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Halo 3 is a 2007 first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie for the
Xbox 360 ... To date, Halo 3 has sold in excess of 14.5 million copies, making it
the fifth ... Many weapons available in...
As of July 13th, 2015 Microsoft has sold over 70 million Halo games since its
2001 ... 2006, Xbox.com reported that more than a half-billion games of Halo 2
have been ... As of January 3, 2008, Halo 3 has sold 8.1 million copies, and was
Oct 31, 2012 ... Microsoft has sold more than 46 million copies of Halo games ... Halo 3 was the
first game in the series on the Xbox 360, and it ... way its always been, its not just
halo many video game franchises have had the talk of movies.
Nov 13, 2015 ... The NPD Group have released their official US gaming sales data for October ...
more information regarding the amount of hardware sales pulled in by both
companies. ... so did Halo 3 back in 2007 with its September 24th release date. ...
units having been sold in that game's release month of March 2014.
Mar 14, 2016 ... Black Ops 3 has sold twice as much more than Halo 5 on Xbox One. .... It's sad
because Halo 5 is a really good game and has been mostly rock-solid from the
..... I think digital sales accounts for way more copies sold now.
Nov 4, 2015 ... Halo 5 is "the biggest Halo launch in history", Microsoft has trumpeted. ... But we
still don't know how many copies it's sold. ... An interesting comparison is to Halo
3, which launched in 2007 on the Xbox 360. ..... They've been getting their arse
kicked with the Wii U (software sales for key fran...
Sep 27, 2007 ... Halo 3 broke records for first day sales, for preorders, and for the number of ... first
day of availability, making it the hottest-selling title in video game history. ...
Microsoft has added Halo 3 Limited Edition to a disc replacement program ... 360
buyers complained that the units were scratching their game discs.
In the article, one source allegedly claimed that Halo 5 sales have been ...
according to him, Halo 5: Guardians sold 5 million copies within the first 3 months
. ... now are the loser Xbox faithful, it should be over ten million in that amount of
Sep 10, 2014 ... How much a 20-something needs to save every month to retire with $5. .... "Halo
3", 9/25/2007, $170 million · 11.9 million, Microsoft/Bungie ... The "Halo" series in
total has sold more than 50 million copies. *This story has been edited to reflect
the point that "Destiny" has not ma...
Nov 3, 2015 ... ... Activision still won't say how many copies they've actually sold. ... than we did
during the same span for Halo 3 and Halo: Reach, combined. .... to the 31 Game
of the Year awards that Destiny has been honored with to date.


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New Delhi: E-commerce companies will continue to invest heavily in new technologies in the wake of the pandemic to provide their consumers better customer experience, said panelists during the recently concluded RetailTech Summit
organised by ETRetail.com.
The panel discussion on "How E-commerce Adapted to the New Normal, saw participation from top retail executives like Raghu Krishnananda, chief technology office at Myntra, KT Prasad
, MD & RVP of Indian & SAARC at Zendesk, Devika Razdan, Director-Product Engineering at Grofers, and Siddhartha Reddy, Product-Lead at udaan.
According to Krishnananda, it is imperative to continue to invest in technology, even if the situation normalises.
"If you look at the penetration of e-commerce as total spend of retail in India, it is very small percent. So, there is actually a lot of room for growth which brings along a lot of new challenges, which will need investments in technology," said the Myntra executive.
Another interesting trend that we are seeing is that a lot of customers are now coming from tier II and III cities. So the needs for these customers will be different, explained Krishnananda. "We need to come up with innovative solutions to address those needs. It is a continuous process. So we are investing heavily on technology and we see that growing in the future," he further said.
Prasad of Zendesk feels that this pandemic has made it easier for the companies to invest in new technologies. Technology providers don't need to explain a lot to the companies now as it is clearly evident now that the investment in technology is of utmost importance, he said.
"There is a lot of shift happened to moving towards e-commerce for the offline retailers. We have evolved our offerings and solutions keeping in the mind the requirements of the customers and where they are in their e-commerce journey. We have packaged all the solutions to enable easy adoption by the companies. We have simplified the processes also."
According to Prasad, the other important change they have seen is companies are asking for new technologies as soon as possible. "None of the companies we are talking to has time. So speed and agility becomes a very important criteria," Prasad added.
Once this whole pandemic ends the trend would be now of convenience, according to Razdan of Grofers. The game you play is how you are going to be the most convenient option for the customer and at the same time your service levels are really high, she said.
"The pandemic has made us to accelerate the adoption of technology in our systems.We doubled down on our qualitative and quantitative research during the pandemic. Investment in data and research is going to move the technology ahead," Razdan said.
Reddy of udaan echoes Razdan's view on investing in technology during the pandemic.
"We didn't start investing heavily in our systems when the pandemic started. We have always been investing heavily on the technologies. That is what allowed us to ramp up and be able to make technology serve us better during the pandemic. With technology there is always scope to do better and it is never enough. Whatever we have done so far is the baseline in the new normal. We have to keep building on top of that. I would say we are in very early stages of building this and there is a lot more to do on the technology front," he said

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Planting season for industrial hemp is well underway at a 3-acre farm near Boring, where Adam Kurtz is testing new seed varieties to ensure they meet regulatory guidelines.
Kurtz is entering his third season growing hemp to make products derived from cannabinoid, a chemical compound found in cannabis that reportedly offers health and nutrition benefits ranging from pain relief to reducing anxiety and depression. He began his company, Oregon Fusion, in 2016 with business partner Ed McCauley.
“Here we do a lot of different trials,” said Kurtz, kneeling to inspect one particular strain of hemp named Sour Space Candy. “We’re testing genetics a year in advance so we can offer them to our partner farms.”
Hemp growers such as Kurtz are optimistic about the future of the industry, especially after the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee last week included the Hemp Farming Act in its latest markup of the 2018 Farm Bill. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the provision defines hemp as an agricultural commodity and removes it from the list of federally controlled substances.
A full Senate vote on the Farm Bill could come as early as July 4.
If the House goes along with the Senate, the Farm Bill would provide clarity on hemp’s legality at the federal level. Under the legislation, states would become the primary regulators of hemp production. Hemp farmers could also become eligible to apply for crop insurance, and researchers studying hemp could apply for competitive grants through the USDA.
“It’s going to be a real interesting year,” Kurtz said. “Over the next 12 months, we’ll start seeing more states adopt hemp programs.”
For 25 years, Kurtz lived and worked in upstate New York as a fresh-cut flower farmer. He relocated to Oregon and founded Oregon Fusion to get a foot in the door of the upstart hemp industry.
Hemp has the potential to be a “major disruptor” in several facets of the U.S. agricultural economy, Kurtz believes.
“We are at its infancy in potential,” he said.
Though hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants, hemp contains no more than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component in pot that gets users high. Industrial hemp can be used in several food and health products, fiber, paper, plastic, cosmetics and building materials such as a mixture of hemp biomass and lime known as “hempcrete.”
Oregon Fusion grows hemp specifically for cannabinoid extract — known as CBD — that goes into mints and cigarettes, called cones. Kurtz said he believes consumer demand for the products is only going to increase, and Oregon is already blazing the trail for testing and quality standards.
“It’s like a rocket ship,” he said. “This thing is just exploding.”
McConnell, who also serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 in April, garnering bipartisan support from more than 25 senators, including Oregon Democrats Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
On June 13, the committee passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which includes language from the Hemp Farming Act. In a statement, Wyden said hemp has proven itself as a “job-creating growth industry with far-reaching economic potential.”
“It’s just common sense that farmers in Oregon and across our country should be allowed to cultivate this cash crop,” Wyden said.
Courtney Moran, a Portland attorney and president of the Oregon Industrial Hemp Farmers Association, worked closely with the senators for more than a year crafting the bill’s language to clarify what she described as “gray areas” in federal law.
Moran said the bill more clearly defines hemp to include any part of the plant — including all seeds, derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers and salts.
“When we say any part of the plant, we truly mean any part of the plant,” Moran said.
Joy Beckerman, a lobbyist and consultant with Hemp Ace International and president of the Hemp Industries Association, said the bill provides much-needed clarity on hemp’s legal status, opening the door to investors and interstate commerce that will allow the industry to flourish.
Beckerman, who was a key figure in drafting rules for Washington state’s hemp program before she moved to New York, said CBD extract is driving the industry for now, though additional investment could help pay for infrastructure to tap into what she calls the “trillion-dollar industries,” namely paper, fiber and construction.
While there is no official estimate for U.S. hemp sales, the Hemp Industries Association reports that retail sales for hemp products totaled nearly $600 million in 2015.
“This bill is going to catapult the hemp industry in the U.S.,” Beckerman said.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 35 states have already passed industrial hemp statutes.
House Bill 4060 established rules for Oregon’s Industrial Hemp Program in 2016. By the end of the year, the state had 70 registered hemp growers, 53 handlers and a little more than 1,200 total acres.
Since then, the program has seen a sharp increase in year-to-year registration. In 2017, the numbers swelled to 233 growers, 176 handlers and 3,400 acres. The same year, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1015, allowing licensed processors to make CBD extracts.
So far in 2018, there are more than 420 growers, 122 handlers and 7,800 acres. As a comparison, that is more than the total acreage devoted to hops in Oregon in 2016, when 7,765 acres were grown.
“It’s pretty dramatic,” Gary McAninch, industrial hemp program manager for the Oregon Department of Agriculture, said of the growth.
ODA not only handles registration of growers and handlers, but oversees testing of the product to ensure it does not exceed the 0.3 percent THC threshold. This year, McAninch said the program will also allow private accredited labs to conduct testing.
“We got very busy last year doing that, and we got stretched pretty thin because we had limited staff,” he said.
Meanwhile, the industrial hemp pilot program in Washington state has been slower to gain traction.
Hector Castro, spokesman for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, said the pilot was created in 2016 with a one-time appropriation of $145,000. During the first year, 2017, it registered just four growers, one seed distributor, one processor and one combined grower-processor, raising $8,000 from those seven licenses.
The hemp pilot was suspended during the winter heading into its second year before lawmakers came up with $100,000 to save it. Castro said just one license holder, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, has applied for renewal on 120 acres.
“We would need to be in a position where the industry fees could support the program,” Castro said.
Other western states are farther behind the hemp bandwagon.
The state of Idaho does not currently allow the cultivation of industrial hemp. The California Industrial Hemp Farming Act took effect on Jan. 1, 2017, though registration is not yet available, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture.
Bonny Jo Peterson, a lobbyist for the Industrial Hemp Association of Washington, is undeterred by the lackluster start to that state’s hemp pilot. She said there is “a lot of excitement, as well as interest from farmers.”
If new regulations come out of the Farm Bill, Peterson said she believes there may be as many as 100 licensed growers in Washington by next year.
“There’s a lot of large farmers that are just waiting for it to be viable at the federal level for crop insurance,” Peterson said.
Peterson also said she plans to start growing hemp next year at a farm outside Sequim, Wash., on the Olympic Peninsula.
“My interest is in building materials and paper,” Peterson said. “I see the viability in food, plastics, biofuel and getting rid of fossil fuels. Those are the things that get me excited, and getting farmers back in control of their crops.”
Kurtz, with Oregon Fusion, said farmers can make up to $50,000 per acre growing hemp for CBD oil extract. That assumes the crop yields of about 2,000 pounds per acre, at $30 per pound. Expenses for farmers typically range from $10,000 to $15,000 per acre, he said.
Profits will increase with the development of higher-value markets, Kurtz said.
Gail Greenman, director of national affairs for the Oregon Farm Bureau, said the organization supports the federal Hemp Farming Act, providing farmers with another specialty crop to potentially grow their bottom line.
“We look forward to a more expansive market of products that Oregon farmers grow well, and can see an economic benefit not only to farmers in Oregon, but the state as a whole.”
Rick Walsh, a farmer near Klamath Falls, is planting roughly seven acres of hemp for the first time this year.
Walsh, who had been growing medical marijuana for the last couple of years, said he decided to switch to industrial hemp based on the recent glut of pot in Oregon. An article by the Associated Press reported there are nearly 1 million pounds of usable flower in the system, and an additional 350,000 pounds of marijuana extracts, edibles and tinctures.
“Basically, there’s so much marijuana around that it’s almost physically impossible to get rid of it,” Walsh said.
Walsh said he is growing hemp for the CBD extract, a market he believes will remain profitable for at least the next year or two before more competition enters the marketplace.
“I’m hoping to get in early enough to get some plants and ... prosper,” he said. “Right now, there’s quite a bit of demand.”
Brandon Scales, of Northwest Hemp Commodities, registered his business with the state earlier this year. He and his business partners are growing hemp at several locations statewide and working to open a storefront selling CBD oil extract and products in Salem within the next few months.
Anthony Rushford, a seed geneticist who has bred more than 200 strains of hemp, joined Northwest Hemp Commodities to help create a vertically integrated company, from seed to final product.
“I really think this is going to be a huge thing,” Rushford said. “The possibilities are endless.”
Scales said they also hope to break into the fiber and hempcrete markets as the business develops.
“Every part of that plant has a purpose,” Scales said. “I just see how beneficial it is and how many people it’s going to be able to help, and help the planet at the same time.”


