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USDA oversight regulations for GE rice research need changing, according to panelists speaking at the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants annual meeting in Seattle. But will new rules — which are to be posted on the Federal Register this month — prevent future accidental release of GE lines into the commercial rice supply?
The proposed rules come on the heels of a USDA/APHIS investigation into the release of LLRICE 601 into the commercial rice supply in August 2006. A USDA investigation traced the incident to one variety, Cheniere, and 2003 lots of foundation seed of the variety.
“We determined that LLRICE 601 had been placed in the Cocodrie variety and grown on the same research farm (LSU AgCenter's Rice Research Station in Crowley, La.) with Cheniere for three growing seasons,” said USDA's Emily Pullins, branch chief, Compliance and Inspection Branch, Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS). Both varieties were under evaluation for development in 1999-2001, under a Bayer CropScience contract.
The investigation revealed that commingling of GE and commercial lines occurred in 2000, but they could not make a definitive determination if cross-pollination occurred.
Pullins said researchers implemented a 16X safety factor for distance. “The closest that the two varieties had been planted to each other was 165 feet. At the time, the required isolation distance was 10 feet, so they were well beyond what had been required.”
BRS was not able to obtain parent material that had been in the field trial during the time frame. “It was simply gone. We were also not able to obtain certain records that might have been useful.”
To aid in future investigations, BRS is now reconsidering isolation distances, “and we're trying to set up some requirements for record keeping and the maintenance of samples for testing.”
Pullins noted that a secondary phase of the investigation occurred after February 2007, when another GE line unapproved for export, LLRICE 604, was detected in the variety CL 131. An investigation showed that CL 131 and the Cocodrie variety containing the LLRICE 604 trait “were not grown at the same time, but were grown in the same place. The indication was that some type of mixture had to have occurred, rather than cross-pollination, sometime between 1999 and 2000.”
Both GE rice lines LLRICE 604 and LLRICE 601 have the same added protein, commonly referred to as the PAT protein, which has been safely used in other deregulated products for more than 10 years.
Possible rule changes from this incident also include stricter record keeping requirements, according to Pullins, “but we also realized we needed to start thinking about the proximity of GE breeding to non-GE breeding. Should we encourage or require that breeding efforts be separated physically? We are pondering this.
“We realize we also need to encourage the industry to move into quality management systems as a way to keep a handle on things.”
BRS subsequently created the Biotechnology Quality Management Program as a voluntary program “to help those who receive permits from us manage their trials in the best way possible to meet regulatory requirements.”
The proposed rule changes are to be posted on the Federal Registry in February, for public comment, according to Pullins. To make comments online when new rules are posted, click http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
Panelist Greg Yielding, U.S. Rice Producers Association, Little Rock, Ark., says too much is at stake to not put sufficient resources into regulating GE rice research.
“We have to be very careful as farmers, as consultants, or anybody making money related to agriculture. We lost 6 percent of volume in the rice market (to the Liberty Link incident). The EU said they were going to test the rice when it got there. Well, who is going to test rice here, ship it over there, have GE material found and then have to ship it back? How many hits like that can you take?
“We need to be very careful about how we go about policing these research plots. There was a 2005 Inspector General's report that found numerous deficiencies in what was being done. The system is broken.”
As a Dexter, Mo., rice consultant, Amy Beth Dowdy is “right in the middle” regarding GE rice research. “I need new technology, but I also have customers who sell the product to people who don't want it right now. And there was a limited time to sell one of the varieties that was shown to have GE traits.”
Impacts continued long after the 2006 rice crop was sold, noted Dowdy. “Rice producers were forced to deal with new regulations, which cost them quite a bit more money. And we had two major rice varieties not available for planting.”
Cheniere and CL 131 accounted for about 33 percent of southern rice acreage in 2006. Cheniere alone accounted for about 25 percent of the acreage planted in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. CL 131 would have seen significant increases in acreage due to red rice issues, according to Dowdy.
“GE rice is definitely a tool needed by U.S. farmers,” Dowdy said. “Our biggest obstacle to acceptance of GE crops is education of the end user and the consumer of the GE product. The stigma applied to GE has got to be changed. We have to move forward. We have to find a way to correct the problems we have.”
El Campo, Texas consultant Dan Bradshaw said, “The Liberty Link issue will continue to have a lingering effect on rice farmers and the rice industry for years to come. Because of our litigious society, the lawyers have started coming out of the woodwork and have agitated the situation, along with buyers who try to drive the price down and panic the farmers. There were a multitude of lawsuits from farmers, seed growers and dealers. Even growers who did not grow Cheniere or CL 131 still have had to defend themselves and have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“We need the Liberty Link type of technology because the Clearfield technology could start to break down by crossing with red rice. Once that takes place, red rice will become established and we won't be able to kill those red rice plants with New-path herbicide.
“So we need the herbicide technology. These issues need to be resolved where everyone will have confidence in our system.”


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The head of Australia’s technology commercialisation body has called for unification across industry groups to better improve ICT’s economic and social standing nationally and abroad.
National ICT Australia (NICTA) CEO and industry veteran, David Skellern, said Australia’s ICT industry had grown in size, but not in scale. A lack of industry consensus on the best way forward, as well poor export performance, were significant factors, he claimed.
“We seem to have hit this barrier of being able to grow companies larger… It’s just a little odd so many have yet to hit a large size while serving a huge portion of the Australian economy,” Skellern said.
He pointed to market statistics that indicated 85 per cent of Australia’s 26,000 ICT companies had less than four staff, while 95 per cent had less than 20 staff. Only one per cent had 100 people or more.
“Although we make very good use of ICT to be competitive in all sorts of areas in the economy, and to increase productivity, we can’t seem to translate that into taking products and services to the world in any significant way,” Skellern said.
Better unity across the industry and within Government, especially in light of the opportunities presented by the National Broadband Network (NBN), was the best way to achiev growth, he explained.
“We have more than 20 industry organisations driving different sectors of the ICT industry in different directions but we don’t have any one organisation representing a large number and a significant representation,” Skellern said.
“We need to put our little separate objectives in together and make them subservient to the industry as a whole. We have to put more of a say and voice into the direction the economy is working and I think the NBN is the kind of rallying point for us to do this.
“If we don’t take up this enormous opportunity to work together, and to deliver the outcomes a ubiquitous broadband infrastructure can provide, then we really will have lost a golden opportunity.”
Skellern was one of several keynote speakers discussing strategies for Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) at the CeBIT 2010 Australian show. NICTA specialises in researching and commercialising new technologies for the ICT industry.
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domain: news


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Nobody in the travel sector is delivering personalised content and products for consumers the way Netflix and Amazon do.
A key focus for Google how personalisation breeds loyalty, with 69% of travellers showing loyalty to those travel companies that seek to personalise the user experience.
Google travel account manager Benedicte Conway said there was “a massive opportunity” for the industry to mirror innovators in other sectors to meet changing consumer demands.
She told delegates at Broadway Travel’s annual conference that 80% of what is watched on Netflix comes from recommendations the streaming service suggests to users, which is based on a user’s behaviour online and things they have watched previously.
Conway said: “Netflix has come in with machine learning and an algorithm that gives recommendations based on what you like. Usually it’s pretty accurate. Amazon does the same thing.
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Industrial Giant Siemens Seeks VR/AR Startups To Help Revolutionize Manufacturing
During this, the first year when virtual reality headsets are widely available, games are the lure commonly spurring consumers to try VR. And that’s spreading beyond digital games. Early next month, some headset owners will be able to watch finals matches in basketball and other sports recorded for VR at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
But the advent of relatively inexpensive VR headsets is also boosting exploration of business opportunities in more sober industrial sectors, including aerospace, health care, and vehicle design. Just before NBC announced the first-time coverage of Olympic competitions in VR this summer, German industrial giant Siemens, founded in 1847, announced it was opening up its Silicon Valley accelerator program to virtual reality and augmented reality startups.
Not that Seimens is a late convert to the potential of VR in industry. The global company, whose activities range across oil and gas, power generation, manufacturing, and health care, has also been involved in developing virtual reality services for business customers for as long as 15 years, Siemens digital manufacturing expert Mohsen Rezayat says.
Siemens helps large companies such as aerospace manufacturer Boeing and tractor maker Caterpillar to construct hybrid virtual and physical environments called “CAVEs,” where they can train operators to work safely with their complex equipment, Rezayat (pictured above) says. Images of real objects and physical settings are projected onto the walls of an actual building that houses a CAVE, where visitors wearing sensors on their hands can rehearse the experience of driving a Caterpillar through a field, for example.
A CAVE, or “cave automatic virtual environment,” often combines 3D imaging with wall projection to enhance the illusion of interacting with real objects. Specialty businesses such as Marshalltown, IA-based Mechdyne also construct these rooms.
Creating CAVE environments can cost more than $1 million, Rezayat says. But the caves can also prevent extremely expensive mistakes and their consequences, like the multi-billion-dollar loss of a satellite, worker injuries and deaths, or a rocket blowing up an entire plant, he says.
“I’ve been there when this has happened,” Rezayat says.
These virtual training environments can now be created at a much lower expense due to the commercial launch of long-awaited consumer VR headsets such as Oculus Rift and Samsung’s Gear VR, Rezayat says. The high-end Oculus Rift sells for $599; the Gear VR goes for $100.
“The prices are coming down, and they’re going to get even cheaper,” Rezayat says. This opens up a new market for Siemens’ VR offerings, he says. “We can go beyond our large customers such as Boeing and Caterpillar, and bring it to the masses.”
Siemens is looking for VR and augmented reality startups whose innovations might dovetail with its own plans to digitize manufacturing and product innovation through cutting-edge technology. In late June, the company invited VR and AR founders to apply to the Siemens Frontier Partner Program, a Berkeley, CA-based accelerator that already welcomes startups in 3D printing and robotics. The program is based at Siemens’ Berkeley Technology-to-Business Center, which was founded in 1999.
Early-stage startups admitted to the selective Frontier program get free access for a year to a software suite called Siemens PLM Software, which is designed to speed up the development of new products from concept to prototype and testing. The product lifecycle management software also includes marketing features for companies that have products ready for commercialization. Rezayat, whose title is Chief Solutions Architect at Siemens PLM Software, a Plano, TX-based company unit, is a co-founder and lead member of the Frontier program.
Successful applicants to the Frontier program don’t receive any money upfront, but they consult with Siemens experts, and may be invited to present their work to Siemens customers. The Frontier program started with the idea that it would draw most of its startups from the United States, Rezayat says, but later opened up eligibility when it drew applicants from “all over the world.”
Some participants have landed venture firm investments and negotiated licensing agreements with Siemens, Rezayat says. “We’re putting their technology into our products.”
The driving force behind Siemens’ new outreach to VR and AR startups is customer demand, Rezayat says. Customers are asking the company how they can use these technologies, he says.
A survey of more than 100 manufacturers published in January by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) lends some support to Rezayat’s sense of the demand. More than a third of the companies responding said they’re using VR technology or have plans to use it within three years. The most common use of VR was in product design and development. The manufacturers reported a similar interest in augmented reality.
But close to 90 percent of the surveyed companies predicted that at most half of US manufacturers would deploy VR or augmented reality tools during the decade to come. More than a third of those surveyed by PwC expect that less than a tenth of manufacturers will be using these technologies. Those who were holding back from investing in VR and AR said the cost was too high, the technology was not … Next Page »


