text:
Last week was a busy week for the international textile trade press: first, the presentations of
the French textile machinery manufacturers
Rupp Report: The French Look Ahead To ITMA 2011,” www.
TextileWorld.com, May 24, 2011); then Techtextil 2011 in Frankfurt. And last
weekend, there was a continuation of the international merry-go-round of country presentations in
preparation for ITMA 2011 in Barcelona. This time, it was the Swiss Mechanical and Electrical
Engineering Industries’ (SWISSMEM’s) Textile Machinery Division, which has always played an
important role in the global textile business.
SWISSMEM Textile Machinery Division President Christian Kuoni and General Secretary Dr. Lukas
Sigrist welcomed a considerable number of people in the rural village of Appenzell. A dozen of the
Swiss manufacturers presented their new and modernized machinery and exhibits, which will be shown
at ITMA 2011 in Barcelona. It was obvious that also the Swiss manufacturers are going global —
including in the production of their products. Some of them presented machinery not only from
Switzerland but also from other European and — of course — Asian countries such as China and India.
The Swiss Textile Machinery Division includes more than 40 globally active manufacturers, and
important machine components or process-related accessories and services providers. The Swiss
textile machinery industry runs global networks with production facilities, local representatives
and service organizations in all major markets. It enjoys an excellent reputation in the downstream
The association is committed to ensuring political conditions that promote successful
business. It also provides all kinds of support to its members in their business activities,
including communications, providing information, or organization of joint promotional activities
like a presence at trade fairs such as ITMA. The association also represents its members’ interests
in the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (CEMATEX), which is the owner of the
ITMA brand and respective activities. Employing some 330,000 people, SWISSMEM represents by far the
largest employer base in Switzerland. In 2010, its members exported goods worth 68 billion Swiss
francs, representing 40 percent of all goods exported from Switzerland.
According to Sigrist, 64 Swiss exhibitors will participate at ITMA 2011, occupying 6,200
square meters of floor space. All Swiss exhibitors are ready to show their competence in
anticipating customers’ requirements and in driving technological innovation as promoted in the
Factor+ campaign launched by the association for Swiss textile machinery manufacturers. The
promotion aims to highlight the extra added value that customers receive from original products and
innovative system solutions of Swiss suppliers.
“Customers worldwide can benefit from the expertise of Swiss providers,” Kuoni said. “In
buying Swiss quality, customers not only receive first-class technology in products and system
solutions but also a reliable partnership, and excellent service, training and advice based on
profound knowledge and broad experience. Obviously, the “plus” element of service can increase the
potential benefits of products, [and] facilitates high output, low energy consumption and space
requirements, efficient material utilization and consistent quality.” He went on to say that
“investing in products and solutions from the Swiss textile machinery industry enhances value, thus
offering that certain ‘plus’ in terms of security, reliability and trust.”
After a painful period of nearly two years, the sector realized a strikingly good result in
2010. Swiss textile machinery and components exports grew by 50 percent year-on-year, reaching a
volume of 1,318 million Swiss francs. The figures are quite impressive:
Swiss Textile Machinery Exports In 2010
Promising 2011 …
Sigrist and the member companies are looking forward to a promising ITMA 2011 as well as the
year 2011. He said the remarkable rise in new orders during 2010 resulted in a backlog of work
going well into the year 2011. Moreover, he said, in the first quarter of 2011, exports were up by
55 percent year-on-year, and reports from the sales front indicate that new orders remain buoyant.
Swiss Textile Machinery Export Trends 1st Quarter 2011
… With A Question Mark
Nevertheless, nobody knows how sustainable the current situation is. A very serious problem
is the strong Swiss franc compared to the U.S. dollar and the euro. The feeling among the current
member companies was one of optimism with some hope of stabilization. However, the association
says, the overall results for 2011 should be well above last year’s level.
May 31, 2011


text:
'Internet of Things' Presents Green ICT Challenges
We've counted over 17 billion pieces of e-gear attached to the global ICT infrastructure. The 'Internet of Things' (IoT) will dramatically increase this number by the end of the decade. Can technology keep up with the energy and resource demands?
IEEE Spectrum reports in July 2013, "Clothes, cars, trains, tractors, body sensors, and tracking tags. By the end of this decade, analysts say, 50 billion things such as these will connect to mobile networks. They’ll consume 1000 times as much data as today’s mobile gadgets, at rates 10 to 100 times as fast as existing networks can support."
We're skeptical of that "50 billion" number and prefer an estimate of 26 billion new IoT devices by 2020. Either way, the resource, energy, and e-waste issues will be significant. Beyond the IoT edge devices themselves, all that data needing to be moved and processed will drive ICT's environmental footprint at network and core, as well.
E-waste is another issue. If just 10% of IoT devices are trashed per year beginning in 2021, this could mean 2+ billion new e-waste items annually. Granted, most of these will be much smaller than today's e-waste items and many will be embedded in larger waste items, but the impact could still be significant.
Wired identified in June 2014 one way to possibly mitigate the e-waste deluge. "...open source software will be extremely important for keeping connected devices going and out of landfill, says Michael Richardson, the co-chair of an Internet Engineering Task Force work group standardizing wireless networking for the IoT. If devices use open source code, the broader community of developers can help keep them going. 'If an IoT device is not running open source, it means that as soon as someone comes up with a security problem, it’s going in the trash because major companies aren’t going to want to upgrade lightbulbs,' he says. 'It’s going to end up creating more waste, more garbage.'" In Green ICT terms, the argument here is that open source software will help users 'sweat assets'.
Batteries could be a huge part of IoT's e-waste stream. Energy harvesting, the ability of devices to source power from their environments, represents a more sustainable alternative.

domain: news


text:
It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching can help.
Consumer rights: It is a big deal, let your voice count
Zwai Bala hosts Masterclass for Old Mutual and AMPD Studios
South African economy can be boosted by establishing a strong entrepreneurial culture
Coca-Cola leverages its English Premier League sponsorship in Nigeria with a campaign from FCB
Driving development to empower society
Zamani Holdings announced as latest sponsor for 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit


text:
Prishtina, February 3, 2021 – Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of measures that restricted the movement and economic activities, the private sector, and the business community have faced access to finance as one of the main barriers to their development.
Challenges which local and foreign businesses operating in Kosovo continue to face, the dependency in remittances the opportunities and alleviation in access to finance deriving from the financial sector, as well as their perspective on the current state and economic development, were some of the key topics discussed during the virtual forum organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo.
The Chief Executive Officer of KEP Trust, Shpend Nura stated that during the pre-pandemic period, the micro-financial sector has shown a positive trend of growth, as well as significant improvement and progress in customer service. While relating to decisions made by the financial sector, he said that offering the possibility of loan restructuring in the second quarter of 2020 as an alleviative measure for businesses has been a powerful driver of economic recovery. Nura, also stated that in order to ensure survival and economic development, coordinated response and action by economic stakeholders and relevant institutions is imperative.
Arijan Haxhibeqiri, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Banka Ekonomike, stated that in the context of financial crises, despite the different nature of the crisis in 2008-2010, compared to the crisis during the pandemic period, developed economies have managed to create monetary and fiscal policies, in response to the negative financial impact of the crisis in 2008-2010, while the crisis caused by the pandemic has caught everyone unprepared. Haxhibeqiri added that in Kosovo, all relevant parties have given their contribution in managing the situation. Haxhibeqiri, also stressed that the trend of financing customers by banks has continued throughout this time.
Ramis Ahmetaj, Business Consultant stated that despite negative projections and challenges already known of, there is space for optimism in regards to the country’s economic recovery, in the near future. Ahmetaj also stated that market demands have been stable and also highlighted that financing contracts with foreign financial institutions are being signed, thus laying a stable foundation for the future. Further, he gave special emphasis to the need for financial intermediaries, as they have a significant impact on economic development, in creating proper strategies of action between the financial sector and businesses, as well as, in avoiding unnecessary risks.
Fiknete Balaj-Haliti, Chief Financial Officer at Cacttus and member of AmCham’s Finance Committee, as well as, moderator of this forum, referred to reports by international financial institutions, which projected a considerable decline in Kosovo’s economy, specifically the tourism, manufacturing, and exports sector. In this regard, she stated that in order for the private sector and businesses to develop, additional, more comprehensive financing resources must be created.


text:
PODCAST: How to use e-commerce to grow your tire business Matt Peters is a tire industry e-commerce expert. He’s spent about 25...
Alliance Tire announce 4% increase on its tire prices
Hankook Tire showcase new tire line-up at 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles Show
Bridgestone recalls 2,700 tires from four commercial truck tire models


text:
WOOD DALE, IL
— Disaster Kleenup International
(DKI) recently received a 2009 Best of Business Award
from the Small Business Commerce Association
(SBCA), according to a press release
The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based on statistical research and information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings and other consumer reports, recognizing the top 5 percent of small businesses throughout the country, the release stated.
Dale Sailer, DKI president, said: "DKI has built its success on solid customer relationships and unrivaled customer service. We are proud that DKI is being recognized for its tremendous values and strong customer commitment."
In addition to its main goal of providing a central repository of small business operational advice, the SBCA uses consumer feedback to identify companies that exemplify what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy, the release added.


