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The new NAFTA – dubbed the USMCA or CUSMA depending on where you live – took a significant step forward recently with the introduction of Canadian legislation designed to ratify the treaty. The economic implications of the agreement are enormous, particularly with respect to digital issues and intellectual property. Myra Tawfik, a law professor at the University of Windsor and Senior Fellow with CIGI, joins the podcast this week to discuss Canada’s longstanding history of facing external pressure on copyright, the role that trade negotiations now play with that pressure, and the implications of the USMCA.
Cooperation in the Pacific Rim by Jakob Polacsek, World Economic Forum (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/48179628441
The LawBytes Podcast, Episode 15: Cows, Cars, and Copyright – A Conversation With Myra Tawfik on the IP Concerns With Implementing the USMCA
Canadian Privacy Commissioner Signals Major Shift in Approach on Cross-Border Data Transfers
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has released a consultation paper that signals a major shift in its position on data transfers, indicating that it now believes that cross-border disclosures of personal information require prior consent. The approach is a significant reversal of longstanding policy that relied upon the accountability principle to ensure that organizations transferring personal information to third parties are ultimately responsible for safeguarding that information. In fact, OPC guidelines from January 2009 explicitly stated that “assuming the information is being used for the purpose it was originally collected, additional consent for the transfer is not required.”
How Canada Surrendered Policy Flexibility for Data Localization Rules in the USMCA
The digital policy implications of the USMCA have attracted increasing attention as Canadians consider the risks that the agreement could limit future policy flexibility. In particular, the agreement restricts the use of data localization, an increasingly popular legal method for addressing public interest concerns associated with the collection of online information by mandating that data be stored within the local jurisdiction. Restrictions on data localization are not entirely new to Canada, since similar provisions are found in the CPTPP (the successor to the Trans Pacific Partnership). That means that Canada has already agreed to limits on data localization with or without the USMCA. However, the USMCA’s data localization provision differs in a significant way, suggesting that the Canadian government has agreed to an even more restrictive approach than that found in the CPTPP.
Setting the Standard?: How the USMCA Quietly Reshapes Global Digital Trade Agreements
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is more than just an updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement. With the inclusion of a digital trade chapter, the deal sets a new standard for e-commerce that seems likely to proliferate in similar agreements around the world. My Washington Post op-ed notes that negotiators have touted the benefits of addressing modern forms of commerce, but the reality is that the USMCA digital trade chapter raises many concerns, locking in rules that will hamstring online policies for decades by restricting privacy safeguards and hampering efforts to establish new regulation in the digital environment.
Data Rules in Modern Trade Agreements: The Video
Earlier this month, CIGI posted my essay contribution to its series on data governance in the digital age. Data Rules in Modern Trade Agreements: Toward Reconciling an Open Internet with Privacy and Security Safeguards focuses on the policy challenges associated with including data provisions in trade agreements such as the TPP and NAFTA. I also sat down with CIGI for a short video on the essay. It is embedded below.


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Ericsson, the world’s largest telecom equipment manufacturer from Sweden has sued Indian mobile handset maker Micromax and its distributor for infringement of wireless patent rights.
The Swedish network equipment maker has moved the Delhi High Court claiming about Rs 100 crore in damages, saying it was taking legal action after three years of negotiations failed to yield a licence agreement on ‘standards-essential’ patents. This will make it the largest patent suit in India’s IT and telecom space, reckon patent experts.
Ericsson has a strong patent portfolio which covers most of the technology that enables both mobile phones and the networks that support them to work. Rivals hold other so-called essential standard patents and the industry has agreed a system of licensing on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms (FRAND) to ensure no one can block the development of mobile communications.
The Micromax spokesperson said the Indian company was committed to negotiate a FRAND agreement. “Micromax is committed to negotiating a FRAND licence with Ericsson as has Ericsson undertaken to providing a FRAND licence to Micromax. Since the matter is pending before the honourable court, it would be incorrect for Micromax to make any further statements on the matter.”
Justice Manmohan of the Delhi High Court, in an interim order last week, asked Micromax to pay between 1.25% and 2% of the sale price of disputed devices and deposit the amount with the court.
The court also allowed Ericsson executives to join customs officials in inspecting Micromax’s consignments to check for devices violating its patents.
“Indian courts respond swiftly and with speed, if a strong case is made out. This case marks the arrival of big ticket patent litigation in India,” said Ericsson’s counsel Pratibha Singh. Executives close to Micromax, which accounts for about 5.5% of the 200 million mobile handsets sold annually in India, rejected the charges saying the Swedish company had failed to adhere to global commitments on providing its industry-essential patents to handset makers under so-called fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Ericsson is learnt to be mulling legal action against a few other local cellphone companies as well. Local players selling low-cost handsets include Lava, Spice, Karbonn and Intex Technologies.

domain: news


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The bigger MacBook Air, introduced Monday on the firm’s Worldwide Builders Convention, has a 15.3-inch display, in contrast with a 13-inch show on most MacBook Air fashions because the product debuted in 2008. The brand new product, which begins at $1,299, sports activities the M2 chip and gives 18 hours of battery life, Apple stated throughout the occasion in Cupertino, California.
The brand new lineup will give shoppers a recent purpose to improve, particularly since many have been clamoring for a bigger MacBook Air. Apple is contending with a broader droop within the laptop trade, which had seen gross sales surge throughout the pandemic-fueled work-from-home frenzy. The slowdown has hit the corporate notably exhausting with its Mac gross sales falling 31% final quarter to about $7.2 billion “- a steeper drop than Wall Road feared.


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Alien: Isolation not coming to the Wii U
It has been confirmed that there are no plans to bring the newly-unveiled shooter Alien: Isolation to the Wii U.
When the game was officially announced yesterday there was no mention of Nintendo's home console in the game's release plans.
The official Alien: Isolation Twitter account has fully confirmed this now saying that, unlike the ill-fated Aliens: Colonial Marines, Creative Assembly's new title will not be released on the Wii U.
The account said, “Right now, we don't have plans to put the game on Wii U.“ Alien: Isolation will be released on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3 and PC later on this year.
- Spa hotlap video arrives for F1 2014
- Phil Fish puts Polytron and Fez up for sale and quits Twitter after multiple hacks
- The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter gets a PC release date
- Sony schedules PSN maintenance for Monday
- Warframe update 14 hits PS4 as it closes in on 10 million registered users
- Bungie releases the official Destiny launch gameplay trailer
- Codemasters releases a new Austria hotlap video for F1 2014
- Eden Hazard joins Lionel Messi on the cover of FIFA 15
- PS Vita getting a five-game Adventure Mega Pack hardware bundle


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You almost have to be living under a rock or in a cave to not be aware of the constant threat from cyber events in general and phasing attacks and ransomware in particular. But that’s what seems to be the case for a lot of small and mid-size businesses today.
According to an article on Help Net Security referencing a Bullguard study, “one in five companies use no endpoint security whatsoever.” None!
“Additionally, worrisome, the BullGuard study found 43% of SMB owners have no cybersecurity defense plan in place at all – leaving their most sensitive financial, customer and business data, and ultimately their companies, at significant risk.”
Under normal circumstances, SMBs would not be the first target of cyber criminals because they don’t typically offer as big a pay day as larger organizations. But due to their general lack of security, SMBs have become disproportionately large targets.
Why is that? Two reasons. The first one is that “Caught between inadequate consumer solutions and overly complex enterprise software, many small business owners may be inclined to skip cybersecurity.” The other one? Overconfidence.
“Nearly 60% of SMB owners believe their business is unlikely to be targeted by cyber criminals, however the results revealed that 18.5% of SMB owners have suffered from a cyber-attack or data breach within the past year.”
While the second reason is most likely accurate, the first one is not. There may be inadequate consumer solutions, but there are definitely not inadequate small business solutions. They exist, they’re inexpensively priced and they work.
Phishing Protection from DuoCircle is one such solution that protects small businesses from phishing attacks, the number one cyber-attack threat vector.
Phishing Protection is cloud-based email security with real-time link scanning. Cloud-based means there’s no hardware, software or maintenance costs, which is perfect for small businesses. And real-time link scanning means that companies are protected against the most sophisticated attacks today: delayed phishing attacks.
And the cost? How about pennies per month per employee. Again, perfect for cost-conscious SMBs.
Small and mid-size businesses are not doing enough to protect themselves from cyber-attacks today, but it’s not because they don’t care. It’s because they don’t know how easy and affordable it is to protect themselves. Now you know.
Don’t be a statistic. Try Phishing Protection risk free for 30 days at DuoCircle.com.


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EEX reports rising milk contracts
The European Energy Exchange (EEX) in Germany traded a total of 7,670 tons of milk commodity futures contracts in the middle of November, toppings its previous record of 6,190 tons per week at the beginning of September. The total amount covered 2,100 tons of butter, 5,020 tons of skimmed milk powder and 550 tons of whey.
On 16 November, butter for the 18-19 December was traded for €4,400 to €4,525/ton. Skimmed milk powder was €1,655 to €1,665/ton for 19 March, while whey for the first quarter of 2019 was €750 to €760/ton.
For the financial settlement of the new product EEX calculates the EEX European Liquid Milk Index. The risk management offer on the dairy market additionally includes financially settled futures on butter, skimmed milk powder and whey powder.


