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“Apple still rules the tablet world,” writes Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets. Indeed, the expected release of a 7.85-inch ‘iPad mini‘ will expand the the company’s customer base, “potentially even surpassing sales of the regular-sized iPad.” In short, Apple investors should relax…
Although crediting the new 8.9-inch and 7-inch Kindle Fire HD as “ambitious,” Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said Amazon’s new entry could actually help Apple by limiting some competitors, such as Samsung and Research in Motion to minor annoyances. As for Apple’s major threats — Google’s Nexus 7 and Microsoft’s Surface — the $199 Amazon device could increase competition while shrinking profit margins.
Although the $199 Google Nexus has experienced strong demand since being introduced in July, the tablet “could see competitive pressure” from the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD. Although both products are priced the same, Amazon has doubled the Kindle Fire’s storage to 16GB from 8GB, Wu said.
As for Microsoft, the introduction of the Kindle Fire HD will force the company to drop the Surface price from $299. But this race to the bottom rarely pays off, warned Wu. Not even Apple has been able to profit much from just selling content via its App Store.
“Reselling content has historically proven to not be a very profitable venture,” he notes.
Apple is expected to announce the ‘iPad mini’ in October with a $250-$300 price.
What do you think? Will Amazon’s new Kindle Fire HD eat into demand for the iPad (either the full-size or upcoming mini)?


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The Jewel-Osco store in Oswego. Jewel's parent Supervalu has added CEO duties to the Chairman's role as it undertakes a strategic review. (Chuck Berman/Tribune file)
Supervalu Inc. on Wednesday named two top executives to help guide the new chief executive's turnaround plan for the U.S. supermarket operator, which has put itself up for sale.
Kevin Holt was named president of Supervalu retail. In an expanded role, he will be in charge of strategy, including marketing and merchandising, for the company's retail and pharmacy divisions. He was executive vice president for retail operations, according to the company's website.
Supervalu, which has lost ground to rivals Kroger Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., also named Janel Haugarth to the new position of executive vice president of business optimization and process improvement.
Haugarth, who will oversee efficiency and cost-cutting efforts, was the company's executive vice president for merchandising and logistics, according to Supervalu's website.
Supervalu CEO Wayne Sales said the changes are designed to address the company's top priorities: boosting profitable sales and cutting costs.
Sales, the company's chairman, took the top post after CEO Craig Herkert was ousted in late July.
Supervalu shares dipped 2 cents to $2.38.

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Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) President and CEO, Scott Melville, issued the following statement upon final passage of the CARES Act, which among its many sections includes provisions to update and modernize the regulatory system overseeing most over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and to restore OTC eligibility under tax-preferred HSA and FSA accounts.
“During this unprecedented public health crisis, American consumers are relying heavily on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to help ensure their families’ health needs are being met, while also following CDC guidelines regarding social distancing. OTC medicines not only provide safe and effective relief for a wide variety of symptoms and conditions, but they also make an important contribution to health system sustainability and alleviate unnecessary burden by allowing people with self-manageable symptoms to safely treat themselves without visiting their healthcare provider.
“CHPA is encouraged that lawmakers recognize the important role these medicines play in the lives of consumers and the broader U.S. healthcare system. The legislative package which passed both the House and Senate with broad support includes a bipartisan measure that will reform the nearly 50-year-old regulatory framework that oversees the majority of OTC medicines, called the OTC Monograph system. While the Monograph system is a sound regulatory framework that has served the nation well, it needs to be modernized to reflect changes in science and regulatory processes and to incentivize innovation in OTC medicines. CHPA and public health stakeholders have long supported these commonsense reforms which will provide FDA with more resources and help increase the efficiency and responsiveness necessary to protect and promote consumer health.
“The legislative package being sent to the President also includes a measure to help millions of healthcare consumers save money in the near term by reinstating their ability to purchase OTC medicines with tax-preferred savings accounts, including Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and extending eligibility, for the first time, to menstrual care products. This is welcome news to the nearly 60 million Americans who enroll in these accounts to responsibly manage their healthcare expenses.
“As the nation and our global community respond to this unprecedented situation, our thoughts go to those who have been afflicted by COVID-19 and our praise and support go out to the healthcare providers, emergency responders, supply chain professionals, and public health officials who are on the front lines trying to contain its spread and meet public health needs.”


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Qualifacts Systems, Inc., announced today that the company has acquired Mitchell & McCormick’s behavioral health line of business. Mitchell & McCormick’s behavioral health customers will transition to Qualifacts’ certified complete electronic health record CareLogic Enterprise over the next few months. M&M has experienced significant growth in the public health vertical and, in this era of healthcare reform, has made a strategic decision to focus on that segment of the market.
According to Qualifacts President and CEO David Klements, myriad product investment pressures from today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment are putting pressure on all EHR vendors and forcing executives at these companies to consider whether the best long-term path is to remain independent or not.
“The investments in Meaningful Use certification, DSM-5, ICD-10 and ongoing state reporting are big commitments,” says Klements. “As a result, the behavioral health EHR market is consolidating, and Qualifacts is taking the opportunity to expand through acquisition in key markets like the State of Georgia where Mitchell & McCormick have a strong customer base.”
M&M was looking for a company that shared its commitment to customer service, had a strong reputation in behavioral health and would provide a smooth transition for their clients.
“We selected a vendor we respect and trust so we can focus on our more than 150 public health customers,” says Mark Bennett, executive vice president of M&M. “We wanted a company we knew would take really good care of our customers. Qualifacts’ commitment to behavioral health, their size and track record of fast, accurate implementations made them the right fit for us.”
M&M customers will be transitioned to the CareLogic platform prior to the ICD-10 effective date.


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|Bid||0.00 x 0|
|Ask||0.00 x 0|
|Day's Range||31.89 - 31.89|
|52 Week Range||21.62 - 44.85|
|Beta (5Y Monthly)||1.26|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||6.65|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||2.06 (6.45%)|
|Ex-Dividend Date||Aug 20, 2021|
|1y Target Est||N/A|
Subscribe to Yahoo Finance Plus to view Fair Value for MALRYLearn more
The last three months have been tough on Mineral Resources Limited ( ASX:MIN ) shareholders, who have seen the share...
Mineral Resources Ltd will restart operations at the Wodgina lithium mine it owns with Albemarle Corp next year, the Australian miner said on Monday, on improving demand for the metal used in making electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Lithium prices have soared to more than three-year highs https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/surge-electric-vehicle-sales-power-lithium-prices-shortages-loom-2021-09-13, as the green transition is set to see a surge in demand for electric vehicles. The mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region has a capacity to process 750,000 tonnes per year of spodumene concentrate, a mineral from which lithium is extracted, but has been idle since November 2019 when the lithium market was weak.
Some have more dollars than sense, they say, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling...


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Barnes and Noble’s Nook tablet sales are struggling, but it is not because of lack of interest. Many buyers who have checked out the e-reader walked away after learning that the Nook HD does not support apps purchased on their Android phones.?
No one knows exactly how many Nook e-readers and tablets have been sold because Barnes and Noble does not disclose that information, but it is no secret that?sales have definitely not met expectations. In the most recent quarter, revenues for the Nook were $316 million. That may seem like a lot, but it is actually an over 25 percent plunge compared with the same quarter last year.?
In January of 2012, Barnes and Noble announced that approximately one-third of its retail stores would be closed, resulting in just 500 or fewer locations surviving. This news, coupled with the Nook’s weak sales, spells trouble for the book chain and shows it is having difficulty with its digital transition.?
Buyers are not just looking for e-readers;?they want?multipurpose tablets?that can do more than just present a book. They also desire technological movability between tablets and phones.?
In response, Barnes and Noble is unveiling a major software update and a drastically different strategy. The Nook tablets now have access to Google Play, Google’s online store that is home to digital books, music, movies, and magazines in addition to over 700,000 apps. For Nook users, this makes it easier to buy digital books from Google Play, instead of just from Barnes and Noble. The change also makes the Nook a full-fledged tablet that runs on the Android system. It can now compete with other tablets, like the iPad and the?Kindle Fire, and its very connection with Google makes it more attractive to many buyers.?
The Bottom Line
Some observers worry that the change will do little for Barnes and Noble’s bottom line. Before the changes, users could only purchase e-books from the major chain, but now they are free to buy books from Google Play. Barnes and Noble will certainly lose some content sales, but the hope is that the new and improved Nook will draw in enough new customers to make up for the difference.?
It is clear that brick-and-mortar book stores selling real paper books are dying. Barnes and Noble needs the Nook to stay alive. Google may not save the Nook and the chain store, but Barnes and Noble is hoping it will.?


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UK retailer Marks and Spencer is launching a clicks and bricks expansion strategy in the Netherlands.
The bastion of the UK high street is returning to the Netherlands with the opening of an Amsterdam-based store that will carry a food and non-food offering today (17 April). In addition to this, M&S plans to open a further two full-line stores in The Hague and Amsterdam in the coming two years.
Marks and Spencer has also entered into an agreement to open six Simply Food pilots at BP forecourts in “key locations” in Randstad. The new agreement is part of M&S’s plans to open franchise M&S Simply Food stores in Western Europe, the company said. The group established a similar agreement with BP in the UK in 2005 and there are now more than 160 M&S Simply Food stores at BP forecourts throughout the country.
As in the UK, the Dutch website will not include a food offer. The company added that it is launching its online non-food offer in Luxembury today.
Marks and Spencer retreated from Western Europe ten years ago. However, it seems the company is now focused on returning to growth in the region.
Marks and Spencer, which now aims to become a leading international and multi-channel retailer, relaunched its business in France in 2011. It will open a further three Parisian stores this financial year, the company revealed. M&S launched a website in Belgium last autumn and the group plans to open a flagship store in Brussels in 2015.


