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Within leading dietary supplement associations, support for a mandatory product listing remains mixed.
Photo © AdobeStock.com/Андрей Яланский
A mandatory product listing for dietary supplements-the notion that dietary supplement companies would be required to list all of the retail products they sell in an FDA-operated database-has become an increasingly prevalent topic, one that has made its way to FDA itself. This past spring, FDA included, as part of its 2020 budget request, a proposal for a mandatory dietary supplement product listing. Within the leading dietary supplement associations, however, support for a product listing remains mixed.
At the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s 2019 The Conference in Carlsbad, CA, on Thursday, November 7, FDA speaker Lowell Schiller, FDA principal associate commissioner for policy, spoke about the benefits a mandatory listing poses.
“Today, without mandatory product listing, we lack basic, fundamental information about the dietary supplement market,” he said. “We don’t know how many dietary supplements are on the market, and we have no systematic way of knowing when a new product is introduced. We don’t know how many products contain any given ingredient. If it turns out there is a safety problem over a particular ingredient, or a particular ingredient…we don’t have the basic information to quickly identify which products are affected. We don’t have a reliable way to capture trends in the market so we can anticipate and adapt to new areas of risk. And we don’t have the visibility we need to be able to effectively prioritize our resources. Mandatory product listing would address these problems and help us to more effectively weed out the irresponsible actors from the market who threaten to tarnish the reputations of those who work hard to try to comply with the law.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, DC) is one association that has announced formal support for a mandatory FDA product listing. The association has already created a voluntary product listing for the industry to use called the Supplement OWL.
At the CRN conference, David Campbell of Bayer Consumer Healthcare, who is also the chair of CRN’s board of directors this year, spoke about how CRN’s board came to the decision to officially back a mandatory FDA listing based on the position of the association’s members. He also spoke to the concern that some who don’t support an FDA-mandated listing have: that providing FDA with more information about products on the market could put supplement companies at risk of increased scrutiny-and potentially increased regulatory enforcement-by the agency.
“CRN’s board took up the issue and continued discussion at each successive board meeting,” Campbell said to the CRN conference audience. “Over time, it became more and more clear that a new era calls for new thinking. Much of the animosity and distrust that we’ve had with our regulators are a thing of the past…”
He continued: “Some have said, ‘Doesn’t a mandatory listing paint targets on our back for FDA to come get us?’ Resoundingly, the answer to that question is no. Those of us who observe the high standards that meet CRN’s membership criteria and who are willing to do things right are not the sort of actors that FDA will be pursuing.”
But not everyone shares that view. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA; Silver Spring, MD) has voiced its opposition to an FDA-mandated product listing. At the CRN conference, AHPA president Michael McGuffin reiterated the association’s position that the broad range of regulations that dietary supplements already answer to give FDA sufficient tools to police the market, without requiring the creation of a mandatory listing.
“The AHPA board took a formal position a little over a year ago that, given the robust regulatory controls that are already in place for this class of goods, dietary supplements, there’s no need for a mandatory product listing,” he told Nutritional Outlook. “So that’s our position and it has been for a little over a year. We’ve been very public with that.”
McGuffin listed just some of the regulations governing dietary supplements today. “It’s a long list,” he said, that not only includes the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 but also the Bioterrorism Act (the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002), the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System law, as well as the Food Safety Modernization Act and FDA’s mandatory recall authority to pull violative supplement products off the shelf.
FDA already has the power to request the same type of information that some have said could be provided in a mandatory product listing database, such as information about a product, its ingredients, and where it was made. For instance, McGuffin said, companies are already required to provide information about their facilities under FDA’s food facility registration rule, and the agency is also able to request data when it performs current good manufacturing practices inspections. Under food labeling laws, companies are also required to provide information such as disclosures about the presence of major food allergens.
Given these existing regulations, McGuffin said, “[W]hat AHPA keeps going back to is: Is there a problem that needs to be solved? And is the fact that FDA can’t say there are [for example] 62,503 products [in the market], is that a problem? We don’t see it as a problem.” Furthermore, he pointed out, FDA does not utilize a listing-type system for products such as food. “FDA also doesn’t know how many brands of potato chips there are,” he said. “FDA doesn’t know how many brands of cookies there are, or the exact kinds of cookies being sold.”
“If it were a problem to be solved, then we would be supportive,” he added.
Supporters of a listing emphasize that a listing would serve merely as a repository for information but would not otherwise be used as a means for FDA to overreach its existing regulatory authority for dietary supplements. At the CRN conference, Campbell said, “Responsible actors have nothing to fear from a mandatory listing.”
During his speech, FDA’s Schiller said: “We’re not talking about imposing a new premarket approval requirement.”
A primary concern for AHPA’s members, however, is that FDA could somehow use the information provided by companies as a means of enforcement, McGuffin said: “Absolutely. That’s a concern that has been clearly articulated by numerous AHPA members.” For instance, he said, if FDA decided that a certain ingredient is a regulatory concern, it could use the mandatory listing database as a searchable way to target industry companies selling that ingredient. “There are concerns,” he said, “that there would be regulatory mischief that would result.”
Would a mandatory listing give consumers more confidence in FDA’s regulatory oversight of dietary supplements? In a recent survey conducted by the PEW Charitable Trusts, consumers who were polled generally said they supported the idea of a mandatory FDA listing. That same survey, however, likewise found that the consumers polled did not know how FDA currently regulates dietary supplements under existing laws.
McGuffin said that that changing FDA laws to add a mandatory listing won’t increase consumer understanding of supplement regulations. What’s more, he said, consumers already have high confidence in the supplement category, as evidenced by data from CRN’s own 2019 Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, which showed that up to 85% of U.S. consumers polled were confident in the safety and quality of dietary supplements overall.
“We don’t have a consumer confidence problem,” McGuffin said. “We don’t have people saying, ‘What are these mysterious things, and how could I possibly decide to use this?’ That’s not the experience. The marketplace is content with our products. We’ve been selling them safe products under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for decades. There’s not a problem there that needs to be fixed.”
Dietary supplement associations often find themselves in agreement on issues, but on the topic of a mandatory product listing, support remains split. Lack of consensus will make it more difficult as supporters and non-supporters lobby their own positions with policymakers.
At the conference, CRN’s president and CEO, Steve Mister, said, “[W]here does that leave us? Should CRN actively push forward with legislation that we know other associations will oppose? Should we actively work to halt the efforts of other groups whose actions we believe are detrimental to this industry? How should we resolve the differences in opinion when everyone seems to be more and more dug in on their positions? This is even more concerning because we find that many of our members are also members of these other associations. They’re paying dues for both efforts.” Being members of two associations working at cross-purposes on an issue like a mandatory listing is a waste of a member’s money, he said.
Mister encouraged industry companies who are members of associations not to be passive and to ensure they understand the position of their associations on issues such as the mandatory listing-and to ensure those positions are in line with their own.
“Let your voice be known,” he said. “If you’re paying dues, you have a right to have a voice, and if your association does not speak for you [and your beliefs], you should be asking, ‘Why not? Who listens to you? Who speaks for you?’”
McGuffin said that AHPA continues to gauge support-or lack of support-for a mandatory listing. Both McGuffin and Mister said they continue to listen to all sides of the argument.
Said Mister: “I don’t mean to suggest here that CRN’s position in all of these cases is infallible, or that the opposing views are necessarily wrong, or even that CRN’s board might not be able to change its mind if they were persuaded to do so.”
McGuffin said: “We’re working hard to see if we can find consensus on this, which would mean either one of us moving completely or each of us moving some. But there already has been quite a lot of movement.”
Short of consensus, he acknowledged the possibility that it could “come to a complete difference of opinion if it gets to where there’s legislation introduced.” However, he said, “I’ll keep taking it back to my board and my members and see if there’s any openness to changing our position, and I know that Steve’s doing the same.”


