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Singapore's consumer price index (CPI) in July rose 1.2 percent year on year, compared with the inflation rate of 1.8 percent in June, respectively, the Department of Statistics said on Monday.
The CPI inflation hit a 14-month high of 2.7 percent in May.
Private road transport cost fell by 1.6 percent year on year in July, following the 2.8 percent increase in June, mainly due to the high base last year.
Food prices rose by 3 percent, while prices of services rose by 2.5 percent, driven by stronger increases in pre-school fees, medical treatments and holiday travel.
The core inflation, which excludes changes in the price of private road transport and accommodation as these are influenced more by government policies, rose 2.2 percent year-on-year in July, inching up from June's gain of 2.1 percent.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore said inflation is expected to continue easing for the rest of the year with car prices projected to exert a slight drag. The headline inflation is expected to come in at 1.5 to 2 percent this year, while core inflation is expected to stay elevated at 2 to 3 percent, the central bank said.
The authority said that domestic cost pressures, particularly stemming from a tight labor market, are likely to remain the primary source of inflation, given that inflation in most of Singapore's key import source markets is expected to be modest.


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Samsung is getting ready to launch its new smartphone, the Galaxy S8.
The S8 will be the first handset released following the disastrous launch of the Galaxy Note 7, which was later discontinued after more than 30 reported incidents of the batteries catching fire.
As a result, Samsung is under pressure to deliver with the Galaxy S8 and is expected to pull out all the stops for its next flagship handset.
New reports regarding the S8, which Samsung is expected to officially unveil at Mobile World Congress in February 2017, suggest that the Korean tech giant will follow Apple’s lead with some of its major features.
But that’s not all, with another report from the normally reliable Samsung fan site SamMobile claiming that Samsung will also drop the home button AND headphone jack from the Galaxy S8.
“[We] can exclusively confirm that Samsung is going to remove the standard 3.5mm headphone jack from the Galaxy S8”, reads the report on SamMobile.
Instead, the home button will be replaced finger scanning system integrated into the display.
Samsung is also expected to change its naming strategy from Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge to Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.
Like with the iPhone 7, removing the home button and headphone jack will help to free up space for other components – namely the front facing stereo speaker mentioned above and also a larger battery.
The removal of the home button could also mean that the Galaxy S8 may have a bezel less edge to edge display.
However, while going wireless for headphones is likely to become standard on all smartphones in the near future, removing the headphone jack will almost certainly result in the same backlash Apple faced from its users.

domain: news


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As usual in the Washington, DC area, whenever there is a forecast of snow, it creates a frenzy of activity. Before the first snowflake fell, dozens of businesses and activities announced that they weren’t going to open. It’s now 1 PM and what was supposed to be a snowpocalypse is instead a steady rain.
A few flakes before sunlight…but that’s it so far. Maybe when the sun goes down today, the predicted snow will appear. Even the Federal Government shut down in anticipation of snow.
I’m sure if you went to Giant, Shoppers or Wegmans, the shelves would be empty of toilet paper, bread and milk. That’s the funny thing about living here…it happens every time. People realize at the last minute that they all of a sudden don’t have enough TP, bread and milk.
Hopefully, this one will pass Crofton and we can get back to normal.


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Previously on Google Senior Software Engineer James Damore (James Damore) because of the "anti diversity declaration" and was dismissed is made. The cause of the matter is that raise a Babel of criticism of Damore in a Google internal memo said, in the software aspect, women may be born than men.
The incident once triggered a public opinion storm, and Damo also because of violation of Google's non-discrimination principles were dismissed. After losing the job, Damoer immediately issued a public statement that Google fired him more direct reason is not out of public anger, but the company in order to avoid legal risk as a means. He also said that Google's behavior is to suppress "open and honest discussions".
Google could not practice more than he, street artist Sabo in nearby Google office created two false advertising for Google practices dissatisfaction. In one of the advertisement, Jobs and the apple logo appeared together, rationing Jobs's "lines" is the slogan of "Think Different" classic apple (think different), in response, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said "Not So Much" (don't think too much). Apparently, Sabo by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs image and Apple ads mercilessly lampooned Google.
In addition, there is a "Goolag" fake Google search advertising and "Gulag" Soviet labor transformation camp linked together.


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Converse is all about skateboarding this summer. The Andover, Mass.-based brand will host a two-day event, Converse City Carnage: NYC, at the Hudson River Park next month. The celebration will feature professional skateboarders Kenny Anderson and Nick Trapasso. Concerts and art activations also will be part of the mix. “Music and skateboarding go hand-in-hand and are focal to the Converse brand. We’re excited to present this free event series that will bring together the New York music and skateboarding communities,” said Karen Riley-Grant, Converse’s senior director of North America marketing. Prior to the event on July 20-21, Converse will also take part in the revamp of the Hudson River Park’s Pier 62 Skate Park. And a second installment will take place in August, featuring The Kills as the musical act.
The Great Outdoors
The fall season will take Aquatalia outdoors. The Montreal-based brand is launching its first outdoor campaign by taking over kiosks and bus shelters in Boston, Chicago and New York beginning in September. Many of the sites for the ads, which feature clean-cut product looks, will be near the brand’s retail accounts, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. “This strategy will place Aquatalia front and center with retailers and customers. Our expectation is that it will drive traffic to these stores and increase sales,” said fashion director Rena Krasnow. The campaign also will include a print component, with ads in Elle, Elle Accessories and the Wall Street Journal magazine.
OrthoLite is raising its profile in the athletic world. The Amherst, Mass-based insole maker is partnering with runner and philanthropist Jonathon Prince, who will serve as brand ambassador. Prince is known for combining athletics and activism. Last month, he embarked on the first Runners Exchange, a multicity, one-mile run tour designed to encourage an active lifestyle. During the course of the event, which will continue through October, Prince will provide OrthoLite insoles to participants. Since 2005, Prince has logged more than 12,000 miles in support of philanthropy, beginning with his “Run 4 Relief” project, in which he ran from Los Angeles to New Orleans and then to Atlanta to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.
OrthoLite also recently announced its involvement in the 2012 Olympics. And as part of its ongoing work with Level Field Fund, a grant program that supports gifted athletes limited by their financial situation, it has co-sponsored eight athletes, including swimmers Alex Meyer, Emily Brunemann and Christopher Brady at the U.S. Olympic trials. Additionally, OrthoLite donates $1 from every purchase to the Level Field Fund.


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Nortel Sharpens Avaya's SME Focus in India
Until the recent acquisition, enterprise communications system specialist Avaya had been marketing its products, such as its IP-based PBXs, to the Indian business user market through its subsidiary, Avaya Globalconnect.
Now, though, the integration with Nortel's Enterprise Solutions business has become the catalyst for a change of strategy, focusing instead on a channel-dominated sales strategy that's in keeping with the vendor's strategy to focus on the SME segment.
Avaya's managing director in India, Jangoo Dalal, tells Light Reading: "We see the SME segment as a major growth engine, not just for Avaya India, but also globally. We have decided to have tailor-made products for SMEs," instead of simply removing certain functions and capabilities from the existing products designed for larger companies. "In India, we have a separate team to address the needs of this group," he adds.
And the Avaya man is confident the Nortel assets will help bring success in the SME sector. "The main advantage is that the combined entity has given us scale in terms of the number of customers as well as in research and development. However, the most important benefit has been in terms of manifold increase in channel partners in the country."
Dalal, however, declined to give the specific number of channel partners Avaya now has in India.
What he is prepared to say, though, is that the "New Avaya," as Dalal likes to call it, has slightly more than 2,000 employees, eight offices, and two R&D centers in India, at Pune and Bangalore. Around 480 employees joined Avaya from Nortel’s Research & Development, sales and marketing, and customer support operations, with Dalal claiming that no jobs were lost in the transition.
A key focus for Avaya's strategy in India is unified communications, in which Dalal says SMEs are becoming increasingly interested. The Avaya man says the company intends to develop specific products just for the Indian market, but declined to elaborate on the plans.
— Gagandeep Kaur, India Editor, Light Reading


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LG heading into realm of cloud computing with VDILG Electronics said yesterday it will enhance its cooperation with global solution companies to spearhead its business in the realm of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).
VDI is a variation of server-based computing system where PCs are replaced by a virtual machine operating on a central server. This means users can recreate their desktops simply by using a display device such as a cloud monitor. The solution providers supply the operating system and server.
LG Electronics invited 2,000 officials from companies including Microsoft, Citrix and VMware to a seminar on the new technology held at a hotel in Seoul yesterday.
This is the first event the Korean electronics company has organized in hope of establishing a partnership with solution companies while offering a clear business strategy.
Morgan Stanley expects demand for global VDI software to grow more than 50 percent a year.
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Tourism experts express sorrow over demise of Pokharel
24th Jul, 2018 | Tourism Mail Crew
KATHMANDU, July 24: Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari and CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepak Joshi, expressed condolence on the demise of Tek Chandra Pokharel, Member of Tourism Expertise Committee and Senior Tourism Businessman. He was an active member of the tourism sector since 40 years. He was the leader of tourism organizations such as Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Association of Tours and Travels Agent (NATTA), Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA).
Rabindra Adhikari posted in his facebook timeline by writing, "Extremely saddened to hear about the passing away of veteran tourism entrepreneur of Nepal, Mr. Tek Chandra Pokharel. Nepalese tourism industry has lost a pillar, a torch bearer and a visionary personality. His contribution to tourism of Nepal will always be remembered and be taken as a guideline. Heartfelt condolences to the family.”
Likewise, Deepak Raj Joshi board wrote, "Nepal Tourism Board is saddened to know about the sad demise of Mr. Tek Chandra Pokharel, doyen of Nepalese tourism. He had been associated with tourism industry for more than fifty years. He was a founding chairman of many tourism related associations of Nepal including Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, Himalaya Rescue Association. Well versed in tourism, he was involved in Nepal Tourism Master Plan."
Nepal Tourism Board expresses heartfelt condolence to his son Ashok Pokharel and his family for irreplaceable loss. Ashok Pokharel is the President of Nepal Association of Tour Operators.