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– Below is Backstage Fallout from this week’s RAW:
– WWE has suffered a setback in a lawsuit they filed in India against Reshma Collection for allegedly infringing on their copyrights and trademarks by using the WWE scratch logo and talent names on merchandise and apparel. The Delhi High Court ruled that WWE could not file the case in Delhi because they have no office or exclusive agent in the city. WWE argued that the lawsuit was valid because their programming airs in Delhi, merchandise is sold in Delhi, and Delhi residents can purchase merchandise from their website.
The Hottest WWE news, photos and videos delivered to your inbox in one convenient newsletter. Sign up now and give it a try!


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Russian tourists are willing to spend 50 thousand Rubles and more during vacation
A quarter of Russian tourists are ready to spend for vacations from 50 to 100 thousand Rubles (688 – 1,376 Euros). At the same time, the number of those who will to save money during holidays has decreased. But tourists up to now have to save money for the long-awaited vacation. Such data was presented by the Momondo service.
As a result, in Russia the data are as follows: a quarter of Russian tourists - 24% plan to spend from 50 to 100 thousand Rubles per family for summer vacation. At the same time, 20% count on the amount from 20 to 50 thousand Rubles (275 – 688 Euros), and 14% from 7.5 to 20 thousand Rubles (103 – 275 Euros).
The number of “rich” tourists is significantly less - only 13% can afford a vacation from 100 to 150 thousand Rubles (1,376 – 2,064 Euros), and only 7% will spend more than 150 thousand Rubles.
At the same time, Russian tourists have to save money for vacation - 56% of respondents set money aside for it. To save money for vacation 38% of them reject immediate pleasures, such as restaurants and cafes. Another 10% save on visiting sports club.
However, interestingly, the number of tourists who declared that they will save during vacation has decreased. So, 44% are ready to save on shopping, last year their number was almost 50%. Tourists are not ready to save on excursions either. At the same time, 33% said that they would choose visa-free destinations in order not to pay for the right to enter the country.


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The pillar of the basic Web address — the trusty .com domain — is about to face vast new competition that could dramatically transform the Web as we know it. New websites, with more subject-specific, sometimes controversial suffixes, will soon populate the online galaxy, such as .eco, .love, .god, .sport, .gay or .kurd.
This massive expansion to the Internet's domain name system is expected to make the Web more intuitive or create more cluttered, maddening experiences. No one knows yet. But with an infinite number of naming possibilities, an industry of Web wildcatters is racing to grab these potentially lucrative territories with addresses that are bound to provoke.
Who gets to run .abortion websites — people who support abortion rights or those who don't? Who can run the .islam or .mohammed sites? Can the Ku Klux Klan own .nazi on free speech grounds, or will a Jewish group run the domain and permit only educational websites — say, www.remember.nazi or www.antidefamation.nazi?
Two companies vying for the environmentally friendly .eco domain have competing endorsements: one from a nonprofit chaired by former Vice President Al Gore, the other from a group founded by former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.
The decisions on who gets the addresses will come down to a little-known nonprofit based in Marina del Rey, Calif., whose international board of directors approved the expansion in 2008 but has been stuck debating how best to run the program before launching it. Now, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, is on the cusp of completing those talks in March or April and will soon solicit applications from companies and governments that want to propose and operate the new addresses.
Next week, hundreds of investors, consultants and entrepreneurs are expected to converge in San Francisco for the first ".nxt" conference, a three-day affair featuring seminars on ICANN's complicated application guidelines.
These online territories are costly. The price tag to apply is $185,000, a cost that ensures only well-financed organizations operate the domains and cuts out many smaller grass roots organizations, developing countries or dreamers, according to critics. That's on top of ICANN's $25,000 annual fee for domains.
Lauren Weinstein, co-founder of People for Internet Responsibility, a grass roots firm in Los Angeles, said the new domains are designed purely to make money for ICANN and the companies that control the domains. The new Web addresses, Weinstein said, will only mean more aggravation for trademark holders and confusion for the average Internet user.
Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of the ICANN board, said the high application fee is based on the nonprofit's bet that it's going to get sued and to protect against cybersquatters or other organizations ill-equipped to manage an entire domain of hundreds, if not thousands of websites. "Our job is to protect competition and give extra choices for consumers and entrepreneurs," he said.
Many organizations are competing for the same domain names, in disputes that often will be settled by an auction or by an ICANN board decision.
The Internet has 21 generic domains such as .com, .net., .edu or .org and hundreds of others for countries, such as .de for Germany. The most prevalent generic domains are .com and .net, which account for about half of the world's 202 million Internet addresses.
Since 2000, ICANN has expanded the number of "generic top-level domains" only twice, and only in tiny doses to such sites ending in .biz, .jobs, .museum, or .mobi (for mobile sites). Those domains have so far yet to attract huge audiences.
But many entrepreneurs expect that the new expansion of Web addresses — the first of which won't go live until early 2012 — will catch on with users and make money. Many budding domain operators expect to earn millions of dollars, according to Kieren McCarthy, a former ICANN general manager who is organizing next week's domain name conference in San Francisco.


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Kia claims that its new Picanto will feature engines with emissions as low as 90 g/km CO2.
There will be three versions of the 1-litre, three-cylinder engine – running on petrol, flex fuel and bi-fuel – and a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol power unit, but availability will depend on individual markets.
Power outputs will range from 69 to 85 PS, with maximum torque between 94 and 121 Nm. Exhaust emissions have been significantly reduced, so that models in the range will have a CO2 rating of 95 to 105 g/km.
In the UK, some models will be available with Kia’s ISG technologies, cutting emissions to between 90 and 100 g/km, and further improving fuel economy.
The engines will be mated to a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions, depending on the model.
Making its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the new Kia Picanto has been redesigned and re-engineered . Longer than the previous model, and with an extended wheelbase, new Picanto promises more passenger comfort and 27% increased cargo space.
It will be offered for the first time with a choice of five-door and three-door bodystyles. Although the five-door goes on sale in the UK in late spring, the three-door will not arrive in the UK until the autumn.
Pricing for the UK and European markets will not be announced until closer to the launch date.


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If you’ve ever played around with a drone aircraft, you know what it’s like to have the fear in the back of your mind that it’s going to run out of battery at any moment. You’re lucky to get 20 minutes of flight from high-end consumer drones. It takes a lot of power to keep four or more turbines spinning all the time, and you can just slap a bigger battery in there if you want it to still fly. That’s why the Hycopter from Horizon Energy Systems puts the rest to shame with its claim of four hours of flight time. How? Hydrogen.
The design of this quadcopter is rather clever. Instead of building in a dedicated fuel tank, it has 120 grams of hydrogen gas compressed to 5,076psi inside its structural tubing. You can see the clear tubes in the middle of the craft above. They’re acrylic in the prototype, but the final version will have tubes made of carbon fiber. Horizon says this volume of hydrogen provides the same amount of power as three kilograms of lithium ion batteries. Power is generated from the hydrogen by a lightweight lithium polymer hybrid fuel cell.
The four-hour flight time is when the drone is unburdened, but it can also carry a payload up to 2.2 pounds (one kilogram). When it’s fully loaded, the flight time drops to around 2.5 hours. That’s still way better than you’d get with a battery-powered drone. One notable disadvantage, however, is where you’re going to get all that hydrogen. You can just plug in and recharge a battery-powered drone, but it’s going to be expensive to buy canisters of hydrogen gas for refilling the Hycopter.
The Hycopter is expected to make its first full test flight later this year, but Horizon is already looking for potential buyers of the drones. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it’s probably going to be outside the realm of casual consumer drones.


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Yili recently presented at the virtual Global Dairy Congress , where it also walked away as the only award winner from Asia at the World Dairy Innovation Awards with three of the most-coveted awards: Best Dairy Drink, Best Functional Dairy, and Best Packaging Design.
Speaking to FoodNavigator-Asia after the congress, Yili Assistant President Dr Yun Zhanyou emphasised his confidence in the growth of the Chinese dairy market for the near future and highlighted that Chinese consumers are increasingly on the lookout for value-added and sustainable dairy products.
“Although China's dairy industry is growing at a fast pace, the gap between China's dairy consumption per capita and the world average is still large, which means there is huge potential for future growth - We are confident about the growth of the Chinese dairy market,” he told us.
“In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has raised consumers’ awareness about the importance of healthcare and the health benefits of drinking milk have also been recognized by more consumers.
“As consumers become increasingly health-conscious, they are expecting to see more [value-added] dairy products too. [This is not only limited to nutritional value-adds], as we know local consumers are more willing to try new products that are technologically advanced and can provide cool stories to share in social discussions.
“[The key here is to focus on] technological innovation and developing products featuring a more rational nutritional profile and a compelling brand story, as well as more functional attributes.”
As such, examples highlighted here included the three products that won Yili the global awards recently such as the Best Dairy Drink, Cute Star Rub Your Tummy Dietary Fiber Yoghurt Drink, was made based on consumer insights to target children, using a low-sugar formula and packaging design with concave curved radians convenient for kids to grasp with one hand.
The TOORan Black Milk Powder won the Best Functional Dairy based on its formula containing traditional herbs and walnut peptides to support emotional well-being and hair health, with packaging designed to appeal to Gen Z consumers, whereas the SATINE X Palace Museum Product Special Edition range matched premium, high-end attributes to appeal to the ‘cool’ aspect that younger consumers are in search of to share on online platforms.
“[China also has the] Healthy China 2030 national strategy, and increasing milk consumption is an important way to improve dietary structure [and] the National Health Commission’s Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents also recommend drinking 300g milk per day for all residents - All of the above have provided strong policy support for the development of China’s dairy industry,” said Dr Yun.
In addition, sustainability was also mentioned as another rising trend growing in necessity in China after the country announced plans to reduce carbon emissions, and Dr Yun predicted that local dairy firms will be placing a lot more focus on this area moving forward.
“China [has already announced to] strive to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060,” he said – committing to a peak carbon emission in a certain year is to commit to not let this number climb any further after that year.
“[As such], Chinese dairy companies will also become more committed to supporting sustainable development and will actively promote greener and healthier lifestyles.
“This means that products which are green, organic and produced with less carbon will be more popular.”
Solving local challenges with technology
Dr Yun also highlighted that the company’s dedication to innovation is driven by technology, and expressed his belief that technology is also the key to solving current challenges in the overall Chinese dairy industry.
“Quality control [is one major challenge], and Chinese consumers’ growing demands for quality [have led] Yili to use visible GPS to track the transportation of raw milk to ensure milk quality -data from dozens of testing laboratories across the country can be monitored simultaneously at Yili’s headquarters,” he said.
“In terms of product innovation, Chinese consumers’ product needs are becoming increasingly segmented, personalised, and diversified. However, the traditional FMCG sales model, which features a long sales chain and hierarchical procedures, makes it difficult to collect real-time consumer feedback and respond quickly, so [here we have turned to big data] for feedback.
“In terms of business management, [we have seen that] it is necessary to improve the level of automation, transparency and intelligence to improve efficiency, [hence we use] Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) intelligent [solutions] and supply chain traceability [to increase business efficiency].”
APAC dairy growth
Yili is also very active in several other APAC markets, especially in South East Asia, and Dr Yun added that the growth of the dairy industry in these places is also happening at a fast pace.
“Emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, both urban and rural, are also experiencing rapid growth in demand for milk,” he said.
“Differentiated and innovative products targeting niche demands are also becoming more popular here - For example, Yili's Xujinhuan ice cream, featuring natural puree coating and a refined shape created by liquid nitrogen freezing technology, has achieved great success in the market.
“All in all, we remain optimistic about the dairy market in Asia Pacific.”


