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Climate change is a topic of intense debate nowadays, but leaving aside the debates, climate change is real and in a matter of years we will be facing challenging situation because of global warming and food shortages.
A study published in The Lancet finds that global warming and climate change will take a huge hit on our eating habits in a matter of few decades. While there are studies which show how climate conditions will affect particular regions this is the first study which looks at how is climate change going to affect our diets.
With the help of predictive models, researchers mapped our four trajectories (high global emissions, low global emissions, and two middle-of-the-road possibilities) to find how these 4 trajectories would impact agriculture and meat industry, the two important sources nutrition. The results are very concerning, here’s how climate change and global warming will affect your diet:
1. Fruits and Vegetables Will Be Scarce
The way we consume our calories matter a lot too, you don’t get the same nutrients from a pack of Oreos you get from a bowl of fresh vegetables. Produce or fruits and vegetable production is going to fall drastically in the next 30 years. The study predicts overall fresh produce will fall by 4% by 2050.
2. No More Burgers
Climate change will hit the meat industry harder than the fresh produce industry and will reduce red meat consumption by 2050. The study finds that meat consumption will fall by 7%.
Even more than fruits and veggies, climate change will reduce our consumption of red meat by 2050. According to the study, red meat consumption will decline by 7 percent between now and then.
3. Olive Oil Will Cost You More
The study found that their models showed that the Mediterranean region would be affected the most and since are the main olive oil production areas, buying olive oil is going to burn a hole in your pockets.
4. There Will Be Shortage Of Food
The study has found that climate changes will affect major food baskets around the world and it will lead to 500,000 deaths by 2050. The deaths will be more likely due to health issues from malnutrition rather than starvation.
The only way to prevent this is by trying to prevent climate changes as much as possible and doing research in making adaptations to survive with changing conditions.


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Prominent economist Fred Wilson claims that crypto industry has become an integral part of the world economy. The industry has taken away a significant portion of capital from traditional assets such as gold.
According to Wilson, Crypto and blockchain are the only sectors that have taken advantage of the Coronavirus pandemic, the CEO of Union Square Ventures. While other industries suffered the most from the pandemic, the crypto industry witnessed enormous growth.
Growth of Tech-based Sectors
Many digital and tech-based entities have also shown outstanding performance in a period of confusion. For example, video calling firm Zoom and the majority of electric vehicle manufacturers have also benefitted from the pandemic.
It is just due to Coronavirus that Bitcoin has got people’s attention at the mass level and has resulted in worldwide adoption. Institutions are now willing to buy the top digital asset at a price tag of $30,000. Wilson said:
“Odd as it may seem, a lot more people want to buy Bitcoin at $28,000 than wanted to buy it at $5,000. That’s just how things are. And it is important to understand that. “
According to Wilson, the new trends emerge from pandemic proliferation and will continue to dominate even after the pandemic. The pandemic may come to an end in the Q2 of 2021 as COVID-19 vaccine has come in the market.
Wilson explained that governments and central banks would print more cash to combat negative economic forces. The government will also try to save old dying companies while people will inject their money on new objects such as crypto assets. “This will lead investors to continue to allocate capital to new forms of money (crypto,” he added.
In 2020, we saw many breathtaking projects, which are decentralized in nature. These decentralized projects include Yearn, Compound, and Uniswap. The trend of rising innovation will remain to continue in 2021.
This year, there are strong chances that regulators may regulate the sector and will design policies to curb unnecessary crypto projects. Major projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum will continue to disrupt the global economy.
As of press time, the global crypto markets’ market capitalization is standing at $940 billion. In a day or two, the market cap may exceed the figure of $1 trillion. Similarly, the market cap of the top digital asset is standing at over $652 billion.

