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As shipping volumes have grown, so too has the demand to realise greater economies of scale. Improved design and build quality means the current and future fleet of container ships calling at the world's ports have a vastly greater capacity than those of just a decade ago.
The number of ships with 7500 TEUs or more is growing at an unprecedented rate, with some estimates claiming 49% a year. This means by 2009 more than 250 of such vessels will be ploughing trade routes, compared to just 49 in 2005.
The frenzy for building bigger ships is based on the assumption that the container shipping industry will continue to boom, especially on long-distance routes linking Northeast Asian exporters to the lucrative US, European and Middle Eastern markets. Bigger ships cut costs for shipping companies on long-distance hauls as long as they can fill them with cargo.
This poses great advantages for consumers and shippers in terms of lowering transportation costs, but poses a significant challenge for the ports and container handling sectors. The investment in upgrading container handling equipment is a hefty one, and ports often look to a quarter of a century lifespan to see returns on their outlay. The newest additions to the Maersk Line fleet, the PS Class vessels such as the Emma Maersk, are a massive 56 metres wide and can carry 11,000 full containers.
Whether the trend for bigger ships will continue or not, few of the world's ports are able to manage these new behemoths of the sea. However, any port wishing to bill itself as a hub, or even in the future, a reasonable feeder port, will need to be able to service vessels in the 9000 TEU range to remain competitve.
With unprecedented investment in every corner of the Middle East's marine infrastructure well underway, SFME met with leading industry experts to discuss the ramifications these development are having on the technology at the sharp end of the container handling business.
"In our experience in the Middle East customers coming to us looking for much larger cranes than ever before, it's very rare that we're asked to supply anything below super-post-panamax now," says Gerry Bunyan, sales and marketing manager, Liebherr Container Cranes.
The most important factor ports are forced to consider remains projected capacity, with an accurate impression given by the draft available. The largest container vessels in the current world fleet require a clear port depth of around 16 metres. "Essentially the alongside depth dictates the size of the vessels they can attract, so proposed dredging investment is certainly an important factor and is one of the first questions I ask when I meet with port operators," adds Bunyan.
The market leading ship to shore gantry cranes have adapted to meet the size of the ships that hub ports now service, but the reach is only one facet of how their development has changed in recent years.
The largest cranes working out of the new generation of container ports have to match that working scope with improved efficiencies in moving containers to awaiting trucks for deposit in the port. To do this, more is being asked of the gantries in terms of lifting capability, with the foremost manufacturers now delivering cranes with a safe working load (SWL) in the 80 to 90 tonne bracket.
Certainly one of the biggest changes in crane development in the last five or six years has been that the SWL has risen so that larger quantities of containers can be moved in the shortest possible time," says Bunyan.
Essentially, as the SWL has been raised the number and size of containers that can be moved in each cycle has grown. Initially containers were moved one by one, requiring a full lift-move-position-return cycle per box. With the advent of more sophisticated container spreaders came the ability to shift multiple boxes per lift.
With the latest models of twin-lift spreader, the crane operator can lift a 45' container, a 40' container, a 20' container, or two 20' containers, without changing the spreader. The tandem spreaders available on the market allow even greater lifting capability, with the ability to twin-lift 40' or 45' containers, or simultaneously lift four 20' containers.
"The most significant mechanical development for ship to shore container operations has been the advent of the all-electric spreaders, which are now available in a variety of twin-lift and tandem lift configurations," says Lars Fredin, vice president, sales, at Bromma.
To minimise the amount of time ships spend in port the movement once containers have been picked has also been speeded up, with both the hoisting speed increased and the positioning of containers made more accurate.
Although container handling automation in Middle Eastern ports has not yet been adopted on the same scale as in European hub ports, such as Hamburg, there are steps being taken by regional port authorities and terminal managers to involve more and more technology to maximise the efficiency of container handling operations.
"Generally the ship to shore cranes that we supply to the Middle East are not fully automated. What we have been seeing though is requests for the installation of systems that increase productivity, such as sensor based straddle carrier and truck positioning systems," explains Bunyan.
The positioning systems that have entered the regional market are used to ensure that when containers come off the ship, the receiving truck or straddle carrier is in the right place. Such systems centrally position the trucks so that the crane operator doesn't have any down-time trying to fine tune the container placement, which makes the whole operation quicker.
"In this region most trucks are still manned, so traffic light systems inform the drivers where to correctly position the vehicle, this reduces the complexity of the crane operators task so productivity is improved because the crane can get on with next lift," he adds.
As long as trucking and labour costs remain low in the region, and development space for port expansion remains relatively unconstrained (compared to their European and Asian counterparts) it is unlikely that comprehensive automation systems will be implemented for some time in the Middle East.
Regional customers have definitely been considering the automated handling systems, but we are not aware of any that have started to fully implement, although we might see different levels and concepts of automation in the Middle East in the future" says Niklas Persson, sales director, Konecranes Lift Trucks.
"Being prepared for a young generation of drivers, and the next generation of automation are among the principal considerations for ports worldwide when looking at upgrade solutions," he adds.
That said, the enthusiasm for new and advanced equipment in the region remains extremely strong in the ports sector. Bromma has recently received a major Middle East contract for 29 Marathon yard crane spreaders from OEM ZPMC for delivery to DP World's flagship terminal at Jebel Ali. "These
are the highest-productivity Bromma yard crane spreaders, with twin-lift, single-lift and separating capabilities," explains Fredin.
This is the second major Jebel Ali order for Bromma, following a contract for a further 12 twin-lift spreaders, making a massive total of 41 twin-lift units on order for Jebel Ali. Other major Middle East orders have included contracts for 18 all-electric spreaders to Bandar Abass, Iran and 30 all-electric spreaders to Turkey, split between Yilport and Marport. "Business in the Middle East really is booming for Bromma," adds Fredin.
"The biggest business area for Liebherr container cranes worldwide is currently South Africa, but there's also been very significant demand in the Middle East for rubber tyred gantry cranes, and we're certainly aware of a big appetite in the regional market," explains Bunyan.
On top of a strong order book with Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Islamic Seaport, encompassing 16 RTGs and five big cranes, Liebherr have close ties with Sharjah's port management company, Gulftainer. The Khorfakkan terminal has installed ten Liebherr cranes in recent years, supported by an order for 12 RTGs. Two additional cranes will be delivered to the Sharjah Container Terminal later this year.
The container handling market seems to be adapting to the rigorous challenges being thrown up by the next generation of mega-ships. The biggest challenge for ports region-wide may however prove a financial one.
With the vast majority of the premier product manufacturers based in Europe and Asia, the Middle East's dollar peg is driving the financing for new equipment to the forefront of the development issue. Liquidity in the region is admittedly high, and with it the access to inexpensive capital. However, as with any frontline technology, paying the price for the best equipment remains a question of balancing that investment with return.
Which Middle Eastern ports cope best with the current exchange rates will ultimately decide which ones flourish when 9000 TEU vessel calls become the norm. Untill then, the message from the industry remains: Reach for success.


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The new model is reported by Sammobile, a relatively reliable source. According to the latest information, Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is designated SM-G892A and is already in pre-production phase. The phone is hidden under the Cruiser code name and is said to be waterproof and dustproof, and also in compliance with MIL-STD-810 standard. So far, we do not know the details of the design, but we expect a capacious battery and a screen similar to the standard Galaxy S8. The launch date is also unknown - but given that the predecessor - Galaxy S7 Active debuted in June, we can expect a new model soon.
Source Sammobile; viewed: 1012 times.

domain: news


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How China Became a Major Player in the Global CBD Game
China has quietly become the world’s biggest producer of hemp, taking advantage of the booming global demand for the oil that’s extracted from it. It’s a stark change of direction for the country, which outlawed the production of industrial hemp until 2010. To this day CBD is still forbidden for domestic consumption, except in beauty products. While a sizable portion of China’s hemp is used for other purposes within its borders — it’s a surprisingly versatile plant, after all — the main draw is the overseas market. “It has huge potential,” as Tan Xin, whose company received the first permit to begin extraction of CBD in 2017, told the New York Times.
Since then, CBD-focused companies have started sprouting up in other provinces across China. Their primary target is the American market (which is the “best educated” about the benefits of cannabis and its derivatives, according to Tan), where some analysts predict that 25 million people could be using CBD by 2025.
China’s Uneasy Relationship With Cannabis
Although the CBD industry has been eagerly embraced by Chinese businesses — and, perhaps more importantly, by the ruling Communist Party — the country has a complex relationship with the cannabis plant itself.
Though hemp and marijuana plants (both members of the cannabis sativa genus) were cultivated in China for thousands of years, neither have fared particularly well in the last half-century or so. Marijuana has been banned since the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949, and party leaders decided to ban all production of hemp in the 1980s. Now, even as Chinese businesses race to produce as much CBD oil as the market can bear, and the rest of the world moves toward legalization, local and national authorities remain wary. According to the New York Times, some factories have “dozens of closed-circuit cameras that stream videos directly to the provincial public security bureau.”
However, the potential gold rush offered by CBD has been too great to ignore. In the United States alone, it’s grown from a $202 million business in 2015 to one that is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2020. Following the World Health Organization’s recommendation that CBD be removed from the international list of banned substances, other lucrative markets in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere may soon be opening as well. And with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the production of industrial hemp in the United States, the competition is about to get stiffer, meaning Chinese CBD companies will have to move fast to stake out their claim.
The task might not be as daunting as it seems, though, since the Chinese CBD industry is getting a boost from its (very) watchful government. As described in the New York Times report, state-sponsored research is being conducted at several key academic institutes, where scientists are experimenting with high-yield strains of hemp that can produce greater quantities of CBD — each of which must be approved by the police to ensure they have no psychoactive effects.
While there’s no indication of when — or if — these potent new varieties of CBD will be available for Chinese consumers in anything other than face lotions and beauty serums, they may already be on the shelves of your local drugstore.