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“It’s 10 PM. Do you know where you’re children are?” Parents in the late 1960s were well acquainted with this iconic catchphrase crossing their television screens to remind them to keep their children safe from danger. After hearing about the newest cargo ship run aground today, professionals in the supply chain are likely asking a similar question; “It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your freight is?”
What Happened: Ever Forward Is Stuck
On Sunday evening, the Ever Forward ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay while headed toward Norfolk, VA. The vessel became stranded just a week before the anniversary of its sister ship, the Ever Given, blocking the Suez Canal for six days. According to ABC News, “the ship is stuck in about 23-feet of water but is not blocking traffic in the bay’s deep-water channel.”
As of March 15, 2022, the cause for running aground is as unclear as the following steps to free the 1,095-foot container vessel. Global News reported that the parent company, Evergreen Marine Corporation, “has arranged for divers to inspect the stuck vessel, assess for damages and create an action plan to refloat the ship as soon as possible.” The already tricky logistics required to move a large ship are also concerned about possible pollution in the towing process.
Why the Stuck Ship Will Impact Deliveries
The Ever Forward situation will impact deliveries in many ways. For some shippers, their cargo is on the ship itself. The delays in getting the vessel afloat may cause onboard live animals to perish, foods to spoil, or reefer energy reserves to drain. Additionally, any other shippers contracted to work with the Ever Forward soon will see container visibility ETAs push back substantially.
Last year, the Ever Given “held up nearly $60 billion of trade,” according to Wired, and was unable to continue moving freight for a staggering eight months. In a season where e-commerce is at an all-time high with capacity at an all-time low, the supply chain can not risk another cargo ship out of commission.
What Can Shippers Do? Get Accurate, Real Time Container Visibility
As shippers and BCOs rapidly try to confirm, and even reconfirm, that their freight is not in the Chesapeake Bay, companies without ocean container software tracking are at the highest disadvantage. Lack of visibility prevents shippers from critical proactive responses such as arranging the next overseas shipment or having a clear answer to begin utilizing warehouse inventory. In the face of this second stranded container ship, it’s essential to consider the benefits of container visibility, such as:
- Ensure Accurate ETAs - As the effects of this second stranded ship begin to ripple globally, it’s crucial to have accurate ETAS to make the best business decisions.
- Automated Delivery Status - The benefits of automating shipping container delivery status start with peace of mind for shippers to arrange the following mode of delivery.
- Avoiding Per Diem Charges - Container visibility keeps shippers in control of getting their containers back to port in time as more ports implement per diem fees and other charges to maintain port fluidity.
- Customer Portal - By providing customers with a white label portal, shippers and forwarders can calmly direct panicked customers to the customer portal for all visibility concerns.
- Intermodal Visibility - Container visibility software prevents containers from getting misplaced during the constant moving of freight from carrier to carrier in intermodal shipping.
- Exception Alerts - A capable visibility software can address one of the top challenges of ocean freight by identifying exceptions before they occur.
Choose OpenTrack to Maximize Container Visibility
At the rate that Evergreen ships are finding themselves stranded, shippers and forwarders need to consider the possibilities of this occurring again in the future. How can they be best prepared for the impact of their lost freight or by a sudden increase in the capacity crunch? How can they avoid the sudden flood of phone calls from customers asking where their products are? The use cases of container tracking software have proven that container visibility answers these questions. To learn more from a company already tracking over 97% of global shipments, book a demo with OpenTrack today.


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The film is now in Japanese theatres, all over the country, let’s celebrate with videos. Here is a collection of teasers, trailers, music videos and promotional clips released by Gaga and available from their YouTube Channel.
Just one week before the nationwide theatre release of the film, Gaga has just released a new clip featuring the HaruReo/ハルレオ duet performing ‘Sudden storm’ (たちまち嵐), a song written by Aimyon.
The official CD/EP (4 tracks) has entered the top 50 in both Oricon and Rekochoku charts and is available from several online stores like CD Japan. Pictures, movie flyer, news and general info (Japanese) available from the official site.


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Beirut Designer’s Week is back this year with its 4th edition, introducing newborn designers to the market and featuring established ones as well.
Designers exhibited their latest work for Wednesday’s opening that witnessed great number of design fans and glam addicts. The Organizer of Beirut Designer’s Week, Sandra Ghattas says “each year we are attracting more than 50,000 visitors.”
Celebrities and public figures started flocking into Beirut’s favorite outdoor destination, Zaitunay Bay- lower promenade, to take part of this annual rendezvous. Carine Salemeh, founder of C-Rocks bags, says “It’s the first year I collaborate with BDW and I am more than happy to be part of this exhausting yet special event. BDW offers a direct contact between the designer and the consumers, so I take advantage of improving my products according to their feedbacks.”
Initially organized by GATA events and Promotions and sponsored by Rim Sparkling, Bank Audi Lebanon and Volvo Cars Lebanon, “the event aims to attract quality visitors,” as Sandra Ghattas says. According to Ghattas, the event in itself is special, the designers participating as well. BDW has released creative minds, in the world of design, that are shining internationally in “Bloomingdales” and “Harvey Nichols”.
This year, BDW does not only include booths where designers can showcase their products but it’s also hosting fashionistas as well as media faces to select their favorite picks from the Lebanese designers. Ghattas says “we are collaborating with well-known people who are using their fame to help better market their products.”
Year by year, the event is growing to become a space to give promotion to the latest in haute couture, jewelry, fashion accessories, design furniture and home accessories.
Your chance to discover the exquisite Lebanese talents ends tonight at 10 p.m., so hurry up and take advantage of some great shopping!


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Riot reveals 4 new Astronaut skins for Veigar, Corki, and more
Jun 8, 2021
Get ready for a space journey with the four new League of Legends Astronaut skins.
In the most recent PBE preview, Riot gave a first look at four new cosmetics for the Astronaut skin line. The skins include a new space look for Maokai, Rammus, Veigar, and Corki. The four champions will have their new skins released alongside patch 11.13, but will be available for testing on the PBE soon.
Adelanto del #PBE de los aspectos:
???? Maokai Astronauta
???? Rammus Astronauta
???? Veigar Astronauta
???? Corki Astronauta pic.twitter.com/T0HkvyuwYB
— League of Legends ES (@lol_es) June 8, 2021
The skins were first revealed on the Spanish League of Legends Twitter account, which showed an in-game preview of all four. All skins will be in the same vein as the existing Astronaut skins, adding new, colorful effects to all abilities. The skins seem to be of very high quality and are arguably nicer than current Astronaut skins for Bard, Gnar, and Nautilus.
For the Maokai skin, he will have a green theme and turn his Saplings into small space creatures. Rammus will have some of the same colors in his skin, but with a lot more explosions in his animations, while Veigar will act as a space wizard. Last, but not least, Corki will travel around in his little spaceship like a real Astronaut.
New Astronaut skins coming to LoL for Maokai, Rammus, Veigar, and Corki
With a new batch of skins hitting the live servers soon, players better get their wallets ready. The skin line is already very popular after previous releases, so these new cosmetics will likely be a big success. The expected price for the skins will be 1,350 RP, just like the other Astronaut skins.
Astronaut Rammus and Veigar
When will the new Astronaut skins for LoL release?
The new Astronaut cosmetics are expected to hit the live servers alongside patch 11.13 which is scheduled to go live on June 23. The skins are available to try on the PBE now.
Star Wars FPS game canceled amidst Respawn layoffs
May the force be without this game.
Feb 28, 2024
The Metaverse Arena: Exploring the Intersection of Esports and Virtual Worlds
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital entertainment where the online gambling industry is booming...
Feb 27, 2024


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West Valley City, UT -(AmmoLand.com)- SilencerCo collaborated with Walther to pair a Walther PPK/S and SilencerCo Spectre 22 silencer as a Summit line package in anticipation of the new James Bond movie of the same name.
Packages will be available with either a black pistol and black silencer pairing or a stainless pistol and stainless silencer pairing, shipped together in a lockable discrete case with a second magazine with an MSRP of $700.
- Walther PPK/S – Black or Stainless
- SilencerCo Spectre 22 – Black or Stainless
- Black Metal Locking Case
- Two Magazines
- Caliber: .22 LR
- Barrel Length: 3.3″
- Capacity: 10 rounds
Available for purchase exclusively through SK Arms. Visit www.skarms.com to buy your limited-edition Walther PPK/S and Spectre 22 package today!
About Walther Arms:
Walther has earned the trust of law enforcement professionals, recreational shooters, and athletes through its line of reliable pistols, competition guns and tactical rimfire replicas. Walther Arms manufactures and markets firearms of various calibers ranging from .22 to .45.
For more information, visit www.WaltherArms.com.
Founded in West Valley, Utah in 2008, SilencerCo started with a belief in the fundamental premise that firearms don’t have to be loud and has now become the market leader in sound suppressors, muzzle devices and related products. By investing in innovation, customer service, organic manufacturing, advocacy, education and talent, SilencerCo is now focused on making firearms hearing-safe for all hunting and shooting applications, introducing products that have never been made before, and making the buying experience a better one.
For more information, please visit www.SilencerCo.com.