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The new board of the Chamber of Metal Industries, led by Emad El Alfy, at the Egyptian Federation of Industries approved establishing a Precious Metals Division for improving the local industry of gold and retaining its international recognition once again.
In addition, Ehab Wassef, the Chairman of the Christian D’oro factory, was appointed as the new division’s head.
On his side, Wassef said that the division’s board will include five from the current members of the Chamber of Metal Industries’ board, alongside three members who have wide experience with such industry. All members will be selected in coordination with El Alfy.
The three members who were announced were: Dr. Wasfy Amin, the former head of Gold and Jewelry’s Division at the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Rafiq Abbas, the former head of the division, and Emad Sobhy El Sardi, the financial and legal consultant of L’azurde.
Wassef added that the division asserted the importance of selecting real experienced experts among its board members, in addition, they should have the required solutions for supporting and developing this industry in Egypt in the light of President Abdel Fattah Sisi’s announcement of establishing a city for gold and jewelry manufacturing for deepening this industry locally, alongside opening a school for gold products for providing the market with well educated, skilled, and trained workers.
Next, he pointed out that the division will follow the Presidential direction of demolishing all hindrances that face the gold industry locally, which cause increasing the production’s expenses, and weakening the competition of the local products in the world markets, alongside developing gold products designs and styles.
Wassef finally asserted that Egypt has all the required features to be a gold and jewelry manufacturing hub.
Contributed by Rana Atef


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Maine residents have become used to the top elected official in their state and his subordinates impugning the integrity and questioning the decision-making abilities of the state’s poorest residents. With President Donald Trump, the same tendencies are taking hold nationally.
His administration’s “Harvest Box” is a case in point.
The administration’s budget proposal introduced this winter includes a proposal to convert half of a household’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from a monetary benefit to be redeemed at participating retailers into a “USDA Foods package.” The package, referred to as “America’s Harvest Box,” would come with, in the Trump administration’s words, “shelf-stable milk, ready-to-eat cereals, pasta, peanut butter, beans and canned fruit, vegetables, and meat, poultry or fish.” It’s not entirely clear how those boxes would make their way to the homes of SNAP recipients. And while the administration says the foods would be nutritious, it’s not clear what nutrition standards would apply.
The harvest box’s primary feature, perhaps, is that it’s wrapped into an administration proposal to slash SNAP’s budget by 30 percent — meaning the nation’s poorest would be paying for Republican-backed tax cuts passed late last year by having less to eat.
About half of what they would still receive through SNAP would come in the form of the harvest box.
The approach has all sorts of problems.
First, low-income Americans have trouble affording nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, most Americans’ diets are deficient in fresh fruits and vegetables. The last thing most Americans need is more canned, “ready-to-eat” food. With half of their reduced benefits tied up in a harvest box, Americans with already diminished food budgets would be even less able to buy fresh, nutritious foods of their own choosing.
Second, the harvest box idea on its own is an insult to the nation’s low-income residents. It’s a message from their government that they’re not to be trusted to make their own food choices, when the choices SNAP recipients make aren’t that different from those made by everyone else. That low-income people’s food choices are better made by bureaucrats is a puzzling message from an administration that promised to “drain the swamp.”
Third, the harvest box might not even be easy to retrieve for many SNAP recipients. A one-page, U.S. Department of Agriculture handout on the proposal says, “States will be given substantial flexibility to distribute these food benefits to participants. States can distribute these boxes through existing infrastructure, partnerships, and/or directly to residences through commercial and/or retail delivery services.” With a crucial choice left up to states, there’s no guarantee the harvest boxes will be easily accessible to the people of limited means for whom they’re intended. Plus, there’s no indication of the harvest boxes’ distribution schedule.
In fact, with only broad generalities spelled out, many questions remain. How will the administration ensure only nutritious foods are making their way to SNAP recipients? How does a food qualify as nutritious — if a manufacturer says it is? Could the harvest box turn into a revenue opportunity for the USDA, with a different food manufacturer sponsoring each month’s foods package? If states do provide for the food boxes to be delivered door to door, how do they guard the privacy of SNAP recipients whose neighbors have no need to know that they’re recipients of government benefits?
It’s important to recognize that the harvest boxes are part of an effort to provide SNAP recipients with less. They’re a not so veiled attempt to treat low-income Americans as less than full participants in American society.
Follow BDN Editorial & Opinion on Facebook for the latest opinions on the issues of the day in Maine.


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The buyout comes months after Mindy Grossman left as CEO of HSN to take the reins of Weight Watchers. Under Grossman, HSN labored to build its e-commerce presence and remodel itself into a lifestyle community. It now derives half of its income from e-commerce, that includes greater than 50,000 products on its website along with broadcasting to more than 90 million households.
Unlike websites, cellular apps don’t have a visible indicator like https. Researchers have found that many mobile apps do not encrypt info properly, so it is a unhealthy thought to use sure types of mobile apps on unsecured Wi-Fi. If you propose to use a mobile app to conduct delicate transactions — like submitting your taxes, shopping with a bank card, or accessing your checking account — use a safe wi-fi network or your telephone’s knowledge community (often referred to as 3G or 4G). Consider altering the settings … Read more


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NEW DELHI | BENGALURU | MUMBAI: The expectations that Flipkart
's $1.4-billion funding round, announced on Monday, will once again lead to a discounting frenzy may fall far short of the mark.
While discounts and high customer-acquisition costs have underpinned the Indian ecommerce
sector, industry experts -entrepreneurs and analysts -have pointed out that, given the ongoing evolution of the industry, along with the high cost of capital, Indian online retailers will loathe to go down that path again.
"We probably won't see the same kind of discount wars as before, because it's not beneficial for any of them. Spending will be targeted towards adding more categories and building infrastructure. There will be discounts, no doubt, but it won't be like 2014," said Satish Meena, forecast analyst at Forrester Research
Flipkart's funding round, along with Amazon
's pledge to spend $5 billion in the country, has once again brought up visions of the ecommerce wars that dominated the Indian retail landscape between 2013-15. Fuelled by billions of dollars in strategic and financial capital, that period saw India's ecommerce majors, including Flipkart and Snapdeal
, spend massive amounts in enticing price-conscious Indian consumers to shop on their platforms, in their bids to dominate the Indian online retail market.
At its peak in 2015, Flipkart's monthly burn rate - the amount of money used to expand the business -was estimated at $80 million. Snapdeal's burn rate was estimated at about $25-30 million.
However, it is going to be more about spending 'smart' than spending big this time, according to experts.
"The focus on discounts has come down in the ecommerce space. The focus is on high quality GMV which gives them better margins and better customer experience," said Sujayath Ali, cofounder of fashion portal Voonik.
The expectation is that even overseas players such as Amazon and Alibaba will realign their strategies instead of following a scorched-earth policy of acquiring customers at all costs, especially in a geography like India where customers have shown little signs of stickiness.
"Discounting strategies have to change, because, ultimately, the challenge is when you take away the discounts, the customer disappears. I expect them to move into categories that will make the customer stick around, like private labels, or offering them better delivery and logistics support," said Pinaki Ranjan Mishra, partner consumer products and retail, EY. "Retail is a business of discounts and promotions. But those can't be the prime mover of sales."
Overall, the country's ecommerce industry has been working on its discounting strategy. According to Swati Bhargava, CEO of cashback and coupons company CashKaro, the mix of discounts on offer has changed. "For example, the number of good products on discount at 50% or more, has come down, while conservative 30% discount is available on a greater number of products now," she said.
"Number of products on high discounts has come down by almost 40% since 201415. Also, the online retailers have consolidated the number of sale events from close to seven events per year to four or five on an average," she said.
While easing off on discounts was partially forced by companies' investors, who over the last two years have forced them to focus more on unit economics and thereby shoring up their bottom-lines, there are other factors at play.
The maturing of the Indian consumer, along with greater trust established by the online retail platforms, has seen the average order value shoot up from Rs 1,400 in 2015, to Rs 2,000 in the latter half of 2016, according to an industry analyst.
"There is discounting, but the propensity to spend more online has also gone up, driven by greater customer experience, better technology, greater cataloguing and improved supply chain and logistics," said an analyst.


