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Today's stock market
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Energy shares continued their recent slide as crude oil prices fell, with the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSEMKT:XOP) dropping 1.4%. Retail shares bounced back today; the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEMKT:XRT) rose 1%.
Two companies provided a boost to the retail sector with their earnings reports: Trendy apparel vendor Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN) and department store Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) both delivered positive surprises.
Urban Outfitters beats low expectations
Urban Outfitters announced second-quarter results that management called "disappointing" but the market considered far better than they could have been, and the stock soared 17.5%. Revenue fell 2% to $873 million on a decline in comparable sales of 4.9%, while earnings per share plunged 33% to $0.44. If that all sounds unimpressive, it was still good news to a market that was expecting EPS of $0.37 on revenue of $861 million.
Comparable sales dropped 7.9% at the company's flagship Urban Outfitters brand stores and fell 4% at Anthropologie Group, but Free People comps rose 2.9%. There were some other bright spots besides the success at Free People, too: Wholesale sales increased 10%, the direct-to-consumer channel had positive comps, and management highlighted good growth in Europe and positive comps for men's wear in Urban Outfitters stores.
Company management expressed displeasure in the results but tried to stir optimism for the future. "While we are disappointed in our second quarter performance, we have a number of initiatives underway including: speed to customer, international growth, wholesale expansion and digital investments," said CEO Richard A. Hayne in the press release. "We believe these initiatives combined with encouraging fashion apparel trends could lead to improved topline performance in future quarters."
With growth struggles clearly continuing in Urban Oufitter's largest chains and the outlook still a bit murky, today's leap in the stock price could seem unjustified. But with expectations so low, shares that are down 30.6% this year, and heavy short interest, even a whiff of less-bad news was enough to boost the stock.
Target turns in some solid results
Shares of Target advanced 3.7% today after the company bucked the trend of second-quarter sales declines in department stores by announcing better-than-expected earnings on improved store traffic and strong growth in digital sales.
Comparable sales increased 1.3% in the quarter, with a 2.1% increase in transactions more than offsetting a 0.7% decline in prices. Sales through the company's digital channel increased 32% year over year and added 1.1 percentage points to comps, while the remaining 0.2-percentage-point gain attributable to brick-and-mortar stores stood in contrast to the declines reported in recent days by Target's peers. The result was earnings per share that grew 14.2% to $1.22 when analysts were expecting $1.19.
Target has been trying to revive its image with consumers by releasing new brands, remodeling stores, and revamping pricing to provide more attractive everyday prices without relying on promotions. Results this quarter -- which had been previewed last month and caused the stock to pop almost 5% -- seem to indicate that the strategy is working and pulling customers into stores, something tough to do in today's environment. With online sales growing fast and the company planning on building new, small-format stores, investors seem encouraged that Target could be on the upswing.


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Videology offers transactable viewable impressions
January 26, 2016
Videology, a software provider for converged TV and video advertising, has announced an industry-first in viewable campaign delivery.
Videology says its platform will now allow users to transact on viewability as a currency, defined as viewable CPM (vCPM). Within the platform, clients will be able to plan, buy and execute against a guaranteed price for a guaranteed number of viewable impressions as measured by 3rd party vendors Moat, DoubleVerify or Integral Ad Science. In addition, the platform will offer the flexibility of doing so using either the MRC Standard (50 per cent of pixels on screen for at least two consecutive seconds) or an Extended Viewability Standard (100 per cent of pixels on screen for at least 50 per cent of the video duration, with audio on and the play initiated by a human).
“We take viewability extremely serious at Accuen as we know that this is an area of ongoing concern for video advertisers and we are proud of our industry leading viewability rates in digital display,” said Adam Pace, MD Accuen UK. “The ability to buy guaranteed viewable impressions will ensure that our clients’ budgets are being spent on ads that are actually being seen—which is clearly the baseline for effectiveness. It’s a big step forward, and we applaud Videology for their ongoing work in ensuring quality within video advertising.”
“Quality is, and has always been, the hallmark of our platform. It’s what allows us to dramatically and consistently outperform the industry in terms of brand lift metrics,” said Scott Ferber, Chairman and CEO, Videology. “We’re ecstatic to be the first-to-market with a self-service platform that allows users to guarantee the delivery of viewable impressions at a fixed price as measured by 3rd party data. Deepening our partnerships with best-in-class providers to allow enhanced transaction capabilities on viewability is just another differentiator that allows us to deliver superior, guaranteed results to our clients.”

domain: news


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Noting severe demand crunch in the space, a Credit Suisse report released in September said that FY20 was likely to be the year of worst revenue growth for India's FMCG sector since 2000-03.
With liquidity squeeze, a slowdown in the agriculture sector, and uncertainty over sustainable incomes and job stability, 2019 will be remembered as the year which saw the worst slowdown for the FMCG sector in over a decade, according to a report.
Noting severe demand crunch in the space, a Credit Suisse report released in September said that FY20 was likely to be the year of worst revenue growth for India's FMCG sector since 2000-03. The liquidity squeeze, a slowdown in the agri sector, uncertainty over sustainable incomes and job stability have made people cautious about their consumption habits. Taking this into account, market research firm Nielsen revised the growth forecast for the Indian FMCG sector to 9 percent for calendar year 2019, from the earlier forecast of 11-12 percent.
A clear deceleration was seen in revenue growth rates for FMCG companies for the 9 months of 2019. For instance, HUL which had seen an 11 per cent revenue growth for the first 9 months of 2018, saw revenue growth slipping to 7.5 percent in the same period this year.
Chyawanprash maker Dabur saw revenue growth rate declining to 6 percent for the first nine months of 2019 from 10.2 percent year-on-year. Nestle also saw growth rates slip over 400 basis points.
“If I look at the last three quarters, I find a very sharp slowdown of growth, it has gone from a 14 to a 10 percent drop in growth between Q3 2018 to current… it is largely driven primarily by rural,” said Prasun Basu, President - South Asia, Nielsen.
Rural India, which accounts for 37 percent of overall FMCG spends, has historically grown at almost twice the rate of urban India. But in 2019, rural growth hit a seven year low. And, this was a cause of concern for several FMCG companies. “Market has witnessed a slowdown in the quarter particularly led by rural.. rural which was to grow 1.3-1.4 times, urban has only been growing 0.5x of urban,” said Srinivas Phatak, chief financial officer, HUL.
Godrej Consumer, which manufactures products like Goodknight and Cinthol, said that it was disappointed by growth in rural markets but was optimistic about recovery. “Rural has been marginally ahead of urban and so in that sense it has been a disappointment. Typically, we like to see rural at 1.4-1.5x urban growth … rural has been a challenge,” said Vivek Gambhir, Managing Director & chief executive officer, GCPL.
Even historical drivers of growth in the FMCG industry showed a decline during the year. Small packs, which make up 25-30 percent of overall sales for FMCG companies, showed a decline in volume growth on a year-on-year basis. Data sourced from market research firm Nielsen showed that three out of the top five high contributing categories for small packs have seen a decline in overall volume growth.
Small pack categories for segments such as biscuits, soaps and potato chips saw a decline in volume growth in the January to July 2019 period on a year-on-year basis. In such a scenario, FMCG companies turned with relief to benign commodity prices, especially palm oil prices. They were happy to pass on any benefits they received from this corner to the consumer in the form of price cuts, if it would translate into higher volumes. For instance, HUL, GCPL, and Wipro Consumer Care cut prices between 4 and 6 percent in the soaps category. A few of the players even offered bulk pack discounts and promotions to drive volumes.
While most companies tapped promotions to entice consumers, many FMCG companies had to cut back on advertising and promotional spends in an effort to cut costs. For instance, Godrej Consumer Products cut advertisement spends by 13 percent and Dabur cut spends by 3 percent in the first nine months of 2019.
Meanwhile, HUL and Marico spent more in an effort to get customers to open their wallets. "Slowdown in growth rates does not mean that the skies have fallen. It means that there has been a blip. It is my hope that with the steps that are being taken, if there are measures that puts back money in the hands of consumers in terms of increased consumption expenditure then that should really help," said Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestle India.
First Published: IST


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The Jordan Proto-Max 720 was introduced last fall, and the model is finally dropping next week. Featured in the popular gym red and black colorway, the new silhouette sports the newest tooling from the Swoosh with the Air Max 720, and it’s paired with a lightweight, flexible textile upper colored in red. Finally, adjustable heel straps, Flight Utility graphic details on the tongue and heel tabs complete the flight-inspired design.
Retailing for $200, look for the Jordan Proto-Max 720 Gym Red at select Jordan Brand stores and online on March 21. Always keep it locked to KicksOnFire for the latest in sneaker news, release dates and where to purchase your favorite kicks.


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The move boosts pay pal’s in store presence at some time when opposition in the internet obligations industry continues to be rising.
The take over will come less than three weeks after iZettle said it’d list stocks in Stockholm.
At some time that the business claimed the list can allow it to raise money and expand.
After finish, the purchase of iZettle will me-an pay-pal posseses an in-store existence in 11 markets in Europe and Latin America.
PayPal president Dan Schulman stated: “This mixture attracts with iZettle’s in store experience, established brand and digital marketing and advertising advantage together with PayPal’s world wide scale, mobile and internet obligations leadership, and also trusted brand reputation.”
Founded in Stockholm at 2010, iZettle began selling credit and debit card subscribers that can be plugged to smart phones and tablets.
It has recently expanded by having an e-commerce platform that tracks things like inventory and sales for its customers.
US-based Paypal was previously a portion of eBay, but is currently a standalone digital and mobile obligations business. It maintained a lot more than 200 million active customer accounts by the finish of this past calendar year.
It possesses the peer-to-peer installments business Venmo, that will be a favorite at the US, and past year acquired Swift Financial, making loans.
The business said last month that it was considering added acquisitions.
It is confronting increased competition as more businesses, including Apple and major banks, enhance their digital choices.
The tieup with iZettle will increase pay pal’s ability with businesses with physical retail operations.


