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GM is flogging its entire stake in Suzuki to pump cash into its survival funds. The General owns a 3% holding in Suzuki Motor Corporation and will sell 16,413,000 shares on the open market tomorrow.
GM to raise £154m
Based on today’s values, GM will raise an estimated £154 million through the sale, although Suzuki will exercise an option to buy back an equivalent number of its own shares in treasury stock.
Rick Wagoner, chairman and CEO of GM, and Osamu Suzuki, his counterpart at the eponymous Japanese firm, are adamant that the sell-off won’t affect future collaboration. The two companies have worked together since August 1981 on a range of small-car projects.
Suzuki: ‘business as usual’
Suzuki said: ‘GM taking this particular step to sell the shares it owns as a step toward strengthening its balance sheet is very understandable. There will be no impact on Suzuki’s current business plan.’
In a separate move, Germany's chanceller Angela Merkel is meeting with GM Europe top brass to discuss financial aid. They are worried that Opel could go belly-up if General Motors runs out of cash.
>> Click here to read GM’s financial results and see why it’s desperate to raise cash


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The company, Interville Technology, which was based in Pitt Street in the CBD, plead guilty at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.
The internet café was operating 60 computer terminals and three servers which contained a total of 8 terabytes of infringing movie, TV and music titles.
It was raided followed a long-term investigation into the café’s operations by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) and Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI).
The two anti-piracy campaigners confirmed that the café was charging hourly fees for customers to view infringing movies and music and selling storage devices with capacities of up to 60GB which customers were using to copy infringing music, movies and TV shows.
“It is satisfying to see sentences handed down which properly reflect the damage operations like this do to rights owners and the 50,000 Australians working in the film and TV industries,” said Neil Gane, director of operations at AFACT.
“The sentences will send a clear message to all Internet café owners engaged in commercial scale copyright infringement – you will be caught and you risk severe penalties.”
MIPI’s general manager Sabiene Heindl also added: “For the first time, an Internet café has been targeted and justly reprimanded for its blatant facilitation of widespread copyright infringement for commercial gain.”
AFACT is continuing its fight by bringing landmark Federal Court proceedings against Perth-based ISP iiNet for allegedly allowing copyright infringement to occur on its network.
That case is due back before the Court in December.
Internet café fined $82k, forfeits servers for copyright breaches
By Staff Writers on Nov 27, 2008 3:46PM
A Sydney Internet café raided by Australian Federal Police late last year has pleaded guilty to 40 charges of copyright infringement, copping an $82,000 fine, court costs and forfeiting some 60 computer terminals and three servers.
Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.

domain: news


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Average price of a new home now £230,000
A newhome now costs £8,429 more on average than the same time last year.
The average price of a new home in October was £231,049, down 3.3 per cent over the month, according to SmartNewHomes latest figures.
Six out of the 11 regions recorded monthly price growth in October although London and the South East saw prices slip 3.1 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively in October. Wales recorded the biggest price fall in October at -1.4 per cent but prices remain 0.5 per cent above where they were 12 months ago. A new home now costs on average £8,429 more than the same time last year.
Steven Lees, Director of SmartNewHomes, said: "New home prices eased back in October following a wave of previously pent up buyer demand in September. We expect to see annual price growth of 3 per cent this year, with this strong price performance bolstered by growing consumer confidence and the mounting imbalance between demand and supply.
"As NewBuy celebrates reaching 2,000 reservations and the Welsh government announces plans to introduce a similar shared equity scheme to help first and second time buyers, we need to ensure that new homes are readily available and kept at affordable levels. The news that the EU could impose a 20 per cent tax on new build homes would render useless every housebuilder and Government initiative intended to get the UK moving, with developers forced to pass this new cost onto buyers, pushing them well beyond reach of most."
Life & Style blogs
Plus live in a folly tower and Towcester growth
Plus how much you need to earn to rent in London, and new homes figures
Plus where The Apprentices live, house price growth outside London, and househunter numbers
- 1 Heading for America? Prepare for the longest US immigration queues ever
- 2 Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?
- 3 You thought Ryanair's attendants had it bad? Wait 'til you hear about their pilots
- 4 'Swivel-gate': David Cameron goes to war with the press over 'swivel-eyed loons' slur
- 5 It’s official: thanks to Stephen Hawking's Israel boycott, anti-Semitism is no more
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By Martin Morris
Service will enable Sharjah-based budget carrier’s customers to buy tickets from home.
Air Arabia, the largest low cost carrier in the Middle East, and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, confirmed on Saturday the launch of a new ticket payment method for Air Arabia customers via DIB's electronic banking channel.Easy payments for Air Arabia tickets can now be made from the comfort of one's home anywhere in the world through DIB's Al Islami online banking services.
Earlier this year, Air Arabia and DIB signed an agreement to provide a fast and convenient ticket payment facility for Air Arabia customers.
DIB is currently in the process of enabling Air Arabia payments through the bank's e-channel network, including mobile banking, phone banking, Cash Deposit Machines (CDM), and Automated Teller Machines (ATM).


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Though new internet music services this past year have sparked headlines, they have failed to fuel a much faster uptake of online music purchases, according to Jupiter Research analysts.
Online CD sales in the US will remain essentially flat in 2003, at $750m, or seven percent of the entire recorded music market in the country, according to research presented by Jupiter analyst Lee Black.
But Black does forecast long term growth for online music sales, whether they're downloaded tracks or CDs bought on the web. By 2008 he anticipates that these sales will be worth $3.3bn, and the internet will account for 26 percent of music spending in the US. This is down from Jupiter's previous forecast of $5bn by 2007.
Black believes that the problem may lie, not with demand for music online, but with supply. "I talked to all the various players, the retailers, the online services, to come up with the figures," he said, "but essentially, unlike what might be expected in other types of markets, supply has not quickly risen up to meet demand".
Legitimate services such as Apple's iTunes Music Store have suffered at the hands of restrictive licensing rules from copyright owners which is curbing consumer enthusiasm.
However, the biggest problem facing paid-for services like the Music Store and rival Pressplay, is the free peer-to-peer file swapping sites. Only 17 percent of adults say the threat of legal action from the recording industry has led them to cut down on illegal file sharing, according to Jupiter.
Jupiter's analysts say that the situation is much the same as in the US across the globe, stating that online music in Europe has been "stuck" in much the same way it is in the States. Indeed, Apple has had to delay the launch of the iTunes Music Store in Europe because of the requirement to meet complex licensing terms over here.
On the bright side Jupiter does believe such problems should start to be resolved, with online music purchases growing from just nine percent this year to 48 percent in 2008.


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Posted by : Unknown Sunday, 2 June 2013
Nintendo has been struggling a bit to sell the Wii U and recently there
was a rumor that they may implement Android smartphone games on this
console. Now, straight from T3 comes a brand new concept phone: the Nintendo smartphone.
There’s even a gamepad accessory pictured above… How cool is this gizmo?


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E-commerce guidelines for consumer protection that earlier focused only on online retailers may include other digital services such as video streaming, online ticket booking, and ride-hailing, local media Economic Times reported.
According to a senior official from consumer affairs ministry, the preliminary draft published last month is being revised and will be posted again to get public comments.
“While there’s not too much ambiguity on the product side, on the services front there are many different sectors we will have to take into account,” the official said. The revised draft may propose “specific rules for different online services as problems consumers face are quite different between services,” the official told Economic Times.
First released on August 2, e-commerce guidelines for consumer protection, seek to protect “personally identifiable information” of consumers and curb unfair trade practices that may directly or indirectly influence the price of the goods or services to maintain a level playing field.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs that sought comments from the stakeholders by September 16 on the proposed e-commerce guidelines has extended the deadline for comments to October 31.
According to the guidelines, e-commerce firms are required to submit a self-declaration regarding compliance to the ministry. To ensure the veracity of the sellers listed on the platform, e-tailers will have to display their details including the legal identity of their business, website, e-mail address and contact information.
The proposed guidelines for e-commerce firms entail a 14-day deadline to effect refund request and require disclosure of contract with the sellers relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty/guarantee, delivery, mode of payments, grievance redressal mechanism etc. The draft also stipulates that the promoter of the e-commerce website should not have been convicted of any criminal offence punishable with imprisonment in the last 5 years.
Meanwhile, LocalCircles, an online platform for consumer feedback which works with several government departments in the country, conducted a survey to identify online services that consumers would like the e-commerce guidelines to cover.
Sachin Taparia, founder of LocalCircles, said it received over 63,000 responses from the public that identified 15 online services that should be included in the draft policy. The list entails services such as e-pharmacy, online grocery, food delivery, carpooling, payments, accommodations, content, reselling, ticketing and gaming among others.
“Some of the issues faced by consumers on e-commerce services include non-disclosure of convenience fee by travel/event ticketing apps, medicines on e-pharmacy apps not showing best before dates, last-minute ride cancellations by drivers, home maintenance service worker committing theft, among others,” Taparia said.
As many companies have developed sites and apps which provide services to consumers through e-commerce channel, Taparia believes, it is time that along with products, services are also included in the definition of e-commerce by the government.
Taparia said LocalCircles has submitted these findings to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to consider under the guidelines.
According to a February 2019 Morgan Stanley report, India is adding one internet user every three seconds and the e-commerce sector in the country is set to reach USD 230 billion by 2028.