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A total of 13 areas across Somerset are set to benefit from new soft recycling collection points.
Tesco has begun rolling out soft plastic recycling points to 171 stores in the South West of England and Wales after successful trials.
Of those 171 stores, 13 of these stores fall within the Somerset border, allowing more people to recycle soft plastics than ever before.
Most councils do not collect soft plastics from homes for recycling and it often goes to landfill.
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In a statement, a spokesman for Tesco said: "Once collected, the old soft plastic is sent for recycling where it is washed, sorted and processed before being turned into new packaging.
"It will be used to pack items such as food, household and beauty products."
The full list of Somerset towns where you'll be able to return soft plastics to a Tesco store is as follows:
- Midsomer Norton
- Shepton Mallet
Keynsham was used as one of the ten trial stores across the country where customers responded positively.
More than ten times the expected amount of plastic was returned by customers.
Some of the most common soft plastics returned include bread bags, fruit and vegetable packaging, crisp packets, salad bags and baby and pet food pouches.
The full list of items collected during the trials is as follows:
- Crisp, chocolate, rice cake packets
- Sweets and biscuit wrappers
- Pet food, baby food pouches
- Drink pouches (e.g. Caprisun)
- Yogurt tubes and pots
- Cling film, multi-pack film, film lids
- Any plastic bag such as fruit & veg, bread, pasta, and tissue bags.
Tesco’s director of quality Sarah Bradbury said: “It is an absolute priority to remove and reduce as much plastic as possible and ensure everything we use is recycled and kept out of the environment.
"Where plastic serves an important purpose such as reducing food waste, these new recycling points make sure that every piece can be easily recycled.
"Trials have shown they are popular with customers, so we believe rolling them out at scale will have a real impact.
Paula Chin, sustainable materials specialist at WWF, said: “Plastic pollution is one of the most visible symptoms of the environmental crisis and is devastating our natural world.
"Businesses, governments and households have all got an important part to play in tackling the issue, so it’s encouraging to see Tesco extending their successful soft plastics collection trial across more of their stores, giving their customers even more opportunity to recycle these valuable materials.”
Do you have a story or tip to tell in Taunton, Bridgwater or West Somerset? Email me at firstname.lastname@example.org to get in contact

domain: news


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Storm over website that blacklists 'bad' hotel guests
Hotel guests who trash their rooms or fail to pay their bills will be blacklisted on a new website so hospitality owners know to avoid them.
Guestscan.co.uk is offering an online service which allows members to give a guest's name and find out if they have caused trouble in other establishments.
However, human rights watchdog Privacy International has called the service 'despicable' and questioned its legality.
Troublesome guest: Police were called to a party held at a hotel in honour of violinist Nigel Kennedy
The company is registered under the Data Protection Act and has been approved by the Information Commissioner's Office, but Privacy International claims Guestscan misrepresented its service in order to gain accreditation.
The website works on a member basis. Those who have paid a fee can can enter the name, address or phone number of a potential guest online and the site will return with information if there have been any previous complaints about them for damage or nonpayment of bills.
The website has the endorsement of both the Bed and Breakfast Association and the English Association of Self Catering operators, who claim it is a form of protection for small business owners.
David Weston, chief executive of the B&B Association, told TravelMail: 'It is rare for guests to cause criminal damage or commit fraud, the majority of people are very responsible.
Luxury: The police raid took place a the five-star Steigenberger Sonnenhof Hotel in Bad Woerishofen, Germany, after a complaint by a guest
'But, if people do purposefully damage rooms it can leave owners extremely distressed, particularly as many of the guests are actually staying in the owner's home.
'The cost of damage and fraud will hit the bottom line of a hotel chain slightly, but for our members it can be devastating.'
Guestscan told TravelMail that anyone included in the list is informed of the matter and the company has adhered to strict legal rules.
Guestscan founder Neil Campbell said: 'We expect crime report numbers if guests have caused damaged or been involved in fraud, or if they have disturbed other guests with loud parties or bad behaviour we expect, if possible, statements from witnesses affected by them.
'Things such as toiletries being stolen are not considered unusual and we would not uphold complaints from owners based on small incident like that.
'Neither do we include any information on a guest's race, background or sexuality, all we are interested in is if they have caused trouble.
'Of course we have taken serious legal advice and made sure the whole process meets the law and is fair to both parties.'
Some names have already been submitted by hoteliers since the site launched on September 15 and Mr Campbell expects more to be included, particularly as an estimated 10,000 members are predicted to join up in the next fortnight.
So far, according to Mr Cambell, the overall response has been very positive, with many people saying protection for small business owners was long overdue.
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What would it take for you to give up a high-paying, lucrative job? For two avid scuba divers, the urgent fight against climate change put them on the road
The rise of e-commerce and digitalization during Covid-19 has been a boon for global trade, shares Kelvin Leung, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific.
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The bulk of Southeast Asia’s 658 million people do not own a bank account. Yet, online shopping is gaining traction.


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Payless Shoesource has added hundreds of stores to its lengthy closure list one month after announcing its plans to shut down 400 U.S. stores as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
In April, the company announced it would close 400 stores as part of a plan to reorganize $385 million in debt. The company is taking out an $80 million loan to help get out of bankruptcy and restructure the business.
The following San Diego County stores are on the list of closures:
-- El Cajon (1255 E. Main Street)
-- El Cajon (East County Square, 13465 Camino Canada)
-- Encinitas (Encinitas Ranch Town Center, 1010 N El Camino Real)
-- Santee (Santee Trolley Square, 9850 Mission Gorge Road)
-- San Ysidro (Border Plaza, 501 San Ysidro Boulevard)
-- Vista (1841 University Drive)
Two other county locations may close, depending on ongoing negotiations:
-- San Diego (3998 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard)
-- Chula Vista (63 N. Broadway)
While the company goes through reorganization, Payless said it would honor its financial commitments to employees and vendors. The company said that it would also continue to accept gift cards at stores and online.
The company said it has no plans to go out of business and intends to emerge from Chapter 11.
Before the Chapter 11 filing, Payless employed 22,000 workers.


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Pheasant Run memorabilia will be available in online auction
The decor, the memorabilia, the fixtures along Bourbon Street all contributed to the lure and charm of the iconic Pheasant Run Resort.
An online auction next week now offers an opportunity for those who want to preserve the history and re-create the ambience of the decades-old St. Charles hotel and entertainment hub that ceased operations earlier this year.
Thousands of items will be up for bid Monday through Thursday, ranging from kitchenware and merchandise to appliances and furniture. Historic photos, old advertisements, signs and wall hangings also are included in the collection, with many of the pieces featuring the resort's signature logo of a pheasant.
"You can just feel the history as you're walking through the facility," said Ben Grafe of Grafe Auction, which is coordinating the online bidding process. "It's a good opportunity for people in the area to maybe get a memento to cherish their memories."
A pre-bidding period is currently open to the public, he said, noting participants must first create an account. Each item, or group of items, has been given a lot number and posted on the auction website.
Interested buyers will be able to preview and inspect the more than 3,000 pieces in person at Pheasant Run from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Grafe said.
Starting Monday morning, each lot will be brought up in numerical order, giving 20 seconds for any last-minute bids before it closes, Grafe said. Bidding will continue one by one over the four days until auctioneers reach the end of the collection.
The first day will include pieces from the New Orleans ballroom, as well as various restaurants and food service areas, according to the website. Tuesday will feature commercial food equipment, dishware and materials from the banquet hall, hotel lobby and main theater area.
Items from the gift shop and Zanies Comedy Club will kick off the auction Wednesday, followed by fixtures from Bourbon Street, the spa, the atrium, the fitness center, the pro shop and rooms in the hotel tower. On the final day, pieces will be available from the tower lobby, the remainder of the hotel, offices, Gallery Hall, basement rooms and the landscaping area, among other miscellaneous items.
The 57-year-old Pheasant Run shut down March 1 after several months of uncertainty and speculation over its future. Resort management announced plans late last year to restructure operations and significantly reduce its staff, and the property was listed for sale soon after. An online auction took place in February, though the final $6 million bid did not meet the resort's undisclosed reserve price.
Property owners are now proposing dividing the campus into three separate lots to help facilitate its potential sale and redevelopment. St. Charles officials have expressed a desire to partner with any future buyer and help revitalize the eastern gateway to the city.
Pheasant Run operators contacted Grafe Auction early in the year seeking their assistance in the closing and liquidation process, Grafe said. His company then went through the entire resort, creating a catalog of items to be sold.
"We know it's difficult for a community to lose a place like this," Grafe said. "We hope everyone who wants to can show up for the preview, walk around, look at pieces, and we can make this as smooth a process as possible."
Questions about the auction can be directed to Ben Grafe at (507) 273-3507 or Judd Grafe at (507) 254-1184.


