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Container shipping service quality is continuing to worsen, with the number of boxes being rolled increasing.
Figures from freight visibility platform project44 shows the percentage of containers missing their scheduled sailings is rising, with some carriers and ports rolling more than half their cargo in April.
Carriers have been watching their rollover rates increase for over a year, and have so far failed to mitigate the situation.
The average rollover rate for April across ports and carriers surveyed by the company was 39%, but there were outliers such as Malaysia’s Port Klang, Rotterdam and Athens showed signs of “endemic congestion”, rolling 64%, 54% and 59% of cargo, respectively.
Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and Ocean Network Express all showed worsening performance in April, posting rollover rates of 51%, 56%, and 53% respectively.
“Other global ports and carriers reported similar numbers showing that abysmal performance now seems to be the industry norm,” project44 said. “With shippers entering their second year of pandemic-induced volatility, these numbers are a sobering reminder that volatility and under capacity are the new normal.
Rates are almost universally trending upwards, and well above the levels posted during April 2020.
(Source: Lloyd’s Loading List)
The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Oakland both reported a record cargo surge in March.
During an April 14 press conference, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka detailed how the L.A. port processed 957,599 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month. It was a 113 percent increase compared to March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic severely limited global trade and the port processed fewer than 450,000 TEUs.
Seroka described the cargo surge as the port’s version of “March Madness” and explained that they were “breaking records” with the increased level of activity. The nearly 1 million TEUs, which would be large during the peak season in September or October, is unprecedented during this time of year. “We’ve never seen volume like this in the first half of a calendar year,” Seroka said.
It was the strongest March in the port’s 114-year history, outpacing the previous record of March 2015 by 21%. It was the port’s busiest first quarter, third busiest month and the largest monthly year-over-year increase ever.
“As more Americans get vaccinated, businesses reopen and the economy strengthens, consumers continue to purchase goods at a dizzying pace. I applaud our longshore labor force, truckers, terminal operators and supply-chain partners, who are working day and night to process the additional cargo,” Seroka said. “Collectively, we have been able to significantly reduce the amount of container vessels awaiting offshore. I’m also proud of the steady progress being made to vaccinate waterfront workers at the port’s on-site locations and elsewhere.”
Similarly, the Port of Oakland reported single-month record import and export numbers during March. The port received the equivalent of 97,538 TEUs and shipped out the equivalent of 94,169 TEUs last month. In the port’s 94-year history, neither number had ever been achieved.
“Ships are full, ocean freight rates are sky high and the need for empty containers to ship more cargo is never-ending,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes said. “We just don’t see conditions easing in the next several months.”
Similar to the experience at the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Oakland had a decrease in imports and exports last March at the beginning of the pandemic. But this year’s March imports saw a 45% increase and exports increased 12% year-over-year.
The port also said its volume is up nearly 9% through the first three months of 2021.
And growth is not expected to slow down, according to Marilyn Sandifur, port spokesperson for the Port of Oakland. Sandifur said the port and other industry leaders are expecting large cargo volumes to continue at least throughout the summer.
A couple of key factors for the port’s continued strong performance is that ocean freight rates remain high while vessel space is tight, the U.S. economy continues to bounce back due to consumers’ engagement in retail therapy, and the peak-season trade is expected to begin in August. The port is expected to benefit from these and other factors including major e-commerce retailers, which have established distribution hubs close to the port and an increase in labor to help meet demand and the backlog of containerships.
Both the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Oakland are expecting continued growth in the coming months.
(Source: Apparel News)
Shippers from Asia to Europe saw a further spike in container spot rates this week, particularly for Mediterranean ports, while ocean carriers are said to be preparing big increases in short-term rates as cargo-rolling becomes the norm.
On the transpacific, carriers are sold out for the rest of May and into June.
The North Europe component of the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) increased by 5% this week, to $8,127 per 40ft, which represents a remarkable 475% increase on the same week of last year.
For the Mediterranean, the FBX spot jumped 10%, to $8,868 per 40ft, as shippers from Asia scrambled for space to meet urgent inventory replenishing for the summer holiday season. Short-term rates have spiked by a ‘less spectacular’ 345% compared with 12 months ago.
The Ningbo Containerized Freight Index commentary reported “considerable cargo” for Europe was rolled this week, as demand for space “remained very high”.
This week has seen FAK carrier rates to North Europe of up to $14,000 per 40ft, with one Shenzhen-based forwarder offering a “very good rate”, with guaranteed space, of $12,000 per 40ft from Chinese main ports to Felixstowe or London Gateway for a late May shipment.
For the transpacific tradelane, this week’s FBX recorded a 3.5% increase for Asia to the US west coast, to $5,015 per 40ft, and a 5.5% uplift to spot rates for the east coast, to $6,584 per 40ft.
Meanwhile, on the normally robust transatlantic route, shippers from North Europe are still struggling to secure space and being obliged to pay much higher rates with a raft of surcharges and premium fees to secure shipment.
The FBX component for North Europe to the US east coast was up 4% this week, to $3,558 per 40ft – nearly double the rate of a year ago. And CMA CGM has hiked its Sea Priority Go premium charge on the transatlantic to $2,000 per 40ft.
With the spot market indices only representing average rates in the marketplace, shippers are often frustrated that they cannot book space at index rates.
(Source: The Load Star)
Upholstered furniture from China and Vietnam sold in Canada now is subject to country-wide duties of 295.5% and 101.5%, respectively, after a preliminary determination of dumping by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.
CITT found “reasonable indication” that dumping and subsidizing of upholstered seating made in China and Vietnam has or is threatening to damage Canada’s domestic furniture manufacturing industry. The CITT will continue its inquiry and expects to issue its ultimate finding by September 2.
A letter from the Canada Border Services Agency notified importers that provisional duties will be collected on subject merchandise as of Wednesday, May 5.
Twenty-eight Chinese manufacturers were assigned separate rates ranging from 20.65% to 226.45%, while seven manufacturers in Vietnam received separate duty rates ranging from 17.44% to 89.77%. A list of those companies can be found here.
Under Canada’s Special Import Measures Act, importers are required to declare their company’s liability, if any, for provisional duties and taxes on any subject goods imported into Canada, and it is their responsibility to inform their customs broker if they are importing goods subject to provisional duties and to ensure proper declaration of subject goods and proper payment of duties. Importers can go here for a self-assessment.
CBSA launched the investigation in December based upon a complaint filed by Palliser Furniture and supported by fellow Canandian manufacturers Elran Furniture Ltd., Jaymar Furniture Corp., EQ3 Ltd. and Fornirama Inc. The move looks to limit the penetration of motion upholstery and leather stationary furniture from China and Vietnam into Canada. According to CBSA, the Canadian market for such merchandise has been estimated at $675 million annually.
(Source: Furniture Today)
The world does not have enough containers in the right places to handle cargo demand.
The New York Times recently reported how the box shortfall is contributing to inflation: “Demand … has outstripped the availability of containers,” while the U.S. pandemic situation has eased to the point where retailers can pass along higher transport costs to consumers without being accused of price gouging — and “the cost of just about everything is rising.”
Many months after the container shortage first emerged, how bad does the problem remain?
Equipment leasing companies are in a good position to answer that. These companies order containers from the very small number of Chinese manufacturers that build them and lease the boxes to shipping lines, which also order from factories directly.
Generally speaking, the more profitable the market conditions for container lessors, the tighter box capacity is and the more cargo shippers must pay liners for transport. The bad news for U.S. importers and exporters: Equipment lessors see smooth sailing ahead, likely into 2022.
“There’s no indication from the shipping companies that they expect to see any easing of the tightness of supply that they’re dealing with,” said Tim Page, interim CEO of CAI International, on the call with analysts. “So … the horizon looks pretty good for us, at minimum through the end of this year, and likely well beyond that.”
The price of containers is an indication of ongoing scarcity. The price for a new container is now $3,500 per cost equivalent unit (CEU, a measure of the value of a container as a multiple of a 20-foot dry cargo unit) versus $1,800 per CEU in early 2020 and $2,500 per CEU in late 2020. The cost has remained roughly steady at $3,500 per CEU for the past three months.
Chinese factories are not expanding production capacity, with no indication from manufacturers that they’re going to increase container production. In other words, Chinese factories are keeping production in check to keep their newbuild prices high. This negates the hope on the cargo-shipper side that the market might be flooded with excess new containers, thereby bringing freight rates down.
On Friday, Senate passed Bill C-29, forcing striking workers back on the job. The process established by the legislation will lead to establishing a new collective agreement between the parties, with no possibility of work stoppages.
The Port of Montreal says resuming full operations will take several days — and clients waiting to import or export goods should expect delays. Industry experts are predicting that it could take until June for blacklogs to clear from the port.
A representative of the CUPE local union that represents the dockworkers calls the back-to-work legislation an attack on the workers’ constitutional right to strike and said that the union would take legal action and file complaints with the International Labour Organization.
Approximately $275 million worth of goods moves through the Port of Montreal each day.
Carson is watching the situation closely and will share any updates as soon as they come in.
For any questions, please reach out to firstname.lastname@example.org.
In 2020, shipping executives predicted the container-shipping capacity squeeze would last until Chinese New Year in February 2021. When that didn’t happen, they said mid-2021. The bar is now moving further out — to the fourth quarter or beyond.
Matson CEO, Matt Cox, shared his outlook with analysts, saying —
“In my nearly 40 years in the business, I have not seen an environment like this, with international trade lanes operating at capacity and widespread supply-chain congestion leading to pressure at U.S. ports, terminals, rail yards and warehouses.”
The “stronger for longer” container-shipping thesis got an even bigger boost from Maersk, as they pre-announced Q1 2021 earnings estimates and sharply upgraded its full-year EBITDA guidance by 36% and doubled its full-year free cash flow guidance to $7 billion.
“The exceptional market situation is now expected to continue well into the fourth quarter,” said Maersk, which raised expectations for 2021 global demand growth to 5%-7% from 3%-5% previously, primarily due to “export volumes out of China to the U.S.”
(Source: American Shipper)
The federal government will intervene in the ongoing labour dispute at the Port of Montreal.
Labour Minister Filomena Tassi announced on Twitter on Sunday afternoon that the government has issued a notice to introduce legislation entitled ‘An Act to Provide for the Resumption and Continuation of Operations at the Port of Montreal.’
Tassi called the legislation the government’s “least favoured option,” and that Ottawa believes in collective bargaining.
“The Port of Montreal is critical to the economic well-being of Canadians across the country, particularly those in Quebec and Eastern Canada,” Tassi continued on Twitter.
On Friday, the longshoremen’s union announced plans for more than 1,000 workers to go on unlimited general strike starting today, though they promised to maintain essential services and COVID-related shipments.
The union has been on an overtime and weekend strike since earlier this month. According to the Montreal Port Authority, the weekend strike resulted in “close to 10,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) grounded, a backlog and delays in rail convoys, and shipping lines with vessels en route to Montreal obliged to rework their logistics.”
The workers have been without a work contract since December 2018. A strike took place last summer, but a truce was worked out that lasted for seven months.
In a statement, the Montreal Port Authority said it was aware of the plan to introduce federal legislation.
“After several strike episodes in 2020 and 2021, which have had and continue to have serious economic and logistical impact, it is mission-critical that the Port of Montreal be able to fully and sustainably play its strategic role as an economic engine at the service of the local population and SMEs without interruption,” said Martin Imbleau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Port Authority.
In the best case scenario, the expectation is if the legislation is approved, that the Port would re-open April 30th or May 1st.
(Source: CTV News Montreal)
We have received notice from the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), that the Longshoremen’s union at the Port of Montreal has given 72 hour notice to the Maritime Employers Association that as of April 26 at 7:00 a.m. the union will be in a legal strike position.
All work performed by the union members at the port will cease, except for Oceanex services protected as essential.
We are remaining informed of the situation and will share updates with clients as they come in.
For any questions, please reach out to email@example.com.
CARM is a Canada Border Services Agency multi-year project to simplify and modernize their accounting and data management systems to provide the commercial trade community with a streamlined method of interaction with the CBSA. This new CBSA initiative will affect all importers.
Join us on May 13 for our CARM info session where we will ensure you have everything you need to know as we move through the implementation process together:
Dave Pentland, Carson International
Lisa Hennessy, Vice President, Avalon Risk Management
Getting Ready for CARM
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST


