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21 Dec 2017
Glossary: "Internet Plus"
The "Internet Plus" strategy was first proposed by Tencent CEO Pony Ma Huateng at a National People's Congress meeting in 2015. It envisages the use of the Internet platform and information and communications technology to create new eco-systems in new spheres by integrating the Internet with all trades and professions, including the traditional sectors. Premier Li Keqiang called for efforts to formulate the "Internet Plus" Action Plan in his Government Work Report that year. The State Council released its Guiding Opinions on Actively Promoting "Internet Plus" Actions in July 2015, calling for efforts to fully leverage the scale and application advantages of the Internet to promote its expansion from consumption industries to manufacturing, accelerate the upgrading of industrial development, enhance the ability of all sectors to make innovation, and create new advantages and new dynamics for economic and social development. The ultimate goal is to turn the Internet into a major means for providing public services and pave way for the establishment of a collaborative, interactive development environment for the cyber economy and the real economy by 2018.
- NDRC and Related Ministries to Jointly Devise "Internet Plus" Action Plans
- Hong Kong’s E-commerce Ecology: Exporting to the World
- Manufacturers and Site Operators Set to Cash in on Mainland Ski Boom
- China Heads for a Smarter Transport System
- Integration of “Made in China 2025” and “Internet Plus” Strategies


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STAFF at a Hampshire supermarket have made a desperate plea to the company’s new boss to improve their working conditions.
But they are not asking for more money, better equipment or more time off – they want a better playlist.
Workers at Morrisons in Totton have begged incoming chief executive David Potts to change their tunes, as the songs played in the shop are getting repetitive.
Mr Potts has obliged, adding 9,000 songs to the store playlist including hits from Beyoncé, The Cure, U2 and Texas.
He said: “Our staff told us that music in our stores was getting a bit tired. We want to listen and make shopping and working with Morri-sons a better experience. That includes coming to this new musical arrangement with our colleagues and customers.”
The new music will go live today.

domain: news


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Gibbs, Brown, Portman Push Obama Administration to Enforce Trade Law and Stand Up for Guernsey County Manufacturer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A company in eastern Ohio employing more than 100 Ohioans has reported facing unfair competition from underpriced imports from Russia. In response to concerns raised by AMG Vanadium, Inc. of Guernsey County, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs (OH-18) called on the Obama Administration to enforce existing trade law and demand that Russia abide by international trade obligations.
“Companies like AMG Vanadium, Inc. and its employees depend on our trade laws to protect them from illegal foreign imports,” said Gibbs. “I fully expect the Commerce Department to address this circumvention of the law and ensure American jobs are protected.”
“We have trade enforcement laws for a reason – to level the playing field when trading partners cheat. But it takes enforcement of our trade laws if they’re to be effective,” Brown said. “That’s why we are urging the Commerce Department to defend this Cambridge company and its workers.”
“Ohio companies and workers should not be subjected to an uneven playing field and should be treated fairly in the global economy,” said Portman. “I hope the Commerce Department reviews the case, and enforces trade laws so that this Cambridge company and its workers are protected from a foreign competitor’s unfair trade practices.”
AMG Vanadium, Inc., a leading domestic producer of ferrovanadium, which is used in beam for bridges and buildings, employs nearly 130 people at its production facilities in Cambridge. Additionally, the company has invested over $10 million into its Cambridge facilities in recent years. To evade an antidumping duty, the largest Russian producer has been shipping a nearly finished form of this product to the U.S. and having it finished into ferrovanadium in a simple, one-stage process. Imports of vanadium pentoxide from Russia have surged—increasing from zero in 2004 to 2,680 MT in 2010—hurting domestic production and AMG Vanadium, Inc.
Full text of the letter is below.
December 12, 2011
The Honorable Paul Piquado
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Mr. Piquado:
We understand that the Commerce Department is conducting a duty circumvention inquiry covering vanadium pentoxide imports from Russia. As you know, efforts to evade required duties can undermine the ability of U.S. producers to make investments and create jobs.
AMG Vanadium, Inc., a leading domestic producer of ferrovanadium, employs nearly 130 people at its production facilities in Cambridge, Ohio. Currently, the company is undertaking a comprehensive expansion program that is vitally important to AMG Vanadium, Guernsey County, the state of Ohio, and the broader Appalachian region.
We are told that ferrovanadium imports from Russia are subject to a 108 percent antidumping duty. To evade this duty, the largest Russian producer has been shipping a nearly finished form of this product (vanadium pentoxide) to the U.S. and having it “toll converted” into finished ferrovanadium. This conversion step is a simple, one-stage process that adds very little value to the vanadium pentoxide. To fuel this duty-evasion scheme, imports of vanadium pentoxide from Russia have surged – increasing from zero in 2004 to 2,680 MT in 2010.
This flow of ferrovanadium into the U.S. market is inflicting exactly the same type of harm on the domestic ferrovanadium industry that the antidumping order is intended to prevent – price depression, underselling, lost sales and lost market share. Even though AMG Vanadium is a highly competitive, technologically advanced company, its continued viability and its workers’ jobs depend on maintaining effective relief from unfairly traded imports.
We believe this situation squarely fits the statutory criteria for taking action against circumvention. We urge you to enforce the statute rigorously and ask that you keep us informed regarding the progress of the circumvention inquiry.


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LG’s latest preliminary earnings report is out, and at a first glance, Korea’s eternal second best consumer electronics organization had a solid July – September 2017 quarter. We’re obviously not talking Samsung-rivaling profit scores here, but compared to the same timeframe last year, LG Electronics estimates operating income will rise a whopping 82 percent all in all.
Namely, it seems the hit-and-miss manufacturers of smartphones like the G5, V20, G6 and V30 are looking at a Q3 profit of KRW 516.1 billion, converting to roughly 455 million US dollars, up from 283.2 billion won between July and September 2016.
But while the company doesn’t go into detail yet regarding the quarterly performance of each business unit, local ”industry watchers” expect the mobile communications arm to generate an operating loss of KRW 213.5 billion. That equates to around $188 million right now, and it’s actually less than the whopping KRW 436.4 billion (USD 389.4 million) that LG’s smartphone division squandered during Q3 2016.
At the same time, it’s up substantially from the marginal KRW 132.4 billion (USD 117.2 million) deficit posted by the ”Mobile Communications Company” in the April – June 2017 period, which almost made it seem like the worst was finally behind LG’s long-struggling handset portfolio.
This would also be the tenth consecutive quarter of mobile losses for the producers of an insufficiently popular G6 and a promising V30 that didn’t have enough time to make a difference. Oh, well, there’s always next quarter.


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Agri Machinery Manufacturers Hail GST
The dust has finally settled down on the GST brouhaha in India and the reactions have been mixed. The initial fears of consumers that there was to be an enormous increase in prices has been abated and even in the case of restaurant goers, the slight increase in taxes has not really been of great impact.
In the case of agriculture in general and farm mechanisation in particular, there were a number of causes for worry, mainly focused on the rate of GST to be levied. Based on intense representation from industry bodies, the Finance Minister and the GST council announced a last minute reduction of GST rates on tractor components and parts from 28 % to 18 %. The 28 % rate slab would have resulted in tractor prices going up and also adversely impacting tractor owning farmers who had been incurring only 17 % under the pre GST tax structure for components used for repair and maintenance of their tractors.
The tractor industry is grateful to the Minister and the GST council for acceding to their representations as otherwise, prices of tractors could have gone up by close to Rs. 35,000. Even now, as the industry awaits the detailed notifications, it is hoped that all exclusive tractor components would be covered in the 18 % slab. Further, the operational costs on the approximately 60,00,000 tractors in the country would have also increased significantly. Both these would have in turn affected the already fragile small farm sustainability. It is our belief that the impact on small farmers and the industry representations had a great deal of influence on the decision to reduce GST on components to 18 %.
Coming to the impact of GST on farm mechanisation, as manufacturers, we do not see any great impact on the manufacture and sale of tractors. However, in the case of implements and accessories, the small-scale industries who dominate this sector may find the going tough.
With GST defining “supply” as taxable, many of these manufacturers who were operating on an informal manner will now be included under the ambit of GST and it is possible that prices of basic implements may rise. The medium and large manufacturers may not be affected much by GST, subject, of course, to the understanding that the 18 % GST is applicable on components of such implements/farm machinery. Apart from tractors and implements, farmers need to procure accessories such as hitches, pto pulleys and loaders for use with tractors. As of now, it is not clear how GST will impact these products.
Custom hiring, which is increasing in popularity, may now be impacted due to GST, given that consequent to bank accounts being linked to Aadhar and also to PAN cards. In any case, a custom hiring hub will now be under the GST net and so hire charges may be impacted. However, one area that would greatly help this custom hiring sector is issuance of some form of a green permit by which high investment equipment such as combine harvesters or sugar cane harvesters could move easily across state boundaries and because of freer availability of services, offer customers a reduction in hire charges.
Most tractor manufacturers are located in the southern, northern or western parts of the country and finished goods have to be transported over long distances. Logistics cost is therefore an added burden that the customer bears. After GST, logistics delays in the case of tractors should reduce as check posts are removed, facilitating faster movement of goods and hence greater utilization of resources resulting in better returns for logistics providers, thereby allowing market forces to act on logistics costs and bring them down. This will also reduce final cost to customers.
In the final analysis, GST, as we know it, has had no or little impact on farm mechanisation and in the long run is expected to reduce input costs marginally.
(The author is the Chief Operating Officer (Products), Tractors and Farm equipment limited (TAFE). Views expressed are personal.)


