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Everything set for Uganda-DRC Joint Business Forum
The 2nd edition of the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo Joint Business Forum to be held in Kinshasa from March 22 to 24 is expected to strengthen exchanges between the two neighboring countries.
The forum, led by the Ugandan Embassy in Kinshasa, the DRC government and supported by private actors including the DRC-Uganda Business Association, an umbrella association of traders, aims to boost bilateral trade between Kampala and Kinshasa as the two countries look to each other for investment opportunities. .
The business forum will be organized under the theme: Developing business and trade between DRC and Uganda through deepening bilateral trade, partnerships, knowledge transfer for mutual peace and prosperity.
Other areas of focus of the forum will include promoting trade between the two countries by sharing information on improving trade facilitation, enhancing trade in goods and services as well as investment opportunities.
The forum will provide a platform to share the rich trade potential that exists between the two neighboring countries and explore ways to benefit economically from the cordial bilateral relations that have been strengthened by continued engagements at the highest level.
Kenneth Muhangi, managing partner of KTA Advocates, which represents Ugandan traders at the forum, said Uganda and its people are keen to deepen bilateral relations with the DRC and its people.
“With a combined population of 134 million people, we are delighted to be part of such an important event which will attract tangible investment and knowledge transfer in areas such as intellectual property and ICT. Uganda is after all on its way to middle income country status and with the opportunities this 2nd edition of the forum presents, we look forward to the participation of market leaders in telecommunications, ICT, retail, digital commerce, manufacturing, hospitality, energy and infrastructure among the many areas of interest,” said Muhangi, whose firm is a key partner in the event.
Dr Edith Nsubuga Namutebi from the Ugandan Embassy in Kinshasa said now is the time to trade as the environment is ripe.
“The political will for cooperation is there, connectivity issues are steadily improving with negotiations to expand flights and cargo flights to other parts of the DRC and relations are strengthened as evidenced by routine visits high-level commissioners from both countries,” she said.
She added that by doing business together, countries undertake multi-billion dollar programs in various sectors like agriculture, energy, infrastructure and transport, ICT and others.
To further consolidate this positive momentum, the DRC’s application for membership of the East African Community (EAC) has been endorsed by the Heads of State and Government of the EAC, thus opening new prospects for economic integration and increased trade interactions in the region.
It is in this pink context that Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, is preparing to host the second edition of the Uganda-DRC Business Forum to be held at the Congo River Hotel from March 22 to 25, 2022. The Forum will take place bringing together some 150 participants comprised of Ugandan businessmen and their DRC counterparts as well as government officials from both countries, as well as key business players from both countries.
“I love Uganda and make frequent trips to Kampala. I have been to Kabale, Arua and love the cool breeze in Entebbe. I enjoy fresh fish from Lake Victoria, says Monsignor Gentiny Ngobila, Governor of the City-Province of Kinshasa.
During a meeting with Dr Namutebi Edith Nsubuga, Chargé d’Affaires of the Ugandan Embassy in Kinshasa, His Excellency Gentiny Ngobila reiterated that “the Forum comes at the right time and the environment is conducive. It’s time to break down barriers and accelerate business ties between us; it is high time for our private sectors to harness and unleash the full potential of existing business opportunities. City-to-city cooperation is also welcome. I will personally honor the forum and look forward to seeing the Ugandan business community in Kinshasa, Welcome.
Together, there is potential for improving economic growth and people’s well-being through mutual development mechanisms, including joint infrastructure projects, joint patrols, one-stop border posts, etc.
Uganda and the DRC have flame support works that can enable trade to flourish between the two countries, including the commissioning of the joint infrastructure project that links the two countries, the bilateral agreement on air services which allows Uganda Airlines and Eagle Air to fly to Kinshasa.
Other mechanisms include the DRC’s accession to the EAC, the COMESA Free Trade Area which both countries have ratified, the Tripartite Free Trade Area between COMESA – EAC – SADC.
At the bilateral level, the two countries have set up a joint permanent commission and a joint ministerial commission, among other areas of bilateral cooperation.
Uganda has a comparative advantage in agriculture and one of the largest oil reserves in the region while the DRC has one of the largest deposits of natural resources on earth.


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India’s most popular Mobile Payment of PAYTM has created the record of the highest download in India. India’s first App is one of the biggest achievements ever made by Indian companies.
PAYTM has made this achievement in the second week of December last year reached 100 million downloads. India’s first mobile App has crossed 100 million downloads in the Google Play Store for the first time in the financial services sector.
People can use this App for to buy clothes, to make online recharges, pay bills, book movie tickets and book tickets for their travel.
PAYTM’s senior vice-president Deepak Abat said, “It will bring more services to petrol pumps, multiplexes, restaurants and more to pay for automobiles.”

domain: news


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Mobile payment can break down regional barriers on the development of the financial industry and narrow the financial service gap between the east and the west of China, according to research by Huang Yiping, head of the Institute of Digital Finance under Peking University.
Using data from 2011-2018 from Alipay, the mobile payments platform of tech giant Alibaba Group Holding, Huang and his team found that mobile payment apps have narrowed the gap in financial service provision between the more developed east of China and underdeveloped western regions by 15 percent.
Previously, traditional financial services were greatly influenced by geographical factors. This is because most investors were put off by the lack of bank networks, securities companies and other traditional financial institutions that were plentiful in the east. The cost of doing business was higher, but profits were lower.
Due to this, the most apparent manifestation is that the east of China has better and strong financial services than the west for a long time. Yet, Huang said mobile payment has been decreasing the side effects brought by geographical conditions.
Mobile payment requires only one cellphone for individuals, and core data processing centers can be built in economically developed areas. At the same time, mobile payments bring more convenience, because users do not need to go to banks or other traditional brick-and-mortar financial institutions.
Mobile payments simplify transactions and help meet the needs of everyone, regardless of level of education. without the need to complete lots of complicated documents. For instance, voice messaging and other smart functions make payments much more user-friendly.


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A new Ducati navigation software that is expected to be integrated into the Ducati Navigation System will be a first for the brand.
Ducati is already used by some of the most prestigious manufacturers, including McLaren, Porsche, and McLaren-Honda.
The new Ducatis Navigation System is expected by Ducati to be released sometime in the first quarter of 2018.
According to a Ducati source, the Navigation System was previously only integrated into Ducati vehicles, but the new Ducatis Navigation System features a fully fledged GPS system that can be used by Ducatis in-car navigation.
Ducatis new navigation system is said to include an integrated GPS, accelerometer, and gyroscope.
The Ducati Navigator is reportedly the company’s first attempt to integrate a fully-fledged navigation system into a Ducatis vehicle.
Ducatias latest navigation system features a GPS, a accelerometer and gyros, and is said be able to detect the presence of people in the vicinity of the Ducatis on-board system.
The navigation system can be accessed via the Ducatiac’s “Navigation” interface.
Ducats current navigation system was developed by Ducatian engineers and is based on a previous concept called “Navigator” that was first presented to the public at the 2016 World Motor Sport Awards.
Ducatic’s Navigator system has been in development since the early 2000s, and was first revealed at the 2017 International Motor Show in Italy.
Ducutias new navigation software is said “to be more accurate than any of the existing systems,” according to the Ducato source.
Ducato’s new navigation systems navigation system has reportedly been designed to be able “to detect a wide range of conditions including the presence or absence of people, as well as the proximity of vehicles, and the presence and distance of obstacles and obstacles that may obstruct vehicles,” according the Duca source.
The Navigator, as is evident from the design, includes a GPS module that will track speed and distance, and also a digital compass and accelerometer that will enable Ducati drivers to locate their Ducatis.
Duca’s Navigators navigation system “is expected to provide Ducatis drivers with more precise navigation information, as it will be able display a map of their route on the navigation system display,” the Ducatu source continued.
The design of Ducatis navigation system for the Navigator has reportedly included numerous new features, including a digital GPS module, which is said feature will allow Ducati driver to “navigate the world around them,” the source added.
The “Navigator” system will reportedly include the ability to “see and navigate objects in a wide variety of environments,” including on-road, off-road and urban driving conditions, as Ducati previously confirmed.
Ducates “Navigating System” will also include a gyro system that “will detect the motion of vehicles,” and will allow “the navigation system to accurately track the speed of a motorcycle or other motor vehicle.”
Ducatis Navigator features a digital Compass, and accelerometers and gyroscopes that will allow drivers to find the location of a Ducata in the world, and will “provide a comprehensive map of Ducatis driving locations,” according Ducati.
The digital Compass is said not to be an additional feature, but will “be integrated into every Ducati Vehicle as part of the navigation function.”
“Ducati has always had a great history of integrating innovative products, including in-vehicle navigation, into its vehicles,” Ducati CEO Stefano Domenicali said in a statement.
“This new navigation concept is a significant step in that direction, and we are excited to work with Ducati on its vision of the future of the motorcycle.”
Ducati will also be working with a “world-class team” to develop its “Navigate” software.
The company has previously developed software for the Ducatti Multistrada, Ducati Super Sport, and Ducati Monster, as you can see from Ducati Tech’s recent video of Ducat’s new Navigation System.
The team is expected “to produce and launch the Navigate software in the coming months,” according a Duca spokesperson.
The next-generation Ducati Ducati V12 is expected for production sometime in 2018.


