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CARY, N.C. –
Asbury Automotive Group’s deal to purchase Park Place Dealerships is back on, with revised terms from the previously announced agreement in December, the retailer announced Monday.
More details and an update on that transaction can be found below.
In other dealer group M&A news, Lithia Motors said Tuesday it has acquired Smolich Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Nissan dealerships in Bend, Ore.
Lithia, which is headquartered some three hours away in Medford, Ore., said the acquired stores are likely to pull in steady state annualized revenues of $100 million.
“As the automotive retail environment continues to show significant sequential improvements, we have restarted acquisitions, completing the first two pending acquisitions,” Lithia president and chief executive officer Bryan DeBoer said in a news release.
“Growth of our network is the foundation to the fulfillment of our current and future brand promises, regional logistics plan and ability to provide competitive customer offerings through all six business lines.”
A recap of operational results from Asbury and Lithia can be found in this story.
Asbury’s Park Place purchase
In Monday’s news release, Asbury said it signed a definitive agreement to buy certain assets of Park Place. The price was $685 million of goodwill and roughly $50 million for parts, fixed assets and leaseholds, outside of vehicle inventory.
The deal was initially announced in December. At the time, Asbury announced it had come to an agreement to buy certain assets of Park Place for $1 billion in cash, excluding vehicle inventory.
Amid the uncertainty around COVID-19, Asbury “had to step away” from the deal in March, but the rebound in recent months has allowed the group to “proceed with a more refined deal under more flexible and favorable terms,” Asbury president and CEO David Hult said in Monday’s news release.
“We are pleased our business model and performance allowed us to navigate the current environment and re-engage on a highly strategic acquisition that will make us an even stronger company. We have seen our new and used volume sequentially improve each week in May and June with higher profit per vehicle. We have also seen our parts and service business improve in June as the economy gradually opens-up,” Hult said.
“Strong May and June performance, along with cost restructuring efforts, have driven higher profitability and cash flow, giving us conviction to move forward with a revised Park Place acquisition,” Hult said. “In March, we had to step away from the transaction due to lack of visibility around COVID-19, but after seeing the rebound off the April low, we can proceed with a more refined deal under more flexible and favorable terms.”
As far as the operating assets Asbury is acquiring from Park Place, those include 12 new-car franchises in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, the Park Place auto auction and two collision centers.
The retailer expects the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, to close in the third quarter.
“Park Place is highly regarded as one of the best and most efficient operators of luxury stores in the industry. Their portfolio of stores comes with a strong base of loyal clients and long-tenured team members throughout the high growth Dallas/Fort Worth market,” Hult said. “This acquisition will enhance our total portfolio and add approximately $1.7 billion in expected annualized revenues. We are thankful to all of our employees who have worked so hard over the last few months to manage through this pandemic.
“The talent in our organization and the resilience of the dealer model have put us in a position to acquire Park Place and become a more diversified company.”


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Finally, the long awaited Google Android 8 Oreo is being rolled out to supported Google Pixel and Nexus devices, smartphone users who enrolled in the Android Beta program can now upgrade to the latest Oreo update
You’d recall sometime last week Google officially unveiled its much awaited OS (Android 8.0 Oreo), Pixel and Nexus smartphones are of the few device to enjoy the beta version of the update while customers with the Verizon unit have also joined other users receiving the beta build of Oreo to Pixel and Pixel XL
Other carriers have also started rolling out the Google Oreo update for supported Pixel and Nexus smartphones including Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Nexus Player although the update is yet to hit devices like Samsung Galaxy S8 and the likes at the moment Google owned phones are already getting the upgrade
Interestingly, Google also went further to publish the factory images and OTA zip files for the public to download allowing smartphone users who are already tired of waiting to receive the Android 8 Oreo update via over-the-air rollout to install the OTA zip download and flash on their device
Google Android 8 Oreo build
Pixels and Pixel XL on Bell, Telus, Telstra, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, and Rogers/Fido build number is OPR6.170623.011, while other carriers use OPR6.170623.012.
The Nexus 6P, on the other hand, gets the build ending in 013, but Google notes this is not for T-Mobile, US Cellular, or Fi – but hasn’t yet provided an alternative download. The Nexus 5X’s build is 013 also, while the Pixel C gets 010 and the Nexus Player gets nothing at this point – hopefully it won’t be too long before the console sees its update too.

domain: news


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Cryptocom Granted Preparatory License by VARA to Later Operate in Dubai
Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency platform based in Singapore, has announced that it has been granted a preparatory license for its minimal viable product by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).
With the Minimal Viable Product (MVP) Preparatory license, Crypto.com has passed the second stage of the licensing process and can move towards obtaining an operational license in Dubai.
It cleared the first stage, with initial provisional approval from VARA in June 2022.
Once it receives its operating license, Crypto.com will be authorized to offer a suite of regulated virtual asset activities, including spot and derivatives trading, brokerage, margin/leverage trading, and over-the-counter (OTC) offerings for institutional investors.
The firm stated in its announcement that it will be able to provide these services in compliance with the regulations established by VARA.
VARA’s MVP Preparatory License Approval Process
During the preparatory stage of obtaining a license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), companies are required to meet all the prerequisites to operate as Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs).
According to Crypto.com, it received its preparatory license after undergoing a comprehensive review of its compliance procedures, including anti-money laundering (AML) capabilities, know your customer (KYC) policies, and ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) policies.
VARA also assessed the company’s key personnel, governance procedures, cross-border security measures, and overall safety protocols.
According to Be In Crypto, Henson Orser, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VARA, said, “VARA’s regulatory framework will be instrumental in creating and managing a unique, resilient, and securely future-proofed ecosystem that delivers a sustainable and thriving global best-in-class VA market with secure cross-border interoperability.”
The regulatory authority wants to establish a progressive regulatory framework to make Dubai an international crypto hub.
Last month, it released rulebooks for licensing, and non-compliance with the same, can result in penalties of up to 500,000 AED ($136,000).


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ZTE aims to boost 2015 smartphones shipments by a third
China’s ZTE Corp is hoping high-end smartphones would help raise global shipments by a third in 2015 and establish a brand to rival Samsung Electronics Co and Apple Inc. at home, Reuters has reported. The world’s ninth-biggest smartphone vendor, which launched its Nubia brand in 2012 and makes telecoms network equipment, aims to increase its global smartphone shipments from 40 million last year to 60 million this year, 80 million next year and 100 million in 2016. “We will make more and more premium smartphones,” ZTE’s executive vice-president Zeng Xuezong told the news service. “After our efforts in the past two years, I believe our brand awareness and approval rating from customers could rival those of Apple and Samsung in China,” Zeng said.


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May 30, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s inflation, as measured by the change in the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) declined to 4.0 percent in May 2020 from 5.2 percent in April 2020, the Department of Census And Statistics reported Friday.
The CCPI for all items for the month of May 2020 increased to 134.2 compared to the month of April 2020 for which the index was 133.6.
Year on Year inflation of Food Group has decreased from 13.2 percent in April 2020 to 9.9 percent in May 2020 while that of Non-food Group has decreased from 2.1 percent in April 2020 to 1.6 percent in May 2020.
For the month of May 2020, on year-to-year basis, contribution to inflation by food commodities was 2.85 percent. The contribution of Non Food items was 1.19 percent.
The moving average inflation rate for the month of May 2020 was 4.7 percent. The corresponding rate for the month of April 2020 was 4.8 percent.
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ISBA/IPA introduce online brand safety scheme
The ISBA and the IPA have teamed up to launch a new online brand safety scheme amidst ongoing fallout from adverts popping up on the likes of highly offensive Facebook group pages.
Designed to protect advertisers from the reputational damage that can arise from such faux pas the joint initiative will see suppliers and facilitators of online advertising asked to commit in principle to having their checks and balances for ad misplacement independently verified by August.
These will be measured against a set of good practice principles which have been drafted up by both organisations.
David Ellison, ISBA’s marketing services manager, said: “Advertisers take online brand safety very seriously, as an advert served against inappropriate content can result in considerable reputational damage. Latest concerns over Facebook pages have brought into sharp focus the need to reduce the risk of ad misplacement across the digital trading market. Advertisers need to have confidence in the systems they rely on, including Facebook.”
Nigel Gwilliam, head of digital at the IPA, added: “Our members take online brand safety very seriously and have asked us to promote good practice amongst suppliers. We would like to congratulate all of the intermediaries listed here for stepping up to the plate. There will be future announcements as this programme and related ones expand but all credit to these businesses for being the first to commit.”


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CHILDREN were ringing their bicycle bells for Christmas as they took part in an unusual festive competition.
As part of the ‘Bike It’ campaign, pupils at Pearl Hyde Primary School in Dorchester Way, Walsgrave, Coventry, tinselled up their bikes to promote cycling to school.
More than 20 children rode their festive transport to school and took part in a playground parade.
Bike It officer, Andy Adkin from transport charity, Sustrans said: “The aim is to promote bikes as a safe mode of transport in a fun way.
“We also wanted to highlight the environmental benefits bikes have – such as reducing traffic congestion.
“All the decorations that have been used will be recycled and the tinsel will be going back on the children’s Christmas trees.”
The most creatively decorated bike won a bicycle accessory kit and each child received a decorative cycling band.
There was also a special prize for the bike that used the most recyclable materials, and all contestants were given a bike-skills lesson.


