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We have closed the new issue of Digiday magazine. Expect to receive it in a few weeks. You’ll get a PDF copy next week. Here’s what we’re tracking this week.
Reality check for publishing
For the past two days, we have hosted 25 top publishing executives as part of our Moguls event in Miami. The event focused on giving executives space to think through problems related to platforms, video and user experience.
The big takeaway: None of this is easy. One discussion point that resonated is the concept that the digital publishing industry is contracting. Google and Facebook have made selling by demographics pointless, one publisher pointed out. Both platforms can do that job far better and on a much bigger scale. Publishers have rightly shifted to doing the things that platforms cannot. But all these custom programs eat up margins and are difficult, if not impossible, to scale.
Meanwhile, publishers are dependent on platforms for traffic, which continues to dwindle from Facebook. One publisher theorized that Facebook penalizes publishers that have engaging content since it doesn’t want traffic going outside Facebook and not returning. The feeling from this publisher: You get penalized for doing a good job. Facebook’s early efforts to help publishers make money haven’t borne much fruit. Its mid-roll ad program was nearly universally panned. The product has a critical flaw outside of low CPMs: Facebook has trained users to impatiently scroll through a feed. Most users never reach the mid-roll ad.
That’s led to more publishers facing a tough reality: Their video views are, for the most part, “bullshit,” in the words of one publisher. Facebook fed this with its absurd 3-second rule for counting a view. Now, publishers are left with fleeting consumption that they can’t make money from. One publisher who has mostly eschewed disposable Facebook video summed up his reasoning: “I don’t waste time on things that don’t make me money.”
For some choice quotes from publishers, check out those we collected from Miami.
— Brian Morrissey
Credibility crisis (continued)
Why is the Uber-Fetch lawsuit actually kind of a big deal? Maybe because lawsuits in general in advertising are rare. As Brian Wieser of Pivotal pointed out in a note this week, the last known similar case was probably the six-year lawsuit that ended last year when gummy bear maker Haribo sued agency Mediaplus over rebates that weren’t passed back.
The fact is, the advertising industry is designed to be open for interpretation — and therefore, open for doubt. Agency contracts are often written in a way that obfuscates exact details about what is or isn’t allowed. That means marketers often don’t want to sue because they may lose.
That’s why this crisis of credibility in digital media is a big deal. On the higher level, it may simply be a lot of posturing among marketer bigwigs that is designed to show their bosses — and shareholders — they really, really care about waste. But on a real, less sexy level, this may finally force them to comb through contracts and hold agencies to standards common in every other industry.
— Shareen Pathak
More in Media
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Publishers’ Q2 earnings reveal digital advertising is still in a tight spot, but digital subscriptions are picking up steam.
Experts reflect how the failures of social media and online advertising can help the industry improve the next era of innovation.
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The Madhya Pradesh government has issued fresh guidelines for unlocking yesterday. According to the new guidelines restaurants and gyms are allowed to admit 50 per cent customers into their establishments. All shops, shopping malls and gyms will open from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm. AIR correspondent reports that government offices and private companies are allowed to work with 100% of their employees. The Janata Curfew will remain effective on Sundays and the night curfew will be in place in the urban areas.
Any gatherings social, cultural, religious, sports, or entertainment will remain banned. Cinemas, theatres, swimming pools will remain closed. School, colleges, coaching institutes will remain closed, but online classes will continue. Assembly of more than 6 people at a time will remain banned. Not more than 6 devotees will be allowed at a time in religious places with Covid protocols.
Large, medium and small industries will be working with full capacity. Sports activities will be permitted, but stadiums will not be opened to spectators. Inter-state and intra-state transportation of goods will continue. Maximum 50 people will be permitted for a wedding, while 10 people will be permitted for a funeral.


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Global wellness brand, VAHDAM® India, has hired ex-tea entrepreneur Ketan Desai as its Chief Tea Educator & Sustainability Officer. Desai has also invested an undisclosed amount in VAHDAM® India, as a mark of his conviction in the brand.
He comes comes with an experience of over 25 glorious years and has previously started and successfully run multiple tea ventures in the past. He is also a seasoned tea taster. Prior to joining VAHDAM®, Desai has been a tea entrepreneur twice before. He started TeaAuction.com – world’s first B2B Tea Auction portal and launched a range of Tea Boutiques by the name of CHA. He also recently co-founded a sports apparel company DFY.
Commenting on Desai’s joining, Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO of VAHDAM India said, “We are very excited to see Ketan join us in our journey of creating India’s first global tea and wellness
brand. His personal investment in the brand is also a strong conviction in our journey and very humbling given his strong background and decades of experience in the tea industry. I am
inspired and motivated by his commitment to VAHDAM and look forward to learning from his experience. We are building a strong executive team for the next stage of growth and strengthen the brand presence globally.”
“The biggest reason for me to invest and join VAHDAM was Bala’s audacity and passion to create a truly global tea-brand that is proudly Indian at heart and global in spirit. Within just 5 years, VAHDAM has been able to achieve what no other Indian brand in any product category has been able to do. The other aspect about VAHDAM that impressed me was the larger purpose and philosophy: Do Good By Doing Good. I am convinced that in the next few years, VAHDAM will redefine what new India’s entrepreneurs can dream and achieve!” said Desai.
The company has till date raised over US$17 Million funding from India’s top investors including VCs like Fireside Ventures, Sixth Sense Ventures, Mankind Pharma, SAR Group, Urmin Group, Chona Family and entrepreneurs like Kris Gopalkrishnan (Infosys Founder), Pankaj Chaddha (Zomato Founder), Amrish Rau (PayU Founder) amongst others.
Founded in 2015 by Bala Sarda, the brand is on a run rate to do 150 crores in Revenue in the current fiscal 2020-2021 and is one of the fastest growing consumer brands from India to reach this scale.
The company which gets ~95% of its sales online primarily through its websites and marketplaces.
Founded in 2015 by Bala Sarda, VAHDAM® Teas is building India’s maiden home-grown global tea brand, taking India’s finest teas and superfoods to consumers worldwide under a home-grown label. It was recently awarded the ‘Global SMB of the year’ by Jeff Bezos in his visit to India.


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When Nintendo first forecasted sales of the Nintendo Switch, the company projected sales of 10 million for the first fiscal year, which ends at the end of March, 2018. Many commentators (including me!), believed this figure to be perhaps even a bit too optimistic. After all, the Wii U sold just 13 million units in its lifetime, how could its successor sell 10 million in just a year?
It seems like those of us were proven wrong, defiantly, by Nintendo. The company announced that since its launch, the Switch has sold 7.6 million units. That figure doesn’t even include sales for October. With six months still remaining in the fiscal year, including the Switch’s first holiday season, Nintendo has also upped its projection for the Switch from 10 million to 14 million in its first year, a massive forecasting upcast.
For much of the year, the Nintendo Switch has been the top-selling console around the world. We will keep you updated on the console’s success as Nintendo reveals more numbers.
Eli buys virtually every Nintendo title that comes out but has expanded his collection to include amiibo. He hasn’t taken them out of their boxes, though, so he might be a bit insane. When not playing video games, Eli likes writing about politics and games. He also runs a decent amount. Outside.


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After a controversial and messy breakup with Konami following years of acclaimed game development in 2015, Hideo Kojima returned at E3 the following year on Sony’s press conference stage to debut the first of many equally lengthy and bizarre looks at his next title, Death Stranding. Attempting to briefly summarize the core concept of Kojima Production’s debut title is still difficult even with mere days left until the title’s proper release, but Death Stranding stars Norman Reedus lookalike Sam Bridges as a man attempting to traverse large swathes of land while transporting packages. It sounds simple enough, until the bizarre elements that characterized Metal Gear Solid start to surface including human babies in liquid pods known as BBs and unexpected celebrity cameos that often aren’t voiced by their representative person and using urine as a means of communication or weaponry and the list goes on. As a result of all this memorable and unexpected imagery and mechanics shaping the next project from one of the more prominent figures of the gaming industry, the potential and resulting expectations for Death Stranding have grown to surprising levels leading up to its launch.
These one-of-a-kind ideas are made more noticeable by Sony’s increasing reluctance to appear at conventions and hold press conferences as much as they used to. Since E3 2018, which represented the first opportunity to see in-game footage of Death Stranding, Sony has since forgone appearing at the annual convention in any capacity, and has now gone two years without hosting their own PlayStation Experience after four consecutive years. Earlier this year, Sony did introduce State of Plays, a live streamed video that serves as a hub for announcements and trailers for upcoming first and third-party titles on PS4, but Death Stranding has yet to make a proper appearance in any of them aside from a brief PS4 Pro bundle reveal. Since the game’s release date reveal back in May, which did admittedly share a fair bit about the adventure, Sony has shared little in the way of trailers and gameplay with American audiences, although Japanese audiences did get nearly an hour’s worth of gameplay back at Tokyo Game Show last month, with commentary directly from Kojima that has yet to be officially translated.
Furthermore, unlike Sony has done as recently as last month with The Last of Us: Part II or in the past with titles like God of War, the publisher still has yet to provide the press with an opportunity to go hands-on with the title in any capacity prior to the game going gold. This reluctance to shine a spotlight on the game has accomplished the intention of creating a significant air of mystery surrounding the title, which can arguably be compelling in its own right. In this age of internet overanalysis surrounding every morsel of detail for anticipated releases, however, the shallow amount of information provided has created mixed expectations on what exactly to expect from the full release. Kojima himself has gone out of his way to keep outlooks in check, stating in an interview with GameReactor that some players may not truly have “fun” with the game until halfway through as the world and mechanics expand. It’s an undeniably strange statement from the creative director of an upcoming release as he attempts to sell fans on an already unfamiliar title, and there’s no telling how true this statement can be considering the wide variety of factors that can contribute to whether or not a player has fun with a given title.
With mere days until the review embargo lifts and the official launch occurring the following week on November 8, whatever feelings potential players have regarding Death Stranding are already locked in for better or worse. The resulting reception from both critics and fans alike will be intriguing to watch, serving as one of the (if not the) first proper release since Sony’s recent shift in pre-release marketing. While the sales numbers seem unlikely to suffer in any significant way, the post-release atmosphere surrounding the title is tough to predict, particularly depending on just how much the title is embraced by the mainstream audience. Death Stranding also marks the final first-party release for Sony’s fiscal year with The Last of Us: Part II having been recently delayed to May 29, upping the importance of the title’s continued success beyond its launch weekend. As Sony prepares for the launch of the PS5 late next year, there’s plenty riding on Kojima’s latest creation, and the manners in which it has been showcased so far and the resulting expectations could end up playing a key role in Sony’s attempts to communicate with fans in the crucial months ahead.


