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By Pauline Hurungudo
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has given its clearest hint to date that the country is slowly re-dollarising after upgrading the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) platform to include the United States dollar (USD) to facilitate settlement of the USD Nostro foreign currency account (FCA) transactions.
This comes just four months after the central bank ordered commercial banks to separate bond-note accounts from those holding foreign currency balances.
The multiple currency system has remained a janus-faced debacle that has perpetuated the double-edged sword of a three-tier pricing system in the country.
Under the phenomenon called three-tier pricing, retailers charge customers three different prices for goods and services depending on the brand of dollar being used: a paper US dollar price, another in “plastic money” or local US dollar-denominated bank deposits transferable by debit card, and the last price in terms of relatively paper money called bond notes.
Under three-tier pricing, those who pay with US dollars get the lowest price while anyone who pays with plastic money faces the highest price.
In the last few weeks, scores of companies have been shutting down due to currency distortions as government insists on maintaining the multiple currency system at a 1:1 US dollar to bond note ratio.
But last week the central bank relaxed exchange controls by allowing financial institutions to electronically exchange transactions in the US dollar Nostro FCA accounts.
“We advise that the RTGS platform has been upgraded to include the United States dollar to facilitate settlement of the USD Nostro FCA transactions,” RBZ financial markets division — national payment systems deputy director Josephat Mutepfa said in a statement.
“The function is now available in the test environment for the testing by participating institutions.
“All participants are urged to send test messages end to end to ensure full cycle of the transaction is completed.
“Results of the test should be logged immediately on the attached user acceptance testing form and submitted to the reserve bank on a daily basis until Friday 1 February 2019.
“It is expected that the settlement of USD transactions will commence soon thereafter in the live environment”
Economic analysts said this was a positive move set to promote ease of business, although it will eventually officialise a two tier-pricing system.
“Deliberately or inadvertently, what (Finance minister) Mthuli (Ncube) has done is to create, or perhaps entrench, a mechanism for dual pricing in Zimbabwe,” analyst Farai Mutambanengwe said.
“The moment this system goes live, pretty much everyone will have a Nostro account, and will quote two prices: an RTGS price, and a USD price, depending on how one is to pay.
“This is already happening, as we all know. But for exporters, they were not fully able to exploit this, as their funds were mostly stuck in bank accounts.
“Going forward, however, they will now be able to pay other local suppliers in USD, obviously at a discount to RTGS price, depending on market conditions.”
Renowned local economist Kipson Gundani said because the Monetary Policy Statement is imminent, there will likely be the eventual relaxation of the 1:1 ratio in the multicurrency system
“Given that nostro FCAs are exempted from the 2 percent tax, it’s most likely that most people will shun RTGS and go for Nostro RTGS that means re-dollarisation which I think is not the best way for Zimbabwe given all the troubles of a dollarised economy,” he said referring to the 2percent tax on mobile and card payments and bank transfers above $10 introduced last October but with exceptions for foreign payments and transfer of government funds.
“This is indeed a dual currency economy and official two-tier pricing. A more distorted economy. It’s a tricky situation,” he said.
Carren Pindiriri echoed this, saying FCA accounts can transact using transfers from one FCA to the other.
“But RTGS in foreign currency requires backing. Maybe the Central has generated enough resources to support RTGS in foreign currency,” Pindiriri said. DailyNews


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Top 10 trending phones of week 41
The top 3 in our trending chart in week 41 are the same as last week, the Google Pixel 7 Pro leading from the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Xiaomi 12T Pro.
The vanilla Pixel 7 conceded its fourth position to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, though, and now finds itself fifth.
Samsung Galaxy A53 also gained a spot to place sixth, ahead of the Apple pair of iPhone X and iPhone XR – people due for an upgrade are clearly doing a lot of comparison these days.
The final two spots go the Redmi Note 11 and the Samsung Galaxy S22, the latter meaning the Korean maker and Apple are tied for the most smartphones in the top 10 at three.
See you next week!

domain: news


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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland have issued a serious food allergy warning on a batch of Tesco finest chocolate cake.
A batch of this extremely popular item contains walnuts that were undeclared on the packaging label.
The FSAI have released a statement warning that, "Tesco is recalling a batch of its Finest Chocolate Cake as some of it was incorrectly packed with carrot cake."
The carrot cake was incorrectly packaged as a Tesco finest chocolate cake.
The "incorrectly" packaged batch contains walnuts which were undeclared. According to the FSAI "This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of walnuts."
Customers can identify this batch by the best before date of 17 January 2018 and the batch number D32/18003.


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Retail Innovation Award 2011
The Retail Experts from the Ebeltoft Group will form the Jury for the World Retail Award 2011 Innovation Category. Backed up with worldwide retail expertise, the Jury will analyse the submitted cases and draw up a short list of the most promising and innovative retail cases from around the globe.
This year’s jury is compiled of Fabrizio Valente-Ebeltoft Italy (chairman), Neil Stern-Ebeltoft USA, Luke Lim-Ebeltoft Singapore, Thomas Rotthowe-Ebeltoft Germany, Alberto Serrentino-Ebeltoft Brazil and Brian Walker-Ebeltoft Australia.
A selection of the entries and the finalist cases will be included in a publication published by the Ebeltoft Group later this year.Back


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A suspected cyber-attack on 7-Eleven stores, pervasive in large towns and at rail stations across Denmark, is reporting that “we cannot use cash registers and/or receive payments.” This the company wrote on its Facebook page. “We are therefore closed until we know the extent [of the attack]. We hope to be able to open stores again soon,” it wrote.
There are 176 7-Eleven stores in Denmark. The company’s CEO told a Danish broadcaster that cash registers “suddenly” began to malfunction in store


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Eau Thermale Avène has linked with the Kind Campaign on its second #AveneHope initiative, called Kindness Is Power, to benefit the international nonprofit’s support of antibullying.
Timed with Eczema Awareness Month and National Bullying Prevention Month, the Kindness Is Power program will run through the month of October on a dedicated hub page, aveneusa.com/hope. The hub page includes a video detailing the story of Carissa Chilson, a 12-year-old eczema patient from Texas who was treated at the Avène Hydrotherapy Center in France. Prior to her visit to the Hydrotherapy Center, Chilson had faced bullying by classmates due to her skin condition.
Consumers can support the campaign by purchasing a Kindness Is Power tote bag containing some of Avène’s targeted eczema products — including the 100-ml. XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil and a choice of either the 200-ml. lipid-replenishing cream or balm. A 150-ml. can of Avène’s thermal spring water is also included in the tote bag, which retails for $47. Tote bags can also be purchased separately for $5.
The annual #AvèneHope program was launched last year to support Eczema Awareness Month.
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“Reinforcing Avène’s position as a brand so deeply committed to sensitive and problem skin, the annual [#AvèneHope] campaign allows Avène to showcase powerful and inspiring stories of suffering and healing that go beyond product,” said Jackie Flam, vice president of retail and salon for Eau Thermale Avène, Klorane and René Furterer at Pierre Fabre Laboratories in the U.S. “Avène is a brand with a tremendous emotional connection to its consumer base, as relieving severe skin conditions truly improves lives — in this case not only for Carissa, but also for her family, who supported her through years of suffering.”
The Kindness Is Power campaign will run through Oct. 31.


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Online Casino Gambling
LAS VEGAS, NV May 19, 2004
— WTO ruled that Antigua was right in complaining against US ban of offshore online casinos. Will this sentence and the current budget situation of US federal/state administration drive to the legalization and taxation of online casinos in USA?
The first blog where people can discuss about legalizing (or not legalizing), regulating and taxing online gaming, is online at http://www.askwinner.com/blog/ Online casinos and online gambling related issues are discussed here, from the citizen and player point of view
People supporting legalization say that online gaming is an entertaining activity; a natural partner of landbased gaming in a Country where people play at casinos, racing tracks, boats; a soft way to provide financial means to school, health care and other public services without raising existing taxes, but just introducing a new taxable income.
People against legalization say that the age of people playing online games can’t be verified and minors can take their parents’ card to play; the fairness of the game odds is not insured; the honesty of the gaming operatos is not guaranteed.
Franz R. Winner, AskWinner.com (http://www.askwinner.com) President, says: “There’s something we can say for sure from a business point of view: many countries allow online gaming, while US companies cannot run an online casino. This means the IRS is losing everyday a huge amount of taxable profits which are going somewhere else. Imagine to have an online casino operated by leading landbased US casinos: players from the whole world would play with them, generating taxable income and employment. Instead of rising in tax or cutting services, online gaming revenue would provide a good source of assets to use for the benefit of US citizens”.
AskWinner.com is a leading American and international casino community. With interactive areas for users, business services for gaming operators and editorial contents, AskWinner.com established a new standard for gaming communities. AskWinner.com is an independent community, with useful contents and open to all gaming operators.


