text:
Let's see how the stock price of these four companies reacted to their earnings reports released this week.
Japan services PMI bounces off in October
In October, Japan's services sector managed to rally because new business expanded at the fastest tempo for 5-1/2 years, hinting that spending rebounded getting impacted by flooding, heavy rains as well as earthquakes. That’s what a private poll revealed on Monday.
On a seasonally updated basis, the Markit/Nikkei Japan Services Purchasing Managers Index surged to six-month peak of 52.4 in contrast with September’s reading of 50.2.
Apparently, it marked the 25th month in a row that the index stood above the 50 mark, separating contraction from expansion.
Some of the momentum observed in October although might fade away as new business expansion was mostly powered by new contracts and work to recover from earthquakes as well as other natural disasters in September.
As a matter of fact, business activity managed to expand at the fastest tempo for six months because companies observed the best monthly improvement in demand conditions since May 2013.
However, a lot of respondents told that the ascend in both output as well as new sales appeared to be a normalization effect after the business impact of natural disasters in September.
Including both services and manufacturing, the composite PMI also grew to a five-month peak of 52.5 in contrast with October’s reading of 50.7.
Companies in the northern island of Hokkaido rapidly resumed operations after a powerful earthquake generated an island-wide blackout in October.
As for business confidence, it was still firm because of good sales forecasts as well as plans to ramp up investment, as the survey disclosed.
It should be upbeat news for policy makers due to the fact that globally manufacturers are being pressured from the heated US-China trade conflict and as a potential maximum in corporate earnings.
According to a separate poll on Japan's manufacturing PMI for last month, the sector managed to expand at the fastest tempo for four months.
US Advance quarterly GDP is announced on April 29 at 15:30 MT time.
According to the recent report by the Australian Department of Industry, the country is forecast to earn around 136 billion Australian dollars from the ore exports this year.
What will happen? The FOMC statement will be published at 21:00 MT (GMT+3) on Wednesday, July 28…
Hong Kong stock index extended a decline sparked by China’s tech crackdown. Tesla posted better-than-expected results. Jump in!
This week Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Pfizer, and other large US companies will deliver earnings reports…


text:
Queues are forming outside of a barber shop this morning as men await their first haircut after months of lockdown.
The queue was formed in anticipation outside of popular Selo Turkish Barbers on Market Jew Street, in Penzance, as it opened at 7am.
It comes on what is being referred to as Opening Day across the country with pubs, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers able to reopen for the first time since early January before the third national lockdown.
One woman also Tweeted a picture of busy Cornwall Barbers, a barbershop on Fore Street, in Redruth, with queues forming up outside.
A number of measures will be in place at salons and barber shops, including floor markings to show where people should wait and a restriction on the amount of people in the shop at any given time.
You can stay up to date on the top news and events near you with CornwallLive’s FREE newsletters – enter your email address at the top of the page.
Hairdressers and barbers will all be wearing see-through visors, and many will provide their customers with a face mask. Payment where possible will be contactless and salons have been advised to make trips as quick and easy as possible.
It comes as new Government guideline has been put in place that they must adhere to. Under new rules salons must reduce the time customers spend in their chairs so any services offered should be "short and basic".
This means that hairdressers are being asked to consider avoiding 'long treatments' such as highlights and any other services that may take time.
The guidelines state that hair and beauty salons “should keep appointments short and consider providing shorter, more basic treatments to keep the time to a minimum.”
More stories from Cornwall:

domain: news


text:
Yahoo has fixed a security vulnerability in its Yahoo Mail service that could have allowed malicious hackers to hijack accounts and harm users in a variety of ways.
“We have developed a fix for this bug and have deployed it worldwide. Yahoo Mail users will not be required to take any action to be protected from this exploit,” said Kelley Podboy, a Yahoo spokeswoman, via e-mail.
Nir Goldshlager and Roni Bachar from Avnet, a computer security company based in Israel, discovered the vulnerability in early August.
It was also possible to steal the recipient’s Yahoo Mail cookie, hijack the session and gain access to the person’s inbox. “This attack vector could be used to launch a variety of other more sophisticated attacks,” Bachar wrote. These could include unleashing worms, installing keylogger programs, phishing and scanning ports on the PC.
After identifying the vulnerability, Bachar and Goldshlager immediately alerted Yahoo, so that the vendor could patch its system. Bachar isn’t aware of any known exploits of the vulnerability.
-Juan Carlos Perez, IDG News Service (Miami Bureau)
Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage.


text:
NEW YORK — Despite the continued lackluster retail scene, a strong turnout is expected at next week’s early fall market, where buyers and vendors will search out “the comfort zone.”
The innerwear segment — particularly daywear; sleepwear and at-homewear that addresses different lifestyles, and seamless foundations — continues to perform well across distribution channels.
Two factors are weighing heavily on the outcome of order writing at the Nov. 4 to 8 market: tight open-to-buy dollars and the management lockout and ongoing labor dispute at docks on the West Coast that bottlenecked cargo and has slowed deliveries to a snail’s pace.
However, manufacturers said they anticipate stores will find money for innovative merchandise that will stimulate sales. Ideas expected to whet consumers’ appetites include a broader range of colors, whimsical prints, textures and a variety of sheers like flocked or printed meshes, rich-looking silks and ethereal chiffons.
Top ideas will include:
At-homewear items such as two-piece separates that can be casual or dressy; novelty pajamas; long and short loungers, and softly tailored wrap robes in ultrasoft microfibers that contain Lycra spandex, Tactel, CoolMax and Soft Comfort Lycra, as well as softly brushed cottons. A majority of makers and retailers are describing this line of business as “comfort zone” apparel.
Home accessories that coordinate or can be mixed or matched with sleepwear and loungewear by brands like Karen Neuburger, who is doing a bedding license with Hollander Home fashions, and August Moon by August Silk, which is producing silk pillows and throws for the boudoir.
A continuation of dual-purpose daywear items, like camis and slips and coordinating thongs, “cheeky” pants that ride high over the derriere, and boy-cut briefs.
Pairing separates in different fabric mixes, such as a stretch lace top and silk drawstring pants.
“Seductivewear” — sheer baby dolls and G-strings, thong-back teddies and romantic-looking peignoir sets in silk or polyester charmeuse,
georgette and chiffon.
Chuck Nesbit, president and chief executive officer of Sara Lee Intimate Apparel, said: “Our fall intimate apparel sales have been very strong at retail. As indicated in Sara Lee’s quarterly earnings report, unit sales on intimates realized double-digit increases in the quarter ending in September. Much of this growth has been due to successful new products. I anticipate retailers attending the market in November will have a high level of interest in the new products we are counting on to drive growth this spring.”
As reported, Sara Lee’s Intimates and Underwear unit generated a 62.2 percent increase in its first-quarter operating income, despite nearly flat sales. Intimates and Underwear’s income skyrocketed to $206 million in the three months ended Sept. 28 from $127 million in the year-ago quarter.
“Sales of comfort products, specifically seamless, are greatly exceeding expectations,” said Nesbit.
Meanwhile, with holiday business fast approaching, a key topic of discussion next week will be the time line for distribution of goods manufactured in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and areas in the Mideast such as Turkey. The categories most affected by the West Coast cargo backlog are sleepwear and robes, and underwear and bras.
The hardest-hit segment is expected to be cold-weather flannels, which have a limited window for seasonal selling. However, some vendors said they have avoided delivery problems by changing shipping routes to the East Coast this summer, and some are even going as far as paying to fly merchandise in by air cargo.
Jim Mogan, president of the Intimate Apparel Division of Kellwood Co., said: “Business has been difficult, but we took the right steps, particularly with our Biflex division, to circumvent any problems with the port strike by rerouting goods to New York before the strike. But what did affect us was the hurricane in early September that hit a Crowntuft plant in Mexico. That kind of set us back.”
Sheila Solomon, a vice president of the Underfashion Club, said: “Some of our Mideast customers at Priamo Designs are not coming to the New York market because of Ramadan and a general malaise regarding [the potential of] a major conflict in the Mideast. Then, there’s the aftermath of the port strike on the West Coast. It’s really bad and a lot of companies are getting hurt. But it’s proved to be to our advantage because we manufacture in New Jersey.”
Marvin Backer, ceo of Flora Nikrooz Lingerie, said: “Budgets have generally been cut. We just did the first of the regional markets in Atlanta, and it was bleak. Retailers are going to look at the New York market, but I don’t know how much business will actually be placed in November. They will want to see how Christmas business works out.
“Retail management will be looking for special items,” Backer said. “However, they’re not looking for the icing on the cake. They will only buy what they know the store can sell.”
Michelle Clark, vice president of merchandising at Movie Star Inc., said: “We’re not hearing great things about retail business right now, but we are optimistic about our business because we are still doing very well with stretch laces, flocked and printed meshes, and combinations of stretch lace and polyester charmeuse. Daywear is a category that has come alive for us, especially little camisoles and cheeky pants.”
Lisa Leigh, director of merchandising and sales for August Silk Intimates, said: “Better lingerie is doing fairly well this fall and we are encouraged it will hold up for holiday selling. We are starting to see an indicator that lace and dressy separates are very strong.”
Regarding buyers’ budgets, Leigh said, “When there’s newness, retailers will find the money for their budgets. They’ve made that very clear.”
Peter Cooper, vice president of Lady Ester Corp., said: “What’s selling for us right now are embroideries and feminine-looking Venise lace trims, as well as camis and seductivewear items like baby dolls, teddies and slips. We’ll continue to show lots of embroideries across the board in our Je T’Adore, Escapade and Wondermaid lines. Plus sizes have been very strong in the Wondermaid line, for which we will be doing more microfiber daywear.”
Stan Herman, designer of robes and at-homewear bearing his name at Kellwood’s Crowntuft unit, said he will focus on earlier pre-fall deliveries beginning in early July.
“It’s the first time we’ll be doing this because we want to service the specific needs of retailers,” Herman said. “We’ll be doing more sleepwear than we’ve ever done before, especially softly brushed items. A consumer has to really be seduced to go into stores today and the comfort zone products are selling very well.”
Kellwood’s Jim Mogan said major changes are taking place in the firm’s Intimate Apparel Division, a move that Mogan said will “address all of our customers’ at-home needs.”
The LA Intimates division on the West Coast will be consolidated with the Crowntuft unit here, and will be renamed The LA Intimates Group. Susan Feldman has been named senior vice president of sales and merchandising for the new division, a title she held for the West Coast division. Marc Kimmelman has been named vice president of sales. Kimmelman was formerly vice president of sales at the Bodyslimmers unit of Warnaco Group. Debbie Long has been named senior vice president of Kellwood’s Biflex bra division. She formerly held that post at Crowntuft.


