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- Tesla Plans China Plant With 500,000 Vehicle Capacity
Tesla Inc. has reached a preliminary agreement with the Shanghai government to build a factory that’ll rival production from its lone U.S. assembly plant, as Elon Musk takes his biggest step yet to expand overseas.
Construction will begin soon, after securing needed permits, and it will produce 500,000 electric vehicles a year for Chinese consumers in two to three years, the company said in a statement. While Musk, 47, said more than two years ago that he expected Tesla would produce that many vehicles a year from its lone car plant in California by 2018, the company is well off that pace because of slower-than-expected output of the Model 3 sedan.
The memorandum of understanding is a major development in a more than yearlong effort by Tesla to open China’s first production facility to be wholly owned by a foreign carmaker. Work toward getting the factory built has gained urgency as Donald Trump engages in a trade war that’s ensnared imports of the company’s vehicles into China. Tesla follows Harley-Davidson Inc. in charting plans to expand outside the U.S. to circumvent tariffs that have surfaced amid the U.S. president’s escalating trade disputes.
Tesla shares rose as much as 2.9 percent Tuesday in New York. The stock is up 3.7 percent this year.
The youngest publicly held U.S. automaker is looking to expand its capacity and more efficiently reach global markets. Tesla’s lone car-assembly plant is in Fremont, California, where it’s built about 88,000 cars through the first half of this year, and it has a giant battery factory in neighboring Nevada. After moving ahead in China, the world’s largest market for electric vehicles, Tesla has said it will reveal plans toward the end of 2018 to build a plant in Europe.
Tesla said a year ago it was working with the Shanghai government to explore local manufacturing. Since then, production in China has become even more crucial: Last week, in response to tariffs imposed by the U.S., China increased the import duty on U.S.-made cars to 40 percent, prompting Tesla to raise prices. A plant in China also reduces shipping costs and potentially makes sourcing components more economical.
The company has boosted prices of Model S sedans and Model X crossovers in China by as much as $30,000 after Beijing imposed additional duties on American-built autos, putting its vehicles beyond the reach of more consumers in its No. 2 market globally.
In November, Musk said Tesla is about three years away from starting production in the world’s largest auto market. At the time, he suggested the plant would supply China and potentially other parts of Asia with a couple hundred thousand vehicles a year — less than half the new projection. Tesla probably will make the smaller Model 3 sedan and upcoming Model Y crossover in China, he said then, rather than the pricier Model S sedan or Model X sport utility vehicles, which often sell for more than $100,000 in the U.S.
China presents a massive growth opportunity for Tesla and rivals such as BMW AG and Daimler AG, which are seeking to take advantage of a massive and fast-growing market for new-energy vehicles. That category, which includes battery-powered, plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell automobiles, reached 777,000 units last year and could surpass 1 million this year, according to estimates by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The government’s target is 7 million vehicles a year by 2025.
Tesla sold 14,779 vehicles in China last year, according to data from LMC Automotive. That gave it about 3 percent of the nation’s battery-powered electric-vehicle market, placing it as the No. 10 brand in that segment. China accounted for 17 percent of Tesla’s 2017 revenue, according a filing with U.S. regulators.
“Tesla is deeply committed to the Chinese market, and we look forward to building even more cars for our customers here,” the company said in a statement.
Ramping up manufacturing is critical to the carmaker being able to sustain itself financially while pursuing Musk’s mission to transition the world to battery-powered transportation. Tesla produced 5,031 Model 3s in the last week of the second quarter in its Fremont plant, meeting a target that Musk had said was crucial to generating cash and earning profit. Building from that run rate, Musk projected that the company wouldn’t need to raise more money.
The Shanghai government’s statement didn’t give any details on how much Tesla will spend on the China plant. The company had $2.7 billion in cash at the end of the first quarter.
A Goldman Sachs analyst estimated in May that Tesla may need to tap capital markets for more than $10 billion by 2020 to fund its auto-making operations, new products and its expected expansion into China. It’s turned to one of China’s tech giants before to raise money, with Tencent Holdings Ltd. spending $1.8 billion to buy a 5 percent stake in March 2017.
Nigeria to Become Leading Gold Producer in West Africa – Adegbite
Adegbite Says Nigeria to Become Gold Hub in West Africa
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, has said Nigeria is on its way to becoming a leading gold producer in West Africa.
Adegbite made the statement in Abuja while taking stock of his first year in office as minister.
He said, “Indeed, the international roadshows we have had in the past have produced fruits. Today, we have Thor exploration in Osun State through the Segilola Gold project.
“The exploration firm is projected to start producing (gold) in the first half of next year. The project is expected to create about 400 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs.”
According to Adegbite, the Federal Government has licensed two gold refineries that would refine in line with the London Bullion Market Association standard.
He added, “Numerous industries will spring up when our gold economy becomes full-fledged. Some of them will include equipment leasing and repairs, logistics and transport, as gold requires a specialised means of transport, security, insurance, aggregators, and so on.”
The minister noted that for the first time, the country had mined, processed and refined gold under the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative for use as part of Nigeria’s external reserves.
Adegbite also stated that the mines ministry had initiated a process that would lead to local capacity development in the production of barite.
“Presently, the barite that is used in the oil and gas industry is imported. But we are resolved to reverse this trend. As you may know, barite is a critical weighting material in drilling fluids due to its high specific gravity,” he said.
NUPENG, Lagos State Agree to Call Off Strike
NUPENG Agrees With Lagos State, Call Off Strike
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Gas (NUPENG) has ordered Lagos State Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTDs) to call off its ongoing strike.
This was disclosed in a joint communique signed by the Lagos Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, and the NUPENG Deputy National President, Solomon Kilanko.
It would be recalled that Investors King had reported that NUPENG directed all PTDs to withdraw their services from Lagos State effective from Monday 10 August 2020 because of the persistent extortions and harassments of PTDs by both uniform security agencies and touts.
However, on the 10th of August, the commencement day of the strike, Lagos State government met with the leadership of NUPENG to address the union concerns and eventually agreed on a way forward.
Part of the communique reads “The Lagos State Government met today with the representatives of NUPENG, which agreed to call off its strike immediately.
“Other decisions taken at the meeting are security – the state government will meet the heads of all security agencies and secure their commitment to ensure the free passage of petroleum products vehicles given their importance to the economy.”
“Area boys’ – the menace of ‘area boys’ will be handled by relevant government agencies and a dedicated phone number will be established, within the next week to ensure the petroleum products transporters have prompt access to security agencies.”
The communique also stated that the Lagos State government will set up a standing committee to communicate with the union on an ongoing basis, saying it will help address a similar issue going forward. See the complete communique below.
Crude Oil Expands Gain on US Stimulus talks, Better Than Expected Chinese Factory Data
Crude Oil Gains on US Stimulus, Better Than Expected Chinese Factory Data
Oil prices extended its gains on Tuesday following a better than expected factory data from China and a possible agreement between Democrats and Republicans on economic stimulus.
“The oil complex is heavily reliant on that aid. We need people to be able to boost economic activity to spur demand,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York.
President Trump on Monday said House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, top Democrat in the chamber of Congress, wanted to meet him to discuss or make a deal on coronavirus-related economic stimulus.
The possibility of a stimulus deal, coupled with a reduction in China’s factory deflation in the month of July due to the surge in oil prices and improved industrial activity bolstered the outlook of the energy sector.
China is the world’s largest importer of crude oil. Therefore, improved factory activity generally boosts the oil market.
Also, the announcement from Iraq that it planned to cut an additional 400,000 barrels per day in August and September to compensate for its previous overproduction above OPEC+ quota aided the oil market this week.
“This would send out a strong signal to the oil market on various levels. That said, this would also require the international companies operating in Iraq to join in with the cuts,” Commerzbank analyst Eugen Weinberg said.
The Brent crude oil, against which Nigerian oil is priced, expanded from $41.30 per barrel it traded on Monday to $45.40 per barrel on Tuesday at 10:10 am Nigerian time.
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Photos: Arnold Classic 2018
The yearly gathering of mega-humans and amateur sportsters took place over the weekend as the Convention Center and surrounding venues welcomed what felt like a billion people for The Arnold Sports and Fitness Expo 2018.
Over 1,000 vendors crammed into the sensory overload expo hall to showcase the latest in sports equipment, apparel and funky looking sugar-buzz work out drinks, while more than 20,000 athletes of all sizes, strengths and tan-level competed all across the city in 75+ sports ranging from the brain-muscle workout of Chess, to the weekend’s highlight competition, the Strongman Classic, this year won by powerhouse, Hafthor Bjornsson, known to many as The Mountain from HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers bands that visit the city and the Columbus Crew MLS team. More about Matt can be found at Matt Ellis Photography.

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Allied Litho Makes Its Next Press Move with manroland
Heier said that, since the company’s founding in 1949, Allied Litho has owned six or seven manroland presses. “By and large it has been the only machine that we have really felt in tune with. We have worked hand in hand with them over the years. When we have been in trouble, manroland has stood behind us. I feel like they have got my back,” he commented.
Allied Litho will take delivery on its new Rolland 900 press in the third quarter of 2011 and it will be in operation early in 2012.
manroland Inc is a division of manroland AG the world’s second largest printing systems manufacturer and the world’s market leader in web offset. Webfed and sheetfed presses provide solutions for publishing, commercial and packaging printing. Visit manroland’s website at www.manroland.us.com.