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May exports up 15.46% to $37.29 billion; trade deficit widens to $23.33 billion
- India's merchandise exports garnered a rise of 15.46% to $37.29 billion in May 2022 on the back of strong performance in segments such as petroleum products, electronic goods and chemicals.
India recorded the highest-ever merchandise export of $37.3 billion in May this year, rising by a whopping 15.46%. The performance was driven by healthy performance in segments such as petroleum products, electronic goods, and chemicals. While exports have witnessed significant growth, however, the sharp rise in imports continues to widen the gap in the trade deficit which stood at $23.33 billion in May 2022.
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HARRISBURG, Pa. — Philadelphia’s tax on soda and other sweetened drinks was upheld on Wednesday when the state’s highest court rejected a challenge by merchants and the beverage industry.
The Supreme Court ruled the 1.5-cent-per-ounce (per 28 grams) levy is aimed at distributors and dealers and does not illegally duplicate another tax. The four-justice majority said the state taxes sales at the retail level, a cost that falls directly on consumers, but the beverage tax applies to distributor and dealer-level transactions.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“The payer of the beverage tax is the distributor, or in certain circumstances, dealers, but never the purchasing consumer,” Chief Justice Thomas Saylor wrote for the majority.
Philadelphia’s enactment of the soda tax has inspired several other cities around the country to pass similar measures. The Philadelphia tax is formally called the sugar-sweetened beverage tax, but it applies more widely to include some drinks with sugar substitutes.


