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You have to choose your time carefully when buying a new Android phone. There are plenty of big device releases each year, and more of them than ever are worth considering. Just a few years ago LG could barely compete in most markets, and Motorola only released compelling devices on Verizon. Now there’s a hot new phone coming out every time you turn around. The last thing you want to do is buy too soon and miss out on the perfect phone for you.
The biggest flagships of early 2014 are already out there, so what about the rest of the year? If the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 weren’t your speed, surely there’s something you can look forward to.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Samsung makes a big deal of the Galaxy S refresh every year, but the annual Note update is arguably a bigger event for Samsung. While it has intense competition in the flagship smartphone race, the phablet category is something Samsung pioneered and still almost completely dominates. The experience of using a Galaxy Note simply isn’t something you can replicate with another device, and that’s why the Note 4 will be huge this fall.
A Galaxy Note is essentially a larger version of the Galaxy S of its generation with a few software tweaks to accommodate the S Pen stylus. It offers handwriting input, better control of floating apps, searching by image, and more. The S Pen itself is an indicative stylus that makes use of technology from Wacom. All those cheap capacitive styluses can’t come close to matching the quality of the S Pen.
The Galaxy Note 4 will probably come with a Super AMOLED screen in the 6-inch range, but the resolution might finally get bumped up past 1080p. That didn’t happen with the Galaxy S5 as rumored, but the larger Note would be a good time to make the jump. You can also count on industry-leading specs as far as the processor and RAM go.
We’re probably about four months away from the announcement of this phone — it’s usually a mid-autumn release. After the success of the Note 3, you can bet Samsung is going to have the Note 4 ready to go in 2014.
LG is now the fastest growing Android OEM in the US market, and for good reason. It has gone from making forgettable mid-range phones to some of the most stylish and powerful devices in the world. LG has been making real strides in the last few years as it has worked with Google on Nexus devices and improved its own branded offerings with the G and G2. With the G2 starting to get a little long in the tooth, LG fans are already looking forward to the G3.
LG created a truly excellent LCD panel for the G2, and the word is that the follow up with be even better. This phone is expected to pack a 5.5-inch 2560×1440 LCD. Although, a similar rumor about the Galaxy S5 turned out not to be true. Behind the display will be 3GB of RAM and perhaps LG’s new Odin octa-core ARM processor. Odin hasn’t been officially announced, so it’s hard to say how it will compare to Snapdragon and Exynos. You can also expect LG to continue with the odd back-facing buttons.
A jump to a 16MP or higher resolution camera is pretty likely with this phone, if if for no other reason than LG wants to challenge to Samsung. 4K video recording would be part of any such package as well. This phone is expected to be announced in the next several months — probably early to mid-summer.
Moto X2/Moto X+
Motorola surprised everyone after its first phone developed completely under Google’s stewardship turned out to be pretty great. The Moto X didn’t strive to have the best specs or the most hip marketing, but it offered one of the most refined and clever user experiences on Android. The follow up, possibly called Moto X2 or Moto X+, will determine whether or not Motorola continues to be relevant as a Lenovo company.
The specs of this phone are still an unknown, but Motorola has more room to improve on the hardware seeing as the Moto X was on the modest side. There’s no reason Moto can’t step it up to a quad-core processor and a 1080p screen this time. The Moto X was snappy and the screen was certainly good enough, but it might learn more cool software tricks with the right hardware.
The clean build of Android with awesome features like touchless control and active display will likely return, as will the price. Motorola has said its days of selling $600 phones are over. Expect the Moto X2 (or whatever they call it) to come in at a more reasonable off-contract price when it’s announced late this summer or early fall.
One Plus One
This Chinese startup was founded by former Oppo engineers in order to make a new device that will be the first smartphone built exclusively for CyanogenMod. The Oppo N1 was the first device to have an official CM version, but the One Plus One (yes, that’s really the name) is going to be CyanogenMod-only. The One Plus One is going to be announced in just a few weeks, and the company is engaged in a relentless social marketing campaign to make sure you know it.
The specs for the One Plus One have been revealed one piece at a time. It will pack a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, a 3100mAh battery, 3GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch 1080p screen, and a 13MP camera. We don’t know what it looks like yet (beyond some crude sketches), but it will have swappable back covers of some sort.
Running a version of CyanogenMod means a very clean and customizable experience. It won’t ship with root access like the ROMs you can install, but getting it unlocked and rooted shouldn’t be an issue if that’s what you’re into. The big reveal is April 23rd and it is expected to be priced under $400 unlocked. One Plus has never made a phone before, so it’s hard to say how this will all turn out, but we’ll know soon.
The next Nexus
It was a happy coincidence that the Nexus 5 was both the fifth nexus device and a 5-inch phone. The name made perfect sense there, but we don’t know which way Google will go with the next incarnation. Nexus 6 is getting awfully close to Nexus 7, after all. Whatever it is called, the 2014 Nexus device will be a flagship for a whole new era of Android.
LG has made the last two Nexus devices, which was the same streak Samsung had before it moved on. Perhaps LG will be the pick again, or a different company could take a swing at it. Whoever does it, this won’t be as much about the hardware as it is about the software. Nexus phones are usually solid, but not extremely high-end. The Nexus phone is Google’s development platform for Android, and that means fast updates and a pure Google experience.
If we don’t see the L-release of Android this summer, it’s probably going to be in the fall with a new Nexus. This is probably the best reason to wait for this device, Google is reportedly cooking big things for the next big version jump, and you don’t want to be hanging back waiting for an OEM and carrier to approve an update. The 2014 Nexus phone is also going to be an inexpensive device — Google seems be keeping the price under $400 off-contract, which is quite a bit less than more “premium” devices.


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TIS2024 is back to discover the most Innovative Travel Tech solutions for industry leaders
Seville is already warming up to host the new edition of Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS), the annual meeting between the travel and tourism industry and the technology sector. This year, the event proposes to go a step further with the slogan 'Elevating travel industry with tech'.
From 23 to 25 October 2024, TIS will become the epicenter of tourism innovation worldwide, gathering all the stakeholders in the sector to learn about the most innovative solutions and find the best technological partner. The objective is to help tourism businesses and destinations boost their competitiveness, improve efficiency in operations and processes, transform the traveller experience and be more sustainable.
According to Silvia Avilés, director of TIS, "In this new edition, we will focus on the present and future of the sector, which is driven by the travel tech revolution. In this way, the event will become an international meeting point in which discover technological solutions for the entire value chain of the tourism sector (airlines, cruises, railways, travel agencies, hotels, destinations, distribution channels...)".
And how will it do this? By addressing and analyzing strategies and presenting the most cutting-edge innovations that have a direct impact on tourism management. A new model based on traveltech solutions where the improvement of all internal (operations, resource management...) and external (traveller experience, quality of services...) processes is fundamental. TIS will analyse the impact of technology in transforming the traveller experience and making it increasingly personalized, but always incorporating the human side and with more security guarantees.
TIS will also focus on other areas in which technology is a close ally, such as improving efficiency in industry processes and decision-making. In this sense, Artificial Intelligence will be the technology par excellence to analyse traveller behavior, improve flow management and deseasonalise tourist destinations, and thus move towards reducing the carbon footprint and improving sustainability.
TIS2024, in figures
In its fifth edition, TIS will have more than 200 exhibiting companies, making it the largest platform for bringing tourism sector professionals the latest technologies in AI, Business Intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, connectivity, 5G and augmented or virtual reality, among others, as well as solutions that help to measure environmental impact, to be more sustainable, inclusive and improve accessibility.
During the event, the Tourism Innovation Global Summit will once again take place, bringing together more than 400 experts and leaders from the tourism sector from all over the world who will share their vision, success stories and trends in more than 150 conferences. The conference will gather eight vertical forums dedicated to each segment of the tourism industry, from the MICE sector, Destinations, Hospitality, Travel Agencies, TTOOs, Business Travel, Transport, Activities and Culture and Leisure.
In addition to these specific forums, the Tourism Innovation Global Summit will once again feature specific content agendas for industry professionals (CEOs, CIOs and CTOs, CXOs, DMOs, CMOs and CSOs and CHROs), as well as an agenda aimed at public tourism representatives from different countries, regions and cities, so that each professional can find answers to the challenges they face in their daily work.
After Portugal, France, the United Kingdom and Mexico, this year China will be Guest Country Partner at TIS2024, to discover and understand Chinese tourists, how Asian markets work and learn from them.
TIS2024 will also offer several networking activities to foster the creation of synergies and knowledge transfer. The Leadership Summit, a lunch with industry leaders to establish collaborations; the Tourism Innovation Awards 2024, which will recognise organisations that are leading the way in digitalisation and sustainability in tourism; and the Touristech Startup Fest, which will allow emerging talent to present their projects to investors and leading companies.