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TV giant Vizio is folding Inscape, its data and analytics subsidiary, into its TV platform business — a move designed to boost Vizio’s connected-TV ad business and its streaming-app experiences for consumers.
With the reorganization, Inscape will continue to power “select measurement and advertising use cases,” but the engineering and technology teams will now be focused on supporting Vizio’s platforms business. Inscape has a viewer opt-in base of more than 16 million TVs in the U.S. So far in 2020, Vizio has added more than 130 free, ad-supported TV channels to its SmartCast platform.
“We are entering a new golden age of television, where the technologies can now deliver on the vision we have to delight and entertain viewers,” Vizio CEO and founder William Wang said in a statement. “We are honored to help unlock the potential of TV with our partners, and we are making every move required to usher in the next generation of entertainment for our customers.”
Heading the combined group is Michael O’Donnell, chief revenue officer of the Vizio platform business, who oversees relationships with programmers, platform and data partners, and advertisers. O’Donnell has led Vizio’s direct-to-device ads business since its launch in December 2019 and expanded the company’s relationship with dozens of media companies including Apple, Disney and NBCUniversal’s Peacock.
As part of the changes, Zeev Neumeier, founder of Cognitive Networks (which was acquired by Vizio in 2015 and renamed Inscape) has been appointed Vizio’s chief innovation officer. In that role, he will be responsible for leading the design and development of next-generation experiences on existing and forthcoming Vizio TV and soundbar products.
Jodie McAfee, previously Inscape’s head of sales and marketing, has taken on the new role of SVP of strategy and marketing for Vizio’s platform business. Alongside O’Donnell, McAfee will lead growth efforts across all advertising and SmartCast business endeavors. In addition, Charbel Makhoul will lead Inscape as a product on the Vizio engineering team.
In 2019, Neumeier and McAfee led the formation and launch of Project OAR (“Open Addressable Ready”), an addressable advertising consortium that attracted participants including Disney Media Networks, Comcast’s FreeWheel and NBCUniversal, Discovery, Fox Corp., ViacomCBS, WarnerMedia, Hearst Television and AMC Networks. Project OAR is led by Adam Gaynor, who joined Vizio in August 2020 as VP of network relationships and head of addressable.
After Vizio bought Cognitive Networks in 2015, the FTC launched an investigation into the TV company’s tracking of viewers, which the agency alleged Vizio had done without obtaining consumer consent. In 2017, Vizio agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle the charges.
Pictured above (l. to r.): Michael O’Donnell, Zeev Neumeier, Jodie McAfee


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Microsoft has officially unveiled its latest mobile operating system Windows Phone 8. Back in June Microsoft gave us a sneak preview into what the company was planning to release, but at the official unveil the company showed the entire feature set, features that were also missing from its June Windows Phone summit preview. (more…)Google+
Result for: “Windows Phone 8 features” categories
Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore today showed off a few new features in Windows Phone 8 while saving the best for “a later date”. Finally, Windows Phone users will be able to take screenshots by pressing the power and home button combination. The bigger feature, however, is a lens application that will enable third-party developers to build apps for the camera. (more…)Google+
Microsoft has been on a roll this week. First it took everyone by surprise with its Surface tablet and today it appeased everyone by delivering most of the features that were on everyone’s Windows Phone update checklist. Microsoft has not just refreshed Windows Phone platform but has rebooted it completely with Windows Phone 8. Gone is the Windows CE kernel and in comes Windows NT core that the smartphone platform will share with tablets and PCs running on Windows 8, making it easier for developers to c...
Microsoft is expected to pull the covers off the next version of Windows Phone 8 smartphone operating system at its Developer Summit event in the US today. Neither Microsoft nor Nokia have dropped any hints on what Windows Phone 8 would bring to the table but we have a fair idea of some of the biggest Windows Phone 8 features. Read on… (more…)Google+


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The war for your teeth
Oral health companies, orthodontists, dentists and regulators are engaged in a high-stakes war over how to best straighten your teeth.
The big picture: Products like Invisalign and SmileDirectClub have taken a big bite out of orthodontists' profits, pitting old-school professionals against new upstarts against state dental boards, with millions of dollars in marketing and legal bills piling up along the way.
State of play: Invisalign owner Align Technology and SmileDirectClub — as well as a slew of smaller companies — are increasingly sidelining orthodontists and taking market share away from wire-and-bracket braces.
- These companies sell clear-plastic aligners, which can progressively straighten y0ur teeth but, unlike braces, can be removed for eating, drinking, photo-taking and, well, romantic encounters.
- But the orthodontics lobby — led by the American Association of Orthodontists — has engaged in a long-running fight with SmileDirectClub over its direct-to-consumer strategy, which allows users to straighten their teeth without ever visiting the office of a medical professional.
The big picture: The pandemic triggered a boom in sales of teeth aligners. Invisalign and SmileDirectClub's sales soared as customers figured it was a good time to fix their crooked teeth, a medical condition known as malocclusion.
- “You’re sitting at home, you’re on Zoom all day, you have some extra coin in your pocket and a lot of people decided to do that,” Jefferies analyst Brandon Couillard, who tracks the teeth alignment industry, tells Axios.
- But sales have trailed off over the past year, bruising manufacturers' stock prices. SmileDirectClub in particularly rough financial shape after years of expensive legal battles and aggressive marketing. The company “could run out of cash” in 12 to 18 months, Couillard estimated.
Threat level: Hoping to carve out additional runway for growth, SmileDirectClub has attacked state dental boards that it views as protecting the orthodontics industry.
- The company in March won a ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals allowing it to sue the members of California’s state dental board, alleging that they violated antitrust law in a conspiracy to block SmileDirectClub's services.
How it works: People looking to straighten their teeth without wire braces have some options.
- Invisalign involves in-person oversight from a dentist or orthodontist. They get a cut of the revenue in exchange for selling and executing the service, which can take anywhere from several months to more than a year to have its desired effect.
- SmileDirectClub largely skips office visits by signing up patients directly. Customers receive an oral impression kit by mail and ship it back to the company, which employs dentists to design teeth-straightening plans and oversee cases remotely, corresponding with patients via photos and online instructions.
- Invisalign costs about $5,000 to $6,000 per case — only about $1,300 of that is the cost of manufacturing the aligners, according to Jefferies — while SmileDirectClub typically costs a few thousand less. And as those two market leaders have taken off, a host of smaller competitors have jumped in as well.
The other side: The American Association of Orthodontics did not respond to requests seeking comment, but the organization has argued that an orthodontist should oversee teeth straightening and that direct-to-consumer treatments should be avoided.
- “Orthodontic treatment involves the movement of biological material, which could lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changed bites and other issues if not done correctly,” the AAO says on its website.
What we’re watching: Braces still have the upper hand: They're used in about 8 in 10 cases, including most children, Couillard says — which means there's plenty more room for the aligners industry to grow.
- SmileDirectClub is developing an app-based 3D mouth-scanning system that could make the process more enticing for prospective patients, but Couillard thinks Invaslign may be in a stronger position.
- “I think consumers prefer the experience of a professional being involved in the process in person,” he said. “Consumers, to some degree, are skeptical about an entirely virtual orthodontic experience.”