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The Overwatch image showing Tracer kissing another girl has recently been spotted online. The recently released comic reportedly reveals the the first queer character in Overwatch. Moreover, Blizzard is reportedly selling a price marked down Overwatch game.
Latest Overwatch comic went live on the Overwatch website Dec. 20
Blizzard Entertainment's latest comic release for Overwatch was reportedly called Reflections. It should be noted that the recent comic release focused more on the pixie-like hero Tracer. Moreover, a holiday story was also revealed that included several Overwatch characters.
The comic was noted as more than just an expansion of the universe's lore in Overwatch. It is speculated that Tracer is already living with the girl that she kissed in the picture. It turns out that Tracer has been dating with Emily. Furthermore, the "Overwatch" hero Winston was also shown hosting a holiday dinner which the couple also attends.
The developers further teased more queer characters in the Overwatch cast. Apparently, Emily was featured as the first queer hero in Overwatch. Moreover, the production team previously confirmed at the BlizzCon event that the gaming community may hear more diversity in the cast soon. Previously, Overwatch fans have reportedly taken cue from the in-game story and paired Tracer with her sworn enemy, Widowmaker.
Overwatch goes on sale with up to 50 percent off on on upgrading between versions
In other news, the Overwatch game is reportedly cheapest at this time around. It has been noted that the base version of Overwatch was reportedly reduced to $29.99 from $39.99. In addition, the origins edition of Overwatch now comes with a $39.99 price tag.
Overwatch players who opt to upgrade between the two versions previously cost $19.99. The new price reportedly went down to $9.99. It should be noted that only those who live in the US region may get the Overwatch discounts. Furthermore, note that the Origins edition no longer sports the Windowmaker Noire that was previously noted for pre-orders. Watch the comic analysis here:


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COLUMBUS Ohio Potbelly Sandwich Works and La Bamba Mexican Restaurants have been sued by Ohio attorney general Marc Dann for participating in a credit card promotion that allegedly violated the state’s Consumer Sales Practices Act.
Two lawsuits were filed against both restaurant companies. Also named as defendants were Citibank and Campus Dimensions, a Pennsylvania promotions company.
According to the suits, fliers posted on the campus of Ohio State University here promised students a free burrito at La Bamba or a free sandwich and beverage at Potbelly. The attorney general asserts the fliers did not mention that students only got the food if they applied for a Citibank-issued credit card or listened to a three-minute promotion.
Ramiro Aguas, a partner in Champaign, Ill.-based La Bamba, said his attorney advised him not to comment on the matter.
Potbelly’s attorney, Matt Revord, similarly declined to comment except to say, “We are a sandwich company, not a credit card company, and we will work through it."
The lawsuits resulted from a partnership between the attorney general’s office and third-year law students at Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law.
La Bamba has 27 fast-casual restaurants in five states. Chicago-based Potbelly has around 160 units in 10 states.


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As the UK gears up to meet its Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging targets by 2030, and purchases of EVs soar, a lack of appropriate training and skills could be leading to thousands of unsafe installations of EV chargers in homes, streets and commercial locations – with potentially disastrous consequences.
That’s according to City & Guilds, the skills development organisation, who is calling on industry to ensure all those working on EV charging point installations are equipped with the skills they need to install chargers in a way that’s safe for both themselves and consumers.
In a survey of 500 UK electricians conducted by Censuswide on behalf of City & Guilds, 99% of respondents understood there to be major risks associated with electrical vehicle charging work. Despite the dangers, only 28% of respondents said they have so far undertaken specific electrical vehicle charge point training. With the vast majority (73%) of respondents likely to seek work in installing or repairing EV charge points in the next 12 months, this demonstrates a clear risk unless companies ensure their workforce have the necessary training, skills, knowledge and experience to undertake this work safely.
This new research is supported by findings from CENEX and OZEV (compiled for the Department for Transport) which reported that nearly a fifth (18%) of new at home charge point installations installed as part of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) had dangerous or potentially dangerous issues, and only 32% were labelled as satisfactory.
David Phillips, Managing Director at City & Guilds, commented:
“The transition from petrol and diesel vehicles to EV ownership is a critical part of reducing global carbon emissions. But the speed of this transition is going to place huge pressure on those tasked with developing the new infrastructure of charging points required, particularly with just 28% of the UK’s current electricians trained to deliver it.
“With the government setting a new target to increase the number of electric car chargers ten-fold to 300,000 by 2030, electricians will need to rapidly upskill to safely manage the workload – but currently the training just isn’t available nationally and there isn’t an impetus to undertake it. We need industry to recognise this safety issue and ensure these EV charging points are installed in a way that is standardised and safe, to avoid a potential disaster in the near future.”
City & Guilds is asking people in the industry to support its call to professionalise the EV charging market by making their own commitment to drive up standards and promote safety. If you want to join City & Guilds’ campaign, please make a pledge online and we will issue you with a City & Guilds digital credential that you can share with your networks.


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East Lindsey residents are being urged to take the chicken challenge as part of national Food Safety Week.
The Food Standards Agency initiative has been brought forward this year to May 18 – 24 to mirror the annual peak of cases of campylobacter over the summer and East Lindsey District Council are keen to inform and advise residents.
Between 50 to 80 per cent of confirmed cases of campylobacter poisoning in the UK come from contaminated poultry leading to sickness including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, disability and even worse. Those most at risk are children and older people.
The ‘Chicken Challenge’ raises awareness and shares important safety messages to consumers on the little things that will keep their loved ones safe.
Enjoying chicken safely is a shared responsibility and the Food Standards Agency are trying to do this by incorporating these rules into a lighter, more fun way for the consumer – using recipes, promotions, ideas and consumer participation in chat around chicken.
FSA director Nina Purcell said: “It’s clear that we all love chicken, we just need to take the time and be even more committed to ensuring we do the little things in the kitchen to keep our loved ones safe.”
Environmental health manager at East Lindsey District Council Mike Harrison said “We are pleased to support this campaign and are keen to ensure our residents are aware of simple but important advice when dealing with chicken in the kitchen.”
The FSA is asking you to step up to the plate and:
· Bag and store raw chicken separately from other food, covered and chilled on the bottom shelf of the fridge
· Not to wash raw chicken as it splashes germs
· Wash everything that’s touched raw chicken in soap and hot water – your hands and utensils
· Check chicken is cooked properly - no pink meat, steaming hot and the juices run clear
For more information visit www.food.gov.uk/chickenchallenge


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Android and iOS won't be alone at the BlackBerry Messenger party anymore come July, when BBM will launch for Windows Phone devices.
After BlackBerry launched BBM for iOS and Android in 2013 it was only a matter of time before the messaging service arrived on WP as well, and the company confirmed in February that it would arrive this year.
Now BlackBerry CEO John Chen has informed the public that BBM for Windows Phone will in fact arrive in July.
Four's a crowd
Chen dropped the news on an earnings call Thursday morning, CrackBerry reports.
Windows Phone will be the fourth platform to host BBM, after BlackBerry 10, iOS and Android.
The most recent advancement on the iOS and Android side was the addition of free calling among BBM users. However, it's unclear at this point what features will be available in the WP version when it arrives next month.
We've asked BlackBerry for some more details about BBM for Windows Phone, and we'll update here if we receive any.


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A packet of 10 gm of ‘Sheelavathi’ is priced between Rs 500 and Rs 600 in Vizag city. About a year ago, a quantity of cannabis was being sold for between Rs 200 and Rs 300 in the city, said a senior official with the city police. The police and SEB officials destroyed ganja plantations in about 8,000 acres in the district’s ASR (family pockets) areas in 2021. More than two lakh kg of dried ganja more than ₹500 crore was set ablaze near Koduru in Anakkapalle mandal in February 2022.
A senior official with SEB said that due to the destruction and seizure of weed in AP areas, as well as seizure of weed in other states, weed suppliers, transporters have suffered losses. and local consumers. Hundreds of smugglers have been arrested in AP, Telangana, and Odisha by law enforcement agencies. As a result, supply has come down and prices have increased by more than 80 percent, he added. However, despite the controversy, some ganja smugglers are using new ways to transport the weed from the ASR and AOB districts to other cities and towns in the country.
With the widening gap between demand and supply of Sheelavathi variety, drug dealers are buying the weed from family bags in AOB at a price of Rs 5,000 to Rs. 8,000 per kg and they are selling at Rs 50,000 per kg in Vizag and at Rs. 1 lakh in metro cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
People are using high-speed cars and trucks designed to push hemp from family farms to cities. “We have seized more than 1,200 kg of ganja and arrested over 100 smugglers, including inter-state criminals, in the last 10 months, said A Trinadha Rao, ACP of Task Force , Vizag city.
Some traders are using new methods to bring the forest to Goa for New Year parties. The demand and price of Sheelavathi will increase in the coming days as the smugglers find it difficult to get the weed, locals said.
Sheelavathi can be different in every corner of the county while those arrested across the state are from different states, police added.