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Harley's new engine to be used at Springettsbury Township plant
Harley-Davidson's newest engine is named for the company's hometown and the eight valves in the engine's twin cylinder heads. Bill Schulz
The company on Tuesday unveiled its new Milwaukee-Eight motorcycle engine
Harley-Davidson on Tuesday unveiled its new Milwaukee-Eight engine.
Harley's plant in Springettsbury Township will play a role in this latest development for the company.
Touring motorcycles and Trike motorcycles assembled at the plant will incorporate the new engine, Bernadette Lauer, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday.
The new engine will be included in models including the Street Glide Special and Tri Glide Ultra.


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A number of other research firms also recently commented on BN. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a neutral rating on shares of Danone in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Kepler Capital Markets set a €80.00 ($95.24) target price on shares of Danone and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Morgan Stanley set a €80.00 ($95.24) target price on shares of Danone and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Berenberg Bank set a €72.50 ($86.31) target price on shares of Danone and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, Baader Bank set a €74.00 ($88.10) target price on shares of Danone and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Danone currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of €73.12 ($87.04).
Danone (EPA BN) traded up €0.40 ($0.48) during trading on Wednesday, hitting €69.44 ($82.67). 1,670,000 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,400,000. Danone has a one year low of €57.99 ($69.04) and a one year high of €72.13 ($85.87). The firm has a market cap of $46,570.00 and a P/E ratio of 23.70.
Danone operates as a food company worldwide. Its Fresh Dairy Products division produces and markets yogurts, fermented fresh dairy products, and specialized dairy products under the Oikos, Danio, Activia, Danonino, Fruchtswerge, Danoninho, Danimals, Serenito, Tëma, Actimel, Danacol, Densia, Danette, Fantasia, Danissimo, YoCrunch, Vitalinea, Light & Fit, Taillefine, and Ser brands.
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Biometrics Institute Releases Findings from 2016 Industry Survey
The Biometrics Institute has released to its members the full report on the findings of the 2016 Biometrics Institute Industry Survey.
The annual report, now in its seventh year, provides insights into different trends and emerging developments in the biometrics industry.
The survey was distributed to all Biometrics Institute members, other key stakeholders and media contacts (approximately 6000 individuals in total) in May and closed in early June.
The findings are based on the feedback of over 200 individuals from around the world who responded to the survey.
“Whilst developments in the Border Control space are continuing to be relevant, the use of biometrics for Mobile ID was seen as the other most significant development in the biometrics world over the last 12 months,” said Isabelle Moeller, CEO of the Biometrics Institute. This is expected to develop further over the next few years, specifically in the use of biometrics to make mobile payments and online customer authentication.


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Database Consultants Australia, Australia’s leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions announced PayStay has reached the 1 million user milestone.
Chief Executive Officer DCA Cities, Mike Smith said PayStay launched in Australia in 2014 and has fast become Australia’s leading pay-by-mobile digital parking solution.
“The past year has been challenging, as COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the parking industry generally. Despite these challenges our user base has continued to grow. This is testament to the app’s convenience and useability.
“1 million users is an exciting milestone for PayStay, I’d like to congratulate our team for helping us get there” Smith said.
Developed in Australia for local conditions PayStay is available in a number of local government municipalities across Australia. PayStay is now the preferred payment method for parking in 100’s of suburbs and is trusted to securely process tens of millions of dollars per annum.
PayStay is DCA’s community centric smartphone application that allows drivers to search parking availability by time restriction, price and location and digitally pay for their parking. PayStay also guides users to vacant parking spaces using their smartphone’s mapping system.
PayStay improves the community experience by;
- Allowing them to identify car parking near their destination
- Providing them with the ability to see real-time parking availability
- Allowing them to check tariffs and parking restrictions
- Guiding motorists to the parking they identified as meeting their needs
- Providing pay for what you use digital payment
- Allowing management of residential and business ePermits
- Smart city and parking technologies
- Higher education research management
- Digital marketing support services
- Hosting and data assurance services
DCA specialise in technology and data optimisation. DCA are experts in IoT software innovations, database development and data management, and are driving transformation across four core niche markets;
Proudly Australian owned, our 350+ passionate employees and local development team are dedicated to turning our client’s ideas into commercial reality; we empower our people to make a difference.
For more information contact:
Kristy Cook (03) 8317 8175 or


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Use of the debit cybersecurity feature increases 130% year over year.
When CU Times first published in 1990, a locking USPS mailbox was the most urgent member account security message. My, how things have changed.
A Senate Commerce Subcommittee continues Congressional interest in data security.
Editorial commentary on current issues from CU Times' editorial staff and correspondents.
About half of all adults in the U.S. had their personal data exposed in 2014. Learn how to better protect your members.
Both CUNA and NAFCU say they support efforts that would require retailer accountability for breaches.
The $29B State Employees’ CU, others, highlighted for proactive fight against fraud.
Kaufman & Canoles lawyers highlight which areas will undergo significant changes this year.
Some call for a national data security standard, others say consumers entitled to free, ongoing access to credit reports.
Mandate would clarify, strengthen obligations companies have to notify customers when their data has been compromised.


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It is well know than Windows Phone sells best on the low-end and now Francisco Jeronimo, IDC Research Director, has tweeted that the average selling price for handsets running the OS has continued to drop rapidly.
Last year the average selling price of Nokia’s smart devices were 143 Euro ($182) and with many devices starting out t less than that now it is almost certainly even lower than that.
Windows Phone of course works pretty well on affordable hardware but we wonder if buyers are getting handsets running the OS for that reason, or simply because its the cheapest smartphone in the store.
What do our readers think? Let us know below.


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We were not sure whether to publish this one or sit on it until we were sent a sharper picture and more information. In the end, we decided to run with it, and it is possible to make out the contours of a two-row trailed offset potato harvester in this deliberately blurred image. Called the Torro, the new machine is described as both light and reliable and, according to Belgian manufacturer Dewulf, contains several innovative features to improve potato quality during harvesting. The company says it will release more details and better pictures of the harvester via social media in the run up to the official launch at Potato Europe in September.
A dedicated web page has also been launched that at some point will provide the first action footage of the new harvester. A limited pre-series of the Torro will be built this year and full production starts next year.


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Here’s How Chipotle Is Responding Its E. Coli Crisis
Days after Chipotle was forced to close 43 restaurants in the Pacific Northwest due to concerns about E. coli, the fast-casual Mexican chain announced it was taking action to address the issues.
In a news release sent out Tuesday afternoon, Chipotle noted that it had closed the 43 restaurants in Oregon and Washington even though only eight have actually been linked to the bacteria. It is also conducting a “deep cleaning and full sanitization” of all restaurants in the area and getting rid of all food at the affected locations as a precaution.
“The safety of our customers and integrity of our food supply has always been our highest priority,” said Steve Ells, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle in the statement. “We work with a number of very fresh ingredients in order to serve our customers the highest-quality, best-tasting food we can. If there are opportunities to do better, we will push ourselves to find them and enhance our already high standards for food safety.
Chipotle has also hired outside food safety consultants to look at its food safety standards.
Earlier, Fortune reported that the company is facing its first lawsuit linked to E. coli outbreak.