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After a long wait, version 1.0 of matter is finally among us. The new connectivity standard promises to make smart home products compatible with each other regardless of their brands — that is, if they support the protocol. Starting today, therefore, companies can sell new compatible devices or upgrade those already on the market.
In practice, the matter seeks to solve the biggest problem of smart devices: the incompatibility between them. The protocol is developed by a group of more than 200 companies, such as Apple, Google and Samsung, and was founded by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), formerly the Zigbee Alliance.
The pattern combines the best of Zigbee, thread, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE to serve as a “universal translator” of smart home products. To use it, however, you don’t need to download any apps, as it will be built into Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit and SmartThings gradually.
As a “common language” across devices, gadgets will be able to be controlled by more than one ecosystem or voice assistant. However, version 1.0 of the standard will not be available for all types of devices. in a statementCSA has made it clear that this is an “initial release”.
For now, it will be limited to the following smart gadgets: media devices (including TVs), locks, switches, lamps, light fixtures, blinds, plugs, sensors and thermostats. The company also said it is working on supporting more devices, including security cameras and vacuum cleaners.
Still, it’s good news to know that most smart devices will be compatible with each other. Now, therefore, there should no longer be the need to check the support of each product to the standard that the user uses most, having to choose the one that is best for their needs.
An event to celebrate the official launch of Matter is scheduled for November 3rd. Still, companies can already launch their devices compatible with the protocol. Companies that sell devices that already support the standard will be able to update them to “unlock” compatibility once they are certified.
Demand was “higher than expected”
Since 2019, when started its development, Matter went through several postponements. It was actually supposed to be released in 2020. However, at the end of 2021, it was postponed to spring/summer 2022.
The most recent of the postponements was last march, when CSA informed that the standard would arrive in the 3rd quarter of this year. According to the entity, the demand would be “above expected” and “caution” was necessary so that the protocol was respected. Therefore, she decided to extend the testing phase.
Smart devices made by Apple, Google and Amazon should work natively in this first version of the protocol. That is to say, speakers like the HomePod Mini, Nest Audio, and Amazon Echo (4th Gen) are on the list.
In addition to the giants, devices from more than 100 companies should also gain support from Matter soon. Among the well-known companies are: ecobee, iRobot, LG, Samsung, Signify, TCL, among others.
With information: The Verge, Engadget and TechCrunch


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Rep. Bentley: None Dare Call It Toshiba
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Outrage over Toshiba Corp.’s transfer of submarine technology to the Soviet Union has prompted members of Congress, labor leaders and others to urge a boycott of the Japanese electronics firm.
The anger was more concretely expressed Wednesday when Rep. Helen Delich Bentley and other members of Congress used sledgehammers to smash a Toshiba portable radio-cassette recorder on the Capitol grounds.
″Treachery by any other name is still treachery,″ Ms. Bentley, R-Md., said. ″But if it had another name, it would be Toshiba.″
″Now this is what we feel about Toshiba products,″ she said before taking a swing.
The members of Congress, representatives of the International Longshoreman’s Association and the Teamster’s union, and retired Rear Adm. Mark Hill Jr. of the Association of Naval Aviation called for a ″total boycott″ of color televisions, video recorders, personal computers and other products manufactured by Toshiba, which had estimated sales in the United States of $2.76 billion last year.
The American Conservative Union, recalling the prediction by Vladimir I. Lenin, founder of the Soviet state, that capitalists are so greedy they ″will sell us the rope with which to hang them,″ awarded Toshiba a ″Golden Rope Award,″ a large gold-tinted noose, at the news conference.
The call for a boycott came a day after the Senate voted to ban Toshiba and Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk, Norway’s state-owned arms company, from exporting their products to the United States for at least two years. Various retaliatory measures have been proposed in the House.
Kongsberg was not included in the boycott, Ms. Bentley said, because it sells only defense products not available to the public.
In 1983 and 1984, subsidiaries of Toshiba and Kongsberg sold computerized propeller milling machines that enabled the Soviet Union to greatly quiet its submarines, reducing the ability of U.S. forces to track them.
Pentagon and industry officials said Wednesday, however, that the sale to the Soviets should have no impact on the latest generation of sub-stalking Navy helicopters.
The sonar system being installed on the Sikorsky CV Helo anti-submarine helicopters, unlike many U.S. sonar defense systems, does not rely on picking up sounds from an enemy sub.
Sikorsky, a division of United Technologies Corp., delivered the first of 175 CV Helo crafts Tuesday in Stratford, Conn. The Navy plans on spending $3.1 billion on the new helicopters, designed to replace the Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King.
The State Department cautioned that congressional retaliation could boomerang by sparking retaliation against U.S. businesses.
Sanctions, passed Tuesday night by a 92-5 vote in the Senate, ″run the risk of weakening rather than strengthening our collective system of export controls,″ State Department spokesman Charles E. Redman said.
Efforts to seek compensation from Japan and Norway are inappropriate, Redman said, and ″could establish a precedent for similar claims against U.S. companies, whether or not they were actually involved in diversions.″
In Japan, Toshiba Chairman Shoichi Saba and President Sugiichiro Watari resigned Wednesday while stressing that Toshiba Machine Co., which sold the equipment to the Soviets, was a subsidiary and not a division of the parent company.


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How diet can reduce the risk of dementia
Research reveals it may be possible to protect the health of your brain through eating well and following a few simple guidelines.
‘How to reduce the risk of dementia’ is co-authored by Surrey Professor Margaret Rayman, and Surrey ex-students Katie Sharpe, Vanessa Ridland (both registered dieticians) and Patsy Westcott (health writer and nutritionist). The authors uncover the science behind the food and nutrients most likely to keep dementia at bay, and have produced an evidence-based cookbook based on these beneficial ingredients. This will help readers to make appropriate dietary choices to reduce their dementia risk.
“I have personally seen, as have my co-authors, the devastating effect that dementia can have on people’s lives,” said Professor Rayman. “With nearly 36 million sufferers worldwide and 7.7 million new cases of dementia every year, there’s an urgent need for prevention.
“Yet, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society, one in five people don’t realise that they can reduce their risk of dementia by simple lifestyle changes. Reducing risk factors by 10-25 per cent with obvious links to diet could potentially prevent an estimated 1-3 million cases globally.
“I think there’s a lack of awareness that people can potentially reduce their own risk of developing the condition by making some relatively simple dietary and lifestyle changes. It’s my hope that our book will empower more people to alter their eating patterns – it presents the reader with practical, achievable dietary advice.”
You will discover:
- Why a healthy dietary pattern can reduce the onset of dementia, including fish, olive oil, citrus fruit, berries, pistachio nuts, beetroot, other fruits and vegetables, red wine and grape products, high-flavanol cocoa, vitamins B, C and E, monounsaturated fatty acids and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids
- How the best available evidence suggests that a healthy diet is more beneficial than supplements
- Why non-nutrient compounds, such as those that give foods their colour, taste, texture and aroma, are vitally important to brain health
- How the synergy between different foods results in the whole diet being greater than the sum of its parts
Why not also discover Professor Rayman’s input into a cookbook to help prevent prostate cancer.


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Let's talk paper.
The secret weapon your eCommerce marketing overlooks.
The past two years have seen a sharp rise in eCommerce sales, up 47% since 2019. This has many retailers celebrating a new, more efficient way to reach consumers, especially in the wake of a pandemic retail environment.
April 19, 2022
The resurgence of QR codes. Smart packaging becomes smart marketing.
If you’ve been to a restaurant since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ve likely been presented with a QR (quick response) code, displayed somewhere on or near your table. In the world of restaurants
July 30, 2021
How to motivate your customers to post your products on social media in 2021.
Customers’ opinions carry a lot of weight for online consumers. Today, the ability to share those opinions and experiences through reviews and social media posts can make or break a business
March 19, 2021


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by Y Combinator10/10/2018
YC Partner Jared Friedman joins founders Lillian Chou (COO, Second Measure), Diana Hu (CTO, Escher Reality), Calvin French-Owen (CTO, Segment) and Ralph Gootee (CTO, PlanGrid), to talk about what can go right and wrong building technology.
Learn more at https://www.startupschool.org/
Startups For Students Guide
January 18, 2022 by Tamanna Khemani, Kat Mañalac
GitLab's Secret to Managing 160 Employees in 160 Locations
February 9, 2017 by Y Combinator
Does co-founder matching work? It did for these three YC companies.
November 24, 2021 by Catheryn Li
Y Combinator created a new model for funding early stage startups. Twice a year we invest a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups (recently 200).
The startups move to Silicon