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London Evening Standard and Paperchase have unveiled a brand new exclusive stationery range to further help promote the recycling of newspapers in and around the capital.
The new range has been created using London Evening Standard newspapers and turning them into a special edition, recycled stationery range to be sold in the retailer’s flagship store on Tottenham Court Road, along with the majority of their London stores.
Now common place in the majority of households, recycling is no longer a thing of the future and the new trend of up-cycling has emerged as a favourite hot topic. Together, Evening Standard and Paperchase hope to encourage the benefits of recycling and show how it can be turned into something beautiful.
Frances Burkle, Director of Buying from Paperchase explains that “We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new collaboration with London Evening Standard. We believe that this new range shows the positive things that can come when Londoners recycle their evening edition newspapers!”
Richard Mead, Executive Director from the London Evening Standard says “The Evening Standard is committed to helping recycling efforts. Over 75% of the newsprint that is used to create newspapers in the UK is from recycled fibre, and any copies that are returned to us each night are recycled. We are excited to be promoting these messages through the creation of this fantastic range of products with Paperchase.”
The range showcases an innovative and strong pattern design, developed by the in-house team at Paperchase and will be rolled out exclusively in London Paperchase stores from the 16th of October 2016.


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Earlier this year Aeromexico and Delta became the official airlines sponsors of the Mexican National Football Team - and now Mexico’s flag carrier has made the decision to be a sponsor for World Travel Awards Latin America Ceremony.
Aeromexico, vice president sales, Mexico, Giancarlo Mullineli, said: “Latin America is one of our most important regions, with presence in the 15 most relevant cities, and this collaboration allows us to get closer to our clients in the market, as well as participate in a world class event.”
Mexico’s global airline serves more than 90 destinations in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Central & South America and Europe, as well as being the only airline in Latin America to offer customers regular and direct flights to Asia.
Aeromexico’s global vision focuses on service and efficiency.
It has been recognised for its distinguished style of attentive, personalised on-board service (think complimentary amenities, meals and drinks including cocktails) in Coach and Clase Premier - the airline’s business/first class service - and excellent entertainment options including movie
and music channels or video games on selected routes.
World Travel Awards president, Graham Cooke, said: “It is a privilege to welcome Aeromexico into the WTA family. In the wake of the news that Mexico has seen passenger traffic grow by 13 per cent in the first half of 2017, there couldn’t be a better time for Aeromexico to become part of our journey.
“We’re very grateful to Aeromexico for their support.”
The eagerly anticipated Latin America Ceremony 2017 will take place at the glittering, all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on September 9th.
Cooke added: “The Latin America Ceremony is always a highlight of the Grand Tour for World Travel Awards, and the team and I are excited to be bringing the event to the Mexican Riviera for the first time.
“We look forward to welcoming industry leaders and luminaries to the all-inclusive five-star Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in September, and I know it will be a night to remember.”
World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.
Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.
Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.
World Travel Awards Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.
For more information about World Travel Awards, please visit the official website.


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eMarketer has just released a comprehensive set of reports on the state of programmatic advertising across several channels – including display, mobile, video, native, and television. The TV report is entitled “Programmatic TV Advertising: Bringing Data-Driven Audience Buying to the First Screen.” In the report,eMarketer analyst Lauren Fisher discusses the current programmatic TV ad market and the adoption and rollout across addressable and linear TV.
clypd co-founder and CEO Joshua Summers is quoted in the report discussing the importance of secondary audience metrics.
“We saw this as a new way of buying TV in the upfront this year,” Summers said. “A lot of our media partner owners are talking about these advanced data sets and asking us to operationalize that as part of the upfront sale, which is very exciting. There’s no reason why that’s not a natural evolution of the conversations that happen in the upfronts.”
eMarketer customers can read the full report at www.emarketer.com


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The Shildon-based company, which operates four websites specialising in flooring, won the Let’s Grow award and the Digital and Social Media award at the ceremony, which took place at Hardwick Hall Hotel, in Sedgefield.
The Let’s Grow award recognises a company’s rapid growth over the course of the year, as well as its business plan for the following year, while the Digital and Social Media award is awarded to companies which use digital techniques and web technology to enhance their business.
Dan Foskett, managing director of Connection Retail, said: “The Company was only established three years ago, so it is a great feeling to have been recognised at such a prestigious awards ceremony. We are always looking at ways to develop our business and have implemented new techniques, including social media, and our staff have developed and driven this aspect, which has contributed to our continued growth.
“I am excited by what the future holds for the company and hopefully we will be celebrating even more award wins in the future.”


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Last year, Hearst Magazines CEO David Carey said that he expected the company to hit 1 million digital subscribers for the company’s tablet editions. Hearst fell short of that goal by the end of 2012, but just hit the 1 million mark this past March.That’s an impressive number that includes subscriptions across the three major tablet devices — iPad, Kindle and Nook.Carey said in a video interview with All Things D that the Nook, Kindle and iPad mini devices have been great for getting digital subscribers for the company’s womens’ titles, as their 7-inch screen makes them easier to carry in purses, etc. than the 10-inch iPad.Carey also said that 40% of website traffic is through mobile and tablet devices — and growing. For that reason, the company plans on growing its mobile and tablet presence and offerings, even though they’re not making as much money through digital formats than through print (of the company’s 300 titles, only 20 are sold in the US; 280 are sold in other countries, many of which enjoy a print industry that is not yet in decline).
Hearst Hits 1 Million Digital Subscribers for Tablet Editions
Last year, Hearst Magazines CEO David Carey said that he expected the company to hit 1 million digital subscribers for the company’s tablet editions.


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I've started to welcome more and more smart gadgets into my home, like thermostats, smoke detectors, locks, and lightbulbs. But I'm concerned: These devices collect data on my habits and power usage. Who has access to itor can demand access to it?
An increasing number of objectsin the home, the car, and even the officeare being embedded with sensors and are acquiring the ability to communicate. They help make up the so-called Internet of Things, a rapidly growing product category, with items that range from gratuitous (Internet-connected toothbrushes) to lifesaving (water-leak sensors that can help you catch floods in your home when they start). Google, for one, apparently expects it to be an enduring trend: In January the company paid $3.2 billion to buy Nest Labs, which makes smart thermostats and smart smoke alarms. Competing product lines include Lowe's Iris system, and a range of modular sensors made by SmartThings, a connected-home startup.
The way the companies deal with user data varies with the architecture of their products and how they link up to the Internet. For example, Nest devices collect and process data locally, but the data is sent to the servers periodically to be analyzed for feature improvements and energy reports. The company says only a handful of members of an internal-quality team see any information, and it's a mere sampling of what's generated by all the Nest products in people's homes. Of course, users themselves have access to a snapshot of their data via the company's mobile apps.
In contrast, most SmartThings products rely on cloud services to operate. For instance, a user can receive a push or text notification if a water leak is detected, or simply when a child gets home from school. The company's CEO, Alex Hawkinson, says that SmartThings analyzes some of the data to help it improve its products and services but that the information is anonymized.
More From Popular Mechanics
"There's no way for us to know, for example, that somebody in New Jersey has an 8-year-old daughter named Katie, just because they use our system," Hawkinson says. He promises the company would try to resist any government request to access the data, though it hasn't come up. "We believe that consumers should own their physical graph, and all of the data that results from that physical graph," Hawkinson says.
Nest cofounder and engineering vice president Matt Rogers says his company has never received a government request for customer information. "Our contract with our users is that we will keep their data private," he says. The company has publicly stated that any data sharing that happens with Google, its new owner, will be transparent and require the user's permission. But Nest has also hinted that deep-data integration with Google could be coming soon. In the future, conceivably, information gathered from one's quantified home could be used for commercial purposes.


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A shift in favor of the used game market could mean $2 billion in revenues for retailer GameStop in 2009, says Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian.
And although cyclical, overall industry sales are seeing an upswing, Sebastian maintains, and GameStop is balancing the benefit of more game sales with its thriving second-hand business. Pre-owned hardware, software and accessory sales could comprise a quarter of the company's revenue.
Sebastian also joins EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich in stating that online retailer Amazon's new trade-in program is unlikely to pull customers away
from GameStop, and that investors' unfounded fears are more likely to ding GameStop stock than the actual impact on the company's business.
"While Amazon’s recent entry into the trade-in market remains an overhang on shares, we believe there will be limited impact on GameStop’s business," he says.
EEDAR's recent analysis found that not only does GameStop offer slightly higher trade-in values -- significantly higher when consumers take advantage of the retailer's in-store promotions -- 80 percent of its customers are "core" gamers likely to remain loyal.
"In contrast, Amazon’s offering is likely to have more appeal to 'non-core gamers,' or those consumers more likely to trade games in exchange for Amazon.com credit toward purchases in any product category," Sebastian says, agreeing with EEDAR's analysis.
"Longer-term, we believe the bigger risk to pre-owned software sales are rights management from the video game publishers and console manufacturers, which this year will include further tests of registration codes and content downloads," Sebastian notes.


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Canada Goose has acquired the operating assets of Paola Confectii Manufacturing.
The company said in a statement that building upon the existing network of seven facilities across Canada, this acquisition marks the company’s first European facility, and supports its strategic growth plan.
Canada Goose’s core down-filled products will continue to be made in Canada, while apparel production will continue to be concentrated within European facilities.
“Our vertically integrated supply chain has always been one of our core competencies. This strategic investment advances our renowned manufacturing infrastructure and validates the performance luxury brand we are today,” said Dani Reiss, chairman and CEO, Canada Goose.
Based in Romania, Paola Confectii has been manufacturing luxury knitwear for Canada Goose since its launch in 2017, producing a range of best-selling styles including the HyBridge Knit Jacket. Knitwear is one of the leading segments of Canada Goose’s growing apparel category, which exceeded 70 million dollars in annual sales in fiscal 2023.
Paola Confectii will continue to be led by Giannino Lessi, general manager and Paola Zaffalon, technical director, as a standalone entity, maintaining regular operations.


