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Our friends over at 5 Gyres are always doing amazing things. Most recently they’ve embarked on The Last Straw Plastic Pollution Solutions Outreach Tour — a trip that will take 5 Gyres staff 1400 miles by bike down the East Coast in an effort to educate more than 50,000 people about what they’ve discovered in their voyages to our world’s oceans and lakes. You can follow the tour and find specific event dates and locations via the 5 Gyres Facebook page and its Blog. What’s more, you can pledge one cent per mile to support the tour and even take part in the 5 Gyres I Am The Sea Change challenge and win prizes for doing so.
Have 5 minutes? Take the challenge!:
To enter, follow the instructions on the flyer pictured above. That is: 1. Print the flyer out. 2. Spend at the very least 5 minutes cleaning up your environment (street, gutter, riverbank, beach). 3. Have someone take a picture of you holding your sign and your garbage up for all to see. 4. Like 5 Gyres on Facebook and share the contest link (encouraging friends and family to do so as well!) 5. Email your photo to firstname.lastname@example.org with the subject ‘5 for 5 Gyres’.
Do the above and you could not only win some awesome prizes, but help 5 Gyres and the cause to clean up our environment immensely. The contest runs from October 3rd through November 6th.
The incredible organization known as 5 Gyres is about to embark on its latest outreach project: Last Straw Plastic Solutions Bicycle Outreach Tour. The Tour will take the team of 5 Gyres staff on a cross-country bicycle route where they’ll share stories of their 5 Gyres expeditions along the way; “doing trainings on how to enact common sense plastic mitigation policy, sharing film, networking, and… running a cleanup contest throughout the tour for a chance to win prizes from all our awesome sponsors!,” according to the 5 Gyres blog.
Check out the poster above for dates and details of the tour. And feel free to email 5 Gyres with any questions along the way!
Los Angeles is now the largest city in the United States to have banned plastic bags. Over the next 16 months, plastic bags will be phased out of approximately 7,500 grocery stores — at which point shoppers will have to bring reusable bags or purchase paper ones for 10 cents each. According to the L.A. Times, “clean water advocates” estimate that California residents use 12 billion plastic bags per year, and only recycle about 5 percent of those. Despite the facts, some L.A. residents are perturbed by the fact that in less than two years, plastic bags simply won’t be an option at their stores. As one shopper stated in the L.A. Times article, “I wish we could use plastics bags,” she said. “I wish they could bring them back. I get it’s better for the environment, but it’s a lot to remember — bringing a reusable bag — especially if you’re in a rush.”
Many people — especially environmental advocates and those who understand the true impact plastic bags have on the environment — feel strongly that humans should be responsible enough to bring their own bag for the sake of the planet. For those of us who simply love to play outside, it’s becoming increasingly harder to take a hike, paddle a kayak or ride your bike in the wilderness and not see a plastic Ziploc or grocery store bag somewhere along the way.
We are proud to support 5 Gyres, an organization that is on a mission to research, educate and ultimately end plastic pollution in our world’s oceans. To understand the impact of plastic pollution, the crew sails through the five subtropical gyres. And now you have the opportunity to go with them.


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We’re “moving from a transactional to a relationship economy”
Travel businesses must ensure they are part of the “changing world order” around retail that puts the customer first, delegates at this week’s Abta 2014 Travel Convention for professionals in the UK heard.
“We are moving into a completely new order – moving from a transactional economy to a relationship economy,” Jo Causon, chief executive of the Institute of Customer Service, said. “This is fundamentally changing the way we structure our organisations. As a consumer I don’t care if I’m talking to the marketing department or the sales department, I just want my issue resolved.”
After four years of growth customer satisfaction has fallen back over the last year, Causon said, and this is in danger of having a direct impact on sales.
She added that the best-rated companies for customer service, such as Amazon, are: easy to do business with; show consistency in the way they deal with customers; address problems head-on; invest in the overall experience; operate effectively and consistently across all channels; are knowledgeable; and are externally focussed.
[pictured: New Kuoni concept store, Intu Metrocentre, Gateshead, UK]

domain: news


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Fortnite has already had 8 seasons grace its game along with an early access period before those. Each season has included a Battle Pass and this...
Fortnite's v14.20 update has arrived, bringing us a new LTM and new hero in Wolverine
Here's what to expect in the next Fortnite update: v14.20.
All hero abilities are now available in Fortnite Battle Lab.


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Relic Hunters Zero – Endless Mode
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Something is brewing for food service at Shoreline Community College.
As of Aug, 15, 2013, the college will end its five-year relationship with Chartwells, a division of British-based Compass Group PLC. Chartwells has been the primary food-service provider on campus, including the cafeteria in the PUB, espresso stands, vending and catering services.
“We are taking this opportunity to go in a different direction,” said Mary Kelemen, Executive Director for Auxiliary and Logistical Support Services. Kelemen said that final negotiations with the firm selected to provide food services are happening now. “We’ll make an announcement once all the details are in place. I think our students, employees and community members will be happy with the choice and services.”
One significant change with the new contract is that the college bookstore is expanding to more of a convenience store model and will sell more food and beverage items, including coffee service. Work to rearrange food displays and expand the number of offerings is happening now, said Jennifer Corey, bookstore buyer who is heading up the project.
This expansion of services to the campus community will feature the best in mild, medium and bold roasted coffees. We will also be serving the finest Stash teas and cocoa. The campus bookstore’s self-service bar is even more exciting with its a
ssortment of flavor shots and iced Granitas in two flavors. The Bookstore has also expanded its selection of food with the addition of delicious and healthy grab-and-go snacks. The bookstore is adding some fresh foods, including sandwiches, salads, yogurt, milk and even locally sourced hard-boiled eggs.
Corey said she hopes to have the final touches on Bookstore Brew finished by Wednesday, Aug. 14. The opening will feature free coffee. The bookstore remains open for service during the month-long break between quarters when food service on campus has previously been unavailable.
“We’re excited to let people know we are here and invite everyone in to see all of the new items that we are offering,” Corey said.
For the main campus food service, Kelemen acknowledged that during the transition from Chartwells to the new vendor, arranging catering services for on-campus events will take a little extra effort. “We will have catering available, but anyone who needs such service should call me.”


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Microsoft's multibillion-dollar Skype acquisition is starting to pay off.
The software giant today announced that Skype for Windows Phone Beta is now available. Windows Phone 7 device owners can opt to download the software directly to their device or from the Marketplace on their PC.
Skype for Windows Phone Beta comes with features one might expect, including free audio and video calls to other Skype users over 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi, as well as the ability to call landlines or mobile phones for a fee. Group chats and one-to-one instant messaging are also available.… Read more
If you've ever copied and pasted text from a Skype call or conversation, you've probably noticed that Skype adds a time stamp and some quotation texts to whatever it is you copied. This can be handy for showing someone else exactly who said something and when, but it becomes rather tedious when copying a string to be entered into, say, a search box. If this bothers you, then you're in luck. This additional information is completely optional (albeit on by default) and can be easily disabled from within Skype. Read on to learn how.
Step 1: Open … Read more
Cisco said that the European Commission should have imposed restrictions on Microsoft's purchase of Skype in fear of a potential monopoly on video calling.
The networking giant, which competes with Skype and Microsoft with its WebEx software, said it doesn't oppose the EU's approval of the merger, but wanted restrictions.
Cisco's Marthin De Beer, senior vice president of Cisco's video and collaboration group, said in a blog post:
Imagine how difficult it would be if you were limited to calling people who only use the same carrier or if your phone could only call certain … Read more
Niklas Zennstrom changed the telephone industry when he co-founded VoIP juggernaut, Skype. Now he's preparing to attack the industry again with the introduction of free mobile broadband from FreedomPop.
FreedomPop today announced that it would partner with Clearwire for its upcoming mobile broadband service. Backed by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, FreedomPop aims to disrupt the mobile broadband industry by providing mobile Internet to consumers free of charge.
FreedomPop had previously named LightSquared as its launch partner, but it appears that relationship has stalled due to mounting complications in the LightSquared camp. The FCC yesterday suspended LightSquared's waiver to … Read more
Trying to explain to your your grandma, or even your parents, how to get Skype set up so you can video chat with them can be infuriating and frustrating for all involved.
By using Vidless, setting up a video chat is as simple as creating a room, and sharing the link to that room. No user names, no downloads, no installing, no logging in. The only requirements are a solid Internet connection and the latest version of Flash.
Still not convinced? Below you will find the steps required to create a video chat.Visit Vidless.com from your computer browser. … Read more
If you don't take care of your skin, it could come up in your next Skype conversation, as Skype for Windows (download) updated today with support for high-def resolution.
The new version of the VoIP software also gets Facebook audio and video chat, the power to share screens with more than one person, a push-to-talk option, Bing Bar integration, and a new software updating service for automatic updates.
The high-def isn't available to just anybody, of course. You'll have to have a Logitech C920 Webcam and an upload/download speed of at least 2 Mbps. Skype explained … Read more
Microsoft is testing out a Skype application for Windows Phone that could make its debut by the end of next month.
That's according to the Verge, which reported today that the app would have a Metro UI-style look, keeping it consistent with the rest of the Windows Phone user interface.
This version of Skype reportedly will be a standalone app when it launches and be integrated into the People Hub part of the phone with the release of Windows Phone 8. Skype could be introduced as early as Mobile World Congress, which begins in the last week of February. … Read more
One of Silicon Valley's most successful venture capital firms could become quite a bit richer if rumors that its founder is trying raise $1.5 billion are true.
The New York Times reported today that one of tech's most influential investors, Marc Andreessen, is looking to raise $1.5 billion for his Andreessen Horowitz investment firm. According to the Times, if Andreessen comes up with the funds, it could more than double the firm's assets. Right now, Andreessen Horowitz has $1.2 billion distributed between three funds.
Since launching in 2009, Andreessen Horowitz has been one of … Read more
LAS VEGAS--A few days ago, we wrote about how Tely Labs, a startup out of Silicon Valley, had launched an Android-based Skype HD video phone for TVs. Well, the $249 TelyHD now has company, as Samsung Techwin America has introduced a very similar product, the InTouch camera system, for $50 less.
Like the TelyHD, the Samsung InTouch is designed to be hooked onto the top of your flat-panel TV, runs on the Android operating system, offers Wi-Fi connectivity and 720p video, and has the Skype application integrated right into the unit. The service is free, and if you're a Skype subscriber already you can log in immediately and start making video calls.
Also like the TelyHD, the InTouch comes with additional preloaded apps, such as YouTube, Google News and Weather, and full Web browsing, plus it can display photos stored on a thumbdrive (there's a USB slot on the back of the camera).… Read more