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€ Exchange Rates


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Turmeric prices were down 1.81 per cent at Rs 7,024 per quintal in futures trade today on account of easing domestic and export demand at the spot market.
At the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, turmeric for delivery in November fell by Rs 130 or 1.81 per cent to Rs 7,024 per quintal with an open interest of 9,965 lots.
Similarly, the spice for delivery in December contracts traded lower by Rs 98 or 1.39 per cent to Rs 6,910 per quintal in 6,770 lots.
Market analysts said offloading of positions by traders, triggered by fall in domestic and export demand at the spot market against adequate stocks position, mainly kept pressure on turmeric prices at futures trade.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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A stalwart of the persimmon processing industry for more than three decades, 55-year-old Liu Li-chien (劉理鑑) from Hsinchu County has brought new life to a traditional industry that has been battered by low-priced products smuggled in from China.
When the industry was still in its heyday, dried persimmons could fetch between NT$150 and NT$220 per catty (0.6kg), with the highest price of NT$350 a catty recorded at a night market in Greater Kaohsiung.
However, things took a turn for the worse about 28 years ago, when the Taiwanese persimmon sector was crippled by an incursion of smuggled persimmons from China, which brought down the price of locally grown persimmons to a record low of NT$100 per catty.
Before Chinese smuggling became rampant, a middleman had offered to provide Liu with low-cost Chinese persimmons for NT$23 a catty, an opportunity that seemed too good to turn down.
Despite the temptation, Liu, proprietor of Hsinchu-based Wei Wei Jia Tourist Orchard, flatly rejected the offer out of conscience and an insistence on quality.
“Only one out of four Chinese persimmons do not taste astringent. As my mother always said, one should only make honest money,” Liu said. “Besides, peddling Chinese persimmons would help only my own business. What should Taiwanese persimmon farmers do then?”
The manufacture of dried persimmons is contingent on “the mercy of the weather,” he said.
In the best-case scenario, the northerly wind blowing from September to December would be strong and dry enough — acting as a “natural drying machine” — to accelerate the drying process of the golden fruits.
However, in most cases, manufacturers have to brave freezing temperatures to undertake a series of drying steps in an effort to prevent batches of laboriously harvested persimmons from perishing.
Born into a persimmon farming family, Liu started helping out with the family business at the age of five. In 1980, he and his father invented a drying machine to mimic the strong autumn wind.
Their brainchild, which could dry persimmons into a beautiful golden-yellow color, was soon copied by other orchard owners. The prevalence of the machine not only made the production of persimmon cakes far more time-efficient, but also launched an “industrial revolution” in the industry.
However, as Liu’s persimmon cakes have to be first dried, then roasted during a rainy day — a time-consuming processing method that gives the fruits a chewy taste, but also a less appealing appearance — his orchard started losing ground to other competitors that only used the drying machine.
Between 1987 and 1993, Liu’s business went from bad to worse in the face of fierce competition from both Taiwanese and Chinese persimmons.
At his worst, Liu earned less than NT$2,000 in retail revenue for an entire season, compared with the average quarterly profit of more than NT$1 million earned by other dried persimmon producers.
If not for the loyal support of a handful of wholesalers, including Chen Lien-tsai (陳連財) and Chan Yi-kuo (詹益國), who have been placing stable orders for Liu’s persimmon products for a long time, he might have given up.
Liu saw a silver lining when photography instructor Wu Ying-feng (吳應鳳), who was captivated by Wei Wei Jia’s traditional processing factory, started leading students to photograph the farm and factory each year.
Through the Internet, a group of women clad in headscarfs printed with Hakka traditional floral patterns, holding bamboo sieves filled with semi-dried persimmons while turning them, became the iconic image of Liu’s orchard, earning them the name “persimmon cake grandmas” (柿餅婆婆).
Another opportunity for Liu emerged nine years ago when an outsourcing contractor hired by the Ministry of Economic Affairs visited the orchard.
The delegation was surprised to discover a wooden beam that had been dyed brown by the persimmon juice left on the hands of Liu’s mother — a finding that blazed the trail for the development of persimmon dye in Taiwan and led to the establishment of the Hsinchu County Persimmon Dye Cultural Association.
Long regarded as a waste product, persimmons’ reddish-orange skin is rich in natural tannic acid and collagen, and dye extracted from it has good color fastness and can create a leather-like quality.
The beam was named the “Memorial Column of Parents” (懷親柱) and is now on display at Liu’s tourist orchard.


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By Ryan Faas.
It’s been nearly a year since Samsung announced its KNOX mobile security platform. Once expected to be one of 2013’s biggest enterprise mobility stories, news of KNOX seemed to disappear under a pile of other mobility launches including Apple’s iOS 7and Google’s Android KitKat, both of which included additional security features. While KNOX may not have made huge news in 2013, it has laid the framework for an array of deployments and news in 2014.
- Samsung’s delay in shipping KNOX
- Samsung is committed to KNOX
- Definite interest, but also some confusion
- Is it too early to count BlackBerry out?
- Still early in the race


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CALGARY, June 12, 2018 /CNW/ -FYidoctors is proud to announce the launch of its e-commerce platform: shop.fyidoctors.com.
For ten years FYidoctors / Visique has been enhancing lives with its unique optometrist-led clinics and retail stores. Today, that patient-centered care has been extended into an innovative online retail experience – created with our extraordinary Canadian client-base in mind.
FYidoctors' new online store is a fully-integrated extension of its eye-clinic experience. Patients of FYidoctors are now able to access their prescriptions through the store's integrated patient portal, empowering them to conveniently order a new pair of prescription glasses or reorder their contact lenses when it works best for them. Additionally, the online store will enable Canadians to try on frames with its virtual application, making the experience of ordering your prescription glasses seamless.
Founder and CEO Dr. Alan Ulsifer stated that the launch of the new online store is a natural progression for FYidoctors, which is dedicated to delivering industry-leading solutions with the patient in-mind.
"I am extremely proud to launch an e-commerce platform that meets the needs of the consumer, and protects them through strong Rx, or prescription, verification methodologies. An integrated e-commerce solution, which is an extension of our optometrist led-care, provides a real opportunity to engage with our patients in-between examinations."
"We're tremendously excited to deepen our relationship with our existing patients. Our integration with our core systems, like our prescription service, is unique and will enable a great ongoing user experience for all of our current and future patients," said Dr. Ulsifer.
The online store is offering free shipping on orders over $100, and free returns and exchanges. FYidoctors will be launching a fully-functional French site later this year, making the unique online shopping experience available to patients across FYidoctors' 181 Canadian locations.
About FYidoctors and Visique FYidoctors / Visique is a private, optometrist-owned-and-operated eye care company with its home office located in Calgary, Alberta and a fully automated, freeform laboratory and distribution facility located in Delta, British Columbia. FYidoctors / Visique is currently the world's largest doctor-owned provider of ophthalmic products and services, with over 450 optometrists servicing over 175 locations. To learn more please visit fyidoctors.com.


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Xbox 360 owners who snap up Activision’s Singularity will be entitled to receive a free copy of 2009’s open-world action title Prototype.
It’s out in North America on June 29th, though it doesn’t yet have a firm UK release date. A late June or early July release is expected.
The deal applies only to the Xbox 360 and, as far as we can tell, only applies to US customers. MCV has contacted Activision UK for clarification.
There’s a growing trend for offering free former full-price releases with the purchase of certain new games. Activision previously dished out copies of Guitar Hero Van Halen to buyers of Guitar Hero 5, and THQ earlier this year offered complimentary copies of Red Faction: Guerilla to those who bought Darksiders.


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Victims of Hurricane Matthew are in recovery mode and salvaging whatever items they can find. The category 4 storm, which devastated Haiti this October, has affected 1.4 million people and claimed the lives of over 1,000. With the power still out, limited food and water, and destroyed infrastructure relief workers are finding it extremely difficult to reach remote locations.
Besides food and water there is urgent need for clothing and shoes to protect Haitians from debris. With 90% of Haiti south destroyed people have become desperate. HHRD's Emergency Relief Team has been in the region immediately following the hurricane and has been distributed over 300 Food Packages in Les Cayes, Jeremie, Manish Village , Dame Marie, and Mairagone.


