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Responding to the announcement that the Government is establishing a new micro loan scheme for small businesses, encompassing a 100% government guarantee on facilities worth up to £50,000 (capped at 25% of turnover) and a streamlined application process. We reached out to Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry to find out more about the interruption loan scheme announced today.
“To date, the existing interruption loan scheme has not been working for the small firms that make-up 99% of our business community. The decision by the Chancellor to listen to our recommendation for a 100% guarantee on smaller loans, alongside the creation of a new fast-track system for those applying for them, will give hope to thousands.”
Established 45 years ago, FSB is the UK’s largest grassroots business campaigning group, and the voice of small businesses during the Covid-19 outbreak. With the aim to help smaller businesses stay afloat, the loan is the oxygen thousands of businesses need to survive the lockdown and the results of FBS’s lobbying at the highest level across the UK.
“The headline terms will be hugely welcomed by the sole traders and micro businesses that make-up 95% of the small businesses community. Removing the need to provide forecasts marks an important step forward – small firms cannot be expected to predict the future in this climate.
From here, we need the right delivery. The new fast-track system must be established by next Monday with money delivered 24 hours after a successful application as promised. All those who have been declined a small coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS) facility should now be written to with the offer to re-apply via this new system. Those mid-way through a standard CBILS application should also be given the option to change tack.”
Small businesses are the backbone of the local economy and the seismic shift of apathy during the lockdown, not only changed consumer behaviour but closed the doors to the every local gym, bookstore, barber and nail salon.
“Many small businesses have had to pay March and April’s payroll, on top of other overheads, with no revenue coming in at all. The CBILS initiative was their only lifeline until job retention scheme payments kicked in. It has so far proved to be extremely difficult to access for the vast majority. Today’s announcement promises to change that fundamental lack of access to working capital.
Our own research shows that thousands of small businesses are creating new strategies to contribute to the survival of their local community and entrepreneurs are working hard to set its future direction, but while they don’t hold the answer they are definitely part of the solution.
Capturing this insight from National Chairman Mike Cherry, Sovereign congratulates FSB for the successful campaign on protecting small business survival during the lockdown. It is critical that the government finds creative ways of resolving the challenges small businesses are facing across the country and we are relieved to bring the good news.
The new “microloan scheme” is available as soon as next week and it is designed to provide a “simple, quick, easy”loan. Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons the scheme is offering firms loans up to £50,000 within days of applying. As banks have come under fire for not supplying the working capital under recent lending schemes, alternative lenders could contribute to the cash flow solution.
“In the long-term, we need to protect the competition achieved in the small business lending market that so many have fought so hard to secure. At the end of this crisis, non-bank lenders are going to be key to economic recovery as part of a thriving small business finance market that does not just rely on the big five banks. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure alternative lenders can play that vital role.
Equally, the big banks must ensure they’re in a position to facilitate a large a number of small business loans. Some of their systems are already creaking under the strain, before this new system is brought in on top. Some lenders have been unable to facilitate such lending because they have not got their backroom operations in order. This issue requires urgent attention.”


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Read the full story in Resource Recycling. A Scottish Government advisory group on tackling plastic pollution will consist of experts from the retail, waste and
Read the full post at Treading My Own Path. A supermarket aisle in the Netherlands made headlines last month, because it was the “world’s first
Read the full story at Make Change. When Rachael Miller, CEO of Cora Ball, had an idea for a product that would help protect oceans
Read the full story from Sustainable Brands. Three new goals to enhance the circular economy for plastics and reduce packaging waste have been announced by leading U.S. plastic producers
Read the full story at Civil Eats. As record amounts of plastic waste pollutes the planet, some grocers are helping shoppers do without.
This fact sheet looks at how Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities have reduced their management of styrene waste.

domain: news


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According to the Chinese journalist Colin Wu, otherwise known as “Wu Blockchain,” the cryptocurrency company Huobi may lay off 30% of the firm’s staff due to “a sharp drop in revenue.” Furthermore, the reporter claims that Huobi’s co-founder Leon Li is reportedly looking to sell a large stake in the digital assets company.
Colin Wu Reports Layoffs Are Coming to Huobi and the Alleged Sale of 50% Stake
Layoffs have been plaguing the crypto industry as companies like Blockfi, Coinbase, Gemini, Bitso, Buenbit, Rain Financial, Bybit, and 2TM have let employees go. The crypto winter and volatile markets have been the main reason why executives have decided to cut workforce numbers.
Wu detailed that “the main reason” why Huobi is laying off staff is because of “the sharp drop in revenue after the removal of all Chinese users.” However, there has been no official announcement about such actions stemming from official Huobi sources.
A company spokesperson did explain to Coindesk reporter Oliver Knight on June 28, that Huobi is in the process of reviewing the firm’s policies. “Due to the current market environment, Huobi Global is in the process of reviewing both its hiring policies and its current manpower, with the goal of re-aligning them to its operational needs. Further to such review, layoffs are a possibility,” the Huobi representative said.
On July 1, 2022, Colin Wu shared another “exclusive” by revealing that Huobi’s co-founder Leon Li is reportedly attempting to sell some of the company. Wu’s claim is unverified and no official announcement about such actions has come from Huobi.
“Huobi founder [Leon] Lin is looking to sell his stake in Huobi. Li Lin currently holds more than 50% of the shares,” Wu detailed on Twitter. “The second-largest shareholder of Huobi is Sequoia China. Huobi’s revenue plummeted after it wiped out all Chinese users and is laying off staff.”
Huobi has seen significant growth during the past 12 months and the exchange is the fifth largest centralized trading platform by trade volume, according to Coingecko statistics.
Huobi offers 577 different digital currencies and has 1027 trading pairs. During the past 24 hours, the exchange has seen $856 million in global trade volume.
Huobi Global is the third-largest centralized exchange in terms of assets under management (AUM) with $7.86 billion at the time of writing. Data from Bituniverse, Peckshield, Etherscan, and Chain.info indicates that Huobi holds 160,950 BTC, 2.13 million ether, and $746.3 million worth of USDT.
What do you think about Huobi reportedly laying off 30% of the company’s workforce? What do you think about the story concerning Huobi’s CEO Li Lin? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.


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Cryptocurrency boom, a problem for gamers, is a bonanza for GPU makers
Nvidia: "Strong demand in the cryptocurrency market exceeded our expectations."
Timothy B. Lee - Feb 9, 2018 1:37 pm UTC
The cryptocurrency boom has created a persistent shortage of high-end graphics cards. That has been a headache for gamers, who have to pay inflated prices for GPUs—if they can find them at all. But it has been a financial windfall to leading graphics card makers Nvidia and AMD.
Want to get more in this issue? Read the article here:


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New systems have been developed to allow businesses to record its every touchpoint with their consumers. However, there’s still the need to add extra security
Understanding customers’ needs has been a challenge for businesses since the dawn of commerce. Covid restrictions, at least, made obvious their growing desire for digital transactions. But this shift means companies must now replace existing customer relationship management software with something that can handle multichannel online interactions.
Many companies have chosen to replace or supplement their existing systems with customer data platforms, which enable them to automatically collect data from any “touchpoint” — including social media, company websites, email and text messages.
This has led to the rise of platforms such as Twilio Segment, which is now used by more than 20,000 businesses, including Levi’s, IBM, and Fox.
These platforms, which give companies a single repository of customer data, use artificial intelligence and data analytics to help companies understand their customers, acquire new ones and carry out personalised marketing.
The technology can also make it easier to manage customer data and privacy preferences.
“If you know where . . . [customer] data is, you’re one step ahead of a lot of companies,” says Sheryl Kingstone, research director specialising in customer experience at the advisory firm 451 Research. “Many companies don’t even know where all their customer data is.”
But the consolidation of data — including names, addresses, financial data and contact details — creates a tempting target for hackers.
“If you put all your data in one place, then that becomes a very lucrative target for cyber criminals, for economic disruption or theft for monetisation,” says Duncan Brown, vice-president of enterprise research, Europe, at research company IDC. “[Customer data platforms] are essentially banks for data.”
Security threats can include “phishing” — whereby cyber criminals pose as legitimate organisations to trick consumers into disclosing passwords and payment details — and “ransomware” attacks, which involve the use of “malware” to encrypt data and then hold the data owners to ransom.
If you put all your data in one place, then that becomes a very lucrative target for cyber criminals
Duncan Brown, vice-president of enterprise research, Europe, at research company ID
Ransomware is now increasingly being used against retailers, according to research from software company Sophos.
Even if the information on a customer data platform is anonymised, it may not be safe. Skilled cyber criminals may be able to piece together connections within large amounts of anonymised data — for example, using postcodes, medical and financial records and voting preferences — to “re-identify” an individual or, narrow it down to about five people, warns Brown.
However, the companies using customer data platforms say they strengthen, rather than weaken, their cyber security.
Gap, the US clothing retailer, says it is using an unnamed data platform as a “central repository for business data”, for marketing, demand forecasting, and making its supply chain more efficient.
A company spokeswoman explains that it employs “access management” — technology that restricts access to an IT system — as well as encryption and anonymised data to protect its platform from cyber threats, thereby reducing the overall cyber security risks.
In the UK, Jardine Motors Group, a luxury car dealership with more than 2,700 employees, is using a customer data platform from Informatica as part of a digital transformation programme.
Alex Brown, the company’s head of digital marketing and transformation, says it can control employees’ access to customer data stored on the platform and keep an audit trail of changes made to that data.
Cyber risks can be further reduced if companies store most of their customer data in a vast cloud-based data warehouse, according to Tom Strachan, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Lytics, a platform supplier. Such facilities are supplied by companies including Google and Amazon.
Under this arrangement, a platform can send a query to the data warehouse — for example, “tell me which customers bought a blue cycle helmet in the past 30 days” — which will extract the relevant anonymised and encrypted customer details, including a “hashed” customer email.
This information is added to a customer profile in the customer data platform and, using separate software, used to generate personalised offers and marketing campaigns.
However, regardless of how much data a platform stores, its security will only be as strong as the other IT systems it connects to, experts point out.
“The real challenge around cyber security . . is that [it] is quite difficult to get right,” says Frank Ford, head of the global cyber security practice at Bain & Company, a consultancy. “The overall level of cyber security across industry is generally not good.”
Security could be further tested by a rapid rise in internet-connected devices, the so-called “Internet of Things”. Machine-to-machine communication, including interaction with a customer data platform, could be hard to monitor and police, experts say.
The overall level of cyber security across industry is generally not good
Frank Ford, head of the global cyber security practice, Bain & Company
“How do you know [if an] application . . . is authorised to view this customer data and — more importantly — what parts of the data can it access?” says Bharat Mistry, technical director, UK and Ireland at Trend Micro, which provides cyber security technology and services.
Experts advise companies to follow best practice in information security, including the “security by design” concept — using software and hardware that is designed to be secure and whose security is tested during and after an installation. They also recommend monitoring technology to flag suspicious activity — such as an employee extracting a large amount of customer data from the platform outside of normal office hours.
“Build a profile of what a typical user does with their [customer] data,” advises Peter Gooch, a partner in cyber risk services at Deloitte, a consultancy.
To maximise the marketing benefits of customer data platforms without jeopardising highly sensitive information, most companies will need to install additional safeguards and review their overall cyber security, advisers add.
“Think of it like Lego building blocks,” says Mistry. “The [customer data platform] is almost like a house that’s already been built for you. What you have to think about now is the . . . fence and the gate and the door lock before you get to the house.”


