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Aston Martin Wants To Be A Tesla Model S Killer
Aston Martin is going all in on electric cars and hopes to be the Tesla Model S Killer. The British automaker will debut a pair of all-electric models soon.
Rapide S Models Will Be The Tesla Model S Killer
CEO Andy Palmer told David Undercoffler of Automotive News that the company plans to launch an electric version of the Rapide sedan in two years. In addition, Palmer also confirmed that Aston is looking to introduce an electric crossover coupe based on the DBX concept car that debuted earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show.
The electric Rapide will pack 800 horsepower with all-wheel-drive, and a range of 200 miles on a single charge. With 800hp on tap, the electric Aston could put up performance numbers on par with Tesla’s 762 horsepower P90D. Aston Martin has not released any specific technical details regarding the Rapide’s electric drivetrain.
Aston Martin is going electric for two reasons. First, the company needs electric vehicles to help meet future government fuel economy standards. Aston Martin’s current models are gas-thirsty V8- and V12- engine cars.
Second, Aston Martin believes the Tesla Model S underserves the ultra-luxury electric vehicle market.
Aston Martin Drawbacks
Still, the Aston has some drawbacks compared with Tesla’s Model S. Its expected 200-mile range lags behind the 300 miles Tesla is able to achieve. Price is another consideration. The electric Rapide sedan will cost between $200,000 and $250,000. The priciest Model S version, the P90D, will set you back around $140,000 before incentives.
Also, one shouldn’t expect to find an Aston Martin version of Tesla’s Ludicrous Mode in the electric Rapide. Tesla recently introduced Ludicrous Mode —which allows the Model S P90D to hit 60 mph in a hypercar-shaming 2.8 seconds.
For more, read Business Insider.


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The OnePlus 6T is expected to be announced next month but it seems that when the time does come around, there will be little to no surprises left thanks to various leaks that have more or less revealed the phone. Now thanks to more leaked photos posted onto Weibo, it seems to corroborate everything that we’ve seen so far.
One of the features that has been confirmed is how the notch on the OnePlus 6T seems to be smaller than its predecessor, where it will now exist as a “droplet” kind of design. Unfortunately the notch is still visible but we guess it is smaller now and should be less obvious. You can also make out from the screen that the phone will be packing an in-display fingerprint sensor which had been previously confirmed.
What’s interesting is that in the case that the phone is encased in, there seems to be a cutout at the bottom that hints that there could be a headphone jack. It is possible that this case might be based on an older design because last we heard, the OnePlus 6T would finally be ditching the headphone jack despite holding out for as long as they have.
Other than that, the photo doesn’t really reveal anything we did not know already, but until we get the official confirmation, it’s probably best to take it with a grain of salt for now and check back with us in the coming weeks for the official announcement.

domain: news


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Yesterday, Tim Cook introduced the world to a new and improved iPhone 4S. It’s been met with luke warm reviews and many jokes about how little it has been improved. I think most of the industry is wrong and here’s why: Siri.
Siri was first an artificial intelligence company – founded in late 2007 – that aimed to integrate all of the worlds API’s into a nice clean interface. It was well funded and it developed an awesome natural language interpreter that tech bloggers displayed some fanaticism over when it was revealed to the world. Then a few months later it was snapped up by Apple (April 2010) and has been largely silent – until now.
It turns out that people like Robert Scoble weren’t wrong. In fact Siri is an amazing technology. Not unlike the recent changes to the mouse navigation in OS X Lion, Apple is showing us the future of how we interact with machines in general. Users of other handsets, such as Andriod, can argue that Apple didn’t pioneer this concept – and they’re right – but Apple perfected it. Besides, this is really all very Star Trek, “
Computer Siri, what is the weather in Cupertino?” However, unlike television fiction, this is real – and it’s here now.
Scheduling meetings, finding the weather and those sorts of applications are a great start. What’s truly amazing will be when it replaces the keyboard & mouse entirely. Okay, I know that’s a little extreme, but is it really so hard to imagine? Apple has been working on killing the mouse already – promoting an external
touchpad Magic Trackpad getting us all comfortable with multi-touch gesturing. Why couldn’t some future version of Apple’s desktop OS have Siri baked right in? “Siri, send a screenshot to Tom” and our faithful digital assistant just does it, snapping the current screen and sending it to Tom. Siri might even ask me if we want to provide any more to the message first. This is hardly pushing the limits of what Apple demoed yesterday.
So, while much of the tech media continues to discuss whether A5 Dual Core processors, 8 mega-pixel cameras, and small screens make the iPhone 4S underwhelming for consumers, remember the star of yesterday’s show wasn’t hardware, it was a software assistant named Siri. The real change is supplementing multi-touch interfaces with voice, further reducing our dependency on pointer devices and keyboards – virtual and physical. In 2007, Apple showed us the joys of touch interfaces. They weren’t the first, they were just the first to do it well. Likewise they’re not first with voice, they’re just the first to do it well and Apple has shown us a glimpse into the future of computing.


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Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Health called on the public to stop snapping up masks that they say won’t help people avoid the new coronavirus,media reported. And now eBay has announced it will stop selling masks and other items in short supply related to the outbreak. The move appears to prevent sellers from trying to take advantage of the fear surrounding the COVID-19 to drive up prices.
eBay published an article on its community website On Thursday announcing that it would ban the sale of masks including N95/N100 and surgical masks, hand sanitizers and gels and sanitized wipes. Existing items will be removed, and eBay will also begin to remove items that refer to COVID-19, coronavirus or 2019nCoV in the description or title, with the exception of books.
“These products may violate applicable U.S. laws or regulations, eBay policies, and exhibit unfair pricing practices to our buyers,” eBay said in the post, noting that it will continue to post updates on its community sites. CNBC reported that price hikes had been a problem on eBay until the ban took effect, with one seller offering five 2.5-ounce bottles of Germ-X hand sanitizer for $500.
In addition to preventing price hikes, eBay wants to take off untied medical requirements. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health advised people not to snap up masks because they don’t help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus among the public. With this in mind, the public’s rush to buy masks may only lead to a shortage of medical supplies that actually need their medical staff.


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Forward-looking: YouTube has been testing the ability to publish videos with multiple audio tracks for a while. However, YouTubers and other companies have already been using alternative methods to reach international audiences. As YouTube expands the feature, a multimillion-dollar dubbing industry has emerged.
Thousands of YouTube creators recently gained the ability to add multiple audio tracks to their videos as the service expands testing for the feature. Adding dubbed tracks in various languages should help content creators reach wider global audiences.
On videos with multiple audio tracks, viewers can click the gear icon in the bottom right corner to select their preferred audio, similar to selecting subtitle languages. Default audio will match a viewer’s set tongue when available. Additionally, YouTube will provide translated video titles and descriptions.
YouTube began testing the feature in 2021. Late last year, the company expanded audio dubbing to India, starting with healthcare videos viewable in English, Hindi, Marathi, and Punjabi. MrBeast, one of YouTube’s most successful creators, helped the company’s testing process. The content creator posts videos dubbed in 11 languages with help from an external dubbing company specializing in YouTube videos.
Most YouTubers can’t afford the services of traditional big-budget TV and film dubbing companies. Thus, startups have emerged that specifically target social media influencers wanting to expand their reach beyond their native languages. For example, Unilingo dubs videos for creators, including MrBeast, Dude Perfect, PewDiePie, and Jibilee.
Unilingo helps channels gain millions more viewers throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In an interview with Rest of the World, Unilingo’s Farbod Mansorian estimated the company has helped earn creators an additional $10 million.
Not all content creators have had access to YouTube’s new multiple-track feature due to a slow rollout. Some users have partnered with translation providers to dub and upload separate videos or create independent channels for each language. Even after YouTubers gain access to the new functionality, they could continue the old strategy because it can increase ad revenue and make videos easier to find for different communities.
Unofficial dubs are another factor to consider, with advantages and drawbacks. Although they can infringe on creators’ copyrights when they draw ad revenue or sponsorships, they can propel the demand for official dubbing.


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The iPhone turned the tech world on its head and ushered in the modern era of the smartphone. In unveiling the iPhone, Apple not only captured the attention of the masses, but also delivered a huge kick in the arse to competitors who quickly realized that their current product roadmaps were instantly outdated.
Steve Jobs famously called Android a stolen product (in addition to promising to go thermonuclear on them), a point to which Android enthusiasts like to point out that Google actually acquired the Andy Rubin-led Android team in August 2005. Still, the type of product Android embodied drastically shifted once Jobs graced the stage at Macworld 2007 and revealed the iPhone for the very first time.
In his new book, Dogfight: How Apple and Google went to War and Started a Revolution, Fred Vogelstein captures the reaction that many of the early Android engineers had upon learning of the iPhone. In short, many were shocked and soon came to the realization that the version of Android they had been working on for so many months would have to be scrapped. An iPhone-type experience was the future, and it was clear to many involved that they would have to follow suit.
Vogelstein relays a quote from Google engineer Chris DeSalvo, who said, "As a consumer, I was blown away. I wanted one immediately. But as a Google engineer, I thought, 'We're going to have to start over.'"
For most of Silicon Valley-including most of Google-the iPhone's unveiling on January 9, 2007 was something to celebrate. Jobs had once again done the impossible. Four years before he'd talked an intransigent music industry into letting him put their catalog on iTunes for ninety-nine cents a song. Now he had convinced a wireless carrier to let him build a revolutionary smartphone.
But for the Google Android team, the iPhone was a kick in the stomach. "What we had suddenly looked just so . . . nineties," DeSalvo said. "It's just one of those things that are obvious when you see it."
The significance of Jobs' iPhone announcement wasn't lost on Android chief and former Apple engineer Rubin. Vogelstein writes that Rubin at the time was in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. Indeed, many at the time expressed astonishment that a lone company like Apple could completely upstage an event as storied and grandiose as CES. In any event, upon watching the Apple keynote, Rubin knew that his Android team had to re-evaluate its strategy.
That's not to say that the Android models that Rubin and his team were working on were complete crap, but those devices lacked many of the features that made the iPhone so distinct and revolutionary. For instance, the Android models being developed at Google all sported traditional QWERTY keyboards, a feature Jobs lambasted during his keynote.
Now to be fair, the iPhone didn't catch just the Android folks off-guard; it caught everyone off-guard. If you go back and look at many of the early iPhone rumors that circulated before January 2007, even the most ambitious predictions and outlandish mockups absolutely paled in comparison to what Apple actually had in store.
Further, other companies were just as astonished by Jobs' iPhone introduction. A former RIM employee, for instance, recounted how many folks inside RIM were in disbelief following the iPhone introduction.
All these companies were fighting over what amounts to overgrown PDAs with phones and wireless stacks strapped on. Everyone assumed power density was no where even close to what was needed for general computing, that a full featured browser and heavy duty Internet services were impossible due to bandwidth and latency. Take a look at how our Java expert groups named standards, how people at the time talked about what features smart phones should have, and it's clear that no one thought an iPhone was possible. Even Danger, which eventually [led to] Windows Phone 7 and Android, was just working on a better Blackberry.
I left RIM back in 2006 just months before the iPhone launched and I remember talking to friends from RIM and Microsoft about what their teams thought about it at the time. Everyone was utterly shocked. RIM was even in denial the day after the iPhone was announced with all-hands meets claiming all manner of weird things about iPhone: It couldn't do what they were demonstrating without an insanely power hungry processor; it must have terrible battery life, etc. Imagine their surprise when they disassembled an iPhone for the first time and found that the phone was battery with a tiny logic board strapped to it. It was ridiculous, it was brilliant.
The folks working on Android, to their credit, were able to reverse course and steer Android in an iPhone-like direction. RIM, on the other hand, remained beholden to their QWERTY keyboards for far too long and we all saw how well that worked out for them.


