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Samsung Displays are Right at Home at CEDIA 2020
Samsung’s virtual showcase presents its new technologies and products for residential and commercial applications, including The Premiere, The Wall 1.2/1.6 and The Terrace.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. combines cutting edge technology with striking designs across its residential and commercial portfolios to address the needs of consumers in this new environment. For its dealer partners, Samsung is providing the channel with more programs, tools and resources to be more successful in more projects than ever before.
Samsung’s newest TV and Display technology, including the outdoor TV, The Terrace; Samsung’s first UST projector, The Premiere; and The Wall with 1.2./1.6 pixel pitch options, join its 2020 flagship 8K and 4K QLED TVS, and Lifestyle TVs, The Sero and new 32” and 75” sizes for The Frame. These new Lifestyle TVs offer fresh ways for installers to transform the home, with new integration and design options that ensure Samsung’s unrivaled viewing experience can be enjoyed anywhere – even outdoors.
“2020 has been quite the year. People are spending more time in their homes and in front of screens than ever before,” says Jim Mayo, Senior Director of Custom Install Channel/Strategy at Samsung Electronics America. “Our 2020 line of Lifestyle and QLED 8K and 4K TVs are designed to enhance the home no matter where they are placed – inside and out – ensuring designers and custom installers have all the product options, and tools to offer unique packages for their clients. Not only that, but our 5-Star Solutions platform and CI Platinum program are tailored specifically for CI and dealer success.”
Samsung remains committed to helping custom installers navigate 2020 with its 5-Star Solutions program and the new CI Platinum Program that launched earlier this year. Since February, the CI Platinum program has been an invite-only initiative for top dealers and installers, with benefits including improved margins, direct relationship with Samsung’s CI team, regional distributor inclusion, individual VIR programs, priority allocation, demo program enhancement and even an accommodation program. Membership in 5-Star Solutions has increased 20% since last year, with 5,000 active members.
For small to medium-sized businesses, the Pro TV and the outdoor Pro TV Terrace Edition are equipped with the Samsung Business TV app, allowing owners to create dynamic, customizable content right from their phone or tablet. With screen sizes spanning 43” to 75” and the Samsung Business TV app’s versatility, these new commercial solutions give integrators valuable tools to address their customers’ business needs in 2020, whether indoors or outdoors.
“This year has seen unprecedented changes in the way we relax at home. It’s also changed how we’ve been able to dine out. That’s why the displays showcased at CEDIA deliver outstanding picture quality, brightness and more options for custom installs in commercial and high-end residential projects,” said Mark Quiroz, Vice President of Marketing, Display Division at Samsung Electronics America. “Our portfolio’s flexibility is designed around the needs of the channel. Between The Wall 1.2/1.6, and the Pro TV and its Terrace Edition for outdoor applications, we have models and sizes that address virtually every application.”
An epitome of luxury, The Wall brings a new level of immersive viewing, delivering pure blacks and vibrant colors, ensuring consumers can experience never seen before picture quality in the comfort of their homes.
CEDIA 2020 attendees can virtually experience these innovations in display technologies, new audio products and the latest in connectivity, online at https://cediaexpo.com/.
For more information, visit www.samsung.com.


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John Pfahl of SRK said that cobalt’s days in the EV story were numbered, either due to technology development or overwhelming demand.
Technological development in the battery space and demand from consumers will eventually overwhelm the cobalt market, necessitating its removal from the equation and the end of the metals’ run in electric vehicles (EVs), according to John Pfahl of SRK Consulting.
Speaking to INN on the sidelines of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference this week, Pfahl said that while incentives for battery manufacturers and auto makers to engineer cobalt out of their products was reducing cobalt content in batteries, increased demand would squash any breathing room for the resources’ supply.
Even with reduced cobalt content, demand “will still overwhelm the cobalt market,” said Pfahl, who also said that the forecasts for EV uptake were still on track.
“For now cobalt is fine (because) we’ve got more cobalt supply than we’re going to use, and that can scale to a certain extent — but you do hit a limit of cobalt pretty quickly (as demand picks up),” he explained.
“If the battery makers don’t take cobalt out … we will hit a point where we are short of cobalt again.”
Pfahl said that future supply shortage in the face of increased demand would “probably be the last run of cobalt” before it was removed or substituted completely, something that battery makers have been working on for a while now. “Necessity is the mother of all invention, and there’s a lot of need to not use cobalt.”
Cobalt has been notoriously unloved in the battery space, known for sourcing difficulties as it’s often a by-product of mines focused on other metals. Those mines also tend to be located in less-than-ideal locations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which exposes investors and operators to heightened risk and tricky ethical questions around child labor. The other resources most commonly used in batteries — nickel and lithium — don’t have the same concerns.
Pfahl said the long-term future of the industry was still sound even as the COVID-19 coronavirus scare slows down the global economy, saying it was likely to be a “blip” in the first quarter of 2020.
2019 in review
Looking back on 2019, Pfahl also offered thoughts on how the EV market was faring, saying that the big story through the previous year was the “sustained success” of the Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model 3, which he described as “one of the bright spots of the industry.”
2019 was also the year the subsidies for electric vehicles in China — the world’s largest EV market — were scaled back. Pfahl said that this didn’t appear to have dampened expectations, however.
“Obviously when the Chinese subsidies came off at the end of the second quarter, that really hurt the Chinese market,” he said. “But we knew that was happening, and it looked like it was likely to impact it, and sure enough it did. It was a change, but it wasn’t a surprise.”
The overarching trend and development in the space was how much attention EV development was getting from the automotive sector, he said.
“What I think is impressive is the amount of money the auto manufacturers are pouring into EVs,” he said, and noted that while the broader media appear to be down on the industry, and general excitement about new vehicles also appears to be down, companies such as Ford (NYSE:F) and Volkswagen (OTC Pink:VLKAF,FWB:VOW) are putting significant money into EVs, including creating new models.
“The industry doesn’t seem to be shying away from (EVs) at all.”
Pfahl’s theory for a less enthusiastic public is that, because EVs had become so much more common, they had stopped being as exciting.
Competition is key, price (still) an issue
Increased competition is also helping the industry develop going forward, he said, adding that there is no such thing as a “Tesla killer” in any of the new upstarts or major automakers jumping on the hype train.
“We need more companies that are putting more desirable EVs out, and that will get consumers to flip and see this as a common thing — no longer is it a novelty to be worried about,” he said, referring back to an argument he has made before that carmakers need to stop making EVs niche offerings and start marketing them to the masses.
“Tesla is not going to revolutionise EVs by itself. They’ve done a great job of driving the industry forward, but the other companies need to step up to really make it mainstream.”
Lower year-on-year EV uptake in 2019 compared to 2018 was not much to be concerned about, said Pfahl.
“Because 2018 was such a growth year, people all of a sudden thought that EVs were here, that they would just go to the moon from there.” That was yet to happen because of accessibility, he said.
“One of my key points back in 2019 was that they were still too expensive … and that’s still the case. We’re not going to see this huge widespread uptake with them costing as much as they are and without a lot of attractive models out there … so I think that the industry is about where we expected it to be for anyone that pays attention to it.”
So what’s the sweet spot for EV pricing that would see mass uptake? Around US$25,000, according to Pfahl.
“If you look at the top selling vehicles in the US (putting aside pickup trucks), it’s Camrys, Accords, CR-Vs. They’re all US$25,000 cars,” he explained. “Until EVs can get close to that price point, they’re going to struggle to reach the masses.”
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Scott Tibballs, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.

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Dell Inc. and EMC Corp. announced that they intend to close the transaction to combine Dell and EMC on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Dell Technologies, the name of the new combined company, will begin operating immediately following the close of the transaction.
Today’s announcement follows regulatory approval of the Dell and EMC transaction by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), which has granted clearance for the companies’ proposed combination. MOFCOM approval was the final regulatory condition to closing the transaction. EMC shareholders approved the transaction on July 19, with approximately 98 percent of voting EMC shareholders casting their votes in favor of the merger, representing approximately 74 percent of EMC's outstanding common stock.
“This is an historic moment for both Dell and EMC. Combined, we will be exceptionally well-positioned for growth in the most strategic areas of next generation IT including digital transformation, software-defined data center, converged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, mobile and security,” said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies. “Our investments in R&D and innovation, along with our 140,000 team members around the world, will give us unmatched scale, strength and flexibility, deepening our relationships with customers of all sizes.”
“I am proud of everything we’ve built at EMC – from humble beginnings as a Boston-based startup to a global, world-class technology company with an unyielding dedication to our customers,” said Joe Tucci, chairman and chief executive officer of EMC. “The combination of Dell and EMC creates a new powerhouse in the industry – providing the essential technology for the next era in IT.”
At closing, EMC shareholders will receive $24.05 per share in cash in addition to a newly issued tracking stock linked to a portion of EMC’s economic interest in the VMware business. Based on the estimated number of EMC shares outstanding at the close of the transaction, EMC shareholders are expected to receive approximately 0.111 shares of new tracking stock for each EMC share. Upon close of the transaction, EMC shares under the ticker symbol “EMC” will be suspended from trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares of the tracking stock, trading under the ticker symbol “DVMT,” are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, September 7.
EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com.
ABOUT DELL TECHNOLOGIES
Dell Technologies listens to customers and delivers worldwide innovative technology, business solutions and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit www.dell.com .


