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Jaguar Bond Risk Rises Fourfold as Hard Times Hit Tata Too
Jaguar Land Rover Automative Plc’s bond risk quadrupled this year as the automaker plays catch-up on electric vehicles and is hit by weakened demand in China. Moody’s Investors Service is warning of more tough days ahead.
Diesel vehicles account for just under 90 percent of Jaguar’s sales in Europe at a time when consumers are increasingly choosing more environmentally friendly options. By 2040, more than half of all new car sales and a third of the planet’s automobile fleet — equal to 559 million vehicles — will be electric, according to a global outlook published by Bloomberg NEF.
“JLR has an above average exposure to diesel engines which face a very uncertain demand outlook,” said Nicholas Harrison, credit sector strategist at RBC Capital Markets. “JLR has fallen from being widely viewed as a rising star a year and a half ago to now sitting comfortably in BB category.”
Credit-default swaps protecting Jaguar’s debt against non-payment using five year contracts surged to 582 basis points on Thursday, a six-year high. The cost to buy protection on Jaguar bonds was as low as 113 basis points in August of last year.
“Jaguar is pushing into EVs,” said Joel Levington, director of credit research at Bloomberg Intelligence. “That is coming at a heavy capex and R&D cost, which are key drivers behind its weakening credit. More like they need to take a step backwards before they can move forwards.”


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Dallas—“Although Unilin, the parent company of Columbia and Century hardwood, continues to take steps to mitigate the impact of increased costs, raw material costs have continued to rise on select lumber and veneer species,” said Shane Calloway, vice president of North American independent distribution sales for Unilin. “The combination of an improving economy and less than ideal logging conditions continues to pressure availability leading to increased demand. Continue reading Unilin raises prices on Columbia, Century wood products
Few countries, if any, have as many laws as the U.S. regarding the protection of the health and safety of its people and the environment, from the federal level to local municipalities. In addition, green building rating systems have put a greater emphasis on how far a product travels, rationalizing the closer it is to the jobsite, the less energy required to get it there.
While some may complain about the abundance of regulations, the flooring industry, in many ways, has deemed these rules advantageous to producing products in the U.S.
Randy Merritt, president of Shaw Industries, said the company’s commitment to safety, health and the environment spans past compliance. “Our sustainability practices go beyond basic federal or state requirements. We aim to be an innovation leader, producing products that minimize waste, utilize renewable energy in production when possible and safeguard our natural resources. Shaw has recycled more than 600 million pounds of post-consumer carpet from 2006 through 2011, a major milestone for the growth of carpet reclamation.” Continue reading Environment, safety at head of domestic production
Dalton—Mohawk is hitting the road this year and taking its SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona with it. The mill will continue to prove SmartStrand’s performance attributes in the coast-to-coast “License to Spill” carpet showdown tour in partnership with the nationally syndicated lifestyle television show, “The Better Show.”
The tour, which will make at least 12 stops, will showcase the cleanability and performance of SmartStrand at festivals and home show events. Attendees are invited to spill everything from ketchup and Kool-Aid to wine and coffee on SmartStrand carpet to see if it will clean with just water or mild detergent. Mohawk will promote its local Floorscapes and ColorCenter members at each tour stop and encourage consumers to visit their nearest aligned retailers to take advantage of promotional offers. Continue reading Quality control: Key advantage to local mill production
Dallas — “Unilin remains committed to delivering the finest service and highest quality products to our customers,” said Shane Calloway, vice president of North American independent distribution sales for Unilin.
“Unfortunately, sustained raw material cost increases in hardwood continue to outpace our productivity initiatives,” said Calloway. “As a result, Unilin will be increasing selling prices in the Columbia and Century hardwood lines up to 10% on solid and engineered hardwood flooring, and on accessories. These increases will be effective June 1, 2013.”
“Unilin continues to mitigate the impact of increased raw material costs in every way possible,” added Calloway. “We remain focused on providing quality products, good service, and the strong price/value relationship that customers have come to expect from our Columbia and Century hardwood brands.”
Ceramic tile has long been known as one of the most hygienically clean and environmentally friendly products the flooring industry has to offer. The segment is full of companies that take the matter of making a small carbon footprint to heart, and in practice, in a very big way. The following is an environmental update of what some companies are currently doing in the way of environmental friendliness. Continue reading Tile: Ceramic companies leaving big impression with small carbon footprint
For the second time this year, hardwood flooring suppliers have raised prices, and with limited lumber supply, rising raw materials costs and cash-flow constraints for sawmills, another round of hikes are likely.
In May, Armstrong and Mohawk announced 6% increases that took effect in July. This followed similar raises in March by many manufacturers. And “we may not be done,” according to Daniel Call, vice president, wood product management, Armstrong. Since the company’s last price increase, lumber and energy prices have continued to rise dramatically. “Appalachian and southern oak in typical flooring grades are up 10% to 15%. Kiln-dried lumber prices are up 20% to 30% on the open market.” Continue reading Hardwood suppliers see more price hikes on horizon

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No phone or desktop operating system will ever be 100% secure. But yet another Android flaw affecting a majority of its devices has been discovered, once again causing users to question its security.
The researchers at BlueBox have discovered a vulnerability they dub “FakeID,” and it affects a majority of versions of the phone’s OS. The bug affects versions of Android from 2.1, released January of 2010, to Android 4.4, KitKat.
The flaw allows malicious people to pose as a trusted company. According to The Register:
The Fake ID problem is due to weakness in the way applications can be trusted by their certificate chain: a vendor like Adobe can digitally sign an app to prove, cryptographically, that it built the software and that it’s legit.
Bluebox discovered that a miscreant can create his or her own identity certificate, falsely claim it has been signed by Adobe as trustworthy, and then use that identity certificate to sign a malicious piece of software.
It’s in manufacturers’ hands
Unlike Apple’s iOS, the best Google can do in this situation is to let manufacturers know of the flaw and ask them to push out updates to devices – but it’s not a guarantee they will.
That puts users in a precarious spot, because Bluebox notes that this flaw could be used, for instance, to:
- insert a Trojan into an app by impersonating Adobe Systems
- gain access to NFC financial and payment data by impersonating Google Wallet, or
- take full management control of a device.
And all this comes after another recently discovered cyrpto key flaw which was patched in Android 4.4 only.
Steps to take
As always, good mobile security rules the day. Be sure to:


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For decades, PC makers had little choice but to succumb to the Microsoft and Intel hegemony known as Wintel. The software giant and chip maker both rose to ubiquity together, enjoying the most valuable roles in the segmented PC value chain. The vast majority of computers ran Windows and were powered by Intel processors during the rise of the PC.
However, one PC maker has had enough: Hewlett-Packard .
HP has been in turmoil for years. Mark Hurd's controversial ouster in 2011 also came at a time when the broader computing industry was at an inflection point. Apple had launched the iPad just a year prior, jump-starting the tablet renaissance. Leo Apotheker's reign didn't last long, and current CEO Meg Whitman's turnaround is starting to take shape.
That turnaround is very much hinged on a broader approach than HP has historically implemented, one that acknowledges the shift away from Microsoft and Intel in favor of iOS, Google Android, and ARM-based chips. On the last earnings conference call, Whitman made it clear that HP is intent on "using multiple operating systems, multiple architectures, and multiple form factors" going forward.
Whereas once HP's PC portfolio were all Windows PCs with Intel inside, HP has now broadened its horizons and is embracing Google's vision of the future. HP released its first Chromebook earlier this year, followed almost immediately by a Slate 7 Android tablet reminiscent of Google's Nexus 7. The Android-powered SlateBook x2 convertible was just announced, which sports an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor. Google is uprooting many of Microsoft's core businesses, and HP wants in.
HP SlateBook x2. Source: HP.
On the server side, HP's power-efficient Moonshot system that boasts 89% energy savings use ARM-based chips instead of Intel silicon. The company makes it clear that this isn't just an "evolutionary" improvement -- this could be revolutionary.
HP is now taking something of a "shotgun" approach, trying everything to see what sticks. That broad strategy is similar to what Samsung has done in mobile, testing every imaginable form factor and price point. If Microsoft and Intel fail to gain traction in the mobile future, HP wants to hedge its bets.
The massive wave of mobile computing has done much to unseat the major players in the PC market, including venerable technology names like Hewlett-Packard. However, HP's rapidly shifting its strategy under the new leadership of CEO Meg Whitman. But does this make HP one of the least-appreciated turnaround stories on the market, or is this a minor blip on its road to irrelevance? The Motley Fool's technology analyst details exactly what investors need to know about HP in our new premium research report. Just click here now to get your copy today.
The article Hewlett-Packard Is Sick of Wintel originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Google, Intel, and NVIDIA and owns shares of Apple, Google, Intel, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Microsoft: Xbox Live bans for the "health of the videogame business"
Modified consoles used to play pirated games barred from the company's online service for breach of warranty
Xbox Live's Major Nelson has revealed that Microsoft has recently banned a number of Xbox 360 consoles modified to play pirated games.
In his blog, Major Nelson explained that any modification to an Xbox 360 was a violation of the terms of service and that action needed to be taken against software piracy in order to protect the games industry.
"Microsoft has taken action against a small percentage of Xbox 360 consoles that have been illegally modified in order to play pirated games," he explained.
"We will continue to employ and bolster anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy in the gaming industry and improve security in the Xbox Live community. "