text:
Wedding ceremonies are supposed to be a beautiful and magical moment in a couple's relationship. Want to know how to ruin the moment? Try and capture it on a tiny cellphone screen.
This public service announcement is brought to you by Australian wedding photographer Thomas Stewart, who shot this photo during an outdoor wedding in New South Wales. There's the bride walking down the aisle, there's the groom craning his neck to see her, and there's the peanut gallery crowding the aisle with their cellphones.
In an impassioned Facebook plea that has since gone viral, Stewart argues brides and grooms should always hold an unplugged wedding, and ask their guests to turn off their phones during the ceremony.
He doesn't call out specific guests for their behavior, but says the mass use of cell phones at weddings can disrupt the ceremony, mess with the professional photographer and ruin the magic of the moment. Plus, the pictures probably won't come out that great anyway.
Stewart told Newsy "I see this type of behavior at 70 percent of weddings, literally every wedding where the guests aren't specifically told no technology. ... The bride in hindsight wishes she'd made this explicit request." He also said he's going to start recommending unplugged weddings to all his clients in the future.
More from AOL.com:
The 12 best news and reading apps in the world
5-foot venomous cobra escapes in Florida
Toyota invests $1 billion in artificial intelligence in US


text:
Truck Demand To Sustain For Up To Two Years, Says Volvo Eicher CEO
"The economic activity is picking up and overdue replacements mean that the commercial vehicle industry is in a sweet spot."
Demand for medium and heavy trucks is back above the pre-pandemic levels for the first time, aided by an economic recovery. But will it last?
There are reasons to suggest the recovery should sustain over the next one to two years, Vinod Aggarwal, managing director and chief executive officer at Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd., said in an interview with BloombergQuint's Niraj Shah.
The cycle is as its lowest after dropping for three consecutive years, Agarwal said. The annual offtake has more than halved, he said, and the only way ahead is up. "The economic activity is picking up and overdue replacements mean that the commercial vehicle industry is in a sweet spot."
Economic indicators are recovering. E-way bills, a measure of road freight movement, has also shown signs of an uptick in the last two to three months. Registration of medium and heavy commercial vehicles in September were 5% above 2019 numbers, and nearly three times the 2020 level. Demand had started falling even prior to the pandemic though.
Agarwal said transporters have not conduct major replacements in the last two to three years. Lack of faith in the economic recovery coupled with issues in retail financing post-IL&FS crisis and 2018-19 rules allowing trucks to ferry more load led to a sense of unease and indecisiveness.
But there is a strong case for replacing the old trucks as there is a better movement of goods and services and increased confidence in the economic recovery, he said. It may finally make people replace old trucks, he said.
Volvo Eicher doesn't expect the impact of a third wave as deep as the first and second ones on sales. While all segments will fare well, Aggarwal said heavy commercial vehicles will bounce back the fastest.
Higher fuel prices are the biggest risk to a recovery, according to Aggarwal. Freight rates have not gone up as much as fuel costs, he said. Since costlier fuel would hurt the smaller transporters more, that might cause them to defer purchases, he said.
But if demand for movement of goods and services rises, transporters won't have a choice but to buy, Aggarwal said.
While the global chip shortage is another risk, Aggarwal expects the problem to persist for only two to three months.
Volvo Eicher has increased prices once and may further hike them in October. The challenge lies in realisation of hikes as capacities are not fully utilised and more trucks are chasing the same customers, he said.
Big transporters have the muscle power to bargain and discounts are negating the increase in prices, according to Aggarwal.
The only way to maintain margins is to keep on cutting internal costs and educating customers on buying better-quality trucks.
Watch| Volvo Eicher's next leg of growth will come from...


text:
[Play free now] Perfect World Entertainment, publisher of Gigantic, today announced that the hero-based brawler Gigantic will shut its doors on July 31, 2018. From now till then, the server will be kept alive with no more content updates from developer Motiga. If you did not know, Motiga has been without its core development team since November during a massive layoff. Perfect World Entertainment saved the studio and game back in 2016, hence credit should be given to them for trying. Sadly, there was just not enough crowd.
In the game closure announcement, Perfect World did stated that “Despite our best efforts, we were unable to find an impactful solution that would help Gigantic break through in a crowded market.” This would be a similar situation for games such as LawBreakers and Battleborn, 2 similar character-based competitive games which didn’t have enough mojo to shake off competition from Paladins and Overwatch. While Gigantic is definitely unique in terms of its visuals and gameplay, ultimately it is not the game everyone is looking for.


text:
Apple has just launched its new flagship iPhone 5s in Australia. We've got our hands on a review unit, but what's the camera like? We've taken a quick first look.
Apple has unveiled two new iPhones, but there were no real surprises: the iPhone 5s replaces last year's iPhone 5, and the iPhone 5c is a colourful new option with an all-plastic case. We've got all the Australian details you need to know for both ne...
Apple's new iOS 7 software for iPhone, iPad and iPod devices hasn't officially been released yet, though it's expected to arrive sometime in September. If you can't wait until then, it's possible to install a beta version of iOS 7 on your device.
It's official, and it's been official for a while -- Android is far and away the most popular smartphone OS in America. Ever since January 2011, when the platform surpassed RIM to take the top spot for the first time in comScore's monthly market shar...
Wouldn't you like to have your very own gofer dedicated to doing all the menial tasks you hate? That's a big part of the appeal of the iPhone 4S: Siri, the voice-driven virtual assistant, turns anyone with a couple hundred bucks into a CEO attended b...
With Apple preparing to talk about the future of iOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, and the rumor mill churning, it's time for an old tradition: the iPhone feature wish list.
Roll out the welcome wagon, Android fans: It looks like you'll soon have a new place to shop.
LG recently unveiled the Android-powered LG Optimus 2X. Powered by a 1GHz, dual-core Tegra 2 processor, LG claims the Optimus 2X will provide enhanced multimedia, gaming and Web browsing, along with the ability to multitask with "virtually no screen ...
Sony Ericsson's XPERIA Arc is the first of many XPERIA-branded Android phones to debut in 2011. Aside from the much publicised Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play, dubbed the 'PlayStation phone', the XPERIA Arc is the company's flagship smartphone for the firs...
The HTC Desire, along with the Samsung Galaxy S, is one of the most popular Android smartphones on the market in Australia. HTC has just lifted the lid on its hotly anticipated next-generation Desire, called the Desire S. Does it have what it takes t...
It's a rare week indeed that doesn't see the emergence of some fresh news of Android's ascendance, but lately the evidence has been coming particularly fast and furious, suggesting that there really is no stopping the mobile platform--at least not an...
The Samsung Galaxy S, along with the HTC Desire, is one of the most popular Android smartphones on the market in Australia. Samsung has just lifted the lid on its hotly anticipated next-generation Galaxy S, aptly titled the Galaxy S II. Does it have ...
One can only hope that security software provider Trend Micro saw a nice sales boost after the proclamation of its chairman earlier this week that Android phones are more vulnerable to hacking than iPhones are. If it didn't, those blatantly self-serv...
Google's Android mobile platform may still follow Apple's iPhone in the smartphone race, according to fresh Nielsen data released Monday, but that advantage may not last long.
Retailers use various marketing and technical terms to describe the smartphones they sell. Some of those terms represent meaningful phone characteristics, while others are mostly hype. To help smartphone shoppers understand what they're looking at, w...
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text:
Radiohead got everyone’s attention yesterday by announcing that they will sell their new album, “In Rainbows,” directly from their Web site with variable pricing. That means that fans decide what to pay–be it $2, $10, $4.32, or nothing–for the downloadable album.
Like any MP3 downloads, assuming that this is the released format for the album (and we have no reason to believe otherwise), the new songs will be playable on any cell phone that supports music playback. That’s in contrast to music bought from the iTunes Store, Napster, Rhapsody, or any other online music service that uses restrictive Digital Rights Management (DRM) copy protection.
But the greater issue here is that virtually everyone–from music industry analysts to the big labels to the online music stores and consumers at large–will be watching to see what happens. Bands don’t get much bigger and more popular than Radiohead. Whatever goes down as a result of this will likely reverberate through the music industry–including driving another nail in the coffin for the big labels, if the album does well.


