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What student would have thought one day to see his work on sale at Simons? Well, this is the case for design students from Laval University!
Factory 1840, initiative of The Simons House, opened its platform for the first time to students as part of a unique capsule collection. The collaboration between Fabrique 1840 and the School of Design of the Faculty of Planning, Architecture, Art and Design at Laval University in Quebec allows us to offer 11 products designed by students on the online platform from the Canadian retailer today. All proceeds from the student capsule collection will be used to fund the graduation cohort’s year-end exhibit.
The students had to design objects in a spirit of compact living, both functional and minimalist, which corresponds to Fabrique 1840. The objects chosen for sale on Fabrique 1840 are thus all handmade by the students themselves .
“Turning to the next generation is natural for us, since it is our mission to support Canadian artisans, both those starting up and those well established in order to become an accelerator for them. We are convinced that this partnership with graduates from Laval University is only the first step towards a greater commitment to design schools across Canada! “
– Cécile Branco, Director of Factory 1840
This initiative is a really interesting way to test the entrepreneurial aspect of students by producing their object in mini-series, in addition to enjoying exceptional visibility at the start of their career. Since Fabrique 1840 positions itself as an accelerator for Canadian artisans, it was important for them to create a bridge with design schools in order to be a showcase for the creators of tomorrow.
See all the products in the gallery above or otherwise find them on Fabrique 1840.


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The Lastest Macroeconomic News
04.05.2007 12:08 China`s GDP rises 11.1 percent in first quarter of 2007
The Chinese economy rose 11.1 percent in the first quarter of 2007, the Chinese National Statistics Office said, with a high level official admitting the possibility of economic overheating. According to analysts, rapid economic growth was due to increased internal consumption and investment in fixed assets alongside the country`s trade surplus, which affects the effectiveness of measures put in place by Beijing to prevent the economy overheating. "If rapid growth continues for a longer period of time, there is the risk that we will move from rapid growth to overheating", said Li Xiaochao, spokesman for the National Statistics Office. The 11.1 percent growth rate is the highest since the third quarter of 2006, in which China`s GDP grew 11.5 percent, leading analysts to fear that measures implemented by the Chinese government to cool growth had so far had a limited impact. China, which is the world`s fourth-largest, grew 10.7 percent last year, with growth in the fourth quarter of 10.4 percent. At the beginning of this year, the Chinese government set a limit of 8 percent for growth in 2007, which, similarly to previous limits set for GDP growth, is likely to be exceeded.
03.05.2007 13:15 Eurozone Manufacturing Activity Stable In April of 2007
Manufacturing activity in the 13 nations that share the euro held steady in April although the European currency`s recent strength took its toll on exports, according to a widely watched survey on May 2. The Eurozone`s seasonally adjusted purchasing managers` index (PMI), compiled by NTC Research, was flat in April at 55.4 points compared to March, in line with private economists` expectations for 55.5 points. A reading above 50 indicates that the manufacturing sector is generally expanding, while a reading below 50 suggests that it is generally contracting. "Despite the strong euro, the manufacturing sector is growing at a steady clip in the eurozone," said Bank of America economist Holger Schmieding. "Judging by the monthly survey of purchasing managers, an improved outlook for employment at home is offsetting a decline in export orders," he added.
30.04.2007 20:09 Eurozone April Confidence Stays Close to Six-Year High
European business and consumer confidence stayed close to a six-year high this month, as resurgent exports and corporate investment help the euro-area economy overcome increased interest rates and a U.S. slowdown. An index of sentiment among executives and consumers in the euro region slipped to 111.0 from a revised 111.1 in March, the European Commission in Brussels said. Economists had expected the April confidence index to rise to 111.7 from a previously reported 111.2 in March, according to the median of 27 forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey. Business confidence in Germany, Europe`s biggest economy, unexpectedly rose this month to the second-highest level on record, the Ifo institute said April 25. Euro-area industrial confidence increased in April to the highest since the data were first collated in 1990, today`s report showed. Also the commission estimates the euro area grew 0.6 percent in the first quarter from the prior three months, twice the rate of expansion in the U.S.
27.04.2007 22:40 U.S. GDP slows to 1.3% in first quarter of 2007, the weakest in 4 years
Hit by rising energy prices and a weak housing market, the U.S. GDP slowed to 1.3% real annualized growth in the first quarter of 2007, the weakest expansion in four years, the Commerce Department estimated. The first estimate of first-quarter real gross domestic product was lower than the 1.7% expected by economists. GDP growth was led by consumer spending, state and local government spending, and business investments, offsetting drags from housing, foreign trade, inventories and federal government spending. Final sales of domestic product increased 1.6%, the weakest in five quarters. Led by higher energy costs, the GDP price index increased 4.0%, the most in 16 years. Meanwhile, core consumer prices - which exclude food and energy costs - increased at a more moderate 2.2% annual pace.
25.04.2007 22:16 US new home sales weaker-than-expected, but rise 2.6 percent in March
Sales of new U.S. homes rose 2.6 percent in March but fell short of the pace expected by analysts while the number of new homes for sale was little changed, according to a government report on Wednesday. New single-family home sales rose to an annual rate of 858,000 units from a revised rate of 836,000 in February, the Commerce Department said. Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting March sales to rise to 888,000 from the previously reported rate of 848,000 units in February. In March, the median sales price of a new home rose $2,200 to $254,000 from $251,800 in February. The Commerce Department`s data comes a day after a real estate trade group reported a weaker-than-expected month of existing homes sales. The sales pace of existing homes dropped 8.4 percent in March, the biggest tumble in more than 18 years, the National Association of Realtors said. Home resales, which represent 85 percent of the housing market, fell to an annualized 6.12 million units.
22.04.2007 18:14 U.S. industrial production drops 0.2 percent in March of 2007
U.S. industrial production fell by 0.2 percent in March after a 0.8 percent increase in February and a 0.4 percent decrease in January, the Federal Reserve reported this week. The 0.2 percent decline in industrial production, an indicator of the output of mines, factories and utilities, was led by a 7.0 percent drop in output of utilities. Output in the manufacturing sector, however, moved up 0.7 percent in March, the strongest showing since December. The increase followed a 0.1 percent gain in February and was led by advances in the production of durable goods. Mining output, including oil production, also edged up 0.1 percent in March, compared with a gain of 0.3 percent in the previous month. Overall industrial production for March was 2.3 percent above the level in the same month of 2006. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry fell 0.2 percentage point to 81.4 percent in March. It was the same as its year-earlier level and 0.4 percentage point above its 1972-2006 average.
19.04.2007 21:32 Russia`s gross domestic product grew 7.9% in the first quarter
Russia`s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.9%, year-on-year, in the first quarter of 2007, the Russian economics minister said Thursday. In January-March 2006, GDP increased 5.0%. "The first quarter is characterized by a new wave of accelerated economic growth," - Gref said. Net capital inflow into Russia increased 150% in January-March 2007, year-on-year, to $18.3 billion. Net capital inflow into Russia hit a record level of $41.6 billion in 2006. Wages in Russia grew 18.4% and real incomes were up 13.0% in the first quarter of 2007, compared with the same period of 2006. Industrial output expanded 8.4%, year-on-year, in January-March 2007, making a major contribution to accelerated GDP growth. The ruble`s real effective rate to the dollar/euro currency basket gained 2.6% in the first three months of 2007.
16.04.2007 20:35 Japan`s industrial output rose by a revised 0.7% in February 2007
Better than an initial estimate of a decline of 0.2%, Japan`s industrial output rose by a revised 0.7% in February from the previous month, the government said, while maintaining its upbeat assessment of the overall economy. Year-on-year output was up 3.1%, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The government also maintained its upbeat view of the economy in a monthly report, although it slightly downgraded its view on industrial production. "The economy is recovering, despite weakness in industrial production in some sectors," the Cabinet Office said, dropping a reference in last month`s report to weakness in consumer spending. Over the short term, the government remained positive about the outlook, saying "economic recovery is expected to continue, supported by domestic private demand as high corporate profits feed into the household sector. It said that private consumption "is showing a pick-up", upgrading its earlier view that private consumption was "almost flat." The report indicated that Japan`s economy has now been expanding for 63 months, its longest post-war boom.
11.04.2007 22:33 IMF ups Eurozone GDP forecast for 2007 and 2008
Euro zone growth will slow a bit this year after a strong performance in 2006, but the European Central Bank should still lift interest rates to keep inflation at bay, the IMF said on Wednesday. But the International Monetary Fund also said it was not clear if this showed a fundamental improvement in the common currency zone`s economic performance, and urged more reform to catch up with the wealthier United States. "Growth in the euro area is projected to moderate to 2.3 percent in 2007 and 2008, still somewhat above potential," the IMF said in the spring edition of its World Economic Outlook. In its last forecast in September IMF expected Eurozone economies to collectively expand at a 2.0 percent pace this year and next.
10.04.2007 20:27 The Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry raised GDP growth forecast
The Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry raised its forecast for GDP growth in 2007 from 6.2 percent to 6.5 percent, Andrei Klepach, director of the ministry`s macroeconomic forecasting department, said in Kazan on Friday. The revise follows the positive results of the first two months of 2007 and a review of the forecast for industrial production, Klepach was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. According to the ministry`s updated forecast, GDP growth in Russia will be 6.1 percent in 2008, 6.0 percent in 2009 and 6.2 percent in 2010. The forecast for industrial production in 2007 has also been raised to 5.2 percent from 4.3 percent, he said. The forecasts for GDP growth and industrial production in the 2008-2010 period have been increased as well, Klepach said.