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There is a snow fest happening in Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival is happening at STV Plaza Satellite Venue in Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo Kitahiroshima.
Tag Archives: Kamen Rider
Latest Shin Japan Heroes Amusement World Merchandise Is Wristwatch
The collaboration between Shin Evangelion, Shin Godzilla, Shin Kamen Rider, and Shin Ultraman, known as Shin Japan Heroes Universe (SJHU) revealed earlier this year will not result in an Avengers-like movie. Instead, SJHU exists for the sole purpose of merchandising.
CSM Century King Sun Driver Is A 1:1, Functional Replica Of Kamen Rider Black Sun Transformation Belt
Joining the Bandai CSM (Complete Selection Modification) series of premium-level collectibles is the Kamen Rider Black Sun Transformation Belt, the CSM Century King Sun Driver.
Calbee x Shin Kamen Rider Pizza Potato Chips
Japanese snack maker Calbee has teamed up with the upcoming Shin Kamen Rider for a special snack called, well, Shin Pizza Potato. “Shin” in Japanese means “new” and the Shin Pizza Potato is a new variant of the brand’s Pizza Potato, which was first introduced 30 years ago in 1992. And no, I don’t believe …
Continue reading “Calbee x Shin Kamen Rider Pizza Potato Chips“
Ultimate Article Kamen Rider New No. 1 (50th Anniversary Edition) Has Got BGM!
Fans of Kamen Rider will be thrilled to know there is a new collectible that pays homage to the original Kamen Rider. Produced by Megahouse and part of its Ultimate Article line is the Ultimate Article Kamen Rider New No. 1 (50th Anniversary Edition).
First Shin Japan Heroes Universe Project Is A Bunch Of Arcade Games?
Back in February, it was announced that the four “Shin” movies directed by Neon Genesis Evangelion’s creator Hideaki Anno will come together as Shin Japan Heroes Universe, a collaboration project of unknown nature. Well, fast forward to May, we have the first collaboration and it is not what we imagine it to be. I mean, …
Continue reading “First Shin Japan Heroes Universe Project Is A Bunch Of Arcade Games?”
Shin Kamen Rider New Teaser Trailer Dropped On The Day Shin Ultraman Opens
Last Friday, May 13, was the opening of Shin Ultraman in Japan and it was also the day Toei dropped the new teaser trailer for another Shin movie, Shin Kamen Rider.
Shin Japan Heroes Universe: Shin Godzilla Meet Shin Ultraman Meet Shin Evangelion Meet Shin Karmen Rider
You may have heard that 2016’s Shin Godzilla was directed by Shin Evangelion director and the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hideaki Anno. Anno-san, for those who don’t already know, is also the director of 2022’s Shin Ultraman and the upcoming Shin Kamen Rider.
Shonen-Ric Deforial Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Action Gamer Figure: Colorful And Super Adorable!
I can’t imagine anyone who like Godzilla would love the caricature version of it. The same goes to Kamen Rider. However if you do, then you are going to dig what Shonen-Ric has done with the Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Action Gamer.


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Squish wants Generation Z to be acne-positive
New York – Body positivity activist Charli Howard has created a beauty line aimed at young women.
Squish Beauty is founded on the principle of celebrating diversity and beauty quirks. The brand, launched by Howard, an author, model and activist, features a range of playful beauty products including a cherry-shaped eye and cheek mask, floral acne patches and jelly lip gloss.
The eye and cheek mask contains collagen, hyaluronic acid, lavender oil and aloe vera to de-puff the under-eye and cheek areas. In the shape of a cherry, the mask offers a kitsch take on typically clinical-looking skincare products. The acne patches are disguised as flowers, designed to be worn overnight to gently absorb the fluid. The campaign features a diverse range of models including those with acne to encourage girls to make light of their blemishes.
Young people and brands such as Squish are leading a movement towards the acceptance of acne, a skin condition that has long been steeped in stigma.
A pop-up store where plastic waste is traded for products
Sardinia – Miniwiz, a circular economy engineering company, has opened a concept store that accepts plastic waste as a form of currency.
Located in Porto Cervo in Sardinia, Exchange by Miniwiz stocks a range of products made from upcycled, single-use plastic and packaging waste. Instead of cash, the pop-up accepts post-consumer waste in exchange for products such as colourful tiles and lampshades, which are made on-site from recycled materials.
The store is equipped with Miniwiz’s Trashpresso machine and its Robin smart rubbish bin that tracks and sorts waste into types. This information is then converted into points that the consumer can save within the proprietary Robin app and use to buy items in the store. In addition to displaying the types of waste that Miniwiz is transforming, the store features a range of furniture made from discarded materials and will host various workshops on upcycling.
Other innovators such as Plastic Bank are also looking to turn waste into currency. For more, read our round-up of the 2018 edition of Stockholm’s Me Convention.
Neal’s Yard Remedies is making beauty refillable
UK – The brand’s Refill Initiative encourages customers to bring their empty bottles into stores.
Neal’s Yard Remedies is offering customers a £2 ($2.40, €2.15) discount when they refill a bottle instead of buying a new one. The initiative, which is being trialled in 10 stores across the UK, makes two of the brand’s most popular products available for refill – the Geranium & Orange Hand Wash and Bee Lovely Bath & Shower Gel.
The programme follows the success of previous initiatives to reduce plastic waste, such as the brand’s recycling scheme in June and being the first high street retailer to roll out free water refill stations in-store in 2018.
For more on the new re-usable and refillable concepts innovators are creating to reduce the environmental impact of plastic packing, read our Re-usable Packaging Market.
Obsess wants to refresh the e-commerce experience
New York – The fashion software company has launched a new e-commerce platform that re-invents product discovery online.
Shop Obsess comprises a collection of virtual stores, which collectively provide a unique, immersive and contextual 360-degree shopping experience. Rendered in CGI, the stores contain a range of products spanning fitness, travel and wellness, with each designed to move online shopping beyond the traditional grid of thumbnails.
Previously, Obsess used augmented and virtual reality to create engaging e-commerce experiences for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Levi’s, but Shop Obsess is the company’s first own e-commerce destination. ‘We aim to be a shopping destination bringing together the values important to the new generation of consumers and new generation of brands, all in the context of beautiful, inspiring, visual discovery experiences,’ says founder Neha Singh.
As the lines between e-commerce, entertainment and socialising continue to blur, retailers need to continue exploring ways to make online shopping more engaging.
Stat: Anxious Americans are stockpiling goods
About 60% of American shoppers have said they would adjust which retailers they shop with if the Trump administration’s proposed 10% tariff on Chinese imports comes into effect on 1 September, according to a study by Shopkick.
As many as 44% said they would cut back on shopping, while a further 25% would switch to buying products made in America. This demonstrates the potential opportunities for locally made products, something that we explored in our report The American Middle. With toys, fashion and electronics most affected by the tariffs, a significant 29% of consumers are stockpiling their favourite items already. According to the study, retailers such as Walmart, Target and Costco, which sell low-cost items, could be the most vulnerable if prices increase.
As political and environmental uncertainty drives consumers to stock up on goods, we question whether this fetishisation of disaster is damaging for society. Read more here.
Thought-starter: How can fintech speak to Generation X?
Clare Gambardella, chief customer officer at Zopa, on using design to ensure longevity in a fast-paced sector and improve financial wellness for all.
Zopa, which describes itself as ‘the Feel Good Money company’, has recently become a bank. According to Clare Gambardella, the company has evolved in line with changes in people’s financial needs and expectations.
‘I think that people’s expectations of financial services have been shaped by the standard that they see in other industries,’ she explains. ‘If you think about the way that we consume media, the way that we use transport, the way that we get food, it has set the bar very high in terms of immediacy, ease and openness of transaction. We’re keen to do the same for finance.’
One way Zopa is differentiating itself is through its branding and design. ‘Because Zopa has 14 years of heritage, the brand has evolved over that time and where we are at the moment is something very simple, very clean. We have less of a pure London focus than perhaps some of the other fintech companies, so it’s important for us to find a look and tone of voice that can appeal to a broad spectrum of people.’


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HHGregg Inc. once again is changing promotional strategies, moving its business back to Zimmerman Advertising.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Zimmerman said Wednesday that HHGregg has returned to the ad agency. The move comes about a year after HHGregg ditched Zimmerman for Chicago-based Leo Burnett and Spark. The Indianapolis-based appliance, electronics and furniture chain had worked with Zimmerman since 2007.
“HHGregg was, is, and will always be family to us,” said Cliff Courtney, Zimmerman’s chief marketing officer, in a prepared statement. “Our team has already kicked into gear and we’re not taking our foot off the accelerator.”
The change comes just two months after HHGregg unveiled a new marketing campaign in an effort to boost sales at slumping stores.
The wide-ranging campaign, part of what the retailer billed as a brand transformation, included a new company logo and television commercials, in addition to an improved website and more services offered to customers who purchase big-ticket items from an HHGregg store.
Its advertising spots, dubbed “fill your home with happy,” highlighted the joy a new television or appliance brings to a household. That was a shift from HHGregg’s last marketing campaign, which focused more on the challenges of choosing the right product as the Beatles song “Help” played in the background. Zimmerman and HHGregg launched the campaign in May 2011.
With the move back to Zimmerman, HHGregg has decided to shift its marketing focus from brand-building back to retail promotion, according to a report in the trade publication Adweek. HHGregg officials did not immediately respond to inquires from IBJ on Wednesday afternoon.
Prior to Zimmerman, HHGregg's advertising had been handled for 24 years by Indianapolis-based Pearson Partners Inc. The firm took a huge blow in 2007 when it lost the HHGregg account to Zimmerman, losing 15 of 44 employees as a result. Pearson went out of business in 2010.
HHGregg has 229 stores in 20 states, mostly in the Midwest and Southeast.
Company shares were trading at $9.20 each in late-morning trading, off significantly from their 52-week high of $20.75.


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The two so-called audience solutions are "The Road to World Cup", which will be available from now until May, and "World Cup Fever", which will help advertisers target consumers around the games between 10 June and 10 July.
The Road to World Cup package allows advertisers to highlight sponsorship and associations with the tournament by advertising on six-sheets and 48-sheets close to football stadia, bars and areas that are traditionally football heartlands.
The World Cup Fever solution is designed to allow brands to target consumers watching the tournament in pubs, bars and public screening areas, and fans watching the football at home by using six-sheets in close proximity to fast-moving consumer goods shops and off-licences.
A spokesman from Clear Channel said the 2010 World Cup is expected to inject £1.25bn into the UK economy and these packages are designed by the company to enable brands to reach the millions of football fans watching.
Advertisers can also use Clear Channel's digital portfolio to interact with the public during the tournament and deliver branded updates in line with England's performance.


