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Whitmer signs law to end tax on menstrual products
The governor said menstruating people have no choice on whether to buy menstrual products, and the tax is a burden that falls most heavily on the economically disadvantaged.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday to lift the state sales and use tax on tampons and menstrual products.
“We’ve been trying to get this done for a long time,” Whitmer after signing the first of two bills in the package.
Whitmer noted she supported similar legislation when she served as a House and Senate lawmaker.
“This transcended many different legislatures and legislators,” she said. “But we are here today and I know it is going to make a difference for every menstruating Michigander.”
Whitmer said the burden of the 6 percent tax on menstrual products falls most heavily on young adults and low-income families, and the estimated $6 million reduction in state revenues is a pittance in comparison. She said for people with uteruses, menstrual products are a necessity.
“So, repealing this unfair, one-sided tax is the right thing to do,” she said. “Over the course of a lifetime, the average menstruating Michigander will use 17 thousand tampons. That’s 456 periods, costing 7 to 10 dollars a month.”
Michigan joins 20 other states that don’t have similar taxes.


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- OnePlus unveils its new AI Eraser feature, allowing users to remove unwanted elements from their photos easily.
- The feature is powered by OnePlus’s own proprietary large language model and will be followed by more OnePlus AI features.
- OnePlus joins the growing trend of AI photo editing, following in the footsteps of Google and Samsung.
OnePlus has introduced a new AI-powered feature called “AI Eraser” for their smartphones, marking the brand’s initial step into generative artificial intelligence. This innovation is fueled by OnePlus’ own large language model. The company suggests that more AI capabilities are on the way, as they plan to expand their AI offerings in the future.
Google pioneered the use of artificial intelligence in image editing with its Magic Eraser tool, originally only accessible on Pixel devices but now offered to Google One subscribers. Samsung followed suit by introducing its own AI-enhanced photo editing suite, called Galaxy AI, along with the launch of the Galaxy S24 series.
The OnePlus AI Eraser function is comparable in that it enables users to mark unwanted parts such as individuals, items, or flaws in their photos using the Photo Gallery app. Subsequently, the integrated artificial intelligence processes this selection and substitutes it with an fitting background based on the context.
Starting in April, the AI Eraser function will be introduced on certain OnePlus models such as the OnePlus 12, OnePlus 12R, OnePlus 11, OnePlus Open, and OnePlus Nord CE 4. The method of delivery for this feature is yet to be determined – it could come through an Oxygen OS update or a separate update for the OnePlus Photo Gallery app.
OnePlus has yet to clarify if the AI Eraser function is a built-in AI capability or necessitates an internet connection when we inquired about it before publishing this text.
Despite the increasing number of phone manufacturers adding AI features, it’s important to consider: might we soon find that subscriptions are necessary to access the complete capabilities of our mobile devices?
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domain: news


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Today, a mysterious phone called Xiaomi Mi 10E is listed on Geekbench. Although there is not much information about the phone, it was seen that the phone uses Exynos 990 processor.
A mysterious phone called Xiaomi Mi 10E has been added to Geekbench’s database, one of the popular performance evaluation sites. According to the Geekbench database, this phone will get its power from the processor called Samsung Exynos 990. The evaluation platform also confirmed that the phone will have 8 GB of RAM and Android 10 will be used as the operating system.
Undoubtedly, one of the most important equipment of a phone is the processor. The processors, which give all the power to the phone by giving power to the phone, are a kind of brain of the phone. That’s why smartphone manufacturers make a careful choice when it comes to designing phones. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi also chose to use Exynos 990 in the new member of the Mi 10 series.
Geekbench results of the Xiaomi Mi 10E:
This preference Xiaomi made was obviously confused by users. The company preferred to use the Snapdragon 865 processor on their flagship phones, but it seems to have opted out of the Snapdragon series to use the Exynos 990 on this phone. One of the strange things about this is that the company has preferred MediaTek Helio G90T instead of Exynos 990 on cheaper phones.
Samsung has long preferred to use the latest versions of Exynos or Snapdragon on their flagship phones. It has now been several months since the release of the Snapdragon 865, and many smartphones use this processor.
Recently, Samsung’s new processor Exynos 1000 appeared. This processor used RDNA GPU technology, unlike other Samsung processors. RDNA GPU technology was developed by Samsung last year, and this technology is expected to replace the financial GPU currently in use.


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Launching a new payment system
Rosbank, a major Russian bank, has started operation of a cross-border payment system using crypto assets (virtual currency) as the first major bank in the country. This is reported by the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti.
According to Rosbank, the bank has already conducted transactions with corporate and individual customers on a trial basis, and technical support for the payment system has been provided by B-crypto, a Russian fintech company specializing in cross-border cryptocurrency payment services. ” is provided. The virtual currency used for settlement has not been disclosed.
The introduction of the new system will allow Rosbank’s customers to use cryptocurrencies to pay for imported goods and services. Users of the service must complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures of Rosbank and B-crypto and be approved.
The flow of system usage is as follows:
- A Russian company and a foreign trader will sign a contract stipulating cryptocurrency settlement, and the foreign trader will issue an invoice with details and a wallet address.
- A Russian company and B-Crypto signed a contract, and the import company deposited the equivalent amount of the virtual currency in the account of the Rosbank in legal currency.
- Rosbank remits to B-Crypto, B-Crypto converts to virtual currency “in a friendly country”, and then remits to the address of the overseas company
Legal Position of Virtual Currencies in Russia
According to Vedomosti, Russia has yet to establish a legal framework for cryptocurrencies, and domestic payments using cryptocurrencies are prohibited. On the other hand, it is allowed to be used for payments outside Russia’s financial infrastructure and for cross-border transactions.
connection:Russia agrees bill to use cryptocurrencies for international payments: report
Late last month, Russia withdrew plans to establish a state-owned cryptocurrency exchange after opposition from the Ministry of Finance. Instead, it is considering introducing rules to regulate private cryptocurrency trading platforms.
Alexei Guznov, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Russia, said that cryptocurrency trading platforms in Russia could function more as an entity coordinating interactions between exporters and importers in the context of international transactions, rather than regular exchanges. said to be expensive. One example is the role of supporting payments for imported goods by Russian companies.
Central banks are likely to be responsible for regulating exchanges, said Deputy Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the Financial Markets Committee.
connection:Russia Drops Plans to Establish State-Owned Crypto Exchange: Report
lack of liquidity
Alexey Voyrokov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Bankers Association, said that cross-border payments using cryptocurrencies lack the level of liquidity required by large corporations, and as a result, small banks are generally the primary focus for small-value payments for medium-sized companies. It is pointed out that there are many cases where it is provided to customers, and that it is not adopted by major banks. It also questioned its profitability.
He added that he did not expect much demand due to the risk of the payment service and the frequency of fiat-to-crypto exchanges.
But Rosbank’s new cross-border payment offering could also be seen as a way to circumvent U.S. economic sanctions against Russia, said Edward Davidoff, a lawyer at Emet Law Firm. .
Russia’s trend toward building an alternative payment system
In September last year, Russia’s deputy finance minister announced plans to issue stablecoins backed by assets such as gold. It was reported that they are collaborating with several friendly countries to build a platform that can use stablecoins as an alternative payment method to the US dollar and the euro.
connection:Russia to Adopt Stablecoins for International Trade Payments: Report
And at the end of March this year, Russia’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Alexander Babakov said that India, Russia and China should build new financial ties based on a new monetary system for a multipolar world. He also hinted at the possibility of issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
Russia’s Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said in the same month that the CBDC “digital ruble” is expected to start live trading in 2023. He said he has in mind the use of the digital ruble for international payments as well.
The Central Bank of Russia will start a pilot program for the digital ruble from February 2022.
connection:Deputy Speaker of the Russian Duma: Russia, China and India Should Develop a New Common Currency System


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Empowering the consumer for the green transition
In March 2022, the Commission adopted its proposal for a directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition. The proposal aims to ensure consumers get adequate information on products’ durability and reparability before purchasing a product. In addition, it will strengthen consumer protection against untrustworthy or false environmental claims and premature obsolescence practices.
The proposal amends two existing consumer law Directives: the Consumer Rights Directive and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.
These proposed revisions in EU consumer law were announced in the New Consumer Agenda and the Circular Economy Action Plan. They aim to support the changes needed in consumer behaviour to achieve climate and environmental objectives under the European Green Deal by ensuring that consumers have better information on the durability and reparability of products and by protecting consumers from commercial practices that prevent consumers from shopping more sustainably.
- Teisingumo ir vartotojų reikalų generalinis direktoratas
Proposal for a Directive on empowering consumers for the green transition and annex
This proposal amends the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the Consumer Rights Directive to empower consumers for the green transition.
Over the last decades, rising consumption around the globe has increased pressure on the environment, climate change and created greater competition for resources. The demand for resources makes our industry and society also dependent on imports and vulnerable to high prices and market volatility. Several EU policies aim to address these challenges and promote a more sustainable, resource-efficient and circular economy, in particular via the implementation of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan.
Integrating the consumer perspective into the circular economy is key. This is linked to elements such as the optimal lifetime and durability of products and the easy repair, upgrade, disassemble and recycling of products. It is also linked to giving products a second life by selling them in the second hand market. Increasing the utilisation rate of products can also be achieved through renting/leasing models. It is also related to the provision of clear, credible and relevant information to consumers to allow them to make informed purchasing choices and contribute to this transition. DG Justice and Consumers commissioned an EU wide behavioural study to further look into the consumer angle of this area.
Behavioural Study on Consumers’ Engagement in the Circular Economy
The objective of this study was to provide policy-relevant insights on the consumers' engagement in the circular economy. The study involved several research tasks including literature review in all EU countries as well as third countries, stakeholder interviews, consumer focus groups in 4 EU countries, an online consumer survey in 12 EU countries and an online behavioural experiment in 6 EU countries.
Overall, all strands of research found that consumers were generally willing to engage in circular economy practices. But actual engagement was rather low. While a majority of consumers repair products (64%), a substantial share have not repaired products in the past (36%), and/or have no experience renting/leasing or buying second hand products (~90%).
A reason for this low engagement in circular economy practices could be that consumers lack information regarding product durability and reparability as well as the lack of sufficiently developed markets (e.g. for second hand products, renting, leasing or sharing services etc.).
In the behavioural experiment the provision of such information was found to be highly effective at shifting purchasing decisions towards products with greater durability and reparability. The survey and experiment also found that repair decisions are easily disrupted if arranging repair requires effort.
The findings indicate that there is a large potential to close the gap between consumers’ willingness to engage and their actual engagement. The study makes several policy recommendations to further enhance consumers' engagement in the circular economy.


