text:
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has raised more than $27,000 for Australian bushfire relief by auctioning the couture tuxedo she wore to this month’s Golden Globe Awards.
The tuxedo made for the Fleabag creator and Killing Eve executive producer by Australian designers Ralph & Russo sold on eBay for AU $40,000, which is equivalent to roughly US $27,400.
In a video shared on Twitter on January 10, the day the action began, Waller-Bridge described the tuxedo as an “incredible piece of art.” She also said she’d had a “damn good time” wearing it to the Golden Globe Awards in L.A. on January 5, where she collected two trophies for Fleabag.
She even showed fans where her Fleabag co-star Olivia Colman had touched the one-of-a-kind garment on the night.
So you already own the #Fleabag jumpsuit, but there's another chance for you to dress like Phoebe Waller-Bridge! She's auctioning off her #GoldenGlobes suit by @ralphandrusso in support of the relief efforts for the Australian bushfires. https://t.co/iAJAv8wveI #DressforAus pic.twitter.com/xhMiTcAAph
— Fleabag (@fleabag) January 10, 2020
The identity of the winning bidder has yet to be revealed. However, Ralph & Russo have pledged to donate additional fabric to the new owner should they wish to tailor it in any way.
Waller-Bridge has promised to split the proceeds between between three charities: WIRES Wildlife Rescue Emergency Fund and Wildlife Victoria, which are both assisting in the rehabilitation and recovery of injured and threatened Australian wildlife, and the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Fund, which is helping to fund the Red Cross’s emergency teams.
“I’m very excited that this stunning, one of a kind, couture tuxedo created by Australian geniuses Ralph & Russo will continue its journey by contributing to this urgent cause,” Waller-Bridge said following the auction. “If money raised by its auction can help raise funds to fight the disaster in Australia, the future impact of this suit will be far greater than the luck it brought me and the Fleabag team at the Golden Globes.”
“I spent most of the night brushing it past and rubbing it up against all the sparkly people I could find,” she added. “These threads are laced with legends!”
Are you a fan of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Golden Globes tux?Read More


text:
German Public Broadcasters to Reduce Online Content
Commercial media in Germany has successfully bullied public broadcasters into reducing their online offerings on the premise that it constitutes unfair competition. Two public broadcasters have announced that they plan to reduce their online offerings in response to widespread criticism, thereby reinforcing traditional media’s notion that their way is the only way to do business.
For some reason, this high-pressure tactic seems to be working. Among the changes being made by Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF and its sister channel ARD is a 70 percent cut in the volume of online content made available to viewers. Of what will be left, regular reports will only remain online for a week, and reports on sporting events will only be up for a single day.
Image Source: aloshbennett

domain: news


text:
Product Honey Innovation Technology Research and Insights
Fashion Psychologist, Dr. Dawnn Karen taking questions at Concordia University.
The 2020 holiday season will see a rise in ecommerce transactions as consumers take their spending online. This digital shift is unlocking new behaviors as consumers become smart online shoppers and use thriftiness to guide their purchase decisions. In a study by Honey1, we looked to better understand how deal-seeking has changed what and when consumers buy and the emotional benefits that derive from discount discovery.
To provide commentary on these shifts, we partnered with retail and fashion psychologist Dr. Dawnn Karen to discuss the evolving behaviors of online spending and how both consumers and retailers are looking to score in a thrifty new world. Dr. Karen pioneered the field of fashion psychology. She is a graduate from Columbia and author of Dress Your Best Life.
Why are shoppers looking for more deals and coupons than ever before?
With a rising cost of living, consumers are at a turning point where items that were once simple purchases are becoming notable expenses. As a result, shoppers have to establish a benchmark for what they’re willing to pay and then actively find retailers offering deals that match their budget. In addition, COVID-19 has had a major impact on how consumers are spending. According to Honey research, 58% of Americans have experienced a decrease in household income and 79% of Americans believe finding deals are paramount during the pandemic compared to previous times.
There is also a need to mitigate anxiety, guilt, and other negative emotions that can come into play after making a purchase. Honey research postulates that making a full-priced purchase during the pandemic can lead 38% of consumers to feel anxious, 22% of consumers to feel frustrated and 22% to feel guilty.
What are the emotional stages shoppers go through when deciding to make an online purchase?
When a consumer decides to shop online, they often begin with a feeling of excitement as they envision their lives enriched by the products they wish to buy. But that can be fleeting as the shopping journey can create an array of emotions dictated by the prices they encounter. If the consumer discovers discounts or deals, it’s likely they’ll retain a sense of joy not just while shopping but each time they use the item. When a consumer is confronted with a full priced item, particularly one above what they'd hoped to pay, they can feel anxious about making the purchase. Afterward, shoppers may feel guilty about paying full price and question their shopping decisions. Honey research shows 61% of Americans feel buyer’s remorse after making a full-priced purchase.
How does discovering a discount or finding a deal change how shoppers feel about what they buy?
As shoppers are looking to gain some certainty in a world that seems to be fleeting, discovering a discount can bring about such positive emotions and return a sense of control to consumers. I would emphasize that mindful shopping and deal-seeking can help broker a positive relationship with the items we buy and the brands we engage with. Each interaction is a reminder of our savvy thriftiness that can boost our mood. However missing a deal or overpaying can leave shoppers with a lasting sense of guilt or pressure to engage with their purchase in order to justify the cost. Honey’s research also shows that deal discovery brings delight as shoppers compared it to eating comfort food (feeling pleasure) and randomly finding money (feeling lucky).
How has being a smart shopper altered how people think of thriftiness?
Being a smart shopper has altered how people think of thriftiness in progressive ways. Finding a deal is not looked down upon but considerably praised. Shoppers are now flaunting their Frugal Franny or Frugal Frank ways instead of hiding it. Gone are the days where thriftiness is viewed as poor. Now it is viewed as smart! More than half of Americans (52%) reported sharing deals to help their loved ones save money when needed. When someone shares a deal, it means that someone cares about not only your financial wellbeing but your mental health. It can also signal that they’re making thoughtful choices than could also be present in other parts of their lives which is an appealing quality we look for in others.
What should retailers know about consumer smart shopping and how can that help strengthen their relationship with their audience?
Consumers are always going to find delight in a discount because of the lasting impact it has on their mood and their financial wellbeing. Retailers should be considering these transactions as they look to establish a long-term relationship with their customers. If a deal is rejuvenating, then it returns the fun to shopping and gives the customer reason for more frequent and continuous engagement. The good deal or coupon can be the handshake that lets both the shopper and retailer win.
1Honey, a PayPal service, commissioned Atomic Research to conduct an online study of 2,007 American adults 18 to 55 years old. The margin of error of the overall sample is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. The field work took place between August 21 and August 23, 2020.
Sign up to receive the latest news to your email.


text:
Wake up times publishedr’s Note: We have been reporting on this issue for years, and point out the cover-up and deceptive practices of Johnson & Johnson. This is an article I wrote in 2016… For 40 Years Johnson & Johnson Hid Baby Powder The Ovarian Cancer Connection.
Tuesday’s Supreme Court unacceptable An appeal from Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to overturn a $2.1 billion ruling for plaintiffs who allege the company’s talcum powder products cause ovarian cancer.
Pharmaceutical company that advanced The Janssen COVID vaccine, asked the Supreme Court to review the ruling, arguing that he did not get a fair trial in Missouri where the court granted Payout $4.7 billion to 22 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
was the verdict reduced to $2.1 billion in June 2020, by an appeals court in Missouri.
J&J stopped selling talcum powder products in the United States and Canada last year. But the company still faces more than 21,800 lawsuits alleging that asbestos in talcum powder products, including baby powder, causes ovarian cancer.
Ken Starr, the attorney general representing the women who sued J&J, wrote in court briefings that pharma The company “has known for decades that their talcum powders contain asbestos, a highly carcinogenic substance with no known safe exposure level.”
he is Wrote:
“They could protect customers by switching from talc to cornstarch, as their scientists suggested as early as 1973. But talc was cheaper and the petitioners were not willing to sacrifice their profits for a safer product.”
J&J maintains that their baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.
The lawsuits linking talcum powder to cancer aren’t the first time J&J has been sued over the safety of its products.
else Major lawsuits J&J Defective product recalls include:
- 1995: $7.5 million fine for Document destruction To cover up an investigation into the mismarketing of Retin-A wrinkle-removing acne cream.
- 1996: Undisclosed settlement dated false claims Condom protection claims to protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- 2001: paid $860 million in A class action To mislead customers about early disposal of 1 Day Acuvue soft contact lenses. J&J recommended that they only be worn once, although they found the lenses were no different than regular Acuvue lenses that will last for two weeks.
- 2010: $81 million settlement Brand Error its anti-epileptic drug Topamax to treat psychiatric disorders and is hiring outside doctors to join the sales team to promote the drug for unapproved conditions. The following year, J&J $85 million Similar charges are made against the heart drug Natrecor.
- 2011: Several J&J baby products were Discover to contain carcinogenic components.
- 2013: Yu, S.; Department of Justice Accused The company has $2.2 billion in criminal fines for marketing its autism and antipsychotic drug Risperdal for unapproved uses. 45 states have filed civil lawsuits against J&J in the scandal. Janssen has also had a strong campaign to market Risperdal for use in children with behavioral challenges. Other serious adverse effects of Risperdal mentioned By the Food and Drug Administration, these include diabetes mellitus, hyperprolactinemia, drowsiness, depression, anxiety, psychotic behavior, suicide, and death.
its source Wake up times