text:
Cylance Cybersecurity Startup Raises $100 Million To Develop AI System
Cylance, a company specialized in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning solutions against malware and cyber crime, has announced on Wednesday, June 8, that it raised $100 million for developing an AI system for cybersecurity.
According to VentureBeat, the founding has been achieved in a Series D round led by Insight Venture Partners and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, with participation from existing investors. The startup cybersecurity company was founded in 2012 by Stuart McClure. Prior to this round of fundraising, Cylance had already raised around $77 million, including $20 million the previous year and a $42 million round last July.
Cylance claims that it already has around 1,000 customers that are using company's software to protect themselves from advanced security infiltrations. However, this is not the only company using artificial intelligence systems to improve online security. Darktrace and Jask are using similar systems, while the Israel-based Fortscale uses big data analytics and machine learning to detect malicious user behavior.
The cybersecurity platform developed by Cylance is based on suite of algorithm security protocols that the company claims are a "breakthrough mathematical process." The protocols inspect networks for weaknesses and, in case that any threat is detected, it shuts them down.
Cylance promises to help governments and companies predict and prevent advanced threats by using a system that learns the psychology of a hacker. The additional $100 million will be used by the company to support growth by expanding its engineering, marketing and sales programs.
According to PCWorld, the company's cybersecurity system is dubbed CylanceProtect. The flagship product promises to use just a fraction of the system resources required by its competitors.
The AI-based endpoint security system is based on cutting-edge technologies including machine learning. Cylance's cybersecurity system uses the power of artificial intelligence to proactively analyze a file's characteristics and predict whether it is safe or a threat before it executes on the local host.
Cylance's software is able to protect against privilege escalations, zero-day malware, spear phishing, system- and memory-based attacks, scripts and malicious programs. According to Cylance, their product does not require daily software updates or internet connection and eliminates the need for intrusion detection, prevention systems and other antivirus programs.
Internet Of Things Needs Data-Centric Security
In the context of increased security risks faced by big data and the Internet of Things, some tech analysts believe that IoT needs more data-centric protection.
Spying Fears And Data Breaches Affect Internet Use
An official U.S. study suggests that online security and privacy issues have led people to reduce their Internet use.
Cyber Attacks Could Be Predicted With Artificial Intelligence Help
A MIT research team and a machine-learning startup called PatternEx have developed the AI2 cyber security system for predicting hacker attacks.
Hackers Hear! Hackers See! Apple Is No Longer Safe!
Recent discoveries have found that Apple has been compromised and that hackers can access both your webcam and microphone.
Microsoft's New Cybersecurity Engagement Center Opens In Mexico, Aims To Improve Users' Safety
Microsoft has publicly expressed their concern for the welfare of human beings in a global scale. This is the reason why they have extended their coverage of cybersecurity throughout Mexico to prevent the Latin American populace from being cyber attacked.
MORE IN ITECHPOST
Facebook Android App Switched Features To The Bottom Of The Screen: Why!?
Ever wondered why Facebook has decided to switch its features to the bottom side of the screen?
NASA's Cassini Mission Now Has Strong Evidence Why Saturn's Atmosphere is Scorchingly Hot!
The upper layers in the atmospheres of gas giants such as Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, are hot, similar to Earth's. The similarity ends there, as these giants are much farther from the sun to explain their blazing temperatures. The new mapping of Saturn's upper atmosphere has illustrated the reason why it's so hot.
Riot Games Release Brand-New VALORANT; Watch Now To Get A Chance To Play The Game Early!
The launch of the' all-new Valorant is one of the most significant events in history with millions of players wanting early access. Here's how!


text:
Over 250 tons of used clothing redistributed thanks to Welsh organisation
The business is soon to open a new warehouse in Cardiff
WELSH clothing organisation Collect My Clothes Wales began operating in January 2021, and has since redistributed 250 tons of clothing across the world while raising funds for charity.
Manager Josh Golding told The Cardiffian that the organisation combines tackling the climate crisis while raising money for charities and supporting communities in Eastern Europe.
“At Collect My Clothes Wales, we aim to divert as many textiles away from landfills as possible, positively impacting the environment and providing a sustainable clothing market for our exporting partners in mostly Eastern European countries,” he said,
The business, which is currently based in Newport, is set to move into a new warehouse in Cardiff soon.
To organise a donation with Collect My Clothes Wales, use this link.


text:
Masons Yorkshire Gin, distilled by Karl and Cathy Mason in Bedale in North Yorkshire, has introduced three new “uniquely Yorkshire” spirits in celebration of the gin's second birthday. Masons Dry Yorkshire Gin was launched on World Gin Day 2013 and the new drinks will be launched on World Gin day this year - June 13.
The three additions include two gin infusions: a Yorkshire Tea Edition and Lavender Edition; plus a vodka – Masons Yorkshire Vodka.
Creator Karl says: “These drinks have been a work in progress for some time now, and we are extremely excited to finally share them. We really think they are something special that people won’t have had before.”
The spirits will be available for purchase from June 13, alongside the original Masons Yorkshire Gin, which produced using the traditional London Dry Gin method, will be sold on the Mason’s Yorkshire Gin website and at various bars, restaurants, stores and food and drink fairs across the UK, at an RRP of £39.99.
1 June 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor


text:
Retail firms to take on more apprentices
New research released to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week has shown that half of England¬ís retail and consumer products and services companies are planning to take on apprentices in the next five years.
Moreover, 27% of the businesses said they intend to hire an apprentice in the next 12 months.
The study of 600 businesses revealed that across all industries 44% of employers plan to take on apprentices in the next five years. It also shows that one fifth of SMEs plan to take on one or more apprentices in the next 12 months alone, with 37% of larger businesses planning to do the same.
Of those that are planning to hire apprentices, many said that would do so because the talent pool had widened as apprenticeships become more popular, because it had become easier to employ apprentices and because they had more job roles in their business that would suit an apprentice. Overall, 41% of employers agreed that apprentices stay in the business longer than other recruits.
The poll also found that 43% of all employers and 48% of retail and consumer products and services firms said they would be more likely to employ an apprentice now than they were two years ago.
Ahead of a visit to BT, which recently announced that they would take on 730 more apprentices over the next year, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable said: “As we kick off National Apprenticeship Week it’s good to see that employers are increasingly recognising the value apprentices can bring to their businesses. Apprentices are now a key and valued part of the workforce for most businesses large or small – and the huge increase which this Government has overseen is one of my proudest achievements.
“Given the grants available to help small businesses take on apprentices, it’s especially good that so many SMEs are embracing apprenticeships in the coming years and that apprentice recruitment now forms a key part of a businesses’ plans for sustainable growth.”
Email this article to a friend
You need to be logged in to use this feature.
Please log in here


text:
It’s taken seven long years, but Apple’s managed to sell just under 10 billion songs, most likely at a dollar a piece. That’s a lot of coin for an industry that’s struggling to keep up with technology.
The lucky person who downloads the 10 billionth song is going to be rewarded with a $10,000 iTunes gift card. In a pretty funny twist, apparently you don’t have to actually purchase a song on iTunes to win the gift card. It says in the fine print that you can enter up to 25 times per day using the like they’ve provided. There’s no word whether a person purchasing more than 25 tracks on iTunes will be eliminated from contention.


text:
By Lee DeVito March 6, 2020
BREEZE Provisioning Center, a sleek new store located at 24517 John R. in Hazel Park, says it’s allowing recreational marijuana sales ahead of schedule. The store will open to the public for recreational sales at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, for adults age 21 and older.
It opened earlier in February for medical marijuana sales, and received its recreational marijuana license shortly after.
“We called it BREEZE for a number of reasons, but mainly because we wanted to make the buying experience quick and easy from the novice to the pros…” the company says in a press release.
BREEZE will be fully stocked and will sell to anyone age 21 and over with an ID — no medical card needed. For now, the operation is cash only, but there’s an ATM onsite.
Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. More information is available at breeze.us.
The company says it also plans to open more locations in Warren and Emmett Township, among others.
Read the full article from Metro Times HERE.


text:
Chinese technology company Alibaba Group Holding said it has stopped innovative initiatives in India due to the current geopolitical environment, but did not expect the decision to have a “material impact” on the company’s financials.
Daniel Zhang, chairman and CEO of the Alibaba Group, made the statement during an earnings call announcing the company’s financial results for the first quarter of financial year 2020-21.
The company has decided to stop the operations of its web browser product UCWeb, which includes its mobile browser service and the UC News service, he said.
The Indian government banned 59 apps backed by Chinese entities, including UCWeb, on June 29.
“... we decided to stop operations of UCWeb and other innovation initiatives in India after our business review. And we believe that globalisation is our long-term strategy. But in near term, I think we are closely monitoring the change of the geopolitical environment and also the national policy of other countries, and we will adjust our strategies,” Zhang said in response to a question posed during the earnings call.
“We believe global trade will continue and Alibaba's active pursuit of our mission to make it easy to do business anywhere are fully aligned with the interest of both China and the US,” he added.
This also assumes significance in the light of ongoing trade war between the US and China.
Apart from the UCWeb product, Alibaba is an investor in food technology platform Zomato through Ant Financial. Zomato’s $150 million fund infusion from Ant Financial has been stuck due to an amendment in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in April, which requires FDIs with beneficial ownership from Chinese companies or entities to seek government approval.
Alibaba has also backed online grocery firm BigBasket, logistics company Xpressbees and payments unicorn Paytm.