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Symantec Corp. launched new editions of its consumer Norton AntiVirus
and Norton Internet Security (NIS) software today, adding new browser
defenses for some users in both packages and wrapping features from its
new identity initiative into the suite.
The 2008 versions boast several new features and enhancements,
including something that Symantec is calling Browser Defender, which is
Continues at computerworld.com


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Zenden Group, a prominent Russia-based footwear retailer, reported sales revenues of RUB 17.7bn (€279m) in 2016, a y-o-y growth of nearly 48%, the company announced. At the same time, the group’s sales measured in units increased by over 27%, to 8,050,000 pairs of shoes.
What is more, the retailer saw consumer traffic rise by 33% and average bill – 28%, year on year. In addition, last year, the number of its loyal clients reached about four million people, while the number of discount cards it issued hit more than one million units, which is an increase of 81% compared to 2015.
It is worth mentioning that in 2016 Zenden Group, which operates a chain of eponymous stores in the country, announced the purchase of two shoe brands: Thomas Munz and Mascotte. The latter deal allowed the company, which had been operating in the low-price segment of the country’s footwear market, to take a strong position in the market's premium segment, the group said.
In 2016, Zenden Group added 155 stores net, growing its chain in Russia to 363 locations covering a total retail area of 80,630 m2 as of 31 December 2016.
Interestingly, Zenden Group also wants to develop food marketplaces in Russia, following the example of the restaurant holding Ginza, the group’s president, Andrey Pavlov, told Rambler News Service (RNS). The company plans to launch its first marketplace in Pyatigorsk (Stavropol Territory) this summer. It intends to eventually introduce this format to other Russian cities.
|Zenden Group sales revenues and retail chain in Russia, 2015 and 2016|
|Zenden Group, 2017|
|Sales revenues (RUB bn)||11.96||17.69||47.9%|
|Number of stores||208||363||74.5%|
|Retail area (m2)||54,770||80,630||47.2%|


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Capcom has announced that its latest version of Street Fighter IV, Ultra Street Fighter IV, will hit arcades in Japan in April 2014, with the digital download versions for North American and European consoles coming soon after. And even though Ultra Street Fighter IV is coming to the PC, there is no ETA yet for that build (so yes, it will be delayed).
Ultra Street Fighter IV will feature the newly introduced ‘Red Focus’ and ‘Ultra Combo Double’ gameplay mechanics, as well as some new modes.
Furthermore, Ultra Street Fighter IV will bring new characters to the arenas. These new characters are: Elena, Poison, Rolento and Hugo.


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INVICTA LITHIUM BATTERIES RANGE EXPANDS
New products have been released, and there is more on the horizon
Invicta Lithium Batteries continues to see growth and with the release of a wide range of new products in multiple spaces, including the Automotive, 4WD and recreational industries, there is no doubt there is more to come from them.
Already known for its successful range of lithium deep-cycle and lithium hybrid starting batteries that have been in the market for years, the brand has now released a range of super-slim batteries that are only 65mm wide, and a portable power station that can handle up to 1600W and is fully certified for the Australian market.
The super slim design is nothing new for the 4WD industry. However, Invicta says its latest addition has been thoughtfully designed to be a top performer in the category and can fit in even the tightest spaces thanks to its 65mm width.
This latest battery comes in two sizes, 100Ah or 200Ah, and includes Bluetooth connectivity, robust metal casing, and prismatic cells.
In addition, the 200Ah model can handle a “whopping” 250ah max continuous discharge which is compatible with a 3000W inverter.
Invicta has also released its latest Invicta Lithium Power Station range, which again is nothing new for the industry, but includes a number of features that Invicta says “will get even the most die-hard 4WDer or weekender excited” – especially if they need to occupy the kids with some Mario Kart for a few hours.
It includes a built-in 1600W pure-sine inverter to keep your home appliances running, solar input with MPPT regulator, 12 AC and DC power outlets, and active cooling.
The Invicta Power Station also comes with a host of certifications and protections to ensure it is operating as safely as possible, something Invicta says it has been increasingly known for across its range of batteries.
Further, Invicta says these are available “at a price that won’t break the bank,” stating that “it looks to be a safe offer for any family to add to their weekend setup.”
With the latest expansion of Invicta lithium batteries, there is more to come, and Invicta reports it is working on something “truly exciting that will push the boundaries of what lithium batteries can do,” while also sticking to Invicta’s ethos of providing “some of the safest, most reliable and top performing lithium batteries on the market.”
Invicta is a quality lithium battery brand of Sealed Performance Batteries (SPB), a company with over 25 years in the energy storage industry with a highly technical team specialising in energy storage and power distribution.
For more information, visit invictalithium.com.au


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Consumer confidence unexpectedly dropped to its lowest level in two-and-a-half years in October, while house prices were unchanged at low levels in August, suggesting the consumer is still struggling.
Taken along with recent regional manufacturing data that hinted at stabilization in the sector in October, Tuesday’s U.S. data underscored the view that the economy should avoid another recession, though growth will be slow.
Confirmation of a growing but sluggish U.S. economy is expected from U.S. gross domestic product data for the third quarter on Thursday, but the surprising drop in consumer confidence suggests the recent bounce back from a weak first half year may not be sustained.
U.S. third quarter GDP due on Thursday is expected to show the economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.5 percent, up from 1.3 percent the prior quarter, according to a Reuters poll of economists.
“For everybody that’s excited that growth is going to be somewhere in excess of 2.0 percent in the third quarter, you should not think that’s sustainable,” said Anthony Chan, chief economist at JPMorgan Private Wealth Management in New York.
“A lot of that is going to come off as we go into the fourth quarter.”
The Conference Board said its index of consumer attitudes in October fell to its lowest level since March 2009 as consumers fretted about job and income prospects. However consumer confidence does not always correlate well with consumer spending or retail sales, economists noted.
The Conference Board’s index of consumer attitudes fell to 39.8 from a upwardly revised 46.4 the month before. Analysts had expected a reading of 46.0.
The expectations gauge was also at its lowest level since March 2009, just before the economy officially crawled out of recession.
Consumer attitudes have soured since the spring, hit by fears of a renewed recession, political gridlock, high unemployment and volatility in the stock market.
With consumer spending accounting for about 70 percent of the economy, economists say the recovery will be hard pressed to make significant headway until confidence improves.
“Consumer spending has slowed because confidence has deteriorated, and these numbers are very, very consistent with that view,” said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer of Hugh Johnson Advisors LLC in Albany, New York.
“You can’t look at these numbers and be optimistic about growth in 2012.”
Earlier this month the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s preliminary reading of sentiment for October also showed consumers’ attitudes sagged, though not as sharply.
In Tuesday’s other main economic report, the S&P/Case Shiller composite index of house prices in 20 metropolitan areas was flat compared with the month before on a seasonally adjusted basis, frustrating expectations for a gain of 0.1 percent.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, prices fell in 14 of 20 cities, with Atlanta and Las Vegas among the biggest losers, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller data.
The annual rate of decline slowed, however, with prices in the 20 cities down 3.8 percent compared with a year-over-year decline of 4.1 percent the month before. That still was a bigger drop than the expected 3.5 percent decline in August.
Analysts said the weaker-than-expected home price data was disappointing but not altogether shocking as the market struggles to get out from under a glut of unsold homes and ongoing foreclosures that are holding prices down.
While prices are forecast to remain depressed for some time, any further declines are expected to be modest.
“This has been a five-year process and I think we are at least closer to the end of the hemorrhaging in housing prices than we’ve been in a long, long time,” said Chan.
The struggling housing market continues to be one of the biggest hurdles for the economic recovery as attempts to bolster the sector have had limited success.
In the latest efforts, the Obama administration said on Monday it would expand a mortgage refinancing program in a step that could help up to a million borrowers.
“I’m glad that they’re trying. This was a clever idea. But more needs to be done,” Yale economist and index co-founder Robert Shiller told Reuters Insider.
A separate home price index from the Federal Housing Finance Agency showed prices declined 0.1 percent in August from July.
The index is calculated using purchase prices of houses financed with mortgages that have been sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
In other U.S. economic data on Tuesday, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond showed manufacturing in the region was unchanged in October with the composite index at minus 6.
New orders improved to minus 5 from minus 17, but employment gauge worsened to minus 7 from positive 7.
U.S. stock prices dipped and U.S. Treasury bond prices rose after the weak consumer confidence data, but in financial markets, the day’s data was eclipsed by the cancellation of a meeting of European finance ministers that added to doubts about the region’s efforts to tackle its debt crisis.
However, European leaders still planned to hold a summit on the issue on Wednesday as scheduled.
Additional reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak


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Consumer confidence fell to its lowest level for more than a year in September as people worried about Government spending cuts.
Confidence dropped across all measures in the month, with people feeling particularly uncertain about spending money themselves, according to Nationwide.
The group’s main consumer confidence index dropped by nine points to 53 - the lowest level since March 2009.
There was a steep fall in the present situation index, which dropped five points, with nearly two-thirds of people saying the economic situation is bad.
The expectations index dived by 12 points, with 31% of people thinking the economy will have deteriorated further in six months, while 58% think there will still not be many jobs available.
But it was the spending index that saw the sharpest fall, dropping by 14 points to 85 - the lowest level since November 2008.
Just one in four people said they thought it was a good time to make a major purchase, such as a house or car, and only 35% thought it was a good time to buy household goods.
The overall fall in confidence reversed the gain seen in August, putting the main index back on the downward trend seen since the spring.
Martin Gahbauer, Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “September saw confidence return to its downward path following what now appears to have been a temporary uplift in sentiment during August.
“It would seem that the pessimistic sentiments of a few months ago have been renewed and this has perhaps been driven by a realisation of the true impact of the cuts announced in the emergency Budget.
“The Government’s impending spending review is likely to have a strong influence on consumer confidence in the coming weeks and we can expect the index to remain volatile until the full impact of this has been assessed.”
He added that the fall in the spending index could be a cause of concern for retailers in the run-up to Christmas, as consumers may be beginning to feel the pinch in their spending power.
Expectations for house prices increased marginally during the month, with consumers expecting the cost of property to rise by 0.1% during the coming six months, compared with predicting a drop of 0.1% in August.
:: TNS-RI questioned 1,002 people between August 23 and September 19.


