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Wall Street can look forward to a heavy week of earnings next week, with two Dow components and nearly a quarter of the S&P 500 index scheduled to report. Here’s what “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer expects of select earnings in the days to come.
MONDAY, APRIL 30
To start, Cramer will look for an earnings announcement from Harman International Industries at 8 a.m. ET, followed by an earnings conference call at 11 a.m. ET. The Stamford, Conn.-based company makes various audio products and electronic systems for use in the home or car. Its sound systems have become a “necessity” in the auto industry, Cramer said. So he thinks company executives will have a lot of good things to say.
SBA Communications will report earnings after Monday’s closing bell. From its headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., SBA Communications owns and operates wireless communications towers in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. The demand for these towers is increasing, as more and more cell phones are activated. In turn, Cramer expects a “terrific quarter” from SBA.
TUESDAY, MAY 1
Cramer will monitor Biogen Idec’s earnings conference call, which is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 a.m. ET. The Weston, Mass.-based company makes therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia and autoimmune disorders. To Cramer, Biogen Idec is “one of the best biotechs around.” Needless to say, he is optimistic about its quarterly results.
Engine maker Cummins will host its earnings conference call at 10 a.m. ET. To Cramer, the trucking industry is in a “powerful, long-term bull market.” Rivals Navistar International and Caterpillar , however, have only offered bearish inputs. So Cummins might not be a good buy ahead of the quarter, Cramer said reluctantly. He recommends taking profits going into Cummins’ results.
Emerson Electric has scheduled an earnings conference call for 2 p.m. ET. From its headquarters in St. Louis, it operates as a diversified technology company worldwide. From Eaton to Honeywell International and 3M , Cramer pointed out that many companies in the industrial goods sector have been doing well lately. Emerson, on the other hand, has been reporting disappointing numbers lately. So Cramer recommends taking profits ahead of the quarter.
Cramer said he’d recommend investors take profits ahead of Chesapeake Energy’s earnings, too, but few investors have any profits left. Chesapeake’s stock fell sharply after a Reuters investigation last week showed CEO Aubrey McClendon has borrowed as much as $1.1 billion in the last three years to fund the costs of well stakes granted to him by Chesapeake. Most of the loans were made by EIG Global Energy Partners, an investment management firm that has invested $2.5 billion in Chesapeake along with other investors.
“We're going to need to hear some real explanations for what's going on at this company and while many people have been saying that McClendon may have to step down, I think that's highly unlikely because Aubrey is the company,” Cramer said. “Chesapeake needs money to keep its drilling going, but I don't know who's going to give it to him. They may have to announce a fire sale of assets.”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2
Wednesday should prove to be a busy day of earnings with Time Warner kicking things off at 7 a.m. ET, followed by an earnings conference call at 10:30 a.m. ET. Cramer thinks CEO Jeffrey Bewkes has done a great job of running the media and entertainment company, even if its stock is only up 5 percent for the year. Nevertheless, he thinks executives will provide a positive outlook.
CVS Caremark has an earnings conference all scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET. The Woonsocket, R.I.-based company operates more than 7,000 drug stores across the United States. Rival Walgreen has been losing customers thanks to its ongoing dispute with pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts . Cramer thinks many of these customers are going to CVS and it seems others agree, as the stock has been hitting new highs lately. If CVS executives have positive commentary, Cramer suspects its stock could continue to push higher.
Later that morning, Garmin will conduct its earnings conference call at 10:30 ET. The Schaffhausen, Switzerland-based company makes a variety of scientific and technical instruments, but is probably best known for its global positioning system-enabled products. Cramer was surprised to hear these GPS devices have been “selling like flapjacks” and the short-sellers can’t believe it either. He thinks the company will do “quite well,” though.
Allergan , the company behind one of Cramer’s favorite growth stocks, will host its earnings conference call at 11 a.m. ET. The Irvine, Calif.-based company specializes in many areas of health care. It develops and sells a variety of products, such as pharmaceuticals, Botox, silicone breast implants, Juvederm Voluma, and Latisse eyelash thickener.
(RELATED: Cramer’s Ultimate Growth Stocks for 2012)
According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the main ingredient in Botox may be modestly helpful for people with chronic migraines, but the wrinkle treatment doesn't seem to offer much relief for those whose headaches are less frequent. Cramer isn’t too worried about the findings, though.
“I think if you have chronic migraines, you're simply going for relief,” Cramer said, adding he thinks CEO David Pyott will have a lot of good things about the company’s latest quarter.
Allergan’s stock typically trades down after the company reports, Cramer said, so wait for the pullback before buying shares.
Later in the day, Cramer will look for Clorox’s earnings results. The Oakland, Calif.-based company will have an earnings conference call at 1:30 p.m. ET. Cramer likes Clorox because it makes everything from cleaning products, such as Pine-Sol to cat litter under the Fresh Step brand, as well as Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing and Kingsford’s charcoal, among many other products. People don't stop buying these items because of the economic slowdown, Cramer said. He expects to hear about new additions to its product line and feels confident it will deliver on expectations.
Regardless of how Clorox’s earnings fare, Cramer likes the stock’s 3.4 percent dividend yield.
THURSDAY, MAY 3
Dayton, Ohio-based Teradata will hold its conference call at 8 a.m. ET. From F5 Networks to Equinix , Cramer noted that many of the big data companies have recently reported “spectacular numbers” and watched their stocks soar as a result. Cramer thinks Teradata is the “best of the cohort” and expects its stock could skyrocket after earnings.
Cramer looks forward to a 10 a.m. ET earnings conference call from Airgas . Some time ago, the company turned down a $70 a share takeover bid from Air Products & Chemicals . At the time, CEO Peter McCausland said he thought he could do better than that for his shareholders. Many doubted that claim, but Cramer sided with McCausland. Today, the stock flirts with $90 a share and more.
“He's a sensational guy and he's Airgas' largest shareholder,” Cramer said of McCausland. “The stock's a little too hot for my taste, but if it comes in ahead of the quarter, you might want to nibble.”
After Thursday’s close, Cramer will monitor AIG’s quarterly results. Cramer praised CEO Robert Benmosche, who he expects will tell an “amazing story.”
“Many of you are worried that the U.S. government will unload its huge stake in the company now that the stock's back to the mid $30s,” Cramer said. “I'm confident that if AIG reports the terrific number I'm expecting, it will go even higher and we're going to wish the government sold stock to get rid of the overhang. “
FRIDAY, MAY 4
Although it’s been a heavy week of earnings, Cramer plans to give his full attention to Friday’s jobs number. The U.S. Department of Labor will release the employment number at 8:30 a.m. ET.
“Frankly, I'm concerned about this number because the weekly jobless claims have been disappointing of late,” Cramer said.
—Read on for Cramer: The Best Run US Companies
—Reuters contributed to this report
When this story was published, Cramer’s charitable trust owned AIG.
Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC
Questions for Cramer?
Questions, comments, suggestions for the Mad Money website? firstname.lastname@example.org


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Holtzbrinck Publishers Tries Podcasts
Posted on September 22, 2005A new website features podcasts created using books from Holtzbrinck's publishers which includes imprints like Farrar Straus & Giroux, Henry Holt, Picador, St. Martin's Press, and Tor/Forge. The Holtzbrinck Podcasts website will offer four podcasts a month, with a new podcast posted each week. The podcast categories will be fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, and self-help. The latest category is science fiction with podcasts from new books by Orson Scott Card and Ben Bova. Holtzbrinck's Director of Marketing Jeff Gomez says podcasting is the "hot new technology."
Jeff Gomez, Director of Internet Marketing for Holtzbrinck Publishers, says in a statement, "It's obvious that podcasting is the hot new technology and we definitely wanted to take part in this exciting format. Our podcast website allows us to offer audio excerpts to users on a regular basis, giving them the chance to discover great books and authors whenever they want, wherever they want."
Update: The The Holtzbrinck Podcasts sites is no longer available.
Image: The Holtzbrinck

domain: news


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Harley-Davidson has announced the launch of its first wholly-owned subsidiary in Switzerland. The 100-year-old motorcycle manufacturer is now taking direct responsibility for the distribution, marketing and day-to-day management of the Harley-Davidson and Buell brands in Switzerland.
The brand was previously distributed for 25 years by Motorfahrzeug-Handels AG (Mohag) which will continue to operate some prominent dealerships.
A Harley-Davidson spokesman said “Sales of all products continue to grow in Europe, and during the first quarter of this year we recorded a 15.3% increase in motorcycle sales, so it is the right time for us to be increasing our investment and resources in the leading marketplaces. Switzerland certainly fits that profile because it has some of the most loyal and passionate Harley-Davidson enthusiasts in Europe.”
Harley-Davidson Switzerland’s first managing director, Gerard Staedelin, will oversee the recruitment of additional members of staff and the transfer of operations from Mohag. The new head office will be in the Zurich area.
Staedelin, previously responsible for directing the motorcycle maker’s marketing strategies in 22 distributor countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is an enthusiastic Harley and Buell rider and has travelled extensively in Switzerland.
The new Swiss operation becomes Harley-Davidson’s sixth wholly-owned subsidiary in Europe. The brand is also directly represented in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany, as well as in the Benelux countries of Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Staedelin and his staff will also work closely with Harley-Davidson personnel at the company’s European headquarters in Oxford, UK.


