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Lusaka Times, March 25, 2019
Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Women display a sketch diagram of power generation, distribution and Supply at this year’s International Women’s Day commemoration held at David Kaunda Stadium in Chipata
The Consumer Unity and Trust Society is concerned with the proposed increment in electricity tariffs by the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation to the Energy Regulation Board.
CUTS while it agrees that Zambia should indeed begin to gradually move towards cost reflective tariffs – particularly in light of Zambia’s precarious fiscal position, consumer interests should remain at the centre of all decision-making.
CUTS Centre Coordinator, Ms Chenai Mukumba said her Organisation is of the view that only following meaningful efforts towards internal reform of ZESCO should an increase in electricity tariffs for consumers be considered.
She said while the Cost of Service Study has indeed been delayed, CUTS is opposed to a revision of prices before this is released as it is imperative to make sure that consumers are not being unfairly penalized for inefficiencies within ZESCO.
Ms. Mukumba said as such, before shifting the burden towards consumers, ZESCO should first and foremost look to resizing the structure of the institution to achieve efficiency.
“In 2017 we applauded the Government for lifting the life-line electricity tariff for consumers from 100 kWh to 300 kWh. We noted however that quantity-based subsidies were not the most efficient way of targeting the poor as low-income consumers are not necessarily those who use the least electricity”, she added.
Ms. Mukumba said another of CUTS key concerns remains the effect that the proposed increased tariffs will have on the provision of goods and services in both the economy and social sector.
She said this proposed tariff hike will mean that Zambians will see an increase in the cost of production of all goods and services.
Ms. Mukumba said with this increased cost of production, CUTS expect a rise in the prices of commodities despite the fact that disposable incomes for most households have remained largely unchanged. Further to this, social services will also be hard hit by this increase.
She noted that proposed tariffs for schools, hospitals, and orphanages, have more than doubled thus this will have an impact on the provision of basic social services such as education and health.
She said it is therefore imperative that ZESCO finds additional alternative ways of reforming the energy sector without passing the brunt of the burden onto the consumers.


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In an effort to look at the pressure on Instagram users with popularity, the photo sharing platform on Wednesday introduced a small global test where users can choose to hide counts similar to their posts or posts by other people.
What is the reason for the option to change preferences?
According to a photo sharing site, hosted by Facebook Inc, this latest experiment came after seeing mixed responses in its previous tests when the platform removed popularity, which is widely used as a measure of popularity.
By 2019, the company had begun to disguise itself as a small group of people to understand that it reduced some pressure when posting on Instagram. The platform has found it useful for some people while others still want to see the census to help them follow popular reviews.
Meanwhile, Facebook is also looking at a similar experience that will be released in the coming weeks. This will be done to respond to users who want more control over how they interact with content on the platform. Facebook has already tried to hide the popularity of other posts in Australia.
In March, a photo-sharing platform happened to hide the popularity of a large number of users which showed a strong reaction. Some users have supported the initiative saying it is good for the mental health of users, while others see it as a disaster for creators who associate themselves with products. On the platform, popularity is expressed by pressing the heart-shaped icon of the user’s post.
Global testing, which will involve a small percentage of Instagram users, will still allow users to privately see their preferences.

domain: news


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Leisure Fund has now been extended to £300million to provide loans to
SME leisure businesses across the UK to encourage reinvestment and
The additional cash comes after the bank has already allocated all of
the £150million originally pledged since its launch at the end of May.
Andrew Taylor, Head of Leisure for Commercial Banking at NatWest and
RBS said: “From day one this fund has attracted incredible interest.
“The fund has now been running for 20 weeks and we have agreed over
250 loans totalling some £160m. Given lending in the equivalent 20 weeks
of 2012 was around £60m this is an incredible step forward which proves
that confidence is returning and that NatWest really is supporting SME
clients across hotel, restaurant and pub businesses.
“It is also really encouraging that the funding has not just gone to a
handful of large businesses, but to a wide range of clients around the
country totalling over 260 loans.”
Hotels have generated the largest demand for the fund so far, borrowing around £90m, followed by restaurants and pubs.
Regionally, the South West has seen the most interest with around
£49.9m, followed by the Midlands and South East of England with £37.4m,
the North with £29.7m, London and South East with £35.4m and Scotland
Taylor said: “Generating around £97bn of GDP and around 2.2 million
jobs, the industry is vital for the UK economy and we are dedicated to
supporting leisure businesses across the UK. Our specially trained
Leisure Relationship Managers work closely with businesses to ensure we
can provide the correct support.”
Minister for Tourism Helen Grant said: “The tourism sector has a
major part to play in our economic growth strategy, as it supports local
jobs and businesses across the country. It is great to see such
positive take-up from the NatWest and RBS Leisure Fund and a further
£150 million being added with many hotels looking to benefit and drive
growth. I hope the scheme continues to go from strength to strength.”
National tourism body VisitEngland were closely involved in the
development of the Leisure Fund and are delighted with the response so
Visit England’s Chief Executive James Berresford said: “It is great
to see that leisure businesses across the country are taking advantage
of this opportunity.
“We worked closely with NatWest and RBS on the creation of the fund.
It is vital that our tourism businesses have the opportunity to invest
in their products if the industry is to thrive and grow. The positive
take up of the fund so far demonstrates the industry is hungry to invest
and I am delighted that NatWest and RBS has taken such steps to help
support the leisure industry."


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In today’s suburban areas the increase in phone theft has unfortunately become a common occurrence. This has transformed places into danger zones for digital mischievous activities. Whether you’re maneuvering through the paced city life or enjoying the peacefulness of the suburbs it is crucial to prioritize the protection of your phone like never before and take anti theft measures.
In the fast-paced digital landscape of 2023, where every click and scroll defines our connected lives, the vulnerability of our personal devices to theft becomes an ever-growing concern. The ‘Digital 2023: India’ report, a comprehensive exploration into internet use, social media trends, and mobile usage, offers a nuanced look into the state of digital affairs in India.
Analyzing Theft Trends in Urban and Suburban India
According to the report it is projected that the count of individuals using smartphones will reach 1.2 billion by 2024. However this surge in smartphone ownership has also resulted in an increase in incidents of phone thefts, in regions. It is crucial to understand the statistics and trends surrounding phone theft for security measures.
Crunching the Numbers: The Alarming Reality of Phone Theft
In recent years India has experienced a wave of phone thefts. As per the 2023 report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India has reported 7.9 million cases of phone theft in the country. It has a sudden increase of 10.5% compared to the numbers recorded in 2021.
Among cities New Delhi stands out as the epicenter of reported phone thefts with around 1000 phones being stolen each year. The paced city life comes at a cost, as opportunistic thieves target devices. The clear connection between the rise in smartphone usage and the surge in phone theft cases is undeniable.
With the number of smartphone users approaching a billion it’s concerning to realize that our beloved digital devices are becoming targets for thieves. To tackle the increasing problem of phone theft, in India it is crucial to prioritize security by utilizing anti theft devices that discourage potential thieves. Given the escalating incidents of phone theft, in India it is crucial to place an emphasis on security by utilizing anti theft devices. Anti theft apps and anti devices are specifically designed to discourage thieves and safeguard safety.
The Rising Threat of Phone Theft
The data obtained under the RTI Act by The Indian Express paints a concerning picture of the state of phone theft reporting and registration in India. Out of the total 52,883 lost phones, only 1,853 cases, or a mere 3.5%, have had FIRs registered for stolen or missing devices.
The data reveals a concerning trend emphasizing the urgency of addressing the escalating problem of phone theft. Stolen phones are more than lost belongings; they become gateways to a wealth of information. The access to contacts, financial records, passwords and other sensitive data makes phone theft not a financial setback but a potential risk to one’s identity and security.
Addressing the rise in phone theft it is essential to employ anti theft app that offer real time tracking and remote locking features. These practical solutions cater to users not in New Delhi but across the world.
Understanding the Psychological Factors Behind Phone Theft and How Anti Theft Measures Can Help
Urban Areas; In urban areas there is often an increased opportunity for criminals. The presence of spaces, bustling streets and public transportation hubs creates an environment where thieves can easily blend in and take advantage of the anonymity provided by crowds. Moreover the sheer number of people makes it difficult for law enforcement to monitor every individual effectively providing a setting for phone theft.
Suburban Areas; Although suburban areas generally have population density compared to centers they are not exempt from phone theft incidents. Criminals find suburban neighborhoods attractive due to security measures and a perception that residents may be less vigilant. Additionally suburban areas often serve as zones between rural environments making them strategic targets for criminals.
Urban Areas; The security infrastructure in centers can be both beneficial and challenging. Urban areas usually have surveillance cameras, police presence and other security measures. However the vast expanse of these areas leads to protection leaving pockets exposed. Additionally the bustling environment of centers can contribute to a reaction time when addressing reported incidents of theft.
Suburban Areas; Security infrastructure in regions is not as robust as in areas. There are surveillance cameras, limited police presence and slower emergency response times. Criminals exploit these vulnerabilities by capitalizing on the perception that suburban areas are safer and closely monitored.
Strategies for Urban Living: High-Risk States Uncovered
It’s not surprising that the majority of phone theft incidents occur in areas which raises concerns for city residents. According to the ‘India; Reported Theft Rate by State 2023’ report states like Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have emerged as high risk zones for phone theft. Among them New Delhi has the number of reported phone thefts.
This concentration highlights the need for customized security strategies specifically tailored to centers. In order to protect your smartphone amidst the growing number of users it is advisable to incorporate anti theft solutions. This can be achieved through either using anti theft devices or using anti theft apps that act as a deterrent, against thieves.
Smartphone Tracking and Remote Wiping:
Urban Challenge: The dense urban landscape provides opportunities for thieves to quickly vanish with stolen phones.
Strategy: To address this challenge it’s important to enable smartphone tracking features and utilize wiping capabilities through theft apps like Hammer Security. This allows us to track our devices in time and remotely safeguard our data from unauthorized access.
Incorporate Advanced Security Features:
Urban Challenge; Dealing with sophisticated theft techniques prevalent, in areas necessitates implementing security measures.
One effective approach is to enhance the security of your devices by utilizing theft applications, like Hammer Security. These apps provide a layer of protection further safeguarding your devices.
Anti-Theft Strategies for Evolving Threats:
As technology advances so do the methods employed by thieves. Advanced techniques, like SIM card swapping and phone cloning present challenges that traditional anti theft prevention measures may not address adequately. This brings us to the complexities of social engineering attacks, where criminals exploit psychology to gain access to information leaving users susceptible to digital heists.
To counter these evolving threats effectively it becomes essential to incorporate theft measures that provide an additional layer of defense against increasingly sophisticated techniques to our systems. In order to protect your smartphone amidst the growing number of users it is advisable to incorporate anti theft solutions. This can be achieved through either using anti theft devices or using anti theft apps that act as a deterrent, against thieves.
The Importance of Anti-Theft Apps: Keeping Your Phone Safe and Secure
With the increasing number of smartphone users reaching billions there is a need to address the growing concern of phone theft in India. One practical solution is to incorporate an anti theft app or anti theft device that include real time tracking and remote security features providing effective protection for smartphone owners.
Hammer Security’s anti theft application is incredibly versatile, like a chameleon at a party with a variety of colors. Hammer anti theft app is specifically designed to cater to environments giving your phone a customized vacation experience. Whether you are amidst the cityscape or enjoying the tranquility of suburban landscapes our app seamlessly adjusts to meet your needs.
Heart-Pounding Stories of Phones Saved by the Anti-Theft App
Have you ever misplaced your phone in a coffee shop?. Maybe it decided to play hide and seek right in the comfort of your home? Don’t worry! Hammer Security Anti theft app acts like a detective, navigating through both the chaotic city and the cozy corners of your abode with equal finesse.
Guess what? No matter if you’re maneuvering through a labyrinth or simply relaxing on a backyard hammock, Hammer Securitys anti theft app adaptability ensures that your phone’s security remains top notch. It’s like having a butler for your device accompanying you on all of life’s adventures.
Whether you’re a person who loves the hustle and bustle of the city or someone who enjoys exploring the suburbs whether you’re, in search of sunsets on a beach or prefer relaxing with a latte at a downtown cafe Hammer Security Anti theft app is, like having your very own James Bond of anti theft apps. It’s always prepared to take action no where you are with a touch of elegance and even some humor.
Hammer Security anti theft app is, like the James Bond of smartphone protectors, designed to work in any situation and with a touch of humor. With over more than 5 million users it transforms your phone into a superhero.