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The 1st quarter collection of Indirect Tax have re-instated the country’s faith that despite the high inflation in India and recession blues across the world the Indian economy is still on the rise.
Collections for April- June 2011 amount to approximately Rs 96,000 crore, about 30% more than last year’s collection for this period. A senior finance ministry official stated that ‘the high growth is encouraging, and would make up for the loss on account of Customs duty foregone on crude and petroleum products.’
Collections from Custom Duty in Q1 have risen by 34% as compared to last year and amounted to Rs 38,168. Excise Duty collections have risen by 25% to Rs 37,253 crore, and service tax by 34% to Rs 20,376 crore in this 1st quarter.
Tags: Tax News


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As Facebook is unbundling its Facebook Messenger capabilities, turning off messages within the main app, reaction from users has been swift and negative.
Much of the paranoia is fueled by a Huffington Post story from November 2013, as well as a post by a radio station in Houston — both written to stoke fear within Facebook users.
While Facebook Messenger on Android does ask for several permissions that seem privacy-invasive, these actions cannot happen without manual user action. Facebook Messenger will not call people on your behalf or alter your network for Mark Zuckerberg’s benefit.
So why does it all seem so invasive? Mashable has an amazing post breaking down every single permission the Messenger app asks for, explaining why the app needs them.
To figure out how to improve its Facebook for Android app, Facebook engineers traveled to Africa to test the app on a low-bandwidth network.
They ate through their monthly data plan in 40 minutes.
So developers worked to make Facebook for Android less reliant on data and more logical for users in countries that don’t have major data plans. The company also made the app itself smaller, taking up less room on the phone.
Facebook appears to be testing a new design for the Android app that is somewhat similar to the iOS version.
This new version — first noticed by Blink Vice President of Planning and Media Eti Suruzon on AllFacebook — has the status update, photo & check-in buttons at the bottom of the screen with a new organization for News Feed, messages and notifications.
Click below to see the design Facebook is testing for Android.
It looks like Facebook may be testing a new design for its flagship Android app, bringing home some visual elements — namely, more white — present in its Messenger app.
Inside Facebook reader Thodoris Konsoulas of Greece noticed that the Facebook for Android design is markedly different, as seen above. He is not in the Facebook for Android beta testing group, he noted.
We’ve reached out to Facebook about this and will update the story if we hear back.
Facebook on Tuesday launched a test of a drastic redesign to its Messenger for Android app, making it faster and less data-hungry. Previous versions of Messenger have integrated texting, but it is a major feature of this update.
Mark Zuckerberg has said that different kinds of content will be available on Facebook Home. That’s coming soon, as Facebook announced Thursday that beta testers of Android will see highly visual content from Instagram, as well as Pinterest, Tumblr and Flickr on the Facebook Home cover feed.
Users who are within the Android beta test group can swipe through Home to see content from these apps.
Facebook released a minor update to its Android app Wednesday, bringing the structured status updates to more users and giving Android users more access to privacy information.
Now, similar to its education on desktop, Android users can easily tap through to figure out how to control privacy settings on posts and figure out how to block or report harassing users.
One of the most hotly-requested features is finally coming to Facebook: the ability to edit posts.
Previously, users could edit their own comments, but there was no way to go back to fix a typo or mistake in a post without deleting it.
An update for Facebook’s Android app now allows users a re-do. By tapping the carrot in the top-right corner of the post, mobile users can edit the text. This will soon be available for the web and for Facebook’s iOS app.
Facebook told Inside Facebook that this feature, “will be available on upcoming events on Pages & photo album creations.”
Users have had the ability to edit text on photo posts, but now they can do so on link posts and status updates.
Update the Android app here. Update the iOS app here.
Readers: How happy are you that this capability is available now?
Although many consumers have branded Facebook Home (the social network’s Android platform) a flop, the program still has a very important fan — CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg told a packed crowd at TechCrunch Disrupt Wednesday that Facebook is still fully supportive of Home, and teased that Instagram and other social content will be coming to the cover feed soon.
Facebook made a big push with Home in April, but many users who downloaded Home were frustrated and unsure of what exactly it was. Many people complained through Google Play reviews that Home was taking over their phone, quickly deleting it.
Kate Jhaveri, formerly Facebook’s head of consumer and mobile marketing, started her new job Tuesday at Twitter, where she is now the senior director of consumer marketing, according to AllThingsD.
Jhaveri spent three years at Facebook, where she led marketing for the company’s preferred marketing developers program, as well as platform and credits. Prior to Facebook, Jhaveri spent seven years doing marketing for Microsoft, and a year with Apple.
Jhaveri was the main person behind the marketing push for Facebook Home, the social network’s Android platform.
Facebook confirmed Jhaveri’s departure to AllThingsD:
Kate was a valuable member of Facebook’s team and we wish her the best of luck in the future.
Image courtesy of AllThingsD.


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Coffee is a stimulating drink that can improve your mood and reduce the risk of depression. It can also increase alertness, energy, and ability to concentrate. Some studies reveal that coffee may help reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Research suggests that 75 mg of caffeine (the equivalent of a cup of coffee) every four hours can result in a pattern of sustained improvement in mood throughout the day, as shared by the Institute of Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC).
Coffee has hundreds of biologically active compounds including caffeine and polyphenols that act as antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. Both caffeine and polyphenols can have effects on brain health.
The Harvard School of Public Health shares that the polyphenols found in coffee can act as antioxidants to reduce oxidative damage and inflammation of cells. Which can have neurological benefits in some people and act as an antidepressant.
“There is evidence that coffee polyphenols can cross the blood-brain barrier, exert anti-neuroinflammatory effects and even promote neurogenesis, which results in a reduction in the risk of cognitive and affective disorders ”, says Giuseppe Grosso, professor at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania.
Caffeine can also affect mental states, such as increasing alertness and attention, reducing anxiety, and improving mood.
Harvard shares that a meta-analysis of different studies that included 330,677 participants found a 24% reduction in the risk of depression associated with an intake of four to five cups of coffee.
A study published in Plos One in 2014 that followed 263,923 participants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Retirees Association found that those who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day were nearly 10% less likely to become depressed than those that they did not drink anything.
Excessive coffee consumption can have negative effects
While moderate coffee consumption can be beneficial for the brain, consuming too much has been associated with smaller total brain volumes and an increased risk of dementia as shown in a recent study by researchers at the University of South Australia.
Moderate coffee consumption is considered between three and five cups per day. The suggested healthy adult caffeine intake is up to 400 mg of caffeine. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains approximately 95 mg of caffeine.
Too much caffeine can have negative effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and increased heart rate.
Pregnant women should consume less than 200 mg of caffeine per day, the amount in 2 cups of coffee. Caffeine passes through the placenta to the fetus and has been associated with pregnancy loss and low birth weight.
It may interest you:
–5 best foods for the brain, according to science
–4 foods and drinks that can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s
–Drinking coffee daily: what are the types of cancer it can prevent
–6 Healthier Ways to Drink Coffee, According to Nutritionists


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Samsung Electronics Managing Director Chung Kwang-ryul received a special award
of the 2013 First Brand Awards on behalf of Samsung Electronics.
The Customers Council on Brand Evaluation (CCBE) held the 2013 First Brand Awards ceremony at the Seoul Hyatt Hotel grand ballroom on Jan. 22. The event attracted approximately 400 people, including award winners and representatives of consumer organizations. Among those on hand at the ceremony were CCBE Chairman Yoon Eun-ki and Lee Jang-woo, chairman of Jay Brand Marketing Group.
During the event, emceed by former KBS-TV announcer Kim Hyun-wook, 49 brands won the 2013 First Brand Awards. The award winners were selected through on-line and off-line vote outcomes. The award-winning brands include Paris Baguette, which got the honor for the 10th consecutive year, as well as KT Kumbo Rent-a-car, Shinhan Bank, the two which won the award for the ninth consecutive year. On the awards list for eight years in a row are Mirae Asset Management,; Zi, the brand for GS E&C,; and Commax, an electronics maker. The red ginseng brand, Junggwanjang won the 2013 First Brand Award for the seventh consecutive year while Shinhan Card got the honor for the sixth consecutive time.
The First Brand Awards went to Chatelaine and Yonsei Milk of Yonsei University. Ulsan Metropolitan City Installment Management Corp., Cafe Tospia and Care Sense each won the First Brand Awards for the second straight year. ING Life Insurance, SKIN 79 and Inavi Black became the First Brand Awards winners this year for the first time.
Special awards went to YG Entertainment, Kakao Talk, Samsung Electronics, Uniqlo Heat-teck and superstar entertainer Song Jung-ki. Samsung Electronics Managing Director Chung Kwang-ryul received the special award on behalf of Samsung Electronics.
Winners of the 2013 First Brand Awards pose for a group photo session
after receiving their prizes at an awards ceremony.
The awards ceremony coincided with a ceremony to induct superstar singer Sohyang as a PR ambassador for the Korea Consumers’ Forum (KCF). The singer performed at the event. The singer said “I’m very happy for me to be inducted as a PR ambassador for the KCF.” She went on saying that she will extend her utmost in not only publicizing First Brand Awards but also providing support as one of consumers.
The 2013 First Brand Awards, marking the 11th anniversary featured a concept “Jumping Together” among company and consumer. True to the concept, a select group of 100 consumer representatives who evaluated the First Brand Awards participated in the event.