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Prosus, a major shareholder of Tencent, announced that as part of its ongoing share buyback plan, it will deposit 96 million Tencent shares it holds into the Hong Kong Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) in certificate form this week to enable these shares to be traded orderly on the market.
On April 7th, Bytedance's Douyin announced that it has recently reached cooperation with Tencent Video. The two parties will explore the promotion of long and short video linkage, short video secondary creation and other aspects.
Tencent is currently increasing its investment in WeChat Channels, a video content creation platform.
On March 28th, it was reported that Tencent AI Lab unveiled its self-developed 3D game scene automatic generation solution at the 2023 Game Developers Conference. Through AIGC technology, this solution helps developers create highly realistic and diverse virtual city scenes in a very short amount of time, greatly improving game development efficiency.
Leading Chinese tech firm Tencent released its 2022 Q4 and full-year financial report on March 22.
HKSAR confirms quarantine-free travel between the Mainland of China and Hong Kong on and before January 15. WeChat Pay HK, a mobile payment platform under Tencent, will help users enjoy seamless, safe and convenient cross-border payment services in areas of travel, dining, consumption and entertainment.
With the recent lifting of pandemic control policies in China, the number of infections has risen sharply. Chinese internet giant Tencent launched a "COVID-19 Pills Mutual Help Public Welfare Platform."
Denza, a joint venture between Chinese automaker BYD and Germany's Daimler AG, on December 16 reached a strategic partnership with the carbon neutrality laboratory under the Tencent Sustainable Social Value (SSV) unit.
Musk's dream of turning Twitter into a 'super-app' like China's WeChat will be an uphill battle.
A software copyright infringement case leveled by ByteDance-owned game developer Moonton against Tencent opened for court sessions in Shanghai on November 29, attracting significant attention from the broader market.
Chinese electric vehicle firm NIO and internet giant Tencent signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shenzhen on November 28. Under the deal, the two sides will carry out in-depth cooperation in the fields of autonomous driving cloud technology, intelligent driving maps and digital ecology.
On November 17, Activision Blizzard suddenly announced that its existing agreement with NetEase will expire on January 23, 2023. Multiple Chinese game developers who are negotiating agency rights with Blizzard Entertainment include Tencent, ByteDance's Nuverse, Perfect World and others.
China's National Press and Publication Administration announced on November 17 an approval list for new online games this month, showing a total of 70 authorized titles. Tencent, which has not obtained approvals since September, attracted wide attention.
On November 16, at its third quarter performance meeting, a senior executive of Chinese Internet giant Tencent responded to questions related to the establishment of a joint venture with China Unicom, a Chinese state-owned telecommunications operator.
Blizzard Entertainment, a leading game developer and publisher based in California, announced that it will not renew its licensing deal with Chinese game developer Netease. Chinese game company miHoYo was rumored to take over the deal.
Tencent launched a public hotspot sharing software several years ago called Tencent WiFi Manager, allowing users to quickly connect to public wireless networks without a password. On November 5, the firm's software team announced that it will officially stop services from 0:00 on December 1.
Faced with the huge uncertainty of the Chinese game industry, the Internet giant Tencent has recently canceled some of its non-core marginal businesses and laid off employees in China while accelerating its investment in the global game industry.
Chinese tech giant Tencent had added a new court notice. The firm is attempting to sue three companies, including OPPO, for unfair competition.
A defamation case brought about by Shanghai-based game developer Moonton Technology against Tencent has recently reached a conclusion. Tencent was ordered to compensate Moonton for losses and expenses totaling 220,000 yuan ($30,800).
Black Shark, a Chinese gaming smartphone brand, has recently been significantly shrinking its number of employees, with layoffs involving various departments and reaching a rate of nearly 50%.


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A laptop infected with some of the most destructive pieces of malware ever may sound like the kind of ticking time bomb you’d expect only in sci-fi movies. But one man has created just such a machine, and it can be yours — if you have about $1 million to spare. The piece, by artist Guo O Dong, is titled “The Persistence of Chaos,” and the name is apt because the laptop could wreak some serious havoc. The old Samsung Netbook that runs Windows XP is infected with half a dozen extremely dangerous pieces of malware that, cumulatively, have caused nearly $95 billion in damages.
… While it may seem irresponsible to sell a machine capable of causing that much damage, Dong says he’s taken precautions to prevent the laptop’s contents from spreading. He writes on his auction page: “The piece is isolated and airgapped to prevent against spread of the malware.” The listing also comes with a warning that the piece is intended to only be used as art or for “academic reasons,” and that “the sale of malware for operational purposes is illegal in the United States.”


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The global waste dilemma: where does our food go?
We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Food Prices news every morning.
Some food waste, be it measured in mass or as lost energy, is inevitable: potato peels, woody broccoli stalks, steak bones and beef gristle, egg shells, tea leaves. Other waste is avoidable but excusable, part of the quotidian inefficiency of human lives: a few last slices of stale bread, the remainder of some milk or yoghurt that is past its best-before date, a piece of fatty meat or exotic fruit rejected by a child.
But most food waste is both unnecessary and avoidable, and, over the past decade, a series of studies have given us a better appreciation of the problem’s scale as well of its considerable environmental and economic impact.
That is a welcome change. In 1999, when I was doing research at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, my most memorable impression of the institution was that hundreds of its rooms in Mussolini’s former Ministry of the Colonies were filled with thousands of people preoccupied with how to increase food output, while the study of food waste was delegated to a single man in a one-room office.
In 2011, when the FAO published its first detailed study into food waste, it contracted the job out to the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology.
That study found that roughly a third of the food produced globally for human consumption — 1.3bn tonnes a year — is lost or wasted. Predictably, the highest wastage occurred in the EU and North America at about 100kg per person per year. Losses in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia were far lower, at 6kg-11kg.
In 2009, the UK’s first food waste assessment was produced by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Using data from 2007, it found that UK households wasted a third of all their food, with nearly 90 per cent of that waste going to landfill. It concluded that about 60 per cent of that waste was avoidable.
But an update in 2013 registered an encouraging shift: UK household food waste was found to have fallen by 15 per cent between 2007 and 2012, down from 8.3m to 7m tonnes.
A separate US study in 2012 put total food waste along the entire food chain at 40 per cent of the country’s food supply. Another inquiry found that, between 1974 and 2005, US food waste had risen by 50 per cent, with subsequent further increases.
Losses at the production level are particularly high. About 20 per cent of some vegetables, most fruits and many kinds of seafood, are wasted at this early stage. Post-harvest losses have been greatly reduced in rich economies with proper produce handling, chilling, refrigeration, protective packaging and anti-spoilage additives. But such losses remain high in the tropics.
In rich countries, losses at household level account for the largest share of food waste, not only for fruits, vegetables and seafood but also for grains due to wasted bread.
Why do rich countries waste so much food? The two most obvious reasons are that first they produce more than they need and then sell that produce so cheaply.
But another, less well-appreciated, factor is the decline of home cooking. About half of all meals in the US are now eaten outside the home, a major source of plate waste — particularly given the gargantuan restaurant portions in the US. People in rich countries tend also to be overzealous observers of best-before dates — even though you can eat that yoghurt a day after its “expiry” with impunity.
Food availability in the EU and in the US averages at about 3,500 kilocalories (kcal) a day per capita but the average food intake per person of the west’s increasingly sedentary and ageing populations is no more than 2,100 kcal. This creates a 1,400 kcal (40 per cent) waste gap.
And food is too cheap: it costs the average American family just 11 per cent of its disposable income. In the EU consumers spend 14.5 per cent of household expenditure on food, but that too is far less than in the past and than in most low-income countries.
Among affluent countries, Japan is the only notable exception in terms of wasting less food. That is due to a combination of its high dependence on food imports — at 60 per cent — and a more frugal and ageing population. Average daily food availability is now only about 2,400 kcal/capita, significantly lower than the Chinese mean, and food waste amounts to only about 20 per cent of the total supply.
The global waste of a third of our food means that 30 per cent of farmland is ploughed, planted, fertilised, irrigated and harvested without any real benefit. To make matters worse, these processes generate significant emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. If the world’s food waste were its own country, it would be the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases following China and the US, require 250 cubic kilometres of water per year — more than Danube’s annual discharge. Such demands also leach nitrates into groundwater and streams creating coastal dead zones, accelerating soil erosion, reducing biodiversity and promoting the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Better food literacy would help in the campaign to curb waste. So would more home cooking and less eating out, but, in the long run, there is only one effective measure, especially given the fact that food consumption is fairly price-elastic, which could substantially reduce waste in affluent countries: that is paying more for the food we buy.
Ending all food subsidies and enforcing food-related environmental safeguards would accomplish that goal — but western governments remain unwilling to pursue that course and altruistic consumers eager to buy more expensive food are few and far between.
Vaclav Smil is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba, Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the author of nearly 40 interdisciplinary books on energy, food, environment and technical advances.