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New vehicle sales in Japan in 2009 are likely to fall 4.9% year-on-year to 4.86m units, according to the Japanese automakers’ trade association JAMA.
That would be the first time the Japanese vehicle market had fallen below 5m for the first time since 1978 amid worsening economic circumstances, JAMA said.
The fall will also mark the fifth straight yearly decline in sales of new vehicles – passenger cars including minicars, trucks and buses.
The association projected that overall domestic sales in 2008 will decline 4.5% from the previous year to 5.11m units due to the worsening economic situation.
The industry said that with the severe economic conditions expected to continue in 2009, personal consumption will remain sluggish on the back of corporate profit declines, deteriorating employment conditions and falls in real incomes.
Passenger car sales, excluding minicars, trucks and buses, are forecast to decline 6.9% to 3.01m units in 2009 and sales of minivehicles are estimated at 1.85 million units, down a smaller 1.6%.
JAMA said 2008 sales of new passenger cars excluding minicars, trucks and buses are projected to fall 6% to 3.23 million units. Sales of minivehicles are estimated to decline 1.9% this year to 1.88m units.


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Lithium Battery Inventor Won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
On October 9th, at 17:45 Beijing time, the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was announced. American chemists Stanley Whittingham, John Goodenough and Japanese chemists Akira Yoshino won this year's award for his outstanding contribution to the field of lithium-ion batteries.
In the 1970s, Stanley Whittingham, who worked for Exxon in the United States, invented lithium batteries. He used titanium sulfide as the positive electrode material and lithium metal as the negative electrode material to make the first lithium ion battery. Goodenough is the inventor of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and led the project team to invent a lithium-ion battery and lithium iron phosphate battery technology that can be mass-produced. The project team led by him and SONY have jointly developed a rechargeable ion battery based on a carbon material positive electrode and a lithium cobalt oxide LiCoO2 material negative electrode, which is currently widely used lithium ion battery technology.
In 1983, Akira Yoshino presented the patent application for lithium-ion batteries that we know today, using the original concept and making it safe, efficient and reliable. He replaced the unstable lithium metal on the anode with a safe conductive plastic called polyacetylene. He also introduced a polyethylene-based heat sensitive film between the reaction layers. When the battery overheats, the film melts and acts as a fuse to prevent the entire structure from catching fire. This is the first lithium-ion battery design to enter the market and consume.
Commercial lithium batteries were introduced in Japan in the 1990s, driven by research work by Whittingham, Goodenough, Akira Yoshino and others. With decades of development, lithium-ion batteries have been used on almost every portable electronic device on the planet.
Born in 1922, John Goodenough is a solid physicist in the United States, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Sciences. Goodenough received his master's and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of Chicago in 1951 and 1952. After graduation, he worked at the Lincoln Laboratory of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, laying the groundwork for the development of random access memory (RAM) for digital computers. After leaving the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined Oxford University as a director of the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory from 1976 to 1986. During this period, Goodnow discovered that the use of lithium cobalt oxide as an electrode can significantly increase the energy density of lithium batteries, and his many discoveries became the foundation of the later lithium battery industry. He joined the University of Texas at Austin in 1986 and has taught and conducted research to date. Last year, 95-year-old Goodenough led the team to develop the first all-solid-state battery.
Stanley Whittingham was born in 1941 and received his Ph.D. from Oxford University in 1968. After graduation, Dr. Whittingham went to Stanford University as a postdoctoral fellow. He worked at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering from 1972 to 1984. He then worked for Schlumberger for four years and then became a professor at Binghamton University. As a pioneer in lithium-ion batteries, Whittingham has been predicted by the media to be a popular candidate for the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and the scientific community has been vocal about his Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The 78-year-old Whittingham is still working on the first line of lithium-ion battery research, just like Goodenough.
Akira Yoshino was born on January 30, 1948. He is a Japanese chemist, a researcher at Asahi Kasei Corporation, and a professor at Mingcheng University.
The most important part of the lithium battery was invented
At the age of 57, Goodenough invented the most important components of lithium batteries and made important contributions to the development of lithium batteries; for example, this year, he is still at the forefront of lithium battery research. The following article will lead us to review Goodenough's research path.
You may have never heard of John Bannister Goodenough before seeing this article. But you must know what he is studying. In fact, you are likely to have his "work".
Looking back at the technological leap in the past six or seventy years: polio vaccine, spaceship, APA (predecessor of the Internet) and so on. In addition to these, there are two inventions that have far-reaching implications for economic and social development. Without this invention, the lives of people around the world will be completely different.
The first major invention was the transistor that was born in Bell Labs in 1947. Its emergence has changed electronic products and laid the foundation for the global economy and modern civilization. The second invention is a lithium battery. In 1991, Sony began commercial production of lithium batteries, and then lithium battery products gradually replaced the bulky electronic devices that rely on transistors.
Lithium batteries broaden the range of applications for transistors. Without a lithium battery, there would be no smartphones, tablets and laptops, and the equipment you use to read this article. Of course, there will be no companies like Apple, Samsung, and Tesla.
In 1980, 57-year-old physicist Goodenough invented the most important component of the lithium battery, the cobalt oxide cathode. This type of cathode is now used in portable electronic devices all over the world.
Now, Goodenough, who is over 90 years old, still goes to work in the small office of the University of Texas at Austin every day. He explained that my work has not been completed. After 35 years of invention of cobalt oxide cathodes, electric energy vehicles still cannot compete with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles in terms of price. The storage costs of solar and wind power generation are too high and can only be used immediately. Our prospects are not optimistic: although oil prices are now low, prices will inevitably rise according to the cyclical pattern of commodity price fluctuations; and climate change issues are also intensifying.
In short, the world needs super batteries. Goodenough said: "Otherwise, I can only say that in the future we will fight for the final energy through war, and global warming will develop to an uncontrollable level."
The good news is that Goodenough is working on a new idea with his postdoctoral assistants. He said: "I want to solve this problem before I die. I am only in my 90s and have time."
A battery is a device that causes charged ions to move directionally between two electrodes. The charge-directed movement produces a current supply to operate the appliance.
Two electrodes are required to make the battery, and ions move between the electrodes. The electrolyte solution between the electrodes acts as a medium for ion movement. The negatively charged electrode is the anode and the positive electrode is the cathode. The cation generates a current from the anode to the cathode when the battery is discharged (eg, to power the appliance). The rechargeable battery returns to the anode to store electrical energy during charging of the external power source.
Almost all battery designs ultimately come down to the choice of anode, cathode and electrolyte materials. They determine the battery's storage capacity and discharge rate.
As early as 1859, Gaston Planté invented lead-acid batteries (using lead electrodes and sulfuric acid electrolytes). In the early twentieth century, the performance of electric vehicles using lead-acid batteries seemed to outperform those of gasoline-powered internal combustion engines. The internal combustion engine is very noisy and dirty, and it must shake the heavy handle when starting. In contrast, electric cars are easy to operate and quiet. However, a series of inventions such as automotive electronic ignition devices have gradually made the internal combustion engine an advantage. For decades, few people believe that electric vehicles will replace internal combustion engines.
The idea that commercial innovation uses electric energy to replace internal combustion engines is making a comeback. Researchers around the world are scrambling to study batteries and hope to become the next Ford. Goodenough, who was still working at MIT, said that everything has changed suddenly and battery research is no longer boring. This enthusiasm lasted for the next decade and became more and more rampant with the impact of the Arab oil embargo.
Power returned to the stage and Goodenough joined the competition. In the next two decades, he invented or participated in the invention of almost all major achievements in the development of modern batteries.
First generation lithium battery
When Goodenough worked at Oxford, British chemist Stan Whittingham made a major breakthrough in the battery field. He and his colleagues at Stanford University discovered a layered electrode material that stores lithium ions between the layers of titanium sulfide. Lithium ions can shuttle back and forth between the electrodes, have charging capability, and can work at room temperature. Wittingham uses the chemical term intercalation to name this storage.
This news has attracted wide attention. Oil giant Exxon Mobil invited Whittingham to secretly develop new batteries based on his work at Stanford. In 1976, ExxonMobil applied for a lithium battery invention patent.
In the 60 years before this, the standard battery for consumer electronics was a disposable carbon-zinc battery. (Compared with it, lead-acid batteries are huge and can only be used in cars.) Nickel-cadmium batteries are also used at the same time. Whittingham's results surpassed both batteries in terms of lightness and power. If the research is successful, it will power smaller, more portable devices.
But there is still a physical law in front. The electrochemical reaction of the lithium battery works makes it easy to explode. When overcharged, the battery may ignite spontaneously. Even if you carefully avoid these problems, the battery will gradually decay during repeated charge and discharge. Lab explosions and battery decay have plagued Whittingham's work.
Goodenough thinks he can design a battery that is more effective and has no fatal flaws. Mobil's batteries use titanium sulfide as the anode material for storing lithium ions. Goodenough is very familiar with metal oxide materials at MIT. According to his judgment, the oxide electrode allows higher voltage charge and discharge. According to the laws of physics, more energy can be stored and it is not easy to explode. This is worth a try.
Lithium cobaltate · spinel · iron phosphate
But there is still a potential problem. The more lithium ions that are stored between the electrodes, the more energy the electrodes release. Goodenough considers that if lithium accounts for a large portion of the cathode material, when lithium ions are transferred to the anode, the cathode is likely to collapse due to the loss of a large amount of ion. Is there a metal oxide that can withstand this effect? If so, which one would it be? What is the ratio of this material to lithium?
Goodenough directed two postdoctoral assistants to systematically study a series of metal oxide structures. He asked the assistants to determine the voltage required for lithium release (his expected value was much higher than the 2.2V of the Whittingham battery) and the ratio of free lithium ions.
The results show that the electrode can withstand 4 volts and half of the lithium is free. This is enough for a reusable battery. Among the oxides they tested, the assistants found that cobalt oxide was the best and most stable material.
In 1980, after Goodenough arrived in Oxford for four years, the lithium-oxide cobalt oxide cathode material became a huge breakthrough. This is the world's first lithium-ion battery that can power large, complex equipment, far more than other batteries on the market. This battery stores two to three times the energy of a room temperature rechargeable battery on the market. It is not only smaller but also the same or better.
In 1991, Sony combined Goodenough's cathode and carbon anode technology to produce the world's first commercial rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which was a sensation overnight. Sony also uses lithium-ion batteries for cameras. Sony cameras that are lighter and more beautiful are quickly becoming popular.
Sony's competitors also quickly introduced similar batteries and handheld cameras, and applied lithium-ion batteries to laptops and mobile phones, forming a multi-billion dollar industry each year. Sony's breakthrough has sparked a boom in lithium-ion battery research, and laboratories around the world are looking for smaller, more energy-storing lithium-ion battery structures.
Prior to this, no one expected this study to have such a huge commercial market.
In the commonly used cobalt cathode materials, atoms are layered and the lithium ions stored therein can only move between the atomic layers. Goodenough believes that the atomic arrangement of spinels allows ions to move in three-dimensional space, so that ions have more access to the electrode plates, increasing the rate of charge and discharge. In 1982, Mike Thackeray, a postdoctoral fellow at Oxford University in Goodenough, invented a more advanced manganese spinel electrode. This electrode is safer and cheaper than Goodenough's cobalt oxide electrode a year ago.
Padhi and Okada, a Japanese NTT company researcher at Goodenough Labs, are looking for better spinel materials.
They tried different materials, such as cobalt, manganese and vanadium, without success. In the end, there was only one ferrophosphorus compound left on their list. Goodenough thought that they could only choose spinel in the end. After telling Padhi about this idea, he went on vacation.
Goodenough came back from Padhi and learned that Padhi did not get a spinel structure, as he predicted. But he discovered a naturally occurring new olivine structure and successfully extracted and returned lithium ions from the olivine structure. After inspection, Goodenough found the results to be amazing. This is the third time! The first was a cobalt oxide, followed by a spinel, now iron phosphate, and Goodenough's lab produced three major commercially available lithium-ion battery cathode materials.
Although Padhi's research was stolen by Japanese NTT researcher Shigeto Okada, he was the first to apply for a patent in Japan. Goodenough Lab was forced to become involved in a patent dispute with A123, a professor of Japan's NTT Corporation and MIT Yet-Ming Chiang. But the industry generally believes that all technologies are derived from Goodenough's lab.
A great inventor who is over 90 years old will receive a lot of honors, as does Goodenough. He is nominated for the Nobel Prize almost every year, and he is usually nominated with Japanese chemist Akira Yoshino. Akira Yoshino combined the cathodes and graphite anodes invented by the Americans to make the first lithium battery that made Sony a hit. In 2013, Goodenough received the US National Medal from the US President Barack Obama; in 2009, he won the Fermi Award. In fact, there are also awards named after Goodenough. Since 2009, the Royal Society of Chemistry has awarded the "John B. Goodenough Award" in the field of materials chemistry.
But Goodenough seems to want to end his scientific career with a great new invention. He is working on a super battery that really rivals electric and internal combustion engines, and hopes that it can economically store wind and solar energy.
His research direction involves one of the most difficult issues in battery science: how to make battery anodes with pure lithium or sodium? If this battery is successfully developed, it will store 60% more energy than existing lithium batteries. This will immediately make the electric car have the strength to compete with the fuel car. Many scientists have failed attempts over the years. For example, in the 1970s, Exxon's Stan Whittingham laboratory fired several times due to lithium battery research.
Although Goodenough didn't clarify the new idea, he thought he had some clues. And based on his previous achievements, scholars in the battery field do not doubt this. Now working at the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States, Thackeray, a South African who discovered manganese spinel under the guidance of Goodenough, said: "He is still very keen, his mind is still breaking through." "The breakthrough in this field must be An unexpected way. Goodenough is the kind of person who breaks the rules."
The research has a high stake, and Goodenough refutes many of the research methods that compete with him. For example, in his view, Tesla's Elon Musk is only satisfied with "selling electric cars to the wealthy in Hollywood" and handing over the research on the car battery for the middle class to other scientists. This complaint is not entirely correct. Although Musk sold the car to the elite at a price of $80,000 to $100,000 per car, he is gradually improving the battery and promises to produce a $35,000 car to meet the larger market by 2018.
Goodenough also doesn't see studies that only increase battery efficiency by 7% to 8% per year. He said, "We need some obvious progress, not a little bit more every time."
Including himself, no one can be sure that Goodenough will succeed this time, but he has not given up. The development of super batteries is really difficult. Goodenough said that everyone should constantly try to break through. He pointed out that we have 30 years to develop and commercialize novel batteries before the devastating energy crisis and environmental problems. He thinks that time is enough. He said: "Many people are studying lithium batteries. These people are very smart. I dare not say that I am the only one who can solve this problem."
However, he is likely to solve this problem. This is why those who know him have been following John Bannister Goodenough.
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CORRECTED: Hackers claim attack on U.S. Sentencing Commission website
(In Jan. 26 story, removes reference in first paragraph to Sentencing Commission as part of U.S. Justice Department)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hackers sympathetic to the late computer prodigy Aaron Swartz claimed on Saturday to have infiltrated the website of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and said they planned to release government data.
The Sentencing Commission site, www.ussc.gov, was shut down early Saturday. The commission is an independent agency within the judicial branch that helps craft sentencing guidelines.
Identifying themselves as Anonymous, a loosely organized group of unknown provenance associated with a range of recent online actions, the hackers voiced outrage over Swartz' January 11 suicide.
In a video posted online, the hackers criticized the government's prosecution of Swartz, who had been facing trial on charges that he used the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's computer networks to steal more than 4 million articles from JSTOR, an online archive and journal distribution service.
Swartz had faced a maximum sentence of 31 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million.
The FBI is investigating the attack, according to Richard McFeely, of the bureau's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch.
"We were aware as soon as it happened and are handling it as a criminal investigation," McFeely said in an emailed statement. "We are always concerned when someone illegally accesses another person's or government agency's network." (Reporting by Deborah Zabarenko; Editing by Vicki Allen and Bill Trott)
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Apple Inc has allowed some companies to test their apps on its yet-to-be-launched Apple Watch and adjust the tools to the watch's design, Bloomberg reported. Full Article
- For the 'unbanked', mobile money still has some way to go
- Amazon opens store on Alibaba's online marketplace Tmall
- Apple Pay stung in transactions using data stolen from retailers - WSJ
- Ride-sharing firm Uber pulling out of San Antonio over regulations
- U.S. third bitcoin auction spurs more demand with 34 bids
PM Modi to ramp up help for Indian Ocean nations to counter China influence Full Article
Knife-wielding attacker slashes face of U.S. ambassador in South Korea Full Article