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Bentley Motors has announced a three-year research project aimed at exploring a fully integrated, free from rare-earth magnet e-axle for next generation electric vehicles.
The so-called OCTOPUS study (Optimised Components, Test and simulatiOn, toolkits for Powertrains which integrate Ultra high-speed motor Solutions) follows an initial 18-month investigation which demonstrated how the proposed electric drive system improved on the performance of competing permanent magnet motors whilst removing the need for rare-earth magnets and copper windings.
One of the key partners in the project is UK electric motor specialist Advanced Electric Machines, which has been working on magnet-free electric motor technology for a number of years. The organisation was the recipient of the Grand Prix prize at The Engineers 2019 Collaborate To Innovate Awards.
Advanced Electric Machines Group CEO, Dr. James Widmer, said: “Having already worked closely with Bentley to successfully deliver a proof-of-concept, we look forward to this new project to push the performance, packaging and sustainability of electric vehicle drives to a new level, removing the need for rare-earths and copper and achieving the highest levels of system integration.”
OCTOPUS will take this leading-edge motor, power electronics and packaging transmission design, adding next generation materials, manufacturing processes, simulation and test cycles to deliver a full e-axle powertrain with unique levels of integration and revolutionary performance characteristics suitable for real world application by 2026.
Commenting on the project, Stefan Fischer, Director of Powertrain Engineering at Bentley Motors, said: “We have made no secret of our ambition to lead the way in the delivery of sustainable luxury mobility, Beyond100. We have a clear roadmap to offer a hybrid option for every model by 2023, starting with the Bentayga Hybrid, and our next goal moves towards a fully electric Bentley by 2026.
“However today, there remains challenges and package constraints on the viability and flexibility of electric vehicle powertrains that are able to fully support EV architectures. With the industry, technologies and cars changing faster than ever before, research projects such as OCTOPUS are crucial to deliver innovative technologies and overcome challenges for the next generation of mobility solutions.”
Other partners in the electric drive project include the universities of Bath and Nottingham, AM specialist HiETA Technologies Ltd and the Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron light source which is providing access to X-ray facilities for measurements.


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The "Stop Hate for Profit" campaign has convinced big companies such as Verizon and Coca-Cola to pull their advertising from Facebook in a bid to pressure the social network to do more to combat hate speech and misinformation. The organizers behind the boycott are now going global.
The organizers, made up of civil rights groups including the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Colors of Change, Free Press and Common Sense Media, will urge more international companies to participate in the ban. Unilever, based in the UK, has already said it would pull its ads from Facebook as well as Instagram and Twitter.
"The next frontier is global pressure," chief executive of Common Sense Media Jim Steyer, said in an interview with Reuters on Saturday.
Since the campaign launched earlier this month, over 100 companies, including ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, outdoor-clothing brand North Face and Honda, have joined the boycott.
The growing list of companies prompted a response from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who said in an internal town hall on Friday that the social network will bar ads that contain claims that people of certain racial groups or ethnicities are a threat to the physical safety, health or survival of anyone else. Facebook will also prohibit ads that express contempt, dismissal or disgust of immigrants and refugees, or suggest they are somehow inferior.
Some companies,, have followed suit by pausing their advertising on social media platforms, but not necessarily joining the Stop Hate for Profit campaign.


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When most students start out as freshmen at Cal State Fullerton, they are essentially dealing with the stresses of transitioning from high school and balancing an active social life with new rigorous course work. But for one Mihaylo business student, launching a product and starting a business were the most important goals of his freshman year.
Nick Ajluni ‘15, CEO of NixFix Chasers, is currently a third-year business student studying operations management. The idea of creating a chaser started early his freshman year after joining the campus fraternity Phi Kappa Tau.
“I came up with the idea to mix a healthier concoction tailored to the needs of a drinker with some good flavor,” says Ajluni.
NixFix Chasers are a powdered beverage, similar to crystal light, designed to complement alcoholic beverages. Among other things, it offers exquisite flavor. It can also be used on its own for hydration and natural energy. The chasers are created with vitamins, minerals and specialty extracts.
“It’s also what isn’t in it,” says Ajluni. “Most of the drinks people use as chasers are high in sugar, which is extremely dehydrating.”
NixFix Chasers contains five grams of sugar. There are currently three flavors: strawberry watermelon, raspberry pomegranate and blue cola. Each pack of nine sells for $8.99.
“The fact that [NixFix Chasers] actually works has a huge importance,” says Peter Engfelt ’15, business finance major. “What can be learned very quickly in the business world is the only thing more important than the product itself is everything behind the scenes.”
Engfelt has been Ajluni’s roommate since their freshman year. He has been involved in countless brainstorming sessions and coming up with new business ideas.
It took Ajluni about a year and a half from business plan to the day the company was launched. He says it was a rigorous process that pressured him to get things right in a timely manner.
“I basically had to figure everything out on my own and I made about a million mistakes,” says Ajluni. “I was lucky to have my dad and some of his friends as a resource.”
He says starting this company took a lot of patience and time management. Since he is currently a student at Cal State Fullerton he has had to start this company while balancing a full class schedule and an active role in his fraternity.
Many people have helped support Ajluni in the launching of this product. He says his family members have played a big role in the start-up of the company by offering their advice and feedback. The brothers of his fraternity have also been very encouraging and helpful throughout this process. Ajluni wanted to thank his fraternity brothers: Engfelt, Troy Rupp, Casey Janes, Rory Ghallagher and Tony Montini for their role in marketing the product and for being involved in the business in general. Kyle Herbert, a current student at Arizona State University, has played a huge role as Ajluni’s business partner.
“Those are just a few names, but the entire chapter has played a huge role in getting NixFix Chasers to where it is now,” says Ajluni.
Ajluni started writing the business plans for his product his freshman year, but now that he is taking his upper division courses at Mihaylo, he is able to apply his growing knowledge of the business world to his own company.
“I am learning a lot and could have definitely applied some of this knowledge earlier on, but some classes are still helpful even this late in the game,” says Ajluni.
An operations management course with Professor Joe Formichelli helped Ajluni understand the cut-throat realities in the world of business. Formichelli was the IBM Corporation’s vice president of worldwide systems operations and brings more than 30 years of experience to the Mihaylo College classroom.
“The reason I’d like to thank him is because most people in his financial position would be hanging out on a yacht, and I respect the fact that he chooses to give back and come teach,” says Ajluni.
Ajluni’s current focus for the company is gaining more customer awareness and figuring out the best way to accommodate the college student demographic in the United States.
NixFix Chasers are currently being sold online and at multiple locations. For more information on the product and how to order the first chaser, visit their website.


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- Title: Cuba puts brakes on private sector expansion
- Date: 1st August 2017
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (AUGUST 01, 2017) (REUTERS) HAVANA RESIDENT ANTONIO VILTRES WHO WORKS AS A BRICKLAYER WORKING AT A HOME GENERAL VIEW OF HOME WHERE VILTRES IS LAYING DOWN BRICKS BRICKS LAMPS ON WALL SURROUNDING HOME WHERE VILTRES IS WORKING VILTRES MOVING BAG OF CEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HAVANA RESIDENT ANTONIO VILTRES WHO WORKS AS A BRICKLAYER SAYING: "This news was a bucket of cold water for me because I was already finalizing a project to start my own cafeteria with light snacks in my home, renting a room in my house. I have purchased all of the materials, I purchased all of it, I have invested more than 3,000 CUC (referring to Cuban pesos) and now with this news, well I don't know what they are going to do nor how they are going to do it." GENERAL VIEW OF PRIVATE CAFETERIA WAITRESS AT PRIVATE CAFETERIA MARGELIS SANTIESTEBAN PREPARING TABLE CLIENT AT RESTAURANT PAYING BILL SANTIESTEBAN WITH CLIENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WAITRESS AT PRIVATE CAFETERIA MARGELIS SANTIESTEBAN SAYING: "This does not benefit us because all of these businesses are private businesses but they truly do provide some profit for the country. Many tourists come here, from all over Cuba and all over the world. I think it would be setting a limit on profits for the country." GENERAL VIEW OF BUSINESS WHERE YOU CAN BUY DISCS VARIOUS TYPES OF MUSIC AND MOVIES DISCS FOR SALE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HAVANA RESIDENT WHO SELLS DISCS AND GOES ONLY BY JUNIOR SAYING: "This whole thing about suspending licenses, I really don't understand why because the private sector isn't doing any damage." GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET GENERAL VIEW OF CARS DRIVING THROUGH THE STREET
- Embargoed: 15th August 2017 19:36
- Keywords: Cuba private sector new licenses suspension
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SBTHDV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Cuba said on Tuesday (August 01) it was suspending issuing new licenses for certain private-sector activities from bed-and-breakfasts to restaurants until it had implemented new measures to curb wrongdoing such as tax evasion.
The move marked a pause in Cuba's seven-year old push to expand self-employment in a bid to cut the bloated state payroll and boost the ailing, Soviet-style economy, and will come as a blow for many Cubans hoping to strike off on their own.
According to a resolution published on Tuesday in the Official Gazette, the government has temporarily suspended licenses for those wanting to rent their homes, open a restaurant or cafe, or provide construction services.
Also affected are would-be music or language teachers, party organizers and a handful of other professions.
Cuba will also definitively no longer be issuing licenses for wholesale and retail sellers of agricultural goods, vendors of CDs or DVDs, and operators of recreation equipment, according to the gazette.
The number of self-employed on the island has more than tripled to 567,982, some 12 percent of the total number of employed, since President Raul Castro in 2010 launched his plan to expand private enterprise.
But Castro said in a speech to parliament last month that the government had detected wrongdoing in the sector, from tax evasion to the use of goods of illicit provenance, that it needed to curb before expanding further.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None


