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You know what you need to do? You need to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the great Mel Brooks comedy Spaceballs by purchasing it on Blu-ray. If you didn't know, June 24th was the 25th anniversary of the hilarious sci-fi comedy. To commemmorate the occasion, there will be a Spaceballs: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray released on August 7th.
Spaceballs: 25th Anniversary Edition comes with over five hours of bonus features that include a new "Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi" featurette, a Mel Brooks commentary, costume and art galleries, and bloops.
Spaceballs is about… no, ya know what? If you don't know what it's about then you're a pathetic person. Everyone should see Spaceballs by the time they're 13. If you haven't, what are you doing with your life?
You can pre-order it at Amazon for $14.99. It goes on sale August 7th for $19.99. "May the schwartz be with you."
You can follow Movies and Culture Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ


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A BOMB scare in Whiteley was called off when a suspected WWII bomb turned out to be a car alternator.
Work at the Whiteley shopping development was halted when a digger unearthed a bomb-shaped object.
Builders were preparing the ground to lay slabs around a roundabout at the entrance to the shopping precinct when they made the worrying discovery.
Robert Boddy, 41, plant operator, was driving the digger when the object was discovered.
He said: ‘The foreman was just kicking it around, I recognised that it could be something more serious so I told him to stop.’
Whiteley Way was closed for 45 minutes as a 100m precautionary cordon was put in place.
The object was unearthed at 11.30am but work was resumed by 12.30pm.
Alex Humphreys, team leader from nearby Tesco’s, said: ‘We just carried on as normal, they shut the road so the store went quite for a bit but it turns out it was just a car alternator.’
Postman Dave Simpson was on his rounds in the area at the time of the incident. He said: ‘I grew up in Portsmouth and it’s part and parcel of living round here. I wasn’t that bothered, I’m used to things like that, I just carried on working.’
The Royal Navy bomb disposal team were called and they took the object away.

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Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, the largest European Coke bottler, has invested in a Netherlands startup to produce food-grade recycled plastic from plastics that normally are sent to a landfill, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
The startup, CuRe Technology, cleans and breaks apart plastics into recycled material for reuse in packaging. A study the company sponsored found the process delivers about 65% lower greenhouse gas emissions than oil-based plastic production.
Existing recycled plastic supplies are limited and expensive, preventing companies from using them in packaging.
The Coca-Cola Co. seeks to raise the amount of recycled materials used in packaging from the current 25% to 50% by 2030.
CuRe has sent samples to the Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta for testing.


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Wearable smart devices have not yet been known for extreme ease in ownership here in their early days on the market. Alcatel hopes to change the equation for cash exchanged for smart devices worn on your body with the Alcatel OneTouch Watch series. This series of devices works with very, very few details from the start – besides fancy hardware and the promise that you’ll be able to connect to your Android device to make all the necessary readings and take photos, of course.
Alcatel suggests they’re going to make smartwatches at “a fraction of the cost of competitors” while refraining from mentioning actual price points. It’s likely they’ll reveal pricing once their hype has fallen just a bit – but for now, we’ve got flashy hardware to look at.
The Alcatel OneTouch Watch works with the ability to “allow users to monitor daily activity” as well as connect to your Android device. With this Android connection, the watch will let users control music, take photos, and receive notifications.
It’s not yet known whether or not this watch will be using Android Wear. Judging by the images shared by Alcatel so far, it could go either way.
Stick with us as we see Alcatel reveal their devices up close and personal at CES 2015. This event series begins this Sunday – follow along with SlashGear’s CES coverage through our CES 2015 portal!


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October 10, 2012, 10:52 AM — Research in Motion CIO Robin Bienfait's last name means "well done" in French. She's hoping those two words apply to BlackBerry 10 smartphones once they ship in the first quarter of 2013.
"We're committed to our customers and want to see them successful," Bienfait said in an interview at MobileCon here. She said that since April, she's talked to 180 CIO's -- mostly from the U.S. -- who are RIM customers and many who have grown frustrated by RIM after years of working with BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) and BlackBerry smartphones.
The outage affecting BlackBerry users on several continents for several days a year ago was a big concern of the CIOs, she said, but also the slow rollout of new smartphones, including BlackBerry 7 devices in the U.S.
"Customers also want us to succeed, which is fantastic," she added. "We've done so well over the years and not to continue at that pace means we've disappointed them."
While she said enterprise customers in the U.S. still back RIM, the CEO added, "We've had some missteps, including not having devices in the carriers' hands that they can leverage, including putting BlackBerry 7 products in countries other than the U.S." Part of the problem with U.S. carriers was not having BlackBerry 7 available for LTE, she added.
Bienfait and her team have obviously had a big impact on BlackBerry 10, including how the software in the devices will be supported with security and other features by IT shops using BES 10 when it comes out at the same time. Her team has full access to device development and security and the way RIM manages the devices.
When it comes to the look and feel of the coming BlackBerry 10 devices, she's passionate that one of them will sport a physical keyboard with a Qwerty layout.
"I have to have a physical keyboard," she said, demonstrating how she uses her thumbs on both hands to type on a BlackBerry. "A lot of customers still want that physical keyboard."
She said her role at RIM means she focuses mostly on software service and support as they pertain to BlackBerry 10 and other products. "I give them feature input," she said of the designers.
But Bienfait also said her role includes oversight of BlackBerry operations, the enterprise business unit and internal RIM IT. Those duties mean she cares greatly about RIM's brand and reputation, which also means she cares about the BlackBerry 10, since it is seen as so crucial to RIM's future success.
Regarding network outages, Bienfait said that RIM is fully committed to improvements. "Yes, outages are always a big issue for customers and something we take very very seriously and don't have repeats," she said.


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Latest retail software eases ordering, tracking
Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, November 5, 2010
MicroD’s new software lets retailers set up a website that helps consumers pick a sofa and fabric, then also see professionally matched Surya Rug accessory kits that coordinate with the upholstery.
The MicroD program will be one of several retail technology introductions presented during High Point Market week, starting Oct. 16. Most software vendors will be in the National Home Furnishings Assn.'s Retail Resource Center on the first floor of Plaza Suites.
To demonstrate its newest offering, MicroD also has leased space in the Showplace lobby and will team up with upholstery manufacturers Klaussner and Rowe Furniture.
The MicroD/Surya partnership also will include Craftmaster, La-Z-Boy, Best Home Furnishings and England, according to Steve McLendon, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Charlottebased provider.
"We've already got some serious momentum," McLendon said, referring to the companies on board with the new product. He said MicroD also is talking to lighting, wall art and accessories companies about participating, some of whom came to the company after hearing about it at the Las Vegas Market in August, where the prototype was shown.
"The cat got out of the bag," McLendon said.
Using the system, consumers can go on a retailer's website and pick the sofa fabric or leather they like, which will immediately be matched with rugs that complement their selection.
"The consumer will say, ‘Ah, I like that. The store has everything I need to complete my room,'" McLendon said.
Otherwise, consumers might decide that they already have a rug that will match their prospective sofa purchase.
"Either way," he said, "it will build their confidence so they come in with a higher level of buy-in."
McLendon said that according to the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, online catalog companies didn't do as well in 2009 as they had in previous years.
"My interpretation is that traditional catalog companies are not presenting a story; they're still presenting an item," he said. "Presenting a merchandise story to the consumer lets them envision the product in their home and how they'll be using it."
He added, "It's not just about presenting catalogs online, but it's about inspiring and engaging the consumer. And the way you do that is by providing them with a merchandised view - not just an item but a merchandised view."
Container management and credit CARD act compliance are issues that San Diego-based Escalate Retail will be discussing at market, according to Roy Martin, product manager.
The CARD (Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure) act requires changes to a company's software that tells consumers how many years and how much they'll pay if they just pay the minimum on their accounts.
The container management software will help merchants track orders coming from China, Vietnam, Korea and other countries, and will give them a better handle on when they can commit to putting merchandise in customers' hands.
But a larger issue will be mobile point of sale, Martin said, such as using smart phones on the sales floor.
He said most salespeople already have smart phones and would be happy to use them if the retailer supplied them with an application with links to important information.
"If they're working with a customer, what's the first thing the customer wants to know? ‘How much is it?' The second thing is, ‘Do you have any on hand?' The third thing is, ‘When can I get it?' So if you can get all three of these things on a mobile phone, you're 75% to 90% of the way to closing the deal," Martin said.
Myriad, another San Diego- based provider, will release version 5.3 of its Eclicktic software "and it will have a lot of inroads to e-commerce," said Carolyn Crowley, president.
The updated version will allow retailers to more easily transmit information - such as product styles and models - from the back end of their software management system to their company website, and then send orders for processing without the necessity of re-keying the information.
The new release "has a lot of other great features," according to Crowley. The ability to exchange files from Myriad software to websites and back again has been on the wish list for a long time, she said.
"One of the challenges that we had was that clients use many different Web development companies, whether it's their friends or their son or their CPA or some well noted companies," Crowley said.
"Now it won't matter," she said. "These are XML files that should be able to take the information and post it up on the website and pass the information back to Myriad so the client doesn't have to do double duty and re-key that sales order again."
Another issue Crowley will be discussing at market is the "cloud" method of storing information without the expense of purchasing and maintaining servers. The cloud method allows Myriad users to store information on off-site thirdparty servers, the same system used by major online companies like Amazon.
"Running in the cloud environment is continuing to move forward," she said. "Systems that we sold in 2010 were all cloud environments."
The newest product at Arlington, N.J.-based Storis Management
Systems is Release 8.7, the latest version of its Windows- based product Vision R8. According to the company, the release provides retailers with the ability to run a leaner enterprise and provides enhancements to maximize customers' shopping experience.
The software includes features that allow users to create product reviews and ratings, auto-move merchandise to a clearance Web category, and provide users with the Icovia Room Planner to map out their furnishings. Retailers also will benefit from the credit application product, which is integrated with Storis' credit reporting capabilities to reference credit reports and scores.
Also, retailers can optimize their purchasing decisions with the release's new merchandising features, including the ability to classify merchandise as marked down for clearance or for promotional purposes, as well as indicating discontinued products and individual markdown prices at specific locations.
Doug Culmone, chief operating officer, said that, in addition to Storis' internal research and development efforts, "We also consider our clients' direct product feedback and incorporate it accordingly to produce a powerful software release. Our development team worked closely with two of our Top 100 retail clients to create some of the enhancements of this release."
Overall, software executives said their sales have been flat this year, reflecting the industry and the economy.
McLendon of MicroD was at the recent Furniture First symposium in Greensboro, N.C, and "walked away feeling that those who have decided they're going to be proactive have a business that is either doing well, or real well. But those who have decided they're going to take a wait-and-see attitude and are doing the same thing they've always done, seem to be either retrenching or are barely hanging on."
Escalate's Martin said that retailers have an "air that as soon as things start getting better, (they're) going to pull the trigger. I'm already seeing some people doing it," he added, "but they are kind of few and far between."
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Tyco International said its board has formally approved its separation into three publicly traded companies through a dividend distribution to shareholders.
The distributions will be made on June 29 and Tyco International shareholders will receive one share of and one share of Tyco Electronics for each of their shares, the company said. The board also approved a one-for-four reverse split that will become effective once the dividend distribution is done.
Tyco has said the separation, costing up to $1.6 billion, will let each company better focus on building value by setting its own strategy for acquisitions, alliances and use of resources, while giving investors clearer choices.
The company, which announced the tax-free break-up in January 2006, had expected to complete it early in the second quarter, but pushed back the date as it awaited the go-ahead from U.S. regulators.
Former chief Dennis , who in 2005 began serving a prison sentence for looting Tyco, proposed a break-up in 2002. Those plans were put on ice as Tyco worked to repair its image, which had come to be defined by a notorious $6,000 shower curtain and a $15,000 umbrella stand bought for with company funds.
Tyco CEO Ed Brine will continue to lead the company, whose portfolio will include the fire and security and engineered products segments, including the DAT home alarm business. Rich Meal will head Tyco Healthcare, which is being renamed , while Tom Lynch will be CEO of Tyco Electronics.
"We are now in the final stages of completing this complex transaction which will provide these businesses with the focus and flexibility to achieve their long-term growth potential," Brine said in a statement.
Tyco also filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday to withdraw the debt offerings that the three entities registered for in connection with the separation.
Tyco spokesman Paul said there was no need for the debt issues as the company has "debt financing in place to allow us to complete the spin-offs of and Electronics.
"We're moving forward on that basis to complete the separation as planned," said.
After the break-up, Tyco International has said it will explore the possible sale of its infrastructure services business, whose 2006 sales totaled $1.2 billion.
Tyco Electronics, whose 2006 sales totaled $12.8 billion, makes passive electronic components used in cars, telecommunications and computers. It is based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Tyco Electronics said in a May regulatory filing it might look to sell its power systems segment, which serves the communications industry and had 2006 sales of about $500 million.
, with 2006 sales of $9.6 billion, makes sutures, needles and imaging products, and is the world's biggest maker of acetaminophen. will be based in Mansfield, Massachusetts.
Tyco Electronics has applied to trade under the symbol "TEL" on the New York and Bermuda exchanges, while will trade as "CO." Tyco International will remain "TEC."