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We’re sharing what we’ve learnt from our pilot projects to help accelerate progress and reduce plastic from our business and beyond.
Our progress on plastics
Last year we pledged to make significant cuts to the amount of virgin plastic in our portfolio. Here’s what we’ve achieved since then – plus our plans to do much more.
A year ago, we pledged that by 2025 we would halve the use of virgin plastic in our packaging and remove more than 100,000 tonnes of plastic entirely.
“Throwaway culture and business models continue to dominate our lives and damage our planet,” says Unilever CEO Alan Jope.
“Despite challenging conditions, we must not turn our backs on plastic pollution. It is vital for us, and for the rest of the industry, to stay the course, cut the amount of plastic we use and rapidly transition to a circular economy.”
Despite challenging conditions, we must not turn our backs on plastic pollution.Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever
Of course, 2020 has been a year quite unlike any other. But one thing that hasn’t changed is our focus on meeting the goals we set. And we’re pleased to report that we’re on track to deliver on our promises.
- Post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) now accounts for more than 10% of Unilever’s plastics footprint. This represents a significant increase from 2019 and is solid progress towards our goal of using at least 25% PCR by 2025. We also expect our use of PCR to double in the next 12 months.
- We are using alternative materials to plastic where appropriate, such as our new recyclable paper-based ice cream tubs, which will save about 4,500 tonnes of plastic.
- We continue to test . We have appointed dedicated teams to accelerate work in this space, and we’re sharing our findings publicly.
- And we have developed country-specific plans to achieve our goal of collecting and processing more plastic packaging than we sell.
Less plastic. Better plastic. No plastic
Our plans to cut plastic waste are underpinned by a clear framework: we’ll use less plastic, better plastic and no plastic at all.
Our ‘less plastic’ projects include smaller packs that, when diluted with water, deliver just the same big results as standard sizes. Among them are ultra-concentrated laundry detergent packs from Comfort that have a smaller dosage than any other product on the market. We’ve also launched concentrated shampoos and conditioners from Love Beauty and Planet which provide the same number of uses, and half the usual amount of plastic.
Our work to use ‘better plastic’ includes Dove’s move to 100% recycled bottles across Europe and North America. OMO (Persil) has launched 100% recyclable, 50% PCR bottles of laundry liquid, boosted with plant-based stain remover – an innovation that’s part of our Clean Future initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of cleaning and laundry brands. Meanwhile, Magnum is introducing 7 million ice cream tubs made from food-grade recycled plastic.
Our ‘no plastic’ initiatives are gathering pace, too. Home care brand Seventh Generation has launched a zero-plastic range sold in cardboard shell packs. Tea brand PG Tips has launched biodegradable teabags and will be completely plastic-free by 2021. And in Chile, we have launched a successful pilot programme in partnership with sustainability start-up Algramo, allowing consumers to order refills of our home care brands via an app and have them delivered to their home by tricycle.
Collecting and processing plastic
We’re also working to reduce plastic pollution by helping to collect and process plastic packaging.
We’re working with partners in multiple countries to do so. This includes direct investments and partnerships in waste collection and processing, building capacity by buying recycled plastics, and supporting extended producer-responsibility schemes in which we directly pay for the collection of our packaging.
In India, for example, we are working with the United Nations Development Programme to protect the livelihoods of informal waste collectors, who help segregate, collect and recycle packaging. The partnership has reached more than 33,000 households and collected 2,500 tonnes of plastic waste so far, and will scale up to include more households in the coming years.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, we have supported communities in 18 cities to develop systems where they can collect and sell waste. We’re using a platform called ‘Google My Business’, which enables consumers to access the locations of nearby waste banks via Google Maps. Currently, around 788 waste banks are searchable – the aim is to get this to 2,000.
Taking steps towards a refill–reuse revolution
As part of today’s update, we’re sharing our learnings on refill–reuse models for the first time. Further innovations include OMO concentrates, which saw 30% of OMO 3l bottle consumers in Brazil switch to a refillable format, and Cif’s Ecorefills which have saved 171 tonnes of plastic, and are now going global.
We’ve trialled and tested several different refill–reuse methods in the past year, and it’s clear there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. We favour simple systems that minimise barriers to entry and limit the behaviour changes consumers need to adopt. Our pilots will help us identify and scale solutions that work best.
“To tackle the root causes of plastic waste we need to think differently about packaging. We need bold innovations that challenge existing designs, materials and business models. Our priority is to fundamentally rethink our approach to packaging, and pave the way for new solutions such as reusable and refillable formats,” explains Richard Slater, Unilever’s Chief R&D Officer.
“By adopting a ‘test, learn and refine’ mentality, we’ve developed innovative solutions that will help people cut their use of plastic for good.”
“It’s still early days. But by making refill and reuse formats more widely available, accessible, and affordable, we hope to use our scale and reach to drive lasting change.”
We are committing to halve our use of virgin plastic in our packaging, and to collect and process more plastic packaging than we sell by 2025
Dove is taking positive action on plastic waste by launching one of the biggest plastic reduction programmes in the global beauty industry
Last year, Magnum became the first ice cream brand to use recycled polypropylene plastic in its packaging. This year, we’ll be rolling out over 7 million of the tubs across Europe.


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Munich- (April 8, 2014)- In the first three months of this year BMW Motorrad sales were higher than ever before in a first quarter.
Supplies as of March came to a total of 28,719 vehicles (previous year: 24,732 units), making for an increase in sales of 16.1%. 15,183 motorcycles and maxi scooters (previous year: 13,067 units) were supplied to customers worldwide last month. With an increase of 16.2% as compared to the previous year, this was the best monthly sales performance in the history of the company.
Heiner Faust, BMW Motorrad Head of Sales and Marketing: “We got off to an excellent start to the new motorcycle season with a sales increase of 16.1% as of March. In the first three months of this year we have supplied more motorcycles and maxi scooters than ever before in a first quarter. What is more, last month was the most successful in the company’s history with 15,183 vehicles sold and an increase of 16.2%. Never before have we sold as many vehicles in March.”
The positive result was due to the high level of demand worldwide. The first quarter was pleasing in Europe, too. The southern European markets are seeing significant growth as compared to the previous year. The strongest individual market for BMW Motorrad continues to be Germany, followed by the US, France, Italy, Brazil and Spain.
“Based on this excellent quarterly result we have positive expectations of the upcoming months,” concluded Heiner Faust.


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Averitt Express Inc. will begin to offer direct service throughout Illinois and expand its network deeper into Wisconsin, the less-than-truckload carrier announced Sept. 11.
The additional service was possible after the LTL opened a distribution center in Peoria, Ill., with 14,000 square feet of warehouse space.
“We’re excited to expand our ability to serve shippers in Illinois with our new facility and associates in Peoria,” Averitt President Wayne Spain said. “Illinois is one the busiest transportation markets in the country, and Peoria is centrally located, allowing us to serve the entire state.”
The company expects to hire more than 30 new associates within the next 12 to 18 months.
In Wisconsin, Averitt will begin offering direct service in several markets, including Green Bay and Madison.
In other parts of the state, however, it still will require a partnership with another carrier to ensure final delivery.
“Wisconsin and Illinois are very important markets to shippers, both locally and around the country,” Spain said. “We’ve had a growing demand from shippers that want Averitt to provide direct services to and from these states, and today we are answering that call.”


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Walter Huehn, CEO of De Beers synthetic-diamond unit Element Six, will leave early next year after almost a decade at the helm.
Huehn saw the business through periods of volatile markets and key strategic developments, De Beers said Friday. The latter include the launch of the group’s Lightbox line of lab-grown diamond jewelry, which entailed the opening of a dedicated production site in Gresham, Oregon. The executive has also driven Element Six’s focus on delivering new uses for synthetic diamonds, including in quantum technology.
Element Six develops and creates synthetic diamond and tungsten-carbide super-materials for a range of industrial applications. Huehn joined as its CEO in March 2013 and will stand down on January 31, 2023. The process to recruit his successor is underway, De Beers noted.
Image: Walter Huehn. (Walter Huehn/LinkedIn)