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When it comes to new-model debuts, there’s no bigger stage than the Miami International Boat Show. No consumer event boasts a brighter spotlight and a broader audience. That applies to high-performance V-bottoms, catamarans, and center-consoles, of course. This year’s event Feb. 16-20 at Miami Marine Stadium Park on Virginia Key will be no exception. But it will be exceptional, at least on the go-fast boat side. Here’s a quick look at five new speedy beauties including one “mystery model” you don’t want to miss:
Cigarette Racing Team-AMG Surprise
We’ll start with the mystery model. Skip Braver, the owner and chief executive officer of Cigarette Racing Team, never reveals in advance what his vaunted Opa-Locka, Fla., sportboat and center-console company’s collaboration with Mercedes-AMG will be. But here’s what we do know. First, the boat will be inspired by a recently introduced Mercedes-AMG automobile. (Last year’s collaboration, a 2,200 HP center-console, took its aesthetic cues from the heart-thumping GT3 super car.) Second, it will be something particularly spectacular given that 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of the marketing partnership between the high-performance powerboat and automobile giants.
Outerlimits SL 41 OB
Having taken the performance center-console and sport catamaran worlds by storm, it was only natural that Mercury Racing’s Verado 400R outboard engines would find their way onto the transom of a true offshore sportboat. Enter Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats’ SL 41 OB, which will arrive in Miami powered by a trio of the 400-hp supercharged outboards. Dan Kleitz, a representative for the Bristol, R.I., company estimates the 41-footer will top 100 MPH, which seems likely given that a 1,400 HP stern-drive SL 41 reached 116 MPH last year.
Mystic Powerboats M4200 RF
While Mystic Powerboats principal John Cosker and sales representative Scott Sjogren still maintain that the M4200 luxury performance center-console will never be a “hardcore” fishing machine, they’ve also said that customer demand has driven them to release a “Recreational Fish” version of their popular 42-footer. The Mystic M4200 RF has multiple rod holders, including a removable set on the transom, plus outriggers, a live-well, and an in-sole insulated fish locker. Triple Mercury Marine Verado 350 outboard engines will keep the 42-footer true to its performance roots.
Skater 368 And 388
Even marginally in-the-know Skater catamaran fans know the company’s legendary 368 isn’t a “new” model. However, the Douglas, Mich., company will unveil its first Skater 368 cat powered by twin Mercury Racing Verado 400 ROS (Race Offshore) outboard engines in Miami. More than being the first Skater cat with the outboards developed for the X-Cat racing circuit, it’s the first boat to be equipped with the engines in the United States. On the stern-drive side of power and propulsion, the company will also display its first 388 catamaran with new-for-2017 1,100 HP engines from Sterling Performance.


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Matt Rand adds Fox Rage to his responsibilities
Article Media Click images to enlarge +
The Fox International Group has announced that Salmo Brand Manager, Matt Rand, has added Fox Rage to his responsibilities. The move takes effect immediately.
Rand has featured strongly in the success of Salmo throughout Europe and America since Fox acquired the Polish business in 2016. He now takes on the additional responsibility for the Fox Rage brand in all territories.
“I’m honoured to be given this opportunity,” said Rand. “I was part of the Fox International angler team when Fox Rage began, so this brand means a lot to me personally.
“The predator brands in the Fox portfolio have so much potential and I’m really looking forward to helping realise this with new innovative product developments and growth in all markets.”


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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures Releasing said Monday that it has moved the summer release of its upcoming The Pink Panther from its scheduled Aug. 5 date to Feb. 10.
The Shawn Levy-helmed comedy, starring Steve Martin in the role made famous by Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau, was the one of the films absorbed by Sony when it acquired MGM in April.
"With the recent acquisition of MGM, we wanted to give our marketing department the time and opportunity to launch this very important franchise," Sony Pictures Releasing president Rory Bruer said. "We've seen the movie, and we really love this film. It's a franchise we believe in and are really excited about, and Steve Martin is great as Clouseau."


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Even as inflation drops sharply year over year, most CNBC Supply Chain Survey respondents are concerned that consumers will cut back on holiday spending. Two-thirds of respondents expect consumers to look for discounts during peak retail season.
Inflation has come down significantly, the stock market is more ebullient than in a year, and the latest monthly national retail sales report came in stronger than expected. Still, retailers don’t expect that to change what is shaping up to be a downbeat holiday spending season in 2023. An early read of peak season order activity shows retailers ordering less and expecting consumers to be looking for discounts and freebies to entice them to buy more, according to the latest CNBC Supply Chain Survey.
Last summer, big box retailers Target and Walmart surprised the market when they revealed huge inventory builds leading to steep markdowns. Many retailers are still drawing down lists as the peak season for orders begins. The prominent box leaders described during recent Q1 earnings report consumers are spending less, and other new CNBC retail surveying indicates that the consumer situation continues to deteriorate. The unseasonable items clogging warehouse shelves have been a problem of varying degrees for all respondents.
“Cleary, inventory, and inflation concerns remain top of mind for apparel and footwear executives as we enter peak shipping season,” said Stephen Lamar, President, and CEO, of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA).
The most extensive grouping of respondents expects a lower peak season than last year, with 21% of those surveyed expecting the orders to be the same.
The American Footwear and Apparel Association, National Retail Federation, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), and United National Consumer Suppliers (UNCS) were among respondents to the CNBC survey conducted May 24-June 11 among 147 respondents. The survey was in the field during a period that coincided with West Coast port labor slowdowns that increased fears about potential inflationary impacts of supply chain congestion before a tentative deal was reached between port management and the labor union on Wednesday.
Even with inflation down from over 9% last summer to 4% in May’s most recent CPI reading, 71% of those surveyed said they are concerned the consumer will cut back on holiday spending in response to inflation.
Roughly two-thirds (67%) of surveyed expect consumers to look for discounts.
Based on consumer concerns about cutbacks, 77% of all items being ordered this holiday season are middle-price point items, including jackets.
The majority of items in warehouses are sweaters, followed by boots, dresses, and evening purses.
More than half (52%) of orders will be promotional products, like gifts with purchase.
Only 17% of items ordered are high-end items in apparel, electronics, and memorabilia.
CEOs in the retail sector, from jewelry to fashion, have recently indicated that even though the high-end consumer has remained strong in a softer economy, there are signs that the luxury market has peaked.
The concerns about the consumer, which has proven resilient during more than a year of shifting timelines on when a recession will hit the U.S., come as the latest CNBC Fed Survey released earlier this week shows economists, Wall Street strategists, and money managers now expecting a recession to begin in the fourth quarter of the year finally. In the Fed Survey, 54% predict a recession in the next 12 months, and the average start month is now right at the onset of holiday shopping season: November.
Jon Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, said the survey results highlight the ongoing stress and challenges that retailers and other businesses face in their supply chains.
“Retailers are constantly working to ensure they have the right inventory mix to meet consumer demands, especially as we enter the peak holiday shipping season,” said Gold. “The ongoing challenges with the West Coast port labor negotiations and associated disruptions have certainly impacted some supply chain decisions. Many shippers have shifted cargo away from the West Coast and may decide to permanently shift away, even after the tentative deal is finalized.”
The labor union has said it will take months to ratify the deal among its rank-and-file members.
Previous CNBC Supply Chain Survey data has shown supply chain managers to be wary of moving shipping back to the West Coast after a year of labor volatility. When asked in the latest survey if they were returning more freight to the West Coast, just about half (51%) indicated they were not.
Traditionally, retail sector orders for peak-season items are placed in late winter or early spring. This year, with many retailers still drawing down inventories, the timing of placing holiday orders has been more varied. Seventeen percent of respondents said they placed their orders for holiday items three months ago; 12% said they placed their orders just two months ago. 14% of respondents said they ordered six months ago; another 14% said they ordered more than six months ago.
Labor costs and bloated inventories continue to be a drag on participants followed by warehouse costs and labor shortages.


