text:
Google and NBC Face Backlash Over Censorship Story
- NBC reported Tuesday morning that two conservative outlets were being banned from participating in Google Ads.
- Google later backtracked and said that wasn’t accurate, and that one was given a warning.
- Both face criticisms over censorship claims, as well as claims this was a targeted attack on conservative outlets by NBC.
Conflicting Stories from Google and NBC
Google found itself in the middle of a censorship controversy after it banned ZeroHedge and The Federalist— two notable conservative publications— from participating in its Google Ads program. NBC, which first reported on the story, has also found itself facing criticisms over using information to silence another outlet.
On Monday night, NBC reached out to Google regarding some research done by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a British nonprofit that combats online hate and misinformation.
That research claimed ZeroHedge and The Federalist were running articles about Black Lives Matter that were racist, included false narratives, and called for advertisers to stop funding the sites. Google replied to NBC and allegedly said they’ve already banned ZeroHedge and The Federalist from the Google Ads program, explaining that:
“We have strict publisher policies that govern the content ads can run on and explicitly prohibit derogatory content that promotes hatred, intolerance, violence or discrimination based on race from monetizing. When a page or site violates our policies, we take action. In this case, we’ve removed both sites’ ability to monetize with Google.”
On Tuesday morning, NBC published their article and ran Google’s statement; ZeroHedge had already been banned by Google and The Federalist was also demonetized for promoting hatred, intolerance, violence, or other discrimanation after learning about research from the CCDH.
What was the infringing content? Well, if the decision was based on CCDH’s report, “The Federalist has: Claimed CNN/New York Times reports were “lying” about white supremacist violence,” and “used ‘black crime; as a tag for its articles.”
While “ZeroHedge has: Claimed that Black Lives Matter is ‘practically a revolutionary operative of the CIA via Soros,’” and “Suggested Black Lives Matter is a George Soros ‘Astroturf’ campaign for “leftists and their agenda to reshape the fabric of American society.”
This isn’t the first time either publication has come into trouble with a tech company. In March, The Federalist published an article where they told people to voluntarily get infected with COVID-19 to help with herd immunity. Twitter responded by temporarily locking the site’s account until a tweet promoting the article was deleted. Zero Hedge was recently unbanned by Twitter after being suspended in January for promoting a conspiracy theory about a Chinese scientist. Twitter eventually decided the decision was “an error.”
Following news that Google banned the two conservative outlets, other outlets began reaching out to Google for a statement and received information that conflicted with NBC’s article. When responding to The Verge, Google said that The Federalist wasn’t demonetized; only warned that they were going to be demonetized. Google later clarified their stance on Twitter, writing:
“The Federalist was never demonetized. We worked with them to address issues on their site related to the comments section.”
They also linked to a 2017 statement that instructs publications to police comments sections to be advertiser friendly, and continued on Twitter:
“Our policies do not allow ads to run against dangerous or derogatory content, which includes comments on sites, and we offer guidance and best practices to publishers on how to comply. As the comment section has now been removed, we consider this matter resolved and no action will be taken.”
Following this, NBC found themselves embroiled in controversy. Currently their article reads:
“Google’s ban comes after the company was notified of research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a British nonprofit that combats online hate and misinformation.”
But that’s not what they originally wrote. In their original article, NBC stated that they brought CCHD’s research to Google’s attention, writing:
“Google blocked The Federalist from its advertising platform after the NBC News Verification Unit brought the project to its attention.”
That action and phrasing led to major backlash for the publication. Sean Davos, the co-founder of The Federalist, told Tucker Carlson:
“It looks like NBC… had partnered with a foreign left-wing group in Europe to go after us and to use Google to go after us… This is a pretty powerful example of the unholy union of corrupt media and monopolistic tech oligarchs.”
Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro also went after NBC for seemingly putting the CCDH’s report in front of Google and implying they demanded action.
The writer of the story, Adele-Momoko Fraser, has since gone on to clarify NBC’s connection with the CCDH’s research. Not only did the article imply that they found the research, but her original tweet about it looked like NBC was involved with the research, and later added:
“To clarify this earlier tweet, we obtained this research exclusively from @SSFakeNews but we did not collaborate on the research itself.”
Beyond that, plenty of people gave their opinion about the situation as a whole. Before Google issued its clarification, right-wing pundit Stephen Miller tweeted out, “the fact Google and NBC News are now defunding websites over commentary is going to have disastrous side effects and backlash.”
Following everything that happened on June 16th, Senator Ted Cruz released a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and demanded answers for why The Federalist was being reprimanded for its comment section.
“The recent actions of Google to “demonetize” a conservative media publisher, The Federalist, raise serious concerns that Google is abusing its monopoly power in an effort to censor political speech with which it disagrees.”
“…Google appears to have backtracked, saying that the decision to “demonetize” The Federalist is not due to the article itself, but instead due to offensive comments that allegedly violated Google advertising policies.”
“Numerous “progressive” media outlets allow comments, including, Huffington Post, Mother Jones, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, Wonkette, Slate, Jezebel, The Root, salon, The Intercept, The Young Turks, and many others… any objective review would no doubt demonstrate at least as many profane, racist, or indefensible user comments on these other sites that would equally violate Google’s alleged standards.”
“But one need not look that far. On any given day there are thousand of profane, racist, and indefensible comments posted on YouTube, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Google.”
Cruz then drew a parallel between how Google is defended by Section 230 from the speech posted by their users while not extending those same protections to companies using Google Ads. Cruz ended by requesting that Google turn over communications between it, The Federalist, and The Center for Countering Digital hate within seven days.
Cruz also asked the company if they’ve examined the comments of progressive platforms and if they’ve applied the same standard The Federalist was reviewed under to them. He also asked if Google applied the same standard to YouTube comments, or if the company gave preferential treatment to its subsidiary.
Google has yet to respond to Cruz’s request.
See What Others Are Saying: (The Verge) (NBC) (Tech Crunch)
Amazon to Pay Over $30 Million for Alexa and Ring Privacy Violations
Privacy violation charges stack up against the tech giant as the FTC partners up with the DOJ.
Amazon Pays Up
Amazon agreed to a $30 million settlement for each of these complaints over complaints alleging that its Alexa and Ring products violated customer privacy.
The Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department accused Amazon of retaining children’s geolocation data as well as the recordings of their conversations with Alexa. Additionally, the FTC brought another complaint against Amazon’s Ring for violating their customers’ privacy and failing to complement basic security measures.
In addition to the accusations of retaining data, the FTC also charges Amazon with deceiving their customers, saying requests from parents to delete their children’s recordings and other data went ignored despite repeated assurances that parents can delete the data at any time.
Amazon says this data was retained to train their Alexa algorithms to better understand children. But their reasoning does not change law. Their actions are still in violation of the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, known as COPPA.
“Amazon’s history of misleading parents, keeping children’s recordings indefinitely, and flouting parents’ deletion requests violated COPPA and sacrificed privacy for profits,” said Samuel Levine, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection in the press release regarding the complaint. “COPPA does not allow companies to keep children’s data forever for any reason, and certainly not to train their algorithms.”
The Settlement’s Details
The proposed settlement that Amazon agreed to on Wednesday includes a $25 million civil penalty as well as requirements to both delete the data in question and never use voice recordings of adults or children in the development or creation of a product again.
However approval on this settlement is still needed from the federal courts.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Amazon denies violating COPPA, saying they designed Amazon Kids for parents to have full control and to comply with the law.
In their complaint against Ring, the FTC accused the company of violating their customers’ privacy by allowing countless employees and hundreds of contractors access to the videos from Ring cameras.
Leading to situations like one in 2017, when a Ring employee watched thousands of videos belonging to dozens of female customers, including those in their bedrooms and bathrooms.
Additionally, the FTC says that Ring did not implement basic security protections for years which allowed hackers to take control of their customers’ accounts, cameras, and videos leading to 55,000 US Ring customers facing hacker attacks. In some cases, hackers could access Ring’s two-way functions to harass, insult, and threaten people – including children. The complaint alleges that Ring’s egregious privacy failings lasted for at least 4 years – between at least 2016 to 2020.
Amazon responded to the complaint saying that RIng had addressed the concerns before the FTC even began their inquiry.
The FTC proposed a settlement of $5.8 million in consumer refunds – as well as a demand for Ring to create a privacy and security program. The settlement also awaits federal court approval.
See what others are saying: (New York Times) (Axios) (CNBC)
Right-Wingers Are Turning Against Chick-fil-A
Some have accused the company of joining a woke “cult” after learning of its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative.
Chick-fil-A Goes “Woke”
Conservatives are condemning Chick-fil-A after learning of the fast food chain’s commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Some have accused the brand of bowing “to the Woke mob.” Others have debated boycotting the chain.
It’s unclear when exactly Chick-fil-A began its DEI campaign, but according to LinkedIn, the current Vice President of DEI, Erick McReynolds, has been working in the department since 2020 before taking on his current role in 2021. It is also unclear why right-wingers on Twitter have just now discovered Chick-fil-A’s DEI website, but many spent a chunk of Tuesday morning lambasting the company for working to promote diversity.
Chick-fil-A’s DEI page is titled “Committed to being Better at Together.”
“Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding and dignity everywhere we do business,” McReynolds said in a statement on the website.
Chick-fil-A is no stranger to boycott campaigns, though those efforts usually come from the opposite side of the political aisle. The company, known for its strong Christian ties, has been criticized for donating to groups with anti-LGBTQ missions. As a result, many on the left have refused to eat there, while it has been a haven for those on the right.
Conservatives, however, have become increasingly outraged by DEI initiatives. Chick-fil-A’s website, which only vaguely outlines its DEI efforts, still seems to be enough for the right to change its tune about the brand.
“Even our beloved Chick-Fil-A has fallen to the DEI cult,” one person tweeted. “the same agenda that is turning our beloved military woke.”
“It’s becoming an epidemic that even Christian companies are being strong-armed to participate in,” the tweet continued.
Old Clip of Chairman Resurfaces
Some have also started resurfacing an old clip of Chick-fil-A Chairman Dan Cathy speaking on a panel about racism during the summer of 2020. During the discussion, he talked about repentance and said that if you ever see someone who needs their shoes shined, you should do it. He then walked over to a Black person on the panel, got on his knees, and shined their shoes.
“There’s a time in which we need to have, you know, some personal action here, and maybe we need to give them a hug, too,” Cathy said while shining the shoes.
“I bought about 1,500 of these and I gave them to all our Chick-fil-A operators and staff a number of years ago,” Cathy continued, in reference to his shoe-shining brush. “So, any expressions of a contrite heart, of a sense of humility, a sense of shame, a sense of embarrassment begat with an apologetic heart — I think that’s what our world needs to hear today.”
The clip caused a stir when the events first unfolded, and has prompted a new wave of anger now. Some are accusing Cathy of being “a woke, anti-American, anti-white BLM boot licker” who thinks all white people need to shamefully shine the shoes of Black people to apologize for racism, though that is not what he said.
These boycott calls are just the latest from conservatives who have been on a rampage against any company supporting any social cause they deem as “woke.” Earlier this year, the political right took a stand against Bud Light after it included a trans influencer in a sponsored Instagram post. Just last week, Target and Kohls faced boycotts over items in their Pride Month collections.
See what others are saying: (The Hill) (Rolling Stone) (AL)
Bioré Apologizes For Referencing School Shooting in Mental Health Ad Campaign
“Our tonality was completely inappropriate. We are so sorry,” the skincare brand said.
Video Faces Backlash
The skincare brand Bioré apologized this week for partnering with a school shooting survivor as part of its Mental Health Awareness Month campaign.
“We are committed to continuing our mental health mission, but we promise to do it in a better way,” the company said in an Instagram post on Sunday.
Last week, influencer and recent Michigan State University graduate Cecilee Max-Brown posted a video to TikTok sponsored by Bioré where she discussed the numerous challenges she had faced throughout the year. Among them was a school shooting on her college’s campus, which killed three people in February.
“Life has thrown countless obstacles at me this year, from the school shooting to having no idea what life is going to look like after college,” Max-Brown says in the video. “In honor of mental health awareness month, I’m partnering with Bioré skin care to strip away the stigma of anxiety.
“We want you to get it all out, not only what’s in your pores, but most importantly, what’s on your mind, too,” she continued.
In the 50-second video, Max-Brown went on to discuss more details about her mental health struggles, as well as how “seeing the effects of gun violence firsthand” has impacted her and led to “countless anxiety attacks.”
“I will never forget the feeling of terror that I had walking around campus for weeks in a place I considered home,” she said before closing the video by encouraging her followers to participate in Bioré’s mental health campaign.
The video ignited swift outrage from people who accused Bioré of using a school shooting to sell products. In its apology, the brand admitted the video was misguided.
In the past, Bioré said it has worked with influencers to discuss and reduce mental health stigmas, as the subject is a top priority for its consumers.
“This time, however, we did it the wrong way,” the company said. “We lacked sensitivity around an incredibly serious tragedy, and our tonality was completely inappropriate. We are so sorry.”
Max-Brown also apologized on TikTok, writing that the video was intended to spread awareness, not suggest a product fixed the struggles she has experienced as a result of the shooting.
“I did not mean to desensitize the traumatic event that took place as I know the effects that it has had on me and the Spartan community,” she wrote.
Max-Brown has since removed the initial sponsored video from her account.


