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Manorville resident Joseph Preli — a volunteer firefighter in his community — is among the latest Long Islanders to turn a pandemic downtime passion into a business.
Over the past two weeks, Preli has operated his new Turburritos Tex-Mex food truck at 2801 Montauk Hwy. in Brookhaven hamlet, serving up tacos, quesadillas and as the name suggests, jam-packed burritos.
“A couple of years ago, I got a smoker, and I was smoking all the meats, getting big into barbecue,” Preli, 37, said. “And then it became cold outside and I started cooking in the house. COVID hit, I wasn’t working, and I was just cooking all day long. I wanted to get a food truck, but I wanted to do a barbecue food truck.”
As several months passed, Preli switched gears from barbecue to Tex-Mex.
“I was taking anything and everything and making my own burritos,” he said. “I was always on YouTube watching people cook, and I started eating a California burrito when I would go out places, and I thought: I could make that.”
“And after you’re drinking, you come home, and you make this crazy freaking drunken burrito,” he added with a laugh. “It’s pretty fun.”
The turbo menu
The Turburritos menu is essentially beef, chicken, steak and shrimp served in burritos, bowls, tacos and quesadillas. Among the most popular offerings, Preli said, are the shrimp taco with a mango salsa; the Turburrito, a surf and turf offering of steak and shrimp with the works; fully loaded nachos; and chicken quesadillas.
Nearly every menu item comes topped with Preli’s signature house made sweet mayo, an orange sweet sauce that adds as much flavor as it does color.
Only weeks into his venture, Preli is still modifying his menu and constantly requesting feedback from customers. Once he has the truck’s deep fryer ready to roll, he plans to offer his diners the French fry-stuffed California burrito he enjoys.
While it has a set location in Brookhaven, customers should check the Turburritos’ Facebook or Instagram account for updates to daily hours and special locations. The truck is available for private events, and Preli said he is already booked for dates at the Moriches Field Brewery, the Jerry Jam music festival and various other events.
“I already have a ton of parties and events booked up. They were hitting me up way before I even opened the truck.”
In the near future, he hopes to host events of his own.
“This is my main hub that I’m going to be at,” Preli said. “I’m into cars, so I’d like to get into car shows and stuff like that. I was thinking since we have the big parking lot here, we do a Friday night car show here.”


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Asus and Gigabyte have announced to release new BIOS update to address the recent Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS) security vulnerabilities found by Intel’s internal researchers and partners in Intel Processors. This is a new sub-class of speculative execution side-channel vulnerabilities found in Intel CPUs, called Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS), also known as ZombieLoad, RIDL, and Fallout that may allow information disclosure.
According to the Asus BIOS update page, Intel states that selected 8th and 9th Generation Intel Core processors, as well as the 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processor family, are not vulnerable to MDS. If you are using one of these processors, no further action is necessary.
For other Intel processors, ASUS says that it’s working closely with Intel to provide a solution in a forthcoming BIOS update. Asus also recommends owners of affected products update both the BIOS and operating system as soon as these mitigations are available. Asus has also released the full list of affected products which will be getting the latest BIOS update, you can find first-wave of the models and other details here.
On the other hand, Gigabyte has also provided details on the possible security vulnerabilities affecting its server products. Gigabyte has also released the BIOS update schedule which will start rolling out from June 3 to June 10. You can find the full BIOS update schedule date here.
Gigabyte advises, to navigate to the “Support” section of the relevant product page to download the updated BIOS when it becomes available.
It also says that ”Intel has released microcode updates to help address these security vulnerabilities. GIGABYTE is working to combine the new microcode into BIOS updates for our server motherboards and systems which use these affected processors.”

domain: news


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Boeing will take a nearly $5 billion charge in the second quarter to compensate 737 Max customers as the planes remain grounded.Airlinesread more
Earlier, Williams delivered a speech at the annual meeting of the Central Bank Research Association in which he said, "It's better to take preventative measures than to wait...The Fedread more
Microsoft beat on top and bottom lines, and guidance was just ahead of expectations, but the company's Azure growth is slowing down.Technologyread more
"We've seen Netflix stumble before, especially maybe after a price hike, but not quite like this," Jim Cramer says.Mad Money with Jim Cramerread more
Trump said the USS Boxer destroyed Iran's drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday in a "defensive action."Politicsread more
They also voted to absolve themselves, their party and the voters who elected them – like the ones Trump inspired to chant "send her back" at a rally Wednesday in North...Politicsread more
See which stocks are posting big moves after the bell on July 18.Market Insiderread more
House Democrats contend the $15 per hour minimum wage bill will lift workers who have not seen the benefits of a strong economy.Politicsread more
The Philadelphia Fed saw its primary gauge measuring the sector jump from 0.3 in June to 21.8, far better than Wall Street estimates of 5 and the highest in a year.Economyread more
"It's better to take preventative measures than to wait for disaster to unfold," Williams told the annual meeting of the Central Bank Research Association.The Fedread more
CrowdStrike reports first earnings report since IPO.Technologyread more
Zia Yusuf was put in a position that few entrepreneurs would find enviable: raising a funding round for his London start-up in the midst of fallout from the British vote to leave the European Union.
But his company, Velocity, announced a $22.5 million funding round on Monday. The restaurant booking app, founded in London and based there and in New York, will use the new funds for additional features and to expand to 29 cities worldwide by 2020.
"We're really excited about scale of this round," co-founder and co-CEO Yusuf said. "Our round did [take place] over the course of the actual [Brexit] vote. The interesting thing is, we didn't see any real significant impact. One reason is that the appetite from the investing community for our product and our team was high. We're very happy with the level of demand we got."
In late June, Britain voted to leave the European Union, sending Dow futures down as much as 700 points. The British pound sterling tumbled to a 1985 low against the dollar.
That provided a challenging backdrop for Velocity, which caters to high-end restaurants and night life. But Yusuf said Velocity's round, led by DIG Investments, the technology investment arm of HMP Group, with a credit facility from Barclays, did not see an incremental adverse impact.
The Brexit vote was expected to dampen an already muted private equity and venture capital landscape in the U.K., which saw activity slow to the lowest levels since late 2009 in the first quarter of 2016, according to the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Fifteen percent of private equity and venture capital investments in the U.K. comes from the European Union, the trade group estimates.
Worse yet for an app that lists Michelin-star-level dining, high-net worth individuals were expected to clamp down on luxury spending, according to international wealth consultancy WealthInsight.
Co-founder and co-CEO Alex Macdonald said that even if luxury goods have lost their luster in recent years, affluent consumers are still spending on upscale experiences. Velocity focuses on millennials, who are known to prioritize activities like traveling, Yusuf said.
"The thing that sets us apart is we put our customers' time first. Insiders curate the coolest restaurants," Yusuf said. "The other point is that we already are international. People love the idea of the platform that you can use in multiple cities."
Unlike Yelp, which delivers a wide swath of results and sponsored listings, Velocity focuses on just a high-demand restaurants, Yusuf said. Velocity has offices and staff in every city it operates in, where staff personally visit restaurants and assess food, service and atmosphere.
"A lot of time and effort is spent maintaining the integrity of that network," Yusuf said.
Velocity makes money from restaurant partners, who pay for the audience and for software that facilitates reservations and payment — giving them an alternative to incumbents like OpenTable. On the consumer end, that means the user can go from reservation to payment without leaving the app.
Much is left to be decided as Brexit unfolds, with almost every option expected to adversely affect businesses, jobs and trade, according to the UK finance ministry. But Yusuf said he's confident.
"As entrepreneurs, the U.K., especially London, remains one of the most innovative countries and cities in the world," Yusuf said. "Really world class talent, and in that sense, I don't see how a great deal has changed [since Brexit]. We'll have to see the terms of the actual exit, but we will continue to get talent and innovate quickly."
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that DIG Investments, the technology investment arm of HMP Group, invested in Velocity, and to clarify that Alex Macdonald and Zia Yusuf are both co-founders and co-CEOs of the company.


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EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan — A famous comic book store in Manhattan is closing its doors after over 30 years of business.
St. Mark’s Comics, which has been a part of the East Village community for 36 years, will close at the end of February, the store announced on social media.
The store also announced a sale starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30.
“We are forever grateful to our customers, who made it possible to pursue our passion for so long,” the iconic store said in a Facebook post.
Tributes have poured in on social media from comic book fans, writers and authors, including Brian Michael Bendis, a comic book writer known for his works including Marvel’s “Jessica Jones” and “Ultimate Spider-Man,” and author Neil Gaiman.


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Those stamp-dispensing machines in post office lobbies are about to get some company.
The Postal Service wants to see automatic teller machines in post office lobbies.
In addition to standard ATM fare-cash withdrawals and deposits-the machines will be programmed to sell self-adhesive stamps. The stamps will be sold in ``sheetlets`` of 12, with the sheet the same size and thickness as a dollar bill.
The Postal Service will ask banks to bid on providing the ATMs. Winning banks will then lease space from the Postal Service.
``We really don`t know what effect it will have,`` said Judy Anderson, spokeswoman for International Business Machines Corp., which makes ATMs.
``Obviously, it would be good news for any manufacturer to have the opportunity to sell more machines.``
The program has been tested in Seattle since November 1988.


