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The Ministry of Economy's Ordinance 309, which zeroes the import tax on 30 computer, telecommunications and machinery goods by December 2020, was challenged this Tuesday (09) by congressmen and senators allied to and opposing the government. They presented legislative decrees to overturn the rule.
Businessmen said in a public hearing of the CAE (Economic Affairs Commission) of the Senate that the ordinance should culminate in unemployment of up to 2 million workers due to the closure of national industries that will lose competitiveness. The Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, will be invited to clarify the tax reduction.
Senator José Serra (PSDB-SP) and Congressman José Ricardo (PT-AM) have already presented legislative decrees to revoke the ordinance before the recess, which begins on the 18th. The matter will be discussed again on the 10th in a public hearing with the Special Secretary of Foreign Trade and International Affairs of the Ministry of Economy.
On June 12, the Ministry of Economy issued Ordinance 309 to regulate the Ex-Tariff regime for 30 imported electronic products - which eliminates the 14% import tax rate for those that have no similar products produced in Brazil.
The businessmen contest several points of the Ordinance, among them what determines that national goods 5% more expensive than the imported equivalents will not be considered similar, that is, the international products will be able to enjoy the benefit.
The matter will be discussed in the coming weeks, for the time being, the Ordinance is still valid.


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Kenya has embarked on a campaign to woe a California-based operator of luxury cruise ships, Princess Cruises to consider making Mombasa a home port for its vessels in a move aimed at tapping tourists from United States.
In a campaign led by Tourism Cabinet Cecretary Najib Balala, a series of meetings has been held with the executives of Princess Cruises in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. If successful, Kenya will become the second major destination for ships in Africa after Egypt.
Prince Cruise ships will not only play a major part in stoking Mombasa port with tourist passengers but also help restock fuel and other goods.
This, together with the direct flights the US has cleared Kenya for will be a huge boost in the tourism sector that has faced challenges in recent times due to terror threats.
Balala alongside Kenya Tourism Board CEO Betty Radier and officials from the Kenya Ports Authority held extensive talks with the owners of the Cruise ships while attending the Seatrade Cruise Global convention in Florida.
Princess Cruises is also said to have agreed to share with Kenya their pre-conditions for making Mombasa port part of their destination

domain: news


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Updated 11:32 a.m. 7/12/12: Added new information about creating websites with Intuit
Next Tuesday, Google launches its Get Your Business Online initiative in Maryland with an event at Baltimore’s Legg Mason building downtown. The GYBO initiative, launched almost a year ago, is Google’s campaign to help put online nearly three-fifths of the United States’ 27.5 million small businesses that do not have websites.
“We think it’s imperative for businesses to be online, and in Maryland over half do not have a website,” says Soo Young Kim, head of marketing for GYBO with Google.
The Association of Small Business Development Centers, the business mentorship and counseling nonprofit SCORE, and Intuit have partnered with Google on GYBO. In Maryland, Chris Rieth, the deputy director of public affairs with Governor Martin O’Malley’s office, is spearheading the effort.
“Job creation is the governor’s primary focus, and supporting small businesses, supporting local businesses and helping businesses grow,” says Raquel Guillory, the director of communications with the governor’s office.
Each small business in Maryland that participates receives a free, three-page website through Intuit with free web hosting for one year. Businesses without existing domain names will also receive a free, customized domain name. In addition, all businesses that sign up are given free web tools, like Google Docs, Apps and Spreadsheets, and web training. At the event at Legg Mason on July 17, three different website-building workshops will be held.
After one year, unless a business cancels beforehand, it will be automatically charged $2 per month for a domain name and $4.99 per month for Intuit website hosting. But, according to Intuit’s Terms of Service, if a company chooses to migrate from Intuit after its year of free hosting, the customer stands to lose the content it created during the trial.
Although Kim was unsure as to whether this meant businesses who decide to switch from Intuit lose any website information they’ve uploaded via Intuit’s do-it-yourself SiteBuilder tool, she says the domain names can be transferred to another hosting service “for sure.”
In a follow-up e-mail sent July 12, Jamie Hill, a Google spokesperson, said, “If a customer wanted to copy their website’s files from Intuit’s system before the end of the free year, they can certainly do it. However, it is very unlikely that another provider’s system would be compatible with these files, and they would also no longer have access to SiteBuilder to edit their site. So, Intuit doesn’t ‘block’ them for taking their files with them, but it’s probably not terribly useful that they can.”
“I think it acts as a megaphone for our goals in the governor’s office, as we want to both raise awareness and find ways to empower businesses to grow, expand and prosper,” said Rieth on Facebook. “It’s a positive for small businesses who were already not part of this online market.”
Some local technologists, however, see it differently.
“How could they not realize they are giving Google and Intuit free access to all those small businesses with the state’s blessing and their power of endorsement?” says Ron Schmelzer, co-founder of the Baltimore-based Bizelo, which designs a suite of apps specifically for small business websites. “How could they not realize that there are other Maryland software companies that would want that same opportunity and access?”
Guillory says this is nothing more than “a temporary freebie that [small businesses] didn’t have previously.”
“These are companies who previously hadn’t been reached by available services,” she says. “They had not reached out themselves to create a web presence.”
“We strongly encourage businesses to use all the different online tools and agencies that make sense for them,” says Kim. “This is just one way to get your business online.”-30-
Explore blockchain, machine learning and more at GDG DevFest MD 2017
Millennial Media ‘focused on deepening its roots in Baltimore’ [VIDEO]
Adobe Create NOW at the Graphic Design Meetup // NoVa TechBreakfast // Google’s Local U [Events]
TechBreakfast monthly startup showcase to expand to Northern Virginia in February
Sign-up for daily news updates from Technical.ly Baltimore


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As if there weren't already so many uses for tea beyond just drinking—and that includes matcha-flavored Kit Kats—there's a brilliant new invention on the market that's using the humble herb in a way that could help so many people.
Green tea cigarettes, though nothing particularly new—they've been used in Vietnam for decades—are now available in the U.S. Billy55, a company founded by acupuncturist Ranko Tutulugdzija that was successfully funded through IndieGoGo is responsible for bringing them stateside, and they are promoting them as a nicotine-free alternative to cigarettes that could help you kick that tobacco addiction.
Though the cigarettes contain no tar, tobacco, nicotine, or any of that other bad stuff commonly associated with the vice, according to Time, there's no evidence purporting them as a viable solution for addicts. In fact, the simple act of smoking may actually prove the most detrimental to participants really looking to quit, with addictions specialist Donna Richardson explaining that, "No matter if it's lettuce or tea or rolled up newspaper, our lungs don't like polluted air."
This information, however, hasn't stopped Billy55 from packaging the cigarettes as a full-blown 90-day program, complete with a mustard seed acupuncture pressure point set and at only $2.50 a pack, it seems worth a try. If nothing else, these would definitely go great with an iced tea cocktail.
Follow Delish onInstagram.


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2021 Speech Industry Award Winner: SoundHound Feeds the Voice-Enabled Drive-Through
Speech technology has started to transform drive-through and drive-in interactions for quick-service restaurant chains, and Santa Clara, Calif.-based SoundHound is at the forefront of that innovation.
Through a partnership with Mastercard announced last September, SoundHound’s Houndify’s Speech-to-Meaning and Deep Meaning Understanding technologies will enable drive-through ordering systems to understand complex orders, substitutions, and special requests. Patrons can order what they want with natural voice queries and confirm the accuracy of their orders. Houndify’s conversational intelligence maintains context without requiring the user to repeat previous inputs.
Mastercard is deploying these new solutions with leading retail, sports, entertainment, and hospitality partners, including Circle K, Delaware North, Dunkin’, and White Castle.
“Consumers today believe voice ordering makes their experiences more convenient and less stressful, and we look forward to helping Mastercard deliver frictionless service, convenience, and customer safety,” said Amir Arbabi, vice president of business development at SoundHound, in a statement.
SoundHound’s Houndify platform also found its way into the new Honda e electric car and the top-selling Honda Jazz in Europe. The Honda Personal Assistant—powered by Houndify—gives drivers an in-car conversational interface to control their environment and access navigation, entertainment, and information hands-free. The personal assistant supports French, German, Spanish, Italian, and English.
Through Houndify’s voice AI, drivers and passengers can ask Honda Personal Assistant even the most complex questions, such as “OK Honda, show me restaurants within five kilometers, except French and Japanese ones, that have Wi-Fi, have at least three stars, and are open past 10 p.m.” Houndify also allows for follow-up questions, such as “Does it have parking?” The natural language interface can proactively prompt for the next step, like directions to the destination. Deep navigation integration allows drivers to ask other follow-up questions, such as “Are there any convenience stores along the way?”
Houndify is also now an integral part of Snapchat’s Scan platform, which lets Snapchatters learn more about what’s around them. The Voice Scan feature lets them find the right Lens to augment their faces or the world around them just by asking.
“We are thrilled to be one of Snapchat’s first Scan platform partners and voice-enable one of their most powerful features,” said James Hom, cofounder and vice president of products at SoundHound, in a statement when the service was launched a year ago. “With hundreds of thousands of Lenses available in the app, being able to just ask for a feature offers a powerful new way to discover new Lenses with the added convenience of being hands-free.”
To access the new Voice Scan feature within the Lens carousel, users start by saying “Hey Snapchat,” followed by a verbal request, such as “Make my hair pink,” “Give me green eyes,” “Take me underwater,” or “Take me to outer space.”
In addition to leveraging Houndify’s voice recognition, the Snapchat app uses Houndify’s wake word technology, allowing voice interactions to be triggered hands-free just by saying, “Hey Snapchat.”
Houndify’s speech recognition was already considered among the fastest, and the platform got a significant upgrade when SoundHound partnered with ReadSpeaker to bring its text-to-speech (TTS) technology to the platform. This means that developers using Houndify can now add ReadSpeaker’s voices to their custom voice assistants.
“The Houndify Voice AI platform helps companies retain brand identity, data ownership, and valuable customer relationships,” said Kamyar Mohajer, vice president of corporate strategy at SoundHound, in a statement. “The addition of ReadSpeaker’s industry-leading and custom TTS offerings provides brands with the complete technology stack to help them extend their brands through voice.”
SoundHound also bolstered the Houndify platform with an expanded selection of languages, bringing the total number to 22. The company says it plans to add more than 100 languages and variations in the coming months.
Among the languages currently supported are Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indian English, German, Dutch, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Polish, Swedish, Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew, and more.
SoundHound brings voice ordering automation to restaurants and POS integration with Square.


