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22/06/2016 – Governments must act faster to help people and firms to make greater use of the Internet and remove regulatory barriers to digital innovation or else risk missing out on the potentially huge economic and social benefits of the digital economy, the OECD told ministers and high-level officials from almost 40 countries today.
Opening the Organisation’s 2016 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, Mexico, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said national legislation and policies in everything from education to investment were not keeping up with the rapid pace of digital innovation. Countries should address a slowdown in investment in internet and communication technology (ICT), extend high-speed Internet infrastructure and improve digital skills in order to narrow the gap between digital “haves” and “have-nots”.
“Too many countries are taking a 20th Century approach to a 21st Century technology that is moving faster than any other the world has seen,” Mr Gurría said. “The Internet is profoundly transforming the way we live and work, but we could be getting a lot more out of it. The longer we dither on the digital economy, the less benefit we will get out of it as societies.”
The digital transformation crossed a critical threshold in 2013 as high-speed Internet reached 80% of people in advanced economies and smartphone shipments overtook conventional mobile phones. This has unleashed an era of ubiquitous mobile computing that has accelerated e-banking, e-commerce and digital platforms for services like ride-sharing or home rental to the point where it is urgent that we act collectively to assess how to best exploit these opportunities.
Four billion people still have no Internet access, and the United Nations has made it a global goal to connect them by 2020. Too few businesses are adopting advanced digital technologies like supply chain management tools that can boost efficiency and innovation. For example, less than 30 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in OECD countries use cloud computing. Prices of access to digital infrastructure and data and concerns over security risks and privacy rights are factors discouraging investment.
While 27 of the OECD’s 34 member countries have a national digital strategy, there has not been enough consultation across borders in drawing them up. More coordination could help resolve difficult issues such as security, privacy and regulatory barriers to peer-platform businesses or services like telemedicine.
The level of Internet openness will also affect the digital economy’s potential. According to the Global Commission on Internet Governance (GCIG) “One Internet” report, presented at the Ministerial, an open and accessible Internet should generate several trillions of dollars a year in economic benefits. A fragmented Internet on the other hand would weigh on investment, trade and GDP, as well as on the right to free expression and access to knowledge.
Digital economy facts and figures:


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One of the heads of CD Projekt, Adam Badowski, you have confirmed that he will take Cyberpunk 2077 to the public plant of E3 2019, which could confirm that the demonstration will not be as secret as it was in the past E3 2018 and that the users will be able to enjoy the novelties of the title on the same date as the professionals displaced to Los Angeles.
Since its mere introduction in 2012, Cyberpunk 2077 has been one of the best kept secrets of the videogame industry. Although the public was only shown to trailer at the Xbox conference, the production became one of the best titles seen in the past E3. The publication of the one-hour demo in Los Angeles at the beginning of June 2018.
Cyberpunk 2077 still has no release date. It can be played on PS4, Xbox One and PC on a date to be determined. Will we know something in E3 2019? Do not miss the dates and times of E3 2019 to enjoy everything that is present in Los Angeles.
— Adam Badowski (@AdamBadowski) May 23, 2019

domain: news


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Gen Z is rapidly becoming known as the most entrepreneurial generation ever, with 62 percent of Gen Zers indicating they have started—or intend to start—their own business.
Is Gen Z more entrepreneurial?
Gen Z: The Entrepreneurial Generation
Generation Z has already been dubbed a group of super creatives and digital masterminds, and now the most entrepreneurial and innovative generation yet. Because Generation Z grew up in an era of overall progress, they are determined to make the world a better place.
Why is Gen Z so entrepreneurial?
Heintze explains that Gen Z workers will expect a high degree of independence and autonomy in whatever environment they’re in. That includes flexibility in terms of where, when and how they work, as well as the ability to have some ownership over their work, whether it’s for themselves or as part of an organization.
Are Millenials more entrepreneurial?
Forty seven percent of millennials believe all Americans have the means to start their own business, and 84 percent revealed that they are more satisfied as an entrepreneur than when they worked for someone else. However, older generations are approaching entrepreneurship more cautiously.
Which generation is the most successful?
Overall Power, By Generation
Baby Boomers lead the pack when it comes to overall generational power, capturing 38.6%.
Who is the most famous Gen Z?
When it comes to specific musicians named, BTS, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Bieber all made the top 10, and BTS was in fact the top “famous person” named by Gen Z overall.
Who is first generation entrepreneur?
First generation entrepreneurs are people who are first in their family to start their own business. They lack a business background. There is no one in their family to guide them. Most of the time their families don’t support their business ventures.
How successful will Gen Z be?
BofA said Gen Z’s economic power was the fastest growing across all generational cohorts. This generation’s income is expected to increase fivefold by 2030 to $33 trillion as they enter the workplace, accounting for over a quarter of global income and then surpassing millennials’ income by 2031.
What are Generation Z characteristics?
Generation Z characteristics are interesting and specific; Generation Z features avid gamers and music-goers, and they are known for being ever-present messaging, on the internet, on social networks, and on mobile systems—they are truly the “Digital-ites.” They tend to care about trends, but are also quick to research …
What’s after Millennials generation?
Generation Z (or Gen Z for short), colloquially also known as zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years.
Why millennials become entrepreneurs?
Millennials have reflected on their career choices, adapted to remote working, and made decisions on where they want to live and how they want their lives to be. They have also been tapping into their entrepreneurial side and launching new businesses and pursuing their passions.
Why are millennials not starting businesses?
Most millennials came out of school to find their job prospect severely reduced by the Great Recession. Although the economy has since recovered from that, many millennials were left psychologically scarred with feelings of financial insecurity and instability.
What percentage of millennials prefer to work for a startup?
Young adults value “experiences” over products and services — 73% prefer these over material goods. 46% of the Millennial generation are interested in starting a business.
Who is the laziest generation?
With all of this, how on earth did Gen Z get the reputation as the laziest generation? Many members of older generations have deemed Gen Z as lazy, apathetic, and internet-addicted.
Which generation is the most sensitive?
Baby boomers more sensitive than millennials, research shows. A study has found that older generations are more sensitive than younger ones, putting to rest the idea that millennials are “snowflakes”.
Is Gen Z competitive?
Gen Z is competitive
In the workplace, Generation Z’s competitive nature may be combined with a strong desire for recognition of their work. As a result, they value clear expectations about how to achieve success and professional advancement.


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Thursday, June 22, 2023, 4:00 p.m. 00 p.m. Indochina time.
YouTube TV has expanded its Multiview feature so that even non-sports fans can enjoy it. Once the Multiview service is launched, up to four sports streams can be displayed on screen simultaneously. But now users will be able to choose streams that feature news, business news and weather content. In addition to being able to stream sports Viewers still have to choose from pre-selected videos and cannot choose which streams they want to multi-view. But at least now they have more options and they don’t have to be stuck tweaking all four screens to sporting events.
The Multiview service was first launched in March. with an emphasis on sports programs Just in time for NCAA’s March Madness, Multiview is supported on all smart TVs and media players that can run YouTube TV, as processing is done on the service’s servers. While viewers can follow all four streams simultaneously. They can jump to full screen view for each stream. and toggle the audio and narration to whatever event they want to focus on at that moment.
And we’re rolling 🔴🎥
Starting today on the Home tab small member It sees us test up to 5 of the newest multi-view streams that will be available 24/7, including sports news, business news, weather and international sports. pic.twitter.com/wYDPjWWmDz
— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) June 21, 2023
In addition to expanding its multichannel offerings, YouTube TV is also adding Spanish-language sports channels to its pre-selected streaming options for Spanish Plus or Spanish Plus subscribers, where not all subscribers have access to the multichannel option. expandable look But they will soon be able to do so. YouTube TV says it will roll out these updates gradually to all users this summer.


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Stay informed on the latest business and legal insights and events.
Canada is Lagging in Trade Talks, and Exporters Will Pay the Price
April 15, 2015
In March, Trade Minister Ed Fast marked the conclusion of the ninth
round of negotiations toward a Canada-India Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA), reaffirming that “Canada remains committed
to concluding an ambitious agreement with India”. Curiously, Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's March 25 press release announcing Mr. Modi's
visit makes no mention of the fact the two countries are negotiating a
trade agreement. Earlier this week, The Globe's Barrie McKenna described
the talks as a “mostly aspirational goal.” Written by John Weekes and
published in the Globe and Mail.