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Lagerfeld, who last year revealed the secrets of his own 93-pound weight loss in "The Karl Lagerfeld Diet" book, was one of the big names who introduced his spring-summer collection at Paris Fashion week.
Lagerfeld's show on Oct. 4 featured Lily Donaldson, one of the crop of size zero models who have been criticised for encouraging young women to diet obsessively, who stepped out in a slinky navy jersey dress with bands looped about her slender body.
The Paris ready-to-wear shows kicked off Oct. 1 with the French fashion industry's leading official saying he did not believe organizers should ban the use of models considered underweight.
Didier Grumbach, head of the Chambre Syndicale - the body that governs French fashion - said that he did not plan to follow in the footsteps of Spanish authorities in setting guidelines for the minimum weight of models who appear on the catwalks.
"I think it's a non-issue. You don't solve public health problems by regulating the size of models," he told The Associated Press. "You know, fashion is only the reflection of what is happening in society. It is not the cause."
France's Health Ministry recently announced it was setting up a working group on body image, with the aim of establishing a charter with advertisers banning the use of excessively thin models.
Grumbach said he did not plan to take part in the government talks. "I honestly think we are not responsible for health problems," he said. "Let the Health Ministry take care of health problems, and let fashion designers choose models according to their taste."
2French designer Christophe Decarnin was certainly not in the mood to buck the prevailing appetite for super-skinny models. His spring-summer collection for Balmain focused on mini dresses that reflected this season's revival of body-conscious dressing, as epitomized by Azzedine Alaia and Gianni Versace in the 1980s.
Though only in his second season at the house, Decarnin made a splash by dressing French actress Audrey Tautou and American director Sofia Coppola at the Cannes film festival last May. The young Hollywood set should snap up his latest skimpy creations.
Australian model Gemma Ward, whose "alien" look has been a major fashion influence in the last two years, paraded in a thigh-skimming strapless dress in pleated olive chiffon that was fit for a modern-day Athena. Grecian influences abounded, from the sunray pleating of a white chiffon dress to the multi-strapped leather platform sandals.
Military influences came in the shape of cropped khaki cargo pants and distressed T-shirts riddled with little holes - much like the one front row guest Lenny Kravitz was wearing. "I think Paris is an incredibly inspiring city, so that's why I'm spending a lot of time here," said the rocker, who was taking in the show with his daughter Zoe.
For many fashion editors, too, Paris is the highlight of the month-long ready-to-wear collections, which have already steamed through New York, London and Milan.
The French capital is unique in allowing commercial juggernauts like Christian Dior and Chanel to coexist with conceptual designers like Martin Margiela and Yohji Yamamoto.
Paris has a history of defying prevailing ideals of beauty. British designer John Galliano shocked fashion editors last year by showing his creations on giants, identical twins, fat women, old men and dwarves, in what some observers described as a "freak show."
The Associated Press contributed to this report


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By Ian Haughey of Hoc's Fat Pigeon - 17th September 2012 7:05am
We are excited that we have at last found a source of good quality organic vegetables.
As we go into Autumn, we will be selling potatoes, carrots and onions to start at Hoc's Fat Pigeon.
Since we opened, we have often been asked about selling organic vegetables. Well, we are in our third year, so we haven't rushed into this, mainly because fresh vegetables were available in the village, but also because we could not find a local, reliable source of organic vegetables.
In the last couple weeks though, we have been introduced to a network of Organic producers by a good friend of ours who we approached over 12 months ago.
At the time there was a network of organic producers who could produce and distribute produce around the UK, and this has now started to filter through to smaller retail outlets. This is good news for us because we can collect a range of quality organic vegetables from our local farm wholesaler.
So, for all our customers who have waited patiently, this week we have an initial supply of potatoes, carrots and onions and over the next few weeks we will look to expand the range of produce.
Unfortunately our new scales will be a little longer in arriving, until then we can sell on our traditional Salter scales (Ibs), or we can sell by the bag.
Here's to plenty of good stews......Ian H
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The time for applying for the IPO of Himalayan Re-Insurance has been extended. The company has extended the time for applying for the IPO until Push 11, even though the IPO was opened to the public on Mangsir 27. Full application is not received for the IPO, So the company has extended the time for applying for the IPO. Along with this, the IPO of the company will remain open until Push 11.
Although the company has extended the time to apply for the IPO until Push 11, if the necessary number of applications are received before that, the process of applying will be closed in between.
11 lakh 56 thousand 434 people have applied for 2 crore 95 lakh 760 thousand shares of the 2 crore 49 lakh company released for the public. Now, the process of applying for the IPO will be closed after the application for about 41 lakh shares.
The company has issued the IPO at the rate of Rs 206 per share, adding a premium of Rs 106 per share to the marked price of Rs 100 per share. The sale manager of the IPO issued by the company is NMB Capital Limited. For the issuance of the IPO, the company has received an ‘ICRA NP IPO Issue Rating A’ from ICRA Nepal. This shows that the company’s financial liability capacity is secure.


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Lili, a U.S.-based mobile banking app specifically for freelancers, announced on Wednesday it secured $10 million through its seed funding round, which was led by Group 11 with participation from Foundation Capital, AltaIR Capital, Primary Venture Partners, and Torch Capital.
Founded in 2018, Lili reported that its checking account and mobile experience was created to “help balance work and life” with real-time expense management and tax savings. The company reported that since its app’s launch, ens of thousands of freelancers across dozens of industries and all 50 states have opened a Lili account.
“Whether they’re full-time independent workers or part-time freelancers, Lili’s customers span across many industries, from e-commerce shop owners to designers, programmers, fitness instructors, construction workers, chefs, beauty professionals and more.”
Lili’s app product features include:
- No account fees, minimum balance requirements, overdraft fees or foreign transaction fees
- Free access to 38,000 ATMs across the country
- Early direct deposit; provides access to payments up to two days earlier than with traditional banks
- Free expense management tool that allows users to track spending and categorize expenses in real-time with a quick swipe
- Tax savings tool that automatically puts aside a percentage of income in a “Tax Bucket” sub-account
- Visa Business debit card and mobile check deposits
- Real-time mobile alerts and insights on all income and expenses
- Instantly send and receive money through mobile payment apps like Cash App and Venmo
- Immediately receive funds directly from online marketplaces like Etsy and Shopify
Funds from the seed round will be used to build out the platform further and expand the product, marketing and operations teams.


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Goodman Group, a developer and manager of industrial property, will expand the existing warehouse operated by logistics company ILS on behalf of Inter Cars Group, the largest automotive spare parts distributor in Central and Eastern Europe. The project will increase ILS’s logistics space at the Goodman Sosnowiec Logistics Centre by 65 percent.
The warehouse will be tailored to ILS’s specific requirements and will be used to store and distribute auto parts for Inter Cars. Goodman will provide new warehouse space equipped with energy efficient LED lighting and additional office space. Completion of the project is planned for the first quarter of 2016.
“The expansion of our logistics operations in Sosnowiec will allow us to further develop our activity in the Upper Silesia region and will streamline our logistics. Rather than select a new location, Goodman was able to provide the perfect solution that will allow us to maintain operational efficiency in our supply chain as we grow,” said Wojciech Aleksandrowicz, CEO of ILS.
The existing facility was completed in December of 2014 and provides 24,760 sqm warehouse and 1,490 sqm of office area. The entire warehouse is fitted with LED lighting and was the first LED lighting project for Goodman in Poland.
“ILS’s decision to expand its warehousing space confirms that Goodman is able to build strong customer partnerships by earning the trust of our customers,” said Błażej Ciesielczak, Goodman Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe. “The choice of the logistics centre in Sosnowiec is also a result of its strategic location and our approach to property, which in underpinned by offering our customer flexibility, actively managed properties and our long-term ownership perspective.”
Goodman Sosnowiec Logistics Centre, with a target area of 66,000 sqm is located in the town of Maczki Bór, 15 km from Sosnowiec. The direct connection with the S1 express way, which connects the centre with the A4 and A1 motorways, guarantees ideal conditions for domestic and international distribution. The facility also has good access to public transportation.
In addition to the logistics centre in Sosnowiec, Goodman is developing another centre in the Upper Silesia region. A new warehouse is being built at the Goodman Gliwice Logistics Centre, of which 13,400 sqm is being built on a speculative basis.
Colliers International advised on the previous and current transaction. “Upper Silesia is one of the most attractive logistics regions in Poland, both in terms of demand from customers as well as space being built by developers. The main reason for this is the superbly developed infrastructure, which is being taken advantage of especially by logistics operators, such as ILS,” said Małgorzata Zbróg, Associate Director, Industrial and Logistics Agency at Colliers International.