text:
Want to move truckloads of stuff across the country? There’s now an app for that.
Uber has finally unveiled the much-anticipated freight-hauling counterpart to its regular ride-hailing service. Uber Freight, as it’s known, will pair commercial shippers with independent truck drivers looking for a job, just like riders find drivers in so many cities.
Much like the taxi service before it, Uber’s promise here is to remove friction from the current system. In a blog post announcing the new service, the firm bleats about how drivers will be able to pick up jobs with a simple search and some button presses, rather than spending “several hours and multiple phone calls” trying to achieve the same end in the past.
Uber will also determine fees—and, yes, it will use surge charging—which in the past truckers have usually done for themselves. Drivers will no doubt be happy to hear that they’ll get paid faster this way—within seven days, rather than 30 or more, which is common right now. But it remains to be seen if drivers will be satisfied with the pay they manage to take home when working for Uber. If the company's track record in the ride-hailing business is anything to go by, tensions may arise.
But there is a larger narrative at play here. Uber’s move into shipping came after it acquired the autonomous truck company Otto last summer. And that sector is maturing quickly: while the trucks make use of similar technology to that being used by the autonomous cars being developed by Uber and Waymo for robotic taxi fleets, they also only have to contended with highways. That's far easier than inner-city driving.
Otto even made its first delivery—a 120-mile dash along Interstate 25 carrying 2,000 cases of Budweiser—last year. In fact, we made self-driving trucks one of our 10 breakthrough technologies of 2017, because they look set to beat autonomous cars to the asphalt in large numbers.
For now, Uber Freight will be busy coördinating swift, competitively priced deliveries in an attempt to make itself as invaluable to people that shift freight as regular Uber is to city-dwellers. Once the trucking network is established and Otto's robots are ready, who will notice when Uber simply waves goodbye to the human drivers behind its 18-wheelers? Apart from the estimated 1.7 million truckers working U.S. roads, that is.
(Read more: Uber Freight, “10 Breakthrough Technologies: Self-Driving Trucks,” “Otto’s Self-Driving 18-Wheeler Has Made Its First Delivery,” “Uber Freight Will Bring Surge Pricing to the Trucking Business”)
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text:
Ethiopian now becomes the third African airline after South African Airways and Egypt Air to join the alliance that boasts of 29 global carriers.
"With Ethiopian Airlines now part of the Star Alliance network, we offer our customers the widest choice of flights connecting to, from and within Africa," said Jaan Albrecht, the outgoing Star Alliance CEO.
Through its Star Alliance membership, the airline now offers customers the benefits of being a member of a global airline alliance with a world-wide reach via the extensive network, seamless travel and status recognition through the frequent flyer programmes.
"This new partnership will bring enormous choices and flexibility to our customers such as daily departures to more than 1,000 destinations and free use of lounges at a number of airports around the globe," said Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian CEO.
The partnership will delivery more passengers to Ethiopian travelling to African destinations ferried by Star Alliance carriers.
"We now anticipate to grow passenger numbers more than the current 40 per cent annual growth," GebreMariam said.
The Star network was established in 1997 to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to travellers. The network offers more than 21,000 daily fights to 1,290 airports in 189 countries.
It is a common trend for airlines to team up in alliances to counter the cut-throat competition in the industry.
Other global alliances include Oneworld and Skyteam. National carrier Kenya Airways is a member of Skyteam, which comprises airlines such as Delta, China Eastern, KLM and Air France.
Following the Star Alliance partnership, Ethiopian Sheba Miles participants can now earn miles when flying on any Star Alliance Member carrier, with the collected miles counting towards achieving ShebaMiles Silver Club or Gold Club status.
The carrier will extend the Alliance Silver and Gold benefits to customers from other Star Alliance member carriers when they fly the airline.


text:
(NEXSTAR) – Yada yada yada, “Seinfeld” will be on Netflix next month.
Netflix has announced that all 180 episodes of “Seinfeld” will be available to stream starting on Oct. 1, or roughly two years after Netflix had signed an exclusive deal with Sony Pictures Television for the worldwide streaming rights to the series.
Hulu, a rival streaming service, had previously held the domestic rights to stream “Seinfeld,” although the show was removed from the platform in June 2021.
In a press release issued Wednesday, Netflix jokingly presented “Seinfeld” as a never-before-seen sitcom created by “rising New York comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, who wrote for ‘Saturday Night Live’ for a single season.”
Netflix also produced a trailer for the forthcoming debut, calling it “2021’s hottest new show… on Netflix.”
Jerry Seinfeld, too, leaned into the joke, issuing a statement thanking Netflix for taking a chance on their “crazy project.”
“It takes a lot of guts to trust two schmucks who literally had zero experience in television when we made this thing,” said Seinfeld.
Netflix had originally struck a deal with Sony Pictures Television for the rights to stream “Seinfeld” in 2019, to take effect beginning in 2021. At the time, the streaming service was rumored to have paid “far more” than $500 million for the five-year deal, the Los Angeles Times reported.
It remains unclear, however, whether the streaming service has any future plans to secure rights to “Chunnel,” “Rochelle Rochelle” or “Sack Lunch.”


text:
Microsoft Edge Crypto Wallet reportedly in the works
Microsoft Edge users may soon have access to a crypto wallet feature, according to screenshots circulating on Twitter. The leak shows a potential integration of a cryptocurrency wallet directly into the popular browser.
While Microsoft has yet to confirm the feature, speculation is already swirling about its potential impact on the growing digital asset market.
Microsoft Edge Crypto feature “baked into” new releases
Software documents and occasional data leaks Albacore posted what appear to be early screenshots of the company’s the new Web3 wallet user interface (UI) on Twitter.
A cryptocurrency wallet, a decentralized application explorer, a news feed, and the ability to buy cryptocurrency using Coinbase and MoonPay are all shown in the screenshots provided by Albacore. Newer versions of Microsoft Edge have the “already built in” feature, but users can’t see it or use it because it’s hidden.
Screenshots also show that you can exchange, send and buy crypto-assets. Crypto exchange Coinbase and Web3 infrastructure firm MoonPay are featured as “integrated platforms that help you buy and deposit crypto to your wallet.”
Latest in the gauntlet of questionable upcoming Microsoft Edge features, a crypto wallet 💸
Not quite sure how you feel about this sort of thing being baked into the default browser, what are your thoughts?
More screenshots of the user interface in the next tweet ➡ pic.twitter.com/GAUPiZGLIY
— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) March 17, 2023
If confirmed, the Microsoft Edge wallet will be built into Edge instead of a separately installed browser plugin, and it will be non-custodial in that Microsoft will not have access to your wallet passwords or recovery keys.
However, Albacore stresses that many of the things Microsoft develops and tests never make it out of the lab.
Microsoft’s attempt at Web3
Microsoft has been making progress in the Web3 worldthe next evolution of the internet that aims to decentralize data and give users more control over their online experiences.
One of Microsoft’s key initiatives in this area is the development of its Decentralized Identity (DID) system, which allows users to create and manage their own digital identities without relying on centralized authorities.
This system uses blockchain technology, which provides a secure and transparent way to store and manage data. With the DID system, users can maintain control over their personal information and choose how and when to share it with others.
In addition to the work on decentralized identity, Microsoft has also explored the potential of blockchain in other areas.
Crypto total market cap at a little over $1 trillion on the weekend chart at TradingView.com
The company has launched a number of blockchain-based tools and services, including Azure Blockchain Workbench, which helps developers build and deploy blockchain applications, and Azure Blockchain Tokens, which allow businesses to create and manage their own digital assets.
Image: BusinessWorld Online
Microsoft’s alleged plans to improve the capabilities of Edge represent a recent attempt to catch up with its rivals in the browser market.
Although Edge has not been as popular as Chrome or Safari, Microsoft is taking steps to significantly strengthen its features and offerings.
– Featured image from Bleeping Computer


text:
Photo: lanvinofficial on Instagram
In violation conform news, Women’s Wear Daily reported currently that Lanvin artistic executive Alber Elbaz is interruption ways with a Paris conform house. The 54-year-old Israeli engineer had acted as artistic executive for 14 years, and was recruited for a position in 2001.
The haute couture tag is set to give an central proclamation in a entrance days. According to WWD, Elbaz is pronounced to have had a feud with Lanvin’s owner, Chinese businesswoman Shaw-Lan Wang and CEO Michèle Huiban. Elbaz’s pattern group has also been told of his exit.
The engineer became famous for his thespian pattern aesthetic, and frequently sent an array of elaborate frocks, matter jewellery, confidant detailed accessories and delicate silhouettes down a Lanvin runway. Just final week, he was awarded a Superstar Award during a Fashion Group International’s Night of Stars celebration in New York City.
Elbaz’ remarkable depart also follows another astonishing engineer exit, with artistic executive Raf Simons strictly stepping down during Christian Dior on Oct 22. As of yet, Lanvin has not announced a new artistic director.


text: Debenhams executive chairman Terry Duddy is due to step down next month as the retailer’s owners appointed turnaround specialist Stefaan Vansteenkiste as the new chief executive. Vansteenkiste was enlisted by Debenhams in April to take on the role of chief restructuring officer, but is now poised to replace Duddy next month. Duddy, whose previous roles include serving for UK giants Argos and Homebase, has been leading Debenhams after former chief executive Sergio Bucher quit when the department store retailer earlier this year. Vansteenkiste’s previous role saw him working at corporate recovery firm Alvarez & Marsal, and most recently he served as interim head of Intertoys, which operates 500 stores in Europe. Read more at Retail Gazette.


text:
Starting today December 1st 2019 the people of Michigan will be able to purchase recreational marijuana. It has a taken a year since voters approved recreational marijuana for the program to be implemented, but the time has finally come.
There are currently only 6 licensed stores that can legally sale recreational marijuana in the State of Michigan, and most of those are in Ann Arbor. Thirty-plus other locations have pending retail applications awaiting response from the state Marijuana Regulatory Agency.
3 of the stores that are ready to sell recreational marijuana are in Ann Arbor, Exclusive Brands, Arbor Wellness and Greenstone Provisions. These stores are able to transfer up to 50% of their medical inventory over to their recreational side to kick off new recreational marijuana sales.
That being said, 80% of communities in Michigan have voted to ban recreational sales in some form or fashion. Some will be longer bans, while others are just long enough to give local municipalities time to create a standard set of rules that residents feel comfortable with.
To purchase any marijuana products you must be 21 years old, and have a valid State ID or drivers license. It is illegal to transport recreational marijuana products out of the State of Michigan.
For Michigan residents you can legally posses up to 2.5 ounces on your person & 15 grams of concentrates, or 10 ounces at home. It also allows residents to grow up to 12 plants at their home.