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"Federal officials are launching efforts today in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to enlist farmers in targeted watersheds in a concerted effort to curb pollution running off their land."
"Organic food from China, like tea and frozen broccoli, has increasingly found its way onto American store shelves, typically emblazoned with the green 'U.S.D.A. organic' seal also found on food grown in this country. ... Now serious questions about certification in China have been raised by the United States Agriculture Department."
"The EPA, declaring that endosulfan is unsafe for farm workers, moves to ban one of the last organochlorine pesticides left in the United States. Like DDT, endosulfan accumulates in the environment and in the bodies of people and wildlife, and is transported around the world to remote places."
An armada of crop-dusters is poised to attack billions of hungry high plains and Rocky Mountain grasshoppers in what is seen as the biggest plague in a generation.
Amish farmers in Pennsylvania, whose plain living goes with a faith-based stewardship of the environment, are facing growing scrutiny for some practices the government says pollute streams.
"The Agriculture Department will approve for broad use [Tuesday] a genetically modified soybean engineered to contain healthier oils, the opening salvo in a biotech oil fight between DuPont Co. and its rival, Monsanto Co."
"If you're eating non-organic celery today, you may be ingesting 67 pesticides with it, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group."
"In a legal settlement that could affect the entire U.S. meat industry, the Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to identify and investigate thousands of factory farms that have been avoiding government regulation for water pollution with animal waste."
A new viral disease that destroys cassava crops is spreading explosively in East Africa. Cassava, the world's third largest source of calories, is eaten by some 800 million people in Africa, South America, and Asia.
Recent outbreaks of foodborned diseases like E. coli have pressured USDA to tighten food safety rules. The sources of outbreaks are often large industrial operation -- but small farmers who can't afford to comply may be forced out of business.

domain: news


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It appears that the ultraportable camcorder market just got a bit smaller, as Cisco announced today that it was eliminating the Flip Video camera franchise as part of a larger restructuring effort. The press release that Cisco issued stated that Flip would be closed and "current FlipShare customers and partners" would be supported with a transition plan, although details about this plan were not immediately available. This is just part of a refocusing into core business priorities, which include networking, video and network architectures, which is much more business enterprise focused.
According to John Chambers, Cisco chairman and CEO, "We are making key, targeted moves as we align operations in support of our network-centric platform strategy. As we move forward, our consumer efforts will focus on how we help our enterprise and service provider customers optimize and expand their offerings for consumers, and help ensure the network's ability to deliver on those offerings."
Along with ceasing all production of Flip Video products, the move will eliminate 550 jobs in the refocusing efforts. Many analysts point to the rise in smartphones that can record video in 720p as one of the key factors affecting the elimination of the Flip Video brand.


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Press Release – Asthma and Respiratory Devices NZ
Asthma & Respiratory Devices NZ, the exclusive local distributor of nSpire Health’s range of asthma devices, has reported a dramatic increase in half-year sales and profit compared with last year.Asthma Device Firm Doubles Half-Year Turnover
Asthma & Respiratory Devices NZ, the exclusive local distributor of nSpire Health’s range of asthma devices, has reported a dramatic increase in half-year sales and profit compared with last year.
Sales more than doubled compared to the same period last year, a result director Murray Webb attributes partly to a broadened distribution network. “We used to sell exclusively through 250 or so pharmacies in the upper North Island, but have picked up another 100 pharmacies further down the country. What we didn’t anticipate is the pharmacies further south having much higher sell-through rates of our products – areas like Wanganui, New Plymouth, Whakatane and parts of Wellington have quite severe asthma issues amongst their populations”.
Asthma & Respiratory Devices NZ has also established partnerships with Allergy NZ and Asthma New Zealand. “For them, our anti-static mini spacer was the attraction,” Webb continues. “It is less than half the size of asthma spacers patients get from their doctors – this means sufferers can easily carry the device in a purse, pocket or schoolbag. Portability and convenience is a huge factor”.
The next step for the company is the launching of hand-held electronic asthma monitors into GP clinics. “Most GPs don’t have immediate access to anything more sophisticated than mechancial peak flow meters, which is 50 year old technology. For less than the cost of a cheap cellphone, we can change that.”


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BUSINESS REPORT (Cape Times) Page 19
NEF hands council R3bn grant IN A BID to address late payments for black entrepreneurs, with “complaints almost on a daily basis”, the Black Business Council (BBC) is establishing a hotline to monitor the payments with part of a R3 million grant from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF). The BBC's chief executive, Xolani Qubeka, said yesterday that though the complaints could not be quantified into amounts in late payments, the BBC “will be collecting surveys which will be published as data at the end of each year”. He said the business chamber had undertaken roadshows to eight provinces last year and late payments had topped the list of complaints. Last month President Jacob Zuma told a gala dinner of the Black Management Forum that the government was mulling drastic measures to push departments to pay small and medium-sized service providers on time, or at most a month late, to minimise the risk of these businesses failing because of lack of cash flow.