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Like cnbc Make It on Facebook! After analyzing the accounts with abnormal location values, they found one account named. The bottom line is simple:. Four researchers from the Tandy School of Computer Science at The University of Tulsa and the Berglas School of Economics at Tel Aviv University now believe that this spike was caused by one individual person. On days in which this suspicious activity occurred, the USD-BTC exchange rate rose by 20 on average. TechCrunch, their research calls attention to the potential risk of price manipulation and fraud withing cryptocurrencies. Berkeley, explains that a huge amount of tether has been created and has been shifted to the Bitfinex exchange, where it buys bitcoin, thereby keeping the price. In an early version of the paper published by the Tandy School of Computer Science at the University of Tulsa, researchers said they discovered a group of users that had? Gox included the fraudulent transactions, thereby signaling to the market that heavy trading activity was taking place. During those two months, the exchange rate increased by more than 20 a day, or an average of four percent.
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Analyzed data that had been anonymously dumped in bitcoin price manipulation techcrunch 2014 after allegations that 650,000 bitcoins had been fraudulently taken. Gox included the fraudulent transactions, thereby signaling to the market that heavy trading activity was taking place, the researchers said, according to TechCrunch. The Markus account bought a total of 335,898 bitcoins, worth 76 million, over the course of 225 days. "Because so many new people are buying it (and so quickly! NantHealth Court-appointed Co-Lead Counsel in a securities class action alleging the companys founder violated federal securities law and artificially inflated stock prices Our Team Eric Gibbs Eric has served in leadership positions in a number of high profile, complex financial lawsuits. Because cryptocurrency transactions have a public ledger, Griffin was able to analyze millions of data points for suspicious patterns. This paper identifies and analyzes the impact of suspicious trading activity on the. Each of these Willy accounts would sequentially purchase.5 million worth of bitcoin and then become inactive. Griffin, who has a decade-long track record of flagging fraud in financial markets, according to cnbc, says that the data speaks for itself. Indeed, the paper later shows that even if the fraudulent activity is set aside, average trading volume on all major exchanges trading bitcoins and USD was much higher on days the bots were active.
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Researchers said the fraudulent purchases had a very strong positive association to the unprecedented increase in the bitcoin exchange rate, which grew from around 150 to more than 1,000 in two months. They named these bots "Markus" and "Willy.". Researchers Neil bitcoin price manipulation techcrunch Gandal, JT Hamrick, Tyler Moore, and Tali Oberman have written a fascinating paper. The study, conducted by John Griffin, a professor at University of Texas, concluded that at least half of the 2017 rise in bitcoin prices was due to coordinated price manipulation using another cryptocurrency called tether, cnbc reports, and this. Gox bitcoin currency exchange impacted the value of the cryptocurrency in 2013. The company that issues the coin, Tether Limited, claims to have a dollar in the bank for every tether thats in circulation, according. Gox CEO Mark Karpeles confirmed that the exchange itself operated these accounts and that the trades were issued automatically. David Stein Davids advocacy has generated major recoveries for consumers impacted by financial fraud. Price, manipulation in the, bitcoin, ecosystem published in the, journal of Monetary Economics, Neil Gandal, JT Hamrick, Tyler Moore and Tali Oberman describe the ways in which suspicious activity on the.
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On the days in which no suspicious activity occurred, the exchange rate saw a slight decline. Upon further review, they found reason to believe that Markus was not actually paying for the bitcoins he was receiving. "When the price of anything fluctuates 20 to 30 percent in one day, it's obviously unstable, so you could lose all of your money very quickly." "Most people aren't buying into the value of the technology, they're buying into the hype he argues. Griffin found that when, bitcoin prices began to fall, large volumes of Tether coins were issued and used on the Bitfinex exchange to prop. Consequently, this theory holds that Willy was not trying to profit directly from these large purchases, but rather was trying to stave off collapse of the exchange. Unlike traditional currencies, bitcoin does not have a central authority. To many its been obvious that the.
The publicly reported trading volume. Bitcoin markets are, at the very least, being manipulated by one or two big players. Cnbc, and 2 billion in new Tether tokens have been created since April 2017. Show chapters "We conclude that the suspicious trading activity caused the unprecedented spike in the USD-BTC exchange rate in late 2013, when the rate jumped from around 150 to more than 1,000 in two months they write. But the Willy Bot likely served another purpose as well. Bitcoin currency exchange, in which approximately 600,000 bitcoins (BTC) valued at 188 million were fraudulently acquired, the researchers wrote. Study Shows Large Volumes of Tether Coins were Issued. "As mainstream finance invests in cryptocurrency assets and as countries take steps toward legalizing bitcoin as a payment system (as Japan did in April 2017 it is important to understand how susceptible cryptocurrency markets are to manipulation." The potential. By offering to buy large numbers of bitcoins, Willy could prop up the trading volume.
Gox in June 2011 and that the exchange owner Mark Karpales took extraordinary steps to cover up the loss for several years. "Even though I'm a bitcoin millionaire, I don't recommend that you invest in it today he writes for cnbc Make. The paper claims that Willy Bots were allowed to make trades even during the times when the. The paper states that during a trial in Japan, the former. Our study provides a first examination, write the researchers). Analyzing the public ledger for cryptocurrency trades on the Bittrex exchange, Griffin found periods of suspicious bitcoin price activity tied to the issuance of tether, says. "If bitcoin wants to be taken seriously it probably shouldn't be this easy or legal to manipulate the markets writes. One reason Sabatier is hesitant to suggest others invest is because volatility in the market makes it difficult to accurately estimate bitcoin 's value. Willy Bot, which they said collectively bought around 268,132 bitcoins for just under 112 million over the course of 65 days. An additional 49 accounts with abnormal location values were grouped into a collection of accounts that the researchers named. Prices Dropped, tether is a cryptocurrency purportedly tied to the.S. Markus likely did not pay for the bitcoins he acquired; rather, his account was fraudulently credited with claimed bitcoins that almost certainly were not backed by real coins, the researchers wrote.
Our attorneys have successfully litigated against some of the largest companies in the United States, and we have recovered more than a billion dollars on our clients behalf. The researchers pointed to a Reddit theory, which claims that hackers stole around 650,000 bitcoins in 2011 and. As an entry for country and state fields, which usually contain location data or a null value. According to Griffin, Fraud and manipulation often leave footprints in the data and its nice to have the blockchain ledger to track things. Bitcoin wants to be taken seriously it probably shouldnt be this easy or legal to manipulate the markets. A new study, released in June 2018, may provide some answers. The Willy Bot accounts purchased an average of 4,962 bitcoins each of the 50 days they were active, accounting for an average of 18 percent. As mainstream finance invests in cryptocurrency assets and as countries take steps toward legalizing bitcoin as a payment system (as Japan did in April 2017 it is important to understand how susceptible cryptocurrency markets are to manipulation. Van der Velde, who asserts that Bitfinex nor Tether isengaged in any sort of market or price manipulation. In a single month, Tether Limitedthe company that issues Tetherminted 850 million new digital tokens, according. Seven hours after Markus became inactive, Willy appeared as a group of 49 accounts.
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A theory, initially espoused in a Reddit post shortly after. Price, rise, Study Finds, in 2017, Bitcoin had a meteoric rise from a low of 750 per coin to a high of 19,783 per coin, only to crashlosing 50 of its value in 16 days. Bitcoin ecosystem is controlled by bad actors. In their paper, bitcoin price manipulation techcrunch Price Manipulation in the, bitcoin, ecosystem, the researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel and the University of Tulsa examined. Gox transactions over a ten-month period from February to November 2013, and found that approximately 600,000 bitcoins, valued at 188 million, were acquired by agents who likely did.
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After anticipation and speculation, including fake signs suggesting Chick-fil-A and McDonalds would be leasing space, University Unions has announced the tenant line-up for the Michigan Union’s ground floor food court, the Michigan Union Grill.
Ahmo’s Gyros and Deli will join current vendors Wendy’s, Subway and Panda Express in MUG in August, while Pizza Hut, Mrs. Fields, Freshens and Auntie Anne’s will vacate their spaces after their leases expire at the end of the month.
Union officials have not yet made a decision on whether they plan to allow Amer’s Mediterranean Deli to renew its first-floor lease, Laura Seagram, marketing and communications specialist for University Unions, wrote in an e-mail. Seagram said they hope to have a final decision over the summer.
After it was suggested that Amer’s would likely close, a Facebook page was created to rally support to keep the deli in the Union. Though the deli’s owner said the page was created by a customer, E. Royster Harper, the University’s vice president for student affairs, accused the owner of creating the page himself.
Ahmo’s, which currently is a guest vendor one day a week at Pierpont Commons, will sell Mediterranean staples like falafels, gyros, hummus and pita sandwiches. Owner Majed Issa said the restaurant’s food seems to be very popular with the students at Pierpont. He is currently planning for Ahmo’s to stay in the Union for at least 10 years, with two five-year leases.
“We’re looking forward to being there,” Issa said, “hopefully all the students are looking forward to it too.”
Issa said Ahmo’s will replace the space currently occupied by Auntie Anne’s pretzels, Mrs. Fields cookies and Freshens smoothies. It will be operational by Aug. 16.
Susan Pile, director of the Michigan Union, said in a statement that Ahmo’s will bring more variety and healthy options to MUG.
“As we looked back on our partnership with Ahmo’s at Pierpont Commons this past year, we have been impressed with their dedication to customer service and healthy offerings,” Pile said. “We know this long-standing Ann Arbor operator has been a popular destination and we’re excited to bring a new location to this part of campus.”
Wendy’s and Subway are returning after their leases end, but with expanded options. Subway will be adding a breakfast menu, Freshens’ smoothies and a second line for more efficient service. Wendy’s will also update its food preparation and add a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, a soda fountain that allows customers to customize their drink orders with more than 100 soft drink flavor combinations.
Adam Kleven, chair of the Michigan Union Board of representatives, said in a statement that Subway and Wendy’s allow students a variety of options at reasonable prices. He added that student feedback made it clear that an American-style restaurant needed to stay in the Union.
In addition to the new restaurants, the release announced renovations to MUG beginning May 5. The renovations are expected to update the operating spaces of the restaurants and improve the seating area. While the area is undergoing renovations, guest operators will provide food service on the first floor.
“I like Mediterranean food, but it sucks that they’re taking out more than one restaurant,” LSA freshman Saba Keramati said.
“I like Mediterranean food, but the pretzels are my favorite,” LSA freshman Ryan McDonough said. “I’ll be open minded, but I’m not happy about it.”
LSA freshmen Nisha Gopal has never been to Ahmo’s, but said she might try it since she comes to the Union so often. Gopal also said that she thinks a lot of people would have been upset if Panda Express was replaced.
“I’ll definitely miss Mrs. Fields,” Gopal said, “but thank God they’re keeping Subway.”
—Daily Staff Reporter Ariana Assaf contributed reporting.
Correction appended: A previous version of this article misstated the status of other businesses in the Union.