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The automotive business is progressively evolving from gasoline vehicles to electrical automobiles. Considering that just a few firms have taken the lead by producing electrical and photo voltaic vehicles, gasoline vehicles nonetheless outnumber electrical vehicles. Interestingly, many international locations plan to ban diesel and petrol vehicles to guard the ozone layer and make life simpler for others.
A gasoline motor automobile phaseout will also be known as an inner combustion engine ban. In different phrases, automobiles powered by gasoline, gas oil, and petrol shall be banned and changed by electrical vehicles. Moreover, electrical vehicles are cheaper to cost than common vehicles. Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of electrical vehicles, we contemplate electrical vehicles higher.
Battery-powered vehicles are environmentally pleasant and don’t emit pollution. While fossil fuels should still be used to provide the electrical energy that powers them, that is progressively altering as renewable power turns into extra outstanding. Beyond that, EVs even have quicker and higher powertrain and acceleration than petrol vehicles.
Latest Car Phaseout Developments By Various Countries
United States of America
The United States transportation sector is among the world’s principal contributors of carbon dioxide and a possible causative agent of ozone layer depletion and local weather change. Based on the United States Environment Protection Agency report, transportation accounts for about 28% of U.S greenhouse gas emissions.
Hence, Americans’ use of electrical automobiles can forestall and cut back greenhouse fuel emissions. Undoubtedly, electrical vehicles are an efficient technique to advertise wholesome local weather change. But, with an estimation 270 million registered automobiles within the US and a protracted custom of gasoline automobiles utilization, how can this evolution be potential in a short while?
The California Governor, Gavin Newson, announced that fuel-powered cars would be banned in California. More so, the ban consists of gas-electric automobiles or any motorcars with tailpipe emissions. Several questions have been dropped at gentle for the reason that announcement. Does this ban maintain water? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this ban?
The Canadian authorities introduced that fuel-powered motorcars shall be banned from 2035 to achieve 0% emissions by 2050. According to the assertion, new regulations and investments will help the Canadian automtotive and transportation industry transition. Demands for zero-fuel-powered vehicles are rising as automotive firms are gearing as much as produce extra fashions.
The European Union plans to ban fuel motorcars gross sales by 2035. The EU surroundings minister made the 2050 zero-emissions a goal. The proposed plan is to chop down carbon emissions by the 12 months 2030. The transition to electric vehicles is going on quicker in Europe than in its counterparts. According to Reuters, one in 9 of each automobile bought in 2021 was both a hybrid or an electrical car.
Germany has about 570,000 battery-powered vehicles in operation, and the nation began introducing bans on older gas automobiles in 2018. According to Germany’s government of Social Democrats, the country is dedicated to stopping gasoline-powered engines sales by setting a objective to have 15 million battery-powered vehicles in a decade. This proposition places Germany forward of the European Union in banning combustion-engine vehicles by 2035. Considering this goal, the nation will improve the manufacturing of electrical vehicles within the subsequent few years.
Norway depends closely on petroleum income. The nation makes about 50% of its earnings from oil and fuel. However, Norway goals to grow to be the primary nation to cease the sale of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, with the deadline of 2025. With this plan in progress, Norway makes up to 60% of monthly sales from electric motorcars.
China plans to get fuel-powered vehicles off like different superior international locations on the planet. In 2017, China introduced the potential banning of petrol vehicles manufacturing and gross sales. However, they’re but to introduce it to the market. Based on their experiences, new electrical automobiles will make as much as 50% of automobile gross sales and manufacturing in China. By 2035, battery-powered vehicles shall be bought throughout all states in China.
India is working with vehicle firms to transition to electrical automobiles. Companies like Mahindra and Maruti are progressively upgrading their engine designs. Think-tank additionally advisable that solely electrical scooters, motorbikes, and motorcars be bought from 2025.
Other cities like Barcelona, Vancouver, and Copenhagen are set to ban gasoline-powered vehicles by 2030. Many international locations throughout the globe have jumped on the evolution prepare to cease the gross sales of gasoline automobiles.
The Future Is Zero Emissions
While these international locations and plenty of extra have proposed a plan to maneuver in direction of electrical automobiles, many have efficient laws and insurance policies to encourage automobile producers to make battery-powered electrical motorcars. For instance, Volvo is getting 50% of its manufacturing and gross sales to be absolutely electrical. On the opposite hand, Jaguar is transitioning into electric from 2025.
Many modifications within the automotive and transportation business shall be made to realize this objective. Changes comparable to public electrical charging stations changing gas stations.
Some international locations just like the United Kingdom is investing enormous sum of money in constructing charging infrastructure; nevertheless, it is going to take a while earlier than its completion. At the second, there are over 21,000 charging stations within the UK. But, there’s a prediction that not less than 25 million charging factors have to be positioned.
Undoubtedly, this evolution is salvation to local weather change issues and obtain zero emission by 2050. However, many questions come up from reactions to this evolution. Is this transition possible to occur in 2035?
Fast-forward to today, and the Chevrolet Corvette model is still going strong with its eighth-generation C8.
About The Author


