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Facebook said late Tuesday that it is shelling out $2 billion to scoop up a company that makes virtual reality gaming glasses.
That's a hefty price to pay for a company that has not yet released a consumer-ready product, analysts said.
Facebook reached an agreement to buy Oculus VR Inc. for $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock, which today is valued at a total of $1.6 billion. The deal, Facebook noted, includes an added $300 million earn-out in cash and stock if certain milestones are reached.
Oculus is working on a new virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift, which is designed to give gamers a 100-degree 3D field of view. While the headset is not yet available, the company is taking pre-orders and has released a developer kit for it.
According to Facebook, Oculus has received more than 75,000 orders for its development kits.
The social network also reported that executives there plan to extend Oculus' reach from gaming to new verticals, including communications, media and entertainment and education.
"Mobile is the platform of today, and now we're also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow," said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's co-founder and CEO. "Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate."
Facebook has become a popular gaming platform, with users spending a lot of their online social time playing games like Farmville 2, Candy Crush Saga and Texas Holdem Poker.
However, getting into an immersive virtual reality game is a whole different prospect, according to Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy.
This also marks the first time that Facebook has acquired a hardware company -- and that will represent a different kind of challenge for the social network.
"Oculus does virtual reality headgear for PC games and that's a far cry from Facebook and what they are doing today," said Moorhead. "I do think Oculus is worth $2 billion, but just not to Facebook. Farmville on Facebook and Call of Duty on Oculus is night and day difference."
He added that he just doesn't see a virtual reality game flying on Facebook.
"Facebook games are 2D, casual games," said Moorhead. "There's nothing immersive about them. Oculus literally sucks you into the action as if you are actually there. I can't envision a Facebook gamer wearing virtual reality goggles.... I don't see this as a good move for Facebook. I expect them to underutilize the opportunity."
Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with ZK Research, also called the purchase a bad move for the social network.
"Well, this is just a huge price tag for a company that hasn't shipped anything yet," he added. "And this isn't something for the likes of Flappy Birds. This is for hard-core gamers. Plus, this puts them in the hardware market. I think this is a bad move."
Facebook said the Oculus team will continue working on its headset out of its headquarters in Irvine, CA.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.
Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin, on Google+ or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed. Her email address is firstname.lastname@example.org.
Read more about social media in Computerworld's Social Media Topic Center.


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Pb Cheers to the Craft Beer Act!
Senators Introduce Bill to Boost Beer
As if anyone would need another reason to raise their glass in salute at tonight’s “Spirits in the Shaft” in Leadville, it was good news for brewers this week as the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act was introduced back in Washington, DC. Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D) and Cory Gardner (R) – members of the Senate Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus – introduced legislation on February 6 to help ensure the continued growth of America’s craft beverage industry.
The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act would permanently establish reduced taxes and modernized regulations for brewers, cider makers, vintners, and distillers to further promote job creation in each industry.
“This bill was put into temporary law last year and will expire at the end of this year if not extended or made full,” explained Chris Labbe with Periodic Brewing (Pb) in Leadville.
Senator Bennet concurred with the local brewer adding, “This is commonsense legislation that will relieve Colorado’s craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries from outdated regulations that stunt growth and innovation.”
If passed, small brewers and distillers would receive reduced excise taxes, and small wine producers would receive an expanded excise tax credit. Provisions similar to many of those in the bill passed in 2017 and 2018 and are set to expire at the end of 2019.
More specifically, the Act would provide funding for programs that accelerate processing of formula and label applications and enforce fair trade practices. It would simplify the lengthy process for approving non-traditional beer formulas, promote innovation in brewing, and allow for the transfer of beer and bottled spirits in bond -increasing collaboration among brewers and reducing tax burdens for distillers.
“If you look at this in kegs or cases sold it is about 1% of revenue which is a big deal,” explained Labbe with Pb. “Even very small breweries are saving $1K+ to use for people and equipment needs. Big breweries like Lefthand might be $250K+ enabling them to take care of their business much better.”
In 2016, the brewing industry alone contributed more than $350 billion to the U.S. economy, directly and indirectly employing about 2.23 million Americans. The wine industry contributed $220 billion and 1.7 million jobs, and spirits contributed more than $173 billion and 1.5 million jobs.
“Colorado is home to more than 350 small and independent brewers that employ more than 20,000 people,” said Senator Gardner. “The industry contributes significantly to our state’s economy, and it’s important that Washington doesn’t stand in the way of its continued success. Passing this bill will help small brewers and distillers to grow, create jobs, and boost communities across the four corners of Colorado and throughout our country.”
Cheers to Spirits in The Shaft at Mining Museum
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the good news for beer, there are still tickets available for tonight’s “Spirits in the Shaft” at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. Not only will attendees be treated to samplings from the “spirits” world, but they will also get a sneak peek at the new exhibit: “Sequencing Through Time and Place: The Carissa Mine.”
This after-hours event, formerly known as the annual Wine Tasting, has expanded in recent years to include craft beer and wines, as well as food samplings from Leadville eateries and chefs. This year’s event will bring back the popular silent auction and include something new: a psychic medium.
Also new this year is a shuttle service to get people safely to and from the tasting event. This service will benefit the Lake County Senior Center. Sounds like an unforgettable Leadville Friday Night.
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased HERE or by calling 719-486-1229. All proceeds from the event benefit the nonprofit National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum.