text:
Diablo II: Resurrected will bring Blizzard's 2000 action-RPG classic into the modern age when it releases later this month, complete with updated visuals and small quality-of-life changes. What it won't have, at least at launch, is new content, but that's something that could come down the line according to a new developer interview.
As part of a group media interview (via Windows Central), Vicarious Visions studio design director Rob Gallerani and project lead Michael Bukowski discussed the creation of Diablo II: Resurrected and also touched on what the future might hold. Gallerani said the team is focused on getting the core game right first, but that there are plenty of ideas for what could come next.
"We wanted to build a really strong foundation before we started talking about the third and fourth floors on this building," Gallerani said. "If we misstepped on what the core game was, anything else we were doing would have been kind of meaningless. [...]We definitely have lots of ideas, but right now we're waiting to make sure that we get the core game right. [...] We'll have to see once the game goes live what we do about new runewords, new items, rebalancing, things like that."
Some changes will already be live when Diablo II: Resurrected launches, such as the inclusion of previously ladder-only runewords and items being made available for all players and the fact that it will be playable on consoles. The game also won't have the original's TCP/IP support, which was removed out of security concerns.
Diablo II: Resurrected will release on September 23, as Blizzard continues to deal with the fallout from a state of California lawsuit accusing Activision Blizzard of fostering a workplace culture of harassment and discrimination towards women. The lawsuit's allegations led to the departure of numerous Blizzard veterans, including former Diablo IV game director Luis Barriga. Diablo IV does not currently have a release date.


text:
EUGENE, ORE. — Willamette Valley Granola Co., a new snack brand owned by Hearthside Food Solutions, has introduced Granola Chips and Granola Grabbers.
Granola Chips are lightly sweetened, bite-size chips with a whole grain blend of brown rice, whole oats, quinoa and barley. The chips come in four varieties — butter pecan, wild berry, honey nut and vanilla bean — and are available in 6.2-oz re-sealable pouches at a suggested retail price of $3.99 or 1.75-oz single-serve packages at an s.r.p. of $1.79.
Granola Grabbers are portion-controlled pouches of whole grain granola clusters. They are available in five flavors — vanilla cocoa, Simply vanilla, honey nut, cherry vanilla and blueberry flax — at an s.r.p. of $1.29 for a 1.5-oz single-serve package.
“We’re already getting lots of great consumer feedback from people who love the rich flavors and healthy ingredients in these products as much as the convenience factor,” said Rob Goluba, director of marketing at Hearthside Food Solutions. “The products are meeting a growing demand for delicious healthy snacks for busy people on the go.”


text:
Hay Festival Global has today unveiled a bold new brand identity and campaign, developed in partnership with EDIT Brand Studios, celebrating “a world of different…”.
Hay Festival, one of the world’s leading cultural charities, was founded in Hay-on-Wye, Wales in 1987, providing audiences with dynamic platforms to come together to share ideas, different perspectives and provoke conversations that can create a better world. Working collaboratively with partners and communities across the world, the charity is a catalyst for change, whose bold, inclusive, and imaginative approach makes a significant difference to people’s lives.
The new identity unifies the charity’s multiple editions, projects and social purpose under a core brand, highlighting its internationalism and impact.
Hay Festival CEO Julie Finch said:
“As an international charity, we reach millions of people every year through our one-of-a-kind Festivals, Forums, programmes, and digital platforms. Opening minds to new ways of thinking about our ever-changing world, we are a charity for everyone.
“We are delighted to share our new identity created by EDIT Brand Studio, underpinned by a year of audience development research, and aligned to our mission, vision and values as a charity. With just 100 days to go until Hay Festival 2024 in Wales, we are starting our next chapter with purpose and vision.”
Khadija Kapacee, founder and MD of EDIT Brand Studio, said:
“We have been delighted to support Hay Festival in its brand transformation journey. Creating a dynamic, energetic new identity that roots the new brand in Hay Festival’s long-standing legacy as a world-leading book festival, whilst also looking towards the future and creating a brand for a global festival of stories, ideas and new possibilities; focusing on new ways of engaging with people all around the world.”
Over the past year, Hay Festival has delivered 12 editions in seven countries: Colombia, Peru, the USA, Mexico, Spain, Ukraine and the UK. A total of 1,111 individual events featured 2,018 artists with 315,395 tickets sold and 6.7million web views. Meanwhile, year-round education and outreach programmes reached 15,081 school pupils.
The world’s greatest writers, thinkers and performers have taken to the Festival’s stages over the years, including Arthur Miller, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Arundhati Roy, Naomi Klein, Edward Said, Alice Walker, Hugh Masekela, Jimmy Carter, Seamus Heaney, Zadie Smith, Dua Lipa, Stormzy, Nadine Gordimer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Martin Amis, Paul McCartney, Desmond Tutu, Jane Fonda, and Hillary Clinton.
The next Festival edition takes place in Wales in 100 days’ time, 23 May–2 June. Thirty earlybird events are on sale now, offering a promise of fresh thinking, dynamic performances and diverse voices. Confirmed speakers include novelists Colm Tóibín, Marlon James, Jeanette Winterson and Andrey Kurkov; environmentalist George Monbiot; podcaster Rory Stewart; comedians Julian Clary and Sara Pascoe; poet Hollie McNish; musician Jools Holland; and actors Miriam Margolyes and Lenny Henry.
Meanwhile, Festival events further afield are already in full swing. Last month, there were editions in Jericó, Medellín and Cartagena, Colombia, and Panama City, while Hay Festival Forum Seville takes place in Spain this March. Closer to home, the Scribblers Tour just wrapped last week, taking writers direct to schools across Wales in free events.


text:
ASUS announced that the Zenfone 4 series will launch in July, months after it was supposed to be announced. While we won’t go into ASUS’ confusing naming scheme (there was a Zenfone 4 released in 2014), a new ASUS phone with model number X00ID recently got certified by the Wi-FI Alliance.
The ASUS X00ID was also seen getting certified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group on Thursday and was filed along with another ASUS phone with model number ZC554KL. Since the model number is similar to that of the Zenfone 3 Max (ZC553KL), we believe it is the Zenfone 4 Max.
The Zenfone 3 Max launched with a 5.5-inch FHD display, a Snapdragon 430 SoC and 4GB RAM. It also had a 4100mAh battery. This year, the Zenfone 4 Max will feature the same display protected by a 2.5D glass. It will be available with 3GB RAM model, have a 4GB RAM version too and launch with Android 7.1.1.
The Snapdragon 430 will be swapped out for either a Snapdragon 630 or Snapdragon 660 processor. It is also rumored to have dual rear cameras.
We should expect the full Zenfone lineup next month but they most likely won’t go on sale until later.


text:
VoIP Services Market Has Good News Ahead
There's some great news ahead for those who deal in voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services, as well as those who offer IP phones, if a new report from Future Market Insights holds true. The word from that study is that there are some impressive gains afoot in the VoIP services market, and with those gains comes a great opportunity for those who offer VoIP phones as well.
Back in 2012, the corporate consumer segment of VoIP services represented 98.9 billion subscribers, with a total revenue of around $43.27 billion. That sounds like a market most anyone would want in on, but it gets better; the Future Market Insights report projects that that number will rise to 204.8 billion by 2020, and that number will represent about $86.20 billion in revenue.
With both numbers poised to roughly double, it's clear there's a lot of opportunity afoot. However, the study reveals better news yet. The computer-to-computer segment is expected to gain ground as well, though much more slowly; in 2012, it accounted for $20.74 billion in revenue, and by 2019, that number will reach $24.74 billion.
The phone-to-phone segment is where serious growth is found; in 2012, it accounted for $15.88 billion in revenue, and by 2019, it will reach $44.78 billion, nearly triple its 2012 figures. Computer to phone will do less well, though quite solid in its own right, posting gains from $27.35 billion to $56.56 billion by 2019.
Those who want a shot at these gains may have a better-than-average chance with a few small points kept in mind; the residential consumer market is as yet a weak one for VoIP service as most aren't accepting such a system. There are several reasons for this, starting with poor-quality Internet service availability and the preference for a land line for power outages, along with the increasing use of smartphone systems. Though given an increasingly mobile workforce, this may not be such a problem for much longer, and those who market VoIP systems for residential operations could be looking at a major payday.
Moreover, for device makers, the opportunities to move IP phones are substantial. With an increased demand for services, there will likely be increased demand for the hardware to use these services on more readily. While in many cases, VoIP systems can be used from a desktop PC, having that simple handset phone on hand will likely be a comfort to current land-line users migrating to VoIP.
A conceptual bridge between the familiar and the new can be a welcome point, and hardware makers who market accordingly may gain ground here. Either way, there's opportunity afoot, and astute device makers should be ready for that.
Edited by Alicia Young