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Tusk, in his formal letter on Tuesday inviting leaders to the summit, warned there was no time to lose and highlighted a gnawing concern in Brussels that keeping divergent interests among the 27 in check may be much harder when it comes to a free trade treaty
than it has been in settling Britain's divorce.
Meanwhile, a free trade treaty
has been signed between the UAE and Norway to be ratified later this year, expected to further boost bilateral trade.
When India first started negotiating the free trade treaty
six years ago, the global economic scenario was significantly different.
29 conference in Miami, said Cuba "has such good soil and it represents a challenge of such magnitude that, with the end of the embargo, the agricultural market impact on the continent would be larger that of the Free Trade Treaty
When the USA's National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)--which includes knitwear manufacturers--last October sent Obama a questionnaire on the textile industry, he pledged he would preserve the yarn-forward rule, which means that only yarn and fabric from an area covered by a free trade treaty
, qualifies for duty free benefits.
A free trade treaty
is a tool, not an end in itself," Arias stressed, emphasizing his words with a pointed finger, "and that's how we explained it to Costa Ricans.
A few weeks later Clinton's top campaign strategist had to resign after it was revealed he was lobbying for the Colombian government to get a new bilateral free trade treaty
through the U.
The third Latin American regional grouping, the Andean Community, which is just as divided, has agreed to launch a process in 2006 which should eventually result in a free trade treaty
Uruguay's government has expressed an interest in negotiating a free trade treaty
(FTA) with the US government.
The author notes that, initially, the bourgeoisie supported the Empire, at least until the Free Trade Treaty
with Great Britain (the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty), which was signed in January 1860.
The first Cafta fair was born as an immediate response to the micro, small and medium-sized businesses that today, more than ever, are demanding support that will allow them to prepare themselves to take advantage of the free trade treaty
with the United Status," says Yolanda de Gavidia, Salvadoran Minister of the Economy.
On congressional trips overseas, he's made a point of visiting countries in the Middle East to discuss a possible free trade treaty
with as many as eight of them.