text:
The European Union may have just handed the US and North America its latest blueprint for regulating big tech with its new Digital Markets Act (DMA) legislation.
The DMA marks a concerted effort by the EU to give both big tech and the countries it operates in, outside of the US, a fair understanding of baseline reforms to antitrust concerns.
According to the News – European Parliament, “The Digital Markets Act (DMA) will blacklist certain practices used by large platforms acting as “gatekeepers” and enable the Commission to carry out market investigations and sanction non-compliant behavior.”
While the language needs to be finalized to get passed officially, the DMA is defining “gatekeepers” as businesses or firms with a minimum market capitalization of €75 billion equal to $82B and or €7.5 billion annually as well as 45 million monthly users that make use of an app or platform. By including the “or” the EU broadens the antitrust conversation to include big name players such as Facebook as well as unthought of ones such as Booking.com, according to The Verge.
Regarding the tertiary details, the DMA will be imbued with the power to fine “gatekeepers” up to 10 percent of total worldwide turnover from the preceding fiscal year and 20 percent for repeat infractions that fail to meet the following antitrust objective goals in the EU:
- Interoperability. Gatekeepers should allow their platforms to work with similar services from smaller third-parties. Exactly how this will be interpreted isn’t yet clear, but it could mean letting users on large messaging platforms like WhatsApp contact users on other platforms.
- The right to uninstall. Consumers are to be given more choice over software and services, particularly in mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. They should be able to uninstall any preloaded software, and be giving a choice when setting up a new device what service they want to use for applications like email and web browsing.
- Data access. Businesses should be able to access data they generate for larger platforms. This would mean, for example, letting companies who sell goods on platforms like Amazon access Amazon’s analytics about their performance.
- Advertising transparency. If a company buys adverts on Facebook, for example, they should be given the tools to independently verify the reach of their ads. Companies will also be barred from “combining personal data for targeted advertising” without explicit consent.
- An end to self-preferencing. Companies can’t use their platforms to put their products first. This means Google, for example, can’t put its shopping service at the top of its search results unless there is some sort of competitive tender for that spot.
- App store requirements. The commission says platform owners can no longer require app developers to “use certain services (e.g. payment systems or identity providers) in order to be listed in app stores.”
In reaction to the news of the DMA, both Google and Apple, prime targets of many of the antitrust stipulations, have issued their “concern” for the ruling, in the following responses:
We remain concerned that some provisions of the DMA will create unnecessary privacy and security vulnerabilities for our users while others will prohibit us from charging for intellectual property in which we invest a great deal. – Apple
“While we support many of the DMA’s ambitions around consumer choice and interoperability, we’re worried that some of these rules could reduce innovation and the choice available to Europeans. – Google
As Reuters notes, both Apple and Google have been lobbying against the passing of the DMA for some time now.
Despite the DMA being in the works for quite some time and deriving many of its tentpole objectives from real-world legislative battles in the EU, it remains early days for tech companies to digest the broad implications.
EU Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager seems optimistic about it officially passing and being implemented as early as October of 2022, which could give some “gatekeepers” as little as three months afterwards to make the necessary interoperability changes suggested by the DMA.


text:
Retail market is quiet
“Judging by MOSL’s figures, things are ticking along nicely”
MEUC paper calls for improvements in the market
The Major Energy Users’ Council (MEUC) has published a paper urging policymakers to improve the retail market for customers.
BT applies for self-supply licence
BT has become the first telecommunications company to apply for a self-supply licence, which it
hopes will help it to improve identification of high consumption sites
Industry viewpoint: Data drives the market
“We start in a relatively positive position, but we will still publish our data-improvement plan in October because we feel it’s the right thing to do for the market and it will keep challenging our team to be the best wholesaler”
Industry viewpoint: Complaints increase is disappointing
“One good quarter cannot mask the scale of the challenge”
Business complaints drop for the first time
The number of complaints non-household water customers have made to the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) about retailers has fallen for the first time since the market opened.
Missing a small fortune
“Many retailers are unwilling to serve smaller customers”
Retailers must shift focus to SMEs
Business Stream chief executive warns that large organisations and multi-site businesses have benefited most from the water retail market to date, and smaller companies are being left behind
Industry viewpoint: Insights from the first 18 months
“From an SME viewpoint they’re getting the same service they received before market opening, just with a different letterhead”
Data watch: The market as it stood at August 2018
Water.Retail takes a look at some of MOSL’s data for the market to the end of August, and analyses what it means for the market
Wholesalers chastised over meter reading
Ofwat has insisted wholesalers make their meter reading services more transparent to all market participants and customers.
Pennon on Chamber Business Award shortlist
Water retailer Pennon Water Services has been named as a national finalist in the Chamber Business Awards.


text:
Analysts at PricewaterhouseCoopers expect digital content consumption to explode as broadband expands its reach.
The analysts expect that growth in digital distribution and mobile music will offset declining spending on physical music formats. "Globally, recorded music spending will rise at a 5.2 per cent compound annual growth rate to $47.9 billion in 2010," the analysts said.
New revenue streams are growing rapidly, the growth of physical formats has slowed, and availability of licensed digital distribution now provides consumers alternatives to piracy, the report, Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2006–2010, explains.
"Virtually every segment of the entertainment and media industry is shifting from physical distribution to digital distribution of content," said Wayne Jackson, global leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Entertainment & Media Practice.
"As this shift continues, we see more revenue opportunities for entertainment and media companies. So while physical distribution of content is declining, that decline will be offset somewhat by digital distribution, which is driving and creating new growth opportunities."
News source: Macworld UK


text:
Businesswoman Keyshia Ka’oir enjoyed her 39th birthday in Jamaica with her entire Jamaican family, her children, and her husband, Gucci Mane.
The entrepreneur was all smiles as she showed off parts of her vacation where she met up with her family members, including taking them food shopping and enjoying an outdoor bar-b-que featuring her favorite foods.
Ka’oir was born on January 6, 1985, and long before she became Gucci Mane’s wife, she was a renowned celebrity stylist before she became a multi-millionaire with her fitness and cosmetics line. Over the years, her business acumen has taken a back seat as she tends to her marriage to Gucci Mane and their two youngest children, Ice, 2, and Iceland, 1.
In an update to fans on Thursday, the St. Thomas parish-born artiste revealed that she desired to spend her birthday with her family in Jamaica.
“Could’ve celebrated my birthday anywhere in the world but I chose JAMAICA so I could celebrate with my family mi love unu baad,” she captioned a carousel of photos to make her birthday celebration.
View this post on Instagram
The photos revealed a tight and toned body, which she showed off in her red one-piece bodysuit that fits like a v-shaped panty with a giant rose at the chest area. She also posted photos showing her bussing a whine at what seems to be a dancehall-inspired birthday party to Spice’s “Needle Eye” song.
The fashion icon rocks her heels as she whines to the ground. The party has many women who seem to be her family members.
Keyshia also shared photos of herself walking around Morant Bay, where she grew up. Only a few celebrities go to non-tourist parts of the island like Morant Bay. In this historic town, one of the most impactful slave rebellions occurred in Jamaica before slavery abolition.
Despite her outfit and jewelry, Keyshia blended in with the locals as she, her husband, and children with family members made their way through the modest town. She was also spotted stopping to take photos with her fans on the streets and devouring a Jamaican classic- bun and cheese fresh from the bakery.
Ice and Gucci Mane were also spotted enjoying a cookout featuring fried chicken, curried goat, oxtail, and other Jamaican foods.


text:
AXIS IT&T, an engineering and software solutions provider, has acquired a 51% stake in Bangalore based-Cades Digitech for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition has been finalized & approved by the company board, AXIS IT&T said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Business Standard reports that the transaction is valued at close to Rs 75 crore and AXIS IT&T will eventually pick up a 100% stake in the firm.
Cades, a product design and engineering services firm, has been backed by Nadathur Holdings, the investment arm of Infosys co-founder NS Raghavan. Nadathur is reported to have invested a sum of Rs 30 crore in the company and has been looking for an exit since early last year. The clients of Cades include EADS, Boeing, Fokker, Nissan, Volvo and Mercedes Benz with revenues of around Rs 50 crore.
AXIS IT&T was acquired by Rajeev Chandrasekhar-controlled Tayana Software Solutions (TSSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bangalore-based Jupiter Strategic Technologies last year.
Chandrasekhar is presently an independent member of the Parliament, and was the founder of BPL Mobile in India.
AXIS IT&T reported revenues of Rs 9.8 crore for June quarter with a net loss of Rs 68 lakh. The shares of the firm were trading at Rs 46.55, up by nearly a 5% today.


text:
Just a month after the highly anticipated global premiere of the Levi’s® 501® Skinny in February, the quintessential denim wear brand has unveiled a campaign featuring two of South Africa’s rising stars – Family Tree Hip Hop artist Tshego, as well as one of the country’s most commercially successful female rappers – Rouge.
At the core of it, the campaign celebrates these young stylish Hip Hop stars and the music that inspires their style.
Rouge, who’s now recognisable with her trademark scarlet braid tresses that cascade all the way down to her waist while sides of her head are shaved, has long been noted for her bold appearance.
“I dress how I feel”, says the Mboko Zaga hitmaker. Adding, “I dress how I feel. I am an edgy person… I am one of those people who like to push things to the limit.”
On the contrary, Tshego often opts for a simpler look.
“Just like my music, I like simplicity. I want someone to look at me and not be confused,” he said.