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After much hee-haw and deliberations running into years, TRAI, which is the nodal agency for all things telecom, has finally redefined the minimum broadband speed in India. This means that now any service offering "broadband internet" will have to offer speed of up to 512kbps. This is double of 256kbps, which was mandated earlier. Yes, that is right. The jump is an impressive 100 per cent. Although it's another matter that compared to what rest of the world gets this is pathetic.
The 512kbps minimum broadband speed in a country like India that dreams of being a digital superpower is a joke that would be funny if it wasn't for the fact that poor quality of internet in the country would be a drag on it.
Also, in case you thought that 512kbps minimum broadband was some sort of improvement keep in mind that it applies only on the fixed internet connections. For the mobile data connections, there is still no guarantee of any reasonable quality to any consumer.
In its directive issued on October 31, TRAI says that internet service providers will have to ensure that the speed of fixed broadband connections doesn't dip under 512kbps in any circumstance. "Broadband is a data connection that is able to support interactive services including Internet access and has the capability of the minimum download speed of 512kbps to an individual subscriber," notes TRAI in its directive. There is some more mumbo-jumbo about what internet service providers can do and what they can't but all of that is mere talk.
The surprising bit about the latest TRAI directive is that it is outcome of discussions that started year ago. In fact, by 2015 or 2016, government actually wanted 2mbps as the minimum broadband speed. ITU, a UN body that looks after all matters related to telecom, too defines broadband as a connection that has "transmission capacity faster than primary rate Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) at 1.5 or 2.0 Megabits per second (Mbits)". But sadly for India, which ought to be taking a lead in improving the sorry state of internet in country, that is just too fast. It still wants to be in the slow lane when it comes to internet.
Quarter after quarter, reports by Akamai show that India is among countries with worst internet access. There are countries like Sri Lanka that are better than India. China is miles ahead. The Europe, Far East Asian countries, even the US and Latin American countries, too are in a different league.
for TRAI it seems the pressure from telecom companies to not revise the minimum broadband speed to a more reasonable definition was too much. Indian telecom operators use this astounding -- and completely anti-consumer -- practice of Fair Use Policy where after a consumers has used some 10GB or 20GB of data the speed of that consumer is reduced to a crawl. Essentially, the consumer is blackmailed into buying "speed packs" to restore the speed for the rest of the month. Revising the minimum broadband speed to 2mbps or something better would put an end to this scam because then internet service providers will not be able to frustrate consumers with slow internet speed.
Unfortunately, it seems that TRAI doesn't see it like this. So, for now, the minimum broadband speed in India remains 512kbps and the country remains in the slow lane.
Source: TRAI pdf


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Announcing that it has completed the installation of its Acuitas Enterprise software in all the 375 stores of Salmoiraghi & Vigano, the leading Italian optical retail chain, Ocuco points out that its customers in the U.K., Ireland and other countries are benefiting at no extra cost from the new added ...
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Right of the heels of LG’s smart refrigerator announcement, Samsung takes the stage and announces the 2018 update to their Family Hub smart refrigerator, which now includes better support for their Bixby voice assistant, SmartThings integration and even AKG speakers “for sound that is deep in bass and rich in mid-range.”
As mentioned above, there is now SmartThings integration, which lets users connect third-party devices that are apart of the ecosystem, such as lights, thermostats, light switches, video cameras, and more. The SmartThings integration means users can now adjust the thermostat, or even see what’s happening in another room of the house, right from the refrigerators screen. As with the last model, there is a camera inside which monitors what food you do and don’t have, making it easier to get groceries at the store.
There is also improved Bixby support for this years model, which is now fully capable of going against Alexa and Google Assistant. Before, the fridge only had access to basic voice commands. Interestingly, the fridge can recognize individual voices of different people, giving them personalized results in the process.
When looking at the speakers, they can be used to play music, videos and other content from built-in apps like Pandora and Spotify, or stream content from a connected smartphone. Samsung also included two new food apps: Meal Planner, which manages food and provides recipes while taking food preferences and dietary constrictions into consideration, alongside a new Deals app, which “gives users the ability to find great bargains and save them directly to the Shopping List or loyalty card.”
As to be expected, Samsung isn’t releasing any details for the new Family Hub refrigerator, although they are expected to launch sometime this spring. Stay tuned to TechDependent for more of our CES 2018 coverage. To get caught up with what has happened so far, click here.


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Latest Soil contamination Stories
The Weed Science Society of America has announced the release of three new education modules on herbicide resistance in weeds.
DUBLIN, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition
Market Size - $6.74 bn in 2013; Market Growth - CAGR of 4.6%; Market Trends – Regulatory restrictions on non-biodegradable materials, new report by Grand View Research.
Patricia Bragg, of Bragg Live Foods Explains Benefits of Organic and Natural Foods to Bio Logic Aqua Research Founder Sharon Kleyne Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) July
Environmental Group Applauds Agency for Rejecting Emergency Propazine Use, Warns Agency of Foreseeable Dangers of Toxic Treadmill Agriculture WASHINGTON, July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
DUBLIN, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/j4bw2f/benzene_market)
This report provides deep dive competitive landscape covering the top players such as LyondellBasell Industries, Shell Nederland Chemie BV, BASF SE and NizhnekamskNeftekhim Inc.
An in-depth comparison of the nutritional quality and safety of food production methods has revealed that organic crops contain more antioxidants, as well as fewer and less frequent pesticide-related residue.
Study reinforces what millions of consumers already know: organic makes a difference WASHINGTON, July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A
The Weed Science Society of America has announced that it will participate in the upcoming annual meeting of the Aquatic Plant Management Society in Savannah, GA from July 13-16.
Today's soil contamination is a direct result of man-made chemicals or other changes in nature's soil environment. This contamination most commonly occurs from underground storage tanks bursting, use of pesticides, discarding oil and fuel illegally, leakage of dirty surface water, draining of wastes from landfalls and knowingly dumping industrial wastes into the soil. The most widespread chemicals found are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, common pesticides, lead and additional heavy metals....


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RAPAPORT... Belgium's polished diamond exports in June rose 3.2 percent year on year to $1.363 billion, according to data released by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. In terms of volume, exports were essentially flat, edging up 0.7 percent to 641,674 carats. Polished imports fell 2.3 percent to $1.438 billion, leaving a net export deficit of $75 million, compared with a deficit of $151 million in June 2012.
Rough diamond imports jumped 17.2 percent to $1.084 billion and rough exports surged 17.4 percent to $1.261 billion. Belgium registered a net rough import deficit of $177 million, which was up from a deficit of $149 million one year ago.
For the month of June, Belgium's net diamond account, reflecting the difference between net exports and net imports, rose to $102 million from a deficit of $2 million in 2012.
During the first half of 2013, Belgium's polished exports increased 5.6 percent to $7.141 billion, while polished imports declined 2.3 percent to $6.979 billion, leaving net polished exports of $162 million. Rough imports rose 7.2 percent to $7.013 billion, but rough exports increased 8 percent to $7.594, leaving a net rough import deficit of $581 million. The net diamond account for the first half of the year jumped to $743 million from $357 million one year ago.


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Mortgage servicer data breach affects 2.5 million; Crypto wallet provider warns iOS users
It’s only a matter of time before an industry is hit with a wave of fraud. Last year, the mortgage industry had its turn, as it experienced a 65% increase in fraud compared to 2020.
There’s never a good time to experience a data breach that leads to fraudulent activity, but for the mortgage industry, a recent incident adds to an already tough 12 month period.
In the latest installment of BlackCloak’s Thursday Threat Update, we will cover a data breach reported by a mortgage servicer that affected millions of users and yet another cryptocurrency-based scam observed by a wallet provider.
Mortgage servicer data breach impacts millions
What we know: Lakeview Loan Servicing experienced a data breach late last year affecting more than 2.5 million customers. An unauthorized user was able to access Lakeview’s servers, and the personal information of anyone who borrowed between Oct. 27 to Dec. 7, 2021. The compromised personal information included borrowers’ names, addresses, loan information, and Social Security numbers.
Recommendations: Lakeview has offered one free year of Kroll credit monitoring and identity theft protection services for anyone impacted by the breach. As Social Security numbers were exposed, it’s also a good idea to monitor your online accounts for any suspicious activity. If you were affected by this incident, you should strongly consider placing a fraud alert and credit freeze on your accounts, as well.
Crypto wallet provider issues warning to iOS users
What we know: MetaMask is warning their iOS users about storing important information in Apple’s iCloud. Specifically, the cryptocurrency wallet provider is advising iOS users against storing their security recovery phrase, known as a seed, on iCloud if the app data backup is active. Essentially, should an iCloud account become compromised, the digital wallet is at risk as well. In fact, one MetaMask user reported losing $655,000 to a phishing scheme where a cybercriminal posed as an Apple representative claiming to be investigating suspicious activity. The cybercriminal was able to persuade the victim to hand over a dual-factor authentication code and reset their password, after which they stole the funds from the crypto account.
Recommendations: First, to exclude MetaMask from iCloud backups, go to Settings, then Profile>iCloud >Manage Storage>Backups. Second, never respond to any text messages or phone calls from senders who you do not recognize. You don’t want to run the risk of interacting with a malicious actor. You should also never hand over dual-factor authentication codes under any circumstance. Official company representatives will never ask for these codes. Thus, if you receive a request from someone who claims to need it, immediately recognize this request as a major red flag.
Protect yourself from data breaches and phishing scams
Data breaches and phishing scams have become all too commonplace, but that doesn’t mean you need to panic. There are a number of ways to protect yourself online, and the best way to start is with awareness. Learn about how you can protect yourself from phishing attacks and identity fraud, and for crypto users, read up on how cybercriminals are targeting accounts through SIM hijacking to ensure you keep your digital assets safe.


