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Shop Local: Shining a spotlight on East Boldon's independent traders
and live on Freeview channel 276
But how are they faring in Lockdown 3?
As part of our series of spotlight features highlighting local high streets in the region, we visited the South Tyneside village to speak to essential retailers allowed to remain open under the current restrictions.
Blacks Corner took over a landmark junction in East Boldon in 2017, honouring the heritage of the site by naming their restaurant after the colloquial term for the corner of St Bedes and Station Road.
To further cater for demand, in 2019 they opened a sister site deli in St John’s Terrace, allowing them to increase their range of small-batch British produce.
While the restaurant and wine bar remains closed for now, the deli is still open keeping locals well stocked with a great quality range of takeaway coffees, breads, farmhouse cheeses, meats, cakes, larder supplies, wines and beers from local breweries such as Vaux.
The deli side of the business means they’ve been able to retain all 27 of their staff through the Lockdowns and owner Jonathan Dryden says the past year has given them the chance to further build the brand and cement its role in the community.
In the first Lockdown, which came at short notice, they were left with fridges full of stock, but Blacks Corner launched a community outreach programme to deliver food parcels.
With an initial donation from author L J Ross and further funds from North East LEP it snowballed into a £10,000 project which retained jobs and provided food for those who couldn’t leave their homes.
Hampers are still a big part of the deli’s business and, filled with all range of artisan produce, are now sent out for delivery across the country.
"The response to the deli has really made us realise what the business means to the community,” said Jonathan. “We’ve really been able to identify why the deli is here and the service we provide for people, from people working from home who come in for a takeaway coffee, some free range eggs and a chat to a customer ordering a hamper for someone special. We are very much community led, and that community supports us.”
Moving forward, Jonathan and the team have utilised the time in Lockdown to foster more links with small-batch producers across the country and, with people feeling more passionate than ever before about supporting local, will be launching some of their own brand products including a Blacks Corner Northern tea in collaboration with the Tregothnan estate in Cornwall.
In the village’s Front Street, Pickings Butchers has been serving sausages, scotch eggs and more since 1870 winning numerous awards over the years, recognising their sausages as some of the best in the country.
While many of Front Street’s pubs and non-essential retailers remain closed, Pickings has remained open throughout the Lockdowns.
Butcher Stephen Auton said: “In the first Lockdown a lot of people were panic buying and they were coming in buying hundreds of pounds worth of meat to see them through.
"This one has been slightly different as people know they can still get stuff. However, we still do deliveries for those customers who are self-isolating.”


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Rita Ora Wore Gold in Her Hair Part for the Met Gala
From royal purple lipstick to glittery eye shadow, last night’s Met Gala saw its share of major beauty moments — but Rita Ora’s gilded hair part may have been the most unique.
Hair stylist Chris Appleton for Garnier used a gold leaf strip to accentuate the singer’s side part, after slicking her hair back with Garnier Fructis Marvelous Oil and hairspray. The gold leaf played off the gilded sequins on Ora’s DKNY Atelier gown.
If the look feels familiar, it might be because models at Suno’s Fall 2014 runway show sported similarly shiny metallic parts — courtesy of editorial super-stylist Odile Gilbert and plenty of golden powder eye shadow.
So is a painted part destined to become a bona fide trend? That has yet to be seen, though the look does have a precedent. Married Hindu women have been wearing vermillion sindoor powder on their hairlines for centuries — a ritual that’s as culturally significant as it is striking.
Photos by: Getty Images
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domain: news


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Photobucket is accused of blackmailing users, Microsoft’s Bing is gaining against Google, Oculus founder supports anti-DRM VR software, and Tidal has a surprise Jay-Z exclusive release.
Perception follows Cass, a young blind woman who is plagued by recurring dreams of an abandoned mansion, a rope, a ticket, an apple and an ax. Deciding to put her nightmares to rest she goes to investigate the old house alone.
More than 5 billion people have a mobile phone, Yahoo & AOL are now Oath, a nonprofit plans to ban cell phone use for pre-teens, and reviews of
Perception and GoreScript.
Sometimes I pick up a game because I want to feel like a real badass. There’s something very special about becoming someone incredible, capable of great feats worthy of epic ballads and text book immortalization. Expeditions: Viking was one of those games for me.
The Android OS is installed on more than 2 billion devices, Bethesda’s mod announcement at E3, the death of Greenlight and launch of Steam Direct, and a review of Expedition: Vikings.
Nintendo’s upcoming online Switch subscription, an all-Electric Supercar loses to a hybrid in the Nurburgring Lap, one of Napster’s founders reveals movie anti-piracy technology, and YouTube is actually pretty effective at preventing pirates.
Americans watch a LOT of TV, $1000 in 2010 could be worth $35 Million today in Bitcoins, Twitter has signed an NFL deal that includes no games, all about Destiny 2, and a review of NBA Playgrounds.
The end of the mp3 has been greatly exaggerated, the Windows Store is getting a wide range of non-Windows software, Samsung’s Galaxy 8 has been dubbed the most fragile smartphone ever and a review of Hyper Light Drifter.
500 million machines are running Windows 10, white hat hackers are “protecting” the Internet of Things, Amazon’s Echo Show, and a look at a literal in-game shooter, DESYNC.


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The first Wildcat Welcome Week Rummage Sale starts tomorrow.
University of Arizona's resident life and sustainability office collected about nine tons of used and new items left from students dorm move out.
Appliances, microwaves, tables, and more are all on sale for under $50.
About 10 students spent their summer reviewing and cleaning all the items they found in five dorm buildings.
"They will actually not go into landfills and most of the items are brand new, some of the items were not opened so it's a great way to not only support recycling efforts, but a great way to continue this project," said Ernette Leslie, the program coordinator.
— Priscilla KGUN9 (@PriscillaCasper) August 18, 2016
"I think it is important for those students that are budget savvy or students that maybe didn't come to campus fully prepared," she said. "It is a great way for them to purchase items."
The rummage sale starts Friday at 8 a.m. and is scheduled to last until 3:30 p.m..
They don't accept cash, only credit card. In order to be able to attend the sale, you have have register as a bidder.
The sale is located at UA's Surplus Store, 3740 E. 34th Street. The event is open to everyone.


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Its excellent design and user experience, coupled with its solid performance, make the HTC Sensation 4G one of the best Android phones yet and a top pick for T-Mobile customers.
The software maker sheds light on the secretive workings of the ambitious holographic headset -- by making us develop an app in real time.
The Chinese-made taptic engine, which mimics the sensation of being tapped on the wrist, proved to be defective so Apple switched to a different supplier, according to The Wall Street Journal.
For the first time, scientists have captured live images of the process of tasting on the tongue.
The camera-maker for adventure enthusiasts buys Kolor to add immersive and interactive 3D video best experienced through virtual reality goggles.
Tricking the brain into thinking its body can't be seen is easier than you might think. That can be helpful in stressful situations, but does it make virtual reality more dangerous?
The video game maker will beef up imagery, animation to compete against the top titles in the industry.
YouTube sensation MysterGuitarMan has outdone himself by creating an entire short film made from constantly rearranged mini Rubik's Cubes.
Activision Blizzard revives the iconic music game franchise in a bid to make living room rock stars the hot new thing -- again.
Virtual-reality could get a lot less virtual if the FeelReal mask takes off to provide odors and the sensation of the wind blowing against your face.


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Cohn Restaurants to open new Del Cerro eatery with GPS ‘butler bells’ to summon server
In a move certain to trim labor costs, the Cohn Restaurant Group plans to open next month an elevated fast casual eatery in Del Cerro that will rely on GPS-enabled devices to summon servers.
Del’s Hideout, as it’s being called, draws from the conventional fast casual model, offering counter service for ordering, but it will also have a full bar with craft cocktails and beer on tap and a children’s play area.
What really differentiates it, though, are the electronic devices known as Kallpods that diners will use to order extra drinks during their meal or alert a server that they’re ready to pay their bill. The technology has grown more popular over the last several years, although it’s more widely used in hotels, stadiums and amphitheaters.
As restaurants are increasingly looking to trim costs in the face of rising wages and utility bills, the tracking devices could become more widely embraced by dining venues.
Where the Cohn group would normally staff a full-service restaurant with three servers for every 15 tables, Del’s Hideout will only need one server for the same amount of tables, says co-owner David Cohn.
“We’re trying to balance menu pricing with labor costs, especially in a neighborhood restaurant where we want to serve our neighbors at as reasonable a price as we can,” Cohn said. “That means coming up with a different model and being more creative.”
And if it’s not clear enough that the Cohns are trying to change things up, there will be a sign over the entry door that will read, “Rethinking dining.”
While Cohn knows of no other freestanding restaurants in the county using the technology other than a few hotel eateries, some chains like Chick-fil-A are testing it. Kallpod, in a news release last year, boasted that in addition to convenience, the devices are driving increased revenues. It noted that Canadian Brewhouse, a casual dining operator in Western Canada, has seen a $211,500 average increase in gross sales at its 30 locations since it began using the Kallpods.
In the Del Cerro restaurant, the tabletop devices will have three buttons: one for general service needs, one specifically to order more drinks and one to request your check.
Cohn said the same devices will also be used at the company’s upcoming brewery restaurant, Draft Republic Brewing Co. in La Mesa, expected to open by the end of the year. Of the company’s nearly 22 San Diego County restaurants, just two are fast casual — Zigzag Pizza Pie in Oceanside and the Tea Pavilion in Balboa Park.
“It’s an experiment but we think there’s a way to not abandon people once they’re seated at fast casual places,” said Cohn. “Fast casual has been elevated for the last 20 years but everyone is trying to figure out the service piece.”
Del’s Hideout will occupy a 5,400-square-foot building on Adobe Falls Road north of San Diego State that was the former home of the long closed Junk House Restaurant and before that, Nicolosi’s.
The Cohn Restaurant Group purchased the building last year for more than $1.8 million with the idea that it could be used as a commissary kitchen for catering and prep work for some of its other restaurants. Given the space’s especially large kitchen, Cohn said that eventually it will likely do double duty as a kitchen for the new eatery as well as a commissary.
It’s now being entirely reimagined by longtime design collaborator Phillippe Beltran, who often brings a sense of whimsy to the restaurant decor. He is incorporating vintage bicycles into the design of the communal table bases, and a shipping container has been repurposed as a three-sided activity area for kids.
The main dining area will lead out to a 700-square-foot patio, separated by floor-to-ceiling roll-up garage doors.
The restaurant menu will include American classics like burgers and BBQ, plus a number of healthy options such as entrée-sized salads and bowls with grains, fresh vegetables and proteins. Rotisserie chicken will be a featured menu item, and diners will be able to sweeten their meals with a complimentary soft-serve ice cream cone they will get from a self-serve station on their way out.
Cohn estimates that the build-out of the restaurant space will cost roughly $500,000.
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Hof purchased the brothel and adjacent gas station, bar and convenience store on U.S. Highway 95 from notorious longtime Nye County brothel owner Maynard “Joe” Richards.
The store is being rebranded as the Area 51 Alien Travel Center and will feature its own line of merchandise emblazoned with little green men and women.
Hof’s alien theme is already well past the probing stage, but important details — whether the working women will be painted green, for example — are still being decided.
He did confirm one thing: There will be alien costumes made for employees at the travel center and the women in the brothel.
*Rule #34: “If it exists, there is porn of it.”
Be seeing you.