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A Calgary investment firm is launching one of Canada’s first cannabis real estate investment trusts.
CBi2 Capital announced this week investment in Industrial Lifestyle Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (iLP) which will acquire, develop and manage cultivation facilities, industrial properties and real estate for the cannabis industry.
“There’s a lot of focused industry-specific niche REITS that have been created over the last decade,” says CBi2 president and CEO Sonny Mottahed. “Although the cannabis industry is relatively nascent, it is probably a lot bigger and more mainstream than a lot of people would think who are not directly involved in the industry.”
The REIT can provide investors an opportunity to enter the developing industry with less risk than a direct investment in a cannabis producer. By providing sales-leaseback transactions, it will also allow cannabis producers to unlock capital for higher return activities, according to CBi2.
REIT to operate in Canada and U.S.
The REIT will operate in both Canada and the U.S., says Mottahed.
“I would say in the context of the Canadian market there are over 90 licensed (cannabis) producers, so 90 potential counterparties for a business like this. And there are probably an additional 100 cannabis-type facilities that, over the course of the next one to three years, will end up being developed . . . so call it up to 200 potential counterparties,” says Mottahed.
“There are 29 states that have a legal medicinal cannabis program, plus eight states that have legalized adult recreational use of cannabis and all of these states have licensed producers and other facilities.”
While initial investments may well be in Canada, Mottahed says the U.S. will be a focus for the REIT.
Because cannabis is not federally legal south of the border, companies don’t have easy access to markets to raise capital and the REIT’s ability to unlock cash should be attractive.
iLP management team
iLP will have its own management team and board of directors. David McGorman, currently a managing director with Calgary’s Black Spruce Merchant Capital, will be the managing partner for iLP.
Mottahed says McGorman has advised a number of cannabis companies and the REIT’s board of trustees will have significant background and experience in the sector.
CBi2 will initially invest $1 million in the REIT.
“The idea was to give iLP enough capital to go out and do one to five to 10 deposits on facilities and then to take those LOIs (letters of intent) and do a larger raise surrounding it,” says Mottahed.
“The hope is that the amount that would need to be raised would be dictated by the number of LOIs that would be signed in the short term. We view that number to be two to five and we generally look at the size of the transaction, based on a very rough cut of a median-sized value of these cannabis facilities, of $15 to $30 million per facility.”
The REIT is eventually expected to become publicly listed, but Mottahed said the timing has still to be determined.
“It needs to be little further baked. Pardon the pun,” he says.
Cannabis “is a real business”
The timing decision will be made in consultation with whichever investment banks iLP works with to do the larger raise, says Mottahed.
CBi2 Capital (the firm is currently named Target Capital Inc. but will be renamed on shareholder approval), is developing a cannabis-focused investment strategy..
“The reality is the cannabis industry is a real business,” says Mottahed. “In the context of the Canadian marketplace, it’s going to be a legal business. . . . We know there’s a well-established black market demand. The big question is how big will this business be upon legalization?
“Nobody really knows, but there’s a lot of very large numbers circulated.”
iLP will offer a less risky way to enter the sector, he says. “When you’re talking about investing in a REIT, the very nature of that investment is that it’s fairly defensive because you’re talking about real property.”
Barry Schwartz, vice-president and chief investment officer for Baskin Wealth Management, says the markets are very excited about the cannabis sector, which could be worth $5 billion-plus once the commodity becomes legal. There is a growing number of players wanting to get into associated parts of the industry.
“Huge demand” for warehouse space
“There’s going to be a number of businesses that are going to try to be secondary derivative players on cannabis, whether it’s going to be companies that sell inputs, or come up with a new technology or the guts, like . . . real estate.”
“We’ve been seeing a huge demand for industrial warehouse space as a result of the continued boom in e-commerce and the potential of what’s happening with marijuana,” Schwarz says.
He says the producing companies have high-priced, but no-value stocks and need to build inventory. They do need cash. The REIT “sounds like an extremely reasonable idea,” he says.
Schwartz says it’s still early days for the sector as a whole.
“There’s going to be more interest and more capital flow into it, but there’s a huge amount of risks. A lot of the cannabis producers are trading at valuations that don’t make any sense.
“New investors to the sector should wait for a material pullback or look for one of these secondary plays.”


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The cost of buying ‘green’ products often prevents hospitals from making sustainable purchasing decisions, a global study of healthcare professionals has found.
The research, commissioned by Johnson & Johnson, surveyed 329 procurement/materials managers, doctors, nurses and hospital executives - 100 in the US and 229 across the UK, France, Germany, Brazil and Japan.
According to the report, financial factors were a ‘top barrier’ to ‘impeding’ the adoption of green products in US hospitals - eight out of 10 US respondents named both the cost of implementation and a lack of affordable environmentally sustainable products as obstacles.
Global survey respondents echoed the concerns of their US counterparts - 80 per cent blamed the cost of implementation as a major barrier to purchasing more sustainable products, while 79 per cent felt hospitals were being held back by a lack of affordable environmentally sustainable goods. In addition, only 22 per cent of global respondents reported that Environmental Purchasing Policies (EPP) were in place at their hospitals.
Although 79 per cent of US respondents agreed it made good financial sense for hospitals to go green, only 38 per cent said their hospitals track return on investment from purchasing sustainable products. “We’re at tipping point with sustainability issues impacting the health care industry,” said Keith Sutter, Johnson & Johnson director, medical device and diagnostics sustainability.
“Professionals today understand that investments in more sustainable operations are critical to the success of hospitals, but as suppliers, we need to help them prove greater return on investment so they can deliver improved options to patients while decreasing the impact on the environment.” Despite the findings, 80 per cent of healthcare professionals expect their hospitals to incorporate sustainability into purchasing decisions within the next two years and more than half (54 per cent) said their hospitals currently do so.


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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Black Friday is now less than a week away, and with new toys and technology coming out seemingly every day, kids can be among the toughest to please while shopping.
Toyinsider.com's Laurie Schacht joined CBS2's Andrea Grymes with a sampling of what's new and popular this holiday shopping season -- from "Frozen" to "Dora the Explorer" and Amiibo by Nintendo.
Click on the video player above to see all the new toys and gadgets for this holiday season.
For more on this holiday season's hottest gifts, visit Toyinsider.com
Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com:
for more features.


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Welcome to the Value Added Resource ecommerce news week in review!
eBay announced a mass layoff of 1,000 employees this week, as CEO Jamie Iannone says "overall headcount & expenses have outpaced the growth of our business."
While much attention has been placed on the loss in tech jobs & plans to reduce use of contractors, eBay's growing physical warehouse operations have been curiously absent from the conversation.
Take a deeper look at the impact these layoffs may have on authentication workers and how Iannone has radically changed eBay from its previous asset-light business model with labor-centric acquisitions.
As layoffs & legal battles loom, on-campus pub Walker's West/The Sellar raises questions about corporate culture & priorities.
Buyers and sellers have reacted to the news with concerns about the increasing use of AI and automation for critical support, trust and safety functions.
Buyers and sellers reported a major slowdown in page loading and timeout errors this week, preventing them from searching, purchasing, listing new items for sale or editing existing listings, and bringing activity on the site to a halt.
eBay's handling of USPS shipping changes that went into effect January 21 is creating confusion and concern as sellers report incorrect information still being shown in the listing form and possible problems with new cubic rate calculations.
Sellers are perplexed by a new banner being shown in Seller Hub advising "We’ve made some updates to the eBay Marketing Program Terms, but have the terms really changed or is the warning a glitch?
Buyers are confused and concerned by a new eBay advertising ploy suggesting items "you might also like" in a post-purchase pop up, leading to increased cancellations and chargebacks.
eBay continues making changes to the feedback system, extending visibility of both buyer and seller replies to listings, store pages and other places where feedback is shown across the site.
Other Ecommerce News
Etsy has confirmed the "big surprise" was in fact Gift Mode, and that it will be featured in their debut Super Bowl ad.
Gift mode is powered by a combination of machine learning, human curation, and OpenAI’s GPT-4 to provide a new way to shop for gifts on Etsy.
Amazon has announced starting January 31, product pages will display multiple images provided by multiple selling partners, raising concerns about inaccurate pictures and ASIN hijacking.
Bonanza is launching webinar series for sellers hosted by CEO Quincy Faison with the first installment, “Making eCommerce Accessible with Vercado - Unleashing the Power of Vercado for Seamless Growth.”
Q4 2023 earnings are just around the corner and it looks like once again, eBay and Etsy are battling it out to see who gets to go last.
Thanks for reading! Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend and let them know where they can subscribe. 📧
💡 Tips or story ideas? Contact me or hit reply to send feedback or say hello!


