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Remember Palm? If you’re under the age of 30 then you’d be forgiven for answering in the negative to that question; one of the most famous companies to work in the field of Personal Data Assistants (basically smartphones before smartphones were a thing), Palm created the first affordable PDAs and even branched out into the realm of phones once the iPhone and Android kickstarted the smartphone revolution.
However, the company had lost too much ground to its rivals and was taken apart by HP in 2010. Chinese company TCL – the same firm that makes BlackBerry’s phones these days – ended up owning the name, and has now made efforts to revive the brand along with San Francisco designers Howard Nuk and Dennis Miloseski.
Working alongside American network provider Verizon, this core team has crafted a tiny handset which is intended to be a companion for your ‘full fat’ device. Using Verizon’s Verizon’s NumberShare service – which has previously been utilised to sync smartwatches to your main smartphone – the new Palm is capable of ‘going where your main phone can’t’, according to the company.
It’s rocking a Qualcomm 435 eight-core CPU with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and has an 800mAh battery which is good for a day of use. You also get a 12-megapixel rear camera and eight-megapixel front camera, as well as Android 8.1 – which means you have access to the full suite of Google Play apps. All of this is contained within a waterproof shell that’s small enough to hang around your neck. The display is a tiny 3.3-inches.
Palm is aiming the device at a previously uncharted middle-ground between smartphones and smartwatches, which – on paper, at least – isn’t actually as silly an idea as you might think. Both Google and Apple are building features into their phones which show just how much time you’re wasted starting at them, so the concept of a device which actively discourages prolonged use could strike a chord with many jaded mobile users.
However, the initial reaction to the $349 handset – which arrives in November – has been mixed. Social media posts have sprung up questioning why exactly a smaller phone would be a good idea for those who want to avoid using their phone entirely, while others have commented that the handset’s tiny size and dependency on Verizon’s NumberShare service limit its appeal to a mass market.
Given that the adoption of smartwatches has been a relatively painful exercise for anyone but Apple, it’s hard to see Palm’s offering securing a sizeable market share, and we’d suspect that this time next year, it will be largely forgotten – and that’s a shame, because if there was a company that deserves a proper revival, it’s Palm.


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The Goldman Sachs technology M&A team, led by Sam Britton, has cashed in on its software focus and decades of experience to dominate 2019's biggest deals.Technologyread more
American small and medium-size companies that rely on China are scrambling to adjust their business plans in response to the escalating trade war.Traderead more
Here are the products that stand to be the most affected by China's new tariffs on $75 billion worth of U.S. goods.Marketsread more
The summit comes amid fears over a global economic slowdown, and U.S. tensions over trade allies, Iran and Russia.Politicsread more
The world's second biggest economy is past a point where it cannot ignore its enormous debt anymore, according to an analyst.China Economyread more
Carl Medlock used to work at Tesla. Now he's one of the few people in the U.S. that can fix the company's original Roadster electric vehicles.Technologyread more
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The European Union will respond in kind if the U.S. imposes tariffs on France over digital tax plan, EU chief Donald Tusk told G-7.Technologyread more
Trump said he will raise tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods to 30% and hike duties on another $300 billion in products to 15%.Politicsread more
Aston Martin's third-quarter profit before tax rose to 3.1 million pounds ($4 million) as the newly listed carmaker continues a growth plan which saw its volumes double.
The luxury brand, which last month became the first British carmaker in decades to float on the London Stock Exchange, said it expected full-year sales to come in at the top end of expectations at up to 6,400 vehicles.
Total volumes increased 99 percent to 1,776 vehicles, helped by a 185 percent increase in the Americas and a 133 percent increase in Asia Pacific, leading to an 81 percent increase in revenue to 282 million pounds.
But Britain's car industry, which employs some 850,000 people and has been one of the few manufacturing success stories since the 1980s, has warned that border delays and red-tape resulting from a disorderly Brexit would disrupt production.
Aston is already taking a number of steps to prepare for any eventuality including building up more components and considering plans to fly in parts and change the ports it uses.
British Prime Minister Theresa May won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday, freeing her to tackle the much more perilous struggle of getting parliament to approve the agreement.
The government hopes businesses will back her agreement.
Aston also said on Thursday that it was making progress towards opening its second British factory next year which will build its first sport utility vehicle.

domain: news


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Prairieville Walmart closes at 2 p.m. Jan. 8; reopening set for Jan. 10
The Prairieville Walmart store at 17585 Airline Hwy. was set to close at 2 p.m. Jan. 8 and remain closed through Jan. 9 as part of a company-initiated program to allow third party cleaning crews to thoroughly clean and sanitize the building.
Walmart spokesperson Charles Crowson said the location will reopen Jan. 10 at 6 a.m.
Associates will restock shelves and prepare the store for reopening during the closure.
"As an essential business and a member of the Prairieville community, we understand the role we play in providing our customers with food, medicine and other essential items, especially at this time," Crowson stated in an email.
Several areas throughout the country have seen an increase in COVID-19 cases.
"Everything we’re doing is for the well-being of our associates and the thousands of customers we serve daily, and in consideration of guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and health experts. We will follow CDC guidance, which includes fully vaccinated people wearing masks in public indoor settings in counties with substantial or high transmission," Crowson added.
Employees will be required to wear masks in facilities where there are state or local mask mandates.
When the store reopens, the company will continue conducting associate health assessments, and all unvaccinated associates must still wear face coverings.
In addition to offering COVID-19 vaccines to customers through walk-in or online appointments, Walmart also offers access to vaccines for employees, according to Crowson. They can receive their vaccinations at their home store pharmacy, on or off the clock. Employees will receive two hours of paid leave to receive their vaccination and up to three days paid leave, should they experience an adverse reaction.
"These protocols and convenient access to vaccinations are in addition to the extensive measures we’ve put in place during the pandemic to help protect our associates and customers," Crowson concluded. "We will continue working closely with elected and local health officials, adjusting how we serve the community while also keeping the health and safety of our customers and associates in mind."
Walmart has stores across Ascension Parish, including Prairieville, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, and Galvez.


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The upcoming iPhone 14 Pro looks revolutionary. But if you’re buying the standard iPhone 14, you may be in for some disappointment. Leaks and rumors suggest that the iPhone 14 is nearly identical to its predecessor—this is the kind of thing people say every year, but it’s especially true in 2022.
We expect the iPhone 14 lineup to debut during Apple’s “Far Out” event on September 7th. Apple will probably show off four devices—the standard iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a new iPhone Max that replaces the iPhone Mini.
That’s right; Apple is replacing the iPhone Mini. And if rumors are correct, a new device called the iPhone 14 Max will sort of take the Mini’s place.
We expect the standard iPhone 14 to retain last year’s $799 price tag. But the iPhone 14 Max will slot in at $899, offering a larger screen with zero other improvements. (For clarity, the iPhone 14 Max is the same size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Customers can finally buy a larger iPhone without shelling out for the most expensive model.)
The iPhone 14 will look nearly identical to its predecessor. It uses a new 6.12-inch display, which is a tiny upgrade from last year’s 6.06-inch screen. It may also have a slightly-larger rear camera hump than last year’s model.
And while the iPhone 14 Max is a neat idea, it’s just a larger version of the iPhone. It uses a 6.69-inch display instead of the smaller 6.12-inch panel. (For reference, both the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max use this larger display. The iPhone 14 Pro is the same size as the entry-level iPhone 14.)
Still, the iPhone 14 design is notable for one important reason—it’s the last mainline iPhone to feature the massive Face ID notch.
iPhone 14 front panels have leaked on Weibo – here are the changes to note:
1) thinner bezels on the Pro models, as reported by other sources
2) aspect ratio is also slightly different on the Pros (19.5:9 to 20:9); this corroborates with 9to5Mac’s report regarding taller displays pic.twitter.com/UtqNcBB9aP
— Saran (@SaranByte) April 28, 2022
Leaks indicate that the new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will use a pill-shaped cutout in place of the Face ID notch. This feature is exclusive to the “Pro” models, but it will probably trickle down to next year’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Max. If anything, this may be a reason to hold out on the new iPhone and wait for next year’s model.
Unfortunately, we haven’t heard too much about the iPhone 14’s color options. But we expect Apple to reuse a few of last year’s colors, specifically pink, white, and blue—this is an assumption based on past releases, so don’t get your hopes up.
Under the hood, Apple’s iPhone 14 won’t look very different from last year’s model. The biggest upgrade, as Digitimes reports, is 6GB of DDR4 RAM. That’s up from 4GB in the previous model. (Oddly enough, the iPhone 14 Pro could introduce DDR5 RAM.)
But what about the chipset? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the iPhone 14 will reuse last year’s A15 processor. This rumor is supported by several other leakers and analysts, so it looks to be true.
Now, Apple may hide this embarrassing fact by calling its chip “the new A16 Bionic.” But again, RAM seems to be the only upgrade here. Those who really want an upgraded processor should buy the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro max. (And the Pro models get a pretty big upgrade, by the way.)
If you’re bummed by the lack of upgrades, there’s still one thing that may entice you. All iPhone 14 models are expected to contain a satellite modem (via PhoneArena). This modem will allow users to text without a cellular signal. Other satellite functionality is unknown, but slow data speeds probably prevent satellite connectivity from supporting apps or browsers.
It seems that the iPhone 14 will use a dual-camera array. This is the same setup that we saw in previous base-model iPhones. Thankfully, the iPhone 14’s aging cameras should receive a few improvements.
As Ming-Chi Kuo explains, all models of the iPhone 14 will use an autofocus selfie lens. This sounds like a small upgrade, but it could dramatically improve the quality of selfies or FaceTime calls—assuming that Apple builds software to actually take advantage of this feature. Additionally, all iPhone 14 selfie cameras may use a new f/2.2 aperture to improve low-light performance.
Additionally, Apple could bring the iPhone 13 Pro’s six-element ultra-wide camera to the iPhone 14. This is a trickle-down upgrade, but it’s still a notable improvement that should boost the iPhone 14’s camera quality, especially when shooting night photography.
Apple should debut the iPhone 14 lineup during its “Far Out” event on September 7th. While the standard iPhone 14 model should retain its $799 price tag, the new iPhone 14 Max probably slots in at $899.
We will update this article as new information comes to light. Be sure to join our free newsletter to stay up to date with all iPhone 14 developments!