text:
It looks like Chrysler is going to give car shoppers a holiday gift as incentive to signing on the dotted line. After a rough year that saw the automaker break away from its Daimler overlords, Chrysler wants to end 2007 on a high note. To that end it will be offering rebates
on virtually every vehicle in the lineup during December. Though there's no word on specific amounts, according to The Wall Street Journal
the campaign will begin with a series of ads on Nov. 20 and cover Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles. The biggest discounts will likely be offered on the four models about to be discontinued
: the Chrysler Pacifica, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire, and the Dodge Magnum. If any of those has been on your short list, it looks like a great time to get one.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

domain: news


text:
Be The First To Know
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and stories in the interior design across the Middle East straight to your inbox
Dubai’s Conrad Hotel turns to Somfy
Dubai’s upcoming Conrad Hotel, expected to open in the first half of 2012, will use two products from Somfy, a manufacturer of automated controls.
As a luxury brand of the Hilton International hospitality group, the 559-room hotel is housed in a 250m tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, which also contains office space.
The hotel will include 1800 units of Glydea, Somfy’s automated curtain track, for black-out curtains and sheers in guest rooms as well as public areas.
It will also feature 475 units of Sonesse 30 RTS, an ultra-quiet tubular motorisation system with radio frequency technology, which is being installed for bathrooms window coverings for roller shades as well as cord-lift Roman blinds.
Somfy automation systems have been installed in many luxury hotels in the GCC, such as Armani Hotel in Dubai, W Hotel in Doha and Park Hyatt in Jeddah.


text:
The worth of the Axie Infinity (AXS) Binance Launchpad lottery ticket, which was first offered for $200, has now skyrocketed to over $250,000! That is all due to the astronomical scale during which Axie Infinity and its token, AXS, has grown up to now 12 months.
Again in October 2020, 2,000 AXS tokens have been allotted to every AXS launchpad lottery ticket. Customers who purchased the ticket then for $200 price of Binance coin (BNB) and held onto the token now has a fortune of their fingers. As per today’s AXS market prices, 2,000 AXS is price round $250,000 – that’s over 124,900% rise in value.
What’s the AXS launchpad lottery ticket?
In October 2020, Binance held AXS public sale on its Launchpad platform. The sale, nevertheless, was held within the format of a lottery. Throughout this, a complete of 14,850 AXS launchpad lottery tickets have been up for grabs.
The prospect of successful a ticket trusted the quantity of BNB held in a person’s account. Therefore, previous to the occasion, Binance took a snapshot of customers’ wallets throughout a seven-day interval. Based mostly on this, the platform determined what number of AXS lottery tickets to be given to every BNB holder.
For every lottery ticket, the customers obtained 2,000 AXS tokens. Moreover, BNB amounting to $200 have been deducted from their account. It is because, on the time, a single AXS token value $0.10.
Minimize to immediately, Axie Infinity is at present the largest play to earn blockchain recreation. Moreover, the AXS token has a market cap of round $2,500 billion. Early this month, the sport launched AXS staking characteristic after a lot anticipation. Sky Mavis, Axie’s father or mother firm, airdropped 800,000 AXS to round 10,000 gamers who have been concerned with the sport earlier than October 26, 2020. Even with extra tokens available in the market, AXS’ value has solely gone up.


text:
Dan Hesse has been chatty today, dropping two pieces of knowledge on investors today that could bear on actual Sprint users. The first is that the "unlimited" data plan that Hesse and Sprint have long touted for smartphones may not be as truly unlimited as claimed. About one percent of users on Sprint's network reportedly have their data throttled, according to Hesse: "For those that want to abuse it, we can knock them off" (see update below). Presumably he's referring to smartphone users, as Sprint already eliminated unlimited data for hotspots and other data-only plans. The throttling is mainly in line with what other carriers have admitted to but is contrary to Sprint's own advertising, which purports that Sprint is alone in offering "truly unlimited data."
That's what might affect the one percent (no, not that one percent) now, but what might affect all Sprint customers in the future is the bumpy and winding road to Sprint's LTE launch. The latest turn is that Hesse has told investors that Sprint is putting further investment in LTE partner LightSquared on hold. A Sprint spokesman elaborated, saying "The companies have agreed to realigning our deployment timeline to coincide with FCC actions." That may seem like unimportant money shifting, but it's a bad sign given LightSquared's difficulty getting FCC approval for its 4G network in light of possible GPS interference. Sprint recently gave LightSquared a small vote of confidence by giving it another thirty days to get FCC approval, but this decision seems to undercut that confidence just a bit.
Sorry to put a damper on Sprint's announcement of the first cities that will receive LTE, but in the crazy world of mobile data, it seems there's always a dark lining to any silver 4G cloud.
Update: Greg Kumparak at TechCrunch took a listen to the investor recording at Sprint and points out that Hesse seems to be implying the context here may be limited to roaming customers. We suppose it's possible that Hesse could still mean that Sprint can cut off non-roaming customers as well, but it seems unlikely in this context. Here's the full quote so you can judge for yourself:
By the way, when we say "unlimited," we have terms and conditions. Just like back in the old AT&T days when we launched Digital One Rate, you could abuse it, you know, like roaming, go and use it in your house in rural Montana all the time and you're roaming. We could cut you off. There are certain things in our terms and conditions, those abusers [...] we can manage them and we do that quite aggressively and cut them off. So for the vast majority, your 98-99 percent, to them it's an unlimited experience. But for people that want to abuse it and really run up the big data charge, we can knock them off.


text:
German adhesive technologies and consumer goods giant Henkel opened its global supply chain hub in Singapore yesterday as part of its efforts to...
TWO industry-led initiatives supported by Spring Singapore to boost the container logistics industry were announced by Minister for Trade and...
Becoming frustrated with his job after eight years as a freelance IT support consultant, Mr Lee Shao Xiang decided it was time for a change.
At Yamato, there exists a synergistic fusion of Japanese-style management and a culture of innovation that has led the company to where it is today
Treasure and train older workers to create an inclusive culture of constant development for staff.
It has been a stormy start to the year, with volatile stock markets and plunging oil prices. Faced with a challenging external environment, the...
SMRT is offering up to $3,000 in cash incentives to employees for referring new hires


text:
The Madison County Sheriff’s will soon get eight new vehicles — five Dodge Chargers and three Ford F-150s.
Madison County commissioners unanimously approved the purchases Feb. 10. The vehicle purchases were included as part of the six-year special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) approved by voters in November.
The commissioners agreed to use a portion of the county’s cash reserves to go ahead and buy the vehicles at a total cost of approximately $250,000, with the SPLOST money going back to the reserve fund as it’s collected over the next several years.
Commissioner John Pethel said he didn’t feel comfortable “spending what we don’t have.” But he noted that the board already approved such arrangements with other departments, so he didn’t feel the sheriff’s office could be denied the purchase.
The board recently approved the purchase of two ambulances, which will also be paid for from reserves, with SPLOST money to gradually reimburse that fund.
Commissioner Mike Youngblood said the county is not purchasing anything with money it doesn’t have. He noted that the county has enough in reserves to cover the emergency vehicle purchases until SPLOST money is collected.