domain: news


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Archive For The “News” Category
Demand for new commodities and specialty items continues to increase at the key Nogales point of entry in Arizona.
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) has been monitoring trends for commodities in southern Arizona, and reports new and specialty items continue to add shipping opportunities at the produce hub.
During the past couple of months, commodities have been reintroduced to the area as demand grows for unique products. Additionally, the area has seen sustainable increases in volume for fresh produce.
Nogales continues to expand with new commodities being imported into the U.S. each year, with highlights including figs, pomegranates, Brussel sprouts and lemons.
Southern Arizona continues to import reliable volumes of tomato, watermelon, cucumber, bell pepper, eggplant, and many other key vegetable items. Commodities with the greatest growth include strawberries, broccoli, and radicchio.
By Nick Rooney, Transportation Broker, ALC Orlando
As the pandemic continues to move its way through the world, we are still navigating how to get through each day. Businesses closing, hair and nail salons shutting down, gym memberships across the globe now unable to be used.
Money has become scarce for some, food being one of the most difficult supplies to have in abundance in many homes. Food insecurity in households with children under 18 has increased by about 130 percent from 2018 to May 6, 2020, leaving millions to worry about their next meal. The Farmers to Families Food Box has done an amazing job helping the millions of families in need during these times of hardship.
This program was built as a way to deliver food to families in need, not letting food go to waste, and helping farmers and ranchers stay in business. The Farmers to Families Food Box program purchases fresh produce and other goods directly from distributors of all sizes across the nation, from local to national. Distributors package these products into family-sized boxes, then they are transported to food banks, community and faith-based organizations, and other non-profits serving many families in need across the nation.
This is also helping to ensure our logistics system across America remains in a healthy balance by keeping freight moving and carriers in motion.
During the first round of obtaining produce and goods, beginning May 15 and ending on June 30, 2020, an astounding 35 million boxes were delivered in just the first 2 months. Round five started on December 21, 2020 and is scheduled to conclude at the end of April.
The Farmers to Families Food Box program has now provided over 133 million boxes to families in need so far since its inception. With round 5 in play, Farmers to Families has received over 6 billion dollars in funding, keeping companies running, employees paid, and most importantly, families fed.
The product provided is not limited to any specific commodity, for round 5, the USDA will purchase fresh produce, dairy products, fluid milk, meat, and seafood. This product assortment is just one example of why funding for boxes has been sporadic in cost throughout the year, markets are still alive and adapting causing rates for certain products to reach high dollar amounts, this isn’t stopping the millions of Americans pulling together to help each in need.
The year 2020 provided some of us with a different perspective on daily life and what it means to be in need. I suggest we take a step back and start looking at families and friends within our communities to find struggles and needs that we can try to help with. With everything going on right now, some need food, others may need a friend or someone to talk with, you can truly make a difference in someone’s life this year.
I will strive to make an impact in my community throughout this year starting with donations made to my local food bank. Farmers to Families has opened my eyes to a struggle that I truly thought was being handled here in America. Seeing that there will be more families in need within the coming year, I hope more programs like this one are put into place.
Nick Rooney began working for the Allen Lund Company in October of 2019 as a broker in training for the San Francisco office. Nick then joined the Orlando office in August of 2020, continuing his path to become a broker. As of January 2020, Nick is a transportation broker and manages produce loads for the Orlando office.
During the past decade Mexican avocado exports have tripled, according to the Mexican news source El Economista.
The site reports total Mexican avocado exports for January to November 2020 topped over 1.2 million metric tons (MT). This is a significant rise from the 369,000MT registered for all of 2010 and, based on data from the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, represents a record increase of 6.3 percent over the previous year.
In 2020, though, Mexican foreign sales of avocado fell 7.4 percent to about $2.7 billion from January to November. Most avocados sold in the United States are imported from other countries, particularly Mexico.
For example, in 2018, 76 percent of national avocado consumption was imported from Mexico. Since then, the US Hass avocado industry has grown, reaching a total market value of $ 6.5 billion in 2019.
The USDA has placed the compound annual growth rate for total avocado consumption between 2008 and 2018 at 9.4 percent, rising from 1.1 billion pounds to 2.6 billion pounds. Contributing to this growth were factors such as an increased interest in healthy eating and foods high in nutrients.
Demographic changes also played a part according to El Economista, with 75 percent of Hispanic households purchasing avocados. The US Hass avocado market is projected to continue its growth with an expected 5.5 percent annual increase between 2019 and 2023.
U.S. imports of fresh vegetables jumped 13% in 2020, amid the pandemic, which may have contributed to the increase. The news comes from new statistics issued by the USDA.
During the 2020 calendar year, the total U.S. import value of 23 major fresh vegetables was $9.7 billion, up 13% from 2019.
2020 import values of asparagus, celery, endive and carrots were down compared with 2019, but every other vegetable commodity tracked scored gains. The value of U.S. tomato imports was up 22%, with fresh potato imports up 30% in value and garlic imports up 18% in value compared with 2019:
2020 import values, with percent changed from 2019, are:
- Tomatoes; $2.8 billion, up 22%;
- Peppers: $1.79 billion, up 7%;
- Cucumbers: $909.9 million, up 10%;
- Asparagus: $650.5 million, down 6%;
- Squash: $473.1 million, up 22%;
- Onions: $464.1 million, up 3%;
- Lettuce: $407.6 million, up 11%;
- Cauliflower and Broccoli: $380.6 million, up 10%;
- Potatoes: $271.5 million, up 30%;
- Garlic: $219.3 million, up 18%;
- Beans: $177.4 million, up 17%;
- Carrots: $103.1 million, down 9%;
- Cabbage: $90.5 million, up 34%;
- Peas: $89.9 million, up 18%;
- Eggplant: 84.1 million, up 18%;
- Celery: $69.1 million, down 9%;
- Okra: $44.1 million, no change;
- Radishes: $30.7 million, up 21%; and
- Endive: $3.5 million, down 25%.
2020 U.S. imports of fresh fruit revealed mixed trends in 2020, with citrus, mangoes, kiwifruit and berries up big time, while avocados, apples and melons were down by double digits.
Total 2020 imports of fresh fruits were valued at $14.7 billion, up 1% compared with 2019.
U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics showed 2020 import values, with percent changed compared with 2019 were;
- Berries (excluding strawberries): $3.14 billion, up 7%;
- Bananas/plantains (fresh and frozen): $2.45 billion, up 1%;
- Avocados: $2.44 billion, down 12%;
- Grapes: $1.73 billion, up 4%;
- Citrus: $1.37 billion, up 11%;
- Strawberries, (fresh or frozen): $1.1 billion, up 5%;
- Pineapples, (fresh or frozen): $674.7 million, up 3%;
- Mangoes: $642.5 million, up 12%;
- Melons: $607.9 million, down 12%;
- Kiwifruit: $165.2 million, up 17%;
- Apples: $157.8 million, down 24%;
- Pears: $106.01 million, down -10%;
- Peaches: $61.6 million, down 10%; and
- Plums: $37.3 million, down 13%.
Crowley Logistics has added 355 new refrigerated reefer cargo containers to its fleet in Central America to ensure availability for perishables in the supply chain.
The 40-foot-long cubes have wireless asset monitoring technology, allowing continuous monitoring during transit at sea and on land, according to a news release.
“We realize the importance of having the best refrigerated equipment in the right quantities – all strategically positioned to meet customers’ needs during peak perishables season and throughout the rest of the year,” Brett Bennett, senior vice president and general manager, said. “It is a priority for us to ensure we are meeting all their needs for reliable logistics services, including the highest level of available equipment.”
The containers were sent to Santo Tomas, Guatemala to support Central America’s heavy northbound reefer season. They’re equipped with Star Cool refrigeration units, which are environmentally friendly and have been upgraded to boost efficiency and reliability.
Crowley Logistics expanded on-terminal perishables handling capabilities with a new U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection dock at Port Everglades, Fla., earlier in 2020. The $1.6 million dock has space for 80 refrigerated reefers, more than doubling the facility’s previous size.
The dock has shoreside power plugs for each reefer, cutting cargo time and the need to move containers to a separate location for USDA inspections.
Crowly has invested about $160 million in new cargo equipment since 2014.
DALLAS — It’s a green victory for Avocados From Mexico (AFM), the No. 1 selling brand of avocados in the U.S. After six years of successful advertising in the Big Game, the company decided to not to air a commercial and shift its strategy to help drive retail sales during the fall season in order to prepare the market for the brand’s boldest Super Bowl promotion ever.
This new strategic approach paid off leading to new historic records. Despite pandemic challenges, the U.S. imported a historic record of 277 million pounds of Mexican avocados in the first four weeks of the year leading up to the most important guacamole consumption event. This represents a 19% increase vs the same period in 2020, with yet another incredible record of 78 million pounds of Mexican avocado imports in a single week for the first time ever.
From October to December (OND), the market sustained an amazing 49+ million lb. weekly average in 2020 of Mexican fruit compared to 46+ million lb. weekly average in 2019. “Since we decided to reinforce the promotional strategy for OND two years ago, Mexican avocado imports have grown 27% during this three-month period, a clear indication that we are on the right path,” said Luque.
With 97% market share in OND, AFM established this time frame as a major tentpole within its annual marketing strategy, with hyper-focused shopper and trade marketing efforts to drive consumption. Given the pandemic’s impact on the foodservice sector, AFM pivoted its strategy to focus on driving demand in retail. AFM’s trade and shopper marketing activities in OND supported strong retail demand with programs such as a national shopper marketing campaign featuring a $500k home giveaway, a national incentive contest with over 35 participating retail accounts, consumer and loyalty offers, and an important emphasis on bagged fruit programs. This paid off in 2020: per Nielsen, avocado consumption during OND was up double digits across the U.S, with an increase of 16.5% in lb. volume compared to OND 2019.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers trounced the Kansas City Chiefs 31 – 9 to win Super Bowl LV.
About Avocados From Mexico
Company – Avocados From Mexico, based in Dallas (AFM), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA), formed for the purpose of advertising, promotion, public relations and research for all stakeholders of Avocados From Mexico. Under agreements, MHAIA and the Mexican Avocado Exporter Producers and Packers (APEAM) have combined resources to fund and manage AFM, with the intent to provide a focused, highly- effective and efficient marketing program in the United States. AFM is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
When the sun rose above the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys on New Year’s Day 2020, it was business as usual for California’s prune growers. Their plum trees had been tended to in the run up to winter in order to regulate tree shape and growth, and the first bloom of the year was just weeks away. By the time spring arrived however, the world was caught up in an unprecedented pandemic, the impact of which would be felt economically and socially across the globe.
For Californian agriculture, the combination of COVID-19 and the summer wildfires certainly made for an unusual and challenging year. Buoyed by a healthy, if relatively short, crop however, California Prune growers have found a sliver of hope in sales and are looking ahead to 2021 with optimism.
Donn Zea, Executive Director of the California Prune Board, which represents around 800 prune growers and packers, explains: “Agriculture, like other sectors, has been adversely impacted by the pandemic. The food service industry in particular has been devasted because of restrictions and lockdowns.
“However, with more people choosing to get creative in their own kitchens, consumers have been raiding their store cupboards and experimenting with ingredients they might not normally think to use, such as dried fruit. Consumers are also looking for natural foods with nutritional benefits, and that’s a trend we’ve seen reflected in our sales in Europe and the Far East in particular. We’re hopeful that it continues, especially given California Prunes contain vitamins and minerals that play a part in maintaining healthy immune systems.”
In response to the challenges posed by the both the fires and the pandemic, California Prune growers have adapted well. Donn adds: “Mother Nature waits for no one so, when the harvest came, California Prune growers and their teams worked against the backdrop of smoke, the intense heat of the summer sun and the COVID-19 workplace guidance necessary to keep everyone safe.”
California Prune grower John Taylor, of Taylor Brother Farms in Yuba City, CA, explains: “The pandemic has affected operations, but we felt it less in the orchards, where we were able to separate workers more easily. Our priority this year has been to keep our teams healthy and get through the harvest.”
His fellow Yuba City grower Nick Micheli, of Micheli Enterprises adds: “It was important we responded immediately with the correct procedures such as the implementation of sanitisers, gloves and masks to keep our people safe. Working in PPE in the heat was of course tricky but everyone pulled together under difficult circumstances.”
As challenging as 2020 has been, both growers agree it’s been a ‘vintage’ year for the prunes themselves, in terms of sizing, quality, consistent flavour and excellent sugar content.
Donn adds: “We’re extremely proud of our California Prunes and the value they can add to the trade and the end consumer in terms of nutritional profile, premium taste and versatility – a process that begins right back in the orchards.”
With the arrival of 2021, the Board is well-placed to respond to the trend towards healthier eating, and its produce comes backed with decades of research into the benefits of eating prunes. For now, though, as the orchards lay dormant for another winter, California Prune growers are already looking ahead to the March bloom. After all, there’s nothing like a blossoming canopy of fragrant flowers to bring hope and optimism.
For more information on California Prunes, visit www.californiaprunes.net
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD
Created in 1952, The California Prune Board aims to amplify the premium positioning and top-of-mind awareness of California Prunes through advertising, public relations, promotion, nutrition research, crop management and sustainability research, and issues management. The California Prune Board represents approximately 800 prune growers and 28 prune, juice, and ingredient handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
Blueberries are the second-most produced berries in the United States, after strawberries. Over the past 10 years, the total supply of fresh blueberries available for American consumption has increased fivefold. Availability of fresh blueberries to U.S. consumers has grown at a faster pace than that of fresh strawberries over that same time. U.S. production and imports of blueberries both have been increasing rapidly to meet year-round consumer demand.
In 2010, New Jersey, Georgia, and Michigan were the biggest U.S. producers of fresh-market blueberries — blueberries that are not directed to the processed market. California, Washington, and Florida were smaller producers. By 2019, the U.S. blueberry sector had expanded as Georgia, California, and Oregon emerged as the largest suppliers, each accounting for roughly 17 percent of U.S. production. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service reported fresh-market blueberry shipments from eight States in 2019: California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington.
Since 2010, the U.S. blueberry production season has expanded into the spring and late summer/early fall months (see figure above). The Florida crop now typically arrives on the market beginning in March and ending in May. Georgia enters the market in mid- to late April, followed by other major producing States, which come into production through the summer. Since 2010, growers in Florida and Georgia have advanced their season using newer cultivars. In eastern Washington, dry growing conditions and relatively little pest pressure have led to the growth in blueberry production there as well as an extended early season. While the harvest ends in September for growers throughout the United States (except in California, which ships small amounts throughout the year), Washington, Michigan, and Oregon ship into October with the use of controlled atmosphere storage.
Despite seasonal expansion of domestic production, U.S. blueberry supplies remain lower from fall to early spring. Consumer demand for year-round blueberries has encouraged all who can increase production in those months to do so. Production overseas has correspondingly expanded in response.
U.S. fresh blueberry imports grew rapidly over the past decade; on average, the U.S. imported 60 percent of blueberries consumed during 2017-19, up from an average of 50 percent from 2010-12. In 2010, Chile was the main foreign supplier of fresh-market blueberries to the United States, and Peru and Mexico produced much smaller quantities of blueberries.
By 2019, however, Mexico and Peru began increasing their share of the U.S. blueberry import market. For instance, Peru’s blueberry exports have grown exponentially in the last decade: by 2019, Peru had become the leading supplier of U.S. blueberry imports. About 80 percent of U.S. blueberry imports in 2019 were sourced from three countries: Peru, Chile, and Mexico. The boost in imports from these countries is a likely result of increased cultivation of newer varieties and expanded acreage devoted to blueberries in relatively new producers of blueberries, such as Peru and Mexico.
In 2010, there was little overlap in U.S. and foreign blueberry supplies in the domestic market, and the periods between seasons had higher grower prices. Since 2010, domestic and foreign blueberry seasons have extended. Imports from Mexico in early spring have grown, somewhat offsetting imports from Chile, while Florida and Georgia now harvest more in March and April. About 70 percent of import shipments in September and October 2019 were from Peru, increasing competition for producers in Michigan, Washington, and Oregon, where shipments continue until October.
This increase in U.S. production and imports has led to an increase of blueberry supplies in the domestic market, and prices in the U.S. off-season are now lower (see below figure). Correspondingly, the overall price level in 2019 was lower, with smaller price increases in the early spring and fall months. Lower prices that occur as domestic supplies increase are ultimately benefitting U.S. consumers.
Renaming dragon fruit by an Indian state has occurred decision because of the original name’s “association with China. It has set off a storm of jokes and memes.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the fruit would now be called ‘kamalam’, Sanskrit for the lotus flower, the BBC reports. The lotus is sacred to Hindus and is India’s national flower.
India-China relations have nosedived in recent months. The two countries troops are locked in a tense stand-off along their long Himalayan frontier. India began cultivating dragon fruit only in recent years and it’s now grown in parts of Gujarat too.
It belongs to a family of cactus – and is believed to have earned its fearsome name because its pointy outer layer resembles the scales of a dragon. Though it’s a tropical fruit native to Central America and is largely imported from South America, many in India associate it with China because of its name.
Rivals India and China are often described as the elephant and the dragon respectively, and relations between the neighbors have been especially frosty since their armies clashed high in the Himalayas in the summer. The state’s decision to rename the fruit was announced on Tuesday by Rupani.
The lotus is also the election symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party, to which he and India’s PM Narendra Modi belong.
“The name dragon fruit is not proper, and due to its name one thinks of China. So we have given it the name ‘kamalam’,” Rupani told the local press. Rupani did not elaborate but that was all the inspiration the internet needed.