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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the interest to start a business in the United States during the pandemic is rising. The rate of application submissions is the highest seen since 2007! So far, there are 3.2 million application submissions for employer id numbers that entrepreneurs need to start a business compared to 2.7 million the same time last year.
Since March 2020, the pandemic caused more businesses to close and more layoffs than any time since the great depression. On the bright side, the U.S. economy is improving adding 1.4 million jobs in August which dropped the unemployment rate significantly from 10.2% in June to 8.4%.*
So, Why Start a Business Now?
Your circumstance may dictate that you need to create an opportunity for yourself. Many working professionals have health and safety concerns or need to be present for loved ones so they can care for their health and safety. New business opportunities that align with their current needs are what many Americans are searching for. And franchises can offer a flexible alternative.
Growth during the Pandemic
New businesses are starting at a faster rate in more than a decade. Now that state restrictions are being lifted, spending is picking up for retailers and restaurants. The previous limitations on consumers are also causing a flood of activity and opening up markets for new businesses. Here are examples of franchises opening up this quarter and showing continued growth after a hard hit economy.
Chicken Salad Chick
For instance, the pandemic hasn't stopped Tommy and Stephanie Lauderdale from opening their fourth Chicken Salad Chick location. They are opening their newest restaurant on October 7th in Panama City, FL. This location will feature a drive-thru helping the owners to easily follow the state’s guidelines for safety protocols.
The Lauderdales are multi-unit franchise owners and operate Chicken Salad Chick locations across Destin, Pensacola, Panama City Beach, and this new Panama City restaurant, along with a seasonal kiosk in Rosemary Beach.
“I’ve been a Santa Rosa Beach resident for over a decade, and, in our town, the best lunchtime spots have always been fresh, quick and easy. So, when I was introduced to Chicken Salad Chick, I knew the brand’s simplicity, hospitable atmosphere and made-from-scratch menu items would fit right into our laid-back beach culture,” said Stephanie Lauderdale. “Six years later, that still holds true, and we’re thrilled to continue growing with a brand we’re so passionate about. We’re back to where it all started and are excited to serve yet another community of Panama City.”
Kip Farnsworth and Tracy Finley, of Firestone, CO, are opening three Ziggi's Coffee drive-thru units and are considering locations from Brighton, CO to Laramie, WY. Ziggi’s Coffee is a business where Kip and Tracy can hone in on their previous experience in real estate and as a salon owner. But Ziggi’s also has a special place in their heart. Even though the couple went to school together as children, they reconnected after 25 years and had their first date at a local Ziggi’s Coffee shop.
“Tracy has always talked about owning a coffee shop, and I kept seeing Ziggi’s popping up everywhere I looked; the timing was just right,” said Farnsworth.
“What really stood out to me was that Ziggi’s clearly has a proven formula that continues to work at every location. Their systems are apparent in their growth and with their entire team,” added Finley.
Bloomin’ Blinds is the leading window treatment franchise and is part of the growing $29.9 billion-dollar window covering industry. Amid the COVID epidemic, Bloomin’ Blinds has managed to sign up 16 new franchisees, released new technology and provided outstanding support to its franchisees and communities in which they serve.
As a result, the franchise is being recognized for its efforts. Entrepreneur Magazine Ranks Bloomin’ Blinds as No. 140 on the Top Growth Franchises list and No. 160 on the 2020 Franchise 500.
Currently, the brand is on track to surpass last year’s nine franchise openings and will have a total of 64 open by the end of the year.
“These awards are a testament to the hard work our team puts in day-in and day-out,” explained Kelsey Stuart, the CEO of Bloomin’ Blinds. “On top of all that hard work, we’ve made a commitment to constantly evolve. This mindset has pushed us to grow while simultaneously streamlining our processes, seen through the incorporation of new technology, keeping our foot on the gas - even when things were uncertain this year – and remaining dedicated to providing a top-notch experience to our customers. Our persistence and refusal to be complacent has gotten Bloomin’ Blinds to where it is today, and we don’t plan on slowing down.”
In addition to Bloomin’ Blinds considerable growth, the Edible franchise has added 63 new franchise agreements, 22 signing in August. With the addition of the August agreements, Edible saw a 60% increase in August sales year over year!
Edible Brands is the parent company of Edible, the world's largest franchisor of stores offering all-natural fruit snacks, dipped treats and fresh fruit arrangements with more than 1,000 locations worldwide.
“While Edible stores continue to flourish, it’s an exciting time to onboard new franchisees that are eager to grow alongside the brand,” said Patricia Perry, vice president of franchise development. “With every signed agreement, we’re welcoming new people with unique perspectives and authentic skill sets that help make the Edible experience their own. We’re thrilled to make an impact on their lives, and we anticipate that this collective momentum will remain strong throughout the year.”
Signarama, part of United Franchise Group, is one of the largest sign and graphics companies in the world and continues to provide businesses throughout the country much-needed signage this year.
Thavee Douangaphaivong, a Navy veteran from Everette, WA is pursuing his dream as a small business owner and opening one of Signarama's newest locations.
Douangaphaivong said "After nearly 30 years in the military, I'm living the dream as a business owner. At Signarama Everett, we're thrilled to be working with businesses to optimize their branding, imaging and marketing to help them grow and live their dreams, too." He continues, "We're working hard to be Everett's hometown sign shop and adding to the fabric of the local economy during these times."
Take note of the motivated entrepreneurs and new business owners profiled here and consider franchise ownership as an answer to meet your existing needs and future goals. Franchising offers you the flexibility to work part-time or full-time. Many systems have a choice of multiple business models and give you the potential to grow a business at your pace. Most importantly, franchise systems offer training and support to set you up for success.
*The Labor Department's payroll report


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Among big changes in the works are China Mobile’s shift in procurement policy from five-mode smartphones to three-mode models, and big plans among Chinese apps processor vendors to embrace connectivity (WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy).
Shift to three-mode smartphones
China Mobile, the world’s biggest cellular operator (in terms of subscriber numbers), initially bought only smartphones based on five-mode (supporting TD-LTE, FDD LTE, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, GSM) and 10-frequency base band modems. The impetus behind this policy was said to help internationalize TD-LTE and promote development of multiple mobile communication technologies.
Last year, however, China Mobile relaxed its procurement rule to include three-mode (TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA, EDGE/GPRS/GSM) models.
As a result, those profiting from China Mobile’s new policy are China’s leading fabless chip companies such as Spreadtrum and Leadcore, along with China-based smartphones.
China Mobile sees three-mode smartphones helpful to launch more inexpensive TD-LTE smartphones, Chinese industry sources say. The operator hopes to aggressively promote its TD-LTE services, and the way to that goal is lowering required specification from five- to three-mode, they said.
For smartphone vendors making five-mode models, Qualcomm (which dominates the market) and Marvell were the only chip suppliers they could depend on.
In Qualcomm’s latest financial call last fall, president Derek Aberle acknowledged that he expects the global 3G/4G average selling prices will decline approximately 9-10% in fiscal 2015. Aberle explained, “Really a big part of the year-over-year decline is driven by growth in China, and in particular three-mode and Chinese OEMs I think gaining share over non-Chinese OEMs.”


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Retailer unveils plan to tackle traffic problem at town superstore
- Credit: Archant
Supermarket firm Lidl has launched plans to solve long-running problems with the exit at its store in Huntingdon.
There have been concerns over congestion and safety at the exit since before the Stukeley Road shop was built.
Traffic can be gridlocked at the store at peak times when traffic flows across the entrance prevent vehicles from getting out - and the situation is made worse when the traffic lights at the Iron Bridge turn red.
Vehicles trying to turn right can bring the whole car park to a halt if they are unable to get across Stukeley Road, with some drivers trying to force their way into the traffic and causing problems on the main road as well.
Now the German-based discounter wants to create double exit with separate lanes for traffic exiting the car park to the left and right, with a seven metre box junction on Stukeley Road.
At present there is a single lane exit with traffic able to leave in either direction, although there is a sign advising drivers to turn left and use the nearby mini-roundabout on Stukeley Road.
The firm has submitted plans for the scheme to Huntingdonshire District Council, which said: "It was also observed that due to driver frustration, drivers were willing to drive dangerously to exit the site by mounting the footway in order to turn left."
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- 3 Fun in the sun at Huntingdon Carnival 2022
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- 5 Rocks thrown at St Neots school building in vandal attack
- 6 Dry weather continues to impact district as pond drys up in Ramsey
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- 8 Wire damage disrupts Great Northern trains between Hitchin and Peterborough
- 9 All aboard! St Neots father and son to tackle London underground for charity
- 10 Huntingdon care home treats residents to an exotic animal expereince
Huntingdon Town Council has already considered the plan and has recommended refusal for it.
Members felt the changes would not reduce congestion and felt right turns out of the store had an adverse effect on safety in the area.
They said in a response to the district council: "Members also felt that adding another lane would make the crossing unsafe for pedestrians.
"Members also noted that there was insufficient space for the proposed box junction. Lastly, members felt that the traffic and incident information was incomplete."
The town council added: "Members recommended that the junction should allow left turns only."
Lidl's application said the present junction was design to allow traffic travelling from the north to enter the car park without having to queue at the traffic lights and to allow better access for delivery lorries.
It said that accident figures showed two minor incidents in the vicinity of the entrance before the store opened and one after.
Lidl said that congestion at the entrance showed a maximum wait for right turners during the weekday peak was 80 seconds and 120 seconds on the Saturday peak.
"The solution will improve the free-flow of traffic and will enhance highway safety," the firm said.
There was concern that Stukeley Road would not be able to cope with traffic flows before the store opened in 2015.


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Shiba Inu Token Is Up 25% Following Coinbase Listing
- Coinbase has listed Shiba Inu (SHIB) on its main exchange.
- The coin’s price rose by approximately 25% within hours of the listing. It now has a market capitalization of $1.2 billion.
- SHIB is one of many similar tokens that attempted to capitalize on the success of Dogecoin earlier this year.
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Coinbase has listed Shiba Inu (SHIB) on its main exchange, according to an announcement from the crypto trading company.
Coinbase Lists Shiba Inu
Today’s listing means that investors will be able to buy, sell, and send Shiba Inu on Coinbase’s web exchange. The same features are also available to users of Coinbase’s iOS and Android apps.
Coinbase noted that the token “aspires to be an Ethereum-based alternative to Dogecoin (DOGE), the popular memecoin.”
The exchange drew attention to Shiba Inu’s economics, noting its finely-denominated supply of one quadrillion tokens. It also acknowledged the coin’s ecosystem, which currently features an NFT project and a decentralized exchange.
It remains to be seen whether Shiba Inu will maintain its legitimacy. It is one of several nearly identical tokens that were created to capitalize on Dogecoin’s success earlier this year.
Arguably, Shiba Inu is not notable in its own right; rather, it is notable for the fact that it has beat out its various competitors.
SHIB price Is Up 25%
Coinbase’s listing has benefited SHIB’s market value. The coin’s value rose roughly 25% in the hours following the addition and reached a value of $0.00000841 (8.4 cents per 10,000 tokens).
The SHIB token was previously listed on the company’s professional exchange, Coinbase Pro, on Sept. 9. The token’s price saw a similar boost shortly after that listing began.
This growth is not so noticeable in comparison to the coin’s earliest prices. In May, shortly after its launch, SHI(BA) reached its all-time high of $0.00003532 (35.3 cents per 10,000 tokens).
Regardless, Shiba remains among the top 50 largest tokens. It has a market capitalization of $1.2 billion, according to CoinGecko.
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Coinbase plans to use the funds for product development and potential acquisitions. Coinbase Plots Debt Sale Coinbase, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, is hoping to raise $1.5 billion…