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Zanussi Professional, the brand that was bought by Electrolux Professional back in 1984, is to be actively promoted in the UK catering equipment market again following a unique agreement with five major kitchen houses.
The five dealers — ABM Catering for Leisure, Airedale Group, Allsop & Pitts, IFSE Group and Whitco Catering & Bakery Equipment — will form a national network called ‘The Springboard Group’ representing Zanussi in the UK.
They will have exclusive rights to distribute the brand in the UK.
Zanussi operates as an autonomous subsidiary of Electrolux and manufactures commercial cooking, refrigeration and warewashing equipment from its original hometown of Pordenone in northern Italy.
Alberto Zanata, president of Electrolux Professional, stated: “We are delighted to announce the venture with Springboard Group and we believe in its expertise, not just in marketing the products but also in providing quality customer service. We are confident that this will make an exciting and successful journey.”
The five distributors will offer an extensive product range, plus a one-stop-shop for installation, technical advice, servicing and equipment training. Between them they employ more than 70 qualified catering engineers across the UK.
The aim of the group, all of whom are existing Electrolux Partners, will be to establish the brand in key customer segments at both a regional and national level.
Jeff Whitaker, managing director of Whitco, said the arrangement will see the return of a brand that once enjoyed tremendous success and prominence in the UK commercial market.
“Zanussi Professional has a strong legacy in the UK. While it is a highly competitive market, the products and the brand were hugely successful and widely adopted and we can build on that heritage,” he said.
Mervyn Bladon, managing director of ABM, said that with the five distributors boasting a combined 170 years’ trading experience in the market, Zanussi would benefit from the national coverage they offer.
He commented: “An Italian-designed brand offering a range of competitively-priced kitchen products supported by five of the largest UK kitchen distributors is a strong proposition for any operator looking to invest in its foodservice facilities.”
While Springboard is the collective name to symbolise the five distributors with exclusive UK Zanussi distribution rights, the arrangement does not imply any kind of ownership change. Each distributor remains independently owned.


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The cabin in the premium saloon utilises a combination of “luxurious leathers, exotic woods, and carbonfibre”, and the dashboard features a large high-resolution touchscreen. There are also screens in the back of the front two seats for rear-passenger entertainment.
The interior is clad in Opus leather and includes heated seats with five massaging functions. The reclining seats in the rear are electrically adjustable and have media controls on the armrest that feature HDMI and USB ports. Wireless phone charging will also be available, and the CT6 offers “segment-best” interior storage, including a 2.2-litre capacity in the centre console.
Cadillac says the CT6 has an “industry-first” 360deg camera view around the car that will be able to record front and rear views while driving, while full 360deg recording is offered if the security system is activated.
Among the technology systems offered are Advanced Park Assist, which parks the car automatically, and new safety features including Night Vision, which helps identity objects through heat signatures on the infotainment system, and a Pedestrian Collision Mitigation feature that detects pedestrians and uses autonomous braking to avoid collisions.
There’s no word on pricing yet, but it’ll be up against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which is priced from £67,000 to £180,000.
Described by Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen as “a technological masterpiece”, the CT6 is expected to take a central role in the rebuilding of the brand globally as it moves to break free of predominantly US sales and crack the Asian and European markets.
“As is traditional for a luxury brand, we’ll lead from the top,” said de Nysschen. “We have until 2020 to get our product offering in shape for a European launch, and that means starting at the top and building credibility and establishing a reputation for cutting-edge technology.”
In an interview with Jalopnik, de Nysschen confirmed that the CT6 would also be sold with a plug-in hybrid variant and a twin-turbo V8. Although no power output has been revealed for either of those engines, the V8 would most likely take centre stage in Cadillac’s V-badged range of performance models, which are designed to rival equivalent cars from Mercedes-AMG, BMW M division and Audi's Quattro GmbH.
In addition, de Nysschen has targeted the creation of a wider SUV and crossover line-up, topped by the Escalade, and the creation of an Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA-rivalling saloon. The latter model would be rear-wheel drive, he confirmed.
“Cadillac has got to be bold and expressive,” said de Nysschen. “Owning a Cadillac should be a symbol of arrival, but without being brash or ostentatious. In the past we have been quite formal in that expression, but in future we can be a bit more casual in our expression.”
Although Cadillac has only 46 dealers in Europe at present, de Nysschen also hoped technology and a new approach could help the firm establish European sales without having to undertake investment in a full network. “We are investigating if there is room for us to have just a few flagship stores and then take cars to prospective customers, and let them test them and transact with us in their own homes,” he said. “Then we could collect the cars for servicing and make use of the existing GM dealership infrastructure.”
Having previously worked at Audi and Infiniti, de Nysschen suggested establishing Cadillac as a global premium brand could take more than 20 years, but he added that the brand’s 112-year history, strong home market and understanding of European tastes should stand it in good stead.


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Invariant has joined Apple's corps of DC lobbyists, handling issues such as privacy, encryption, copyright, intellectual property and competitive matters.
The firm headed by lobbying powerhouse and Democratic insider Heather Podesta also will school members of Congress about "supply chain protocols."
That's a huge issue for Apple, which counts on its China-based supply chain for its electronics and iPhone offerings. President Trump's tariff war on China threatens Apple's relationships with its Chinese manufacturers.
Podesta, who served on the staffs on Democratic Congressmen Robert Matsui/Earl Pomeroy and Senator Bill Bradley, heads Invariant's five-member Apple team.
That squad includes Anne MacMillan, ex-aide to now Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Eric Rosen, legislative director to former Congressman Anthony Weiner; Nicole Venable, staffer to ex-Senator Chuck Robb, and Annie Palisi, aide to former Speaker John Boehner.
Apple spent $6.5M on lobbying during 2018 at shops including Glover Park Group, Franklin Square and Fierce Government Relations. It upped outlays to $1.9M for Q1 2019.
Podesta launched Heather Podesta + Partners in 2007. It rebranded as Invariant ten years later to project a more bipartisan approach to communications.
She is the former wife of Tony Podesta, a former Democratic bigwig. His Podesta Group imploded in 2017 after special counsel Bob Mueller linked it to a Ukrainian client of now-jailed Paul Manafort, Trump's campaign manager.
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Polaris CEO to play big role at Capitol
Polaris Industries Inc. might not have green-lighted a $20 million expansion at its R&D center in Wyoming, Minn., last year if Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed budget had been in place, said Polaris CEO and Chairman Scott Wine.
Wine, who is scheduled to be the keynote business speaker at the 20th annual Business Day at the Capitol lobbying event next Wednesday, spoke in an interview about his frustration with government spending increases and the potential impacts of Dayton’s proposed tax policy changes.
Polaris is constructing a 144,000-square-foot addition to its R&D center, more than doubling the size of the facility and adding about 115 jobs.
Polaris probably would have built the R&D expansion in a warm-weather state if it weren’t for tax breaks offered through the state’s JOBZ rural economic-development program; tax abatements granted by the city and by Chisago County; and a small loan for equipment through the state’s Minnesota Investment Fund.
Even those sweeteners may not have been enough for Polaris if Dayton’s tax plans had been in place, Wine said. “If this tax proposal goes through, I’m not sure we’d make the same investment.”
Dayton in January proposed a broad tax-reform package that he says is necessary to make the system more fair and to help cover the state’s $627 million budget deficit.
It’s also needed to pay for business expansion programs, like the Minnesota Investment Fund that is set to get a boost from the new budget, said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben.
Dayton is preparing to release a revised proposal of his budget next week. The first version included a mixture of income tax increases for top wage earners, a tax rebate for homeowners, and new sales taxes on business-to-business services and clothing.
Sam Black covers real estate, manufacturing and economic development.
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A CONTINUED fall in resale prices of private non-landed homes failed to lift transaction volumes in April, as buyers’ attention likely shifted to recent new property launches, consultants say.
SRX Property flash estimates show prices falling 0.7 per cent last month compared to March; but data compiled by the exchange estimated that 440 resale units were sold last month, 2.7 per cent below the 452 units sold in March.
“The slight drop in resale volume was quite possibly due to more new launches by developers like North Park Residences,” said ERA Realty key executive officer Eugene Lim. “The step-up of new launches possibly diverted some attention away from the resale market.”
Two new projects launched by developers last month – North Park Residences in Yishun and Botanique at Bartley – were relatively well-received. Frasers Centrepoint Limited sold 515 units at 920-unit North Park Residences as at May 7 while UOL Group sold more than 300 units at 797-unit Botanique at Bartley.
But there were still more resale transactions in the first four months this year compared to the same period last year, according to SRX Property data, which comprise caveat and non-caveat information: 1,581 units this year from 1,332 units in 2014.
Mr Lim said that this could be a signal that more buyers are returning to the market as prices stabilise. It may also reflect increased interest from owner-occupiers, since resale units are more popular for owner occupation.
Going by region, resale prices of non-landed private homes fell 0.1 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively in the Core Central Region and Outside Central Region, while resale prices of city-fringe homes in the Rest of Central Region bucked the trend with a 0.4 per cent rise.
PropNex Realty chief executive Ismail Gafoor said that the steep drop in the OCR could be attributed to greater supply of new launches and resale properties there compared to other regions. Compared to a year ago, resale prices of non-landed private homes dropped 4 per cent in April. Prices were 6.9 per cent below the January 2014 peak of the SRX price index.
R’ST Research director Ong Kah Seng noted that “investment phobia” and pessimism will increasingly set in among resale homebuyers given a surge in new private residential completions, tougher leasing conditions, and recent loss-making resale transactions by some owners.
“Buyers generally are opportunistic now, preferring to get a property when they can slash price substantially from the owner, but they will be sceptical about the investment potential if, indeed, the owner has to cut price to offload the property,” he said.
OrangeTee manager of research and consultancy Wong Xian Yang noted that uncertainty over any tweaks to the government’s cooling measures has kept buyers on the sidelines. While buyers are hesitant to commit as prices continue to slide, sellers have strong holding power given a stable economy and a tight labour market.
“The announcement of the high speed rail (HSR) location may spark some buying interest in the west. However, the effect on the overall price and volume trend would likely be limited,” he said, referring to news of locating the HSR terminus at the site currently occupied by Jurong Country Club.
The median transaction over X-value, a computer-generated estimate by SRX to show how much people are buying above or below the estimated market value, moved from a negative S$10,000 in March to zero in April – suggesting a neutral level.
Mr Lim of ERA noted that this may be a good indication that prices have stabilised.
“However, as this is a monthly reading, we need to monitor the market for a few more months to be more conclusive.”