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Sep 29, 2011
Brazil mulls ban on lingerie-clad Gisele Bundchen ad
Sep 29, 2011
BRASILIA, Sept 28, 2011 - Brazil's Ministry for Women called Wednesday for the suspension of a television ad featuring lingerie-clad supermodel Gisele Bundchen, saying it reinforces the stereotype of women as sex objects.
The agency said in a statement it was asking the state council on advertising to halt the use of the ad with Bundchen, the Brazilian native who is believed to be the world's highest paid model.
The ad "reinforces an erroneous stereotype of women as sex objects and ignores the progress made in ending sexist practices. It also represents discrimination against women," the ministry said in a statement.
In the ads for the Brazilian intimate wear brand "Hope," Bundchen is clad in panties, a bra and high heels, in an effort to distract her husband when she delivers bad news -- about damaging the car, exceeding her credit limit, and her mother coming to live with them.
The TV ads send a message "that sensuality can melt any man" and "encourages Brazilian women to use their charms... to minimize the reactions of their husbands," the ministry said.
The ministry managed to ban a beer ad in 2010 featuring US model Paris Hilton in suggestive poses.
Copyright © 2022 AFP. All rights reserved. All information displayed in this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the contents of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presses.


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Android 4.4 Kit Kat Release Date For Galaxy S4 And Note 3 Set In Early 2014, Says French Carrier SFR
By Staff Writer | December 19, 2013 10:23 PM EST
In the past few months, Android OEMs have been announcing the Android 4.4 Kit Kat release date for their respective devices. Motorola and LG have begun updating some of their devices, while Sony has already mentioned that the latest version would roll out to its latest devices.
But in spite its huge presence and popularity in the Android world, Samsung has kept its mouth shut regarding the Android 4.4 Kit Kat release date for its recent flagships.
Fortunately, French network carrier SFR has announced that the update could arrive early next year. Do we have a tentative release date? Not yet, but the carrier mentioned it would roll out by late January or early February.
While Samsung's Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition is already running on the latest Android 4.4 Kit Kat build (4.4.2), there has been no official announcements within Samsung about the update.
Aside from Samsung, another manufacturer who has yet to announce anything regarding the Android 4.4 Kit Kat release date for its phones is Taiwanese company HTC.
© Copyright 2016 KpopStarz.com. All Rights Reserved.
Latest Photo Gallery
Comeback / Teaser / Music Video 10.25.16 | 11:32PM EDT
Mamamoo has released new teaser picture for Angel line, Solar and Whee In. THye will be coming back on November 7 with a new song and new album.
"On the Way to the Airport" Episode 11 spoilers: Kim Ha-Neul's best acting, new beginning troubles Do-Woo
Veteran actress Kim Ha-Neul shows her excellent acting skill in KBS2 drama "On the Way to the Airport." Episode 11 marks a new chapter of Soo-Ah and Do-Woo relationship.
"Fantastic" ends with happy ending for both So-Hye and Hae-Sung. So-Hye is completely cured from her breast cancer.


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In what some experts call one of the most largest and comprehensive email breaches of all time, nearly one billion emails have been exposed by a little-known marketing company called Verifications.io.
Security researchers Bob Diachenko and Vinny Troia discovered the exposure in late February. The database possessed no authentication protocols whatsoever; in fact, anyone with an internet connection could access the email records. Moreover, the email records also contained other personal identifying information such as names, genders, IP addresses, and much more. The researchers contacted Verifications.io immediately; the company confirmed the exposure and claimed to close it the same day.
Verifications.io labeled itself as an enterprise email verification service, allowing businesses to confirm harvested emails. However, Diachenko noted that threat actors could have used the service to refine their phishing attacks. The site went offline in early March; additionally, company representatives remain largely unresponsive to questions by the press, prompting more questions about the company.
When the researchers first announced the breach, the records exposed appeared to only number around 700 million. However, in subsequent weeks, the number of discovered records exposed rose.
What One Billion Emails Exposed Means
We asked a few cybersecurity experts to weigh in on the implications of Verifications.io and the exposure of nearly one billion email records. Here’s what they had to say:
Franklyn Jones, CMO, Cequence Security:
“We’re getting to the point where breaches of this magnitude barely illicit a yawn. And after a week, our attention will be diverted once again to the next major breach. Meanwhile, what often gets ignored is that these 982 million records will find their way on the dark web, where they will be acquired for secondary attacks – usually involving automating bots – that result in account takeover, business logic abuse, financial fraud, and more.”
Byron Rashed, VP of Marketing, Centripetal Networks:
“Businesses and consumers should always verify and deal with trusted businesses. In today’s digital environment, giving electronic information out about one’s self is exposing the individual to a variety of cyber crimes. Credentials can be leveraged by a threat actor for identity theft on a personal level and corporate network infiltration and data exfiltration for businesses.
Enterprises should enable blocking of such malicious sources, which is key to preventing network infiltration and reducing and mitigating the risk of data exfiltration. Corporate policy should govern and prevent the use of their corporate credentials on non-work related sites as well. Education of employees is always the best first line of defense, since most breaches are caused by human error.”
- The Best Identity Governance Tools and Vendors in 2023 - December 31, 2022
- The Best Privileged Access Management Providers for 2023 - November 1, 2022
- The 10 Best Free and Open-Source Identity Management Tools - October 15, 2022


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LABS Group and Refinable have decided to join hands and make real estate trading more accessible and convenient for individuals. With this newly established partnership, users will be able to tokenize and fractionalize real estate assets on Refinable’s fast, cost-effective and user-friendly NFT platform.
Refinable is the first major NFT marketplace on Binance Smart Chain (BSC), they aim to empower creators and brands by allowing them to create, discover, trade and leverage NFTs affordably.
LABS Group is an investment platform that uses blockchain technology to ensure transparency while users trade real estate assets-backed tokenized shares on their regulated security exchange.
With the aim to resolve certain pain points of the traditional timeshare and real estate industry, LABS Group has worked towards their launch of the world’s first community-owned NFT resort, Kunang Kunang Resort, alongside their first Rewarding Timeshare (RTS) NFT. The RTS-NFT will be exclusively listed on Refinable’s NFT marketplace via an auction mid July. Through partnering with Refinable, NFT users will be able to list, buy, sell and exchange real estate timeshare NFTs easily on their platform.
This partnership demonstrates both parties’ dedication in expanding and improving the functionality of NFT in the real estate industry. With the explosive growth and expanding applicability of the NFT marketplace sector, LABS Group and Refinable’s collaboration will not only propel both parties into the limelight of the blockchain industry, but also introduce new opportunities available in the real estate industry as well.
About LABS Group
LABS Group is a digital investment platform that provides access to fractionalized property ownership and enables the continuous trading of real estate assets-backed tokenized shares on a regulated security exchange.
LABS Group’s platform uses blockchain technology and smart contracts to ensure complete transparency over a borderless ecosystem where property developers and investors can interact seamlessly and with unprecedented efficiency.
Real estate and blockchain professionals have brought together their expertise to devise an ecosystem of services that make property investment more accessible, more secure, and more liquid.
For more information on LABS Group, feel free to follow our socials below:
Invested by Binance and Mr. Beast, Refinable is the first major NFT marketplace in BSC, empowering both individual creators and beloved brands to easily and affordably create, discover, trade and leverage NFTs. Supporting all communities in engaging with NFTs is Refinable’s mission and we look forward to empowering the next generation of digital transactions.
Telegram ANN: https://t.me/RefinableAnn