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By Matthew Roscoe • 01 September 2022 • 13:36
Bankruptcy looms for Makro, the cash and carry wholesale supermarket chain big in Spain. Image: JulieStar/Shutterstock.com
The owner of the Belgian Makro and Metro shops, Bronze Properties, said that it is seeking protection from creditors through a judicial reorganisation as bankruptcy threatens the chain, which has several locations in Spain.
Makro and catering wholesaler Metro, which is based across 17 shops in Belgium and employs 2,00 staff, has been making losses for years, according to reports from Belgium on Thursday, September 1.
In the 2020-2021 financial year (until the end of September), the Belgian branch made a loss of €42 million on a turnover of €646 million – a tenth less than the year before.
The German retail group Metro AG has already had to make up losses of over €420 million since 2015.
In June, Metro sold its Belgian branch to the German restructuring company Bronze Properties.
German restructuring company Bronze Properties said: “The structure of Makro Cash & Carry Belgium’s operations and the financial difficulties the company is facing are a threat to its business continuity.”
It added: “A classic round of dismissals would offer little solace. The long-term viability of the company would still not be guaranteed. Moreover, there is no money to pay for the high costs of such a reorganisation.”
Any plans to sell Makro and Metro look unlikely despite interest from several candidates because “none of the interested parties has proposed to take over the company in its entirety.”
Subsequently, Bronze Properties has been forced to file a petition with the court.
“A judicial reorganisation allows all or part of the company’s business to be transferred to another entity to safeguard employment in viable activities,” Bronze said.
Belgian news outlet tijd.be noted that it is very likely that the company would go bankrupt and staff would lose their jobs.
Bronze said that judicial reorganisation would take place under the authority of a court representative and trustees would have about four to six months of work.
Liberal trade union ACLVB spokesperson Wilson Wellens said that “in the meantime, the shops will remain open.”
However, “if the judge does not accept Bronze’s petition, the chances of bankruptcy are extremely high,” Wellens said.
Bronze submitted the petition to the court on Thursday, September 1, which has 15 days to consider it.
“The court mandator will not sell the businesses to the highest bidder but to the bidder who wants to keep the most jobs,” Wellens added.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Ars writes: "Rolling out an ambitious interface revamp several years into a console's lifecycle isn't a typical decision; at this point, hardware vendors often prefer to concentrate resources on the launch of a new console. Shouldn't Microsoft be thinking about the Xbox 720? But the company has invested over a year of work into something that it calls (accurately enough) the New Xbox Experience (NXE). More than a reskinning, it's a rethinking of the console's interface and functionality from the ground up.
It will be pushed out to gamers on November 19, but we've had the new system running on consoles here in the Orbiting HQ for a week now and wanted the chance to show our readers around. We've also gone straight to Microsoft to get answers to your most pressing questions about the update, which are included at the end."


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More than one billion iPhones have been sold since Steve Jobs took to a stage at Macworld in San Francisco promising “an iPod, a phone and an internet communicator” – before revealing one device that performed all three functions.
iPhone fever has sent Apple’s value soaring to £515bn – despite the first year of falling iPhone sales in 2016.
There have been 11 new versions of the phone since that launch, with some controversial redesigns including different-sized models, changes to screen sizes and disappearing headphone jacks.
The second generation iPhone 3G launches on 11 July 2008, and the app store also launches in this year
The iPhone 3GS goes on sale in June 2009, with sales for the year reaching more than 25 million
The iPhone 4 in 2010 sees the first major redesign, with the front and back casing both made of glass for the first time
Apple founder Steve Jobs dies the day after the iPhone 4S – the first model to sell one million units in its first 24 hours – is announced in 2011
The screen size for the iPhone 5 is increased to four inches in 2012, and annual sales hit 135.8 million units
The iPhone 5S, in 2013, is the first to include a fingerprint scanner integrated into the home button, known as Touch ID
Both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are unveiled in September 2014, offering two sizes for the first time. Sales shatter all Apple records, with four million sold in the first 24 hours and 10 million in the first three days
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are announced in September 2016, with the Plus housing a dual rear camera for the first time, designed to capture images to rival that of a digital camera
The device also led to the launch of the App Store in 2008 – and the creation of a new digital industry, making fortunes for the inventors of apps such as Angry Birds, Uber and WhatsApp.
Other innovations include the Siri voice-activated personal assistant, the use of Touch ID and a powerful 64-bit processor.
The phone has been such a hit that the phone alone has generated more cash than the product ranges of Microsoft and Google.
The next version of the phone – expected to be unveiled in September – has been rumoured to feature a larger screen that covers most of the front of the device.
:: Life of the iPhone
:: 2007 – After being unveiled in January, the first iPhone goes on sale in June in the US and November in Europe amid passionate Apple fan reaction and queues outside retail stores. Around 3.4 million units were sold that year.
:: 2008 – On July 11 2008 the second generation iPhone 3G launches, including in a white colour option for the first time. Apple is criticised for maintaining the high price of the device compared with other mobile phones. The App Store is also launched.
:: 2009 – The iPhone 3GS goes on sale in June, and sales for the year reach more than 25 million.
:: 2010 – The introduction of the iPhone 4 includes the first major redesign of the iPhone, as the front and back casing are both made of glass for the first time, with a steel trim and edges that serve as the antennas for signal reception.
However some users report holding the phone a certain way affects their signal, forcing Apple to issue advice on how to hold the phone to prevent phone calls dropping out. Sales rise again to 47.5 million.
:: 2011 – The iPhone 4s is introduced, including voice assistant Siri for the first time. Apple founder Steve Jobs dies the day after the phone is announced, while the 4s then becomes the first iPhone to sell one million units in its first 24 hours.
Also this year Apple surpasses long-standing market leader Nokia as the largest mobile phone vendor in the world by revenue.
:: 2012 – The iPhone 5 ushers in another redesign, this time increasing the screen size to four inches for the first time. By now, annual iPhone sales have hit 135.8 million units.
:: 2013 – Another “s” model, this time the iPhone 5s, is launched. The first iPhone to include a fingerprint scanner integrated into the home button, known as Touch ID.
:: 2014 – In September the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are unveiled, offering the iPhone in two sizes for the first time – both of which have increased screen sizes on previous generations at 4.7 and 5.5 inches respectively. Sales response shatters all Apple records, with four million sold in the first 24 hours and 10 million in the first three days of availability.
However the 6 and 6 Plus are not without flaws, as some users report their devices bending when sat on or placed under pressure.
:: 2015 – Thanks to the success of the 6 and 6 Plus, sales for the year exceed 231 million units, while Apple also records the largest single quarter profit of a private company during the year.
In September the 6s and 6s Plus are released, complete with a new pressure sensitive screen.
:: 2016 – As the smartphone market begins to reach saturation point and competition from rivals increases, Apple reports iPhone sales drops in each of the first three quarters of the year.
This includes the first revenue drop for the company since the iPhone first launched in 2007. However the one billionth iPhone is sold during the year, and a new four-inch phone, the iPhone SE is launched.
Then in September the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are announced, with the Plus housing a dual rear camera for the first time that is designed to capture images to rival that of a digital camera.


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The Sky News app for the iPhone and iPod touch has been a firm favourite for people seeking the latest updates, videos and even quirky stories since it launched on the app store. Many iPad users have been asking when they would get a dedicated app, well they’ll be asking no longer as it is now available to download from the app store.
Instead of simply plugging in stories from the iPhone app a new team will source, produce and then distribute the news via the native iPad app. The new format will include live coverage of events, analysis and expert opinions – the app basically provides a mobile version of the live Sky News channel. One neat trick is that live video can be rewound past the point the user entered the video; this is basically a neat variation of on-demand video.
The live and on-demand services seems to have gone down well with users as the app has shot to the top of the News category and the overall free category too.
Head of Sky News, John Ryley, said: “We pride ourselves on being an innovative, brave and mould-breaking news service, and work hard to give our audiences access to news on their terms.”
It seems Mr. Ryley agrees with iPad owners past demands and is clearly pleased with the new app. He continued “Having delivered content across digital, online and mobile, iPad was the next logical platform on which to break new ground.”
The app is currently available for free download but is hotly tipped to add subscription based premium content in the near future.