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Booming wine production despite historic drought
The Sonoma County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures today presented to the Board of Supervisors the 2021 Sonoma County Crop Report, an annual account of local crop production and gross values based on a survey of more than 1,000 producers in Sonoma County.
The total reported 2021 crop value for the county was $811,446,600, representing a 19.2% increase from the 2020 crop value of $680,648,600. The report reflects raw production values and does not consider costs such as producing, processing and bringing the product to market. The report also does not include net farm income, but rather is intended for use by the community in economic development, tourism activities, funding, and identifying historical trends in local agricultural production.
“The 2021 report highlights the water-related challenges facing producers, including widespread shortages that in some cases require reducing operations, turning to alternative sources and changing cultural practices. said James Gore, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. “We must recognize the challenges of adapting to drought, climate change, and the ongoing threat of natural disaster, as we work to support a diverse and thriving agricultural industry in Sonoma County.”
2021 Sonoma County Crop Report Highlights:
The tonnage of wine grapes increased by 39.1% to 206,011 tons. The value of grapes per ton increased by 51% to reach $2,626 per ton or $540,954,500.
Apple tonnage was down 23% due to poor weather during bloom and continued drought stress. Apple prices per ton decreased by 11%, resulting in an overall decline in value of 24% compared to 2020.
The value of livestock and poultry products is down 21% from 2020. This is attributed to a 21% decline in organic and conventional milk production. The unit value of organic and conventional milk increased by 10.8% and 13.7%, respectively.
The value of wool production is down 47% from 2020 due to a lack of global demand for wool, including the type and quality of wool produced by commercial meat herds.
The value of nursery products increased by 30% compared to 2020 due to a 33% increase in sales of ornamental plants, a 47% increase in sales of miscellaneous nursery plants and an increase in 52% of cut flower sales. Bedding plants saw a 23.5% decline as more people cut back on these plantings to conserve water.
The Sonoma County Commissioner of Agriculture is required by state law to annually compile and report crop and livestock statistics, as well as pest exclusion, management, and eradication activities. pests to the Board of Supervisors and Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
The 2021 Sonoma County Crops Report also includes a summary of the accomplishments of the agriculture, land stewardship, and county weights and measures divisions within the department. Data on non-agricultural crops, such as commercial fish landings and timber harvests, are also included from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Board of Equalization, respectively.
The 2021 Sonoma County Crop Report and related documents, including an addendum on cannabis and hemp production, are available here.
Sonoma County crop reports dating back to 1928 are available here.


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Infographic: Health care consumers balking at wearables
There’s only a “moderate appetite” for wearables that can improve health and wellness.
Does the public’s hesitation reflect lackluster messaging? How might medical marketers team with doctors and clinicians to help consumers embrace wearable technology?
Recent data show that chronic conditions are managed better when patients participate in their monitoring and treatment. Communicators can look at this infographic and cite the benefits in their own marketing.
[RELATED: Webcast: Advanced writing and editing for corporate communicators.]
Still, a survey from iTriage reveals costs are an issue, too:
More than 75 percent of people would use a wearable device if their doctor recommended or provided it.
Nearly 70 percent of consumers would use a wearable if their insurer recommended or provided it.
Other respondents said they are hesitant because the technology is overly complicated.
Can you fine-tune your marketing efforts to help sway reluctant patients?
(View a larger image)


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Airtel Kenya has beaten rival Safaricom in customer care services offered via social media networking sites despite the latter commanding a huge following on twitter and facebook.
Airtel has been recognized as the top Social Media Brand in Africa by the Africa Brand Index.
The award recognizes Airtel Kenya’s outstanding use of social media platforms in engagement and resolution of customer issues.
Airtel Kenya outperformed all the other telecom companies in Africa to become the top Telecommunication brand on Social Media for the month of February.
In the report published online on the Africa Brand Index Website, (http://africabrandindex.com/#/Africa/Telecommunication ), The Africa Brand Index shows Airtel Kenya scored the highest in Community growth, content, engagement and sentiments.
Safaricom has a following of 605,000 on its official company twitter handle with another 403,000 on its customer care handle while Airtel commands only 157,000 followers on its main twitter handle.
The Africa Brand Index is a listing of the top brands on social media each month measured by an aggregate score of dozens of social signals.
The top brands are shown alongside their metrics and leaderboard position, showing the aggregate scores on a monthly basis.
Social media engagement rate measures how well people interact with the content an organization or brand posts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and many others.
It also provides the platform for users to share comments or express their feeling about a post of a particular brand to the total number of fans of the brand at the time it was posted.
“Our social media teams are dedicated to serve our customers on social media, 24/7, 365 days a year. We are proud of this recognition of their dedication to offer the best service experience to our customers,” said Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi.
Airtel also continues to be a socially devoted brand based on recent report from Social Bakers dated October- December 2015 that verifies the company’s 100 per cent response rate on Facebook and 98 per cent response rate on Twitter.


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Ben & Jerry's has said it does "not agree" with a deal by its parent company Unilever that allows its ice cream to continue being sold in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The firm said it still believed it was "inconsistent with Ben & Jerry's values for our ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" - a position welcomed by many Palestinians.
Israel praised Unilever's reversal of last year's decision by Ben & Jerry's to stop such sales as a victory against discrimination and anti-Semitism.
Unilever's decision came after legal action from its Israeli licensee American Quality Products (AQP) and its owner Avi Zinger, who were seeking damages from the UK-based consumer goods giant. Their contract had been due to expire at the end of this year anyway.
There was also pressure against the withdrawal from shareholders, including activist investor Nelson Peltz, and politicians in the United States.
Unilever said in a statement on Wednesday that it was now selling its Ben & Jerry's business interests in Israel to Mr Zinger.
The new arrangement means Ben & Jerry's will be sold under its Hebrew and Arabic names throughout Israel and the West Bank under the full ownership of the current licensee.
Mr Zinger thanked Unilever and the Israeli government for their support in reaching a deal which he said gave him the rights to sell the ice cream "forever". But he refused to comment on Ben & Jerry's rejection of the arrangement.
In a statement, he said: "There is no place for discrimination in the commercial sale of ice cream. It has always been important to me to ensure that all customers - no matter their identity - are free to enjoy Ben & Jerry's ice cream."
Ben & Jerry's, which was founded by best friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in the US state of Vermont in 1978, wrote in a Twitter thread: "While our parent company has taken this decision, we do not agree with it."
"Our company will no longer profit from Ben & Jerry's in Israel," it added.
Ever since Unilever bought the ice cream company in 2000 it has retained an independent board with the right to make decisions about its social mission. The company has a history of speaking out about issues that it feels are important.
However, Unilever still had control of financial and operational decisions and said that was why it had intervened after Ben & Jerry's board decided to stop sales in Israeli settlements.
More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements built since Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
Unilever said the new arrangement followed a review of Ben & Jerry's operations in Israel and an extensive consultation, including dialogue with the Israeli government.
When the row erupted last July Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said a withdrawal would be bad business and morally wrong. Unilever owns several Israeli food brands, and in a phone call Mr Bennett warned its Chief Executive Alan Jope of "severe consequences". Ben & Jerry's is a popular ice cream choice amongst Israeli consumers, and the company even marks Jewish festivals with special flavours.
Palestinian activists behind the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement praised Ben & Jerry's at the time for what they said was "a decisive step towards ending the company's complicity in Israel's occupation and violations of Palestinian rights". The movement tries to use economic pressure to force Israel to change its policies.
However, Israel's government and Unilever continued talking and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid spoke to both Mr Jope and Mr Zinger in the last few days.
In a statement, Mr Lapid welcomed Unilever's efforts to resolve the dispute, saying: "Anti-Semitism will not defeat us, not even when it comes to ice-cream. We will fight delegitimization and the BDS campaign in every arena, whether in the public square, in the economic sphere or in the moral realm.
"The Ben & Jerry's factory in Israel is a microcosm of the diversity of Israeli society. Today's victory is a victory for all those who know that the struggle against BDS is, first and foremost, a struggle for partnership and dialogue, and against discrimination and hate."
At least 35 US states have anti-BDS legislation. Airbnb is amongst the other companies which have reversed their policies over Israeli settlements after facing lawsuits in the US.
Professor Eugene Kontorovich, director of International Law at the Jerusalem-based Kohelet Policy Forum, said Unilever's decision was "a victory for the anti-boycott laws across America". He added that, after the "embarrassment and expense" of this reversal, "one would hope that companies will understand that it is just malpractice to boycott Israel".
Omar Shakir of US-based campaign group Human Rights Watch said Unilever was seeking to undermine the "principled decision" of Ben & Jerry's board, but insisted it would not succeed.
"Ben & Jerry's won't be doing business in illegal settlements. What comes next may look and taste similar, but, without Ben & Jerry's recognized social justice values, it's just a pint of ice cream," he added.
Unilever has invested more than £240m ($290m) in Israel over the last decade and employs a diverse workforce of more than 2,000 people across four manufacturing plants.
"Unilever rejects completely and repudiates unequivocally any form of discrimination or intolerance," the company said.
"Anti-Semitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention of changing that position."


