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More bad news for RIM this morning, as the company has been ordered to pay a total of $147 million in a patent dispute with Mformation technologies, over apparent patent infringements relating to RIM’s BlackBerry Enterprise Server software.
RIM has been ordered by a court to pay Mformation $8 for each unit of its BlackBerry Enterprise Server software that it has sold, and RIM has sold a total of 18.4 million units.
This means that RIM now has to pay Mformation a total of $147.2 million and also $8 for any future versions of the software sold, not really the best new for RIM considering all their recent difficulties.
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Apple announced the macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 update for Mac models. Focusing on critical USB error, the update eliminated the problem for USB-C connections on devices. macOS Big Sur 11.2 also met with users in the current month.
The published update stands out for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air users. With the update, some devices marked as “incompatible” become supported. It is stated that this problem is experienced especially in the interface devices that users buy for traditional USB connection.
macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 update reached users
Sharing details about the update, Apple announced that the error occurred in the MacBook Pro produced in 2019 and after, and the MacBook Air models produced in 2020 and after. While it was reported that there was a problem due to the fact that tertiary devices are not supported, it was noted that the devices won support.
In a statement by Apple for the macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 update, “ macOS Big Sur 11.2.2, MacBook Pro (2019 and later) and MacBook Air (2020 and later) when connected to certain tertiary, incompatible, and powered USB-C devices prevents them from being damaged. ” gave his statement.
Apple did not share information about why the error occurred. Therefore, it is not possible for users to find out whether tertiary devices have harmed their Mac models.
To update the Mac, the update must be downloaded by going to System Preferences> Software Update. The update has come to all Mac models, not just the affected devices.
Have you had problems with the tertiary USB-C devices you use on your Mac model?

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Julie Bombacino developed a nutritional food blend for her disabled son that’s now turned into a full-fledged business producing packets for people who need feeding tubes to eat.
After two years of research and fundraising, the Chesterton resident in northern Indiana began delivering in January 2014 her chicken, salmon and vegan varieties under the Real Food Blends name.
The company is taking off. Bombacino, 39, said sales in 2015 are expected to top $1 million.
The growth prompted her husband, Tony, to quit his job and join the company to provide marketing expertise. Otherwise, Bombacino simply relies on a vice president of operations and finance and a customer service representative, in addition to a handful of consultants.
She contracts processing out to a manufacturer on the West Coast that distributes her products by mail. Packets sell in a case of 12 for $49.95—or about $4 a meal—and have been shipped to all 50 states.
Retail outlets don’t stock tube-feeding products simply because there isn’t enough demand in any one geographic region to necessitate shelf space, Bombacino said.
The Bombacinos’ now-4-year-old son A.J. is afflicted with several conditions, including cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and has been fed through a tube since he was 6 months old.
The tube-feeding-food market is dominated by formulas that rely on corn syrup or a derivative for nutrition. Bombacino tried eight varieties before taking matters into her own hands.
“He threw up every single day of his life until he was 1, when I started making his food,” she said. “He was doing really horribly on all of them, and we couldn’t figure out why.”
Bombacino began blending up real food—the way nurses once did before the advent of formulas—like chicken, steak and eggs. A.J.’s health improved dramatically.
But blending food is not for the faint of heart. Bombacino had to be precise on how many calories and proteins A.J. consumed. She cut and prepped the foods that she put through a high-powered blender to pulverize them enough to flow through a feeding tube. Then there’s the danger of contamination or clogging a tube.
“I had to make every single morsel of food that goes into his body,” she said. “I was a stay-at-home mom, so I had time, but every time we left the house it was a bit of a fiasco.”
Bombacino might have been a stay-at-home mother then, but she certainly possessed the skills to start her own business. She earned marketing and journalism degrees from Ohio State University and an MBA in marketing from DePaul University.
Bombacino raised $500,000 from angel investors and incorporated Real Food Blends in 2012. A breakfast blend is set to hit the market in June.•
Check out the rest of IBJ's 2015 Innovation Issue.


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New Delhi (India), March 7: Get ready for a healthcare and pharmaceutical extravaganza, as the eighth edition of Vedshiv Business Media’s Indian Fharma Fair (IFF) 2023 takes centre stage at Golden Blossom Imperial Resorts, Lucknow, from March 17th to 18th.
This event promises to showcase the latest trends and innovations in the Indian healthcare industry, ranging from generic drug manufacturers to Ayurvedic and herbal medicine, cosmetics, technological development, and more.
As one of the country’s major pharma exhibits, the Indian Fharma Fair will bring together hundreds of industry professionals from around the world to discuss their experiences with goods, customers, businesses, and sales.
With attendees from the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, this is one of the largest B2B trade exhibitions in the business.
“This exhibition will focus on expanding the pharmaceutical industry in India, mostly through Third Party Manufacturing, PCD/ Franchise.
This event is being organized on such a large scale for the second time in the state and for the first time in Lucknow, where pharmaceutical business people from all over India are expected to join fair. This will not only help the visitors to explore new developments/products/suppliers but will also help in boosting the economy of the state. “Mr B S Bhandari “, IFF’s General Manager, stated.
Speaking about this mega expo, Mr Shivam Sharma, Business Head, (IFF), said: “The Pharmaceutical Industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in India. To fully exploit this potential, the country needs to diversify its sources of pharmaceutical manufacturing and create a strong value proposition by focusing on perimeters like cost-effectiveness, alternative medicine, clinical outcomes, and patient-centric. Indian Fharma Fair will bring Indian healthcare providers under one roof. It will showcase India’s medical capabilities and create opportunities for healthcare providers in India to boost their services. The last six exhibitions have been a great success, and I look forward to the 2023 event being a great facilitator and enabler of Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing.”
The Indian Fharma Fair 2023 will present the most up-to-date trends and technology in the pharmaceutical, drug, and formulation industries. It will address industry problems, such as rising packaging and freight costs, and strive to find answers to those issues.
Over 7000-8000 corporate visitors are expected to attend this two-day event, offering thousands of buyer-seller interactions and partnership opportunities for healthcare providers and their services. So, don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to experience the best of the Indian healthcare industry!
If you have any objection to this press release content, kindly contact firstname.lastname@example.org to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 24 hours.


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A new system is set to replace the local body tax (LBT), which will be scrapped from August 1. The Maharashtra government claimed around 97.7% of the traders will be exempted from local taxes, while only 50 big manufacturers and companies will ... Hindustan Times, 1 week ago
MUMBAI: The small and medium steel manufacturers today urged the government to withdraw the proposed steel and steel products Quality Control Order. Under the proposed , 2015, government is set to bring several steel products under a mandatory ...Economic Times, 3 weeks ago
MUMBAI/LONDON Steps by India to protect its large steelmakers from a flood of cheap imports could end up closing scores of small, local firms that process the metal, industry analysts and executives said. These processors currently buy imported ...Reuters India, 4 weeks ago India: Government's push to curb steel imports could hit small mills Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide, 3 weeks ago Government's Push to Curb Steel Imports Could Hit Small Mills: Analysts NDTV Profit, 3 weeks ago Push to curb steel imports could hit India’s small mills The Financial Chronicle, 3 weeks ago
MUMBAI: Cement, steel and textile units are relieved by the Mahaashtra government's decision to lower electricity rates which are among the highest in the country. The state announced a 14% reduction in power tariffs for industries Saturday. "I am ...Times of India, 1 month ago
The real estate industry in Navi Mumbai could be in for a major boost this year. The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), which developers have often accused of rationing land through tenders to hike prices, is ...Hindustan Times, 1 month ago
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At Long Last! The Next Generation of the Toyota Prius Is Set To Debut in 2022
It’s only a matter of time before full-electric vehicles take over the entire new car landscape, but hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius are here to stay, at least for now. The Prius is currently in its fourth generation, however, the Japanese automaker recently told Autocar that a new fifth-generation model is in the works.
The Toyota Prius has a key role to play in the hybrid market
If you look at Toyota’s current lineup, you’ll notice that most of its vehicles can be equipped with a hybrid powertrain. The Corolla, the Camry, the RAV4, the Venza, and even the Sienna are all part of the company’s strategy for full hybridization, but it looks like the Prius is still the front bearer in the stable. And why not? It’s been around for over 20 years and has served as the beacon in the automotive market for all prospective hybrid car buyers. It only makes sense that Toyota will continue producing it.
Toyota’s product and marketing manager, Andrea Carlucci, talked to Autocar about the value of the Prius nameplate. “It remains the pioneer into electrification – and has been clearly, for Toyota, an icon. It started our journey back more than 25 years ago,” Carlucci said. “It has to keep a role, and we have to make sure it will always be a front-runner with that kind of technology, so, although I can’t disclose much, we don’t want to waste our icon, even for the future.
The Prius had strong beginnings in the U.S.
The Toyota Prius has always been a leader in the hybrid car market. It originally launched in 1997 in Japan but it came to the U.S. in 2000, right after the first-gen Honda Insight. Although it wasn’t the first hybrid car in the U.S., the Prius has remained the go-to car for anyone in the market for a fuel-sipping four-door.
Now in its fourth generation, the Prius has remained in its current physical form since 2016. Based on Toyota’s typical six-year lifecycle, the upcoming fifth-generation Prius redesign is right on time. However, Autocar did say that Toyota was mum on any further details on the forthcoming model.
Could a hydrogen powerplant be in the works?
Some publications, like Autoblog, have speculated that the next-gen Prius could possibly be offered as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. In essence, it would have the same powerplant as the Toyota Mirai. That would make sense considering the direction that Toyota is going with its hybridized future. However, it could be a tough sell to the public given the current hydrogen station infrastructure, or lack thereof.
Whatever the case, we can expect the fifth-generation Toyota Prius to arrive late in 2022, most likely as a 2023 model. One thing that is almost for certain is that no matter what the next Prius looks and drives like, there will be many buyers interested in it. Just as there has been for the last 25 years.