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July 5, 2016
Proprietary IoT connectivity provider Sigfox has announced the extension of its network technology to Mexico City, as part of a broader drive into Latin America.
The Mexican roll-out is being done in partnership with WND, the company launched to extend Sigfox’s network across Latin America, and IotNet Mexico, an IoT operator that seems to also be affiliated to Sigfox. The partners expect city-wide coverage by the end of 2016 and nationwide service availability shortly thereafter, with the initial focus being on smart city uses such as utilities metering.
“As part of a group that is providing utility services to major Mexican companies and is deploying the first metering-as-a-service in the country, we made an extensive comparison of the available LPWA and cellular technologies and concluded Sigfox was superior in simplicity, choice of hardware vendors and ecosystem support,” said Daniel Guevara, CEO of IotNet Mexico. “But more than that, we chose them for their disruptive business model and their versatile global ecosystem that helps SNOs and their customers quickly implement the IoT.”
“The SIGFOX network will help unlock the promise of the Internet of Things across Mexico, because it is simple, fast and affordable to connect millions of devices that will share their data over multiple applications,” said WND founder Chris Bataillard. “By deploying the Sigfox network in Mexico with IotNet Mexico, we are substantially increasing the scale of the deployments in the region to reduce even further the costs of bringing this network to cities and businesses who are committed to delivering value added IoT services in Latin America.”
“This partnership with IotNet Mexico continues our rapid network deployment in Latin America and adds another key country to our global seamless network,” said Rodolphe Baronnet-Frugès, Sigfox EVP of networks and operators. “With the addition of Mexico, Sigfox and its network operator partners are currently deploying the Sigfox network in countries totaling one billion people, with one third of this population under effective coverage today.”
Mexico is apparently the 21st country to host a Sigfox IoT network. The first Latin American country was Brazil back in April and the company has also made a strategic move in the US this year. Sigfox is hoping to top 30 countries by the end of this year.
About the Author(s)
As the Editorial Director of Telecoms.com, Scott oversees all editorial activity on the site and also manages the Telecoms.com Intelligence arm, which focuses on analysis and bespoke content.
Scott has been covering the mobile phone and broader technology industries for over ten years. Prior to Telecoms.com Scott was the primary smartphone specialist at industry analyst Strategy Analytics’. Before that Scott was a technology journalist, covering the PC and telecoms sectors from a business perspective.
Follow him @scottbicheno
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MEXICO CITY — Consumer prices in Mexico skyrocketed 109.2% in the first 10 months of 1987, surpassing the record 105.7% increase for all of last year, according to the nation's central bank.
Continuing inflation problems could spell trouble for Mexico's efforts to handle its massive debt, which at $105 billion is second only to Brazil's $113-billion debt among developing nations.
Government planners early this year had predicted that the accumulated rise in consumer prices would be held between 75% and 85% for the year. But those expectations were dashed last month, when Banco de Mexico reported that consumer prices had risen a total of 93.1% through September.
Private analysts now expect inflation totaling 140% to 145% for 1987.
Much of the inflation in the past two years has resulted from reduction or removal of government subsidies on such basic goods as corn, bread and cooking oil as well as gasoline and other fuels. Those moves, while substantially raising consumer costs, were intended to help cut a huge government budget deficit.
Nevertheless, in a report quoted Monday by the government news agency Notimex, the Department of Energy, Mining and State Supported Industry said prices for goods provided by the public sector still lagged well behind inflation.
Fuel prices rose about 100% from December, 1986, through last July but still trail real costs, Notimex noted, citing figures from the government oil monopoly Pemex.
The energy department had planned for an 85% increase in prices this year to help it meet revenue needs. Now, it faces the choice of matching the inflation rate through more price hikes or of carrying the deficit over to its 1988 budget, Notimex said.
Mexico's annual consumer price increases were below 30% throughout the 1970s and through the end of 1981. In 1982, inflation shot up to 98.8% as the country fell into its continuing economic crisis arising from its heavy foreign debt.
Consumer inflation dropped back to 80.8% in 1983, to 59.2% in 1984 and to 63.7% in 1985 before reaching last year's record.
Through October, 1986, the year-to-date inflation was 78.6%.
In October this year, consumer prices rose by 8.3%, while producer prices--the costs to manufacturers for their materials--rose 8.8%, according to a Banco de Mexico report released Monday.
In a breakdown of major categories, the bank reported price increases in clothing and shoes of 10.6%; miscellaneous services, 10.6%; furniture and domestic appliances, 10%; health and personal care, 9.4%; food, beverages and tobacco, 8.9%; education and leisure, 7%; transportation, 5.7%, and housing, 5.1%.


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I.D. Vizzion revealed in Geneva
Added: 06 March 2018
The Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion was unveiled to the world’s press this morning ahead of the Geneva International Motor Show.
The fully electric saloon will be the future top model of the I.D. family and will hit the roads by 2022. The car is part of the brand’s major product and technology offensive and has been designed to allow fully autonomous driving.
Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen brand said: “The I.D. Vizzion shows what our brand is capable of in terms of technology, design and quality. It is the most personal, most emotional and most individual Volkswagen of all times. And it also shows that, even in the electric, self-driving future, we will be using desirable, expressive and individual automobiles – and not just uniform tin boxes.”


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Conspiracy theorists are constantly written off as crazy, but to really debunk the myths, they must be listened to.
The way that the meal plan options are forced onto freshmen hurt the way they consume food on campus.
Horoscopes go back thousands of years, there is no reason to base our identity off of them in the modern day world.
Instead of failing to make your rom-com dream a reality, spend time showing love for those who are always there for you.
The newest change to the university's logo dismantles history and creative intent.
Animals are great at the right time and place, but a dorm room is not that.
In the long run, tabletop games save you money and create better memories.
After Jake Paul and Donald Trump's controversy on social media, people need to be more mindful before they post content.
Students should be able to stay in their own dorms over Thanksgiving break.
Banning electronic devices like laptops in classrooms can make some students more productive – but it can also prevent students from using their preferred method of note-taking.


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As the WWE 2K20 release date is getting closer each day, 2K has revealed some new items related to the new pro wrestling game. Over the past few days, they’ve revealed new exclusive photos involving WWE legends Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and Sting. In addition, WWE 2K revealed an important campaign that cover star Roman Reigns will be a part of.
WWE 2K20 shows off Legends’ ad behind-the-scenes pics
Just a week ago, a brand new video trailer advertisement debuted involving the WWE legends. The concept was to promote the upcoming WWE 2K20 Showcase mode which puts a spotlight on cover star Becky “The Man” Lynch and the rest of the Four Horsewomen (Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair). Stone Cold and Hulk Hogan appeared in the first part of the ad with Sting, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels showing up as they all quipped about knowing who “the man” was back in the day.
Now, WWE 2K20 has released a series of behind the scenes photos from the making of that trailer advertisement.
The exclusive new photos show the crew on the trailer set along with the legends. There are shots of Sting and Bret Hart getting their makeup done as well as other photos showing Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, and Sting on the set making conversation. “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels is in the ad but doesn’t appear much at all in the behind-the-scenes photos.
Check out all of the new WWE 2K20 photos at the 2K website here.
2K’s team-up with cover star Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns will be one of the two cover stars on the front of the new WWE 2K20 game along with Becky Lynch. The game also features an exclusive Roman Reigns 2K Tower for gamers to try to conquer which involves various matchups the WWE star has been a part of during his career.
In honor of Reigns’ fight against leukemia, 2K announced a campaign to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). In a tweet on September 10, they revealed they’d donate $2 to the LLS for every retweet up to $500,000.
As part of the cause, 2K will also donate copies of video games to blood cancer patients. Additionally, they’ve announced that WWE 2K personnel and superstars will make visits to LLS hospital partners, host LLS personnel. They’ll also visit with patients and families at WWE 2K20 promotional events.
More details about the WWE 2K20 campaign involving the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are available at WWE’s website.
Get more WWE 2K information, tips, and news at our WWE games page.


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- The Labor Department reported the spike of 2.6% in supermarket prices on Tuesday.
- Prices Americans paid for eggs, meat, cereal and milk shot higher in April as people flocked to grocery stores to stock up on food amid government lockdowns.
- The price of the meats, poultry, fish and eggs category rose 4.3%, fruits and vegetables climbed 1.5%, cereals and bakery products advanced 2.9%, and dairy goods gained 1.5%.
- The grocery numbers stand in stark contrast to the broader trend in U.S. prices, which fell 0.8% in April.