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Frederique Constant Highlife Monolithic Manufacture Only Watch 2021
- Self Winding/Automatic
- Swiss Made
- Pink Gold
- Brushed & Polished
- 3.00atm / 30.00m / 100.00ft
- Pin Buckle
- Pink Gold
Frederique Constant is pleased to announce its participation to the 2021 edition of the Only Watch auction, which will take place on November 6th , 2021, and for which the proceeds will be donated to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy. This year, Frederique Constant is unveiling an exclusive timepiece, unique in every respect and a first for the Brand: the Highlife Monolithic Manufacture. Housed in a 41mm case in 18K pink gold, its revolutionary escapement beating at 40 Hz is housed within a dial open to the FC-810 movement, dotted with Côtes de Genève.
Traditionally, the Only Watch charity auction is based on a simple principle: each participating brand donates a unique piece. The proceeds of the auction are then donated to a research fund dedicated to the fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy. To mark its commitment to this cause, which mainly affects children, the Frederique Constant Manufacture has decided to strike hard.
For the 2021 edition, the Brand is offering a Highlife Monolithic Manufacture, an exclusive and unprecedented creation, the one and only one equipped with the Monolithic oscillator housed in a dial open to the Manufacture FC-810 movement, all wrapped in an 18K pink gold Highlife case.


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FELDA graduates from Limkokwing University showcased their achievements during the Expresi Felda Negaraku Malaysia event that was held on 21 July in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
The Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) is a government initiative that was established for the development of land and relocation with the objective of poverty eradication through the cultivation of palm oil and rubber. FELDA’s function is to carry out land development projects and agricultural activities, industrial and commercial social economy.
Students from the FELDA communities are locals from rural parts of Malaysia.
As Limkokwing University students, they were able to gain industry exposure as well as cultural awareness through the University’s unique learning approach and multicultural environment.
“The University gave me confidence to build my own business,” said FELDA graduate and Limkokwing University alumni Siti Mastura Mohamad Saleh.
After completing her degree in BA (Hons) Fashion & Retailing, she began her career as a muslimah model and fashion designer for her own brand, Mashijjah Couture.
Siti explained that the business knowledge she gained from the University helped her to prepare for the industry.
“This makes it easier for students prepare themselves for the workforce,” she added.
She also praised the University’s experienced educators for being very supportive of her passion and providing her with insights, ideas and knowledge that reflects current industry trends.
This gave her an advantage and enabled her to utilise her experience during her final project presentation to promote her brand.
“My customers like my design collection because of this.”
Limkokwing University has been providing FELDA students with multicultural experience and industry exposure. Graduates gain a competitive advantage in local as well as international environment.


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Hacking teams are targeting phishing websites in a spate of online vigilante attacks.
UK security firm Netcraft has spotted two recent phishing sites that were quickly taken down and replaced by pages warning customers of the attempted fraud.
A hacker known as 'sickophish' took down a site targeting PayPal customers, while a group known as 'The Lad Wrecking Crew' has defaced a number of phishing sites and even offers a website of images for others to use.
One defacement reads: "Were you looking for the bank that was supposed to be here? We trashed it because it wasn't real. You could have lost thousands of dollars of your hard-earned life-savings! There is no need to thank us, really."
Netcraft said in a statement: "Phishing sites are commonly found hosted on compromised web servers, where lack of security allows fraudsters to access machines and upload phishing content.
"If a fraudster exploits these security weaknesses without subsequently securing the machine, then online vigilantes are just as likely to exploit the weaknesses to go in and replace the fraudulent content."
The company noted that, while phishing is certainly against the law, there is a legal grey area over the criminality or otherwise of the hackers' actions, since the only person damaged by the attacks is a fraudster.
IBM and Technical University of Munich team demonstrate how Shor's algorithm, which can't be cracked by conventional computers, can be solved quickly with quantum computing
Hubble Space Telescope finds superflares from young red dwarfs could strip away planetary atmosphere
Younger stars are 100 to 1,000 times more energetic than when they're older
Two of the big four supermarkets will use the system to control sales of restricted products
PUBG news and updates: November's Update #23 to bring new Skorpion pistol and changes to blue zone visibility
Genuinely useful side-arm coming to PUBG in Update #23


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One of Ireland's leading testing and inspection specialists for lifting equipment has switched to a new RFID system to improve safety and efficiency.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Software, Systems & Technology
News and articles relating to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),RFID tags, RFID readers, RFID Software, RFID Systems & RFID Technology.
Jan 17, 2018 Comments (0)
Retail RFID solutions provider SML Group introduced what it describes as the first production ready small form factor RFID inlay for the retail industry using the super high sensitive RFID chip, UCODE 8, from NXP.
Nov 29, 2017 Comments (0)
PervasID has launched a single supplier complete RFID Inventory, Portal & Checkout end-to-end solution. This delivers hugely reduced costs to deploy across wide areas, and provides real time monitoring for retailers, and the healthcare and security sectors.
Nov 23, 2017 Comments (0)
Datalogic, the automatic data capture and process automation solutions provider, has acquired a 20% of R4i S.r.l., a company based in Benevento, which develops cutting-edge solutions with RFID technology (Radiofrequency Identification).
Nov 22, 2017 Comments (0)
PervasID, the RFID technology company, has introduced a complete single source solution that can detect, read and monitor RFID tags with the highest levels of accuracy (99%+).
UHF DLR-PR001 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Portal Reader: The Scanning System of the future by Datalogic
Nov 02, 2017 Comments (0)
Datalogic, the automatic data capture and process automation solutions provider, has introduced the UHF DLR-PR001 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) portal reader, a product designed to complement and extend the capability of Datalogic RFID product family.
RFID is on the rise – and DENSO joins in: Experts for mobile data capture at the 'RFID & Wireless iOT tomorrow 2017'
Sep 21, 2017 Comments (0)
Companies are willing to invest in the digital transformation of their business. This was recently shown in the results of the 'Digital Change Study' done by business software provider IFS.
Aug 31, 2017 Comments (0)
Customers have high expectations of retail businesses nowadays. In order to make shopping in a retail store an experience, retail companies must have full control not only at the point of sale (POS), but also in the warehouse for the inventory processes.....
May 17, 2017 Comments (0)
By Dean Frew, CTO and SVP RFID Solutions, SML RFID.
According to recent news, statistics and insight from industry experts about the apparel business and omnichannel retailing, universal RFID adoption is a done deal within the industry. Or is it?
Apr 05, 2017 Comments (0)
Avery Dennison has announced a global Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) partnership agreement with Target Corporation, as part of Target's deployment of RFID technology to more than 1,600 stores to help maximise inventory availability and deliver an enhanced guest experience.


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Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has revealed that a version of his company’s Ion platform for Via processors will arrive later this year, DigiTimes reports. The graphics firm actually announced a platform for Via’s Nano processors all the way back in April 2008, long before we heard anything about Ion.
DigiTimes doesn’t say much about the upcoming Via platform, although it notes that Nvidia and Via showed a system with a Nano processor and GeForce 9400 integrated graphics at Computex 2008 last June. That probably means the Via-bound Ion 2 platform will be very much like its Intel counterpart—except with potentially faster processors.
In our benchmarks, we saw that a 1.8GHz Nano often outran a single-core 1.6GHz Atom. Intel does make dual-core Atoms now, though, and Nvidia included one with its Ion reference system. Last we heard, Nano will make the move to dual-core at the end of this year.