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Fork Cafe at 469 Castro Street is changing formats, with a new noodle bar concept and new name on the way.
Though Fork Cafe has been around since April 2012, the current owners took over last September. We spoke with one of Fork Cafe's owners, Nam, who said business has been slow since before they took over and chalked it up to the many restaurants with similar formats nearby (he cited Harvey's, The Cove, Sliders and others as examples). "It took a while to figure out the right concept for that location that [would] be both unique and exciting," Nam said, but it seems they've finally settled on an approach.
The new restaurant's name will be "Slurp Noodle Bar" and it will be a semi-casual restaurant with table service that will serve noodles from different Asian countries including Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore. "Everything will be family-style with prices that are very reasonable," Nam told us.
Other restaurants in the neighborhood offer noodles as a limited part of their menu, but Slurp Noodle Bar will be the only restaurant in the Castro dedicated to noodles. "I do hope the neighborhood will find our new restaurant favorable as it will offer new dishes and tastes that are not available in the surrounding area," said Nam.
Fork Cafe is still open for now, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner through the rest of the week. Nam did not provide us any information on when the restaurant might close for interior changes (if any), but the owners are ambitious about getting the space ready sooner than later. They've pointed to October 1st as a possible opening date for the noodle spot, and we'll be sure to let you know when the new Slurp Noodle Bar opens its doors.


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Businesses lack confidence in their own plans to manage cyber-attacks, and only 9% of UK businesses are totally confident in their cyber breach mitigation plans, new study has shown.
Despite continuing news of cyber-attacks and data breaches every day, the findings from BAE Systems indicate that businesses are still struggling to establish plans to combat this 21st century threat.
The responses by sector reveal that no companies surveyed from the manufacturing industry are totally confident in their organisation’s cyber breach mitigation plan.
This is followed by:
- 5% from ‘other’ commercial sectors
- 7% from retail, distribution and transport
- 10% from IT
- 15% from business and professional services
- 15% from financial services
James Hatch, cyber services director at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, said: “Many organisations still see dealing with a cyber security breach as a black swan event, something significant and unexpected that in hindsight could have been prevented, and have not yet made their mitigation plans business as usual.
“Effective management of cyber breaches requires businesses to be organised and prepared for the threats that they face, with a clear process in place. Everyone involved should be confident in what they need to do.”
According to the research, almost half (48%) said that technology is their most important tool, with people coming second at 32%. Just 15% named process – but organisations need to deploy a combination of people, process and technology to be cyber resilient.
Hatch commented: “There are two problems. Most organisations struggle to deal with something beyond the experience of their people. Each time existing experience is stretched it can cause an emotional reaction within organisations. They have to prepare for these new experiences and learn how to handle in the future.
“External specialists can help but are most effective when their involvement and arrangements for mobilisation, access and communication are defined in advance. There is absolutely a role for technology and automation, especially in reducing the workload involved in dealing with routine incidents so that security teams have the bandwidth to deal with what really matters.
“The range of incidents that an organisation can face varies hugely from ransomware outbreaks to covert targeted attacks to accidental data breaches. But that doesn’t mean that businesses cannot be prepared for all of these eventualities.
“The key is to differentiate the routine from the unusual and the urgent from the important and prepare for each with the right combination of technology and automation, people and skills, policy and process. Once this is done, cyber breaches become more manageable and less emotional.”
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UPDATE: The school district will be leasing 2,750 iPad Air 1s, not iPad Air 2s.
After the release of the iPad Pro and not a smaller, more affordable model, Northfield Public Schools is looking to reevaluate its transformation technology plan.
Northfield Public Schools had originally planned on leasing a newer version of what is currently being used. But, with Apple only releasing the iPad Pro, and the end of the contract with Apple nearing, a few adjustments were needed.
Currently, students in grades six through 12 are using Apple’s iPad Air 1s, while younger students are using iPad Mini 2s.
Since Apple released a bigger iPad called the iPad Pro, costing about $800, the school district needed to adjust its current plans to make sure the iPads are both affordable, but still supply the students with technology to advance their learning.
According to Kim Briske, director of technology services, the school district was planning on Apple releasing a newer version of the iPad Air, which would cause a price drop in the iPad Air 2. The iPad Air 2 is an upgrade to the current system that students in grades six through 12 are using.
The leases for the current devices will expire in January. At that time, the school district will lease a new set of iPad Air 1s and switch out the devices students are currently using.
Over the course of four years, each iPad Air 1 will cost the school district $103.69. According to a PowerPoint presentation presented at the school board meeting Monday, this is the same cost the school district had estimated iPad Air 2s would cost this year.
Although the devices may be different from what was planned, the district is spending the same amount of money that was originally proposed in April.
The district will be leasing 2,750 iPad Air 1s in January of 2016 and 300 iPad Minis to account for increase in enrollment and the ending of its previous four year lease. The school district will spend about $400,000 on iPads and iPad management, which is within their $415,000 budget.
Director of Administrative Services Matt Hillmann estimates that the district will receive the new iPads between the end of December and the beginning of January. A plan will be in place for students to switch iPads during the beginning of 2016.


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"Travel and tourism is not only a critical driver of economic development."Bangkok (ANTARA News) - Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand lead the ASEAN countries in the travel and tourism (T&T) sector, according to the ASEAN Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2012 released here on Wednesday.
The report was released during the Travel, Trade and Tourism Summit held in Bangkok on Wednesday, prior to the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2012 event, which will be held on Thursday (May 31).
The report analyses the relative strengths of the T&T sector in ASEAN countries and offers recommendations on how to further enhance the sector`s potential in the region.
The analysis is based on the World Economic Forum`s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which ranks 139 economies according to their performance in the areas that attract investment in the T&T sector.
ASEAN member countries span the entire range of ranking. Singapore - the nation with the highest rank in the bloc - ranks 10th among the 139 countries, followed by Malaysia (35th) and Thailand (41st), which do well despite some weaknesses.
A third group, consisting of Brunei Darussalam (67th), Indonesia (74th) and Vietnam (80th), demonstrates that some countries have clear strengths, counterbalanced by weaknesses. Finally, both the Philippines (94th) and Cambodia (109th) show shortcomings in most dimensions.
The report stresses the critical role of the T&T sector in accelerating the establishment of the ASEAN community. It reviews the efforts and initiatives undertaken by ASEAN member countries to collectively develop the sector.
"Travel and tourism is not only a critical driver of economic development and social progress, but also represents a formidable factor of regional integration," said B. Brende, the managing director of the World Economic Forum.
By improving connectivity and mobility, T&T contributes to creating a regional identity and a sense of "ASEANness" among citizens, he added.
The rankings are based on data covering 14 areas, namely, policy rules and regulations, environmental sustainability, safety and security, health and hygiene, prioritization of T&T, air transport infrastructure, ground transport infrastructure, tourism infrastructure, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, price competitiveness in the T&T industry, human resources, affinity for T&T, natural resources and cultural resources.
"What is good for the travel and tourism sector is good for the economy and vice-versa," explained Thierry Geiger, Economist, World Economic Forum, and lead author of the study.
"Beyond cultural and natural heritage, the underlying drivers of T&T development are often the same as those of other sectors. Think of quality infrastructure, the ease of setting up a business, the absence of crime, or the availability of a healthy workforce," he remarked.
The analysis provides some insight into the profound differences among countries in terms of tourism outcomes. Singapore draws 20 times more tourists per capita and 30 times more receipts per capita than the ASEAN average. Malaysia is one of the world`s top 10 destinations, with about 25 million visitors per year, while the Philippines - despite being much larger - attracts one-sixth of this number.
The report highlights the enormous potential for developing the T&T sector in ASEAN. The region is rich in natural and cultural heritage, and has a long tradition of tourism. It is also strategically located in the heart of Asia.
The extraordinary diversity of ASEAN countries further enhances the region`s attractiveness. In addition, the ASEAN region is an affordable destination by international standards.
However, most countries have only partially tapped this potential, due to a number of weaknesses. These include inadequate infrastructure, poor public health and weak environmental stewardship.
Conservation efforts must protect the region`s extraordinary natural heritage, which is central to its T&T competitiveness. In addition, the analysis highlights the significant benefits of T&T for the economy and society at large.
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012


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- Consumer category growth is shifting to direct brands that are centered around direct consumer relationships and agile supply chains that can serve consumers’ evolving needs, with such brands displacing the indirect brands that have dominated the U.S. economy for generations, according to new Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) research, titled “The Rise of the 21st Century Brand Economy.”
- High-bandwidth internet connectivity led to “two distinct revolutions” that have altered how consumer brands create and extract value, according to the study. The business-to-business revolution enables companies to shift to capital-flexible, low-barrier, leased or rented supply chains, which opens the door to new companies. A business-to-consumer revolution allows consumers and companies to communicate directly and bypass third parties, like publishers, retailers and ad agencies, that previously controlled how brands realized the value they created.
- IAB also released the “IAB 250 Powered by Dun & Bradstreet,” a list of the most important direct brands to watch in the U.S. economy. Brands that made the list include cosmetics company Glossier, beauty subscription box BirchBox, luggage company Away Travel, mattress company Casper, eyeglasses company Warby Parker, meal planning subscription Blue Apron and more.
Marketers can learn from the success of direct brands, by fostering two-way relationships with consumers where marketers constantly learn about and meet their needs and wants, and extract value from the relationship. Differentiating product and service offerings, having a cross-platform presence and focusing on gaining consumers’ trust are other key lessons.
Consumers’ shopping preferences continue to shift to e-commerce, which offers a seemingly endless selection of products that can often be customized and the ability to make purchases at any time of the day. Two-thirds of U.S. consumers expect to be directly connected to companies where they purchase goods and services, according to research by J.D. Power that the IAB study cited.
“Nonstore retailing,” including e-commerce, subscriptions and direct sales, accounted for 9.4% of the $5.3 trillion retail economy by 2015, the report said. While many of the direct brands are small, with under $1 billion in annual sales, they are having a big impact on longstanding brands. For example, Gillette’s share of the U.S. men’s razors market dropped to 54% in 2016, compared to 70% in 2010, with most of the share going to Dollar Shave Club, Harry’s and others.
The rise in popularity of direct brands is also causing longstanding brands that have had a larger market share in a specific product category to shift their marketing strategies, according to IAB CEO Randall Rothenberg, who recently presented a summary of the reports at the association’s Annual Leadership Meeting. Unilever, for example, is expecting “experience platforms and e-commerce” to make up about one-third of sales by 2022, 2x as much as 2012.