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Check out Dezerv website by clicking on the link – https://bit.ly/3QRCnb0
This week in Indian Startup News, Ex-unicorn Rivigo looking for Buyers at discounted price, Dezerv raises funding, Unacademy’s Relevel shuffles 100 employees internally, ONDC to open for public from September.
00:12 Ex-unicorn Rivigo looking for Buyers at discounted price
02:17 On the side
03:00 Bird’s Eye Segment
04:33 Startup Spotlight
08:45 ShopX shuts down
09:40 Unacademy’s Relevel shuffles 100 employees internally
11:03 ONDC to open for public from September
Ex-unicorn Rivigo looking for Buyers at discounted price: Logistics Unicorn Rivigo is facing some tough times right now as the company is not being able to raise any funds and they are considering the only solution left to them – being acquired at a much less valuation. Rivigo’s board has given green signal for this acquisition and according to an ET report, company is in early-stage talks with Flipkart’s logistics arm eKart and FirstCry for acquisition. (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/troubled-logistics-tech-unicorn-rivigo-held-talks-with-flipkart-firstcry-for-a-sale/articleshow/93715606.cms)
Funding this week: This week at least 12 Indian startups raised more than $281 Million.
Fintech Sector – EarlySalary raised $97 Million
Device Management Startup Servify raised $65 Mn
F&B startups – Hector Beverages raised $50 Million
Startup Spotlight: dezerv was founded in 2021 by co founders who have 50+ years of collective experience in managing over INR 50,000 Cr. It is the next big step in dezerv.’s mission of making expert-led investing available to professionals using its unique Integrated Portfolio Approach (IPA) which is built on decades of iinvesting expertise and modern portfolio science
ShopX shuts down: ShopX, founded by Amit Sharma and Apoorva Jois in 2014, provided logistics and procurement support to kirana stores and other SME retailers. It offered assisted ecommerce solutions, including sourcing, supply chain and credit lines. It also provided digital services such as mobile and DTH recharge, bus and flight bookings, and utility bill payments.
Unacademy’s Relevel shuffles 100 employees internally: At least 100 of employees who were working on Relevel, have been asked to interview for other roles in Unacademy. Among these, 15-20 employees have declined this offer as they claim that the company was overburdening those retained at Relevel.
ONDC to open for public from September: Currently ONDC is running on pilot in few Indian cities and right now ONDC officials are focussing on improving customer experience, building ONDC-compatible tools for small sellers and weeding out challenges within the network.
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#startup #news #rivigo


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Spiceworks†announced the results of a new survey†examining the use of web filtering in the workplace and the implications†of restricting certain online properties.†The†results indicate†among organizations that don’t restrict any internet activity, most employees (58 percent) spend at least four hours per week, the equivalent of 26 workdays per year, on websites unrelated to their job. In other words, based on the†median U.S. salary†of†$45,812, these organizations are paying full-time employees approximately†$4,500†per year to spend 10 percent of their time consuming non-work-related web content.
Among organizations that restrict one or more website on the corporate network, the results show 85 percent restrict illegal and unethical/inappropriate sites, and 61 percent restrict online dating sites. Fewer organizations restrict social media channels (38 percent) or personal instant messaging services (34 percent), and about a quarter of organizations restrict video streaming services, music streaming services, and online forums/communities. Additionally, 21 percent restrict personal webmail services, and 13 percent restrict online retail sites.
Blocking social media channels can help keep employees on task
Among social media channels, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram are most commonly blocked on corporate networks: 36 percent block Facebook, 36 percent block Snapchat, and 35 percent block Instagram. Additionally, 32 percent block Twitter, and 31 percent block Pinterest, but only 16 percent block LinkedIn.
Although social media channels are only blocked by approximately one-third of organizations, the results indicate productivity levels in the workplace can peak when social media is restricted on the corporate network. In organizations that block or limit the use of social media, only 30 percent of employees spend more than four hours per week on non-work-related-sites compared to nearly twice as many employees (58 percent) in organizations that don’t block social media.
Large organizations restrict more websites than their smaller counterparts
When examining the data by company size, the results show large businesses are more likely to restrict internet activity, including social media channels, personal instant messaging services, music streaming sites, video streaming sites, and personal webmail. In fact, 96 percent of large businesses with more than 1,000 employees restrict at least one online property, compared to 92 percent of mid-size businesses with 100 to 999 employees and 81 percent of small businesses with one to 99 employees.
As a result, the results suggest more employees are staying on task in larger organizations. In large companies, only 28 percent of employees spend more than four hours per week on websites unrelated to their job, compared to 45 percent in mid-size businesses and 51 percent in small businesses.
Security incidents primarily stem from personal webmail and social media sites
In addition to productivity implications, the findings indicate there are also security implications when there is little to no web filtering enforced in organizations. In the last 12 months, 38 percent of organizations experienced one or more security incidents through the use of non-work-related websites on the corporate network.
These security incidents primarily stem from the use of personal webmail services (15 percent) and social media channels (11 percent). However, less than 40 percent of organizations block these online properties, which may contribute to the problem. Security incidents stemming from illegal (5 percent) or unethical (7 percent) websites were less common over the last 12 months, perhaps because 85 percent of companies block these sites.
“It’s evident web filtering is effective at keeping employees on task and reducing security risks,” said†Peter Tsai, senior technology analyst at Spiceworks. “But in a world where IT professionals are constantly†performing†a balancing act†between†protecting networks and enabling and trusting employees to do their jobs, sometimes†it’s not possible to block every potentially dangerous website. As a result, web filtering should only be one part of a multi-layered security strategy, instead of being viewed as a cure-all.”
The Spiceworks survey was conducted in†May 2018†and included 645†respondents from organizations across†North America and Europe.†Respondents are among the millions of†business technology†professionals†in Spiceworks and represent a variety of company sizes, including small-to-medium-sized businesses and enterprises. Respondents come from a variety of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, nonprofits, education, government, and finance.


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Polestar has confirmed that it’s latest electric droptop concept will enter production as the Polestar 6.
Powering the Polestar 6 will be the same technology as the upcoming Polestar 5, which features 800V architecture and a dual motor powertrain that delivers up to 884 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque. Performance-wise that powertrain will likely yield a 0-60 mph time of around 3.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 155 mph.
The design of the Polestar 6 is sleek and features a removable roof and custom-designed 21″ alloy wheels. While available in multiple colors, the flagship model showcases a unique “Sky” exterior paint job to complement its light gray leather interior. Only 500 units of this color combo inspired by the Polestar O₂ concept will be made available at launch.


