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WASHINGTON — Even though deployment of automated heavy-duty trucks, including self-driving trucks, being developed for long-haul trucking operations is likely years or a decade away, the General Accounting Office Thursday urged federal agencies to take additional steps to prepare for potential workforce effects
“Most technology developers said they were developing trucks that can travel without drivers for part of a route, and some stakeholders said such trucks may become available within five to 10 years,” the GAO said in a report on a study it had conducted. “Various technologies, including sensors and cameras, could help guide a truck capable of driving itself. However, the adoption of this technology depends on factors such as technological limitations and public acceptance.”
The GAO said it conducted the study because automated vehicle technology may eventually make commercial trucking more efficient and safer, but also has the potential to change the employment landscape for nearly 1.9 million heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, among others.
The GAO said it was asked to examine the potential workforce effects of automated trucking, but didn’t say who requested it.
The report noted that the U.S. Department of Transportation had been consulting with the Department of Labor to conduct a Congressionally-directed analysis of the workforce impacts of automated trucking by March 2019.
The GAO said stakeholders it interviewed predicted two main scenarios for how the adoption of automated trucks could affect the trucking workforce, which varied depending on the future role of drivers or operators.
“Technology developers, among others, described one scenario in which self-driving trucks are used on highway portions of long-haul trips,” the study report said. “Stakeholders noted this scenario would likely reduce the number of long-haul truck drivers needed and could decrease wages because of lower demand for such drivers. In contrast, groups representing truck drivers, among others, predicted a scenario in which a truck would have an operator at all times for complex driving and other non-driving tasks, and the number of drivers or operators would not change as significantly.”
However, the study found that those stakeholders lacked consensus on the potential effect this scenario might have on wages and driver retention, adding that most stakeholders said automated trucking could create new jobs, and that any workforce effects would take time — providing an opportunity for a federal response, such as any needed policy changes.
For the study, GAO interviewed officials from DOT and DOL, as well as a range of stakeholders, including technology developers, companies operating their own trucking fleets, truck driver training schools, truck driver associations and workforce development boards.
As a result of the study, GAO made four recommendations for executive action:
- The Secretary of Labor should collaborate with the Secretary of Transportation to continue to convene key groups of stakeholders to gather information on potential workforce changes that may result from automated trucking as the technology evolves, including analyzing needed skills and identifying any information or data gaps, to allow the agencies to fully consider how to respond to any changes. These stakeholders could include, for example, representatives of other relevant federal agencies, technology developers, the trucking industry, organizations that represent truck drivers, truck driver training schools, state workforce agencies, and local workforce development boards.
- The Secretary of Transportation should collaborate with the Secretary of Labor to continue to convene key groups of stakeholders to gather information on potential workforce changes that may result from automated trucking as the technology evolves, including analyzing needed skills and identifying any information or data gaps, to allow the agencies to fully consider how to respond to any changes.
- The Secretary of Transportation should consult with the Secretary of Labor to further analyze the potential effects of automated trucking technology on drivers to inform potential workforce-related regulatory changes, such as the requirements to obtain a commercial driver’s license or Hours of Service requirements (e.g., the maximum hours commercial truck drivers are permitted to work).
4. The Secretary of Labor should consult with the Secretary of Transportation to share information with key stakeholders on the potential effects of automated trucking on the workforce as the technology evolves. These stakeholders could include, for example, representatives of other relevant federal agencies, technology developers, the trucking industry, organizations that represent truck drivers, truck driver training schools, state workforce agencies, and local workforce development boards.
Kenworth T880S with 52-, 76-inch sleepers now available for order
KIRKLAND, Wash. — The Kenworth T880S with a set-forward front axle is now available for order with Kenworth’s 52-inch and 76-inch mid-roof sleepers.
The T880S sleeper configurations are focused on heavy haul and severe highway applications where ruggedness is especially required.
The two sleeper options enable the T880S to meet both overall combination length and weight distribution needs, and are applicable for both Canadian and U.S. markets, according to Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director.
Kenworth’s 76-inch mid-roof sleeper can be ordered with either the optional back wall storage system or folding upper bunk.
The optional Kenworth Idle Management System provides a factory-installed, battery-based auxiliary power unit (APU). A premium sound system and flat screen TV mount are among other options that provide further driver comfort and satisfaction.
The Kenworth 52-inch mid-roof sleeper is a welcome sanctuary when the schedule requires a short layover. The sleeper features a liftable lower bunk and upper storage units on the sleeper’s back wall, including hanging storage for clothes and jackets. A bunk heater, flat screen TV, premium sound system and factory-installed inverter with optional shore power are available for additional comfort. The many driver comfort amenities help give the Kenworth T680’s 52-inch mid-size sleeper the feel of a larger sleeper.
Swihart said both sleepers provide excellent interior height clearance, enabling a driver or passenger up to 6-foot-4 to easily stand up between the seats. Specifying the 180-degree optional passenger swivel seat further expands the living space and enables the driver to use both the cab and the sleeper as a comfortable space for relaxation – when not driving.
“Our high-quality sleeper options for the T880S provides customers with an additional opportunity for enhanced driver comfort in their efforts for cost-effective operations and increased driver retention and recruitment,” Swihart said.
The T880S is offered with a set-forward front axle ranging from 14,600 pounds to 22,800 pounds, and is standard with the PACCAR MX-13 engine with up to 510 hp and 1,850 lb-ft of torque. For weight-sensitive applications, the 10.8-liter PACCAR MX-11 engine is 400 pounds lighter than larger displacement engines, and provides up to 430-hp and 1,650 lb-ft of torque.
For more information, visit
Lippert Components introduces somnum Sleeper Series pillows for long-haul drivers
ELKHART, Ind. — Lippert Components (LCI), a supplier of highly engineered components to the mobile and leisure transportation industries, has introduced somnum Sleeper Series pillows for long-haul, heavy truck drivers.
These machine washable pillows are made with hypoallergenic down-alternative fill, and the covers are 100% cotton, 350 thread count and double stitched to increase the lifespan of the pillow.
Designed to endure the ever-fluctuating temperatures and persistent moisture commonly found in sleeper environments, somnum premium pillows provide the perfect balance of support and comfort for a good night’s sleep, helping increase driver alertness while on the road, according to Mike Padrnos, business development manager at LCI.
Featuring both soft and firm options, the pillows come in two sizes, jumbo and king.
In addition to their premium comfort level, the somnum Sleeper Series pillows are 100% machine-washable, making it easier for them to retain their original freshness and shape, Padrnos
“A key purpose of a pillow is to keep your neck comfortably and safely aligned with your spine,” he said. “Having a great pillow contributes to a good night’s sleep when you’re at home. That being said, pillow quality is just as important for truck drivers who travel long hours and sleep in their trucks.”
Padrnos that while alignment is important, LCI had also paid special attention to personal comfort by ensuring that the somnum Sleeper Series features a variety of different pillow options.
“Everyone has their own personal preferences, so we created both soft and firm pillow options,” he said.
Padrnos said that in the fall of 2018, Donna Mooney, vice president of human resources at Titan Transfer, a freight carrier company, sought to find a “different and unique” gift for the company’s 400-plus trucks and corresponding drivers for Newsal Truck Driver Appreciation Week.
“We tried all the typical items: polo shirts, hats, gift cards, etc. I spent quite a bit of time online, shopping to find just the right gift,” Mooney said. “The somnum pillow caught my interest. The pillows ended up being a tremendous hit with our drivers, so much so that we had several drivers order additional pillows for their residential homes.”
“We’ve heard that truck drivers love somnum pillows from direct feedback at truck shows and from fleets like Titan Transfer that have introduced them to their drivers through their company stores or given them out as driver gifts. A new pillow is a small but meaningful upgrade to a Class 8 sleeper berth,” Padrnos said. “Fleets that are using somnum pillows as part of their driver incentive/reward programs are receiving gratitude from drivers for such a thoughtful gesture. Realistically, many people aren’t replacing their pillows nearly enough.”
For more information about somnum Sleeper Series pillows and how they can be purchased for your driver appreciation program, email [email protected].
For more information, contact [email protected]
Navistar to make capital investments at Huntsville engine plant
LISLE, Ill. — Navistar, a maker of commercial trucks and buses, has decided to make capital investments of approximately $125 million in new and expanded manufacturing facilities in the state of Alabama, the company said Monday.
The investment will bring 145 additional jobs to the company’s Huntsville facility.
The company, which already manufactures International brand diesel engines at the plant, plans to make the new investments over the next three years.
Its intent is to produce next-generation big-bore powertrains developed with its global alliance partner TRATON, formerly known as Volkswagen Truck & Bus AG.
“Over the last two decades, the state of Alabama has been a wonderful partner for Navistar as we have developed and produced big-bore engines and other products in the state,” said Persio Lisboa, Navistar’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Today, we are excited to have the opportunity to expand our presence in Alabama, while adding to our array of next-generation products.”
The principal engine currently built at Navistar’s Huntsville plant is the International A26, a 12.4 liter big-bore engine that is offered in Class 8 on-highway trucks such as the International LT Series and RH Series, as well as in vocational trucks such as the International HV Series and HX Series.
“Navistar has been a longstanding corporate partner in our community and we are glad to see the company continues to see Huntsville as a strategic part of their growth strategy,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “We welcome the new production component to Navistar’s manufacturing operations and look forward to a successful future.”
Navistar International Corp. is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, proprietary diesel engines, and IC Bus brand school and commercial buses. An affiliate also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services.
Additional information is available at .