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Published on February 21st, 20190
TINA’s Take: Netflix Rewards Goop’s False Advertising with New Series
Gwyneth Paltrow and Netflix have come to terms on a docuseries about the actress’s lifestyle brand, Goop, according to Variety. The announcement comes only five months after Goop settled a false advertising lawsuit in California prompted by a TINA.org complaint to consumer protection officials in the state.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Goop has come a long way since its humble beginnings nearly a decade ago as a weekly newsletter comprised of travel recommendations, recipes and “shopping discoveries,” which Paltrow sent out to a select group of friends. Now it has investors to please. The company has raised tens of millions of dollars in venture capital in recent years (making the $145,000 that it agreed to pay to settle claims that it overhyped the health benefits of certain products it sells on its site seem like chump change).
With close to 150 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix offers Goop its biggest audience yet. Netflix also appears willing to let Goop run the show — literally and figuratively. According to Variety:
Still untitled, Goop’s streaming series will hit Netflix this fall and consist of 30-minute episodes hosted by the site’s editors, chief content officer Elise Loehnen and Paltrow. The team will utilize experts, doctors, and researchers to examine issues relating to physical and spiritual wellness.
It seems unlikely that Netflix will fact-check all of the statements of these guests, not to mention those of the hosts themselves (though we’d love to be proven wrong). This suits Goop. It was, after all, a disagreement over fact checking that led Goop to sever its magazine deal with publisher Condé Nast, according to a New York Times profile on Paltrow and her business.
THE MARKETING PITCH IN QUESTION
Whether Goop in this latest venture reverts to making the same unsubstantiated health claims that got it into trouble with California regulators — for example, claiming that one of its vaginal eggs could prevent uterine prolapse — remains to be seen.
Where’s our money? It may be that Goop opens the show with a lengthy disclaimer informing viewers that none of what they’re about to hear discussed is “intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease,” such as what you see on supplements, and that the medical opinions of hosts and guests do not reflect those of the general scientific community (Earthing, anyone?). Or maybe we’ll see Goop repurposing a set of disclaimers it has used in articles on its website in a half-hearted attempt to disclose to readers there the shaky scientific ground on which the health claims rest.
But as we’ve noted before, legally speaking, a disclaimer (even if it is clear and conspicuous as the FTC requires) can’t cure a false claim. So if Goop decides to go the disclaimer route, it does so at its own peril. Specifically, the settlement with California regulators prohibits Goop from making any health claims unless it has “competent and reliable scientific evidence” to support the claims.
We won’t know what the new Goop Netflix series will bring until the first episode airs this fall. But when that time comes, you can bet we’ll be watching, popcorn and pencil in hand.
Find more of our coverage on Goop here.


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NEW DELHI: Mobile and accessory maker Nextbit has announced that its cloud-centric smartphone Robin has been scheduled to be shipped on February 16 to the 1,000 backers of its Kickstarter project.
The company had made the smartphone available for pre-orders in October. It is to be noted that the company is only shipping out the GSM version and CDMA-version will follow later.
Called the first “cloud phone,” Robin takes a backup and stores everything (apps and data) in the cloud. The smartphone comes with 32G storage and extra 100GB in the cloud.
In other specs, the smartphone features a 5.2-inch LCD screen with a 1080x1920p resolution. It is powered by a hexa-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 coupled with 3GB RAM. The Android-based sports a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front facing camera.
In terms of connectivity, the smartphone comes with USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS and is powered by a 2,680mAh battery.
It also features dual front-facing speakers, fingerprint sensor and quick charge support.
Nextbit was founded by former Google employees Tom Moss and Mike Chan, who worked with the Android team. The company’s chief product and design officer is Scott Croyle, an ex-HTC designer who led the team behind the company’s One M7, M8 and Evo phones.


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In July, Israel's diamond industry faced a substantial decline in various trade metrics, largely influenced by global market dynamics. The rough diamond trade, in particular, saw a significant year-on-year contraction of 46%, accompanied by a 44% drop in exports during the same period.
Zooming out to analyze the period from January to July 2023, the data reveals a consistent downward trend in the diamond trade sector. Net imports of rough diamonds decreased by 45% year-on-year, totaling $661 million. Rough diamond exports followed suit with a notable 53% decline to $515 million during the same timeframe. This decline persisted into July, with a 44% reduction in exports.
Taking a closer look at the details, cumulative net imports for January to July 2023 declined by 24%, amounting to $1.57 billion. July continued this trend with a 34% reduction in net imports. Overall diamond exports from January to July reached $1.9 billion, marking a significant year-on-year decrease of 25%. This downward trajectory was further emphasized in July, with a trade contraction of 31%.
A noteworthy development amid these challenges is Israel's increasing reliance on trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This trade relationship now accounts for a substantial 27% of Israel's combined imports and exports of rough diamonds, highlighting the UAE's pivotal role in the diamond trade.
Ofir Gore, the Diamond Controller at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, provided insights into the current conditions. He explained that the challenges faced by Israel's diamond industry align with global trends affecting the diamond sector worldwide. Gore emphasized that the data underscores the ongoing crisis in the global diamond industry, a reflection of Israel's trade performance.
Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of optimism. Gore expressed a positive outlook, suggesting that the global diamond market may gradually recover as the year unfolds. Industry estimates point to potential signs of recovery that could become more evident in the final quarter of the year.


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Investors are looking to an Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) new product launch this week. Although it hasn't been officially stated - just hinted at by the drawings on the invitation - it is set to be the launch of the iPad 2. Attention will be focused not just on who actually makes the presentation (if not Steve Jobs, will the presenter provide an update of his condition?) - but on the product itself-- what changes were made in the new version, and which components are inside the tablet computer.
The casinos are already open regarding which component manufacturers will take part in the iPad 2 party. Even before the event, and before opening up the insides of the first device, I guarantee there are two companies with an Israel connection.
The first is SanDisk Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK). That is because like its predecessor, the iPad 2 will be based NAND flash alone. This component is the most expensive one in the iPad - around 16% of the overall components cost in the 32 GB version, which in the second generation is set to be the minimum of storage space.
As far as who will be the supplier of the flash for the iPad 2, there are three options - and all three are good for SanDisk.
One option is that SanDisk sells directly to Apple, and another option is that Samsung (OTC:SSNLF) sells to Apple for the iPad 2, like it supplied the original iPad - and pays royalties to SanDisk.
The third option is that other flash suppliers, who don't pay royalties to SanDisk, sell to Apple. But even without royalties, the fact that Apple is buying new flash chips for the iPad 2 will contribute to maintaining the stability of flash prices, and indirectly to SanDisk's high margins.
The ultimate dream of SanDisk investors is that SanDisk's iNAND is chosen as the storage solution for the iPad 2. It is in fact quite possible, since Apple chooses the best in terms of performance to price ratio. There is no better certificate of excellence for SanDisk than the fact that its biggest competitor in flash - Samsung - specifically preferred the iNAND solution for its Galaxy family of tablet computers and smartphones over its own similar solutions.
Microsoft provides Lync to two Israeli firms
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) renamed its communication solution Lync last quarter. Lync is only software-based, but on the hardware side it recommends to its customers technology from two Israeli firms whose shares I hold in my portfolio tracked by "Globes", and which appear to me to be very promising in 2011: Radvision Ltd. (Nasdaq: RVSN) in video and AudioCodes Ltd. (Nasdaq: AUDC) in VoIP.
Radvison separated more than a year ago from Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO), and since then has succeeded to come out with its own end user devices and to deepen its ties with other giants - such as, for example, Microsoft, Samsung, IBM, and others that are not yet known.
For Radvision, 2011 will be a transition year, a year of big investment in marketing infrastructure, and so its profit line will be relatively low compared with the record years. But its revenue line will pass the $100 million mark for its first time ever.
Audiocodes succeeded in surviving the shake-ups which were experienced over the past several years by all the companies that dealt in the VoIP telecommunications sector since the days of the bubble. Not only did it survive, but it succeeded in growing in revenue and profit over many quarters, as a supplier of VoIP solutions to enterprises. This was due to, among other reasons, its collaborations with giants like Microsoft and others.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 1, 2011 Reprinted on Seeking Alpha with permission © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011


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Hyundai readies Palisade large SUV in another shot at US market
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INTERNATIONAL –- Hyundai Motor on Tuesday began South Korean sales of its Palisade large sports utility vehicle (SUV), a model it hopes will spearhead a sales recovery in the United States when launched in its major overseas market next year.
Consumer preferences have shifted rapidly to SUVs in recent years, impacting Hyundai with its sedan-heavy line-up. The automaker has since introduced new SUVs, including a redesigned Santa Fe this year, but its US sales still fell 1.6 percent in January-November in a near flat market.
Weak sales in the US and China has left Hyundai bracing for a fifth consecutive year of annual profit decline.
In South Korea, the Palisade’s price starts at 36.22 million won ($32 224.20), slightly higher than the smaller Santa Fe.
“I think it will sell well in Korea because of its price competitiveness, though the model could cannibalize sales of the Santa Fe,” said auto analyst Sean Kim at Dongbu Securities.
Hyundai has not yet disclosed US pricing for the three-row, eight-seat car, which will compete with the likes of Toyota Motor’s Highlander and Ford Motor’s Explorer.
At home, the automaker has embarked on a marketing blitz for the new model, including a full, front page teaser ad in a major newspaper, an endorsement by pop star BTS and featuring the car in television drama Encounter.
The Palisade will replace the larger version of the Santa Fe as Hyundai’s biggest SUV. The automaker is looking to end a poor record in the large SUV segment, where it discontinued its Veracruz in 2013 as sales dwindled.
The new model will help Hyundai raise its number of SUV models to six next year, from two last year. Its premium brand Genesis also plans to launch its first SUV next year.