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At the onset of the pandemic, many investors wrote the cruise ship industry off for good but some operators like Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH) are looking to climb back on board. Companies in the industry faced an existential crisis this year with ships harbored at the port for months on end, customers demanding refunds and lawsuits costs piling up during a period of high uncertainty. This pushed Norwegian Cruise Line stock to new lows.
Like many of its peers in the travel and leisure sector, Norwegian Cruise Line, a company worth over $5 billion saw its revenue drop by 80% this year. Its year-to-date revenue stands at just $1.3 billion compared to $6.46 billion in 2019. As the rest of the world approaches a new normal, the future of Norwegian Cruise Line still remains a burning question.
Choppy Waters Ahead for Norwegian Cruise Line Stock
It’s been a turbulent year for Norwegian Cruise Line, to say the least. The novel coronavirus pandemic put the entire cruise ship industry in jeopardy while earning some of its players a bad rep. A report by The Wall Street Journal stated that cruise ships played a role in spreading the virus in the early days of the pandemic. Some cruise ships set sail despite having positive cases on board.
The bad PR, coupled with zero revenue, put operators like Norwegian Cruise Lines in a bad position. The cruise operator entered the year on a bright note and hoped to hit record revenue and earnings for the year. But once the pandemic spread across the globe, it soon became a distant dream.
It didn’t help that the cruise ships are the very anti-thesis of social distancing. A business model that involves people huddled together in an enclosed space makes it unlikely that this industry will experience a rebound anytime soon. Norwegian Cruise Line, which is smaller than Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) and Carnival Cruises Corp (NYSE:CCL), may face the longest road to recovery.
Moreover, when Norwegian Cruise Lines does resume operations, the economy will be in a deep-recession and demand for travel will be low. So even if cruise ships could potentially start their engines in the coming months, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the path to recovery will be smooth.
A Plan to Sail the High Seas Again
Norwegian Cruise Line may have seen zero bookings this year but the company hoped to make a comeback in 2021. However, with a second wave of cases creeping its ways across the globe, the predictions now seem overly optimistic. Although bookings are expected to be higher than they were this year, it is unlikely that they will be anywhere near its pre-pandemic levels.
On March 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a no-sail order for all cruise ships stating that it was one of the key areas for the spread of the virus. But with the order set to expire on Sept. 30, cruise operators are hoping to sail the seas again.
On Sept. 21, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean submitted a 60-page proposal to the CDC citing the steps the companies would take to ensure the safety of its passengers. This will include mask recommendations, daily temperature checks and frequent testing of all the crew on board.
“A key part of it is to create a bubble, where we test every single person going on board, the guests and the crew and protect them so that the likelihood of entering with coronavirus is very low.” Royal Caribbean CEO, Richard Fain told CNBC.
With thousands of cruise line employees out of work and revenue levels in a steep decline, Norwegian Cruise Line stock is hanging on to a life raft and will sink if it are unable to resume operations soon. Battered cruise lines hope to find their new normal just as other industries have.
The Bottom Line on NCLH
It’s safe to say that cruise lines like Norwegian were among the worst-hit business as a result of the pandemic. With many companies in the industry standing on its last leg, the need to resume operations is more of a necessity than a requirement for survival.
U.S. cruise operators are hoping to adopt a similar model to their European counterparts like MSC Cruises SA, that set sail earlier this month. The operator has organized testing facilities at different ports to ensure everyone is tested before climbing on board.
While the CDC has not made a decision on the extension of the no-sail order, the green light to resume operations will allow Norwegian Cruise Line to recoup at least some of its losses. However, the speed of recovery still remains a question as demand is expected to be low.
But until we see an uptick in Norwegian Cruise Line stock, it would be best to hold off on this investment.
On the date of publication, Divya Premkumar did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article.
Divya Premkumar has a finance degree from the University of Houston, Texas. She is a financial writer and analyst who has written stories on various financial topics from investing to personal finance. Divya has been writing for InvestorPlace since 2020.


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Rite Aid reports January SSS up 1.8% January front-end same store sales decreased 1.3 percent, of which 1.4 percent was attributable to a decrease in sales of flu-related over-the-counter products. Pharmacy same store sales, which included an approximate 124 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 3.2 percent. Prescription count at comparable stores decreased 2.2 percent over the prior-year period, of which 2.4 percent is attributable to a decrease in flu-related prescriptions and flu shots. Total drugstore sales for the four-week period increased 1.5 percent to $1.943B compared to $1.914B for the same period last year.
Stocks with call strike movement; RAD AAL Rite Aid (RAD) October 10 call option implied volatility decreased 5% to 40, American Airlines (AAL) November 50 call option implied volatility increased 4% to 37 according to IVolatility.


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More than four million bottles of wine and cider a day will be shipped from this bonded warehouse in Avonmouth as the festive season gets into full swing. The complex, operated by Constellation Europe, which owns the Hardys, Banrock Station and Stowells brands, is the largest of its kind in Europe. It holds nearly 24 million bottles of wine, and through December and January staff at the centre will distribute 1.5 million cases a week to cope with demand.
"Our warehouse and logistics team do a fantastic job especially at this time of year," said John Steels, Constellation Europe senior vice president. "They ensure our customers and their consumers get the wines and other drinks they will enjoy over the festive season."
The company is building an even larger warehouse near the existing site, due for completion in 2009. The new complex will include a bottling line, which will allow the company to ship wines in bulk and bottle them in the UK, a cheaper and greener method than transporting bottled wine.


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ANNE SAXELBY had what she calls an “aha moment” a couple of years ago when she drove upstate to try the cultured butter made by Evans Farmhouse Creamery in Chenango County. Ms. Saxelby, who owns Saxelby Cheesemongers in Manhattan, said that for all the butter she had eaten in her life, “I had really never had butter before — this is butter.”
More and more people across the country are being treated to the same aha experience as they find a burgeoning variety of fresh dairy products made in small batches on little farms and in small creameries. And it’s worth the extra money.
These artisanal operations are turning cow, goat or sheep milk into simple, straightforward foods like crème fraîche, butter, buttermilk, ice cream, puddings, custards, yogurt, yogurt-based sauces and yogurt drinks. Many of these dairies also sell unhomogenized, and in a few cases even unpasteurized, milk with an old-fashioned farmhouse flavor.
The movement is, in some ways, an offshoot of the American cheesemaking revival that began 15 to 20 years ago, and some of the creameries make fresh cheeses like mascarpone, mozzarella and ricotta that let the quality of the milk speak for itself.
Chalk it up to a lucky confluence of events. Most small dairy farmers cannot keep afloat selling milk to large processors at commodity prices, so those who are trying to survive are looking for alternatives. At the same time there is an increasingly sophisticated public that appreciates the difference between mass-produced dumbed-down food and the handiwork of a small dairy that has learned to produce exceptional butter or yogurt or ice cream by doing it the way it was done before World War II, when there was a creamery in every town.Continue reading the main story
Nancy Nipples started the Pike Place Market Creamery in Seattle 30 years ago, selling milk, butter, cream and the like to help local independent dairies. It didn’t help enough, and little by little they disappeared. “Last year a whole new group of local independent dairies started up a new cycle,” Ms. Nipples said. “Hallelujah! The cream has 40 to 45 percent butter fat so you don’t have to chant over it to whip it.” (Nancy Nipples is the name she uses to sign checks; her full name, taken after a divorce, is Nancy Nipples the Milkmaid.)
The comeback is taking place across the country. Earlier this month, Milk Thistle Farm, a young biodynamic dairy in Ghent, N.Y., began selling organic milk at some New York City greenmarkets.
The demand for artisanal dairy has already turned butter into an $8 appetizer at Momofuku Ssam Bar in New York City, where the chef, David Chang, accompanies half a baguette with St. Helen’s Farm goat’s milk butter from England and Vermont Butter and Cheese cow butter.
At Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles, Nancy Silverton makes fresh mozzarella every other day, buying the curds from two dairies just outside the city. Four other mozzarellas are brought in from Italy.
Thomas Keller cannot rave enough about the extraordinary “quality, flavor and freshness” of Animal Farm butter, which Diane St. Clair makes in Orwell, Vt. “When I started buying her butter, I saw seasonal changes that don’t exist in commercial butters,” he said. “Her butter is almost an orange in the spring. It has a different flavor profile and nuances throughout the year.”
Mr. Keller, owner and chef of Per Se and the French Laundry, buys as much Animal Farm butter as he can get his hands on, which is nearly all of it. For six weeks in July and August, the butter isn’t available. “The cows are doing their thing and I’m fine with that,” he said. “I just love the idea of supporting that kind of tradition.”
Though few shoppers can buy Ms. St. Clair’s butter, they are beginning to find artisan dairy products like the crème fraîche made by Kendall Farms in Atascadero, Calif., that Mr. Keller also raves about.
On the East Coast, stores are carrying the organic yogurt and heavy cream from the 45 Jersey cows at Butterworks Farm in Westfield, Vt.
Begun 30 years ago, it has grown into a million-dollar business, said Jack Lazor, who owns the farm with his wife, Anne. “We’re having a ball.”
“I wanted to be back on the land when I was at Tufts in the 70s,” Mr. Lazor said as we stood near his broken wind turbine that would ordinarily have been supplying a third to a half of his farm’s electricity.
“We were working on the kitchen stove and making everything and going door to door,” he said, finally graduating to farmers’ markets before selling in stores.
But changing over to old-style dairy can be surprisingly difficult. Unlike Mr. Lazor, Patrick Lango, a fourth-generation dairy farmer whose family owns White Cow Dairy in East Otto, N.Y., near Buffalo, is still struggling. There have been many unexpected barriers to meeting this new demand.
Finding the expert who knows how to do things the old-fashioned way took him to Italy. That’s where he also found the small-scale equipment he needed. Then he had to persuade the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to adjust its rules so they would apply to a tiny dairy.
“You can either whine and complain a lot or you can ask yourself what can you do with milk that’s really easy and can get the most amount of money,” he said.
He decided that turning the family farm into an 1870s village creamery made sense because “it’s food people would want but can’t get. It’s all about food memory.”
He does not think the public realized, even 10 to 15 years ago, what it was missing in the kind of dairy products being sold in stores.
“We’ve pushed the technology approach too far in some cases,” said Dr. Paul Kindstedt, professor of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Vermont and an expert in dairy, “and what’s going on is a movement to alternative foods of all types,” or what some call real foods.
Mr. Lango never stops experimenting, and some of his most delicious results are his low-fat yogurts: the maple, the vanilla bean with honey and the orange, which tastes like a smoothie. The maple and vanilla-bean custard and the cranberry custard have a lovely texture and flavor and the yogurt-based habanero sauce would be wonderful on pork or chicken or fish.
In New York City, Murray’s Cheese carries some White Cow products; otherwise you have to live in or around Buffalo to enjoy them.
At the moment, Mr. Lango doesn’t make a dime. “I’ve never drawn a salary in 20 years,” but this year, he said, things will be better.
Without his passion, Mr. Lango might have given up long ago.
“I get very upset watching these farms drop away,” he said. “It’s criminal what’s going on out there. I really want to take on the world in a guerrilla-like way. Our dairy can be a blueprint for little dairies.”
States like Wisconsin, Vermont and New York are helping other small farmers get these businesses going. In 2004, Senator Herb Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin, pushed through one of those infamous earmarks for $2.4 million for just such a project.
Not all new dairy farmers get lucky the first time. Paul Stephan of Leesburg, Va., eager to escape the hospitality business, bought a farm in 1999. He stocked it with a water buffalo bull and four water buffalo heifers, ready to give birth. Mozzarella from their milk was the gleam in his eye.
It was all downhill after that.
“I was very naïve,” he said. “I thought I could tame anything with the right handling. To make a long story short, the four were not milkable.”
So he turned to his single Jersey cow and started making fresh cow milk mozzarella.
The mozzarella took off; the buffalo and farm were sold. Now Mr. Stephan buys cow’s milk from a local farmer. His Blue Ridge Dairy Company mozzarella has been joined by a crème fraîche with a delightful tang and by yogurt, the nonfat version so thick and delicious you would swear it was made with whole milk.
But it’s the mozzarella that has reached stardom. Jersey milk, with its high butterfat content, is part of the reason. Still, it was not creamy enough to suit Mr. Stephan, so recently he began to add more cream, making it the richest, creamiest, milkiest American-made mozzarella I’ve ever had.
As successful as Mr. Stephan has been, he can’t get those water buffalo out of his mind. He just bought 15 heifers from the Woodstock Water Buffalo Company that until recently made mozzarella in Vermont. In the meantime, watch for local buffalo milk mozzarella in Washington within three years.
Robert Kaufelt, owner of Murray’s Cheese and a big booster of farmstead dairy products, carries unhomogenized organic milk, cream and buttermilk from Evans Farmhouse. Because the fat globules remain intact, the milk tastes closer to the way it does when it has just come out of the cow.
The buttermilk is so good, now I will drink it willingly, along with a very delicate organic goat milk from Kortright Creek Creamery of Stone and Thistle Farm in Delaware County, N.Y.
Just a week ago I had my first taste of Hudson Valley Fresh Milk. This cooperative of 10 farmers, begun in 2005, has found a better, meaning more lucrative, way of staying in the milk business. These farmers are guaranteed a minimum of $20 for 100 pounds of milk, and while the going price at the moment is $22 because of the high price of corn, it’s often in the low teens.
Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, one of the better-known small dairies and creameries in this area, buys some of the co-op’s milk. Because the milk is pasteurized for a very short time and arrives in New York City stores like the Vinegar Factory and Whole Foods within 36 hours of leaving the cow, the milk tastes particularly sweet.
“The demand, I think, is huge,” Mr. Kaufelt said. “People always want better flavor.”Continue reading the main story