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Commodities boom on recovery hopes and Bitcoin bursts $50,000 mark
"Is it a supercycle? It all depends ... Supply is getting tight, it's looking good. China is strong and we need America kicking in with more demand."
Ivan Glasenberg, the outgoing boss of mining giant Glencore, may have reason to think he is ending his tenure at the firm on a high note. Glencore is enjoying a rising share price and will resume paying dividends to shareholders, despite making a $1.9 billion net loss for 2020 as COVID-19 throttled construction and heavy industry around the world.
Glencore isn't alone. Demand for commodities is booming amid hopes that a post-pandemic bounce could see governments embark on major, green infrastructure building. The prices of goods such as copper and iron ore are back at levels last seen in March, just as Europe and most major world economies went into lockdown.
Elsewhere, Bitcoin has finally breached the $50,000 mark – continuing a bull run in which its value has soared 350 percent in four months.
The controversial social media platform Parler is back online, but this time it says there are no deals with the "Big Tech" providers that blocked it after the Capitol Hill disturbances in early January.
And to many she is still a little-known quantity, so what can we expect of the new boss of the WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala?
BHP Billiton, the world's second biggest mining company, has reported a 16.4 percent jump in half-year profits on steady global demand for iron ore, particularly from China.
Underlying profit in the six months to the end of December rose to $6.04 billion from $5.19 billion last year, while the company's dividend payouts hit a record $5.1 billion, meaning shareholders in the Anglo-Australian company will receive a payment of $1.01 per share, up from $0.65 on last year.
Meanwhile Glencore, the world's biggest mining company by valuation, has announced it is to resume making dividend payments for the first time since August. Investors in the Anglo-Swiss multinational, will receive a payout of $1.6bn for 2020, equivalent to $0.12 per share, with outgoing CEO Ivan Glasenberg hinting at further returns if commodity prices remain strong and the company's debt burden continues to fall. Shares in Glencore were the biggest risers by midday in London.
The world's biggest iron ore producer, Rio Tinto, is also expected to declare a rise in its dividend when it reports full-year results on Wednesday. Analysts expect a final dividend allocation upwards of $5 billion, taking returns over the past financial year to $7.8 billion. Shares in Rio Tinto have risen by close to 40 percent over the past year.
New rules forcing Google and Facebook to pay for access to local news in Australia are expected to get the go-ahead after a deal was struck between opposition politicians and ruling conservatives in Canberra. At a meeting on Tuesday, Labor politicians agreed support for the planned News Media Bargaining Code that will make the tech giants pay for access to news content created by Australian outlets. Google has previously threatened to pull its search service out of the country entirely if the plans become law.
The UK competition regulator has intervened in the planned sale of eBay's classified adverts business to Norway's Adevinta group, over concerns it may lead to "higher prices and less choice." If it goes ahead, the $9.2 billion deal would create the world's largest classified adverts group, including well known brands like Gumtree and Motors.co.uk. Adevinta and eBay have until February 23 to offer alternative legally binding options to the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Bitcoin has finally burst through the $50,000 mark for the first time,reaching record new highs on its continuing upward run. The digital currency, which has been boosted by recent corporate interest from Uber and PayPal, was hovering just above $50,000 by midday in London, extending a bull run that began last October, which has pushed up Bitcoin's price rise by 350 percent since.
The controversial social media platform Parler is back online after more than a month suspended from service. The app, a favorite among supporters of the former U.S. President Donald Trump, was banned from Google and Apple's app stores and Amazon's web-hosting service after the riots on Capitol Hill in early January. Parler says service will be restored to existing users first, with new applicants able to sign up in a week's time, adding it was no longer working with "Big Tech" providers.
The UK may need an extra $84 billion in revenue to meet spending targets, according to research from a leading think tank. The respected Institute for Fiscal Studies says it believes the UK is "on track for ongoing unsustainable deficits [and] a reckoning in the form of big future tax rises is highly likely, but not as yet inevitable. The UK's chief finance minister Rishi Sunak is due to deliver the budget on March 3.
Eurozone GDP shrank by 0.6 percent in the three months to December, according to new figures from the bloc's statistics body Eurostat. The result is still ahead of estimates, although economists fear a double-dip recession in some member states will shrink output figures in early 2021.
Consumer confidence has risen in Germany ahead of expectations, on hopes that consumer spending may surge as the COVID-19 lockdown ends. The influential ZEW economic research institute says investor sentiment jumped to 71.2 points in February, up from 61.8 in January, with hopes that the EU's largest economy may be back in growth within six months, aided by a boost in services and retail activity.
China is poised to roll out specific targets for green energy use in provincial regions, as part of the country's ambitious goal to see peaking carbon emissions by 2030. All province-level regions will be given annual targets for meeting a share of their total power consumption through renewables, including hydrogen, wind, solar and biomass over the next decade, according to draft plans from the National Energy Administration.
Israeli vegan start-up Redefine Meat says it is planning to launch 3D-printed meat substitutes after raising $29 million in a round of new venture capital funding. The Tel- Aviv based group is applying 3D-printing technology to mimic plant-based food formulations with the appearance, texture and flavor of meat. It says it will use the money raised from backers Happiness Capital and Hanaco Ventures to set up a large-scale pilot before rolling out production later this year.
Amazon is to begin manufacturing devices in India for the first time. The online retail giant is partnering with a subsidiary of electronics manufacturer Foxconn in Chennai to make Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks. In a blog post, the company said that, with Foxconn's Cloud Network Technology, it hoped to make hundreds of thousands of the devices annually for customers in India, while it will "continuously evaluate scaling capacity to additional marketplaces."
Meanwhile, an investigation by a leading consumer group in the UK has found that fake reviews for Amazon Marketplace merchandise are being sold online "in bulk". Which? Claims it has uncovered 10 websites selling fake reviews from $7 each, offering payments of free products and tokens in return. In a statement, Amazon said: "We remove fake reviews and take action against anyone involved in abuse."
WATCH: Ice skaters across Europe are braving the cold to take advantage of frozen canals, lakes and fjords.
The World Trade Organization has, for the first time in its history, appointed a woman as its director-general. Economist and former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala replaces Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who quit a year early in August. She is also the first African to lead the WTO, beating a field of eight candidates to secure the top job.
CGTN Europe spoke to Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, about her groundbreaking appointment.
Ngozi has a very impressive resume as a World Bank director, where she made a stellar career and she also is known as a very stern and disciplined finance minister of Nigeria, but she fundamentally lacks any trade negotiation experience, which is actually critical for this.
The World Trade Organization is very much unlike other international organizations, it doesn't run any programs, there is a skeleton crew and it doesn't issue any loans. There's actually no activity in the World Trade Organization except for the negotiation that takes place between its 164 members, each of which has a veto. That means that you need to be a diplomat first ... and second, perhaps a program manager.
So what will be her main challenges, both personally and for the organization?
The organization needs to be restarted. As we have seen over the past few years, the U.S. administration, not just under Trump but also under Obama, has been obstructing some of the functions of the WTO, including its judiciary function. It needs to be resolved. Of course no great power, the United States nor China nor Europe will give in without actually getting something in return. And, also, there are several half-baked deals that are in the making that are actually still very, very far away from completion that need to be delivered before the next ministerial conference next year. So there's a lot of work to do and she needs to get started from day one.
Do you think that there is still a need for the World Trade Organization at this time?
There are a number of great trade deals that have been signed in recent years, not least the ASEAN deal, that are actually not tied by any bilateral trade deals. So, for example, the EU has no trade deals between the United States or China and much of the South/South trade is actually taking place on WTO terms. And also, one thing that we need to bear in mind is that most of the bilateral or regional trade agreements don't have an enforcement mechanism. So, basically, they are good faith agreements. There is no effective court system that can actually handle violations against these trade deals, so therefore, WTO becomes basically the contract of last resort.
And finally - the global rush for commodities is leading to booming prices for goods such as iron ore and copper, especially with mines around the world closed for long periods. An industry survey has found that Australia is expected to be the major commodity-producing nation least affected by COVID-19, and expected to emerge from the pandemic fastest.


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July 13, 2023
After record unit growth in 2022 of approximately 30% year-over-year to nearly 2.75 billion pairs, U.S. footwear imports are expected to plunge this year as the industry adjusts bloated inventory levels downward and establishes order levels for new products starting in Spring 2024.
Back-to-School spending by K-12 parents is guided to hit a record $41.5 million, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey, up 12% over ’22.
The high-end sneaker and fashion footwear maker said manufacturing revenues declined just 3% in the second quarter to $419.5 million from $432.8 million, a big improvement after the 26% first quarter plunge.
The fishing-focused company based in Finland, which has been distributing 13 Fishing brand rods and reels outside the U.S. for nearly four years, is increasing its stake in its parent DQC International to 60%.
The licensing apparel juggernaut is launching a new venture called Fanatics Events, focusing first on the collectibles space with card shows and other memorabilia to follow.


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Huawei introduced a smartphone with built-in support for the digital yuan
Chinese electronics manufacturer Huawei has unveiled a new smartphone with a built-in hardware wallet to work with the digital yuan. This was reported by The Block with reference to the company’s Friday press conference..
Among other things, the Huawei Mate 40 model was presented at the show. Huawei CEO for Consumer Products Yu Zhengdong said that this is the first smartphone adapted at the hardware level to work with the digital currency of the People’s Bank of China.
On the social network Weibo, the company writes that the Mate40 will provide security when working with the digital yuan and will allow offline transactions. Yu noted that this development was the next step in using the digital yuan on mobile devices..
Huawei founder Ren Zhenfei is a strong supporter of the digital yuan idea. In July 2019, commenting on the news about the development of the stablecoin Libra, he said: “China can issue such a currency itself. Why wait for others to release it? The country will always be stronger than a single Internet company “.
In November of the same year, it became known about the official cooperation of Huawei with the Digital Currency Research Institute of the People’s Bank of China. It was supposed to be aimed at researching financial technologies. The participants then refused to disclose additional details..
HTC Unveils New Cryptophone With Full Bitcoin Node Support Taiwanese electronics manufacturer HTC unveiled its new…
Bitmain Unveils ASIC Miner For Decred Cryptocurrency Chinese Mining Equipment Manufacturer Bitmain Unveils Its New Device,…
The Central Bank of China Proposes to Fines for Issuing RMB-Pegged Tokens The People’s Bank of China has released a proposal for public comment suggesting…
The Central Bank of China has revealed new details of the upcoming launch of the national digital currency Commercial banks and other financial institutions will compete each other…
The Central Bank of China is “one step closer” to the launch of a national digital currency The People’s Bank of China is “one step closer” to the official launch of its digital…


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IHOP Changes Its Name To IHOB And Burger King Trolls Them In The Best Way
Burger King and other fast food chains are hilariously trolling IHOP
IHOP made a huge announcement yesterday that got the internet buzzing. They’re now called IHOB — as in, International House of Burgers. We know, it’s a lot to take in. But while people freaked out over this sudden change and what it all means for their favorite purveyor of pancakes, fast food chains had a complete blast trolling the shit out of them. Possibly best of all was the jab taken by Burger King.
Because you don’t mess with the King.
While other fast food joints got in on the razzing of the restaurant formally known as IHOP, Burger King initially remained totally silent. That is, until they quietly revealed their new logo.
Yup. They went there. They also changed their cover photo to something a little more on-brand with the new logo.
Oh, and they updated their Twitter account.
Burger King’s only statement on the situation so far is a petty one, and we’re living for it.
But Burger King (*cough cough* Pancake King) wasn’t the only fast food chain to get in on the fun. Wendy’s, perpetual social media darling, took one of the first jabs — and arguably, one of the best.
They also came out with this absolutely devastating burn.
Waffle House got in on the action because yes, their menu includes burgers — but they still stay firmly in their lane.
Get after it, White Castle.
Naturally, Chili’s response is spicy AF.
And not to be left out of this food-related burn fest, Netflix weighed in with their own snarky one-liner.
Any chain truly concerned that IHOP is honing in on their territory shouldn’t be — according to Forbes, the name switcheroo was just a marketing gimmick to introduce IHOP’s new line of Ultimate Steakburgers, a move intended to help the chain move beyond the breakfast category. But anything that causes this kind of joyous social media uproar is something I heartily support, because in these trying times, everyone can use the laugh.
This article was originally published on