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ALBANY – Just as many merchandise retail businesses have boosted their online presence while reducing brick-and-mortar stores, many banks have closed branches, encouraging customers to use web-based services for their shopping services. account.
This is a trend that has had a significant impact on residents of rural counties.
According to the New York State Counties Association, small business owners, seniors and people without transportation are the hardest hit by the bank closings.
But the association is not content to deplore the trend.
In a resolution recently passed by the group representing county governments, it urges Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature to open an investigation into bank branch closures in rural counties.
“The counties are gravely concerned that the closure of additional local bank branches will put communities and their consumers in dire straits if New York State does not investigate this crisis,” the association says. in its resolution.
The association also notes “there is no reason to believe this trend will dissipate without appropriate intervention.”
A reduction in the number of bank branches has been playing out nationwide since 2009, a year marked by headlines reporting the financial crisis hitting the economy. Until then, the number of bank branches had been increasing for decades.
Closures, according to federal data, have accelerated during the pandemic, with the number of bank branches declining nearly 4% between 2020 and 2021, with more than 3,200 branches closed.
Many consumers have adapted to the expansion of online banking. But the Counties Association points to banking “wildernesses” in rural areas as a significant problem due to the fact that many communities lack reliable internet access.
In a statement released to CNHI, Clare Cusack, President and CEO of the New York Bankers Association, said, “Bankers are committed to meeting their customers’ demands for service and convenience. Today, there is an unprecedented range of banking choices for consumers, and networks are evolving with customer choices.
“To serve customers in areas where building or maintaining a branch is not possible, some banks are introducing innovative technologies to serve customers safely and conveniently,” Cusack added.
The reduction in banking services in rural parts of the country has also raised concern from the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
In a report last April, the agency noted that most banking “wildernesses” — defined as having no branches within 10 miles of a census tract center — are in rural areas. .
“Overall, rural census tracts are 10 times more likely to be in a banking wilderness than urban tracts,” the bureau found.
Beyond the statistics, the decline in banking services in rural areas has led to increased financial hardship for residents.
“Rural consumers are more likely to be invisible to credit, forcing them to turn to more expensive alternatives to bank credit, such as payday loans and pawnbrokers,” the federal agency said. the consumption. “And, lower credit scores mean rural consumers are paying higher rates on their mortgages – even if they are the least able to afford it.”


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The machinery & equipment (M&E) industry assumes strategic importance to Malaysia’s economy with its cross-cutting linkages across all economic segments. However, given the evolution of technology in the industry is moving at such a relentless pace, this presents Malaysian business leaders with challenges as well as opportunities to create new business ventures. For companies that are bold to embrace these new and upcoming technologies, there are a plethora of opportunities in robotics application, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and smart technologies that are waiting to be explored.
Therefore, the Malaysian investment Development Authority (MIDA) seeks to grow and develop the M&E industry within the country through the promotion and active exploration of collaborative opportunities between local industry players and international M&E companies.
This is in line with the 11th Malaysia Plan, as the M&E industry has been identified as one of the catalytic subsectors to spur the country’s economic transformation to greater prosperity.
For the period of January-December 2018, the M&E industry illustrated commendable investment performance with 83 projects approved and investments valued at RM2.187 billion. The majority of these investments were from domestic sources, amounting to RM1.486 billion or 68%, where else foreign investments amounted to RM701.6 million (32%). The approved projects are expected to generate a total of 3,578 employment opportunities for the country. Additionally, the M&E industry continued to show stellar progress of 24 projects approved in the first quarter of 2019, with investments of RM 318 million.
As part of MIDA’s on-going efforts to realise the vision of further enhancing the competitiveness of the M&E industry, the Industrial Linkage Programme specifically tailored for local M&E players was held in Italy on 16th – 19th June 2019 in conjunction with TO-ASEAN Business Days 2019. The programme aimed to promote the collaboration between companies to further adopt advance and new emerging technologies that will be a game-changer for the M&E industry in Malaysia.
Mr Arham Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO I) of MIDA was invited as a speaker on ‘ASEAN Business Opportunities: Investment Opportunities in Malaysia’ for the conference. He highlighted that South-East Asia is an attractive market for Italian companies and strategic partnerships between Malaysian and Italian companies with the most advanced technology would give a competitive edge in the market.
The Malaysian delegation members had two sessions of Business-To-Business (B2B) meetings with Italian industry leaders and trade associations. The delegation also visited notable Italian M&E companies to explore possible gaps and opportunities for Malaysian companies to participate and collaborate with, for future projects or to be part of their global supply chain.
As local companies are already serving as contract manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), there has been a notable investment and upskilling activities undertaken through R&D, engineering design, innovation and system integration as well as proprietary machinery and equipment development for global exports. This has directly increased Malaysia’s appeal as a choice destination for multinational companies seeking to outsource their manufacturing processes.
Coupled with the efforts of local engineering supporting companies to provide consistent quality of production and on-time delivery, Malaysia has developed a robust supply chain, consisting of both global and local industry players, supplying to global companies involved in various industries, including companies such as ON Semiconductor, Foxconn, Jabil Circuit, Celestica, Benchmark Electronics, Mattel and First Solar. As such, the industry has much potential for further development and growth.
The areas of interest amongst the delegates during the programme centred around advanced robotics and automation, advanced human-machine interaction, machine-to-machine communications and integrated systems, vast troves of data and boosted connectivity, as well as talent development in the area of robotics to modernise manufacturing and to increase industrial competitiveness.
Undeniably, the Industrial Linkage Programme has successfully led to the on-going business and technical engagement between the Malaysian companies and Italian companies to further explore future collaborations. As such, it is essential that Malaysian and Italian companies to continue to explore potential business opportunities between both countries and establish strategic partnership to close and capture market gaps within M&E industry in the Europe and the Asia Pacific regions.
MIDA trusts that this Industrial Linkage Programme is a vital stepping stone to drive greater collaboration among producers, suppliers, technical institutions and other stakeholders along the M&E value chain in the country; and looks forward to more fruitful engagements in the future.


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Borders is now taking pre-orders for the $149.99 Kobo e-book reader, set to launch on June 17th. Relatively late getting into the game, Borders apparently hopes that its significantly lower price point will give it an advantage over Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple in pushing their respective e-book devices.
Electronista News reports that physical Borders locations will have an e-book section called “Area-e” that will sell the Kobo and other devices, starting in August. Borders will also be coming out with apps for the iPad, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry. It is unclear whether they refer to the Kobo application, or a Borders-branded variant as the Barnes & Noble eReader is of the Fictionwise eReader.
John Biggs at CrunchGear is doubtful the device will sell. CrunchGear’s Devin Coldewey is more optimistic, however.
Our own Joanna has given the Kobo Reader a positive review, and reported that the Kobo Reader has hit retail in Canada already.


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On April 6, 2017, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (AG) announced that he has settled an investigation against TrustE for alleged violations of failing to adequately prevent illegal tracking technology on children’s websites, including Hasbro.com and Roblox.com. TrustE has agreed to pay the State $100,000 in the settlement and adopt measures to strengthen its privacy assessments. TrustE is a privacy certification program for children’s websites, which assesses whether companies are complying with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and is an operator of a COPPA safe harbor program.
According to the AG, TrustE failed to follow its own policies, including failing to scan its customers’ children’s websites when it was scanning the website for anti-tracking technology, failed to provide its customers with the results of the scans so the customer could analyze the results, and failed to independently verify or determine that the tracking technologies violated COPPA.
The New York AG thanked the Federal Trade Commission for “its assistance in this case.”


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Southwest Airlines is not an Atlanta-based company, but it does make its presence known at the busiest airport in the U.S. With plenty of passengers flying through Atlanta on a Southwest aircraft daily, service plays an important role in the quality of the experience people receive in this southern city. Fortunately, those who arrive or depart Atlanta via Southwest Airlines are likely to receive the first-class service that has made this carrier one of the top in the airline industry over the past few decades.
The 2012 Customer Service Hall of Fame
Southwest Airlines was recently named to the 2012 Customer Service Hall of Fame, compiled each year by MSN Money. This is not the first time that the company has been recognized by MSN – last year, Southwest placed sixth on the Hall of Fame list. This year the company took the 10th spot on the list. According to MSN Money, the airline boasts a service to more than 10 million customers in 42 states from coast to coast. The company also features customer service offices in a number of major cities across the U.S., with the most recent location opening in Atlanta.
Last year, Southwest acquired AirTran Airways in an effort to broaden its reach to more customers and destinations. The new customer service center in Atlanta is designed to make that merger as seamless as possible for both AirTran and Southwest customers. Call center operators are prepared to help customers with reservations for both airlines, as well as ensuring rewards from each company can be used for the other as well.
Southwest’s Customer Service Secret
While other airlines have struggled in recent years, both in terms of profits and customer service ratings, Southwest manages to rise above the crowd. The company consistently ranks in the top of the hierarchy for service quality and has remained in the black for the past 39 years. While part of Southwest’s appeal has been its traditionally low fares and lack of tack-on fees for bags and ticket transfers, the airline has also developed a name for itself in terms of customer service.
The secret to the company’s success appears to trickle down form the top. Executives with the airline have stated that they empower their employees to serve the customers, backing up their decisions in the interest of customer service. The company also recognizes exemplary customer service from individual employees throughout the corporate hierarchy, as a constant reminder to all Southwest staff of the important impact they have on customer satisfaction.
In addition to the recognition Southwest has received from MSN Money, the company has also received customer service accolades from Consumer Reports, the International Business Awards, Air Cargo World and the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Interestingly, the company has also been recognized as one of the best companies to work for in the United States by Glassdoor.com, G.I.Jobs and Fortune. It appears that creating a positive working environment for staff also translates to a positive experience for that company’s customers – much like many customer service gurus regularly advise.