text: Weight loss trends come and go but what stays behind is the impact they have on those who try them out in an earnest attempt to lose weight and reach their fitness goals. As such, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons of such short-lived trends before jumping on the bandwagon. We are saying this as there seems to be a new trend on the block: oat-zempic. The weight loss trend, a portmanteau of oats and Ozempic, has been doing the rounds on TikTok. It seems to be an offshoot of the trend of trying blood sugar drugs like Ozempic for weight loss, by replacing it with a low-cost, easily accessible option – dry oats. The challenge entails blending a cup of water with half a cup of uncooked oats, along with a dash of lemon juice and even cinnamon. Some stick to the meal replacement drink for at least 21 days, or even eight weeks, according to several reports on the trend. However, despite the hype, nutrition experts are not entirely convinced about the drink’s effectiveness when it comes to weight loss. Oatmeal, a staple whole grain food, stands out for its robust fibre content, making it a popular choice for breakfast. “Consumption of oatmeal promotes a sense of fullness, aiding in calorie reduction, while also delivering a bounty of essential vitamins and minerals,” said Dr Rajiv Kovil, head of diabetology, Zandra Healthcare and Co-founder of Rang De Neela initiative. With its low glycemic index, Dr Kovil said that oatmeal ensures a gradual release of sugar into the bloodstream, curbing blood sugar spikes and fostering a steady energy level throughout the day. However, Dr Kovil told indianexpress.com that the mixture can in no way mimic Ozempic, (semaglutide) that holds FDA approval for obesity treatment. “This injectable medication operates as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), effectively curbing appetite and enhancing feelings of satiety. Typically administered weekly under medical supervision, semaglutide presents a potent tool in the battle against excess weight,” said Dr Kovil. He added that Ozempic is an “evidence-based drug” while this trend is only riding on the popularity of Ozempic. “By suggesting that this weight loss trend is comparable to a well-approved weight loss drug, you are letting people believe that it works in a similar way – which is not true,” said Dr Kovil. While some TikTokers claim that the Oatzempic drink, made with oatmeal, water, and lime juice, has resulted in significant weight loss for them, it’s important to approach such claims with caution, he emphasised. He further added that such a meal replacement would lead to starvation without consuming a balanced diet. “I would emphasise a balanced diet, rich in whole grains and nutrient-dense foods that form the cornerstone of sustainable weight loss and overall wellness. Furthermore, the utilisation of semaglutide necessitates medical supervision due to its pharmaceutical nature and potential side effects,” said Dr Kovil.


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After a hard weekend of snow and shoveling, the city of Boston decided to show its residents and businesses a little love this week.
To celebrate Valentine's Day, Mayor Menino announced on Wednesday that all parking meters in the city of Boston would be free all day on Valentine's Day.
Menino said the move is an effort to help businesses "make up for lost time" due to this past weekend's blizzard.
“Whether you’re showering yourself, a friend or a special someone with love this Valentine’s Day, we want to make it as easy as possible for residents and visitors to spend some time and money at Boston businesses and restaurants tomorrow,” Mayor Menino said. “Get out there and share the love!”
Well, you heard him. When you're taking you're sweetie out for a nice lunch at Flour or a walk through Blackstone Square, or even going out at night for a lovely dinner, dedicate that extra moment when you'd usually be hunting around for quarters to your loved one.


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Apple fiercely opposes the idea of weakening iPhone encryption so that it could unlock devices for law enforcement agencies. But there are plenty of hackers and security companies that are always looking for vulnerabilities that could be used to jailbreak devices and unlock password protected devices.
Earlier this year, we saw many reports claiming that Grayshift, one such security company, has been selling a tiny device called GrayKey that could unlock any iPhone even the iPhone X to law enforcement agencies around the world. Apple then deployed a temporary fix a few months ago, and now there’s a permanent solution in place that prevents the police from using the gadget at all.
It’s still unclear what Apple did or how the fix works, but the GrayKey machines (seen below), which are used to guess the passwords on phones, can no longer do that.
“No idea [how Apple did it,] Elcomsoft chief Vladimir Katalov said. “It could be everything from better kernel protection to stronger configuration-profile installation restrictions.”
Earlier this year, Apple made a change to how the iPhone deals with devices that connect to it via the Lightning port — that’s how the GrayKey hack works. The port no longer works if the iPhone is locked for more than an hour. But the USB Restricted Mode that was enabled via an iOS 11 update wasn’t a permanent solution, nor was it difficult to bypass.
The new fix makes it impossible for the machine to guess the password needed to obtain access to an iPhone or iPad involved in a police investigation. Law enforcement can still access some data, including unencrypted files, but also metadata, like file sizes and folder structures. But they don’t have access to the most crucial information stored on the device.
Police officer Captain John Sherwin of the Rochester Police Department in Minnesota confirmed that GrayKey devices can’t unlock iOS 12 iPhones right now. “That’s a fairly accurate assessment as to what we have experienced,” he told Forbes, expressing confidence that hackers will find a new way to outsmart Apple.


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Just as Microsoft closed up for E3, they had one final reveal. They debuted TitanFall, a game that had awesome action and crazy mechs alongside some fantastic graphics.
Players can use jetpacks and jump over objects, and can also wall ride buildings and other objects as they're flying. They can control mechs, and they can do some seriously cool moves and a lot of damage.
Respawn's Vince Zampella said TitanFall will "define what this generation of gaming has to offer beyond just hardware." Director Steve Fukuda showed off a live gameplay demo that included tons of other players on screen in mechs and on foot.
Respawn Entertainment will be launching this game exclusively for Xbox One in Spring 2014.


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The holiday spirit is in the air, despite Christmas being still more than a week away, and there’s no better way to celebrate than buying cheap, high-end presents for loved ones. Or get yourselves some nice gifts. You’ve earned them, right?
If you haven’t already noticed, booq has been on a roll with releasing new bags for consumers. Their latest, the Python slimpack, is perfectly designed for the professional photographer or up-and-coming shutterbug.
You know that $299 Mirrorless Android Camera by Polaroid which went on sale a couple of months ago? Yes, that one we thought as a hybrid of the Nikon J1 and Samsung Galaxy Camera. Nikon has finally notice that model is a copycat of its J1. No contest, it looks a lot like Nikon’s.
It’s happened to all of us at one point or another. We’ve experienced that fleeting moment, where the opportunity for a great photo has been lost just as we draw a camera or smartphone out to capture it. And then it’s always, “drat! If only!”
Listen up, quirky photo buffs, because this one goes to you. Samsung’s eccentric Galaxy S4 Zoom cameraphone is officially landing on AT&T November 8, to be priced at $199.99 with standard two-year contracts. The Frankensteinian creature combines the top-notch photo quality of digital cameras with the portability, functionality and voice call support of Android smartphones, more »
The Polaroid iM1836 mirrorless Android camera was officially launched last week for $299. It’s an interesting product at its core by offering interchangable lenses, a touch screen and all the networking capabilities of Android 4.1 for such a low price. However, its debut hasn’t been well received by more knowledgeable photography communities online. Negative comments more »
It has been awhile since we last heard about the . It’s a mirrorless camera with interchangable lenses that also happens to run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Think of it as a bit of a hybrid between the Nikon 1 J1 and the Samsung Galaxy Camera. Despite having built-in Wi-Fi and a 3.5-inch touch screen, more »
Nearly a month after Sony began selling the and the , the company finally released a critical update for its PlayMemories Mobile app for iOS. PlayMemories Mobile is currently required to get any real use out of the lens style cameras, but proved to be a major hindrance. With today’s 3.30 update, Sony claims to more »
promised an update to its app in the middle of October, and today it delivered the goods. Camera360 Ultimate for Android is now on version 4.7.7. This update includes support for Sony’s QX10 and QX100 lens style cameras and even throws in some extra features that aren’t available in the PlayMemories Mobile application. Unfortunately, the more »
PlayMemories Mobile for iOS was updated yesterday with a fix for the QX10 and QX100. Unfortunately, it didn’t address the most important issue iOS users are having. General connectivity and reliability still hinder the QX cameras on iOS, but the latest update made sure to correct the issue that was applying an incorrect time stamp more »
Ever since Sony’s QX cameras were released, they have been massively hindered by the PlayMemories Mobile application. The app is more of a problem on iOS than Android, but it still makes a decent product end up as unreliable and frustrating to use. The problem with the app is that it was never updated for more »
Whether you’re ready for it (or if you even like it,) wearable tech has its cross-hairs set on it to be the next big breakthrough. Smartwatches have been rolling out by the dozens and Google Glass has been making waves all over the nation since it’s debut. Wearable tech isn’t really ‘new’ per-se, but the more »


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A widely criticised advert for Sony's PlayStation 2, in which the tagline advised male gamers to buy the PS2 console "because your girlfriend bores you shitless", is a fake, according to the company.
The advert, which shows a man failing to disguise his boredom while a female character talks to him, came under fire last week after appearing on the advertising website AdsoftheWorld.com. A feminist site discovered the advert and was predictably incensed, noting that "Sony seems to be on a mission to establish itself as the choice of sexist lads everywhere".
But Sony, when contacted by PC Advisor, explained that the advert is not an official one for the PS2 console - and indeed the company denies any knowledge of its creation.
"These adverts do not exist and were certainly not created by nor placed by Sony Computer Entertainment in India or anywhere else. I do not know where they originate, but there are some suggestions they have been created by a marketing agency to illustrate 'brand truths' - what brands would say if they were honest allegedly," said a Sony spokesperson.