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In June, Chinese pop-punk singer Wowkie Zhang introduced a new music video clip where by he encounters a digital character in a hyper-colored, animated globe that is reminiscent of Pixar movies. The avatar, sporting Gen-Z-styled silver hair, a yellow and black oversize sweat, and dishevelled trousers, would make hip-hop moves to Zhang’s catchy, gentle-hearted tune.
The digital character isn’t a one-off generation as an alternative, Zebra Labs, which generated the movie, is turning him into a piece of reusable mental house that can be acquired as NFTs on marketplaces and show up in other virtual events like online video online games. The startup is waiting for the bull industry to return to start the NFT venture, Scarlett Li, founder and CEO of Zebra Labs, tells TechCrunch.
The purpose of Zebra Labs is to “create mental house that’s deeply built-in with content” and “run virtual idols like superstars,” states Li. Some of the avatars it makes are based on real-existence stars, while some others are initial figures. To create revenues, Zebra Labs cultivates an audience for its idols as a result of small movies, photos, and social posts and in change monetizes the supporter base. It also licenses its virtual idols to associates for a cost.
Here’s Zebra Labs hoping to construct a admirer base for Zookie, who makes a cameo in Wowkie Zhang’s audio movie, by churning out Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese edition) clips of the character:
NFT, which is by now remaining widely utilized in authenticating IP rights, can be employed to improved have interaction followers, reckons Li, who earlier assisted arrange some of China’s most significant audio festivals. “When you reach 30 years previous, you lose interest to investigate audio, so a digital setting can jumpstart visualization [of music] once more.”
NFTs also give rising musicians a more immediate avenue for earnings. In China, tunes distribution is in the grip of tunes streaming giants owned by Tencent and NetEase. These platforms are likely to allocate person visitors to musicians presently with a ton of followers, “so to live very well as a musician, you have to have to have a million followers,” claims Li. “NFTs can adjust that.”
As a veteran of music festivals, Li is psyched about the prospect of on the net concert events. She’s benchmarking in opposition to Ariana Grande’s Fornite concert, in which the singer descends into a vibrant island in her virtual manifestation with a shimmering silver dress and a glowing white ponytail. Zebra Labs is in talks with various gaming corporations to start digital concert events for Chinese artists inside of a Minecraft-like video game and a metaverse system by 2023, Li claims.
Zebra Labs lately raised $5 million to advance its metaverse vision. The funding came from the Chinese gaming organization NetDragon and the Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo. Onboarding a Japanese trader, according to Li, can aid the startup learn from the country’s very long heritage of IP management, which is exemplified by the achievement of virtual idols like Hatsune Miku. The enterprise is also backed by SOSV, the VC company identified for its network of accelerators.
Following its collaboration with Wowkie Zhang’s songs movie, which has garnered some 40 million clicks throughout an array of online channels, Zebra Labs has five other artists in the pipeline. It’s also setting up to launch a digital twin of Zhang by the initially quarter of 2023.


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A Madison startup wants to help people get healthy through a simple mechanism: The bathroom scale.
The scale that Easy Way To Health is leasing to companies and wellness programs in the area would not be recognizable in any high school locker room, though. The WiFi-connected contraption is sleek and bathroom-porcelain white, as if it were a product sold at an Apple Store. There’s no traditional needle-and-tickmark or weight-and-counterweight mechanism, just a pad to stand on and a pole-mounted touchscreen.
A would-be weight watcher never actually sees how much they clock in at on the scale’s screen — according to the company’s founder and CEO Renato Romani, that can be a disincentive when it comes to getting fit. Instead, they step on, scan a QR code on a smartphone app, and get off. Data on their weight and body mass index goes straight to a cloud-based software system, available online and on the mobile app. Read the full story here.


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ART SHOW WITH STYLE
Fashion and art at La Pietra
A fashion show by Anne Namba will highlight La Pietra's second annual art show taking place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the school at 2933 Poni Moi Road.
Admission is free, and valet parking will be available.
The fashion show will take place at 10 a.m., featuring designs for men and women.
The art show will include sculpture, oils, watercolor, ceramics, wood carving and jewelry from more than 40 local artists, with half of the sale proceeds benefiting La Pietra.
La Pietra's mission is to provide an exemplary education to approximately 250 girls who represent Hawaii's ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. More than 40 percent of the students receive some form of financial assistance.
COURTESY ANNE NAMBA
Marissa Gey models a bustier and skirt in an ensemble designed by Anne Namba, a featured designer in a free fashion show at La Pietra Saturday morning.
Harajuku lovers rejoice in style
Head to Bar 35 Saturday night for Harajuku Lovers Live at 35. Where else in Hawaii can you show up dressed Harajuku-style without being deemed a freak? What's more, you could win prizes in a hair and makeup competition with the winner featured in the online publication Hawaii Red magazine.
Ulupono salon, W Salon, and Sanctuary Salon will be in the house from 9 p.m., with animation videos screening all night long. A photographer will also be on site to immortalize all.
E-mail: Maile at firstname.lastname@example.org for bottle service and table reservations. There's no cover charge.
Back-to-school at Windward Mall
Pick up back-to-school fashion ideas and maybe win some prizes at "Endless Summer at Windward Mall" noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, co-sponsored by Sassy and G Magazine.
The event's highlight will be fashion show of fall must-haves from Celebrity Tuxedos, Get Wet!, Hot Topic, Icing by Claire's, Jeans Warehouse, Lids, Lil' Miss Trend-E, SKIN Industries and T&C Surf.
There will be several giveaways during the day, including a grand prize of a T&C Surfboard shaped by Glenn Pang (valued at $500), while the second grand prize is an Apple iPod touch (valued at $299).
Entry forms will be available at Center Court from noon to 1:40 p.m. The contest, open to 13 and older, begins at 1:50 p.m. and participants must be present to win. Visit www.windwardmall.com for official rules. Minors must have parents or guardians sign prize documentation to receive prizes.
Macy's now home to PIKO activewear
Macy's Hawaii has introduced PIKO to its Ala Moana, Pearlridge and Waikiki stores.
PIKO is an active lifestyle casual wear brand incorporates graphic trends with the latest silhouettes geared toward sun, sand and surf worshippers.
To mark the occasion, PIKO and Macy's are co-sponsoring the China Uemura 24th annual Longboard Surfing Classic taking place tomorrow through Sunday at Waikiki beach. The competition, featuring kids, amateurs and professionals, will benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children in Honolulu.


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The trade body’s chief executive told the Mortgage Business Expo in London that the FSA’s decision to query regulated firms’ interest rate policies earlier this year was just the tip of the iceberg.
“The regulator is not finished looking at bridging market. They will start with the regulated firms and then move on to the brokers.
“They will be looking at certain cases and seeing some have gone to regulated firms and some to unregulated ones but they will struggle to see why some deals have gone the regulated way and some have not.
“If unregulated firms are doing regulated products then they are breaking the law. The regulator is in the middle of this whole process and I worry that the industry has shot itself in the foot and reputation-wise we can’t afford to keep doing that.”
Alan Cleary, managing director of Precise Mortgages added that some firms in the sector had simply ignored the warnings from the FSA.
“The response from part of the industry has been ‘screw it, I’ll keep my head down and see what happens’. That’s even with the regulator looking directly at it.
“The industry needs to come back to the simple question, ‘would you sell these products to your mum?'”