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India in the past few years has set high ambitions for itself. Considering that about more than 90% of India’s trade by volume is conducted via the country’s maritime route, there is a continuous need to develop India’s ports and trade-related infrastructure to accelerate growth in the manufacturing industry and write the Indian success story. In this feature, we reflect on the Port Modernization initiative of the nation, identify the gaps in the port infra and look at the benefits that the Indian economy can reap through the modernisation of the Indian Ports.
Blessed with a vast coastline, occupying a commercially enviable location on the globe -straddling the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal, India’s coastal front and backyard are home to vibrant Indo-pacific economies giving the ports of India the potential to contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth. Sadly, the potential is unmet on the back of poor shipping connectivity, lack of infrastructure, and regulatory support.
Attesting to the same was a piece of recent news indicating the inability of the nation to attract bigger container ships and fulfil its dream of becoming the world’s factory.
As reported, vessels like the Ever Alot, the world’s largest box ship at 400 meters long and with a capacity of more than 24,000 TEUs skipped India and visited neighbouring nations like Sri Lanka and even Malaysia due to lack of depth in most harbours along India’s coasts.
Also, a report by the Reserve Bank of India in 2022, states that poor shipping connectivity has hindered India’s integration into the global value chain. The country scored 34% in the GVC participation index compared to 45.9% for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the RBI said, thus indicating the importance of modernizing ports in India to improve its trade and economic growth.
“The cornerstone of the economic welfare of any country is the presence of a performing infrastructure. Seaports are a critical part of this infrastructure and essential to boost and support the economic development. In that respect, any plan to modernize and revitalize the port system should be encouraged,” Luc Arnouts, Vice President International Relations and Networks, Port of Antwerp-Bruges said
The Government of India has already commenced its journey of building a modern port infrastructure system in the nation by launching several initiatives. Let’s look at a few of them in brief:
1. Sagarmala Project: This is a flagship project of the Government of India that aims to modernize the ports and their hinterland connectivity. The project focuses on developing new infrastructure, enhancing the existing ones, and connecting ports to the hinterland through road, rail and waterways. Mr Arnouts acknowledges the significant investment put in by India in the modernization of its ports to improve their efficiency and capacity.
“Sagarmala projects includes projects from various categories such as modernisation of existing ports and terminals, new ports, terminals, RoRo & tourism jetties, enhancement of port connectivity, inland waterways, lighthouse tourism, industrialization around port, skill development, technology centres, etc. These projects are broadly classified under Sagarmala,” he highlighted.
2. Maritime India Vision 2030: The government has launched the Maritime India Vision 2030 to enhance the competitiveness of the Indian maritime sector. The vision outlines various measures, such as increasing port capacity, improving connectivity, and introducing green technologies.
3. Port Community System (PCS): The government has introduced PCS, which is an online platform that connects all stakeholders involved in port operations. It facilitates a paperless environment, thereby reducing transaction time and costs. The PCS is now upgraded to NLP Marine, which makes the entire logistic ecosystem more efficient, beneficial for EXIM trade and create more opportunities for specialized jobs’.
4. Green Ports: The government is promoting green technologies in the ports, such as using renewable energy sources, ecofriendly vehicles, and improving waste management systems.
5. Sagarmala National Perspective Plan (NPP): The NPP is a long-term perspective plan that aims to develop India’s coastal and inland waterways. It focuses on improving connectivity and enhancing the efficiency of waterway transportation.
Complementing these initiative and part of the government’s holistic approach for comprehensive development which can boost the economy in the long run are initiative like National Infrastructure Pipeline and PM Gati Shakti NMP for Multi-Modal Connectivity. But are we still missing something?
Despite the aforementioned initiatives, India needs a set of alternate mechanisms which can help expand port capacity and can then bring down the logistics costs.
“A few more things that can be done are: promoting DPD (Direct Port Delivery) & DPE (Direct Port Entry) to help facilitate container trade, regulate shipping lines, promote domestic shipping lines, and ensure transparency in shipping line charges & operations,” says Christian Roeloffs, Cofounder and CEO, Container Xchange, an online container logistics platform.
The ports sector has a crucial role to play in nation-building, and implementation of mechanisms to enable flexibility in long term concessions to ride out the evolving market dynamics and other risks impacting projects and operations is required.
According to Rajiv Agarwal, Managing Director, Essar Ports, “We need to address the issue of hinterland connectivity through road and rail for ease of evacuation from ports & terminals as well as improve the quality of port services through service levels benchmarked with the best across the globe. Other areas that need focus are dearth of low-cost long duration funds, non-equitable risk sharing in PPP projects between Concessionaire and concessioning authority, the high logistics cost impacting exports competitiveness and low base cargo and manufacturing industries, which are essential for greenfield projects viability.”
He adds, “Additionally, the ports sector requires low cost financing to fund projects in view of slow cargo build-up and long gestation period. Low cost financing solutions for debt & equity should be opened for the private sector to enable their participation in the current National Infrastructure Pipeline.”
India’s ports for decades have been protected from natural competitive forces – the participation of large scale, cost-effective ships and the availability of employees eager to work longer hours and at competitive wages. They also have been shielded from adopting the technological advances in logistics operations that world class ports elsewhere around the globe have enthusiastically embraced.
In agreement, Mr Roeloffs, further mentions some of the pain points that should be addressed.
• Technology: Indian ports need to adopt modern technologies such as automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics to enhance efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and improve overall performance.
• Capacity: India’s ports need to be expanded and their capacities increased to cater to the growing volume of trade. The current ports are often congested, which leads to delays and increased costs.
• Regulatory Framework: The regulatory framework governing the ports should be streamlined and made more businessfriendly. Simplifying customs procedures and reducing bureaucratic red tape can help reduce delays and costs.
• Environmental concerns: The ports should focus on reducing their environmental impact by adopting green technologies, such as renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, and improving waste management systems.
• Human resources: Skilled and trained personnel are essential for efficient and effective port operations. Training and development programs should be implemented to enhance the skills of the existing workforce and attract new talent.
This is an abridged version of the story published in April edition of the Logistics Insider Magazine. To read the full story click here.


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On Thursday Rdio launched its biggest update in the company’s short history, placing a greater emphasis on free content, a more social experience, and revamping the music streaming app’s user-interface with a number of new features.
Since Rdio’s initial release in 2010, the streaming platform has largely been known for its simple, easy to navigate menu system, and despite being a relatively solid music streaming service with a small but dedicated group of users, it’s failed to become a well-known mainstream name in the music streaming world.
Rdio wants to change this with their latest update through a renewed focus on free content.
“We’re bringing stations to the forefront of the whole experience and we’re really building a product that can seamlessly grow from a station experience into an on-demand experience,” said Chris Becherer, the company’s senior vice-president of product.
The company is taking a two-tiered approach to music streaming, keeping its original on-demand, subscription-based model, but also placing more emphasis on the platform’s free streaming music stations.
Rdio’s new experience starts with stations related to artists and genre as well as human-curated and computer-created playlists based on a user’s activity on Rdio, effectively creating a personalized radio station. These stations are also now available immediately and don’t require a trial subscription.
This is part of Rdio’s new approach to music streaming and makes the company almost feel like a Spotify/Pandora hybrid. Subscribers willing to pay $9.99 a month will have greater access to Rdio’s on-demand services, but free, streaming stations seem to be the platform’s new focus. By design, users are frequently encouraged to opt into Rdio’s paid subscription.
Through this new approach, Rdio hopes to encourage users to eventually move from free streaming stations to its on-demand subscription model.
“As we looked at other music apps in the market, we kind of saw them as falling on one of two sides on the fence. You have services offering sort of an on-demand service, servicing albums, songs and playlists — a choose-whatever-song-you-want-to-play service. And then on the other side you have more passive listening station experience — push play, lean back and let us do the work. What they end up doing is splitting their listeners between multiple apps,” said Becherer.
Along with new free stations, the service’s new Home system gives users a constantly refreshing feed of new music, their friends’ comments and what they’re listening to, according to Becherer.
A new favourites section allowing users to keep track of all their favourite content has been added to Rdio as well as a Twitter-like trending section that gives users easy access to popular stations, songs, albums, playlists and artists.
Similar to Songza or Pandora, free users are limited to how many songs they are able to skip through, even when only using the company’s free streaming stations.
Rdio is currently available in 60 different countries and faces direct competition from Pandora, a similar U.S.-exclusive music streaming service that adopts an online streaming radio strategy, and even on-demand platforms like Spotify, which recently launched in a limited capacity in Canada.
“I think with this release especially the thing that stands out to me is that we’re the service that’s most built around you. We offer a first class station experience and an on-demand experience. As we get to know you, we tailor the whole product experience around your preferences, from the most basic level like what music do you like, to delivering recommendations — music we think you’ll like based on your taste and also how you like listening to music. Do you like listening to stations and being a laid back listener, or do you like digging in and discovering new albums?” said Becherer.
As the streaming music service market becomes increasingly crowded with Deezer, Spotify, Rdio, Google Play Music and the now Google-owned Songza, all vying for consumers’ attention, Rdio needed to find a way to set itself apart from other very similar services.
Whether or not the company has accomplished this goal with their latest changes and renewed emphasis on curated online station streaming, remains to be seen, but the idea of on-demand content, as well as user-curated stations all being available on one service, is an appealing concept
Rdio’s new look and features are currently available on iOS, Android and through the platform’s desktop app.