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Plastic is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and the additives used to enhance this deceptively versatile material are often hazardous to human health. All the while, the plastics industry makes sure the demand – that they invented in the first place – keeps growing.
As regulators and growing public awareness have put the screws on some of the more well-known PFAS chemicals, other variants are marketed as safe and are rarely scrutinised. One such chemical is PTFE – an unregulated chemical in the PFAS family – which is used in a plethora of consumer products, giving materials that desired non-stick function. The question is – is PTFE really as safe as manufacturers claim?
Recycling materials without perpetuating toxic chemicals is an opportunity and a huge business to tap into – one which should be enabled by regulation. Adding knowledge through studies like this one is crucial.
REACH has really helped keep the industry on its toes and stay healthy. In this situation it is only logical to up the dose even more to get an even better result, and by upping the dose we obviously mean to implement the Chemical Strategy as intended.
With the EU’s Green Deal, Chemical Strategy and sustainable finance regulation looming on the horizon, hazardous chemicals are set to play an even larger role in all kinds of sustainability issues. Despite this, they are often overlooked in investment decisions.
Corbion provided us with their self-evaluation according to the ChemScore criteria, and our verification confirmed that the company scored 43 points, which equals an A. That’s 14 (!) points more than the top-scoring company in ChemScore.
PRESS RELEASE: Chemical companies around the world are actively marketing their greener, more sustainable products, whilst holding back details on the mass production of hazardous chemicals, ChemSec’s ranking of chemical companies reveals today.
This webinar, hosted jointly by ChemSec and ChemFORWARD, featuring Apple’s Environmental Technologies Smarter Chemistry Lead Art Fong, aims at arming you and your organization with the best tools and methods available in the fight against harmful chemicals.
Five EU Member States have started gathering evidence for a broad PFAS ban. But they need help from companies, and ChemSec can show you how to provide it.


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Search Results On indian government (Page 1 of 4)
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NRIs to Get Aadhaar on Arrival Without 182-Day Wait 2019-09-24 06:39:37
The Indian government issued a notification saying Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with valid Indian passport can apply for Aadhaar on arrival, without the 182-day waiting period. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has released the circular stating that NRI after...
Keywords: aadhar card for nri documents required, uidai nri, aadhar card for nri oci, documents for aadhar card for nriRead More
Indian Ambassador makes US lawmakers understand the situation of Kashmir fued 2019-10-22 09:13:26
The Indian Ambassador to the United States, Harsh Vardhan Shringla explained the US lawmakers about the current situation of the Kashmir and the kind of steps that the government is taking to bring back peace to the province following revoke...
Keywords: Shringla, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Shringla, ShringlaRead More
Huawei Claims They Can Find Customers In India After US Ban 2019-10-17 06:01:45
Huawei technologies has time and time been known around for their one of a kind technologies and following their ban in US and a few other nations, they claim that they can find a loyal customer base in India itself...
Keywords: India, 5G, India, IndiaRead More
Indian Americans Support Dual Citizenship: Survey 2019-09-19 06:48:52
A survey revealed that Indian Americans overwhelmingly are in the favor of dual citizenship from the Indian government whereas Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) prefer proxy voting instead of direct postal ballots. The survey, compiled by Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora...
Keywords: Non resident Indians, immigration policies, Non resident Indians, immigrationRead More
India Increasingly Using Technology for Indians Abroad: Kovind 2019-09-17 12:37:41
President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday assured Indians living abroad that the government is steadily using technology more to address their concerns.During his address to the Indian community and Friends of India in Ljubljana, Kovind said that India...
Keywords: technology for Indians abroad, technology for Indians abroad, ram nath kovind, ram nath kovindRead More
‘India can’t sacrifice economic strength to comply with US sanctions’, says Nirmala Sitharaman 2019-10-17 05:47:27
With so many prospective affairs among the India-US trade affairs and conflicts, things finally seem to have changed and settled for good. In a recently conducted interview, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated a few things concerning the US sanctions that...
Keywords: India-US, Sitharaman, Sitharaman, SitharamanRead More


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Real Estate Newsletter Oct 2016
Walgreens announced an extension to its proposed merger with Rite Aid. The merger was originally expected to take place at the end of 2016, but is now expected to close in early 2017. The delay is due to the companies determining which stores would be closed after the merger. Up to 1,000 Walgreens or Rite Aid stores are expected to be closed.
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Realtors have a better March in home sales
March home sales rebounded from a dismal February, even though year-over-year sales figures continue to suffer.
According to data released today by Rockford Area Realtors, 289 homes and condos were sold in March, up 60.5 percent over February’s 180. It’s the largest monthly sales total in the past five months, but down 1.4 percent compared with March 2008.
The average home price rose 6 percent, from $112,460 in February to $119,262 in March. The sale price is down 13.6 percent compared with March 2008.
Read the rest of this story atBusinessRockford.com. Scroll to the bottom of the story to comment.


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Cargill and its Danish potato starch partner, AKV Langholt AmbA, are investing $22.5 million USD (EUR 19 million) in a new potato starch production unit at their Langholt facility in Denmark.
Potato starches produced at the new facility expand Cargill’s SimPure portfolio of functional native starches. SimPure starches feature ingredients from a variety of botanical sources, providing food and beverage manufacturers access to the recognizable, simple ingredients consumers demand, while achieving necessary process tolerance, retail shelf life and storage ability.
The plant expects to start operations in mid-2018.
“This investment demonstrates Cargill’s commitment to providing our food manufacturing customers the functional native starches they need to meet the demand of today’s label-conscious consumers,” said Simon Waters, global food starch leader, Cargill.
“Consumer demand for products made with familiar, trusted ingredients is increasing rapidly,” said Waters. “However, these ingredients must also stand up to the diverse processing conditions of modern processing. We understand these competing needs and are using state-of-the-art processing techniques make label-friendly starch solutions a reality.”
This latest investment broadens Cargill’s starch portfolio, which includes native, functional native and modified starches. Each starch line is designed to enhance the texture and stability of everyday foods including batters and coatings, pudding powders, dry mix soups and sauces, processed meat, bakery mixes, ready meals, creamy spreads and fillings, salad dressings and pet foods.