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FlexiLoans is the first SME fintech lender to integrate using APIs with Amazon and is one of its key fintech partner for its Lending Program. Both companies are working towards achieving deep technology integrations to make lending offers real time and create an enigmatic customer experience.
In a statement, Deepak Jain, Co-Founder FlexiLoans said, "Indian fintech ecosystem needs such close integrations to deliver real value towards SME financial inclusion with great user experience. Amazon is synonymous to shopping for the millennials and Business men across the country are lapping to join the bandwagon. Our curated offers for sellers makes it very convenient for Sellers to manage their working capital and take advantage of India festive season spikes."
Vivek Somareddy, Director, FBA & Seller Flex, Amazon India, in a statement, said, "FlexiLoans has a great understanding of sellers and their needs in an e-commerce business environment. This gels well with our aim to help sellers grow their business on Amazon.”
India’s total e-commerce retail sales in 2018 were pegged at upwards of $22 billion and is expected to growth by another $50 billion with the increase in new sellers and customers exploding from the new digital hinterlands of the country. India achieved a 53% CAGR growth in e-commerce sales in 2013-17, the highest in the world.
FlexiLoans uses its differentiated technology to reach out to the e-sellers including ones devoid of the funding from banks and other financial lending institutions and provide collateral free loans within a short time frame. FlexiLoans competed three years of operations in April 2019, and crossed 10,000 loans and over 400 crores of disbursals. It has received borrowing interest from over three lakh MSMEs in FY 19, over 300% increase from FY 18.
- Front Page
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- RBI Raises Repo Rate by 50 bps to Tame Inflation
Amid geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain glitches, the central bank abandoned forward guidance but said that monetary policy will be “calibrated, measured, and nimble” to ensure financial and economic stability.Rate Hike may Affect Realty Sales
Currently, home loan rates are hovering around 7.4% after staying at a decadal low of 6.6% for nearly two years.In Twitter Battle, Musk Flags Co’s India Stand-off
Twitter admitted it didn’t disclose the litigation to Musk or contact his companies during the interactions it had with regulators in India. It said the platform did not need to disclose these interactions.
ETPrime stories of the day
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Fed Announces Taper as Payroll Growth Accelerates and Inflation Persists
- The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), following its November 2-3 meeting, announced a reduction of $15 billion per month to the pace of its net asset purchases in November and December. According to their statement, the economy has made “substantial further progress” toward the Committee’s goals of maximum employment and price stability and that a similar pace of tapering “will likely be appropriate” for future months, though this is subject to change based on economic conditions.
- Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 531,000 in October, and the reports for August and September were revised upward by a combined 235,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Leisure and hospitality gained an additional 164,000 jobs and residential construction employment (including specialty trade contractors) rose by around 11,000, the largest gain since July. Average hourly earnings were up 4.9 percent over the year, an acceleration of three-tenths from September. The household survey showed the unemployment rate declined by two-tenths to 4.6 percent, though the labor force participation rate was flat at 61.6 percent, which is about 1.7 percentage points lower than in February 2020.
- The ISM Manufacturing Index declined three-tenths to 60.8 in October (any reading above 50 indicates expansion). The new orders index fell 6.9 points to 59.8, the lowest level since June 2020. The supplier deliveries index rose 2.2 points to 75.6, the highest level since May, indicating that delivery times remain slow. The non-seasonally adjusted prices index increased 4.5 points to 85.7, the largest monthly increase since January. The ISM Services Index jumped 4.8 points to 66.7, the highest level on series record, reflecting more than 6 point increases in the business activity, new orders, and supplier deliveries indices. The prices index rose 5.4 points to 82.9, the highest level since 2005.
- Private residential construction spending declined 0.4 percent in September, according to the Census Bureau. Spending on single-family and multifamily construction fell 0.6 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively, while spending on improvements was down 0.1 percent.
- Light vehicle sales rose 6.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 13.1 million units in October, ending a five-month streak of declining sales, according to Autodata.
- Factory orders grew 0.2 percent in September, the fifth straight monthly increase but the slowest growth rate during that time, according to the Census Bureau. Excluding transportation, new orders were up 0.7 percent as transportation orders fell 2.3 percent. Orders of nondurable goods and core capital goods each increased 0.8 percent. Shipments rose 0.6 percent and inventories increased 0.8 percent, though the number of unfilled orders also expanded by 0.7 percent.
- Nonfarm business productivity fell 5.0 percent annualized in Q3 2021, the sharpest decline since 1981, according to the preliminary estimate from the BLS. The annualized data showed real output rose by only 1.7 percent, while total hours worked jumped 7.0 percent as unit labor costs surged 8.3 percent.
The employment report showed broad-based gains across industries and was in line with our expectations. We expect the release to have minimal effect on our current Q4 economic forecast. However, the participation rate remained stubbornly low as the civilian labor force gained only 104,000 workers, a trend that, if persistent, could lead to an eventual downward revision to our 2022 GDP forecast due to a more limited labor supply next year than we are currently anticipating. Further, coupled with rising wages, the decline in productivity points to some upside risk to our inflation forecast. However, the report should be interpreted with caution, as the metric is notoriously volatile and is likely impacted by ongoing pandemic-related compositional shifts in the labor market.
Many of this week’s indicators, from slowing residential construction to rising unfilled factory orders and slower delivery timelines, continue to reflect the persistent supply chain bottlenecks limiting economic activity. Inflationary pressures remain evident in nearly every economic report, prompting the Federal Reserve’s taper announcement, the timing of which was already incorporated into our forecast. However, the surprise jump in the services index suggests that declining virus cases may accelerate the pace at which consumers substitute their spending away from goods and into services, which could eventually impact our forecast on multiple fronts. First, consumption growth, which we had expected to be weighed down by goods shortages, could be higher than expected if consumers are willing to spend on high contact services instead. Further, lower demand for goods may allow businesses to restock inventories somewhat faster than expected and could partially alleviate some price pressures, though we continue to expect inflation to remain elevated.
Economic and Strategic Research Group
November 5, 2021
Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts and other views of Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae's business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, and other views published by the ESR group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.


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Honda Accord Hybrid to launch on 25 October; pre-bookings now open
The first Honda Accord model coming to India will be the Hybrid version with its launch taking place on 25 October, right on time for the festive season.
The much-awaited update to the Honda Accord is finally here. The first model coming to India will be the Hybrid version with its launch taking place on 25 October, right on time for the festive season. Dealers in India have reportedly begun to accept pre-bookings for the same.
The base price for the Honda Accord Hybrid is expected to start from Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). With that said, Honda is also expected to bring the petrol version, but at a later date.
And it is a much-awaited update indeed. It has been a really long time since Honda brought the last Accord model to India, so much so that it is not even listed on the company's website.
The new Honda Accord Hybrid is expected to be a hot-seller, and is also expected to compete with Toyota's Camry Hybrid that is already available for purchase.
The ninth generation Accord comes with a big face lift, however, it is not as aggressive as the previous model and falls more in line with the Hyundai Elantra sporting a subtle European design. Inside, there are updated interiors and there is a also a large 7-inch infotainment touchscreen system.
Coming to the bits that matter, the Honda Accord Hybrid features a 2.0-litre petrol engine along with twin electric motors that brings the total power output to 200bhp. The peak torque levels top out at 300Nm which is not that bad for a hybrid sedan.
Honda recalls over 41,000 cars to fix faulty air-bags
Honda has announced a recall of 41,580 vehicles in India to replace some faulty passenger front airbag inflators. The recall is said to have affected four models including older versions of the Jazz, City, Civic and Accord, all manufactured in 2012.
Comparo: 2016 Honda Accord Hybrid vs Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Camry Hybrid has been the king of understated opulence in the D segment for a while now. Can the new Honda Accord Hybrid steal its crown?
2016 Honda Accord Hybrid first drive review
Comfort, luxury and advanced tech outline the new Accord Hybrid


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Major players in the American food industry formally launched an effort Thursday to head off regulations requiring labels on genetically engineered foods through the creation of a set of less restrictive federal standards.
The push for voluntary federal labeling standards, first reported by The Hill in November, follows expensive battles in California and Washington state over ballot initiatives seeking to impose mandatory labeling regulations.
The group’s proposal would require labeling for any products deemed by the Food and Drug Administration to carry a public health threat — though, to date, none has — and impose a new mandatory pre-market technology review process at the agency.
At the same time, the measure would put an end to a growing number of mandatory bills that have cropped up in state legislatures around the country.
“The legislation we’re proposing would preclude state legislation that conflicts with the federal standards,” Pamela Bailey, president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, said.
The group is leading the push for a voluntary system and began circulating an outline for potential legislation months ago.
“We don’t know of any specific plans for a specific bill at this point, but we are going to redouble our conversations on the Hill as a coalition,” Bailey said Thursday.
Food safety and consumer watchdog groups that are demanding a mandatory federal system are backing competing legislation now pending in both chambers of Congress. The mandatory bills appear stalled.
Advocacy groups maintain that consumers have the right to know what is in the food they buy. They question whether the modified ingredients could pose long-term risks to public health or the environment.
The watchdogs derided the industry effort as a blatant attempt to keep the American public in the dark.
"Voluntary labeling is an absolutely ineffective policy solution and is not a substitute for mandatory labeling,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director for Center for Food Safety. “Instead of working together to meet consumer demand, GMA is using its deep pockets to ensure that congress and consumers are misled about their food supply.”
But the industry groups contend GMO — also more simply called genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered (GE) — products are no different than any other food, except that the genetically modified ingredients reduce costs and increase crop yields.
“If there was any indication GM ingredients weren’t safe, we wouldn’t be using them,” said Martin Barbre, president of the National Corn Growers Association.
The practice has been around for roughly two decades and as much as 80 percent of the food consumed by most Americans contains GMO ingredients.
“All available science has shown that GMOs are safe,” Bailey said. “This technology is not new, it's been used safely in our food supply for 20 years.”
The industry proposal calls for mandatory labels for any products derived from genetically engineered plants — but only if they are found to present any risks to health or safety, according to an early draft of the industry proposal.
To date, the FDA has made no such finding with regard to GMOs.
In the absence of any such designation, the legislation would direct the FDA to develop a new voluntary labeling system under which products could be labeled as “GMO-free.” The labeling system would also apply to any companies that wish to label products as containing GMOs, according to the draft.
It would also require mandatory FDA safety review of all new technology involved in the production of genetically modified foods before they hit the market.
“It’s another layer to the regulatory process,” said Cathleen Enright, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. “If we achieve through that review increased consumer confidence ... then we will have achieved our goal.”
By pursuing the federal standard, the industry groups are seeking to end the string of fights in states around the country. GMO-related bills have been introduced in more than two dozen states.
Though none have become law, the legislation has been the subject of major political battles in California, Oregon and, most recently, Washington state.
The fights have proven costly for both sides, though industry groups have far outspent the backers of the laws, pouring millions of dollars into opposition campaigns.
State laws, if enacted, would present the industry with a complex and disparate set of labeling standards that could vary throughout the country, industry groups warm.
Thus, the federal approach shifts the debate squarely to Washington and “prevents the creation of a complicated patchwork of state-based labeling rules that would increase, rather than reduce, consumer confusion,” said Kraig R. Naasz, president of the American Frozen Food Institute, one of the coalition members.
Current FDA policy, rooted in a 1992 decision, does not consider the inclusion of GMO ingredients in a product as information that must be disclosed. But labeling advocates contend the president has the authority to issue regulations requiring labels under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Lawmakers and food safety advocates point to remarks made by President Obama in 2007, when he was running for office.
“We’ll let folks know whether their food has been genetically modified,” he pledged.
The administration has remained largely silent on the GMO issue, despite the high-profile state campaigns to pass labeling laws and increasing pressure from activist groups.
Pressed on the issue this week, FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor, who formerly worked for the biotechnology firm Monsanto, said he was staying out of the discussions.
This story was updated with additional information at 3:38 p.m.