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Two Amazon-affiliated economists awarded Nobel Prize
Amazon Scholar David Card wins half the award, while academic research consultant Guido Imbens shares in the other half.
On Monday, the Swedish Academy announced the three recipients of the 2021 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel — two of whom have Amazon affiliations.
David Card, an Amazon Scholar and a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, won half the prize “for his empirical contributions to labor economics”, according to the award citation.
Guido Imbens, an academic research consultant at Amazon and a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, shared the other half of the prize with MIT’s Josh Angrist for “methodological contributions to the analysis of causal relationships”.
“David and Guido have used applied econometrics to help us invent new ways to serve our customers,” says Pat Bajari, vice president and chief economist for Amazon’s Core AI group. “They’re both truly outstanding economists, and they’ve been great mentors to, in particular, many of the younger economists at Amazon, helping them to rigorously frame business problems using economic reasoning and applied econometric methods. Congratulations to them both!”
As Card’s Nobel citation indicates, he is best known for his work on empirical economics, the attempt to put microeconomics on a more secure empirical footing through experiment — both controlled experiments and “natural experiments”.
In a natural experiment, for reasons that are essentially random, circumstances enable the comparison of a population that receives an economic intervention with one that doesn’t, in a context where statistical biases are likely to be small.
For instance, in the early 1990s, Card and his colleague Alan Krueger investigated fast-food markets in two adjacent, demographically similar regions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, one of which had recently seen a minimum-wage hike, and one of which hadn’t. Employment growth remained similar in both.
As Card explained to Amazon Science in January, his and his colleagues’ early empirical work met a good deal of skepticism within the field. The phenomena under investigation, the skeptics argued, were so complex that it would be very difficult to disentangle the underlying causal relationships.
The analysis of causal relationships — the research topic mentioned in Imbens’s Nobel citation — thus became one of the empirical economists’ chief concerns. As an example, at the 2020 meeting of the AEA, Imbens, Bajari, and colleagues presented a new method for using randomized experiments to tease out causal relationships in data.
Amazon has an amazing set of economists doing cutting-edge applied research that is showing the power of economic theory and methods in real-world settings.
The most familiar example of a randomized experiment is a drug trial, where some subjects receive an experimental drug, some receive a placebo, and their outcomes are compared. But randomized experiments are also common in industry. Amazon, for instance, does frequent A/B testing, in which one group of customers sees one version of a web page, and another group sees another version.
Such tests can suffer from biases due to spillover effects. Suppose that, in an A/B test, the presentation of information to group A — the “treatment group” — leads to increased purchase of a particular product. That product’s rise in popularity means that it’s recommended more frequently to shoppers — including those in group B, the control group.
“If that happens, the control group is no longer a control,” Card told Amazon Science. “The test results are unreliable.”
“This type of spillover does not happen in standard medical-drug trials, because one individual taking the new drug does not affect the outcome for another individual taking the placebo,” Imbens added. “But it is a feature of many experiments at Amazon and similar companies, where we have complex feedback loops.”
In their AEA paper, Bajari, Imbens, and their colleagues presented a blueprint for designing experiments that can identify causal relationships even in the presence of spillover effects, along with statistical techniques for analyzing the results of such experiments.
Causal analysis is a common topic of economic research at Amazon, whose retail business offers an unprecedented opportunity to do empirical economics at scale.
"Amazon, like many other modern companies, uses data extensively to support its decision making," said Imbens, reached for comment after winning the Nobel Prize. "That makes the relevant statistical methods by definition causal: what do we expect to see when we change something in the experience for the user or sellers? What happens when we improve the shipping speed? What happens when we improve the return policy, or the curating of the reviews? All these questions are causal, and the methods David Card, Joshua Angrist, and I have been working on are extremely relevant for this. More than that, the economists at Amazon constantly raise new questions that lead to further methodological innovations."
“Amazon has an amazing set of economists doing cutting-edge applied research that is showing the power of economic theory and methods in real-world settings," added Card.
[Article updated on 10/18/21 to add Guido Imbens's comment after winning the Nobel Prize.]


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Western Christmas Trade Show and Event Showcase will launch Friday at 2895 S.W. 13th St., Redmond.
It’s a three-day event with live music, Santa appearance, fashion show, Western shopping, fashion show and more, including professional cowboys competing at the PRCA Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo.
Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 4. Admission is $3 for adults, free for kids 12 and younger.


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of discount retailers Dollar General (DG) and Dollar Tree (DLTR) set all-time highs this week. Each has traded as a momentum stock on speculation that it might emerge the winner in their battle to acquire smaller rival Family Dollar (FDO) .
Shares of all three discount retailers could be affected Thursday morning when Dollar Tree plans to report quarterly earnings. (On average, analysts expect the company to earn 56 cents a share.)
Must Read: 7 Stocks Warren Buffett Is Selling in 2014
None of the three companies has beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, so these stocks may have outrun their upside potential.
Family Dollar has agreed to be acquired by Dollar Tree, although the acquisition still awaits approval by federal regulators and Family Dollar's shareholders. Family Dollar just postponed its shareholder vote to Dec. 23 from Dec. 11. Meanwhile, Dollar General has pushed ahead with a hostile offer valued higher than Dollar Tree's deal.
Family Dollar has rejected Dollar General's bid multiple times, saying that antitrust regulations might imperil a transaction. Dollar General's stock was slumping Wednesday morning after the New York Post reported the company would have to divest as many as 4,000 of its own stores in order to get a deal approved by the Federal Trade Commission.
Amid all the deal drama, here's how to trade Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree.
Dollar General ($66.17) set an all-time high at $66.21 on Tuesday. Investors should enter a good-'til-canceled limit order to sell strength to a key technical level at $69.60 and employ a sell-stop below its key weekly moving average at $63.33, keeping in mind that this average will rise each week.
Family Dollar ($78.85) set an all-time high at $80.97 on Sept. 2. Investors should enter a good-'til-canceled limit order to sell strength to a key technical level at $84.85. If you are concerned that the company's purchase by Dollar Tree won't go through, you should book profits now. This discounter missed earnings estimates four quarters in a row.
Dollar Tree ($61.99) set an all-time high at $62.72 on Monday, and the earnings bar is high as the company missed analysts estimates with two of the last three quarterly earnings reports. Investors should enter a good-'til-canceled limit order to sell strength to a key technical level at $68.30 and employ a sell-stop below its key weekly moving average at $59.57, keeping in mind that this average will rise each week.


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A $210 Million Naming Rights Deal for TSM Sealed by FTX
The reports have just come in that FTX and Team SoloMid (oTSM) have recently formed a partnership. The sources reveal that the partnership between the two entities is a multi-year one. FTX is a cryptocurrency exchange and Team SoloMid (oTSM) is a global esports brand.
As a result of the partnership, the cryptocurrency trading exchange, FTX now has exclusive naming rights for TSM. As the deal between the companies a multi-year, therefore, FTX would have naming rights to the team for several years.
The details around the recent partnership between the two companies were shared on Thursday, June 10, 2021. The partnership deal between the two companies turned out to be an expensive one. FTX has paid a whopping price of $210 million in order to acquire the naming rights for the esports brand.
Following the successful $210 million deal, FTX has gone ahead and has changed the name of the team to “TSM FTX”.
There are several benefits that the players at TSM FTX would gain from FTX. FTX has announced that as part of the deal, it will be distributing cryptocurrencies among the employees and players. This company has done it because of the recent partnership that has struck between the two firms.
As part of the deal, TSM FTX will also go ahead and carry out purchase FTX cryptocurrency exchange’s native tokens, FTT. The sources have revealed that the company would be purchasing $1 million worth of FTT as part of the deal.
At the time of writing, the price of a single unit of FTT token is $34. Therefore, by spending $1 million, the company purchase a total of 29,400 tokens.
At the time of writing, the market value of the TSM team is $410 million. It is currently considered the most valuable and popular esports brand in the United States.
Bankman-Fried has also talked about the recent partnership deal that the FTX exchange has struck with “Team SoloMid”. Bankman-Friend is reportedly the CEO of FTX, which is a cryptocurrency exchange based in the United States.
Bankman-Fried stated that the latest partnership between the two companies would turn out to be very promising for FTX. With this partnership, FTX would be able to gain more ground and popularity in the United States market.
Bankman-Fried stated that now that they have formed a partnership, it is up to the companies to maintain their partnership. If the companies find it too difficult to manage, then the companies could always go ahead and break the partnership.
It is completely up to the firms as to how long they want the partnership to go on. This way, not only FTX but TSM would be able to increase its fan following. There would be several more opportunities for TSM to grow and shake the entire world with their surprising team.


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Consumer Reports Continues Its Love-to-Hate Relationship With the iPhone 4
Consumer Reports said Friday that the Verizon version of the iPhone–like its AT&T sibling–is susceptible to signal problems if held the wrong way.
In a blog post,, the publication said its lab tests showed phone problems could occur if the gap in the metal casing was blocked by a hand.
“The Verizon iPhone 4 closely resembles the original AT&T iPhone 4 in many positive respects, including offering great multimedia functionality, a sharp screen, and the best MP3 player we’ve seen on a phone,” it said in the blog. “Unfortunately, it also shares with its sibling the possibility of compromised performance in low-signal conditions when used without a bumper or case.”
The publication said its testing showed that the issue is specific to the iPhone and doesn’t appear to happen with other phones.
“The only phones in which the finger contact caused any meaningful decline in performance was the iPhone 4, the sides of which comprise a metal band broken by several thin gaps,” it wrote. “As with our tests of the AT&T iPhone 4, putting a finger across one particular gap–the one on the lower left side–caused performance to decline. Bridging this gap is easy to do inadvertently, especially when the phone is in your palm, which might readily and continuously cover the gap during a call.
As with the AT&T version, a case can help alleviate potential problems.
Consumer Reports declined to recommend the AT&T iPhone over the antenna issues, even though it still gave the device the highest smartphone ranking.
The Verizon iPhone is getting similar mixed signals, with Consumer Reports giving it high rankings but leaving it off the recommended list due to the antenna issues.
Update: Verizon said in a statement that its customers are experiencing “stellar network performance” with less than one half of one percent of iPhone 4 calls being dropped in major cities such as New York and San Francisco.