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TOKYO — Retailers in Japan saw mixed sales in August, as unseasonably cool weather stunted sales of summer items but helped to boost the movement of fall styles.Fast Retailing said Monday that same-store sales at its Uniqlo stores in Japan fell 3.4 percent last month. While the average purchase per customer inched up 0.7 percent, customer numbers were down by 4.1 percent.“Same-store sales dipped year on year in August as unseasonal weather weakened demand for summer items,” the company said in a release.Fast Retailing has not opened a new Uniqlo store in Japan since April. After closing two locations last month, it now operates a total of 790 Uniqlo units across the country.Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings said same-store sales among its eight stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area grew 6.5 percent in August, the third straight month of sales growth. Japan’s largest department store operator saw the biggest gains come from its stores in urban centers. Sales at the Mitsukoshi store in Tokyo’s Ginza area were up 17.9 percent in August, while those from the Isetan flagship in Tokyo’s Shinjuku grew 9.3 percent.August sales among Takashimaya’s 17 department stores in Japan grew 4.1 percent on the year.“Temperatures in August continued to be lower than most years, and we saw movement among autumn clothing items such as jackets,” the retailer said. “There was also growth among big-ticket items and tax-free sales, leading to overall higher sales than the same month last year.”H2O Retailing, which operates the Hankyu and Hanshin chains of department stores, said same-stores sales gained 5.4 percent last month. The Hankyu flagship store in Osaka’s Umeda district saw its sales rise by 10.1 percent. It was the ninth consecutive month of sales growth for the Hankyu and Hanshin stores.J. Front Retailing’s Daimaru and Matsuzakaya department stores saw their August sales rise by 3.6 percent. They were given a big boost by the Daimaru store in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi neighborhood, where sales were up 20.1 percent compared with the same month last year.“While the start of the women’s fall fashion season was slow, sales of men's wear, accessories and food products were bullish, and cosmetics, luxury brand goods, fine art and jewelry all saw large growth in sales,” J. Front said.
“I design by visualization. I see things, and most of the time they’re not practical to actually make, and what I’ve found here, it’s like anything’s possible. This is the first time that I’ve made a sole unit in two months. That process usually would take six, so here’s a difference,” said @virgilabloh of the first sneaker sample he created for @louisvuitton, pictured here. Abloh spoke to WWD about his debut collection for Louis Vuitton, creating @kendalljenner’s #metgala outfit and redefining the heritage brand. Read the full story on WWD.com. #wwdfashion (📷: @alfredo_piola)
The world’s largest producer of denim @iskodenim is sharing the strategy behind its product development process. Read our full interview with ISKO’s product development manager Baris Ozden on the company’s extensive research practices, upcoming denim trends and the latest material innovations on WWD.com. #iskodenim
“I genuinely fell in love with water, I fell in love with Fiji, I fell in love with the whole life that we lived for those few months,” says @mrsamclaflin of filming for his new movie “Adrift” with @shailenewoodley. The 31-year-old actor spoke with WWD about his upcoming projects, meeting Jamie Dornan and working with co-star Woodley. #wwdeye (📷: @jamstoker)
3 years ago, fans of the late singer Aaliyah started calling for a collaboration with @maccosmetics. With the strength of social media — including mock ups of products — 25,000 people signed a Change.org petition for a limited-edition collection, and MAC couldn’t ignore the buzz. Tomorrow, MAC will unveil MAC x Aaliyah, a tribute to the singer who passed away nearly 17 years ago. Head to our stories to preview the new collection, which was worked on by Aaliyah’s family and inspired directly by her makeup bag. #wwdbeauty
Artistic director @clarewaightkeller will be dedicating @givenchyofficial’s fall 2018 couture show in Paris on July 1 to house founder Hubert de Givenchy, who passed away in March at age 91. Givenchy said the collection would be “an homage to his iconic creations, technique, and personal lexicon” and a “celebration of his timeless elegance and grace.” Head to WWD.com to read more. #wwdfashion (📷: Delphine Achard)
La Double J made a name for itself with its vintage-inspired prints, but for resort, designer JJ Martin has ventured into new territory: enter rich jewel toned solids and decadent embellishment, in the form of appliqués, crystals and sequins. #wwdfashion #resort19 #ladoublej
This Just In: J. Crew Group has named Johanna Uurasjarvi as its chief design officer.
Uurasjarvi succeeds Somsack Sikhounmuong, who left the company last September. Tap the link in bio for the full report. #wwdnews
“She came into my hotel room and she was like, ‘I have Chanel and Christian Dior.’ She was like, ‘Chanel likes you.’ And I was like, ‘I’m going to start crying,’” breakout star Maddie Hasson tells WWD of her styling sessions Molly Dickson. “I really like classic, elegant things. I love the way Anna Wintour dresses.” Read more about Hasson’s role in @impulseseries on wwd.com. (📸: @jgreenery ) #wwdeye
@virgilabloh revealed he's working with Australian stylist and
Vogue Australia fashion director @christinecentenera for his debut @louisvuitton men's collection, which will be presented in Paris on June 21. Centenera met Abloh while both working with Kanye West, where she consulted on his all his runway collections since his debut spring 2012 women's wear show. Read the full story on WWD.com. #wwdfashion #wwdnews (📷: @asussmanphoto)


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Vietnam’s import market for commercial-grade hot rolled coil has rebounded. Buyers acceded to higher prices after Chinese steel futures picked up.
Deals for 3-12mm thickness SS400 HRC struck at $580-590/tonne CFR Vietnam after bottoming out at $550/t CFR at the end of the week through 22 July. The $550/t CFR could have been a trader’s position cargo, though, some market participants say. “The price of $550/t did not hold for long. I do not know of anyone who booked at $550,” a trader in Ho Chi Minh City says. She believes the market ebbed at $570/t CFR instead.
Offers for SS400 HRC from China have now been lifted to $605-620/t CFR. Chinese traders say they are seeing some bids at $600/t CFR. A 1,000-tonne September shipment cargo was booked at $600/t CFR on 29 July, a Chinese trader reports.
Vietnam’s Hoa Phat has nearly sold out its HRC allocations, a company source said on Friday. “The market picked up since Wednesday,” he added. The mill pegged its September/October shipments at $610/t CFR Vietnam. Buyers prefer buying domestically because they can order smaller tonnages and delivery times are shorter.
Traders have mixed views about the current price run-up. The Vietnamese trader deems $600/t to be “reasonable” because “market demand and the global economy are still bad”. Another Vietnamese trader thinks the market “should be able to rise more till $650/t”.
Meanwhile, limited imported offers for re-rolling HRC are heard in Vietnam. Indian SAE 1006 HRC was last heard concluded at $610/t CFR Vietnam during the 22 July week. Material from the same mill is currently offered at $600/t CFR, a Vietnamese trader reports. In Malaysia, a leading South Korean mill is offering HRC at $630/t CFR base for all grades, for 10,000t orders for September shipment. “Buyers are bidding at $600/t CFR,” a Taiwanese trader says.
Re-rollers are sitting on large HRC inventories because extremely weak domestic and export demand for coated steel is slowing down consumption. Re-rollers are holding stocks booked at $900-950/t, whereas prices are now at $620-650/t, a regional trader notes. These re-rollers would have to mitigate the price differential, he says. But he does not foresee any rebound soon because he expects the Chinese market to remain flat for the next 2-3 months.


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Microsoft is to increase search market share in China by powering China Telecom’s new search engine called 114 (114.vnet.cn) through the new Windows Live Search (later changed to Microsoft Bing search engine).
The 114 search engine provides web search and 4 search verticals:
- Forum search
- Blog search
- News search
Search engine revenues generated through the 114 search engine will be shared by China’s Telecom (70%) and Microsoft (30%),
In 2007, 70% revenues will go to China’s Telecom and 30% to Microsoft.
In 2007, 50% revenues will go to China’s Telecom and 50% to Microsoft.
Microsoft will also pay China Telecom an once-off income of 21 million US dollar (unconfirmed figure). Microsoft will be tabbing into China Telecom’s customer base of 25 million broadband users and over 80 million Internet users.