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As if Google's big news weren't enough, it was revealed today that Dexcom, a leading glucose-monitoring company, is partnering with the company's Life Sciences group to make smaller, better devices for people with diabetes. Dexcom's hope is that, by combining its own technology with miniaturized electronics from
The announcement comes just on the heels of Google's much more widely reported announcement that it's reinventing itself as holding company Alphabet. Notably, that new company will cover under its umbrella both Life Sciences and Calico, a group that aims to tackle the problem of aging.
As has been noted elsewhere, the Alphabet announcement granted a promotion to Life Sciences. The group has broken out from the Google X "moonshot" research division to form its own company (wholly owned by Alphabet), focused on everything from early disease detection to organizing a "Baseline Study" to figure out what's normal for a human body.
Notably, the Dexcom partnership is the second major diabetes project the company is working on. The first, a smart contact lens that will monitor glucose levels continuously from the comfort of your eyeball, was announced through a partnership with
The sensor will be about the size of a Band-Aid and sit on the skin to monitor blood sugar levels on a constant basis rather than in a series of isolated finger pricks. The aim is to connect Dexcom's sensors and algorithms with Google hardware -- and its cloud. "Add all that together with a robust data platform – I don’t think anyone could argue who has the best data platform," Pacelli laughs. "Diabetes management is largely predicated on having data to make better decisions."
He doesn't know quite what Monday's announcement means for the partnership going forward -- Alphabet higher-ups haven't shared too much with him -- but he's optimistic. "They’ve clearly identified healthcare and their Life Science group as a priority," he says. Google, after all, was the company that initiated the partnership.
That doesn't mean all of Dexcom's efforts are going into the project. The company still has a "fifth-generation" monitor before the FDA now, and a sixth is on the way. But Pacelli expects the new partnership to come out with an initial product in two or three years, with a "home-run product" a couple of years after that.
"The Google exercise will be additive to everything else on our core," Pacelli explains. But look soon for that core to become smaller, cheaper -- and disposable.


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Malaysian sound tech firm VAV has secured $557,000 in funding to expand its audio-based mobile targeting platform.
The startup uses inaudible sound waves to transmit digital content to smartphones, which it bills as a new way for businesses to engage consumers.
For example, a broadcasting company can embed VAV’s inaudible audio signal into their program to send a notification to viewers’ smartphones about a promotion or contest during airtime. The phones have to be installed with the broadcasting company’s VAV-enabled app or any enabled third-party app.
The new funding comes from from Axiata Digital Innovation Fund, which is managed by Intres Capital Partners.
It will use the money to commercially roll out its sound wave-based solutions in Malaysia, and expand to other markets such as China.
VAV delivers actionable messaging over audio-visual content coming from any form of media, including TV, radio, websites, Facebook, and YouTube.
“This timely injection of funds will allow VAV to fast-track and gear up the marketing of the VAV solutions to more media companies to help them enhance their advertising campaigns,” says executive chairman Wan Kamarul Zaman Wan Yaacob.
“Through VAV applications, businesses will be able to optimize their campaigns as well as to be able to track campaign results and measure their impacts on a real-time basis,” he continued.
Co-founder Alden Leong Qi Wen says broadcasting companies can use VAV to make a “second screen experience” for its viewers. “This means the broadcaster can send any message to the viewer about things other than advertising like a disaster happening somewhere. The broadcaster is the one that determines how the viewers can receive the content – whether through their own VAV-enabled app or through any third-party app that they allow to transmit their content.”
VAV makes money in two ways: through licensing fees from clients who use its sound tech, and profit-sharing where it takes a cut of revenues from ad placements in VAV notifications.
Source: Net Imperative


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Tesco is quietly building support from rival retailers for the introduction of an online sales tax.
The supermarket giant’s chief financial officer Alan Stewart has written to bosses of its bricks-and-mortar competitors to sound out appetite for the new levy.
Tesco supremo Dave Lewis wants the government to slash business rates by 20% and make up the shortfall with a 2% tax on all online sales in a bid to level the playing field between traditional retailers and ecommerce giants such as Amazon.
According to the Press Association, Stewart has sent the letter drumming up support to at least three other major supermarkets. Leaders of non-food retailers are also understood to have received the note.
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From the Bristol City Council Press Office:
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson has given the green light for St Nicholas Market stallholders to pay their pitch fees in Bristol Pounds.
This follows the Mayor’s announcement that he would receive his salary in the popular local currency.
By Christmas market stallholders will be able to pay the city council for their pitches in Bristol Pound notes or online payments.
George Ferguson said: “I am a big supporter of the Bristol Pound and am determined we do all we can to support its development across the city.
“Our thriving markets are seeing huge interest and usage of the currency so allowing traders to pay their pitch fees in the Bristol Pound is a practical way we can help its progress.
“I am a very strong advocate for our independent traders and businesses and as Mayor am committed to helping them flourish and grow. A strong independent retail sector is good for the local supply chain, helps boost new business growth and boosts the city’s economy.”
Over the last year the city council has been supporting the Bristol Independents Campaign. In a new initiative launched this week Bristol Independents Campaign, the Bristol Pound and the Federation of Small Businesses have launched a Christmas loyalty card. Customers can collect stamps if they shop with independent traders for Christmas, with bonus stamps for any purchases made in Bristol Pounds. Once they have filled the card with 5 stamps, shoppers can be entered into a prize draw.
There are currently over 80 independent businesses signed-up, with more expected to join in the run-up to Christmas. For more information please see our page here.
See the article about the Bristol Pound announcement here.


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Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana will mark the 10th anniversary of the Mary Jane McMillen Crowe Leadership and Learning Center with an open house and reception 6-8 p.m. Thursday, November 3. The event, which is free and open to the public (over-21 only please), will take place at the center, 10008 Dupont Circle Drive East, easily accessible from Dupont Road or I-69.
Designed by MSKTD & Associates and built by Shawnee Construction in 2006, the two-story, 18,000-square-foot facility serves as offices for day-to-day operations and as a training center for Girl Scout volunteers.
“This building became our headquarters when Girl Scouts of the Limberlost joined with three other councils to form Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana in 2008,” said CEO Sharon Pohly. “We now serve 22 counties in northern Indiana and lower Michigan, which includes more than 6,000 girls and 2,700 volunteers.”
“Our learning center (training room) is open to the public for training and meeting room opportunities,” Pohly continued. “Our program center becomes a Cookie Central from January through March, with cookies leaving the facility daily for girls to sell.”
The anniversary will be celebrated all week long, October 31-November 4, with special treats for daytime visitors and a 10% discount on any purchase in the retail store (some restrictions may apply).


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Ag economist says COVID recovery will come in three stages
Virginia Tech's David Kohl says entrepreneurial spirit will be important in emerging from pandemic.
Traders refer to an unprecedented occurrence like the COVID-19 pandemic as a "black swan event" and the recovery in the agricultural community could go through three more bird-like phases. That is the prediction from Virginia Tech Ag Economist Dr. David Kohl.
He sees the event playing out in three stages with the general and agricultural economy currently experiencing the dirty bird, which is associated with the shock of the event. He says that will be followed by an angry bird phase lasting from May 1 until the end of 2020. During that time, Kohl predicts the nation and agricultural community will move into a period of bickering.
“Which will get nasty and emotional. We’re going to start really questioning do we want to get everything from China? We are going to kind of question any of the plans that come out of Washington D.C., the state or even the local government,” he says.
The final stage will occur in 2021 and according to Kohl will be the rising of the mythical Phoenix.
“What will happen is once we get past this current environment, we will move into the creative part; in other words, we’ll take a lemon and turn it into lemonade," he says.
This is where he thinks agriculture will have the most positive recovery of any segment of the economy, especially among younger farmers and ranchers who are very entrepreneurial.
“They’ll have the solution for this," he says.
Some economists say the recovery in the U.S. economy will be either V-shaped or U-shaped. However, Kohl is predicting more of a Nike swoosh or gradual recovery, especially in the ag economy.
“You see 70% of the Western countries, including us, are driven by a consumer. However, 40% of that consumer has been taken right out because they are at home. They are not traveling, and I am not on the airlines,” he says.
He says until the U.S. consumer gets enough confidence back in the medical system to resume normal life, recovery will be slow. In fact, he predicts a major shift from globalization to de-globalization.
Kohl says the recovery in the stock market off the lows is not an accurate reflection of the health of the economy.
“Think about this: a lot of the stimulus funds are going to the big companies which has propped up the stock market, but when it starts, you have a lot of small businesses going under. Until you have confidence in the job sector and small business, you’re not going to see this economy come back,” he adds.
The $19 billion Coronavirus Assistance Program that the U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out will be helpful to the agricultural industry according to Kohl. However, he says the $16 billion of direct payments will not be enough, especially the $9.6 billion for livestock and dairy producers.
“The program provides a bridge, but the livestock industry probably needed double or two and a half times the amount in the package to just cover the minimum losses," he says.
Regardless, he recommends farmers keep good records because documentation with these programs will be extremely important and may help build the case for more assistance in the future.
Kohl adds that the COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered the weaknesses in the supply chain, especially the meat packing industry. He thinks as a result, agriculture needs to question or reexamine the amount of consolidation.
“I can pretty well spot the rural areas where these plants are just by how the cases are distributed," he says.
He says looking back in history you see a power struggle to go to more concentration.
"So, we’re going to have to be really careful of that and the power players taking out small businesses," he says.