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Editor’s Note: Article has since been updated with more information on 24 May 2018.
Circles.Life is at it again.
The original disruptor of the Singapore telco industry are back with a new mobile plan that is set to be their next game changer.
And this comes after announcing just two weeks ago that they have partnered with EZ-Link to reward their subscribers with more data through their daily commute on the bus and MRT.
This new plan that Circles.Life has just unveiled won’t even cost you a cent.
Circles.Life Launches New $0 Flexi Plan
No they were not kidding, this new plan that was launched earlier today starts at $0.
It’s called the Flexi plan, and for the base cost of, well… nothing, you can get 1GB of data, 30 minutes of talk time, and 10 SMSes when you subscribe to Circles.Life.
This plan is all about flexibility as its name implies, and you can simply add on what you require, for a cost.
Additional 1GB of data will be an extra $8, 2GB is $12, while 30 minutes more talk time (with free 10 SMSes) will be $5.
Circles.Life co-founder explains that the launch of this new Flexi plan, comes in line with their belief of empowering people by making digital access available to for everyone.
Most importantly, this plan comes with no strings attached.
The Flexi plan will be a new addition that will exist alongside their original no-contract plan that costs $28 a month which gives you 6GB of data.
Edit: 24 May 2018
Here’s What You Can And Cannot Do
Since it was announced, it has generated a lot of conversations, and skepticism, on Circles.Lifes’s Facebook page as well as in popular local forums and the Singapore sub-section on Reddit.
So to better explain the situation, Circles.Life has updated their Terms and Conditions page to include the new Flexi Plan.
Here’s the rundown.
Upon signing up for the plan, subscribers will only get the basic 1GB of data, 30 minutes of talk time, and 10 SMSes for $0 a month.
The only adjustments you can make is to top-up those three things for a fee, that’s it.
You will not get access to services that is normally offered by Circles.Life to subscribers on the base $28 a month plan and above.
The Flexi Plan is ineligible for roaming services, any of their data add-ons (eg. daily unlimited and 20GB for $20), unlimited WhatsApp texting, to even simple stuff like free incoming calls.
Any inbound calls answered will be deducted from your allocated minutes (including boosts).
Further more, there are other service restrictions that will also apply,
- IDD calling and SMS services;
- change of assigned mobile number;
- pay as you go service;
- number suspension.
One other thing to note is that, even though it is free, you must at least utilize it in some way.
Letting it lie dormant without making use of the data, calls, or SMSes may get your line suspended.
Circles.Life Deepens Relationship With SingPost
Alongside a new disruptive mobile plan, Circles.Life also took the opportunity to announce another new initiative in partnership with SingPost.
This time, Circles.Life will be working with SingPost to bring its sign-up process offline, sort of.
Three SingPost locations have been named for the initial rollout of Circles.Life kiosks and they are located at the General Post Office in Paya Lebar, with Sengkang and Woodlands post offices being the other two locations.
The kiosks will enable anyone to sign up for any of Circles.Life’s plans in under 5 minutes, and the best thing is that you can collect your SIM card immediately at a counter in the post office after completing your registration.
Being available offline is definitely a significant move on the part of Circles.Life
While they have a achieved cult status among the young adults, having this offline presence will ensure that their services reach those are not so internet savvy.
“Unlimiting digital access also means making our service more accessible for everyone. By tapping on SingPost’s post offices across Singapore, our service will be even more accessible to more people, leaving no one out of the smart nation initiative.” – Rameez Ansar, Circles.Life co-founder
Reshaping The Telco Industry So That None Gets Left Behind
The reality of the way we live now is that data is king, and the lack of it has sadly transcended beyond just it being a first world problem.
Many government services and platforms have gone online and have their own apps.
While this isn’t an issue for you and me, it’s not quite the same for the older, tech illiterate generation.
By making internet access essentially free while having an offline method of subscribing, Circles.Life is helping them get connected.
1GB as a starter is more than enough to perform administrative tasks and text messaging through apps.
To check out Circles.Life’s new Flexi plan, head on over to: https://pages.circles.life/flexiplan/


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By Brianna Ahearn, contributing writer
Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the United States, has just received recognition for their stores' technology and innovation for consumer food safety. The retailer announced on June 3 via press release that their company was named a winner of the 2015 CIO 100 Award by International Data Group's CIO Magazine. Kroger won due to their FAST Alerts, a state-of-the-art food temperature monitoring system the retailer uses in their stores, and will be presented with the award in Colorado this August in a formal ceremony.
The award-winning innovation, known as FAST Alerts or Food at Safe Temperature, constantly monitors the temperatures of cold and frozen food cases, then sends a notification if it senses a change in temperature in a case. Store associates receive the notification thanks to the interactive sensors connected in each store's in-store network, and removes the need to have the standard paperwork of a manual temperature log. The program and application resulted from collaboration of Kroger's Facility Engineering, Food Safety, Technology, Pharmacy, Merchandising and Retail Operations departments, as well as store leaders and associates.
“We are honored to be listed among the CIO 100,” says Chris Hjelm, Kroger's chief information officer. “From our inventors and innovators in Kroger Technology to our Food Safety and Retail Operations groups, so many Kroger teams worked together to make electronic temperature monitoring a success and they all share in our appreciation.”
The food and supermarket industries have been surrounded by by recall news from brands such as Blue Bell, and while many such recalls begin with the manufacturer, it's more important than ever for supermarkets to monitor their food's freshness. Kroger has shown their commitment to customer satisfaction and safety by implementing FAST Alerts for round-the-clock monitoring and real-time data of cold cases.
“FAST Alerts is a perfect example of the Customer 1st Innovation we strive for – it saves money and frees up time for our associates to engage with customers,” says Hjelm. “Most importantly, this technology is helping to improve our already vigorous food safety efforts."
FAST Alerts can be sensed if there is a mechanical breakdown in the food cases, but will also alert the store if someone left a freezer door open. In either circumstance, the stores save valuable time, money and inventory.
Kroger has a long history of technological innovation. It adopted Que Vision in 2010, a data analytics system which reduced the average customer wait time at checkout from four minutes to less than 30 seconds. Que Vision combines infrared sensors over store doors and cash registers, predictive analytics, and real-time data feeds from point-of-sale systems. Kroger operates more than 2,600 stores in 34 states. In addition to its own stores, Kroger owns 30 additional retail names, making it the biggest grocer in America and a challenger to Wal-Mart.
International Data Group is a global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets, and published their CIO Magazine 12 monthly. Their CIO 100 annual awards honor those companies that demonstrate exceptional devotion to innovation and technology for their business' growth. A complete list of the 2015 winners may be found on CIO's website.


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Hathi Brewing Returning to Market via Partnership with Ravens Brewing
On February 15, 2017 At 5:00 pm
Responses : Comments are off for this post
ABBOTSFORD, BC – After several months of its beers being being out of production, Hathi Brewing has announced that it has arranged to contract brew at Ravens Brewing in Abbotsford while awaiting final approvals on its own physical location.
According to the announcement, the Hathi team will soon be “working on some new test batches while reviving our core beers that have, for too long, not been available to the public.” The brands including India Session Ale, Coriander Pale Ale, and Mango Bango are expected to be back on local taps and shelves in coming weeks.
For more details, see the full announcement on the Hathi Brewing Facebook page.


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Economy leaves consumers feeling more blue than green
U.S. consumers are pulling back spending on everything, and carbon-cutting products like hybrid cars and solar panels are no exception. After all, being green often requires us to pony up big chunks of change with the promise of cost savings later. That pitch, according to many green business owners, isn’t working so well these days.
“People are so scared about the future that they don’t want to commit to paybacks that have too long a window,” said Alan Finkel, owner of Santa Monica-based Green Life Guru, a company that helps homeowners reduce their gas and electricity usage.
A sharp drop in oil prices since this summer hasn’t helped the trend. After all, who needs a hybrid car when fill-ups cost less than $20 a pop?
Of course, there are ways to be green without spending money. We can drive less, recycle more, and resist the urge to crank up the thermostat.
Has the dour economy weakened your green resolve? If not, how are you able to do it without breaking the bank?
PHOTO: Reuters/Fred Prouser


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International development organisation World Neighbors on addressing the issues causing people to flee coffee producing countries with income diversification and education. Read More
Neuhaus Neotec previews many new developments for the coffee industry in 2022, including the release of the German manufacturer’s new drum roaster, the Maestro. Read More
Head of Gruppo Cimbali’s Asia Pacific subsidiary Millie Chan talks about the evolution of super automatic machines and how its traditional demographic is expanding to meet market needs. Read More
The refined Bellwether Coffee Series 2 emission-free roaster represents the next step in the manufacturer’s journey to making coffee roasting more inclusive and sustainable. Read More
Eversys customers explain the advantages to the world of automation once the fear of perception is removed and the results speak clearly for themselves. Read More
illycaffè Chairman Andrea Illy talks to Global Coffee Report about the race to net zero and why regenerative agriculture is the key to winning the industry’s climate change battle. Read More
Flavourtech offers the global coffee industry solutions to capitalise on trends towards convenience and health in the instant and RTD space. Read More
Brambati President Fabrizio Brambati on the importance of sustainability and why innovation and flexibility are key to the company’s success. Read More
Caffitaly CEO Giuseppe Casareto on untapped potential and why innovation is key to creating the best single-serve coffee in the world.
Global Coffee Report explores how COVID-19 has changed the logistics of transporting coffee, and how traders, shipping companies, and roasters are pivoting to meet consumer demand.