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Medical Device Industry Trends 2023
The medical device industry is robust and growing. As of 2022, the annualized growth rate of the industry is predicted to average 5.5%, reaching $719 billion in 2029. Several developments are contributing to this growth worldwide, including the further proliferation of artificial intelligence, the increased popularity of remote patient care, and persistent cybersecurity concerns.
Here are some current trends in the medical device industry that are predicted to further shape the manufacturing landscape in the years to come.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
We have yet to see all the ways artificial intelligence will impact the medical device industry, not to mention every other industry in work and life. The FDA has created an action plan for software as a medical device (SaMD) products that use AI and ML in September 2021. One of the biggest benefits the FDA cites for these devices comes from the ability of these technologies to use real-life experiences to improve performance, deliver improved patient care, and assist healthcare providers in doing their jobs more effectively, including detecting and treating diseases.
Outside of software, industry experts expect AI to play a larger role in other emerging technologies, such as wearables, robotics, virtual health assistance, labs, and data analysis.
Cybersecurity and Data Breaches
The healthcare industry has been a major target for cybercriminals, and as medical devices become more connected, this risk is likely to grow. Standards organizations have developed best practices in response to these risks. UL, for example, offers a cybersecurity assurance program (CAP) to help organizations manage their risks and demonstrate their cybersecurity capabilities. As regulatory guidelines change, manufacturers need to stay up-to-date on required compliance measures.
Global Surgical Robotics
Routine tasks may be increasingly fulfilled by robotics to close the gap in staffing shortages and ease the workload of nurses experiencing burnout. Robots have been used in healthcare settings to make more precise incisions, disinfect hospital rooms, provide therapeutic benefits to patients with dementia, deliver targeted radiation therapy, and transport materials across a hospital. Some robots can even be remotely controlled.
Remote Monitoring and IoT Devices
The internet of things (IoT) market may be most recognizable in devices found in the home – smart speakers, lights, fridges, locks, and more. However, the IoT market is also on the rise in the healthcare industry. Remote patient monitoring is a prominent domain for IoT devices. Data such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature can be collected remotely via a device, allowing practitioners to monitor and flag any necessary treatments or other interventions.
Supply chain disruptions may have set off a greater demand for 3D-printed components, but this additive manufacturing can be a more convenient option in general for hospitals that have an urgent onsite need for certain components. This may also provide another business line for manufacturers who can create digital blueprints for 3D printers.
3D printing is a great method for designing and creating devices that are patient-specific and match the particular anatomy of an individual. The FDA has created online content and guidelines that address 3D-printed components.
Medical device manufacturers looking to stand out in the industry may want to invest more in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Different business sizes and industries are beholden to different compliance standards when it comes to sustainability, but even those that aren’t being asked to fulfill regulatory requirements may find a business benefit and powerful differentiation from improving ESG-related processes. Providers are increasingly using ESG factors, including data security, labor standards, energy efficiency, and packaging when deciding what to purchase.
Whatever the medical device industry has planned next, RAM Technologies can be with you every step of the way. Our PC-based PSUs will be around for the life of your device and can be customized to match your cabling and other specific needs. Reach out to us with any questions and to place an order.


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For the First Time, Kanye West’s Partnership with Gap Is Available In Physical Retail Locations
Yeezy Gap has announced that products from the collaboration is available to purchase in stores, a change from the partnership’s previous format of timed drops available exclusively online.
Starting on July 25, Yeezy Gap products were available for the first time for purchase in physical retail at Gap’s Times Square flagship. The storefront was stripped back and reengineered to reflect the vision of ominous and industrial minimal cool that is the central aesthetic at the heart of the collaboration.
Following up on the success of the Times Square initial launch – which drew fans lining up around the block to experience the collaboration as a physical brand and retail experience for the first time ever – the collaboration will also be available in select Gap stores across the US.
The launch also includes pieces from Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga, a further project that brings Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia into the collaborative fold.
Highlighting this aspect of the launch, Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga introduced a virtual game experience designed by Demna, allowing fans to create and inhabit one of the virtual avatars that formed the announcement campaign for the collaboration.
When initially announced in 2020, the 10-year contract between Yeezy and Gap was seen as a way to reenergize the image and sales of the beleaguered Gap (which is still currently dealing with profit losses and the quick departure of its new CEO). Though the online drops were certainly very buzzed about, the pace of the resulting partnership was unexpectedly slow, with only two pieces dropping – that is, until Balenciaga got involved, with that arm of the partnership delivering a 36-piece collection.
The push into physical retail marks a recognizable push to deliver Yeezy Gap on a larger scale and lay a strong foundation as, hopefully, the brand begins to find a more stable and sustainable pace of production.
The first release of the Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga Collection is available now globally for purchase on yeezygap.com, balenciaga.com and Balenciaga online partners farfetch.com, mytheresa.com and luisaviaroma.com.
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As you know, Storm Emma has kinda sent most people into a shopping frenzy with this week.
Across the country people have been stocking up on the essentials ahead of the blizzard expected to hit this evening.
Some shops have even had to ration the really vital stuff:
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) March 1, 2018
BWG Foods have revealed the top selling products amongst Irish shoppers in the run up to Storm Emma.
They surveyed over 1,000 shops and found that Brennan’s Sliced Pan was the most sought after product.
That was followed by 2 litre milk, 6 packs of eggs, firelighters, and of course, wine!


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CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. - -- This innovative mobile technology is causing a stir around the globe. It could be a political issue, the marketing of a movie, book, or business, or even a digital system for booking restaurants. Mobile devices can handle...
She gives her talk, "Typesetting in CSS; Using Typography to Enhance Your Design."
TORONTO - -- Tech News by Communitech features Driftscape as "Canada's leading discovery app serving communities across the country". The article discusses the impressive expansion Driftscape went through during the pandemic and how its partnership with..
Net Diatom bumps heads with politicians, Government Agencies, and even won a lawsuit against tech giant Facebook, Inc
Key leadership add reflects continued adoption of company's procure-to-pay platform
Forge3, Ltd., creator of the insurance industry's leading website platform, proudly announces the release of their revolutionary new interface, ActiveAgency Dashboard.
Marketing Automation Is the Way Forward for UK Businesses Leading Sales Funnel Agency States
Daugherty Business Solutions, a leading advisory services and technology consulting firm, has been recognized for the 11th consecutive year in the St. Louis Business Journal's Best Places to Work.
MCLEAN, Va. - -- Enquizit, Inc, a leading IT service company specializing in Cloud and migration services, announced that it has been awarded the Best-in-Class 8(a) STARS III GWAC contract from the General Services Administration (GSA). 8(a) STARS III...
The leading luxury private rental brand focused on unmatched service and tailored vacation experiences to grow inventory worldwide
MIAMI - -- Killer Cat Bengal Club has now confidently launched the public sale of their long-awaited project and turned their noses at downtrends in the NFT market and saying "No" to fear, uncertainty & doubt (FUD), instead they increased the crypto..
MANILA, Philippines & EAST COAST, Singapore - -- Everyone is looking for the simplest way to earn extra cash, and investing in something that appears profitable is the best option. If you want to earn a passive income, look no further! With Mecha...
Murphy Law Firm investigates on behalf of individuals whose personal information was exposed in the data breach at Parker Hannifin Health
Cornerstone and Swiftlane Announce Strategic Technology Initiative to Create Safer Rental Communities in Denver
SAN FRANCISCO - -- Swiftlane, an end-to-end smart security technology solution, and Cornerstone property management and apartment services have announced a strategic technology partnership that will focus on creating safer multifamily communities in the..
Real Estate Blockchain Pioneer Closes the Loop On Enabling End-to-End Home Sales Online with Integrate Title & Escrow
Propy's new title and escrow services expand offer-to-close transactions on one secure platform, removing complexity, hassle and time
A Long-awaited Annual 4-day Global Event Unites Tech Teams, IT, and Business Leaders Around Oracle Technologies
Leader in test equipment rentals, sales, service, and calibration honors the EMC Partner and HV Technologies team as 2021 Vendor of the Year.
He discusses the ability to make your website serverless at the Angular Community Meetup
Exterro Enhances Digital Forensic and Incident Response Automation with Major Upgrades to FTK® Connect
Enhanced FTK Connect adds power and speed to FTK® solutions with new automation, integration and visualization capabilities
MORGANVILLE, N.J. - -- June 1 marks the beginning of what experts believe could be a very active hurricane season. The good news is there's still time to prepare your business. Did you know that 40% of companies go out of business after major disasters...


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New home sales unexpectedly fell in June to the lowest level since April 2020 as buyers grapple with near record high prices.
Sales of new single-family homes last month fell 6.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000, according to the US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The rate was 19.4% lower than the June 2020 estimate of 839,000.
Analysts polled by Refinitiv had expected an increase to 800,000. Last month’s reading was revised down from 45,000 to 724,000.
New home sales, which represent around 10% of the housing market, fell every month in 2021.
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Homebuyers have faced record prices in recent months as soaring input costs, including lumber, have made construction more expensive. Low inventories also helped support prices. Median selling prices last month fell to $ 361,800, down from a record high of $ 380,700 in May. The average sale price fell to $ 428,700, the lowest since March.
The drop in sales came as new home inventory hit 353,000, a 6.3-month supply, the highest since at least May 2020.


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BPA backs the ‘customs backstop’
(Posted on 15/06/18)
The British Ports Association has welcomed the publication of the temporary customs arrangement, known as the ‘customs backstop’.
Commenting on the development, the BPA Chief Executive, Richard Ballantyne, said: “This arrangement will give ports and freight operators a measure of short-term certainty. It is now essential that Government makes progress on our long-term customs and other border arrangements.
“There is still an urgent need for clarity on non-customs checks, which account for three quarters of border stoppages. These have the potential to cause huge disruption.
“We look forward to the passage of the EU Withdrawal Bill next week and hope that, whether various amendments are passed or defeated, we will have a clearer picture of what happens next.
“We urge the Government to speed up progress with the planned customs white paper to clarify our future relationship with the EU. We have made clear that, of the Government’s two proposed policies, the customs partnership represents almost business as usual at the border for UK-EU trade, but whatever arrangement we choose it is vital there is time for ports to adapt to avoid disruption.
"Ports need to know sooner rather than later what this relationship will look like and we will continue to work with Government behind the scenes on ensuring that the transition is as smooth as possible”
The BPA has consistently argued that the free flow of goods through ports must not be disrupted. This is especially critical at roll-on, roll-off ferry ports, where goods on HGVs are used to driving off the ship and out of the port virtually uninterrupted. These ports facilitate the trades of consumer goods, perishable cargoes and ‘just in time’ freight. Any form of customs or other regulatory checks have the potential to disrupt these important ‘just in time’ supply chains. If there are to be border checks, we have argued that they should be carried out away from port bottlenecks.
The Panama Canal and the Port of Rotterdam signed a Memorandum Understanding (MOU) to promote international... Read more
Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK's largest port operator, teamed up with the Women in International... Read more
Transhipment in the North Sea Canal Area of the seaports of Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Beverwijk and Zaanstad... Read more
The first World Ports Climate Action Programme (WPCAP) congress will take place in Rotterdam next May... Read more
The SAFIR consortium of partners – Amazon Prime Air, Aveillant, C-Astral, DronePort, Elia, Explicit... Read more
Townsville Marine Logistics Pty Ltd, on thenorth-eastern coast of Australia, has received an electricKonecranes... Read more
The newly appointed British ambassador Martin Shearman has visited the Port of Antwerp. He got acquainted... Read more
Essar Ports has said higher capacity utilisation at its recently commissioned terminals at Salaya and... Read more
Peel Ports Group, one of the UK’s leading port operators, has been officially accredited with... Read more
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has released the 2019 mid-year cargo statistics for goods and passengers... Read more