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A RECORD 800,000 businesses have been set up by women in the past five years.
Women now account for 40% of all new business owners in Spain, double the proportion seen before the onset of the economic crisis.
In what has been described as a silver lining to the years of economic turmoil, female-led start ups have sprung up across the country, and more and more venture capitalists have been backing fledgling businesses.
The new businesses have been set up despite the notoriously bureaucratic start up process in Spain.
The country is in the bottom half of the World Bank ranking on the ease of starting a business, coming 142nd out of 189 countries.
Typically, it takes 10 procedures, 23 working days and costs about €1,100 to start a business in Spain.
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There’s very little evidence that points to a practical use for nascent technology blockchain, asserts financial consulting firm McKinsey & Company in an official post that was released just recently.
McKinsey was established in 1926 and holds a reported revenue for 2018 of more than $10 billion, with over 27,000 employees employed across the world.
The article, which was penned by three McKinsey partners, claimed that the “evidence for a practical scalable use for blockchain is thin on the ground,” saying:
“Blockchain has yet to become the game-changer some expected […] given the amount of money and time spent, […] little of substance has been achieved.”
Additionally, the post said that “the stuttering blockchain development path is not entirely surprising [since] it is an infant technology that is relatively unstable, expensive, and complex.”
The post then goes on to tell readers that according to the life-cycle hypothesis, the evolution of any product can be separated into four different stages: pioneering, growth, maturity, and decline.
During the pioneering stage, the technology is at its preliminary point, and during the second stage, the product should essentially see success. However, the article’s authors claim that “for many, [blockchain’s] stage 2 isn’t happening.”
The post suggests that according to Occam’s razor — the problem-solving principle which asserts that the simplest solutions also tend to be the best ones — “blockchain’s payments use cases may be the wrong answer.”
As it is, McKinsey recommended that blockchain has real-world value in niche applications, modernization and as means to show the ability to innovate. The post also writes that blockchain “brings benefits where it shifts ownership from corporations to consumers.”
- Waste Management Firm Launches Blockchain Platform in Sharjah 18 February 2019
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- Crypto Markets Seeing Wave of Green 18 February 2019
- New Payment App of Rakuten to Support Crypto? 18 February 2019
- Regulated ETH Futures Would Result in More Robust Market, Says ErisX 18 February 2019


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Cape Town Tourism has identified numerous factors that influenced travel choices in 2018, including a third-quarter recession and the drought as primary factors.
Figures released by Cape Town’s big attractions, Cape Town International Airport and STR’s Destination Report indicate mixed performance for December 2018.
The second half of the year has shown that the city’s recovery in terms of tourism is stabilising, notwithstanding a poor performance in the early part of 2018.
December performance was impacted by shortened school holidays, negatively affecting the leisure market but resulting in earlier bookings of corporate events and bookings.
Many locals opted to ‘staycation’ and visited local attractions and experiences. Attractions specifically commented on the increase of local footfall.


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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — A new retail report based on a survey conducted by CFI Group and Radial shows that today’s shoppers expect easy and immediate chat assistance online and flexible delivery options that fit into their busy schedules.
Live online chat during an online purchase has become ubiquitous. In fact, 25% of online retail customers reported they had used chat at least three separate times when placing an online order over the past 12 months, and 43% are more likely to purchase from a retailer when that retailer provides a live chat option.
Retailers must be careful, though. Solutions that attempt to provide chatbots instead of professional agents can backfire and cause customer frustration. The report shows that customers who use chat and have some or all of that interaction with a chatbot are 8% less satisfied, 4% less loyal, and 3% less likely to recommend the retailer compared to the average customer who contacts retail customer service.
“To provide the service levels consumers have come to expect, retailers must think holistically across support channels and avoid halfway measures such as chatbots without access to live agents,” said Ricardo Layun, Vice President, Customer Care Services at Radial.
Also growing in popularity are In-Store Pickup and Ship to Store, both of which provide greater flexibility for the customer. Of the online buyers surveyed, 61% said they had opted for In-Store Pickup at least once over the past 12 months, and 27% had used the Ship to Store option for an online order at least three times over the past 12 months.
However, retailers must do more than simply offer In-Store Pickup and Ship to Store as options. According to the report, when consumers contact customer service about an order, they expect the agent to have access to their full account history with the retailer for all In-Store Pickup (54%) and Ship to Store (39%) orders.
“It’s not enough to provide various options for consumers,” said Layun. “It’s also imperative that service agents have a full view of customers’ order history as well as their preferences.”
About CFI Group (www.cfigroup.com)
Since 1988, CFI Group has delivered customer experience measurement and business insights from its Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters and a network of global offices. As founding partner of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), CFI Group is the only company within the United States licensed to apply customized ACSI methodology in both the private and public sectors. Using patented technology and top research experts, CFI Group uncovers the business drivers and financial impact of customer experience.
About Radial (www.radial.com)
Radial, Inc., a bpost group company, is the leader in omnichannel commerce technology and operations. Premier brands around the world confidently partner with Radial to deliver their brand promises, anticipate and respond to industry disruption, and compete in a rapidly evolving market. Radial’s innovative solutions connect retailers and customers through advanced omnichannel technologies; intelligent payments and fraud protection; efficient fulfillment, supply chain services; and insightful customer care services – especially where high-value customer experiences are critical. We are flexible, scalable, and focused on our clients’ business objectives. Learn how we deliver today’s retail for you at radial.com and follow us on Twitter @radialcorp.


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Sea of Thieves gets free Cursed Sails update
New patch brings updated features, 3 man ship, and more
Rare has announced the launch of Cursed Sails, the second major content update for Sea of Thieves.
The update adds enemy Skeleton Ships, the new Brigantine three-player ship, and a new Alliance system. The new Alliance feature allows players to meet in the world, form an alliance and adventure together, but always with the chance that the temptation of treachery could get too much.
The developers have also announced that the Sea Of Thieves community has grown to over 5 million players across both platforms.
Sea of Thieves is available on Windows 10 and Xbox One.


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Prague International Book Fair selected Egypt as the guest of honor of event, which is due on May 13-17.
A big Egyptian delegation of the General Egyptian Book Organization will participate in the event.
Egypt’s Ambassador in Czech Amani Fahmi asserted in a press conference Thursday that the Egyptian civilization has affected Europe and the world as a whole in spite of all the drastic economic and political changes that took place in Egypt in the recent years.
The executive director of the event said that it is an honor to choose Egypt as guest of honor in this important European event.
She said that the activities of the event are to cover the Egyptian culture.


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"MUMBAI (MarketWatch) — Uncertainty over currencies and high inflation are among the key factors often cited, if not celebrated, by gold investors to explain the spectacular rise of the precious metal in recent years, including its jump to record highs above $1,900 an ounce in 2011.It seems the government of India, which just slapped its first import-duty increase on gold in two years, now also wants to benefit from those trends. The idea: Using India’s position as the world’s largest consumer of gold to at least partly plug the gaping hole in the government’s finances and the nation’s current-account deficit, both cited as factors in last year’s slide in the rupee."cont'dhttp://www.marketwatch.com/story/indias-gold-tariff-hike-may...
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“I dedicated 18-and-a-half years to public policy,” Asselbaye told PBN. “I was ready for a change. Like any family, when you get an opportunity to help another person, you do. This is my husband’s dream.”
In November, Asselbaye and her husband, Charles, paired up with husband-and-wife team Rafael and Pei-Yu Baez to purchase the Common Grounds coffeehouse in Hawaii Kai Shopping Center. They re-opened the 900-square-foot marina-front locale as Island Brew Coffeehouse on March 17.
Asselbaye, a tea-drinking political insider, said the coffeehouse allows her to spend more time with her children, ages 13, 9 and 6, while continuing her passion for community involvement through partnerships with nonprofits, such as Malama Maunalua, an organization of volunteers whose efforts include keeping mud weed and algae out of Maunalua Bay.
Island Brew is serving Wailua fancy and Kona fancy coffees blended with Jamaican, Sumatran and Guatemalan varieties. The coffee is specially roasted under the direction of Charles Asselbaye, who brings 15 years of coffee experience to the business.
“The long-term goal is to have our own roaster here,” he said.
On-site pastry chef Monica Chapman creates almost all of the coffeehouse’s pastries.
Charles was born in France, Rafael was born in Puerto Rico, Pei-Yu in Taipei and Amy in Iowa, Charles said. But it’s not only the owners’ diverse backgrounds that sets Island Brew apart from other coffee sellers.
“Three things make us unique: We roast our own coffee with the son of the owner of Mr. Peet’s Coffee, and follow their tradition; we offer organic milk from Kale’s with every espresso drink and gluten-free pastry and bread for sandwiches; and we are community-oriented and try to help nonprofits,” Charles Asselbaye said.
“Our objective is to be different in the way we do things,” Rafael said. “It’s all about the quality and the experience the customer has.”
Rafael, whose background is in real estate development, said his wife has been in the restaurant business since the age of 12 and that it’s “in her blood” because her parents own a Chinese restaurant in Atlanta. That experience taught her the importance of customer service, he said, and she has developed an uncanny knack for remembering the names of customers.
“This is a great partnership because each of us contributes something different,” he said of the Asselbayes, who the Baezes met just last fall when they were introduced to one another by a Realtor who thought the couples’ mutual interests would be a good pairing.
Already, expansion plans are in the works, Rafael said.
“For sure on Oahu, potentially Neighbor Islands and even beyond that,” he said.
Island Brew currently has a dozen employees and there are plans to hire two or three more people soon.