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Comcast's new mobile/broadband bundle looks a lot like Charter's 'Spectrum One'
Comcast has introduced a new home broadband/mobile bundle that shares some similarities with Spectrum One, a service convergence promo that Charter Communications recently introduced to new and existing customers.
As first spotted by BestMVNO, Comcast's new limited-time promotion offers one unlimited mobile line and a 200 Mbit/s home broadband service (with the Wi-Fi gateway included) for $50 per month – for a period of 24 months.
Comcast launched that mobile/home broadband bundle alongside a new offer for standalone 200 Mbit/s home broadband. The home broadband deal, viewed as competitive with current plans being marketed by fixed wireless access (FWA) providers, sells for $25 per month for a period of 24 months and includes the cost of the gateway.
Both Comcast's converged and standalone Internet promos, which will run through March 21, 2023, do not require a contract.
Comcast launched both promos in tandem with a new "Xfinity 10G Network" campaign that kicked off with an ad that debuted in local Comcast markets during Sunday's Super Bowl.
Comcast's convergence promotion does come with a few caveats – it's limited to new residential customers and the $50 starting price requires customers to opt for paperless billing and autopay (with a connected bank account). Otherwise, the monthly charge rises to $60 (or $55 if a customer enrolls with a credit or debit card), Comcast's mobile deal page notes.
Comcast's new convergence promo arrives a few months after Charter introduced Spectrum One, a bundle that Charter expects to accelerate mobile line growth. Charter's baseline Spectrum One offer features home broadband speeds of 300 Mbit/s (downstream), home Wi-Fi (with a modem for no added cost) and an unlimited line of mobile service for $49.99 per month – for 12 months.
Charter added a record 615,000 mobile lines in the fourth quarter of 2022, for a grand total of 5.29 million. Spectrum One contributed to those mobile gains in Q4, but Charter CEO Chris Winfrey said most (75% to 80%) of new mobile lines in Q4 came from existing home broadband customers upgrading to Spectrum Mobile. He suggested that Spectrum One could become a more significant driver as the operator further educates the market about the new bundle.
Not quite on par with Spectrum One
Comcast's approach here is to promote both a new standalone home broadband offering that matches up with FWA along with a new converged offer that combines that with an unlimited line of mobile service.
Comcast's new convergence bundle/promotion should be profitable and facilitate home broadband subscriber growth, but the offer "isn't quite as good as Spectrum One," New Street Research analyst Jonathan Chaplin explained in a research note.
Comcast, he points out, is currently limiting the convergence offer to new customers while Charter offers Spectrum One to new and existing customers. And Comcast is also limiting the offer to home broadband speeds of 200 Mbit/s compared to a range of 300 Mbit/s to 500 Mbit/s available with Spectrum One.
Comcast also offers 200 Mbit/s service for $25 on a standalone basis, "so this isn't quite the same as a free mobile line for a year," the analyst points out.
"Given these limits, we expect less of a benefit to broadband subs for Comcast than Charter, but this is still a step in the right direction," Chaplin added.
Comcast's Xfinity Mobile, a service that relies on millions of Wi-Fi hotspots and an MVNO pact with Verizon, added a record 365,000 lines in Q4 2022, extending Comcast's total to 5.31 million lines. Comcast also lost 26,000 broadband subscribers (23,000 residential and 3,000 business) in the quarter. Without the impact from Hurricane Ian, Comcast said it would've added 4,000 broadband subs in Q4.
- Comcast sets mobile record, but Hurricane Ian spins broadband subs into the red
- Charter pitches 'Spectrum One' to new and existing subs
- Cable's record wireless gains create more trouble for mobile's Big Three
- Charter rakes in record 615K mobile lines, base balloons to 5.29M
- Wave7 Research's Jeff Moore on the keys to cable's mobile success
— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading

domain: news


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The Star Sydney shone at the highly regarded Tourism Accommodation Australia NSW Awards for Excellence 2019 held at The Star Event Centre last week
Marriott’s Classic select brand finds new home in Loveland’s Foundry Redevelopment
SLH is bolstering its ties with the travel trade through the development of a new travel agency programme
The Library in Koh Samui has created beautiful wedding experiences inspired by art and the beauty of handcrafted designs working with couples to plan and enjoy a wonderful celebration of their specia...
Crowne Plaza to launch six brand-defining properties in the U.S., Europe and China, bringing new designs and innovations to life
Families come together for meaningful moments and enriching experiences with Family by JW program
A mixture of different cultures and flavors, but always cooked with love
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour has launched a High Tea series
Posada Amazonas offers a unique and incredible experience to those prepared to get out of their comfort zone and embrace the jungle.
Waterfront wedding reception venue Metro Mirage Hotel Newport this week has won the 2019 Brides Choice Award for the most popular wedding venue on the Northern Beaches
Accor together with Rehawk Property Group have teamed up on the new-build ibis Styles East Perth
In a sea of new hotels in the river city, this stunning flagship property offers a real point of difference in Brisbane
Ovolo Hotels were among the best hotels across the country that were honoured last night at the annual TAA NSW Awards for Excellence
Chef residency is the first in a lineup of international culinary talent
The Barracks Hotel Sentosa offers an ultra-exclusive experience tailor-made for the discerning traveller.
The group was lauded for Best Loyalty Programme and Best Regional Campaign for its MyResorts by Le Club AccorHotels concept
Travellers can now discover the uniquely local and diverse charms of Thailand’s capital city with the opening of Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok hotel
Make time for self-reflection in places removed from the digital world
Club Wyndham South Pacific has expanded its presence on Phillip Island, with Wyndham Vacation Club today announcing the acquisition of an additional 83 villas at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Isla...
St. Louis hotel developer to raise $12 million for newest opportunity zone investment


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By Darren Williams, CEO and Founder of BlackFog
Whilst the future use and viability of Cryptocurrencies may still be up for debate, the influence Bitcoin (the most famous cryptocurrency) has had on the market is clear– with its valuation peaking at just shy of $20,000 in December 2017. In fact, the global market for Blockchain (the technology that underpins bitcoin) is anticipated to reach a valuation of $60.7 billion in 2024. Clearly there is still much interest in the transparent ledger system.
And as new forms of Cryptocurrency arise, it comes as no surprise that hackers have swiftly followed, aiming to make money from this rising trend in digital cash. Cryptocurrency mining (also called Cryptojacking) is the latest trend in hacking where code is injected into web sites and is used to hijack the users’ CPU (central processing unit). It is now becoming a major threat to many corporations and infrastructures around the world. Notable recent attacks have been carried out against Tesla, UK and Australian government web sites and critical EU water utility infrastructures. Here we take a look at what Cryptojacking entails and how you can protect your devices from increasingly sophisticated hackers who are trying to steal your Cryptocash.
How does Cryptocurrency work?
Cryptocurrency is a digital currency but unlike traditional currency it is not controlled by any government and is designed to be secure and anonymous. Many have heard of the original Cryptocurrency Bitcoin which started in 2009, however, it has spawned many others such as Ethereum, DigitalNote, Litecoin and PotCoin among many others. Currently there are more than 900 different currencies.
The entire system is controlled through the use of cryptography and is designed to be decentralised not requiring any banks to process. The actual underlying process involves something called a ‘Blockchain’, which is essentially a shared document or ledger that records transactions between parties. The Blockchain is highly distributed across a network of computers and ensures that each transaction is authenticated securely and safely, essentially replacing a traditional bank.
The Blockchain requires computing resources to perform the cryptography and verification of each transaction. This is run by miners. A miner is simply a computer or node. As payment for these services, miners are paid in digital currency. The first cryptocurrency miner that is able to validate the transaction is rewarded with a payment.
The payments are fractional amounts of currency based upon the number of transactions and the current market rate. This fluctuates dynamically based upon supply and demand. In the early days it was possible to make a small amount of money by performing these services. However, the rates are now so low (due to the number of miners involved) it is nearly impossible to make a profit, especially when you factor in the cost of equipment and power. In addition, specialised devices such as AntMiner, have been created for the sole purpose of mining, rendering standard desktop processors unviable. This has also been a boon for graphics processor companies like Nvidia and AMD who have started releasing cards developed specifically for cryptocurrency mining.
The Economics of Cryptocurrencies
The economics of mining are such that the single biggest cost involved is the power and CPU required to do the work. Due to the cost of power in different countries it makes sense to do mining where the cost of power is low. China has therefore emerged as the major player in mining and now performs over 80% of the workload.
Due to these economics, it makes sense that if you can pool a group of computers to do the work on your behalf then you can effectively steal both electricity and CPU cycles and get paid without any expenditure. This is exactly what cyber criminals are doing.
Early attacks focused on infecting web servers where code was injected into sites to do the mining. As the price of digital currencies has increased, the attacks have become more sophisticated and now infect individual machines as they visit websites through advertising and other code injection techniques.
Protecting your currency
The best way to stay protected from these attacks is to have Cryptomining protection on your device. A solution that works by monitoring outbound connections in real time will effectively block any data transfer to cryptomining sites, operating at the network layer will ensure connections from other infected applications on your system are also blocked.
With the 10th anniversary of Bitcoin having just passed, we have seen a boom in the number of Blockchain-related job postings, demonstrating that the hype surrounding Cryptocurrencies isn’t going away any time soon. And as more consumers and organisations continue to invest, they must ensure they’re protected against the increasingly sophisticated attackers that are trying to get in. Only then will they see through the hype and gain real value from their digital currency.