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Oct 08 | 2020
(Europe-MENA) TAPA Reports €85 Million First-half Losses
Cargo theft in the first half of 2020 shifted from ad hoc to targeted crime as widespread lockdowns changed criminal patterns, according to the Transported Asset Protection Association.
TAPA reports that more than €85 million of products were stolen from air, road, sea and rail freight supply chains in 46 countries in the Europe, Middle East & Africa region during the first six months of the year with preliminary data suggesting many thieves were "stealing to order."
“While the activities of opportunist, ad hoc cargo thieves almost certainly reduced in the first six months of the year … 2020H1 intelligence indicates the strong presence of Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) across the EMEA region,” TAPA said in a statement.
The findings suggest that high demand for personal protective equipment drove much of this activity, as breakbulk operators switched to transport urgent medical supplies.
“The supply and demand nature of the black market for stolen goods prompted a noticeable spate of thefts of PPE equipment as offenders looked to cash in on one of the most sought-after products to help fight the outbreak of the coronavirus,” a TAPA spokesperson commented.
TAPA recorded 3,278 cargo theft incidents for the first 182 days of 2020, with a total loss of nearly €85.2 million for the 2,154, or 65.7 percent, of these crimes reporting a value.
Within these crimes the majority of losses were attributed to just 96 major incidents, which alone accounted for more than €52 million in losses.
“In the biggest single loss of PPE, 2 million face masks and other PPE equipment valued at €5 million were stolen from an origin facility warehouse in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain in April,” TAPA noted.
Based in the Netherlands, TAPA represents more than 800 companies globally and develops security standards, industry practices, technology, education, benchmarking and regulatory collaboration.
Subscribe to BreakbulkONE and receive more industry stories and updates around impact of COVID-19.


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11 April 2013
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new consumer finance was provided by FLA members in February at a similar level to February 2012. The point of sale finance markets continued to grow – consumer motor finance was up 22%, and store instalment credit grew by 4%. The Government’s proposed new system of credit regulation needs to support this economically important market.
Commenting, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer Credit at the Finance & Leasing Association said: “The consumer credit market creates jobs and contributes billions to the economy, so maintaining the supply of credit is absolutely vital.
“Our main concern about the Government’s proposed new system of credit regulation is the very short timetable. The new rules are not yet written but are due to be implemented in less than a year’s time.
“We need a well-managed transition process which will give firms the time they need to implement the new system while continuing to serve their customers.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
|Feb 13||% change on prev. year||3 months to Feb 2013||% change on prev. year||12 months to Feb 2013||% change on prev. year|
|Total FLA consumer finance (£m)||3,846||0||12,606||+1||54,964||+5|
|Store cards (£m)||81||-10||354||-17||1,443||-15|
|Credit cards & personal loans (£m)||2,282||-9||7,691||-6||31,988||-2|
|Store instalment credit (£m)||223||+4||703||+4||2,776||+16|
|Second mortgages (£m)||28||+17||81||+21||337||+15|
|Car finance (£m)||1,144||+22||3,517||+22||17,094||+22|
Note to editors:
- FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and short-term credit lenders, and instalment credit providers.
- In 2012 FLA members provided £76.3 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £54.9 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, a third of all unsecured lending in the UK.


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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Balto Rx, a patient-centric home delivery system for medical prescriptions, is proud to announce that they have launched the first-ever pharmacist video consultation feature on a prescription delivery platform. This new feature now allows patients to directly video call their pharmacist to learn more about their prescriptions after having them delivered straight to their homes.
Balto Rx is meeting the moment by helping increase access to medications for patients. They are ready to partner with all pharmacies (independent, chain, or specialty), hospitals, insurance companies and others in the healthcare ecosystem.
Balto Rx has become a successful platform for delivering prescription medications to a patient's home from their local pharmacy - within hours of a request. Balto Intelligent Platform (BIP) is the most advanced and comprehensive digital platform that streamlines the prescription delivery process through features including proof of delivery, real-time tracking, prescription transfers, along with associated apps, including "DeliverMyRx" for patients to request their medications; "See-a-pharm" app for video consultation with a pharmacist; and others for healthcare agencies to place orders on behalf of the patient, even while a patient is being discharged from a hospital.
This innovative, HIPAA compliant model is revolutionizing the way prescription medications are delivered across the country. With deliveries starting at just $7, Balto Rx is paving the way for new opportunities in healthcare accessibility by creating reliable, accessible, and timely delivery services. In addition, Balto Rx is the only company providing direct patient to pharmacist video consultation services. With over 17,000 prescriptions delivered to date, and operations across multiple states, Balto Rx is proud to serve their clients and plans to expand their network of pharmacies and hospitals.
The company's namesake was inspired by the famous medicine-delivering Siberian Husky, Balto, who helped deliver a life-saving serum of diphtheria antitoxin across Alaska.
On the exponential growth of the company, Balto Rx CEO, Hemant Shah says, "Balto Rx originally started as a dinner conversation with family and has since burgeoned into a successful platform. It has been a humbling journey to see the small ideas turn into a revolutionary service that is benefitting people across the country."
About Balto Rx: Balto Rx is a patient-centric home delivery system for medical prescriptions. In just a few simple steps, you can have all your prescriptions delivered to your doorstep, without ever having to leave the comfort of your home.
Call or text 888.822.5867


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As is widely reported in the Global media, the very large container ship “Ever Given“ was grounded during transit in the Suez Canal on Tuesday, March 23, completely blocking the canal for the passage of other vessels.
News / Supply Chain Alerts
Please be advised that several carriers have announced significant increases to their FAK levels from North Europe to the USA. These changes will affect current tariff rates. Impact on contract rates is not clear, and would likely not be as severe, but the market will definitely support some increases.
On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, the United States Trade Representative Office (USTR) announced in Federal Register Notice 86 No 45 FR 13785 that the Section 301 exclusions for Covid-19 related medical supplies, originally scheduled to expire on March 31, 2021, would be extended through September 30, 2021.
In joint statements on March 4 and March 5, 2021, the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union all agreed to a four-month mutual suspension of tariffs related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) aircraft dispute. The suspension will cover all tariffs both on aircraft as well as non-aircraft products.
The erosion of ocean carrier schedule reliability is one of the glaring by-products of the pandemic induced port congestion. In January, global container vessel schedule reliability fell to 34.9%, the lowest ever recorded, and down 33.5% year over year. The transpacific trade from Asia to the U.S. was substantially affected in January, with reliability sinking to 13.8% to the West Coast (second lowest on record), and 21.5% to the East Coast – also a record.
On Monday, March 1, 2021, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office released President Biden’s 2021 Trade Agenda and 2020 Annual Report. According to the USTR Press Release, “The President’s agenda will create millions of good-paying jobs and support America’s working families.”
The Generalized System of Preferences Program (GSP) expired on December 31, 2020, as Congress failed to reach a deal before the end of the year that would have extended the GSP program. There were bills in both the Senate and House which were put forward to extend GSP for sixteen months and six months respectively.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released on their website the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region WRO Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). This is to help answer the many questions asked since the issuance of the Withhold Release Order (WRO) for cotton, cotton products, tomatoes and tomato products produced in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
The sustained surge of U.S. containerized imports from Asia, which began eight months ago, continues unabated and is anticipated to persist well into the spring, being further exacerbated by the pre-Lunar New Year cargo rush experienced at origin ports in Asia in recent weeks.