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UNCTAD Sounds the Alarm Over Unprecedented Disruptions to Global Trade
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has sounded the alarm over rising disruptions in global trade due to escalating geopolitical tensions and climate change. These disruptions are especially affecting major shipping routes such as the Black Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Panama Canal.
Maritime transport, which accounts for over 80% of the global movement of goods, has been hit hard by these disruptions. Recent attacks on Red Sea shipping, geopolitical crises, and climate-related challenges have resulted in a dramatic decline in trade through key global routes.
Over the past two months, weekly transits through the Suez Canal have plunged by 42%, according to UNCTAD. The ongoing Ukrainian conflict has drastically reshaped oil and grain trade patterns. Meanwhile, the Panama Canal faces severe water level reductions due to climate change, leading to a shocking 36% drop in total transits over the past month.
The Red Sea crisis, marked by attacks that disrupt shipping routes, adds to the complexity. Major shipping companies have responded by temporarily halting transits through the Suez Canal. As a result, container ship transits per week have nosedived by 67% year-on-year.
The crisis has also caused a significant surge in container spot freight rates. Rates from Shanghai to Europe have tripled, while rates to the US West coast, despite not going through Suez, have increased by 162%. This global impact is due to ships seeking alternative routes to avoid the Suez and the Panama Canal.
These disruptions have led to longer cargo travel distances, higher trade costs, and a spike in greenhouse gas emissions. Avoidance of the Suez and Panama Canal means more days of shipping, leading to a rise in expenses. Ships are also forced to travel at greater speeds to compensate for detours, resulting in higher fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
UNCTAD warns that these disruptions can have far-reaching economic consequences, including increases in food and energy prices. Prolonged interruptions pose a direct threat to global supply chains, leading to delayed deliveries and higher costs.
Energy supplies, especially in Europe, are directly affected as gas transits are discontinued, causing a surge in energy prices. The crisis is also causing a ripple effect on global food prices, with the potential for higher freight rates to translate into increased costs.
UNCTAD remains particularly concerned about the impact on developing countries, which are more vulnerable to these disruptions. The organization calls for swift adaptations from the shipping industry and robust international cooperation to navigate the rapidly changing global trade dynamics. It underscores the need for collective efforts to find sustainable solutions, particularly to aid countries most vulnerable to these shocks.
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Progressive Recovery suit against former employee settles
Progressive Recovery's lawsuit filed against Shanon Jones on July 2, 2012 in St. Clair County Circuit Court has settled.
According to a May 14, 2014 order, the court had been advised that the parties had reached settlement of the case and agreed to a consent judgment.
In its complaint, Progressive alleges it authorized Jones to make work-related purchases on a credit card it issued to him. However, the company claimed the defendant used the credit card for personal expenses, according to the complaint.
"Upon payment of the amounts agreed by the parties due to Plaintiff, the case will be dismissed with prejudice," states the court order. "Court is advised that payments are proceeding on schedule without need for additional action."
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-345.


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After a relatively stable 2022, store closures are expected to pick up again in 2023 — and department stores will likely lead the way.
As retailers face challenges in traffic, sales and margins going into 2023, more retailers are likely to downsize their store fleets, according to a Dec. 13 note from UBS analyst Jay Sole. And department store closures are set to outpace the industry average next year. Between Q4 of 2019 and Q1 of 2021, the store count of department stores dropped 33%, Sole noted, though store counts remained relatively stable throughout 2022.
Now, as department stores like Nordstrom and Kohl’s anniversary their quarters of big store closures last year, sales growth is likely to take a hit, Sole said, adding that the lack of store closures in 2022 already contributed to weaker sales in the second half of 2022.
But as of now, mass department store closures in 2023 have yet to be announced. In total, U.S. retailers have 522 planned closures and 1,846 planned openings for 2023, according to Friday data from Coresight Research. None of these closure announcements included department stores yet, as of Dec. 23.
In fact, Kohl’s in May announced a plan to open 100 new, smaller format stores in markets previously untapped by its physical presence over the next four years. And Nordstrom has at least six new Rack stores slated to open in 2023.
The stores with the most planned openings in 2023 live in the off-price and discount sector — Dollar General, Five Below and Family Dollar are all in the top five retailers with the most store openings slated for 2023, Coresight found.
As Sole noted, the off-price and luxury sectors both made significant additions to their store fleets in 2022.
“These trends are likely not good for department stores as both luxury companies as well as off-price retailers compete directly with department stores,” Sole wrote. “We expect department stores to close locations as challenges persist.”


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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- D&W Food Centers here plans to debut its first large live video rental departments at three remodeled stores here.
The first of the three, now under construction, will open this summer, said Glen Fischer, video/photo coordinator. It will have an 800-square-foot store-within-a-store rental section with 2,500 to 3,000 units of inventory. The two other stores, which will open in the fall, will have 1,000-square-foot sections with 3,000 to 4,000 rental units. The stores now have 1,000 to 1,500 units of rental inventory merchandised in-line with the actual tape inventory stored behind the service counter. "With the new structure, it will be a live system where customers can touch and feel the tape, check it out and leave the box art on the shelf," said Fischer. "The store-within-a-store gives us a little more space. We can be a little more creative with some displays and go deeper on titles." The remodels also will incorporate a design that will allow for more effective servicing of photo processing customers along with the video rentals, said Fischer. "The desk will be designed in such a way that the photo customers will not have to enter the video part of department," he said. This arrangement will speed up transactions in both areas, especially at peak times like weekends. The counter also will be the general customer service desk for the store. In two stores where D&W now has on-site photo processing machines, there are many demands on customer service associates. They take care of photo, video rentals, bottle returns, utility bills, stamp sales and postal services, among others. This results in long lines and less video and photo business. "I think it is quite discouraging for a (photo or video) customer to have to wait behind other customers who are paying their utility bills, mailing a package, or returning their bottles," said Fischer. "Although we have been very successful with that structure in video, I think we are topped out. You cannot squeeze anymore out of the video department until we change the way we are laying it out. That's why we are doing what we are doing," he said. Fischer expects that during the early part of the week, the remodeled stores will be able to get by most of the time with one person staffing the desk. "But at other times, especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, there will be as many as two to five associates working in that area," he said. Photo processing tends to be busiest in the morning, while the video traffic comes in the evenings. "We are going to have wait and see, look at the peaks and valleys, and schedule accordingly," he said. The selection in the enlarged departments will be similar to what the retailer has now in its 32- to 60-foot in-line sections -- mostly movies, children's videos and video games, along with blank tapes and batteries. Film, disposable cameras, photo albums and frames will be displayed in shadow boxes on the front of the service counter in the remodeled stores. "I don't think our mix is going to change a whole lot. The biggest change will be in the variety and the depth of our selection, especially when we get a tape that comes out at a sell-through cost, like 'Forrest Gump,' we'll be going 50 to 100 deep on it," he said. D&W will put a bigger emphasis on sell-through video in the live departments, Fischer noted. "We will probably double the number of sell-through promotions we do in those stores just because of the availability of display area," he said. "That's probably the biggest problem we have with our current format. We run very clean stores and don't do a lot with cardboard shippers in any department. So it makes it very difficult unless we can utilize space right on our video fixtures to display sell-through," Fischer said. D&W's video expansion reflects that company's commitment to video, as well as the major studios' increased interest in supermarkets, he said. "Supermarket video is going to continue to grow and I think the studios have recognized this. I'm seeing more and more promotions where they tie-in with a packaged goods manufacturer, Pillsbury with 'Lion King,' for instance," he said.


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It’s been a sweet season for Virginia apples
Published 10:05 am Saturday, November 5, 2022
Crisp fall weather means apple cider, pie and other products — and Virginia growers are supplying the market with plenty of local apples.
“It’s been a great season,” said Joe Snapp, owner of West Oaks Farm and Market.
Snapp grows 16 apple varieties that he sells wholesale, retail and U-pick. He began harvesting Ginger Gold and Honeycrisp in late summer, and this fall he’s harvesting Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady and York. He said this year’s weather has been ideal for apples.
“We’ve had plenty of rainfall all summer,” said Snapp, who also chairs the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s Apple Advisory Committee. “The apples are very sweet, and it’s an excellent crop.”
Donald Ayers, a fourth-generation farmer and owner of Ayers Orchard in Carroll County, echoed Snapp’s sentiments.
“It’s a crop of a lifetime,” said Ayers, who was recently featured on a VFBF Real Virginia segment about Virginia’s apple industry.
Ayers grows 33 apple varieties that he harvests from July through early December and sells wholesale and at his farm’s market in Cana. He said despite rain and wind damage from Hurricane Ian earlier this fall, his trees produced “the most apples we’ve ever had.”
He explained the record number of apples is attributed to freezing weather during the 2021 season, resulting in no crop that year for the farm. Because there wasn’t any fruit, “all the energy went to growing fruiting buds for 2022.
“Every limb of every tree of every variety has apples all the way to the trunk — if we can get them picked,” he commented.
While Virginia’s apple crop is robust, this year’s harvest is a little behind schedule. A U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service crop report published on Oct. 17 showed 78% of Virginia’s apples were harvested, down slightly from that time last year. Ayers attributes some of this to labor shortages.
“We’re down to maybe 25% of a crop left to harvest for late apples,” he noted. “We’ve got all the early apples done in the warehouse, but the labor issue is getting to be the biggest problem — finding people to pick them.”
However, despite harvest delays, Ayers said “It’s the best year we ever had,” and apples are “selling the best they’ve ever sold.
“People always ask for the Pink Ladies,” he added. “They’re the apple that keeps the longest throughout the season. We also have Fujis, Arkansas Black and York.”