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Twitter signs ad deal with Starcom
Telly-watching tweeters targeted by dosh-generating deal
Twitter is well on its way to becoming an advertising giant after signing one of its biggest deals so far with media agency Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG).
The partnership, which could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars over several years, will give SMG clients like Microsoft and Coca-Cola preferred advertising slots on Twitter, as well as access to bespoke research and data on how people use social networks while watching television.
“We think that the industry had been focused in the wrong area, which was making a decision between Twitter and TV,” Adam Bain, Twitter’s president of global revenue, said in an emailed statement. “That’s not what we believe. Twitter is a bridge.”
SMG's chief Laura Desmond told The Financial Times that online water-cooler chat site Twitter had gone from "an experiment to something essential" in a very short time.
"This signals to the marketplace how we want to conduct business and measure the implications. This is the future. It’s convergence," she said.
The microblogging network has been expanding its advertising with new products and technologies to help increase its revenues, which are expected to be less than $600m this year. The site is also keen on making money out of how folks watch telly and tweet at the same time, having already partnered with Nielsen to measure what people say on Twitter about the shows they're watching.
The deal with SMG isn't exclusive, so Twitter will be free to strike similar deals with other marketing firms. ®


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Kendall Jenner's Pepsi ad has been banned, and they said they "missed the mark". Understatement of the decade.
Viewers complained that the video undermined the Black Lives Matter movement and said they were "disappointed" in the soft drink brand and the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star for getting involved.
The advert saw Kendall leaving a photo shoot to join a policed demonstration. To 'diffuse the tension' she seemingly walks to the police line and hands an officer a can of Pepsi, prompting cheers.
According to TMZ, the supermodel starred in the advertisement but had no involvement in the creative process behind the commercial.
Pepsi said it was pulling the commercial in a statement released earlier this week.
A spokesperson for Pepsi said: "Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologise.
"We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further roll out. We also apologise for putting Kendall Jenner in this position."
Before the ad was banned, eagle-eyed Arabic speakers around the world also noticed that the so-called Arabic protest signs featured in the video were in actual fact not Arabic at all. Instead, they just read gibberish...
Plenty of other tweets about the ad soon followed...


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Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, the brains behind YouTube, have acquired the social bookmarking site Delicious from Yahoo, a Yahoo spokeswoman confirmed.
Delicious will become a part of Hurley and Chen’s new Internet company, AVOS, starting in July 2011. The company has been looking for someone to buy the service since December.
Yahoo and AVOS promised that the transition will be seamless. Starting today, Delicious users can log in to the service and transfer their bookmarks to the new owners.
“You’ll enjoy uninterrupted use of the service and will keep your account and all of your bookmarks when we make the transition,” Yahoo said in a statement.
On a frequently asked questions page about the transition, Delicious promised that user names, passwords, profile information, bookmarks, and other content will transfer to the new company.
In a release from AVOS, Yahoo’s John Matheny said that Yahoo chose Hurley and Chen to take over Delicious “based on their passion and unique vision” for the service.
AVOS also announced plans to build a Delicious extension for Firefox 4.
Delicious users: Are you excited about the acquisition?


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By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil is home to eight of Latin America’s most innovative
firms, according to the “The state of innovation in Latin America,” a report published by the Visa Innovation Center.
This is largely due to a flourishing ecosystem of financial and commercial entities, including the region’s largest financial institutions – Itaú, Bradesco, and Cielo – as well as world-class retail groups like Magazine Luiza, O Boticário, Ponto Frio, and Netshoes.
Brazil is positioned to continue to lead the region in innovation, forging a path for the rest of Latin America to follow.
Startups like NuBank, PagSeguro, and 99 Taxis have also contributed to Brazil’s reputation as a leader in innovation. Valued in over US$1 billion, all three companies are unicorns, a term used to refer to exceptionally successful ventures.
A Magnet for Tech Companies
The first in Latin America to attract companies like Netflix, Facebook, Google, and Uber, Brazil was also where Apple Pay and Samsung Pay first launched.
The country’s competitive payments arena has also attracted hundreds of millions in fintech (Financial Technology) venture capital. Brazilian startups received nearly 90 percent of the US$570 million invested in fintech in 2017, and of the top ten fintech deals made in Latin America that year, six of them took place here.
Additionally, Brazil represents 3 percent of the growing global mobile commerce market, according to Visa.
“In comparison to other markets in the region, Brazilian firms are leaders in high-tech innovation. Their businesses have incorporated advanced technologies like machine learning, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and big data into their DNA at a much faster rate than in neighboring countries,” the study points out.
Brazilian fintechs and financial institutions are also beginning to adopt blockchain, which is “pretty much unknown” in other Latin American countries, the research adds.
The country’s banks and retailers are making progress when it comes to technologies like biometrics with an emphasis on facial recognition, the report notes, as well as tokenization, chatbots, and other advanced tools.
“For all these reasons, Brazil is positioned to continue to lead the region in innovation, forging a path for the rest of Latin America to follow.”
Brazil is also the fourth largest consumer of apps in the world. Brazilians access about ten apps every day, most of them shopping-related, according to separate research by Qualibest. The study also indicates that 81 percent of internet users in Brazil have used an app to buy a product or hire a service.


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As reported on our main site this week, Renewable Now.biz, Labor Day weekend became a true celebration of living green and passing that honor on to the next generation. The back drop, pristine, reclaimed Narraganset Bay, on a beautiful, picture-perfect day, allowed us to show case solar power, electric cars, lawn mowers, trimmers, home efficiency, local organic food and wine and alternatives on heating and cooling homes. That culminated with the 2015 Teacher of the Year award to Ross McCurdy and his wonderful talk to our over flowing crowd.
All waste was recycled and composted. A fitting end to a great testimony to living in harmony with our natural surroundings, living in balance and protecting the world for future generations.
It was a fantastic Labor Day weekend for ReNewable Now’s Summer Time Celebration that experienced a capacity crowd of sustainability enthusiasts that came from all over the U.S., and we even had some guests from as far as China! Everyone was there that day to not only celebrate, but to also recognize ReNewable Now’s 2015 Teacher of The Year, Ross McCurdy,for his efforts in inspiring others when it comes to sustainability. On hand to present Ross the award was Rhode Island College’s Sustainability Coordinator, Jim Murphy, and ReNewable Now’s Peter Arpin.
The day also celebrated eco-conscious living by presenting a panel of speakers that each shared their experience and tips of how they are moving towards becoming more sustainable within their home and their daily life. The panel included Julian Dash of Clean Energy Directors who spoke on financing opportunities for homes upgrading to renewables. Joe Lemoine from Lemoine Construction spoke about his installation of a wood burning boiler and what he experienced through the process and what he has saved.
Peter Arpin, ReNewable Now’s gracious host, dedicated his home for the celebration as a living example that reflects the upgrades made through renewables. Peter spoke about how he started and what he has saved, and where he is eventually taken his sustainable vision to for his home. The final speaker was entrepreneur/attorney, Robert Healey, Jr., who spoke about his entrance into sustainability back in the 70s & 80s before it was mainstream and how he has developed an organic wine business that reflects the values of eco-smart agriculture. Robert also was nice enough to conduct a wine tasting of his fantastic organic wine from Spain,Lobetia.
We also can’t forget about all the fantastic locally grown, organic food and grass fed meat, it was a HUGE hit. From corn picked just two hours before the event, all the way to barbecued burgers. The crowd enjoyed it and ReNewable Now was happy to have had everyone as our guests.


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Covid-19 has impacted every industry, institution and organization. Even the most established brands have had to readjust their strategies moving forward, including laying off some of their best employees. Airbnb’s co-founder Brian Chesky recently shared a list of all of their former employees for other brands to hire. Agencies around the world are adjusting with applications for loans and events such as Cannes Lions are doing more virtual events in preparation for their annual event occurring next year in 2021.
Don't miss The Business of Marketing, a new series featuring leading c-suite executives sharing insights on the importance of leveraging the intersectionality of marketing, finance, technology, HR and the boardroom to drive business growth. Tune in.


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During the European ISE 2023 exhibition of professional audio-visual equipment, BOE introduced a monitor designed for viewing 3D content. However, in the case of this monitor, 3D glasses are not necessary to see 3D images.
According to ithome.com, this 110-inch 8K resolution 3D monitor offers a 120Hz refresh rate. The manufacturer claims that the 3D image on the TV screen can be seen by several users at different angles.
The new display uses innovative lens array technology combined with MiniLED and quantum dot lighting technology. For now, users can see stereoscopic images at a distance of no more than 1.5 meters from the screen. However, the manufacturer notes that work is ongoing, and this distance will be significantly increased in the future.
Such screens are planned to be widely used during advertising, exhibitions, and some other occasions.
At the aforesaid exhibition, the company also demonstrated the first 162-inch MiniLED TV with a maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2, which relieves visual fatigue during long-term viewing.
The company also introduced new 65-inch 8K ultra-slim TVs with 3,024 zones of local dimming, an 86-inch interactive touchscreen, and several other products.