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I attended the Inventors Association of Connecticut meeting last night at Fairfield University. Warren Tuttle was the speaker, and it was a great presentation! Warren serves as the President of the United Inventors Association. He also is a member of the national non-profit Pro Bono Patent Commission. Professionally, Warren oversees the Open Innovation outside product programs for three industry leading companies: Lifetime Brands in Housewares and Table Top (Farberware, Kitchen Aid and 30 others), Techtronics Industries Power Tool Group in Power Tools and Hardware (Ryobi, Ridgid, Hart and others) and Merchant Media in Direct Response Television (Smart Spin, True Touch and many others). Warren personally interacts through email or phone with over 5,000 inventors a year and has initiated over100 new product licensing agreements which have collectively generated a billion $ in retail sales.
Warren’s topic was licensing, and told stories of his licensing deals on behalf of his clients, but he also talked about various products he helped clients develop and monetize. Very interesting. Warren’s website can be found here.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2019 I attend the Inventors Association of Connecticut (IACT) meeting. The topic was: “Bitcoin and Blockchain – Ten Years In. What we know, what we don’t know and where we are headed.” The meeting was at the Fairfield University Library. Attorney Bill Erickson was the presenter. Bill explained cryptocurrency and blockchain. He also suggested a youtube video for an explanation of Bitcoin. The video can be found here. This was a very informative meeting on Blockchain and Cryptocurrency. I hope to see you at the next IACT meeting. More information on IACT can be found here.
Cliff Ennico will be presenting at the Inventors Association of Connecticut (IACT) meeting tomorrow night at Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.
Cliff is widely considered to be one of America’s leading experts on the legal and tax problems facing entrepreneurs, small businesses and self-employed professionals. Cliff will be presenting on Equity Crowdfunding. Thanks to SEC regulations passed last year under the federal JOBS Act, it is now possible for small businesses, startup companies and other privately-owned enterprises to raise capital and sell securities via crowdfunding websites such as Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. Cliff will discuss the pros and cons of Equity Crowdfunding. More information can be found here.


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Let’s make one thing clear: Apple’s new iPhones, the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, are not a radical re-imaging of what a smartphone should be.
In fact, put them face up next to their predecessors, last year’s iPhone XR and XS, and I’m not sure even Tim Cook could tell the difference.
But turn them over, and you’ll see where Apple has spent the last year tinkering away. The new iPhones unveiled on Tuesday, contain immediately obvious changes to their camera systems, which the company says turn what was already the world’s most popular camera into a professional-grade piece of kit.
The cheaper iPhone 11, which costs £729 and up, has a two-camera array on the back - a standard lens and a second “ultra...
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NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon Wireless is opening up access to smart phones for customers who prepay for service, which includes people with poor credit and those who don't want to be tied down by long-term contracts. Prepaid service has long been the domain of low-end phones, but companies such as Sprint Nextel Corp.
CONCORD, Mass. – Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. (DS SolidWorks) today unveiled the SolidWorks® 2011 product line, delivering new ways to speed product design, deepen collaboration, and strengthen designers’ engagement with manufacturing. The new SolidWorks 2011 family of products includes hundreds of improvements requested by customers who use SolidWorks every day to design new products, validate their performance, communicate with partners, manage design data, and minimize a product’s impact on the environment.
COSTA MESA, Calif. -- SYSPRO, a provider of visionary, pragmatic ERP software, recently announced that its growing prominence in the mid-range ERP software industry is exemplified by the favorable ranking SYSPRO ERP is given in a recent ERP comparison study published by Focus. The Focus “2010 Midmarket/Enterprise ERP Solution Comparison Guide” is a compilation of ERP solutions that should be considered by those seeking to “optimize resource planning .
Technology is everywhere these days, so it's becoming harder and harder for some people to live without it. Are you, or is someone you know, "addicted" to technology? In this video, a roundtable of experts discuss the prevalence of technology in today's world and what constitutes a technological addiction.
Once a product leaves its manufacturer, it enters a world where it can be adultered, completely faked, diluted, relabeled, or repackaged without authorization. Trying to pinpoint the exact vulnerabilities in the supply chain is almost impossible. Counterfeiters have become increasingly sophisticated at imitating real products, from shoes and handbags to DVD’s, chainsaws, watches, airplane parts, and drugs.
There are a range of technology approaches that not only deliver a swift return on investment, but also drive process improvement and optimize manufacturing efficiency, ultimately providing an effective mechanism for cost control. Pictured here is a process signature showing examples of different feature types that can be extracted and monitored in real-time.
ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — Dell is walking away from a bidding contest with rival Hewlett-Packard for data-storage maker 3Par. Dell Inc. says it will not match Hewlett-Packard Co.'s offer to pay $33 per share for 3Par Inc., or about $2.07 billion. Dave Johnson, Dell's senior vice president for corporate strategy, says the company "took a measured approach throughout the process and have decided to end these discussions.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U.S. factories managed a slight gain in July as a surge in demand for commercial aircraft helped offset widespread weakness in other areas. Factory orders edged up 0.1 percent in July, the first increase after two months of declines, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
BERLIN (AP) — Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday unveiled a new tablet PC named Galaxy Tab as the latest device meant to rival Apple Inc.'s popular iPad. The device offers users "a new galaxy of possibilities" with features such as mobile video conferencing and a video chat function, Samsung Europe telecom executive Thomas Richter said at Berlin's IFA consumer electronics fair.
There seems to be an iPhone app for everything these day. One Dallas-area man says the $5 "iCam" iPhone app helped him thwart a robbery attempt at his residence -- from 1,500 miles away. The app notified him of the break-in and he called 911 immediately. The police arrived within minutes and were able to apprehend the would-be robbers.
Why do manufacturers need to embrace technology? Mark Symonds, President and Chief Executive Officer for Plex Systems Inc., answers that question and explains what specific areas of a manufacturing enterprise can benefit from the implementation of technological solutions. If you're having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
One of the byproducts of a tech-savvy workforce has been the development of an "officeless" generation of workers. These days, any place where a person can turn on a laptop computer and use a mobile phone has become viable place to do work. According to one expert, there will be 1 billion mobile workers by the end of this year.
There's no doubt about it, the economic situation in the United States is worsening. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the economy "remains vulnerable to unexpected developments." However, Bernanke said the Fed is ready to take major action to help stimulate the economy, if necessary. Stay tuned.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple Inc. is hosting a music-themed event Wednesday that is likely to yield updated iPods, though the company will not confirm any details. Apple-watchers also speculate that the company could show off a new version of its Apple TV set-top box or add more music-discovery features to its iTunes music software.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Americans' confidence in the economy improved slightly in August, but the mood is still gloomy amid job worries, according to a monthly survey. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index improved slightly to 53.5, up from a revised 51.0 in July.


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Aloha Friday wrap: Meeting planners experience the unique in Oahu, Hawaiian Airlines’ fab agent incentive + more
The Aloha Friday wrap is back, this time topped with some MICE-related news (of the meeting and event planning variety, that is – not about the rodent species).
Meeting planners experience the unique of Oahu’s MICE offering
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania, together with Oahu Visitors Bureau, Hawaiian Airlines and Marriott SPG Waikiki Complex, hosted a MICE-focused famil last week.
Aloha Friday wrap: Exclusive agent discounts, Hawaii romance guide + more
Exclusive agent discounts, luxury famils and romance. Get your Aloha Friday fix!
All the highlights from the Infinity Luxury Maui famil
Earlier this month, Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania (HTO) hosted an amazing Infinity Holidays Incrowd Travel Associates famil.
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania releases 2019 Romance Hawai‘i guide
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania has released the 2019 Romance Hawai‘i guide, offering advice and experiences for couples planning a wedding, honeymoon, getaway or anniversary across the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania boss urges tourists to respect volcanoes following rescue incident
by Huntley Mitchell
Have any rebellious clients who like to live on the edge when they travel? Forward this story onto them quick smart.
Aloha Friday wrap: Amazing Hawaiian famil & agent incentives, Month of Lei celebrations + more
Yes, it’s the second Aloha Friday wrap in as many weeks! There’s just so much news coming out of the US island state right now.
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania kicks off ‘Month of Lei’ celebrations
Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania is celebrating the ‘Month of Lei’ in 2019 by presenting several events and destination training to trade media and travel agents during May.
WIN: Excite Holidays and Hawai’i Tourism are sending two lucky agents to the Hawaiian Islands
Excite is celebrating its love affair with the Hawaiian Islands by launching a new campaign that gives you the chance to experience paradise firsthand.
SAVE THE DATE: Aloha Down Under is back!
by Christian Fleetwood
ATTN AGENTS: registrations have opened for Australia’s biggest Hawai‘i trade show! That means a chance to rub shoulders with some of the best in the business, and your shot at learning everything you need to know to sell Hawai’i in 2019.
Register or sign in to create events, jobs and access premium features.


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Procter & Gamble said it would sell its Camay and Zest soap brands to Unilever for an undisclosed amount in order to focus on its faster-growing brands. The deal includes the global sale of the Camay brand and the sale of the Zest brand outside of North America and the Caribbean. The company will also sell its Talisman facility in Mexico to Unilever. The facility has 170 employees.
P&G had previously announced that it would divest slow-growing product lines to focus on about 80 brands. P&G is also said to be exploring a sale of its Wella hair care unit, Reuters reported last month, citing sources. The Duracell battery business was sold to Berkshire Hathaway in November 2014.