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November 26, 2012: UPS Freight Teamsters are under the same information Brownout as UPS parcel teamsters.
Several bargaining sessions were held in October and November, but our union has yet to issue any updates or post information that would help unify our workforce to stand together for a good contract.
Teamster Voice has learned that management has made a proposal to mingle the road operations of UPS Freight, Parcel and Cartage. We know well they want to subcontract out our road jobs, and need to get firm protections to bring back Teamster jobs.
When UPS Freight Teamsters were asked to join our union, the slogan was "One Company, One Union." We need that to be the reality of what's achieved in these negotiations. Any UPS operation involving the moving of freight needs to be Teamster. That stance and bargaining victory would go a long, long way to restoring union power for our members.
UPS Freight Teamsters are having their say. Click the links to read Teamster Viewpoints by two of our Teamster brothers at UPS Freight.


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Vista buys Sonatype; Kohlberg puts SpecialtyCare up for sale; Why TA won’t ever sell a stake in itself
Morning, Hubsters. I have returned. How is everyone?
Things have changed in the roughly 1.5 weeks that I’ve been endlessly suffering from a tonsillectomy. Yes, I’m better now. I will sing again, my doctor assured me. (No, I didn’t sing before but it’s nice to know I still have the option.)
Let’s get to it. First up is some fintech data from CB Insights. Fintech deals rebounded slightly in the third quarter but will likely fall short of the 2018 high point, the data firm said. Q3 fintech funding topped $8.9 billion, which CB Insights said was a quarterly record after they adjusted for Ant Financials’ $14 billion investment in Q2 2018. Fintech has so far raised $24.6 billion through the third quarter, which is more than 2017’s total.
There are 56 VC-backed fintech unicorns worth a combined $210.6 billion, the report said. Third quarter gave birth to seven new fintech unicorns, CB Insights said. Read the report here.
Gemini Trust, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by the brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has made its first acquisition. Gemini acquired Nifty Gateway, a platform for non-fungible tokens. Nifties are different from fungible cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, because each one is a one-of-a-kind and not interchangeable, according to Tyler Winklevoss in a post on Medium. “Over time, we believe that both real world and digital collectibles will migrate onto blockchains in the form of nifties,” Tyler said.
BlueVine, which provides small business banking, has raised $102.5 million in a Series F round of funding led by ION Crossover Partners.
It’s not fintech but it’s still interesting. TA Associates has put Russell Investments up for sale, the Financial Times reported. Goldman is advising. See our brief here.


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Samsung announced that the company’s team has completed the development of a new technology in OLED panels that support ultra-high display density of 10,000 pixels per inch.
The Korean giant began working on a new technology in OLED screen panels a while ago, and today the work team confirmed the completion of the technology development in preparation for displaying it later.
Samsung’s new OLED screens are based on a new design and technology that includes solar panels that feature an ultra-thin design, with a new architecture for OLED panels that can later support TV screens or smartphones.
This technology can also support the virtual reality glasses in particular to support the removal of the effects that appear in the display of the virtual reality glasses currently available in the market.
And the display density in OLED panels now shows the gap between pixels when looking at the screen from a very close distance, as there are no screens available at the present time that support enough display density to block this gap.
While the new OLED panels for screens are based on a new architecture that works on highlighting and emitting white light through films, it also comes with a silver layer that merges with a layer designed from a reflective metal that works to change the characteristics of reflection and enable the passage of a specific group of colors, as this architecture supports a display in the screen marked on the top Pixel density per inch with highest brightness as well.
It is noteworthy that the launch of the new Samsung technology depends on the development of computing in the devices to support the integration of OLED panels distinguished by the new technology and the high display density in the next generation of devices.


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Ford Motor Company has gone to apply for the “OTX” trademark with intent for use on “vehicles, namely, automobiles, pick-up trucks, electric vehicles, sport utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, and their structural parts.” The trademark filing took place on May 14, 2021. While it doesn’t sound like a nameplate for a future product, it could be a trim level, possibly on the 2022 Ford Maverick small pickup truck.
Ford Maverick OTX?
While the ‘OTX’ name is a mystery, it’s a possibility that the trim level could be adorned to the Ford Maverick. It’s expected that the upcoming small pickup truck will have some semblance of off-road capabilities, and could be used for the truck in lieu of the new ‘Timberline‘ trim level that recently debuted on the 2021 Ford Explorer. The Timberline sub-brand indicates a touch of ruggedness to Ford’s otherwise more pedestrian vehicles outside of the Ford Bronco, Ranger, and F-150 families. The FX4 trim level could also make its way to the upcoming Ford Maverick, as it’s found on both the F-Series and Ranger line of trucks also.
Other OTX Possibilities
This is a developing story, and so far details remain scarce on the OTX name at the time of this writing. So if it’s not set to be part of the Ford Maverick family, or even as a concept vehicle, it could perhaps emerge as part of another vehicle family, such as on the Mustang Mach-E, or maybe even on the new Ford F-150 Lightning.
What’s your best guest, fair readers? Do you think Ford Motor Company will introduce the OTX name as yet another off-road trim level? Or will it perhaps represent something completely different? Give us your best guesses in the comments below, while we work to uncover exactly what this new trademark could mean.


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Last week, we posted about online resources for Holy Week, and one of those resources was the blog Pins Of Light and their annual online retreat for Holy Week. Details about this year’s retreat were a little sketchy last week, but this week, they’ve put out more information, and it looks so interesting that we thought we’d draw particular attention to it.
This year’s retreat is called Chosen: Stories, Silences, and Songs from Scripture. It pursues the theme of reading between the lines in scripture by imagining situations from various characters’ viewpoints. It consists of three 45-minute online videos that will be released on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. People can participate at their own pace and on their own timetable with the videos. Jesuit spiritual directors are available for questions.
This online resource looks like a fantastic and creative option geared specifically for Holy Week. We hope that you find it helpful this week as we follow the story of Christ’s Passion and await the day of his resurrection.
Here’s Pins of Light’s video preview.


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Only a few days to go: We’re raising £25,000 to keep TheyWorkForYou running and make sure people across the UK can hold their elected representatives to account.Donate to our crowdfunder
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The Government have said the electric vehicle industry is important to them, and they say it is a priority. In his first speech to the Commons after moving into No. 10, the Prime Minister spoke about his vision for the UK as the “home of electric vehicles,” something he also touched on regularly during his leadership campaign. In a recent response to a question I asked, the Prime Minister also stated his commitment to use UK steel in the supply chain for electric vehicles, but we need electrical steel to create an end-to-end supply chain for those vehicles. If the Prime Minister is serious about the UK being the home of electric vehicles, we must, as Community’s Roy Rickhuss has said, consider the Orb a national asset and step in to protect it.


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September 18, 2017
The Four Disruptors
Disruption. Silicon Valley’s favorite buzzword. Startups and tech giants alike now frame solving problems as disrupting existing infrastructure and industries. Positive disruption through innovative technology adds value to society, culture and business.
SAP predicts that four major technologies will disrupt or change the high tech industry as we know it: the Internet of Things or IoT, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence or machine learning and augmented reality.
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) works exactly how it sounds. Physical objects connect to the internet. IoT devices allow consumers to communicate, access information and monitor activities. Everything from cars, home appliances and speakers fall under the IoT category. This creates unlimited potential for revenue streams- especially for tech world juggernauts. IoT devices help consumers with everything from everyday tasks to monitoring vital signs for health purposes.
Every month we seem to learn about another major cyberattack. Each one increasing in scale and complexity. From ransomware to identity theft to system blackouts, cyberattacks cause detrimental consequences for businesses and the economy. They pose even greater risk for national security.
As we become more connected both personally and professionally, we put ourselves and our organizations at risk. With increasing modes of connection to the internet, hackers and cyber attackers only find more avenues for destruction. Companies that focus on intellectual property need to invest more resources and time to protect themselves from theft and cyber threats.
Artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning allows for computers to make autonomous decisions based on data. As time goes on, AI devices learn to predict outcomes and solve problems without human interaction. AI helps companies operate more efficiently and free up resources to focus on more strategic initiatives.
Augmented reality differs from virtual reality. Virtual reality (VR) is a completely artificial environment. Augmented reality leverages elements of VR to supplement tasks. SAP provides an example of a picker in a distribution center using augmented reality to help guide them to picking locations and select the correct items. Companies that leverage technology to facilitate more efficient supply chains and speedier deliveries will gain a competitive edge in today’s demanding consumer economy.
Think you’re ready to embrace some of these disruptors? Attunix specializes in helping companies utilize IoT, machine learning, and more. Reach out to us today and we’ll talk with you about how we can leverage these emerging tech trends with your business.


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Items stolen from motel room
By the Salina Journal | Monday, October 01, 2012 11:39 AM
Numerous items were reported stolen sometime Sept. 18 or Sept. 19 from a room at the Airliner Motel, 781 N. Broadway.
According to Lt. Scott Siemsen with the Salina Police Department, John Bennet, 812 Garden, had several plastic storage containers in a room at the motel, and someone entered the room through a window.
Missing items included a car stereo, DVD player, amplifier, camping equipment and a wallet that contained $80 cash. Loss was estimated at $1,800.