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Monday, July 26, 2021
Monday, October 26, 2020
Cruise Line Stocks Crash Further As Europe Clamps Down
Cruise line stocks are falling sharply today as the number of Covid-19 cases climbs worldwide and as Europe clamps down on travel restrictions. Stock ar also under pressure because many cruise lines...
Saturday, October 17, 2020
COVID19: Malta Stops MSC Cruise Passengers From Disembarking
(Reuters) – Malta on Friday stopped passengers disembarking from the MSC Grandiosa cruise ship over a suspected case of COVID-19, Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said. Although the cruise ship...
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
First Med Cruise Ship Departs Since COVID-19 Outbreak
Last week Italy’s government gave permission for cruise lines to resume operations and, on Sunday, MSC Grandiosa became the first cruise ship to sail the Mediterranean since the outbreak of...
Monday, January 20, 2020
MSC Returns to Chantiers de l’Atlantique for Two More LNG-Powered Cruise Ships
MSC Cruises hsa returned to the France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard for two more LNG-powered cruise ships worth over 2 billion euros. The two parties on Monday announced that a...
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Qatar Charters MSC Cruise Ships for 2022 FIFA World Cup
Qatar has signed an agreement with MSC Cruises to charter two cruise ships to operate as floating hotels for fans during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Under the terms of...
Thursday, March 14, 2019
MSC Cruises Inks 2 Billion Euro Order for New Luxury Ships
MSC and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri have announced the signing of the final contracts for the construction of four luxury cruise ships to join MSC Cruises fleet. All four vessels will...
Thursday, October 18, 2018
MSC Cruises Enters Ultra-Luxury Market with Four-Ship Order at Fincantieri
MSC Cruises on Thursday announced it will be entering the ultra-luxury cruise sector with an order for four more cruise ships from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. MSC Cruises says it has...
Friday, December 23, 2016
MSC Cruises Finalizes Two-Ship Construction Contract with STX France
STX France and MSC Cruises have announced they have finalized the contracts for two new 177,000-ton cruise ships for MSC. The two next-generation ships will be the largest ever built...
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
MSC Cruises Plans to Build World’s Largest LNG-Powered Cruise Ships for $4.5 Billion
Swiss-based MSC Cruises has revealed major plans to build up to four new LNG-powered cruise ships exceeding more than 200,000 gross tons. The announcement was made as the company, the largest...
Monday, February 1, 2016
Friday, March 20, 2015
Seventeen Cruise Ship Passengers Killed in Tunis Terrorist Attack – Update 2
Update 2: Costa Cruises has confirmed that five of its guests were also among those killed in yesterday’s terrorist attack in Tunis, Tunisia, bringing the total number of cruise passengers...
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Ultra-Modern ‘MSC Seaside’ to Sail Out of Miami Starting 2017
MSC Cruises revealed Wednesday that the MSC Seaside, the first of the ultra-modern Seaside-class ships, will be the first ship in the MSC Cruises' fleet to be christened in the United States.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
MSC Magnifica to Receive New Rudders at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam
Since arriving at Damen’s shiprepair yard in Rotterdam on 20 October, work has been in progress around the clock on the 2010-built, 293 meter-long cruise ship MSC Magnifica. While berthed...
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Russia Signs Marine Terminal Agreement with MSC Cruises
By Shubin Aleksey Andreyevich While at the XIII International Investment Forum in Sochi last Friday, Nikolay Tsukanov, Governor of Kaliningrad region, Andrei Tarasenko, CEO of Rosmorport and MSC Cruises CEO Roberto...
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Fincantieri Stretches First of Four MSC Cruise Ships – Photos
A new 24-meter midsection for the existing MSC Armonia cruise ship was inserted into place today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Sicily after the ship was cut in half as part of lengthening operation beginning earlier month.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
MSC Cruises Places 1.4 Billion Euro Order at Fincantieri
MSC Cruises has placed a landmark order at Fincantieri today to build two new state-of-the-art cruise ships at a price of 700 million euro each, plus an option for one...
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
MSC Cruises Signs Letter of Intent to Build Largest Ships to Date
MSC Cruises on Thursday announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with STX France for the construction of two new cruise ships with an option for two more.
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Saturday, 11 March 2017
MUMBAI: India’s has launched a slew of electronic systems to encourage its 1.2 billion people to rely less on cash, and adopt digital services to buy everything from groceries to fuel.
Here is an overview of India’s cash-less initiatives.
United Payments Interface (UPI)
The payments system was launched in August 2016 by state-run National Payments Corporation of India, but its adoption by banks and customers remained sluggish. The real push for UPI came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the flagship UPI app called BHIM on Dec 30.
Most state and private lenders are now on the UPI platform, and the BHIM app has been downloaded more than 17 million times. The UPI system allows users to create a unique virtual payment address, which looks like an e-mail, and use it to send or receive money instantly. Each profile also has a distinct quick-response (QR) code that can be used to transfer money.
A quick-response-code-based application that will allow people to pay and merchants to accept payments using a machine-readable label without having to use a card. Global card network providers MasterCard Inc and Visa Inc have collaborated with the National Payment Corp of India on this system, which was unveiled last month.
This is a payments service that uses India’s national biometric identity card and does away with the need for point-of-sales machines that are used to swipe credit and debit cards. A merchant registering for Aadhar pay will link a phone to a biometric reader, allowing the user to make a payment using a finger print.
Source by: Internet


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After a major leak from last week, HTC confirmed that its U23 Pro smartphone is set to launch next week on Thursday, May 18. The new teaser shows a glimpse of the device but reveals no other info.
Based on the rumors, HTC U23 Pro will offer a 120Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset and a 108MP main camera. The device is also said to launch with Android 13 and a 4,600 mAh battery. HTC U23 Pro will be compatible with HTC’s Viverse VR platform though details are scarce at the moment.
The post HTC U23 Pro launching on May 18 first appeared on www.gsmarena.com
5 Reasons Why You Should Try Online Horse Race Betting
In many places around the world, horse races are an attraction that a lot of people love to watch. With the fast-paced action and thrill that each game provides, it is no longer surprising to know that millions of fans have grown fond of it.
NordLayer — more than a business VPN
Cybersecurity threats have become vast and more sophisticated. The rate of malware attacks and malicious activity counts within seconds despite the size or sector the organization belongs to — no one is safe enough to expect that foe actors will bypass vital company resources.


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FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), has launched FedEx Delivery Manager in India. The new interactive e-commerce delivery solution allows retailers to provide extra flexibility to their customers in India by allowing them to customize the timing and location of their deliveries at no extra cost.
Recipients expecting deliveries to their residence will receive a notification by email from FedEx when their package is shipped. The recipient can choose to change the delivery instructions in a few simple steps via a secured website. This is available for both international and domestic shipments.
“E-commerce, is reshaping the logistics industry in India,” said Philip Cheng, vice president Ground Operations for FedEx Express in India. “The launch of FedEx Delivery Manager demonstrates our efforts to strengthen our last-mile delivery capabilities and provide flexibility and convenience to our customers, whose needs are evolving.”
The launch of FedEx Delivery Manager in India is part of a global expansion to 52 countries.
FedEx recognizes the importance of providing efficient and flexible shipping process to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that sell products online. According to a recent IBEF report, the e-commerce market in India is expected to touch USD64 billion by 2020 and is transforming the lifestyle of the Indian consumer—seeking convenience, comfort and a variety of hassle-free options.  Logistics is a key enabler for growth of the e-commerce retail sector and is increasingly emerging as a differentiator in terms of customer service and satisfaction.
The addition of FedEx Delivery Manager further strengthens FedEx existing value-added services for the e-commerce segment and complements FedEx® Delivery Signature Options and Collect on Delivery.


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The 10th floor at the New York Design Center–the 33,000-square-foot hub of antiques and vintage pieces currently known as the 1stdibs Gallery at 200 Lex—will remain in place after the seven-year partnership between the antiques site and the design center ends this fall. Starting November 1, the space will be known simply as The Gallery at 200 Lex. Spanning the entirety of the design center’s 10th floor, the gallery is home to some 55 dealers. New partners for the space are being considered and will be announced within the next few weeks.
"The New York Design Center’s 10th Floor is looking forward to a new chapter. The Gallery at 200 Lex, will continue to provide designers, architects and collectors with the very best merchandise from the finest dealers and, just as important, extraordinary service," says Jim Druckman, president and CEO of NYDC. "By focusing on meeting the needs of our clients as well as providing transparency in purchasing, we are confident in maintaining our status as the leading marketplace for vintage, antiques and one-of-a-kind items in New York and the country."
In a statement, the NYDC noted that the space, under its new name, “will remain an integral part of the New York Design Center brand,” and that the gallery’s extensive list of events and exhibitions would also continue. Among those upcoming initiatives are a retrospective of work by Jeremiah Goodman, collaborations with private art collectors, and shows featuring the work of contemporary artists. A number of media collaborations, the yearly Art of Entertaining event, and the Masters lecture series are also on the calendar for this fall.
Previous exhibits at the space included the artist Rochelle Udell’s chair exhibit, “Where Do You Sit in Life?”; a showcase featuring the work of five MFA grads from the Rhode Island School of Design’s Textiles program; “Adja Yunkers (1900–1983) Rediscovered”; and others.
The NYDC also announced the opening of nine new showrooms and two showroom expansions, as well as the date of its 10th annual What’s New, What’s Next show, which will unfold September 13 with over 50 events.


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The Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) has awarded a 50-year lease of The Wharf building to Hope Estate.
Titled “Hope at Honeysuckle,” the venue aims to be a “bespoke and unique Hunter Valley experience on the harbourfront” to showcase the region’s food, wine, beer and spirits – after the fashion of the Pokolbin destination, that has grown a widespread reputation in Australia.
Michael Hope said he intends to create a drawcard destination with a cellar door, provedore retail, restaurant, and dining options.
Hope comes with two generations of family that have actively worked to make the business what it is today, and we are very proud of that legacy,” said Mr Hope.
The former maritime museum site has been idle since the collection vacated the restored heritage wharf building two years ago.
HCCDC took The Wharf building to market in late-2019 with the aim of attracting a drawcar destination to enhance the Honeysuckle precinct.
Acting Chief Executive Valentina Misevska said Hope at Honeysuckle was a fantastic concept that the community can truly look forward to enjoying.
We are really delighted that Hope Estate will be coming to Honeysuckle with a creative offering that will appeal to locals, tourists, students and more.
We were pleased with the response to our call for proposals, and we are happy that the proponent is an experienced local operator that really knows how to do food, wine and entertainment exceedingly well.”