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Live casino gaming has become a popular form of entertainment in Malaysia. The convenience of online casinos and the excitement of live games have attracted a large number of players. However, the government has increasingly taken an interest in regulating the industry due to concerns over the potential negative effects of gambling. This article explores the impact of government regulation on live casino gaming in Malaysia and the future opportunities and challenges in this market.
The Rise of Live Casino Gaming
The growth of live casino gaming in Malaysia can be attributed to the country’s gambling laws. While land-based casinos are illegal, online casinos that operate offshore are not banned. This has led to the rise of offshore casinos that offer live games such as baccarat, roulette, and blackjack to Malaysian players. The increasing popularity of mobile devices has also contributed to the growth of online gambling in Malaysia.
The Role of Government Regulation
The Malaysian government has taken a more active role in regulating the live casino gaming industry in recent years. In 2020, the government announced the creation of a new regulatory body, the Malaysia Online Casino Gaming and Gambling Corporation (MOGGC), to oversee the industry. The MOGGC is responsible for licensing and regulating online casinos that operate in Malaysia. It also monitors and enforces compliance with its policies and regulations.
The primary goal of government regulation is to protect consumers from the potential negative effects of gambling. It is also seen as a way to ensure the industry is operating fairly and transparently. Regulations include requirements for safe and secure payment options, rules for responsible gaming, and the protection of minors from gambling.
The Benefits of Government Regulation
Government regulation has several benefits for the live casino gaming industry in Malaysia. For one, it provides a level of trust and confidence to players. The MOGGC ensures that licensed online casinos are operating fairly and transparently, which can attract more players to the industry. Regulation also creates a level playing field for online casinos, as they are required to follow the same rules and regulations. This can lead to a more competitive market, which benefits players with better bonuses and promotions.
Another important benefit is that regulation can reduce the risk of fraud and money laundering in the industry. Licensed online casinos are required to adhere to strict anti-money laundering policies and are subject to regular audits to ensure compliance. This protects players from fraudulent activities and maintains the integrity of the industry.
The Challenges of Government Regulation
One of the challenges of government regulation is that it can be costly and time-consuming for online casinos to obtain and maintain licenses. Some smaller operators may not be able to afford the additional costs associated with regulation, which can lead to a concentration of power among larger, established online casinos.
Another challenge is that some players may prefer to play at offshore casinos that offer better bonuses and promotions. These casinos may not be subject to the same regulations as licensed online casinos, which can attract players who are looking for a more lucrative gaming experience.
The Future of Live Casino Gaming in Malaysia
The future of live casino gaming in Malaysia is uncertain. While government regulation is necessary to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of the industry, it also has the potential to stifle competition and innovation. A balance must be struck to ensure that the industry can continue to grow and attract new players while adhering to responsible gaming practices.
Despite the challenges, live casino gaming in Malaysia is likely to continue to grow in popularity. As more players discover the convenience and excitement of online casinos, the industry will attract more investment and innovation. With the right regulatory framework in place, live casino gaming can continue to thrive and provide a fun and entertaining experience for players in Malaysia.
Government regulation has a significant impact on live casino gaming in Malaysia. While necessary to protect consumers, regulation also creates challenges for operators and can stifle innovation. The future of the industry depends on finding the right balance between regulation and innovation to ensure that live casino gaming can continue to provide a safe, fair, and entertaining experience for players in Malaysia. For a complete educational experience, we recommend visiting this external resource. It offers useful and pertinent details on the topic. Live casino Malaysia, dive deeper and expand your knowledge!
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The tourism ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yatra to strengthen and enable the tourism and hospitality industry. The event was organised under an arrangement between the Ministry of Tourism and the Quality Council of India (QCI), where the MoU for the Tourism Ministry Yatra tie-up was signed.
Under the MoU:
- While the MoU is meant to mainly strengthen tourism, it also takes into consideration and provides support for accommodation units.
- The MoU outlines that both parties signing the document would participate in encourage the accommodation units to self-certify themselves on the System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for the Hospitality Industry (SAATHI) on the Online Travel Agency Platform (OTA).
- Earlier this year, the Ministry of Tourism had also signed an MoU with ClearTrip and Ease My Trip. There has been an ongoing effort by the ministry to strengthen the tourism sector in India while extending support to accommodation units.
- The accommodation units registered on NIDHI and SAATHI on the OTA platform are to be provided extended visibility with the signing of this MoU. SAATHI is an initiative by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Quality Council of India.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Minister of State (IC) of Ministry of Tourism: Prahlad Singh Patel.


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Safeway issues call for entries for Eighth Annual Lucerne The Art of Dairy Contest
PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway and its exclusive Lucerne brand on Friday announced the Eighth Annual Lucerne The Art of Dairy Contest to give creative art students the opportunity to showcase their design skills for a chance to win a grand prize of $30,000, part of a combined $46,000 prize pool.
Since the inception of The Art of Dairy contest in 2005, Lucerne has contributed more than $376,000 to schools, teachers and students. Last year’s response included over 9,200 students entering their work and the nine finalists garnering in excess of 600,000 votes when America decided the contest winner.
The call for entries will run through Dec. 7.
For past contest winners, entry forms, healthy recipes and Official Rules, visit www.ArtofDairy.com.
Sears Holdings moves toward member-based business model
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings, the parent company of Kmart and Sears, is looking to shift its business model to one that focuses on members of its Shop Your Way program and their shopping experience, the company said in its third-quarter 2012 earnings report.
"For the third quarter and year-to-date, we improved EBITDA, accelerated our strategic actions and generated significant cash by delivering on the actions we outlined at our annual meeting," Sears Holdings president and CEO Lou D’Ambrosio said. "Our EBITDA improvement in the quarter came from some of our most important categories like appliances, apparel and home services as we introduced new offers, honed pricing, effectively managed costs and implemented better inventory management. We did experience shortfalls, however, in categories like grocery and household and consumer electronics, and are taking actions to improve that performance."
D’Ambrosio said more than half of its revenues at its U.S. Sears stores and Kmart stores come from Shop Your Way members. "Our investments are focused on our members and their experience — at the store, online and mobile — which is why we are investing in integrated retail and our Shop Your Way membership program," D’Ambrosio said.
Sales for the quarter, which ended Oct. 27, were $8.9 billion, a decline of $548 million over third quarter 2011, which the company attributed to having fewer Kmart and Sears stores and lower domestic comps. Kmart had sales of about $3.1 billion, compared with sales of $3.34 billion in third quarter 2011. Sears had sales of $4.7 billion in third quarter 2012, compared with $5 billion in third quarter 2011.
Kmart’s comps for the quarter declined 4.8%, while domestic Sears stores’ comps decreased 1.6%. Sears Canada stores’ comps declined by 5.7%.
The company’s loss for the quarter was $498 million, compared with $410 million in third quarter 2011.
Meijer partners with ADA in diabetes initiative
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Midwestern mass merchandise retailer Meijer will serve as a regional sponsor for an initiative led by the American Diabetes Association, the ADA said.
The group said it had signed a deal whereby Meijer would serve as a regional sponsor for the next five years for the Stop Diabetes Movement in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Activities will include diabetes camps, walks and others.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Meijer and increase our efforts to stop diabetes," ADA CEO Larry Hausner said. "It is with sponsors, such as Meijer, that are able to extend our outreach and vision to bring awareness to the communities we serve every day."
The initiative’s goal is to inspire and mobilize the general public, volunteers, donors, corporations and the scientific and medical communities to rally around the ADA’s call to "share, act, learn and give," raising awareness, promoting healthy living and raising money to fund outreach, advocacy and research.
"From healthy foods to athletic gear and exercise equipment to pharmacy services, Meijer is committed to providing healthy living solutions to our customers storewide," Meijer VP pharmacy operations Karen Mankowski said. "This partnership with the American Diabetes Association is just one more way Meijer is helping keep our customers health top-of-mind."


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4Home and Marvell have developed a new energy management solution on the Plug Computer to compete in the home energy management market. The solution is a combination of 4Home’s connected home services software and Marvell’s integrated silicon solution. It is based on the SheevaPlug, powered by Marvell’s Sheeva CPU Technology and 4Home’s ControlPoint software.
Ip.access has teamed up with Alertmd to demonstrate how Femtocell can be integrated in smart home energy management solutions. By integrating ip.access’ Femtocell technology with AlertMe Energy Service the system automatically detects when phones enter or leaves the house and can therefore turn off lights, radio, television and other home appliances automatically when the house is empty and switch then back on when you return.
Intamac a supplier of internet access monitoring and control solution has received £4 million invested funding from a group of London based investors. The group includes Chados Capital Ventures, Carbon Trust Investment and Seraphim Capital. Intamac recently announced a home monitoring solution with D-Link and has an ongoing relationship with British Telecom, Technicolor, Alcatel Lucent, and IAG.
Watteco, announced the world’s first water heater and HVAC system software monitoring solution. The company is a leading manufacturer of System on Chip (SoC) and other Ultra low Powerline Communucation (PLC) solutions that enables us to manage and monitor household appliances. The enPowerMe software monitor energy usage of any major appliances, using a non-intrusive energy-analysis algorithm said watteco.
Within the last three or more years the idea of living a digital life style or having a connected home has come closer to being a reality than it has for the last ten. With organizations such as DLNA and UPnP working to establish standards the industry has come leaps and bounds. As things are at the moment the solutions are there for us to access our home from anywhere and at anytime. There is a huge push in technology development that is accelerating the implementation of the digital home areas that I see are: media streaming, home automation, embedded technology (android, system-on-chip), connectivity and always on internet.
This announcement coincide with the release of the of the AR7400 Homeplug AV and IEEE 1901 compliant chipset. The new development kit is to accelerate the adoption and development of hardware and software among independent software vendor and smooth the intergration with other powerline Ethernet appliances and applications.
A new technology startup – FutureDash, based in California has launch a new product called GreenDash; a new home energy management software. The GreenDash software will allow consumer network and electronics manufactures to easily add energy monitoring to their products, which would make it easy for home owners to see their energy usage in real-time.
AlertMe, the award-winning home energy management service, announced the launch of AlertMe Energy, giving consumers the ability to monitor their home energy usage online and act on that information to reduce their bills and carbon footprint. AlertMe Energy includes easy-to-install hardware and an online service that can be accessed from any Web browser. It is also tightly integrated with Google PowerMeter, making it easy to track energy consumption live from an iGoogle home page.
Intamac Systems, a specialist in Connected Home services through the web and mobile devices, announced that they have secured a £1million funding to support the development of a range of Zigbee controlled consumer devices. The new Zigbee devices will be part of the companies Smart Grid power management services and will be managed through Intamac's award-winning web-based Home Manager™ service.
British Gas New Energy and AlertMe.com, the award- winning provider of smart energy saving systems for homes, have today announced an agreement that will see the two companies trial home energy management technologies, to help British Gas customers cut their energy consumption, save money and reduce their household carbon emissions.