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Debuting this fall in the US, Nike Golf shoes have become a favorite among elite runners and triathletes.
With a lightweight design, they can be worn comfortably for long periods of time.
However, while they can run long distances, they are less efficient for running on grass.
In fact, a new study suggests Nike Golf shoe may be more efficient for short bursts of running, but only when running in the sand.
“We are using sand as a benchmark for running and the running shoe industry is focused on finding ways to make running more efficient and less energy-intensive,” says Paul Moseley, the lead author of the study, which was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
“Sand is a better choice than synthetic running shoes because you are getting a softer, smoother, more breathable material.”
The research team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recruited more than 600 people who ran in three running competitions and a three-day race.
The participants were instructed to run in the same manner as they did during the previous training session and to alternate between two or three different running shoes.
The researchers also measured oxygen uptake, running pace and the overall oxygen uptake.
The results showed that the average oxygen uptake was 4.2 percent higher in the shoes, while the average speed was up to 3.9 percent faster.
This increase in efficiency was the result of running in sand, where the shoe’s material is less elastic, and therefore more water resistance.
While the researchers did not measure any differences in running performance, they did find that sand improved running performance by 15 to 30 percent, on average.
The team plans to expand the study to include more people in future studies to determine if sand is a suitable choice for running, or if running in water is the best option.
“If sand were to replace running shoes, then running in a sand shoe would be ideal for a number of reasons,” says Mosely.
“First, you are more efficient at long distances.
Second, you can run more smoothly.
Third, you get a softer material that is easier to breathe.
And fourth, you will not have to worry about the risk of getting drenched.”


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A MM Research Institute report — translated by Japanese blog Macotakara, via Engadget – found that Apple sold 7.25 million devices to account for 30 percent of Smartphone sales, putting it second. Total shipments in fiscal year 2011 are (up 13.5% year-on-year) units 42.74 million, smartphones out will be units 24.17 million in the share of different manufacturers, Apple is to convey that it was second place in the (17.0 percent) units 7.25 million. Apple got 1st position as 30% share by Handset vendor. Androids got 69% share by platform, and got 30% iOS.
comScore earlier reported key trends in the Japan mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending February 2012. The study surveyed more than 4,000 Japanese mobile subscribers and found Sharp to be the top mobile handset manufacturer overall with 23.5 percent market share. Google’s Android platform accounted for the majority of smartphone market at 61.4 percent, followed by Apple with 34.2 percent of the market.
Apple’s iOS and Android dominate the Japanese smartphone market, as they do the global one, and together they account for 99 percent of all smartphones sold in Japan last year, MMRI concludes.


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EVAN WILLIAMS recently bought his freedom. It cost him a bit more than $2 million, and he says it was worth every penny.
I’m not talking about paying off a big debt to one of Tony Soprano’s loan-shark underlings. Mr. Williams is a serial entrepreneur, one of those Silicon Valley characters who start company after company. And he purchased his freedom from the venture capitalists and others who financed his company, Odeo. Mr. Williams dug into his pockets and gave them back their money. He got to keep his struggling podcast company and renamed it the Obvious Corporation.
In the process, Mr. Williams, who is 34, has become something of a cause célèbre among a small group of mostly young entrepreneurs who seem determined to turn their back on venture capitalists. They say they yearn for a new entrepreneurship model. They talk about building “sustainable companies” suggesting something idealistic in their quest. With comments on blogs urging Mr. Williams to “keep up the goodness,” it feels a bit like the birth of a mini-movement in the Valley.
The relationship between venture capitalists and entrepreneurs has always been somewhat contentious. When things go well — think Netscape, eBay, Google — everyone gets rich and ends up happy. But often, entrepreneurs struggle with venture capitalists for control of their companies, grow tired of their demands and complain that their businesses get hijacked by financiers dead set on hitting a home run.
For most of the Internet age, and even before, there was little tech entrepreneurs could do about it. Without venture money, they had little chance of turning their ideas into businesses.Continue reading the main story
But things are changing. Entrepreneurs have figured out how to build Internet companies cheaply, as the cost of software, hardware and bandwidth has plummeted. Silicon Valley is teeming with successful entrepreneurs who got rich in recent years and are eager to fund their new enterprises, or those of their friends.
These angel investors typically don’t push entrepreneurs as hard as venture capitalists do. And many young companies are getting bought for $5 million, $10 million or $20 million. Most venture capitalists won’t get out of bed for that kind of “exit.” But for a young entrepreneur, it can be life changing.
Even in this environment, the story of Odeo stands out. The company was born last year amid much hype. It landed substantial financing — $4 million from Charles River Ventures and $1 million from a star-studded cast of angel investors. Yet little more than a year later, Odeo was going nowhere. Traffic had stalled and it was not clear how the company would ever make money.
In candid posts on his blog, Mr. Williams chronicled Odeo’s story, warts and all. He admitted to making mistakes. Getting too much venture money too early was one of them. It made it harder to persuade the board and the company’s 14 employees to change course when, for example, Apple Computer introduced a competing product that cut into Odeo’s prospects. “It’s a bigger ship to turn,” Mr. Williams said.
Failure stories are common in Silicon Valley. But the notion of an entrepreneur buying out those who put up the risk capital is virtually unheard of.
This do-good gesture cost Mr. Williams a bit more than $2 million of his own money. It’s a gesture he was able to do because he made a bundle when he sold Pyra Labs, a blogging technology company he co-founded, to Google in 2003.
The best thing about the newly renamed Obvious, Mr. Williams said, is that he controls its destiny. He wants it to become a sort of idea factory that can spawn project after project, perhaps not unlike a media company that starts magazine after magazine. Obvious already has two projects, Odeo, which soldiers on, and Twitter, a blogging-like tool for quick updates.
“I just wanted to create a company that would be as much fun and as fulfilling as possible,” Mr. Williams wrote on his blog. “Fun in work to me means a lot of freedom, and tons of creativity, working with people I respect and like, and pursuing ideas that are just crazy enough to work. I don’t want to have to worry about getting buy-in from executives or a board.”
Nice work if you can get it. Mr. Williams readily admits that he’s been able to do what he did because he is already rich. But he said that Obvious was a real business that could end up making him even more money than Pyra Labs, he said.
Judging by the kudos ricocheting across the technology blogosphere, Mr. Williams doesn’t lack for kindred spirits.
“He comes off like a folk hero to other entrepreneurs,” said Mark Pincus, a serial entrepreneur whose company, Tribe, has languished despite receiving $9.5 million in venture financing. “We need a model that allows for more experimentation and play.”
No one believes that Mr. Williams and his fellow idealists are endangering Silicon Valley’s venture capital industry. The Obvious model “may be a good fit for Evan, who is very creative, but I don’t think you can grow a lot of companies that way,” said Ariel Poler, a successful serial entrepreneur and one of Odeo’s angel investors.
Even Mr. Williams acknowledged that Obvious might some day spin out a company that needed venture capital. But he hopes that before then, he will help show entrepreneurs a new way. “It’s about building Web properties that are interesting and worthwhile and potentially make money but are not runaway YouTube-like successes or considered a failure,” he said.Continue reading the main story


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Pay TV remote technology vendor Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) is moving all manufacturing for its North American clients from China to Mexico, a process it hopes to complete by the fourth quarter of next year.
“We already have a manufacturing facility in Mexico, and are well into the process of shifting certain skews to that facility. Frankly, we have been preparing for this shift because the increasing labor rates in China have made those labor rates less and less favorable over time to those in other countries,” said Paul Arling, chairman and CEO of UEI, speaking to investors during the company’s third-quarter earnings call last month.
With the Trump Administration ramping up a trade dispute with China that could entail 25% tariffs on electronics imports, Santa Ana, Calif.-based UEI said it has begun to reduce staff at its Hong Kong facility, shifting headcount to factories in Mainland China.
“That’s step one,” said Bryan Hackworth, chief financial officer for UEI, speaking alongside Arling.
UEI has relationships with most top pay TV operators in the U.S. This includes a warrants agreement with Comcast, for which UEI manufactures the X1 Voice Remote and various home automation electronics, just to name a few pieces of technology.
UEI said it isn’t shifting all of its manufacturing out of China, only the portion affected by the volatility of the ongoing trade dispute.
As for the decision to shift operations to Mexico, the company noted that it has had a factory located in the region already for several years. And it sees Mexico as more stable terrain, at least as far as the Trump Administration is concerned.
“We think that the trade tensions with Mexico have settled somewhat, if not completely,” Arling said. “So we feel pretty safe with that move, particularly for, again the products that are being shifted -- shipped into the United States. So we don't really see the tariff issue getting worse, although, again we could never guarantee what would happen there.”
Arling added that the tariffs could impact nearly half of UEI’s business.
“We will move that which is necessary, in order to provide cost effective solution to the customer. In other words not have them have to absorb the 25 % increase,” he said.
UEI is but one U.S. company serving the telecom sector with strong manufacturing ties to Asia.
Arris noted several months ago, for example, that the tariffs could add $200 million to the cost of manufacturing broadband equipment for all vendors.
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Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!