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Elder Scrolls Online down on Xbox One
UPDATE: The maintenance is complete, and the Xbox One European megaserver is now back online and available.
ZeniMax Studios has confirmed the MMO title will be offline today for Xbox One users after a spike in reports of users being unable to access the game via the EU Megaserver.
The Xbox One European Megaserver went offline today at 1:00PM EDT/18:00 BST for maintenance, which is expected to last at least a few hours.
A ZeniMax statement reads: "The EU Xbox One megaserver is currently offline and will be down for approximately a couple of hours.
"We'll let you know as soon as the maintenance is complete and you can log back on."
The game was taken offline to address an issue where players couldn't load into certain zones, according to ZeniMax.
It followed news that the ZeniMax team were investigating reports of connectivity issues on the ESO Xbox One EU megaserver earlier today.
The studio's support recently announced that the game would see further maintenance on all console login and account systems on Monday, June 29th (instead of Thursday, June 25th) from 15:30PM to 20:30PM UK time.
Users will not be able to log into the game on console during this time, but those who are already in the game will be able to continue playing.
It follows the recent release of a new patch for both the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Tamriel Unlimited.
The update was released earlier this week and was causing a few download issues for those on the PlayStation platform.
The Elder Scrolls Online's first incremental patch came in at a whopping 15.9GB, due to it containing 01.01 through 01.04 patches.
The ESO team apologised for the size on Twitter, and reveald they were preparing to avoid launching cumulative patches in the future.


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Hadiza Bala-usman, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said the promoters of the multi-billion dollars Badagry Deep Seaport Project, has finally made payment of $500,000 commitment deposit into an escrow account to signify their commitment towards the port project.
The project is being developed through a publicprivate partnership (PPP) overseen by the Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Transport, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and Lagos state government.
It is also being overseen by a private consortium of APM Terminals, Orlean Invest, Oando, Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) and Macquarie.
Giving an update into the project, Usman said the promoters made the payments into the escrow account a month ago, and the authority is now perfecting arrangement to conclude on the final business case of the port project.
“If you recall, the concerns that we had on the Badagry Seaport was the fact that the transaction adviser, put in all government service into the Outline Business Case as the service that would be provided by the Port Concessionaire. Meaning that towage services, and all manner of marine services that are originally the responsibilities of government through the Nigerian Ports Authority were now handed over to the proponents as parts of what they would do in managing the Ports,” Usman explained in a recent interview with Thisday.
According to her, the NPA kicked against such Outline Business Case such that it was reviewed to include its comments, and ensure that those functions were removed from the Badagary Port Project.
“So, the NPA had to look very closely into the Outline Business Case to ensure that government is not shortchanged in the Badagry Deep Seaport project. We are through with that, and we are going to go to the next step where the final business case would reflect all the comments of the NPA and all our duties have now be reclaimed as duties of the government,” she said.
Recall that the Badagry Port and Free Zone project, proposed to be constructed at Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria, will be Africa’s biggest and most advanced seaport when it starts operations.
The new port is expected to have an annual throughput capacity of 1.8 million Twenty- foot Equivalent Units (TEUS). The proposal for the project was announced in 2012. Feasibility studies have been completed and construction works yet to start. The project will be implemented in four phases, with the overall project cost estimated to range between $2bn and $3bn.
The proposed site is located 55km west of Apapa and the port of Lagos, along the 55km long Lagos-badagry Expressway, that is being upgraded from a four-lane to a ten-lane expressway.
It is expected that the new port will primarily ease pressure on the existing port of Lagos, which handles approximately 85 percent of the country’s non-oil throughput. It will further alleviate the country’s ports, which are on the verge of exceeding their cargo handling capacities, and address the country’s annual container traffic, which is expected to grow to 10 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units by 2030.


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“On a chart of the consumer discretionary-tracking ETF (XLY), Gordon points out that XLY needs to complete the fifth and final wave of the Elliot Wave theory. The classic theory, in this case, would mean that XLY would need to make one final rally higher,” according to CNBC.
“Personal income, reflecting Americans’ pretax earnings from salaries and other sources including investments, rose 0.4% in May, in line with economists’ expectations,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “Americans moderated their spending in May after two strong months of growth, as the 0.2% increase was the weakest since February.”
Amazon’s famed Prime Day is approaching over the next few days and the back-to-school shopping season could be another near-term catalyst for XLY and other discretionary ETFs.
For more information on the consumer sector, visit our consumer discretionary category.


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Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, announced today that Richard M. Steuer, a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice has been elected Chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Section of Antitrust Law.
The Section of Antitrust Law is the largest body of antitrust, competition and consumer protection professionals in the world, with 8,000 members from dozens of countries, including lawyers, economists, enforcement officials, jurists and academics.
“The coming year promises to be interesting and challenging for the global economy, and fascinating for the Section of Antitrust Law,” Mr. Steuer said. “We will continue to pursue our mission of leaving competition and consumer protection law better than we find it, year after year.”
For many years, Mr. Steuer has served in a variety of roles with the Antitrust section, including Chair-Elect, Vice Chair, Secretary and Committee Officer, delegate to the ABA House of Delegates and editorial director of the section’s Antitrust magazine. He also served for three years as Chair of the Antitrust Committee of the Bar of the City of New York.
Mr. Steuer’s practice focuses on antitrust law, including litigation, merger clearance, government investigations and counseling. He has taught antitrust law as an adjunct professor, lectures frequently on antitrust law and has authored a book and numerous articles on antitrust law.


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The rapid global spread of the coronavirus is having a major impact on all aspects of society, including the automotive industry.
The automobile leaders are coming up with creative ideas to recuperate the industry, support the current situation and pro-actively think of initiatives to further battle this challenging time.
In order to pay it forward, Jaguar Land Rover has begun production of reusable NHS-approved protective visors, with the goal of eventually producing 5,000 of the units a week.
The new visor has been designed at the Advanced Production Creation Centre in consultation with NHS staff, with Jaguar Land Rover initially aiming to produce 1,300 units per week using its prototype build operations. It will then work with other companies, including Pro2Pro in Telford to further increase production.
The visors have been tested by staff at the Great Western Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust. The device is designed to be easily dismantled and cleaned so that it can be used again, helping to combat equipment shortages.
Jaguar Land Rover intends to make the open source CAD design files available to other manufacturers, so they can print further visors.