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Retail News Breaks
Legislation takes aim at 'medicine cabinet tax'
November 6th, 2013
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate has introduced a bill to repeal a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that requires consumers to get a prescription to use a medical savings account to buy over-the-counter medicine.
The Restoring Access to Medication Act (S. 1647), introduced Tuesday by Sens. Pat Roberts (R., Kan.) and Mary Landrieu (D., La.), would eliminate section 9003 of the PPACA and restore the ability of people with flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) to use those funds to purchase OTC drugs without a doctor's prescription. Prior to Jan. 1, 2011, consumers had been able to use medical savings account funds to buy OTCs.
S. 1647 is a companion bill to House legislation (H.R. 2835) introduced in July by Reps. Lynn Jenkins (R., Kan.) and John Barrow (D., Ga.).
"This prohibition takes away choice and flexibility from individuals about how to manage their health care expenses and adds yet another burden to physicians," Roberts said in a statement. "Rather than promoting cost-effectiveness and accessibility, this provision directs people to potentially more costly, less convenient, and more time-consuming alternatives."
Almost 50 million Americans participate in FSAs and other health savings accounts, according to Roberts. The accounts let individuals set aside money each year on a pretax basis to pay for health care expenses, such as co-payments, and other health care outlays not covered by insurance, such prescriptions or OTC medications.
He noted that the Restoring Access to Medication Act is supported by a broad coalition of groups, including such organizations as the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Community Pharmacists Association, CVS Caremark, Food Marketing Institute, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Perrigo, National Grocers Association, American Medical Association, AARP, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Dental Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, American Osteopathic Association, BlueCross BlueShield Association and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"Thanks to the leadership of Sens. Roberts and Landrieu, there is now bipartisan, bicameral support for a change to the PPACA that would restore consumers' rights to spend their FSA and HSA dollars on any medicine they need," stated Scott Melville, president and chief executive officer of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA). "When the president and leaders of both parties sit down to negotiate improvements to the PPACA, we believe this commonsense legislation should be at the top of their list."
The bipartisan legislation marks another attempt to repeal the controversial PPACA provision. The House and Senate had introduced companion bills in July 2011 (the Restoring Access to Medication Act, H.R. 2529 and S. 1368) and in February 2011 (the Patients' Freedom to Choose Act, H.R. 605 and S. 312), but those measures stalled in committee.
Last week, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued a notice modifying the provision's "use or lose" rule. The change allows participants in employer-sponsored, health care flexible spending arrangements to carry over up to $500 of unused balances from one year to the next without penalty. The Treasury and IRS said the modification stemmed from public feedback, with people reporting difficulty in predicting future medical expenses and, consequently, being hesitant to use such accounts for fear of losing money.
"We are encouraged by the [Obama] administration's recent decision to permit FSA participants to roll over up to $500 from one year to the next, but we feel that more needs to be done to ensure that FSA and HSA users are not penalized by the 'medicine cabinet tax,' " Melville stated.
CHPA reported that, on average, doctors say about 10% of office visits result from minor ailments that could be self-managed by patients, including by using OTCs — amounting to more than 40 million appointments each year that could be avoided.
The association noted that OTC medicines are readily available in a wide range of retail outlets — including pharmacies, supermarkets and convenience stores — and that a January 2012 study by Booz & Co. estimated that OTCs provide $102 billion in savings to the U.S. health care system annually, realized via reduced doctor visits ($77 billion) and lower drug costs ($25 billion).
"Millions of American families have previously relied on flexible spending accounts and other tax-preferred arrangements to purchase affordable and convenient over-the-counter medication," commented Bruce Josten, executive vice president for government affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Passing this bill is critically important to the estimated 19 million working Americans who rely on voluntary contributions of pretax dollars to FSAs to help meet their basic health care needs, including the purchase of safe, affordable OTC medicines."
More Retail News Breaks >>


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Eastern lobster may encounter delays at the border
YARMOUTH, N.S. — Tighter trade measures are on the horizon for Nova Scotian lobster fishermen which will slow their shipment deliveries to the lucrative U.S. markets.
U.S. customs officials want to know who will be driving the forklift and who will be walking by the open truck that will eventually travel across the border to deliver lobster to New England markets this fall.
The world’s largest lobster fishery opens off southwestern Nova Scotia in late November, and will be implementing a new program, the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). This program, introduced only five months ago, will be applied to all fish plants, and is designed to secure the supply chain of imports into the U.S.
Whether or not a 24-hour patrol of fish compounds is necessary is done on a case by case basis, once presented with the situation, customs will decide.
Trucks from companies belonging to the C-TPAT partnership will be able to pass through border crossings with relative ease in a separate lane for pre-cleared vehicles. But companies that aren’t members will likely find their trucks encountering lengthy delays and thorough searches at the border.
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.


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The current restrictions mean many will have to keep their doors shut for this weekend’s Small Business Saturday – an event that generated £800m across the UK last year.
Despite the enforced closures in Leeds and elsewhere, it is still possible to buy local and help small businesses.
Many have developed new ways of reaching customers – either online or via telephone orders and deliveries. So, it’s really worth trying to see if you can support them through these tough times.
By shopping local we can all play our part in helping small businesses, and those who work for them, emerge from this pandemic.
In my Leeds West constituency, we have some amazing small ventures like Cake Craft in Armley, Always Flowers in Bramley, The Beulah in Farnley and Woodrup Cycles in Burley.
But the Government must also play its part. It needs to do far more to help all those suffering due to the pandemic, especially in sectors like hospitality and retail which saw a total of 25,000 jobs put at risk with the planned closure of Debenhams stores in Leeds and across the country, and the collapse of Topshop owner Arcadia.
Boris Johnson and the Conservatives are keeping business close to home – but in a very different and damaging way to those shoppers backing small businesses.
I have been appalled at how the Conservatives have handed out multi-million pound contracts to their wealthy friends and donors who are profiting from this pandemic, while our public services continue to be starved of cash.
In one case, a former Conservative councillor, whose firm racked up a loss of almost £500,000 last year, landed Government contracts totalling £276m for personal protective equipment.
The process did not even require a competitive tender. Now, we learn from media reports the same Tory councillor has bought a country estate, a holiday home and house for his parents.
Then, there was the businessman who won a contract to supply millions of vials for Covid-19 tests after an exchange on WhatsApp with Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The fact he had no previous experience producing medical supplies was clearly not a problem.
The Government even created a special “VIP” channel for contacts to gain special access to contracts. All this came on top of the billions wasted because they had failed to prepare stockpiles for a pandemic like Covid-19. More stories of Conservative cronyism are emerging all the time.
In my Shadow Cabinet role, I will continue to hold the Government to account over its chumocracy when it comes to Covid contracts and its refusal to acknowledge the serious shortcomings of outsourcing firms like Serco which has botched the delivery of the national contact tracing programme.
The Government’s failure to give adequate support to businesses or our communities could not come at a worse time. As well as coping with the pandemic, there are just a few days before the end of the post-Brexit transition period. Yet, we still have no clarity about the government’s preparations for our borders.
With the Road Haulage Association predicting something “between shocking and a catastrophe”, there is a risk of lorries getting stuck in miles-long traffic jams and of serious disruption.
I have repeatedly asked my opposite number, Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, how many customs officials have been recruited out of the 50,000 he said were needed. His failure to come clean has left British business facing a huge headache.
The uncertainty of the end of the transition period coupled with the impact of Covid -19 comes at a critical time for businesses planning for what should be their busiest trading period.
However, Christmas will also be an immensely challenging time this year for many who suffer from an epidemic of a different kind – loneliness.
In memory of my friend Jo Cox, I have worked with the Jo Cox Foundation, set up after her murder in 2016, to continue Jo’s brilliant work on social isolation. According to a Royal Voluntary Service poll, one in five people fear they will not see anyone this Christmas and 16 per cent are “dreading” the holiday.
As part of this month’s Great Winter Get Together organised by the Foundation, everyone is being encouraged to get in touch with friends and neighbours who might need support.
It is a fantastic idea and we should do all we can to help avoid people feeling lonely – not just at Christmas, but all year round. Groups like Armley Helping Hands are delivering food parcels and prescriptions to vulnerable people, while Bramley Elderly Action is staging virtual quizzes and a Christmas variety show.
By supporting each other, particularly the lonely and the vulnerable, we can look forward to a better 2021. I hope you all have a peaceful and safe Christmas.
Rachel Reeves is a senior Shadow Cabinet Minister and Labour MP for Leeds West.
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The first ever lawsuit concerning risks of nanotechnology was filed in federal court last month when several groups jointly sued the US Food and Drug Administration for its lack of response to a 2006 petition demanding that products with nanomaterials be labeled and their affects tested for safety.
Led by the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA), plaintiffs also include Friends of the Earth, Food and Water Watch, the Center for Environmental Health, the ETC Group, and the Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy (IATP).
‘It is unacceptable that the FDA continues to allow unregulated and unlabeled nanomaterials to be used in products consumers use every day,’ said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch. ‘It is past time for this agency to live up to its mission and protect public health by assessing the health and environmental risks of nanomaterials, and to require labeling so that consumers know where these new materials are being used.’
Based on the scientific literature so far, several hundred products should be recalled due to their toxicity to lab animals and bacteria.
Much of the 2011 complaint argues that because nanomaterials are patented, and exhibit novel characteristics unique to their size, they clearly represent new substances requiring regulation and safety tests. Plaintiffs demand a recall on all such products until their safety is proven.
Consumer groups including some of the same plaintiffs in the current lawsuit also filed petitions urging nanotech regulation with the Environmental Protection Agency back in 2006 and 2008, reports the Chemical Regulation Reporter.
USE LINK FOR FULL STORY


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Microsoft and Monopoly: This Time, Google/Yahoo Is the Culprit
\Alanis Morrissette made the word "ironic" famous in her song "Isn't
It Ironic?" Well, Microsoft may be the black fly in Google and Yahoo's
chardonnay as Redmond is trying to get the U.S. Congress to put the kibosh on
the Google/Yahoo ad deal. According to Microsoft, the deal would create
a monopoly in Web ads
, as the duo would control some 90 percent of the market.
Here's the ironic(al) part. Microsoft has been trying to buy Yahoo and ultimately
wants to corner that same market. And what kind of share does Microsoft have
in desktop operating systems, productivity suites and browsers? Isn't that ironic,
don't you think?
What do you think? Shoot your thoughts, ironic or not, to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on July 16, 2008 at 11:52 AM


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Join us for our annual Taste Of Patchogue event on Thursday, May 25th from 4:30-7:30 PM to Benefit The Patchogue Neighbor's Inn. Enjoy a night out to support a great cause with samples from a large variety of local restaurants who will be serving up delicious eats. Live music will be filling the air all night! To see the list of participating restaurants visit tasteofpatchogue.com We hope you come out to support The Patchogue Neighbor's Inn and help fight hunger…Find out more »
Bring a Chair and Blanket and enjoy the movie with your family. Open to the public. New Village at Patchogue Village Green Area.Find out more »
All are welcome to join us for holiday treats, carolers, a visit from Santa and a showing of the Polar Express on the Village Green. We encourage all of those attending to bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Tree lighting will take place at 6:15Find out more »
Take a stroll around Patchogue to see the festive window displays of the merchants that have added some holiday cheer to help get you into the spirit of the season. On Saturday, December 16, judges will determine the best display and the winning business receives the coveted Leg Lamp Award to proudly display for the year! The winner will be announced via Facebook Live at 7 p.m. (Dec. 16). Participating locations include: The Amazing Olive Patchogue • Artisan Kaiser •…Find out more »
sponsored events | New Village at Patchogue is getting set to host its big annual tree-lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 30, complete with a visit from Santa, holiday treats and hot chocolate. The event starts at 5 p.m., with the lighting at 5:30 p.m. It appears the outdoor moving screening will not be happening, due to the proximity of the always-packed parade. New Village staffers will be collecting toys for the United Methodist Church of Patchogue drive. Scroll down for a…Find out more »
Bookmark, add to Favorites, share, or just remember our calendar rocks and you should check it whenever you’re looking to paint the town red.