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Portland’s Avatron wants to turn your iPad into an electronic drawing pad
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App maker Avatron Software found success in an app that allows users to turn their tablet computers into an extra computer screen.
As such, it's now taking that know-how to turn an iPad into an electronic drawing surface compatible with pressure-sensitive, electronic pens. Artists can draw on the iPad using graphics applications, like Photoshop, which runs off of the main computer.
Avatron, which was started by a group of ex-Apple engineers, created Air Display, which is a top selling productivity app in the Apple App Store. With some tweaks to that software, the team has created Air Stylus. Both apps allow users to use their iPads in new ways.
With Air Stylus allows users to turn their iPads into a more powerful drawing surface.
Why is this useful?
Because it allows people in creative jobs and digital artists to see what they are drawing in a more natural way without having to buy another device to carry around.
Some existing drawing tablets, like those made by Wacom, allow users to draw. However, there is a learning curve to drawing on a blank tablet and then seeing result on a different screen.
It can also be a more affordable option if someone already has an iPad, said Avatron executives.
“Air Stylus is designed for the serious artist or photographer who wants a more natural way of drawing or painting experience and doesn’t want to break the bank buying another clunky, wired thing to carry around,” said Tom Penberthy, vice president of marketing for Avatron.
It works with drawing software such as Photoshop, Aperture, Lightroom and Mischief.
The $20 Air Stylus app is launching with iPad compatibility, as well as compatibility with three different pens that are on the market. The team is working on an Android version of the app. The team is also working with industry contacts on anticipating future pen designs.
The company’s Air Display app has already sold hundreds of thousands of units, said CEO Dave Howell. Air Display is consistently the first or second fastest selling app in the app store's utility section.
The team is hoping to tap into the creative market in a similar way.
Avatron, which hasn’t taken any outside investors, has built a business taking hardware developed by Apple and creating the functionality the Avatron team wished Apple had included, said Howell. The company employs 12 people and is gearing up to move from downtown to new offices in the Pearl later this summer.
It’s also still developing a product called Everydisk that was boosted by a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year. Apps like Air Stylus and Air Display generate revenue. However, that revenue arrives through one-off sales. With Everydisk the company is working to establish a subscription model to help even out revenue.
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By Aaron Orheim
On April 11th Jim Gaffigan joined a growing number of comedians and self-released a 75 minute comedy special. Traditionally, production companies pay comedians for a performance, tape it, and then sell the content fraught with copyright protections. The ultimate price consumers pay for the content reflects the costs of marketing, distribution, and enforcing copyright. Owners of copyright enjoy great protection under Title 17 of the U.S.C. and often sue unauthorized users in expensive lawsuits.
Gaffigan followed a model first explored by Louis C.K. He independently produced, edited, and distributed his comedy special. Fans can download the special for five dollars, far below the cost of a traditional comedy DVD. Additionally, consumers enjoy unrestricted use of the video file once they purchase it from the comedian’s website. As Louis C.K. puts it the file comes with, “[n]o [Digital Rights Management], no regional restrictions, no crap. You can download this file, play it as much as you like, burn it to a DVD, whatever.” So far Gaffian, C.K., and Aziz Ansari have all released comedy specials following this model to great success. C.K. made over one million dollars from his special after just twelve days. He donated a large portion of the proceeds to charity and gave substantial bonuses the people who helped produce the special. Each comedian relies solely on word-of-mouth advertising, advertising bolstered by social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook.
As more comedians and artists experiment with self-produced content, production companies feel the pinch. Consumers are attracted to this content, due to its low cost the lack of restriction placed on its use. C.K. claims that he may never go back to traditionally produced specials; due the success of his first venture, few could blame him. Production companies may want to rethink their reliance on copyright protection if it means losing some of the most popular performers available.
Self-production has not killed the traditional model yet. Gaffigan, C.K., and Ansari are all well-known, established comedians. An up-and-coming talent may not have the capital needed to self-produce a special or the fan base needed to advertise it. For these acts, production companies like HBO or Comedy Central are still the best option for selling a comedy special. However, the day may soon come when comedians can establish a sufficient following, through social media, to skip this step completely. Even young comedians value Twitter followers and recognize that this fan base may be the key to success in the 21st Century.
These developments call into question the future of copyright law. In world of YouTube and Twitter, many artists increasingly prefer freedom over restriction. Now that’s quite a stand to take.
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Black Market Avocados Are a Huge Problem in New Zealand
Avocados are serious business here in North America. The fatty green fruit somehow manages to erode millennial wealth while enriching Mexican cartels; threatening to sink international trade deals; and serving as cover for international smuggling operations. But lest you think the obsession with avocado was only causing problems in this part of the world, news out of New Zealand shows how the high price of avocados has inspired a frenzy of shady activity around the globe.
It turns out the country has a problem when it comes to illicit avocado sales, and it’s making life difficult for legitimate orchard owners trying to do things by the book. Bands of avocado thieves are pilfering avocado crops by night, absconding with thousands of dollars worth of ill-gotten fruit before orchards have the chance to harvest a crop that reached a peak of NZ$7 per fruit (roughly $4.60 USD) earlier in 2018.
These illegal wares are then sold direct to consumers on social media, or else on a wholesale basis to retailers willing to look the other way if it means scoring the pricey green fruit on the cheap. In some extreme cases, these pernicious pickings have deprived New Zealand orchard owners of up to NZ$100,000 (about $65,900 USD) in lost revenue.
To make matters worse for amateur avocado enthusiasts and professional growers looking to replace their lost crops, there’s a significant backlog of orders for avocado saplings. With the southern hemisphere set for the return of spring and planting season, nurseries in areas like Hamilton, New Zealand, simply don’t have enough supply to keep up with demand. According to Stuff, Wairere Nursery has a waiting list 200-plus names deep for its offering of avocado trees. Nearby Plant Depot has been sold out of saplings since April, and doesn’t expect it will be able to sell any more until late September.
It would seem that until legitimate supply is able to (somehow) keep up with demand, we can probably expect more Kiwis to raid orchards. For now, orchard owners are beefing up security, installing fences and CCTV camera systems. At an organizational level, New Zealand Avocado has pushed to prosecute thieves while encouraging the public to question the authenticity of their avocados.
“People should be okay to ask a retailer, where did these avocados come from,” says New Zealand Avocado CEO Jen Scoular. But as you’d imagine, the price tag is still probably what consumers care about most.


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Jia Bo, deputy chairman of the Shanghai Culture Promotion Association and the president of DoBe, presents awards to startup firms.
More than a dozen local startup firms were recognized at the annual International Community Festival on Friday for posting profits amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The business volumes and revenues of the companies, mainly in e-commerce, electronic sports, smart education, intelligent life and innovative products sectors, have been growing rapidly despite COVID-19.
The founders and top officials shared their post-pandemic development experience with their counterparts on Friday at the closing ceremony of the festival organized by local innovation parks’ operator and service provider DoBe.
Fengshen Group, a leading air-conditioning and air purifier developer, is among the winners. While the pandemic forced many other companies to reduce business volume or lay off employees, the company has seen a dramatic boom in the sales of its product.
“The company has recently signed agreements with the high-speed railway station of Xiong’an to take charge of the air purification system,” said Lu Hui, the president of the company.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital services have been a lifeline for the millions of people subjected to lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders.
Imagination English, another winning online and offline English teaching platform, received 60,000 additional online students. The growth rate has been tenfold the firm’s normal speed.
“We always focus on the demands of the consumers and company clients, while keeping an eye on our competitors,” said Li Yongyao, vice president of the English teaching firm founded in 2014.
“Full preparations made us able to grab the opportunity.”
Founders and top officials share their experiences.
Employees of All Start Sport, a local sports education organization, volunteered to take part in various community activities during the pandemic, such as sorting parcel deliveries and checking the temperatures of residents in nearby neighborhoods.
“Staff wearing our uniform gained a good reputation,” said Deng Jian, chairman of the company. “Residents became our customers after the training sites were allowed to reopen around March.”
Zhao Yuanyuan, director with the Shanghai Content E-commerce Research Center, said new Chinese brands, 5G technology and the preferential policies from the China (Hainan) Free Trade Pilot Zone are expected to lead the next round of business trends amid the pandemic.
“Related companies are expected to develop rapidly within two years,” Zhao predicted at the event.
The festival, initiated in 2016, aims to create a platform for local small-and-medium-size startup and innovation companies to share their resources and experiences with each other, said Jia Bo, deputy chairman of the Shanghai Culture Promotion Association and the president of DoBe.
Most of them are based in the DoBe parks across the city, which were mainly renovated from the former factory buildings or industrial heritages.
Friday’s event was held in a newly opened innovation park in the city’s northern outskirt Jiading District. The DoBe E-manor of Jiajia was renovated from the factory of the former Jiading Mechanic Plant. Leading scientific innovation companies have been based there to create a park for artificial intelligence.
The DoBe E-manor of Jiajia in Jiading District.