text:
Tesla Roadster: 400km/h electric road-rocket delayed again
Search Driven for Tesla for sale
While Elon Musk has had a bunch of cool ideas over at Tesla, it's always a toss-up to work out if they'll actually be a thing or not. Two examples are the Cybertruck and Roadster.
The latter was first introduced back in 2017 as the world's first electric hypercar, and not only would it do 0-100km/h in 1.9 seconds, but it was scheduled to hit Tesla stores in 2020.
We're now living in 2021, and the Tesla has been beaten to the punch by Rimac with its electric hypercar, so where exactly is the Roadster?
Unsurprisingly, Musk has pushed back Roadster production yet again, this time it's been moved to 2023 as Tesla looks to build their other delay-plagued vehicle - the Cybertruck.
“2021 has been the year of super crazy supply chain shortages, so it wouldn’t matter if we had 17 new products, as none would ship. Assuming 2022 is not mega drama, new Roadster should ship in 2023," Musk said via Twitter.
As to whether we'll ever get to see the super-fast Roadster is anyone's guess, but the automotive world has had a pretty rough time over the last couple of years.
Covid-19 restrictions and chip shortages have meant that production lines weren't able to operate, meaning customer deliveries weren't able to be made.
This is the first time that Tesla has referenced the chip shortage, so here's hoping the American brand can get back up and running at full capacity soon.


text:
Financial services major Goldman Sachs is shifting its focus away from the retail banking business, Marcus, Bloomberg reported, citing executives aware of the development.
The Wall Street major is now cutting back the resources dedicated to building a full-service digital bank.
As per the report, rising costs and missed profitability targets are among the causes of concern at Marcus.
Now, Goldman is restructuring and reorienting the operations of the unit, which was launched in 2016.
As part of the plan, the US bank aims to repurpose some of its key retail products and offer them to affluent clients via its wealth management business.
Goldman’s checking account offerings will be provided to wealthy customers and employees at its corporate partners.
The bank will do the same with Marcus Invest and savings accounts.
Goldman plans to retain its credit card partnerships, but it will be very selective about adding them to the list, the report said.
The shift in consumer lending has also triggered discussions for the third big reorganisation of Goldman’s business lines in four years.
The restructuring would see Goldman combine its asset-management and wealth-management businesses.
The business combination is anticipated to further de-emphasise the retail banking business, the report said.
Managers at Goldman have been under pressure to deal with expenses at Marcus.
According to the bank’s internal projections in June this year, losses at Marcus are pegged at more than $1.2bn in 2022.
Citing analysts’ estimates, the publication said that profits at the unit will drop over 40%, which could lead to layoffs and reductions in bonuses.
Last month, the publication reported that the US Federal Reserve is reviewing Marcus’ operations.


text:
The announcement was made late last month and you may have seen Leblanc Bazinet sporting a WODshop shirt at the recent Canada East Regional.
WODshop is the latest brand to sponsor the 6th place finisher at the 2012 CrossFit Games, with Extreme Endurance: Xendurance another company she is an ambassador for.
CEO and Founder of WODshop Jerry Lamigo, made the announcement official a few weeks ago, stating:
“We are thrilled to announce Camille Leblanc-Bazinet as the newest member of the WODshop family. One of the Top 10 Fittest Women on the planet, Camille is the ideal combination of strength, beauty, and intelligence. She is a prime example of ‘having it all’, making her a perfect match for WODshop’s one stop shop mantra.”
You can check out Camille Leblanc Bazinet’s first official shoot with WODshop in the video above.


text:
Independents opened three times more stores (15,233) than multiples (5,094) in 2011, according to the latest report on the openings and closures of all retail and leisure outlets in the UK’s top 500 town centres from The Local Data Company (LDC).
Last year was also a turbulent year in these town centres, where 12,669 independents shut up shop and the chains closed 5,268 units resulting in total closures of 17,937, said LDC.
The net change (openings less closures) was positive as independent occupied units grew by 2,564 (+2.4%), while multiple units declined by 174 units (-0.25%).
These changes mean independents now account for 66% (+1%) of all retail and leisure units in Great Britain, said LDC.
Comparison goods retailers were hardest hit with the sector as a whole showing minimal growth of 0.45%, said LDC. This growth was solely as a result of the independents growing by 1.2% while the multiples shrank by 0.2%. Key growth areas for the independents included auto and accessories, charity, pet shops, pound shops, fashion and general clothing. However florists and garden, menswear, sports, toys, cycle shops and hobbies showed a decline, it said.
The strongest sectors were within convenience and service retail, where again the independents led the way with a 2.9% increase in the convenience sector and their largest increase – 5% – in the service sector.
In the hotly contested convenience sector it was off-licences that showed a massive increase of nearly 12%, while the multiples shrunk by a whopping 28% primarily off the back of Oddbins closures, said LDC.
The service sector has seen independents grow within the credit union/pay day loan sector but most significantly in the hairdressing and health and beauty sector.
Nail bars, of which 95% are independents, have grown by 16.5% alone. One interesting difference between the independents and multiples, in light of the depressed housing market, is independent estate agents grew by 3.2% whilst the multiples shrank by 1.6%, said LDC.
After the comparison goods retailers, it is the leisure sector that has been the second weakest performer with a small increase of 1.3%.
Yet again though the growth is being led by the independents at +1.7%, while the multiples show a tiny improvement of 0.1%.
Within this sector it has been bars, pubs and clubs who have been hardest hit be it the independents or the multiples.
Restaurants, cafes and fast food are where the independents have really made their mark with an increase of 2.2%, while the multiples showed no change.
This could be a result of the multiples having already saturated these top 500 town centres and the likes of McDonald’s, KFC and others looking to expand to edge or out of town where they can pick up vehicular trade, said LDC.


text:
The Bank of Japan upgraded its economic assessments for eight of the country's nine regions in a quarterly report released Thursday, reflecting improvements in business and consumer sentiment thanks to the yen's weakening and rises in stock prices.
It was the first time in three years and nine months that the Bank of Japan has revised up its economic assessments for at least eight regions for two straight quarters. In its previous report, the central bank upgraded its assessments for all nine regions.
The latest report said that the economy "has been picking up" in the Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Kanto-Koshinetsu, Tokai and Kyushu-Okinawa regions, "has been picking up moderately" in the Kinki region, "has been picking up moderately as a whole" in the Chugoku region and "has begun to pick up" in the Shikoku region.
Trade chiefs from 12 countries involved in an ambitious Pacific free trade initiative started a three-day meeting Saturday in Sydney in a bid to make progress toward a U.S.-proposed goal of reaching a deal by year-end. (Kyodo)
Japan will check the recent travel histories of all people arriving at international airports in the country to identify those who have visited Ebola-affected West African countries, the health ministry said Friday. (The Japan News)
The government said Friday it has chosen Nobel physics prize laureates Shuji Nakamura and Hiroshi Amano and five others as this year's winners of Japan's top cultural award, the Order of Culture. (Kyodo)


text:
Taking a Look at Mac OS X Yosemite
Apple has announced their next OS: Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite. This will be available to the public for free from the app store in the fall of 2014.
Yosemite brings a bunch of new features; a whole new look, new Mail features, new Notification Center features, and more.
Developers currently have access to the beta version. However, a public beta will be available to the general public before it is actually released. More info here.
Let's take a look at Mac OS X Yosemite.


text:
In the rat race of magazine subscriptions, single-copy sales and circulation, Italian Vogue‘s editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani comes far from finishing first. But as The Washington Post‘s Robin Givhan found out, that doesn’t make her any less powerful than Anna Wintour or Carine Roitfeld. It also doesn’t stop her from using that power to make bold statements — and it’s OK with her if you don’t like what she has to say.
In her profile of the editor published yesterday, Givhan covers a lot of ground. But her starting point is Sozzani’s controversial 2008 all black edition of Italian Vogue, and how it has changed the mission of Sozzani’s magazine and the expectations consumers place on fashion glossies of all stripes because of that issue.
The special edition came as a response to the whitewashed runways, magazine editorials and advertising that Sozzani started to grow weary of in 2007 — all of the models featured in it were black. Some hailed the issue as a milestone, others thought it was a gimmick vaguely pinned to the Obama candidacy. But for those who know Sozzani, it was right in line with the way she’s always worked.
“Franca’s decision to take a stance on the issue of racial diversity is typical Franca – she does not tackle subjects in a low-key manner,” Wintour says. “She wanted her readers to notice.”
And notice they did. People went so crazy for the issue that Sozzani had to schedule for several tens of thousands more copies to be printed to satisfy demand.
Sozzani was taken aback by the success of the Black Issue. The business opportunity was evident: A market was being ignored. But Sozzani did not want to be perceived as a dabbler, a cultural tourist.
“For me, it became a commitment,” Sozzani said. “I talked to these girls. I promised to take care of them.”
To that end, Sozzani started including more and more black women, even dedicating an issue to Barbie and using only black versions of the doll on the cover.
Still, it’s ironic that many of the complaints surrounding the black issue — and Sozzani’s newer, web-based ventures, Vogue Black and Vogue Curvy, which focus exclusively on black and plus-sized women respectively — is that instead of inclusion, Sozzani was promoting the same crimes of exclusion that traditional fashion magazines commit without thinking about it. Intent tends to loss to impact in most cases, but Sozzani’s commitment to giving women who have been excluded from the fashion industry a voice is such that the message she’s trying to send is more important than the way her critics obfuscate it. Or at least it should be.
And that, we’re guessing, is what gives Sozzani the bravery to soldier on in pursuit of a more heterogenous-looking fashion industry. It also probably helps that she’s bold, doesn’t really care about pleasing everyone and drives a car that can turn on a dime.
Vogue Italia doesn’t have the commercial pressures of its much larger American counterpart. Its greatest strength is its nimbleness and its point of view.
“Italian Vogue magazine is an experimental magazine – that’s the impression people have,” Sozzani says. “I don’t think it’s experimental; it has a vision. It can’t please everybody. I don’t want to please everybody.”
And we’re sure it doesn’t please everyone. But while it will certainly be a long time before faces like Jourdan Dunn‘s and Chanel Iman‘s are as ubiquitous as Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford, when it finally happens, Sozzani will be partially responsible.
To read the rest of Givhan’s profile — which is long, but entirely worth it — click here.
Fashion statement [The Washington Post]