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The Packers are one of the main NFL teams to signal partnership agreements with FanDuel.
FanDuel and DraftKings seem to be locked into a battle over which daily fantasy sports site will get bigger and better partners with regards to their brand name.
This week, it had been FanDuel making waves, once the larger of the two major daily fantasy brands scored a partnership with roughly half of this franchises in the National Football League, ensuring that they’ll have branding in many stadiums for the coming season.
The deal that is new allow FanDuel to possess signage in stadiums, utilize radio and electronic marketing, and work on promotions with the specific groups.
However, the deal isn’t without conditions, and it’s clear that the NFL is nevertheless being slightly cautious when it comes down to allowing the daily fantasy recreations industry to be a part of their league.
FanDuel is Not Official Sponsor for Teams or League
Under the current agreement, NFL team logos nevertheless can’t be used by FanDuel, either in advertising or on their internet site. FanDuel also defintely won’t be considered an ‘official’ sponsor of either the NFL or any team that is individual.
These are similar to the restrictions that are placed on relates to casinos as well as other gambling venues when they reach marketing agreements with NFL teams.
‘A team sponsor is a company that will utilize the team logo or state, ‘We are the official (company) regarding the group,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told USA Sports today. ‘ That is not the full case here. These businesses rather than team sponsors…teams have advertising arrangements from a variety of companies, but it doesn’t make each of them team sponsor.’
These partnerships come just weeks after DraftKings announced a improved partnership with Major League Baseball.
That has resulted much more advertising and integration between MLB franchises and DraftKings: the day-to-day fantasy site is heavily advertised throughout the games of numerous groups, because well as in the MLB Network and MLB.com.
Last November, FanDuel became a partner that is official the NBA, the initial such deal between your site and an expert sports league.
Leagues Becoming More Comfortable with Day-to-day Fantasy Sports
The increasing partnerships between professional recreations as well as the fantasy that is daily comes as the marketplace of these dream games has increased exponentially, and (perhaps more importantly) once the leagues have become more convinced that day-to-day fantasy sports will not cause any legal problems for them.
The games are, in a strict sense, gambling: players are wagering money on uncertain outcomes like all fantasy sports. But fantasy sports games are exempted from laws prohibiting on line gambling, and fantasy that is daily contests fit within that exemption.
A small number of states have laws that demonstrably prohibit such games; major fantasy that is daily typically do not allow players from five states (Washington, Arizona, Iowa, Montana and Louisiana) to participate.
The teams that have consented to use FanDuel consist of, amongst others, the Green Bay Packers, the brand New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts, the Detroit Lions and the San Diego Chargers. In accordance with Craig Benzel, the vice president of sales and business development for the Packers, the NFL’s partnership with FanDuel is consistent with the league’s conservative approach.
‘You’ve seen this within the NFL,’ Benzel said. ‘You’ve seen it with distilled spirits and casinos. The league doesn’t want to rush into anything.’
According to Washington Redskins Chief Marketing Officer Mitch Gershman, the deal will help his team reach fans that otherwise might not have tuned set for games.
‘We also know that [daily fantasy] players skew a little more youthful. We are broadening the fan base to have interest in NFL football,’ Gershman said.
Netherland’s Gambling Reforms Attacked After Unibet Court Ruling
Dutch State Secretary for Justice and Security, Klaas slots of vegas casino free chip Dijkhoff, has been forced to deny accusations that the court ruling renders planned Dutch online gambling licenses meaningless. (Image: nu.nl)
The Netherland’s sweeping new gambling that is online attended under fire due to a court case which ruled that unlicensed operators have no responsibility to refund players’ losings.
Last month a judge in Amsterdam rejected an endeavor by way of a Dutch online gambler to recoup the €178,000 ($191,000) he’d lost playing at Unibet.com.
The plaintiff had argued that, because online gambling wasn’t yet legal in the Netherlands, the money had been taken illegally and really should be came back.
Holland’s new State Secretary for Justice and protection, Klaas Dijkhoff, had been forced to deny that the ruling undermined the latest legislative work to liberalize, license and regulate online gambling in the country.
PvdA Party Member of Parliament and online gambling opponent Mei Li Vos questioned the worth regarding the brand new Dutch licenses in the light of the ruling, which she said would lead operators to trust they can target Dutch players with impunity with or with no license.
Criminal Prohibitions Still Apply
Dijkhoff countered that the ruling merely pertaining to the relationship that is legal the operator and consumer and there was nothing in Dutch law void that contract.
The court had acknowledged such appropriate disputes should be handled by the ‘place of the contract,’ as outlined in Unibet’s conditions and terms, which in this instance would be Malta.
The ruling failed to, however, permit unlicensed operators to target consumers without restriction, stated Dijkhoff. ‘The criminal and prohibitions that are administrative the Act on Games of Chance still apply,’ he said.
‘Since the Act will not provide authorization that is explicit arranging remote gambling, offering such games is currently banned in holland.’
‘For infringements, the [regulator] Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) can take enforcement action,’ he proceeded. ‘ Through the interest reported by the KSA I gather that many providers will opt for a permit. It is anticipated that players into the Netherlands will select an attractive, reliable and offering that is legal the KSA’s guidance once the regulatory regime comes into force.’
50-year-old Gambling Laws
Because well as regulating online gaming, the overhaul of Holland’s 50-year-old gambling laws would start the casino that is land-based to international companies.
There are presently no legal internet video gaming sites in the country as well as the government holds an entire monopoly on gambling. The nation’s only casino chain, Holland Casino, is wholly-owned by the continuing state and surrenders all profits to the Treasury.
Holland Casino would be privatized under the regime that is new.
The bill has been slow-moving, but is expected to be rubber-stamped soon and should come into force in 2016.
Experts predict that a regulated online environment would bring in €200 million in gross gaming revenue in its first 12 months.
Profits and Revenues Both Down for Las Vegas Sands
The Venetian is the flagship Sands casino in Macau. (Image: Dan Chung/The Guardian)
The Las Vegas Sands Corp. has been a major thorn in the sides of those who wish to see online gambling regulated in the United States.
Therefore it will come as some consolation to supporters of Internet gaming that the company seems to be struggling right now, even if that has little to do with their position on that issue.
The Sands announced on that its first quarter revenues for 2015 were down nearly 25 percent compared to a year earlier, coming in at $3.01 billion compared to $4.01 billion a year earlier wednesday.
Web income was down event more substantially: last year the first quarter generated $776 million in profits, down 34 percent to $511.9 million this year.
These figures came up just a bit short of what analysts had been expecting, aided by the consensus prediction being around $3.2 billion in revenues for the quarter.
Macau Struggles Result in Disappointing Profits
The big driver for the downturn had been Macau, where revenues have dropped substantially for all operators over the year that is last.
The combination of a crackdown on corruption that has slice the movement of cash from mainland China, along with labor unrest and smoking bans, have actually significantly cut into the profits of all casinos in the territory.
‘The running environment in Macau, particularly in the high-end gaming segments, remained challenging during the quarter,’ said Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. ‘we know you’re all waiting for me to anticipate whenever we’ve reach the bottom in Macau. It’s very hard to make predictions, particularly about the long term.’
According to Adelson, there’s no sense of panic because of the drop: he says the ongoing company will nevertheless be ‘staying the course’ in the years ahead. That likely means looking into new development opportunities, such as opportunities in markets like Japan and Southern Korea.
Adelson additionally said that outside of Macau, the business’s results were solid: after all, the Sands still produced profit that is solid the quarter, and was able to get back dividends to their shareholders, also should they were down from a year ago.
The problem in Macau has deteriorated for casino operators since final summer, when the Chinese government announced a crackdown on money laundering and corrupt officials who have been either directly spending money in Macau or had been looking the other method as junket operators assisted VIP clients have money off of the mainland for use in the casinos.
VIP Business Down, But Sands Looking Toward Future
Those measures severely cut to the VIP business that powered the tremendous growth in Macau on the previous decade. The casinos have tried to modify, attracting more mass market clients and building family-friendly tourist attractions to diversify their offerings.
But it’s going to be hard to say how well these measures are working until later this when 2015 revenues can be compared to those of last year after the crackdown had begun year.
According with a reports, Las Vegas Sands can be among the companies best positioned to produce these alterations. The company has already been working to rebrand their casinos in Macau as Las Vegas-style resorts, detailed with retail shopping along with other amenities.
Former soccer legend David Beckham has even signed on to function as the real face associated with Venetian Macau’s advertising, another move that may help give the casino wider appeal to the masses.


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A rebounding Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) said it plans to eliminate up to 1,400 jobs as part of a restructuring program aimed at saving between $225 million to $275 million annually by 2013.
The job cuts are "designed to strengthen operational effectiveness and efficiencies, increase competitiveness and support new investments, thereby increasing shareholder value," according to a press release. The announcement came as part of the Natick, Mass.-based medical device giant’s second-quarter earnings release. The company beat Wall Street’s expectations and raised its sales and earnings guidance, sending share prices up nearly 10 percent in early-morning trading.
Boston Scientific reported profits of $146.0 million, or 10 cents per diluted share, on sales of $1.98 billion during the three months ended June 30. That’s a bottom-line increase of 49.0 percent and boost to diluted EPS of 66.7 percent, compared with Q2 2010. Back then net income was $98.0 million, or 6 cents per share, on sales of $1.93 billion.
The numbers beat The Street’s expectations and BSX’s own predictions, prompting the company to boost its EPS guidance for the rest of the year. A panel of 24 analysts polled by MarketWatch had forecast earnings of 9 cents per share.
Investors might also have liked BoSci’s most recent move to pay down its debt load, a $750 million pre-payment of the balance of its term loans that reduced its gross debt load to $4.2 billion. The company said it’s paid down more than $1.8 billion in debt ahead of schedule during the past year. It also announced a new, $1.0 billion plan to buy back shares of its own stock (on top of 37 million shares remaining in a prior repurchasing plan).
Boston Scientific said it expects full-year sales of between $7.68 billion and $7.88 billion, up from prior guidance of $7.60 billion to $7.90 billion, and adjusted EPS of 64 cents to 70 cents, up from 58 cents to 68 cents.
BSX shares were trading at $7.46 per share as of about 10 a.m. today, up more than 11 percent.
The restructuring program is aimed at saving $225 million to $275 million by the end of 2013. The job cuts will begin this quarter and continue through the end of 2013, with between 1,200 and 1,400 positions eliminated.
The program is projected to cost between $155 million and $210 million, up to $200 million of that in cash. About $10 million of that will come during the third quarter this year, the company said.
It’s not all layoffs at Boston Scientific these days, however. The company announced a plan yesterday to increase its workforce in China six-fold over the next five years with a $150 million investment. BoSci said it aims to increase sales in the People’s Republic to more than $500 million by 2017, about 25 percent of its estimate of the market there.


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On September 6, chair of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Hayden “Jay” Powell attended an event at the University of Zurich. In the event, he said the uncertainty around trade policy is one of the major factors behind the global slowdown. Since H2 2018, Germany, China, and other European economies have been slowing gradually, according to Powell. Notably, in June 2018, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods. China retaliated in turn. The escalation in the US-China trade war has significantly contributed to uncertainty in global trade policy.
Last quarter, Germany’s GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate contracted 0.1% sequentially. In 2018, China’s GDP growth rate slowed to 6.6%, the lowest since 1990. According to Powell, trade policy uncertainty has negatively impacted business investment decisions.
Stocks impacted by trade uncertainty
US chipmakers Intel Corporation (INTC), Qualcomm (QCOM), and Micron Technologies (MU) have been impacted by changes in the US trade policy. Moreover, Apple (AAPL) derived around 17% of its total revenue from greater China. On a year-to-date basis, Intel, Qualcomm, Micron, and Apple have risen 8.5%, 38.5 %, 54.3%, and 35.2%, respectively.
Powell doesn’t expect a recession
Powell said that the US economy “is in a good place.” This year marks the 11th year of economic expansion for the US. He expects “a favorable outlook” for the economy. Moreover, Powell expects a moderate growth rate, strong labor market, and an inflation of nearly 2% for the future. According to the Fed governor, they don’t expect any recession nor they do forecast. The US unemployment rate for August stood at 3.7%, near to its 49-year low. He expects a GDP expansion rate between 2% and 2.5% for this year. Powell continued to say that consumer spending will drive the economy.
Last month, the yield curve got inverted. The inversion of the yield curve has been a good indicator of a recession in the past. As recession fears rise, the S&P 500 Index (SPY) lost 1.8% in August, the second-worst month for the equity index this year. The Nasdaq 100 Index (QQQ) lost 2% in August as well. The price of gold rose by 6.5% during this period. In August, the US-China trade war had continued to escalate.
What’s behind lower interest rates?
In Germany and Japan interest rates are negative. Isreal is also on the verge of joining the negative interest rates club. If the Fed keeps reducing the interest rate by a quarter percent, by 2021 the US economy might face a similar problem. In the upcoming FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting on September 18, there is a 91.2% chance that there will be another quarter percent reduction in the interest rates.
Powell said the aging population is one of the main reasons for low-interest rates. He cited that the older population “leads to higher appetite for safe assets and more savings relative to investment.” The aging population also reduces productivity and growth. Alan Greenspan, a former Federal Reserve chairman, also emphasized the adverse impact of the aging population on the US economy.