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Estabrook Beer Garden operator taps into improvements
Improvements are in the works at the popular Estabrook Beer Garden, and they’re expected to make service speedier and the surroundings more comfortable.
The operator, the owner of the Old German Beer Hall on N. Old World 3rd St., is making a $125,000 upgrade to the site, north of E. Capitol Drive; the improvements become property of Milwaukee County, which owns the park.
The county has extended the operator’s lease by 13 years after a successful first season last year.
General manager Stephen Schultz said a full commercial kitchen is being installed so the beer garden can better prepare the bratwurst, weisswurst, knackwurst and other items it sells. Visitors still can bring their own food, however (and it’s not uncommon to see families spread a small picnic on the tables).
It’s installing a second bar for beer and wine, allowing the beer garden to double its beer taps from the current eight.
That will make for speedier service, Schultz said, particularly on days like the one last year when 2,000 people visited the beer garden for an event. That second bar will be accessible to wheelchairs; the current bar is in an area topped with gravel.
Seating, mostly at communal tables and on benches, will be expanded, increasing by 300 from the current 500 or so, Schultz said. Bathrooms also are being improved.
The beer garden, which has had live accordion music Thursday to Saturday, will have live music daily, with the bigger acts at the end of the week.
The beer garden opens at 4 p.m. weekdays and at noon on the weekends, weather permitting, and closes at dark. Once the improvements are complete — the target is the first week in June — the park will open at noon daily, with last call at 9 p.m. and the beer garden closing at 10.
- Chef Jason Tofte to open second restaurant in downtown Waukesha
- Harry's on Brady debuts on Thursday with lunch and dinner
- In the Third Ward, Rustico will close in July to make way for sports bar Rivalry
- Red Light Ramen is getting its own space next door to Ardent
- Colectivo to open a cafe in Chicago
- Lunch starts Monday at Meraki, along with all-day service industry happy hour
- Weissgerber's Gasthaus is closing next weekend
- In happy hour news: late night at Lazy Susan, chefs' burgers at Merriment Social
- Harry's on Brady to open next week
- A full menu is on tap at Good City Brewing, opening Friday
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Dining Map: View all of dining critic Carol Deptolla's restaurant reviews plotted on an interactive map.


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New Delhi: India’s leading payment gateway, Paytm has revamped its app to make it even more user friendly and intuitive.
The new update personalises the app experience for the user, showcasing frequent use cases at a customised level.
Owing to the new update, money transfers are now simpler and faster; offering instant transfers from a user’s Paytm Payments Bank account, Paytm Wallet, and any other bank at zero percent fee.
Further, Passbook, which contains account history and balance, has been revamped to present all information in a snapshot.
“We are very excited to introduce the new revamped interface on Paytm App. In continuation of our constant effort to provide our customers with the best user experience, the new design is refreshing and has upgrades to some of the most important flows including money transfers.
I am very happy to share that we have successfully inculcated the use of Paytm as a habit in millions of Indians – to transact digitally online and on Paytm app using their preferred payment method.
Our offline payments have also scaled as we pioneered Paytm QR, enabling merchants to accept payments directly into their bank accounts,” said Kiran Vasireddy, COO, Paytm.
“We are overwhelmed with our users’ trust in us and we will continue expanding our operations to every nook and corner of the country. This year, we are aiming for an exponential growth in money transfer transactions by transforming payments done in the unorganised sector – this will include freelancers, tuition fee, house rent, salaries of unorganized workforce and others into direct bank transfers using the Paytm app,” Vasireddy added.
Paytm has evolved from being a wallet company to a full stack payments provider by offering multi-source and multi destination solutions.
The platform is used by millions of users for online transactions on Paytm and on other popular apps/websites, offline stores (through Paytm QR).
This, combined with its reach of seven million offline merchants makes Paytm the dominant player in this space.
The company has already achieved a run rate of one billion transactions per quarter, making it the largest payments service provider in the country, reaffirming its leadership.
With this revamp, Paytm aims exponential growth in money transfers this year.
It has been aggressively educating users to link their bank accounts and experience instant transfers using the Paytm app. This will address the money transfer need for variety of use cases like house rent, supplier/ wholesale dues, tuition fee, freelancers, salaries of unorganised workforce, peer-to-peer payments among others. (ANI)


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Emission Scandal: No Coercive Action Against Volkswagen, Says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court said no coercive action will be taken against German auto major Volkswagen for the use of a "cheat device" in its diesel cars in India, overruling the Rs 500-crore fine imposed on it by the National Green Tribunal.
According to this verdict by the Justice SA Bobde-led bench, Volkswagen will not have to pay the fine imposed for damaging the environment, for the time being.
The top green tribunal had on March 7 slapped a fine of Rs 500 crore on the multi-national auto company and directed it to deposit the amount within two months.
The green panel in November last year had said use of 'cheat device' by Volkswagen in diesel cars in India led to the inference of environmental damage and had directed it to deposit an interim amount of Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board.


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In a recent interview with IDG, Jonny Shih -the chairman of ASUS- has mentioned that his company is working on a “Secret Weapon” that no one has seen yet, but that the world will soon see as we get closer to the launch date.
Jonny Shih would not comment on the Secret Weapon, but he believe that only a few OS will survive the current war, and that companies like ASUS will have to find new ways to service customers. Most importantly, he has the wisdom to recognize that the value is in the user interface and that cloud services can take different forms, it doesn’t have to be all web (like Chrome OS) or all native apps (like Windows). Instead, it should use a mix of both to achieve the best results.
|Key Specs||Apple iPad 2|
|Processor/Soc Name||A5, 2-core, GHz|
|Max. Total Storage Capacity||64 GB|
|Battery Capacity (mAh)||6930 mAh|
|Complete product data||Apple iPad 2 Full specs|