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Mumbai: The rupee rose on 20 April 2007 to within striking distance of a nine-year high, as traders built short positions in the dollar on expectations that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was unlikely to intervene to check the rupee’s gains.
The rupee ended at 41.76/77 per dollar, rising sharply from the 19 April close of 42.065/080, and within sight of a 41.62 hit earlier this week, its highest since May 1998.
“Today’s rally was a reaction to the higher-than-expected inflation data,” said a dealer with a foreign bank. “With inflation still running high, RBI is unlikely to intervene against the rupee,” the dealer added.
Data released on 20 April showed inflation for the week ending 7 April at 6.09%, higher than analysts’ expectations.
The rupee is up about 4% this month and is trading 12% above a three-year low of 47.04 hit last July, buoyed by strong capital flows into the economy.
In a bid to thwart the rupee’s rise, RBI bought $19.7 billion in the four months ended February, and the market suspects it intervened aggressively in March as well.
RBI’s persistent intervention has fuelled inflation and money supply, both running above the central bank’s comfort band. Traders said RBI was unlikely to intervene on fears of stoking inflation.
“The rupee will probably touch 41.50 on Monday (23 April), they (the RBI) will not intervene in the market,” said Rohan Lasrado, chief dealer at HDFC Bank.


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Sign up for the Design News Daily newsletter.
New processors, GPUs, even a laptop with a foldable OLED display among Intel’s latest innovations.
Spencer Chin, Senior Editor
September 28, 2022
Semiconductor giant Intel has had a difficult year, with stagnant earnings amidst a downturn in chip demand for PCs and servers. But the company has not lost its zest for technology development. At its Intel Innovation 2022 Keynote session Tuesday, CEO Pat Gelsinger put aside whatever negative buzz has surrounded the company to announce a slew of new products aimed at high-speed computing on different platforms.
In his opening remarks, Gelsinger said Intel would “continue to be stewards of Moore’s Law,” with the expectation that as much as a trillion transistors could reside in a chip package by the end of the decade. Gelsinger added that Intel was fully committed to the emerging trend of chiplets and system-in-package solutions encompassing multiple chip functions. He hopes to achieve this goal through an open chiplet ecosystem, aided by partnering with companies such as TSMC and Samsung.
Gelsinger also reiterated Intel’s growing commitment to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, demonstrating with the aid of other Intel engineers how its OpenVINO™ Developer toolkit is helping fast food chain Chipotle develop an intelligent food management system to control the allocation of ingredients to make its various menu items and provide real-time information.
Toward the end of the keynote session, Gelsinger brought out Samsung Executive Vice President JS Choi, who showed a 17-in. foldable flexible OLED display it developed for Intel to use in a foldable laptop co-engineered with Asus.
Some of the most interesting developments from Innovation 2022 follow in the gallery.
About the Author(s)
Senior Editor, Design News
Spencer Chin is a Senior Editor for Design News, covering the electronics beat, which includes semiconductors, components, power, embedded systems, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and other related subjects. He is always open to ideas for coverage. Spencer has spent many years covering electronics for brands including Electronic Products, Electronic Buyers News, EE Times, Power Electronics, and electronics360. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him at @spencerchin.
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Australian agriculture continues to break new ground, with export earnings expected to be the highest on record while production will be worth $81.8 billion next year despite slowing global growth.
The outlook for 2022 and 2023 from the Australian bureau of agricultural and resource economics and sciences finds exports will climb to a record $70.3 billion, almost 50 per cent more than a decade ago.
ABARES executive director Jared Greenville says the forecasts factor in slowing global growth and the likelihood of a third straight La Nina, a once-in-a-30-year event.
"Widespread inflation and a sluggish Chinese economy are the main watchpoints," he said.
"Global food and fertiliser prices remain very high despite falling from peaks earlier in 2022."
Dr Greenville says cropping has helped propel exports to record levels, aided by high global prices, strong seasonal conditions and increased productivity.
"It's the first time they're over $70 billion, up on around $67 billion last year, and if we go back to 2021 they were down at $48 billion," he told AAP.
"Last year and this year's records have really been driven by our strong performance in crops."
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt says the numbers represent a remarkable achievement.
"We know our agriculture industry has its challenges but this data shows the sector is in good shape," he said.
ABARES found the value of cotton exports is forecast to reach a record $7 billion in 2022-23, becoming the third most valuable export commodity after wheat at $11.7 billion and beef at $10.2 billion.
The quarterly commodities report concludes that while meat production is rebounding, gross value of production is expected to fall nine per cent to $14.6 billion in the next financial year.
While lower demand from importing countries is expected to see live exports for beef and veal fall four per cent next year.
The report found the presence of foot and mouth in Indonesia has already reduced lot feeder demand for Australian cattle and live cattle in recent months.
Australian sheep meat production will drop seven per cent to $4.4 billion due to falling saleyard prices.
By contrast the value of Australian dairy production is forecast to increase 29 per cent from $4.8 billion in 2021-22 to a record $6.2 billion in 2022-23.
A rise in farmgate milk prices, up almost a third, is behind the increase.
The Australian crop report, also released by ABARES on Tuesday, is forecasting near record levels of wheat and canola production for 2022-23.
"For wheat we're looking at 32.2 million tonnes and for canola we're expecting 6.6 million tonnes, just shy of the records last year," Dr Greenville said.
KEY FINDINGS OF ABARES REPORT
* Production forecast to be second highest ever, exceeding $81 billion next year
* Value of exports to be a record $70.3 billion in 2022/23
* Favourable seasonal conditions in Australia to persist
* Global inflation pressures and farm inputs clouding outlook
* Wheat will be most valuable export, followed by beef and cotton
OTHER KEY FINDINGS
* Winter crop prospects promising with forecasted 55.5 million tonne harvest
* Summer crops for 2022/23 to be well above average


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Last year, a couple employees started a vegetable garden at company headquarters. On July 26, 2019 Oregon CBD made their first produce donation to the Ella Curran and Dallas food banks. At the time the garden was well on its way to becoming overgrown with weeds. The first donation was mostly overgrown zucchini and summer squash. Over the next several months random harvests and food bank deliveries were made when it was determined that no one was going to be taking the vegetables home or there was more than anyone could possibly use. By the end of the season we had donated a total of 623 pounds, mostly to the Ella Curran food bank.
This year, in an effort to provide more to the community and our families, the garden was expanded, blackberry patches were removed, and a team is doing its best to make the garden flourish. Less than a year after our first donation, we have already donated 308 pounds of young squash, kale, onions, potatoes and leeks to not only the Dallas and Ella Curran food banks, but also to the Marion Polk Food Share, who can distribute them throughout the region. Amy harvests several times a week if not daily to ensure that we are getting each vegetable or fruit in its prime.
We have barely even begun. There are hundreds of broccoli plants that will be ready to harvest in the next two weeks. Row upon row of tomatoes, melons, peppers, corn, cucumbers and pumpkins will be ready to greet us before the end of summer. A perennial bed of strawberries and several rows of blueberries and raspberries have been established for the coming years. Seeds have been started for fall crops and wait in the greenhouse. Today, another 300 pounds of produce was harvested and awaits delivery to the stomachs of our team and our community.


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“A judge’s ruling that Microsoft Corp. wields monopoly power
may be too late to alter the high-tech industry in one key
respect: Competition over the way the world accesses the
Internet is already moving beyond its Windows-based
technology, observers say.
In the two years since the Justice Department brought its
antitrust lawsuit, competitors have become emboldened to begin
looking for alternatives to the Microsoft operating system that
runs on more than 90 percent of the world’s personal computers,
analyst Rob Enderle of Giga Information Group said.
‘Microsoft may well be in a fight for its life anyway,’
Enderle said Saturday. ‘A lot of the advantages they had to dictate
to their partners and their customers were changed during the
course of the trial.’ “


text: Waitrose customers will no longer have to stay in for their food deliveries as the supermarket will become the first to send delivery men into their homes while they are out. An “in-home” delivery service, in which front doors are being fitted with “smart door locks” to give drivers access to customers’ homes to unpack groceries while they are out, is about to be trialled. Delivery men will be fitted with chest cameras so customers can be sure they are not stealing their items or nosying through their drawers while they are out, and customers have the option of requesting the footage afterwards.Similar schemes have already proved popular in the US and Scandinavia. Initially 100 customers located in South London will be offered a free smart lock, which usually cost £190, as part of the Waitrose “While You’re Away” trial. Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings. Archie Mason, head of business development at Waitrose & Partners, said: “There is certainly an increasing demand among our customers to make shopping with us even more convenient to fit around their busy lifestyles.”Rather than waiting for a delivery or trying to put everything away, it gives customers more flexibility to use that time differently, including more time enjoying cooking and eating the food they’ve bought.”The concept of in-home delivery has started to prove popular in other countries so we are keen to establish if there is an appetite for it in the UK.”Nigel Fisher, managing director of Yale UK, said: “Working with Waitrose & Partners to develop the UK’s first in-home delivery service is an exciting premise for Yale as we look to understand how smart products can enhance daily lives as well as protecting your home.”Customers can find out if they are eligible for the trial or can register their interest in future rollouts by visiting wya.waitrose.com. Yale’s smart lock system allows access to different people at different times by using temporary codes Credit:Yale Waitrose delivery drivers will only be allowed to enter customers homes if they have been with the firm for six months or longerCredit:John Lawrence It works by fitting customers’ front doors with Yale “smart lock” technology and setting a temporary access code which is then sent to Waitrose via a secure app.The code is then sent to the delivery driver’s device at the time of arrival at the customer’s home and is deleted once the delivery is complete.The driver will put goods that need to be refrigerated and frozen away and leave other groceries on the kitchen counter, or as instructed by the customer. To qualify customers must commit to a minimum order of £25 and a minimum of six deliveries, although Waitrose said it would review this after the trial. Waitrose said it anticipated being able to make the service available to more than 1,000 customers in spring next year depending on the success of the trial.