text:
Posted By: wraggster
Howdy y'all, as they say in Texas - but not California, where most people opt for “hi”. Another week goes by, and we're another week closer to the next-generation kick-off. And of course, the big news of the week was the delay of not one, but two headline next-gen launch titles: Ubisoft's Watch_Dogs (yes, that's an underscore - because apparently that's how you're supposed to type it) and Driveclub. Considering I cited both in a recent “most anticipated next-gen titles” feature, that's a big disappointment for me. It's not the end of the world, sure, but certainly deserves a big raspberry. Why couldn't it be the two NBA titles? Bah.It's Watch_Dogs. Not coming to a console near you any time soon.
Following a price cut of $50, Wii U sales rose 200% from August to September, which sounds really encouraging until you consider that a 200% increase of a few tens of thousands really isn't much. Doubly so, when you also factor in the machine has now been on sale for a year and is about to face some seriously stiff competition when Sony and Microsoft roll out their big guns.There are a whole variety of reasons why Wii U isn't selling, and I talked about one of the big ones in a news story I wrote earlier this week - which is that it's simply not being pushed at retail. An IHS analyst recently did some “secret shopper” testing where she went to a series of retailers and asked them questions about the Wii U. Most couldn't even tell her the difference between a Wii and Wii U. I've heard this from multiple sources, and even seen it for myself, being told, “It's kinda the same as a Wii, but it has a tablet.” Ultimately, my greater point is that Nintendo has done a half-assed job in explaining what a Wii U is - and from retail to consumers, there's an alarming lack of understanding (or worse, a complete misunderstanding) of what it is.It's a shame, because the machine has some really good games available for it, but with the industry at large simply not supporting it very well, and instead focusing on the ease of dual-development between Xbox One and PS4, Wii U is going to have a tough time breaking out of the hardcore market into the mass market. Of course, Nintendo will survive even if the Wii U continues to limp along at its current rate, but to me, it's a shame that such a fun machine is being overlooked by so many who'd very likely enjoy its charms.One of our bigger news stories this week was about Michael Dailly, the creator of the original Grand Theft Auto, who's using GameMaker Studio to recreate the game in 3D. The original game was overhead-viewed pseudo-3D, and Dailly is using that data to basically make the game fully POV 3D. I'm really interested to see how it all plays out.


text:
Manitoba’s food service industry is pouring suds on the provinces unfair pricing on liquor for restaurants and others in the hospitality industry.
Restaurants Canada says that while Manitoba has somewhat improved the regulatory environment surrounding alcohol, it has so far refused to provide bar and restaurant owners with wholesale pricing on alcohol products.
“The good news is, we’ve seen a willingness in both provinces (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) to remove some of the outdated regulations and red tape that frustrate business owners and customers,” said Dwayne Marling, Restaurants Canada’s vice-president Manitoba/Saskatchewan.
“The bad news is, we’ve seen no movement on wholesale pricing for our industry. It makes no sense for bar and restaurant owners to pay the same retail price as the general public for their alcohol purchases.”
The Raise the Bar report card (below) scores Manitoba a C+ compared to Saskatchewan’s D+ when it comes to liquor policies and regulations.
Close to 97 percent of respondents surveyed want to see wholesale pricing for the products they sell in their establishments, and 72 percent believe the cost of purchasing their product hinders their ability to do business. Less than a third (30 percent) say they receive value from their local liquor or beer supplier.


text:
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Egypt shed light on its most significant achievements and results during 2017, as well as its ambitious plans for 2018. The company made the announcements at its annual press conference, which is of special importance as it comes after encountering the most challenging year throughout the automotive history of the Egyptian market.
Francesco Monaco, chief executive officer of FCA Egypt, expressed his satisfaction with the company’s results in 2017 in general. Despite the challenges faced by the Egyptian automotive market which led to a decline in the demand on cars by 30%, according to AMIC’s annual report, the company succeeded in achieving its targeted profits for the year through a set of strategies that contributed to achieving those goals.
“Before I talk about the outlook for the current year and our plans ahead, allow me first to refer to some milestones and important steps which have been taken in 2017. An important milestone was the official launch, which took place in the first quarter of the year, of the new Fiat Tipo that is designed for families and targets a large segment of customers with its competitive prices. Through this particular model, Fiat is seeking to regain its position as one of the oldest and most popular car brand in Egypt. In less than one year after its launch, Tipo was ranked among the top ten best-selling vehicles in its segment, according to AMIC’s annual report,”Monaco said.
He added, “besides that, we have the two models Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, which were both introduced at the annual Automech Formula Motor Show. We have also expanded the Alfa Romeo dealer network in Egypt through adding Abou Ghaly Motors alongside Nile Engineering. This was an important step seeking to reinforce and enhance the brand in Egypt.”
Monaco continued, saying, “the local assembly contract for both the Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Grand Cherokee has been renewed with Arab American Vehicles Company (AAV). This step was based on the FCA’s understanding of the importance of those vehicles in the Egyptian market. Consequently, FCA Egypt is continuously working to provide the best services and offers to the Egyptian consumer.”
The CEO said, “our relationship with our customers does not end when our vehicles are sold; on the contrary, this is only the start of a long-lasting relationship that combines us with our esteemed customers through the aftersales services we offer them. Based on this concept, we have designed a mobile application in order to facilitate a convenient communication with our customers, respond to their queries, and provide them with the latest news and information regarding the aftersales services related to their vehicles. Moreover, we have provided a mobile service workshop vehicle to carry out maintenance of customers’ cars at their locations with a team of highly trained mechanics in all aspects of vehicle repair.”
Francesco also added, “definitely, our success and expansion in the delivery of our services in 2017 would not have been a reality without the commitment and fruitful and constructive cooperation of our success partners, such as AAV and our dealer network that includes strong and well-established entities such as Abou Ghaly Motors, Ezz Elarab Automotive, El Tarek, and Nile Engineering.”
After talking about the past year, Francesco turned to talk about the plans and perspectives ahead in 2018, saying, “we started the new year with a surprise which thrilled our Jeep Renegade customers upon the announcement of the new spare part price list for this model. In fact, this accomplishment came as a result of the diligent work performed by the aftersales team who carried out extensive and careful studies regarding the optimum freight and shipping route. Their efforts were eventually successful in setting a new price list which was commended by all our Jeep Renegade customers.”
He further added, “we expect to announce shortly the release of a new entry level model for Tipo at a very competitive price, which will add to its success.”
Moreover, Monaco confirmed the company’s commitment to produce and assemble the current JK Wrangler which will live on for the 2018 model year as it practically proved to be one of the most successful models. Since FCA Egypt operates within the requirements and capacity framework of the local market, while considering not to lay further burdens upon its customers, careful study must be undertaken to formulate the company’s future plans, he said.
The CEO of FCA Egypt concluded his speech by thanking all the guests and the company’s customers for the great confidence they have placed in FCA Egypt and its continuous diligent efforts to offer the best services at competitive prices that meet the specific requirements of the Egyptian market.
It is worth noting that FCA Egypt held it press conference this year at the Manial Palace and witnessed a broad participation of specialised automotive journalists who had the opportunity to hold exclusive interviews with the company’s managers and executives.


text:
GM gearing up for big ad push for crucial new pickups: executive
May. 20, 2013, 02:20 PM
DETROIT (Reuters) - The launch of General Motors Co's redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, the most important since the automaker's bankruptcy and $50 billion taxpayer-funded bailout in 2009, is on track and advertising for its full-size trucks should begin in a few weeks, a top GM executive said on Monday.
Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei "Reuters Business"
SEE ALSO: Global stocks drop as 10-year Treasury yields pierce 1.5% for the first time since the pandemic »
READ NOW: Churchill Capital Corp. IV retail investors stung by the steep drop following the Lucid Motors deal are banding together on Reddit to 'defend' the stock »


text:
Growing demand for four of its models in Europe has prompted Ford Motor Co. to hike their output at its manufacturing sites in Germany. The carmaker disclosed that it is raising daily production of the Fiesta at its Cologne plant by 300 vehicles next month to 1,850 units. According to Ford, it will add six extra shifts at Cologne on weekends in the first two months of 2015.
The carmaker is also raising daily production of the Focus compact car, the C-Max and Grand C-Max minivans at its Saarlouis plant in Germany, by 240 vehicles starting next week to 1,770 units.
Ford trimmed the output of the Fiesta at its Cologne site during the final quarter of 2014 when it applied for subsidies under the German government's "Kurzarbeit" short-work program.
The carmaker has been experiencing demand for its offerings in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom where the Fiesta and the Focus were the No. 1 and No. 2 best sellers, respectively, in 2014.
According to data from the SMMT industry association, Ford’s sales in the UK last year included 131,254 Fiestas and 85,140 Focuses. Ford saw its sales in the EU and EFTA markets jump 4 percent in December to 67,117 vehicles after suffering from 6-percent drop in November, according to data from industry association ACEA.


text:
Windows 10 Mobile OTA update finally arrives: Microsoft Lumia handsets with 8.1 OS versions to get it
When the elusive Windows 10 Mobile update will be launched by Microsoft? No one is sure about the exact date of the arrival of the much awaited software update for the Lumia devices as speculations seem to have become a bit boring to many people.
For at least three months, Lumia handsets users have been awaiting the launch of the latest Windows 10 Mobile without any luck. The most disturbing aspect of the wait has been the complete silence of the Redmond based software giant on the issue.
Nonetheless there are signs that the despair is set to change into hope as the tech giant will unleash the new OS update today. A report by the VentureBeat said yesterday that the update is scheduled to release nearly four months after the operating system first shipped on the Lumia 950 smartphone. If the release indeed happens, it will end months of speculation and bring the universal app platform of the Redmond-based firm to a big new audience.
Till now the new operating system has come only with newly launched high end Lumia devices. This includes the handsets like the Lumia 950 and Japan-only NuAns Neo. Today’s release is set to bring the platform to a large group of users who have not upgraded to a new phone. According to February figures from NetMarketShare, the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system runs on jjust 1.68 percent of global smartphones, which is much more than Windows 10 Mobile, which accounts for just 0.36 percent of devices in use.