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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC), one of China's major lenders, has recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Kingdee Credit to better serve China's micro and small enterprises (MSEs), reported by China News on Tuesday.
In order to further alleviate the financing problems of MSEs, PSBC and Kingdee Credit will combine the capital advantages with the customer resources, and assist MSEs through the unsecured loans.
Facing the novel coronavirus epidemic, PSBC has introduced a number of measures to help MSEs overcome difficulties and ensure their steady development. As of the end of May, the bank has issued over 350 billion yuan of inclusive loans for MSEs, providing them financial assistance for epidemic prevention and control and work resumption.
As the financial technology segment of Kingdee International Software Group, Kingdee Credit uses an enterprises' credit information big data service platform to help financial institutions improve the audit efficiency of risk control and reduce potential credit risk.
In the future, PSBC and Kingdee Credit will continue to combine their advantages to actively explore in the fields of big data, supply chain finance and blockchain, promoting further cooperation to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of financial services for MSEs. (Edited by Gao Jingyan with Xinhua Silk Road, email@example.com)


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More Articles for pro truck drivers
The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. has launched the fleetHQ "Ask "The Tire Answer Man" blog, exclusively available at http://blog.fleethq.com/. "This unique blog gives fleets and owner-operators an opportunity to interact with Tim Miller, Goodyear's 'Tire Answer Man,' " said Bruce Woodruff, ...
- VIDEO: CBS’s '60 Minutes' spotlights America's neglected infrastructure223 Views
- Texas leads U.S. equipment purchases in Q3, sales down 19 percent from 201392 Views
- California, Florida DOTs named winners of America's Transportation Awards83 Views
- Obama names new highway safety chief82 Views
- What causes the most damage to our nation’s bridges?82 Views


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Supporting and Mentoring Women in Gaming
iGB ASCEND is a new mentoring initiative aimed at supporting women early on in their gaming careers, will launch at iGB Affiliate London this year.
Through the new programme, experienced members of the gaming industry will provide advice, feedback and guidance to women starting out in the affiliate market.
A Word from Naomi Barton, Portfolio Director
“Rather than present Ascend as a fait accompli, we felt it important for it not to be a top-down organisation. Instead, we want to use iGB Affiliate London as an opportunity to meet with women in the igaming and affiliate sectors, listen to their experiences and establish the best ways of addressing the issues that are important to them and make best use of our resources as an industry.
To achieve that core objective the launch will feature selected ‘hosts’ who are established in the sector and have experienced the issues and challenges: the hosts will moderate and generate conversation at the tables over and informal lunch around what ASCEND should be aiming to do for women in the industry.”
Lee-Ann Johnstone, iGB ASCEND Founding Partner
Lee-Ann has been one of the forerunners of affiliate marketing as she entered the industry in early 2000’s when the internet was still new and mobile phones were larger than they are today! Her award winning career has spanned decades managing several blue chip and start up brands to grow their global reach via affiliate and performance marketing and she has worked across multiple verticals from e-commerce, payments and fintech to esports & igaming.
She’s also the host of the AffiliateINSIDER’s Affiliate Marketing podcast which has charted in the Top 100 Business News podcasts in over 15 countries during 2021 and has been voted as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Women in iGaming (2019), A member of the forbes.com Agency Council (2020) and featured regularly in industry publications such as The Drum, GPWA, IGB Affiliate and Forbes.com.
Lee-Ann is a thought leader in the affiliate industry and also the founder of AffiliateINSIDER a boutique agency that specialises in Affiliate Marketing - visit: www.affiliateinsider.com
Join our Networking Lunch and Mentoring Session
Clarion Gaming has issued an open invitation to women working in the gaming industry to be part of the launch of iGB ASCEND
The launch will take the form of a networking buffet comprising hosted round tables and will be held on Thursday 8 February at the ICC Capital Suite (15.00 – 16.30). The ASCEND programme will help mentees working across the entire gaming ecosystem to enhance their leadership skills, gain confidence and network with other like-minded women.
The intention is to create an ASCEND Board of female founder members, supported by an Advisory Board which will help to shape our terms of reference.
Agenda as follows:
Welcome from Naomi Barton, Portfolio Director
Introduction and speech from Lee-Ann Johnstone
Facilitated networking session with mentoring


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Shallotte shop owner charged in counterfeit merchandise case
Arrest follows Dec. 15 raid on Fresh Gear store
BRUNSWICK COUNTY -- Police took a Shallotte store owner into custody Thursday following a raid last month that turned up counterfeit merchandise.
On Dec. 15 agents with the N.C. Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force, which includes a Brunswick County Sheriff's Office deputy, raided Fresh Gear, a retailer on Main Street in Shallotte.
In that raid counterfeit Air Jordans, Michael Kors shoes, CDs, DVDs, various Nike apparel, Timberland boots and Northface clothing were seized, N.C. Secretary of State spokeswoman Liz Proctor said.
On Thursday officers arrested Fresh Gear owner Pattie Thomas Hill, 51, of Longwood and charged her with felony counterfeit trademarking and failing to disclose the origin of recording, according to an arrest warrant.
Proctor said in December the investigation was sparked by an anonymous tip. She said the merchandise, if legitimate, would have a retail value of $62,940.
Though counterfeit property was taken from business, other merchandise in the shop was legal and the business was allowed to remain operating, Proctor said.