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GCC exports to Japan up 13.7% in 10 months
Exports by Gulf hydrocarbon producers to Japan swelled by nearly 13.7 per cent in the first 10 months of 2012 as crude prices remained at historically high levels and Japan kept its heavy reliance on crude from the region.
Official data showed the exports by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) to the Southeast Asian giant grew to nearly $131.3 billion in the first 10 months of 2012 from around $115.8 billion in the first 10 > months of 2011.
The GCC’s imports from the Asian nation shot up by around 31 per cent to nearly $20.7 billion from around $15.8 billion, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) said in its latest monthly report on Japan’s trade and investment worldwide.
The surge in the exports widened the GCC’s trade surplus with their main economic and commercial partner from around $100 billion in the first 10 months of 2011 to nearly $110.7 billion in the first 10 months of 2012. Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil supplier, emerged as the largest Gulf exporter to Japan with a value of around $45.5 billion in the first 10 months of 2012 compared with nearly $41.2 billion in the same period of 2011.
It was also the second largest importer from Japan, with about $5.8 billion in the 10 months of 2012 compared to $5.3 billion in the same period of 2011.
The UAE’s exports to Japan, mostly crude oil, gas and aluminum, also increased from around $35.1 billion to $36.7 billion in the same period to maintain its position as the Middle East’s second largest exporter to Japan.
The UAE also emerged as the top Middle East market for Japanese products, with its imports from that country rising from around $six billion in the first 10 months of 2011, to $7.5 billion in the first 11 months of 2012.
The report showed Qatar, the world’s third largest gas power, emerged as the third exporter to Japan in the Middle East because of a sharp rise in its LNG sales to that market over the past few years. Its exports soared to nearly $30.2 billion in the first 10 months from $23.7 billion in the same period of 2011.
Kuwait’s exports to Japan, mostly crude oil, grew to around $12.5 billion from $10.4 billion while those of Oman rose to about $six billion from $4.1 billion.
Exports by Bahrain, a small trade partner of Japan with limited
hydrocarbon resources, declined to $411 million from $488 million. But its imports from Japan swelled to $661 million from around $364 million, according to Jetro.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


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From Sept.27 to 28, Chinese Enterprises Manufacturing Powerful 500 Forum, which is sponsored by China Association of Enterprises, was held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. President of Tasly Holding Group Ms. Wu Naifeng attended the forum.
On the forum, several annual enterprises ranking list were published, including 2020 Chinese Enterprises Powerful 500, Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises Powerful 500, Chinese Service Enterprises Powerful 500 and Chinese Transnational Companies Powerful 100, etc. Tasly Holding Group was listed on 2020 Chinese Manufacturing Powerful 500.
According to the data of companies listed on Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises Powerful 500, the operation revenues of the companies on has increased 7.16% than that of last year. There is also a substantial increase in the threshold finalists which has exceeded 10 billion Yuan for the first time. Tasly, which have been successively selected in the List has maintained continuous development power.
Adhering to independent innovation, Tasly had been selected as the Demonstrate Base for Intelligent Manufacturing by the National Ministry of Industry and Information in 2016. In future, we will continue to promote the development of innovation and wisdom service so as to achieve digital and intelligent manufacturing.


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Reddit Avatar NFTs’ market cap exceeds $35 million
Reddit Avatar NFT Market Cap Exceeds $35 Million
Since the launch of the collection in July 2022, over 10.6 million NFTs have been minted.
According to a report by BestBrokers published on February 22, the total NFT market capitalization of Reddit collectible avatars has exceeded $36 million.
Since the launch of the project seven months ago, more than 10.6 million NFTs have been issued. report.
December 2022 was the month in which the highest number of mints were registered, with $3.72 million. February 2023 and September 2022, following December in second and third place, with $2.11M and $1.26M, respectively.
These three months were also the time frame when the most significant unique user additions were recorded. According to the figures, the total number of minters has exceeded 10 million, and the number of collectible avatar owners has exceeded 7.18 million.
The collection’s most expensive sale took place on October 24, 2022, when a user paid 30 Ethereum (ETH) for an avatar named “Hands #1”. Electricity price The NFT is 150 ETH which is over $243,750 at the time of writing.
Credit : cryptoslate.com