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The new comer bears new colour called rose gold (basically appears as lush pink, same as the new Apple Watch colour option). However, as far the appearance, this additional shade is the extent of the alterations you will be able to visually trace between this year’s and last year’s sets.
The big A’s stress on hardware upgrades on design development follows the infrastructure that the Cupertino-based company has long maintained: important alterations take place in even years and incremental updates in the odd.
But major upgrades to the camera technology of 6S, a new pattern of pressure-sensitive navigation known 3D Touch, and a quicker processor all intermingle to hold the advanced phone set seeming competitive to the extent to counter other leading handsets as the year-end holidays approach.
The company maintains that its new article may looks the same as last year’s set, but its iPhone 6S duo has gained more inner power. The new devices makes use of distinct grade of aluminium for its chassis, one that’s also utilized in the aerospace industry. Apple calls it Series 7,000, and it’s the same aluminium alloy that was placed into Apple Watch Sport.
The big A also gives a variety of Force Touch that could be found in different capacities on the Apple Watch and on some Mac trackpads as well. Known as 3D Touch, the 6S device will continue with same pressure-sensitive potential that calls up secondary menus and actions when you touch and hold the screen.
About camera, a 12-megapixel is a big stride for Apple, which has been continuing with 8-megapixel sensors in its iPhone for years. Besides, the 5-megapixel front-facing cameral will bring the 6S on par with a lot of new era’s competing devices.
The new device comes with 4K video recording, at 3,840×2,160-pixel resolution that will enable you to take 8-megapixel camera photos while recording at this ultrahigh resolution.
According to Apple, it will have fastest forms of LTE Advanced, in case it has supports in your area, and will also take in support for the advanced, best Wi-Fi networks.
The iPohen 6S along with its 5.5-inch twin, the 6S Plus, is scheduled to be available on September 12, with phones showcasing in stores around the world on September 25.
In the US, its 16 GB, will be available for $200 on contract, while 6S Plus will start at $300 on contract.
In the UK, the 6S with 16GB costs £540, 64GB for £620, and 128GB costs 700, while the 6S Plus costs £620, £700, and £790 respectively.
In Australia, the 6S device will be available for AU$1,079 with 16GB, AU$1,229 with64GB, and AU$1,379 with 128GB, while the 6S Plus will cost as AU$1,229, AU$1,379, and AU$1,529 respectively.
In Pakistan, the 6S with 16GB will cost Rs. 67,762; 64GB for Rs. 78,187; and 128GB for Rs. 88,612; while, the 6S Plus device will cost Rs. 78,187 for 16GB; Rs. 88,612 for 64GB; and 128GB for Rs. 99,037.


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Every year Brazil faces a serious dilemma when its grains come to harvest: how to give these crops a flow?
The country is well known for being a top-leading soybean and corn exporter and that is easily explained by the weather conditions in both Northern and Southern states resulting in continuous record crops.
However, the success in farming production encounters a serious gap when it reaches the country’s transportation modals. Brazilian logistics from farmlands to the ports rely mostly on roads (65%) and rail (26%), occasioning the low use of water transport (9%), as stated by the governmental officials in a research recently released.
Due to Brazil’s continental scale, the grain farms are found deep inside the country, far from the main ports by over 2,000 km. In some places, like the state of Mato Grosso, the almost 20 thousand tons of bran, corn and soybeans may take days (or even weeks) to be exported in the Santos port, as a consequence of the country´s main port inability to handle the uphill demand.
Under this scenario, a great number of companies manage their own way to outflow the transportation gap. Especially in the Amazon region, a pool of enterprises have found opportunities building transfer stations, warehouses, port terminals in Miritituba, a small town in the state of Pará that has the Tapajós river as its main source of income.
To decrease the need of crossing the country to reach the Southeastern Santos port, trading companies are managing to set this small Pará town as the new hub for exporting the crops by combined road and water transports. This alternative route takes the grains from Northern Mato Grosso cities of Lucas do Rio Verde and Sinop to be exported in the Santana port, in the northernmost state of Amapá, by barges through the Amazon River until the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s relevant taking into consideration the fact that exporting Brazil’s grain crops using its northernmost port results not only in lowering freight costs but also time spent as it is impressively situated 5,000 kms away from Santos. The investments only in Miritituba terminals is about € 150 million but in the entire waterway project is expected to exceed the half million euros.
In the state of Amapá, the expectation is to start exporting the grains from Mato Grosso already in 2015 with the available infrastructure. However, there is a high demand for warehouses to maintain this prospect. In return, state officials affirm that the outbound barges will not be empty on the way back to Mato Grosso; imported raw materials are expected to increase with the new logistical investments.
Governmental tenders are set to establish the northern states of the country as the new Eldorado for opportunities, especially in logistics, as President Rousseff has recently unfolded a comprehensive plan on the segment to boost Brazil’s sluggish economy and uncertainty political scenario.
Projects of new leases in ports are divided into two sets. The first set includes €1,2 billion investment in 20 terminals located in the state of Pará. Among the construction and expansion to be carried out, is the grains terminal in Vila do Condé, a trending port close to Pará’s capital city of Belém that has increased its exported soybeans by 116% in the last year (1,6 million tons)¹. Vila do Condé port has planned investments of over €131 million for the next 25 years, then, it will have capacity to handle 5.2 million tons of cargo.
In the second set of governmental leases investments are foreseen to range at about €2 billion in partnerships with the private sector in 21 terminals around the country, including Paranaguá in the state of Paraná, Itaqui in the state of Maranhão, Santana in the state of Amapá and Manaus in the state of Amazonas.
Cargo handling and lowest fare are examples of criteria demanded for these logistical projects in the country, as efficiency is the key factor for these competitive tenders.
1. In the first semester of 2015, compared to the same period in the previous year. www.valor.com.br/agro/4162500/crescem-embarques-de-soja-em-itaqui-e-barcarena
*Entraves logísticos ao escoamento de soja e milho. – Brasília: CNT, 2015. [www.cnt.org.br/Paginas/Pesquisas_Detalhes.aspx]
Sergipe Street nº1167 – Room 1502 Funcionários – BH/MG CEP: 30130-171


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Panama as a Distribution Hub for Chinese Products
The Asian country believes that the improvement in the country's logistical conditions as a result of the Canal expansion, represents an opportunity to set up a distribution platform geared towards Latin America.
Panama already serves as a bridge, or as a window for the transit of Chinese goods into Latin America, and I think with the logistics development in Panama this role will increase more and will be made more use of by Chinese enterprises'" said the permanent representative at the Office of Chinese-Panamanian Business Development, Wang Weihua, according to Laestrella.com.pa.
The official was speaking during a visit of the delegation of Chinese businessmen to the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP). This group of companies is the largest private sector representation from the Asian country to come to Panama in the last ten years.
At the same meeting, which also included the participation of local businessmen, the Panamanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, Nestor Gonzalez, acknowledged that the Government of Panama is exploring the possibility of achieving closer ties with China, citing BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) as the main engine to Panama becoming a platform for the distribution of Chinese products in Latin America.
The participation of Chinese enterprises in various construction and logistics projects in Panama has gained strength in recent months. For months, Chinese companies have been increasingly involved in construction projects in the country.


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Margot Robbie's production company has announced its latest cinematic venture - bringing the beloved virtual world of The Sims to life on the silver screen.
Oh feebee Margot lay dag dag wabadebadoo chum cha turkey nurbler!
Pardon me. For those not fluent in "Simlish" allow me to translate:
To the delight of fans around the world, The Sims franchise is making its way to the big screen, with Margot Robbie's production company leading the charge. WooHoo! (If you know, you know.)
Following the huge triumph of last year's Barbie, Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment is teaming up with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment to bring the wildly ambitious live-action feature to life.
The movie will be directed by Kate Herron, known for her work in steering the first season of the genre-bending Marvel series Loki. Electronic Arts, the publisher of the game, will also play a significant role in both creative and production aspects.
The Sims is a life simulation game where players control avatars with customisable traits, skills, and relationships, navigating daily tasks like cooking and home decor.
Since its 2000 debut, the franchise has evolved beyond its suburban origins through sequels and expansions, and it's become one of the highest-grossing live simulation video games of all time, with nearly 200 million copies sold worldwide.
Currently, LuckyChap is one of the most sought-after production companies in Hollywood, following the billion-dollar success of Barbie and the cultural sensation sparked by Emerald Fennell's Saltburn.
The development of The Sims movie is still in its very early phases, and it has not yet been acquired by a studio. So we can expect to be waiting a few years before it's out.
Fans online have jokingly voiced that the movie should be in “only simlish, no subtitles”, referring to the iconic gibberish language of the game's characters.
Here are a few of our favourite online reactions to the news:


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What's going on?
Viacom’s fourth-quarter earnings beat analyst expectations thanks to its film studio, Paramount Pictures, hitting the red carpet with Mission: Impossible – Fallout. These earnings will not self-destruct.
What does this mean?
Media company Viacom’s film business was all but headed off a cliff until a new CEO took the wheel two years ago and steered the company straight. The latest Mission Impossible movie made headlines by driving Paramount’s sales up by 25% compared to a year ago. Below the fold, Viacom’s revenue from program distributors like Comcast grew by 4% – which is closely watched by investors as an indicator of success because it shows whether people are willing to pay up for everyday television programming, not just come-and-go Hollywood blockbusters.
Why should I care?
For markets: Responding to disruption.
While yet another a Mission Impossible box office hit is a classic example of the old-school movie studio approach, Viacom’s got some new-school in its veins too. Instead of taking on the online streaming platforms like Disney, Viacom’s collaborating with them – streaming its shows Maniac and Jack Ryan on Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video, respectively. For investors, Viacom’s “if you can’t beat ‘em…” approach may have fewer risks than an all-out battle as more and more consumers cut their cable(s).
The bigger picture: Remaining consciously uncoupled.
Earlier this year, Viacom and fellow broadcaster CBS were set to rekindle their on-screen romance with reports of re-merging some 13 years after first splitting up. A merger would have offered the combined entity huge cost savings (a.k.a. synergies) and perhaps more time to respond to the challenge of streaming platforms. Some believe that CBS’s recent management shakeup makes a deal all the more likely – but Viacom seemingly turning things around on its own (its stock rose 4% on Friday) could mean a coupling may not be as attractive as it once was.