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Following a spat between the Canal+ group and Al Jazeera about the new BeIn sports channels, the two parties have now reached a distribution agreement.
Canal+ is bracing itself for conditions to the TPS merger that will dramatically impact on its position in the French TV market.
The French competition authority (Autorité de la Concurrence) has opened an in-depth investigation into the 2006 merger of satellite TV operators TPS and CanalSatellite.
The five-channel bouquet Orange Cinéma Séries will launch on Canalsat on April 5.
The French CanalSat platform is dropping three channels, E! Entertainment, 13eme Rue HD and Syfy HD, from March 1 after carriage negotiations failed to renew the contract in time.
The French DTH and IPTV platform CanalSat will launch a new connected TV service called Eureka that lets subscribers find their favourite programmes.
TF1 has filed a request for arbitration with the French media regulator CSA after it was unable to reach an agreement on the distribution of six of its multichannel services with satellite distributor CanalSat.
ESPN has secured its position in the CanalSat bouquet after signing a new agreement with the French pay-TV operator.
French private broadcaster TF1 is once again reconsidering the exclusive distribution arrangement for its digital thematic channels with CanalSat. At the moment the channels, LCI, Eurosport, TV Breizh, Série Club, Ushuaïa TV, TF6 and Histoire, are only available to CanalSat customers, not via any other provider such as Orange, Free and SFR.
Microsoft has struck a deal with Canal+ to stream TV channels to the Xbox 360 game console via the Xbox Live online service. Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft, and Bertrand Méheut, chairman Canal+, announced the deal at a news conference in Paris.


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Silicon Valley venture firm Founders Fund is closing in on $2.7 billion for a new fund, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The firm, which has backed companies like Facebook, SpaceX, AirBnB, and Stripe, reportedly plans to invest $1.5 billion of the new money into late stage opportunities.
Founders Fund’s plan to redouble its spending on late-stage bets is in keeping with the trend in venture spending as more companies stay private longer. SoftBank’s Vision Fund backed late stage companies like WeWork and Uber with billions of dollars in capital. In May, Andreessen Horowitz announced a debut $2 billion fund committed exclusively to late-stage investments.
With more money in venture than ever before, Silicon Valley firms are eager to double down on their investments in their late-stage portfolio companies. Several Founders Fund portfolio companies have received multi-million dollar investments in recent months, including payment company Stripe, which investors recently valued at $35 billion in a new round of funding.


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Monoova partners with Cuscal in NPP addition
Payments provider Monoova, and Cuscal, announced the rollout of the New Payments Platform (NPP) payment capabilities to Monoova’s Automated Payment Service.
The move will make reconciliation, exception handling and reporting for NPP payments available in a single integration, alongside other payment channels such as Direct Entry and BPAY.
Through Monoova, a single API integration provides businesses ability to exchange payment information and instructions, issuing unique account identifiers and PayIDs to fully automate how money is received and managed in real-time.
Head of Monoova, Christian Westerlind Wigstrom said the company is expected to go live with NPP payables in November.
Monoova will also release a new banking portal on the 12th of October.
“We have clients working with us already for NPP receivables which is the first thing that will come into production and be live with our clients.”
Additional real-time payments functionality, including payment initiation, will be progressively introduced.
Westerlind Wigstrom, said that by fully automating how funds are received and managed, business can focus more time servicing their customers.
“If you are a business servicing customers then you want to make sure that your customers get the best possible service and that they stay very happy.
“Payments is no longer seen as a separate experience. It's a part of the consumer experience.
“Being able to service your customers in a way that they expect to be serviced, and that includes super-fast payments, is going to be absolutely critical to a successful business of any kind.”
Growing customer expectations have also created the need for businesses to adopt the NPP as the Reserve Bank of Australia reported in the bank’s Retail Payments Statistics Collection.
The total monthly number of NPP payments reached around 13 million in January 2018, more than double the monthly number of cheque payments, and the value of NPP payments was around $11 billion.
“The way that people expect their money to move is increasingly the way that they expect their information to move. So just like you can send an email and it's real time it's digital and happens right away, people expect their money to move the same way.”
Small business especially will benefit from the addition of the NPP as it will create a more even playing field against larger corporations.
“What's exciting with NPP is that a lot of our existing clients are going on desperate to get onto the platform because it’s provides an opportunity for them to serve their customers even better.”
In the upcoming months Monoova also will continue to grow their initiatives across the globe said Westerlind Wigstrom.
“We have a longstanding relationship with both AliPay and WeChat and service some of their local partners in Australia.
“We have a number of initiatives around that which is going to make it even easier for our clients to service customers from all parts of the globe.”
Partners in Payments
Westerlind Wigstrom said the Cuscal partnership will help deliver ‘invisible payments’ to clients.
Head of product at Cuscal, Nathan Churchward, commented, “As an NPP Participant we’re focused on enabling organisations as Identified Institutions and providing wholesale access to the NPP through our REST APIs.”
“Monoova is extending the benefits of receiving and managing real-time payments to other businesses through a single API integration with their Automated Payment Service.
“This is proof that the open access design of the NPP is working to facilitate fair access to the platform, driving competition and innovation.”
A number of Monoova’s business clients have commenced end-to-end testing of real-time payment capabilities within Monoova’s development sandbox, with access to the live environment expected to be progressively granted over the next month.
“At Monoova, we’re all about freeing businesses to scale. We continue to enhance and grow our offering to make it easy, seamless and stress-free for businesses to pay and be paid,” Westerlind Wigstrom said.


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New PS4 Ad Shows Gran Turismo Sport on PlayStation VR and a Bit of PlayStation Nostalgia
A new ad published by Sony itself gives a glimpse on Gran Turismo Sport running on PlayStation VR, without forgetting PlayStation's history.
Trailer that feature the PlayStation brand are normally released by Sony Interactive Entertainment, but occasionally Sony corporation itself places the spotlight on its gaming business.
A new ad of the #FindYourMoment series pairs a modern glimpse on the upcoming Gran Turismo Sport played on PlayStation VR (shown on a screen via the headset’s social screen feature), and a nostalgic game on the original PlayStation.
You can check it out below, and if you want to see more of Gran Turismo Sport, you can enjoy a recent extended trailer showcasing the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
Gran Turismo Sport will be released exclusively for PS4 this year, even if Sony Interactive Entertainment didn’t share a firm release date yet.


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Just how many pieces of fried chicken must be consumed for strangers to break the ice Not that many when conversation gets going, as shown in a KFC Malaysia social experiment.
This campaign by Naga DDB Tribal, released to celebrate Independence Day and the formation of the Malaysian Federation on September 16, draws from the generally held concern that the heterogeneous society is fractious, with its multi-ethnic citizens living separate lives.
- Campaign Asia-Pacific online premium content* including in-depth monthly focus on key trends and industry issues
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"It all depends on what you are bringing to the table.Some of those qualities might be age or attractiveness - and some are financial."Indeed, just go on popular dating sites such as Match.com, and one of the criteria for winnowing down potential matches is annual income.Simply put, online dating has become socially acceptable.With any online social sites, there are risks, but do you know the reality of those risks?Here are 16 scary statistics of online dating to put the world of online dating into perspective when it comes to the reality of the person behind that profile.1. About one-third of online daters do not upload a profile picture to their online dating profile.
The difference remained statistically significant even after controlling for variables like year of marriage, sex, age, education, ethnicity, household income, religion and employment status."This income preference is more pronounced for women."The takeaway: As much as we like to think we are beyond the days of Jane Austen, when suitors were evaluated largely based on how much money they brought in - the famous Mr. " - money can be critical in our romantic lives."Someone's income will almost always factor into the equation," says Douglas Kobak, a financial planner in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania."When you are becoming serious, you need to consider what your partner is bringing to the table besides love and a good time.The question becomes one about the potential to earn the income needed to build wealth and live a lifestyle you want."Just think about the numerous economic judgments we are making while dating online.Compared with eight years ago, online daters in 2013 are more likely to actually go out on dates with the people they meet on these sites.Some 66% of online daters have gone on a date with someone they met through an online dating site or app, up from 43% of online daters who had done so when we first asked this question in 2005.
"We found evidence for a dramatic shift since the advent of the Internet in how people are meeting their spouse," said the study, led by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago's Department of Psychology.