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F-secure has signed a MoU with European Union's law enforcement agency Europol to fight cybercrime.
Introduces Virtustream Storage Cloud, EMC MyService360 Service Dashboard, EMC Enterprise Copy Data Management and ViPR ...
The Indian IT infrastructure market will total $1.9 billion in 2016, a 1 percent increase from 2015, according to ...
The declining numbers may show weakness in high-end smartphone sales going forward
Tablet shipments fall 10 percent between first quarters of 2015 and 2016
As exploit kits evolve, so too do their impact on business operations and security
Ending years of speculation, Australian tech entrepreneur Craig Wright has revealed himself to three media houses as ...
The phone numbers that facilitate quick trades between accounts are now being used to battle CS:GO cheaters.
Qualcomm releases the Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine software development kit
Dell Technologies, the new-look combined Dell and EMC company, will focus on deepening its relationships with current ...
"You know the end game will likely be to merge with Salesforce," one analyst says
It’s becoming the party-line, that Dell and EMC are a perfect fit, a complementary blend in a competitive market. But ...
Vendors shipped a total of 334.9 million smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of 2016 (1Q16), up slightly from ...
“I didn’t come here to look backwards, I came here to look forward and obviously, things are going to change."
The company's client business will still be called Dell, while the enterprise operation will be Dell EMC
The move follows its purchase of Textura last week for $663 million
A strong camera upgrade and support for the latest charging standard could help Samsung's next phablet stand out.
The deal is aimed at helping drive Apps adoption and teach people how to use its features
The chip makers have buried the hatchet, with no money changing hands
The show is likely to be EMC's last before it's part of Dell


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Failure by Washington legislators to pass a $1 trillion-plus coronavirus relief package Monday sent stocks tumbling -- but the prospect that they'll get the job done today is having the opposite effect.
As of noon Tuesday, the S&P 500 is up 7.77%, and some individual stocks are doing much, much better than that. Shares of used-car superstore CarMax (KMX 0.49%), for example, are already up 10.9%. "Salvaged" car auctioneer Copart (CPRT -0.68%) has gained 14.7%. Carvana (CVNA 1.16%), which buys and sells cars over the internet, is doing best of all -- up 30.2%!
Why these three car stocks in particular? Well consider that two of the three, Copart and Carvana, operate largely online and are therefore largely insulated from the risk of both coronavirus contagion and being shuttered by government shutdown orders designed to slow the spread of the virus. CarMax, too, has a substantial internet-based sales operation. And even its physical stores may well be exempt from bans on the operation of "nonessential" businesses -- inasmuch as they facilitate an essential transportation service.
Instead of shutting down entirely, CarMax has "temporarily closed" 45 of its 200-odd stores and instituted a raft of rules to minimize the risk of spreading Coronavirus at those still open. (Rule No. 1: CarMax is now "handshake-free.")
So all three of these businesses remain in operation, albeit probably at a depressed pace because of the generally downbeat tone of consumers these days -- and their preoccupation with securing immediate essentials such as food, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper. Logically, at a time like this, consumers will put off thoughts of car shopping if possible and focus on the bare necessities.
In a few weeks, however, these consumers could begin receiving government checks aimed at both tiding them over through the quarantine period and spurring a resumption of consumption on the other side of the recession. Car companies would be logical beneficiaries of the sudden influx of large amounts of cash into the economy.
And that's what shares of CarMax, Copart, and Carvana are going up today.


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Boston-based SCVNGR said Thursday that users of its LevelUp mobile payment service can now choose to give part of their loyalty credit to a cause.
LevelUp users unlock loyalty credit when they spend a certain amount at a business using the LevelUp app. The company said its new "Causes" feature allows consumers to donate, for instance, $1 of the $10 unlocked at a restaurant.
Initial causes partnered with LevelUp are Feeding America, Jumpstart and the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
Details on how it works (from the LevelUp news release):
Simply launch the LevelUp app and head to the "Donate" section under "Settings." There you can see a list of all the Causes currently on LevelUp. Pick your favorite one and the percentage of your savings that you'd like to donate. Remember, that percentage only applies to the money you're saving (not spending) when you pay with LevelUp.
LevelUp users can currently use their mobile device to pay at 3,000 merchants, including chains such as Boloco and Johnny Rockets. More than 200,000 users are spending a total of $2 million a month using the service.
SCVNGR founder Seth Priebatsch recently said LevelUp should have a presence in 50 U.S. cities by the end of year, and will bring on its first "multi-hundred location" merchants on board in September or October. Merchants pay zero interchange fees on transactions, which LevelUp contends is an advantage when compared to the hefty fees of accepting credit cards.
On Wednesday, meanwhile, the company launched its app for Windows Phone.
SCVNGR has raised $41 million in VC to date, from Highland Capital Partners, Google Ventures, Balderton Capital, Continental Investors, Transmedia Capital and T-Venture, the venture capital arm of Deutsche Telekom.
Read more: LevelUp: Better for biz than Google?


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HM-Mitsubishi Motors, one of India's leading auto manufacturers, unveiled the Mitsubishi Outlander 2010 for the India market, today. The much-awaited Outlander 2010 is a comfortable, high-performance car, which lends itself to business purposes, as well as leisure driving. The new Outlander was unveiled by Mr. Vijay Kumar, Executive Vice President and SBU Head - Chennai Car Plant, Hindustan Motors Ltd. in presence of Mr. Rohit Bal, one of India's leading fashion designers and other senior company officials.
Speaking at the unveil of the Outlander 2010, Mr. Y.V.S Vijay Kumar, said, "The all new Outlander is the outcome of all the feedback we received from our customers over the past one year and it delivers on all counts. With its stylish looks, great performance, plush interiors, innovative features and above all value for money ....
Source : http://www.autoblogs.in


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Israelis Lead World in Social Media Use
Israel is the worldwide leader in monthly social network use, a U.S.-based research firm indicated on Thursday, with Israeli users spending twice as much time chatting and posting more than the global average.
According to the report by U.S. internet marketing research company comScore on data collected during October, Israelis spent an average of 11.1 hours using social networks, more than double the world average of 5.7 hours, and ahead countries like the U.K. (7 hours) and the United States (6.9 hours).
Just behind Israel’s avid users were their counterparts in Argentina (10.7 hours), Russia (10.4 hours) and Turkey (10.2 hours).
The comScore report indicated social networks were the most popular online activity, with users representing 82% of the global internet community – about 1.2 billion people.
Israel stands tall in the standing here as well, with 94% of Israeli internet users using social networks.
For more, go to Haaretz.com


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Singapore’s First WebTV Portal with CoreMedi
Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) launched Singapore’s first Web TV Portal "The Straits Times Razor TV” (www.razor.tv) at the beginning of August with CoreMedia’s future-driven Content Management technology. Supporting implementation partner is Ufinity.
The innovative Razor TV presents interactive video-news, live chats and lifestyle features in its WebTV programming. The free service targets digital active users and will - for the first time in the Singapore digital world - allow user contribution to the program via online commenting and questioning in real-time. Furthermore, users are encouraged to broadcast themselves live with their personal videos. The videos will be highly localized and broadcast from a living-room styled studio, in SPH’s Multimedia Centre in Toa Payoh North.
"With user contribution to our programs, we truly create user-centric content and engage the audience", says Felix Soh, Digital Media Editor at SPH’s English and Malay Newspapers Division. "With the support of CoreMedia, we inspire our users by providing forward-thinking technology - creating the future with our audience.”
"We are proud to support Singapore Press Holdings to launch the first Web TV format", says Willms Buhse of CoreMedia. "Our innovative technology, in combination with SPH’s strong vision of a digital future, will break new ground for publishing houses and media in Asia.”
"Realizing this project in joint force with SPH is an important footstep for CoreMedia’s expansion on the Asian market”, adds Burghardt Groeber, Singapore-based CoreMedia representative.
About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is the leading media company in Singapore, delivering news and information through print, Internet and broadcasting platforms. In Singapore, it publishes 14 newspapers in four languages. Every day, 2.9 million individuals or 81 percent of people above 15 years old, read one of SPH's news publications. SPH also publishes and produces more than 100 magazine titles in Singapore and the region, covering a broad range of interests from lifestyle to information technology.
For all press and trade enquiries, please contact:
Director - Business Development
Phone: +65 6603 8338