text:
Leslie’s Poolmart Profit Up 49% to $4.8 Million
Leslie’s Poolmart posted a 49% jump in earnings on a 21% rise in sales for its third quarter that ended September 30.
The Chatsworth-based swimming pool supply concern had net income of $4.8 million, compared to $3.2 million in its third quarter last year. Sales in the latest quarter were $56.9 million, up from $46.9 million a year earlier.
For the nine months, the company’s net income rose 2% to $7.1 million from $6.9 million a year ago. Sales for the nine months climbed 15% to $144.2 million, up from $125.6 million.


text:
Destiny publisher Activision has announced during a recent quarter one, calendar year 2014 earnings call that the highly anticipate beta for Bungie’s upcoming shared-world shooter will launch some time in July.
The beta is planned to open up to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 users first, coming later to Xbox One and Xbox 360. The time frame between both launches is still unspecified. Again, access is granted by pre-ordering the game.
Destiny launches on next-gen consoles and previous-gen consoles on September 9.
Developer Bungie has re-confirmed the July beta date on their official Twitter channel, adding that an exact date will be mentioned during E3 2014.


text:
Pharmacy chain CVS has eliminated its limit on what number of over-the-counter rapid COVID-19 tests prospects can buy directly.
CVS had beforehand restricted prospects to purchasing six home virus tests every in an effort to maintain the kits in stock because the Omicron variant was spreading across the U.S., driving demand for the screening instruments. The retailer mentioned it has since elevated its provide of COVID-19 tests, permitting the company to drop buy restrictions.
“We’ve worked with our vendors to increase inventory of OTC COVID-19 tests and have removed all product limits on those products at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide and on CVS.com,” a CVS Pharmacy spokesperson instructed CBS MoneyWatch.
CVS presently has six completely different speedy COVID-19 check merchandise in stock.
The tests had been notably laborious to come back by across the holidays, when people ready to journey and collect with their households simply as circumstances from the extremely contagious Omicron variant had been surging.
Test now coated by insurers
As of mid-January, below a Biden administration rule personal insurers are required to cover the associated fee of eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per 30 days, per coated member.
Some insurers have partnered with retailers like CVS to make the tests obtainable for free on the level of buy. Under different plans, people should save their receipts and submit them for reimbursement.
“Particularly, in the early stages of this program, we strongly encourage customers to save their receipt(s) as they may need to submit them to their insurer,” the CVS spokesman mentioned.
Only tests which are permitted by the U.S. Food and Drug administration are coated and eligible for reimbursement. Consumers can cross-check the identify of the check they intend to buy in opposition to the FDA’s record of licensed kits, discovered here.
Download our Free App
For Breaking News & Analysis Download the Free CBS News app


text:
Two highly commended Tipperary companies have been named by the IFA as using pork from outside of Ireland following a commissioned DNA testing on 300 samples while a third stocking pork product all over Tipperary claims to have sourced in the pork in Ireland.
J Crowe and Sons, Dundrum and Thurles Bacon have both been name checked in the investigation and as a result of the findings the Irish Farmers’ Association has called for mandatory labelling of pork products with the country of origin of the mea. The DNA testing showed that large amounts of non-Irish pork is being presented as Irish. And Lidl which has stores in Thurles, Clonmel, Templemore, Nenagh, Roscrea, Cashel, Carrick on Suir and Cahir has also been name checked in the report.
The results showed 52% of rashers tested were not from Irish pigs. While the IFA says no laws have been broken and retailers can legally label non-Irish products as being ‘Produced in Ireland’ if they have processed it further, it says customers have a right to know if what they think is Irish, actually is. The Food Safety Authority said pig meat products do not have to display the country of origin on the label, unless the absence of this information could mislead consumers as to the true origin of the food.
The IFA study found Lidl’s Glensallagh bacon joint labelled as ‘Produced in Ireland’ was not Irish pork. In a statement the supermarket which has a number of high profile stores throughout Tipperary said it would never seek to intentionally mislead customers and its Glensallgh range of products carry one of two distinct logos - ‘Produce of Ireland’ and ‘Produced in Ireland’.The company said pork marked ‘Produce of Ireland’ is 100% Irish while products with the ‘Produced in Ireland’ logo are made by Irish suppliers but do not contain 100% Irish pork.
A spokesperson for J Crowe & Sons said: “We apologise unreservedly to our customers for the error made.The product in question is outsourced and as soon as we were made aware of the issues from the IFA we set about rectifying the problem. We have now put in place procedures to ensure that this cannot happen again. As proud producers of Irish produce we fully support the IFA in highlighting issues such as this for consumers. We are fully committed to only using Irish products and fully support the Irish Pork industry,” the spokesperson said.
John Waters of Thurles Bacon said that as far as he knew, he was using Irish pork in his products, but he learned today that he was on occasion given non-Irish pork by a supplier.


text:
Gov. Gregg Abbott announced the state is spearheading a trip to Japan and South Korea through the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) “to explore new areas for expansion in the business sector.”
Gov. Abbott will lead the Texas delegation starting Sept. 27, visiting Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea to meet with CEO’s, dignitaries, and other business leaders.
“Texas has a strong cultural and economic bond with Japan and South Korea, and this mission will deepen our growing partnership,” Abbott said. “From Toyota to Mitsubishi, leading manufacturing and tech companies have found a home in Texas because of our shared values and commitment to the free enterprise system. I look forward to strengthening these critical relationships and building a brighter future for all those who do business and call Texas home.”
The U.S. Japanese Council hosted Japan-Texas Economic Summit in Houston, Texas, from May 7 to 9, 2018. After its successful Japan-Hawaii Economic Summit in 2017, the Japan-Texas Economic Summit brought together business leaders, investors, state and local officials, and economic development organizations from across Texas and Japan.
Last year, Japan exported more than $12.1 billion worth of goods from Texas, making it the fifth-largest export destination for goods from Texas.
Exports in 2018 totaled $11,869 million, including mineral fuel, oil, organic chemicals, industrial machinery, electric machinery, aircraft, spacecraft, and parts, according to the TEDC.
Among U.S. states Texas receives the second-greatest number of imports from Japan valued at $16.7 billion in 2018.
Imports in 2018 totaled $16,734 million, including industrial machinery, electric machinery, vehicles, parts, clocks, watches, and organic chemicals.
Texas Port Districts (active trade) include Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, and Port Arthur.
Cumulative foreign direct investment from January 2011 to December 2018, includes 90 projects, $4,841 million in capital investment and 16,639 jobs created by 76 Asian companies.
More than 400 Japanese companies operate in Texas–including the American headquarters of Toyota Motor North America and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kubota Tractor Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Others include Goodman Global, NEC Corporation of America, Nissei Plastic Machinery America, NTT DATA Enterprise Services, OKI Data Americas, Tokyo Electron America, Toppan Photomasks, and Toshiba International.


text:
Ever since Amazon struck a deal with Whole Foods Market, retail stocks have been faltering. But Cincinnati-based Kroger simply refuses to give up so easily. In an attempt to fend off Amazon’s rising dominance in the grocery business, the supermarket giant is working on rapidly expanding its customer delivery coverage areas this year via Instacart. The company plans to increase its home delivery services to 500 new locations this year.
Currently, Kroger offers delivery services in over 870 stores across the country and has 1,091 curbside pickup locations. The grocery giant’s home delivery services are currently available in 45 markets. Apart from this, services will soon commence in Greater Cincinnati, as Instacart plans to launch in the area on March 15 due to high demand.
As competition heats up, Instacart is increasingly aligning itself to the center. Though a five-year-old startup, the technology company has signed up with not just Kroger but also Albertsons, Ahold, Publix, and Costco.
In an attempt to fend off Amazon’s rising dominance in the grocery business, the supermarket giant is working on rapidly expanding its customer delivery coverage areas this year via Instacart.
Kroger is taking several measures to regain customers who were lost to competitors. The company has been investing heavily in growing its organic market as this has been one of the strongest areas of growth in the grocery business.
In the recent fourth quarter, the company reported having $16.7 billion in annual natural and organic sales. Total sales in 2017 rose 6.4% to $122.7 billion.
With the restock-Kroger program, the company will probably be able to keep up this momentum in the years to come. This new program expects to generate around $400 million in incremental operating margin from 2018 to 2020.
Cargo giant FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) Thursday reported a decline in first-quarter adjusted earnings, despite an increase in revenues. The company also provided guidance for fiscal 2023. Net income, adjusted
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) reported first quarter 2023 earnings results. Total sales increased 6.1% year-over-year to $2.4 billion, driven by blended same-restaurant sales growth of 4.2%. Net earnings amounted to
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) reported fourth quarter 2022 earnings results today. Total revenues were $15.4 billion, up 15% year-over-year in US dollars and up 22.4% in local currency. Net income attributable


text:
Canadian carrier OTA updates come from Samsung FUS...firmware update server. All carriers, in fact, except ATT and Verizon. They push their own OTA's.
All Pie updates were pushed over night for US carriers (except ATT & VZN)
So its still likely we will see something happen today/overnight.
I just looked at the OS Upgrade Schedule, for my Note8, it mentions the January Security Update for today-tomorrow--someday :O. Anyone have a clue if and when the Note8 will get Pie?
Yesterday Samsung rolled out the update for Sprint on "Feb 3rd" basically just before midnight EST so hopefully we see the same for us here. I believe T-Mobile was the same as well.
yeah, thats what expect here too...
But we are looking at likely all the major canadian carriers giving the thumbs up right now.
It's one thing to have delays. They are inevitable, as awful as they are. Things happen. Being transparent about these things is the ideal way to let customers know what's going on. Just tell us the truth and we'll nod and go on with our lives.
However, it's another thing to blatantly lie. On Twitter, RogersHelps has falsely claimed that the update was already out and being sent out in batches, which people have exclaimed was inaccurate, and now with these news that the update has been delayed to the 7th, that's only further proof to the matter.
We literally only found out about this delay moments before @RogersDarrell posted the update. Before we received this news, we were still operating on the info that we had previously and as far as we were aware, the update was being rolled out in batches by Samsung. Please keep in mind that it does take time to disseminate this news down the chain to our other support groups.
At this stage, social media should now be fully aware of the delay.
We are doing our best to be transparent with our Community which is why Darrell created a brand new thread to highlight this news and share it with everyone as soon as he received word.