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Automotive News Europe Editor-in-Chief Harald Hamprecht had a chance to chat with Mr. Hank Lee, Vice Chairman of Kia Motors Corporation. A very interesting interview, which is published at Automotive News website, reveals some details on how Kia plans to enhance the perception of the brand to become a people’s choice.
Kia made huge progress in the quality of their vehicles and the company aims to further improve its up-coming vehicles. According to Mr. Hank Lee, the brand is working hard to enhance ride and handling of its cars and introduce new powertrain technologies. Reportedly, Kia is working on a series of eco-friendly cars, including a full-electric small crossover vehicle, Optima 2.0L Hybrid car and fuel cell powered vehicle.
Speaking of a small crossover vehicle, the model is coming out in 2014 and will go on sale in all major markets, including USA, Europe, Korea and Russia. No further details have been revealed, but the vehicle is rumored to be based on the same platform as next-generation Soul crossover. Europeans will also get a brand-new Kia Optima Hybrid next year. Unlike the US-specs Optima hybrid, the “Euro-model” will feature a brand-new 2.0L four-cylinder engine coupled with an electric motor.
The interview also provides information about the carmaker’s near-future expansion plans and sales projections. Kia will expand its dealer network in the States and add more capacity to its current manufacturing plants in Europe and USA. It has currently no plans to build additional production factories anytime soon.


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Could memory cards and hard drives one day store massive numbers of digital photographs on DNA rather than chips and platters? Possibly, and scientists are trying to make that happen.
Last year, we reported that a group of researchers had successfully stored 700 terabytes of data on a single gram of DNA. The data being stored that time was a book written by one of the geneticists. Now, a new research effort has succeeded in storing something that’s a bit more relevant to this blog: a photograph.
British scientists announced last week that they had succeeded in storing 739KB of digital data onto a speck of DNA that’s barely visible to the human eye. Besides a digital photograph, the speck was used to store all 154 Shakespeare sonnets, a scientific paper PDF, and a 26-second audio clip from Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
The storage technique involved converting the binary code of the files into the “four-letter alphabet” of DNA, creating strands of synthetic double helices. Afterward, the DNA strands could be decoded with 100% accuracy.
Scientists believe that DNA could be used to preserve the entirety of humankind’s stored data in a pile of DNA that could fit in the palm of your hand. The data could then be frozen and preserved for potentially thousands of years… without any electricity required for stable storage.
The main challenge going forward would be to reduce the costs (both time and money) of encoding and decoding the DNA strands. However, you probably shouldn’t get your hopes up for DNA-based memory cards in the near future: even if the technology hits the consumer market, it will likely be used for uber-long-term storage rather than on-the-go purposes.
Imagine being able to store your precious photographic memories (e.g. wedding photographs) safely for your entire life on a drive you can barely see. It’d likely be both smaller and more stable than any of the at-home storage strategies we use today.


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Corvette Joins Forces with TF Sport
It is being reported by James Newbold on MotorSport.com that British sportscar outfit TF Sport will end its long association with Aston Martin and switch brands to campaign the Z06 GT3.R in the 2024 World Endurance Championship.
Tom Ferrier’s group plans to run two of the new-for-2024 Z06 GT3.R, which replaces the C8.R that won the Le Mans 24 earlier this month.
Drivers for the program have yet to be announced, but it is likely that Corvette factory drivers will be part of the line-up.
Z06 GT3.R program manager Christie Bagne said TF Sport “showcases the elements we were looking for in a team” to partner with. “We look forward to working with Tom and his team to make the Z06 GT3.R a success in the WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024 and beyond,” she said.
Announcing the news, Ferrier expressed his gratitude to Aston Martin before explaining that “the time is right for a new challenge in the WEC”. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent such an iconic brand on the world stage,” said Ferrier. “Corvette Racing has an immense history at Le Mans and we will be looking to continue that run of success.”
The Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation is giving you the opportunity to win a 2023 Corvette Z06! The Grand Prize Z06 is a Coupe offered in Red Mist and it features the Z07 Performance Package with Carbon Flash Metallic ground effects and high wing spoiler, as well as carbon fiber wheels painted in Carbon Flash. Inside is a 3LZ trim package outfitted with a Jet Black interior and GT2 seats. Your donation of $25 or more helps to raise awareness for Amyloidosis, the disease which claimed the life of Corvette enthusiast Chip Miller in 2004. This Corvette Z06 has just been completed and is on the way to the dealership for delivery.
The drawing for this American Super Car will happen on September 30th. Thundering Thursday readers receive 30% Bonus Entries with ticket packages starting at $25. Get your tickets today by Clicking Here.
Johnny S.’s 1981
I purchased this 1981 Vette on Hemmings in December of last year, and due to a total knee replacement surgery it has been sitting in my garage. I am hopeful to get it into a good mechanical shop to look it over and make necessary repairs. I am also considering fuel injection but need estimates for all that needs to be done!
This ’66 has been very nicely restored and features a great-looking Rally Red exterior complemented by a Black interior and Black soft top. What’s under the hood is a N.O.M. big block displacing 396ci, backed by a 4-spd. manual transmission. It also happens to be a great driver! And that’s really what it’s all about, isn’t it?
This very original ’72 has won many awards over the years, including multiple N.C.R.S. Top Flights, N.C.R.S. Bowtie Award and the prestigious N.C.R.S. Zora Arkus-Duntov Mark of Excellence Award!
It’s optioned with factory air conditioning, power brakes, power steering, am/fm radio and luggage rack.
Email me to talk about any other cars you want to sell: firstname.lastname@example.org!
Want some Corvette Mike Swag?
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Abishur Prakash, a geopolitical futurist at Canada’s Center for Innovating the Future (CIF), focuses on one of the most pressing issues of our time: technological geopolitics. Prakash’s fifth book that recently came out is The World Is Vertical: How Technology Is Remaking Globalization attempts to capture this significant development. He had a recent talk with ET’s Nirmal John. They modified excerpts from the book.
Why the title, The World is Vertical?
Globalize design has been about integrating the entire world. The universe has have been connected, as has providence, and monetary systems have are all linked. There have been huge benefits, except for three issues that have developed due to the tens of millions of individuals who have been rescued from poverty. They are –
- The first are countries that believe they have lost their sovereignty.
- Second, governments have thought they are unable to compete economically.
- The third point is that as conventional borders fall away and the world becomes more integrated, governments have lost their sense of identity and culture.
For many years, the status quo was that you were alone if you didn’t like favour globalization, which was driven mainly by the West. Then there was technology, such as 5G, AI, and cloud. Governments have developed a new mindset: why are we using other people’s ecosystems, currencies, software, and platforms? Nations can now almost opt out of globalization because of technological advancements.
As a result, instead of the world being as open and accessible as it has been for decades, it now has a vertical border of technology-based walls and obstacles.
Is technology the main driver of this change?
There have been two triggers in recent years. The first is the competition between the United States and China. Now the world is separated into regions that support China and those that support the United States. Both are employing technological means to obstruct each other in some way.
China, for example, is effectively urging the entire technology sector not to rely on US financial markets by refusing to allow its companies to list in the West. The pandemic was the second catalyst, as it forced countries to recognize the importance of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and localization. And now that idea has been applied to technology.
Where does India fit into this game of tech sovereignty?
Because India is one of the drivers of a vertical world, it gets its chapter in my book. India has discussed creating a data market that is open to anyone. It comes highly recommended. Because India doesn’t want foreign firms to have too much power, it is recommended that India not wish foreign corporations to have too much power. It’s a brilliant concept: whether you’re Google, Facebook, or Alibaba, you must share your data with Indian firms.
Take, for example, India’s proposal for all drones to receive a firmware upgrade. Companies like DJ have stated that they will not update their drones following the Indian government’s wishes.
As a result, this has become a tool for India to counteract Western dominance in consumer drones. What India is doing is writing a template for other countries that wish to make sure that globalized technology does not harm them in any way. That is why India has been aggressive in localizing e-commerce suppliers.
There has always been some apprehension about dealing with foreign corporations. Walmart, for example, has tried for years to open a store in India. In the sphere of technology, this is also true. The rise in tensions with China has been a critical driver of the vertical world for India, compelling it to respond.
What is the current state of affairs?
Governments have realized that if they want to stay relevant, compete, and maintain international peace, they will have to employ technology to enforce their will. Technology, I believe, is providing countries with a new means of enforcing their will.
Let’s look at global institutions as an example. After World War II, the allies held the authority to shape the postwar world. The United States founded the significant institutions that underlie globalization. The Americans made strategic moves in establishing and designating the International Monetary Fund, or World Bank. They could have named it the American Monetary Fund, but they wanted to convey a statement to the entire world, signalling their belief in globalization.
In contrast to China, countries like the United Kingdom propose ten democracies that will determine global 5G rules. So it isn’t as though countries are retaliating against all aspects of globalization. Instead, governments now can employ technology to shape globalization in their favour.