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DJ Khaled is seemingly on top of the world these days. With his much-anticipated album ‘Major Key’ on the way, Khaled has been busy traveling alongside Beyoncé as a part of her ‘Formation’ tour, in addition to keeping up with his god-level Snapchat status.
Now it is being reported that the DJ/producer/social media sensation is the new face of Jay Z’s Rocawear. In a recent interview with WWD, Khaled spoke on the brand ambassador deal, disclosing “I’m honored to be chosen. Growing up in the game, Rocawear has always been a major part of the culture and lifestyle of fashion and music, and that’s why this opportunity to be the face of the brand is important to me, and it feels great.” He then went on to say, “When you’re rocking Rocawear, you’re rocking greatness. It’s quality, it’s fly and it’s part of my history that I’m excited to bring to my fans.”
In addition to delving into the Rocawear deal, Khaled also spoke on fashion in general, the secret to his social media success, and what to expect from his forthcoming album.
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German industrial group Siemens will continue to buy software companies to beef up its core industrial business, its board member with responsibility for its digital factory division said on Monday.
“Will we continue to invest in acquisitions? Definitely, yes,” Klaus Helmrich told a news conference when asked whether Siemens would continue to buy so-called product lifecycle management software firms at the rate it has been doing.
Siemens agreed in January to buy U.S. engineering software firm CD-adapco for $970 million, the latest in a string of acquisitions of companies that help manage products from inception through to service or disposal.
(Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Maria Sheahan)


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Another summer of discontent befalls the vending industry.
This year’s State of the Vending Industry Report, which reflects 2008’s activity, does not capture the full decline that most of our readers have suffered. The recession that hit hard in the fourth quarter of 2008 got progressively worse in 2009.
There has been some hopeful news about the economy in recent weeks, but most of it has little immediate impact on the vending industry. Many economists expect unemployment will get worse before it gets better.
The State of the Vending Industry Report on page 28 puts the recession in perspective by noting that the industry’s long-term negative trend predates the recession. Every vending operator should be more concerned about the industry’s failure to modernize in an environment where competing retail channels have created new customer expectations.
Most operators acknowledge increased competition from convenience and grocery stores, coffee houses and fast feeders. Those sites are revamping their product presentations, offering much improved quality and variety with multiple price point choices.
None of these competitors are luring consumers with lower pricing.
The economy has been as tough as it can get, but even in the prosperous times of the last decade, the vending industry did not experience any meaningful growth.
Vending’s key equity — convenience — has been neutralized because many consumers have issues with the quality of the vending experience.
A major vending equipment manufacturer conservatively estimates the average age of vending equipment in the field to be 11 to 12 years old. With an equipment fleet of this vintage, is it any wonder consumers are growing increasingly wary of the vending channel?
CAN 12-YEAR-OLD MACHINES DO THE JOB?
In lieu of the new forms of competition indicated above, can 12-year old vending storefronts with limited curb appeal, reduced product variety and cash-only payment options compete with the alternative retail environments mentioned?
As an industry, we’re not only losing customer sites due to shifts in employment population, but per capita spending is declining.
At the beginning of this year, Automatic Merchandiser began a series of articles titled “the case for vending” detailing customer perception issues and ways to address them.
We have also profiled vending operators who have been using new technology, modern vending equipment and an up-to-date understanding of customer needs. The company profiled on page 12, Golden Brew Beverage in Odessa, Texas, is one such example.
As long as vending value propositions feature reduced product pricing, high location commissions and aged equipment, consumers will continue to support alternative retail destinations.
Vending operators need to do some serious soul searching.


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Stay up to date on the world's Headlines and Human Stories. It's fun, it's factual, it's fluff-free.
Khan has said she’s willing to use the FTC’s existing statute to enforce rules on what many believe is an unregulated sector that Big Tech companies are taking advantage of.
- On Tuesday, June 15, Lina Khan was sworn in as the chair of the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In something of a surprise, 21 Republicans voted for her confirmation in a rare show of bipartisanship in today’s Senate.
- By getting the support of both Democrats and Republicans, Khan has shown that members of Congress and the Biden administration have a big appetite to take on Big Tech monopolies.
- Khan has said she’s willing to use the FTC’s existing statute to enforce rules on what many believe is an unregulated sector that Big Tech companies are taking advantage of.
Who is Lina Khan?
- At 32, Khan is the youngest person to ever chair the FTC. Both her age and experience came under scrutiny by Republicans.
- Before heading the FTC, Khan was an Associate Professor of Law at Columbia Law School. Her focus there was “antitrust law, infrastructure industries law, the antimonopoly tradition, and law and political economy.”
- During her time at Columbia, she published multiple articles addressing antitrust issues. For example, in her article “Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox,” Khan argued that Amazon’s business strategy – investing profit into growth and dominating economic markets – leaves little space in the market for other companies.
- Khan believes the federal government needs to write better laws and to better enforce existing laws in order to combat the methods that Big Tech uses to outprice and buy out competition. It’s because of these methods that a company like Amazon can come to so thoroughly monopolize certain industries.
- Khan was previously a legal adviser to Commissioner Rohit Chopra, another member of the FTC and Biden’s nominee to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
What’s the role of the Federal Trade Commission anyway?
- So, officially, the FTC’s goal is to “protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices in the marketplace.”
- The FTC was created in 1914 to prevent “unfair methods of competition in commerce,” but how well the commission has actually been doing that has come under question now that several companies have gained monopolies in what is an ever-evolving economic marketplace.
- Khan and many like her believe that the only way to prevent these companies from becoming monopolies is to expand the FTC’s role in rule making.
- After her confirmation, Khan tweeted, “Congress created the FTC to safeguard fair competition and protect consumers, workers, and honest businesses from unfair & deceptive practices.”
- Because Democrats now have a 3-2 majority on the board of the FTC, they’ll likely be able to push through new rules and new interpretations of old rules that some Republicans have resisted in the past.
What are politicians and those in Big Tech saying?
- While some Republicans blasted Khan’s last-minute nomination for the chair, the bipartisan nature of her confirmation shows both parties appreciate how important putting a check on Big Tech companies is.
- Progressive Democrats are, for the most part, really happy with this news. Take Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren as an example. In the 2020 presidential primary, Warren promised to split up companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon that she fears have too much power.
- In a press release, Warren praised the impact Khan would have. “With Chair Khan at the helm,” Warren said, “we have a huge opportunity to make big, structural change by reviving antitrust enforcement and fighting monopolies that threaten our economy, our society, and our democracy."
- In a sign that Big Tech may not be quite as happy, Big Tech NetChoice, a lobbying group that represents Google and Facebook, warned that Khan’s confirmation would politicalize the FTC.
- “She is more interested in subjectively changing antitrust law than in analyzing and enforcing the law as it stands,” said NetChoice Vice President Carl Szabo. “Ms. Khan would move the FTC away from its role as an impartial body that enforces the law toward becoming a tool for progressive activists to change the law.”
Have a tip or story? Get in touch with our reporters at firstname.lastname@example.org


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So far Jessica Nield has created 164 blog entries.
Three Utah companies participating in the World Trade Center Utah trade mission to Israel are currently doing business with the country. GlobalSim, Intermountain Healthcare and PEEL Therapeutics shared their international business experiences with the Utah delegation.
Gov. Gary R. Herbert is leading a delegation of 19 Utah companies on a trade mission to Amman, Jordan and a trade mission to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel this week. Jordan and Israel are gateway countries for businesses interested in expanding into Middle Eastern markets.


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IAAPA Continues Year-Long Centennial Anniversary with Expansive Trade Show Floor, Diverse Education Conference, and Unique Special Events
IAAPA Press Release:
Hosted by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), Asian Attractions Expo 2018 took place 5-8 June 2018, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Hong Kong, China. Preliminary estimates indicate the Expo attracted more than 9,000 participants, including 6,500 qualified buyers and 393 exhibiting companies. Increases in participants, buyers, and exhibiting companies from 2017's event in Singapore reflect the strength and energy of the global attractions industry. The event featured a full trade show floor at 10,224 net square meters.
The total number of buyers in attendance from all facets of the attractions and leisure industry represents a 27 percent increase from Asian Attractions Expo 2017 in Singapore, and a 7 percent increase from 2015 when the Expo was last held in Hong Kong.
"We were excited to bring Asian Attractions Expo 2018 back to Hong Kong. This is the only show IAAPA hosts in Asia, and the international representation from exhibiting companies and attendees demonstrated the appeal of the destination and the strength of the global attractions industry," said Hal McEvoy, interim president and CEO, IAAPA. "It's been a great Expo and we've enjoyed celebrating IAAPA's 100th anniversary with our members and colleagues from around the world."
Michael Wong, Development Secretary of the Hong Kong KSAR Government, addressed Expo participants during the event's Opening Ceremony, which also included high-energy entertainment and a traditional Chinese mask-changing performance from Chimelong Park, Guangdong, China.
Asian Attractions Expo 2018 by the Numbers
- 393 companies showcased new and innovative products across 10,224 net square meters of space on the trade show floor.
- Attendance for the education conference was almost 1,600, including 61 participants in the sold-out IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers and 95 attendees at the sold-out IAAPA Safety Institute.
- 826 people celebrated IAAPA's 100th anniversary at the Opening Night Reception at Ocean Park Hong Kong.
- 341 people attended the sold-out Leadership Breakfast, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group.
- 178 people attended the Lunch and Learn event on developing successful ride and show entertainment with virtual reality (VR) and projection mapping technology.
- 105 people participated in the EDUTour to Ocean Park Hong Kong and 105 people participated in the EDUTour to Hong Kong Disneyland.