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The United States cyber security market is expected to witness significant growth for the next five years. Cybersecurity solutions help enterprises to detect, monitor and prevent the cyber threats for maintaining the data confidentiality. The need to protect the critical infrastructure across government, utilities and other prominent sectors is leading in adoption of cyber security service providers. Security service providers troubleshoot software issues and provide services through security operation centers. Large enterprises are increasing the spending on security services and solutions to ensure protection against cyber-attacks. Increase in number of attacks such as phishing, malware threats, IoT threats, crypto jacking is leading to huge organizational losses which is creating the need to adopt cyber security solutions.
The COVID-19 outbreak across the world which has been declared as pandemic by World Health Organization has affected countries adversely. Leading authorities in United States imposed lockdown restrictions and released a set of precautionary measures to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Coronavirus affected patients started suffering from shortness of breath along with coughing and sneezing. United States authorities increased the capacity of hospitals as a greater number of patients were getting affected daily and getting admitted into the hospital facilities. Corporate asked employees to work from home as a precautionary measure which has increased the adoption of video conferencing and communication platforms at a large scale which has surged the demand for security measure to prevent data leak or loss thereby bolstering the growth of cybersecurity market.
Browse XX Figures spread through XX Pages and an in-depth TOC on “US Cyber Security Market”.
United States cyber security market is segmented into security type, solutions type, deployment mode, end use industry, regional distribution, and company. Based on end use industry, market can be further divided into BFSI, IT & telecom, defense, energy & power, retail, healthcare, and others. The Defense end use industry segment is expected to account for major market share for the forecast period, 2022-2026. Airplane navigation systems are highly prone to cyber-attacks need strong security measures. Surge in adoption of machine-to-machine technology in aerospace domain and efforts by leading authorities to ensure security is expected to boost the cyber security market. Rise in research and development activities to prevent cyber attacks and develop network security solutions and software is expected to fuel the cyber security market growth. Based on solutions type, cyber security market can be fragmented into identity & access management, risk & compliance management, encryption & decryption, data loss prevention, unified threat management, firewall, antivirus & malware, intrusion detection/prevention system, infrastructure security and others. The Identity and Access Management solution segment is expected to dominate the market for the next five years. Growing importance of trackers and employee activity solutions is crucial for viewing applications and programs contributing to adoption of identity and access management solutions. Rise in need to automate several user-related security incidences and surge in number of cyber attacks is increasing the adoption of password and privilege management in organizations.
IBM Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Check Point Software Technologies, CyberArk Software Ltd., FireEye Inc., Fortinet Inc., Imperva Inc., Intel Security (Intel Corporation), Trend Micro Inc. are the leading players operating in United States cyber security market. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on research and development process to fuel higher growth in the market. To meet evolving customer demand with respect to better efficiency and durability, several cyber security manufacturers are coming up with their technologically advanced offerings.
Download Sample Report @ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=7523 Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report.
“Increase in adoption of emerging trends and technologies such as internet of things, machine learning, artificial intelligence and bring your own device is rising which is creating lucrative opportunities for the cybersecurity market growth. High demand for wearable devices, connected cars, smart consumer electronics and increase in number of smart cities is expected to raise security concerns which is ultimately leading to fuel the cyber security market growth until 2026” said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.


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2016 BMW 7-Series captured on camera!
BMW is updating its flagship car, check it out here.READ MORE
What is too much horsepower?
Bugatti set to release a 1,500HP roadcar.READ MORE
2016 BMW 3-Series Spy Shots!
Will feature new exterior tweaks and new engines.READ MORE
Is BMW Making the Right choice?
German Automaker says no GranCoupe option for the M4.READ MORE
Ford reveals a much needed facelift for the Focus ST!
Also adds new suspension and interior features.READ MORE
Ferrari 360 Driver and Passenger lucky to be alive.
Watch the epic crash here!READ MORE


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Speedy Hire (LON:SDY) – Setting A New Target Price
I know that I have Profiled this tool and equipment hire group several times before, but I have to say that I still like its business model and reckon that its shares are undervalued.
The group, which operates from some180 fixed sites and selected B&Q stores across the UK and Ireland, also has a number of on-site facilities at client locations.
Additionally, it has a joint venture in Kazakhstan.
Speedy is the UK’s leading provider of tools and equipment hire services to a wide range of customers in the construction, infrastructure and industrial markets, as well as to local trade and industry.
As an extension to its business the company provides complementary support services by way of providing training, asset management and compliance services.
Last Tuesday the group issued a first-half Trading Update, declaring that its performance was ‘satisfactory’ with 5% increased revenues from its national customers, while being impacted by lower sales from its regional clients.
That will not last, in my view, the second half year will be stronger while the group also anticipates picking up new business.
Following on from its recent power and energy solutions joint venture with AFC Energy, last Tuesday also saw the group announced its acquisition of Green Power Hire, a leading supplier of battery storage units, very much doing business in a key growth area.
Analysts Charlie Campbell and Edward Prest at Liberum Capital are looking forward to the group’s Interim Results being reported on 22nd November.
In the meantime, they have a Buy note out on the shares, looking for a Price Objective of 70p a share.
Their estimates for the current year are for sales to end March 2024 to rise slightly to £446m (£441m) but with rising pre-tax profits of £32.5m (£30.7m), generating 5.2p (4.9p) earnings and covering an increased dividend at 2.7p (2.6p) per share.
Moving forward to 2025 they see sales of £472m, £38.0m profits, 6.1p earnings and a 2.9p dividend.
Despite some 2.2m shares being traded yesterday, this £146m valued group’s shares, which closed at 31.50p are trading at far too low a rating and will, in my view, soon achieve my new Target Price of 42p.
(Profile 15.10.19 @ 52p set a Target Price of 75p*)
Currys (LON:CURY) – You Can See Why Ashley Is Buying
It is now apparent that there could well be a number of bidders for this electrical retailer’s Greek empire, or at least various parts of it.
Kotsovolos is the market-leading electricals retailer in Greece.
It joined force with the Dixons Group way back in 2005 and today has some 92 stores across Greece and Cyprus, satisfying millions of customers.
Way back in the middle of June the UK group declared that it was carrying out a strategic review of that business.
The result has, to date, been that several potential buyers have expressed their interest to the Currys Management.
Furthermore, some non-binding offers have been submitted, which are being considered.
The British technology products and services PLC has some 823 stores in 8 different countries, also including the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries apart from the Greek contingent.
The Nordic side has not performed too well of late and now needs to get back on track or be cast off perhaps.
Despite loads of wildfires over in Greece that business saw robust trading.
Closer to home in the UK and Ireland its revenue trends have been improving, while its management aim is to improve its gross margins and deliver against its cost saving targets.
The recent visit by Rishi Sunak to the Currys Repair and Customers Warehouse in Newark gave the company an ideal spotlight upon its centre, which is Europe’s largest tech repair facility that is now generating close to £700m a year in sales.
Over the last three year or so the retailer has widened its repair and returns services, including establishing a route of business with E-Bay for reselling used and refurbished electronics on its the marketplace platform.
Over at Liberum Capital their analysts Adam Tomlinson and Wayne Brown note that the retail group’s shares are 30% below early Covid levels.
They bullishly rate the shares as a Buy with a Price Objective of 135p, which is nearly treble last night’s closing price of 47.72p.
Their figure is almost double the consensus average at 70.2p a share.
They estimate that the current year to end April 2024 will see sales revenues fall back from £9.51bn to £9.04bn, while pre-tax profits could ease to £110.6m (£119.0m), easing back earnings to 7.3p (8.3p) per share, with the dividend being held this year.
Their predictions for the coming year are for £9.34bn takings, £139.9m profits, together with 9.2p of earnings per share.
On these estimates one can easily see why Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group (LON:FRAS) has been an ongoing buyer of the £541m capitalised group’s stock, now holding at least 144.29m shares, some 12.73% of the equity.
Don’t underestimate either Ashley or Alex Baldock, the Currys CEO – both are very determined men with strong strategies in view.
(Profile 10.07.23 @ 49p set a Target Price of 61p)
And Finally ……
Windward (LON:WNWD) – Did you see the business in this Israeli-based maritime awareness technology group yesterday?
They spurted strongly, by some 16%, to close up 10p at 72.5p – and that was on the back of over 1.12m shares changing hands, which is nearly twenty times the recent daily average.
On Wednesday I suggested that there was an advantage to be taken as the group’s shares were knocked back due to the Israel War.
I clearly stated that this fast-developing, highly technologically advanced company will, in my opinion, very soon show its ability for dynamic organic growth, such that its shares now down some 5p this week, at the current 62.5p look too appealing to ignore.
Obviously other investors are now beginning to become aware of the £62m capitalised group’s potential.
Brokers Canaccord Genuity came out with a Buy note on the group, noting the recent contract wins in the States, looking for 115p a share.
I would hold very tightly to existing positions.
(Profile 03.04.23 @ 37.5p set a Target Price of 47p*)
H&T Group (LON:HAT)– Also on the move upwards yesterday was one of my favourite pawnbroking groups.
Its shares closed the day marked at 453p, up 26p, some 6.1% better than the previous night’s close.
Not many shares were traded, with just around 54,000 dealt.
Apart from the shares being cheap I do not know the reason for the sudden activity.
However, just two months ago I stated that on the back of Shore Capital’s recent estimates the shares of the H&T Group are substantially undervalued and very capable of putting on a spurt above the 500p, then up to the 550p levels very soon.
They were then 403.5p, at which level I considered them to be a ‘steal’.
(Profile 06.07.22 @ 332.5p set a Target Price of 400p*)
(Asterisks * denote that Target Prices have been achieved since Profile publication)