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The global switch to 5G is well underway, with the number of connections to the next-generation network set to reach 1.34 billion in 2022, according to analysis by market researcher CCS Insight.
This year has seen connections to 5G triple to 637 million, suggesting that the rollout of the network is continuing apace. National lockdowns caused by the global health crisis last year slowed network rollout, for example, making it more difficult to send engineers on the ground to physically build the infrastructure. CCS Insight also noted that geopolitical tensions related to Huawei's role in 5G rollouts led to delays, especially in Western Europe.
"The US being one country, the decisions were made relatively quickly, while in Europe every country had to make its own decision as to what to do with Huawei," Marina Koytcheva, vice president of forecasting at CCS Insight, tells ZDNet. "In some countries, operators had to wait a little bit to see whether they'd be allowed to use Huawei equipment and in which part of the network. That was probably an even more significant delaying factor than COVID last year."
Although the speed of rollout is improving in Western Europe, this relatively gradual start means that 5G won't account for more than half of cellular device connections in the region until 2024, predicts Koytcheva.
Different regions are switching to 5G at different paces, therefore, but the trend across Western Europe, North America, China and other advanced markets in Asia remains the same: operators have now largely committed to upgrading from 4G, and are rapidly getting on with the builds.
One of the key reasons that deployment is accelerating is that consumers are now buying devices that are 5G-enabled: in 2021, CCS Insight expects 560 million 5G-capable smartphones to sell.
In a turning point for the industry, Apple released its first 5G-equipped iPhone at the end of 2020, which triggered a "smartphone supercycle" that saw many users replace their devices. After a huge dip in sales, smartphones have now started selling again, with the second quarter of 2021 seeing a 10.8% increase in shipments year-on-year.
Consumers looking to replace or upgrade their handsets are likely to be looking for premium devices – and all of the high-end products selling now happen to be 5G-equipped, with some 5G-enabled smartphones even starting to appear in the mid-range.
It isn't necessarily that users are actively seeking devices that can support faster networks. Apart from allowing smoother gaming or more realistic virtual reality experiences, 5G is effectively yet to provide a killer app for consumers, who are often satisfied with 4G speeds for applications like scrolling the news or making calls.
But the market has evolved so that users find themselves owning smartphones that can support 5G regardless. "Consumers are buying the latest mobile phone when they need one or want to have one, and it happens to have 5G," says Koytcheva. "It's more of a push of the market towards 5G rather than any consumer pull for the technology."
The bottom line is that sales of 5G-capable smartphones are exploding. Previous analysis by IDC predicted that 5G device shipments will increase by 123% this year compared to 2020, and that by 2022, they will make up more than half of all smartphone shipments.
This is good news for network operators: the more users own a 5G-enabled handset, the more chances there are of boosting the adoption of the technology. In the US, for example, CCS Insight anticipates that strong mobile phone sales in the run-up to Christmas will help penetration rates reach 25%, surpassing the Chinese market.
"From now onwards it is really how quickly the 5G phones get into people's hands that will be determining how quickly network operators manage to transition their connections to 5G from lower-generation networks," says Koytcheva.
In that context, the ongoing shortage of computer chips that is threatening the supply of electronic devices like smartphones might appear to be a looming threat to the deployment of 5G.
A combination of exploding demand and stretched supply in the past year has contributed to a global shortage of semiconductors that is now affecting industries ranging from home electronics to car manufacturing.
Smartphone producers have not been immune to the crisis: Apple, for instance, was reported to be cutting production of its iPhone 13 by over 10% because of a lack of computer chips, leading to the company's shares falling by as much as 8%.
But the risk to the adoption of 5G is only temporary, according to CCS Insight, which expects the global phone market to recover in 2022, and the price of 5G handsets to keep falling. The analyst firm forecasts up to 3.6 billion 5G connections worldwide by 2025.
The next few years could also unlock some new applications of 5G outside of the consumer realm that have the potential to be game changing, such as the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in industrial settings. Hopes are also high for the deployment of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), which could see 5G being used to provide high-speed broadband to residents in remote areas, without the need to roll out the infrastructure that comes with fixed fiber lines.


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Ford Australia is asking owners of 443 examples of its F-150 pickup to stop driving as there’s the risk of a loss of steering control.
UPDATE, 18/01/2024 1:20PM: Ford Australia has provided a statement on this recall.
“We picked up the issue in the re-manufacturing plant and there have been no reported incidents in the field,” said a Ford Australia spokesperson.
“A total of 98 vehicles delivered to customers required an inspection to confirm that the steering shaft had been installed correctly.
“The vast majority of these inspections took place last weekend, with dealer technicians visiting customers at home or a location convenient to them.
“None of these vehicles were found to have an incorrectly installed steering shaft, so those customers have now been cleared to drive their vehicle as normal.
“A few customers were travelling and away from their vehicles, so their vehicles are not being driven and will be inspected as soon as they’re accessible.
“The balance of the potentially affected vehicles is being checked by our team or dealer network before delivery to customers.
“We thank customers for their patience as we work through this process.”
This recall affects locally remanufactured Ford F-150 models produced between 2022 and 2023.
“Due to a remanufacturing process issue, the steering intermediate shaft may separate from the steering rack resulting in a loss of steering control,” said the company in its recall notice.
“A loss of steering control could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users.”
- A total of 443 vehicles are affected
- The VIN list is attached here
- The original recall notice is attached here
If you own an affected vehicle, you should stop driving immediately and urgently contact Ford to organise an inspection and repair, free of charge. You’ll also be notified in writing.
If you have further questions you can contact any authorised Ford dealer or the Ford Customer Relationship Centre on 13 36 73.
MORE: Everything Ford F-150


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By Dustin Walsh, Crain's Detroit Business
Southfield, Michigan -- International Automotive Components Group announced 1 Nov that it has formed two joint ventures with Malaysia-based interiors supplier Automotive Holdings Berhard, continuing IAC's expansion in Asia.
IAC will own 60 percent of IAC APM Automotive Systems Ltd in Thailand and 40 percent of APM IAC Automotive Systems Sdn Bhd in Malaysia.
Both joint ventures will supply interior components -- including instrument panels, door panels, floor consoles, trim and overheard systems -- to automakers in the region.
The joint ventures represent a major push from the IAC, whose North American and Asian headquarters is in Southfield.
In March, IAC opened a second manufacturing plant in India. In January, it acquired supplier Multivac India Private Ltd.
In September, IAC Group, owned by billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, delayed its planned initial public offering until 2012 because of market conditions in the US and Europe.


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Popular Instagram comedian, Timothy Obotuke also known as SirBalo has shared the secret behind his success as a skit-maker.
He recalled starting in the entertainment industry as a movie director before switching to skit-making and explained that to be successful in the field, it requires consistency, the willingness to learn from others and motivation to always improve one’s craft.
SirBalo made this known in an interview while noting that contrary to what some people might think, he had been in the entertainment industry for a long time, particularly in Nollywood.
He said; “Venturing into skit making was something I never knew I would do as I used to be a movie director. Becoming a skit maker was not so easy, because I was also a shy person; and the financial cost (of creating content) was not easy either.
To succeed as a skit maker, one has to be consistent, be ready to learn from people and always improve on one’s craft.”
The skit-maker who also spoke on his content, said the reason he uses heavily endowed ladies is just to flow with the trend.
He attempted to ward of criticism by saying that he is just doing what Nigerians like and so many skit-makers are also adopting the idea.
SirBalo said; “I am only following the trend. Using endowed women in skits has become a selling point many skit makers use. I am not the only doing that; there are many other skit makers like me.
Once upon a time, it was not about women with big backsides. But now, they have become a selling point in the skit-making industry. It is what Nigerians like. I am only giving my fans what they want.”


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In this age of 24 hour rolling news, are you being honestly informed on what is happening in the world? Are you being sold a truthful picture of world events, without a conflict of interests, or political bias? Do you trust the institutions that broadcast into your home on a daily basis, and feed you … Read moreAlternative Media: Are You Informed?
NBC will air a pilot for it’s new show The Cape on January 9th, but if you’re an iPad owner you can catch an exclusive version of it right now, thanks to a groundbreaking deal between NBC and DC Comics. By way of the free DC Comics iPad app, you can watch an unfinished first … Read moreThe Cape – A New TV Superhero?
It’s almost that time of year again. The time of year that Santa delivers gifts via the chimney, apparently, and also when Apple give away a selection of products from their iTunes store. Regular visitors to Sunshine Playroom may remember me posting about last year’s offer, which offered a wide selection of goodies, some better … Read moreiTunes 12 Days Of Christmas 2010
Zumocast is a new free app available to download for the iPhone and iPad. Once you’ve installed a free piece of software on your PC (or Mac), you can then stream all your media and documents to your iPhone that are stored on your computer. Music, videos, photos, and even documents can all be accessed … Read moreZumocast Media Streaming for iPhone/iPad
Freeview HD launched late last year in the London and Manchester areas, with rollout set to continue around the country. 50% of the population are expected to be able to receive the service by the start of this year’s World Cup, and over 98% by the end of the digital switchover in 2012. As well … Read moreFreeview HD – First PVR’s Set For Launch
Music streaming service we7 have recently launched an ad-free subscription service, offering unlimited music on your PC. And for a limited period you can subscribe to it for only £3.99 a month (it will usually be offered at £4.99). For this you get their usual great service, but will never have to look at or … Read morewe7 – Premium Music Streaming
BSkyB released a new improved version of their popular free iPhone Sky+ app last week, with many new and useful features added to make it easier to use. The old version has always been a popular application for iPhone/iPod Touch users, allowing you to browse Sky’s schedules and set a programme to record when you’re … Read moreImproved Sky+ App Released
Spotify released their music streaming service app for the iPhone a while ago, and I thought it was about time I tested it out to see exactly what it offers. Whilst the app itself is available free from the iTunes store, to actually use it you need to sign up for Spotify‘s premium service at … Read moreSpotify iPhone App Review
Everyone loves free stuff, don’t they? And even more so at this time of year, when your budget might be stretched. All the more reason to take advantage of Apple’s forthcoming 12 Days Of Christmas promotion that will run, as it did last year, from December 26th until January 6th. Each day, the iTunes store … Read moreiTunes 12 Days Of Christmas
The Guardian newspaper this week launched it’s own iPhone app, priced at £2.39. It joins many of it’s competitors ‘on the shelves’ with apps already available from The Independent, The Telegraph, Daily Star and The Financial Times, although so far all of those are available for free. It does have one feature that it hopes … Read moreThe Guardian Launches iPhone App