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Earlier this year, for obvious reasons, E3 2020 was cancelled. Loads of companies made the call that they would be doing their own digital press conferences instead, around the same time that E3 would have taken place. This makes sense, since the marketing teams for these developers and publishers have probably already put in a lot of work for the event. On April 1, Pete Hines of Bethesda announced that the company wouldn’t even be doing that.
Given the many challenges we're facing due to the pandemic, we will not host a digital Showcase in June. We have lots of exciting things to share about our games and look forward to telling you more in the coming months.
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) April 1, 2020
But There’s A Good Side
While you could look at this with a view that Bethesda actually has nothing to share, it sounds like that isn’t the case. Hines explained in the above tweet that the company actually has a lot of work going on, and they’ll be sharing stuff over the coming months.
I’m looking at this with the view that Bethesda are so busy that they just don’t have time to put together an E3-like press conference. Instead, they’re going to keep working away on all of their projects, and reveal them one by one, when they’re ready. E3 can be a stressful time for these companies. They’re under a lot of pressure to deliver big news, new gameplay, and massive announcements. The thing is, sometimes that simply isn’t the case.
What we do know is that Wastelanders, the first expansion for Fallout 76, is coming in a couple of weeks. We also know that The Elder Scrolls Online is getting a new expansion. There’s a sixth mainline Elder Scrolls game in the works, and Starfield, a sci-fi RPG, is still being developed in the background. That’s all without thinking about a possible Fallout 5 and who knows what else the company might be making.
Take this news as something positive. It means that we’ll get exciting announcements when they’re ready. What we won’t be getting are half-baked promises of news, and little more than a video of a landscape or planet. I’m excited to see what Bethesda surprise us with as 2020 goes on.
We’re trying to get some good news to you during these troubling times. Something to look at between all the coronavirus (COVID-19) news. If you liked this positive outlook on Bethesda’s workload this year, check out some similar articles here.


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WAUSAU PILOT AND REVIEW
CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Nearly 400 Family Dollar stores are slated for closure this year, with another 200 stores targeted for rebranding as Dollar Tree locations.
Dollar Tree, the parent company of Family Dollar, operates dozens of stores in Wisconsin including locations in Wausau, Weston and Mosinee. The fate of those stores is uncertain, as a company spokesman said they are not releasing a list of store closings at this time.
The company closed 84 Family Dollar stores in the fourth quarter, 37 more than originally planned. At least 1,000 stores will be renovated this year.
“We are confident we are taking the appropriate steps to reposition our Family Dollar brand,” Dollar Tree CEO Gary Philbin said in a news release Wednesday.
Dollar Tree Inc., based in Chesapeake, Virginia, acquired Family Dollar in 2015 for almost $9 billion.
The company said Wednesday that it’s seeking rent concessions from landlords at the 84 stores closed late last year and if it doesn’t get them, it’ll speed up the pace of store closings to as many as 390 locations. Dollar Tree closes about 75 stores annually.
The company had 15,237 stores in 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of Feb. 2.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Echo gets intercom feature
Just as Amazon (AMZN) is preparing to meet investors and analysts to discuss its 1Q18 results, its Echo device has gained skills and given Amazon more of an edge in the increasingly competitive smart speaker market. In the first week of April, Amazon introduced Alexa Announcements, a feature that transforms Echo into an in-house intercom system for broadcasting messages to other speakers in different rooms. The Echo intercom feature could be ideal for a large household. For instance, parents could use the Echo intercom feature to relay a message that dinner is ready, saving time and energy.
Catching up with Google
The intercom feature is first rolling out to Echo users in the United States and Canada. Google’s (GOOGL) competing smart speaker, Google Home, has an intercom feature, so Amazon is essentially catching up on that front. This move is necessary considering that the smart speaker market is shaping up to be a highly competitive scene—not just in North America, but also overseas, where Alibaba (BABA) and Baidu (BIDU) have rival products.
Amazon currently enjoys a strong lead
The intercom feature could bolster Echo’s customer appeal, potentially boosting its sales and giving Amazon more strength to fight back against the competition. According to eMarketer, Amazon enjoys a comfortable lead in the US smart speaker market, controlling more than 70% of it in 2017. In comparison, Google had a 23.8% share, and other players such as Apple and Microsoft (MSFT) held a 5.6% share.


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Peter Kinnaird has been appointed managing director of Subaru (UK) Limited and Isuzu (UK) Limited as part of a major restructuring of West Bromwich-based independent vehicle importer IM Group Limited.
Kinnaird succeeds former Subaru and Isuzu MD Sam Burton who is soon to join Mondial Assistance (UK) Limited.
Kinnaird, 52, has been with IM Group for five years, holding the titles of director, overseas operations and director, business Development. He has previously worked for BMW, Alfa Romeo, Daihatsu and Land Rover.
Other changes include the promotion of Andrew Edmiston to managing director of IM Group. Edmiston –the son of the Group’s owner, Bob Edmiston – will also hold the title of chairman of Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited. He is currently managing director, a post which will now be held by Paul Tunnicliffe who was formerly marketing director.
Ed Swatman – a 19 year veteran with the company – will continue as CEO of International Motors Limited but will progressively hand over day-to-day control of Subaru and Isuzu to Kinnaird.
Swatman will broaden his responsibilities to include such areas as Daihatsu, business development and other overseas operations.


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Business Culture Lessons from Zappos billion dollar experience
On of the highlights for me from South by South West’s Interactive festival this year was the keynote from Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, a $1 billion dollar online business that sells shoes (and quite a few other things).... read more
Network at the night of nights for Australian Businesswomen
Behind every great woman, there’s another one. Tickets are now on sale for the 2008 Telstra Business Women’s Awards National Award Ceremony which will be held in Melbourne on 9 December. YOU COULD WIN TICKETS TO THIS GREAT EVENT:... read more
Do you expect your business to grow next year?
A recent poll of our Australian readers showed these results in response to the question: What will be the biggest issue for women business owners in 2009? economy/credit crunch – 72% compliance (BAS, Superannuation, OH&S) – 6% staff shortages... read more
What will be the biggest issue for Aussie women business-owners in 2009?
A recent survey of women business-owners in the US revealed that the current economic climate was seen to be the biggest issue for women for 2009. We’ve adapted the poll to suit Australian conditions and Australian women business-owners are... read more
Collaborative Leadership and Marketing Smarts from Barack Obama
Ok, what I want to know is WHEN did Barack Obama and his team think up this great URL for the next part of their campaign? Through parts of Obama’s run-up to the election — from his online strategy to... read more
Know-How Now speaker wins International Franchise Award
Michael Paul, founder of PACK AND SEND, was the guest speaker at last year’s Know How Now webinar series. PACK & SEND has won ‘Aussie gold’ at the International Franchise of the Year awards, the first Australian company to... read more
Have Your Say
In the coming weeks we’ll feature mini-surveys on issues that impact your business. Past surveys through our hervoice.com.au initiative (which is dedicated to providing advocacy for women entreprenuers) allowed you to share information that we have subsequently shared with... read more


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Photo: Robert Haynes-Peterson
Peach brandy may not seem like the most masculine of spirits, but it was
one of George Washington's favorite cocktails. And who's going to argue with the Father of Our Country?
Not the five American distillers who met in Mount Vernon
last week to brew a batch of this original American dram. Standing around buckets of bubbling peach juice, they occasionally stoked fires warming the high-proof liquid, much like George Washington's distiller may have done more than two centuries ago.This particular batch of peach brandy will be aged, bottled and sold similarly to the limited-edition rye whiskey
that disappeared in a quick three-hour public sale this summer.
Lance Winters of St. George Spirits, in California, cut peach slices while David Pickerell of Whistlepig Rye dipped his fingers into a stream of brandy trickling into a wooden bucket. "We started with about 300 gallons of peach juice and will end up with about a fifth of that in brandy once it's ready for barreling," said Pickerell. This is almost the exact amount of peach brandy recorded in the Mount Vernon distillery's production ledger in 1799.


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Jennifer Safavian, President and CEO of Autos Drive America today released the following statement in support of the Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2021 introduced by Senators’ Toomey and Warner, cosponsored by 16 bipartisan senators, to require Congressional approval prior to the imposition of tariffs or other restrictions on imports for national security reasons.
“Steel and aluminum tariffs continue to harm automakers during a time of limited supply and rising prices. The 2018 initiation of a Section 232 investigation on automobiles and automobile parts demonstrated the need for such congressional oversight. This statute, written at the height of the cold war, needs an update. We encourage Congress and the President to work together on policies that will ensure the U.S. auto industry remains strong, competitive, and innovative. The future growth and prosperity of our industry and the American jobs it generates depend on it.”