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We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our latest service centre, Otters Brook, in partnership with leading seasonal decorations supplier, Festive Productions Ltd.
Elastic capacity and a growing national presence
Further strengthening of our national network of fulfilment partners, our new centre initially provides 10,700 ft² in capacity for the storage, packing and worldwide shipping of eCommerce businesses that we support- with scope for future expansion on the 17 acre-site.
Otters Brook forms the latest string to our bow within a mutually beneficial sharing model that delivers millions in additional revenue for retailers with under-utilised warehouse resources.
Helping us establish our presence in the South of the UK, the launch of our partnership with Festive Productions Ltd plays a crucial role in delivering our long-term strategy to decentralise the distribution of stock, reduce parcel miles and facilitate same-day and specialist delivery.
Perfect for sustainable businesses
The latest partnership further strengthens our industry-leading commitment to sustainability, as Otters Brook boasts an on-site solar farm capable of generating up to 340,000Kw per year. As the first service centre to be 100% powered by renewable energy, the addition of our latest location represents an important milestone within our Lorax Project making it the perfect third-party fulfilment centre for environmentally conscious retailers looking to incorporate sustainable operations into their wider business strategy.
Get in touch
We’re excited to welcome Festive Productions Ltd to our close-knit network of integrated partners and are proud to be in an even greater position to fulfil the bespoke needs of online retailers across a whole range of sectors. If you're interested in becoming a fulfilment network partner, fill in a contact form. Alternatively, if you’re an online retailer looking to sustainably scale your business through the most flexible fulfilment provider in the market.
by Liz Churm on 24/05/2019


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NEW YORK, March 8 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Bill Ackman on Tuesday called embattled drug company Valeant a “very valuable asset” but forecast that if the company’s situation does not stabilize soon new management will be brought in or the company will be sold.
“It will be a messy fourth quarter and a messy first quarter but after that things should stabilize,” Ackman, whose Pershing Square Capital Management is Valeant’s third largest owner said at the Harbor Investment Conference. If things continue to be volatile, he predicted that current management would be replaced or the company would be sold.
Valeant’s share price has tumbled 68 percent since Ackman first bought the stock a year ago. Recently the company said it would have to restate earnings, delayed an earnings call and saw its chief executive return unexpectedly from a long sick leave. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Chris Reese)


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Nokia is a brand which has been through quite the roller coaster in the past decade. The Finnish manufacturer struck a deal with Microsoft which saw it flounder with the lacklustre Windows Phone platform. This led to the eventual takeover of the manufacturing arm by Microsoft. Handicapped by a non-compete with Microsoft, the company reverted to its roots in telecommunications infrastructure while biding its time for a return to the mobile industry.
That return has come. A new Finnish company, HMD, is looking to revive the once ubiquitous brand. HMD, who won the right to use the Nokia brand in 2016, wasted no time in releasing its first Android-powered smartphone under the Nokia brand. The company marked the biggest mobile market, China, for Nokia’s return.
In an exclusive release, China will see the launch of the Nokia 6, the first phone carrying the Nokia brand in over 2 years. The Nokia 6 looks to bring the quality and functionality of Nokia devices in the past to a new generation fond of smartphones.
The Nokia 6 is made of anodised 6000 series aluminium and carries a unibody design much like most of the smartphones today. The screen on the device is a FullHD 1080p screen measuring 5.5-inches and is protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass. The display will have “excellent sunlight readability” thanks to its display stack being “laminated together with a polarizer layer”.
The Android 7.0 Nougat wielding Nokia 6 is powered by an Octa-core (8-core) Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor with an Adreno 505 graphics processor. This is supported by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.
On the camera front, the Nokia 6 will come with a 16-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel front facing camera. Both will have f/2.0 aperture lenses. According to HMD, the “exclusive camera UI with automatic scene detection make it easy to take great shots every time”.
The audio of the Nokia 6 will be powered by dual amplifiers which the company says will “deliver a 6 dB louder sound than a regular amp” and will support Dolby Atmos.
The Nokia 6 will retail in China for CNY1,699 exclusively from JD.com. The 6 is apparently the first of an oncoming wave of Nokia devices coming from HMD. No word on whether the other devices will see a global launch although, Nokia’s Malaysian distributor did say that Malaysia is definitely on HMD’s radar.


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Health stocks were apathetic midweek, save for a few bigger players slinging news and earnings into the fray. Israeli generic-drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical ( TEVA) and Wyeth ( WYE) ended the standstill agreement for patent litigation on a generic version of acid-reflux treatment Protonix. Wyeth and partner Nycomed said after Tuesday's market close that it immediately would begin marketing its own generic version of the drug, which was due to see patent expiration in 2010. The move gives Teva the freedom to resume sales of its generic form of Protonix, which it originally introduced in December. Despite the decision to market a generic version of the drug itself, Wyeth said the battle brews on. "Going forward, we will continue to seek an injunction against any infringement of this patent, as well as monetary damages, including lost profits, from Teva." Wyeth, which generated $1.45 billion in sales from the drug in the first nine months of last year, saw shares edge down 3% to $39.84. Teva's shares, meanwhile, were up 1.3% at $44.98. Both stocks are components of the Amex Pharmaceutical index, which was down 1.5% at 313.72. In earnings, Allergan ( AGN) reported fourth-quarter profit of $160.3 million, or 52 cents a share, vs. $136.8 million, or 45 cents a share in the year-ago quarter. On an adjusted basis, the company reported earning $185.1 million, or 60 cents a share, vs. $156.5 million, or 51 cents a share in the same quarter last year. Allergan reported revenue of $1.075 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were looking for 58 cents a share on revenue of $1.006 billion. For the year, the aesthetics and device company earned $499 million, or $1.62 a share -- $173 million on an adjusted basis -- on revenue of $3.93 billion. Analysts were looking for revenue of $3.86 billion. Allergan said first-quarter profit will likely be in a range of 44 to 45 cents a share (between 50 and 51 cents a share on an adjusted basis), shy of the Thomson Financial consensus target of 57 cents a share on an adjusted basis. For 2008, the company expects profit between $2.54 and $2.58 a share, while analysts are predicting $2.58 a share. Shares were down 0.5% at $64.69. Then there's Merck ( MRK), which saw shares fall $1.70, or 3.5%, to $46.31. On a GAAP basis, the company reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $1.63 million, or 75 cents share, including charges ($4.85 billion) related to the Vioxx settlement agreement. Excluding those charges, the company earned 80 cents a share in the fourth quarter, on sales of $6.2 billion, a 3% year-over-year increase. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were looking for 74 cents a share on revenue of $6.29 billion. For the year, Merck reported earnings of $3.27 billion, a 26% decline from 2006. Before specific items, the company reported earning $3.20 a share, on worldwide sales of $24.2 billion, a 7% rise over 2006. Analysts had predicted $3.15 a share on revenue of $24.3 billion. Merck reported quarterly sales of $1.5 billion from the partnership with Schering-Plough ( SGP) for its now controversy-ridden cholesterol drugs Zetia and Vytorin, a 34% increase vs. the comparable 2006 quarter. For the year, combined annual sales of the drugs totaled $5.2 billion.
Click here for more on Merck's earnings and the executive's comments regarding the Enhance trial. Merck shares fell 3.7% to $46.25, while Schering rose 1.8% to $19.39. Away from earnings, analysts picked up coverage of a few healthcare companies midweek. Canaccord Adams initiated coverage on Iris International ( IRIS), which makes in vitro diagnostics systems and other medical supplies, with a buy rating. Shares were 2.9% at $18.08 on lighter-than-normal volume. Cannacord also initiated coverage on biotechnology company AspenBio Pharma ( APPY) with a buy rating. Shares rose 2.2% to $6, also on light volume.


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Ubisoft will close its free-to-play Battle Royale Hyper Scape in April. The end of the project and the shutdown of servers will take place less than two years after the start – the game became available in July 2020.
The company said in a statement that the full liquidation of Hyper Scape will occur on April 28. Ubisoft also expressed gratitude to the gaming community and assured that they would take into account the development experience in their new projects.
Hyper Scape is a multiplayer action game with Twitch integration and f2p access. The release of the game was promising, but at the start it received a fair share of criticism. After that, in October 2020, Ubisoft announced a number of major updates that were supposed to improve the gameplay. Apparently, this was not enough, and as a result, without announcing specific reasons, the developer announced the closure of the project.