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Anonymous Hacker Conducts Secret and Illegal IPv4 Census
An anonymous hacker has done the unthinkable — hacking the entire planet. By creating a 420,000-strong botnet, the researcher was able to create the most accurate map of the global Internet ever conceived, and it was all incredibly illegal.
The hacker's methods were fairly rudimentary, but extremely effective. Essentially, he hacked nearly a half million computers and simply pinged each one to map the results. The map he subsequently created is represented in a .gif image that shows not only where people are accessing the Internet from, but also what their traffic patterns are.
The map is already on its way to becoming obsolete since A) it measures traffic from 2012 and B) It registers only the devices connecting via IPv4. While that protocol is still very common, IPv6 is the new standard.
The hack, first reported on Motherboard, has fairly limited real-world use, which is to be expected, since the hacker says he did it primarily for fun. One of the more startling statistics culled from the data is that hundreds of thousands of devices, mainly routers, are either entirely unprotected from attacks or utilize stock passwords that come preloaded from the manufacturer.
A recently published research paper explains how the hack works:
"After completing the scan of roughly one hundred thousand IP addresses, we realized the number of insecure devices must be at least one hundred thousand. Starting with one device and assuming a scan speed of ten IP addresses per second, it should find the next open device within one hour. The scan rate would be doubled if we deployed a scanner to the newly found device. After doubling the scan rate in this way about 16.5 times, all unprotected devices would be found; this would take only 16.5 hours. Additionally, with one hundred thousand devices scanning at ten probes per second we would have a distributed port scanner to port scan the entire IPv4 Internet within one hour."
‘Orange Is The New Black' Season 5 Leaked By Hackers, The Dark Overlord Call Out Network Giants
Netflix was hacked the other day and the hackers who call themselves "The Dark Overlord" are not yet finished with the streaming giant. Also, they called out ABC, NBC and NAT Geo.
Acer Is Facing Charges Over Leaking Credit Card Info Of Online Buyers
After an investigation revealed that the Acer hack was due to the company's lax digital security, the Taiwanese company has been penalized after leaking the credit card information of 35,000 customers.
Hacked Sony Twitter Account Behind Britney Spears Death
Sony Music's Twitter account was supposedly hacked after it tweeted that pop star Britney Spears was dead.
2016 Scandals And Controversies In Technology
2016 was riddled with controversies and the tech industry had its fair share. Here are five of them.
Maisie Williams, Katy Perry And Other Celebrity Online Hacking Victims Of 2016
Celebrities are among the favorite targets of hackers who want to take advantage of their victims to extort money or just to embarass them.
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VPN is all about data and information security. It bars predators from snooping into your data. It prevents hackers from stealing confidential information. But wait, did you know that VPN can slow down your internet? Yes, it can.
How Do Personal Emergency Response Systems Work?
Personal emergency response systems, known as PERS for short, are systems that help people to raise the alarm and get immediate help when a medical or personal emergency occurs. They are ideal for older people and anyone with a mobility issue or an injury or illness that can cause falls.
How to Download Free Android Emulator for Gaming on PC?
Are you looking to play Android games on PC with the help of the best Android emulator? There are numerous types of online platform which provide user friendly access and support for the interested communities to get immediate access to install their best recommended Android applications.
Netflix is Raising Prices, Here’s How it Now Compares to Other Streaming Services
Once a brand gains the trust and loyalty of its market, it is only logical that it attempts to flex its dominant muscle. Such is the tale that fits the recent price hike coming from the stable of Netflix. Having baited consumers into believing that streaming, and not cable subscription, is the right way to go, Netflix has now decided to drop its own form of a bombshell on consumers in the form of price increment. The news, which was announced earlier this year, detailed that Netflix would be raising prices across all of its plans by 13 to 18 percent.


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Popular British brand to jump the pond
Hunter, best known for its signature rain boots, is expanding its fledgling retail footprint.
The iconic British brand will make its North American freestanding retail debut in October, at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.
The 2,800 sq. ft. store will be the third standalone location for the brand, whose boots are sold in department stores and specialty shops around the world. It will showcase the brand's weatherproof footwear, outerwear and accessories with the full Hunter Kids collection.
To date, Hunter has opened two stores, one in London and the other in Tokyo. But more outposts are likely. Creative director Alasdhair Willis told Women's Wear Daily that the brand is "planning activity in New York and London, in addition to the Yorkdale store opening, in line with that. Details to be outlined in due course.” Willis also said that the U.S. is Hunter's biggest market.
Chain Store Age names newest members to SPECS ‘Ambassadors Club’
In 2016, Chain Store Age unveiled its first-ever SPECS Ambassadors Club, created to recognize selected retail executives who have made significant contributions to the industry and to SPECS. Produced by CSA, SPECS is attended by retail and food-service executives who plan, design, build, and maintain stores and restaurants nationwide.
Now in its second year, the SPECS Ambassadors Club members will provide guidance on overall programming for SPECS/2018, as well as serve as ambassadors to the event and participate in conference marketing efforts.
Following is a listing of the SPECS/2018 Ambassadors Club.
• Bruce Brock, director of real estate, Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs
• Bill Chaff, VP, real estate & construction, bd’s Mongolian Grill and Flat Top Grill
• Sara Craven, former corporate design & construction regional director, Avis Budget Group
• Dan Garneau, site development manager, Kum & Go
• Lindsey Garza, director, health & wellness innovations, Wal-Mart Stores
• Eric Johnson, director of store planning, Brookshire Brothers Inc.
• Alan Norton, senior manager, health and wellness innovations, design & formats, Wal-Mart Stores
• Doug Pellock, VP, construction and purchasing, Marcus Theatres
• David Shotwell, senior director of construction and facilities, Cook Out Restaurants
• Kent Swank, senior director construction, The Home Depot
• Parke Wellman, DVP, store design, construction, visual merchandising, Helzberg Diamonds
Now in its 54th year, SPECS will host its 2018 conference in Dallas, at the Gaylord Texan, March 18-20. The event will focus on what’s next, and what is shaping the future of physical retail.
Chinese e-commerce giant in joint venture with Marriott
Alibaba Group Holding is expanding its online travel footprint.
The retailer has formed a joint venture with Marriott International that will make it easy for Chinese consumers to book hotel rooms across the 30 brands managed by the U.S. hotelier. Chinese customers will be able use Alibaba’s travel platform, called Fliggy, to book rooms and other related experiences at the hotels. The program will market directly to Alibaba’s customer base, provide a link between Marriott’s loyalty programs and Alibaba’s loyalty program, and support Marriott hotels globally with content, programs and promotions customized for the Chinese traveler.
In addition, travelers will be able to use Alibaba’s smartphone payment platform during their stays at Marriott-branded hotels. Hotels in select markets will accept Alipay, Alibaba's online payment service. China’s online travel sales market this year will be worth about $86.9 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“We are proud to join forces with Marriott International – combining our large-scale consumer base, leading-edge technology and consumer insights with their unparalleled hospitality expertise,” said Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group. “Together, we are elevating and redefining the travel experience for Chinese consumers to be more seamless and personalized as they embark on adventures to discover the world.”
Under the terms of the deal, Marriott will offer access to private concerts, family-focused experiences, and court-side seats at sporting and other events through its rewards programs. Eligible members from Alibaba’s loyalty program will benefit from personalized hospitality programs and Marriott’s customer loyalty program.
"By forming this partnership, we are pairing our hospitality expertise with Alibaba’s digital travel platform, retail expertise and digital payment platform, Alipay, and driving membership to our loyalty programs," stated Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson.


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Dead calm before the 5G storm
Qualcomm, Apple and others suffer big smartphone slump ahead of 5G rollout. But will next year really bring relief ?
The global smartphone market is taking a significant pause ahead of the rollout of 5G services. The big question is just how long that pause will last.
Market research firm IDC reported Wednesday that global smartphone sales fell 2.3% year over year during the June quarter. That is the seventh straight quarter of declines for the industry. IDC’s data showed iPhone unit sales falling 18% to 33.8 million, which would be the lowest number of quarterly sales that Apple’s iconic smartphone line has seen in six years. Apple no longer reports unit sales itself, but the company said in its fiscal third-quarter report Tuesday that iPhone revenue for the same period slid 12% year over year to about $26 billion.
Qualcomm painted an even bleaker picture on Wednesday. Fiscal third-quarter revenue came in a bit below Wall Street’s estimates, though adjusted pershare earnings exceeded expectations. But the company’s forecast was a different story, with Qualcomm essentially projecting a significantly weaker business for the next two quarters as device makers and wireless carriers clean out inventory ahead of a big 5G push next year.
Qualcomm is also hurt by its continued royalty dispute with Huawei and the fact that the Chinese smartphone giant uses its own chips for devices sold in that country. This means that 5G can’t appear on the scene soon enough for Qualcomm, Apple and others in the smartphone business.
Wireless carriers are indeed pushing hard to upgrade their networks to the next-generation technology. AT&T said on its earnings call last week that it expects to have “nationwide 5G coverage” by the middle of next year. Verizon said on its own call Thursday morning that it expects to have 5G service up and running in 30 markets by the end of this year. China also aims to have national 5G networks in place next year,
Billed as the next generation of wireless networks, 5G promises blazing speeds and a vastly increased data capacity needed to underpin future technologies, such as autonomous cars.
But early reviews of 5G services have been rough, noting the service’s spotty availability and the tendency of the phones to overheat.
And those phones are expensive: the 5G version of Samsung’s latest Galaxy S10 lineup costs about 30% more than an equivalent model without 5G. Wireless customers are already resistant to handset prices that have been creeping well over the $1,000 mark, and it is unclear whether faster service in limited markets will be enough to convince them to absorb further price increases.
And while Apple hasn’t announced its plans, the company isn’t expected to introduce a 5G iPhone until late next year. That too will likely be a significant constraint on 5G demand given the fact that the iPhone has leading market share at the premium end of the smartphone market where customers are more likely to upgrade early. As fast as 5G service promises to be, the wait will be painful.
Chip-maker Qualcomm projected significantly weaker business over the next few months as device manufacturers and wireless carriers clean out inventory ahead of a big 5G push next year.


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The Chicago Tribune is changing its street-sale format from broadsheet to tabloid beginning next week, the newspaper reports. The move, which will affect weekday retail editions but not subscription copies, puts the paper in direct competition with its rival, the Chicago Sun-Times, which has long published in the format. The Tribune’s editorial content will be the same in both editions.
“Many news consumers have asked for a more convenient version of the paper,” an exec said. “Companies succeed when they leverage strong brands and respond to customer feedback.” The Sun-Times appreciated the switch. “The quote ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ came to mind,” a spokeswoman said. “Sure, size matters,” she continued, “but so is what you do with it.” (Read more Chicago Tribune stories.)