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Source: Business Week article by Pallavi Gogoi –
Twice a month, Kathy Nuthall does the math on food vs. gas costs: Shop for groceries near home in Warwick, N.Y., or drive nearly an hour round-trip to a Wal-Mart Supercenter (WMT) in Monroe, a village in the Catskill Mountain foothills. With food prices surging, Wal-Mart has been winning that decision. “I just think that it’s smart. The food is the same, but I’m saving more here,” says Nuthall, who concedes that even with Wal-Mart’s pricing muscle her grocery bill has been creeping higher in recent months.
The cost of food has become a headline story the world over, from food-related riots in Haiti and Egypt to some Asian governments mulling whether to restrict rice exports. In the U.S., grocery bills are surging: Nearly every food staple has seen a double-digit percentage increase over the past year, including a 38% hike for a dozen eggs, to $2.16, and a 19% jump, to $1.78, for a loaf of white bread, according to American Farm Bureau data. With Americans spending 15% of their household income on food and drinks, rising prices in the grocery aisles have spurred consumers to hunt savings. Of that spending, only half goes to grocery stores, with restaurants collecting the rest.
Food is the most visible expenditure on the typical shopping list: After all, most people eat at least three times a day. As prices keep rising, it’s hardly any wonder that Americans seem to be losing their appetite for discretionary purchases (BusinessWeek.com, 4/9/08). “When you buy the same thing week after week it’s easy to see prices marching up, and the two items that people purchase most often are gasoline and food, both of which have seen a runup in prices,” says David Wyss, chief economist of Standard & Poor’s, which, like BusinessWeek, is a unit of The McGraw-Hill Cos. (MHP).
Plus, when it comes to the weekly or biweekly shopping list, people tend to scrutinize more closely how much they spend with a Kroger (KR), Wal-Mart, Safeway (SWY), or Supervalu (SVU) than on casual dining with friends or a quick bite grabbed on the way home from work. On a recent wet, chilly day, Natalie Medina was pushing her 4-year-old son around the store, explaining that she has consolidated her shopping from weekly to every other week in a strategy to save money. Even though the store is farther from her home in Wallkill, N.Y., Medina says the reduced trips save money.
The price tally in the latest American Farm Bureau market basket survey of 16 basic groceries was $45.03 in the first quarter, up 9% from the same period last year. Many of the price increases are eye-popping—a five-pound bag of flour cost $2.69, 26% more than last year. Volunteers in 32 states participated in the survey, with the 76 shoppers paying 23% more for fryer chicken at $1.37 per pound, while the average price for a gallon of whole milk was $3.81, up 10% from last year. Cheddar cheese was 27% higher, to $4.71 per pound, and corn oil rose 9%, to $3.01, for a 32-ounce bottle.
In this environment, some stores are responding by expanding their food aisles. For instance, Family Dollar Stores (FDO), which has 6,500 stores in 44 states, recently boosted its space for food in an additional 2,700 stores; 1,500 stores now accept food stamps. “We have strengthened our everyday assortment of quick prep and ready-to-serve products in all stores, introducing larger family sizes and emphasizing private-label and value brands,” says Howard Levine, CEO of Charlotte-based Family Dollar, where food has been the biggest driver of sales in recent quarters.
The surge in food costs has been attributed to several factors, including the increasing number of American farmers who now grow corn to supply the ethanol industry instead of food companies. In turn, they have reduced the amount of land farmed for wheat and soybeans, leading to a huge strain on food processors such as ConAgra Foods (CAG), Kraft Foods (KFT), General Mills (GIS), and Kellogg (K).
Corn prices have soared, hitting $6 a bushel, up 50% from 2007 and triple the price of three years ago. Corn is the main ingredient in livestock and poultry feed, so prices of milk, chicken, and meat are also higher. “It is important to note the contribution of runaway energy prices to the retail cost of food,” says Jim Sartwelle, an economist with the American Farm Bureau. “Transportation, processing, and packaging cost significantly more now than in prior years.” According to a survey by AAA, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.365, up 20% from last year, with many expecting $4 per gallon in some places this summer.
In many parts of the world, extreme food price increases and shortages have led to riots. In America, while the effects of high food prices are felt widely, they are especially hard on the lowest-income consumers. Many food banks around the country are reporting empty shelves even as the ranks of hungry people coming in have risen. The BedStuy Campaign Against Hunger, a nonprofit food pantry in one of the poorest sections of Brooklyn, N.Y., is feeding as many as 6,000 people a month, up 15% from last year, with children comprising half of the visitors.
“I’m sorry to say that the families who came in to pick up food last Tuesday found that we didn’t have any milk, rice, juice or pasta,” says Reverend Melony Samuels, who runs the pantry and is also a pastor at the Full Gospel Tabernacle of Faith church. Samuels says it has become harder for private donors to supply food because costs have gone up. Her group also depends on the federal government, which distributes surplus commodities to thousands of food banks. However, these surpluses have dwindled. Samuels’ pantry now receives only half what it did from Uncle Sam in 2007.
Those who can afford the $45-$50 annual membership fee for a warehouse club are saving their money by buying in bulk at Costco (COST) or BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ), where sales are humming. On Apr. 10, Costco reported same-store sales growth of 7% in March, while BJ’s sales rose 6%. After reporting a 31% increase in profits in its last quarter, Costco Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti noted that sales of fresh foods and deli food have helped lift sales overall. Wal-Mart saw a 0.7% increase in March sales, falling short of expectations of a 1% increase. But that didn’t dampen the ebullient mood of Wal-Mart executives who raised the company’s guidance for first-quarter earnings. As prices of food continue to be pressured, retail executives expect the parking lots like the one at the Wal-Mart in Monroe to remain packed.
Gogoi is a contributing writer for BusinessWeek.com.


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Those born in the 80s and 90s will have many a fleeting memory about the “Chal meri Luna” advertisement. The name Kinetic became famous with this moped. Diminutive but sturdy and ultra-reliable, this gearless, 50cc moped, with pedals to help it move around like a bicycle, should the need arise, was a dream come true for many. However, given the ever-tightening emission norms, the Luna died a slow death. Kinetic Group also exited the Indian two-wheeler industry thereafter. While all this behind them, the Kinetic Group forayed into electric vehicle technology with a new subsidiary called Kinetic Green. They have built three-wheelers, e-rickshaws, and more. The company claims that they are the leading players as far as electric three-wheelers are concerned. Express Drives recently learned that the Kinetic Group is looking to get back into the electric two-wheeler market. The return will be with the Luna nameplate. The iconic moped will now be available with zero emissions. Yes, an electric Kinetic Luna.
As of now, Kinetic Green is tight-lipped about the entire project. A source close to the project told Express Drives that this new electric moped will likely run a 1kW motor. It will have a Li-ion battery in place considering the shift from lead-acid units currently being practiced by all major EV players. The expected range from the Kinetic Luna electric will be 70-80km while the top speed will be around 25kmph. The latter will ensure that customers don’t have to register the vehicle as it then comes under the slow-speed category. Its price is expected to be less than Rs 50,000 on-road, says the source. Going with nostalgia, the design is expected to vastly remain the same as well, with a few more modern bits thrown in like a thumb starter, USB charging slot, LED DRL, and the likes. At present, there is only one electric moped and it is the Gemopai Miso. Another one, the Techo Electra Saathi is in the works and should be launched soon. TVS sells the sole ICE moped, the XL100 today.
Express Drives had a chat with Sulajja Firodia Motwani, the CEO and founder of Kinetic Green. We checked with her if this source information is true or not. As is usually the case with most top-honchos, Sulajja said that as of now there are no immediate plans of getting into the electric two-wheeler space. The company is concentrating on building EVs ground-up, in this case, electric rickshaws. The latter as it is getting a good response and Sulajja confirmed that Kinetic Green does its own R&D with respect to making the vehicle safer as well as lightweight. Kinetic Green, in association with Autoline, has also started selling electric cycles recently.
Before signing off, Sulajja told Express Drives that the rest of the shares Kinetic held in Kinetic Motor Cycles Limited have already been sold off. She explained that this means there is no hindrance as to why they cannot launch their own two-wheeler now. To recap, Mahindra and Mahindra had acquired 80 per cent shares of KMCL in 2008. Thereafter Mahindra used Kinetic’s facility and equipment to manufacture its two-wheelers like Mojo, Pantero, Centuro and the scooters. At present, with Mahindra and Mahindra owning the entire stake, the no-competing clause is not applicable anymore.
Kinetic Green has also set up a new plant in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. It is spread across 100 acres and has 30 sheds. Here, the gearbox assembly, vehicle electrification process, paint and chassis assembly happen. This one exclusively manufactures electric three-wheelers. Further, 30km away, another new plant has been set up. This new plant is spread over 30 acres, has got four sheds spread across 65,000sqft each and has production lines that will cater to electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers as well as the Kinetic Lamborghini Buggy range.
While there has been a denial from the Kinetic Green scion on the launch of the electric Luna, the new plant suggests that it is in the works. What do you think? Let us know.