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Amazon will hand over unprecedented powers to brands to remove suspected counterfeits from its site, as part of a concerted push to eliminate fakes and frauds from the shopping experience.
Under the company’s new Project Zero programme, companies will now be able to remove counterfeit listings themselves, without having to wait for Amazon to take action.
For companies that face a serious counterfeiting problem, a further tool called “product serialisation” allows them even greater control. Manufacturers can now assign unique serial numbers to every product they sell and require Amazon to scan those serial numbers and check authenticity on every sale.
The two new features come alongside a claimed improvement in Amazon’s automatic detection of counterfeits. The company says that its machine learning-powered tools now “proactively stop 100 times more suspected counterfeit products as compared to what we reactively remove based on reports from brands”.
Project Zero comes after years of complaints from manufacturers about Amazon’s lack of care with regard to counterfeiting on its site. Amazon Marketplace, which allows third-party retailers to sell on the website, accounts for about 20% of Amazon’s total income, but has frequently resulted in bad press for the company.
In 2016, Apple said a former Amazon supplier, Mobile Star, had flooded the retailer with so many fakes that almost 90% of the products the iPhone maker bought in a sting were fake. That same year, Birkenstock pulled its products wholesale from the site, only returning a year later when Amazon announced the first of many attempts to crack down on counterfeiting.
In 2018, however, a Guardian investigation showed that Amazon was still awash with fakes, counterfeits and mis-sold items, including knock-off AirPod headphones, counterfeit streetwear, and fake Kylie Jenner lipgloss.
Project Zero may help, but already there are concerns about how the scheme will work in practice. For merchants, self-reporting still carries a cost when someone has to be finding counterfeits, and the product serialisation scheme carries a more literal cost, of up to $0.05 a unit.
For other retailers, there are fears that the scheme has handed too much power to brands, who may now use their new tools to take down legitimate second-hand sales or attack unauthorised supplements such as ink cartridges or razor blades. Amazon says it will work hard to prevent that: “We have a number of processes in place to promote accuracy, including required training as part of Project Zero enrollment and ongoing monitoring to prevent misuse of our tools.”
Amazon also announced on Friday that it would be discontinuing its Dash buttons, small single-purpose internet of things devices that, if pushed, would place an automatic order for a single product. The buttons expanded over the four years they were on sale to support many products, from toilet paper to sexual lubricants, but never caught on among the wider public.


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Dubai debuts as one of the top 25 places to visit in the world
TripAdvisor’s Traveller Choice Awards 2014 reveals city’s growing tourism sector
April 13, 2014 3:44 by kippreport
Dubai has been named as one of the top 25 places in the world to visit according to the latest Traveller Choice Awards 2014, spearheaded by TripAdvisor, a leading travel site.
This is the first time that Dubai has made it onto this list, proving that the city’s tourism sector is steadily growing in all aspects. The entry highlights 646 activities to try out in Dubai, including the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, The Dubai Fountain, Dubai Creek and various other attractions and tours in the city, desert and along the coast.
Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing says: “Awards such as this show the global recognition of Dubai as a must-visit destination and we continue to work towards the ultimate aspiration of being the world’s most recommended leisure and business destination.”
Travellers’ Choice Destinations recognises the most highly rated travel spots worldwide based on the reviews and opinions from its travellers. According to TripAdvisor, award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, attractions and restaurants in destinations worldwide, which was gathered over a 12-month period.
The initiative was supported by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, which aims to increase the awareness of Dubai to global audiences, as well as to attract tourists and inward investment into the emirate.


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ABOUT THE #FEMVERTISING AWARDS
Based on a term we coined in 2014 at Advertising Week New York, SHE Media launched the #Femvertising Awards in 2015 to honor brands that are challenging gender norms by building stereotype-busting, pro-female messages and images into ads that target women and girls.
Since then, more than 350 brands and agencies of all sizes and across all industries and from all over the world have submitted their work for recognition. In addition, nearly 40,000 votes have been cast by the public for the best ads.
This year marks the awards program’s fifth anniversary, and launched the 2019 call for entries on International Women’s Day.
Over the years, we have expanded the #Femvertising Awards to include categories that pay tribute to ads that challenge societal norms associated with race, sexual orientation and religious beliefs. Two such categories, Dadvertising and Normvertising, counter perceptions around gender labels and roles, and also dovetail with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #BalanceForBetter – a nod to the global push for professional and social equality.
MARCH 8, 2019
Call for Entries BEGINS
ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
JUNE 7, 2019
Call for Entries CLOSED
+ JUDGES CHOOSE FINALISTS
+ Public Voting Begins
Public Voting Ends
Winners Announced in connection with
#BLOGHER19 CREATORS SUMMIT & ad week 2019
ENTER YOUR AD CAMPAIGN TODAY
Each year, hundreds of brands and agencies submit their ad campaigns for a #Femvertising award. The entry form is easy, and free. Submit your campaign today!
See official rules.


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Drake’s ‘Views’ Sells 1.2 Million Copies Worldwide in 6 days
Drake’s’view’is very high now as it has sold 1.2 million copies worldwide. The album was released on April 29 and according to Republic Records, Views has been streamed a whopping 250 million times on Apple Music, which is currently the LP’s exclusive streaming home. Furthermore, Views has sold 1.2 million albums worldwide through iTunes in less than six days.
That figure, which includes 1 million sales in the U.S. alone, adds to Drake’s previous claims that Views sold 360,000 copies in one night.
Currently No. 1 on iTunes in 95 countries, Views will arrive at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart next week.


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India has huge potential for cloud services: Yu Sicheng, VP, Alibaba
Cloud computing allows one to store and access data on the internet rather than hard drive of a computer and server which is more prone to cyber-attacks.
US Ambassador Richard Verma apologises to SRK, says it won't ever happen again
Earlier on Thursday, the actor was detained at the LA airport ...
'YU Unicorn' review: Impressive with good overall performance
YU has tied up with Lybrate to add a ‘Doctor’ tab - if you’re unwell, you can quickly consult with a doctor.
Virat Kohli and company receives 'words of gold' from Vivian Richards
"What a memorable moment. With the greatest ever, Sir @vivrichards56. Words of gold from him. #Grateful #Memorable," Kohli wrote on his twitter handle.
YU makes 3 senior level appointments to strengthen sales
The company has appointed Bharat Singh Malik as Vice President of Service while Deepak Dahiya will take over as Head of Sales (South and West region).
Yu Televentures brings on senior executives to strengthen offline sales
This core team brings with them a wealth of experience, which is exceedingly valuable at this juncture of our growth story, an official said.
Saina Nehwal trumps Sun Yu to bag second Australian Open title
A day after coach Vimal Kumar termed her performance 'perfect', Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal dished out a similar show against Sun Yu to defeat the Chinese 11-21, 21-14, 21-19 and win the Australian Open Super Series Women's title at the Sydney Sports Centre.
Vivian Richards' son gifts Virat Kohli a painting of his double ton
Mali Richards gifted Kohli a painting that captures a moment from his blistering knock in the first Test match.
Cliff Richard cleared of sexual abuse claims
The singer, 75, has been plagued for two years by allegations that he abused boys during the 1980s.
Yu's new phone Yunicorn to be available in offline market in July
The new mobile phone, launched Tuesday and priced at Rs 12,999, will be available only on Flipkart, India’s largest online retailer, for a month through the flash-sale model starting June 7.
Micromax's YU launches Yunicorn smartphone for Rs 12,999
Yu Yunicorn features a full HD IPS 5.5-inch ultra-thin bezel display with 2.5D curved glass and runs on Android 5.1 lollipop operating system.
Make DRS a must for all countries, says Sir Richard Hadlee
Cricketing great Hadlee answers questions on cricket, conquering man’s greatest fear & whether players like Kohli deserve a bit of rope.
Spirit of "freedom" underpins ties between India & US: Richard Verma
The spirit of "freedom" underpins the ties between India and the United States of America, remarked the US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma.
Richard Gere on the homeless: It could be me, or you
Gere says he came to realize how someone can end up 'lost' & on the streets by playing a homeless man in his new film 'Time Out of Mind.'
Tourism can support 46 million jobs in India by 2025: Richard Verma
According to the WTTC, the travel and tourism sector contributed $120 bn or 6.3 per cent to the country's GDP, which supported approximately 37 mn jobs in 2015.
BoJ's fiscal stimulus are designed for Japan; could help asset prices in other countries: Richard C Koo, Nomura
Govt's fiscal stimulus helps countries around Japan whereas the monetary stimulus could help asset prices in other countries because money might be flowing out of Japan, says Richard C Koo.
Richard Branson says cancels deal after Brexit vote
European stocks rose sharply today, making their first gains since Britain's shock vote to quit the EU, and the pound rebounded as investors returned to jittery markets.
India deserves to be in NSG and US will work for it: Richard Verma
"We continued to welcome India's interest in APEC, and we strongly affirmed our support for India's accession into the multi-lateral export control regimes," he added.
Will have to see how implementation rolls out: Richard Verma on Brexit
In a landmark referendum, the UK has voted to leave the European Union after 43 years as the 'Brexit' camp today took a seemingly unassailable lead.
Big on offline, Yu sees 50% sales from brick-and-mortar stores
The company, which previously had 5 devices in its portfolio, sold over 2 million units. Sharma declined to comment on sales targets for this year.
Yu to sell Yunicorn for Rs 12,999 on Flipkart from June 7
The wallet is backed by Udio, owned by Transerv, which has also enabled the wallet for Micromax smartphones. This is the first phone which has a native mobile wallet.
Like sports, business too needs character, says Kiwi cricketing great Richard Hadlee
“They can break tension with a single quip,“ said former Kiwi great Richard Hadlee during a business visit to Mumbai recently.
YU Televentures appoints Shubhodip Pal as COO
Shubhodip Pal replaces Amarinder Dhaliwal, who has decided to explore newer opportunities, the company said in a statement.
India continues to get more H-1B visas despite fee hike: Richard Verma
The US, under the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, has imposed a special fee of $4,000 on certain categories of H-1B visas and $4,500 on L1 visas.
Have been to 21 states to know about developments, says Richard Verma
Richard Verma today said he travels extensively to learn about developments in states with an investment point of view and to have a better interaction with people.
PM Narendra Modi's US visit 'very rich and productive': Ambassador Richard Verma
"I think the takeaway was deepening and broadening of the relationship in so many ways. It was a real testament to our friendship," said Verma.
Valuations have risen in India, but could sustain: Abhinav Khanna & Richard Heyes, Citigroup
I think these valuations can potentially sustain. Market valuations are supported by the fact that India still offers the highest ROEs, says Abhinav Khanna.
Logistics exchange, Westinghouse deal could be sealed during Modi's US trip: Richard Rossow, CSIS
"When it comes to US-India relations, nothing is set in stone. There is no path carved by previous administrations that I think could not be diverted from."
Virgin Group founder Richard Branson discovers hidden treasure
While no details have been released about the treasure, the contents include gold coins that reportedly date back to early 21st century.
YU Televentures launches new phone with integrated services
YU Televentures, a unit of handset firm Micromax, launched its flagship device 'Yutopia' for Rs 24,999 with integrated services.
India has emerged as biggest renewable energy lab in world: US ambassador to India, Richard Verma
"Today, India has emerged as the biggest renewable energy lab in the world and is at the threshold of dynamic growth in the deployment of smart grid technology," he said.
Pakistan keen to appoint Richards as mentor of cricket team
A source in the Board confirmed that talks were being held with Richards as the PCB was keen to have him on board as mentor for the two premier T20 events.
A good monsoon’s critical for growth and inflation: Richard Iley, BNP Paribas
Richard Ile said that that the windfall from low international crude oil prices has passed into government coffers and in turn is stimulating public sector capex.
Virgin Atlantic's Richard Branson flies to the rescue as brand takes online hit
As his airline staff is facing accusations of racism by a Chinese passenger, the tycoon has posted a heartfelt letter on social media.
Future of India-US cooperation bright: Richard Verma
Verma said, "The amazing speed and scope of the expansion of bilateral ties would not have been possible without a foundation of centuries of friendship."
Yu Yutopia review: An excellent first attempt at a flagship
A unique feature is that you can adjust the LCD pixel density between 400 dpi to 640 dpi — however for most users, we think it would be hard to make out the differences.
Micromax's Yu Televentures bets big on services in new flagship
Analysts said the move can give India’s No. 2 smartphone maker a leg up in its fight to retain the No. 2 slot in the face of stiff competition from fast rising, home-bred rival Intex.
Yu launches Flagship Yutopia smartphone for Rs 24,999
Specification wise the phone is indeed a powerhouse. You get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with 4GB DDR4 RAM, 32GB storage and a 3,000mAh battery.
US envoy Richard Verma for greater role for India in Asia Pacific
Verma hopes navy vessels of the two countries "steaming together" will become a common and welcome sight in Indo-Pacific waters in near future.
Universities are laboratories of thoughts, says US Ambassador Richard Verma
Verma said "universities are laboratories for thoughts" and the "hallmark of democracies like India and America are diversity of thought and speech".
Brexit would damage UK, could sink the European Union: Richard Branson
Richard Branson said that a British exit from the European Union would be very damaging for its economy and could trigger the breakup of the bloc.
Virat Kohli reminds me of Viv Richards: Ravi Shastri
The comparison cannot be too off the mark given that Richards himself has stated that he sees a bit of himself in the flamboyant Indian, a praise that Kohli finds surreal.
YU smartphones to be sold offline too, partners Reliance Retail
YU Televentures will sell its gadgets through brick-and-mortar retail chains, becoming the latest 'online only' brand to foray into offline space.
Taiwanese poet Yu Hsi lauds Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa
Yu Hsi has lauded Jayalalithaa for her 'significant contributions' towards the growth of Tamil language and literature.
Yu launches 4G device Yunique
Micromax subsidiary Yu has unveiled its 4G device 'Yunique' in India which features a 4.7-inch HD IPS display, Android Lollipop 5.1 operating system.