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Industry analysts say the number of films being produced by Hollywood is set to plummet by more than a third as the major studios struggle against a dearth of funding as consumers adjust the way they consume. Our New York correspondent Ed Pilkington explains.
After a 10-year break, Francis Ford Coppola, one of the greatest movie directors of the 20th century, is back with an experimental film - the kind, he tells us, he always wanted to make before getting 'sidetracked by Hollywood'
Francis Ford Coppola has disowned EA's forthcoming videogame conversion of The Godfather, according to the Observer yesterday. Apparently the legendary director has expressed fears that the game will be, "a travesty of his Oscar-winning 1972 masterpiece."
Film: The Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel brochure for Apocalypse Now - The Tour makes all that look tame. Subtitled "Don't Just Watch It ... Live It", takes place next month, it was put together to mark the 25th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam war classic.


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Olg Casino North Bay
It seems to me that in the absence of a public statement from the OLG, we must believe that the map boundaries are correct and that outside communities can't bid on a casino,” Janet Zimbalatti, a representative of the Blue Sky Bingo Hall Charities Association, told council Monday.
Municipal politicians at the time raised concerns the city - as the largest contributor to the Nipissing District Social Services Administration Board - would be left to shoulder much of the costs without any of the benefits, namely a share of the casino's revenue.
OLG conducts and manages gaming facilities, the sale of province-wide lottery games, PlayOLG Internet gaming, the delivery of bingo and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres and is leading the integration of horse racing into the provincial gaming strategy.
Gateway has signed a business transition and asset purchase agreement with OLG on December 12, 2016 and, subject to customary closing conditions, is committed to subsequently signing a 20-year casino operating and services agreement when the acquisition closes next year.
She pointed to OLG's N5 gaming zone map boundaries, which identifies the city as the potential site, noting there's other information on OLG's website that refers to a population of 65,000 in the N5 zone, as well as a statement indicating gaming zones may be subject to change.
Bitonti indicated the boundaries of OLG's gaming zones were determined by a model that looked at a number of factors, including proximity to other gaming zones and gaming facilities, current and potential customers, as well as the distance a customer is willing to travel to reach a gaming site.
The Ontario expansion will bring eleven new properties (nine existing and two planned new builds) to the Gateway portfolio when fully implemented, making Gateway the largest and most diversified gaming company in Canada with properties in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta.
Central to Gateway's success has been the development of exciting proprietary casino brands and signature restaurant brands that have dramatically improved the gaming customer experience while generating important, new customer segments among non-gamers.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) says in a news release today that it has selected Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (Gateway) as the service provider for the North and Southwest Gaming Bundles, which includes a new casino in North Bay.
The North Gaming Bundle includes OLG Casinos in Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. If there were to be a change in any municipality's willingness to be a host community, OLG would respect the municipal decision-making process,” said Bitonti, who indicated an announcement is expected in early 2017.


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Food for thought: Uber model breaks new ground
AFTER years of fevered warnings about the Uberisation of general practice, it seems that it has finally arrived on Australian shores.
Dr Sudeer Mahadeo, a GP from Ipswich outside Brisbane, has launched UberDoc to allow patients to find “doctors whenever, wherever” via a smartphone app.
The app operates on a similar principle to the ride-sharing company Uber.
Patients can send a request for a home visit to nearby doctors, who can then accept or decline the job.
Dr Mahadeo says doctors who sign up with the scheme receive 80 per cent of all billings, including Medicare rebates for home visits, and are free to name their fee for any consult they offer.
Electronic prescribing coming
Patients can also use UberDoc for telehealth and specialist referrals, and Dr Mahadeo says the company plans to offer electronic prescribing as soon as the law is changed to allow it in October 2019.
“We are currently seeing about five or six patients a day, so it is not huge at the moment, but it is picking up,” he says.
A bigger obstacle than signing up patients may be convincing doctors to join the company, but Dr Mahadeo is hoping that GPs will be attracted to the flexibility offered by the app.
“A lot of doctors want a bit of flexibility, especially GPs,” he says.
“They don’t want to work in a practice all the time seeing patients in that pressure-cooker situation.
“GPs who are on holidays, or who have a few hours on a Saturday morning, can get on to the app, see a few people around them, do a few referrals, write a few medical certificates, so it actually increases their output.”
Also in Australian Food News
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- Agribusiness gems set for Asian export upscaling
- Embattled staples seek trust and transparency
- Price hike looms for vegetables: growers
More of an IT company
However, Dr Mahadeo’s plans may be slowed down by the recent advertising crackdown on medical deputising services offering home visits.
Under the new restrictions, services signed up to the Federal Government’s Approved Medical Deputising Service program cannot advertise directly to patients for business.
But Dr Mahadeo says the ban does not apply to UberDoc because it is a “digital platform”.
“We are not a medical deputising service and do not fall under that banner,” he says.
“In fact, we are more of an IT company.”
This week popular US burger chain In-N-Out opened a pop-up restaurant in Melbourne, selling out of 3...
Warrnambool Cheese & Butter (WCB) is now selling snack sized portions of cheese under its Coon and C...
New Zealand’s Foodstuffs supermarket group is testing out new artificial technology that brings the ...
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is hosting a series of forums for dairy fa...
Researchers based in Singapore have discovered how to teleport a glass of lemonade.
Australians were all enthusiastically baking bread in the first COVID lockdown, this time around, '...
PepsiCo Australia & New Zealand has launched a new snack range aimed at school-aged children.
Victorian olive grove, Taralinga Estate is celebrating after winning two Gold medals at the 2019 Au...


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Industry analyst The Nilson Report says consumers have increased their use of credit, debit, and prepaid cards to make purchases, taking the place of cash.
The report shows spending on plastic totaled over $7.26 trillion last year and is projected to reach $10.08 trillion by 2023. There were nearly 7 billion cards in circulation at the end of last year in the U.S., and the report shows that number is increasing.
"When nearly 7 billion payment cards generate more than $7 trillion in purchases of goods and services…you have to conclude the state of the card business is very good," said David Robertson, publisher of The Nilson Report.
That may be true, but how good is it for the consumers who are using the cards? Actually, it may or may not be that concerning. If consumers are making more purchases on credit cards and allowing the balance to accumulate, that increases the amount of their high-interest debt.
However, if they are making more purchases with debit and prepaid cards, then they are spending their own money and the plastic is only a matter of convenience.
Spending on credit cards has fallen
The report shows spending on credit cards has actually gone down slightly, while the use of debit and prepaid cards has gone up. The report’s authors project credit card spending will drift slightly lower by 2023.
But consumers are still carrying a huge amount of credit card debt from one month to the next, paying an average of 16 percent interest. The report shows consumers’ credit card debt was over $1.12 trillion at the end of 2018, an increase of 5.8 percent from the year before. Outstanding debt is expected to exceed $1.43 trillion by the end of 2023.
Consumers spent an average of 90.73 for each credit card transaction in 2018, nearly a dollar more than the previous year.
Consumers’ credit card debt crossed the $1 trillion threshold in early 2019. In February, Experian reported that the average consumer had a credit card balance of $4,293. A recent WalletHub survey found that more than 1 in 3 people were afraid of maxing out their credit cards when making a purchase over $100.
Millennials seem to be struggling under credit card debt more than older generations. A CompareCards survey released in July found only 13 percent of millennials pay their credit card balance in full each month.


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Columbus to get 500 new jobs, Dublin, 30 and Lordstown Motors 1,570 at old GM plant
Central Ohio stands to pick up 530 new jobs from four companies that say they're expanding local operations, including plans by lender Upstart to double its employment in Columbus.
Outside of the Columbus area, electric truck company Lordstown Motors said it will create 1,570 jobs at the former General Motors plant in Lordstown as it prepares to start production of its pickup truck.
The Ohio Tax Credit Authority on Monday approved tax incentives for 16 companies that say they will create a total 4,183 jobs and retain 1,051 jobs statewide. The new jobs would have a total payroll of $240 million a year and the projects are expected to spur investments of $864 million, the authority said.
Upstart, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to price credit and automate the borrowing process, will add 250 jobs in Columbus and expand its existing offices at 711 N. High St. in the Short North by 40,000 square feet. Upstart was not on the tax authority agenda seeking any tax credits at this time.
The company, started in the San Francisco area in 2012, announced two years ago it was setting up a second headquarters here. The company says its systems improve access to affordable credit while reducing the risk and cost of lending for its bank partners.
“Our ability to find incredible talent across software engineering, data science, and operations has made our move to central Ohio a runaway success for Upstart," Dave Girouard, Upstart co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. "This further expansion confirms that Upstart will be a cornerstone of the Columbus technology community for years to come.”
Branch, an insurance company based in the Short North, received approval from the Tax Credit Authority for state tax incentives to add 150 jobs there with a payroll of $15 million. Currently, the company has 47 workers.
"We are thrilled to grow our headquarters in Columbus, which continues to provide us with top-notch talent,” said Steve Lekas, Branch co-founder and CEO. “We chose to locate Branch in Columbus for its alignment with our mission to make insurance not only less expensive, but also good.”
Branch sells home, renters, auto and umbrella policies. The company uses technology that makes it easy and fast for consumers to get a quote on coverage, typically in less than a minute, by providing just a name and address. Most other insurers will make consumers answer myriad questions before providing a quote or ultimately referring them to an agent.
Branch received tax credits with an estimated value of $2.7 million.
Technology consulting firm Daugherty Business Solutions will create 100 jobs at a to-be-determined location in Columbus.
The company plans to open a software development center here and will invest $1 million. The 100 jobs will have an annual payroll of $10 million.
The tax credits it received Monday have an estimated value of $1.7 million.
Grocery store company Aldi will add 30 jobs to its office operations in Dublin. The tax credits have an estimated value of $100,000.
In Lordstown, in northeast Ohio, Lordstown Motors is establishing assembly lines at the former GM plant along the Ohio Turnpike that closed in March 2019. The company is developing an electric pickup truck called the Endurance. Production is slotted to begin in 2021.
Lordstown Motors was approved for $20 million in state tax credits. The company said it will hire 1,570 workers by the end of 2025. The jobs will have an annual payroll of $91 million and Lordstown Motors will invest $423 million at the site.