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CoinGeek has covered a lot of crazy stories about this industry and its participants in recent years, but today’s story is possibly the craziest of them all. It all started with a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) called Spice DAO. As with most DAOs, SPICE token holders have the right to vote over what happens to the funds in the Spice DAO, and excitedly, they bid on a rare copy of Mexican director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Dune.
To be clear, this isn’t the original Dune story, but rather is a legendary book about the unmade film Alejandro had planned out before studios nixed it due to its insane budget. It contains the script, concept art, and other materials, and previously, copies of the book sold for up to $42,500.
Enter Spice DAO.
Seeing that a copy of the rare book was up for auction, SPICE token holders went to town, bidding €2.66 million (US$3.01 million) for it and winning the auction held by Christie’s. They promptly announced their plans to make the book public and to commission an animated series based on it to sell to a streaming service.
There’s just one small problem.
Like many legal and economic illiterates operating in the digital currency and blockchain industries, Spice DAO had fundamentally misunderstood what they were purchasing. As a Financial Times article on the subject points out, Spice DAO had purchased a copy of this rare book, yet somehow they believed they now owned the script and intellectual property contained within it.
Doh! Threads quickly popped up all over the internet, including on Twitter, making fun of Spice DAO’s blunder. This one, in Spanish, referred to ‘crypto bros’ as ‘criptolais’, roughly meaning someone who is easily tricked or is a dunce.
Unos criptolai compraron un ejemplar raro de Dune en una subasta y ahora creen que tienen los derechos de Dune. Estas personas tienen, en efecto, cerebros galácticos (porque es casi todo espacio vacío). pic.twitter.com/xkRSwEH0FK
— Andrés Diplotti 🐀 (@adiplotti) January 16, 2022
Satoshi’s warnings still go unheeded
The Spice DAO saga is a tale that’s all too familiar across the industry; naive people, often young and without much real-world experience, believe that the law, such as the rules regarding intellectual property rights, don’t apply in the digital realm or else they fundamentally misunderstand it.
Satoshi Nakamoto himself has been attempting to correct this misconception for years and is in the process of legally enforcing his rights over Bitcoin and associated intellectual property. Yet, still, many do not believe him or think that real world laws do not apply.
For those who don’t yet know, the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto is not the great mystery it’s made out to be. He is none other than Australian inventor and polymath Dr. Craig Steven Wright. Dr. Wright has been painstakingly explaining how Bitcoin is not some community-owned project designed to bring down banks and subvert the law, but that it is, in fact, pure conservative capitalism, the exact opposite of what the ‘crypto bros’ believe it to be. He has urged anyone who will listen to wake up and realize that things like DAOs are subject to the same laws as every other entity and that the laws of the real world apply equally to the digital realm.
Dr. Wright has been explaining for years that laws related to not only money laundering and other financial elements, but those related to intellectual property rights and ownership, apply equally to projects in the digital assets industry. He’s highlighted many times how the recent NFT craze is going to lead to a raft of lawsuits and how Bitcoin itself will be subject to an increasing number of legal battles as he attempts to restore his rights to it.
Yet, still, very few pay attention, thanks in part to a mass-scale smear campaign against Dr. Wright. As a result, disasters like purchasing a copy of a book and believing it bestows the right to monetize the intellectual property within it persists.
If only Spice DAO members had listened to Satoshi’s extensive lectures on these subjects, they might have intuited a problem with their plan and saved themselves millions.
BSV is not crypto—it’s an enterprise blockchain
Thankfully, Dr. Wright and others in BSV have a plan to distance it from the overzealous madness and legal/economic ignorance of the current digital currency and blockchain spaces. While cryptolais continue to build sandcastles in the sky in an attempt to make the world a place where we all share everything as a community, most BSVers have embraced the truth: there is no Bitcoin without property rights, capitalism, and the law. As a result, real use cases with utility and longevity can be built on the BSV blockchain.
Let Spice DAO’s harsh lesson teach everyone else an important point: most people in this industry have no idea what they are doing and are hopelessly naive and ignorant about reality. Take everything they say and do with a pinch of salt.
Watch: CoinGeek New York panel, Bitcoin & Blockchain – Can Real Value Come from Real Utility?
New to blockchain? Check out CoinGeek’s Blockchain for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about blockchain technology.


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Apple patents iPhone Mobile Navigation / Mapping App
With the introduction of iPhone 3G with a GPS sensor, many fans expected a bonanza of various navigation apps for the new phone.
And, to be sure, there are quite a few of them using location capabilities.
But, due to the limited use of GPS sensor that Apple allows on iPhone, very few serious navigation/mapping apps made it to the new platform. The reason for these limitations?
Some say it’s because of the too week GPS sensor that is not suitable for serious navigation apps, others say that it’s to preserve battery on the already power hungry iPhone 3G.
But the one that looks the most obvious to me is that Apple sees a potentially lucrative market developing in the navigation apps/services and want’s to keep that for themselves.
Apple already has a good Google Maps powered mapping/navigation, which after 2.2 iPhone firmaware update works pretty darn well. And most of the iPhone/touchscreen interface optimization for that app is actually done and owned by Apple, not Google.
And now it seems that Apple has taken this thing one step further and patented most of the features used in it’s mobile navigation app.
While the features described in the patent app do not cover much more then is already available on iPhone after 2.2 upgrade, it shows how much of what many consider to be a Google Maps app on the iPhone, is actually owned by Apple.
And, as more offerings between companies start to compete with each other ( Android, MobileMe Office suite, browsers, etc;), I wonder how long it will be until Apple rolls out it’s own fully functional mapping app.


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Google spreads the holiday cheer by introducing double structured snippets.
For those of you who remember, and pay attention, in August 2015, the giant search engine introduced the structured snippet extensions. The notion behind this update was to give customers a better understanding of your product before they click, as well as to help advertisers make their ads more relevant.
Early data from Google showed that structured snippets used by small and large businesses have a positive impact on their ad performance. A lot of advertisers struggled to demonstrate the unique qualities of their brands and businesses with the limited ad space available. But, NO MORE, says Google.
This latest update will help advertisers add yet another layer of structured information to their ads. This, however, does not mean that more than one snippet will be automatically qualified to show at each search.
These structured snippet updates are already rolling out on most AdWords accounts. However, they are not yet available on all languages.
What does all of that mean to you?
Lots and lots of AdWords campaign revisions! At Inbound Avenue we are confident that these additional structured snippets will greatly help improve ad performance and should not be overlooked.


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MAC just announced their VIVAGLAM spokesperson for 2016 and it is good girl/ bad girl pop sensation Ariana Grande.
Ariana has helped to collaborate on a Lipstick and Lipglass that will be available in January of 2016. The Lipstick is a matte plum shade (as seen in the image above) and the Lipglass is a shimmering pink gloss.
As always, every cent from the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipgloss goes toward helping women, men and children loving with and affected with HIV/AIDS. TO find out more, visit maccosmetics.com/vg


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Greg Glassman, CEO of CrossFit HQ, takes heat for his recent comments on Twitter about George Floyd’s death. He writes a viscous letter to Rocket CrossFit. Massive brands drop their sponsorships, and CrossFit affiliates renounce their affiliation with CrossFit. Here’s what happened.
Alexandria Living Magazine’s Interviews Paul Roberts on how to stay in shape at home.


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EU set duty-free import quotas for Ukrainian grains
The European Parliament adopted the draft Regulation on reduction or cancellation of the customs duties on commodities imported from Ukraine. Thus, Ukraine is able to supply 950 thsd tonnes of wheat and flour, and 250 thsd tonnes of barley to the European Union on duty-free basis in the period of autonomous trade preferences (until October 31).
As for maize supplies, the quotas for the grain shipments are set at 400 thsd tonnes. According to Taras Kachka, Vice-President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, the reporting volume is provided for such case if the EU decides to raise the import duties on maize for all grain exporters. At the same time, T.Kachka assured that until the end of the current season there are not expected any changes in the terms of maize trading with the EU.
We should note that in 2013 Ukraine exported nearly 7.1 mln tonnes of grains, including nearly 1 mln tonnes of wheat and 50 thsd tonnes of barley, to the European Union countries.
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Ukraine: in 2014/15 MY domestic consumption of grains to fall - APK-Inform
Syngenta is the exclusive sponsor of the conference "Fat-and-Oil Industry – 2014”
In 2015 Ukraine to lose 50-60 mln USD due to the ban on imports of plant growing products to Russia – I.Shvaika
October 23, 18:00
As of October 23, Ukraine harvested over 52.7 mln tonnes of grains - Ministry of Agrarian Policy
October 23, 17:30
Market of high-oleic sunflower seed in Russia and Ukraine – new study of APK-Inform
October 23, 14:00
Ukraine: Ministry of Agrarian Policy forecasts overachievement of the plan for winter wheat planting
October 23, 11:00


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SBC and CoinPoint Group partnered to deliver blockchain and metaverse to users better and also strategically arouse investor
CoinPoint Group, an investor and tech brand in the blockchain and metaverse sector, has become the newest partner to SBC for the upcoming SBC Summit Barcelona 2022 events. The event is taking place at Fira Barcelona de Montjuïc from September 20th to 22nd and will bring over 6,000 delegates, several speakers, and hundreds of companies.
CoinPoint Group is a vital strategic partner for SBC. Since the company was established in 2013, its mission has remained to make blockchain and cryptocurrency technology more accessible to consumers and businesses across the region and beyond. The brand has spent the latest months working on Web 3.0 technologies for its users and introducing them to various audiences by stressing the values it provides to diverse audiences.
Partnership welcomed by both parties.
The partnership was welcomed by both brands, with CoinPoint founder Oron Barber thanking SBC for having full access to its audience that will be interested in finding more out about emerging tech, blockchain, and the metaverse. There’s also a need to acknowledge how to apply this to the iGaming and sports betting world.
SBC Marketing Director Dennis Algreen remarked this
“This partnership will provide SBC an awareness strategy on the newly added and evolving tech, blockchain, and the metaverse. CoinPoint has a huge network interested in consuming web 3.0, blockchain, NFTs, crypto, and metaverse content. —- Dennis Algreen —- SBC Marketing Director —-
CoinPoint Group to reach more audiences through SBC Summit Barcelona 2022
SBC is optimistic and happy to reach a larger audience through Catalonian Metaverse and Web 3.0 Gaming Event, which will be organized alongside SBC Summit Barcelona 2022.
Algreen is optimistic that the metaverse is full of opportunities. Anyone serious about it can benefit greatly, from affiliates to operators, suppliers, payment providers, to pretty much anyone else in the industry.
SBC Summit is ready to take things further. The SBC Summit Barcelona will have its dedicated zone where metaverse, blockchain, and other industry-leading and emerging technology will be shown and discussed extensively with industry experts.
SBC remains a force in the industry of its wide range of innovation, with the company serving as a focal point where specialists from works of life can come together to exchange knowledge and innovate with their ideas


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Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 01:31 pm PT (04:31 pm ET)
Apple releases iTunes update with Wish List, language enhancementsApple on Wednesday released iTunes version 11.1.4, a minor update that brings enhanced Wish List viewing and language additions to the company's ubiquitous media management, purchasing and playback software.
According to the release notes, the latest version of iTunes allows users to view their store Wish List while browsing their library. In addition, language support for Arabic and Hebrew come built in.
Aside from the above, regular stability improvements and bug fixes are included in the point update.
Apple's last iTunes update came in November of last year when the company pushed out a bug fixes for the integrated software equalizer and viewing large media libraries.
iTunes 11.1.4 can be downloaded via the Mac App Store's Update section or Software Update.
On Topic: iTunes
- Apple reportedly pressing labels for exclusive content as digital music sales dip
- Apple adds hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar to iTunes festival lineup
- Soundgarden joins US debut of Apple's iTunes Festival at SXSW
- Apple releases iTunes 11.1.5 with fix for device connection issues
- Apple bringing iTunes Festival to America at SXSW 2014


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NEW YORK--Thethat AT&T announced this morning in New York will include AT&T's U-verse Mobile app, the carrier said in a press release.
U-verse is AT&T's digital TV service that competes with cable and satellite in people's homes. The mobile app lets subscribers download TV shows via Wi-Fi onto their phones at no extra charge.
In addition to playing shows, the mobile app can manage DVR recordings at home, including scheduling recordings. If you're not a subscriber, Windows Phone 7 users can still get the service for $9.99 per month. This is a typical price for mobile entertainment on other platforms, including Netflix and Hulu Plus for Apple's iPhone.
To sweeten the deal and pique interest, AT&T is offering a 30-day free trial of U-verse Mobile and also of Zune Pass, Microsoft's music subscription service. These offers are part of AT&T's Entertainment Pack for Windows Phone 7 owners. The pack also includes the Xbox Live Arcade game Ilomilo, which AT&T is offering exclusively to those who buy new Windows phones through the end of 2010.