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Technology is always changing, and these changes can have big effects on how businesses operate. Here are some of the biggest technological trends upcoming for 2017
Many businesses are embracing AI (artificial intelligence) to gain an edge in the business world. Not only does AI allow businesses to handle information more effectively, it also allows them to keep up to date with the latest consumer trends and react immediately. All by using AI controlled referencing programs.
New Payment Options
Another important change in technology is how online payment options such as Square, Bitcoin currency are growing in popularity and use. Businesses that make use of these upcoming methods of payment gain a major edge over their competitors.
Virtual reality is a hot topic in 2017, and it’s being explored by businesses extensively. There are still barriers to entry for delivering a quality virtual reality experiences to users, however these are quickly being ironed out as the technology is adapted and streamlined.


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E-Commerce firm Jumia has brought on board Kenneth Oyolla from IPS Group Limited to work as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
Kenneth’s predecessor, Diana Owusu-Kyereko, will be joining Jumia’s Ghana branch as the Chief Executive Officer. She has held the CCO position at Jumia Kenya for nearly 3 years and will still be considered as part of the Jumia Kenya family.
Oyolla was holding the same position at IPS and is expected to bring his vast experience to Jumia. He has also been in the industry for a while as he has held senior Commercial and Management positions across Unilever, Nokia, Microsoft, and Multichoice.
The New Jumia CCO has vast knowledge in Brand and Marketing Management, Brand and Sales Management, Product Marketing, Customer Marketing, Global Business Development, and E-commerce Sales Management.
The online vendor will be expecting a lot from the new recruit to help drive sales and help gro ‘The Amazon of Africa’ more. He will be tasked to grow the company’s position as the leading e-commerce marketplace in Kenya, drive the commercial success of the company and shape its strategic plan for growth.
Kenneth holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Nairobi and is an alumni of London Business School. He is an accomplished leader with deep operational and leadership experience gained across multiple geographies globally.
Jumia’s Influence in Africa
Last year, Jumia had to close down operations in Tanzania and Cameroon. This brought to doubts their position as ‘The Amazon of Africa’ as it meant they haven’t really penetrated the continent well.
The cut reduced its scope in the continent to 12 countries. Tanzania exit came barely weeks after it closed operations in Cameroon. At that time the company’s business model was yet to pay off as the company had missed revenue estimates for the second time in three quarters.
Apparently the company’s performance in the New York stock exchange has not been very good. The company has seen its share price plummet since its Wall Street debut in April 2019.
Jumia Kenya’s Black Friday performance
Despite struggling in other African countries, Jumia has been a success in Kenya and Kenneth joining the team will make the company even more successful in the country.
During Black Friday in 2019, Jumia’s performance was more than a success. The three-week event came shortly after Jumia had signed a partnership with the Postal Corporation of Kenya (Posta). In the deal, Posta will help Jumia make deliveries all across the country and widen its scope.
Within the first few hours of Black Friday, 3 lucky Jumia customers had reaped big as they each purchased a motorcycle for Sh 100. Business Today understands that within the first hour of Black Friday in 2019, Jumia Kenya had registered up to 3,000 orders.
It’s local competitor, Masoko was forced to introduce major adjustments that saw it cut off literally all vendors. The site has since been downgraded to a replica of an online Safaricom shop that sells phones and accessories.


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THE UK Government has simplified its traffic light rules, scrapping the amber list and testing for travellers in England
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the changes, which marks a big shake-up of international travel rules south of the border, will be implemented from October 4.
The changes apply only to England, but devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could later follow suit.
In a series of tweets, Mr Shapps said testing was being “made easier” from October 4, while current requirements for post-arrival PCR tests in England would be replaced by lateral flow tests later in October.
Meanwhile, the traffic light system of countries on green, amber and red lists is being replaced with a single red list, simplifying rules on travel for non-red list countries.
Eight countries, including Turkey, Pakistan and the Maldives, are being removed from the red list from 4am on Wednesday September 22.
He said: “TRAVEL UPDATE: we’re making testing easier for travel From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow.
“In addition, EIGHT countries and territories will come off the red list from Weds 22 Sept at 4am, incl. TURKEY, PAKISTAN and MALDIVES.
“We’ll also be introducing a new simplified system for international travel from Mon 4 Oct , replacing the current approach with a single red list and simplified measures for the rest of the world – striking the right balance to manage the public health risk as No.1 priority.”
Responding to the changes to travel measures in England, Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick Airport, said they were a “significant and welcome step towards recovery” and a boost for travellers seeking to get away this winter.
He said: “Fully vaccinated passengers now have a larger choice of destinations and can book with more confidence in the months before Christmas and beyond – free from the need to arrange pre-departure tests before coming back into the UK.
“We know there is significant pent-up demand for travel, and our staff, restaurants, cafes and bars are ready to welcome back passengers over the coming months.
“We also welcome the news that day 2 PCR tests will be replaced with the quicker and more affordable lateral flow tests, which will allow us to start catching up with our competitors in Europe and the US – where passenger numbers are already approaching pre-pandemic levels.
“However, we also hope that the remaining constraints, including the passenger locator form, can be removed soon and we continue to call for the slot rules to be reinstated to incentivise airlines, increase competition and provide passengers with greater choice and flexibility.
“Gatwick is doing everything it can to make travel as easy as possible and only yesterday announced that it is further subsidising cut-price lateral flow tests for holiday-makers.”


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Nokia New CEO Unveiled
Rajeev Suri is Nokia’s new CEO & President, effective May 1.
The announcement comes days after the sale of its Devices & Services business to Microsoft was finalised on April 25.
Nokia’s Board appointed Indian-born Suri, a Nokia veteran who has worked at the Finnish giant since 1995, in a range of leadership positions.
Since October 2009, he has served as CEO of Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN), the former joint venture between Nokia and Siemens, which contributes about half the company’s revenues, now fully owned by Nokia.
During his tenure, NSN went through a radical transformation to become one of the industry’s leaders, and serves more than 90 of the world’s 100 largest telecom operators.
Suri said he is “honored to have been asked to take this role, and excited about the possibilities that lie in our future.”
Nokia also today announced its new strategy in the wake of the Devices sale – to focus on developing NSN, location services, and Technologies.
“Nokia, with its deep experience in connecting people and its three strong businesses, is well-positioned to tap new opportunities during this time of technological change,” Suri said.
“The world of technology is on the verge of a change that we believe will be as profound as the creation of the internet.”
“With our three strong businesses – Networks, HERE and Technologies – and position as one of the world’s largest software companies, we are well placed to meet our goal to be a leader in the technologies for a world where everybody and everything is connected.”
Nokia also announced a EUR 5 billion capital structure optimization program including a EUR 2 bn debt reduction program and dividend payout to shareholders, as it prepares to spend the proceeds of the billion dollar Microsoft deal.


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Friday is expected to be the worst day with 865 flights scheduled to be disrupted.
A new drive for quality not quantity.
Formentera is best-known for its untouched beaches and crystal clear waters.
Jet2 are programming 650,000 arrival seats for Palma.
Jet2's festive booking campaign took off this morning in the UK.
Advert features a number of Mallorca's hotels.
"Mallorca promoted as winter holiday destination..."
Jet2 providing more seats than ever.
More than a million Jet2 UK holidaymakers for the islands this summer.
Jet2 looking forward to a good 2022.
Bookings returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays preparing for June holiday lift-off.
- Super luxury Scenic Eclipse comes out of the cold in Mallorca
- Big increase in Balearic snake population (and they can also swim!)
- Fire burns down a villa in Calvia
- British cruise ship which made controversial visit to Cornish town docks in Palma
- Illegal holiday homes could soon be available to rent (legally!)


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Subsidies to Import Essential Goods Fail to Curb Price Hikes
EghtesadOnline: The rise in the retail prices of goods that used the government’s subsidized foreign currency at a rate of 42,000 rials per US dollar (about three times cheaper than the market rate) was no less than in other consumer goods.
Last week, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the head of Plan and Budget Organization of Iran, announced that the government will continue to allocate subsidized foreign currency to essential goods next year (March 2019-20) to cushion the blow of inflation on Iranian households.
"As much as $14 billion will be spent on subsidizing the imports of essential goods as per the budget bill of next year," Financial Tribune quoted Nobakht as saying.
But how effective has this policy been? Figures released by two official providers of macroeconomic data in Iran, namely the Central Bank of Iran and the Statistical Center of Iran, show that the answer to the above question is “hardly”, a report by the Persian daily Donya-e-Eqtesad shows.
The government has placed 25 items on the list of imported essential goods, for which it provides subsidized foreign currency. They include rice, wheat, frozen red meat, fresh red meat, chicken, egg, soymeal, corn, barley, livestock medicine, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, raw sugar, edible solid and liquid fats, raw vegetable oils, legume (lentils, split peas, peas and beans), oilseeds, heavy tires, publication paper, newsprint, paper pulp, dried tea, medicines and medical equipment, and agricultural machinery.
The central bank provides retail prices of food items in Tehran on its website on a weekly basis. The first such report in the current year (March 2018-19) pertained to retail prices during the week ending April 13 and the latest one was the retail prices of food items during the week ending Nov. 30.
The prices of food items indicate that only the price of lentils in legume group have survived the inflation while the other items saw significant price rises during the period. For example, eggs, red meat, chicken and vegetable oil have all seen a price increase of above 35%.
The average goods and services consumer price index allows the comparison of price rises for items that did not receive the government’s subsidized currency with those that used the subsidized currency.
According to the central bank’s figures, the average goods and services CPI increased by 32.9% during the period. Therefore, it can be concluded that the injection of subsidized dollar failed to help stabilize the prices.
Monthly reports by the Statistical Center of Iran on food prices also confirm this result. Retail price increases have been reported for all food items over the eight months.
The slowest price rise has been cited for lentil with 10% and the biggest increase has been registered for veal with 50.7%. The overall consumer inflation has increased by 30.9% over the period, according to SCI figures.
By phasing out the ineffective essential goods’ subsidies, the government can ease the pressure of US sanctions as a result of reduced oil revenues or it can finance anti-poverty schemes, the report concluded.