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After setting payment terms with the major music labels for its new iTunes Radio service, Apple is now reaching out to the independent record labels. The good news is the Cupertino, Calif.-based technology giant is offering the indies roughly the same terms.
Letters to the independent labels went out in the past week, according to two music industry insiders, one of whom described the terms as "on par" with what the majors will be getting. Both insiders said it would be hard to know if the terms were exactly alike, since all three major labels have negotiated their own, individual deals.
Terms of payment, though, were expected to be the same. According to a copy of the Apple contract sent to an independent label that was obtained by Crain's, iTunes will pay a royalty of $0.0013 per song streamed in the first year of the service, and $0.0014 after that. For a song to earn $1 it would have to be streamed 770 times.
One insider described the rate terms as the same offered to the majors. It would also be fractionally higher than the $0.0012 that streaming giant Pandora pays per stream.
iTunes Radio's Pandora-like streaming platform will be free and advertising supported, though an ad-free subscription version will also be available, Apple said in its June 10 unveiling. Apple will also be sharing advertising revenue with the music labels.
"The majors have a negotiated deal, and [the indies' deal] is crafted together from all the rights gathered there," said a music industry executive. The executive added that since the majors distribute many indie labels, "you can't plug in a lower royalty rate for indies and figure you'll get away with it. The majors probably have some other way they get [more money] but it won't be directly from a higher royalty."
Indie labels, many of them based in New York City, have become a growing force in the industry, increasing their market share with the help of digital distribution platforms like Pandora, Spotify and Clear Channel's I Heart Radio. Increasingly, major Grammy winning artists like Mumford & Sons and even Taylor Swift record on indie labels.
Meanwhile, the major labels—which have been whittled down to Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group—have struggled in recent years with the marketplace's shift to low-priced digital downloads from high-priced CDs.
An Apple spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.
Apple is paying more, one insider said, so that it can have greater flexibility with the tracks to build a more customizable service than Pandora's. As part of setting itself apart, iTunes Radio will make playlists based on a user's own iTunes library, in addition to being able to build stations around a song or a genre.
In its communications with the music companies, Apple has also been trumpeting the connection that the streaming service—and its users—will have with the iTunes Store, which will be one click away from iTunes Radio. Paid downloads are vastly more profitable for the music labels than payments from streaming.


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By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor
You expect a game like that from Peyton Manning – and he did it earlier this year.
Usually, not from a guy who’s been inconsistent and without knowing if he’s going to start from week to week. However, that’s the beauty of football.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles tied the NFL record with seven touchdown passes in a 49-20 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Foles had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 by completing 22-of-28 passes for 406 yards.
If you did the math, he actually had more touchdowns that incompletions.
Foles’ season has been up and down, but mostly up. He had a tough game against the Dallas Cowboys where he completed just 11 passes and threw for 80 yards in a 17-3 loss on October 20.
But all quarterbacks go through maturing periods. They are all going to have bad games from time to time, even the best ones.
Yet, we have to wait a week to see how Foles follows up this great game – and a week is a long time in the football world. He’s already been declared the Eagles quarterback of the future where as two week ago many fans couldn’t wait to see him sitting on the bench.
And card collectors are some of the most fickle bunch.
There are more than 3,300 eBay auctions with “Nick Foles” in the title and about half of them were posted since the Eagles game ended yesterday. Some collectors are looking to cash in on the hype surrounding Foles, and it may not be a bad idea since some of his top cards will sell well.
However, all those cards going up at the same time may have a negative impact for sellers. Collectors will quickly notice the marketplace has been flooded with Foles autograph cards and may come out with some good deals.
Who knows? You might even be able to wait a week and get his cards for cheaper – or they can go even higher.
What do you plan to do with your Nick Foles cards?
Stay tuned for a full Monday Morning Collector coming up later today.


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While Microsoft had released the Hyperlapse video app months back on Android, it was still in beta. The company now has finally launched the app for Android users.
Microsoft has announced that its video app Hyperlapse for Android is now out of beta and is now available for all users. The app can be downloaded on any Android device running version 4.4 and higher. The app also comes with a desktop client.
The Hyperlapse for Android app allows users to make time-lapse videos by shooting directly from the app or from a pre-recorded video. The app also allows users to make tweaks, adjustments, reduce the length of the video. Users can also vary the speed of the video ranging from 2X to 32X. You can download the app from the Google Play store.


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It seems even LinkedIn can’t escape the armies of spammers that exist online, with hundreds of fake accounts being created on a daily basis.
While spammers have usually targeted the more popular social media services like Facebook to create fake profiles with the aim of ‘catfishing’ someone to give up their financial details, it now seems that they’ve just copped on to the fact wealthy business people exist on LinkedIn.
According to Symantec’s latest blog post, the online security company has helped the networking site control the numbers of spam accounts, which are mostly targeting people employed in the security and oil and gas industries.
As it turns out, though, all the spam accounts follow a very similar pattern whereby they pretend to be recruiters for fake firms or self-employed people, who aim to entice people to add them as a connection by using photos of women pulled from stock image sites.
Of course, Google reverse image search is not their friend, with a quick click-and-drag of the photo into Google Images revealing that it is obviously a stock image used time and time again on various websites.
Likewise, they don’t even have a complicated system when it comes to filling out the profile, deciding that it’s not worth their time to generate seemingly original details, rather they copy and paste from one profile into theirs with an occasional change thrown in here or there.
From Symantec’s research, however, the key to their attempts at pulling in bait lies in the use of keywords including “Reservoir Engineer”, “Exploration Manager”, and “Cargo Securement Training” ad nauseam.
“The primary goal of these fake LinkedIn accounts is to map out the networks of business professionals,” Symantec said. “Using these fake LinkedIn accounts, scammers are able to establish a sense of credibility among professionals in order to initiate further connections.
“In addition to mapping connections, scammers can also scrape contact information from their connections, including personal and professional email addresses as well as phone numbers. This information could be used to send spear-phishing emails.”
Symantec’s advice? Don’t add connections that are clearly fake and use reverse image search functions like the one provided by Google to double-check.
Casting a net image via Shutterstock


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Sheryl Sandberg is one of the most recognisable business leaders in the world. But where would she be without ambition?
It is hard to imagine how someone could become chief operating officer of Facebook without drive and passion.
Not everyone who aspires to a career in the technology will reach those heady heights - but, according to one of the UK’s most prominent industry figures, ambition is essential for women to succeed in digital industries.
Lesley Cowley OBE, non-executive director at AQL, said aiming high is key to achieving your goals - whether you are an entrepreneur running a business part-time or someone eyeing up a C-suite role at a tech giant.
But ambition does not mean going it alone, Ms Cowley stressed.
In fact, not being able to get the right support and guidance is one of the biggest challenges the for tech start-ups today.
Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, Ms Cowley : “Success is about being ambitious, but also being realistic and getting the help that you need.
“Whether you’re a CEO of an SME or a big business, know your strengths and weaknesses and get help with that.
“There are lots of women starting businesses nowadays who maybe don’t necessarily have the ambition and are thinking small scale - but why?
“Be ambitious. My advice would be aim for something that’s really big - go for your dream, work towards it and get the help you need.”
Ms Cowley has worked in the tech industry since the early years of the internet, joining UK domain registry Nominet in 1999 before becoming chief executive of the firm in 2004.
While women are undoubtedly more visible in the digital economy than they were 15 years ago, it is still a male-dominated area.
This partly is down to the pace of change and a lack of understanding around the diverse roles that make up the technology sector - which can be a particular issue in schools.
She said: “Girls tend to rule themselves out of things in tech because they don’t realise the opportunities. They don’t realise how exciting a career you can have.
“I work speaking in schools, saying, ‘don’t rule it out, keep an open mind’. If you like maths, fantastic, but you don’t necessarily need to be a mathematician, you could find a career in tech marketing, which will blow your mind in terms of routes to the customer, social media and so on. There are masses of opportunities out there.”
She added: “I wish tech had been around when I was at school. Although I bet I wouldn’t have been encouraged to go into it.”
This week saw the Heroes of Mobile festival take place in Leeds for the first time.
The event, organised by mobile industry expert Helen Keegan and hosted by AQL, brings together a range of speakers from the technology and mobile arenas to discuss challenges and opportunities for the industry.
Speaking at a women’s networking event, Ms Cowley told The Yorkshire Post Leeds is a thriving environment for the digital sector - but that more must be done to promote its successes.
Currently, London is “doing a better PR job” as the home for digital - but it need not be the case.
She said: “Leeds needs to do everything it can to sell itself and sell what a fantastic place it is to live, work and play.
“The business opportunities here are really exciting, both big and small.
“There’s real opportunity for Leeds to put itself on the digital map. Leeds can absolutely hold its own.
“It has the ambition, the right raw ingredients, all we need to do is deliver on that.”
Lesley Cowley OBE joined Nominet in 1999, having completed an MBA at Bristol Business School.
She was promoted to chief executive in 2004. In 2011, she was awarded an OBE for services to internet and e-commerce.
Since leaving Nominet in 2014, she has taken on non-executive roles at AQL and others. She is the first non-executive chair of the DVLA.