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The compact sedan known as the Acura ILX is a luxury compact sedan that arrived on the scene as an all new model for the 2012 model year. It was the very first compact model within the luxury division of Honda since the CSX that found itself discontinued in 2006. A refreshed model variant of the line was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014 and went on sale this past February as the vehicle’s 2016 model. Additionally, the nest generation of the vehicle is said to arrive into the automotive market in the year 2018, it is plausible to assess that the 2017 Acura ILX will not present to consumers with a number of radical alterations. With that being said, there are a number of industry insiders and experts that contend that the 2017 offering will be high performing, but very reminiscent of the current model variant.
2017 Acura ILX Engine Specs
There are a number of reports that are stemming from unofficial automotive sites that one modification that will be expressly unique to the new offering is that of a new engine. The power for the new Acura ILX will be derived from a turbo charged 2.0 liter engine which is identical to the one utilized via the Civic Type R. The power unit is proclaimed to be capable of delivering a maximum output of upwards of 300 brake horsepower. Additionally it will find itself smartly mated with either a manual six speed transmission or a automatic eight speed transmission.
2017 Acura ILX Exterior and Interior
Speculations has the latest addition to the 2017 Acura ILX family presenting as heavily based upon the recently refreshed model. Should that prove to be true, it would host a number of alterations that include “Jewel Eye” headlights as well as a new front fascia. Avid fans of the luxury brand will easily notice that the headlights will closely resemble those that are found on models that include the MDX, the RLX and more. Consumers will be pleased to know that the new variant will gain an A-spec trim level that will host a sportier aesthetic for both the interior and the exterior.
Keep firmly in mind the fact that since there was a redesigned model variant made available this year, there will not be an abundance of modifications made. The alterations that will be afforded to the vehicle will be extremely minute. Per industry rumors, the alterations made to the 2017 Acura ILX will be cosmetic and it will more than likely come with a Type S badge. There is a bit of conjecture that proclaims that three will be a modified bumper as well as a variety of aspects that will cause the vehicle to present to consumers as more sporty in character.
2017 Acura ILX Release Date and Price
The official release of the 2017 Acura ILX has yet to be announced via the automaker at this time. Given that the latest offering was made available earlier this year, it is plausible (according to industry insiders) that automotive buyers will be able to purchase the vehicle within the first quarter of next year. There has been no mention or estimation made regarding the base pricing of the vehicle at this time.


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China will adjust its trade structure, transform the development of foreign trade and move up the global value chain, according to a guideline issued by the State Council on May 12.
To ensure this goal, which will enhance its trade prowess, it will innovate business and trade modes, as well as opening up more areas, the guideline said.
The current scale-driven and quick turnover foreign trade approach will be transformed into trade that is quality-driven and profit-oriented, the statement said.
The transformation will have five key aspects: exports will cover more areas including services and technology; instead of price advantage, the focus will be on competitive brand and quality; foreign trade growth will be mainly driven by innovation; laws and regulations will play a bigger role in creating an international business environment; and China will seek to participate in the formulation of rules governing global trade and the world economy.
The guideline also laid out specific tasks to meet the goal.
First, to vigorously boost the restructuring of foreign trade.
* Efforts will be doubled to make sure emerging markets, such as Latin America and Africa, occupy a bigger share of China’s foreign trade, while further developing traditional export markets in the United States, Europe and Japan. Imports of advanced technology and equipment will be expanded and exports of high-quality and high-grade products with comparative advantages will be boosted.
* Priority will be given to high-end industries and high-value added chains in eastern China to improve quality and profits, while support will be offered to the central and western regions to maintain the industries transferred from the east.
* Facilitate the establishment of a group of large enterprises that are capable of global operations. The development of innovative, entrepreneurial and labor-intensive businesses of micro, small and medium sizes will be encouraged. The country will also support the development of export-oriented private enterprises that encourage innovation.
*The competitive edge in exports of equipment such as for electricity and rail transportation will be boosted, as well as the exports of complete sets of major equipment. Global competitiveness in newly emerging industries such as energy conservation and new energy will be further improved.
* Service sectors, such as finance and logistics, will be further opened up, and the proportion of services in foreign trade will be higher.
Second, to improve the international competitiveness of foreign trade.
* Modern technology will be used to transform traditional sectors and improve the quality of labor-intensive products. Transnational corporations and overseas scientific research institutions will be encouraged to set up research organizations in China.
* Various means will be adopted to promote Chinese brands overseas.
* Enterprises will be encouraged to operate and conduct quality tests in accordance with international standards.
* Businesses will be encouraged to use after-sales service as an important approach to explore global markets, and improve service quality.
* The development of cross-border e-commerce will be greatly boosted.
* There will be greater promotion of free trade pilot zone across the nation while construction of the newly-established free trade zones in Guangdong province, Tianjin municipality and Fujian province will be advanced.
Third, overall cooperation with countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will be improved.
* Exports of labor-intensive products to these countries will be continued amid their infrastructure construction, to drive the exports of complete sets of major equipment, technologies and services.
* Exports of industries and capacities over which China has advantages will be encouraged to “go global” for greater cooperation. Enterprises in highly technological sectors such as nuclear power and rail transportation are encouraged to make investment in these countries.
* Cooperation in electric power transmission and optical cable communication will be expanded, to speed up the establishment of international trading routes that connect Central Asia, Russia, Mongolia, the Eurasia land bridge, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Fourth, realizing international cooperation that brings benefits to all parties.
* A key task will be the early signing and implementation of free trade treaties with South Korea and Australia and to promote negotiations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to upgrade their free trade deal. China will also work to carry forward free-trade negotiations under the framework of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which includes China, 10 ASEAN nations, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, and free trade deals with Israel and Sri Lanka. China will also advance the construction of the free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region and launch free trade deal talks with other trading partners.


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Insights from India help Google create right products for others: Karim Temsamani, APAC President, Google
"India was the first country in the world that moved to mobile for maps access. Because the population is that young and they are critically doing things differently on their devices."
State government have embarked on a project which aims at providing on-the-go information to around 5,000 athletes, officials, support staff and sports enthusiasts
Want to go out on a Friday night, but you are not sure who is free and the traffic in the city is holding you back? Social discovery apps are helping you uncover people and events around you, in real time.
Scientists have developed a new smartphone app that can detect physical injuries and mental health symptoms in athletes more accurately.
The iPhone 7 Pro also has smart magnetic connector in the lower back panel. We assume it may be used specifically with some battery accessory.
The company's $32 billion bid for ARM Holdings Plc is predicated on the notion that succeeding generations will come to depend on smart appliances that talk to each other and function free of much human intervention.
Search giant Google seems to be planning an aggressive push on hardware front.
According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the iPhone 7 is likely to sport the same design as that of iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6s models.
"We have a lot of young viewers..if you had three key points for personal success from the chief executive officer from Apple, what would you say to our young viewers?".
Global shipments of wearables like fitness trackers and smart watches grew by 67.2 per cent to 19.7 million units in the first quarter of 2016.


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Charlie "was a hip-hop artist, very 'street.' ... He started a blog, alliwantforxmasisapsp.com, where he mused in urban patois about how his cousin Pete really, really wanted a Sony PSP for Christmas." The website was a "flog," or fake blog, launched by Sony to market the game system. "Sony's admission ... comes less than two months after it was revealed that Wal-Mart's public relations firm, Edelman, had been behind the blog 'Wal-Marting Across America,'" notes Sam McManis. "Flogs aren't rampant -- yet," but "marketers often turn to alternative forms of advertising. ... For several years now, marketers have paid 'real people' to talk up products ranging from cell phones to hair gel on city buses, at sporting events or in bars. Procter & Gamble, for instance, has 'sponsored' more than 200,000 teenagers to use products and recommend them to friends." The company PayPerPost offers companies a "network of bloggers" to promote their goods. Following the Wal-Mart / Edelman incident, PayPerPost "developed a disclosure policy for bloggers to 'accelerate transparency.'"
- About Us
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Bits of this have been sneaking around the web for some time, it has now entered: Rumorsville
In an interesting move to improve their 4G coverage, T-Mobile has contacted Clear (fornerly Clearwire) about leasing an amount of their 4G spectrum. This move, should Clear agree to sell/lease the space, puts TMo in a great position to launch 4G much sooner than expected.
Sprint has already committed to using WiMax while its Verizon and AT&T counterparts have chosen the LTE technology moving forward. Tmo had not publicly chosen a route, though it seemed almost certain they would choose the LTE route themselves.
A deal with Clear however, would make jumping on board their existing WiMax connections much cheaper and offer them an instant 4G network with coverage similar to what Sprint can already offer.
An announcement like T-Mo going WiMax should also add more fury to the Sprint/T-Mobile merger rumors as well.
More details should be coming on this soon…


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Round-Up - The UK's Public Health Responsibility Deal
Here, we bring together our coverage of the introduction this week of the Public Health Responsibility Deal in the UK
The Public Health Responsibility Deal, unveiled by the UK government today, underlines its commitment to voluntary company-led measures to tackle alcohol-related problems. However, Ben Cooper believes industry should not see this as a victory in itself. The actions themselves have to deliver.
This may be one of the more pointless preachings to the converted I've taken to pen. After all, I'm sure that drinks industry detractors will no doubt read these musings and conclude: “Well, he would say that.”
The UK alcoholic drinks industry has come out in favour of the Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal, which has been announced today (15 March).
The drinks industry in the UK has hit back at claims by key health groups that a Government-brokered deal to reduce alcohol-related harm in the country "is all carrot and no stick".
- Comment - 'Craft' and the Danger of 'Romance Copy'
- Diageo's Labels Give Industry Something to Digest
- Is A-B InBev/SABMiller 'Mega-Merger' Off?
- Pernod takes positives from China Cognac bounce
- Sustainability: What Craft Teaches Multi-Nationals
- Craft is an 'abused' term - Pernod Ricard exec
- SPI Group 'disappointed' over Stolichnaya ruling
- Kraft Foods agrees Heinz merger
- Chilli targets beer with Rekorderlig Dry Apple
- Coca-Cola Amatil names new CFO
- Global rum insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Global non-Scotch whiskies insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- ALDI 2015: Radically transforming Anglo Saxon grocery markets
- Beer Market Insights Africa 2014
- Champagne: Less Than Bubbly