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Amped Fitness Inks 36K-SF Lease at Former Palm Beach Post Campus
Amped Fitness is turning The Press into The Bench Press.
The gym is taking 35,900 square feet at The Press, a mixed-use development in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to an announcement from landlord Tricera Capital.
The gym, scheduled to open next winter, will serve as the western anchor of the development, which offers 120,000 square feet of retail space. Upscale grocery store Joseph’s Classic Market, set to open next month, will anchor the eastern portion.
Tricera is redeveloping the former Palm Beach Post campus, adding retail space and expanding the office component, which will total 136,000 square feet and where asking rents hover around $42 a foot.
Coworking operator Knotel will occupy 18,000 square feet as part of a 10-year lease. SROA Capital, a self-storage real estate investment firm, signed a 12-year lease for 25,900 square feet. The Palm Beach Post will remain a tenant.
On the retail side besides Joseph’s Classic Market, upscale hairdresser Salons by JC is taking 10,400 square feet, and South Florida juice chain Raw Jūce leased 1,700 square feet. A Starbucks on the premises is already open.
Only 5,000 square feet on the ground floor and 32,000 square feet on the second floor remain vacant.
Tricera, led by Ben Mandell, paid $24 million in 2019 for the 8-acre site at 2751 S Dixie Highway, adjacent to Belvedere Road. The developer has borrowed about $70 million to finance the project, public records show.
The Press is slated for delivery during the second quarter of next year.
Julia Echikson can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Google is tightening supervision of its Play store by forming a team who will screen new apps for malware and sexually explicit material.
While not adopting Apple’s approval process, Google’s special team will screen each Play Store app submitted by developers to spot earlier anything that runs afoul of its rules. According to the blog, it had already begun reviewing apps several months ago “to better protect the community and improve the app catalog”.
Eunice Kim, product manager for Google Play, said: “This new process involves a team of experts who are responsible for identifying violations of our developer policies earlier in the app lifecycle. We value the rapid innovation and iteration that is unique to Google Play, and will continue to help developers get their products to market within a matter of hours after submission, rather than days or weeks. In fact, there has been no noticeable change for developers during the rollout.”
As well as the code review process, Google Play has also rolled out improvements to the way it handles the status of publishing, so that developers now have more insight into why apps are rejected or suspended, and they can easily fix and resubmit their apps for minor policy violations.
“Over the past year, we’ve paid more than $7 billion to developers and are excited to see the ecosystem grow and innovate,” Kim said. “We’ll continue to build tools and services that foster this growth and help the developer community build successful businesses.”
Google Play also added an age-based rating system for apps and games to better help developers label their apps for the right audience. Consistent with industry best practices, this change will give developers an easy way to communicate familiar and locally relevant content ratings to their users and help improve app discovery and engagement by letting people choose content that is right for them. Starting in May, all new apps and updates to existing apps will require a completed questionnaire before they can be published on Google Play.


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Tech Layoffs – The cloud branch of Alibaba Group Holding, which provides online computing and storage services, is reducing its employees. The most recent round of layoffs will affect around 7% of its personnel working in the cloud unit. The corporation is streamlining its operations in preparation for an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
According to Reuters, the cloud unit has begun issuing severance payouts to affected staff as part of the downsizing process.
Recently, the Chinese digital behemoth revealed plans to sell and seek capital for four of its business units, including its logistics division, Cainiao. In keeping with these goals, Alibaba’s largest cloud service will become public next year.
This news follows Alibaba’s earlier disclosure this year about its restructuring strategy. Following a two-year regulatory onslaught on China’s technology sector, the business plans to separate itself into six distinct units.
Alibaba’s cloud segment earned 18.6 billion yuan ($2.69 billion) in the most recent quarter. This statistic, however, indicates a 2% decrease from the same period previous year.


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In a normal year, the holidays are a time for family and friends, a festive good mood – and the normal dangers for pets. They overeat, eat poisonous plants, and try to eat a ribbon or two. In this most unusual year, add Covid-19 and parent burnout. In short, the 2020 holidays should be a showcase for taking precautionary measures.
Covid-19 for cats and dogs
Although the virus is most dangerous to other people, it can also affect animals. Lorraine Corriveau, DVM, and a professor at Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine, stated in a college announcement that while there is limited information about how coronavirus can be transmitted from pets to individuals, there is evidence that humans carry the virus to animals can transfer. “It appears that it can spread from humans to animals in certain situations,” said Dr. Corriveau. “Therefore, people with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 should avoid contact with animals, including pets, livestock and wildlife.” It is the virus that leads to Covid-19.
As if the stress of the past 10 months wasn’t enough, let’s add vacation stress. In the pre-Before Covid era, animals could get into trouble in a variety of ways – their owners taking coats at the door, preparing a roast dinner, and playing after dinner. For a smart pet, a distraction is all it takes to steal a garlicky appetizer or to run for the glassy baby’s first Christmas decorations hanging on the Christmas tree within reach of his paw.
In an article on Covid-19 panic, Elissa Epel, PhD who studies stress, spoke about Covid-19 and her work at the University of California at San Francisco. “While some fears help us cope, extreme fears can turn into a coronavirus panic. When we are in a state of panic … we stress our children, we are more likely to make mistakes and make irrational decisions and behaviors . ”
While a little forbearance can be okay for a human, it can be trouble for a dog. The FDA stated that allowing too much too quickly could be a problem, especially for pets receiving gifts to eat at Christmas. “Unchewed treats for pets can get stuck in the windpipe (windpipe) or gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach and intestines).” Some of the warning symptoms are obvious. The FDA listed “drooling, choking, or vomiting” and suggested calling a veterinarian immediately.
Some food hazards can be harder to spot. “If a bone or chew toy gets stuck in your dog’s stomach or intestines, the symptoms may not be instant,” the agency said. In this case, owners should look for vomiting, diarrhea, inactivity or loss of appetite. These symptoms can appear days later, but it’s still important to contact a veterinarian.
Deck the halls (just keep it out of reach)
Vacationers bring home all kinds of beautiful gifts that are not edible. The FDA selected salt dough decorations and decorative plants. According to the FDA, the amount of salt in salt dough ornaments could be fatal to pets. The agency has suggested keeping salt dough ornaments out of reach and explaining to children that the ornaments are for decoration only and should never be given to pets.
In fact, many ornaments can pose a risk to pets. Dogs should be prevented from playing with glass ornaments that can break. Glass spheres are of particular concern because they look like toys but can break into many sharp pieces.
Holiday plants are another problem. The big worry is poinsettias, festive red-leaved plants. Mistletoe and holly berries are also potential hazards. Pet owners should keep this festive green away from curious animals. If a leaf or two is chewed, see a veterinarian or ASPCA poison control number (888) 426-4435 for signs of vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy.
Even the Christmas tree can be a risk magnet, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Pets can drink the water in a living tree population, so people should not add anything to the water. If their pet is nearby, owners should keep pets from drinking it.
The tree itself can be dangerous and a great one. Pets, especially kittens, might see this indoor tree as a chance to practice their climbing skills. The American Veterinary Medical Association suggests attaching the tree to a door frame or ceiling with a fishing line.
Human food can pose a risk to furry friends. Even if a bit of oily turkey skin seems like a treat, it isn’t. The FDA warned, “In addition to causing an upset stomach, rich foods can cause a potentially life-threatening and painful disease called pancreatitis.”
Even food that is no longer on the table can be a risk. Beware of curious dogs that get caught in the trash and junk.
Aside from meat and leftovers, other foods like chocolate, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol can cause serious problems. In fact, researchers found that Christmas and Easter had the highest rates of veterinary visits because dogs eat chocolate. It is probably best for animal lovers to make special treats for them. After all, few people would be happy with milk bones and catnip; Pets are no different. Getting the right gift is important.
The ASPCA also warns against cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as garlic and onions, all of which are toxic to animals. Garlic and onion, both whole and powdered, belong to the Allium family. According to the ASPCA, “Cats are particularly sensitive to these spices. Garlic and onions can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia. ”
The star on the tree
Toxic greens, unhealthy table trash, well-intentioned but inappropriate hosiery – add them on Christmas morning. Wrapping paper, string, and tinsel can cause real problems. Like all decorations, they are designed to be outside the body rather than inside the body. But that won’t stop some pets, especially cats, from snacking on them. According to the FDA, while ribbon and tinsel can “… be irresistible because they look like easy-to-catch, sparkling, shaky prey … but can cause serious gastrointestinal damage.” The FDA suggests keeping ribbons and string after opening a gift.
Dealing with an accident
Of course, accidents happen. The turkey stays on the kitchen counter, the ribbon slides under a chair, plants are removed from a table to make space for glasses and cookies.
This year the FDA put together a special video because “We at the FDA also consider our furry friends important family members.”
So what are the risks for Fluffy and Fido?
If your pet manages to eat something poisonous, make sure to keep calm. While office vets may not be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, emergency veterinary clinics are usually open. It might be worth having phone numbers on hand just in case. In addition to veterinarians, the ASPCA operates a 24-hour poison control line (although a fee is charged). There are also online chat sites that can help you decide the right course of action for your pet.