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HTC Corp. Defeats Smartphone Remote Control Patent Litigation
A Texas federal jury has found in favor of Vinson & Elkins client HTC Corporation, rejecting all of the plaintiff’s claims in a case accusing the wireless phone manufacturer of infringing an individual inventor’s patent on user interface and infrared universal remote control technology. The plaintiff had sought damages for each of millions of smartphones sold between 2013-2015.
On May 11, 2018, at the conclusion of a week-long trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Marshall, Texas, jurors found that a universal remote-control feature on HTC’s flagship line of smartphones, which allowed the phones to be used as a universal remote control to operate various external devices such as televisions, does not infringe a patent to Joe Andrew Salazar, a former rocket scientist for the U.S. government.
“We are very pleased with the jury’s verdict, a complete defense win, finding that all 12 asserted patent claims are not infringed by HTC’s flagship line of smart phones, said Fred I. Williams, Co-Chair of V&E’s Intellectual Property practice. “The plaintiff, Mr. Salazar, is a distinguished scientist with a substantial record of public service, personal achievement, and invention claims. His lawyers prosecuted the case vigorously until the end. Our trial team worked extremely hard on this case, ever since we took on the matter earlier this year. My partners Todd Landis and Eric Klein were vital to HTC’s defense. The in-house legal team at HTC were also instrumental in winning the case. And our esteemed co-counsel Harry “Gil” Gillam of Gillam + Smith in Marshall, was outstanding as always.”
Salazar filed the underlying lawsuit against HTC in October 2016, accusing the smartphone maker’s flagship line of phones, including the HTC One M7, HTC One M8, and HTC One M9, of incorporating wireless remote control technology that allegedly infringed United States patent No. 5,802,467. HTC strenuously denied Salazar’s allegations and litigated the case for more than a year before hiring V&E to take over as lead counsel approximately four months before trial.
The V&E litigation team included partners Fred Williams, Todd Landis and Eric Klein and senior associate Mario Apreotesi.
About Vinson & Elkins
For more than 100 years, Vinson & Elkins has provided deep experience in handling transactions, investments, projects, and disputes worldwide. The firm is a trusted adviser to clients in the most important industrial and digital industries. Learn more by visiting www.velaw.com or follow us on Twitter @VinsonandElkins or connect with us on LinkedIn.
For more information, please speak with our media contacts.


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Maaco Announces 2018 Franchise Growth Plan
Feb. 6, 2018—Maaco has mapped out a course to expand its business model across America.
The nation’s largest paint and collision repair franchise announced today a growth strategy that stands to significantly increase the number of franchise licenses it plans to sign in 2018 - increasing its total by more than 50 percent over 2017 that resulted in 45 new licenses.
“We’ve invested heavily into our network support over the last year, with a heavy emphasis on continuous improvement in our franchisees’ bottom line. That’s what is driving an immense amount of interest in the franchise opportunity and why we are bold about expectations for our franchising initiative,” says Dennis Elliott, vice president of development and franchising for Maaco. “In fact, intrigue is strong on two levels for our brand - individuals looking to build a business with strong ROI and growth potential; and sophisticated investors looking to grow rapidly through the consolidation and acquisition of mom-and-pop shops.”
More than 30 percent of the brand’s growth in 2017 came from acquiring and re-branding independent paint and collision repair shops, versus just 10 percent the year prior.
Likewise, franchise momentum is building with franchisees seeking to take command of the paint and collision repair sector in undeveloped Maaco markets. With a proven model in place, the franchise is set up to run with simple operations, high margins and impressive profitability—the average Certified Center generates $199,000 take home income on an initial investment $400,000 initial investment and average unit gross sales of $1.3 million. On average, franchisees are earning 15 percent profit margins.
A significant aspect driving unit economics is the brand’s fleet services. Intended for both national and local fleets, Maaco supports franchisees with sales and marketing programs that directly target this segment.
Maaco’s franchise offering includes opportunities for single and multi-unit investors. Targeted growth territories currently for franchise agreements, include: Denver, Birmingham, Ala., Cleveland, Bay Area, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Phoenix, Boston and Pittsburgh. These markets, as well as several others throughout the country, will play host to several openings in 2018, beginning in the first quarter of the year.


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Major palm oil firm Wilmar vows to end supply chain deforestation
Major agri-business group Wilmar International has vowed to end its part in deforestation by driving its new policy to advance a responsible palm oil industry, the largest driver of deforestation in Indonesia.
The company’s new policy, No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation, establishes mechanisms to ensure that both Wilmar’s own plantations and companies from which Wilmar sources will only provide products that are free from links to deforestation or abuse of human rights and local communities.
It also includes measures to protect high carbon stock and high conservation value landscapes, and to “ensure respect for community rights and support for development”.
Committing further, Wilmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global consumer goods company Unilever which aims to accelerate sustainable market transformation for palm oil.
As well as Unilever, Wilmar supplies palm oil to several other well-known brands such as Reckitt Benckiser and Proctor & Gamble, and controls almost half of the world’s palm oil market.
This large stake in the market has prompted environmental groups to question the company’s policies and commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
In October, Greenpeace attacked the company by saying its customers, such as the makers of Oreo biscuits, Gillette shaving products and Clearasil, are “making consumers unwitting accomplices in the destruction of Indonesia’s forests”.
Wilmar has carried out work to preserve high conservation value (HCV) forests and peatland on its own concessions. However, Greenpeace said at the time that these areas supply less than 4% of the palm oil Wilmar trades and refines, with the remainder being produced by third-party suppliers.
The company has responded with the announcement of its new policy and has also said that it will become a member of The Forest Trust (TFT), a global non-profit organisation that works with businesses to deliver responsible products.
Wilmar CEO Kuok Khoon Hong said: “We can produce palm oil in a way that protects forests, clean air and local communities, all while contributing to development and prosperity in palm oil growing regions.
“We know from our customers and other stakeholders that there is a strong and rapidly growing demand for traceable, deforestation-free palm oil, and we intend to meet it as a core element of our growth strategy. We welcome more participation from the industry, financial institutions, and civil society to join this initiative, which will accelerate the achievement of our common goals,” added Khoon Hong.
TFT executive director Scott Poynton said that Wilmar’s new policies include all the elements needed for success.
“A commitment to production that doesn’t involve deforestation, peatland conversion, or exploitation, and a credible plan for implementation,” he added.
Managing director of consultancy Climate Advisers’, who has been working closely with Wilmar to develop the policies, Glenn Hurowitz commented on the potential Wilmar’s commitment has on driving behavioural change in the industry.
“Given its central role in the palm oil industry, Wilmar’s commitment has the potential to truly transform agricultural production to a responsible basis,” said Hurowitz.
“Wilmar and Unilever’s efforts can be a model for other companies that want to grow their businesses in a way consistent with the urgent need to address deforestation and climate change,” he added.
In Novermber, Unilever made its own pledge to buy all of its palm oil from known and traceable sources by the end of 2014, a part of its target to procure the controversial oil from certified sources by 2020.