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The Moto Z3 is the first 5G-upgradable phone thanks to a forthcoming Mod from Motorola and Verizon. This mid-range device sports a 2:1 screen, metal-and-glass design, and compatibility with Motorola's ecosystem of swappable modules.
Google today said that confidential mode, which can help protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, is available via the mobile Gmail app. Users will need to enable confidential mode when composing an email. Emails sent via confidential mode can be revoked at any time, or set to expire after a specific period. People who receive confidential emails won't be able to forward, copy, print, or download them. Google points out that confidential mode cannot stop people from taking screen shots of confidential emails. The updated mobile Gmail app is being distributed via the Google Play Store over the next few days.
Google today updated the way it displays search results in order to surface a more complete picture of search subjects. Rather than simply supply a list of links, Google is introducing new panels with a set of relevant subtopics for additional information. In the example provided by Google, people to search for "quartz vs. granite" will discover not only where they can buy those materials, but also comparisons of the two materials and how they apply to home renovations. Google says the new format is "meant to help guide you with what we understand to be common, useful aspects of the topic and help you sift through the information available." The panels are created automatically based on related content from around the web. Google says people should begin to notice the panels in search results over the next few days.
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Google today said that it partnered with GN Hearing to create an open specification meant to stream audio to hearing aids. The published spec is called Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) on Bluetooth Low Energy Connection-Oriented Channels. Google says the spec will allow hearing aid users to connect their phone to the aid, monitor battery life, and listen to any audio content from their phone. Google says it created the spec to ensure connections have minimal impact on battery life and provide low latency for near instant response time between the phone and the hearing aid. Google said it expects to add ASHA to a future version of Android down the road. Since the spec is open, any hearing aid manufacturer can build in native update the spec over time.
Google is rolling out a new version of its Android Messages application and given the app a fresh coat of paint. To start, the "+" button has been removed in favor of a "start chat" button, making it clearer for people to use. The app also adopts Google's Material Design, which means some changes to the fonts and coloring. A new toggle allows people to switch to a new dark theme that features a black background and light-colored text. The app is rolling out slowly. Android Messages is free to download from the Google Play Store.
Sony plans to begin updating a number of its mobile phones to Android 9 Pie beginning in November. The devices first on deck for the refreshed operating system from Google are Sony's flagships, the Xperia XZ2, XZ2 Premium, XZ2 Compact, Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1, and XZ1 Compact. Sony says the mid-range XA2, XA2 Ultra, and XA2 Plus devices will receive Android 9 in early 2019. Android 9 Pie introduces machine learning and more predictive behaviors to the OS, as well as a Digital Wellbeing suite meant to help people use their devices less. Pie is already available to the Google Pixel phones. Motorola also recently committed to updating some of its phones to Pie.
Google is prepared to begin screening all apps submitted to the Android Wear OS Play Store in a bid to bolster quality. For the moment, submitting Wear OS apps for review is optional. Beginning later this year it will be mandatory. Google says all new Wear OS apps submitted after October 1 will have to go through the review process. Existing apps will be reviewed after March 4, 2019. The review process itself is not being changed. Updates to mobile apps will not be blocked if the Wear OS variant fails review. One of the requirements is the ability of the app to support screenshots, which Google explains will help with discovery in the Google Play Store. Google also wants to ensure that apps will run on both round and square screens. "We hope this lightweight app review process will improve the quality of Wear app experiences across the wide range of devices available to your users," said Google.
Google has begun alerting subscribers to its Project Fi service that the text forwarding feature will be turned off on September 12. As it works now, texts sent to Project Fi can be automatically forwarded to most any other number. Google didn't say why the feature is being turned off, although call forwarding will remain available to Fit subscribers. Google suggests those who use the text forwarding feature review their settings ahead of the shutdown.
Best Buy has agreed to acquire GreatCall, the parent company of Jitterbug, for $800 million. Best Buy says the two companies have had a retail relationship for a decade, with Jitterbug phones available at many Best Buy locations. Jitterbug phones are targeted at seniors and are easy to use. In addition to the Jitterbug devices, GreatCall offers customers an easy way to connect with a healthcare professional or emergency services. Best Buy said it plans to use the acquisition expressly to expand into the growing health services market. Once the acquisition is complete, GreatCall will operate as an independent company and CEO David Inns will remain at the helm. GreatCall will stay in its San Diego headquarters. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.
The Galaxy Note9 from Samsung is a powerful and impressive piece of hardware. This Android phone offers a massive screen, a giant battery, and a killer set of cameras. The stylus defines the Note series and Samsung has made the S Pen even more useful thanks to new features. Here is Phone Scoop's in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy Note9.
Apple has made iOS 12 Beta 8 available to developers. Beta 8 appears after Apple pulled Beta 7, which introduced performance problems to devices earlier this week. The new beta resolves the issues that appeared in Beta 7. Apple didn't spell out any other specific changes in this build other than bug fixes and improvements. iOS 12 includes a number of new features, such as improved notifications, memoji for the iPhone X, performance refinements, Screen Time for monitoring usage, and better security. The final version of iOS 12 won't arrive until September or October. A new public beta is expected to arrive later this week.
Google today made Google One generally available to anyone who wishes to use it. Google One is the company's new online storage service; it supplants Google Drive. All Google Drive users are being automatically upgraded to the new Google One, which offers tiers of storage at various price point. All users get 15 GB for free, while 100 GB costs $2 per month, 200 GB costs $3 per month, and 2 TB costs $10 per month. Google One also includes access to Google experts 24/7 to help with things such as file recovery. Other benefits include credits on Google Play and deals on hotels booked through Google Search. Google One can also be shared with family members, who will each be given access to their own storage under a single monthly bill. Google says it will expand Google One to more regions and add more features over time.
Google today said it plans to release a new version of Android Go based on the Android 9 Pie platform. The current version of Android Go, Google's slimmed-down variant of Android for low-cost devices, is based on Android 8 Oreo. Chiefly, the revised version of Android Go tackles performance. It will allow for faster device boot times and offers about 500 MB of additional on-device storage. It also introduces verified boot for additional security and a new dashboard for tracking and monitoring data consumption. Google has been busy updating the Android Go version of its core apps, as well. For example, Google Go now offers the ability to read web pages aloud and highlights each word as it goes. YouTube Go uses less data, Maps Go includes offline navigation, Files Go permits peer-to-peer file transfers, Assistant Go supports additional languages as well as more device actions, and Android Messages is 50% smaller and includes caller ID and spam detection. Google expects to release the Android Go Pie edition on new devices later this fall.
Motorola today said it plans to update a handful of its phones to Android 9 Pie beginning later this fall. The phones on deck to receive the updated platform include the Moto Z3, Z3 Play, Z2 Force, Z2 Play, X4, G6 Plus, G6, and G6 Play. Motorola said the distribution of Pie will depend a bit on the carrier and country. Android 9 Pie was made available to Google's own Pixel phones earlier this month. Other phone makers that have committed to providing Pie include Essential, Sony, and OnePlus.
T-Mobile today said it is prepared to reward its customers with music via the T-Mobile Tuesday app. On August 28, T-Mobile customers will be able to score 12 months of free Pandora Plus. Pandora Plus offers an ad-free listening experience with unlimited skips. Further, T-Mobile has partnered with Live Nation to offer customers "exclusive $25 tickets to amphitheater shows, reserved seats in sold-out sections" and more. T-Mobile says the tickets will become available 30 days before the show. The company says it will also offer fast-lane entry, lawn chairs, and other exclusive perks.
T-Mobile today said it is investing in serving its customers through a new model that bypasses voice-based systems in favor of a direct connection with real people. The Team of Experts idea includes a dedicated team that handles customer support issues with no robots, no phone menus, and no call bouncing. T-Mobile considers customer service a "pain point" that needs to be fixed. The company says the team sits together in its call centers and will work together to resolve customer problems. Customers can schedule calls, use text messaging, and access help 24 hours a day. T-Mobile's U.S.-based team will answer calls between 7am and 9pm local time, while overseas representatives will answer calls during the overnight hours. The Team of Experts is free for all T-Mobile customers to access when they need assistance with their account or device.
Samsung has announced the Exynos Modem 5100 for mobile devices with support for the 5G New Radio standard (3GPP release 15) in both sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands. Samsung says the Exynos 5100 is built using a 10nm process. The company claims to have successfully conducted an over-the-air 5G NR test with the modem using a 5G base station. It handles legacy networks, such as 2G GSM/CDMA, 3G WCDMA, HSPA, and LTE along with the 5G standard. Samsung says the modem delivers download speeds up to 2 Gbps in sub-6 GHz settings and 6 Gbps in mmWave settings. The Exynos 5100 is capable of achieving 1.6 Gbps via LTE 4G. Samsung says the Exynos Modem 5100 also includes envelope tracking, radio frequency IC, and power management solutions. It will be available to hardware makers by the end of the year. Phones with integrated 5G are not expected until 2019.
Verizon Wireless today said that Indianapolis will join Los Angeles, Houston, and Sacramento as one of its launch markets for 5G. This particular deployment will be fixed residential 5G broadband service. Verizon is testing a number of different technologies for its forthcoming 5G network, including millimeter wave. Verizon doesn't plan to launch mobile 5G service until 2019. Verizon and its carrier competitors are all racing to be first to deploy 5G, with AT&T and T-Mobile also targeting late 2018 launches. Initial rollouts will include fixed broadband service, with mobile service to follow later. Phones with 5G may reach the market as soon as the first half of 2019. Sprint and LG announced such a device today. AT&T has gone on the record saying its first mobile 5G device with be a puck, or mobile hotspot. Verizon also announced today that YouTube TV and Apple TV 4K will be included with its fixed 5G service.
Sprint today announced that together with LG it will bring its first 5G mobile phone to market during the first half of 2019. Sprint said the "innovative handset" is being "built for the country's first mobile 5G network." Sprint claims its forthcoming 5G network will allow customers to download full-length HD movies in seconds instead of minutes, and stream graphic-heavy videos and games without delays or lag-time. Specifics concerning the device were not provided. Sprint plans to launch its 5G mobile network in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. Sprint says more 5G devices are in development and will be announced over time. All the major carriers are rushing to be first to launch 5G. AT&T expects to offer a 5G mobile hotspot by the end of the year, while Verizon Wireless and Motorola will offer a 5G Moto Mod to the recently-announced Moto Z3 smartphone early next year.