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We are delighted that Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent are the first of our members to go live with The Charity Shop Gift Card. Many congratulations to them for leading the way.
They launched the card in all their 30 stores, and are very pleased to be the first in the UK to do so.
Tim Stewart, Retail and Business Development Manager at Pilgrims Hospices said:
“We are very grateful to CRS Business Systems for having the system set up on our tills ready for launch, and for Lee Fellows’ help in getting the card off the ground in the first place, we believe that this is a very exciting addition to the sector.
We are delighted to be supporting this new initiative to offer a truly national charity shop gift card in the UK, and even more pleased to be the first charity in the UK to do so. We are excited to be able to tap into the huge and growing gift card market.
With such a focus on reuse it is essential that we make the purchase of preloved fashion and furniture as easy as possible for our consumers, and this is just another way for us to do this.“
The Charity Shop Gift Card can be redeemed at any participating charity shop, and can be purchased in any of Pilgrims Hospice’s shops. Customers can choose the value they want to put on the card, so they are an ideal Christmas present for the ever growing number of people who are keen charity shop customers.
We’re looking forward to many more of you joining the scheme prior to the Christmas rush. To join please initially contact Lee Fellows on email@example.com.


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- Genius! April 11
Watch out Citi Bike, there's a new sharing system in town.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the company 'brellaBox will set up 500 green boxes full of umbrellas throughout the city. Pedestrians will be able to rent an umbrella for $2.50 for 12 hours, or purchase one for $15. The pilot program will roll out this May in Manhattan's Financial District, and if all goes well, the program will be in full effect next spring.
Like any New York sharing system, there are bound to be obstacles (and maybe a ridiculous logo). But the thought of never having to run to the corner store in water-filled shoes again makes this idea seem pretty genius.- - Kaitlin Roberts
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One of the (many) great lies this government feeds the British people is the lie of inflation. According to all official reports and statistics the inflation rate is currently running at around 2.5%, but the reality is far different as anyone who shops regularly will know.
Even using the old Retail Price Index which suggest inflation is around 4.5% is inaccurate because the simple truth is that the essential every day items of food, housing and fuel have rocketed up over the last year. Many food items have increased in price by some 21-20%, housing costs - bumped by rising interest rates - have increased considerably while fuel has also gone up by around 10-15%.
The official rate of inflation is kept down by including such trivial items as CD's, digital cameras and other luxury items which have dropped in price - but it's all a fraud. By any real measure of the things that matter inflation would be running at around 12% at the moment - the sort of rate we have not seen for 20 years or so. People are struggling to make ends meet and it is only a matter of time before that filters down into increasing wage demands.
When that happens, things will turn ugly.


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Shopping malls of indignation: strict anti-COVID-19 measures taken in Bashkiria
Access to many commercial institutions has been restricted in Bashkiria. Only vaccinated people or those who recovered from the disease may enter
The introduction of anti-coronavirus restrictions in Bashkortostan has caused citizens’ indignation. The peak of the discontent was reached after a ban on visiting shopping malls. People argued with security workers and even tried to get through by force at the entrance. There have been found more inventive approaches — Ufa citizens managed to go shopping thanks to QR codes on a packet of potato crisps and utility bills. While somebody didn’t manage to get home on coaches. Read more in Realnoe Vremya’s report about the bans and people’s answers.
With potato crisp QR code to shopping mall
Anti-COVID-19 norms in Bashkortostan are one of the strictest in the country. Experts of the Agency for Political and Economic Communications included the republic in the top 10 regions with the most stringent measures against coronavirus. Bashkiria ranks sixth.
The next stage of restrictions came into force on 18 October. One can go to beauty salons, spas and massage rooms, sunrooms, banyas, saunas, gyms, swimming pools only with a certificate about vaccination against COVID-19 or a certificate about recovering from coronavirus in the last six months or a negative PCR test. The same applies to entering public catering organisations (with 50 and more seats). A vaccination certificate or a certificate about the disease one recovered in the last six months is required.
Earlier, the second stage of measures was taken on 12 October, including the most noticeable one — the ban on entering shopping malls for unvaccinated people. Security workers now have to verify QR codes. However, as Ufa citizens notice, the verification at the entrance often turns into formality. Ufa journalist Timur Davletov did a social experiment. He tried to enter shopping malls with QR codes from a packet of potato crisps and utility bills. Security workers let the journalist in saying that their task was to check the presence of codes. They don’t have the expertise to assess their correctness.
After the experiment on the access to shopping malls, some angry Ufa citizens started to write to Timur Davletov privately expressing their indignation because he had revealed their way of entering buildings of shopping malls. However, not all people demonstrated inventiveness. There have appeared videos on the Internet where some tried to enter shopping malls by force.
Doctor of Juridical Sciences Albert Kurmanov told Realnoe Vremya that now we are in the process of forming the practice:
“In the order of the governor we are talking about, the mechanism of implementation of this order isn’t spelt out. It reads that services in the shopping mall aren’t provided. But how to do it? Some work, a purchase of products can be considered a service. It doesn’t have a direct ban on being in shopping malls. The responsibility has been shifted to the administration of shopping malls, not entrepreneurs who provide services. From a legal point of view, practice is gained here. There are restrictions on being in the shopping mall. Nobody forces people to show the passport, here the concepts are confused. If you don’t want to show documents to a security worker, don’t go there. But if you decided to go in, the security worker must be sure you can be in the shopping mall to get some services.”
Violations of anti-coronavirus restrictions are punished strictly. One of the shopping centres in Ishimbay where inspectors didn’t find any control at the entrance was closed for five days, while those responsible were fined. According to chief expert of the local office of Russia’s consumer rights protection watchdog in Ishimbay Svetlana Pudovkina, a fine is envisaged for violating the sanitary rules: 15,000-40,000 rubles for citizens, 50,000-100,000 rubles for officials, 100,000-300,000 rubles for legal entities.
You cannot go far without vaccination certificate
Tens of people who hadn’t been vaccinated did not manage to travel from Ufa’s bus station on 12 October. Cashiers had to refuse to sell her bus tickets to other cities of the republic.
“I could not buy a ticket yesterday. There are terminals, I went there, it says allegedly there aren’t tickets. They did it so that a ticket without a certificate cannot be bought. Empty buses left the station,” says Flida Zaynullina.
A video from Sterlitamak went viral on 17 October where two police officers arrested a pensioner who tried to get on the bus without a QR code. According to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Bashkiria, the woman was taken to the police station for an enquiry where she was submitted a report on disobedience to a police officer. People reacted to the video differently. Somebody considered the police officers’ actions excessive, while some think that the old woman was saved from infection this way.
“Even though she is wrong, can an old woman be treated this way? She is somebody’s mum! They made the old lady cry! Shame on the police! They take advantage of the woman’s helplessness! I wonder, are you going to work this way with authoritative criminals?” Larisa Morozova is indignant.
“In this situation, it is the fault of a person who sold the ticket to the old lady without a certificate. She paid money! Why is nobody talking about it? If a ticket was sold, might she go, while the cashier or conductor must be responsible,” offers Svetlana Vasilyeva.
“Orders aren’t issued without a reason. What impeded the old lady from being vaccinated? It is mandatory at her age. Precisely pensioners are in the risk group — many then end up in hospitals and die. Why didn’t her children explain to her that vaccination is safe. My parents were vaccinated, I am calm,” writes Marsel Akhmadeyev.
As a result of the restrictions, the demand for private transport has increased in the last days, much more options in popular car-sharing apps and on social media have appeared.
Governor of Bashkortostan Rady Khabirov reminded the citizens who don’t like the new restrictions about the necessity of the measures that are taken and following the rules.
“Unfortunately, not all people understand the importance and meaning of these norms. Of course, we should persuade people. At the same time, I want to say that the authorities have the power because if they made a decision, they must follow this decision using all measures of public administration and coercion. Our police officers have started to be accused of being cruel, they have arrested a man, didn’t let the woman use a couch because everybody must follow these rules. Owners of the shopping mall in Ishimbay claimed they wouldn’t follow the rules. If they don’t, it means we will close the mall. We are living in a tough time. The number of patients is growing, people are dying. This is why we must fight this and be sure of our correctness, what we are doing,” the head of the region noted.


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Inadequate Government Scheme means even Business Rates Winners are still losing out
Reports in The Daily Telegraph suggest that the Government has incurred the wrath of the so-called “winners” of the 2017 revaluation as their new bills reveal they are being denied reductions to compensate companies elsewhere in the country.
Last month the Treasury’s chief secretary, David Gauke, attempted to defend the burdensome business rates system by arguing that three quarters of UK companies will see a fall in business rates. Mr Gauke also argued the Government had introduced a £3.6bn fund to smooth the burden for companies facing a steep jump in rates.
However, new rates bills have revealed that the majority of businesses will not enjoy the full value of their rates decreases.
The Telegraph reports that the £3.6bn so called “transitional relief fund” will come directly from companies who will be denied the business rate reductions they are entitled to.
Hampton Lovett are concerned that not one penny of Government money will be part of the £3.6bn fund. This would mean that businesses in less prosperous areas will have their rate deductions denied in order for businesses in more prosperous areas to be afforded a cap on their increases.
Businesses that thought they would be one of the winners will still be a loser because they will not be getting their full entitled business rate reduction.