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Lenovo confirms job cuts are coming
Axes a further two percent of its staff.
Take your pick of X370 or B350.
€40 for a full 110-switch set.
With an eye-catching design, a bundled RGB control hub, and a tempered glass panel, is the £110 P7-C1 Pro a solid purchase?
Samsung has announced a wave of higher capacity SSDs using its third generation V-NAND technology


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Ariel has fully revealed the 3.5R special edition which carries a staggering starting price of 80,000 GBP (135,000 USD / 97,500 EUR).
It's a lot of money to pay for a track toy but it does boast some impressive performance numbers, such as the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) run in 2.5 seconds and 0-100 mph (0-161 km/h) in 6 seconds. It's possible thanks to an uprated Honda Civic Type R-sourced 2.0-liter engine that now develops 350 bhp (261 kW) at 8,400 rpm, up from the series 310 bhp (231 kW). The added oomph was possible by installing a custom sidepod-mounted intercooler and also by increasing boost from 7.5 to 11 psi.
The Ariel Atom 3.5R tips the scales at just 1,212 lbs (550 kg) and has received other enhancements such as an adjustable limited-slip differential, Öhlins springs and TTX adjustable dampers, along with four-piston calipers fitted onto vented discs.
Although it’s not heading to the U.S., the company’s official importer in United States says a similar version will be announced in the weeks to come.


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BREAKING!! Metformin: US FDA Issues Warning That Carcinogenic Contaminants Found In Several Brands Of The Diabetes Drug And Starts Recall
: The US FDA has issued warnings that many brands and versions of the drug Metformin that is used by diabetics in the US and around the world have been found to be contaminated with a carcinogenic compound called N-Nitrosodimethylamine.
The U.S. health regulators have started telling five drugmakers to recall their versions of a widely used diabetes medication after laboratory tests found elevated levels of a contaminant linked to cancer.
There are more brand being identified not just these five and the situation is said to be worse in Asia according to sources. They said that brands made in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and China were found to be even more worse off as the concentration of these carcinogenic contaminants were found to be higher.
One of the safest versions of Metformin was said to be that produced by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) in Thailand and it is extremely cheap yet made to the highest manufacturing standards. The Thailand GPO is famous for making lots of generic drugs that are inexpensive but of extremely superior quality.
The US Food and Drug Administration said late Thursday that several batches of the drug metformin tested positive for unsafe levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine, a possible cancer-causing chemical that can form as a manufacturing byproduct.
The FDA has stepped up testing after the chemical was found in dozens of shipments of blood pressure and heartburn drugs last year, triggering recalls of Zantac and other popular over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Unfortunately many people could be affected as metformin tablets are a staple of diabetes care, reducing excess sugar in the blood. People with Type 2 diabetes use metformin alone or with other drugs to help control their blood sugar levels. More than 36 million people in the U.S. have this disease.
It is recommended that patients should continue taking metformin drugs until their doctor can prescribe a replacement, the FDA said in a statement, noting the risks of discontinuing.
American regulators are still assessing whether the recalls will lead to shortages of metformin, but noted that a number of other companies make generic versions of the drugs that don't appear to be affected by the issue especially those made in Thailand.
Canadian drugmaker Apotex Corp. recalled its extended-release metformin distributed in the United States and elsewhere earlier this week after the FDA found contamination in one lot. Apotex said in a statement it voluntarily recalled all supplies of the drug "out of an abundance of caution." The company said it stopped selling the drug in the U.S. in February 2019 and that little remains on the market.
The US FDA announcement did not name the four other drugmakers who have been requested to recall their products and there are also others on the list that has yet to be informed.
The US agency noted that no contamination problems have been found in immediate-release metformin.
The US FDA is responsible for en
suring that medicines for the U.S. market are made in safe, sanitary conditions that meet federal quality standards. But government inspectors have repeatedly criticized the agency for falling short in reviewing overseas manufacturing plants as the pharmaceutical supply chain has increasingly spread to Asia.
Unfortunately, in March and April, the US FDA suspended nearly all U.S. and foreign inspections due to safety concerns and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
However it has since resumed all operations and inspections since beginning of May.
For more on Metformin
, keep logging to Thailand Medical News.
Please help share this article with as many of your loved ones, relatives and friends as not many people are aware of this drug recall.


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A seminar on awareness about the most prestigious Huawei ICT Competition 2019 was held at the main auditorium of the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore on 14th October. For the last few years, this competition has been a great success and keeps gaining massive attention from the students in Pakistan and all around the world.
The $30,000 prize money award to the winner of the international competition and other attractive gifts such as free exam vouchers, mobile phones and free tour to China to attend the last round of the competition at Huawei Headquarters in Shenzhen is an attraction on its own.
Pakistani students so far have performed brilliantly in this competition and every year they showcase their talents by grabbing the top positions in national and the final round in China. Among them, Uet-ians have shown their class and talents by taking top positions in the ICT competition in the past years.
After the recitation of Holy Quran, the event was opened by Director KICS UET Prof. Dr. Waqar Mahmood who introduced the competition of Huawei and PDC (Professional Development Center) – a UET’s branch in Model Town Lahore where the professional trainings and certifications are delivered and many of them are Huawei certified programs.
Dr. Waqar revealed the trainings in detail and revealed the news that UET’s HUTIC was named the world’s best academy by Huawei Technology. He also told that Huawei is looking to launch similar academies (like HUTIC) is other parts of Pakistan. He highlighted that HUTIC instructor Fahmeed Akram was declared the world’s best instructor by Huawei.
Liwen (Managing Director, Huawei Technologies, Pakistan), in his speech, welcomed all the attendees and faculties. He revealed Huawei’s significant contributions to the Pakistani market. He also told that the company has so far generated thousands of jobs in Pakistan apart from opening academies in the country. He then narrated the ICT Skill Competition details to the students who were much eager to learn about the same.
Muhammad Zubair, Assistant Manager Research HUTIC, delivered ICT competition preparation guidelines and 2018’s competition highlights. The procedure for registration and competition goals were explained to the students.
Fatima Sameeullah from Huawei talked about the competition and the prizes it had to offer to the participants and the winners. She also let the attendees watch the success videos of Huawei ICT Skill Competition to raise the enthusiasm of the students.
Souvenirs were distributed among the guests of the event followed by the distribution of the gifts to the students. The winner of this competition will be awarded a cash prize of $30,000 and the top national winners will be taken to China to compete for the final round. Free exam vouchers and other gifts like mobiles will be given to the participants as well.