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A chocolate manufacturer headquartered in St. Louis issued a national recall April 9 for chocolate bunny ears. Karl Bissinger’s LLC is recalling its Dark Chocolate Bunny Ears because one lot was mislabeled and contains undeclared milk.
According to the company’s news release, people who have a severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life threatening reaction if they consume the product. However, the company noted in its recall statement, “No adverse reactions have been reported to date for a milk allergen in association with this product.”
The product was distributed to retailers and wholesalers nationwide Jan. 28 – April 4, 2014.


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Those hoping to spend the holiday watching streaming video from Netflix can now get back in front of their TVs, tablets and PCs after a Christmas Eve outage.
A Netflix Inc. spokesman said by email Tuesday morning that the service has been fully restored.
The outage affected customers in the Americas starting around 12:30 p.m. PST on Monday. The company, which is based in Los Gatos, Calif., blames problems with Amazon Web Services, and says it is investigating further.
Amazon Web Services provides companies with online storage and computing. It is separate from Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc.'s better-known shopping website.
Amazon says that problems with its service have also now been fixed.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Russell Westbrook scored 27 points and Kevin Durant added 18 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 116-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
Mack Brown's attorney says the Texas coach has not resigned, denying a report that Brown was ready to step down after 16 seasons with the Longhorns.
Blake Bell threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Saunders with 19 seconds remaining to help No. 18 Oklahoma spoil rival Oklahoma State's Big 12 championship and BCS bowl game hopes with a 33-24 win.
Police say a man was found in stable condition Tuesday after falling in a pond and taking shelter in his guitar case.


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ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, is offering customers of the brand yet another way to carry out their favorite pizza: via Domino's Carside Delivery™. Domino's Carside Delivery is a new contactless carryout option that customers can choose when placing a prepaid online order, and it is now available in stores across the U.S.
"Domino's is all about providing a delicious, hot meal, the way customers want it – whether via carryout or delivery," said Dennis Maloney, Domino's senior vice president-chief innovation officer. "Domino's Carside Delivery gives customers the option to stay in their vehicle while a team member delivers their order to them, making for a convenient, contactless carryout experience. It's carryout, delivered."
When customers place a prepaid digital carryout order, they'll see the option for Domino's Carside Delivery. Once they make that selection, they will be prompted to add their vehicle color, make and model, which will be used to identify them when they arrive at the store. Customers can also select where they'd like their order placed – the passenger side, back seat, trunk or the option to decide when they arrive. Customers can notify the store when they arrive by hitting the "I'm here" button on Domino's Tracker® page or by replying "HERE" to Domino's opt-in text, and a team member from the store will bring the order to their vehicle.
Domino's Carside Delivery is currently available from 4-9 p.m. in stores across the nation. Additional hours may vary by location. To find the nearest Domino's location or to place an order, visit dominos.com.
About Domino's Pizza®
Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world based on retail sales, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout pizza. It ranks among the world's top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 17,000 stores in over 90 markets. Domino's had global retail sales of over $14.3 billion in 2019, with over $7.0 billion in the U.S. and nearly $7.3 billion internationally. In the first quarter of 2020, Domino's had global retail sales of over $3.4 billion, with over $1.7 billion in the U.S. and over $1.7 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 98% of Domino's stores as of the end of the first quarter of 2020. Emphasis on technology innovation helped Domino's achieve more than half of all global retail sales in 2019 from digital channels, primarily online ordering and mobile applications. In the U.S., Domino's generates over 65% of sales via digital channels and has developed several innovative ordering platforms, including those developed for Google Home, Facebook Messenger, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo and Twitter – as well as Domino's Hotspots®, an ordering platform featuring over 200,000 unique, non-traditional delivery locations. In June 2019, through an announced partnership with Nuro, Domino's furthered its exploration and testing of autonomous pizza delivery. In late 2019, Domino's opened the Domino's Innovation Garage adjacent to its headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan to fuel continued technology and operational innovation – while also launching its GPS technology, allowing customers to follow the progress of the delivery driver from store to doorstep.
Order – dominos.com
AnyWare Ordering – anyware.dominos.com
Company Info – biz.dominos.com
Twitter – twitter.com/dominos
Facebook – facebook.com/dominos
Instagram – instagram.com/dominos
YouTube – youtube.com/dominos
Please visit our Investor Relations website at biz.dominos.com to view news, announcements, investor presentations, earnings releases and conference webcasts.
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dominos-carside-delivery-its-carryout-delivered-301084693.html
SOURCE Domino's Pizza, Inc.
Media Relations, Jenny Fouracre, 313-300-6822, firstname.lastname@example.org


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A recent report by Ofcom (the Government Office for Communications) has revealed some interesting statistics about modern internet use, and the results are particularly interesting for the over 50s population!
The key points made from the study are that around 73% of UK homes now have access to the internet. Five years ago, this was 60% of homes. The biggest area of growth has been identified as the over 55s age group. (Quarter 1, 2010)
Although nearly 80% of 15-54 year olds take up the internet; only 69% of 55 to 64 year olds, half (51%) of 65-74 year olds and a quarter (23%) of 75+ year olds use the internet at home. Despite this drop in take-up with increasing age, much of the growth in internet take-up has taken place among the older age groups with the highest growth among the 55-64 and 65-74 age groups, which grew by 6% and 7% respectively.
This increase has also been found by UKOM (UK Online Measurement – a company who monitor online use) who found the 50-64 age group was the fastest growing group for internet take up over the past year, which saw 14% growth. They reveal that the 50+ population now constitute 31% of the online population in the UK in 2010.
So what are you doing online?
The study shows that although younger people are more likely to use the internet for leisure pursuits to relax and ‘for fun’, older users tend to use it ‘to find out or learn things’ and ‘for contact with other people’, suggesting that older users take a much more functional approach than younger people to the internet.
Around half (53%) of consumers are using the internet to shop and save money, 47% are using “online” vouchers and 61% more likely to use price comparison sites than they were 12 months ago.
Social networking now accounts for around 23% of all time spent on the internet with Facebook the greatest influence in the UK with nearly 25 million unique visitors in the year to May 2010. Although Facebook is currently a phenomena of the younger generation, we are seeing a 7% increase in take-up in the 55-64 age group (to 20% of these internet users).
Development of online technology has enabled us to do things in different ways, like watch TV online, listen to digital radio, order groceries and to participate in new internet only activities, like social networking, participating in blogs and of course internet dating.
Increasingly new ways to access the internet
We now have a range of different devices for accessing the internet; As well as PCs and laptops we also have mobile phones like the iPhone and the Blackberry, and games consoles like the Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, which allow us to browse the internet as well as play games online. We now have portable media players – devices such as the Apple iPod Touch and Archos 5 as well as newer devices such as the Apple iPad, Dell Streak and various e-reader devices which all enable users to access internet content. We can even go online via certain brands of TVs, for example, certain Sony Bravia and Samsung 6 Series models TVs, and internet radios combine online content with broadcast content.
Traditionally, we had a dial up (fixed line) connection to the internet – it was slow and we needed a separate phone line. These days, with broadband, we can surf the Net at break-net speed, and are able to run a number of devices at the same time – and WiFi, allows us to access the internet across the home – or in city centres or hotel lobbies FOR FREE !
With the continual developments in technology, online security and the increasing range of products and functionality available online, comes the confidence for people to use the internet to achieve a whole range of everyday activities and functions. Online dating is just one of the many facilities available to us now, which we would never have dreamed of 15 years ago. Good luck to all our techies out there and welcome to the new generation!


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Wienerberger has been named Brick Supplier of the Year at the 2016 Fortis Awards.
The Brick Supplier of the Year award was one of ten given out at the Fortis Awards, at which members of the independent merchant buying group voted for suppliers across a range of product categories.
The latest award adds to what has already been a successful year for Wienerberger, having won two CIM Excellence awards, a Housing Innovation award and a UK Roofing award.
James Matthews, Director of Sales at Wienerberger, commented: “We’re thrilled to win the Fortis Brick category. It demonstrates that members appreciate the work of our people on the ground.
We have strong relationships with our customers, and that is supported by a market leading range of quality products. Although at times challenging, it has been a strong year for us so far and customer endorsements, such as this award is always great to receive.”


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CNET is reporting that Toshiba will soon be launching a brand new line of hard drives which can either delete or protect data if the drive ends up in the wrong hands. Scott Wright, a product manager of storage devices at Toshiba, said "digital systems vendors recognize the need to help their customers protect sensitive data from leakage or theft, Toshiba's security technologies provide designers of copiers, printers, PCs, and other systems with new capabilities to help address these important security concerns."
The new collection of drives, featuring AES 256bit encryption, will contain technology which is able to "detect if the drive is connected to an unknown and undefined computer or other system." If that scenario is detected then the data can either be locked down so the user is unable to view it or the whole drive can be totally wiped. The article reports that the technology can be applied to "specific data on the drive" and that the user will be able to "choose how and when to render the data indecipherable".
While these hard drives may not be aimed at home users, governments and corporations may find them to be a valuable tool to protect sensitive information and stop it from being seen by those without authorisation. The MKxx61GSYS SATA family of drives, ranging from 160GB up to 640GB, will be based on specifications from the Trusted Computing Group which tells companies how data should be protected at an enterprise level.