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Genii Ai secures multimillion-dollar funding from Bright Equity Group, Francois Pienaar to accelerate growth
Genii Ai, which provides artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and machine learning services, has announced that the company closed a multimillion-dollar series B funding round from the Bright Equity Group and Francois Pienaar. The funding will enable Genii Ai to further invest in research and development, talent acquisition and growth.
This Cape Town-based Ai and machine learning start-up has developed and successfully commercialised predictive models that inform customer behaviours to improve customer sales, services and retention. Since inception, Genii has successfully implemented solutions and services at more than 10 of South Africa's top 200 companies. AI and machine learning is nothing new, but Genii believes applying AI to solve business challenges, with a clear ROI, is quite unique in the customer services arena.
The Bright Equity Group and Francois Pienaar have followed the successes of Genii Analytics in the field of applied AI for some time, and have been impressed with its ability to solve real business problems. Kobus van der Westhuizen, CEO and founder of Genii Ai, is a renowned customer service and customer experience strategist and passionate about innovation in digital robotics and RPA. The senior management team at Genii all have extensive experience in this space, and make up a combination of data scientists, business analysts, software engineers and data engineers. With this level of integrated expertise in the customer experience industry, this was a team of experts to keep an eye on, Bright said. Both investors will step in as board members of Genii Ai.
Since then, Genii has established global partnerships with large technology providers in Africa, the UK and the US to distribute these Ai assets. "Everything we R&D is to innovate the improvement of the customer experience (CX), and reduce costs associated with customer service, while improving sales and retaining customers," says Van der Westhuizen
"We have been studying the AI space for a while, with the aim of investing in a company that delivers a real product with clear, demonstrable benefits to its clients. The Genii team has the know-how and industry experience to be a market leader in its chosen niche," said Frank Kilbourn, CEO of Bright Equity.


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NOTE grows within medtech – starts deliveries to Mölnlycke
After several years of development work together with Mölnlycke, which is a world-leading company within medtech, NOTE has signed an agreement for the manufacturing of the company's new generation of wound care products. The new product has been launched on the market and batch production of the complete product (box build) has begun at NOTE in Torsby. Investments in modern clean room technology have already been made. The collaboration with Mölnlycke is expected to have significant potential and is estimated to amount to SEK 50 million/year in a few years.
“Our business continues to develop strongly, and we win new customers and projects in a convincing way. It is also gratifying that our methodological investment in medtech, where, among other things, high quality requirements are set, is achieving continued success. We are very proud of our collaboration with Mölnlycke and will do our utmost to contribute to continued success for our customers”, says Johannes Lind-Widestam, CEO and President.
“We are pleased to welcome NOTE as a supplier and partner to Mölnlycke and we look forward to a successful and effective collaboration with the development of new wound care products”, says Staffan Olofsson, Global Procurement Director at Mölnlycke.
For more information, please contact:
Johannes Lind-Widestam, CEO and President, tel. +46 (0)70 541 7222
Henrik Nygren, CFO, tel. +46 (0)70 977 0686
NOTE is one of northern Europe’s leading EMS partners, producing PCBAs, subassemblies and box build products. NOTE’s offering covers the complete product lifecycle, from design to after-sales. NOTE has a presence in Sweden, Finland, the UK, Estonia and China. Net sales in the last 12 months were SEK 1,901 million; the group has approximately 1,100 employees. NOTE is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. For more information, please go to www.note-ems.com.
The information was submitted for publication at 8:30 a.m. CET on 6 July 2021.


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In order to promote tourism in the region, a new promotional video and smartphone application would feature the West Kootenay Regional Airport and Castlegar. The promotional events have been made to get more business and leisure tourists to the area, as the winter season is about to kick-in.
The marketing is being done by a Company known as SnowSeekers from Edmonton, which is known to encourage tourism at alpine destinations in Western Canada.
While talking about the promotions, Executive Director of the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, Pam McLeod stated that businesses in Castlegar will profit from tourists, who would be looking to buy groceries and other necessities, while on their way to Whitewater Winter Resort located near Nelson and Red Mountain Resort. The promotional video will be shot early next year in the month of January and would be aired two weeks after its filming is complete.
Apart from the video, smartphone applications for iPhone, BlackBerry and phones based on Android operating system would have all the necessary details regarding businesses, attractions and other events, which would take place. Apart from such information, trekking trails will also be highlighted in the application.
SnowSeekers have come out in confidence for the application by saying that tourists on an average check such applications 20 times on an average, during their holidays.


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Agapecare Foodbank volunteers and management are making a desperate appeal for more storage space after an overwhelming response to our Christmas Appeal this year.
Schools, businesses and people are reaching new levels of generosity with never-ending donations of milk, rice and tinned meat, as well as more festive food such as selection boxes, mince pies and Christmas puddings.
But now the response is proving so great that the Agapecare Foodbank centre in Spalding is in urgent need of a new warehouse to store and make up food parcels for people and families hit by unemployment, redundancy, benefit delays and homelessness.
Pastor Chas Sandhu, minister of The Lighthouse Church, Haverfield Road, where the foodbank centre is based, said: “We’re so grateful to the South Holland community for the support they have given to Agapecare Foodbank.
“We are overwhelmed with the donations of food, Christmas items and financial gifts we’ve had, so much so that we’re running out of space for our food stocks.
“We would really appreciate the use of a warehouse, preferably near to the foodbank centre, which we could have at a peppercorn rent to store the terrific amount of food that has come in.”
Among the donations is a food package worth £250 from Lincolnshire Co-operative to be shared out between foodbanks in Spalding, Holbeach and Long Sutton.
Jane Francis, of Holbeach Community Larder, said: “We appreciate it when an organisation like the Co-op makes such a donation and we’re very grateful for it.”
Nicola Berry, of Lincolnshire Co-operative, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to support people in our communities and our donation will help the foodbanks to provide for many people in need over the festive period.”


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By Connor Lynch
LINDSAY — Aside from a few indignant flare-ups, many farmers are resigned to this year’s hike in the price of diesel.
The province commissioned a report on its cap-and-trade program that pegged the increase on diesel fuel at 5 cents per litre this year.
“Five cents doesn’t sound like much until you see the black and white on the invoice,” Lindsay crop farmer Joe Hickson told Farmers Forum. Hickson, who crops 2,500 acres and runs his own processing company, figures the jump is going to cost him an extra $25,000 to $30,000 per year fuelling his tractors, combines, and three tractor trailers. Cap and trade is the province’s way of putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions.
And options for cutting back are non-existent. “We’re pretty well stuck. We’re not out there doing recreational tillage we can cut out.” With most machinery using about 20 litres of diesel per acre, farmers are generally looking at a hike in fuel costs of $1 per acre.
Farmers hoping for an out have said their farm organizations need to push the province for either an exemption for agriculture, like there is under Alberta’s carbon tax, or some kind of carbon credit. Hickson said if agriculture was ever going to be getting an exemption, it would’ve had one in the first place.
As far as credits for carbon go, “there’s been discussions on that for years” that haven’t gone anywhere, and Hickson isn’t optimistic about anything happening now.
The new tax was introduced to decrease industrial carbon dioxide and other emissions in hopes of stopping manmade global warming, a highly controversial theory.
Because farmers can trap carbon in the soil in the form of organic matter with minimal or no-till, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) was hoping there would be carbon credits made available to agriculture. Finch-area cash crop farmer, Dennis Fife, who farms 1,600 acres and custom harvests about 9,000, figures his fuel bill will go up by $10,000 this year but is resigned to the extra costs. “It’s impossible (to use less.) We’ve already cut back as much as we can,” said Fife.
Cash crop and dairy farmer Mark Fraser at Maxville said that the province can call cap and trade anything it wants, but it pencils out as a tax.
“Nobody’s going to burn less (diesel); there’s no electric tractor out there,” he said. “They’re taxing things where we have no choice, especially in rural areas.”
Farmers considering a switch to a more fuel-efficient tractor are locked out because the cost can’t be justified, he added. “You won’t trade in a tractor for $30,000 and buy one worth $200,000 to save $500 a year in fuel costs. Not much to do but grin and bear it.”
But the kicker is the hidden costs. A carbon tax pushes up the price of everything, because trucking costs go up and the trucking industry can pass those costs onto every other market it serves, from clothing retailers to grocery stores.
“The fact of the matter is (fuel) is not a huge bill compared to, say, fertilizer,” Fraser said. “But a broad-stroke carbon tax makes everything more expensive.”
And although it’s not exactly clear by how much, the Toronto Sun’s napkin calculations put the flat average at $400 per year per household, which would likely be higher for rural households and higher still for farm houses.
Brechin crop farmer Don Macdonald is disgusted that his 440 acres take about 8,000 litres of coloured fuel to harvest, and a jump in diesel will cost him an extra $480. Add in the extra cost of fueling his pickup with regular diesel and the hidden tax raising the price of everything else from clothing to food and he figures he’ll be spending over an extra $1,000 a year.
Cash crop farmer John Vanderspank, who farms 1,200 acres just north of the town of Perth and custom harvests about 2,000 acres, spent about $80,000 in fuel last year. He’s expecting his fuel bill to jump by about $4,800 this year from the diesel tax.
The bitterest pill to swallow, however, was the promise of the OFA and past-president Don McCabe that the cap-and-trade plan would make farmers rich,Vanderspank said. “They kept telling us for the last 10 years that we’d be making millions off of carbon credits. They keep saying how much they do for us but obviously they just suckered us into another tax.”