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Over the past few months, they have worked hard at building their website to ensure that it includes most of the popular dog breeds. They have started to find new products to add to each of those categories. They have now announced that they have just added an English bulldog wall art sticker to their inventory. A representative from the Top Dog Deals says: “We are having such a good time finding items relating to the different dog breeds and this new wall art sticker has got to be our favorite yet.
We’re so happy to see that many people have already purchased it, because we know it will give them as much joy as it gave us. Furthermore, remember that it also makes for a great present, should you know someone who loves the English bulldog.”


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UberX Riders Get to Drive with Ushna Shah
Uber, the global ride-hailing giant connecting riders to drivers, is now launching its premium car service UberX in Islamabad. The company will be starting UberX operations that offer top-quality car services for all those moments that are special, only the push of a button away.
To celebrate the launch, Pakistani actress, Ushna Shah will be taking on the role of an Uber driver-partner for a day. Ushna Shah will be accepting rides from UberX riders on Friday, July 12, 2019. Keep requesting and try your luck to not only meet her but be featured on her Instagram stories too.
With UberX, riders can now avail superior premium quality sedans. The service areas of UberX currently include sectors E, F-5 to F11, G-6 to G-11, H-8 to H-10, I-8 to I-10, along with Islamabad International Airport. When riders need a bigger and more spacious car, they will have the choice to choose UberX as a ride in their Uber app.
“The experience of an Uber ride goes beyond simply getting from point A to point B,” said Saad Naveed Pall, GM- Uber. He further added, “We care about the diverse demands of our riders and are constantly looking for ways to enhance their experience through technological innovations and locally relevant products, the people of the capital city will now be able to experience Uber’s premium product as well.”
UberX is one of the most popular services, Uber has to offer globally. It has now become the go-to option for comfortable traveling with a high-quality experience. Whether it’s going to an important meeting or creating memories on the go with friends and family, riders can now travel in style with UberX. The service is already available in Karachi and Lahore.
Uber has been expanding its operations in Pakistan. Catering to its wide variety of demographics across the country, Uber offers various types of car products on its platform ranging from UberMini to UberGo.
Since Uber’s arrival in Pakistan in 2016, it has successfully created thousands of flexible economic opportunities and moved hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Through its products – from UberMoto to UberAuto, and now UberX – Uber is providing accessible and affordable mobility solutions for multiple segments of the population.


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Webinar session on the topic, “COVID 19 and MSMEs Sector” was conducted by Dr. Supran Kumar Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University in the Refresher Course in Commerce & Management at the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre (UGC-HRDC) Kumaun University, Nainital (Uttarakhand). Dr. Sharma explicated that MSMEs sector in India is second largest employment generator after agriculture and acts as a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and innovators with considerable support in strengthening business ecosystem.
The session elucidated that the estimated number of MSMEs in India is around 63 million which employs 110 millions. Indian MSMEs produce more than 6,000 products for local and global consumption and contributing around 45-48 % of total exports. MSMEs exposed to higher level of integration with global value and supply chains are playing critical role in global trade systems. Dr Sharma emphasised that the potential of Indian MSME sector is still untapped and that is one of the reasons why government policies are now more convergent towards building resilient ecosystem with better breadth and depth.
Dr Sharma exposed that presently the sectors is facing the highest job losses during pandemic although a few sub sectors are doing well despite the Covid-19 crisis. Further Dr Sharma highlights how Ministry of MSME is taking steps towards making these enterprises global and improve the overall business environment, by making it more conducive and transparent for all stakeholders. The sector also holds answer to critical questions like unemployment, local economy development, fiscal deficit, trade balance, financial sector development, SDG alignment and so on. Alonwith Dr. Sharma, Prof. Kalptaru Bandopadhyay, Vidyasagar University West Bengal and Dr. Mandeep Kaur, Head School of Financial Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar shared platform for detail deliberation on the broader issues related with impact of Covid-19 pandemic.


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This target represents a 75% increase on 2021 water-use efficiency – which already places the Australian rice industry as the most water efficient in the world, using some 50% less water than the global average.
Commenting on the new roadmap, the rice industry’s RD&E plan, John Harvey, Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia said the roadmap involved extensive consultation with rice growers and industry and sets an exciting and bold research path for the industry.
“Fundamentally, this roadmap seeks to invest in key activities and projects that can deliver more tonnes of rice per hectare and use less water per tonne. We want to ensure rice is a more competitive and attractive summer crop delivering greater financial returns for growers,” said Mr Harvey.
“The investment of rice growers’ levy is a responsibility AgriFutures Australia does not take lightly. To develop this roadmap, we have been working closely with AgriFutures Rice Advisory Panel, growers and our colleagues at SunRice, the RGA, NSW DPI and the Rice Marketing Board. Our end goal is to ensure rice remains a competitive and profitable option for all rice growers,” added Mr Harvey.
Rob Gordon, Chief Executive Officer at SunRice, said the new roadmap and significantly increased investment would see a renewed urgency in the pursuit of new varieties and agronomic practices to deliver a step-change in water-use efficiency, while ensuring the profitability of rice production for growers.
“The Australian rice industry is world class. We grow some of the highest quality Japonica-style varieties anywhere in the world while already using 50% less water than the global average. SunRice then takes that rice and transforms it in our facilities in the Riverina into value-added branded products which are valued by customers and consumers in some 50 global markets.
“SunRice’s operations directly contribute close to $400 million in years of normal production, employing more than 500 people across our facilities in Leeton, Coleambally, Jerilderie and Deniliquin, and supporting some 400 local businesses and growers.
“However, given the changing environment for water availability in the Riverina, there is an urgent need to deliver a step-change in our research, development and extension efforts to enable a fundamental shift in our water-use efficiency.
“This new RD&E plan will assist us in maintaining the high quality of our rice varieties, while increasing focus on water-use efficiency. While the target is openly ambitious – we believe it is achievable and necessary to ensure the ongoing profitability of our growers and to future-proof this great industry.”


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Brazilian AI startup TEVEC just got a boost with its latest investment round. According to a recent press release, the São Paulo-based startup recently raised R$4 million (almost US$1.2 million). This time, Indicator Capital and Gávea Angels were the investment ringleaders.
What convinced them to place their chips on TEVEC? To put it lightly, it all comes down to one factor: innovation.
“We believe in companies that have innovation in their DNA,” said Luiz Eduardo Moreira Caio, partner at Gávea Angels. “TEVEC is […]
The post about “TEVEC raises nearly US$1.2 million to launch SeeB4 platform for Brazilian SME retailer" first appeared on Contxto News website.
To engage in the latest trends, developments, and opportunities in innovations that involve the deliberate application of information, research projects, inventions, and initiatives within Australia and Latin America, join our community at Technology & Innovation Group.
Not yet a member? Get connected and be inspired by more incredible Latin American and Australian professionals. Join the growing Somos21 Community.
Connections are growing between Australia and Latin America. With Somos21 this innovative online platform allows you to find, connect, and collaborate at a global level who share the same background or interest in Latin America and Australia. This gives people the opportunity to meet in person and build their personal and professional networks at a local level.
Have you downloaded the Somos21 app to your phone yet? Take your networking to the next level!
Download our smartphone app on iOS and Android now!!!


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Pork Commentary, Aug. 14th, 2017
Jim Long – President and CEO, Genesus Inc.
US Hog Prices Continue Strong
Last week, the USDA 53-54% National Hog carcass averaged 84¢ lb; same time a year ago, 53-54% lean hog was 67¢ lb. That’s about $35.00 per head year over year to the better. That $35 is really helping producers bottom lines.
A reflection of stronger lean hog prices can be seen in US feeder pig prices. A year ago they were averaging at $30.00 per head (30-40 lb composite); this year we see an average of $42.00.
Packers margins remain strong last week. US pork cut-outs were 95¢ lb, with lean hog in the low 80¢ lb. The gross margins for packers are being reported at around $30.00 per head. We are at a time, packers and producers are both making money. A reflection of healthy supply and demand.
US daily packing capacity is approximately 443,000 head per day. In the five weekdays last week the US averaged 428,000. This is close to 97% of its capacity. A very efficient economic utilization. The two new big plants in Michigan and Iowa are to start this fall with increased total capacity of 25,000 to 50,000 daily, depending on the number of shifts.
Big question is, on when these plants actually get going and at what are daily harvest numbers. We could be challenged this fall to handle all US hogs, but in our opinion, they will get harvested. On top of weekdays, there are Saturdays. With high packer margins and good pork demand the extra effort to extend plant harvest, hours will be justified and profitable.
The US exports are over 27% of its pork production, one of the factors supporting the US. Pork prices are the declining value of the US dollars which makes the US pork more competitive globally. The US dollar index is an indicator of the US dollar trading relative to a bundle of world currencies. Last December, when US hogs were below 50¢ lean the US dollar index, was 103.09; and last Friday it closed at 93.10; about a 10% decline. A lower US dollar makes all pork products more price competitive, increases sales into export markets and pushes US hog prices higher. Going into the fall, the lower US dollar will be supportive to hog prices.
US June pork exports were up six percent year-over-year, and the largest June volume on record. Valued at $527.10 million, up four percent. This increased the first half total to 1.25 million mt. valued at 3.32 billion, up 13 percent of 16 percent respectively. The increased pork export is a big part of the reason US market hogs are $35.00 per head higher than a year ago despite increased hog are pork products.
December corn closed on the CME last Thursday, at the lowest price in ten months. On Friday the USDA came out with a projection that US corn crop this year will be third largest ever, at 14.153 billion bushels. Also, last week the USDA estimated the soybean crop to be 4.381 bushels, a new record.
The USDA also predicts the world inventory of wheat will be at record levels at the end of this crop year. Seems to us, there will be no feed shortage.
Global Mega Producers – Betagro
Last week we had the opportunity to a visit with Betagro. Betagro is based in Thailand, they are one of the Global Mega Producers, and though listed at 110,000 sows on the Global Mega Producer list, they currently have 120,000 sows.
Founded in 1967 the Betagro Group is an integrated agricultural company based in Lop Buri Province, Thailand. The company is a complete production model which includes: swine production, chickens, eggs, feed manufacturing, and distribution of animal health products.The 120,000 fully integrated swine production system, includes packing and processing. The swine production base is focused on loose sow housing and large pens for farrowing.
Betagro has a long term production supply relationship with Hoham of Japan
Betagro has used Genesus genetics for the last six years with a further usage of Genesus underway.
This post was written by Genesus