text:
U.S. authorities demanded from Apple to activate the FM radio in iPhone
The head of the Federal communications Commission USA Ajit Pai demanded from Apple to activate the FM radio function in the iPhone. This is due to the recent incidents in the country, when due to hurricanes mobile connection was intermittent and practically the only way of communication between people was FM radio. Apple has commented on this issue. It turns out that in cupertinos Corporation has a solution to this problem.
“It’s impossible. IPhone models 7 and 8 do not have FM radioshow, and they have no antennas, designed to support FM signals,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior Vice President of worldwide marketing.
In other words, the latest models of iPhone at the hardware level does not support FM radio. But at the same time says nothing about older devices, like the iPhone 6S, which is still officially sold.
Experts believe that Apple is simply not interested in the fact that its products support FM radio, as it will negatively affect brand Apple Music service. The company also claims that its devices have a function of notification about emergency incidents.
According to the FCC, at the beginning of this year among the most popular smartphone models in the US, only 44% were active FM module. Approximately the same number of smartphones out of the box does not support this feature. It is noteworthy that 94% of these devices different models of the iPhone.


text:
Fate of Sweetbay stores in Highlands County remains up in air
SEBRING - In the wake of Bi-Lo Holdings, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, acquiring 72 Sweetbay stores this week, the ultimate fate of the Sweetbay stores in Highlands County remained uncertain Wednesday. Brian Wright, a spokesman for Winn-Dixie, said all the stores will receive the Winn-Dixie name, but the company has not made any decisions on whether to close any of the stores. That will likely not occur until next year when the purchase is finalized, he said. Sweetbay has two stores in Highlands County, one in Sebring and one in Lake Placid.


text:
Most people who recycle are between the ages of 18-34 years old, with 92% of that range reporting they recycle. As the age increases, support of recycling slight decreases with 89% of 35- to 49-year-olds, 87% of 50- to 64-year-olds and 68% of those 65 and older reporting they recycle.
Do younger people recycle more than older people?
Reported rate of recycling among U.S. adults by age group 2019. Reported recycling rate is the highest among younger generations where 92 percent of respondents between 18 and 34 years stated that they recycled, while only 68 percent of those over 65 years old reported recycling.
What makes people more likely to recycle?
Summary: A new study shows that consumers recycle more when they think about how their waste can be transformed into new products.
Do boomers recycle?
Boomers outpaced all other generations in taking responsibility for recycling. … Broken out by generation, Baby Boomers (71%) hold themselves more accountable for responsibly recycling their boxes than others – millennials (60%), Gen Z (59%) and Gen X (58%).
Do teenagers recycle?
However, the reality is that many teens fail to do so. Perhaps teens would be more inclined to recycle if it were taught and emphasized in schools. … However, only 48 percent of recycled paper and 11.5 percent of metal, glass, and plastic were recycled.
Do Millennials recycle?
Some 90% of Millennials and Gen Z’ers recycle regularly while 43% choose to compost and 27% shop “zero plastic” as a way to save the earth, according to the survey.
Do adults recycle?
New York, NY – Nine in ten adults (87%) report that they recycle, though only half of adults (51%) recycle every day, according to a national survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Yesterday’s News.
Which age group produces the most waste?
WRAP carries out extensive research into household food waste, and it, too, has found that those aged 18–34 generate more avoidable waste than any other age group, nearly 50% more than those aged 65 and over.
Who are most likely to recycle?
The majority of Americans that recycle their old technology are millennials (born between 1981 and 1996). The generation that is second-most likely to tech recycle is generation z (born between 1997 and 2012), who represent 17.6 percent of those who tech recycle.
Do consumers care about recycling?
80% of consumers researched said that recycling is the bare minimum we can do for the environment and 76% feel if they “can put it in the recycling bin, and it magically goes to this place called ‘Away,’ and it becomes something else,” it frees the consumer from feeling guilty about the waste.
Can psychology influence the way we recycle?
People were significantly more likely to recycle their cup when their names were spelled correctly: 48% did, as opposed to 26% of those who had no name at all and a paltry 24% of those who had a misspell.
Why do people recycle psychology?
The study highlighted two main reasons why we recycle: first, we experience positive emotions (like pride) when we do so. Second, this cancels out the emotions of guilt that we experience when we trash something.
What generation caused the most pollution?
Baby Boomers Produce Highest Carbon Emissions – The New York Times.


text:
NOKIA and other established handset makers are quickly losing global market share to a push by Chinese no-brand vendors into emerging markets, research firm Gartner said.
Surging growth of no-brand manufacturers coupled with growing smartphone sales boosted third-quarter mobile phone sales 35 per cent, Gartner said yesterday. But Nokia saw its marketshare slip from 44.6 per cent to 36.6 per cent in the period.
No-brand manufacturers, mostly small Chinese firms, have this year quickly expanded their reach outside China into Africa, India, Latin America and Russia.
These manufacturers, who sell in total roughly as many phones as Nokia, will soon focus on smartphones, using Mediatek’s new Android chipset, Gartner said.


text:
Brace yourself for power cutsAparajita Ray | TNN | Sep 27, 2012, 01.13 AM IST
BANGALORE: You'll have no choice but to endure power cuts for short durations between 10am and 6pm, because industries and farmers are fighting for it too. Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) is mulling over a rearrangement of supply to domestic, industrial and agricultural consumers such that everyone is happy.
The crisis has arisen because two units of Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) are not in operation.
Sources told TOI the 20%-30% power shortage is affecting eight districts as well as Bangalore city surrounding rural areas. The situation will persist for a month. On Wednesday, there were meetings at Bescom headquarters between industrial associations of Bangalore, Tumkur, Nelamangala, Peenya and Kolar to discuss the shifting of supply between consumers.
Most farmers and rural consumers at the meeting complained of getting supply for one hour once every three to four days and are not able to operate pumps to store water. Industrial consumers complained of financial losses and manhours wasted due to erratic supply.
A final decision on the supply scheme will be taken on Thursday. Bescom caters to over 3.56 lakh consumers across eight districts of Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Kolar, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Ramnagaram and Chikkaballapur. On an average, the city alone consumes more than 18 million units a day.


text:
Nov- 2021 -14 November
VIDEO: We Take An In-Depth Look At The 2022 Ram 1500 G/T Package!
RAM has been doing a good job of continually updating the fifth-generation Ram 1500 since it debuted for the 2019…Read More »
Jun- 2021 -15 June
TFLTruck Pits The Ram 1500 HEMI eTorque Against The Ford F-150 PowerBoost:
As gas prices continue to rise, automakers continue to come up with more electrified options for their lineups. This includes…Read More »
May- 2021 -9 May
VIDEO: 2021 Ram 1500 TRX – The Best All-Around Pickup Truck Ever?
In 2009, Ford Motor Company unveiled the renowned F-150 Raptor, spawning a whole new pickup truck sub-segment, “the factory high-performance…Read More »
Apr- 2021 -4 April
The Story Behind Ram’s Center Console Easter Egg:
When the 2019 Ram 1500 launched back in early 2018, it became the benchmark for durability, technology, efficiency, and comfort…Read More »
Dec- 2020 -12 December
TFLTruck Takes The Ram 1500 TRX To Its Limits Up The Ike Gauntlet:
There is no doubt that the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX has shaken up the performance off-road market. The 702 horsepower…Read More »
Nov- 2020 -2 November
QUICK LOOK: We Look At The 2021 Ram 1500 Technology Group:
The RAM brand has brought even more technology to its already technologically advanced Ram 1500 lineup for the 2021 model…Read More »
Aug- 2020 -2 August
Is The Ram Heavy Duty A True Fifth-Generation Ram Pickup?
The Ram Truck brand has been on a roll for the past two years taking the title as the second…Read More »
Mar- 2020 -15 March
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Highway MPG Loop:
Last June the Ram brand released details on the eagerly awaited third-generation 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine. Heavily revised with about 80% new…Read More »
Feb- 2020 -24 February
FIRST DRIVE: The HELLCAT-Powered Ram 1500 Rebel “RebHELL” Returns!
You might remember back in October, we showcased a wild creation from one of the members of the 5thGenRams forums.…Read More »
REVIEW: Our Long-Term Laramie Sport Hits The 10,000 Mile Mark:
We’ve reached the 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers) mark on our long-term 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Sport since we bought it…Read More »