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Sustainable Horticulture: Environment Secretary Announces New Funds
The Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena plans to increase the production of fruits and vegetables domestically, as well as develop high-tech horticulture.
Though it boasts many economic, food security and sustainability benefits, only 10% of English horticulture is glasshouse grown. As a result, the UK fails to provide for itself cucumber-wise, supplying just 25% domestically. The same goes for tomatoes—17%.
Businesses that use glasshouse growing can benefit from extended growing seasons, efficient water usage and higher yields per square metre. By using a glasshouse, businesses can enjoy these benefits while also protecting their crops from bad weather and pests.
In addition to the £70 million+ he has previously invested, Mr Jayawardena has now pledged an additional £12.5 million towards automation and robotics via the Farming Innovation Programme.
The fund will open in January, with UK Research and Innovation. The projects that the fund focuses on will help drive economic growth, food security delivery on environmental commitments.
Mr Jayawardena said: “We all rely on farmers and growers every day to produce high-quality food, and to look after our environment. Technology offers huge opportunities to make farming greener and more productive, so we should harness it to help grow the economy, create jobs and improve food security too.”
The announcement also promised to appoint an industry expert who will work with both the edible and ornamental sectors of Controlled Environment Horticulture. This way, they can provide policy interventions along with a clearer picture of any barriers or opportunities that may exist.
The Environment Secretary is also requesting the opinion of a number of Controlled Environment Growers on how the Government can best help expand their industry while making sure its policies reflect what they need.
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Plans have been unveiled for a new 20m boutique hotel in the heart of Newcastle city centre.
The 148-bed, four-star Hotel Indigo is set to open in Fenkle Street, near to The Assembly Rooms, creating more than 80 full and part time jobs.
The hotel, developed by Sanguine Hospitality, will open in February 2011 subject to approval by the city's planners. Hotel Indigo Newcastle will be the developer's first venture into the North East and only the fourth Hotel Indigo in the UK.
Last year, Newcastle and Gateshead attracted 18.77 million visitors, maintaining hotel occupancy levels of 77% despite the recession.
Paul Bolton, director at Sanguine Hospitality said:
"Tourism is worth over 1 billion to Newcastle Gateshead and, despite one of the worst recessions in recent times, the city region attracted more than 18 million visitors last year, making it a very attractive place to be.
"The regeneration of The Greenmarket and Eldon Square shows the level of ambition in the city and the direction it is taking. We intend to bring something new and creative to Newcastle's hotel market, further strengthening the city's appeal to visitors.
"Alive with students, football fans and businesses, this is a great tourist destination and we're confident Hotel Indigo Newcastle will be a big success."
The Hotel Indigo brand began its global roll-out in early 2006 with London Paddington and Glasgow. Hotel Indigo Liverpool is due to open in early 2011 and will also be operated by Sanguine Hospitality.
Labels: Hotel Indigo Newcastle


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PASADENA – With summer in full swing across Southern California, and many people participating in outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, camping and swimming, it’s important for people’s health to take special precautions to protect their skin.
It’s a simple fact: spending too much time in the sun and its harmful ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer, a potentially deadly disease. That’s why it’s imperative for everyone to protect their delicate skin on a daily basis.
“It’s important to know that regardless which gender or race you belong to, you need to protect your skin from UV radiation to lessen your risk of skin cancer,” Dr. Joy M. Twersky, chief of Dermatology at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center, said.
“Using sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher is advisable, and it should be reapplied as needed, including every 1-2 hours when in the water or when perspiring,” Twersky said. “However, using sunscreen alone isn’t always enough during prolonged sun exposure. That’s why you also should consider taking other steps to protect yourself.”
Twersky offered the following tips to lessen your chance of getting skin cancer.
Avoid the sun during its peak hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Understand that sand, water and snow can reflect 85% of the sun’s rays.
To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses capable of blocking 99% of UVA and UVB radiation.
When possible, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing to cover much of your skin. Wear clothing with the UPF label that helps protect against UV radiation.
Because their skin is more sensitive, completely shield the skin of babies younger than six months from the sun.
“It may not be possible to completely prevent skin cancer, but taking these precautions will help,” Twersky said. “Also, keep an eye on new spots or growths on your skin as they could be early signs of skin cancer. With early detection, skin cancer can be treated more easily. That’s why it’s important to regularly have your skin checked by a doctor.”
Kaiser Permanente offers tips on skin cancer prevention, as well as care instructions at https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/.
Submitted by Kaiser Permanente.


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Miami Beach-grown Nikki Beach plans to take its chic resorts to the shores of Bodrum, Turkey.
The Miami Herald reports that the new resort will include 57 suites and villas, a spa, a restaurant, a lounge and conference space.
Nikki Beach Hotels, Resorts & Spas has one resort open in Koh Samui, Thailand and more planned in Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon and Qatar, according to its website.
The Nikki Beach brand started in 1998 with its beach club at One Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. The company has since expanded to 10 locations in eight countries, including France, Morocco and Spain.


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Interview by Ronan Price
The Xbox One X, which was officially unveiled at a typically noisy and bombastic press conference in LA, goes on sale on November 7 priced at €500.
Microsoft had previously dropped teasing hints about its new machine, which it had dubbed Project Scorpio.
But at the packed Galen Center auditorium in Downtown Los Angeles yesterday, Xbox boss Phil Spencer finally showed off the souped-up machine to a crowd of hooting, cheering fans and world media.
The event was also live-streamed on the internet to an audience of millions.
"Xbox empowers game developers large and small to create different types of games for every type of player," Spencer said.
"Not only do we have the biggest cross-platform blockbusters on our platform, we've also scoured the world to bring our fans unique content from creative artists that capture the imagination."
Despite being described as having the "fastest, most advanced processor to ever power a console", the Xbox One X is nonetheless the smallest console Microsoft has ever made. It will also be backwardly compatible with the previous generation of Xbox games, with the main attraction being its graphics update to 4K, also known as Ultra HD.
The new Xbox One X is not intended to replace the current Xbox One.
Sony has already launched a 4K console, the PS4 Pro, so Microsoft faces a significant challenge to convince gamers that its higher-spec machine will be worth the extra investment this Christmas.
PlayStation already outsells Xbox by a reported two-to-one in US and as much as three-to-one in Europe.
However, Spencer wooed the crowd with the promise of more than 42 new games for the Xbox family, 22 of which are exclusive to the platform.
"We have the most diverse range of games ever and we are pushing the boundaries of the art form," he said.
Spencer also won applause for the announcement that games from the original Xbox era in 2001 will soon become playable on the new machines too.
Fresh instalments of familiar titles such as Forza Motorsport and Assassin's Creed were shown off, alongside new games such as Anthem, Metro Exodus and Ashen.
The Microsoft show comes just ahead of E3, the annual video-games conference in LA, which runs this week from tomorrow until Thursday.


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Profits up for Canada's phone, cable firms
Mobile market entrants listed on Globe and Mail listTORONTO -- Canada's wireless phone war is doing wonders for the bottom line at local phone and cable giants.
The Globe and Mail newspaper, in its latest ranking of Canada's top 1,000 publicly-listed companies by profit, on Friday revealed new mobile market entrants nipping at the heels of incumbent players is raising everyone's game.
BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is the fourth-most-profitable Canadian company, having made $2.45 billion in profits in fiscal 2010, but close behind is phone and satellite TV behemoth BCE Inc. in 10th place with $1.73 billion in profits.
Rogers Communications, another Big 3 cable and mobile phone player, grabbed 15th place with $1.47 billion in earnings in its last fiscal year, followed by western Canadian phone and satellite TV giant Telus in 28th place with $998,000 in earnings.
And Shaw Communications and Quebecor, two traditional cable players latest moving into the mobile phone market, occupy the 40th and 63rd places in the profit-ranking table, respectively.
Canuck broadcasters, by contrast, have mostly posted mounting losses during the current economic downturn, hammered by a TV ad slump and increased competition from niche channels and the Internet.
You have to go to 184th place to find a domestic broadcaster in profit last year, with TVA Group, Quebec's largest sector player, posting $49 million in earnings.
Despite their continuing profitability, Canadian cable and phone giants remain vulnerable to new digital platforms and possible disintermediation.
The result has a host of "TV Everywhere" services launching nationwide, the latest coming from Shaw Communications with its new online video portral, Shaw Video on Demand, and Quebec cable giant Groupe Videotron launching its own on-demand Illico Web service (HR, June 16).
Cable giant Rogers Communications got the Canadian video portal market rolling when it launched Rogers on Demand Online as a beta site in late 2009, followed by a similar "TV Everywhere" offering from Bell TV, and Quebec-based Radio-Canada introducing Tout.TV as an online extension of the French language public broadcast service.
With the emergence of online TV video sites like Hulu, Canadian cable operators especially are providing their subscribers with online access to VOD libraries to dissuade customers from scaling back on cable packages or cutting the cord completely.