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The Trade Desk has officially launched its programmatic ad buying platform in China, responding to global marketers’ focus on China as a key growth market,
Since the beta launch late last year, The Trade Desk has delivered multi-channel campaigns reaching audiences in China for brands in multiple sectors, including hospitality, luxury retail, education, food and beverage, biotech, and more.
The Trade Desk’s programmatic offering allows marketers to reach millions of connected consumers in China by providing:
- the ability to use their first-party data within The Trade Desk’s trusted platform
- partnerships with China’s premium media companies, including Baidu Exchange Services, iQIYI, Tencent Marketing Solution, and Youku
- the ability to target and measure premium video advertising by viewability
- integrations with leading measurement, data and brand safety partners to ensure their campaigns’ reach, scale, and performance.
With 20 per cent of the world’s internet users residing in China, and over 400 million people among it’s growing middle class, China presents a huge opportunity for global brands looking to grow their customer base.
According to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of The Trade Desk, 92 per cent of global marketers believe China is a significant growth opportunity for their business.
Finding a trusted, global programmatic partner is also crucial for brands.
Three quarters of marketers surveyed believe that it is critical or very important to work with an independent ad-buying partner in China.
The Trade Desk’s independence, buy-side-only focus, global reach and ongoing commitment to trust and transparency make it a clear choice for global advertisers.
Tencent Marketing Solution’s chief data strategy officer, Benson Ho said: “The Trade Desk’s independence, objectivity, and global reach were important reasons we partnered with them.
“Our audience, scale, and insights, combined with the transparency, reach, and control offered by The Trade Desk’s platform ensures that innovative marketers can understand and engage with consumers in China throughout their entire journey.
“We value our partnership with The Trade Desk and the benefits it will provide both of our companies as well as brands around the world for years to come.”
The Trade Desk CEO and founder, Jeff Green (pictured) said: “We believe so much in the opportunity in China and are excited to work with our clients and partners to bring it to life.
“We have made a significant investment in the country over the past few years and are confident in our ability to be the trusted programmatic partner to help multinational brands grow in China and around the world.”
Neo U.S. MD, Ivelise Grazziana said: “The Trade Desk enabled us to consolidate our client’s global marketing initiatives onto one platform, giving us control over a complex and fragmented media landscape across markets, devices, and channels.
“The platform’s data-driven insights help inform strategy and allow our team in New York to plan, buy, and execute for our global brand clients around the world – including reaching audiences in China.”
DWA’s global programmatic services SVP, Krish Sailam noted: “Working on behalf of global brands, we are able to leverage The Trade Desk’s platform to cost-effectively engage with business audiences in multiple markets, including China.
“Utilizing a single platform allows us to successfully execute a global, multi-channel campaign and to consolidate campaign management and insights reporting.”


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New home sales post solid gains
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of new homes rose solidly last month.
The Commerce Department today said sales increased 3.3 percent in April from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 343,000. That followed a 7.3 percent decline in March.
Still, sales of new homes are well below the 700,000 annual sales that economists equate with healthy markets.
The median price rose to $235,700, up slightly from March.


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Scott Kubly, Cabana founder and CEO, selects Vulog to provide the software behind its fleet of luxe campervans, merging vanlife with boutique hotel comfort to create a one-of-a-kind offer.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, JUNE 30TH, 2020] Vulog, the leading shared mobility technology provider, announced that it is partnering with Cabana, a Seattle-based travel-tech startup, to provide the software behind the company’s customized fleet of comfortably-equipped campervans.
Former Lime executive Scott Kubly launched Cabana in 2019 in Seattle and plans to expand into new markets by the end of this year. This new venture is poised to become the next big travel trend and is reinventing how people travel by combining the convenience of car-sharing with the best of boutique hotel amenities.
The tech-enabled app and operational functionality of Cabana is powered through Vulog’s in-vehicle telematics, operations platform, and customer-facing mobile application, providing a seamless on-demand luxe campervan service for truly serendipitous travel.
“Cabana is one of those mobility services that truly excites the market as it steps beyond the typical RV rental offering to present an experience that is fresh and new,” says Vulog CEO Gregory Duconge. “Our partnership with Cabana exemplifies the adaptability and reliability of Vulog’s shared mobility technology, as well as the expertise of our team.”
Although COVID-19 instituted a range of travel restrictions and changed the hotel industry’s landscape, people are still itching to get out and explore, but want the ability to practice social distancing. Cabana’s campervans give consumers this peace of mind while traveling with the full journey accessible through the app, enabling customers to find, book, and unlock their luxe mobile hotel for a weekend getaway.
“Our tech-enabled platform provides a modern travel option that the RV rental industry hasn’t really offered before,” says Scott Kubly, Cabana CEO and mobility expert. “After an extensive review of the existing shared mobility technology providers, we were happy to select Vulog as our partner for this adventure to provide the power behind our customer-facing application via its white label technology.”
Cabana is the most recent addition to Vulog-powered shared mobility services in the United States, joining groups such as Mocean Carsharing in Los Angeles and Free2Move in Washington D.C. Cabana plans to expand over the next year into targeted markets like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, San Diego, and more.
Scott Kubly, former Lime executive, and Seattle transportation official, established Cabana in 2019 to bring people a more convenient travel option that combines both transport and luxe accommodation. Since the company’s founding, Scott has worked with a small team in downtown Seattle to maintain Cabana operations and build-out its fleet of “mobile hotels.”
Cabana opens up the flexibility of travel plans so that travelers can book once and go anywhere. The company has built out a fleet of upscale custom-made mobile hotel rooms, using 2019 Ford Transit vans, to give travelers the freedom to travel and sleep where they want and when they want. Every element, from the bed to the storage, to the bathroom to the internet, is designed from the ground up for a tailored and premium experience. Simplified lodging often translates to lower quality, but Cabana has taken the luxurious amenities of a thoughtfully designed suite and outfitted it for a small space.
Enabled through tech, Cabana brings travelers digital convenience and peace of mind through contact-free check-in. The app lets travelers reserve, check-in, pick-up, and check-out of their mobile hotel room without having to make a pit stop to the front desk.
Whether a seasoned weekend camper or a first-time leisure renter, Cabana lets you indulge in van life for a unique adventure like never before.
Cabana Media Contact: Georgina Beven – firstname.lastname@example.org


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The final quarter of 2022 was hugely disappointing for PIF’s US public equity holdings with the diving value of Lucid Motor’s stock wiping US$7.4 billion off the value of the stockholding, representing 1.2% of the Saudi sovereign fund’s AUM.
Over the course of 2022, Lucid’s stock price fell by around 84%, a worse performance than its bigger rival Tesla which fell around 70%. In a recent SEC filing, Lucid disclosed that PIF bought nearly 86 million shares of the EV manufacturer at an average price of US$10.7 per share (a premium over today’s US$6.70, amounting to US$915 million, and raising the fund’s ownership to around 1.1 billion shares. This formed part of a US$1.52 billion capital raise with the rest raised through an offering of 56.2 million shares of its common stock.
Longer-term, Lucid will have to ramp up production and see continued appetite for its EVs to turn its stock price around. Part of its problems relate to supply chain issues affecting the entire automotive industry, but it has been the worst affected of all EV manufacturers. PIF does not look like abandoning the young EV producer any time soon and remains committed to the brand.
If PIF were to have left the rest of its portfolio untouched, its US stockholdings would be worth US$30.3 billion, down US$6.5 billion or 17.7% over the October-December period. Its reported non-Lucid US public equity holdings at end-September are now worth 4.2% more. However, this is still behind the performance of stock market tracking indices with the S&P 500 up more than 7% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising nearly 16% over the same period.
If the same positions were held, the big gainers in the PIF portfolio would have been its holdings in listed infrastructure firms (up US$486 million, +15.8%), retail and consumer (up US$189 million, +1.8%), and energy and natural resources (up US$162 million, +37.8%). However, this is partly offset by the poor performance of its tech stocks, which declined US$301 million or 6.5%.
Compared to end-Q1, these performances in Q4 would see the portfolio’s sectoral exposures shift towards retail and consumer from 25% to 36% of the total, while industrial holdings fell from 61% to 30% largely due to Lucid’s woeful performance.
While PIF may well show some buying and selling activity in its next 13F disclosure in a few weeks, in recent quarters it has been content to maintain its US equity portfolio in a holding pattern – particularly in shares that align closely with its national interests, such as gaming stocks. If it has retained its relatively conservative position, it is safe to say that the portfolio beyond Lucid saw lackluster performance over the quarter.
Yet, quarterly performance of liquid assets is not something that should bother a rapidly growing strategic fund like PIF, which has multi-year horizons. Indeed, even the annual performance provides some relief. Its US equities portfolio (minus Lucid) grew +37%, helped largely by stock price growth, particularly in the infrastructure and financial services sectors. This compares favorably with the S&P 500 (-20%) and the DJIA (-9%). Yet, Lucid remains a dampener, dragging down the whole value of the portfolio by 46% across the course of the year.