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The Best of TWiT from 2018!
Host: Leo Laporte
The Best of TWiT from 2018!
Host: Leo Laporte
Leo is out this week, so Jason Snell takes the reins. At WWDC this week, Apple announced their Amazon Echo killer, the HomePod. They also announced big updates to iOS 11, the 10.5″ iPad Pro, and the (at least) $4999 iMac Pro. Catering to a slightly less spendy demographic, Amazon announced that it will offer lower priced Prime subscriptions to people on Government Assistance. Uber had (another) bad week – capped off with Eric Holder’s report to the Uber board.
–Mikah Sargent thinks Taylor Swift is fine.
–Harry McCracken is on Team Katy.
–Lisa Schmeiser has a blank space, baby, and she’ll write your name.
–Jason Snell has Katy Perry on the counter in his kitchen.
At its Build developer conference last week, Microsoft made a pair of announcements about Windows development that were more than a little surprising: Windows will support applications developed for iOS and Android.
This immediately felt like a dangerous move. Windows will not be the first operating system to run foreign applications. Famously, IBM advertised OS/2 as a “Better Windows than Windows” in the 1990s, boasting that its platform would run all your existing Windows applications with greater stability and performance. More recently, BlackBerry 10 included support for Android applications, with BlackBerry licensing the Amazon App Store and using it as its gateway to a world of Android-compatible software.
Neither OS/2 nor BlackBerry 10 has made a success of this capability. There are two major problems with supporting foreign applications on a niche platform. The first is straightforward: it removes any incentive for developers to bother with the native platform. Investing in developing for a minor platform is already something of a gamble, and by telling developers “Oh hey, you can just use your existing Win16 or Android program…” as IBM and BlackBerry (respectively) did, you’re implicitly sending them a message. “Don’t bother learning our platform or writing native apps for it.”
It turned out as expected for both platforms. While a few true OS/2 applications were created—and similarly there are some true BlackBerry 10 apps—they’re relatively unusual. After all, what’s the point? If IBM is going to boast about just how well OS/2 will run Win16 apps and those Win16 apps can be sold both to OS/2 users and to Windows 3.1 users, why would a developer write anything other than a Win16 app?
This capability cedes a lot of control. By being dependent on apps developed for a third-party platform, you give the owner of that third-party platform the power to choose how to evolve its APIs and add new features. This bit OS/2 hard: while IBM was busy promoting how well OS/2 could run 16-bit Windows applications, Microsoft was busy encouraging developers to create new 32-bit Windows applications and end-users to buy the 32-bit capable Windows 95. This new world of 32-bit software wouldn’t run on OS/2, and so the big OS/2 feature that IBM heavily marketed was rendered semi-useless. OS/2 found some niche success, but it was ultimately a failure.
Supporting Android apps creates similar risks. If Android software constitutes a major part of a platform’s software ecosystem, any changes to Android (new APIs or capabilities, say) that Android software expects to be able to take advantage of have to be replicated. This is, however, tempered by Android’s uniquely poor update situation. Most Android phones don’t have access to the latest and greatest version of Android or the latest and greatest Android features, so most Android software has to refrain from demanding such capabilities. This means an Android-compatible platform could trail Google’s cutting edge by a year or more and still be highly compatible with Android apps.
Mozilla has accused Google and Apple of not being transparent with their mobile technologies and misusing their dominant positions.
Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS make up for the majority marketshare in smartphone OSes globally and Mozilla has shown concern over the irresponsible behavior of the companies by not being transparent about the utilization of user data.
In a report from the Guardian, Mozilla’s chief technology officer, Andreas Gal, has revealed that the current mobile situation is not favorable for users’ privacy and believes Firefox OS can change the scenario.
According to Gal, neither Android nor iOS is transparent and users are kept in the dark about what happens with their data. Although, Android is based on open source software, Google has kept large portions of its integrated services proprietary and iOS has been closed since the very beginning. Gal feels that, “right now the user has a choice between one phone where you can’t tell what goes on inside it and another phone where you can’t tell what goes on inside it.”
Both Apple and Google have in the past banned or removed privacy-centric applications from their respective app stores, which can be termed as misuse of their dominant positions and Mozilla hopes that people realize this and choose open platforms in the future.
Security researchers have warned of a security hole in Apple’s iOS devices that could allow attackers to replace legitimate apps with booby-trapped ones, an exploit that could expose passwords, e-mails, or other sensitive user data.
The “Masque” attack, as described by researchers from security firm FireEye, relies on enterprise provisioning to replace banking, e-mail, or other types of legitimate apps already installed on a targeted phone with a malicious one created by the adversary. From there, the attacker can use the malicious app to access sent e-mails, login credential tokens, or other data that belonged to the legitimate app.
“Masque Attacks can replace authentic apps, such as banking and e-mail apps, using attacker’s malware through the Internet,” FireEye researchers wrote in a blog post published Monday. “That means the attacker can steal user’s banking credentials by replacing an authentic banking app with an malware that has identical UI. Surprisingly, the malware can even access the original app’s local data, which wasn’t removed when the original app was replaced. These data may contain cached e-mails or even login-tokens which the malware can use to log into the user’s account directly.”
The attack works by presenting a targeted phone with a same sort of digital certificate large businesses use to install custom apps on employees’ iPhones and iPads, as long as both the legitimate app and the malicious app use the same bundle identifier. The attack requires some sort of lure to trick a target into installing the malicious app, possibly by billing it as an out-of-band update or a follow-on to an already installed app. Recently, the researchers uncovered evidence the attacks may be circulating online, they said without elaborating. The technique doesn’t work against iOS preinstalled apps such as Mobile Safari. FireEye researchers said they reported the vulnerability to Apple in July.
“By leveraging Masque Attack, an attacker can lure a victim to install an app with a deceiving name crafted by the attacker (like New Angry Bird), and the iOS system will use it to replace a legitimate app with the same bundle identifier,” Monday’s report stated. “Masque Attack couldn’t replace Apple’s own platform apps such as Mobile Safari, but it can replace apps installed from App Store.” From there attackers can:
Mimic the login interface of the replaced app to steal the victims’ login credentials
Access local data caches assigned to the replaced app to steal e-mails, login tokens, or other sensitive data
Install custom programming interfaces not approved by Apple onto victims’ phones
Bypass the normal app sandbox architecture built into iOS and possibly get root access by exploiting known iOS vulnerabilities, such as those recently targeted by the Pangu team.
During a recent hacker conference, forensic scientist and iPhone jailbreaking expert Jonathan Zdziarski outlined a number of undocumented high-value forensic services running on every iOS device. He also found suspicious design omissions in iOS that make data collection easier according to a report from ZDNet.
Zdziarski notes that while Apple has worked hard to make iOS devices reasonably secure against typical attackers, they’ve also put a lot of time and planning into making devices accessible on their end on behalf of law enforcement.
The hacker also found that screen-locking an iPhone doesn’t encrypt its data. The only real way to do this is to shut down / power off the handset. What’s more, some of the undocumented services are able to bypass backups and can be accessed using USB, Wi-Fi or perhaps even cellular.
Using commercially available forensics tools, for example, law enforcement could gain access to a device during a routine traffic stop or during an arrest before a suspect is able to power the phone off.
Zdziarski finds it suspicious that none of these services (“lockdownd,” “pcapd” or “mobile.file_relay”) are referenced in any Apple software. The data they collect is personal in nature thus unlikely to be used for debugging purposes and is stored in raw format to make it useless to wireless carriers or during a trip to a Genius Bar.
All said and done, Zdziarski is left with more questions than answers.
A noted whitehat hacker who spent more than a year on Apple’s security team has dealt her former employer some blistering criticism for fixing critical vulnerabilities in iOS three weeks after they became widely known to blackhats.
Kristin Paget, who recently took a security position at a major car manufacturer, took to her private blog Wednesday and catalogued more than a dozen separate security bugs that were patched in Tuesday’s release of iOS 7.1.1. Some of them gave attackers the ability to surreptitiously execute malicious code on iPhones and iPads without requiring much or any interaction from end users. Paget noted that 16 of the vulnerabilities addressed had been fixed three weeks earlier in a separate update for OS X users. Such delays give malicious hackers the opportunity to reverse engineer the fixes for one platform and develop potent exploits to use against the same bugs surviving in unpatched platforms, security researchers have long charged.
“Apparently someone needs to sit Apple in front of a chalkboard and make them write out 100 lines: ‘I will not use iOS to drop 0day on OS X, nor use OS X to drop 0day on iOS,'” Paget wrote in Thursday’s blog post. Addressing Apple officials directly, Paget continued:
Is this how you do business? Drop a patch for one product that quite literally lists out, in order, the security vulnerabilities in your platform, and then fail to patch those weaknesses on your other range of products for *weeks* afterwards? You really don’t see anything wrong with this?
Someone tell me I’m not crazy here. Apple preaches the virtues of having the same kernel (and a bunch of other operating system goop) shared between two platforms—but then only patches those platforms one at a time, leaving the entire userbase of the other platform exposed to known security vulnerabilities for weeks at a time?
In what world is this acceptable?
Paget’s critique comes two months after Apple patched the extremely critical “goto fail” bug in iOS without fixing it in the Mavericks version of OS X. Critics once again warned that the code and description Apple released for the mobile update gave a roadmap attackers could use to target the same flaws during the four-day window it remained unpatched on desktops. The bug, which made it trivial to bypass crucial HTTPS encryption protections, was finally fixed on Mavericks on February 25.
Paget—who has also been employed by Google and eBay—called on readers to cross-check previous iOS and OS X security updates to see if they also showed long lapses between the time when critical vulnerabilities are fixed on one platform and when they’re repaired on the other.
How many apps do you have on your smartphone or tablet right now? Well, take that number, and multiply it by 0.9. That’s about how many of your apps are a potential security concern according to a new study from Appthority.
The Appthority Reputation Report for Winter 2014 was compiled using data from the cloud-based Appthority App Risk Management Service. Appthority performed static, dynamic, and behavioral app analysis of 400 paid and free apps spanning iOS and Android to assess the relative security and risky behavior of the most popular apps.
Appthority found that 95 percent of the top 200 free apps on iOS and Android exhibit at least one risky behavior. That number drops to 80 percent for paid apps—an improvement, but four out of five paid apps exhibiting risky behavior is hardly something to cheer about. Appthority also discovered that iOS apps are riskier overall than Android apps—91 percent contain risky behavior as opposed to 83 percent on Android.
They risky behaviors vary, but include things like location tracking—found in 70 percent of the free iOS and Android apps—weak authentication, sharing data with ad networks, accessing the contact list, or identifying the user or UDID.
“Appthority found that 95 percent of the top 200 free apps on iOS and Android exhibit at least one risky behavior. ”
There are a couple significant caveats to the idea of iOS being a greater risk. First, Android apps have a much higher presence of accessing the UDID or identifying the user. Apple took steps to prevent developers from accessing UDID information on iOS mobile devices—but some developers have found ways to circumvent those rules.
The other thing that separates Android from iOS is that, although there are more iOS apps that exhibit risky behavior, the Android apps tend to collect more information about the user and the user’s mobile activities than their iOS counterparts.
To sum up, a higher percentage of iOS apps include risky behaviors than Android apps, and paid apps are generally less risky than free apps.
The differences in many cases are small and semantic, though. The fact that iOS has a higher percentage than Android may offer some small consolation to Android users, but the fact that nearly all of the apps on both major mobile platforms exhibit at least one risky behavior should be a red flag for both app developers and mobile device users—as well as for Apple and Google themselves.
The real lesson to be found in this report is that app developers recognize the financial value of gathering user data, and that mobile apps in general have a long way to go in terms of security and respecting a user’s privacy.
We’ve already heard that Nokia and Samsung had disappointing fourth quarters, and Apple’s iPhone has been slowly losing market share throughout 2013. So many may be wondering if anyone’s actually winning the smartphone wars since everyone seems to be losing.
Now the latest report from Kantar Worldpanel gives us a clearer picture who is gaining market share and which markets are the most volatile. Kantar’s data is based on the previous three months, ending in December 2013.
First up, checking the tables below, we can easily see that Android has had another phenomenal year, with increased marketshare around the world. In the U.S., Google’s OS managed to increase its presence and is now sitting just shy of 51%. China and Europe have also seen greater adoption of the OS, which is sitting comfortably at 78% and 68%, respectively. However the biggest change occurred in Latin America, where Android saw a 21 percent increase year over year, and it now pretty much owns the market with an 83% adoption rate.
Despite all this, Samsung has had disappointing results lately, mainly due to increased pressure from local manufacturers in China, and more competition in the low-end market from players such as Nokia.
Speaking of Nokia, which practically owns the Windows Phone market, it too has had a good year in terms of adoption. Windows Phone has seen growth almost across the board. The biggest change is in Europe, where Microsoft’s platform has held double digit figures for the last three months of 2013. That’s almost double compared to last year’s results, when Windows Phone only accounted for 5.6% market share. Other markets have also seen growth, but Windows Phone is still very anaemic when it comes to the U.S. and China.
Finally, the year’s biggest market share losers are Blackberry, which is clinically dead, and more surprisingly Apple. The Cupertino company has seen decreases in pretty much every market. Even in the U.S., where it holds the most sway, iOS has seen a 5.8% decrease with most of those users moving to Android. Another big drop was seen in Europe where Apple’s products lost another 5.2% compared to 2012 and are now sitting at 18.5% marketshare.
Already we know Samsung is going on the offensive with the new Galaxy S5 being supposedly launched in the next couple of months, and there are a ton of rumors as to Apple’s upcoming plans. And let’s not forget Microsoft, which now owns Nokia’s smartphone business. All in all, 2014 is shaping up to be a very interesting year in terms of the smartphone race.
In time for the holiday season, an iOS 7 jailbreak has been released from the Evasi0n team, supporting all iPhones, iPod touches, iPads and iPad minis running iOS 7.0 to 7.0.4. The jailbreak is untethered, meaning the device its installed on will remain jailbroken after a reboot.
The process to jailbreak an iOS 7 device is said to be quite easy, taking around five minutes to complete. Once the installer has finished its work, you will be able to begin customizing your device and installing third-party applications, just like with any previous jailbreak for older iOS versions.
However this jailbreak is not without controversy. It has been reported that the version of Cydia (a third-party app store) included with the jailbreak is not official, nor updated. It has also come to light that a second app store called Taig is installed on devices where the language is set to Chinese; Taig sells some cracked/pirated applications, which many members of the jailbreaking community are not happy about.
The good news is that members of team Evasi0n, despite entering an agreement with Taig, are on the case to remove any signs of piracy from the Chinese marketplace. Evasi0n had hoped that their “cooperation with Taig will improve the piracy situation in China”, and will continue to remove pirated apps where they are discovered.