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Although there may be fair competition from Converse and Adidas, there's little doubt that the Kings of the Streetwear Sneaker right now is Vans.
Their iconic low-top classic is beloved by skaters, It-girls and fashion icons alike, in every colour-way from from black and white, to pastel pink and punchy sunshine yellow.
But now the brand will be getting its very own high-fashion makeover.
Karl Lagerfeld, the man behind Chanel, Fendi and his own eponymous labels, has announced he will be collaborating with the brand to produce Karl Lagerfeld x Vans.
WWD reports that the collection will drop on September 7th.
The entirely black and white drop will include, according to the report, "six interpretations of Vans footwear classics include the Sk8-Hi laceless platform and Old Skool laceless styles outfitted in leather with the quilted letter-shaped detail atop white platform soles, and a solid black leather Classic Slip-On—also with the quilted letter K."
The line will also feature a t-shirt, a raglan-style bomber, a leather backpack, and will be priced from $50 to $380 AUD.


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Discount Code for Blockchain Conference
Hey tech geeks! This summer the Blockchain Futurist Conference will be held in Toronto, Aug 15th and 16th.
If you didn’t already know, Blockchain technology has been hyped as the biggest thing in tech since the advent of the internet. Due to its trust-less ecosystem and capacity for micro-payments, many people believe that blockchains will help to create “The Internet of Value.”
If you have kept an eye on this space, you will have noticed that a lot of companies are trying to use Blockchain technology to solve diverse music issues like ticketing, payments, and attribution — many dozens, in fact.
We started off our coverage with the 2015 article “Bitcoin and the Music Industry Part-1 What is Bitcoin and Why Should Musicians Care?” We have been covering the music and blockchain convergence in this space since then.
Now to the good news: We have been given a C$100 off coupon for this year’s event! Just use the PROMO CODE: BTC101 when you are buying your ticket.
The Music Tech MeetUp team will be attending (Alan, Nathalia and myself) so if you want to say hi at the event follow us on twitter and reach out on the day of.
Hope to see you there.


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Sources have said that Mi Band 5 is in progress and will be introduced in 2020. Gossips are coursing that Xiaomi will part from Huami, which may imperil the arrival of the Mi Band 5. However, the organization took to Weibo in April 2020 to prevent any gossipy tidbits on splitting and reconfirmed that the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 was still in the progress.
Due to the lockdown situation of the world, it is said that betting will happen in June like earlier. It is not the greatest shock to catch another emphasis of its fitness tracker. At the point of sale of Mi Band 4, one million gadgets were sold only in eight days. Below, all the most recent data has accumulated and gossips about the coming band, which likewise incorporates a potential to release in June 2020.
How Do We Know It is Coming?
The presence of Mi Band 5 was uncovered during a Q&A meeting in 2019. In a reaction to an inquiry regarding that the organization would keep on co functioning with Xiaomi later on and that it would even now deliver the Mi Band 5, Wang Huang, director of the board and CEO at Huami emphasizes that they were really creating Mi-Band 5 with Xiaomi. In a detailed inquiry concerning Huami’s future item lineup, Wang said that the work on the next-gen Mi Band is as of now in progress and discussed a potential Mi Band 5 launch window.
When Will It Release?
Huami has expressed that it would show up in 2020, with certain bits of gossip highlighting that it is almost around June 2020. But who knows in what way the world lockdown may influence that. Different sources are announcing June 2020 as the date of release. Furthermore, there is some trustworthiness to that news.
How Xiaomi Mi Band 5 Will Look Like?
On the off chance that we glance back at Xiaomi’s past Hey tracker launches, huge numbers of its plan cues have discovered their way into coming Mi Bands. The Xiaomi Hey+ was launched not long after the Mi Band 3 and was incredibly comparable as far as specs, however, came up with a key improvement by including a bigger, color display.
That structure was then firmly echoed by the Mi Band 4 upon its release this year. That is prompting rumor that the Hey+ 1S is assuming a comparatively having a greater role. It’s totally conceivable and let’s see the Mi Band 5 take action accordingly with a blockier look.
Huang has expressed that Huami is keeping on working intimately with Xiaomi on novel item release and emphasizes that its drawn-out designs with the well-known Mi Band product line stay without altering. He included that it was anticipating to create and produce people in the future of the Mi-Band, including variations focusing on various worldwide market sections and client profiles. However, there wasn’t any discussion regarding the features we could find in the Mi Band 5.


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Apple CEO Steve Jobs has continued his crusade against all things Google by slighting the search giant's VP8 open-source video codec.
Karis Bloe, a Leeds-based software developer and reader of the Register Technology web site, e-mailed (opens in new tab) Jobs to ask him about his views on the newly launched HTML 5 video codec.
In a reply, sent at 4:30 am, Steve Jobs pointed to a blog post (opens in new tab) made by third-year college student Jason Garrett-Glaser, in which he claims that the VP8 is comparatively weaker than the H.264 video used by Apple's Safari web browser.
In the blog, Garrett-Glaser also reckons the VP8 code will not be able to stand up to the scrutiny of patent lawyers, saying: "With regard to patents, VP8 copies way too much from H.264 for anyone sane to be comfortable with it, no matter whose word is behind the claim of being patent-free."
The VP8 video codec was unveiled by Google at the company's I/O developer conference and has managed to garner support from Opera, Mozilla and Microsoft, which said that its IE9 browser will support the codec as long as users download a suitable plug-in.


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Eros Investments, run by India’s Lulla family, plans to develop Web 3.0 and blockchain businesses out of Dubai as part of a partnership deal to operate under Dubai’s new virtual assets regulator, the company said on Tuesday.
The deal is part of a push by the United Arab Emirates to become a global hub for the virtual asset sector and broaden its economy.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Dubai, one of the UAE’s seven emirates and the region’s trade hub, in March formed the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) to oversee the industry and is starting to bring companies such as cryptocurrency giant Binance under its purview.
Eros Investments, a media, sports, blockchain, digital commerce and gaming venture, wants to develop Web 3.0 and blockchain businesses from the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA). It plans an accelerator fund to support more than 100 start-ups by 2025, which will be regulated by VARA.
It aims to operate a regulated and decentralized distributed ledger technology platform for the global media, art, and entertainment industry from Dubai.
“Eros is in advanced stages of readiness to launch a revolutionary multi-verse experience that bridges the physical and virtual world,” said Kishore Lulla, Chairman of Eros Investments, an investment company run by India’s Lulla family known for founding Indian film and media company Eros.
VARA last week said it had set up a virtual headquarters within the metaverse, the world’s first regulator to do so.
UAE regulator SCA works on financial crime regulation for virtual assetsThe United Arab Emirates’ Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) on Tuesday said it was closer to issuing virtual asset investment regulation, and ... Technology
Dubai’s new virtual asset regulator brings UAE crypto firm BitOasis under its wingBitOasis, a Middle East-focused crypto exchange based in the United Arab Emirates, has received provisional approval from Dubai’s new crypto regulator ... Technology
Dubai passes first law governing virtual assets: Sheikh MohammedDubai adopted its first law governing virtual assets, its ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on Wednesday on his Twitter account.Dubai ... Gulf
Dubai grants crypto exchange Binance a virtual asset license for regional operationsThe world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance has been granted a license to conduct some operations in Dubai, the company said on Wednesday, ... Technology
Dubai’s cryptocurrency regulator establishes metaverse headquartersDubai’s new cryptocurrency regulator has established a virtual headquarters in The Sandbox metaverse platform, the company’s cofounder told Al Arabiya ... Gulf


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Lately, libraries have been taking a lot of hits from publishers when it comes to digital materials; we’re worried about how these changes will affect what we can offer our patrons, so we’d like to go over the nuts and bolts behind purchasing e-materials for the library collection.
This is a nuanced, multilayered issue, and while the news we have to share is pretty dire, our hope is that library patrons will continue to use and enjoy digital content as enthusiastically as ever, but do so with a better understanding of the challenges that public libraries are facing.
What exactly are those challenges?
The library marketplace for e-materials is complicated; terms are set by each publisher and the prices that libraries pay for digital materials are often much higher than what an individual would pay. Depending on the publisher, it’s not unusual for libraries to pay more than $40 for an e-book, and more than $60 for an audiobook.
It’s also worth noting that digital titles work like physical books or audiobooks, meaning only one person can check out each copy at a time.
In addition, when libraries purchase digital materials, we never really “own” those items like we would a physical book; instead, we are buying a license that allows us to provide access to the digital item.
When it comes to that access, publishers also determine whether the library’s access is perpetual (meaning, we pay once and always have the item in our digital collection), or metered, which means that access will expire after a certain length of time or number of checkouts — at which point the library would have to buy it again.
In the last year, four of the “Big 5” publishers — Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Hachette, and Simon & Schuster — have moved from a mix of metered and perpetual access for e-books to a two-year metered access.
Simon & Schuster and Hachette have also metered their audiobooks, a new and distressing situation given the explosive popularity of audiobooks.
Even more distressingly, some publishers are moving toward an embargo model, which will make items available to libraries later than they are to individuals to purchase.
Blackstone, which primarily produces and distributes audiobooks, announced a 90-day embargo for libraries on select titles. Meanwhile, Macmillan recently announced that, beginning in November, for the first eight weeks after a new e-book is published, libraries will only be allowed to purchase a single copy of the e-book.
All of this is incredibly frustrating to libraries.
It’s our mission to provide equal access to information for everyone in our communities, yet the trends we’re seeing from publishers will directly impact our ability to meet the needs of our users.
Even worse for library patrons, these changes will likely translate to limited access to old, new and popular titles, longer waits for items, and fewer new authors to discover.
However, even with this unpleasant turn of events in the world of digital content, our hope is that you will continue to use our digital lending platforms, with the understanding that while your access to some of the e-materials you love will change, our commitment to our mission and our patrons never will.
• LeNee Gatton is collection development librarian and Julie Graham is assistant collection development librarian at Yakima Valley Libraries. Learn more at www.yvl.org.