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from Claire Robinson, editor
+ VICTORY IN INDIA: GOVT BANS MONSANTO GM COTTON SEEDS
In the light of their poor performance, India's regulatory authority, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), has banned commercial cultivation of three varieties of Mahyco-Monsanto's Bt cotton hybrids in Andhra Pradesh. These three varieties are Mech-12 Bt, Mech-162 Bt and Mech-184 Bt. These varieties completed three years of commercial cultivation and were waiting renewal. One of the varieties - Mech-12 Bt - has been banned throughout southern India.
Farmer and civil society groups are demanding that farmers who incurred losses from the varieties that have now been banned be compensated by the company. The Centre for Sustainable Agriculture is demanding that stocks of the 3 varieties be seized by the government before they can enter illegal channels.
+ ... YET MONSANTO CLAIMED ITS BT COTTON WAS A BIG SUCCESS!
It's worth contrasting the widely reported failure of Mahyco-Monsanto's Bt cotton with Mahyco-Monsanto's claims of success. Monsanto said its research showed Bt cotton produced good results in all the states in which it was grown.
But a senior member of India's regulatory committee, GEAC, said that every state reported at best "mixed" results with Monsanto's Bt cotton.
In Andhra Pradesh, where Bt cotton has now been banned, Monsanto's research proclaimed that AP farmers had gained five-fold from its Bt cotton. The GEAC also disallowed commercial cultivation of one of Monsanto's Bt cotton varieties in the whole of south India "on receiving adverse reports about its performance in the last three years".
In addition to adverse reports from about 20 farmers' organisations, these reports came from state governments. One state - Gujarat - failed to provide reports but it is known that its report for 2002 declared Monsanto's Bt cotton "unfit for cultivation"!
Could it be that the states are biased against Monsanto? Far from it. The Chief Minister in Gujarat has been a rabid GM supporter, and he is not alone. In the recent BBC Bitter Harvest series, it was noted how the whole state apparatus in Punjab is working to promote Monsanto's seeds. Even in Andhra Pradesh, evidence has emerged of state manipulation of data in Monsanto's favour. While data in an original report revealed the failure of Bt Cotton in Andhra Pradesh, a second, visibly tampered-with version exaggerated the yields in Monsanto's favour!
+ MONSANTO'S "LIE OF THE CENTURY" - P V SATHEESH
A compelling presentation on the failure of Bt cotton in Andhra Pradesh by P V Satheesh, Director of the Deccan Development Society, is at
..what is the story that the farmers in AP are telling us with regard to Mahyco-Monsanto Bt hybrids? It is a story of terrible loss, deep pain, and cold anger, leading to explosive violence and even death... Hundreds of farmers... have repeatedly told us how the Bollgard cultivation had ruined them totally. In the face of this reality, the claim by Mahyco Monsanto [that farmers in Andhra Pradesh had gained five-fold from Bollgard]
can easily earn them the Lie of the Century award.
+ INDIA: BT COTTON INFECTS SOIL, FAILS ON ALL FRONTS, SAYS STUDY
Despite claims that Bt cotton provides socio-economic benefits, a new study reveals that it infected soil and no other crop could grow after the Bt cotton crop was harvested. The study, sponsored by Deccan Development Society, tracked GM Bt cotton for three years in Andhra Pradesh. It showed that Bt cotton has failed on all fronts including yield, cost of cultivation, returns to farmers and resistance to pests. The non-Bt cotton performed better on all counts.
+ INDIA: BT COTTON PRONE TO DISEASE
A study conducted by a team of cotton experts from the Indian government has noted that Bt cotton hybrids are susceptible to diseases like bacterial blight, alternaria leaf spot and grey mildew.
This report confirms the claims by different studies conducted by civil society organisations and independent scientific bodies pointing to the failure of Bt cotton in 2004 season. It also justifies the claims of Andhra Pradesh Bt cotton growers for compensation for crop loss.
+ INDIA: STORM OF PROTEST AGAINST NOD FOR MORE GM CROPS
Farmers' groups and civil society organisations have expressed deep concerns over the country's regulatory authority approving new Bt cotton hybrids for cultivation in new areas when it has just banned three Bt cotton varieties after they failed in the field.
+ FARMERS SAY NO TO GM
Farmers and others from Bangladesh, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Nepal, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand gathered at Southern Encounters - an international consultation on Bt cotton, 14-15 April at Hyderabad, India as part of the Global Week of Action. Farmers, scientists and researchers narrated first-hand encounters with Bt cotton and GM crops.
A statement from the Deccan Development Society, India said: "Having shared our encounters with genetic engineering from our countries, we are stronger in our conviction that the use of transgenic crops has unleashed new hazards onto our farms and into our lives. The profit-driven 'life' science industry is more life destroying than life giving."
A new coalition, South Against Genetic Engineering, was formed in Hyderabad:
+ WOMEN FARMERS CALL ON ICRISAT TO SHUT DOWN GENE BANKS
About 500 women farmers on 15 April held a demonstration outside the International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics in Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, demanding farmers' seeds back from the ICRISAT Gene Banks. They also demanded that ICRISAT close down if it does not put farmer-led research on their agenda.
The women said the trend of ICRISAT to turn its facilities over to private business and to invite transnational corporations onto its Board, has made it lose their trust. The women said, "Once upon a time, in trust, we handed over to you, a large number of germplasms. The seeds we had nourished like our own children. Seeds which were a product of generations of our own knowledge."
The women demanded that ICRISAT hand back the collection of germplasms in its gene bank to farmers: "Please hand us back our germplasm. Close down your gene banks. They have already turned into Gene Morgues. Now they will be turned by you into seeds for predatory corporate profits. THIS IS OUR HERITAGE, GIVE IT BACK TO US."
+ INDIA'S DRAFT SEED BILL MAY BE DELAYED
The Indian agriculture ministry's attempt to rush through the draft National Seed Bill may be delayed. Acting on a representation made by a farmers' organisation, the chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Sonia Gandhi, directed the ministry to reconsider clauses in the draft that could hamper the interests of farmers.
Opposition comes from the All India Farmers' Council, the farmers' outfit of the ruling Congress party, Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS). The BKS leader, Dr Krishna Bir Chaudhary, said: "The bill is a clear trap to curb the traditional and indigenous rights of our peasantry to grow, breed, multiply, preserve and exchange seeds.”
The bill's delay is a huge embarrassment for India's ruling party. While its agriculture minister hypes GM to the skies, its own All India Farmers' Council has called for a ban on GMOs "for all times to come".
+ ILLEGAL GM RICE CONTAMINATES FOOD CHAIN
Greenpeace is calling for an urgent international product recall after uncovering the illegal release of a GM Bt rice in China. The GM rice has not been approved for human consumption and may have contaminated Chinese rice exports.
Greenpeace discovered unapproved GM rice being sold and grown illegally in the Chinese province of Hubei. Greenpeace estimates that 950-1200 tons of GM rice entered the food chain after last year's harvest, and that up to 13,500 tons may enter the food chain after this year unless urgent action is taken.
According to Greenpeace International scientist, Dr Janet Cotter, "There are strong warning signs that this GE Bt rice could cause allergenic reactions in humans. It has been shown that the protein produced in Bt rice (called Cry1Ac) may have induced allergenic-type responses in mice. To date, there has been no human food safety testing of Bt rice."
+ NEW STUDY POINTS TO LIKELY SOURCE OF GM RICE CONTAMINATION IN CHINA
Just two weeks after Greenpeace exposed the illegal selling and planting of GM rice in Hubei province, a paper published April 29 in Science magazine describes what appear to be unregulated trials of the same GM rice (Shanyou 63) that Greenpeace researchers found being illegally sold in the open market.
With rice planting due to start any day, Greenpeace said the study reveals further evidence of the failure to control GM rice trials in China. Greenpeace China's Sze Pang Cheung said, "The Science paper states that farmers cultivated the GM rice without the assistance of technicians, and that quite a number of the randomly selected participants grew both GM and conventional varieties on their small family farms... It looks like GM rice has grown out of control under the very noses of the scientists that were trusted to control it."
+ GM RICE NOT BEST WAY TO REDUCE PESTICIDES IN CHINA
A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) program into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in China resulted in a reduction of pesticide use of over 45% - without any of the environmental, health or market risks of genetic engineering.
A study into the adoption of GM Bt cotton in China concluded that farmers still over-used pesticides on pest-resistant crops.
+ CHINA: 57 PERCENT WOULD NOT BUY GM FOODS
In a survey carried out in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in 2004, 62 per cent of the 600 respondents know about GM food and 57 per cent said they would not buy it - a big leap from 52 per cent and 40 per cent in 2003.
+ JAPANESE DEMAND FOR US CORN SLOWS AFTER CONTAMINATION
Between 2001 and 2004, Syngenta produced and distributed an unapproved GM corn [maize], called Bt10, and sold it as an approved corn, Bt11. Some Japanese buyers have already halted imports of US corn to avoid importing problematic cargoes contaminated by Bt10, traders said.
+ THAI AG MINISTRY NOT COOPERATING IN GM PAPAYA CONTAMINATION PROBE
While Thailand's Ag Ministry is relentlessly pursuing a lawsuit against the campaigners who allegedly trespassed on its Khon Kaen research station in order to prove that experimental GM papaya grown there had spread elsewhere, the Ministry is dragging its heels when it comes to investigating the illegal proliferation of the GM papaya.
A panel set up by the Department has been starved of information by the Department of Agriculture, making it impossible to halt the contamination.
+ NGOs URGE END TO TRESPASS SUIT
Human rights and agricultural advocates have called on Thailand's Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to withdraw the lawsuit against Greenpeace campaigners who allegedly trespassed on its Khon Kaen research station to prove that GM papaya grown there had spread elsewhere.
About 20 representatives of about 15 non-governmental organisations including Amnesty International Thailand, the Protection for Human Rights Defenders and Greenpeace submitted their request in a letter to ministry officials. They argued that the campaigners had the right to information about the state's actions and that they acted to protect the public interest. As such, they should not be subject to threats of legal action.
+ UK BACKS EMERGENCY CURBS ON US ANIMAL FEEDS
The UK and European member states voted on 15 April to introduce emergency measures curbing the import of animal feeds from the US, following the discovery that the US has been illegally exporting Syngenta's banned GM maize Bt10 to Europe for the past four years. Each batch of imported corn from the US must now be certified free of Bt10.
+ US FACES MASSIVE ECONOMIC LOSSES
US economics officer Robert Cekuta has said that the US now faces "an enormous economic loss" as a result of the Bt10 contamination. A similar accident with genetic corn from Starlink cost the US economy over a billion dollars in 2001.
+ SYNGENTA FINED
Syngenta said it had been fined 375,000 dollars (292,000 euros) by US authorities over the unauthorised release of GM Bt10 corn in the US.
+ CRAIG SAMS ON TAVERNE'S MARCH OF UNREASON
Read a superb review of Lord Taverne's recently published book, The March of Unreason, at
If you are partial to blind faith, then buy 'The March of Unreason' by Dick Taverne. The chairman of the pro-GM lobby group, the Association of Sense about Science, exhibits the most touching belief in a God called Science.
Curiously, there is no reference in the book to the Scientific Method... If he had applied this to his own work, the book would never have been written. The most common mistake in applying the Scientific Method is the experimenter's own bias and Dick has that by the bucketful.
**Real scientist Margaret Cook rubbishes pseudo-scientist Taverne:
**Taverne trashed in Financial Times:
The Financial Times accuses Taverne (see previous item) of exhibiting his own brand of fundamentalism - "a naive and outdated scientism. His is a world in which science can do no wrong; in which research is untainted by vested interests, and companies such as Monsanto exist purely to feed the hungry":
+ GOODBYE BIRDBRAIN (no offence meant to feathered species)
Sir John Krebs has retired from the UK's Food Standards Agency. Even prior to his appointment as head of the FSA, Krebs was on record as saying that criticisms of GM food were "shrill, often ill-informed and dogma-driven". Some speculate that his support for GM may have been a factor in his being offered the top job at the FSA, particularly as his area of specialism has no connection with food safety - he's an expert on bird behaviour!
+ TANZANIA BLITZED BY US GM LOBBY
Intense lobbying is under way in Tanzania in an effort to secure a toe-hold for GM crops, with CS Prakash, Shanthu Shantharam, USAID and the US State Department all involved.
+ ISAAA EXAGGERATES GM PLANTINGS - AGAIN!
Research conducted by the African Centre for Biosafety says South Africa's commercial growing of GM maize, soya and cotton has been grossly exaggerated by the biotech industry for propaganda purposes.
South Africa has been presented as one of the big cultivators of GM crops but South Africa is actually an importer and not an exporter of these crops because its production is so limited. Meanwhile Monsanto is doing its best to take over South Africa's seed supply in terms of both GMOs and hybrids.
Behind the misleading hype is the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), an industry-backed lobby group that inflates the figures of GM plantings around the world to support the argument that GM crops are here to stay.
Despite South Africa's permissive GMO laws, Monsanto South Africa has estimated production of its GM maize (MON 810 and NK603) in South Africa to constitute no more than a total of 6-7% of the area under maize, less than the ISAAA's estimate of 15-20% during 2004.
+ ANTI-GM SENTIMENT ON THE RISE IN AFRICA
NGO Biowatch South Africa notes that anti-GM resistance is on the increase in Africa.
+ US BLACKMAILED ZAMBIA
Over a year after the controversy over Zambia's rejection of US GM food aid, US health secretary Tommy Thompson visited Zambia, where he criticised the rejection of the GMO food aid and linked future American assistance to Zambia in its fight against HIV/AIDS, to accepting GMO food aid.
+ PLANS SCRAPPED FOR GM PHARMA RICE IN BOOTHEEL
Beer giant Anheuser-Busch threatened to stop buying rice from growers in the Bootheel, Missouri if Ventria Bioscience went ahead with plans to plant GM pharmaceutical rice there. Ventria agreed to amend its application with the US Department of Agriculture to plant its rice at least 120 miles away from southeast Missouri's rice growing areas. Anheuser-Busch had expressed concern that the GM rice had not been declared safe for consumption and that it might have come into contact with conventional rice.
+ LANDMARK BILL GIVES FARMERS SAFETY NET FOR GM DAMAGES
In Sacramento, California, the Assembly Judiciary Committee has passed the Food Integrity and Farmer Protection Act, AB 984. Under this landmark legislation, California farmers, handlers and food processors will not have to suffer legal and financial liability caused by the inadvertent contamination of crops by GMOs.
+ BIOTECH INDUSTRY THREATS BACKFIRE IN VERMONT
The Vermont Senate has given nearly unanimous approval to a bill to make seed manufacturers liable for the impacts of GM crops.
Seed manufacturers who will reportedly not sell their products in Vermont if the bill passes may have been responsible for the nearly unanimous vote. Sen. John Campbell, D-Windsor, said, "I don't take well to threats from international companies that don't want to come into the state and compete on a level playing field. It's not acceptable."
+ AGRIBIZ TARGETS STATE LEGISLATORS TO PRE-EMPT LOCAL SEED LAWS
Legislators in eight US states have passed bills preventing counties, towns and cities from introducing legislation relating to agricultural seeds. These seed pre-emption bills are an orchestrated industry response to recent local actions on GMOs. For example, ballot initiatives in three California counties have prohibited the cultivation of GM crops, livestock, and other organisms, and nearly 100 New England towns have passed resolutions to limit GM crops.
+ US BIOTECH FIRM ON THE RUN - AGAIN!
Ventria Bioscience, the company that riled Bootheel farmers and beer giant Anheuser-Busch with a plan to grow pharmaceutical rice in Missouri, has given up on planting in the state this year and instead is aiming at North Carolina. This is the second time Ventria has been stopped from planting by local opposition - the first time, their GM pharma rice was stymied in California, forcing a move to the Monsanto state of Missouri.
The Grocery Manufacturers of America, whose members represent $500 billion in annual sales, says the government lacks a way to prevent contamination of food with synthetic proteins destined for drugs.
+ USDA LAUNCHES INITIATIVE TO FOSTER GM FRUIT 'N' VEG
Just in time for Monsanto's take-over of the fruit and vegetable seed giant Seminis, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which plays the part of both industry booster and regulator, has launched a public-private Specialty Crop Regulatory Initiative to help developers of GM fruits and vegetables "work their way through federal regulatory requirements into the marketplace."
USDA has concluded that the current regulatory framework is hindering development of GM fruit and veg. It says the new initiative will "help developers, obtain regulatory clearances, and work with consumer and stakeholder interests to foster market acceptance."
+ EPA TURNS TO NASA FOR REGULATORY TECHNO-FIX
The US's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has turned to NASA for technological help in order "to ensure appropriate management practices are used to avoid the development of resistance [to GM crops] in corn pest populations".
The Institute for Technology Development at NASA's Stennis Space Center is trying to generate sophisticated new imaging equipment to visually differentiate between GM and non-GM crops and so identify pest infestation conditions. It seems that this technology will be utilised via satellites to monitor GM crop cultivation and pinpoint problems the agency needs farmers to address.
At the same time that US EPA is having to resort to the US space programme for a sophisticated techno-fix to problems of GM crop management, the US administration and USAID are pushing the technology as appropriate to the developing world!
+ US: LAWSUITS OVER PESTICIDES ALLOWED
The makers of pesticides and weedkillers can be sued and forced to pay damages if their products cause harm, the Supreme Court ruled on 27 April, rejecting the view of the Bush administration. The 7-2 ruling permits lawsuits by farmers whose crops are damaged by pesticides, as well as suits by consumers who are hurt by bug sprays.
+ MILK FROM CLONED COWS SAFE, SAY CLONING SCIENTISTS
Cattle-cloning scientists at the University of Connecticut say milk and meat from cloned animals are safe for human consumption.
+ CONTAMINATION OF FOOD BY EXPERIMENTAL GM CROPS MAY BE "FOUND ACCEPTABLE"
The US government plans to routinely allow unapproved experimental GM proteins to contaminate US food crops and exports. The US Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidelines which say that "intermittent, low levels of biotechnology-derived genes and gene products from such field tests could be found acceptable".
+ EPA GRUDGINGLY PULLS PLUG ON "CHEERS" STUDY
Stephen Johnson, Acting Administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency, has announced the end of the CHEERS study, in which parents were paid to spray pesticides in the rooms occupied by their infant children under age 3. Johnson did not admit any ethical problems with the study.
+ COURTING ARMAGEDDON
There's an excellent if hair-raising article with the above title on the commondreams website (http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0414-21.htm) on how the Bush administration's bioweapons buildup affects us all.
+ ROUNDUP KILLS FROGS, MAY EXPLAIN GLOBAL DECLINE
A study has found that Roundup is extremely lethal to amphibians. The results may provide a key link to global amphibian declines. University of Pittsburgh assistant professor of biology Rick Relyea found that Roundup caused a 70 percent decline in amphibian biodiversity and an 86 percent decline in the total mass of tadpoles.
The paper, "The Impact of Insecticides and Herbicides on the Biodiversity and Productivity of Aquatic Communities", is published in the journal Ecological Applications.
In another study, a group of scientists led by Gilles-Eric Seralini from the University of Caen in France has found that human placental cells are very sensitive to Roundup at concentrations lower than the agricultural use. This, they suggest, could explain the high levels of premature births and miscarriages observed among women farmers in the US using glyphosate.
+ RACISM, FRAUD AND RETALIATION
Dr Ignacio Chapela, a microbial biologist at UC Berkeley, has sued the University of California, saying he was denied tenure because he criticized a multimillion-dollar research deal with a biotech company. The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, also claims Ignacio Chapela was discriminated against because he is of Mexican origin and that he has been a victim of a secret, unwritten rule of UC's tenure process - that professors shouldn't publicly criticize those giving lots of money to the university.
+ MONSANTO 'EDUCATES' BRAZIL'S CHILDREN - PROTEST!
Monsanto, supported by Brazil's Ministry of Culture, has developed a "social" project to take its doctrine into state-run schools. The company has announced a new partnership with a publishing house that plans to distribute educational materials on agriculture and the environment to a number of schools in the country. The project is presented as a programme of "social responsibility", but it surely aims to gain future consumers of GMOs.
+ UK: GBP3m SHORTFALL AT JOHN INNES CENTRE
Dozens of scientists at one of Britain's most prestigious laboratories face redundancy after a GBP3m hole was uncovered in its accounts. The John Innes centre in Norwich, a world leading research facility for plant and microbial science, blamed changes in European funding and increased costs.
Dr Ian Gibson, who is close to the JIC, has blamed its difficulties in obtaining funding on "the current public ill feeling over genetically modified crops" and the collapse of a multi-million pound deal with GM giant Syngenta.
The JIC's director, Chris Lamb, was warned time and again that putting so many of the institute's eggs in the GM basket was dangerous and futile, given the lack of a public mandate or a market for GM foods.
+ ORGANIC FARMING BETTER THAN GM FOR JOBS AND ECONOMY
"Organic farming has already created 150,000 jobs in Germany alone. A study by Ernst & Young showed that there are only 2,000 jobs in the sector of agricultural genetic engineering. And [the EU’s] clear-cut requirements - security, labeling, and traceability - have already created an economic advantage, especially in the export sector. Throughout the world, consumers are weary of genetically modified products. Producers know this. For many, abstaining from these products is already paying off."
- German consumer protection minister Renate Kuenast
MONTHLY REVIEW APRIL 2005
from Claire Robinson, editor