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A woman from Melbourne was left in complete disbelief over how much she was charged for a latte in the new area of Barangaroo in Sydney.
When it comes to coffee, aussies definitely know a thing or two.
But how much are you willing to pay for a good cup?
A Melbourne woman was left in disbelief when she was charged $ 8.90 for a latte in Sydney’s inner city barangaroo.
The woman, who goes by the name Traci on TikTok, was in the port city over the weekend when she made the purchase at a cafe inside Crown Towers.
“OMG I just got charged $ 8.90 for a cup of coffee,” she said in a now viral TikTok.
Traci, who is a migration lawyer, said she was charged $ 1 extra for soy milk, an additional $ 1 for upgrading to large, a Sunday service fee of 80 cents and an additional 10 cents for “other”.
She also described the coffee as being “average”.
Traci told 7 News that she “did not mind the price”, but she knew the coffee cost “more than usual”.
Her video has already garnered more than 140,000 views since it was uploaded just two days ago with hundreds of people emphasizing her experience.
“Just another day in Australia,” one person wrote.
“That’s why I have the Aldi coffee machine everywhere I go on holiday,” added another.
One user asked why she bothered to pay so much, to which Traci replied, “It’s not like the price appears anywhere.”
She also said she usually makes her own coffee at home, but considering she was on vacation, she wanted to pamper herself.
“Yes, I feel it myself in Melb,” commented another Melburnian.
“OMG that’s absurd. What’s going on?” said another.
Others pointed out that it is due to “inflation” and that coffee lovers can expect a rise in price.
“Coffee prices are getting indecent. $ 7 just to have it over ice the other day, ”one woman wrote.
And they may be right.
Following a sharp rise in shipping and shipping costs, partly due to the pandemic, local cafes are expected to raise the price of coffee.
President David Parnham of cafe owners and the Barista Association of Australia said the price of an average flat white across the country could jump to $ 7 by the end of the year.
“What is happening globally is that there is clearly a lack of disasters happening in places like Brazil with frost and certain growth conditions in some of the coffee growing areas,” he told ABC.
“The cost of shipping has become just ridiculous.
“It’s almost five times container prices two years ago due to global shortages of containers and ships to be able to take things around the world.”
Sir. Parnham said the average price of $ 4 for coffee currently paid was too long to rise, but companies had tried to avoid passing on extra costs to the consumer.
“It’s delayed and unfortunately it can not be maintained, and at some point the consumer will have to bear it,” he said.
But given the obsession of Australians with coffee, the increase in costs may not be fully enough to deter them from getting their caffeine fix.


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Today, via a press release, HTC announced that it would bring its compact, Android handset — the Wildfire — to “multiple regional North American carriers beginning in Q4 2010.” The Wildfire is a mid-range Android set with a 3.2-inch QVGA touchscreen display, 528MHz processor, 512MB ROM, 384MB RAM, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, 1300mAh battery, and Android 2.1 with Sense. The European and Asian Wildfire variants contain both 900/2100MHz HSPA and 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM radios. Pricing was not made public in the brief. Hit the jump for the full announcement.
HTC Brings the Compact and Powerful HTC Wildfire to the U.S.
HTC Wildfire brings speed and power to those looking for a compact, easy to use smartphone
BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ — HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today announced that the new HTC Wildfire smartphone will be made available through multiple regional North American carriers beginning in Q4 2010. With Android 2.1, and the hallmark HTC Sense experience, the HTC Wildfire smartphone offers unsurpassed access to social networks, mobile applications and popular Google services. Combining an intuitive interface and small size, the HTC Wildfire smartphone can go anywhere with anyone.
“The HTC Sense experience has changed the way millions of people interface with their smartphone for the better, making it more fun, productive and personal than ever before,” said Jason Mackenzie, president, HTC Americas. “With the HTC Wildfire smartphone, we are bringing the people-focused HTC Sense experience to customers looking for a compact, easy-to-learn smartphone that is still powerful enough to meet the needs of even advanced smartphone users.”
The HTC Wildfire smartphone helps “bring your friends to you” by employing the highly intuitive HTC Sense experience that makes people, rather than technology, its prime focus. The HTC Wildfire smartphone includes the Leap feature, to make accessing any of the seven home screens quick and easy, Friend Stream for bringing multiple social networking feeds into one easy-to-follow string and an improved People widget designed to easily organize multiple groups of contacts. With Android 2.1 onboard, the HTC Wildfire smartphone offers access to over 70,000 applications in the Android Market, a number that grows with every passing day. With the new App Sharing widget, users can not only let friends and family know about favorite applications, they can make it easy for them to find and download those applications as well. In addition, the HTC Wildfire has a 5 megapixel camera with auto focus and flash that captures outstanding images, while fast 3G connectivity makes sharing those moments with friends and family quick and easy. The HTC Wildfire smartphone makes it possible to go from shooting an image to sharing it online, whether via Flickr, Facebook, Twitter or e-mail, in one step.
HTC Wildfire is slated to be available on multiple North American carriers beginning in Q4 2010.


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For Immediate Release | October 16, 2017
Dufferin County, ON: The Dufferin Board of Trade and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcome the government’s plans to revise its proposed tax reforms and to reduce the small business tax rate as a result of the comments and concerns expressed through the national #ProtectGrowth campaign and in consultations.
“Although we still have significant reservations on some of the proposed changes, it is encouraging to see a noteworthy effort from the government to take the opinion of small businesses into consideration in this new version of the proposed tax changes”, said Chair of the Dufferin Board of Trade, Pete Renshaw.
As Canadians celebrate Small Business Week, Chamber representatives congratulate the thousands of businesspeople who joined the mobilization and made their voices heard on this important issue affecting Canadian workers and employers.
The Dufferin Board of Trade also noted the Minister’s call for further input from Canadian businesses, and intends to continue providing a voice to ensure the tax system is simpler and less of a burden on Canada’s competitiveness.
“It is always more productive when government and business work together. We can only hope the government will listen as we provide advice on those areas where more remains to be done, and that they will propose concrete data to back up their claims. The Canadian Chamber will be working with the Dufferin Board of Trade and other chambers across the country for suggestions on reforms that can improve the competitiveness of Canada’s tax system. Lowering the small business tax rate is one such measure, but there is still much room for improvement,”said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “We must ensure that Canada, and with it Dufferin County, remain attractive places to do business. Although there is a great deal of work to be done, today’s announcement is a positive first step, but we expect more and we will be vigilant on the next steps,” he concluded.
The Dufferin Board of Trade is a membership organization that champions a robust voice for the business community in Dufferin County. With over a century as a strong, trusted, and experienced advocate, the Dufferin Board of Trade is the frontline resource for business, working to ensure a prosperous and innovative business environment in Dufferin. Learn more at www.dufferinbot.ca.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the vital connection between business and the federal government. It helps shape public policy and decision-making to the benefit of businesses, communities and families across Canada with a network of over 450 chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 200,000 businesses of all sizes in all sectors of the economy and in all regions. News and information are available at Chamber.ca or follow us on Twitter @CdnChamberofCom.
Nick Lumia, Communications and Policy Analyst
519.941.0490 Ext. 206


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Debunking the “myths” of vegan fashion
A week ago, the British Consumer Choice Center announced in a press release the start of the #ChoiceInFashion campaign: “We want to inform consumers about animal-derived materials and to debunk the myths and urban legends about vegan fashion that are being spread by self-proclaimed animal rights groups.” Consumers would be put under increasing pressure to avoid animal products, laments the campaign. The CCC (which uses the same abbreviation as the Clean Clothes Campaign) represents consumers in more than 100 countries and is fighting for the preservation of a choice in consumer products (not only in fashion) and against increasing regulations. “We are closely monitoring regulatory trends in Ottawa, Washington, Brussels, Geneva and other regulation hotspots and inform and activate consumers in order to fight for the continuation of choice”, it adds. In short: the demonisation of animal products should stop.
Read more here


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Lenovo appoints Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang as board observer
Lenovo recently announced the appointment of former CEO and co-founder of Yahoo, Jerry Yang, as an observer of its Board of Directors. As observer, Yang will attend board meetings, sharing his experience and perspective as an Internet and technology pioneer.
“Jerry’s appointment as an observer to our board furthers Lenovo’s reputation as a transparent international company,” said Yang Yuanqing, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo. He believes that Lenovo continues to build on its momentum and establish itself as a global technology leader, as Jerry’s perspective, experience and proven entrepreneurial spirit will help us continue to drive growth and expand our business.
Yang, who co-founded Yahoo in April 1995 resigned from Yahoo’s board last year. “I am honored to join Lenovo as a board observer at an exciting time in its growth. I look forward to leveraging my past experience as a technology entrepreneur and innovator to provide advice as Lenovo looks at new areas of growth. I believe that Lenovo’s strong leadership team, coupled with their innovative strategy positions them well for continued success as a global leader in technology,” said Jerry Yang.
In Q3 2012, Lenovo shipped 9.4 million phones, including 9 million smartphones, mainly in China where its smartphone business made a huge profit for the first time. Lenovo is currently planning to expand its mobile business to tap global demand for smartphones and tablets.
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West Acres Mall Announces One Store’s Expansion, Another on the Move
FARGO, ND — Two stores in the West Acres Mall are taking over some extra space and announce expansion plans.
Men’s retailer Halberstadt’s is expanding into empty store space located next to its spot in the JC Penney wing of the mall.
The store was previously the location for The Limited, which closed this year.
Halberstadt’s officials say they are excited to increase their product line and better meet their customers’ needs as their business has been booming.
Also joining the wing will be Lux Spa, which is currently located in the former Sears wing.
The store will be filling the spot previously rented by Simply Mac, which also closed this year.
The move gives them 40 percent more space to accommodate customer growth.
Both locations will be open for business by this summer.