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Attaching large files to an e-mail used to be a major hassle, but e-mail providers like Yahoo are now tapping into cloud storage services to make it easier.
This app/Web service is great for managing multiple Google, Twitter, and other accounts, but it needs a few small tweaks.
It is putting the axe to more than a half dozen of its less popular products as CEO Marissa Mayer, a former Google engineer who worked her way up to a vice president post, remakes the company.
Yahoo’s new look for its home page is clean, simple, and mobile-friendly as the site seeks to reclaim Internet crown.
Google hangs onto its dominant share of the search market, while its competitors inch up and down.
Yahoo is bidding to strengthen its presence in the increasingly important mobile space with the acquisition of Alike, a location discovery app.
Hackers behind a recently detected email attack campaign exploited a vulnerability in a Yahoo website to hijack the email accounts of Yahoo users and use them for spam.
Hackers behind a recently detected email attack campaign are exploiting a vulnerability in a Yahoo website to hijack the email accounts of Yahoo users and use them for spam, according to security researchers from antivirus vendor Bitdefender.
Sign up and you get unlimited uploads up to 50MB per photo and unlimited viewing of your photo library, among other goodies.


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For more than 17 hours on Taco Bell’s official Facebook fan page there is a photo which you can see below:
Apparently, someone took a photo of an employee licking tacos and posted it online. Last status update from Taco Bell on Facebook was yesterday morning and since then no updates were posted, nor statements were issued. Could this lead to a huge PR crisis?
Well, this isn’t the first time that some “bad” photos were posted online. I am positively sure you can recall some of them. But, can you associate crisis with a brand, or restaurant? Do you remember whose employee was the guy that urinated all over the kitchen? Or maybe who was spitting on which hamburgers? That’s right, it’s hard to connect brand with those scandals.
Just like someone commented on that particular photo: the employee will probably be fired, Taco Bell will release statement of apology and – tomorrow will everything be forgotten because of some other internet meme, or scandal, or whatever else.
So, is Taco Bell remaining silent by purpose? We’ll see about that. There is, for sure, that internet saying “Do not feed the trolls!”, which is totally opposite of what one is being learned in PR classrooms. But, than again – this is web PR, the rules have changed. Or are they?
What is your opinion about this? Should Taco Bell (and every other brand with similar issues) ignore photos like this, or should they responsibly and right in time?


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Items filtered by date: January 2020
In the spring of 2018, FiG helped a long-time client start a new and exciting venture called Hope N Wellness. Their new business operates an online affiliate of Metagenics supplements. The organization was founded to help provide Americans easy access to high-quality supplements to ultimately improve their health and well-being. The marketing team at FiG has worked diligently over the past 2 years to improve the online visibility of Hope N Wellness. Thanks to our social media strategy in Denver, we’ve achieved that goal.
The world was shocked in the final days of January 2020 by the death of Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers basketball star, his daughter, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in California. Following his death, an online petition was started to call for the NBA to change its logo to feature Kobe Bryant. Within just two days, the petition reached over 2 million signatures! Despite the fervent public support, it still remains unclear whether the NBA will adjust the logo or not. In the wake of all this news, we wanted to share a few thoughts on rebranding a top Denver logo design company.
We’re excited to share that FiG has recently started up another partnership with the Adler Insurance Group! David Adler has led his own insurance agency in the Denver metro area for a few years now, operating as an Allstate brokerage. His company offers numerous forms of insurance coverage, including vehicle, homeowner, and life insurance policies. David was interested in expanding the digital visibility of his business to generate more leads. As a leading paid search agency in Denver, FiG was thrilled to have the opportunity to help David.
Running a business can often feel like you’re sailing a boat: everything has to line up just right. You need the right equipment, an efficient sail, a sturdy design, tranquil waters, clear skies, and a breeze at your back. If all the elements line up perfectly, then it’s smooth sailing to your destination. And even if just one thing fails to line up, your boat won’t go anywhere. It’s the same situation for your small business. If even just one piece of your business is out of alignment, you can struggle to retain customers or make sales. It can be incredibly difficult to pinpoint the issue that’s impacting your brand. Through effective Denver market research, you can identify the problem in your business model and adjust it for a smoother sailing business.
As Super Bowl retail spending grew from 14.8 billion to 17.2 billion from last year, all eyes were on Super Bowl LIV for some noteworthy and creative advertisements. The game was impressive, but the ads were the real stars of the show. As one of Denver’s top advertising agencies, we wanted to recap the worst and the best Super Bowl commercials of 2020.


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US cattle farmers want Namibian beef imports stopped
The United States Cattlemen’s Association said the prevalence of food-and-mouth disease in Namibia presents a threat to the security of US cattle and food safety.
23 February 2021 | Agriculture
Meatco says it is confident that there is no risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) being spread to the United States through beef produced in Namibia.
This after American farmers called on the US government to immediately stop importing beef from Namibia because of the recent outbreaks of FMD in the country.
The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) made this appeal last Friday out of the fear that the FMD outbreaks north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence could have an impact on meat south of the red line.
The group said the prevalence of FMD in Namibia presents a threat to the security of US cattle and food safety.
The group also expressed concern about the country’s African buffalo population, considered to be a persistent carrier of FMD, which increases the possibility of the disease spreading south of the red line if wildlife breaches it, it said.
A thorough review of these ongoing concerns must be done before moving forward with any discussion of trade with Namibia, the USCA said.
“The acceptance of beef imports from countries with known FMD-positive cases in the immediate area of the supposed buffer zone is unacceptable, and puts our entire industry at risk. The USCA recommends the installation of a true buffer zone, free of multiple positive cases, or the buffer zone should be enlarged until the area is free of quarantined locations.”
Meatco's CEO Mwilima Mushokabanji told Namibian Sun that all beef is procured from the FMD free zone in Namibia without vaccination, which has been free from vaccination since 1965.
“Namibia has a proven and audited animal surveillance system and in a situation such as this is capable of early detection and reporting of animal diseases in any of the Namibian zones.”
He stressed that the reporting of FMD outbreaks are not a sign of weakness in the system, but rather a sign that the system is working effectively and can be relied upon.
Mushokabanji added that Namibia has a well-founded and demonstrative capacity to respond to FMD outbreaks without affecting trade.
Mushokabanji said that Meatco has been made of these concerns from the US, however they are not unique and they seemed to be based on fear rather than facts.
Guarding against threats
In a statement, USCA president Brooke Miller said now more than ever, the US needs to ensure there are strong health and safety standards in place within their food supply chain to guard against threats to their agriculture industry.
An outbreak within the US could result in US$14 billion in losses, including losses to farm income and the effect on consumers and international trade relations, he said.
“The US has not experienced an outbreak of FMD within our borders for almost 100 years – but in recent years, we continue to recklessly pursue trading relations with countries with known FMD outbreaks. Congress needs to employ its oversight role of the US department of agriculture and its pursuit of importing beef products from countries known to be infected with FMD.”
N$95m vaccination plan
The FMD outbreak in Namibia was first detected on 28 September 2020 in the Kavango East Region and has since spread to Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana.
It is now present in nine constituencies in these five regions.
Namibian Sun last week reported that government will spend N$95 million to vaccinate at least 500 000 cattle in northern Namibia where FMD continues to wreak havoc.
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein said of the 800 000-strong cattle population in the north, government plans to vaccinate 500 000, adding that one million doses are needed for the northern regions, including Zambezi.
At the beginning of last year, Meatco sent its first commercial consignment of beef to America, making Namibia the first African country to export beef to the US.
Mushokabanji said that Meatco has exported 55 051 tonnes of beef to the US market since January to December last year.