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Long-time pals and stars Seth Rogen and James Franco have teamed up to parody TV star Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West.
US reality TV star Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West are reportedly expecting their first child.
Kim and Kourtney Kardashian have launched their new clothing range for Dorothy Perkins in London.
Kim Kardashian has said that she loves British style because "everyone is so individual". She caught up with Mark Heyes to talk high street shops and weight-loss tips on ITV's Lorraine. Watch the full interview here.
Thank you, President Obama! http://t.co/GcnmoG6b No more living in the past!
Kim Kardashian -- Pressing Charges Against Flour Tosser - Kim Kardashian has decided she will press charges against ... http://t.co/PWPcrbXI


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QUINCY, Mass. — (BUSINESS WIRE)–Propel Marketing, a leading national provider of digital marketing products and services for local businesses, will open a new telesales center this March in Manchester, NH, bringing new jobs to the city’s downtown.
Since being founded in 2012, Propel has seen rapid growth. The company opened a Boston office in 2015 to house its engineering team, and recently leased and renovated an additional 10,000 square feet in its Quincy, Mass., headquarters.
Propel Marketing CEO Pete Cannone said the company chose Manchester because of its welcoming business environment and its proximity to local higher education institutions to recruit top talent.
“We’re confident we’ll be able to attract talented, driven employees that will help Propel continue to grow in 2016 and beyond,” Cannone said. “And as a native of New Hampshire, I’m personally excited to establish a corporate presence in this vibrant, historic downtown business district.”
“New Hampshire is a perfect fit for Propel Marketing because the company will find many talented employees from the local colleges, all very close to their new mill space in downtown Manchester,” said Michael Bergeron, Senior Business Development Manager for the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development. “We are excited that this cutting edge marketing firm is locating in New Hampshire.”
The new space has capacity for 40 additional employees to support Propel’s aggressive hiring plan in 2016. Propel will continue to focus on helping local businesses across the country grow sales through their digital offerings which include responsive-platform websites, social media, SEM, Facebook Ads, display ads, Email, video, and more.


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Disney Plus in the UK is about to change. The streaming service is expanding with Star, a new section on Disney Plus that will sit alongside Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. Unlike those sub-sections, though, Star on Disney Plus will feature adult-aimed movies and shows – and if you’re a parent, don’t worry, there are features that can lock young ones out of Star content. New movies and shows include some bonafide classic TV shows (Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 24), iconic movies (Braveheart, The Fly, Independence Day), Oscar winners (Moulin Rouge, Three Billboards), and so much more. Notably, though, while Die Hard 2 and Deadpool 2 feature, there’s no sign of the first Die Hard or Deadpool. However, we can expect new additions every month, and those movies should come to the streamer soon. It’s worth noting that the Disney Price price is going up from £5.99 to £7.99 per month, or £59.99 to £79.90 per year. This price change will take place in six months for current subscribers, though newcomers will have to pay the inflated price straight away. Below, find a full list of everything coming to Disney Plus Star when it launches in the… Read full this story
- The New MoMA Is Here. Get Ready for Change.
- Take That star Gary Barlow slims down and gets in shape to launch new BBC show Let It Shine
- Do your girls loving watching Disney films? New research shows it could be BAD for them
- Get set for the UK's biggest bike show – Motorcycle Live 2017
- Unemployed under-25s to snatch up 20,000 job opportunities at UK’s biggest careers event
- Behind the scenes at the UK’s biggest sex toy warehouse… which produces over 2,000 litres of lube a MONTH
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- After honours for Cameron’s cronies, last Dambuster George ‘Johnny’ Johnson is snubbed AGAIN in New Year’s Honours list
- Are Jedis real? What is the Star Wars religion, how many Jedi are there in the UK and what’s the movie got to do with it?
- Is Elf on TV this Christmas? Why one of the UK’s most loved festive movies is only available on demand in 2016
Disney Plus UK adding its biggest ever lineup of new movies and shows – here's the full list have 369 words, post on www.gamesradar.com at February 22, 2021. This is cached page on Game Breaking News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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Woman charged in connection with ATM skimming
Updated 12:44 pm, Tuesday, August 1, 2017
FAIRFIELD — A Flushing, N.Y., woman was arrested on a warrant at state Superior Court in Bridgeport July 28, charged in connection with a criminal ring that used skimming devices on ATMs.
Gabriela Enache, 38, was charged with 19 counts each of illegal use of a credit card and third-degree identity theft, and one count each of third-degree larceny, fraudulent use of an ATM, and receiving goods or services illegally.
According to police, Enache was spotted on live-streamed surveillance video at People’s Unite bank, 411 Old Post Road, on June 11, using multiple cards to make withdrawals. Police said the criminal ring would place skimmers and pinhole digital cameras to capture information from magnetic strips and PIN numbers. They would then create fraudulent debit and credit cards using that information.
Enache was arrested just 45 minutes later that day in Darien, where she was caught in the act using the fraudulent cards at a People’s branch in that town.
Enache is accused of taking $4,060 from 19 customer accounts from the Southport location.
She was held on a $100,000 bond and was arraigned July 28.


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Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Impact of Social Media on Sales.
The post-Thanksgiving shopping maelstrom has been gaining traction in the UK over the last few years, with 2014 being somewhat of a landmark. This year saw British shoppers spending an estimated £810m on the Friday according to IMRG, eclipsing their initial estimate of £555m. And while their estimate for Cyber Monday was even higher (£650m), the global social media statistics tell a different story:
This year saw just over 2 million discussions on social media about Black Friday (over 100% increase from last year’s figure of just under 1 million); whereas Cyber Monday was discussed only 330,000 times (up 75% from last year). However, this is not necessarily representative of a lack of enthusiasm for the latter. Rather, it is likely due to a conflation of the two days in the minds of shoppers, seeing the whole weekend as one frenzied carnival of cut-price consumption, as well as the fact that ‘Black Friday’ has an established ring to it, and makes for a popular buzzword (and thus key word in searches). Indeed not just ‘Black Friday’, but also simple key words like ‘deal’ or ‘sale’ were reported as more widely used than ‘Cyber Monday’ over the weekend.
Does Social Media Chatter Equate to an Increase in Sales?
Of course, social media statistics do not always translate directly into sales, and this is reinforced by the fact that the National Retail Federation actually reported a drop in sales this year compared Black Friday 2013 of 11%.
However, when we look at the companies that did the best over the weekend, certain facts are hard to ignore:
The ‘winners’ on Black Friday were Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung and Kohl’s. Kohl’s sales figures were the highest in the US, and managed to be the only non-global company in the top 5 globally, largely down to a hugely successful twitter campaign.
A similar phenomenon was witnessed on Cyber Monday, where Motorola figured in the top money-making brands (along with Amazon, EA and Etsy), also due to a campaign offering money-off for retweets.
While statisticians at Spredfast reckon that online sales account for around 7% of total retail sales, that’s still a 5% increase from last year, and is only set to go up. Brands like Adobe and IBM are reporting an increase in the average order value for online platforms, both reporting the highest AOV from Facebook (both at around $110), with Twitter and Pinterest coming in close behind.
With figures like this, and with the fact that marketing events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fuelled by the hype and buzz they create; social media is, as it always has been, the perfect platform to get people talking and buying.
Cyber Monday: Unique Online Equivalent to, or Superfluous Sibling of Black Friday?
Introduced in the US 2005 in a move to boost online sales, Cyber Monday seems to remain overshadowed by its older brother Black Friday, no longer even retaining its unique online pedestal.
Despite taking place the Monday after the last pre-Christmas wage packets come through for most workers (and thus marking the beginning of Christmas shopping for many), Cyber Monday seems almost a superfluous gimmick, given the staggering level of online shoppers taking advantage of Black Friday anyway. The general manager of Amazon’s main UK warehouse in Peterborough is quotes as saying:
“Cyber Monday has always been our biggest single day for sales but the growing success of Black Friday illustrates that it has become a much anticipated date as the nation prepares for the festive season.”
Amazon’s previous record for products ordered in a day (4.1m) last Cyber Monday, was smashed this year on Black Friday but 1.4m (total for BF 2014 = 5.5m products).
Spredfast reported 2,013,943 discussions, while Salesforce Market Cloud reported a higher total of 2.7m