text:
Ignore the suicide bombings in Pakistan, ignore the Taliban but don’t invite foreigners. Such were the measures for a successful first Pakistan Fashion Week in Pakistan’s ‘New York City,’ Karachi. Over 30 of Pakistan’s elite designers gathered to flaunt their brainchild and toils, but there was an underlying message altogether.
The show was an unbridled act of defiance against the Taliban, whose edicts over womenswear – namely restricting women to burqas – were punishable by torture or even death.
“This is our gesture of defiance to the Taliban,” Ayesha Tammy Haq, CEO of Pakistan Fashion Week, told The Associated Press.
The Associated Press makes note of textiles as Pakistan’s majority, 60%, of exports, or a $12 billion a year industry. The story elucidates the exquisite quality of clothing that sells for little. “The country’s cotton and silks are among the finest in the world. But the industry has failed to grow in recent years amid political unrest, violence and chronic power shortages.”
With it’s first fashion week, the Pakastani fashionistas are taking one step in the right direction. Will the event grow as large and as exclusive as New York, Milan or Paris? It’s unlikely, but their brave efforts are not going unnoticed domestically and abroad. I’d say their message was delivered.
I’m giving you number 10 of COACD’s rankings, but you’ll have to go to COACD for nine through one. I’m surprised that they chose a single model from each agency. Sadly, their blurb didn’t do justice to alleviate my confused state.
“It was an interesting season….all the prospects pampered and groomed this summer just didn’t sizzle all the way to Paris. A few ringers from left field and the usual suspects sitting out, left lots of opportunity for the smaller agencies to go full-throttle. Without getting too deep in those one-hit-wonder exclusives, we looked forward and it is a beautiful sight.” [COACD]
“The critics can say whatever they want, but Lindsay is a genius.”
-Dina Lohan on defending Lindsay Lohan’s disastrous debut Emanuel Ungaro collection
Photos: Getty Images
It was a sojourn through Williamsburg under Marc Jacobs’ roof this morning. Fox’s better thirds dangled from street inspired leather bags screaming for a show independent from the Louis Vuitton collection. PETA would have had a fit. We didn’t know what to concentrate on whether it be the cotton ball afros, the bags or the uncharacteristic Louis Vuitton collection — lace leggings juxtaposed by hazy hued mini dresses; garbage bag inspirations translated into glazed plastic skirts coupled with hosiery silk tube shirts; denim blouse-cum-dresses accented by frills. To sum up the collection, ghetto-fab met high brow. If the LV monograms were absent I might not have recognized a complete turn from its high brow roots to this lowbrow-esque collection. It’s apparent that in a race to indie designs among the top fashion houses, Armani and Gucci are lagging far far far behind.
More after the jump. Continue reading
Disappointing. We pray that McQueen’s geek Queenies resolve the server issue or momentarily delay the show for us to tune into the live stream. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking. But, you can catch Tweets from Lady Gaga and Elle UK. That’s the best we can hope for, that is unless you’re omniscient.
UPDATE: 2nd streaming at 4:30 EST


text:
Yesterday, Ford Motor’s Global Trend and Futuring Manager (yep, actual job title) Sheryl Connelly unveiled the top ten trends shaping the world in 2014 as part of the motor giant’s second annual Looking Forward with Ford report.
The business of selling cars, it would seem, has gotten a lot more sophisticated than the horseless carriage of the Henry Ford era.
As Ford’s in-house futurist, Connelly and her team map the political, social, economic and cultural trends that are shaping the way people think, behave and buy around the world. They look at population and economic data, but, judging from this year’s crop of trends, they are also paying very close attention to data from social media. It takes three years to bring a vehicle to market at Ford, so it pays for the company to predict the needs of the near-future consumer, maybe before the consumer really recognizes those needs himself.
The 2014 trend report, the first to look globally, paints a picture of a consumer market that is simultaneously enthralled with and wary of the relentless pace of technological innovation. It’s a market that is starting to question the value of the “always-on” hyper-connected lifestyle, but is already dependent — maybe more than we’d like to admit — on the virtual embrace of technology, the adrenaline rush of a new “like” or a new follower.
Here’s a look at the top ten trends Ford expects to shape the market over the next 1-3 years, including a big shift in sustainability thinking:
1. The Quiet Riot of Innovation
The iPad has only been out for three years, but its already ubiquitous. According to Connelly, this type of disruptive technology is dropping every day of the week, but we are so accustomed to it that we barely notice. Think of the way Square has aided small merchants. We have become “numb” to regular technological breakthroughs and can’t actually process the pace of change in real-time.
2. Old School
People are longing to be reminded of the “softer, gentler” times of bygone days. We’re nostalgic for the era where things were easier to control, products were well-made and things were less complicated. One point Connelly used to illustrate this trend was that 63 million photos were tagged on Instagram with #throwbackthursday. Whether the “old school” trend is a classic case of pure nostalgia or a more nuanced backlash against mega-mass-market consumerism is up for debate. Chris Riley, founder of marketing research group StudioRiley and one of today’s panelists played provocateur. “We’ve been through a period of the consumer industry where we dropped the ball,” he said. “People were able to buy affordable goods, but they’re not very high quality.” Could this harbor the beginnings of a new manufacturing trend that pursues quality and reliability instead of lowering the price point at any environmental or social cost?
3. Meaningful vs. the Middle Man
Here, Connelly used the example of etsy, the runaway-success consumer-to-producer online marketplace to illustrate the emerging desire for consumers to connect with producers on a more emotional level. Somewhat related to trend #2 above, Ford sees more and more people using their purchasing power to not just acquire things, but also experiences and stories.
“Sometimes wealth whispers, sometimes it screams,” noted Connelly. As mentioned above this is the first trend report that Ford has researched globally, and what they found were major differences in how people project their wealth around the world. According to Connelly, Ford can look at the way wealth is projected (through online statuses and updates, and in the real world) to understand the level of sophistication of the consumer class in that particular market. So while being overweight might be a symbol of financial success in India, those extra pounds certainly don’t play the same way in, say, San Francisco. With social media and constant connectivity, we now have more and more ways to project our status to more and more listeners.
5. Vying for Validation:
This one is an anthropologist’s field day. In their report, Ford uses the phrase “hyper-self-expression” to describe the deluge of tweets, updates, blog posts, texts and everything else that we project onto the internet on a daily basis. But maybe, postulates Ford, we’ve been living in the new digital world long enough to be able to reflect on the way it has affected us. Once we put all these bits and bytes of self-expression into the digital-sphere, we naturally crave validation….but with social media and internet publishing, we are now effectively seeking that validation from loose acquaintances or strangers. “Is craving validation from strangers a useful way to spend my time?” This is a question Connelly and her team think more and more people will be asking themselves next year.
6. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) vs Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)
FOMO v. JOMO is another main part of Ford’s hypothesis that the average consumer is questioning the benefits of constant connectivity. With more information at our fingertips than ever, we’ve been trained to always look for the “best” thing on the horizon….which leads to a constant feeling of FOMO. On the flipside, people are learning that maybe it’s better to focus on the moment and celebrate the JOMO. To the disappointment of this writer, there was no mention of the other proud acronym of 2013: YOLO.
7. Micro Moments
As information proliferates, our downtime shrinks in equal proportion. Or so it would seem to Ford. Connelly and her team paint a picture of smartphone-addicted hyper-productive worker bees that just can’t “turn it off”….
8. Myth of Multi-Tasking ….
Which leads to one of the more provocative trends in the report. Smartphones were sold to us, in part, with the promise of saving us time. A promise that Connelly calls “propaganda” because, in fact, those magical little devices are sucking up more and more of our time. As anyone with a company Blackberry knows, the line between “work” and “not-work” is very blurred and the emails and updates never seem to cease. Instead of becoming hyper-productive and efficient multi-taskers we have grown used to, as Connelly says, “giving partial attention to the world around us.”
9. Female Frontier
2012 might have been the “year of the woman” but the ladies still seem to be rolling through universities, boardrooms and glass ceilings, albeit at a slow and steady pace, in 2013. Progress on equal pay and equal rights for women around the world is certainly a trend for the greater good, and one that deserves continual, close attention and not just splashy headlines. There wasn’t much ground-breaking for Ford here. But interestingly, Riley called urbanization the “agent of change” for women in developing countries, pointing to the lower birth rates and higher levels of education and opportunity found in cities.
10. Sustainability Blues
Finally the big sustainability reveal! So what is the big sustainability trend in 2014 and beyond? Water. According to Ford, it’s not “green” we should be really worried about, but “blue.” Sure, it’s rather convenient for a car manufacturer to draw the world’s attention away from climate change and toward the growing water shortage. But to be fair, Ford has arguably done its part by producing hybrid cars and following better vehicle emission standards. There’s no doubt that water conservation is an extremely serious issue that will only grow in importance, especially in water-scarce areas like the Middle East. But to frame the sustainability world as “green vs. blue” seems like a false choice.
You might be asking yourself, how does this all relate to the car industry? Cars, especially in the developed world, are increasingly pieces of computing power, not just a way to get around. Consumers have learned to expect the constant innovation of new features on each year’s model and companies are eager to respond. As Connelly noted, the FOMO vs JOMO trend is likely to have the most direct impact on Ford’s planning. “Do people want their car to be a hub of productivity,” she asked, “or a sanctuary?”
Well, consumers, want do you want? Industry leaders are listening to your tweets, looking at your Instagrams and studying your Facebook feed for clues. You might as well just speak up and tell them.
You can view a full copy of the Looking Further with Ford 2014 trend report here.


text:
Introducing the DartDataTracker
22 Jun 2018
Dart is excited to announce its new app-based tech tool known as the DartDataTracker. The DartDataTracker is a versatile all-in-one tool featuring a document scanner, a fleet manager communication tool, up-to-the-minute fuel price listings, and links to Dart news and important information.
DartDataTracker, compatible with Android and Apple products, will be useful for all owner operators and company drivers. Dart is constantly looking for ways to help drivers and owner operators increase efficiency, and we’re sure this advancement in technology will be a huge asset to the company’s operation.
Russ Moore, Vice President of Marketing and Communication, says, “The DartDataTracker app was created to make the lives of Dart owner operators and drivers easier while on the road. This app will enhance access to information, make communication simpler and more efficient and provide free document scanning. That is only the beginning. Look for more functionality to be added in the coming months.”
The DartDataTracker app is now available for free in the App Store and on Google Play. We look forward to hearing how this app benefits owner operators and company drivers, so download the app and let us know!