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Colgate-Palmolive Company News
General Mills Tops List of Stocks That Suffer from Rising Oil Price
Bank of America lists stocks that are hurt by rising oil prices. Oil has soared in recent months amid the war in Ukraine.
Here Are Some of the Most Trusted Brands in America
Health and history were major trend in the Morning Consult study this year.
Two Big Names May Become Bargain Stocks Amid Rout: Morningstar
PepsiCo particularly benefits from its nonbeverage products, including Frito-Lay and Quaker, Morningstar said.
Pepsi and Coke on BofA's List of Firms With Russia Exposure
Ten U.S. companies disclose sales exposure to Russia, and that exposure isn't very big, Bank of America says.
Stocks Edge Lower, Apple, Amazon, Intel Tesla and Elon Musk In Focus - 5 Things You Must Know
Stock futures edge lower as big tech earnings whiff; Apple shares slide as supply chain warning clouds Q2 beat; Amazon shares slump after surprise Q1 loss, muted outlook; Intel shares retreat as chip sector bottlenecks raise caution and Tesla shares jump as Musk unloads $4 billion, says 'no further sales planned'.
Roe Decision Forces Disney, Netflix to Take a Political Stand
Disney, JP Morgan Chase, and outgoing Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg are just a few speaking out against the ruling.
Netflix Lays Offs More Employees To Cut Costs
Netflix layoffs continue as the streaming giant executes a plan to cope with slow revenue growth.
These Five Things Could Help (or Hurt) Internet Stocks
Bank of America analysts outline some of the biggest issues facing Amazon, Alphabet, Meta and other internet-related stocks.
Disney Mobile Game Opens Up a New Universe
Familiar Disney characters populate an alternate reality in new interactive game.


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Special Media Report by Chase
Chances are you know someone who has been a victim of fraud or scam. As a result of the pandemic, fraudsters are finding new ways to find victims. The good news is that there are simple ways for consumers to stay safe and fight back.
In a recent Chase survey of 2,000 consumers, 84% of survey respondents agreed that scams and scammers have become more sophisticated in recent years.
To spot fraud, it’s important to learn more about the most widespread scams, how to prevent them and what to do if you think you may be a victim.
How common are fraud and scams?
Fraud cases are unfortunately becoming more prevalent, and more sophisticated. In fact, the FTC revealed that 3.5 million people reported being a victim of fraud or identity theft in 2020, an increase of more than 1.5 million from the previous year. For Black communities, the problem is even worse with nearly half (40%) of Black adults being targeted by of online scams and fraud, according to AARP.
What kind of scams exist that we should be aware of and know how to stop them?
While scams are always popping up, there are several common approaches that keep resurfacing.
Some of the more common scams we’ve helped our customers fight against may not always seem so obvious.
What shocks many of our customers is how scam artists are willing to impersonate familiar faces, whether that be close relatives or community officials, and also trick you by using your own smart phone against you. So next time you receive a text message or email on your phone, think twice before you engage.
Fake bank fraud specialist
What they look like: Consumers receive a fraud alert via text message that appears to come from their bank. The message asks them to validate whether they made a certain purchase or sent a certain amount of money. After saying “no,” the recipient gets a call from someone claiming to be from their bank’s fraud team. The phone number may even appear to be a real phone number from your bank.
They’ll ask for the customer’s banking username, password or a one-time passcode. Alternatively, they’ll sometimes ask the customer to send money to themselves or a third party to “stop” the fraud or to get their money back. Once the scammer has gained access to a person’s account or convinced them to send money, they usually stop contact and the victim’s money is gone.
How to stop them: Unfortunately, scammers target consumers from many banks and they are very good at disguising themselves by “spoofing” or making their phone number appear legitimate. Consumers should never share their banking password, one-time passcode, ATM pin or send money to someone who says that doing so will prevent fraud on their account. Bank employees won’t call, text or email consumers asking for this information, but crooks will. If you receive a call like this, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, the back of your credit or debit card or bank website to verify the authenticity of the request.


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The Breakfast Club has just opened its first restaurant in a travel hub—in the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport. The Breakfast Club now has 14 cafes in London and south east England, plus four bars and pubs. Greggs has also just opened its first London airport site at Gatwick.
Bowling, bar and restaurant group Lane7 has confirmed its first London opening—in Victoria in November. It will have a food offer from burger operator Patty & Bun. Lane7 currently has 13 sites around the UK, with more openings scheduled in York, Cardiff, Belfast and Dublin.
The Roxy Leisure group has filed a licensing and planning application to open in Stonebow House in York. It wants to launch a venue for its Roxy Ball Room concept, which has various competitive socialising elements plus a bar and restaurant. The concept has already opened in Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. The group’s next opening is in Cheltenham.
Mission Mars’ Neapolitan pizza brand Rudy’s has submitted a licensing application for a new restaurant on Tottenham Court Road in London. Rudy’s operates two other London sites in Shoreditch and Soho, and is planning more launches in the capital.
Work has started on the fit-out of a new Wagamama restaurant at Sixfields in Northampton, in a unit that was previously run by Firejacks.
Loungers has just opened the third location for its Brightside brand. The roadside diner-style venue has launched on the A303 near Honiton in Devon. The other two Brightside locations are near Exeter and Saltash.
The Yummy Pubs group has acquired the lease on a restaurant unit in Hammersmith that was previously occupied by Villagio. It will reopen as a new British seafood restaurant concept called Faber. The deal for the site was arranged by Christie & Co.
US fried chicken brand Popeyes is opening on Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester later this year, local media report. It will be Popeyes’ 15th UK opening this year and its 32nd in total.
The 7Bone Burger brand is to launch a new restaurant on Duke Street in Brighton, in a unit that was previously leased by Bangers ‘n’ Burgerz. 7Bone currently has ten restaurants.
The Escapism Bars group has announced a new opening in Manchester. The Mean Eyed Cat and Tiki Hideaway bar concepts will be co-located on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter. Escapism Bars currently has seven sites in Leeds and Liverpool.
Pan-Asian group Banana Tree has just opened a new restaurant in Reigate in Surrey, in a unit previously occupied by Café Rouge. Banana Tree now has 13 locations in London and south east England.
The San Carlo Italian restaurant group has set 17 August for the opening of its new site at Alderley Edge. The 164-cover restaurant has taken over the unit from Gino d’Acampo’s group.
Mexican fast casual brand Chipotle opened at the O2 centre in London this week. It is a fourth opening this year, after Guildford, Westfield White City and Twickenham, and Chipotle now has 17 UK locations.
The Plan Burrito brand will open a seventh unit on Timber Hill in Norwich shortly. Plan Burrito also has sites in Loughborough, London, Whitburn, Hitchin, Guildford and Leamington Spa.
Plans have been submitted for a new food hall at a former hotel and nightclub in Birkenhead on the Wirral, local media report. The proposals for the Dock Road Food Hall include space for mobile food operators, a large bar and an outdoor event space.
The Wild Tavern Italian restaurant in Chelsea is opening a second location on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill in September.
CGA’s On Premise outlet directory, sales targeting & location planning platform, RISE, is a complete & updated outlet database with advanced outlet targeting. Using multiple market-leading data sources & feeds, RISE enables strategic targeting of specific/competitor brands. For more information about RISE contact Andy Dean, CGA client director, here: firstname.lastname@example.org
To read the previous new openings round-up, click here.


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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The state of Arkansas has some fantastic fishing and outdoor opportunities, and if you want to take advantage of them, you must have the right stuff.
What exactly is the right stuff?
The Forrest L. Wood Championship Boat and Outdoor Show, being held in conjunction with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s season-ending championship, can show you.
This week, the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark., is packed to the gills, so to speak, with all the right stuff needed to enjoy the outdoors.
The show opens today and runs through Saturday, July 16.
Boats, motors, rods, reels, lures, line, electronics, trolling motors, trucks, tents, tires, clothing, apparel and just about any outdoor accessory you can think of is on display at the show.
Over 140 companies are representing their products at the show this week.
On Wednesday, children will receive a free hat and T-shirt. On Thursday, it’s free tackle kits. Friday will feature free tackle boxes. And on Saturday, rod-and-reel combos will be given away to youngsters.
Supplies are limited and the show openings vary, so check the show times below to get there early.
And what about the adults? Well, there is free stuff for the big kids, too.
The first 500 guests through the door each day will receive a Fujifilm QuickSnap Camera and a pair of Solar Bat sunglasses.
Each day, show attendees can register for a free Ranger Z-20 Comanche powered by a Yamaha outboard engine. Two names will be drawn at each day’s weigh-in to participate in the final drawing Saturday. At Saturday’s weigh-in, the final drawing will be made, and one of the lucky eight names entered will win the Z-20 being given away by Allen Tillery Chevrolet.
In addition, there will be plenty of product samples given away by FLW Tour sponsors in the Family Fun Zone, where kids can enjoy various games and activities for prizes.
Seminars and appearances
Each day of the FLW Championship Boat and Outdoor Show will be punctuated with a series of fishing seminars given by well-known industry experts like Luke Clausen, who won last year’s FLW Tour Championship and Forrest L. Wood, who founded Ranger Boats.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005:
3-3:25 p.m. – Guido Hibdon
3:30-4:05 p.m. – Dion Hibdon
Friday, July 15:
1-1:25 p.m. – Luke Clausen
1:30-1:55 p.m. – Guido Hibdon
2-2:35 p.m. – Jimmy Houston
3-3:35 p.m. – Jay Yelas
Saturday, July 16:
12-12:35 p.m. – Forrest L. Wood and Charlie Evans
1-1:25 p.m. – Dion Hibdon
1:30-1:55 p.m. – Jimmy Houston
2-2:35 p.m. – Mark Davis
3-3:35 p.m. – Hank Parker
Outdoor show times and locations
The FLW Championship Boat and Outdoor Show and weigh-ins are being held at the Hot Springs Convention Center and Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark.
Wednesday: 2-8 p.m.
Thursday: 2-8 p.m.
Friday: 12-9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Each day the weigh-in preshow will begin at 4 p.m., including a free country music concert on Saturday, and the anglers will begin weighing fish at 5 p.m.
And the best part: admission to all shows, seminars, concerts and weigh-ins is free.