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For weeks, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his world-altering firm have been treading a wave of front-page scrutiny for their liberal collection and use of vast, complicated stores of user data, particularly as linked to political number-crunching by Cambridge Analytica.
While Facebook was shopping out viral quizzes and potentially golden political data over the past few years, however, Uber Technologies was making similar moves around the globe thanks to its unique data sets and investor pool, possibly to varying political advantage, without much public ado to date.
And if lawmakers and well-meaning 'innovators' have any real intention of dealing with our digital privacy crisis (and/or the industry-flattening habits of Big Tech), some of the ride-hail giant's secrets may finally need the spotlight.
For example, there's Uber's documented use of its customer data to drive political engagement as well as opinion, both in the U.S. and the U.K. Stateside, Uber was found to have been texting users to urge their support in the company's battles against municipal governments who argued for more regulation than suited its business (in most states, it's opted to help pass preemptive regulatory blocks instead).
Meanwhile, as the Daily Mail reported in 2017, "In the run-up to the EU referendum last year, Uber agreed to message its users — the vast majority of them young and likely to be pro-EU — urging them to register to vote."
We share information with our subsidiaries and affiliates to help us provide our services or conduct data processing on our behalf. For example, Uber may process or store information in the United States on behalf of its international subsidiaries and affiliates ... Uber may provide information to its vendors, consultants, marketing partners, research firms and other service providers or business partners. For example, Uber may provide information to such parties to help facilitate insurance coverage, to conduct surveys on our behalf and to process payments for our services.
And the list of Uber's affiliates in the U.S. and globally has continued to grow each year its contractors are on the road; many-to-all of them have ample partners and affiliates of their own. Those with international reach (to name a few) include the Hilton and Starwood hotel chains, Hertz Car Rental, Starbucks, UberChina via Didi, and Alfa-Bank Ukraine as well as the LetterOne investment group, both of which tie back to Russia's Alfa-Bank. In that part of the world, Uber has also formed an official partnership with Yandex, its prior ride-hail competitor in Russia, giving it an even greater reach for data gathering and sharing.
In its internal promotional materials, Uber has also mirrored Facebook by detailing its extensive and thorough stash of user data for potential buyers, as well as its methodology for creating accurate portraits of individual users.
Whether or not Uber's practice of potentially storing and utilizing international rider data within the U.S., or with affiliates in other countries, is considered fair play by users' home nations is a matter for lawmakers around the world to decide. An Uber spokesperson commented by email, "Our data practices are already regulated in both the U.S. and the E.U., and we will comply with the upcoming GDPR laws regarding user data, which are far more restrictive for companies than current laws in the U.S."
Then there's Uber's well-documented involvement in political brokering, rule evasion, and eventual scandal in the U.K. surrounding a huge shake-up in that country's government, but with relatively little U.S. coverage.
At the time, then-Prime Minister David Cameron faced months of criticism for his team's internal advocacy for Uber to then-London Mayor Boris Johnson and others. Cameron eventually stepped down, but has since found a new role with the firm First Data, which provides transaction services to Uber.
Then-Home Secretary Theresa May, who for a time seemed likely to herself get singed in the uproar, has since spoken out as Prime Minister against London's recent ban of Uber's services, arguing that the company's missteps don't justify such an error in judgment.
Incidentally, May's husband and trusted adviser Philip May remains a senior executive at the estimated $1.7 trillion-strong Capital Group, whose holdings include a sizable stake in JPMorgan, one of Uber's major investors, its broker for a $3.5 billion Saudi investment, and, on at least one occasion, Travis Kalanick's lunch date.
But investment in Uber is common for large firms and funds on either side of the pond: for example, BlackRock Investment Management, which invests pension funds belonging to London's own public transport agency, among others, has apparently been one of Uber's most stalwart financial supporters. Following his firing by May in 2016, former U.K. Chancellor and Uber-affiliate George Osborne himself joined the firm, which critics say has seen favorable impacts from Osborne's own lawmaking (again: incidentally).
And then there's Uber's history of massive data leaks, and its possible connection to Cambridge Analytica, both of which are only now coming into focus.
“No although our firm Cambridge Analytica definitely had meetings with Uber’s CTO” pic.twitter.com/vz3RLXUxUI
— DanA12 (@Sammyscarf) April 18, 2018
This week, Brittany Kaiser, a former employee of Cambridge Analytica's parent company, told U.K. legislators during a committee hearing that Cambridge Analytica had taken at least one meeting with Uber's CTO about a year and a half or two years ago. A spokesperson for Uber denied that such a meeting took place, commenting by email, "We do not have a relationship with this company [and] it's unclear what 'meeting' Brittany is referring to in her testimony."
At the time of the alleged meeting, the British data firm appears to have been engaged in supporting numerous political campaigns around the world, from the U.S. and Africa to the U.K. Around the same time — that is, during the months surrounding the U.K.'s "Leave referendum" and the 2016 U.S. presidential election — Uber both sustained an enormous hack of its user data and was being investigated by the FTC over a similar breach that occurred two years before in 2014.
According to reports, Uber's customer data stores were breached in the summer of 2016 by a Canadian hacker who downloaded information on 57 million of its riders and drivers. The hacker(s) apparently reached out to the company days after the U.S. election and ultimately accepted a $100,000 ransom in exchange for deleting the data; given the market for data at that time, $100k seems like a pretty good deal for Uber.
Nearly a year later, under its new leadership, Uber chose to disclose the second hack, and has recently agreed to an increased FTC settlement for its actions.
So, what does it all mean?
At present, the number of puzzling links and loose threads in Uber's international CV would keep any team of lawyers or investigative reporters busy for months or years — and many of those leads may come to naught.
But given the cornucopia of ways it has embedded itself in local politics worldwide, and the simply astounding amount of data it collects on many millions of riders and drivers in the U.S. and elsewhere, the many questions that arise about Uber's dealings would seem to deserve answers, and the right kind of consideration. As I wrote earlier this year:
Uber has gained an international spotlight for using special kinds of software to gouge riders and track them after drop-off, to spy on and manipulate competitors, and to circumvent authorities. Regulators have questioned whether it's a public nuisance, or clogging our streets, or has mishandled breaches of user data, or failed to protect and perform sufficient background checks on its drivers, a (proportionately tiny) number of whom later committed rape or murder.
Last year, Uber repeatedly "trended" in the U.S. for its reported mistreatment of women, ranging from ignoring and trying to undermine sexual assault victims to creating a widespread, toxic corporate culture. It's made headlines over accusations of industrial theft and espionage arising from its court battle with Google and, most recently, for ... its self-driving fleet, which it plans to roll out in 18 months.
Through all this, however, few attempts seem to have been made to get a clear picture of what Uber is capturing about our lives and movements, or to allow consumers and lawmakers to have a turn at that wheel.
Given Facebook and Cambridge Analytica's current scrutiny in the news, then, it seems like a good time for Uber to finally get the attention it deserves.


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Thinking about jazzing up your eyes with some colored contacts for Halloween? Um, think again: a week before Halloween, the FDA is warning that eccentric lenses can damage your eyes, leaving you vision-comprised and potentially blind . (And you thought that post-Halloween hangover was going to suck.) Don't panic just yet — standard colored contact lenses, which are regulated by the FDA and must be approved before they hit the market, won't harm your eyes. But a lot of the more "interesting" contact lenses available for purchase — you know, thunderbolts, white irises, football pupils, and so on — are actually counterfeit or illegally imported, meaning that the FDA has no sway over them. And when it comes to stuff that you insert into your eyeballs, not having FDA approval is probably a bad idea.
Ever heard of "Operation Double Vision?" Sounds like the aftereffects of a few shots to us, but it's actually a collaborative effort by the FDA, Homeland Security, and Customs And Border Protection to dispel America of counterfeit lenses. It's mid-way through its plan to seize illegally imported lenses, which are relatively easy to pick up in America without problems.
Apparently, to legally get colored contacts, you need a special prescription from an optometrist. But you can often still find the contacts at novelty shops, beauty stores, and Halloween shops. And if you're buying them illegally, chances are you're not exactly getting top-notch goods. And by "not top-notch," we of course mean "potentially blinding."
The problem here is that when contacts don't fit right, they can scratch the eye and cause infections and/or ulcers, which in turn can lead to severe and long-term vision problems. For example, bacterial eye infections can potentially wipe out your vision in 24 hours. According to CBS, you only have to wear a badly-made contact in your eye for a second or two for it to scratch your eye and cause an infection.
People who buy contacts on Halloween often haven't used them before, and so don't know how they're meant to feel, or how to put them in correctly. Furthermore, think about your hands on Halloween: they're probably covered in face paint and makeup even pre-melted chocolate binge. Now, imagine all of that bacteria being trapped by the contact inside your eye. Then stop imagining it, because it's gross and awful.
The FDA's criminal investigations director told Fox News: "Our concern is that consumers who buy and use decorative contact lenses without a valid prescription can run significant risks of eye injuries, including blindness."
Not to mention, explaining that you lost some of your vision because you absolutely had to be a convincing mummy on Oct. 31 makes for a terrible story.


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Earlier this week two important government officials made significant comments about the importance of protecting consumer information online. In an on-the-record interview with New York Times
editors and reporters, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz and Director of Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection David Vladeck reaffirmed their belief
As Vladeck pointed out, this is a rotten deal. “The literature is clear,” he said, very few people ever read privacy policies and fewer people understand them (Research has shown
that the majority of privacy policies require more than 14 years of education to understand usually requires the reading comprehension level associated with having a college education!). Notice and consent, said Vladeck, “depended on the fiction that people were meaningfully giving consent.”
In the interview, Vladeck also touched on other pressing challenges to consumer privacy. He mentioned, for example, that when customers aren’t allowed to complete a transaction without agreeing to allow their data to be sold, they may be put in a situation that’s not entirely “fair,” using a loaded and important
word in FTC parlance.


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Lousy bastard fesses up:
An openly gay Texas pastor who had accused Whole Foods of defacing his cake with an anti-gay slur dropped his lawsuit against the grocery chain on Monday, issuing an apology that said he was wrong to “perpetuate this story.”
Well, no shit.
Sometimes I wish burning at the stake was a viable option.
Hat tip to the Consumerist.


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Uber will cease operations in Quebec
Uber, the app-based ridesharing service, started operating in Montreal in October 2014, creating tension between them and the Taxi Industry right from the start – with several court battles and injunctions taking place over the years. After their allotted one year pilot project recently ended, they were granted a renewal, but with much stricter rules, of which they were not too pleased about – even threatening to leave the province. Radio-Canada has now confirmed Uber will cease operations in the province and the director general of Uber Quebec, is expected to make the announcement at a news conference today (September 26th) in Montreal.
Last Friday, Transport Minister Laurent Lessard agreed to renew the pilot project, much to the chagrin of Taxi drivers who have held many protests in Montreal, angrily denouncing the service. But the stricter conditions introduced by the Minister on Uber have proved too much for the company, who stated it would ‘significantly threaten their ability to continue operating here’ – and now they are ready to call it quits.
The new regulations stipulate drivers must undergo the same 35 hours of training that licensed Taxi drivers have to, instead of the 15 hours previously required in the first pilot project. And Uber drivers would now need criminal background checks done by police, instead of the private companies they were using.
It’s not the first blow Uber has received. Just last Friday in London, England, Uber had its license to operate removed, after facing harsh criticism from unions, lawyers and cab drivers.
Uber has its many fans, mainly due to the lower cost of using the service, but there has been problems from the start, including incidents involving the behavior of some drivers – and more recently a man who posed as an Uber driver in Toronto, sexually assaulted a woman.
Have you used Uber’s services? Do you think the new regulations are too harsh? Should Uber stay?