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The list of top 50 pharmaceutical companies in 2020 is released! Let's see what's changed?
Last Update: 2020-06-19
Search more information of high quality chemicals, good prices and reliable suppliers, visit
On December 12, the 6th issue of pharmaceutical manager magazine of the United States also brought the latest annual list of top 50 global pharmaceutical companiesAs everyone knows, this list is based on the sales volume of prescription drugs of various pharmaceutical companiesDami has been sharing for many years, and has been listed as a bonus factor in the past bidding and purchasing in many provinces, which is of great reference value< br / > due to the changes in the market environment last year and the well-known M & a restructuring, this year's ranking has undergone some changesIt is particularly noteworthy that when the world's attention is focused on coping with the global crisis of covid-19, the public also has more expectations for the top 50 pharmaceutical companies on this list than in previous years< br / > pharmaceutical manager magazine compiled this year's ranking according to the latest data of May of evaluateThis list not only lists the sales revenue of the top 50 pharmaceutical companies in the world in the past year in the prescription medicine business, but also lists the annual R & D investment of each pharmaceutical companyAccording to the data, some enterprises invest up to 10 billion dollars in R & D every year, such as Roche, These huge investments have helped to translate the latest scientific and promising innovations into approved new drugs and treatment improvementsThe novel coronavirus pneumonia global spread has made people realize that the global pharmaceutical companies' long-term efforts are not only fighting against cancer or chronic diseases, but also preparing for the unforeseen viral disasters of human beings, such as the Ebola virus, AIDS, what is now COVID-19, what else is there for? < br / > but the hope of overcoming the disease lies in these pharmaceutical companies, and people expect them to develop and issue antagonistic drugs and vaccines as soon as possible< br / > the ranking of top 10 pharmaceutical companies has changed a lot this yearRoche and Novartis, two Swiss pharmaceutical companies, have become the first and second respectivelyIn the past year, Roche's prescription drug sales have increased by 8.3%, leaping to the first place in the list, ending Pfizer's ranking first for four consecutive yearsThe sales of star drug avidin account for 15% of Roche's total pharmaceutical business revenue, It is the top selling drug of Roche company, followed by rituximab and Herceptin< br / > Novartis is also ahead of others, ranking secondIn January this year, Novartis completed the US $9.7 billion acquisition of medicines and obtained the potential cholesterol lowering drug inclisiranIn the past year, the top three prescription drugs sold by Novartis are ketenting, jielingya and nuoshida In addition, other drugs also performed well, such as heart failure drug nuoxintu, which increased by 74% in Q4 last year, In the past year, the sales reached 1.7 billion US dollars, and this year, Q1 has completed another 569 million US dollars Zolgensma, a gene therapy of great concern, has steadily increased its market sales despite its high price < br / > in addition to Roche and Novartis, the top five companies are Pfizer, MSD and Bristol Myers Squibb In the past year, the top three drugs Pfizer sold were Peier 13, aiboxin and lerica However, under the impact of generic drugs, the sales of Q4 declined, while the market performance of breast cancer drug aiboxin was good, with a 20.5% increase last year, Last year, Pfizer also completed the $11.4 billion acquisition of array biopharmaceuticals, and obtained two cancer drugs under research Other drugs, such as elotor, Shangjie, and Yinglida, including ankotan, which cooperates with Ansteel, have a lot of room for growth In general, the prospect is very good < br / > MSD is also one step ahead of last year's ranking, which is inseparable from coreda's big sale Bristol Myers Squibb officially completed the acquisition of new base with us $74 billion in November last year, which greatly increased its strength It directly jumped to the fifth place from the 11th place, and pushed MSD, the Centennial rival Yesterday, Bristol Myers Squibb also announced a new brand image in China and completed the business transformation globally, Focus on the core areas of tumor immunology, blood and Immunology (extended reading: Bristol Myers Squibb launches a new brand image and China strategy in China) < br / > after China Bio pharmaceutical and Hengrui pharmaceutical entered the list last year, two more names of Chinese pharmaceutical companies have been added to the list this year: Yunnan Baiyao and Shanghai Pharmaceutical < br / > here is the list of the top 50 pharmaceutical companies in the world this year Let's see if there is any change (unit: US $100 million) in their company rankings compared with last year?
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Facebook has introduced a new tool for its advertisers that relies on your location and the activities you do on your phone. If you have given the Facebook app permission to track your whereabouts, it will allow selected businesses to target you if you have recently been to one of their shops.
At the same time, your friend – who's sitting at home – can get an advert meant for new customers that you won't see once you've been to that business' store. Since Facebook is giving thousands of businesses across the globe access to people's store visit data, you might encounter the behaviour even while abroad. You might also come across advertisements for companies you've recently interacted with in the real world. Real estate firms could, for instance, show you their latest listings if you called them up.
In the end, it is all up to you as a consumer whether you give permission to the Facebook app to show you more relevant content or not!


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Are consumers and businesses ready for small turbines or 'building-integrated' wind generators? Companies such as AeroVironment are hoping so.
Martin LaMonicaFormer Staff writer, CNET News
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer covering green tech and cutting-edge technologies. He joined CNET in 2002 to cover enterprise IT and Web development and was previously executive editor of IT publication InfoWorld.
Although still in the shadow of its giant counterparts, small-scale wind turbines are slowly starting to reshape the wind industry.
AeroVironment last week said 18 of its Architectural Wind turbines are now installed at a new Kettle Foods Potato Chip factory in Beloit, Wisconsin.
The turbines are still in development, but the company has installed a number around the country. They were also used by students from Texas A&M University at the Solar Decathlon solar-home competition.
AeroVironment is targeting commercial customers rather than people's homes. But other companies have developed turbines suited for houses.
Another company, Mariah Power, has designed a vertical axis turbine that can be used in either homes or commercial buildings. Its Windspire turbines are about 30 feet high and can be placed on their side or standing up. Each turbine, which produces about 1 kilowatt of electricity, costs about $5,000 installed, according to CEO Michael Hess. The company already has 1,500 units on order.
Although wind power is clean and cost-competitive, with fossil fuel power generation for utilities and a cost potentially less than those for solar photovoltaics, it is far from cracking the residential and commercial market.
Wind power suffers from not-in-my-backyard sentiment. And indeed, in spaces like American suburbia, wind turbines can disturb neighbors with noise or shadows.
Still, small wind, or a microwind, turbines could make sense for placement on rooftops of large buildings or integration into a building's design.
I'd like to create a photo gallery of small-wind products. Please write to me at email@example.com with any products you've seen. Also, feel free to share your experiences with them.
CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos contributed to this report.


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Samsung Galaxy S9 video teaser – camera and more
Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is fast-approaching. So, it’s to be expected that the company would start ramping up its campaign. Well, today it launched a new video.
The short teaser video of ‘The camera. Reimagined’ is, as you will have guessed, focused on the new snapper we’ve heard of in leaks.
Galaxy 9 camera and more
I have just been sent the teaser video. In the email is this quote:
Imagine a camera that can see more than your eyes – one that can help you capture every moment and change the way you experience the world. Now imagine it’s part of the device you already use, every single day.
By taking a fresh perspective and exploring new frontiers, we’ve crafted a smartphone packed full of life-enriching features, transforming the common device into something that allows you to do what you can’t.
Find out more on February 25. We didn’t just update the camera. We rethought the entire camera experience.”
So, what can we gather from this video then?
There is much to corroborate the natty apature – a DSLR camera is used, and there’s a loving close up of someone’s pupil adjusting to the light.
There are also hints to something going on with the flash. Also, low light prowess appears to be given a nod.
Selfies, emojies and social sharing all make an appearance.
Only a week to wait. Til then, here’s the video:
But, there’s more!
Snooping around the interwebs and it appears that more can be gathered from S9 video teasers released in other countries. Sneaky huh?
Such as some serious super slow motion action that could confirm the the much leaked 1,000 frames per second slow motion video mode.
There is also a video that shows a face being changed into a cartoon version of itself.
Adding to the plentyful emojies in the UK clip, this is likely a nod to the new 3D emoji that has already leaked as Samsung’s answer to the Apple iPhone X Animoji.
Have we missed anything? Are there any other S9 video clips that leak more functions and abilities?
Let me know below 🙂


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Microsoft is bringing new technology to market to allow non-smartphones to run applications, it has been announced.
Dubbed OneApp, the software will run a standard set of apps including popular social networking applications such as Twitter and Facebook.
The technology surmounts the problem of the lack of storage on cheaper, less sophisticated mobile phones by conferring responsibility for storing them to network operators’ servers.
Furthermore, Microsoft’s software will take up just 140 KB of memory and will maximize efficiency by only launching the part of the program requested by the user.
Microsoft expects take-up to be especially strong in the developing world, where costly smartphones are out reach for the majority of consumers.
Tim McDonough, senior director of mobile product management at Microsoft, said: "What we're letting you do is get access to the applications and services you want from a device you already own.
"If you don't own a PC, or you share a PC, your mobile phone may be your first or only computing device."
Mobile phone industry players' mass move into the application market follows the enormous success of Apple’s App Store.
Apple recently confirmed that over 1.5 billion apps have been downloaded from the market, spurred by the launch of the iPhone 3G S in June.


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New Discovery: Doogtoons Video PodcastHeather Green
Ok, so new to me. I just discovered Doogtoons, an animated video podcast that really made me laugh. The stumbled across the interview they did with Ninja from the video podcast, Ask a Ninja. (Makes your head spin). Playlist has an interview here with the creator, Doug Bresler.
Maybe Doogtoons will make some money someday. Indeed, there seems to be lots of excitement around the Web about a new report that shows that advertising for social media rose 200% this year to $50 million from $20 million....I think it's generating the excitement because people didn't expect to make any money from this. But I am with Erick Schonfeld, that this is a puny amount, compared with the $292 billion that's expected to be spent in the U.S. on advertising as a whole.
These kinds of forecasts are what they are, but I am still convinced that the disruptive power of social media isn't in that it will create the next Google, but that it gives people new voices, choices and content. And that just accelerates the fragmentation of attention we have been seeing because of the Web.
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- In One Tweet, Kylie Jenner Wiped Out $1.3 Billion of Snap’s Market Value
- The Two Words That Will Help Get an Airline Upgrade Over the Phone
- China Regulator Seizes Anbang, Chairman Faces Fraud Prosecution
- Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Got $638 Million in Year of Firm's IPO
- Apple Plans Upgrades to Popular AirPods Headphones


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A new Cincinnati company wants to give consumers the power to control who has permission to take their photograph in public places.
Aerdos was formed by former employees of Harris Corp., who over eight years developed video processing systems for government unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. Through working in that arena, and with the surge of popularity of drones in commercial and hobbyist spaces, the co-founders of Aerdos saw a need for a way to protect privacy.
The company was formed in 2014, but in the process of developing the technology, the co-founders realized that cameras used to capture people’s images in public were all around – on smartphones, tablets, DSLRs – not just on drones.
Aerdos works in a two-fold way. In one part, users upload their faces or the faces of their children and then import their contact lists and choose who has permission to take photos of their face. That list of permission and the user’s intent to not have their photograph taken would be broadcast from their phone, a piece of wearable technology or anything with broadcasting capability.
The second half of the system exists in the camera technology of smartphones, tablets, DSLRs, drones or any commercial camera. When that camera takes a picture, facial recognition technology determines who is in it, and if the shooter doesn’t have permission to capture someone’s face, that face is redacted from the final photo.
“Most people want that capability, but it does step in the face of the idea that you should be able to serendipitously take photos wherever you want,” Aerdos president Geeter Kyrazis told me. “We’re intrigued as to where this is going to go. People are looking at things like Facebook pictures and wondering, ‘Will a picture of my keg party in college effect my ability to get a job in the future?'”
Another way they’re exploring using the technology is by implementing an advertising feature. Say a celebrity is in public and using Aerdos and a fan wants to take a picture. Aerdos could require the fan to view an ad before having access to the unredacted photo. The same could apply for private concert venues – attendees could have to view ads before accessing unredacted concert photos.
There is no legal expectation of privacy in public spaces, so the features Aerdos offers would be voluntary. Smartphone, drone or camera manufacturers would have to choose to include the technology in their products if they believe it is something consumers want.
Aerdos has developed a prototype on a pair of Android phones. It has filed one patent and is planning on applying for another before the year’s end. The company is in the process of closing a seed round of funding that will allow it to expand from a team of five to seven to 10 employees.
Source: Cincinnati Business Courier, Andy Brownfield
Photo: Aerdos would allow users to choose who has permission to take their photograph in public. Their faces would be redacted from photos taken by people without permission.