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AXA Insurance has revealed it suffered a cybersecurity incident that compromised personal data of 5,400 customers in Singapore.
The breach affected users of its health portal including past customers, said its data protection officer, Eric Lelyon, in an e-mail Thursday to affected customers. No other alerts or notices were posted on its website.
Lelyon said the breach "exposed" the customer's e-mail address, date of birth, and mobile number, which was used to transmit one-time passwords (OTPs) when users transacted on the portal.
According to the portal, the OTPs were required for users to log into the site.
Lelyon said no other personal data was compromised, including credit card details, identification number, health status, and next-of-kin information. In his note, he said affected customers would not need to take any specific action, since the breach was "not likely to, on its own, expose you to identity theft".
Lelyon, though, urged users to be mindful of potential phishing attempts that aimed to extract additional personal data.
"In the unlikely event you feel that you may have inadvertently disclosed personal data as a result of a phishing attempt in the last few months, it is possible this could be connected to this hacking incident, and if so, we urge you to file a police report," he said.
Stressing the need to reduce the time to detect and respond to a breach, Bill Taylor-Mountford, LogRhythm's Asia-Pacific Japan vice president, said: "In this instance, there was no mention how long the attackers stayed within the system, but it is worrying that customers who may be targets of phishing attacks over the last few months were warned that it may be connected to this incident.
"The attack on AXA is another clear indication that cyber attackers will go after any industries. Attackers will inadvertently find a way to get in, therefore, it is more important to kick them out before they can do real damage," Taylor-Mountford said. He advised affected customers to change the password to the targeted e-mail account.
According to Fortinet, the compromised data could be used to launch secondary attacks targeted at affected customers. Hackers, for example, could use the information to send phishing e-mail or mobile text messages to trick users into giving up their username and passwords for other sensitive accounts, such as banking and social media details. They also might lure users into installing malware to gain access into the targeted AXA customers' PCs.
Lelyon said AXA Insurance had made a police report and was working with the authorities. He added that it had "taken all remedial actions" to safeguard its health portal and prevent a recurrence.
Ironically, the company in 2014 introduced an online risk insurance service in Singapore, touted to protect consumers and businesses against cyber threats.
Earlier this year, AXA Research Fund also pledged a grant of S$1.2 million over eight years to support a research programme that aimed to develop new ways of securing and protecting data and privacy. Led by a professor from Singapore Management University's School of Information Systems, the research was expected to create security models, algorithms, and analysis techniques to mitigate cybersecurity risks.


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The number of British adults using the Internet on daily basis has doubled in the last six years, a report has said.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that in 2012, 33 million adults used the internet daily, compared with 16 million in 2006.
Over the same period, the percentage of people who say they never use the Internet more than halved, from 36 per cent in 2006 to 16 percent last year, the report said.
According to the new data, the most popular online activity was sending and receiving email (73 per cent), followed by researching goods and services and reading the news, the Telegraph reports.
Almost half of adults, 48 per cent, said they use a social networking site, the paper added.
For those aged between 16 and 24, the percentage was 87 per cent, making social networking the most popular online activity for that age group.
The ONS data also showed that between 2010 and 2012 the percentage of people accessing the Internet from a mobile phone doubled from 24 to 51 per cent. (ANI)


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KUALA LUMPUR—Natural rubber production will increase 5.1 percent in 2015, to 11.175 million metric tons from 2014's 10.632 million, according to the latest figures from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries.
The January 2015 issue of the ANPRC's newsletter, Natural Rubber Trends & Statistics, had “The Year of Optimism” as its subtitle. (Published Feb. 6, the January 2015 issue was the latest the ANRPC issued.)
In her preface to the January issue, ANRPC Secretary-General Sheela Thomas said 2014 was a difficult year for many in the NR industry, but 2015 looked more promising.
Several ANRPC members have taken short-term measures to help NR growers and ensure stability of NR supply in the long run, according to Thomas. Also, current global indicators are hopeful in terms of reaching equilibrium in NR supply and demand, she said.
“Though there is a drop in aggregate production as reported, we can be sure that production of Hevea rubber will remain steady and sustainable,” she said.
The final production figure for 2014 is a downward revision caused by five ANRPC member nations—Malaysia, Indian, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Cambodia—revising their 2014 NR production figures downward, according to the report.
“While export growth will be affected by lower commodity prices, the performance of exports is expected to improve by about 1.0 percent this year,” the report said.
“Demand from China, India and the U.S. will remain as the key driver of growth,” it said. “The prospects are therefore for the NR economy to remain on a positive growth path.”


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Tuesday, March 25, 2014
The Shanghaî Shendi Group announced yesterday that a 50,000 sqm luxury shopping center will be built nearby Shanghaî Disney Resort. Shendi being the joint venture company of Disney and his Chinese partner for SDL you'll understand easily that if they've decided to build this it's not only to exploit the potential of consumption of future SDL guests but also to build a luxury shopping center before another chinese company decide to build its own mall near Shanghaî Disneyland... Below, the translation of China People online article:
"The resort area of Shanghai that houses the first Disneyland on the Chinese mainland will add a luxury shopping center next to the theme park to exploit the potential of visitor consumption, said Monday the operator area .
Shanghai Shendi Group, operator of the Tourism Zone and stations international resort Shanghai ( SITRZ ) announced Monday the formation of a joint venture with the developer of shops Sales Retail Retail Value for the construction of a luxury shops next to the Shanghai Disney Resort .
Chairman Value Retail Scott Malkin announced that the mall, called Shanghai Village, will be " the most important destination for shopping while traveling in Asia. "
Covering 50,000 square meters, the center will host several international brands and Asian as well as restaurants and cafes and is expected to open in fall 2015, according to Value Retail .
The promoter has already opened a similar set of shops next to Disneyland in Paris, France , and it is about to open its first center in China in May , in the tourist city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province , in eastern China.
Fan Xiping , President of the Shanghai Shendi Group, said the shopping center will be the second iconic project SITRZ after Shanghai Disneyland .
The group said it placed great hopes in the mall to generate tourism and retail sales.
Neither the group nor Disney have provided an estimate of the number of people who visit the park or income that these visitors are likely to generate . However, Shendi said the Shanghai World Expo 2010, another event which attracted a large number of local and foreign visitors, alluded to how the joint venture will boost retail sales in the area.
The exhibition has attracted 70 million visitors and contributed 4.5 billion yuan ( $ 730 million ) in retail sales in six months."
Picture: copyright Shendi


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Suburbs are helping restaurants stay afloat with steps usually seen in more urban settings: allowing eateries to carve out patios on sidewalks and even streets to increase seating capacity.
"The intent was trying to help businesses that were shut down," said Dan Wietecha, Hastings city administrator. "It was a matter of trying to allow them opportunities for additional customers."
The impromptu patios, which have popped up from Shakopee to Stillwater, not only are helping the establishments survive tough times, they've fostered a street-cafe vibe, according to servers and patrons. Some cities are even blocking off portions of streets to cars, typically a suburban no-no.
Residents have complained that the outdoor patios result in fewer parking spots and noise after dark, but city officials say the positives mostly outweigh the downsides.
And many said that the cities' quick moves to greenlight the patio spaces demonstrate that officials will go the extra mile to help their business survive the pandemic.
At Brian's Bar and Grill in downtown Stillwater, manager Nick Dodge said he's grateful to have the extra outdoor tables, which doubled the restaurant's seating capacity since the pandemic hit.
"It's the only way we were able to create revenue and compete with restaurants that do have outdoor seating," he said.
The patio at Boathouse Brothers Brewing Co. in Prior Lake takes up five Main Street parking spots. Diners sit beneath a tent at one of eight tables.
"We were ecstatic that the city was going to let us do it," said Boathouse co-owner Kevin Lethert. "It really helped us out greatly, and it's continuing to help us."
Some said they're hoping the new patio areas will stay open after the pandemic is over.
"They should do it all summer long, every summer," said Sherry Beckey as she sat under a large white tent set up on 1st Avenue that's shared by three Shakopee restaurants. "I love it."
But bartender Brian Bollig, at Arnie's Friendly Folks Club in Shakopee, offered a reality check. He said he was grateful for the city's help but said business remains slow during the week.
"It's better than nothing," he said of Arnie's newly tented patio. "It isn't as busy as it has been."
'Energy in the air'
The new patios seem to have proliferated in cities with strong downtowns, where businesses sit close to the street and adjacent parking spots.
Officials in several cities said they began planning during the spring to let businesses add outdoor areas. Many patios debuted in early June, when Gov. Tim Walz first permitted such outdoor spaces to be used. Some are allowed through Labor Day, and others can go through Nov. 1.
In Hastings, about 10 downtown restaurants now have patios. Most are using parking spaces in the street, but a handful also expanded into their parking lots.
Wietecha said restaurants have been enthusiastic but added there's "certainly been inconveniences for some," including a loss of parking downtown.
Hastings began issuing permits for sidewalk cafes several years ago. This spring, city officials were approached by downtown restaurant owners asking if they could do more outside.
Initially, only establishments with existing outdoor spaces were allowed to expand. Since then the city has gone further, closing one block of 2nd Street to cars on weekends and allowing the cafes to move into street parking spaces. The city brought in extra benches and hung banners to make the area more appealing.
Restaurants had to apply for patio space and confirm that their insurance covered the outdoor spaces, Wietecha said.
At Spiral Brewery in Hastings, server Victoria Zeyen said the patio "lets the whole town see each other a little bit, from a distance." The brewery got a grant from the city that helped pay for traffic cones, fencing and other materials to create safe pedestrian walkways.
The blocked-off street, myriad patios and occasional musical performances create an atmosphere of excitement, general manager Heidi Ritt said. "You can feel the energy in the air," she said.
Sharing a tent
In downtown Shakopee, one block of 1st Avenue is cordoned off so cars can't drive through. A large white tent spans the area in front of three restaurants, with each getting a section of the tent. Live music plays some nights.
Mayor Bill Mars said the tent idea came from restaurant owners and city officials putting their heads together. It gets everyone outside, making them feel a bit safer from COVID-19.
"I believe a lot of cities are embracing this," he said, adding that Shakopee seemed to be an early adopter. "It's helping [the restaurants] out greatly."
Some retail shops also are pushing outdoors, setting up racks of clothing or other items outside their doors. City officials are considering making the expansion areas permanent, Mars said.
"All the science shows that it's better to be outside," said Justin Wiggins as he had a drink and played cards with friends in the tent area reserved for Turtle's Bar & Grill.
Wiggins said the first few days of the Shakopee tent were "unreal" because they were so busy. "Waitresses were loving it," he said.
At Lakers Tavern and Pizza in Prior Lake, owner Tom Zimmeth said the outdoor seating brings in customers, though he noted that pleasant days have a lot to do with it, too.
"We've gotten great response when the weather's nice," he said.
Over half of Prior Lake's 11 dine-in restaurants created patios after submitting plans to the city, though some have since closed or reduced seating to focus on indoor service. Four still have expanded patio areas.
Mayor Kirt Briggs said relationships among the city, the police chief and restaurants are stronger since they've been working together on the patios.
Restaurants "saw that the city was right there, quickly and proactively," he said. "We want to do everything we can to ensure restaurants survive this tough economic time."
Erin Adler • 612-226-4030