text:
A tax crackdown, falling sales of its flagship software Windows and a costly restructure saw Microsoft’s profit fall by 10% in the three months to December.
The Seattle-based technology company beat Wall Street’s expectations with revenue of $25.6 billion in the quarter but profit fell to $5.86 billion, compared to $6.5 billion in the same period a year earlier.
Microsoft took a $232 million tax hit due to an “audit adjustment” by the US’s Internal Revenue Service.
The charge relates to a long-running dispute with the IRS over Microsoft’s accounting policies with its overseas subsidiaries in lower taxed areas such as Ireland, Singapore and Puerto Rico.
The IRS crackdown saw Microsoft’s tax rate rise from 17% a year ago to 25%.
Microsoft warned shareholders that its tax burden may also increase in the future, saying: “Economic and political pressures to increase tax revenue in various jurisdictions may make resolving tax disputes favourably more difficult.”
In November China charged the company $140 million amid accusations of tax evasion, while in the UK the Government has pledged a ‘Google tax’ to crackdown on the practice among tech companies of processing sales overseas.
Microsoft’s results also revealed that $1.4 billion has been spent on restructuring the business in the last six months.
Chief executive Satya Nadella has piloted an overhaul since taking control last February in a bid to modernise the company.
Microsoft has also been dealing with the integration of Nokia’s phone-making business, which it acquired for $7.2 billion last April.
Perhaps most worryingly for investors, revenue from the company’s flagship Windows software fell 13% in the quarter.
Nadella said: “We are taking bold steps forward across our business, and specifically with Windows 10, to deliver new experiences, new categories, and new opportunities to our customers.”
Richard Windsor, analyst at Edison Investment Research, said: “The problem is that the new emerging business that are growing well like Azure, Surface, Office 365, Xbox and so on are still too small to offset the impact of weakness in the PC market.”
Shares in Microsoft fell over 4% in pre-market trade.Reuse content


text:
But would you want to be microchipped? You, a human being?
Up in cheeseland Wisconsin, people at a certain company are getting a chip (about the size of a grain of rice) installed in their hands right between the thumb and pointer finger. This will replace door cards for building and area access, computer logons, and showing a credit card for buying a Hershey bar or a 5-hour energy caffeinator from the employee store.
It's one of those newfangled tech companies called Three Square Market, where CEO Todd Westby says more than 50 of the 80 employees voluntarily went for the implants. They weren't required, but, just like in 7th grade, if all the cool kids are getting them...
This is a technology called RFID (radio frequency identification) which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004. BioHax International (quick! buy some shares of their stock!) handled the technicals on this.
Westby said that, as you might imagine, when the idea was first broached, no one exactly broke their neck to stick out their hand, but after people were reassured that there is no GPS tracking device inherent, they were amenable.
|Microchip poses next to dime|
for size comparison. Jim Croce
always said you can keep the dime.
But fear not, according to Westby: "There's really nothing to hack in it, because it is encrypted just like credit cards are ... The chances of hacking into it are almost nonexistent because it's not connected to the internet," he said. "The only way for somebody to get connectivity to it is to basically chop off your hand."
Holy Cowchip! One minute he's talking about how safe this is, and the next, he mentions chopping off hands.
I don't work anymore, if I ever did, so I won't be faced with the choice of being chipulated or not.
I wonder if my old keycard still works.


text:
Shop owner Sonny Singh said that he got to the Mountain Pine Corner Store around midnight after grabbing some dinner. The store was closed, but he heard alarms going off.
He said that he went inside and saw a man with a gun and some money so he rushed behind the counter and got his shotgun.
Singh says he told the man to drop the gun, but instead he fired a shot. That's when Singh fired back.


text:
Licence of cash Stores threatened
CBC Information enjoys found that new Ontario authorities will endeavour so you can revoke the fresh new license of money Shop Financial Characteristics, one of the largest easy payday loans online cash advance locations in the nation.
The latest Ontario Ministry out of Consumer Attributes alleges the business broke Ontario’s Payday loan Act, and therefore restrictions the brand new costs and this can be energized of the payday loan people.
The Ministry out-of Consumer Qualities alleges the business is actually accountable for “several abuses” this new Operate. It says Bucks Shop has actually recharged people fees more than the limit desired – only about $21 for every single $100 lent – or charged blocked charges.
Anyone who made an effort to sign up for an instant payday loan at their towns from the state have been expected to take out the cash, perhaps not for the dollars, but towards a prepaid debit card. Bucks Shop presumably charged even more costs – around $18 to engage the cards, $8 a month to keep it effective and you may $10 in order to weight they once again – on top of the $21 fee for every $one hundred.
Providers looking to a hearing
Dollars Store Monetary Properties awarded an announcement requesting a hearing on the the issue. The business along with states it’s changed how it does organization during the Ontario, and you may says they no further even offers pay day loan on state, so people go on to revoke people features would not disturb its businesses.
The firm together with states the federal government has actually attempted to force it to send payday loan for the dollars in the place of towards the prepaid debit cards possesses attempted to stop they out of selling facts almost every other than pay day loan.
Regulators authorities try getting in touch with which an excellent “biggest user safety administration step” and state might discharge more information on Wednesday.
Arriving Biggest Kathleen Wynne told you Wednesday the newest Liberals brought in brand new Pay day loan Act to cease businesses out-of gouging people.
“There had been weaknesses for those who were utilizing people characteristics, and we also should make sure they might be protected,” she told you into the a news conference, however, however, she rejected in order to touch upon this specific circumstances.
A great deal more regulation required, claims NDP MPP
New province earned the newest Payday loan Operate during the 2008 – made to end organizations out-of billing exorbitant or invisible fees whenever financing money on performing poor.
One of several rules in the process is a threshold towards total price off borrowing – a maximum $21 on every $a hundred lent.
However, NDP MPP Cheri Di Novo says so it price is excessive, and this $21 recharged for a two-times cash advance indeed results in hundreds of % notice whenever calculated more a complete year, just like most other fund instance home financing.
She claims new provincial authorities needs to do alot more to guard users, hence the modern work cannot wade much adequate. In the 2007, Di Novo tried to ticket a private member’s expenses to help you cover the pace during the 35 %, nonetheless it is ineffective.
“If you query really Ontarians, try charging more than just thirty-five per cent demand for this very day an age, whenever rates of interest remain the one per cent to 3 percent variety, is the fact practical?” Di Novo said.
“I would say which is over realistic in terms of to make income. Extremely banks could well be undertaking handstands whenever they you will fees you to definitely brand of interest.”
Mortgage offer has actually levels out of costs, member states
Aside from the fee limit, there is absolutely no limit interest these companies may charge, with respect to the Ministry regarding User Features.
But, he told you he along with his spouse didn’t come with choice but in order to make use of them. A week ago, they lent $five-hundred out-of a funds Shop place -a loan which he states will surely cost him $650 to blow straight back.
The guy told CBC Reports he is getting billed 17 per cent attract, on top of all the other costs. The borrowed funds bargain boasts far terms and conditions, and lots of levels out-of costs, Joe states.


text:
Nano Dimension entered the Chinese market two months ago via the help of Aurora Group, a 3D printing systems distributor. The company announces today that it established an APAC subsidiary by entering into a cooperation agreement with Shandong Guohui Investment Co., Ltd. (“Shandong Guohui”).
The latter is a provincial platform company owned by the Shandong Province State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, with registered capital of more than $4 billion. This step follows other recent achievements of the 3D printed electronics specialist in the region such as the establishment of its regional headquarters in Hong Kong, the appointment of an additional reseller, and sales of its DragonFly Pro 3D Printer.
With this agreement, the company now covers the most interesting business regions in Asia: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore. Furthermore, this agreement will lead to a collaboration between the company’s partners.
Indeed, Shandong Guohui will team up with AURORA Group, to help promote sales and leases of the DragonFly Pro 3D Printer.
“Nano Dimension continues to deliver results in its two largest target markets – the United States and Asia Pacific,” said Amit Dror, CEO of Nano Dimension. “As we expand our coverage in these key regions, we are witnessing increased interest in our DragonFly Pro 3D Printer, growing collaboration with our strategic partners, and positive feedback from our existing partners. Our Shandong cooperation will contribute to our ongoing marketing activities and will assist us in expanding our reach in China, while our new APAC headquarters and additional printer sales are the latest milestones in our long-term strategy.”
Mr. Yu Shaoming, Chairman of Shandong Guohui, expressed his optimism for future cooperation: “I’m totally confident that with the introduction of world’s leading technology, we will develop the additive manufacturing and electronics industry at a faster speed.”
For further information about 3D Printing, follow us on our social networks and subscribe to our newsletter
Would you like to subscribe to 3D Adept Mag? Would you like to be featured in the next issue of our digital magazine? Send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.org


text:
Four years ago, Bibi Russell told Roxane that the world was about to change in order to put people back at the heart of everything. In 2021, the philanthropic fashion designer’s almost prophetic words resonate more than ever. Bibi now brings us new inspiring and hopeful messages.
Interview By Roxane Grioche, journalist.
more information : www.responsible-economy.org


text:
Coinciding with the newly launched EOS, Huobi partners with SVBC during a pair of key events at this year's Silicon Valley Blockchain Week: Huobi EOS Exchange Silicon Valley Meetup and Global FinBlock Forum.
Popular Movie Themed Burger Concept Announces Strategic U.S. Growth Brand Plans to gain prospects with an innovative limited partnership licensing agreement
Unauthorized and excessive trading, fraud, margin abuse, forgery, document falsification, and customer complaints being settled away with cash payments, and systemic supervisory failure with Supervisor Steve Dalton , Wesley Wilt and Michael Bastardi.
LOS ANGELES - Dec. 29, 2018 - -- Cinedapt is currently in pre-production on the film "Exolatry" to showcase features of Michael Kureth's new revolutionary cinedaptive platform.
SAN FRANCISCO - Dec. 19, 2018 - -- Heath Ceramics, the handcrafted ceramic tableware and architectural tile manufacturer and purveyor, has sold an interest in the company to their employees. With the help of Oakland based The Menke Group, Heath...
AZTLAN Equity Management Announces New Strategic Partnership with Grupo Inversiones Monterrey and Masttro
MCLEAN, Va. - Dec. 19, 2018 - -- AZTAN Equity Management, the independent investment boutique specializing in global small and mid-cap equity strategies, is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Grupo Inversiones Monterrey and Masttro.
Today's crypto exchange market has a lot of options. ro.exchange is just getting started but their plans for the future are clear: establishing themselves not just on the Romanian but on the international market as well.
The Chain-bar app creates a prime social gathering space filled with quality news for blockchain investors to safeguard their investments.