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First Lady Melania Trump is ready for a white Christmas this year as she helped light the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. in a monochromatic white ensemble fit for the snow.
Mrs. Trump was cozy and chic Wednesday evening, wearing a Max Mara alpaca and wool coat that fit her signature luxury style. The coat retails for about $2,900. To keep even warmer, Melania Trump chose a wool turtleneck sweater by Joseph, tan suede thigh-high boots, and a pair of white leather gloves — likely by Bottega Veneta.
As I noted weeks ago, dyed-to-match leather gloves are the style accessory of winter, especially for Mrs. Trump. Just this week, to unveil the White House’s red Christmas trees, Mrs. Trump wore a pair of Bottega Veneta red leather gloves.
Earlier in the day, Mrs. Trump traveled to Liberty University where she wore a grey skinny suit by Michael Kors, a pair of snakeskin Manolo Blahnik stilettos, and a black coat draped over her shoulders.
Smart and sexy for the day, warm and comfy for the evening.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder.


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Travel industry plea for tailored support from the government
Britain’s travel industry has warned that job losses could reach 200,000 if the government does not provide a tailored support package for travel agents and tour operators to replace furlough.
Special assistance is needed because the removal of travel restrictions has come too late for the industry, which now faces rising costs as furlough is withdrawn.
From this week companies will have to pay up to £625 a month for furloughed staff. The scheme will end in October.
Save Future Travel Coalition, which represents 16 travel associations including Abta, said the rule changes came too late as people had already made their summer plans.
Quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers returning from amber list countries was dropped only a fortnight ago and inbound restrictions for foreign visitors


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Thema has launched its first multiscreen OTT service Lebouquetafricain TV in Italy.
The international version of French entertainment channel M6 has launched in Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
Canal+’s Thema has launched its SVOD corner +D’Afrique on the French TV-provider Orange “Le Bouquet Africain Max” offer.
The Canal+ subsidiary Thema has provided an update on the distribution of the Love Nature channel in Bulgaria.
Thema has become the first Turkish-speaking channels and content aggregator for French pay-TV providers.
France’s Thema has launched a new offer named Magreb VOD.
French distribution agency Thema is reshuffling its thematic offer of Le Bouquet Africain in France.
Thema and Ninetynine have entered into a content deal to secure the international rights of premium Arabic channels and develop a new marketing approach, while re-branding their Arabic TV pack […]
At the occasion of MIPCOM 2019 in Cannes, Mezzo, the classical music, jazz and dance dedicated television channel, will celebrate its new partnership with Thema which will handle the international […]
The health and well-being channel MyZen TV HD has been launched by Nova in Greece and Cyprus.


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Glory Foods provides canned vegetables to victims of the Haiti earthquake
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Glory Foods, the category leader in Southern-style, heat-and-serve canned vegetables , will donate more than 7,000 cans of its Sensibly Seasoned Black Bean product to Feed The Children for victims effected by Tuesday’s earthquake near Haiti’s capital, Port-Au-Prince.
Glory Foods will hand over the donation to Feed The Children out of its Grand Prairie, Texas warehouse next week. The 7,000+ cans equal more than 40 pallets with each pallet holding 170 cases of canned food items. Glory Foods’ Sensibly Seasoned Black Bean products contain Protein, Calcium and Iron – essentials for victims’ survival.
”When I heard about this tragedy, I was immediately moved to do something along with the rest of the world,” said Jacqueline Neal, President of Glory Foods. “Glory Foods is committed to every neighborhood it serves here and abroad.”
About Feed The Children
Founded in 1979, Feed The Children is consistently ranked as one of the 10 largest international charities in the U.S., based on private, non-government support. Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disasters. Since its founding, the organization has reached out to help those in need in the US and in 119 countries around the globe. For more information, please visit www.FeedtheChildren.org.
About Glory Foods
Founded in 1989, Glory Foods is the category leader in Southern-style, heat-and-serve products including seasoned canned vegetables, cooking bases and fresh greens. Its Southern-style vegetables and side dishes are staples in American homes and offer convenient meal-planning solutions for busy families. Glory Foods is a private, minority-controlled business based in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit www.GloryFoods.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For photos, logos and media event information, including date and time, please contact Andre Ledgister


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Vast tracts of land in countries including Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay have been cleared to make way for industrial soya plantations, much of which is then used to make animal feed used in countries including the UK.
The Daily Telegraph reported the government could use a section of the Environment Bill to tackle the issue, ahead of the COP26 international climate summit in Glasgow later this year.
A “due diligence” component under the bill “would require certain businesses to only source legally produced commodities where there is ‘forest risk’ because of links to deforestation,” trade minister Ranil Jayawardena told the paper.
“Whether specific commodities, including soya, are in scope will be determined through secondary legislation, on which Defra will consult further,” he said.
However, Defra told The Independent there were no new announcements on the due diligence legislation, which will form part of the legislation but will not amount to a ban.
Soya is among the commodities named by the government when it announced the clampdown on products linked to illegal deforestation in November last year.
At the time, the government said it “will capitalise on its forthcoming presidency of the UN Climate Change summit next year in Glasgow to accelerate a global transition to more sustainable supply chains by bringing together producer and consumer countries of forest risk commodities to share perspectives and take action.”
Last month a joint investigation by Greenpeace and The Guardian revealed major UK supermarkets and restaurants including Tesco, Lidl, Asda, McDonald’s and Nando’s all buy chickens from British producers which feed the birds with soya linked to thousands of forest fires and the clearance of huge areas of land in the Brazilian Cerrado.
In total, over 1 million tonnes of soya was estimated to have been used by UK livestock farmers over 2019 which had direct links to deforestation, the research found.
Responding to the reports the government was aiming to tackle illegal deforestation through a clampdown on soya products, Katie White, executive director of advocacy and campaigns at WWF-UK, said: “This is a welcome step but we are losing forests at a catastrophic rate – the size of a football pitch is cleared every two seconds.
“A ban on deforesting goods is crucial - and that ban must include all the goods contributing to the destruction of our forests.
“Only then can the public be sure that the products they buy and eat are not destroying precious forests around the world.”
Though Defra told The Independent there was nothing new regarding the due diligence component of the Environment Bill, a spokesperson said: “We have introduced legislation that would make it a requirement for larger businesses to undertake due diligence on their supply chains where there is a risk they could be contributing to illegal deforestation.
“This is just one piece of a much larger package of measures that we are putting in place to tackle illegal deforestation.
“While the UK is a relatively small consumer of commodities such as soya, businesses must take greater responsibility for ensuring the resilience, traceability and sustainability of their supply chains.”


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South Africa’s Naspers (NPNJn.J) is set to receive at least four bids for Allegro in a deal that could value Eastern Europe’s No.1 auction website at up to $2.2 billion, sources familiar with the talks said on Monday.
The four bidders are expected to submit offers for “the Polish eBay” ahead of a Tuesday deadline for first-round bids.
The sources said Advent had teamed with U.S. private equity fund Hellman & Friedman; Apax Partners with Canada’s CPP Investment Board; Cinven [CINV.UL] with Permira; CVC Capital Partners [CVC.UL] with U.S. buyout group General Atlantic.
Permira, Cinven, Apax, Advent, H&F and General Atlantic declined to comment, while Naspers, CVC and CPP were not available for immediate comment.
Advent and CVC have already invested in Poland – the latter with an investment last year in railway utility PKP Energetyka which the government wants to annul.
With over 14 million clients, Allegro competes with eBay (EBAY.O) and Amazon (AMZN.O) as well as OLX.pl, which is also owned by Naspers.
Poland’s e-commerce market is expected to grow by 15 percent in 2016 to 35.8 billion zlotys and to 63 billion by 2020, according to Sociomantic Labs.
Allegro is the largest e-commerce investment for Naspers – Africa’s largest company by market value.
Naspers has transformed itself from an apartheid-era publisher into a $65 billion Internet powerhouse by focusing on e-commerce in emerging markets.
It operates in over 130 countries with stakes in Russian internet group Mail.Ru Group (MAILRq.L) and in Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), China’s biggest social network and online entertainment company.


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So Android 4.1 – Jelly Bean was introduced at Google I/O this summer, and so far is only official available on Nexus devices including the Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S (4G). We know most people have Jelly Bean installed in form of custom ROM, including myself. That's not a whole lot of people, compared to the number of active Android devices out there.
Today a new report came out showing that out of all the Android web traffic, about 1.2% of it is from Android 4.1. So it looks like Jelly Bean is slowly but surely getting on to more devices everyday. But the report also showed that Android 2.3 – Gingerbread is still dominating, and that OS is almost 2 years old now.
As much as we talk about fragmentation and try to come up with ways to fix it. It'll always be around, no matter what OS it is. Every OS has fragmentation, it happens when newer devices with newer hardware come out. There's really no way to avoid it.
So who out there is running Jelly Bean? How are you running it, official, unofficial? Let us know in the comments.


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Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has apologised to users after it was alleged to have been collecting data from its iMessage service without its customers’ consent.
Xiaomi is one of the world’s fastest growing mobile phone makers. The company’s vice-president Hugo Barra posted an apology on his Google+ page, stating Xiaomi was not storing users’ phone numbers or other data through its MIUI messaging service, after a recent report found the opposite was the case.
According to CNet, the service is similar to Apple’s iMessage, which routes messages through its own cloud-based system rather than through various telecom networks, meaning messages are free.
However, this retaining of information was a part of Xiaomi’s remit as part of MIUI but after facing such levels of criticism the company released an update for its operating system which now gives users the ability to tick or untick a box, allowing the company to opt into any data-sharing obligation.
While stating that Xiaomi was not taking part in any secretive plan to harvest information, Barra in his blog post did apologise to users for the commotion.
“We apologise for any concern caused to our users and Mi fans. We would also like to thank the media and users who have been sending us feedback and suggestions, allowing us to improve and provide better internet services.”