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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve finds itself in an unusually delicate spot as it considers how much more to try to stimulate an economy that's still growing and adding jobs but also appears vulnerable.
As it considers a potential interest rate cut at its meeting next week, a string of complicated questions is clouding the Fed's outlook.
Will a U.S. manufacturing sector that is essentially in recession weaken the rest of the economy? Will a shaky truce in the U.S.-China trade war hold? Will Britain avoid a possibly calamitous no-deal Brexit? Is Europe on the brink of a downturn? Can the Fed finally manage to lift annual inflation up to its 2% target?
Compounding the Fed's difficulty is the nature of its rate cuts. They're intended to avert a slowdown that could sink into a recession rather than revive an already-ailing economy. In such cases, it's hard to know when rate cuts have been sufficient. Rate changes typically affect an economy only over time.
The danger is the Fed might miscalculate and either fail to cut rates enough to energize the economy or push them too low and inflate a bubble in stocks or other risky assets.
"Calibrating that is tricky," said Julia Coronado, chief economist at MacroPolicy Perspectives. The Fed's interest rate cuts are "not based on actual deterioration" but "on the potential for deterioration if you don't act."
The question of whether to cut rates comes against an economic backdrop in which inflation and borrowing rates remain historically low even after a record-long 11 years of growth as well as low unemployment.
The Fed is facing all these challenges while also absorbing public attacks from President Donald Trump, who has regularly excoriated Chairman Jerome Powell's leadership and the central bank's decision not to cut rates earlier and more aggressively.
The Fed has also recently had to buy billions in Treasury bills to inject cash into short-term money markets after concluding belatedly that it had let too much funding drain from those markets and caused short-term rates to temporarily surge above its target range.
Next week, the Fed is widely expected to cut its benchmark short-term rate to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%. The goal would be to help safeguard the economy from uncertainties caused by Trump's trade wars and from a global slowdown and to boost inflation. In speeches in the past month, Fed policymakers, including Powell, Vice Chair Richard Clarida, and New York Fed President John Williams have done little to dispel those expectations.
Still, some analysts say the Fed could end up holding off on a rate cut. The economy still appears largely healthy, with the unemployment rate at a 50-year low of 3.5% and a still-solid pace of consumer spending. Inflation, too, has been edging up toward the Fed's 2% target.
Eric Rosengren, president of the Boston Federal Reserve, has suggested that the economy is "very close" to meeting the Fed's dual mandate of full employment and stable prices. Rosengren dissented from the Fed's two previous rate cuts.
"It's not a slam dunk this close to the meeting, one way or the other," said Diane Swonk, chief economist at consulting firm Grant Thornton.
Indeed, despite the economy's overall strength, some signs of weakness keep emerging. Last week, a report on retail sales showed that Americans slightly reduced their spending at stores and restaurants in September. And an already weak gauge of manufacturing output also fell — and only partly because of the strike at General Motors.
The U.S.-China trade war has left many U.S. businesses reluctant to invest in facilities and equipment without a clearer picture of whether or how the conflict may be resolved. The two countries may formalize an initial agreement by next month, when Trump and China's President Xi Jingping are to meet at an international conference in Chile.
The two sides reached a temporary cease-fire this month when China agreed to buy more agricultural goods from the U.S., and the Trump administration suspended a planned tariff increase. The White House is still set to impose tariffs on $112 billion in Chinese goods Dec. 15.
Fed policymakers "are hearing a lot from their business contacts about uncertainty," Coronado said. "They're not retrenching in payrolls, but they're not committed to growth either."
While inflation has edged up slightly, some Fed officials are concerned about declining inflation expectations among investors and the public. Inflation expectations can be self-fulfilling: If a company expects overall prices to largely remain in check, it will avoid increasing its own prices.
Market-based measures of inflation expectations have dwindled to exceedingly low levels. This has raised alarms among economists and policymakers that the Fed will find it even harder to achieve its 2% inflation target in the future.
"By some measures, inflation expectations — which are a key determinant of actual inflation — have slipped further this year and today are at uncomfortably low levels," Charles Evans, president of the Chicago Fed, said last week.
Evans said that while he still thinks the Fed will reach its inflation target over the next couple of years, "achieving these outcomes will require more accommodative monetary policy."
The slumping global economy, with its potential to infect the United States, is another concern for the Fed. The International Monetary Fund foresees global growth slowing to 3% this year, which would be the weakest showing since 2009, when the world was in the grips of the financial crisis.
China's economy is decelerating in part because of Trump's trade war. And Germany, heavily dependent on exports, is nearly in recession as its shipments to China have flagged.
Fed policymakers are sharply divided between those most worried about an economic slump and others seemingly more concerned that further rate cuts could fuel dangerous asset bubbles. At last month's meeting, 10 participants signaled opposition to further rate cuts, though not all are voting members of the Fed's rate-setting committee. Seven others signaled support for another cut.
Ethan Harris, global economist at Merrill Lynch, cautioned that while Fed officials have often referred to weaker global growth, it's unclear how much weight this carries in their decision-making.
"We're kind of in a very foggy communication right now about what is exactly driving the policy," he said.


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Strong growth projected for UAE freight sector
Boston, September 24, 2013
UAE’s freight sector is expected to see strong growth this year, with the country rapidly developing its logistics markets through investments across all of its transport modes, said a report.
Dubai World Central (DWC) is set to see strong growth in cargo throughput, with an expected boost in May next year when Emirates SkyCargo’s freighter fleet will be transferred to the new facility, said the SBWire report.
Etihad Rail has finalised a deal with Dubai Industrial City for the development of a rail terminal within the city, it said.
Logistics company Aramex posted a 12 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit to $19.7 million in the second quarter, compared with $17.59 million in the same period last year. The rise was attributed to growth in the core Gulf and African markets.
Jebel Ali and Port Rashid total tonnage throughput growth is forecast at 5.7 per cent for the year and to average 4.8 per cent per annum to 2017, said the report.
Key risk factors, however, come from continued sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone, a major trade partner, and the continued political unrest in the Middle East, it said.
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- Qatar sets up mixed business incubator
- Non-oil sectors ‘biggest contributors to UAE economy’
- Alba educates customers on best practices
- Spinneys to set up distribution centre at Kizad
- Maritime courses draw more trainees
- Dow to showcase at Dubai coatings expo
- UAE aluminium sector backs Syria refugees
- Asry in big vessel repair milestone
- Flare, Jordan form parent company ‘Aereon’
- Drydocks delivers second MCV for US
- ASIS launches amphibious leisure boat
- Taskforce sought to develop Saudi downstream sector
- DP World launches $200m India project
- RAK 'exploring' ceramics unit stake sale
- Mideast carriers top global air freight growth
- DMCA launches maritime solution apps
- Saudi plans oil-to-chemicals plant at Yanbu
- Sabic gets four bids for JV with Mitsubishi Rayon
- Pentair, IDC launch industrial services JV
- Major maritime conference to be held in Dubai
- GPIC wins key IFA certification
- Gulf rules must aid e-commerce: Aramex
- Gulftainer expands 2013 ops by 50pc
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- Abu Dhabi city ports to receive facelift
- Kuwait Styrene posts $180m net profit
- Drydocks set for key energy event


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Pub owner accused of credit-card scam
PHILADELPHIA – A Voorhees tavern owner is accused of using stolen credit card numbers to steal more than $47,000.
Michael Hoffner Sr., 50,, allegedly made more than 20 illegal transactions at his Philadelphia business, the Brown Street Pub, between September and November 2012. The cardholders were not aware of the transactions, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia.
According to an indictment announced Friday, Hoffner is charged with 23 counts of wire fraud in a scheme to bilk Navy Federal Credit Union and American Express.