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Retailers, Auction Houses, Tour Operators Rejoice As Mainland Chinese Tourist-Shoppers Spend, Visit In Record Numbers
High-end retailers and auction houses in Hong Kong always look forward to Golden Week, which took place October 1 – 8, and for very good reason. During that week, an influx of mainland Chinese tourist-shoppers flood Hong Kong’s major commercial districts and tourist traps, virtually all with one thing in mind: shopping. As Jing Daily noted last week, the Hong Kong Tourism Board expected record numbers of mainland Chinese tourists to spend a record amount this year, driven primarily by a stronger yuan and visitors shopping for friends and family. According to reports released today, the Tourism Board’s optimism was well-founded: Visitor arrivals from the Mainland jumped 21% to a record-breaking 662,248 over the course of Golden Week, with merchants’ sales rising 30% over last fall.
Although retailers across the board were buoyed by mainland Chinese tourist-shoppers, two of the greatest beneficiaries were luxury watch retailers and auction houses. As Tan Li, Board Secretary of the Chinese high-end watch retailer Hengdeli (previously on Jing Daily) told Bloomberg, Golden Week sales in Hong Kong rose more than 60% over 2009. Emperor Watch Executive Director Henry Chan suggested that the rising spending power of Chinese consumers, and the rising yuan, were key factors in this year’s strong sales figures, saying in an interview, “What [Chinese consumers] pursue in jewelries and watches are no longer middle-priced pieces, but the expensive, sophisticated and limited items.” Added Chan, “Mainland Chinese spending more than HK$1 million on watches today is not something unusual. We sold one or two every day during the Golden Week.”
Sotheby’s also posted record sales during last week’s autumn auctions in Hong Kong, breaking its previous record for a jewelry auction with a $54.5 million sale powered by mainland collectors. Sotheby’s took in more than $400 million across the series, which also included auctions of contemporary Chinese art, fine wine, and rare watches.
The spending power of mainland Chinese tourist-visitors isn’t just helping the bottom line of high-end retailers — it’s improving the overall retail environment as a whole. As Donna Kwok, an HSBC economist, told Bloomberg, “Record mainland visitor arrivals are helping to keep a feel-good factor circulating through Hong Kong. Chinese visitors offer higher-end retail outlets an easier source of demand to tap, spending on average 35% more than their American counterpart.” While this isn’t exactly surprising, since many Chinese tourists spend in Hong Kong to sidestep mainland China’s steep luxury tax, it’s become a key source of reliable income for many of Hong Kong’s top luxury retailers.


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Lori Wilson has spent a lot of time gardening over the last couple of weeks. It involves the usual planting, weeding and pruning, and arranging tables in the garden and patio area so they are six feet apart. Her bar, Bear’s Hideaway in San Juan Bautista, has been given the green light to reopen and she’s been getting the place in order.
Under the state’s phased reopening plan, bars and wineries are now able to reopen under Stage Three with the same kinds of restrictions placed on other businesses. Restaurants were allowed to resume dine-in service in this phase as well. Patrons are required to wear face masks as they enter, though masks can be removed once the patron is seated; tables must be six feet apart; occupancy is limited; and a rigorous cleaning protocol has to be followed.
But Wilson said she does not mind at all and is looking forward to seeing her regulars again.
“I have a really great following and I enjoy how everyone enjoys each other,” she said. “We have a wonderful community here.”
The initial shutdown orders had a serious impact on local wineries and bars, closing them down to any public commerce beyond wine and beverage pickups. Two local bars began resuming regular hours and seating customers when the state issued its criteria for reopening restaurants.
When Yolanda Torres, owner of Una Mas Saloon in San Juan Bautista, discovered last month that Whiskey Creek Saloon in Hollister had been able to reopen, she rushed over to find out how they did it. The key, she said, was serving food.
“Under the governor’s plan, bars and pubs can reopen as long as some kind of food is available. I had to get contracts with local restaurants because everyone who comes in has to have something to eat,” she said.
The bar came under criticism from the city of San Juan Bautista after it received reports of occupancy limit violations. Torres said inspections by the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office and undercover Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents did not reveal any violations.
18th Barrel reopened on June 6 and brought in a food truck to accommodate the state requirement, making food available in their patio area. Prior to that, the tasting room was open only for takeout.
As of June 12, the restriction has been lifted and food service is no longer required. That makes things a little easier, according to owner Monica Ramirez.
“When we had a food truck it was really difficult for us to deal with. We had to take the orders and bring the food to the customers. We don’t usually have food service so it was complicated,” she said.
After a try at curbside service, Daisy’s Saloon, owned by Cara Denny, will be reopening as well. As with Ramirez and 18th Barrel, Denny spent the downtime working on her bar and customer areas.
“I tried to stay open doing to-go orders, but I felt pressure from people who were expecting me to completely open,” Denny said. “I decided to close and then I got busy finishing the bar, doing some upgrades in the patio and putting in a sprinkler system. But it is time now, and I am looking forward to reconnecting with my customers.”
Some places are still making adjustments before a full launch. Brewery Twenty-Five is limiting itself to phone orders and pick-ups while redesigning its taproom. Johnny’s Bar and Grill in Hollister reopened on June 15 with a quick phasing-in of its regular menu.
Wineries are also reopening on the same schedule with similar restrictions, some only taking a limited number of reservations. Derose Winery, for example, is offering reservations within three-time slots at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
One change with the way tastings are handled under current guidelines will be to reduce the amount of contact with customers. Any wines included in a tasting need to be poured and served at one time. Leal Vineyard will be bringing customers their tastings on multi-glass wine trees, for instance.
As with the restaurant reopenings, bars and wineries are keeping options open as to scheduled times and the number of guests they can accommodate. Calling ahead is advised, as seating will be limited for the time being.
While the businesses are restricted in the number of people they can serve, Torres said customers are glad to be back and are showing it.
“I make more on tips than I do on beverages,” she said. “The customers are so appreciative of us being open. One man ordered one drink and left $30. I am so lucky.”
BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website that reports on San Benito County. Our team is working around the clock during this time when accurate information is essential. It is expensive to produce local news and community support is what keeps the news flowing. Please consider supporting BenitoLink, San Benito County’s news.


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Sears is offering a big apology and pulling this item from its website: a sideways swastika ring for men.
The item is described as gothic and claims it's "Not for Neo Nazi or any Nazi implication."
One woman on Facebook posted on Sears' page saying, "Please tell me this is a misunderstanding."
In a statement to WPVI-TV, the ABC News affiliate in Philadelphia, a Sears Holdings spokesperson said, "The offensive item, which was listed by independent third-parties on Sears Marketplace, violates our guidelines, and was removed as soon as we became aware of its existence on our site. We are contacting the Sellers to strongly voice our concern over their lack of judgment."


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Watch this: Call of Duty: Black Ops III’s full reveal trailer
Blops III! We knew it was coming last week when Treyarch and Activision released that odd little teaser trailer. (OK, technically we knew Blops III was coming when the first game released on 9 November 2010.) Well, said odd little teaser trailer has just been beefed up with a decidedly more informative one.
We already knew that the Treyarch was shooting for a near-future setting with Black Ops III, and last week we wondered whether or not that meant something similar to Deus Ex’s nano augmented, dystopian theme. Turns out we were on the money! Humanity and technology combine (literally) in Black Ops III, which we’re totally all for because that kind of sci-fi stuff kind of tickles our fancy.
You can check out the trailer after the jump. You can also check out the official Deus Ex Twitter account’s reaction to the Call of Duty: Black Ops III reveal trailer, which, if we’re honest (and we are about 97.3% of the time), is pretty damn hilarious.


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Canadian car and truck sales
Gauging the success of Canada’s newest vehicles: sedans, sports cars, luxury SUVs, electric cars, and supercars
As competitors struggle to make headway in Canada, month after month, Ford Canada just keeps on selling more Mustangs
“Import” doesn’t mean what it used to, but these are still Canada’s 25 most popular autos built outside North America
Mustang versus Camaro, Ram versus F-150—who’s coming out the winner this year so far in these and other contests?
Car upticks and incoming SUVs are bringing the Canadian arm of the German automaker back on track
The 25 top-selling premium brand cars in 2017’s surging Canadian auto market
The Canadian market is eating up SUVs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but somehow, these 25 are losing sales
Every automaker has a star vehicle that outsells its siblings—we’ve got them for every brand, for 2017’s first half
Vehicle sales in Canada are up, sure, but it can’t be all good news: here’re the lowest-volume new vehicles in 2017’s first six months
Canadians are buying more new vehicles than ever—and these 30 brands sold the most in 2017 so far
Canadians want new vehicles, but according to the numbers, they do not want new cars
2017’s half over—these are Canada’s 30 most popular vehicles so far this year
Yes, Ford Motor Company and General Motors produced the majority of auto industry growth this year so far
In 2017, a lot of new vehicles are squares that don’t fit in round holes—many sell well, and many don’t
Boom market? These are the 25 vehicles losing Canadian sales most rapidly in 2017
Subtract trucks, SUVs, and vans and Canada’s auto industry is 3/10 its size—a small slice of pie split between 25 brands
In May 2017, Audi grabbed second place on Canada’s luxury auto leaderboard—could Audi soon be #1?
The SUV sector is now the dominant vehicle category in Canada, so which brand sells the most SUVs and crossovers?
Canadians are buying more new vehicles than ever before, and more than one-fifth of those vehicles are pickups
Car sales are slowing, but many cars are making big gains, and these 25 more than any other
One-third into 2017, these are Canada’s top-selling luxury brand automobiles in a booming luxury market
How many Canadian cars do Canadians buy in Canada? Well, we’ve got the sales figures to answer that very question
General Motors Canada sales exploded this past month thanks to its pickups, SUVs, and even strong car sales
Canadian auto sales are rising, but a rising tide does not float every automaker’s boat
Pickup truck popularity increased in Canada in April 2017 even as auto sales growth finally stalled
Imported cars account for nearly one-quarter of Canadian auto sales—so which ones are the most popular here?