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On February 14, the first MYplay shopping and entertainment space in Kiev opened in the Smart Plaza Obolon shopping center. The new store with an area of about 450 m2 located on the second floor of the shopping center and pleased residents of the Obolon district with an innovative idea of a shopping space. Chain owner, Pavel Ovchinnikov on the main features of the MYplay concept and growth plans.
In May this year, a restaurant of the New York Street Pizza chain with an area of 400 m2 will open in the new Cherry Mall. The lease agreement was signed with the assistance of UTG. The new restaurant will be the first one in chain that will locate in Kiev and Vyshneve city, and will open on the second floor of the shopping mall.
Within the Open Mind Conference, which took place on February 11 in Kiev, Evgenia Loktionova, director of UTG, told about the perspectives of Ukrainian commercial real estate sector. During the presentation, Evgenia noted that despite unstable situation in the country, demand for professional shopping area remains.
As a part of tenant mix expansion strategy, the famous French brand Sandro will open in the Ocean Plaza mall. The new store will be located on the first floor with an area of 184 m2. The lease agreement was signed with the assistance of UTG.
In April 2019, the Fora store with an area of 868 m2 will open in the Cherry Mall shopping center. Their new store will be 7th in Vyshneve. It will be the largest store of this retailer in the city. The lease agreement was signed with the assistance of UTG.
On February 11, at Open Mind Conference, the event dedicated to real estate investment, UTG director Evgenia Loktionova will moderate the 5th session. The following questions will be discussed: whether it is possible to expect an increase of investments flow in the real estate sector, whether it is worth waiting for new players to appear on the market, who is interested to invest in development projects in Ukraine from abroad, what global and local factors will affect the real estate market and its investment potential.
Last year, in Ukraine was created a new management company, Kiev Mall Management (KMM), the main goal of which is to foster development of asset management services in Ukraine with their current role as management of the Ocean Plaza shopping mall. The owner and head of the company, Alexander Fashchevsky, told about his plans for the next few years and his forecasts for commercial real estate market development in Ukraine.
Today, in Kiev was an official launch of a new food delivery service, Uber Eats. It is reported on the FB page of Uber Eats Ukraine that the service is ready to deliver food in any weather. According to the company, list of restaurants where it will be possible to order food will expand to 200 places by late February. The work of the new service, according to Sergey Zaika, UTG Business Development Director, will have a positive effect on both the restaurant business and the retail property market.
By the end of February, an international clothing retailer LC Waikiki will open under the tenant-mix enhance in the «Oasis» mall in Khmelnitsky. The brand store of Turkish operator will be located on the 2nd floor of the mall and will take 1 250 m2. A rotation of stores inside the shopping center was occurred to set LC Waikiki on a record-breaking area for a fashion retailer.
Just before the most romantic holiday of St. Valentine's Day, Ocean Plaza shopping mall gives all visitors the opportunity to prepare unusual surprises, fall into the moments of happiness or arrange a romantic dinner. Due to the special events, everyone can reach the atmosphere of love, get a charge of tender feelings and creativity.
A company specializing in real estate of Central Europe and Germany, CPI Property Group has announced the reconstruction of the Campona Mall in Budapest. The main criteria for the reconstruction will be a GLA increase by 60% and a twofold expansion of the leisure zone, catering and creation of a park.
One of the largest construction companies in Israel, The Azrieli Group, announced plans to build the Spiral Tower, which will be the tallest skyscraper in the country. The new building height of 1150 feet or 91 floors is also called the «Tower of Babel». It will become a part of Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv. It is estimated to cost about $700 million and will take six years.
On February 27, 2019, the Real Estate Development Certification Course will start in Kiev. The course is hosted by the «International Business Institute» school and the CP School educational platform. Sergey Khomenko, Head of the Project Development Department at UTG, will be the special guest lecturer of the Course.
One more retail property in Europe has begun a large-scale reconstruction. Over the next two years, the largest German shopping mall, Olympia Einkaufszentrum (OEZ) in Munich will be significantly upgraded. According to across-magazine, a pool managed by DWS and the ECE / Otto family are investing around 30 million in the reconstruction.
Today, was held the opening of Smart Plaza Obolon shopping center with a total area of 15 000 m2. According to Evgenia Loktionova, the UTG director, an exclusive broker of the project, the Smart Plaza Obolon differs from other shopping centers in Obolon area with a unique tenant-mix and restaurant offer, and before the opening, rental space was filled by 94%.


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Deb Collingwood and her husband, Ken, love gardening. They’re doing it for the sheer pleasure of seeing what they planted blossom into beautiful flowers, and produce sweet tasting fruits and vegetables.
The Nanoose Bay couple has a small sized garden — 15.2m by 9m — but they produce a lot more than they need for their own personal use.
They decided to build a produce stand in front of their house and sell their excess freshly picked fruits, vegetables, flowers as well as home-made jams. Whatever they sell, they decided to donate a major portion of the money to a local charity.
“We were surprised at the number of people that stopped by to buy our produce especially the bouquets,” said Deb. “All of a sudden we had $150 and my husband said we should donate $100 to Nanoose Bay Catspan Society because they do a lot for feral cats, kittens and it’s a local charity. I also love our Nanoose Bay food bank and they will be the next one we will donate to.”
Deb said they’re not commercial farmers. They are just passionate about gardening and simply want to make good use of their surplus raspberries, flowers and other vegetables, which Deb said are organically produced.
“We take a little bit of the money we earned to pay for the seeds next year and some stuff,” said Deb. “We are contributing to our community. And before the season’s out we hope to give another hundred to Catspan.”
The Collingwoods use an old-style payment method — the honour system. They’re not worried about being cheated.
“I don’t think we’ve ever been ripped off,” said Deb. “What Ken has done is to actually bolt the money box to the stand so nobody can run off with it.”
The Collingwoods would like to challenge all roadside produce stands and local producers to match or donate to a local charity of their choosing.
“It has been such a community experience starting our little stand,” said Deb. “We even had a thank you note put into our cash box the other day which meant a lot to us.”
Anyone wishing to stop by to check out the Collingwood’s produce stand can head to 2516 Richard Place, Nanoose Bay.


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This week, another NFT collector fell victim to a hacking incident – this time involving stolen 10KTF collectibles. However, the story had a happy ending this time thanks to the 10KTF founder himself, Figge.
Accordingly, the content creator bought shoes and socks collectibles from the hacker, sending them back to the victim. All in all, the situation was solved in less than 24 hours, much to the community’s delight.
How were the two 10KTF shoe NFTs stolen?
June 12th was a tough day for NFT collector @InctubeTweets. He revealed that an anonymous hacker had stolen his 10KTF Shop NFTs. In addition, the collectors also confessed that he had been working for over a year on his collection.
Of course, the NFT community quickly tried to help. One collector even asked for the links to each NFT to try and find a solution. By the end of the evening, though,…


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Rockaway Township: DecemberFest is happening at Rotary Club of the Rockaways
Ken from Rotary Club of the Rockaways said on Friday, December 1 from 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Beer tasting event. Ten beer vendors, catered food, 43″ smart TV raffle, 50/50 raffle, calendar raffle. $25 per person. Proceeds benefit Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Fund. Event held at the American Legion Post 344 in Rockaway, NJ, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
More information can be found at at this link. 10% discount off for NJCB Members at the door. Show you Memberships!


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Global on-demand fleet service, Splend, has announced a market-leading financial support package to help its drivers maintain their income and their vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relief package comes as the Splend business pivots from traditional rideshare into delivery services, opening up new revenue streams for drivers.
As one of the largest on-demand fleet rental companies, the Australian company provides flexible car rental plans combined with data driven training and support to thousands of members globally
Further company changes announced this month will see Splend focus on its core operations in Australia and Europe, closing its Toronto and Mexico City operations as part of a move to focus on its best performing growth markets during this challenging business period.
To help during this period of enormous challenge for rideshare platforms and drivers, Splend is providing new and existing members with up to a 30% discount on weekly payments coupled with additional support to ensure members successfully onboard to new on-demand platforms. This unprecedented move follows a significant shift in the market with two of Splend’s Australian competitors shutting down their operations leaving thousands of on-demand drivers without access to a vehicle.
Australian founder and global CEO, Chris King said the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to a more diversified driver services market, opening up new opportunities in the delivery side of the business. Splend is in discussion with a number of retailers about expanding delivery operations.
“The increased demand for package and food delivery continues to rise with the prevalence of online shopping, a trend that has been accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
King said Splend had taken these moves to ensure business continuity and stability.
“We want our members to continue to generate income during this challenging time and to also keep access to their vehicle which they can use for essential domestic purposes as well. Maintaining continuity during this time is a win/win for all our stakeholders - from our members to our investors and financiers, our partners and staff.”
“The government financial support, which is available to self-employed and sole traders, as well as SME businesses like ours, is helping us and our members get through this difficult period,” said King.
“Nobody has a crystal ball right now. But when traditional rideshare services bounce back in time, we want Splend and Splend members to be well positioned to take advantage of that,” King concluded.