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Signs of an improving economy
Coweta area industries ship in/out of Savannah
by W. Winston Skinner
The Georgia Ports Authority is reporting growth in tonnage as many experts see the economy in Coweta County and across the United States gradually emerging from a slump.
The ports in Savannah and Brunswick are vital to Coweta County’s economy. Many Coweta-area companies sell or process materials that come into Georgia from the ports, and other Coweta firms ship their wares around the world from one of the coastal cities.
GPA opened calendar year 2014 with a strong January, achieving gains of 12.5 percent in 20-foot equivalent container units — TEUs — and 7.3 percent in overall tonnage, compared to January 2013.
"We are encouraged by the strong growth in January that continued a trend that began during the fourth quarter and are hopeful these volumes signal a strengthening U.S. and global economy," said Curtis Foltz, GPA’s executive director.
The Port of Savannah moved 259,159 TEUs, up from 230,372 over the same period a year ago. Freight moved across all terminals totaled 2.45 million tons, an increase of 7.3 percent or 166,544 tons compared to the same month in 2013. GPA officials anticipate such growth to continue.
In Brunswick, Colonel’s Island Terminal led GPA terminals to a 6.1 percent increase in automobile and heavy equipment units moved during the fiscal year to date. Including Savannah’s Ocean Terminal, the GPA moved 386,070 units of roll-on/roll-off cargo, up by 22,044 units. Brunswick handled most of those moves, at 372,146 units from July through January.
For the first six months of Fiscal Year 2014, GPA logged an 8 percent growth in total tonnage. “Strong volumes in container traffic, bulk cargo and auto and machinery units for the month of December contributed to this successful mid-year report,” Foltz said.
“Our deepwater ports offer a hub for transportation that is unmatched in the United States,” said Robert Jepson, chairman of GPA’s board. “It’s a place where ocean, road, rail and distribution centers come together to ensure that commerce is handled efficiently, environmentally responsibly and at the lowest cost possible.”
“Coweta County companies — both large and small — have benefited from convenient access to Georgia's ports,” Greg Wright, president of the Coweta County Development Authority, said in an interview late last year.
“Our businesses are now in competition with the world markets and not just the domestic one. Our large international corporate base continues to grow, and more efficient and cost-effective ways of getting product to market are essential,” Candace Boothby, president of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce, observed last fall.
“Georgia ports are one of the biggest drivers of our state’s economy and account for about one out of every 12 jobs in the state,” U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who lives in Coweta County, said in October.


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VW Electric hatchback concept, Chevrolet Bolt and BMW i3-rivalling electric concepts will be showcased at upcoming 2016 Paris Motor Show
German auto manufacturer Volkswagen is focusing harder on electric powertrains for its future cars. Since the Dieselgate scam surfaced, the German company has been trying to salvage its image. And in this attempt electric cars have been the company’s best attempt so far.
At the upcoming Paris Motor Show the Volkswagen will showcase a range of electric cars including a hatchback, as reports suggest. The hatchback is supposed to be smaller than the Volkswagen Golf. But the car will offer larger space, which in comparison will be on par with the Volkswagen Passat.
Earlier this year Volkswagen displayed Budd-e concept at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January. The company will display the MPV prototype based on the concept, which is going to be the Volkswagen’s first production EV. Apart from that, the company is also expected to show a range of electric concepts, which will pave way for future EVs.
Volkswagen plans to launch a multiple modular platforms, which will enable the auto manufacturer to build several models on those few platforms only. Among the upcoming electric concepts, there will be a hatchback. The company is reported to showcase electric concepts, which entered into production will take on the likes of Chevrolet Bolt and BMW i3.
While the Budd-e concept based MPV is supposed to enter the market sometime in 2018 or 2019, the electric hatchback is expected to arrive by the end of 2020. The German auto major has already announced its ambition to launch around 30 new cars by 2025, and all of them will be powered by electric powertrains. Incidentally, electric powertrain has been one of the most talked about issue in the world automotive space for last few years. And being the largest automaker in the world Volkswagen is very keen to be at the forefront of the electric powertrain development.


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2002 Harley-davidson Dyna Fxdl Dyna Low Rider on 2040-motos
Harley-Davidson Dyna for Sale
Moto blogMon, 13 Jan 2014
In February, Bohnams auction house in Paris will allow both the Catholic and the Harley faithful to bid on a Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide owned by none other than Pope Francis, himself. Given to the Pope last year as part of the Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary celebration, the bike was unlikely to become the Popecycle because of the security required to protect the pontiff. The Pope donated the Dyna to the Roman Catholic charity Caritas Roma but not before signing the tank with “Francesco” at a special ceremony at the Vatican last November.
New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 – Motorcycle Manufacturers Draw Battle Lines for World’s Second Largest MarketMon, 09 Jan 2012
In past years, the biennial Auto Expo in India slipped under the radar while the industry was focused more on shows such as EICMA in Italy and Intermot in Germany. But with India’s middle class starting to flex its financial muscle while other markets continue to struggle, the New Delhi show is becoming much more prominent, with major OEMs positioning themselves to claim a piece of the India’s 13 million vehicles-a-year market. We’ve already looked at India-produced Royal Enfield’s new Thunderbird 500 and Hero Moto’s hybrid scooter concept which debuted at the Auto Expo, and today we’ll look at what the major international OEMs presented.Tue, 18 Jun 2013
What do Kid Rock, UFC fighter Frank Mir and Pope Francis have in common? They’re all involved in some way with Harley-Davidson‘s 110th anniversary. Kid Rock is headlining the big bash on Labor Day weekend while Mir is on the card for UFC 164 in Milwaukee that same weekend as part of the extended 110th anniversary celebrations.
Harley-Davidson Dyna by State
Harley-Davidson Dyna by City
Harley-Davidson Dyna by Color


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Driving in bad weather can be a hazardous and stressful proposition, even for the most seasoned driver. But when crummy conditions hit, today’s connected cars may be able to do more than just keep you warm and dry. Using sophisticated computers, onboard sensors, and wireless internet connectivity, smart car tech is offering drivers and passengers a whole new level of potential safety and convenience.
Designed for use on the next generation of autonomous vehicles, car manufacturers are literally reinventing the wheel with their smart road tires. Tire makers are testing treads that respond to roads in real-time — staying hard and stiff in dry conditions or becoming more absorbent when it’s wet (a protection against dangerous aquaplaning). Tire makers are also working on connectivity, with sensors that can send real-time climate and road conditions to a car’s onboard computer, adjusting everything from tire inflation to stopping distance, depending on the weather.
A sudden downpour or unexpected splash on your windshield can be a terrifying experience, sometimes obscuring your vision for seconds (or longer). A new breed of connected windshield wiper aims to help you see clearer. Smart wipers use rain sensor technology to automatically turn on and off at the exact right speed and can even anticipate your future wiping needs.
If you’ve ever tried to navigate your vehicle through a torrential downpour at night, then you’ll know firsthand just how bad visibility can be. Headlights reflect off of raindrops, which can further impede your vision. Newly developed smart headlights work by detecting oncoming traffic and automatically dimming part of the headlight in bad weather to help improve glare for drivers.
Electronic stability control
Already available in many newer cars, Electronic Stability Control (or ESC) is a technology that uses a car’s onboard computer to respond when a vehicle is losing traction, like when you can’t control the steering or braking during a spinout on an icy road. By using automatic braking, ESC technology can automatically slow a car down or keep it on its intended path, helping prevent a loss of control for the driver of the vehicle.
Weather driving apps
New apps help you plan for safer road trips by integrating weather information into your driving directions. If a bad storm or other weather event is being projected along your route, the app will advise alternative approaches or change your start and stop times.


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Drones Are Evolving – Should We Be Worried Or Excited?
There are many ways drones are being used today whether for security, delivery or just recreational use but our perceptions of these devices are changing.
Initially the idea of a drone was exciting because it was unlike anything we’d ever seen before that was readily available to the general public. Now the novelty is wearing off and the restrictions are becoming heavier. 2ser’s Tahnie Cristini spoke to Peter Gibson from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority about the importance of discovering where recreational drone users are going wrong and the issues surrounding drone security and privacy issues.


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With the blessing of the Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the Pennsylvania state government has signed a bill into law that legalizes the state’s only Tesla gallery, and approved the opening of another four. That gives Tesla a total of five gallery options in one of the East Coast’s biggest states, reports Philly.com.
Naturally, the state car dealership association isn’t too happy with Tesla getting its way, but the AAM was warning that the restrictions dealerships were responding with were far too restrictive. The AAM represents companies like Honda, Toyota, Ford, and GM, and while Tesla may be a direct competitor, automakers have traditionally had a confrontational relationship with their dealers as well. However, the pro-Tesla bill even received something of a stamp of approval from the Pennsylvania Automotive Association, which represents about 1,000 Pennsylvania car dealers.
All sides came to a compromise, unlike what happened in neighboring New Jersey, where the battle for Tesla sales continues to unfold. Pro-Tesla legislation has been introduced in the New Jersey state senate, and waits for Governor Chris Christie to sign it into law. All but two state representatives (both Republicans) signed the pro-Tesla bill in Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania managed to grant Tesla access to a physically and financially large state without much bloodletting, and with the blessing of both traditional automakers and car dealerships.
Hopefully legislators in Texas are paying attention.