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Zachary Ochuodho @zachuodho
Kenya has been advised to enter a bilateral currency swap relations with China so as to address fluctuations of the shilling against the US dollar.
According to Capital Market Authority (CMA), the move will help reduce the impact of US dollar on the local currency and improve the country’s international standing as a stable economy with sufficient reserves to withstand any economic crises.
Luke Ombara, director, regulatory policy and strategy at CMA said the trade stand-off between the US and China is worsening the dollar scarcity – making countries, which pay through the dollarised denomination to reduce reliance on the US dollar.
Speaking during the launch of the third quarter, 2018 Market Soundness report last week, he said the US-China trade war could extend well into the foreseeable future given that no consensus has been reached on how to resolve the dispute.
“As a country, Kenya has a substantial portion of its debt obligations to China and as a way to addressing foreign exchange fluctuations, the country could consider keeping a portion of its official foreign reserves in RMB, the legal tender of China” he said.
According to the soundness report, Kenya should consider signing double tax agreements with major global players and trade partners. Should the US-China trade dispute persist for a while, it may derail global supply chains and ultimately have a knock-on effect on growth in emerging markets, Kenya included.
The report said the key highlight on the concerted efforts by some countries led by China to reduce reliance on the US dollar in conducting international transactions and Kenya could lend a leaf from other countries to help it overcome what appears to be imminent dollar shortage due to the loans.


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United Pacific Pet to Celebrate 100 Years at SuperZoo
United Pacific Pet, a full-line distributor of high-quality pet products, is celebrating its 100th anniversary at its SuperZoo booth (1421).
“We want to thank all of our fantastic customers and suppliers for their long-standing support,” said Maureen Costello, president of United Pacific Pet in Fontana, Calif. “We’re 100 years young and looking forward to an exciting new century of rewarding relationships to come.”
In addition to SuperZoo booth festivities, the company will be celebrating the anniversary at its 2018 open house buying show. All retailers and buyers are invited to attend.
The company will also be hosting a private party with fireworks at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., on Aug. 28.


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The United Arab Emirates came in third place in the list of countries importing Turkish defence products during the first quarter of 2021, Anadolu reported.
According to report, the United States ranked first, importing weapons to the value of $386 million, an increase of about 56 per cent over the corresponding period last year.
Azerbaijan came in second place with purchases amounting to more than $117 million, then the UAE came in third, with purchases worth more than $90 million.
Turkish defence exports also rose 47.7 per cent during the first third of 2021.
According to data from the Ministry of Commerce and the Exporters Council, the value of exports in January amounted to about $167 million and more than $233 million in February, about $247 million in March, and more than $302.5 million in April.


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DuckTales Remastered; New Screenshots!
As you’ll probably recall from earlier this year, Capcom announced that their classic NES game ‘DuckTales’ would be receiving a HD remake with revised graphics and gameplay by Way Forward. This news set most of the internet on fire for a good few days or so, and excited fans across the world.
And now, they’ve gone and released some new screenshots of the game showing three levels in all their remade HD glory! You’ve got the Amazon level, Transylvania and one more, and you can find pictures of all of them below:
So as you can see, the game looks absolutely fantastic on Wii U and other modern systems. Could this be the best remake of a classic NES game in years? I think so.
What do you think about these new pictures of DuckTales Remastered?


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Furthermore, the domestic silk industry has also not caught up with the times, and has failed to come up with new designs and products to meet the needs of a globalised world.
Poor marketing, weak brand promotion and dull designs are major obstacles preventing the expansion of Vietnamese silk in world markets, they added.
Experts, traders and craftsmen voiced their opinions at a seminar held under the auspices of the International Silk and Brocade Festival in Hoi An city.
Eighty local artisans from 12 craft villages in Vietnam as well as representatives from other Asian countries discussed ways to promote and preserve the silk trade, including boosting exchanges between countries.
“The festival is an opportunity for members of the International Silk Association to review current developments in the traditional trade, and map out future ways for handmade silk in the context of climate change and rapid urbanisation,” said Le Thai Vu, Chairman of the Quang Nam Silk Company.
Fei Jianming, General Secretary of the International Silk Association, said the festival honoured the silk trade in Hoi An and the world.
“Hoi An silk has contributed greatly to the development of silk in the world. Craftsmen from Vietnam and other countries in the region will take this opportunity to share views on how to promote the trade,” Jianming said.
Jianming, who is also Director of the Hangzhou Silk Culture and Brand Research Centre, said silk villages from Vietnam should join fairs in China for promoting their products.
Fumio Kato, a project leader with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Minamibousou city, Japan, said: “Hoi An silk and Vietnam should build a modern silk trade with unique value.
“Silk products must be designed for daily use in the context of rapid globalisation,” Kato told Viet Nam News.
“Vietnam’s silk should show the world how special it is. You must preserve your silk tradition with new, usable designs for modern days,” he said, adding Vietnam and Hoi An have to perfect every process of silk making in a meticulous manner.
A good living
Kato also warned that craftsmen need to make a good living from silk production if the country does not want the traditional trade to disappear soon.
He said the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNESCO and JICA have supported Hoi An in mapping a sustainable way for the future of the traditional trade.
He warned against producing poor quality silk in the pursuit of profit, saying Vietnam must persuade picky customers about the real value of traditional silk.
Luong Thanh Hanh, 30, who revived a traditional silk village in Thai Binh province three years ago, said businesses have yet to support craftsmen with marketing and promotion at world trade fairs.
She said Nam Cao village – known for its handmade tussore, has recovered using new production and marketing methods.
“Customers prefer handmade and chemical-free tussore,” Hạnh said.
She said more than 1,000 tussore towels and scarves were being shipped to Japan each month, excluding thousands of products sold at domestic shops.
Ly Thi Diem Hong of the Van Giao Silk village populated by the Khmer ethnic community in An Giang province, said the village co-operative has been struggling to design marketable products and sell them.
She said their designs were still limited to Buddhist motifs, pagodas, elephants and the Buddha, with scarves and sarongs being the most popular products.
The silk trade in Quang Nam developed during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty. It was influenced by the Cham people in the coastal central region.
Le Thai Vu, general director of the Quang Nam Silk Company, successfully re-discovered the mulberry plant that the Cham had used during an expedition in Que Son district in 2012, after Japanese cultural researchers had failed in their efforts to find the plant.
The ongoing festival also presents the creations of French fashion designers, major Chinese fashion houses and famous silk villages of Vietnam.


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Asprey announced that it would hand over the reins of the company, known for its bulletproof coffee filled with butter, to Larry Bodner starting in October. Asprey will continue to be executive president of Bulletproof. The CEO of Bulletproof, Dave Asprey, moved to Canada about 10 years ago. In August, Vice President of Sales and Business Development Daryl Moore, with five years of experience at Bulletproof, became Vice President of Business Development at VitaUp.
Dave Asprey, founder of the nutrition platform brand Bulletproof 360, has left the position of CEO and will take up the position of executive president as of October 1, the company announced yesterday. Asprey said that the Bulletproof board of directors introduced him to the new CEO Larry Bodner and that he was impressed by his nearly 30 years of experience in CPG. According to Asprey, Collins and several other employees were asked to leave as part of a broader “evolution” of the leadership team to help ease the company's transition to omnichannel.