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nVidia’s purchase of Ageia signals the dawn of a new era in PC gaming.
For those who didn’t know, Ageia is known for their “PhysX” hardware cards, which use a proprietary API to offload game physics to a dedicated processor. Industry support hasn’t been all that great for the PC, so it has been hard for the average consumer to justify a $200 purchase to get more out of a handfull of PC games.
There have been other fledgling PC gaming technologies over the past several years, which are now minimum features for any serious game.
3d positional audio was once a novelty, and several companies tried (and failed) to corner the market. Aureal was the first company to make boards that processed 3d audio in hardware, even with only two speakers, but their proprietary technology died shortly after the rest of the industry accepted DirectX.
Remember 3dfx? They pioneered the first hardware-accelerated 3d cards for PC games (an area which nVidia now dominates). At one time, 3dfx’s Voodoo cards were in the same position as Ageia’s PhysX boards. It was difficult for the average PC user to justify a $250 purchase for a cards that used a proprietary API and supported only a handful of games. For the hardcore gamers, these cards were a no-brainer because they transformed the PC into a legitimate gaming platform.
As PC games have become more realistic and complicated, there has been a need for advanced processing of physics. A dedicated processor for game physics allow developers to have more particles and more life-like explosions and realistic damage calculations.
The PhysX technology also debuted just before multi-core processors became mainstream, and developers are just starting to utilize these processor’s full potential. A dedicated physics processor may no longer be necessary, as developers can spin off a thread on a multi-core CPU to handle game engine calculations, which in theory would have more horsepower than Ageia’s dedicated solution. This trick is used by the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, which is the entire reason why these consoles have multi-core CPUs to begin with.
If left to their current course, Ageia’s PhysX hardware for PCs could possible fade within the next few years, given the trend of multi-threaded game engines emerging.
Several years ago, nVidia purchased 3dfx at a time when 3dfx was about to be sucked into a black hole. There was no need to purchase 3dfx from a competition standpoint, and nVidia already conquered several problems that 3dfx could not (a series of critical moves which awarded the graphics market to nVidia).
It is puzzling why nVidia chose to purchase Ageia. It all comes down to marketing, and how nVidia will choose to push the PhysX technology. It is clear from their press release that nVidia is planning to incorporate hardware physics processing in their new chips (or possibly a co-processor on the same card), but will this hardware be needed?
What makes this news exciting for PC gamers is that the next generation of cards will probably get the functionality of PhysX cards “for free”. Once there is a sizable marketshare of PC hardware that is PhysX capable, then developers will start to make hardware physics a standard requirement in their games.
Although the press release states that over 140 games use PhysX technology, very few of these are PC games. Most of these games are on the Xbox and Playstation 3, which spin off a thread using a general-purpose processor. If nVidia can create a graphics chip that incorporates hardware physics, then they could easily win a contract for the next generation of consoles.
nVidia’s purchase of Ageia demonstrates the company’s commitment to push gaming technology further. Once an integrated “super-GPU” becomes standard, then nearly every video game (be they PC or console) will support more complex game engines, which will surely make games even more immersive and realistic.


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Darkweb ClassifiedsFederal agents say they have shut down dark web vendors selling narcotics itself Calicartel on the dark web . Today's Paper January 02. I've boughtpills online, and at best they were buy drugs online darknet worst, they made me ill. Aug 23, 2022 Torrez Market is one of the best deep web drug stores. A new study into deep-web marketplaces for illegal drugs reveals some of the ways that law enforcement use to catch online drug dealers. By J Buxton Cited by 130 THE EMERGENCE OF ONLINE DRUG. TRANSACTIONS. As outlined by Martin (2022),5 illicit drugs have been bought and sold on the internet since it. New anonymous marketplaces such as Silk Road and Black Market Reloaded mark a paradigm shift in how drug crimes are committed today: Illegal substances are. Is It Illegal To Buy Things On The Deep Web? If you try to buy drugs online, whether on the surface or deep web, you'll attract attention. Tor, or any another sophisticated software to buy drugs online. a darknet drug vendor shop that sells drugs from 10 categories. Do products bought online go through security? What are the risks I should be aware of.
In 2022 that the most famous drugs bought over this dark net market were holistic approach in the detection and intervention of online drug trade. Drug dealers are using bitcoin to finance the deadly wave of fentanyl flooding into the country from overseas. We follow the money from Main. Criminal Defense Attorney explains the differences between traditional drug trafficking and the Dark Web and Silk Road etc. Where are kids getting drugs? Twenty years ago, the answer to this question would only have been: from classmates at school, from friends at. I've bought pills online, and at best they were buy drugs online darknet worst, they made me ill. Aug 23, 2022 Torrez Market is one of the best deep web drug stores. A substance abuse expert, Dr Smith discussed the Dark Web here at the American bohemia market url Psychiatric Association (APA) 2022 Annual Meeting. Hidden. Drug Markets Onion 2022-02-22 Torrez market darknet. It had become home to enormous online drug. Exact numbers are difficult to pin. Supplementary information, if accurate, provides online consumers with a level This is beneficial for consumers who may wish to purchase drugs that are.
An ex-detective is tracking down knock-offs to counter a dangerous trade. Trusted Darknet VendorsFirst, selling drugs online is safer and more profitable than doing it offline: Interviewer: So you still sell on DNMs darknet. Calling himself Dread Pirate Roberts or DPR, the. 29-year-old white male had amassed at least 80 million in transaction commissions, all hidden. The role of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as the nodal agency on the matter of drug law enforcement in India has gained prominence in recent times. This is due. More than one in 10 respondents say they bought drugs via conventional sites and 'darknet' sites last year despite closure of most famous. Drug traffickers also use messenger services and forums to discuss and sell drugs. How drugs are sold online. Advertise on the Darknet. Clearnet. Order. For some the idea of buying drugs online from the comfort of your home, without the risks of meeting a dealer in some dark alley is a boon. As you'll recall, Swiss police seized a program called Darknet Shopper, a bot that visited darknet markets and bought random items with.
Criminal Defense Attorney explains the differences between traditional drug trafficking and the Dark Web and Silk Road etc. Buying and selling drugs online is becoming more popular, but did you know you face severe criminal consequences if you buy or sell drugs. Buying drugs online can cause you even more legal trouble than buying them on the street. If you are facing a federal drug trafficking. The biggest online marketplace for buying and selling used panties. 7000 of these are in the Top Darknet Markets to Buy Drugs Online bohemia darknet market in June 2022. Drug dealers are using bohemia link bitcoin to finance the deadly wave of fentanyl flooding into the country from overseas. We follow the money from Main. Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force is warning parents about the growing use of the dark web to buy drugs. We have seen an alarming. It was just the start for Edward. Teenager. Canberra teenager Edward* started buying drugs online when he was just 13. Author Nick Bilton discusses his new book, American Kingpin, about the notorious online drug marketplace Silk Road.
By R Damien Cited by 106 Besides, online selling of traditional illicit drugs (cocaine,. Page 2. Rhumorbarbe et al. / Forensic Science International (2022). 2 heroin buy drugs online darknet and cannabis). First, selling drugs online is safer and more profitable than doing it offline: Interviewer: So you still sell on DNMs darknet marketplaces. The Darknet is known for being a marketplace for all kinds of illegal things, but it also appears as a powerful tool for individual freedom. A substance abuse expert, Dr Smith discussed the Dark Web here at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2022 Annual Meeting. Hidden. Everything with the topic 'buying drugs online' on VICE. The role of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as the nodal agency on the matter of drug law enforcement in India has gained prominence in recent times. This is due. A Broward man who admitted he sold heroin, fentanyl and other danger drugs on the "Dark Web" was sentenced to nearly six years in federal. More than one in 10 respondents say they bought drugs via conventional sites and 'darknet' sites last year despite closure of most famous.
Introduction Dark web markets are becoming extinct Dark web markets are becoming extinct, and there are at least two reasons for that. With increasingly limited resources, however, spending more in one area needs to buy drugs online darknet be offset by spending less in other areas. Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and Recent Scenarios: Epidemiological, Anthropological and Clinical Pharmacological Issues. Deep Web Forums Deep Web Forums (Onion Links 2021) Deep Web Forums, The forums in. Our goal here was to identify anonymous forum posts with the topics of opioid commodity promotion (eg, listing promotion) and review (eg, report fake opioid vendors). The Tor browser can be used to surf the surface web anonymously, giving buy drugs online darknet the user added protection against everything from hackers to government spying to corporate data collection. Seven-days rolling average of the observed COVID-19 specific listings in the medicines and PPE categories. The three defendants allegedly created WSM, maintained the website, and operated the marketplace to ensure that buyers could access vendor pages and that financial transactions were properly processed. Appendix A shows examples of how these HTML tags can be used to parse the desired information from a marketplace Webpage. Reddit, an online community which is currently gaining popularity is the largest of all the social networking websites on the Internet. World Market is a new dark net market that started on November 2020, but completely redesigned the layout on 18 of January 2021 to look exactly like Alphabay and Empire Market, This change might make some people nostalgic and like the change but also make people dislike the change since Empire Market has exit scammed and stole over 30 million usd for customers funds. You are able to browse the market, its products, policies and almost anything else without registration.
“After exploring the launch of a bitcoin trading platform all year, Goldman blue lady e pill Sachs dropped plans to launch a trading desk. If you are looking for a place to download Deep Web (2020) Torrent Movie In HD, This Is the Area for You.”
BitBazaar ( Scammer)- Recently launched marketplace for drugs digital products, carding or all popular listings, but recently don’t offer 2FA by PGP. MSBs provide services similar to banks and must hold a valid money transfer license. Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office. Specifically in relation to blockchain technology and crypto investing, a passive yield is typically realized when an investor purchases a cryptocurrency with a specific amount of investment capital (for blockchain darknet markets example, by buying ETH or BTC with a fiat currency like the U. Immutability is the characteristic of data becoming irreversibly codified in the shared data ledger of a blockchain network after transaction execution. Inside was a tiny plastic bag containing 10 tabs of LSD. I see a lot of weed dealers when checking some of these markets. Just because these websites have been taken down does buy drugs online darknet not mean that the problem is solved. I order on this site for a very long time. The first and foremost thing to learn is you can’t find DNMs using a Google browser. This article empirically explores the structure and mechanisms underpinning the local drug markets in a non-metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. If you are of the same opinion, then I think that $500 is quite a fair price to destroy the dirt I created.