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3D Printing Patents – Exclusive Weekly Service
Inside3DP, in collaboration with Global IP News, offers an exclusive weekly service: delivering straight to your inbox a digest covering the latest and most relevant 3D printing patents handpicked from 85 patent offices from around the world. The Inside3DP Patent service provides a comprehensive view of the newly submitted 3D printing related patent– a must read for the 3D printing community.
The service costs $20/month and can be cancelled at any time. See sample
What do we offer?
- A comprehensive review of the latest, worldwide, 3D printing patent applications.
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- Sample of what’s expected, to be seen here
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Who we are?
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Ctrip.com International, Ltd.NASDAQ
Ctrip Has Been Thrown Out With The Bathwater
Alpha Gen Capital
Alpha Gen Capital
Nov. 18, 2015, 5:03 PM
- Ctrip.com (NASDAQ:CTRP): Q3 EPS of $2.20 may not be comparable to consensus of $0.09
- Revenue of $501M (+49% Y/Y) beats by $10.36M.
- Shares +4% AH.
Nov. 17, 2015, 5:35 PM
Nov. 13, 2015, 11:38 AM
- Raymond James has downgraded Ctrip (NASDAQ:CTRP) to Outperform from Strong Buy.
- The move comes after Ctrip soared in late October in response to a deal to acquire Baidu's stake in top Chinese online travel rival Qunar, thus potentially ending a costly price war/advertising battle between the companies. Shares remain up 112% YTD.
Nov. 13, 2015, 2:02 AM
- MSCI has outlined which overseas-listed Chinese shares will be added to its Emerging Markets Index (ETF: EEM) from Dec. 1, a move that is likely to draw investments of $70B.
- ADRs to be included: 58.com (NYSE:WUBA), Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), Ctrip.com (NASDAQ:CTRP), JD.com (NASDAQ:JD), NetEase (NASDAQ:NTES), New Oriental Education (NYSE:EDU), Qihoo 360 (NYSE:QIHU), Qunar (NASDAQ:QUNR), SouFun (NYSE:SFUN), TAL Education (NYSE:XRS), VipShop (NYSE:VIPS), Youku Tudou (NYSE:YOKU) and YY.
- Stocks listed in mainland China, known as A-shares, are still under review for inclusion in the index.
- Previously: MSCI paves road for A-share inclusion through ADRs (Nov. 02 2015)
Oct. 26, 2015, 1:27 PM
- Priceline (NASDAQ:PCLN) is up strongly following news Chinese online travel leader Ctrip (CTRP +21.1%), in which Priceline has an 11.6% stake, announced it's acquiring Baidu's stake in top rival Qunar (QUNR +15.9%) in exchange for shares.
- Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE), which formed an alliance with Ctrip earlier this year as part of a deal to unload its 62.4% stake in struggling Ctrip/Qunar rival eLong, is also doing well.
- The deal leaves Ctrip owning 45% of Qunar's voting interests, and Baidu owning 25% of Ctrip's voting interests. It brings together China's two biggest online travel firms, and could lead each company to pare back the aggressive promotions and heavy marketing spend it has supported in the name of taking share from the other.
- HSBC's Chi Tsang: "Essentially it’s a merger between the two companies. If you look at the travel market, it’s such an obvious way to drive synergy through consolidation.” As part of the deal, Ctrip has won seats on Qunar's board, and Baidu seats on Ctrip's board.
- At current levels, Priceline's 17.5M-share stake in Ctrip is worth $1.58B. Expedia reports on Thursday afternoon, and Priceline on the morning of Nov. 9.
Oct. 26, 2015, 12:45 PM
Oct. 26, 2015, 9:15 AM
Oct. 26, 2015, 7:41 AM
- Ctrip (NASDAQ:CTRP) announces it completed a share exchange transaction with Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) involving travel site player Qunar Cayman Islands.
- Baidu will receive 11,488,381 shares of Ctrip in exchange for 178.7M class A ordinary shares and 11.45M class B shares of Qunar Cayman Islands (NASDAQ:QUNR).
- After the transaction closes, Baidu will own shares representing 25% of Ctrip's voting interests.
- Baidu and Ctrip also say they agreed to work together on more products and services.
- CTRP +20.4% premarket to $89.50. Baidu +8.47% to $170.95. QUNR +33.1% to $52.60.
Oct. 2, 2015, 11:58 AM
- It's a big day for companies with an association to gambling and tourism in China after reports of increased cooperation from the government set off some buying enthusiasm.
- Outside of the main group of Macau casino names, gainers today include Qunman Cayman (NASDAQ:QUNR) +10.4%, Ctrip (NASDAQ:CTRP) +5.7%, Iao Kun Group (NASDAQ:IKGH) +4.1%, Galaxy Entertainment (OTCPK:GXYEF) +8.5%, and Tunio (NASDAQ:TOUR) +6.4%.
- Previously: Beijing to the rescue in Macau
- Previously: Huge rip for Wynn Resorts amid sunny day in Macau
Sep. 16, 2015, 2:06 PM
- The beaten-down Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges respectively rose 4.9% and 6.5% overnight thanks to late-session surges - many suspect fresh government intervention was responsible. U.S. traded Chinese Web/mobile names have risen sharply (CQQQ +4.4%) on a day the Nasdaq is up just 0.3%.
- Big gainers include search giant Baidu (BIDU +5.4%), rival Qihoo (QIHU +6.5%), auto sites Bitauto (BITA +6.4%) and Autohome (ATHM +5.3%), travel sites Ctrip (CTRP +7.4%) and Qunar (QUNR +6.5%), online real estate plays SouFun (SFUN +6.1%) and Leju (LEJU +4.5%), and online retailers JD.com (JD +4.8%) and Vipshop (VIPS +6.3%). Priceline announced yesterday afternoon it had hiked its Ctrip stake to 11.6%.
- Other winners include ChinaCache (CCIH +8.1%), Cheetah Mobile (CMCM +6.2%), Sina (SINA +6.7%), Weibo (WB +4.3%), Youku (YOKU +5.7%), and YY (YY +4.1%).
- ETFs: KWEB, QQQC, EMQQ
Sep. 15, 2015, 6:12 PM
- In a 13D filing, Priceline (NASDAQ:PCLN) discloses it now owns 11.6% of Chinese online travel leader Ctrip (NASDAQ:CTRP), up from a prior 10.5%.
- Last year, Priceline struck a deal to buy up to a 10% stake in Ctrip, partly through a $500M convertible bond. In May, Priceline committed to investing another $250M in the company.
- CTRP +1.6% after hours to $68.00. Priceline's 17.5M-share stake has a current value of $1.19B.
Sep. 4, 2015, 2:38 PM
- A slew of Chinese firms are among the biggest tech decliners as U.S. markets once more go into risk-aversion mode following a weaker-than-expected jobs report. The Guggenheim China Tech ETF (CQQQ -3.3%) is now down 19% YTD.
- Big decliners include Alibaba (BABA -4.7%), as well as e-commerce peers JD.com (JD -6.6%), Vipshop (VIPS -7.9%), and LightInTheBox (LITB -3.8%). Others include Qihoo (QIHU -4.4%), Autohome (ATHM -5.3%), Sina (SINA -4.7%), YY (YY -4.3%), Ctrip (CTRP -4.3%), Qunar (QUNR -4.4%), Wowo (WOWO -5.8%), and iDreamSky (DSKY -5.6%).
- Yesterday, Bloomberg reported Alibaba founder/chairman Jack Ma and vice chairman Joseph Tsai plan to take out a $2B+ margin loan pledged against their Alibaba stock holdings, rather than sell shares to raise funds. The money reportedly could go towards Tsai's Blue Pool Capital family office.
- After initially moving higher, Qihoo is now below where it traded before posting a Q2 EPS beat (and not providing any guidance) on Tuesday afternoon.
- ETFs: KWEB, QQQC, EMQQ
Aug. 31, 2015, 2:11 PM
- U.S.-traded Chinese tech stocks are seeing fresh selling pressure (CQQQ -2.9%) after Beijing announced it's halting major stock purchases to prop up local markets. Authorities also arrested nearly 200 people for actions deemed to have a destabilizing effect on markets.
- Decliners include giants Alibaba (BABA -3.9%) and Baidu (BIDU -3.1%), as well as Ctrip (CTRP -4.4%), Qunar (QUNR -4.8%), Vipshop (VIPS -4.7%), JD.com (JD -3.2%), Jumei (JMEI -4.2%), NetEase (NTES -5.8%), Momo (MOMO -4.4%), and 500.com (WBAI -4%). The Nasdaq is down 0.8%.
- Separately, the WSJ has taken a look at Alibaba and JD's efforts to grow sales to rural Chinese shoppers, as urban user growth slows. The number of rural Chinese shopping online rose 41% last year to 77M (compares with a rural Chinese population of 600M), outpacing the 17% growth seen in urban shoppers. Chinese rural per capita income was still less than 1/3 of urban levels as of 2013.
- ETFs: QQQC, KWEB, EMQQ
Aug. 25, 2015, 12:56 PM
- The Shanghai exchange fell another 7.6% overnight, but that has been overshadowed by a surprise rate cut (delivered after Chinese markets closed) by the PBOC and a 3.4% Nasdaq gain. The Guggenheim China Tech ETF (CQQQ +5.3%) is up 16% from its Monday morning low, and down 36% from a May peak of $45.64.
- Alibaba (BABA +6.5%) is among today's big gainers, as are e-commerce peers JD.com (JD +8.7%), Vipshop (VIPS +6.9%), LightInTheBox (LITB +13.1%), and Jumei (JMEI +12.1%). Other standouts include Weibo (WB +19.8%), 51job (JOBS +11.5%), Bitauto (BITA +10.2%), NQ Mobile (NQ +9.7%), Sohu (SOHU +6.7%), Ctrip (CTRP +8.1%), and NetEase (NTES +8.3%).
- E-House (EJ +9.8%) and subsidiary Leju (LEJU +8.6%) are up strongly after posting Q2 beats (I, II) and respectively reiterating full-year revenue guidance of $1.05B-$1.1B (+16%-22% Y/Y) and $600M-$620M (+21%-25%). Qunar (QUNR +6.2%) is doing well after posting mixed Q2 results and issuing strong Q3 sales guidance.
- ETFs: QQQC, KWEB, EMQQ
Aug. 24, 2015, 9:22 AM
- The Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges nosedived again overnight as fears of an economic slowdown triggered panic selling, and U.S. futures are off sharply premarket. As one would expect, many U.S.-traded Chinese names are seeing big losses.
- Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) -9.8% premarket. SINA -9.7%. Weibo (NASDAQ:WB) -10.5%. Ctrip (NASDAQ:CTRP) -9.4%. Qunar (NASDAQ:QUNR) -15%. SouFun (NYSE:SFUN) -15.4%. NQ Mobile -10.1%. Qihoo (NYSE:QIHU) -14.7%. YY -9.3%. Bitauto (NYSE:BITA) -8.8%. JD.com (NASDAQ:JD) -9.6%. Vipshop (NYSE:VIPS) -15.9%.
- Alibaba (previous) is down 9.8% to $61.48, making new post-IPO lows along the way. Tencent (OTCPK:TCEHY) fell a relatively modest 5% overnight in Hong Kong.
- ETFs: CQQQ, KWEB, QQQC, EMQQ
Aug. 11, 2015, 12:27 PM
- In its latest move to boost slowing economic growth, the PBOC has devalued the yuan, while insisting it's a one-time move. The yuan/dollar ratio is currently at 6.33, down from 6.21 yesterday.
- A number of Chinese Internet stocks that record the lion's share of their revenue in yuan are seeing their U.S. shares (denominated in dollars, of course) underperform (CQQQ -3.4%) amid a 1.3% drop for the Nasdaq. Major decliners include Baidu (BIDU -3.8%), Qunar (QUNR -10.2%), Ctrip (CTRP -5.9%), JD.com (JD -5.8%), Sina (SINA -5%), NetEase (NTES -3.9%), Jumei (JMEI -10.7%), Youku (YOKU -6.2%), Bitauto (BITA -6.4%), Leju (LEJU -6%), Changyou (CYOU -7.7%), and Autohome (ATHM -5.3%).
- Among Chinese solar names, Daqo (DQ -14.4%) and JinkoSolar (JKS -3.3%) are seeing big losses.
- JD.com is adding to the Monday losses seen following a Morgan Stanley downgrade and news Alibaba has formed an alliance with major electronics retailer Suning. Both JD and Jumei could be affected by fellow online retailer Vipshop (down 11.1%), which yesterday afternoon provided light Q3 sales guidance to go with a Q2 EPS beat.
- ETFs: KWEB, QQQC, EMQQ
- Yesterday: Chinese Internet stocks rally after Shanghai/Shenzhen post big gains


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GREAT NEWS! Disney bosses have confirmed Toy Story 4 is coming in 2017!
Disney-Pixar has announced a fourth Toy Story film will be released in June 2017.
Toy Story 3 was released back in 2010, the budget was an estimated $200,000,000 with a gross of $414,984,497 according to IMDB.
£21,187,264 was made in the first opening weekend in the UK.
Disney CEO Bob Iger, has confirmed (the original) director Jon Lasseter will return to direct the new film.


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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga’s “Localvores” — people who make an effort to eat foods produced in their general area – are gathering together with local farmers, local filmmakers, and local restaurants to learn about the challenges of eating local, as well as available to those trying to eat in a Saratoga-centric way. “Local Foods, Local Films,” will be held at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Arts Center. The fee is $35. The program, produced by the Saratoga Film Forum, will feature the highly-regarded film “Food Inc.” (with Michael Pollan, author The Omnivore’s Dilemna), followed by local foods by sponsoring restaurants One Caroline and Mouzon House, then short films — produced by Saratoga Springs-based filmmakers Patricia Lane and Sarah Pedinotti — spotlighting local farms, and concluding with a panel discussion with local farmers and retailers. The program will be held at the at the Broadway Film Forum “Eating local sounds like a simple idea, but when it comes down to it, it’s really not so simple,” said event organizer and award-winning filmmaker Patricia Lane, who is also on the board of the Saratoga Film Forum. “It’s expensive for consumers, it’s extremely labor-intensive and challenging for the farmers, it’s tough for retailers — and yet, we’re all committed to making it work in Saratoga. This event will give us all a chance to see the issues and find some ways to help each other and help these farmers thrive.” “The Saratoga Film Forum is committed to bringing up exciting topics, and exploring them in creative ways,” says Board President Maureen Sager. “This Local Food event is designed so that everyone in the community can participate. The price, $35 per ticket, is meant to be in reach of anyone with localvore interests to enjoy good films, good community and good food. A huge variety of farmers are participating and donating food, and One Caroline and Mouzon House will present a range of foods that demonstrate their amazing commitment to local eating.” For reservations and to purchase tickets, call 584-FILM in advance.
Local farmers, filmmakers, chefs host viewing
Start the conversation