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(Reuters) - After a relatively quiet year for intellectual property cases at the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices are set to consider several important issues in copyright, patent and trademark law in 2023.
ANDY WARHOL AND COPYRIGHT FAIR USE
The copyright world is eagerly awaiting the high court's ruling in a dispute between Andy Warhol's estate and celebrity photographer Lynn Goldsmith over their depictions of the rock star Prince.
A Manhattan federal judge ruled that Warhol's unauthorized paintings based on a Goldsmith photo of Prince were allowed under copyright law, finding they transformed the underlying image to depict Prince as a "larger-than-life" figure. But the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the judge wrongly analyzed meanings of the works like an art critic, and that Warhol's paintings were closer to "derivative works" such as art reproductions that normally require a license.
The Supreme Court could use the case to issue a landmark decision clarifying the doctrine of fair use, which allows for the unlicensed use of others' copyrighted works in some circumstances.
The decision may address when a work is transformative and whether judges can consider art's meaning in answering that question. The justices mentioned a range of creative works during an October oral argument, from "Jaws" and "Lord of the Rings" to the Mona Lisa and Syracuse University sports merchandise, hinting at the scope of the case's potential consequences.
DRUG PATENTS AND 'SKINNY' LABELS
Drug makers are closely watching a Supreme Court case involving Amgen Inc, Sanofi SA and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc that could affect the cutting-edge field of biologic drugs. The high court will consider Amgen's request to revive patents on its blockbuster biologic Repatha, in what the company calls a key test for the pharmaceutical industry.
Amgen says upholding a decision that invalidated its "genus claims" -- which describe a broad "genus" of related monoclonal antibodies that lower cholesterol -- would be "devastating" for innovation. Other major pharmaceutical companies including Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Merck have filed briefs supporting the company.
Since 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has thrown out three separate pharmaceutical patent-infringement awards worth over $1 billion after canceling genus claims.
The high court is separately considering whether to take up a potentially important dispute over a Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc generic version of a GlaxoSmithKline LLC heart drug. That case could affect the future of "skinny labels," which refer to a common way for generic drugmakers to avoid patent lawsuits by omitting infringing uses of a brand-name drug from generic drug labels.
Teva challenged a Federal Circuit decision to reinstate a $235 million ruling that its generic infringed GSK patents. Teva argues it carved out infringing uses from its label and says the decision creates uncertainty for generic drugmakers.
AMERICAN WHISKEY AND U.S. TRADEMARKS ABROAD
The justices have also agreed to consider two cases that could reshape trademark law.
Liquor maker Jack Daniel's challenged the legality of a dog toy called "Bad Spaniels" that copied its famous whiskey-bottle design. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the toy was entitled to First Amendment protection from the trademark claims because of its "humorous message."
The case could clarify the line between a trademark-infringing product and a constitutionally protected creative work.
The Supreme Court will also consider the international reach of U.S. trademark law in a case involving remote-control maker Hetronic International, which is trying to defend a $114 million U.S. court win against its former European distributor for selling devices in Europe with unauthorized parts.
The distributor, Abitron Germany GmbH, argues awarding damages based on sales that happened almost entirely outside of the U.S. threatens the balance of international trademark law.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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The popular CPU benchmarking tool Cinebench has received its latest update today and it's a pretty big one. The software brings back GPU measurement, gets Windows on Arm, and Apple M1/M2 support.
Windows 11 build 23545 fixes a number of File Explorer bugs and more
windows 11 insider preview
Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites launching this week
Apple silicon RSS
Apple is rumored to launch the M3 Apple Silicon Macs in October, including a new iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. M3 chips are expected to be based on a 3nm process for better performance
Apple VP of Worldwide Marketing Bob Borchers recently revealed in an interview that an Apple-silicon powered Mac Pro will be launched soon, which will complete Apple's transition from Intel chips.
The latest Skype Insider update delivers long-anticipated optimizations for Macs with Apple Silicon CPUs. Users with M1 and M2-based Apple computers can download a native client for their systems.
Here is how Apple's latest generation of MacBook Pro laptops compares with its predecessor. This Specs Appeal article will help you pinpoint the difference between M1 and M2-based MacBook Pros.
Apple has announced the next generation of the iPad Pro which now features the powerful M2 chip. It also supports WiFi 6E and features hover support for Apple Pencil gen 2 from up to 12mm above.
Microsoft has announced the general availability of a Teams client that runs natively on Apple Silicon. The key benefit here is performance improvements as compared to running Teams on emulation.
VMware has announced a new preview update for Fusion, free software for running virtual machines on macOS. Version 22H2 brings Windows 11 support to Macs with Apple Silicon and Intel processors.
A new unofficial project is underway which is working to add native support for running Microsoft's Windows 11 on Apple Macs which run on Apple Silicon like the M1. However, these are very early days.
It was recently reported that Samsung was making a custom silicon in 2025. A new report adds to this stating that a "dream team" is working on this project to take on Apple Silicon offerings like M1.
Microsoft has released Release Candidate 2 for Visual Studio 2022 for Mac. The update moves the IDE to fully native macOS UI, which means the application is now fully optimized for Apple Silicon.
A Universal App variant of Microsoft Teams for macOS has been discovered. This version, currently in beta, indicates Apple Mac PC users would soon have the Teams app optimized for ARM-based chipsets.
OneDrive sync for Apple Silicon is now generally available along with Folder Backup support for macOS in Public Preview. Access OneDrive preferences to see if the new version of the app is installed.
After eight long years and successfully developing the Apple M1 System on a Chip, Jeff Wilcox is heading back to Intel, where he will design next-gen SoC, which would be based on the x86 architecture.
Microsoft has rolled out native support for the OneDrive sync client on Windows on ARM and Apple Silicon devices. That said, the capability is only available as a public preview for now.
Qualcomm's exclusivity deal for Windows on ARM is set to expire soon. This will allow other manufacturers to build chipsets for Windows on ARM. Native Windows on ARM support for Apple Silicon inbound?
By 2023, Apple will reportedly be transitioning to 3nm silicon from the current 5nm process. TSMC plans to manufacture the silicon chips for Apple's third-generation ofApple Silicon-based Macs.
Fresh rumors about a larger iMac incoming for the first half of 2022 that will be powered by Apple's latest M1 Pro and M1 Max silicon. New details on what to expect with Apple's all-in-one.
Apple has revealed two new chips, the M1 Pro and M1 Max. The new chips are aimed at professional users and come with the newest MacBook Pros. They outperform the competition while using less power.
Apple seems to be investing in visual refreshes for a lot of its products, as the Mac mini is now rumored to be getting a thinner design with more ports and a more powerful ARM chipset.
Microsoft has updated the Remote Desktop app for Apple devices with native support for Apple Silicon. Along with that, the company has also fixed some bugs and made changes to the underlying code.
Today, Adobe announced a bunch of new video editing improvements for Premiere Rush and Premiere Pro, including better support for Apple M1, support for Galaxy Note20 phones, and more.
Adobe has announced that Photoshop is now officially available for Apple Silicon-powered Macs, after spending a few months in beta. New features are also making their way to Photoshop for iPad.
It's time to wrap up our series on comparing Intel's Evo platform to Apple Silicon. As expected, there are pros and cons to each side of things, and Apple can only move up from here.
Microsoft has released version 1.54 of Visual Studio Code in the stable channel, and among its many improvements, it adds support for Apple Silicon, ditching the need for Rosetta emulation.
After releasing a new macOS Big Sur beta yesterday, it was discovered that Apple might be removing Rosetta 2 translation from its M1 Macs, but only in certain regions, and it's unclear why.
Apple's new custom ARM processors are here, and there's a lot of good, but there's also some bad. The performance is the best we've seen from ARM so far, and the battery life is incredible.
According to internal documents, Apple is actively investigating an issue where "pink squares" appear on the display when the M1 Mac mini is connected to it via HDMI rather than Thunderbolt.
Microsoft has released .NET 6 Preview 1. It comes with a bunch of features including support for Apple Silicon, Blazor, Mult-platform App UI toolkit, a better CLI, and performance enhancements.
In the fifth part of this series, we're going to be looking at software compatibility, installing Windows on the Mac, trying to use an iPhone with a Windows PC, app compatibility, and more.
In the fourth part of this series, we're going to be looking at hardware compatibility, testing out peripherals such as an Xbox controller, an external GPU, multiple screens, and more.
In the third installment of the Intel Evo vs Apple Silicon series, we're looking at getting things set up, including the Razer Core X GPU enclosure, the Samsung T7 Touch SSD, and more.
Apple's new custom ARM processors have been praised by reviewers, and Apple has been making some big promises. We're going to see if its new hardware can live up to the company's hype.
According to a new report, Apple is once again planning to redesign its MacBook Air, making it thinner and lighter, and also adding a magnetic charging port. It will include Apple Silicon.
2020 has been a long hard year, but the technology world has marched forward with some cool new products this year. Let's take a look at some of the best products we've seen this year.
Today, Adobe announced that you can now test out a native version of Premiere Pro for ARM-based Macs. Unfortunately, there's no mention of Windows on ARM support in the announcement.
Mozilla has released Firefox 84. It brings WebRender to more systems including some Linux computers, it's the last version to support Adobe Flash and it now supports Apple Silicon CPUs natively.
A new report says that Apple aims to push iPhone production to 96 million units in the first half of 2021 - a 30% increase over last year due to strong iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone SE, and iPhone 11 demand.
A new report suggests that Apple is working on eight-, 16-, and even 32-core chips for use in higher-end Macs in 2021 and 2022. The firm is also reportedly developing GPUs with up to 128 cores.
Chrome 87 began rolling out yesterday, bringing a version of the browser with native support for ARM-based Macs. However, the version was pulled due to bugs and is being re-released today.