domain: news


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Orange, California (PRWEB) September 19, 2012
HealthCompare, the nationally recognized health insurance comparison site, encourages health insurance consumers to become aware of astonishing facts about cigarettes this week.
According to Mayo Clinic, there are over 4000 chemicals in cigarettes. With more than 400 being harmful to the body. Statistics like these are scientifically linked to the rise in healthcare costs in the US.
This rise in costs makes it more important than ever that consumers take every possible measure to search for a policy that’s not just affordable, but provides adequate coverage for shoppers and their families.
The American Journal of Medicine reported a staggering rate of 62.1% (2009) of all bankruptcies in the country being medically related - numbers reveal how desperate the situation is around health care.
HealthCompare wants to help people make decisions that will make their lives better through coverages they need. Their compassion towards consumers led them to guiding their site’s visitors through the questions they needed to ask themselves so they could find policies that offered them real and adequate coverage.
Some of the questions HealthCompare led their visitors through were:
What are the consumers current health care needs? Do they currently require medication? Does the consumer have a pre-existing condition? Or are they seeking to start a family in the near future?
Does the financial state of the shopper allow for a lower deductible, thusly giving them a higher monthly premium? Or would having a high deductible (and therefore lower monthly premium) be more beneficial?
Is the consumer’s physician a factor? If they prefer to continue seeing their doctor of choice, HealthCompare helps them decide what policies allow that.
Are there any other health insurance options for the shopper, such as spouse or parent plan?
Once consumers get their quotes, HealthCompare then helps them narrow their decisions by prompting them to ask further questions, like:
How much will the policies being compared cost them from their pocket when considering deductibles, co-insurance, and co-pays?
What will the policies being compared offer in terms of maximum out-of-pocket expense?
Will the consumer’s office visits be covered?
Do any of the policies up for comparison offer maternity?
Is prescription drug coverage an option?
How much will the consumer pay for emergency services and ambulances?
Will the current primary physician and local hospitals be accepted under any of the policies being considered?
Health insurance costs are much more involved than mere premiums and buyers must carefully consider all out of pocket expenses to understand what their policies will ultimately cost them.
This realization is what brought HealthCompare to the conclusion that more definitive information was needed. So they developed infographics to help explain the difficult insurance situations that have arisen from the public perception of the industry.
Some of the infographics released by HealthCompare are:
Is There Really [Affordable Medical Coverage Available - Designed to help consumers find their most affordable options
COBRA Isn’t The Only Health Insurance For Unemployed - Designed to educate the unemployed on their health insurance choices
Private Health Insurance Vs. Group Health Insurance - Educates shoppers on the difference between private and group health insurance
Taking their education campaign further with the publishing industry, HealthCompare will release self-development books to help continue to guide consumers through all stages of life.
Other infographics can be found here.
Yet, health care needs change as life changes and events like births, deaths, marriages, and divorces are just some of those times that require more help than others. And HealthCompare is dipping into the publishing industry for that reason. Optimizing on the peak the publishing industry is enjoying now, they will release their new titles each week and will introduce them on their website, initially and them move them to Amazon as new titles are released.
HealthCompare's goal is and has always been consumer education. Now they have a new medium through which to reach them.
About Health Compare: HealthCompare was launched in 2009 to work with brokers and carriers to help individuals and families easily research, compare, buy, and enroll in the right health insurance plan at the right price. Based in Orange, Calif., it delivers accurate, customized, health insurance quotes for the country's diverse population.
Through a unique partnership with its sister company, CONEXIS, HealthCompare has the ability to quickly reach thousands of COBRA-qualifying consumers and provide them with COBRA alternatives at the moment they become eligible for COBRA benefits. This provides these consumers with an opportunity to enroll in individual or family plans and potentially save hundreds to thousands of dollars on COBRA premiums and, at the same time, rewards referring brokers with referral fee income for the life of each policy.
For more information, visit http://healthcompare.com/ or call 888.748.5152.