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The Honor 9X Pro, launched in India earlier this month, will go on sale for the first time from 12 noon (noon) today. The phone will be sold via Flipkart in a special early access cell that will run for 24 hours, and will end on May 22 at 11:59 am according to the company. The Honor 9X Pro will come with a special discount for those who signed up for early access sales, as well as other offers and benefits that customers can avail when purchasing a smartphone. Honor was taking registration for early access cell. The Early Access Sale was announced on May 12 – the day Honor 9X Pro was launched, and registrations closed on May 19.
Honor 9X Pro price in India, offer
Honor 9X Pro The only 6GB + 256GB storage option in India comes for Rs. 17,999. However, it has been launched in two color variants – Midnight Black and Phantom Black. Honor 9X Pro Early Access Sale gives buyers a direct discount of Rs. 3,000 discount on the price, reducing it to Rs. 14,999 as listed on Flipkart of Smartphone Page. Also, on buyers Flipkart Axis Bank can avail up to 5 percent cashback on its credit card, and the company is also offering one-time screen replacement for phone buyers today for free. No-cost EMI options are also available for Honor 9X Pro.
Honor 9X Pro specification
The latest smartphone from the Huawei sub-brand, the Honor 9X Pro comes with a huge caveat. This is the first phone to arrive in the country Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), Instead Google Mobile Services. It also means that Honor 9X Pro will come with Huawei’s AppGallery As a replacement for Google play store. Removal of Google Mobile Services and Play Store comes as a result of US ban from doing business with US companies Huawei.
Dual-SIM (Nano) runs on Honor 9X Pro Android 9 Based on EMUI 9.1. The phone comes with a 6.59-inch full-HD + (1,080×2,340 pixels) IPS display with a 19.5: 9 aspect ratio. It is powered by HiSilicon Kirin 810 SoC, which has 6GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The phone also comes with GPU Turbo 3.0 technology that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms to provide and enhance image processing along with efficient use of power.
The phone has a triple camera setup at the back which includes a primary 48-megapixel shooter with f / 1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel secondary shooter with f / 2.4 ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. with f / 2.4 lens. The front camera in Honor 9X Pro is a 16-megapixel camera.
Connectivity options on the Honor 9X Pro include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS / A-GPS, USB Type-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also packs a 4,000mAh battery and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.


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Divorces can be ugly, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one as resentful as that of Harry and Linda Macklowe. The couple’s multi-year divorce saga ended on Monday night when the final pieces from their prized art collection were sold after a judge had ordered them to do so.
At Monday’s auction, the former couple bid farewell to dozens of rare artifacts and highly prized paintings, earning the former spouses a staggering $246.2 million.
But the divorcees’ treasure trove of art included so many pieces that two separate auctions were required. The first auction took place in November and featured a painting by abstract painter Mark Rothko, which fetched $82.5 million. Another highly sought-after piece, Jackson Pollock’s Number 17, 1951, sold for nearly $61 million, setting a record for the artist’s work.
Together with the $676 million they earned when the first batch sold last November, the former couple’s esteemed collection of 65 artworks brought in $922.2 million.
The nearly $1 billion brought in by the prized piece retroactively makes the collection one of the most valuable in the world, with Sotheby’s claiming it is the most valuable collection to ever sell at auction.
“It’s a collection that has never been moved or touched,” said Grégoire Billault, chairman of contemporary art for Sotheby’s, at a press event announcing the two-part auction in September. “Quite often, when we have collections for sale, a lot of it has been sold already, or some works are given to museums; others are given to members of the family.”
RELATED: The Ruler Of Dubai Must Pay His Ex-Wife $730 Million In A Jaw-Dropping Divorce Settlement
He added that the Macklowes extensive treasure trove is “one of the most significant and museum-quality collections of modern and contemporary art ever to come to market,” and noted the magnitude of the event by deducing that “this sale will make history as the defining moments in the art market.”
Harry Macklowe, a billionaire real estate developer, married his wife in 1959. The two accumulated the $922.2 art collection together.
In 2018, as part of their divorce proceedings, a New York State Supreme Court forced the pair to sell the collection. The unusual ruling came after the former spouses couldn’t agree on the value of some of the pieces.
As a result, a judge appointed an administrator to oversee the sale of the items and ordered them to split the profits.
Source: Bloomberg, CNN
Source: Read Full Article