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El Segundo (CA) - Samsungs strong presence in the mobile phone business pushed to the number-one rank in the global OLED panel market. The worldwide organic display market grew 63 percent to $408 million in 2004, according to a report from market research firm iSuppli.
Samsung is on a roll, not just in the semiconductor and LCD market, but now also in the segment of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays. The Korean company shipped and sold 44 percent of all OLEDs in 2004, totaling 13.7 million units. RiTdisplay follows in second place with shipments of 7.7 million; Pioneer is third with 6.4 million displays. The whole market reported a production of 31.3 million units for 2004.
In 2004, 89 percent of OLED panel market revenue was derived from sales to the mobile-phone market, according to iSuppli. OLEDs now are being utilized as the main display of phones, as opposed to being purely a secondary display, as has been the case up until recently. Mobile phones also are increasingly using color OLED panels, rather than monochrome.
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The process of converting all the past blog posts into the new system will take some time. I will chip away at it as time allows. In the meantime you can read the posts from June 2008 here.
|June 30 pm
Samantha Hoyt Lindgren of Rabelais appeared on the radio as part of the Sunrise Bookshelf show on WUML in Lowell, MA.
Masala Mahal, an Indian market in South Portland, has been added to the site.
Commune Tested, City Approved has posted a review of Novare Res. “For the past month, Novare Res has been serving up more than 200 bottled beers and an ever changing selection of 25 beers on tap. And the food is amazing.”
|June 30 – This Week’s Events
Tuesday night the owner and brewers of Allagash will be on hand at Novare Res, the beer bar will have 10 Allagash products on tap that night. The next training run for the Wine Flight 5k is taking place on Tuesday; Walter’s is the destination. There are wine tastings taking place this week on Friday at the West End Grocery and on Saturday at Leroux. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a Jazz Breakfast at the Portland Museum of Art. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Nakornping Thai, received 3 stars from this week’s Taste & Tell review in the Maine Sunday Telegram. ” . . . Nakornping’s appetizers, like the sate and the ‘shrimp in a blanket,’ are excellent, and some of the entrees I tried rate just as highly. Only a few overcooked main ingredients detracted from the meals’ good quality.”
The Thai restaurants in Portland will have some additional competion when the new Thai buffet that’s now under construction on Congress St opens. The new restaurant will be located at the former location of D’Angelo’s.
Today’s edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram has an interesting article on the resurgence of grain farming and milling in Maine and an article on the red tide outbreak affecting the shellfish industry.
In her debut as the new blogger for 1:00 a.m. Curfew, Amy Martin has reviewed Prost! International Tap House.
You can tell it’s strawberry season by the number of strawberry festivals taking place. New Gloucester had theirs on Thursday and today there are ones in South Freeport and North Yarmouth. If you don’t have time for either of those options then go to this morning’s farmers’ market in Deering Oaks where there’s sure to be plenty of fresh strawberries for sale.
There’s a new article on Chow Maine about Tropa Wine Co., a new wine shop located in the West End.
Today’s Press Herald reviewed North Star Music Cafe. “The North Star’s niche is comfort. The cafe is spacious.”
This week’s edition of the Portland Phoenix includes an interview with Blake Smithson, former owner of Chickey’s Fine Diner, about the regional variations of barbeque in the US.
|June 23 – This Week’s Events
The Greek Heritage Festival is taking place this week Thursday through Saturday. On Thursday, The Cheese Iron is holding a class on goat cheeses. Kitchen & Cork is holding a course on kitchen knife skills Wednesday. On Saturday they are offering a cooking class that will take students shopping at the Portland farmers’ market and to other shops, and then return to the store’s kitchen to prepare a meal with their purchases. Browne Trading is holding a Wine tasting on Thursday. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a Jazz Breakfast at the Portland Museum of Art. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Club Onyx opened for business last week.
Tu Casa, received 3 stars from this week’s Taste & Tell review in the Maine Sunday Telegram. “Well-made, inexpensive Salvadoran standards fit the bill for a great casual dinner out.”
This week’s edition of The Forecaster has a write up about Mark’s Hot Dogs 25th anniversary, and an article about The Icehouse ending the legal battles over their liquor license.
The Great Lost Bear won the Best Beer Bar category in Cheers magazine’s annual Benchmark Awards.
Francisco’s Culinary Journey has reviewed Bayou Kitchen. ” . . . we’ve been back every week. That says a lot about a place! I’m now hooked on the Bayou Scramble . . . ”
John Everett has written a farewell article for his bar blog, 1:00 a.m. Curfew packed with parting advice on things like “pregaming”, Homerunners and his favorite bars in Portland. Amy Martin, a writer from The Maine Switch, will be taking over for John.
|June 18 pm
The Clown has decided to close its shop on Market Street in the Old Port. June 21 will be their last day in operation. Their two locations in Stonington and York will remain open.
There have been a couple late additions to this week’s list of food events. Tomorrow afternoon, the Public Market House is holding a wine and cheese tasting. From a post on New2Maine.com I learned that Cinque Terre and Eve’s are colaborating on a wine dinner tomorrow night showcasing the wines of Wente Vineyards. The dinner will be held at Eve’s. For more information on both these events visit the Event Calendar
This week’s edition of the Portland Phoenix reviewed the brunch offerings at Five Fifty-Five, Caiola’s and Local 188. “Five Fifty-Five successfully dresses itself down for brunch. Local 188, already dressed down, seems to handle brunch more smoothly than its dinner service. Finally Caiola’s, efficient and effortlessly elegant at night, is precisely the same in the morning.”
|June 18 am
Portland 207 has posted Part 3 in his ongoing series listing all the restaurants and bars in the city with outdoor seating on decks, patios, sidewalks, etc. To get the full picture see also Part 1 and Part 2.
Commune Tested, City Approved has an article about harvesting wild ginger and other plants for a homemade wild-sourced salad.
|June 17 pm
Binga’s Wingas in conjunction with Harpoon Beer is running a benefit tonight for Climb for Cancer Care. $1 will be donated for every Harpoon you order, $2 for orders of wings, fries or onion rings ordered.
The Bollard has the scoop on last night’s City Council dileberations on the Porthole/Comedy Connection’s outdoor deck. “City legal staff had recommended that councilors severely limit food and alcohol service – and prohibit entertainment – on the businesses’ adjoining outdoor decks, due to waterfront zoning restrictions.”
|June 17 am
Tropa Wine Co. is now open for business. The small wine store is located on Congress across the street from Local 188 and just around the corner from Evangeline.
If you need any reminder about how wonderful and remarkable to Portland restaurant scene is just take a look at this post on Chowhound.com. Chowhounder Anastasia came to Portland specifically for a “7 day foodie excursion”. In a single week, she and her husband managed to pack in visits to Bar Lola, Five Fifty-Five, Miyake, Yosaku, Fuji, Mims, The Lobster Shack, Portland Lobster Co., Street & Co., Duckfat, Standard Baking and Shipyard. I can’t think of any other city the size of Portland that people visit exclusively for the food.
A post by Portland Psst! tipped me off to an article about Maine wineries appearing in a recent edition of Mainebiz. Maine’s weekly buisness magazine also has a story about Roger Doiron’s nonprofit Kitchen Gardens International.
The Maine Beer Writer’s Guild had their June meeting at Novare Res and several of the members have posted their thoughts about the meeting and the bar to their blogs: Blog About Beer, Beer, Maine & Me, BeerBloggers.com. Here are some more Novare Res-related posts from other blogs that have surfaced as well: Beer Locavore, The Sound Inside My Mind. The new beer bar has certainly generated a lot of buzz in the short time it’s been open.
|June 16 – This Week’s Events
Peakfest is being held this week Friday through Saturday. Bayside World Market & Fair is taking place on Saturday as is the Vegetarian Food Festival. An all star cast of local chefs is headed to Cow Island on Sunday to cook for the 3rd Annual Taste of the Nation dinner (tickets are still available). The second training run for the Wine Flight 5k is taking place on Tuesday. Wine tasting are taking place at Old Port Wine Merchants on Wednesday and Leavitt and Sons on Thursday. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a Jazz Breakfast at the Portland Museum of Art. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Today’s Press Herald reports that maple syrup production fell in Maine during 2008.
The new issue of Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine is out. It includes stories about the use of romanesco (a fractalish Italian broccoli) at Caiola’s and the farm to table philosophy of Lee Skawinski from Cinque Terre. There’s also an interesting piece by Sandy Oliver debunking the legend that felons in Maine’s past refused to eat lobster more than twice a week.
Prost! International Tap House has opened for business. Joe’s New York Pizza has been added to the Under Construction list. Joe’s is going into the spot on Fore Street formerly occupied by Granny’s.
|June 12 pm
Rosie’s has been reviewed in the weekly bar blog 1:00 a.m. Curfew. “Spectacular? No. But Rosie’s is solid and consistent, and that’s the mark of someone who has gotten this whole bar thang right.”
Chow Maine has a report on the “silky finnan haddie chowder” prepared by Sam Hayward for last week’s James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony dinner at Lincoln Center (recipe included).
This week’s edition of The Maine Switch is a veritable food article feast. In addition to the profile of Novare Res cited yesterday, there’s an aritcle about ethical eating, a focus on French cuisine, a cooking interview with the Talya Corsetti of Corsetti’s Variety, and a set of summer grilling recommendations from the Gadget Guru.
|June 12 am
The weekly Eat & Run column in the Portland Press Herald reviewed the new South Portland location of Vaughan Street.
Chris2fer has published a 5 star review of Duckfat. “After we ate what was one of the best meals I have ever had we all got up and made out with the wait staff to show our appreciation. Ok, not really. But it was that good.”
The Food & Health section in today’s Press Herald has an article about the collaboration between chef Sam Hayward of Fore Street and violinist Lewis Kaplan. The pair will be co-hosting a benefit dinner for the Bowdoin International Music Festival.
|June 10 pm
Type A Diversions reviewed Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster. “I’ll certainly return to Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster. I think a perfect summer evening would consist of drinks and appetizers at Conundrum in Freeport, followed by a lobster roll, onion rings and slice of coconut cream pie sitting at the picnic tables at Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster.”
Rabelais was profiled by The Ethicurean. “If you love food or books, you’ll be pleased with what you find at Rabelais. If you happen to love both food and books, you’ll be over the moon.”
Details on this weekend’s Bizarre Foods Deathmatch have surfaced on the eGullet forums.
|June 10 am
Today’s Press Herald includes articles on how Mainers are becoming more frugal with their food budgets and on the formation and activity of the Maine Clammer’s Association.
|June 9 – This Week’s Events
Wine tasting are taking place at RSVP on Wednesday and Black Cherry Provisions on Thursday. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. Rabelais is holding a book signing and cookie swap Saturday with the author of Cookies, Brownies and Bars. Also on Saturday, Maine members of BeerAdvocate.com are hosting a gathering at Novare Res. On Sunday, there will be a Jazz Breakfast at the Portland Museum of Art. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Rabelais has posted more info about the visit of the Bizarre Foods film crew to Portland to their blog. They hope to publish a small video clip from the segment at Hugo’s plus photos of the Bizarre Food Deathmatch soon.
Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel show Bizarre Foods, is in town. In their email newsletter Rabelais is reporting that Zimmern is filming segments with Rob Evans, Sam Hayward, Rick Tibbets, Masa Miyake, the Deathmatch crew, Rabelais, and others. According to the newsletter, the “projected air date is sometime in August”.
The weekly Eat & Run column in the Portland Press Herald reviewed the lunch options at Novare Res “When I visited recently, I ordered the ‘spring sandwich,’ made with rosemary ham, cotswold cheese with lettuce and garlic onion jam and served on thick, crusty bread. The sandwich had a nice balance of flavors, and was pleasantly filling.”
Also in today’s Press Herald, the Business section has an interview with Ben Sawyer, the owner of Benny’s.
The Chebeague Island Inn restaurant opens for business tonight.
|June 4 pm
The Maine Switch reviewed Chef et al. “Their dinners, at $18-$30 an entree, seem a little pricey for the neighborhood – but with a deliciously inexpensive lunch menu, a bar that’s open all day, wireless internet and a nice, laid-back environment, Chef et al may still pull in the student and young professional crowd.”
This week’s Switch also includes a profile of Harding Lee Smith’s new restaurant The Grill Room.
Novare Res has been reviewed in the weekly bar blog 1:00 a.m. Curfew. “Novare Res is a great idea. The deck is beautiful and the location is tucked away . . . The beer selection is astounding, and truly encapsulates every different type of brew you can think of. But Novare Res still has some kinks to work out.”
|June 4 am
The Food & Health section in today’s Press Herald offers up this primer on caviar with help from Browne Trading Company.
|June 3 pm
The Maine Mouth has a post about PETA’s proposal to build a Lobster Empathy Center in the Somerset County Jail. According to PETA’s press release, “Visitors to the center could voluntarily have their fingers rubber-banded together, and then they could walk into a dirty tank where they would be pressed up against other visitors to simulate conditions for lobsters in supermarket tanks.”
|June 3 am
Tastes Like the Future raves about the Apricot Cornmeal Sage cookies at North Star.
Demolition of The Village Cafe’s building began yesterday.
|June 2 – This Week’s Events
The Wine Flight 5k training run series starts this week with a trip to Local 188. Wine tasting are taking place at The Clown on Thursday, West End Grocery on Friday and Leroux on Saturday. The First Friday Art Walk is this week. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be a Jazz Breakfast at the Portland Museum of Art. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
The new print edition of The Bollard has hit the streets. This month’s edition includes a review of breakfast at Mims and a new installment from The Land of the Forgotten Cocktail series by award-winning bartender John Myers. Copies can be found just about anywhere free newspapers are distributed. I picked up my copy at Longfellow Books.
Passage to India, received 3 stars in this week’s Taste & Tell column in the Maine Sunday Telegram. “. . . you can relax and tuck in with confidence at Passage to India, Portland’s newest Indian restaurant.”
The West End will have another source for wine when Tropa Wine Co. opens its doors at 688 Congress Street in Longfellow Square. For more information on the new establishments under development in Portland see the Under Construction list.
Beer, Maine & Me has published his list of 10 Great Places to Get a Beer in Portland.
Chow Maine has a report on Saturday’s farmers’ market in Dering Oaks.
The 10 venues viewed most often on Portland Food Map during the month of May were:


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This is because these mobile money agents are projected to soon apply for digital banking licences.
Report shows that the growing number of transactions from mobile money operations is a threat to the future of banks in Ghana
The growing trend of mobile money transactions in Ghana has been identified as a threat to the future of banks in the country.
The Oxford Business Group (OBG) made this known in a report.
Recently, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) revealed that the largest share of mobile money deposits in Ghana rest with Fidelity Bank, which in 2017 held around $108 million (GH¢583million), followed by Ecobank and CAL Bank, with $87 million (GH¢470million) and $43 million (GH¢229 million) respectively
This analysis means that if the mobile money companies eventually become digital banks, which the report strongly predicts will happen, banks will no longer be the custodians of the mobile money accounts, a situation the OBG says will be disruptive to traditional lenders.
The threat of mobile money transactions to the banking sector is further affirmed by the 2018 Summary of Economic and Financial data report of the Bank of Ghana.
The central bank said that the rate of banks’ deposits dropped consecutively in the last three months of 2018.
The OBG has then said that although mobile money transactions have seen an astronomical jump since their introduction, it is posing a huge threat to the future of banks and must, therefore, be checked.
“The current legislative framework requires telcos to place their deposits with commercial banks, but the volume of funds attracted by mobile operators has exposed a vulnerability in the banking system,” the report said.
The OBG report added that similar trends happening across the globe have birthed products such as online savings accounts, personal finance management tools, real-time alerts, home loans, investments, fee-free international transactions, person-to-person payments, currency exchange, linked debit and credit cards, cash withdrawals at ATMs, and insurance and consumer benefits such as cash back rewards on purchases, all of which have posed serious competition to the traditional banking systems of countries where these innovations have taken place.
About the Oxford Business Group (OBG)
The Oxford Business Group is a global research and consultancy company producing business intelligence on more than 35 countries.
The company has been in existence since 1994 OBG and has been at the frontier of mapping new waves of emerging economies.
OBG currently operates in many of the world's fastest-growing markets, offering internationally acclaimed intelligence on regions that are shaping the future balance of economic power.
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:


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Sugar Land eateries allowed to expand outside amid COVID-19 restrictions
The city of Sugar Land is helping restaurants in the city meet the needs of the businesses and their customers while ensuring the eateries maintain COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, restaurants in Texas are limited to having 50 percent capacity inside their establishments. However, outdoor seating does not meet the same requirement. On Tuesday, the Sugar Land City Council passed an ordinance allowing restaurants to use parking lot areas for seating so more customers can be served and restaurants can survive the current state-mandated restrictions for indoor dining.
The ordinance was unanimously passed after a motion to approve by City Council member Himesh Gandhi and seconded by Carol McCutcheon.
“Staff recently was approached by a local restaurant inquiring about the possibility of placing an outdoor dining area in their parking lot to expand dine-in seating capacity since indoor dining is currently limited to 50 percent seating capacity,” according to meeting minutes. “In an effort to show the city of Sugar Land is committed to helping restaurants open as safely as possible, staff has evaluated the option to allow restaurants to expand outside dining options into parking lots.”
The city’s Development Code and Zoning regulations “require parking spaces remain free of obstructions and be readily available for vehicular parking and further prohibits the use of the parking spaces for any use conflicting with the designated parking areas, staff recognizes that with current occupancy restrictions on indoor dining, the full capacity of the parking areas is not needed.”
Restaurant owners will need to complete several steps in order to offer outdoor seating.
First, a restaurant owner/agent will need to submit a request to the city which includes a site layout plan showing designated dining areas in the parking lot.
Conditions which must be met include location and placement conditions; safety measures to delineate seating areas and maintain spacing guidelines; and adherence to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission regulations.
ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston to allow restaurants to convert parking spots into dining space
The city reported that expedited reviews will be made in at most three days.
Once layout is approved, “a letter agreement between the city, property owner and restaurant owner/operator will be executed to implement the agreed upon plan and document duration of allowed expansion and acknowledgment of compliance with conditions.”
The temporary seating arrangement will be allowed until occupancy restrictions related to indoor dining is lifted or until the state of disaster is terminated. Restaurants will then have 14 calendar days to remove all obstructions from parking spaces.
For more information, visit the city of Sugar Land online at www.sugarlandtx.gov or call 281-275-2700.


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NEW YORK, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoyos Integrity Corporation ("Hoyos"), a global Secure Mobile Telecommunications as a Service (SaaS) Provider announced that it has completed the first two major milestones towards commercialization by securing its FCC license and inking a deal with T-Mobile's access provider to provide a nationwide data and voice package to its government, enterprise, and consumer clients.
Hoyos has been in stealth mode for approximately 2 years developing the world's most secure smart phone that leverages the highest government technology certification for security in the mobile device market. The phone will incorporate military grade technology, married to the IEEE2410 BOPS (biometric open protocol standard) created by Hector Hoyos.
"There are a myriad of fundamental security vulnerability flaws in all mobile operating systems, regardless of whether they are iOS or Android. Hoyos' RISEN (Real Time Impervious Secure Environment) Smartphone military-grade solution does not have these vulnerabilities," said Hector Hoyos, founder and Chief Executive Officer. "No phone is 100% secure, but Hoyos devices are uniquely designed with security from the ground up, in a way that secures the highest value data from man-in-the-middle and other malware-based attacks. At Hoyos, Trust is our Code and Code is our Trust!"
Founded in 2016, the company acquired the intellectual property and leadership team behind the Nextel push-to-talk technology, as well as the many of Motorola Mobility's offerings over the past 20 years. Designed for the highest level of security from the ground up, the Hoyos team is delivering an impenetrable smartphone that can operate globally in any country. Through Hoyos Integrity's research, hundreds of potential vulnerabilities in all phones have been identified, from the drivers that operate the camera and microphone, to the radios that access the cellular spectrum. Hoyos went on to say that, "For example, most people think that their encrypted apps protect them. They don't, because before anything is encrypted, malware sitting in memory called ramscrapers steal your voice calls and data before it has been encrypted. This is because of the serious vulnerabilities in all mobile operating systems. Encryption is useless, and we have all fallen into a false sense of security." Hoyos identified each vulnerability has been addressed from both the software and hardware perspective. The initial batch of production phones were delivered to the Hoyos Integrity research and development labs last week for software integration and rigorous quality and assurance testing before being released to a handful of beta-testers later this year.
The company will be launching a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) powered by T-Mobile's infrastructure in the next few months. Subscriptions will provide unlimited voice and data per device. The monthly payment amount will depend on the higher the level and assurance of security a customer wants, requiring a 2-year service agreement for the highest level of security which also includes a Hoyos RISEN smartphone. "The Hoyos RISEN Smartphone offering will turn the mobile phone and IOT market on its head," Hoyos continued. "Our devices and service offering will be competitive on price and truly unique, based on the security and privacy that we provide to our customers, allowing them to enjoy the use of all their current favorite apps, but also giving them a choice to balance their convenience with their privacy and security. The concept of secure mobile telecommunication as a service is fundamentally different than what people think of as a SaaS offering. We will be able to provide end-to-end security and privacy that will be unparalleled in the world."
SOURCE Hoyos Integrity Corporation


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Tag Archives: Headline
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