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Peninsula Daily News
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The reading, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, is part of Port Townsend's monthly Gallery Walk.
It will be held at Wynwoods Gallery & Bead Studio, 940 Water St.
Spam lives in a town like Port Townsend, and his haunts include local businesses with the same names as iconic PT fixtures — such as Elevated Ice Cream and Sea J's Cafe, where he stalks vampires (Spam Vs. the Vampire) and tries to rescue staff members from being turned into zombies (The Tour Bus of Doom).
Scarborough originally wrote Spam Vs. the Vampire as a satirical answer to the popular Twilight books.
“I was telling the girls at Sea J's about the zombie book I was writing, and they all wanted to be zombies, so they are,” Scarborough said.
Both Elevated and Sea J's are carrying The Tour Bus of Doom this summer and have sold out of the first batch.
The third story in the Spam series is Father Christmas, Spam's first Christmas.
All proceeds from Father Christmas, both paper copies and e-books, are being donated to the Jefferson County Humane Society shelter.
Paper copies of the books will be available for sale at the event. All three stories are family-friendly, suitable for both adults and older kids.
Scarborough won the Nebula Award for The Healer's War, published in 1989.
Her website is at www.eascarborough.com.


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You in? Hamilton wants public input on e-cargo bike pilot program
Published March 8, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Hamilton residents can offer their input on whether the city should participate in the province’s five-year e-cargo bike pilot program.
Ontario passed a bill last year, allowing e-cargo bikes to be used for personal or commercial use. Municipalities are required to implement a by-law to allow their use on local roadways in order to participate.
“Personal e-cargo bikes can help local families and households meet their daily needs without having to rely on a car, such as taking kids to school and grocery shopping,” says the City of Hamilton. “Commercial e-cargo bikes are a tool to replace some delivery trucks and vans, particularly in dense urban environments.”
“E-cargo bikes support the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and provide an opportunity to reduce traffic and parking pressures on local roads,” the City added.
Or buy an e-cargo bike to substitute at least one car in a household.
Cheaper than switching the cars to electric, quicker and more cost effective in towns and cities such as Limerick, Dublin where traffic is so slow. pic.twitter.com/xWIe6Q2RJw
— Mark (@glutenfreeMark) March 5, 2022
Opting into the pilot would give Hamilton residents and businesses the option to use e-cargo bikes to move people and goods.
The survey is available online: engage.hamilton.ca/e-cargobikeprogram
City staff expect to bring a draft recommendation to council in the coming months.insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising


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Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in New York City.
Man shot in face by ICE officer during Brooklyn operation
The shooting comes amid an escalating dispute between the administration of President Donald Trump and New York City over its sanctuary policies.
Read the full story on PBS NewsHour.
Prosecutors in Harvey Weinstein’s New York City rape trial have rested their case
Prosecutors in Harvey Weinstein's New York City rape trial have rested their case.
Read the full story on MySanAntonio.
Customers say DevaCurl product line made their hair fall out
The maker of a line of hair care products created in New York City and popular with people who have curly hair is retesting its own products amid mounting complaints from customers.
Read the full story on 6abc Action News.
De Blasio administration: Trump travel restriction is 'childish retribution based in racism'
The city reiterated its support of the state driver's license law, saying it provides greater safety for drivers.
Read the full story on POLITICO.
Prada will undergo sensitivity training after racially offensive product display
Prada settled with the New York City Commission on Human Rights to take sensitivity training post racial incidents.
Read the full story on ABC News.
This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


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Marianna- Growers call it 'tomato dumping'
"If I'm going to go after the competition, I'm going to go after them in their back yard" explained Jackson County Growers Association President, Eric Toole. "So, if they can dump tomatoes out on the U.S. market at a cheaper price and at the same time the Florida tomatoes are coming out, most people will go with the cheaper tomato. It's driving the Florida tomato producers out of business."
Intentional or not, Toole was not alone in saying that was what Mexico had been doing to Florida's tomato growers.
"Once you drive your competition out of business, you can come back with a monopoly and that seems to be what the Mexican tomato growers are after."
Wednesday, Congressman Steve Sutherland announced the Commerce Department had negotiated an agreement that would keep Mexico from undercutting Florida tomato prices. It also suspended the terms of a 1996 investigation agreement on the same issue. It was supposed to put foreign and domestic growers on an equal playing field.
But, Toole told us the new development may not help local farmers who had already made plans for the spring.
"I think the acreage that was planned on being grown last week or the week before is probably the same" he said. "It's not going to change, but a fall crop may be more in line. And, it very probably will affect next years crop. I do have some friends who only grow 40, 50, 75 acres that, without this, [agreement] I would seriously see them going out of business."
The spring tomato planting season runs from mid-February and lasts through march.


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Apple set to rival Spotify and Pandora by planning launch of iRadio music streaming service
- Apple are rumoured to be planning the iRadio streaming service
- It would rival the likes of current services Spotify and Pandora
- The market is currently one of the fastest growing in modern entertainment
- Twitter are also set to launch a new streaming service
New service: It is likely that music fans will soon be able to enjoy a new streaming service from Apple
They're already arguably the top name in the electronic and music download markets.
But software giant Apple now look set to take their domination of the digital world a step further as they plan to challenge the likes of Spotify by launching a music streaming service.
The company are reportedly to launch the service, which could be called iRadio, later this year with talks in progress with the three main music companies - Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony.
Negotiations with Universal and Warner are said to be more advanced.
It is believed that the aim is to encourage users to download songs from its ten year old iTunes store - already the biggest music retailer in the world - by introducing them to new artists.
The service will reportedly be free, according to the Guardian, and paid for by advertising.
Apple will have another new rival looking to gain its share of the market with Twitter set to launch a similar service this weekend.
The new service, designed by Australian firm We Are Hunted, called #music will allow people to tweet music suggestions to their friends, follow their favourite artists andlisten to tracks from Soundcloud and iTunes.
Twitter will showcase #music at the Coachella festival.
It is no surprise that Apple is apparently looking to dominate one of the fastest growing markets in the entertainment world.
Subcribers to services such as Spotify and Pandora increased by 44 per cent last year.
Music analyst Alice Enders told the Guardian that the new Apple service is most likely to challenge Pandora, which claims to be used by a third of the US online market.
She said: 'It's a big decision for the recorded music industry whether Apple should become a subscription service; the all-you-can-eat service seems to be the nirvana for the music industry even though there is the potential to cannibalise download sales.'
Domination: Apple's ten-year-old iTunes store is already the market leader in music sales. Pictured is the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California
Rival: The new service looks likely to compete with the likes of Spotify
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WATCH: Xiaomi's Mi Max review
Xiaomi has launched a Mi Max smartphone in June this year. The new phone has a big screen of 6.44 inches and a good metal design.
The device was initially launched in China in May this year. Mi Max will go on open sale from July 13 on Amazon, Paytm, Snapdeal and Flipkart, ZeeBiz reported last month.
To find out more about Mi Max's features, pricing and much more watch its full review here-


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Following their release of the Manga UT, Sailor Moon UT collections, Uniqlo is coming out with new designs based around Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball for their UT graphic t-shirt line this November.
Uniqlo uploaded a video interview with collage artist Kosuke Kawamura who gives insight into some of his work and designs that are planned for the upcoming Dragon Ball UT collection.
The Dragon Ball UT collection is expected to hit Uniqlo stores and online November 2019.
Did you find a typographical or grammatical error in this article? Please let us know!