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By Ray Stern
By Ray Stern
By New Times
By Amy Silverman
By Stephen Lemons
By Stephen Lemons
By Monica Alonzo
By Chris Parker
One of her colleagues diplomatically points out that while Bohling's heart may be in the right place, her logic leaves something to be desired: If the driving forces behind the association don't cough up enough money to carry their own weight, who will? Bohling laughs. "Hey, man, we can do a rock concert and have enough money to fund this thing for two or three years," she counters. "Like I keep telling you guys, we already paid our dues."
That was exactly the sort of hippy-dippy, freaky-deaky Zeitgeist that permeated the entire fabric of the hemp happening. Granted, some valid points were made during the weekend. Noting that more than 5,000 hemp products were once produced in the United States, one councilmember wondered why he kept seeing the same handful of products over and over.
"We need diversity," he preached. "Hopefully, we can create all-new hemp products--couches, sofas, surfboards, houses, whatever."
But for every voice of reason, there seemed to be at least two hempsters ready to advocate heartfelt nonsense, like the guy who thought it'd be groovy to incorporate the association under the laws of "the Native American nation," presumably because Indians would be more sympathetic to the cause. ("Yeah!" came a cheer from the back of the room. "Let's have a hemp casino!") And so it went. During an election of officers, an earnest young hopeful announced that his naivetā ("I want people to put things in my ears so I can rinse them through my head and come up with an opinion") made him the ideal candidate. (Few could doubt that qualification, particularly after hearing his proposal for a massive hemp emporium in New York City where salesclerks would preach the joys of cannabis.)
Another candidate gave voters food for thought when he boasted that he was the first hemp rapper in history to be censored. Reportedly fearing litigation, the record company that had released his song bleeped out the name "Du Pont."
Things really took a turn for the spacy when it came time to select a name for the brand-new trade organization. "I think we're all in agreement that the initials of this organization should not be THC," announced one councilmember at the outset, immediately prompting a chorus of groans from the True Hemp Certified faction. "Acronyms are important," volunteered another member. "The initials should spell something." Everyone agreed on that, opening the floodgates for several dozen suggestions ranging from HIC to HI; at one point, someone even shouted out something about ACID. Easily the strangest suggestion came from a waiflike woman who insisted the group should use the acronym HIP. "That way, we can have pins made that read HIP PIN--PIN standing for 'Partners in Nature'--and we can wear our HIP PIN pins on our hips." While we savored that one, someone else had another brainstorm: Rather than voting on a specific organizational name, why not first vote on individual words within the title? Thankfully, there was no support for that movement and the chairman closed nominations, asking members to applaud for their favorite choice in a "clap test."
The winner? Hemp Industries Association. Corporate America, say "hiya" to HIA.
Fresh from his presidential victory in HIA's first election, Chris Conrad ponders the organization's future while idly toying with a plastic marijuana leaf. "We don't perceive this as a quick-fix or a fad market," says 42-year-old Conrad. "This is a matter of us seizing our moment in history, recognizing that this is the rebirth of what we believe is going to be the biggest industry in the world over the next 100 years. We see this as something that's going to go on for generations and generations. Hemp is the future."
Conrad admits that marshaling the troops without causing mutiny within the ranks may be one of the association's biggest challenges. "We need to be able to tell them that in order to be in compliance with our standards, they need to do something, not just be in favor of marijuana. But because of the delicate sensitivities of these individuals, you just can't say that to some of these people.
"What it comes down to is that all of us came out here to create a trade association," says Conrad, already sounding like a capitalist. "And the people who believe that we must take some kind of political position beyond the scope of that trade association are going to be disappointed."
Several days after the conference is over, I outline the hempsters' plans to infiltrate the American garment industry to a buddy who's the vice president of a high-end men's clothing store in L.A. "This thing is never going to fly," he reports. "And it doesn't have anything to do with the problem of the marijuana image. The truth is that the American apparel manufacturers don't want to produce a more durable fiber. Why would they? They want to be able to sell you a new shirt every year--that's how they make their money." But what about consumers who might be willing to pay a premium price for a long-lasting garment made of hemp?
"You'd still have the image problem," he replies. "The big textile companies are very conservative. There is no way they're going to risk losing business by getting involved in a political issue like this."


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A brand new video has now cropped up on the Internet allegedly showing a hands-on with a Vivo-branded handset that's been getting quite a lot of attention lately – the Vivo X20. The video was originally posted to the Chinese social networking site Weibo and later uploaded to YouTube. It also only runs at around ten seconds in length and is obviously not the most professional video to have ever been posted online. However, it does confirm some previous leaks and rumors as well as raise some questions, despite that there aren't many details provided in the audio of the video itself. With that said, as with all rumors and leaks, the clip should probably be viewed with a fair degree of skepticism.
As for what the video entails, it appears to show a Vivo X20 in all of its metal-encased glory being held and interacted with in an indoors setting. The UI appears to be extremely snappy and responsive and, as the phone is flipped over, a center-oriented fingerprint scanner is seen on its back. At the top left, on the rear of the device, there appears to be a dual sensor setup, which is also completely different from previous rumors. Aside from that, the bezels on the device are thin and sleek. However, they are not non-existent, as has been suggested by a couple of leaks, which may come as a disappointment for anybody who was hoping those leaks were pointing to something more in line with Samsung's Infinity Display. Although any of the user interface aspects of Vivo's X20 are likely to change before the device is finally released, in the video itself the UI appears to be both snappy and responsive.
Bearing in mind that the video is not necessarily confirmed to be the real thing, it does raise quite a few questions. While some aspects previously rumored about the Vivo X20 appear to be confirmed, such as premium-built metal body, other things appear to fly directly against those speculations. With that said, other rumors have also hinted that there will be multiple variants of the device and those differences could imply that one device will be noticeably different from the other in terms of more than just screen real estate. Unfortunately, until Vivo provides more information, there's no way to know.


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Leeds City Region’s digital tech sector is riding the crest of a wave and is set to add thousands more jobs to the thousands already created.
Talk of levelling up is set to further shine a light on cities like Leeds, which has attracted a raft of global companies and seen tech companies raise millions of pounds in investment.
As part of the inaugural 2022 Leeds City Region Tech Climbers, an exclusive webinar will hear from some of the biggest names in the region’s tech scene and officially open entries to the 2022 Leeds City Region Team Climbers list.
Confirmed speakers for ‘Tech Trends and the Investment Story in Leeds City Region’ include BigChange founder and chairman Martin Port, which received £75m from a US VC in 2021 and Sarah Pawson, founder and managing director of Fruition IT and Fruition Consulting, which have a combined turnover of £27m.
Hosted by award-winning journalist, Chris Maguire, the event will also hear from a panel of investment experts and discuss emerging trends in the tech sector.
A Leeds Digital Festival event 27th Apr 2022 4:00pm – 6:00pmHosted by Vanquis Bank, Iridium & Axiologik A sustainable corporate strategy is no longer an ESG ideal, but an imperative for all companies, with regulators, investors, employees and customers now expecting companies to do more to reduce their carbon footprint and commit to a sustainable […]
How business collaboration can help drive sustainable solutions to achieve net zero. Why it makes commercial sense to focus on sustainability initiatives. Using tech efficiently to drive sustainability initiatives
Discover our patent-data revelations about the technologies tackling climate change.


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For season three, Amy Roberts was brought on board as the series new costume designer. The Crown fans who have binged the entire series will have already seen the variety of outfits the Queen wears and will remember the iconic postal pink two-piece dress suit Oliva Colman wore in her first scene as Queen Elizabeth II.
The real meaning behind the Queen's outfits
Olivia Coleman replaces Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown season three.
In every scene, the Queen is seen in a different outfit.
Although not immediately obvious to viewers, the costumes that Olivia Colman and other cast members are very important to the show’s storyline.
Wayne Martin, a Senior Lecturer in Costume and Performance Design at Arts University Bournemouth explained the importance behind the show’s costumes.
The Crown season 3 is streaming on Netflix now
Martin said: “The Crown is certainly well-researched, using accurate and period-correct fabrics, colour palette and cut of costume.
“The Crown’s Costume Designer, Amy Roberts, has replicated costumes for key historical events; being more liberal in choices for less-documented and more intimate private occasions.”
In a behind-the-scenes video, Colman said: “The Queen has a different outfit almost for every scene and they’re all handmaid and they’re all beautiful.”
Martin also explained the difference between the Queen's and her sister Princess Margaret’s (played by Helena Bonham Carter) style.
He said: “There’s clear distinction between the Queen’s stable and business-like clothing which indicates the monarchy by using clean lines, soft pastels and blocks of strong colour, and Princess Margaret’s wardrobe which affords her more freedom, expressing a fashionable and flamboyant quality which later comes to epitomise the look of the 1960s.”
The difference between Princesses Margaret and the Queen’s outfit can be seen when the Prince of Wales (Tobias Menzies) is invested in 1969 at Caernarfon Castle.
Coleman wears a replica of the Queen’s Tudor-era French hood, which was embroidered with pearls. She wore a matching light yellow-gold dress to match.
At the same ceremony, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret was pictured in a replica bright pink coat and dress.
Princess Margaret would also wear much bolder colours and would wear outfits that reflected fashion trends rather than tradition.
For example, at her meeting with President Johson (Clancy Brown) in episode two, Princess Margaret is seen in a typical 1960s off the shoulder dress with bold prints, something which the Queen is never seen in.
Speaking to Harper’s Baazar, Roberts said: “The Queen and Margaret's fabrics, you could tell at a glance who was who.
“The Queen, I just felt she seemed more settled, so we've kept her pretty much in a palette of sugared almond colours. Margaret is slightly darker, bruised if you like, a bit like her.”
Martin added: “You only have to look at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and what she wore visiting the war-ravaged East End in the 1940s to understand how wearing flowing crepe and soft pastels exuded a certain warmth and caring towards the British public now synonymous with the British Monarchy.”
An example of the warm soft pastels can be seen in episode three, which dramatised and paid tribute to the 1966 Aberfan disaster, which killed 116 children.
In the episode, Colman wore a similar outfit to which the Queen wore when she visited the Welsh mining village eight days after the disaster.
Colman was seen in a double-breasted fur-trimmed terracotta coat with a fur hat to match, a replica of what the Queen wore on that emotional day.