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Domino’s Pizza store manager Steve Cubitt from Manchester – All Saints, has been awarded the highly prestigious title of international manager of the year at Domino’s worldwide annual awards in Las Vegas.
Beating stiff competition from thousands of Domino’s stores in over 60 countries, Steve was awarded the title for his determination, exceptional performance and for the high standards of food safety, quality and service that he achieves in his store on a daily basis.
Steve’s ambition and passion has seen him progress from a part-time driver during his studies at university to assistant manager and then manager of the Manchester Fallowfield store. In June 2008, Steve became manager of Domino’s new Manchester All Saints store and under his leadership the store has gone from strength to strength.
Unfortunately, Steve was unable to collect his award in person in Las Vegas so, in true Oscar-style, he recorded a video acceptance speech which was played at the awards in front of the 6,000 guests from Domino’s worldwide. The award has now crossed the Atlantic and is with its rightful owner, Steve.
Steve Cubitt, Domino’s international manager of the year 2010, said: “I am completely overwhelmed to be given this award. There are so many fantastic managers across Domino’s stores worldwide that I really didn’t expect to win. The award means everything to me – I’m so proud of everything I’ve achieved with Domino’s so far and this award has just made me even more focused and determined to carry on doing my job. It’s a shame I couldn’t make it to Las Vegas to accept the award but I’m looking forward to having a second celebration here in the UK with my franchisee and my team.”
Domino’s Pizza’s international awards recognise the talents and hard work of the franchisees and in-store teams from the company’s 9,000 stores in over 60 countries. Domino’s is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary in the UK and 50th anniversary in the USA so this year’s awards were a very special occasion, marking a significant milestone in the company’s history.


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Is it the making of metro in this city or the air of the nearby metropolitan cities passing through? Cause Ahmedabad is bringing in some big names in the business which shout out loud, metropolitan city. Some are shocked whereas some are thrilled, happiness is the key emotion though. The ait is finally over because STARBUCKS IS FINALLY OPENING IN AHMEDABAD! No more craving and wondering when you’ll be going to Mumbai or Delhi. Starbucks entered India with the opening of its first store at Horniman Circle in Mumbai in 2012. The premium coffee chain is increasing the number of rollouts as it is getting overall good consumer response which led to its opening in Ahmedabad. Not with just with a single store, it’s making a bash with THREE stores simultaneously in Ahmedabad.
Starbucks, Ahmedabad One Mall (Alpha One).
Starbucks Prahladnagar, Near Venus Atlantis, Ahmedabad.
Starbucks Coffee, Uniza, Near Mocha Bodakdev, Ahmedabad.
The opening dates are still not out yet. But it’ll be opening soon. Starbucks Ahmedabad has already made an official Facebook page. People have been going crazy and a lot have approached twitter to share their affection. Some tweeted hilarious memes while some twitted the making of the store.
— Ruchi Gupta Mankad (@iamruchimankad) July 22, 2019
— Amit Panchal (@AmitHPanchal) July 20, 2019
Ahmedabad has always been a food hub. It’s known for its dishes and café culture. Starbucks will definitely bring some challenge to other coffee houses out there. India will be among the top five markets in the longer term with the total number of stores opened and revenue gathered.
Not only Starbucks but Palladium mall is opening too. Where do you ask? Exactly opposite the Zydus hospital, Ahmedabad. It won’t be opening anytime soon, definitely not as soon as Starbucks. But the land is bought, it has started going under construction, so next 3-4 years and Palladium mall with not entirely luxurious but affordable luxurious brands will open its doors.
Ahmedabad is turning into a metropolitan city, isn’t it?
Read on News


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Updated: September 27, 2016 8:17:10 pm
It would be difficult to assess the impact of the Cauvery issue and related incidents on the tourism sector, Karnataka Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge said on Monday and expressed hope that it would “pull up” and there will not be much impact during Dasara.
“Dasara is approaching. Because of Cauvery issue and related incidents there are reports that it has impacted the tourism industry,” Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru. He said “our department considering this as festival of the department along with state festival, we have planned programmes towards boosting tourist confidence.”
“Probably there won’t be much impact on tourism,” he said. The department, which has taken several initiatives, is spending about Rs 2.5 crore to promote tourism during Dasara festivities, he said. Stating that it is difficult to estimate the loss, Kharge in response to a question, said “In Mysuru more than 40 per cent of people are dependent on tourism, so it is difficult to estimate what the loss has been.”
“Not only Mysuru, near by Srirangapatna is also a tourist spot. It is difficult to assess as of now, but we hope it will pull up,” he added. Karnataka is engaged in a legal battle with neighbouring Tamil Nadu over the raging Cauvery river water sharing issue. This had led to blockade of Bengaluru-Mysuru road and sporadic violence in parts of Southern Karnataka. Along with an exclusive Dasara website, print, electronic and digital media platforms are also being utilised for more promotional activities.
Initiatives like special package on the “Golden Chariot” train, ‘Royal Routes’ to help tourists discover Mysuru and to popularise the other less famous palaces have been organised by the department. It has also entrusted Kairali Aviation Private Limited to operate “Akasha Ambari”, an aircraft from Bangalore (HAL Airport) to Mysuru Airport from October 1 to 15 for air connectivity. The cost per passenger for the air travel would be Rs 4,000, officials said. Kharge also gave details of several initiatives by the Tourism department to mark World Tourism Day tomorrow that included ‘Pitch to the Government Hackathon’ to crowd-source innovative solutions and products from startups working in Tourism sector.
It has also come out with PRATHAMA (Pravasi Thana Mahiti), a holistic online MIS (Management Information System) backed system for collating and disseminating key information on the tourism sector in the State is first of its kind in India. Kharge also said that in probably a month and half, the tourism department would come out with an annual calendar of events, which would be promoted jointly by it.
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines
- The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.


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DIY : How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Future of Home Improvement Industry?
According to the recent reports from the Fifth Global DIY Summit held last year in Berlin; “the Amazon is soon going to be the market leader in the German home improvement industry, with the involvement of Artificial intelligence, IoT (internet of things) and robots which have become an essential part of an industrial revolution and giving more access to the consumers to work efficiently for their home renovation projects.”
The delegates at the convention keenly observed different aspects of the home improvement industry and discussed various things that can be contributed to the future growth of the home improvement sector. They also talked about multiple trends, techniques, and technologies that will be continued to transform the home industry.
Here is a small overview described after the research of Fifth Global DIY Summit:
Leaving the past behind with technological innovation:
We discussed earlier that Amazon is soon going to take over the brand leadership in the home improvement sector of Europe, and the speed of this transformation is dramatically different. Therefore, it doesn’t matter where your shop/store is actually located, but whether you are ranking on the first page of Google search results. So, in Germany, Amazon will become the market leader only in Germany which is down to the technology and will be focused on customers’ desires.
Voice recognition software that put customers first:
The ‘click generation’ demographic has now been transformed into the special ‘voice recognition’ software which ensures that the customer is put first before anything. According to research, many people in Europe wish that Amazon incorporate a customer-centric organization by realizing customers’ desires. This would be helpful for a customer as whenever he will make a call; the automatic software will understand the requirements and will respond the queries accordingly.
Computer vision- deployed by home improvement experts
Computer vision is another efficient technology that has been deployed by the retailer. Like, there are multiple small cameras that can be mounted at the upper area of the shelves in some high-touch departments, and stream real-time details on the shelf-stock areas. For instance, the technology can easily detect when the hole starts to appear in the roofing section; then the system sends a notification to the main devices, so one of the members of the company can head to the stock room and fix the item within minutes.
Virtual Reality visualization for a clearer vision:
With virtual reality visualization applications, the customers can be able to observe how the products are going to look like in their homes. Companies are working to deliver an immersive virtual reality experience to the users that will allow them to test the power equipment in a real life. The companies utilize their living labs to test their prototype and gather some real-life feedback on all the new experiences they are providing to demystify the home renovation.
Using Artificial intelligence to sharper your website’s search engine:
Another technique is to use AI technology to sharpen the website search engine, so that it may know about “leaky roof damage,” for instance, actually relating to the certain products or the siliconized reflective roof coatings. It’s also possible to input particular AI-driven insights and different results being captured from various searches to offer the consumer a right place. And in order to do it successfully, it’s important to comprehend the human language and finding people on the website search engine who ask different questions as like a real human.
According to the studies, Artificial intelligence is now at the beginning to reshape the future of the home improvement industry. Despite all the progress has made to this date, the AI efforts are still in the very early stages and need more improvement. The research has also revealed the fact that there are only 3% of retail organizations that are completely deploying the tools of artificial intelligence; while there are just 26% of the companies that have become a necessary part of the business. And the majority of the retail companies such as 64% are considering they are quite slow at the implementation of this technology.