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United States of America. This is a nation that has dominated the global economy and the global conversation for so long. Yet its edifice is now crumbling.
A lot of people still dispute the fact that this nation is in trouble. Compare the unemployment rates of the leading nations, they say. The US has an unemployment rate of 5%, comparable to the UK's rate of 5.1%. Surely all is fine and dandy?
Or is it?
Yet what is an unemployment rate? It's the number of people who have no job and are actively looking for work. It leaves out all those who have given up looking for work. It's actually more informative to check the employment than the unemployment rate.
In Britain the employment rate is 74.1%, which is as high as its ever been, and shows the economy is doing well. In the US it's 63%. The difference is stark.
Yet people say American companies still dominate global business. If you were to ask people which firm they admired the most, many would say Apple(NASDAQ: AAPL), Alphabet (the company formerly known as Google), or Facebook. These are hugely successful, profitable, and some of the most valuable businesses in the world right now.
Apple has a market capitalisation of $587bn, a number so huge it verges on the ridiculous. This is a valuation that's far higher than rival industrial giants that formerly dominated our consciousness, such as General Electric. Yet Apple only employs 115,000 people. Facebook has a market capitalisation of $322bn. Yet, remarkably, it employs only 12,600 people. In comparison, GE employs 305,000 and Walmart employs a massive 2.2m.
US manufacturing is in decline
Behind the scenes, what we're seeing is the slow decline of US manufacturing industry, and the rise of an unstoppable China that has now become the workshop of the world. Tech in the States may be booming, but it provides only a fraction of the jobs that traditional manufacturing provided.
Facebook needs so few people because all it does is run a website. It just happens that this website is the most popular in the whole world. Apple employs people in its shops, to market its products, and in its design studios. But Chinese company Foxconn actually makes iPhones and iPads. And if the manufacturing is outsourced, so are the jobs.
It might sound strange coming from an investing website, but it seems US firms are placing too much emphasis on profits and share price, and not enough emphasis on preserving the jobs of its workers. Companies in the US simply can't compete in terms of profitability with those in China. That is why I advise readers to invest not in the US but in China and India.
And all this is played out with a backdrop of a presidential campaign where much of the talk has been about protectionism and blocking immigration. In reality, the economy needs to be reflated substantially, US companies need to refocus, and America needs to view emerging markets not as the enemy, but as trading partners.
There is a road back for America, but it will be slow and difficult.
And on the bright side
Our analysts at The Motley Fool have written a free and without obligation guide called 5 Shares You Can Retire On.
The 5 companies in question offer amazing dividend yields, have incredible long-term potential, and trade at attractive valuations. As such, they could deliver excellent returns and provide your portfolio with a major boost this year and beyond.
Click here to find out all about them - it's available completely free and without obligation.
Prabhat Sakya has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Apple. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.


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Start your Christmas shopping early and get the best Black Friday door crasher deals at Metropolis at Metrotown
Author: James Chung
Immersive experiences will reach the next level in 2018
Cadillac Fairview (CF) is officially opening its Urban Eatery tomorrow at CF Pacific Centre
Located near UBC in Point Grey, Rajio Japanese Public House is a hip, eclectic Japanese Izakaya restaurant specializing in Japanese tapas and Osaka style kushikatsu. Kushikatsu is deep fried meat or vegetables on a...
Japanese retailer MUJI announces the opening of its first Canadian flagship store, on Vancouverâ€™s Robson Street, on December 2nd
From November 23 to January 28 the park is alive with lights, lights and more lights!
This year, the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree situated outside the centreâ€™s rotunda off Georgia and Howe streets will serve as the backdrop for a memorable musical performance led by jubilant volunteer choir group, Choir!Choir!Choir!
Looking for inspiration for your 2018 travel? Facilitating reservations for more than 1,500,000 room nights each day, the experts at Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places...
This year, Starbucks has unveiled its first colour-in holiday cup
On Day 2 of our Ford SUV Sunshine Coast trip, we woke up early to capture the beautiful scenery around Sechelt and Gerrans Bay. We took the 2017 Ford Explorer Sport to explore the...


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Fever Tree co-founder Tim Warrillow adds to his fortune after selling a £29m stake in the tonic water maker
- Warrillow and his partner Charles Rolls have made a fortune from the firm
- Investors who put in £1,000 when the firm floated in 2014, now worth £15,358
- Earlier this month it signed a deal with Virgin Atlantic to supply its Indian tonic
Tim Warrillow, the co-founder of Fever Tree, has sold 1.5million shares in the trendy tonic maker for £29million.
It comes a day after the Chelsea-based drinks maker posted a doubling of profits in the six months to June 30 - jumping 104 per cent to £24.1million - while sales were 77 per cent higher than a year before at £71.9million.
Back in March last year Warrillow enjoyed a £5.4million pay day by dumping 853,816 shares at a price of 635p each. While in May this year his business partner Charles Rolls sold 4.5million shares in the company, earning himself £70million in the process.
Cheers: Warrillow, a former advertising executive, established Fever-Tree alongside Charles Rolls in 2005.
The stake sales have made the two founders rich, in what has been a remarkable stock market success story.
Founded in 2005, the two men got together after discovering most tonics were filled with artificial sweeteners and cheap aromatics.
Rapid growth saw the company float in 2014 at a price of 134p. The shares are now worth 215.0p and the company's market cap has grown to nearly £2.5billion.
Profits more than doubled in the six months to June 30 - jumping 104 per cent to £24.1million - while sales were 77 per cent higher than the same period a year before at £71.9million.
The UK remained the company’s key market - up 113 per cent thanks to distribution deals with airlines and supermarkets.
The news sent shares soaring and this session the shares are up 5 per cent at 2,164.0p. Shares have risen by more than 1000 per cent since it listed on the London Stock Exchange three years ago.
The graph shows Fever Tree's share price movement since its flotation Source: Bloomberg
Someone who invested £1,000 when the firm floated at 134p in 2014 would be sitting on shares worth £15,358 today.
Fever-Tree has also been boosted by strong sales at pubs and supermarkets amid rising gin sales, which surpassed £1billion for the first time last year.
Earlier this month it signed a deal with Virgin Atlantic to supply its Indian tonic, light tonic, premium lemonade and ginger ale across the airline’s fleet.
The firm previously struck a similar deal with British Airways and also supplies drinks to budget flyer EasyJet.
Fever-Tree was founded by ex-advertising executive Tim Warrillow and gin expert Charles Rolls in 2005 – whose shares in the company are worth a combined total of nearly £425million.
The pair met in 2004 and decided to enter the tonics business after discovering most tonics were filled with artificial sweeteners and cheap aromatics.
The duo spent 18 months finding a recipe they were happy with and, in an effort to find the perfect ingredients, flew to the Democratic Republic of Congo to source pharmaceutical grade quinine.
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Natixis sees worrying signals
“We haven’t had a recession without a yield curve inversion, but we have had inversions without a recession,” says Esty Dwek, senior investment strategist at Natixis Investment Managers. U.S.-China trade tensions have led to a further decline in government debt yields.
UBS on trade war: We will see a resolution
Despite the ongoing trade tensions and the inverted yield curve, Evan Brown, head of macro asset allocation strategy at UBS Asset Management, doesn’t see panic in the market. In his view, pressure coming from the stock market could lead to a faster trade agreement: “It will probably take that market weakness to bring China and the U.S. to the table.”
Swiss consumers keep on spending
The Swiss economy expanded more than expected in the first quarter of the year. According to Marc Brütsch, chief economist of Swiss Life, there were a lot of one-off factors, such as the rise of government spending, which contributed to the upswing.
How debt markets react after elections
Luc D’hooge, head of emerging markets bonds at Vontobel Asset Management, looks at the outcome of the European elections on the debt markets.
A new mega-merger is about to take off
French carmaker Renault is weighing a proposal by Fiat Chrysler to merge. An alliance of this size could have profound implications for the auto industry and Swiss suppliers, says Rolf Ganter, head European equities at UBS.
Ken Fisher: “Central Banks, as a rule, aren’t very smart”
Analyst Ken Fisher tells Hannah Wise why he thinks negative interest rates are “stupid” and also gives his opinion on the Swiss National Bank’s policy.
UBS justifies decision to stop paying interest on savings accounts
Axel Lehmann, president of UBS Switzerland, encourages Swiss clients to “invest in something that yields” following the banking giant’s decision to cease paying interest on money in saving accounts. When questioned at the Swiss Economic Forum, Lehmann explained the move as a “clear reaction” to the negative rates put in place by the Swiss National Bank.
PXL Vision is growing its share in the Swiss telecommunication market
ETH spin-off PXL Vision wants to teach machines to see and identify objects and faces. The Swiss start-up, which won the Swiss Economic Award in the high-tech/biotech category, was customer-financed since its inception. But now the company has decided to seek investment to fund its global expansion. Founder and CEO Michael Born tells us more.
Corporate tax vote brings wind of optimism to the SEF
Reporting from the Swiss Economic Forum, CNNMoney Switzerland’s Hannah Wise explains how the recent approval of the corporate tax reform is a big relief for Swiss companies. She also says that the SEF could be more open and why it should do more to improve women’s participation.
How New Roots wants to disrupt the dairy industry
The vegan cheese market has a lot of potential, says Alice Fauconnet, co-founder of New Roots, a food start-up in Switzerland that is looking to expand throughout Europe. She and her partner Freddy Hunziker believed in the idea of vegan cheese and now it’s paying off. Meet the company that’s been nominated for a Swiss Economic Award this week.
Swiss start-ups can benefit from the recent corporate tax vote
The recent tax vote in Switzerland aims at leveling the playing field for big multinationals, but, according to PwC’s Jürg Niederbacher, it could also benefit start-ups.
A tree for every product sold
Robin Gnehm and Nicholas Hänny founded the sustainable clothing start-up Nikin in 2016 without any funding from investors. They’ve grown to a team of 17 employees and are especially popular among the millennial set. Their promise? They plant a tree for every product sold. And now they’ve been nominated for a Swiss Economic Award.
Why Swiss start-ups shouldn’t compete on price
Sure, you need smarts to succeed, but you don’t need to be a genius. So says leadership professor Ingo Stolz from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He also tells us that Swiss start-ups shouldn’t compete on price.
How start-up Astrocast is writing a new page to Swiss space history
Astrocast’s first satellite was launched from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, and now the Swiss start-up is developing a nanosatellite network for the Internet of Things. The EPFL spin-off has been nominated for a Swiss Economic Award this week, and its founder Fabien Jordan tells Tanya König about the worldwide potential of its low-cost technology.