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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has interacted with the management of the Stallion Group Limited, at his Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, urging them to strive to expand their operations.
He said the automobile distribution company, distributors of Honda, Hyundai, Audi, Skoda and Ashok Leyland, should establish a strong presence in the country by getting an assembling plant for production purposes to create employment and also boost the economy.
This, he said, was possible following Stallion’s success story in Nigeria where the company had opened exciting frontiers of motoring to the people and providing them with first-hand experience of world-class automobiles as enjoyed by the developed countries.
The delegation was led by Mr. Mahesh Mahtani, Country Director of the company.
The visit aimed to officially inform the Asantehene of Stallion’s presence in Kumasi and also seek his support to enhance their activities.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu advised the company to strive for excellence in the course of their work to enable them to satisfy the needs of their customers.
Mr. Mahtani said Stallion operates through a string of showrooms and after sales centres spread all across the West African sub-region.
It could also boast of the latest diagnostic machines to service the various brands at all times.
Mr. Mahtani noted that the company’s strategy has been to stay close to the customers, understand their needs and exceed their expectations.
|Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.|


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Foodservice packaging firm Eco-Products has become an “APR Recycling Demand Champion” and pledged to increase its use of post-consumer recycled plastic.
The company, part of Novolex, offers a range of containers and packaging to foodservice operators and focuses on sustainable and renewable products.
The Demand Champions’ campaign aims to expand the market for recycled plastics, driving investment, increasing supply and producing more high-quality post-consumer resin.
Eco-Products’ director of marketing, Sarah Martinez, said: “This is all part of our commitment to a Zero Waste future for our planet.
“We’re dedicated to creating positive change by using resources wisely and keeping waste out of landfills.”
Steve Alexander, president and CEO of APR , said: “We are pleased with the impact and growth of The APR Recycling Demand Champion Campaign.
“We commend the companies that have committed to the program, and look forward to their continued efforts to expand the market for recycled plastics and enhance the plastics recycling industry.”


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Early July this year, 360 Blockchain Inc. expressed its interest to purchase BlockchainRanker and ICORanker. On July 25, 2018, they announced that they had sealed the agreement phase with the respective parties.
360 Blockchain Inc. is an organization with a reputation for investing in Blockchain-based projects. The move to acquire these platforms was to consolidate and provide crucial information on Blockchain infrastructure and initial coin offerings.
According to Jeff Koyen, an advisor at 360 Blockchain Inc. this acquisition is about moving in the right direction to establish accurate data on ICOs.
He further expounded the issue by asserting, “The token sale ecosystem has a bright future.” This move will propel the company to the next level via profitability and efficiency.
For many years, Blockchain-technology has helped entrepreneurs to build businesses by providing experience and creating value.
Koyen could not hide his excitement after this move, because he believed that combining skills and resources from all the three organizations would be used to achieve a common goal.
Despite the change in ownership, Chad Kettering and Armando Pantoja, co-founders of ICORanker have vowed they will closely work with 360 Blockchain Inc to ensure continuation of service to ICORanker’s clients and advertisers.
Koyen pointed out that after integrating ICORanker into the Blockchain 360 family, the next company on the list will be BlockchainRanker, which will happen sometimes later in the year. The software is crucial for information to Blockchain infrastructure, and this will be a wide leap for 360 Blockchain. According to a report released by Koyen, measures are in place to ensure that this company also will be managed accordingly.
In a report generated by the company, 360 Blockchain Inc. still owes $250,000 worth of restricted shares and that will be accordingly be distributed to the proprietors of ICORanker.
The news have been received with much excitement by the shareholders of 360 Blockchain as they feel that the move is a step towards increasing the share value. To users, this step will improve the quality and credibility of the information offered on this platform.
About 360 Blockchain Inc: 360 Blockchain Inc. is a company that deals blockchain-based ranking and development of applications for private and public blockchain technologies such as smart contracts, cryptocurrency, cryptographic security, and decentralized data management. It’s headquarters are situated in Vancouver, Canada, and was incorporated in 2009, initially known as 360 Capital Financial Services Group Inc. but changed the name in 2017.
About Quant Index: Quant Index is a company that buys, sells and invests in emerging technologies including blockchain and artificial intelligence. It’s headquarters are situated in Tampa, Florida and was incorporated in 2017.


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It has been nearly 5 years since Microsoft launched Windows 10 back in July 2015. In May 2016, it quickly crossed 300 million active users as Microsoft offered a free upgrade to all Windows 7 and 8 users. Now, Microsoft has announced that the number of active users of Windows 10 devices has crossed a total of 1 billion.
This number includes 80,000 models and configurations of different laptops including new categories Surface Pro, Surface Book and Surface Hub 2S. It powers mixed reality and HoloLens headsets and even the entire Xbox family of consoles. Later this year, Microsoft will announce a new version of Windows 10, called the Windows 10X that is designed to run on the upcoming Surface Neo, a new dual-screen device.
When Microsoft announced Windows 10, they stated that this will be the last version of Windows and that from now on, there will only be small software updates to it. Adoption rates of Windows 10 was also much higher than previous versions due to the fact that Microsoft offered a free upgrade to everyone who was running Windows 7 or 8. With this method, Microsoft could enable faster adoption and focus more on other services that Windows 10 could enable with its customers.


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The program is part of the Ministry of Trade and Industry strategy to double exports and bring in around $100 billion annually, as well as boosting exports to foreign markets as a main source of foreign currency for the Egyptian economy.
The program also aims to raise employment rates in various industries to absorb the shock caused by the pandemic which led to the suspension of certain economic activities.
For the first time, the program will include, the introduction of new industries to the list of sectors benefiting from export support.
This is part of the Export Development Fund’s Board of Directors approval of a sectoral program to support exports of vehicles for a period of 7 years, and a program to support ceramic exports.
This includes the inclusion of a new group of products to the support program including medicines, industries feeding electronic and electrical devices, production lines, molds, and some items in the chemical sectors.
The new program was prepared in coordination and cooperation with the industrial sector, export councils and all relevant ministries and government agencies.
The new program has several pillar, with one focusing on repaying export burdens and to further develop Upper Egypt, city of Al-Rubiki and the city of Damietta, alongside other border cities.
Damietta’s exporting furniture companies were granted an additional 50 percent of basic support ratio.
The other pillars include supporting projects in the economic zone of the Suez Canal, boosting access to African and other markets, transport support including air cargo and transport support programs, and aiming to increase exporters through providing an additional percentage of support over the increase in exports.
The final pillar includes granting an additional 2 percent for exports bearing an Egyptian brand.
Currently, exports to African markets were granted an additional 50 percent boost in subsidies for exports and subsidized up to 80 percent of shipping fees.


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Toyota Ghana Limited, an automobile Company, had linked up with the Cape Coast Technical Institute (CCTI) to open to serve as a training workshop for students and servicing point in the Central Region.
Located at the premises of the Institute, the Cape Coast Centre is the fourth service shop after Accra, Kumasi and Tarkwa, and its establishment in the Central Region was as a result of the collaborative efforts of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and CCTI.
Inaugurating the shop, the Principal of the Institute, Mr Ernest Lyall, noted that, digital electronics and ICT have invaded all facets of industry, with automotive technology being the worst affected.
He said the centre was therefore timely, to help update the knowledge of both teachers and students on the modern trends in the automobile industry.
Mr Lyall said to qualify for the facility to be opened in the School, the skills of teachers and students of the automobile department were upgraded, while more modern equipment was acquired, to meet standards in contemporary trends in the industry.
He was full of praise for JICA for its solidarity and support and Toyota Ghana for the training of technicians, as well as students and staff, for their commitment and hard work towards the successful establishment of the workshop, which he noted, would be of immense benefit to the school.
Mr Takahiko Takabayashi, Managing Director of Toyota Ghana, commended CCTI for being the first educational institution in the country to be certified as a Toyota Ghana Authorized Shop (TGASS) and urged it to serve as a beacon to similar institutions.
He gave the assurance that customers would have quality services because the Company had taken the technicians through rigorous intensive training and they had acquired the requisite skills and professionalism required.
Mr Takabayashi said, to further provide customer satisfaction, the facility would be extended to cover the whole country, to enable its customers to have services at their door steps.
Mr Jiro Inamura, Resident Representative of JICA underscored the importance of the shop to CCTI, adding that, students would be exposed to world class technique and service of Toyota Ghana.
The Oguaamanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, who chaired the function, said the long standing relationship between Ghana and Japan was very much cherished and commended JICA and Toyota Ghana for their immense contribution towards the successful establishment of the workshop.
He said the centre was a clear indication of a public private cooperation and asked the technicians to ensure that standards were maintained while spare parts made available at all times.


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First launched in New York during 2009, the world’s largest sneaker convention has amassed to host more than one million attendees and vendors worldwide. Held in more than 40 cities across the globe, today the annual event announced its ascendence onto Australia’s Sydney, come late May.
Attracting sneaker heads across the country, the community will come together in buying, selling and trading for some of the most sought-after footwear. Yes, those limited-edition Yeezy’s *could be there. Along with the chance to nab rare models and new releases, Sneaker Con Sydney will also boast a heap of giveaways, and other activities such as the famous trading pit, panel discussions, digital platform showcases – and there’s more to come.
Do you know if you’re wearing authentic sneakers? Visitors can also take advantage of the on-site sneaker identification, appropriately named ‘LEGIT Check’ service. It will provide a free sneaker authentication service and give tips and ticks on how to identify real versus fake kicks. If you’re feeling creative, the anticipated event will also see a customisation zone, where designers will create personalised sneakers for customers on the spot.
In the meantime, Sneaker Con also has an app and features a range of content including a marketplace and innovative authentication methods while providing the vast community with a platform to engage at anytime.
Sneaker Con will take place on May 25 at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Sydney. Are you a fellow sneaker head? For more information and to grab tickets, check out the website here.