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Brands from holidays, travel and motoring industries were most likely to breach ASA rules in the last five years, with a retailers own website being the most common source of complaints, according to new research.
The Premier League has launched the second season of its ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign in Hong Kong to raise awareness of the dangers of viewing pirate content, as well as the compromised viewing experience offered by illegal streams.
71% of people would prefer personal control over email tracking rather than Apple’s blanket ban on tracking pixels, with 54% saying that they had little or no concern about tracking pixels, according to new research.
Crédit Agricole, a French financial group, was the most imitated brand in phishing attacks in H1 2021, followed by Facebook, and Microsoft.
Integral Ad Science (IAS) has announced a new partnership with The Global Disinformation Index (GDI) to transform how brands can avoid misinformation.
Almost half (43%) of UK organisations have had a data breach (actual or potential) reported to the ICO since GDPR came into effect, according to a survey.
Nearly all (92%) of UK businesses have experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 months, with over two-thirds (72%) successfully breached at least once, according to new research.
EU import and export delays are slowing the flow of goods between France and the UK according to a new tool from the French Chamber of Great Britain, in partnership with global data science consultancy, Ekimetrics.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced an investigation into whether Amazon and Google have broken consumer law as a result of failing to protect shoppers from fake online reviews.
The long-promised decision of blocking third-party tracking cookies from Google Chrome moves back to 2023. Hear the collective sigh of relief from brands and agencies? That’s because much more time is needed for most businesses to adjust. Don’t have a plan yet? Look out for Google’s own upcoming Privacy Sandbox system, that will allow sites to show targeted ads (while reducing the amount of data users share).
Amazon websites are blocking Google’s tracking system FLoC (Federated Learning of Cohorts) according to a new report.
The European Union has approved plans to recognise UK data protection standards as aligned to those that apply in the EU.
Over half of senior executives say their security policies have not kept pace with changes in the workplace
Businesses are leaving themselves exposed to cyberattacks thanks to ineffective cyber security training programmes and a widespread reluctance among employees to engage with cyber security teams, according to a report released by Fujitsu, which examines the challenges organisations face when trying to build a strong cyber security culture.
The US, UK and other large, rich nations reached a landmark deal on Saturday to get more tax money from multinational companies such as Amazon and Google and reduce their incentive to shift profits to low-tax offshore havens.
Google will allow Android users to opt-out of being tracked by advertisers, following a similar move by rival Apple.
Ofcom is planning to force people to verify their age before using social media platforms, under new government plans to protect children.
Advertisers are feeling pressured to increase privacy compliance as consumer interest in data privacy and Apple’s IDFA decision increases, according to the findings of a new white paper.
The Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) has today launched its first report tracking performance on brand safety across seven platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, as the next step in its mission to improve the safety, trustworthiness and sustainability of media.
49% of the UK consumers have had their social media accounts compromised or know a friend or family member who has.


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There is a young man in Mbarara changing the idea on how to access food. “What we do is fast and convenient food delivery,” Bill Miles Ariho says, “We approached a number of restaurants, they availed their menu and we started doing it.”
At the age of 22, Ariho is an entrepreneur practicing farming and running D90, a media business at The Innovation Village. To that list of enterprises, Ariho has been building Stack Eats, a food delivery business. In a city with a population of 472, 629 people, Stack Eats is one of the only two services of this nature that exists in bringing food to the doorsteps of the hungry Mbarara populace.
Like all solutions, Ariho’s business was born right in the heart of a problem exactly one year ago.
This was in the middle of the 2020 government lockdown that eliminated forms of transportation for the public. What this meant for the public under lockdown is that there was a chasm between working people and food enterprises. Already nursing the idea of a food business, the lockdown gave Ariho sufficient time to research on the internet about building a food business. He read, listened and watched documentaries before he decided to take the first step. Ariho says that his resources were limited but he decided the time was then.
Alongside food, Stack Eats delivered anything and everything that people in Mbarara needed to move from one point to another including groceries, food and other necessities.
With Boda Bodas off-limits, Ariho trekked the long journeys on behalf of the customers and restaurants and delivered meals at beckon.
The journey of an entrepreneur is long, hard and sometimes lonely. Ariho found himself a home at The Innovation Village Mbarara, a space where he could network with other entrepreneurs as well as seek business advice to grow Stack Eats.
“At its launch activation in Mbarara, The Innovation Village told us about the value proposition, the unique value of a startup. Through speaking to a correspondent from The Innovation Village, I arrived at the idea of having the Stack Eats pivot wherein the long and midterm, Stack Eats would prepare its own local food and deliver it to busy people. This would create convenience and ease through a simple call and a phone application.”
At the moment, Stack Eats is run with the help of give employees, with orders from approximately 75 clients a month. This is only a small win for now.
Ariho feels that the larger impact will be realized in the near future.
Now that Mbarara has city status, Stack Eats and the convenience that it brings would attract investment. He also hopes that this will be a business that provides employment university students usually in dire need of an income.
Stack Eats’ customers once worked from home without the convenience and time to cook. The business’ client base has now grown to include office workers, women at home and students.
So far, the challenge is building a team for Stack Eats. Ariho says, “A lot of people come with the gig economy mindset and want to make quick and fast cash temporarily.”
He, however, believes there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel especially because he is part of the community at The Innovation Village which has brought a few like-minded entrepreneurs his way with whom he is holding conversations about joining the team.
“The Innovation Village has improved my knowledge in business but the invaluable advantage has been the connection,” Ariho says.
What does the ideal future look like for Stack Eats?
“ In my wildest dreams, I see Stack Eats as an outlet and then later into real estate. If you look at the McDonald’s franchise but with a twist, that is my dream for Stack Eats. I see it as a household brand in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
That is the dream for Ariho but between that dream, there are a few hurdles to overcome. There is finding the sufficient capital to operate at his desired capacity. There is also building the dream team. Beyond delivering food, Ariho hopes that he will bring profound value to the community with Stack Eats and every day, he does something to contribute to that future.


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On the 16th and 17th of October, an enthusiastic group of innovators gathered for the Honey Bee Hackathon 2020. The event gave them the opportunity to develop and share exciting business ideas with likeminded people in the industry.
A special congratulations to the winner, Rhonda Flottmann.
Opportunities like this are needed to spark new ideas and increase the value of the honey bee industry. Some of these ideas even go on to become the beginnings of businesses.
This event was organised by the CRC Honey Bee Products and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Keep an eye out for more exciting events to come!


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U.S. Consumers Are Eating Nearly As Much Fresh Foods As 30 Years Ago 2015/07/21 Source: The NPD Group Turns out that Americans are eating their fruits and vegetables as well as other fresh foods and beverages, reports The NPD Group, a leading global information company. The percent of all in-home eating occasions that include fresh foods, like fruit, vegetables, and dairy items, is almost back to levels seen 30 years ago, according to NPD food consumption research.
Cal-Maine Foods turns a net loss as Avian influenza bites Mon, 24 Jul 2017 13:11:00 GMT Source: just-food.com US egg supplier Cal-Maine Foods turned to a net loss in the year to June due to a drop in prices and demand, which was partly associated with the Avian influenza outbreak in 2015.
Ferrero 'mulling move for Nestle US candy unit' Mon, 24 Jul 2017 13:57:00 GMT Source: just-food.com Ferrero, the Italy-based food group behind Kinder chocolate, is reportedly weighing up a move for Nestle's confectionery business in the US, which the world's largest food maker may be ready to sell.
Wessanen growth supported by shift to branded sales Tue, 25 Jul 2017 07:57:00 GMT Source: just-food.com European health foods group Wessanen booked a jump in first-half sales and profits this morning (25 July) thanks to continued growth of its branded sales.
Foodservice Delivery Grows at the Expense of Restaurant Drive Thru 2016/07/21 Source: The NPD Group Foodservice delivery is the ultimate in dining convenience and is winning visits at the expense of restaurant drive thru, reports The NPD Group, a leading global information company. Over the past four years, delivery has grown by 69 million visits (orders), while drive thru traffic fell by 128 million visits from May 2012 through May 2016, according to a recently released NPD report on foodservice delivery.
Fleury Michon forecasts drop in H1 EBIT Mon, 24 Jul 2017 08:28:00 GMT Source: just-food.com French food group Fleury Michon has reported a decline in first-half turnover and said higher raw-material costs will put pressure on its half-year operating profit.


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Flu Shots are a scam. Google ingredients in flu shots. You'll be disgusted. Did you also know that it says right on the box that no studies have ever proven the efficacy of the flu shot? No wonder they don't let you see the packaging.
One study showed that Vitamin D was 800% more effective than the flu shot.
Unlike other vaccines, mercury (thimerosal) has never been removed from the flu shot. That's not to say I believe it causes autism - but do you really want mercury injected into your body in any dose? Some of the other ingredients are just as bad.
Follow the money. Pharmaceutical companies are making a ton of money off these shots. Guess who the biggest advertisers are on every major network? Now you also know why the news won't report fairly on this.
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By Katharine Forst
The Animal Rescue Fund, a fixture of the East End community since 1974 that has adopted out more than 29,000 cats and dogs since its inception, is calling on people to donate pet food.
ARF will hold a pet food drive on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., with distribution of the supplies starting on Saturday, Aug. 22, from noon to 3 p.m. Both the drive and collection will take place at ARF’s campus at 124 Daniels Hole Road in East Hampton.
Unopened containers of wet and dry dog and cat food are sought.
For pet owners in need, ARF will provide a safe, socially distanced, drive-through arrangement for both the drop-off on Saturday and the pickup of food on Aug. 22. ARF employees (wearing masks and proper personal protective equipment) will pass out the supplies to families in their cars. More information can be found at arfhamptons.org or by calling 631-537-0400.