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UK usability consultancy Syntagm says shopping online for a mobile phone means you’re likely to suffer a substandard shopping experience and second-rate service. It also says most mobile phone sales sites suffer from poor navigation, lack of information and very littke online support.
The company’s recent benchmarking report compared the user experience between twelve major online stores: Argos, The Carphone Warehouse, Expansys, mobiles.co.uk, O2, Orange, Phones 4u, Tesco, T-Mobile, 3, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone. They say the appearance of online stores was good, with an overall average of 75% scored for visual design, yet account management scored just 12% and online support scored only 2%.
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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. What Are Altcoins and Why Do They Matter? The transactions between users are direct, bitcoin litecoin altcoin intermediary.
Simply put, a blockchain is “an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way. More formally, a blockchain is a distributed database that maintains a continuously growing list of ordered records called blocks. Each block contains a timestamp and a link to a previous block. Cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX recently added EOS futures contracts to its platform. When the going gets tough in the cryptocurrency world, things will only grow worse fairly quickly. With virtually all of the top cryptocurrency markets in the red once again, today will prove to be a rather interesting day. With the middle of 2018 almost upon us, it has become incumbent on experts and commentators to offer revised Bitcoin price predictions.
A recent study held amongst 25 different cryptocurrency exchanges across Europe and the U. Thailand’s central bank considers developing its own digital currency, claiming that it would reduce transaction and validation time and costs. Poland’s financial watchdog clarifies that crypto trading is legal in the country, in the wake of its recent social media campaign on the risks of crypto investments. Financial regulators in Poland want to clear the air on the alleged cryptocurrency crackdown in the country. Not too much is happening in the world of cryptocurrency, which will not surprise a lot of people. The NEM price is the only one noting any significant gains over the past 24 hours. A very small number of wallets usually hold the highest number of coins or tokens.


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Watsons brings World of Wellness 2019 in Cebu
Discounts, 2x reward points, exclusive invites to events and many more. These are some of the privileges a Watsons card holder can enjoy. And speaking of exclusive events, your one-stop shop when it comes to anything health and beauty just had its health symposium in the City of Smiles-Cebu City entitled, World of Wellness.
Now on its 2nd year, Watsons Card members listened to and learned from talks by expert doctors. The speakers included Dr. Kevin Bautista (on being a flu fighter across generations and the basics of asthma), Dr. Celine Aquino and Dr. Marivic Vestal (inane things that can cause a heart attack) and Dr. Marissa Bravo Garcia (diabetes).
“The health symposium is only one of Watsons’ initiatives to help improve the lives of Filipinos. By gaining more knowledge on health and wellness, Filipinos become more empowered,” said Watsons Health Trading Director Rafael Lim.
Watsons Card members also enjoyed booth activities from various sponsors. Lucky attendees also got raffle prizes and giveaways.
Don’t miss out on the exciting perks and rewarding experience of being a Watsons Card member! Enjoy a lifetime membership, exclusive discounts, earn points, first dibs on exciting new products and fun activities and events.
Remember, at Watsons, Members Get More!


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A letter to the editor in the March 9 edition of the SJ-R, written in support of the Gun Dealer Licensing Bill (SB 1657), claimed there was a 64 percent reduction in gun violence in states with licensing. I did an internet search and could not validate his claim.
I did find on the ATF website there were 43 reported thefts from gun dealers in Illinois in 2016. Another interesting fact is the average time between a retail sale and recovery of a gun used in a crime is 14 years. This is considerably longer than the repeat violent felon who gunned down an off-duty Chicago police officer ever spent behind bars.
This bill is designed with one purpose in mind — to run small retailers out of business. If that was not the intent, why would it be written in such a way that big box stores would be exempt?
Illinois gun owners are not the cause of Chicago’s crime problem. I urge all legislators to reject this and any other gun control legislation that seeks to make criminals of law abiding gun owners. It is time to hold criminals responsible for the crimes they commit.


text: Japan’s broadest measure of trade with other nations slipped in October for a second consecutive month. Japan’s current account surplus dropped 29.4% for the month from a year earlier, to nearly 4.6 billion dollars, according to Japan’s (NHK WORLD) website. Japan’s Finance Ministry officials attribute the dip mainly to falling exports. The trade deficit in goods came to more than 5 billion dollars. Global demand is down, as economies around the world remain sluggish. In addition, Chinese consumers are buying fewer products from Japan. The two countries remain at odds over a territorial dispute. Exports were down 6% , to about 60 billion dollars. And imports dropped by 1.4% , to about 65 billion dollars.


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There’s a lot that one-million-dollars can buy you- perhaps a home, a couple new cars, or the Pearl Royale vibrator. Yep- a one-million-dollar vibrator. The toy comes from Australian jeweler Colin Burn, who wanted to create something for those with very expensive taste.
“My inspiration was to create something that shows the value people place on sex,” he explains. “[People] spend lots of money for the experiences of owning Maseratis and the like. But would they pay for this?”
The Pearl Royale is outfitted with two-thousand diamonds provided by Russian diamond merchants in various royal blue sapphires and rare pink diamonds. Don’t worry about getting cut on the diamonds though, they’re “flush set” Burn notes. It’s currently being marketed to gallery owners across Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami and New York to display alongside his other erotic creations. The question above all is- does it do what it's supposed to do? “The prototype has been tried and it works exceptionally well,” Burn offers. “The real one is in a vault. We don’t want to soil it.”
Source: New York Post


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Acquisition expected to support company’s growth into central upstate New York region
May 19, 2023
Family-owned for two generations, Renzi Foodservice has more than $180 million in annual revenue and serves more than 2,300 independent restaurants, healthcare facilities, schools, government organizations, convenience stores and other customers.
Growth capital set to accelerate distribution, along with investments in marketing and innovation
March 14, 2022
The SimplyProtein® brand has its sights on 2022 being its most transformative yet as it continues to expand in the North American market. In November 2021, Wellness Natural Inc., the parent company of the SimplyProtein brand, raised $8.5M in a Series B funding round.
IMCD US Food & Nutrition becomes the exclusive distributor of Sethness Roquette’s Caramel Colors across the United States
November 23, 2021
Sethness Roquette, the global leader in Caramel Colors for the Food & Beverages industries, announced it has selected IMCD US Food & Nutrition (“IMCD US”) to become the exclusive distributor of its Caramel Colors across the United States effective Jan. 1, 2022.
Agreement expands Tate & Lyle’s plant-based range with highly functional chickpea ingredients
November 3, 2021
Tate & Lyle PLC, a global provider of food and beverage solutions and ingredients, and Nutriati, an ingredient technology company developing solutions from one of the industry’s most functional plant-based ingredients, have signed an exclusive five-year partnership for Tate & Lyle to distribute high quality, sustainable chickpea protein and flour.
Picky Bars will become part of the Laird Superfood omnichannel platform, expanding Picky Bars distribution nationwide
May 4, 2021
Picky Bars, the makers of nutritionally balanced energy bars, performance oatmeal, and performance granola, announced that it has joined forces with Laird Superfood, an industry leader of plant-based superfood products to provide plant-based real food products that are as good for the earth as they are for the people eating them.
Vegan brand ramps up restaurant and foodservice distribution of its meat alternatives
May 4, 2021
egan food manufacturer, Upton's Naturals, teamed with Dot Foods, a food industry re-distributor. The new relationship will increase availability of the brand's popular 100% vegan meat alternatives for distributors, restaurants and foodservice customers nationwide.
Plant-based alternative to dairy butter is made with whole food ingredients and no canola or palm oil
December 3, 2020
Califia Farms,® an independently-owned, plant-based food and beverage company, announced national distribution for its new Plant Butters. The plant-based alternative to dairy butter is the first product outside the company's current beverage portfolio of plant-based milk, creamers, drinkable yogurts and cold brew coffee. Plant Butters are now available nationally at Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Stop & Shop, Target and other natural and major retailers.