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Brands bring surprise back to Super Bowl advertising online
The brand is building up to the moment when Coldplay will take the field with a social media campaign splashed across every platform from its own website to Twitter to Facebook. Instead of just putting a commercial on YouTube ahead of time, like in years past, this year is all about the slow burn.
This is a new tack of big Super Bowl advertisers, which include Amazon and Budweiser and smaller ones like financial services startup SoFi. They’re trying to reintroduce surprise into their marketing by generating anticipation through social media.
Pepsi will still air a commercial during the game, one that focuses on its history in the music industry, and it is a sponsor of the Halftime Show. On top of these traditional efforts, however, it is the first brand to sponsor a Twitter Promoted Moment for the game, and it will be a part of the first Super Bowl Live Story on Snapchat, according to Linda Lagos, digital marketing director at Pepsi.
“We have a robust social and digital strategy,” Lagos said. “We are part of pop culture and need to be in a few different places.”
Pepsi is being coy about all of its creative ideas around the game. On Friday, it launched a Twitter “hash-flag,” which is a custom emoji that appears when the hashtag “Pepsi halftime” is used. It’s been sharing videos on social media — mini, comedic episodes leading up to its halftime show. It’ll have something on Snapchat on game day that will be “prominent,” Lagos said.
— Pepsi™ (@pepsi) January 27, 2016
The National Football League is sharing fan videos from the game in a Snapchat Live Story, the first for the Super Bowl, and it will feature commercials from Amazon, Budweiser and Marriott, as well as Pepsi. Pepsi said the Snapchat spot will be tied to its game commercial and the music history theme. Twitter remains a top platform, despite more competition than ever from Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Youtube. “Twitter still feels like a very special channel; it’s very much where people go to get scoops and news,” Lagos said. Facebook has become more important to the marketing roll-out, too, with its focus on video, multimedia mobile ads and Instagram.
Posted by Mountain Dew on Friday, January 22, 2016
Mountain Dew, a Pepsi-affiliated brand, is holding back revealing its commercial for the game but teasing it on Facebook. The brand will release three cryptic videos on the social network, then reveal the final, full installment during the game.
There’s been a clear shift in mentality around Super Bowl marketing throughout the years. Pre-Internet, the commercials were their own event on game day, and with the rise of YouTube, brands started posting their spots earlier and earlier. Now, brands use social media to build to a game-day reveal — and on the day of, attempt a social Super Bowl surprise.
The financial services company SoFi is essentially launching its entire brand around the Super Bowl, a big commitment in ad spending for the startup. “We’ve done a lot of research,” said Meg Ciarallo, SoFi’s head of brand. “We’re not considering it a Super Bowl campaign. We’re launching a big brand campaign that started this month.”
SoFi has already run a Promoted Trend on Twitter, mobile masthead on YouTube and ads on Facebook and Instagram. SoFi hopes this approach will make its Super Bowl ad all the more memorable.
“Now, when people see the ad, there will be more context, higher impact of the messaging, and higher recall and conversion,” Ciarallo said.
‘We’re out there hitting the pavement’: Ad management firms scoop up sites ahead of cookie changes
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Browser makers, now including Mozilla’s Firefox, are already ditching Google’s proposed cookieless ad targeting method FLoC
Google's cohort-based tracking needs browser support to work, but browsers like Brave and Microsoft Edge can easily block its functionality.
‘It’s OK if someone wants to work 3 or 4 days a week’: How female news leaders are changing media culture for women
There's still a long way to go before the media workplace is a level playing field for men and women, but female news chiefs are pushing hard to change internal cultures.
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By Nicole Breskin
TRIBECA — Bazzini, the landmark specialty food store on Greenwich Street, will close down after doing business in lower Manhattan for more than a century.
The store, which sold various nuts, confections and produce, is slated to close and become a Sarabeth’s restaurant early next year, according to the store's management.
“There is definitely some melancholy,” said Bazzini president Rocco Damato, who has owned the brand since 1983. “But the present business model is not a long-term workable model.”
A.L. Bazzini started the company as a wholesale business on Park Place in 1886. It moved to TriBeCa in 1968, and has operated as a store since 1985.
TriBeCa resident Damato, 64, said the harsh economy and the opening of Whole Foods Market in the neighborhood contributed to the forthcoming closure.
Whole Foods set up shop at 270 Greenwich St., a few blocks down from Bazzini, in July 2008. Since then, the iconic store lost 37 percent of its profits, according to Damato.
“If we were 10 years younger, we could adjust to a nut and candy business,” said Damato, who has run the business with his wife, Electra, also 64. “But we don’t want to do retail now.”
Sarabeth’s co-founder, Bill Levine, said he aims to move his eatery into the space in January.
“Hopefully we will sign the lease in the upcoming weeks,” Levine said. “TriBeCa is perfect for us and we would be thrilled to take over the landmark Bazzini building.”
Sarabeth’s currently has seven restaurants across Manhattan, plus a bakery-café in Chelsea and a jam factory in the Bronx.
Bazzini will still retain ownership of the property, but will lease to Sarabeth’s under a deal drawn up by TriBeCa realtor Peter Braus of Sierra Realty Corporation.
“Both sides are very anxious to get the deal done," Braus said. "It’s a long-term lease."
For the majority of local residents, though, Bazzini’s closure was met with disappointment and nostalgia.
“Getting nuts is going to be a problem,” said 83-year-old Imogene Reznica, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than two decades. “I am sad to see everything going here.”
Earlier this month, TriBeCa restaurant Chanterelle, run by husband-and-wife team Karen and David Waltuck, closed after 30 years. Bohemian staple, Yaffa, which sat down the block from Bazzini for more than 20 years, shut its doors in September.
“I heard the news about Bazzini but I’ve tried to repress it,” said Maria Weisbin, 59, who has lived in TriBeCa since 1979. “At least Sarabeth’s will give Bubby’s [on Hudson Street] a good run for its money.”
Bazzini will still operate as a wholesale retailer out of its factory in Hunt’s Point in the Bronx.
Damato is also making moves to expand his manufacturing business. He acquired big-name confectionary brand Barracini in 2005. This month, he added Bartons, another confection company, to his ranks.
With more brands, Damato said he would eye opening specialty chocolate and nut shops next year, possibly in the city and beyond.
“This is not the end of Bazzini,” Damato said. “We are fine going forward.”


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Pendleton Ward, creator of the popular Cartoon Network series Adventure Time, has confirmed on Twitter that the show is being turned into an upcoming Nintendo DS game. Ward's flurry of tweets on the matter reveal that WayForward Technologies is handling development, the same studio that did the last great DS game, Aliens: Infestation.
The above image speaks for itself, I think. Ward also confirmed that the game will be out sometime in 2012. Adventure Time frequently nods to video games and it should be a good fit for the DS platform.


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The first part of the week was more than optimistic for Bitcoin. However, now it is going through the correction phase.
Japanese exports go down at a slower tempo in February
In February, Japan's exports slumped at a much slower tempo than in January, although dismal global demand as well as US-China trade clashes keep clouding the outlook.
In February, Japanese exports are anticipated to have dived by 0.9% from 2018, having decreased by 8.4% in January, which appears to be the greatest tumble for over two years.
However, imports went down at a steeper tempo of 5.8% last month having decreased by 0.6% in January.
However, Japan’s exports to Asia, in particular, shipments of IT-related stuff, are anticipated to have remained dismal.
The trade balance probably rebounded to a surplus of 310.2 billion yen from January’s deficit of 1.41 trillion yen.
Global trade has speeded down in the face of dismal European and Chinese economic surge and and as Beijing and Washington are still locked in a tit-for-tat tariff conflict that is taking a soaring toll on the Japanese export-reliant economy.
Trade data will be released by the Finance Ministry on Monday at 8:50 a.m. Japan time.
Additionally, Japan's core consumer price index, excluding volatile food costs, but including oil products, is expected to have leapt by 0.8% in February, demonstrating the same tempo as in January.
Energy bills probably backed core CPI, while gasoline prices and telecommunications put pressure.
As for core CPI, it will most probably remain lackluster for a while because tumbles in crude prices will start showing up and mobile carriers are anticipated to reduce phone charges.
On March 22 at 8:30 a.m. Tokyo time, the Internal Affairs Ministry is expected to uncover data on consumer prices.
On Wednesday, China posted shockingly weaker surge in retail sales as well as industrial output for April, thus increasing pressure on the Chinese cabinet to roll out more stimulus because the trade conflict with America escalates…
In April, American import prices surged less than anticipated in April due to the fact that jumps in the cost of food and petroleum were tamed by the largest tumble in the price of capital goods for a decade, dropping a hint at the fact that inflation…
Did Bitcoin manage to recover and what was the hottest news in the crypto and blockchain world? Read and find out!
On Monday, Asian stocks traded mostly higher, with Shanghai bucking the trend because centrist Emmanuel Macron fully matched opinion survey hopes and left anti-EU far-right nominee Marine Le Pen behind…
Japan's March real wages went down at the fastest pace in nearly two years, weighed by minor nominal pay lifts as well as a moderate ascend in consumer prices, thus posing a setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's tries to revitalize the Japanese…