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More than pizza
By MICHAEL STRAND Salina Journal | Tuesday, November 19, 2013 2:00 AM
In Salina, the Schwan Food Co. is nearly synonymous with pizza, but the company has a hand in lots of food products.
On Monday, Clay Graham, human resources manager at the company's plant in Salina, gave an overview of the company to those at the Salina Noon Rotary Club meeting.
Besides frozen pies and pizza brands -- Mrs. Smith's, Tony's, Red Baron and Freschetta -- found in grocery stores, and the myriad frozen foods available for home delivery, Schwan's also is a supplier to many big restaurant chains, such as Buffalo Wild Wings and Chili's.
"It might say 'homemade' on the menu, and you think there's a chef back in the kitchen making it, but it's us," Graham said.
Company makes changes
The company is in the midst of a series of changes, internally and externally, Graham said.
The new CEO, Dimitrios Smyrnios, took over in mid-October, with previous experience at Frito-Lay and Nestle, and in Salina, nearly half of the top management has been here less than 18 months.
That includes Graham, who previously had worked at companies such as International Paper, Whirlpool and Hawker-Beechcraft.
"When I first came here, and told people I worked for Schwan's, they'd say, 'Oh, that's nice,' " he said.
Eventually, he learned to tell people he worked at Tony's, and he started getting responses such as, "Oh! My grandfather used to work there!"
The company is making an effort to expand sales into the Rocky Mountain states and farther west, Graham said. And the frozen food industry is working on a marketing campaign, which he described as "like the 'Got Milk?' ads -- but not with icicles on our mustaches."
Big employer for Salina
In Salina, the company employs about 1,300 people, Graham said, with employees speaking a variety of languages including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Laotian and Korean.
That includes numerous dialects of those languages, he said, which sometimes can lead to misunderstandings of written instructions that have been translated.
For example, Graham said, where he grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they had a kind of sandwich called a "po' boy," which is called a "grinder" on the East Coast, and a "wedge" in other parts of the country (such as "sub" in Kansas).
While the Salina plant has the lowest number of complaints of any of the company's plants across the country, Graham said there's still room for improvement, and for employees to improve themselves through education.
The company encourages employees to take job-specific training and helps employees pay for college classes.
Learn more, earn more
Maintenance employees, for example, have a series of online training classes they can take, in fields such as hydraulics and electrical systems, getting pay raises as they complete them.
In response to a question from the audience, Graham said the company has offered English classes to employees in the past, but that there has been little interest.
-- Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Nokia's keynote at GDC Mobile this year was rather low-key, with only a few new announcements during the rather short presentation. The address was given by Gregg Sauter, Nokia's Director of Games Publishing, who first praised the developers in attendance for getting the mobile market to where it is today.
There are three components to Nokia's next generation strategy. First, Sauter talked about hardware. Nokia commands over 50% of the handset market, and thus over 50% of the mobile game-playing fanbase. Nokia's Smartphones are the most advanced of the bunch, and Nokia has currently shipped 2.5 million of these worldwide, and predict a 250 million userbase by 2008. Nokia has found that Smartphone owners are five times more likely to purchase game content than owners of other handsets.
Just like multimedia drove PC innovation, so too will Smartphones drive mobile advancement, Sauter boasted. In his estimation, the screen, onboard memory and graphics capabilities of these phones are increasing rapidly, and graphics will soon reach the level of consumer handheld consoles.
|The current N-Gage hardware.|
The next part of the strategy is the consumer experience. Not just the gameplay, but the entire experience, from downloading to execution of programs. “In this industry, we have issues with experiences,” Sauter admitted – continuing, “if users have a poor experience with their first attempt to download content, they may not come back.” Indeed, he lamented that some 10-30% of mobile content downloads end in failure, either due to interrupted transfers, content that doesn't work, or other problems.
“The mobile games industry isn't about dumping console games onto handsets,” Sauter explained, adding that some of the most successful developers are using the unique properties of phones to create experiences that are impossible anywhere else. But on top of new gameplay, the entire platform needs to evolve. We need ease of searching, access, purchase, playability/value, sharing (multiplayer), and managing content, according to Nokia, and they hope to be the ones to achieve this.
Their plan is to beef up their N-Gage arena content to work with Smartphones, very much mimicking the Xbox Live Arcade experience. You can have a gamer profile and avatar (or take your own picture with your cameraphone), and win N-Gage points (NGPs). Though he mentioned nothing of this during the keynote, many have guessed that Nokia plans to make N-Gage content downloadable to Smartphones in the relatively near future.
|Nokia showed a new version of this game, System Rush.|
The third major branch of Nokia's plan is developer support. Much of what Nokia announced is not new - you can program in C++, have access to analyzing and debugging tools, community and multiplayer hosting, DRM solutions, training and workshops, global developer support, and early access to prototypes. The most interesting bit is the community and multiplayer hosting. With their recent partnership with Sun for their SNAP mobile Java technology, gamers can communicate with greater ease and access the games portal from PCs and internet-enabled phones.
What's more, developers won't have to have a direct relationship with Nokia in order to provide online content and multiplayer options now, going through the SNAP mobile system instead, easing development a bit. They're hoping to remove the necessity of working on platforms, allowing developers to make their games independent of the actual hardware. Nokia also recently launched their pay-for-membership Forum Nokia Pro Games Zone, which will provide high-level development support in a live dynamic forum.
Unfortunately, Nokia made no specific mention of any next-generation plans for the N-Gage service itself, leaving us to speculate about what they might be planning. All we know is what they said in the press release: “Nokia's next generation mobile games platform is expected to launch in the first half of 2007, with a range of titles and devices.”


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Books are all but being given away in Warwick this week in a bid to ensure a new generation experiences the gift of literacy and the pleasure of reading.
- The Rotary Club of Warwick Sunrise is selling thousands of books for only $2 each
- Volunteers aim to inspire a love of reading in the community
The club's next project involves setting up "Little Libraries" in parks across the region where people can borrow books for free
Since its inception in 2013, the Rotary Big Book Sale has become a favourite with Southern Downs locals and visitors, who both spend at and donate to the event.
Volunteer Sally Edwards said some of the donated books dated back more than 100 years.
"We found a couple that had book plates showing that they were book prizes from the 1880s and 1890s," she said.
"There were a couple of first editions of books and some amazing books with hand-cut paper that would have been very expensive in their time.
Despite their heritage value, these "gems" – like all the books on sale – can be yours for only $2.
More than a fundraiser
For the Rotarians the sale is about more than raising money.
Volunteer Sandra Head says it's also about getting as many books as possible into the community to inspire a love of reading.
"That’s why we keep the prices low," she said.
"We give every child a free book.
"We charge $1 or 50 cents for the children's books and we're happy for them to take a big bagful and then come back again the next day and take another bagful.
Unsold books will go into the club's next project, which will see "Little Libraries" established in parks across the region from which people can borrow books for free and hopefully replace them with books they no longer need.
Ms Head said the plan was to put the first two in parks with children's playgrounds.
"They'll very quickly get the idea that they can return a book they've finished with and then take another one," she said.