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Tech Times: Huawei opens store in Jamaica
Huawei is a name associated with most of the budget friendly phones that are popular on both Digicel and Flow networks. Huawei seems to be taking the Jamaican market seriously and has officially opened an Experience store in Jamaica to prove its dedication to our market.
The opening occurred on April 8, 2015 at the Tropical Plaza on Constant Spring Road. The store will showcase all that Huawei has to offer, and also promises "A" class customer service for all who walk through their doors. It was also highlighted that the store will offer repair services for Huawei devices in a very timely manner. "There was a need for Huawei local support and with the huawei service center we are now able to provide that, with quick After sales turn around time and excellent customer service. Our customers have spoken and we listened," Chrysta Walker, Marketing Manager.
Huawei also officially launched the Huawei Mate 8 at the store opening. The Mate 8 is the latest phablet from Huawei that comes with a fingerprint scanner, 16MP camera and a 6" inch display. "With its array of features, the Mate 8 is best suited for a business professional who wants a phone that's both productive and stylish," Walker added.
We got a few minutes to fiddle with the Mate 8 and the device seemed promising, but until a full review, we will reserve our thoughts.
- Payton Wilmot
Twitter adds two board members amid struggles, lack of diversity
SAN FRANCISCO Twitter is shaking up its board with two new directors as it grapples with slowing user growth and mounting competition from Facebook and Google.
The additions are unlikely to appease critics who have called for the mostly white-male board to diversify its ranks with underrepresented minorities and women.
Hugh Johnston, who is vice chairman and chief financial officer of PepsiCo, and Martha Lane Fox, an Internet entrepreneur, will join the board. Two directors, Peter Currie and Peter Chernin, who were not considered for re-election this year, are leaving, according to a regulatory filing. The moves, made last week, were effective immediately.
Since before its November 2013 initial public offering, Twitter has faced criticism for its mostly white male board. In response, publishing industry executive Marjorie Scardino became the first woman director, and former Google executive Omid Kordestani, who is Iranian-American, joined the board.
Perhaps anticipating more criticism, Kordestani, Twitter's executive chairman, hinted more diversity would come.
"The entire Board is working to bring greater diversity to our ranks. Watch this space," he tweeted on Friday.
Twitter founder and returning CEO Jack Dorsey is in the midst of a turnaround effort of the 10-year-old company.
Revenue is growing quickly, but not as quickly as it used to, and analysts expect that trend to continue. Twitter has more than 300 million users, among them pop stars, Hollywood glitterati and world leaders. But it's dwarfed by other services it's one-fifth the size of Facebook and smaller even than Facebook-owned photo-sharing service Instagram and growth has stagnated.
New app logs mutual consent to sex
SAN FRANCISCO - If there are more awkward moments than those involving teen-age sexual experiences, they are the insecure seconds leading up to the deed itself.
But a mother of three aims to both break the tension and confirm mutual consent before sexual intercourse via Yes to Sex, a new app out last Friday for both iOS and Android.
In less than 25 seconds, partners can whip out a smartphone, fire up the app and flash through a series of one-touch agreements that culminate in a request to record a short audio confirmation that the parties have agree to intercourse. A safe word also is generated. Both parties agree to stop having sex if one partner says the word.
The app essentially amounts to a technological record of consent. Once a user closes out of the app, no information remains saved on any phone. But the date, time, place and voice recordings are stored on Yes to Sex's secure servers, which according to a company press release use "the same data encryption as the Department of Defense (and) the records can only be retrieved with court-endorsed orders, ensuring anonymity," the release states.
"As a mother, I was horrified to learn that every month in the U.S. over 1.7 million sexually transmitted infections are passed on and 25% of female students and 6 to 8% of male students are sexually assaulted each year on campuses," app creator Wendy Mandell-Geller said in a statement. "I want to empower teens and young adults to initiate conversations with their partners about consent and the use of protection in a modern, approachable manner."
Of course, the downside for any user is the prospect of watching a partner click a tab that says bluntly, "Sorry, I'm not interested." But better that than proceeding under false impressions.
U.S. demands that Apple unlock phone in drug case
The Department of Justice said last Friday it is moving forward on a separate legal front to force Apple's assistance in unlocking the iPhone linked to a drug conspiracy case in New York City.
In a one-page letter filed in a New York federal court, Justice lawyers said the government "continues to require Apple's assistance in accessing the data'' on the iPhone of Jun Feng, a Queens, N.Y. suspect who pleaded guilty in a methamphetamine conspiracy case in Brooklyn federal court.
The filing comes a week after the government abruptly withdrew from a similar high-profile legal challenge in California after the FBI was able to access the contents of the iPhone used by San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook, using a method developed by an undisclosed outside party.
The government's position signals a continuing legal battle that pits privacy issues against law enforcement security concerns. The issue has drawn contrasting legal arguments from tech companies, civil liberties experts and law enforcement officials across the nation and beyond.
Apple is scheduled to file a response to the government's application by April 15. The company did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.


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Platinum Equity va vendre Multi-Color Corporation à CD&R
MCC to merge with Fort Dearborn Company
LOS ANGELES (July 2, 2021) – Platinum Equity announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to sell Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), a global leader in label solutions, to affiliates of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (“CD&R”). Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
In connection with the transaction, CD&R also announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fort Dearborn from Advent International, and that it intends to combine MCC and Fort Dearborn to create a global label solutions company serving consumer packaged goods companies worldwide. The transactions are expected to close by the end of 2021, subject to customary regulatory approvals and other conditions.
“We have had an outstanding partnership with Nigel and the MCC management team,” said Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson. “We worked together to significantly transform the business and drive both organic and acquisitive growth, which led to substantial improvements in top-line and earnings performance. The company is a natural fit with Fort Dearborn and both companies will benefit from the combination.”
Platinum Equity acquired MCC in 2019 in a public-to-private transaction and combined it with WS Packaging, another US-based labelling company the firm acquired in 2018.
MCC today is one of the world’s largest producers of high-quality, pressure sensitive, in-mold and heat transfer labels and a major manufacturer of cut and stack, roll fed, aluminum and shrink sleeve labels. The company services the world’s most prominent brands across four business segments: food and beverage, wine and spirits, home and personal care, and hardware and specialty.
“At MCC, we have continually worked to invest in our people, processes and technology in order to strengthen our organization and become one of the most trusted and innovative label manufacturing leaders across the globe,” said Nigel Vinecombe, CEO of MCC. “Platinum’s financial and operational support have been instrumental to our success. This combination with Fort Dearborn and the ongoing support of value-added investors provide the opportunity to continue to strengthen the business and provide best-in class service to our customers.”
“Platinum has had a lot of experience creating value in the label and packaging sectors and MCC is another prime example,” said Platinum Equity Managing Director Jason Price. “We appreciate all the hard work Nigel and everyone at the company has put in over the years and wish the entire team great success.”
Platinum Equity previously owned BWAY (rigid containers), Contego (food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging) and MacTac (pressure sensitive materials).
The firm’s current portfolio includes Ball Metalpack (metal food and aerosol containers) and Husky (injection molding systems for the plastics industry).
Earlier this week, MCC also announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hexagon Holdings (“Hexagon”), an Auckland, New Zealand-based provider of high-value premium labels. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Hexagon is a privately-owned group of businesses producing self-adhesive labels, shrink sleeves, linerless wraps and VIP solutions for clients across Australia and New Zealand.
Latham & Watkins LLP and MinterEllison are serving as legal counsel to MCC on the acquisition of Hexagon.
Latham & Watkins LLP and Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL are serving as legal counsel to Platinum Equity on the sale of MCC to CD&R.
About Platinum Equity
Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with more than $25 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. The firm is currently investing from Platinum Equity Capital Partners V, a $10 billion global buyout fund, and Platinum Equity Small Cap Fund, a $1.5 billion buyout fund focused on investment opportunities in the lower middle market. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 25 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 300 acquisitions.
About Multi-Color Corporation
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. based Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), established in 1916, is a leader in global label solutions supporting a number of the world’s most prominent brands including leading producers of Beverage, Wine & Spirits, Food & Dairy, Personal Care & Beauty, Home Care & Laundry, Healthcare, Durables & Technical and Automotive & Chemicals. MCC serves national and international brand owners in North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, China, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand with a comprehensive range of the latest label technologies in Pressure Sensitive, Cut and Stack, Wraps, Aluminum, In-Mold, Shrink Sleeve and Heat Transfer. MCC employs over 9,000 associates across over 70 label producing operations globally.
Dan Whelan, Platinum Equity, (310) 282-9202, email@example.com


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Who olivia palermo dating
"Friends set us up, and it just fell right into place," the stylish star told magazine in their June 2014 issue. We understand and respect each other, and we make each other better people." PHOTOS: MTV reality stars: Now and then "It also helps that we both work in fashion and can travel the world together," Palermo added."We get to see the world through each other's eyes." Huebl popped the question to his longtime love last January while on vacation in St. PHOTOS: Celebrity weddings The couple then announced the news of their engagement with a sweet Instagram video, where Palermo danced around with her massive new rock on.She's become a modern day style icon, so it's no surprise to see Olivia Palermo dominating the pages of Flare magazine.From her stylish ensembles during fashion week, to pretty much whatever she steps out her house wearing, we're all obsessed with Olivia's style!
Who olivia palermo dating comments