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By Joyce Yu
Philadelphia, PA–Shares of Tesla remain unchallenged after the company announced a 9% lay off of its workers, continuing to trend higher after a 40% rebound from its 52-week low in April. KeyBanc analyst Brad Erickson noted in a report that Tesla is expected to deliver 30,000 Model 3 cars in the second quarter, and nearly 120,000 for the full year.
The gain in Tesla’s shares is on the back of confidence the market has in the company’s ability to meet strong demand of its Model 3. “Bears need evidence that Model 3 demand is softening or that production isn’t ramping,” Erickson wrote in his report, adding that this doesn’t seem likely in the near term.
In an email to employees on Tuesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the company was laying off 9% of its workers as part of a reorganization to help reduce costs and make the company profitable. “Tesla has grown and evolved rapidly over the past several years, which has resulted in some duplication of roles and some job functions,” Elon Musk wrote. “We are making this hard decision now so that we never have to do this again.” The layoff, which will only target salaried employees, won’t affect production of the Model 3.
He also noted that Tesla has never made an annual profit — a point that’s often made by critics. “We will never achieve mission unless we eventually demonstrate that we can be sustainably profitable,” he wrote in the letter.
Tesla has been on a roller coaster for the past few months. It took a hit earlier this year for concerns about whether the company could meet Musk’s ambitious goals and deadlines for Model 3 deliveries. This is in addition to negative news including a Model S recall, fears about Tesla running out of cash and high profile crashes involving Tesla vehicles.
CEO Elon Mus, however, spared no effort to make the situation worse – He “joked” in an April Fool’s tweet about the company going bankrupt, and angered the Wall Street by calling two analysts’ questions “boring” and “dry” during a conference call last month. Even though he eventually apologized for his “foolish” behavior, Musk still thought the questions were “boneheaded” and “absurd,” and claimed that the analysts were representing short sellers who are hoping to profit when Tesla’s stock goes down.
Despite Erickson’s bullish call, many analysts remain less upbeat on Tesla with an average price target 10% below its current price. One clear reason supporting this view is competition, not only from established auto giants like GM, but also from other tech companies such as self-driving cars coming from Uber, Google. Furthermore, Musk simply has too much to take care of. Beside Tesla, he also runs SpaceX and is the founder of the tunnel digging/public transportation startup The Boring Company.


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December 5, 2006
St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
Bodog.com Entertainment announced today a plan to pull all its U.S.-facing gaming-related advertising, mostly for its free-play and educational site, Bodog.net. The advertising pullback, which is quite extensive, includes television, radio, magazine and newspapers in the U.S. market as the online gaming giant has chosen instead to focus its gaming and educational site advertising efforts on European and Asian markets in a strategic decision based on the entertainment company’s long-term business objectives.
The digital entertainment powerhouse, which has become as well known for its television production, music distribution and other digital entertainment properties as it has for its world-class gaming enterprise, will continue to advertise its other digital entertainment products,
including television, music and publishing, in North America and markets around the world.
Bodog.com Founder Calvin Ayre, citing current uncertainties in the U.S. market, said the recent legislation passed by Congress was a reason behind the decision. “Though the online gaming environment in the U.S. seems to be headed down a path toward eventual regulation, the current climate calls for even more focus of our gaming-related advertising dollars into markets that face Europe and Asia,” says the billionaire founder of
Bodog.com Entertainment. “We couldn’t be better positioned to build upon our current success and growth and to continue our aggressive push toward international expansion into markets such as Europe and Asia.”
Bodog.com’s latest move should come as little surprise, as the digital entertainment company has been taking a multi-phased approach to expanding its product channels into international markets for the past several years, with Bodog Music and Bodog Television leading the way.
Bodog’s international music distribution division, Bodog Music, currently has offices in Berlin, London and other international destinations. Bodog Television shows, including BodogFight and Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker, are being distributed worldwide on cable, satellite, PPV and broadband to countries such as Japan and other regions of the world, including North America and Europe.
The latest announcement comes on the heels of
Bodog.com Entertainment completing its relocation of its global head office and gaming operations from Costa Rica to Antigua. This was initiated as soon as
Bodog.com acquired Betcorp’s international infrastructure in mid-November.
Bodog.com Entertainment will maintain offices in Costa Rica for some data entry as well as its charity foundation division and some of its television production division, which is working on or already producing four annual reality TV series. This content is distributed to millions of viewers around the world.
“This is another step aimed toward strengthening our business model,” Ayre says. “This accords our gaming division a license in a safe, reliable and well-regulated jurisdiction and Antigua is also the right jurisdiction from where to run our European expansion.”
The Calvin Ayre Foundation (CalvinAyreFoundation.com) will remain headquartered in Costa Rica and continue to provide support to disadvantaged locals, while continuing to lead various charitable
initiatives in Costa Rica, North America and Asia.
About Bodog.com Entertainment Group
Bodog.com, with its head office located in the Caribbean nation of Antigua, is licensed in the United Kingdom and Kahnawake, Canada.
Bodog.com Entertainment Founder Calvin Ayre, recognized as a world authority on branding in digital entertainment, was featured on the cover of Forbes magazine’s recent best-selling “Billionaires” issue.
Bodog.com also has a thriving online community, which includes history-making World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jamie Gold (http://www.bodog.com/poker). Bodog.com Entertainment offers a host of entertainment services, including: online gaming (Bodog.com); an international record label (BodogMusic.com); a
million-dollar band search competition (BodogBattleoftheBands.com); a publishing division (with an online magazine, BodogNation.com, and blog, BodogBeat.com); an events department renowned for producing parties that are stunning, chic and celebrity-filled; and an international television production division, which produces reality television series, such as BodogFight (BodogFight.com) and Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker (BodogTV.com).
For more information, contact Media Relations at 1-866-892-3371, or
email@example.com. BODOG is a registered trademark of Bodog.com Entertainment


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Shannon Walsh is a fan of gift cards.
Like many Orlando teenagers, Walsh enjoys using the plastic to shop for something that fits her particular style and taste -- attributes that may not be so easy for a distant relative to discern.
But there is one thing about some of the cards that Walsh doesn't like: the fees.
"It's a pain," Walsh, 18, said of the sometimes unforeseen charges.
Once considered an option of last resort for the flummoxed buyer, the gift card has quickly become one of the most desirable items under the tree. It's so desirable, in fact, that Florida consumers rated the plastic their No. 1 choice for a holiday gift this year, according to a survey by the Florida Retail Federation.
Nationwide, retailers expect Americans to spend a record $25 billion on gift cards this holiday, according to one survey.
But as the cards have risen in popularity, they also have come under increased scrutiny from federal regulators and consumer-advocacy groups. The issue, it seems, is that some cards can carry extra charges and expiration dates that may catch a holder by surprise.
To drive home the point, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the federal agency that keeps an eye on national banks, advised this week that consumers check the fine print before buying those festively adorned gift cards.
"As we enter the holiday season, it is especially important that consumers be alert to the wide variety of terms and conditions available in the gift-card market," Comptroller John Dugan said in a statement.
It's a situation made all the more frustrating these days because practically everyone from banks to shopping malls offers a card.
"There is a lot of confusion on these" cards, said Brian Riley, senior analyst for consulting firm the TowerGroup, which estimates that $8 billion will be lost this year because of unredeemed value, expiration or loss of gift cards.
"One thing is for sure," Riley said, "the fees that eat these [cards] up can be substantial."
Shoppers in Central Florida will likely encounter two types of gift cards: those issued by banks or credit-card companies -- often sold at malls -- and those issued by individual retailers and restaurants.
Though the bank cards tend to come with more options -- a recipient can shop at stores that accept the plastic -- they also tend to have more fees than gift cards from individual retailers, some of which skip fees entirely.
Take, for instance, the "classic" Visa Giftcard sold by Simon Property Group, which owns Florida Mall and Seminole Towne Center.
Buyers of the prepaid card will have to pony up a $2 handling fee upfront ($3 if the card is a cobranded card). In addition, a $2.50 monthly administrative fee is charged to the card after a year.
Prepaid American Express gift cards sold by General Growth Properties -- which runs Altamonte Mall and West Oaks Mall -- come with at $2 purchase fee for mall cards and a $2 monthly service fee after one year.
Simon said in an e-mail that the fees are charged to help offset the costs of maintaining the gift cards. The company also said that its fees are competitive with similar prepaid cards.
Leisa Son, assistant marketing manager at Altamonte Mall, said the fees associated with the mall's American Express card are also used to offset costs and are competitive with similar offers.
A recent study released by the Office of Consumer Protection for Montgomery County, Md., found that all 10 bank-issued gift cards it examined imposed a purchase/processing charge -- ranging from $2 to $9.95. The study also found that nine out of the 10 cards examined have a monthly maintenance fee ranging from $2 to $4.95.
It's those kind of fees that really irk consumers such as Walsh, who was shopping earlier this week at Altamonte Mall.
"What's really annoying is if they take money off the card if you don't use it by a certain date," she said.
As for individual retailers, it looks like they're starting to listen to these kinds of complaints.
This year, CompUSA, KB Toys, Toys "R" Us and Kohl's all dropped their dormancy fees -- monthly charges levied on cards left dormant after a period of time -- according to the Montgomery County consumer study.
And Orlando-based Darden Restaurants said it decided in mid-October to stop charging dormancy fees for its Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Smokey Bones and Seasons 52 gift cards. The decision came after Darden disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing earlier this year that the Federal Trade Commission told the casual-dining giant it had breached a law in the marketing of its gift cards.
Darden insisted that it gave consumers adequate notice that its cards, if not used for 24 consecutive months, would be reduced in value.
"We always communicated dormancy fees to gift-card purchasers at least once on our gift card and often multiple times," spokesman Jim DeSimone said in an e-mail.
But with other retail chains still imposing card-expiration dates or fees, it still pays to be vigilant, said Jean Ann Fox, director of consumer protection for Consumer Federation of America, a consumer-advocacy group based in Washington.
"The lesson for people who receive gift cards is to use them right away," she said.