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Partnering with parents can help ensure the success of mobile learning programs
Despite their support for mobile learning, parents consider most apps and content that their children use regularly “purely entertainment.”
Don’t overlook parents as key partners in the success of mobile learning initiatives, a new report suggests.
The report, commissioned by AT&T and written by Grunwald Associates based on a national survey, highlights the perceptions of parents of a mobile generation, from preschoolers through high school-age students. It confirms that strong educational leadership can have a positive influence on how parents view mobile learning initiatives.
“Parent perceptions matter,” the report states. “Their support and influence can smooth the way for educational technology in schools and help overcome the limitations of school coffers, without which digital initiatives can stall.”
Parents who report that their children’s schools use mobile devices for learning have much stronger positive perceptions than other parents do about the learning benefits of mobile technology, the report says, adding: “Seeing, perhaps, is believing.”
Seventy-seven percent of families have at least one smart phone at home, and almost half (46 percent) have at least one tablet. Tablet ownership isn’t just for the tech savvy or for those who tend to buy the next new shiny object, either, the report says; 44 percent of parents who say they can be intimidated by technology already own tablets.
Parents of high school students report higher ownership of portable computers, MP3 players, and the iPod Touch. Parents of students in grades 3-5 report higher ownership of handheld gaming devices, tablets, and eReader devices, and parents of pre-K children report the highest ownership of smart phones.
“The takeaway here: Family ownership of technology tracks with the stages of children’s development,” the report says. “The exception is smart phone ownership among pre-K parents.”
(Next page: Five recommendations for school leaders)


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Fun things happening all over Michigan.
Ride to the beat, just don't call it spin.
Legendary burger hot spot Clyde's Drive-in in Sault Ste. Marie opens for the winter Feb. 12-16, 2020. Just in time for Valentine's Day.
It's like a crazy orange disco, complete with stations and sweat.
Find your new favorite pizza place.
Cast your vote through February 21.
Cheddar cheese, bacon and chives, oh my! The Brick o' Fries is one of the most popular appetizers at Alpine Tavern & Eatery in Gaylord.
Gonzo & Amy: Ice festivals, winter carnivals and more are on tap this weekend all across Michigan.
Greenbush Brewing Company brews this big, beautiful beer.
This just might be better than therapy.
Faster Horses 2020 is July 17-19, 2020 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Tickets are on sale now for alumni. The public on sale is 10 a.m. Feb. 7. Headliners are Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean.
The legendary Dogman has reared his head in the the body of a Scotch Ale from Beards Brewery in Petoskey.


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While there are ongoing speculations as to when exactly cruise ships are expected to return in full to St. Maarten, the Federation of St. Kitts/ Nevis is forecasting a massive injection of near $ 200 M in their economy during the period of November 2017 thru January 2018. The National Newspaper of St. Kitts/Nevis reported that the Honorable Minister of Tourism Lindsay Grant in a sitting of Parliament credit the increase to a booming cruise tourism industry there.
It could be safely adjudicated that since the passing of Irma, cruise tourism has shifted from St. Maarten to other parts of the Caribbean including St. Kitts/Nevis, since we were in no position to host these Cruise Liners. This was not mention as one of the reason for the sudden increase of cruise visitors to St. Kitts, but could have very well been the reason. The Minister of Tourism in St. Kitts also boasted that never before has this been seen in the history of their cruise industry.
St. Marten over the years has been able to build up a cruise tourism product and infrastructure that was able to attract the amount of cruise traffic it enjoyed as one of the leaders in the industry but as a result of the hurricanes in September it changed the itinerary of all these ships scheduled to visit St. Maarten, to another countries in the region. St Kitts could easily be one of those countries benefiting, thanks to Irma.
The Business Research and Economic Advisors Report in St. Kitts reported every visitor to St. Kitts spends about $ 111.00 and the 14 ships that will visit in one week alone is unprecedented. Grant says in November they are expecting 76 calls, in December 115 and in January 88 calls. “Therefore between November, December and January, Their economy will see almost $ 200 M pumped into it and that is fantastic news for St. Kitts & Nevis” the Minister said.
St. Maarten on the other hand, has dropped from the number one destination of choice for cruise visitors to almost no ships at all after Irma; there is no wonder St. Kitts can boast of their booming cruise industry and that is until St. Maarten could be back up on its feet again. A slow and soft return of cruise ships are already on schedule for December onwards.


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May 16, 2019
Ace to collaborate with the VFW to distribute 1 million American flags nationwide this Memorial Day
In the true spirit of Memorial Day, Ace Hardware is once again collaborating with the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Ace Hardware is pledging to give out 1 million American flags nationwide on Saturday, May 25. Consumers are encouraged to visit participating Ace stores to receive a free 8” x 12” American flag* on May 25, while a second flag is donated to a local VFW Post to be used for marking and honoring veteran graves this Memorial Day.
“We are proud to again affirm our long-standing commitment to honoring veterans by supporting VFW Posts and local communities,” said John Surane, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer for Ace Hardware. “This Memorial Day, Ace stands with the VFW in honoring the courage of the brave men and women who have sacrificed everything for their country. We applaud the VFW for the incredible support they continue to provide for veterans nationwide and are grateful to be able to work together with our loyal customers to honor the fallen this Memorial Day.”
Benjamin Moore paints will be available at participating Ace stores across the country by Spring 2020 Ace Hardware Corporation and Benjamin Moore are pleased to announce an expanded relationship that…
The world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative has achieved this ranking 12 out of the last 13 years Ace Hardware ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Home Improvement Retail Stores” in…
McGuckin Hardware is ending its 30-year partnership with the True Value co-op as of Dec. 31, 2016, and will start buying from the Ace Hardware co-op as of Jan. 1,…