text:
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources today urged Filipinos to strictly observe proper food handling in the kitchen as an added measure against COVID-19.
“[F]or the safety of consumers, it is advised that proper food handling practices be observed at all times,” the bureau said in a statement. Goods wrapped in plastic or packaging brought from the market should be disinfected with alcohol or a 0.5% bleach solution, as advised by the Health Department, while fresh foodstuff should be washed under clean running water before being stored.
Apart from proper food prep, the bureau urged that “food must also be cooked thoroughly and kept at safe temperatures before consumption.”
The bureau’s statement comes after traces of the coronavirus was spotted in frozen food imports in the Chinese cities of Xian and Shenzen earlier this week. Despite this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has downplayed the findings, saying that there is currently “no evidence” that coronavirus can be transmitted through food.
“People should not fear food or food packaging or the processing or delivery of food…There is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in the transmission of this virus,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said in a press briefing yesterday.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Spokesman, Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes told Coconuts Manila in a call that it stands by WHO’s findings, but said that ultimately, “the Department of Health has the final say on whether or not frozen pork, beef, or seafood imports are contaminated with COVID-19. Apart from that incident in the Chinese port, no other country has reported about it, and the WHO doesn’t consider the virus transmissible in frozen products.”
Reyes added that the DA is largely focused on monitoring pork products for other viruses, “specifically swine flu and other diseases, these are checked physically and through tests as the imports come through Customs, but as far as COVID-19 is concerned, we have yet to detect it in imports.”
This article, Pinoys urged to wash food thoroughly as added COVID-19 measure, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!


text:
Seats at the 20,000-capacity venue went on sale today for partial season ticket holders, suite holders, and sponsors. The general public will have its chance to buy a souvenir on May 12. Prices start at $150.
Joe Louis Arena is home to 38 years of hockey pride, so seats won't be the only memorabilia for the taking. Other items for sale will include the hockey arena's furniture, lighting, signs, and chilling systems. Even suite wet bars and the scoreboard will be up for grabs.
While the sale is meant to offset the cost of maintaining the arena, three Detroit charities will receive a portion of the proceeds, as well.
The city of Detroit, the arena's longtime owner, has plans to hand it over to a bondholder who took big losses in the city's bankruptcy. Officials were supposed to start demolishing or "staging the site for demolition" by today, according to a report by the Detroit Free Press. The creditor initially conveyed plans to build a luxury hotel at the site, but has since said it's going back to the drawing board.
You can purchase seats from the Joe at www.thejoeseats.com and check out the auction at www.orbitbid.com.
Jack Nissen is an editorial intern for the Metro Times and a masters student of environmental journalism at Michigan State University.


text:
Travel Tech Commends European Commission Action on Google Search
Steve Shur on July 03, 2017
Arlington, VA – June 29, 2017 – The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), the trade association for leaders in online travel innovation, released the following statement in response to the European Commission’s recent decision regarding the Google Search anti-trust case.
"The EU Google case is important to all e-commerce, but particularly impactful for the travel industry. Google's dominant position in search, coupled with its recent foray into hotel and flight search and booking platforms, creates an anti-competitive environment at the expense of consumers," said Steve Shur, President of Travel Tech.
"The Commission’s actions are warranted and we commend the action," Shur continued. "Google's restrictive behavior not only diminishes competition, which ultimately harms consumers, but also serves as a disincentive to innovation, as start-ups and new entrants may view the search environment as futile under Google’s stronghold on search. For online travel platforms, the European Commission’s actions are welcome news and we hope that these remedies will be considered globally given Google’s dominant position in every market around the world. We look forward to advocating for greater competition and transparency in the marketplace on behalf of consumers everywhere."
Contact: Steve Shur, President. firstname.lastname@example.org, 703-842-3754


text:
Long age research at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Center for Energy research and development has yielded a very fruitful result. Solar inverters made in Nigeria by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Center for Energy research. Five students of the university embarked on swift research to produce computer-aided pure sine wave solar inverters.
These inverters are wholly made in Nigeria and have computer response in short-circuit, overload, thunder detection and they are menu-driven. For 6 months now after the discovery and product perfection, we have sold the first set of products and they have been in use for more than 5 months now.
We could produce power as low as 1500watts for a home and up to 30,000watts in a single generation. We believe that Nigeria has the potential and soon will solve the age-long problem of poor electricity.


text:
E-commerce giant Amazon has launched local shops on its platform, a programme in India enabling local retailers and shopkeepers of all sizes to leverage the brand’s technology to sell their goods.
Amazon India also believes that it will also help them grow their footprint digitally.
On Amazon India, these shops can list a variety of products ranging from consumer electronics, kitchen items, grocery, home décor to books, beauty, sports and apparel among others.
According to Gopal Pillai, vice president of seller services, Amazon India says, “Local shops can play a bigger role during this time of need by serving customer needs while maintaining social distancing. They can also jumpstart their own livelihood post the unprecedented disruption and open up a long term opportunity for themselves.
“After a successful pilot with over 5,000 stores, we are pledging ₹100 million to scale the programme.”
The platform has partnered with retailers from top metros as well as tier I and tier II cities such as Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Delhi, Indore, Jaipur, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Faridabad and Saharanpur.
The company also stated that “We expect this to be a win-win, as customers benefit from access added services, faster deliveries, and additional value-added services and local shops can transform themselves into digital stores.”
To join the programme, sellers can visit services.amazon.in
Similarly, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in partnership with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will also launch a national e-commerce marketplace to help local grocery stores supply essential goods.


text:
24 Jul FreshSource @ 2015 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GET FRESH PRODUCE & FLORAL EXPO
Over 200 companies representing produce/floral suppliers, and related industries — gathered on the expo floor of the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. This year’s event drew approximately 2,000 exhibitors from supermarkets across Southern California. Team Fresh Source conceptualized and produced its largest exhibit (footprint) at the Expo to date, featuring many of our principal vendors showcasing their latest products.
To help buyers and decision makers fully grasp the products our principals brought to display, we hired Chef, Doris Kwon, to create fresh, tasty, appetizers for all participants to enjoy and better connect with the products flavor and potential. The aromas, creative presentation, and immense flavors created a buzz on the expo floor that generated a swarm of interest, discussions and in some cases — actual sales/negotiations.
Our exhibitors were the center of attention, and our exhibit was awarded “Best in Show” thanks to the hard work of Natalie Machado, who worked tirelessly to organize and orchestrate everyone involved. In fact, we want to recognize and thank everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s Expo, as we know many of you dedicated your time, energy and resources to this event — so hats off to all who participated!
For those of you who did not get a chance to experience the Expo first hand, we’ve assembled a gallery of images below that reflect the fun, energy and excitement we experienced at this years event. Enjoy!
Source: The Packer, Fresh Produce & Floral Council
What you missed at the 2015 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FRESH PRODUCE & FLORAL EXPO


text:
Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, the latest *NSYNC limited edition is available now. *NSYNC fans if you missed the 2nd capsule collection last fall then now is your chance to check them out. Keep reading to find out more.
Back in April, we reported that music group *NSYNC released their 1st limited edition capsule collection. We are happy to report that a second capsule collection is now available. Die-hard fans if you missed the out the first time around now is your chance. Keep reading to find out what items are included.


text:
October 13, 2021
Social Media Intern
Team Liquid, a global esports organisation, has announced a collaboration with Hercules Tires, a tyre manufacturer.
The Hercules Tires Invitational Series, a Rocket League tournament featuring North American teams, will be created because of the agreement between Hercules Tires and Team Liquid.
The Hercules Tires Invitational Series will pit 16 Rocket League teams from across North America against each other in a two-part tournament that will begin on October 20th. Participants include G2 Esports, Torrent, XSET, Charlotte Phoenix, and Oxygen Esports.
Steve Reed, Team Liquid Vice President of Sales, commented: “We’re revved up and eager to bring this event to life with Hercules, a legacy brand known for its quality and reliability.
“They are a natural fit for this series, where speed and precision can make a real difference in how things play out.”
Team liquid’s channel will put on a live stream of the series where viewers can see the winners receiving $12,000 (£8826) in prize money. Hercules Tyres will also offer sponsored chatbox giveaways and a virtual tailgate, according to the press release.
Senior VP of Hercules, Joshua Simpson, explained: “Our partnership with Team Liquid will further the progress we are making to expand our brand in authentic and meaningful ways across new platforms.
“It also showcases our commitment to engage new consumers – including a new generation that participate in gaming as a form of competition – and to build relationships through a digitally-focused platform.”
A Rocket League competition is a wonderful thing to sponsor if you're a tyre manufacturer, according to Esports Insider. It's always exciting to see non-endemic corporations collaborate with relevant esports, and the automobile industry has recently completely embraced the scene through several agreements.
latests news from us


text:
Acupath Laboratories announced a partnership with CLX Health to provide test processing for travelers heading to destinations that require proof of negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests prior to entry.
CLX manages the cloud-based TrustAssure platform, which is used by dozens of airlines globally and services more than 75 countries worldwide, Acupath said. The platform supports a network of healthcare providers providing COVID-19 PCR tests that satisfy entry requirements for international destinations. Using TrustAssure eliminates the need to be tested last minute at the airport, the company said.
Acupath is one of a group of laboratory providers in the New York City area offering PCR tests. The company received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Acupath COVID-19 real-time PCR test in June 2020.


