerfield, Ill.-based retail pharmacy USA division of Walgreens Boots Alliance are working on an exploratory pilot with a format and concept that will combine Kroger’s role as “America’s grocer and food authority with Walgreens' global expertise in pharmacy, health and beauty,” the companies announced in a press release.
Initially, Kroger and Walgreens will develop and test a one-stop shopping experience in which customers can access products and services from both companies.
Customers will be able to order Kroger grocery items online and pick up orders at the participating Walgreens locations. Kroger’s popular Our Brands private brand of grocery items, including the Simple Truth natural and organic brand, will also be available in-store at the participating Walgreens locations. The diversified shopping assortment will complement Walgreens products and services across health and wellness, pharmacy and beauty, the press release added.
The retailers have selected 13 Walgreens stores in northern Kentucky, near Kroger’s Cincinnati headquarters, to pilot the format over the next several months and listen closely to customer feedback.
“This exciting collaboration aligns with Kroger’s vision of serving America through food inspiration and uplift,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, in the press release. “This concept brings together the best of two great brands to rethink convenience and redefine the way America shops for food.”


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AerCap Cargo signs lease agreements for six Boeing aircraft with GOL
18 / 07 / 2022
Peter Anderson, chief commercial officer of AerCap. Photo: AerCap
AerCap Cargo has signed lease agreements with GOL for the lease of six 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft.
Three of these aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to GOL in 2022, with the remaining three due to be delivered in 2023.
The six 737-800BCFs will be operated for a Latin-American e-commerce company, as part of the growth strategy and logistics solution of GOLLOG, GOL’s logistics business unit, and will be based in Brazil, flying to destinations across South America.
Peter Anderson, chief commercial officer of AerCap, said: “We are very pleased to announce our agreement to lease six 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters to our longstanding customer GOL. These 737-800BCF’s will be a versatile addition to GOL’s fleet, allowing them to respond to the increased demand from e-commerce retail businesses in South America. We are delighted to expand our relationship with GOL and wish them every success with these aircraft in the years to come.”


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Promises to maintain support “for many years,” with new devices coming
If you take a look at Microsoft’s sales numbers, you might not need to calculate big to infer that Microsoft is already sewing its black funeral attire to officially mourn the seeming death of its Windows 10 Mobile platform. Yet contrary to the reality that Microsoft’s windows 10 mobile platform is on a downward tilt, Microsoft has declared its ambition not to forsake ship and let the market storm weather the platform into the garbages of history. Microsoft is simply not discontinuing support for the windows 10 mobile support any time soon.
We got our hands on an email Microsoft had sent out to a number of top company executives as well as partners. In the email, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group Terry Myerson reaffirmed the unrelenting determination of the company to keep faith with the OS platform while still promising to roll out more mobile devices.
Here is an excerpt we could grab from the email:
“I understand that you are hearing concerns from certain partners about Microsoft’s commitment to the mobile space.
Let me be very clear: We are committed to deliver Windows 10 on mobile devices with small screen running ARM processors.
We are currently in development of our next generation products and I wanted to reconfirm our commitment to Windows 10 Mobile. We believe in this product’s value to business customers and it is our intention to support the Windows 10 Mobile platform for many years. We have a device roadmap to support that from Microsoft as well as our OEM partners who will also be selling an expanded lineup of phone devices based on this platform.”
Now looking at the side of Microsoft promising new mobile devices, it has long been circulating in the air that Microsoft has been weaving its creative fingers around making a device tagged Surface Phone. To be more precise, the company has given a lot of hints in the time past which were practical confirmations of this Surface branded phone boiling in the pot.
Well, this is good news to say. Personally I was really thinking Microsoft’s windows 10 mobile platform was already packing its luggage to the garage to take a long journey from the tech scene.


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Though we all know we should eat a variety of foods and plenty of fruit and veg, it's easier said than done.
But those who have long loathed their diet may now be in luck.
A vitamin firm is looking for unhealthy eaters to take part in a one-month study which tests the effectiveness of a new product.
And it's paying participants £5,000 to take part.
Selected applicants will be asked to eat "beige food" for a month while also taking Feel-brand multi-vitamins.
On the menu for the those getting paid are things like white bread, eggs, pasta, chicken and rice - although there's a qualified nutritionist and doctor on hand to make sure you get enough nutrients.
The group says it doesn't want to encourage replacing a healthy diet with vitamin supplements, which is why only people who already eat a poor diet will be considered for the role.
The firm will test participants' nutrient levels before and after they spend a month trying out the one-a-day vitamin to see if it's improved their health.
Feel co-founder Boris Hodakel said: “We in no way want to encourage people to use our multivitamin as a substitute for a healthy diet, the purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of our product, outside of a lab or controlled environment, where results don’t reflect reality.
"We want average members of the public to eat a version of the modern Western diet - under the watchful eye of a doctor and nutritionist, to see whether Feel is as good as we think it is, in the real world.”
To apply, you must be over 18 years old, and can't have any underlying health conditions or be undergoing any form of medical treatment - as well as confirming you're not allergic to any of the product's ingredients.
Those who are interested can apply to be a tester here.
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HONG KONG: Bossini Posts H1 Profit Hike
Retail, wholesale and garment distributor Bossini International Holdings Ltd reported an increase in first-half net profit to HK$63 million from HK$3m in the same period last year.
Revenue in the six months ended 30 September increased 11 per cent to HK$879m.
Operating profit in China rose to HK$6m in the six-month period, from a loss of HK$16m in the same period last year.
Bossini said it will enter Indonesia and Nepal in the second half of this year by opening franchise stores. It will also look at markets in Eastern Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
In the first half of the year the company restructured its distribution network and improved inventory management.
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This slightly sullen piece today from the slightly leftist news paper the NZ herald. According to them (and I’m willing to bet, most frustratingly) NZ broadband prices aren’t the inhibitor to our BB uptake ‘issues’- that is we aren’t in the top half of the OECD average for Broadband uptake.
“At US$16.75 per megabit, New Zealand broadband prices are US$1.25 cheaper than the OECD average and US34 cents less expensive than the OECD average of US$49 when comparing monthly subscriptions.”
So lets look at the reasons this could be occurring besides blaming the incumbent telco (the usual routine).
Could it be our taxation levels on companies affecting their willingness to purchase services? Could it be that the average NZ company is way smaller than the rest of the world? Could it be that the NZ population over a country this size might mean we don’t have the density to drive faster broadband. Could it be that we would rather support our commodity products like forestry, milk products and meat industries than invest in the knowledge economy? Could it be that we can’t train, retain or attract enough skilled workers to do this anyway? Could it be that we have to import so many raw materials to manufacturing anything?
Or could it be that the whole beating that the government has given Telecom is a massive political exercise designed to win over voters and deflect enquiry into other topics such as the above?
Isn’t the whole intention of the digital strategy of the government to raise our GDP levels relative to its peers? If that’s so isn’t there a bunch of other things that the government could be doing like lower taxation and compliance costs. Subsidies and funding for innovative companies. Set up established methods for bridging the geographical divide we face? How about doing something radical like supporting a new age of transportation (less reliance on oil) by becoming the ‘Japan’ of electronic car manufacture?
I don’t know what the answer is but ‘separation so we can have more competition and more investment and cheaper broadband’ doesn’t appear to be the answer….