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Monsanto names new head Monsanto Korea Managing Director Michiel De Jongh By Kim Tae-gyu Monsanto, one of the world’s foremost agricultural corporations based in the United States, named Michiel De Jongh as its managing director to take the reins of its operations in Korea and Japan, Monday. The citizen of the Netherlands joined Monsanto back in 2004 and served in various regional and global roles in South America. Before coming to Korea, he worked as sales director at the Seeds & Traits division in southern Latin America. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead Monsanto Korea, which has built up a firm position in the local vegetable seeds industry through continuous investment in technology and development of its employees,’’ De Jongh said in a press release. “I look forward to further growing our business and strengthening our reputation for high quality products, technology and leadership, always focusing on contributing to the success of the farmer. As an organization we aspire to be the best place to work in Korea, offering a fulfilling environment to talented people.’’ He garnered a master’s of science degree in industrial engineering and management science at the University of Technology in Eindhoven. According to Monsanto Korea, the new managing director speaks fluent Dutch, English and Spanish. firstname.lastname@example.org
he Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s investments in Monsanto and Cargill have come under heavy criticism. Is it time for the foundation to come clean on its visions for agriculture in developing countries?
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is sponsoring the Guardian’s Global development site is being heavily criticised in Africa and the US for getting into bed not just with notorious GM company Monsanto, but also with agribusiness commodity giant Cargill.
Trouble began when a US financial website published the foundation’s annual investment portfolio, which showed it had bought 500,000 Monsanto shares worth around $23m. This was a substantial increase in the last six months and while it is just small change for Bill and Melinda, it has been enough to let loose their fiercest critics.
Seattle-based Agra Watch – a project of the Community Alliance for Global Justice – was outraged. “Monsanto has a history of blatant disregard for the interests and well being of small farmers around the world… [This] casts serious doubt on the foundation’s heavy funding of agricultural development in Africa,” it thundered.
But it got worse. South Africa-based watchdog the African Centre for Biosafety then found that the foundation was teaming up with Cargill in a $10m project to “develop the soya value chain” in Mozambique and elsewhere. Who knows what this corporate-speak really means, but in all probability it heralds the big time introduction of GM soya in southern Africa.
The two incidents raise a host of questions for the foundation. Few people doubt that GM has a place in Africa, but is Gates being hopelessly naïve by backing two of the world’s most aggressive agri-giants? There is, after all, genuine concern at governmental and community level that the United State’s model of extensive hi-tech farming is inappropriate for most of Africa and should not be foist on the poorest farmers in the name of “feeding the world”.
The fact is that Cargill is a faceless agri-giant that controls most of the world’s food commodities and Monsanto has been blundering around poor Asian countries for a decade giving itself and the US a lousy name for corporate bullying. Does Gates know it is in danger of being caught up in their reputations, or does the foundation actually share their corporate vision of farming and intend to work with them more in future?
The foundation has never been upfront about its vision for agriculture in the world’s poorest countries, nor the role of controversial technologies like GM. But perhaps it could start the debate here?
In the meantime, it could tell us how many of its senior agricultural staff used to work for Monsanto or Cargill?
“If I took this story to a sci-fi writer, he or she would say, ‘No, my editor won’t let me publish this. It’s too crazy even for fiction.’”
So Jaydee Hanson, Policy Analyst on Cloning and Genetics at the Center for Food Safety, told Organic Connections. And it’s no exaggeration.
In a nutshell—or, or more fittingly, in a seashell—it goes like this: A company called AquaBounty Technologies develops a genetically engineered salmon. The scientific investigation as to food safety and environmental impact—conducted by the company itself—uses self-serving “science” to defend its position. But even the tiny sampling of fish used in the studies, according to Hanson, shows that it has numerous defects and flaws, as well as reduced nutrition and taste when compared with common-market farmed salmon. Nonetheless, the Food and Drug Administration has announced that it will potentially approve AquaBounty’s genetically engineered faster-growing fish for human consumption.
Consumers have certainly been reacting to this corporate-profit-over-public-safety scenario. Since the decision now in front of the FDA became public, nearly 200,000 comments opposing it have been posted on the CFS website. And not long ago a nationwide poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners for Food and Water Watch, found that 91 percent of Americans polled believe the FDA should not allow genetically engineered fish or meat into the marketplace.
So, too, have politicians been voicing their concerns. According to a recent article posted on ge-fish.org, a website published by the Center for Food Safety to address this specific issue, 40 representatives and senators have called on the FDA to halt approval of genetically engineered salmon.
Although the FDA held a formal hearing on September 19, it has yet to announce its decision. Fortunately, there is a public comment period lasting until November 22—and the already plentiful comments are expected to mount. The site where you can add your remarks is listed at the end of this article.
They Blinded the FDA with “Science”
“The FDA asked AquaBounty Technologies to produce food safety and environmental data on the animals,” Hanson explained. “The company did incredibly small sample sizes in their studies. They made the kinds of mistakes that you would expect a freshman in high school—not a PhD fishery scientist—to make in research design. The largest sample size of the fish being proposed as food, examined for morphology, was 12 animals. They found that the skeletons are worse than in normal farmed salmon, that their jaws are eroded more than in normal farmed salmon, that their gills are enlarged and that their flesh is inflamed. But they say that it’s OK to eat.
“When they looked for possible allergic reactions, they examined 6 fish. The kind they’re proposing be sold as food is a sterile variety, which they compared to a genetically engineered fertile variety. The FDA said, ‘The allergic effects of the fertile one looked bad enough to keep it off the market, but the sterile one is okay.’ Well, this is sick fish, and the sample size is so small you can’t possibly say yes or no.”
Apparently the opinions of expert advisors have little effect on the FDA. “The FDA has to have a veterinary medicine advisory committee look at the data,” Hanson said. “Nearly all of them said the scientific data was inadequate. However, it is an advisory committee. The FDA doesn’t have to take their advice; it could still approve the fish.”
No Label, Says FDA
Following the approval hearing, which the FDA has already conducted, a hearing was held regarding the labeling of genetically modified salmon. “The FDA is arguing that this genetic construct is just the same as natural constructs, and therefore it doesn’t need to be labeled because it’s the same thing that we’ve been eating,” Hanson said.
Nutritionally and flavor-wise, the fish gets low marks. “By the company’s own data, this fish has less omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than regular farmed salmon in worse ratios,” Hanson argued. “It tastes insipid. When you compare ordinary farm salmon to wild salmon, it doesn’t taste as good because it doesn’t have the fats that give the fish that good taste. The genetically modified salmon is not going to taste as good as even regular farm salmon. So basically everything you eat salmon for, it doesn’t have, or it’s got less of than any other kind of salmon.”
The environmental safety of areas surrounding the breeding areas for the genetically engineered salmon has also not been addressed properly, according to Hanson.
“The FDA is recommending what they call ‘approval with limits,’” said Hanson. “The limits are the company has to grow the fertile fish to produce the eggs that they then sterilize up at Prince Edward Island, Canada—which is in the middle of the Bay of Fundy where Atlantic salmon have historically been. The company says that mixing in with wild fish won’t be a problem because they’re sterilizing the fish; but even their own data says that, at best, 98 percent of these are sterile.
“Then they say that their facility is far enough back from any water that there’s no problem of cross-contamination. Well, they are 120 feet from tidal waters. Then they say that they’re at a high enough elevation that it’s no problem. They’re at 23 feet. I went down to look at the Gulf Coast after Katrina and there was a storm surge over 40 feet. In the environmental assessment, the company says that shouldn’t be a problem because no large storms ever hit Prince Edward Island. They’re right on the North Atlantic, famous for storms, and they had the tail end of a hurricane hit the week before the FDA hearing.”
Food Safety Advocates
The good news is the Center for Food Safety has become involved. On the front lines of battle against genetic modification, the organization has already succeeded in halting the planting of genetically modified alfalfa and sugar beets, pending full environmental impact studies.
The stopping of genetically modified salmon is a key issue of which CFS is fully aware.
“This is just a way for them to get a running start on genetically modifying animals,” Hanson concluded. “AquaBounty has two other fish it wants approval on: one a trout and one a tilapia. These are of the same genetic machinery. I think their thought is if they get the salmon approved it should be easy to get the other fish approved.
“Elsewhere, the University of Guelph in Canada has developed a pig with a gene from a fungus introduced into it that breaks down phosphorous. Their idea is this pig could be crowded together with other pigs and not produce as much pollution. They’re calling it the ‘enviro-pig.’
“Yet another company has actually developed what they call a mad-cow-resistant cow—to which I say, we already know how to keep cows from getting mad cow disease: don’t feed them ground-up sheep!”
Visit http://ge-fish.org to get the latest in the fight against genetically modified salmon and to find out how you can help.
For more information on the Center for Food Safety and their projects, visit http://truefoodnow.org.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010, 00:20 (GMT + 9)
AquaBounty Technologies Inc, which is a registered company in the United States, has confirmed that it will begin to breed genetically modified (GM) salmon in Panama.
The main objective for the company is to export the product to the U.S. market for human consumption (HC), said Henry Clifford, vice president of the firm and the project director in Panama.
However, the U.S. authorities have yet to approve GM salmon for direct HC, whilst growing global controversy and different sectors are pushing for the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the country to suspend the approval process until further studies have been released.
Clifford told the newspaper La Prensa, that the initiative was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and by the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP), but these agencies have not issued an official statement.
The businessman claims that these salmon can reach a “sellable size” after 16 to 18 months, compared to the 30 months required by normal salmon.
However, it has been viewed as a very controversial endeavor. Numerous scientists have criticized the genetic modification of salmon as they believe that the fish could interbreed with wild genes and release a growth hormone with unpredictable results.
In addition, they warn that their use may exacerbate allergies in humans.
Meanwhile, U.S. representatives and senators last week urged the FDA to halt the approval process for AquAdvantage salmon, the genetically modified salmon by AquaBounty.
The congressmen asked the FDA to postpone the process until they have analyzed the issue in depth, fix some serious flaws and incorporate more scientific and public input.
For its part, the company and the FDA does not consider the modified salmon to pose any threat to the environment.
“… entities closely linked to the private security firm Blackwater have provided intelligence, training and security services to US and foreign governments as well as several multinational corporations, including Monsanto, Chevron, the Walt Disney Company, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and banking giants Deutsche Bank and Barclays, according to documents obtained by The Nation. Blackwater’s work for corporations and government agencies was contracted using two companies owned by Blackwater’s owner and founder, Erik Prince: Total Intelligence Solutions and the Terrorism Research Center (TRC). Prince is listed as the chairman of both companies in internal company documents, which show how the web of companies functions as a highly coordinated operation.”
A spokesperson for Monsanto, reached by Scahill, first denied the relationship with Blackwater, but then admitted that Monsanto had paid Total Intelligence for intelligence reoprts
“… about the activities of groups or individuals that could pose a risk to company personnel or operations around the world which were developed by monitoring local media reports and other publicly available information. The subject matter ranged from information regarding terrorist incidents in Asia or kidnappings in Central America to scanning the content of activist blogs and websites.”
The spokesperson told Scahill he was told Total Intelligence was completely separate from Blackwater. The news that Monsanto hired a Blackwater company for intelligence reports is rocketing around the world via anti-GMO activists. Blogger Rady Ananda summed up the relationship between Monsanto and Blackwater as
“… A death-tech firm weds a hit squad.”
Citing the growing movement to destroy GMO crops, Ananda thought Monsanto was hoping to be able to quell dissent through infiltrating actvist groups that take direct action. Ananda concluded his article saying
“… Monsanto, by hiring a mercenary army and former CIA field agents, is deadly serious about protecting its deadly products. Yet, this contract further discredits the company. The public can now paint an even bleaker picture of the firm that brought us Agent Orange, PCBs, rBST, DDT, aspartame and, now, hitmen.”
Writing on Above Top Secret, Airspoon commented on Monsanto’s hiring of Blackwater, saying (sic)
“The above quote is pretty scary and indicative of how corporate interests are acting against our own, though most of us already knew that. For any of the deniars who tried to refute that such tactics were used, one need only look at the plethora of information coming out about Xe and Blackwater due to the scandal in Iraq. I think that the best thing that could be done, is to boycott these companies as much as possible. Monsanto might be a little hard to boycott for some folks, though the other companies shouldn’t be. In fact, Monsanto shouldn’t be either for most folks. Blackwater (Xe) is one of the most dangerous entities facing the American people. It’s like the enforcement arm of corporate interests that does not have to operate under the same “restrictions” that government enforcers have to operate under under. It’s like a private army for TPTB. Americans and citizens of the world should be irate ove the very existence of a company such as Blackwater and we should all stand together against the Nazi-like tactics and the anti-freedom angenda of such an evil organization.”
The documents obtained by Scahill show that Monsanto paid Blackwater’s subsidiary, Total Intelligence a total of $232,000 for intelligence services provided in 2008 and 2009. Aside from the brief statement provided to Scahill, Monsanto is keeping quiet on the matter, as is Blackwater and the other organizations cited in Scahill’s article. Scahill said the Canadian Military paid Blackwater over $1.6 million for training, which was provided through Blackwater’s subsidiary, the Terrorism Research Center. Blackwater violated some US export control laws, reported Yahoo News this past August, violations which included the provision of training to the Canadian Military. While the list of violations the US Department of State found Blackwater guilty of is extensive, the company was only fined $42 million. The company name ‘Blackwater’ was changed to Xe (pronounced ‘zee’) in 2009, which Source Watch called a ‘rebranding effort.’ The company is now up for sale. AFP reported Blackwater operatives were accused of killing 17 Iraqis, wounding a further 22 in what was said to be an unprovoked attack in 2007. The company was later cleared of all wrongdoing. Blackwater was ordered out of Iraq earlier this year because of that violent incident said CBS News. Scahill is a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute. He recently wrote the book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. Scahill is also an award-winning investigative journalist and in addition to writing for The Nation, he is a correspondent with Democracy Now!. Scahill’s article on Blackwater will be available in the October 4, 2010 print edition of The Nation.
As most people know, the process by which a succulent chicken breast journeys from egg to fork is not one about which you’d want to watch a documentary just before dinner.
Whether we like to admit it or not, “don’t ask, don’t tell” was a motto to live by for urban dwellers long before the change-averse U.S. military picked it up in Bill Clinton’s time. And not withstanding the fury of animal-rights activists, this approach has worked pretty darned well for producers and meat lovers.
Imagine, then, the frustration that must be felt by developers of various genetically modified foods. Far from the traditional averting of eyes, every move is watched like a hawk by the media and nervous consumers. Terms like “frankenfood” are thrown around, and photos like this featherless, low-fat Israeli rooster are gleefully reproduced.
No, we don’t mean to make light of food safety, or to suggest anything less than the greatest care should be taken. But one suspects that in another 50 years or so, there will be a lot of new entries on the menu of Don’t Look Too Closely.
- Read more: Source
Navan Foods is Participating in the First Ever Non-GMO Month
|Navan Foods: The Allergy Free Food Shop is proud to announce participation in the first ever Non-GMO Month, a time to celebrate consumers’ right to choose non-GMO, raise awareness about GMOs, and promote products that are Non-GMO Project Verified.|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Specializing in allergy free foods, Navan Foods recognizes the importance of providing information about the food it offers to customers. In addition to knowing about allergen information, customers have consistently showed an interest in knowing whether the foods they were purchasing contained GMOs. The Non-GMO Project offers a third party verification program that ensures verified products have gone through a uniformed process to confirm its non-GMO status. Since the incorporation of the Non-GMO Project, thousands of products have been enrolled into its testing program, the Product Verification Program (PVP), and hundreds have already become verified and include the Non-GMO Project Verification Mark, or seal, on packaging. A complete list is available at http://www.nongmoproject.org.
“We have seen interest in non-GMO foods increase in the past couple of years,” states Jennifer Elizondo, President of Navan Foods. “Knowing what goes into food is very important for individuals living with food allergies and for many of our customers, GMO status is important to them just as allergen information is. The Food Allergen Labeling Consumer Protection Act requires manufacturers to list the top eight allergens contained in a product. But nothing like that exists for labeling of GMOs. Navan Foods was created with the concept of providing point of sale information so that customers could make safe, informed choices about the food they eat. The Non-GMO project’s PVP supports a consumer’s right to make an informed choice which we as a retailer support.”
According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, as much as 75 percent of processed food in the United States may contain genetically modified organisms, none of which is labeled as GMO. At the same time, polls consistently show that a significant majority of North Americans would like to be able to tell if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs; a 2008 CBS News Poll found that 87% of consumers wanted GMOs labeled, and according to a recent CBS/New York Times poll, 53% of consumers said they would not buy food that has been genetically modified.
“In 30 other countries around the world, including Australia, Japan and all of the nations in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production of GMOs,” said Megan Westgate, Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project. “Consumer excitement is definitely growing as the Non-GMO Project seal appears on more and more products, as evidenced by our 16,000+ Facebook fans. It’s wonderful to have the support of retailers across the country leading the way in providing shoppers with the information and non-GMO options they deserve.”
During October, Navan Foods will have special displays and information available, including the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, to raise consumer awareness. In addition, product promotions for Non-GMO Project Verified products will take place throughout the entire month. On 10.10.10, or Non-GMO Day, Navan Foods will participate in a fundraising event and has pledged to donate one percent of that day’s sales to the Non-GMO Project.
To learn more about Navan Foods: The Allergy Free Food Shop visit http://www.navanfoods.com.
# # #
Navan Foods was founded in 2007 with the mission of creating a community resource to assist individuals looking to better their health through safe food choices. The founder, Jennifer Elizondo, created the company based on her experiences shopping for a child with multiple food allergies. The company was recognized for its help to individuals with special diets by being named to Supermarket News’ Fit 25 for special needs programs.
Submitted by Prakash Sharma on Sat, 10/02/2010 – 11:29
Whole Foods Market and the Non-GMO Project Celebrate Consumers’ Right to Choose Foods Without Genetically Modified Organisms
Whole Foods Market and the Non-GMO Project Celebrate Consumers’ Right to Choose Foods Without Genetically Modified Organisms
Nonprofit and supporters focus on consumer education during Non-GMO Month
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ — Consumers have a right to know what is in their food! That’s Whole Foods Market’s message as it partners with the nonprofit Non-GMO Project to raise awareness about the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food supply.
“Shoppers want more information about what’s happening to their food,” said Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market senior global vice president of purchasing, distribution and marketing. “The Non-GMO Project’s program helps us stay true to our mission of offering food in its most natural and unadulterated state. We’re committed to this program because it gives us and our suppliers a way to label non-GMO verified products and to educate consumers so they can make informed choices.”
Whole Foods Market shoppers can learn more about non-GMO verified products through store displays in October and by visiting the company’s website. October 10 is Non-GMO Day, and Whole Foods Market stores throughout the country will offer product tastings and demonstrations.
Genetically engineered varieties of plants such as corn, soy, canola and sugar beets are designed to be able to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. More than 30 countries including Australia, Japan and all of the European Union, have restrictions and/or bans on the production of GMOs because they are not considered proven safe.
According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, approximately 80 percent of the food on grocery store shelves in the U.S. contains at least one GMO ingredient. While Federal law compels organic producers to comply with non-GMO requirements through the USDA organic standards, there is no standard for labeling GMOs in non-organic products.
“Most Americans have no idea that there are GMOs in their food, and may not even know what a GMO is,” said Megan Westgate, executive director of the Non-GMO Project. “At the same time, study after study points to potential health risks and consumers in most developed countries around the world won’t eat them. Americans deserve the same information and safe choices that consumers in Europe and elsewhere have, and that’s what the Non-GMO Project and Non-GMO Month are all about.”
The Non-GMO Project, with the support of Whole Foods Market, established America’s first third-party non-GMO verified label—the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal—to help shoppers recognize which products meet rigorous GMO avoidance practices. Verified products range from cereal and snacks to soy beverage products. Unfortunately, due to cross-contamination and pollen drift, very few products in the U.S. are completely free of GMOs. The Non-GMO Project standard is a process-based standard that avoids the intentional use of GMO ingredients by providing suppliers with procedures and best practices for minimizing the presence of GMO ingredients.
Whole Foods Market has enrolled its 365 Every Day Value store brand in the Non-GMO Project Product Verification Program. The company plans to celebrate the launch of the seal on many other products during Non-GMO Month. Of Whole Foods Market’s private label products, several varieties of tortillas chips already bear the seal. For more information about GMOs and Non-GMO Month, visit www.nongmoproject.org.
SOURCE Whole Foods Market