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With the Hitman trilogy finally wrapping up this month, series fans everywhere can celebrate a fittingly badass end to one of gaming’s great stealth antiheroes. But one nagging mystery—the story behind the protagonist’s iconic tattoos—remained unsolved. That is until today, when iO Interactive confirmed a long-rumored theory that scanning Agent 47’s barcode would bring up a can of Del Monte Whole Green Beans.
That’s right. Some of Hitman’s most rabid fans might have guessed it. For the rest of us, though? Mind. Blown.
“Since the series started way back in 2000, we’ve constantly heard from gamers telling us their pet theories about how Agent 47 got his infamous barcode,” said series director Christian Elverdam in a livestream revealing the long-suspected series secret. “Some people thought it had to do with his past links to an international criminal syndicate. Others even thought that 47 got the tattoo while being cloned in some sort of underground laboratory. I don’t know where they think up this stuff.”
“The answer is simple: 47’s neck can be rung up to purchase a can of Del Monte Whole Green Beans for $1.99,” he added.
According to Elverdam, iO Interactive excitedly followed fan theories as they piled up over the years, expressing delight at the way gamers honed in on Easter eggs such as a throwable can of green beans in 2012’s Hitman: Absolution or the countless appearance of Del Monte products in the Miami mission of 2018’s Hitman 2. While several Reddit users came tantalizingly close recently with speculation that Agent 47’s neck could be used to purchase a can of Hormel Baked Beans, it wasn’t until today that the full truth could be appreciated in all its glory.
“What we want fans to imagine is a supermarket cashier slowly sliding Agent 47’s neck over a checkout scanner,” added Elverdam. “Maybe he has to do it four or fives times because the laser is broken and knocks 47’s head against the checkout counter’s metal lip. But when it works, a little line that reads ‘Del Monte Cut GB 28oz’ pops up on the register screen.”
“There’s also this two-for-one deal where you can get any other Del Monte canned vegetable of equal or lesser value for free if you use Agent 47,” he added. “I should have mentioned that before. Sorry.”
It all seems so obvious in retrospect! But we’ve got to admit that this mystery had us stumped until today. Thankfully, this massive reveal just gives us more reason than ever to go back to the beginning of the series and experience Agent 47’s incredible story all over again. Now that’s the kind of pleasant surprise we love to see!


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Staples says hack may have compromised 1 million-plus payment cards
The data breach at the Staples office-supply chain may have affected roughly 1.16 million payment cards as criminals deployed malware to point-of-sale systems at 115 stores, the company said Friday.
The affected stores cover 35 states from California to Connecticut, according to a list Staples released Friday. The chain has more than 1,400 stores in the U.S.
The malware, which allowed the theft of debit and credit card data, was removed in mid-September upon detection, Staples said. The retailer had previously confirmed the incident in October. A previous report from security researcher Brian Krebs around that time cited fraudulent transactions traced to cards that were used for purchases at Staples stores in the Northeastern U.S., but apparently the attack was much wider than that.


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Women Entrepreneurs: Get Certified as a Woman-Owned Business
Doing this can help land opportunities and contracts. Here's how.
Getting certified as a woman-owned business takes grit and tenacity. But it can potentially help land women entrepreneurs more business opportunities and government contracts.
“It’s a grueling process,” said Michele Burchfield, co-founder of Blume Honey Water, a Pittsburgh-based company, when describing getting her business certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the largest certifier of women-owned businesses or women’s business enterprises, in the U.S. “But we got through it just in time to put the logo on our label. And many companies, such as Target and Starbucks, have initiatives to work with WBENC-certified companies.”
Having the certification, Burchfield said, has helped Blume Honey Water ramp up sales and open doors at retailers and will do so in the future. Certification can also help women entrepreneurs tap resources offered by the group behind the insignia, including networking events and executive education programs.
The Payoff For Getting Certified
The effort to get certified, while difficult, has the prospective to pay back the effort in spades. “The pros are increased visibility,” said Donna M. De Carolis, dean of the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University and a member of the editorial board of EIX, the Entrepreneurial and Innovation Exchange, a social media learning platform funded by the Schulze Family Foundation.
“Most public corporations as well as local, state, and federal government purchasing agencies have programs for allotting a certain percentage of business to women-owned companies,” said De Carolis.
The U.S. government intentionaly looks for women-owned businesses to award specially-designated government contracts.
“The federal government has a statutory goal of awarding 5 percent of eligible prime contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses,” said Carla Harris, chair of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a nonpartisan federal group that advises the President, Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on economic issues important to women business owners. “Since the establishment of this goal in 1994, it wasn’t until two years ago that it first met its goal — and it missed it in 2016.”
Large companies and government agencies will send out a request for proposal to submit business proposals and contracts through organizations like the National Association of Women Business Owners (NWBOC) and the WBENC. Then, certified companies receive an email blast about upcoming project opportunities.
Who Qualifies for Certification
So who qualifies for women-owned certification and how do you get the designation?
In general, women-owned businesses are ones at least 51 percent controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. A woman (or women) must manage the day-to-day operations and a woman must the hold the highest officer position in the business and work at the business full-time. A woman and a man can own the company jointly, but the woman must be the majority owner and demonstrate her management and control of the company.
If you’d like to apply for certification as a woman-owned business, have patience. De Carolis said it’s a “lengthy application process, which in some instances can take up to a year.” The WBENC’s website says its processing time is generally 90 days from the date all documentation has been received.
Another potential downside: “Some women are worried about only being seen as a woman-run business, and not being taken as seriously as a man in the same industry,” De Carolis said.
I say: Get over it. There’s no reason to pass up a marketplace that may have a vested interest in working with you.
Admittedly, the sheer number of types of certification can make your head twirl. They range from self-certification to state certification. De Carolis’ advice: “Investigate the type of certification you seek as it relates to your business and potential customers.”
4 Major Types of Women-Owned Business Certification
For the sake of simplicity, I am just going to mention four types of certification for women business owners:
The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) designation. It’s best if you’re aiming to score federal contracts. The SBA’s process is pretty simple, De Carolis said.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification or DBE, is a federal designation performed by the state and applies to contracts through the U.S. Department of Transportation. If federal money is involved for a Department of Transportation contract, the state must include women at a pre-determined level. This certification presumes certain groups are disadvantaged, including women, black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Pacific Americans or other minorities.
Then there’s the nonprofit Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) program to get certified. WBENC certification is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations, plus many federal, state and local government entities. WBENC is also an approved third-party certifier for the Women-Owned Small Business federal contracting program through the SBA.
There are no size or length-of-time in business requirements here, but you’ll need to pull together a wide range of paperwork and have an in-person interview to vet your company.
“Certification is the foundation of what we do,” said Pamela Prince-Eason, WBENC president and CEO. “We view certification as a catalyst for business growth and a key stepping stone for women in building a successful business. It opens doors to new business opportunities and provides access to hundreds of potential corporate and government clients, as well as a network of thousands of fellow female entrepreneurs.”
The National Woman Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC) also has a national certification program. Its requirements are similar to those of WBENC. The group provides certified businesses with a mentoring program and training opportunities.
Federal vs. State Certification
In addition to private third-party certifiers like the WBENC and NWBOC, several state and local agencies offer certification programs.
Generally speaking, if you are looking to do business in the private sector, national certificates are the route to take. But if you are aiming to do business with, say, the local medical center in your town, you might check to see if there’s a city agency that certifies women-owned businesses.
Once you score the certification, broadcast the news far and wide. Showcase that you’re are a certified women-owned enterprise on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials.
Every little edge helps.


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Panasonic and NEC announced nine new cell phone on Tuesday that use the open-source, Linux-based mobile operating system called LiMo.
As the mobile phone market evolves, software is becoming more crucial to handset development.
Apple set the bar high with its iPhone, which uses a form of Apple's own proprietary operating system used in its computers. Other companies have followed suit with advanced software of their own, namely Google with its Android mobile software. Like LiMo, Android is based on open source Linux. So far only two devices have been introduced running the Android software, but several handset makers including Motorola and Samsung are expected to release new Android-based devices.
Still, Nokia, the number one handset maker in the world, leads the market with its Symbian software platform.
Linux is the most popular type of free or open source computer software available. And it has had some success in the computer environment where Linux suppliers are earn revenue by selling improvements and technical services to support Linux. This is a very different model from Microsoft, which licenses its Windows operating system and does not share its code openly with developers.
Now Linux is coming to the mobile market, where it promises to help lower costs for handset makers. The LiMo foundation, which is made up of a consortium of companies, has been shepherding development for mobile devices in the hopes that it can become one of the major operating systems used in the handset market. So far, LiMo has not been a huge success, as competition from other software and handset makers has been fierce.
The announcement of the new Panasonic and NEC phones is seen as a positive sign that handset makers are starting to support the new software. Other handset makers, such as Samsung and LG Electronics, are also members of the LiMo Foundation. But so far these companies haven't introduced phones using the LiMo software. In 2008, Motorola introduced some devices using LiMo.
Meanwhile, most of the world's largest cell phone makers, including Samsung, LG, Nokia, and Motorola, have said that they will soon introduce phones using the Android operating system.
Still, LiMo does have support from some of the world's biggest mobile carriers, including Vodafone, France Telecom SA's Orange, Japan's NTT DoCoMo, South Korea's SK Telecom, Telefonica and U.S. operator Verizon Wireless, which is jointly owned by Vodafone and Verizon Communications. LiMo also said Japanese mobile carrier KDDI Corp and touch screen company Immersion Corp have joined the not-for-profit foundation.