text:
Richmond, VA, January 24, 2024- , a leading travel insurance and assistance company, took top category honors in the . This year marks the eighth time the company has ranked first in the travel insurance category since it was added in 2016. The annual recognition highlights companies that deliver outstanding customer support and service to travelers.
The awards, now in their 19th year, are widely regarded as one of the most-coveted customer service recognition programs in America. Readers of Elliott Advocacy, a leading non-profit online consumer advocacy organization, nominated and voted for their favorite companies across 18 industries including the best airlines, hotels, cruise lines and vacation rental services.
“Elliott Advocacy readers are passionate about customer satisfaction and choose who they trust with their travel decisions very wisely. That is why we’re so incredibly honored to receive recognition for our travel insurance services for the eighth year in a row, and look forward to continuing to support Elliott readers, and all of our customers in the everchanging travel space, for years to come,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA.
The Elliott Advocacy Awards program began in 2005 as a recognition of the travel industry’s top brands. In 2015, it shifted to a readers' choice survey focused exclusively on customer service. Since then, the award has been recognized as the travel industry’s premier customer service award.
# # #


text:
Just when we thought we were getting the hang of what was going to happen with the new fringe benefit tax system, and those of us who were lucky enough to go ahead and get a car through a novated lease scheme (thanks to our employers) were learning how to go about using logbooks, we had an election that resulted in a change in government. And the proposed changes to the rules which were anything but popular were scrapped.
So, breathe a sigh of relief, everybody. Stop scratching your heads over how to fill out a logbook and working out what is and isn’t a business trip. We can all go back to using the most common method of calculating the fringe benefit tax we have to pay because we’ve got the perk of a car.
You won’t be the only people breathing a sigh of relief. The proposed rule changes were very bad news for Australia’s car sales industry, as a lot of business is created by our novated lease system. It ensures a lot of turnover which isn’t just good news for car sales people but also for road safety and our car manufacturing industry. When people get a new car under a novated lease scheme fairly easily, this means that they’re less likely to stick with some old rustbucket that doesn’t have as many safety features as a new modern car. This means that Australia’s roads are more likely to have lots of safe cars with all the protective gadgets on them, which means safer roads and fewer accidents.
It’s also good news for smaller businesses and charitable organisations. Often, these employers want to keep hold of their best workers but don’t have the budget in place to provide other incentives and rewards. Including a car in the salary package is an easy way for these people to reward and retain the good people it’s so much easier than trying to pay them more, which may be a disincentive for some employees, as it means that they pay much more tax when they pop over a certain threshold.
Of course, logbooks haven’t been scrapped altogether. Some people were on the logbook system before the proposed changes came in anyway. They’re still going to be doing things the same way, and are probably the only people who aren’t breathing a sigh of relief (but if you’re in this category, you can stop feeling smug).
Some people felt that the reaction from the car leasing and car sales industry was a bit over the top. After all, it’s not as though the proposed changes were planning to scrap novated leases altogether. Companies could still create salary packages involving new cars as a way of rewarding their best employees; the only real difference was that people were going to have to keep logbooks and use them to calculate the amount of fringe benefit tax they would have to pay. And after the initial shock and downturn, the car sales and lease industry would have bounced back once we were all used to the new way of doing things. But who’s to tell now? Who knows what would have happened?
The good thing is that we can now carry on as normal. And no matter whether you’re considering setting up a novated lease agreement or whether you’re just considering taking out a loan to buy a new car, we’re here to help you find what you need.


text:
Tickets for St Albans’ 2019 pantomime Sleeping Beauty go on sale
- Credit: Alban Arena
This year’s St Albans pantomime Cinderella only opened on Thursday night and tickets are already on sale for 2019’s Christmas show.
Cinderella starring S Club 7’s Rachel Stevens alongside Ben Faulks, aka CBeebies’ Mr Bloom, and St Albans panto favourites Bob Golding, Ian Kirkby and Jemma Carlisle, runs at The Alban Arena until Sunday, January 6, 2019.
• WHAT IS THE 2019 ST ALBANS PANTOMIME?
After playing Dandini in 2018 show Cinderella, St Albans panto legend Bob Golding will be back in a dress in 2019 festive treat Sleeping Beauty, which opens on Friday, December 5.
A post on The Alban Arena’s Facebook page read: “We know you’ve all heard the rumours... It’s time to confirm that they really are true.
You may also want to watch:
“Next year it’s Sleeping Beauty and our beloved patron Bob Golding is back... in a dress!
“Believe it or not you can book your tickets now!”
- 1 Can you help after man left unconscious outside St Albans pub?
- 2 Where in Hertfordshire are the most incidents of weapon possession?
- 3 Birthday charity walks in brother's memory
- 4 Light at the end of the gulley for long-running flooding
- 5 Market trader says goodbye to beard after 15 years
- 6 Driver hospitalised after three-vehicle accident on M1 near Redbourn
- 7 Girls 'followed' by men in red Range Rover at 2am in city centre
- 8 Fashionistas flock to Cathedral catwalk extravaganza
- 9 St Albans named among UK's most family-friendly cities
- 10 Who can get a Covid booster jab and how can I book one?
The 2019 St Albans pantomime will once again be written by Paul Hendy and produced by Evolution, the same team behind the current box office hit Cinderella.
It will be the first time Evolution has produced Sleeping Beauty at The Alban Arena and Bob Golding will direct the show.
With star names to be announced soon, Sleeping Beauty promises to be spectacular, top-quality entertainment, with lavish sets, and a genuinely funny script.
• WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR PANTO SLEEPING BEAUTY IN ST ALBANS?
Sleeping Beauty will run at The Alban Arena from Friday, December 5, 2019 to Sunday, January 5, 2020.
Tickets are on sale now from The Alban Arena website at www.alban-arena.co.uk/events/sleeping-beauty or by calling the box office on 01727 844488.
Tickets are already selling well for certain shows, so book your seats now.


text:
American Printer's mission is to be the most reliable and authoritative source of information on integrating tomorrow's technology with today's management.
Dec 1, 2009 12:00 AM
xpedx (www.xpedx.com) reports it has seen strong demand from U.S. printers for UPM coated sheet and web products since the two companies announced an exclusive, long-term distribution agreement in September. The papers, available at xpedx distribution centers and stores in the United States and Canada, are FSC or PEFC chain-of-custody certified. Papers sourced from UPM's European mills carry the European Union's eco-label, the EU Flower. “Printers tell us UPM coated papers deliver the quality, dependability and value they need,” said Rob Watson, director of marketing, printing papers at xpedx.
In other news, xpedx said it is providing increased resources and informational support to major digital press user groups and their members, including PODi, the digital print marketing and advocacy group, and Dscoop, the cooperative of Indigo users and HP. “We recognize that user groups are more important than ever today,” said Scott Harman, director of business imaging for xpedx. “xpedx is committed to being a significant resource for digital print providers of all sizes.”


text:
Facebook-owned messaging company WhatsApp has recently launched peer-to-peer digital payments beta service in India. The entry of the messaging app, which has more than 200 million monthly active users, is expected to disrupt the unified payments interface (UPI)-based digital payments landscape in India, currently dominated by Paytm, says leading data and analytics company GlobalData.
Reportedly, Facebook is working with top lenders, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank, to integrate the UPI-based payments solution.
Prarthna Tiga, Senior Technology Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “E-payments in India are already witnessing unprecedented growth since the government’s announcement of demonetisation in late 2016. Now with the foray of WhatsApp, the country’s smaller and struggling e-payments companies fear a unique threat in an already crowded and competitive ecosystem.”
The Indian payments marketspace is already swarmed with over 60 non-banking players such as Paytm, MobiKwik, Amazon Pay and Flipkart (PhonePe). Established players such as Paytm are also feeling the push and fear that their position will be challenged with the entry of WhatsApp payments.
While the messaging platform is the latest entrant, Google launched its payment app, Tez, in September 2016. It is creating fervour in the digital payments landscape, with transactions surpassing the likes of Axis Bank, one of the top digital players among banks.
However, it is interesting to note that even though India’s e-payments market is expected to grow in the coming years, most e-wallet operators are not profitable in India yet. In fact, some who have been issued licenses by the Reserve Bank of India are still evaluating the situation before setting up operations.
Tiga concludes: “We expect consolidations to be the force in the next few years, with the bigger players focusing on opportunities to expand their footprint in India and other markets. In the meantime, smaller e-payments players are tapping into unidentified opportunities to stay relevant in the market.
“Therefore, creating a compelling case for people to use digital money is becoming absolutely necessary for smaller players, while bigger players are taking advantage of their wide user base.”
To gain access to our latest press releases and expert analysis on developments in your industry, please connect with us on:
4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.