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Soaring price is currently becoming consumers’ main barrier to sustainable living, claimed a report by Kantar recently, highlighting how sustainability is increasingly becoming a luxury of wealthy consumers.
According to Kantar’s Sustainability Sector Index 2022, 65 per cent of global consumers want to do more to be more mindful of the planet and the environment, but their increased cost of living prevents them from doing so. Beyond affordability, lack of knowledge about sustainable alternatives is the main barrier preventing people from living sustainably.
About 29 per cent of consumers globally are ‘actives’, who are prepared to spend more time and effort to reduce their impact on the planet while 47 per cent of consumers say they have stopped buying a product or service because of its impact on the environment or society. This increases to 87 per cent of active consumers.
Despite the desire to become sustainable – 97 per cent of people are prepared to take action to live a more sustainable lifestyle –price currently is becoming consumers’ main barrier to sustainable living. 68 per cent of consumers believe that products that are better for the environment and society are more expensive. 65 per cent want to do more to be more mindful of the planet and the environment, but their increased cost of living prevents them from doing so.
Only one in three (35 per cent) of consumers who are ‘struggling’ with the cost of living actively seek out companies and brands that offer ways to offset their impact on the environment compared to 53 per cent of those who are financially ‘comfortable’. Alongside price, knowing the sustainable alternatives is the second major barrier for sustainable behaviour. 57 per cent feel that it is too difficult to tell which products are good or bad ethically, or for the environment.
Commenting on the findings, Karine Trinquetel, sustainability expert, global head of Kantar’s sustainability transformation practice offer, said: “Despite all the other crises happening across the world, the desire to become sustainable has not eroded. However, sustainability products too often come at a premium, and that gets in the way of mass adoption. This is common even among the most engaged consumers, 77 per cent of whom believe that sustainable products are more expensive, and price prevents them from doing more for the planet.
“As a result, sustainability is too often the luxury of the wealthier in society – and businesses miss out on this massive commercial opportunity. To realise the mainstream opportunity, brands must scale up and go to market at a price point the mass market can afford. Beyond price, brands must recognise that consumers have a sophisticated understanding of where brands should be focusing in each sector, and develop sustainability strategies that address these concerns.”


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Australia’s Engagement With Entertainment Apps Grows
Despite Australians being less housebound this year, engagement with entertainment apps continued to rise, according to the latest Australian Mobile App Report.
However, the installation of new apps decreased and 2022 showed just a 2% rise from pre-pandemic levels in 2019 as consumers still checked out new apps hitting the market.
The growth figure was 8% in 2020 when lockdowns began.
“We’re still seeing double digit year-on-year growth in Australia within that space – and entertainment and shopping are the key battlegrounds,” said Bobbie Gersbach-Smith, planning director of APAC at M&C Saatchi Performance, which compiled the report with app monitors Branch and data.ai (formerly App Annie).
Daily times spent by Australians on across-the-board apps during Q2 2022 topped 4.9 hours, translating to 30% of waking hours spent on mobile apps.
That was a 40% growth, equalling Singapore, and exceeding those in the U.S., Japan, the U.K. and Germany.
The 16—34 age group’s time on mobile was the highest, with over three hours daily. But the figure was greater for entertainment, which the report places as the third biggest category.
Gaming was the most sought after, making up one-third of app downloads in Australia (mirroring the global market) and followed by tools.
After entertainment came shopping, photo & video, health & fitness, social & finance.
Jesika Dalal, Branch’s director of marketing for APAC and MEA, said of entertainment’s faster rate of engagement: “It’s growing month on month. Australians still have an appetite for video and audio app entertainment even though we’ve come back to normalcy.
“This is being driven largely by the younger generation, the 18 to 34s, who are actually flocking to streaming platforms.”
Dalal pointed out that while the average Australian time a day on mobile apps is 4.9 hours, “if you look at the entertainment perspective, Australians are spending 11 hours a month on an average, consuming livestreaming, music and OTT apps.
“Streaming apps have a highly engaged user base.
“However, the battleground is shifting from mass user acquisition to user retention.”
But retaining entertainment app users is a big challenge for mobile marketers.
The report showed that users tried out many latest entertainment apps but close to 75 per cent of installs were lost in the first three days.
This further declined to nearly 82 per cent within 30 days.
Suggested ways to offset this was for marketers to increase their ROI (Return on Investment) during the critical first 3-7 day period by focussing on a good user experience.
This was by personalising users’ experiences and removing redundancy in user interactions, fixing touchpoints and creating connected, cohesive opportunities with deep linking for users to interact with the app no matter what channel, platform, or device they’re on.
Another best practice was to make product interaction easy to build trust and preference.


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- Top 10 Car Features Women Love - October 7, 2023
- 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Hot Lap! – 2016 Best Driver’s Car Contender - September 10, 2023
- Fixing the ’67 Jeep Wagoneer! | Roadkill Garage - September 9, 2023
BERLIN — Audi is pausing production of key models at one of its German factories because of supply chain problems.
Production of the A4, A5 and A8 cars in Neckarsulm will be suspended from May 16 to May 20, Audi said.
The pause results from the war in Ukraine, the ongoing semiconductor shortage, and COVID-19 lockdowns in China, the automaker said.
The supply situation “remains volatile and short-term changes are always possible,” an Audi spokesman told Automoitve News Europe by email.
The A6/A7 model family will continue to be manufactured in Neckarsulm as usual. That also applies to the sports cars R8 and E-Tron GT, which are built at the Boellinger Hoefe site in Heilbronn, according to the spokesperson.
Audi has also extended short time working for employees at its Neckarsulm and Ingolstadt sites until May 31 because of supply chain difficulties.


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“Apple investors will be judging two competing headlines as the market opens on June 22: Will they worry about the mortality of Jobs, long believed to be the irreplaceable creative and aesthetic powerhouse of Apple, or will they decide that the successful launch of the latest iPhone is sufficiently good news to warrant buying more Apple stock?” Arik Hesseldahl asks for BusinessWeek.
“The liver-transplant news could in fact turn out to be a positive, said Charles Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Co. in New York and a longtime Apple watcher, on June 21. Assuming the surgery was successful and Jobs suffers no serious complications, the prognosis is generally good for liver-transplant patients,” Hesseldahl reports. “This fact would seem to remove much of uncertainty about Jobs’ ability to continue on the job for the foreseeable future, Wolf says. ‘What Apple would seem to want to do is defuse the ‘Jobs premium’ around this stock. The last year has just been crazy with rumors that he’s healthy or not healthy, moving the stock 5 or 10 points,’ he says. ‘That hasn’t been good for the company, it hasn’t been good for investors, it hasn’t been good for anyone.'”
Hesseldahl reports, “Apple, which did not comment for this story, maintains that Jobs is expected to be back at work by the end of the month, though it has not yet been more specific about the date of his expected return.”
Hesseldahl reports, “Whether his return is full-time or part-time is almost beside the point. Any return by Jobs to his office at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino will be seen as good news by Apple investors and fans. ‘It takes some uncertainty out of the Apple story,’ says Needham’s Wolf. ‘I talked to investors who thought seriously that Jobs would not return to Apple ever. Now it all looks like good news. He has a pretty good chance of being around for another five years at least.'”
Full article here.


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PIL Gets Environmental Ship Index Certification for Its 500K TEU Fleet
Singapore’s container shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) has obtained the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) certification for its fleet comprised of about half a million TEUs.
As explained, this is a major milestone for the ship owner and operator ahead of the transition towards the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sulphur cap 2020 from January 1 next year.
ESI certification is an ongoing initiative by the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP) and is a voluntary program for ship owners to enroll their vessels – attesting that their vessels exceed the basic standard set by the IMO.
To qualify for the certification, vessels have to demonstrate that their emission level of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulphur oxide (SOx) and carbon oxide (CO2) is well below what is allowed by the IMO. This is an indicator of the environmental performance of the ocean-going vessels and is aimed at encouraging the adoption of green ships.
Back in 2017, the International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH) set up WPSP with the aim of enhancing and coordinating future sustainability efforts of ports worldwide as well as fostering international cooperation with partners in the supply chain.
“Sustainability will remain a key part of how we conduct our business and we take protecting our maritime and port environment very seriously. We are doing this not just for ourselves but for the next generation who will be inheriting this earth from us,” Teo Siong Seng, Executive Chairman and MD of PIL, commented.
“PIL is proud to be part of the program and we will continue to engage with business, governmental and societal stakeholders to create sustainable value-add to the local communities and beyond,” he added.
PIL owns and operates with a fleet of around 150 container and multipurpose vessels, serving over 500 locations in 100 countries.


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Microsoft Vista was the company’s despised stepchild – released way past schedule, clunky, slow and disdained so much by the market that PC manufacturers started offering “downgrades” to Windows XP to attract customers.
Despite the embarrassment, Microsoft retained its position as the world’s leading software company and does so today. But Vista certainly did hurt Microsoft and today’s marketplace shows the deep, long term effects of that damage.
Research website Asymco earlier this week looked at the ratio of Windows PCs sold to the sales of Apple Macs over the last 30 years. The ratio peaked at 56 to 1 in 2004.
Today that ratio is 18 and when phone and tablet sales are added in, the ratio is approaching 1:1. Apple has caught up.
It’s no accident 2004 is the peak of the Windows-Apple ratio. In 2004 Windows XP had matured after three years on the market, the older computers running Windows 98 or ME (another hated operating system) were being retired and a new version of Windows – codenamed Longhorn – taking advantage of newer technologies and with improved security was due to be released.
On August 27, 2004 things started to change with Microsoft’s announcement Longhorn would be delayed two years. This effectively broke the product roadmap that underpinned the business models of Microsoft and their partners.
To make matters worse, Apple were back in the game with their OSX operating system well established and a steady stream of well designed new products coming onto the market.
For consumers and businesses one of the advantages Windows systems had over Apple was the cost difference. The “Apple Tax” started to be eroded by the company’s move to Intel CPUs which delivered economies of scale coupled an aggressive program of tying up the supply chain with key manufacturers.
Then Longhorn – now known as Microsoft Vista – was released.
Despite the cheerleading of the Microsoft friendly parts of the technology media, consumers weren’t fooled. The product was slow and buggy with a new interface that confused users. Making matters worse was Microsoft’s ongoing obsession with multiple versions offering different features, something mocked by Steve Jobs, which further confused the marketplace.
Vista languished, customers decided to stick with Windows XP or to look at the faster and better designed Apple computers, and Microsoft’s market share started to slowly erode.
By the time Windows 7 was released Apple had clawed back their market position, launched the iPhone and caught the shift from personal computers to smartphones.
Probably the biggest embarrassment of all to Microsoft was the launch of the iPad, the market had been gagging for good tablet computer since the late 1990s and Microsoft’s partners had failed to deliver, partly because Windows XP, Vista and 7 didn’t perform as well as Apple’s iOS on the tablet form factor.
Microsoft’s completely blowing a decade’s lead in the tablet market is almost certainly due to the misguided priorities and feature creep that dogged Vista’s development. This is now costing the company dearly.
Asymco’s conclusion of Microsoft’s new market position is stunning and accurate.
The consequences are dire for Microsoft. The wiping out of any platform advantage around Windows will render it vulnerable to direct competition. This is not something it had to worry about before. Windows will have to compete not only for users, but for developer talent, investment by enterprises and the implicit goodwill it has had for more than a decade.
It will, most importantly, have a psychological effect. Realizing that Windows is not a hegemony will unleash market forces that nobody can predict.
Vista’s cost to Microsoft was great, it meant the company missed the smartphone surge, the rise of tablets and – possibly most dangerous of all to Microsoft – the move to cloud computing.
A lot hangs on Microsoft’s next operating system, Windows 8. Another Vista could kill the company.