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LittleBigPlanet's 13th anniversary and Sackboy: A Big Adventure's own first anniversary will be celebrated with a new costume in the 3D platformer.
After shining on the PS3, these titles deserve to be on PS5.
The truth is out there, these games are all in the same universe!
It's not all doom and gloom.
Despite fears that the project may have been cancelled due to its absence at Sony’s press conference, the game is still alive and making progress.
It feels like Sony are ending the franchise, in a way.
No names yet, however.
A new game in the works?
Tons of levels to play
Sony has reportedly revealed a new game, called LBP Karting at a PlayStation Event recently. And as you can see in the picture above, it's LBP and features Kart racing. I have no idea why Sony made... Read More
At their annual conference, Destination PlayStation, Sony announced a new game for PS3, a decision that might shock many. The game's called LittleBigPlanet Cart racer. So... basically, it's ModNatio... Read More
Media Molecule, the developers of LittleBigPlanet have just released some stats and its enormous. There have been 6 million custom levels created in the games' of the franchise so far which includes... Read More
LittleBigPlanet Vita is going to be "bigger" than both the main installments of the franchise on the PS3, says Executive Producer Pete Smith. "LittleBigPlanet [Vita] is bigger than LittleBigPlanet... Read More
Check out these new screenshots from LittleBigPlanet for PlayStation Vita. This game is published by Sony and is expected to be released by next year on PSV. [gallery link="file"]Read More
[HTML1] Sony have launched a video showing of LittleBigPlanet for the PS Vita. Producer Pete Smith from SCEE Liverpool walks you through a level built to be shown off at E3 and explains why he ... Read More
GamingBolt recently had the chance to interview Eric Fong, Associate Producer of Sony Computer Entertainment America. We talked about their upcoming PS3 platformer, LittleBigPlanet 2, and about all th... Read More
EDIT: Interview is LIVE, check it here. We recently had the chance to interview Eric Fong, Associate Producer at SCEA, and in this exclusive interview with us, we talked a lot about their upcoming ... Read More
[HTML1] The recently released trailer for LittleBigPlanet 2 is the personification of everything LBP, and represents everything that LittleBigPlanet comprises of- awesome humour and non-sensical, ext... Read More
After their very successful GamesCom conference in Cologne, Germany, Sony released a new LBP2 trailer. The new tools shown off in the trailer look freaking awesome, and look to be much more expansive ... Read More
A fantastic new LittleBigPlanet 2 gameplay video surfaced at ComicCon earlier, and we have it here, just for you, OUR BELOVED READERS (insert overly happy smiley here... we know we can do that, but th... Read More


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AMI has officially launched our office in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing our practical and affordable learning approach to the Southern African region. The team is led by Jonathan Cook, former director at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and Klara Michal, former global dean of Organisational Learning at McKinsey, along with Mzwakhe Mthombeni. South … Continue reading AMI launches in South Africa!
EthioChicken is expanding rapidly and saw the need to empower their managers with the relevant skills and knowledge in order to sustain the high growth the company is experiencing. EthioChicken was originally founded in 2010 as Mekelle Farms and took over an underperforming poultry production center in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, increasing production … Continue reading EthioChicken’s strategy to expand their business sustainably!
Mr. Jonathan Cook – Chairman at African Management Initiative was a keynote speaker at the Institute of Human Resource Management, (IHRM) monthly forum held on 22nd September 2016. Over 300 HR practitioners attended the event at Nairobi Safari Club. The main topic of discussion was based on the Training Talent Report we launched in partnership with IHRM … Continue reading IHRM- AMI Event
AMI is excited to launch a new series of programmes that tackle some of the toughest and most common challenges faced by leaders, managers and entrepreneurs across Africa. After several years of running customised blended learning programmes in organisations ranging from start-ups to mature corporations and from entry-level hires to senior managers, we decided … Continue reading What’s keeping Africa’s managers up at night? AMI’s new flagship programmes tackle the most common – and the toughest – management challenges
To meet the growing need of management training, AMI has designed a 3-4 month programme for team leaders to middle-level managers to learn how to effectively manage and empower their teams. Why Enrol in this Programme? Team leaders and middle-level managers are the engine of organisational growth. But they often struggle with the basics of communication, … Continue reading Management Foundations Programme: Empower your People
As AMI expands, so is our team. We have added a new Chief Learning Officer, Klara Michal, who is also running our Johannesburg office. Joan Kamau has joined as General Manager, East Africa, running our Nairobi office. Patrick Obath, leading Kenyan businessman and director of KEPSA has joined our board as director. And Peter Bamkole, founder and CEO of the Lagos-based Enterpise Development Centre, has also joined our board.
The African Management Initiative (AMI) helps businesses across Africa build motivated, productive and effective workforces through our unique learning and development platform, delivered via web, mobile and in-person workshops. AMI has partnered with Africa’s most prestigious business schools to develop world-class content. In Kenya, we have worked with Strathmore Business School, in South Africa with … Continue reading About AMI
The African Management Initiative (AMI) helps businesses across Africa build motivated, productive and effective workforces through our unique learning and development platform, delivered via web, mobile and in-person workshops.
AMI has developed over 35 practical business modules and a library of over 800 searchable tools with Africa’s leading business schools, available online anytime, anywhere, via Africa’s first online social learning platform.
Our world-class content is combined with online coaching, development and networking tools to ensure that employees apply what they learn on the job and hold each other accountable to the highest standards of performance and responsibility. All at a price your organisation can afford.
AMI is a social enterprise with a vision for an Africa transformed by 1 million effective and responsible managers. Our mission is to empower African managers and organisations through practical, accessible and locally relevant learning and development tool.
We have already reached over 10,000 African managers and entrepreneurs from over African 25 countries through our highly scalable and innovative model. We are expanding rapidly, signing up new clients every day and working with leading companies and organisations in Kenya and beyond. Continue reading “About Us”
WANTED: East Africa’s Most Unreasonable Entrepreneur
Are you convinced that you have the entrepreneurial spirit and drive to improve the lives of millions of people in the region?
Accelerate your venture with customised training and support from over 50 seasoned mentors, ranging from a founder of 10 companies of which 3 have IPO’d for USD 1 billion each to an entrepreneur who has started a company that has lifted over 700,000 people out of poverty to a senior advisor to the World Bank, also founder of 4 companies with 20 years experience in the specialty food industry. In the process, build relationships with dozens of investors, funders and angels while living under the same roof with 14 other entrepreneurs dedicated to solving East Africa’s greatest challenges. Continue reading “Partner News!”


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GIZA, EGYPT, November 1, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Future Trans, a Middle Eastern translation and localization company, is happy to announce that it will be attending LocWorld, one of the most critical translations and localization trade events. The event will take place in Silicon Valley on November 1-3, 2022. Future Trans will be able to showcase its main services, such as AI & MT Translation, Localization, DTP, and Multimedia localization for various industries in our rich region’s languages and dialects.
LocWorld is back, and all roads lead to San Jose this November. The event that brought the translation world’s elites together to discuss and solve the challenges of location-based marketing has returned, and this time it’s in Silicon Valley. With an all-star lineup of speakers, opportunities for networking with industry leaders, and an expo full of some of the most innovative companies in tech today.
LocWorld is an essential event for the translation and localization industry. It is also for any business that needs to translate its content into different languages or localize it for foreign markets. Future Trans top officials have a long history of attending the event in person before and since the pandemic, and this year will be no different. Meet Future Trans’s Managing Director: Mohammed Karim among 30,000+ industry experts at the LocWorld event in the Global Toolbox Sessions sequence on November 1 and the Main Conference on November 2-3.
The conference addresses companies’ and LSPs’ challenges and opportunities when implementing localization strategies. The event will allow you to discuss the latest trends in the market, get valuable insights from other professionals and learn how to overcome the challenges of globalization and localization.
The three-day event will be held at Doubletree by Hilton in San Jose, California. On this occasion, Future Trans will present its vision of using technology and humans to provide premium linguistic services that enrich the language market and connect cultures. In addition, Future Trans will also introduce its latest products at LocWorld48, including Arabic translation services and localization solutions.
Future Trans has been a critical player in the translation and localization industry for over 25 years and has grown to become one of the leading companies in this market. Its services can be felt in more than ten countries stretching from the Middle East through Africa.
As an ISO 17200 Certified language service provider, Future Trans will show off its capabilities. ISO 17100 is a world-recognized standard for translation and localization service providers, maintaining high standards and quality levels. Future Trans has successfully implemented this new standard across its entire organization, including its technology platform and client services.
Founded in 1994, Future Trans has seen steady growth by meeting clients’ needs in the Middle East and Africa region. It has offices in Egypt, Canada, USA, and a new one is soon to be launched in Turkey. The company is respected for its high-quality Middle Eastern translation services. While Future Trans mainly provide English to Arabic translation services, they also offer translation from other languages into Arabic and from Arabic into other.
Future Trans translation and localization services include websites, apps, software, games, legal, social media, education, finance, technical documents, tourism, telecommunication, marketing materials and much more. The company currently offers translation services in over 70 languages and would be delighted to discuss the details come November 1 at the LocWorld event.
Future Trans works with clients worldwide, supporting their aim of accessing the Middle East and Africa region through savvy translation and localization services. The company provides a wide range of support for international companies who aim to enter or expand into the UAE, Qatar, Africa and Saudi Arabia markets. It has a wealth of experience delivering essential documents and marketing material to these regions.
Mohamed Karim, the managing director of Future Trans, commented: “The MENA region is experiencing strong growth and rapid development, with many countries seeking to develop their translation and localization sectors. We at Future Trans are pleased to be exhibiting at the LocWorld event in the US, a great opportunity to showcase our leading technology and solutions to many potential customers from across the region.”
With circa $1 trillion of global investment expected in location intelligence over the next three years and more than half of this coming from the MENA region, Future Trans is focused on supporting business in this marketplace. Future Trans is working to position itself as a leader in its space. In order to expand and innovate, the company is looking for individuals interested in collaborating with them on new ideas and projects.
Get ready to meet new people around the globe and make connections that will last a lifetime. Typically, attend the LocWorld48 event and meet Future Trans.
The post Future Trans Announces it will Attend the LocWorld Conference first appeared on Amsterdam Aesthetics.