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Nintendo Reports First Half Financial Losses, Lowers Predictions for Remainder
Nintendo has not been doing very well of late, as it has reported financial losses for the first half of this year. Net sales are down 6.8% over the same time last year, with net income dropping nearly $350,000 compared to last year. Sales numbers are pretty large, with 22 million 3DS handhelds sold in total and nearly 100 million (97.2m) Wii consoles sold. However, it seems everyone is still waiting for Nintendo's next big thing, just like last year, but luckily the Wii U is nearly here. Hopefully the new system can get Nintendo's numbers back to where they were when the Wii first launched, but even still, the company has dropped its predictions for the remainder of the year from $250 million to $75 million.


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Tuesday, August 03, 2010
This is an interesting article of use to PR practitioners. It discusses the kinds of data that the White House and Congress track in order to determine the health of the economy. The data is not the usual fare reported in the news -- GDP, unemployment rate, retail sales, etc. These numbers reflect where the economy has been. What politicians look for is data that tells them where the economy is going. So they look at Google searches for new cars, at electrical output, at lumber production, at stock prices and weekly jobless claims because these give a real-time feel for the near future. I particularly like the Google search metric for how it reveals more than what was originally intended.


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Winning Team Awarded the Grand Prize of US$100,000 (RM425,000) for MoneyRemaid, a Software Platform that Helps Drive Financial Inclusion
To tweet this news, copy and paste http://news.mstr.cd/1NFSNih to your Twitter handle with the hashtags #MasterCardDev and #MastersofCode
Competing on December 5-6 in San Francisco against the winning teams from each of the 12 regional events held throughout the year, MoneyRemaid earned the title of Masters of Code by building a software platform that would enhance the way domestic workers in Malaysia and Southeast Asia could receive and manage their salaries.
The team of five, comprising Wong Gwen Yi, Daniel Lim Fung Hsing, Chew Kean Ho, Lim Jay Ching and Kristianto Leonardy, all in their 20s, was awarded the grand prize of US$100,000 (RM425,000) seed funding, incubation in the MasterCard StartPath program, six months of executive mentoring and free payment processing for up to US$250,000 (RM1.06 million) in transactions for the first 12 months using Simplify Commerce.
The goal of team MoneyRemaid was to drive financial literacy and inclusion in Malaysia by focusing on the more than 300,000 migrant domestic workers struggling with a lack of financial access and high remittance costs when sending money home to their families. Using the MasterCard Simplify Commerce and MoneySend APIs, the team created a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to automate salaries and payments through the linking of employers’ credit cards to maids’ bank accounts, aggregate remittances to lower their overall costs, and open up safe investment opportunities with improved interest rates for the workers. Overall, the software looks to enable domestic workers to better assess and plan their finances at a glance.
“When we came up with the idea for MoneyRemaid, we were inspired by MasterCard’s commitment to financial inclusion. MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga said that we need to guard against a future where we have the Internet of everything, but not the inclusion of everyone,” said Daniel Lim Fung Hsing, leader of the MoneyRemaid team. “We share the same vision and wanted to create a service that promotes financial literacy and improves the inclusion standing of underprivileged and underbanked workers in our region.”
Leading up to the Grand Finale, the MasterCard Masters of Code competition visited 12 cities around the globe, hosting regional weekend-long events that brought together more than 3,000 of the world’s top developers, designers and entrepreneurs to take on the APIs supplied by MasterCard. Using these APIs, developers had access to unsurpassed assets, data and products from MasterCard focused on driving the next generation of commerce solutions.
“The ultimate goal of the Masters of Code hackathon series was to find and engage with the very best developers from across the globe who are going to power the next generation of commerce applications,” said Sebastien Taveau, Chief Developer Evangelist, MasterCard Open API. “We have been amazed by the level of talent and the quality of innovations we’ve seen throughout the series and are proud to crown MoneyRemaid as the first champions of Masters of Code.”
For more information about the MasterCard Masters of Code competition including rules, judging criteria, prizes, etc., please visit www.MastersofCode.com.
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardAP and @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.
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PETALING JAYA: Consumer groups are calling on the government to use Budget 2024 to launch longer term strategies aimed at tackling the rising costs of living rather than simply making provision for subsidies.
Sukhdave Singh, the secretary-general of the Malaysia Consumers’ Movement, said subsidies cannot replace comprehensive policies, adding that there was need for the government to reassess its social benefit framework.
“The cost of essential goods continues to rise, impacted by global elements. Responding with subsidies is not a long-term solution.
“Subsidy is firefighting, but increasing supply is the real response. (The government must) invest in the agriculture sector while revisiting long-term policies,” he told FMT.
Sukhdave urged the government to consider adopting an autarkic policy aimed at achieving self-sustainability in food production, reducing the nation’s dependency on imports and lowering the import bill.
He also stressed that the healthcare sector needs special attention, noting that rising medical costs could lead to an increased reliance on public healthcare services, potentially overwhelming the system and causing its collapse.
“Invest in upgrading equipment and replacing older ones. Increase hospital beds to ensure that everyone gets the treatment they deserve, supported with sufficient medical personnel,” said Sukhdave.
Meanwhile, Mohideen Abdul Kader, the president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang, said that the government’s sustained reliance on subsidies may have adverse effects on borrowing and the nation’s overall debt.
He said geopolitical volatility in Southeast Asia was bringing uncertainty to food supply chains, resulting in food price inflation.
Mohideen suggested that food shortages could be mitigated by fostering the local agricultural sector’s growth.
“Malaysia needs foreign investments, and in the meantime, to develop a robust agricultural policy for food crops. Much research on agriculture has been done by local institutions of higher education, and the government needs to galvanise these institutions to contribute to the agricultural sector.
“The government should reduce 60% of imported food and at the same time focus on sustainable farming methods,” he said.
On the other hand, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) CEO Saravanan Thambirajah had a favourable view of subsidies, saying that they help alleviate the financial burdens faced by citizens.
“Without subsidies and cash aid, vulnerable consumers would suffer with the high cost of living and low purchasing power.
“The subsidies of energy, petrol, food items such as chicken and eggs, cooking oil, public transportation travel passes, and many more helped to cushion consumers (from their financial burdens),” he told FMT.
Saravanan said he would like to see the continued implementation of targeted subsidies, emphasising the importance of directing them to deserving recipients, such as those in the B40 and M40 income brackets.
He also suggested that the government offer some form of financial education to “empower” consumers to manage their finances effectively.


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Google Nexus 5: Release Hinted
Virgin Media, UK's mobile operator, LG Nexus 4, though not wallet friendly, has taken hold of Nexus 4 stock. It has been refusing all rumors regarding Nexus 5 but Korean Forum has hinted that its successor can come next month.
Nexus 5 is supposed to have 5-inch full-HD (1920 x 1080) display translating into a pixel density of 440ppi. It flaunts new NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor with 2GB of RAM, 8/16GB of internal storage, a 13-megapixel auto-focus rear camera with LED flash and a 3-megapixel front-facing camera.
Rumored price of Nexus 5 is expected to be same as that of Nexus 4 i. e. $299. There has been no spilling of beans over which Android is supposed to be used. Most likely android can be Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.
These rumors have come after the news of halting of production of Nexus 4. There has been no word from LG or Google regarding this. There is an expectation that these devices may debut at the Google I/O event scheduled to take place from May 15 to 17 in San Francisco.
These rumors started spreading when a Google spokesperson told that Nexus 4 will witness no production any further, hinting that a new model is about to be released.
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A sneak peek of our October/November 2016 issue.
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$ITW expects 2016 full-year EPS in the range of $5.35-5.55, which is a YoverY increase of 6% at the midpoint. Organic revenue for 2016 is projected to be up 1-3%, which is in line with current demand levels. For 1Q16, $ITW expects EPS to be in a range of $1.20-1.30. Organic revenue is forecast to be flat to up 2% in 1Q16.
$SPY can the rally continue? La Pen almost assured to lose makes me cautious about the results, not a place to panic. If 2400 is reached I'm selling my puts and going for broke. Happy hunting.
Trivago N.V. (TRVG) announced today that it will release its financial results for the first quarter for the period ended March 31, 2017 on Monday, May 15, 2017. On the same day, trivago N.V.`s management will conduct a webcast beginning at 2:00 PM CET / 8:00 AM Eastern Time. These items will be available in the Investor Relations section of the company`s website at http://ir.trivago.com.
$VZ strikes again. After a depressing quarter, Verizon has jumped into action by launching its ultrafast competitor to Google Fiber - FiOS Gigabit Connection.


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Henry Avocado Corporation has issued a voluntary recall of the California adult's entire avocado.
The avocados can be contaminated with listeria.
Henry Avocado reports environmental tests taken during a routine inspection at his California facility which has been tested positive for listeria.
There are no reported diseases at this time.
Avocados from Mexico are not subject to recall.
"We voluntarily revoke our products and take every possible measure to ensure the safety of consumers who eat our avocados," said Phil Henry, president of Henry Avocado, in a statement.
More details about the recall here.