text:
The vast majority of eggs consumed globally are laid by hens that spend their lives in cramped battery cages, unable to turn around, perch or lay their eggs in nests.
Responding to consumers who want better animal welfare standards for the hens, more food companies such as retailer Tesco have pledged to sell or use cage-free eggs in recent years. Supply needs to catch up, but rolling out cage-free systems, where hens are able to spread their wings and display other natural behaviours, is not a straightforward task.
“If there’s anything that needs to be changed in the system, it’s capacity building,” said Jayasimha Nuggehalli, chief operating officer of consulting firm Global Food Partners.
To ramp up the knowledge and skills needed to roll out cage-free systems in Asia, Global Food Partners and Aeres University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands have teamed up to establish a training centre in Indonesia for Asian egg farmers.
Their goal is to set up a model farm at an Indonesian university or vocational training centre to train students as well as employees of egg producers to operate a cage-free system. The partners are hoping to set up the training centre up by October next year, and are also looking to set up another one in China, the world’s largest egg producer. One of every three eggs produced globally is from China, according to the International Egg Commission.
We think Covid-19, and pandemics such as this, are an opportunity to sit back and think about what we have done wrong with the food system and how we can put it right.
Jayasimha Nuggehalli, chief operating officer, Global Food Partners
“This is on-farm vocational training. People who graduate out of this (centre) can get placed on a farm to be farm managers, workers or supervisors,” said Jayasimha.
Global Food Partners is also looking to train auditors to meet the demand for companies that require third-party audit of farms, he added.
Courses will be conducted in the participants’ native languages and the consulting firm has shortlisted three universities in Indonesia that could potentially host the training centre and model farm, which could house about 3,000 birds whose eggs would be sold to generate revenue.
The centres have already garnered interest from entrepreneurs as well as existing producers, including one of China’s largest cage-free producers, said Jayasimha.
Within East and Southeast Asia, Thailand is one of the leaders in cage-free egg production, said Dawn Neo, Global Food Partners’ senior manager for corporate engagement. The kingdom’s Department of Livestock Development is working on new standards for cage-free production to meet global demand, Thai news outlet The Nation reported last week.
Thai food giant Charoen Pokphand Foods vowed on Monday to comply with animal welfare and antibiotics standards and promote the natural behaviours of both livestock and aquatic animals, to assure meat and food safety throughout its supply chain. The company began piloting cage-free egg production last year and 1 per cent of its fresh eggs are currently cage-free, stated its 2019 sustainability report. All its egg farms will eventually be cage-free.
What buyers and producers fear
Most of the team at Global Food Partners were previously with animal protection organisation Humane Society International. They had encountered companies that had made cage-free commitments, but faced knowledge gaps on the ground and other uncertainties, said Jayasimha.
Producers need long-term commitments from corporate buyers to switch production systems, and some have notions that cage-free systems were either ultra-modern facilities that required a lot of automation, or a step backwards to farming systems in the 1970s.
Retailers and food brands, on the other hand, need to be assured of a constant supply of cage-free eggs and are hesitant to shift their supply chains or change suppliers. Another obstacle was the relatively high price of cage-free eggs, due partly to low production volumes, he said. The price difference between cage-free and battery-cage eggs is about 20 to 30 per cent, all other factors being equal.
“We thought that we had to build a system that would bridge and build confidence, both on the producers’ side as well as the buyers’ side,” said Jayasimha.
Cage-free systems have not been free from controversy, and critics have highlighted their mortality rates and issues like cannibalism. Humane Society International has said that cage-free systems are not necessarily cruelty-free, but can allow hens to have significantly better lives. Higher mortality is not inherent in cage-free systems, which require more skills and expertise to manage than cage systems, it noted.
Global Food Partners’ and Aeres’ training centres, with a focus on animal welfare and cage-free production, will be the first of their kind in Asia, Jayasimha said. The coronavirus pandemic has led to plans being altered—the team is looking at more online learning and the use of virtual reality for trainees, in addition to classes at the centre.
But Jayasimha reckoned Covid-19 is more an opportunity than a threat.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, improvements in animal welfare can improve food safety by reducing stress-induced immunosuppression, pathogen shedding, and antibiotic use and resistance. While farm management is the key determinant of pandemic risk for both cage and cage-free facilities, and it is not possible to draw a direct link between cage-free operations and pandemic risk, studies have found higher rates of Salmonella contamination in cage facilities.
“People are now thinking about where their food is coming from. We think Covid-19, and pandemics such as this, are an opportunity to sit back and think about what we have done wrong with the food system and how we can put it right,” he said.
“Food companies around the world are becoming more aware of this, and if we’re able to look at equitable consumption and ensure we consume responsibly, reduce wastage of food and raise animal welfare, this could be an opportunity to create a new world food system which is way better.”


text:
For the dine-at-home crowd that likes to eat restaurant-prepared meals, Bite Squad food delivery app is expanding to Maryville.
The on-demand restaurant delivery service debuts today with its grand opening today through April 14.
The Bite Squad app lets customers order from participating restaurants and then sends a Bite Squad driver to deliver it.
More than 20 Maryville area restaurants already have partnered with Bite Squad, the company states in a news release. Those eateries include Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, The Shrimp Dock, Full Service BBQ, Rocky’s Jamaican Sunrise, Gracie’s, Southland Books & Cafe, Richy Kreme Donuts, Subs & Such, Petro’s, Puleo’s Grille, Chadwick’s, El Barril, El Jimador, Las Margaritas, Savory Rootz, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chick-fil-A, Applebee’s, Hooters and Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Bite Squad is kicking off its debut in the Maryville area with a “Free Delivery for a Year” promotion that gives customers a free 12-month subscription to Bite Squad Unlimited: a delivery membership that waives the booking fee on all orders within a four-mile radius. Regular delivery fees start at $2.99.
Maryville will be 10th Bite Squad city in Tennessee. Available in more than 375 cities nationwide, the app is operating in multiple Tennessee cities, including Knoxville, Memphis, Johnson City and Clarksville.
Bite Squad offers a consumer app with live order tracking to keep customers updated on when their food will arrive; a live chat support team; and uniformed, trained employee drivers.
The company said it expects to grow quickly in the Maryville area, and to meet anticipated demand, the company plans to hire 100 people locally. Drivers can apply at www.bitesquad.com/apply. Restaurants looking to partner with Bite Squad can go to https://go.bitesquad.com/sales.


text:
by Jeff Sovern
Deepak posted earlier about the extraordinary Times story on arbitration. I have been studying arbitration for some time, and yet some items in the story were new to me. Though the entire article demands to be read, here are two especially revealing quotes:
Since no government agency tracks class actions, The Times examined federal cases filed between 2010 and 2014. Of 1,179 class actions that companies sought to push into arbitration, judges ruled in their favor in four out of every five cases.
[B]y assembling records from arbitration firms across the country, The Times found that between 2010 and 2014, only 505 consumers went to arbitration over a dispute of $2,500 or less.
Putting those quotes together yields the conclusion that businesses are able to use arbitration clauses to defeat claims where individual consumers have lost small amounts–meaning businesses are free to cheat consumers out of small amounts, unless regulators stop them.


text:
(WASHINGTON TIMES) Move over, “Animal House,” Hollywood’s got nothing on the federal government when it comes to buying booze.
Federal spending records show the government spends seven-figures a year stocking its cabinets with wine, beer and liquor.
In fiscal 2013, the last year for which there are complete records, the government spent almost $1.3 million on alcohol, more than quadruple the $315,000 spent in 2005. The spending on liquor has increased over the years toward the $1 million mark, with 2013’s tab growing more than $400,000 over 2012.
Advertisement - story continues below


text:
For over a year, we’ve been starved, starved, of the fashion fix usually afforded by Australia’s annual Fashion Week. Not for long though, with IMG announcing the schedule for Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2021, and you’ll be glad to hear it’s full to the brim with local favourites and up-and-comers to feast your eyes upon.
Kicking off on May 31 this year’s festivities go right up until June 4, meaning we’re blessed with a full five days of non-stop action. In keeping with tradition, Carriageworks in Eveleigh will be where most shows will take place, with various other events held all over Sydney throughout the week.
The best part? No longer are front row seats and can’t miss events limited to just industry folk and instead, the public is invited to join along with ticket sales already selling fast.
Read on for everything to know about Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2021.
When Will Afterpay Australian Fashion Week Be On?
The 2021 event isn’t just any ordinary Fashion Week, with the celebration marking the event’s 25th-anniversary (which was originally meant to be celebrated in 2020, before it was cancelled due to the pandemic). The event will begin on May 31st and end on June 4th.
On the recently announced agenda are 36 live runway shows and five digital presentations, with additional brands taking part in IMG’s on-site physical showroom facility, The Suites, which will see labels like Indigenous Fashion Projects, Silk Laundry, We Are Kindred, Arnsdorf and Chosen by Tuchuzy taking part.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with IMG to create a world-class event that supports Australian designers on both a local and international stage,” said Afterpay co-founder Nick Molnar. “With Australian fashion designers being the founding partners and the core of Afterpay, this year will see us champion and foster both emerging and established designers through various consumer shows like never before. We can’t wait to celebrate our commitment to the future of fashion with such a strong and incredible lineup of shows and special events.”
What Is Afterpay Australian Fashion Week’s 2021 Schedule?
This year’s event is unlike any other, putting a renewed focus on sustainability, as well as a new hub that will highlight First Nations designers.
The schedule includes plenty of familiar faces confirmed to showcase their Resort ’22 collection, including Albus Lumen, bassike, Rebecca Vallance, Bondi Born, Christopher Esber, Commas, Ginger & Smart, Macgraw, Manning Cartell, KitX, Oroton, Romance Was Born, Zimmermann, as well as emerging designers Auteur, Jordan Gogos, and Jordan Dalah, who will open the first day.
In addition, 12 Indigenous designers will showcase in three separate Indigenous fashion events: Welcome to Country, the First Nations Fashion and Design Runway and the First Nations Fashion and Design Talk.
Where Can You Buy Tickets To Afterpay Australian Fashion Week?
Tickets to the 2021 event are already up for grabs, starting from $59 for the various talks and $129 for access to shows. Better yet, if you’re looking for a fun experience in events, PR, fashion, media and production, AAFW is looking for volunteers to register their interest here.
You also don’t have to worry if you can’t make one of your favourite designer’s, because this year all shows will be either live-streamed or later uploaded to IMG’s OTT platform ausfw.com, allowing for the fashion-obsessed to tune in from around the globe.
This year’s event will also include eight designers stage ‘see now, buy now’ runways as part of IMG’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week: The Experience, so you can snap up a design straight after the show.
Head to the Afterpay Australian Fashion Week official website for more info.