text:
Jun 21, 2016 ... How many germs are on your toothbrush? See how to store and keep your
toothbrush clean from the millions of bacteria that can cause ...
Apr 21, 2014 ... But before you put it in your mouth, consider this: the average toothbrush can
contain 10 million bacteria or more—including E. coli and Staph, ...
Toothbrushes can be home to millions of bacteria. Find out what's living in your
toothbrush and how to keep it clean.
Mar 4, 2016 ... Flushing aerosolizes your poop, depositing bacteria like Escherichia coli, or E.
coli, directly onto your toothbrush—and brushing with an E.
Mar 12, 2014 ... “Toothbrushes can act as a lightning rod for bacteria, viruses and even what we
call fungi or mold and mildew,” Dr. Gerry Curatola, founder of ...
This science fair project was done to find out the best way of reducing bacteria in
toothbrush. The science project experiment involved using and keeping the ...
Oct 10, 2012 ... Toothbrushes are a fertile breeding ground for a number of strains of viruses and
bacteria including the ones that cause the common cold and ...
Sep 15, 2015 ... If you guessed your toothbrush, you're correct. According to researchers, there
can be as many as 1.2 million bacteria on a single toothbrush.
Do all toothbrushes contain fecal bacteria if they're in the bathroom? ... So if, like
many people, you leave your toothbrush in the vicinity of a toilet, does that ...
Mar 22, 2015 ... Viruses and bacteria from an infected person's mouth can live for weeks on a
toothbrush surface, and continue to cause illness, says Cooper, ...


text:
Startups prepare for a downturn: The Globe and Mail spoke with Canadian tech leaders to get their thoughts on preparing for a potential economic downturn. Some companies are announcing layoffs as sales slow due to rising inflation and ongoing supply chain challenges. “We’ve seen tremendous growth over the past few years, and while we’re still in a position to continue our growth, we’d be naive to think it’s going to be clear,” said DMZ Incubator CEO Abdullah Snobar.
Wealthsimple launches new app: Wealthsimple has launched a new mobile app that combines its trading, investing and payout services. In a blog postWealthsimple said this is the first step towards their goal of democratizing finance for everyone.
Jennifer Couldry is stepping down from the Upside Foundation: After six years with the Upside Foundation, Jennifer Couldry has announced that she is stepping down from her role as executive director. During that time, the foundation raised $3 million for good causes by encouraging Canadian technology companies to invest in charity.
Tales of money
Kruzee raises $500K in pre-seed: Online driver training platform Kruzee has announced $500,000 in pre-funding with backers including N49P, Wattpad founder Ivan Yuen, and Juno founder Heather Payne. Founded by University of Toronto alumni Mikael Cataldo and Osama Siddique, Kruzee connects student drivers with instructors and online courses.
Manzil Announces Seed Funding of $2.44M: Halal financial services company Manzil has secured a $2.44 million seed round to expand its services across Canada. Manzil provides alternative mortgage and investment services that meet ethical and Islamic religious requirements, such as not charging interest on loans.
Startup Digital Mortgage Companies: Proptech startup Pine has come out of stealth mode and launched in Ontario. The startup, which has raised $27 million to date, now offers Ontarians a “fully digital mortgage experience” from filling out an application to securing a loan. CEO Justin Herlick told BetaKit that it plans to expand into Canada by the end of the year.
I do it
Entrepreneurs with disabilities are often overlooked: The Globe & Mail spoke with entrepreneurs with disabilities about their struggles in getting products to market and getting funding. While 22 percent of Canadians live with a disability, a 2021 BDO survey report showed that only 0.5 percent of small or medium-sized businesses in Canada are owned by a person with a disability.
Help for Ukrainians to find housing in Canada: Canada has taken in more than 28,000 Ukrainians since the start of the war in Ukraine, but finding housing for all remains a challenge. Proptech startup Soulroom has gathered 25 partners to build a platform to help Ukrainian refugees find housing in Canada, including Toronto-based RentSync. “If we all come together as an industry, we can make a positive impact in an unimaginable time,” RentSync CEO Max Steinman told BetaKit.
Five things every food entrepreneur should know: Launching a new food product requires more than a home kitchen and a pretty logo. Foodpreneur Lab founder Janice Bartley shares five things every food entrepreneur needs to know to build a successful business.
Get the latest startup news, business advice, industry updates and success stories from Toronto entrepreneurs on our news page.


text:
The Brentwood health care company IMAC Regeneration Centers is selling a biotech business it acquired last year.
IMAC is selling its biotech business BioFirm, which produces an umbilical cord stem cell product, to Self Care Regeneration for about $320,000.
In August 2018, IMAC paid $1,000 to acquire 70% of BioFirma. The company made BioFirma’s president Ian White IMAC’s chief scientific officer.
The sale means White will leave the company, becoming an external scientific advisor. White will be the chief scientific officer for Self Car Regeneration.
In the registration statement IMAC filed when it went public, the company stated that it planned to invest about $500,000 from the public offering into BioFirma. Part of that money was supposed to pay White for three years.
Following the sale, IMAC will still be able to buy BioFirma’s stem cell product at a discounted rate. IMAC expects the sale to close before the end of the year.
IMAC announced the sale a few days before releasing its third quarter financial results. Patient revenues for the third quarter of 2019 at the fast growing company increased by about 35% compared to the third quarter of 2018, but the total loss for the company also increased by about 50% for the same period.
IMAC recently expanded the footprint of an existing clinic in Missouri and opened two new clinics in Illinois.


text:
When was the last time you saw a sign in the produce section saying the apples or oranges or cucumbers had been waxed? But there they were, all shiny and squeaky.
But now, as the new Food and Drug Administration label requirements go into force, you may see placards specifying that some fruits and vegetables have been "coated with food-grade animal-, vegetable-, petroleum-, beeswax-" and/or "shellac-based wax or resin to retain freshness."
Along with its reworking of packaging labels, the FDA also has updated the language on coatings, which are used to improve appearance, retain moisture and retard decay.
Retailers have been obligated for years to supply point-of-purchase labeling for produce that has been waxed, because the waxes are food additives and the FDA has required all ingredients to be listed.
But most stores have ignored it the requirement with impunity, because the FDA devoted its limited enforcement manpower to greater health hazards, former FDA Commissioner Alexander X. Schmidt stated several years ago. In fact, most policing of food labeling has been left to local agencies and little is done unless a problem is noticed.
The new label regulations, though, could bring more intense monitoring of packaged and fresh products at stores, including information about wax or other coatings.
Marketers have been waxing fewer fruits and vegetables in the last few years because of objections from some consumers and because misting devices have proved a better way to preserve moisture. But waxing still is necessary for some products.
"Waxing serves primarily as a way to keep moisture in," says Robert Shewfelt, professor of food science at the University of Georgia. "Fruits and vegetables are up to 95 percent water. If they dry out, they're gone: They become soft and mushy. Waxing is critical to oranges, for instance."
The coatings, all of which must be FDA-approved for human consumption, are of three main types: shellac, refined from lac bug secretions; carnuba wax, which comes from a Brazilian palm; and paraffin, an odorless, tasteless, non-digestable petroleum derivative.
Combined with water and wetting agents these are applied in an extremely thin coat. One pound of wax can cover 160,000 pieces of fruit, according to the Center for Produce Quality, an industry group.
Speaking of labels, meat eaters will start finding food safety instructions on packages of raw and partly cooked ground beef, sausage and poultry by May 28. They will be required on all uncooked meat and poultry by July 6.
The safety labels tell consumers that the product could contain bacteria that could cause illness if not cooked thoroughly, kept refrigerated and otherwise handled properly.
An outbreak of E. coli poisoning from undercooked hamburgers at a fast food restaurant on the West Coast in January 1993 prodded the Department of Agriculture to issue the regulation last August. But implementation was delayed after a group of grocer organizations challenged the label in federal court.
The USDA refined the original label requirements, then republished them March 28 with a 60-day grace period for manufacturers and retailers to put them into effect.
The labels will first be found mostly on individual packages of hamburger, sausage and ground turkey, then on all meats. They also could be found on such items as frozen links and perhaps a few TV dinners in which the meats are not fully cooked, says Sally Jones, a food technologist with USDA food safety and inspection service.
Items such as hot dogs and prepared hams, which already are fully cooked, will not be affected, she said.
Grocers claim these safety labels will cost millions of dollars for printing and labor, but so far there has been no further legal attempt to thwart them.


text:
15 Jan 2015 — CBME Expo Istanbul
Snuza exhibited at the CBME Expo, Istanbul between 15-18 Jan 2015. The stand displayed the Snuza brand for the first time at this show.
There were more than 350 exhibitors. Most of the products on display were mostly known to the visitors. Snuza proudly displayed their products at the show and was recognised as the only company at the Expo, who show cased brand new, unique and high technology products. The Snuza Hero attracted a lot of interest as an innovative product on display.
This was the first time that Turkish parents were introduced to this portable, cordless movement monitor. They were very impressed by the perfect sensitivity of the device. Not only did we get good brand exposure but it created a lot of interest in movement monitors.
It looks like Snuza will soon become a very reliable brand in the Turkish Market.