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Update: AT&T has revealed its HTC One (M8) release date plans.
The nation's No. 2 will have the new HTC One in stores and online (live around 1 p.m. ET) up for order starting today. An AT&T spokeswoman clarified that customers won't be able to walk into an AT&T store and walk out with an HTC One (M8) today.
Shipping will happen immediately, and customers can pick it up for $24.62/month through AT&T Next, $32/month through AT&T Next 12 or $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.
AT&T is offering the M8 in "Gunmetal Gray with Glacial Silver."
Original article below ...
The HTC One (M8) is finally here for you to feast your eyes upon, but when, where and for how much can you pick up and play with the next "World's Best Phone?"
Luckily, the new One is headed to all four major US carriers; Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile have each signed on to carry HTC's latest.
More on Verizon in a minute, but AT&T and Sprint will have the M8 on sale online by 1 p.m. ET today. The flagship will be available in all four carriers' stores by April 11, with T-Mobile also starting to sell the device online that day.
Depending on where you subscribe, the new HTC One will be priced at either $199 or $249 with a two-year contract. Off-contract, the new One has settled on a $649 price point.
As for Big Red, Verizon customers will be able to buy the new HTC One in retail locations and online at 1 p.m. ET today, as was rumored Monday. The phone will sell for $199.99 on contract.
HTC One (M8) likes to Play
The vanilla Android version will be available in silver for $699. Supported wireless bands include GSM, WCDMA and LTE.
The Google Play edition will be able to take advantage of the M8's Duo Camera by leveraging HTC's APIs, however the Taiwanese firm didn't have any details on just how Google will accomplish this.
Developer and SIM Unlocked flavors of the phone are also available on htc.com for $649.
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Michelle was previously a news editor at TechRadar, leading consumer tech news and reviews. Michelle is now a Content Strategist at Facebook. A versatile, highly effective content writer and skilled editor with a keen eye for detail, Michelle is a collaborative problem solver and covered everything from smartwatches and microprocessors to VR and self-driving cars.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, SEPT. 12, 2008
Monica Wood, marketing specialist
State Farmers Market
First ClayFest Fall Pottery Festival brings potters
and their wares to State Farmers Market Sept. 13
RALEIGH — Hold onto your chef’s hat Bobby Flay, because there’s a new kind of throw down coming to the Triangle. The inaugural ClayFest Fall Festival will put pottery throwers to the test in exciting timed competitions in addition to pottery demonstrations, a clay finger-painting booth for children and local pottery for sale.
The free festival, slated for Saturday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the State Farmers Market, is hosted by the Triangle Potters Guild, a local organization made up of more than 50 members dedicated to educating the public and encouraging local potters of all levels to continue to create pottery.
“In addition to all the local fruits and vegetables, the State Farmers Market has a rich history in supporting local crafters,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The variety of pottery and events at the ClayFest Fall Festival will be a great place to introduce your family to pottery and learn more about the art form that’s a special part of our North Carolina heritage.”
Competitions kick off at 10 a.m. and will include timed races to see who can make the fastest bowl and a face-off to construct a teapot out of clay in less than five minutes. More than 20 Triangle-area potters will sell their wares in the Farmers Building, and a children’s painting booth will let children create their own masterpieces with the paints from a variety of clays. Demonstrations with traditional potter wheels, coils and slabs will also be set up, and sculptor Gail Lawson will fashion pottery using a freehand technique.
"We haven’t had an event like this in the Triangle in quite some time, so we’re excited to bring unique, quality pottery to the Farmers Market,” said Susan Luster, event coordinator and Triangle Potters Guild member. “This will be a great educational event for the entire family to enjoy, as well as an opportunity to purchase beautiful local pottery.”
For more information on ClayFest, visit www.trianglepotters.org or the State Farmers Market Web site at www.ncdamarkets.org.


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Will your kids be clamoring for an Elmo that gives hugs, a loom that lets you make rubber bracelets or a kid-size go-cart this holiday?
Those and others have made Toys R Us’ annual list of “hot” toys the company is betting kids will want around holiday time.
It’s a crucial calculation because retailers can make up to 40 percent of annual sales during the holiday season, so Wayne, N.J.-based Toys R Us needs to make sure it has the right mix of toys at the right prices.
Overall holiday spending is expected to be cautious.
Retail revenue in November and December is expected to rise 2.4 percent during the biggest shopping period of the year, Chicago-based research firm ShopperTrak said Tuesday.
That compares with a 3 percent increase in 2012 from 2011.
Meanwhile, Toys R Us has its own challenges. It’s facing tough competition from discount stores and online retailers. But executives at the privately held company say they expect a bustling season.
Toys R Us’ list of the top 15 toys for the season is split nearly evenly between products available everywhere and toys exclusive to Toys R Us.
Among nonexclusive offerings: Hasbro’s Playskool Big Hugs Elmo, a $59.99 22-inch doll with flexible arms that plays songs, knows phrases and gives out hugs; LeapFrog’s LeapPad Ultra, the educational toy company’s latest $149.99 tablet for kids; and a $119.99 Lego set, Legends of Chima Lion CHI Temple.
Exclusives on the list include a $14.99 Shimmer ‘N Sparkle Cra-Z-Loom by Cra-Z-Art, which creates rubber band bracelets; a $399.99 Razor Crazy Cart go-cart for kids; and Toys R Us’ own $149.99 tablet for kids called the tabeo e2.
For a full list of the 15 top toys and the overall list of 36 products, go to toysrus.com/hottoys.


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While not as explosive as the craft beer boom, cider has seen steady growth in recent years in Minnesota. And with opening of several new cider taprooms across the state this year, the oft-misunderstood beverage might just be approaching a renaissance of its own in the state.
To help push cider into the limelight, Minnesota’s current cidermakers and soon-to-open cideries are focusing on educating consumers about everything cider.
Minnesota Cider Guild set for largest Minnesota Cider Week to date
Minnesota’s largest celebration of cider—the upcoming fifth-annual Minnesota Cider Week—is eyeing its biggest year yet. From the Minnesota Craft Cider Festival which will have double the attendees as the 2017 event (1,000 compared to 500) to several new events taking place throughout the week, the larger scope of Minnesota Cider Week is reflective of the beverage’s creeping popularity in Minnesota.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the steep growth curve that craft beer has, but clearly cider is catching on,” says Gretchen Perbix, president of the Minnesota Cider Guild and co-owner of Sweetland Orchard.
Although cider is catching on, not everyone has a firm grasp on the wide gamut of cider styles and flavors. According to Perbix, many don’t even know that cider is more closely related to wine than tbeer. To help enlighten the uninitiated, this year’s Minnesota Cider Week will emphasize educating the consumer. At the Meet your Maker event, presented by The Happy Gnome, for example, there will be a Q&A panel with local cidermakers.
Among a number of dinners, brunches, and tap takeovers centered around cider as part of Minnesota Cider Week, Urban Forage Winery & Cider House, the lone Minnesota Cider Guild Member in Minneapolis, will host a show by local band One Ukulele on June 8 and also debut a special barrel-aged cider. Minnesota Cider Week will close out the week at St. Paul’s Como Lakeside Pavilion with the Minnesota Craft Cider Festival on June 9. More than 100 different local, national, and international ciders will be on hand to sample, including 36 from Minnesota.
“It’s a great place for people who are into cider, and I think people would be surprised by how much is out there,” Perbix says.
Number 12 Cider House breaks ground on North Loop taproom
Cider will be flowing in the North Loop come harvest time with the opening of Number 12 Cider House’s new taproom. Groundbreaking for the 7,000-square-foot taproom is slated for early June; an opening date is projected for mid-autumn.
The taproom, located between the taprooms of Fulton and Inbound breweries, will have 16 taps, all of which co-owner Colin Post plans to stock with different varieties of cider—a big expansion from the three ciders they currently distribute.
“We have plans to fill all those lines,” Post says. “We’re talking a lot of different types and varieties and techniques, barrel aging and apple types with some dry and some medium cider—we have a lot of ideas.”
The taproom will also feature an outdoor patio with green space.
The move to Minneapolis constitutes an all-in approach for Number 12 Cider House, which opened in Buffalo, Minnesota, in 2015 as a farm winery in partnership with Deer Lake Orchard. While the Buffalo taproom is closed for the time being, Number 12 Cider House has plans to continue serving cider there—even as all cider production moves to the North Loop location, which will operate as a commercial winery.
Post hopes the location, near the new 2,000-person live music venue Fillmore Minneapolis, will allow the cidery to reach and educate more consumers on cider.
“We have this concept of this new spot being a cider tourism destination, with the idea that you can learn a lot about cider by walking into our space; not only where we’re getting our apples but the process as well, and what makes good cider,” Post says.
Number 12’s new varieties of cider will only be served at the taproom initially; it is, after all, an entirely new venture from a legal standpoint. However, Post says they will continue to distribute their three main brands, and might even add more distribution, if certain new ciders are popular in the taproom.
Minneapolis Cider Company names head cidermaker
Construction is underway for Minneapolis Cider Company’s new Northeast Minneapolis cidery and taproom, located at 401 Harding Street Northeast, and Rob Fisk has been named head cidermaker and a co-owner.
Fisk, who, like fellow Minneapolis Cider Company co-owners Jason Dayton and David O’Neil, is a University of Minnesota graduate, has been producing cider under the Wyndfall Cyder brand, which he founded almost four years ago. One of the main reasons Minneapolis Cider Company was able to draw him away from his brainchild was the opportunity to reach a larger audience.
“I want to focus more on building a regional brand,” Fisk says. “Being able to make something more widely distributed and capture a bigger audience—I couldn’t pass it up.”
He added that distribution will be the primary focus of the new space, with the production facility taking up over half of the building’s footprint. Fisk brings his experience making small batch and specialty ciders to Minneapolis Cider Company’s taproom, which will open this fall, and focus on education.
Ultimately, the most appealing aspect of the new position for Fisk is the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new business, and help shape not only the identity of the cidery but also that of the Minneapolis cider scene as a whole.
“We want to create an identity for cider in our area,” Fisk says. “We’re at this critical point where we’re creating what the local styles are, and it’s going to come from the fruit that’s grown more here.”
Thor’s Hard Cider Thriving in Stillwater
Nearly two months after opening, the Thor’s Hard Cider taproom at Aamodt Apple Farm in Stillwater, Minnesota, has seen steady traffic. While a number of enthusiastic customers have shown up since the snow has melted, Geoffrey Aamodt says much of the crowd is new to the drink.
“We’re getting about 70 percent of people who we have to educate [about what cider is],” says Aamodt. “The fact that we can provide that and that we’re going to be a part of that cider movement—we’re excited about that.”
Located in a 130-plus-year-old barn on the Aamodt farm in Stillwater, the gift shop-turned-taproom features seven different ciders. In addition to their semi-dry, dry, and ginger varieties (which they distribute), Thor’s taproom also features quirky experimental styles, such as grapefruit lemon and the “El Thoro,” a cilantro jalapeno lime cider.
The idea for making cider at the 70-year-old orchard arose from an abundance of apples; at the end of the season, they always had plenty to spare. So, two years ago, the fourth-generation apple farmers reassembled their grandfather Thor’s apple press. The first batches turned out well, and the taproom plan was hatched.
As is the case with all farm wineries in Minnesota, at least 51 percent of Thor’s cider must be produced with Minnesota produce; the same is true for wines made by St. Croix Vineyards, which is also located on the property. Although well over half of the apples come from their own orchard already, the Thor’s team is looking to expand the orchard even further. This would aid in not only Thor’s production capacity, but also in the development of more styles as they seek to expand upon their flagship styles.