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While Mexican cuisine has always been popular amongst Vancouverites seeking some semblance of warmth in our rainy climate, the options have been limited in the past.
Luckily, there has been a growth spurt in the number of Mexican-influenced eateries in town, including a flurry of taco places that have been launching such as La Catrina, which opened last year in the West End.
La Mezcaleria, featuring mescal from different regions of Mexico, opened its second location last year at 68 East Cordova.
Although the recently opened Andina Brewing Company (1507 Powell Street) has a South American focus (especially Colombia), they do include some Mexican items, such as Mexican ceviche.
More recently, El Santo (680 Columbia Street) opened in New Westminster, which combines traditional Mexican cuisine with local ingredients.
Meanwhile, the U.S.–based Mexican-inspired chain Chipotle Mexican Grill is expanding into West Vancouver.
Over in East Vancouver, Maizal is gearing up for an opening at 2815 Main Street.
The 1,100 square-foot space will seat up to 30 to 35 people, and will open sometime around the beginning of April.
Owner Rodrigo Vela, who is originally from Mexico and has previously worked in Vancouver at Sciué and Chipotle, said that his new casual spot will focus on inspiration from street food popular in Mexico City.
The menu will include in-house made tortillas, tacos, quesadillas, tamales, and tortas (sandwiches), as well as some of Vela's favourite traditional dishes such as pastor (spit-grilled meat), carnitas (braised pork), carne asada (grilled beef dish), and green mole. There'll also be beer, tequila, and mescal-based cocktails.
Most of the menu will be gluten- and GMO-free, with vegetarian and vegan options available.
Meanwhile, La Churreria is under construction at 1105 Davie Street, next to the health-oriented Fit Camp Foods at the corner of Thurlow Street in the West End. It's being opened by the owners of Los Amigos Taqueria, which is right across the street at 1118 Davie Street. Due to the popularity of churros at their taqueria, they decided to open a place devoted to churros. And why not?
They'll be specializing in ice cream and Mexican churros, or fried-dough pastries, that'll be served filled or plain. There'll also be some Mexican coffee drinks and other offerings as well.
The small spot is 600 square feet and can seat 16 inside plus the patio. The décor will feature an emphasis on wood with a contemporary style.
It'll be a welcome dessert spot to stop by, particularly after dropping by the nearby beach in the summer.
The owners are aiming to open in about two weeks so stay tuned for more details on this one. Sounds delish.


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Saks owner Hudson's Bay hires CVS Health executive as CEO
HUDSON'S Bay, the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, has hired a top executive from CVS Health in an effort to transform its struggling department store business.
Helena Foulkes, president of CVS' pharmacy division, was named chief executive of Hudson's Bay
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I already mentioned my conviction that the fact that the WotLK beta started in July means that we'll see the Wrath of the Lich King expansion still this year. I didn't expect anyone from Blizzard to confirm that impression, because they have a long tradition of NOT announcing release dates until the last minute. But Mike Morhaime just confirmed a Q4 2008 release by saying that WotLK will be out this year, and not in Q3.
Of course some people regard any current announcement and new feature of WotLK as a reaction to WAR. Warhammer fans are reporting that on Amazon WAR outsells WotLK in preorders by 3:1. But another meter shows that in total WoW makes 63% of all Amazon MMO sales, followed by Guild Wars with 16%, and everything else including LotRO, Age of Conan, and WAR at 5% or less.
I still believe that most current World of Warcraft players will buy Wrath of the Lich King. And a solid number of ex-WoW players will buy WotLK as well, at least to try for a few months before leaving again. *I* will buy WotLK to play for a few months before taking another break, as I don't believe the expansion will hold my attention for as long as Blizzard needs to release the next one. I think the current pre-order numbers aren't really saying much, many WoW fans will just buy the box when it comes out, and not pre-order it three months in advance. In my book Blizzard has a good track record in distribution, for The Burning Crusade you could go into a shop on release day and get a copy in most places. I think Wrath of the Lich King will sell around 5 million copies this year just in the USA and Europe. I don't think WAR will sell 5 million copies this year, and certainly not 15 million copies. The WAR preorders reflect hype and the fear to not get a copy on the first day, not a prediction of WAR ultimately selling better than WotLK.
It is now reasonably safe to say that we will have BOTH Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning AND Wrath of the Lich King available before christmas 2008. Exciting times ahead, and not so far any more. But WAR vs. WotLK christmas sales will be just a first round in a battle which will still continue for several years. And while I am convinced that Blizzard will win that first round, they still have a lot of work to do to combat the impression that WoW is on the decline while WAR is on the rise. If the first expansion for WAR comes out before the third expansion for WoW, Mythic could well win the next round.


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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — An embezzlement investigation at a Sikes Senter athletic shoe and clothing store in 2019 results in an indictment three years later.
The suspect, then store manager Julius Hastings, 26, is accused of stealing almost $8,400 from the store.
Police were notified of four missing deposits in March of 2019 and an internal investigation and audit led store investigators to suspect Hastings.
A police investigator says Hastings was at the store and cooperative and admitted he stole the deposits and that he had both the keys needed to open the store safe.
Police say they did not arrest Hastings at that time pending an arrest warrant. Police also obtained surveillance video supporting the charge against Hastings.
In a written statement, police say Hastings stated he took the money for his then unborn child.


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Good news for all the Motorola Moto G8 and Moto G8 Power owners, because the company is now rolling out the stable Android 11 updates for both units.
Back in December, Motorola shared a list of smartphones that will receive the Android 11 update in 2021. However, from the list until now, only the Moto G Pro has bagged the stable Android 11 update.
And after a long gap, finally, the Android 11 update is live for the Motorola Moto G8 and Moto G8 Power. During the last few months, the Lenovo-owned brand has conducted several soak tests before pushing the stable update.
So, we hope that there are no underlying issues left with the latest updates for both devices. According to a report by 9To5Google, the Android 11 update arrives with firmware version RPE31.Q4U-47-35 on both Moto G8 and G8 Power.
Talking about the stock Android 11 features, it includes chat bubbles, a conversation section in the notifications area, a one-time permissions option, dedicated media playback widget, Smart Device controls, a built-in screen recorder, and much more.
Apart from all the Android 11 features, the update also bumps the security patch level to February 2021. Sadly, this is not the latest security patch. But at least the devices got the latest Android 11 update.
Currently, only Moto G8 and G8 Power users residing in Columbia are receiving the update
It is worth noting that the update is not yet live for all users across the globe. Notably, this new Android 11 update for Motorola Moto G8 and Moto G8 Power is available only for users residing in Columbia.
However, we expect Motorola to start expanding the update to more regions in the coming weeks. Fortunately, Motorola has a clear update portal where you can go and check if your device is eligible to receive the new software update.
As usual, the update is rolling out via OTA in batches. Meaning that it will be available for all users gradually. If the update has reached your region, then you will receive an update notification.
However, if you have not yet received the update notification then, you can also manually check for it. In order to do so, head over to Settings. Then tap About Phone. Go to System Updates.
If a new update is available for your device, then you can tap on the notification to download the update and install it on your phone. Once the Android 11 update is installed, your phone will restart to finish the update installation.
The post Motorola Moto G8 & G8 Power Starts Getting Android 11 Update appeared first on Android Headlines.