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Even as market forces and mobile capital are pushing auto companies to build plants in Mexico and the southern U.S., the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union has a better idea: “We need a National Auto Policy,” argues the Toronto-based union in a policy paper released last week.
Not a chance. The Harper government has shown little interest in a co-ordinated industrial policy of any sort in Canada. It is a conservative government bent on lowering taxes, balancing budgets, boosting defence spending and letting market forces have their way with the economy.
Just as Nero fiddled while Rome burned, so is the CAW singing horribly off-key as jobs in the auto sector head south – where wages and benefits are lower and workplace rules are more flexible. This is especially true for Mexico, the place auto analyst Dennis DesRosiers calls “the new darling of the North American automotive production scene, reaching 20 per cent of N.A. production in 2011”. Canada? Our country’s share of North American production fell to 15.9 per cent last year, a nine-year low, says DesRosiers.
The CAW notes that 50,000 auto sector jobs have disappeared in the last decade, leaving 112,000 directly employed in auto manufacturing. The bulk of all-new investment in auto manufacturing is going to Mexico. Nissan is building a new plant there. Mazda is, too. And last week Audi, the Volkswagen Group’s immensely profitable luxury brand, announced plans to build a plant in Mexico to assemble SUVs and perhaps other vehicles.
“Good infrastructure, competitive cost structures and existing free trade agreements played a significant role in the choice of Mexico,” said Audi CEO Rupert Stadler.
Canada has excellent infrastructure and is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement and others. But competitive cost structure? That would be Mexico.
“As an established car-making location, Mexico offers an excellent economic basis for Audi production operations,” said Stadler.
Unfortunately, the CAW 10-point policy program for the auto industry does not begin to address Stadler’s concerns, nor those of other auto executives looking for cost-effective places to invest mobile capital. So while the CAW has put forward some interesting and discussion-worthy ideas, they arrived stillborn and here’s why (with my reasoning in italics):
- Implement an Integrated National Auto Policy:
As I said, a non-starter with the Harperites.
- Negotiate Canadian Manufacturing Footprint Commitments:
Again, this calls for a national policy which will never happen under this federal government.
- A Consistent and Transparent Auto Investment Program:
See 1 and 2.
- Public Minority Equity Shares in OEMs:
See 1 and 2. There is, in fact, little reason to believe the public in general has an appetite for significant investments in car companies. Yes, during the economic crisis in 2009 we saw Ontario and the feds move in with taxpayer cash to rebuild the then-bankrupt Chrysler Corp. and General Motors. But that was a special circumstance.
- Investigate the Possibility of Building a Canadian OEM:
Pure fantasy. No Canadian government will backstop a start-up car company. Ever.
- Rethink Automotive Trade Policy:
Canada is in NAFTA and still most of the big new investments are going to Mexico and the U.S. South. Should Canada withdraw from NAFTA? How will that boost the auto sector?
- Intervene to Reduce the Canadian Dollar:
How, exactly? That aside, the Harperites are as likely to intervene in currency markets to lower the Canadian dollar as I am to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Building a Green Auto Industry:
Again, this is part of the National Auto Policy idea and it won’t fly. Even as governments in the U.S., Europe, Japan and China have hurled billions at so-called “green” auto initiatives, the Harper government has resisted.
- A Buy-Canadian Vehicle Procurement Strategy:
This suggests there is such a thing as a Canadian vehicle or one at least made up primarily of parts made in Canada from Canadian know-how and built by Canadians in manufacturing plants in Canada. Need I say more?
- Investing in Human and Physical Infrastructure:
This might help, though we already have roads and airports, universities and technical schools.
Nowhere in this 10-point plan is the CAW willing to discuss costs. The union does this in the larger document, though. And while it’s true that the high Canadian dollar is a problem for manufacturers in general, just as true is the fact that Canadian auto workers cost car companies more than Mexican ones, or non-union workers in the U.S. South or even in unionized plants in Michigan and elsewhere.
The CAW is right to draw attention to the importance of auto manufacturing to Canada’s economy. We do have an efficient and productive auto sector in Canada, but it’s shrinking. By engaging in fantasy thinking, the union risks being dismissed out of hand. Any solution or package of solutions must address the fundamental issue on the minds of car company executives who decide where to invest in auto manufacturing: cost.
Just ask Audi’s Rupert Stadler.


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Nintendo has announced a new worldwide 3DS sales total of 6.68 million units.
That figure covers sales from 3DS launch up to 30th September, as revealed today in Nintendo's half-year financial report.
That means 3DS sales are comparable to DS sales within a similar timeframe - the 3DS is even marginally in front.
The 3DS launched in Japan in February, seven months ago. The 3DS arrived in Europe and the US roughly a month later.
Seven months after the DS launch, Nintendo had shifted 6.65 million units. But the global roll-out took longer - November 2004 in the US, December 2004 in Japan and March 2005 in Europe.
Between April and June just 710,000 3DS were sold, although hardware sales sprung back to life this summer. A far healthier 2.36 million 3DS consoles were bought between July and September after the system's August price-drop.
Worldwide 3DS software sales topped 8.13 million during the period, with Ocarina of Time 3D surpassing the 1 million milestone. Life-to-date software sales have now hit 17.56 million.
The report lists the current DS hardware total is now a now-gargantuan 149 million, while the Wii sits atop 89.36 million units sold.


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Even so, the strategy carries risk if there is a downturn in the local market or a pullback in demand, given the competitive pressure as vehicle models age, said Jeff Schuster, LMC's president of global forecasting. Volvo executives say the Ridgeville plant has the capacity to supply overseas markets, if warranted. And initially, the factory will be the global production center for the XC90 BEV.
The large crossovers "will be exported to Europe first and possibly China," Varela said.
But before the first EVs roll off the assembly line, a supply base must be established.
Volvo executives remained tight-lipped last week about the identity of their U.S. battery cell supplier. "We're still finishing the choice of suppliers for batteries for Charleston," Varela said.
However, Volvo also announced last week a joint venture with Swedish battery-maker Northvolt to set up a battery cell factory in Europe.
The company's $700 million investment includes the addition of a second assembly line at the Ridgeville plant and a battery pack assembly plant.
Other tasks are now in order. The work force will require training on BEV technology and battery assembly, said the plant's new boss, David Stenstrom.
"My first priority is getting the current team in shape," he said. "I have six months to do that."
Staffing up the factory floor is another area of focus. Volvo plans to triple the hourly production work force to about 2,500 in the next couple of years.
"I want to be the best plant," Stenstrom said. "If I'm competitive in cost and quality, I hope my boss will give me the next models as well."