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China will halt the export of a range of rare-earth technologies, potentially making it harder for the US and its allies to bolster Western supplies of strategic raw materials.
While Beijing already had some limits in place, it has now widened a list of technologies that cannot be transferred overseas to include the processing of rare-earth metals and magnets, according to a document from the Ministry of Commerce. The move by the world’s dominant supplier — arguably the most significant rare-earth move from China in over a decade — puts the vital materials front and centre as a tit-for-tat trade war on technology worsens.
“China is flexing its muscle,” said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at Natixis SA.
Over the past three decades, China has built a dominant role in mining — and especially in refining rare earths, a cluster of 17 elements used in everything from wind turbines to military hardware and electric vehicles.
The nation accounted for more than two-thirds of mined rare earths last year, and is home to as much as all global refining capacity, according to US government figures. The country also dominates the supply of rare-earth magnets, the main product deployed in manufactured goods.
The new rules don’t affect shipments of rare-earth products themselves but appear aimed at frustrating even nascent efforts to develop the industry outside China. Restrictions on a smaller selection of rare earth technologies have been in place since at least 2008. Earlier this year, Beijing imposed limits on exports of gallium and germanium, metals used in parts of the semiconductor, telecommunications, and electric-vehicle industries, and on graphite.
The latest move comes as the US and EU grow more concerned about China’s growing exports of clean energy products, from electric vehicles to batteries, and its dominance of key portions of the supply chain.
The White House is weighing tariff increases on EVs, according to people familiar with the matter — a decision that may have a limited effect on China’s electric car industry given the relatively few models it exports to North America, but one that could be politically significant during a presidential election year in the US. Washington is also looking into Chinese production of legacy semiconductors. The EU, meanwhile, has launched an anti-subsidy investigation into EVs, in response to surging Chinese car imports.
Beijing’s response in the form of rare earth processing limits may carry more heft than other recent curbs, such as the ones on gallium and germanium, according to Garcia Herrero, given existing strategic reserves. Beijing could be posturing to avoid “additional protectionist measures” from the West on cars and other products.
Critical metals — a category that includes all minerals crucial to vital industries and in short supply domestically, not only rare earths — are increasingly under the spotlight as Western nations increasingly view supplies as a matter of national security, especially as the global energy transition stokes fears of potential shortages in the future.
The US is spearheading a drive to reduce China’s stranglehold over flows of these minerals, from rare earths to lithium and cobalt. President Joe Biden’s flagship climate legislation includes rules aimed at generating more supply domestically or from allied nations. China has responded with restrictions of its own.
While Biden’s landmark legislation and Europe’s Critical Raw Materials Act promise to unlock new funding for prospective suppliers, Beijing’s latest salvo underscores the technical challenges that Western producers could face in developing refining processes that China has come to master over the decades.
Until relatively recently, there were barely any rare-earth refineries at all outside of China. That means its companies and researchers have built a substantial technological and practical advantage in how to extract and process rare earths, while expertise elsewhere has lagged. While it would not be impossible to replicate Chinese processes, it would likely take time — and require significant policy incentives.
Compared with the 2008 ban list, the latest iteration has expanded coverage to include all technology for the separation of rare earths and now includes the production of magnets, said Yang Jiawen, an analyst with Shanghai Metals Market. Technology for mining, ore-dressing and smelting was listed as “restricted,” rather than banned.
China’s grip over the global rare-earths market first gained broad international attention in 2010, when China imposed tight restrictions on exports. The US, European Union and Japan eventually forced Beijing to overturn the measures via the World Trade Organization. Concerns about its dominance have lingered since.


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Corning plans to invest $500 million in a pharmaceutical packaging modernisation project.
The investment includes expanding Corning facilities in Corning, New York, and Vineland, New Jersey, and building a new manufacturing plant at a yet to be disclosed location in the Southeast of the United States.
Corning could eventually invest $4 billion and hire up to 4,000 new employees.
It has worked alongside pharmaceutical groups Merck and Pfizer to introduce Corning Valor Glass.
It said the new pharmaceutical glass packaging solution enhances the storage and delivery of drug formulations, and provides a more reliable access to medicines essential to public health.
The announcement was made by was by President Trump at the White House as part of a ‘Made in America’ event last week.
“My administration is committed to streamlining the regulatory process so that it’s easier for companies to invest and innovate here in America,” he said.
Wendell P. Weeks, Corning’s chairman, chief executive officer, and president said: “Making this next-generation product requires a new, advanced manufacturing platform, and we plan to build that platform right here in the United States.”
Corning said pharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing process insights from Merck and Pfizer, in combination with its glass science and precision forming capabilities, helped deliver the glass packaging solution for injectable drugs in vials and cartridges.
The companies’ continued collaborations will focus on additional evaluations and the deployment of the new innovation.


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The Takata airbag issue continues to plague cars sold across the United States, with Mazda being the latest automaker to launch a related recall.
According to news reports, the firm is recalling 117,000 vehicles for a second time over the dangerous exploding airbags.
Impacted cars include the 2007 through 2012 CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs, the 2003 through 2012 Mazda6 sedans, the 2004 and 2005 MPV minivans, the 2006 and 2007 Mazdaspeed6 sedans, and the 2004 RX-8 sports cars.
These vehicles were originally recalled between 2013 and 2017 to receive replacement Takata airbag inflators. At the time, the firm couldn’t get enough replacement parts from other manufacturers. Because all Takata airbags might be compromised, the company is recalling these vehicles once again to replace the potentially defective items.
Explosive Takata Airbags Still A Concern
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pressured automakers to launch recalls following reports that Takata’s airbags use ammonium nitrate to produce explosions during a deployment.
Because the chemical can deteriorate over time and being exposed to heat and humidity, the metal inflators may blow apart, hurling shrapnel into the car’s cabin.
Over the years, this problem injured over 100 car occupants and killed dozens of others, prompting several automakers to recall millions of vehicles nationwide. Unfortunately, companies like Mercedes-Benz have been slow to recall impacted vehicles, leaving their customers worried about their safety.
Mazda car owners who own vehicles impacted by the Takata airbag recall will receive a notification in the mail by December 18. After that, they should schedule a visit to a dealership where the Takata airbags with the ammonium nitrate will be replaced for free.
If you’re concerned that your car may have an open recall but you’re not sure how to proceed, follow this link for our blog’s guide, where you can find the links and resources you need to fix any open recall.


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The final touches are being added to the new £1m Liverpool Gin Distillery on Castle Street in the city centre, which is set to open to the public on November 29.
Ahead of the opening, the ECHO went inside to see what’s on offer in the venue opened by Halewood Wine and Spirits, the creators of the Liverpool Gin brand.
Inside over three floors the Liverpool Gin Distillery can host three gin experiences involving distillery tours, gin tasting and gin making, alongside two bars.
On the ground floor, visitors will find a gin and spirits bar and be able to see Liverpool Organic Gin being made in its 600-litre copper still.
A range of cocktails and handmade pizza, tapas, flatbread and nibbles will also be available.
In the basement, there is a dark spirits lounge with a range of whisky tastings and dark spirit cocktails available.
One of the main attractions at the Liverpool Gin Distillery will be its specially designed Gin Lab where visitors will learn about the history of gin and organic Liverpool Gin, before exploring a wide range of botanicals and distilling their very own bottle of Liverpool Gin, which can be named by them.
Speaking to the ECHO, Managing Director of Halewood Wines and Spirits, James Stocker, said: "Liverpool Gin is a fixture in city and we’re keen on showing people more and allowing them to actually come and see the gin being made here,
"But also come and have a drink and something to eat and actually make some of their own Liverpool Gin."
James added: "It’s fantastic that gin really has taken off and is now the fastest growing spirit in the country, so now there’s a huge interest in it.
"But this is something that we always wanted to do anyway, it’s just a bonus that gin is such hot property at the moment."
Swipe through our gallery of Liverpool Gin Distillery here:
The three storey venue has been decorated by Cheshire based DV8 Designs.
Managing Director Lee Birchall and his team are no strangers to Castle Street as they have previously renovated Rox, Sanctuary Tap and Castle Street Townhouse.
Lee Birchall said: "Working on the concept for Liverpool Gin Distillery has been an incredibly exciting project for the team at DV8 Designs and it is fantastic to see it take shape as we near completion.
"Castle Street is undoubtedly one of Liverpool’s most up and coming destinations, quickly gaining popularity for its reputation of housing some of the city’s most upmarket bars and eateries.
"Boasting a number of Grade II listed buildings, the area has a historic feel that is a fantastic representation of Liverpool’s rich heritage, whilst also offering an original modern twist which is exactly what we are hoping to capture with Liverpool Gin Distillery."
The Liverpool Gin Distillery will open just in time for Christmas and vouchers for the experiences have now gone on sale.
To buy tickets for the Liverpool Gin Distillery experiences visit www.liverpoolgindistillery.com
* We uploaded an earlier version of this article which stated the venue would be open to the public from Monday, November 26. However, the owners have pushed the opening back until Thursday, November 29, as stated above.
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Skype goes down globally once more, Microsoft begins questioning if it purchased correctly
Uh oh, Skype’s experiencing its second huge outage within the area of simply a few weeks, as we’re listening to stories from the UK, Netherlands, and sure, even Bulgaria, claiming the web communications service is down. Our personal Skype shoppers are at present unable to maneuver previous the “Connecting…” standing word, each on Mac OS X and Home windows 7. Whereas we have confirmed it in Europe, the difficulty appears to be affecting individuals everywhere in the world. Nonetheless, Skype believes solely “a small quantity” of us have been hampered by no matter’s ailing it, and additional particulars must be obtainable quickly.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Replace: Our feedback point out points are additionally being encountered in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Brazil, Belarus, and Croatia, amongst different locations. Notably, we have additionally heard stories of Skype functioning within the UK, so it isn’t down universally — that supposedly small variety of affected customers should merely be unfold out very sparsely throughout the globe.
Replace 2: Skype is now saying that the “state of affairs is enhancing,” and we now have additionally confirmed that the service is again up in a minimum of some locations the place it was down earlier than.