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This past Tuesday, June 9, the Mid-Hudson region, which includes Warwick, entered Phase 2 of the State’s reopening plan.
For the past three months, it has been an economic disaster for many downtown business owners who still had bills to pay but little or no income to cover them.
Now shoppers can enter a retail store to make a purchase or dine outside at a restaurant. And that gave birth to an idea spearheaded by Mayor Michael Newhard.
The plan would be to close Main Street and perhaps also Railroad Avenue and Spring Street to vehicular traffic from 4 to 10 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. That would allow restaurants to set up tables on what would effectively be a pedestrian mall. And it would also attract visitors to retail stores.
Curbside pick-up could be relocated to a nearby parking area..
But there are obstacles to overcome.
Main Street in the Village of Warwick is actually a state road.
“We’re working with the New York State Department of Transportation as required,” said the mayor, who owns Newhard’s The Home Source at 39 Main St. “And we also need the permission of the State Liquor Authority for restaurants to serve drinks at these outdoor tables.”
There will be more information forthcoming at a meeting of the Village Board this Monday, June 15.
If the state does not approve the plan, Michael Johndrow, executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, reported that there could be another solution.
The Main Street parking spots that are often used to position vendors for annual events could be closed to create a pedestrian walkway, allowing the restaurants to set up dining areas on the sidewalk and a safe distance from any vehicular traffic.
The chamber would also support decorating the downtown area with flowers and plants.
“We want it to look nice,” he said, “and we all need to realize the importance of a vibrant downtown area.”
Johndrow also mentioned that they are working with the Merchant Guild, a committee of the Warwick Chamber, to possibly combine the annual Community Showcase, recently postponed, with the July Sale bur perhaps later than usual.
There are also other plans being considered to salvage many of the popular Chamber events, including Applefest, should that become necessary.
# # #
PIC – File photo
The Main Street parking spots, that are often used to position vendors for annual events, could be closed to create a pedestrian walkway, allowing the restaurants to set up dining areas on the sidewalk and a safe distance from any vehicular traffic.


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Retail sales continued to struggle last month as consumers tightened their belts in the face of continuing political and economic uncertainty.
They declined by 0.5pc on a like-for-like basis compared with August 2018, while total sales flatlined, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. Sales of non-food items fell by 1.2pc in the three months to August compared with the same period last year.
"August proved to be yet another incredibly disappointing month for retail,” said Paul Martin at KPMG. “It’s clear that for much of the retail market, efforts are being focused on preservation, not growth, in this adverse and uncertain climate.”
On average over the past 12 months, the annual growth in sales was just 0.4pc, the lowest level since the group started monitoring sales in 1995.
“Greater economic and political uncertainty has driven down consumer demand,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, which represents 70pc of the retail industry by turnover.
The heatwave over the August bank holiday weekend helped to lift sales of food and groceries but in-store sales were hit by a decline in footfall and summer discounting.
“While the summer weather gave a small boost to food sales, this was cancelled out by a drop in non-food sales,” Ms Dickinson said.
The ongoing shift to online shopping came through in the data. Despite the lack of overall sales growth, non-food online sales rose by 2.2pc in August compared with the same month last year.
Changing consumer habits will see half of all shopping move online in the next decade, according to predictions from consultancy Retail Economics this summer.
The gutting of British high streets by online competition was confirmed in August when the BRC’s Springboard survey showed the number of empty shops had hit a four-year high.
Vacancy rates increased after the collapse of Toys R Us and Maplin and restructuring efforts by big name retailers such as Debenhams and Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group.


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What you need to know
- T-Mobile hosted its first Un-Carrier event on November 7 for "the New T-Mobile."
- 200 million people will have access to T-Mobile's 5G network on December 6.
- The New T-Mobile will offer 14x more coverage thanks to the Sprint merger.
On November 7, T-Mobile held its first Un-Carrier event since the FCC approved its merger with Sprint. As expected, T-Mobile used much of its latest Un-Carrier initiative to talk about its 5G plans.
Just about a month from now on December 6, T-Mobile will flip its 5G network live for millions of people across the United States. T-Mobile's using a combination of its low-band frequencies and Sprint's mid-band frequencies, and as a result of this, the New T-Mobile will be able to offer 5G for 200 million people around the country right off the bat on December 6.
T-Mobile is promoting data speeds of 450Mbps by 2024, which the carrier is touting as being 10x faster than its traditional LTE network. T-Mobile's also stressing just how many people it'll be able to cover with these increased speeds — touting that 90% of Americans will get access to them.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and OnePlus 7T Pro 5G will be the initial 5G devices that T-Mobile offers for its 5G network, with more likely being added as more and more phone makers integrate 5G support into their devices.
T-Mobile's also pushing that it'll offer a 5G coverage map so customers can see exactly where 5G connectivity is offered, compared to carriers like AT&T and Verizon that have scattered access in certain cities and specific parts of sports arenas.
You can preorder the Surface Duo at Best Buy right now
If you're waiting to preorder your Surface Duo from Best Buy, wait no more. The big-box retailer has preorders available for both models, with prices starting at $1,400.
An all-new Cortex-X Exynos chip will supercharge the industry
An Exynos chip with AMD graphics and custom Cortex-X cores could be just what we wanted — and what the industry needs.
The best cheap Android phones you can buy in 2020, ranked
Want to save as much money as possible when getting an Android phone? We've done the research to show you which inexpensive phone to buy.
These are the cheapest phones to try out 5G
5G is still pretty new and so are its phones but the prices have started to come down. These are the cheapest 5G phones you can buy right now.


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Skip to comments.Judge: Wal-Mart Not At Fault for Racial Comments
Posted on 12/19/2013 1:03:09 AM PST by Olog-hai
A New Jersey man is trying to get a lawsuit against Wal-Mart reinstated for damages he says he suffered after a teenager hijacked a store intercom and announced that all black people must leave the store.
A federal judge in October dismissed Donnell Batties $1 million claim against Wal-Mart, saying the company should not be responsible for isolated, random events.
The teen took over the intercom and made the announcement at Wal-Marts Washington Township store in March 2010.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcphiladelphia.com ...
"....guess Donnell has to go back to the corner and wait for the bus accident so he can climb aboard and sue for injuries"
So if I serendipitously attach a notice to a store’s window saying “we do not serve whites”, the store can be sued? Of course not. It’s only offensive if it says “we do not serve blacks”. That’s not racist, is it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Where Demand Moves, DCs Follow
Businesses are always keen to identify where populations are migrating and demand is building. Demographic shifts keep retail locations and distribution networks in constant flux. They also illuminate states that are attracting or losing people and business.
If Atlas Van Lines’ 2010 Migration Patterns study is any indication, consumers are on the move, and so are retailers and some manufacturers.
The moving company’s annual study reveals that the number of U.S. household moves is rising, a sign that the economy may be beginning to rebound.
For some states, the number of outbound moves is high. Due to unemployment, especially with declining manufacturing and automotive jobs, Rust Belt residents (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia) continue to relocate elsewhere. By contrast, nearby states saw an increase in the number of inbound moves.
For the first time in two years, Kentucky joined its surrounding neighbors— North Carolina, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.— as inbound states. For the fifth year in a row, Washington, D.C. had the highest percentage of inbound moves, while Ohio claimed the highest percentage of outbound moves.
Regardless of economic highs and lows, several states have remained constant in status for 10 or more years. California, Kansas, and South Carolina have been balanced; Indiana remains outbound; and Alaska and North Carolina are primarily inbound.
Among other regions and states:
- Much of the West remains balanced. For the first time in three years, Idaho moves from an outbound state to a balanced state, joining California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.
- For several states, economic ups and downs have had little influence on the number of residents moving in or out. For 10 or more years, six states— California, Alaska, North Carolina, Kansas, South Carolina, and Indiana— have remained constant in their inbound, outbound, or balanced status.
- Despite high foreclosure rates and poor housing sales, a large pocket of southeastern states, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, saw no drastic increase in outbound moves; in fact, they remained relatively balanced. Why so little change? They remain popular as retirement destinations, according to Atlas.
Inbound transportation dynamics among manufacturers, distributors, and retailers are changing, according to recent trade data.
In July 2010, Boston-based research firm Aberdeen Group surveyed 155 manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and retail companies, documenting their processes and capabilities regarding inbound transportation as part of a broader study— Collaborative Inbound Transportation: Managing Inbound Product Flows from Source to Consumer. The top two activities dominating current transportation services include domestic shipping (92 percent) and importing (88 percent) on the inbound supply side, the report shows.
Survey respondents identify shipping direct-to-consumer (65 percent), direct-to-store (44 percent), and through 3PL or e-fulfillment providers (45 percent) as key inbound transportation and logistics activities.
“Increased costs and the growing need for control have elevated inbound transportation to new levels of focus,” says Bob Heaney, senior research analyst for supply chain management at Aberdeen Group.
“Executing more volume in a cross-channel logistics environment, and controlling inbound freight, shifts the priority of ‘transportation management/cost focus’ more heavily to the inbound, rather than the outbound, side of transportation,” he adds.
The report focuses on planning and executing inbound transportation and supplier/partner product flow across an increasingly global, multi-tier, and cross-channel distribution network. Growing prominence of cross-channel logistics and fulfillment is driving a significant trend toward visibility, collaboration, and optimization of inbound transportation across all three segments.
A State of Union and Division
President Obama’s 2011 State of the Union address raised some important domestic issues, ranging from job growth and energy development to fixing dilapidated transportation infrastructure, among other needs.
In its viral aftermath, industry lobbies have been saturating the Internet with their own huzzahs and harrumphs concerning the President’s roadmap for the future. Here’s what a range of industries had to say about bringing this vision home.
“The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) applauds the President for recognizing the state of the nation’s infrastructure and his call to fix crumbling roads and bridges. It’s ironic, however, that while he is highlighting this national problem, we have seen a bill introduced in the Senate that would lead to 100,000-pound trucks traversing roads in Maine and Vermont that are part of the National Highway System. These trucks would be 20,000 pounds heavier than the current Federal weight limit on trucks. How could this possibly be good for our crumbling roads and bridges?”
—Curtis Sloan, director of public policy, CABT. CABT is a grass-roots organization that works nationally to unite communities against legislation that allows bigger, heavier trucks on U.S. roads.
“We share President Obama’s view that moving more people and goods by rail is good for America. We look forward to working with the Administration to find ways to maintain our world-class freight rail network as we strive to meet the needs of U.S. business and passengers today and in the future.”
—Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO, the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The AAR represents North American railroads and Amtrak.
“While there will be differences on how to achieve these goals, we must find enough common ground to ensure America’s greatness into the 21st century. Our country and our economy will succeed only when the Administration, Congress, the business community, and active citizens work together. The U.S. Chamber will work with anyone who shares our goals and we don’t care who gets the credit.”
—Thomas Donahue, president, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing the interests of more than three million companies.
“The attention given to the woeful state of America’s infrastructure of public highways, bridges, airports, and waterways is a welcome change from the pork-barrel earmarks of spending by political influence… Our national infrastructure trust funds, such as the Highway Trust Fund, literally center on the word ‘trust.’”
—Joel D. Anderson, president and CEO, International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA). The IWLA serves as a unified voice for the value-added warehouse logistics industry, representing third-party warehouses and logistics providers.
“The speech was a missed opportunity. The President focused on job growth through federal spending, but was silent on one of the best ways to create jobs: allow more energy development.”
—Jack Gerard, president and CEO, American Petroleum Institute (API). The API represents more than 450 oil and natural gas companies.