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Reddit says it will donate more than $827,000 of its ad revenue to 10 charities of reddit users’ choice.
The online community launched its support of charitable giving in February last year by announcing it will donate 10% of its advertising revenue from 2014 to various charities.
Well, time is up and Reddit’s product manager Ryan Merket announced in a blog post the online site would be donating more than $827,000 to 10 different charity organisations.
“We closed the books on 2014 and our total ad revenue was $8,276,594.93. Meaning we are donating $827,659.49! 10 charities chosen by our community will each receive $82,765.95,” Merket said in the post.
Reddit users can vote for which charities are included in the donations. Reddit has teamed up with Charity Navigator who has given the site access to its charity database.
“You are allowed to vote for as many different charities as you like, but you are limited to one vote per charity,” added Merket.
When the announcement was made initially at the beginning of 2014, Reddit said it wasn’t going to rule out the smaller ads.
“Whether it’s a large ad campaign or a $5 sponsored headline on reddit, we intend for all ad revenue this year to benefit not only reddit as a platform but also to support the goals and causes of the entire community,” the post said.
“We want to show that advertising doesn’t just support the reddit platform, it also directly supports the causes and goals of reddit as a whole.”
Reddit users have already jumped on board, although the amount of charities available has some a little frazzled.
“There are so many good ones,” said reddit user funnygreensquares
Great things to support that I’ve never even thought of. Which ones should be supported the most?”
“That is a great idea – already found a few I wouldn’t have thought of, including the Internet Archive or didn’t know about, like the Machine Intelligence Research Institute,” user misnamed also said.
To vote, users had to have made an account by 10am today, and voting stays open for a week. Head here to vote.
The brainchild of co-founders Gina Williams-Folau (main photo) and Greer Bland, the talent agency Liquorice was born out of a desire to make things easier for brand managers. Liquorice offers social talent for brands wanting to hit the sweet spot with Kiwi audiences. Launching with a roster of big names on board including Millie Elder-Holmes, Athena […]
9000 Western Australians experiencing homelessness are about to face cold winter nights. To call for donations to the 2021 Winter Appeal, Anglicare WA has released a chilling video with renowned actor Liam Graham, best known for his starring roles in Greenfield and The Heights, experiencing mild hypothermia after spending one hour in a commercial freezer. […]
Blackmagic Design has shared how its products were used to shoot the latest commercial campaign for Chris Hemsworth’s fitness training app, Centr. The new campaign, which promotes the progressive 10 week workout plan ‘Power’ replicates the same protocols used to prepare the actor for his latest appearance in the upcoming Marvel franchise film, Thor: Love […]
Airtasker has chosen leading independent digital growth consultancy, Webprofits as a strategic partner to help them expand to new markets. Following a successful IPO in early 2021, Airtasker set its sights on the next strategic objective — expansion and growth in the UK market. After careful review, they partnered with the growth marketing specialists at […]
Cresta Awards has announced that despite having a few more weeks before entries close, this year’s Cresta Awards has surpassed its entries for the whole 2019 Season. Cresta sees this as evidence, not just of evolution in its own awards but of a wider measure of industry confidence and resilience in many markets. The awards […]


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- Filed Under
Mothers and their daughters are invited to attend the fourth annual Mom's Nite Out on Thursday at Melbourne Square mall.
The Melbourne mall is one of dozens around the country hosting similar events, which will feature massages, fashion tips, makeovers, henna tattoos, games, prizes and more.
There will be a mother-daughter look-alike contest.
The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the mall's center court. The mall is at 1700 W. New Haven Ave.


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HERE’S a tip for Mayor Bloomberg and city Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden, whose latest brainstorm is to encourage bodegas to sell healthier food products:
Check out this week’s Advertising Age. Its front page blares, “Wendy’s tosses out fruit menu.”
The story says customers hated the fruit plates despite a $20 million promo budget, and lists other “healthful” fast-food flops that were axed because nobody wanted them – like McDonald’s’ “McLean Deluxe” and KFC’s “Lite ‘n’ Crispy Skin-Free Chicken.”
Is it any more likely that bodega shoppers will embrace a city “pilot program” to make them thinner? Fat chance.
Yes, obesity kills. And everyone should have access to healthier diet alternatives.
But many working-class bodega shoppers perform more hard physical labor in a week than Zabar’s-going city bureaucrats do in a year. They’re not likely to switch to low-fat milk or sugar-free soda – which doesn’t stop flab-phobic elitists from trying to persuade them.
It’s patronizing of the Health Department to take aim at “bodegas” but not at “groceries” or “delis,” as if Hispanic and black New Yorkers need to be shown what’s good for them.
Bodega shelves are too full of sweet and fatty junk food. But they’re a reality check on snootier places that peddle tiny $5 bottles of pomegranate juice and products making dubious claims for fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
If Frieden wants to protect us, he can suggest that “health food” shops offer alternatives to their shelves full of untested, unregulated pills and potions, some of which have been known to cause cardiac arrest.
How about it, Dr. Tom – why not ask them to carry Twinkies, too? That’s a “pilot program” that just might fly.
(p. 15 in metro)


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Female Gang Stole £4k Of PerfumeWednesday, 28th October 2020 at 1:46pm
The Birmingham Live website reports that a Romanian shoplifting gang travelled up and down the country to steal £4,000 worth of perfume from shops in an organised operation.
A court was told that the gang visited busy shopping venues where they blatantly stole large quantities of expensive scent from large stores.
When two of the four women were caught on February 14, they claimed they wanted the up-market brands for Valentine gifts.
To read the full story, click here.
(This will open in a new window, taking you directly to the source of the original online article.)


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(WINDSOR, ON) – A recall notice has been issued by Loblaw Companies Limited, which operates stores under various brands in the region. The company is reporting that two of its in-store brands, President’s Choice and Blue Menu Protein Pancake Mix, may contain lupin flour.
The two versions of its mixes that may have the flour are those for buttermilk and apple cinnamon pancakes. They were on shelves between February 1 and May 5.
Lupin flour could cause a potential reaction for consumers with peanut allergies. Lupin itself is a legume, belonging to the same plant family as peanuts.
Loblaw cautions that lupin is not considered to be one of Canada’s priority allergens. It also does not require additional precautionary label on packaging, nor is there currently one approved for use.
In an effort to ensure the safety of its products, Loblaw says it is looking forward to working with Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on how best to inform Canadians about the potential risk of lupin.
Although the products were sold at local Zehr’s, No Frills, and Real Canadian Superstores, they may also have been on offer at affiliated independent grocery stores.


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Zendesk may have opened the door for other cloud-based software companies to follow through with their IPOs after its stock jumped by more than 49 percent on its New York Stock Exchange debut on Thursday.
The San Francisco cloud-based customer service platform provider raised about $100 million after pricing its IPO in the middle of its target range in the first new public offering from a Bay Area company in weeks.
It's offering and stock debut are being closely watched by other companies who delayed their offerings in recent weeks, including Los Altos online storage and collaboration company Box and Mountain View mobile device management company MobileIron.
Zendesk, led by CEO Mikkel Svane, closed at $13.43 after trading as high as $13.92 with the symbol of ZEN.
It sold 11 million shares at $9 each, after setting a target range of $8 to $10 last week. The company originally said it hoped to raise up to $150 million when it disclosed its plans last month but the IPO market has grown choppy since then.
Zendesk's revenue more than quadrupled between 2011 and 2013 to about $72 million. It grew in the first quarter by about 88 percent, year to year.
Its loss nearly doubled in the first quarter of this year, hitting $10.3 million from $5.4 million.
It raised more than $90 million since it was founded in 2007. Its backers include Charles River Ventures (which owns a 24.5 percent stake), Benchmark (18.7 percent), and Matrix Partners (8.8 percent).
(Edited by: Baumann, Xavier)
Zendesk sold 11 million shares in its IPO. The number was incorrect in an early version of this story.


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Barbour teams with Search Laboratory to clamp down on counterfeiters
Luxury brand Barbour is looking to clamp down on online counterfeiters with Leeds search marketing agency Search Laboratory.
Ads are being run through Google to warn about the dangers of buying counterfeit products, and to direct consumers towards the 2000 registered retailers.
Ian Harris, Search Laboratory chief executive, said: “Usually clients want to sell more of their products or services online, but Barbour is wholly focused on maintaining their reputation as a luxury lifestyle clothing brand.”
The company also has a page on its website, named ‘counterfeit education’, to help consumers make sure they are buying the genuine article.
Content created with:
Driven by evidence and led by transparency, we search for the truth in data.Find out more


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LHS offering yard sale spaces
HEBRON – Rental spaces are available for the Historic National Road Yard Sales from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 29 and 30 at Lakewood High School, 9331 Lancer Road, Hebron.
Cost is $20 for a two-day rental for a 20’ by 20’ space without electric. Day of the yard sales, available spaces will be $25. Deadline to register in advance is May 27.
For questions call Janet Robberts at 740-877-3110 or email email@example.com. Go to lancerband.net for rental agreements. Proceeds benefit the marching band for new instruments.


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Rio de Janerio: A scandal over expired meats in Brazil deepened on Monday with the European Union and China deciding to halt some meat imports from Latin America’s largest nation.
The developments represent a major blow to Brazil, one of the world’s largest exporters of meat, which is struggling to emerge from its worst recession in decades.
The announcements come despite a flurry of meetings that Brazilian President Michel Temer held with ambassadors and numerous assurances that Brazilian meats in general were safe.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, European Union spokesman Enrico Brivio said Monday the companies involved in the scandal would be temporarily barred.
The EU “will guarantee that any of the establishments involved in the fraud will be suspended,” said Brivio, who didn’t cite companies by name or expound on how long the ban will last.
A few hours later, Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said that China had suspended the unloading of Brazilian meats in Chinese ports. Maggi downplayed the move, saying Chinese authorities were in the process of asking for more information.
“There is no Chinese embargo,” said Maggi, speaking to reporters in Brasilia. “What we have are containers there that can’t leave the port to local markets.”
On Friday, police issued 38 arrest warrants involving the giant meatpackers JBS and BRF. Both companies have denied wrongdoing.
To improve the appearance and smell of expired meats, the companies used chemicals and cheaper products like water and manioc flour, according to investigators. Three plants have been shut down.
Temer called an emergency meeting Sunday with ambassadors of several countries. He assured them that national meats were safe and invited them to a Brazilian-style barbeque.
On Monday, Temer again sought to calm nerves, saying that Brazil meat industry should not be judged by this one investigation.
“The agro business for us in Brazil is very important and it should not be marred by a small nucleus (of bad actors), a small thing,” he said, speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo.
Sanitation officials were also out in force. Marcia Rolim, head of Rio de Janeiro’s municipal sanitary inspections, said routine investigations were being intensified in light of the investigation.
Investigators collected several carts of meats for analysis. Some of the packages from at least one supermarket appeared to be rotten, with a greenish color.
Browsing meats on Monday at a supermarket, Carla Simone Macedo said she had periodically seen products that looked to be repackaged.
Antonio Fernando, another customer, said called investigation “an exaggeration.”
“We have very good meats,” he said, adding it was good to see more inspectors.