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The Ford Mustang Is The Best-Selling Sports Car For The Sixth Year In A Row
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to the 2020 Ford Mustang. Take away what you want from the numbers that Ford just released.
The good news: The Ford Mustang is, for the sixth year in a row, the best selling car in the three-car segment known as Sports Car (muscle cars). It beat out the Dodge Challenger by a small margin and the Chevy Camaro by a large margin.
The bad news: The 61,090 units sold is the lowest in the history of the iconic muscle car. Ever. That means worse than the Mustang II, worse than the Pony Cars years. Worst.
I alluded to this in a recent article I wrote where I explain that the much-maligned Mustang Mach-E needs to succeed in order to keep our cherished Mustang pony car alive. Ford has promised a next generation of the Mustang, which is more than Chevy will do for the Camaro which is on life support (more on those numbers below).
Also, as I reported, Ford has committed to V8 engines still in the Mustang too which should make the enthusiasts happy. It’s not all Mach-E and electrification when it comes to the Mustang. The two aren’t mutually exclusive, but for sure those who bang the drum that the Mach-E is #NotAMustang may not be paying attention to the sagging and downright lousy sales of the “real Mustang.”
A closer look at the Mustang sales for 2020 is pretty eye opening.
2020 Sales for the Ford Mustang
Ford released the numbers for both the fourth quarter and for the 2020 year and it revealed that Mustang sales totaled 61,090 for the year, marking its sixth straight year as America’s best-selling sports car. Mustang also finished the final quarter on total sales of 13,453 cars. At retail, Mustang sales were up 14.8 percent for the quarter. Combined Q4 retail sales of Shelby GT350 and GT500 increased 36 percent, with retail sales up 14 percent for the year.
I wrote a eulogy and tribute to the GT350 as one of the best Mustangs Ford has produced in a long time. It is being discontinued. The Mustang Mach 1 will replace it in the stable. And Ford will continue to produce the Mustang GT500 as well.
Car sales in general are down significantly across the board due to the pandemic. That’s only natural. So Mustang having the lowest units sold ever is not as dire as it sounds. And truth be told Mustang sales are only down 15 percent compared to last year where Ford sold 72,489 units.
But you can’t also dismiss the significant drop in sales for the Mustang and the entire muscle car/sports car segment. It’s sort of a dying breed.
How Did The Mustang Sell Versus The Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger?
My colleague Patrick Rall wrote that the Challenger was giving the Mustang a run for its money through part of this year. In the end, the Challenger fell short of taking the title from the Mustang, but managed to sell 52,955 units (to Mustangs 61,090).
The Chevy Camaro on the other hand is dying a slow painful death. It may be hastened after the Camaro suffered the biggest year-over-year decline in Chevy’s entire lineup. The 29,775 units sold represent a 38.3 percent from 2019.
In the machismo banter of which muscle car is best, when it comes to sales, it’s quite obvious. Camaro fans may be seeing the end of the Camaro (again).
Sales of the 2021 Mustang Mach-E
Ford has played coy when I’ve asked (on numerous occasions) about reservation numbers for the Mustang Mach-E. Some speculation had the number very average and some had it high. The truth lies somewhere in the middle probably.
We know the zest for the Mach-E hasn’t been as great as that of the reborn Bronco, but also the Mach-E will be a harder sell to the consumer. And of course there’s that point of putting the Mustang name and badge on an electrified crossover.
Some will never get over that. However, others are embracing it, as I did a story that received a lot of feedback about a 70-year old giving up a V8 GT Mustang to order a Mustang Mach-E GT. Early adapters like that will be important for sales to be robust for the Mach-E which will be necessary.
In the above numbers filed there are a few (maybe hundred) Mach-E sales in that figure, but for 2021 we will see Mach-E separate from the Mustang sales numbers (since one is a crossover and one is a sports coupe).
With 2021 among us now, more and more units of the Mach-E will be arriving and those who did order are regularly posting in forums and social media groups about their orders being fulfilled. It’s an exciting time for them.
I was called a Mustang Mach-E fan boy or a convert by someone I respect in a Mach-E forum. While I appreciate the sentiment of being able to cover both sides of the Mach-E, my heart belongs with the original pony car. My beloved friend Gale Halderman passed away and I love seeing his designs live on in muscle cars. And yes, I do see some of his design influences in the Mach-E as well.
But what I see from these Mustang sales numbers is that while the Mustang holds onto its best-selling title (an empty title almost), the numbers look bad for it and the entire segment as in not sustainable for the long-term.
So, all of you enthusiasts who grouse that the Mach-E is #NotAMustang, to save the pony car, and save the muscle car, you better get to buying them. Because it’s always about money and don’t think that what’s happened to the Camaro couldn’t also happen to the Mustang.
Leave me your comment. How long do you think the Mustang as we know it, can survive?
Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.


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Last week, at SXSW, creative tech studio Chaotic Moon demonstrated CUPID, a drone equipped with an stun gun that can incapacitate people with an 80,000 volt shock. The brave intern used as a guinea pig can no doubt testify to its effectiveness. The studio says the exercise was aimed at raising awareness of the extent to which technology is outpacing our ability to regulate and live with it.
Today, handcuffs are just steel restraints. Tomorrow, they could be delivering shocks to prisoners or injecting them with drugs. According to U.S. Patent Application 20120298119, Scottsdale Inventions, LLC of Paradise Valley, Arizona has invented a pair of high-tech handcuffs that could deliver electric shocks to prisoners by means of an incorporated Taser-like system hooked to wireless controls and sophisticated sensors.
Metal Storm is to begin working with TASER on less-than-lethal ammunition for the its aptly-named MAUL
rapid-fire 12-gauge launcher. The tiny 800 gram MAUL can be operated independently from its own shoulder stock, fitted as an accessory to an assault rifle (pictured), or used with a pistol grip. A five round reload takes two seconds and each bullet incapacitates those it hits with the same Neuro Muscular effect of a handheld TASER.
Crime fighters may soon be adding another tool to their arsenal - one that is literally designed to strike fear into the hearts of evildoers. With an integrated taser, video camera and protective forearm armor, the BodyGuard is a stun device that wouldn't be out of place on the forearm of a certain caped crusader in Gotham City. BodyGuard has already been used in Mock Prison Riots in West Virginia and is headed to real world city streets with testing and evaluation of the device due to commence in Los Angeles later this year.
We've seen TASER electroshock weapons designed for law enforcement
, personal protection
and even riot control
, but in all of the above cases, it's a human on the receiving end. Now the company has a different target in sight for its "less lethal" technology ... and it's one that could create as much controversy
as its predecessors – the TASER Wildlife Electronic Control Device.
The launch of the handheld TASER X3
has been grabbing headlines lately, but the company has also been developing large-scale versions of its stun-gun technology for 'area denial' (read 'riot control'). The TASER
Shockwave is a fully modular system that effectively bunches six TASER X26 stun guns together to cover a 20-degree arc with 25-foot cartridges.
When we previewed the release of the Taser X3
stun-gun a couple of weeks back, details on what it looked like were scarce. Now images have been released to coincide with the official launch, along with more detail about the new three-shot Electronic Control Device (ECD).
A new Taser
that fires three shots before it needs recharging is soon to be released. Billed by the company as its most innovative handheld electronic control device (ECD) since the Taser X26 was released in 2003, the high-tech Taser X3 can be simultaneously used on multiple targets and boasts a range of additional features including laser sights for both top and bottom probes, improved monitoring and data recording and the ability to survive harsh environments.
Dashboard cameras mounted on police vehicles have proven their worth in backing up courtroom testimony by providing a video record of incidents – as well as giving reality cop shows a veritable wealth of real life footage. Now a new product from Taser
International, the company responsible for the electroshock weapon
that bears that name, takes the idea one step further by capturing video and audio of incidents from the visual perspective of the responding officer.
January 11, 2008 It seems we mistakenly thought that convergence meant we were supposed to be carrying less gadgets rather than more gadgets, but Taser launched a new range of stun guns in a range of female-focussed colors at the Consumer Electronics Show this week, adding yet another must-have for those who wish to ensure their personal safety – the Taser MPH (Music Player Holster), which is a combination 1GB MP3 player and Taser C2 holster. In addition to the leopard print, other new Taser C2 colors include red-hot red and fashion pink.


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Bonmarche has been fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support for over 13 years and have raised over £2.6 million for the charity
Bonmarché employees and its customers last year alone have raised a massive £236,000 and we are hoping to beat it again this year !
All stores have had great fun dressing up and arranging fundraising activities for the ‘Go Mad, Go Green’ event and ‘The Worlds’ Biggest Coffee Morning’. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us on our way to achieving our target!
If you would like to get involved, pop into any Bonmarche store where you can purchase Macmillan merchandise including exclusive David Emanuel necklaces and pin badges plus much more. Visit our Facebook page for the latest Bonmarche charity news and events.
To find out more about our partnership view the Bonmarche Macmillian Page


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New Citi Bikes With Bigger Baskets Hit the Streets Today
If you’ve ever given up trying to secure a change of clothes, a bag of groceries, or other cargo in a Citi Bike basket, relief is in sight.
Citi Bike is rolling out “over 100” bikes with bigger baskets as part of ongoing normal replacement and upgrades to its fleet, said a spokesperson for parent company Motivate. From now on, all new Citi Bikes will have these baskets in front.
The current Citi Bike “baskets” are open on two sides and pretty small. Bungee cords do a lot of work to keep things from falling out.
The intent behind the old design was to prevent New Yorkers from throwing trash in the baskets. We’ll see soon enough whether those worries were justified.
The new three-sided baskets are larger and still have cords to keep your stuff from bouncing around. Motivate says it tested the baskets in a pilot with riders and received a positive response before deciding to make them standard on new bikes.
Keep an eye out for these, rolling out to streets today. pic.twitter.com/PXx0mQelgZ
— Citi Bike (@CitiBikeNYC) August 7, 2018


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Small Agencies: Check This Out
Well, Krupp is getting things rolling. On Monday, Sept. 21, he is introducing the first annual Small Agency Monday (to be celebrated every third Monday of September going forward, as he suggested). The holiday is debuting in partnership with large marketing organizations such as Worldwide Partners, Magnet Global Network and Tribe Global, a global network of independent shops.
“Small Agency Monday was developed to level the playing field during this uncertain time and beyond, and counter the notion that only holding companies can deliver big results,” Krupp tells Ad Age. “This myth has been perpetuated for too long.”
He says the initiative was created “to shine a light on the small shops we, and the industry, admire, with the overall intention of getting the attention of clients that may not have looked to small agencies in the past.” It launches with a social campaign that the initiative’s partners will promote on their own platforms, and a website that in the coming months will feature stories, interviews and podcasts with leaders of independents. The goal, according to the campaign, is to help brands find new partners with fresh thinking, “whether it is an AOR opportunity or a chance to work on a product launch or project.”