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Digitalization of the global economy has increased reliance on assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs. However, though cryptocurrency has become popular in the last decade, there are reservations regarding its impact on the global economy.
Thanks to the advancement of fintech, digital assets have shaped how the global economy functions. Unlike traditional financial assets, digital assets have higher liquidity (ease of transferability into cash). Higher liquidity means the asset is more accessible, yields greater utility and value, and is thus credible for investment. While some are discovering cryptocurrencies, others have explored new assets like decentralized applications (dapps) and DeFi. Though still in the budding phase, digital assets hold immense importance for the global economy, and this article will explore that.
1. Transformation of the financial marketplace
One of the significant benefits of digital assets is in the financial marketplace for settling and clearing transactions. Previously, where a firm exchanged financial securities for cash is now trading digital assets for clearing transactions. Where business transactions involved fiat currency decades ago now include transactions based on stablecoins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), digital currencies, and digital tokens. Since these assets are created and stored on a decentralized network, they are more secure. Companies like Widen help manage digital assets efficiently as this digital asset management resource makes sure that your assets are safe and you have control over data flows.
2. Greater utility
As mentioned earlier, users can derive greater utility with digital assets. For instance, cryptocurrencies can be included in investment portfolios. Previously for investment, now the blockchain world incorporates smart contract platforms for trading, borrowing, and lending. It is convenient for users to purchase cryptocurrencies or use them in gaming applications. Apart from that, the government and real estate sectors have also adopted digital assets.
3. Financial Inclusion
Many still question the credibility of digital assets and are skeptical about their decentralized nature, while others appreciate them for their financial inclusivity. However, greater financial inclusion implies the inclusivity linked with affordable and valuable financial services and products that facilitate payments, credit creation, transactions, and savings in a sustainable manner.
The Harvard Business Review cited an example of how digital assets foster financial inclusivity. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American government launched financial bailout packages for the economy. However, since more than 6% of the American population doesn’t own a bank account, they couldn’t receive a penny of those financial packages. This sparked discussions amongst the officials to formally launch digital currency to foster financial inclusion and enable better payments during an economic crisis.
4. Energy-efficient usage
In 2021, when Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, stated that customers could no longer purchase Tesla through Bitcoin, debates regarding energy efficiency and digital assets sparked. Musk’s statement was regarding the impact of blockchain technology, specifically cryptocurrency mining, on the environment as it used fossil fuels. While digital assets are commended at one end for their ease of access and high liquidity features, on the other end, they are held against “green energy policies.” While it isn’t false that Bitcoin has a carbon-intensive approach with complications for the environment, the current financial system and gold mining cause more significant environmental damage. If digital assets replace the current financial system, the overall environmental impact would be relatively less.
5. State Regulations
Up until 2021, China was the hub of crypto mining. However, the blockchain industry suffered enormously due to the country’s ban on cryptocurrency mining. Mining takes place on large computer networks that work with cryptographs. Solving the cryptographs validates transactions made with cryptocurrency. The mining industry requires huge capital, power, infrastructure, and land to set up warehouses for mining. Following the ban, miners in China moved to other countries where rules are relatively lax, like the USA. After the USA, the most mining occurs in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Canada, followed by others. The power rationing system in Kazakhstan has also driven out miners while incurring a loss of 1.5 billion USD to the economy as crypto mining brought in large sums of revenue.
6. Facilitate cross-border payments
In 2021, El Salvador opened its arms to Bitcoin as a legal currency. While Nigeria, the Bahamas, and Cambodia have introduced central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Like fiat currency, digital assets like crypto hold immense importance for economic trade across nations and commerce. One of the main benefits is how digital assets facilitate cross-border payments. Cross-border payments often require human interaction and a processing duration of one to five days to counter money laundering and suspicion of terrorist activities. If digital currencies facilitated the same transactions, the process would take seconds, perhaps minutes, but not days. Because of the decentralized nature of crypto, sender and receiver verification is far more convenient and accessible.
7. An alternative credit for trade financing
Most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) around the globe don’t have a registered business bank account, accounting for a 1.7 trillion USD trade financing deficit. In that regard, digital currencies could be beneficial for facilitating credit transactions.
8. De-risking in the financial sector
When financial institutions terminate business contracts with specific clients to avoid risk rather than face it, it’s called de-risking. Unfortunately, de-risking is prone to create issues for nations with high counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering risks seeking participation in global trade. Although digital currencies don’t reduce counter-terror financing or help with anti-money laundering, they provide a safer route for traders and buyers in different countries to interact and conduct transactions.
Despite the positive impacts of digital assets like cryptocurrency, NFTs, and DeFi, among others, there are certain reservations about their safety and implication for the global economy. While it increases financial inclusion and provides greater credit creation opportunities, there is also the case of countries with high political and economic instability. For such countries, there are even more challenges with adopting a digital currency as their trading activities are already limited. Nonetheless, the world is moving forward, and digitalization is taking place at a rapid pace. Therefore, policy-makers and technical experts must collaborate to come up with better usage of digital assets.
Read Also: How To Teach People About Cryptocurrency?


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Local supermarkets have been forced to place purchase limits on items and introduce measures to support the shopping needs of the elderly and people with a disability as communities continue to feel the pain of panic buying due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maryborough’s Aldi, Woolworths and Coles supermarkets have all had their shelves stripped of essential items in the past week as residents began stockpiling products.
Woolworths and Coles this week introduced a dedicated shopping hour from 7 to 8 am on weekdays at all stores to improve access to essential groceries for the elderly and those with a disability.
Access to the stores during that period will require a relevant government issued concession card such as a pensioner concession card or health care card.
Woolworths also announced that as of Wednesday, it would be closing stores early at 8 pm until further notice on weekdays to allow teams to re-stock shelves and prepare for trade.
Trading hours at Aldi have also been altered to 9.30 am to 7 pm.
All three supermarkets have also introduced strict purchase restrictions on a long list of products to ensure all customers have the opportunity to get the items they need.
As of Thursday morning, Woolworths introduced a two pack per customer limit on nearly every product category.
The supermarket also has a one pack per person limit on paper towels, serviettes, antibacterial and baby wipes, toilet paper and bulk rice (bags two kilograms and above).
There are, however, no limits currently on a selection of items including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat (excluding mince), deli items, bakery, baby food, drinks, yoghurts and wet cat and dog food.
In Coles, only one pack of toilet paper is allowed per person, while there is a two pack per person limit on pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues, hand
sanitisers, mince meat, eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables, frozen desserts, sugar, UHT long-life milk, canned tomatoes, liquid soap, chilled white milk.
The latest list of restricted products at Aldi, released on Tuesday, was a one pack per person limit on toilet paper and a two pack per person limit on dry pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, tissues and hand sanitiser.
For more on this story see Page 3 of The Advertiser, Friday, March 20


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What you need to know
- A new report says the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most popular iPhone in 49 out of 50 US states.
- That's according to sales tracking and data from internet speed test firm Ookla.
A new report says the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most popular 5G phone in all but one US state.
As reported by PCMag:
The report comes from M Science's sales tracking, reportedly using cumulative sales figures up until January 23. Ookla is able to leverage information from its Speedtest apps for data in January. According to both, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most popular 5G phone in the US, in Vermont, one says the iPhone 12 is more popular, the other the iPhone 12 Pro.
As you might expect, the least popular iPhone is the iPhone 12 mini. Apple's iPhones are "immediately followed" by the Samsung Galaxy S20 and the Note 20. Of the 33 5G phones tracked by M Science, the top 14 are made by Apple and Samsung.
The news follows reports Apple sold nearly 6 million iPhone units in China last month.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.
Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9


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Consumers hit with 'stealth inflation' as groceries shrink but prices stay the same
Groceries are shrinking while the cost stays the same – meaning shoppers face hidden price rises, a report has found.
Consumer watchdog Which? says there are now two fewer nappies in a pack of Pampers Baby Dry Maxi.
Jars of Loyd Grossman Balti Curry Sauce have shrunk from 425g to 350g and tubs of Dairylea Cheese Spread are now 40g lighter.
Loyd GrossmanTikka Misala Curry Sauce, similar to the Balti Sauce that has shrunk. Right. A slice of Dairylea cheese spread which has also shrunk in size
But the prices of products are the same – or higher – than they were.
Which? claims companies fear sales will slump if they hit cash-strapped consumers with price hikes, so they give less for the same money instead.
A Which? spokesman said: ‘If the carrier bags full of your weekly shopping feel lighter, but the total on the receipt seems as high as ever, it’s not your imagination.’
When Which? asked the manufacturers why their goods were shrinking, most said it was to keep prices down in the face of rising costs.
But Heinz said its larger cans of Farmers’ Market soup were inconvenient for lunch and that it had added more vegetables as well as reducing the size of the tin.
Meanwhile Nestle said the size of a box of Cheerios Crunchers had changed because a change in the cereal’s formulation meant they didn’t fit into the original packaging properly.
The Which? spokesman added: ‘Manufacturers often told us that supermarkets dictate the final price. But when we asked manufacturers whether they had dropped the recommended retail or wholesale price, those that answered said they hadn’t.
‘We think shrinking products can be an underhand way of raising prices. We want unit pricing (the price by weight or volume) to be consistent and clear so that it’s easy to compare prices and tell if you’re getting less for your money.’
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HOUSTON—Stocks are down, savings accounts are paying piddling interest and houses are losing value.
In times like these, where can you make money?
Many Houstonians have turned to an unlikely source: coin collecting.
“You know, I think people are looking for different places to put their money besides the bank,” John Duncan of U.S. Coins & Jewelry said.
Coin expert Garth Clark examines thousands of coins every year. Every so often, he finds an old dime worth $700.
“The best way to tell is just by the ‘ting,’” Clark said. “It’s like a treasure hunt.”
John Heckler of Pearland decided to cash in his old coins he’s been collecting for years.
He got $659.41 for his collection.
But when it comes to buying and selling coins, all that glitters may not always be a good deal. In fact, one Houston attorney said sometimes, it can be downright fraudulent.
Jason Gibson said that’s partly because the price of gold and platinum has gone through the roof.
Gold is worth triple what it was a decade ago.
But with other investments, like stocks, doing so badly, telemarketers are peddling gold coins as a great alternative.
The Texas Attorney General said those high-pressure salespeople are targeting senior citizens.
“The problem is not that these coins are fake,” Gibson said. “The problem comes at the price these coins are being sold.”
Some buyers brought the coins they bought over the phone to Houston’s Royal Coin.
“We could have sold them – that same identical item – for 30 to 50 percent less,” Royal Coin’s Sonny Toupard said.
Coin dealers are virtually unregulated.
The good ones advise collectors to check with the Better Business Bureau, then get prices from multiple dealers before buying or selling coins.
And if you get a call from a coin telemarketer, hang up.
In tough times, selling old coins can be a new source of income, but buying them as investments should be calculated with caution.