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Macomb Illinois Real Estate
Buyers can save thousands of dollars on homes as the market struggles to follow the Illinois budget impasse. A few months ago, the school year ended at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (WIU), but many Illinois universities are still feeling the effects of declining enrollment. Most of the staff have been recalled, and nearly 30 others have been laid off, according to the company.
A few years ago, he said townhouses in the Georgetown subdivision cost on average $90,000, but today they sell for $50,000. Quincy also has low inventory levels this year, said John D'Agostino, president of the Quincy Association of Realtors (QAR).
According to the National Association of Realtors' Real Estate Institute, the rate is above 90% in 90% of cities and towns across America.
Other types of apartments that predominate in Macomb are houses that have been converted into apartments or other small residential buildings. People in Macomb live in single-family homes, single-family homes and other single-family homes. House prices in Makkom are solidly above the national average, but there is one area of the country where house prices have risen by only 0.72%, equivalent to an annual rate of 0.07%.
These houses would be better suited for a single-family home or a small apartment building, such as one or two bedrooms.
Lowdermans Auction Company is committed to the importance of SALE and appreciates the trust you have placed in Lowdermans and the way they market these properties. An honest sale offers both seller and buyer a win-win situation, giving Lowerman Auction the reputation it needs for an auction valued at more than $8,000. Their solid reputation and experience have been built up through sale after sale and can now list over 8,000 auctions over five decades. If you are interested in a beautiful house by the lake, which offers unlimited possibilities, we recommend you to have a look at these houses.
The Orion Samuelson Show has been recognized as one of the top 10 auction houses in the United States for the past five years. Founded in 1963 as the Sole Proprietorship Partnership, Lowderman Auction Company has built a strong reputation as the world's leading auction house for real estate, with business expanding throughout the United States. In recognition of the sound business practices and principles they have built, they use the auction method of marketing to the advantage of both sellers and buyers. Honesty, integrity and sincerity, coupled with a strong presentation on the sales day, are the foundation of Lowman's business model and reputation. In addition to being recognized as one of the leading auction companies in North America, over 10 different auctioneers have commissioned them to sell their properties.
He said that while Macomb had experienced a downturn similar to that of 40 years ago, there was a marked difference this time. He said the biggest problem in northeastern Missouri is low inventory, and he thinks stocks in the Quincy area are lower this year than in previous years. On average, homes have been on the market for three - and - a month and a half, but they have been out of the market longer than the average time a home sells in Macombs. That's because there have been a lot of stocks this year that were low last year, "he said.
One very important thing to keep in mind is that Macomb's appreciation rate is slightly above the national average. Data from NeighborhoodScout shows Macombs' appreciation rate in the last quarter was 1.75%, which equates to an annual rate of 7.18%. Compared to Illinois, the data show that the average rate of appreciation for each city is about 2.5% in Chicago, 3.2% in St. Louis and 4.1% in Chicago Heights. One of the most important data points for the city, however, is the recent annual rate of appreciation, which is slightly above the federal average of 2% and slightly below the Illinois average.
Whether you are a home buyer or a property investor, the vacancy rate of apartments is one of the useful measures to consider. Whether you want to buy or sell your home, your success depends on where you live in the Tri-States.
If you need help applying online, please contact our office at (844) 847-2161 for more information on the Macomb Illinois Real Estate website.
This is not Mcdonough County's official website, it is a private website that is not affiliated with a government agency. Ward 1, which includes the lakeside house, is sold first, and then Ward 2, which is described further, is located on the south side of the county, north of Lake Michigan, in the city of Macomb, Illinois. Torture 2 will either be a farm with about 1.5 hectares of agricultural land, which is rolling timber, or an entire southern border with access to the lake.


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The week’s video game happenings and announcements summed up in one helpful list, never be out of the loop again!
Saturday 5th December – Sony PSX 2015 Keynote
Sony have truly covered their bases with their PSX 2015 Keynote which took place on Saturday. Showing off their plans for 2016, experiences range from the new Ratchet & Clank to a ‘Best Of’ segment on Star Wars Battlefront, from big names like Uncharted 4 to some impressive looking Indie titles including Don’t Starve Together. A teasing Crash Bandicoot shirt worn by president Shawn Layden went down well despite a continued silence surrounding the iconic series, but last year’s Final Fantasy 7 tease was realized in the showcase of a new gameplay trailer. With Black Ops 3 due, the PS4 is unveiled as the Call of Duty World League competition console, and new title Dead Star is thrown into the universe. Meanwhile, in a slightly lackluster tech demo, PlayStation VR had some limelight, with Rez Infinite, Golem, and Ace Combat 7 being demoed on the console.
Monday 7th December – Gone Home to be Released on PS4 and Xbox 1, Not Wii U
Little did Damon Baker of Nintendo of America know when he revealed that Gone Home was to be released on their Wii U console way back at Unite 2014. After the publishing label Majesco Entertainment had to close the door on the title earlier this year, they confirmed that the game was “not actively in development any longer”. Spelling disaster for both the developers and the distributors, things looked bleak for the first person exploration game. Until Monday. The Fullbright company announced that Gone Home will appear on PS4 and Xbox 1 on 12th January 2016. In a full 180, the new version will be released in partnership with Midnight City despite the Majesco difficulties. The updated console version is built using the Unity 5 engine, rather than the 4 seen on the PC version on its release in 2013. And possibly best of all, Gone Home console version will feature 90 minutes of developer commentary.
Tuesday 8th December – The Sims 4 Get Together Launch, and Sony Releases Dedicated Messaging App on Android and iOS
Tuesday was a big day. In the PC and Mac world, The Sims 4 Get Together was launched after much reverence in its build up. Players can now create and play with groups of Sims and explore Windenburg, a new world developed with European influences and plenty of new locations. Features include the implementation of a ‘Clubs’ mechanic whereby players can become members of societies with specific interests, personalities, and styles, or create their own. The expansion is available for $39.99 on PC and Mac Origin and also in physical copies.
Meanwhile, over at Sony, a new messaging app was released for PSN Message. The app reduces the overall clunk of the messenger feature. The dedicated app focusses entirely on the messaging function of PSN, and has been released for both iOS and Android systems.
Wednesday 9th December – Microsoft HoloLens not “Gaming-First”
With the developer’s release of Microsoft’s answer to virtual reality rapidly looming (we’ll see the lucky devs who managed to pre-order the console for $3000 in January), the company released new information on the likely intentions of the device on Wednesday. Speaking to GeekWire, Larry Hyrb (Director of Programming for Xbox Live) announced that the HoloLens is not “designed” to be a “gaming-first device”. They’re apparently only focusing on getting the system to its absolute highest quality as a system in itself before thinking about its entertainment value. That’s not to say there won’t be a gaming future for the HoloLens, with original IP Project X-Ray having been identified, and footage of the console running Minecraft existing since its very announcement.
Thursday 10th December – EA’s New Competitive Gaming Division
The esports arena is heating up at the moment, and yesterday EA proved its (albeit late) commitment to the cause. The new Competitive Gaming Division was announced, with Peter Moore to lead the cavalry in “the latest step in our journey to put our players first” (EA CEO Andrew Wilson). Promises have been made to include big-name franchises such as FIFA, Madden NFL, and Battlefield in the competition and the company have assured a new “infrastructure to bring you the world’s preeminent EA competitive experiences”. While others have jumped on the bandwagon a little earlier, Activision-Blizzard for example launched their esports division in October, and both Riot and Valve securing their roles in the ever-growing phenomenon earlier in the year. Keep an eye on this whole esports shindig – as it looks set to explode in 2016.