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ANALYSIS: April Pangasius Imports Lowest Since 2007
Imports of pangasius frozen fillets totaled 5.6 million pounds for the month of April. Volumes fell 44.4 percent from the previous month and 56.6 percent from April 2018 when imports totaled 12.9 million pounds. This is the lowest recorded month of imports since February 2009 brought in 5.3 million pounds, and the lowest April on record since 2007 recorded 3.3 million pounds of product.
Pangasius imports have fallen month-over-month since January. When looking at the previous 3-year average for the month of April, April 2019 falls 66.1 percent below...
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By now, you probably know that 3D printed shoes have come a long way from the crude ones you used to wear on a hot summer day.
But what if you could design one that would save you from the dreaded falling object, as happened to many young people in the 1980s and 90s?
It’s called fiber safety boots, and they are now available for the $200 to $300 price tag.
These are made with fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), which is a synthetic material that is more resistant to the harsh impacts of the wind and rain than traditional materials.
The new boots come in a range of colors, including red, white, and blue.
Some are waterproof, and some are not.
But all are made of a synthetic polymer called polyurethane (PU).
The material is made from the same stuff that you see in clothes, and it’s lightweight and flexible.
“It’s very flexible,” says Jodi Cappuccio, who works as a researcher at the University of New Mexico and works with the nonprofit group Cappucio’s Kids.
“You don’t feel the pressure and strain on the foot.”
The material doesn’t require much pressure to wear, and the boot can also be designed to slip on wet surfaces like carpet.
There are also other advantages to using FRP-based materials.
“This is one of the easiest ways to get things right,” says Cappucci.
For example, FRP doesn’t absorb water.
Instead, it gives you water resistance.
“That means if you have a little rain, you can walk and be able to walk on it,” says the University’s Cappuchos.
“Because of this, you don’t have to worry about that water coming in from the floor or from the water in the tub.
And because you can still keep your feet dry, you won’t sweat.”
But if you are a bit of a weatherhead, you may want to avoid FRP.
“FRP can’t absorb heat or UV rays, so it’s not ideal for indoor wear,” says Dr. Cappuho.
If you are prone to cold weather, you might want to wear FRP boots with a rain coat instead.
Also, if you’re not comfortable wearing a jacket with a breathable layer, you could consider a more traditional leather jacket.
“I do have some concern about the impact that FRP has on the environment,” says David Levenson, the chair of the U.S. Commission on Environmental Quality, which has been working on regulations for several years on FRP safety footwear.
“We need to be sure that FRPs don’t cause ozone depletion, which is the main concern of ozone experts.”
A new product called Fiber Safety Shoes might save your life in the future.
They come in red, blue, and green and they have a water-resistant rubber sole.
This photo was taken by Jodi L. Cappsuccio.
(Photo by Jodie Cappsucio) In the 1980’s, the U,N.
spent a lot of time on research into the environmental effects of 3D-printed materials, which eventually led to the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Sustainable Materials, Michael J. Stahl.
“As you can imagine, we’ve had a very long and complicated process with the U.,N.
to address these issues,” says Stahl, who is now a professor at the School of Architecture and Planning at Columbia University.
“The question has been: Why does FRP work so well in the environment, why do people need this?
And now we have some answers.”
But in the meantime, it’s important to remember that there are still some important questions that need to answered.
Why did 3D printers become so popular?
In the late 1990s, 3D technology took off with the release of inexpensive, 3-D printers, which can print almost anything.
At the time, there was no easy way to print anything on a computer.
But after 3D printer technology improved, so did the number of printers that could be produced.
Today, 3DMarks, the company that created 3D Printer 2.0, sells a wide range of printers and accessories.
In its latest quarterly report, 3DSmarks said it had more than 3,000 customers that sell products from printing to the printing of 3-dimensional objects.
3D Printing and its Impact On the Environment In the past, 3DR printing has had a negative impact on the world’s environment.
But with the rise of 3DR printers, the impact has become much more significant.
In fact, 3DPrint.com, a site that sells 3D printables, reports that the number has risen by more than 50% over the past year.
This surge in demand has led to a jump in demand for FRP materials.
As 3DPprint.com explains, “FRPs are a type of resin that can be


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Intel Responds to Reports Claiming It Could Hold Back a 5G iPhone
5G is the next big thing in mobile, but while the majority of manufacturers update their smartphones with ne modems to take advantage of the faster networks, Apple is left with no other choice than to hope its partners would be able to do the same thing by the end of 2020.
While a 5G iPhone is very unlikely to see daylight this year, a recent report indicated that such a model might not hit the shelves in 2020 either, especially because Apple can’t find a modem supplier for this device.
Apple’s options are said to be very limited at this point. Qualcomm, which is the go-to company for 5G modems, is currently at war with Apple over patent royalties, while MediaTek, a potential replacement, is unlikely to meet its requirements. Samsung is a no-go as well given that Apple wants to reduce reliance on its rival, while Intel in particular was s… (read more)


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Ghana’s Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to re-examine its current strategy in the implementation of a centralised payment and settlement system for intra-African trade and commerce payments.
The Pan African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS), developed by the Afreximbank, is the first centralised payment market infrastructure for processing, clearing, and settling intra-African trade and commerce payments.
It is expected to facilitate payments and formalise some of the unrecorded trade due to the prevalence of informal cross-border trade in Africa.
Vice President Bawumia said instead of requiring individual financial institutions across the continent to connect to a central database, it would be a more straightforward, quicker and more effective method to plug in the existing payment structures operated by African Central Banks into a central system at Afreximbank.
Dr Bawumia made the call on Tuesday in Accra when he opened the 5th Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC 2021), which is being attended both physically and virtually by senior officials of African central banks, the African Union, West African Monetary Institute, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and other critical stakeholders in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said it would be a very inefficient way to proceed and create a long delay in the payment systems if individual financial institutions are asked to connect to the Pan African Payment and Settlements System, as it is currently happening.
Vice President Bawumia said financial systems within each of the countries have switches and financial institutions that are all connected to those switches, “whether it’s in Ghana or Nigeria or the BCEAO.”
“I think the easiest and quickest way for us to go as a continent is to have the national switches connect directly to the Pan African Payments and Settlements System so that when the national switch in Ghana, for example, under GhIPPS, connects to PAPPS, it brings along immediately all the 23 or so banks that are functional,” he stated.
He said, “it would be similar in Nigeria, similar with the BCEAO. If we want to wait for each financial institution to connect directly, there will be a long delay in the process, but we don’t have time.”
Speaking to the theme for the Conference, “Facilitating Trade in AfCFTA; The Role of the Financial Services Sector”, Vice President Bawumia said that a simple, efficient payment system is an integral part of ensuring continental trade.
“After all, payments are at the heart of the day-to-day functioning of a free trading system. Making sure that the underlying payment system runs smoothly is the least we should expect of the financial system if we are to realise the vision of the continental free trade.”
With intra-African trade expected to improve from the single-digit levels to over 60 per cent, the Pan African Payments and Settlement System will allow businesses on the continent to clear and settle transactions in their local currencies without depending on third-party currencies.
It will also provide an alternative to the current high-cost and long correspondent banking relationships by facilitating trade and other economic activity across African countries through a simple, low-cost, and risk-controlled payment clearing and settlement system
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD


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Judge Affirms Constitutionality of Beef Checkoff Program
DENVER (November 1, 2002) - A U.S. District Court judge in Montana today ruled the Beef Promotion and Research Act is constitutional, defeating an attempt to halt the national beef checkoff program.
"American beef producers should be very pleased with this decision," said Wythe Willey, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and a beef producer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Willey said the decision by District Judge Richard Cebull strengthens the beef industry's hand in a similar case now in the Eighth Circuit Appellate Court where the constitutionality of the checkoff is being challenged.
"This is a victory for every cattleman in the U.S.," he said. "America's beef producers have prevailed because the national beef checkoff is not only constitutional, but a tremendously successful program that has helped make the industry what it is today. The industry is under severe economic pressure and we can't stop promoting beef."
The challenge to the beef checkoff's constitutionality was raised by Jeanne and Steve Charter of Shepherd, Mont., and several individual producers. The case began in 1998 as a noncompliance suit against the Charters. After the Charters lost their administrative appeals through USDA, they turned to Federal District Court to appeal.
Judge Cebull in his order directed that judgment be entered in favor of USDA, declared the Beef Promotion and Research Act constitutional, and ordered the Charters to pay past-due checkoff assessments and late fees in the amount of $417.79. Judge Cebull dismissed civil penalties levied against the Charters in the amount of $12,000.
Defendants in the case are the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the checkoff, and a group of supportive producers who have intervened on behalf of the checkoff.
Producers have demonstrated support for the $1-per-head checkoff every year since Congress launched it in 1986, said Chuck Rein, a Melville, Mont. beef producer and intervener in the suit. "In 16 years of producer attitude surveys by three different companies independent of the industry, support for the checkoff has always remained above 60 percent. The most recent survey shows a two-thirds approval rating. The vast majority of beef producers recognize the accomplishments of the checkoff, the 'Beef. It's What's For Dinner.®' promotions, and other subsequent programs that have served to boost the industry and its product."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Justice have long supported the beef checkoff as well, Willey said. The constitutionality of the checkoff was upheld in two previous court challenges and "leaders in the beef industry are prepared to continue the defense of this important program all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary."
"We are determined to assure beef's place at the dinner table, and we call on dissenters to put aside costly legal battles and join us in focusing on the continued growth of the beef industry," Willey said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us in promoting and meeting consumer demand for beef, and will need the help of everyone who wants to see beef continue to be 'What's For Dinner.'"
Judge Says Beef Checkoff Is Constitutional
BILLINGS, MONT. (Nov. 1, 2002) - U.S. District Court Judge Richard Cebull today reaffirmed the constitutionality of the beef checkoff with his ruling in a suit brought by Steve and Jeanne Charter and various other cattle producers attempting to derail the checkoff program.
The judge's ruling declares the Beef Promotion and Research Act constitutional and notes that speech compelled by the act "constitutes support for government speech." Accordingly, the ruling directs that judgment be entered in favor of USDA, on behalf of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, and requires the Charters to remit unpaid assessments and late fees.
"Obviously, we are thrilled with Judge Cebull's decision," said Cattlemen's Beef Board Chairman Dee Lacey. "It reaffirms what other cases have concluded repeatedly through the years - that the beef checkoff is constitutional."
The District Judge in Billings, Mont. issued the ruling in favor of the defendants - the USDA and a group of producers who intervened on behalf of the checkoff, based on his review of the record in the case, as well as the transcripts in the Livestock Marketing Association's lawsuit against the checkoff. In that South Dakota suit, now under consideration by the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in Minneapolis, LMA similarly challenged the constitutionality of the Beef Checkoff Program.
"We have remained confident in the future of the beef checkoff," Beef Board Chief Operating Officer Monte Reese said. "Surveys show that the vast majority of producers say they support their beef checkoff, and we continue to focus our time and attention on building demand for beef."
Lacey, a cow-calf producer from Paso Robles, Calif., said the ruling adds momentum to the Beef Board's efforts to increase consumer demand for beef through such informational and promotional efforts as the widely recognized "Beef. It's What's for Dinner" campaign.
The Charter case originated as a compliance issue in 1998, when Montana ranchers Steve and Jeanne Charter refused to pay the mandated $1-per-head beef checkoff on the sale of their cattle. Faced with the Charters' refusal to pay, a USDA administrative law judge enforced the checkoff and assessed a civil penalty. Upon further review by the USDA's judicial officer, at the bequest of the Charters, assessments of those penalties were upheld.
The Charters then chose to appeal their case to the Federal District Court in Billings, based on the 2001 United Foods case. Defendants in the case include the USDA and a group of producers who intervened on behalf of the checkoff.
With the declaration of the beef checkoff's constitutionality, the Beef Board's chairman says it is important that all players in the beef industry band together to improve the marketplace for their products - especially in light of recent market activity.
"It is now more critical than ever that we come together as an industry," Lacey said. "We would call on the Charters to join us in these efforts, with an eye toward increasing long-term profitability for all segments of our industry."
A link to the decision is posted on the beefboard.org Web site at the following location: http://www.beefboard.org/dsp/dsp_locationContent.cfm?locationId=1072


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Samsung Galaxy S8's Processor Is So Powerful It Can Run Windows 10
Ever since the Samsung Galaxy S8 was unveiled, fans and tech enthusiasts have been ogling about its impeccable design and game-changing innovations. Among its impressive new features, the new and extremely powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 remains one of the many reasons why Samsung will finally get out of the hole it dug itself into with the Galaxy Note 7. The processor, is, in fact, so powerful that it can run Windows 10.
According to ZDNET, Qualcomm has already indicated that it is possible for Windows 10 to run on its latest Snapdragon 835 processor. As a matter of fact, it has confirmed that always-on mobile Windows 10 PCs that run on its ARM-based SoC are coming real soon.
This is old news really as Qualcomm, along with Microsoft, already announced this late last year. Back then, the two companies only mentioned that the cellular Windows 10 PCs that will run on the ARM processors will arrive sometime in 2017. The new announcement makes things a bit more specific as the said devices will now supposedly arrive during the fourth quarter of the year.
Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf explained that the company's Snapdragon 835 System-on-Chip will expand into mobile PCs running Windows 10. As reported by BGR, the company wishes to see some smartphone technologies that are now possible courtesy of its new processor to Windows 10 PCs. If successful, mobile Windows 10 devices will have innovations such as Gigabit LTE. The devices may also get the battery-saving tech that shall also allow the devices to stay connected to a network at all times and to be ultralight, as well.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 already has an accessory that will allow it to run Windows 10 on the phone. That device is the Samsung Desktop Experience or DeX. If Qualcomm's wishes do come true, future Samsung devices and other mobile gadgets for that matter will no longer need an accessory such as the DeX to use Windows 10.
New Leak Confirms OnePlus 5 And Its Specs Are Awesome
A leak surfaced recently possibly confirming the OnePlus 5 name while another leak listed its overwhelming yet rumored specifications.
Nokia 8 With Snapdragon 835 To Come In June In Two Sizes
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OnePlus 5 Rumors, Specs, Release Date: OnePlus 5 Coming in 2017 With Snapdragon 835 And Other High-end Features
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Sony Xperia XZ Premium Packed With Snapdragon 835 And 801 PPI Up For Pre-Order In UK
The Sony Xperia XZ Premium which comes with the Snapdragon 835 and a 801 pixel density is now available for pre-order in the United Kingdom.
Microsoft to Continue Discussions on a Possible Purchase of TikTok in the US
Microsoft has confirmed on Sunday that it is continuing its discussions with Chinese tech company Bytedance about a possible purchase of its social media app TikTok in the U.S. and three other markets.
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The interweb has been buzzing in recent months about a slew of celebrities who’ve gone g-free in the name of losing weight. If you’re here because your coworker’s counsin’s best friend from gradeschool went g-free and lost, like, 30 pounds, I’m about to disappoint you: G-free doesn’t equal weight loss.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a g-free diet has not been shown to aid weight loss. The only potential benefit, says Elisabetta Politi, nutrition director at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, N.C., in this US News article, is that a g-free diet means you’re cutting out the refined, high-calorie carbs found in things like pasta, bread and baked goods. But as any g-free person knows, you can still score pasta, brownies, cookies, bread and many more diet-offending food in their g-free forms.
So if there’s no proof that going g-free helps shed pounds, why would anyone elect to go g-free when a medical need doesn’t exist? Rachel Krantz at The Daily Beast has an interesting theory: People need a socially acceptable reason for an extreme diet (read: eating disorder).
People suffering with eating disorders thrive on the need for control, says a 2008 study by the International Program of Psycho-Social Health Research in Australia. According to Krantz, the ultra-controlled diet required by g-free eating provides ample opportunity to obsessively control every item eaten, without the stigma associated with eating disorders. Miley Cyrus had to publicly debunk rumors of an eating disorder, instead crediting her g-free diet for her super slim physique.
If you’re considering a g-free diet to lose weight, experts (even this unofficial one) agree that a traditional low calorie, low fat diet paired with an active lifestyle is the best way to shed weight and keep it off. Check out MyLifecheck for some easy tips and healthy living information.


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Apec vietnam 2017 (vietnamese: apec việt nam 2017) was the year-long hosting of asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) meetings in vietnam. Apec - asia-pacific economic cooperation, singapore, singapore 727k likes apec is the premier asia-pacific economic forum our primary goal is to. The asia-pacific economic cooperation, or apec, is the leading forum in the asia-pacific community to facilitate trade and investment, economic growth, and regional cooperation. Balancing data protection and free flow every business operating in more than one area will tell you that data flows are necessary for even the most basic business functions.
Asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) secretar asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) secretar owner since march 15, 2018 9 years left expires on december 20, 2027. Chinese president xi jinping on friday talked up the value of international cooperation and economic openness xi's speech at the asia-pacific economic cooperation summit in da nang. Viet nam welcomes apec economic leaders with the gala dynamism for a comprehensively connected and integrated asia-pacific apec viet nam 2017. “we are not going to let the united states be taken advantage of anymore,” president trump told business leaders at the asia-pacific economic cooperation forum in danang, vietnam. The 11 remaining countries in the trans pacific partnership (the tpp11) are hoping to announce progress on a path forward to proceed without the united states on november 11 on the sidelines.
In this research paper, the researcher seeks to examine the apec in general while being able to provide its background and what it does to be able. About us asia-pacific economic cooperation, or apec, is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the asia-pacific region.
About the national center for apec established in seattle, washington in 1994, the national center for apec (ncapec) is the only us business association focused exclusively on. English: the asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) is a group of pacific rim countries who meet with the purpose of improving economic and political ties. President donald j trump just delivered a speech in da nang, vietnam, that outlined his administration’s strategy toward asia — with a heavy emphasis on a “free and open indo-pacific.
Asia-pacific economic cooperation, or apec, is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the asia-pacific region. Faced with increasing protectionism and digital disruption in global trade, officials from apec member economies and the asia-pacific business community are preparing bold actions to.
Asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) is a forum of 21 asia-pacific economies apec's member economies are home to more than 27 billion people and make up over half of global gdp. Asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) is a forum for 21 pacific rim member economies that promotes free trade throughout the asia-pacific region. The asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) forum was established in 1989 and has become the pre-eminent economic forum in the asia-pacific region its primary purpose is to facilitate. Asia-pacific economic cooperation achieving apec's vision are what are referred to as the 'bogor goals' of free and open trade and investment in the asia-pacific. Find asia-pacific economic cooperation latest news, videos & pictures on asia-pacific economic cooperation and see latest updates, news, information from ndtvcom explore more on.
Definition of asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec): an association dedicated to the trade, cooperation, and economic growth of nations along the pacific. The asia-pacific economic cooperation forum was established in 1989 uniting the representatives of 21 pacific rim economies, it has served as one of the leading global platforms for. I asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) overview of apec asia-pacific economic cooperation (apec) is a cooperation forum of 21 member economies in the pacific rim that was established in. Apec energy working group welcome to the official website of the apec energy working group (ewg) this site provides information on the ewg, its various sub-groups, key initiatives and.
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Kochi: India’s shrimp exporters will get back around Rs500 crore they have paid as cash guarantees to US authorities in the past three years after the World Trade Organization, or WTO, ruled against the practice.
The US department of commerce had in 2004 imposed an anti-dumping duty on shrimp shipments, saying Indian exporters were selling the commodity at a lower price than to any other country. It had then asked Indian firms to buy customs bonds as a guarantee against dumping.
These bonds--whose values were calculated at 100% of the duty on total exports in the previous year—had to be purchased by exporters once a year. Some 70 firms shipped shrimps worth Rs2,300 crore to the US in the past three years.
India had argued at the WTO disputes panel that the US directive was inconsistent with its trade obligations under the general agreement on trade tariffs, anti-dumping agreement and various other agreements administered by the global trade body.
The disputes panel ruled in favour of India on 29 February. The US appealed against it in April, but WTO’s disputes settlement body adopted the panel and appellate body reports on 1 August, favouring India and Thailand on the issue.
Meanwhile, a recent duty cut on shrimp exports to 1.69% from 10.54% three years ago, after two annual reviews, will also help India’s shrimpexports, said Elias Sait, secretary general of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, which had taken up the issue at WTO on behalf of the Indian government.