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Transpac Trade Deal Forecasted By Years End
Los Angeles, CA – Momentum is reportedly building toward the successful drafting of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement by the end of the year.
Talks between representative of the 12 nations involved have resumed in Sydney, Australia, with Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb, host of the current round of talks, telling the media that reports from attending trade ministers convey that “there does seem to be a real head of steam.”
All signs, he said, point to a trade agreement being forged “by the end of the year.”
If agreed upon, a TPP, which has been negotiated for several years, would encompass 40 percent of the global economy and hundreds of billions of dollars in goods and services trade.
According to US Trade Representative Mike Froman, trade ministers had been in “almost constant” talks since the last TPP meeting in Singapore in May.
“We are enjoying a great deal of momentum and focus across the board, and it’s up to us to seize that momentum and make sure that this meeting is maximally productive,” he said.
Over the past year, talks slowed while the Washington and Tokyo ironed out several key ‘sticking points’ including Japanese tariffs on agricultural imports and access to Japan’s auto market for US-made vehicles.
“The issues left at the end are often times the most challenging but now is the time to start working through those and finding solutions,” Froman said, adding the TPP “is within our grasp.”
The 12 prospective TPP members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the US.


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The beef markets are riding an unusually high basis in both Canada and the United States, but that’s set to change.
“So over the next eight weeks — between now and when June goes off — we will see the two converge,” says Gateway Livestock’s Anne Wasko, adding that in 2015 basis was +20 when June became spot month, and by the end of that month was at par.
On the trade front, both Canada and the U.S. are seeing positivity.
“Canada’s beef exports so far this year are holding strong,” says Wasko. “We’re up seven percent compared to a year ago, and kind of the ‘leaders of the pack’ for Canada’s beef trade is the U.S. and Japan.”
Meanwhile, U.S. beef exports are up 12 percent year-to-date, with the Republic of Korea, China, and Hong Kong leading the way.
Wasko joined Shaun Haney to discuss the beef markets on RealAg Radio Friday. Hear the segment below:


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Formula Yacht Spars has announced the recent appointment of experienced designer, Simon Eatwell. Joining the company as Design Engineering Manager, Simon will head up Formula’s design function from its Lymington headquarters and will lead the company’s designers and engineers based around the world.
Simon has invaluable experience in design and engineering having worked for Sparcraft/Southern Spars in Cape Town for six years as the company’s head designer and lead designer on all custom projects. This was followed by a year working for the South African America’s Cup Team, Team Shosholoza, where he ran and maintained the rig programme.
“I am delighted to join Formula at such an exciting time,” says Simon Eatwell. “I am looking forward to bringing some fresh ideas to the design department and working with the international design teams over the coming months on some great design projects, including a number of the IMOCA 60 boats and various superyacht rig designs.”
A keen yachtsman, Simon’s previous designs include Skip Novak’s Pelagic ii; the 05-06 Clipper round the world fleet; and the new generation Farr 40’ rigs. Simon is currently working on the Artemis II IMOCA 60.


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Normally, as soon as a new release is up for grabs, existing Ubuntu users would typically get a notification about its availability and can then switch to the new release with a single click.
However, a severe issue prompted Ubuntu developers to disable the upgrade prompt. While a manual upgrade was still possible, some top Ubuntu developers want the distro to actively discourage users from upgrading.
“In case you missed it in the release notes and hear people asking about it, I wanted to let you know that users of Ubuntu 20.10 are not being prompted to upgrade to Ubuntu 21.04…Due to the severity of the issue we shouldn’t be encouraging people to upgrade at this point in time,” Ubuntu Bugmaster Brian Murray wrote in a post to the Ubuntu developer mailing list
The issue regarding the lack of an upgrade notification is mentioned in the release notes of Ubuntu 21.04, and stems from a bug in the software (called shim) that allows Ubuntu to boot on Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) equipped machines.
As mentioned in the release notes of the Hirsute Hippo, the current version of shim in Ubuntu 21.04 is not compatible with EFI version 1.10 and will make these computers unbootable after the upgrade.
Murray writes that the developers will enable upgrade notifications once a new version of shim is available that works with EFI 1.10.


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The new global smart joint venture between Geely Holding (Geely) and Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz), formally registered as ‘smart Automobile Co. Ltd.’ (smart) in Hangzhou Bay, Ningbo, China at the end of 2019 has established ‘smart Europe GmbH’ (smart Europe) as a wholly owned subsidiary to supply, sell and service future smart vehicles in the European market.
The smart brand, a global pioneer in urban mobility, will write the next chapter in its history as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. A new all-electric vehicle architecture will become the foundation for smart’s entry into the premium B-segment range with its first products tentatively set to launch from 2022.
Smart confirms global executive team
With a course set for a new generation of vehicles, the smart brand has named the executive team to support Chief Executive Officer, Xiangbei Tong:
Daniel Lescow has been appointed Vice President of Sales, Marketing and After Sales. He brings several years of experience in growing the smart brand and has spent six years working in the Chinese market.
With over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, Jun Yang will take charge of technical development as Vice President Research & Development. He has strong experience in leading full vehicle programs at Geely Holding’s subsidiary brands.
Ulf Nestler will serve as the Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer. For the past eight years, he has contributed to the strong growth of Mercedes-Benz in China.
Smart Europe is readying with an international team
As a wholly owned subsidiary, smart Europe will be located in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Stuttgart. With an international team, the newly established company will manage all Sales, Marketing and After-Sales activities of the next generation of smart vehicles, products and services in the European markets.
After holding several Executive Sales & Marketing roles in the global Mercedes-Benz network, Dirk Adelmann successfully transformed smart into an electric-only brand on the retail level and has been appointed as the CEO of smart Europe by Xiangbei Tong. In his new role, he will focus on establishing a highly efficient and customer-centric business model by leveraging the full potential of the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely for the European markets.
Martin Günther as an experienced Finance and Controlling Executive within the Mercedes-Benz Aftersales organization has been appointed as the CFO of smart Europe GmbH.


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Two senior Ocado executives have pocketed £14.3 million between them after cashing in shares that have almost trebled in value in just six months.
Neill Abrams, the in-house lawyer for the online grocery chain, sold 1 million shares earning him £8.1 million.
Mark Richardson, chief operating officer, sold nearly 900,000 shares for a total of £6.2 million. The shares were cashed in on May 31, when they were priced at £8.96 each. The share price has since slipped to £8.92.
Ocado has enjoyed a 270 per cent rally in its share price since last November after a flurry of international deals that has largely silenced critics who doubted that Ocado could ever realise its ambition of being a profit-making company.
Ocado was founded in 2000…


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Evergrande Health, the tech-focused division of Shenzhen-based real estate giant Evergrande Group, has bought a cutting-edge British technology company, Protean Holdings, which designs “in-wheel motors”.
By acquiring Protean for an undisclosed amount, Evergrande said it was able to “further consolidate its control over in-wheel electric motor technology, [and] to further consummate the strategic layout for its new energy vehicle industry full-value chain”.
In-wheel motors are a technology that allows electrical power to be delivered directly to the wheels of a vehicle. This, apparently, “delivers functionality including torque vectoring and 90 degree turn radius, combined with a digital control platform that supports a range of AI and cloud based services including autonomous EV sensors, digital ABS, vehicle diagnostics and road condition data.”
Earlier this year, Evergrande agreed to pay nearly US$1 billion to take over the Swedish electric car firm NEVS, which controls the assets of the now-defunct SAAB brand. This was just a month after it had purchased Shanghai-based battery-maker Cenat for US$160 million. The company has since founded Evergrande NEVS, a Hong Kong-based group specializing in automobile research, retail, and car rentals with paid-in capital of US$2 billion.
The series of moves followed Evergrande’s fallout with US-based high-end electric car maker Faraday Future, founded by high-profile entrepreneur Jia Yueting.


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FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2013 (HealthDay) — Four former employees of a Virginia-based peanut company linked to a 2009 salmonella outbreak in the United States have been indicted by a federal grand jury.
The outbreak — traced to a peanut processing plant in Georgia — killed nine people and sickened hundreds and led to one of the largest recalls in the nation's history.
The 76-count indictment charges the former employees of Peanut Corp. of America with conspiracy, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and other offenses related to contaminated or misbranded food, the Associated Press reported.
Those facing the charges are company owner Stewart Parnell, his brother and company vice president Michael Parnell, Georgia plant manager Samuel Lightsey and Georgia plant quality assurance manager Mary Wilkerson.
FDA inspectors found numerous problems at the plant in Blakely, Ga., including mold and roaches. The company went bankrupt after the recall, the AP reported.