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ABU DHABI // Demand for organic food is growing rapidly in the emirates, according to a study conducted by UAE University.
Based on 300 respondents, the study attributed the rise to high per capita income, more awareness of healthy food and the diverse population.
“Consumers are willing to pay higher prices for certified organic food and that increases with age as they become more health conscious,” the study read. “Larger households and [Emiratis] are also more willing to pay for organic food than non-Emiratis, as the immigrants are usually low-paid workers and lack the necessary knowledge and resources to consume organic food.”
Dr Safdar Mohammed, UAEU chair of agribusiness and a contributor to the study, said he believed the trend began years ago.
“Consumers are a deciding factor,” he said.
“The three basic factors are income, education and the population. It’s been around in the UAE for the last few years but growth is not as it was expected because the production is still lacking.”
He blamed a lack of awareness by producers of organic farming systems.
“It needs a more specific growing system and they have to follow some regulations if they want to get certified,” Dr Mohammed said. “The Ministry of Environment and Water has been working with them in the last few years and this is what will bring the consumers’ trust. If they are asked to pay 30 to 50 per cent more, they want to make sure the product is organic. But we’re moving in the right direction and I know there is potential for organic in the UAE.”
The ministry is working with farmers to sell their produce.
“We need to develop more organic markets with the help of the private and public sectors,” he said. “We need to get more consumer trust on organic and maybe make more organic certification. We also need a lot of education and training programmes for farmers as they are still in the beginning stage of adopting this farming system so research and development is very important.”
Agricultural experts say the GCC is experiencing an increase in lifestyle-related health problems, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This has prompted some consumers to pay more attention to their diet and to favour healthier options, including organic.
“There is also the factor of relatively high levels of disposable income for some residents in the GCC, which often translates into increased demand for high quality, fresh and organic produce,” said Nicholas Lodge, managing partner at agriculture consultancy Clarity in Abu Dhabi. “So, for a combination of reasons, demand is increasing, with estimates for the growth in organic food indicating a market worth approximately US$1.5 billion (Dh5.5bn) by 2018, up from perhaps $300 million in 2009.”
He said the increased availability of organic produce and the development of specialist retail offerings, such as stand-alone shops and expanded sections in leading retailers and supermarkets, also played a role.
“In terms of organic farming in the region, significant expansion has taken place and to the extent that these farms focus on high-quality organic produce and employ modern farming practices, with less use of potentially harmful inputs, this is perhaps a good thing,” he said.
“Farming in the region needs to be undertaken with care and consideration for the environment, making sure to produce in a sustainable manner, where the farmer gets a fair price for his produce and inputs are carefully controlled.”


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It’s safe to say, women have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic across the world. According to Facebook’s US State of Small Business Report, female-led small businesses reported greater reductions in sales than their male counterparts. While both female and male-led businesses reported that their sales had fallen, a greater proportion of female-led businesses (47 percent) reported that sales fell by 50 percent or more compared to male-led SMBs (41 percent).
And while the COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately impacted women business owners, this Women’s History Month, we’ve seen female entrepreneurs joining forces to support and uplift each other and their communities by sharing some of their insights. Recently I participated in Facebook’s #SheMeansBusiness event to round out our celebrations, and was blown away by the stories of resilience, strength and community among women business owners and female founders. For instance, I spoke with Nadia Boujarwah, CEO and Co-founder of Dia&Co, a size-inclusive fashion brand with 5 million customers.
“Endurance is the name of the game in entrepreneurship,” she shared, pointing out how powerful women supporting women, mentorship and community is, particularly during difficult times.
Truly, Nadia could not be more right. Here are three more pieces of advice from women I connected with about how to persevere, even in the face of hardships, and succeed.
Take for instance, Keita Williams, the founder of Success Bully in Seattle. Keita lost 40 percent of her business during the first month of the pandemic alone, but that didn’t stop her from pivoting her accountability coaching practice to being completely online. Since Keita’s main concern was helping her clients, she created an online 12-week coaching program with a sliding scale payment option.
“As an entrepreneur you wear all the hats, so it’s important to get clear about your money making activities. It’s easy to get distracted, but the bottom line doesn’t move. Focus on shortening the distance between you and the cash, and put most of your time and energy there,” Keita explains. She believes that when you’re consistent and focused, the money will follow. After moving Success Bully online, Keita began to manage her membership programs through Messenger from Facebook. In many ways, she uses Messenger as a free concierge service to help new participants sign up for classes, share lesson plans and chat with others during class.
Another great example of a female entrepreneur who’s staying positive, regardless of the enormous impact that Covid has had on her business, is Richandra Nickerson-Ukpong who owns Fervent Designs, a wedding and event planning business in Houston, Texas. Richandra went from planning anywhere from 20-30 events a year to only five in 2020. Unsurprisingly, cash flow has been a big issue for her business, so Richandra applied for and was awarded funds through the Facebook Small Business Grant program. With these funds Richandra has been able to pay her staff and pay it forward, even donating a portion of the grant to one of her favorite charities that was also impacted by COVID.
As an event planner living in such an uncertain time for in-person gatherings, Richandra focuses on serving as a positive but responsible guide for her clients.
“It’s all about remaining calm and truthful. I’m a sounding board for the venues and for the families. Not all couples get along all the time, so I act as a mediator and confidant,” she says.
By remaining cool, calm and collected, Richandra not only keeps her clients, but also her sanity. It’s her perspective that’s helped her get through the past year, despite its challenges.
The same holds true for Jolie Anne McNulty who owns The Makery, a sign-making and craft studio in Tacoma, Washington. Jolie launched her business in 2015 to meet the demand for craft workshops for both private and public parties. Because Jolie’s spouse is in the military, having a business that was flexible and portable was vital so that it could come with her should they need to relocate.
Photo courtesy: Jolie Anne McNulty, The Makery
When COVID-19 hit and in-person parties halted, Jolie again relied on her and her business’s ability to adapt to new circumstances. She pivoted quickly to selling online and now offers “take and make” craft projects available for curbside pick-up as well as shipping nationwide. When customers have difficulty with a project, she troubleshoots with them via Messenger from Facebook, ensuring their satisfaction and increasing the likelihood for repeat business.
Though she hopes to open her storefront again sometime this year, she says she will continue her popular e-commerce offerings as well for the foreseeable future.
“I tell myself a lot, success in small business is all about perseverance. It’s easy to stop when it gets difficult. I wanted to a few times last year, but I just kept going. You have to push through,” she shared.
If you follow the advice of these three female business owners by keeping your eye on the prize, remaining calm, focusing on what’s most important, and meeting challenges head on, you’ll be able to persevere through the obstacles that come your way–big or small.
Michelle Klein is the Vice President of Global Business & Customer Marketing at Facebook.
Photo courtesy: Keita Williams, the founder of Success Bully