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Jimmy Neutron’s rocket ship has landed at Burger King restaurants nationwide, creating an atomic buzz for Burger King Big Kids this back-to-school season. For four weeks beginning September 2, 2002, five gravity defying, inter-connectable toys, inspired by the Jimmy Neutron animated television series, will be available in Big Kids Meals at participating Burger Kingres taurants nationwide, while supplies last.
“Jimmy Neutron has reached kid-world superstar status by inspiring kids with his creative inventions,” said Rick Dow, senior vice president, marketing programs and sales, Burger King Corporation.
There are five super stellar collect-and-connect toys —one per Big Kids Meal —including Jimmy Neutron’s Rocket, Libby and Sheen’s Sonic Spinner, Carl’s Swamp Buggy, Gotta Dash Goddard, and Hot Rod Cindy.
“The excitement for the Jimmy Neutron series is incredible and the promotion with Burger Kingis a perfect way for Jimmy’s biggest fans to extend the fun at home,” said Pam Kaufman, senior vice president, marketing, Nickelodeon. “The new TV series already ranks among TV’s top cartoon favorites —even before its first broadcast.”


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Green tea is often touted as being good for the heart, and several dietary supplement manufacturers sell products that contain the herbal ingredient. But the experts at Consumer Reports are warning consumers that the green tea extract – found in some diet pills – can have higher concentrations that can be dangerous to consumers, leading to serious and possibly fatal liver damage.
Green tea extract contains a type of polyphenols called catechins, which provide antioxidant benefits. But too much catechins can be deadly. Catechins target mitochondria, preventing the body from metabolizing food and turning it into energy. This can lead to jaundice, hepatitis, and liver failure. Researchers say that as many as 10 percent of people who develop liver failure after consuming green tea extract die as a result.
People who purchase dietary supplements that contain green tea extract for weight loss or fat burning may be disappointed to learn that studies have found that high doses of green tea likely do not have any impact on weight.
Consumers who purchase supplements for weight loss should be aware that the products often contain dangerous or undeclared ingredients that can cause serious health risks. Consumer Reports also advises consumers to avoid dietary supplements containing kava, caffeine powder and red yeast rice.


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Zebronics introduced the new Zeb Pods-1 earbuds on May 17 with dynamic 13mm drivers. The true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones come with support for Google Assistant and Siri. The newly launched earbuds feature Bluetooth v5.2 connectivity and a low latency of just 60ms for gaming. They are said to be the first Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) earbuds from the company. They also feature ENC calling with noise cancellation during calls. The earbuds are likely to compete with boAt Airdopes 111 TWS earphones, Boult Audio Z40 True Wireless, and others.
Zebronics Zeb Pods-1 price in India
The new Zeb Pods-1 from Zebronics sale are live on Amazon India. They are available for purchase at a price of Rs. 1,499. Buyers can also avail of a 5 percent instant discount up to Rs. 250 on select bank cards.
Zebronics Zeb Pods-1 specifications, features
The Zebronics Zeb Pods-1 sport an in-ear design. They feature 13mm drivers and support Bluetooth v5.2 connectivity. The newly launched earbuds also support voice assistants like Google Assistant and Siri. The Zeb Pods-1 are said to be the company’s first Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) earbuds. They are equipped with ANC technology powered by advanced signal processing that cancels all the background noise while on calls.
The Zeb Pods-1 also have ENC calling and a built-in microphone. They come with a low latency of 60ms, to offer lag-free gaming sessions.
The Zeb Pods-1 are equipped with a rechargeable battery that supports a Type-C charging cable. They are claimed to offer up to 28 hours of playback time without ANC and up to 22 hours with ANC enabled. The earbuds feature touch controls to play media and take calls. They are said to be able to pair with devices as soon as the charging case is opened.
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AI Technology Could Put Humanity at Risk, Over 60 Percent of Americans Believe: Poll


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Technology giant IBM is all set to roll out its natural language processing (NLP) software to several Mcdonald’s AI drive-thru chatbots.
This new addition will considerably help in improving the technological capabilities of the drive-thus and, therefore, provide a better experience to the customers.
Apart from McDonald’s AI drive-thru, in 2021, IBM added additional NLP tools to its Watson Discovery enterprise AI service.
Rob Thomas, senior veep of Global Markets at IBM, said, “We can do all the drive-thru ordering without requiring human intervention, every once in a while, something will kick to the human.”
Last year in October, IBM announced its plans to acquire fast-food chain McDonald’s McD Tech Lab to develop new technologies to automate drive-thru lanes. After the acquisition, this new announcement is one of the most significant developments at McD Tech Lab.
According to the plan announced earlier, McD Tech Lab planned to develop Automated Order Taking (AOT) technology that would reduce the human involvement in the order processing division and also speed up order delivery time.
McDonald’s started testing automated order processing at several of its drive-thru outlets in Chicago in June 2021. According to the restaurant, it is witnessing roughly 85 percent order accuracy when employing voice-ordering technology. After the acquisition of McD Labs, it aimed to develop artificial intelligence technologies to revolutionize the fast-food industry.
“In my mind, IBM is the ideal partner for McDonald’s given their expertise in building AI-powered customer care solutions and voice recognition,” said CEO of McDonald’s, Chris Kempczinski, regarding the acquisition.


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“ORACLE Lighting offers an extensive range of LED products that includes Halo Kits, Wheel Rings, DRL Kits and much more. The New Orleans-based husband-and-wife-owned company continues to grow year after year and has received prestigious accolades, such as SEMA’s 2021 Manufacturer of the Year Award. The company’s products showcase bright and vivid colors that stand out among the crowd on high-end show vehicles and street cars alike. Turn 14 Distribution is enthusiastic to partner with ORACLE Lighting and build a partnership beneficial for both companies,” said Mike Malloy, director of purchasing, Turn 14 Distribution.
The majority of ORACLE Lighting’s product line features an average lifetime rating of 50,000 hours of continuous use. ORACLE Lighting also has a presence in motorsport, such as this year’s Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and Formula Drift. The company has also received accolades from numerous organizations for its business practices, including SEMA’s Manufacturer of the Year Award in 2021 for its outstanding contribution to the automotive industry, the company said.


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Newell Brands Inc. (NYSE:NWL) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $42.51 and last traded at $42.53, with a volume of 2,354,474 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $42.99.
A number of brokerages have commented on NWL. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Newell Brands from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $59.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. BidaskClub cut shares of Newell Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. Jefferies Group LLC cut shares of Newell Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $63.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Monday, September 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “top pick” rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Newell Brands in a research report on Tuesday, August 29th. Finally, Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc. reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $50.00 price target on shares of Newell Brands in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $57.36.
Newell Brands (NYSE:NWL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.01. Newell Brands had a return on equity of 11.47% and a net margin of 7.87%. The company had revenue of $4.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.96 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.78 EPS. Newell Brands’s quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 31st were issued a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 29th. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. Newell Brands’s payout ratio is presently 36.95%.
In related news, Director Scott S. Cowen purchased 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $43.60 per share, for a total transaction of $87,200.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 87,883 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,831,698.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Michael B. Polk purchased 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of $43.61 per share, for a total transaction of $218,050.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 609,296 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,571,398.56. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.97% of the company’s stock.
A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NWL. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Newell Brands by 3,249.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 29,974,712 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,413,905,000 after buying an additional 29,079,686 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in Newell Brands by 112.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,850,876 shares of the company’s stock valued at $742,686,000 after buying an additional 7,331,309 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC purchased a new stake in Newell Brands during the 2nd quarter valued at $124,839,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Newell Brands by 28.1% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 7,796,439 shares of the company’s stock valued at $417,953,000 after buying an additional 1,709,917 shares during the period. Finally, Sentry Investments Corp. raised its holdings in Newell Brands by 75.7% during the 1st quarter. Sentry Investments Corp. now owns 3,712,271 shares of the company’s stock valued at $175,108,000 after buying an additional 1,599,100 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.36% of the company’s stock.
Newell Brands Company Profile
Newell Brands Inc is a marketer of consumer and commercial products. The Company’s segments include Writing, Home Solutions, Commercial Products, Baby & Parenting, Branded Consumables, Consumer Solutions, Outdoor Solutions and Process Solutions. Its products are marketed under a portfolio of brands, including Paper Mate, Sharpie, Dymo, Expo, Parker, Elmer’s, Coleman, Jostens, Marmot, Rawlings, Mr.
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Omnitracs has hired Dan Speicher as its chief technology officer, continuing the expansion of its executive team since Vista Equity Partners purchased the business from Qualcomm Inc. in November.
The announcement follows the truck technology provider’s appointment of David Post as its president and chief operating officer last month.
The San Diego-based company also named John Graham as CEO and Jordan Copland as chief financial officer back in November.
In his new role, Speicher will provide product vision and development strategy for all Omnitracs business units, the company said.
“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to leverage my years of information technology and telematics experience to support the company’s ongoing efforts to meet and exceed the expectations of our fleet customers,” Speicher said.