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Black Friday shoppers traditionally saw sales in physical storefronts while online promotions dominated Cyber Monday. The line between the days is being blurred, however, as shoppers are starting to find sales online throughout the weekend.
According to the National Retail Federation, more than 165 million shoppers are anticipated to take advantage of cheaper prices between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Local stores are hoping to entice shoppers with special promotions.
Hello Maypole Owner Aubry Bennion said she plans on holding the company’s sale from Friday to Monday even though Hello Maypole only sells their products, craft and party supplies online.
“(Black Friday) is this idea that right now is when we’re going to have the best sale of the year, and you make up the rules yourself,” Bennion said.
She added that she and other small business owners have been talking about ways they can make the most of the weekend.
Some are doing their own spin on the term “Black Friday.” Bennion said she will likely get rid of the word “black” and host a “colorful” Friday sale to match the colorfulness of the store’s brand.
Bennion also said for small businesses, hosting their own kind of sale can help owners better enjoy the holidays and see a boost in sales.
“You want to be on the front end of any sale,” Bennion said. “If your customers are going to spend money, you want them to spend it in your shop before it’s all gone.”
Other small businesses in Utah are looking to appeal to both shoppers who like to shop in stores and those who prefer to shop online.
The National Retail Federation found that 89.7 million people shopped both online and in-stores last Black Friday.
Local clothing store Called to Surf will run a sale on their website and in their stores in order to reach their customers both in Utah and in other states.
Called to Surf Manager Kat McGurk said these Black Friday sales are important for small businesses because they help get the company’s name out.
“It’s important to keep up with bigger businesses and franchises,” McGurk said. “As a small business, we obviously don’t have as much credibility.”


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However, it could take up to two years for domestic and agriculture workers to benefit after the countrywide minimum wage comes into effect next year.
Parties to Nedlac – excluding Cosatu – signed the agreement on the national minimum wage on Wednesday.
A minimum wage of R20 per hour, or R3,500 a month, for a 40-hour week takes effect no later than May next year.
Current statistics show that 6.2million workers, or 47.3% of the workforce, currently earn below the proposed minimum R3,500 per month.
This includes 90.7% of domestic workers, 84.5% agricultural workers, 54.6% of construction sector workers and 48.2% of wholesale and retail workers.
Statistics SA, in its 2014 report on labour market dynamics, said that 60% of workers in the clothing, textile, leather and furniture manufacturing sectors earned R3,500 per month.
A small proportion of workers in the electricity, gas and water supply industry, and in mining, currently earn below the proposed minimum wage.
Nedlac partners agreed that domestic workers would get 75% and agricultural workers 90% when the measure was introduced.
The wages to be paid to the domestic workers are currently set by the Department of Labour.
For the 2016-17 year the department set the wages for domestic workers at R2,205 to R2,422 a month for employees who work more than a 27-hour week.


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Shoes give directions with vibrating soles
MUMBAI — With a new pair of shoes, looking down at your smartphone for directions while walking could become unnecessary.
Lechal shoes and soles are bluetooth enabled and connect to Google Maps, letting users input a destination on their smartphone so they can receive directions through vibrations in their shoes while on the move, according to the company’s blog.
“We initially designed Lechal to help visually impaired (people) with mobility through unobtrusive means, but soon realized that this innovation can be useful for everyone,” the blog reads.
The technology will be available in both ready-made shoes and insoles that can be inserted into other shoes people already own. Those taking a stroll while wearing the technology will get vibrations in their shoes to let them know where to go. For example, a vibration in the right shoe means the user should turn right.
Other foot gestures would let users pause the navigation and save favorite locations. Lechal means “take me along” in Hindi, according to the company’s website.
The creators of Lechal are marketing the footwear to a general audience as a fitness device, but originally designed the product as an aid for people who are visually challenged and rely on a cane for walking.
“The most-used assistive device, the white cane, has changed little since the 1920s,” a statement on the company website reads. “The white cane, while an effective aid, falls short with respect to navigation, directions and orientation.”
The creators said they hope the footwear becomes a companion to the cane. The company partnered with the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, to subsidize the cost of the footwear for customers who are visually impaired.
The shoes and insoles are not available for purchase yet, but those who are interested can submit a pre-order form on the Lechar website.
Natalie Crofts, KSL


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Just a Taste -- and then some
It’s one of the most highly anticipated aspects of Woodbury Days.
This year, 18 vendors will serve their Woodbury Days dishes from Friday, Aug. 23, to Sunday, Aug. 25 at the Taste of Woodbury.
“It’s always fun being popular,” said Kim Swanson, who has been involved with Woodbury Days for 15 years and has spent eight years on the Taste of Woodbury. “People love the Taste.”
The Taste of Woodbury will feature popular items such as cheese steaks from O’Malley’s Pub, boneless wings on a stick from Ray-J’s, tacos, burritos and nachos from Acapulco Restaurante Mexicano and pulled pork sandwiches from Greater American Ribs.
One thing Swanson said she enjoys, too, is a Lemon Ice from Culvers.
“That always tastes so good on those hot days,” she said.
In addition to the staples, two new Woodbury-area vendors will participate in the Taste of Woodbury this year: DeLeo Bros. Pizza will offer calzones, garlic knots and cinna knots along with calvini rolls and Green Mill will be serving up two kinds of flatbreads — spinach and artichoke or Diablo, grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled chicken salad, chicken tenders and frozen Red Bull on a stick — something Swanson said she thinks will be popular.
As has been the tradition for the past six years, those who attend Woodbury Days will get a chance to vote for their favorite Taste of Woodbury fare in four categories: Best Entree, Best Booth, Best Fair Food and Best Dessert. The last three years Acapulco took home the Best Entree award and Culver’s claimed the Best Dessert award for their frozen custard and concrete mixers. Last year, Outback Steakhouse took home the Best Booth award and the cheese curds from Holy Cross Lutheran Church won the award for Best Fair Food. Winners get a trophy and a plaque to hang on their establishment’s wall.


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Yesterday we posted an article regarding the merger of inRO and pRO. IndiaRO soon after, released a few details about the merger in their website. It was stated that the merger will be on the Valhalla server and that kafra and zenny including items will be retained. However, we learned something new regarding this event.
(See details here: inRO)
We have learned from a very reliable source that the negotiations for the merger are still not final. The necessary contracts have not been signed and inRO’s initiative to post the details in their website have jumped the gun. Our source has confirmed that if there WILL be a merger it will be a long long way away. This will explain why Level Up! Philippines still has not made any announcements regarding the matter.
However in related news, Ragnaboards is now accessible to IndiaRO players. In fact, they are being welcomed by some of our Ragnaboarders. In game however, there are mixed reactions from players. Some receive the news with a grain of salt. Others however, started swearing at the idea. This is mostly because, as one indianRO player has stated, 95% of their population are botters and Valhalla server definitely anti-bot. There is also the issue of economy. Valhalla now has a stable economy with fair prices due to the regulation of prices in the hypermart. Throwing in Billions of zenny from inRO would definitely upset that balance. For how long, we could only speculate.
We will bring you more details regarding this development as they come to us.


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Droga5 New York has unveiled its latest work for ONE, which asks the world to support the 130 million girls who are denied a proper education globally.
Directed and animated by Lucinda Schreiber, who is represented by Photoplay Films in Australia and New Zealand, ONE’s bold digital campaign, #GirlsCount, aims to demonstrate the scale of the crisis and demand education for all girls.
The campaign features citizens from every walk of life joining forces by filming themselves counting a number between one and 130 million out loud – one film to represent every girl denied an education.
International supporters are joining the count in solidarity, including Bono, Tom Brady, Giselle Bundchen, Michael Sheen, Chelsea Handler, Tracee Ellis Ross, Charlize Theron, Malala Yousafzai, Sheryl Sandberg, Angelique Kidjo, David Oyelowo and Emmanuelle Chriqui.
ONE plans to combine the videos into the world’s longest ever film to urge world leaders to take the action needed to ensure every girl receives a quality education.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said: “130 million girls around the world are out of school. One of the challenges in effectively addressing this global crisis is conveying its staggering scale. 130 million girls are being denied the basic human right of an education – the domino effect of which none of us can afford to ignore. I joined the count at ONE.org, choosing number five, because that’s the age millions of girls around the world should be walking into a classroom for the first time. Far too many of them will never get that chance, unless we demand world leaders act.”
ONE’s Roxane Philson said: “It’s a global crisis that 130 million girls are not in school. It costs less than a loaf of bread to send a girl in one of the world’s poorest countries to school each day – a small investment that could save more than a million lives and add more than $100 billion dollars to the global economy every year. #GirlsCount is uniting people to make the scale of this crisis clear and to call on leaders to do more.”
People who want help change the lives of millions of girls around the world can join the campaign by counting a number and posting the video or picture online.
ONE is launched the action ahead of International Women’s Day, alongside a report that shows how getting more girls in school could save more than a million lives and add more than $100 billion dollars a year to the global economy.
Today, thousands of ONE activists around the world will take part in a global ‘walk-in’, where they will hand-deliver a 330,000-signature open letter to their elected representatives calling for every girl to receive an education.
me&u, Australia’s first and leading mobile ordering and payment platform, has appointed Clementine Churchill as Head of Marketing as they continue to drive rapid growth and expansion in Australia and new international markets. A highly experienced marketing leader and recognised industry thought leader, Churchill joins me&u from My Muscle Chef, one of Australia’s top rated […]
MILO is on the search for Australia’s best made MILO, calling on fans to share their creations for the chance to win #TheMILOCup, via Ogilvy Sydney. This integrated campaign follows on from the success of last year’s ‘Hot v Cold’ campaign, which encouraged Aussies to settle the debate on whether MILO is best enjoyed hot […]
New research from Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, has found that LGBTQ+ representation in ANZ remains low and stereotypical. It’s 2021 – this needs to change – especially in marketing and advertising. In partnership with GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ media advocacy organisation, Getty Images has launched a full-spectrum Guidebook in direct response to […]
Natural historian Sir David Attenborough is one of the most commanding and respected storytellers in the world and now the iconic series, David Attenborough Life Stories, is available on LiSTNR as part of SCA’s recently announced partnership with the BBC. David Attenborough Life Stories is a series of talks on the natural histories of creatures and […]
Menulog has doubled down on its marketing support for restaurant partners, with the promotion of Senior Marketing Manager, Rami Tamer, to a newly created role of ‘Head of Partner Marketing’, as well as the promotion of former-Blue 449 Performance Manager, Jaryd Buggins. In the new Head of Partner Marketing role, Rami will lead a team […]
ARN has announced Barry Drinkwater will be handing over his content director reins at 97.3FM and 4KQ to respected radio executive, Alisson Longhurst. Drinkwater has had a stellar career in radio spanning more than four decades, and was acknowledged as one of Australia’s Top 20 Content Directors by Radio Today in 2020. He began his radio career […]
Australia’s largest social enterprise is turning 25. On the anniversary of Australia’s first Big Issue magazine being sold on the steps of Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station in June 1996, Town Square has created a campaign to mark the occasion. 25 Years Big is a celebratory statement of pride, rendered in the iconic Big Issue logo […]
The Australian commercial radio industry has joined a global working group of broadcasters, carmakers and tech experts collaborating on the innovation of radio in Android Automotive. Android Automotive is Google’s infotainment operating system which is being built into new connected cars. Industry body Commercial Radio Australia is part of the working group, led by the […]
For the third consecutive year, Triple M’s No Talk Day will return on Thursday July 1 to raise awareness around men’s mental health and encourage courageous conversations on Triple M’s 45 stations across the country with support from partner Beyond Blue. From 6:00am – 6:00pm on July 1, Triple M is encouraging listeners to clear […]
Consumer shifts in how and where people buy products evolved significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating new opportunities for retailers to use new channels, fulfilment strategies and payment options, according to the results of a new survey out today from BigCommerce and PayPal. While a majority of the 3,000 consumers surveyed from the United States, United Kingdom […]
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about contextual advertising bar the curling wand and the hot pink leg warmers.
The brainchild of co-founders Gina Williams-Folau (main photo) and Greer Bland, the talent agency Liquorice was born out of a desire to make things easier for brand managers. Liquorice offers social talent for brands wanting to hit the sweet spot with Kiwi audiences. Launching with a roster of big names on board including Millie Elder-Holmes, Athena […]