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RYE, N.Y.–Third-quarter net income rose and net sales set a new record for Jarden as all three of its business segments contributed positive results.
Net income finished the quarter at $63.8 million, compared to $21.2 million for the third quarter of 2007, figures that included adjustments for reorganization, integration costs related to last year’s acquisitions of Pure Fishing and K2, and amortization of acquired intangible assets. Without these adjustments, third-quarter net income was $74.9 million, up nearly 25 percent over last year.
Net sales totaled $1.5 billion in the quarter, rising 10 percent over the 2007 third quarter. Most of the gain came from Jarden’s Outdoor Solutions unit, with a 24 percent pickup in sales and a 15 percent rise in segment earnings. The Consumer Solutions unit, which is home to the company’s housewares products, boosted its earnings by 4.4 percent despite a flat sales performance in the quarter.
In a Jarden statement, Martin Franklin, chairman and chief executive officer, attributed the company’s strong third quarter to its portfolio of brands and “disciplined, conservative management.” Franklin said Jarden was able to keep its balance sheet in line in the quarter while reducing year-over-year inventories, which helped offset the effects of “meaningful cost increases.”


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How do we address the growing challenge of trade with China?
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators recently introduced the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011 to provide recourse for U.S. manufacturers adversely affected by China's ongoing currency undervaluation.
In a letter to the Senate explaining the importance of this legislation, Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) Executive Director Scott Paul set the record straight regarding this new legislation:
Myth: Legislation to address currency manipulation would ignore “the many and growing challenges that we face in China.”
Fact: China employs a host of market-distorting practices to gain an upper-hand on American workers and companies, including currency manipulation, inadequate protection of intellectual property, limits on the export of rare earth elements, restrictions on market access such as discriminatory indigenous innovation requirements, and illegal subsidies for state-owned enterprises.
Congress and the administration are working to address many of these issues, but it is absurd to suggest that action on currency somehow dilutes our efforts to combat other unfair trade practices. There is no reason to delay congressional action on currency manipulation, which acts as a massive tax on U.S. exports and as an illegal subsidy on China’s exports. The result has been a bilateral trade deficit that has grown from $83 billion in 2001 to a record $273 billion in 2010.
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The all-new replacement for the legendary Land Rover Defender is still a few years away, but the rumour mill is in full swing regarding its expected place of manufacture.
According to a report in Autocar, Tata Motors (Land Rover’s current custodian) is planning to build at least some of the new Defenders in Pune, India.
Defenders for the European market may be shipped to the UK for final assembly, while those destined for the Asian region would be shipped straight out of the Pune facility.
Land Rover is clearly targeting a broader buyer demographic with the new Defender, and is aiming to keep prices down as it targets the Chinese market and the Asia-Pacific region in general.
Pune is no stranger to Land Rover manufacturing, with Asian market Freelanders being assembled there now.
There is also no word on where Australian-market Defenders will be built, or indeed if there will be other places of manufacture outside of India and the UK.
It would be reasonable to assume that the new Defender will be better made than the current model (wherever it is built), which is still largely built by hand, and rather unsteady ones at that.
But the purists will still miss the wavy panels, leaking bulkheads and less than enthusiastic air-conditioning of what is a much loved modern day relic.
- Interested in buying LAND ROVER ? Visit our LAND ROVER showroom for more information.