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Reser’s Gets Okay for Orval Kent Takeover
As previously reported on October 4, Chef Solutions filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
“Both companies are working diligently to ensure that Orval Kent customers experience a smooth transition as we integrate their operations,” stated Mark Reser, president and chief executive officer of Reser’s. “We’re confident that the increased breadth and depth of our combined North American product portfolio, product innovation and customer service will benefit all of our customers.”
From the November 17, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.


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The family of Anna Short Harrington, the pancake maven Quaker Oats brought on long ago to give life to “Aunt Jemima,” is suing the company alongside current and former parent companies PepsiCo, Pinnacle Foods, and Hillshire Brands for refusing to pay a “fair share of royalties” from 60-plus years of ready-made mix and merchandise sales. The lawsuit estimates those royalties total $2 billion, or roughly the equivalent of 13 trillion-gazillion silver-dollar pancakes.
Harrington first appeared on the box in 1935; two years later, the suit alleges, Quaker Oats trademarked her likeness without proper compensation, then exploited the family again in 1989 when it allegedly swapped Harrington’s face on the box and in ads — many of them awful, racist, or both — for that of her youngest daughter’s. Quaker Oats counters it never actually employed her, yet the lawsuit claims that Harrington’s death certificate suggests otherwise. The family explains they’ve come to collect now because it wasn’t until last year that they learned of the 1937 trademark. In a statement, Quaker said it had no comment but added that it “does not believe” the lawsuit has merit.
’Aunt Jemima’ heirs file $2 billion lawsuit against Pepsi and Quaker Oats [Chicago Tribune via First We Feast]


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Analysts revealed new details of the future iPhone .
Experts of the Chinese company KGI Securities (a subsidiary of the largest financial companies of China China Development Financial in which the information has a high degree of certainty) predict, will look like the next Apple smartphone, and what will be its price.
Writes Forbesсо a link to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (Ming-Chi Kuo), which Businessinsider appropriated last year the title of “the most accurate Apple analyst in the world”, supposedly the next flagship will be called iPhone 8. As for the iPhone 7S, and 7S Plus, they, according to experts, will appear on the market, but only as a replacement for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in the lower and middle price segment.
They will have liquid crystal displays, screens with a diagonal of 4.7 and 5.5 inches, and it will fundamentally separate them from the iPhone 8, which will have OLED display. Work 7S and 7S Plus will be Apple’s A11 and apparently support wireless charging. Earlier in mass media there was information that the chips A11 will begin producing in early 2017, the company TSMC. It is believed that TDP will allow the iPhone to work 35% longer than previous-generation smartphones.
The price of the gadget
We will remind, in mass media already there were other predictions about the future flagship Apple. Presumably, the phone can be made entirely of glass, the device will have additional biometric properties, like scan your face or the iris of the eye (iris scanning), and will lose the Home button. As for the launch date of the new iPhone, according to Macrumors, it can occur in September 2017.
The expert KGI Securities also noted that the forecast for the supply of OLED-displays for the needs of Apple today looks more stable than previously noted by analysts, but it does not cover all models of smartphones. Ming-Chi Kuo also said the target price iPhone 8 — in his words, “dear phone” will cost around $800 or slightly above. “Meanwhile, Appleдолжна to maintain its presence on the market low price segment, and the new LCD version of the iPhone 7 (iPhone 7S) will take its place in the portfolio of the company,” says Ming-Chi Kuo.
© 2016, z-news.link. All rights reserved.


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4Di Capital, an early-stage technology venture capital fund manager, focusing on young entrepreneurs and tech startups, has invested in startups in Africa.
It helps these businesses with investment, access to business networks and technical infrastructure in exchange for a small equity stake. It has already spent more than $1m on investing and supporting start-ups in Africa.
The venture company now has more than 30 companies in its programme — 20 in Kenya and 10 in South Africa — and hopes to add 10 more in the latter.
The company said the start-ups were from different fields within mobile technology and were selected after a three-month programme to vet more than 300 applicants.
Tags: Venture Capital, Venture Capital Firm, Venture Capital Group, Venture Capital Industry, Venture Capital Investment, Venture Capital Investor, Venture Capital Fund, VC Funding, VC, Early-Stage Technology Venture Capital Fund, African Startup, Startup, Start-Up, Kenya, South Africa.


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DHL wins award for “Best Logistics Service Provider of the Year –Airfreight” for the seventh time at ELSC conclave in Mumbai
Mumbai, December 3, 2014 (STAT):-DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist within Deutsche Post DHL, reached a milestone by winning the ‘Best Logistics Service Provider of the year – Air Freight’ at the recently held Express, Logistics & Supply Chain (ELSC) conclave on September 24, 2014.
This award was won amidst stiff competition from leading logistics companies in India and is recognition of DHL’s seamless efforts in delivering consistent and timely services in the air freight business on an uninterrupted basis.
“We are delighted to be conferred this prestigious award for the seventh time,” said Samar Nath, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Global Forwarding India. “Air freight logistics has become an important factor in supply chain management to keep pace with the changing world market. Our customers have recognized that our range of products and services gives them unparalleled choices in terms of transportation mode, time and cost”, he added.
The 8th edition of ELSC was held at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai with the theme ‘Adapting Supply Chain to Suit a New Paradigm’. The event witnessed more than 175 speakers from across industries who contributed through their experience in the main ELSC event as well as in the parallel industry sessions.The Award was received by Nilanjana Chakrabarti, Manager-Airfreight Commercial Centre and Surendra Singh Panwar, Manager-Airfreight Capacity Management on behalf of DHL Global Forwarding.


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Fish and seafood mislabeling is rampant in Canada, according to a report published earlier this year by Oceana Canada. To address the rising concerns of Canadian consumers, the Canadian government is finally consulting with the seafood industry on traceability from boat to plate. These suggestions are supposed to tackle mislabeling, illegal fishing, sustainability issues and unregulated fishing. Even restaurant owners and chefs have called Congress for action.
- Taylor, P. (August 22, 2021). “After fraud report, Canada looks at seafood traceability”. Securing Industry.


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The Japanese government plans to introduce new regulations in the 2030 fiscal year (FY2030) requiring automakers to improve average fuel efficiency by over 30% from FY2016 levels.
According to local reports, the new regulations are designed to increase the proportion of low- and zero-emission vehicle sales in the country, including all electric, plug-in hybrid and ultimately hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, to between 20% and 30% of total vehicle sales by that year.
Government data shows electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for just 1% of total vehicle sales in 2017.
The new regulations were announced jointly by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Monday at a transportation industry advisory council meeting.
They will set the average petrol fuel efficiency target at 25.4 km/litre in FY2030 – an improvement of some 32% compared with 19.2 km/litre in FY2016.
The ministries plan to revise the relevant legislation in the current fiscal year.