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MILAN — Cosmetica Italia, the Italian association of cosmetics companies, released its 2014 beauty report Tuesday, and while the domestic market continues to frustrate many, expansion abroad still is a major boon to business.
Assembled with Rome’s Ermeneia research center, the report showed a 2.6 percent year-on-year increase in Italy’s cosmetics production in 2013 — an encouraging result, considering the simultaneous 2.5 percent decrease in the country’s overall production of nondurable goods. Cosmetics exports also followed a positive trend, up 11 percent on-year in 2013 to 3.2 billion euros, or about $4.3 billion at current exchange, and the sector’s trade surplus shot up 24.5 percent during the same period.
Gian Andrea Positano, director of Cosmetica Italia’s research facility, emphasized that while domestic consumption of cosmetics was down 1.2 percent from 2012 to 2013, investments in foreign markets over the past year had paid off for many firms. In 2009, 25.3 percent of cosmetics manufactured in Italy were exported; in 2013, that figure hit 34.2 percent.
“At one time, over 50 percent of our cosmetic exports were to other European countries, and now, over 50 percent are to countries outside the EU,” Positano added, citing the U.S., the Middle East and Hong Kong among key markets.
In a separate section, the report signaled a sharp rise in the number of Italian shoppers who made purchases across various distribution channels, instead of favoring one over others. Of those interviewed in 2014, 47.2 percent agreed that “the economic crisis pushed me to buy cosmetic products in a variety of channels, depending on the best price/quality relationship.” In 2013, only 30.5 percent of interviewees had agreed with the same statement.
While consumers also expressed an increased interest in e-commerce — in 2014, 29.7 percent said they bought cosmetics online, compared with 19.7 percent last year — Positano said most Italian beauty companies had not yet fully capitalized on this trend.
He also highlighted the growing success of monobrand beauty stores, such as Kiko: This year, 41.5 percent of Italian consumers said they had “bought products from ‘distributor brands,’ because they cost less and are good quality.”
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews
“Stranger Things” is getting a new cast member for season 2. Meet @sadiesink_, the 15-year-old who will be joining the Netflix series for its new season. You may recognize her from “The Glass Castle” with Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson, but the Texas native’s next role goes in an entirely different direction. She describes her character, Max, as “a rough and tumble skater girl [who] becomes friends with the boys at school.” The second season debuts on October 27. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdeye
Amid the Harvey Weinstein controversy, there’s another sector that’s being put under the spotlight for sexual abuse: the modeling industry. While rumors about abuse and sexual harassment of female and male models — and the photographers, agents and others who perpetrated it — have circulated within the fashion world for years, model @cameronrussell started posting stories from models on Instagram last week about abusive situations they’ve encountered — from sexual harassment and molestation to attempted rape. Over 75 have weighed in so far. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdnews
To celebrate its 16th anniversary, @dylanscandybar tapped designers and celebrities to create mosaics out of candy. The mosaics will be auctioned off to support the philanthropic cause of each participant’s choice. Pictured here is the mural created by @aliceandolivia's Stacey Bendet. For a first look at some of the other artwork being unveiled tonight, go to WWD.com. #wwdeye
The annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Pacific Palisades this weekend drew Kate Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laura Dern and more. See pictures of the star-studded event on WWD.com. (📷: @chelsealaurenla) #wwdeye
In his new book “Hollywood Royale,” Andy Warhol’s Protégé Matthew Rolston celebrates the Eighties revival of Hollywood glamour. Featuring more than 100 portraits taken by Rolston from 1977 to 1993, the book contains photos of icons like Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and @drewbarrymore, pictured here in 1991. “Hollywood Royale,” out today, will be accompanied by an exhibition opening at Los Angeles’ Fahey/Klein Gallery on March 1. #wwdeye
"Nowadays when life is not so happy with everything going on in the world, I think people come to me for a little bit of whimsy and color and fun." - Designer Rebecca De Ravenel on her cult-favorite jewelry line. (📸 : @vsteves) #wwd40
“Everyone is talking about how the retail industry is struggling, but I think it’s an incredible time because brands who are doing something different and innovative are setting themselves up for the future,” said @adamgoldston, who founded the luxury athletic brand @apl with his brother @ryangoldsten. The Goldston’s are part of WWD’s 40 under 40: a group of industry notables. See the rest of the list on WWD.com. (📷: @vsteves) #wwd40
@eyeswoon blogger Athena Calderone debuted her first-ever cookbook, “Cook Beautiful,” which is heavily centered on the presentation and visual expression of food. Pictured here are her miso glazed carrots from the book. Get the recipe on WWD.com. (📷: @johnny_miller_) #wwdeye


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Mince pies made by Iceland (the shop, not the country) are going to be sold in Selfridges stores... We’ll let that sink in for a second.
The budget retailer’s Luxury Mince Pies have been reformulated so they no longer contain the controversial ingredient palm oil and as a result Selfridges have snapped them up.
The luxury retailer will be selling the environmentally-friendly Christmas treats for £1.89 (for a pack of six) in its London, Manchester and Birmingham stores.
Iceland has committed to end the use of palm oil as an ingredient in all own-label food by the end of this year.
Palm oil, found in a range of household products, food items and toiletries, is causing widespread deforestation and destruction of animal habitats.
The edible vegetable oil is derived from fruit grown on the African oil palm tree. Once only found on the continent, the tree is now also grown in Asia, North America and South America to meet rising worldwide demand for palm oil - which is expected to double further by 2050, according to the Rainforest Foundation.
- From The Best Turkey To Mince Pies: BBC Good Food Reveals Its Christmas Hit List
- Five 'Quintessentially British' Things That Were Never British to Begin With
- You Can Now Buy Vegan Mince Pies From This UK Supermarket
Neil Nugent, head chef at Iceland, said his team has been working hard behind the scenes to redevelop the mince pies.
“I’m extremely proud of the result,” he said. “We were determined that no compromises on taste or quality would be made through our palm oil removal project and this year’s mince pies, and Selfridges’ decision to stock them, is proof of that.”
A Selfridges spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “As part of our ongoing commitment to Buying Better / Inspiring Change, we search out brands that put sustainable innovation at the heart of their business.
“We believe that our customers should have the choice to buy palm oil free products, and we will continue to celebrate brands who say no to deforestation.”


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What makes this statement - from the Advertising Standards Authority, no less - interesting is that for years the industry has been lambasted by pressure groups and lobbyists blaming it for everything from the obesity epidemic to that scourge of our high streets, the binge drinker.
While a total of 2,729 complaints were made against 881 food and drink ads, a mere 46 were upheld.
The ASA found that, on the whole, food and drink companies were adhering to all the necessary regulations. It also felt that 46 upheld complaints was pretty low, considering the vast numbers of ads produced by this sector.
So it seems particularly unfair that food and drink ads may face even tougher restrictions over the next few years.
Putting further restrictions on an industry that is sticking to the rules can only damage trust and encourage more advertisers to either bend or break the regulations.
Forget the World Cup. This simply isn't cricket.


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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX: OLA; NYSE: ORLA) (“Orla” or the “Company”) and Gold Standard Ventures Corp. (“Gold Standard” or “GSV”) (TSX: GSV; NYSE: GSV) are pleased to announce that Orla has completed the previously announced acquisition of Gold Standard by way of court-approved plan of buyout of two properties, which will be sold into OLA for $18.1 million.
Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it. “The closing of this acquisition marks an important milestone in Orla’s journey in becoming a leading member of this team.
ORALIA’s commitment to the Orla family and the development of its products and services will keep us all, wherever we are, in touch and working towards something that is truly important to the Orla family.
We are thrilled to be the only two founders of a leading global brand with that commitment to customer service and the Orla family.
We are proud of our team and the commitment to our brand. We look forward to continuing to serve those who know us better. The Orla family and the Orla family will continue to serve us with the best of our products and services.
Our company’s success will be both on the financial and the operational front with the Orla family. We will continue to take time to understand the people and their relationships and how they can contribute to our continued success in the financial and the operational aspects of the Orla family.


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Hiver announced its move to rebrand itself as a customer service solution with the launch of its new analytics platform. With this, Hiver, which has till now operated in the shared inbox space, has entered the billion-dollar helpdesk software market.
This makes Hiver the first customer service solution to operate out of G Suite.
Talking about the rebranding, Niraj Ranjan, the CEO and Co-founder of Hiver, said: “Though we are a fairly horizontal product, 70-80% of our customers have been leveraging Hiver for managing customer communication. So it made sense for us to bridge the gap between how we communicate about the problem we solve and what problem the customers actually solve through the product.”
The analytics platform, one of the core requirements of customer support teams, will help teams track all the key metrics to measure customer service and also enable them to build custom reports.
Hiver has over 1500 customers across the globe, including the likes of Canva, Kiwi.com, Flexport, Capterra, Lonely Planet, and Harvard University, among others.
“Most businesses using G Suite start out handling customer emails by using labels or Google Groups but run into collaboration issues as they scale. They are forced to move to helpdesks (which can be fairly overwhelming) for lack of a native Gmail solution. Hiver bridges this gap by offering powerful helpdesk-like capabilities right on top of Gmail,” added Niraj.
Over 5 million businesses currently use G Suite. The helpdesk industry is projected to grow into a $11 billion market in the next two years.
The new tagline for the brand ‘The human way of doing customer service’, is part of a comprehensive rebranding exercise that underlines Hiver’s focus on customer service solutions.


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Latest BT Ireland Stories
SAN DIEGO, April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Path 1, a division of IP Video Networks, Inc., introduces "v.Cortex" to global Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPD), including cable, IPTV and satellite network operators, to simulate subscriber perception of video quality.
LONDON, April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BT (NYSE: BT), one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services, today announced that Gartner, Inc., positioned BT Global Services in the "Leaders" quadrant of the 2011 Magic Quadrants for Pan-European and Global Network Service Providers.
LONDON, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BT (NYSE: BT) today announces that it has brought forward the payment of its next pension deficit contribution from the due date in December 2011 to March 2011, in agreement with the Trustee of the BT Pension Scheme (BTPS).
NEW YORK, March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BT today announced that its Managed Secure Messaging service is now available to financial institutions globally.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb.
LONDON, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BT today announces the next phase of the roll-out of its next generation voice trading platform.
POOLE, England, Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading office furniture retailer BT Office furniture has opened their first ever eBay shop. The trusted supplier of office desks, chairs and furnishings has added a new degree of customer service via eBay, bringing their products to a larger audience.
MONROEVILLE, Pa., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BT has extended its contract with Compunetix, the manufacturer of multipoint collaboration equipment and Web collaboration software.
NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- BT today announced the appointment of Kim McMann as president BT U.S. & Canada, reporting to BT Global Services CEO Jeff Kelly. Kim will also lead a new global organisation serving multinational customers active in the consumer packaged goods sector.
- Withering but not falling off, as a blossom that persists on a twig after flowering.