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In this week’s 3D Printing News Briefs, we’re talking about materials, medical device 3D printing, investments, and 3D printed eco-housing. Advance Laser Materials has released four new printing powders that are powered by BASF, and TÜV SÜD has created a range of checklists to fix supply chain bottlenecks when 3D printing medical devices during a pandemic. Syqe Medical has invested in the Stratasys J55 3D printer. Finally, WASP partnered with a gallery in Milan to showcase its 3D printed Gaia eco-house.
ALM Releases Four BASF-Powered Powders
AM materials development leader and EOS company Advanced Laser Materials (ALM) has signed a distribution agreement with BASF 3D Printing Solutions to release four new production-grade 3D printing powder solutions powered by BASF’s Forward AM, which promise to bring about new application opportunities. ALM will sell three of Forward AM’s Polyamide 6 (PA6) solutions on behalf of BASF: Ultrasint® PA6 FR, Ultrasint® PA6 MF, and Ultrasint® PA6 LM, all of which feature in-particle fillers for part consistency and a high Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT), which means great thermal resistance. The fourth Forward AM powder that ALM will distribute is Ultrasint® PP nat 01, a polypropylene with high rigidity that makes it a good choice for making things like aerospace sensor covers and automotive fluid bottles.
“Forward AM’s Ultrasint® Polypropylene is fully weldable and its translucency and media-tightness make it perfect for tanks and reservoir prototypes. The ability to leverage high-performance AM materials to do short run production will open up new opportunities for customers in the automotive industry,” stated Jeremy Vos, Automotive and Powderbed Manager, BASF.
TÜV SÜD Creates Checklists for 3D Printing Medical Devices
This winter, SmarTech Analysis said that the healthcare portion of the AM market was at just over $3 billion dollars, and that this segment will continue to be important to the overall structure of the industry…and all that was said before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now it’s more true than ever, as the technology has been used for numerous applications related to the coronavirus, and supply chain bottlenecks for medical devices can definitely be helped with 3D printing. But, these 3D printed medical devices are still subject to very strict quality requirements and legal regulations, and with good reason. So to make sure that the technology is used properly, German testing and certification organization TÜV SÜD has created a range of checklists for manufacturers to use in their production processes. These lists cover the main regulatory requirements for using AM, and the organization is providing the lists to coronavirus manufacturers at no charge.
Gregor Reischle, Head of Additive Manufacturing at TÜV SÜD, said, “When borders are closed to stop the spread of COVID-19, companies are forced to adjust their supply chains.
“There are many indications that fast, integrated supply chain networks with local production operations will become the new normal.”
Syqe Medical Optimizing Product Design with Stratasys J55
Israeli pharmaceutical company Syqe Medical Ltd. purchased the recently released office-friendly, full-color, multimaterial J55 3D printer from Stratasys in order to optimize and speed up the product design process for its medical marijuana inhalers, which allow for therapeutic molecule delivery and administration. The J55 will join Syqe’s current PolyJet printer in its design office space, and will be able to help the company create very realistic prototypes in order to speed up validation, since, as noted above, medical devices need to undergo rigorous testing. To ensure that its inhaler prototypes make the mark, Syqe is 3D printing several elements, including the casing, chassis, and springs, and the J55 offers the necessary precision and material capabilities to make accurate prototypes.
“Our products include very precise and intricate airways, which are usually less than 1mm in diameter. Achieving this level of complexity in the design of a prototype is very difficult, but the J55 allows us to incorporate such intricate structures into the design with a level of accuracy we’ve not seen before. We can undertake iterations much faster and earlier in the design process, which ensures we can better validate products before they reach medical trials or when we present them to specific customers,” said Itay Kurgan, Product Development Manager at Syqe.
“The J55 has added another layer to our 3D printing capabilities. Not only does it allow us to quickly print design concepts with incredible realism, but we can do so from a system that operates quietly in the corner of our office. The only problem we have is with our designers, who now fight over who gets to use the J55 next!”
WASP Shows 3D Printed Gaia House at Exhibition
In 2018, WASP unveiled its 3D printed Gaia home, featuring an outer shell and beams made from organic material such as soil and agricultural waste with the manufacturer’s Crane WASP printer. Now, the company is partnering with the Rossana Orlandi gallery to showcase Gaia in an exhibition called “We Are Nature,” held at the Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci. The Milan-based gallery and WASP share a common interest in sustainable living, and WASP will discuss the research it undertook to construct the structure. WASP says that Gaia has almost no environmental impact, and the resourcefulness the company used in creating it truly shows how much diversified materials can be used in the 3D printed construction sector.
“A deep dialogue between Design, Technology and Art with the actors responsible for safeguarding nature, for an ethical and aesthetic coexistence between Man and the Planet,” the invitation to the “We Are Nature” event states.
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Stella McCartney and Kate Moss Raise Breast Cancer AwarenessLeaves are slowly changing colors, Halloween is just around the corner, October is here. But October is not only the time of the year when we finally get to wear coats again, it also is breast cancer awareness month.
British fashion designer Stella McCartney, who lost her mother Linda to the cruel disease in 1998, supports the cause with her very own lingerie design. The feminine set comes as an all-pink version of the Gemma Relaxing range with a balconette and soft-cup bra (£50), as well as a matching brief (£27).
To further boost the campaign, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott shot English supermodel Kate Moss wearing the Gemma Relaxing bra, along with a cheekily placed breast cancer awareness ribbon. The image will be used to support the campaign on the designer's website and on social media platforms.
“I wanted to remind women that when they wear this set – the first thing they put on in the morning – to keep on top of their health and visit their doctor regularly,” McCartney explains on her homepage.
A percentage of profits from the sales will be donated to the Linda McCartney Centre in Liverpool, UK, which was founded two years after the 43-year-old fashion designer's mother passed away.
The collection will be available at stellamccartney.com, Stella McCartney stores and select department stores worldwide.


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Rick Sanderson (pictured), business development director at Food Forensics, discusses the increased threat of food fraud created by the challenges of 2020 and what food firms can do to mitigate the damage to their businesses.
The creation of a national register to record severe allergic reactions to food could speed up investigations into similar incidents and help prevent future cases, according to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).
The world has changed a lot over the course of a year. From the way we work to how products reach consumers, every part of the food and drink industry has felt some impact from COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns enforced to help contain its spread.
A consortium of food manufacturers, universities and tech developers – led by 2020 overall Food Manufacture Excellence Award winner Raynor Foods – has been awarded £4m to help digitalise the food supply chain.
Meat processors have more freedom to set their own shelf life for vacuum- or modified-atmosphere-packed (VP/MAP) fresh beef, lamb and pork products, according to updated Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidelines.
Trade volume to the EU will drop by up to 75% if more official veterinarians are not hired before the end of the Brexit transition period, according to the heads of the UK’s food and logistics trade unions.
The coronavirus pandemic has slashed local authority food safety staff numbers, which were already significantly below where they needed to be, according to Food Standards Agency (FSA) chief executive Emily Miles.
Food Manufacture's free-to-access Food Safety Briefing webinar, which covers topics ranging from food fraud and detection and inspection to allergen and pathogen management, goes live in just two days.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) will focus research on four key areas: food hypersensitivity and allergy; assuring food safety and standards; innovation in food regulation; and the future of food systems.
Even technical experts sometimes confuse validations with verifications, but both are crucial aspects of food safety processes, as is the 'worst-case scenario' approach, argues Chris Thompson, technical manager at Vestey Foods UK.
Product recall guidance vital for tackling allergen contamination and labelling errors, plus advice on contingency planning and use of technology for cost-effective recall management were presented at an exclusive webinar on 17 March.
Allergens, followed by expiry dates and foreign language issues were the major labelling causes for food recalls across Europe over more than five years, according to Steve Spice, regulatory manager at Ashbury.


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It’s no big secret that Cape Town is going through a severe drought, so local business owners have had to assess a way forward to keep their businesses afloat while saving water. From the 1st of April, The Test Kitchen will introduce The Drought Kitchen, a pop-up dining experience. Luke Dale-Roberts and his team will focus on using less water in the kitchen while still preparing creative and magnificent food.
The Test Kitchen is best known for its unique dining experience and gastronomic cuisine. But what truly makes this restaurant stand out amongst its competitors? The man; Luke Dale-Roberts, himself.
It started with 20 of the country’s most delicious and stylish restaurants and a panel of anonymous judges to critically review them. Now, the wait is over and the 2016 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards have been named. Here’s the list of the 10 restaurants where you should be booking a table:


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Brooklyn’s bid for world domination is extending to Sweden.
Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg, the craft brewer that will turn 25 in March, will open a $5 million brewery and restaurant overlooking Stockholm harbor. “Brooklyn, the brand, is hotter than ever,” said Eric Ottaway, the brewery’s chief operating officer. “Swedes love the taste of our beer, the name of our beer and the mystique of Brooklyn.”
The new brewery, the company’s first such venture, will be called the Brooklyn-New Carnegie brewery. It will become the only operating craft brewery in Stockholm, and both Brooklyn Brewery and D. Carnegie & Company, a Swedish brewer since the early 1800s, will be the principal investors. Carlsberg Sweden, which owns the Carnegie company, has contributed the use of its brand.
The new brewery is expected to be in operation by the end of the year, and will have a 100-seat restaurant with an outdoor terrace accommodating 150. The company’s brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, will oversee the development of three new year-round craft beers. “We’re going to have a lot of fun brewing and creating beers with our Swedish team,” he said.
Mr. Ottaway said: “This will not cannibalize our sales in Sweden, because we’ll be brewing new small-batch specialty beers in Stockholm. Our main beers will not be brewed there, and will continue to be exported from Brooklyn.” He was referring to Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn East India Pale Ale, Brooklyn Local 1 and Brooklyn Sorachi Ace. The new brewery, he added, “will be our first venture of its kind, but I don’t think it will be the last.”


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In full transparency, the following press release was submitted to SOURCE media by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.
BOSTON – A national debt collection company has agreed to pay $2.25 million and change its business practices to resolve allegations that it used unfair and deceptive debt collection practices against consumers, including student borrowers, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today, September 7.
The assurance of discontinuance, filed today in Suffolk County Superior Court with Transworld Systems, Inc., resolves allegations that the company violated the AG’s Debt Collection Regulations by making high volume calls to consumers, regularly attempting to collect on time-barred debts, and using false and misleading affidavits in an effort to collect private student loan debt on behalf of the National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts (NCT).
“This company routinely violated state laws and regulations by harassing and misleading vulnerable, low-income consumers and student borrowers,” said AG Healey. “One of my office’s top priorities is to protect the economic security of Massachusetts residents, and we will take action against companies that engage in illegal debt collection practices.”
Transworld is one of the nation’s largest debt collectors and serves as the primary debt collector for private student loan debt held by NCT.
The AG’s investigation found that Transworld excessively contacted consumers both at their homes and places of employment, in violation of the AG’s Debt Collection Regulations which prohibit more than two calls to a consumer’s home in a seven-day period.
Debt collectors also cannot call a consumer at work or other non-residential number more than two times a month.
Transworld frequently attempted to collect debts from consumers that were so old that the debt was “time-barred,” meaning that these debts were no longer legally enforceable through a lawsuit.
Massachusetts debt collection regulations prohibit the collection of a time-barred debt unless the consumer is provided notice that debt is time-barred and that a consumer cannot be required to pay the debt through a lawsuit, which Transworld failed to do.
Transworld created false and misleading affidavits to use as evidence against consumers in debt collection lawsuits related to NCT student loan debts. Transworld’s employees who signed the affidavits did not have personal knowledge of the facts in the affidavit or sufficient evidence that NCT owned the loans, despite attesting to that as fact.
In addition to the $2.25 million payment, Transworld has agreed to significant changes in its business practices, including preventing excessive calls, call attempts, or voicemails to consumers and requiring all law firms collecting on its behalf to take the same preventative measures. The company will also stop collecting on time-barred debt without providing the appropriate disclosures to consumers and will ensure that it does not produce false or misleading affidavits.
The AG’s Office is dedicated to stopping illegal debt collection practices and encourages anyone with questions or concerns about debt collection practices to learn more about fair debt collection, call the AG’s consumer hotline at 617-727-8400, or file a complaint online.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Yael Shavit and Peter Downing, both of the AG’s Consumer Protection Division.