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Financial food fight
Grocery prices continue to soar but experts have cash-saving tips
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Forget the battle of the bulge.
A new war is being waged daily by consumers at the grocery store as they grapple with slimmed down budgets in the face of increasingly hefty prices in what feels like a new normal of high inflation and rising interest rates to tame it.
“It’s really a perfect storm,” says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the agri-food analytics lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
As many families feel the pinch of higher debt costs, they have fewer dollars to spend at the grocery store — a situation further exacerbated by higher prices for the food they need to buy.
“If you look at people’s mortgages that have variable rates, those with a $300,000 mortgage, for example, are paying about $6,000 more than last year.”
At the same time, grocery prices have been the fastest rising goods and services, according to the Consumer Price Index — which the Bank of Canada uses as a key metric in determining whether to increase interest rates to slow inflation.
“Food is now typically a little over $1,000 more that you have to spend this year than last year,” says Charlebois, referring to a forecast from a report he co-authors annually, Canada’s Food Price Report.
Released late last year, it forecast a basket of groceries will increase five to seven per cent this year over last.
While an improvement over the past year for Manitobans when, according to CPI, food prices collectively jumped nearly 11 per cent, consumers are still likely to struggle to pay for food.
And they’re looking for answers.
Of course, an easy target has been grocers, accused of price gouging. But Charlebois says a close examination of their financial statements show the margins on food at grocery stores have remained relatively thin as in years past.
“So how do grocers make their profits? They sell lipsticks, T-shirts and pharmaceuticals,” he says, noting those have higher margins.
Yet the accusation of price gouging persists because it’s easier to understand than the incredibly complex reasons behind rising food prices, Charlebois says.
“The average grocery store carries about 20,000 different products, and each one has its own pricing story.”
He further points to factors from supply chain problems to the war in Ukraine and higher energy prices to labour shortages and climate change — to name a few among many.
Of course, rising food prices are also a hot-button political issue.
“And when you politicize an issue, you send out cheques,” he adds. “Cheques are sexy and people think they’re being helped, and they are but only for a very short period.”
Government subsidies aside, consumers can also arm themselves with knowledge.
First, you can shop at the cheapest grocery store to keep things simple, and moneyGenius, an online personal finance site, did a survey for consumers to find the least costly store. While the data is based on Southern Ontario, some likely still applies here, says moneyGenius managing editor Kalleigh Lane, who compiles the annual report.
“Simply put, Walmart has the cheapest prices for food items 66 per cent of the time, but No Frills is the second cheapest, followed by (Real Canadian) Superstore,” she says.
The report found the average price per item of a 30-item cart at Walmart was $8.59 compared with $8.96 at No Frills.
“When totalling up the price of a cart of all the products, Walmart’s total was $257, and No Frills was $268.”
Lane says the study does not include sales, the benefits of rewards programs and coupons, all of which can help level the playing field between stores.
As well, many grocery stores offer price matching, says a Manitoba-based, coupon savings expert who is popular on social media. Nichole Schaubroeck in Domain, about 20 minutes’ drive south of Winnipeg, goes by the social media handle Coupon Cutie, and has hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram among other social media platforms.
She suggests downloading an app called Flipp, which is designed to help you price match items.
“So, for example, you search ‘Kraft Dinner’ and it will bring up all the flyers that have it on sale, and you just show that flyer on the app to the cashier at Superstore, who will enter the lower price for you,” she says.
Another handy app is Flashfood — available at No Frills and Superstore.
“Let’s say pork chops are 50 per cent off,” she says. “You buy it through the app and go to the store to pick it up.”
While important to plan meals and have shopping list ahead of time, Schaubroeck recommends being flexible while shopping.
“For example, if I can get a box of crackers by price matching and using coupons, or a rebate, I will buy those crackers instead of higher priced granola bars.”
Beyond apps and coupons, Winnipeg food economist Getty Steward says families should look to stretch the food they already have.
“It’s about thinking about meal planning that starts with the question: What’s in the fridge and cupboards that we can use this week?”
It’s likely the average Canadian household has a lot of food that could be used more efficiently, given the average family loses about $1,300 annually to food waste.
Given the average family is set to spend $1,000 more on food in 2023, Stewart notes many could make up for some of that increase by focusing on making the most of what’s in their cupboards, freezers, pantries and fridges to create as many meals from overlooked items as possible.
“In a way, it’s much more reminiscent of how our grandparents used to eat, looking for discounts and using the food we have to go as far as possible to reduce waste and help save money.”


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Google snaps up anti-spam and data security firm Postini
Google paying $625m to buy Postini — big move to provide serious applications
Google Acquires Postini for $625 million
Google buys Postini: How high can GOOG go?
Sony cuts price of PS3 on eve of E3
Sony cuts PS3 price by $100
Analyst: Mac OS X-based iPods by January


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Qualcomm on Wednesday joined AMD, ARM, Samsung and others in the Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) Foundation, a consortium of semiconductor firms pledged to developing a single architecture specification for the chips that power PCs, mobile devices, and other computing platforms.
The HSA Foundation, which was formed in June by AMD, ARM, Imagination Technologies, MediaTek, and Texas Instruments (TI), has in recent months added Samsung and now Qualcomm to the fold.
"It's great to see an innovative company like Qualcomm, which has revolutionised the wireless communications market, placing their support behind HSA. With HSA, computing becomes much more power efficient, enabling member companies like Qualcomm to create unique and compelling experiences for the consumer," stated HSA Foundation president and AMD corporate fellow Phil Rogers.
Prominent names missing from the HSA lineup include Intel and Nvidia, owners of proprietary chipset architectures that may not see the benefit of promoting an open, heterogeneous standard like the one the HSA Foundation is pushing.
"This announcement is huge and with Qualcomm, the HSA Foundation now has most of the industry's graphics included. Intel is large enough to go it alone and Nvidia has a head start with CUDA, so it's too early to see the impact of their lack of interest in joining," said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.
Practically speaking, the HSA Foundation said at its formation that it intends to start producing and offering developer tools, software developer kits (SDKs), libraries, documentation, training, and support to the software development community as soon as possible. The foundation itself is "open to any and all computing industry professionals with an interest in driving the next era in computing performance and energy efficiency," the founding companies said earlier this year.
Qualcomm, an ARM licensee, said the foundation's goals dovetailed with its own interests going forward.
"Future Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm will contain substantially more computing performance and integrated parallel processing technology in order to meet the high performance, low power needs of our mobile customers," Qualcomm senior vice president of engineering Jim Thompson said. "We believe that developers will be able to deliver faster and more innovative applications on future Snapdragon processors if certain aspects of heterogeneous computing are standardised, so we are pleased to join the HSA Foundation to help define open standards."
AMD's role in a consortium of ARM licensees is probably the most interesting aspect of the foundation. The formation of the partnership has brought the company, which holds one of the few x86 cross licenses with Intel, and ARM, owner of the architecture used in most smartphone and tablet chips today, into closer collaboration. Though AMD, like its larger rival Intel, is mainly known for making chips for PCs and servers, the two companies have been quite chummy in recent months – leading to speculation that AMD may even be in the market for an ARM license of its own.
For now, the formation of the HSA Foundation appears to be a simple confluence of interests, with all the companies involved having a stake in the promotion of heterogeneous computing. ARM, for example, produces Mali GPUs in addition to its Cortex CPU designs, and AMD makes CPUs and GPUs, as well as its relatively new line of Accelerated Processing Units, or APUs, which combine CPU and GPU capabilities on a single chip.


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MOL confirms rates raised on intra-Asia routes
A MEMBER of the Intra-Asian Discussion Agreement has confirmed that shipping lines had agreed to raise rates on the intra-Asia loops that call at Japan from April 1, writes Sandra Tsui.
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Serviceform raised 350k in preseed money from Gorilla Ventures.
Serviceform, a Vantaa, Finland-based startup working for the development of a SAAS booking solution to be integrated on customer businesses website and social media, announced closing in a pre-seed investment rund of $350k.
Serviceform was founded in 2017 by Jarkko Oksanen and Iranthi Gomes, who transformed transformed their coffee catering company, Wheelys Melbourne, into a tool provider of a digital platform for event management. The core feature of the tool is Automatic Quote Generation, which allows customers to receive a quote from a business without showing pricing. Serviceform is currently used by service businesses in the UK, USA and Australia, and is available in four different languages.