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Heads up, Samsung Galaxy S5 owners on T-Mobile, because you’ve got a new software update headed your way.
T-Mobile announced today that it’s now pushing an update to its Galaxy S5 that includes a fix for a bug that would cause intermittent incoming SMS/MMS failure. The update bumps the GS5 up to software version G900TUVU1ANE5 and weighs in at 131.31MB.
As iPhone owners who’ve switched to another platform can attest, it can be pretty annoying when you don’t receive text messages from others. It’s nice to see Samsung and T-Mo pushing out this bug fix. The update is rolling out from now through June 10 and can be grabbed by heading into Settings > General > About device > Software update.


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Apple rumored to launch new AirPods Max and $99 AirPods between 2024-2025
Apple is rumored to be launching second-generation over-ear AirPods Max and new affordable $99 AirPods dubbed “AirPods Lite” between 2024-2025 according to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims that suppliers Hon Teng (FIT) – a Hon Hai/Foxconn Group subsidiary and Luxshare ICT will be responsible for production of the new wearables.
Kuo’s mentioning of low-cost “AirPods Lite” follows after Haitong International Research analyst Jeff Pu claimed last week that Apple was working on more affordable AirPods to complete in the low-cost wireless earbud market.
Currently, Apple’s most affordable AirPods are the second-generation AirPods, priced at $129.00. The lineup includes additionally the latest third-generation AirPods beginning at $169.00, the second-generation AirPods Pro at $249.00, and the high-end over-ear AirPods Max at $549.00.
The next-generation AirPods will likely begin mass shipments in 2H24 or 1H25, including more affordable AirPods (with Apple targeting a price of $99) and new AirPods Max, which will be assembled by Luxshare ICT and Hon Teng.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 12, 2023
Kuo suggests that Apple is aiming to release its next AirPods upgrade during the second half of 2024, although the launch could be pushed back to 2025.
Despite Kuo’s insight, no details where shared on what features the new earbuds or second-generation AirPods Max could offer.


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BEIJING, May 15 (INP): A detailed report on Pakistani rice was released by China-Pakistan Agricultural and Industrial Information Platform (CPAIC) which offers a comprehensive overview of the varieties, production, trade, and prospects of Pakistani rice.
Gwadar Pro quoting the report stated that while Pakistan has already become one of the top rice producers and exporters in the world, there are still abundant opportunities to be exploited in the international market.
Pakistan is among the top rice producers and exporters in the world. According to data of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Pakistan provided over 10% of the world’s rice output and was ranked at the ninth position in 2019.
Rice is the sixth largest export commodity and the largest non-textile export commodity in Pakistan. According to data of the International Trading Center (ITC), Pakistan exported 4.59 million tons of rice in 2019, equivalent to USD 2.3 billion value-wise, both of which accounted for 10% of the world’s total exports, making Pakistan the third largest rice exporter in terms of both volume and value.
The rice grown in Pakistan is mainly divided into Basmati rice and non-Basmati rice. Basmati rice, with slender and elongated grains, aromatic taste, and soft and fluffy texture when cooked, is one of the most favored high-end rice varieties in the international market. Pakistan is the most important growing area of Basmati rice besides India and Bangladesh.
Therefore, rice cultivation boasts competitive edges in Pakistan, and its scale may be further expanded.
Hybrid rice breeding assisted by China is elevating Pakistani rice yield to a new height. Honglian hybrid rice developed by Wuhan University and harvested in 8 demonstrative plots in Pakistan has demonstrated ability to raise production by two times.
A rice variety bred by China’s Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co., Ltd. in collaboration with Guard Agriculture Research and Services are anticipated to double the rice production in Pakistan from 2 tons per acre to 4 tons per acre.
Last year, a total of 500 tonnes of hybrid rice seeds from a seed company in east China’s Jiangsu Province landed in Pakistan to help ensure the country’s grain yield.
Global demand for rice is still growing. Wherein, demand for ordinary rice in Africa and poorer regions of Asia is forecast up with population growth, while the more developed regions in Asia are anticipated to show interest in higher-end fragrant rice. Therefore, market is expected to further expand for both ordinary rice and Basmati rice exported by Pakistan.
In addition, as India adopted the lockdown policy under the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan may seize export markets occupied by Indian rice.
Prior to that, when EU revised its regulations on the acceptable pesticide residue level in foods in 2018, the Background section of the report pointed out that Basmati rice produced in India contained high levels of tricyclazole (insecticide). This resulted in a decline in the market share of India’s Basmati rice.
China permitted imports of Pakistani rice in January 1, 2006. In February of the same year, the first batch of rice shipped from Pakistan


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The Friday Report Blog: Sept 15th, 2023Quick wrap up of a few hot topic newsworthy stories in the supply chain logistics industry
RH Triumphs Over Supplier Setbacks
Luxury furniture retailer RH remains confident and resilient despite supplier Mitchell Gold Co.’s recent bankruptcy filing. CEO Gary Friedman assures that RH can swiftly source the $30-$40 million demand, expecting no significant interruptions.
While acknowledging potential challenges in the industry, Friedman emphasizes no major risks to RH. Mitchell Gold Co., established in 1989 and known for its brand Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, faced challenges during the pandemic, such as supply chain delays. Yet, it represents only a minor portion of RH’s operations.
On the company’s earnings call, Friedman highlighted specific circumstances at Mitchell Gold, rather than broader supplier network issues. As the home goods sector navigates supplier challenges in 2023, companies like Big Lots are finding creative solutions and successfully moving past disruptions, ensuring continued growth and customer satisfaction.
Understanding the Extended Enforcement of Drug Supply Chain Act
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the compliance deadline for the Drug Supply Chain Security Act from Nov. 27, 2023, to Nov. 27, 2024. This move grants drug manufacturers and distributors an additional year to bolster systems for electronic drug traceability, ensuring efficient end-to-end drug monitoring. The FDA will oversee the industry’s readiness throughout this period.
The extension is a response to industry concerns over supply chain communication and technological challenges. Michael Hogue, CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, labeled this move a “huge win” for pharmacists. Leigh Verbois, from the Office of Drug Security, emphasized the new date as a stabilization period, urging full implementation by 2024.
The Act aims to safeguard patients from harmful drugs and ensure robust drug distribution. Chip Davis, HDA President, appreciated the FDA’s decision, emphasizing its focus on American health and safety.
IBM’s AI-driven Vision for Supply Chain Sustainability
IBM’s Jonathan Wright highlights the immense potential of AI in advancing sustainability and profitability for businesses. EY emphasizes the role of a robust AI model in today’s competitive digital landscape, a sentiment echoed by big consultancy firms.
However, the incorporation of generative AI into the central supply chain isn’t without its challenges, such as responsible adoption and building trust. Training remains a concern, with many executives feeling underprepared.
Yet, sustainability is pivotal when implementing AI in supply chains. Wright underscores that profitability and sustainability are interconnected. By modernizing IT and using AI, companies can automate data processing, reduce their carbon footprint, cut costs, and manage sustainability data more transparently, ensuring a brighter, greener future for businesses.
What Makes Datex Different?
1. Revolutionary low code/no code flexible workflow-driven warehouse management software
2. Most configurable, user-friendly WMS on the market today
3. End-to-end solution provider: software, hardware, EDI, and managed services
4. White Glove Concierge Service
5. Executive-level attention and oversight


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The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company reported yesterday that a $57 million extraordinary charge caused a loss of $27 million in the third fiscal quarter of 1982, contrasted to a profit of $23 million, or 40 cents a share, in the corresponding quarter a year earlier.
Firestone said the after-tax charge was to cover costs associated with plant closings and ''related organizational realignments.'' The Akron, Ohio, company, the nation's biggest producer of tires after the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, said that sales in the three months ended July 31 dropped 9 percent, to $992 million, from $1.09 billion.
The $57 million charge included $18 million associated with curtailments of natural rubber plantation operations overseas, provisions for shutdowns of the company's bias truck tire plant in Memphis, a textile plant in Bennettsville, S.C., and the nylon yarns and resin operations at its Hopewell, Va., plant.
Firestone said that losses were also incurred for sales of its beverage container operations in Spartanburg, S.C., and its agricultural wheels and rims business in Quincy, Ill.
Firestone said that its tire operations in North America recorded operating income of $26 million in the latest third-fiscal quarter compared with restated operating income of $14 million in 1981.Continue reading the main story
International operations, the company said, showed operating income of $29 million compared with $34 million in the corresponding restated quarter a year earlier. Deere & Co.
Deere & Co. announced yesterday that low demand for farm machinery caused net income to plunge 93.7 percent in its third fiscal quarter, while sales dropped 21.7 percent.
Deere, the world's largest manufacturer of farm equipment and a major producer of construction machinery, said that net income in the three months ended July 31 plummeted to $4.2 million, or 6 cents a share, from $67.1 million, or 99 cents a share, in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. Sales fell to $1.15 billion from $1.47 billion.
William A. Hewitt, chairman of the Moline, Ill., company, said that its worldwide net income in the latest quarter had been adversely affected by a lower sales volume and by higher costs of sales incentive programs needed to stimulate retail demand in the face of extremely low competitive prices.
Mr. Hewitt added that interest expense had been much higher in the latest quarter than in the 1981 period because of higher borrowings to finance increased levels of assets. He added that foreign exchange gains had been lower than last year.
''North American retail demand for farm equipment in 1982 has been at the lowest level in recent years,'' said Robert A. Hanson, president and chief executive of Deere. ''This decline in demand is due to very low commodity prices and the persistence of high interest rates.'' He added that worldwide demand for construction equipment remained depressed because of high interest rates.Continue reading the main story