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Havana ball: Stunning photos show why tourists are flocking to Cuban capital following historic lifting of US travel ban
- Surge in the number of tourists wanting to visit Caribbean island after lifting of travel ban was announced
- Many fear that the country will become 'Americanised' and lose its character as it is opened up for trade
- Travel experts urge anyone who is thinking of visiting Cuba to book sooner rather than later
With its beautiful architecture, colourful characters and Caribbean sunshine it's not hard to see why so many people are flocking to explore the Cuban capital Havana in case it changes for good.
Since it was announced last year that talks were underway to lift restrictions on Americans visiting the country there has been a surge in the number of tourists wanting to see it for themselves.
Online searches for trips were reportedly up by a staggering 95 per cent with tourists being warned that if they want to see 'the real Cuba' they should book their trips now.
Smoke break: A Cuban woman puffs on an enormous cigar as she fans herself on a street in Old Havana
Last month the new regulations were passed allowing Americans to visit the country for any of a dozen specific reasons, including family visits, education and religion, without first obtaining a special license from the U.S. government as was previously the case.
Though general tourism will still be banned, those U.S. travelers who do visit will be allowed to bring home small amounts of the Cuban cigars that are highly rated by aficionados.
The revamped rules will also make it easier for U.S. companies to export mobile phone devices and software as well as to provide Internet services in Cuba. U.S. airlines will be permitted to expand flights to the Caribbean island.
As part of resuming diplomatic relations with Cuba, the US will soon reopen an embassy in the capital of Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between the governments.
Old buildings stand on a corner of street in Old Havana capital of Cuba. The number of tourists visiting Old Havana has seen a steady increase following the normalization of Cuba - U.S. relations
A musician performs sweet Latin melodies on a street in Old Havana
Splash of colour: Flower-sellers wear bright eye-catching dresses as they wait for customers on a street Old Havana
Rum do: People enjoy a drink at one of the many street pubs to be found in Old Havana
TravelSupermarket travel expert Bob Atkinson is urging anyone who is thinking of visiting Cuba to book sooner rather than later.
Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Mr Atkinson said: 'It really is a unique place to visit, and once it becomes fully open to the Americans, they will without doubt pile in.
'Havana was seen as a party destination for Americans years ago, such was its close proximity to Florida.
'However you look at it, opening up to the Americans will change the way it feels and I think this will be to the detriment to the culture and heritage of the place.
'I would urge anyone who is thinking of visiting Cuba to book now; there is something about Cuba that you just can't put your finger on.
'I would say go now, as you cannot be sure the culture and heritage of Cuba will remain as it is now.'
As one of the popular Caribbean destinations for travellers around the world, Cuba also remains one of the most affordable, and there is a good choice of flights available from the UK.
'On the one hand it is very evident that change will come at some stage, and that the younger generation of Cubans are waiting for that to happen. While they have excellent education and healthcare, there is still real poverty, and they lack things that we all take for granted such as a choice of goods to buy (food is mostly from ration shops) and access to the internet and to world news.'
Clowning about : A street performer and his dog entertain a young tourist and her mother
Pizza, donuts and rum: People wait in a line in front of a street food vendor in Old Havana. The city is listed as a world heritage site
Culture vultures: A group of tourists check out paintings at a gallery in Old Havana a city known for its vibrant artistic scene
Classic motors: An old U.S. car, still in remarkably good condition, cruises along next to the river in Old Havana
Jalopy: A rickety taxi makes its way along a narrow street in Old Havana a city which is alive and dynamic at all hours of the day and night
The US is also increasing the amount of money Americans can send to Cubans from $500 to $2,000 per quarter, or every three months. Early in his presidency, Obama allowed unlimited family visits by Cuban-Americans and removed a $1,200 annual cap on remittances.
Secretary of State John Kerry is also launching a review of Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terror.
Obama does not have the authority to fully lift the long-standing US economic embargo on Cuba, given that Congress enacted that policy. However, officials said he would welcome lawmakers taking that step.
Local hero: A portrait of the legendary revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara is painted on a buiding in Old Havana capital of Cuba
Car wash: Cubans have been forced to keep cars from the 1950s on the road as trade restrictions meant they were unable to import new vehicles
Hot wheels: The classic motors are now a symbol of the Cuban capital just like red double decker buses are to London
Tourists and locals parouse a line of book and portrait stands on a street of Old Havana
Bouquet basket: Flower-sellers in colorful clothes wait for customers on an Old Havana street
Nice ride: The proud owner of one of Havana's many classic old U.S. cars stands proudly next to his vehicle
A man cleans an old U.S. car on the street of Old Havana capital of Cuba
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Come November 1st, Jordan Brand will launch a handful of the Jordan Air Spike 40. One of the models to debut is the Jordan Air Spike 40 Game Royal / Orange and guess what? They will have Nike Air on the heel.
What many of us didn’t know until now, the Jordan Air Spike 40 will feature Nike Air branding on the heel. For years we have asked Jordan Brand to return the OG Nike logos on their retro models, but will the Air Spike 40 have the same hype?
Dressed in game royal, total orange, white and black. Blue takes over the mesh uppers while you can see orange bleeding through. Metallic blue is added on the eyelets and heel that comes with a metal tread like finish. White and black combine to make up the midsole while orange speckles resides across the black area. Total orange is then used on the Jumpman and Nike branding. The lace toggle will feature Spike Lee’s face along with the number 40 and is then finished with a translucent blue outsole.
Jordan Air Spike 40 Game Royal Orange Release Date
The game royal and total orange Jordan Air Spike 40 is scheduled to land at Jordan Brand retailers on November 4th, 2015. Available in adult and kids sizes, retail price will be $180. Check out more images of this upcoming Jordan Air Spike 40 by scrolling below. Has your opinion on them changed knowing that Nike Air is placed on the heel? Let us know by leaving a comment.
Jordan Air Spike 40
Colorway: Game Royal/Total Orange-White-Black
Release Date: November 4, 2015
Product Number: 807541-405
Update: Nike unleashed official photos of the ‘Game Royal’ Jordan Air Spike Forty along with the release date which is November 4th, 2015.
Update: According to Renarts, the Jordan Air Spike 40 ‘Knicks Blue’ is scheduled to release on October 28th, 2015 thus putting them ahead of the big retail chains that will have them. This is also the third time the launch date has changed on this shoe, so if you’re interested make sure to check back for official info.
Update: The release date for the ‘Knicks Blue’ Jordan Air Spike 40 seems to still be conflicted. Some retailers are reporting they release this week while other saying they launch on November 1st. For now we have new detailed photos of the shoes and once we find out what day they are confirmed, we will let you know.
Update: More photos of the ‘Knicks Blue’ Jordan Air Spike 40 have arrived due to an early eBay listing. From these images, you can see where the 3M reflective material hits around sections of the uppers and collar.


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A sampling of e-retailer and vendor announcements from the NRF show floor this week.
Borders Group has appointed veteran merchandiser Michael J. Oprins to the newly created position of vice president of merchandising for non-book products, including digital, games and gifts categories.
Borders Group Inc. has appointed veteran merchandiser Michael J. Oprins to the newly created position of vice president of merchandising for non-book products, including digital, games and gifts categories.
Oprins, with more than 25 years of retail experience, has held management positions at Borders for nearly two decades. He most recently was vice president of Paperchase operations and led the introduction of Paperchase gift and stationery shops in U.S. Borders superstores.
In earlier positions at Borders, Oprins was vice president of store café operations, director of merchandising for the children’s and calendar businesses, and divisional merchandise manager for the company’s Waldenbooks store chain.
"Mike is a seasoned leader with strong institutional knowledge of our company as well as a breadth of merchandising and operations experience," says Anne Kubek, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing for Borders Group. "He has successfully developed several business categories here and will play an important role in providing the strategic direction to drive the non-book areas of our business as well."
Since 2002, Oprins has been on the board of directors of the Borders Group Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides assistance to Borders employees with economic needs.
Prior to Borders, Oprins served in several management positions at companies including Toys ‘R’ Us Inc. and McDonald’s Corp.