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Technology news for New Zealand's largest enterprises
These search results are from across the Techday network of sites
3 Facts About Naked Broadband You've Probably Been Wondering About
Here are a few facts about naked broadband you may have either pondered on in the past or forgot to ask about in the first place.
Fibre providers chime in on country's fastest broadband regions
Chorus’ latest survey of the top ten fastest services for broadband has ruffled feathers amongst three of the country’s local fibre companies.
Chorus reveals top 10 Kiwi cities to live in for fast broadband
“The results show that New Zealanders are downloading, streaming TV and gaming at a huge rate."
Building a new SD-WAN? Tips for future-proofing your network
If your company is looking for a way to improve WAN functionality and service levels while lowering costs, then you don’t have far to go.
Silver Peak announces new advancements to EdgeConnect SD-WAN
"We’re embarking upon a long overdue revolution of the legacy WAN as enterprise network managers reach a boiling point."
A/NZ public safety sector investing in cloud & data-based tech, survey finds
“Collectively, these survey findings demonstrate that a variety of new technologies is becoming established within public safety."
Selling broadband to millennials: Market schemes and outlook for 2017
To market broadband services to millennials, broadband companies need to acknowledge their preferences and buying habits or tendencies.
Kiwis want faster internet, especially in rural areas, survey finds
"What the survey is showing us is that New Zealanders are ready to move on from the copper internet era."
Chorus' year ahead: UFB roll outs and increased customer focus
“It’s our intention to bolster the support we offer retailers in migrating customers to our fibre network where it’s available."
Kiwis’ broadband habits revealed
"What these numbers are overwhelmingly telling us is that as a nation our average data use is growing fast.”
Rural New Zealand gets a taste of satellite broadband
“Many rural homes are using patchy mobile broadband or don’t have Internet access at all."
InternetNZ welcomes govt's Telco Act Review
"We will apply a magnifying glass to the details to make sure that fair prices for broadband are a reality after 2020."
nbn announces huge revenue growth, well on track for 2020 goal
“In the past six months, nbn recorded revenue close to the total achieved in the entire fiscal 2016 year.”
India using alternative channels to enable widespread broadband services
The Government of India is working to bring cost-effective broadband services to all its citizens, through the use of white spaces.
Speed isn't everything: 3 vital things to look for in your ISP
ISPs will always try to woo customers with impressive connection speeds - here are 3 crucial factors to consider before signing that contract.
Skinny ups its broadband play
Skinny has made its move into the unlimited broadband world, as the company looks to cash in on Kiwi’ love for uncapped data.
Chorus upgrades more rural broadband cabinets around NZ
“There’s no question that access to better broadband makes a significant difference to the lives of New Zealanders."
MyRepublic's Halloween promo narrowly escapes death by complaint
MyRepublic has been let off by the Advertising Standards Authority, after a complaint about a promo that was 'in very poor taste'.
Revealed: Who is New Zealand’s cheapest non-contract ISP?
When it comes to Internet in New Zealand, many Kiwis are led to believe there are only a few options from the major players. However, this isn't true.
Spark waives early termination & moving fees for quake-affected customers
Spark broadband customers who have been forced to move due to the earthquakes no longer need to deal with early termination & moving fees.
CenturyLink 'extends reach' through $34 billion buyout of Level 3 Communications
Global IT company CenturyLink is spending around $34 billion to buy out Fortune 500 and global communications company Level 3 Communications.
Ovum on gigabit broadband: Is it speed for speed's sake?
Is there a genuine need for speeds of 1Gbps or more? Equipment vendors want to think so, but service providers Ovum has spoken to are less certain.
InternetNZ uncovers Kiwis' cyber-savviness when exploring the wild, wild web
Kiwis are aware of personal security risks when it comes to the world wide web, but what are our hopes and fears, new research from InternetNZ asks.
New Zealand's fibre connections double, Statistics NZ reports
“This can make it easier for businesses to grow and for households to use the internet for streaming movies, online gaming, and communication."


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The term "Easter egg" has long been used to describe hidden goodies inside of software and video games, but it's not often that game companies use the designated Easter holiday to actually announce the things. That changed on Sunday with an out-of-nowhere announcement from AtariAge, a modern-day retro publisher known for releasing games for Atari systems like the 2600 and the Jaguar.
AtariAge released the Jeff Minter Classics collection last year, which was billed as two '80s Minter games combined on a single Jaguar cartridge. (Minter, for the uninitiated, is the founder of bizarre '80s game studio Llamasoft and continues making stunning games like Tempest 2000, TxK, and Polybius to this day.) Sunday's news confirmed that AtariAge's sales pitch was a mistruth; three Minter classics shipped on the cart, and its owners can now access the third game, a refresh of 1982's Gridrunner, by entering the code "modern day wizardry" into the cart's password screen. Do this once, and the retro-looking bullet-hell game will permanently unlock on your cartridge via the main menu.
If you're wondering: no, this is not an April Fool's joke. Avid fans at the AtariAge forums immediately began posting personal screenshots to confirm that the unlock works (and used their screens for high-score bragging rights). Turns out, the project actually hid in plain sight on YouTube for over a year, though that February 2017 video didn't include any clues as to how to access this version.Though Gridrunner originally launched on joystick-enabled home computers like the Commodore 64 and Vic-20, its sensitive control system particularly shines with trackball-like precision. Jaguar owners who've lucked into today's surprise will appreciate another tweak baked into this version: support for Amiga and Atari ST mice. (If you're the kind of person playing with an Atari Jaguar in 2018, chances are you own one of these mice, as well.)
Should you not have an Atari Jaguar handy, Minter is set to launch a PlayStation 4 update of Gridrunner in the near future, which will follow 2010's Gridrunner Revolution for Windows PCs. Minter is also currently working on new game Tempest 4000 as an official release under the Atari brand—but we have no idea when this is launching, and last week's weird "launch-then-retract" move by Atari even has Minter himself confused.
Listing image by AtariAge / Jeff Minter


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Microsoft announced this morning that Unity, a popular cross-platform game engine has chosen Azure as its cloud partner. Unity will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud to improve its developer tools and make it easier for game developers and artists to create real-time 3D (RT3D) experiences.
“Unity is building a platform-agnostic, cloud-native solution that meets the wide-ranging needs of all developers from enterprise through citizen creators. By giving creators easy access to RT3D simulation tools and the ability to create digital twins of real-world places and objects, Unity is offering creators an easy path to production of RT3D assets, whether for games or non-gaming worlds,” explained Sarah Bond, VFP of Game Creator Experiences and Ecosystem at Microsoft.
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In the announcement, Microsoft highlighted how the creation of 3D interactive experiences is no longer restricted to the video games industry. “As the need for real-time simulation becomes central to every industry ranging from e-commerce to energy, manufacturing to medical and more, Unity and Microsoft are building the creator cloud that empowers 3D artists to build and run those experiences on Azure,” the exec emphasized.
In addition to this partnership on developer tools, Microsoft and Unity will also make it easier for developers using Unity to publish their games on Xbox and PC. This may become an important differentiator for a game engine like Unity which has to compete with juggernauts such as Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.