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A homegrown label called Maqilla Boutique is changing the face of fashion by being the first local brand to use girls with down syndrome to front its Raya 2017 campaign. With the inspiring slogan “You are your own kind of beautiful”, the Basic Raya Collection featured Paralympics athlete Siti Marina Frohlich alongside little Khoh Hui Qi.
The label is thrilled to announce its partnership with Down Syndrome Association of Malaysia or better known as Persatuan Sindrom Down Malaysia (PSDM) as part of their “giving back” project in which RM10 will be donated to the charitable cause for every purchase of their Basic Raya Collection.
“This campaign is important for us because it highlights the fact that beauty has no definition, that beauty can be possessed by anyone, regardless of who they are,” said co-founder Wan Irmawati to The Star. “By including these beautiful women in our ads, we are in fact normalising the idea that they are as much included in our society as anyone else.”
Founders Nur Aqilah and Wan Irmawati both shared a common understanding in dealing with kids with special needs and having loved ones with Down Syndrome which eventually inspired them to execute the campaign. By doing so, they hope to shed some light on the Down Syndrome community and motivate others to see beauty beyond the norm.
Book an appointment with Maqilla Boutique at +603 4031 1785 or visit their showroom at KPJ Tawakkal Health Centre for more info.
(credit: Maqilla Boutique)


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Apple's response to a high-profile gaffe involving its iPhone software may be more important than the glitch itself.
Apple Inc. pulled an update to its operating system for the iPhone after the new software caused some people to lose cellular service.
Three years after leaving Microsoft Corp., Lotus Notes creator Ozzie is back with the third major project of his 35- year career: a mobile application that lets teams collaborate using a mixture of voice calls and texts.
Alibaba Group Holding surpassed Facebook by market capitalization on its first trade as a public company for a valuation above $200 billion.
The Chinese e-commerce company, which started in 1999 with $60,000 cobbled together by founder Jack Ma, is now valued at $231.7 billion, making it larger than Amazon.com Inc. and EBay Inc. combined.
BERLIN — Just when we’ve become convinced the future is mobile, it’s moved home. With close to one in four consumers globally using a smartphone, companies are turning their attention to the connected home — the new arena where players are battling it out to dominate what promises to be a lucrative market.
I’ve looked into the mirror of the future and I’m not sure I like it. After all, do I really want my mirror to chide me for not wearing sunscreen or notice that I haven’t been eating my veggies?
Social network was down for short period today.
Popular teen social app lures look from China-based e-commerce giant.
The microblogging company’s active membership in the quarter reached 271 million, with year-over-year growth at 24 per cent, compared with 25 per cent in the prior period.
BlackBerry is bulking up its security assets with the acquisition of anti-eavesdropping firm Secusmart, which developed technology to protect the smartphones of German government officials, including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Soaring sales of iPhones in China, Russia, India and Brazil during the April-June period helped Apple overcome softening demand for the device in the U.S. and Europe
The world’s largest online retailer reported a second-quarter loss of $126 million, more than double what was predicted
Results show Apple is withstanding competition from smartphone manufacturers led by Samsung
Netflix, the world’s largest online-subscription service, posted second-quarter signups that beat analysts’ estimates as the women’s prison series “Orange Is the New Black” lifted users past 50 million.
U.K. cabinet minister told lawmakers the ruling may be an “unmanageable task” for search- engine companies such as Google and Microsoft.
Amazon will fight Federal Trade Commission case in Seattle court.
Network seen as way to foster collaboration, reduce sales to royalty-seeking companies.


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BRW Rich Lister Paul Lederer has made some recent moves into the listed real estate investment trust scene, just under two years after the sale of his Primo Smallgoods business to Brazilian firm JBS in late 2014.
That deal was worth $1.45 billion and meant Lederer walked away from the firm he and his family had built over three decades into one of Australia's largest private companies.
Since then, Lederer had formed his own family office, Lederer Group, to look after his investments. Most of these are found in the property sector, and have long included regional shopping centres and commercial buildings around NSW in towns such as Goulburn.
One big investment in particular is Gosford Live on the NSW central coast, a $650 million mixed-use development in the centre of Gosford that will take 15 to 20 years to build on a 5.8-hectare site and include apartments, retail and commercial properties.
Lederer also has listed property trust investments, having been a substantial shareholder of Centuria Metropolitan REIT since 2014. Centuria, which owns suburban office blocks in many states and buildings in the Adelaide and Canberra CBDs, was earlier this year locked in an unsuccessful battle with Growthpoint Properties Australia in a tussle to take over the $315 million GPT Metro Office Fund.
Centuria is on the lookout for acquisitions, and its units are up about 12 per cent since the beginning of the year.
Lederer also emerged in June as a substantial shareholder in the Australian Unity Office Property Fund, paying about $18 million for a 6.6 per cent stake in the fund when it floated on the ASX.
Since then, the fund has risen from its $2.00 issue price to be trading at about $2.13 per unit. The fund has office block investments in CBD and suburban centres around the country.
While he is concentrating on property, Lederer still has some private investments in the food manufacturing sector even after the Prime sale. The Lederer Group owns Tomkin Australia, which supplies quality cookware and dining ware to the hospitality industry, and Tuscany Cheese, a cheese and dairy products producer.
But perhaps Lederer's favourite investment is the A-League soccer club Western Sydney Wanderers, of which he is chairman, after leading the consortium that paid Football Federation Australia $10 million for the club in 2014.
The team is yet to win an A-League grand final since it was founded in 2014, having lost three season-deciders. Despite its lack of domestic success, WSW has won the Asian Champions League and a crowd of more than 60,000 is expected to attend its first match of the 2016-17 season on Saturday against cross-town rival Sydney FC.
- Dan F Stapleton
The ACT's top architecture award goes to a memorial for Australia's Indigenous soldiers.
- Michael Bleby
Damning Auditor-General report finds strategic plan of government's scientific organisation that sought to limit property costs was "largely not effective".
- Michael Bleby
Between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of retailers are open across major shopping centres.
- Nick Lenaghan
Charter Hall has sealed the deal on a $648 million logistics property portfolio leased to German supermarket giant Aldi.
- Ingrid Fuary-Wagner
The group that bought Westfield's US and UK assets two years ago sees encouraging footfall as pandemic lockdowns ease, but S&P is forecasting a tough year.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Dan F Stapleton


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On 22, May 2012 | In News @en | By KuL-Blog
After being restricted for use in articles in the European Union as a pesticide, DMF was prohibited in articles in general via the decision 2009/175 in 2009 and later on the decision was extended until March 15, 2013.
Last week, May 16, 2012, the restriction of DMF (Dimethylfumarate), CAS No 624-49-7 has now officially been included into the REACH regulation.
The substance is not allowed to be used in articles or any parts thereof in concentrations greater than 0,1 mg/kg. Articles that exceed this concentration are not allowed to be placed on the European market. This restriction also bans articles that are imported into the EU from outside the community.
DMF, in a concentration greater than 0,1 mg/kg poses a risk to human health. As several products like furniture or footwear had been available on the market, consumers in Finland, France Poland, Sweden and UK were damaged.
The inclusion of DMF into annex XVII will come into force on June 8, 2012.


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The Namibian Ports Authority (NAMPORT) is considering signing an agreement with the Ports Authority of Jamaica to increase efficiency.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness and NAMPORT Chief Executive Officer Bisey Uirab held a meeting in Walvis Bay Tuesday, to discuss the possibility of such an arrangement.
Holness explained that multi-billion dollar investments had been made in expanding Jamaica's main port in Kingston.
The Jamaican premier said the rate and space in which to handle cargo and accommodate major vessels is another priority.
If an agreement is signed, Holness assured Namport that the experience it needs to achieve efficiency will be shared.
Uirab said NAMPORT is working on expanding the port and enhancing efficiency as well as ensuring that the port can handle major vessels.
Apart from logistics, Uirab said tourism is another area of interest that can be marketed if the two countries collaborate.
He said large companies in the sector can market the Caribbean and SADC regions, as destinations and sell packages to big passenger vessels calling at the ports.
Holness extended an invitation to the Erongo political leadership and business community to visit Jamaican ports.


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Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumored Release Date, Price, Specs And Features
Many people are waiting for an official announcement of the next Microsoft Surface Pro, but right now, the Pro 5 is not likely to be seen at least until the spring of this year, that is March is the top tip right now and it might even happen to unveil at MWC 2017 event.
Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumored Release Date
The official launched of the Microsoft Pro 4 was in October 2015, so October 2016 seemed like the most probable release month for a new model that is named as the Microsoft Pro 5, according to PCAdvisor. However, at its October Windows event, the new Surface Pro hardware was limited to the new Microsoft Surface Book i7 and the Microsoft Surface Studio. And so, we're expecting the Surface Pro 5 in 2017.
The latest leak comes from a Chinese website Digitimes claims that Microsoft has given its manufacturing a contract for the most awaited Surface Pro 5 to Pegatron. It is also the maker of the Surface Studio. That means on the first quarter of this year, and it's most likely that we'll see a March announcement from Microsoft.
This is a good backed up somewhat according to the report of Yibada which claims that Microsoft will announce the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 at MWC 2017. The said event will hit the floor starting on February 27 in Barcelona and would be an unusual place for the launch but you never know.
Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumored Price
The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is expensive, that is unless you opt for the very entry-level that costs $899. For that price, according to CNET, you get a tablet with an Intel Core M3 CPU, 128GB of solid-state storage and 4GB of RAM, plus a smooth touchscreen stylus. Adding a more robust into the gadget, Intel Skylake processor, and the price will increase to approximately $999. Upgrade the storage to 256GB and the RAM to 8GB, and you're at the cost of $1,299. An even faster processor and bigger hard drive could push the price more than $2,000.
For more references, the new Microsoft Surface Book i7 starts at the price $2,399 which converts to approximately AU$3,150 and £2,000 in Australia and the UK. As rumors, the upcoming Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will start at the price of $899, an Intel Core i7 model will cost $999 while the i7 Extreme version will cost around $1,599.
Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumored Release Specs And Features
Forbes reported that the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 could sport the latest processor by the well-known Intel, the Kaby Lake focused i7. The device could also feature a 16GB RAM with a storage of 1TB which is similar to its successor, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. This would keep the Surface Pro 5 on top of the market since the said specifications of the Microsoft device are considered the optimal configuration.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 5 could also feature the USB-C or Thunderbolt ports and an improved rechargeable Surface Pen which is rumored to support the wireless charging. The current Surface Pen attaches magnetically but is not rechargeable as it takes an alkaline AAAA battery. The most awaited Microsoft Pro 5 could also feature a 4K display.
Surface Pro Vs Surface Pro 4: The New Tricks
During the launch, Microsoft said the new tablet was thinner and lighter. However, that’s not exactly true. Its own website lists the same dimensions for the two and, depending on the configuration you choose.
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