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The AMG Black Series lineup has done a fantastic job at dominating the German performance scene, a segment that BMW has, for decades, been the dominant force in with its M models. Continue Reading...
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Mercedes-Benz’s in house tuning outfit AMG took the sheet off of its latest creation today, the SLS AMG Black Series. Continue Reading...
Expected in spring of 2013, the next Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series is dropping much of its camouflage today in the latest spy photos. Continue Reading...
The Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series is sold out, with all 800 models of the powerful Benz now spoken for. Continue Reading...
When the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series was first announced, we considered it one of the best sports cars to ever be released. With its staple widebody styling that has made the Black Series recognizable worldwide, the C63 AMG blended performance in a stylish coupe body packing an AMG 6.2-liter V8 with 517-hp and 457… Continue Reading...
If the SLS AMG wasn’t quite enough for you, Mercedes-Benz won’t disappoint with the new SLS AMG Black Series. The Black Series is rumored to hit showrooms sometime next year, and our photographers were lucky enough to snap some spy photos of Mercedes-Benz’s newest flagship. The Black Series is going to be an amazingly powerful car, putting out over… Continue Reading...
The vast majority of us will never get to experience a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series up close and personal, so the German luxury automaker decided to take the liberty of creating an app for fans to enjoy some media on their Apple devices. The app showcases what makes the C63 AMG Black Series… Continue Reading...
To best showcase the C63 AMG Black Series Coupe Mercedes-Benz has produced two videos with contrasting drivers and vehicles, both filmed on track at Laguna Seca Raceway in Northern California. Known for its infamous corkscrew, Laguna Seca Raceway can easily be recognized by automotive enthusiasts worldwide. What’s entertaining to watch in the two videos however… Continue Reading...
The highly anticipated Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe is finally official, sporting signature Black Series widebody styling and an AMG 6.2-liter V8 powerplant with an incredible 517-hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. The result is a 0-62 mph time of just 4.2 seconds backed with responsive sporty handling and AMG’s always impressive braking system…. Continue Reading...
The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is already a sports sedan for people with aggression issues, and now we have evidence that an even nuttier version is in the works, ostensibly a C63 Black Series. The biggest visual clue are the tacked on fender flares, similar to the SL65 Black Series, while the front rims look similar to the… Continue Reading...


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"Supermarket guru” Phil Lempert urged Cornellians to find new ways to consider and communicate food trends in a “challenging” food world. He was on campus to deliver the second annual Joyce Lindower Wolitzer ’76 and Steven Wolitzer Nutrition Seminar Oct. 1.
Lempert, one of America’s leading consumer trend-watchers and analysts, asked audience members to picture a “huge, big, gray elephant” before asserting that trends in nutrition are elephants.
“They’re big, and they’re lumbering – gluten-free, high-fiber, whatever the trend of the moment is,” said Lempert, who has served for more than 20 years as a food trends editor and correspondent for the “Today” show, authored several books and in 1994 founded SupermarketGuru.com as an resource for health and food information.
“We run after that elephant, take our arrows of PR, marketing, social media and let them fly, but it makes no difference – the elephant keeps going,” he said. “We need to get in front of that elephant, dig a big hole and capture it.”
Nutrition information, he said, must be interesting and accessible to consumers, whose needs are constantly evolving.
“For most consumers, nutrition is kind of boring. You’re telling me everything I’m doing wrong, that I’m going to die a slow, painful death because of fat, sugar and sodium,” Lempert said, adding that nutrition information must help empower people.
As for trends, Lempert said he anticipates the decline of supermarkets – “we’ll see less products, not more” – and, thanks to the iPhone, changes in acquiring, storing and making food.
He said the trend of eating locally grown foods is “one of the most interesting trends” he’s seen in a long time. But “local” isn’t sustainable everywhere, and the term can be deceptive, he cautioned.
“I have a new definition of ‘local’ – it’s on the planet,” Lempert said. Increasingly, consumer focus is shifting from “local” to “locale,” with people becoming more interested in where their food comes from.
When it comes to getting information about health and nutrition, Lempert credited first lady Michelle Obama with “pushing the envelope” on making health and obesity part of national discourse and with getting children involved in planting the White House garden.
But Lempert said that he was angry about inconsistent nutrition labels and concerned about the how the Internet is the No. 1 trusted source for health information.
“Half of everything you read on the Internet about health is wrong, but you don’t know which half,” he said. “Until we can get a standard and empower people to read labels, we’re in trouble.”
The lecture attracted many nutritional sciences students, but also alumni, including Linda Byard ’68. “I am not a student of food, but I am certainly a consumer,” Byard said. “If I know what the food industry is trying to market to me, both the ‘how’ and the ‘why,’ then I can make more informed purchasing decisions.”
Lempert’s talk was hosted by the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the Health and Nutrition Society undergraduate organization.
Sarah Cutler ’16 is a student communications assistant for the College of Human Ecology.


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The German fordonsjätten, Volkswagen, has said flatly ' no ' to compensation for car owners whose cars are affected by the dieselfusket, but it is now made a u-turn. In the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to compensate a German car with the 830 million euros, corresponding to nearly eur 8.8 billion.
" No." What is happening in Germany is entirely a result of German conditions and of the complexities of the legal system of the German class-action lawsuits are concerned, " says Marcus Thomasfolk, communications manager, Volkswagen Sweden.
" we are doing this in order to avoid years of continued litigation. Vw's assessment is that none of the customers suffered as a result of the dieselfrågan, and according to Swedish law, customers have, therefore, not entitled to compensation, which the national board for consumer Complaints, the BOARD found, in the cases that have been tried.
the Settlement in the united states, is a reflection of how the american legal system works, and the conditions that prevailed on diesel cars.
IN the united states were compensated for the affected customers immediately after the fraud came to light, and in the last year, a settlement was reached in Australia, where Volkswagen has agreed to pay the equivalent of 839 million to the affected car owners.
While car owners in the united states was compensated for, and explained to the Volkswagen, the us customers have been hit harder than the european one.
a Settlement agreement in the united states, is a reflection of how the american legal system works, and the conditions that prevailed on diesel cars. The offer is for those customers who were the subject of a class action in Germany has been made by the directors. Vw's assessment is that none of the customers suffered as a result of the dieselfrågan, " says Marcus Thomasfolk.
in the Settlement, Germany, is a direct or indirect result of a class action brought by a consumer association in order of 450,000 car owners in the country. The talks between the association of consumers, Volkswagen has broken down, according to the brand, due to its demands on the attorneys ' fees that exceed one-half of a billion dollars.
worth nearly nine billion dollars, according to Volkswagen, can be a way to avoid the continuing substantial litigation.
mr Marcus Thomasfolk, communications manager, Volkswagen Sweden.
IN the united states and in Germany, Volkswagen has also bought back a significant number of diesel vehicles.
"The issue has never been up to date because our philosophy is that no client suffered as a result of the dieselfrågan, and the BOARD has also determined that it did not have the right to compensation in the cases that have been disposed of," says Marcus Thomasfolk, and continued:
" The measure of the Volkswagen in the united states and in other european countries have taken is that we have over many years developed a range of relevant diesel cars with a different piece of software. This process has worked well, and the proportion of clients who had, in the remarks associated with the updates are steady, at less than one per cent.
the measurements indicate a different reality. In the year 2017, the tested, the magazine of the ten diesel vehicles with the new software, which might fix the car's faulty emissions. The measurements showed that the torque at low rpm was the same, which is, in practice, this means that the engine does not respond as quickly to the throttle. Many of the Volkswagenägare feel that they are after the update has been given a worse car.
for more information, see the Prosecution of six people for dieselgate.


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Costa Cruises is almost doubling its capacity in the Caribbean, with plans to send a second ship to Miami.
Revealed at the annual conference, Cruise Shipping Miami, the 2,114-passenger Costa Mediterranea will join 2,260-passenger Costa Luminosa in the city from 12 December 2014.
Her arrival marks the first time Costa has had two ships based out of Florida in over five years. She also adds 94 percent extra capacity for the line out of the Caribbean.
Costa Luminosa will sail 10-night itineraries calling at Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Turk; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Costa Mediterranea will have seven-day cruises, but the itineraries are still being finalised.
Find out how to pick the best cabin in Cruise Passenger’s world-first Video Cruise Guide
We’ve made choosing your next cruise easy with a guide that cuts through the complications and tells you what lines are offering, where they can take you and what’s on board.