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Nitrogenmuvek plans HUF 10bn capacity expansion
Hungarian artificial fertiliser maker Nitrogenmuvek plans a HUF 10bn capacity expansion next year, owner Laszlo Bige said in Monday's issue of business daily Napi Gazdasag.
The investment will boost capacity by 15-40% and cut the company's energy consumption by 15%, Mr Bige said.
Last week, Nitrogenmuvek issued €50 million of corporate bonds with the cooperation of BNP-Paribas, he said, declining to reveal any information about the conditions other than that they were favourable.
Nitrogenmuvek has a HUF 20 billion stock of cash and wants to pay off the remaining €29 milliom (about HUF 7.8 billion) it owes the Hungarian Development Bank (MFB) in a single installment soon, Mr Bige said.
Gyula Budai, the government's commissioner for investigating public corruption, reported the loan in July on suspicion of misappropriation of funds.
Mr Bige told the paper the company took out the €85 million loan from the MFB in 2008, not in 2005, as alleged, and that it had repaid €35 million in two years and the remaining €50 million later. The government gave Nitrogenmuvek a guarantee on the credit for a HUF 301 million fee and Nitrogenmuvek put itself up as collateral, he added.
Nitrogenmuvek's exports now generate 60% of revenue, up from about 40% in 2009. German partners pay HUF 12,000 more per tonne of artificial fertiliser than domestic ones, Mr Bige noted.
Nitrogenmuvek buys gas on two Western European gas bourses and it works with four companies that have gas stores in Austria, he said. The cost of buying gas from Hungary's centrally regulated strategic gas reserve runs up additional costs of HUF 1 billion per year for the company, he added.
All but one of Nitrogenmuvek's 29 companies are profitable, Mr Bige said.
Nitrogenmuvek is building a new bread factory in Romania and modernising a mill there at a cost of €10 million, he said.
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Samsung denies partiality to Apple for Flash memory
Apple recently launched their iPod nano at competitive prices with decent storage capacities. So much so, that it is expected to harm the sales of cheap small capacity Korean manufacturers selling MP3 players. Market reports suggested that the iPod nano is costing just 90 dollars in manufacturing costs to the company, which is mostly due to extremely low prices Apple is getting for the flash memory from Samsung.
However, Samsung denies any partiality to Apple for their supplies. The company claims that their dealing with Apple is like any other business deal. And considering Apple is buying bulk of their manufacturing capacities of the flash memory, they do manage to get magnified discounts.
In addition, Samsung also says that Apple is using the new generation MLC type memory which itself is around 30 to 40 percent cheaper than the type used by Appleâ€™s disgruntled Korean competitors. This allows Apple to price their products competitively resulting in bad business for the other companies. Unlike the more common SLC type, the new MLC can store two data units on one cell. This means product costs are lower and productivity is higher.
CEO of Samsungâ€™s semiconductor division, Hwang Chang-kyu said in a statement: â€œThere was nothing unfair about the businesses with Apple. The price difference may seem magnified since the only demand at the moment is from Apple.â€


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// Sainsbury’s CR&S director Judith Batchelar announces resignation after working there for 16 years
// Batchelar will remain with Sainsbury’s until November in an advisory capacity.
// Her role now will be split between group head of CR&S Ruth Cranston and newly-promoted corporate affairs director Rebecca Reilly
Sainsbury’s corporate responsibility and sustainability director Judith Batchelar has announced her resignation from the Big 4 giant after working there for 16 years.
In an internal note, chief marketing officer Mark Given said Batchelar – whose remit also included public affairs – has decided to leave Sainsbury’s to pursue a range of other interests.
Batchelar will remain with Sainsbury’s until November in an advisory capacity.
- Sainsbury’s partners with Carluccio’s for 3 in-store concepts
- Sainsbury’s to recycle ocean plastic waste into strawberry & fish packaging
- Sainsbury’s suffers £261m loss due to Covid-19 costs
“As well as successfully running the Sainsbury’s Brand division Judith has been at the heart of all our work on sustainability and the environment for many years,” Given said.
“Her knowledge of the food supply chain from the farm to the plate is unparalleled in the industry.
“She has been the embodiment of ‘passion for food’ in our business, has been our voice to government through the pandemic and Brexit and was instrumental in agreeing our first set of Net Zero commitments last year.”
Sainsbury’s said that from the end of May, the corporate responsibility and sustainability (CR&S) team will be led by group head of CR&S Ruth Cranston.
Cranston will report directly to Given.
Meanwhile the public affairs team will report to Rebecca Reilly, who has been promoted to corporate affairs director.
Reilly, who has been at Sainsbury’s for seven years, is currently group head of communications and responsible for all of Sainsbury’s internal and external communications.
She will continue to report directly to chief executive Simon Roberts.
“I would like to thank Judith for the major contribution she has made to our business and our brand over the last 16 years and I’m hugely grateful for her dedication and leadership of our corporate responsibility and sustainability programmes,” Roberts said.
“On behalf of my colleagues I wish her all the best for the future.
“Rebecca’s promotion is a huge vote of confidence in her leadership.
“Having our external communications, colleague communications and government engagement all under Rebecca will help us land one strategic narrative with these key audiences.”


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Apple’s automotive plans have reportedly changed once again.
The tech giant has delayed its electric vehicle’s (EV) launch to 2026 and has rolled back its ambitious self-driving plans, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
While rumours surrounding ‘Project Titan’ appeared almost weekly a few months ago, hinting that the electric vehicle could launch as soon as 2025, reports have been relatively quiet lately.
Apple’s new automotive plans include a steering wheel and pedals, contrary to previous reports indicating that the vehicle wouldn’t include conventional car control input, along with support for autonomous driving capabilities on highways, says Bloomberg. This likely means that Apple’s vehicle will offer a version of Level 2 or Level 3 (or possibly Level 4) autonomous driving, allowing drivers to be hands-free under certain circumstances.
The car will reportedly be powered by a custom Apple chip and will feature a price tag under $100,000 USD (roughly $136,485 CAD), ensuring it’s a luxury vehicle. It’s rumoured to release between 2024 and 2028.
Apple’s EV project has been fraught with production difficulties. For example, back in 2016-2017, the car was reportedly scuttled in favour of a focus on autonomous vehicle technology and a manufacturing partnership with Hyundai or Kia. However, that plan was reportedly scrapped, and Apple is once again working on its own car.
We still don’t have a clear picture of what Apple’s car will look like, but the final design should be ready by next year, with features being locked in by the end of 2024.
Though Tesla will be Apple’s main competition in the EV space, the market has become far more crowded lately, with legacy manufacturers like Hyundai, Kia, Rivian, Volkswagen and more jumping into the electric vehicle fray.


text: While this was almost a given, it's still reassuring to hear it from the horse's mouth. On their twitter account, Samsung UK has confirmed that the Galaxy S2 will be receiving the Android 4.0 update, something it truly deserves. However just like all other manufacturers have yet, they got cold feet about the time frame. Assuming all goes to plan, expect it to roll out by Q2 by the 'quickest'. We all know Samsung has a very dodgy record with regards to software updates, and we hope they have learnt their lessons. But we also know history has a funny way of repeating itself.


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Amdocs, the provider of customer experience systems and services, has announced the release of the cloud-based Amdocs Unified Communications solution, which brings together messaging services, video and voice over IP (VoIP) calling, inside a service provider-branded app.
The Amdocs Unified Communications solution is designed to allow service providers to quickly launch services to compete with over-the-top (OTT) offerings, strengthening their relationship with customers and allowing them to better monetise the opportunity.
The solution, accessed via iOS and Android device apps or through a web portal:
• is compatible with the GSMA’s Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, providing future-proofing, as well as existing social networks, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• allows for syndicated interoperability between operators and can be offered to non-subscribers, extending brand beyond the operator
• is modular, allowing for the addition of advertising and premium features such as video conferencing and whiteboarding to monetise the service
• brings all the end user’s social network and mobile communities into one unified address book and keeps the subscriber inside the service provider’s brand for messaging, VoIP conversations or video chats with their contacts.
‘Until now, the over-the-top players have led the mobile video, messaging and VoIP communications market, eroding service providers’ revenues and undermining the relationship with their customers on basic communication services,’ said Maribel Lopez, principal analyst at Lopez Research LLC.
‘Service providers have the opportunity to strengthen their ownership of voice calls to cover VoIP and video conferencing with their own branded solution. By providing a unified launch pad for all their customers’ communications, across multiple platforms and media, service providers can increase their customer loyalty,’ said Lopez.
Rebecca Prudhomme, vice president of product and solutions marketing at Amdocs, added: ‘Today’s smartphone users are turning to a variety of services to communicate, often at the expense of the service provider. Amdocs Unified Communications is the first brandable, cloud-based solution, offering fast time to market, which allows service providers to leverage their customer relationships to build revenues through metered data packages, premium features and applications.’


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Dangote to address world leaders on economic growth
The Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will address business leaders on opportunities and economic growth in Africa at the 2nd Global Business Forum in Dubai on October 1.
According to a statement by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dangote will draw out the story of the rapid change and global integration of Africa and Dubai, providing tangible insights into the two regions' opportunities, challenges and synergies.
The forum will also explore new business partnerships and opportunities arising between Africa and Dubai.
In its strategy of expanding into the African continent, Dubai has become a major trading partner for the region as the emirate's non-oil trade with the continent increased by 141 per cent, up from AED37.9bn in 2008 to AED91.3bn ($25bn) in 2013.
The statement quoted the President and Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Chamber, Mr. Hamad Buamim, as saying, 'The participation of prominent speakers from Africa reflects on the importance of the forum being held in Dubai. This will lead to an enhanced bilateral relationship between the emirate and leading countries of the African continent.''
He further said that the participation of Dangote would enrich the discussion with his experience and ideas for the benefit of all the participants.
According to a Dubai Chamber statistics, African companies operating in Dubai have seen a percentage growth of 171 per cent from 2008 to mid-2014.
The data also showed that the sectors under which African companies operated in Dubai such as trade, 60 per cent; construction, 14.8 per cent; logistics, 8.2 per cent; real estate, 8.1 per cent; manufacturing, 2.5 per cent; agriculture, 0.2 per cent; and tourism and hospitality, 0.9 per cent.
At present, there are 414 Nigerian companies registered with Dubai Chamber, according to the Dubai Chamber statistics.
The forum is organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry with content developed by The Economist Events.