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Since Facebook and Instagram perform a vital role in many brands’ marketing methods, how could the company’ t use of blockchain-based solutions affect advertising and marketing?
That question occurs following news this week that the social giant has employed the team behind UK-based blockchain startup Chainspace, which was reportedly focusing on a sensible contracts platform. Reviews indicate Facebook’ s interest is within the team’ s expertise as opposed to the specific technology. Most of the employees can join Facebook’ s existing 40+ person blockchain team, led simply by former PayPal exec David Marcus, which reportedly has been looking into the particular creation of a cryptocurrency for its WhatsApp messaging mobile app.
Although hyped for curing many of the world’ s ills, blockchain is moving into a few kinds of practical options: as a decentralized and shared journal for permanently tracking all kinds of exercise; as the generator of “ sensible contracts, ” which are software that will automatically trigger a digital outcome as soon as conditions are met; and as the particular framework for creating and managing cryptocurrency, which are digital forms of payment that could or may not be tied to traditional foreign currency.
To get ideas regarding possible marketing or advertising effects from a blockchain-enabled Facebook and how the organization might deploy blockchain in its techniques, we checked in with several professionals at the intersections of blockchain, advertising and marketing. As with any good speculation exercise, there was differing viewpoints.
Clear walled garden?
Shiny McGraw is CEO of Mail Labs, a blockchain-based platform meant for building distributed apps ( dApps ), which he founded because “ a reaction to Facebook, Search engines and Amazon being untrustworthy with the data. ”
McGraw doesn’ t think Facebook’ t blockchain efforts would “ possess any impact on marketers and marketers. ” His reasoning: the importance seems to be on cryptocurrency, probably for messaging platforms, and this form of transaction wouldn’ t directly affect advertisements or other marketing.
While blockchain can be used to make marketing more transparent, McGraw says he or she doesn’ t “ see [Facebook] opening up their marketing channels in a way that helps the industry. ”
Similarly, Christiana Cacciapuoti, Executive Director at non-profit blockchain ad consortium AdLedger, is suspicious Facebook would employ blockchain to produce its advertising more transparent, due to what she calls “ the particular innovator’ s dilemma. ”
“ If you are one half of the duopoly, ” she said, “ you are not incentivized to take the risk of producing any substantial changes to your business structure. ”
But Mike Kim, CEO and co-founder associated with Lucidity, is more optimistic. His firm uses smart contracts to provide advertisement data transparency, and he thinks Fb has an opportunity to become “ the very first of walled gardens to become totally transparent [in advertising] plus, for the first time, allow marketers to have complete optics into what they’ lso are buying. ”
Plus Adam Helfgott, CEO at blockchain-based ad network MadHive, thinks digging in blockchain to the Facebook ecosystem “ can be a good step toward an even more secure, more accountable” environment to get user privacy and ad authentication.
More about the Facebook platform plus paid media tools
Crypto for transaction options, gaming, incentives?
Like McGraw, Cacciapuoti expects the particular blockchain-based focus to be on cryptocurrency payment, which she notes will give you more payment options for Facebook customers, just as money transfer features had been added to WhatsApp and Messenger within 2017. Those kinds of additional transaction choices, she says, would not straight impact marketing and advertising.
However the addition of cryptocurrency to the Fb ecosystem, Gartner VP and expert Andrew Frank suggested, might be utilized first in the social platform’ ersus games and not simply as another payment choice.
This would provide Fb and game developers with more control of their gaming environment, and could straight affect how marketers of video games develop campaigns to increase game play.
Lucidity’ s Kim views Facebook using cryptocurrency for a 3rd purpose, beyond payment options or even game currency: as “ a far more efficient payments system [that rewards] their users for preferred behaviors while disincentivizing undesired actions. ”
This is being a frequent usage of platform-based cryptocurrency , where system users are automatically rewarded along with digital tokens when they do some exercise. Shopin, for instance, is a shopping system where retailers provide digital bridal party to encourage brand loyalty. One more example is Warsaw-based influencer advertising firm indaHash, which pays influencers with its own cryptocurrency.
Kim said this adoption of the cryptocurrency could drive engagement simply by Facebook users in established yet stagnant markets like the US, plus stand out in emerging marketers “ where the usage of decentralized payments [from cryptocurrency] is rapidly attaining traction and adoption. ”
Gartner’ s Frank also views two blockchain-fueled authentication opportunities intended for Facebook, if they so choose.
One opportunity could be an answer to Facebook’ s disinformation problem.
In the 2016 US political election, Facebook users were targeted for any mass campaign of disinformation simply by Russian intelligence services. Although the interpersonal platform has vowed to fight this onslaught of fake information, it is a giant undertaking.
Frank suggests that blockchain, as a dispersed, permanent and shared ledger, might be employed to permanently verify the foundation of any content. This usage to determine provenance is already being employed, for example, by Walmart to track food from the farm to the shop.
Just as an ovum can be verified as coming from a good authenticated farmer, Frank suggests that causes of Facebook content could be required to monitor their sources via a blockchain journal. For example , a camera taking an information photo in the field could upload the camera-generated certificate to a blockchain journal, when the photo is first taken.
The certificate might be period stamped and linked to the photo, as well as the blockchain ledger would be permanent plus accessible to anyone with an internet browser. Similarly, textual stories could be authorized on the blockchain from their point associated with origin and include a certificate plus digital fingerprint by, say, the particular Associated Press at its confirmed newsroom. Frank adds that start-up Ambervideo. co has initiated an identical service, plus content verification may also help Facebook track copyrights.
Help brands manage copyright laws, user consent issues?
While a misuse of mental property is not a marketer’ h prime job function, marketing groups do track the copyright position of material they use or personal. And marketers of news providers, as well as product marketers, are aware of counterfeit uses of their products and advertisements.
It seems inevitable, for example, that the emerging wave of “ deep fake” movies — which display realistic but false video moments — will someday make believe any kind of video content on Fb, including any brand video — unless there is some kind of authentication.
The other blockchain opportunity, Honest said, is that Facebook could utilize blockchain-generated smart contracts to track users’ consent of various personal data. Each content certification and user permission can be tracked in other ways, he or she acknowledged, but blockchain technology provides a permanent, decentralized ledger and a construction for smart contracts.
Although Facebook has indicated any in using blockchain for cryptocurrency, it clearly also has reasons to utilize it for other solutions, which includes ad transparency, user consent monitoring and content validation.
But , as a walled garden greater than two billion users, Facebook doesn’ t have a direct competitor traveling its actions, so those away from wall will just have to see what decides.
This particular story first appeared on MarTech Nowadays. For more on marketing technology, click here.
If you liked Just how could Facebook’s use of blockchain have an effect on marketing and advertising? by Barry Levine Then you'll love Marketing Services Miami


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Bangladesh Jeweller's Association (BAJUS) has claimed that Tk 730 billion is laundered per year through gold smuggling.
“In a recent assessment, we have found that gold worth Tk 2 billion is being smuggled into the country every day. So the smuggling of gold causes money laundering of Tk 730 billion a year,” Enamul Haque Khan, Chairman of BAJUS Standing Committee on Anti-Smuggling and Law Enforcement, told reporters at a briefing at its head office in the capital on Saturday.
On behalf of BAJUS President Sayem Sobhan Anvir, the trade body has also urged Bangladesh Bank (BB) and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to assess the economic impact of gold smuggling.
It also requested the government to dismantle the gold smuggling syndicate by conducting more drives.
The BAJUS arranged the briefing amid a setback in jewellery industry, a rise in gold smuggling syndicates at home and abroad and money laundering using the precious metal.
It proposed forming a separate government monitoring cell involving business leaders to identify gold smugglers and also underscored a need for amending laws to address gold smuggling.
The trade body expressed interest in conducting a joint survey with Bangladesh Bank and the National Board of Revenue to find out the impact of the dollar crisis and smuggling due to misuse of the facility of bringing gold bars and ornaments under the Baggage Rule.
The trade body also suggested forming an anti-gold smuggling cell involving BAJUS to support the law enforcement agencies in market monitoring.
The committee’s vice chairman Bidhan Malakar, member secretary Ikbal Uddin, and members Swapan Chandra Karmakar, Bikash Ghosh, Nazrul Islam, and Babul Rahman were present at the briefing at Bashundhara City shopping complex. The BAJUS leaders claimed that money laundering through gold smuggling by a group of greedy businessmen has created a negative impact on the country’s foreign currency reserve.
A tiny portion of smuggled gold is detected by law enforcement agencies, according to BAJUS.
Enamul Haque Khan said BAJUS is conducting research to find out the demand and supply of gold in the country as there is no official data available now.
Earlier, BAJUS president Sayem Sobhan Anvir wrote to the home and finance ministers and the National Board of Revenue chairman, urging them to give the members of law enforcement agencies and customs 25 percent of gold recovered during drives as a reward.
BAJUS, a platform of 40,000 jewellery retailers, made the proposal to encourage the law enforcers to strengthen their efforts to prevent gold smuggling.
BAJUS claimed that illegal gold ornaments and bars worth Tk 2 billion are being smuggled into Bangladesh in exchange for foreign currencies every day by water, land and air routes.
The BAJUS leaders mentioned that the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has put the whole world economy in the face of a major disaster.
The prices of other foreign currencies, including the US dollar, are constantly increasing in the country. This has been affecting the global gold market.
In recent times, the country’s jewellery industry has faced a multi-pronged crisis due to the continued excessive price and crisis of the US dollar, as well as the rising prices of other foreign currencies and reckless smuggling.
The price of the US dollar in the country has gone up to Tk 118 per unit in the open market. In such a situation, domestic and foreign syndicates of smugglers have spread instability in the gold market.
“By creating an artificial crisis, the price of gold is constantly being increased in the local market. The wholesale market of gold has become hostage to the syndicate. They have deep ties with smuggling syndicate,” according to BAJUS.
The trade body claimed several syndicates of these smugglers are believed to be involved in gold smuggling abroad while the syndicates have a connection with the ongoing dollar crisis and money laundering.
In such a situation, BAJUS recommends ensuring strong action and punishment by law enforcement agencies as there is no alternative to drastic measures to bring order to the gold market.
BAJUS believes that law enforcement agencies have a glorious role in maintaining law and order and peace across the country.
“The members of law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to maintain order and a fair business environment in the country. They have been conducting various operations consistently so that no miscreants, or smugglers can conduct anti-national and illegal activities. Many smugglers have been prosecuted. It increases the revenue of the government. We request the authorities to issue necessary instructions to all government agencies so that no smugglers can bring gold or ornaments into the country and smuggle them abroad through illegal means,” it said.
To deal with the ongoing crisis in the jewellery industry, the speakers said, BAJUS is making a strong demand to the government to formulate hallmark policies and diamond policies to improve the quality of jewellery products.
BAJUS standing committee on anti-Smuggling and law enforcement has already started working on this matter, officials informed the meeting.
According to government guidelines, there are four gold standards across the country, namely 18, 21, 22 and 24. A value below 99.5 is not acceptable under any circumstances in the case of pure gold and all hallmarking companies should test the gold according to government guidelines.


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A Toyota Tundra truck bed cover recall involves more than 143,000 trucks equipped with optional Toyota genuine truck bed accessory tonneau covers that can detach from the trucks while driving.
Nearly 14,000 Toyota Tundra trucks are recalled in Canada.
Tundra owners will be contacted in March and asked to confirm if their trucks are equipped with the optional bed covers.
The 2022-2023 Tundra truck owners are instructed to remove the bed covers until the trucks are repaired by dealerships.
Owners will be contacted a second time once Toyota dealers are ready to fix the problem.
Owners who have questions about the Toyota Tundra bed cover recall should call 800-331-4331.