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Global Supercapacitors Market Products, Modules and Applications Report 2020-2026 with Profiles of 35 Companies & Industry Guide Containing Contact Details for 100+ Companies
DUBLIN, June 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Supercapacitors Market - Products, Modules and Applications" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The Automotive & Transportation sector is expected to be the fastest-growing market for Supercapacitors, the global demand for which is anticipated to compound annually at 16.6% during 2019-2026 in reaching a projected US$2.7 billion by 2026. The overall global market for Supercapacitors is expected to exceed US$3 billion in 2020.
However, the adverse impact upon every industry caused by the Covid-19 outbreak in China in December 2019 has left its mark on the demand for supercapacitors also. While before the incidence of this pandemic the market for supercapacitors presented a rosy picture, with high double-digit growth rates in the range of 25%-35%, these trends would now be difficult to sustain.
Countries across the globe are facing challenging medium-term futures and recovery could take anywhere from one to three years, again based on what the trajectory of a particular region's economy was before this devastating outbreak.
Analysis Period, Units and Growth Rates
KEY GLOBAL PLAYERS
KEY BUSINESS & PRODUCT TRENDS
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4v56df
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-supercapacitors-market-products-modules-and-applications-report-2020-2026-with-profiles-of-35-companies--industry-guide-containing-contact-details-for-100-companies-301303249.html
SOURCE Research and Markets


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Snacking Fuels Consumers and the U.S. Economy Through Innovation
Representing the snacking industry; SNAC International tackles the issues the ‘feed’ the industry
While snacking innovation comes from all corners of our industry – from emerging entrepreneurs to multinational companies – the category has a tremendous positive impact on our economy.
SNAC International, the trade association for the global snack industry with over 400 member companies worldwide, recently commissioned a study with Circana, examining key parameters related to the impact snack manufacturing and related categories have on U.S. economic performance.
The study found that total snacking and snacking adjacent categories have reached $186.4 billion in annual sales, which is larger than the GDP of the Dominican Republic. These categories make up more than a quarter of all food and beverage sales in the U.S. The snack industry employs 395,000 workers garnering a total of $15 billion in annual wages, and generates $11 billion in tax revenue collected from sales, income and corporate taxes. To put this into perspective, the U.S. snack industry is over six times the size of the U.S. Entertainment Segment and employs almost as many people as the population of Denver. The top four states for snack manufacturing include California, Texas, Illinois and Georgia.
The category has grown to reach such immense size and impact due to snacking becoming a fabric woven into the American consumer’s daily life, and manufacturers have responded with innovation in flavor, healthy ingredients, and even attributes that provide benefits beyond nutrition. Savory snacks as a whole have grown over 15% in dollar sales over the past year. According to Circana, 49% of consumers have three-plus snacks per day, which is up by four points in the last two years. For these frequent snackers, the biggest upticks for snacking come during the morning and late evening dayparts.
The snacking explosion is not a new story. Over the last ten years, snacking has taken off due to an increase in consumers’ mobility and on-the-go eating habits. Americans turned to the snack category as they were consuming ‘mini meals’ and replacing larger, sit-down meal occasions with snacks. This has led to a category that has been redefined and has expanded its boundaries from center-store to many different parts of the grocery store. Manufacturers have had to innovate keep up with – and exceed – consumer demands.
Much of this innovation has come in the form of nontraditional, better-for-you ingredients. We’re seeing products like tortilla chips being made with organic tigernut flour, cassava flour, chickpea flour, peat protein, and much more. Extruded, “puffed” snacks are being produced with vegetables like spinach, carrots, and tomatoes. These products are also touting higher-protein offerings to satisfy people’s need for more satiating options while they’re on the go.
Snack bars are another category that is blossoming with innovation. While the category struggled during COVID lockdowns due to its “on-the-go” positioning, bars are primed for recovery in the next few years as people seek variety in their meal replacement options. We’re seeing snack bars featuring turmeric for anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as ashwaganda for its perceived immune and brain health attributes. The snack category in general has been the home for sprouted ingredients nuts, legumes and seeds, which ease digestion and add to the nutritional profile. Some snack bars are also targeting very specific consumers, like Crafted Energy with its Runner and Cyclist Bars, which markets its cashew ingredients to ease muscle soreness.
More than ever before, the growth in every category of snacks is being driven by flavor. For many snackers, there is no such thing as “too hot,” and snack producers are turning up the heat across the board. However, the true flavor innovation lies within nuance. We’re seeing super-hot and spicy being paired with sweet flavors, hints of lime, chile, chipotle adobo, cheese, and much more. We’re also seeing sweet flavors becoming more popular – fruit, chocolate, maple and nut butters. Snackers have also become more adventurous, willing to explore new flavors, and especially international flavors originating from Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.
One category of snacks that has especially benefitted from this flavor innovation is pretzels. Pretzel sales have reached almost $2 billion annually, growing more than 17% in the past year. Many manufacturers are experimenting with flavored pretzels, leading to increases in sales. Zapp’s, an Utz Brand (Hanover, PA), has released Voodoo flavored pretzels, a crossover from the potato chip category. Herr Foods (Nottingham, PA) has released pub style pretzels with flavors like jalapeno cheddar. Unique Snacks (Reading, PA) has developed Puffzels, a flavored snack that is shaped like a pretzel but is actually a corn-based puffed snack. Unique Snacks also produces a line of organic, Sprouted Pretzel Shells, made with whole-grains, capitalizing on consumers’ better-for-you preferences.
An emerging story around the snacking category is the one around holistic health. For many snackers, while they choose snacks with a variety of factors in mind, they all amount to their own sense of holistic health. This could refer to their own nutritional goals, their mental health, or the health of the environment, which is why better-for-you and better-for-the planet are so closely intertwined. While taste continues to remain supreme, a well-rounded lifestyle as it relates to consumers’ sense of health is becoming almost as important.
Snack producers, along with the supply chain – companies providing ingredients, equipment, packaging, transportation services, and more – have made tremendous strides relating to sustainability, and they continue to set aggressive goals in the future. Over the last few years, shoppers have purchased more and more snacks that are marketed with sustainable attributes. Attributes like reduced or recycled packaging materials, companies with B Corp Certifications, humane sourcing practices, renewable energy used in transportation and manufacturing, fair trade, and many more.
SNAC International’s vision is to connect the snack industry to create growth and opportunity. Through SNAC’s educational and networking events, we bring the entire supply chain together, from ingredient suppliers to snack producers, to foster a community of collaboration and innovation. Upcoming this fall, Oct. 15-17 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO, we’re bringing 130 of our senior leaders together to discuss trends and global issues with industry thought leaders, and to network during recreational activities. If you’re involved in the snack industry in any way, I encourage you to learn more about how SNAC International can benefit your growth goals by visiting www.snacintl.org, or reaching out to any member of the SNAC staff.
Click The Cover To View Or Download The Brochure
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: The leading trade association that represents the needs of, and advocates on behalf of its valued members in the snack-based food industry
WHERE: Virginia, USA


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Gree is closing Tellit, the mobile messaging service it launched last year, as it continues to streamline costs in the face of fierce competition.
Gree issued a statement to Tellit users yesterday, announcing its plans to sunset the service at the start of September.
"We launched Tellit last year in an effort to make it easy for people to connect with their friends and share interesting content with each other," the statement read. "Although the product has seen steady usage and has loyal users, we are facing strong competition in other areas of our business."
Mobile messaging services have emerged as a surprisingly powerful lure for gaming in Asian markets: the Japanese company Line has had more than 100 million game downloads through its messaging app, while South Korea's KakaoTalk recently posted 6-month game revenues of more than $300 million.
It is not yet known if the closure of Tellit will cause any redundancies, but Gree confirmed to The Next Web that the move is part of its ongoing restructuring process.
"In recent weeks we have been optimizing our global operations and product lineup strategically based on a policy of selection and concentration," the spokesperson said. "As part of that process, we decided, after much deliberation, to close Tellit so that we can focus our efforts on other opportunities."


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On a call with analysts, Apple CEO explains why the company's smartphone is doing well but its tablet isn't.
Apple said its new tablets would launch later this week, but stores across the country already have the Wi-Fi models of the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.
The update, which became available for download Monday, adds support for Apple Pay, brings back the camera roll and launches the iCloud photo library.
Apple on Thursday announces updates to its popular iPad line as well as to its desktop computers and operating system. It also reveals that Apple Pay will launch next Monday for consumers. The event comes one month after the company debuted its new line of iPhones and Apple Watch. CNET.com's Kara Tsuboi reports.
With a fresh coat of gold paint and a Touch ID sensor, Apple beefs up its tablets. The new iMac also packs in more pixels than an Ultra HD TV. Bridget Carey wraps up the highlights from Apple's announcement.
Apple, which will show off its newest iPad on Thursday, has to wrestle with the truth that consumers just aren't buying tablets as frequently as smartphones.
With a fresh coat of gold paint and a Touch ID sensor, Apple beefs up its tablets. The new iMac also packs more pixels than an Ultra HDTV. Bridget Carey wraps up the highlights from Apple's announcement.
Apple's tablet lineup has expanded from six configurations to more than 50 in four years. Has the product lineup become too complex?
Only around half of the 250 million iPhone 4S units and older models may be upgraded in the near term, leaving plenty of room for fiscal 2015 and 2016, says Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.
Apple rolled out a revamped iPad lineup and got a mix of responses in return. Tell us if you're yawning or planning to invest in a brand-new iPad for your gadget collection.


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Starting Monday at Midnight, downloads of TikTok and WeChat will be banned in the states
In a statement, the Commerce Department said that TikTok, with over 50 daily active U.S. users, will have until November 12th to remove the threat to U.S. national security, which means that there is still the opportunity for ByteDance to agree to a deal with Oracle or another U.S. firm that would allow the administration to rescind the ban. We could see a record number of U.S. TikTok and WeChat installs from the App Store or the Google Play Store this weekend as those without these apps on their mobile devices download them before the ban. Those who already have installed TikTok will be able to use it at least until November 12th. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said today that “As to TikTok, the only real change as of Sunday night will be users won’t have access to improved updated apps, upgraded apps or maintenance.” Ross added that “For all practical purposes it will be shut down in the U.S., but only in the U.S., as of midnight Monday,” Starting Monday at midnight, no company will be allowed to host WeChat in the U.S. The app’s code also cannot be used in other software or services in the states. Those restrictions will apply to TikTok starting on November 12th. On that date, if no deal that the U.S. approves of is reached, TikTok will be banned from use in the United States.
TikTok, extremely popular among teens, allows users to produce and share 15 or 60-second videos. Content includes lip-synching, dancing, pranks, and more. during the pandemic, the app has been serving as a distraction to those who have been forced to stay inside. It has been downloaded more than 2 billion times from the App Store and Google Play Store. The app makes money by running advertisements.
The Wall Street Journal notes that U.S. companies like Disney and Walmart rely on WeChat to communicate with and get paid by their customers in China. WeChat is owned by Chinese tech firm Tencent which says that less than 2% of the app’s revenue is generated in the U.S.
The administration’s reason for seeking these bans takes us back to a familiar story that we’ve heard for nearly ten years. The fear is that Chinese tech firms, including apps like TikTok and WeChat, can steal personal data from U.S. subscribers and share the data with the Chinese government. TikTok says, like Huawei before it, that it would never do such a thing. In TikTok’s defense, the only servers it uses to collect such data are located in the U.S. and in Singapore with none in China.