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(ZIZ News) — Chairman of the Manufacturing Council of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Linkon Maynard, says 2015 will see an expected increase in the number of jobs available in the manufacturing sector.
Maynard told ZIZ News that the recently launched manufacturing strategy makes provisions for 150 new jobs in the sector and certain companies have already started expanded, creating new opportunities for residents.
“As we sit here and speak, we are aware of expansion in at least two of these plants. We have Harowe Servo in Sandy Point. They are projecting some increase in their production and therefore most likely would result in an increase in employment,” he said.
Maynard said this, coupled with Jaro Electronics’ plans to expand at the industrial site, indicate a bright future for the manufacturing sector and more opportunities for employment in St. Kitts.


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Trends and innovation in retail check-out
Although for decades and decades it has been a minor issue in the retail sector, the check-out process has become the new battleground for retail operations to engage and retain customers. This is part of the ongoing need to improve the customer experience in the physical shop and of course in the digital store.Long lines, coldness in customer service, lack of input, or the feeling that the counter is alien to the idea of the shop, are the enemies that must be fought, because they result in lost sales and revenue.
New technologies and innovative trends in phygital retailing
Especially since the coronavirus pandemic, new technologies in the retail sector are transforming, and will further transform, customers' shopping experiences, changing the effectiveness of workers and the operation of shops and shops in the coming years.This is the main conclusion of the latest report from the company specialised in intelligent data capture for retail Scandit.
The Internet of Senses and the retail sector
The next decade will be decisive for the total implantation in the market of the Internet of the Senses, that is, of the technology prepared to respond to our thoughts.If we talk about the Internet of the Senses, are we analyzing the present or the future? Without a doubt, it is today, the present that will provide tomorrow. Although for many this sounds like science fiction, the change and technological evolution experienced in the last decade is opening up fields that, precisely, we did not even imagine a decade ago. Therefore, the answer is clear: there is less and less for it to be our brain, and not the devices that surround us, which controls our environment.


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This month's tvOS 17.4 beta seemingly contains a reference to a "homeOS", something that has been rumoured for years but never actually surfaced.
The logic behind the addition would be fairly clear, giving Apple a chance to more formally tie a ring around its smart home presence and load any new products that it's working on in that space with matching software packages.
That said, since the HomePod and HomePod mini have been relatively free of any company in the Apple lineup in recent years, it's not like there are a lot of products awaiting cleaner software. Still, those speakers have flitted between modified versions of iOS and tvOS, so there's clearly room for clarification.
The reference was caught by the team at MacRumors, and suggests that Apple is far from done with its work on smart home tech.
Persistent rumours suggest that it's working on a smart home display device, like Amazon's Echo Show lineup. And, given the stunning tablet that you get if you buy an iPad, that could be a pretty lovely smart screen when it arrives.
In theory, it'll likely be wall-mounted, and there's also the chance that we'll get a new HomePod with more of a display, as a sort of middle ground between a speaker and a screen.
We also haven't had much of a change to the standard HomePod in a long while now, so there's always the possibility of newer and improved "simpler" smart home speakers to really take on Amazon's dominance with the Echo lineup.
This isn't the first time homeOS has cropped up, either - the term was spotted in some job listings from Apple a couple of years ago, suggesting that it's been a long-term project in Cupertino.
With WWDC standing as the next big tentpole in Apple's typical annual schedule, and summer still a long way off, there could be a few months before we get anything concrete about homeOS, if we ever do.
Still, this could suggest that we're about to hit an interesting time for Apple users who want to embrace smart home tech.


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Massmart is consulting unions about the potential closure of the Dion Wired franchise, but it has assured customers that it will continue to support purchases made from the retailer.
While the reported plan is for Massmart to shutter all of its 23 Dion Wired stores around the country, the retail chain is currently still open and trading.
Dion Wired continues to stock hi-tech appliances and send out promotional emails to customers, and many South Africans would like to buy products from the store.
However, a number of potential shoppers are concerned about the validity of their purchase’s warranty or guarantee if Dion Wired is closed.
MyBroadband spoke to Massmart about Dion Wired warranties and guarantees, and the company said it was committed to delivering after-sales support even after the potential closure of Dion Wired.
Massmart commits to support
Massmart said that if the closure of Dion Wired does happen, it will find a way to deliver the same level of after-sales support through other mechanisms.
This means that should you purchase a product from Dion Wired, its warranty or guarantee will still be honoured by Massmart, said the company.
“In the event that the closures – which are dependent upon the outcome of Section 189 consultations – go ahead, then an option would likely involve honouring Dion Wired after-sales transactions through Game stores,” Massmart said.
“We would, however, only take a decision and develop the appropriate process once the Section 189 consultation process has been concluded.”
“Suffice to say that Massmart will ensure, regardless of the mechanism, that we will honour our after-sales commitments to Dion Wired customers in the event that the Dion Wired store closures go ahead,” the company said.
This after-sales support would include warranties, guarantees, repairs, and returns.
Massmart also told MyBroadband that the after-sales support it would provide to customers in the event of Dion Wired’s closure would include extended warranties.
Game and other branches
Dion Wired is not the only one of Massmart’s franchises faced with job cuts and store closures, however – Masscash is also affected.
The Masscash division consists of the Jumbo Wholesale, Jumbo Shield, Rhino Cash and Carry, and Cambridge Food wholesale outlets.
11 of these Masscash outlets may also be closed.
1,400 employees could be affected by job cuts and store closures across the entire group.
Massmart operates a range of well-known retailers in South Africa in addition to the companies listed above – including Makro and the “Builders” stores.
Game, Makro, and other brands in Massmart will not be affected by the potential job cuts – which could make them ideal channels for serving previous Dion Wired customers.