text:
One of Australia’s leading insurers, in collaboration with Ogilvy Melbourne, has launched AAMI SmartPlates, an innovative app giving L-platers an alternative to the traditional logbook.
AAMI SmartPlates allows young drivers to track their learning progress in real time and pinpoints skills that need practicing. It uses smartphone technology to live-track a learner’s hours, route choice, weather, road and traffic conditions, and then provides comprehensive feedback on progress.
AAMI is a Suncorp brand and the company’s chief customer experience officer, Mark Reinke, said: “AAMI research indicates young Australian drivers are most at risk of being involved in an accident. As it’s no secret that millennials use technology to manage almost every aspect of their lives, we thought it was time to rethink how we teach our kids to drive and bring the Learner Driver program into the digital world.”
Says David Ponce de Leon, executive creative director, Ogilvy in Melbourne: “This massive digital undertaking is in line with Ogilvy’s belief that any brand can ‘say’, but great brands ‘do’. AAMI SmartPlates brings AAMI’s ‘Not Very Insurancey’ brand platform to life by evolving the insurance company from one that simply covers accidents, to one that aims to prevent them from happening.
“It’s a big idea that proves AAMI is truly different and we believe it can make a real difference to road safety.”
The AAMI SmartPlates powerful ‘Road Block’ feature switches on whenever a Learner starts driving. On Android devices, ‘Road Block’ silences all incoming calls, sending the caller an automated response informing them their friend is behind the wheel. On iOS devices, Learners receive a personalised message of discouragement when phone access is detected.
Learner drivers using the app will also be exposed to an evolving database of more than 40 driving tips, written by qualified driving instructors.
Supported by a cinema, digital, film, social and outdoor marketing campaign, AAMI SmartPlates launches this week. It’s the latest in a series of digital initiatives from the brand following the successful launch of the AAMI Access app and the AAMI Lucky Club.
South Australia is the first state to accept AAMI SmartPlates as an official record of completed learner driver hours.
The AAMI SmartPlates App is available for free download now on the App Store and Google Play.
Agency Credits – Ogilvy Melbourne
Executive Creative Director – David Ponce de Leon
Senior Art Director – Karsten Jurkschat
Senior Copywriter – Alex Little
Account Service team
CEO – David Fox
Head of Strategy – Gavin McMillan
Managing Partner – Michael McEwan
Group Account Director – Belinda Danks-Woodley, Sarah Bailey
Account Director – Belinda Bassingthwaighte
Account Manager – Jessica McColl
Digital Development Team
National Head of Digital – Jason Davey
Head of Digital – Alistair Bruyns
Technical Director – Josh Bondy, Tim Chapman
Senior Digital Project Manager – Alex McNeilly
UX Director – Gina Hughes
Digital Art Director – Mark Tompkins
Senior Digital Designer / UX Designer – Rani Shabtai
Senior Designer – Jesse Steinfort
Agency Credits – Ogilvy PR
Public Relations Team
Associate Director – Kate Aurel-Smith
Senior Account Director – Bronte Tarn-Weir
Account Manager – Sonia Heng
Account Executive – April Gore
Project Lead – Lauren Shepherd
Project Manager – Alok Pandit
Digital Self Service Specialist – Andrew Muir
Technical Team – Albert Kalaja, Kiran Abraham, Ngoc Nguyen, Michael La
EGM Brand and Marketing – Kristi Woolrych
Head of Brand and Marketing – Tim Hernadi
EM, AAMI Brand and Marketing – Michelle Martinis
AAMI Marketing team – Michelle Martinis, Jo-Anne Tierney, Claire Whish-Wilson, Catherine Bloxsom, Angela Grogan, Anthony Russell


text:
Apple's next-generation macOS operating system, launching later today across the world.
macOS Monterey, unveiled in June 2021 at WWDC, is an upcoming version of macOS that's set to be released on Monday, October 25. Compared to macOS Big Sur, macOS Monterey is a smaller update, but there are still many notable new features that improve the Mac experience.
Universal Control is perhaps one of the biggest updates, allowing a single mouse, trackpad, and keyboard to be used across multiple Macs and also the iPad for moving content between devices. There's also a new AirPlay to Mac option for AirPlaying movies, games, photos, and more from the iPhone or iPad to the Mac, plus the Mac can be used as a speaker for multiroom audio.
Safari has an updated tab bar that better blends into the background and Tab Groups for grouping your open tabs together to make it easy to swap between different tasks without having to lose your open tabs. Tab Groups sync across all of your devices and can be shared.
FaceTime supports spatial audio so voices sound like they're coming from where the person is positioned on the screen, and Voice Isolation cuts out background noise. There's also a Wide Spectrumsound mode for when there are multiple call participants in the same room. Portrait Mode blurs out the background behind you, much like the iPhone photos feature.
With the new SharePlay feature, users can watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and share their screen with friends and family in real time all using FaceTime, with support also available for third-party apps. Shared With You in Messages keeps track of content people send you, saving it in Photos, Safari, Podcasts, News, and Apple TV.
The iOS Shortcuts app expands to the Mac with macOS Monterey, so all of your iPhone shortcuts (and more) will be available on the Mac. Apple has designed a gallery of pre-built shortcut options, and the Shortcuts app is integrated throughout macOS for running shortcuts from the menu bar, Finder, Spotlight, Siri, and more.
Focus, also available on iOS, is designed to help you stay on taskwith modes for Work, Personal Life, and more, plus customizable options. Focus basically filters out notifications unrelated to your current activity, and lets people know you're unavailable. Focus set on one device syncs across all devices.
In the Notes app there's a Quick Note option for jotting down notes in any app or while visiting any website, and Quick Note supports links from various apps. Notes has new collaborative features with mentions, an Activity View with edit history, and tags for organization. The Maps app has an interactive globe that can be used to explore different locations on Earth.
With Live Text, Macs use on-device machine learning to detect text in photos, which can be copy pasted or otherwise interacted with just like typed text. Visual Lookup uses machine learning to provide details on animals, art, landmarks, plants, and more in photos, with these two features available across macOS.
Apple upgraded its paid iCloud plans to iCloud+, adding iCloud Private Relay to hide your browsing habits and IP address from third parties. iCloud+ also includes a Hide My Email feature for keeping your email address private, and expanded HomeKit Secure Video support.
There are other major new privacy features such as Mail Privacy Protection to prevent emails from using tracking pixels, and the Mac recording indicator now lets you know if a Mac app is using the microphone.
On M1 Macs, the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max offer Spatial Audio, and there are new Accessibility options. Note that there are multiple macOS Monterey features limited to M1 Macs, such as Live Text, Portrait Mode for FaceTime, detailed Maps, on-device keyboard dictation, and unlimited keyboard dictation.
What time will I be able to download the update?
Although Apple has not shared an exact time for the release of macOS Monterey, we can make some educated guesses based on Apple's localized sites for various countries and past releases.
While Apple lists the release date as October 25 in much of the world, localized sites for some countries in the Eastern Hemisphere list the launch date as October 26, as the launch time will come at or after midnight in those countries.
Given that those two countries are 90 minutes apart by time zones, that pins things down relatively closely, pointing to a window between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The most likely release time in that window would be 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is a common release time for Apple. A release at that time would correspond to 10:30 p.m. on October 25 in India and midnight on October 26 in Thailand. This same method has accurately predicted the release times for a number of major operating system updates from Apple, including macOS Big Sur last year.
It's worth noting that Apple's release times do sometimes vary a bit and it can take a bit of time for the updates to propagate across Apple's servers and become available to all users, so the 10:00 a.m. estimate is simply that – an estimate.
Apple has also indicated that it will be releasing iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, watchOS 8.1, tvOS 15.1, and HomePod software 15.1 during the week of October 25, but the company does not appear to have specified an exact day for those releases.
There are some cross-platform features that means it would be logical for Apple to release all of its updates at the same time, but we'll have to wait and see what Apple's plans are.
There are of course no guarantees Apple will stick to its usual release timing with macOS Monterey, but given our best guess of 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time release, here's a breakdown of what that corresponds to in other time zones in the United States and around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii -- 7:00 a.m. HST
Anchorage, Alaska -- 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Vancouver, Canada -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona -- 10:00 a.m. MST
Denver, Colorado -- 11:00 a.m. MDT
Chicago, Illinois -- 12:00 noon. CDT
New York, New York -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada -- 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom -- 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa -- 7:00 p.m. SAST
Helsinki, Finland -- 8:00 p.m. EEST
Moscow, Russia -- 8:00 p.m. MSK
Istanbul, Turkey -- 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India -- 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia -- 12:00 midnight WIB next day
Shanghai, China -- 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore -- 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia -- 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong -- 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea -- 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan -- 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Brisbane, Australia - 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Adelaide, Australia -- 3:30 a.m. ACDT next day
Sydney, Australia -- 4:00 a.m. AEDT next day
Auckland, New Zealand -- 6:00 a.m. NZDT next day
You can stay up to date at all times by following our Twitter where you can follow live updates as they break. You can also get notified of the release, via email, by signing up to our email updates here!