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Kodak’s New Super 8 Camera Set for Imminent Launch
At CES 2016, Kodak unveiled an eye-catching retro camera designed for filming on Super 8 films. This new camera, while maintaining a nostalgic look, also incorporates modern features such as a folding viewfinder with a 4″ LCD screen, support for microSD cards for audio recording, micro HDMI output for connecting an external monitor, and a rechargeable battery via a microUSB port.
In addition to its modern features, users will have the ability to play with focus using C-mount lenses available on the market, and the camera will come with a 6mm wide-angle lens.
When initially announced, Kodak quoted prices of $400 to $750, but over the years the price has increased substantially. The company plans to launch the camera for $5,495, leading to criticism due to its high cost, especially considering that second-hand cameras for filming movies can be found on the market for a fraction of the price.
One of the criticisms the camera has faced is the continued use of a microUSB connector, which is considered obsolete.
This product is clearly targeted towards a specific group of users passionate about film and analog photography, as evidenced by the limited units available at launch. The camera will first be available on December 4 and will later be released in Canada, the United Kingdom, and select European markets.
Another point of contention is the cost of the film cartridges, which only allow for about two and a half minutes of filming at 24 frames per second, with an additional charge for development.
Despite the high price and criticisms, Kodak has enabled reservations for the camera on its website, allowing interested parties to receive updates and information as the launch date approaches. This move has rekindled interest in the product, which many thought had been abandoned due to the lack of news in recent years.
In light of the imminent launch, it will be interesting to see how the market responds to Kodak’s new Super 8 camera.


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Shares of Pittsburgh-based software maker Ansoft Corp. spiked 30 percent in Wednesday trading, following the company's reported 38 percent third-quarter revenue growth.
Ansoft's anst third-quarter, ended Jan. 31, saw revenue rise to $8.4 million, up from $6.09 million in the year-ago quarter. Software license revenue jumped 36 percent, to $6.48 million from $4.77 million in the 1999 quarter. Pro-forma net income was $458,000, or 4 cents a diluted share, compared with a loss of $356,000, or 3 cents.
"We are very pleased with the demand for our newly released products," said Nicholas Csendes, chief executive, in a statement. "We set a new record for revenue and see momentum building as we enter the strongest quarter of our year."
Ansoft specializes in software for electronic design automation. It's used to help lay out the patterns for electronic circuits on computer chips. The software is used by makers of cell phones, networking equipment and satellites. Shares rose 2 1/4 to 9 1/4.
Intuit reports higher tax service use
Shares of Intuit INTU, -3.38% gained in Wednesday trading after the company reported a surge in customers using its online tax preparation and filing service.
As of Feb. 13, 875,000 tax files have started a federal return using the company's Turbo Tax service on the Internet, with 405,000 of that number already done with their taxes, the company reports. That compares with 240,000 returns completed for the entire tax season last year.
Intuit shares closed up 3 5/8 to 61 1/16.
CheckFree roars after TransPoint purchase
CheckFree shares rocketed 50 percent higher in afternoon trading Wednesday after the online payment specialist said it will buy TransPoint, the electronic billing and payment joint venture formed by Microsoft and First Data Corp., for nearly $1.2 billion in stock.
Microsoft MSFT, -1.49%, First Data FDC, +1.98% and Citicorp, which also holds a stake in TransPoint, together expect to own 23 percent of CheckFree ckfr upon completion of the transaction, announced Tuesday after the closing bell.
CheckFree said it expects the acquisition to jump-start the market for billing and payment services on the Internet, especially among businesses.
Shares of CheckFree jumped 32 to close at 100 1/4.


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Where used car dealers meet fintech in Indonesia
Published on August 22, 2022
The Indonesian used car market was valued at more than US$50 billion in 2021 and is expected to surge past US$70 billion come 2027 at a CAGR of about 5.74%.
With that in mind, the sector is ripe for digital disruption, as legacy challenges persist. Most used car dealers in the country have not yet adopted digital tools to truly optimize their back office operations. The vast majority (most of which are SMEs) have also not yet dipped a toe into online vehicle sales due to a lack of confidence and know-how.
Despite how it may seem, selling used cars and motorbikes is often a fairly informal business in the archipelago and the fate of many small operators is closely pegged to macroeconomic conditions. Large swathes of used car sellers also struggle with access to business loans.
To address these issues and more, local tech startup Broom specifically gives Indonesia’s used car dealers a leg up when it comes to operational enhancements, online sales enablement, and access to working capital.
On a recent episode of the Indo Tekno Podcast hosted by AC Ventures’ special advisor and venture partner Alan Hellawell, Broom founder and CEO Pandu Adi Laras elaborated on the problems that his company aims to solve. He also shared his take on competition versus cooperation.
Catering to the unique needs of Indonesia’s used car dealers
According to Pandu, there is no denying that Indonesia has one of the most promising and burgeoning fintech scenes. However, what Broom brings to the table is ultra-specific industry knowledge and expertise.
“One of my co-founders was once an auto showroom owner himself and thus we understand the pain points of auto dealers at a very practical level. This gives us a competitive edge,” he explained.
He went on to share that Broom does not plan on being just a niche business lender. He clarified, “We are much more than that. Short-term working capital is just our first product. It’s a hook for our customers, the auto dealers, so they can better understand what Broom has to offer.”
Pandu also shared that rather than having Broom operate in a silo, he believes in the power of collaboration. As such, Broom is working closely as a partner with several P2P and fintech players to facilitate working capital to used car dealers.
There is always room for more than one player
When asked about the competition in the next three to five years, Pandu shared that there is room for more players, and competition doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. According to him, rather than trying to kill competitors, Broom can instead leverage the unique elements of its peers to succeed in the market.
Rereferring to other SME lenders, he explained, “For example, we bring unique practical knowledge about challenges faced in the used car space in the country, while a fintech partner might have a tech stack that makes our process easier and more efficient. Rather than fighting with each other, we can join hands to offer better, more holistic solutions.”
Pandu believes that soon there will be several used car unicorns in Indonesia and around the region.
He said, “Singapore has Carro, Malaysia has Carsome, and Indonesia has a couple of local players like OLX. But having said that, the market here is very big. Even Astra International, which is an incumbent in the automotive industry, has only 12 to 13 branches of used car dealerships. This shows that there is always room for more than one player.”


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Rep. Mike Castle wants financial modernization legislation to include new powers for limited-purpose banks, such as selling corporate credit cards and marketing via the Internet.
"Unnecessary restrictions" make it harder for limited-purpose banks to compete, the Delaware Republican said. The banks also should be able to cross-market products with their corporate parents, borrow from the Federal Reserve on the same basis as commercial banks, and acquire undercapitalized depository institutions, he said.
Stand-alone legislation introduced by Rep. Castle in May would grant those powers, but an aide said the changes would have a better chance of passing if tacked to a larger banking bill.
Limited-purpose banks are affiliated with parent companies whose businesses are not permitted to banks, such as securities, insurance, and commercial operations. These banks may make loans or take deposits, but not both. Most limited-purpose banks specialize in consumer credit cards.
At the urging of Rep. Castle and Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, Congress last fall lifted the 7% annual growth cap on limited-purpose banks.