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Perhaps a bit late to the party, MySpace on Monday said it would soon implement a privacy upgrade that provides users with more control over who can see their profiles.
In the next few weeks, MySpace said it will simplify its privacy settings to let users display their profile information to the public, friends only, or to users over 18. Settings will default to "friends only" for anyone who previously had any granular page settings to "friends only," co-president Mike Jones wrote in a blog post.
In December, Facebook replaced its regional networks with four basic control settings: friends; friends of friends; everyone; and customized.
"While we've had these plans in the works for some time, given the recent outcry over privacy concerns in the media, we felt it was important to unveil those plans to our users now," Jones wrote. "We believe users want a simpler way to control their privacy."
While Jones did not specifically name-check Facebook in his post, he is likely referring to the rival social networking site's recent troubles regarding its upgraded privacy policies.
At its f8 developer conference last month, Facebook introduced the concept of an "open graph," which is intended to create a larger, more social Facebook community across the Web. It also introduced "Community Pages" intended to provide information about various topics.
The changes have been criticized by consumer groups, members of Congress, privacy watchdogs, and the Article 29 Working Party because, the groups say, Facebook has not done enough to inform users about how their information is being used.
"MySpace early on recognized the issues facing a website with a massive global population and we've taken our responsibilities seriously," Jones wrote. "We take a holistic approach to safety, security and privacy and align our product and practices around the needs of our users, while at the same time working closely with industry experts, law enforcement, regulators, and safety and privacy advocates."
The new MySpace privacy settings can be altered under the "Privacy" section of account settings.


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PUBG Mobile UNBAN: PUBG Mobile developer Krafton has posted a new teaser of the Indian avatar of the popular battle royale game, Battlegrounds Mobile India, for the Sanhok map via a poster on the company’s official Facebook page.
PUBG Mobile India was redesigned specifically for the Indian audience with an India-centric logo and tricolour hues.
Battlegrounds Mobile India shared a poster of the likely Ban Tai map location from Sanhok – one of the 4×4 maps available in-game.
The battle royale game is expected to be similar to the original PUBG Mobile in most aspects. However, a little change here and there in the Indian version of the game can’t be ruled out. Battlegrounds Mobile India shared a poster of the likely Ban Tai map location from Sanhok – one of the 4×4 maps available in-game. The map Sanhok was added to PUBG Mobile in September 2018 and is now set to be a part of Battlegrounds Mobile India.
The map is relatively small when compared to the original Erangel and Miramar maps, but bigger than some other recent maps like Livik. Battlegrounds Mobile India will be up for pre-registration before it launches for the masses.
Battlegrounds Mobile India will have restrictions for children and teenagers. Players below 18 years of age will have new restrictions in Battlegrounds Mobile India and will need to register for the game with a phone number that belongs to their parents or guardian.
The company explores ways to provide its own PUBG experience for India shortly; it is committed to doing so by sustaining a localized and healthy gameplay environment for its fans.” the gaming company said.
This statement, along with other news from our sources, is indicating that soon, Pubg will be unbanned, and it will be returned to its Indian audience.
Our sources say that Pubg Corporation is already in search of an Indian gaming firm that will be responsible for handling the distribution of the game. In contrast, PUBG Corporation will retain the publishing rights of the game.
PUBG Mobile UNBAN: Can Make Comeback In India Soon 2021
This decision taken by the PUBG Corporation will reverse the ban on Pubg in India as it will no longer have any ties with Tencent Games, which is a Chinese tech company.
However, a statement given by a senior government officer states, “Ownership is only one of the concerns. But there are several other issues, based on which the ban has been ordered. The concerns are related to data privacy security, activity inside the phone, etc.”
The government of India has sent more than 70 questions to the gaming company. It has to respond within three weeks with the answers to all the questions.
READ: Voot Premium Accounts
We cannot declare if Pubg will be coming back or not. But, we can say that Pubg may be unbanned in India if it manages to sort its issues with the allegations of data theft and data mishandling. If you have any such useful updates about Pubg getting unbanned, then please let us know about it in the comments section below.
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Study: Cost Of IP Surveillance Drops Below Analog For Midsized Installations
Axis Communications recently announced the results of an independent study comparing costs of an analog versus an IP video surveillance system. The study demonstrates that an IP-based system represents on average 13 percent lower cost than a corresponding analog system.
The study is based on a survey of integrators actively selling and installing both analog and IP-based professional surveillance systems. They were asked to provide bids for both types of systems for a retail store with 14, 25 and 40 cameras. For all three scenarios, the IP-based system turned out to come in at a lower total cost than the analog.
“The benefits of modern IP technology become evident when looking at the full system solution, including cameras, recording, storage and installation,” said Bodil Sonesson Gallon, vice president of global sales at Axis. “A similar study from 2007 showed that an IP-based surveillance system was more cost-efficient in installations where the number of cameras exceeded 32. We now see that the IP cost advantage is valid also for systems with lower number of cameras.”
The study was conducted by Lusax, a research group at Lund University in Sweden, specializing in understanding the dissemination of new IP and IT-based technology within the global security market. Professor Thomas Kalling, Head of Lusax, is not surprised by the results.
“The market for IP security products has developed rapidly and is much more mature than only a few years ago,” he said. “The cost differences are becoming insignificant and focus can shift to the real advantages that come with the superior functionality of IP solutions, such as image quality and flexibility, the factors that really drive return on investment.”
For further details on the study, visit http://www.axis.com/files/whitepaper/wp_cost_comparison_41264_en_1012_lo.pdf.


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After Kawhi Leonard turned down a 4-year deal worth more than $20 million with Jordan Brand earlier this year, Jordan Brand is set to let the Toronto Raptors superstar walk when his contract expires later this year.
Leonard’s current deal with Jordan Brand is less than $500,000 annually, which is much less than the latest offer left on the table. The new deal that was offered didn’t included a signature shoe.
Other notable stars that will be looking for a new sneaker deals includes: Joel Embiid (currently with adidas), Andrew Wiggins (currently with adidas), Gordon Hayward (currently with Nike), DeMarcus Cousins (currently with Nike), Isaiah Thomas (currently with Nike), and Kelly Oubre Jr. (currently with adidas).
While Leonard is expected to move on from Jordan Brand, it’s unknown at this time which sneaker brand he will sign with for his first year in Toronto.
Source: Nick DePaula


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Guaranty Trust Bank plc, has announced a N25 billion disbursement plan targeted at supporting the country’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and facilitated by its partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN).
According to the commercial lender, the funding, which is in line with its long-term commitment to growing small and medium enterprises, is the single largest disbursement by the DBN to any financial Institution in Nigeria since it commenced operations.
It will be recalled that in a bid to address the major financing challenges facing Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) set up the development Bank of Nigeria (DBN).
A total of N31.364billion to 35,000 end borrowers through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), was disbursed in 2018, alone, and according to GTBank, this is expected to grow significantly following the N25billion funding partnership and as a result of the Bank’s focus on creating greater access to credit for small businesses.
Commenting on the partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Segun Agbaje, said; “Empowering Small and Medium Scale Enterprises is key to accelerating Nigeria’s economic growth and making the lives of millions of Nigerians better. This partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria reflects our commitment to building a strong MSME sector buoyed by easy access to all of its financing needs.”
He further stated that, “As a Bank that is passionate about Promoting Enterprise, we will continue to provide innovative solutions and create global platforms that expand opportunities for small businesses to build capacity, grow revenue and connect with consumers and business experts from around the world.”
The Bank’s commitment towards strengthening small businesses is deduced as it recently launched the GTBank Food Industry Credit and Fashion Industry Credit, unique loan products designed specifically for small businesses in the food and fashion industry, and offered at a repayment rate of 9 percent per annum.
Its drive and provision for innovative solutions and socio-economic initiatives that empower small businesses with finance, resources and access to markets that they need to grow, are equally obvious in its free business platforms, the GTBank Food and Drink Festival and the GTBank Fashion Weekend, through which it is accelerating growth for Small Businesses in Nigeria’s food and fashion industries.