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Nvidia Corp. could lose as much as $400 million in quarterly sales after the U.S. imposed new licensing requirements on shipments of some of its most advanced chips to China, the chip maker said Wednesday.
Nvidia, the U.S.’s largest chip maker by market value, said in a regulatory filing that it was notified on Friday that it would be required to get a license from the U.S. government before shipping certain cutting-edge chips to China and Russia.
The company doesn’t sell chips to Russia, it said, but the restriction on China could affect its outlook of about $5.9 billion of sales in the current quarter. The company was in talks with Chinese customers to fulfill planned purchases with other products and may seek licenses from the government if the replacements weren’t sufficient, it said.
The U.S. imposed the requirement to address the risk that those products could get into the hands of military users in China and Russia, Nvidia said in its filing.
The rule isn’t limited to Nvidia and sets a performance threshold on chips that handle advanced artificial-intelligence calculations that are becoming increasingly crucial to businesses, governments and militaries, according to an industry official. Nvidia dominates the market for these kinds of chips.
said it also has been notified of the new licensing demand, which prevented it from shipping an advanced chip aimed at the AI and high-performance computing markets. The company said it doesn’t expect a material impact on its business.
The new licensing requirements come at a difficult time for chip makers. Demand for personal computers, videogames and smartphones, among other gadgets, has slowed with soaring inflation and a worsening economic outlook, pressuring people’s ability to spend.
Nvidia shares fell more than 5% in after-hours trading Wednesday.
In early August, Nvidia posted revenue of $6.7 billion for the quarter ended July 31, some 17% below the $8.1 billion it had forecast in May, amid a 33% drop in gaming revenue to $2.04 billion.
in July reported a surprise quarterly loss and cut its full-year outlook, reflecting a slump in personal-computer purchases and product delays.
The Nvidia chips affected by the licensing rule include its A100, a powerful chip introduced two years ago that is used in big data centers to conduct artificial-intelligence calculations. The company’s so-called H100 chips, a more advanced AI chip announced this year, is also affected, it said.
The U.S. Commerce Department, which handles export restrictions, declined to comment on changes to its policy but said that it was taking action to protect U.S. national security and prevent China from acquiring American technology to advance its military and engage in other activities the U.S. opposes.
The Chinese embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
Restrictions on U.S. dealings with China and Chinese chip makers have become commonplace in recent years as tensions between the countries have escalated. The U.S. also has tried to arrest exports of chip-making equipment to China to thwart the country’s ambition for chip-factory dominance.
U.S. export limits have put a damper on the expansion of key Chinese chip makers including its largest one,
They have also made it more difficult for China to obtain advanced chips from contract manufacturers like
, the world’s largest.
A new $52 billion push under President Biden to increase U.S. chip manufacturing included provisions barring recipients of grants from building advanced factories in China.
Past restrictions on chip sales to China have dented sales by U.S. companies, notably after the U.S. added telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co. to an export blacklist in 2019. But the licensing requirements Nvidia is subject to could have a more significant impact than usual on a single company, potentially altering the competitive landscape.
The Santa Clara, Calif., company said rivals could benefit even if the U.S. grants needed export approvals. “The licensing process will make our sales and support efforts more cumbersome, less certain, and encourage customers in China to pursue alternatives to our products, including semiconductor suppliers based in China, Europe, and Israel,” Nvidia said in a regulatory filing.
Nvidia said the rules prevent the company from shipping any future chip that achieved unspecified performance thresholds similar to the A100’s without first getting a license. The company also would need a license to support or develop products subject to the restriction. Those demands, it said, might affect its ability to complete the H100’s development on time and may require it to move some operations out of China.
Write to Asa Fitch at firstname.lastname@example.org
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


text: Okada business have seen a rise in demand in recent times. Being an affordable alternative to trotro and taxis, the business is said to be quite lucrative according to riders. People on the move find it very affordable, flexible and fast. They are best at navigating bad road networks and can help you beat city traffic when it really matters. Although okadas frequently feature in fatal accidents, its positive qualities have led to the huge and rising demand for its use. Though there have been calls on the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, to kick against their operations, okada business still booms. With the rains rearing its head, Okada riders say, the rains will not stop them from giving their customers the convenience they require and are fully prepared to do business in the rains. “We have what it takes to work during the raining season. We have rain coats and some of the dresses which can protect you from the rain. We also give customers helmet to protect their heads” Mathias an okada rider at Accra revealed. According to some okada riders in Accra the rains will not have any effect on their business and are re-strategizing to boost their business. Meanwhile okada riders are calling on Government and city authorities to regularize their operations. They said the Okada business is their only source of livelihood, notwithstanding helping ease traffic congestion in Accra. “The government should do something about our work. This work is better than staying at home. If we stop and stay at home what will our families feed on? Government should legalize the work for us,” a rider cried for help.


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Irate customers all across the US are complaining about UPS and FedEx failing to deliver orders on time.
The companies are saying that the volume of orders simply exceeded the capacity of their networks.
UPS issued an update on its website saying:
“UPS is experiencing heavy holiday volume and making every effort to get packages to their destination; however, the volume of air packages in our system exceeded the capacity of our network immediately preceding Christmas so some shipments were delayed. UPS is not making pickups or deliveries on Christmas Day and will resume normally scheduled service on December 26.”
For many consumers across the country the late orders caused a “holiday disaster”.
Larry Ledet, a UPS driver in Houston, told USA Today that it has been the worst Christmas ever for the company.
The UPS Facebook page is filled with consumers expressing their dismay, with some blaming UPS for ruining their Christmas.
However, at the same time there are others who understand the mistake, sympathizing with UPS, and wishing them a happy holiday.
Susan Lien posted the following on the UPS wall:
“You guys are doing a great job! Yes, I didn’t receive two packages that were supposed to arrive Christmas Eve, but I didn’t order them until the 21st (my fault), and it’s been snowing most days this week. Our Christmas was definitely NOT ruined by this! We can wait an extra day or two. Thanks for the other 99% of packages that arrived on time throughout the year! Merry Christmas!!”
UPS spokeswoman, Natalie Black, told CNN that the company is terribly sorry for the delivering delays and that they are working “around the clock” to address the problem.
Online websites take action
Websites such as Amazon use UPS to deliver products to customers. As a result, they too have suffered from the late deliveries.
Amazon posted a notification on its site saying the problem is due to a”failure in the UPS transportation network”. The website promises to reimburse shipping fees for consumers and hand out free gift cards.


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Around the world are watching that Amazon's Kindle tablet will be able to create a new phenomenon to the mobile device market or not? Recent news reports claimed that Amazon to be launched Kindle tablet in a press conference of the company to be held in New York on 28 September.
Kindle Tablet works by Android operating system. Sources said that the tablet of Amazon will use Android as well as tablets of other manufacturers. It comes with UI of the company, and has store to download their own applications. More importantly, Amazon does not partnered with Google to develop OS that runs on the tablet, but use the company's development team.
Of course, its price is low. While Apple has set the price iPad at 499 USD, then Amazon Kindle Tablet to make low-cost as possible because earlier WSJ claimed that the price of the Kindle Tablet may be just half of iPad.


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Even with the rise of the Internet of Things and the advancement of automation technologies, 80 percent of global logistics facilities still operate manually, according to Robotics in Logistics, a report by Deutsche Post DHL. But the time for robots in logistics is upon us.
"Robots work in many industries, but haven’t made an impact on logistics yet because of the complexity of the work—handling a wide array of different things in an infinite number of combinations, close to people and in confined spaces," says Matthias Heutger, senior vice president of strategy, marketing, and innovation at DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation. "Recently, however, technology is starting to catch up to meet demands for flexible and low-cost robots that could collaboratively work in logistics."
Even with the prevalence of automation and robotics technologies at use in factories, robots working in the warehouse might still seem like something straight out of a science fiction movie. But a new generation of robots will soon work alongside human laborers at precision tasks, and supplement a shrinking warehouse workforce that’s trying to keep up with the growth of e-commerce.
Robots are in development for a number of logistics-related tasks, according to the DHL report. These include loading and unloading trucks, picking orders, packaging, inventory management, shipping, and last-mile deliveries. Deutsche Post is already testing robots that help workers carry and deliver heavy packages on its postal service delivery routes.
Some in the logistics sector are concerned that robots will make human labor obsolete, but the report specifies that these technologies are being designed to assist and supplement human workers. "Warehouse workers will be given more responsibility and higher-level tasks such as managing operations, coordinating flows, fixing robots, and handling exceptions or difficult orders," the report states.
The annualized turnover rate for large truckload fleets rose two percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2015 to 102 percent, the second straight quarter it was at least 100 percent and the first such streak since 2012, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the largest national trade association for the trucking industry.
"This elevated turnover rate shows that the driver market remains a challenge for truckload fleets," says Bob Costello, ATA’s chief economist. "Obviously, attracting and retaining drivers remains a top concern for the industry."
The turnover rate at small truckload carriers—fleets with less than $30 million in annual revenue—surged 21 points to 89 percent in the final quarter of 2015. Despite this surge, churn at smaller fleets is still six points lower than during the fourth quarter of 2014 and averaged just 79 percent.
"The rising turnover rate, coupled with anecdotal reports from carriers, shows what a premium there is on experienced, safe drivers," Costello says. "And those drivers have, and will continue to benefit from, rising wages and benefits."
The turnover rate at less-than-truckload carriers rose one point to 11 percent in the final quarter, and averaged 11 percent for all of 2015.
Consumer expectations will drive companies to increase investments in warehousing IT and operational functions over the next four years as manufacturing and logistics companies continue to adjust to delivering directly to consumers.
That’s according to the results of Zebra Technologies Corporation’s latest Warehouse Vision Study, which compares input from 1,378 IT and operations warehouse professionals in 12 countries on expectations in 2015 versus 2020.
Among the survey findings:
- More than 40 percent of survey respondents cite shorter delivery times as a key measure requiring warehouse investment. Also indicative of increased consumer demand is the expected 76-percent increase in the number of warehouse locations and volume of items shipped out of warehouses.
- Half of the surveyed IT and operations decision makers planned to move to a more modern, full-featured warehouse management system last year, while 75 percent plan this in 2020 to help manage the additional locations and items shipped.
- 51 percent of those surveyed expected increased investment in real-time location systems that track inventory and assets throughout the warehouse last year, but this number escalates to 76 percent of respondents in 2020.
- Warehousing executives anticipate an increase in inbound items that will be barcoded in the next five years, from 66 percent of survey respondents in 2015 to 82 percent in 2020.
- Respondents cite plans to make investments in the following processes and tools by 2020 (see chart, right): equipping staff with technology (76 percent), barcode scanning (67 percent), tablets (66 percent) and warehouse/truck loading automation (56 percent).
"IT and operations decision makers in warehouses and distribution centers consistently need to identify new ways to improve productivity and reduce costs to remain competitive," says Mark Wheeler, director, warehouse solutions, Zebra Technologies. "Fulfillment is an integral part of the customer value chain and investment in technology and innovation in this area can go far to improve a customer’s experience.
"Nearly half of survey respondents indicate a concern about labor performance in the order, pick, and fulfillment process," he adds. "We see this as an enormous area of opportunity: Providing workers with the tools they need to do their jobs accurately and productively will help companies meet and exceed customer expectations for accuracy and on-time delivery."
An ongoing debate about the risks of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and driver fatigue may finally be put to bed. More than 72,000 crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration. OSA affects 22 million Americans, so it’s reasonable to assume that a percentage of truckers suffer from the disorder as well.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are finally taking a stand and proposing rules to force all truck, bus, and train operators to be tested for the disorder. "It is imperative for everyone’s safety that commercial motor vehicle drivers and train operators be fully focused and immediately responsive at all times," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a public statement.
Eight hours of sleep for individuals with OSA can be less refreshing than four hours of ordinary sleep, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. And truckers with untreated OSA are five times more likely to be involved in serious or fatal crashes, according to a University of Minnesota study.
FMCSA has appealed to the trucking and rail industries to provide comments to inform future decision-making on the issue. "The collection and analysis of sound data on the impact of OSA must be our immediate first step," said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling in a public statement. "We call upon the public to help us better understand the prevalence of OSA among commercial truck and bus drivers, as well as the safety and economic impacts on the truck and bus industries."
The global economy is mostly linear. We dig resources out of the ground, and turn them into products that are sold, used, and dumped in landfills. But there has been a growing business movement toward a circular economy in recent years, according to The Growth of the Circular Economy, a joint study by UPS and GreenBiz.
Nearly nine out of 10, or 86 percent, of sustainability executives surveyed believe that a circular economy will be important to their business two years from now, according to the report. The circular economic model strives to keep resources in play as long as possible through recycling and reuse, and the supply chain will play a key role in making circular economies a reality. A strong effort to make the last mile more sustainable has already been made, but a focus on the "first mile" is important as well, the report says.
"Focusing on ‘first mile’ logistics is crucial to helping businesses implement a cost-effective circular economy," says Ed Rogers, UPS senior director of global sustainability. "UPS partners with customers to implement seamless take-back systems that include turnkey packaging, pickup services, and pre-paid return labels. Taken together, all of these assist in the reverse logistics processes needed for a successful circular economy."
Companies considering the adoption of circular practices will need to change up their business models accordingly. Recovered waste and recycled materials represent only a small fraction of current manufacturing materials in most industries, so supply chain professionals would need to redesign material inputs to include these more sustainable options. This might include redesigning products or exploring innovative methods for reusing materials.
The circular economy isn’t going to take the world by storm next week, or even next year. But as consumers continue to demand that the companies they buy from go green, more logistics and supply chain executives will begin to examine the benefits of such a system.