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Successful Start to New Fiscal Year for Continental
Automotive supplier releases key data at its Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
Sales rise by 11.7 percent to €11 billion in first quarter
The adjusted operating result (adjusted EBIT) is around €1.2 billion (margin: 10.7 percent)
The technology company is confident of comfortably achieving its ambitious annual targets
Technology company Continental has announced that it has made a successful start to the new fiscal year. In the first quarter of 2017, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner significantly boosted its sales by 11.7 percent year on year to €11 billion. Organic growth adjusted for changes in the scope of consolidation and exchange rates amounted to 9.5 percent, to which the business of the Automotive Group made a considerable contribution. The adjusted operating result (adjusted EBIT) increased to around €1.2 billion, while the adjusted EBIT margin was 10.7 percent.
“Continental made a very good start to the new fiscal year in a volatile environment. Despite increased raw material costs, all indications are that we will comfortably achieve the ambitious targets we set ourselves for 2017,” said Continental’s chairman of the Executive Board, Dr. Elmar Degenhart, on the presentation of the key data for the first three months of the current fiscal year at today’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting in Hanover.
Continental will present its business figures for the first quarter of 2017 on May 9.
Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and networked mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transport. In 2016, Continental generated sales of €40.5 billion and currently employs more than 227,000 people in 56 countries.
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inQventures, der Start-up-Inkubator des IT-Dienstleisters Adesso, lädt Unternehmensgründer zum zweiten „Start-up Boostival“ ein. Das Event soll Jungunternehmen Gelegenheit geben, ihre Geschäftsidee zu präsentieren.Weiterlesen


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With an output of 136.5 million, total tyre production fell for the first time by 6.7 per cent in the first nine months of 2019/20, based on monthly data available since 2015 . The production has been incessantly falling since January last year with the sharpest year-on-year (y-o-y) fall of 17.1 per cent in October 2019. The cumulative tyre production during April-December has posted a y-o-y single-digit growth since 2015/16 barring 2016/17 when the growth was close to 12 per cent. As for the full fiscal year, tyre production has been repeatedly growing since 2013/14 at an average rate of 7.8 per cent.
The decline in tyre production was on the back of a sharp fall in demand from the automobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across all segments. Automobile production is at an eleven quarter low following a slowdown in the economy, lower infrastructure spending, sluggish consumer demand, tight financing environment, high dealer inventories and subdued rural demand, among others. Replacement demand for tyres also remained sluggish due to weaker than expected demand of replacing old tyres with new ones from fleet operators.
CMIE expects the total tyre production to fall in 2019/20. In 2020/21, total tyre production is projected to increase. However, output is likely to grow at a moderate pace. Demand for tyres from the passenger vehicle and two and three-wheeler manufacturers is likely to revive in 2020/21. Although, demand for tyres from the commercial vehicle manufacturers will continue to be sluggish.
Country's tyre exports grew 5.4 per cent during April 2019 to February 2020. Anti-dumping duties imposed on Chinese tyres by the US helped India's tyre exports to grow during the year. Overseas demand for tyres will remain steady in 2020-21. Additionally, tyre manufacturers are focussing on newer markets of Europe, South East Asia, Australia and Latin America to augment their exports.


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By Nishant Arora
New Delhi– The new Apple TV+ video streaming service can make its mark in the crowded over-the-top (OTT) market in India only with original desi content, disrupting pricing and strategic alliances with industry stakeholders, emphasise experts.
There are over 32 online content and video streaming platforms in the country and the market is expected to hit $5 billion by 2023, according to a recent report by the global management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The growth is being driven by rising affluence, increase in penetration of data into rural markets and adoption across demographic segments including women and older generations.
Announced on Monday, Apple’s on-demand subscription service will start in over 100 countries this Fall with a brand new programming from the world’s celebrated artists, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa, M. Night Shyamalan and Jon M. Chu.
“There is a huge young population in India that loves to watch Hollywood originals. However, the key will be producing original desi content, strategic collaborations with industry players and storytellers and, most importantly, the pricing,” said Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research.
Today, the Indian OTT users have multiple choices and would spend money only if the content and pricing is really disrupting.
Netflix charges Rs 800 a month (for its premium service), while Amazon Prime Rs 999 for the whole year.
“Apple has an ecosystem in place in India that will help in the initial run but everything boils down to making original, compelling content where the market leaders like Netflix is spending massively,” Pathak told IANS.
Netflix spent nearly $12 billion on content last year and is projected to spend over $15 billion this year. Apple has reportedly spent over $1 billion in making original content so far.
According to Jaipal Singh, Associate Research Manager, Client Devices, IDC India, it is getting difficult in the devices business to differentiate.
“China-based vendors are aggressive in this space. They are bringing device innovation in a short span to emerging markets that too at a competitive price. Here, services ecosystem plays a critical role for players like Apple to retain existing users,” Singh told IANS.
Apple extending its services portfolio further into the streaming, gaming and news aggregation is a positive move, he said.
“However, India is a different market; it is still a mobile and Android-first market. Streaming market has seen a stride in the recent past and it is quite fragmented. But it still provides a lot of opportunities for new vendors to explore this segment,” Singh noted, adding Apple needs a lot of localisation and competitive pricing to be relevant.
The Apple TV app will be available on Samsung smart TVs, beginning this Spring and on Amazon Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony and VIZIO platforms in the future.
Later this year, customers with eligible VIZIO, Samsung, LG and Sony smart TVs will be able to effortlessly play videos and other content from their iPhone or iPad directly to their smart TVs with AirPlay 2 support.
Such partnerships with consumer electronics players in India will help Apple cement its position in the super-hot video streaming market. (IANS)


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According to a pending liquor license found in state public records, a restaurant called Times Square is coming to Glendale. The applicant restaurant’s address is listed as 5775 W. Bell Road, which is the site of the newly revitalized Talavi Towne Centre.
While the restaurant’s name is listed simply as “Times Square,” it’s not entirely clear if this will be a new location for Times Square Neighborhood Italian Restaurant, which originated in Deer Valley. The owners of that chain have been contacted but have not yet returned requests for comment at the time of publication.
If it is the same restaurant, Glendale can soon expect the same delicious pizzas, pastas, Italian dishes, and American fare that is served in Deer Valley, Union Hills, and Litchfield Park. The local chain is known for serving high-quality meals in a casual environment where regulars even get their caricatures hung on the wall.
Keep an eye on this address to see the restaurant’s development over the coming months. For more information, visit www.timessquareaz.com.


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PC World rounds up the HDTV makers who've got 3D news at this year's CES trade show.
The International Consumer Electronics Show kicks off later this week in Las Vegas. PC World's editorial team previews what to expect in everything from storage to digital photo to mobile phones.
Planning on watching the big game this Sunday? These nine HDTVs evaluated by PC World’s Test Center are generally fast enough to keep up with the football action on your screen.
Lost, Desperate Housewives, and ESPN content will go online at Veoh.com as part of a syndication deal between Veoh and the Disney-owned TV networks.
PC World editors pick 10 things they like about Apple's new iPhone, and 10 things they'd like to see improved.
PC World has compiled the 100 Best Products of 2007, and Mac-related hardware makes a strong showing.
PC World's staff was on hand in Las Vegas to sort through all the offerings at the massive Consumer Electronics Show. Here are some of their choices for the good, bad, and horrible things they found on the show floor.
With Apple opening the door for running Windows, security is a growing concern for Mac users. Today’s antivirus programs have no trouble stopping familiar intruders, but how safe are you from the unknown?


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Traders on York’s Christmas Market have received a hi-tech business boost.
Trading from the city centre has many advantages – but broadband speed did not used to be one of them, as festive stallholders knew to their cost.
But now they are enjoying super-fast speeds – after the network provider bringing blazing broadband to the heart of York stepped in.
Companies hampered by the glacial connections of yesteryear have been transformed thanks to full-fibre speeds of up to 900 Mbps.
And now York’s Christmas Market is benefiting from the same futuristic service.
Traders had been struggling to process digital payments due to connectivity issues.
A temporary wi-fi network, backed by UK Fibre Networks’s ultra-fast broadband technology, has been installed for those selling products from the popular festive stalls – and all for free.
“We wanted to support them so they could make the most of this busy trading period,” said Pete Evans, UK Fibre Networks director.
“As a local super-fast internet provider we worked tirelessly to set up a short term solution.
“Our team worked quickly to set up an innovative short-term solution which has already been praised by traders.”
UK Fibre Networks has been upgrading properties across the city to increase speed and reliability over the last year, but this is the first time they have installed a temporary solution for a specific event.


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Fresh Innovations California, LLC has hired Greg Taylor as their new Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing, and Innovation. Greg has over 30 years of experience in representing numerous consumer packaged goods companies. Prior to joining Fresh Innovations, Greg worked for Dole Fresh Vegetables for 21 years, most recently as the Vice President Value Added Sales, North America.
Greg will be overseeing the sales, marketing, and innovation for Fresh Innovations California. His vast knowledge of the sales landscape across North America coupled with his years of working with innovation and marketing will propel the organization to new heights. “We are pleased to have Greg on board and are excited about all that he has already contributed to our team,” commented Imelda Fernandez, HR Generalist and Safety Administrator.
Greg is excited to join and said, “Fresh Innovations is a dynamic, flexible company that operates in multiple channels of trade focused on providing our customers and consumers quality innovative products and unparalleled customer service.”
Based in Stockton, CA, Fresh Innovations California, LLC processes fresh fruit into convenient, ready-to-eat products. The company supplies schools, food service, and retailers across the country. For media inquiries please visit www.fresh–innovations.com