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Actel Corp. is extending the reprogramming capabilities of its flash-based FPGAs to military applications with its launch today of Mil-Temp ProASIC Plus.
The family of three parts offers a density range equivalent to 75,000 to 250,000 ASIC gates with embedded RAM and single-chip nonvolatility--qualities previously available only in custom parts, said Ken O'Neill, director of marketing for military and aerospace products at Actel, Mountain View, Calif.
"This gives designers the ability to integrate much more into a single chip that's live at power-up," O'Neill said. "Just about every type of equipment in the military market needs more gates and more memory. Primarily, these are designs that would have used ASICs."
Actel has supplied antifuse-based FPGAs for high-reliability space and military applications since 1990, but its participation was limited to lower-density designs. Starting last year, the company began duplicating its commercial market strategy in the hi-reliability sector, aggressively pushing its most advanced parts as alternatives to ASICs that its low-density FPGAs normally accompanied.
Finding customers willing to substitute larger, pricier FPGAs for ASICs has been easier than one might imagine, according to Actel. Cost and time-to-market pressures are forcing military system designers to look at flexible options while they also are confronting an ever shrinking supply base.
"Fewer semiconductor companies are willing to invest in developing products for military applications," O'Neill said. "It takes quite a bit of investment to set up military qualification lines, and that gets amortized over only a few units."
Gartner Dataquest, San Jose, said programmable logic has gained ground in the military segment vs. ASICs, and this year could match ASIC revenue at $190 million. By 2007, PLD revenue in the segment should nearly double that of ASICs.
Cost considerations have also made military system designers less rigid in certain aspects. For example, in some cases they will choose to leverage lower-cost industrial-grade packages, O'Neill said.
With the Mil-Temp ProASIC Plus family, Actel claims to offer the first flash-based FPGAs qualified for the full military temperature range, as well as hermetically packaged parts with Mil-Std 883B screening.
Based on nonvolatile flash memory, the devices are immune to firm errors caused by radiation effects and are secure from reverse engineering--a concern of designers considering SRAM-based parts, who must download their design configuration from a separate device.
The APA300, APA600, and APA1000 will be available in plastic and hermetic packages. Mil-Temp Plastic (MTP) packages are designed to handle extreme temperatures from - 55°C to 125°C, while Mil-Temp Hermetic (MTH) packages are offered for extreme temperatures in high-humidity environments.
Actel's MTP parts are available, starting at $290 in quantities of 5,000. MTH parts will be available in September, priced from $510 in 5,000s, and 883B devices are slated for release in the fourth quarter, priced starting at $860 in similar quantities.


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The world’s biggest online retailer has begun operating in Australia.
Amazon.com.au went live in the Land Down Under on Tuesday after a soft launch on November 23.
Items on Amazon Australia’s site, however, were not ready for purchase at that time.
Biggest thing to happen in Australia’s retail sector
Reports said the entry of Amazon in Australia was one of the biggest things to happen in the country’s retail industry. It is also expected to revolutionize online shopping there.
The online retail portal already had millions of items for sale across different categories, according to a Mashable report.
Mashable also said “thousands” of Australian brands have enlisted with Amazon to sell their products in Australia and other countries.
Currently, small and medium-scale Australian vendors already sell their wares via Amazon’s Marketplace.
After Amazon announced back in April that it was expanding its operations in Australia, reports said Australian retailers launched “their in-store services or revamped their online stores” to apparently compete with Amazon.
Meanwhile, Amazon is offering free delivery on eligible orders above $49 and one-day delivery service to specific areas in Australia. Australians can now also register for Prime and access Prime Video and Twitch Prime as well.
Amazon has corporate offices in five Australian cities, including Canberra, the country’s capital.
The retail giant’s new facility in Dandenong South will be the product distribution center.
Amazon Australia country manager Rocco Braeuniger said in a statement: “Over time, we will create thousands of new jobs and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Australia.”
As a result of its launch, Amazon Australia is expected to boost the online retail sector in the Land Down Under.
DISCLAIMER: This article expresses my own ideas and opinions. Any information I have shared are from sources that I believe to be reliable and accurate. I did not receive any financial compensation in writing this post, nor do I own any shares in any company I’ve mentioned. I encourage any reader to do their own diligent research first before making any investment decisions.
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A reelected Donald Trump could pull several levers to try and pare back federal policies aimed at speeding the transition to electric vehicles.
Why it matters: EVs are becoming more mainstream, but they're still a small share of U.S. car sales, and President Joe Biden has been keen to juice deployment.
Catch up fast: Trump, the GOP frontrunner, released a video late last week that, among other things, bashed EV costs. He vowed to reverse what he called a "ridiculous Green New Deal crusade."
- Trump's seeking auto workers' votes in competitive states like Michigan, at a time when the United Auto Workers leadership is skittish about EVs.
The big picture: It's hard to see the votes for outright repealing the Democrats' climate law or the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill, even if Republicans have both chambers of Congress after 2024.
Yes, but: Trump would hardly be powerless.
Zoom in: His campaign released a list of proposals alongside the video. This isn't an exhaustive list, but let's explore some of those and other ways he could alter policy.
Trump's vowing to kill the EPA's brewing tailpipe CO2 emissions rules. The agency sees bringing EVs to 67% of U.S. light-duty sales by 2032.
- Reversing a completed rule is time-consuming and legally fraught. One wrinkle: if the final rule was still tied up in court when Trump took office, his administration could decline to defend it.
A Trump-led Treasury Department could take a more restrictive view of how many EV models qualify for consumer purchase subsidies up to $7,500.
- The climate law tethers tax credits to key battery materials sourced, processed or recycled domestically or from free-trade partners. But Treasury has wiggle room in the interpretation.
- The Biden administration has also been crafting mineral-specific trade agreements with some countries that could be altered.
A Trump administration could make it harder to access funding streams and manufacturing incentives in the climate and infrastructure laws.
- For instance, the infrastructure law has $7.5 billion for building out EV charging networks, but the money is doled out over multiple years.
State of play: Trump's policy agenda comes as rapid EV growth in recent years is showing signs of slowing.
- EVs were 7.2% of U.S. sales in Q2, down very slightly from Q1, per Cox Automotive.
The bottom line: The move toward EVs is too far along to kill as automakers embracing them commit billions of dollars and expand their lineups. But Trump could alter how fast the tech is adopted.


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Newspaper Publishers Offer Digital Services through BPO
In 2010, advertising revenues for newspapers continued to fall, about 6.3% for the year. Print circulation also continued to decline (5% daily and 4.5% for Sunday), according to The State of the News Media 2011, Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. On top of that, the past year saw a surge in expenses, which puts limits on funding both for experiments and for maintaining editorial quality in print and digital formats.
Declines of last year weren't as horrendous as those in 2009, and publishers have moved decisively to increase digital revenues (in some cases charging online readers and in others branching into new businesses like e-commerce). New business models are proliferating as news organizations search for novel sources of revenue and cost reduction ("Bulletins from the Future", The Economist, 7/9/11).
Although revenue from online advertising is growing, it's not fast enough to fill the gap opened up by declines in print ads and circulation. As The Economist notes, "Online advertising typically brings in less than 20% of a newspaper's ad revenues and rates on all but the most prominent pages are falling." As a result, online ad revenues will not be enough to cover the cost of running traditional new organizations.
Now this August 22nd article in the Wall Street Journal, "Newspapers Edit Down Outlooks," indicates there might be a return to job cuts and other belt-tightening moves.


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THE RV AC FILTER REPLACEMENT THAT WILL NIP ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES IN THE BUD…
…BEFORE THE SNIFFLES RUIN YOUR ROAD TRIP
Big Bend National Park was everything Eddie Rice pictured — and then more. Every sunset rivaled the next — a palette of watercolors bleeding together above the craggy Texas horizon. Roadrunners skittered across the road at random, and even in the arid climate, patches of waxy vegetation and thorny shrubs dotted the land; their flowering plants emitting a foreign fragrance.
And that’s where the “more” came in.
Only days into the Texas stretch of their four-month RV trip, Eddie’s wife, Rose, became unexpectedly sick. With each passing day of Big Bend fresh air, the illness grew until Rose finally paid a visit to a nearby doctor.
The diagnosis? Environmental allergies. According to the Texas doc, it’s an all-too-common condition that can plague travelers, especially when exposed to different regions. Likewise, an environmental allergy is simply the body’s adverse immune response to surroundings that are typically otherwise harmless.
In the end, the doctor suggested a simple fix — a good air filter for the Rice’s RV.
And sure enough, when Eddie checked the RV’s flimsy foam AC filter, it was filthy with grime, dust, dirt, and debris.
But finding the fix — a new and less flimsy filter — wasn’t that simple.
Eddie scoured Texas RV stores, only to be directed to the nearest Home Depot with the advice to cut a filter down to size, which only led to more problems — the build-up of mold in the paper filter.
“It turns out home filters aren’t designed for RVs, especially when all of that filter gunk gets locked up and stored away weeks at a time,” Eddie explains. “And we all know how hot a closed-up RV can get. In 200-degree conditions, mold loves to grow.”
With zero suitable RV AC air filter replacements for allergies to be found, Eddie took matters into his own hands. In 2014, the former engineer put his retired skills (and the skills of a friend) to work, and that’s when RV Air was born.
Now, four years and four designs later, Eddie’s patent-pending air filter is in more than 800 Walmart stores, and recently, RV Air landed a spot on the shelves of Camping World stores throughout the United States. His filters are also available online at Amazon.com and RVAir.com.
These filters far surpass the typical stock filter found in your RV’s AC. Unlike these standard filters that utilize a thin black polypropylene filter, similar to the filter found on a hairdryer, the RV Air filter features 40 layers of unwoven polyester, each sprayed with an anti-microbial tackifier to capture particles.
The result? An RV AC filter that delivers up to a MERV 6 rating (depending on the generation of filter) with the ability to block particles as small as 3-10 microns (particles invisible to the naked eye), including pollen, dust, mold spores, pet dander, and other allergens. (Simply put, less contaminants will pass through a filter with a higher MERV rating.)
And while a MERV rating can range from 1-16, super high ratings can restrict airflow, which in turn can be taxing on the air conditioner, which is why Eddie has always strived for a MERV 6 rating.)
In the end, it’s a number that helps Eddie and his wife breathe easier as they travel the country, and they’re ecstatic it’s something they can share with other RVers.
“Allergies can definitely take the fun out of camping. Kids and pets are notorious for bringing the outside in, and with retirees who full-time RV, there’s the risk of pneumonia, so we take great pride knowing we have helped hundreds of RVers breathe a little easier,” Eddie says. “It’s amazing what a good filter can do.”