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Sanctuary Cannabis is opening its tenth medical cannabis dispensary in Florida.
Continuing the company's statewide expansion, Sanctuary Boca Raton will be holding its grand opening celebration on July 29. The fourth operational Sanctuary location in Palm Beach County and fifth in southeast Florida, the 2,500-square-foot facility formerly served as an office and retail space before being converted into a state-of-the-art dispensary following a full interior renovation planned and executed by Vantage Builders. It is located at 877 E Palmetto Park Blvd. at the end of the Boca Beach Shops shopping center and just a block from the beach.
"We're thrilled to be opening the first of two Sanctuary Cannabis locations here in the city of Boca Raton," stated Jason Sidman, CEO of Sanctuary Medicinals. "Opening on East Palmetto Park Road and within walking distance of the city's beautiful beaches presents us a fantastic opportunity to establish a key foothold in a community that has limited dispensaries to serve patients. We're thrilled to get to know the Boca patient community and, in turn, provide them with our full complement of patient-oriented products and services."
The first Sanctuary Boca Raton location is now open on East Palmetto Park Road and less than a quarter mile from SR-A1A. Situated within walking distance from beach parking at 1S Ocean Blvd. and just a couple miles from the Florida Atlantic University campus, Sanctuary Boca Raton is geographically located between the Intracoastal waterway and the beach on Boca Raton's main commercial corridor. The second Boca dispensary, located further inland on Powerline Road is currently under construction and is scheduled to open later in the fall.
A grand opening event will be held on July 29, and Sanctuary Boca Raton will be keeping its usual hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Patients can stop in and shop throughout the day, and all patients–new or registered–will receive a 50-percent discount. Special guests and entertainment kick off at 4 p.m. and will conclude around 7 p.m. with DJ Duss returning once again to provide music and energy inside the dispensary. SpringBig SBIG will be handing out swag and educating patients on how to leverage their loyalty program and platforms. Miracle Leaf of Boca Raton will also be meeting with patients to hand out swag and answer questions about product offerings, registrations, renewals and more.
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Motorists are greeted with a large Philippine flag displayed on an electronic billboard on EDSA Northbound in Mandaluyong on June 10, 2023, ahead of Independence Day celebrations on June 10, 2023.
MANILA, Philippines – The rebound of the Philippines’ tourism sector is expected to drive significant growth this year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
In a statement released yesterday, S&P Global Market Intelligence Asia-Pacific chief economist Rajiv Biswas said last year’s easing of travel restrictions triggered by the pandemic has allowed the gradual reopening of domestic and international tourism in the Philippines.
„This will provide a major boost to the economy in 2023,” he said.
From January 1 to May 12 this year, international visitor arrivals to the country reached a total of two million.
Last year, international visitor arrivals to the country reached 2.65 million, generating P210 billion worth of tourism revenue.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) was 6.2 percent last year, which is projected to be 5.2 percent in 2021.
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Before the pandemic or in 2019, the tourism sector’s share of the country’s GDP was estimated at 12.7 percent, including international and domestic tourism spending.
In the same year, international tourism spending was estimated at P549 billion, while domestic tourism spending was at P3.1 trillion.
„Due to the importance of domestic tourism in tourism’s overall contribution to GDP, a recovery in domestic tourism will be a significant growth driver in 2023,” Biswas said.
The government has pegged economic growth at 6 to 7 percent for this year.
The economy grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Biswas said international tourism flows continued to recover in the first half of the year, benefiting from China’s reopening of international borders.
The recovery in international tourism in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to continue and reach pre-pandemic peaks by next year, he said.
In the medium term, the region is poised to return to rapid growth in domestic and international tourist arrivals, he said.
„This will be driven by the continued rapid increase in household incomes in the large emerging markets of the APAC region, particularly in countries with high populations such as China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam,” he said.
„Oddany rozwiązywacz problemów. Przyjazny hipsterom praktykant bekonu. Miłośnik kawy. Nieuleczalny introwertyk. Student.


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A memo from Nike’s HR chief admitted the company has failed to promote enough women and people of color to VP offices and above. This prompted us to assemble a roundtable of communicators to discuss inclusion, diversity and communicators’ role in building a culture of inclusion.
freed up premium content
Not long ago, companies were counseled to stay out of politics and social causes. ‘Stick to business and you won’t offend customers or potential customers,’ was thought to be the best route. Things have changed. Radically. In a collaboration with 3BL Media, a CSR news distribution and content marketing firm, PR News convened a roundtable to discuss CSR best practices.
We take another dive into the new PR News Salary Survey to look at where nonprofit communicators and PR firm staffers rank in terms of base salary. We begin by looking at integration of communications and marketing. It turns out that integration of the two units is a bit farther down the road than you might think.
Is the glass half full for communicators? The just-released PR News Salary Survey of some 900 communicators shows PR pros seem to be a satisfied group in terms of the money they make for the work they do. Base salaries best the average for American professionals and raises are rewarded often, although most are modest. On the other hand, more than a few communicators told us they weren’t completely satisfied with their salary. Finding the right balance of salary, bonuses, soft benefits and intangibles to recruit and retain the most talented staffers is an issue that adept communications leaders will continue to address.
Is anyone listening? When it comes to social listening, the answer is yes. The trouble is that nearly 40% of brands lack a formal plan for social listening, according to new survey from PRNews and LexisNexis. Even more concerning is that these brands have failed to implement procedures for what happens when social listening picks up a potential issue.
Many companies measure their reputation via a yearly poll. Others wait until a crisis hits to commission a survey about how stakeholders perceive their company. Still others feel measuring reputation should be an ongoing operation. This fourth article in our series with PublicRelay discusses the best ways to measure reputation and why it’s important to do so.
This second article in a 5-part series about measurement we compile cases where communicators have moved beyond the fundamentals of measuring data to prove ROI and instead focused on using insights mined from data to change the way they operated their business. The series is produced with partner PublicRelay, a media monitoring and analytics firm.
In this first article of a five-part series produced with partner PublicRelay, a media monitoring and analytics firm, we will examine the common challenges of measuring communications data so it can be turned into useful insights that will help not only communicators but the business overall.
Despite the digital landscape, there are a few timeless journalistic axioms that can help PR pros elevate their media pitching. AbbVie’s Public Affairs chief Morry Smulevitz provides tips learned during a lifetime of watching his father work.
With AMEC’s Measurement Month just completed, we asked Weber Shandwick’s president of measurement and analytics Allyson Hugley to reflect on the state of PR measurement as well as how PR pros can change the mindset about the importance of measurement and using data to glean business insights as opposed to proving the worth of the PR function.


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Three businesses step up to be major sponsors for Team American Samoa
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At a press conference last Friday, the American Samoa National Olympic Committee (ASNOC) announced its partnership with Bluesky Communications- American Samoa, Asco Motors, and GHC Reid Co. Ltd, to not only support the development of sports in the territory, but to assist Team American Samoa in their preparations for the upcoming XVI Pacific Games set to be held in Samoa, later this year in July.
Held at the ASNOC main office at Veterans Stadium in Tafuna, it was attended by representatives from the three local companies and ASNOC President Etisone Ed Imo and ASNOC Secretary General Ethan Lake.
Vaisigano Pani Ng Lam represented Asco Motors, Latu Kupu for GHC Reid, and Sherry Sele for Bluesky Communications- American Samoa.
Speaking on behalf of ASCO Motors and Toyota, which is the world major sponsor for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Vaisigano thanked ASNOC for allowing their company to be one of the major sponsors for Team American Samoa. It’s help are three vehicles to help ASNOC and its athletes with transportation.
“We’re so proud not only to be the world major sponsor for sports... but also to be one of the three [local] major sponsors for ASNOC this year."
According to Vaisigano, the vehicles will be used by ASNOC until the end of 2020.
Speaking on behalf of GHC Reid, Kupu said their company’s goal is to continue their support in developing sports in American Samoa.
“We hope that the goods we are going to provide such as Vaimalu and Powerade will help our athletes."
He also pointed out that more than $100,000 has been donated by the Leala Foundation since 2014, to support the development of sports in American Samoa.
For Bluesky Communications- American Samoa, Sele said they will provide free internet service and cable service for the ASNOC office, so they can start their research on all the requirements needed for the Games. Bluesky will also provide travel uniforms and bags for about 350 members of the delegation for the upcoming Pacific Games. For the sports officials, the company is providing 30 mobile phones to make communication between sports officials and athletes easier.
Lake said ASNOC is excited with the support from the business community. “We are grateful for our business partners that have contributed through a combination of in-kind products and services, and monetary donations to ASNOC. I am humbled by the response and support from our new community partners."
Imo noted he deeply appreciates the willingness with which each business has and continues to sponsor their efforts to help local young athletes develop and grow.
“We sincerely hope that this partnership will be maintained and that you will continue to support us in our future endeavors,” he said.