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This week it became known that Lei Jun, the founder and CEO of Xiaomi, stepped down as chairman of the board of Xiaomi Electronics.
Many misunderstood the information, thinking that Lei Jun was leaving the company completely. Wang Hua, General Manager of Public Relations of Xiaomi, has clarified the news of Lei Jun’s departure from the chairmanship of Xiaomi Electronics.
According to official information, Lei Jun stepped down as the head of only the electronics division and did not completely leave the Chinese technology company. He also added that the founder of Xiaomi is focusing on the car division.
Lei Jun also made additional comments on his Weibo social media page, adding that Xiaomi Group has a large number of subsidiaries. Thus, there are frequent changes in the board of directors of these subsidiaries. Jun said that his departure from the chairmanship of Xiaomi Electronics should not be taken as something radical. Although this division is a significant part of the brand, the Xiaomi Group as a whole is much more than just a consumer electronics division.


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FIEGE steps up contingency concept to provide essential supplies during corona crisis
Emergency warehouses to secure supply chains while Flexfillment online platform swiftly arranges warehouse space
The logistics service provider FIEGE is implementing additional steps under its contingency plan following the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. The goal is to strategically distribute stocks of vital supplies while observing special safety requirements and securing supply chains. This includes pharmaceutical and medical supplies as well as food and crucial production materials. Following a successful pilot in Apfelstädt near Erfurt, a further three locations will be converted into emergency warehouses. FIEGE simultaneously launched Flexfillment, an online portal which doubles as a digital exchange for storage capacities. The platform for on-demand warehousing allows logistics providers and retailers as well as manufacturers to offer available capacities as of now.
“The implementation of our logistical contingency plan is running at full speed”, Felix Fiege, Chairman of the FIEGE Group says. “Following the concept’s successful execution in Apfelstädt in February and considering that all available capacities have already been taken up in the meantime, a further three emergency warehouses located will launch.” All locations meet special hygiene, safety and training requirements. Moreover, the concept provides for critical supplies being prioritised and, if needed, being distributed across multiple locations.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a firm grasp on large parts of Europe, the supply of healthcare facilities is an overriding concern. “Our emergency warehouses give us access to a GDP-certified transport network from our HealthCare business unit. Our ten 24/7 healthcare hubs based throughout the whole of Germany are also in use. They guarantee deliveries to hospitals, doctors’ offices and pharmacies in the Germany-Austria-Switzerland region within a four-hour timeframe”, Felix Fiege explains. To safeguard the supply chain for other essential supplies across Europe, the logistics company will consistently strive to advance its contingency plan. The third stage is to convert an additional nine locations into emergency warehouses by the end of April.
A further step of the contingency concept is the development of the Flexfillment online portal. The platform flexibly brokers warehouse capacities and is available free of charge for logistics providers and businesses. The market is currently experiencing a substantial imbalance. On one hand capacities have been freed following production stops while on the other an exceptional demand persists in, e.g. the supply of vital supplies. Jens Fiege, Chairman of the Board, explains: “We wish to link up companies that urgently require storage capacities with logistics providers that can offer available storage space at short notice.” This is to help optimise supply chains, reduce transport routes and avoid vacant spaces. For the available storage capacities to comply with coronavirus-related hygiene standards, FIEGE has defined its own set of standards which Flexfillment users can commit to.
FIEGE offers this free service to meet its social responsibility as a family business and logistics company. In the case of a successful match, businesses can donate to the company’s foundation, the Josef Fiege Stiftung, on a pay-what-you-want precept. The monies thus collected will later be donated to a social project aimed to combat the fallout from the coronavirus.
“Our team’s motto these days is: #wekeepitrunning – I believe that this applies to the entire industry. We extend our gratitude to the many truck drivers, delivery agents and team players who ‘keep things running’ at the logistics hubs”, Jens Fiege adds.


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Founded by Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, Big Chicken has been making big moves since it first opened its doors in 2018 in Las Vegas. It’s now opening this week in Houston, at 9660 Westheimer Road, marking the state’s first traditional Big Chicken location. It joins the brand’s pre-existing location in Austin’s Moody Center.
“Since the moment we signed the agreement with Big Chicken, we couldn’t wait to open our first restaurant,” Fazil Malik, co-owner of the restaurant with Frank Malik and Noordin Jhaver, said in a press release. “They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and Big Chicken’s BIG food, BIG flavor and BIG fun are no exception. We look forward to introducing folks across the state to Shaquille’s home-cooked favorites.”
The Houston store is part of a 50-unit deal with the Maliks and Jhaver, who intend to bring the Big Chicken name to communities all over the Lone Star State
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Fazil, Frank and Noordin,” Josh Halpern, CEO of Big Chicken, said in the release. “We knew from the get-go that these three were going to be all-star owners, and the best people to expand Big Chicken into Texas. We look forward to supporting them in their growth as they expand in major cities across the state.”


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‘No Plastic Bag on Monday Campaign’ was launched in June 2010 with the aim to reduce plastic bag usage in the city. Not long after that, it has been extended to three days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays.
The campaign had attracted many participants and a total of RM267,090.86 has been collected by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall through the sale of plastic bags to shoppers since its ‘No Plastic Bag on Monday Campaign’ was launched.
According to the City Mayor, Datuk Abidin Madingkir, the money was given to the Environmental Action Centre (EAC) to carry out its environmental programmes.
Recently, the “3R Programme: Zero Waste for a Greener Environment” was launched and Abidin said the campaign was well received by consumers. There were also proposals from the public to extend the campaign from the present three days a week to a daily basis.
Abidin has encouraged shoppers to bring their own bio-degradable plastic bags, which not only save cost but also contribute to environmental conservation by reducing pollution.