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Top 5 -yesterday
- South African government negotiates a settlement with the European Union to clear citrus blocked in EU ports
- Early end to domestic watermelon season predicted
- Smooth flow of citrus exports from Durban relieves an anxious industry
- ‘Eat an apple daily to cut your risk of death by 35%’
- Israel’s fresh pomegranate crop to arrive in Europe and US next week
Top 5 -last week
Top 5 -last month
- Schoeman Boerdery extends a hand to a hundred rural communities
- No workforce means that fruit remains on trees
- “Japanese market is very demanding when it comes to fruit quality”
- “Citrus from South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Argentina are highly sought after in Baltic”
- Tight banana supplies push up pricing
Who will pick UK's fruit &veg?
Voters from the 'leave camp' voted on two main things: immigration and a perception that the UK was being exploited by the European Union.
According to the Guardian, 90% of domestic fruit and vegetables are "picked, graded and packed by 60,000 to 70,000 workers from overseas, mostly from eastern Europe."
The highest percentage of Leave votes was seen in the areas where the most produce is grown and harvested by these workers. But according to growers and packers the general UK population will not do this kind of work. If the immigrants are forced to leave, who is going to harvest, pack and process the fruit and vegetables?
"If we don’t have freedom of movement and they don’t replace it with a permit scheme, then the industry will just close down," John Shropshire, chairman of salad and vegetable producer G’s, told the Guardian. "No British person wants a seasonal job working in the fields. They want permanent jobs or jobs that are not quite as taxing physically."
A stop on legal immigrants would encourage illegals into the country to fill the gap and leave them wide open to corruption and abuse.
In the worst case scenario, the UK would no longer be able to produce fresh fruit and veg and would have to import it from overseas, but remember, they would no longer have the trade deals worked out by Europe and will have to renegotiate terms with individual countries. And don't forget about the currency, the first effect of the Brexit vote saw the pound drop to its lowest level in 30 years.
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Other news in this sector:
- 2022-08-08 "Is it our responsibility to create a new leadership generation?"
- 2022-07-21 EU’s fruit processing industry rings alarm over burden of cost increases
- 2022-07-19 Moldovan agricultural products: Council adopts temporary trade liberalisation measures
- 2022-07-01 Zespri welcomes EU-FTA signing
- 2022-06-29 Business defaults in Asia up 60% compared to 2021
- 2022-06-28 From the ordering app to the eCommerce operating system
- 2022-06-28 "We're central to handling everything for our clients in far-off destinations"
- 2022-06-15 Labor's changes to PALM scheme may not solely address ag workforce issues, according to Minister
- 2022-06-14 KZN Growth Coalition welcome's Transnet's restoration of flood-damaged economic infrastructure
- 2022-06-13 Ukrainian president announces duty-free regime with UK
- 2022-06-09 President Biden to nominate Chief Ag Trade Negotiator well-known to USApple
- 2022-06-03 Lang Son speeding up customs clearance for fresh fruit
- 2022-06-03 Vietnam: Border province to set up virus-free zones to aid exports
- 2022-06-02 Experts warn Britain is one shock away from a food crisis
- 2022-05-30 Western Cape launches Africa Agriculture Strategy
- 2022-05-26 Soil Association Certification appoints new CEO
- 2022-05-26 Tree-Boring Beetle could cost South Africa $18.5 billion over the next decade
- 2022-05-18 "Agriculture must be the priority of the next government"
- 2022-05-17 IrriGò - a management system for smaller companies
- 2022-05-12 EFSA postpones its glyphosate assessment after receiving an avalanche of comments


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The Dogwood Alliance, an environmental group that works to preserve forest lands in the Southern regions of the US, launched a campaign today aimed at pressuring Yum! Brands and its quick-service restaurant brand Kentucky Fried Chicken to adopt more sustainable packaging sourcing practices and requiring their paper vendors–specifically International Paper–to source paper only from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. This Kentucky Fried Forests campaign kicked off with a public rally in front of KFC’s flagship store in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Alliance has focused its efforts on pushing major corporations in a number of industries, including office supplies and media, to purchase paper and packaging materials only from sources certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It has had some victories with companies including Staples and Sony, says Scot Quaranda, the Kentucky Fried Forests campaign director. But, he says, “Yum! Brands has been reticent–at best–with us and our attempts at dialogue. So now is a good time to raise the stakes with the company–and when you look at Kentucky Fried Chicken, it stands out as an iconic southern brand. So the most recognizable piece of the campaign is the KFC bucket of chicken.”
He says KFC and Yum! currently purchase much of their paper and packaging from International Paper, which has a member on the board of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), an alternative forest-certification group that is backed by the paper industry.
“We consider SFI to be the fox guarding the hen house,” says Quaranda. “It allows for the worst practices, including logging endangered forests and allowing genetically engineered trees to be introduced to nature.” (He adds that this has not yet happened.)
As a major purchaser of paper products from International Paper, KFC has the ability to influence industry-wide change by committing to only using FSC certified products for the company’s needs throughout its supply chain, from shipping to stores. That’s the thrust of the campaign. Yum! also owns Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silvers, so it would also like to see these chains use only FSC-certified sources, as well.
Quaranda says that Dogwood Alliance worked with the Borealis Centre, which provides research and related services to NGOs, to learn that Yum! and KFC sources paper from poorly-managed Southern forests.
The Dogwood Alliance also notes that, based on data collected from the US Forest Service Southern Research Station, the southern region of the US is the largest paper producing region in the world and provides 20 percent of the globe’s pulp, paper and lumber while only being home to 2 percent of the world’s forests.
International Paper claims to have “the largest FSC manufacturing platform across the globe.” However, Quaranda says that this is part of what he calls IP’s efforts at greenwashing its environmental record. IP holds FSC Chain of Custody certificates, which “simply means that the mills have been certified to handle FSC fiber, it does not mean that they are necessarily using FSC fiber,” says Quaranda. “So they have systems in place to segregate fiber coming from FSC certified forest management and can then use that in FSC branded products…but IP is not currently producing any FSC certified products. They are not supporting their Southern fiber suppliers to go FSC.”
He does note that some of IP’s international partners–such as Ilim Pulp in Russia–are managing their forests to FSC standards. But that’s not the case at the mills that IP uses to source paper from the Southern US, he says.
The Dogwood Alliance has made progress convincing the “major, iconic fast food restaurant in the world” to change its paper sourcing practices, but because the negotiations are still in process, he would not name the company (but it’s not hard to guess).


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Calling all scooter owners!
The corner of 7th and Market in Perkasie will be the place to be Friday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. if you own a Vespa, Razor, Honda, Yamaha or any of the other popular scooter models. Live music, free wine tasting and a chance to meet other scooter owners will make it a special evening.
“We think scooter owners will love Perkasie, and Perkasie will love scooter owners,” said Joe Ferry, president of Perkasie Olde Towne Association, which sponsors First Friday. “We want to make Perkasie the scooter capital of Bucks County.”
“Unsafe at Any Speed,” a local band with roots in the 60s folk music movement, will perform live. Featuring Bert Coffman of Perkasie on guitar, banjo, and mandolin, Pete Keller of Bedminster on bass, and Dick and Helen Weed of Ewing, NJ on guitar, banjo, harmonica and percussion, “Unsafe’s” repertoire includes traditional arrangements as well as occasional medleys and parodies.
Their performances are characterized by crisp, multi-part harmonies and imaginative arrangements filled with humor and a touch of the unexpected. Unsafe At Any Speed is a favorite among fans who enjoy listening to a wide variety of all-time favorite folk and country songs done in a family-friendly, down-home style.
The evening will also include free wine sampling at The Olde Farmhouse Soap Shoppe and Frox, a women’s boutique. A number of other businesses and restaurants will stay open late to offer First Friday specials.
Several vendors offering handmade crafts will also set up at 7th and Market.
Perkasie resident George Bruno, who rides a Honda Helix, said scooter owners need a place to gather and swap stories.
“Scooter owners are a unique group,” said Bruno. “They are, for the most part, friendly, social people. Three dollars a week for a fill up may be one of the reasons.”
Shine Yoga owner Jessica D’Angelo is a big fan of her Genuine Buddy 50cc Scooter because it gets close to 90 miles on a gallon of gas.
“Riding a scooter is less toxic on the environment,” she said. “I can scoot around Perkasie easily…it makes running errands around town fun. You can’t help but smile when you ride!”
For more information, visit perkasieoldetowne.org.


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When Singaporean artist and founder of Rehyphen® Jessica Chuan Yi Xin stumbled upon a stash of forgotten cassette tapes in her room, she brainstormed a way to reuse the material rather than contribute to the growing problem of e-waste. A bit of ingenuity and experimentation led her to develop MusicCloth®, a handwoven textile made from upcycled magnetic tapes.
According to the United Nations, nearly 45 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated in 2016 — an increase of 8 percent from just two years prior. As an advocate for the environment, Chuan created MusicCloth® to raise awareness for upcycling and the global problem of e-waste. Chuan developed the innovative textile after nine months of research and development using cassette tapes donated by friends and family. In 2016, she launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for MusicCloth® tote bags. The campaign not only raised the funds needed to take the project to the next level, but it also allowed her to collect cassette tapes from donors around the world.
Chuan weaves MusicCloth® by hand in a simple yet labor-intensive process. In addition to tote bags, the malleable material has been used to create art, wallets, notebooks and dresses. Chuan and her team at Rehyphen® also expanded to offer workshops through Airbnb’s “Experiences” platform to teach visitors in Singapore how to weave MusicCloth® creations. The globally recognized textile has even found a place in New York City’s Material ConneXion library and has also been recognized by the University of Pennsylvania and Red Dot 21. The material was recently entered in the Golden Pin Design Award’s new Integration Design category.
“We hope to encourage people to see waste with fresh perspective, and get curious about how things are made,” Chuan said. “We throw things away for they are broken, no longer useful or having lost their charm. We, however, elevate everyday objects to a work of art, and to show that up-cycling art is not an environment movement but instead is a reminder that observing the other side of existence is the essence of art.”
Images via Rehyphen®