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Kate Middleton has ‘raised her game’ claims royal expert
It’s apparent that no one can resist finding a good bargain or deal, even royals - like Kate Middleton and Prince Harry - and British celebrities are susceptible, despite often having millions in the bank. Kate Middleton, 38, might be the Duchess of Cambridge and married to the future King of England, Prince William, 37, but it appears that the Duchess loves a good money-saving deal.
On several occasions in the past, Kate has been spotted doing her grocery shopping at the British supermarket Tesco.
Despite being worth an estimated £11.5million - and Prince William worth an estimated £30.8million - the Duchess shops at Tesco.
However, Prince William hasn’t ventured to join the Duchess on any occasion to the British supermarket.
But, that’s not the only discount-retailer Kate shops at.
READ MORE ROYAL NEWS: Queen Elizabeth II heartbreak: How the Queen 'urged' couple to think
Royals and British celebrities can’t resist the calling of a good bargain
In December 2018, The Duchess of Cambridge was pictured browsing between aisles before buying her children - Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and maybe even Prince Louis, one - some tasty treats from discount home store The Range.
Her keen eye-for bargains doesn’t stop there. Previously it was revealed by US Weekly that Kate Middleton’s favourite shop is TK Maxx.
A source told the publication: “She loves to shop for bargains, mixing and matching high street clothes and designer. She has a great eye for that."
And she’s not the only royal that enjoys a TK Maxx bargain.
Her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, 35, who is worth an estimated £30.8million was also previously photographed stepping out of a TK Maxx store - despite trying to be in disguise, wearing a hoodie and a hat so he isn’t recognised - he was seen leaving the store with a full shopping bag.
Royals sure do love a bargain, but they aren’t the only ones - celebrities across the nation have been spotted shopping at some surprising wallet-friendly stores.
English singer-songwriter, Adele, 31, might have recently showed off her incredible seven stone weight loss at the uber star-studded Oscar After Party and worn a dress worth the same price as small car, but it hasn’t stopped her hunting for a good bargain in the past.
She might be worth £146.3million, but the singer has kept her feet firmly on the ground.
Previously, Adele was pictured bargain shopping at Target - a budget retailer in America - to pick up some essentials.
She kept her bodyguard close-by as she browsed the store but was spotted leafing through a comic book for her son Angelo.
It has also previously been revealed that she enjoys undercover bargain hunting at her local charity shop.
Locals near her house on the south coast have said that, rather than ordering up the contents of Liberty for her new pad, Adele’s been nosing around the charity shops for interiors bits and bobs.
A source told The Sun previously: “Adele is like any normal girl – she loves a bargain. She’d rather shop local, too, so these are the obvious places to go.”
Man City star and professional footballer, Raheem Sterling, 25, is worth an estimated £34.6million - but that hasn’t stopped the premiership footballer from shopping in his local Poundworld store in Southport, Merseyside.
This act of bargain-hunting seems more than a little out of character for the player who is well-known for turning up to training in a different supercar everyday, but it appears even he can’t resist a cheap bargain.
However, it seems that Raheem isn't the only celebrity that loves a good £1 bargain.
Katie Price proudly posted on her Instagram page a picture of herself showing off her new parker coat to the backdrop of Poundland.
Loud and proud, she announced to the world: "Loving my @bobbi_parka new coat… and yes I’m in the pound shop… with pound shop queen @loupudd" in her caption.


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DNR: Campsites going quickly
There’s nothing like a good winter storm to get people in the mood for camping. Right now, than 60 percent of state park campsites for Memorial Day Weekend that offer electricity or full hook ups had been reserved.
Camping options for the big holiday weekend in a state park are quickly shrinking.
Most parks will have nonelectric sites available for the Memorial Day Weekend.
“We had a flurry of reservations since the seventeenth when campers began getting their sites for a two week stay that includes Memorial Day Weekend,” said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau.
Campers can make reservations for a site three months ahead of their first night stay.
Not every campsite is available on the reservation system. Parks maintain between 25 and 50 percent of the electric and non electric sites as non-reservation sites, available for walk up camping.
Information on Iowa’s state parks is available online at www.iowadnr.gov including links to the reservations page.


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Fledging firms and start-ups that are setting a shining example of success are set to be singled out at the North East Business Awards 2017.
Organised annually by The Journal and our sister paper The Gazette, with support from the North East England Chamber of Commerce, the event seeks to champion the companies that have gone the extra mile in the past 12 months, regardless of their size or sector.
A total of 13 awards will be given at each of three regional finals – Tyneside and Northumberland; Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside and Teesside – before the winners from those events go head to head at the grand final next April.
And one category which is always hotly contested is the Newcomer of the Year Award, where judges will be looking for firms that have achieved a great deal within a short space of time.
The panel will look at exceptional sales performance, innovative products or other means of making an impact on their markets.
In the 2016 awards, the accolade went to Gateshead-based Saving Energy North East Ltd, a business which launched early in 2014 to provide a range of renewable solutions for homes and businesses throughout the region.
MD Garry Coulson said: “This award is down to the team ethics. The team work very hard. We started out with seven staff and now have 32 and we’ll be recruiting again soon too. We’ll be doubling the workforce within the next six to 12 months.
“We are putting new systems of technology in place and do everything in-house, which separates us from our competitors. We are delighted to have been honoured with this regional award and to receive recognition for our on-going commitment to provide sustainable, energy saving measures that will help to save our environment.”
Virgin Money will once again be sponsoring the category.
The Newcastle-headquartered firm said: “The entrepreneurial spirit is at the very heart of the Virgin philosophy and brand, and Virgin Money is proud to once again support the Newcomer of the Year category in the North East Business Awards 2017.
“The award helps to ensure that successful new businesses from across the region get the recognition they richly deserve as they embrace the spirit of adventure and set out to change the world.
“Virgin Money has sponsored this award since 2012, and it provides a fantastic opportunity to see the breadth and depth of entrepreneurship and innovation that is alive and well here in the North East. It is great to see the broad range of successful new businesses in our region who are demonstrating these qualities as they drive themselves forward, building employment and skills, and making a real difference in their respective sectors.
“Through our support for this award, we have heard so many inspirational stories of people and new businesses in the North East and, just as Virgin Money has continued to grow our business in the region, it is fantastic to see the success of other companies.
“The North East Business Awards offers a brilliant platform to encourage more new companies in the region and the Newcomer of the Year deservedly recognises and celebrates their success.”


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Interview // LSD. A new gallery model for Berlin?
Interview by Sarah Gretsch and Anna Russ – in Berlin; Monday, Aug. 19, 2013.
Situated on Potsdamer Straße among galleries like Krome and Thomas Fischer is the bright, young face of LSD Galerie. But LSD is not like its nearby counterparts; it marks the beginning of a growing trend in galleries adopting artist-run…[read on…]


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The 21-day lockdown announced by the government to curtail the spread of coronavirus outbreak has badly hit pharmaceutical export. The lockdown and restrictive measures on public movement have led to scarcity of truck drivers, freight operators and cargo handlers thus disrupting the movement of cargo and freight to and fro ports and airports.
Despite directives from the Union home affairs ministry exempting shipping and freight movement from the lockdown, pharmaceutical exporters are finding it extremely difficult to transport goods to the ports and airports by road and ship them. The harassment by local administration has hampered movement of truck drivers, freight operators and cargo handlers.
Considering the current situation and the rising cases of coronavirus, it is not possible for customs brokers to undertake clearance activity at the port terminal and port container freight stations, said a Mumbai based custom broker on condition of anonymity.
Said a senior executive from Ipca Laboratories which manufactures hydroxychloroquine (HCQS) tablets recommended by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for high-risk healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19 patients, “The movement of export-import containers by road has almost come to a halt due to the lockdown. We have export orders of HCQS from almost 100 countries under the advance licences but are finding it hard to ship the products.”
Though the government has restricted the export of HCQS to meet domestic demand, the export of the product has been allowed under advance licence.
There is severe shortage of truck drivers that move containers to and fro Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) which handles the majority of containerized freight of the country. Terminals at JNPT are functioning at about 30 per cent of capacity due to a sharp drop in gate-in and-gate-out activity, said a terminal official.
JNPT has waived dwell time charges for import containers moved by road to nearby container freight stations, directly to factories and empty containers unloaded from a ship from Mach 22 till March 31.
The Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai has on March 29 issued an advisory on non-charging of container detention charges on import and export shipments.
The shortage of staff has also taken its toll on the operation of cargo airlines. Offloading boxes from the aircraft is a big challenge due to massive pileup at airport facilities.
Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), representing drug exporters has reached to the commerce ministry for immediate intervention. Following commerce ministry’s direction, ministry of home affairs has come out with an advisory exempting exempting shipping and freight movement from the lockdown.
“As of now our biggest concern is to ensure uninterrupted export from the country which got hampered due to logistics issue since the nationwide lockdown. There is a lot of pressure from the importing countries,” said Uday Bhaskar, director general, Pharmexcil.
On March 30 the commerce ministry had convened a meeting to address the challenges faced by the exporters.
Meanwhile Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the department of commerce, ministry of commerce and industry has opened a helpdesk to resolve the challenges faced by importers and exporters due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 21-day lockdown in the country.
Pharmaceutical export from India stood at US$ 19.13 billion in 2018-19 and reached US$ 9.36 billion in 2019-20 (till October 2019). It is expected to grow by 30 per cent to reach US$ 20 billion by 2020.