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Choice is laying into Foster's for its contracts with pubs that bar every smaller craft beer brewers from getting a look in.
CUB has moved to downplay the claims saying it is essentially an “open market” but didn't comment on any contracts specifically.
Choice says an investigation has found foreign owned brewing Foster's and CUB owner SAB Miller is “locking out genuine Aussie craft beers” from local taps.
“While it might seem like you have a huge choice when buying tap beer in your local pub the fact is most taps are controlled by one of two international brewing giants, SAB Miller or Kirin, at the expense of genuine Australian craft brewers,” says Choice head of media Tom Godfrey.
“It's not uncommon for the big brewers to offer more money, rebates or other incentives for exclusive access to 80% or even 100% of pub taps, making it hard for independent brewers to get a fair go.”
Jeremy Griffiths, director of corporate affairs at Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) said: “We can’t comment specifically on the ACCC inquiry however, it is not unusual for publicans to enter into contracts for the provision of beer, spirits and wine, and it is a long standing practice. In regards to beer, many of these contracts provide discounts on the keg price, as well as investment in the pub such as cool rooms, tap lines and fridges etc..
“Overall, around 70% of our on-premise (pubs and clubs) customers do not have contracts, so overwhelmingly it’s an open market.”
Choice claims 83% of beer revenue in Australia goes to Kirin and SABMiller, adding that if contracts that demand exclusive deals cuts out competitors, forecloses markets and keeps competitors out, it may be unlawful.
The watchdog says it has got hold of Foster's contracts that demand clauses such as:
- Foster's will be the exclusive supplier of all Light Strength (<3%ABV) Draught Beer;
- Foster's will be the exclusive supplier of all Low Carbohydrate Draught Beers;
- Foster's will be the exclusive supplier of all Domestic Premium and Sub-Premium Draught Beers;
- Foster's will be the exclusive supplier of all Imported Draught Beers;
- Foster's will be the exclusive supplier of all Specialty & Craft Draught Beers;
- Foster's will be the exclusive supplier of all Draught Spirits & Cider.
The ACCC is already investigating the wholesale supply of beer to Australia's pub industry to look into potential anti-competitive behaviour.
Kirin and SABMiller are also making moves on the craft beer industry by buying up small brewers something Choice is calling “craft washing”. Many consumers believe beer brands such as Little Creatures, James Squire, Fat Yak and Matilda Bay to be independently owned, but are in fact owned by the multinationals.
Kirrin and SAB Miller currently control 47% of the craft beer market in Australia.
“It’s up to the consumer to decide what is important to them when it comes to drinking beer. If it’s a premium taste from a large brewery, that’s okay. If you want to support an Australian-owned microbrewery, find out who owns the brand you’re drinking and ask your local publican to put it on tap.”
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop me a line at email@example.com


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NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
The state of AMD and Nvidia availability is still raging on with no end in sight, but Lisa Su believes there will be some good news sometime in 2022.
In a report on the CNN website, Lisa Su, who became the President of AMD in 2014, has spoken about the global chip shortages that are causing havoc in the tech world. Su believes that things will likely become "less severe" in the second half of 2022. She went on to say that the market at the beginning of next year will still be "tight" adding that while things have been different due to the pandemic, company's like AMD have experienced "ups and downs" in the past.
While the shortages continue on, there have been some developments which suggest there is some movement and that parts of the world at least may start to see things improving. A recent story suggested that the ban on cryptomining in China could see AMD and Nvidia prices coming down as mining cards re-enter the market. While Su didn't mention cryptomining in the report, she did say that improvements would be gradual, suggesting that as more plants get built, manufacturing can increase which will ease the burden to some extent.


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By Riley Kaminer
Miami startup DigiBuild is working to bring construction companies into the 21st century, with its suite of digital project management and supply chain tools. To further this mission, DigiBuild today announced that they have closed a $1.3 million extension to the seed round that they originally raised last year. Participants include Valhalla Ventures, Cartography VC, Tadtech Fund, and Gaingels.
April Moss, DigiBuild’s co-founder and COO, told Refresh Miami that these funds will enable them to move forward on the company’s two major focuses: building its supplier database and onboarding more customers.
So far, the company has made good progress on both of these fronts. On the suppliers side, Moss expressed excitement about helping to connect providers with construction companies at scale. “We are creating the biggest supplier database in the world,” she said. This includes an emphasis on areas such as minority- and women-owned companies, plus suppliers that provide environmentally-friendly products.
Moss explained that this focus on suppliers came from years of exhaustive customer research, including her own interviews with upwards of 300 suppliers over the last month and a half alone. It is free for suppliers to join DigiBuild’s platform.
This work is beginning to pay off. Recently, DigiBuild integrated ChatGPT into its platform, enabling users to quickly access information across thousands of pages of construction suppliers, materials, specification books, schedules, and budgets. The AI tool understands the context of the queries and delivers the most relevant results.
“We just saved one customer $600,000 on an 80,000 square foot building, plus 600 hours on product management,” said Moss, thanks to this feature plus DigiBuild’s overall platform.
These sorts of savings have enabled DigiBuild to attract some top-tier clients such as Brasfield & Gorrie, one of the biggest general contractors in the US and a company that has a major footprint in Miami; JR Hospitality; and Baywood Hotels. The blockchain-powered nature of DigiFund’s platform is also a draw. It creates a single, verifiable source of truth – eliminating risk and disputes while saving users’ time. DigiBuild has also taken part in Y Combinator.
Co-founder and CEO Robert Salvador signaled that this is just the beginning. “We’re planning to scale more across the US and, eventually, internationally. We’re also planning to announce additional investments over the next few months, as well as our participation in bigger projects with current and new customers.”
Moss and Salvador [pictured above] first connected at P&G, where Moss was an executive leading a team that Salvador was on. Her 21 years at the marketing giant came in handy for Salvador and team, especially in the areas of operations, sales, and – increasingly – supply chain logistics. DigiBuild now has 15 employees.
Long term, DigiBuild hopes to build a community of construction companies and service providers. “We’re creating a whole ecosystem where everybody’s needs are taken care of and everyone is helping everyone else,” Moss said.
READ MORE ON REFRESH MIAMI:
- DigiBuild secures $4M seed round for blockchain-based construction management platform
- Togal.AI lands top prize at eMerge, enabling growth of construction planning platform
- Pro Platforms raises $4.7M to build the digital tools to bring the construction industry into the 21st century
- Virtual Badge lands $120,000 to further develop digital ID platform
- New World Angels launches Innovation Fund to write pre-seed checks - April 12, 2024
- Sortium scores $4M to pioneer the future of game production (hint: it’s web3 and AI) - April 11, 2024
- Spines raises $6.5M to forge the future of book publishing - April 9, 2024


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Recently, data released from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that Chery ranks first in year-on-year growth among the top 15 Chinese brand car sales from January to June. After ranking first in the industry in the year-on-year growth rate from January to May, Chery's growth rate again ranked first, and far exceeded the industry's average growth rate of 25.6%.
Chery's sales have been "advancing" for six consecutive months, maintaining the year-on-year growth rates of 80.2%, 144.9%, 130.5%, 91.6%, 58.1% and 58.3%. The accumulative sales volume is 424,457 vehicles, with a year-on-year growth of 80.4%. The export of automobiles reached 118,743, up 168.4 percent year on year, and the export volume of half a year has exceeded the whole volume of last year.
"Technology Chery" enhances its capability, boosting sales growth. Up to now, Chery has applied for 21,875 patents in total, and been authorized 13,660 in total, among which 4,018 were authorized for invention patents, accounting for 29.4%. Chery ranks 21st in the "Top 500 Technology Innovation Companies of China" in 2021. Chery sticks to the path of independent innovation, creates practical and solid fuel vehicle technology, and advances the forward-looking technology in respect of "new four modernizations”, so that global consumers can enjoy the wonderful experience brought by technological innovation. Since the beginning of this year, "Chery 4.0 universal power architecture - CHERY POWER" and "the world's first" full-function hybrid configuration DHT (special hybrid gearbox) of Chery has been released and off the production line in sequence.
Since this year, Chery has accelerated product iteration and continued to improve product competitiveness and sales in the face of the complex and changeable international market. In the first half of the year, the main models represented by TIGGO 8 PRO and TIGGO 7 PRO sold well all over the world, and the export volume in the first half of the year ranked first among Chinese brands of passenger cars. Chery's total export volume is expected to reach 300,000 vehicles this year, making it the No. 1 Chinese brand of passenger cars for 19 consecutive years.
Chery is a Chinese automobile brand with global influence. Chery has established a research and development team of more than 5,500 people through five global research and development bases, and has the most powerful research and development strength of engine, transmission, chassis and other core technologies among Chinese automobile brands. Chery is also the first Chinese automobile company to export vehicles, CKD parts, engines and vehicle manufacturing technology and equipment to the world. Up to now, Chery has exported its vehicles to more than 80 countries and regions, and has set up 10 overseas factories, more than 1,500 overseas dealers and service outlets, with nearly 9.5 million users worldwide, ranking first in the number of passenger cars exported from China for 18 consecutive years.


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Amazon Prime to live-stream India New Zealand Matches
Read more at femalecricket.com
Getting the game to the masses has been one of the greatest needs for any sport. As lovers of female cricket, we have been advocating for greater coverage of women playing cricket. While a lot is yet to be done, a positive announcement makes our way.
Amazon Prime Video has registered its name as the first streaming service in India to fetch rights for exclusive live cricket from a major cricketing board. Amazon recently announced that it has acquired Indian territory rights for New Zealand Cricket. It is interesting to note that the deal will enable Prime Video the right to stream all international cricketing fixtures to be held in New Zealand.
The deal further covers both men and women’s International games. Men and women playing ODI, T20, and Tests starting from late 2021 will be available for fans on the streaming platform. Gaurav Gandhi said that “We are thrilled to work with New Zealand Cricket on this endeavor as they have a strong, passionate and much-loved cricket team, and the cricketing rivalry between the two countries has been fantastic. We are happy to make this collaboration with New Zealand Cricket our first live sports offering in India, and are confident that our Prime members will be delighted with this initiative”. He is the director and country general manager at Amazon Prime Video.
He further says that the platform is looking to make its way to the masses with their favorite game. Comments from David White were also reported. The chief executive of New Zealand Cricket said that “One of NZC’s key goals is to extend our teams’ global reach and to build closer relationships around the world and, in terms of that particular objective, we don’t think we could be in better hands. India has always been important for viewership of NZC; no other country follows cricket like India, so it’s exciting to be announcing this agreement with India’s leading streamer”.
Amazon has been close to sporting fans and especially the game of cricket. ‘The Test’ was received wholeheartedly by fans and the reach of the streaming platform is expected to increase the reach of female cricket on Indian landmass.
A student who enjoys studying cricket more than anything else, keen to learn the insights of the women’s game.