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Photo courtesy Freightwaves.
It’s sometimes hard to comprehend the speed at which COVID-19 has spread within Australia and around the world – it’s just four weeks since the virus spread was declared a pandemic. During that time two container loads of medical equipment and supplies shipped for DAISI to Sopas District Hospital have arrived in Papua New Guinea, but what options for shipping remain over the coming weeks?
The extent to which freight movements have been affected depends on the mode of transport. Air freight, most of which is carried on passenger aircraft, is severely restricted owing to the suspension of most international flights by Qantas, Virgin and the airlines of neighbouring countries. Pacific Air Express continues to operate a dedicated freighter service from Brisbane to the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Express delivery companies such as TNT, DHL and Toll are offering restricted services subject to availability of flights.
Sea freight remains largely unaffected, although schedules have had to be adjusted to allow for the 14-day transit time between ports required by many countries. However, this situation may change as Pacific Island nations take action to protect their vulnerable communities. Already the Solomon Islands have imposed a 14-day quarantine period (before ships can enter port) on arrivals from any international port, unlike most other island nations which specify particular ports. Less-than-container-load (LCL) services are still operated by Kalgin Global Logistics and Vanguard Logistics from Sydney,Melbourne and Brisbane, but these too rely on the regular schedules of carriers like Swire Shipping.
Among the countries assisted by DAISI, only Papua New Guinea and Fiji have so far reported cases of COVID-19. As at midday on Thursday PNG had two cases and Fiji 15, with neither country reporting any deaths. However, it should be noted that elsewhere in the Pacific numbers are rising. French Polynesia, which in the last week of March had reported 18 cases, now has 51. And New Caledonia which at the same time had seven cases now has 18.
Resumption of normal freight services is unlikely to come soon and it could get worse before it gets better, but a gradual easing of restrictions could occur depending on the success or otherwise of each country’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus. By any measure the situation locally is nowhere near as dire as in Europe and the US, and for that we can be thankful.
Author: Barry Barford is DAISI’s Shipping & Logistics Officer and a member of the UK-based Humanitarian Logistics Association.


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China and the United States continue to threaten each other with trade tariffs and Canada is stuck in the middle of it.
On Wednesday, China announced its own trade tariffs following the U.S. plans for tariffs on over 100 items. China released its own list of goods which include soybeans, whiskey and beef.
980 CJME business analyst Paul Martin told the 980 CJME Morning Show Canada will be affected if the tariffs are imposed.
“We’re directly involved because we’re a trading province, a trading nation and our customers, whether they’re on that side or this side of the Pacific, are both being affected so that’s going to hit us.”
While there are plans for the tariffs to take effect, none have been put in place at this time.
Martin said the hope is that cooler heads will prevail.
“They’re very disruptive and just upset that applecart.”
He said these kinds of trade tactics were common in the past but in the last 20 to 30 years the global economy has settled down a bit.
Martin said these trade actions will have both positive and negative effects on Canada and Saskatchewan.
On one hand, China might be buying more Canadian crops and items. But some of Canada and Saskatchewan’s biggest customers — including American farmers — won’t be purchasing as much.
“These things just escalate and there really is no clear winner in it.”
He said this could also have positive effects for NAFTA negotiations, with an agreement possibly being reached quicker, but said there are mixed messages coming from the White House.


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Shiseido Borrows $87 Million for Price of Bottle of Perfume
(Bloomberg) -- Shiseido Co., Asia’s biggest cosmetics maker, borrowed 10 billion yen ($87 million) from bond investors on Tuesday for about what it would cost to buy one of the company’s expensive perfumes.
The Tokyo-based firm sold the three-year notes at an annual yield of about 0.00033 percent, or about $287 dollars a year, cheaper than the cost to buy a 30ml bottle of the company’s Suzuro perfume, according to calculations by Bloomberg. Shiseido joins a car tire producer, property developer and toilet maker in a growing list of companies that have been able to raise cash from investors at next to nothing since the Bank of Japan adopted its negative-interest policy in January.
The BOJ is buying corporate bonds at minus interest, meaning that investors who can sell debt with any yield to the central bank are able to make a profit, according to Kentaro Harada, a credit analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo. Even while the average yield on Japanese company notes has tripled from 0.1 percent at the start of July according to Nomura BPI index data, market borrowing rates for Japanese firms are still at record lows for shorter-term debt.
“The Bank of Japan is still purchasing bonds at minus interest rates and that is the big thing here,” Harada said.
Corporate debt sold this year in Japan at a rate of 0.001 percent or less totals more than 300 billion yen, with the car financing units of the nation’s three big automakers including Toyota Motor Corp., being the biggest sellers by industry, according to calculations by Bloomberg. Shiseido’s bond today was sold with a coupon of 0.001 percent, though investors had to pay a price of 100.002 to buy the debt, according to a statement by deal manager Daiwa Securities Group Inc. The bonds will redeem at face value or 100.
Shiseido is forecasting net income this year of 30 billion yen on sales of 848 billion yen. The company’s Suzuro perfume, which includes jasmine and hyacinth essences, retails on its website at 50,760 yen.
Shiseido’s share price was up 1.8 percent as of 2:15 p.m. in Tokyo.


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Posted: Wednesday, March 30, 2016. 11:10 am CST.
Posted: Wednesday, March 30, 2016. 11:12 a.m. CST
For the first time in statistical history, all major export industries declined, marine products, citrus and sugar especially so.
However, the sugar fall is due not to prices but level of exports, which are expected to recover.
The free zone’s worries continue with less goods imported, while there is also less imports of fuel.
Inflation is positive for the first time in several months; unfortunately, that means Belizeans are paying more for food and housing rental as well as health and insurance costs and even hairdressing.
The Consumer price index is up 0.3 percent overall, with the north suffering the highest levels.
More on this coming later.
© 2016, BreakingBelizeNews.com. This article is the copyrighted property of Breaking Belize News. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.


text: How artificial intelligence could create a personalised and perfect travel serviceNewsBy Viewpoints | May 30, 2012Share This article was originally published on NB: This is a guest article by Dr Charles Wooters, chief scientist of Next IT.Feels a little creepy – doesn’t it? But, this is the future of air travel (and how we will interact with technology in general).Airlines will know customer preferences, what "home" means for a traveler, if he likes aisle seats on morning flights, and - most importantly for use on third-party aggregators – what his preferred airline is.The kicker: these conversations won’t be happening with live representatives drawing from a knowledge base. Passengers will instead converse with avatars, equipped with artificial intelligence and natural language understanding.Recent news of life-sized holograms at three major New York airports has many passengers considering artificial intelligence and the technology’s real implications on their travel experience.Minds go to fanciful extremes like the Terminator or Minority Report and they wonder: "What do these things do?" or "What’s coming next?"Well to begin, the NY installations won’t be having true conversations with anyone.And they also aren’t the first of their kind in the travel industry: Manchester Airport became the first to use holograms back in 2011 for security preparation.United (via Alex) and Alaska Airlines (via Jenn) use enhanced conversational avatars online, to interact with customers, answer questions, and assist with the booking process.Conversational avatars are already engaging with customers everyday and present the path towards (counter intuitively enough) personalized service.The massive amounts of data that can be gleaned and analyzed from logged conversations give a true window into what customers really want.Rather than operating within the confines of links and search terms – customers can simply ask for what they’re looking for. With that, airlines begin to measure customer desire and store preferences.Transforming customer information into personalized service is a key factor in the future of customer loyalty.Why do it?Currently, passengers view flight as a commodity, where price and schedule are more important than brand. But beyond this hunt for the lowest fare, customers are searching for personalized service.They want their individual needs to be recognized and will support a brand that demonstrates that it understands their expectations, needs, quirks, and specific requests.At the same time, sensitivities around privacy and storing personal information, such as what "home" means, makes the integration a balancing act.In order for artificial intelligence to be truly effective in building customer loyalty in the future, airlines must be sure that transparency is built in around the technology.Building a strong customer relationship is contingent on the amount of passenger information an airline can store, understand, and act upon – but passengers want to know what information is being stored and have control over how their preferences are determined.There is no other way to deliver this transparency other than showing a customer the process behind an avatar’s decision making process.This is key to successful integration – rather than take control away from passengers, make the planning and booking process more transparent by engaging in conversation and revealing how actions are taken on the passenger’s behalf.This is part of the foundation to making artificial intelligence effective; it’s not just about the technology driving it, success relies on the trust that customer’s must develop on their own.The Manchester and NY holograms barely scratch the surface of the use of artificial intelligence in the travel industry.The real benefits come when the conversations between customer and technology begin.Airlines that interact and build relationships with passengers through customer experience technology will lead the brightest future in winning customer loyalty and the lifetime revenue that comes with it.NB: This is a guest article by Dr Charles Wooters, chief scientist of Next IT.NB2:Virtual assistant image via Shutterstock.