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Recent news from the UK's Office for National Statistics reveals that there was no double dip recession after all, but the positive information comes with a little twist in the tail.
Figures in the same report revealed that household disposable income saw the biggest drop in 25 years, meaning that many people are having to dip into their savings to make ends meet.
The ONS figures also revealed that the recession sparked off by the financial crisis in 2008 was deeper than originally thought.
This got me thinking about the impact that corporate scandals have had on companies, shareholders and the wider public.
The visual representation below comes from Accounting-Degree.org.
Thoughts on customer service, communication and, of course, reputation management.


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AOL Time Warner said Tuesday that it is not in negotiations that
could lead to an acquisition of Linux manufacturer Red Hat.
On Saturday, The Washington Post reported that the media giant
was near to cutting a deal with Durham, N.C.-based Red Hat in a competitive strike against Microsoft.
"The Washington Post story is incorrect," said AOL Time Warner
spokesman Andrew Weinstein. "AOL is not in negotiations with Red Hat."
A representative for Red Hat declined to comment.
Even if the two companies are not considering a merger, AOL Timer Warner could license Red Hat Linux for use on PCs or other devices in conjunction with its online service. The AOL service currently is available only for Windows and the Macintosh, although the Netscape browser supports Linux. AOL currently has a Linux licensing deal with Red Hat for one of its Internet devices.
Financial analysts expressed their reservations about the possibility of an acquisition, suggesting instead that a strategic relationship makes more sense.
In a research note titled "RHAT Bought by AOL? Before or After Space Aliens Bear Elvis' Love Child?" MacDonald Investments analyst Brent Williams on Tuesday described the a merger as "extremely unlikely."
Merrill Lynch analyst Peter Von Schilling offered a similar assessment.
"AOL buying (Red Hat) seems unlikely, in our view," he wrote in a Tuesday research note. "But we think there could be a strategic partnership/customer deal brewing" for Linux on Intel-based Web servers, the Netscape browser or embedded operating systems, or as a straightforward strategic investment, he said.
Linux is a popular Unix derivative developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Like Windows, Linux runs on Intel-based PCs, but it uses a different licensing mechanism. While Microsoft controls the source code to Windows and charges a fee for every copy sold on PCs, Linux uses an "open source" model through which companies have the right to install as many copies of the operating system as they wish.
On the surface, competing with Microsoft in the operating system market would seem to make sense, especially as AOL Time Warner increasingly knocks heads with the software giant in the market for Web services used on the desktop.
Gartner predicts that next year 80 percent of companies developing software such as operating systems will support Web services architectures.
But Linux, which has some traction in the server market, has negligible share in the desktop market, making the acquisition of a company like Red Hat a potentially losing strategy, analysts warn.
AOL, in fact, has tried twice to bring out Linux desktops. In 2000, AOL and Gateway touted the Touch Pad, a Web-surfing appliance with a Transmeta processor. Four months later, Gateway stopped promoting it. And AOL Avant, a joint venture in Spain, also has promoted the Dot.Station, an Internet-surfing terminal from Intel. Dot.Stations did reach consumers, but the project has since been de-emphasized.
"Since AOL's real strength is in content creation and delivery--both on the AOL side and the Time Warner publishing and cable operations--we think AOL's real strategy is to make the operating system irrelevant," Williams wrote. He also described as "patently absurd" the idea that consumers or businesses would replace Windows simply because AOL Time Warner bundled its online service with Linux.
Microsoft's dominance in desktop applications, such as word processors and spreadsheets, and the small number of Linux games, are other strong reasons that "we do not think that customers would want to take the risk" to switch to AOL/Linux from Windows, Williams emphasized.
"Linux in the desktop market in the U.S. is basically a non-starter," said Chris LeTocq, industry strategist with Sage Circle. "The applications in the U.S. apart from servers tend to be OEM set-top boxes. For desktop or set-box use in the U.S., it makes more sense to get an OEM license. There's no need to purchase a company that's in the distribution services business."
Outside the United States is "another story," LeTocq said.
A Linux OS and online service package could be sold for much less than Windows if the package were based on AOL's monthly billing plan, as the Windows licensing plan is more expensive.
"A desktop vendor in Latin America or especially China, if they can save 50 to 60 bucks on a PC, that's a big deal," LeTocq said. "It's conceivable that a Linux alliance with a media company could work in that environment."
Even if AOL Time Warner does nothing with Red Hat, Williams emphasized that the Linux company is in a strong position.
"We strongly believe Linux is for real and that (Red Hat) is the quality name to own to take advantage of Linux's momentum," he wrote. But he noted that he had rated the company as a "hold" as it "begins to develop momentum in its Unix-to-Linux consulting business and stabilizes the fluctuations in the embedded systems group that have been driven by the ebbing fortunes of its device manufacturer client base."
The merger rumors come as competition intensifies between AOL Time Warner and Microsoft. Earlier this month, for example, the media conglomerate responded to Microsoft's .Net Alerts service by launching AOL Alerts. Both services use instant messaging to deliver custom stock quotes, auction updates or other information to computers, handhelds and cell phones, among other devices.
The companies started knocking heads openly last summer, when negotiations collapsed over how to include a version of AOL software with Windows XP. AOL Time Warner responded by cutting separate deals with PC makers that ensured desktop placement alongside Microsoft's MSN.
As the number of AOL subscribers has increased, MSN has added members more slowly. AOL subscribers swelled from 9 million in fall 1997 to 33 million at the beginning of this year. In December alone, AOL gained 1.9 million new subscribers, the company said. MSN, by contrast, floundered for years, going from 2.5 million subscribers in 1997 to 7.7 million in December.
But the AOL service is largely dependent on Windows, where Microsoft increasingly leverages its monopoly operating system against AOL Time Warner.
Windows XP, for example, has multiple hooks--messaging, media playback, online authentication and photo processing, among others--that tie back to MSN.
"Microsoft has a clear advantage with Windows XP and driving traffic to MSN," said Gartner analyst Michael Silver. "It's the foundation for their Web services strategy."
In the future, Microsoft plans to offer paid services through its MSN Web site, some of which are expected to require use of the online service component. Like AOL, Microsoft already charges a monthly fee for MSN online access, something it is expected to do with MSN Web services leveraged off the desktop.
From this perspective, AOL Time Warner could benefit from a Linux deal, particularly as Microsoft sees some real gains from its desktop-tied-to-the-Web strategy.
Internet Explorer, which is integrated into Windows XP and available separately for older Microsoft operating systems, is a good example. Internet Explorer 6 replaces the more typical "page not found" with an MSN search page. That tactic helped Microsoft claim that MSN had beat out Yahoo for Internet searches during November.
But market researcher Jupiter Media Metrix, which tabulated the data, concluded the "page not found" redirections accounted for about half of the MSN searches. MSN search pages led Yahoo 36.6 million to 31.9 million visitors in November, according to Media Metrix.
"If you look at how much traffic the auto-search redirection generated from MSN, it's almost 50 percent," said Media Metrix analyst Michael Gartenberg. "That's a huge number they essentially picked up for free by being the default."
Whether AOL is looking at Linux or not, the company must find a way to neutralize Microsoft's desktop advantage, analysts say.
"As long as Microsoft can drive services off the desktop, they're going to have an advantage over AOL," Silver said.


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New extraordinary production from the Swedish DJ/producer Ted Nilsson in a collaboration together with Carl Hanghan called Wear It Out, getting released through Discopolis Recordings soon! The release features a remix made by Mr. Vasovski as well, listen to them both here below!
0:00 - Wear It Out (Original Mix)
1:02 – Wear It Out (Mr. Vasovski Remix)
Here is a preview of Carl Hanaghan & Ted Nilsson’s upcoming remix of Stockholm Disco’s summer anthem called Forever. It will be released on Beatport 30th of August. You can already buy it now on Traxsource here. Stay tuned!