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Kawasaki Versys-X 300 launched in India at Rs 4.6 lakh
- The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is the smallest-displacement adventure tourer in India
- It gets updated version of the 300cc, parallel-twin engine which powers the popular Ninja 300 as well
- The bike gets features like assist & slipper clutch and ABS as standard
Commenting on the launch, Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director of IKM, said that the Versys-X 300 will offer a high level of riding excitement and rider confidence in a wide variety of roads.
"What makes Versys-X 300 versatile is comfortable highway cruising and easy riding in the city,” he added.
Light up lamps on Sunday night to 'defeat' coronavirus: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people to switch off lights of their homes at 9pm for nine minutes on April 5 and light up lamps, candles, mobile flashlights to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat coronavirus. In a video message, the Prime Minister said people should maintain social distancing and not form groups while lighting up lamps.
Nearly 65% of 544 new all-India corona cases linked to Jamaat event
At least 295 delegates from across India who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi’s Nizamuddin last month tested positive for the coronavirus, accounting for more than 60% of the 485 confirmed cases across India till around 11.45pm on Thursday. India's corona cases have zoomed past 2,500 with Delhi (141), Maharashtra (88) and Tamil Nadu (75) adding big numbers.
It gets the same 300cc, liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder engine which also powers the Kawasaki Ninja 300. However, the fuel injected motor has been re-tuned to deliver 40PS of power at 11,500rpm and a peak torque of 25.7Nm at 10,000rpm. The engine comes mated to a six-speed transmission and gets an assist & slipper clutch for smooth shiftings.
Kawasaki says that the Versys-X 300 gets a new heat management technology that promotes airflow when riding to help dissipate engine heat. The design is said redirecting the air smartly, which helps to keep parts -- like the tank and the frame -- cooler than before, for further increase in rider’s comfort.
What makes the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 versatile are its long travel suspensions, wide reach bars and an adequate seat height (815mm) which make it easy to use for a large group of riders. The bike gets 41mm telescopic forks at the front and a gas-charged rear shock absorber with adjustable preload. It runs on durable wire-spoke wheels -- shod with dual sport tyres -- and the front one is larger (19-inch) as well. The braking duties are handled by a 290mm front and a 220mm rear disc brake which also gets Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) as a standard feature.
Besides the Kawasaki Versys-X 300, the only small adventure tourer in India is the Royal Enfield Himalayan which costs just around Rs 1.83 lakh (on-road, Delhi).


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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. will exit the retreading business in the coming months when it finalizes the sale of its Oliver Rubber Co. retread materials and equipment subsidiary to Michelin North America Inc. for a cash purchase price of $69 million.
"The decision is part of Cooper Tire´s ongoing efforts to focus on our core business and Michelin´s interest in growing their retreading business in North America," Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper said in a statement.
The deal was announced July 31 and is expected to close in late September. Oliver will become a subsidiary of Greenville-based Michelin to complement its Michelin Retread Technologies manufacturing and service network, adding about $100 million in sales to Michelin´s revenue base. Michelin said the addition of Oliver will enable it to "extend its reach in the growing commercial retreading market."
A Michelin spokesman said the tire company will operate the two retread operations and brands separately, although "eventually we expect synergies in production, sales and distribution of the two brands." Current Oliver licensees can expect the dealer network to continue operating "as they´ve been accustomed to," the spokesman said.
Oliver has 110 retreading licensees in the U.S., while Michelin has 41 licensed retreaders operating 77 plants, although on average the Michelin shops are larger than the Oliver-affiliated plants, according to available data.
The acquisition will strengthen Michelin´s position among the top three North American retread materials suppliers, alongside Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. — which purchased market leader Bandag Inc. earlier this year-and Goodyear.
There are 345 franchised Bandag retreading plants in North America — including 26 operated by Bridgestone and 12 by Bandag — and 149 retreading plants aligned with Goodyear, including 59 operated by Goodyear.
The Oliver sale, which is subject to government approval, will include the Oliver precure and mold cure tread production plant and distribution center in Asheboro, N.C., and its equipment manufacturing plant in Salisbury, N.C. About 350 employees are affected. Michelin plans to continue running those operations, the spokesman said.
Oliver generates about $100 million in annual sales and is profitable, a Cooper spokeswoman said.
"Oliver´s manufacturing capacity, product portfolio and experienced work force are a terrific complement to Michelin´s current retread operation," said Luc Minguet, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Truck Tire, in a joint statement. "We believe the two brands, managed according to Michelin´s strategic focus, will offer the North American trucking industry broader access to products and services to better meet their needs."
The Cooper spokeswoman said Oliver retreaders can expect "business as usual" until the deal is finalized. Cooper will be transitioning operations over the next couple of months in preparation for the hand-over to Michelin.
Cooper had acquired the Oliver operations when it bought Standard Products Inc. in 1999. At the time, Oliver generated sales of $160 million and supplied machinery, molds and tread rubber to about 250 retreaders.


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BURLINGAME, Calif. (KGO) -- Small, family-run retail shops in the Bay Area continue to struggle with many not qualifying for Gov. Gavin Newsom's Phase 2 plan to reopen.
Some say it's do-or-die time for them with no revenue coming in.
Small shops for a long time shunned selling online. They considered themselves boutiques or specialty stores with a special niche. On the Peninsula, some store owners have figured out what they think is a way to beat Amazon at its own game.
Some restrictions have been eased, bringing a little life back to places like Broadway Burlingame. But closed signs remain posted at many others. It has been 53 days of zero sales at Nuts for Candy, owned by John Kevranian and his wife.
"We have to make the change to survive," Kevranian said. "And it's essential that we all retailers work together to see what's best for our community."
Rather than perish, Kevranian has decided to start selling online on a marketplace site called LiveShopInc.com, which is offering delivery in as fast as 20 minutes to compete against giant e-tailers, such as Amazon.
"What can we do to replicate this experience but do it for local shops, for the families and friends we know, for the city we care about, for the community we care about?" asked LiveShop founder and CEO Patrick Plawner.
Plawner spent two days talking to Uber and Lyft drivers, discovering how many embraced the idea of making local deliveries over dealing with ride share passengers. His platform showcases local merchants that can fill orders immediately. The sales tax revenue benefits the city of Burlingame while saving a merchant with zero sales.
"I believe the next several months it will be about 25 percent of our sales, and it will grow," said Kevranian.
And for now, LiveShop is waiving its commission to give small businesses the jump start they need.
However, that's not the only way family-run stores are re-inventing themselves.
On the same street, Pot-Pourri, a gift shop in business over 50 years, also closed since mid-March, has started selling over Zoom.
"We do have to show everything and get it in a camera frame, but you know, it allows us to get to know the customer better, what they like, what they're looking for," said owner Chris Diez.
Customers have adjusted to buying arts and crafts, jewelry and accessories without touching or trying them on, trusting what they see on camera and getting feedback from the owner. Diez sees this as a long-term solution among shoppers reluctant to visit his shop in person, even when restrictions are eased or lifted.
Merchants are also hoping the Burlingame city council will consider closing streets to set up outdoor tables and chairs to entice shoppers.
If you have a question or comment about the coronavirus pandemic, submit yours via the form below or here.
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- List: Where can I get tested for COVID-19 in the Bay Area?
- COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during novel coronavirus pandemic
- Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
- What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?
- Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill
- WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on Asian American community
- WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on African American community
- What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak
- Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
- Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US
- List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic
- Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis
- Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic
- How to maintain learning during school closures
- No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs
- Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions


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The Chinese consumer electronics brand Meizu, debuted into the Indian smartphone market, as per schedule. It brought the much-anticipated flagship Meizu M1 Note to India from its long product catalogue. The device will be available from May 20th after 2PM exclusively on Amazon India. The price of the device is still under wraps and is expected to be disclosed on the release date itself.
Meizu India made a formal announcement about the M1 Note on Twitter:
Meizu #m1note will be available exclusively at Amazon.in on 2:00 PM, May 20th. http://t.co/BmhJ04ACMfpic.twitter.com/eiRL4JCfrv