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Kim Kardashian is being called out for racism after her brand Skims posted a picture of a dark-skinned model wearing a black face mask. Netizens trolled her for using a black mask rather than a dark brown one, which was the original colour of the model and accused Kim of ‘casual racism’. One user commented, “I’m black but I’m sure that it ain’t my shade.”
Another user wrote, “You literally made the black models mask totally black. Do you realise black people ain’t the colour black like white people ain’t paper white? The other skin tones are fine, but why couldn’t you make a dark brown colour”?
This is not the first time Kim Kardashian has landed in trouble in racism row. Fashion designers tell us why it is important for brands to be careful before coming out with any such campaign, also if these acts are for publicity.
“ It is vital that we demolish structures of subconscious racism that have existed over years. Whether it is the bindi and over exaggerated accents of Indians, labelling all Asians as Chinese or in this case labelling a jet black mask as nude. It speaks of ignorance and casual racism rather than a purposeful offence. One has to be inclusive and culturally sensitive in the age that we are in today.” says designer Nachiket Barve.
However, designer Rina Dhaka thinks that the brand wouldn’t have intended to do it and should be given a benefit of doubt and be careful in future. “ The unprecedented times have disoriented us and there is added uncertainties. It may have been a look they liked over its overwhelming implication.” she says.


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YouTube has a new policy against ad blocking that prevents
users who use ad blockers from watching videos on the platform. According to the
company, the policy is part of a new experiment and is therefore not applicable
In a new pop up that appears to users who use ad blockers, YouTube explains that ads allow the platform to provide free content to people all over the world, therefore hinting that ad blocking is not favourable to the service. The platform suggests users to subscribe to its Premium offering if they want to avoid seeing ads, which will continue to benefit creators as they can earn from the subscriptions.
While it wouldn’t take long for developers to work their way around YouTube’s new policy, the initiative shows that YouTube’s parent company Google is getting more serious about tackling ad blocking technologies and practices. Previously, Google made changes to Chrome extensions that have led to the removal of the Web Request API, which is crucial for ad blockers for browsing data and searching for ads.


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University Know-how Companies
The rate at which new pc hardware merchandise are arriving available in the market is solely mind-boggling. Computers these days have change into an indispensable a part of the lives of individuals, especially at work, at corporations, companies, faculties, offices and even in homes. Researchers at SEAS, the Wyss Institute, and Nanyang Technological College in Singapore have developed a unhazardous coating that deters marine life from attaching to surfaces in a breakthrough for maritime journey and commerce.
Computer systems can differ in several ways but more often than not; it can do the mandatory task that you simply require of it. Chicago Public Colleges’ former director of pc science, Brenda Darden Wilkerson, has been named president and CEO of , the 20-yr-previous Palo Alto-based mostly organization previously referred to as the Anita Borg Institute for Ladies and Technology.
Blue Star Expertise integrates into your enterprise as an extension of your workforce without the high costs of including additional workers. For instance, an information methods specialist will view computing somewhat differently from a software program engineer.
Internet Programming provides coaching in skills for entry stage website designers and builders to create and publish industry standard compliant net content material with robust arms-on knowledge of browser-side and server-aspect know-how. Later this yr, the company stated, any enterprise or developer that could be a customer of its cloud-computing service will have the ability to use the brand new chips to run its software program.
A lot of the times, one could nevertheless, find that these safety technologies lack correct integration and each new know-how supplies data in its personal meaning and format. Companies then face the cost of upgrading computer systems and operating system licenses, as well as the price of rebuilding their software program from scratch.


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Report: Many Discount Medical Cards a Sham
Savings are elusive, with consumers often told outright lies
FRIDAY, March 11, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Consumers buying discount medical cards are encountering a host of problems ranging from deception to outright fraud, a new report finds.
"Consumers sign up, and most of the time they really get nothing and they pay for it," said Mila Kofman, lead author of the research released Friday.
"One card told us they provided $10,000 in hospital coverage, which was just flat out a lie," continued Kofman, who is an assistant research professor at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute, which did the study for the Commonwealth Fund.
"You couldn't get a list of providers. We had to call them, wait sometimes a week for them to call us back, and then five providers told us they didn't participate," she added.
To reach their conclusions, the researchers tested out five of the nine cards available in the Washington, D.C., area for three months last fall. In each instance, they enrolled, used the health care services and then canceled the card.
The findings have led Kofman and others to call for tougher regulations. "We need full licensing for these companies, full regulations for these products," she said. "Right now, it's virtually unregulated, so if there's a problem like unauthorized withdrawal or unauthorized charges on a credit card, there's almost no one to complain to."
The problem is that the cards are fairly new to the market, new enough for lawmakers not to have caught up. "They haven't been around long enough for states to have adopted meaningful regulation," confirmed Sandy Praeger, insurance commissioner for the state of Kansas.
Not to be confused with the Medicare prescription drug cards, these medical discount cards promise more general savings, including discounts on doctor's visits and hospital visits, and can be purchased by anyone with the money to buy them.
Members supposedly benefit from a group discount and must pay $13 to $148 per month per single person and, often, a non-refundable enrollment fee, which can climb as high as $200.
After reviewing marketing materials, using the five different cards and interviewing regulators and government officials, Forman and her co-authors concluded that the services actually offered are not always what is promised.
The initial marketing is often misleading and sometimes amounts to outright fraud, Kofman said. Companies use high-pressure sales tactics, sometimes make inaccurate statements about the cards as well as exaggerate the savings to be had.
Three cards did not provide a list of doctors prior to enrolling, the researchers found, and after enrollment, some companies provided information that proved to be inaccurate. To get a list of providers, the researchers often had to call the company several times. Some discounts were less than initially promised, they said.
On one card, only 16 of the 44 doctors on the list provided by the company actually honored the card; of those, only nine divulged an estimated discount. Some doctors couldn't be contacted because the phone numbers were wrong or the physicians were no longer in practice. And only for one card did all the listed providers confirm that they would provide discounts.
In addition, they found, there appeared to be no correlation between the price of the card and the amount of savings. In other words, an expensive card did not necessarily confer greater savings.
To compound matters, many consumers believe the cards are insurance -- which they are not -- and therefore are regulated, Kofman's team added.
The experiences of the study authors jive with what insurance overseers are hearing, Praeger said.
According to the report, Florida reported almost 800 consumer inquiries and complaints involving discount cards, during one nine-month period. One card program in New York advertised savings as high as 90 percent. That state's Attorney General, however, found that typical savings were closer to 15 percent off the customary rate. Montana has shut down 11 companies for selling cards without a network.
On the other hand, some discount medical card companies are themselves in favor of standards that would make the industry more reputable.
And some states already have regulations in place. Kansas, for instance, requires advertising that clearly states the cards are not insurance and also requires companies to provide a list of providers up front.
But often this type of action only comes after the fact, the experts say.
"The legitimate are performing correctly, but the illegal are very elusive," Praeger said. "By the time you find out about it, the phone number has been disconnected and the office is closed."
She cited one case where her office traced an 800 number to Nova Scotia. "Clearly, that's outside our jurisdiction," she said.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is working on a model for regulation, she said, adding that "regulation usually comes about because people don't perform like they're supposed to, and it's unfortunate."
"Consumers are buying and will be buying in the future, I'm guessing, because they are desperate," Kofman said. "They need to be protected.
Visit the Commonwealth Fund for the full report.


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The past couple of years have been a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, full of challenges. We really thought 2022 would be the return to the normalcy we’ve all been craving. We were wrong.
Now in its 14th year, our Trends Report is a snapshot into what the industry is seeing. Each year, we collect opinions from companies throughout the foodservice packaging supply chain, including raw material and machinery suppliers, packaging manufacturers, distributors and operators. We take those insights and direct comments and compile them into a lengthy report. Then, we provide analysis based on those submissions, as well as our own general industry observations.
This year’s 2022 Trends Report showed us that just like the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the foodservice packaging industry. There’s increased economic pressure on an already stretched global supply chain, increased focus on the foodservice packaging industry from a legislative and regulatory policy perspective, and movement and growth in both the foodservice segments drawing consumers and the ways in which they choose to have their foodservice delivered — or not.
Change, and adaptability, seems to be the new norm. In the foodservice packaging space, we’ve seen versatility and flexibility requirements applied across the board. Everything from raw material inputs, machinery and equipment to the packaging being manufactured itself, must be adaptable — and quickly.
Respondents said they’re being asked to “do more with less.” This presents in different ways. Whether it’s requests to the converter community for multi-purpose machinery that allows manufacturers to quickly switch out sizes and formats, or operators who require a single package that can support multiple offerings and functions, we don’t expect these requests for flexible packaging to slow down.
While policy has always been a factor in our industry, it’s particularly top-of-mind with extended producer responsibility (EPR) becoming increasingly present. It’s a relatively new concept in the U.S., with only four states having laws on the books. We’re seeing complexities and inconsistencies related to defined terms and responsible parties causing confusion and concern for respondents. Add that to the ever-increasing patchwork of state legislations defining what’s considered ‘recyclable’ and ‘compostable’ — and it’s no surprise that the industry is struggling for consistency.
As we continue to ride the post-pandemic waves, we’re seeing different parts of the foodservice space waxing and waning. Wider selections and evolving foodservice options have led to growth in the grocery and convenience store spaces. Grocery meals to-go and convenience store foodservice appeal to consumers who want to consolidate trips out of the home, but still want the convenience of not cooking.
We’ve also seen the resurgence of the breakfast daypart, particularly as consumers return to the office and spend more time away from home. Snacking — a favored pastime during the pandemic — remains a strong trend.
We are still seeing shifts in how consumers receive their meals and foodservice. Respondents reported they are seeing continued demand for off-premises dining, growing along with demand for drive-thru and curbside pick-up.
Consumers are being more conscientious of where their dollars go as inflation significantly impacts food and fuel costs. Could this lead to the delivery market being tapped out? As delivery feeds to both third-party and native delivery sources continue to rise, we’re seeing signs of this.
Through it all, change is the only thing that felt consistent through 2022. Facing our new normal and looking to the future, it’s likely the foodservice packaging industry will continue to feel and face the pressures.
Please click here for an executive summary of the report.