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Designers Yusuke Seki and Jaime Hayon unveil their latest work together – the delicious-sounding Papabubble – a Yokohama destination calling itself “caramel artisans.” A look inside reveals a voyeuristic approach to candy-making – allowing patrons the ability to see delectable treats crafted right in front of their face as if magic. Designed to appear like a laboratory of flavor, each nook, cranny and rivet has the consumers taste buds in consideration.
- All Sections
HYPEBEAST 100: The innovators from all realms of creativity in the spotlight.
Explore and be inspired by the latest women's fashion news and trends.


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Search Restaurant Business
Restaurants don’t have to be super funky to be groundbreakers.
The company’s stock fell on Tuesday after an analyst downgrade that cited its innovation challenges.
Eight quick-service chains have been asked to provide information on their use of no-hiring agreements.
A deeper dive into the growing Mediterranean brand, which made Restaurant Business’ Future 50 list for 2018.
A deeper dive into the eco-friendly seafood concept, which made Restaurant Business’ Future 50 list for 2018.
The family chain’s promotional focus is back on pancakes in a one-day deep discount.
With a decade past since the downturn, RB’s The Bottom Line takes a look at how the industry has grown and changed.
A deeper dive into the growing eatertainment chain, which made Restaurant Business’ Future 50 list for 2018.
Commonalities among the fastest-growing small chains in America provide a glimpse at some of the patterns disrupting the restaurant industry.
The chain, facing competition from trampoline parks, is offering an option for time-based game play.


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Services include airside deliveries,storage and distribution hubs, and 24/7centralised services to customers, covering all times zones.
Al-Futtaim Logistics, the leading regional provider of world-class supply chain solutions and logistics services, has today announced the official launch of its Aerospace Logistics division in the UAE. The inauguration, coinciding with the Dubai Airshow 2023, follows a soft launch at the MRO-AIME Middle East 2023.
Al-Futtaim’s Aerospace Logistics services caters to a diverse clientele including Airlines, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) operators, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Parts Suppliers, and Asset Leasing Companies. It offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that includes airside deliveries at major UAE airports, multiple carrier options, Technician Onboard Charters (TOC), and 24/7 centralisedaerospace operations with global coverage. In addition, the company provides storage solutions for customers that are compliant with The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and ASA-100 standards.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Raman Kumar, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Logistics, said: “We are pleased to launch our Aerospace Logistics division in the UAE. As part of a UAE-based conglomerate with a global network, we are uniquely positioned to deliver unmatched service quality and flexibility to meet the needs of our customers in this burgeoning sector. Driven by a customer-centric and solutions-oriented approach, our 24/7 AOG operations with 300+ stations, combined with our end-to-end solutions, including storage and distribution hubs within the UAE, make us the go-to partner for aerospace companies of any size.”
Dubai is the 7th largest importer of parts for aircraft and spacecraft in the world. Over the next two decades, the Middle East is predicted to see 3.2% continued growth in the MRO services market, setting the region on a heading for soaring demand for efficient and rapid aerospace logistics.
Al-Futtaim Logistics is an authorised economic operator by the UAE Federal Customs Authority and Dubai Customs compliant with the specifications of the World Customs Organization (WCO). Earlier in October, the company was recognised for its innovative approach to aerospace logistics, receiving the Emerging Aerospace Logistics Company Award at the Arabian Cargo Awards 2023.


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200 new jobs coming to Rehau
By mid-year, one of Alabama's largest automotive suppliers will be adding hundreds of new jobs at an expanded facility. Cullman's Rehau manufacturing plant already has more 500 employees.
The expansion at Rehau comes as a result of a new contract with Mercedes-Benz.
Rehau will produce bumper assemblies for the Mercedes Benz C-class and M-class vehicles.
Governor Robert Bentley, Cullman County Mayor Max Townson and heads of both Mercedes and Rehau say the expansion is a result of a friendly-business environment and hard-working Alabamians.
"Our workers work hard and take pride in the products they produce and those are the people I am proudest of," Bentley says.
"We've been receiving very good support from the city and the community of Cullman and we feel very much at home here," Niklas Braun, CEO of Rehau Automotive, says.
As for the new bumper assemblies, Braun says, they will be included on the 2015 Mercedes Benz models.
"That means income for the residents, jobs, and quality of life...This expansion is as good as any new industry that you could possibly get, a 110 million-dollar expansion, some communities don't even get that in new investment. So, this is big," says Max Townson, mayor of Cullman.


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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Trucking Industry
The impact of coronavirus is there for all to see. It has affected almost every industry around the world, and people are now wondering which industry will be left standing. The trucking industry is the last one to be affected, which could signify danger for both truckers and people waiting for goods. There is no doubt that people might be wondering how COVID-19 has impacted the trucking sector. This article highlights some of the effects that the spread of the Coronavirus is bringing to the trucking industry.
Professional Truck Drivers
At the best of times, truckers face many challenges including lack of parking, long hours, difficulty eating healthy meals, high stress, and being paid by the mile rather than for all time. During the Covid-19 pandemic, truckers are facing even more strenuous challenges as they struggle to bring the nation vital grocery, medical supplies, and essential needs.
Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, there are now rest area and service plaza closures, even more truck parking restrictions, further food limitations and availability, lack of bathroom and shower facilities and the availability of PPE. They are also battling with the fear and guidance of what to do if they get infected on the road.
These are additional stressors that truck drivers do not need right now, but find themselves facing.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the pandemic. This means for drivers that some stress is relieved, however, most company drivers still are only paid for the miles they drive.
1. Truckers Losing Jobs
Although there is tremendous demand for truckers delivering food, pharmacy, and medical supplies, many drivers are currently losing jobs in other sectors as their trucking companies slow down or even close their operations until further notice. This has led to considerable financial distress to most of these drivers who have been depending on these trucking sectors for income generation and sustainability.
The 2 Trillion dollar CARES Act, the Covid-19 stimulus bill relief package, will be a tremendous relief for company drivers as well as Owner Operators, however to sustain their financial well-being in the meantime, we might see an increase in the number of online loans Texas truckers (and those in other states) are applying for in the coming months. This is the only source of income for drivers before they can see receive aid or resume their trucking duties.
2. Demand for Drivers
In the trucking industry, some trucking companies are cutting down on the number of employees, while others are looking for drivers. Trucking companies working in the transport of food, medicine, medical equipment, and other essentials have experienced a boom in their sector. All these essentials are in huge demand across the world, which explains why there is an increased demand for drivers who can help the companies in these sectors with meeting the growing demand.
3. Limited Movement
Trucking companies are known for long-distance services that they have been offering in the United States. Most of them have been providing coast to coast services for many years. However, the fact that the concentration of virus spread is restricted in specific cities, most of the trucking companies are choosing where to transport products and where not to transport. In as much as these companies want to remain in operations, they do not want to expose their essential employees to the virus. A March 25 report from the Supply Chain Analysis Network found that truckers “have been much more likely to reject offers to deliver” to the New York metropolitan area.
4. Cargo Selection Headaches
Previously, most of the trucking companies did not think much about the type of cargo they were transporting unless it was hazardous. However, everything has significantly changed since the emergence of COVID-19. Specific types of cargo are in much higher demand than others. Van and reefer are in demand while flatbed has fallen significantly. Companies and sole proprietors are in a race to secure the contracts for transporting these essential products. Those who traditionally found themselves transporting non-essential items must find new suppliers in order to stay operational.
5. Warehouse Closures
Warehouses are essential in the trucking industry as they act as distribution centers for most of the trucking companies. However, in the last few weeks, many of these warehouses are closing down including an Amazon facility in Kentucky. These closures are either due to the lack of consistent cargo to sustain their operations or in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. It is essential to highlight that most of the cities have instructed companies to close down and encouraged workers to move into self-isolation as a method of preventing the spread of the virus.
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, most of the sensitive industries will directly or indirectly be affected. The trucking industry is one of the essential sectors in the United States because it helps in the transportation of the necessary commodities to various corners of the nation. As it stands, the transport and the logistical industry is bleeding, and no sooner, people may experience an acute shortage in the supply of various products.