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Everybody, everywhere, is keen to give other people diet advice. In this swirl of you should cut carbs, eat clean, or choose ‘superfoods’, it’s easy to lose sight of which diets are backed by research, and which are just hype.
The good news is that this year Inverse did the work for you — combing through the latest and most robust scientific studies to figure out the best diet for you, depending on your goals.
Whether your aim is to safely lose weight, live longer, or simply be healthier, there’s a diet that can likely help. But it’s important to note that this article is designed to provide helpful information and break down complicated science behind diets — not give medical advice. Any dietary intervention should be considered with the guidance of a health professional. Think of this as a jumping-off point for your decision: Eating well is key to good health, but not all diets are right for everyone.
To eat for longevity, pick the Mediterranean diet
The Greeks seemingly have it pretty good: a rich history, beautiful coastlines, and a healthy approach to eating. At the end of 2019, U.S. News ranked 35 diets from best to worst and the Mediterranean Diet came in at number one.
Research indicates the “MedDiet” helps prevent heart disease, improves cognitive function, and promotes longevity. In 2014, a study led by Harvard University, scientists found that women who adhered to a Mediterranean diet actually had longer telomeres than women who did not. Telomeres are pieces of your DNA that are considered a biomarker for age. Shorter telomeres are associated with higher risks of dying early and developing chronic diseases.
Meanwhile, a study published in 2018 in the British Journal of Nutrition found that elderly Italians who closely adhered to the Mediterranean diet were more likely to live longer than their peers who did not.
Eating the Mediterranean diet means filling your plate with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as omega-3 dense fish, olive oil, nuts. The diet keeps saturated fat, red meat, and sugar levels low but still allows moderate amounts of foods that can feel indulgent, like wine and cheese. The diet is flexible which enables its long term success, keeping people fit and healthy over a lifetime.
To eat green and live well, pick the plant-based or flexitarian diet
Monique Tello, a professor at Harvard Medical School and physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, gave Inverse some simple, but scientifically sound advice: If you want to live a long life and stay out of the hospital, eat lots of plants.
“We have so much evidence — overwhelming mountains of evidence on millions and millions and millions of people’s data — that a plant-based diet is the healthiest diet,” Tello told Inverse in July. “Most people do not have to be completely vegan, but they do have to be, for the most part, eating plants.”
As a general rule of thumb, nutritionists recommend getting the bulk of your energy from plant sources: greens, veggies, fruits, as well as whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Eating nutrient-rich plant foods packed with antioxidants helps reduce inflammation — and could serve as a performance hack for athletes.
Going plant-based doesn’t have to mean giving up dairy or eggs entirely, and the rare consumption of meat is fine. The flexitarian diet is similar to the MedDiet — it involves eating vegetarian most of the time while enjoying the occasional steak when the craving strikes. In turn, emerging evidence suggests that the flexitarian diet could be beneficial for body weight, improved metabolic health, blood pressure, and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
Going completely vegetarian or vegan is a decision linked to health pros and cons. These diets have been shown to have lower cholesterol levels, better weight maintenance, but some studies also suggest, if not undertaken carefully, excluding animal products could lead to missing micronutrients like B12, critical for optimizing physiological function.
To quickly lose weight, pick the keto diet
If you’re like 50 percent of American adults, you’ve tried to slim down in the past year. Many people search for a shortcut to dropping pounds, and although some studies show dieting doesn’t lead to long term weight loss, certain diets do seem to enable weight loss safely and quickly. One diet that’s done the trick for thousands of people is the ketogenic diet.
Eating keto involves replacing carbohydrates with lots of fat and moderate levels of protein. However — this isn’t a free pass to load your plate with salami or cheese. Instead, a healthy keto diet includes lots of greens, olive oil, nuts, and some fish. The dietary approach kickstarts a biological process called ketogenesis, where the body burns fat for fuel, not its usual favorite energy source, glucose.
Some studies suggest that the keto diet is more effective at helping obese individuals lose weight than a low-fat diet. However, long term data on the mental and physiological impacts of going keto are missing. Physicians have cautioned against drastically cutting carbs and eating so much fat — especially saturated fat — noting that the diet could lead to nutritional deficiencies or threaten heart health.
Furthermore, people may lose weight in the short term but whether they keep it off in the long term isn’t clear. Due to its nutritional drawbacks and unsustainability, the keto diet landed second to last on U.S. News’ diet ranking of the best diets overall. But it was ranked number three when it came to “best fast weight-loss diets.”
Despite the risks and restrictions, the diet is soaring in popularity.
“Part of the reason why it’s become so popular is that there’s this almost evangelical quality to the people that get on it,” Ethan Weiss, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and founder of Keyto, a company manufacturing breathalyzers to monitor ketone levels, told Inverse in July.
“It’s almost like people have felt they have discovered the fountain of youth, and they want to share it with everybody. That’s very unusual in weight loss.”
To eat for brain health, pick intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting (IF) also gripped the public’s attention in 2019. The eating pattern is simple: eating normally interspersed with long breaks (around 16 hours, typically) between food. IF can also mean skipping breakfast or fasting for an entire day.
"The bottom line is that, in the brain, intermittent fasting will increase the resistance of nerve cells to various types of stress."
Mark Mattson, a neuroscientist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has studied intermittent fasting and its impacts on aging and the brain since the nineties. He told Inverse that IF can have tremendous, positive effects on the brain linked to longevity.
“The bottom line is that, in the brain, intermittent fasting will increase the resistance of nerve cells to various types of stress,” Mattson explained.
That’s because IF can enhance the formation of new synapses, Mattson says. Recent research also suggests IF increases the number of mitochondria in individual nerve cells.
In a 2006 literature review, Mattson and co-authors determined that IF, along with calorie restriction, can support the production of neurotrophic factors (peptides and proteins that support the growth and survival of neurons), antioxidant enzymes, and help repair the pathways that make the brain stronger, healthier, and more efficient.
However, these brain-boosting effects aren’t exclusive to intermittent fasting — similar effects have been seen with the Mediterranean diet and plant-based approaches. And the drawbacks — stress from going hungry, exacerbation of unhealthy eating patterns, or potentially missing out on key nutrients — might make intermittent fasting a no-go for some people.
To diet sustainably, pick intuitive eating
Most diets require giving up certain foods or limiting intake. But a restrictive approach to eating can create psychological turmoil, pose long term risks to mental health, and even exacerbate eating disorders. Sometimes, the best diet is no diet at all.
Intuitive eating, an approach to food that focuses on paying attention to your body’s bodily cues, trusting your gut, and eating what you crave, offers a path to rejecting diet culture while staying healthy.
“When you are not at war with your body, and you can listen to these powerful messages, you actually have the ability to get your needs met both psychologically and biologically,” Evelyn Tribole, one of the pioneers of intuitive eating, told Inverse in July.
Studies suggest that intuitive eating can boost self-esteem, help people avoid the yo-yo effect of dieting, focus less on what they eat, and maintain long-term health.
The choice is yours
That’s not an excuse to toss healthy eating out the window. Instead of trying to revamp your entire approach, try making small, incremental changes that last. Maybe add a serving of veggies or skip sugar in your coffee for two months and see how you feel. Scientists say it takes an average of 66 days to transform a daily choice into a habit. And it’s these lasting behavioral shifts that will add up to longer, healthier years, not short term dietary restriction or giving up a food group.


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Initial Findings: MeeGo 1.1 Netbook vs. Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook
Phoronix: Initial Findings: MeeGo 1.1 Netbook vs. Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook
Intel and Nokia last week rolled out MeeGo 1.1, which is now officially available for Intel Atom netbooks, the N900 handset, and in-vehicle "infotainment" systems. The netbook spin of MeeGo 1.1 is out there to compete with the likes of Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition, which was released just shy of a month ago. While nothing radically has changed with MeeGo 1.1 compared to the initial MeeGo 1.0 release from earlier this year, the software stack is updated so for the past few days we have begun conducting a performance comparison between MeeGo 1.1 and Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook. Here are some of our initial findings.
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Young Entrepreneur Changes the U.S. Cell Phone Market Ahmed Khattak came to America to study but stayed to reshape the U.S. cell phone market.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
People who overturn the apple cart don't ask for permission. But it takes more than audacity for a 26-year-old to challenge an entire industry. For Ahmed Khattak, it was personal: He couldn't buy a phone. An international student from Peshawar, Pakistan, Khattak arrived at Yale in 2004 at the age of 18 with no social security number and no credit history. That meant no one would sell him a cell phone.
He was appalled at the barriers the U.S. cell phone industry threw in front of consumers at every turn. Restrictive two-year contracts?
Indecipherable pricing schemes for voice, data and text? And, once he got a prepaid phone, $50 a week just to call his family back in Pakistan? This, from the most technologically advanced country in the world?


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It’s time we did it again.
There has been much talk about a potential inflation surge as countries lift pandemic restrictions and seek to resume normal economic activity. In recent months, US prices have risen more than 5% year-on-year. In the UK, price growth has been slower and was even slightly below expectations for July, but is likely to accelerate again.
This situation closely resembles what happened after the Second World War. Then as now, governments were confronted with consumers eager to spend and industry not yet ready to meet consumer demand. Whereas in 2021, firms and their supply chains are struggling to meet unpredictable demand amid Covid restrictions, in 1945 producers needed time to return to business as usual after years of manufacturing for the war.
With inflation looming, officials had the courage to impose bold controls on consumer credit to curb demand. This might seem unthinkable in today’s climate, but there are good reasons for doing this again.
What happened after the war
The US and UK actually introduced controls during the war, both to curtail inflationary, credit-fuelled demand and to redirect financial resources towards national defence. US President Franklin Roosevelt summarised the policy crisply in 1942:
We must discourage credit and instalment-buying [hire purchase], and encourage the paying off of debts, mortgages and other obligations; for this promotes savings, retards excessive buying and adds to the amount available to the creditors for the purchase of war bonds.
The Federal Reserve duly introduced restrictions on lenders. For hire purchase, which commonly financed cars and household appliances, consumers were required to pay 33% of the price upfront and repay the rest over 12 months. The government also restricted retail credit accounts, requiring them to be repaid in 90 days.
The UK introduced similar controls, limiting credit for hire-purchase of goods that required expensive foreign metal imports. This shrank hire-purchase credit to 10% of its prewar total.
After the war, the US and UK maintained these controls to restrain demand for goods at a time when they remained in limited supply. The controls were also about moderating the peaks and troughs of the business cycle. Officials believed that consumer credit had driven growth and inflation during previous upswings, but deepened the fall when consumers stopped spending their earnings and didn’t or couldn’t borrow. This, it was believed, had prolonged the great depression.