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In what the company is describing as the biggest overhaul yet, Facebook today released a new SDK for Android designed to help app makers on the platform get their Facebook-enhanced applications in front of more of the social network’s 1 billion members.
“With this update, our SDK provides advanced functionality that makes it easier to build more immersive social experiences, as well as better distribute and promote your app,” Facebook engineer Michael Marucheck wrote Thursday in a blog post.
The updated Android SDK, currently in beta, comes with more native user interface controls such as new friend picker (pictured) and login designs, tools that streamline the user authentication process, improved support for the Facebook API, and means to measure clicks and installs for the mobile app install ads released publicly yesterday.
In addition to the SDK release, the social network gifted its Android developers with a beefed-up developer center. The center includes tutorials, reference documentation, sample code, and additional tools for building social applications.
Photo credit: gp sachs [à Montréal]/Flickr


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NEW YORK— Shares of some top chemicals companies are mixed at 1 p.m.:. Dow Chemical Co. rose$. 26 or. 5 percent, to $51.38. DuPont Co. fell$. 12 or. 2 percent, to $64.83.» Read More
NEW YORK— Shares of some top chemicals companies are down at 10 a.m.:. Dow Chemical Co. fell$. 30 or. 6 percent, to $50.90. DuPont Co. fell$. 37 or. 6 percent, to $64.67.
RICHMOND, Va.— A South Korean chemical company has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a criminal complaint alleging attempted theft of a competitor's trade secrets. The complaint against Toray Chemical Korea Inc. was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Richmond.
July 8- California regulators violated the law by approving expanded use of pesticides that have been shown to hurt honeybees needed for pollinating key American crops, according to a lawsuit filed against the state by environmental groups on Tuesday.
NEW YORK— Shares of some top chemicals companies are down at 1 p.m.:. Dow Chemical Co. fell$. 20 or. 4 percent, to $51.03. DuPont Co. fell$. 31 or. 5 percent, to $65.33.
NEW YORK— Shares of some top chemicals companies are down at 10 a.m.:. Dow Chemical Co. fell$. 54 or 1.1 percent, to $50.69. DuPont Co. fell$. 62 or. 9 percent, to $65.02.
*Shipping sector under pressure to use fuels with lower emissions. SINGAPORE, July 7- Methanol, a fuel used to power light aircraft and racing cars, is being tried out as alternative for ships, highlighting its potential in an industry under pressure to cut emissions.
NEW YORK— Shares of some top chemicals companies were up at the close of trading:. Dow Chemical Co. rose$. 53 or 1.0 percent, to $52.05. DuPont Co. rose$. 44 or. 7 percent, to $65.80.
NEW YORK— Shares of some top chemicals companies are up at 1 p.m.:. Dow Chemical Co. rose$. 53 or 1.0 percent, to $52.05. DuPont Co. rose$. 48 or. 7 percent, to $65.84.
NEW YORK— Shares of some top chemicals companies are up at 10 a.m.:. Dow Chemical Co. rose$. 44 or. 9 percent, to $51.96. DuPont Co. rose$. 32 or. 5 percent, to $65.68.
BEIJING, July 3- Chinese petrochemical imports have become the latest commodity financing tool to come under investigation for possible fraud, highlighting the risks from the widespread use of raw materials as collateral to raise loans and skirt credit restrictions.
WASHINGTON— U.S. manufacturing grew in June for the 13th straight month. The Institute for Supply Management said Tuesday that its manufacturing index dipped to 55.3 in June from 55.4 in May. Last week, the Commerce Department reported that orders for U.S. durable goods fell 1 percent in May, dragged down by a drop in demand for military equipment.
*Solvay boosts European chemicals sector. LONDON, June 30- European equities steadied on Monday, as gains in chemicals companies led by the Belgian group Solvay were offset by weaker travel stocks after a ratings downgrade caused easyJet shares to slump. European chemicals shares rose 0.6 percent, boosted by Solvay.
*Deal comes after Sherwin-Williams's failed deal for Comex. June 30- Paints maker Consorcio Comex SA de CV agreed to be acquired by chemicals maker PPG Industries Inc for $2.3 billion, after the Mexican company's deal with U.S. rival Sherwin-Williams Co fell through earlier this year.
June 30- Coatings maker PPG Industries Inc said it would buy Mexico- based Consorcio Comex SA de CV, an architectural and industrial coatings company, for $2.3 billion.
June 27- Univar Inc, the largest chemical distributor in North America, filed with U.S. regulators on Friday for an initial public offering of up to $100 million.
June 26- Chemicals maker DuPont cut its operating profit forecast for the second quarter and the full year, saying sales in its agriculture and performance chemicals units increased at a slower pace than it had expected. DuPont has been focusing on its agriculture business, its biggest, for the past few quarters.
June 25- Home Depot and other U.S. companies are working to eliminate or limit use of a type of pesticide suspected of helping cause dramatic declines in honeybee populations needed to pollinate key American crops, officials said on Wednesday.
*Syngenta declines to comment on report of Monsanto talks. ZURICH, June 24- Syngenta's shares jumped on Tuesday after a media report that the Swiss crop chemical maker had been in talks about a $40 billion takeover by U.S. rival Monsanto Co to create the world's largest agrochemical company.
*Syngenta declines to comment on report of Monsanto talks. ZURICH, June 24- Syngenta's shares jumped on Tuesday after a media report the Swiss crop chemicals maker had been in talks about a $40 billion takeover by U.S. rival Monsanto Co. to create the world's largest agrochemicals company.
*Seifi Ghasemi to replace John McGlade. June 18- Industrial gas producer Air Products& Chemicals Inc named Seifi Ghasemi chief executive, amid pressure from Bill Ackman to overhaul its management, sending its shares up 8 percent to a life-high.


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iGaming supplier and aggregator Relax Gaming has announced its latest landmark deal having partnered with leading online brand, PokerStars, to bring player-favorite games to an “enormous international audience.”
Under the new agreement that will encompass a multitude of markets, the B2B multi-vertical gaming provider’s award-winning slots portfolio, including popular titles such as Iron Bank, Temple Tumble and Money Train 2, will be made available to the operator’s sizeable international player base.
In addition to The Stars Group-owned operator’s own games, it will also be able to choose content from Relax’s more than 50 cherry-picked aggregator partners including 4ThePlayer, Fantasma Games, and Australian games developer, ReelPlay, made possible by its successful Silver Bullet and Powered By Relax partnership programs.
Courtesy of the collaboration, the Malta and Estonia based provider’s presence across key European jurisdictions, with Spain and Italy targeted as high-priority markets for both Relax and PokerStars as the former looks to continue its expansion effort.
Chief Commercial Officer for Relax Gaming, Daniel Eskola, explained that the new partnership offers “important added visibility” and noted the company’s rapid growth in the market and enthusiastic strategy for 2021.
The CCO added…
“It’s always a pleasure to partner with the world’s leading online brands that are making a huge impact in the market through innovation and a quality offering.
“PokerStars is an operator with enormous status and reach. I’m sure the addition of our extensive portfolio will only benefit that further as they continue to expand and differentiate themselves from the competition.”
Latest partnership deals & awards:
In addition to its latest mining-themed release, Troll’s Gold, Relax has secured a series of strategic partnership deals including a B2C agreement with established local online sports betting operator, FavBet Online, significantly improving its footprint in the Romanian market. And its new alliance with Danske Spil A/S brand, Tivoli, further expanding its presence in Denmark’s iGaming space.
Not to be overshadowed, the firm also notched a win at the February EGR Nordics 2021 Awards for Casino Content Supplier while it impressed at the 2021 EGR B2B Awards, held July 7th in London, winning in a total of four categories including Bingo Supplier, Innovation in Mobile, Casino Software Provider and Poker Supplier.
Relax Gaming has offices in Finland, Estonia, Gibraltar, Malta, and Serbia, while currently offering its numerous partners in excess of 2,000 online games, which feature premier slots from its in-house studios, as well as an extensive collection of aggregated content via its Powered By Relax and Silver Bullet partnership programs. One of the biggest suppliers in Europe, it is the owner of licenses from various jurisdictions, including Alderney, Malta, Romania and the United Kingdom.


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Postal News Roundup
Office Depot and Staples Scrap Merger After Judge’s Ruling
The American Antitrust Institute and the American Postal Union were among the organizations that wrote to the FTC to oppose the merger.
Federal Judge Blocks Staples’ $6.3 Billion Acquisition of Office Depot
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Staples’ $6.3 billion acquisition of Office Depot, siding with regulators who argued the merger of office supply titans would reduce competition and raise prices.The companies said they would not appeal the decision and would instead abandon the deal.


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After Jisoo uploaded a photo of her new iPhone 13, the online community engaged themselves into a heated debate between 2 sides: “Their contract ended long ago” vs “Not loyal”.
Samsung Electronics has produced and sold a limited edition – the Galaxy A80 BLACKPINK edition, focusing on the fact that idol group BLACKPINK is gaining huge popularity in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, on Oct 11th, a photo of BLACKPINK, the Galaxy edition ex-models, replacing all of their phones with iPhones at the same time was uploaded on an online community with the title “No mercy after the contract is over.“
According to the post, BLACKPINK Jisoo said on her Instagram on the 10th, “Wow, I finally changed it. New phone, cute case” and certified herself as an iPhone 13 user.
To further amplify the phrase “No mercy after the contrast is over“, this account cited that BlackPink Jennie also posted a selfie to her 53 million followers SNS confirming that she is also a user of the iPhone 13. BlackPink Rosé is also using an iPhone.
Some pointed out that BLACKPINK was the model of Samsung and could be misunderstood for reluctantly using the Galaxy, due to Jisoo’s post that said, “I barely changed it.” But this is not true.
The A80 CF modeled by Black Pink was broadcast in July 2019, and the contract ends in August the following year. It has already been more than a year since their contract with Samsung ended, which is why many fans explained that “finally changed” and “new phone and cute case” simply mean that the iPhone 13 was out of stock and she had had to wait for a long time.
The account tagged by Jisoo in the photo was a phone case company.
Samsung introduced the Galaxy A80 BLACKPINK special edition in Thailand and Malaysia in 2019.
Samsung Electronics has put forward BLACKPINK, a K-pop girl group, as their promotional model to promote the Galaxy A80 in the Southeast Asian market.
Netizens responded, “In Southeast Asia, low-cost phones went well. That’s why they became A80 models”, “The post is malicious edited”, “Shouldn’t they choose a Galaxy user to be the Galaxy model?”, “Isn’t it similar to saying I like the soju brand Chamisul more after ending the contract with Chum Churum?”, “Everyone has the freedom to use the phone they want to use”, “Their contract ended long ago, what’s the deal?”