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Toyota Talent Expo winner Peter Dornbusch will be the envy of many Dannevirke locals as he drives around the small North Island town in his brand new 2013 Toyota Corolla.
Peter is a Toyota fan through and through, having traded in a Corolla wagon earlier this year for a Hilux to help his newly-established fencing business, and also owning an older Camry, which Peter's wife Alice plans to swap for the new Corolla.
Peter, Alice and their three children (Tara 13, Sam 10, and Cian 7) have been regularly watching New Zealand's Got Talent and all have their personal favourites, so it was a nail biting watch last evening to see who'd win.
The excited family couldn't believe their luck when Toyota told them they'd won the new Corolla, getting their entry in the draw by simply test driving a Corolla at their local Manawatu Toyota dealership. The competition attracted 7227 unique entries from around New Zealand.
Though Peter is particularly busy with his new business, the family is already planning to take on a road trip to Hawkes Bay this summer.
Toyota New Zealand General Manager of Marketing, Neeraj Lala, says the Toyota Talent Expo couldn't have been won by a more deserving family.
"Peter and Alice are typical, hard working Kiwis living in a rural community, who by chance also happen to have an affinity for Toyotas.
"New Zealand's Got Talent not only celebrated the arrival of our most talented 11th generation Corolla, but also supported the dreams of our superstars of the future. It's great that new Corollas have gone to both the overall winner Clara van Wel, and Peter Dornbusch as the lucky viewer."


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LAST UPDATED : Jul 22, 2017, 01.45AM IST
Soon after the arrest of men who made extortion calls to government employees UPSTF arrested one person from Unnao for supplying pre-activated SIM cards to the gang.
SIMS Hospital will conduct surgeries free of cost at the hospital in Nungambakkam for rehabilitation of 15 burn victims, the SRM group chairman Ravi Pachamoothoo said.
GEMALTO-RESULTS/ (UPDATE 1):UPDATE 1-Gemalto takes another hit from SIM-card, payment issues
Police arrested two men from Sanjay Nagar slums under the limits of Puna police station on Thursday for allegedly selling pre-activated sim cards procured using identity documents of other customers without their knowledge.
Mobile phones still reach prisoners through the huge walls of the Patiala central jail. On Sunday , the prison guards seized two handsets along with SIM (subscriber's identity module) cards from a couple of inmates.
The police have directed all SIM card sellers, mobile distributors not to sell pre-activated cards, which are issued without any verification. Police said in many cases such SIM cards were used by terrorists.
Copyright © 2017 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service


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One of Australia’s big four banks, the National Australia Bank, is backing a US$100 million capital raising by US-based ecommerce platform, Poynt.
Australian ecommerce and hosting solutions provider, eCorner, has signed a deal with Macquarie Cloud Services which it says will help it to stay competitive in the face of increasing competition from US ecommerce giants like Shopify.
Instagram, in collaboration with Australian-founded ecommerce platform BigCommerce, is making shopping available on its social network to Aussie businesses and consumers.
Excellent article thx Alex -Pricing to enable bonuses to execs while hiding what they do to their 'essential workers' -[…]
Time for the US gov't to BAN these a***holes at Fecebook, Twatter, Instagrub and elsewhere. PUT THEM IN JAIL FOR[…]
Quite frankly passwords are a pain in the posterior.Why can't I have one secure password that I use on all[…]
Seems that the NBN Co is continuing to rip off consumers.The NBN was supposed to be available to all with[…]
Well u might be of self admitted low intelligence, which u've claimed many times, but u are a good writer[…]


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Listen here SMBs, you can't afford not to
The plight of small businesses makes for grim reading these days. Lockdowns imposed around the world have brought significant pain to the sector and most have struggled to make up revenue shortfalls online. And as we look to vaccinations as the path back to normality, it's unclear how many small businesses will survive that long. A recent McKinsey study found that more than half of the 2,200 small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) they surveyed across Europe felt their businesses may not survive longer than 12 months. Meanwhile, in the US, 59% of small businesses surveyed in a Goldman Sachs study reported a negative revenue impact from the pandemic. Considering that SMBs employ just under half of the US workforce and two-thirds of Europe's, you quickly see the importance of this sector to the wider economy.
Even before the pandemic, small businesses in numerous industries were struggling to compete against the industry goliaths, who used their scale, technology and access to capital to muscle into new markets and keep upstarts out of theirs. Incumbency has therefore proven a powerful thing: it’s no wonder the rate of new business creation has been in decline for decades and is at its lowest level since the late ‘70s. And due to successive waves of mergers, some industries have never been more concentrated. The pandemic could accelerate this consolidation, making it even tougher for small businesses to succeed.
David vs. Goliath
Faced with these two existential threats, what can small businesses do to compete in what feels like a David vs. Goliath world? From my perspective, it’s really all about the customer. In a world where it's increasingly difficult to differentiate on product or service features, price or quality, customer experience is one of the main ways you can stand out in the crowd.
By focusing on listening to and understanding your customers you can build loyalty while identifying new opportunities to serve them. How? Via social listening. Your customers, prospective customers, and competitors are sharing their experiences, feedback and ideas openly on social media every day. And due to its open nature, Twitter is a great place to both connect with your customers and learn more about what’s important to them.
Just about anything and everything is shared on Twitter, from the trendy to the mundane, often answering questions you didn't think to ask. This hints at an important characteristic of Twitter data: unsolicited opinions and feedback shared by consumers in the moment they are actually having that experience. These perspectives are unfiltered, raw and emotional, shedding light on underlying motivations, emerging behaviours and new norms. Surveys can be helpful, but they are guided by the questions asked and it can be a struggle to get people to complete them. Social listening on the other hand allows you to instantly tap into millions of conversations on topics important to your business. We like to think of it as the world’s largest focus group.
How to get started?
It’s never been easier to tap into the public conversation on Twitter to support your business’s growth. Social media management tools such as Sprout Social, a Twitter Official Partner, make it easy to deliver social customer service and listen to customers for ideas on how to improve your products or services while gathering inspiration for new ones. From the florist to the pharmacist and the retailer to the restaurateur, small businesses of all shapes and sizes can gather insights that help move themselves forward. And as we enter 2021 with the hope of recovery on the horizon, investing in market awareness is a truly wise investment, which just might help some of the Davids out there take on their Goliaths.
Looking to get inspired? Check out data.twitter.com for case studies that highlight the value of social listening.


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FILE PHOTO: A staff member stands in front of Volvo XC60 and XC90 SUVs displayed at its booth during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 20, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song
October 18, 2021
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Shares in Geely-owned Volvo Cars will be priced within a range of 53 to 68 Swedish crowns ($6.12 to $7.86), valuing the company at 163 billion to 200 billion crowns in its initial public offering (IPO), the carmaker said on Monday.
Volvo Cars said earlier this month it planned to raise $2.9 billion through an IPO and list its shares on the Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchange this year.
Sources told Reuters last month that Geely was in advanced discussions with banks to list the Swedish company in the coming weeks, aiming for a valuation of about $20 billion.
Volvo repeated that it expected the issue of new shares to provide the carmaker with gross proceeds of about 25 billion crowns before transaction costs, in what is likely to be one of Europe’s biggest listings this year.
The transaction, including expected converted investments by investors AMF and Folksam, was seen resulting in a free float of about 19.5% to 24.0%, Volvo said in a statement.
The Gothenburg-based company had previously said that owner Geely Holding would remain its biggest shareholder after the listing.
In 2018, Volvo Cars and Geely, which also owns an 8.2% stake in Sweden’s Volvo Trucks, postponed plans to float shares in the Swedish carmaker, citing trade tensions and a downturn in automotive stocks.
(Reporting by Helena Soderpalm and Niklas Pollard; Editing by Simon Johnson)


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Thanksgiving arrived a day early for Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) when GMO labeling activists delivered a white-tablecloth, genetically engineered Thanksgiving dinner to the Senator’s office staff on Wednesday (November 25).
State Director Ben Hill and other staff were surprised, but cordial. They said “no thanks” to the meal, which included apple pie, zucchini, sweet corn, corn bread, papaya and a salmon surprise Jello dish. But they did listen to our concerns.
The message behind the meal, organized by members of Right to Know Minnesota, Food and Water Watch and Organic Consumers Association, was this: Klobuchar needs to stand up for Minnesotan’s rights to know what’s in their food, and the right of Minnesota and other states to pass laws requiring the labeling of foods that contain genetically engineered (GMO) ingredients—and that means also protecting the GMO labeling laws already passed by Connecticut, Maine and Vermont.
The groups also called on Klobuchar to oppose a proposal, reportedly supported by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to substitute the use of QR codes for wording on packaging,
Organic farmer and GMO expert Jim Riddle, who helped deliver the Thanksgiving dinner, said that requiring consumers to use QR codes to determine if foods contain GMOs is “elitist, unreliable, time consuming, obscure, insecure and unnecessary.” Manufacturers should be required to tell consumers if their products contain GMOs by displaying four simple words on their packaging: “Contains genetically engineered ingredients,” Riddle said. (Watch the video).
According to Riddle, the Minnesota Farmers Union at its recent convention overwhelmingly adopted a resolution to “oppose efforts in Congress to prohibit states from implementing mandatory GMO labeling laws.”
Meanwhile, Stabenow told the media she’s working on a Senate bill that would prevent a “patchwork of 50 state laws” and wants the bill passed by the end of the year. With time running out, there’s also talk that she or other members of the Senate may be pressured by Monsanto and the Grocery Manufacturers Association to attach a last-minute rider to the end-of-year appropriations bill, forcing Congress to either approve the measure or face a government shutdown.
Although Klobuchar portrays herself as a consumer advocate, she has repeatedly voted against GMO labeling and has not assured Minnesotans, despite having received petitions and letters from thousands of constituents, that she will fight this bad food bill.
Patrick Kerrigan is retail coordinator for the Organic Consumers Association.