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Western brands accused in latest South Asia garment factory fire
DHAKA (AFP) - Western garment firms have been accused of hiding behind flimsy safety audits after the latest lethal garment factory fire in South Asia, where poorly paid workers often toil in dangerous conditions.
The night shift at the Tazreen Fashion plant outside the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka was hard at work when the blaze erupted late on Saturday, killing 110 employees, with many trapped inside unable to escape the flames and smoke.
Garment workers staged mass protests on Monday to demand an end to "death trap" labour conditions at garment factories.
The latest fire came after 289 people died in Pakistan's port city of Karachi in September, in a similar blaze that again highlighted the export garment sector's dismal safety record.


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SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - It's a busy day for Chatham-Savannah Narcotics Agent Gene Harley, as he and other members of the Counter Narcotics Team deliver letters to all gas stations and convenience stores in Chatham County, asking them to pull herbal incense packets, K2, Spice, and any item marketed as bath salts from their shelves
"It's simply a letter saying the sale of synthetic marijuana and bath salts are in fact illegal," said Agent Harley to a gas station employee.
Police say the synthetic drugs are causing serious physical and mental problems for users. Take for instance, the case of Amber Fields, 20. Police say in September her boyfriend, Jason Browning, beat her with a beer mug while strung out on Spice, causing Amber's brain to swell. And then there's Anthony Norton, who police arrested a few weeks ago after they say he tried to expose himself to women and children at an Effingham County gas station. Norton admits to smoking the synthetic drug.
"We went and combated marijuana and cocaine so now companies, trying to gain profit, are trying to find loopholes through the law," said Harley.
The dangerous effects of the products are what led to the ban and now police are out warning everyone.
"We're just kind of telling everybody, 'Hey, will you pull it off instead of us being the bad guy and locking everybody up'. That's all," said Harley.
Businesses caught selling the illegal products may be charged with the sale of a controlled substance and face anywhere from five to 30 years in jail. The owner could also lose their business license.


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Consumer groups are cheering the news that Comcast abandoned its proposed US$45 billion acquisition of fellow cable and broadband provider Time Warner Cable, saying it’s good for customers and demonstrates the power of Internet activism.
Comcast’s decision, announced Friday, would have taken away a major cable and broadband provider in the U.S., critics of the deal argued.
“The only competition consumers would have had in their living rooms if this mega-merger had gone forward would be who handles the remote control,” Senator Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a statement. “Combining Comcast and Time Warner Cable would have created a corporate colossi, hampering consumer choice, competition and innovation in both the broadband and pay TV marketplace.”
To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here


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Apple WWDC 2018 Starts Today: How to Watch the Live Stream, and What to Expect
- WWDC 2018 keynote will start at 10am PT (10:30pm IST)
- It can be streamed on Safari, Microsoft Edge browsers, and Apple TVs
- The WWDC 2018 conference runs from June 4 to June 8
Apple will kick off the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2018 today, a week-long event where it will give the world a preview of its future software for iPhones, Macs, Apple Watch, and its other devices. WWDC 2018 starts today, June 4 and will continue till June 8, and keynote will be live streamed for those who want to watch all the announcements online. The WWDC 2018 keynote may even include a few hardware products, like the long rumoured iPhone SE 2. More interesting would the rumoured software Apple is said to be working on, such as the phone-to-phone AR experience, improvements to Siri, and a single set of apps for iPhone and Mac.
How to watch Apple WWDC 2018 keynote live stream
The event starts at 10am PT, meaning the WWDC 2018 keynote India time is 10:30pm IST, and the event will be live streamed across various channels. Those who have an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch model (iOS 10 or above) or a Mac computer (macOS Sierra 10.12 or above) with Safari installed can watch the WWDC 2018 keynote live stream on the official website. In case you have a first-, second-, or fourth-generation Apple TV, you can watch the event at the Apple Events channel. Windows users can watch the WWDC 2018 keynote live using the Microsoft Edge browser.
What to expect from WWDC 2018 keynote – iOS 12, improved Siri, and more
iOS 12 is widely expected to be the highlight of the WWDC 2018 keynote. Given the flurry of issues that iOS 11 raised, the iOS 12 update may focus on improving reliability and performance on the devices it powers. Among the new iOS 12 rumoured features include more NFC-based capabilities, and Digital Health tools to help users monitor how much time they spend on their phones. Augmented Reality (AR) will be another important focus point for the event — it may announce features that allow two users to play games or share other information with each other in the same virtual environment, while limiting the data sent to the cloud.
Analysts believe Apple will try to inject more artificial intelligence and other new powers into Siri to make it more competitive with Google’s digital assistant and Amazon’s Alexa. Apple just gave its HomePod smart speaker new features, including calendar reminders – something Google and Amazon devices have long offered. Apple has been emphasising the HomePod’s high-fidelity acoustics, including the ability to pair two devices in stereo mode, in an effort to distinguish its product from Google’s and Amazon’s speakers, which primarily serve as hubs for those companies’ voice-activated assistants. Monday’s preview could include more on that front.
Apple also may introduce new ways to help people manage their health and assist apps in the use of augmented reality – the blending of digital images and information with a physical setting through the camera.
Investors will be looking for more opportunities for the Cupertino, California, company to make money from the apps and other services baked into its devices. Apple’s services division, which generates revenue from subscriptions, commissions and maintenance plans tied to Apple devices, already has become the fastest growing piece of the massive company. The division’s revenue surged by 31 percent from the previous year in Apple’s most recent quarter. The growth comes as Apple’s top-selling product, the iPhone, hasn’t been selling as briskly as investors had hoped after last fall’s much-anticipated release of the super-premium iPhone X.
On the hardware front, Refreshed versions of MacBook Pro with upgraded eighth-generation Intel processors and increased RAM and MacBook Air’s 13-inch model with retina display are being speculated. Expectations are also high about the introduction of iPhone SE 2 at the conference. The company may launch a wireless charging pad called the AirPower that it announced last year.
Whatever the WWDC 2018 keynote announcements may be, the software updates likely won’t be available for a few months. The iPhone software update usually comes in September, shortly after the company unveils its latest iPhones.


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But you may not know the 35-year-old bakery, which has retail stores throughout the South Bay and the Peninsula, as the supplier of hot dog buns at Levi’s Stadium, SAP Center, Oracle Arena, Oakland Coliseum and Sacramento’s new Golden 1 Center, the bread …
Read full article here..
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BOSTON (08/18/2000) - Stock market junkies and daytraders everywhere have a reason to perk up. Marketmatix Inc. on Thursday launched its debut software, Marketmatix Gold 3.0, which scans the Nasdaq Stock Exchange and instantly alerts its users to which stocks are set to climb.
Marketmatix Gold works by scanning the Nasdaq, and collects data such as price and volume for every stock in the exchange, according to the company. With an analysis of these indicators, which can be customized by the user, Marketmatix alerts the subscriber to which stocks are gaining momentum via live, streaming media, a variation of "push" technology, according to a statement issued by the company.
The forward-looking alerts are determined with a formula based on the basic laws of physics and mathematics, according to Marketmatix. Ruh-Ming Li, one of the founders of Marketmatix and its chief executive officer, said in the statement that the company views the stock market as a "quantitative science that can be studied and learned."
John Vu, another of Marketmatix's founders and its chief technology officer, said in the statement that, while the software and service is powerful in itself, combining it with real-time price quotes (which the service does not offer) and charting could greatly increase traders' opportunities.
Marketmatix Gold runs on Windows 95 (with Winsock 2.X or higher), Windows 98, NT and 2000, and it requires a minimum of 32M bytes of RAM; Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer 4.X or higher or Netscape Communications Corp.'s browser version 4.X or higher; 50M bytes of free hard drive space; and a 56K-bps (bits per second) modem, according to the company's Web site. They recommend, however, no less than Windows 98, NT or 2000 with an Intel Corp. Pentium II processor running at 300MHz or higher, 64M bytes of RAM, 100M bytes of free hard drive space and a high-speed connection such as DSL (digital subscriber line), ISDN (integrated services digital network) or cable.
The company expects to release a new version of the application, Marketmatix Platinum, in the fourth quarter of 2000.
Marketmatix, based in Irvine, California, can be contacted at +1-949-608-0140 or on the Web at http://www.marketmatix.com/.