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Our doors may be closed temporarily but Vinnies eBay is going stronger than ever!
In response to the Victorian Government directives to close retail stores across Victoria, Vinnies Shops sadly closed their doors at 1pm Saturday 21 August and will remain closed until the government lifts restrictions.
Like many retailers, the shutdown has had and continues to have a huge financial impact on running the organisation's operations due to the significant loss of revenue from our 110 shops each week.
Without the direct government support to the employer (the former JobKeeper program), we have had to regrettably inform all of our retail staff of stand-down procedures for this period. We also informed central office staff of a reduction of their fortnightly working hours.
As with all decisions that impact our people adversely, we have not taken this decision lightly, acknowledging that there will be a reduction in services from central office with these reduced hours. Unfortunately, COVID lockdowns have also impacted our regular drop-in and pick-up donation services. We hope to have all our Vinnies Shop services up and running as soon as restrictions are eased.
The loss of income due to the closure of our Vinnies Shops remains one of our biggest challenges, but on a far-more positive note, it was heartening to see our online shop Vinnies eBay featured in a Sydney Morning Herald article and on ABC radio.
Our Victorian eBay online shop has gone from strength to strength during the pandemic – demand has increased 8-9 fold. Vinnies Victoria eBay has benefited from a number of donations of designer wear recently, and is ready for business 24/7.
General Manager Retail, Jeff Antcliff told the SMH that the shop had many international customers too. “We can see it by where we are sending goods ... into Venezuela, Russia - they love Nike.”


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• European Union lawmakers are planning an EU-wide digital identity wallet for access to essential services.
• The system would give citizens control over their data and the ability to decide what information to share with whom.
• Negotiations with the European Council on implementation are the next step, but experts have doubts about implementing the wallet.
European Union’s Digital ID Wallet
The European Parliament recently voted in favor of negotiating a mandate for talks with EU member states about revising the new European Digital Identity (eID) framework and creating the “European Digital Identity Wallet,” otherwise known as EUDI Wallet or EU wallet. This system would allow citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online without relying on big commercial providers like Apple, Google, Amazon or Facebook.
Goals of the eID Framework
The goal of this new eID framework is to give citizens digital access to key public services across the EU while remaining in full control of their data. It is estimated that by 2030, 80% of Europeans will be using this wallet due to its use cases that make it easier for citizens to interact with public services and administrations for authentication and verification processes both in public sectors as well as private sectors. It could also require major online platforms like Google or Facebook to offer this wallet when logging into their services.
While there is optimism surrounding this new eID framework, there are also privacy concerns from experts who doubt its successful implementation. Citizens may not be comfortable storing important documents such as IDs, health cards and certificates in a smartphone application which could raise questions about how safe their data really is within such a platform.
Usability Is Key
In order for it to be adopted by citizens in their daily lives, usability must be taken into account when designing this service so that it offers an efficient way for people to interact with public services without compromising security or privacy issues.
The success of this project hinges on finding a balance between convenience and security while giving users complete control over their data that they can choose what information they want share with whom. Negotiations between the European Council on implementation are currently underway but only time will tell if it will bring about secure digital solutions for Europe’s citizens without sacrificing privacy or usability concerns


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Aug 12 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
- BlackRock Inc is taking a roughly $875 million stake in Authentic Brands Group LLC that values the closely held brand development, marketing and entertainment company at more than $4 billion including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. (on.wsj.com/2Z2zn3U)
- A deal between Microsoft Corp and a celebrity videogamer known as Ninja opened a new front in the tech giant's battle to dent rival Amazon.com Inc dominance of the game-streaming business. (on.wsj.com/2ZUXgrw)
- United Parcel Service Inc is retaining close ties to Amazon.com Inc, one of its largest customers. The Atlanta-based shipping giant gets close to 10% of its revenue from Amazon, according to a Morgan Stanley estimate, a figure that could grow as the online retailer seeks new carriers for the packages that once went to FedEx Corp. (on.wsj.com/2ZUN7uZ) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)


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This year's Valentine's Day Google doodle features 2 adorable aliens. Here's the past 10 years of Google doodles celebrating love.
- Google doodles started back in 1998. Since then, Google has featured more than 4,000 doodles marking holidays, events, and history.
- Google's first Valentine's day doodle appeared in 2000. This year's doodle features two cute extraterrestrials.
- Here's a look into the past ten years of Google Valentine's Day doodles.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Google's home page acts as the world's largest virtual billboard with an average of 63,000 searches per second on any given day. Google's home page frequently features google doodles and gifs to mark holidays, world events, and notable times in history.Google 2020 Valentine's Day doodle features two aliens expressing affection in outer space. The doodle, like most of the other 4,000+ Google has featured, was created by a team of designers and engineers. Advertisement
The first Google doodle appear in 1998 when Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, marked their attendance at Burning Man with a stick figure behind the logo, according to Google.
In 2000, Google produced its first Valentine's Day doodle. The feature has since become a staple on the search engine.Check out the past ten years of Google Valentine's Day doodles:
Get the latest Google stock price here.
2010 Vancouver Olympics Valentines
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- UK government to bring in new restrictions as coronavirus cases rise 'exponentially'