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€254 savings to be made by switching gas and electricity
HOMEOWNERS are losing up to €254 a year by not switching electricity and gas suppliers, new price comparison service uSwitch has found.
The British price comparison operation has set up here in a move that is expected to force utility providers to cut their prices, the Irish Independent has learned.
This new service will show the prices of gas, electricity, home broadband and digital television in what is expected to prompt consumers to save by becoming more frequent switchers.
Moving energy suppliers could mean big savings for homeowners, uSwitch found.
It said the average household was spending €1,179 on electricity by using ESB/Electric Ireland's standard domestic rate. But by switching to Airtricity's Home Electricity Saver, the annual cost drops to €1,049.
This is a one-year contract, and the householder will have to sign up for a direct debit.
Over a year, the savings on electricity amount to €130.
Moving gas supplier from Bord Gais's standard rate to Flogas's Direct Debit Discount will mean an annual saving of €124.
Consumers have shown a reluctance to switch service and product providers. Recent research conducted by the National Consumer Agency found that only a third of people switch providers.
The head of uSwitch.ie in Ireland, Eoin Clarke, said householders were facing into another financially tough year.
A survey commissioned by uSwitch among 1,000 adults found that eight out of 10 people were worried about the cost of their energy bills. And two-thirds expected their income to drop this year.
The survey findings highlight the need for consumers to offset the decline in their spending power by cutting the cost of their essential household bills, shopping around and switching to save some cash, Mr Clarke said.
The new service is free and allows consumers to compare prices and the services offered by all the players in the energy, broadband and TV market. Profits are generated for uSwitch from commissions paid by suppliers when consumers switch.
Mr Clarke said: "The great thing is that we are able to draw upon over 12 years' experience of saving consumers money in the UK and we will now be able to use this expertise to help Irish households, too.
"Our service is free, independent and impartial, which means that consumers can rely on us to give them honest, truthful advice about the best deals and services for their needs."
Mr Clarke said his company had helped more than two million people switch energy suppliers in Britain.
The new service will compete with Bonkers.ie, which is accredited by the Energy Regulator as a price comparison site for electricity and gas.


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New Instagram API Features
To the frustration of brands and marketers everywhere, Instagram users have been subject to strict terms and conditions regarding the app’s API (application programming interface) platform. Change is coming, though.
Instagram announced that new features are being added to, “…Support the evolving needs of businesses and help them manage their organic presence more effectively by upgrading to Facebook’s Graph API.”
Previously, businesses had to view metrics via insights on the app. Now they will have the ability access enhanced metrics and insights on the new API platform. Instagram said this will benefit businesses by better tracking the performance of organic content on third party tools.
Facebook has detailed several useful updates to their Graph API. They include:
- Access to data from 140 million places in the world.
- More engagement metrics for any URL.
- Video API with endpoints for cross-posted videos.
- Updates to Webhooks, Facebook’s subscription-based push service for apps.
- A new API endpoint designed to smoothly connect a Facebook customer from a brand’s app to their Messenger Bot.
- Read-After-Write API call support.
- Updated Page insights endpoint.
- Several features to leverage the power of the Marketing API.
To access the updated Instagram API features, a business profile is required. Additionally, a Facebook Login is needed to use third party tools with the new API. Businesses will also be able to continue using other existing API tools. However, they won’t be able to access any of the new features.
The update also includes new functionality for comment moderation. Businesses will have the ability to hide comments and toggle them on and off. Instagram said this provides “additional flexibility” regarding organic content and furthers their commitment to creating a “safe place for self-expression.” This feature complements another new update, a system that automatically detects offensive and harassing comments.
The new API platform is currently available to all Facebook Marketing Partners and Instagram Marketing Partners. It will be available broadly “in the coming weeks.”
Read the announcement here.
To learn more about Instagram’s API, check out 3 Reasons You Should Never Auto-post to Instagram.


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- Samsung Galaxy Galaxy A33 5G is expected to be launched at just Rs28,499 in India.
- It was revealed alongside four different Galaxy A series smartphones.
- HTML0 This is expected to be offered in both retail stores that are offline and online across the nation.
Samsung had announced Five brand-new smartphones inside the Galaxy A series in India this month. The five models include Galaxy A13, Galaxy A13, Galaxy A23, Galaxy A33 5G, Galaxy A53 5G, and Galaxy A53 5G. Galaxy A73 5G.
Samsung has revealed the cost of its other phones and made fans wonder about the cost of the Galaxy A33’s 5G. A 91Mobiles Report A tipper has disclosed the price of the latest mid-priced model from the Korean giant. Korean giant.
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G expected price
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G model is believed to retail at Rs 28.499 for the model that comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage and Rs 29,999 for the variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal memory.
Galaxy A33 5G Galaxy A33 5G is available in Black, Blue, Peach, and White colors. It’s expected to hit the market within the next few days.
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G specifications
The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G runs on Android 12 straight out from the box and comes with the Samsung OneUI 4.1 skin. It features a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.


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Barclaycard, the UK card issuer of the Barclays banking group, is relaunching its bPay contactless payments system in July with three new NFC devices: an updated wristband, key fobs and stickers.
The service allows users from any bank with a UK-registered Visa or Master debit or credit card to add money to a pre-paid account online, from its mobile app, or set up auto top-up. At launch, payments will be limited to £20 but will rise to £30 in September when UK limits are raised.
The wearables are available online from July 1st at the price of £14.99 for the sticker, £19.99 for the fob and £24.99 for the wristband. Consumers can buy the devices on high street stores from August.
bPay vs Apple Pay
The unveiling of bPay wearable payments at the same time with Apple Pay’s launch in UK is no coincidence. Barclays is the only major bank in UK not accepting Apple Pay. By offering its own contactless payment wearables, Barclays gets to keep transaction fees from consumer spending instead of giving a share to Apple.
Barclays has had several attempts with payments and wearables:
-2007, launched UK’s first contactless card
-2012, introduced Barclaycard Paytag NFC stickers
-2012, launched Pingit, a mobile payment service linked to users’ phone numbers to transfer money and pay bills
-2014 July, trialled bPay wristband
-2014 December, trialled contactless gloves for tap and pay
Most of these services have yet to gain traction due to lack of solid use cases. Barclays is trying again by offering new wearables in an effort to retain and attract new customers. However, as these devices come at a cost, it will be hard to convince non-Barclays customers or those with Apple Pay-capable devices to switch services. Persuading users to pay extra for an additional single user accessory – one that only works for payments – will severely limit the take-up of these services. To drive mass adoption of its contactless payment services, Barclays should provide devices for free, or better still, partner with third-party device and accessory makers to support payments on more compelling devices.
Increasing contactless transactions in UK
The adoption of contactless payments in the UK has been surging as the UK Cards Association reported a total contactless spending of £2.32 billion in 2014, a 331% increase year-on-year.


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Do you hear it? The big grinding noise. It’s the sound of every publisher quietly trying to move their games away from October 26, the newly announced release date for Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2.
This means the game has been delayed from its previously announced spring 2018 window. In a blogpost on their site, Rockstar addressed the date change: "We apologize to everyone disappointed by this delay. While we had hoped to have the game out sooner, we require a little extra time for polish. We sincerely thank you for your patience and hope that when you get to play the game, you will agree the wait will have been worth it."
This is the second time that Red Dead Redemption 2 has been pushed back by Rockstar. Delays aren’t unusual for Rockstar’s huge releases, but the game being pushed back left Take-Two Interactive without a big release in 2017, and will leave them without a big release for the first half of 2018, too, barring their annual entries into the NBA and WWE titles.
For most publishers it would cause problems, but Take-Two is still making a significant amount of cash from Grand Theft Auto Online and the NBA franchise. Take-Two don’t appear concerned, as shortly after the delay, Take-Two restated their financial forecast for the coming year, estimating $700m in net operating income, and a record $2.5b in bookings, driven largely by the release of Red Dead Redemption 2, but also due to a "highly anticipated title from one of 2K’s biggest franchises."