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WELCOME TO The channel REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
Facebook | March 10, 2020
Following the announcement made by Facebook to ban facemask ads and Twitter (along with all other major tech companies) asking its employees to work from home to avoid exposure Instagram has also stepped in to share accurate details and updates regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The coronavirus is a contagious respiratory illness that spreads via secretions from coughing, sneezing, and even touching infected objects. Initiated in the Wuhan district of China, the disease has spread ra...
Unbabel | December 21, 2021
Unbabel, an AI-powered language operations platform that assists small-scale and large-scale businesses in delivering multilingual support, has collaborated with Lingo24 to bring consistent and reliable translation globally. Unbabel is all set to enhance customers’ satisfaction and credibility by providing more consistent, high-quality multilingual customer experiences.
Lingo24 is an ideal partner for Unbabel to accelerate its growth because of Lingo24&...
Softchoice | February 15, 2023
On February 14, 2023, Softchoice Corporation has revealed the winners of its annual Partner of the Year awards, which honor the contributions of Softchoice's technology partners to the company's and its customers' success. Partner Impact, the company's annual partner event, was held in Softchoice's Toronto headquarters on February 14 to announce this year's winners.
Vice President, Solutions & Alliances, Softchoice, Chris Woodin, said, “Our tech...
Marketing Strategy, Channel Partnerships
GlobeNewswire | June 29, 2023
AvePoint (Nasdaq: AVPT), the most advanced platform to optimize SaaS operations and secure collaboration, today announced its continued investment in its channel business with the expansion of the AvePoint Certification Program and the upcoming addition of Partner Locator, which will help partners address the evolving digital collaboration security needs of their customers and drive their revenue.
“Our goal is to make it easy for partners to not only do business with us, b...
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Following a Swedish proposal and widespread support in the Agriculture Council, the Commission announced the intention to set the level of compulsory set aside at 0% for the 2008 harvest. This is bad news for Europeâ€™s wildlife and suggests a disappointing level of commitment to environmental sustainability on the side of the EU and its Member States. It also seems like a textbook case of ill conceived decision making.
There is no dispute on the fact that set aside was not introduced for environmental purpose, and that with decoupling of subsidies and high commodity prices, its supply control objective is no longer justified. However, a mounting body of evidence is suggesting that set aside has brought significant incidental benefits to the EUâ€™s beleaguered biodiversity by ensuring a vital â€œbreathing spaceâ€ for species driven off most of our farmland through relentless agricultural intensification.
If the EU is serious about its commitment to stop the decline in biodiversity, current set aside should be substituted with a purpose tailored environmental tool, rather than scrapped. The Commissioner has publicly acknowledged the issue and promised to look into it as part of next yearâ€™s â€œhealth checkâ€, but the recent announcement suggests that we may be causing the damage first, thinking about the problem later. Birds attempting to nest next spring are likely to face entire regions with hardly any suitable habitat. The consequences will be seen before the long term solution is even suggested.
The sad history of the CAP’s environmental impacts would suggest more caution and analysis. Unfortunately, it seems that the wish to please parts of the farming lobby is much stronger than the wish to ensure the survival of threatened species. For the moment the recipe seems to be â€œact now, think laterâ€
2 Replies to “Set aside: act now, think later…”
It is worth noting that set aside has been under threat recently from the rule which allows farmers to grow energy crops (usually rape seed) on set aside land. There is a very similar situation in the United States where farmers are taking land out of the Conservation Reserve Program in order to grow corn as a raw material for producing ethanol as a fuel for cars and trucks.
The issue Ariel raises in this post illustrates well the trade-off between food/fuel and environmental uses of farmland in Europe. At low levels of input use and intensity, food/fuel and environmental goods are probably complementary â€“ increasing the production of one increases the production of the other. However, beyond a certain point (which is certainly passed in the intensively farmed regions of Europe) these goods become substitutes. Greater output of food/fuel can only occur at the expense of environmental goods, and vice versa.
When the demand for food/fuel appeared to be fragile, paying for environmental goods seemed a good way of meeting both rural policy objectives (such as maintaining farm incomes) as well as environmental objectives. With rising demand for food/fuel (some, but not all, stoked by public subsidies for biofuels) leading to higher prices, the cost of meeting environmental objectives has suddenly increased. It is not surprising if the quantity of these goods demanded by the public would fall as a result.
The problem, of course, is that we donâ€™t know if we were in a social equilibrium before the recent price increases with just the right relative amounts of food/fuel and environmental goods being produced, because environmental goods are not valued at conventional market prices. Farmersâ€™ production of environmental goods depends, in part, on governmentsâ€™ willingness to set aside tax revenue to pay for these goods, and environmentalists will argue that the amounts to date have been insufficient.
Ariel is right to argue that a purpose tailored environmental instrument is a better approach to protect biodiversity than to depend on the unintended consequences of an agricultural policy supply management instrument. This, in turn, requires that there be agreement on the Commissionâ€™s expected proposal to at least double the rate of compulsory modulation in the Health Check, because modulated funds are the only way to increase Pillar 2 spending before 2014. The rise in farm prices and farm incomes will make it easier to argue that funds should be shifted from income support payments under Pillar 1 to agri-environment schemes under Pillar 2. But firm evidence of the European publicâ€™s willingness to pay a higher price for environmental goods such as biodiversity would also be helpful in order to win this debate.
Comments are closed.


text: HE Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry to interact with the Business Community of Sialkot. The Ambassador was welcomed by Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Malik, President SCCI and during the meeting, the President SCCI said that both Azerbaijan and Pakistan should put joint efforts to establish channels that promote direct Business to Business linkages. Mr. Malik said that Pakistan foresee Azerbaijan as brotherly country and was keen to untap the potential that exists on both sides. He mentioned that Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry would send a Trade Delegation of prominent Product sectors of Sialkot to Azerbaijan, to have business to business interactions of Pakistani business community with Azeri counterparts. H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan while addressing the participants of the meeting praised the achievements of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and said that Azerbaijan would be signing Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan, which would help businessmen on both sides to increase economic relations. He added that last year the trade volume of Pakistan and Azerbaijan has increase three times, through joint efforts from both sides. During the meeting The Ambassador mentioned that Azerbaijan could be a gateway for Pakistani Businessmen to tap neighboring countries through Azerbaijan with the agreement. The Envoy endorsed the suggestion of President SCCI for sending trade delegation and added that Azeri Mission in Pakistan had already conducted trade delegations with Faisalabad, Islamabad and Gujranwala Chambers of Commerce and industry, in the past. H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan mentioned that Azerbaijan was open to join hands for investments with Pakistan to cooperate in the non-oil energy, health, and agriculture sectors. The Ambassador added that Azerbaijan was a great market for sectors like Rice, Martial Arts, Football and Surgical and Beauty care Instruments of Industry of Sialkot. The Envoy mentioned that Azerbaijan was keen to increase people to people linkages, and the Azerbaijan Mission in Pakistan would ensure that the Businessmen from Sialkot could meet relevant buyers and importers during the visit of Trade Delegation to Azerbaijan, as Government of Azerbaijan was interested to promote trade from Sialkot to Azerbaijan. Pakistan can import both crude and refined oil from Azerbaijan at reasonable rates. Also, it can be a good market for Pakistani products like iron, steel, food, natural juices, meat, and milk. Pakistan can also get the best opportunities quota for its skilled/unskilled manpower in Azerbaijan. Although Pakistan and Azerbaijan are considered strategic partners, there is too much room for growth of bilateral economic cooperation. The two nations have signed many agreements related to tourism, business, trade, and strategic issues but still there is a need to reframe the bilateral socio-economic linkages according to modern trends.


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US STOCKS-Wall St falls as Wal-Mart results disappoints, China weighs
* Wal-Mart falls after weaker-than-expected results
* Chinese stocks slump, yuan devaluations fears resurface
* Disney falls on downgrade, Apple down on China fears
* Home Depot, TJX at record highs after results
* Indexes down: Dow 0.3 pct, S&P 0.3 pct, Nasdaq 0.4 pct (Updates to open)
By Tanya Agrawal
Aug 18 (Reuters) - Wall Street open lower on Tuesday, weighed down by a 6 percent slump in Chinese shares and Wal-Mart's weaker-than-expected quarterly results.
Wal-Mart shares fell as much as 3.2 percent to a nearly 2-1/2 year low of $69.58 and were the biggest drag on the Dow Jones industrial average.
Disney fell 1.1 percent to $107.86 after a Wells Fargo downgrade and weighed on the S&P 500 and the Dow. Apple , for whom China is a key market, fell 0.5 percent to 116.60 and was the biggest drag on the Nasdaq and the S&P 500. Continuación...