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By Alex Glenn • 22 August 2021 • 15:37
The Great Taste of Malaga Market exceeds 72,000 visitors Credit: Pixabay
The Great Taste of Malaga Market exceeds 72,000 visitors and provides an essential boost for food producers in the province.
The Great Taste of Malaga Market which is set to close today Sunday, August 22, has seen its summer edition held in the capital of Malaga. It is expected that as it closes over 72,000 visitors will have headed to the event.
The event has been deemed a “success in terms of attendance”, according to Francisco Salado, the president of the Provincial Council.
It is expected that the data on sales and average spend by visitors will be released in the next few days by Tourism and Planning Costa del Sol. However, so far the figures that they have recorded for attendance at the event appear to be similar to that recorded before the coronavirus pandemic began. According to Salado, this, “will presumably be reflected in the volume of sales and, therefore, will be an essential boost for the province’s producers in these times of crisis”.
The event is considered to be “a tourist attraction in the province of Malaga”, and it will be held again this year in December, as is tradition.
According to 20 minutes, at the last edition of the fair “which took place at Christmas 2020 for five days, more than 50,000 people passed through the enclosure to shop, taste the products and participate in the various activities.”
The last fair was severely restricted though due to the coronavirus pandemic and mobility restrictions meant that only locals were able to attend. This December the event could see far more people attend and enjoy everything that Malaga has to offer.
Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to check The Euro Weekly News for all your up-to-date local and international news stories.
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Originally from the UK, Alex is based in Almeria and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news.
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Extortionate hikes in drugs prices make for powerful headlines, as the Competition and Markets Authority’s provisional ruling against the Canadian pharmaceuticals company Concordia for overcharging the National Health Service millions of pounds for a thyroid drug shows. And memories are still fresh of the notorious American financier Martin Shkreli, who jacked up the price of a life-saving anti-parasitic drug called Daraprim by 5,000 per cent after acquiring its marketing rights.
But aren’t such prices the outcome of a sophisticated global market in pharmaceuticals? And don’t all economics textbooks teach us that if governments interfere in a free market, no matter how unfair some of the outcomes might appear, everyone is ultimately made worse off? Shouldn’t politicians and regulators shut up and get out of the way?
Such “free market” arguments are frequently faulty, but perhaps never more so than when it comes to the behaviour of pharmaceuticals firms. The profits of drugs companies flow from their patents, their exclusive rights to sell the drugs they have developed or acquired. But how long should those patents, those monopoly sale privileges, last? For how long should a firm be permitted to profit from a branded drug before the patent expires and other companies are allowed to manufacture cheap generic rival versions?
For ever? Even the most ideologically blinkered free market enthusiasts might see the problem in that. Ten years? Fifteen years? How about two years? And at what price should the company be permitted to sell those drugs while it enjoys the exclusive sales licence? Bear in mind that the marginal costs of production for a drug will generally be negligible and that the research and development costs will vary wildly from product to product.
The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer to these questions. There is no economic theory that tells us what the optimum patent duration or permitted sales price of drugs should be to incentivise private investment.
The length of patents set by states is often between 10 and 20 years. But there’s nothing scientifically determinate about such choices. And countries are within their rights not to grant patents if they feel the social costs outweigh the benefits, as India did when it dismissed the request of the Swiss multinational Novartis to patent the cancer drug Glivec in the country in 2013.
As for drug prices, they are often informally regulated. As the Cambridge University economist Ha Joon-Chang puts it, the profits of pharmaceutical companies are, in a sense, “social creations”.
In the UK there is a voluntary agreement between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry to govern the prices of certain key drugs. We saw this in action last week when the UK health authorities successfully negotiated a lower fee on two breast cancer drugs with their manufacturers, Pfizer and Novartis.
Yet given the critical commercial importance of state regulatory approval for all drugs and the inevitable fact that this process can impede competitive forces there’s also a strong social expectation about how companies should price drugs outside of such agreements, even when the drugs are out of patent. Concordia ignored these expectations when it jacked up the price of out-of-patent liothyronine tablets from 16p a pill in 2007 to £9.22 a pill today. Shkreli ignored the US equivalent when he nakedly gouged US patients on Daraprim by raising the price from $13.50 to $750 a pill.
Pharmaceuticals are a big global business. The estimated value of the international prescription drugs market was $800bn (£200bn) in 2016. Pfizer and Novartis, each have a market capitalisation north of $200bn. The wider sector invested almost $90bn in the research and development of new products last year.
Yet the reality is that pharmaceuticals firms – large and small – are in an informal and delicate economic partnership with the state sector in all the countries in which they operate and sell their medicines. The partnership is based on mutual understandings of acceptable behaviour. When pharma companies (and their financier owners) fail to observe the rules of that partnership, or attempt to deny its existence, they fully deserve the backlash they get.
This article originally appeared in The Independent on 21/11/2017


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Duty-free rip-off operation deprives States of £37k
Wednesday 16th January 2013, 1:00PM GMT.
A BIN bag full of cigarettes, tobacco and gin left in his car proved the undoing of Nicholas Ward’s duty-free rip-off operation.
Colleagues, believing he was acting suspiciously, spotted the sack of goods and called police.
The former Anglo Normandy Aeroengineering employee had responsibility for stocking Aurigny flights with duty-free goods.
He admitted taking more than 200,400 filter cigarettes, 20.5 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, 106.7 litres of spirits and 9.25 litres of wine from a bonded store on 105 separate days.
The 51-year-old was sentenced to the maximum 240 hours of community service after pleading guilty to five counts of depriving the States of Guernsey of nearly £37,000-worth of duty.
He also asked for another count to be taken into consideration under Customs and Excise legislation and has since paid back all the duty lost.
CampaignsVoice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.