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Article content continued
Two people with knowledge of Apple’s plans warned pandemic-related delays could push the start of production into 2025 or beyond.
Apple has decided to tap outside partners for elements of the system, including lidar sensors, which help self-driving cars get a three-dimensional view of the road, two people familiar with the company’s plans said.
Apple’s car might feature multiple lidar sensors for scanning different distances, another person said. Some sensors could be derived from Apple’s internally developed lidar units, that person said. Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro models released this year both feature lidar sensors.
Reuters had previously reported that Apple had held talks with potential lidar suppliers, but it was also examining building its own sensor.
It's next level. Like the first time you saw the iPhone
Source of Apple's battery technology
As for the car’s battery, Apple plans to use a unique “monocell” design that bulks up the individual cells in the battery and frees up space inside the battery pack by eliminating pouches and modules that hold battery materials, one of the people said.
Apple’s design means that more active material can be packed inside the battery, giving the car a potentially longer range. Apple is also examining a chemistry for the battery called LFP, or lithium iron phosphate, the person said, which is inherently less likely to overheat and is thus safer than other types of lithium-ion batteries.
“It’s next level,” the person said of Apple’s battery technology. “Like the first time you saw the iPhone.”
Apple had previously engaged Magna International Inc. in talks about manufacturing a car, but the talks petered out as Apple’s plans became unclear, a person familiar with those previous efforts said. Magna did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
To turn a profit, automotive contract manufacturers often ask for volumes that could pose a challenge even to Apple, which would be a newcomer to the automotive market.
“In order to have a viable assembly plant, you need 100,000 vehicles annually, with more volume to come,” the person said.
© Thomson Reuters 2020


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You don't HAVE to get Windows 11!
99 uh and by 4.99 i mean free it’s, understandable that whenever there’s a new windows release, many people don’t want wholesale changes, forced on them and while windows 11 doesn’t appear to be Dramatically different from windows: 10: there are enough changes to make some folks wish they could go back. Thankfully, it looks like microsoft will make it relatively simple to migrate back to windows 10. If you want at least for a short while after upgrading, you will have 10 days to revert to windows 10 without losing any of your files or data, not a ton of time, but definitely more than the zero days we got with the last major windows rollout To do so, all you need to do is go to the update and security section of the settings app and select the option to revert to windows 10.. But if you wait longer than 10 days, your only option is a clean, install, hopefully, windows 11 won’t be unbearable, and this will be a moot point for most folks. We don’t need a repeat of the windows, vista debacle. You know what just switch to linux users. Cheating in online games has long been an annoyance and the tools used to detect and ban them have caused problems of their own as well. Just ask anyone: who’s run linux, but now there’s an even more irritating layer to the war involving cheaters, honest players and developers. Machine learning, a new cheat for call of duty is going around that uses.
Machine learning to score kills as long as the player just points their weapon close to the intended target. The cheat can virtually guarantee a kill by using ai to line up the perfect shot aim. Assist bots have been around for a long time, but this one is overpowered since it uses the aforementioned machine learning and it can even be used on a console by connecting it to a pc. Notable since consoles have typically been less vulnerable to cheating. Activision is trying to get the site that’s distributing it taken down, but in the meantime, don’t be surprised if one of your online opponents seems inhumanly good. We haven’t seen an update to the ipad mini since 2019 is a while ago now, but that might be changing. This fall as a report from bloomberg says to expect the biggest redesign ever of the mini version of apple’s flagship tablet. This comes on the heels of noted apple, insider ming, chi quo missing on his prediction that we’d see the new ipad mini in the first half of this year, but it looks like we won’t have to wait too much longer. The new mini will be similar to the current ipad air and feature a newer cpu, which we think would mean the a14 bionic system on chip. That same report also indicates that apple is working on a bigger imac to give consumers an alternative to the current 24 inch models. The new imax would be powered by an updated apple silicon chip such as the m1x or the m2x.
Currently, the only larger imax apples offering still have intel cpus, so you might want to make a little bit longer before upgrading or you know, just buy. A second monitor – and i guess it’s time for the quick bits brought to you by honey honey – is the free online shopping tool that searches for best promo codes whenever you shop at specific sites. Those of you who downloaded honey from our link have already saved over a hundred grand in the past few months. Good job honey works on lots of your favorite stores, including amazon, ebay, new egg, razor best buy walmart and more. All you have to do. Is click apply, coupons while you’re at the checkout page and wait for honey to search for the best working coupons, it’s, free to use and installs in just two clicks and we use it too. Colton brandon and a few others here at lmg use honey to save money, shopping online, start saving today and get honey at jointhoney.com techlinked on to the quick bits. There’S, no other thing here. I don’t know why john where’s, the jokes anyway, oh right, the joke is samsung’s unpack samsung’s unpacked product reveal event is next month, but we’ve already got a huge number of leaks showing off several new devices, including two new galaxy foldable phones, watches and earbuds. The leaks come courtesy of evan blass, a notable product insider, and you can check them out on his twitter page, though, of course, the leaked gifs don’t feature.
Any dust getting inside youtube looks to be getting serious about getting into the popular short form. Video format as youtube. Shorts is getting expanded to a hundred countries. After limited releases in india and the united states youtube, shorts is google’s way of competing with tiktok, which, ironically, let users post longer videos recently. I guess we’re all just really copying each other. At the end of the day, if you’re, not the kind of person that wants your online conversations to stick around indefinitely, then you finally have another option for disappearing messages. Whatsapp is giving its ios users the option to enable disappearing chats similar to what you’d see on snapchat. The feature has already been available on android for a few weeks, and you can get it on ios by signing up for the beta just remember, they can still be screenshoted, so try not to send insults about your boss to an unsympathetic, co worker, hoping for a Promotion virgin galactic, usually charges 250 000 for a space flight ticket, but in case you don’t have a quarter million dollars just casually lying around. You can now enter to win a pair of tickets for free. If you donate to the space for humanity. Charity, though you do get extra entries, the lucky winner will get a private tour from richard branson himself and be taken to an altitude of 250 000 feet. How appropriate a dollar a foot but money probably isn’t an issue for whoever sold a near mint copy of super mario 64.
This weekend i thought it was legend of zelda. Oh yeah, that’s, further down we’re getting spicy. Now, a sealed inbox copy of the venerable nintendo game sold for 1.56 million dollars just a few days after an early copy of the legend of zelda got to around 870 000., the copy had a 9.8 rating, so the buyer will get a game. That is basically exactly as it was when it hit store shelves in 1996.. I just hope they don’t do anything stupid, like you know, actually play it.


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During the global coronavirus pandemic, Toluna, Harris Interactive, and KuRunData have been conducting a Global Barometer study of consumers in 14 markets. Gain insight into how the coronavirus has impacted consumer around the world by understanding the next normal.
Here's what we've found in our latest wave:
Looking forward to 2021, being healthier /eating better is the most common resolution – half globally want to prioritise health given the events of last year.
Consumer confidence remains consistently low – just 18% globally are confident spending money
Reducing spend tops the list of things to achieve in 2021, followed by more travel where possible and being environmentally friendly
Toluna delivers real-time consumer insights at the speed of the on-demand economy. We do what no other insights company can, we combine the industry's first end-to-end consumer intelligence platform, Toluna Start with, award-winning research design, vertical expertise and a panel of over 30 million consumers.
Harris Interactive simplifies complex decisions with critical consumer intelligence. Harris Interactive sets itself apart by fusing sector expertise and award-winning research designs with innovative tools and technology. This combination delivers impactful insights that keep clients ahead of what’s next.


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Did you miss our Brunch at Utopicus Orense?
On the morning of February the 27th, Shake to Win was invited to the Weekly Entrepreneurs’ Breakfast at Utopicus Orense. The STW was interviewed by Judith Viloria Perez regarding the latest Charity Campaign, “It’s a smile behind the mask,” created to help ease the situation involving the Condvid-19 outbreak in China. Shake to Win was also able to introduce the Saas platform and offer solutions to a very interested and involved crowd of entrepreneurs and business owners.
Market Expansion Manager, Mariano García, shared general information about the Coronavirus outbreak (officially stated by the Chinese Government on January, 25th 2020). He explained how in the face of such a calamity, a desire to help had sparked.
He then continued on the development of the campaign, “It’s a Smile Behind the Mask.” This campaign is destined to raise money for medical assistance for hospitals in China that are battling against this virus.
He also mentioned that.
“If China stops, a lot of initiatives and economies around the globe will deteriorate and suffer. If we do not want to suffer the consequences of economic turmoil, it is crucial to help today.”Mariano Garcia- Market Expansion Manger
Mariano Mention the fact that STW dedicates its work to market businesses in China, and with the participation in our campaign, there will be the acknowledgment that “’X’ organization help China in the time of need”, something that would be highly appreciated by the Chinese people for a long time.
On the other hand, our Founder Emily Cheung shared the birth of Shake to Win from her very own passion for traveling, culture, and networking. Attendees showed particular attention to this part of the presentation since she explained the filters used by STW to determine how a place, a business or an experience can take part in our platform. Laura Roca, Regional Account Manager and Creative Leader of the C-wise Group, asked about our relationship with the Van Gogh Museum and how it came to be. Emily shared that she studied in Amsterdam about 15 years ago. She fell in love with Van Gogh’s history and art. Her passion caused a great impression on the Brabant Tourism board that interviewed her at the Museum before starting the partnership, we are so proud of having today.
The team also talked about how the Chinese market and Chinese costumers and consumers are more dependent on one device to communicate and keep in contact with the world: their mobile phones. Shake To win has found the opportunity of reaching Chinese travelers through their mobile apps, creating a specialized app that can communicate with the entire Chinese market. Shake to win offerers consumers, and costumer digital content developed from within and offering businesses the possibility to get noticed in china by one of the biggest outbound markets.
We want to thank the Utopicus community of entrepreneurs for welcoming our initiative and the whole team that made this presentation possible.