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The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II beta could begin in just a couple months, according to a retailer listing. Amazon’s product pages suggests the beta, which has yet to be fully detailed, could start in August.
The page for Modern Warfare II on PS5 says players who preorder will receive their beta code in August. The Xbox Series X|S page, meanwhile, gets a little more specific. It says those who preorder by August 15 will unlock early access to the open beta. This would suggest that the open beta will start before then. The listings, which were discovered by Tom Henderson, remain online.
Previous Call of Duty games have had both Alpha and beta tests, with PlayStation users getting in first as part of Sony’s deal with Activision. Whether or not Modern Warfare II will have an Alpha test in addition to a beta test remains to be seen.
Continue Reading at GameSpot
Source: Game Spot Mashup


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If you’ve been paying any attention to the news in recent weeks, you’ve probably heard some of the stories of food shortages and limits being placed on how much food can be purchased. For example, Costco and Sam’s Club in many areas are limiting rice sales.
Even more shocking are articles like this one in the Wall Street Journal that actually encourages people to stockpile food. Are we in that bad of a position that steps like this are necessary? Or is this more of the same where the media likes to take a story with shock value and run with it. I’ll save my comments until later when people have had a chance to voice their opinions, but I’m sure a few of you already know what I think.
Author: Jeremy Vohwinkle
My name is Jeremy Vohwinkle, and I’ve spent a number of years working in the finance industry providing financial advice to regular investors and those participating in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
I voted "legitimate concern", but the media makes it bigger than it is. I agree LELIO, it's much better to invest some time or money in growing your own foods rather than hoarding tons of food.
I was at an asian super store the other day and was completely surprised that the shelves that contain(ed) the big bags of rice were bare! I knew in the SF Bay area it was causing hysteria, but not up here in Portland. SF has a lot of 'recent' immigrants that came from poor asian countries, so I could understand that.
Here in the US/Europe we are not going to endure any kind of food shortages. Take a look around us, especially in suburban areas, people are as big as the houses. Maybe if there were food rationing we could stave off the impending diabetes epidemic we're heading into with our obese society and the continued "acceptance" of being overweight. Heck, i'm 6'1" 155# and I get heckeled by people who think i'm karen carpenter. Good lord, I'm a normal weight--society has embraced this overabundance we've been blessed with. Abundance is good, just don't eat more than youre fair share.
Relatively speaking we spend less of our income on food than any other country on earth. I think we're coming up on 9%, in Europe it's around 12-13%. Food will always be available to people with money, the poor countries, and poor in the US/Europe are the ones who will bear the brunt of the greed from the commodotiy traders. Yes, the price of rice/wheat/etc. is being controlled and exploited by commodoties traders, and we're all paying the price for their greed. Everyone needs to earn a living, when is enough enough?
Do your own part--I spent $60 on materials to build an 8 x 8 raised planting bed in my backyard to raise vegetables and the like. I'm even contemplating getting the legally allowed 3 hens to roam around my backyard. Not only are they fun to watch, they produce eggs, fertilize the earth and eat the bugs!
These hoarders are all nut cases. They should spend more of their money on their 401k instead of buying 80lb bags of rice!
I think the WSJ article was more about hoarding food because the cost of it was going up faster than people can earn from a savings account rather than hoarding because of shortages.
Not having cable, subscribing to newspapers or listening to the radio, I have only seen a little about the rice shortage and hoarding issue on an online forum and one news article on MSNBC about there still not being a food shortage in the US despite rising prices.
However, I did vote "legitimate concern". While we consume a lot of rice in our household, we know that we have alternatives if it came to a real rice shortage. My concern is the general inflation in food prices. We have been living frugally since long before the recent sudden trend in frugal living, but despite our prudent spending habits, the regular increase in food prices is a real cause for anxiety because our income hasn't increased with it.
I grocery shop once a month to save time and money, and each month the prices are significantly higher than the last. Not long ago, I could purchase 10 packs of ramen, (12 on sale) for $1.00. Then, starting a few months ago, it became 7/$1, then 6/$1, and this month 5/$1 with each succeeding month. I can't help thinking that next month it'll be 4/$1, and the month after 3/$1, and so on, and wanting to hoard as much as possible.
Because we live in a remote area, ours is the only grocery store for about 20-30 miles and most people living here don't have much of a choice about where to shop (we don't have a farmer's market either). And being remotely located, the increased gas prices probably have more of an effect on the food prices here than in other areas.
So, as someone else mentioned in a comment on another blog, the inflation might be good in theory because it forces some people to develop better habits, but for some of us, it is definitely not good in practice.
When I first read about this last week my constant comment was media fearmongering. I still wonder how two retailers can turn their shortage into something sinister. I think the same people hoarding rice now are the same people who were stockpiling water and other essentials, convinced that Y2K was going to wipe out civilization.
I caught a few lines and sound bites here and there, but I have so little confidence in media that I didn't pay any more attention than that. I have noticed no hikes in food prices. I'm a rice milk drinker, and it's still USD1.69 for the small carton of it. It's been that price for 2-3 yrs now.
In the U.S. - Definitely fear/insanity driven by the media. I still have to throw away food because I buy too much or don't consume it fast enough. We aren't going to turn from a situation of way too much to not enough any time soon.
I won't be stockpiling any food, and besides even if I do run out of food, I have plenty of weight to lose. :)
I wonder - how much will people stockpiling effect the price of rice (or any other item)? If everyone goes out and buys all the rice they can, wouldn't that cause the supply to go down and the price to go up?
I stockpile sales items, but that's habbit - not because of current media reports. There are only two of us - so the 20 pound bag of basmati rice we bought (before the stockpiling stories hit) will see us through for a while. I haven't stockpiled anything due to current concerns.
I voted "legimate concern," but my huge caveat is that this only applies to the global food situation. In the US, there is no impending crisis but the one that the media has begun by sensationalizing the situation and by encouraging hoarding. What's worse, the panic instigated by the media has completely overshadowed the very real food crisis being experienced around the world.
We stockpiled.. kinda. we have 80lbs of rice. Rice is a huge staple of our diet and we bought solely to stop being hit by huge price hikes that will come. A lot of countries have stopped exports, and a lot of export countries have been hit by drought (australia). If there is a good harvest this year things will be ok. If said countries get experience this year like last, things will really hit the fan for rice depending people/countries.
I think some of these odd stories are coming out because more and more 'normal' people are shopping at warehouse type places which are really meant more for small business like restaurants.
I find it hard to fathom joe shmoe going out and buying a couple of hundered lbs of rice.
Countries like japan a really going to feel the squeeze because they lack any kind of ability to produce the majority of their food. (I read somewhere their production of food consumed is at an all time low).
I think its a combination of fear mongering and legitimate concern. I think the US is in an odd position, food prices are going up but at the same time its all still subsidised production. There are so many knockon affects in the food chain.
Good thing corn is wind pollinationed :)
It's likely to be a blip, but given how taut supply management is, food shortages can easily become self-fulfilling prophecies. Of course, the last thing we want is government or big media to urge for calm, because then everyone will panic since trust in those institutions isn't exactly overflowing after Katrina.


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will find this gizmodo.com post funny:
INTERNET CAFES HAVE FILTHY MICE
And not always of the rodent variety. A new Korean study found that below shopping cart handles, internet cafe mice had the second-largest concentration of bacteria out of a list of commonly touched communal objects. Of the 20 mice tested from 4 cafes, they found an average of 690 Colony Forming Units (CFUs) â€” compared to 380 CFUs on bus hand straps. Makes you want to just play WoW at home, doesnâ€™t it?
here’s the link