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In another rejection of Goldman Sachs’ gloomy forecast that lithium prices will weaken as oversupply grows in coming years, US major Albemarle Corp wants to build a huge processing plant somewhere in the American Southwest to meet what it expects to be soaring demand from car companies and battery makers by 2030.
Goldman Sachs’ claims in a research note at the start of June that lithium prices will fall in the next couple of years because of rising supply has dampened the current boom and undermined investor support for companies involved in the sector.
Big falls in share prices of lithium miners have been reported on the ASX especially.
But Goldman Sachs’ contention has been rejected by other analysts who, while not supporting the idea for a never-ending boom, also point out that demand and supply in lithium is not in synch, mainly due to longer than expected lead times to get metal production plans on stream.
Albermarle is in fact involved in one of those much-delayed plants (in WA) and made it clear this week that it will use learnings from that experience in the megaplant it is planning for the US.
The proposed plant will be double the size one the one being built at Kemerton in the WA’s south. That’s a 50,000 tonnes per year operation and Albemarle’s lithium business boss reckons the new US plant will be at least 100,000 tonnes a year.
But importantly, Eric Norris, head of Albemarle’s lithium division made it clear that the US plant would have to be built more cheaply than the WA operation which is badly over its $US1.2 billion budget and over a year late because of Covid, labour shortages and higher material costs.
The US plant will be a key part of the company’s plans to boost lithium production fivefold to 500,000 tonnes annually by 2030.
Mr Norris said the company has seen a major shift in the last nine months in the US with an “unprecedented” number of EV manufacturing plants announced by existing ICE carmakers as well as existing and new EV makers.
This, he said, has told Albemarle that there will be a surge in lithium demand in the US for years to come.
The company aims to build the plant in America’s Southeast somewhere within rail access of a major port, Norris.
Albemarle said the lithium raw material may be sourced from a mothballed mine in North Carolina that could be restarted by around 2027.
“There isn’t enough (lithium) supply yet to supply the ambitions of the U.S.,” Norris told the MB Fastmarkets Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials conference in Phoenix, Arizona on Monday. “This (processing plant) will be essential for our success in the future.”
Albemarle has been talking to carmakers on buying supply from the facility, Norris said. Albemarle already supplies Tesla Inc, as well as several other major automakers.
While Albemarle had spoken vaguely in the past about building a US processing plant, it used Monday’s conference to announce the specific plan.
Norris said Albemarle plans to self-fund the facility, though it could apply for US Department of Energy loans.


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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the extreme vulnerability of garment workers, as clothing brands responded to the economic crisis triggered by this unprecedented public health emergency by cutting orders and refusing to pay for those. already in production.
The result has been massive job losses. An estimated 10 percent of the garment workforce suddenly found themselves unemployed, with many receiving no severance pay or even the wages they were already owed.
These workers are in producing countries which often do not offer social security or safety nets. They are desperate, hungry, unable to pay their rent or provide for their families. These workers are the backbone of the global trillion dollar garment industry and yet those at the top, the brands, speak lip service to their plight.
The current crisis in the garment industry began in February 2020, when workers in Southeast Asia were sent home without pay because the fabric from China failed to reach their factories. With wages always woefully inadequate, that first failed paycheck immediately sent many families from poverty to destitution.
As it became evident that there was no end in sight to the crisis, the International Organization of Employers (IOE), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and IndustriALL Global Union recognized the need for a response. coordinated and, in April 2020, launched a Call to Action (CtA) with the support of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
To date, more than 130 industry players, two-thirds of which are brands and retailers, have signed the CtA which aims to protect workers and garment manufacturers from the worst economic fallout and establish sustainable systems of social protection for workers.
While the CtA is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, workers in need of emergency relief cannot wait for its protections to be in place. In addition, some of the brands that have signed the CtA are now using it to excuse their continued inaction.
When asked in October 2020 what brands would do to ensure workers receive their full pay, Michael Levine, vice president and chief sustainability officer of Under Armor, who is a member of the group Working CtA, responded that brands “ are unable to make additional contributions ” beyond CtA. However, participating in CtA in no way relieves brands of their responsibility to ensure workers are paid, especially since brands are not obligated to remit funds to CtA.
The fact that the signing of the CtA does not offer absolution from supply chain responsibility should have been a no-brainer. The CtA working group decided early on to focus its efforts on eight priority countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Pakistan. This approach has left out countries like the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam which, according to reports from the ILO itself, are also experiencing massive layoffs in the garment industry and lack meaningful social security mechanisms. . Many brands that have signed the CtA, such as Primark, produce clothing in countries that are not prioritized by the program.
In addition, the CtA is unable to provide quick solutions to supply chain problems, even in the countries it prioritizes. Progress has been extremely slow. In an October update, the CtA announced “successes” in Bangladesh, where the European Union and the German government have committed 113 million euros ($ 135 million) – a commitment that has not was mobilized by the CtA, which only released an additional 1.8 million euros ($ 2.15 million) – as well as Indonesia, Cambodia and Ethiopia, where an ILO multi-donor initiative funded by the German government made available respectively 2.2 million, 1.95 million and 4.9 million euros ($ 2.63 million, $ 2.33 million and $ 5.86 million). No figures were given for the other priority countries.
According to our sources, even the largest funds that Bangladesh has received have enabled less than 2,000 workers to receive direct income support. Arguably, with no brand contribution obligation and no corresponding published figures, European taxpayers are paying for brand shortcomings through government donations.
These amounts are unfortunately insufficient to meet even a fraction of the urgent need for relief in the clothing industry. Last summer, we calculated garment workers in Bangladesh owed $ 500 million for the first three months of the pandemic alone. We have estimated the pay gap at over $ 400 million in Indonesia and nearly $ 125 million in Cambodia. Globally, garment workers owe at least $ 3 billion for the period between March and June 2020 alone. Not only is this an economic crisis, but the evidence shows that it is also a driver. for other labor rights violations, such as the fight against trade unions.
The plan to strengthen social protection in countries where it is currently lacking is of paramount importance, but workers also need immediate support. This is why unions and other workers’ rights organizations are demanding that brands publicly commit to a wage insurance and severance guarantee fund and assure workers in their supply chain that they are will be paid during this crisis and will receive the severance pay due to them if they lose their jobs. For just 10 cents per t-shirt, brands can ensure textile workers get the economic help they need now and strengthen unemployment protections for the future.
The industry must stop hiding behind initiatives that use public money to fill in the gaps they have intentionally taken advantage of for decades. Instead, they should be looking in their own pockets to solve problems in their own supply chains. Brands that pledge to put in place salary insurance and a severance guarantee fund will not balance the inequalities at the heart of an industry that has its roots in colonialism, but it will be a vital step for the better. rebuild. Paying what you owe is a foundation from which everything else should grow – nothing less is complicit in salary theft.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.


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No one is producing much of anything in 1080p yet, but the HD format is seemingly proving to be a marketing hit, at least according to a new report from industry analyst DisplaySearch. In its latest quarterly report, the Austin, Texas-based firm said shipment of DTV units in all formats rose to slightly under 20 percent from the second quarter of 2007 to the third, and slightly more than 10 percent year-to-year—to 50.6 million units globally.
And while still a small fraction of all DTV units sold to date, 1080p sets across all technologies rose a mighty 70 percent for the quarter, and 35 percent for the year (3.4 units sold). LCD 1080p sets posted a nearly 70-percent jump for the third quarter, while plasma 1080p units were up by slightly more than 100 percent.
1080p micro-displays grew 57 percent in the third quarter. All growth lines did especially well in 1080p sets of 40 inches and larger.
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FuboTV said this weekend it will launch free pick’em games that will be integrated into its live TV stream and that viewers who choose to will also be able to turn their picks into real money bets via the Fubo Sportsbook.
“With this weekend’s launch, FuboTV will become the first live TV streaming platform to offer pick’em games integrated into the video experience with a direct gateway to an owned-and-operated sportsbook,” said Mike Berkley, chief product officer, FuboTV. “We believe interactivity is a key product differentiator for Fubo and, with these immersive experiences built into our live streaming product, we can offer the most personalized - and customizable - sports and entertainment television experience.”
The pick’em game challenges viewers to pick the winner of selected live sporting events each Sunday. Viewers can win points and compete with their friends. Viewers can play the game over their smart TVs, connected devices, gaming consoles, mobile apps and via fubo.tv.
The game also asks users if they want to place real money bets on their selections, using the same interface to engage with Fubo’s sportsbook.
FuboTV recently said that this integrated approach has led to stronger engagement with crossover users on average placing a greater number of bets and having higher retention rates on the sportsbook than sportsbook-only players.
“While other media companies are entering into external partnerships with betting companies, FuboTV and Fubo Sportsbook have combined both into one ecosystem,” said Scott Butera, president, Fubo Gaming. “The launch of pick’ems will further demonstrate FuboTV’s unique product integration and commitment to offering fans real-time immersive experiences across multiple touchpoints.”
The company intends to further integrate FuboTV and Fubo Sportsbook with the launch of additional product features, including live odds, this year, subject to regulatory approvals. ■
Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.
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