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Alimentation Couche-Tard says shopping patterns have changed during COVID-19 lockdowns with consumers purchasing larger-sized goods and stocking up on beer, wine and tobacco products.
The Quebec-based convenience store chain says there has been strong growth in the sale of alcoholic beverages, in jurisdictions where these sales are permitted.
"With the closure of bars and restaurants, we saw a movement in packaged beverage towards larger take-home packages, particularly impacting all beer segments as customer buying shifted to larger pack formats,'' CEO Brian Hannasch said June 30 during a conference call about fourth-quarter and record full-year results.
Couche-Tard beat expectations as it reported a fourth-quarter profit of US$576.3 million or 52 cents per share for the period ended April 26, up from US$293.1 million or 26 cents per share a year earlier.
He noted that there was a shift to cases of 24 and 30 beers from six-packs, along with grocery-sized packages of salty and confectionery items.
"There was also a notable shift from instant consumption or single-serve to take-home packages in that category.''
Even with traffic starting to improve as the economy reopens, Hannasch told analysts that he's been surprised that some of the larger-sized formats remain popular as customers are limiting their shopping trips.
"We've also gained new customers as we stayed open throughout the pandemic to meet their needs for emergency products, impulse buys and grocery items, which became increasingly popular, and we're seeing some stickiness,'' he said.
Sales of food, fountain soft drinks and coffee, which declined with lower consumer traffic, have started to increase. But fuel volume, which suffered big drops as people worked from home, is coming back more slowly than merchandise in Canada "and remains a challenge.''
Hannasch said the shift to larger packages was "pretty global'' even though alcohol sales aren't available in Europe or much of Canada.
But he cautioned that it's premature to say whether the changes in consumer habits will be permanent.
"What could have been the worst of times is turning us into a better, stronger company moving forward with our strategic growth plans and making it easy for our customers' lives every day even during these difficult days.''
Meanwhile, Couche-Tard has joined Canadian grocers in ending its "appreciation'' pay boost for workers. The $2.50 per hour increase ended June 12 in the U.S. and June 22 in Canada.
"We still have some thank-you bonuses in the summer for qualified workers and we also kept health benefits through the end of our calendar year for our employees,'' said chief financial officer Claude Tessier.
Tessier added that the novel coronavirus could create some acquisition opportunities for the global retailer as smaller operators and chains struggle to keep up with investments in technology and enhanced safety measures for customers and employees.
"This could even be truer if we are going into a prolonged period of weakness or recession that could reduce their ability to deliver a strong performance.''