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While Facebook continues to dominate the international market in terms of social network numbers, Japanese web users seem to be slowly getting disenchanted with it. From 17.2 million users in December 2012, the numbers five months later have dropped 19.5% to 13.78 million.
When Facebook launched the Japanese version in 2008, people were slow to catch on because there were already well established social network sites (SNS) like mixi, Mobage, and GREE. But then companies started to use Facebook for their marketing strategies and so their user base slowly increased until it reached their highest numbers in December 2012. But then the Japanese market is known for its fickle-mindedness when it comes to products and trends, and so this might just be part of the user disenchantment as newer apps and SNS become available. Some complain about the fact that you have to use your real name when creating an account, which apparently doesn’t go over well with some Japanese users who prefer to post anonymously or under pseudonyms. Others say that they see Facebook is just a place where people boast about their real lives, which also goes against Japanese character.
A SNS specialist predicts that the only Japanese users who will remain on Facebook will be the ones who have friends or family overseas. While companies still do their recruiting on Facebook, that will also stop once they see the numbers declining. Once data for 2013 gets in, we’ll better see if this is just a slight decline or a sign that Facebook in Japan is really on its way out of the hearts of SNS users.
[ via Rocket News ]
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Good morning! Yesterday was National Chocolate Day – a critical date we forgot to acknowledge in the Sprout. To make up for this oversight, here are six reasons why you should eat chocolate every day of your life.
Now, here is today’s agriculture news.
Saskatchewan’s Potash Corp. will close its New Brunswick mine in November in light of weakening fertilizer demand. As The Globe and Mail reports, the company says it must reduce inventory levels due to market conditions.
And as AgWeb reports, the Saskatoon-based company has cut its profit forecast in light of weakening fertilizer demand. The world’s largest fertilizer company by market value now says it expects earnings, including one-time earnings, will be around $1.55 to $1.65 a share.
Alberta’s agriculture minister says resolving a protracted dispute with the United States over mandatory meat labels should be a top priority for the new Trudeau government. Oneil Carlier made the comment Tuesday, adding he’s looking forward to working with both the new government and the yet-to-be-named agriculture minister.
Also in Alberta: Craft brewers and distillers are toasting new liquor commission changes announced in the province’s new budget. As The Edmonton Journal reports, markup rates for brewers are now graduated according to annual worldwide production, beginning with 10 cents per litre for companies brewing up to 10,000 hectolitres.
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee heard testimony Wednesday about the implications of big data in agriculture. As Agri-Pulse reports, the private sector was asked how it plans to safely use the information now collected by modern day farm equipment.
Scorching temperatures in India have delayed the planting of the country’s rapeseed crop. As Reuters reports, industry officials say warm temperatures have delayed sowing in India’s top producing region by more than a fortnight and restricted acreage expansion, even though prices are trading near record highs.
And a farmer in West Australia is using a drone to round up – or ‘muster’, as they say in Australia – his herd. ABC Rural explains.
- 4-H on the forefront of female leadership in agriculture (Real Agriculture)
- Geography, traceability seen as advantages for new beef plant (Real Agriculture)
- Hospital food banks expose the game between benefits and the cost of survival (The Guardian)
- Food industry, medicine need to work together on disease prevention (RDI)
- Replacing sugar can yield benefits in just days, study finds (CBC News)
Margaret Wente dissects the phony tainted milk scare in the Globe and Mail.
The Works has long been known for putting together odd combinations of burger topping — like peanut butter, or Kraft Dinner. Now, just in time for Halloween, the restaurant is offering customers the chance to mix their halloween fare with their dinner with a burger stuffed with Reese’s candy.


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York Pizza Hut to Test Out "By the Slice" Idea
A new Pizza Hut in York is one of only two locations nationwide testing out a new by the slice option.
The slices will cost between $2 and $3 and will take about 3 to 4 minutes to heat up. They'll be made with new recipes as well, keeping in line with thinner pies sold in the Northeast.
The new location will offer the big slices straight out of an old-time brick oven, a selection of craft beers, salads and pastas tossed to order. Customers will order at the counter and employees will deliver the food to the dining room.
The other Pizza Hut location trying out the new restaurant concept is located in Pawtucket, R.I. York's new location will open to the public on Wednesday.
Pizza Hut will be carefully studying sales at the new restaurants as well as interviewing diners about their experience.
The tests reflect how established restaurant chains are scrambling to reinvent themselves to keep pace with a rapidly changing industry.


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There was good news this week for YouTube fans who just can’t stand it when they’re unable to watch the latest cute puppy video because they don’t have an Internet connection. In a
, the Google-owned service said it plans to add a feature to its mobile app, later this year, that will let you download video to your phone or tablet and watch it later when you’re offline. But you may not be able to watch that Miley Cyrus video offline. According to a
memo obtained by Peter Kafka at All Things D
, YouTube has told commercial partners that they can “opt out” of the new feature. And as
, the music video service Vevo says it won’t be participating in the new YouTube feature. Vevo is a major provider of music video clips for YouTube, with channels for popular artists including Ms. Cyrus, Lil Wayne, One Direction and Rihanna. The company didn’t give a reason for its decision, but Variety suggested it may be related to Vevo’s contractual agreements with music labels. Still, the new feature sounds like it could come in handy, if you really need to watch
on a park bench, or on a plane. YouTube says you’ll be able to use its mobile app to save videos on your device for up to 48 hours and watch them even when you’re offline. The service will be free, but the offline videos may still contain ads. And YouTube has said the new feature won’t work for movies or TV episodes that it currently rents and sells.


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Foster’s Daily Democrat reported applications are available for the 2014 Master Gardener volunteer training with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in York County. From January to June, participants will receive more than 66 hours of in-depth horticultural training. The winter program’s focus will be on growing fruits and vegetables.
Archive for the ‘Cooperative Extension’ Category
The Maine Edge previewed the Maine Beef Producers Association’s (MBPA) 24th annual Beef Conference on Dec. 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bangor. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and Hilton Garden Inn are sponsoring the event. This year’s theme is “Keeping Your Herd Healthy.”
James McConnon, an economics professor at the University of Maine and a University of Maine Cooperative Extension specialist, was interviewed by the Sun Journal for an article titled “Shopping forecasts call for increase in holiday spending.” McConnon said holiday shoppers are predicted to spend between 2.4 and 3.9 percent more this year, even though consumer confidence is still cautious. He said with the shorter shopping season, retailers are going to provide good deals and consumers will be looking for them.
Ways in which commercial fishermen, aquaculturists and those in the tourism industry can work together to create greater economic success will be the focus of three workshops offered by Maine Sea Grant and University of Maine Cooperative Extension in partnership with the Lobster Institute, Island Institute and Maine Aquaculture Association.
The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Tourism workshops will take place 5–8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at the UMaine Hutchinson Center in Belfast; 5–8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 at Machias Savings Bank Community Room in Machias; and 1–4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at University of Southern Maine’s Abromson Building in Portland.
Anyone involved in the fisheries, aquaculture or tourism industry or related support organizations is invited to attend any of the free workshops. Sessions will include information from guest speakers on topics such as the legal issues pertaining to offering boat or farm tours and ways seafood producers can enhance their businesses by building relationships with tour operators, restaurant owners and innkeepers.
“The workshops are intended to respond to the need for information expressed by fishermen and aquaculture farmers who seek to diversify their earnings by tapping into the tourism market by offering activities such as lobster boat tours or fish farm tours,” says Natalie Springuel, a marine extension associate with Maine Sea Grant. “Likewise, these workshops respond to the growing interest in the tourism industry to provide customers with fisheries and fish-farming-related experiences.”
Scott Gunst, an attorney with the admiralty and maritime law practice Reeves McEwing LLP in Philadelphia, Pa., will present at each session. Other guest speakers will vary depending on location. They will include fishermen and/or aquaculture farmers who will talk about their businesses, as well as members of the tourism industry who will share opportunities for marketing and partnerships.
The workshops will include an information session about the legal framework of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism, followed by interactive conversations with those who work in the field and a question-and-answer period with representatives of related resources, including the United States Coast Guard, insurance companies and the host organizations.
Pizza will be offered at the Belfast and Machias sessions and snacks will be provided at the Portland workshop.
This is the second time this workshop series has been offered. The first was offered at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Rockland in February 2013.
A registration form and more information, such as fact sheets and legal research produced for the series, are available on the Maine Sea Grant’s website. Registration is required.
The Maine Sea Grant college program at UMaine is one of 33 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) programs throughout the coastal and Great Lakes states and is focused on improving Maine’s coastal communities. The University of Maine Marine Extension Team (MET), is a collaboration of Maine Sea Grant and UMaine Extension, that provides educational and applied research programs in coastal community development, ecosystem health, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
James McConnon, an economics professor at the University of Maine and a University of Maine Cooperative Extension specialist, was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News for an article on Small Business Saturday shopping in Maine. McConnon said he isn’t sure how much of an effect the day has on the state because it would depend on “how much was spent that day at local stores versus what’s spent outside the community or at chains that export some of the money outside the area.” But anecdotal evidence and national studies suggest there is a positive effect.
James McConnon, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension specialist and UMaine professor of economics, spoke with the Sun Journal about the local food trend for an article about buying local for Thanksgiving. McConnon said interest in local foods is high for three reasons: nutrition, food safety and support of local business.
Charlie Armstrong, a cranberry professional with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke with the Portland Press Herald about the state’s cranberry crop for the article “Maine cranberry growers say it’s hard to stay out of the red.” Armstrong said in terms of health and abundance, the state’s crop is in great shape, but a recent national glut has caused cranberry prices to fall. He recommends Maine farmers who traditionally do wet harvesting for the juice industry move into dry harvesting for the fresh market because that’s where he thinks the demand is.
The Penobscot Bay Pilot and The Weekly reported Jason Bolton, food safety specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, is available to give advice about preparing the turkey this holiday season. Bolton is part of a team of UMaine Extension food safety and nutrition specialists who are taking calls on a statewide holiday foods hotline (800.287.0274).
The Kennebec Journal interviewed Jim McConnon, University of Maine Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of economics, about the city of Gardiner’s plan to develop a food policy that brands the city as a local food hub and encourages people and groups to purchase locally grown and raised food products.
McConnon said more of the money that is spent on products from local growers remains in the community. He cited a 2005 Iowa State University study that indicated each dollar spent at farmers’ markets in that state had generated an additional 58 cents in direct sales for the economy.