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The Atlantic: The Mystery of the Incredible Shrinking American Worker
CHARLES DAVI - Charles is a capital and derivatives markets lawyer at a large firm in New York City and a member of the Policy Committee of Concord51. He received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and B.A. in Computer Science from Hunter College. He also writes the Kalle's Kultur blog.
The Mystery of the Incredible Shrinking American Worker
It could be the most significant economic puzzle of our time: As a declining share of economic growth goes to our workers, are people becoming less valuable to businesses? And why?
The mysterious and growing divide between the rich and the rest in just about every wealthy country on Earth, including the U.S., is really two mysteries wrapped in one. The first mystery is why real wage growth has sped up at the top and slowed down for everybody else. But the second, more recent, and more fascinating problem is why labor's share of the winnings in developed economies has been in decline. It's not just that middle-class wages are falling behind the rich. Overall wages are falling behind something else -- capital.
People are becoming less valuable to companies. Why?
Simply put, the world shrank. Two seemingly unrelated inventions -- the microprocessor and the shipping container -- conspired to create a global market for all assets, including people. A century of achievements in computing power and shipping ushered in an era of global trade so expansive that it completely disaggregated the process of doing business (especially in manufacturing), allowing firms to treat finished goods as a bundle of globally sourced components and services.
As more than a billion new workers flooded a global labor market open to multinational companies, capable workers became less scarce, and therefore, less valuable. In order to understand how all of this happened, we have to dig into recent economy history, exploring the rise of digital technology and global trade.
Read the rest of the Article at The Atlantic


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Adrian Flux has won the Best Porsche Insurance Specialist award from Total 911 magazine.
The hotly-contested award was voted for by genuine Porsche enthusiasts and Flux general manager Gerry Bucke, who collected the award with colleague Matt Allen, said it was a great accolade for the staff.
“I’m delighted for everyone involved to win this award, which is recognition of a lot of hard work and shows our commitment to providing competitive specialist insurance and great service to Porsche owners,” he added.
The awards ceremony was held at Hexagon Modern Classics in London, with 150 guests attending from as far afield as Germany and the USA.
Total 911 editor Lee Sibley hailed the event “a resounding success, adding: “To have so many representatives from right across the international Porsche spectrum under one roof made for a very special occasion and I’m delighted for the winners of our prestigious awards, who have rightly had their year-round hard work recognised.
“Already, we look forward to the 2016 Awards for what will be the night to look forward to each and every year for the Porsche industry going forward.”
The event featured an incredible display of cars for the assembled guests, including the one-of-a-kind Porsche 901 Cabriolet prototype and the latest 991 GT3 RS, the latter thanks to Porsche Cars GB.


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Grasslands Alliance Releases First Certification Standard for Sustainable,
Climate-friendly Beef Production in North America
Enabling a Renaissance in Responsible Ranching
How do you know if the steak on your plate or the beef in your burger was sustainably raised? Did it come from a ranch that protects wildlife and ecosystems, treats animals humanely, and pays farmworkers decent wages? The US is the largest beef producer in the world, and Americans eat a lot of it – about 54 pounds per person a year. And yet there has been no consensus on what sustainable livestock production looks like at the grassroots level, no comprehensive sustainability certification system for ranches, and no widely accepted ecolabel on better beef. That’s about to change.
After four years of research, discussions and field trials, the Grasslands Alliance, a multi-stakeholder coalition led by conservation groups, has released the first comprehensive guidelines for responsibly raising cattle on North America’s vast range and pastures. The standards cover all the interlocking spheres of sustainability – environmental protection, economic viability and social justice – as well as climate change, animal welfare and human health.
Ranchers and farmers who comply with the Grasslands Alliance criteria will be certified green and able to use an ecolabel, now under development. This will allow progressive producers to send a clear farm-to-market signal that they are meeting the most robust sustainability standards. Ranchers, consumers and commercial buyers have been asking for a way to distinguish beef from eco-friendly and climate-smart ranches.
The Grasslands Alliance was organized by the Natural Resources Defense Council and two groups with extensive experience in setting standards, auditing and certifying farms — the Rainforest Alliance and Food Alliance. In developing the cattle standard, the coalition engaged other NGOs, ranchers, scientists, corporate beef buyers, and beef marketing experts.
Consumers increasingly seek out products that are third-party endorsed by independent, nonprofit programs such as Rainforest Alliance Certified™, Organic and Fairtrade. Popular brands are working with certifiers to rid their supply chains of major sins such as deforestation and child labor, and ensure that suppliers are efficient and resilient enough to withstand climate change, drought and social unrest. Around the world, cattle ranching is a leading cause of deforestation and other environmental degradation, and a major contributor of climate-disrupting emissions. In the US, for example, cattle emit nearly as much of the powerful heat-trapping pollutant, methane, as fracking and other forms of natural gas and petroleum extraction. The other highest impact crops – palm oil, soy, paper pulp, sugar – developed sustainability standards and certification programs long ago.
The Grasslands Alliance standard fused traditional knowledge gained over generations of ranching with the latest science. It provides detailed guidance on raising cattle in the most sustainable way – such as how to keep the grass green, avoid erosion and pollution, protect endangered wildlife, control invasive weeds, conserve water, safeguard streams, manage livestock humanely, reduce climate-related risks and impacts, and protect consumer health.
Ranchers and farmers were involved in developing the standard. One of them, Michael Hale, who manages a herd of Spanish breed cattle on native range in Northeastern Oregon, said that a good standard, “is more than a checklist of best management practices; it’s a way for us ranchers to share experience and a guide to sustainable land stewardship.”
The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal of approval is on coffee, tea, chocolate, bananas and a host of products from farms meeting the rigorous standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). The SAN standard is designed for countries where farms are mostly small, regulations and government assistance are weak and many farmers are struggling to make ends meet. The Grasslands Alliance standard is expressly tuned to conditions in the US.
Jeffrey Hayward, VP of Programs for the Rainforest Alliance, said, “As our beef certification program gains traction in Central and South America, we’re excited to have an aligned partner standard in the US. That will allow producers and buyers to work with one, streamlined system no matter if their farm is in Brazil or Montana.”
Jonathan Kaplan, head of the Food and Agriculture Program at NRDC said, “The Grasslands Alliance will help ranchers address essential sustainability issues, including promotion of healthy soils, more productive grasslands, predator co-existence, and antibiotic stewardship.”
Marcia DeLonge, an agroecologist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said, “A clear, science-based roadmap toward sustainable beef production systems that support farmers and ranchers, conserves valuable grasslands, and reduces negative environmental impacts is much needed . It is exciting to see efforts like the Grasslands Alliance standard working to encourage beef production that is as healthy, sustainable, and climate friendly as possible.”
The Grasslands Alliance standard has been reviewed by many ranchers, scientists, environmentalists, activists and other experts. As part of an inclusive process to gather as much input as possible, the alliance invites anyone interested to comment on the standard, which is available on the coalition’s website. Along with ranchers, NGOs, government agencies, retailers and restaurants, the Grasslands Alliance is planning for the first certified ranches, supply chains and sustainably produced beef available to consumers. Updates will be available on the website.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization that has worked for nearly 30 years around the world to conserve forests and natural resources while advancing sustainable livelihoods. The Rainforest Alliance collaborates with foresters, farmers, businesses and workers to build healthy communities, protect habitat, and rebalance the Earth, working towards the vision of a world where planet and people prosper together. To learn more, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.
Food Alliance works at the juncture of science, business and values to define and promote sustainability in agriculture and the food industry, and to ensure safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of animals, and careful stewardship of ecosystems. To learn more visit foodalliance.org
The Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) is a coalition of non-profit conservation organizations in America, Africa, Europe and Asia promoting the environmental and social sustainability of agricultural activities through the development of standards for best practices, certification and training for rural farmers around the world. See the revised 2017 standard on the SAN website.
The Union of Concerned Scientists uses science for a healthy planet and safer world. Its report, “Cattle, Cleared Forests, and Climate Change: Scoring America’s Top Brands on Their Deforestation-Free Beef Commitments and Practices,” is here.