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Realme’s Dizo brand could soon be coming up with a mobile phone. The brand recently launched the first set of products in India including TWS earbuds and wireless earphones. The Dizo brand is said to offer more affordable products compared to Realme’s own products.
A few days ago, Dizo’s official Twitter handle shared a teaser of an upcoming product. As per the teaser image, it could very well be a smartphone. The teaser stands in line with a recent image of a Dizo mobile phone that came up on FCC back in May.
Dizo revealed the teaser with a description that says ‘looks that don’t deceive’. And the image next to it, when brightened up a bit, looks similar to the FCC images of the purported Dizo Star 500 phone. The mobile phone could be a basic one with a keypad.
It could come with 2G connectivity, dual-SIM support, a microSD card slot, and a 1,830 mAh battery. The battery could be a replaceable one. The phone may sport a single camera at the back along with a flash in a circular design.
There’s no official word from the company regarding what could be the new product. If it is the Dizo Star 500, one can expect the specifications to be the same as mentioned above.
Regarding the latest products from Dizo, the Dizo GoPods D TWS earphones are priced at Rs 1,599, and the Wireless neckband earphones cost Rs 1,499. In addition, the products will be available at introductory prices of Rs 1,399 and Rs 1,299, respectively.
The Dizo Wireless neckband earphones will go on sale on July 7. They will be available in four colours – black, blue, green, and orange. The Dizo GoPods D TWS will be available in two colours. It will go on sale starting July 14.


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Popular Limited-Release Item May Become Permanent at Hudson Valley Taco Bells
In order to compete with other fast food franchises such as McDonald's, Taco Bell might make a limited-time item a permanent part of the menu. And we're not talking about the Mexican Pizza. Taco Bell already brought the sometimes hard to find pizza back permanently in September.
Old Favorite Returns to Hudson Valley Taco Bells?
Fox 5 NY is reporting that Taco Bell is considering making their Nacho Fries a permanent part of their menus to keep up with other establishments like McDonald's. Fox says the Nacho fries first debuted in 2018, and have since become a popular off-and-on menu addition.
Fast food restaurants continue to change their menus, by adding and removing items. And when COVID first affected the country, with the changes to dine-in and takeout procedures, the menu renovations seem to come more frequently.
Taco Bell has added some other items to their menus in the past year, though not all are there to stay for good. Back in early January 2022, the chain introduced its limited-edition Crispy Chicken Wings.
Taco Bell has a number of Hudson Valley locations, including 3 in Poughkeepsie, plus locations in Kingston, Newburgh, Middletown, Fishkill, Chester, Monticello, West Nyack, and New Windsor.
They also announced a little over a year ago that they were bringing back both their popular SpicyPotato Soft Tacos and the Fiesta Potatoes to their restaurants in the Hudson Valley, and the rest of the country. This comes after many customers complained about the potato tacos being removed from menus.


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There’s increasing debate on the problems with the laws covering chemicals in food contact materials such as packaging, with the European Parliament currently discussing a report on the issue. On 10th March 2016 CHEM Trust organised a workshop in Brussels to discuss one important aspect, the overlap and gaps between the main chemicals regulation REACH and the laws on chemicals … [Read more...] about Chemicals in food contact materials: notes from a workshop on regulatory gaps
The debate on the regulation of chemicals in Food Contact Materials - such as packaging - is starting to heat up, with a new study from the European Parliament’s Research Service (EPRS) echoing many of the criticisms that CHEM Trust made in our briefing on the subject. In addition, the MEP acting as a rapporteur on the European Parliament's investigation of this issue, … [Read more...] about European Parliament study and draft MEP report confirm problems with EU laws on food contact chemicals
New research, published today finds that people in the US who eat more fast food have higher levels of certain phthalate chemicals in their urine. The chemicals found, DEHP and DINP, are used as plasticisers in PVC plastics, and their use is partially restricted in Europe due to health concerns; they are also hormone (endocrine) disrupters. … [Read more...] about New US study finds fast food consumption associated with exposures to phthalates
Food packaging, factory equipment, food utensils - almost everything we eat has been in contact with one or more of these items. The EU’s laws should ensure that chemicals used in these materials are safe, but they do not go far enough and contain holes. These holes – for example a lack of harmonised rules on paper and card, inks, coatings and adhesives – mean that public … [Read more...] about Chemicals in food contact materials: A gap in the internal market, a failure in public protection
Our oceans and seas have been polluted over time with a number of contaminants, from litter and plastic waste to an array of man-made chemicals which have caused numerous problems for many wildlife species. So considering these pollutants, how safe is the fish, shellfish and other seafood we eat? … [Read more...] about How safe is our seafood?
The European Commission recently published a ‘road map’ proposing options for increasing controls on the use of hormone disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials. CHEM Trust has been concerned about the health and environmental impacts of BPA for many years, and in our view, it should be phased out of all food contact applications. However, as we point … [Read more...] about EU discussing new restrictions on bisphenol A in food contact materials
Our food comes into contact with a whole range of food contact materials made from industrial chemicals, from food packaging to pipes. The EU has laws that are supposed to regulate the safety of these chemicals, but they are full of gaps and largely ignore some key issues. A number of events in recent weeks have emphasised the scale of the problem, while the European Parliament … [Read more...] about EU Parliament starts inquiry into regulation of chemicals in food packaging as concerns mount
Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been used in some of our favourite products including waterproof clothing and non stick pans, but their persistence means they're found all over the globe, in wildlife and in our blood and other tissues. As the amount of research showing the harmful effects of these widely used chemicals grows, many of them are still in use - including in … [Read more...] about PFCs: In our blood, in polar bears – and in packets of microwave popcorn! (updated with Danish controls)
A year ago we wrote about new research which found that hazardous chemicals are used in food packaging, and that chemicals in many food packaging materials are not properly regulated by the EU. We sent a letter to the then EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, and the reply from his office said that the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) was going to start an analysis of … [Read more...] about Chemicals in food packaging: EU Commission finally publishes the scope of their new study
The EU commission has claimed that there will be no lowering of food safety standards in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that is currently being negotiated with the United States. However, an examination of the EU’s negotiating position shows that they are already offering changes which could lead to increased amounts of pesticide residues in food in … [Read more...] about The EU claims that TTIP won’t reduce EU food safety standards – but is this true?


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It was a tall order to fill, but the tallest man in the United States now has his own custom-made tennis shoes.
Igor Vovkovinskiy stands just over 7 feet, 8 inches tall. He's long struggled to find shoes for his size 24, 10E feet.
But the 30-year-old Rochester man received three custom-made pairs Thursday from Reebok that took five months to make. As he tried on a pair, he said it felt as if he were "walking on pillows or mattresses."
For as long as he can remember, he's had one pair of shoes. He says he's had 16 foot surgeries in six years because of damage caused by ill-fitting shoes.
The Post-Bulletin reported that Vovkovinskiy knew who he'd tell first about his new shoes, saying: "My mom."
In May, Vovkovinskiy flew to Massachusetts so shoe engineers at Reebok could try to custom build shoes strong enough to support his massive frame.
Medical insurers have ignored his pleas for help in paying for proper-fitting shoes, Vovkovinskiy said, and did not bother to respond to numerous letters from physicians "stating that 'it'd be a lot cheaper to make shoes that'd fit his body than to keep having surgeries.' "
Reebok said it was building the shoes at a cost of $12,000 to $20,000 and giving them to Vovkovinskiy. The company has helped Vovkovinskiy before and hopes to again, it said.