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Porsche dealers sell 3,327 vehicles in August
Atlanta. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars, Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera four-door sports sedan line-up in the United States, today announced August 2013 sales of 3,327 vehicles, an increase of 10 percent over the same month last year and a record August in the history of PCNA. For the year, Porsche has sold 28,456 cars in the U.S., a 28 percent increase over last year's sales (22,279).
Setting the pace was the Cayenne model line, which sold 1,435 units, up six percent over last August and a 40 percent increase year-to-date. Combined Boxster and Cayman sales were 669, compared to 394 in August 2012 (plus 70 percent). For the year, the mid-engine sports cars are up more than 200 percent. The 911 line, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, remained strong with sales of 769 units, an increase of 22 percent over the same period last year (plus 12 percent YTD).
“Announcing a historic sales month is always a great way to start a new position,” commented Joe Lawrence, Executive Vice President and COO, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. The former President and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., Lawrence joined the U.S. sales organization of Porsche on September 1. “With the new Panamera line in our dealerships this month, we are confident that we will maintain this strong pace going into the fall season,” he added. “We are particularly excited about the arrival of the Panamera S E-Hybrid in November, the very first plug-in hybrid in the luxury segment, which will provide further momentum to our second-generation Gran Turismo.”
Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales were 943 for August 2013, an increase of 8 percent over August 2012 (870).
About Porsche Cars North America
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sports sedan. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and employs approximately 220 people who provide parts, service, marketing and training for 189 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brand's 63-year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency.
At the core of this success is Porsche's proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000 motorsport wins to date.
For Porsche apps: http://www.porsche.com/usa/entertainment/apps/
Note: Photos and video footage are available to accredited journalists on the Porsche Press Database at http://press.porsche.com/


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Momentum has introduced the Momentum Safety Score, a free online tool that assesses the personal, home and environmental, and vehicle risk profile of individual South Africans.
According to Crime Stats SA, 5 900 crimes are reported by the South African Police Services every day. Many of these can be attributed to South Africans failing to adhere to simple steps to protect their personal safety.
Momentum Short-term Insurance and Multiply, the wellness and rewards programme offered by Momentum, recently introduced the Momentum Safety Score, a free online tool that assesses the personal, home and environmental, and vehicle risk profile of individual South Africans.
The Safety Score assesses how effectively South Africans protect themselves at home, in the car, and on the street, and offers helpful advice on how to safeguard themselves in these environments.
The Momentum Safety Score offers a few smart ways to improve South
Africans’ personal safety:
· Keep your mobile phone charged at all times, and make sure that you’ve saved all relevant emergency numbers. Even better – learn them so in an emergency you can call for help on somebody else’s phone if you need to.
· When you leave for your destination, tell someone where you’re going, and what time you expect to get there. That way, if you don’t arrive as planned, someone will raise the alarm and call for help for you.
· Don’t flash cash or flaunt jewellery if you’re walking on the street. This makes you a prime target for mugging or theft.
· Avoid talking on your phone while you’re walking in public. Not only do you display your phone to potential thieves, your conversation is likely to distract you from being fully aware of your surroundings.
· If you use public transport, familiarise yourself with available timetables to make sure that you don’t spend time alone waiting in taxi, train or bus stations.
· If you’re going to be walking anywhere, particularly at night, plan your route beforehand, and try to include well-lit busy streets on your journey.
· If you are returning to your car in a parking lot, be aware of what is going on around you, looking out for loiterers, people following you or situations that could be a threat.
· While everyone gets frustrated in traffic, don’t succumb to road rage in your frustration at other drivers. Road rage has caused fatalities in South Africa.
· Sit with your family and devise an action plan if your home is invaded while you’re there. This could include identifying a safe room, or making sure that everyone knows where panic buttons are located. Ensure you never let strangers onto your property.
· Remind your family about the importance of online safety. This includes never revealing your home address or telephone number online, and never highlighting the fact that you’re on holiday – no matter how much you want to show off those amazing holiday photographs on social media!
For more safety tips, and to see what specific actions you can take to reduce risks and improve safety in your own environment, complete the Momentum Safety Score online. The assessment tool is freely available to all South Africans. Members of Multiply earn rewards points for completing the Safety Score tool, and can qualify for a cash back bonus on their Momentum Short-term Insurance premiums, based on their score.
VoD cuts the cord in SA
Some 20% of South Africans who sign up for a subscription video on demand (SVOD) service such as Netflix or Showmax do so with the intention of cancelling their pay television subscription.
That’s according to GfK’s international ViewScape survey*, which this year covers Africa (South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria) for the first time.
The study—which surveyed 1,250 people representative of urban South African adults with Internet access—shows that 90% of the country’s online adults today use at least one online video service and that just over half are paying to view digital online content. The average user spends around 7 hours and two minutes a day consuming video content, with broadcast television accounting for just 42% of the time South Africans spend in front of a screen.
Consumers in South Africa spend nearly as much of their daily viewing time – 39% of the total – watching free digital video sources such as YouTube and Facebook as they do on linear television. People aged 18 to 24 years spend more than eight hours a day watching video content as they tend to spend more time with free digital video than people above their age.
Says Benjamin Ballensiefen, managing director for Sub Sahara Africa at GfK: “The media industry is experiencing a revolution as digital platforms transform viewers’ video consumption behaviour. The GfK ViewScape study is one of the first to not only examine broadcast television consumption in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, but also to quantify how linear and online forms of content distribution fit together in the dynamic world of video consumption.”
The study finds that just over a third of South African adults are using streaming video on demand (SVOD) services, with only 16% of SVOD users subscribing to multiple services. Around 23% use per-pay-view platforms such as DSTV Box Office, while about 10% download pirated content from the Internet. Around 82% still sometimes watch content on disc-based media.
“Linear and non-linear television both play significant roles in South Africa’s video landscape, though disruption from digital players poses a growing threat to the incumbents,” says Molemo Moahloli, general manager for media research & regional business development at GfK Sub Sahara Africa. “Among most demographics, usage of paid online content is incremental to consumption of linear television, but there are signs that younger consumers are beginning to substitute SVOD for pay-television subscriptions.”
New data rules raise business trust challenges
When the General Data Protection Regulation comes into effect on May 25th, financial services firms will face a new potential threat to their on-going challenges with building strong customer relationships, writes DARREL ORSMOND, Financial Services Industry Head at SAP Africa.
The regulation – dubbed GDPR for short – is aimed at giving European citizens control back over their personal data. Any firm that creates, stores, manages or transfers personal information of an EU citizen can be held liable under the new regulation. Non-compliance is not an option: the fines are steep, with a maximum penalty of €20-million – or nearly R300-million – for transgressors.
GDPR marks a step toward improved individual rights over large corporates and states that prevents the latter from using and abusing personal information at their discretion. Considering the prevailing trust deficit – one global EY survey found that 60% of global consumers worry about hacking of bank accounts or bank cards, and 58% worry about the amount of personal and private data organisations have about them – the new regulation comes at an opportune time. But it is almost certain to cause disruption to normal business practices when implemented, and therein lies both a threat and an opportunity.
The fundamentals of trust
GDPR is set to tamper with two fundamental factors that can have a detrimental effect on the implicit trust between financial services providers and their customers: firstly, customers will suddenly be challenged to validate that what they thought companies were already doing – storing and managing their personal data in a manner that is respectful of their privacy – is actually happening. Secondly, the outbreak of stories relating to companies mistreating customer data or exposing customers due to security breaches will increase the chances that customers now seek tangible reassurance from their providers that their data is stored correctly.
The recent news of Facebook’s indiscriminate sharing of 50 million of its members’ personal data to an outside firm has not only led to public outcry but could cost the company $2-trillion in fines should the Federal Trade Commission choose to pursue the matter to its fullest extent. The matter of trust also extends beyond personal data: in EY’s 2016 Global Consumer Banking Survey, less than a third of respondents had complete trust that their banks were being transparent about fees and charges.
This is forcing companies to reconsider their role in building and maintaining trust with its customers. In any customer relationship, much is done based on implicit trust. A personal banking customer will enjoy a measure of familiarity that often provides them with some latitude – for example when applying for access to a new service or an overdraft facility – that can save them a lot of time and energy. Under GDPR and South Africa’s POPI act, this process is drastically complicated: banks may now be obliged to obtain permission to share customer data between different business units (for example because they are part of different legal entities and have not expressly received permission). A customer may now allow banks to use their personal data in risk scoring models, but prevent them from determining whether they qualify for private banking services.
What used to happen naturally within standard banking processes may be suddenly constrained by regulation, directly affecting the bank’s relationship with its customers, as well as its ability to upsell to existing customers.
The risk of compliance
Are we moving to an overly bureaucratic world where even the simplest action is subject to a string of onerous processes? Compliance officers are already embedded within every function in a typical financial services institution, as well as at management level. Often the reporting of risk processes sits outside formal line functions and end up going straight to the board. This can have a stifling effect on innovation, with potentially negative consequences for customer service.
A typical banking environment is already creaking under the weight of close to 100 acts, which makes it difficult to take the calculated risks needed to develop and launch innovative new banking products. Entire new industries could now emerge, focusing purely on the matter of compliance and associated litigation. GDPR already requires the services of Data Protection Officers, but the growing complexity of regulatory compliance could add a swathe of new job functions and disciplines. None of this points to the type of innovation that the modern titans of business are renowned for.
A three-step plan of action
So how must banks and other financial services firms respond? I would argue there are three main elements to successfully navigating the immediate impact of the new regulations:
Firstly, ensuring that the technologies you use to secure, manage and store personal data is sufficiently robust. Modern financial services providers have a wealth of customer data at their disposal, including unstructured data from non-traditional sources such as social media. The tools they use to process and safeguard this data needs to be able to withstand the threats posed by potential data breaches and malicious attacks.
Secondly, rethinking the core organisational processes governing their interactions with customers. This includes the internal measures for setting terms and conditions, how customers are informed of their intention to use their data, and how risk is assessed. A customer applying for medical insurance will disclose deeply personal information about themselves to the insurance provider: it is imperative the insurer provides reassurance that the customer’s data will be treated respectfully and with discretion and with their express permission.
Thirdly, financial services firms need to define a core set of principles for how they treat customers and what constitutes fair treatment. This should be an extension of a broader organisational focus on treating customers fairly, and can go some way to repairing the trust deficit between the financial services industry and the customers they serve.