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It’s that time of the year again when the Big Bad Wolf comes chomping to town to reinforce its position as the world’s biggest book sale. And this year, the organisers are aiming for a new record with 230 hours of non-stop shopping starting at 7:00 am on 6 December and closing at 9:00 pm on 15 December at the Mines Convention Centre.
“We’re pushing all the buttons to make this year’s sale more fun, exciting, and wholesome,” says Andrew Yap, Managing Director of BookXcess, the organisers of the BBW sale. “We’ve recruited 550 staff to serve an estimated 600,000 visitors. It’s going to be a grand adventure.”
To enliven the good tidings, BBW will be introducing for the first time in Malaysia, the widest selection of fully imported and licensed collectible products such as Star Wars and other popular retro tin-plated signages, movie posters, board games, artwork kits, gift sets, and many more interesting products.
“Also at this year’s sale, customers will be delighted to find ‘Happy Wolf Specials’ where pricing for popular titles such as Mitch Albom’s For One More Day, Disney Classic Storybook Collection: Toy Story 3, and Blind Spots: 10 Business Myths start from RM3, which is lower than BBW’s usual 75%-95% standard discounts!” enthuses Yap.
“Every book opens up a new world, and we’ve taken every effort to cater to all age groups with a wide range of books to appeal to everyone with different interests,” says Yap. “This is in keeping with our original intent and mission statement – to rejuvenate the joy of reading and learning among Malaysians by making books more affordable.”
To add convenience and make the shopping experience memorable, the organisers have also allocated space for a variety of food and beverage outlets, a children’s playland, and a storage area where shoppers can store their books while shopping – and go back to buy more!
“With the 24 hours non-stop shopping throughout the BBW Sale from 6 – 15 Dec, customers can exercise greater flexibility in planning when and what time to do their shopping” says Yap.
BookXcess will also extend its Red Readerhood initiate farther by teaming up with the Budimas Charitable Foundation to collect 16,000 books for four rural libraries in Orang Asli settlements within Malaysia. Visitors are encouraged to buy any children’s book and drop them off in the Red Readerhood collection boxes to aid this programme. To kickstart this CSR programme, BookXcess and OCBC will donate 2,000 books.
Shoppers who pay using the OCBC Credit Card will enjoy an additional 5% discount on all items at the BBW sale.
To make this year’s sale memorable, BookXcess has put together a few survival tips for all visitors:
• Bring your own bags, boxes, enough cash or a credit card – and a great attitude
• Wear light, loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes
• Shop during off-peak hours (after 5pm on weekdays)
• Plan your route to the Mines Convention Centre to avoid traffic jams
• Expect to spend between 2 – 5 hours at the sale
• Allocate a reasonable budget
After 11 months of working and studying hard, December is always a delightful way to close the year. It’s the season for school holidays, vacation time with the family, Christmas, year-end bonus – and now you can add one more treat to the mix: the Big Bad Wolf sale.


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As many as 600 people are expected to leave the 1,000-strong HQ once the 90-day consul- tation period with unions and staff is complete on February 15. Staff had originally been told to expect the move by 2008.
A Littlewoods Shop Direct spokesman said: 'We have listened to our staff, who have said: 'Does it need to take that long?''
Chairman David Simons said: 'It  is the maximum number of people that could be affected. My guess is that it will be nearer a couple of hundred, rather than 600.'
He said the business was working hard to offer appropriate packages to encourage staff to make the move and it may have to recruit in Liverpool to cover any shortfall.
However, he said the total number of jobs available at Speke would be less than 2,000.
Union bosses fear that the figure of 600, which accounts for more than a quarter of the 2,100 staff across the Liverpool and Manchester offices, could grow.
Usdaw home shopping representative Val Pugh said: 'We are very disappointed. I don't expect to see many staff at Manchester go [to work at Speke]. The journey to Speke will be beyond the majority of people, with the exception of company management.'
Pugh said the number of people that have been made redundant since the Barclay brothers acquired Littlewoods catalogues business in 2002 and the GUS home shopping business in 2003 now runs into 'thousands'.
The agency catalogue market was struggling well before the Barclay Brothers acquired and merged the businesses. However, Pugh said: 'We are waiting for the company to tell us what they are going to do to stop the decline.'
The retailer said its strategy is to move into smaller, better-targeted catalogues and e-commerce sector, away from the declining agency catalogue market.


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Mubadala Raises Stake in AMD to 19 Percent
Posted on 12/03/2012
Mubadala Development Company increased its stake to 19% in California-based Advanced Micro Devices, Inc, a major producer in personal computer processors. In November, Mubadala took an extra board seat; they became AMD’s biggest shareholder in 2008.
On November 7, 2012, AMD’s board of directors increased its size by one director and appointed Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, executive director of Mubadala Industry, to AMD’s board of directors.
Mubadala was created in part to help diversify the economy of Abu Dhabi and the rest of the United Arab Emirates. In 2008, Mubadala bought AMD’s facilities to create Globalfoundries. Globalfoundries is a made-to-order semiconductor producer in which AMD is now of one its largest customers.
AMD is suffering from a possible cash shortfall due to the competitiveness of the PC sector, market factors and the onset growth of mobile and tablet devices.
Keywords: Mubadala Investment Company.


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A lot of non-essential businesses are being forced to close their doors during the COVID-19 outbreak to help stop the spread of the virus, but essential businesses, like grocery stores and food services, need to stay open to allow access to essential products.
These essential businesses are taking many different precautions to protect their staff and the public from the spread of COVID-19. Plexiglass dividers have been installed at tills to have a barrier between customers and staff. Stores are also limiting the number of customers allowed inside the store and implementing safe distancing between customers in line ups at checkouts.
Most businesses that remain open during this time are starting to compensate their staff with increased wages to show the appreciation they have for their dedication to continue their service to their communities.
Sobeys announced that all of its employees will be receiving an additional $50 a week, regardless of the number of hours worked. With an added $2 per hour premium for employees who work more than 20 hours a week.
Co-op announced on Wednesday that all of its store-team hourly workers including grocery, gas stations, liquor, cannabis, pharmacy and home health care will be receiving an additional $2.50 an hour, this will be retroactive to March 8 and effective until at least May 2.
Walmart Canada and Dollarama employees will also see an increase in their pay along with many other stores deemed as an essential service that are joining in to increase pay for their employees.
Loblaw’s is temporarily increasing compensation for their store and distribution centre colleagues by approximately 15 per cent retroactive to March 8.
Grocery chain Metro is boosting its employee salaries, offering an additional $2 per hour to workers in stores and distribution centres, retroactive from March 8 until May 2.
T&T Supermarket has implemented a $2 hourly “allowance” for its staff.
Premier Jason Kenney said the Alberta government is working diligently on a list of what constitutes essential services and critical infrastructure.


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Today’s MLB Opening Day is kicking off with a bang, as America’s favorite pastime flies high on the heels of the record-setting success of the World Baseball Classic. And as the season begins, brands are hoping to hit a home run with sponsorships that leverage the sport’s perennial popularity.
Last week, Booking.com announced it had signed on as MLB’s Official Online Travel Partner, with the mission to simplify the way Americans plan their baseball-inspired travels across the US. As part of the long term partnership, the company also became the presenting sponsor of the American and National League Division Series.
The offseason saw MLB ink an array of other new partnerships as well. Zoom became the league’s Official Unified Communications Platform and Presenting Partner of the MLB Replay Review on March 16th, in a groundbreaking deal designed to deliver unprecedented transparency to fans, and enhanced communication between umpires and league officials. Call-ins from the umpire will use Zoom Contact Center to power the Zoom Replay Operations Center, and be available to fans on national broadcasts, including MLB Network and Apple TV, to create a more engaging fan experience.
SeatGeek replaced StubHub as MLB’s official ticket marketplace on February 27th, following four other deals in the last four months with the Baltimore Ravens, Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, and United Soccer League. The partnership aims to make it easier than ever for fans to buy and sell tickets to league games on the secondary market, and scan directly into the ballpark.
MLB named FanDuel as its new Official Sports Betting Partner of MLB in North America in early March. The deal gives the gaming destination national broadcast integrations and expanded marketing rights, and customers the ability to watch and wager on games on FanDuel’s Sportsbook app, as well as its OTT platform, FanDuel+.
Meanwhile, tonight’s ESPN Opening Night Broadcasts will be presented by buzzy tequila brand Casamigos. Considering that tequila was the fastest growing alcohol subcategory last year (across Major Pro Sports) with a 66% increase in total deals–and MLB currently lacks a tequila sponsor–perhaps a Casamigos partnership is in the league’s future.


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"The blue gold is back on top as the protagonist in all collections. Denim is once again a fashion dynamo, and will significantly impact the shape of the market." "Real denim" with cross-effects and irregular thread structures will play an important role. Discreet lines will more likely be in the background, while vintage is unmistakably at the fore!
VICUNHA is known worldwide for incredible collections and production volumes – over 100 different items per season and 16 million meters produced per month – and even better known for its pioneering role in South America.
The denim powerhouse meets the highest international standards in terms of environmental protection, social responsibility, recycling and the sustainable, clean production of cotton. For years, VICUNHA has worked exclusively with cotton farms in Brazil and the USA whose business and employee policies meet the approved standards. In addition, the company is one of MARKS & SPENCER's "Plan A" partners.
July 2013, BCI's South American debut took place in the VICUNHA showroom in São Paulo. A separate BCI corner was installed as a platform for documentaries and presentations, in order to introduce BCI to major South American partners. A BCI representative was specially flown in from Geneva to Brazil for the event. Production of 16 million meters/month + one million meters of special routes/year.
Thomas Dislich is pleased about the "denim reboot" – as is the Brazilian denim powerhouse. VICUNHA has a unique global position. In 2013, the giant produced 16 million meters of denim per month for the world market in five of its own factories, which were sold with three-day service in its own branches and warehouses in America, Europe and Asia.
"Our broad range serves 4,500 customers worldwide, and we do not depend on any individual brands. VICUNHA is not a manufacturer that sells, but rather a commercial company that also produces.
"We produce very large quantities under our own direction, which gives us extraordinary flexibility and makes possible delivery within three days," Dislich says. VICUNHA is able to successfully and self-sufficiently offer market trends – and make them immediately available.
An additional one million meters of denim per year is produced through the "boutique business," with additionally developed product lines and leased, specially-monitored production lines in Turkey (100,000 meters), Pakistan (600,000 meters) and China (300,000 meters).
Click here to read more
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LA Auto Show Compresses 70-hour Move in 2 Minutes
Los Angeles convention center, like any major-city convention center in the world, is huge. It takes at least 20 minutes if not half an hour to walk from one exhibit hall to the end of the other. Imagine how many cars can fit in such a big space. It has 10 halls.
The LA Auto Show run from Nov. 18 to 27 with an increasing number of vehicles making their world and North American debuts.
When the author of this story was at the show, during the press days, the setting was changing hour by hour as automakers were redesigning their booths. Removing all those cars and dismantling everything took 70 hours. This is nearly three full days.
The halls are all clear in 70 hours after the show closed its door to the public.
Here is how that lapse of time can be seen in 2 minutes. This video shows the West Hall being cleared after the the auto show closed its doors to the public.