text:
Blocto has signed a strategic partnership deal with Flow, to offer attendees at this year’s NFT.NYC event a mobile-first NFT experience and more. Blocto users at the NFT.NYC event will be able to win a share of the 22,000 BLT tokens on offer, receive airdrops, and more.
Blocto Brings More Excitement to NFT.NYC
Blocto, an all-in-one cross-chain wallet that makes it possible for users to manage their cryptocurrencies and NFTs in one place, has partnered with the Flow blockchain to offer attendees at this year’s NFT.NYC event exciting rewards and NFT airdrops.
NFT.NYC is one of the most iconic events in the NFT industry, hosting multiple debates, thought leaders talks, workshops, and briefings from the heavy hitters and brands in the blockchain world.
Hsuan Lee, CEO of Blocto said:
“NFT.NYC has come a long way, from a hobbyist event of just dozens of people to a yearly phenomenon in NYC. We are happy to be here and help push Web3 adoption to the next billion users.”
In addition to the mobile NFT.NYC experience, Blocto users will be able to win a share of a 22,000 BLT token price pool that’s on offer, receive airdrops, secure brand new merchandise, and more, by simply joining the official Blocto Discord, collecting NFTs, and attending its AMAs between now and June 24, 2022.
BLT is the native crypto of the Blocto ecosystem. BLT functions as a utility and governance token, connecting the wallet and the numerous Blockto-based products.
Celebrating the Growth of Web3
Blockto is an all-in-one cross-chain smart contract wallet that offers a seamless experience on one all-encompassing platform. The Blocto wallet features an in-built decentralized exchange (DEX) for cryptoassets dubbed BloctoSwap, plus BloctoBay, a non-custodial NFT marketplace. Users can complete the Blockto wallet signup process in just 30 seconds and start exploring its various Web3 offerings.
Blocto’s appearance and innovative offerings for attendees of the NFT.NYC conference comes in the wake of a major milestone – hitting over one million unique active wallet users.
Blocto’s impressive milestones, coupled with its ability to bring the blockchain to life, have made it the partner of choice for the Flow blockchain, which powers a vast array of NFTs, crypto games, and decentralized applications (dApps), and more.
Flow is backed by notable names in both the blockchain ecosystem and the real world, including a16z, Ubisoft, EA, Warner Music Group, Michael Jordan, and more. The Flow blockchain is the home of NBA Top Shot, a metaverse where basketball lovers can buy, sell and trade tokenized NBA highlight moments.
The team says the Blocto NFT.NYC experience promises to make the event more enjoyable and rewarding for attendees. Participants will be able to redeem exclusive and limited edition NFTs in the Blocko app through physical packs at the event.
Importantly, the team has made it clear that the #BloctoAtNFTNYC mobile-first digital collectibles experience aims to celebrate not only the growth and successes of the Blocktopian community but also the thriving, diversified and inclusive Web3 projects within its growing ecosystem.
“Despite the recent crypto market downturn, Blocto continues to grow, as evidenced by its user base surpassing the one million mark recently, and is firmly focused on delivering on its vision of bringing real-world usage to blockchains and onboarding the next billion Web2 users to the opportunities of the Web3 era.”


text:
Arkansas Business Hall of Fame Inductee
Judy R. McReynolds is a highly esteemed leader, motivator and logistics professional. As the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at ArcBest, she is the driving force behind the company’s record-breaking success. Since becoming CEO in 2010, Judy has built a legacy while helping strengthen the ArcBest brand in the transportation industry.
Her most recent honor reinforces these truths. As announced in October, Judy is one of four outstanding business leaders inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2023 at a ceremony held in Little Rock on February 17, 2023. Each year, inductees are chosen for this prestigious honor based on their respective impact in their industry, the steps they’ve taken toward community enhancement and the ethical business practices they display as leaders.
Each aspect of Judy’s career — from her leadership approach to strategic planning — is a testament to how deserving she is of this induction. Her vision enables the company to evolve to meet our customers’ needs and sets an example in the transportation industry. Her people-first focus empowers employees to grow and make a lasting impact, both within our business and in their communities.
A Forward-Thinking Leadership Model
Judy’s career in the logistics industry spans over 30 years, highlighting her love for the work, the people and the industry. As ArcBest steps into our 100th year of business, she continues to lead boldly, achieving solid results — an outcome resulting from her strategic approach, commitment to meeting our customers’ supply chain needs and creation of a culture where people can thrive and do their best work.
For Judy, challenges are opportunities for innovation. When she became president and CEO in January 2010, we were coming off a year in which we lost over $100 million during the Great Recession. She guided the company through expansion and diversification, including numerous acquisitions. As a result, she has led ArcBest’s transformation into a logistics powerhouse with a full suite of logistics solutions.
We have also combined multiple operations of our organization under the ArcBest umbrella, clearing the path for us to offer more reliable, flexible and sustainable solutions, and enabling us to better respond to the ever-fluctuating market and our customers’ changing supply chain needs. This differentiates ArcBest from our competitors by our ability to leverage our supply chain solution set for customers in an integrated way. That mindset is now part of who we are. Our customers know we have the means to effortlessly connect them with multiple transportation methods regardless of their shipment size, product type or deadline.
In the 13-plus years Judy has led ArcBest, we have experienced substantial growth. The company’s revenue has increased by 140%, and we now employ more than 15,000 people across over 250 locations. Judy’s financial expertise is a cornerstone of this growth. It sets the groundwork for making critical decisions in varying economic cycles — recognizing trends and changes at a global level and reacting to them in a quick, constructive manner.
The Past and the Present
Judy attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1985 with a bachelor’s in accounting and marrying her husband, Lance, shortly after. An Oklahoma native, she began her career as a public accountant with Arthur Andersen in Oklahoma City. Following that, she took a position with EY as a Tax Manager in Little Rock, where she and her husband started a family.
Meanwhile, her client portfolio grew to include companies from the transportation industry. Working closely with trucking entrepreneurs and executives, she began to identify many of the same characteristics her family instilled in her from a young age. They were hardworking, dedicated people, and Judy quickly developed a kinship with them as they always kept their word.
The connections she built at EY led her to take her first position at ArcBest — Director of Financial Reporting. A few years after joining ArcBest, Judy became the company’s Controller and then CFO in 2006. Today, she is a tried-and-true leader, refusing to allow our organization to stumble during economic upheaval and guiding us into a year of celebration. Our confidence in our strategy to successfully navigate the future is stronger than ever.
In addition to leading ArcBest, Judy has established herself as a pillar in the community. She sits on several outside boards, including OGE Energy Corp., First Bank Corp. and First National Bank. She also serves as a member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council. Judy recently retired from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) after serving as chair for eight years, as well as from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Board and Executive Committee. She contributes to education in Arkansas as a member of the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and as a director of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Foundation Board.
2023 has just begun, but we're confident in our future and proud of Judy as our leader. We will continue growing as a leading logistics company. As we look ahead, we are confident that the strategies Judy has implemented will allow us to reach our long-term goal of seven to eight billion dollars in total revenue by 2025.
Thank you, Judy, for all you’ve done and will continue to do. Congratulations on your induction into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.


text:
A recent industry trial has shown that majority of Australian businesses prefer an emissions trading scheme (ETS) as opposed to the carbon price currently in effect.
The report, prepared by Aecom and commissioned by Businesses for a Clean Economy, surveyed 570 Australian businesses across all sectors – including ASX 100 and carbon price liable entities.
It was found that 88% of companies ‘strongly agree’ to the statement that Australia needs to reduce emissions to address climate change, with a further 11% that ‘agree’.
And, contrary to popular belief, it was not carbon reduction that concerned companies but the uncertainty of not making or changing environmental policy. Approximately 78% of the companies surveyed said that uncertainty around carbon price was negatively impacting business.
Some 43% of respondents reported that insecurity around carbon price policy impacted investment decisions such as timing of investments, expected payoffs and securing funding.
Furthermore, it was uncovered companies have put off expanding into new markets and products as well as delaying hiring new staff due to carbon price policy.
The majority of companies (65%) prefer an emissions trading scheme compared to a fixed carbon price (29%). Furthermore, and companies overwhelmingly prefer Labor’s Clean Energy Future Package (85%) to the Coalition’s Direct Action Policy (7%).
Currently, Labor’s environmental package consists of the Clean Energy Future Package but will soon include a move towards an ETS on July 1, 2014. The Coalition plans to introduce a microeconomic industry-focussed policy plan with a 15,000 strong ‘green army’ that requiring large amounts of capital and a sizeable institutional framework to support an emissions reduction fund.
The survey found that an effective ETS can provide a lot more flexibility and efficiency than a carbon price or industry compliance policies. A proper ETS acts as an efficient economic market in which price and quantity can be easily changed and traded.
An ETS can also provide extra income incentives for low-carbon producing businesses that can sell off credits to carbon producers.
Not only will and ETS provide a clear price signal for less carbon-intensive practices but will also deliver a framework that allows for cost and operating certainty in businesses present and future. New survey shows business support action on climate, and a carbon price over Direct Action.
Andrew Peterson, a spokesperson for Businesses for a Clean Economy, said that emerging clean economy businesses are feeling the most from uncertainty in environmental policy, adversely affecting their ability to receive funding, hire staff and expand.
He said businesses want to move forward towards a cleaner, more efficient economy without the uncertainty of policy changes.
Of the 180 respondents, 81 per cent were from mainstream business, with the remaining 19 per cent from the fast-growing sector providing services to the cleaner economy.