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Android users need to be wary of rogue wallpaper choices, as users have discovered that choosing the wrong one could “soft-brick” their smartphones.
"Soft-bricking" is when an Android device suffers bootloops or device freezing. The device is unrecoverable without a factory-reset or restoring a backup of the device.
Setting an image of a particular landscape, as spotted by leaker Ice Universe, will cause the phone to immediately crash. The phone will attempt to reboot, but will simply turn off again before reaching the sign-in screen.
Restarting the phone in safe mode, holding the volume button when the phone starts up, also does not fix the issue.
It is currently unclear what is causing the issue, although some users have speculated that it is caused by the colour profile of the images. As that profile is outside the bounds of what the Android operating system can handle, the phone crashes. Altering the image appears to fix the bug.
On Twitter, 9to5Google and Android developer Dylan Roussel said that while the issue occurred on phones running Android 10, it did not on devices with the upcoming Android 11 operating system.
This is seemingly because Android attempts to display the sRGB colour space, but the image uses the RGB colour space. Since Android 10 does not convert one to another, the image crashes smartphones, but Android 11 converts unconverted colour spaces and as such devices are unaffected.
The Independent has reached out to Google for clarification.
Reportedly, devices from Google, Samsung, OnePlus, Nokia, and Xiaomi have all been affected.
When attempting to recreate the issue, the Independent found that while Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro smartphone did not suffer, the Google Pixel 3a immediately breaks – with the screen turning on, loading the background, and turning off again. Eventually, the device recommends a factory reset, which appears to be the only way to save the smartphone.
Ice Universe says that Samsung received feedback on this error in May and is issuing a firmware update. Google also received a notification of a similar issue in 2018 but since Android developers were unable to reproduce the issue the matter was closed.
It’s not only images that are able to break smartphones; recently, a text “bomb” for Apple iPhones running iOS 13 was able to crash devices. The message, comprised of the Italian flag emoji and a Sindhi character, immediately makes the device shut down.
This is not unique to the iPhone either; Macs, the Apple Watch, and iPads all stop working when receiving the messages. Similar bugs have been found over time, such as the “Effective Power” issue in 2015 and the “ChaiOS” error from 2018.
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text:
Hulu to Receive As Many As 5 First-Round Bids
September 5, 2011 10:58 AM
comment(s) - last by
Google, Yahoo, Amazon and DISH Network are all preparing bids for the acquisition of Hulu
Among those who have prepared bids for Hulu are Google, Yahoo, Amazon and DISH Network
We learned just a few months ago that Hulu had placed a "for sale" sign on its store window, and now, the video streaming subscription service site is to receive about five
Earlier this year, Hulu, which is owned by Walt Disney Co., News Corp., Comcast Corp. and Providence Equity Partners Inc., was working to renew licensing agreements in order to increase its value on the open market. In June, Fox Broadcasting Co. renewed its licensing agreement, which brought shows like "Family Guy," "Glee," and "The Simpsons" back to Hulu. With such agreements in its back pocket, Hulu had something to offer subscribers and could finally have a shot at attracting a buyer.
went up for sale
in late June, almost immediately after
Yahoo approached Hulu
about a possible acquisition, yet Hulu wasn't ready to sell at that point.
Now, Hulu is to receive as many as five first-round bids where each offer included terms for programming rights. Bid prices are still unclear, but the
Wall Street Journal
expects that bids will range between $500 million and $2 billion.
Among those who have prepared bids for Hulu are Google, Yahoo, Amazon and DISH Network.
Hulu's owners will grant the winner five years of rights to TV shows, which includes two years of exclusivity. According to Chase Carey, chief operating officer of News Corp., the sale process is trucking alone right on schedule.
"We'll see where it ultimately ends up," said Carey. "For us, it's still a decision to see what it looks like at the end, and does it make sense to pursue that path, or does it make sense for us to stay in an ownership position and continue to have it driven by content owners."
It's tough for video streaming services to compete in a very Netflix-driven world, but with recent issues like Netflix's
subscription price hikes
of the satellite TV channel Starz (which is supposedly going to release its movies through contractual negotiations with DISH's Blockbuster streaming movie service), new competitors could give Netflix a run for its money.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
9/7/2011 5:48:16 PM
Well, I didn't mean to discount the value of Youtube so much.. I personally use it everyday, whereas I haven't been to Hulu in years. I was merely trying to emphasize the incredibly vast difference between the two services.
I think you are also emphasizing the premium aspect of Hulu much more than the 'free' side. Hulu+ gives you access to every season/episode of nearly every show created by the 3 media company owners as well as increased resolution and less ads. Meanwhile, the free side gives you a vast selection of the most recent episode(s) of currently running shows if not the entire current season; as well as a good selection of older, more obscure or foreign shows -- in exchange for stomaching a reasonable amount of ads (still less than on television)...
I thought about it a bit, though, and realized it all comes down to the specifics of the licensing.. Does this include the entire media catalog of all three companies, or only what's currently on Hulu? Does the sale price include
licensing fees for 5 years? Is exclusive
exclusive? To what extent? Online only, of course; but what about show/movie availability in other outlets such as iTunes or marketting content on the provider's own sites?
If the answer to many or all of those questions is 'yes' -- then this can indeed be a game-changer, and I could imagine the bidding reaching several billion dollars..
"Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment -- same piece of hardware -- paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be." -- Steve Ballmer
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text: On February 13, 2020, a dozen supporters from the region participated in a seminar on the work of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), which campaigns for farmworkers’ rights, and the Fair Food Program (FFP), which works with major retailers to ensure decent working conditions and fair wages in the tomato industry along the US East Coast, at the CIW office in Immokalee in Southwest Florida. Both organizations have earned national and international awards for their work. The lead speaker at the seminar was CIW co-founder and human-rights champion Lucas Benetiz. Both a learning event and a fundraiser honoring the birthday of CIW/FFP volunteer Ted Jackson, the seminar highlighted the importance of the Fair Food Standards Council, which monitors the workplace performance of growers in the program. If tomato growers’ operations are found to be offside the standards, they can lose access to some of the nation’s largest tomato buyers, including McDonalds, Walmart and Whole Foods. The CIW/FFP model of consumer campaigns and worker education combined with verified performance against workplace standards is being applied in other settings, including the Vermont milk industry and in Lesotho’s garment factories.


text:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29
By Nargiz Ismayilova – Trend:
The export orders worth $596 million were executed in 2019, which is 13.7 percent more than in 2018, Trend reports referring to the Export Review of Azerbaijan’s Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications.
Over the past 3 years, the Azexport website has accepted orders for the supply of non-oil products worth over $1.9 billion from Azerbaijan.
The following countries entered the list of TOP-5 customers of the website in 2019: Russia - 12.7 percent, Turkey - 7.4 percent, the US - 5.4 percent, England - 5.3 percent, and Saudi Arabia - 5.3 percent.
The Azexport website (azexport.az) was created in accordance with the president’s decree “On creation of a unified database of goods produced in the Republic of Azerbaijan” dated Sept. 21, 2016.
Among the main goods exported in 2019 were tobacco, chicken, eggs, hazelnuts, cottonseed oil, wine, pomegranate, onions, cosmetics, medical gauze, furniture, paint, confectionary, milk with fruit additives, mineral water and garlic.
The goal of the website, which is managed by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications, is to provide information on products of Azerbaijani origin and a profitable platform for their sale on foreign and domestic markets.
Follow the author on Twitter:@IsmailovaNargis


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How consumer behavior in online shopping has changed
Despite the challenges many businesses faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce was able to ensure that many of them could continue to operate their businesses. While consumers couldn’t physically shop, online shopping turned out to be the second best option for them.
The beauty of e-commerce is that it is not only used to sell physical products, but also services. In addition to listing on a service marketplace, businesses can also sell promotional electronic coupons or include a shopping cart system on their own websites. Understandably, the next big step for them was to understand consumer behavior.
Realize the potential of e-Commerce, banks, large companies, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and even government agencies are starting to embrace e-commerce. FinTech has become an e-commerce catalyst with more startups developing digital payment solutions, and companies have turned to artificial intelligence to help them improve their operations and the customer experience.
Consumer demand for real-time payments, is also on the rise in Malaysia as the pandemic has accelerated demand for fast and contactless payments, according to research by ACI Worldwide and YouGov.
With increased internet penetration and smartphone use, especially in emerging Asia-Pacific economies (APACs), consumers now expect the convenience and speed of mobile apps and payments. snapshots, an area in which the traditional financial sector struggles to keep up.
The evolution of consumer behavior towards advertisements
With innovative technologies complementing the e-commerce experience, companies are now looking to better understand consumer behavior. Leverage the knowledge of Data analysis, businesses understand not only how their customer demographics impact their purchasing decisions, but also how customer engagement can be improved.
According to Twilio’s annual report Customer engagement status report, 98% of businesses reported that video communication with customers accelerated more than other channels during the pandemic. From virtual conferences to training courses to online learning, the increased consumption of video and audio content has had an impact on consumer preferences and behaviors, particularly in response to advertisements.
With the rise of short video formats and platforms like Instastories and TikTok, fast and eye-catching videos are becoming the most remarkable medium for influencing buyer confidence and behavior. A Nielsen Global Authenticity Study commissioned by TikTok showed that 83% of users prefer to see branded video ads on gifs or text messages. As such, short videos are becoming the format of choice for brands to generate more traction with customers.
According to Hakim Mehmood, general manager of voice and video at cloud communications provider Twilio, âthe rise of virtual experiences and the popularity of platforms like Club house and TIC Tac reported that the next big channel for customer engagement is live audio and video streaming.
The rise of “Shoppertainment”
Shoppertainment, a term used to describe the convergence of video and entertainment shopping ads, has increased. Countries with movement restrictions and deferred plans caused by Covid-19 have pushed consumers to buy with entertainment for this feel-good factor. In the TikTok survey, one in three users said they want to shop and feel good about themselves.
âBuyers expect not only to be sold, but also to be entertained. Instead of people looking for products, products are now looking for people, âsaid Ng Chew Wee, Business Marketing Manager, TikTok Southeast Asia.
Consumer behavior in online shopping has evolved into âshoppertainment,â and businesses looking to stay competitive need to catch up.
At the same time, the convenience of a variety of payment options has affected consumer behavior. Innovations in digital payments, especially with more and more companies looking to offer buy now, pay later options, are also gaining popularity.
A recent study by independent identity provider Okta showed changing perceptions of trust in a rapidly digitalizing world in 2020. When it comes to boosting a brand’s digital trust, consumers care most the reliability of a company’s service, its enhanced security, its rapid response times and its best practices in data processing. .
Asian consumers are the most likely to lose faith in brands that abuse or sell personal data, followed by brands victims of a data breach. Digital trust has a big impact on brand awareness and reputation, and ultimately where Asians spend their money online – 50% of Asian respondents have lost trust in a business due to a data breach or data breach. ‘a security event.
For brands, consumer loyalty is hard to gain and easy to lose. As organizations seek not only to provide the best service and experience to customers, but also to ensure that customers remain loyal to their brand and come back, companies must be able to capture this market with techniques such as than shoppertainment, but also to maintain and build strong digital trust. .