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Check out the latest edition of our weekly Women 2.0 reading guide and join the conversation.
By Jessica Stillman (Editor, Women 2.0)
Tech designed by sitcom stars? Far out Halloween costumes? IPhone apps that smell like bacon? Futuristic traffic tickets? This week the links doing the rounds at Women 2.0 HQ definitely veered towards the unexpected, but that’s what we love about tech — it’s ability to surprise us and transform our lives in ways we could never have foreseen.
- We love dressing up for Halloween and we love geeks dressing up for Halloween even more!
- At our upcoming conference we’re discussing how tech will impact our sensory experiences. For example, how about an app that wakes you up with the smell of fresh brewed coffee? (Personally, I’m holding out for the app that wakes you up with the actual coffee!)
- Last week it was Lady Gaga’s manager getting into venture capital. This week it’s Ashton Kutcher becoming a “product engineer.” Would you buy a tablet designed by the guy from That ‘70s Show?
- Profits are overrated, says VC Fred Wilson.
- Is driving with wearable tech as much as a menace as driving while texting? One cop, at least, thinks so.
- Twitter apparently has gotten the message about its all-male board.
- Sallie Krawcheck of 85 Broads offers lessons in power networking.
- Conference keynote speaker Megan Smith talks about battling unconscious bias to make the tech industry more inclusive.
- 50 fearless minds changing the world, including female founders like Angela Benton, Kimberly Bryant and Keya Dannenbaum.
WHAT GOT YOU TALKING THIS WEEK?
Jessica Stillman (@entrylevelrebel) is an editor at Women 2.0 and a freelance writer with interests in unconventional career paths, generational differences, and the future of work. She writes a daily column for Inc.com, contributes regularly to Forbes and has blogged for CBS MoneyWatch, GigaOM and Brazen Careerist, among others.
Photo credit: Miss Barabanov via Flickr.


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Since Africa’s first coronavirus case was reported in Egypt Valentine’s Day 2020, numbers have skyrocketed. At press time, there are 135 confirmed cases in Nigeria, out of this number, 2 are dead and some considerable recoveries.
Ride-hailing startups across Nigeria have slowly begun to feel the effects of the pandemic. Today, Uber Nigeria suspended services due to a curfew imposed by the government across selected locations.
According to Uber’s coronavirus information hub, “As announced by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 29, 2020, there will be a restriction of all movement within Lagos and Abuja during the 14-day lockdown which begins at 11 pm on Monday, 30th March.
“Based on this directive, Uber will temporarily cease operations for the period of the lockdown, subject to any further government announcements.”
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by COVID-19 in Nigeria. For more information about what we’re doing in response to the coronavirus outbreak, please see our blog post.”


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FedEx (FDX) gave a more grounded than-anticipated 2023 direction after barely missing income and profit sees for the May quarter. FedEx stock popped in late exchange.
Gauges: Analysts surveyed by FactSet anticipate that FedEx’s income should hop 37% to $6.88 per share as deals rise 8% to $24.501 billion.
Results: FedEx profit of $6.87 an offer on income of $24.4 billion. Viewpoint: FedEx gave 2023 EPS direction of $22.50-$24.50. Examiners were expecting $22.21, up 7.8% year over year, FactSet says.
“As we push ahead, our attention will be on income quality and bringing our expense down to serve,” CEO Raj Subramaniam said in a profit discharge late Thursday.
FedEx Stock – Portions of FedEx rose 2.6% in late exchange. They shut down 0.4% to 228.13 in the customary meeting on the securities exchange today, barely underneath the stock’s 200-day moving normally. Rival United Parcel Service (UPS) rose 1.4% Thursday. Amazon.com (AMZN) acquired 3.2%.
FedEx stock bested the 200-day/40-week found the middle value of on June 15 interestingly since August 2021, energizing subsequently to declaring investor well-disposed moves. The 10-week normal remaining parts beneath the 40-week line.
The overall strength line for FDX stock is working inside a long-term downtrend.
On June 14, FedEx declared a 53% profit climb and three new board individuals, following a move by a lobbyist financial backer.
In the midst of the fast ascent in expansion, FedEx plans to bring down capital spending also.
Edward Jones expert Matt Arnold called the progressions a positive step. He anticipates subtleties on the essential bearing and capital portion at FedEx’s June 29 financial backer day.
Both FedEx and UPS have managed industry changes as client Amazon developed into a savage conveyance rival. In the interim, FedEx’s developing web-based business has burdened edges.
A lull in Europe could hinder the TNT business, procured in 2016. Amazon and FedEx stocks are both well-off highs set in 2021. UPS stock is around 24% beneath its February high.


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This Year’s Stocking Stuffer: DDoS Attacks
We always thought the Grinch stole Christmas. This year, it was Lizards instead. A hacker group called The Lizard Squad is taking responsibility for bringing down most of PlayStation Network and Xbox Live with a DDoS attack. Nearly two days since the attacks commenced many servers are still down, as both Microsoft and Sony continue to struggle with network issues. Aside from making a lot of people angry, these attacks hold daunting implications for not only the gaming industry, but our tech-reliant society as well.
What is a DDoS Attack?
The term DDoS refers to “distributed denial of service.” It is used to flood a network with traffic to the point where it becomes disabled and inaccessible for normal users. Sounds sophisticated right? Well it’s not, and it’s surprisingly easy to initiate. DDoS attacks use a number of “bot machines,” which are gained through infection via social media and email. These bots serve as an army for the attacker and upon order, can flood a website with unmanageable traffic. The technology required to commence such an attack can cost as little as $150, which significantly less than what consumers had spent on next generation consoles, only to not be able to play them on Christmas day.
Hacker Groups: Naughty or Nice?
It’s fair to say The Lizard Squad deserves coal this year (and possibly every year). Most people spend the holidays with family and friends; TLS spent it in the hopes of ruining the holidays for others. Outspoken on their Twitter page, TLS insisted that PSN and Xbox Live would not come back online until a certain amount of retweets and favorites were given to them. Whatever attention TLS didn’t get in the past they are certainly receiving now, even if its not the best publicity. A group called The Finest Squad has taken opposition to the lizard humbugs, publishing much of the Lizard’s personal information online. While this didn’t fix the servers, it put pressure on TLS and exposed them to the public. TFS fought fire with fire and while PSN remains down in many areas, some networks are generally recovering. Sony and Microsoft certainly did little to deal with TLS, but our Christmas vigilantes have shown us that hackers can be good guys too.
Microsoft and Sony Get Coal Too
Enter Microsoft and Sony, two of the worlds biggest technology companies. How is it that a small group of hackers could take down the networks of multi-billion dollar corporations on one of the most important commercial holidays? You would need to ask them, but they’re likely not to answer. Customers were very displeased with Sony and Microsoft’s silence on the network issues, and even more upset with how long they took to resolve (as I am writing this article the PSN servers in Virginia still do not work). Why are companies of this caliber not prepared for attacks like this? A group of rag-tag programmers should not be able to spend a couple hundred bucks and bring down a sophisticated network. Perhaps its a question of funding. It wouldn’t be ludicrous to consider that Sony may not have funded the proper defenses because it wasn’t in the budget. However, after The Interview incident, it is becoming clear that Sony is not doing everything in its power to defend against cyber attacks. Customers need to be able to trust in the defenses of electronic products they buy. This situation has been (and continues to be) handled poorly by the big name companies.
Aside from Gaming
While Christmas 2014 truly was a silent night for many consumers hoping to play their new consoles, this incident has more important implications. DDoS attacks have the capability to cripple the networks of businesses and organizations all over the world. The Lizard Squad is an ominous reminder that in a society so reliant on technology, we are sometimes at the mercy of those who are ahead of the curve. DDoS attacks are illegal in many countries including the United States and United Kingdom, but that does little to solve the problem. Since DDoS attacks can be initiated from anywhere in the world and are relatively inexpensive, the perpetrators are likely to evade legal repercussions. While this is not always the case, it is nevertheless unsettling for the consumer to know that sensitive information is not safe with the companies they trust in. The solution? Organizations need to step up and hire people like the The Finest Squad to assure the public of cyber security. The appeasement of groups such as TLS and whoever was behind The Interview blackmail, set precedents that transcend entertainment. The last thing we want to see is the use of DDoS on something more important than PSN or XboX Live. By tolerating people like The Lizard Squad, we send a message of frailty and vulnerability to those considering cyber attacks on institutions society could not function without.
The Lizard Squad claims that they “did it for the lulz” (translation: for the fun of it). However, the implications of their actions are anything but funny. We hope that like the Grinch, their hearts will grow three sizes by next year- so we don’t have to deal with more holiday frustration. If they don’t, then companies like Sony and Microsoft need to be ready. Giving hackers what they want is too costly in the precedent it creates.