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Increasingly the retail workforce in New Zealand is becoming casualised, inciting enough reaction from kiwis, Closing the Gaps, and other organisations to elicit a response from government, the retail industry and fast food giants like McDonald’s.
In addition to workers being on zero hour contracts, many are on low hour contracts of only five to 10 permanent hours per week, with large fluctuations in their weekly rosters and earnings. These unstable hours cause anxiety and high staff turnover, while employers have to continually train new workers.
In the face of the flare up McDonald’s and the Unite Union will meet next week in a bid to reach an agreement on ending zero hour contracts.
The fast food giant and the union have agreed to a mediated meeting on Tuesday, saying they’re hopeful of a resolution.
Talks broke down ahead of a strike last week, when union members who work at McDonald’s and their supporters picketed outside restaurants.
The two sides have expressed their commitment to ending zero hour contracts but are deadlocked over whether the workers’ guaranteed minimum hours should be based on the time they have actually spent on the job, rather than on their rostered hours.
Rallies, organised by Unite Action, are also taking place outside Wendy’s outlets in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and other centres, effectively constituting an international day of strike action by fast food workers. To date Wendy’s has resisted ending zero hour contracts.
The Unite Union has so far had success with Burger King and Restaurant Brands, which owns KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and Carl’s Jr.
Advocacy group, Closing the Gaps, which was the name given to an official New Zealand government policy of assisting socially disadvantaged ethnic groups through specially targeted social programs, is watching developments closely and keeping government and retail companies on their toes.
“While we commend Mr Woodhouse for looking to eradicate the harshest elements of these contracts, we would prefer that such employment options were banned altogether,” said spokesperson Peter Malcolm.
“Employers and their champions often talk about the need for flexibility, but that doesn’t work when flexibility is a one-way street. What about workers? They should have the right to flexibility too. They should be able to take work offered elsewhere and refuse shifts without penalty but that is not the reality.
“Not knowing how many hours you will be working week to week makes it near impossible to budget or plan for childcare, and there’s no holiday pay or sick leave.
“The social consequences of insecure employment need to be recognised alongside the economic impact. These contracts make life incredibly stressful for workers who are often afraid to turn down work even when it’s inconvenient because it may jeopardise future hours,” Malcom said.
“Every October New Zealanders celebrate the achievement of the eight hour working day on Labour Day, but that’s not very relevant to many kiwis now. The idea of eight hours’ work, rest and play has been swallowed by the pursuit of profit, and when all the power lies with the employer ordinary New Zealanders suffer.
“Eradicating zero hour contracts would be a step in the right direction towards a more egalitarian New Zealand that offers quality of life to all its citizens.”


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After Germany beat Argentina at the World Cup in 2010, a group of drunken revelers in Münster came across a woman attempting to parallel park -- and that was all it took for the exuberant cheering to continue.
Everybody Needs A Hobby of the Day: The Miniatur Wunderland model exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, features both the world's largest and most intricate model railway and, since May, the world's largest model airport as well.
Scores of staff members have spent years constructing the expansive miniature sections with a mind-boggling attention to
Meanwhile, In Germany of the Day: A Bavarian entrepreneur has begun selling cans filled with the scent of cow farts in an effort to provide homesick city-dwelling country folk with "the authentic smell of the country."
"Countryside air to go" creator Daniela Dorrer said there are plans to add other smells such as horse, straw, pigs, and manure, "[b]ut most people miss


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The latest Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) rumor indicates the company may tap rival Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:0059935) to build A-Series chips next year. This report comes from the The Korea Times. More recent estimations show most of the chips for Apple’s current products are manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company(TCMC) but Samsung still makes about 40% of the chips in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Apple may further work with Samsung
One unnamed source close to the deal summed it up, “Apple has designated Samsung as the primary supplier of its next A-series chips powering iOS devices from 2016 as the alliance with GlobalFoundries (GF) enabled Samsung to cut off capacity risk.”
Yarra Square Partners returned 19.5% net in 2020, outperforming its benchmark, the S&P 500, which returned 18.4% throughout the year. According to a copy of the firm's fourth-quarter and full-year letter to investors, which ValueWalk has been able to review, 2020 was a year of two halves for the investment manager. Q1 2021 hedge fund Read More
The rumored deal is said to be worth billions of dollars. It would also require the company to produce the chips at plants in South Korea; Austin, Texas; and New York. Shares for Samsung are also expected to grow significantly by 2016 when Apple has Samsung develop 60% of chip production. Unfortunately, this rumor conflicts with earlier reports which indicate TSMC is building up it’s relationship with Apple. There has also been numerous reports the iPhone maker strived to cut complete ties with its rival.
A look back at previous rumors
There has been numerous rumors regarding Apple’s relationships with TSMC and Samsung. Last summer, a report alleged Samsung would take on iPhone and iPad production sooner than initially anticipated. It would start in 2015 with the production of A9.
All up until this year, Samsung was the primary producer of the custom A-series processors. Samsung also happens to be Apple’s biggest competitor in the smartphone and tablet market. Samsung and Apple have been duking it out for years in court. Apple claimed Samsung stole its design and patents, but the latter retaliated with its own claims. For awhile, Samsung took the lead with larger phablet style phones which outsold smaller smartphones for the past few years. Apple stepped up to the game a few months ago with two larger iPhones, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.