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SilkRoute, which operates in over 10 markets worldwide, including Silicon Valley, has been in operation since launching from Singapore in 1994.
Founder and Chairman/Managing Director Wong Toon King started the company with less than $100,000. SilkRoute has recently been valuated by investor Pacific Century to be worth about $200 million.
"We're on to the next stage of internet evolution - e-companies supporting e-companies," said Wong, referring to new market niches in e-commerce.
The former government scholar recently moved his family to California, Silicon Valley to direct operations as CEO of Advanced Manufacturing Online Ltd (AMO), another subsidary of the SilkRoute Group.
Wong also mentioned that Silkroute looks for Asian companies to set up and be globally competitive. Towards this goal, it has launched Latitude Web as an internet consultancy."
Latitude Web has served clients such as Singapore Airlines, Starhub, Singapore Tourism Board and Tiger Beer (Asia), amongst others.
Oracle forms strategic relationships with 20 E-business consultants


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Blackstone is said to be picking up 6-7% in the company
Other existing investor might get a partial payout as part of this deal
Future Group recently did a soft launch of Brandfactoryonline.com
American private equity firm Blackstone has reportedly invested $250 Mn in Kishore Biyani’s Future Group which owns supermarket chains such as Bigbazaar, Brand Factory, EasyDay and more.
According to a media report, the investment is said to be a mix of equity and structured debt, and be used for the capital expansion of Biyani’s discounted fashion retail chain Brand Factory. The official announcement is expected to come soon after the company’s board meeting.
As a part of this investment, Blackstone is said to pick up a 6-7% of stake in the Future Group. along with investors such as L Catterton, Premji Invest, L&T Mutual Fund and LIC.
Further, existing investor Aion is said to be getting a partial payout and might receive $50 Mn of its $110 Mn exposures.
Future Group collectively operates more than 400 stores covering over 6 Mn sq ft of retail space. Further, with support from its large retail channel, FLFL also leverages its strong portfolio of brands that contribute to approximately 40% of total sales.
The company has also successfully invested in fashion brands such as BIBA and AND in the past and currently holds investments in other brands such as Clarks, Cover Story and Celio.
Future Group’s Tryst With Online Retail
In 2018, Future Group has also acquired a 30% stake in fashion ecommerce brand Koovs. This was closely followed by the soft launch of the company’s new ecommerce platform brandfactoryonline.com. Other ecommerce platforms under the groups’ umbrella include aLLOnlineStore.in, Clarks.in and CoverStory.co.in
Prior to this in 2017, the company has announced its hybrid offline-online commerce initiative, Tathaastu.
In May 2018, it was reported that Amazon had begun talks with Future Retail to acquire 9.5% stake. In November 2018, another report showed that Amazon was discussing a wider agreement with the Indian retail conglomerate.
Following this in May, Future Group has begun listing nearly all of its brands on Amazon across verticals such as fashion, grocery and electronics. The move was said to be a precursor of the upcoming stake sale deal between the companies.
In 2017 Future Group had to shut down the operations of its online furniture store, FabFurnish, which it had acquired from a Germany-based internet company Rocket Internet. Also in 2016, it had shut down its B2C online retail venture Big Bazaar Direct after finding the business unviable.
“I attempted ecommerce four times in my life. We started FutureBazaar way before Flipkart. We lost INR 300Cr-INR 350 Cr in business. Then, we created Big Bazaar Direct and we are officially closing it in next one week. We lost there as well,” Kishore Biyani had said at that time.


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Food Poisoning that Can’t be Treated?
Food poisoning is an unpleasant illness, something that no one wants to deal with. But, food poisoning is something that one can usually get over in a relatively quick manner. There is a new kind of food poisoning out there now, though, a different kind of food poisoning. Boraie Development said that this new food poisoning is a scary kind of food poisoning and one that everyone hopes not to contract.
The new food poisoning that has been effecting individuals is drug resistant. That’s right, it can’t be treated with any form of drugs. This new food poisoning could be serious and it could cause big problems. When you are forced to deal with something like food poisoning, you hope that you at least have the opportunity to be treated if you can’t get over the illness on your own. This new kind of food poisoning doesn’t give you that option, though. There is no way to fight this new form of food poisoning, at least not with drugs.


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In our last piece, we cheered that the blitz was continuing for Namaste Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS:NXTTF). The idea there was both the international move and the continued evolution toward the retail market, and the repurposing the company’s app and outlet infrastructure to that end. All of it has seemed to go quite smoothly and just in time, which is why we have been fans of the name over the past 2 months. To further build on that narrative, the company just announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cannmart Inc., has received confirmation from Health Canada that Cannmart will be allowed to buy pre-packaged, labeled, and tested cannabis products.
According to the release, “This development is very significant for Cannmart in that it will eliminate the need for buying in bulk, testing, and packaging, which will significantly reduce overhead costs for Cannmart and thus increase gross profit margins. By allowing Cannmart to purchase pre-packaged medical cannabis products, the Company can remain focused on its areas of expertise in e-commerce and technology, and enable the Company to further expand on the products and services that can be provided through Cannmart. The update from Health Canada is extremely positive for the Company and will further support its strategy in establishing Cannmart as Canada’s leading medical cannabis online marketplace.”
Namaste Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS:NXTTF) promulgates itself an emerging leader in vaporizer and accessories space. Namaste has 30 e-commerce retail stores in 20 countries, offers the largest range of brand name vaporizers products on the market and is actively manufacturing and launching multiple unique proprietary products for retail and wholesale distribution.
NXTTF is currently focused on expanding its product offering, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, and entering new markets globally.
According to company materials, “Namaste Technologies is Your Everything Cannabis Store. Namaste operates the largest global cannabis e-commerce platform with over 30 websites in 20+ countries under various brands. Namaste’s product offering through its subsidiaries includes vaporizers, glassware, accessories, CBD products, and the company will soon be selling medical cannabis in the Canadian market, subject to approval by Health Canada. Namaste has developed and acquired innovative technology platforms including NamasteMD.com, Canada’s first Health Canada compliant telemedicine application, and in May 2018 the Company acquired a leading e-commerce AI and Machine Learning Company, Findify AB. Findify uses artificial intelligence algorithms to optimize and personalize a consumer’s on-site buying experience. Namaste is focused on leveraging its cutting-edge technology to enhance the user experience throughout its platforms. Namaste will continue to develop and acquire innovative technologies which will provide value to the Company and to its shareholders as well as to the broader cannabis market.”
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As noted above, the stock has been performing as the company continues to evolve into a new niche. In all, the chart shows 110% during the past month in terms of shareholder gains in the stock. Furthermore, the name has witnessed a pop in interest, as transaction volume levels have recently pushed exceeding 480% above the average volume levels in play in this stock over the longer term.
Sean Dollinger, President and CEO of Namaste comments: “This is amazing news for Cannmart which will completely eliminate the need to buy bulk cannabis, test, unpack, weight and repack before it hits the shelves. We believe that this will allow us to maximize our output and profitability through Cannmart. We are thrilled to have received this update from Health Canada which only supports our business model and strategy in developing Canada’s most innovative e-commerce platform to offer a curated selection medical cannabis products and the best user experience possible.”
At this time, carrying a capital value in the market of $670.65M, NXTTF has a chunk ($471K) of cash on the books, which is balanced by about $1.1M in total current liabilities. One should also note that debt has been growing over recent quarters. NXTTF is pulling in trailing 12-month revenues of $5.6M. In addition, the company is seeing major top-line growth, with y/y quarterly revenues growing at 173.1%. This is an exciting story, and we look forward to a follow-up chapter as events transpire. Sign-up for continuing coverage on shares of $NXTTF stock, as well as other hot stock picks, get our free newsletter today and get our next breakout pick!
Disclosure: we hold no position in $NXTTF, either long or short, and we have not been compensated for this article.


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Autography, LLC, creators of patent-pending software that allows authors to connect with their fans via personalized signings inserted into ebooks on many of the most accessible reading-dedicated devices, such as Kindle, Nook, Sony e-Reader, and Kobo, as well as iOS multi-function devices like the iPad.
“The continuing shift to ebooks has created new opportunities,” said Autography cofounder Robert Barrett. “We are delighted the investment community understands how we are facilitating these new interactions between authors and readers.”
The recent angel investor’s funds will lead to an expansion of Autography’s current model, as well as the development of new protocols aimed at reaching a broader audience in order to connect them with their favorite authors. One tool that Autography has been exploring to reach out to readers is a more readily accessible form of ebook signing events that incorporate the ability to receive personalized author inscriptions, post those authors pages to readers’ Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as opportunities to interact with authors at online events.
According to Autography co-founder Tom Waters, the ebook signing software platform will be extending its work into foreign markets in the near future. The digital publishing industry as a whole has viewed the recent growth of e-reading markets in both Germany and France and the current rumors of the development of an Amazon Kindle store in China as the current frontier of digital reading.


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After several postponements, the Pixel 4a is said to made official next week. Thatâ€™s according to the usually-reliable tipster, John Prosser, who says the device will be unveiled on August 3rd. The Pixel 3a was announced in May, 2019, and its successor was originally expected to have been launch this May before the pandemic put a spanner in those plans.
Though, there’s no official confirmation yet about the launch date from Google, Prosser, the man behind the YouTube channel Front Page Tech, commands n decent track record with leaks and rumors. He was the only one to have correctly revealed the launch date of the iPhone SEÂ earlier this year. However,Â he had also wrongly claimed that the Pixel 4a will be launched on July 13. Of course, that never happened. So take this rumor with a pinch of salt until thereâ€™s an official confirmation from Google.
Finally happy to give a final update on Pixel 4a!
The last date I gave you (provided in the tweet below) is the launch day!
Pixel 4a. August 3. 100%.
Only question is…
Do you care anymore? Or have they pushed this off too much? https://t.co/SZkQpvRAZI
â€” Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) July 26, 2020
Originally expected to be announced in May, the Pixel 4a was subsequently rumored to be announced on July 13. However, that day came and went with nary a word from Google about its next-gen mid-range smartphone. So it will be interesting to see if heâ€™ll get the date right this time around. That said, the device was recently certified by the US FCC, suggesting that it might be launched any day now.
Meanwhile, a couple of hands-on videos by Cuban YouTuber, Julio Lusson,Â has already given us a detailed look at the upcoming device. He not only revealed some of the keyÂ performance benchmarks, but also published a detailedÂ camera review of the phone back in May.