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https://blog.allstate.com/chicago-auto-show-trends-fuel-economy-future/The Chicago Auto Show—the largest of its kind in North America—is 106 years old this year. With about 1,000 vehicles on display, six outdoor and three indoor test tracks, and a slew of first-time announcements, the show always heralds the year's auto trends. [caption id="attachment_7514" align="alignright" width="300"] Toyota’s indoor test…Allstatehttps://i0.wp.com/blog.allstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Polestar_Pixelated.jpg?fit=2310%2C1456&ssl=1
Volvo unveiled the Polestar, a 155-mph concept car. Photo by Morgan Lord.
The Chicago Auto Show—the largest of its kind in North America—is 106 years old this year. With about 1,000 vehicles on display, six outdoor and three indoor test tracks, and a slew of first-time announcements, the show always heralds the year’s auto trends.
Haven’t made it to the show? Read on to find out about the technology, the style and the fun at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.
Powerful Fuel Savers
Nissan revealed its new concept, the Frontier Diesel Runner, a mid-sized truck with about 200 horsepower. That means it’s just as powerful as its predecessor, the Frontier V6, but this truck has a Cummins Diesel engine.
The question came up over and over again: “What if we put a Cummins Diesel engine in a Frontier?”said Fred Diaz, senior vice president of Nissan North America.
So they tried it, and Nissan says the Frontier Diesel has a 35 percent increase in fuel economy over Frontier V6 (that’s 30 mpg on the highway) because of the switch.
Speaking of fuel-saving trucks, the newest Ford F-150 is a mileage-boosting 700 pounds lighter, with the body made from aluminum instead of steel. The Ford has an all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine, which means better fuel economy, quicker braking and the power to tow heavier loads. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the vehicle gets 17 mpg in the city and about 23 mpg on the highway, according to Ford.
Hyper High-Tech Rides
This year’s show stunners have a heavy dose of hi-tech prowess; in fact, the newest line of 2015 Subarus, including the 2015 Subaru Legacy, have their very own set of eyes, so to speak. EyeSight is front-crash prevention system equipped with video cameras to monitor traffic and a variety of systems to help avoid crashes. It integrates adaptive cruise control, which helps adjust your speed based on the car in front of yours; pre-collision braking, which alerts you to danger and applies the brakes automatically to help avoid a crash; and lane departure warning, which lets you know if your car is veering into another lane.
The eco-friendly Kia Soul EV made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show—it’s battery-powered and can drive up to 120 miles before needing a five-hour charge. And, the car itself is “green”—the interior and trim are made from recycled plastic and fabric. For electric car drivers worried about time constraints, Chevrolet offers a solution: Its Spark EV is the first all-electric vehicle in North America to offer optional SAE Combo DC Fast Charge capability, which can charge the battery to 80 percent of capacity in about 20 minutes. The Spark EV is priced under $25,000, according to Chevrolet.
Toyota also featured its hybrid frontrunners at the show, including the Prius, Avalon, Camry and Highlander. Toyota projects that the 2015 Prius will get up to 55 mpg.
Start Your Engines
Racing news seems to rocket through the Chicago Auto Show at warp speed. Volkswagen unveiled the 560-horsepower Global Rallycross (CGR) Beetle and is partnering with Andretti Autosport to launch the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team, according to a Volkswagen press release. The team will consist of two cars, with GRC champion Tanner Foust and ex-F1 and NASCAR star Scott Speed behind the wheels.
Volkswagen isn’t the only automaker to get on the racing bandwagon. Toyota announced at the show that it’s becoming the first major sponsor of Daytona International Speedway’s $400 million redesign (to be completed in 2016). Toyota will have the rights to name one of the five speedway entrances–that’s 20,000 square feet and four levels to brand as they see fit, according to NASCAR.
Racing has long been an inspiration for road cars, and Volvo proved that’s still the case. Volvo unveiled the Polestar—a 155-mph concept car developed from the company’s decades of motorsport expertise. But, if you dream of owning a Polestar, you’ll have to act fast —only 120 are being offered for sale. Pricing will be announced closer to the June 2014 launch date, according to Edmunds.com.
Wave of the Future
Quite a few concept cars at this year’s show looked like they could have stepped right out of “The Jetsons.” The Kia Niro has dihedral “butterfly” doors that open into the roof panel, and the Toyota FT-1, which aptly stands for Future Toyota, sports an ultra-aerodynamic sleek body. Toyota also has the FV2 concept, with no steering wheel, meaning you shift your weight to maneuver the car. The FV2 can also read your voice and facial expressions.
Beginning in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show has been staged more times than any other auto show in history. To be a part of the show’s rich history and get an in-person look at this year’s trends, head to the Chicago Auto Show from Feb. 8-17 at McCormick Place. General admission to the 2014 Chicago Auto Show is $12 for adults and $6 for children.
Welcome to The Allstate Blog! Life can surprise you with unexpected challenges. In an effort to help you manage the unpredictability of life, The Allstate Blog provides you with entertaining, educational information in the areas of preparation, prevention and protection to give you the peace of mind that comes with confidence.
Our pages are filled with helpful tips and information about the topics that most of us face in our everyday lives. We focus on safety and maintenance issues with regard to your home, auto, apartment, motorcycle, boat, small business, finances and more. This site is developed in conjunction with Allstate.com and The Allstate Insurance Company.


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Boards of Canada Hi Scores
Published Oct 10, 2014Boards of Canada haven't played a live show in over a decade, so you can forgive the Scottish duo for attempting to subsidize their income through their physical product. That's why it was no big surprise when Skam Records announced that they would commemorate their 20th anniversary by (once again) reissuing Boards of Canada's first commercial release. Hitting shelves two years before their groundbreaking debut, Music Has the Right to Children, 1996's Hi Scores EP showed the duo blending digital drill and bass rhythms with the chromatic analog melodies that they would soon become known for.
While earlier reissues of Hi Scores (in 1998, 2002 and 2005) offered little more than additional pressings, Skam's latest re-release features not just a new mix of the EP, but new(ish) versions, as Boards of Canada opted to re-record the six songs from the original DAT tapes. Couple the brighter, more dramatic recordings with new packaging and artwork and Hi Scores could qualify as perhaps the most essential reissue in Boards of Canada's nearly flawless catalogue. (Skam)


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ScottishPower has set up a £1 million customer compensation fund after regulator Ofgem fined the firm over misselling.
Customers who believe they may have been missold to can either complete an online form here, or call the dedicated phone number on 0845 030 3048.
ScottishPower will deliver the remaining £7.5 million through payments to customers identified under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
For more information on the Warm Home Discount Scheme, ScottishPower customers can call 0845 030 3041.
More top news
Plumbers and heating engineers should be trained to help people living in homes that are too cold, according to new health guidelines.
Rain for the northwest, dry and cold elsewhere
Rejecting a showdown with Ed Miliband, David Cameron's terms sent to broadcasters reveal his deep dissatisfaction with the debate proposals.


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ROCKFORD (WREX) — Gift cards to a barbecue restaurant in Rockford called “Big Papa’s” were supposed to be Christmas presents for friends and family. But the restaurant unexpectedly closed, leaving a handful of people with gift cards they can’t use.
Those people reached out to 13 Investigates to find out what happened and if they can get their money back.
“Basically what I have is a $50 gift certificate that I donated to the owners of the business,” said Penny Evans.
Big Papa’s on Forest Hills Road was Evans’ favorite place to get barbecue. She thought a $50 gift card would make a nice gift for her neighbors and on Dec. 4, 2018, she bought one. But after the holidays when her neighbor’s went to use it, the restaurant wasn’t open.
“There was a note on the door that said something about it being closed but they didn’t say they were closed permanently, it just said, ‘We’re closed,'” she said.
As the weeks turned into months, Big Papa’s never reopened. Evans reached out to 13 Investigates to find out what happened. We found out she’s not the only one stuck with a gift card that can’t be used.
“My sister’s pretty upset about it because that’s a $70 Christmas gift that my husband didn’t get,” said Julie Peppers.
Evans and Peppers are among nearly half-a-dozen people we tracked down who got gift cards from Big Papa’s in December ranging in value from $25 to $70. All together, those gift cards are worth $205.
Peppers said the owner gave no indication the business was about to close for good when her sister bought the gift card on Dec.17, 2019.
“I’m not the only one here it obviously affected. It’s right before Christmas and she knew. She probably knew that she was gonna close the doors,” Peppers said.
13 Investigates tried repeatedly to reach the owner of the business, Kimberly Anderson, but she did not return our calls. We did track down the landlord of Big Papa’s, Louis Capra, who said he doesn’t know why Anderson closed the business but he does know she owes a “significant amount” of money to him. He would not comment how much.
“In my opinion it’s theft. If you know that you’re not gonna be open you stole my money,” Evans said.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office handles complaints like this but says, unfortunately, the people who bought the gift card may never get their money back.
It gave this statement to 13 Investigates saying in part: “The gift certificate is like any other liability — they are required to honor it, but if they go out of business, it often is due to financial hardship, and they may not have the ability to provide a refund.”
After weeks of investigating this issue, and the day before our story aired, 13 Investigates got a statement from Kimberly Anderson’s attorney who said:
“She (Kimberly Anderson) had not anticipated that she was going to close the business and she’s very sad that she was forced to do that, it was not planned at all.”
The attorney went on to tell us Anderson is going through a divorce and is dividing up and selling her assets. We asked if people who bought gift cards will be reimbursed. The attorney said, “She certainly will do whatever she can to make sure people are paid if there is money left over.”
If you have a story you want us to investigate, you can call our tip line at (815) 335-7890.


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Skoda not building entry-level vRS sports model
Skoda will not introduce a sporty stand-alone vRS model any time soon. Rumours were sparked earlier this year when the Czech manufacturer unveiled the Skoda Fabia vRS 2000 concept at the 2011 Worthersee Volkswagen and Audi show. The concept featured a dramatic chop-top roadster design and a fat rally-style wide body.
Although a production version of the concept was always going to be a long shot, it did spark rumours that Skoda could be working on an all-new vRS compact sports car at the least. According to Skoda technical chief Eckhard Scholz though, that is not the case. In a recent Autocar report he said that such a direction for the company "is not the next step for us. We want to be going into volume segments".
The rejection to build an entry-level sports model comes about as it does not fall into Skoda's future plans of doubling 2011 sales from 750,000 units by 2018. Scholz said the brand needs to focus on "the big segments and concentrating on the right things" rather than smaller sporty niches.
Reports also suggested Skoda's sports division, vRS, was also looking to develop a Skoda Superb vRS variant, but such plans have also been wiped clean. Scholz says the vRS badge must suit the car, and the Superb is not a variant that would fit vRS development.
Skoda will introduce a sports version of the Skoda MissionL Concept however, as well as a vRS version of the hatch that will be developed from the same car. Official market entry dates are yet to be sorted.


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Amazon to pass on UK’s 2% digital services tax to sellers
Amazon is set to increase fees for UK sellers by 2% in response to the introduction of the UK’s digital services tax. The company says it will no longer absorb the UK’s Digital Services Tax after talks with the government failed to progress. The UK’s digital service tax came into effect on 1 April 2020. It is an annual digital tax on revenues generated by tech companies that operate search engines, social media platforms, and online marketplaces with revenues above £500 million.
France and the UK went ahead with their own digital service tax legislation after global discussions as part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project failed. The two countries described their decisions as a temporary measure pending international agreement on taxing the digital economy.