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In step with EU records, tiny and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Europe’s financial system. They signify 99% of all corporations in the Union, make use of spherical 100 million of us, and account for more than half of of Europe’s GDP.
Yet, industrial survival for SMEs has been repeatedly challenged since the pandemic. After suffering the penalties of the COVID crisis, SMEs are basically severely plagued by hovering vitality prices, inflation, offer chain bottlenecks, and adjusted person behavior.
That’s severely the case in the retail, food, and restaurant sectors — among of us that were hit hardest for the duration of the pandemic.
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The coronary heart of tech is coming to the coronary heart of the Mediterranean
A opinion conducted by Glovo, a Spanish startup that affords on-search data from delivery companies, discovered that European SMEs in these sectors are unnerved about their future snarl prospects.
The startup surveyed 2,049 SMEs in Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, and the UK. Alarmingly, 46% of corporations all the map thru all seven international locations jabber that they are in “survival mode.”
“This review confirms that, unsurprisingly, just appropriate as SMEs are transferring previous the hangover of the pandemic, they rating themselves struggling as soon as more,” Rodrigo Alier, Executive Director, Partners & Manufacturers at Glovo, said.
“The fee of residing crisis weighs closely on their minds and their balance sheets, with more than two-thirds of corporations surveyed in the UK and nearly half of of those in Spain asserting they’re in ‘survival mode’,” Alier persevered.
The position of technology in enabling industrial snarl
In step with review, person behavior has changed severely over the closing couple of years, indicating a favor for digitalized companies, be it on-line attempting or food deliveries.
Glovo’s opinion furthermore discovered that 42% of SMEs surveyed take into accounts their customers’ digital expertise is changing into more crucial than the in-person expertise.
Romania’s example in the review highlights tech’s position in industrial snarl. Simply about 1 in 3 corporations that digitized for the duration of the pandemic — however grasp since stopped because of the return of in-person eating — fable that they are basically severely struggling.
Comparatively, nearly half of of all corporations that were already digitized sooner than the pandemic and proceed to be grasp skilled slack however regular snarl in the previous 2-3 years. They furthermore request vital snarl in the next 12 months.
And while one-in-three UK corporations mediate digitalization as integral to snarl, two-in-three peaceable jabber they need wait on to turn into technologically modern, however partnerships with private companions are most involving share of the resolution.
In insist to reach the EU’s ambitious Digital Decade targets, it is vital SMEs are equipped with ample digital skills, access to technology, and enough funding — all of which require a supportive protection setting.
And while a total lot of insurance policies and projects are basically in standing, Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Interior Market, calls for further motion.
“We want to step up the efforts to design definite that each SME, industrial, and industry in the EU has the most involving digital alternatives on hand to them and grasp access to a world-class digital connectivity infrastructure.”
Easiest then will SMEs and startups grasp a battling chance in the long speed.


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Social media company Reddit filed its IPO prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday after a yearslong run-up. The company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “RDDT.”
Its market debut, expected in March, will mark the first major tech initial public offering of the year. It’s the first social media IPO since Pinterest went public in 2019.
Reddit first filed a confidential draft of its public offering prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2021.
The social media company, founded in 2005 by technology entrepreneurs Alexis Ohanian and Steve Huffman, has raised about $1.3 billion in funding and has a post valuation of $10 billion, according to deal-tracking service PitchBook.
Publishing giant Condé Nast bought Reddit in 2006 and then spun it out as an independent company in 2011.
As of October, Reddit had 70 million daily active users and over 100,000 active communities, or subreddits, according to its corporate website. Reddit is one of the most-visited websites in the U.S., according to analytics firm Semrush, but it has struggled to build an online advertising business comparable to tech giants like Facebook-parent Meta and Google-parent Alphabet.
It’s also faced challenges with developers and moderators.
In June, several prominent Reddit moderators locked subreddits as part of a blackout to protest the company’s decision to increase the price third-party developers pay to use its application programming interface, or API. At the time, Reddit said the pricing change was necessary because many big tech companies were using data to train large language models.


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PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) has announced that the Chinese technology giant Tencent will no longer be its publishing partner in India.
The news comes as India banned PUBG Mobile and 117 other mostly Chinese-owned apps.
The Indian government had banned 59 other apps previously, including TikTok.
“PUBG Corporation fully understands and respects the measures taken by the government as the privacy and security of player data is a top priority for the company”, it said in a statement.
The company said that it would no longer authorise the mobile franchise to Tencent Games. Instead, it would be responsible for all publishing within the country.
It also said it hoped to “work hand-in-hand with the Indian government to find a solution that will allow gamers to once again drop into the battlegrounds while being fully compliant with Indian laws and regulations.”
It is currently unknown whether the Indian government would rescind the ban on PUBG following the move.
The Independent has reached out to the Indian government and PUBG Corporation for clarification.
When banning Chinese applications, the Indian government claimed that it had received “several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside of India”.
It did not mention specific complaints about apps, or any software by name.
Nevertheless, the Indian government’s reaction to Chinese companies has made waves on the world stage.
President Donald Trump, when enacting his executive order that would ban TikTok in the US, specifically cited the actions of the Indian government, repeating assertions about data theft and transmission made by the Indian government.
Mr Trump also issued a similar executive order against Tencent-owned WeChat, which is banned in India.
As such, many see the events in India as a precursor for the decisions that will be taken by the Trump administration.
It is unclear whether PUBG and Tencent’s relationship has changed, or will change, in other markets, but could present a way out for other companies such as TikTok.
It is unclear whether these companies would only purchase TikTok’s operations in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, or would take responsibility for other markets.
The Chinese government is “seriously concerned and firmly oppose the Indian government to prohibit the mobile apps with Chinese background with the excuse of ‘national security”, it said in a post published on the embassy’s website.
“We urge the Indian government to rectify the discriminatory practices violating WTO rules, and provide an open, fair and impartial business environment for all market players from various countries including China,” India Counselor Ji Rong added.
As well as concerns about national security – which TikTok has repeatedly denied - tensions between India and China have continued over the summer, which have led to deadly skirmishes over a contested border.
Similarly, Mr Trump has been said to be “igniting a Cold War with China” with regards to both the pandemic and the economy.
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- 1 min read
Samsung India launches ‘Meanest Monster Ever’ campaign for Galaxy M smartphone
The digital campaign will feature Mo-B the mascot, representing the ‘monster’ USP of Galaxy M smartphones…
As part of the digital campaign, Mo-B will mount a challenge to the monster proposition of Galaxy M smartphones, the smartphone brand said in a press statement.
The campaign has been conceptualised by Cheil India. Mo-B, the mascot, believes he's a star and deserves to be worshipped with an aspiration to emerge as the meanest monster out there. Mo-B knows the only way to claim the ‘Meanest Monster Ever’ moniker is by taking on Galaxy M51. The voiceover for Mo-B is being done by VO artist Ashwin Mushran.
Mo-B will interact with a string of influencers and celebrities to make his case as the meanest monster ever, across leading digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, among others.
Watch the campaign teaser here:
Asim Warsi, senior vice president, Samsung India, said, “We have a very interesting character Mo-B that is going to challenge the M51 for the meanest monster title. The battle between Mo-B and M51 is going to be exciting and may the best and meanest monster win.”
Read also: Opinion: Quality or Variety: Brands thriving with a Health Kick
Aneesh Jaisinghani, senior executive creative director, Cheil India, said, “To do justice to the product, we had to do something that would change the way communication is done in the mobile phone category. Thus we came up with the idea of creating a character, a monster called Mo-B, a celebrity persona who challenges the M51 to a series of face-offs for the ‘Meanest Monster Ever’ title. The campaign also uses celebrities in a unique way where they join team Mo-B as he goes to battle against the Galaxy M51.”


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- The North American version of the 2023 Kia Niro has made its debut at the 2022 New York auto show.
- Hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, and EV versions will be offered, with the EV boasting a 253-mile driving range.
- The hybrid model is said to be targeting a 53-mpg combined rating from the EPA, and the plug-in hybrid claims a 33-mile electric driving range from its 11.1-kWh battery pack.
Kia unveiled the 2023 Kia Niro lineup today at the New York auto show, including an EV model with 253 miles of driving range. While we've seen the redesigned Niro already, we haven't seen the U.S.-spec version or received info on the PHEV and EV variants. But luckily the crossover's brash new styling carries over unchanged from global market variants.
The standard powertrain will continue to be a hybrid setup that consists of a 139-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, an electric motor, and front-wheel drive. Kia says this version of the Niro should receive a 53-mpg combined estimate from the EPA, which is 3 mpg higher than the outgoing model with the same powertrain.
A plug-in-hybrid model will also be offered that uses the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder but adds a more powerful electric motor and an 11.1-kWh battery pack. All-electric driving range should be around 33 miles per charge, according to Kia. The company also says that the Niro PHEV can recharge its battery completely in under three hours if it's hooked up to a Level 2 charger.
For those looking to go electric, there will still be a Niro EV this time around. Like the current model, it uses a 201-hp electric motor and a 64.8-kWh battery pack, but range is boosted to a claimed 253 miles per charge. The Niro EV will support DC fast-charging and is said to be able to recharge its battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 45 minutes on such a connection.
All three models have a more sculptural look inside and out, with interiors that utilize sustainable materials. More tech is embedded within the Niro's new look, too, including newly standard driver-assistance features such as pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving feature will be optional on all three models. The system uses information from the Niro's navigation system as well as onboard sensors to provide an additional layer of capability to the adaptive cruise control. We've tried the system out on other Kia and Hyundai products and it works fairly well, although it's not a completely hands-off affair.
The interior should be more spacious than before, as the redesigned Niro has grown in length, width, and height, a boon for buyers who found the last-generation car a bit too snug. Kia says the 2023 Niro hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV will go on sale this summer.
Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.


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August Schell Brewing to celebrate 150th anniversary
This year marks their 150th anniversary of the August Schell brewing Company.
To celebrate, the brewery hosting a barrel full of events all year long and they’ve recently released a new sesquicentennial commemorative brew — Schell’s Hopfenmalz.
Hopfenmalz — which basically means “hops and malts” in Germanis is similar in style to that of a German Oktoberfest beer with the hopping of a pale ale.
The commemorative amber lager was officially introduced to the world on the brewery grounds in New Ulm, Minn., during Bock Fest 2010 last weekend. Part of their Anniversary Draft Series — a collection of eight single-batch brews that were intended only to be limited release — this 150th anniversary beer might just stick around for awhile.