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Sen. Kristen Gillibrand will introduce new laws on Thursday to stimulate the fashion field to move generation to the US and control workers’ wages, experiences stated.
The Fashion Accountability and Building Genuine Institutional Modify (Cloth) Act is the very first federal bill to especially handle the demands of garment workers. It will extend the groundwork laid by the Honest Labor Criteria Act of 1938 and California’s recent SB62 garment employee protection bill.
“We will need to place a prohibition on predatory payments through the piece prices, but we also want to give these firms the incentives to convey the producing again to the US or make it possible for them to start out up below in the initially place,” Gillibrand (D-NY) explained to Vogue.
According to the Bureau of Labor Figures, the amount of sector careers in New York Town on your own has dwindled from around 26,000 to a lot less than 5,000 in just around 20 many years. By incentivizing vogue models to transfer output stateside through tax exemptions and grants, the senator hopes to revitalize the sector both of those in the metropolis and further than.
Gillibrand claims bipartisan help for the invoice is possible.
“Several of my Republican colleagues are operating on payments all around imports from China, and the Material Act would assist those people endeavours,” she spelled out.
Ayesha Barenblat, the founder and CEO of the fashion advocacy group Remake, spearheaded the monthly bill alongside Gillibrand. She predicts main improvements in the manner marketplace.
“When you go to Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and other places close to the entire world, you see that [their factories have] moved on,” she informed Vogue. “The grant could make it possible for for essential updates that will convey in a larger sized workforce.”
Gillibrand also thinks the bill will have major implications for girls in the garment planet.
“There are not a lot of industries the place gals are at the core of the workforce, apart from for in the style sector,” she mentioned. “By encouraging organizations to bring output stateside, the Material Act will with any luck , see larger opportunities in the field.”
Soon after introducing the Fabric Act in the Senate on Thursday, Gillibrand will keep a press meeting on the bill in the Garment District on May possibly 13.


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It’s happened again. Facebook is in the news for raising ire — this time for allowing researchers to manipulate users’ newsfeeds to gauge emotional responses to positive or negative posts. The outrage has even risen to a level where a U.S. senator has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate.
The FTC ultimately will be determining whether Facebook, in facilitating the experiment, violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act which bans unfair or deceptive acts or practices. And while many people undoubtedly believe they were unfairly deceived or manipulated, it’s unlikely any laws were broken.
Section 5 defines an unfair act or practice as one that causes, or is likely to cause, substantial injury to consumers, cannot be reasonably avoided by consumers and is not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition.
In this case, people felt like they were manipulated, but does that alone count as substantial injury?
Additionally, Section 5 defines a deceptive act or practice as one where a representation, omission or practice misleads, or is likely to mislead, the consumer and the misleading representation, omission or practice is material. If nothing really happened to you, a court would likely say the act or practice was immaterial.
So while there’s likely little recourse for Facebook users, there is a lot that people can do to avoid unknowingly becoming a research subject in the future.
The most important step consumers can take is to read the terms of agreement when registering with social media — or any other website for that matter. Certainly, it isn’t fun, but oftentimes with social media, you’ll find you can opt out on a lot of functions.
Those who are really incensed may want to cancel their accounts. If Facebook loses users over the experiment, it’s unlikely to conduct another one in the future. It’s also likely, however, that Facebook will develop guidelines for any future similar projects.
Finally, consumers need to realize that any time they log in, sign up or register on a website, that website is probably going to collect data. That’s how websites, especially free platforms like Facebook and Google, are able to make money to keep their sites running. In today’s world, it’s naive for anyone who uses Facebook to think his or her data is not somehow being used to make money for Facebook. Consumers who don’t like that fact are best off staying off line.
Still, a little perspective can help. Facebook has more than 280 million users, and researchers manipulated about 700,000 feeds. That represents .04 percent of all users. The doctored feeds didn’t appear to injure anyone or cost anyone money. In the end, the FTC is likely to say that while Facebook’s actions in this case weren’t cool, they also weren’t illegal.
By Cheryl Gill, Partner, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, SC. For a La Crosse employment lawyer in La Crosse, call her at 608-784-5678.


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The Chronicle had a nice writeup on Satin Moon, a fabric store that has been located at 32 Clement Street for 37 years.
I love going into their shop. It’s like entering a beautifully draped, padded room that’s full of colorful fabrics that take their inspiration from many different cultures. I’ve been in Satin Moon many a time for upholstery fabric through the years.
The sisters who run Satin Moon are Alice and Susan Miyamoto, who spent their teenage years sewing and designing their own clothes and indulging their wild child by driving up from Southern California to catch concerts at the Fillmore. Their parents were dismayed when they opened the shop in 1972. Alice says, “They wanted us to be doctors.”
Well Mom and Dad, your daughters have done very well – Satin Moon is regarded as one of the city’s premiere fabric stores. It’s hard to match the rich and unusual designs that you’ll find among the bolts and bolts (and bolts) of fabric that line the shop, which is smaller than some Richmond District apartments at just 1,200 sq. feet.
Their success seems to be tied to not only their eye for design and fabrics, but also their ability to agree on what they like. “We can go into a museum and look at 50 Rothkos and we’ll both like the same one best,” said Susan.
They often imagine what a fabric could be used for when they’re considering a purchase. But sometimes, they just buy something because they like it.
Says Susan, “if we really love something, we just buy it.” “Even if we aren’t sure who else will like it,” said Alice. “It almost always sells, in the end,” said Susan.
Photo: Peter DaSilva | Special to the Chronicle


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March 17, 2005
There is a great post on Grant McCracken’s blog about “curation”. It’s the story of a chance meeting with a Nike executive on a plane. The executive explains how Nike sends out its creative teams into the field to “curate” sports. Like amateur archeologists, they dig deep into the sport seeking inspiration and language, in this story it’s the discovery of a sign in a soccer locker room that read, “no boots in the shower”, a line so authentic, Nike used it (?) McCracken describes it as a line “too quirky not to have come from real life.”
McCracken makes an interesting point here about the need for authenticity. Sports brands often have to be seemingly “inside” the game and to provide a perspective that simply cannot be faked. This is hard, as “authentic” is one of the most over-used words in the advertising lexicon and the cues for authenticity are dangerously over-used, (black and white, grainy footage, documentary style, soul) even if you are genuine, use the cues and the consumer might think your another “wannabe”, but perhaps this is where a little “curation” can help.
The story reminded me of a classic Nike soccer spot that’s at least 10 years old. Apparently, the creative team shot 50 rolls of still film at public soccer pitches to ensure they captured the right “authentic” feel of amateur soccer, Curators”, well and truly ahead of their time!Next post Previous post
|Cultural curation and punching in
Last Friday in San Francisco Alex Frankel held a...
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|Agency challenge of the year- adidas says build us a nike+
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|Understanding the changed environment- nike does
At the Nike analyst call earlier this week, an...


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Swedish fashion house Acne Studios has announced that it will be collaborating with British heritage brand Mulberry on a new leather goods collection.
The unexpected high-end collaboration will be unveiled on November 5 and will consist of bags and small leather goods, “marrying together the signature designs of the two houses,” both brands added in a short statement.
To launch the collaboration, both fashion houses released a new logo, specially created for the new collection, with the letters of Acne Studios appearing like leaves in Mulberry’s tree emblem.
No other details have been revealed, but no doubt it will combine Mulberry’s classic heritage with Acne’s off-beat aesthetic to create the hottest collaboration of the year.
Both brands shared the news on their social media, featuring a video burning the logo into wood.
Acne Studios x Mulberry collection will be revealed on November 5.
Image: courtesy of Acne Studios / Mulberry