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The Chevrolet Volt is everything that is wrong with Washington on four wheels, and investors (that’s you and me) should be furious.
Wrong #1: The Volt should be re-named the Vote. Who can forget that Super Bowl ad, with the pseudo-assembly line of Volts rolling through Hamtramck, Michigan, and the voice overlay that “this isn’t the car we wanted to build; it’s the car America had to build…from the heart of Detroit to the help [sic] of the country.” How true—corporate welfare on wheels, buying votes in a state vital to the President’s re-election. There is simply no way that GM can kill it.
Wrong #2: Paying workers for not working. Several days before Christmas, production was phased out for the holidays, which in the case of the Volt plant, lasted until February 6. Last Friday, GM announced another shutdown, from March 19 through April 13, or five weeks. That’s right: the Hamtramck plant will produce “the car America had to build” for less than seven out of 18 weeks. When it’s open the plant only runs one ten-hour shift for four days a week. When the plant is shuttered, the 1,300 workers still get paid. Not counting obligations to retirement, the average hourly wage and benefits cost to GM union employees is about $55 per hour. Shareholders ponied up a little more than $30 million in wage costs alone for these 11 weeks of leisure. Nice job if you can get it! Of course, institutional overhead probably tacks on another $15 million or so. All while not one car is produced.
How many unsold Volts are out there? GM says there were 3,600 at the end of February, and Autoweek and The Wall Street Journal say 6,300 (which would be in the ball park of the total non-fleet sales of Volts for all of 2011). Cars.com lists a bit over 4,300. Even using conservative figures, the average Volt sits on the average dealer’s lot for 60 days.
Wrong #3: Subsidizing well-off taxpayers. The Administration is doing everything it can to goose sales. The President’s new budget raises the subsidy paid to Volt buyers another 33%, to $10,000 per car in a direct tax credit. The median price of all the Volts on cars.com is $43,200. The average household income of Volt purchasers is in excess of $170,000, around the 93rd percentile. At the 28% tax bracket (married, filing jointly), this is equivalent to $36,000 of tax-free income. The car which is traded most for the Volt is none other than the Toyota Prius, which, according to most analyses, will not have been owned long enough to save in gas money the total premium paid for the car, compared to a comparable conventional vehicle.
Wrong #4: Corporate cronyism and coercion. Last month, General Electric, whose CEO Jeffrey Immelt chairs the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, announced that all 2012 sedans ordered by employees for corporate use will be Volts. That’s Competitive! Beginning next January 1, GE will not reimburse employees for any corporate travel unless it is done in a Volt. If GE purchases the 12,000 Volts it is committed to buying, it will get a $120 million subsidy.
Mark Modica, of the National Center for Policy Analysis, has uncovered another whopper. Dealers that sell Volts to nonprofits, such as municipalities, can claim the subsidy. The Obama Administration is simply determined to give away money to move this car that so few want.
The political calculus on the Volt may in fact be wrong. Yes, it may deliver Michigan. But people in other battleground states aren’t happy about subsidizing a car with their children’s (and grandchildren’s) future wages.
When testifying to Congress about the (overhyped) Volt battery fires last January, GM CEO Dan Ackerson lamented “We did not develop the Chevy Volt to be a political punching bag”, but rather “We engineered the Volt to be a technological wonder”.
In fact, it is an impressive piece of technology. It is also an expensive one for which the shareholders (us) are paying workers not to work, buying the vote in Michigan, subsidizing the wealthy and paying one of the richest corporations in the world to be subsidized to buy something that just cannot roll on its own four wheels.
How could the more-aptly named Chevrolet Vote not become a political punching bag?


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According to a new report, 78.2% of all the models featured in spring 2016’s fashion adverts were white. In a breakdown of the statistics, 8.3% of models featured in ads were black, 4% were Asian and 3.8% were Hispanic.
Although low, the percentage of non-white models has actually increased from 2015 when the total was 84.7%. The results, complied by The Fashion Spot, come from a survey of 236 fashion print campaigns and 422 models.
“The good news is that it is more racially diverse. The downside is that there is a long way to go,” Jennifer Davidson, managing editor of The Fashion Spot, told the New York Post.
Diversity continues to be a hot-button issue for the fashion industry. Labels such as Nasir Mazhar, Hood by Air, Kanye West’s Yeezy line and Zac Posen use a range of ethnically diverse models at their shows (Posen used black models exclusively for his New York fashion week show and the hashtag #Blackmodelsmatter on his Instagram). Whereas other parts of the industry are playing catch up; all the models at the Vetements and Balenciaga shows were white.
The statistics come in the same week that Naomi Campbell admitted that her iconic French Vogue cover from 1988 (she was the first black model to appear on its cover) almost didn’t happen.
In an interview with CNN style, the model said that she had no idea editor-in-chief Anna Wintour had to fight for the cover.
“Anna gave me such a great opportunity and I had no idea how much she had to fight for that.” At the time, Yves Saint Laurent threatened to pull his advertising from the magazine if they refused to put a black model on the cover. They relented and Campbell’s cover appeared on newsstands.
Campbell wrote about her early experiences of racism in the fashion industry earlier this month in her self-titled book. “When I started out, I wasn’t being booked for certain shows because of the colour of my skin. I didn’t let it rattle me. From attending auditions and performing at an early age, I understood what it meant to be black. You had to put in the extra effort. You had to be twice as good.”


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Do you recognise the brands behind Tony’s Chocolonely look-a-like bars?*
We ARE LOVING these new limited edition chocolate bars. But, not everyone feels the same way, which makes us love them even more! Here’s why…
These bars were on supermarket shelves for just 24 hours before they were snapped up – by the very-same supermarkets, who were pressured by the big brands to remove them, according to sources at Tony’s.
This is because the bars are part of a campaign that’s challenging all chocolate brands to make 100% slave-free chocolate the norm. And who in their right mind want’s to be associated with that? Certainly not the brands who are profiting from slavery…
Tony’s Chocolonely ‘look-alike’ bars: challenging broken promises
The stats are pretty shocking:
– Today, more than 1.56 million children work under illegal conditions on cocoa plantations because the harvest doesn’t give their parents enough income. (NORC, 2020)
– An additional 30,000 adults and children are victims of modern slavery. (NORC, 2020)
– In 2001 the world’s biggest chocolate companies supported the Harkin–Engel Protocol, committing to eradicate illegal child labour and modern slavery from the chocolate supply chain.
In the 20 years since not much has changed (see first two stats).
…All in the name of CHOCOLATE. Crazy, isn’t it?
This is despite the fact chocolate brands boast about their in-house ‘sustainability’ schemes on their packaging – making us believe they’re better than they actually are.
Head of Impact at Tony’s Chocolonely, Paul Schoenmakers, says: “15 years after we launched our first chocolate bar to call on the industry, not enough has changed.
With these bars, we aren’t pointing a finger, we’re calling on the whole chocolate industry, all brands, to take responsibility and to collaborate to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate.”
Tony’s Sourcing Principles
The bars look like the world’s most iconic chocolate brands but they’re made very differently.
The bars are all follow Tony’s Five Sourcing Principles: use 100% traceable cocoa beans,
pay a higher price, strengthen farmer cooperatives, engage in long-term direct trading
partnerships, and focus on cocoa quality and productivity to optimise cocoa yields.
“It’s not enough if these principles are only implemented by us. So, we’ve developed Tony’s Open Chain, an
open source initiative available to all chocolate makers so they can do the same,” says Schoenmakers.
Tony’s Chocolonely ‘look-alike’ bars: the solution
Stop eating chocolate.
Just joking, of course!
The solution is to scratch that chocolate itch with Tony’s Chocolonely (or any of the other brands who are creating great chocolate without the slavery).
These look-a-like chocolate bars are challenging the brands who are talking the talk, but not walking the walk. That’s what we’re all about at Live Frankly.
It’s also an issue we’ve written a lot about: from sharing a few stories of the invisible women making our chocolate to exploring the impacts of Nestlé dropping Fairtrade for their Kit Kats and Ben & Jerry’s committing to “economic justice” for the cocoa farmers in their supply chain.
We aim to do a lot more this year and hope you’ll join us for the ride!
You can start by signing Tony’s Chocolonely petition to support the need for human rights legislation that holds companies legally accountable for modern slavery and illegal child labour in their supply chains.
And, if you fancy, you can also buy some bars.
It’s a tough job. And, a lot of us need to do it.
*The answer is Toblerone, KitKat, Twix and Ferrero Rocher. And, yes, the Tony’s Chocolonely bars are filled with nougat pyramids, wafer strips, caramel biscuit strips and nutty crunch circles…
All profits from the bars will be donated to 100WEEKS, an independent
platform that uses direct cash transfers and financial training to assist women in escaping the cycle of extreme poverty.


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Do I Detect a Note of Smoke in My Chardonnay?
How the wildfires may affect the California wine industry.
CategoryFarm + Table
For many wine connoisseurs, a hint of tobacco might be a welcome flavor profile to their glass of cabernet. But following this season’s devastating fires, many winemakers are worried real smoke may damage their future crops.
While much of this year’s harvest was spared in both Northern and Southern California, the threat is far from over, as seen in other wine regions around the world.
According to a recent segment on NPR, “Smoke taint can happen when grapes are exposed to smoke. The resulting wine has an unpleasant taste, often described as ashy, burnt, and ashtray. California’s growers might have lucked out this year, but significant wine regions, including in Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Portugal, have all had serious fires in recent years, and climate change is anticipated to make it worse.”
Read more about this developing research and the potential impact of smoke of wine production here.
The 1987 teen horror film was shot on location in the laid back coastal town.
It’s one of many origin stories featured in a new book.