text:
Gabriel Escarrer hopes that foreign tourists will come back to Spain this year — but he knows how much his company and his industry will suffer if they do not.
As chief executive of Meliá Hotels International, the 326-hotels, €1.4bn-valued group that takes pride in its beach resort roots, Escarrer is all too aware of the wounds left by last year’s drastically shortened summer season.
“If we lose this summer, we would be talking about practically zero activity from October 2019, when [travel agent] Thomas Cook collapsed, to June of 2022,” he said, noting that about half of Spanish tourism revenues normally come between June and September. “It would be devastating for the fabric of the tourist industry.”
According to the country’s main business federation, some 500 Spanish hotels have closed over the past year — and many more would fold with the loss of a second consecutive season.
Such difficulties are particularly significant for Spain, the world’s second most popular tourist destination, whose economy shrank 11 per cent last year.
In a normal year, the industry accounts for 12 per cent of GDP and 13 per cent of employment. In the words of Ramón Aragonés, chief executive of NH Hotel Group, the urban hotel chain: “Tourism is the petrol of Spain.”
As the sector struggles with the impact of the latest travel restrictions in the EU, the UK and the US, both Escarrer and Aragonés acknowledged that people will initially be more likely to travel in their own country before they venture abroad. But their two companies are making very different bets. Meliá believes that foreign tourists will want sun and sea this summer; NH that the main theme will be “tourism of proximity” — trips closer to home.
“We know that 2021 will be a difficult year and that we have complicated months ahead, but there is a perspective of medium-term recovery,” said Aragonés, whose 360-hotel company also has a market value of €1.4bn, a third lower than pre-pandemic levels. “The figures for 2021 will be better than 2020, and 2022 will probably be more like 2019, with a full return in 2023.”
The crucial question is the pace of the recovery, which will be determined by infection rates, vaccinations and politics. And until it arrives, the tourism industry will continue bleeding cash. As of the third quarter last year, Meliá was burning about €34m a month and NH about €25m. Things are even more difficult now, with both groups keeping about half their hotels closed.
“I did not think that the third wave going to hit us so hard,” said Escarrer, adding that “the first quarter [of 2021] will probably be very bad . . . the worst since the second quarter of last year, when there was a very tough lockdown”.
The first nine months of last year were hard enough for his company. Meliá’s revenues slumped by 69 per cent to €430m compared with the same period in 2019 and the group tumbled to a net loss of €485m. Net financial debt, excluding lease liabilities, increased by €533m to €1.1bn.
For the same period, NH’s revenues fell 64 per cent to €458m, taking it to a net loss of €295m. Net financial debt increased by €377m to €556m, although Aragonés argues that his company’s cash position was improved and its room for manoeuvre increased by action he took to cut debt before the crisis. Nevertheless, he plans to sell assets this year to reduce it further.
Both groups say that their holdings of cash and other liquid assets, respectively about €440m and €485m at the end of September, will allow them to see through this year’s difficulties.
But their problems are just one part of a much more widespread malaise. The year 2020 was easily the worst in the tourism industry’s history. According to the World Tourism Organisation, a UN agency, 1bn fewer people travelled abroad than in the previous year — a fall of 74 per cent compared to a 4 per cent decline during 2009 in the aftermath of the financial crisis. It calculates that the pandemic reduced the sector’s revenues by $1.3tn and has put between 100m and 120m jobs directly at risk.
But both Escarrer and Aragonés hope that the current restrictions, coming in low season, will help bring infections under control and pave the way for recovery.
The Meliá boss thinks that foreign tourists will return by July and expects healthy demand for his beach hotels, particularly from the UK, traditionally the biggest source of tourists for Spain.
“In summer, if we begin to see group immunity [because of vaccinations], which we expect in the third quarter, we will see a change based on reservations: Europeans will be travelling in Europe, Americans in the Americas and Asians in Asia . . . although I don’t anticipate much long-haul tourism,” he said.
“We are in places that aren’t so urban, where there isn’t such a business traveller aspect, where it’s more about holidays,” he added, noting that video meetings had largely replaced corporate travel and that this may be a long-term change. “As a result, I am convinced that we are one of the companies [in the industry] that will exit the crisis first.”
By contrast, Aragonés thinks that this summer will be all about domestic tourism and that, as a result, NH’s chain of city hotels, which normally earn half their income from business travellers, will be well placed to take advantage.
“The first thing that is going to recover is city breaks, because the easiest thing is to just get into a car and spend a weekend at a hotel,” he said. “It is very likely that this summer a lot of people stay in their own countries, but that could suit us.”
Indeed, travel agents in the UK have reported that customers are delaying summer bookings for foreign trips to as late as October.
Aragonés added that there will be exceptions — the over-70s, for example, who in countries such as the UK will soon be vaccinated en masse, “will be desperate to get out after being practically locked up for a year [and] could be a very good potential target in May or June”.
But if this summer does indeed involve large-scale substitution of domestic for foreign tourists it is bad news for Spain as a whole.
“In Spain’s case, the capacity of domestic tourism to compensate for external tourism is relatively little,” Pablo Hernández de Cos, the governor of the country’s central bank, recently remarked.
He added that the difference between what foreign tourists normally spend in Spain and what Spanish tourists customarily spend abroad is equivalent to more than 3 per cent of GDP — three times as large a gap as in Italy.
Both Meliá and NH point out that most of their business is outside Spain — almost two-thirds in the case of Meliá and about three-quarters for NH. “If Spain did represent 100 per cent, the truth is it would be worrying,” said Aragonés. “The problem in Spain is that the pandemic is probably going to combine with a very foreseeable economic crisis.”
Both chief executives call for Spain to spend some of the €140bn it expects from the EU’s coronavirus recovery fund on helping revive the tourist industry — and for the bloc to increase its relatively slow vaccination campaign; about 3 per cent of Spaniards have so far been inoculated compared with about 18 per cent of the UK. Both hoteliers would also like to see new international measures, such as health passports, to make it easier for countries to reopen.
“If before the summer, we don’t have 50-60 per cent of the population vaccinated, Spain will not be considered a safe destination — this is the problem,” Aragonés said. “But Israel is going to have a very good summer, because it will be considered safe, the countries of the Middle East, [such as] Dubai are going to have lots of demand, because they are vaccinating massively . . Everything, everything is going to depend on the vaccines.”
Additional reporting by Alice Hancock


text:
Method TV set Casino software debuted in partnership with BetConstruct. Wazdan impresses at frost rome display. Microgaming introduces town people today: Macho steps online port
Merely ten weeks that it has assisted the operator to launch a bespoke live-dealer casino after it helped Fashion TV Gaming Group to debut a selection of five branded video slots and online gaming and sportsbetting technology solutions firm, BetConstruct, has now announced.
Real-time betting games:
The developer that is london-based a close Wednesday website to mention that a fresh new clothing Tv-apparat Casino live-dealer system was developed to deliver ‘a high-quality gaming routine’ and comes with people of English-speaking croupiers showcasing bettors an array of baccarat, blackjack and black-jack games.
Experience ‘luxury and glamour’:
BetConstruct, that features specifically made a portion during this year’s model of a typical cool London extravaganza, revealed simple fact that new Fashion tv show local casino breakthrough ‘exudes the blissful luxury and glamour on the name’ and will eventually represent contenders by using the possiblity to win reproduced materials outside of tickets into high-class activities and activities to often be published across the world.
Providing gaming and fashion together with each other:
Vigen Badalyan, ceo within the companionship, announced that an new Fashion video internet casino improved is determined to ‘bridge the crack’ between video games and date giving players the opportunity to want a ‘glamorous way of living’ in the the authentic and practical sides.
Badalyan’s statement read…
“We discussed the commitment of trends shows Gaming audience to input the iGaming commercial enterprise. After our new partner-to-be particular BetConstruct to apply really it’s information, it was a token that is significant of given our budget. Just the previous year we’ve introduced slots employing the business enterprise’s lavishness life style and fashion trends and soon we’ve verified that the new world of the latest fashions and using the net gaming can merge held in a method TV-branded current casino site hall in BetConstruct.”
This year’s model of one’s three-day frost U.S. extravaganza became underway on wednesday morning and online casinogames and items manufacturer, Wazdan, stated them then ‘wowed people’ by together opening seven imaginative brands.
Accredited by specialists in Malta and therefore england, Wazdan worn A thursday that is official press to give it had become on stand S8-202 of the UK presentation to premier it is young Formula celebrities 5, place Gem, gold-fish, Formula performers 6, Larry the Leprechaun, Lucky Reels and Juicy Reels dvd spilleautomater.
Top notch benefits are readily available:
Jeremy go, key web specialist for Wazdan, declared that his/her firm’s mobile-friendly Formula celebrities 5 computer video game ‘is arranged to thrill fans’ with its ‘top good quality video game undertaking.’ You furthermore announced where the title fulfills ‘at any placement upon the reels’ and can be bought that is‘jam-packed a group of premium functions just like multiply analyze method, really lifestyle structure, Volatility grade, power conserving structure, Ultra Fast form and amazing play designs.
Relating to site jewel, slip professed that the new video that is six-reel ‘takes people by way of an intergalactic quest that has been hyper-engaging’ complimentary of the identical retinue of wonderful boasts alongside ‘out-of-this-world graphics’ and a collecting colorful diamond designs which can guide contenders to adopt location ‘cosmic prizes.’
Fall’s argument studied…
“The team at Wazdan is usually operational inexhaustibly to generate a hard-hitting line-up of new concept looses to cool newcastle. It should be stimulating to understand fresh headlines see economy and also now we exists happy at ICE Manchester wherein guests received an end examine the reason Wazdan’s online casino games freeslotsnodownload-ca.com so special. we now have had the ability to display customers”
This year’s copy of this cool newcastle extravaganza started out yesterday and internett-casino competitions and software programs organisation, Microgaming, brings launched that the new first-day all around the event watched it debut his or her completely new town everyone: Macho transfers video position.
The island of Man-headquartered pioneer taken the state run thursday report to articulate which the six-reel promotional gaming were solely created by Fortune manufacturing apartments for carrying athletes ‘on a whirlwind travel oh no- the ‘70s disco scene.’ That reported the fact that the mobile-friendly corporate video opening, that is regarding distributed around companies from later on from inside the 12 months, makes use of the likenesses out of six original costumed members of the hamlet folk in addition to a few American party’s very iconic tunes including Macho Man, belong West and YMCA.
The dealer highlighted that your early afternoon all around the three-day England present too watched it organize an exclusive current DJ manifest an effort to expose people who attended to its emerging dealership Jane Blonde return digital trail, which is the other those games to turn into evolved in partnership with African pioneer, Stormcraft Studios.
Valuable experience content’ that is‘entertaining
Microgaming called cool London as ‘the web-based gaming business enterprise’s largest exhibition’ and announced it really is on endure N5-120 inside of goliath succeed UK until friday in order to exhibit down ‘its impending trend of amusing content’ that also encompasses the new punk-themed Shogun of their time online from Swedish compatriot simply by the victory.
Film top slots a-plenty:
Finally, the provider outlined that these disengages are actually being accompanied by a clean Lara Croft-themed digital position from Triple Edge Studios on top of Slingshot Studios’ Banana Odyssey distinction because the roulette card and table advance from japanese wife use Studios.
Based upon a authoritative statment…
“Presenting six self-employed performance companies throughout the position, each on your assignment to cultivate specialized articles for Microgaming’s visitors globally the top software supplier will ask attendees to absorb themselves in all the staggering graphics, mechanism and additional features of its very much up-to-date looses.”