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El Segundo-based Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. had been holding steady during the retail industry’s turmoil of recent years, but this winter appears to have taken a toll.
The 430-store chain took a hit on fourth quarter sales from an unexpected and unseasonably warm December. Same-store sales slid 9.4 percent compared to a boost of 3.1 percent in the same quarter last year.
Big 5 also gave shareholders a heads up on bad news in its upcoming fourth-quarter and year-end earnings report, expected next month. The company’s outlook now calls for a quarterly loss of $0.08 to $0.13 a share, compared to the earlier earnings forecast of $0.16 to $0.28 a share.
Full-year earnings were expected to be in the range of $0.52 to $0.57 a share, down from 2016’s earnings of 77 cents a share, the retailer said. Same-store sales declined for the year overall by 1.2 percent.
Investors had begun to cool on Big 5 before the unseasonably warm winter hits its sales. Share prices took a 60-plus percent dive over the past year, and closed Wednesday, Jan. 17 at $6.35 compared with $16.20 a year ago. Big 5’s earnings are expected by the end of February.
The January sales report drove the stock even lower – although shares seemed to have reached a floor, with the analyst consensus a hold by the end of last week.
A statement from Chief Executive Steven Miller said the chain is “hopeful that weather conditions and winter product sales will improve during the weeks ahead” as well as “encouraged by the performance of a number of our core product categories.”
The company didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The bad news is atypical for Big 5, which for the past five years has reported annual sales that consistently hit around $1 billion even as competitors such as Sports Authority in Englewood, Colo., and La Canada-Flintridge-based Sport Chalet declared bankruptcy and folded.
Big 5 was founded in 1955 by Maurie Liff, Harry Liff and Robert Miller, the father of the current chief executive, according to its website. The company had five stores covering downtown Los Angeles, Burbank, Inglewood, Glendale and San Jose.
Thrifty Drug Stores acquired the company in 1971 and grew it from 19 to 140 stores by 1992, when it was bought by Beverly Hills-based private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners, with founding management staying on as partners. Big 5’s management, which included the founder and his son, bought out the private equity firm five years later. The company went public in 2002.
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Facebook files lawsuit against New Zealand company, three people
U.S. social media giant Facebook Inc on Thursday said it has filed a lawsuit in U.S. Federal court, against a company and three people in New Zealand, alleging the sale of fake engagement services on its Instagram photo-sharing platform.
Facebook, in a blogpost, said the company and individuals - whom it did not name - used various other companies and websites to sell the services. It said it issued warnings and suspended associated accounts but that they persisted in their activities.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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Okanagan Falls residents can finally get their groceries in town again, nearly two years after the local IGA shut its doors.
Little Falls Foods quietly opened up this week, flipping their store sign over to welcome passersby inside and online to check out the new shop.
Derek and Dahlia Millington had a goal last year to get a grocery store up and running for the town, after falling in love with the area and noticing the lack of options.
“We came up with this idea last July and went home and started working on it. And here we are in June, a year later, not even a full year and we're open and we're hoping everybody else will come out and support us,” Derek said.
“I'm quite proud actually, that we were able to pull it off as quickly as we were. We had to make some changes to the physical floor plan and it meant that we had to source materials and cooler and freezer rolls, and the delay on everything was quite long,” Dahlia added.
But the team was determined to get up and running as soon as they could, pushing their electricians, construction crews and suppliers to work as fast as they could.
“We just kept saying, ‘OK Falls has been without a grocery store for a year and a half. This has to be done as quickly as possible,’” Dahlia said with a laugh.
The duo behind the market did have to shift their store into a newer-style model throughout their plans, opting to have a warehouse grocery with pickup and delivery options.
“Basically, when they go online, they can look at the products and add them to their cart. They can pay online, or they can opt to pay in the store, when they come for pickup or they can pay on delivery. We've got free delivery within a seven kilometre radius so that we can feed the people in this region, so that grocery shopping gets easier for them,” Dahlia explained, adding that people can call in or order in the store too.
Grocery store clerks fill and pack up the orders for the customers, with an option for pick up or delivery.
As a proudly vegetarian store, Little Falls Foods offers a selection of standard and specialty items for the community to enjoy.
“We do have some really excellent vegetarian products that are more like meat substitutes. So not just your typical things that you find in the regular grocery stores. We've sourced some from Taiwan, Taiwan has been vegetarian for decades,” Dahlia said.
“But realistically, people are still going to be shopping in Penticton and Oliver, of course, and so people let us know, they're happy to pick up meat when they're doing other areas. So people are just generally happy to have a store here.”
And so far in their few short days of being open, the response from the community has been positive.
“People are excited. They've experienced the corporation backing out on them in groceries previously and so I believe that they want to support the locally grown independent grocer,” Dahlia said.
“This gives them the opportunity to have something local that they're able to get their food from,” Derek added.
Little Falls Foods is located at 5129 10 Avenue in Okanagan Falls, open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To order online and see what is in stock in the new shop, visit their website, littlefallsfoods.ca


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Leading Thai mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) have announced they have developed various solutions for 5G tech adoption after a year of collaboration with their partners.
These solutions potentially serve several major industries, including innovative technologies like robotics, remote control vehicles, 3D holograms, digital health, connected drones and smart logistics.
AIS have been operating 5G testbeds in all five geographic regions of Thailand, collaborating with universities,global vendors, operators, innovative tech developers partners and the telecom regulator.
A anonymous source in the telecom industry disclosed AIS's partners on 5G tech include China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator by subscription base, and Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo.
Wasit Wattanasap, head of nationwide operations and support at AIS, said the proper time for commercial 5G use cases in the country depends on when related industries are ready to adopt the high-speed internet network and the ecosystem involved. Mr Wasit said several industrial players have talked with AIS about collaboration on 5G tech adoption in the future.
AIS recently launched a 5G tech showcase at Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall.
The showcase was held to educate the public about the benefits of 5G technology in various fields of application. Mr Wasit said 5G will enhance internet speed, boost the capability of IoT device connectivity and ensure a fast, stable and responsive network.
Five innovative features linked to 5G tech are on display at the mall. They consist of 5G 3D holograms, 5G video calls, robotics, remote control vehicles and connected drones.
Mr Wasit said it's the first time for 5G hologram 3D technology to be showcased in Thailand.
This technology will be useful when applied to business meetings, distance education, medicine, agriculture, and fashion and entertainment jobs, as well as in developing games.
The demonstration of remote driverless vehicle technology via 5G is a collaboration of the Digital Research and Innovation Institute, Prince of Songkla University and AIS.
The presentation showcased the potential of the 5G network with high speed, low latency and fast response times.
Remote-control drones will also be demonstrated between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, giving an idea of how unmanned flying vehicles can be operational in the 5G era with high speed and low latency, Mr Wasit said.
The drone can be controlled remotely via a mobile network.
AIS and SCG (a leading business conglomerate in the ASEAN region) have also jointly launched the country's first 5G use case for industry, offering trial remote-controlled forklifts via 5G tech on the 2600-megahertz spectrum range.
The trial used two forklifts for SCG's routine operations in Saraburi, controlled from headquarters in Bangkok's Bang Sue district.
The number of connected forklifts for remote operation is expected to increase soon. Other 5G use cases are also projected to rise.
Through the cooperation, SCG was able to operate the forklift, manoeuvring pallets from point A to point B accurately in real time.
The development serves as a model for other industries to follow. AIS and SCG signed a deal for joint R&D for the application of 5G technology to other projects. They also commit to jointly develop workers' skills in line with digital development.


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ALFELD, Germany , May 27, 2019 (Press Release) -Sustainable materials that are easy to recycle have become decisive parameters in the choice of packaging for branded goods. Paper-based solutions play a decisive role and are increasingly replacing composite packaging. With its optimised Guard M and Guard MS papers, Sappi offers even more possibilitiesRead more
KOTKA, Finland, May 27, 2019 (Press Release) -Packaging Première is the selective exhibition dedicated to designers and manufacturers of luxury packaging as well as to major international brands entrusting the safekeeping of their products to containers bearing the tangible, unmistakable mark of luxury all over the world. No better place to be than in Milan, the center of a unique know-how, taste, historical and cultural network and fastest growing country in cosmetic, pharma, fashion, wine, furniture and food excellence.Read more
NORTHEIM, Germany, May 27, 2019 (Press Release) -Thimm scores highly against the competition: the jury for the international POPAI Awards, which cover Germany, Austria and Switzerland, nominated the creative ‘rickshaw’ display for Hardenberg-Wilthen AG for a bronze statuette in the ‘Drinks’ category. The award-winning palette display showcases the Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin brand to particularly striking effect at the POS. The award ceremony took place on 8 May at a large gala in Frankfurt.Read more
KINGSEY FALLS, QC, May 22, 2019 (CNW) -Cascades Inc., a leader in ecological recycling, packaging and hygiene solutions, is proud to have won the Ruby Award for innovation of the year in the confectionery industry thanks to its recyclable and insulating container northbox.
Each year, the Ruby Awards recognize a product in the confectionery market that is a break-through innovation that helps advance the industry. This award is presented by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) during the Sweets & Snacks Expo, this year held in Chicago.Read more
COVENTRY, UK, May 21, 2019 (Press Release) -The new temperature controlled range includes five different products that offer high quality, thermal protection for a wide variety of temperature sensitive goods on the market.
When it comes to transporting produce from the food and drink industry, pharmaceuticals or other temperature sensitive goods, it can often prove challenging to maintain their desired temperature.Read more
BIRMINGHAM, UK, May 20, 2019 (Press Release) -The industry awards which recognise innovation and design, Starpack, has shortlisted entries made by Boxes and Packaging and its sister company, The Cardboard Box Company.
Two entries from CBC have been shortlisted whilst entries from Boxes and Packaging design teams at Bristol, Oxford, Swindon and Doncaster have been shortlisted. Each design will attain either a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award at the presentation ceremony which takes place on 27th June.Read more
WILMINGTON, DE, May 22, 2019 (Press Release) -CorrVentures LLC ("CVL"), a private development firm specializing in strategic project development in the Pulp & Paper and Corrugated Packaging markets, announces its intention to build and operate a 300,000 TPY 100% recycled lightweight containerboard milllocated on a 102 acre site approximately 9 miles south of Albany, NY (the "Hudson Valley Paperboard Project"; or the " Project").Read more
GRAZ, Austria and YOUNGSVILLE, LA , May 22, 2019 (Press Release) -International technology Group ANDRITZ has officially launched its new StrataPress felt technology enabling unmatched performance on today’s most demanding press positions.Read more


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NEW YORK and KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Although there are nearly 13 million women-owned businesses in the US as of early 2023, many of these companies remain underserved financially by the traditional financing industry. Policymakers and advocacy organizations have continued to make efforts to provide expanded access to capital for women-owned businesses.
Biz2Credit will release its annual 2023 Women-Owned Business Study on International Women’s Day, Wednesday, March 8, 2023, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Additionally, from 2 to 3 pm (EST) on March 8, Biz2Credit will host an online forum with US Rep. Sharice Davids (D, KS-03).
Business owners will have the chance to hear from Congresswoman Davids on how the Federal government and private industry are collaborating to support women business owners during the current period of economic uncertainty and high inflation.
A member of the House Small Business Committee, Sharice Davids introduced a bill to support female entrepreneurs who both passed the House with broad bipartisan support. The Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act increased funding for Women Business Centers, which offer a full range of critical counseling and technical training services for companies primarily owned by women.
Biz2Credit CEO Rohit Arora, one of the nation’s leading experts on small business finance, will lead the discussion about efforts that are having the biggest impact for women-owned companies.
- Q&A between business owners and Rep. davids.
- The Federal government’s initiatives are considering to further support women-owned businesses.
- The role Women’s Business Centers have played in expanding prosperity for women-owned firms.
- A review of business financing options for female entrepreneurs.
To register for this special event, click here.
Founded in 2007, Biz2Credit has arranged more than $7 billion in small business financing. The company is expanding its industry-leading technology in custom digital platform solutions for banks and other financial institutions, investors and service providers. Visit www.biz2credit.com or Twitter @Biz2Credit, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Contact Media: John Mooney, (908) 720-6057, [email protected]