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It’s not often that a manufacturer breathes a sign of relief on being told its products are uncool. But that’s what happened to Samsung yesterday in the UK.
High Court judge Colin Birss ruled that the Galaxy Tab 10 couldn’t be confused with Apple’s iPad, and that there was no justification for an import ban. “They are not as cool,” he said. “The overall impression produced is different.”
Birss cited the thinness of the Samsung design – ‘almost insubstantial’ – and said it lacked the iPad’s understatement and simplicity. The Samsung tablet also had more detailing on the back. Users wouldn’t confuse the two devices, he concluded.
Samsung’s welcomed the decision, calling Apple’s legal claims ‘excessive’, and saying that asserting them elsewhere, as Apple has been doing, will hamper innovation and user choice.
Apple has three weeks to appeal.
It’s the second blow for Apple in the British courts in less than a week. Last Thursday, a judge there ruled that its slide-to-unlock patent was obvious, given a similar feature in a Swedish phone released back in 2004.
And, in the US on Friday, an appeals court lifted a ban on sales of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone – although sales of the Galaxy 10.1 tablet remain on hold until a full trial begins on July 30.
Here, Apple’s going after as many Samsung products as possible, with 19 devices claimed to infringe design patents, although some of these claims may still be dropped.


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So long as some truck customers insist on a V8, the F-150 will offer one.
By any objective measure, Ford's twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine has rendered the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 obsolete. It's both more fuel-efficient and, generally speaking, more potent, putting out 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque in the F-150 Raptor, and mustering as much as 660 horsepower in the Ford GT supercar.
So why does the 5.0L stick around, especially in the Ford F-150 - a truck that was just completely redesigned for the 2021 model year? The short answer: customer demand. Speaking to Muscle Cars & Trucks recently, F-150 Chief Engineer Craig Schmatz said that as widely accepted as the EcoBoost V6 has become, there are still those who would just rather have eight cylinders under the hood.
"The EcoBoost has done so well," Schmatz told the outlet. "Almost 60 percent of our lineup is the 2.7L or 3.5L EcoBoost, so it's widely accepted now. But there's still a customer that wants the V8."
Whether it's the soundtrack, the relative simplicity of a naturally aspirated engine, or simply an old-school mentality that "there's no replacement for displacement," Ford F-150 customers are keeping the Coyote option alive. Of course, the Coyote is a far more advanced animal than the pushrod Ford V8s of yesteryear, with dual overhead camshafts and a lightweight spray-in cylinder bore liner. This year, it gains cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy.
Asked whether the Coyote V8 was in danger of hitting its practical limits with regard to output and fuel economy, Schmatz told MC&T "we're always able to get a little bit more out." For 2021, the 5.0L delivers 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, which is 5 horsepower and 10 lb-ft better than last year, along with up to 20 mpg on the EPA combined cycle - 19 mpg in the case of 4WD. That matches the best the Chevrolet Silverado's 5.3L can do with regard to efficiency, with significantly more power and torque.
With stats like that, we don't expect the F-150's 5.0L V8 to be going anywhere for a good long while, despite any rumors to the contrary.


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OnePlus 7 will be the “first to feature the Snapdragon 855” in 2019. However, OnePlus will probably not be the first smartphone company to launch the commercial 5G phone. This is not a first phone of the 5G phone also Samsung will launch upcoming the year.
You can read this article:
OnePlus CEO and co-founder Pete Lau has stated added details very just about the OnePlus 7. Pete at the Third Qualcomm Snapdragon depth said that OnePlus will be the “first to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855” in 2019, likely in Europe and behind sure telecom intimates. Although he didn’t specify the pronounce of this Snapdragon 855 phone, we expect it to be the OnePlus 7.
“OnePlus by yourself makes flagship smartphones, and we put happening to take into account that the Snapdragon 855 is the best and without help jarring. We are thrilled by its powerful doing and 5G capabilities. OnePlus will continue to bring its users the best technology and the best user experience realizable,” said Pete.
However, OnePlus will probably not be the first smartphone company to trigger a flyer 5G phone. Samsung is supposedly leading the race in this regard. At the Day One of the Qualcomm Snapdragon pinnacles, Samsung together as soon as Verizon and AT&T announced that it was going to be the first company to bring an assertion 5G phone in the first half of adjacent year. Although Samsung didn’t post the 5G-enabled device that it is planning to open a neighbouring year, we expect it to be a special edition of the Galaxy S10 and it may find in February or March.
“We are proud to be nimble subsequent to OnePlus to continue to bring breakthrough mobile experiences to consumers,” said Alex Katouzian, senior vice president and general bureaucrat, mobile, Qualcomm Technologies. “Snapdragon 855 is meant to talk to multi-gigabit 5G, industry-leading AI and immersive elongated truth (XR) ushering in an added decade of wireless experiences to the front.”
In colleague in crime to Samsung and OnePlus, there are subsidiary OEMs operational roughly Snapdragon 855 powered phones. These companies complement Asus, Google, Samsung, HMD Global, Motorola, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi.


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Hy-Vee, the Midwest grocery chain with more than 280 stores across eight states, feels it has “reimagined” the traditional supermarket.
The chain recently opened a nearly 93,000-square-foot store in Grimes, Iowa, that features a few unique amenities. The new location boasts a pub, a food hall, Joe Fresh clothing, The W Nail Bar, and a Johnson Fitness & Wellness showroom.
And try this on for size: the new grocery store also features in-store offerings like DSW shoes.
“This is a very smart move on the part of these stores,” said consultant Izzy Kharasch, president of Hospitality Works, in an email to The Food Institute. “If they continue to see a lot of success with the in-store concept, they will give local restaurants a run for their money. Done well, these are concepts that can work.”
Scott Moses, group head of the grocery, pharmacy, and restaurants sector with investment bank PJ SOLOMON, agreed that traditional grocers are battling with restaurants for “share of stomach.” And, he noted, modern consumers want amenities like restaurants, pubs and wine bars at brick-and-mortar supermarkets.
“In-store amenities drive the customer experience, connection and trust that can help win back trips being lost to the large, non-traditional grocers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Aldi, Costco, Dollar General, and Family Dollar,” Moses said. “A better in-store experience reduces the commoditization risk being driven by the rapid increase in online grocery adoption.”
“As consumers continue to shift their purchasing habits to a blend of E-commerce and in-store, they’re looking for retailers that can provide them with the opportunity to get more done in one store experience,” said Nicole Simonds, team lead – integrated marketing strategy with Daymon, “whether that be combining grocery shopping with shoe shopping, or a visit to the drugstore and a manicure to go along with it.”
TECHNOLOGY AT FOREFRONT
The new Grimes, Iowa, Hy-Vee is the chain’s “most innovative store to-date, with state-of-the-art technology integrated into every department,” said Randy Edeker, CEO of Hy-Vee, in a press release.
Additionally, Edeker called the creation of the innovative supermarket a move made to aid customers’ increasingly busy lifestyles.
The new Central Iowa Hy-Vee store, which took several months to construct, also includes all-digital shelf labels that display product information and pricing and has more than 100 TVs that feature store products, promotions and services. Additionally, the facility will feature new mobile technology with Hy-Vee Scan & Go.
Throughout the store, customers can find hundreds of QR codes with which to scan with their phones and bring up coupons. Meanwhile, the location also features digital kiosks which allow shoppers to type in an item they’re looking for and find out which aisle it’s in, reported the Des Moines Register (Sept. 13).
FOCUSED ON CONVENIENCE
On-the-go dining options available at the new Iowa supermarket include sushi, Chowbotics’ fresh food robot, and Wahlburgers. Shoppers can also use kiosks to order fresh-made foods.
The store will feature nearly 100,000 SKUs all told, including more than 10,000 specialty items. All those products, and all the store’s amenities, are in the interest of providing convenience for customers.
“In an increasingly off-premises world, traditional grocery retailers are seeking to create experiences that can’t be replicated elsewhere, or online,” said Michael Parlapiano, managing director of The Culinary Edge, a consulting group in San Francisco. “Driving the consumer on-site by offering a multi-dimensional, social experience is the key to future success.”
“In many ways,” Parlapiano added, “the modern grocery store is adopting the role of the third place; In addition to your weekly grocery outing, the market is quickly becoming a spot for your morning coffee, your workday lunch, and your evening wine night or guys night out.”


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Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing will launch Advanced Tools for Modeling (ATOM) which uses artificial intelligence to optimize food and flavor formulation and facilitate co-creation and collaboration with customers, according to a press release issued by the company.
ATOM is the most recent addition to an ecosystem of digital and AI tools that allow teams all over the world to streamline the end-to-end creation process from conception to rollout. Building on over two decades of research, ATOM uses AI and data science techniques to minimize trial and error in the process. The tools identify positive and negative flavor drivers and explore ingredient synergies, to generate new options and insights aligned with consumer preferences. The results are then displayed in graphically rich and interactive dashboards.
Givaudan’s Head of Global Science & Technology, Fabio Campanile, said: “ATOM strikes the right balance between AI and human intuition, complementing the work of our expert flavorists and developers. Tools such as ATOM enable us to help our customers to go beyond consumer expectations, using insight, collaboration, and innovation. Implementing what we call ‘wide-eyed thinking’ allows us to use these insights to leverage our curiosity and deep ingredient knowledge to accelerate new product development and create the food experiences of the future”, added Campanile.
Early projects using the tools have been highly successful. ATOM was recently used to reduce salt in cheese snacks. The team was able to quickly identify the best recipe, delivering a 33% reduction in salt, from a much smaller range of options predicted by ATOM. In blind taste testing the reduced salt recipe scored as highly as the original full-salt snack. The process has also proved viable for sugar reduction, vanillin replacement, and meat alternative projects.