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Lizzo posted an unedited nude selfie and revealed she'd usually 'fix' and 'smooth' her body in photos
The "Truth Hurts" rapper said she's trying to be more "real" on social media and change the conversation about beauty standards.
On Saturday, Lizzo revealed that she had drunkenly slid into Chris Evans' DMs on Instagram but didn't get a reply. The actor has finally responded.
Lizzo posted a series of photos in a purple dress complete with mesh siding, a belly chain bearing her own name, and a deep back cutout.
The popular TikTok recipe is super easy to make, and it only requires a few ingredients. Here are the best variations of the tasty, healthy treat.
Lizzo's hairstylist, Shelby Swain, told Insider that she got the glittery pink hair clips at an LA mall the morning of the Grammys.
Lizzo's mint-green dress was designed by Balmain, and her snake-shaped jewelry was courtesy of Bulgari.
Her courses consisted of breakfast congee topped with vegan egg, a kale salad for lunch, and rice cakes with a homemade sauce.
From Lizzo to Miley Cyrus, plenty of celebrities have shared their meal plans to help fans navigate a notoriously difficult, but healthy, diet.
Lizzo started the year with a red carpet outfit featuring nods to music icons Diana Ross and Cher and followed that with daring and political looks.
Lizzo wore the cozy oversized hoodie that TikTok is obsessed with, and the wearable blanket is on sale now
The Comfy hoodie became popular after appearing on "Shark Tank." The company website says wearing it is like "being hugged by a cloud."
Lizzo responds to criticism of her recent smoothie cleanse: 'Every big girl should do whatever the f*** they want with their bodies'
Lizzo said there is a double standard for people with larger bodies in response to criticism that her recent 10-day cleanse promotes diet culture.
Lizzo posted an 'all-angles' TikTok video to celebrate the rise of the body positivity movement, and the 'big girls who gave it wings'
The TikTok trend usually calls out misleading body image standards. Lizzo flipped it to be a celebration of her curves, and body positivity overall.
I tried the meatless Jamaican patty Lizzo raved about on Instagram, and the vegan version has most of the spices and heat of the original
While the classic beef Jamaican patty is still our food reporter's favorite, she can see herself switching to Golden Krust's vegan patty like Lizzo.
Lizzo posed in a daring American flag jumpsuit that was cut in half to represent the percentage of people who didn't vote in 2016
Lizzo encouraged people to vote on Election Day in a custom Rey Ortiz jumpsuit that her stylist, Marko Monroe, cut in half to create a semi-nude look.
Celebrities are dressing up for Halloween as some of the biggest 2020 memes and events — because of course they are
Lizzo's dressed up as the fly that landed on Mike Pence's head, Kim Kardashian West as Carole Baskin, and Rebel Wilson as a "'rona warrior."
Lizzo paired her voting-themed dress with strappy black sandals and diamond jewelry from Lorraine Schwartz.
The "Truth Hurts" singer won top song sales artist at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday, and used her moment to urge fans to vote.
Although Jennifer Lopez no longer seems to follow a vegan diet, others like Billie Eilish, Lizzo, and Miley Cyrus have recently spoken about veganism.
Lizzo shared a video of herself struggling to rip off a 2-day old nipple pasty, but experts say there's an easy fix
Dr. Heidi Waldorf, a dermatologist, told Insider that adhesive remover is an "easy peasy fix" for when you're in a sticky situation like Lizzo.
The "Juice" singer wore an all-blue look that included a matching bra and underwear set, a body stocking, lace gloves, and white sneakers.


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NatWest IT systems suffer another glitch as once again some customers cannot make debit card transactions
More trouble: NatWest has reported debit card transactions have been affected
NatWest confirmed this afternoon that some customers are having problems making debit card transactions, while online banking is also down.
With the RBS-owned bank still mired in the process of compensation thousands of customer for the IT glitch that shut down its banking services last month, swathes of NatWest customers have taken to social networking website Twitter to complain they are unable to pay with their debit cards.
@doitdoesitdidit said: ‘I can't pay my suppliers, therefor no stock (discrediting me) ruining my schedule and wasting my time.’
While @OwenThomasTV said: ‘NatWest online banking down again. Really? Really? Can't pay my bills. Can't take out money.’
The complaints emerged immediately after Nationwide was hit by a similar storm of criticism today, when it admitted that many customers had seen payments debited from their accounts twice in the last 24 hours.
The latest glitch is a crushing embarrassment to the High Street bank after last month’s fiasco, which saw some customers unable to access cash and transfer money.
NatWest are unable to confirm how many customers may be affected or how long the problem will take to rectify.
An RBS spokesperson, said: 'Some of our customers are experiencing technical difficulties this afternoon with online banking and debit cards. We are working hard to resolve this and will provide an update as soon as possible.'
On its official Twitter page, it said: ‘Some customers may have issues with their online banking and using their debit cards at the moment. Working as hard as we can to resolve. We'll post updates as soon as we have more information.’
It comes as earlier today, Britain’s biggest building society, Nationwide, confirmed that it took some transactions twice on Tuesday and Wednesday - which could have impacted two million transactions.
RBS-NatWest is still wading through thousands of compensation claims filed by customers hit by last month's banking debacle.
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Bitpay, a Georgia-based cryptocurrency payment processor, has been accused of trying to force users into utilizing Bitcoin Cash (BCH) rather than Bitcoin (BTC). A Reddit user shared this after trying to purchase a domain name from Namecheap.
A screenshot attached to the reddit post revealed that the Bitpay payment window offered him an option of paying with either BTC or BCH. However, the Bitcoin option comes with a high transaction fee while the fee for Bitcoin cash option is almost zero.
Namecheap allows its users to purchase Domain names with cryptocurrency. To pay for their purchase, users are taken to Bitpay payment window. For the Reddit user, a Namecheap payment of $15 with BTC incurred a $2.19 network fee and $0.0001 for BCH.
Reddit commentators expressed dissatisfaction with Bitpay services with many suggesting that the payment processor is disguising its service charge as transaction fee.
However, one Redditor had a different opinion. He blames the extra charge on bitcoins network saying, “That’s because the Bitcoin network has a 13% fee for transaction amounts that size. This is Bitcoin’s fault, not Bitpays fault. During the last bubble, I remember paying an $80 fee for a $100 transaction. The network just isn’t designed to scale as it has been. That’s why we need lightning network.”
This is not the first time Bitpay would be accused of being hostile to the Bitcoin network. In May, Anthony Pompliano announced on Twitter that AT&T will begin accepting Bitcoin for bill payments through Bitpay.
A Twitter user responds to Pomp’s tweet that AT&T is only trying to use bitcoin hostile payment processor BitPay to accumulate fiat. Samson Mow, Blockstream’s CSO agrees that the business is trying to “externalize their business costs onto the #Bitcoin network 4 or 5 times by supporting hostile forks.”
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — With little more fanfare than the soft buzz of its motor, a new kind of vehicle rolled down a concrete ramp before onlookers at the Washington State Capitol Monday: A delivery robot designed for carrying packages to consumers’ doors.
Along with the demonstration, a bill has also been introduced to regulate the autonomous devices, even as retail giant Amazon has already begun tests in the state. The bill would restrict the weight of the robots, limit them to sidewalks, and require both insurance and active monitoring by a human.
Democratic Rep. Shelley Kloba said the bill would fill in a grey area in state law, adding speed and weight limits and requiring insurance.
The bill was scheduled for a public hearing Monday.


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USCIB, as member of the Americans for Free Trade Coalition, signed a letter to Capitol Hill welcoming the 116th Congress and urging congressional members to consider the costs of the trade war on their home districts and states and to exercise their oversight role in trade policy matters. The Coalition is comprised of approximately 150 organizations representing U.S. manufacturers, farmers, retailers and consumers.
“The 116th Congress is beginning during a period of unprecedented economic growth and job creation, yet continued prosperity is not a foregone conclusion. We share the broadly-held concern about the impact to the U.S. economy of the Section 301 tariffs on imports from China, Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and corresponding retaliation against U.S. exports,” the Coalition stated in the letter.
The letter emphasized that Americans have built global supply chains that reflect the U.S. economy’s strengths and those of its trading partners. These supply chains have made the U.S. economy even more dependent upon relationships with key economic and strategic allies than ever before.
“The strength of the U.S. is economy relies on these very complex supply chains, which cannot simply be shifted overnight,” said Eva Hampl, who leads USCIB’s work on China. “These sweeping tariffs are purposefully causing a disruption, negatively impacting the U.S. economy.”


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Listen to Stéfane Marion, National Bank’s Chief Economist and Strategist, talk about inflation, economic growth, and markets. The May inflation figures were not what everyone expected, coming in a little higher than expected, owing primarily to higher energy prices.
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