text:
Acer Inc. said Monday that three senior executives had recently left the company and some of them won't be replaced as the embattled personal-computer maker tries to keep costs low.
NYS Entity Status
NYS Filing Date
DECEMBER 17, 2013
NYS DOS ID#
NYS Entity Type
DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION
2013 - EXECUTIVE DIRECT INC.
AROUND THE WEB
- Acer Sees Senior Executive Departures
By Aries Poon - Monday Dec 30, 2013
- Fundraising with Direct Mail: What Every Small Nonprofit Needs to Know
By Leigh Reynolds - Wednesday Jun 7, 2017
A solid development plan used to rise and set around direct mail, and while there are many new fundraising channels available today, direct mail can and should still be an important part of your plan. Here are seven steps to executing an effective direct plan campaign that’s also integrated into your overall communication and fundraising
- Soupman Inc. of 'Seinfeld' Fame Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
Tuesday Jun 13, 2017
Soupman Inc., of “Seinfeld” fame, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, just weeks after a top company executive was charged with tax evasion.
- Apple, Moving In on Prestige TV, Poaches Two Sony Executives
By BROOKS BARNES - Friday Jun 16, 2017
The company’s hiring of two respected leaders, who cultivated shows like “Breaking Bad” at Sony, signaled to Hollywood that Apple is serious about original programming.
- The Decline of the Baronial C.E.O.
By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ - Saturday Jun 17, 2017
Corporate giants once had all-powerful chiefs with domains to match. But activist investors and technological change are remaking the executive suite.
- Nike to Sell Some Items Directly to Amazon
Wednesday Jun 21, 2017
Nike has agreed to sell some of its products directly to Amazon.com Inc., a person familiar with the matter said, a concession by the sneaker giant that it can no longer afford to ignore the online retailing behemoth.
- Food & Wine Magazine Will Leave New York for Alabama
By STEPHANIE STROM - Friday Jun 23, 2017
The move reflects a changing business in which traditional food magazines, and a Manhattan address, are less important.
- U.S. Probes SeaWorld Over Executives' Comments on Documentary
Saturday Jun 24, 2017
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. said it received subpoenas from the government related to trading in its securities and statements made by its executives, including those discussing the impact of “Blackfish,” a critical documentary that sent ripples through the company.


text:
Voice biometrics has proven to be universally embraced as an effective replacement for PINs and passwords. Organizations around the globe have increased security and their customer service game by making it as easy as speaking a simple passphrase for customers to authenticate into their accounts. Most recently, Investec, a South African banking and asset management group, became the first in its region to use voice biometrics in their call center. This type of innovation gives Investec a substantial competitive edge in customer service.
Forget passwords and PINs, your 3rd grade teacher’s name and card verification numbers. Companies around the globe are making accessing accounts though customer care agents as simple as small talk.
I observe this time after time, especially in the financial industry where competition is fierce and customer satisfaction is vital: Customers are frustrated with the authentication process when calling a contact center. The top reason for frustration is failed authentication and inability to access important information. People hate to fail. It creates a negative experience and perception of customer service along with a damaging brand perception. In contrast, voice biometrics is overwhelmingly preferred by consumers – it’s easy and secure, and lets customers off the hook in terms of remembering complex passwords/PINs or carrying anything with them.
Joining a growing number of banks around the world, earlier this week Investec announced that it will be the first financial services company in South Africa to offer voice biometric authentication in its call center. The new service allows Investec clients to confirm their identity simply with the sound of their voice during the normal conversation at the start of their call. Within seconds, information will be provided and transactions will be completed – assuming identification is positive. This innovative financial institution has joined other banks that are transforming their customer service, such as Barclays and Tatra Banka. This is also an exciting development for the region. With the assistance from Investec, South Africa is becoming a hotspot for convenient, secure and fast voice authentication with millions of customers’ voiceprints enrolled. In the most recent global voice biometrics census, Opus Research states that the EMEA region is among the top to adopt the technology.
One of the key business drivers for the rapid adoption of this technology is the improvement to customer satisfaction and the positive effect it has on customer retention as well as new customer acquisition. Craig West, head of Investec’s Global Client Support shared with us that voice authentication is going to drive new customers to the Investec brand and strengthen the relationship with existing customers. He also reflected upon how innovation and exceptional customer service is going to transform the banking experience.
OneVault, Nuance’s partner and voice biometrics specialist in South Africa, also expressed this view. More and more, consumers prefer to authenticate in a conversational manner, a trend underscored by OneVault CEO Ravin Sanjith at the 2014 Voice Biometrics Conference in San Francisco as shown in the video below. This is such an exciting time for voice biometrics technology.
This was a contributed post by Oksana Walton. She earned an MBA from the University of California, Davis and Masters of Science Equivalent in Aerospace Engineering from Moscow Aviation Institute. Oksana is fluent in Russian and enjoys developing and honing her communication and leadership skills with Toastmasters International. To see more content like this, visit the Customer experience section of our blog.


text: The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association announced that online registration is now open for the “International Big R Show” to be held October 29 October 31, 2005 at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. Visitors to www.BIGRShow.com can also review a list of the exhibitors at the virtual trade show. Attendees may choose from a variety of options from member/nonmember packages to single event seminars as well as expo-only registration that includes admittance to the International BIG R Show at the Riviera Hotel on October 29-31, 2005. Room reservations at the Riviera Hotel can also be made online at www.BIGRShow.com or by calling 800 634-6753 or 1-702-794-9412. Just mention the APRA Group Rate of $109 U.S. single/double.


text:
Zynga and French social developer Koboko have settled a trademark dispute over the “Ville” suffix, which Zynga attaches to a range of games. Gamasutra reports that the terms of the agreement have been kept confidential, but Kobojo said no money changed hands. Pyramidville was recently renamed PyramidValley, though.
Buy our t-shirts, yeah
They're far more stylish than your average video game website tat.


text: WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The underlying rate of U.S. inflation was unchanged in April, the Labor Department said Wednesday. The consumer price index increased 0.5% in April, driven by a 4.5% gain in energy prices, the fastest increase in energy prices in more than two years. Food prices jumped 0.7%, but other price increases were moderate. The core CPI, which excludes food and energy costs, was unchanged in April, the lowest rate of underlying inflation since November 2003. Economists were expecting the CPI to rise 0.4% in April after a 0.6% gain in March. The core rate was expected to rise 0.2% in April after 0.4% in March.


text:
Kenya Covid infections fee crosses WHO high-risk limitKenya’s coronavirus infections fee has crossed the WHO high-risk restrict of five p.c for the first time because the authorities lifted the…… The Chicago online ticket marketplace enters the sports Finance playing trade with the acquisition of Betcha Sports. An effort led by mHub, which contains a half-dozen projects centered on climate change, is the one one of seven pitches from the state to be named a finalist.
- Amid provide chain points leading to emptying store shelves, the most typical present beneath the Christmas tree this year could additionally be a present card, according to a retail skilled at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
- We will send you a quick reminder in the future, in case you change your thoughts.
- The app’s users also can repost and share articles and movies from the Fox Business app on most social media shops.


text:
HAVANA TIMES — If memory serves me right, the first electrical appliances I ever used were the Orbita fan which afforded me a cool night’s sleep the few nights without power cuts, the iron that smoothed out all of the uniforms I ever had to wear (from primary to high school) and a green Aurika washing machine which always looked on the verge of falling apart when tumbling clothes dry – and always, incidentally, remained in one piece.
Many of these appliances, manufactured in the former Soviet Union over 30 years ago, continue to be used in Cuban homes. “Russian irons” continue to be repaired at workshops and the metallic jars for the Soviet-made Eta blenders continue to be produced at street-level.
It comes as no surprise that, during the flamboyant “Energy Revolution” Cuba undertook in the early 2000s, many people who owned Frigidaire-brand refrigerators or air conditioning units made in the USSR, refused to trade these in for their new Chinese counterparts.
Not long after these replacements were made, some of the appliances which have been roughing it for decades conserve their aura of immortality, while the modern Haier refrigerators and Liya rice cookers pile up like junk at repair shops and warehouses.
Today, Cubans are becoming accustomed to the disposable and fragile nature of a new generation of electrical appliances and begin to feel pangs of nostalgia for the times of durable – and repairable – devices.
It is within this context, a world governed by the buy-throw-away-buy-again logic, that the SOP (“Sin Obsolescencia Programada”, “No Planned Obsolescence”) movement arises. Planned obsolescence, a concept that is almost entirely new to Cubans, refers to the practice of deliberately producing short-durability objects in order to keep consumers purchasing new products.
— The appliances sold in the country are not manufactured locally, but imported.
— Cubans earn ridiculously low wages.
A Cuban earning an average salary (450 Cuban pesos a month) would need to put away his entire wages, every month for over two years, to be able to purchase an iron, a blender and a TV (about 20, 50 and 400 CUC, respectively) at a hard-currency store.
This fact alone makes the abovementioned, short-lived electrical appliances irreplaceable treasures in Cuba.
The SOP movement, impelled by Spanish engineer Benito Muros, aims to sell products that aren’t designed to have a short lifespan and are environmentally-friendly, drastically reducing the volumes of waste materials produced by today’s modern products.
Muros’ company, OEP Electrics, has created a light bulb “without planned obsolescence” that has a guaranteed lifespan of 25 years and can be repaired and reused indefinitely. In addition, the light bulb saves up to 92 % in electricity and produces 70 % less carbon dioxide.
If the Cuban State is at all interested in an energy revolution that actually yields results, it should lend an ear to the SOP movement and do away with Cuba’s so-called energy-saving bulbs, electrical stoves and fearsome Parker brand DVD players.
A positive first step, for instance, would be to build a plant for the manufacturing of Muros’ bulbs on the island.