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Logistics hub Bremen – a pivotal point in the international flow of goodsInvesting in Bremen
An overview of the results of the 2017 real estate report relating to logistics space
An increase in warehouse space, falling vacancy rates and a good infrastructure – Bremen is an international logistics industry hub. The 2017 real estate report illustrates just how popular Bremen is with globally operating companies. And with good reason.
“The trends in the logistics market underline the key role that Bremen plays in the movement of goods within Germany and around the world,” says Andreas Heyer, CEO of Bremeninvest. The city’s geographical location is a particular advantage for companies dependent on logistics, due to the short distance from a container ship in Bremerhaven to order picking or processing in Bremen’s business parks.
Logistics is one of the major industries of the Bremen/Oldenburg metropolitan region, employing around 115,000 people directly and in supplier companies.
Warehouse space increases to 2.8 million square metres
This year, logistics warehouse space has increased to 2.799 million square metres, spread across 228 properties in the city of Bremen itself. On top of that, companies and investors in the region surrounding Bremen last year added new warehouse space totalling 140,000 square metres, roughly the equivalent of twenty football pitches.
Investors are particularly interested in properties of at least 8,000 square metres which are 6.5 metres high and built after 1985. Bremen has more than 1.7 million square metres of these, or 60 per cent of its total logistics real estate.
Vacancy rate at record low
The vacancy rate remains low and has fallen again, from 1.14 per cent in 2016 to 0.71 per cent in 2017. There are currently only 20,000 square metres of logistics space available for companies to buy or rent. “As a logistics hub, Bremen is diverse and extremely well positioned. But the low vacancy rate also shows just how tough the situation is in the market for warehouse space,” explains Frank Dreeke, CEO of BLG LOGISTICS. New warehouse space is being created in Bremen to be able to satisfy the strong demand and remain competitive.
The average rent has increased slightly, from €3.21 per square metre in 2016 to €3.24 per square metre. The comparatively low rents in Bremen are the result of continued moderate property prices.
GVZ Bremen: a model for European logistics
Bremen’s five logistics centres (Cargo Distribution Center (GVZ), Hansalinie Industrial Estate, Bremer Kreuz, Überseestadt and Industriehafen) constitute the central hub in a wider logistics network with Münster/Osnabrück, Hannover and Hamburg. More than half of all logistics space in Bremen – almost 1.5 million square metres – is located in the GVZ, which contributes more than 30 per cent of total logistics space revenue. Learn more about the past history of the GVZ and the outlook for its future in this article.
Production logistics in the automotive industry
In addition to the logistics spaces in Hemelinger Hafen and at Bremer Kreuz, the Bremen Hansalinie Industrial Estate is also of major importance to Bremen’s automotive industry. It lies in close proximity to the Mercedes plant in Bremen. Many companies are locating themselves in the Hansalinie Industrial Estate to facilitate collaboration and improve logistical processes. Our article about the industrial estate’s logistics processes describes how companies benefit from this location. Another important reason for setting up business in the Hansalinie Industrial Estate is the six-lane expansion of the A1 motorway to Hamburg – northern Germany’s main transport artery.
If you have any questions about the logstics space, please contact Thomas Hofhans tel: +49 (0)421 960 0251, firstname.lastname@example.org.
If you have any questions about the 2017 Bremen property market report, contact Thorsten Tendahl, tel: +49 (0)421 960 0121, email@example.com.
Here, you can download the 2017 Bremen property market report in English.
A year ago, ENGINIUS began producing the first hydrogen truck with EU type approval in Bremen. Today, 100 employees already work at the plant. The plans are still set for growth, thanks to tailwind from Bremen and strong demand from around the world.Learn more
The greenest major city in Germany is Bremen - with an average of 60 square metres of sports, leisure and recreation space per person. Parks, sports facilities, but also water areas invite you to relax from the hustle and bustle of the city every day.Learn more
Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe is the largest trade fair for suppliers of hydrogen technologies. It takes place in the Hanseatic city of Bremen every September. The big names in this sector will meet up there, once again, on September 27th and 28th 2023.visit bremen-innovativ


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NICOSIA, Cyprus, March 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QIWI plc, (NASDAQ:QIWI) (MOEX:QIWI) ("QIWI" or the "Company") announced today that the record date for its recently declared dividend of 19 cents per share has been changed to April 3, 2017 from the previously announced date of March 29, 2017. The change assures the dividend record date is consistent with NASDAQ notice requirements. The dividend payment date has been changed to April 6, 2017 from the previously announced date of March 29, 2017 accordingly.
About QIWI plc.
QIWI is a leading provider of next generation payment services in Russia and the CIS. It has an integrated proprietary network that enables payment services across physical, online and mobile channels. It has deployed over 17.2 million virtual wallets, over 162,000 kiosks and terminals, and enabled merchants to accept over RUB 70 billion cash and electronic payments monthly from over 56 million consumers using its network at least once a month. QIWI's consumers can use cash, stored value and other electronic payment methods to order and pay for goods and services across physical or online environments interchangeably.
Contact Varvara Kiseleva Investor Relations +357.25028091 firstname.lastname@example.org
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As a naming consultant, developing product names for brand extensions is a topic that I've written about before... and it's a strategy that is often necessary for a brand to continue growing.
The recent news that Guinness is diversifying into red beer with the launch of their new Guinness Red drink is a perfect example of this kind of brand extension.
For 250 years, Guinness has meant black and white. It's a black beer with a white froth. Now, parent company Diageo is pushing the brand in directions never been before... offering us Guinness bread and even your own froth maker called a "surger."
Some drinkers are not impressed... the World of Beer grumbles, "Guinness is stout, plain and simple. Not some Kilkenny knock off, not a weird looking creation which, judging by the photo published online at The Sun, boasts tomato juice as an ingredient, but stout. The black stuff. Period." Yet, other beer bloggers can hardly wait for the weekend to try it.
What's up? Extending a brand name, no matter how old and powerful and well loved it is, is something marketers feel compelled to do.
Even Guinness can't rest on its laurels... it has to offer extensions to customers or be swept away in a tide of microbrews and light beers into the ever smaller space of a niche brand name.
TD Clark's excellent article on the subject talks about how newer brands, like Crocs shoes, are already creating new brand names out of old ones. The Crocs brand is now offering apparel consumers "Crosslite rt" or "relaxed technology" shoes. This is aggressive brand naming at its finest, given the relative newness of the Crocs brand name.
Similarly, Mars is offering us a Starburst Drink... you remember Starburst fruit chews, right? By the way, this is an awful line extension, I think, and is doomed to fail. And current TV is using brand extension strategies to "expand its web presence and increase its marketing efforts."


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Protesting against digital wallet Paytm, RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch has appealed to the government to disallow investment in companies, which are getting funding from China.
“We have given a call to people and asked them to stop using Paytm. We also asked the government to disallow investments in companies like Paytm from China because it is prone to security hazards and economic problems, which is not going to be in the best interest of our country,” SJM Co-Convenor Ashwani Mahajan was quoted as saying to PTI.
Too much of foreign investment coming from China will create situation alike Srilanka, where the country is forced to give away its airport in exchange for debts. Paytm is not a domestic initiative because more than a majority portion is being owned by
Alibaba and other Chinese firms, he added.
Over past one month, India has been facing standoff with China in Dokalam, which remains unresolved.
Paytm is yet to issue any official statement on this. Entrackr queries to the digital wallet, still remains unanswered.
In March 2017, Paytm E-commerce raised $200 million (Rs 1,334 crore) from Alibaba and existing investor SAIF Partners. The investment increased the stake of Alibaba and its affiliate Ant Financial (the parent company of Alipay) in Paytm E-Commerce from 40% to 62%.
In May this year, Japanese Internet and telecom major Softbank Group Corp invested $1.4 billion in One97 Communications, which is Paytm’s parent company.
Following the move, Paytm launched many features to keep its base of 225 million users engaged. The company has in last few years, ventured beyond its traditional mobile wallet offering into the payments banking and e-commerce sectors. It also plans to launch chat services for countrymen.
Founded in 2010 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the company employs over 13,000 employees as of January 2017 and has 3 million offline merchants across India. During demonetisation drive, Paytm had reported significant growth in its wallet business. It also had displayed PM Narendra Modi picture during the drive.


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The Ministry of Agro Industry's Office held a meeting with Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Argentine Movement for Organic Production (MAPO). The event was coordinated by the Secretary for Food and Bioeconomy.
During the meeting it was agreed to establish the necessary priorities to strengthen and promote the sector taking into account consumption growth in the world and the opportunities that Argentina offers as a provider of differentiated products with added value.
Within the plan of action the importance of attending to changing markets and the need to take account of consumers who are increasingly outstanding know in depth those foods they eat and traceability of the entire process using new technology highlights of the information, in order to have real-time history of food.
This year a project supported by the World Bank to analyze various organic value chains and their potential for international integration in Asia will be developed, European Union and United States, taking into account the growth of demand and segments of the population willing to buy these foods.
The organic system is displayed as an additional scheme to conventional production it promotes development, adding value at source and the generation of employment and foreign exchange.
The study will cover axes such as development in different areas of the country, innovation projects involving resolve bottlenecks currently displayed as the development of organic seeds, strategic inputs and, for example, articulately biological herbicides working with research and extension agencies such as INTA and INTI.