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Leading figures from traditional sports broadcasting, alternative sports and eSports to discuss diverse revenue opportunities at IBC2017.
IBCs Platform Futures conference strand on September 17 will examine the expanding business opportunities surrounding traditional and alternative sports coverage and rights management, with special focus on fan engagement.
Leading figures from major broadcasters, innovative sports organisations and sports marketing companies will examine how to create, distribute and monetise sports content that enhances fan experiences, particularly for live sport, while providing new revenue streams. The conference strand will also highlight the opportunities for broadcasters in the burgeoning eSports sector, which is forecast to generate more than USD 1.2bn in global revenue by 2020, according to Global eSports Market Report 2017, Newzoo.
As sports broadcasters come to terms with the multi-platform consumption of content by both hard-core fans and casual viewers alike, Peter Hutton, CEO of Eurosport will open Sundays conference stream with a keynote presentation giving insights into Eurosport’s epic transformation of its company culture and business model to meet market demands for highly desirable content and ubiquity of access.
The conference stream also looks at the phenomenon of alternative sports formats, which provide different and lucrative alternatives to traditional competitions. From Twenty20 Cricket to Rugby 7s, these competitions have captured the hearts of fans and the cash of sponsors.
The session will feature Chatri Sityodtong, CEO and Founder of the ONE Championship, one of the largest promoters of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Sityodtong will discuss his vision to build a major sports property for Asia set around the regions ancient culture and traditions, while embracing 21st century content distribution via social media and smart devices as well as traditional broadcasting methods.
Also speaking in this session is Hussain Naqi, Senior Vice President for International Development for Jacksonville Jaguars the American football team that committed to be Londons unofficial NFL team in 2013. The Jaguars participate in the NFL International Series, which stages regular season NFL games at international stadia including Wembley Stadium (UK), Twickenham (UK) and Estadio Azteca (Mexico), building a dedicated following for the NFL outside the USA.
“This is a great opportunity to tell the world the story of Asia’s largest sports media property. ONE Championship is paving the way for the true beauty of martial arts to flourish in Asia, led by its inspiring and humble homegrown martial arts heroes. Martial arts has united an entire region with tales of bravery and showcases of heart and skill and I am thrilled to receive this opportunity,” Sityodtong commented.
Sports leagues, teams and platforms want to create compelling opportunities for fans to engage as often as possible.
Ben Cronin, Global Lead of Network Client Solutions, Publicis Media Sport & Entertainment, will lead a panel of experts to discuss how engagement has supplanted reach as the ultimate measure of brand and campaign value, and will examine how content creators and owners can craft, promote and monetise opportunities for fan interaction.
The unprecedented growth of eSports, and the exponential opportunities for broadcasters, will also be a hot topic at IBC2017.
eSports generally sees multiple professional players take each other on at real-time strategy, first-person shooter (FPS) or multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games, and FIFA football e-sports leagues are growing with the backing of European football leagues and clubs. Tournaments such as the League of Legends World Championship, the Evolution Championship Series and the Intel Extreme Masters are now broadcast live to millions, with lucrative prizes on offer for competitors and major brands taking sponsorship deals.
To demonstrate the impact and excitement surrounding eSports, IBC will host two of the leading eSport champions competing remotely on the big screen, from 12.45pm on Sunday 17 September.


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WSWA is committed to responsible distribution of alcohol and prevention of underage drinking.
Recently, the United Kingdom has experienced a wave of public health and safety incidents related to counterfeit or adulterated alcohol. Media reports have indicated that officials have identified as much as £1.2 billion (GBP) in uncollected tax revenue lost each year in the illegal market. In addition, consumers in the U.K. have consistently encountered adulterated or counterfeit product sold outside legal distribution channels, including fake products causing death or serious illness.
While there have been significant decreases in the number of alcohol related crashes, fatalities and injuries in the last two decades, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting drunk driving.
WSWA hosts an annual legislative "Fly-in" for member companies to visit Washington, DC to speak directly with lawmakers, attend briefings and share the industry's position on how federal policies impact their businesses. This year's Fly-in will take place June 6-7, 2017. For more information, contact Kari Langerman. 2017 Fly-In & “Toast to Congress” June 6-7, 2017 The Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC The “Toast to Congress” will be held at Eastern Market
CLD Leadership Skills Conference (CLD) is WSWA’s annual executive training program for the next generation of industry leaders. It was developed to help build an educational foundation of crucial legislative, public policy, marketing and trend information needed to advance careers in the beverage alcohol industry. The conference also helps to develop connections among the wholesalers as well as suppliers and service providers, peers and current industry leaders. 2017 Brochure For more information, contact Kari Langerman. 2017 CLD Leadership Skills Conference July 16-18, 2017 Hotel Van Zandt Austin, TX
Stay on the leading edge of change in the beverage-alcohol wholesale industry! Join us for: - Business Solutions - Educational sessions - Best practices - Latest technology - Networking opportunities This summit will help you with the most pressing issues in your business. Meet other distributors that have similar questions and can help provide solutions. For more information, contact Jo Moak or Emily Magram. Distributor Productivity Summit July 31 - August 1, 2017 La Cantera Resort, San Antonio Early Bird Price $550 *Ends April 30, 2017
U.S.-Style Three Tier System Could Address Beverage Alcohol Challenges in U.K, WSWA Says
The nation’s nearly 6,000 wine and spirits wholesaler locations are the crucial part of the responsible and efficient distribution system that delivers adults the widest variety of products available anywhere in the world in a manner that controls access for of-age consumers, delivers tax revenue to local, state and federal governments, and ensures product safety and consumer protection.
The UK should consider adopting a similar structure to the US' three-tier alcohol system to tackle alcohol duty fraud, a trade group has recommended.
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) President and CEO Craig Wolf today announced two staff promotions and a new team member who joins the association’s federal affairs team.
The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) 74th Annual Convention & Exposition—the beverage industry’s leading event uniting wholesalers and suppliers under one roof—wrapped its 2017 run April 18-21 at Grande Lakes Orlando.
The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) 74th Annual Convention & Exposition—the beverage alcohol industry’s leading event uniting suppliers and wholesalers under one roof—kicks off this week at Grande Lakes Orlando and runs April 18-21.