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San Diego’s EcoATM Raises $17M As It Builds Recycling Cash Machine
(Page 2 of 2)
much Koh invested. Koh is a former director of manufacturing and business development for Hewlett-Packard in Asia, and later became chairman of the Singapore Telecom Group and chairman of Singapore Airlines.
PI Holdings, Moore Venture Partners, and AKS Capital also joined in the new round with existing investors Claremont Creek Ventures, Coinstar, and Tao Venture Capital Partners.
EcoATM says it also was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant for as much as $1 million from the National Science Foundation. The company received a $180,000 grant last year to fund development of advanced technologies used in the network of EcoATM kiosks.
“We had multiple people chasing the deal,” says Randy Hawks, managing director of Oakland, CA-based Claremont Creek Ventures, who joined the board when EcoATM raised its previous $14.4 million round in early 2011. “We had more people wanting to participate than we had room for them.”
The new funding will be used to broaden the company’s business infrastructure in anticipation of a broader product roll-out, first regionally and then nationwide, Tullie says. The company has about 35 employees, and has used D&K Engineering, a private engineering services and contract manufacturing company in San Diego, to manufacture about 50 kiosks so far.
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Ferguson is described as a wine writer/influencer “tackling diversity issues, discrimination and wine tasting with equal enthusiasm on their Instagram feed, @Queerwino.” Ferguson is also active on Twitter @queertheyare.
The magazine chose during Pride Month in June to feature members of the LGBTQ+ community “who help to create a more inclusive industry from different segments of the wine world.”
And when Ferguson found out they would be included in the magazine, they asked local photographer Jonna Michelle, who blogs at The Sligo Creek Photographer on her website, to take the photo that accompanies the article, similar to the one above.
Photo courtesy Jonna Michelle
We are expanding our coverage, and we need your help. Click here for more information.


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General Motors' U.S. car and truck sales rose 11 percent in March, a smaller increase than the prior two months as it offered fewer rebates and other incentives.
The largest U.S. car company says it sold 206,621 new vehicles last month. Sales were led by small cars and crossovers as people bought higher mileage vehicles in response to rising gasoline prices. The new Chevrolet Cruze small car fueled gains with growth of 80 percent.
GM is the first major car company to report U.S. sales on Friday.
The GM increase over March of 2010 was far below the 17 percent sales jump expected by industry analysts for overall U.S. sales.
The company surprised the rest of the industry when it raised discounts by about $400 per vehicle in January and extended them into February. But Vice President of U.S. Sales Don Johnson says the company cut incentives by $600 to $800 in March.
GM last month sold just over 18,000 Cruzes, the company's first well-received small car in years. By contrast, it sold just over 10,000 Chevrolet Cobalts, the Cruze's lackluster predecessor, in March of last year.
GM's midsize crossover vehicles, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, also continued to be hot sellers, with the Equinox up 17 percent and Terrain up 29 percent. Crossovers look like truck-based SUVs. But the get better mileage and are more maneuverable because they are built on car underpinnings.
Sales of full-sized pickups remained decent for the month. The Chevrolet Silverado rose 9 percent and the GMC Sierra climbed 17 percent.
The automotive website Edmunds.com said that GM cut its incentives by $643 from February to March. Industry incentives dropped $220 per vehicle to an average of $2,346 as people bought more small cars in March, Edmunds said. Small cars generally have lower sticker prices and therefore fewer incentives.
The February to March decline was the biggest drop since Edmunds started tracking incentives in 2002, the company said.
GM's January and February incentives increase boosted sales, including a 23-percent gain in January and 49 percent in February.
"The hefty — and costly — incentives from GM in the first two months of the year fell back to earth in March, and that translated into lackluster retail sales," Edmunds Director of Industry Analysis Jessica Caldwell said in a statement.
But Johnson said GM expected slower sales in March as it pulled back on discounts.
© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Biomerica Gets Chinese Approval to Market Two Tests
Biomerica, an Irvine, Calif.-based provider of advanced diagnostic products, said Tuesday that the China Food and Drug Administration has approved its parathyroid hormone and calcitonin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
The PTH and calcitonin products will be distributed through a Chinese provider of vitamin D tests and complement the distributor’s sales, Biomerica said. The company will continue to distribute other products through another Chinese distributor, it added.
PTH, a hormone released by the parathyroid glands, is responsible for managing calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus levels in the blood and bones. The number of vitamin D tests performed worldwide is estimated at more than 100 million and could reach 140 million tests by 2015, Biomerica says. The market for Vitamin D testing in China is small but growing rapidly, according to the company.
Both the PTH ELISA and Calcitonin ELISA are FDA cleared and available throughout the U.S. — Kellen Owings
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Nott to unveil three-way Hillsdown carve-up
Sunday 06 September 1998
The plans include a pounds 300m October stock market listing for Terranova Foods, Hillsdown's chilled foods business, and a pounds 250m listing for Fairview Homes, its house- building subsidiary.
Advisers hope the announcement, due on Tuesday, will deflect attention from a set of poor profit figures. "The results are going to be pretty bad if you add up the three and compare them to what the whole once produced," a City source said.
The demerger plans, which will give shareholders stock market plays in Terranova, Fairview and the rump Hillsdown groceries company, were devised by Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, but the role of sponsor to the floats has been usurped by Schroders.
Sir John Nott, the chairman, has decided to push ahead with the demerger to head off criticism of poor first-half results, hit by the impact of a strong pound on the group's poultry division.
Hillsdown is under pressure from the City to create better value for investors after failure earlier this year to secure a pounds 1.6bn takeover from Unigate, which pulled out of the talks after taking fright at the scale of Hillsdown's problems in the poultry division.
Sir John will also give an update this week on plans for the trade sales of Hillsdown's furniture manufacturing, poultry breeding, wines and spirits, chicken and eggs, and potato businesses.
Poultry profits collapsed as Continental imports flooded into the UK on the back of a strong pound. Poor summer weather has also hit sales of poultry for barbecues.
Shareholders will be asked to approve the break up of the group at an EGM on 2 October, with trading in the shares to begin a few days later.
Terranova is viewed as the most exciting of the two businesses to be listed. Last year it made profits of pounds 27m on turnover of pounds 410m. The company has 19 factories across Europe and is a big supplier of sandwiches and chilled meals to supermarket groups including Marks and Spencer.
Fairview specialises in building mass-market housing in the South-east. Last year, it made profits of pounds 41m on turnover of pounds 163m, but the slowdown in the housing market is already prompting a rethink by advisers on the valuation of the business.
One City source said; "There are going to be a lot of downgrades on these businesses after the results are announced, because the poultry business simply hasn't rebounded in the way expected. We wanted a clean break with this business but we are now going to have to keep it until profits rebound and we can get a reasonable price."
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Radiator and towel rail manufacturer Aeon has joined the Manufacturers' Association of Radiators & Convectors.
MARC now represents significantly more than 90% of the UK radiator market, giving manufacturers an opportunity to have a cohesive industry voice.
Aeon’s presence in the UK is as parent company for Pitacs, distributor of the Ultraheat brand of panel radiators and towel rails, based in Milton Keynes. Established in 1989, Pitacs employs 48 people in the UK.
Ultraheat products are supplied to independent merchants in the UK, while the Aeon brand features hand-made stainless steel and sculptural radiators and towel rails, sold within high end bathroom showrooms and boutiques.
Saffet Kalendar, managing director of Pitacs, said: “The Manufacturers’ Association of Radiators & Convectors has become an increasingly visible and influential organisation within recent years and membership will allow us to be a part of this important industry voice. We are looking forward to being actively involved with other members and the ongoing work to promote the interests of our industry.”
John Colling, chairman of MARC, said: “We are very excited to welcome Pitacs into the membership of MARC, because every new member brings additional strength, insight and weight to our work. Pitacs has long been established here in the UK and we are very much looking forward to being more involved with them as we move forward.”
MARC's membership includes manufacturers such as the Rettig Group (Myson, Purmo, Vogel & Noot); Stelrad; Henrad; Quinn Radiators, Vaillant Group, Kudox and Zehnder.