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The OnePlus 6 Android flagship will support a "slide to focus" functionality that will allow its owners to utilize the device's Alert Slider as a focusing mechanism. The Avengers movie is set for release on April 27 and maybe the new OnePlus 6 too is set for debut around the same time.
Mulvaney to face grilling over direction of consumer agency
Mulvaney was asked about the Wells Fargo matter at an industry event on Monday and declined to comment. Cordray had designated CFPB Deputy Director Leandra English as the acting director.
OnePlus typically launches new hardware in June, but this year the company might do things a bit differently. The OnePlus 6 will be powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 845 processor paired with 8GB of RAM.
Continuing the trend of teasing different aspects of a smartphone before the launch, OnePlus has posted an interesting image on Twitter. The brand has been teasing about some key features of the upcoming smartphone in the past and now, it has officially teased the OnePlus 6. It has been replaced by the SIM tray.
Russell Westbrook averages triple-double again
Collison says he hasn't quite made a decision yet, but is enjoying each game more than the previous one. Russell Westbrook would average a triple-double for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.
It has also been rumored previously that the OnePlus 6 will feature textured back panels. Wondering how one edge of the OnePlus 6 looks like? But there's a lot more that has been confirmed by the company, topped by the leaks and rumours. If this is the case, then the OnePlus 6 in the image above is actually face up and not face down like the OnePlus 5T on top of it. It is said to deliver a burdenless experience to the users. Based on the rumors and leaks, the OnePlus 6 is rumored to be priced starting from Rs. 33,999 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage space and go up to Rs. 48,999 for the premium variant with 256GB storage space.
Judging by the side profile, it is clear that the upcoming smartphone will bear a slimmer profile as compared to its predecessor, while it retains the same position of the antenna bands.
Calif. OKs limited National Guard deployment
Instead, California's national guard troops will combat transnational drug crime, firearms smuggling, and human trafficking. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life.


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Inditex announced this Tuesday that from next 2022 the brand Uterqüe will become integrated into Massimo Dutti as part of your anticipation and digitization strategy. The company founded by Amancio Ortega will then move to relocate the bulk of Uterqüe employees within Massimo Dutti stores, and the rest of those affected within other brands of the Inditex group.
According to data from 2020, Inditex has around 82 stores of the Uterqüe brand around the world and has around 340 workers. Thus, the textile giant will relocate all employees who are affected by this integration to ensure the future of 100% of the workforce. From that moment on, the entire range of Uterqüe products will be available on the website and in selected Massimo Dutti stores and will no longer be sold in its own store.
Despite the fact that the company presented its results for the first fiscal semester, in which it closed the second best quarter in its history, Uterqüe is the brand of the group that generated the least income Inditex and also the one that presented a lower return on capital employed (ROCE). With this measure, the company seeks in this way to take full advantage of the penetration and projection that Massimo Dutti has been in international markets such as the United States, Canada, Mexico or Turkey for years.
In this way, the firm continues the strategy started with Zara Home and Zara, where, with “very good results”, the synergies between brands are maximized. All the other formats, meanwhile, will continue to develop their integrated digital transformation strategy and maintain relevant store openings.
Results and forecast
Inditex won 1,272 million euros in its first fiscal semester (which runs from February 1 to July 31, 2021) compared to the loss of 195 million that was recorded in the same period of the previous year, which was strongly impacted by the covid-19 pandemic and confinement. The company continued to consolidate its recovery and recorded a second quarter with sales, gross operating profit (ebitda) and net profit at historical highs.
In the first half of its fiscal year, sales totaled 11,936 million euros, 49% higher As of 2020, and at a constant exchange rate, growth was 53%. For this fiscal year 2021, Inditex expects the online channel to exceed 25% of total sales.
Thus, sales at constant exchange rates in the second stagnant quarter were accelerating to exceed 7% the previous historical reference for the second quarter of 2019 and reach 6,993 million euros. In the same vein, the profit for the second quarter in 2021 reaches 850 million euros and exceeds the previous level of 2019.
“Inditex is accelerating the differentiation and sustainable strategic transformation of its business model,” said Pablo Isla during the presentation of the results to the analysts, in which he also referred to the integration of Uterqüe en Massimo Dutti over the next year, within the strategy of anticipation and digital transformation of the firm of Amancio Ortega.


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Light Blue Optics' touch-based laser projector hitting manufacturers in Q4 -- will look nothing like this image
While the global economic crisis has swept aside a number of early innovators in mobile technology, Light Blue Optics finds itself flush with cash this morning. Having secured $15 million in funding, the UK outfit now plans to have its laser-based pico projection engine to OEMs by the end of the year; a move that should result in a tiny retail projector sometime in the first half of 2010. Why should you care? Well, unlike all those LED-based pico projectors now saturating the market, laser-based projectors offer more vivid colors and the ability to auto-focus that mobile image as it's moved about. Even better, LBO has touch-enabled the system allowing users to interact with the projected display. A second generation engine about the size of a sugar cube will ultimately allow the technology to be embedded in mobile devices like cellphones as we're already seeing with LED-based engines. Since the supplied image above totally misrepresents the first generation device, we've embedded a video of the tech, first published in March, after the break. Skip to the 3-minute mark if you want to avoid the pitch.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.


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Minard’s Leisure World is honored to announce we now belong to the RV Care Network!
This gives Minard’s customers priority emergency service…North America wide! More peace of mind no matter where you are camping.
Another bonus – KOA campgrounds have just joined the RV Care team which gives you 10% off ANY KOA campground – all year long!
This is a HUGE win for our customers and at no additional cost to them!
“It’s not an easy task in becoming an RV Care member, there’s a criteria that new dealers must adhere to. Minard’s Leisure World from Weyburn Sk, has made the cut and we’re delighted to welcome them into the national RV Care family”, said Derek Paterson, RV Care’s National Business Development Manager. Minard’s will be launching their new RV Care affiliation debut at their upcoming “Dreamin’ of Summer RV Sale” at the International Trade Centre, in Regina, Sk.


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Some of the most talked-about investing bets of the past year aren’t the companies that benefited from the COVID-19 lockdowns or business activity going virtual. Rather, they’re the ones whose stocks stand to pop when it’s all over.
Think of the U.S. Global Jets ETF
which has soared to a whopping $2.6 billion in assets, even as it weathers a bumpy ride, pardon the pun, as market sentiment toggles between optimism and gloom about the reopening of the economy and the resumption of normal life.
In the spirit of fresh starts, MarketWatch asked an expert on exchange-traded funds for some reopening recommendations that aren’t quite as…


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Outsourced will hit theaters in Australia on November 1st. Details are HERE. Our international release will continue with Germany, Israel, India, and Canada very soon. Stay tuned for details.
Todd (Josh Hamilton) heads up the sales department in a Seattle-based company that sells cheap novelty products. After his entire department is outsourced, he succeeds in hanging on to his job only by agreeing to go to India to train his own replacement.


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McDonald’s sells Russian restaurants to licensee for undisclosed price
UPDATE: May 19, 2022: McDonald’s announced on Thursday that it has sold its portfolio of Russian restaurants to existing incumbent Alexander governorwho will operate the units under a new brand. governor became a McDonald’s licensee in 2015 and operated 25 units in Siberia.
The deal is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to regulatory approval and other conditions. By conditions of sale, governor will retain McDonald’s employees in the purchased units for at least two years. governor also pledged to pay the salaries of the company’s employees who work in 45 regions of Russia until the conclusion of the agreement, and will also cover existing debts to owners, utilities and suppliers. The sale price was not disclosed.
- McDonald’s will sell its Russian business to a local buyer because “ownership of the business in Russia is no longer tenable or consistent with McDonald’s values,” the company said in a press release on Monday. The chain temporarily closed its restaurants and suspended operations in Russia on March 8.
- The Golden Arches expects to take a charge of between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion to amortize its investment in the Russian market, which it first entered 32 years ago.
- McDonald’s shared in April that shutting down operations in Ukraine and Russia cost it $127 million. Most of this loss ($100 million) was attributed to supply chain inventory that operators were forced to dispose of.
Overview of the dive:
If it weren’t for a sale, McDonald’s shuttered Russian units would continue to siphon off the company’s wallet. During the company’s first-quarter earnings call, chief financial officer Kevin Ozan said pursuing employee wages, rent and supplier payments in Russia and Ukraine would cost between $50 million and $55 million. per month.
Leaving the market also has a cost. Russia and Ukraine generated about 9% of McDonalds’ revenue and accounted for 3% of operating profit before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, GlobalData chief executive Neil Saunders wrote in a statement. press release sent by e-mail.
“While McDonald’s may take such a hit in its stride, it will leave a hole in its growth plans that will not be easily filled in the short term,” Saunders said.
Saunders wrote that McDonald’s predicted the $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion fee would be a consequence of “financial difficulties faced by Russian shoppers and the fact that McDonald’s will not license its brand or identity,” which which will likely result in a sale price well below the initial value of the business. The mega chain will keep its trademarks in Russia, but will remove the McDonald’s name, logo, branding and menu from its units in Russia in a process the company has called “de-Arching”.
The company will continue to pay its Russian employees until a sale is finalized and wants to ensure that “employees have future employment with any potential buyer,” according to the press release. However, McDonald’s has no plans to sell its Ukraine business and its units remain closed while the company continues to pay full employee wages.
CEO Chris Kempczinski said on McDonald’s first-quarter earnings call that the company would decide on next steps for its Ukraine and Russia businesses by the end of the second quarter, making Monday’s announcement a bit surprising. The company reaffirmed its financial outlook for 2022, including an expected operating margin of 40%, in its press release.
“McDonald’s decision will likely cause other brands, particularly those in the United States, to reconsider their plans for Russia,” Saunders said.
A host of large restaurant chains temporarily suspended operations in Ukraine in Russia after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. It’s possible that Golden Arches’ impending sale of its Russian units could trigger sales at rival chains seeking to minimize losses and backlash from the war.