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Since 2009, Midwest Circulation LLC has contracted with young adults, providing them with the opportunity to sell magazine subscriptions on a door-to-door basis and earn a commission on each sale.
Online PR News – 02-April-2012 – Cameron, MO – Since 2009, Midwest Circulation LLC has contracted with young adults, providing them with the opportunity to sell magazine subscriptions on a door-to-door basis and earn a commission on each sale. The company recently revealed that it also provides young adults with another way to earn compensation for their hard work. Through their collaboration with the National Cash Awards, Midwest Circulation LLC allows young adults to earn extra cash bonuses and the chance to earn an expensive trip.
"We've always believed in compensating our independent contractors as well as we can," says a Midwest Circulation LLC representative. "Selling subscriptions door to door is a tough business, and these young adults face a significant amount of rejection each and every day in their work. We try to do our part to keep them motivated and to help them earn a decent living through their work. The National Cash Awards help us to achieve that goal."
The National Cash Awards uses a point-based system. Each time an independent contractor with Midwest Circulation LLC makes a sale, that person gets points. The more sales the person makes, the more points are accumulated. When the person reaches 15,000 points, a $1,000 bonus is provided.
"Very few companies provide this sort of performance-based bonus in the form of cold, hard cash," says the Midwest Circulation LLC representative. "Some of our independent contractors are trying to save up money for college, and these bonuses can quickly add up and help that person build up the funds needed for that education. It can be really exciting to hand out those bonuses to teens who are so deserving."
The benefits of the National Cash Awards don't end there. Twice each year, the organization tabulates points gathered all around the nation, and the top three participants are rewarded with a 5-day, 4-night trip. They even receive cash they can use on that trip.
"Taking a trip can be incredibly expensive, and for some young adults, it's not something they could ever afford to do in their wildest dreams," says the Midwest Circulation LLC representative. "I've seen some of our independent contractors work tirelessly to win that trip. It just seems to light a fire beneath them and encourage them to do even more."
About Midwest Circulation LLC
Midwest Circulation LLC is a business. The company provides young adults with the opportunity to make money and win prizes through their work selling magazines on an independent contractor basis. Through this work, young adults have the opportunity to strengthen their sales skills and earn money at the same time. It's a valuable service. But, this doesn't mean that Midwest Circulation LLC is a charitable business. In fact, Midwest Circulation LLC is a for-profit company that isn't affiliated with any foundation or charitable group. The company exists, in true American form, as a for-profit venture that can help everyone involved to make money. And the company has been doing just that since 2009.


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Marketing and Sponsorship
The FIFA World Cup has come as "a big boon" for Bangladesh's ready-made dress makers who landed about $1B in export orders "to sew clothing for fans," according to XINHUA. Bangladesh garment makers said that they "have made millions of pieces of soccer jerseys, T-shirts, flags and hats for fans of all the World Cup's 32 teams and already sent their products to all across the world." Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association acting CEO Mohammad Hatem said, "It's not possible for us to tell an exact figure of the total value of the World Cup related merchandise exports. But we can estimate that it will be in no way less than $1 billion." Leaders of the two apex bodies of Bangladeshi ready-made garment makers -- BKMEA and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters' Association (BGMEA) -- said that a big part of the current growth in Bangladesh's overall export "came from the World Cup merchandise." Hatem said that they "have so far supplied some 500 million pieces of jerseys to buyers across the world." Hatem: "My factory alone supplied 250,000 soccer jerseys for eight teams like Brazil, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Portugal" (XINHUA, 6/3). The Indian BUSINESS STANDARD's Vinay Umarji reported India "has been playing its role." Indian manufacturers "have been exporting sports products to Brazil" for the World Cup. Jalandhar-based Rattan Brothers has supplied around 80,000 balls through a U.K.-based Hy-Pro that "has the official FIFA license for supplying the product for the World Cup this year." Rattan Brothers Exports Dir Tilak Khinder said, "This being the soccer World Cup year, we have seen a 20 percent jump in orders for soccer balls from other regions such as Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland and France, among others." Rattan Brothers "is exporting another 200,000 soccer balls to these regions." Meanwhile, overall football sports goods exports could see a 20-30% rise in the fiscal '14-15 year (BUSINESS STANDARD, 6/4).
The Czech football association FACR "has signed a sponsorship deal" with betting operator Synot which will replace the Gambrinus beer brand "as the title sponsor of the country's top tier league," according to Jaroslaw Adamowski of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. The four-year contract "has an option to extend it by a further four years." Synot "is scheduled to replace Gambrinus this June." The amount of the Synot deal "was not disclosed by the football association." However, local daily Mloda fronta DNES reported that the new contract "is worth more than the previous deal," under which Gambrinus paid the league about 50M krona per year. The beer brand "served as the league's main sponsor for 17 years" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 6/4).
The German and French ice hockey federations (DEB, FFHG) have partnered with Infront Sports & Media for the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, to be co-hosted by the two countries. The agreement has led to a joint venture between Infront and DEB in Germany, to be based in Munich. DEB General Secretary Franz Reindl has been appointed managing director of the company. In France, Infront has signed an advisory contract with the FFHG to consult the Local Organizing Committee in promotion and marketing. Infront will market hospitality for games at Paris' Bercy Arena (Infront).
Barcelona-based beer brand Estrella Damm has become the "first official sponsor of the 2017 Mediterranean Games," which will take place in Tarragona, Spain. Tarragona Mayor Josep Fèlix Ballesteros and Grupo Damm Dir General Enric Crous signed an agreement in which the beer brand will contribute €3M ($4M) over the next four years as an official partner of the event. Mediterranean Games organizers are "planning to raise" €30M ($41M) in private sponsorships, "a sum that would cover 76% of the event's total cost" (EL PERIODICO, 6/3). ... Spanish Football League (LFP) North Africa & Middle East Dir General Fernando Sanz on Tuesday announced an agreement between the LFP and Chinese energy company Sunrain. Sanz called the partnership a "key point for the international development of the LFP" (EP, 6/3). ... EPL side Sunderland and South Africa-based BFC Group announced Bidvest "will continue" as the Black Cats' main kit sponsor for home and away games next season (SUNDERLAND ECHO, 6/4). ... AirAsia has agreed to a one-year extension of its shirt sponsorship with EPL side Queens Park Rangers (QPR). ... Dutch side Ajax has agreed to a three-year sponsorship with Chinese company Zhejiang Shenghui Lighting (Ajax). ... Chinese Super League club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua "has launched a charm offensive to win over disgruntled fans by inviting them to redesign the club’s emblem for next season." The new emblem "must contain" elements of the club sponsor Greenland as well as the previous brand “Shenhua.” It "should carry the team’s jersey color -- blue, while the team’s lucky mascot, the leopard, is desired but not necessary, the club said on its official website" (SHANGHAI DAILY, 6/4). ... The British Basketball League named Tickets.com the official ticket provider for the 14-team league. Each club will utilize Tickets.com's ProVenue suite of products to manage ticket sales and provide feedback into purchasing and attendance traits (BBL).


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Trimble hosts Tekla User Days 2019
Global construction technology leader Trimble is hosting its flagship annual event for its Indian customers, Tekla User Days (TUD) India, on 29th and 30th May at The Leela Palace in Chennai. The theme of TUD 2019 edition is #TrulyConstructible and is designed for industry professionals to interact, collaborate, learn and showcase their projects to the larger audience. Giza – a global leader in connection design software is a gold sponsor of this two-day event. TUD is a highly anticipated annual conference and is expected to draw over 200 industry leaders and professionals this year. All participants will get a hands on experience of Tekla Structures 2019 with a host of new features and capabilities that makes modelling quicker and easier.
TUD 2019 India participants will also get an opportunity to learn about Trimble’s recently launched products including TeklaPowerFab, Bridge Creator and Trimble Connect Desktop. Further, they will have an opportunity to earn the qualification of ‘Tekla Certified Engineer’ under the aegis of the Tekla Certification Program.
Paul Wallett, Regional Director, Trimble Solutions, India and Middle East said, “Every year, Tekla User Days brings to the Tekla user community an unparalleled access to cutting-edge innovations such as the Trimble Constructible process. With the introduction of Tekla Premier League, the 2019 edition promises to be bigger and more immersive than ever for the users in the country. Besides, we have an impressive lineup of workshops, presentations and training sessions spread over two days to provide a solid platform for participants to learn how to solve complex real-world problems in construction by applying Trimble’s cutting-edge technology. We are proud to provide this unique platform to the stakeholders in the construction industry to learn, create, engage and network”.
The highlight of the second day of TUD 2019 India is a panel discussion on the topic: Digital Transformation and its Impact Across the Construction Continuum. The panellists include construction industry stalwarts like P R SurendhraBabu, Vice President & Head – Digital Engineering, L&T, Sagar S. Gandhi, Additional General Manager – Operations & Technology, ShapoorjiPallonji& Co. Ltd., CharanKambhampati, Civil & Structural Head, Technip FMC, Steven Burton, Digital Engineering Lead, Project Delivery – UK & Europe, WS Atkins and RajanAiyer, Managing Director, India & SAARC Region, Trimble Solutions.
#TrulyConstructible has been acknowledged by industry leaders as disruptive tech that allows industry professionals to monetize their software investments in a transparent and effective way. Trimble is at the forefront of this change and the various stakeholders in the design, build and operate lifecycle, emphatically stated that this will allow faster adoption of technology and make the industry significantly more efficient and profitable.