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Farmland prices are higher than a year ago, according to BigIron Realty. Commodity prices continue to be higher, and interest rates remain low. The outlook for farmers is better, making for a great sellers’ market.
BigIron Realty of Columbus, Neb., a licensed real estate broker in eight states, compiles the reports for this column. However, not all sales are handled by BigIron each month. For more information, contact BigIron at 800-887-8625.
The following are several of the most recent sales in Nebraska and Kansas:
Hamilton County. A total of 280 acres sold at online auction for $1,750,831.45 in two tracts. These two farms are both pivot-irrigated, selling with pivots on quality ground. Tract 1 consists of 145 acres, and Tract 2 has 135 acres. — Compliments of BigIron Realty
Merrick County. A total of 80.98 acres sold for $210,548. This dryland farm consists of 55.18 acres of cropland with the balance in grass. — Compliments of BigIron Realty
Howard County. A total of 560 acres sold at online auction for $2,352,000. This productive farm is mostly irrigable with 411.3 acres certified with the Lower Loup Natural Resources District and 27 acres with the Farwell Irrigation District, along with a small tract of dry cropland. — Compliments of BigIron Realty
Greeley County. A total of 75.12 acres sold for $262,920. This combination farm is mostly row crops with some prairie hay on the north edge. — Compliments of BigIron Realty
Reno County. A total of 157 acres sold at online auction for $314,400. This farm has 127.5 acres of cropland and 27 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program. This is prime hunting ground. — Compliments of BigIron Realty
Cheyenne County. A total of 711.4 acres sold at online auction for $861,179.30 in three tracts. Tract 1 is mostly cropland, with Tracts 2 and 3 as grass with good fences and some outbuildings. — Compliments of BigIron Realty


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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If you get into an accident, you’re probably glad to see a tow truck pulling up to the rescue. While the vast majority of companies play by the rules, some don’t.
Previously, FOX4 has exposed a company that has allegedly caused problems for drivers, by showing up at the scene without first being called by crash victims or an insurance company.
But over-the-road truckers say they are being impacted by predatory tow practices, too, and are hoping to fix the problem.
A crash involving a big rig can be terrifying.
“Trucks are going to be involved in accidents, regardless of who is at fault. And they need towing and recovery companies to come out there, clear the scene and do it professionally and do it safely,” Mike Matousek said, manager of government affairs with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
And many times, that happens. But there’s a shortcoming in how semi trucks get roadside recovery. Typically, police dispatch tow companies using a rotation list and truckers often have no say in hiring who hauls their rig away.
“Towing companies will come out and bill you for equipment that’s never on the scene, that was never necessary to be there in the first place,” Matousek said. “They will double or triple prices when it is a non-consensual tow.”
While many cities around Missouri, including Kansas City, have rules regulating tow company operations for passenger vehicles, there are zero regulations when it comes to the towing of tractor trailers.
And the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, based in Grain Valley, said that leaves a lot of room for price gouging.
“We’re not talking about recovery bills that are inflated by a couple hundred dollars. We’re talking about by bills inflated by thousands or tens of thousands of dollars,” Matousek said.
OOIDA shared a bill with us that was sent by a Missouri tow and recovery business, after it had been dispatched by police to a semi-fire. The bill for clean-up and haul-away was more than $42,000.
“Almost nothing is stopping them. In fact, here in Missouri, there is no reasonable or effective recourse,” Matousek said.
That’s what OOIDA is hoping to change. It’s supporting two bills before the Missouri legislature, which would regulate commercial towing, potentially set up penalties for breaking the rules, and give companies a way to fight exorbitant charges.
Similar laws are already in place in more than a dozen states.
“We’re here to try and address, what even many in the towing industry agree, is a problem. These bills are getting worse every year,” Matousek said.
To put this into perspective, high tow bills can jack up insurance rates for trucking companies and even put some smaller ones out of business. There is a trickle down effect, too. If the cost to operate and haul goods goes up, all of us can wind up paying more for things we buy everyday.
There is also hope that any protections for commercial vehicle towing, could ultimately help lead to further protections for passenger vehicle owners who are subjected to predatory or non-consensual towing practices.


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Bob Marley's sons have become overnight fashion models. Ziggy and Stephen were chosen by fashion designer John Varvatos for his Spring 2015 collection. Marley's sons are spitting images of the iconic musician in the ads.
The Marley sons don't need to pose in their underwear to win fans over, unlike Justin Bieber's Calvin Klein campaign. They look good in sleek suits. Marley's sons wear simple suits in the ad campaign. Of course, they add their own flare with their trademark dreadlocks and funky scarves.
John Varvatos spoke about his decision to hire Bob Marley's sons. Varvatos believes that Stephen and Ziggy are just as iconic as Marley himself.
"The Marley family is legendary. Ziggy Marley and Stephen Marley are carrying on this legacy in their own authentic way. Working with them has been incredibly inspiring. They are truly a magical family."Ziggy and Stephen Marley haven't been piggybacking off their father's success. According to The New Age Journal, Ziggy has won several Grammy Awards, along with an Emmy Award for his work as a singer, songwriter and producer. He's also best known for his work as part of Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers.
Stephen "Ragga" Marley is also a member of The Melody Makers. Marley's second eldest son has also won several Grammy Awards of his own, including two as a producer and one for the Best Reggae Album category.
In addition to the sophisticated photos, a documentary-style video directed by Danny Clinch about the Marley sons will debut on JohnVarvatos.com on Feb. 5. The film is set to be released on Bob Marley's 70th birthday.
The Marley sons aren't the only rock stars that have been featured in the John Varvatos' ads. Previous famous names include Franz Ferdinand, Iggy Pop, Ringo Starr, Jimmy Page and Gary Clark Jr., Paul Weller and Miles Kane.While Marley's sons become the newest faces in fashion, Marley's legacy is still everywhere when it comes to merchandise and cannabis products. It's no surprise that Bob Marley has become the face of the marijuana lifestyle. Marley was always outspoken about his marijuana use.
The musician has become the face of Marley Natural, a company that's expected to launch the first global marijuana brand, according to a report on the Inquisitr. Their mission is to produce strains of cannabis that are consistent across the globe as cannabis use increases in acceptance and support for legality.
Marley Natural hopes to become a mainstream consumer brand. It's backed by the same creative forces that launched New Balance and Starbucks Coffee. Brenden Kennedy, CEO of Marley Natural's parent company, Privateer Holding, spoke about his goals for the new brand.
"This is what the end of prohibition looks like. Bob Marley started to push for legalization more than 50 years ago. We're going to help him finish it."[Images by JohnVarvatos.com]


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Farshad Momeni: Iranian Government Should Regulate Imports from Pakistan and India
In recent years under the leadership of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran imported commodities and products which were originally supplied by the local manufacturers and producers. According to Farshad Momeni, an Iranian economist, excessive and irregular imports have unemployed nearly 100,000 people in Iran.
“Unfortunately the excessive imports from countries such as Pakistan and India have significantly increased unemployment rate in Iran. I recommend the Iranian government to regulate imports of goods and products from other countries in the hope of creating more job opportunities in Iran,” the Iranian economist remarked on Tuesday.
“Currently, a large number of educated Iranians are jobless. By cutting and regulating imports of different types of goods, which can be produced inside Iran, the Iranian government can make jobs for these unemployed people,” Farshad Momeni continued.
The Iranian scholar says the government should start supporting local companies rather than importing goods and products from other countries. “As a matter of fact, Iranian plants and factories are capable of manufacturing high-quality goods, which are currently imported from Pakistan and India. The government is responsible for supporting domestic production,”
Farshad Momeni also went on to talk about the negative outcomes of unemployment in the Iranian society. “Studies and estimations suggest that the Iranian government has invested billions of dollars for educating youth generation in the country. These investments actually are useless as long as the educated populations are unemployed.”
According to the statistics released on May by the Iranian government, unemployment rate stands at 11% in Iran. However, analysts and economists suggest that more than 30% of Iranians are jobless, as the government has distorted standards and norms to make a justifiable number.
Iranian businessmen and investors were forced to close numerous factories and companies over the past few years due to financial crisis in the country. Economic sanctions on Iran are mostly blamed for the existing economic crisis.