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Alibaba Group seems to struggle in its fight with counterfeit items, especially when United States Trade Representative (USTR) last year listed Taobao, Alibaba’s sprawling online shopping website in China, as one of the world’s most notorious markets for fake goods.
The Chinese e-commerce giant, however, claimed that it has been taking steps to deal with the issue of fake goods. Earlier this year, the Chinese firm filed a lawsuit against sellers of counterfeit Swarovski watches on Taobao at the Shenzhen Longgang District People’s Court, claiming RMB 1.4 million (about USD 203,240) in damages.
This might seem like a small amount of money for Alibaba, but the lawsuit itself was meant to scare off more online sellers of counterfeit items.
Blacklisted last year by American trade officials, the Chinese firm is not taking a disgrace like this lightly, and has kept pushing forward its strategy of cracking down on purveyors of counterfeit items.
AliHealth, Alibaba’s healthcare subsidiary, launched a third-party tracking system in May 2016 to further combat fake items and ensure the quality of its products. Consumers can scan the QR codes attached on the package of the products, and track the origins of products such as farm produce, baby formula or even wine.
It didn’t come as a surprise when AliHealth announced on Wednesday that they are ensuring the authenticity of their products and clearing up the food safety concerns by putting tracking QR codes on many more products, even including putting tracking codes on eggs.
This is the firm’s first attempt to partner with Chia Tai Group (or CP Food) to attach QR codes on their egg products. By scanning the code stickers on the packages, consumers are able to check all kinds of data related to the eggs that they’re purchasing, such as the location, temperature, humidity index and even the air quality of the henhouses.
By showing the “birth certificates” of the eggs, the Chinese tech giant is hoping to eliminate food safety concerns. CP Food claimed that they have over 20 henhouses across China, producing 6.4 million eggs for about 360 million Chinese consumers.
Earlier this year, Alibaba’s executive chairman Jack Ma traveled to New York City’s Trump Tower to meet with US President Donald Trump. After the meeting, Ma pledged to create one million US jobs by growing trade between small U.S. businesses and Chinese consumers.
This might seem promising for Alibaba to join hands with US trade firms, but the first thing must come first: the Chinese tech giant boasting about its consumer-to-consumer online bazaar must come up with more strategies to solve its problem of counterfeit goods.
According to Fortune, you can search on Taobao and still find hundreds or thousands of illegitimate or dubious goods from top brands. As much as 90% of New Balance’s 117,000 listings on Taobao are fake or suspect products, according to the clothing company’s last estimates.
Alibaba has certainly been taking some actions to clean up fake items. CNBC reported that the firm has employed 2,000 permanent staff and 5,000 volunteers to find counterfeit goods. The e-commerce giant also uses artificial intelligence to help spot fake items by scanning images and logos for mismatches.
From QR code tracking system to AI scanning, Jack Ma is trying all sorts of ways to gain back the trust of customers, while Alibaba is making forays into the United States, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. We’ll have to wait and see Alibaba’s next action regarding this issue, and see if American trade officials will remove Alibaba from the list of notorious markets next year.
(Top photo from Alibaba)


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CDSA, the Content Delivery & Security Association (formerly IRMA, the International Recording Media Association), is the international content protection association. For over 40 years, it has served as the worldwide forum advocating the innovative and responsible delivery and storage of entertainment, software and information content.
Founded in 1970, this global trade association’s membership includes companies involved in every facet along the digital and physical media supply chain.
Beginning with the audiocassette, through the home video revolution, and into today’s digital delivery era, CDSA has always been the organization companies have turned to for news, networking, market research, information services, and leadership.
In 2010 CDSA went under the management of the Media & Entertainment Services Alliance (MESA). Due to worldwide acclaim for its anti-piracy and content protection standards, CDSA has focused its activities on protecting entertainment IP throughout the supply chain, both pre-release and post release content.
Beginning in 2010 all CDSA member companies receive reciprocal benefits as Associate Level members of MESA.
CDSA Audits in Action
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as of May 15, 2013
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Matrix Tech s.r.l.
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Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
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- IHS: Google Fiber Not Going Nationwide
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April 23, 2013
- Facebook Using Rovi Video Database
April 16, 2013
- Lionsgate, Microsoft Partner for ‘Hunger Games’ Fan Site
April 15, 2013
- Google Fiber Coming to Austin, Texas
April 6, 2013
- Study: Connected-TV Owners Are Regular App Users
April 4, 2013
- Miramax Hires Former Netflix Executive
April 2, 2013
- SPECIAL REPORT: A Growing Appetite
March 22, 2013
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The Reserve bank of India, India’s central bank, ordered all the banks to cease trade in cryptocurrencies. All financial institutions regulated by the RBI have to stop their banking relationships with crypto investors and companies with immediate effect. Those who are already involved in such relationships have been given a three-month timeline to say goodbye to virtual money.
The RBI also announced new research which will explore the possibilities for the launch of a new domestic digital currency. Meanwhile, the news led to panic in the Indian markets where many currencies dropped by as much as 20% and panic selling induced in the market.
RBI created an interdepartmental group to investigate and advise on “desirability and feasibility” for introducing a “central bank digital currency.” The research team will submit its reports by the end of June 2018.
BP Kanungo, Deputy Governor, said, “We have decided to ring-fence the RBI regulated entities from the risks of dealing with virtual currencies. These operators are required to stop having a business relationship with the entities dealing with virtual currencies forthwith and unwind the existing relationships within three months.”
He further added, “Several central banks are debating the possibility of introducing a fiat digital currency. As opposed to private digital tokens, these are issued by a central bank. They constitute the liability of the central bank, and they will be in circulation in addition to the paper currency that we have.”
The authorities are confident backing the idea of a fiat backed digital currency in order to minimize the costs of printing and circulating paper currency. It is looking forward to using the underlying blockchain technology to boost the wider economy and financial ecosystem. According to a deputy minister, the government is focused on introducing a new virtual currency “Laxmi.”
Previous warnings had zero net effect
The RBI released three different warnings to the masses which aimed to discourage them from using digital currencies. Earlier this year, Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister India, acknowledged cryptocurrencies as an illegal tender of money and advised Indians on not undertaking its trade. In his budget speech on February 1, he recognized crypto money as illegitimate and asked people to entirely reject its usage. However, most of the crypto enthusiasts continued the trade regardless.
After Jaitley’s speech, some of the top Indian banks like SBI, HDFC Bank, and the American lender Citi stopped supporting any transaction related to virtual money which pulled down the domestic crypto trading by 90 percent.
In a similar report in swissinfro.ch, it was informed that banks in US relate cryptocurrencies with privacy issues. Fed Governor Lael Brainard, termed it as extremely volatile which needs thorough investigation before any action. The Swiss National Bank has already acknowledged crypto as too risky and does not hope to issue a new digital fiat currency.
The European Central Bank also sees crypto as a risky venture which should not be handled by a central bank. The Chinese authorities are closing down all the crypto mining activities and banning crypto trade while claiming central bank’s full control over virtual money.


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Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has announced annual cookie sales have begun.
In a news release, the scouts said booths are starting to pop up across the region. You can find the upcoming location by zip code at gsofsi.org/findcookies.
The organization is also this year asking patrons to consider buying an extra box for its Hometown Heroes program, which supports active military personnel, local first responders, and other non-profit organizations.
“We’re very excited that Girl Scout Cookie season is here,” said Katie Grayling, Director of Product Programs for Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. “The public’s continued support every year is much appreciated. Not only are they getting delicious cookies, but they are also empowering girls to chase their dreams.”
According to a zip code search on the Girl Scout’s website, cookie lovers in Troy will get their first chance at some boxes on Jan. 21-22 at Casey’s at 440 Edwardsville Road.
Listing show cookies will also be available Jan. 22 at 4-0 Kelley’s at 804 South Main, Dunkin Donuts at 819 Edwardsville Rd, Pete’s Market at 523 Troy Plaza and Travel Centers of America at 819 Edwardsville Rd.
Those locations will also be hosting Girl Scout cookie booths the following weekend and on several dates in February. Cookie booths will also be held this weekend at Lowe’s WalMart and Sam’s Club in Glen Carbon, according to the Girl Scouts website.
The organization states in the release that every Girl Scout Cookie purchase fuels local Girl Scouts’ adventures throughout the year: exploring what interests them, discovering their passions, and taking action on issues they care about.
“Whether they’re using their STEM skills to solve a problem, working with city council to help their community, having a courageous outdoor experience or starting an innovative nonprofit, Girl Scouts build a better future for themselves and the world,” the release reads.


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Chinese companies are acquiring foreign brands so that they can introduce the brand and its products to domestic shoppers, according to retail experts.
The appraisal came after Chinese conglomerate Fosun sealed two offshore investment deals in two weeks: adding Austrian luxury textile maker Wolford AG and French luxury couture house Jeanne Lanvin SAS to its portfolio.
"Because of Chinese consumers, a group like Fosun can buy a foreign luxury brand at a price most others cannot, because they can then bring them to China and capture a lot of additional value," said Jeffrey Towson, professor of investment at Peking University.
Towson said international fashion brands can be extremely lucrative for Chinese companies.
In China, a brand's country-of-origin plays a major role in consumer decision-making, said Paul Temporal, a global expert on brand creation and an associate fellow at Oxford University's Said Business School. Temporal said brands that are bought by Chinese companies tend to experience minimal interference with the brand name and what it stands for.
"For example, it would be most unlikely and very unwise for Fosun to change the name of Lanvin," he said.
Temporal said the acquisition of foreign brands also helps Chinese companies learn more about emotional brand building, and lets them gain access to foreign markets. But he said the best brands are seldom sold, so China will also need to establish its own global consumer fashion brands.
In recent years, Fosun has invested in several fashion companies, including Italian menswear specialist Caruso, German clothing brand Tom Tailor and United States luxury house St. John.
Experts said Fosun's acquisitions are aimed mainly at bringing new brands and products to Chinese consumers and have less to do with entering new markets because Chinese consumers today are much more sophisticated than they were five years ago.


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Here’s how to download Android 10 on your Pixel
The news was spotted by eagle-eyed Google phone fans in a Canadian phone network report. The carrier Rogers said the Big G would start pushing Android 10 to all Pixel smartphones, from the new Pixel 3a XL right down to the original Pixel.
Previously, Google has always launched its new operating systems at the start of September. And given that this Monday was a holiday in the US, it makes sense that the company would start delivering updates when everyone got back to work.
Early last month, Google unveiled the final Beta of Android Q ahead of this official release. The biggest features will be gesture controls, which uses the phone’s front-facing camera and depth sensor to let users interact with their smartphone by swiping above the screen.
When the updates start rolling out, downloading them down to your Pixel is super simple. Just head to the settings menu, select ‘About Phone’ and then tap ‘Check for Updates’. If Android 10 has been rolled out in your region, the download and installation will begin.