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Markets Right Now: Industrials, banks weigh on stock prices
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NEW YORK — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):
Stocks fell on Wall Street as banks and industrial companies posted sizable losses.
Citigroup lost 1.9
Banks fell along with bond yields and industrial companies weakened as European leaders warned of the risk of escalating trade tensions.
Department stores and other retailers fell after the Commerce Department said retail sales declined in February. Kroger lost 2.4
Signet Jewelers plunged 20
The S&P 500 fell 15 points, or 0.6
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 248 points, or 1
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.82
Stocks gave up an early gain and were broadly lower at midday as industrial companies and banks post hefty losses.
Boeing, a major exporter that would stand to lose if trade tensions escalate, dropped 4
The leader of the European Union voiced concerns about tariffs the White House recently announced on imported steel and aluminum.
Signet Jewelers plunged 17
The S&P 500 fell 14 points, or 0.5
The Dow Jones industrial average gave up 265 points, or 1.1
The Nasdaq composite lost 29 points, or 0.4
Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.81
U.S. stocks are rising as the market claws back some of its losses from the day before.
Technology companies bounced back in early trading Wednesday. PayPal gained 1.3
Signet Jewelers tumbled 13.5
The S&P 500 gained 5 points, or 0.2
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 70 points, or 0.3


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Jasper Infotech, which owns and operates Snapdeal, is said to be in the final stages of talks to invest in on-demand home services platform Zimmber. The company is expected to invest between Rs 40 crore-R 50 crore in Rejuvenate Solutions, which runs Zimmber, for about a 10% stake. This will be Jasper's second investment in the on-demand services space, after it led a $36 million (about Rs 240 crore) round in hyper-local delivery service PepperTap in September. It also comes less than two months after rival ecommerce firm Amazon led a Rs 150-crore funding round in home services startup Housejoy.
Founded in 2014 by Goel, Gaurav Shrivastava and Amit Kumar, Zimmber has about 1,000 service providers on its platform, which allows consumers to book services such as laundry, plumbing, pest control and home cleaning. The startup, which operates in the Delhi-National Capital Region, Mumbai and Pune, has also been backed by InMobi Chief Executive Naveen Tewari, Jabong's Praveen Sinha, and Akhil Chainwala and Alex Kuruvilla of Conde Nast, among others, who invested in their personal capacities.
Last year Snapdeal had bought digital payments platform FreeCharge for $400-450 million the largest buyout so far in the Indian consumer internet sector. It also bought premium and luxury online retailer Exclusively.in, mobile commerce startup Martmobi, financial distribution platform RupeePower and Silicon Valley startup Reduce Data. The company also has a 42% stake in Gurgaon-based logistics venture GoJavas.


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The manufacturer from Yohannoff and Sons (1988) Ltd. published a short time ago (Monday) a call to the public for the return of pre-packaged dried fruit products – dried apricots, candied pineapple, figs, from the ‘Hapitzohia’ brand. According to the manufacturer’s announcement, an inspection conducted by the Food Service of the North Health Bureau revealed that in pre-packaged dried fruit products, it was found that there was a lack of information in the ingredients and allergens about the presence of sulfite.
Name of the products: pre-packaged dried fruits – dried apricots, candied pineapple, figs, from the ‘Hafitzuhia’ brand. Contents: All contents are packed in packages of 250 grams, 300 grams and 400 grams. Expiration date: from all expiration dates up to and including 22.04.23
Consumers who are sensitive to sulfite and other allergens indicated on the labels are asked not to consume the product. The manufacturer M.Yohannoff and Sons (1988) Ltd. collects the products from the marketing channels. The recall is in coordination with the food service at the Ministry of Health.


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Worsening conditions in Greater Cleveland's lodging market are starting to put some hotel operators in their own game of 'Survivor.' However, this is real life, not a sadistic reality television show, so the stakes are high. A couple area hotels are teetering near foreclosure, said David Sangree, director of hospitality consulting at US Realty Consultants Inc., a real estate appraisal and consulting company with a Lakewood office. He declined to identify the hotels. 'But a lot of (hotel owners) are still making their payments with reduced occupancy levels,' Mr. Sangree said. 'Hotels have become more efficient at operating at lower (occupancy) levels. They have learned to do more with fewer people.' Even, so, Mr. Sangree said, 'A lot are quite worried as they ask, `How long is this going to last? When is demand going to pick up again?'' The soft lodging market already has lasted two years. US Realty Consultants' just-completed Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area forecast shows hotel occupancy slid for the second straight year, to 56% in 2002 from 58% in 2001 and 62% in 2000. When occupancy rates slip below 60% for full-service hotels and below 50% for limited-service hotels, hotel experts expect shakeouts to begin. However, there is no universal rule of thumb because hotels have different lenders, loan rates and owners with varying financial strengths. Particularly worrisome, Mr. Sangree said, is that overall demand decreased by 4.8% in 2002 from 2001 while the number of hotel rooms rose 1.6%. He calculates that the number of rooms occupied in the Cleveland MSA slid 1.5% in 2002, a statistic that in 2001 declined 4.8% from 2000. The last time demand increased was in 2000, when 3.5% more hotel rooms were occupied than in 1999. Robert Boykin, chairman and CEO of Cleveland-based Boykin Lodging Co., which owns the Cleveland Airport Marriott and 32 other hotels scattered across the country, said room occupancy in Cleveland is at historic lows. Mr. Boykin said the Airport Marriott itself had 'a very bad year,' with occupancy below 60%. Mr. Boykin said his company's operating margins are intact because it cut costs nationwide a year ago. However, the CEO said hotel operators soon will need to face the question of how much more they can cut costs. Mr. Boykin said the industry expects 'more of the same, a fairly dull year' this year, and that's if the looming war with Iraq isn't protracted and there isn't another major terrorist strike in the United States. And here in his company's own back yard of Cleveland, Mr. Boykin said, 'there's absolutely no catalyst we can see that will make things much better.' Mr. Boykin said if a war breaks out and interest rates rise, 'things will get interesting' as the door opens to foreclosures and sales of hotels. So far, low interest rates have kept the area from 'seeing a lot of foreclosures in these crummy times,' Mr. Boykin said. 'But a change in ownership does not change the market,' he noted. Local hotel operators are responding to the rough times by cutting their rates - a painful measure for any business to improve sales. US Realty estimates the average daily room rate fell 2.8% in 2002 to $76 from the prior year's $78.20. The average daily rate reflects the average price paid for hotel rooms, as opposed to the stated room rate, to account for discounting by hotels to win business. Blame the hotel blues on the decline in corporate travel brought on by the recession, a decline in group business because of the condition of the Cleveland Convention Center, and a drop in attendance at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure in Aurora, Mr. Sangree said. Downtown hotels generally are suffering more than those in the suburbs, said Robert Voelker, CEO of Twinsburg's Gateway Hospitality Group. He owns the Hilton Garden Inn and Suites in Twinsburg and manages the new Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Gateway. Mr. Voelker and Gateway Hospitality also are investors in the downtown hotel. The downtown Hilton is 'with the market, in the 50s last year' in terms of its occupancy rate, according to Mr. Voelker, who said the city's downtown hotels are hit by a 'double whammy' because both business travel and convention attendance in Cleveland are down. An advantage of the Hilton at Gateway is that it's a limited-service hotel, so it requires fewer employees than full-service hotels downtown. The hotel also has added a fifth sales person to seek more business, Mr. Voelker said. 'But you can't make people travel if they don't want to,' Mr. Voelker said. A factor that might help future hotel performance is that fewer new hotels are under construction than in recent years, Mr. Sangree said. None are going up downtown.
Heartbreak times hit hotels
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PSD2 is a European directive that was introduced back in 2015, by the European Payments Council, with the objective of centralizing financial services, driving innovation and clamping down on cyber-fraud. PSD2 will allow vendors, once the customer has given permission, to access account data and make online transactions without recourse to a third-party service such as PayPal. The legislation also allows FCA approved Account Information Service Providers (AISPs), to access user account data and present it in one location. This will allow users of cloud-based accounting software the convenience of seeing all their data in one place.
Who Will PSD2 Concern?
The legislation concerns not just members of the EU but also those countries which fall within the European Economic Area. In the UK PSD2 came into force via the Payment Services Regulations of 2017 but the FCA has delayed full compliance until 14th March 2021, over concerns that there would be a detrimental impact on online purchases. Figures within the industry have predicted that a significant amount of e-commerce traffic could be affected by the new Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) which is a key element of the new legislation.
How Secure Is PSD2?
Cybercrime is on the rise and in 2018 criminals stole around £1.2billion from e-commerce transactions. PSD2 legislation will not eradicate the problem but it will go a long way toward making online fraud much more difficult. Customers of online banking will be aware that the new SCA rules are already operating. The new security measures require the customer to provide two forms of identification from three different categories: knowledge, such as a pin or a password; possession, for example a card; and inherence, such as fingerprint or voice recognition. Most businesses won’t need to take any action in order to keep their systems running, however some TPP finance integrations will no longer be able to operate as they did before and accounting software will not be able to extract the data that they require. Private business account holders who are affected may need to switch to a compliant credit card provider such as the UK based Soldo.
How Will Businesses Benefit?
The arrival of PSD2 brings with it some real benefits for business. Despite the possibility of initial teething problems, the improved security that SCA will deliver is reassuring for both businesses and customers. Businesses will also have an immediate overview of all their accounts, which will make keeping an eye on cash-flow, the biggest cause of insolvency amongst SMEs in the UK, so much easier. PSD2 is an opportunity for banks to radically alter the way in which they operate and instead of battling against fintech start-ups, this legislation gives them the opportunity to create new synergies, providing services which can be tailored to the requirements of the individual. Banks will now have the opportunity to offer their products and services to the customers of other banks. There may be some disruption to e-commerce in the weeks that follow the introduction of the new SCA rules in the UK, but PSD2 will bring faster, cheaper and more varied banking opportunities to businesses across Europe.


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Every year there are trillions of searches on Google.com and over half of those searches happen on mobile.
Watch this video to learn about the latest ads and analytics innovations designed to grow your business in a mobile-first world. These solutions were announced to thousands of marketers on May 24, 2016 as part of the Google Performance Summit. Let us know what you think by joining the conversation at #GoogleSummit.
Get more details about these announcements on our blog: Inside AdWords https://adwords.blogspot.com/