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Online marketing has prompted more than 13 million people to open credit card accounts since 1996, four million last year alone, according to surveys by Brittain Associates Inc., an Atlanta market research firm.
The most recent survey, which covered accounts opened in 2000, was done by random-number dialing to 2,004 households, and Brittain extrapolated national numbers from the results. The surveyers interviewed only adults who identified themselves as the head of the household. "We didn't want to talk to students who live at home," said Bruce Brittain, president.
For a while, banner ads and other Internet marketing techniques were out of favor with credit card issuers, who had spent a lot on them with little return. But according to Mr. Brittain, the situation is altering, partly because more people are using the Internet and using it more often, and card companies have learned how to approach online marketing.
Mr. Brittain named NextCard Inc., the First USA division of Bank One Corp., Providian Financial Corp., Citigroup Inc., Capital One Financial Corp., and the Discover unit of Morgan Stanley & Co. as card companies that have grown adept at Internet marketing.
"If you want an example of how an Internet marketer can turn nearly 88 million browsers into prospects, take a look at NextCard," Mr. Brittain said. The San Francisco company takes applications only through the Internet.
"They have a cutting-edge way of testing their banner ads to see which are pulling in response," Mr. Brittain said. "They get them in front of the right people."
David Dowhan, vice president of acquisitions at NextCard, said his company's growing expertise with Internet marketing is reflected in its account sign-ups: fourth-quarter Internet acquisitions up 220% from the year earlier. At the end of 2000, NextCard had 708,000 accounts.
"Our Internet database marketing system allows us to track every single Web site and which advertisements we run as well," Mr. Dowhan said, "and tie it back to the profitability of the customer that came in as a result of a marketing campaign. We have studied the online application process to streamline it."
Mr. Brittain said that First USA scores consistently high in his company's online credit card studies. "Last year they accounted for 21% of brand mentions," he said.


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Zomato defends, reinstates staff a day after plaint by TN customer
- The company founder Deepinder Goyal announced reinstating the sacked agent in a series of tweets on Tuesday.
A day after the restaurant aggregator and food delivery company Zomato fired its customer service employee after a complaint by a customer who alleged that he was denied refund for not knowing Hindi , the company reinstated the employee to service saying it was “an ignorant mistake”.
The company founder Deepinder Goyal announced reinstating the sacked agent in a series of tweets on Tuesday.
A tweet from a user who goes by the handle “@Vikash67456607” triggered a major Twitter backlash, with the hashtag “Reject_Zomato” trending on top at the microblogging site on Monday. Vikash had tweeted he ordered food on Zomato and complained that an item was missing. “Customer care says amount can’t be refunded as I didn’t know Hindi. Also takes lesson that being an Indian I should know Hindi. Tagged me a liar as he didn’t know Tamil. @zomato not the way you talk to a customer,” he tweeted and tagged the company while sharing screenshots of his purported chat with the customer care agent.
In its statement, Zomato said the company was “sorry” for the behaviour of its employee and terminated the agent.
On Tuesday, Goyal took to Twitter to defend the agent, saying most people at the call centre were young people “at the start of their learning curves.”
He said “an ignorant mistake by someone in a support centre of a food delivery company became a national issue. The level of tolerance and chill in our country needs to be way higher than it is nowadays. Who’s to be blamed here?”


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Mixed reality – an emerging ‘future of retail’ technology – is set to become a part of everyday trading at some Comvita Asia stores, following its successful showcase at New Zealand Expo in Dubai.
In a unique collaboration project, the New Zealand FernMark licensee and natural health products business is using Microsoft’s HoloLens technology to give customers a multi-sensory experience that incorporates taste with the sights and sounds of the New Zealand forest.
Customers sit in front of a tray of two different types of honey, with a spoon and a glass of sparkling water. Thanks to HoloLens headsets, the wearers find themselves in front of a native New Zealand punga tree, with a full-size beehive. They’re guided through the forest by a virtual beekeeper experiencing bees flying around them, complete with sounds of the hive and nature. As spoons are dipped to taste the honey, the HoloLens traces sparkles in the air like a wand.
Comvita’s Global Head of Brand Marketing, David Bathgate, describes it as a fully immersive Mānuka honey tasting experience like no other – like ‘wine tasting on steroids’. His main advice: keep your eyes open.
“The sense of magic and connection to nature’s healing power is captivating people”, he says.
Long considered trailblazing and forward thinking, Comvita has always conveyed a strong message about New Zealand as its country of origin. At Expo 2020 it was one of a group of iconic New Zealand brands called the Care Collective, which supported New Zealand’s expo theme, Care for People and Place – an extension of the New Zealand Government’s belief that New Zealand is good for the world.
Bathgate says wherever Comvita is in the world, it always plays the proud role of ambassador for Aotearoa New Zealand – and bearing the FernMark underscores that.
“The HoloLens technology provides us with an amazing opportunity to connect our consumers around the world to the magic of the hive and our unique Aotearoa Mānuka forests. The FernMark reinforces that, giving consumers added confidence in the authenticity of Comvita’s products. It reflects our strong country of origin roots and supports our corporate values of kaitiakitanga, right through to our leading science and innovation.”
To reach a global audience amid the pandemic, Comvita had to step up its use of technology from its custom designed 180-degree theatre in the Auckland experiential store (the Wellness Lab) and create something new and portable. It worked with experiential designers, Blur the Lines and with Microsoft’s global mixed reality team to develop the experience.
“This signals another special chapter at Comvita as we aim to become a true digital-first, premium consumer health and wellness brand, “says Bathgate.
“We believe that in this new COVID era, arguably now more so than ever before, retail is about creating authentic experience and connection. We’re incredibly proud to be delivering this unique experience for our consumers.”
Matt Bostwick, Partner Director at Microsoft New Zealand says he is thrilled to see Comvita and Blur the Lines using HoloLens to influence how people taste and learn about different products.
“This is an example of real Kiwi ingenuity in a way that brings fresh, and in this case, sweet dimensions to the multi-sensory experience. To be making this strong connection between our food and the environment in a way that people can viscerally experience and remember, not only makes for more powerful customer engagement, but it also has the potential to change the way people think about our relationship with the natural world,” says Bostwick.
Looking forward, Comvita expects to have at least two locations running with HoloLens this year, one in Kuala Lumpur and the other in Shanghai, with dates yet to be confirmed. Bathgate is confident that carrying the FernMark across its products will strengthen the appetite within these markets, by demonstrating provenance and connecting to the Kiwi ingenuity that underpins this unique Comvita experience.
“Global brands like ASOS, IKEA and Dulux already use augmented or virtual reality in store and online, but we are excited that our fully immersive, mixed reality experience goes a step further. By utilising the HoloLens’ multiple sensors to meld with the environment, we are providing our customers with an intrinsic taste of New Zealand that demonstrates provenance, which is a game changer as we build our presence in global markets,” says Bathgate.


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Later this year, SchagrinGas Company will be celebrating 88 years in service. One of the longest-running propane companies in the country, SchagrinGas provides products to Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Offering propane installation, fireplaces, HVAC, grills and even water conditioning, the family-owned company has stuck to its guns in regard to keeping a community-based approach to the variety of services.
“We stand behind what we do. Once we have a relationship with the homeowner, we want to do anything that we can for them,” said Marc Frey, sales manager of the Rehoboth location. “Not only do we sell the product, but we service it, too. We want to provide the most efficient product possible.”
In November 2019, the Rehoboth Beach location in Midway Shopping Center expanded its storefront to provide for a showroom, demonstrating an array of products from fireplaces to grills.
Frey stated that the intention of the showroom was to give the customers a way to see the products firsthand. SchagrinGas can give homeowners a view of how it may look in the home.
“If people move into a house and don’t like the fireplace and want to change it up, this is the place to go,” Frey said.
The showroom, housing more visible products than any other SchagrinGas location in Sussex County, can also provide more information and demonstrations on how the new products are both eco-friendly and efficient.
SchagrinGas’ addition is more than just a place to show off goods, though. It works as an opportunity to communicate with customers. No longer are the days of faceless calls to set up installations. SchagrinGas feels it’s important to build that relationship through actual interaction.
“When you have all of these new homeowners in the area, they like to come through the door and see a face,” Frey said. “That helps them build that trust and that community.”
For more information, go to schagringas.com.


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The Worcester Public Market’s newest food stall is unique, not just for its fresh and healthy salads, but because the person behind it is only 15.
Kashvi Vishal, a student at Shrewsbury High School, said she was inspired to open Edenish Salad because many of her friends were in search of healthy options to eat in a world of fast food. School lunches are lacking, she said, and for some of her classmates, the healthy option for a quick and affordable meal is Chick-fil-A.
“I want to give my generation something good to eat,” Vishal said. “They don’t have to worry about calories. They can eat whatever they want, and it’ll be good.”
While Edenish is brand new, having held its grand opening on March 18, Vishal is no stranger to the Worcester Public Market. Her family owns Namaste Woo, a stall selling Indian cuisine in another aisle of the market, and she has been working there for the past year.
When a space opened up in the market, it was offered to the family, and Vishal decided to jump right in with support from family members.
“I said, ‘Why don’t I use this space to do something of my own?’” she said. “I wanted to do something tasty and affordable that will fill you up.”
Vishal said she is interested in pursuing a career in nutrition in college, so opening a salad bar was a no-brainer.
Edenish offers salads, subs and wraps with fresh ingredients, and will rotate ingredients regularly to match the seasons. The “fresh” description even applies to beverages: instead of selling prepackaged coconut water, the salad bar sells whole coconuts so customers can enjoy drinking it with a straw, and eat the coconut meat if they are so inclined — which several have been.
She said business has been great so far, but her favorite thing has been seeing people of all ages reaching for the healthy option.
“I’ve had lots of young kids who love salad. They come with their parents and choose their own toppings,” Vishal said. “Instead of burgers and fries, they want something healthy.”