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Nvidia hasn’t even officially announced its next-gen RTX 3090, 3080 or 3070 GPUs. But given how many leaks there’s been over the past month, at least one vendor was going to pull the trigger early.
The thing I like about ASUS as a company is that they sell products that others would never greenlight past the prototyping stage, let alone go to market. The ROG Theta Electret is one of those products.
Invest in an ASUS Radeon RX 5700 or RX 5700 XT card very recently? Then you might want to check the model number, because ASUS has put out a notice for all ROG Strix RX 5700 and 5700 XT graphics cards.


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Op-ed: A decade on, and the marine ingredients industry standard continues to evolve
Francisco Aldon is the CEO of MarinTrust, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Now over 10 years old, the MarinTrust standard (formerly IFFO RS) is no longer the new kid on the block. Entering Version 3.0, the standard continues to improve to reflect both the growing demands of the industry and customers, ensuring integrity and traceability of marine ingredients from start (fisheries) to finish (feed plants, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pet food sectors). Having joined the standard at its birth, I know it has changed a lot and owes a great deal to all the stakeholders who have contributed to shaping it. The story goes on and the standard will continue to be a reflection of how the society is evolving.
The 2000s was a period of great excitement: free trade was becoming a tangible reality throughout the world. Globalization was on everyone’s lips and aquaculture was booming. There was a growing feeling that some guidance was needed, as people’s welfare and the future of natural resources were at stake. The FAO’s Code of Conduct for responsible fisheries, published in 1995, sent a decisive signal. MarinTrust was born from a need to reassure the aquaculture value chain about the origin and integrity of raw materials going into the production of fishmeal and fish oil. The industry’s trade body, IFFO, the Marine Ingredients Organisation, took the lead in facilitating an industry and NGO Technical Committee with the aim to develop an independent third-party standard. The first plant got its certification in February 2010, and by the end of the year, around 30 plants were certified. At that time, the certification covered the assessment of the fisheries management, the supply and processing of only whole fish and the recognition of third-party certification programs such as GMP+, FEMAS, and IFIS. We moved further up the value chain with the launch of the Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard in 2011, enabling the full traceability of certified marine ingredients from source to end user. This same year, we included by-products (heads, guts, and frames) as a new raw material source to produce certified marine ingredients, encouraging the responsible sourcing and utilization of this valuable ingredient, which otherwise would end up as waste.
The complex issues of environmental and social impacts still needed to be addressed robustly, within the fishmeal plant (the unit of certification). The first step we took, in 2013-2014, was to ensure plants were adhering to national regulations on environmental impacts. We then moved to social practices, adding clauses safeguarding against forced labor and ensuring workers have equal rights and are safe at work. We strengthened this further in 2017 with the launch of Version 2.0 of the standard, with more robust social and environmental accountability clauses.
To encourage improvement in important fishmeal and fish oil producing areas that were not able to meet what the standard required, we launched the Improver Program (IP) in 2012. The IP now has four recognized fishery improvement projects in three different continents. Our efforts have been recognized, with all our approved certification bodies holding ISO 17065 accreditation from 2012 and MarinTrust gaining ISEAL full membership in 2020, following compliance to its internationally recognized standards codes. Through engaging our value chain and stakeholders, Version 3.0 continues our efforts, with proposed developments to strengthen the MarinTrust Fisheries Assessment Criteria for raw materials, assessing the environmental impact of the marine ingredients manufacturing process, creating improved social and welfare benefits for all workers; and evaluating extending the scope to include human rights criteria for vessels supplying whole fish to the marine ingredients manufacturing sector.
The Chain of Custody is also developing, making the most of what technologies offer to build a connection between the marine ingredients industry and the seafood sector intended for human consumption. The blockchain technologies portend a very promising future for global food systems as they enable full traceability back to product origins.
MarinTrust now represents 50 percent of all marine ingredients produced globally, with more than 150 certified plants. Both MarinTrust’s and my personal aim is to standardize the industry’s practices and to unify the whole marine ingredients industry so we can continue to ensure its sustainable growth. We are not there yet, but the standards’ recent developments are an important step along the way.
Photo courtesy of Francisco Aldon


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Boost of intermodal USA in response to global supply chain disruption
Total intermodal volumes rose 20,4 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2021, according to the Intermodal Association of North America. Their Intermodal Quarterly report shows that international container movements rose 24,8 per cent from 2020, while domestic shipments were up 15,7 per cent for the same period. Meanwhile, ports on both coastlines, from Baltimore to Long Beach, reported record backlogs of containers stacked up in the quaysides.
The Intermodal Association of North America, which represents more than 1,000 corporate members, has reported a record surge in traffic over the most recent survey quarter. The interruption of the global supply chain – primarily caused by the pandemic – has left American ports with mountains of containers awaiting delivery or repatriation. That has contributed to excess movements, much of which has been taken up by the vast US rail freight network.
Dwarfing European standards
The traffic growth has remained unabated for over a year, says the latest IANA report. All three sectors measured – domestic, international, and adapted special purpose units (such as mobile offices) – were all on an upward trend. “Intermodal volumes have now grown for the fourth consecutive quarter”, observes Joni Casey, the association president and CEO. “What is noteworthy is the breadth of the gains”, he said. “With one or two exceptions, the three market segments showed positive performance in all of IANA’s ten regions.”
The seven highest-density trade corridors in North America, which collectively handle more than 60 per cent of total volume, were all up “double digits” in the second quarter. “Trans-Canada led with 29.6 per cent, followed by the Southeast-Southwest at 28.9 per cent and the Midwest-Northwest at 26.6 per cent”, says the report. These numbers translate into the vast volumes moved around the continent and have given rise to many more double-stack container trains, moving payloads that dwarf the European standards.
More balanced towards rail freight
While the popular image of American commercial logistics is a long-distance trucker, the reality is somewhat more balanced toward rail freight. In fact, comparisons with the European continent, particularly the UK, are cause for consideration on the east side of the Atlantic. Almost a quarter of intermodal traffic in North America is moved by rail – amounting to 17 million movements (the road figure is 60 million over generally shorter distances. Internationally, a quite impressive 63 million TEU pass through North American ports annually, according to IANA.
Recent proposals by the new American government would make freight more responsible for rail operations overall, holding companies to account for delays to passenger traffic. That may well alter the balance of power in North America for over half a century and force greeter cooperation between operators and the industry at large. IANA’s membership embraces more than 1,000 corporate members, including rail freight operators, road transport, ocean carriers, ports, intermodal truckers and over-the-road highway carriers, intermodal marketing and logistic companies, and suppliers to the industry.


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War and sanctions are splitting the world. This page lists indications that the world's major producers of energy and manufactured goods are attempting to overturn the post-WW2 political – and monetary – order.
High inflation is often presented as something 'no-one could have seen coming'. This is not true. Years of 'superinflation' are the only way out of the Western debt Superbubble.
The non-Western world has refused to sanction Russia in response to war in Ukraine. And so far, re-configuring trade relationships has strengthened Russia's economy and currency.
A soaring stock market is celebrated as a sign of American economic health. Economic history shows this is an error.
Purchases, repatriations, audits … The world's central banks are increasingly interested in owning—and demonstrating ownership—of physical gold.
There are serious problems in the plumbing of the US financial system. This short overview shows a system getting closer to failure.
Are the world's major producers of natural resources and manufactured goods plotting an alternative to the US dollar? Here's the evidence …


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New research revealing the interactions between electrons and organic carrier materials in devices that use electron spin to encode information could help in the development of faster and more efficient data storage technology.
By observing electrons in real-time over a few millionths of a billionth of a second, physicists have been able to demonstrate that organic molecules interact with the magnetic electrode in so-called spintronic devices, opening the possibility of manufacturing such data storage devices from cheaper, carbon-based materials instead of metals and silicon. The drive toward more powerful, faster and smaller computer and telecommunication devices has kept scientists busy for quite a while, with considerable advances made over the last few years. For example, the rapid turn-on time of modern computers is made possible by the recent development of magnetic memory, or MRAM. Traditional ways of accessing data quickly are based on the manipulation of electric charges, which works only while a computer is powered up. MRAMs on the other hand use magnetic storage elements, delivering high-speed, non-volatile memory.
Read more at: Phys.org