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Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Corp’s top US sales executive, predicts that the RAV4 will outsell the Camry within the next five years as millennials, the children of the baby boomers, embrace small SUVs as the new family car.
The Toyota Camry, the top-selling car in America for the last 13 years, may have finally met its match: The Toyota RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle.
Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Corp’s top US sales executive, predicted that the RAV4 will outsell the Camry within the next five years as millennials, the children of the baby boomers, embrace small SUVs as the new family car.
“I’ll bet you lunch that will happen,” Carter told reporters on Thursday at a Toyota holiday party in Detroit. “Many of these under-35-year-old buyers, who are entering the market in a big way right now, grew up in SUVs.”
Compact SUVs such as the RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape now outsell mid-sized sedans such as the Camry and Honda Accord, Carter said.
This year, Toyota will sell more than 300,000 RAV4 models and about 425,000 Camrys in the diminishing family sedan market, Carter said.
To meet growing demand for RAV4, Toyota has begun importing some from Japan to supplement those it builds in Canada, Carter said. Toyota is adding a second plant of RAV4 capacity in Canada, which will give it the ability to produce more than 400,000 a year in North America, he said.
“There’s a really dramatic shift in consumer preference going on,” Carter said. “Five years ago, if somebody would have said compact SUVs would be outselling mid-size sedans, I probably would have disputed that.”
Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, redesigned the RAV4 for 2016, adding hybrid and sport versions and offering more all-wheel-drive options.
RAV4 sales soared 30% last month and are up 16% this year to 283,546 models through November. Camry sales rose 7.3% last month, but are down 1.2% for the year to 392,056 models.
Millennials and baby boomers entering their empty nest years are turning to small SUVs because they don’t have the poor fuel economy, high price and rugged ride once associated with off-road vehicles built on truck frames. Modern compact SUVs are derived from the smooth-riding, mechanical underpinnings of compact cars.
“If you look at cars versus SUVs 10 years ago, the question was ‘Do I want lower price, good fuel economy and comfort, or do I want all-wheel-drive, high seating and ruggedness?”’ Carter said. “Compact SUVs, if you take a critical look, have the comfort of mid-sized sedans, they’ve got competitive fuel economy, they’ve got all the amenities and the price is almost the same.”
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January 15, 2013
Disney turns Brick Lane into a Blippable fun zone
In the run up to the UK release of Disney’s new film ‘Wreck It Ralph’ they have transformed Brick Lane into a ‘real-life promotional playground’ – explore it here. A large billboard overlaying one of the buildings is the Blippable game. With the instructions ‘Play This Building. Download Blippar’ you can transform the canvas into the original Fix-It Felix Jr Game on your mobile and start playing.
The Lumia is lighting up Nokia
Nokia has seen the best sales of Lumia phones in Q4 2012 since the Smartphone line was first launched in autumn 2011, marking the total sales to date of the handset at 14.3 million. This is a significant improvement on last year’s sales and Nokia are set to release a full statement in the next few weeks outlying how they have achieved ‘underlying profitability’ and how they have ‘delivered better than expected results’. It will be interesting to see how Nokia compete in the 2013 Smartphone market and whether or not managed to
Apple customers can’t stop crunching
A recent study has revealed that European iPhone 5 users consume 50% more data that iPhone 4S users, with some people using up to four times more data that other iPhone users on the 3G network. This has coincided with an increase of uploads to social media sites, with this rising to one sixth of the overall data downloaded in comparison to last year when it was just one seventh. This is interesting as it has also recently been reported that Apple has cut its orders for iPhone 5 parts due to ‘weaker-than-expected-demand’ suggesting that sales have not been as strong as planned. Or it could reflect that the iPhone 5 has been built better that any of its predecessors and therefore is more resilient to wear and tear.
There has also been news circulating that Apple is planning to release a ‘cheap’ iPhone made up of recycled parts to compete in the market as Google’s Android system is currently gaining market share. The parts would either be recycled or simply made from cheaper materials in order to the make the handset price more affordable. Regardless whether or not these reports are true, it will be interesting to see if this would hugely affect Apple’s market share.
#yummy #brunch #nomnomnom #food and #foodporn are among the most popular hashtags on Instagram. People just love to share what they eat, flooding the social network with images of cute cupcakes, delicious dishes and plates full of food. Restaurants have even begun capitalising on this trend by ‘Instagram-ing’ their menus to help their customers decide what to order.
Non-profit organization Soppkok Stockholm (Soup Kitchen Stockholm) took advantage of this visual food overdose on the platform by posting their own photos on Instagram, showing empty dishes and a clear direct message. It’s a simple idea that really cuts through.
The social scrapbooking site kicked off 2013 with an acquisition, its first in fact, a two-year-old recipe site called Punchfork. The site allows users to share images of food and accompanying recipes something Pinterest has been used for since its launch. However, on Pinterest users must click out of the site to access the full recipe. This acquisition of Punchfork could work to build a more complete recipe platform for Pinterest.
Hunter has launched a global Facebook campaign that aims to drive consumer engagement by focusing on the weather, called ‘Together Through Any Weather. The app encourages users to upload a photo of the day’s weather theme, whether it be sunshine, snow or rain to be in a chance of winning a daily prize, from wellies to fleece-lines socks.


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Business Leaders Need a Long-TermDigital and Technology Plan
Survey reveals how CEOs view their digital and technology planning.
Contributor: Laurence Goasduff
2015 is looking like a good year for businesses, with many CEOs focusing on growth rather than cutting costs. As part of the 2015 Gartner CEO and senior business executive survey, Gartner analysts wanted to find out how CEOs are looking at long-term planning.
“There were two key things to ascertain: do CEOs do it and, if so, how long is ‘long term’,” said Mark Raskino, vice president and Gartner Fellow. “The reason for looking at this was a growing paradox. On the one hand, CIOs have been telling us for years that they have difficulty talking with the business about the long term. IT investments such as enterprise resource planning often take years, but CIOs find they can get attention and support only for short-term planning.”
Many CEOs are facing deep structural product changes relating to digital. A good example is the automotive industry, where CEOs now regularly and openly talk about self-driving vehicles arriving in about five years, yet not becoming mainstream until later. They are already investing in major software capabilities to bring about that high-tech future. It seems that long-range planning for digital is set to become essential to product strategy — a distinctly different feel to the marketing-driven use of digital in recent years.
In the survey, almost 95 percent of organizations indicated that they have carried out some form of long-term planning activity (covering one to 15 years into the future). More specifically, more than 42 percent were looking beyond the five-year time frame. Those companies that looked further ahead were more likely to outperform organizations that don’t plan ahead.
Some CIOs are confining their planning to incremental changes, and have been for years. However, the algorithmic economy will shift the business landscape and change how successful business leaders plan to guide their companies forward. Organizations will need to understand the effect of digitalization and how IT will permeate into every sector and most products.
Gartner estimates that by 2020, there will be more than 26 billion connected devices. This means around 150 devices connecting every second for the next five years.
“At first, we may notice the proliferation of devices because the trend is new and expensive,” Mr. Raskino said. “However, as digital products become commoditized, we will no longer be aware of the incremental advancement. What will be noticed -and can be seized as business opportunities – is the data produced by the digital product.”
Read more about artificial intelligence (AI) in the next decade along with digital and technology planning on Smarter with Gartner website.


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The Telegraph is reporting that the all-new (and heavily-leaked) HTC One (M8) will be available just a few moments after the launch a week today.
If true, this could mean a major coup for HTC because it’ll be available in shops before the Samsung Galaxy S5 on April 11th. According to the paper it’ll be available from “selected Carphone Warehouse stores” from 4PM on the day of launch – Tuesday March 25.
Handsets, it is stated, will go directly from the launch event to the six nominated Carphone Warehouse stores in London. If you’re eager to get one, we’d advise getting yourself to either Westfield White City, Oxford Circus, Westfield Stratford, Centrepoint and Tottenham Court Road, where the various Carphone Warehouse stores will be having special events to mark the launch of the phone.
An unnamed Carphone Warehouse spokesperson stated..
The HTC One is an award winning handset that set the bar for design during 2013 and made many sit up and take notice – the new HTC One M8 is likely to continue that trend and will cement HTC’s future as a heavy-hitting smartphone manufacturer.
We know how keen customers are to get hold of the latest tech as soon as possible and that is why we are so excited to be able to offer the new HTC One so quickly after it is unveiled.
More as we get it, and we’ll be covering the event LIVE.