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Amid inflation and higher gas prices, RV sales are still going strong, but families are finding other ways to trim vacation costs.
RV sales are still up for 2022, according to local dealers. The RV Industry Association tracks RV shipments from manufacturers to dealers and found that 2021 was a record year with 600,240 shipments. That’s nearly 100,000 more than its previous high in 2017.
So far in 2022, shipments have been slightly slower, in part due to supply chain issues. However, they are still expected to end high at around 549,000.
Meanwhile, RV owners, like the Roy family from Indiana, are changing vacation plans to cut fuel costs of traveling with an RV.
The Roys planned to drive to Florida, but instead, they stopped in Kentucky, saving as much as $880 in fuel.
The KOA camping website has a fuel cost estimator for those traveling by RV, helping people plan their next trip.
According to the latest cost comparison study by the RV Industry Association, an average four-person camping vacation using a lightweight travel trailer is about 31% cheaper than staying in a motel and driving a car. It’s also about 50% cheaper than flying and staying in a hotel.


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Nintendo Switch Sells 15m Units In North America
Nintendo Switch have sold 15 million units in North America in just over two years, surpassing the lifetime success of their previous console, the Wii U. Image Source: Bang Showbiz Figures have revealed that the console – which was released in March 2017 – has reached the impressive milestone, and has also been the best-selling […]
Nintendo Switch have sold 15 million units in North America in just over two years, surpassing the lifetime success of their previous console, the Wii U.
Image Source: Bang Showbiz
Figures have revealed that the console – which was released in March 2017 – has reached the impressive milestone, and has also been the best-selling video game console for 10 months in a row, according to the NPD Group.
Elsewhere, internationally, the Nintendo Switch has sold 36.87 million units.
The Nintendo Switch’s success is great news for the company, whose previous console – the Wii U – only sold 13.56 million units worldwide across its lifetime.
And Nintendo are also celebrating after four of their games – ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’, ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’, ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ and ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’ – have sold over six million copies, with another 10 selling over one million.
Nintendo always had high hopes for the Switch, as back in 2017, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima thinks the new Switch console could outsell the Wii.
“The truth is we want to raise the installed base of Nintendo Switch up to the same level as Wii. As we mentioned during our presentation, Nintendo Switch in America had the fastest start of any Nintendo hardware, despite launching in March. If our sales go according to our plan this fiscal year, we will be able to see Nintendo Switch gaining the momentum in which it can approach relative parity with Wii afterwards.
“Plus, considering that Nintendo Switch is a home console video game system that you can take with you on the go so you can play anytime, anywhere, with anyone, we think there will be households that feel as though one is not really enough. This is another point that drives us to match the scale of Wii’s popularity with Nintendo Switch.”
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Ashdod Harbor has announced the return of cruise ships to Israel with three ships docking in the port following the pandemic.
“We are delighted and excited about the return of maritime tourism to Israel, after a break of more than two years forced on us by COVID-19,” said Shiko Janna, CEO of the Port of Ashdod.
“We strive continuously to make the port more competitive and effective in all areas of operation, including tourism and welcoming additional cruise ships to enjoy our beautiful country,” said Janna. “We are at the start of the holiday season, and now, more than ever, we are working to strengthen and promote maritime tourism in Israel, and for a return to routine.”
According to a press release, the first ship to dock at the port was the Norwegian Jade, which arrived from Greece with approximately 1,500 passengers.
She was followed by the Insignia from Oceania Cruises, which was on a world cruise with 300 guets aboard, the port said.
The Viking Star also called, with 850 guests onboard.
According to a statement, passengers went through passport control and had a PCR test after they entered Israel. The guests who tested negative went ashore on various tours.


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Updated: August 03, 2020 05:46 PM
Created: August 03, 2020 11:57 AM
ALBANY, N.Y. (WHEC) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has approved the manufacture and sale of boozy ice cream and other frozen desserts in New York state.
"The craft beverage industry has experienced explosive growth in New York and with that comes a responsibility to advance regulations that help ensure long-term viability, protect consumers and provide farmers with opportunities to increase their business," Cuomo said.
The ice cream will not have more than 5% of alcohol and will require product labeling and warnings like other desserts that contain wine, beer or cider.
Currently, the state ranks in the top five in the U.S. for its number of craft beverage producers in every category.
New York also ranks first in the U.S. for the number of hard cider producers, second in craft breweries and distilleries and fourth in the country for the total number of wineries.
Copyright 2020 - WHEC-TV, LLC A Hubbard Broadcasting Company


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Fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has issued a warning to customers regarding a recent data security breach. The incident occurred between Dec. 18, 2022 and Feb. 12, 2023, during which unauthorized parties gained access to customer information, according to a statement posted on the California Attorney General’s website on Tuesday.
The company issued a notice to all of its customers, alerting them to the security incident while sharing details about the type of information that may have been accessed. The statement says that the unauthorized parties launched an automated attack against Chick-fil-A’s website and mobile application, using account credentials or email addresses and passwords obtained from a third-party source.
Chick-fil-A stated in the notice that the information that may have been accessed included names, email addresses, Chick-fil-A One membership numbers and mobile pay numbers, QR codes, masked credit/debit card numbers, and the amount of Chick-fil-A credit on customers’ accounts.
Additionally, the information may have included the month and day of the customer’s birthday, phone numbers, and addresses depending on whether or not you included that in your account information.
However, only the last 4 digits of customers’ cards were visible during the incident. The hackers were unable to get complete credit card information from customers.
The company required customers to reset their passwords, removed all stored payment methods, and freeze funds loaded onto customers’ accounts. Chick-fil-A also restored customers’ account balances and added rewards to show appreciation for customer loyalty. The company confirmed that it is continuing to enhance its security systems and fraud controls to minimize potential risks in the future.
Chick-fil-A has advised its customers to change their passwords immediately and to choose a strong, unique password. It also urged customers to remain vigilant against identity theft and fraud by regularly reviewing their credit reports and account statements to ensure that all activity is valid.


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By Andrew Asch | July 20, 2015
The We Are Handsome swim brand announced on July 19 that it is moving to Los Angeles from Australia. Get ready Los Angeles.
Some people unwind with a little get together after wrapping up a day’s work. But for the folks at Juice Served Here, a cold pressed juice company founded by fashion business entrepreneurs, they produced a big party after unveiling of a few big projects on June 26.
An Australian chocolatier was forced to change her business’ logo after getting into a row with the House of Chanel.
The BET Awards show will take place June 28 at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. There are scores of events around town this weekend to celebrate the awards. The Beauty & Brains fashion show and gifting suite was one of those events. It took place at the California Market Center on June 25.
There’s a new fashion documentary opening on Friday focused on the early days of hip-hop fashion.
Designer Calvin Klein coming to town.
Fashion icon Rihanna appears be considering launching her own fashion and accessories brand.
Ace Hotel has worked on a lot of fashion collaborations with L.A. brands; Undefeated, Tanner Goods, which runs a downtown Los Angeles flagship, and now Apolis.
Guess what fashion fans; bloggers still matter. Digital style search engine ShopStyle, headquartered in San Francisco, announced a partnership on June 23 with a gaggle of fashion bloggers, a London retailer called FarFetch, and Snapchat, the video messaging app for a special e-shopping shindig that they call Style Snaps.
Men's Wearhouse launches six-week donation drive.
Australian retailer BNKR launches a pop-up store on Robertson Boulevard.
More than 200 tech start-ups set up physical shops at the Penthouse for California Market Center, a downtown Los Angeles showroom building on June 18 for Techday Los Angeles. We dropped by to check out the handful of fashion and beauty tech startups, and listened to the latest in e-business ideas.
Going artsy, Sloane Rouge picks a hip cafe in the Arts District as the spot to highlight three seasons of clothes.
Japanese retailer comes to a fancy shopping mall.
Katin's Summer kickoff party made a splash at BLVD clothing in Manhattan Beach.
Planet Blue celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this month with a Full Moon Bazaar party at Skybar ath the Mondrian hotel in West Hollywood. The crowd was filled with beautiful people and some of Planet Blue’s favorite brands dropped by to open a mini-market at the chi-chi club. Check it out.


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The world is abuzz this week with news of the all-new Tesla Model X, which is a minivan that looks like it may at any moment take flight and get tangled up in some power lines.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that’s right: Tesla has brought the first gullwing minivan to market, and people are excited. And not just slightly excited. Elon Musk is giving press conferences to delighted admirers. Tesla fans are running up and down the streets in Palo Alto screaming “THE TESLA IS COMING! THE TESLA IS COMING!” And Pacific Gas & Electric engineers are currently on the job trying to figure out how to get the first Model X down from some high-voltage wires near Tarzana.
Essentially, it is Tesla pandemonium.