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Kroger To Close All Stores In Triangle
Grocery store chain Kroger plans to close all 14 of its stores in the Raleigh-Durham on August 14th and lay off around 1,500 workers.
“They never really made the kind of impact in North Carolina in the Triangle that they thought they could. They were a Midwestern store," NC State University economist Mike Walden told WRAL.
Kroger will still have a big presence in the Triangle through Harris Teeter, the local grocery chain Kroger bought in 2014. The company plans to sell eight of the Kroger locations to Harris Teeter and a couple others to Food Lion and Crunch Fitness.
The company says it will help he Kroger employees find new jobs. More than half are part-time.
Kroger entered the Raleigh-Durham area in 1989. The company is based in Cincinnati.


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Realme unveiled two new C series smartphone Realme C12 and Realme C15 and Realme Buds Classic in India. Both smartphones bring a massive 6000mAh battery.
Last month Realme launched the C11 smartphone under the C series and the company already launched Realme C15 and C12 in Indonesia. Users can get a 6,000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging and strong Quad camera support in this smartphone and C12 with a 6,000 mAh battery and 10W fast charging technology.
Realme Buds classic gives you a better sound experience in-ear at just rupees 399 and the first sale will start on 24 August at 12 pm on Amazon.in
Realme also launched new Dare To Be design T-Shirt at just rupees 999 and available at Realme Store on 4 September.


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The directors of Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan & Asia have announced when they will host their press conference in the run-up to the Tokyo Game Show this year. So you can already mark the date in the calendar.
After the Gamescom had the look of the game industry in Cologne last week, the Tokyo Game Show in Japan will take place within a few weeks. In the run-up to the show, Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan & Asia will once again host a press conference and introduce some new games, mainly for the Asian market. It is not at all possible that some of these games will also find their way to Europe.
Meanwhile, Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan & Asia has announced when the press conference will take place. The event is scheduled to take place on 19 September 2017 at 4 pm local time. So you will be able to watch YouTube at 9 o’clock and find out what titles Sony Interactive Entertainment and numerous third party publishers have in store for Asia.
Of course, we will keep you up-to-date when the press conference takes place next month, so you will not miss the latest game announcements. In Europe, Sony Interactive Entertainment will host a media showcase at 17:00 on October 30th, 2017 at the Paris Games Week.


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“Keep up with the latest fashion and more with our complimentary weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter.”
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Chanel, a renowned French fashion brand, turned the streets of Manchester into a high-end runway for its annual Métiers d’Art fashion show.
Celebrities Kristen Stewart, Hugh Grant, and Tilda Swinton were in attendance at the event, shielded from the rain by a large perspex canopy installed over Thomas Street specifically for the occasion.
The yearly Chanel collection, called the Métiers d’Art and translated as “art professions”, celebrates the independent workshops that Chanel acquired starting in 1984. It is created to showcase the company’s commitment to preserving the artistry associated with French luxury.
The event changes its location every year, with past cities including New York, Rome, Dakar, Salzburg, Dallas, and its home base. The last time the event was held in the UK was in 2012 at Linlithgow Castle in Scotland.
According to Bruno Pavlovsky, the president of fashion at Chanel, the city of Manchester’s rich musical history and vibrant creative atmosphere were the main factors that drew the attention of Chanel executives.
“Too many things happen in London and we wanted to be in the UK out of London,” he said. “We decided to come to Manchester because it was the most inspiring for Virginie [Viard, creative director]. She was inspired by the music and art that she sees here in Manchester, and we’ve had a warm welcome.”
Chanel was clearly interested in acknowledging its new setting: the soundtrack of the show was curated with Manchester-based artists, including popular bands like The Fall and New Order, as well as current local rappers like Aitch and Bugzy Malone.
Gene, 22, and Lennon, 24, the two sons of Liam Gallagher, were present at the event along with Anais, 23, the daughter of Noel Gallagher, unlike their parents who had a history of sibling rivalry.
During the fashion show, the models sported tweed baker boy caps paired with pastel-colored suits and flat Mary Jane shoes, in line with Chanel’s signature ladylike suit style that was first introduced and made popular in the 1950s.
Coco Chanel discovered tweed jackets while staying at her lover, the Duke of Westminster’s country home in Cheshire. She was so enamored with the fabric that she brought it back to Paris and used it in her iconic tweed suits, which became a signature of her fashion house when she relaunched it in 1953 at the age of 70 after a 14-year break from the industry.
According to the BBC, Chanel has provided compensation to businesses in Manchester affected by their catwalk event. However, some nearby shops and pubs were forced to shut down for a period of two weeks as the company began preparations for the event.
Manchester City’s cabinet member for culture, Councillor Luthfur Rahman, has not revealed the amount paid by the firm to the city. However, he did mention that the firm has invested in the city and emphasized the positive impact the event will have on the local economy.
He stated that Chanel’s decision to come to Manchester shows that we are on the right track. He also mentioned that the show is beneficial for the city’s goal of becoming a worldwide destination.
Some members of the community believed that the extravagant fashion event, which is believed to have been extremely expensive, was not a wise decision considering the financial struggles faced by many residents due to the rising cost of living. A protester held a sign demanding that the city council prioritize essential needs over luxury items, stating “We need food and heat, not luxury goods.”


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A famous auction house has unveiled a rare black diamond that is possibly from outer space.
On Monday, Sotheby's said, "The Enigma" is a 555.55-carat that will go on exhibit in Dubai, Los Angeles, and London beginning Jan. 17.
The diamond is believed to have either been created after a meteoric impact or from a diamond-bearing asteroid that collided with Earth, the auction house said.
According to the Associated Press, the diamond will go up for auction in London in February and is expected to fetch at least $6.8 million.
Sotheby's said in 2006 it was listed as the world's largest cut diamond in "Guinness Book of World Records."


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Sony PlayStation is gambling on the appeal of VR to players with the launch of the new PS VR 2, Sony’s most recent VR headset.
It is built to perform with the PlayStation 5, Sony’s future-gen console that’s been plagued with producing delays thanks to continual semiconductor shortages.
But with a £530 price point throughout a price tag of dwelling disaster, it remains to be seen no matter if there is demand from customers for a product that only seriously appeals to a niche of gamers.
It is no solution that PlayStation enthusiasts are normally willing to pay out a quality value tag for their tech – but it nonetheless would seem like a whole lot of funds for individuals who currently use a PS5.
During the pandemic ‘scalpers’ snapped up consoles and resold them for a occasionally hugely inflated rate tag. They didn’t appear to have too substantially issues selling on the PS5s then.
Expenditure Director at AJ Bell, Russ Mould, explained to Sky News: “As semiconductor companies ramp up source, it will be exciting to see if VR launches, these kinds of as that from Sony, give need a further elevate, though inflation and increases in the price of living are a likely limiting issue.”
Stockists have been reporting continual provides, perhaps indicating that supply chain concerns have at last been remedied.
The premium cost tag delivers high quality tech. The PSVR 2 has a much increased resolution of 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye, compared to 960 x 1080 pixels for each eye for the initial product. This implies that the illustrations or photos will be sharper and extra realistic on the PSVR 2 .
The PSVR 2 characteristics OLED shows instead of LED shows, which Sony say helps make for truer blacks and more vivid colours.
OLED displays also have faster response times and reduced latency, which cuts down movement blur and nausea.
The addition of eye-tracking technologies adjusts the aim and graphics based mostly on the place you glance, and permits for a lot more purely natural interactions and dynamic rendering, which optimises general performance and excellent.
Meta unveiled its Quest 2 VR headset in 2020. There has been no competitors from Xbox so considerably, inspite of rumours of a single being in the functions circulating for some time.
Previous Meta personnel and tech expert, Will Guyatt explained to Sky Information: “When it arrives to complex skill and horsepower, the new PS VR2 is literal miles in advance of Meta’s total Oculus array, like the a short while ago released Pro headset – which fees pretty much 3 periods as a great deal.
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“Sony’s diverse vary of launch titles are not just showcases of the tech, they show there is a long run in VR which is improving just about every generation.”
The new model will launch with 37 VR-enabled online games, with Horizon Contact of the Mountain having centre phase and creating on the recently released Horizon Forbidden West.
Sol Rogers, Worldwide Director of Innovation at Magnopus, a firm which results in bespoke VR ordeals for firms these kinds of as Disney, and Chair of the Immersive Entertainment Advisory Group for the BAFTAs believes the start will “bring a new crowd”.
He advised Sky News: “Demand for VR gaming is raising as technological innovation improves and the VR ecosystem expands, earning it far more accessible.”
And he pointed out that Apple will also be getting into the VR current market this year and is positive to launch with apps to accompany its hardware.
Sony is muscling in on an marketplace teaming with competitors, some of which contain the Meta Quest 2: a standalone VR headset that can also hook up to a Personal computer and retails for £399.
Then there is the HP Reverb G2, which expenditures £599- and the Valve Index: a superior-close Pc-based mostly VR headset which arrives in at £919.
The PSVR2 will be a litmus exam for the amount of discretionary shopper expend in the gaming business, and the reputation of VR gaming. It will also focus minds at Microsoft as it prepares its rumoured Xbox competitor.
Both way, all components producers are betting on the VR sector expanding – whether or not it does, only time will tell.