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Ministers this morning announced a new tariff regime that would be applied if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal on March 29 – and is set to change the price of many common goods.
The new levies, to be imposed from the day after a March 29 Brexit if MPs vote for a No Deal withdrawal, would force up prices on EU imports including cars and many food products.
However ministers said 87 per cent of all imports to the UK by value would not be tariffed – up from 80 per cent at present – meaning the price of some goods from the likes of China and the US would go down.
This could include clothing from top American designers such as DKNY and Ralph Lauren, which are currently subject to a 12 per cent tariff when imported into the EU.
The new levies would force up prices on EU imports including cars and many food products
The unilateral and temporary regime in Britain on EU countries includes levies of 10.6 per cent on European cars and trucks which had previously been free of tariffs.
|PRODUCT||CURRENT TARIFF||TEMPORARY TARIFF|
This potentially increases the cost of a typical Volkwagen Golf by around £2,000. Car parts would face no extra tariffs to avoid disruption to supply chains.
And it introduces tariffs on EU goods like beef, chicken, lamb, pork and Cheddar-style cheese if MPs vote to leave without a deal.
This would result in a 255g Tesco rump steak from Ireland going up £2 from £3.80 to £5.80, thanks to a 53 per cent tariff, and a 265g Dutch gouda cheese at the same supermarket up 30p from £2.25 to £2.55, thanks to a 13 per cent tariff.
But tariffs will be slashed on imports from outside the EU, potentially lowering prices on goods from countries like the US and China, in a move which unions warned would ‘destroy’ jobs in manufacturing sectors like steel.
Products that could be affected include clothing and cutlery, which both currently have an import tariff into the EU of 12 per cent.
What will Britain’s temporary import tariffs be for No Deal?
Proposed tariff rates on a range of products have been announced as a proportion of the so-called ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN).
This is currently imposed by the EU on imports from countries which do not have a free trade agreement.
The rates are as a percentage of MFN:
- Beef: 53%
- Poultry meat: 60%
- Sheep meat: 100%
- Pig meat: 13%
- Butter: 32%
- Cheddar-like cheese: 13%
- Protected fish and seafood: 100%
- Milled/semi-milled products: 83%
- Finished cars and trucks: 10.6%
- Finished buses: 12.6%
- Mineral products 0.2%
- Chemical products: 0.1%
- Fertilisers: 2.1%
- Plastics and rubber: 0.1%
- Leather and hides: 0.2%
- Textiles and textile products: 0.9%
- Stone and cement: 0.3%
- Ceramics: 1.2%
- Glass: 0.2%
- Transport equipment: 2.9%
Meanwhile, the European Commission confirmed that after a no-deal Brexit, the EU will impose tariffs on UK imports equivalent to those on other non-EU countries with no trade agreement, in a move which would result in higher prices for many British exports in European markets.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady accused the Government of showing ‘reckless disregard for people’s jobs’, warning the proposed tariff regime would be ‘a hammer blow to our manufacturing industries and the communities they support’.
The general secretary of steelworkers’ union Community, Roy Rickhuss, said: ‘The Government’s plan for zero tariffs would be a fresh betrayal of British steelworkers, putting further pressure on their jobs at a difficult time for the industry.’
In special arrangements for Northern Ireland, the UK’s temporary import tariffs will not apply to EU goods crossing the border from the Republic.
The decision – designed to avoid the need for checkpoints which might revive sectarian tensions – has raised fears of smuggling, as ministers insist there will not be a border down the Irish Sea.
Although tariffs will be payable on goods passing from the EU to Great Britain via Northern Ireland, customs officers will rely on intelligence and compliance work rather than checks on cargoes to impose the levies.
Ministers said that, overall, the changes would represent a ‘modest liberalisation’ of the UK’s tariff regime.
New cars built by German maker Volkswagen AG are pictured in a factory in Wolfsburg in 2016
Free range chickens are pictured on a farm at La Bastide-Clairence in southern France in 2006
They said that 87 per cent of all imports to the UK by value would be eligible for zero-tariff access – up from 80 per cent at present – while many other goods will be subject to a lower rate than currently applied under EU rules.
How business leaders reacted to the tariffs
‘It is the public who will feel the impact of a no deal Brexit – tariffs, non-tariff barriers and currency depreciation will all push up costs and reduce the choice on the shelves we currently enjoy’
Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium chief executive
‘What we are hearing is the biggest change in terms of trade this country has faced since the mid-19th century being imposed on this country with no consultation with business, no time to prepare’
Carolyn Fairbairn, Confederation of British Industry director-general
‘There has not been enough consultation, preparation or planning to support the firms and communities that could find themselves at the end of a sudden shift in tariffs’
Adam Marshall, British Chambers of Commerce director general
But British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: ‘Even as the Brexit clock approaches midnight, MPs continue to squabble.
‘Yet it is the public who will feel the impact of a no deal Brexit – tariffs, non-tariff barriers and currency depreciation will all push up costs and reduce the choice on the shelves we currently enjoy.
‘Businesses are exasperated by the lack of clarity over their future trading arrangements.
‘Hundreds of ships are currently sailing towards Britain without a clear understanding of the tariffs, checks, or documentation requirements, they will face when they arrive.
‘Politicians must swallow their pride and find an agreement that can command the support of the House.’
But CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn told BBC Radio 4’s Today: ‘This tells us everything that is wrong with a No Deal scenario.
‘What we are hearing is the biggest change in terms of trade this country has faced since the mid-19th century being imposed on this country with no consultation with business, no time to prepare. This is no way to run a country.
‘What we potentially are going to see is this imposition of new terms of trade at the same time as business is blocked out of its closest trading partner. This is a sledgehammer for our economy.’
Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during the debate in the House of Commons yesterday
National Farmers Union president Minette Batters said it is ‘appalling’ farmers had learnt the tariffs that will be applied to imported food products just 16 days before a potential no-deal Brexit.
The approach to tariffs announced by the Government would not necessarily lead to cheaper food, but would mean the UK loses control of animal welfare standards, warned Ms Batters.
‘Worrying’ lack of tariff protection for eggs, cereals, fruit and veg
Farmers have labelled the lack of tariff protection for sectors including eggs, cereals, fruit and vegetables in a no-deal Brexit as ‘enormously worrying’.
National Farmers’ Union president Minette Batters said it was a relief to finally see the import tariffs that would be applied if the UK crashes out of the European Union without a deal.
But she said it was ‘appalling’ that the Government was only publishing them a fortnight before they could come into effect, leaving farmers and food businesses no time to prepare.
Problems will be exacerbated by the fact that the agricultural sector will face tariffs on exports to the EU and other countries with whom the UK enjoys free trade agreements, she warned.
The NFU has welcomed the move to treat some sectors ‘sensitively’, such as lamb, poultry and beef production, which the organisation said may support producers facing disastrous disruption from no-deal.
But Ms Batters said: ‘It is enormously worrying that some sectors will not have this protection – noticeably eggs, cereals, fruit and vegetables.
‘Even those sectors that are treated sensitively will, in most instances, see worrying and large reductions in the tariff rates currently charged on non-EU imports.’
The approach being taken by the Government, which will lump products such as whole carcasses and high-value cuts of fresh beef together, also means there is a high chance of market distortion, she warned.
And while she said the NFU recognised the importance of ensuring that food prices for consumers do not rise in a no-deal Brexit, the sector is concerned that the tariffs would mean a greater reliance on food produced overseas.
‘This would not necessarily lead to cheaper food for consumers but would mean we export and increase the environmental impact of our food production while losing control of the high standards of animal welfare to which that food is produced.
‘In a no-deal scenario the Government must act immediately to revise these tariffs and quotas should this happen,’ she urged.
And she said the publication of the tariffs was another example of how British farming will be damaged by a no-deal Brexit.
‘No-deal must be taken off the table and a workable solution identified by MPs and Government as a matter of urgency that takes us into an orderly Brexit.’
Large reductions in tariffs on non-EU food imports are ‘worrying’ to UK producers and are likely to mean ‘a greater reliance on food produced overseas’, she said.
Labour’s shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said: ‘UK companies will now face competition from a flood of cheap imports that undercut them, putting thousands of jobs here at risk.
‘The fact that Government has exempted cross border trade with Ireland only opens up a backdoor route for smuggling and risks creating the very divergence of customs regimes between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK that Parliament has been so determined to avoid.’
Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said the tariffs would create ‘winners and losers across UK industry overnight’ and potentially cost the UK leverage in future trade talks.
‘The abruptness of changes to tariff rates in the event of a No Deal exit from the EU would be an unwelcome shock to many of the businesses affected,’ said Dr Marshall.
‘There has not been enough consultation, preparation or planning to support the firms and communities that could find themselves at the end of a sudden shift in tariffs.
‘As MPs vote tonight, this is yet another reason why they must act to avoid a messy and disorderly exit from the EU on March 29.’
The Unite union’s assistant general secretary for manufacturing, Steve Turner, said: ‘Theresa May and her Government need to stop the economic vandalism which is threatening jobs and livelihoods by properly taking a No Deal Brexit off the table and securing tariff-free frictionless trade with Europe.
‘The UK’s steel industry has been pushed to the brink because of the dumping of cheap Chinese steel, while our tyre industry is fighting for survival in the face of inferior alternatives flooding the market from overseas.
‘Reducing tariffs to zero on the majority of imports, including steel, in the event of a No Deal Brexit would destroy jobs and leave UK manufacturers competing with both hands tied behind their backs.’
Among the 13 per cent of imports by value which will be subject to tariffs will be:
- Beef, lamb, pork and poultry and some dairy products, in order to protect UK farmers and producers from cheap imports;
- A number of tariffs on finished vehicles to support the automotive sector, which will not apply to car parts imported from the EU to prevent disruption to supply chains;
- Products including certain ceramics, fertiliser and fuel, where tariffs protect UK producers against unfair practices like dumping and state subsidies;
- Goods including bananas, raw cane sugar and certain kinds of fish, where tariffs are used to permit preferential access to the UK market for developing countries.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on March 29, the temporary schedules will apply for up to 12 months while a full consultation and review of a permanent approach is undertaken.
Pro-Remain protesters rally outside the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday evening
Proposed tariff rates on a range of food products were announced as a proportion of the so-called ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) currently imposed by the EU on imports from countries which do not have a free trade agreement.
MPs to vote on blocking No Deal Brexit after PM suffers another defeat
MPs are set to vote tonight on whether to block a No Deal Brexit after Theresa May suffered a humiliating defeat as her EU Withdrawal Agreement was rejected by an overwhelming majority for the second time.
Conservative MPs will be given a free vote this evening on whether they are willing for the UK to leave the EU without a deal at the end of the month.
They will vote on a motion stating ‘this House declines to approve leaving the European Union without a Withdrawal Agreement and a framework on the future relationship on March 29’.
If MPs reject No Deal – as most Westminster observers expect – a third vote will follow on Thursday on whether to authorise Mrs May to request an extension of the two-year Article 50 negotiation process.
Labour said allowing a free vote on No Deal showed Mrs May had ‘given up any pretence of leading the country’.
Rates include beef (53 per cent of MFN), poultry meat (60 per cent), sheep meat (100 per cent), pig meat (13 per cent), butter (32 per cent), Cheddar-like cheese (13 per cent), protected fish and seafood products (100 per cent) and milled and semi-milled products (83 per cent).
Tariffs on finished cars and trucks will be set at 10.6 per cent, down from the EU MFN rate of 11.3 per cent, while for finished buses the rate will remain unchanged at 12.6 per cent.
Other rates include 0.2 per cent on mineral products, 0.1 per cent on chemical products, 2.1 on fertilisers, 0.1 per cent on plastics and rubber, 0.2 per cent on leather and hides, 0.9 per cent on textiles and textile products, 0.3 per cent on stone and cement, 1.2 per cent on ceramics, 0.2 per cent on glass and 2.9 per cent on transport equipment.
Trade Policy Minister George Hollingbery said: ‘Our priority is securing a deal with the EU as this will avoid disruption to our global trading relationships. However we must prepare for all eventualities.
‘If we leave without a deal, we will set the majority of our import tariffs to zero, whilst maintaining tariffs for the most sensitive industries.
‘This balanced approach will help to support British jobs and avoid potential price spikes that would hit the poorest households the hardest.
‘It represents a modest liberalisation of tariffs and we will be monitoring the economy closely as well as consulting with businesses to decide what our tariffs should be after this transitional period.’