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People love or hate office holidays. Almost everyone hates office holiday parties. As we enter the second phase of the epidemic, all kinds of events – which are required to celebrate workers and treat humanity – have returned. But it may be different in what you remember.
This year, real parties are still going strong, though, kindly, companies have learned something from last year about what employees can do. And after a break last year, private parties are returning as vaccination risks and travel cravings increase, although these practices will also be banned. We also see the rise of the third party: no party at all. Instead of eating hard, bad DJs, and doing bad things with friends, some companies are choosing gifts, money, or extra time. Another company is planning a trip to paradise – of course, if you are a cynic, you might consider it an eternity holiday party.
The most notable exceptions to this type of corporate concept this year are the so-called mixed holiday parties, where some guests go private and some are online. Apparently they don’t work. It’s hard to design a program in a way that satisfies both teams, so many companies have stopped experimenting.
Which party you go to – or skip – depends on your company, companies, and your community. But one thing is certain: The plague has a profound effect on the holiday season, as we all know.
Real, follow-up celebrations
For many companies, this will be the second year of the holiday season. Do not despair! It should be better or shorter than 2020.
Last year, many companies made a mistake when everyone did something when they changed something into a fixed one: They try to compare what is happening around the world. For some, this means Zoom phones that last for several hours and include everything from games to music to conversations – all of which are allowed to have a hand-held drink in a bar or venue other than your home bed.
“It was very difficult given the amount of things that were happening online,” said Tal Brodsky, director of product marketing and business development at. Thriver, a marketplace in the workplace that helps companies create holiday parties, told Recode.
“I think this year, more and more companies are looking for something short and fun but useful online,” said Brodsky, who estimates that 60-70 percent of the holiday parties at Thriver will be held this year.
This year, at the MuckRock archives, he is a magician and a madman Coby Elimelech read the views of some remote workers. The event includes a $ 60 stipend on food and alcohol, toast, and lasts within an hour and a half.
Facebook is growing rapidly. After hosting a 6,000-person holiday party at its New York office at Pier 94 that includes a DJ, Mr. Softee’s two cars, and thousands of waffles for guests in 2019, the company decided to hold a variety of shows for the second year in a row. Staff will watch Broadway performers and theaters, and donate to Broadway Cares.
Many holiday parties this year include a box of food, beverage ingredients, or art supplies sent to staff in advance and assembled with the help of a Zoom event consultant. These incidents usually occur with groups smaller than last year, and each company’s share is abbreviated.
Chocolate noise, a chocolate-making company, sends attendees plenty of chocolate, as well as tea and wine, and then leads them to taste chocolate online. The company’s founder, Megan Giller, provided the actual event before the epidemic, but says it has not been known among corporate clients until last year.
“We go through everything like good wine or cheese, where we talk about where the beans come from and how the chocolate is made and what people taste in these bars,” said Miller, who wrote the article. chocolate book, judge the chocolate race, and teach people “how to taste like a professional.”
Although Miller likes to taste in small groups, the sheer number of corporate holiday parties has made it possible for her to learn how to do this for more than 100 people at a time. This requires a combination of emcee plus a couple of chocolate sommeliers for the event to go smoothly.
This year, the popular events at Thriver include making watercolor holiday cards, peppermint mocha and dining equipment, as well as a Christmas cartoon.
Amanda Ma, chief information officer at LA-based experience agency Innovate Marketing Group, often have major events for major clients such as YouTube and TikTok, as well as major banks. Pre-epidemic, he said, “has made all that has happened, affecting the five senses, from food to pleasure to what affects and feels.” This year, 90 percent of the holiday parties involved are real. However, they are striving to provide guests with a variety of experiences at home.
“Ordinary wine and food is last year,” Ma said. “Everyone’s hopes are high this year because they will be almost two years old now.”
Notable activities among its clients this year include making charcuterie boards, learning style, and making holiday wreaths. Everywhere, Ma says they are just seeing more ideas happening this year because they have more time to prepare, many companies are thinking of things in the summer instead of just finishing like last year. They also say that real events are cheaper than what happens in a person, and save money, he said, 30 to 50 percent.
Return of the IRL holiday party
For many companies, 2021 marks the return of a holiday party to the office, but the size, location, and timing have changed. Companies – and especially directors who run them – they want people to return to the office after most employees have spent almost two years working from home. Employers see holiday parties as a way to reduce the amount of people returning. It is a way to introduce new friends who may have never worked together in person.
In most cases, this year’s events are smaller than before, which takes place by banning extra, cutting them off from groups, or partying for a few days.
For a corporate client who participated in a 1,500-person vacation before the epidemic, Tinsel Experiential Design in New York instead organized three different events with two different ideas. The buyer, who the company did not disclose, also held several events earlier this year at the Central Park Zoo, to allow guests to stay outside.
“The image is under a microscope,” Tinsel producer Alexa Jensen told Recode.
Often, companies focus on where they are doing and when they are doing their holiday parties. They prefer a place with outdoor space and sometimes move the event until fall or spring to use in warm weather. They should also be very careful with all aspects of the event.
“Plan B is not a rain plan,” Jensen said. “It’s like, Plan B and if another delta comes – I don’t hate to say – what plan B, C, D.”
This means preparing for changes that may occur at the last minute. Companies with personal experience often choose to do it in their offices, rather than in an external environment, so they can improve security, according to Thriver.
There has also been an increase in lunch breaks or early leisure time, rather than in the evening meetings.
“I think people just appreciate their time,” said Rosa Hardesty, an information consultant at Society for Human Resource Management, he said. He also noted that while most of the parties he hears are in public, they do not pay taxes on staff time. “Maybe he knows that, let’s do it in the afternoon when the boss pays them and celebrates them so they can go home to their families.”
But, in addition to size, time, and location, these events do not seem very different from what they were in the past. There is food served, vendors, and music. However, there are also limits on the number of exporters and the requirements for those sellers to be vaccinated. Many private workers are required to show proof of vaccination in advance, although some companies are trying to test the Covid-19 on the program.
Some companies are making something completely different
The epidemic has also encouraged companies to reconsider their choice of holiday parties. Perhaps because they believe that holiday money can be put to good use, some companies are finding new ways to help their employees, friends and family.
PR Company Images of VSC is changing the office party – and office, which he left in the summer of 2020 – on a trip to Hawaii. In early December, about 50 workers were on a five-day trek to Oahu, where they suspected zip, overflow, and chat on the beach.
“When we have an intimate event, it has to be friendly,” company founder Vijay Chattha said, “not to sit in front of a laptop and send emails.”
Extra vacation time, gift cards, and other useful items are also becoming commonplace for holiday parties, according to Hardesty at the Society for Human Resource Management. If the purpose of the job is to provide for your family, he said, companies come up with the idea to allow you to spend more time with them. Recode’s parent company, Vox Media, is also planning a holiday party this year, although many groups have their own small events. Vox.com also gives its employees a full week off.
While they may be able to hold meetings at the end of the year, some companies are also offering public events in small groups that serve as more sport than holiday parties. These include things like yoga classes, cooking classes, and escape rooms.
But despite the rise of holiday parties, event organizers are keenly interested in the dynamic return of the actual holiday party. This year is a test.
“Everyone is just pointing their fingers. I don’t think anyone is trying to disprove what is going on right now,” Tinsel Jensen said. “We’re excited to be back on this page and see people we know well and review things.”
He added, “I think 2022 is going to be crazy. I’ve already tied my waist.”


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19 August 2008 | Paul Snell
Global recruitment firm Michael Page International has registered record profits, thanks in part to the strong performance of its procurement and supply chain division.
In interim results for the first half of the year the company recorded a gross profit of £292.7 million and an operating profit of £84.9 million - up 22 per cent compared with the same period in 2007.
Steve Ingham, chief executive, said the difficult economic conditions in some markets, such as financial services, were balanced by the recruiter's actions in other sectors.
He told an investor conference: "We've seen strong growth in the other 50 per cent [of our UK business], shown best of all by engineering and manufacturing, supply chain and procurement and property and construction, which in the UK has grown at 39 per cent."
Gross profit in this division was £41.78 million in the first six months of 2008, compared with £25.22 million the year before.
The launch of procurement and supply chain recruitment in North America last year also gave the firm a boost, with operating profit up just over 50 per cent compared with 2007.
Last Friday Michael Page rejected a takeover bid of 400 pence per share from rival recruiter Adecco, describing the bid as "unattractive" and the company as "undervalued".


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Caveman Cafeteria might have put the brakes on its food truck, but the paleo-centric company started by Army vet/standup comedian Will White is still on the move. Caveman Cafeteria, now under the motto "Where the Hunters Gather," is now delivering -- nationally.
White became interested in Crossfit and the advantages of a paleo diet during his seven years in the Army -- and a week after he left the service in June 2012, he'd turned that interest into a food truck, the Caveman Cafeteria.
Despite its popularity, the truck didn't last long; it can be now found for sale on Craigslist. "We used the food stand as a billboard to offer wedding catering and to publicize our paleo meal delivery service," White says.
That service now delivers premade, organic paleo meals to twelve states via FedEx. If you live in metro Denver, you can also get your order at free pickup locations around Denver and Boulder.
When he's not telling jokes behind a mike, White is talking about the importance of a diet of grass-fed meat and vegetables to avoid heart diseases, diabetes and cancer, while ensuring better sleep and weight loss. And with his delivery service, he's made it easier to follow that diet.
For more information, go to the Caveman Cafeteria website.Follow @CafeWestword
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