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Under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM 2015) was inaugurated on Monday, March 30th, 2015) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy.Read
Smart Cities industry is projected to be worth more than $ 400 billion by 2020, according to experts. The mega trend of Smart Cities is the main solution to cope with water and energy shortages, higher air pollution, traffic congestions and other challenges due to rapid urbanization. By 2050, more than 70 per cent of global population is estimated to be living in urban areas, presenting multiple challenges of managing resources and protecting the environment.Read
Noor Bank reported a record net profit of AED678.1 million for 2014, marking a 166% from the year ended 2013. Noor Bank’s total assets also saw strong growth, rising 25%, to AED29.0 billion, compared with AED23.2 billion, at the start of 2014. Total customer financing increased by 26% to AED18.0 billion.Read
The UAE is en route to achieve US$263 billion of Sharia-compliant assets by 2019, according to EY’s World Islamic Banking Competitiveness, WIBC, report. The industry was estimated to be worth US$127 billion in 2014, thus making it the third largest Islamic banking market by value, after the Saudi Arabian and Malaysian markets.Read
Cyber Gear, the award winning Internet Company based in Dubai is now offering development of Customised Apps for Apple Watch. Sharad Agarwal, CEO of Cyber Gear stated, "We are delighted to have signed a contract with a leading Shopping Mall in the region to develop their App for the Apple Watch. With Apple Watch, users can now access data in a way that is both distinctly personal and unobtrusive. Without having to pull an iPhone out of a pocket, shoppers can get important information quickly just by glancing at their Apple Watch.Read
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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida public universities shine in U.S. News and World Report’s college rankings
In its 2020 release, U.S. News and World Report gave special kudos to Florida, California and New York colleges and universities for excelling in enrolling and graduating large proportions of low-income students. The rankings authority unveiled a new list this year that ranked colleges on social mobility. Overall, the University of Florida remains the top university in the state, public or private. It ranked seventh in U.S. News’ list of top public schools and 34th among all universities. More from the Miami Herald and the Orlando Sentinel.
After Hurricane Dorian, the Bahamas prepares for another hit — to its crucial tourism industry
In an archipelago that counts the $4.3 billion tourism industry as king — it makes up more than 50% of its gross domestic product — vacations exist alongside relief efforts. In Nassau, tourists perused the shops by the port while on the other side of the city, ships ferried in hundreds of evacuees from the Abacos, where Dorian hit, many of them hungry, newly homeless and carrying with them only the shirts on their backs. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Floridians come to Bahamas’ rescue, but aid is slow to reach the suffering
By Saturday, Dorian’s death toll climbed to 43 in the Bahamas, according to the prime minister’s office. The number of people who lost everything and will be homeless in the weeks to come continues to skyrocket. The number of citizens who will be able to come into the United States to stay with family, and the documentation they’ll need to do so, remains uncertain. In the meantime, some are criticizing their government for what they feel is a slow response in relief efforts. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida’s milk prices are trending up. Here’s why.
Milk prices ticked up again recently. A gallon of 2% costs more than $4 in many local stores. Floridians already pay more for milk than residents of most other states. The price could climb even higher in the next few months. How’d we get here? The answer requires a dive into the fascinating and complex dairy supply chain. Milk pricing is a Byzantine mash-up of free markets and fixed prices, a kind of financial GMO. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
New Florida bill offers tax breaks on independent living items
Living independently could soon get a tiny bit easier for those looking to spend their golden years in the Sunshine State. A measure that would provide individuals with tax breaks when purchasing some items designed to help people age in their own home, such as shower seats, bed rails and grab bars, was recently proposed for Florida’s 2020 legislative session. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Chamber voices concern over public nuisance law in wake of opioid verdict against J&J
The recent landmark case in Oklahoma brought against Johnson & Johnson over prescription opioids that resulted in a $572 million judgment has caused some concerns among business organizations, including Florida's Chamber of Commerce, that fears the application of the public nuisance law could reverberate in other industries.
› Habitat key to saving the pine snake in Florida
The Florida pine snake, listed as threatened by state environmental officials, is a non-venomous snake native to the state and parts of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. It lives mostly underground in burrows. It is often mistaken for the rattlesnake and killed by humans or run over while crossing roads. However, the pine snake’s biggest threat is habitat loss.
› St. Augustine tourism industry takes a hit from Dorian, but expected to bounce back
With September being a traditionally slow month for businesses in St. Augustine, the long Labor Day weekend is normally the last chance for a while to make a nice profit. But instead, many restaurants, hotels and attractions were forced to shut their doors in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.
› Florida health food chain acquired, plans to expand bulk, private label sections
Bulk Nation Holdings, owner of Bulk Nation Foods of Florida, recently purchased Sarasota-based health food chain Richard’s Foodporium. After 40 years in business, Richard’s will continue to stay open, according to a press release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Company leadership will remain the same, according to an official with Richard's.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:


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New iPhone to Have Compass?
A recent picture revealed that the next, as-of-yet unconfirmed iPhone revision will probably have a built-in magnetometer. This is the second piece of evidence for this, as previously a different screenshot from the iPhone hinted at an included video recorder, voice dialing system, and compass. No official word on any of this yet, but we should hear from Apple at their Worldwide Developers Conference which is happening a month from now. What really interests me, though (as well as the guys at engadget) is the new option for 'Kitchen Sink' in the leaked screenshot.


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Baidu, China's top search engine operator, more than doubled its quarterly net profit as an increase in paid click volume and new customer additions boosted revenue.
Receptionist at Baidu.com office
Baidu, which has grabbed market share from Google since the latter's high-profile falling-out with Beijing this year, dominates over 70 percent of China's search market and is aggressively seeking other revenue streams by diversifying into e-commerce and online video.
It expects revenue for the fourth quarter to come in at $354.2 million to $364.7 million, ahead of the average analyst forecast for $348.5 million.
Third-quarter net income rose to $156.4 million, or 45 cents a share, from $72.2 million, or $2.07 per share, a year ago, before a 10-for-1 stock split. Analysts were expecting earnings of 41 cents per share.
Revenue surged to $337.2 million from $187.3 million a year ago. Analysts, on average, had expected revenue of $333.3 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Shares of Baidu , which closed at $102.48 in trade on the Nasdaq Thursday, were last up 3 percent in extended trading. Get after-hour quotes for Baidu here.
The stock climbed 2.5 percent during Thursday's regular session and has more than doubled since Google's troubles in China began in January.
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It’s no secret that LG’s mobile division has been struggling for the last couple of years, while it attempts to combat the likes of Samsung for the top spot in mobile sales. The company’s flagship, the LG G5, has not been very popular after turning heads with its take on a modular design. Unfortunately, the device hasn’t lived up to expectations and as a result, LG reportedly lost more than $84 billion in Q2 of 2016.
LG sold “only” 2.2 million units while it combated against Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, as well as smaller players in the market such as Huawei and HTC. With these results, this marks the 5th straight quarter that LG’s mobile division has been chalked up to a loss.
LG is large enough of a company, with its hand in many different outlets so the company is still projecting to profit at a two-year high, but it may be time for something radical to change within LG’s mobile division. The company has already started making changes by changing up the executive landscape, as well as creating a “program management office” to help right the ship that seems to be sinking rapidly.
Those changes may be too little too late since LG has already dropped to 7th in global smartphone sales with just 4% of the market share. We’ll have to see if LG can shake up the competition and the market in the coming months while it works on its next flagship smartphone.


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Investing.com – The Dow wrapped up the week in strong form Friday, notching an eighth-straight week of gains as optimism that the U.S. and China were closing in on a trade deal triggered a sea of green across Wall Street.
The rose 1.74%, the added 1.09%, while the gained 0.61%.
The Dow finished up 3.1% for the week, with the S&P 500 up 2.5% and the Nasdaq 2.4% higher. The Dow’s close was its best since early November. The S&P and Nasdaq finished at their highest levels since Dec. 3.
With just weeks to go until the March 1 deadline, President Donald Trump offered an optimistic update on the second round of U.S.-China trade talks, prompting traders to turn bullish on stocks.
Trump said that trade talks “are going extremely well,” stressing that the United States is closer than ever to “having a real trade deal” with China.
Without a trade deal secured by March 1, the U.S. could implement further tariffs on China. Trump said, however, that he would be “honored” to remove tariffs if an agreement can be reached.
The newfound optimism on trade pushed energy stocks sharply higher, as traders had long feared a prolonged trade war would hurt economic growth in China, the world’s largest oil consumer, denting oil demand.
Trade has been not only weighed on market sentiment but also on corporate earnings.
Tractor supplier Deere (NYSE:) posted a rare , blaming higher raw material costs and concerns over tariffs and trade policies. Its shares fell 2%.
Financials, mostly bank stocks, also led the market higher thanks to solid gains from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:), JPMorgan (NYSE:) and Citigroup (NYSE:).
Newell Brands (NASDAQ:) plunged 18% after reporting that fell below estimates from Investing.com. The company also singled out trade tensions as factor that hurt results.
In tech, a surge in semis was led by Nvidia following the chipmakers’ and guidance from a day earlier.
Nvidia (NASDAQ:) closed 2% higher at $157.34, but well below session highs of $163.87 as Wall Street doubted the company’s guidance for a large jump in fourth-quarter revenue amid an uncertain backdrop for many of its businesses. It makes graphics chips that are often used in computers aimed at gamers.
Morgan Stanley said Nvidia is facing several challenges across different parts of the business at the same time, which “create quite a bit of idiosyncratic risk, and many variables that are ‘unknowable’.”
Top S&P 500 Gainers and Losers Today:
Arista Networks (NYSE:), CenturyLink (NYSE:) and American International (NYSE:) were among the top S&P 500 gainers for the session.
Newell Brands (NASDAQ:) , Mattel (NASDAQ:) and Applied Materials (NASDAQ:) were among the worst S&P 500 performers of the session.
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