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The wedding season is upon us, so I’d like to discuss, not the high cost of weddings, a common theme, but the cost of attending a wedding, the obligations of which have become more onerous than in the past. It used to be that the gift of a $20 toaster guaranteed you an open bar and a night of dancing to “YMCA” in a state of total hammered-ness. Those were the days.
In February, TD Canada Trust commissioned the Environics Research Group to conduct something called the Affordable Wedding Season Poll, in which 6,015 Canadians across the country were asked why weddings — and I’m paraphrasing here, but this is what the numbers said to me — have increasingly become a pain in the ass to attend.
The salient findings:
• One in five British Columbians planning to attend a wedding this year have previously declined an invitation because they could not afford to attend.
• Twenty-two per cent replied that the cost of attending a wedding would be “a considerable drain on their household budget.”
• Thirty per cent replied they would be using their reward points to cover the cost of a gift or travel.
• Half of British Columbians polled who were attending a wedding this year expected to spend between $100 and $500, 21 per cent plan on spending between $500 and $1,000, and 12 per cent plan on spending more than $1,000 to attend.
None of those numbers surprise me. Between the ornateness of modern weddings — now encrusted with stags (complete with stripper), stagettes (complete with stripper in police uniform), bachelor and bachelorette weekends, group spa makeovers and hair salon outings, tux fittings, limo rentals, gift registries and, increasingly, destination venues — the costs add up not just for those staging the wedding but for those obligated to attend. Love has become a many-spended thing.
A niece of mine, for example, was tagged as a bridesmaid recently. She initially considered declining. She was carrying over $20,000 in student loans. She hadn’t yet begun to work. Out of a sense of obligation to the bride, she decided otherwise, and by the time the I Do’s were done, she was $1,000 poorer. She has vowed it would be small and cheap.
An aunt of mine and her husband did decline a recent wedding invitation. It was a destination ceremony in Cancun, Mexico. They declined partly because of the cost, and partly because, having attended the bride’s first two weddings, the odds seemed small that the money would be well spent. One can invest only so much in a relationship.
Destination weddings are a growth industry. The urge to exchange vows barefoot on a beach in Hawaii or in the Caribbean has taken hold on this generation of couples.
Depending on which source you read, destination weddings now comprise around 16 to 24 per cent of all weddings in North America and the United Kingdom, and the number is growing.
“For the bride and groom,” said Marsha Steeves, of Marsha Steeves Destination Weddings on West Broadway, “a destination venue can be one-fifth the cost of holding a wedding in a local venue.
“Even the cost of booking a desirable local venue alone can be more (than a destination venue), and some (local venues) have to be booked two years in advance. At a destination, the wedding can be part of an all-inclusive price.”
Steeves — who on the phone sounded like she had the kind of happy energy needed to organize a wedding — said the most popular destination venue for British Columbian couples was Mexico, usually Cancun, followed by other Caribbean venues like St. Lucia or the Bahamas.
And research backs up what Steeves said about costs: While destination weddings cost more per person than local weddings — about $600 per guest for a destination wedding, as opposed to $170 per guest for a local wedding — destination weddings are ultimately cheaper for the bride and groom because the buying power of the dollar goes a lot farther for them in places like the Caribbean, and they have a ready-made honeymoon destination right there. Local weddings are cheaper for the guests, but they cost more for the hosts because the guest lists tend to be much larger. According to one survey of 10,000 respondents in the United Kingdom, couples spent on average of $42,000 on a local wedding, compared to $7,850 for a destination wedding.
“Some people,” Steeves said, “might say it’s selfish (to ask guests to attend a destination wedding), but it’s the bride and groom’s wedding. It’s their day, after all.”
Is it okay to say, thanks, but no thanks to a destination wedding invite?
“Sure, why not?” Steeves said. “And for those who can’t afford to go, or if they can’t attend for personal reasons, say, a grandmother too frail to go, some couples will arrange a video feed of the ceremony so the grandmother can watch it at home on a computer.”
I asked her: Where was the farthest-flung destination wedding she had organized?
“In Fiji,” Steeves said. “It was my own. Three years ago. I invited close family mostly, but I knew from the get-go most wouldn’t want to go, anyway. So it ended up being an elopement wedding.”
It cost, she said, about $2,000 all in, including a stay at a top hotel, a wedding cake, champagne in their room and music at the beach ceremony provided by a local Fijian band.
Alas, the couple has since divorced.