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Weakness persisted on the bourses in mid-morning trade. At 11:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 214.52 points or 0.81% at 26,345.40. The Nifty 50 index was currently off 65.90 points or 0.8% at 8,127. Weakness in Asian stocks triggered decline on the domestic bourses.
Overseas, Asian markets were trading lower on global uncertainties as investors adopted a wait-and-see mood. Later today, 2 December 2016, the US Labor Department will release its closely watched monthly employment report for November.
Investors are awaiting US payrolls report for confirmation the US economy continues to strengthen, with an eye on an expected hike in benchmark US interest rates by the Federal Reserve at its meeting on 13-14 December. Investors are also concerned about Italy's constitutional referendum on Sunday, 4 December 2016 which could determine whether or not the country will remain in the euro zone.
A sharp decline in technology stocks pulled both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 indexes into the red yesterday, 1 December 2016 while the Dow managed to notch a record closing high with a lift from bank and energy shares.
Closer home, the broad market depicted weakness. There were more than two losers for every gainer. On BSE, 1,507 shares declined and 696 shares rose. A total of 101 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently off 0.66%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently off 0.71%. The fall in both these indices was lower than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms.
Auto stocks declined. TVS Motor Company (down 2.28%), Escorts (down 0.61%), Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (down 1.07%) and Maruti Suzuki India (down 1.32%) fell. Ashok Leyland (up 0.71%) and Eicher Motors (up 2.11%) gained.
Tata Motors fell 1.32% after the company reported flat sales in November 2016. Tata Motors said its passenger and commercial vehicle total sales in November 2016 were at 38,900 units, almost flat compared with 38,918 vehicles sold in November 2015. The company's domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles declined 6% to 33,274 units in November 2016 over November 2015. Exports surged 57% to 5,626 units in November 2016 over November 2015. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 1 December 2016.
Bajaj Auto shed 0.28% after the company said its total sales fell 13% to 2.69 lakh units in November 2016 over November 2015. Bajaj Auto's domestic sales fell 10% to 1.54 lakh units in November 2016 over November 2015. Exports declined 16% to 1.15 lakh units in October 2016 over October 2015. The announcement was made before trading hours today, 2 December 2016.
Total motorcycle sales fell 12% to 2.37 lakh units in November 2016 over November 2015. Total commercial vehicles sales fell 17% to 32,191 lakh units in November 2016 over November 2015.
Hero MotoCorp rose 0.08% after total sales declined 13.07% to 4.79 lakh units in November 2016 over November 2015. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 1 December 2016.
Hero MotoCorp, which posted record festive sales this year, saw a drop in retail sales after the demonetisation initiative when the entire industry also witnessed decline in sales. With the slew of measures being implemented by the government, and several initiatives immediately undertaken by Hero MotoCorp to support its dealers and consumers, the company expects the situation to steadily improve.
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Clean slate brands are seeing a rise in popularity, and brand loyalty in South Africa is diminishing, according to the Ask Afrika ICON Brands survey, which found that year on year, fewer people are finding well-known brands preferential to store brands.
Ask Afrika ICON Brands are ubiquitous and quintessentially South African brands that cross all socio-economic, race, language, and cultural barriers. Consumers voted in the survey for their favorites with their hearts and their wallets, and the following insights came to light:
1. Private label
There is a decline in the number of people who think that ‘brand names’ are superior. Store brands have been part of many major brands re-invention strategies. Private label brands are no longer a cheap alternative to the FMCG category, they are evolving into exclusive trusted brands. “The danger for FMCG brands is that consumers originally saw private label brands as cheap, but now they are trusting retailers to bring them quality brands,” said Paida Mugudubi, Ask Afrika director of commercial markets.
2. Clean slate brands
Clean slate brands are either new on the market, quickly acquiring substantial market share because of innovation that existing brands are not offering, or they are heritage brands that innovate to zero, wipe the slate clean and re-create brand associations that are aligned with the current consumer landscape. “Humans are hard-wired to resist change, but that is changing. New unknown brands are suddenly enjoying consumer approval. With just 33% of US consumers saying they trust big brands, new, small, innovative businesses have a built-in edge. Consumers are crazy for the new because thanks to social media, everyone wants to be the first to discover and share new trends,” adds Sarina de Beer, MD of Ask Afrika.
This means that tougher standards are set for heritage brands because they come with baggage, and will start facing the sins of their fathers. Newer brands and businesses are typically leaner, more transparent, and more flexible. And many new companies and products are based on socially responsible foundations.
Clean slate brands stand for something that matters to a group of people. A great example of this is a new Australian toilet paper brand called ‘Who Gives a Crap’. The company donates 50% of their profit towards building toilets in communities where they are needed. The loo roll is made from recycled paper and they deliver orders to your door. Their tag line is about, ‘keeping your bottom fit’. If a toilet paper brand can be sexy, create smiles, meaning, and feel good moments, other brand categories really need to step up their game.
Ask Afrika identified five criteria for clean slate brands:
1. They have universal appeal.
2. They are authentic.
3. They stand out from the pack.
4. They present fresh ideas and new or newly represented values.
5. Most of all they are relevant.
The Gautrain is an excellent example of a South African clean slate brand that has built quickly and has increasing uptake in the commuter market, reports Ask Afrika. The Gautrain system has about 10 000 parking bays spread across all stations. The current average weekday use varies between 54 000 and 56 000 train passengers and about 21 000 bus passengers. This growth in passenger demand has been attributed to the project’s focus on key customer satisfaction criteria. A feasibility study conducted by Ask Afrika revealed that they are tightly delivering on the criteria defined by the consumer.
Mug & Bean and Robertsons Herbs and Spices, through their partnership with MasterChef, are local heritage clean slate brands that re-invent themselves through innovative marketing strategies and keep their brands fresh and on-trend for consumers.
3. Innovating to zero
The innovating to zero concept first introduced by Bill Gates bears much relevance for incumbent brands (brands that have a large share of market). This involves more than just innovation and re-inventing. Bill Gates made the concept popular specifically in his pursuit to reduce carbon emissions. As Gates has written, energy efficiency can help, but getting to zero carbon will require major innovation if we want abundant carbon-neutral energy. The brands who will win iconic status in the future will be the brands which take this concept further and find solutions to achieve zero crime, zero poverty, zero lack of infrastructure. This focus on giving back in a clever and sustainable way is already being seen with companies actively taking on CSI projects with a different angle. It is a bit of an all or nothing approach. It is no longer good enough to donate to charities or causes, brands need to start becoming part of the solution locally and globally.
Source: Ask Afrika.


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Apple Inc plans to issue bonds in Taiwan for the first time with the aim of raising $1 billion, sources familiar with the matter said, joining a queue of big global names that ..
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Trump University gave employees detailed instructions on how to entice people to enroll in its real estate seminars, from targeting people making at least $90 ..
Tesla Motors Inc. will likely charge owners of its forthcoming Model 3 sedan to use the company’s network of Supercharging stations, which is free to owners of current models, ..
The owners of the New York Mets baseball team have reached a revised agreement with the trustee seeking to recoup money for the victims of Bernard Madoff's fraud that giv ..
Activity in China's manufacturing sector unexpectedly expanded for the third straight month in May but growth remained weak as orders softened, suggesting the world' ..
Software maker Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) is selling about 1,500 of its patents to Chinese device maker Xiaomi [XTC.UL], a rare departure for the U.S. company and part of what th ..
The transaction marks the first sale of Alibaba shares by its largest shareholder since Softbank first began investing in the company. Softbank's Alibaba stake will fall ..
Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners underpriced their 2013 $24.9 billion buyout of Dell Inc [DI.UL] by about 22 percent and may have to pay tens of millions to investors who ..
Viacom Inc's (VIAB.O) chief executive and independent directors would face an uphill courtroom battle to remain on the board if controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone fo ..
Shari Redstone, vice chair of Viacom Inc (VIAB.O) and the daughter of controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone, said on Tuesday she has no desire to manage the media conglomera ..


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Google has announced that it will be discontinuing its standalone podcast service, Google Podcasts, in 2024. Instead, the company will be integrating podcast content into YouTube Music to enhance the podcast experience. Google aims to create a more appealing destination for both podcast enthusiasts and creators by making YouTube Music the primary platform for podcasts.
According to Google, about 23% of weekly podcast users in the US already consider YouTube as their most frequently used service, compared to just 4% for Google Podcasts. This data, along with Google's efforts to make podcast content available for free on YouTube Music earlier this year, has influenced the decision to discontinue Google Podcasts.
As part of the transition, Google will provide a straightforward migration tool to help users move their podcast subscriptions seamlessly to YouTube Music. Users will also have the option to add a podcast RSS feed to their YouTube Music library, expanding their podcast choices beyond what's currently available on YouTube.
For users who prefer alternative podcast platforms, Google will offer the option to download an OPML file of their podcast subscriptions. This will allow users to import their saved podcasts into another app that supports this feature.
The integration into YouTube Music will come with unique features available on YouTube, such as community engagement, content discovery, and the ability to easily switch between audio and video content. YouTube has plans to make podcasts globally accessible on YouTube Music by the end of 2023.
Google Podcasts was originally launched in 2018 on Android, providing users with access to a collection of podcasts and personalized recommendations. In 2020, it was made available on iOS, and web users on Windows and macOS platforms also had access to the service.
This move reflects Google's commitment to the podcasting space and its strategy to leverage the popularity of YouTube for podcast content distribution. It also aligns with the growing trend of major streaming platforms integrating podcasts into their offerings to create a one-stop destination for audio content.


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Cow-chip bingo and student car washes might become relics of the past, if other schools follow Lebanon Elementary School’s example. In what might be the first event of its kind for a public grade school, the small school in southern Maine held an internet auction to raise funds for a fifth-grade class trip.
Modeled after online auctions such as eBay and Auction Universe, Lebanon Elementary’s auction let people around the country bid on items ranging from movie tickets, crafts, and free internet access to such big-ticket items as a football autographed by Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Doug Flutie, a TV movie script autographed by country music star Clint Black, and lunch for four with Gov. Angus King at the governor’s mansion.
The auction raised $7,125 to help send students on an annual trip to the Environmental Schools in Ocean Park, Maine.
The idea was the brainchild of Brian Hammond, the husband of a fifth-grade teacher at the school. Though Hammond, who owns a software development company called H.A.T.S. Software, did most of the programming for the auction site, the school’s teachers helped by adding to and updating the site, taking pictures of items for bid with a digital camera, scanning photos, and eMailing the digital images to Hammond.
Unlike the school’s previous fundraising events, the internet auction offered a unique opportunity to reach out to a wide range of potential donors, said fifth-grade teacher Karina Chapman.
“We wanted to see if we could get more support than just locally,” Chapman said. “Every year, it’s the same generous people who step up to the plate and support our efforts. But we’re not a Kennebunkport, unfortunately.”
The auction was put together in a feverish two months during which parents, teachers, and students solicited items for bid. Sponsors could donate an item, make a cash donation, or buy banner advertising space on the auction’s web site. Donations were received from as far away as Boston and Buffalo, N.Y., where one parent had a friend who worked for the Buffalo Bills.
Technology also played a role. When online news source CNET ran a story on the auction March 10, the American School Directory saw it and donated a digital camera.
One of the most prized items came as a pleasant surprise to the school’s staff. On a whim, Chapman said, the school eMailed Gov. Angus King’s office, asking if the governor had anything he’d like to contribute.
“We got a message back saying the governor would be happy to offer lunch for four with him at his mansion,” Chapman said, “but we weren’t sure we should believe it. We thought maybe somebody had intercepted the message and was playing a joke. So we sent an official letter on school stationery and, sure enough, we got an official response confirming the governor’s offer!”
The auction opened March 14 and received 350 bids on its first night. Featured items, such as lunch with the governor and the digital camera, were open for bidding all week.
When visitors logged onto the site, they were greeted with a menu of the items for bid. Clicking on an item revealed its photo, a description, and the high bid to that point. Visitors could submit their own bid using a secure password. The auction featured staggered closing times for each item, so increased traffic before the bidding closed wouldn’t crash the server.
Chapman said the event was a huge success–everyone had fun putting it together, and the teachers became more familiar with computers. The school plans to continue its online fundraiser next year.
“What we’d like to see happen with this is for it to become our signature event,” Chapman said. “We’ve done cow-plop bingo, carnivals, and so on–but there’s only so many brownies you can sell.”
Lebanon Elementary School fifth-grade auction site
American School Directory