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LG G7 render surfaces revealing dual front-facing cameras
Last year's LG G6 had to make do with the prior year's Snapdragon 821 SoC thanks to a deal between Qualcomm and Samsung that gave the latter first dibs on the Snapdragon 835. While there have been rumors that the LG G7 will have to be powered by 2017's Snapdragon 835 chipset, more recent speculation has the new Snapdragon 845 under the phone's hood.
LG recently made a splash at CES when it announced that it would no longer release new handsets unless "it is needed," whatever that means. In addition, it won't release new models during a certain time period just to match the release dates of its competitors (mainly Samsung). The company also plans on getting rid of the "G" name for its new smartphones.
We expect the LG G7 to be unveiled in the middle of March, and as we pointed out earlier, released in April instead of March like last year, and the year before that.
source: TigerMobiles via AndroidCentral


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Gold futures ended higher on Friday after data pointed to weak US inflation, reaffirming doubts that the US central bank would again hike interest rates this year. The Labor Department said its consumer price index was flat in June after edging down by 0.1 percent in May. US retail sales unexpectedly decreased for the second consecutive month in June. The Commerce Department said retail sales fell by 0.2 percent in June after edging down by a revised 0.1 percent in May.
Gold futures for August delivery gained $10.20 or 0.84 percent, to settle at $1,227.50 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile. While, spot gold was up 0.96 percent at $1,228.61 an ounce.


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The state-of-the-art facility will create new jobs in the Indianapolis area and unlock new distribution routes and capabilities. The company continues to support Indiana communities and employees with numerous COVID-19 relief programs.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) officially announced the grand opening of a state-of-the-art, custom built sales and distribution center on the Southeast side of Indianapolis, spanning 200,000 square feet across nearly 25 acres. The new facility will enhance PBNA's world-class service to customers in the region and beyond, featuring new innovations in technology and delivery systems that allow for new chilled, direct-to-store delivery. The new technology will help unlock 150 new routes for delivery, and greatly reduce the overall carbon footprint of business operations in the market via mile reduction.
"The innovative new facility will be instrumental in our path to continued growth for our business and our customers' business in Indiana," said Richard Tompkins, President, North Division – PBNA. "We are proud that the PepsiCo business and our 4,000 employees contribute millions to Indiana's economy annually. This facility – in addition to the 15 PepsiCo manufacturing and distribution locations around the state of Indiana – is a strong testament to our teams' passion and commitment to succeed on every level."
The $14.5 million investment by Scannell Properties, will be leased by P-America LLC, a subsidiary of PepsiCo Beverages North America, for a period of 10 years. The new facility project has created 30 new jobs and retains 467 full time employees at PBNA facilities located in Indianapolis.
"We applaud PepsiCo's announcement today, including the impact it will have on Indianapolis through the creation of new jobs and expansion of their local footprint, as well as their support of a critical social service agency on the front line of the pandemic," said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. "Indianapolis has a long legacy of private/public partnerships and PepsiCo is building upon that, growing their business operations while investing in their neighbors during this difficult time."
In addition to the new sales and distribution center, PepsiCo also announced a $30,000 grant to the Gleaners Food Bank – Feeding America Program in Indiana as part of a continued effort to help combat the devastating effects of COVID-19. Funding for Gleaners Food Bank will support the company's Summer Feeding Program, which will distribute family meal boxes consisting of 25 pounds of shelf-stable grocery items to families in need throughout the Indianapolis community. These boxes will be distributed through existing partner channels: The Indianapolis Community Cupboard; Mobile Pantries; and School Based Pantries for school-aged children in need during the summer months and due to school closures.
"Through PepsiCo's recent grant, Gleaners Food Bank will provide family meal boxes to 1,500 families in need throughout Marion County," said John Elliott, Gleaners President/CEO. "Food has always been at the heart of PepsiCo's business, and we're appreciative of their local efforts to bring food and access to food during this incredibly difficult time."
Additionally, PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation have been taking an active role in Indiana and the PBNA North Division through trusted partners and causes to help in COVID-19 relief efforts, including:
- More than 366,000 servings of PepsiCo products to Midwest Food Bank, New Wine Skin Ministries, Indy Ryder and Gleaners Food Bank.
- 40,000 bottles of Gatorade to all major area hospitals, the Indianapolis Fire Department, Metropolitan Police Department, Bargersville Fire Department, Johnson County Sheriff's Department and more in Indianapolis through the Steve Lew Real Estate group: #HydrateOurHeros.
- A $250,000 grant to GENYOUth's COVID-19 Emergency School Nutrition Fund, including $4,000 to two schools in Indianapolis (Christel House Academy and Pike High School).
- The PepsiCo Foundation provided No Kid Hungry $1 million in critical funding to support their coronavirus response and recovery efforts across the country. No Kid Hungry has provided emergency grants to several Indianapolis area schools and community groups.
- Martin Luther King Multi-Service Center Indianapolis is delivering meals to kids in need all across the district.
- Indianapolis Parks and Recreation are serving approximately 1,650 meals a day, through both partner sites and mobile delivery units.
- MSD Lawrence Township is using grant funds to provide five days' worth of breakfasts and lunches each Monday via five drive-thru locations.
- MSD Pike Township is leveraging the grant to provide up to 16,000 meals a day to kids at local schools and apartment complexes throughout the district.
- The Patachou Foundation is using grant funds to provide healthy meals to kids in need in the community.
- The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has provided over 30,000 grants to out-of-work restaurant workers across the country, including over 300 in Indiana.
- Funding for Food for Good which has provided 360 meals to local families in need, as part of PEP Foundation's partnership with Baylor University and the USDA.
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $67 billion in net revenue in 2019, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.


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The site where Vallco Fashion Park used to sit may soon see new life as a mixed-use space, though not nearly at the same scope the developers were originally intending.
Let’s see where the project, dubbed “The Rise,” is at now.
Sand Hill Property Company finished their purchase of the remaining Vallco retail space in 2014, and the mall officially closed its doors in 2018 — following the exodus of the remaining tenants. Plans for the space solidified as “The Rise” in March of 2022.
Originally, one of the project’s signature features included a rooftop park, but has now changed to become a seven acre, street-level public park.
Retail space will be decreasing ~50% as well — from 429,000 sqft to 230,000 sqft — and will prioritize smaller retailers and restaurants.
Other changes to the plan involve the residential side of the mixed-use space. Instead of seven 240-ft residential towers, the new plan calls for three shorter towers along with 85-ft or shorter homes.
While the overall number of homes will increase by 10% (up to 2,669 total units), the number of those that will be affordable will be scaled back from ~1,200 to 890 units.
Cupertino City Council still needs to approve the new plans, and will take the next ~60 days to review, per state law.
Sand Hill says they still need to prepare the site for construction, which could begin in 2024. The full project will break ground in 2025.


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BidorBuy today announced that it has integrated Paypal payments to its online auction platform. In South Africa, PayPal is linked with First National Bank.
PayPal is however not offered as one of the default payment methods on BidorBuy, and to be able to receive PayPal payments for items sold on the site, sellers need to request this option.
Higgins adds that about 98 percent of all transactions concluded on BidorBuy are done within national boundaries, and for domestic use the company has developed bobPay-EFT, a free internet payment method covering all four big South African banks (Absa, FNB, Nedbank and Standard Bank).
“It has to be emphasised that all PayPal transactions are done in American dollars”, says BidorBuy Managing Director Andy Higgins. “South Africans can’t use PayPal to trade in Rands. That is why PayPal probably will not be used widely in local transactions”.
BidorBuy has over 400,000 registered users and over 370,000 items listed for sale at any moment. The value of goods traded each month reaches about R30 million.
BidorBuy adds Paypal payments << Discussion


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Claimed front panel images of the new yet-unannounced iPhone 6s surfaced in another incriment – showing what is suggested to be a display assembly for the upcoming Apple’s next iPhone – iPhone 6s?
Photo has appeared online which shows the handsets display, this time with the LCD panel in place. However, the photos do not confirm that the device will be equipped with Force Touch sensing as has been rumored, they do appear slightly different from the corresponding parts for the iPhone 6.
The iPhone 6S alleged to pose with a 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080p dispplay, while the iPhone 6s Plus was said to have a 5.5-inch QHD display with 1440 pixel resolution screen. Further, M.I.C Gadget shares a few photos of what it says is a prototype version of the iPhone 6s. The device is not shown turned on and the photos themselves do not reveal any differences compared to the iPhone 6, but nevertheless, the source claims the device measures 7.1mm thick, slightly thicker than the 6.9mm iPhone 6 and matching the 7.1mm iPhone 6 Plus.
Both handsets are expected to use a new Apple A9 processor which will provide improved performance and graphics. Apple will definitely upgrade the phone’s front-facing and rear camera, where it is said to get a Full HD FaceTime camera and a rear is said to pack a 12MP sensor with 4K video recorder and apparently designed to capture photos in low light.