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It has been recently announced that India is planning to sell only electric cars in the near future, delighting environmentalists while disappointing the oil industry. With concerns pertaining to the rising prices of diesel and petrol, not to mention the alarming levels of pollution, the decision is being welcomed as a revolutionary move. Under the new plans of the Indian government, every single car sold in the country from 2030 onwards will necessarily be electric.
Oil Industry to Suffer from Waning Demand
Being the third-largest importer of oil, India receives more than $150 billion on an annual basis from this sector. This means that a shift from fuel-powered vehicles to electric-powered ones will be a major set-back for the oil industry. However, according to the current estimations, the revolutionary transition will scrimp almost $60 billion by 2030 in energy costs, simultaneously minimizing running costs for innumerable car owners in India.
Piyush Goyal, India’s Energy Minister says that although the government will be the primary investor sponsoring the initiative for the first three years or so, it is the swelling demand for electric vehicles that will drive the production of electric automobiles thereafter, not subsidies.
Pollution Control: A Key Objective
Every year, nearly 1.3 million people in India have been dying as air pollution takes a toll on their health. Studies reveal that 3% of the gross domestic product of the economy was lost because of growing toxic smog levels. Of the 20 cities worldwide with highest levels of air pollution rated by the World Health Organization (WHO), 13 are in India. The revolutionary change can reduce carbon emissions by more than 37%, finds research.


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In December 2009, US based $10.5 billion company, First Data, which is world’s largest provider of electronic payments, had purchased ICICI Bank Ltd’s majority 81 percent stake in its point-of-sale (PoS) terminal network in a deal valued around $80-90 million.
Now First Data has set its eyes on processing government transactions linked to MNREGA, utility bill payments and railway booking transactions through its PoS network.
In 2012, First Data will add 50,000 terminals to its existing network of 180,000 terminals. Talking to the media, B. Amrish Rau, vice-president and country manager at First Data India, said, “We want to invest wherever the opportunity like NREGA payments, public distribution systems electronification. We need to drive more products through our channel.”
Merchants pay 1.1 – 1.8 percent of the purchase as fee besides installation charges to use the network, which is shared between the bank that has issued the card under transaction and the bank that has installed the machine.
Banks earn fees and also get cheap funds through current accounts that merchants open. They also cut costs by building their own network as they do not need to move money in physical form. According to First Data’s own estimates, 170 million transactions are conducted in India every year, more than half of which is processed on their network.
Once First Data and other companies in the electronic payments space are able to build the last mile connectivity in the villages, millions of MNREGA workers will be able to transfer money electronically for their daily needs.
Compared to China, India is still a nascent market. For instance, China has 900 million cards with two million PoS terminals.


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This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
Updated January 2023
The best way to get into the holiday spirit is to explore Dubai’s Christmas markets. These lovely markets offer a delightful opportunity to shop for your Christmas celebration while taking in the festive spirit.Book cheap flights to Dubai
Find out the best ones to visit this year with our list of must-go Christmas markets in Dubai this year.
Disclaimer: Dubai Christmas markets are publicised closer to the festival every year. No information is available about Dubai Christmas markets for 2023 as yet, but this article is in review and will be updated as and when the details surface.
The Dubai Christmas markets for 2023 are yet to be announced. Till then, take a look at the 2022 lineup and hope for even bigger events in 2023!
Expo City: Winter City
The Mobility District, Surreal waterfall, and Al Wasl Plaza at Expo City Dubai were transformed into an enchanted winter wonderland from the end of November to early January 2023. The area was packed with cosy-looking cabins, Christmas markets, pine trees, entertaining funfair games, and a letter-to-Santa station.
Habtoor Palace: Winter Garden
Hundreds of Emiratis started off their Christmas celebrations with the Winter Garden at Habtoor Palace. You could expect some pop-up stores, a variety of family-friendly activities, performances, exciting attractions, and more. With a wide range of culinary choices like Shawarma Vibes, Aloha Dubai, and Sauce Diner to keep you satisfied throughout the celebrations, you wouldn’t have gone home hungry!
Starting November 1 through December 31, the Habtoor Palace Winter Garden was open daily from 4 p.m. to midnight. Pets were welcome.
Souk Madinat Jumeirah: Festive Market
The last December, the annual Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market was back. The popular Christmas market ran from Thursday, December 15 to Friday, December 30.
In addition to shopping and family-friendly entertainment, the market featured a live band playing festive music. Shoppers filled up on special holiday fare, took a trip to the North Pole, and seized the opportunity to ride the Abra with Santa while spending time at the festive event.
This market was open daily for free, from 3 PM until midnight on Monday – Wednesday, and 12 PM until midnight from Thursday – Sunday.
Winterfest at Dubai Media City
Through the course of the football competition, McGettigans hosted the first Christmas market in Dubai Media City Amphitheatre as an addition to an epic World Cup fan zone.
On Sunday, November 20, there was an event to light the Christmas tree, followed by 4 weeks of Christmas-themed activities such holiday market and Santa’s grotto. A fan zone ticket—which started at just AED 50 and could be redeemed for food and drink— included access to Winterfest.
Christmas Lights Party by McGettigan’s Madinat
Along with the World Cup fan zone in Dubai Media City Amphitheater, McGettigans also hosted a Christmas Tree Lighting party for the families on Monday, 14th November 2022. The party started at 5 pm, and the entry tickets for adults were only for AED 50, while kids under 12 years old could enter for free.
Christmas Market at Hillhouse Brasserie
The last holiday season, Hillhouse Brasserie had got you and your dear ones covered. They not only hosted your Christmas brunch, but their winter market was open with a variety of enjoyable activities.
A magical performance started at noon, and Santa was in his grotto waiting for all the little ones at two. Everyone then came together at the gingerbread factory and wrote their letters to Santa Claus. Last but not least, Spinney’s Christmas tree farm was set up for you to choose your ideal Christmas tree. The Christmas Market was held on December 3, from 10 PM to 6 PM.
Winter Wonderland at Reform Social & Grill
During every holiday season, Reform Social & Grill transforms its grounds into a winter wonderland. This included a Christmas market on Monday, December 11, 2022.
The little ones could play in a snow park that came with mailboxes for them to send their wish lists to Santa Claus. Daily events got everyone in a holiday spirit, and there were plenty of opportunities to buy Christmas gifts to fill your stockings.


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Oct. 15, 2020
Customers can pick up mail at nearby Post Offices until delivery resumes
Dangers from the Cameron Peak Wildfire have forced curtailment of mail delivery to Drake, Glen Haven and Masonville, CO Post Offices.
Masonville customers can pick up their mail at the Loveland Main Post Office, 446 E. 29th St. Loveland, CO 80538 during regular business hours, M-F 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Glen Haven and Drake customers can pick up their mail at the Estes Park Post Office, 215 W. Riverside Dr, Estes Park 80517 during regular business hours, M-F 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
A photo ID is required to pick up mail.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.


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People still have mixed opinions on Autopilot, the driver-assisted driving system of electric car manufacturer Tesla. So why did Tesla develop such a system in the first place? Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently disclosed the reasons for the company’s release of Autopilot in a Twitter interaction with fans Truth_Tesla. He said that this was the company’s efforts after the tragedy of a Tesla owner falling asleep and hitting a cyclist to death.
— Austin Tesla Club (@AustinTeslaClub) July 31, 2021
Initially, Truth_Tesla shared a video showing a scene where the Norwegian driver of the Tesla Model S was drunk and unconscious. Fortunately, the Autopilot on this car was activated at the time, which meant that it could alert other drivers in a dangerous situation, and then slow down and prompt the car to stop safely. No one was injured in this incident.
Subsequently, Musk shared many details of the initial development of Autopilot. He said that in order to release Autopilot’s V1 iteration to consumers, Tesla actually made a lot of effort. Musk also said that after the tragedy, the driver in question sued Tesla instead, claiming that the new car smell made him fall asleep. However, the judge did not support the driver’s view and dismissed the lawsuit. Since then, Autopilot has continued to improve, and it remains the same today.


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Feb 4, 2020
AquaBounty aims to raise 55,000 tonnes of genetically-raised salmon a year by 2028
Salmon farmer has big plans post 2020 commercial launch. From 160 to 55,000 tonnes in just eight years, if it has the right investment.
The GM salmon farmer has come a long way since 1989, with it set to harvest around 160 tonnes of salmon from its Indiana facilities this year.
In a financial filing, AquaBounty – which is behind the outfit currently producing genetically engineered-fast growing salmon (AquAdvantage) – is offering USD 10 million of shares.
In a report for investors,
it wrote that it intended to significantly scale operations and expand its existing production facility. It also had its eye on a “new large plant build-out in the US, Canada, and internationally utilising project-based finance and potential JV partners”.
The AquAdvantage USP is that it can grow faster, and AquaBounty says that its faster growth to harvest accelerates ROI in farm operations – which it says delivers 2x vs. conventional RAS salmon. Read the article


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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It'll be a busy weekend in Philadelphia. Two events are expected to draw in thousands: the Philly Pride March & Festival, and the Roots Picnic at Fairmount Park.
In the city's Gayborhood, business owners we spoke to say they've been busy the last several days preparing for what they expect to be the largest Pride weekend since the start of the pandemic.
Part of pride weekend is making people feel welcomed, and Wishbone's Alan Segel is welcoming people to his Gayborhood restaurant by stockpiling more than 1,500 pounds of chicken.
"An insane amount of food we're bringing in," Segel said. "Our kitchen, our walk-in is just full right now. We have just tons of food, tons of chicken, beer, cocktails. We're ready to roll for this weekend"
Segel says Pride weekend typically brings in long lines and a hearty amount of money to his restaurant.
"It's our biggest weekend of the year," he said. "We love serving this crowd, this community. It is just so much celebration."
Next door at cockatoo, Ram Krishnan says they have their plan in place and are ready to go.
"It all seems to be coming together. It's a lot of excitement in the air."
The excitement in Philadelphia isn't just for Pride weekend, as the.
Shawn Gee, president of Live Nation Urban, says the Roots Picnic generates a different kind of economic impact for the local arts scene, as local up-and-coming musicians will be featured prominently in the festival.
"Hopefully after you leave the festival, you discover some people as well. Discovery is a really big tenet of the Roots Picnic," he said.
Business owners like Krishnan and Segel also hope people will discover their bars and restaurants this weekend.
"It's great. I mean, post-pandemic certainly certain things have come back, others haven't, so it's a great great kind of boost for us."
for more features.