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Google’s driverless car is more than 10 years away from market rollout due to a lack of consumer confidence, interoperability and vehicle-ready roads.
The two-seat testing cars, which contain $150,000 worth of equipment, including a $70,000 laser radar system, can now handle thousands of urban situations with a top speed of 25 miles per hour and no steering wheel, brake or accelerator pedals.
Launched in 2009, Google’s Sergey Brin said its goal is to make the self-driving cars available to the public in three years.
However, Pavan Mathews, head of connected vehicles at Telefonica, told CBR he believes it’s a lot further away in terms of mass commercial deployment.
He said: "I think in a controlled environment the technology is ready. But to get the roads ready in many parts of the world, the vehicle-communications ready, and frankly the consumer confidence to sit back and let the machine take you from A to B – that is a bit of a hurdle. I would say within 10 years."
Thilo Koslowski, VP of research firm Gartner’s automotive division, said he expects companies, such as Tesla, to launch their plans for self-driving vehicles by 2017 with a rollout by 2020.
"Before we have mass adoption, before we see a lot of cars on the road of course will take some time because people don’t replace their vehicles every six months," he told CBR.
"So there’s a delay in when we actually start seeing substantial volumes of these vehicles on the road and that will probably take 10 years depending on how governments will support this.
"Governments could play a role in supporting these technologies, making it a standard requirement on cars because of the benefits that are included by reducing accidents and maybe being more productive, getting faster to your destination, and minimising CO2 emissions."
Self-driving cars are expected to eliminate 90% of the 33,000 vehicle fatalities a year, according to Larry Burns, a Google consultant and former GM’s VP for R&D.
Back in April, Google also posted in a blog that its driverless cars had driven more than 700,000 miles on California roads without any accident.
In terms of consumer confidence, Koslowski said: "In Germany, about 40% of consumers already say they are interested in getting self-driving capabilities in their next new vehicle. That’s a pretty high number considering most people have never experienced what a self-driving car means.
"There will be a need for the industry to convince these other consumers that these vehicles are a safe – that they’re not losing too much control."


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VISAKHAPATNAM: The district administration is gearing up to hold one of the biggest seafood festivals in Asia, the 20th India International Seafood Show-2016 to be held from September 23 to 25 at Port Diamond Jubilee stadium here. Union minister of state for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the expo being jointly organised by Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI).
Key leaders including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Radha Mohan Singh and others will be attending the seafood exhibition. Trade Initiatives and Fiscal issues in the seafood industry, regulatory requirements for seafood trade, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and fish trade related international requirements will be the topics of the technical sessions, according to sources.
According to MPEDA deputy director Ansar Ali, 300 stalls have been arranged and around 2,500 delegates, including exhibitors and over 150 foreign delegates, will participate in the show. The show will be one of the largest seafood fairs in Asia and a common forum for seafood processors, exporters, importers, aquaculture farmers, processing machinery manufacturers and allied industries, Ansar Ali said. The show will attract a large number of companies in seafood export and trade enabling them to find techniques and solutions for the development of the business. The main objective of the show is to highlight India’s immense potential and capabilities in the aquaculture, fisheries and processing sector, he added.
Collector Pravin Kumar and police commissioner T Yoganand visited the port stadium and reviewed the arrangements. On the occasion, Pravin Kumar said that this was the second time Visakhapatnam city would be hosting the event. On the last day people would be allowed to witness the show.
Yoganand said that over 1,000 police personnel would be deputed for the security arrangements and CC cameras would be also erected at the venue. An exclusive control room is being set up in the stadium, he added.
Seafood Exporters Association of India national president V Padmanabham said during the past five years there was 335 per cent increase in seafood business in India. It achieved Rs 10,000 crore in 2009-10 while it was Rs 33,500 crore in 2015-16. Andhra Pradesh accounts for 45 per cent of the total seafood exports of India, he added.


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On 3 April 2020, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) held ‘IDEAS Webinar: Ensuring Food Security and Access During the COVID-19 Crisis’. It is our second event in the IDEAS Webinar series. The webinar discussed food security during COVID-19, the domestic supply chain of food as well as agriculture, and issues regarding the vulnerable groups such as indigenous people, the homeless, immigrants and refugees. The event was moderated by Wan Ya Shin, IDEAS’ very own Research Manager.
The first speaker was Dr. Sarena Che Omar, Senior Research Associate at Khazanah Research Institute (KRI). Dr. Sarena started the discussion with the concept of food security; availability, accessibility, stability, utilization and sustainability. According to her, food security is more than the amount of food available in front of us. Dr. Sarena also highlighted her concern for the immigrant workers, whom she called ‘invisible communities’. Based on previous research, household expenditure for food will increase as more time is spent at home due to the Movement Control Order (MCO), which makes it tougher for the poor and immigrant workers. Lastly, she reiterated that food security is multi-dimensional and also urged the taskforce, the media and NGOs to put more attention towards invisible communities.
The second speaker, Dr. John Tey Yeong Sheng is a Senior Reseacher at the Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies, UPM. Dr. Tey mentioned about the stages of rapid change in Malaysian multifaceted issues economy since the implementation of MCO. The first stage is escalation-fear, causing consumers to hoard daily necessities and less perishables. The second stage is accumulation-self-sustainment, which has shown that our markets and logistics are not yet mature for a demand explosion. He also highlighted the exposure of just-in-time food security model weakness when it comes to reliance on logistics distribution. Lastly, Dr. Tey stressed that this region, not only Malaysia, is vulnerable in terms of food security.
The third speaker, Dr. David Dawe is currently a Senior Economist and Regional Strategy & Policy Advisor at Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Mr. Dawe started off with an explanation on the international situation of rice supply, where Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar had put restrictions on their export of rice. India, meanwhile, is different as export supply is ample but they are having logistics issues to transport rice out of the country. Wheat and maize supply for global markets are amply stocked although the prices are high. In his opinion, Malaysia is in an economically good position, even when food prices have gone higher as it is an upper middle income country. Dr. Dawe’s main concern is regarding food demand and people losing access to food. He suggested the government come up with a better social protection system to help people to continue to be able to buy food.
Ya Shin concluded the webinar by highlighting the biggest problem regarding food security which is the access to food, especially among the most vulnerable. In order to tackle the problem, it is recommended that a wider safety net for the people and the farmers and a call for a public-private coordination and partnership, as well as the NGOs, to provide and distribute the food.
For those who missed the webinar session and would like to watch it, the video recording of the webinar is available below.


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Nokia Lumia 929 arriving this month, new details and picture leaked
- On December 2, 2013
Are you waiting for new details on the upcoming Nokia Lumia 929? Now, the leakster “Falorin” from the Windows Phone Central forums has revealed some more information. He states that the expected handset will come with a 2510 mAh battery. A more powerful battery is always welcomed and according to the leaked specs the device will be a mix between Lumia 920 and Lumia 1520. We remind you that it will be a 5-inch phone with a 1080p display. The Nokia Lumia 929 will come with a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, and 32GB of in-built storage.
The leakster has also revealed that most likely the phone will be shipped in a black and white matte body. He also has provided a picture of the device, which you can see above showing its white version. Other leak is that the handset is expected to be released somewhere between mid to late December.
Nokia Lumia Icon could be included in the list for the Windows 10 Update... March 20, 2016 | Windows Phone Area
Microsoft introduced Windows Phone 8.1 at BUILD 2014... April 3, 2014 | Diyan
Verizon to upgrade the Lumia Icon to Windows 10 today... June 23, 2016 | Michael
All Lumia smartphones pulled from Verizon’s webstore (Updated)... January 8, 2015 | Diyan
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text: Target has announced that it will pay its employees a minimum wage of $9 an hour. It’s easy to dismiss this move as being too little. Instead, I like to look at it as a small step that will have big consequences. Employer who pay less than $9 an hour now have to fear that they will lose employees to America’s two largest retailers. More importantly, wage increases at the bottom raise the bar for all workers. If the unemployment rate continues to drop, wages will have to go up. Hopefully, the decisions by Walmart and Target will be the first step that leads to higher pay across industries.


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These Geniuses Just Created a Beer That Could Make You Healthier
You'd be hard-pressed to find a credible doctor to recommend drinking beer every day as a way to stay healthy, but that could soon become legitimate medical advice. That's because a team of scientists in Singapore just developed a probiotic beer that may not only help to keep your gut healthy, but also improve your overall immunity. We'll cheers to that.
Researchers at the National University of Singapore recently announced that they've created a new beer infused with probiotics, or the sort of "good" bacteria that's been shown to promote digestion and various other bodily functions. There's been a huge increase in interest in probiotics lately with more and more people consuming things like fermented vegetables, yogurts, and kombucha, all of which contain naturally occurring strains of probiotics, so bringing a beer to the figurative table makes sense.
The idea for this probiotic brew was first proposed by a student in the University's Food Science and Technology program, who worked alongside school faculty for about nine months to perfect the recipe: a sour beer that contains roughly 3.5% alcohol. It was a unique challenge, since beers contain hop acids which prevent the growth and survival of probiotics (and is part of the reason there aren't currently any probiotic beers on the market). To allow for live probiotics to survive in the final product, they had to modify the conventional brewing and fermentation process. Specifically, it contains a probiotic strain known as "lactobacillus paracasei L26," which apart from having a sexy name that just rolls off the tongue, has been shown to neutralize toxins and viruses, as well as regulate the immune system.
While the team filed a patent to protect their recipe, there's no word on if or when the beer will make it to market. However, considering the drumbeat of studies indicating the health benefits of probiotics -- from digestion to depression -- and the subsequent demand for food and drink that contain them, they'd be wise to cash in ASAP.