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Lenexa, Can .– (BUSINESS WIRE) – Wachter, Inc., a technology consultant and integrator of nationwide solutions, has signed a deal to place PORTL holograms among its customers. With IoT, AI, touch screens, voice activation, face recognition and more, the devices can represent human ambassadors in full size – live or pre-recorded – in real 4K for interactive experiences as well as digital objects of all kinds. Possible uses include interactive path finding, virtual dressing rooms, celebrity appearances and performances, and dynamic brand activation through experience.
Wachter integrates and develops next-generation technologies that enable retailers to interact with consumers and extract meaningful data in real time. Wachter deploys large-scale projects on a single site through its workforce nationwide – including special deployment teams to deploy technology – allowing retailers to quickly see the return on investment in technology.
“Creating an unforgettable location shopping is challenging enough for retailers,” said Wachter, vice president of strategic innovation Matt Tyler. “Designing, implementing and supporting the technologies needed for this becomes unfeasible and often takes a back seat due to complexity or cost. Wachter’s exclusive partnership with PORTL and Intel provides a simple, scalable turnkey solution that allows our customers to effortlessly give their customers a unique, engaging, personal encounter ”.
PORTL has created a fully autonomous plug-and-play unit that is already used worldwide in retail, healthcare, corporate communications, entertainment, education and more. Previous partners in public activation have included DHL, AT&T, T-Mobile, Netflix, HBO, Diageo and Chase Bank. Celebrities using PORTL include Usain Bolt, Marshon Lynch, Lewis Hamilton, Kane Brown and P. Didi. The startup from Los Angeles recently won three awards at the CES 2022 Innovation Awards and announced its future smaller division PORTL M at the Today Show.
“The caretaker does so many important things that we take for granted in our lives,” said the CEO and inventor of PORTL Inc. David Nussbaum. “With their reach, the trust they have from the biggest names in retail and beyond to manage their most valuable assets, as well as their reputation for innovation and precision, Wachter is the perfect partner to bring PORTL technology to some of the the largest companies in the world ”.
About Wachter, Inc.
Founded in 1930, Wachter is a leading nationwide solution integrator that helps customers transform their businesses through consulting, managed services, electrical systems, IT networking, industrial automation, and security and safety. Wachter designs, develops, installs and maintains these sophisticated systems, providing customers with competitive advantages by increasing productivity, reducing operating costs and optimizing internal processes.
Visit wachter.com/portl for more information.
Follow the Wachter: TwitterLinkedIn and Facebook
PORTL Inc. is a manufacturer of holographic devices and software and cloud services to support holoportation. Founded in 2018 by inventor and CEO David Nussbaum, its award-winning products are now used worldwide, sending executives, technology and science experts, and sports and music celebrities to events, showcasing NFT and other facilities and becoming an important new tool for the education, retail, marketing and hospitality industries. The startup, supported by Tim Draper, was recently named the new number one technology at the Mobile World Congress 2021 in Barcelona, the best new telecommunications startup by the IT Award and a three-time winner of the CES Innovation Awards in 2022. PORTL is headquartered in Los Angeles and it has satellite and distribution offices in New York, Las Vegas and Dubai. PORTL is committed to uniting people through all kinds of divisions. Follow us Twitter and Instagram. For more information, visit PORTLhologram.com.


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When clients book an appointment at Gentlemen Cuts in Saint Paul, Minnesota, they’re getting more than a haircut — they’re getting a little slice of the Payne-Phalen community.
As soon as new clients walk into Gentlemen Cuts, it’s clear that the locally owned barbershop on Payne Avenue in St. Paul is a perfect reflection of the tight-knit eastside community in which it operates. “One of our barbers is outside right now having a cookout in the parking lot to promote himself and the shop,” said Terrell Smith, the owner of Gentlemen Cuts. “That’s just something that we do.”
There are two primary business models when running a salon: hire a team of employees that you have on a payroll or rent spaces to independent contractors. Terrell chose to bring people in as contractors. “The barbers we have here are seasoned veterans. I’ve been in the game for 17 years. We work with a team of people who are really familiar with the industry,” he explains.
Working with independent contractors rather than employees on a payroll is financially beneficial for Terrell, but it also helps the barbers at Gentlemen Cuts make more money. “As barbers, we’re often paid directly in cash,” he explained. Sometimes, we use apps to take payments by credit card. If they were employees on payroll, we’d have to pay them about $15 an hour. As independent contractors, they can make up to $60 an hour depending on the haircut.”
This system helps barbers market their own business independently while operating within a community that reflects them as individuals and feels authentic. “The independence part plays a big role,” Terrell said. “I’m not their boss, I just provide a space for them. We’re all like family around here.” Terrell’s business partner, Mz. Nita, has known Terrell for almost 20 years, and when she started working with him at Gentlemen Cuts, she immediately felt right at home. “I’ve been doing hair since I was 13, and Terrell asked me to come on board. I came in to see what the business was like, and I’ve been here ever since.”
Gentlemen Cuts clients come for their hair but stay for the sense of community that Terrell and his team have worked so hard to build. Payne Avenue is a bustling street and multicultural hub. “We get clients that don’t even want haircuts, but they stop in just to converse with all of us,” he said. “It’s such a fun time being in the shop — we’re all a little older, so we play R&B music and people love that.” For so many of Terrell’s clients, it’s not just about a haircut: “We are considered therapists, mentors, counselors and leaders in people's lives. When you can’t go to anyone else, you can come talk to your local barber.”
Their commitment to people in their community doesn’t stop with customers that come through their doors. “We just received a contract with the juvenile detention center in Hastings, Minnesota,” Terrell said. “We’re going out to cut hair for kids who made some mistakes to give them some hope. Just because they made a mistake doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get to look good.”
All that community-building over the years didn’t go unnoticed. The Gentlemen Cuts team gained local fame after features in Twin Cities Business magazine and the Pioneer Press. “We’ve had a lot of exposure over the years, and a lot of people come to us asking for special cuts,” Terrel explains. “We’re getting a lot more clients now with the exposure, but I’ve also got people whose hair I’ve been cutting for ten years.” The enduring growth of Gentlemen Cuts is proof that putting community at the center of your business model is as good for the neighborhoods as it is for business.
Explore more inspiring stories from other featured business owners.


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Maruti Suzuki India Limited has in a press note stated that
it will proactively undertake a Service Campaign to inspect a suspected fault
and replace the relevant part of clutch operation system of a batch of 3,796
Ciaz (manual transmission) cars. These
cars are among those manufactured till November 7, 2014.
In a separate note, the company also stated this initiative
for the Ciaz is not a recall. It is a Service Campaign undertaken in the
interest of the customers to minimise any future inconvenience.
The Company has decided
to undertake a Service Campaign for these cars, in the interest of customers.
Maruti Suzuki dealers have started to communicate with owners of the impacted
vehicles. The company stated that these Service Campaigns are undertaken
globally by automobile companies to rectify faults that may potentially cause
inconvenience to customers.
The inspection and
replacement will be done free of cost to the customer.
Customers of Ciaz (manual transmission) can check the
Company’s website www.marutisuzuki.com to ascertain if their Ciaz is among the
above mentioned vehicles.
The customer is requested to fill in the chassis number (MA3
followed by 14 digit alpha-numeric number) on the computer screen. The chassis
number is embossed on the vehicle ID plate and is also in the vehicle invoice /
Customers may also
contact the nearest Maruti Suzuki dealer workshop to ascertain if their vehicle
is among the above vehicles, the press note stated.
Reise Moto, a division of Mahansaria Group, announced the launch of their premium two-wheeler tyre brand ‘Reise’ in India.
In the future, Continental will offer Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) solutions based on the “CV3”artificial intelligence (AI) system-on-chip (SoC) family from semiconductor company Ambarell...
Post a successful foray into the auto tech segment with the launch of the Smart Dashcam, Qubo, Hero Electronix’s consumer technology brand is expanding the portfolio with their latest Dashcam Pro 4K.