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USDA Recruiting U.S. Exporters for Trade Mission to the Philippines
Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2020 – Exporters of U.S. farm and food products will have an opportunity to explore new business opportunities in the Philippines during a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agribusiness trade mission to Manila April 20-23. Individuals interested in participating must apply to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) by February 6.
“U.S. agricultural exports to the Philippines have more than doubled over the last decade, reaching a record $3 billion in 2018, and positive consumer attitudes and a healthy business climate point to continued growth potential going forward,” said Morgan Haas, FAS counselor for agricultural affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. “Thanks to the United States’ longstanding ties with the Philippines, local consumers have an affinity for American brands, and the country’s rapidly expanding retail, food service, and food processing sectors offer robust opportunities for U.S. exporters looking to sell agricultural raw materials, high-value ingredients, and consumer-oriented food and beverage products.”
Local staff from the FAS office in Manila will arrange targeted business meetings between trade mission delegates and local companies seeking to import American food and farm products. FAS staff and industry experts will also lead in-depth briefings and site visits to provide delegates with additional on-the-ground insights into exporting to the Philippines.
In 2019, USDA hosted six trade missions that enabled more than 240 U.S. companies and organizations to engage in 3,200 meetings with foreign buyers, resulting in $78 million in projected 12-month sales. For 2020, USDA has scheduled seven trade missions, including:
- North Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia), March 16-19
- Philippines, April 20-23
- Spain and Portugal, June 8-11
- United Kingdom, September 14-17
- Australia and New Zealand, October 19-23
- Peru, November 2-5
- United Arab Emirates, November 15-18
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.


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Are the Kylie Jenner plastic surgery rumors true? Not according to Kylie herself, who denied them in a recent livestream. According to her, Kris would not allow it. But is Kylie telling the truth?
The 18-year-old got the big Kylie Jenner plastic surgery question during a recent live-stream with her fans. One Twitter user asked her “why you have more plastic in your body than a Barbie doll”–a question which, perhaps unsurprisingly, Kylie decided to answer.
“Contouring has changed my life,” Kylie said, by way of explanation. To hear her tell it, the lack of Kylie Jenner plastic surgery is due to one person: namely, Kris Jenner.
“My mom wasn’t even going to let me get my lips done,” Kylie responded. “So there’s no way in hell she was going to let me get my boobs done, or my butt, or anything else. Truth is, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve gained 15 pounds and my body has changed. I’ve definitely filled out.
“I haven’t done anything except my lips,” Kylie continued, “but nobody seems to believe that, so…I don’t really care. But I did just turn 18, so it kind of surprises me when people think I’ve undergone so many surgeries.
“I haven’t gotten breast implants!” she concluded. “Everyone is obsessed with that….I swear there are things you can do to work on problem areas without having to think about plastic surgery.”
In addition to contouring, Kylie credited Spanx for her change in appearance. And, almost as if she was anticipating a question like the one she got, Kylie also shared a non-Thursday throwback photo of herself on Instagram, captioned to indicate that she was sixteen at the time:
The part about growing older checks out. But is Kylie on the level with her fans about plastic surgery? Earlier this year, she finally confessed to using lip fillers. And the breast implant question has come up more than once. Are the changes in Kylie’s look due to simple aging…or to something more?
Here are a few more throwback photos of Kylie over the last few years, followed by a few from the past couple of weeks. Judge for yourself:
Kylie in November of 2014
Kylie and Tyga in February of 2015
Kylie upon receiving a new car in July of 2014
Kylie Jenner thi
(Photo credits: Kylie Jenner plastic surgery va Instagram)


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Local Business All That Jas is celebrating 10 years of business during Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Nov. 9th.
Owner, Michaelle Graybeal originally opened the business in downtown Burlington as a store selling girls cheerleading apparel and gifts, but after an Elon student mentioned to Graybeal that there was not a place to purchase Greek merchandise, she began making customized sorority t-shirts.
"It was kind of a natural progression actually from the cheerleading," Graybeal said. "We were making really cute stuff for the younger kids, so lets do the same thing for sorority girls."
Graybeal also realized that in order to be as successful as possible, she need to relocate closer to campus.
The store first opened in the house behind the post office, now known as the Faucett House. After being there for two-and-a-half years, All That Jas moved to its current location on Williamson Ave.
The store not only sells their merchandise to locals and Elon students; All That Jas also has an online presence that began in 2009.
"We're kinda known all over the U.S.," Graybeal said. "We've sold to probably every state except for Hawaii and Alaska, which is really cool."
Through the years, Graybeal said the store has been a success not only because the unique products they offer to students but also because of its family atmosphere.
"We love having the students come in and we like to see how happy they are when they leave here," Graybeal said. "We are all about the customer service and making sure people are happy."
Graybeal hopes that many of her past student workers will come by for the event.
"We have about 50-something students that have come through working at All That Jas since it started," she said. "We've got some of those girls coming back, and actually the girl who helped me get the business started will be here for that Saturday."
Graybeal said she hops All That Jas will continue to grow as the years pass and continue serving Elon students for a long time.


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Streaming content was the bread and butter of this year’s IBC, topped with a big dollop of data. In our most recent white paper, Top Trends from IBC 2017, join me as we take a deeper dive into what is – and isn’t – hot in the broadcast industry. (You can download the paper here.)
OTT has become the fastest-growing method of video content consumption, and that growth is putting content owners in the best position to capitalize on the increasing audience fragmentation being caused by the rise of on-demand services, according to a new study that posits the demand for high quality content will remain strong across the board.
CBS News is partnering with Twitter to provide live online coverage of the Republican and Democratic national conventions this month and – in the process – reach Millennials, 82% of whom say they get most of their news from online sources.
Twitter and CBS plan to deliver complete coverage of the RNC (July 18-21) and DNC (July 25-28), with Twitter providing live streaming and conventional Tweets from the convention sites, Cleveland and Philadelphia respectively.
Irish Millennials are nearly ubiquitous in their streaming of online video. Some 95% of 18-35 year olds with fixed-line broadband stream video content, compared to 88% of all adults, according to a survey from iReach.
Remember when streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video were seen as supplemental to the pay-TV experience? No more.
A new study says streamers are now more likely than ever to downgrade their pay-TV service in the next six months.
Last week’s NAB was, as always, loaded with new ideas and toys (although drones, I suppose, are getting to be old hat). The South Upper and Lower Halls remains the nexus for new technology relating to all things over-the-top, with a number of new entrants eating up whatever available space remains.
Here are some observations from my time in Las Vegas:
Verizon is adding yet another piece to its Verizon Digital Media Services stack in an attempt to move up market in the Cloud TV space, announcing it had acquired broadcast monitoring and content archiving company Volicon. No terms for the deal were made public.
The online video boom is still in its early stages in Australia, but streaming video already has begun to cut into the time consumers spend watching broadcast television, while also seeing huge gains in the amount of time video was watched on smartphones and tablets.


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Researchers at UC Davis lead by Michael Nicholas have developed an online tool called EV Explorer that aims to make choosing which type of vehicle to purchase a little bit easier. Story also appears in Government Technology.
Tag: EV Explorer
A free online calculator that will help consumers compare fuel costs for thousands of cars and trucks has been launched by researchers at the University of California at Davis.
So far, the looming global instability has not ratcheted up US gasoline prices which are generally hovering around $3.50 a gallon. But it might be a good time for American consumers to think about how well they would be positioned in an oil crisis.
The Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis (ITS-Davis) can help you figure out the answer to that question with a new web-based tool, EV Explorer, that allows consumers to compare simultaneously up to four different vehicles on an energy cost basis.
A new web-based tool dubbed EV Explorer can help take the uncertainty out of buying a plug-in electric vehicle, says its developer, the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis.
“What’s interesting [about the EV Explorer] is it’s not just about miles per gallon anymore, it’s about access to chargers, and the price of charging at home,” Michael Nicholas with the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies said.
“EV Explorer helps answer the question: ‘Which car makes sense for me?’” said Michael Nicholas, lead researcher of the PH&EV Research Center.
“We want to let people play around with [the EV Explorer],” said lead researcher Michael Nicholas, with UC Davis’ Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center. “Or they can get in and out pretty quickly, if they want to.”


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Reducing the use of light plastic bags
In September, SPAR Slovenia launched the instore campaign, ‘I have my own bag!’ This was an educational initiative focused on raising awareness of the impacts of excessive consumption of lightweight plastic bags on the environment. The campaign was introduced by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and has to date been one of the most important plastic waste prevention measures to be implemented in the country.
Reflecting the support for this initiative, SPAR Slovenia advertised the campaign in all stores with posters and leaflets – helping to create awareness around more sustainable consumption and encouraging consumers to re-use their shopping bags as much as possible. A large focus was also placed on educating children about the plastic waste crisis and the damage caused by light plastic bags.
It is hoped that by the end of 2019, annual consumption figures will not exceed 90 light plastic bags per capita and that this will drop to no more than 40 light plastic bags per capita by the end of 2025.
River clean ups with the Slovenian Diving Association
With the aim of educating consumers about plastic waste and the importance of environmental protection, SPAR Slovenia teamed up with the Slovenian Diving Association (SPZ) to launch the “Think ecological” campaign in August 2017. As part of the campaign, SPAR Slovenia sells sustainable shopping bags made of 100% recycled material in stores throughout the country. Proceeds from the sale of the bags go towards funding the clean up of Slovenian rivers.
The clean ups, which began last autumn, first focused on the most polluted rivers in the country, continuing in spring this year with the Ljubljanica and Sava rivers. To increase the capacity of volume removed, SPAR Slovenia invited local communities and environmental groups to join in the clean ups. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive and between autumn 2017 and spring 2018, around two tonnes of garbage was collected.
The river clean ups have continued and last month the Krka River was tackled with the support of professional divers. In spring 2019, SPAR Slovenia will continue this project, with the planned clean up of the Drava and Ljubljanica rivers and Lake Bled.
The initiative has received positive feedback from the Slovenian media and has shown SPAR Slovenia’s commitment to addressing environmental issues.
Source: SPAR Slovenia
Read more news from SPAR Slovenia
About SPAR Slovenia
SPAR Slovenia, operated by ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG), was founded in 1992. ASPIAG is a subsidiary of SPAR Austria AG and was granted the licence to operate the brand in Slovenia by SPAR International. SPAR Slovenia has become a key employer in the country, with a Distribution Centre, bakery and corporate-owned stores providing employment opportunities.
The first SPAR store opened in the capital city, Ljubljana, in 1992. Three store formats are operated in Slovenia: SPAR, SPAR Supermarkets and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets. The brand is one of the most trusted companies in the country with Nielson research placing SPAR first in terms of freshness, quality and range. The SPAR Bakery, which has been continually developed, has played a key role in the overall fresh offer and has received great customer feedback.