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INVESTMENT TRUST WATCH: Staying power pays off for 30-year fund veteran who runs Value and Income Trust
Each week the daily Mail City desk takes a look at an investment trust that small investors might consider to diversify their portfolio.
WHAT DOES THIS TRUST DO?
It's a UK Equity Income trust which means it is aiming to grow savers' cash and pay a steady dividend.
Leisure stocks: One of the fund's biggest investments is Restaurant Group which is behind popular chains such as Frankie & Benny's and Garfunkels.
The fund has around 30 per cent of its money in property and the rest in UK stocks and shares. The portfolio includes big FTSE names such as L&G, Glaxosmithkline and BT.
WHAT DOES THE MANAGER INVEST IN?
Angela Lascelles has managed the fund since it launched in September 1986 - an incredible tenure of 30 years.
As well as including big FTSE names among the fund's investments she likes to look at medium and smaller sized firms for opportunities too.
Currently she likes the travel and leisure sector. She says: 'We invest in cinema chain Cineworld, pub group Marston's and travel operator Go Ahead Group. Consumer spending seems to be focused on this sector at the moment.'
One of the fund's biggest investments is Restaurant Group which is behind popular chains such as Frankie & Benny's and Garfunkels.
WHAT DO THE EXPERTS THINK?
Jason Hollands, managing director at Tilney Bestinvest, says: 'The trust is different than its peers and provides a diverse source of income from property and shares.
Five-year performance: The trust saw significant gains from 2011 to 2014 but the trend has been downward since.
'It is a trust that has long traded at a discount to its net asset value. This is now 22.9 per cent, which is common with other listed companies which own property, and does make it look a bargain.'
WHAT'S TO LIKE?
The trust currently yields a healthy 4 per cent and it's always good to see a manager who has stuck at one fund for a long time.
The smaller-company exposure in this fund provides some interesting growth opportunities and makes it different from its peers.
AND ARE THERE ANY DOWNSIDES?
With a return of 37 per cent over the past five years the trust is among the bottom performers in its group.
The exposure to small and mid-cap shares may have hurt performance recently. While the average trust is down 2 per cent over the past year, this one has fallen more than 12 per cent.
But if small and mid-caps rally it could be well placed to benefit.
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The emergence of China (and India) as significant influence in the world economy and in world markets for tradeable goods and services, commodities, labour and financial assets is, arguably, the most significant change in global macro-economics since at least the breakdown of the Bretton Woods currency system in the early 1970s.
China is the second-largest economy in the world, having overtaken France in 1984, Russia in 1985, Germany in 1987 and finally Japan in 1995. If the long-term consensus projections compiled by Consensus Economics in April are vindicated, by 2015 China will have overtaken the US as the world’s largest economy.
Even though China may rank No. 1 in terms of absolute size, in 10 to 15 years it will still be a relatively poor country. On the latest projections, China’s per capita GDP will be barely more than one-fifth that of the US in 15 years and slightly less than a third of Japan’s.


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It's been a busy weekend for dark Horse at C2E2 so far. Yesterday brought the announcement that they've acquired the Halo license and will publish a new mini-series that ties into the events of Halo 4. But they've also made announcements regarding several popular creator-owned franchises.
Hellboy fans will be happy to know that creator Mike Mignola is working on other projects in addition to the ongoing series Hellboy in Hell. Mignola is reuniting with frequent collaborator Duncan Fegredo for a new graphic novel called Hellboy: The Midnight Circus. This project flashes back to Hellboy's childhood and explores his first encounter with Hell when he runs away from home and discovers a circus full of demonic performers. This 56-page hardcover book follows a similar format as 2011's Hellboy: House of the Living Dead.
“This one owes a lot to Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes (pretty much my favorite circus story of all time), but even more to Pinocchio—especially all the spooky, disturbing bits Disney left out. And the work Duncan is doing here is just flat-out amazing,” said Mignola in Dark Horse's press release. Fegredo commented, “Growing up is tough enough, even when you don’t know the weight of the world rests on the future of your yet-diminutive shoulders. Mike has woven a tale of coming of age for the young Hellboy made all the more poignant for knowing his future. Wonderful, magical, terrifying, this is epic Hellboy on a smaller stage.”
Hellboy: the Midnight Circus is scheduled to ship on October 23 at a cover price of $14.99.
Hellboy won't be ending anytime soon, but another long-running comic book saga will be. Dark Horse announced that they've acquired the publishing rights to Wendy and Richard Pini's fantasy epic Elfquest. The franchise debuted at WARP Graphics in 1978 and was also published at DC Comics from 2003-2007. Dark Horse is bringing that six year publishing hiatus to an end in order to chronicle the final Elfquest adventure, appropriately titled Elfquest: The Final Quest. Dark Horse's press release summarizes the story, saying, "For generations, the Wolfriders sought a safe haven. Now, in the Palace of the High Ones, they have found it. But with security, the elves lose the skills that made them superb survivors in a harsh world. Elfquest: The Final Quest poses dire questions: Who stays? Who goes back to the forest? And what grim price will the Wolfriders pay?"
Specific details on the scope of this new book are scarce, but Dark Horse President Mike Richards hinted that The Final Quest will be a long-form story rather than a mini-series. “I’ve known Richard from our very first year and read Elfquest from its inception. I’ve also pursued him and Wendy for nearly as long as Dark Horse has existed. Elfquest has been a lifetime project for Wendy and it is one of comics’ great epics. I am extremely proud to bring their wonderful book to Dark Horse and particularly excited to see what is in store for us over the next three years,” he said.
We do know that The Final Quest will kick off with a prologue issue this fall, and also that Dark Horse will begin reprinting older Elfquest material alongside this new book.
Dark Horse also announced a new license being added to their growing line of collectibles - Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming's superhero crime drama Powers. Though the Powers comics are currently published through Marvel's Icon imprint, the creators have chosen to turn to Dark Horse for their merchandising needs. So far, the company is planning a statue of Retro Girl and a series of four-inch vinyl figures depicting main characters like detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim.
“We have been very particular about merchandising Powers over the years, because I wanted to make sure it was the highest-quality merchandise we could offer,” said Bendis in Dark Horse's press release. “I am a giant fan of Dark Horse and the care they give their merchandising. I am very excited about this partnership.”
Dark Horse hasn't released any images of these collectibles yet, but promised that prototypes would be on display at SDCC in July. Both the statue and the vinyl figures are slated to ship sometime in Q4 2013.
Stay tuned to IGN all weekend for plenty more news from C2E2.


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Mukesh Ambani seems on the way of aggressively pushing his plans for eCommerce and phone services in India as he is hunting for startups, from Israel and Silicon Valley.
“Owned by Reliance Industries, GenNext Ventures is in discussions with US and UK’s venture capital firms and private equity investors to pick out candidates”, said Vivek Rai Gupta, Managing Partner.
It is believed that the selected startups could use Reliance's network to gain access to a market that is now the biggest for Facebook after the US.
"It can be a two-way street, it gives them an opportunity to come to a big market like India and for us, it is an opportunity to interface with the best new ideas from that country", added Gupta, who used to head the India operations of consulting firm AT Kearney until 2008. Currently, Mukesh Ambani readies his $13.6 billion high-speed 4G phone network across India which according to Morgan Stanley will fuel eCommerce sales tenfold to $100 billion by 2020.
GenNext, backed by the refining-to-retail conglomerate, is an "evergreen fund that will invest opportunistically", stated Gupta.
"Big corporates can benefit from mentoring and supporting" startups, said Kalpana Jain, Deloitte India's New Delhi-based senior director, adding they could take advantage of "synergies".


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US stocks bounced higher as the market reopened Friday after the Thanksgiving break, with trading expected to be lighter than normal due to the holiday-shortened session.
Retail stocks could be in focus on Black Friday, when companies offer deep discounts to kick off the holiday shopping season.
The markets got off to a strong start. In the first five minutes of trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 61.75 points (0.48 percent) at 12,898.64.
The broad-market S&P 500 index advanced 6.35 (0.46 percent) to 1,397.38, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 16.72 (0.57 percent) to 2,943.26.
“The fiscal cliff negotiations still hang over the market as the dominant issue, but today the talk is all about retail on one of the busiest shopping days of the year,” said Dick Green at Briefing.com.
The US markets close early at 1:00 pm (20:00 SA time).
On Wednesday, stocks made modest gains in light pre-Thanksgiving trade after Israel and Hamas reached a cease-fire agreement. - Sapa-AFP


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March 14, 2018
Wazdan links up with iSoftBet
Wazdan, a popular online casino games developer, has sealed a content deal with leading online and mobile casino software provider iSoftBet. Under the new deal, Wazdan will integrate their suite of over 100 HTML5 casino games to iSoftBet’s Game Aggregation Platform (GAP).
iSoftBet’s GAP is an advanced platform which offers operators a diversified and robust portfolio of content through a single, seamless integration. iSoftBet GAP has an archive of more than 2000 games sourced from over 35 suppliers and will now gain access to Wazdan’s rapidly expanding library of innovative slots titles.
Wazdan’s game portfolio consists of such popular titles, as Great Book of Magic Deluxe, Magic Target Deluxe, Valhalla and Wild Guns, as well as recently released Magic Stars 3, Dracula’s Castle, Magic Fruits 4 Deluxe and soon will extended with new amazing slot games, including Los MuertosTM, Mayan RitualTM and Captain FlyntTM, among others. They will all feature on iSoftBet GAP together with over 100 other games from the popular games developer whose ‘Passion for Games’ is quietly spreading across the industry, to operators, platforms, aggregators and affiliates.
Many of Wazdan’s games are powered by their innovative suite of added-value features: Volatility LevelsTM, Double Screen Mode, Unique Gamble Feature and Energy Saving Mode, which provide operators with the ability to activate multiple features designed to enhance customer experience and engagement, improve retention, encourage extended play and produce higher yield.
Michael Probert, Head of Business Development at iSoftBet stated: “We are constantly looking to grow our product offering with high-quality content, and partnering with Wazdan gives us access to some of the most innovative slots titles created to date. Wazdan’s technology and added-value features were a big part of our decision to take the plunge with this amazing portfolio. iSoftBet are proud to be partnered with such an innovative and forward-thinking company, integrating their games and tools into our platform has expanded our game portfolio, making us more competitive.”
David Mann, Sales Manager at Wazdan said: “iSoftBet supplies some of the world’s largest and most successful e-gaming operators, we are excited Wazdan’s portfolio will be available very soon to iSoftBet’s operators and look forward to growing the business with our latest innovative games.”