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Sales prices have rebounded slightly month over month in certain areas of North Texas.
According to the most recent reports out by the North Texas Real Estate Information System (NTREIS), Dallas County home prices were up a whopping 16.2% year over year and then Rockwall and Kaufman Counties saw a slight uptick this month – even though they remain down year over year, while Hunt County prices decreased slightly since last month.
Average sales prices in Rockwall County are down 6.7% year over year, compared to last month when prices were down 13.1% since 2022. In Kaufman County, prices dropped 3% since this same time in 2022. But they were down by 12.1% last month, so prices did come up slightly. Then in Hunt County, prices were down 7.6% in August 2023, compared to July 2023 when they were actually up by 4%.
This just goes to show, prices are continuing to bounce up and down throughout the metroplex amidst this interesting environment where you have interest rates that have skyrocketed in the past year, yet an inventory of homes for sale that has remained so low that even the interest rates haven’t caused prices to fall out of the bottom yet.
The Rockwall County average sales price actually increased by nearly $25,000 from July to August. In Kaufman County, prices increased by $9,000 on average. In Dallas County, home prices increased by $22,000 since last month. Then in Hunt County, average sales price fell some, from $336,000 in July to $327,000 in August 2023.
Price per square foot (PPSF) is up year over year in Dallas County by 3% at $237 on average. In Rockwall County, it’s at $193, down 7.7% from this time last year. In Hunt County, PPSF is down to $170, a decline of 7.6% from 2022 — and in Kaufman County, the average price per square foot is at $176, falling 6.4% from this time last year.
Average days on market is up all across the board by around 75% from this time last year.
Currently, houses are sitting for 29 days in Dallas County, 69 days in Rockwall County, 51 days in Hunt County and 56 days in Kaufman County.
Sellers are getting on average, about 94-95% of their asking price across the North Texas area right now.
But this number is down an average of 2% compared to this time last year, when sellers were getting closer to 97% of their asking price.
Months supply is up across the region right now. It’s at 2.5 months in Dallas County, 3.6 months in Rockwall County, 4.2 months in Hunt County, and up to 4.1 months in Kaufman County.
Certain areas of the market, such as Dallas and Rockwall, are still in seller’s markets. But, Hunt and Kaufman are moving towards a more balanced market in general, which is that 4 to 6 months inventory mark.
What keeps pricing from correcting even further than it is right now is this particular statistic – the number of new listings. As long as inventory remains super low, and demand remains high with new people moving to the area every day, prices are going to bounce around or hold and stay semi-steady – even in this much higher interest rate environment.
The number of new listings is still very compressed compared to a normalized market.
While listings are up year over year in most areas of the metroplex, that’s compared to a time when the number of new listings was already unbelievably low.
Last month, listings were up 13% in Rockwall County, 8.8% in Kaufman County, and up 6.1% in Hunt County. This month, new listings are actually down 1.7% in Dallas County, down 13.5% in Rockwall County year over year, and down 1.1% in Hunt County. Kaufman County shows an increase of 6.7% in inventory compared to this time last year.
Closed sales are down again this month by an average of 10 to 15% year over year.
Sales were also down this time last year, which makes this continued decline even more proof that residential real estate is still in a complex, recessionary environment in terms of number of transactions taking place.
Closed sales were down nearly 20% in Dallas County last month, down 7.5% in Rockwall County and 18.3% in Hunt County, as well as down 12% in Kaufman County.
To summarize what we are seeing and expecting, the consumer is still hesitant to make a move with higher interest rates, considering that 70% of homeowners have an interest rate of 4% or lower.
We expect to see prices make more corrections into the year because homeowners that are wanting to make a move will have to lower the price of their home to get it sold so they can make the move they are desiring.
The good news is that if you are looking to sell your home, you can get it sold… Because there is strong demand at market prices — so much so, that we occasionally see multiple offers when a home is priced right for a buyer in this environment.
This is the difference from what we saw in 2009-2010 when there was no buyer demand.
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An industry expert has warned technology firms of ‘diluting’ their brands with celebrity endorsements, following Guardian journalist Jean-Louis Gassée’s attack on Apple’s Siri adverts.
Gassée hit out at the super-brand’s star-studded campaign, branding it ‘pernicious’, adding: “… they detract from Apple products’ own well-deserved and well-earned celebrity.”
Starring glittering Hollywood names including Zooey Deschanel, Samuel L Jackson and Martin Scorsese, Gassée believes the campaign communicates a ‘new message’ for the brand.
“Until the Siri celebrity campaign, Apple products had always been the focus of Apple marketing. The product is the hero.
“The recourse to celebrity endorsement sends a new message: the product isn’t strong enough, it needs the propinquity of the famous.”
The article comes just a few weeks after gaming firm Nintendo added the Cruz sisters to its array of celebrity endorsers. Freelance technology and showbiz writer Bertan Budak say technology brands should take a step back when choosing celebrity endorsers and base decisions on a connection to the brand rather than on notoriety.
He explained: “A lot of brands choose celebrities that seem to have no logical connection to the product or service.
“The volume of celebrities seems to dilute the message rather than enhance it. The real value is in building long term relationships that create a face for a brand.”
Paul Berney, CMO and managing director, EMEA for the Mobile Marketing Association also believes that these relationships bring the most benefit to technology companies: “A lot of companies look to capitalise on the short-term benefits of celebrity sparkle but it is the brands that find credible endorsers that reap the highestrewards.
“Ambassadors that combine credibility in their own field as well as the field of the brand with common long term aims can be a powerful asset. But the balance needs to be right.”


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ANGELA SIMMONS COVERS ROLLING OUT MAGAZINE
25-year-old designer, entrepreneur and all-around sweetheart, Angela Simmons, graces the cover of Rolling Out Magazine’s July issue.
Now breaking out of the shadow of merely being daughter of hip-hop legend Rev. Run, Simmons is building an empire of her own. The newly dubbed summer co-host for BET’s “106 & Park” dished details about her latest ventures, like the launch of her new website, www.AngelaIAM.com, which is meant to give people a peek into her life as well as inspire girls. While she’s managed to limit the public’s access to all there is to know regarding her personal life, she’s now giving fans the opportunity to get to know the real her. “I want to know my fans more,” she told Rolling Out. “I want to get to know the person who actually is looking up to me, or who wants to be closer to me. So I felt like a web page was the best place to do it…It’s not like it’s in-your-face social media — this is a place where you can come and be a part of my life.” Simmons also speaks about her women’s fashion line, being known as an individual even when part of a powerful family, her fitness journey and more!
We enjoyed reading Angela Simmons’ interview with the mag, but are even more pleased with the gorgeous fashion spread shot by photographer DeWayne Rogers. Tell us what you think of this Simmons girl’s stylish editorial.
images via rollingout.com


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In November, Recode reported on a strange Yahoo event from the year before. CEO Marissa Mayer had apparently spent $70,000 on a photo shoot at which company executives dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz. Mayer is known for throwing big, fun parties, but the whole photo shoot thing sounded pretty weird. For most people it was probably easier to dismiss it as an aberration.
And yet. On Wednesday, reports started surfacing about Yahoo’s lavish Great Gatsby–themed holiday party, which was held last week at Pier 48 in San Francisco. Eric Jackson, the managing director of SpringOwl Asset Management, told Quartz he had heard that the party cost $7 million. A different source told Motherboard that Yahoo spent “less than a third of that.” Either way, it still sounds like a pretty pricy bash. And this is all happening—by the way!—as Yahoo plans to possibly sell its core business.
What is up with this party obsession? Motherboard’s man-on-the-street described the evening:
The rest of the cavernous room was filled with even more chandeliers and urns and a vintage Rolls Royce. Swinging flapper aerialists pouring champagne towers and Gatsby-esque costumed actors walking around like vintage cigarette girls (but peddling only candy) were everywhere.
Buffet stations were set up throughout the party. Each had a different offering. There were mini bread bowls with clam chowder, dim sum buns and dumplings, kale salads, Indian curries. Whatever the heart desired. All the booze was top shelf and no variety was left out. A burlesque troupe warmed up the crowd.
Judging by this event alone you would probably never know that Yahoo is in serious financial trouble. And it’s certainly understandable to try to fake it ‘til you make it, or put on a good face, or whatever. But when your company is tanking, a “Roaring 20th” isn’t quite the rollicking good time it could be.


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Following its October 25th outage, Apple’s iMessage service is down for many users this afternoon. Our readers and several people on Twitter are expressing their annoyance over the problem. These iMessage outages seem to be happening on a weekly basis, spanning for a few hours.
Additionally, readers are reporting that Game Center, iTunes Match, FaceTime, iTunes Store, and App Store are down as well. Apple’s iCloud system status page confirmed the news that some users are being affected, but if you take a look down south at our comment section, it’s definitely more than just a few.
Update 4:01PM: Apple says all systems are back online. (however that may not be the case for many users)
@9to5mac it's still down.— Dennis Hirsch (@DennisHirsch) October 30, 2012
@9to5mac I'm working normally again.— Blair Davis (@blairo32) October 30, 2012
In other news, iMessage is down again @9to5mac— Ricky Kalweit (@ricklessss) October 30, 2012
@9to5mac iMessage down yet again?— Dan Roizer (@Danny159) October 30, 2012
@9to5mac iTunes Match is down too!— Adam Ortiz (@AdamOneX) October 30, 2012
@Adamboyxxx @9to5mac game center, imessage and itunes match are down— Agustin Suarez (@Agustin_suarez) October 30, 2012
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Bangalore, November 21, 2022: The self-regulatory body Indian Edtech Consortium (IEC) under the aegis of IAMAI, met with the Consumer Affairs Secretary Shri Rohit Kumar Singh to brief him about progress of the self-regulation and the direction of ongoing efforts to further enhance India’s Edtech ecosystem, in a closed room meeting in New Delhi.
As a part of the agenda, the members discussed the need to further safeguard consumer interests, through seamless, transparent, and feasible offerings for consumers. As a result, the Consumer Affairs Secretary agreed to support IEC to constitute a joint working group for laying down advertising guidelines for further sanitising the Edtech ecosystem.
“We want Indian Edtechs to grow, but until we eliminate the wrong doings completely, we will not be able to achieve our mission. We would like to work closely with IEC in formalising set templates and operating guidelines for Edtech companies to keep unethical practices within advertising and communications at bay. It shall foster a holistic operating environment for both entrepreneurs and consumers to offer a fair chance of growth and learning,” said Shri Rohit Kumar Singh while addressing the quorum.
Currently, IEC comprises Indian Edtech companies and represents 95% of the Indian learner community. The meeting was joined by representatives of IAMAI, along with IEC member companies including upGrad, BYJU’S, Unacademy, Times Professional Learning & Great Learning.
Led by the Chair and Co-Chair of IEC, the members also presented a report highlighting the efficacy of the 2-Tier Grievance Redressal & IGRB which has been successful in resolving 99%+ of the complaints raised in the last 10 months. Commenting on the same, Mayank Kumar, Chair IEC added, “IEC was formed with a mission to safeguard the interest of its consumers and we shall continue to take corrective measures in this regard. This indeed, is a big step and we are thankful of the government to have provided us with enough support for building an all-inclusive ecosystem that encourages ethical and transparent communication for its learners and key stakeholders.”