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New Delhi: In a rather strange turn of events, Indian cricket skipper Virat Kohli has landed in a spot. A Chennai-based advocate filed a petition in the Madras High Court on Friday, demanding action against the cricket superstar and actor Tamannah Bhatia, accusing them of promoting online gambling.
As per reports, the petition says that all such apps, using the names of such stars or otherwise should be banned. Such stars, says the application, are capable of corrupting young minds.
The petition seemingly comes off the incident of a youngster who had committed suicide when he could not repay the money he had spent on online gambling.
Online Gambling in India
The Public Gaming Act of 1867 makes no reference to online gambling. The Central Government has no jurisdiction on online gambling games. The licenses of the online gambling firms are obtained by the UK licensed bookmakers which are legal under the European and International Law. However, the Indian laws have taken some action to make the use of these site difficult.
In 2011, the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 was issued under the Information Technology Act,2000 that instructed the website holders to block access to certain websites and content. Section 2B of the said Act includes anything that relates or encourages money laundering or gambling.
The case of M/s Gaussian Network Pvt. Ltd. v Ms. Monica Lakhanpal is landmark case in online gambling. The Gaussian Network approached the District Court in Delhi under the Order 36 of CPC. The question raised was related to online gaming. The court observed that there exists a difference in games of skill played online and that played in physical form. The court took the help of Mahalakshmi Case and declared that there is a difference between the cases of online games and offline games. In real games, the games require more presence of mind. An argument can be that if it is legal online then it can be legal offline. There are websites which provide free online games and that is legal. The judgement of the case was binding only on the parties involved and not on the whole India.
– India Legal Bureau


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Spiel 2020 cancelled
This year’s Spiel has been cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
The world’s biggest board game consumer fair was due to take place in Essen across October 22nd to 25th.
“With great regret we have to announce today that we have to postpone this year’s Spiel to October 14th to 17th 2021,” read a statement from organisers.
“The health of our exhibitors, visitors, guests and employees is very important to us. We have been observing the very dynamic national and international development regarding Covid-19 very closely over the last weeks and months and have explored all possibilities for the implementation of Spiel 20, also in coordination with the authorities.
“Unfortunately, this has led to the conclusion that due to force majeure, we will not be able to run Spiel 20 on the intended date, either factually or technically. After a long time of consideration we have come to the painful conclusion that Spiel will have to be postponed by one year.”
UPDATE: Organisers have stated that Spiel.Digital – a virtual version of Spiel – will take place this year. Spiel.Digital will launch from October 22nd to October 25th and more details will be revealed shortly.
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In a blog post from Ubisoft today, the team working on Rainbow Six Extraction announced the game would be delayed into next year. Unlike the delay of GhostWire: Tokyo earlier this week, Ubisoft confirmed that the push on release date was to further polish the game and ensure it meets the AAA standards of quality it has set for itself. As mentioned during Ubisoft’s E3 2021 conference, Rainbow Six Extraction is a standalone single-player or co-op experience with a more supernatural focus than Rainbow Six Siege. To this end, a lot of work is going into making it truly stand out in terms of some features that are not present in Siege. Unfortunately, Extraction has been delayed from September of this year until January 2022 to really get that polish applied. However, that’s not the only game Ubisoft has delayed today.
Riding Will Have To Wait
Similar to Rainbow Six Extraction’s blog post today, Riders Republic is also being delayed. In case you’re unfamiliar, Riders is an extreme sports sandbox game where you and hundreds of players can compete or just mess around on mountain bikes or in a wingsuit. The delay of this sports title is also cited as needing more time to fine-tune the experience before its release. Riders has been delayed from September 2nd to October 28th, 2021. The game does have a beta coming soon which will probably be used to further adjust the online multiplayer experience to ensure no buggy issues at launch.
Both of these games getting a delay on the same date from Ubisoft is a bit alarming, but with many countries now lowering their pandemic restrictions in light of more vaccinated persons around the world, there is more than likely a push to re-evaluate the status of development in the office with more of their tools readily available. While we will still be getting Riders Republic this year, the delay of Extraction definitely stings a bit more.
Rainbow Six Extraction will release sometime in January 2022 on Playstation 4/5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.


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Who will be distributing the film along with the release date.
Anchor Bay Films, a subsidiary of Lions Gate Entertainment and Starz Inc., has announced they would be releasing Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions on digital platforms and for home release. Anchor Bay Films themselves handle the release and distribution more niche movies and TV shows, with their biggest item, near as I can identify, being the horror-sci-fi-drama series The Walking Dead.
The digital version will be released on June 13th, with Blu-Ray and DVD Home Releases set for June 27th, 2017.
The home release will contain both the English Dub as well as the original Japanese audio, as well as four featurettes:
- “Show Us Your Cards”
- “Interview with Eric Stuart”
- “Interview with Dan Green”
- “Cast’s Favorite Moments”
The Blu-Ray release is estimated to be about $24.99
DVD release is estimated for $19.98
No comment has been made at this time whether or not this release will come with the Gold Rare version of “Obelisk the Tormentor” that Manga Entertainment is releasing in the UK release of The Dark Side of Dimensions for home video.


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Bentley has revealed at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show that their upcoming SUV will be called the ‘Bentayga'. Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer told Autoblog that around 3,500 units of the new car is the annual sales expectation, with over quarter expected to come from the US.
We've also just learned that the Bentayga will get plug-in hybrid and diesel variants in 2017, after a year with the W12 engine being the initial powerplant option.
It's garnered a big amount of interest already, with over 4,000 potential buyers listed, many of whom have already parted with deposits for the new luxury SUV.
The Bentayga is said to have evolved slightly after its first concept, called the EXP 9F, was revealed in 2012. Watch this space for more updates on the Bentayga.


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After enduring a difficult year in 2022, Volkswagen announced that 2023 would likely be just as challenging. Chip shortages and other supply chain disruptions, including production stoppages due to the war in Ukraine, are leading to persistent headwinds.
Overall, Volkswagen ended 2022 on a strong note. Electric car sales grew by 23.6% to a worldwide total of 330,000, led by the ID 4 crossover, which accounted for roughly half of deliveries. However, 2022 sales still fell by 6.8 percent compared to 2021, dropping to a total of 4.56 million cars.
In China, Volkswagen more than doubled its EV sales which increased to over 143,100 vehicles, including the ID 3 hatchback, the ID 4 crossover, and the Chinese market ID 6 SUV. It expects sales in that market to grow significantly in 2023 with the launch of the updated ID 3, a new ID 7 sedan, and the ID Buzz MPV. Other German automakers, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz, saw similar increases in Chinese market sales and expect the strong demand to continue in 2023.
Similarly, sales of Volkswagen are up in the US as well. The company reported a third-quarter increase of 12 percent for all vehicles for a total of 88,820. Sales of the ID.4 hit a new sales record, increasing to 6,657 vehicles in the third quarter, up 10 percent over 2021. Overall, the company ended the quarter down 20 percent for the entire year.
According to Imelda Labbe, Volkswagen AG's board member for sales and marketing, the automaker holds a "very high" order backlog due to "persistent supply chain shortages." Volkswagen expects those issues to subside in 2023, with production eventually stabilizing.
Last August, outgoing CEO Herbert Deiss signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Canada. The agreement is in connection to battery materials and technology, which Volkswagen expects will address shortages in those areas.
Labbe also added, “The roadmap is clear. Volkswagen already has the broadest portfolio of electric models. By 2026, the brand will have the right product in every segment, from the entry-level e-car to the new flagship ID 7.”