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Ready for another smartphone upgrade? Tech companies are filing patents for a surprising new generation of devices.
If you're finding the current smartphones a little bulky, you're in luck. There are now hints that a new generation of “foldable” devices may be on its way from LG, Samsung, Microsoft and others.
According to an article in Tech Times, LG has been awarded a patent for a “mobile phone” that allows the upper part of the handset to be folded, enabling it to function as a convertible device—something that doubles as both a tablet and smartphone. The patent sketches show an LG handset device that folds vertically to allow for a tablet-like experience when unfolded. There is also a touchscreen display on both sides of the device along with a middle bar that shows notifications and can be used to control music, the article says.
The patent and drawings also show fingerprint scanners, a camera, and the ability to be folded like a tent to accommodate watching movies.
Another Tech Times article reports that Microsoft, too, has recently patented a foldable two-in-one smartphone that can be transformed into a tablet.
Already industry pundits are projecting strong demand for such devices. Market research firm Strategy Analytics anticpates growth for foldable smartphones going from 2.7 million units in 2017 to 163 million units by 2022.
Are you ready for another device?


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DETROIT — While its competitors were showing off concept cars, luxury roadsters and trucks that blended features from cars, trucks and mini-vans, Toyota unveiled the Echo, a small car designed with the youngest new-car buyers in mind.
Echo is expected to start at less than $12,000 when it goes on sale this fall as a 2000 model.
"The Baby Boom generation fueled Toyota's success. They have been the core of our most loyal repeat customers and remain our most important target buyer group," said Don Esmond, general manager of the Toyota Division.
However, by 2010, 123 million Americans will be younger than 30, and young Americans are the leaders in fashion and lifestyle trends, making the U.S. an excellent test market for youth product and retailing ideas. So, Toyota has established a group, dubbed Genesis and headed by a 34-year-old designer--the oldest member of the team--to come up with ideas for developing and marketing new vehicles.
Echo, about the size of a Corolla, features a high-quality sound system and an abundance of storage space. The Echo, which will come in two- and four-door models, offers a new 1.5-liter engine that produces about 108 h.p.
TT time: Audi says its two-seat TT coupe will arrive in showrooms in May to June.
Initially, TT coupes will be limited to front-wheel-drive versions with 1.8-liter, 180-horsepower, turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. An all-wheel-drive Quattro will arrive in the fall as a 2000 model followed by a more powerful 225-h.p. version of the 1.8-liter 4 (with two intercoolers) plus a TTS roadster in late 1999 or early 2000.
Audi wouldn't say whether the 225-h.p. coupe or TTS roadster would arrive first and wouldn't elaborate on what engine will power the TTS roadster. It did say the TT coupe will be priced at $30,000 to $35,000.
Audi will bring out high-performance versions of its A4 and A6 sedans in the fall, the S4 with a 2.7-liter, twin turbo V-6 developing 250 h.p. and the A6 4.2 with a 4.2-liter, 40-valve, V-8 with 5-speed automatic transmission. Audi won't comment on horsepower.
Movin' on up: American Honda Motor Co. reported that sales of Acura and Honda models in the U.S. topped 1 million for the first time but Honda is by no means satisfied it has everything right.
Richard Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda, told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show that one of the company's goals over the next couple years is to move Acura upscale.
"We do well in the entry-luxury or near-luxury segment," said Colliver, but Acura is losing customers to other luxury brands when buyers are ready to move up.
In addition, the entry-luxury segment will get even more crowded in a couple of years as Lexus and Jaguar join. So, Acura has plans to replace its top-of-the-line model, the RL, in about 2 1/2 years with an upscale luxury car.
"We have a strategy to change Acura's image," Colliver said.
Bold moves: Nissan has struggled in recent years but that didn't stop the Japanese automaker from putting on a dramatic display in Detroit.
The show was used for the official introduction of the 2000 Xterra, which goes on sale in June. The Xterra sits on the Nissan's 4x4 Frontier pickup platform and gives Nissan two sizes of sport-utility vehicle. The other, Pathfinder, is getting a slight cosmetic makeover for 1999 1/2 that will include a new front end and changes in the rear shock absorber that the company's engineers think make the vehicle easier to handle. A total redesign comes in January, 2000, at which time Pathfinder also gets a more powerful V-6 engine.
Jerry Hirshberg, president of Nissan Design International, also unveiled two concept vehicles.
The first was the Sport-Utility Truck that combines the interior cabin space of a sport-utility vehicle with a cargo box from a pickup truck that breaks the vehicle into "a clean zone and a dirty zone," said Hirshberg.
Hirshberg also took the wraps off a concept vehicle inspired by the classic Datsun 240Z. The rear-wheel-drive two-seater features a long hood and retro touches that recall the original Z.
Michael Seergy, vice president and general manager of Nissan Motor Corp. U.S.A., said the Z and the SUT are buildable concepts and Nissan's U.S. division is campaigning to put both vehicles into production. A final decision on whether to build one or both could come this spring, he added.
However, insiders say they expect the SUT for the 2001 model year and new Z for 2002.
A redesigned Maxima and a few concept vehicles are being kept under wraps until the Chicago Auto Show next month.
Galloping back: After a brief absence (dropped after the 1996 model year), the Chevrolet Impala is coming back. The first Impala was introduced in 1958.
By 1965, Chevrolet was selling 1.1 million a year, making it the most popular car of the time. But the gasoline crises of the '70s and the rise of mini-vans and sport-utility vehicles drew many buyers from large, and especially rear-wheel-drive, sedans.


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San Francisco, CA
Tech reporter covering Amazon
Education: University of Chicago, BA in Political Science and English
Caroline O'Donovan covers Amazon for the The Washington Post's tech team in San Francisco. She previously covered tech and labor at BuzzFeed News, where her coverage of Amazon's delivery service network won a SABEW award.


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Lyons Magnus, a California-based food and beverage manufacturing company, voluntarily recalled dozens of nutritional and beverage products over potential microbial contamination—including from the organism cronobacter sakazakii.
The notice includes a complete list of specific items, lot numbers, and expiration dates. It also includes a picture of all recalled products.
Recalled products are packaged under the labels: Lyons Ready Care, Lyons Barista Style, Pirq, Glucerna, Aloha, Intelligentsia, Kate Farms, Oatly, Premier Protein, MRE, Stumptown, and Imperial.
Glucerna products are being sold exclusively at Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Sam’s Club, the FDA specifically pointed out.
The agency also noted that the list of recalled products does not include items intended for infants.
The Lyons Magnus-written notice on the FDA’s website said, “preliminary root cause analysis shows that the products did not meet commercial sterility specifications.”
FDA officials say infection related to cronobacter sakazakii is rare and common symptoms of the illness include fever, vomiting, and urinary tract infection.
“However, vulnerable and immunocompromised populations may be more susceptible to infection,” the agency noted.
At the time of the notice, no illnesses or complaints related to these products have been reported, according to officials, who stressed that the listed items should not be consumed.
Anyone who has any of the recalled products should dispose of them immediately or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.


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This is the second part of a new series that dives into the question regarding whether cloud computing can be used for data backup and, if so, where?
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the firewall and McAfee has acknowledged this milestone by upgrading its next-generation firewall, adding new levels of integration and connectivity.
Microsoft released three critical patches last night, including a fix for the flaw being exploited by the sandworm gang.
Most people are aware that they need to have some form of protection on their PC if it's attached to the internet. Yet it seems that a lot of users still don't know how to properly protect themselves.
The chip maker claims to have developed a new hardware-software bundle that uses multiple security layers, offering greater protection to retail transactions.
A bug in Microsoft Windows has been used by Russian-based hackers to infiltrate a number of states in the West to try and pilfer information linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
The government will be forced to spend billions of dollars to issue new ID numbers to at least 80 per cent of all citizens over 17 after a theft that dates back a decade.
The Cupertino-based firm has filed a motion to make its objections under court seal, in order to protect confidentiality agreements agreed between itself and GT Advanced Technologies.
Since the devastating breach that hit Adobe last year, they've been overhauling their whole system. Here's how they went about it, and how you can do the same with your business.
Google's security team has discovered a vulnerability in SSL 3.0 called POODLE which can be exploited to steal secure cookies and other data.


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Smartphones and applications stores have revolutionised the software market. With apps stores, developers of software or games can share their work with everyone. The boom in apps design has given birth to another budding industry, namely, mobile marketing.
Keith Chow, chief operating officer of Hotmob, says the company is one of Hong Kong's first mobile marketing firms to help companies market their apps. "I see the mobile phone as a whole new media and a media that all brands are trying to develop. With so many apps available, there have got to be strategies and campaigns to market them," Chow says.
Mobile marketing is a job for people who embrace new technology and have a knowled


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After a long hiatus, it looks Sega's Super Monkey Ball series is finally rolling back into our lives.
Following on from a Taiwanese rating earlier this week and Sega filing a Japanese trademark for a game called Tabegoro! Super Monkey Ball in May, a new listing has now appeared on the Korean ratings board. It seems like an announcement from Sega is now inevitable.
The Monkey Ball news doesn't end there, though. There's also a rumour the recently trademarked Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz will be receiving a high-definition makeover for Nintendo Switch. This title was originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2006 and featured motion controls.
Are you ready to be reunited with AiAi after all these years? Leave a comment down below.