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Blog: French protectionism
Catherine Sleep | 7 March 2006
The French government says it will protect its 20 leading companies from foreign aggressors. That’s overseas investors, to you and me. Touching, perhaps, but economically dubious. Protecting your market from inward investment runs contrary to most economists’ vision of a healthy business strategy.
Danone, Carrefour and the like do not need to be protected from Pepsi or indeed any other potential investor. They operate globally and employ an international workforce. They can run their businesses perfectly well in a free and competitive marketplace without contrived defence measures.
The immediate impact of the news of the government’s bizarre initiative was to send both companies’ share price down. Rough justice.
To follow on from our earlier notice and after some hard work from our technical team, just-food is back live after today's power outage....
Much of the UK has felt the impact of Storm Doris today - and just-food's head office has been no exception....
A year after union officials alleged Fyffes abused workers on plantations in Central America - and called on the produce giant to be kicked out of the Ethical Trading Initiative forum - the company is...
Much of the chatter about where 3G Capital could look next has centred on packaged food - but might the private-equity fund be about to extend its foodservice empire?...
- US food next wave on display at Winter Fancy Food
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- Focus: Nestle CEO plan to balance sales, earnings
- Comment: Meal kits in US - don't believe the hype
- Wessanen eyes growth in "resurgent" organic market
- Unilever launches operational review
- Kraft Heinz pulls Unilever bid
- General Mills issues profit warning
- Kerry operating earnings strengthen on slow sales
- Glanbia focuses on nutrition with Irish dairy spin


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SIBU: Without realising it, this is the last leg of BAT7’s two-week roadtrip, which has covered over 2,000km up north and back.
Initially, we planned to head to Sarikei from Bintulu but due to ongoing heavy construction works along the Pan Borneo Highway and also the all-day heavy rain yesterday which slowed our journey, we made Sibu our pitstop in order to meet the deadline.
Along the way, we stopped by at Tatau – a small town about 56km from Bintulu town – for lunch where we discovered a lot of swiftlet farming activities being carried out in commercial buildings. Upon reaching the town, we were welcomed by the noisy chirping – both recorded and natural – of the swiftlets around there.
When asked for their comments, the locals seemed to be oblivious to the noise pollution created by these swiftlets. One of the townsfolk, who preferred anonymity, simply said: “We’re used to it – what can we do; we have to get used to it.”
Another resident, who operates a coffee shop, appealed to the relevant authorities to get rid of these swiftlet farms in commercial buildings for various reasons.
A source close to the matter revealed that such business endeavour was flouting the law.
“Firstly, shophouses should not be used as or turned into swiftlet farms for it is against the law of land or building use. And secondly, it is operated illegally without licence, which should be issued by the controller of wildlife,” the source told BAT7 yesterday.
The source also revealed that in some towns across Peninsula Malaysia such as in Taiping in Perak, the authority there allowed such activity to take place in commercial buildings.
“But here in Sarawak, we have to be careful as it can pose hazard to public health, especially diseases which can be transmitted by birds such as bird’s flu. So we have to take preventive measures by stopping this illegal activity.
“So our hope now is for the key agencies to enforce the law; otherwise it would become a mockery of the legal system in the land,” the source emphasised, adding that swiftlet farming should be conducted at least 10km away from town and conducted on agriculture land in accordance with the present guidelines.
At the small vegetable market, BAT7 met an Iban ‘tuak’ (rice wine) maker from Rumah Supit, which is located some 2km from town.
Ita Supit, who happens to be the village headman’s daughter, has been making the traditional Iban rice wine for most of her adult life.
“We sell it daily but there is more demand for it before any festival like Gawai or Christmas, as it is a must for the Ibans to have it during such joyous celebrations.
“I make the local wine myself, from glutinous rice and yeast; I sell it at RM15 per one-litre plastic bottle,” she added.
Ita disclosed that her wine would be ready for consumption after a fermentation period of two to three weeks. She said her wine ‘is crystal clear’, in that she uses homemade yeast known as ‘ragi’ – or ‘chiping’ in Iban – which she gets from a woman supplier at another village.
“The wine-making process is quite simple – the ingredients are glutinous rice mixed with dried yeast ball,” she said.
“The secret of making good rice wine is in the ingredients of the yeast ball, which is a mixture of blended local galangal, pepper powder, ginger, cinnamon, rice flour and water. It will be kneaded and rolled into a ball and then dried for three to four days, depending on the weather,” she said.
In the beginning, Ita said the glutinous rice that had been mixed with yeast would be stored inside a ceramic jar, where the fermentation would take place and after that, the wine would be ready to be bottled and marketed.
“I also sell the yeast balls for those who like to make their own wine – at RM12 per kilogramme,” she added.
According to Ita, the ‘tuak’ brings more income to her than selling varieties of local and wild vegetables at the market. We drove 85km further and reached Selangau, where we had restroom breaks and stretched our legs at Syarikat Impian – a must-stop rest place to grab some food and drinks as well.
BAT7 will make its homestretch today after a two-week journey. This would be the longest drive as our hearts are anxious to reach home safely.


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Grab’s Investment in LinkAja is a Positive Signal for Local Fintech
Grab’s investment in LinkAja at the end of last year was considered to be a positive signal for startups, especially in the field of financial technology (financial technology/fintech). Economic Observer from the Indonesia Strategic and Economic Action Institution, Ronny P. Sasmita, said Grab‘s decision deserves appreciation.
This is because in addition to proving their role as one of the pioneers of digital technology that plays a role in increasing national financial literacy and inclusion, they also pay attention to local fintech players through investment.
“Grab’s corporate action will be a signal for other investors, both domestic and foreign, to be more confident in expanding into Indonesia’s increasingly digital and fintech ecosystem,” said Ronny in his statement, Tuesday (26/1/2021).
In terms of future business considerations, Ronny added, Grab’s move was very rational because Grab would have a prospective captive market opportunity that is already within LinkAja’s reach.
LinkAja itself is in the BUMN ecosystem, which means that the implementation of good corporate governance is a must. LinkAja currently has more than 58 million registered users, with more than 80 percent of its users coming from tier 2 and 3 cities in Indonesia.
“Grab will play a major role in encouraging digitalization, literacy, and financial inclusion in SOEs to government. This is a potential that other fintech investors do not have,” said Ronny. To note, in November 2010, Telkomsel and BRI Ventura, Mandiri Capital Indonesia, led by Grab, invested new capital of USD 100 million or around IDR 14 trillion into LinkAja.
Synergy and Collaboration
The strategic investment from Grab will include various synergies and potential collaboration for the two parties. It is hoped that the collaboration and synergy between the company will accelerate and at the same time increase the financial inclusion of the Indonesian people.
“We chose to invest in LinkAja because with this collaboration, we can accelerate our goal of accelerating financial inclusion in this country,” said Managing Director of Grab Indonesia, Neneng Goenadi. On the other hand, the decision to raise funds for this digital wallet service cannot be separated from a number of advantages the company has.
One of them is that this service is supported by a strong shareholder base which is the ranks of the leading BUMN in Indonesia. This digital wallet service is known as an innovative product with a strong brand that is rapidly developing into an iconic local fintech platform in Indonesia.
During the economic challenges in the pandemic, LinkAja was able to increase the Gross Transaction Value (GTV) and the number of transactions in the third quarter of 2020 by three times, compared to the same period in the previous year.
“We are sure that this strategic partnership supported by investment and the strength of Grab’s technology will strengthen services in providing effective solutions to provide access to finance and the economy for the Indonesian people,” said LinkAja’s President Director, Haryati Lawidjaja.
Indonesia’s Financial Literacy Potential
Ronny explained, data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) recorded that Indonesia’s financial literacy index in 2019 had reached 38.03 percent, an increase compared to the results of the same survey in 2016, which was 29.7 percent. Indonesia also recorded an increase in the financial inclusion index from 67.8 percent in 2016 to 76.19 percent in 2020.
“This is a big potential that must be seen by investors,” said Ronny. In addition, continued Ronny, Grab Indonesia’s decision will also give confidence to Indonesia itself to continue to improve itself and develop a digital ecosystem and national financial technology so that it can continue to compete with neighboring countries.
“Because to this day, Indonesia is still behind several other ASEAN countries in terms of the financial inclusion index. However, Indonesia is still behind Singapore which has reached 98 percent in financial inclusion, Malaysia 85 percent, and Thailand 82 percent,” said Ronny.


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This isn't your father's America.
Gone are the days you could graduate high school, get a job at a local factory, and have a job for life. The data suggests manufacturing jobs are in a permanent decline.
Even so, we're now manufacturing more and more stuff in the United States. It's not that manufacturing left the U.S. Instead, the manufacturing jobs did.
How 600,000 jobs vanished
It may be a tough environment for those seeking work in the manufacturing industry. But those who already have a manufacturing job have it better than ever. In fact, the average manufacturing worker is working more hours per week than at any time since World War II:
It's hard to see it in the chart -- the current manufacturing employee works 42.1 hours per week. That's higher than the "Made in the USA" heyday of the 1950s and 1960s.
Factories fear adding new workers
It's curious that at a time manufacturing workers are working more, fewer factories are hiring. Since the bottom in manufacturing employment in 2010, factories have only added 500,000 workers -- too few to keep work weeks at 40 hours.
There's an important takeaway from these two charts. First, factories are reluctant to hire new workers, choosing to pay their existing workers an average of 2.1 hours of overtime. Secondly, if the manufacturing industry hired enough workers to push down the average factory week to a normal level of 40 hours, the industry would create some 600,000 new American jobs.
There are plenty of reasons factories aren't hiring. For one, manufacturers recognize the cyclicality of the industry -- perhaps they're not ready to hire if another recession may be around the corner. Secondly, manufacturing workers bring big fixed costs like pensions and medical benefits. To put it simply, paying overtime wages is less costly than adding new workers.
So, while we're making more products in the United States, there's something we're not making: new manufacturing jobs. That trend is, unfortunately, probably here to stay.