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Panasonic has unveiled 25.5-inch 3D LCD production monitor dubbed the BT-3DL2550. It features a 1920×1200 Full HD resolution and utilizes durable IPS LCD panel and features 10-bit processing circuit.
The Panasonic BT-3DL2550 comes with a built-in Xpol polarizing filter which is used to 3D content and can be viewed with polarizing (passive) 3D eyeglasses. The 3D display also has two HD/SD-SDI inputs for simultaneous display of Left image, Right image and 3D signals, as well as component, RGB, standard RS-232C (9-pin) and GPI (9-pin) remote inputs and headphone jack.
For a price of $9,900, the Panasonic BT-3DL2550 comes with two polarizing 3D glasses, a desk stand and an AC adapter. It won’t be out until September 2010.


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If you want to eat your way to a healthier colon, you might want to add fiber to your diet and cut back on red and processed meats.
Diets high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables have been linked with lower colorectal cancer risk, according to the American Cancer Society. At the same time, the organization reports that studies have found a link between red meats (such as beef) or processed meats (such as hot dogs) and increased colorectal cancer risk.
Research continues, but the message is clear that diet, body weight and physical activity do play a role in colorectal cancer.
"We know there are risk factors that can increase a person's chances of developing...


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A former IT security analyst at Sony PlayStation filed a lawsuit against the company in California on Monday, alleging gender discrimination and wrongful termination after speaking up “about discrimination against females” at the gaming giant.
Why it matters: Video game companies are under increased scrutiny for their treatment of women in an industry long dominated by men.
The Sony suit comes amid high-profile state and federal lawsuits against “Call of Duty” maker Activision over alleged sexual misconduct and gender-based pay disparities.
Game companies ranging from Ubisoft and Riot, to indies such as Fullbright, have faced a reckoning over women’s experiences working for them.
Driving the news: The former IT security analyst, Emma Majo, is seeking court approval to expand her effort into a class action on behalf of women who’ve worked for PlayStation in the past few years.
The suit alleges violations of the United States’ Equal Pay Act, saying: “Sony discriminates against female employees, including those who are female and those who identify as female, in compensation and promotion and subjects them to a work culture predominated by men.”
Majo alleges that she was ignored by a manager who only responded to men, was passed over for promotions, and was terminated this year after submitting a gender bias complaint to the company.
She says other women at PlayStation struggled to get promoted at the same rate as men.
Representatives from PlayStation did not immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit.
Majo notes in her suit that Sony says she was terminated because of the closure of an internal department, though she says she wasn’t in that department.
The big picture: Scrutiny of game companies over their treatment of women has been especially intense in California, where Sony’s U.S. headquarters is based.
In 2018, women from LA-based Riot Games filed a class-action suit alleging gender discrimination. Activision is also based in the state.
California’s regulatory environment affords workers and state agencies many avenues for holding companies accountable.
The plaintiff in the PlayStation suit says she plans to invoke California’s Private Attorney General Act, which lets private citizens sue for breach of state labor laws. (Uber was sued via the same law in 2017.)


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Jangro unveils new launches at The Cleaning Show - Stand G01
11 March 2019
Independent janitorial and cleaning distributor will be exhibiting in the Jangro Garden, which can be found at stand number G01.
This year’s stand is set to be bigger and better than in previous years and will offer visitors the opportunity to enter the ‘Jangro Garden’. Here, surrounded by relaxing foliage, flowers and grass seating, emphasising its green credentials
- State-of-the-art technological solutions, including its first ever Virtual Reality platform
- A new sustainable cleaning brochure featuring exciting, recent additions
- An innovative sustainable cleaning range, which could save huge volumes of plastic from ending up in landfill, or in our oceans and waterways.
Jangro will also introduce visitors to its brand-new Digital Wall Chart Creator, which allows customers to create their own bespoke charts with the products of their choice.
Visitors will be able to refuel with themed mocktails and a Barista service –all refreshments will be available free of charge, and any voluntary donations received to Jangro will be donated to Afasic (Association for All Speech Impaired Children), a parent-led organisation set up to help children and young people with speech and language impairments and their families.
Visitors will also be able to relax in the Jangro ‘Snug’ – where they can speak with our dedicated national accounts team, who will be offering help and advice, and answering any questions, including queries about new and existing products.
For more information, go to www.jangro.net/cleaningshow19
See you in the Garden!


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DuPont Recognized as One of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for Sixth Consecutive Year
WILMINGTON, Del. – Clarviate Analytics has named DuPont a 2016 Top Global Innovator for the sixth consecutive year. The program, based on proprietary data, recognizes the most innovative corporations and institutions in the world that shape the future through the development and commercialization of breakthrough technologies.
“Each and every day, DuPont scientists and engineers translate discoveries to valuable new products and technologies for our customers,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Science & Technology Officer Douglas Muzyka. “We are honored to be included on the Top 100 Global Innovator list, as it recognizes the positive impact that our innovations are having – enabling a better, safer, and healthier life for people everywhere.”
DuPont’s newest innovations include:
- New conductive ink for digital printing
- Advanced fermentation systems to improve ethanol yield
- Detergent enzymes that renew and protect consumers’ favorite garments,
- The new highest yielding Pioneer® brand A-Series soybean varieties,
- Danisco® FloraFit® customizable probiotics and HOWARU® premium probiotics which support digestive health and immune system, and
- New DuPont™ Temprion™ portfolio of thermal management materials for electronic applications such as hand-held devices, computers, car batteries and high-power electronic motors where heat dissipation is a major concern.
These new innovations complement DuPont’s broad portfolio of innovations, including: DuPont™ Corian® Charging Surface providing wireless charging for phones and tablets, DuPont™ Kevlar® advanced ballistic protection and consumer products, Tyvek® HomeWrap®, medical packaging and protective apparel solutions, Nomex® thermal protection, Pioneer® brand Optimum® AcreMax® insect protection products, Sorona® renewably sourced fibers, and Rynaxypyr® insect control. In 2015, DuPont recorded about $8 billion in sales from new products and applications launched between 2012 and 2015.
The Clarviate Analytics 2016 Top100 Global Innovators program, formerly the Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters is now in its sixth year. The program has served as a trustworthy investment resource and a testament to increased R&D funding, global patent filing and new market development, resulting in greater revenue and enhanced regional economic activity. According to Clarviate Analytics, the firms on the list generated more than $4 trillion revenue in 2015 and spent more than $227 billion on research and development. On average, the 2016 Top 100 Global Innovators invest 9.1 percent more in R&D than those in the S&P 100.
The Clarviate Analytics 2016 Top 100 Global Innovator methodology is based on patent volume, patent-grant success rates, global reach and invention influence. The full report is available at http://top100innovators.stateofinnovation.com.


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A week after Valentine’s Day Fannie May is recalling 12,000 boxes of chocolates due to unidentified peanuts present in the batch.
The packaging does not reveal that one of the pieces of chocolate in the box contains peanuts, which can be deadly to people that suffer from allergies.
Fannie May announced the recall on Wednesday and immediately started pulling the four-ounces boxes of heart shaped chocolates from stores shelves. They contain eight pieces including one peanut/caramel candy.
The Valentine’s Day chocolates were sold since January 10 in up to 450 stores, including Walgreens, Hallmark Gift Shops, and Jewel Grocers, in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The affected boxes were not available for sale at Fannie May stores or the company’s website.
The box has a rose photo with the name Fannie May in silver lettering and measures 5 1/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches in size.
Fannie May Confections Brands Inc. is a privately owned company based in North Canton, Ohio and says it is aware of one person suffering from an allergic reaction after eating the Valentine’s Day treat.
The item is identified as SKU #77202 with the UPC number on the label of 0 52745 96000 2. Lot information on the Valentine’s day chocolate is 13344, 13345, 13361, 14010, and 14014.
In a statement posted on the Fannie May website, the company urges those who purchased or received the Valentine’s Day chocolates to dispose of them:
“Individuals who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they come in contact with or consume this product.”
“Fannie May is working in cooperation with the FDA. Information on the product recall can be found on the home page of the Company’s website located at: www.fanniemay.com. Consumers with questions may contact a dedicated customer service representative at the Company by dialing 330-494-0833 Extension 193, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST or email email@example.com.”
“Fannie May decided to recall the products after a customer contacted one of our telephone customer service representatives to report that the ingredient label on the box of chocolates did not state it contained peanuts,” the statement read.
According to Foodallergy.org, peanut allergies are one of the most common food allergies and can cause a severe, potentially fatal, reaction known as anaphylaxis.
Peanut allergies are believed to be on the rise, with some studies suggesting the numbers almost tripled since 1997.
Fannie May says the person who suffered from the allergic reaction after eating the Valentine’s Day candy, was treated and later released from the hospital.


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High-speed holographic images via inkjet printers
We’re constantly looking for innovative ways to improve the Springwise experience, and so we’re now introducing BeeLine Reader, a new technology that helps you read more quickly and efficiently. To learn more about BeeLine Reader, an award-winning startup funded by Intel Capital, see BeeLineReader.com.
We recently covered a 3D barcoding system that could protect a variety of items against counterfeiting. Researchers in Russia have now developed a method of rapidly printing the rainbow holograms used for counterfeit protection in credit cards and printed money.
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