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TECHNOLOGYRecent and archived news stories on: Alternative Energy, Automotive, Computing, Engineering, Internet, Nanotech, Software, Telecom, Wireless...
Irvine-based startup Pop has raised $6 million in venture capital funding. The company develops a mobile application called POPin, which aims to provide a “crowd-solving” platform to enable input sharing among employees, customers and others.
Irvine-based Western Digital Corp. will sell its data center storage systems through a joint venture with Beijing-based Unisplendour Corp. Ltd.
Irvine-based Quality Systems Inc. said today that Jeffrey Margolis is its new chairman.
Fountain Valley-based Hyundai Motor America Inc. today launched a standalone brand of premium vehicles named after its Genesis luxury sedan.
Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment Inc. posted another subscription loss in its flagship World of Warcraft franchise, but the third-quarter drop was overshadowed by Santa Monica parent Activision Blizzard Inc.’s $5.9 billion takeover of King Digital Entertainment PLC.
PMC-Sierra Inc. has rejected the latest buyout offer of $2.4 billion from Aliso Viejo-based chipmaker Microsemi Corp.
Irvine-based IT provider Synoptek LLC has been acquired by San Francisco private equity firm Sverica Capital Management LLC.
TECHNOLOGY: Mobile products aimed at B2B customers
Aliso Viejo-based logistics software maker Telogis Inc. is placing a big bet on mobile apps in a new partnership with Apple Inc.
Terra Tech Sales Up 754%, Largely On Cannabis Demand Surge
Terra Tech Corp.’s crops of basil, oregano, thyme, parsley and lettuce are a steady line of business, but the Newport Beach-based company’s newer line of products derived from another leafy green is the big growth driver.
Irvine-based analytics software maker Alteryx Inc. raised $85 million in a venture capital round led by Iconiq Capital in San Francisco and prior backer Insight Venture Partners in New York. Palo Alto-based Meritech Capital Partners also participated.
Spots Show HB Affords ‘Real’ Vibe to Pacific City
Pacific City in Huntington Beach is scheduled to open to the public on Nov. 7, according to its developer, DJM Capital Partners in San Jose.
$2.2B Offer About 4 Times PMC-Sierra’s Annual Sales
Aliso Viejo-based Microsemi Corp.’s $2.2 billion bid to acquire Sunnyvale chipmaker PMC-Sierra Inc. is the latest deal in the sizzling chip sector, which has already seen record activity this year.
Irvine-based Ingram Micro Inc. reported a mixed third quarter in a report issued after the close of intraday trading today.
Brandman University in Irvine will invest $2 million of its endowment in the company that provides the online platform for a new degree program the school launched last month.
Irvine-based Western Digital Corp. said it earned $283 million on revenue of $3.4 billion in its most recent quarter.


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With the same ticket and at no additional cost in their airfare, the traveler will be able to visit 2 destinations for one, by staying in Panama between one and six nights.
The Panamanian Copa Airlines and the Tourism Promotion Fund (Promtur) announced this Thursday the resumption of the Panama Stopover program, which offers travelers in transit through the Tocumen International Airport, the main one in Panama, the incentive of an extended stay in the country at no additional cost to the plane ticket.
With the same ticket and at no additional cost in their airfare, the traveler will be able to visit 2 destinations for one, by staying in Panama between one and six nights taking advantage of their transit through the so-called "Hub of the Americas" located at the Tocumen International Airport, a regional hub for connections, said a Copa Airlines statement.
Fernando Fondevila, director of Promtur Panama highlighted that the reactivation of this marketing and sales alliance with Copa Airlines through the Panama Stopover, is focused "immediately" on the 9 cities in the United States whose travelers transit through Panama to South America.
Through the campaign "Two incredible destinations with much in common", the Panama Stopover is initially aimed at potential tourists from the main US cities interested in traveling to a "select" number of countries in Central and South America, their preferred destinations in Latin America and with a tourist offer similar to that of Panama.
The program can be included in the itinerary from or to any of the destinations in the 28 countries where Copa Airlines operates, the airline explained.
Pedro Heilbron, executive president of Copa Airlines, said that Panama Stopover aims to "boost international tourism and highlight the many tourist attractions and diverse cultural wealth of Panama for the travelers who travel annually through the Tocumen International Airport."
"This strategic alliance is a key piece for the reactivation of the sector and the economic recovery of the country, by boosting the demand of tourists who will initially arrive in transit to our country," said the general administrator of the Tourism Authority of Panama. (ATP), Ivan Eskildsen
Panama's economy, severely hit by the pandemic, collapsed by 17.9% in 2020 and by 8.5% in the first quarter of this year, according to official figures.
Originally launched in late 2019, the show was very well received. The main tourist products that it promotes are the city, culture, nature, beaches and gastronomy, according to official information.


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MORRISVILLE, N.C., May 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pyxus International, Inc. (OTC Pink: PYYX) ("Pyxus International"), a global value-added agricultural company, today announced that its 2021 annual meeting of shareholders will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2021.
About Pyxus International, Inc.
Pyxus International, Inc. is a global agricultural company with more than 145 years' experience delivering value-added products and services to businesses and customers. Driven by a united purpose—to transform people's lives, so that together we can grow a better world—Pyxus International, its subsidiaries and affiliates, are trusted providers of responsibly sourced, independently verified, sustainable and traceable products and ingredients. For more information, visit www.pyxus.com.
SOURCE Pyxus International, Inc.


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Designers in spotlight
FLEDGLING graphic designers kicked off their careers in Kingscliff last night with an exhibition of their work.
The Toy Pixel exhibition featured work from North Coast Institute TAFE students.
Creative industries head teacher Craig Elliott said Toy Pixels showcased the work produced by the 2011 Diploma of Graphic Design graduates.
"The exhibition features a dynamic and engaging selection of work across the spectrum of graphic design media such as publishing, illustration, visual identity, photographic, screen and web design," Mr Elliott said.
Design student Natalie Kiryk of Byron Bay, who hopes to work as a freelance graphic designer, said she enjoyed the process of creating the work.
"We were all given a tarot card and I was given the world," Ms Kiryk said.
"I made the Barcelona collage and I made it into a diorama.
"The costume, which was also on the world, had postage stamps and it's a postcard dress with various postcards from all my overseas travels which I already had at home."


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Our Chip Ohana Favorites
Visit our Store in Kalihi!
We're thrilled to share some heartwarming news with you: the Hawaiian Chip Company has been honored with the top spot in the Local Snack Chip category at this year's Star Advertiser's Hawaii's Best Awards. 🎉🥇
Jimmy Chan, Hawaiian Chip Company's president, was recently featured in HMSA's Spring Issue of Island Scene!
Mahalo to Hawaii Aloha Express Magazine for featuring the Hawaiian Chip Company and founder Jimmy Chan in your September issue!


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Three former distributors for a controversial herbal health pill company have filed a lawsuit against the distributor group in Northbrook that recruited them, alleging that the business is an illegal pyramid scheme.
The three plaintiffs--Gerald and Debra Budner of Lombard and Marie Ackerman of Arlington Heights--are now among more than 20 former distributors for Wellness International Network who have sued the company in recent years.
The Budners and Ackerman said that together they lost about $75,000 after members of Northbrook-based Wellness Opportunities Group persuaded them to become independent distributors for Wellness International Network.
The company, based in Texas, is a multilevel marketing company that uses a network of independent distributors to sell its herbal health and weight-loss products. Distributors can earn money by selling products to retail customers or by selling to new distributors they recruit.
The company is known for attracting doctors and other upscale distributors willing to buy tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of inventory. Even some people whom the company labeled "top producers" have said that they lost money.
In the suit filed last week in federal court in Chicago, the plaintiffs accused the company of relying almost entirely on money from new recruits--often a key indicator of a pyramid scheme.
"The amount of Wellness products sold at retail to actual consumers is minuscule, especially when compared to the huge amount of money that has changed hands through the [recruiting] transactions," the lawsuit said.
Pyramid schemes are illegal under state and federal law because they are mathematically destined to fail, with a few early participants making money and the vast majority of later recruits losing.
A Wellness International Network spokeswoman said Friday that the company had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment. In an interview last year, company officials said the company is not dependent on new recruits and does make substantial retail sales, though it would not release its sales figures.
Hannah Murnighan, co-founder of Wellness Opportunities Group, said Friday that the distributors in her organization had done nothing improper.
The plaintiffs "weren't misled about the program," Murnighan said. "They were here a lot [at the group's training center]. They were given direction."
The suit alleges that the defendants broke Illinois consumer fraud laws and federal statutes regarding racketeering and securities fraud. The plaintiffs want a federal judge to declare their Wellness International Network contracts invalid and award them damages equal to three times their losses.
The plaintiffs hope to get class-action status for their suit so they could represent hundreds or possibly thousands of distributors recruited by the Northbrook group. But they would need a judge's approval for that.
Wellness International Network was founded in 1992 and has tens of thousands of distributors worldwide, but it has been hounded by lawsuits in recent years.
A dozen distributors sued the company last year in federal court in Chicago, alleging that the business is a pyramid scheme and they had lost $1.5 million. That suit is pending.
Eight distributors from outside Illinois are suing Wellness International Network in federal court in Texas, seeking millions of dollars in damages. In January, a federal judge put that case on hold for three months while the parties attempt to reach a settlement.