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Tag: Automobili Pininfarina
Paolo Dellachà has been appointed to the position of CEO at Italian luxury carmaker Automobili Pininfarina, from his current role as Chief Product and Engineering Officer, succeeding Per Svantesson.
Automobili Pininfarina has revealed new images of the upcoming PF0 hypercar and confirmed €20+ million investment in a new cooperation with Pininfarina SpA.
Automobili Pininfarina has released new sketches that anticipate the design of the upcoming hypercar - and announced the involvement of Nick Heidfeld in the development team.
Launched by Mahindra, Automobili Pininfarina will focus on the production of exclusive, sustainable luxury cars, and will present an electric hypercar in 2020


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The Australian exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry recorded a 40 per cent increase in net inflows in 2015, eclipsing that of the retail managed funds industry, according to BetaShares.
In a recent report by BetaShares, it was found the ETF industry brought in $6 billion of new money in 2015, up 40 per cent from 2014.
In terms of net inflow growth, ETFs outperformed retail managed funds, which recorded a 6.6 per cent increase in new money, the report said.
BetaShares managing director Alex Vynokur said: “We believe the industry will continue to grow strongly next year, and forecast total industry [funds under management (FUM)] at end 2016 to be in the range of $28 to $30 billion.”
Mr Vynokur said the Australian ETF industry now has $21 billion in FUM, with the global ETF industry sitting at $3 trillion in FUM.
According to Mr Vynokur, investment appetites are also changing, with investors seeking out ETFs in both developed market international equities and Australian equities.
“After several years of appetite for international equities products, in 2015 we saw a more even split between Australian equities and developed market international equities, resulting in $1.7 billion of new money each,” he said.
“Interest in European exposures also grew substantially as investors became more confident in the resolution of the eurozone crisis, with both trading and inflows into European-oriented ETFs increasing markedly compared to previous years.”
The best performing exposures in 2015 were Japanese equities and global consumer staples, followed by global healthcare, Mr Vynokur added.
Economists agree that the Reserve Bank is likely to remain in inflation fighting mode until December. ...


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Gibson's Bookstore, Imagination village to team up after move in Concord
To open a larger Gibson’s Bookstore on South Main Street, Michael Herrmann knew he needed more than just books. So he’s joining forces with Laura Miller, owner of Imagination Village.
Herrmann purchased the assets of Imagination Village, and Miller will work at the new Gibson’s Bookstore when it opens on South Main Street this summer.
She’ll run his stock of educational toys, games and puzzles, and organize children’s and family events for the bookstore.
“I’m still a bookstore purist,” Herrmann said. “I think, though, that what Laura does – what she’s built – is a great complement for a bookstore, can really take a bookstore to the next level.”
Miller, who opened Imagination Village 12 years ago to sell educational toys, said Herrmann first approached her with the idea last November.
“And it just made sense from the beginning,” Miller said. “I think the synergy between what we do with educational toys and games and puzzles and books . . . just fits into a very holistic kind of bookstore.”
Gibson’s Bookstore will move into Steve Duprey’s new building on South Main Street this summer, at the former site of the New Hampshire Bindery. Herrmann is leasing the entire first floor from Duprey for a 10,000-square-foot bookstore, part of which is subleased to True Brew Barista for a bookstore cafe.
The new children’s area at the new store will be larger than all of the current Gibson’s Bookstore, Herrmann said.
Miller said she’s especially excited to plan game nights, story hours and other events in that space.
Imagination Village has “a tiny space and we burst at the seams,” she said.
Gibson’s expanded offerings won’t just be for children, Herrmann said. He’ll also offer educational games and puzzles for adults.
“And Laura knows how to do that,” he said.
Their vision: Customers can walk into the new Gibson’s Bookstore and find a book or other gift to fit any interest.
Though many large bookstores across the country have started selling toys and games, Herrmann said he isn’t just following a trend or emulating a chain bookstore.
“It’s not just random gadgets or what’s hot at the moment,” he said. “This is a commitment to providing a service for children and families. It’s centered on books, but it’s not just that. It’s things that excite the imagination.”
Miller said some people have asked her why she’s giving up her business. But she describes it as “joining the Gibson’s family,” and she doesn’t look at it as going out of business.
“I don’t really think of it as saying goodbye,” she said. “I think of it as kind of reinventing it. And there’s so many new opportunities to take what we’ve learned and cherished, and the mistakes we’ve made in the last 12 years and develop something really exciting in the new space.”


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Lundgren named to board of Federal Reserve Bank of New York
New York City — Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s, has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York board of directors.
Lundgren was appointed a class B director starting Aug. 31 for the unexpired porting of a three-year term ending Dec. 11, serving the remainder of GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt’s CEO term.
Flu shots now available at Walmart, Sam’s Club
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam’s Club are offering flu shots clinics to customers through their partnership with Mollen Immunization Clinics.
The clinics, located in more than 4,100 select stores and clubs nationwide, will offer flu shots for $25. Medicare Part B or private health plans may cover part or all of the cost of the immunization, Walmart and Sam’s Club noted. Additionally, Mollen is expanding its immunization menu to also include vaccines for pneumonia, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria pertussis), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), meningitis, HPV (human papilloma virus) and hepatitis A and B. The decision was based on changing state regulations that require mandates around these immunizations for both children and adults.
"Providing flu shots in our stores is another way Walmart helps deliver access to affordable healthcare solutions to our customers," Walmart health-and-wellness division president John Agwunobi said.
Customers can visit Walmart.com/flushots or SamsClub.com/healthyliving to find specific dates, times and locations for the flu vaccination clinics.
Save the dates: Sept. 21 & Nov. 14
Walmart suppliers interested in learning more about the sales opportunity presented by serving Hispanic customers domestically and internationally will have several opportunities to do so in the weeks and months ahead.
First up on Sept. 21, is an event organized by Doing Business in Bentonville called, “U.S. Hispanics – Significance Beyond a Niche Market Segment.” Featured speakers at the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. event being held at the Embassy Suites in Rogers, Ark., include Deanna Canedo, director of marketing, multicultural-Hispanic, Walmart U.S.; and Alex Lopez Negrete, president, CEO and chief creative officer with Lopez Negrete Communications.
Canedo was previously with Lopez Negrete, Walmart’s Hispanic agency of record, prior to joining Walmart earlier this year. In her role at Walmart she is serves as the voice of the Hispanic consumers and is responsible for developing and executing Walmart’s Hispanic marketing strategies and providing multicultural insights throughout the organization.
“We decided to offer this program because the Hispanic market has grown and evolved considerably during the past decade,” said Doing Business in Bentonville executive director Nancy Woods. “With the U.S. Hispanic population now in excess of 50 million it has never been more important for growth oriented supplier to understand and effectively engage with the dynamic Hispanic marketplace.”
According to Woods, the speakers are expected to share insights into what Walmart has done to grow its business with Hispanics, how to build on successful initiatives and strategies suppliers can employ to more effectively serve Hispanics.
Not only are Hispanic shoppers vital to Walmart’s U.S. business, but Central and South America present an even larger opportunity. Accordingly, the supplier training firm 8th & Walton in conjunction with the Miami World Trade Center is hosting an event in Miami on Nov. 14, called “Are You Ready for Wal-Mart?” The all day event begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Miami Beach Convention Hall.
“We have multiple speakers, with scores of years experience between them, each offering tremendous insights into what it takes to have a successful retailer and supplier relationship,” said 8th & Walton CEO Mike Cockrell. “Getting a product onto the shelves at Wal-Mart could be the biggest thing to ever happen to your business.”
Wal-Mart’s Latinoamérica Regional Office in South Florida continues to expand to support the international businesses extreme growth, specifically in Mexico, Central and South America, according to Cockrell, a former Walmart executive who served as chief merchandising office in India prior to his retirement last year.
“These courses have assisted numerous international suppliers, such as Sara Lee, PepsiCo and Ocean Spray, gain access to the Wal-Mart customer”, explains Cockrell.
“By taking the course, (suppliers) will gain more knowledge about Wal-Mart, what is expected of Wal-Mart suppliers, organizational readiness, what you need to know before making the call, meeting tips and keys to success,” Cockrell said.


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The Nordstrom Rack president was going to fly personally to St. Louis in order to apologize to three teens who are black that were falsely accused of stealing in one of the chain’s stores.
Eric Rogers II, Dirone Taylor and Mekhi Lee were out prom clothes shopping when they began to notice several employees closely watching them along with following them throughout the store.
Lee said he became nervous since every time they would move around the store, so would the employees and when we looked up so did they.
Upon leaving the store, Brentwood Police surrounded the three teens in the store parking lot. Police told the teens that workers in the store accused them of stealing. After an on the spot investigation, police allowed the three teens to leave without being charged.
Rogers said that the police had acted professionally, understood where the teens were coming form and showed that all they were doing was their job.
As well as the accusations of theft, the teens said that a store customer had called them punks and had allegedly asked if their parents were proud of them.
In their own defense, the three said that an altercation had broken out amongst them and that customer, and management at the store had stepped in.
Taylor said he knew something was coming but was agitated, embarrassed and had mixed emotions with the entire situation because he knew they did not deserve it.
While the three were inside the store, they did buy something, and said it had been done to prove a point. Rogers said the purchase had been made to show them they were equal and did not to steal a thing.
The NAACP of St. Louis said it was getting involved and wanted to work with the President of Nordstrom Rack Geevy Thomas on how he would handle the situation with his staff at the store.
The NAACP St. Louis President Adolphus Pruitt said that the discussion must have sustenance and be strategic with measureable outcomes.
Nordstrom Rack in a prepared statement said it was attempting to address a verbal altercation at the time inside the store and did not handle that situation well and apologized to the three young men and each of their families. The company wants every customer to feel he or she is welcome when shopping at our stores and does not tolerate any kind of discrimination.