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At Nutrition Cottage Health Foods Store in Boynton Beach, a steady stream of young and old customers come in search of beta carotene, folic acid and a variety of other vitamins and minerals.
Mark Stowe and his wife, Karen, have seen sales soar 20 percent last year throughout their five-store chain in Palm Beach and Broward counties. The growth is being fueled mainly by university research studies showing that vitamins may protect against heart disease, cancer, birth defects and other illnesses, Mark Stowe said.
Nationwide, vitamin and mineral sales have skyrocketed to an estimated $4.1 billion in 1993, an 11 percent increase from 1992's $3.7 billion in sales, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry trade group based in Washington, D.C.
Consumers are benefiting from the increased attention being focused on the vitamin and mineral industry. As sales grow, more pharmaceutical companies are interested in sponsoring vitamin research.
Pharmaceutical giant Hoffmann La Roche, based in Nutley, N.J., is helping finance a study at the University of Miami to gauge the effectiveness of beta carotene in preventing cancer.
Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies have focused their research and development dollars on new drugs that could be patented. The payoff for research in the vitamin industry has been relatively small because vitamin chemical formulas are in the public domain and cannot be patented. But consumers, who spend up to $100 a month on vitamin and mineral supplements, are demanding the drug companies' attention.
About 76 million Americans - 41 percent of adults older than 18 -take vitamin or mineral supplements, according to a study by New York City-based Louis Harris & Associates Inc.
At least two South Florida manufacturing companies have benefited from the increase in vitamin and mineral sales nationwide. Last year's sales at Boca Raton-based Rexall Sundown Inc. and Goldline Laboratories of Fort Lauderdale have increased 25 percent and 20 percent, respectively.
The increase in sales led Rexall Sundown to build a new 82,000square-foot manufacturing plant in Boca Raton, said Carl DeSantis, the company's president.
An aging Baby Boom population, senior citizens living longer and scientific research linking vitamins and minerals to disease prevention, are the major factors fueling the growth in dietary supplement sales, said Christian Boswell, vice president of marketing for Goldline Laboratories.
Goldline, a subsidiary of Ivax Corp., offers about 300 generic vitamins and 1,500 generic drugs and health care products.
"This isn't a fad," said Boswell who takes half a dozen vitamins a day. "We're seeing growth in products that we've had for years."
Overall, the vitamin and mineral industry is highly fragmented, with no company capturing more than 10 percent of the market, said Tony Butler, an analyst with Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg.
Rexall Sundown along with Nature's Bounty of Bohemia, N.Y., Nature's Sunshine Products of Provo, Utah, and Natural Alternatives International of San Marcos, Calif., are among the major manufacturers and distributors. General Nutrition Cos., based in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Nature Food Centers of Wilmington, Mass., are the major retailers.
Rexall Sundown markets more than 750 products ranging from fish oil to vitamin C with sales of $93 million in 1993, compared with $74 million in 1992, said Nickolas Palin, the company's senior vice president of sales.
"As people get older, they are more concerned about their health and future than designer clothing and a new BMW," said Palin, 45, who takes eight or more vitamins a day.
Nature's Bounty's vitamin and mineral sales soared 38 percent in 1993 and 30 percent in 1992, said Harvey Kamil, the company's executive vice president of marketing. The company's sales hit $138 million in 1993, compared with $100 million in 1992.
Increasing consumer demand for vitamins and nutritional supplements has shaken up the various channels for distribution. Rexall Sundown is one of the only major vitamin and nutritional products companies that sells its products through retailers, direct marketing and mail order.
In the past, mail order operations and health food stores sold the most vitamins. Today, they represent only 5 percent and almost 21 percent of the market, respectively, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
The market for vitamins is not being driven by the demand for bee pollen and primrose oil, but for the basic core vitamins: multivitamins, beta carotene, the chemical parent of vitamin A, vitamins C, D, and E, also known as antioxidants, said Ken Schoppmann, with the Council for Responsible Nutrition. Antioxidants are thought to cleanse the body of volatile toxins.
1992 Olympic bronze medalist Mary Ellen Clark, 31, of Fort Lauderdale takes four vitamins a day while training for diving competition.
"I feel like the vitamins have really helped me stay in this sport," said Clark, who also serves as spokeswoman for Rexall Sundown.
Out of all the vitamins on the store shelf, multivitamins rack up the most sales with $1.2 billion in sales during 1992, the latest figures available, according to the Louis Harris & Associate study. Vitamin C is the next most popular supplement, preferred by a third of all vitamin-mineral users. The vitamins range in price from $2.95 for a bottle of 100 tablets to up to $60 for special body-building formulas.
People take vitamin-mineral supplements for a variety of reasons but mostly to improve their health. Other reasons vary from improving one's sex life to preventing hair loss.
In the past, the American Medical Association and coalition of health groups have issued statements saying the vast majority of Americans do not need vitamin or mineral supplements. The U.S. government issues recommended daily allowances of vitamins and minerals that can be found in a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, milk and dairy products.
"In a perfect world, if people were eating fresh vegetables and fruit and balanced diet - they wouldn't need vitamins," said Palin with Rexall Sundown. "But most of us don't have the time. We're living in a fast-paced, fast-food world."
Now scientists are starting to suspect that traditional medical views of vitamins and minerals have been too limited, said Marianna K. Baum, professor and chief of the nutrition section at the University of Miami's department of Epidemiology and Public Health.
Baum has been conducting clinical trials using beta carotene supplements for cancer victims and multivitamins for HIV infected patients to prevent disease progression.
In a double-blind study sponsored by Hoffmann La Roche, beta carotene and a placebo are given to two groups of women older than 45 who recently had neck or face cancer removed, Baum said. The beta carotene is being studied to see whether it helps to prevent the recurrence of cancer, Baum said.
In the HIV study, 170 patients are given varying doses of multivitamins to gauge the effect of the supplement in warning of the onset of the AIDS virus.
So far, the research has been promising, Baum said.
"Many of the supplements have psychological effects as well as physical effects," Baum said. "There isn't any magic pill that will cure everything, but the vitamins can help supplement a poor diet."


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Editor in Chief
- Dec 30, 2010
- Reaction score
- Austin, TX
Fans of the Google Nexus series of devices could be in for a pleasant surprise this year. It's no surprise that two new Google Nexus devices are likely coming later this year. An LG made next-generation Nexus 5 has been rumored multiple times, as has been the Huawei-made Nexus 6.
The happy rumor which arrived in our in-box today is that Google may be ahead of schedule with both Android M and these two Nexus devices. Both are supposedly coming at the same time, and both could be launched earlier than expected this year. The intel suggests the devices will be launched in the third quarter of this year instead of the fourth quarter.
If this latest rumor proves correct, it could mean a happy late Summer or Fall for folks needing a new Nexus smartphone. We will keep you apprised as more details emerge.
Here's our dedicated Google Forums section for more discussions on Nexus products: Google Forums Android Forum at DroidForums.net


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While millions of people where in lockdown due to covid-19 outbreak, ambitious people backed by industry giants were venturing around an idea of filling a gap in entertainment field. Quibi wants to help people in their idle time with short videos. But this startup is very different one. It raised $1.75 billion dollars and employed more than 200 people before product launch. While many may expect a new frontier in industry but debut was deeply disappointing. In this article we are looking at streaming startup named Quibi which provides customers with short form contents.
What is Quibi?
The app, delivering television and news programming in 5- to 10-minute segments, was built to be viewed on the move by people too busy to stop and view TV shows or videos. This started out as millions of residents didn’t travel out thanks to country-wide lockdowns.
The platform will deliver videos and shows with each episode around 10 minutes. The packages fell into three major categories: chapter-released films; documentary and unscripted reality shows; and news and sport stories from Famous media like ESPN, BBC and NBC. Fifty shows released on debut.
Mr. Katzenberg and Ms. Whitman made their pitch on January, presenting it as on-the-go break for someone waiting at Starbucks or taking the subway. The pandemic has changed the situation. With new consumers mostly limited to their houses, it can now make them compete to existing channels such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video that can be viewed on any device, even TV in the living room. However, streaming startup is solely a cellphone based platform.
Jeffrey Katzenberg former head of Disney studios and dreamworks SKG co-founder and Meg Whitman former executive at Disney, dreamworks, ebay and HP are great names in global business who co-founded Quibi.
Under lockdown circumstances, Quibi declared it will be free for three months. After this, users would pay $4.99 and $7.99 a month, the latter is without ads. The streaming startup business model considers people infinite desire for amusement.But its features like being short-form, smartphone-only, paying subscription requirements ignores usual preference of users. People who accustomed to free exciting, endlessly updating and growing fun on demand and on phones via YouTube and TikTok. As Goodman, a media Analysts adds: in an environment where the consumer needs to have power of consuming stuff with multiple choices, Quibi stripped away most of it.
Founders probably have thought that despite YouTube contributors in every minute make about 500 hours of new content the quality of their work is mostly low. Then, if we make partnership with Hollywood studios and provide high quality content it will attract consumers even with low number of products. But the result is producing videos with cost of $100,000 per minute. Thus, we see they are betting on an expensive value proposition in an industry that its customers taste is not predictable. This means losing competition from both quantity and quality aspects.
According to the Sensor Tower, a research company, the app dropped from the top 50 most downloaded within a week of its debut, it only gained over 1.5 million active users by the end of May. Although it performed better in recent months, it is still far below relative to over 50 million Disney+ members released in December 2019 and Netflix’s massive 183 million worldwide customers. Another thing is that some of those customers were on free trial plan, ended previous month. Downloads were so low despite a lineup of producers and stars like Jennifer Lopez, LeBron James, Idris Elba, Steven Spielberg and Chrissy Teigen. The firm expects reaching only 2 million paid users by end of 2020, fewer than 30% of the 7.4 million target.
The Startup Challenges
Revenue stream: Commercial partners such as Anheuser-Busch, Taco Bell, WalMart and Pepsi tried to restructure their deals with the streaming startup because of both pandemic impacts to their company and low performance of Quibi.
Human resources: many notable employees quit the streaming startup over the last year. This includes Janice Min, former co-president of The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Company; Diane Nelson, former executive of the Warner Bros.; and Tim Connolly, former executive of the Hulu Corporation. Mr. Katzenberg and Ms. Whitman are considered to be exacting administrators, who hold an eye on the slightest information. Steve Glaveski considers some defects in this style of leadership like irresponsibility or arrogance which are noteworthy but I think there must be more information than we have now to judge someone way of management.
Patent infringement accusation: Elliott Management is decided to fund a lawsuit filed by tech company Eko. Dispute is about “Turnstyle” key technology which enables content to flow seamlessly back and forth on cell phone from portrait view to landscape.
The main problem: It is not a startup at all!
How many times have you heard about $1 billion fundraising in first and $750 million fundraising in second round? The numbers are too far from averages. According to techcrunch, even after increase in volume of fundraising in recent years, the average of funding in first three rounds of seed, A and B are $5.6 million, $15.7 million and $30.7 million respectively. Numbers that are not even close to what happened at Quibi.
Although lack of money is always one of the startups’ challenges but lots of it, is another kind of challenge, too. Too much money emerges the risk of wasting it and trying to covering the solution-problem and product-market fit by advertising on Super Bowl or Hollywood party with 1500 guests. However, 68 percent of last month’s Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult poll participants said they did not identify the company. To Test your product through prototyping is low cost solution for every business. Remember you are the one that should conform with customers, not vice versa. So test your product more and more till at final launch, you propose something that customers really want.
The Achilles heel of founders is exactly what seemed to support them. They could fund huge volumes because of their professional experience but working in industry giants keeps them away from needed culture to manage a startup. Employing 267 people before launching the product shows the founders’ habit to work in space of big things. Big numbers and big partners are examples of it. I don’t think that giants are created suddenly; they are formed in years instead.
Does it mean the streaming startup will fail finally?
Despite all challenges, there is a silver lining (and may be more than one):
- Eighty percent of Quibi’s subscribers end the episode they watch;
- They have planned to cut the marketing budget;
- Executives are going to take the app to TV by negotiating with Amazon Fire and Roku;
- Developers are going to add possibility of sharing its content through social media platforms.
One solution may be using young talents who are out of Hollywood studios to produce contents. There are many people out there that may not have experience making content like a pro but they can still strike gold. Remember that many famous Hollywood directors once were an independent and unknown one. Their engagement will have two promising results. To increase quantity and variety of contents while saving quality near the ideal one.
Again the main risk lies on managers’ attitude. Should they trying to continue being perfect, trying to create a streaming giant in a moment, the end of Quibi may be too close.