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Tim Cook Says iPhone X Costs Less Than A Coffee A Day, Attends Launch At Palo Alto Apple Store
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been pressing the flesh as part of the big iPhone X release, and with Apple keen to make sure its executive team is on hand for big product releases, it should come as no surprise that Cook popped up at one of the company’s stores to help people make their purchases.
A video is available online via which we can see Cook greeting customers to the Palo Alto Apple Store during Friday’s iPhone X release, and as you might expect, there was plenty of cheering going on around him.
Cook’s appearance in Palo Alto came after Thursday’s quarterly earnings conference call, during which he spoke about the high starting price of an iPhone X – the iPhone X starts at $999 and can raise to $1149 if you plump for the 256GB model. According to Cook, an iPhone X can cost as little as a few coffees per week if bought via a financing scheme. Quite how that makes the price more stomachable, we are not really sure.
I think it’s important to remember that a large number of people pay for the phone by month. I think you would find you could buy an iPhone X for $33/month. So, if you think about that, that’s a few coffees a week — it’s less than a coffee a day at one of these nice coffee places.
Cook also pointed out that many iPhone buyers now trade their existing iPhones in as a way of reducing the cost associated with picking up the latest and greatest iPhone on the market. Some buyers can shave up to $350 off of the price of a new iPhone by trading in an existing device, although we still feel that no matter which way you dice it, the iPhone X is never going to be inexpensive.
If early reviews are to be believed, though, it looks like you may just get what you pay for.
JUST IN: Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives at the company’s Palo Alto, CA store for the release of the iPhone X. pic.twitter.com/kpBoOHws2W


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The average APR on new card offers held steady this week, according to the CreditCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report.
For the eighth week in a row, the national average APR has remained fixed at 15.18 percent.
Interest rates on new credit card offers are currently near record highs and show few signs of dropping anytime soon. After increasing steadily earlier this year in response to the Federal Reserve’s December 2015 rate increase, minimum rates on new credit card offers have largely remained unchanged. Since March 1, for example, the national average has changed just three times. It has increased twice and fallen just once.
A number of card issuers have increased maximum interest rates on new card offers; but the increases aren’t reflected in the national average because CreditCards.com only considers a card’s lowest available rate when calculating average interest rates.
In just the past month:
- Barclays increased the maximum APR on the Carnival World MasterCard by 3 percentage points.
- Chase increased the maximum rate on the IHG Rewards Club Select MasterCard by 7 percentage points
- Huntington Bank increased the maximum rate on the Huntington Voice Rewards card by 2 percentage points.
Barclays has also floated higher maximum rates on other Barclaycards, such as the Wyndham Rewards Visa credit card, but not all applicants are being offered the wider range.
Cards are becoming easier to get
The recent uptick in maximum APRs indicates that some banks are expanding the pool of applicants they approve for a new card. Rather than offer everyone the same rate, banks are accommodating less creditworthy applicants by advertising a wide range of potential APRs.
The extra wide ranges have made it impossible for new applicants to assess what interest rate they’ll get after they apply, but it’s also made it easier for banks to approve a larger number of cardholders.
According to new research released earlier this month by the Federal Reserve, a number of banks have eased credit standards and are making it easier for consumers to get approved for a new card.
The Federal Reserve surveyed senior loan officers from 71 domestic banks and 23 foreign banks operating in the United States and found that credit cards with larger credit limits are gradually becoming easier to get.
For example, four major banks reported easing standards on new credit card applications. Three banks said the bank eased standards “somewhat.” One major bank said it eased standards “considerably.” Three large banks also reported lowering the cutoff for applicant credit scores, making it more likely that consumers with lower scores would get approved.
Three banks also reported offering larger credit limits, according to the Fed, giving consumers more room to make big charges. However, two banks said they trimmed credit limits somewhat.
The Federal Reserve’s latest findings reinforce previous Federal Reserve research that showed that revolving credit is becoming increasingly easy to get.
In June 2016, for example, the New York Federal Reserve reported that rejection rates on new cards have fallen considerably since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, application rates have spiked. Card issuers are also more likely nowadays to approve a credit limit increase.
|CreditCards.com’s Weekly Rate Report|
|Avg. APR||Last week||6 months ago|
|Methodology: The national average credit card APR is comprised of 100 of the most popular credit cards in the country, including cards from dozens of leading U.S. issuers and representing every card category listed above. (Introductory, or teaser, rates are not included in the calculation.)|
|Updated: Aug. 3, 2016|


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The Beloved Microsoft Paint Is Finally Going 3-D
Microsoft Paint, everyone's favorite art software, gets a 3-D update
Microsoft’s Surface Book Gets Faster Guts, a Bigger Battery
It looks just like the original model from last year, but it has an updated processor and a whole lot more battery life.
The 10 Coolest Features Coming to Windows 10
Here's the best of will be coming to your Windows PC in the spring of 2017.
Look at Microsoft’s Fancy Surface Studio All-in-One PC
Microsoft unveiled a new all-in-one touchscreen desktop computer at a media event today.
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Is Launching Element AI, a Deep-Learning Incubator
One of the founding fathers of the deep learning movement is building a Silicon Valley-style tech incubator for AI.
Liveblog: All the News From Microsoft’s 2016 Surface Event
Microsoft will announce some new hardware today, along with new enhancements to Windows 10.
How to Watch the Microsoft Windows Event
Microsoft is about to announce a bunch of new things on Wednesday, October 25. Here's how to watch it happen.
Gears of War 4 Might Feel Familiar, But It’s Still Refreshing
As a mega-hyped sequel, Gears of War 4 is forced to traverse a narrow line between complacency and innovation. While not perfect, it largely succeeds.
Security News This Week: FBI Finds Hackers Poking Around More Voter Registry Sites
Each weekend we round up the news stories that we didn’t break or cover in depth but still deserve your attention.
How to Steal an AI
Researchers show how they can reverse engineer and even fully reconstruct someone else's machine learning engine---using machine learning.