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BI’s Article search uses Boolean search capabilities. If you are not familiar with these principles, here are some quick tips.
To search specifically for more than one word, put the search term in quotation marks. For example, “workers compensation”. This will limit your search to that combination of words.
To search for a combination of terms, use quotations and the & symbol. For example, “hurricane” & “loss”.
‘Cause nobody needs to know how many times you’ve played “MMMBop” by Hanson.
But yet: advertisers know, alleges a lawsuit filed in federal court on May 24 by three iTunes users suing Apple for allegedly disclosing their listening habits to advertisers, according to an article on Verge.com posted Tuesday.
The users claim Apple violated laws protecting records of entertainment purchases in those states and are seeking class-action status, saying Apple has “disregarded its legal responsibilities to these individuals” by revealing personal information, according to the article.
Specifically, the lawsuit claims that Apple has released personal listening information directly to third parties while also granting app developers access to iTunes libraries through the Media Player framework. The suit also claims that Apple’s data disclosures are the reason plaintiffs have received unsolicited junk mail based on their listening history, according to the article.
One of Prada’s suppliers allegedly pulled a “See you later, alligator” on providing the high-end fashion brand millions of dollars’ worth of alligator hatchlings intended for accessories, according to an article posted Friday on The Fashion Law blog.


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How Fashion Trend Changes The Way You Think
How Does a Fashion Trend Begin? The earliest fashion trends are the result of celebrities. These individuals have great influence on the general public, and their every move and word becomes a part of their culture. They are so influential that big companies often turn to them as spokespeople. In turn, these people become the drivers of these fashion trends. This article will explain how fast fashion creates and perpetuates this culture of waste.
Fast fashion is a sign of change
The recent protests against fast fashion have put the question of whether it’s time for a paradigm shift. There have been campaigns and changes in the supply chain to reduce its impact on people and the planet. In the last decade, a new generation of designers and fashion brands have emerged, including many whose clothes are ethically produced and sustainably sourced. The future of fast fashion depends on whether customers, governments, and the industry take action.
While the growth of fast fashion has led to a more affordable way to shop, it has also democratized fashion. It has allowed those with modest means to buy smart, new clothes and indulge in fun items. Even people with modest incomes can have multiple wardrobes and switch up their looks every day. However, the disposable mentality has a downside. Multiple purchases of cheap fast fashion clothes can lead to greater costs than the same amount of money spent on a more expensive garment.
The newcomer brands have also developed technology to support the needs of millennial consumers. Shein, a Chinese fast fashion company, uses an advanced system to track trends and produce smaller numbers of the same style. According to Matthew Brennan, a Beijing- based reporter, Shein’s new system means it can place small initial orders with factories, and will only make a limited amount of each style. Although this system may make purchasing products from the company more convenient, many smaller designers have complained about the brand copying their designs.
However, this new industry is bringing about a more enlightened mindset. The newest models of fast fashion are often not the greenest. As the world’s population grows and fashion demand increases, so will the supply of fast fashion. It will continue to feed the demand for apparel and it will be impossible to change this without the consumer’s conscious decisions. The question is whether fast fashion is a sign of change or not.
Certainly, the fast fashion industry is a major force in the global economy. Yet it’s also a big source of environmental stress. It’s estimated that every year, Australia throws away 500 million kilograms of unwanted clothing. Despite the obvious benefits of fast fashion, the process has long been associated with a high cost to the planet. It’s no wonder then that we are unsure if fast fashion is a sign of change or a symptom of a deteriorating world.
It's a culture of consumerism
We’re not alone in our zeal to spend money. Consumption defines our culture, and many of our cultural traits are rooted in consumerism. In America, we view conspicuous consumption as an act of virtue, and our culture is driven by brands, products, and a lifestyle that celebrates conspicuous consumption. But what happens when that consumerism turns to overspending and unsustainable practices?
Capitalist media determines the content of our consumer culture. They manipulate helpless consumers with advertising and gimmicks. Anti-consumerism groups like the Beatniks and Frankfurt School embraced this message, which is still very much alive today. This message is echoed in cool rock albums like Dark Side of the Moon and the 70s counter-culture. It is also found in films, like the 1976 Sidney Lumet movie Network.
The rise of consumer culture has spawned an obsession with the body. It has made people strive for perfection in appearance and aims to control their visual image. In this culture, the body is viewed as a project that is constantly being acted upon. We shape our body through our actions, lifestyle choices, and interventions, and we also affect it through ageing. It is no wonder that many of us are obsessed with the body, and its process of ageing.
While the connection between materialistic values and mental well-being is not yet fully understood, research suggests that a desire for material wealth is not necessarily a sign of dissatisfaction. In fact, people who report the lowest levels of materialistic attitudes are often among the most satisfied with their lives. In contrast, those with the most materialistic values report the least level of life satisfaction. They can be almost as content with less money, but they can be plagued by conflicting desires and feelings of unhappiness.
As the need for material goods increased, Americans became increasingly ‘wealth-obsessed’, with the pursuit of wealth and status becoming associated with consumption. The desire for material goods became the primary means for self-identification, and a worker’s identity was replaced by that of a consumer. Thus, consumer culture is a key part of modern society, and a sign of the power of capitalism.
It perpetuates a culture of disposability
The growing number of clothing microtrends has resulted in overconsumption of garments, often by shoppers who are quick to discard a piece of clothing when it no longer fits into the current trend. But clothing should never be treated as disposable, and microtrends may be one of the biggest contributing factors to waste. According to one estimate, 92 million tonnes of clothing end up in landfills each year, and that number is projected to reach 134 million tonnes by 2030. In 2018, 15% of textile waste was recycled and there is no reason to believe that percentage will increase anytime soon.
The fashion industry is notorious for rapidly changing trends, and one recent film, The Blue Planet, changed the way we think about the impact of plastics on the environment. It also raised awareness of the problems related to the overabundance of microtrends, which are causing massive amounts of waste. Ultimately, the fashion industry has become an enormous source of waste and has a responsibility to eliminate these trends.
The fast-fashion industry’s disposable model has exacerbated this problem, as fast fashion cycles force garment makers to work long hours to produce the products needed by consumers. Moreover, their pay is not reflected in fashion brands’ profits. Fast fashion has also resulted in a global second-hand market for discarded clothing. This waste is a byproduct of waste colonialism in communities in the Global South.
While the fast-fashion industry has created a culture of disposability, the impact of the fashion industry is widespread. The proliferation of retail chains and cheap labor abroad has resulted in an ever-changing array of apparel. The clothing industry has doubled its production in 15 years as a result of rampant consumerism. Similarly, the increasing middle class has increased the consumption of clothing. This has resulted in a rapidly expanding global middle class.


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Cherkasy Azot increased production of mineral fertilizers by 23%
During the first two months of this year, Cherkasy Azot (part of Group DF) produced 235 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers. This is 23% more than in the same period last year.
The most significant increase of almost 3 times (67.4 thousand tons) was in the production of carbamide. At the same time, the output of ammonium nitrate decreased to 102.2 thousand tons (by 2%). The production of the carbamide-ammoniac compound increased by 10.4% (56.2 thousand tons) to 123.7 thousand tons in February 2023. According to experts, such an increase in production is caused by a seasonal increase in demand.


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After fours years of tweaking and pivoting, WorldTV, which brings a TV channel-viewing experience to online video publishing, finally thinks it has the model right and is flicking the switch on an in-app store for à la carte premium features.
The ‘friends and family’-funded company has been cashflow positive since 2009 but after experimenting with an ad-supported model, which proved disappointing, and pitting this against selling add-on ‘subscription’ products, World TV has settled on the latter with the launch of its own custom-built store offering 33 subscription/add-ons available for instant purchase, some of which are available for a one-off payment while others produce recurring monthly revenue.
These include various customisation to the look and feel of the video player, branding and EPG, along with the ability to run Google Adsense or other types of video advertising. This, says World TV, sets up the service to be more targeted at B2B, although a free basic version aimed at consumers will remain.
In fact, the company already claims 1,000+ paying customers garnered through its testing period, while since launch in November 2007, World TV has amassed 100,000 active ‘Editor’ users and is seeing 1,000,000 active monthly viewers. In addition, more than 250,000 channels have been created, giving World TV the claim of being the “largest online TV network in the World”, although your definition of what constitutes an online TV network may vary.
On that note, in the long term the service is targeting a new breed of Internet-connected televisions like those from Samsung, Sony and others, together with platforms such as Yahoo! ConnectedTV and Google TV.


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Wild Leap Takes Home Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Wild Leap Craft Beverages recently took home a Gold medal and two Silver medals for their ready-to-drink cocktails, MYGOTU, at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The prestigious SFWSC, with more than 20 years in the spirits industry, is comprised of some of the world’s most trusted palates, and are globally recognized for their commitment to excellence. Wild Leap is honored to have received Gold for MYGOTU Grapefruit Peach, and Silver for MYGOTU Pineapple Passionfruit and Raspberry Lemonade. The judges rigorously evaluated each flavor on its own merit and determined that MYGOTU is a pioneering line of ready-to-drink beverages, setting the standard in their given category.
Wild Leap is beyond thrilled to offer MYGOTU as a year-round release and looks forward to serving their entire lineup of award-winning beverages at their newest location in Atlanta’s Centennial Yards in early fall of 2022.