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Notas de acontecimientos
This portlet should not exist anymore
The COVID-19 pandemic has come as a great shock for all of us and for the world economy at large. This unprecedented event is challenging the world order, bringing large scale geopolitical changes as well as creating a strong negative impact on the economic health of countries.
All leading economies in the world including the US, UK and countries in Europe and Asia have been adversely impacted by the consequences of the pandemic. This has evoked strong reactions from many countries and is impacting global economic relations. While the future remains uncertain and we may see many such events unfolding in the coming months, it is important that we understand what could be the likely implications of such possible outcomes for the Indian economy and how India could address the challenges and prepare itself to capitalise the emerging opportunities to foster its growth.
Mr Subhash Chandra Garg, Former Secretary (Economic Affairs), said that no country is self-sufficient and trade will have to continue. He added that there is a need to look at the efficiency of global value chain and reducing the cost of production.
Addressing FICCI-KAS webinar on ‘Geo-political & Economic Impact of Covid-19: Emerging Challenges & Opportunities and Way Forward for India’, Mr Garg said that the impact of COVID-19 will be temporary. However, the pandemic has impacted workers, businesses and governments severely and in such a situation, the government needs to address the issues.
Mr Garg said that Indian economy has suffered heavy losses due to the pandemic. The government should consider unlocking the lockdown by the end of June to relatively lower economic losses, he added.
Mr Navdeep Suri, Former Indian Ambassador to UAE said that skills of workers returning from foreign countries like the Gulf can be utilized in India in the absence of migrant workers who are returning to their native places. He added that with the emergence of COVID-19, sectors such as online education and telemedicine witnessed an upward surge and India should take advantage of such sectors.
Mr Vijay Gokhale, Former Foreign Secretary said that India’s FDI policy is good but the last mile connectivity needs to be improved. It is a golden opportunity for India to address this issue. He added that India needs to position itself strategically with the US and China. “It is an opportunity for India to leverage its relationship with the US and China for economic benefit of the country,” said Mr Gokhale.
Mr Ajay Shankar, Former Secretary, DIPP said that it is time for India to re-engineer its regulatory regime providing greater predictability and certainty to the system. India needs to re-strategize its policies and think of nuanced policy instruments so that when normalcy returns, the country can grow at full potential. He added that India should look at investment-led growth and green economy.
Mr Sidharth Birla, Past President, FICCI said that many countries having realized their large dependence on China-driven supply chains are looking at alternates. India is urging global players to look at India as a future alternative supply base. He added that it is almost certain we will see significant change in international relations, which is bound to impact India in more ways than one. It is critical for India to comprehend the essence of these changes and how global balances may change, plan how it should safeguard itself, and design suitable strategies to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Mr Peter Rimmele, Resident Representative to India, KAS said that with COVID-19, the world is facing an unprecedented challenge but, in every challenge, there lies an opportunity. He gave a clarion call for closer partnership between India and Europe and urged India to unite with Germany over commonalities between the two countries.
Sobre esta serie
La Fundación Konrad Adenauer, sus talleres de formación, centros de formación y oficinas en el extranjero ofrecen anualmente miles de eventos sobre temas cambiantes. Le informamos en www.kas.de acerca de una selección de conferencias, eventos, simposios etc. , de forma actual y exclusiva. Aquí, usted encuentra, además de un resumen en cuanto al contenido, materiales adicionales como imágenes, manuscritos de diálogos, vídeos o grabaciones de audio.


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Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm announced for PS2
Ubi Soft announces an all-new Ghost Recon game with online play for the PS2. First screens inside.
We'll begin emailing you updates about %gameName%.
Ubi Soft Entertainment has today announced that its Paris studio is currently working on Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm for the PlayStation 2. The game will be the first in the Ghost Recon series to feature online play on the PS2, and it is currently scheduled for release toward the end of this year.
"The Tom Clancy games are built with gamers in mind, and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm is a great example of that fact," said Alain Corre, Ubi Soft's managing director for Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and South America. "We knew the Ghost Recon franchise offers great online gameplay and fans were demanding it so Ubi Soft spent several of its resources to bring Ghost Recon online to the PlayStation 2 as quickly as possible. We are excited to deliver a great game to the PlayStation 2. PlayStation fans deserve the best and we think Jungle Storm will deliver it."
Set in the year 2009, Jungle Storm will first see players entering Cuba as part of a UN peacekeeping force to destroy a drug-funded warlord and secure free elections there--the same campaign that appears in Ghost Recon: Island Thunder on the Xbox and PC. The game's second eight-mission single-player campaign will see players going after the Colombian cartel that financed the failed revolution in Cuba and, by way of revenge, has bombed an American embassy. Players will be able to issue voice commands to their squadmates via the PS2 Voice Communicator peripheral.
In addition to the single-player game, Jungle Storm will feature no fewer than 31 multiplayer maps and a total of 10 multiplayer gameplay modes. Online statistics tracking and ladder rankings will be supported, as will voice chat between players.
We'll bring you more information on Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm as soon as it becomes available.


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Cupertino, Calif. – Shares of Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple hit an all-time high on Tuesday after the company announced plans for a media event next week, presumably to unveil the third generation of its popular iPad tablet computer.
The event is scheduled for March 7 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.
Though rumors of the unveil have persisted for weeks, CNBC drove the buzz into a frenzy early Tuesday when it tweeted: “Quad-Core iPad 3 with 4G LTE to be unveiled in New York next week.”
A New York unveil would’ve been a major shift for Apple, which previously has introduced the bulk of its major products either in San Francisco or at its headquarters in Cupertino. The news sent shares of Apple up nearly 2 percent to $535.41.
This article was also published in Bay Area Tech Wire.
CNBC tweet – http://tinyurl.com/7helt37
AllThingsD – Apple Announces March 7 iPad Event


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HDAC (Hyundai Digital Asset Company) Airs Blockchain Ad on World Cup TV
Hdac, South Korean blockchain-based IoT contract and payment platform, has recently unveiled the first ever blockchain advertisement. The timing on the company’s part is perfect, as the mass population got to see the ad during the World Cup Series covered by Russia.
Based on the claims made by the company, the ads will be played during halftimes, and on a channel called Eurosport. Chung Dae-sun, a close relative of the CEO of Hyundai, a well-established car company, is supposedly the one to have created Hdac and believes that this startup can help to enhance security and payment processes altogether.
Hdac also believes that the embedded technology can increase ease-of-use, while making day-to-day activities far more efficient, which is a factor that many suffer to control. According to the ad, whether it be controlling how much energy or water was used, the Hdac technology is a viable solution.
As a response to the growing concern of scalability and the protection of data within the field of IoT, Hdac believes that the distributed ledger technology (DLT) is the way to go, as it promotes increased control, better communication, and proper listing of transactions onto ledgers.
Hdac has recently gained some while lost others. Namely, the company managed to raise approximately USD$260 million during its DAC token sale. Unfortunately, Hdac was also hacked in its mining pool. It appears that the company did not take the hack seriously, stating that it brought “no liability because the mining pool is decentralized”.


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Haulage operators are demanding government action after a record spike in volumes, combined with a dearth of drivers made worse by a backlog in HGV driver tests, threatened to push many to the brink. Business group Logistics UK has also urged the DVSA to ramp up its fast-track programme to clear at least 30,000 driving tests, after postponements due to the pandemic left thousands of potential truckers waiting in the wings, right when the country needs them most. Bullet Express […]
A six month pilot of next generation testing (NGT) will commence next month in south Wales with more than 20 ATF operators.
Give hauliers grants to cover cost of shipping empty trailers to Northern Ireland, Logistics UK tells ministers
Logistics UK met with key government members this week to demand hauliers be given grants to cover the cost of empty running created by Brexit border issues.
The UK government has published its “revolutionary” ‘Transport decarbonisation plan’ that includes a consultation on banning the sale of “non-zero emissions HGVs” under 26 tonnes by 2035 and the sale of all fossil-fuelled HGVs by 2040.


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The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is set to make Indonesia a global center for halal food products, saying it can help support the country’s tourism as many visitors come from the Middle East.
“Eating halal food should start in the country with the largest Muslim population,” MUI’s food, medicine and cosmetics analysis body (LPPOM) head Lukmanul Hakim said Wednesday in Jakarta.
He made the statements while addressing a seminar titled “The Availability of Halal Culinary Products to Support the Success of Visit Indonesia”.
Lukmanul said LPPOM MUI would organize the Indonesia Halal Exhibition from June 24-26 in Jakarta to support the goal, adding several countries were expected to participate in the event.
He said because Indonesia was a destination for many Middle East tourists, halal food products were in demand.
Lukmanul said so far Indonesia’s halal standards, set by LPPOM MUI, had been acknowledged by 43 foreign institutions in 22 countries, including the US, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and the Netherlands.