text:
Marketing automation and analytics SaaS provider Heap on Dec. 12 set sail a new edition of its platform into a tank already full of highly competitive sharks in the customer insight analytics market.
The 4-year-old company, which has grown organically and already claims more than 6,000 customers, launched what it calls “the industry’s first platform to automate all phases of customer insights.”
It had better be good to compete with the likes of Marketo, Deloitte, McKinsey, Teradata, Accenture, Salesforce, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle and dozens of other companies that have large and loyal customer sets. If it is, rest assured that it will get a good look; eWEEK has been told time and time again by IT buyers that it doesn’t matter if they haven’t heard of the company before. If the technology works, and it solves a problem inside an IT system, it will be bought.
Heap Automatically Captures, Validates Data for Workloads
The new Heap platform automatically captures, validates and connects all types of customer data, giving companies in various sectors the ability to discover meaningful customer insights in order to drive better business decisions.
Data-driven organizations rely on insights to stay competitive, but they’re often swimming in bad data and tedious processes that get in the way of meaningful insights. Data teams spend the majority of their time manually cleaning, instrumenting and checking for errors instead of extracting relevant observations that inform important decisions. Heap helps eliminate this complexity, creating the first “insight automation” infrastructure for marketers and data professionals.
San Francisco-based Heap was founded in part by former Facebook employees, including CEO Matin Movassate, a former Facebook product manager, largely because Facebook’s own tools weren’t satisfactory. This was interesting for eWEEK to hear, because Facebook has become a treasure trove of excellent software tools that have been released to the open source community over the years.
“While I was at Facebook, we wanted to use data and analytics to drive decisions that we made. But it turned out that in reality most of my time wasn’t spent on getting insights or getting data science-driven insights to drive our decisions. Most of my time was spent in the manual tasks that existed under the surface,” Movassate told eWEEK.
Automates a Lot of Grunt Work
“In order to get interesting insights, you need to do a lot of grunt work around collecting, organizing that data, cleaning it, structuring it,” said Shawn Hansen, Heap’s Chief Marketing Officer, another former Facebook manager. “This requires looping in developers and data scientists. What we’re trying to do with Heap is automate all that work away, remove those bottlenecks and empower everyone to be smarter with data.”
This can be likened to a well-known sector of the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s, Hansen said, when the sewing machine replaced much of the manual labor of apparel production.
“The introduction of the sewing machine dramatically drive up productivity,” Hansen said. “I think the same thing’s going to happen in data analytics. But the challenge is that most people don’t have access to enough technical resources. We believe that’s the next big frontier in productivity. We were founded from the beginning with the idea of codeless analytics.”
Everyone strives to be data-driven, but it’s almost always an unfulfilled promise, Movassate said.
Overcomes Defects in Data Models
“As companies try to become agile and iterate quickly, they rapidly encounter what they call the so-called ‘Adobe Blackout,’ where any defect results in lost data that has to be reconciled, costing teams weeks or months. Heap virtualizes the underlying data structure, enabling companies to flexibly rewire analytics without losing any data integrity,” Movassate said.
This is yet another large potential market. Researcher MarketsandMarkets estimates that the customer analytics software sector will be worth $4.5 billion by 2019.
Heap’s autonomous customer insights platform has three key layers: data capture, control and insights. The data capture plane automatically captures all behavioral data from sources across departments and domain-specific tools into one standard schema; the control plane assures data integrity and ability to change event definitions on the fly; and the insights plane produces networked insights across marketing, sales, and customer success silos, Hansen said.
New additions to each layer in this release include:
- Non-Destructive Data Modeling: Like modern music or photo editing, data professionals can rapidly define and model new insights without touching the raw data structure. This accelerates productivity by unlocking much faster iteration. Virtual event definitions enable the ability to retroactively update metrics on the fly wherever they are used.
- Sources: Fifteen new data source connectors to further strengthen a seamless, connected network of customer insights—including Salesforce, Marketo, and leading email and payment providers. All history and events are available with one-click connectivity, and no custom coding required.
- Data Integrity Score: A data scoring system that automatically ranks all customer data by level of usefulness and trustworthiness to empower companies to measure, define, and control how data is accessed across the business.
- Dashboards: Data visualization reports across silos of departmental data that provide a bird’s-eye view of customers, breaking down team barriers and speeding up time to insight.
Heap has raised $40 million in funding to date, including a recent $27 million Series B led by New Enterprise Associates and Menlo Ventures.
Founded in 2013, Heap serves more than 6,000 companies in e-commerce, SaaS, fintech, retail, media and others, including Twilio, LendingClub, App Annie, Optimizely, Morningstar, Monotype and Casper. For more information, go here.


text:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that anyone interested in having a product excluded from the safeguard measures imposed on imports of solar products must submit an application by March 16, 2018. Comments in response to exclusion requests must be filed by April 16, 2018. USTR set these deadlines and established the
Husch Blackwell’s Jeffrey Neeley authored an article, “Solar Panel Tariff Creates New Uncertainty” that appeared in Law360 this week. The article discusses in depth the proclamation signed by President Trump last week. From the article:
[T]he relief announced provides that the first 2.5 gigawatts of imported cells are excluded from the additional tariffs. The use of an
On January 22, 2018, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced that the Trump Administration is granting relief for the domestic solar panels and modules industry under section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974. This confirmed the fears of many consumers that there substantial additional duties would be imposed on those products.…
On April 26, 2017, Petitioner Suniva, Inc. filed a Petition for Global Safeguard Relief Pursuant to Sections 201-202 of the Trade Act of 1974 on imports of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells and Modules (Solar Cells).
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION
The merchandise covered by this petition is crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, and modules, laminates, and panels, consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not partially or fully assembled into other products, including, but not limited to, modules, laminates, panels and building integrated materials.Continue Reading Petition Summary: Section 201 Global Safeguard Investigation On CSPV Cells And Modules (Solar Cells)
On April 20, 2016, the U.S. Senate passed the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (the Act) by a vote of 85-12. If signed into law, the bipartisan bill would impact manufacturing operations across industries by promoting energy efficiency; encouraging renewable energy development; facilitating improvements in infrastructure, including grid storage; removing certain hurdles to the development and export of oil and gas, critical minerals, and other resources; and making other changes intended to keep pace with the nation’s rapidly changing energy industry.
Continue Reading Senate Energy Bill Could Impact Manufacturing Operations Across Industries


text:
Apple will soon be holding it's annual event to launch new products and updates to existing ones. Here are some thoughts and rumours that we have gathered so far.
Since last year Apple have launched the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, in sequence, this year should be an "S" year. So one would expect that the next-gen iPhones will be named iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. Nonetheless, some articles are stating that since the name "iPhone 6S Plus" is quite a mouthful, Apple might actually skip this year's "S" and go for the next number "7".
Apple's 'Force Touch Technology' will allow users to use different amounts of pressure to interact with the device. Some articles are saying that this technology will be found on the new iPhones. This will allow the users to interact differently with their mobile phone. Also, this presents a great opportunity for new ideas for us mobile app developers, adding a new level of interactivity for our users. However, in case you are looking for an affordable iPhone back glass repair this site has the information you need.
It is possible that new iPhones will be getting a bumped up mega-pixel count (Some say 12MP in the rear-facing camera) allowing for sharper image quality. Apple hasn't changed the MP density since the iPhone 4S. Also, some are saying that the new iPhone will have a dual lens camera, which should bring a greater image quality. Lastly, the front-facing camera is said that it might be capturing 1080p video footage. These sound like some great updates that we would all want in our phones.
Rumour has it that the Apple TV will be getting an update. This hasn't happened since January 2013. We are expecting major updates in terms of specs. The Apple TV is said to have the iPhone 6's A8 Chip, which is quite a jump from it's previous A5 chip, which can be found in an iPhone 4S. If a new Apple TV is coming out, we expect it to be coupled with iOS9. Reports say that Siri will be integrated along with prediction features which learns the user's preferences.
It is said that Apple has been hiring automotive designers and engineers from different companies. Apparently, Apple has been working on it's own car for quite some time now. We should expect something in relation to this to be launched around the 2020 year region. And a bunch of new weight loss and fitness apps are coming out from it this year so im pretty excited since ive been focusing on my weight loss journey recently its been hard but ive tried my best to get around it. Going to Medical Weight Loss Scottsdale really did help me out a lot a professional clinic will do you wonders.
Well, rumours are rumours and nothing is confirmed here, but bear in mind that most of the time, they can result as correct accordingly to customer engagement studies from Salesforce. We look forward to Apple's launch held on the 9th September at 7:00pm and let's hope that the result is what we have all been waiting for.
Latest Blog Posts //


text:
Donald Trump is at a manufacturing plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Tuesday prepared to sign an executive order that will clamp down on foreign skilled workers coming to the U.S.
The move, another in the U.S. president’s promise to get the country on board with the “Buy American, Hire American” doctrine, is expected to make it harder for U.S. companies—especially those in the tech sector who have perhaps tapped it the most—to fill mid-level jobs with overseas workers.
At a briefing with reporters, The Hill reported officials from the Administration as saying, “The current system awards visas randomly with no regard to skill or wage…This will make it tougher to undercut American workers because they will no longer be replaced by workers making beneath the market wage.”
Really, the officials said, the program should revert to its original purpose of bringing in high-skilled, higher paid workers for more technical or specialized roles.
According to the Trump Administration, the H-1B visa program has been abused by bringing in workers for cheap labor (which undercuts the American worker) rather than because their skill set is really required.
The order won’t change anything immediately and it likely won’t affect the number of H-1B visas issued each year. What it will do is get the Labor, State, Justice and Homeland Security departments to thoroughly review the program and suggest ways to improve it. It will also raise the qualifying criteria for those who apply to allow only high earners with unique skill sets and advanced degrees to be considered, and it may adjust the wage scale the U.S government uses when assessing applicants.
“We’ve never had a systematic review like this,” The Hill reported an Administration official as saying. “These steps are broadly supported by American workers and would bring these programs into compliance with their original intent. H-1B was intended to be a skilled worker program, but most of those using it are paid less than American workers in their field.”
At the rate that technology is changing, today's skills will soon be yesterday's news so companies must address the need for ongoing employee education.Read more
The latest sourcing country to see its wage rates rise is Mauritius, where garment workers will take home more than double their previous pay starting in January.Read more
The global economy will expand in 2018, matching the rate of growth achieved in 2017 and marking the first time since 2011 that global growth topped 3 percent, according to an annual forecast by business information provider IHS Markit.Read more
Mozambique is working with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) to take its domestic cotton sector to the next level with additional environmental efforts.Read more
Consumers are spending more and shopping earlier this holiday season, providing hope for a strong performance throughout the balance of the shopping period.Read more
Terry Lundgren, Macy’s executive chairman, is retiring from the company’s board, plus Nike added two new executives to elevate its digital and retail teams.Read more
Omnichannel is more than just a buzzword—it's a necessary strategy for survival but too many retailers are struggling amid the current retail turmoil to keep up with consumer demands for a seamless experience.Read more