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9/7/2010 12:15:12 PM - 2 Comments
David Oetken, Director of Business Advising for GLI’s ENTERPRISECORP, shares
his insights on corporate strategies below. As one Harvard Business Review article notes, “A brilliant strategy, blockbuster product or breakthrough
technology can put you on the competitive map, but only solid execution can
keep you there.”
As market conditions quickly change, any company that can
rapidly “triage” its strategy and adapt to new conditions will have a huge
competitive advantage. Worldwide, strategic planning has become the business
norm. However, in a recent survey, chief executives of corporations identified
excellence in execution as their top challenge (55.4%), as well as the
alignment between strategy and execution (47.0%), and speed, flexibility and
adaptability to change (46.6%). Clearly, CEO’s are recognizing that developing a good
strategy is far easier than executing that strategy.
8/9/2010 12:50:50 PM - 0 Comments
Dave Oetken, Director of Business Advising for GLI’s ENTERPRISECORP, delivers detailed, personalized guidance to local businesses who want to generate new growth. Below, Dave examines the “80/20” rule of business, and offers insights on how your company can successfully enlarge its customer base beyond that 20 percent:
Recently, experiences with clients have caused me to rethink the old 80/20 rule. This rule states that 80 percent of a company’s revenue comes from 20 percent of its customers. As a result, smart business leaders focus most of their time and company resources toward this segment. And, while it can be a good business practice, it can also become a dangerous habit.
Case in point: a local company did increasing business with a large manufacturer to the extent that 90 percent of its revenues came from that one customer. As you can guess, when the customer decided it could buy cheaper elsewhere, it put the local company out of business, costing the community 67 jobs.
In today’s competitive environment, the 80/20 rule can sometimes be cause for alarm, especially if most of the 80 percent is coming from a small number of customers.
8/6/2010 09:22:00 AM - 0 Comments
The Federal Reserve Bank's St. Louis District, which includes Louisville, is reporting that economic conditions are improving throughout the region. In a report released last week, the Fed showed activity has increased in the manufacturing and service sectors. However, the report also showed that commercial and industrial real estate markets remain weak, and overall bank lending activity decreased from early April to late June.
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© 2012 Greater Louisville Inc. - The Metro Chamber of Commerce | 614 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202 502.625.0000


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His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns 77 tomorrow, July 6, and his birthday festivities in Dharamsala, India, will be broadcast live online.
There will be speeches in English and Tibetan starting at 9:00 a.m. Indian Standard time, which is 11:30 p.m. today in Eastern Time, and 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time. You can tune into the livestream here.
That’s not the only way you can celebrate His Holiness’ birthday, though. In his honor, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition has designated July 6 as Compassion Day. There are three main parts to Compassion Day: Rejoicing, Compassion in Action, and Meditation. You can celebrate at an FPMT center, if there’s one near you, or at home. For more information about how you can observe Compassion Day, visit the Compassion Day website and/or the day’s Facebook page.
And in honor of Compassion Day, Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive will offer free copies of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s books Bodhisattva Attitude and Joy of Compassion. Just place your order on Compassion Day, July 6th and get the books with free shipping anywhere in North America.


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Image Credits: Comomolas/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images
ORLANDO, Fla. – More newly-built homes are featuring smart-home technology because builders are realizing more buyers want it and are willing to pay the extra costs.
Recent research from John Burns Real Estate Consulting found that more than 60 percent of new-home buyers say they’d pay more for an exterior security camera and smart locks. Sixty percent of buyers also would spend more on a home with a smart thermostat, the survey revealed.
According to a separate John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey of more than 300 home builders, 53 percent say they now incorporate smart-home technology into new construction. Even so, 42 percent of buyers say they would purchase additional smart-home technology.
Buyer segments differed on which smart-home tech they liked the most, according to the survey:
- Young singles and couples: most likely to choose smart thermostats
- Families: most likely to choose a smart garage responsive to app controls and voice commands
- Older buyers: most likely to pay extra for smart locks


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Video performs better than any other type of content – with better engagement, more memorable adverts, and better recall experienced by viewers. But once you start creating video content, how do you know when it’s been successful?
Social media has developed into an effective component of digital strategy, but measuring its performance is still a challenge. How will analytics affect social media in 2017?
When measuring the effectiveness of discount codes, retailers often get it wrong. In this article, we'll look at how data-driven attribution can help businesses better understand where discount codes produce the best ROI.
The term ‘marketing cloud’ has gained significant traction in the last few years as major software companies have sought to monetise the growing importance of technology for marketing teams.
Digital has quite forcefully overturned the entire media industry, causing even the most traditional companies to adapt or be left behind.
As marketers plan for the year ahead, we’re highlighting the top trends for marketers for 2017, with intelligence tracked by Catalyst Alerts.
What’s behind a successful data-driven marketing strategy?
If you’re just starting out with a business, or looking for tools to help you grow, there is a huge array of digital marketing tools, platforms and services available online.
A new starter in Team SaleCycle recently asked me the following question… “Wouldn't they just come back anyway?”
American Apparel's chief digital officer discussed the future of retail, the importance of delivering value to the consumer, and strategies for an IoT and omnichannel world.


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Anyone looking to add cheese to that burger or scarf down a second hot dog at their Fourth of July picnic may want to think twice, thanks to (at least) one uninvited guest: inflation.
The average price of a 10-person Fourth of July picnic is up 7.8% in the last year — it is close to $70 dollars now — after adjusting for inflation, according to an analysis of American Farm Bureau Federation data. And prices of many picnic staples, from lemonade to potato salad, are up from 7% to 36% over the year before.
But there’s good news for bakers: An NBC News analysis of apple pie ingredients (with ice cream, please) found the typical homemade pie has essentially held steady over the last year, and is actually cheaper than a decade ago when adjusted for inflation.
Hot dog prices, however, have remained costly. The per-pound price of the common frankfurter surged in 2021 and has stayed elevated since, part of a general rise in meat prices. A pack of hot dogs could cost you more than $5 this holiday weekend.


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In support of efforts by various state actors towards youth empowerment, Global Ambassador Production House, GAP-HUZ, an event management house has been putting up events for the youth in fashion and culture to have the opportunity to showcase and sell their brands.
This year, GAP-HUZ is bringing the youth together through the promotion of amateur and upcoming models in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis in the Western region.
This year’s event dubbed:, “Corporate Cocktail Fashion 2019” is part of activities marking ‘Year of Return’, an initiative by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and being spearheaded by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.
Speaking in an interview with Twin City Radio News in Sekondi, the Chief Executive Officer of GAP-HUZ, Nathaniel Kwesi Mawusi Aguiar said the programme is to portray the rich Ghanaian cultural heritage in various lifestyle with emphasis on the Western Region.
He said the region has a lot to showcase and the event seeks to portray them through spoken words, talent display, acoustic performance comedy and runway shows by renowned fashion designers.
Mr. Aguiar said the show is expected to bring on board various celebrity, guests across the country.
According to him, as it has always been the case, the event intends to create a platform for the audience about the local fashion accessories as well as corporate and professional bodies.
He urged various organizations, individuals to patronize the event by buying indigenous branded products that will be on display.
Story by Marie Aziz Tunde.