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Canadian light electric vehicle (LEV) manufacturer Daymak announced Spiritus – its upcoming electric car that will come with its own comprehensive crypto infrastructure.
The model should support some crypto operations, including mining bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), cardano (ADA), and dogecoin (DOGE) during charging. and is set to debut in 2023, the company stated.
Daymak Spiritus will come with Daymak Nebula, Daymak’s crypto suite that includes Nebula Miner and Nebula Wallet, which will turn its vehicles into “environmentally-friendly crypto miner nodes – an unprecedented milestone in the rapid evolution of blockchain technologies,” as the company said. The price of the car starts from USD 18,495.
Nebula Miner will be equipped with industry-leading graphics processing unit (GPU), which will let the car owners make money while they are parked, while Nebula Wallet aims to be an all-in solution for daily crypto needs.
“We envision a future where your highway tolls, your parking, and your drive-thru order will be paid directly on the fly with crypto. Your online bills and your banking can be handled through the same software platform paid in crypto. And whereas most vehicles are depreciating while they sit in your garage, the Nebula Miner will make you money while your Spiritus is parked. The potential applications are limitless,” Aldo Baiocchi, President of Daymak, said.
Baiocchi added that by the time of Spiritus release date in 2023, “everyone will be paying with crypto,” so the company is building its vehicles with that in mind.
“We are also working with a variety of exchanges to offer leasing payments via crypto,” which is “another aspect of crypto integration in which the Daymak Spiritus is pioneering,” he was quoted as saying.
We filed a patent for our new Daymak Nebula mining platform. #Daymak Avvenire will collect #dogecoin or #bitcoin while parked and can also capture the heat for heating system #daymakavvenire #Spiritus #dogecoin #dogecoinarmy #ElonMusk #MattWallace888
— Aldo Baiocchi (@Aldo_Baiocchi) June 1, 2021
While the crypto infrastructure is patent-pending, the technology will be available for licensing to other electric vehicle manufacturers as well, according to the company.
Spiritus is the offering in the Daymak Avvenire series, which “has surpassed 350 million dollars in pre-orders in less than 60 days.”
The announcement didn’t take much time to get noticed in the crypto community. It has prompted some funny, skeptical, and enthusiastic responses.
. @Daymak will Be the World’s First Electric Car to Mine Bitcoin, While It’s Parked. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XNaV2vI5HC
— 🟩 Bitcoin Meme Hub 🔞 #taproot (@BitcoinMemeHub) June 1, 2021
It’s not like Daymak has a fleet of a millions of vehicles mining #Bitcoin with heavy energy that they produce any meaningful amounts to begin with. It’s just a simple publicity stunt IMHO.
— DeepBlueCrypto (@DeepBlueCrypto) June 1, 2021
Learn more:- BMW, Ford, Honda to Co-work on Blockchain-powered Car Damage History Platform- Ford Awarded Patent for Car-to-Car Crypto Transactions
– BMW Rolls Out Blockchain-powered Token Rewards Platform in South Korea- IOTA Works With Jaguar and Others on IOTA Access for Shared Devices


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Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) a member of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the House Northern Border Caucus, released the statement below following approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by the House of Representatives:
“Western New York endured decades of negative economic decline and the loss of 30 thousand jobs in our manufacturing sector as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The impact of NAFTA cut deep – affecting families, neighborhoods and bruising our community confidence for years. So, if Western New Yorkers know anything about trade agreements, it is that words on paper are not meaningful unless they are followed up by strong and sustained action.
“I respect the hard work my colleagues and organized labor have undertaken, drastically improving the language President Trump negotiated to actually protect workers and their jobs – including in the treaty text tools aimed at holding Mexico accountable for its poor record on worker rights all toward the goal of real, enforceable measures to shield American workers and jobs.
“This agreement is far from perfect. I remain skeptical of Mexico’s ability to live up to its end of the bargain. But it does represent an opportunity, where we can begin to push for strong and sustained progress for trade on this continent. While it is a step in the right direction, it alone will not bring back thousands of American manufacturing jobs as President Trump claims. We should also be pursuing policies domestically that focus on economic growth for the American middle class, like infrastructure investment. Yet, the economic future of Western New York is increasingly tied to that of Southern Ontario. Protecting the free movement of people and goods across our border with Canada is critical. As a result, in good faith, I am supporting the USMCA.”
House Democrats were successful in making numerous improvements to the President’s original agreement, including:
- Fixing loopholes that allowed countries to avoid being held accountable and creates new rules to provide for enforcement.
- Strengthening labor standards and worker rights.
- Allowing for better monitoring of environmental compliance.
- Removing giveaways to big pharma to allow for legislation creating greater access to affordable prescription drugs.
Higgins also welcomed the inclusion of a sunset provision which allows for formal review and reconsideration of the USMCA agreement after 6 years.
The revised USMCA adopted by the House is supported by:
- The AFL-CIO nationally and the Western New York Area Labor Federation. AFL-CIO President Trumpka said, “The revised USMCA includes a first-of-its-kind facility-specific enforcement mechanism with rapid timelines and meaningful penalties.”
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership in Western New York. The Partnership notes that Canada is New York exports $22.7 billion worth of goods and services to Canada and Mexico.
- Ford says USMCA “will secure America’s North American supply lines and give certainty to America’s economy – making both more globally competitive” and General Motors called the deal, “vital to the success of the North American auto industry.”
- The International Dairy Foods Association and Northeast Dairy Farmer’s Cooperative for provisions that level the playing field relative to US/Canada milk pricing, benefiting Upstate Niagara Cooperative in WNY.
The improved trade deal will now move to the Senate for consideration and approval. The agreement will go into effect three months after all three countries ratify the deal. Mexico has already approved the revised deal.


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Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids is moving forward with a $26 million expansion.
The Right Place, a regional non-profit economic development organization, in collaboration with The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and The City of Grand Rapids has announced the approval of $2 million of a Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant with repayment terms for Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Co.
The grant allows the brewery to move forward with its expansion, , which is expected to create 52 new jobs for the area over three years. The positions will range from managerial to service, with the bulk of positions being in the operations and services sector.
“Founders Brewing Co. is a shining star in Grand Rapids, not only from a consumer standpoint but also with regard to economic development,” said Susan Jackson, Senior Business Development Manager, The Right Place, Inc. “This expansion confirms that Grand Rapids continues to find a niche in the craft brewing industry. We are pleased to help Founders Brewing Co. grow in Grand Rapids.”
“The craft beer market continues to grow,” said Mike Stevens, President and CEO, Founders Brewing Co., “and demand for Founders beers has caused our growth to outpace average industry growth. Meeting this demand requires a significant upfront investment in additional facility area and, more importantly, in additional equipment. We are grateful for this incentive assistance, which will allow us to keep up with demand and to be in a position to hire more people to help us grow the brewery.”
In just five years since moving to its Grandville Avenue location, Founders Brewing Co. has increased production and taproom sales to a point where demand requires this expansion.
Demand for the expanded facility will be supported by Founders Brewing Co.’s existing network of 62 distributors across 23 states and new distributors in new markets.
Over $22 million of the $26 million expansion will be used for purchase of new brewing and fermenting vessels and other equipment, while nearly $4 million will be spent on expanding the brewing facility, located at 235 Grandville Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids. Once complete, the brewery will have capacity to produce approximately 300,000 barrels of beer annually, or four times its current capacity.
The expansion will occur in phases, the first of which consists of expanding the brewery’s fermentation hall.
The City of Grand Rapids has also recently offered a 12-year property tax abatement valued at approximately $300,000 for the project.


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More cargo from Mexico to the United States is being held up at the border, accompanied by increasing evidence that such delays are dimming prospects for American companies.
Slower trade between the countries since federal border officers recently were redirected to deal with a surge in migrants has been socking businesses with additional shipping costs. The effects likely will cause a modest headwind for second-quarter nonresidential investment growth — which cooled at the start of the year — and already helped to push a U.S. factory gauge to a two-year low in April, according to Bank of America Corp.
“The delays generate a meaningful direct cost for businesses,” economist Stephen Juneau said in an e-mail May 6. The disruption may have a significant impact on the flow of goods, as more than 86% of Mexican imports enter the U.S. by land, and impose some $5.5 million in additional costs on U.S. businesses each month, he wrote in a report May 3.
Trucking company Werner Enterprises Inc. said on an April 25 earnings call that it expects border crossing to be “slow for the foreseeable future.”
“Freight is still crossing the border at a very slow rate by comparable standards,” said Derek Leathers, CEO of the Omaha, Neb.-based company.
Werner ranks No. 15 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said March 27 that trade processing would slow, with as many as 750 officers from crossings in the San Diego, Tucson, Ariz.; El Paso and Laredo, Texas, regions being re-assigned. President Donald Trump the next day renewed threats to close the border.
The Institute for Supply Management’s factory survey last week showed April conditions at the weakest since October 2016, though still expansionary. The production component also fell to a more than two-year low, which Juneau said likely was in part because of border delays.
Mexico border issues “are a potential threat,” one unidentified respondent from a machinery company said in ISM’s survey, while a computer and electronic products company said, “Border crossing delays are slowing supplier deliveries.” A transportation-equipment company said it is closely watching the Mexico border situation.
Vice President Mike Pence visited a section of the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona on April 11. (Caitlin O'Hara/Bloomberg News)
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan also has cited the trade disruptions, citing average daily truck crossings at El Paso falling by half to 1,500. While it hasn’t had a material impact on Texas, it could.
“It’s something we’re watching,” he told CNBC on May 3.
“A lot of the commercial traffic, we’re hearing from businesses, is being impeded” he said. “This is affecting logistics and supply chains, not just in Texas and the Southwest, but also in the Midwest.”
Juneau cited comments last month by customs officials saying cargo processing times were multiplying at some of the busiest ports of entry. Waits at Brownsville, Texas, recently were at two hours, compared with no wait a year earlier, while the 4½-hour delay at Otay Mesa, Calif., was up from 50 minutes a year before — and at the end of one day, 175 trucks at that crossing were unprocessed, according to a CBP operations director.
Bank of America multiplied the delays by the average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers in transportation and warehousing, and then multiplied the cost per truckload by the total number of trucks that crossed through each of the two ports last year. Per truckload, delays are likely costing U.S. businesses an additional $40 to $80, Juneau estimated.
“Additionally, in order to maintain the current pace of production, businesses are likely absorbing the unplanned cost, which could affect hiring and investment plans,” he said.


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Local high school and college students will be bottling and packaging Black Bee Honey and selling it at the new Parramore Farmers Market which has its grand opening Saturday, January 6, 2018. The market and the students will be outside the Orlando City Stadium every Saturday 8am-1pm.
The honey packaging and sales project is part of the City of Orlando Parramore Kidz Zone program's Youth Employment Program which gives students an entrepreneurial start-up business experience and helps find them jobs. The program was launched summer 2017 and has helped to match more than 100 students with jobs to date.
The market will feature:
More than 30 local vendors
The sale of Black Bee Honey – a startup run by Parramore Kidz Zone mentoring program youth
A Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) booth where patrons may use their EBT cards to receive tokens to spend in the market
This weekly farmers market is part of the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant received by the city. With this grant, the city is working to provide access to quality, fresh and healthy food in the West Orlando neighborhoods that have been deemed as “food deserts.” This program will also help in giving residents the opportunity to start or grow a business by encouraging entrepreneurship.