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Nokia has "increased confidence" that the first of its smartphones with Windows Phone will ship in the fourth quarter, the company said on Tuesday.
It takes more than a sleek operating system to make a successful smartphone.
Supporters of the MeeGo open-source platform put tablets, in-car systems and TV in the spotlight at a conference in San Francisco on Monday, saying the technology had broad potential while downplaying its role in smartphones.
Three years after its founding, the Industry Consortium for Advancement of Security on the Internet (ICASI) is starting to bear fruit with the launch of version 1.0 of its framework designed to allow tech vendors to more easily share data on software...
Another day, another report saying Android rules the smartphone world, this time from Gartner.
Android has further consolidated its status as the leading global smartphone operating system, according to data released by both Gartner and the Millennial Media mobile ad network.
Android became the most popular smartphone operating system worldwide in the first quarter of 2011, while Apple saw its share of the market grow, according to a report Gartner issued Thursday on sales of mobile phones to end users.
Nokia may be floundering in the high-end smartphone wars (and will soon be switching to the Windows Phone 7 platform for its N-Series devices), but its newest MeeGo powered N9 smartphone has just been shown off in a teaser video.
Nokia will abandon its Ovi mobile services brand as it prepares to sell smartphones based on Microsoft's Windows Phone software, it said in a blog posting on Mond...
How do you solve a problem like Apple and Google?
New partners Microsoft and Nokia have joined forces, hoping to invalidate Apple's trademark registration for the terms APP STORE and APPSTORE in Europe, according to a statement issued by Microsoft.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer today promised that the company would continue to develop and support Skype on rival platforms.
Google's Android was the top smartphone operating system in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2011, overtaking the market share of Research in Motion's BlackBerry and keeping Apple's iPhone in the third position, according to ComScore.
The news that iPhones, iPads and Android devices secretly track the locations of their owners poses a potentially serious dilemma for IT staffs. If someone's manager asks IT to retrieve that data and hand it over, what should IT do? We certainly have...
Smartphone shipments dipped in the first quarter compared with the previous quarter, a type of decline that hasn't happened for a couple of years, according to iSuppli.
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GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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Digital Reading a Major Focus of New York Comic ConBy Mercy Pilkington
The massive New York Comic Con was held last week at the Javits Center in Manhatten and according to early reports, a record 105,000 fans attended. As these events are always fairly large, with last year’s event hosting around 90,000 fans, it is the major players and stars in the industry whom the fans come out to see.
Much of the excitement at this year’s event had more to do with reading than the chance to meet some of the big names, however. DC Comics’ highly anticipated relaunch of the New 52 in September and the birth of digital day-and-date which makes their comics available digitally on the same day that the print issues hit newsstands has been declared a success all around. Their announcement that they have sold 5 million comics since the launch last month means that venture has had some of the highest sales numbers for the line since 2003.
Several other companies and imprints have jumped on board following the success of DC’s relaunch. DC’s own Vertigo imprint will be adding six additional series titles to the digital day-and-date releases, while other highly anticipated manga series from Japan, including titles from Yen Press and Viz Media among others, will be launching several nearly simultaneous print and digital releases, reducing the time from Japanese publication to digital English translation to about two weeks. Marvel Comics also announced it will launch its Point One with the same-day digital and print.
GoodEReader.com has covered the need for more viable author-centric platforms that would allow indie graphic novelists and artists to self-publish their own works electronically. With the surge in popularity of digital comics and the rise in tablet reading versus the limitations of black-and-white e-ink reading, hopefully more doors will open for indie publishing and an even higher number of fans to read these authors’ works.
Mercy Pilkington is a young-adult author and a teacher in a correctional facility. She does not have a single textbook in her classroom. With the top-of-the-line technology at her disposal and the low reading ability of many of her students, there’s no need for standard paper texts. Instead she relies on e-readers, iPads, desktop PCs, Polycom video conferencing equipment for virtual field trips, live streaming for science demonstrations, and text-to-speech read-aloud software to teach English and science. Within the next ten years, public school classrooms across the country are going to look a lot more like Mercy’s classroom because the educational possibilities with these kinds of technologies are limitless. Have a question? Send an email to email@example.com
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Noida-based Dixon Technologies, one of the leading domestic contract manufacturers, expressed strong confidence in quadrupling its business over the next 4-5 years, indicating an expected growth rate of 35-40% annually.
During the company’s Q3FY24 earnings call, Managing Director Atul Lall responded to a question on how Dixon views the future growth potential with its strengthened competitive position.
“We feel that the growth journey with a strong balance sheet will carry on. We have the capability and bandwidth to execute this,” Lall said.
When specifically asked if a possibility to quadruple the business in 4-5 years with a growth rate of 35-40% seems realistic, Lall responded positively.
“Well, don’t hold me on to it, but I definitely feel that it’s a realistic possibility. I’m not giving any forecast or any numbers. But I think internally, we are excited about this opportunity. And we feel that, that is a reality,” he emphasized.
The optimism stems from Dixon’s pole position in multiple product categories and the huge opportunity to cater to electronic manufacturing outsourcing needs of both global and domestic brands.
With an aim to capture over 40% share of India’s mobile phone outsourcing market through contracts with leading brands like Motorola, Xiaomi, and the addition of two more major brands, the mobile business will be the biggest growth driver for Dixon.
The management has set up the capabilities and infrastructure to manufacture 30 million smartphones annually. Other businesses like consumer electronics, home appliances, laptops and tablets are also expected to see steady double-digit growth.
In this segment, the company is aggressively ramping up its smartphone production capacity through new facilities, contracts with major brands, and planned billion-dollar investment outlays.
It planning to add more capacity to the extent of 860,000 sq ft.
Motorola remains Dixon’s largest customer, with 28-30% of its output being exported. The company manufactures almost 15% of Motorola’s global smartphone volumes, expected to rise further.
“The ramp-up in Motorola volumes was very significant. And almost 28% to 30% of what we are going to manufacture is going to be for exports to U.S. market,” said Atul Lall, Managing Director.
Dixon has already begun mass production for Xiaomi after setting up dedicated manufacturing capacity. It aims to further scale up volumes starting April 2024.
The company is also gearing up to onboard two major new Indian smartphone brands, including one of the top 3-4 players. With agreements in final stages, commercial production is set to commence over the next 2-6 months.
Lall stated that Dixon has created 50 million phones per year capacity, of which 30 million is allocated for smartphones. The strong order pipeline gives confidence for utilization of the added capacity.
By catering to both domestic and overseas demand through partnerships with market-leading brands, Dixon seems to have built a competitive edge that will fuel its next growth phase in the coming years.
DUTY CUT ON SMARTPHONES
The company, which has been pushing for producing more and more components in India, said it doesn’t expect a sharp impact on its operations from the surprise announcement in the Union Budget to reduce import duties on mobile phone components.
However, India’s leading contract manufacturer Dixon Technologies clarified that the cut in display panel import duties from 10% to 5% does not materially alter the business case for local display production.
“There is a strong conviction that there is a strong case for setting up an indigenous infrastructure for display (manufacturing) at 10% arbitrage also,” said Saurabh Gupta, CFO at Dixon.
He added that at the scale Dixon envisions for its smartphone business, catering to almost 40-45% of domestic manufacturing requirements, the duty differential offers substantial cost savings.
The management suggested that its plans for a potential backward integration into mobile phone components like displays and modules remain intact.
Earlier during the call, Dixon MD Atul Lall had indicated plans for smartphone component manufacturing is at a “conceptualization and study state”. He reiterated that the opportunity for local value-addition remains significant.
The company still gets most of its revenue from mature segments like consumer electronics and home appliances, which continue to grow at a steady pace.
In the TV segment, Dixon registered 8% value growth year-over-year, shipping over 4 lakh units. The company also highlighted new initiatives in this segment:
“We have rolled out India’s first ODM-based Google TV solutions from Google in the quarter under review and we’re getting an encouraging response with some of the brands already taking the solution,” said Atul Lall, MD of Dixon. ODM refers to original design manufacturer, or someone who draws up their own designs instead of depending on other brands.
It has also partnered with Samsung for their Tizen OS to expand smart TV offerings for domestic brands. Dixon enabled manufacturing of interactive flat panel displays and expects healthier margins and order flow in coming quarters.
On the home appliances front, Dixon’s washing machine volumes grew 35% YoY to over 4 lakh units. Its new facility in Dehradun is ready for mass production across various categories.
With strong backward integration efforts, Dixon has established in-house manufacturing for most mechanical parts and tools needed for appliance production.
Senior leadership reiterated that Dixon continues to diversify product mix and drive scale as part of its long-term strategy across both these business segments.
Riding on its early-mover advantage and deep partnership with leading consumer brands, Dixon is cementing its leadership in Indian consumer electronics and durables market.