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The New American Remodel 2022 supplements a historic core with new flanking spaces.
The home tech zone, new product zone, and startup zone are designed to showcase leading-edge products and ideas.
The 2022 event covers all things construction with innovative new products, classes, networking, and entertainment. The International Builders' Show will be held Feb. 8-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
The National Association of Home Builders honors the industry’s top remodeling projects
This data on remodeling companies will show you where you fit
Model building code could aid remodelers and home owners in face of extreme weather.
NAHB continues to work with industry leaders and policymakers to address material prices and supply chain issues.
When used effectively, lighting creates focal points to draw one’s attention to key characteristics. Here are three lighting trends in remodeling.
Material shortages and delays have dealt the largest shock to project costs during the pandemic. Here's what remodelers have learned.
When the pandemic hit, kitchens were no longer limited to meal prep and entertaining. Here are the requests remodelers are seeing in kitchen renovations.
The 2020 ICC-700 National Green Building Standard® (2020 NGBS) resource book builds on over a decade of green building experience.
The Biden administration has proposed a massive $2 trillion infrastructure package that includes over $200 billion to build, preserve and retrofit more than 2 million homes and commercial buildings.
Privacy, health, and space will lead design requests in 2021.
The remodeling market declined at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last March and April, but quickly bounced back and has since more than fully recovered. Here's where it stands now.
Confidence in the remodeling market has come roaring back, according to a recent NAHB survey.
NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke shares what NAHB is doing to combat rising lumber prices.
What is new in the industry? The National Association of Home Builders shares updates that remodelers should know.
The Biden administration’s regulatory posture will be entirely different from that of its predecessor.
NAHB shares insights on remodeling's impact on the economy and precautions for remodelers during the pandemic.
The partnership between SGC Horizon and Pro Remodeler holds great promise


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Tobacco consumption continues to have serious health and economic impacts for individuals, their families and society.
Each year in Australia tobacco still kills more than 15,000 people and has more than $31.5 billion in health and economic costs.
Results from the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey show approximately 12.8 per cent of Australians - or around 2.5 million people - smoke daily.
The costs of smoking also continue to weigh down on the economy and on the budget through its adverse health effects and associated costs to the healthcare system.
The $31.5 billion in economic and social costs is more than triple the amount of revenue raised by the Commonwealth from tobacco excise, which stood at around $8.3 billion for the last financial year.
A Shorten Labor Government will further curtail Australia’s biggest preventable cause of disease and death by raising tobacco excise to bring it in line with world’s best practice. Labor will introduce four annual 12.5 per cent increases in excise on tobacco.
Following the four 12.5 per cent increases in excise, taxation as a proportion of the retail price of a packet of cigarettes will sit at around the World Health Organisation’s target of 75 per cent of the retail price.
Estimates suggest that in Australia these measures should lead to tens of thousands more Australians quitting smoking and that number again will smoke less than they otherwise would for every excise increase contained in this package.
After initially opposing this measure as “another tax grab”, Labor welcomes the Coalition’s inclusion of it in the 2016 Budget. Only Labor can be trusted to take effective action to reduce smoking.
Further information is available here.


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Canaan Inc., the largest manufacturer of cryptocurrency mining equipment, has taken a leading position in crypto industry as the IPO launches in the UnitedStates of America. According to the application, the company initially set a goal to raise over $ 400 million on the Nasdaq. Later, however, Canaan management amended, announcing its intention to raise $ 100 million.
At the moment, companies from China have already succeededraise $ 90 million. Note that in total about 10 million American depositary shares were issued at a price of $ 9 apiece. So, the stock price ranges from $ 9 to $ 11.
Canaan's IPO efforts seem to have finally begun to bear fruit. The company previously filed for IPOs in China and Hong Kong, but they did not continue.
A successful $ 90 million fundraiser opened up the opportunity for Canaan to get ahead of its direct competitors, including the largest producer of Bitmain miners.


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Nike unveils “Vintage” sweatshirts for the Washington Wizards
Nike unveiled two new collection items Thursday in preparation for the Wizards game at the Staples Center on Sunday.
The first collection, “Virtually Vintage,” will be released in the “Vesti” colors.
The second collection, called “Voltron,” will debut in a “Viking” colorway.
“We’re excited to bring this iconic collection to fans,” said Mike Buss, vice president of Nike Sportswear USA.
“We’ve seen a huge demand for this iconic look and feel from fans of all ages across the globe.”
The new Vesti and Voltron collections are both based on classic silhouettes that have become popular since Nike launched them in 2016.
Both sets of shirts feature the iconic “V” logo emblazoned across the chest and a white “V.”
Nike’s Vintage line features classic silhouets in “Velvet” and “Vampire” colorways.
The new “Vice” collection features an updated version of Nike’s iconic “Boomerang” collection, featuring the iconic silhouette of a man and a woman.
The brand says it wanted to bring back this look for a number of reasons.
“One of the things that was important for us was to get back to the roots of what this style represents, which is sports and the game of basketball,” Buss said.
“In this case, it’s the old-school style of the ’90s, where we used to have all these great, high-top sneakers and they weren’t quite the high-tops of today.”


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LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- If you have children, grocery shopping can be quite the chore. Companies are now offering services to simplify your life by skipping the store and delivering everything you need to your doorstep.
Antoinette Biffar is a working mom who's finishing up her MBA degree. She says grocery shopping for her family has been challenging.
"I really honestly can't even fit them in the cart with the baby and the car seat," Biffar said. "We have to have at least two carts going grocery shopping."
Grocery shopping has turned a lot easier with a fresh approach she says is simplifying her life. She uses an app called Shipt, where your grocery favorites are at your fingertips, you select what you want, and hit submit.
A Shipt shopper claims the order, hand picks the items and delivers your groceries straight to your doorstep.
"We do our best to try and dig through the produce and make sure we pick the very best fruits and vegetables for the customer," Rebecca Guttery said. "We make sure they're getting the best products on the shelves."
Denise Feather uses Hello Fresh, a company that delivers food boxes to her home.
In each box, she gets a recipe and all the ingredients proportioned to make a meal.
"It honestly taste like restaurant food," Feather said. "And you're making it yourself, so you're learning how to cook and use different spices and different words of stuff that I never knew existed in my vocabulary before. ow i have em."
The concept is similar to services by companies like Blue Apron and Plated.
"I'm spending $69 on this a week and I was spending $200 to $250 a week at the grocery with just three people."
If you want to order your groceries online and pick them up at the store you can do that too, for free at stores like Walmart.
Most delivery services come with a price tag, or a minimum ordering requirement, but are you stretching your dollar by skipping the grocery store?
Marketing expert David Hoffman says it's not just about saving money.
"Convenience usually costs a little money but you need to put a value on your time and your travel to the store."
So are these services here to stay? Hoffman says the future of grocery shopping may bring relief to families worldwide.
"This whole shopping is going to become automated in the future," Hoffman said. "Instead of having somebody in the store picking up food, there's going to be robots picking up your food."
While we wait for robots to do our shopping, Biffar says she's just glad skipping the grocery store is now an option.


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A total of 2,422 six-figure Raging Bulls were sold in the first three months of the year.
It could’ve been a costly $600,000 disaster.
The mystery supercars will complement the previously announced Huracán STO.
The 1989 example, released to celebrate the marque’s 25th anniversary, has only 623 miles on it.
The supercar sports a racing-style livery with the fashion house’s iconic Medusa’s head logo.
“This is an outright fancy, fancy car.”
It’s primed to tackle the most punishing icy tundra.
This 602 hp convertible lets you break free, but always has your back.
In a highly unusual year, our annual contest proved uniquely challenging—and surprisingly competitive.