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TheAgency appointed to Launch new Principality ISA Campaign
Posted by: TheAgency
Date added: Fri 25 Mar 2011
Principality Building Society is to launch an advertising campaign for its new ISA (Individual Savings Account).
The first campaign to break introduces the Society’s new Promise ISA product and is running in press, outdoor, radio, online and in branch. The campaign is being launched by Bath-based integrated creative agency, TheAgency.
“We chose to appoint TheAgency because of their approach to help raise awareness of tax free savings,” said David Edwards, channel communications manager.
“We’re very happy about the route we’ve taken for our new ISA account and our in-branch promotion which focuses on ‘beating the taxman’. It’s a big campaign with a lot of media behind it, so it’s essential to get creative cut through across all the media channels”
The Promise ISA campaign follows 2010’s Promise Saver campaign and leverages the recent press coverage surrounding tax rises to get the attention of the consumer.
As the ISA season continues post April 2011, the creative will evolve by featuring advertisements that showcase typical Principality customers promising to save tax-free for a new home or an extra monthly income.
“We all save for a reason, be it a rainy day, new car or a holiday,” said Saman Mansourpour, partner, TheAgency.
“We felt that the Principality ISA campaign should highlight these reasons, especially as the product is called the Promise ISA. The creative empathises with consumers and positions the ISA as a way of delivering on our aspirations.”
Other articles by TheAgency:
BSM launch new mobile optimised site for 16 to 24 year old learner drivers.
Tue 19 Mar 2013
Nominated in two categories, Totally Killing It, for their international client work and Best Digital Design Award.
Mon 04 Mar 2013
The dust has settled on the bidding process for the new 4G network in the UK with the main protagonists, Everything Everywhere, Vodafone, O2, Hutchinson 3G and Niche Spectrum Ventures (BT), shelling out a combined £2.34 billion for access rights. Not an insignificant sum you might say, but still only around 10% of the auction of the 3G network in 2000 and over £1 billion less than the Treasury had forecast.
Wed 27 Feb 2013
The Agency appointed to brand and launch South West of UK at Cannes festival
Thu 21 Feb 2013
There’s a lot of talk about ‘Big Data’, it’s certainly the 2013 buzz with firms EMC2, IBM, Oracle even Adobe speaking louder than most. But what does it actually mean?
Fri 15 Feb 2013
By: Jonathan Williams
By: Jonathan Chadwick
By: kitten mitten


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'SOPA'.
Currently there is a bill in the works, which the department of justice is attempting to pass. The official purpose of the bill is to "expand the ability of U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods." Which sounds like a good idea. The controversy with this bill is that while it would stop things like people uploading other's copyrighted material to YouTube and other sources, it would also put a halt to the already large and growing video game culture on the internet. Here is a brief summary of what happens in the gaming community: There are currently many internet personalities who make all of their content (Such as video game reviews, previews, and partial play throughs) using recordings of whatever video game they are reviewing or playing. Other personalities such as Sean "Day9" Plott, hosts a daily internet show where he analyzes and gives advice on how to play the popular strategy game "StarCraft 2". Other professional Starcraft players (Yes, professional, they have full professional tournaments with teams, casters, the whole deal) make a significant part of their income live sreaming themselves play the game competitively. So most people in the gaming community are vehemently against SOPA, since apparently it would mean all of these internet personalities would essentially lose their job, and the viewers would no longer have anything to watch. Granted, the bill states that if someone can get permission of the company which made the game, they can post online content including footage of the game, but many say this will over complicate what is currently a working situation. Oh and a final argument of the gaming community is that while casters, reviewers, and players are in fact using footage from a copyrighted game, their videos (which garner thousands of views) are essentially free advertising for the game company. So what is the proper view of SOPA? Should it be fought? Edit: wikipedia article on SOPA http://en.wikipedia....line_Piracy_Act


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Total UK trade will nosedive by 13 per cent, according to the London School of Economics (LSE) analysis, making a mockery of the government’s claims of a buccaneering “Global Britain” outside the bloc.
And Britons will feel the pain in their wallets and purses, with income-per-head forecast to fall by 6 per cent – just 2 per cent less than if there had been a no-deal Brexit.
The study came as a cabinet minister rebuffed a call to assess the economic damage from the Christmas Eve agreement, telling MPs it was time to “move forward”.
Meanwhile, Michel Barnier, the EU’s Brexit negotiator, dismissed UK claims of “teething problems” affecting trade – warning of “obvious, inevitable consequences” of the choices made.
While some “glitches, problems and breakdowns” caused by the introduction of new paperwork might be cleared up in the coming weeks and months, other things have “changed for good” as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, said Mr Barnier.
And he made clear that the UK will not be able to rewrite structural changes that have led to checks on agricultural exports and the confiscation of lorry drivers’ packed lunches, stating: “This agreement will not be renegotiated; it now needs to be implemented.”
As the impact of Brexit obstacles to trade began to make itself seen in the form of empty supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland, Stormont’s agriculture minister, Edwin Poots, warned that the province was facing a “major crisis” in its food supply because of the protocol signed by Mr Johnson.
“It was made very clear to us by the suppliers both to hospitals and schools that if the current arrangement for supermarkets isn’t extended in a few months’ time, they will not be able to supply our hospitals and schools with food,” Mr Poots told BBC Radio Ulster.
The new report by Thomas Sampson, associate professor of economics at LSE, found that the most important impact of Brexit on future trade arises from the UK leaving the EU single market and customs union, creating barriers to cross-Channel commerce.
“Goods trade costs will increase due to customs red tape, border delays, rules of origin requirements and the need for products to satisfy different regulations and standards in the UK than the EU,” Prof Sampson wrote in the paper for the UK in a Changing Europe think tank.
However, his study predicts even harsher effects on services industries, after the prime minister failed to secure agreement on access to the crucial EU market.
“For services, which accounted for around one-third of UK-EU trade in 2019, the increase in trade costs is likely to be even larger,” the paper warns.
“Financial firms no longer have passporting rights to serve EU clients, there is no guarantee of mutual recognition of professional qualifications, labour mobility is severely restricted, and firms will have to navigate a maze of country- and sector-specific regulations on service providers.”
Overall, the professor forecast a 36 per cent fall in exports to the EU over the next decade, a 30 per cent decline in imports, and for total UK trade to fall by 13 per cent.
Until New Year’s Day, the UK was shielded by the “standstill” transition period, but Prof Sampson said: “There is already evidence that Brexit has caused some firms to stop trading with the EU in anticipation of future changes in trade policy.”
He added: “It is likely that Brexit has only destroyed low-value trading relationships, while leaving the large firms that dominate aggregate trade unaffected. But there is no guarantee this will continue to be the case.”
And he warned that businesses reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, with staff on furlough, “will have less capacity to deal with changes in trade barriers”.
However, in the House of Commons, Liz Truss rejected a call by Labour to publish the government’s own economic assessment of the trade deal.
The trade secretary urged Labour to “move forward”, despite having released assessments for much smaller “rolled over” deals with the likes of Moldova and North Macedonia.
The government came under fire in the Commons over the damage inflicted by the trade deal on the UK fishing industry, with Tory MPs including the party’s leader in Scotland speaking out about the “serious concerns and frustrations” of fishermen.
The Scottish Tory leader, Douglas Ross, said one skipper in his Moray constituency had seen the value of his catch fall to “half of what he needs to cover his costs”.
The Tory MP for St Austell and Newquay, Steve Double, said fishermen in Cornwall were “very disappointed” by the agreement and feared they would “benefit little” from it.
Other MPs complained of an “avalanche of paperwork” and “cumbersome red tape” faced by fisheries firms.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, described the situation as “a shambles”.
“For years, this government has promised our fishing industry a sea of opportunity, but today our boats are tied up in harbour, their propellers fouled by red tape manufactured in Whitehall,” he said.
But the environment secretary, George Eustice, dismissed the difficulties faced by fishermen as “teething problems” and blamed some blockages on European bureaucrats.
“Many of these are quite trivial, about where the stamp is,” he told the Commons. “We’ve even had questions raised about the colour of the ink that is used on the forms, the pagination, the way pages are numbered and so forth.”


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Amid all the hoopla surrounding the Chinese president’s White House visit this week, American business leaders say the business environment for U.S. companies in China remains troubled.
A survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai reveals that a large majority of American businesses in China see little improvement in the business climate and in some cases face deteriorating conditions.
Issues from a continuing failure by the Chinese government to enforce intellectual property rights to rising protectionism are causing concern for U.S. businesses in China, where foreign direct investment continues to grow rapidly.
The Washington Post has an in-depth article tracing the experiences of one manufacturing company in China. Wisconsin-based Manitowoc Co. entered the Chinese market with great optimism only to find barriers at every turn.
Both stories constitute a cautionary tale for advisors interested in investing in China's growth through U.S. companies with Chinese subsidiaries. There are good investments in this sector, to be sure, but it's important to know the potential risks involved and proceed accordingly.
If you wonder why China is drawing so much attention right now, this CNNMoney article details just how much U.S. debt China currently holds.


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The number of individual and institutional investors in digital asset category is rapidly expanding – in 2020, spot trading volumes in cryptocurrencies increased by 53%. The number of advisors allocating to crypto in client portfolios rose 49% in 2020. altFINS reached tens of thousands of monthly users (up 300% in last three months) from over 50 countries and is ready to unveil its advanced crypto analytical platform to the broad crypto investment community.
Following six months of beta testing and dozens of product enhancements, altFINS officially launched its web app for crypto traders to scan, analyze and trade altcoins. Simply put, while exchanges help investors buy and sell crypto, altFINS helps investors find what to buy or sell.
Covering over 5,000 digital assets across dozens of crypto exchanges, altFINS ingests hundreds of millions of price