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Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. Joins ng Connect Program to Help Launch Next-Generation Broadband Services
The ng Connect Program, a multi-industry initiative driving the development of next-generation broadband services based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) and other enabling technologies, today announced HFMUS, http://hfmus.com/ publisher of leading magazines including ELLE, has joined the program. With cross-platform content becoming more accessible through multiple channels and devices, ELLE is the first media brand to join the ng Connect Program, and will work with other member companies to deepen the relationship with their readers by utilizing 4G/LTE networks.
“Media companies are at the forefront of tremendous change regarding content development and distribution, thanks to the growing availability of devices offering content and the growing demand for immediacy for consumers”
“Media companies are at the forefront of tremendous change regarding content development and distribution, thanks to the growing availability of devices offering content and the growing demand for immediacy for consumers,” said Steve West, Vice President of Emerging Technology & Media at Alcatel-Lucent, founding member of the ng Connect Program. “ELLE is a key player in this shift and recognizes the advantages of next-generation wireless networks for the publishing industry.”
ELLE is actively engaged with six other program members on a virtual personal shopper concept, which will be showcased for the first time in the Alcatel-Lucent Booth #35469 at CES 2011, January 6-9, 2011, Las Vegas.
About The ng Connect Program
The ng Connect Program is a multi-industry organization committed to the development and rapid deployment of the next generation of broadband services based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) and other ultra high bandwidth technologies. Founded in 2009, the ng Connect Program is supported by leading network, consumer electronics, application and content providers including 4DK, Alcatel-Lucent, Atlantic Records, Atrato, BlogRadio, BUZZMEDIA, chumby, Connect2Media, CoolSign, Creative Technology Ltd., Desktone, EON Reality, FISHLABS, GameStreamer, Inc., Gemalto, HFMUS, HP, IMS, Intamac Systems Ltd., IVOX, K12, Inc., Kabillion, Kyocera Communications Inc., LearningMate, LiveCast, MediaTile, Mobideo, Movial, NCR Corporation, Netsweeper, Nuance Communications, Optical Crime Prevention, Inc., QNX, R360, RebelVox LLC., Samsung, SIGNEXX, Skymeter Corporation, STRATACACHE, Telepresence Tech, Total Immersion, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., TuneWiki, V-Gate, Vidyo, Visionmax Solutions Inc., Wcities.com, and Words & Numbers. For more information on the ng Connect Program, please visit: www.ngconnect.org. Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ngConnect.
Kate Berg, 212-767-5810
For ng Connect Program
Pamela Preston, 212-616-6001
Alicia Mickelsen, 212-616-6002


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The company’s value stands at $3.25 billion pre-money. Pre-money valuation refers to the value of a company without including external funding or the latest round of funding.
“The funds raised from leading global edtech and growth funds, including Learn Capital will enable the company to continue to grow its consumer and business product offerings to serve the world’s learners, organisations, and instructors,” a statement said.
Udemy CEO Gregg Coccari said, “We are perfectly positioned to meet these demands and help drive success for individuals, businesses, and governments,” he added.
As countries enacted stay-athome advisories and national closures, course enrolments across the entire Udemy marketplace platform increased more than 425 per cent, consumption across Udemy for
Business surged 90 per cent, and the company saw a 55 per cent increase in course creation by instructors. To date, the company has seen over 400 million course enrolments globally. In October, the company announced that Udemy for Business (with subscription access to a collection of 7,000 relevant courses) has surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue with customers like The Walt Disney Corporation, Apple and UNICEF.


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YoVille: New Shirts Vanish From Store
Many YoVille players noticed the disappearance of new YoVille shirts with ties. Some reported that this is due to technical difficulties.
Most probably the new items will return to the store soon. We're still not sure about this but we will keep you updated. Check a picture of the new clothes captured by our Angie after the link.
Did you buy a new shirt?
This article originally appeared onYoVille Lounge.


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Sears Holdings Corp is shuttering more than 100 stores and laying off at least 5,457 employees, investor website Seeking Alpha reported on Thursday, indicating the struggling retailer may be stepping up store closures.
Sears said in August it had closed 96 stores in the six months since February and planned to close a total of 130 underperforming stores during the full fiscal year. It added at the time that it may shutter additional stores beyond the 130 target.
Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite declined to comment on the number of planned closures, saying the company would provide an update when it reports quarterly earnings next month. Reducing operations to the best performing stores is key to Sears' revival strategy, he said.
"While this has resulted in store closures where appropriate - decisions that we do not take lightly - we continue to have a substantial nationwide footprint with a presence in many of the top malls in the country," Brathwaite said.
Sears shares rose 5.9 percent to $36.46 on Nasdaq at mid-afternoon.
Since August the company has moved to close at least 46 Kmart stores, 30 Sears department stores and 31 Sears Auto Centers, Seeking Alpha said, citing local media reports and liquidation notices. (http://bit.ly/1z0RVyd)
Sears is closing stores to cut costs as it shifts to an "asset-light" business model. The company lost nearly $1 billion during the first half of the fiscal year in a downturn that has worried some vendors and prompted a series of moves by the company to generate cash.
On Monday Sears said it would raise as much as $625 million through an unsecured loan and equity warrants, about half of which will be purchased by Chief Executive Eddie Lampert and his hedge fund. It was the company's third fundraising in a little over month.
It also said on Monday that it would lease seven stores to discount fashion chain Primark for an undisclosed amount, reflecting its effort to use generate rental income from better performing retailers.
Sears had 1,077 Kmart stores and 793 Sears stores in the United States as of Aug. 2. The company had 226,000 U.S. employees as of Feb. 1. (Reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bangalore and Nathan Layne in Chicago; Editing by Kirti Pandey and Richard Chang)
How to vote
Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline: Varies by state
For the Nov 3 election: States are making it easier for citizens to vote absentee by mail this year due to the coronavirus. Each state has its own rules for mail-in absentee voting. Visit your state election office website to find out if you can vote by mail.Get more information
In-person early voting dates: Varies by state
Sometimes circumstances make it hard or impossible for you to vote on Election Day. But your state may let you vote during a designated early voting period. You don't need an excuse to vote early. Visit your state election office website to find out whether they offer early voting.My Election Office
General Election: Nov 3, 2020
Polling hours on Election Day: Varies by state/localityMy Polling Place


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The Pakistan's cotton arrival trends during last fortnight, showing above the market expectations, at least 422,738 cotton bales of 160 kilograms each reached ginning factories during the last fortnight, as per the industry data showed on Wednesday.
According to a consolidated statement of cotton arrivals in factories around the country till January 1, total cotton arrival at ginning stage has so far reached at 11.108 million bales, a seven percent increase in volume compared with the same period a year ago.
Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association and Karachi Cotton Association jointly compiled the statistics.
Cotton production is expected to be around 11.1 million bales of 170kg each during the current crop year of 2017/18 against the revised production target of 12.6 million bales keeping in view the cotton arrival trend.
Government revised down cotton output target by 10.26 percent to 12.60 million bales for the current season over an earlier estimate as the countryâ€™s biggest crop producer Punjab fell short of targeted cultivation area. Cotton production was recorded at 10.6 million bales during the crop year of 2016/17.
But the latest data showed that cotton production rose 12.38 percent in Sindh, while there has so far been a 4.2 percent increase in the cotton arrival in Punjab.
Ihsanul Haq, chairman of Cotton Ginners Forum said that it could partly be due to the late sowing of crop in the province (Punjab) and high rates of the silver fiber being witnessed in the market in the last several weeks. It is now expected that volume of cotton import would be lowered accordingly.
Pakistan, which is the worldâ€™s fourth largest cotton producing country, falls short of around four million bales a year to meet the local demand of nearly 16 million bales. The country, the world's third-largest cotton consumer, usually starts cotton import from September.
Till November, textile mills have signed import contracts of 1.8 million bales from countries, including US, Brazil, South Africa and Middle East.
Government has also restored cotton imports from India to meet the growing appetite of key textile industry, though it slapped a tough set of rules for consignments from the neighbouring country to the dismay of Pakistani buyers.
Under the new rules, the National Plant Protection Organisation would inspect and test the consignments according to appropriate procedures and to ensure the goods are free from pests.
In 2015-16, Pakistan accounted 40 percent of its cotton exports after buying $822 million worth of cotton from India surpassing Bangladesh to become Indiaâ€™s biggest cotton buyer.
A weekly report covering market and price information on the entire chain of polyester along with online access to daily polyester chain prices.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in individual products including polyester, nylon, acrylic, viscose, and cotton.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in the individual country's natural and manmade fiber/filament industries.
Countries Served Worldwide


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Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest calls for entries- General News
The National Watermelon Promotion Board invites all retail chains, independent retailers and commissaries to submit entries to their 14th annual Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest.
Summer Stock: Watermelon- Produce Blueprints
Managing member of Earl Roy Enterprises, Cynthia Vead says one commodity in particular is a significant summer draw: watermelon, though she says it’s getting to be a year-round crop too, with imports.
NWPB launches ‘Use the Whole Watermelon’ campaign- General News
This month, National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) has launched its largest consumer-focused campaign of the year, Use the Whole Watermelon, aimed at showing the taste, health, economic and sustainable benefits of the full watermelon, inside and out.
ProduceIQ: Spring harvest flush eases prices- Featured
Overall market prices fell faster than your bank balance after buying a last-minute Mother’s Day Hallmark card.
ProduceIQ: Prices tested as spring crops begin- Analysis
A massive heatwave in California and record-breaking spring snowstorms in the Northeast are fighting to spoil our Sunday afternoon naps.
USDA makes appointments to the National Watermelon Promotion Board- General News
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of 13 members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2024.
Scientific research confirms watermelon’s health potential- General News
Watermelon is a unique fruit with compounds that may have health effects throughout the body, supporting normal cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Watermelon Board names retail merchandising contest winners- General News
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), has named winners in its annual Retail Merchandising Contest which garnered over 150 entries from various retail chains, independent retailers and commissaries throughout the U.S. and Canada.
ProduceIQ: Markets uncertain as Elsa foreshadows busy hurricane season- Analysis
Market direction is uncertain. Will demand exceed supply when both are falling?
Taylor Farms kicks off Summer with new Watermelon Crunch Chopped Salad- General News
Taylor Farms is bringing consumers the perfect addition for warm, sunny days this summer with the launch of Watermelon Crunch Chopped Kit, which is bursting with real watermelon flavor.


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Margot Robbie was an incredible sight to see in L.A. on Feb. 1, when she stepped out in a colorful ensemble for her portrayal of the fictional character, Harley Quinn, during the filming of the upcoming movie, ‘Birds of Prey’.
This is so scary! Kevin Smith’s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, took to Instagram and revealed that two men pretended to be her Uber driver, and told her to ‘get in the car!’
This is just another reason why you have to be so careful when using services like Uber. Harley Quinn Smith, the 16-year-old daughter of director, Kevin Smith, posted a terrifying message to fans on Instagram, warning them of “fake” Uber drivers. She said that she was standing outside of a Starbucks in Brentwood, Calif., when two men pulled up and said that they were her ride. When she started to question them, she realized that they were lying!