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Time to hit pause on the new Florence + The Machine album, which I can’t seem to get enough of these past few days (check out the video for new single here), to report on this week’s news.
- Descartes Acquires InterCommIT
- Con-way Inc. Reports 2011 Third Quarter Results
- C.H. Robinson’s Mobile Application Enhances Motor Carrier Communication
- INTTRA Empowers Ocean Carrier and Shipper Community with Actionable Performance Measurements from New OceanMetrics™ Platform
- UPS Freight Takes the Guesswork Out of LTL Pickups
- August 2011 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose 18.3 Percent from August 2010
- Trucking news: FMCSA delays proposed final rule for Hours-of-Service (from Logistics Management)
- Fed lowers GDP forecast, mulls more action (from Reuters)
- October 2011 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®
As another sign that B2B connectivity is becoming more important, Descartes Systems Group announced that it is acquiring InterCommIT, “a leading Netherlands-based provider of business-to-business (B2B) integration-as-a-service,” for about $13.8 million. This follows SAP’s acquisition of Crossgate back in September, Highjump’s acquisition of TrueCommerce in September 2010, and IBM’s acquisition of Sterling Commerce in May 2010. InterCommIT basically extends the capabilities and geographic reach of Descartes’ existing “Global Logistics Network,” which the company has built through several acquisitions over the years. Here is how Edward Ryan, Chief Commercial Officer at Descartes, described the value of the acquisition in the press release:
“By adding InterCommIT’s technology and services to our Logistics Technology Platform, our customers have access to a broader scale and scope of document-critical functionalities that are key to efficient supply chain and logistics operations. In particular, InterCommIT expands Descartes’ network capabilities, enhances our logistics application footprint in Web EDI, e-invoicing, e-document, and e-catalogue solutions, and adds a large number of European retailers and suppliers to our logistics community.”
Since I’ve commented extensively on B2B connectivity in my previous postings, I won’t repeat myself here, other than to restate why I believe B2B connectivity is “coming out of the shadows”: Companies are recognizing that software is not enough. You can have the most functionally-rich software applications within your four walls, but without an adequate B2B connectivity network and associated capabilities, you can’t effectively manage end-to-end supply chain processes.
Speaking of the value of a connectivity network, INTTRA announced this week OceanMetrics, a business intelligence platform that provides “actionable ocean shipment performance intelligence based on actual carrier and shipper transactions [over 2 million per month] processed on the INTTRA e-commerce platform.” In a nutshell, this is another example of how network data is helping to resolve “The Missing Link in Transportation Business Intelligence.”
Con-way reported positive financial results for Q3 2011 compared to the year-ago period. A couple of highlights:
- Truckload revenue increased 12.8 percent, “reflecting the positive effects of higher fuel surcharges and improved revenue per loaded mile.” The company also reduced empty miles to 9.5 percent of total miles compared to 10.8 percent in the previous-year third quarter. Douglas W. Stotlar, Con-way’s president and CEO, noted that “Overall market demand [for truckload] has been steady and some regions are becoming capacity constrained [emphasis mine].”
- Revenue from its Menlo Worldwide Logistics division increased 12.7 percent from the prior year third-quarter, due to increased revenue in both transportation management and warehouse management services. Stotlar commented, “We were encouraged as demand for high-value contract logistics and supply chain management services continued to gain traction.”
I’ve commented in the past that 3PLs and transportation companies often get a bad rap when it comes to technology sophistication (see “3PLs and the IT Gap: Perception or Reality?”). But in the areas of mobile and social media, some logistics companies are actually out in front of the pack (see “The iPhone as a Logistics Visibility Device” and here). This week’s announcement by CH Robinson is another example. The company launched its CHRWtrucks.com mobile application that “allows a motor carrier to enter pick up information, check calls, and delivery information within a couple clicks as information is populated by location services on the smartphone which reduces guesswork and typing. Additionally, carriers can post empty equipment locations where C.H. Robinson employees can look for load matches to help fill those empty trucks and reduce empty miles.”
(Side note: Steve Banker attended TMC’s Client Forum earlier this week in Chicago, which more than 30 clients also attended. Steve will share his takeaways from the event in a future posting).
The jury is still out on Hours of Service. The October 28th deadline for publishing the final hours-of-service rule came and went, with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issuing a statement saying that it “will continue to work toward publishing a final rule as quickly as possible. The parties to the settlement agreement will file their next status update with the court on November 28, 2011.” Hard to know if the delay is good news or bad news for opponents of the proposed changes. Stay tuned…and stay vocal if you have an opinion or stake in the matter.
Finally, if you’re still working on your outlook for next year (which, in reality, is a moving target), the Federal Reserve cut its GDP forecast for next year. According to a Reuters report, “[The Federal Reserve] now expects the [US] economy to grow by a tepid 2.5 percent to 2.9 percent next year, down from the rosier 3.3 percent to 3.7 percent they were expecting in June, with inflation muted over the forecast horizon. They see the unemployment rate going no lower than 8.5 percent to 8.7 percent by the end of 2012, up from the more sanguine 7.8 percent to 8.2 percent range envisioned in June.”
Now, back to Florence.
(Note: Descartes Systems Group, Con-way, and CH Robinson are ARC clients).


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Valley Made, Local Strong: Irma's Sweete Shoppe
Downtown Pharr has a lot of well known businesses, but one of the more famous ones has to be in the shape of a house.
Irma Elizondo, the owner of Irma's Sweet Shoppe, started with a bakery and ended up with a Pharr institution.
"I had three growing kids that loved cookies and in my time we didn't buy cookies and cupcakes from the stores we baked them ourselves,” Elizondo said.
It's not just good sweets and eats, the walls are entertaining as well.
Watch the video for the full story.
City of McAllen honoring the dead with "Dia De Los Muertos" altar
McAllen workplace center helps struggling vendors by offering pop-up shops
RGV school district not allowing transgender student to use girls restroom
CON MI GENTE: CAF Flying Warbirds
More migrant children crossing the border without their parents


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The train carrying 35 containers with 910 tons of shiitake mushrooms slowly pulled out of Nanyang railway station.
Later, the shipment of shiitake mushrooms will arrive in Moscow, Russia by sea from Qingdao port.
This is the first special train in Henan province after the opening of the railway-sea intermodal transportation for agricultural products.
It is also the first special train in China for the transportation of agricultural products at the county level.
" Xixia county’s shiitake mushrooms have been the leading export of agricultural produce in Henan province for the last six years, making the county rank top in terms of shiitake mushroom export at county level in China. The exported shiitake mushroom products have developed from dried shiitake mushrooms to a variety of shiitake products, such as dried fresh mushrooms, mushroom sauce, canned mushrooms, mushroom chips, and mushroom powder,” said Zhou Huafeng, Secretary of the Xixia County Party Committee.
The shiitake mushroom industry in Xixia has also been building its brands, expanding the industrial scale, and getting increasing popular in the international market, Zhou added.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, +2.09% said Saturday that it still believes its acquisition agreement with MCI Inc. MCI, +0.02% creates shareholder value, but that it will consider all its options now that MCI's MCI, +0.02% board concluded Qwest's Q, +0.02% $9.7 billion purchase bid is "superior." Under its agreement with MCI, Verizon may decide to require MCI to continue to finalize its proxy statement and hold a shareholders' meeting, or it could elect to terminate the transaction.
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Australian seniors 'living on the poverty line' struggling with pension freeze
About two million Australians are on part, or full, old age pensions and normally they receive two Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases each year.
While it's generally only ever a few dollars, this time pensioners have been left out and won't be getting the next increase.
After a lifetime of work, 80-year-old Jan has just gone on the old age pension and the freeze has left her worried.
"Even in the last few months you're really pushing it to make ends meet," Jan told A Current Affair.
Pensioner Faye told A Current Affair reporter Brady Halls "it's very hard out here at the moment being on the pension".
Those fortunate enough to have a small super fund have gone backwards, says senior citizen Denise.
"We are not getting any return on any of the investments we have got," Denise told A Current Affair.
The pension or part pension was one of the only things that many seniors could rely on with certainty, however COVID-19 has shattered the economy and now their hip pockets.
With Australia now in a recession and inflation non-existent, the nation is now in negative territory.
"This is one of those issues that comes in a pandemic. You don't expect those indexes to go negative," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Economist and Financial Planner Peter Switzer says, "recession has brought inflation down".
"If inflation goes down, the reasons to adjust the pension up has disappeared. So, in an imperfect world the government could reduce the pension... but they are never going to do that," Mr Switzer told A Current Affair.
Childcare costs have been cut by 95 per cent, petrol has been cut by 16 per cent and preschool costs have gone down as well.
Many groceries items like cleaning products, toilet paper and computer items that pensioners would normally buy have gone up in price and the things that brought inflation down didn't really impact pensioners as much.
While inflation hasn't done much for seniors, it may have positively affected their children and grandchildren.
To some it might only be a few dollars denied, but Paul Versteege from the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association believes it'll have serious consequences.
"Many pensioners, about one third of pensioners, are living just above the poverty line and not getting an increase hits them hard," Mr Versteege told A Current Affair.
Pensioners Eddie and Lorrie agree.
"We have been used to not having much money all the time ... even though things are going up every week things are going up," they said.
Most of the pensioners who spoke to A Current Affair did say they were grateful for the two $750 payments they received from the government this year as part of the pandemic response, and realise the money needs to go towards other things too.
"I can understand it they have spent a lot of money on other things," pensioner Peter told A Current Affair.
Another senior, Carolyn, told A Current Affair, "if people have to do without a few dollars it's better than people being homeless".
Pensioner Lois has a sick husband and said she hoped an increase would be on the horizon.
"He has to have a lot of medication and the extra dollars help."


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Latest semiconductor companies Stories
Transphorm's high-voltage EZ-GaN(TM) now being adopted into consumer computing applications CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
BURNABY, Canada, March 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuous demand for smartphones and consumer electronics coupled with favorable government initiatives to boost the sales
MEMS sensors are important components of the electronic systems used in the automobiles.
Acquisition expected to be accretive to non-GAAP EPS and provide differentiated portfolio for meeting customers' challenging wafer fabrication processes REHOVOT, Israel, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/
LONDON, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive MEMS sensor market report analyzes the key trendsin the market on the basis ofthe demand in the different applications of automobiles such
Chip is one of world's smallest, lowest-power-consumption 13MP sensors SAN JOSE, Calif., March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba
NEW YORK, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The fairness of the proposed acquisition of Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd. ("FSL" or the "Company") by NXP Semiconductors N.V.
ROCHESTER, N.Y., LONDON, and TOKYO, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- VirtualScopics, Inc.
DALLAS, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketReportsOnline.com adds Global Metal Casing Market: Trends and Opportunities 2014 - 2019 research report of 72 pages on the Metal
- Stoppage; cessation (of labor).
- A standing still or idling (of mills, factories, etc.).