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Cambodia to export fresh products to South Korea by end of June
Hyundai Agro from Cambodia will export fresh vegetables and other fresh ingredient from Cambodia to South Korea by the end of June this year, its managing director said. Chang Hoon Lee, MD of the company, said that about 16 types of fresh food will be collected and packed and then exported to South Korea. They include lemon grass, banana leaves, banana flower, lime leaves, water spinach, galanga among others.
“We have already sent two sets of lemon grass as samples to get feed-back from the importer and they decided to accept it. So now we are arranging for lemon grass farmer supplier and my staff will travel to all provinces to find a good quality product with fewer chemicals,” Hoon Lee added.
“We need sincere and honest and reasonable farmers, and we will supply our own fertiliser and pesticide to make it safe to eat. So far we have found five farmers to grow the crop and all of them really want to cooperate with us.”
“We need around 50 to 100 tonnes a year of each crop of banana leaf, banana flower, lime leaf, lemon grass, water spinach and galanga etc. However, we will start to open one crop at a time, step-by-step,” Hoon Lee said. “We are already preparing boxes, stickers, branding and relevant documentation.”
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia exported agricultural products totalling more than 2 million tonnes plus a further 1 million tonnes informally in the first four months this year. From January to April, Cambodia exported 9,301 tonnes of cassava powder, 33,298 tonnes of corn, 2,252 tonnes of pepper, 44 tonnes of vegetable, 420 tonnes of tobacco, 186,205 tonnes of cashew nuts, 42,035 tonnes of mangoes, among other goods.
Turkey: Trabzon exports fresh produce to 27 countries
Saffet Kalyoncu, head of the Eastern Black Sea Exporters' Association (DKİB), reported that Trabzon, exported 294 thousand 884 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables to 27 countries in return for 179 million 46 thousand 128 USD (around 149 million Euro).
Kalyoncu, in his written statement emphasized that the northern city of Trabzon is an important exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables and ranks forth in the country in terms of export volume. "Trabzon-based exporters successfully expanded their global market" he added.
Kalyoncu admitted that exporters focused only on Russia for the last 25 years, but he said that this tendency changed due to difficulties with this destination. Therefore, he stated that exporters needed alternative markets and today Trabzon exports to 27 countries including European countries, especially Eastern Europe and the Balkans together with the Middle Eastern region.
Hong Kong is a new destination market
Kalyoncu pointed out to the exporters' success to reach to the Far East and that Hong Kong became a new destination market last year. He announced the new initiative in 2019 to increase the export of fresh fruits and vegetables and said:
"Exporters based in Trabzon invested a lot in this area. Exporters who possess packaging and processing plants, greenhouse fields and a good transportation network with fleet of trucks and Ro-Ro boats contributed a lot in the development of the sector. However, they need support from the state in order to ease unexpected obstacles in the customs and also in the domestic production and logistics because the costs have increased a lot."
Fresh produce trade growing quicker than total global trade
The export trade in fresh fruit and vegetables has developed more rapidly than the total global trade in goods in the past ten years. Seen in value (expressed in euros), the export of fresh fruit and vegetables grew slightly faster by an average of eight per cent than the total global export in the past ten years. In the past year, the global fruit and vegetable export (including double counts of re-export) passed the limit of 100 billion dollar. That’s only a modest figure (0.7 per cent) in relation to the total export trade of goods in the world, which is 15 trillion (15,000 billion).
The value of the Dutch export goods amounts to about 430 billion euro. In the total global trade in goods, that means the Netherlands has a share of about three per cent. With that, the Netherlands is seen as the seventh exporter globally, after France, but before the UK and Italy. The total Dutch import of goods has stagnated in recent years, and is at a value of approximately 380 billion euro. With that, the Netherlands came ninth in the list of import countries in 2015. In the EU, Germany, the UK and France are slightly higher on that list.
For fresh fruit and vegetables, the Netherlands is the second export country after Spain with a share of nine per cent, as regards value. In the total Dutch export, fresh fruit and vegetables has a share of about two per cent. The Dutch export of fresh fruit and vegetables increased to more than nine billion euro last year, regarding value. Import also increased, to about 5.5 billion euro in the past year. On the list of fruit and vegetable exporters, the Netherlands is fourth.
Crisis tempered export increase
The ten-year analysis shows that the trade in fresh fruit and vegetables wasn’t much influenced by the crisis after 2009. The total global trade in goods shows a clear slump in 2009. The increase of global trade in fresh fruit and vegetables levelled a bit in 2009, but did grow.
Seen in quantity, the global trade in fresh fruit and vegetables grew by three per cent every year over the past ten years. With it, the global trade in fruit and vegetables grew quicker than the world population, considering that grew by an average 1.2 per cent per year to about 7.5 billion over the past ten years.
The Netherlands plays key role for many products
The Netherlands plays a key role for a great number of fruit and vegetable products. Seen in quantity, the Netherlands comes fourth in the total fruit and vegetables trade. Spain is the most important global export country, followed by Mexico and China. The Netherlands is first for fresh vegetables globally. For fresh fruit, the Netherlands is ninth.
Spain is number one for most products. Of the 40 most important products, Spain is number one nine times, compared to four number one spots for the Netherlands. That the Netherlands is high on the list of export countries for onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and headed cabbage is not surprising. High positions for products such as oranges (no 7), grapes (6), pineapple (3), melons (7), garlic (4), mangoes (6), avocados (3), kiwifruit (7), grapefruit (5) and papayas (9) stand out more.
The importance of the Netherlands as an export country is mostly thanks to re-export. On the list of importers of fresh fruits and vegetables, the Netherlands is in sixth place. The most important import countries are the US, Germany, Russia, the UK and France. The Dutch share in total global import amounts to more than four per cent, vegetables 2.7 per cent and fruit more than five per cent. High positions are mostly taken up by the Netherlands for oranges (2), tangerines (6), grapes (3), pineapple (2), lemons (4), melons (2), avocados (2), mangoes (2) and grapefruits (1!).
EU market of vital importance for the Netherlands
More than a quarter of border-crossing traffic in fresh fruit and vegetables takes place between EU countries. Of the total Dutch goods export, nearly three-quarters is focused on EU countries. The importance of EU countries is even more important for fresh fruit and vegetables, nearly 85 per cent. This shows the major importance of one internal market for the Netherlands.
That picture is different for imports. Of the total Dutch import, more than half comes from EU countries, and for fresh fruit and vegetables that is about one-third. That more import is from outside the EU in relation can be explained because of the key position the Netherlands takes up in the trade of fruit and vegetables.
When considering separate countries, the four most important export countries (Spain, Mexico, China and the Netherlands), have shown a slightly larger average increase of export in the past ten years. Peaks regarding growth are: Turkey (biggest products were tangerines, tomatoes, lemons and oranges), Guatemala (mostly bananas), India (especially onions and tomatoes), Egypt (especially oranges and onions) and Peru (mostly grapes). A significant increase could also be seen for Belarus and Lithuania, although that mostly concerned transit to Russia.
Largest growth in Asia and Africa
The internal EU trade might be important, but the growth of internal trade is falling behind the growth of the global trade in fruit and vegetables. All regions in Asia and the African continent have managed to realise a larger growth than the EU countries. And the same can be seen with imports. Growing markets are mostly located in Asia, with China in the lead. African countries also import more and more fruit and vegetables. The increase of import in the Gulf States actually disappoints. With an average five per cent in the past ten years, it is less than the regions mentioned before.
For importing countries, the considerable increase for China stands out. In the past ten years, imports of fruit and vegetables increased by an average 15 per cent per year in China. Exotics and bananas are the most important Chinese import products. In practically all EU countries, the import of fresh fruit and vegetables shows a slight growth. In ten years, various important EU countries increased import by an average one per cent per year. The Netherlands was an exception, with an average of four per cent.
Spain is the number one exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables globally
Spain is the most important exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables globally. This has been the case for a long time. In recent years, Spain’s share in the total world trade of fresh fruit and vegetables has always been around 10 per cent. Spain represents about 12 per cent of the global trade, not including bananas.
Annually, Spain exports more than 12 million tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables, valued at more than 12 billion euro. For comparison: the Netherlands annually exports (including re-export) 9 million tonnes of fruit valued at 9 billion euro. Globally, that puts the Netherlands in fourth and third place, respectively. Spanish export, which grew until 2014, has remained stable at that level in 2015 and 2016. In the first 7 months of this year, Spanish export grew by a few per cent. It’s noticeable that Spain has also been importing more and more fresh fruit and vegetables. In recent years, import grew by 5 per cent on average per year, to 2.15 million in 2016. Besides bananas and apples, this also concerns oranges.
Two-thirds of export vegetables from Almeria during winter months
About 60 per cent of Spanish export of fresh fruit and vegetables comes from three provinces: Almeria, Murcia and Valencia. Almeria and Murcia are Spain’s vegetable gardens, and Valencia is its citrus province. More than 40 per cent of Spanish citrus export comes from Valencia, followed by northern neighbour Castellon with 25 per cent. Almeria is the province of export of tomatoes (60 per cent), bell pepper (70 per cent), cucumbers (70 per cent) and courgettes and aubergines (both 80 per cent). Murcia, slightly to the east, is large in the export of lettuce (70 per cent), cabbage (70 per cent) and melons (70 per cent) and grapes (60 per cent).
Off all citrus produced in Spain (7.1 million tonnes), more than 40 per cent (3.0 million tonnes) could be sold abroad. A slightly smaller amount (2.7 million tonnes) was eaten as fresh product by the Spaniards themselves, and 1.2 million tonnes went to industry. Of the orange production of 3.7 million tonnes, more than a third was exported in 2016. Navellate was the variety exported most, with 45 per cent. Regarding amount, Navellina was the most important export variety. Of all tangerines and lemons produced in Spain, just over half could be sold abroad last year.
Traditionally, Spain is large in citrus. Oranges are Spain’s most important export product, followed by tangerines. Their shares in global trade were 23 and 29 per cent, respectively, last year. The other large Spanish export products are tomatoes (share global trade in 2016 12 per cent), and peaches/nectarines (39 per cent), bell pepper (22 per cent), watermelon (20 per cent), cucumbers (24 per cent), lemons (16 per cent), lettuce (47 per cent) and melons (20 per cent).
Bestsellers declining; other products larger increase
It’s noticeable that bestsellers in the Spanish export range — oranges, tangerines, tomatoes and bell peppers — reached their peak a few years ago. In 2013, the top three still represented 38 per cent of the total Spanish export of fresh fruit and vegetables, last year this was only 32 per cent. Of the top three, export declined by 13 per cent compared to 2013, while the other products were exported 18 per cent more compared to 2013.
The growth in recent years was therefore at the expense of other products. Products which Spain managed to sell abroad more are mostly cucumber, butterhead lettuce, melons and peaches. The flat variants of this product have clearly been injected with new life. Other growers in the range are: cauliflower/broccoli, onions. strawberries, garlic, aubergines, grapes, carrot, apples, plums, avocados and apricots.
Nearly everything to EU countries
Spain might be the most important exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables, Spanish product mostly stays within EU borders. Last year, 93 per cent of export was focused on EU countries. That hasn’t changed much in recent years either. It can be noticed that Spain is looking for new sales markets, but this mostly concerns limited volumes. Growth regions for Spain are Latin America, the Gulf states and South and East Asia.
Germany, France and the UK were the most important sales markets in 2016, with 26, 18 and 13 per cent of total export respectively. Combined, the top three is good for 57 per cent of total export. If we add the Netherlands, with eight per cent, to that, the four most important countries are good for two-thirds of the total export.
Germany is most important and continues to grow
Spanish export to Germany is still going well. From 2010, the average growth per year amounted to 7 per cent. In the first 7 months of 2017, export once again increased, although only modestly, by just 2 per cent. Oranges and tangerines are the bestsellers in export to Germany, but 4 products that increased considerably follow these two products closely:watermelons (average growth 2010/16 of 10 per cent), cucumbers (11 per cent), bell peppers (15 per cent) and tomatoes (8 per cent).
While the Spanish export assortment to France is fairly similar to the average regarding composition, the assortment to the UK looks differently. Oranges are only in fifth place, after tangerines, tomatoes, cauliflower and onions. With an average growth of 7 per cent in recent years, the British market is important for the sales of Spanish fruit and vegetables.
Mostly greenhouse vegetables to the Netherlands in second half of year
The importance of the Netherlands in Spanish fruit and vegetables has declined somewhat, from 9 per cent 2016 to 8 per cent last year. On the other hand, the import from Spain represents 14 per cent of total Dutch fruit and vegetable import. The most remarkable in the Spanish export assortment to the Netherlands is the limited share of Clementines, which is only four per cent of total Spanish export of this product. But the Dutch share in the export of other important products — peaches, nectarines, lemons and strawberries — is also small. The Dutch share is largest for tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, melons, cauliflower and courgette, 11 to 14 per cent. Spanish product represents more than half of total Dutch import for a number of products. This concerns tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, lettuce and courgette. During the Spanish export season for these products their dominance is naturally considerable. In that period, foreign competition for these products is at a minimum.
The Dutch export season of the important greenhouse vegetables — tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers — differs slightly from that of the Spanish season. In Spain, emphasis is on the winter months, while it’s during spring and summer in the Netherlands. In the previous Spanish export season, 2016/17, considerably fewer tomatoes were exported. From November until February, Spanish tomato export was significantly smaller than in previous years. A similar thing can be seen with cucumbers. Of bell peppers, practically the same amount was exported in the previous Spanish export season compared to previous years.
An entirely different product, peaches, which have been injected with new life thanks to the rise of the flat version, has been exported more in all months. Considerable amounts are now even exported of the Spanish peaches in September and October.