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August, 5, 2016
Last week president Obama signed the GMO- labeling bill S.764.
This is a huge blow for the people who fight for transparent food labeling.
We like to know what is in our food to make healthy choices and eat right.
With this bill that just was signed by our President there is no way to find out easy and fast what is on the food label.
Note: As far as I know president Obama promised in his 2007 election that he would fight for food labels that contain the right information. Did Mrs. Obama not try to change the school cafeterias to use healthier food?
Here is a video where he clearly tells that.
Food companies now do not have to give a full disclosure but can get away with a QR-code on the label.
The American people have made it clear that they do want readable and understandable labels on the food they buy.
93% of the people want genetically engineered food labeled.
You need proof of that?
Look at these pages
This bill passed the Senate and the House of Representatives very easily.
Why are we in the USA forced to eat unhealthier than people in Europe and Asia?
Do we have to take a smartphone to the store now to see what the label says?
This is very discriminatory to many American since about 100 million do not have a smartphone.
Is that not a violation of the 14th amendment?
This bill does not have go into effect for another two year and there are no penalties for companies for non-compliance.
There are several states and organizations that will file law suits but the passing of this law is a big step backwards for the people in this country that have the right to know what is in their food.
The source of my writing: can be found here
Here is a link to where you can send an email to president Obama to tell him how you feel about this.


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Batman co-op game Gotham Knights could be releasing sooner than players think, as a potential release date and Steam playtest hint at when we can expect the game’s arrival.
Gotham Knights, developed by WB Games Montréal, is an upcoming open-world co-op game featuring characters from the lore of Batman. Bringing together the ‘Bat-Family’, the game finds our heroes aiming to restore justice in Gotham City after the death of Batman.
The game was initially delayed from its 2021 release date to an undetermined point in 2022, but players could be jumping in soon according to a release date spotted in an Irish gaming store.
Gotham Knights rumored release date and Steam playtest spotted by players
WB Games Montréal has yet to reveal their updated release date for Gotham Knights, but according to an unspecified Irish games retailer, it could potentially arrive in April 2022.
Of course, we advise you to take this release date with a grain of salt. While the date shown on the pre-order sticker details April 24, this wouldn’t happen due to major releases often launching on Tuesdays or Fridays.
With the release of The Batman, Warner Brothers will be keen to keep the momentum going, so it wouldn’t necessarily be unfounded to expect the game soon. Especially since a new playtest has been spotted on Steam by Redditor Accomplished_Cut553.
Previously, Gotham Knights conducted a playtest in December 2019, months before the game was officially showcased at DC Fandome.
WB Games Montréal remains quiet about the game’s release date, so be sure to check back in with us as this develops.


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This morning, realme officially announced that the realme X7 series will be released at 14:00 on September 1.
According to Weibo information, the realme X7 series will adopt a thin and light body design and support flash charging technology. Previously, the digital blogger @数码闲聊站 broke the news that the realme X7 series supports 65W super flash charging. In terms of screens, the realme X7 series will be equipped with 120Hz AMOLED flexible screens.
In addition, it can be guessed from Weibo Xiaowei that the realme X7 series includes two models, the Realme X7 and the Realme X7 Pro.
Xu Qi, vice president of realme, mentioned on Weibo that realme has recently sorted out its production lines. The V series takes battery life as the core and makes 5G popular products; the classic X series takes design leapfrog as the core to bring consumers brand new Surprise experience. Today’s official announcement of the real me X7 is the first X series product after the realme production line has been sorted out. It will meet everyone with a new look and design. Xu Qi also emphasized that the Realme X7 series is by far the thinnest and best-looking realme phone.


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Almost as exciting as feeling my daughter’s healthy kicks for the first time is the news that Apple will host a keynote event on October 14. The media invitation to the presenation reads simply, “The spotlight turns to notebooks.” Obviously, then, Apple is either unveiling significant changes to its Macbook line, or it is releasing a new Trapper Keeper for the 21st century. My vote is for a new or improved Macbook.
Apple is turning its attention to its notebook line of computers, as the company announced a special event being held in Cupertino on October 14 at 10:00 am.
“The spotlight turns to notebooks,” reads the invitation sent to select media on Thursday, announcing next week’s event. No other information was given, but it’s obvious what Apple will be announcing next week.
The event to introduce new notebooks comes just over a month from when the company rolled out new iPods. The “Let’s Rock” event saw a new iPod nano, iPod touch and iTunes 8, among other things.
The release of new notebooks will set Apple up with a new computers, iPods and iPhones before the lucrative holiday shopping season.


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The bank card had been stolen with a wallet and set of keys in a burglary in Folkton Avenue on Thursday, March 26.
A spokesperson from Humberside Police said Matthew Townend, 38, and Sophie Wheeldon, 34, who both live in Southwood Avenue in Cottingham, had allegedly then gone out and bought several items at a number of different stores in Hull on the same day.
Both have since been charged in relation to the incident.
The spokesperson added: "Matthew Townend (38) and Sophie Wheeldon (34) both of Southwood Avenue, Cottingham have been charged with fraud by false representation.
"They are charged with offences of using a bank card and purchasing a number of items at various stores in Hull on 26 March 2020.
"The bank card was stolen, along with keys and a wallet during a burglary at an address on Folkton Avenue, Cottingham on 26 March."


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North Dakota's fish farming industry, regarded as a promising alternative to livestock production more than a decade ago, has virtually vanished -- and industry experts say it isn't likely to reappear.
BISMARCK, N.D. North Dakota's fish farming industry, regarded as a promising alternative to livestock production more than a decade ago, has virtually vanished -- and industry experts say it isn't likely to reappear.
The state's last aquaculture operation, a Lakota company that grew tilapia for live shipment to markets in Canada was destroyed in a June fire. Other fish farming ventures in Williston, Kulm, Binford and Beulah went out of business years before.
Any North Dakota fish producer would start with a number of disadvantages, said Kevin Fitzsimmons, a University of Arizona environmental science professor and treasurer of the American Tilapia Association.
Tilapia is favored by fish producers because it can be grown in crowded conditions, and is more tolerant of poor water quality. It produces a light, flaky fillet with a mild flavor.
However, tilapia farms require a consistent source of warm water for the fish, which means extra energy costs.
The low cost of tilapia filets imported from Central America and elsewhere have forced U.S. producers to concentrate on market demand for live tilapia. The market can be lucrative, but it represents only about 5 percent of the total demand for the fish, Fitzsimmons said.
Shipping tilapia also is an expensive proposition. Special trucks are needed to get it to cities like Chicago, New York, Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver.
"Shipping is a big deal, and you're a long ways from those markets," former Gov. Ed Schafer said. "You have a specialized truck, a specialized hauler, and you've got to pump oxygen into the water as you're going down the road. It costs more."
Tony Hamling of Williston built a tilapia farm inside a building that once housed his farm equipment dealership, and began producing fish in 1995. His customers included fish buyers in Toronto and New York City.
But rising costs for shipping and feed, and fish prices of about 80 cents a pound, were no longer tolerable, Hamling said.
"The freight got pretty high, taking them that far," he said. "For every dollar you've got to spend for freight, you have less profit. It just didn't work out any more."
Source: Associated Press


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No 2012 vintage for Yquem
17th December, 2012 by Rupert Millar
Château d’Yquem has announced that it will not be producing a Sauternes this year.
According to Agence France Presse, the estate’s director Pierre Lurton said the quality was “insufficient”.
Lurton continued: “We did everything we could but, sadly, nothing came together despite our efforts, despite our great terroir.
“A brand such as Yquem must know when not to make a vintage. For the sake of the brand’s image and place in history, it’s reasonable to not make a 2012.”
Lurton added that, initially, the first grapes harvested had been quite good but as the harvest went on and it began to rain quality rapidly fell away.
“They (the wines) would have lacked body, they would never have had enough concentration,” he said.
This is not the first time that Yquem has chosen to skip a vintage due to poor quality, and as Lurton noted it tends to happen every 20 years, so far; 1952, 1972 and 1992.
The grapes will instead be used to make Y d’Yquem, the estate’s dry white wine.
Yquem has not been alone in finding 2012 a difficult year, however, as reported by the drinks business, on the Left and Right Banks hopes are high for a small but good to excellent vintage.