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Ariba (Nasdaq: ARBA) fell Friday despite an upbeat quarterly report; many analysts lowered ratings and said ambiguous accounting may have hid a slow down in revenue growth.
Shares in the vendor of business-to-business marketplace software and services were off 7 percent, or 3.19 to 40.19 ahead of Friday's opening bell.
Ariba beat consensus estimates with $170 million in revenues and robust earnings of 5 cents a share, and raised estimates in its second quarter report after Thursday's bell. Revenue growth for the quarter was 26 percent,which is far from shabby, but well below the 70 to 100 percent gains investors have come to expect from the company.
"The company's transition to term licenses has created ambiguity in their true growth rate. The transition has the effect of artificially increasing reported revenue growth," said ABN AMRO analyst Robert M. Johnson, who reduced his rating to "add" from "buy."
"While Ariba turned in a solid quarter we are concerned with a perceived slowdown in sequential revenue growth when deferred revenue is taken into account. We believe investors may have this perception as well," he added.
Figures which should alert investors are a 94 percent increase in receivables, while revenue increased 26 percent sequentially, he noted. "While this may be an easily explained accounting issue, it creates uncertainty and is a contentious issue with investors scrutinizing software stocks."
Johnson also decreased his 12-month price target to $52. "We believe short-term catalysts are limited," he added.
Johnson noted that the company's long-term prospects are still strong, and raised estimates despite the downgrade to reflect the company's transition to term licenses, which may result in increased short-term earnings upside.
Robinson-Humphrey analyst Chris Rowen also downgraded the stock -- to "neutral" from "market outperform," -- while raising estimates. In a research note, the firm questioned the company's silence on some key metrics and "deteriorating fundamentals."
"We believe that several metrics in the 1Q results point to a possible loss of momentum. Additionally, ARBA would not divulge several metrics that they have given out in past quarters, creating more doubt about the health of the company," according to the firm's report.
Robinson-Humphrey saw possible weakness in terms of customer adds, average sales price, more aggressive revenue recognition, flat consulting revenue, network services revenue, sales headcount growth, rising DSOs, rising allowances and a likely deterioration in deferred revenue growth.
Deutsche Bank Alex Brown analyst James Moore also lowered his rating -- to "buy" from "strong buy," -- citing "decelerating growth concerns."
He said there were signs of decelerating growth in the core procurement business, which could be exacerbated by the current shaky macroeconomic outlook. He also noted that the shift to term licenses and upfront revenue recognition lessens Ariba's quarter-to-quarter revenue visibility, which "had been one of the appealing aspects of its business model."
CIBC Oppenheimer Intl Melissa Eisenstat was more upbeat, and maintined a "strong buy" rating, but also questioned whether the company is beginning to lose some momentum, based on the fact that this was not a 'blow-out' quarter as preceding quarters have been.
"Although e-commerce has been "priority one" for business over the last two years, it is not immune to economic conditions. We believe that e-commerce will remain a key priority, but steps will be more measured in the near term," Eisenstat wrote.
Bear Stearns analyst Kaushik Shridharani maintained his "buy" rating and $80 price target for August 2001.
He raised revenue and earnings estimates, an praised strong operating margins and robust earnings per share.
But he too conceded that "the results also verified some of our concerns regarding the slowdown of business model development."


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'Twilight' soundtrack, Nickelback performed
NEW YORK — Warner Music Group reported some encouraging results Thursday despite ongoing unrest in the music biz.
Edgar Bronfman’s company posted a $23 million net profit in the fiscal first quarter that ended Dec. 31 compared with a $16 million loss in the year-earlier period. Total revenue declined 11% to $878 million, but digital revenue soared 20% to $171 million and now comprises 19% of total revenue.
The profit figure includes a gain of $35 million related to the sale of a stake in Frontline Management to Ticketmaster.
Top sellers during the quarter included the “Twilight” soundtrack and new albums from Nickelback, Enya, Seal, T.I. and Johnny Hallyday. None came close to the 4 million-unit smash of the prior-year quarter, Josh Groban’s “Noel,” which was the No. 1 release of 2007 by any distrib.
The angst-ridden retail environment over recent months has accelerated consumers’ movement away from packaged music and toward digital downloads. Some major retailers, including Circuit City and Woolworths in the U.K., have gone bankrupt while others are closing stores.
Due to those market conditions and tough comparisons, domestic revenue fell 19%, with international revenue slipping just 5%.
The company’s beleaguered shares closed up 23.9% at $2.49 Thursday.
Execs noted that Warner Music had $549 million in cash on its books as of Dec. 30 vs. $160 million a year earlier.
In addition, Warner Music’s Atlantic Records Group has upped Julie Greenwald to chair and chief operating officer. Her focus has been management strategies and marketing.


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According to the press service of the company, on Monday, the recommended retail price for the "Ukrainian" increased by 0.68 UAH- up to 4.68 UAH.
Earlier the "Kyivkhlib" appealed to the Kyiv city state administration with a proposal to examine the possibility of increasing the price for social kinds of bread. Then the Kyiv authorities responded they did not see the reason for a rise in bread price.
in January-September 2012,PJSC "Kyivkhlib" got a net profit of 12.35 million UAH against net loss of 8.59 million UAH for the same period of 2011. During this period, the gross profit increased by 21.7% - up to 321.74 million UAH, operating profit- by 43.8% to 41.35 million UAH.
Спасибо за Вашу активность, Ваш вопрос будет рассмотрен модераторами в ближайшее время


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Bill Dawson, the owner of San Francisco's Seafood Suppliers, has been in the salmon business for 35 years. Dawson has seen California's salmon harvest rise and fall, but this year's crash is unprecedented in his lifetime. "The salmon," he says, "have gone off a cliff. It's disastrous."
For the first time, federal and state fisheries officials have closed the season in California and in most of Oregon. The reason: only 90,000 fish returned last fall to the Sacramento River chinook run, down 90 percent from just a few years ago. Experts blame the plunging numbers on water diversions for agriculture and communities (in some years more than half the Sacramento's water is siphoned off), pollution, dams that have cut off salmon from their upstream spawning grounds and unfavorable ocean conditions that diminished food sources in the Pacific.
The near shutdown of the Northwestern harvest is bad news for the region's economy but also for seafood lovers nationwide. Wild-caught Pacific chinook—considered the filet mignon of salmon due to its rich flesh loaded with heart-healthy fats—will be in short supply this summer.
"The connoisseur is going to have to pay for this premium product," says wholesaler Edward Taylor of New York City's Down East Seafood, which sells to high-end restaurants. Prices in fish markets could top $30 a pound, he says. "By the time you fly it here, you could be talking about a $40 piece of fish once you plate it in a restaurant."
The price of wild-caught salmon has risen for five years because of growing demand, as well as diminishing supply. Consumers can look forward to the arrival of Alaskan chinook (also sold as king salmon) in markets this summer. Meanwhile, watch out for farm-raised salmon being passed off as wild this spring. "Make sure to ask if it's wild-caught," says fishmonger Michael Lucas of North Coast Fisheries in Santa Rosa, Calif.
For foodies, wild-caught is to farmed fish what free-range grass-fed beef is to feedlot cattle: a product superior in taste and environmental footprint. Even so, most of the salmon Americans eat (more than a pound per capita annually) is farm-raised. Wild salmon prices tanked when a boom in farm-raised salmon a decade ago flooded the market with cheap fish. Since then, marketing groups have worked hard to educate consumers about wild salmon. The shutdown of California's chinook fishery will be a big setback, says David Goldenberg of the California Salmon Council.
Sheila Bowman of Seafood Watch, an environmental advocacy group, says consumers can seek out cheaper and more abundant species of wild-caught salmon such as sockeye, pink and chum, which have been canned or ground for salmon burger in years past. They're now finding their way onto more restaurant menus. "Don't pay higher prices for chinook," Bowman says. "Stretch your palate."
More than 90 percent of the continent's wild salmon is harvested off Alaska, where boats caught 137 million salmon last year. Of that number, however, just half a million were prized chinook. Pink salmon, the smallest of the five species of Pacific salmon, constitute the largest portion of the catch—with about 66 million pinks expected to be harvested this year. Sockeye is next, with an expected catch this year of 47 million fish. Alaska's salmon stocks have remained relatively high because its rivers have avoided the environmental destruction of the major salmon rivers in the Northwest—the Sacramento, Columbia and Klamath. "Alaska's salmon fishery is managed for sustainability," says Laura Fleming, spokeswoman for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.
That's no consolation for the thousands of fishermen, charter-boat captains, bait-and-tackle-shop owners and others who rely on salmon for their jobs in California, where the economic hit is expected to be $255 million. California and Oregon have asked for federal disaster relief. Tourists who charter salmon fishing boats off the northern California coast are also out of luck this year.
Dawson would normally be busy this month shipping California chinook, which in some years constitutes a third of his business. But this year he has nothing to send: "My buyers all have a tear in their eye." Another problem is rising fuel costs. Dawson is currently shipping a limited amount of Alaska salmon, and getting hit with a new fuel surcharge every week.
Dawson says the crash of California's prized chinook salmon seemed impossible when he was growing up on California's American River, where he witnessed large migrations of spawning salmon. During the 1970s he would see 350 salmon boats heading out of port, but "now there aren't that many boats in the entire California coastal fleet," he says. Everyone is praying that "California kings" (so named because their taste, size and commercial value made them one of the Pacific's most prized commodities) will bounce back. Until then, Dawson says, "this fish is going to be missed by a lot of people."


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Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger isn’t pulling any punches about why Intel has struggled recently, blaming his predecessors for leading the company the wrong way.
Intel has ruled out the possibility of building a factory in the UK, thanks to Brexit.
Brand growth expert Austin Brawner of Ecommerce Influence interviewed Justuno CEO Erik Christiansen about conversion optimization
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced the company will invest $1 billion in Africa over the next five years.
It’s a great space a great and a great opportunity says Fiserv CEO Frank Bisignano. The opportunity to build things and grow is always a lot of fun. From large to small there’s a comeback in payments and we see growth going forward.
Early Uber investor Jason Calacanis says that unlike Lyft, Uber built a very anti-fragile business with the combination of Eats and Rides and has become relentlessly focused.
There appears to be a leadership shift in play at Salesforce, with COO Bret Taylor increasingly in demand among the company’s customers.