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Beautycounter is as much about what’s out of its products and distribution network as what is in them.
Launched earlier this week, the brand is based on the promise that there won’t be anything in its products that’s linked to cancer, reproductive harm or cell damage. They don’t contain 1,300 chemical ingredients banned in the European Union for cosmetic use and 11 that are banned or restricted in the U.S. — and they leave out fillers that don’t serve a clear purpose.
“There is a gap in the marketplace for products that are stylish, sophisticated and chic, and safe for the environment and your health. I believe women shouldn’t have to compromise,” said Gregg Renfrew, chief executive officer and founder of Beautycounter. “At the core of our business is a social agenda to bring products to the market that don’t require women to make a choice about their health.”
Beautycounter is starting with 15 face, hair and body products priced from $18 to $68, including Routine Clean Cream Cleanser, Any Time Eye Cream, Gentle Exfoliator Polishing Cream, Glow Sugar Scrub, Clean Everyday Shampoo, Rinse Everyday Conditioner and face oils in calendula, jasmine and ylang-ylang and wild chamomile varieties. Beautycounter’s goal is to be transparent about what’s in all the products.
“We really build the products ingredient by ingredient,” said vice president of creative design Christy Coleman, a well-known makeup artist with a client list that includes Emmy Rossum, Heidi Klum and Miranda Kerr. “For each ingredient, we ask ourselves, ‘Is that ingredient safe? Do we need it for the performance?’”
To sell its products, Beautycounter is skipping retail and going to straight to women to organize a direct sales force to spread the word about its safe skin care and cosmetics. Renfrew emphasizes the direct sales force will be suited to the digital age with consultants being given Web pages when they sign up and encouraged to leverage their social media network followings to raise awareness about Beautycounter.
Consultants pay $85 for an initial kit, which gives them business tools and marketing materials, as well as 25 percent savings on product purchases, and $10 of that amount goes to one of three charities: the Environmental Working Group, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Healthy Child Healthy World. Consultants can earn up to 35 percent of the retail sales volume they generate.
“We really look at our business model as a social selling business model. We have taken the best of direct traditional selling and enhanced it with social media,” said Renfrew. “We want to allow people to buy our products and sell our products in a variety of different ways.”
Beautycounter has hired executives with expertise in direct sales to help put its business model into action. Both chief operating officer Steve Raack and vice president of sales Gina Murphy gained experience in direct sales at Arbonne International. “We think we have put together a very lucrative plan, and people will be able to make a great living for themselves,” said Renfrew. “We are focused on getting a core team together of strong consultants. We believe that we will have more than 500 people selling for us in the first year. We have already gotten such an unbelievable response.”
Before Beautycounter, Renfrew was ceo and chairman of online wedding gift registry The Wedding List, which was sold to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in 2001, and ceo of children’s wear retailer Best & Co. She was able to tap the connections she acquired while at those businesses — and in consulting after them — to put together an expansive group of investors. Renfrew declined to divulge how much money the brand has raised.
The investors in Beautycounter are TomorrowVentures; New England Development; United Talent Agency owner Jeremy Zimmer; Stanford Business School’s Peter Kelly and Harold Irving Grousbeck, co-owner of the Boston Celtics; former Toms Shoes chief strategy and mission officer Candice Kislack, and Ziffren Brittenham law firm partners P.J. Shapiro, Matthew Johnson and Bryan Wolf. Wolf, Kislack, TomorrowVentures managing partner Court Coursey and Margot Fooshee, formerly senior vice president of marketing and public relations at J. Crew Group, sit on Beautycounter’s board.
Although Renfrew wouldn’t discuss sales projections for Beautycounter, industry sources estimated the brand could reach $2 million in first-year sales. It is expected to branch out into makeup this fall and antiaging skin care in the first quarter of next year.
There'll be no rest for those headed to Europe for men's, as Paris just closed the gap with Milan. According to a provisional calendar released by the Chambre Syndicale, Paris Men's Week will now open a day earlier on January 16. See new highlights on the official lineup on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
BREAKING: Jonathan Saunders is leaving @DVF. The designer has resigned from his position as chief creative officer of Diane von Furstenberg, the company said in a statement on Friday. At the time of his hire, von Furstenberg said Saunders’ arrival symbolized and facilitated her stepping back from the day-to-day duties that occupy the work of a full-time creative director. The British designer joined DVF in May 2016 and was in charge of all product categories. #wwdnews
For @versace_official’s spring ad campaign, the brand emphasized the archival prints from the spring tribute collection dedicated to the late Gianni Versace. Closing out the show were five of Gianni’s favorite models: Cindy, Naomi, Carla, Helena, and Claudia. Bowing on December 18, the new campaign is yet another tribute to supermodel-dom as the images by Steven Meisel are fronted by @iamnaomicampbell, @cturlington, @gisele and more. #wwdfashion
Four-time Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening has been waiting 20 years to play Gloria Graham in "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," which will be released on December 29. The movie about Graham – a Hollywood star known for her controversial relationship with a younger Englishman named Peter Turner – is based off a memoir Turned wrote. "She felt vulnerable to him, because she loved him, she really did love him. And anyone that we really truly are in love with, we re vulnerable to in a very deep way," said Bening. Read our full interview with the modern icon of an actress on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @ninebagatelles; Styled by @cristinaehrlich)
The crisp white button down: a staple that can be dressed up or down and accessorized throughout the decades. Here, on a Art Basel-goer in 2017 on the left and on the iconic Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday” in 1953 on the right. #tbt #wwdfashion (📷: Andrew Morales)
Known for her work with @victoriassecret, 25-year-old model @georgiafowler is raising her profile in Hollywood. Fowler stars in @vincecamuto’s holiday campaign, which launched in partnership with “Pitch Perfect 3.” “Almost every shoot with Vince Camuto, I’ve had to face a fear…It was definitely a challenge. I’m so grateful for it, though. I’ve always wanted to be a pop star, so that was the perfect chance,” Fowler said. Head to WWD.com to read about Fowler’s experience modeling, including at the #VSFashionShow, and her relationship with Nick Jonas. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
EXCLUSIVE: Huda Kattan just became the first beauty influencer to land a major beauty deal. Kattan's business, @hudabeauty, has received a minority investment from private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners. The brand, which industry sources say is on track to do $200 million in retail sales for 2017, will receive support on product, retail and geographic expansion through the deal. Get all the details on the deal and read @_a_collins' interview with Kattan on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdbeauty #wwdnews
Peruvian model @juanaburga_official – who is known for walking the runways of @rodarte, @viviennewestwood and @torybuch – is making the move to the big screen with drama “Los Últimos.” The film premiered in Argentina in November and arrives in the U.S. and Europe in 2018. On making the switch from modeling to acting, Burga told WWD: “It’s a completely different thing – a lot of people think it’s similar or try to connect things, especially like getting used to the camera or being looked at all the time or playing these different characrers, but film is a completely different story.” #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery)
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)


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CHIPPING Norton-based Matthews Cotswold Flour has announced that it is launching a new Baker in Training scheme to encourage more people to turn their passion for home baking into a successful career in the bakery industry.
The Business Magazine reports that Matthews Cotswold Flour will encourage its large community of home bakers to apply to be part of the new scheme and, each year, four applicants will be chosen to take up a place.
Course participants will be given the chance to have a week’s work experience with a bakery and an introduction to professional baking. They will also be given a selection of bakery equipment and materials to help them continue to develop their baking skills.
The scheme is part of the company’s commitment to regenerative agriculture. Bertie Matthews, Managing Director of Matthews Cotswold Flour has said that regen plays a “crucial role in saving the Earth”.
He said “Although there is no official definition, its practices are about growing food in a way that improves soil health and the wider environment. It’s not just something farmers need to know, but also bakers, consumers and millers alike, and we all have a big part to play. Over the last four years, I have tried to advance my own knowledge by talking to some of the pioneers regarding this new way of thinking about how our food is produced. The elements of the system are not actually new, they’re ancient, in the sense that they rely heavily on nature to make the right decisions as has always been the case.
“My father, Paul, became deeply passionate about organic farming in the late ‘80s. We often talk about the future of the mill and the farms that surround us. We both see regenerative agriculture as the next natural step for future generations.”
Commenting on the Baker in Training scheme, Sophie Carey, Bakery Development Manager said ”I regularly hear feedback from bakeries that they are desperately short of good bakery staff. This is a problem across the industry that affects everyone, from small businesses right up to the industry giants.
“We are keen to help in any way that we can to resolve this ongoing challenge for our trade customers and, as part of that commitment, we are delighted to launch our new Baker in Training development scheme.
“We hold a unique position in the industry with strong networks in both the bakery trade and home baking community. We want to put this to good use and provide this golden opportunity for a group of individuals to learn more about the bakery industry and see if they would like to turn their passion into a professional career. We aim to inspire and support the next generation of professional bakers. We would love to hear from any bakeries keen to provide work experience for the scheme.”


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Asus has officially launched the latest version of its Eee PC, but most UK customers are currently unable to get their hands on the popular subnotebook.
The Taiwanese manufacturer said in mid April that the Eee 900 would hit shelves this Thursday, 1 May, but online retailers and high-street chains do not currently have supplies. It does appear, however, that selected smaller shops do have stock.
"We don't have it at the moment because there's limited stock availability," said a spokesperson for the Dixons Group, which incorporates the Currys and PC World chains in the UK. "Apparently that's industry-wide. It's available for pre-order through PC World, but I don't know when [it will arrive]."
Some e-retailers' sites suggest that stock will arrive on 3 May.
An Asus representative told ZDNet.co.uk on Thursday that the Eee 900 was already available through selected launch partners, such as Micro Anvika. "[We are] selling them now," said the spokesperson, who was speaking from the laptop's launch event on London's Tottenham Court Road, a street lined with independent technology shops.
The Eee 900 offers several significant upgrades over its predecessor, the Eee 701, including a larger screen and more memory. The 701 has had a chequered history in terms of supply, a problem blamed by Asus on battery shortages and unanticipated demand.


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Hotels don't want guests to have to linger at the front desk – or even stop by at all.New programs are helping speed up the check-in process for busy travelers, or in at least one case, letting them go straight to their rooms by using their smartphone to unlock doors. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Monday became the first chain to let guests unlock doors with their phones.Hilton Worldwide is the only other hotel chain to publicly acknowledge plans for mobile room keys – which it plans to roll out at the end of 2015 at more than 250 U.S. properties in its Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Canopy brands. Marriott International launched the ability to check in through its app at 330 North American hotels last year. By the end of this year, the program will be live at all 4,000 hotels worldwide. When a room becomes available, a message is sent to the guest's phone. The top 15 hotel companies have more than 42,000 properties worldwide with a combined 5.2 million rooms, according to travel research firms STR and STR Global.Finally, only one phone can be linked to a room at a time.
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Acura develops a complex and unique hybrid drivetrain for its RLX sedan in an attempt to compete in the luxury market.
DETROIT -- The Chevrolet Bolt offers a large and practically designed interior space, along with a pure electric drivetrain good for 200 miles of range.
This year's Detroit auto show featured two welcome revivals, the new Ford GT and Acura NSX, along with a slew of potent new launches.
The Bolt concept, unveiled at the 2015 Detroit auto show, promises a compact and affordable all-electric vehicle from Chevrolet.
The reborn Ford GT is the hottest car of the 2015 NAIAS in Detroit. We spoke with its designer, Moray Callum, to learn about how it went from sketch to concept car in just 14 months.
With its sculptured skin, gullwing doors and plugin-in hybrid drivetrain, BMW looks to the future with its new i8.
It was a stunning CES for automotive tech, with major advances in self-driving car technology being shown off by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and a number of automotive suppliers. In addition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will connect with your favorite phone in many cars.
One of the most high-tech automakers in the world will likely show off a cutting-edge car during Dieter Zetsche's keynote speech, and we'll be there to give you the news as it happens.
The 2015 Infiniti Q70 L needs better ride comfort and a more responsive drivetrain to compete with competitive luxury sedan offerings, and its cabin electronics suite is overdue for an update.
CNET's judges weighed in on the best cars we drove this year, picking the most advanced from an impressive field. In addition, check out the Car Tech 10, our awards for a variety of achievements in the automotive industry.


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This week the Fast IDentity Online Alliance (FIDO) officially launched with a promise to usher in a new era of strong authentication interoperability and usage models. NokNok Labs, a security startup led by the former CEO of PGP that just raised $15 million in a funding round, is among the vendors supporting the effort.
“The idea is to build a strong authentication protocol,” said Phillip Dunkelberger, CEO of Nok Nok Labs.
Today usernames and passwords are the foundation of user authentication. The FIDO Alliance plans to build out a way to use strong authentication elements that already exist today, including biometric devices and TPM chips, in order to augment or replace username/password combinations.