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Spray-on liquid glass is about to revolutionize almost everything
2010 02 04
By Lin Edwards | PhysOrg.com
Spray-on liquid glass is transparent, non-toxic, and can protect virtually any surface against almost any damage from hazards such as water, UV radiation, dirt, heat, and bacterial infections. The coating is also flexible and breathable, which makes it suitable for use on an enormous array of products.
The fissure was induced in order present an image which shows the characteristics of the coating.
The image shows the SiO2 coating on a filament of a microfibre.
The liquid glass spray (technically termed “SiO2 ultra-thin layering”) consists of almost pure silicon dioxide (silica, the normal compound in glass) extracted from quartz sand. Water or ethanol is added, depending on the type of surface to be coated. There are no additives, and the nano-scale glass coating bonds to the surface because of the quantum forces involved. According to the manufacturers, liquid glass has a long-lasting antibacterial effect because microbes landing on the surface cannot divide or replicate easily.
Liquid glass was invented in Turkey and the patent is held by Nanopool, a family-owned German company. Research on the product was carried out at the Saarbrücken Institute for New Materials. Nanopool is already in negotiations in the UK with a number of companies and with the National Health Service, with a view to its widespread adoption.
The liquid glass spray produces a water-resistant coating only around 100 nanometers (15-30 molecules) thick. On this nanoscale the glass is highly flexible and breathable. The coating is environmentally harmless and non-toxic, and easy to clean using only water or a simple wipe with a damp cloth. It repels bacteria, water and dirt, and resists heat, UV light and even acids. UK project manager with Nanopool, Neil McClelland, said soon almost every product you purchase will be coated with liquid glass.
Food processing companies in Germany have already carried out trials of the spray, and found sterile surfaces that usually needed to be cleaned with strong bleach to keep them sterile needed only a hot water rinse if they were coated with liquid glass. The levels of sterility were higher for the glass-coated surfaces, and the surfaces remained sterile for months.
Other organizations, such as a train company and a hotel chain in the UK, and a hamburger chain in Germany, are also testing liquid glass for a wide range of uses. A year-long trial of the spray in a Lancashire hospital also produced “very promising” results for a range of applications including coatings for equipment, medical implants, catheters, sutures and bandages. The war graves association in the UK is investigating using the spray to treat stone monuments and grave stones, since trials have shown the coating protects against weathering and graffiti. Trials in Turkey are testing the product on monuments such as the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara.
The liquid glass coating is breathable, which means it can be used on plants and seeds. Trials in vineyards have found spraying vines increases their resistance to fungal diseases, while other tests have shown sprayed seeds germinate and grow faster than untreated seeds, and coated wood is not attacked by termites. Other vineyard applications include coating corks with liquid glass to prevent “corking” and contamination of wine. The spray cannot be seen by the naked eye, which means it could also be used to treat clothing and other materials to make them stain-resistant. McClelland said you can “pour a bottle of wine over an expensive silk shirt and it will come right off”.
In the home, spray-on glass would eliminate the need for scrubbing and make most cleaning products obsolete. Since it is available in both water-based and alcohol-based solutions, it can be used in the oven, in bathrooms, tiles, sinks, and almost every other surface in the home, and one spray is said to last a year.
Liquid glass spray is perhaps the most important nanotechnology product to emerge to date. It will be available in DIY stores in Britain soon, with prices starting at around £5 ($8 US). Other outlets, such as many supermarkets, may be unwilling to stock the products because they make enormous profits from cleaning products that need to be replaced regularly, and liquid glass would make virtually all of them obsolete.
Article from: PhysOrg.com
[Ed Note: The article is has the feel of a sales pitch, but the product has interesting ramifications, nevertheless. Videos found were PR releases.]
Video from: YouTube.com
Video from: YouTube.com
Nanotechnology Product for Car Windshields Now Available in the USA (2005)
ORNL super water repellent could cause big wave in market (2007)
Cracking a controversial solid state mystery
New coating protects steel and superalloys
Nanocoating could eliminate foggy windows and lenses
Food industry 'too secretive' over nanotechnology
Nuclear-Powered Nanobots Will Allow Us to Forgo Eating a Square Meal for a Century
Tell USDA: Keep Nanotech OUT of Organic!
Study Says Carbon Nanotubes as Dangerous as Asbestos
Health Risks Of Nanotechnology: How Nanoparticles Can Cause Lung Damage, And How The Damage Can Be Blocked
Full speed ahead for nanotechnology?
Self-cleaning wool and silk developed using nanotechnology
Liquid glass: the spray-on scientific revelation
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India set to drive a 5th of global growth in the next decade: Morgan Stanley
- According to projections by Morgan Stanley, it will take just another seven years for GDP to grow by an additional $3 trillion.
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Gravitational center of the automotive industry: ZF accelerates commitment in the Chinese market
- Significant expansion of production and development capacities
- E-Mobility and autonomous driving: ZF offers high-tech solutions for Chinese automakers and new mobility service providers
- Up to one hundred percent localization of ZF product portfolio targeted
- ZF Board of Management member Dr. Holger Klein responsible for Asian business, based in China
Shanghai/Friedrichshafen. With several additional plants, and the extension of its development capacities, ZF is stepping up its activities in China, the world's fastest-growing automotive market. The Group has had its own production sites there since 1994 - currently there are 32. ZF is now expanding this presence in order to enable development and manufacture of the complete product portfolio in China to support the local market in full. ZF already offers customers in China high-tech solutions for e-mobility and autonomous driving and is increasingly enlarging its customer base with Chinese manufacturers and new mobility providers.
"Our strategy for the Chinese automotive market is called 'local for local'," explains ZF Board Member Dr. Holger Klein, responsible for the Asia-Pacific region with China as its core market. "Almost all of our customers will expand their business in China in the coming years. We will support them in this by offering our entire portfolio locally - from development services to local just-in-sequence delivery," says Klein and announces: "We will increase our degree of localization in China up to 100 percent in the coming years. With our innovations and high-tech products, we will have an even stronger presence in the future.” To this end, ZF is investing significantly in the expansion of its production capacities and on-site development in China.
More production capacity, more high-tech and e-mobility
Introducing production of ZF’s 8-speed 8HP automatic transmission to the Shanghai plant, where automatic transmissions have been produced since 2004, is proof of this. With immediate effect, ZF will supply local customers with its flagship product for passenger cars. A variant of 8HP for plug-in hybrid drives can also be produced here. In the future, ZF will strive to produce purely electric drives in China; production facilities for this are currently under way. To meet local production demand for passenger car electric power steering systems in China, ZF is building a new steering plant in Zhanjiagang - the largest of ZF's 32 plants in China, to date. ZF will also serve the commercial vehicle market more locally from China: A joint venture with commercial vehicle manufacturer Foton will start production of the TraXon automatic and hybrid commercial vehicle transmission in just a few weeks. To support this, a joint production plant has been built south of Shanghai.
The importance of China to ZF, as the world's fastest-growing automotive market, is proven by the location of a board member in the region. Since 2018, Dr. Klein, with responsibility for the Asia-Pacific market, has been directing business in this increasingly important region from ZF's China headquarters in Shanghai. The continued strong growth will also lead to an expansion of development capacities. ZF plans to hire 1,000 additional engineers for two development centers in the Shanghai area, which are firmly integrated within ZF's global research and development network. This will allow innovations to find their way to the Chinese market even faster.
With its offerings in the four strategic areas of competence: e-mobility, autonomous driving, integrated safety, and vehicle motion control, ZF continues to be an attractive technology partner for both Chinese and international automobile manufacturers with a presence in China. ZF is also a partner for "New Automotive Customers", such as mobility service providers, who will rely on autonomous driving functions for their logistics and transport services.
ZF has had its own plants in China since 1994 and currently operates from 32 locations there. The number of employees, currently around 15,000, will grow significantly in the coming months. In 2018, ZF generated sales of more than 6 billion in China – from activities ranging from driveline and chassis technology to active and passive safety technology for both passenger car and commercial vehicles, as well as driveline technology for construction and agricultural machinery.
ZF presents its current product portfolio at Auto Shanghai in Hall 5.2 from Tuesday, April 16th, to Thursday, April 25th. The ZF press conference will be held there on the first press day (Tuesday, April 16h) at 3pm local time (9am CET).
1) ZF already manufactures prototypes of the 8-speed automatic transmission 8HP at its Shanghai plant. Volume production is set to begin in Q3 2019.
2) Residing in Shanghai: Dr. Holger Klein, member of the board of management at ZF, leads the Asia Pacific region.
Thomas Wenzel, Director Global Corporate Communications,
Phone: +49 151 1671 6445, E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
Andreas Veil, Head of Business and Finance Communications,
Phone: +49 170 9198 465, E-Mail: email@example.com
Kay Robinson Communications UK
phone: +44 121 506-5316 e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
ZF is a global technology company and supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. With its comprehensive technology portfolio, the company offers integrated solutions for established vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF continually enhances its systems in the areas of digital connectivity and automation in order to allow vehicles to see, think and act.
In 2018, ZF achieved sales of €36.9 billion. The company has a global workforce of 149,000 with approximately 230 locations in 40 countries. ZF invests over six percent of its sales in research and development annually.
For further press information and photos, please visit: www.zf.com


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Hyundai has showcased the HND-7 Hexa Space concept at the Sao Paulo Motor Show.
Hyundai's compact MPV concept with innovative seating solutions made its world premiere at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo.
Showcasing it at the Sao Paulo show hints that Hyundai is targeting the emerging markets with the concept which is set to give birth to a production model.
It's needless to say that in India, the production model will charge head on towards the successful Maruti Ertiga and upcoming family vans from Ford (B-Max) and Honda (Brio MPV). The HND-7 Hexa Space would then be the first MPV offering by Hyundai in India and at 2.75 m of wheelbase, it is identical to the Ertiga (2.74 m).
The MPV can seat 8 persons and the Hyundai engineers made it possible by cleverly packaging the second and third row seats in the form of hexagon, hence the name Hexa Space. The seats can be folded to have a completely flat floor for storage and also they can be adjusted for different settings to ensure that all the occupants are comfortable.
The concept MPV's looks are not in the same page as the 'Fluidic Sculpture' Hyundais and that's actually refreshing since all the modern Hyundais ended up looking almost similar.
The front is characterized by the bold hexagonal grill and the LED headlamps. The side profile remains true to a MPV and has sliding doors for easy access. The boomerang tail lamps define the rear.
The Hyundai concept is powered by a 1.2 litre T-GDI turbo petrol engine which is mated to a 6-speed auto transmission. Hyundai has not yet announced the complete engine lineup for the car which will certainly include diesel motors, neither did they divulge when the production model will be ready. They've said nothing about production.
Hey Hyundai, listen. Why don't you do a Maruti Ertiga and launch the production version of the HND-7 Hexa Space at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo?
Hyundai HND-7 Hexa Space Concept from the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo
[can't see the slideshow above? Head over to Flickr]