text:
July 15, 2022
5 Things to Know: Week Ending July 16
Signify files a new patent lawsuit. Plus, two news nuggets may point to some inflation and supply chain relief.
Here's a roundup of some of the week's happenings curated to help lighting people stay informed.
1. Signify Sues Philips Hue Competitor, Govee
In U.S. federal court, Signify North America has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Shenzhen Intellirocks Tech, the company behind the Govee brand of smart home products. The suit asserts five Signify patents relating to LED circuit and control technology. When asked for comment, Signify shared, in part, "Signify believes that its patents are infringed and valid. Signify respects other companies’ or individuals’ intellectual property in the same way as it expects others to respect Signify’s intellectual property."
(And take a closer look at the 3M Command Strips that are apparently part of the Govee product assembly.)
ABOVE: Images of Govee products and marketing materials taken from Signify court filing
2. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) announces plan to sue the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Organization objects to SEC announcement that "is rescinding critical reforms designed to protect publicly traded manufacturers and their investors from unregulated and unaccountable proxy advisory firms."
3. The End of the Semiconductor Shortage is Near
Deloitte shares insights that could spell some relief for supply chain and inflation.
4. Why June's upbeat jobs report isn't necessarily positive for construction
Construction Dive shares insights into the ongoing labor challenges in the construction field.
5. Freight Rates Are Starting to Fall as Shipping Demand Wavers
This won't likely lead to a flurry of "Price Decrease" announcements, but perhaps it'll slow down the quarterly drumbeat of price increases. (The Wall Street Journal Paywall)


text:
Award-Winning Web Design
The CUNA (Credit Union National Association) Marketing and Business Development Council has awarded Continental Federal Credit Union with a 2010 Diamond Award.
Avtec Media designed the Continental FCU website, was officially recognized as one of the best websites in the credit union industry! It won a prestigious Diamond Award in the 2010 Credit Union National Association’s Diamond Awards Competition held in Washington D.C.
Designing a quality, award-worthy website is just another way we strive to deliver an unmatched service experience to our credit union customers.
This year’s awards competition received nearly 1,000 entries. Judges awarded four entries as Best of Show, along with 165 Diamond Awards and 188 Awards of Merit in 34 categories.


text:
Ask any doggie parent and they’ll tell you that leaving a dog alone at home while they’re away at work is a source of stress and worry. But thanks to three young men from Bengaluru, dog owners can relax, knowing their four-legged friend is safe and healthy.
Siddharth (24), Advaith (26) and Ajith (30) created Wagr, a wearable device and a mobile application that allows dog owners to track their dog’s movements and activities in real time.
It all began when a puppy walked into Advaith’s house. He was smitten by the little fellow and adopted the pup. But the IIT-Madras graduate worried every time he left the house for work. “I used to think who will take care of him, will he be safe with the domestic help in the house? That’s when I started thinking about how technology can help,” says Advaith.
The idea for creating Wagr was born when Advaith and his friends realised that many other dog parents faced the same problem. Siddharth explains,“All three of us have a background in technology. So, we thought why not go ahead and build a device and an app to help in dog parenting.” The trio have been working on Wagr since 2015.
How does it work? A device – a smart dog wearable- is attached to the dog’s collar. The sensor on the device tracks and monitors the activities and the location of the dog, and relays it instantly to the mobile app of the parent.
Siddharth says, “The dog parents can easily navigate the dogs even when they exit the house. There have been so many cases in which the dogs go missing. The dog will be safer. The device senses motions of the dog.”
The dog owner can keep a tab on their furry friend, with the app communicating if the dog is sleeping, walking or eating. Besides sending an alert if the dog leaves the “safe zone”, the app also tracks any odd behaviour of the pooch.
Much like fitness wearable, Wagr also records how much of sleep the dog is getting or whether it’s getting enough exercise.
And that’s not all. The app also provides a host of dog related services such as vets, food, supplies, boarding, grooming, and dog walkers based on location.
Wagr is expected to launch in October.


text:
UK-based Solidus Solutions will be showcasing its extensive range of solid board packaging solutions for fish products, at the Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium.
The event will take place from April 26 to 28.
Solidus Solutions is a leading manufacturer of solid board, graphic board and solid board packaging and products.
The company’s solid board is the perfect solution for packing fresh, frozen or vacuum packed fish, said a statement from the company.
Solidus Solutions noted that its packing solutions meet strict hygiene standards, provide the necessary strength and insulation and can be used for packing fresh fish. Solid board also shortens the product's required freezing time. Solid board packaging absorbs little space, which helps to maximise storage space and minimise transportation costs, it said.
The company’s boxes can be treated with a polyethylene (PE) coating and Sapino, it said.
Additionally, the company developed “Foodline” which was especially designed for the production of food packaging and is extremely suitable for wet fish. The board is finished in a glued liner suitable for direct food contact which prevents migration between packaging and food.
An official from the company said: “Our solid board packaging solutions will be on display in a brand new booth during the event. Our experts will be pleased to analyse your packaging challenges and tell you more about the advantages of our products.”
Source : tradearabia.com


text:
Professional Dairy Producers® (PDPW), announces the line-up of speakers for week 66 of The Dairy Signal™. Episodes this week will highlight getting ahead of a key disease, a look at crop progress and impact on nutrition programs, and an update on groundwater and nitrogen-use efficiency research.
Dr. Darlene Konkle, DVM, MS, DACVIM, State Veterinarian, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Dr. Elisabeth Patton, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM, Assistant State Veterinarian, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Steve Maddox, Maddox Dairy, Burrel, California will provide an update on bovine tuberculosis and tips to protect your herd and prevent disease spread.
Dr. John Goeser, PhD, Director of Nutritional Research & Innovation at Rock River Lab, Inc., and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Dairy Science Department at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Scott Fleming, Nutrient Management Specialist and Sampling Director from Rock River Lab, will review the quality of hay and corn crops and the potential impact on dairy nutritional needs. Amber Radatz, Co-Director, Discovery Farms and Ryan Heiderman, Nitrogen Projects Coordinator, Discovery Farms will share updates on groundwater and nitrogen-use efficiency research.
Developed by fellow dairy farmers from the PDPW Board of Directors, The Dairy Signal is a weekly series of free educational episodes offering insights and resources for fellow dairy farmers and other food system professionals throughout the value chain. The episodes air live from 12:00-1:00 PM CT each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; recorded sessions are available later in the day.
Episodes of The Dairy Signal in June and July are sponsored by Prairie Estates Genetics.


text:
BATAVIA IL – If you’ve been wishing for a major organic grocery store in Rockwall, you may have your wish fulfilled in a surprising place.
ALDI Grocery Store has just announced it is kicking off the new year by adding many more organics, healthier options at check out, plus exclusive products free from unhealthy ingredients – all at Aldi’s regular low prices, often 50 percent less than brand name products.
Company officials say it is clear that today’s grocery shopper is much more health-conscious and ALDI is responding with increased food options they can feel good about.
“At Aldi we truly care about our customers and we’re responding with guilt-free check out zones and increased food options they can feel good about,” said ALDI CEO Jason Hart.
The chain plans to beef up its selection of fresh and organic meat and produce, including its “Never Any!” brand of meats that contain no added antibiotics, hormones, animal by-products or other additives.
It will expand it’s SimplyNature line of products, free of more than 125 artificial ingredients – including certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils, and any added MSG – from its private-labeled products, which account for 90 percent of sales.
A gluten-free line of products will also hit the shelves soon under the ALDI exclusive brand, liveGfree.
In the checkout lanes, ALDI is replacing candy and chocolate with healthier nuts, trail mixes, dried fruits and granola bars. They plan to roll out the program to its nearly 1500 locations in 32 states by the end of 2016.
“By introducing healthier checklanes and through a number of other initiatives, we are doing out part to remove temptation at checkout and stocking stores with even more nutritious options,” added Hart.
Not only will milk be free of artificial growth hormones as it has been for years, so will cultured products such as cottage cheese, yogurt and sour cream.
ALDI says they recently learned that over half of its customers believe products without artificial ingredients cost more and are harder to find. They plan to show customers that healthier options can also be affordable.
In addition, the food store has added “fancier” foods, such as quinoa, smoked salmon, coconut oil, and artisanal cheese.
By appealing to shoppers who consider health and transparency in their purchasing decisions, experts say they’ll pose a bigger threat to chains such as Whole Foods’ lower-cost offshoot 365 by Whole Foods Market.
If the rise in low-cost organic food offerings is any indication, the food industry is finally reacting to this trend. Kroger has also been expanding its organic line, called Simple Truth, and Walmart, with its “Neighborhood Markets,” has also begun trying to attract the health-conscious.
ALDI, known for its motto, “Simply Smarter Shopping,” plans to open roughly 500 more stores over the next two years as part of a $3 billion expansion.


text:
I reckon The Very Hungry Caterpillar can be reworked to work as an interactive ebook. I also think cookbooks will mostly be digital within a few years. The research proposal component of my shortlisted but unsuccessful 2011 Unwin Trust UK-Australian Fellowship proposal sets out some of my thoughts and questions on these and other issues related to the future of book publishing.
Category Archives: Kobo/Borders
Sydney-based online retailer Booktopia has become the first Australian bookseller to partner with Google to sell ebooks.
Before we get too far into 2011, it’s time to announce the ebookish.com.au award winners for 2010. We had planned to announce them between Christmas and New Year, but have been unable to think about anything ebookish other than whether it’s safe to take Kindles and iPads to the beach or swimming pool until now.
Later today we’ll announce the winners of the inaugural ebookish awards – so you have a small window in which to ponder our lists of finalists, drop us a line via Twitter (@ebookish #ebookishawards) or leave a comment on this page to tell us who (or what) should top each category and why, to suggest contenders we’ve overlooked, and to make predictions about next year.
Bookseller & Publisher’s annual pre-Christmas survey, published yesterday, found that 40% of Australian booksellers not already selling ebooks are planning to do so in the next six months.
A new WiFi Kobo e-reader will be on sale in Australia by Christmas, and readers will be able to download Hachette Australia titles to read on it via the Borders/Angus & Robertson apps after REDgroup finalized the last of its deals with major publishers here this week.
Did you know that as we put together an update on ebooks in Australia a few weeks back, Penguin Australia had yet to sign with Amazon, which meant its ebooks were available from Borders and Angus & Robertson powered by Kobo, but not for Kindle?
Heard the one about the author who made millions by self-publishing their novel as an ebook? No? There’s a reason for that.
Digital titles could make up between 20 and 30 per cent of the trade book market within two to five years, according to industry representatives who attended a round table event on the future of reading last month.
We’ve taken a first look at Sony’s Readers and latest Kindle in order to fill you in on the pros and cons of each. But we think there’s another device coming that’ll kill them all.