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A California bill that would ban the display and sale of live animals in certain public places like swap meets and flea markets, among other places, could “inadvertently encompass” a number of animal shows, consumer shows and pet industry trade shows, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). PIJAC is calling on the public to contact California legislators to voice their concerns about the proposal, which is scheduled for a public hearing on May 6, 2009.
As drafted, Assembly Bill 1122 would make it illegal for any person to “willfully sell, display, or offer for sale or give away as part of a commercial transaction, a live animal on any street, highway, public right-of-way, commercial parking lot, or at any outdoor special sale, swap meet, flea market, parking lot sale, carnival or boardwalk.”
The bill does not define “swap meet” or “flea market.” In a PetAlert, issued May 5, 2009, PIJAC stated that it has received comments from several show sponsors who questioned whether they fall within the non-defined terms.
According to PIJAC, the proposal could be interpreted as a ban on reptile shows, bird shows, fish shows, cat shows and dog shows. The poor definition, according to PIJAC, could also prohibit pet fairs, such as the annual America’s Family Pet Expo held in Orange County, California, pet industry trade shows or other specialty shows that would not fall within the general perception of a “swap meet” or “flea market.”
The California Assembly Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hear the bill on May 6, 2009, at 9 a.m. PIJAC recommends that people who support the ability to host, promote and participate in such shows where animals are displayed and/or sold and/or funds are raised to support the organization’s members should immediately contact members of the committee. PIJAC suggested pointing out the need for an exemption for such activities or a clear definition of a “swap meet” or a “flea market.”


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Sep 07, 2018
Czech Republic can be key partner for India's development initiatives, says President Ram Nath Kovind in PragueThe Czech Republic, a manufacturing "powerhouse" with advanced technology base, can be a key partner for India's development initiatives, President Ram Nath Kovind has said, referring to footwear major Bata, a brand with which all Indians have grown up.
Feb 09, 2018
Mumbai couple appeals President of India for 'active euthanasia': Why the Lavates want a 'mercy death'“What is the purpose?” That’s what 78-year-old Irawati Lavate and her husband, 87-year-old Narayan Lavate want to know about their continuing existence.


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Sigma has just announced the next generation of its DP series of APS-C sensor, fixed focal length cameras, with the DP2 Quattro. The latest, 45mm-equivalent, model features dramatic styling and a fundamental re-think of the company’s Foveon multi-layer sensor design. The Quattro sensor still uses three layers to detect color information but now only captures its full, 19.6 million pixel resolution in the top layer, with lower two layers capturing 4.9MP of information each. The sensor will also appear in 28mm and 75mm equivalent DP1 Quattro an DP3 Quattro models.
Sigma will soon announce several new compact cameras named Sigma Quattro DP1, DP2, DP3. Russian forum has leaked some images of Sigma Quattro dp2. dp2 will have a new imaging processor called TRUE III. An optical viewfinder will also be available for dp2.
Canon’s high-end compact camera PowerShot G1 X will be replace in two weeks by G2 X. The announcement will probably on Tuesday, February 18, 2014. Just several days after CP+ 2014 at Japan (2/13 – 2/16).


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The first freight train in history to travel from China in Poland arrived in the Polish city of Gdańsk last week, prompting those attending a ceremony to mark the historic occasion by launching confetti in celebration.
The journey took only 10 days compared to the 45 to 50 days it normally takes to complete a sea route from China to Poland. The journey was also four days shorter than a freight train journey to Duisburg, Germany, where most Chinese rail freight destined for the region currently arrives.
Despite rail freight transport costing almost twice as much as sea route transportation, there has been significant interest in the new rail connection in Poland. On Nov. 21, the first freight train to travel between China and Poland arrived in Gdańsk from Xi’an.
“In many situations, the time of transportation is more important than its price for recipients,” Łukasz Szutenberg of Adampol company, the train’s owner, explained during a ceremony to celebrate the train’s arrival from China.
He added that his company’s train traveled from Xi’an to Gdańsk in only 10 days, whereas maritime transportation from Central China to Gdańsk would take between 45 to 50 days.
“Many entrepreneurs can deliver several shipments [using rail transport[ and, despite higher costs, earn more money in the long term,” Szutenberg said.
Prior to this freight train’s journey, the vast majority of cargo trains traveled to Duisburg in Germany instead of Gdańsk, despite the trip being four days longer.
The deputy head of the Port of Gdańsk Authority, Marcin Osowski, emphasized that four days is a significant difference in cargo transportation and a time difference Poland should use to its advantage.
The deputy minister of maritime economy, Grzegorz Witkowski, was also pleased with the new freight train connection, as he believes that it “proves that Polish ports can compete with German ones.”
“We have our advantages and we want to use them, as we can only benefit from that, such as having larger income for the budget and increasing opportunities and possibilities for our entrepreneurs,” the minister said.


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Capri Sun wants kids to get outdoors and have fun – after they’ve visited its website.
The drink maker’s first promotion of the year is rolling out in phases, with Monday kicking off the campaign with the launch of CapriSun.com/Kids. Specially marked packages of the fruit drink began shipping earlier in the month, so that they’d be on store shelves in time to lead kids to the website.
Kids – or their parents – are invited to go to the website and enter the code from a pouch of the fruit drink in order to have a chance at an instant win of prizes. Three exotic vacations, to the Great Barrier Reef, the Hawaiian Islands, or Africa for a safari, provide the thematic elements for the website, digital marketing, and supporting TV spots; other prizes include loot like digital cameras and walkie talkies.
They can then play “Globe Rush,” an online game featuring the three exotic locations. Players try to avoid obstacles and grab power items while collecting fruit and Capri Sun pouches to increase their scores.
TV advertising created and produced by Saatchi & Saatchi is scheduled to go live at the beginning of April; scripts and the media buy are still being finalized, said Matt Smith, senior associate brand manager for Capri Sun. The product promotion is being handled by Catapult.
Due to child privacy concerns, Capri Sun will not use website registrations or game play for further marketing. Nor does it have plans to directly tie prize entries to in-store sales.
Once the idea for “Win an Epic Adventure” took shape, Capri Sun brought in its roster of agencies to brainstorm, according to Smith. The integrated campaign will include a full suite of digital media, such as banner and display ads produced by Razorfish, along with the game and website. The company also is working on content partnerships with kid-oriented sites, although those partnerships have not been finalized.
Smith says that his company has found that big adventure prizes work well for the brand’s consumers, which include kids and the moms who shop for them. “The Capri Sun brand is all about getting outdoors and seizing adventure,” he says.
Says Jim Cridlin, a client partner with Razorfish, “We created a digital experience because that’s where kids tend to spend a lot of time. But everything results in a big offline adventure. It’s a digital experience that encourages kids to go out and explore the world outside their own room.”
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The new $ 300 virtual-reality headset works well and feels comfortable. But good luck finding games that will keep you entertained. NYT > Style BEST DEAL UPDATE: Charles Tyrwhitt – Sale Ties for only $ 25. No Coupon Needed!
The Oculus Quest 2 is also getting Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell video games. BBC News – Technology ENTERTAINMENT UPDATE:
When money is no object and you want the best gaming audio you can buy, these are the best high-end gaming headset you should look for. IGN All SHOPPING DEAL UPDATE:
A headset that can measure your brain’s reaction to images could improve mental health. BBC News – Technology ENTERTAINMENT UPDATE:
Before leaving the company, Apple design chief Jony Ive reportedly clashed with the team developing its upcoming virtual reality headset. While the team — which had grown under executive Mike Rockwell to to number more than 1,000 employees — had … Read more…


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BOULDER, CO (BRAIN) — Sales of outdoor products fell 1.7 percent in May compared to the same month last year, according to the Outdoor Industry Association VantagePoint report.
VantagePoint tracks point-of-sale data from more than 10,000 retail locations and websites that carry outdoor products, including nearly 450 outdoor specialty locations.
The latest report found that sales of cycling products through these locations fell slightly in the month. The OIA did not publish specific details on sales biking products.
In other categories, outdoor apparel sales fell 3.3 percent to $162.8 million for the four-week period ending June 1. Outdoor footwear sales, overall, were down 9.2 percent, with outdoor sandal sales, in particular, taking a hit, while technical hiking and outdoor trail shoe sales were up slightly.
Outdoor hardgood sales were up 3.3 percent.
The OIA noted the growth in sales through online retailers and discount/mass retailers continues to make up a larger portion of its totals. Online retailers accounted for 8.1 percent of all outdoor product sales, up from 5.2 percent in May last year, while discount/mass retailers contributed 4.3 percent of all sales, up from 3.1 percent last year.
The OIA VantagePoint monthly trend report is available free to Outdoor Industry Association members. More information: outdoorindustry.org/join.


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Following the sale of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, the chain would be split from its offshoot chain Pei Wei Asian Diner.
The owner of the chains, Centerbridge Partners, would sell the P.F. Chang’s China Bistro chain to TriArtisan Capital Partners and Paulson & Co. for $700 million. This would also include the assumption of debt amounting to $675 million. Bloomberg News reports that this deal will likely be completed by the end of this quarter.
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro is currently a Scottsdale-based chain. Centerbridge Partners obtained the chain back in 2012, spending $1.1 billion on the deal at the time. After obtaining the company, it was made private.
Centerbridge Partners would maintain ownership of the Pei Wei Asian Diner chain under this deal.
Since the first P.F. Chang’s location opened in 1993, the chain has grown to over 200 locations in the United States alone. Several other locations exist in different countries around the world. Of the 210 locations, eight are in the Phoenix metro.
There is currently no word on how this deal could affect current P.F. Chang’s employees.