text:
People and businesses in Berkshire have something to be very proud about.
For the first time, the AA and Visit England have ranked destinations across England to reveal the regions which offer the highest standards in hospitality, and Berkshire has topped the list.
The study was undertaken to help people plan short breaks on their summer holidays, based on the quality of factors such as accommodation, cuisine, hospitality, and the destinations in the counties themselves.
Andrew Stokes, director of Visit England said: "It’s exciting to combine the data from Visit England and the AA for the first time and to celebrate the destinations where we see accommodation achieving excellence in quality.
"We would like to encourage people to go and try a break somewhere they might not have considered before."
Berkshire has performed well due to the range of attractions on offer. Attractions identified by the study include Legoland , Ascot racecourse , Highclere Castle
(where Downton Abbey was filmed) and the Royal Windsor residence .
Other counties perform well in specific areas, but Berkshire beats them all for the 'best overall hospitality experience'.
Considering the accommodation, restaurants and hospitality, Berkshire received an overall rating of 83% as a destination, regarded as 'outstanding' by the study.
Andrew Oxley, Head of Hotel & Hospitality Services at the AA said: "We hope this data will be useful for consumers when planning a summer holiday or short break in England.
"If a county scores over 80% is should be regarded as outstanding, over 70% excellent and over 60% very good.
"We hope this information will highlight some of the very best hospitality experiences that England has to offer."
Here is a list of how the top ten counties ranked by the study:
England's best counties to eat, drink and stay
What do you think about the rating? Do you work in Berkshire's hospitality industry? Let us know in the comments below


text:
A massive free update hits Conan Exiles today, with Update 34. This update brings the mighty new Midnight Grove dungeon, as well as a new religion that allows players to summon the flying avatar of Jhebbal Sag. Players can also tame animals in this update and use them in battle, or even build a farm to produce materials that you can put to use. Funcom also noted that Conan Exiles is their bestselling and fastest-selling game ever. They also released the “Savage Frontier Pack” which launched on PC and is coming to console on October 17th. This is similar to the other two DLC packs, and is available for 9.99.
“Pets and taming are important new additions to the gameplay in Conan Exiles,” says Creative Director Joel Bylos. “This is something players have been asking for and we are very excited to finally be able to bring it to them. First you must head out into the world and either find an animal egg or a baby, put them in your animal pen, and then make sure you feed them properly. Once grown up they can become trusty companions in battle or even useful in production of materials. From tigers to rhinos – there are many different pets to tame and if you feed them right they might even turn into a rare version of that animal.”


text:
LOS ANGELES -- Mazda will preview the look of its next-generation Mazda2 subcompact when it reveals the Hazumi concept car next month at the Geneva auto show.
In a statement, Mazda said the Hazumi, a Japanese word meaning "to bound or spring up," showcases "the ideal form of the company's next-generation subcompact car." A teaser image of the Hazumi shows the car's left headlight assembly, sculpted front fender and hexagonal grille that draw from elements of the kodo design theme seen on current products such as the Mazda3 and Mazda6.
For the past few years, Mazda has used its concept cars to preview the designs of coming production vehicles. The CX-5 compact crossover, for instance, mirrored the Minagi concept that debuted at the 2011 Geneva auto show, while the latest Mazda6 mid-sized sedan stayed true to sheet metal of the Takeri concept car seen at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.
The Mazda2 has been one of Mazda's worst-selling vehicles in the United States since arriving in 2010, with sales last year falling 39 percent to 11,757 units. The car is due to be redesigned for the 2015 model year and is expected to arrive in the United States in the second half of this year.
The Mazda2 will ride on Mazda's scalable Skyactiv platform architecture with power coming from a Skyactiv gasoline engine, likely between 1.4 and 1.6 liters, and be built at Mazda's new plant in Salamanca, Mexico.


text:
Here are some of the popular online searches for July 30, 2012.
A war of words from some big city leaders directed at the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain keeps going. The latest salvo came from Washington D.C. mayor Vincent Gray.
He joined mayors of other big cities such as Boston, Chicago and San Francisco in not welcoming the Atlanta based chain. Gray's spokesperson says the mayor does not support Chick-fil-A and he does not want the chain in his district.
However, he says the restaurant is legally entitled to a permit. Chick-fil-A has been at the center of a gay rights debate since its president said the chain was "guilty as charged" of supporting the biblical definition of the family unit.
Supporters of the chain are mobilizing an effort of their own. Wednesday is Chick-fil-A appreciation day nationwide.
If your credit is good. You want to buy a house. This is hard to beat. Mortgage rates are now below three point five percent for a 30 year fixed mortgage!
Fifteen year fixed mortgage rates also are at a new record low, 2.88%
Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger Home
You've heard about it being a "buyer's market". But, it could be something else keeping Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver from unloading their home.
Maria Shriver reportedly thinks the $4.4 million house won't sell because it has "bad energy."
The 25 acre site in Santa Barbara has been home to Clark Gable and John Wayne.
Shriver just wants rid of it as the last remaining piece linking her to Schwarzenegger and their marriage.
Michael Phelps Olympics
Lots of fans are wondering what's up with Michael Phelps.
Four years ago he won a record eight gold medals. In these Olympic games, he has yet to have the fastest time in the morning heats.
Phelps did help Team U.S.A. Capture the silver in Sunday's 400 meter freestyle relay.
Even without any gold yet from Phelps. The U.S.A. Is doing fine at the London Olympics.
So far, 14 medals, including four gold.
Employment • Contact Us • Advertising • Credit Application and Advertising Terms and Conditions • Terms of Service
Children's Television Information • EEO Reports • DTV Consumer Education Reports • Satellite Home Viewer Act Information


text:
Maryland Thermoform buys Rapid unit BALTIMORE — Maryland Thermoform Corp. acquired the custom thermoforming business of Rapid Industrial Plastics Inc.
Larry Rauch, who joined Maryland Thermoforming from Rapid Industrial, said the acquired business has sales of more than $2 million a year. Rauch, Maryland Thermoforming sales representative for the northeast United States, was sales manager for Rapid Industrial.
Rapid Industrial is moving its horticultural thermoforming business to an undisclosed location in Mexico. It will keep its headquarters and thermoforming equipment for custom work in Jersey City, N.J. It already has begun production in Mexico, according to Rauch.
Rapid Industrial has offices in Houston and in Chino, Calif., from which it will distribute horticultural products. The private firm also distributes resins.
Maryland Thermoform of Baltimore will strengthen its presence in the Northeast with the purchase of the Rapid Industrial custom business, the firm's operations manager, Jim Branham, said in a news release. Maryland Thermoform finalized the deal May 1.
PFB purchases Insulation Industries
CALGARY, ALBERTA — PFB Corp. plans to increase its expanded polystyrene foam business by acquiring Insulation Industries Inc.
Insulation Industries had sales of about C$2 million (US$1.3 million) last year. PFB agreed to pay C$955,000 (US$635,000) for the firm and expects to complete the deal June 9.
PFB President C. Alan Smith said his company plans to keep running Insulation Industries' Calgary plant. PFB operates an EPS plant in nearby Crossfield, Alberta, where it also produces EPS resin. PFB's other EPS insulation plants are in Vancouver, British Columbia; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Kitchener and Ajax, Ontario.
PFB will buy the operation from Nascor Inc. of Calgary. Smith said in a telephone interview from PFB's headquarters in Calgary that PFB will continue to supply EPS insulation to Nascor after the purchase.
Nascor makes a range of construction products, including prefabricated walls containing EPS insulation it sources from Insulation Industries. Smith said the latter firm also has other customers.
Nascor President Richard Dettbarn said in a news release that PFB's acquisition will expand customer service and technical support for Insulation Industries.
Fire at Bayer may slow PC shipments
PITTSBURGH — Polycarbonate product shipments may be delayed as a result of a May 31 fire at Bayer Corp.'s Baytown, Texas, plant.
No injuries or environmental impacts were reported. Production at the plant, which employs 200 and produces 400 million pounds of PC annually, has been shut down as Bayer assesses the situation. No expected start-up date has been released.
The cause of the 9:40 a.m. fire was unknown as of June 2. It was described as "a smoldering electrical fire" in a Bayer news release.
The fire was confined to a room where pigments and additives are prepared. The plant's fire brigades extinguished the fire with help from the Baytown Fire Department.
FDA honors SPI counsel with award
WASHINGTON — Jerome Heckman, the general counsel of the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., has received an award from the Food and Drug Administration for his development of a new food-packaging approval program.
The pre-market notification program, enacted by Congress in 1997, shortens approval time for new food packaging from several years to 120 days. Heckman conceived of the program, according to a news release from Washington-based SPI.
Heckman will receive the Special Citation Award during a June 23 ceremony sponsored by the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. An FDA letter said Heckman got the award for "sustained and successful participation in the establishment of a new, fully funded system for FDA's approval of food-contact substances."
Heckman said he was "thrilled" by the award, and said an FDA official told him he is the first person outside of the agency to receive a Special Citation.