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It’s been more than two years since we have heard the first rumor for a BMW 8 Series revival, but until today we didn’t have anything crisp. Two days ago, Automobile Magazine reported the Bavarian manufacturer is working on a sporty coupe and convertible that are developed in order to compete against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and S-Class Cabrio.
The name of this model will be 8 Series. Now, the guys from BMW Blog says these two vehicles from BMW have already received the G14/G15 internal codenames.
If the info in correct, this means that the 8 Series has got the green light. The project is scheduled to be on market in 2019 or 2020 and will be the last model of the BMW to be delivered on the CLAR architecture.
But those new models means someone will have to leave. Unfortunately this will be the 6 Series Coupe which will soon reach the end of production. Also the 6 Series Gran Coupe will be eliminated in order not to cannibalize with the 7 Series.Source: MOtor 1


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- You are here:
- cross bones
Captain America, the summer blockbuster movie based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, has officially had the largest opening weekend of any comic-based flick in 2011. Incidentally, it also knocked the latest Harry Potter flick, which opened one week before, out of first place. But ...
Few motorcycle companies today can truly draw on past styles and trends when releasing new versions of their bikes like Harley-Davidson. Japan, Inc. has a few retro-styled bikes and Triumph has reinvented the British bike, but Harley-Davidson may be the only company in motorcycling that can ...


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Mircrosoft’s quarterly financials positively surprised analysts as the company topped $23.2 billion in revenue. The surprise doesn’t end there though. It took three iterations, but Microsoft seems to have gotten in right with the Surface Pro 3. Surface revenues for fiscal first quarter of 2015 measured $908 million. Microsoft didn’t break out sales figures for the hybrid laptop / tablet. The company is also building revenue from phone hardware, taking in $2.6 billion from quarterly handset sales through what was once Nokia’s hardware business. Microsoft reported $478 million in gross margin from phone hardware as it continues its effort to build market share for Windows Phones.
LAWPRO is the leading provider of professional indemnity insurance and services to thousands of providers in the Ontario legal community. LAWPRO also…Read More
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The business world is in a constant state of change. It’s moving faster than ever with more elaborate legal and compliance requirements…Read More


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Ed Snowden, eat your heart out. The computer security firm White Ops released a detailed investigative report on the largest digital ad fraud operation to date.
Ominously dubbed the Methbot Operation (after the word “meth” that appears in the code), a group of Russian hackers appears to be making $3m to $5m a day by showing real video ads to fake people on fake websites for “real” clicks. Stay with me…Here’s how it went down…
See, to pull this off the meth heads needed to meticulously reverse engineer the ad-quality verification process to pass the fake views and clicks off as legit.
Step one was creating over 6,000 domains with 250k unique URLS that looked, at least on the surface, the same as major publishers like ESPN or Vogue. This, in turn, tricked ad-serving algorithms into sending them the most profitable video ads. After that, it was a matter of building up a data center of 570k bots connected to hundreds of thousands of IP addresses to “watch” the ads, move the mouse a little, and click on the ad. Heck, these bots even had social media login info….So, what’s the damage?
White Ops estimates that the Methbot campaign watched upwards of 300m video ads per day, making an average of $13.04 per “view.” That adds up to about $4m each day of American advertising dollars going directly into the hackers’ cargo shorts. According to a 2016 study White Ops released with the Association of National Advertisers, this type of digital ad fraud cost $7b in 2016. Clearly, it’s a big problem as more and more advertisers turn to the web, but who knows, maybe there’s a small village in Russia that’s really into Coors Light, Mailchimp, or whoever else is advertising a lot these days.


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§ 11. Mr. Anthony Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with the current procedure for grant-aiding the National Consumer Council and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Fraser
I am quite satisfied with the way in which my Department grant-aids the National Consumer Council. The hon. Member may remember that the Consumer Council, set up and disbanded by successive Conservative Governments, was similarly financed by grant-in-aid.
§ Mr. Grant
Can the Minister point to a practical service rendered to the consumer 12 by the National Consumer Council which is not duplicated by one or other of the 14 other consumer bodies which receive £17 million a year in grant aid, to say nothing of the £29 million a year spent by local authorities on the subject?
§ Mr. Fraser
Yes, I can give three examples: reports on the representation of consumers of the nationalised industries; reports on paying for fuel; and a current investigation into repair and maintenance of council houses. But there are many others.
§ Mr. Robert Hughes
Does not the number of bodies required to represent consumer protection show the necessity to defend ordinary citizens against the rapacious private enterprise that tries to con them out of their money at every opportunity?
§ Mr. Fraser
I do not take that view of private enterprise, but the consumer should be able to have a representative body speaking at national level which matches the power and the voice of the CBI, the trade unions and many other national, commercial and working class organisations.
§ Mr. Giles Shaw
In view of that statement, will the Minister say whether he consulted the National Consumer Council on the Spillers closures, and, if not, why not?


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Woohoo! With your help, we collected 25,777 pounds of food!
A COLLASSOL thank you to everyone who participated, including those who donated food, hosted food drives at their businesses and organizations, and to our friends at Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada Fire, Apex Park and Recreation District, Arvada Visitors Center and King Soopers Candelas for hosting collection barrels at their sites. Many thanks to Jean Gordon, Danielle Dascalos, Arvada Chamber of Commerce, City of Arvada and the Arvada Resiliency Task Force for helping spread the word.
It truly was a COMMUNITY food drive. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Please help us collect 25,000 pounds of food by December 25!
Like most food pantries, we rely on donated food to help feed thousands of hungry families every year. Donated food keeps our pantry shelves stocked, and it provides choice and variety for the families we help. Unfortunately, the pandemic has disrupted our grocery rescue program and caused an overall decline in food donations from individuals. Grocery rescue is the practice of collecting fresh edible food from grocery stores and other food outlets that would otherwise go to waste.
“Even though the community has generously supported hungry families with monetary donations throughout the pandemic, our supply chain has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Food donations and grocery rescue are just not keeping pace with the increased need,” explained Community Table CEO Sandy Martin. “The cancelation of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive in 2020 and 2021 has further impacted our ability to provide choice and dignity to families in need. This annual food drive alone brings in more than 80,000 pounds of food a year. And, it provides the variety that makes our food pantry special and a ‘true’ shopping experience for families in need.”
Next time you’re grocery shopping, please pick up a few extra items for those in our community who do not have enough to eat. We need all types of non-perishable food and personal care products. Please drop off your donations at a collection site in Arvada or directly to Community Table. Look for our food drive barrels that look like a giant can of corn at these locations:
25×25 Collection Sites
We’re inviting businesses, churches, service organizations and other groups to participate in the 25×25 challenge by hosting food drives at their locations for employees, customers, and members. To make it even easier to participate, we’ll supply boxes and pick up donations. To schedule, a donation pick-up, CLICK HERE. Need a 25×25 flyer? CLICK HERE.
“We’re excited about the 25 by 25 food drive challenge and are hoping to not only replenish our food inventory but raise awareness about hunger in the metro area,” said Martin. “Community Table is not the only pantry affected by the pandemic. Many other hunger relief agencies have seen their supply chains decline while the number of hungry families continues to increase.”


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Masstown Market smoked fish recalled due to toxin fears
Nova Scotia, Canada-based Masstown Market is recalling some of its Smoked Kippers and Cold Smoked Salmon from shelves out of fears that the products may allow the growth of dangerous bacteria.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the recall on 29 March after it was discovered that two of Masstown Market’s products may permit the growth of Clostirium botulinum, commonly known as foodborne botulism. The recall came as a result of the CFIA’s inspection activities, according to a release.
The two products have been distributed to Nova Scotia. The recalled smoked kippers have code 18.MR.30 and the UPC starts with 0 208172. Possible codes for the cold smoked salmon include 18.MR.27, 18.AL.07 and 18.AL.11, with the UPC beginning with 0 208035.
The CFIA cautions consumers that the contaminated food may not look or smell spoiled in any way, but could still make anyone who consumes it sick.
“Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness,” according to the organization. In severe cases, botulism can cause death.
Any recalled product should either be thrown out or returned to the store where it was purchased.
No illnesses from eating Masstown Market products have been reported to the CFIA. The CFIA cautions anyone who has eaten either the kippers or salmon to call a doctor if they suspect they could be ill from the products.


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KBSA, the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms trade body, will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) and awards dinner on Wednesday, September 25 in Stratford upon Avon.
Its exclusive retailer dinner will be held the day before on Tuesday, September 24.
Richard Hibbert, the KBSA national chairman, said: “The 2019 event will build on the success of last year with a conference programme that will include workshops on key topics for retailers and speakers that will educate and entertain during the afternoon.
“The exclusive retailer dinner on the evening before the conference has become a firm favourite with retailers who appreciate the opportunity to network with other business owners and build relationships.
“Arriving the night before the conference is also popular as it means delegates can be fresh and ready at the venue the next morning.”
Hibbert urged KBSA members to book early to avoid disappointment.
“There will be some enticing early-bird offers coming soon and we are encouraging those that plan to attend to book early as we anticipate it being a sell-out once again,” he said.


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A preview of the upcoming holiday events in Knoxville for the month of December.
The Clarence Brown Theatre is preparing for their seasonal show “A Christmas Carol.” The Costume Shop details the design processes from start to finish that provides actors with their costumes.
Sarah Ali gives a glimpse of this year’s production of “A Christmas Carol” at the Clarence Brown Theatre.
From now until Jan. 8, the Peppermint Trail of Treats is offering holiday treats while encouraging shoppers to shop at local businesses this holiday season.
Clarence Brown Theatre presents a holiday classic for students and families to enjoy yet again.
Every year, many people brave the cold to visit Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights. This year was no exception.