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Sceptics say the environmental benefits of electric cars are exaggerated despite studies showing that battery-powered vehicles cause fewer harmful greenhouse gas overall than their petrol-driven ancestors
Some 385,000 people worldwide died prematurely in 2015 from air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust emissions, a US study has found, singling out diesel engines as the main culprit.
President Donald Trump says the US may impose car tariffs on the European Union's products if the two sides are unable to reach a deal.
France has reduced its speed limit on two-lane highways to 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph), putting it in the European slow lane with one of the lowest rates across the continent.
US President Trump's threat to tax imported cars in the name of national security risks weakening domestic manufacturers, but could accelerate renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Within the space of 15 years self-driving cars will probably be a common sight on roads. This means robot cars will have to act in potentially life-threatening situations. Scientists are teaching the machines to make complex decisions in an emergency. The graphic illustrates how a self-driving car works.


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Barclays PLC Analysts Give Rocket Internet SE (RKET) a €25.15 Price Target
Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. Warburg Research set a €37.00 ($43.53) target price on Rocket Internet SE and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Berenberg Bank set a €53.00 ($62.35) target price on Rocket Internet SE and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 16th.
Shares of Rocket Internet SE (RKET) opened at 21.447 on Tuesday. Rocket Internet SE has a 1-year low of €15.17 and a 1-year high of €23.32. The company’s 50 day moving average is €19.91 and its 200-day moving average is €18.61. The stock’s market capitalization is €3.56 billion.
COPYRIGHT VIOLATION WARNING: This article was reported by The Cerbat Gem and is the sole property of of The Cerbat Gem. If you are viewing this article on another domain, it was copied illegally and reposted in violation of international copyright and trademark law. The correct version of this article can be accessed at https://www.thecerbatgem.com/2017/10/07/barclays-plc-analysts-give-rocket-internet-se-rket-a-25-15-price-target.html.
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Of course I don't know. There are many factors companies usually consider when deciding to close factories. But I was struck when listening to GM's announcement the other day, and when listening to NPR's description of that announcement, as a decision by GM to close 4 of its truck manufacturing plants in the US due to slowing sales largely if not entirely due to gas prices.
As someone who does not believe that gas price fluctuations in the ranges the US is seeing is a determining factor in a person's decision to buy a car versus a truck or a reduction in gas consumption to any significant level, I am skeptical of GM's decision and NPR's discussion of it. The discussion and indeed GM's own spokespeople talk about how the sales of their larger vehicles have declined by some 27% from last years level in large part due to escalating gas prices. I would hope that the decision to close the plants was not made on that judgement. Sales and indeed the amount of gas demanded is not very responsive to price changes in the short-run, and in my opinion, the long-run as well.
The fact that GM's sales have declined so much this year and that gas prices have risen is a correlation not a causation. Lot's of things have happened in the past year that are far more likely to have significant impacts on sales of GM trucks, namely: the recession, rational or irrational (but temporary) expectations about the future trend of gas prices, the housing crises, etc. just to name a few. The fact that gas has risen from $3 to $4 seems like a minuscule and insignificant cause for the sales decline when compared to the above stated more serious concerns.
I hope (and assume) that GM made its long-term business decision based on the obvious fact that their sales have not just fallen dramatically this year, but have actually been weakening for the past number of years - largely due to the en vogue "green" movement and due to shifts in consumer preferences, NOT due to gas prices.


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Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) and Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) on Saturday, 16th Feb, 2019 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support Make in India of Medical Devices to transform India into a global medical devices manufacturing hub and simultaneously promote the India Certification of Medical Devices Scheme (ICMED) country’s first indigenously developed international class quality assurance system for India manufactured medical devices.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD and Dr. Girdhar Gyani, Director General, AHPI. As per the MoU, AHPI and AIMED will work together to jointly promote Indian Medical Devices Industry and specially promote ICMED (from Quality Council of India) certified products in over 10000 member Indian hospitals aimed at enhancing patient safety, increasing consumer protection along with providing much needed product credentials to manufacturers to instill confidence among buyers. The scheme is also intended to significantly eliminate trading of sub-standard products or devices where supply chains are unknown, a widespread and injurious occurrence in the Indian market.
The move is likely to have a huge positive impact on ‘Make in India’ program while giving a big shot to manufacturing of medical devices within the country, promote Medical Devices manufactured in India as high quality products, promote “Buy Indian” initiatives and bring esteem to the Indian Industry & Nation thereby building Brand India.
Both AHPI and AIMED recognize specifically the need for setting up of an independent, multi stakeholder governing structure for the Scheme(s). AHPI shall operate the Scheme(s) by setting up independent multi-stakeholder steering committee(s) and any other committees necessary for the purpose in consultation with AiMeD.
AiMeD shall provide the technical documents developed by by QCI for ICMED quality management system certification and ICMED Plus product certification to AHPI for enabling 1 Step Beyond Endorsement and shall provide all technical support to AHPI in managing and promoting the Scheme(s).
“This MoU will give a big push to manufacturing and innovation in Indian medical device industry while promoting Indian healthcare sector as a whole. This initiative will also help reduce country’s huge import dependency in medical device sector while encouraging exports,” said Mr Rajiv Nath, Forum Co-ordinator of AIMED.
Dr. Girdhar Gyani, Director General, AHPI added that member hospitals are committed in providing cost effective quality health care to the community and strongly feel the need for access to indigenous high quality dependable products especially considering the need to be competitive in healthcare delivery more so in context of recently launched Ayushman Bharat project. We need sooner than later our own products and certification schemes, which can be progressively brought at par with the global benchmarks.”
Under the joint mechanism, both associations will soon roll out activities to achieve the objectives of this MoU.


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Microsoft is again being cheeky in the way it wants users to be on the latest Windows 10 builds. A flood of reports suggests Microsoft is forcing users to upgrade to Windows 10 the Fall Creators Update (1709). Users on the Anniversary Update (1607) and the Creators Update (1703) say they have no choice but to upgrade.
In a note on its website, Microsoft admitted a notice was sent prompting users to update. The company says it sent a notice to the wrong Windows users. Originally, the notice was meant for users of Windows 10 builds that are soon to be unsupported. Either way, they should still have the choice to upgrade.
“Microsoft is aware that this notification was incorrectly delivered to some Windows 10 Version 1703 devices that had a user-defined feature update deferral period configured. Microsoft mitigated this issue on March 8, 2018.”
Microsoft accidentally sent the notice to Windows 10 Anniversary and Creative Update users. The company says the problem only affected a select number of users. Mitigation is now in place that allows users to roll back to a previous Windows build:
“Users who were affected by this issue and who upgraded to Windows 10 Version 1709 can revert to an earlier version within 10 days of the upgrade. To do this, open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and then select Get started under Go back to the previous version of windows 10.”
Users reported Windows Update had automatically updated their Windows 10 to the latest version (FCU). As we have seen with Microsoft before, Windows provided a quick notice and started the update automatically.
Microsoft has a history in pushing new Windows 10 builds on users. In November and January the company started forcing Win10 1703 users to the Fall Creators Update. Of course, the company has been widely criticized for forcing older Windows users to upgrade to Win10. Regulators and customers have hit out at the company since the launch of Windows 10.
At the end of 2016, after the height of the Win10 upgrade controversy, Microsoft admitted it had gone too far:
Chief Marketing Officer Chris Capossela said, “We know we want people to be running Windows 10 from a security perspective,” he said. “But finding that right balance, where you’re not stepping over the line of being too aggressive is something we tried, and for a lot of the year I think we got it right.”
He then conceded, “But there was one particular moment where the red ‘x’ in the dialogue box which typically means cancel didn’t mean cancel. Within a couple of hours, with the listening signals we have, we knew that we had gone too far. And then, of course, it takes us some time to roll out the update that changed that behavior. And those two weeks were pretty painful.”
What to Do
Users running older Win10 version may see the update notification. It says the device needs a security patch, but must run the FCU to receive the patch. The device will then start the upgrade through Windows Update.
Microsoft says it has mitigated the problem, but if you do get pushed into an update, remember to roll back to an older version within 10 days.


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How Salling Group successfully built a grocery home delivery service at turbo-speed during COVID-19.
The Mobile Ecosystem Forum’s Dario Betti on how distrust of Chinese technology could lead to bifurcating standards and a rebalancing of the global economy.
Explore strategies from Splunk’s Mick Baccio to tackle stress, foster team empowerment, and embrace AI in cybersecurity.
This month, Ben, Rom and James look ahead to 2021, and discuss what might become the new normal for businesses and the tech industry. They also review our IKEA case study, while Ben interviews Beatriz Sanz Saiz, Global Consulting Data & Analytics Leader for EY.
In this episode, Norfolk County Council’s Chief Technical Officer Kurt Frary digs in on ‘digital disruption’, ‘DevOps’, ‘augmented reality’ and more.


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Restaurant voice AI service startup Kea has closed a $10 million funding round led by Marbruck. The startup offers an..
Watch Apple’s Holiday Ad Turn the HomePod Mini Smart Speaker into a Tiny Clone of Rapper Tierra Whack
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