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These are all the posts that have been tagged with milk.
Three brand new tea inspired chocolates have been revealed by UK tea brand teapigs.
Snacking company pladis, has launched an Easter range through its premium chocolate brand, Godiva.
2019 sees Nestlé release its biggest ever Easter egg range which features newly developed eggs including a KitKat with Ruby chocolate Easter Egg and some ‘Incredible’ Eggs for KitKat, Smarties and Yorkie lovers.
Irish chocolatier, Lir Chocolates, is launching a limited-edition Discovery Collection chocolate egg, on sale in the UK for the first time.
Blurring the lines between art and chocolate, UK chocolatier Paul A Young has designed an Easter collection inspired by impressionist artist, Monet.
Nestlé introduces Milkybar Mix Ups, which mix white chocolate with milk chocolate for the very first time.
Graham’s The Family Dairy has introduced its new Goodness ice cream range. An indulgent high protein ice cream, lower in sugar, as well as a good source of fibre, from only 310 calories per tub.
Plamil is launching a new Easter range, featuring three organic vegan Easter eggs and chocolate bunny bars.
pladis is taking its premium chocolate Godiva into the luxury biscuits category – the brand’s first venture into biscuits for multiple retail distribution. The Godiva Masterpieces Biscuits range will be available in three variants: Caramel Lion, with milk chocolate and a smooth caramel filling; Ganache Heart, with dark chocolate and a velvety ganache filling; and […]
Kinder has launched a range of ice creams, available in supermarkets across the UK.
The British, family-run ice cream brand, Jude’s, has launched its first range of hand held ice creams.
Nestlé is introducing a new limited edition Ruby variant of its premium chocolate range, Les Recettes de l’Atelier, in time for Valentine’s day.
Introducing Katjes’ chocolate sensation Chocjes, the first chocolate made with oat milk, making it suitable for vegans, and those avoiding soy.
Chocolette Confectionary LLC, has launched its “guilt free” Red Delight chocolate collection in the US.


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This fall, I gave New York University $13,845 for the glorious opportunity to spend one day each week in their newly minted journalism building in Manhattan. Apparently, what that steep […]
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals announced last week that it would offer a $1 million reward for a company to bring commercially viable test-tube meat to market by […]
I was pretty excited in January when New York City announced that it would require grocery stores to recycle plastic bags. Now, it seems like small potatoes when Gordon Brown, […]
Ever tried to recycle a television? I don’t mean actually breaking apart the pieces to use again, I mean just bringing it to a place that will responsibly dispose of […]
A natural treatment might work better than over the counter cold remedies.


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Did Staples' Board Sell Too Low? Multiple Law Firms Think So
A little less than a month ago, Staples' board of directors unanimously approved a sale to Sycamore Partners for $6.9 billion, and the dust seemed to be settling on the whole situation. But, because we are apparently masters of foreshadowing, our last words on the subject were "The story of Staples could be far from over." And, guess what, it looks like the story of Staples is far from over.
At least four law firms are reportedly contesting the acquisition, saying the office supply company's board of directors "may have violated their fiduciary duty in approving the deal," according to the Worcester Business Journal.
The law firm Kahn Swick & Foti (KSF) representing Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, told the Worcester Business Journal that it's investigating whether the acquisition, valued at $10.25 a share, is too low, compared to one analyst's estimated value of $12 per share.
"KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate," the law firm said.
Other law firms are investigating whether or not the company's board did its due diligence in looking for alternatives to Sycamore, thereby looking to get the best deal possible, rather than just the first deal.
At time of publication, Staples stock was at $10.10 per share. The company, in response to the accusations from law firms, encouraged all shareholders to vote in favor of the transaction.
Pending regulatory and stockholder approval, the deal should still close in December.
But, we'll say it again to be safe: The story of Staples could be far from over still.


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Towards an EU ban on products made with #forcedlabor
On Monday, 16th October 2023, the Internal Market and International Trade Committees adopted their position on keeping products made using forced labor out of the EU market.
Towards an EU ban on products made with forced labor
Original Article: Press Release
- Law provides a framework to investigate the use of forced labor in companies’ supply chains
- All goods made using forced labour to be halted at EU borders and withdrawn from the market
- MEPs want a list of high-risk areas and sectors
On Monday, the Internal Market and International Trade Committees adopted their position on keeping products made using forced labor out of the EU market.
The draft regulation would put a framework to investigate the use of forced labor in companies’ supply chains. If it is proven that a company has used forced labor, all import and export of the related goods would be halted at the EU’s borders and companies would also have to withdraw goods that have already reached the EU market. These would then be donated, recycled or destroyed.
EU to ban import and export of products made with forced labour
Original Article: PV Tech by Will Normal – 17th October 2023.
A draft regulation banning products with forced labour in their supply chains from entering the EU was adopted by the EU Internal Market and International Trade committees yesterday, with some amendments to broaden both the scope and responsibility for policing offending products and companies.
EU lawmakers set to define position on forced labour products ban
Original Article: euractiv by Silvia Ellena – 16th October 2023.
As members of the European Parliament prepare to vote on their position on the proposed EU law to ban products made with forced labour from the EU market, they reiterated their call on member states to accelerate their negotiations.
The Parliament’s report on the regulation to ban products made with forced labour from the EU market will be voted on Monday (16 October) by the members of the international trade and internal market committees.
The rapporteurs in charge of the file are pushing to ensure the regulation has a remediation mechanism, which was not foreseen in the original proposal presented by the European Commission in September 2022.
Reversal of burden of proof in high-risk cases
MEPs amended the Commission proposal to task the Commission with creating a list of geographical areas and economic sectors at high risk of using forced labor. For goods produced in these high-risk areas, the authorities would no longer need to prove that people have been forced to work, as the burden of proof would fall on companies.
Remediation and wider definitions
The committees also want goods that have been removed from the market to be allowed back on only after the company demonstrates it has stopped using forced labor in its operations or supply chain and remedied any relevant cases.
MEPs have also updated and widened the definitions used in the text. Particularly, the definition of forced labour would be aligned to ILO standards and include “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily”.
Co-rapporteur Samira Rafaela (Renew, NL) said: “Forced labor is a grave human rights violation. The ban that we have voted for today will be essential in blocking products made using modern slavery and taking away the economic incentive for companies to engage in forced labor. It will protect whistle-blowers, provide remedy to victims, and defend our businesses and SMEs from unethical competition. Our text includes strong provisions on a database and is gender-responsive, all key elements for sustained impact.”
After the vote, co-rapporteur Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques (S&D, PT) said: “27.6 million workers worldwide suffer from forced labour, a kind of modern slavery – we should dedicate this victory to them. We have ensured that products made with forced labour are banned from the internal market until workers are compensated for the harm done to them. Banning forced labour also protects companies who follow the rules from unfair competition. Finally, we make it easier to prove state-imposed forced labour.”
The two committees adopted the draft report with 66 votes for, 0 against and 10 abstentions. Plenary will now have to confirm it as the EP’s negotiating mandate and then, once Council also adopts its position, talks can start over the final shape of the regulation.
Parliament is also working on other pieces of legislation promoting decent work and responsible business, such as the proposal on the directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, currently being negotiated. The proposal on banning products made with forced labour specifically focuses on product surveillance.
MEPs agree EU ban on forced-labour goods, but Council stalls (EU Observer, 17th Oct 2023)
- Text of the Compromise Amendments put to the vote (articles)
- Text of the Compromise Amendments put to the vote (recitals)
- Additional information on work done at the Parliament


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In Q1 2022 we covered that Intel was planning to acquire Tower Semiconductor. Eighteen months later, those plans are being scuttled due to not gaining regulatory approval. We know that regulators would be scrutinizing this deal, and now have an answer. Intel will be paying a $353M break-up termination fee to Tower per the release.
Intel Terminates the Tower Acquisition
The original thesis behind Intel’s acquisition of Tower Semiconductor was that Tower provides a foundry model, albeit not on the same process technology as Intel. Intel has been building Intel Foundry Services (IFS) over the past few years with the vision of making it the #2 foundry to TSMC by 2025. The Tower acquisition would have given Intel a team that was driving a larger revenue stream and that had a number of customers already. Acquiring not just the customer lists and revenue streams, but also a foundry business would have been a major push for Intel. In the meantime, Intel has been focusing its IFS efforts on future processes like Intel 18A, but Intel 18A is not in high-volume manufacturing today and Tower has multiple fabs making chips for customers today.
At the time of the planned acquisition’s announcement, we said:
With that said, there are challenges. Although the companies do not compete directly in manufacturing, regulatory agencies have been stepping up scrutiny of deals lately. Also, semiconductor manufacturing is a hot topic on the international stage so we will have to see how this goes through the regulatory progress. (STH: 2022-02-15)
The reason for this statement is that I was doing a corporate strategy project at Applied Materials during its ultimately failed 2013-2015 bid for Tokyo Electron. Having seen a highly scrutinized semiconductor equipment deal fail and watching our clients get back to Silicon Valley only to be summoned again to certain regulatory agencies in Asia later the same day or the next day, makes the possibility a deal like Intel-Tower would fall through very close to a real-life experience.
For Intel, this is a big blow to IDM 2.0. The company says that IDM 2.0 is still alive and well pushing towards 18A. At the same time, Tower would have immediately given Intel a foundry business and a team accustomed to operating that business.
If Intel were to spin off IFS in the future, Tower would have been an awesome asset to have. To spin IFS, Intel likely will need a solid customer list across a range of process nodes. Tower would have given Intel a major jumpstart in that area.
Intel can still execute IDM 2.0. It has announced deals like the Intel IFS and Arm SoC Manufacturing Deal lined up for 18A. At the same time, calling off the Tower acquisition means that the road has gotten much more treacherous.
Also, Intel has been shedding businesses like its Exiting the Server Business Selling to MiTAC, discontinuing NUCs moving the business to ASUS, and exiting the switching business. That is happening while Intel now has to pay a break-up fee for Tower. Intel is a big ship to turn, but at some point, there will be a question if the ship is turning fast enough.