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A new study has warned that a third of all men currently under the age of 20 in China will eventually die prematurely if they do not give up smoking.
The research, published in The Lancet medical journal, says two-thirds of men in China now start to smoke before 20.
Around half of those men will die from the habit, it concludes.
The scientists conducted two nationwide studies, 15 years apart, covering hundreds of thousands of people.
In 2010, around one million people in China died from tobacco usage. But researchers say that if current trends continue, that will double to two million people – mostly men – dying every year by 2030, making it a “growing epidemic of premature death”.
While more than half of Chinese men smoke, only 2.4% of Chinese women do.
The study was conducted by scientists from Oxford University, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Chinese Center for Disease Control.
But co-author Richard Peto said there was hope – if people can be persuaded to quit.
“The key to avoid this huge wave of deaths is cessation, and if you are a young man, don’t start,” he said.
In many parts of China, meals often fit a comfortable pattern. After putting down their chopsticks, men commonly push their chairs back from the table and light cigarettes. No wonder China has struggled to impose a smoking ban in public places. Here, relationships are often built amid clouds of smoke.
Expensive brands of cigarettes, often decorated with gold detailing on the cartons, are given as gifts. And ordinary brands are affordable to all but the very poor, costing just 2.5 yuan ($0.4; £0.25) a pack.
In a country where smoking is so ingrained in daily life, few understand the harmful effects of tobacco use. According to the World Health Organization, only 25% of Chinese adults can list the specific health hazards of smoking, from lung cancer to heart disease.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that only 10% of Chinese smokers quit by choice. Instead, most are forced to give up their cigarettes because they’re too sick to continue.
While smoking rates have fallen in developed countries – to less than one in five in the US – they have risen in China, as cigarettes have become more available and consumers richer.
China is the world’s biggest consumer of cigarettes – one in three cigarettes smoked globally is in China – as well as the world’s biggest tobacco producer.
More than 300 million people – about a quarter of the population – smoke, with the average smoker consuming 22 cigarettes a day.
Authorities have shown concern over the rise, with Beijing even introducing a public smoking ban. But efforts have been hampered by the habit’s popularity, and its usefulness as a source of tax revenue – the government collects about 428bn yuan (£44bn, $67bn) in tobacco taxes each year.
Globally, tobacco kills up to half of its users, according to the World Health Organization.


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- The much-anticipated Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), will be available to retail users starting on December 1, stated the Reserve Bank of India.
- Digital tokens will at first be granted in the same denominations as paper currency by four banks in four cities.
On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the beginning of the retail digital rupee (e-R) pilot programme. The date for commencing of the pilot is decided to be December 1.
According to a press release from RBI, the pilot would focus on a few locations within a closed user group (CUG), which would include partaking patrons and business owners.
State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and IDFC First Bank will be the initial four banks to participate in the pilot, out of the eight that have been recognised for progressive involvement.
According to a press release from the central bank, four additional banks — Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank — will soon join this pilot.
On December 1, the Reserve Bank will begin the first sequence of the retail digital rupee (e-R) pilot program in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar. Thereafter, the programme will be expanded to nine additional cities.
When considered necessary, the pilot’s range may be significantly expanded to include additional banks, users, and locations. The plan for federal advancement also includes Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Lucknow, Patna, and Shimla.
The pilot will test the stability of the whole creation, distribution, and retail use of digital rupees instantaneously. Based on the lessons learned from this pilot, various aspects and uses of the e-R token and architectural style will be evaluated in subsequent pilots.
The e-R would take the shape of a digital token that stands in for money. It would be distributed in the same denominations that coins and paper money are now distributed in. It would be distributed by means of middlemen, namely banks.
Through a digital wallet provided by the banking institutions (participant banks) and kept on mobile phones or other devices, users will be able to conduct transactions with e-R. Both person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-merchant transactions are possible (P2M).
Payments made using CBDC would be final and not require interbank settlement, giving it an edge over current digital payment systems.
The e-R would provide characteristics of actual money, such as trust, safety, and settlement finality. As with cash, it won’t bear interest and can be changed into other forms of payment like bank deposits, according to the RBI.


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At the Intel Developer’s Conference, Dell showed off an unusual hybrid device that is both a netbook and a tablet device. According to our publisher Xavier Lanier who was on hand for the announcement and posted about the Dell Inspiron Duo over at GottaBeMobile, the device was presented first as a tablet with a lot of sighs from the crowd jaded by all the tablets being announced. But then the device was morphed into a netbook computer by opening the keyboard on the back and then swiveling the screen like a water wheel inside the enclosure resulting in something very unique and exciting.
The device is powered by an Intel dual-core Atom N550 processor and is running Windows 7 Premium, although the videos and pictures show it with some kind of overlay application launcher.
When asked when it would be out Dell said, “It will be available later this year.”
Here is the video of the presentation by Dell at IDF:
Here is another video of the Dell Duo close up as the screen swivels:


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Speaking during a conference call to share the company’s third-quarter financial results, CEO Sergio Marchionne expressed his interest saying that a potential full-sized SUV was a possibility for the Ram brand. According to Marchionne, the large SUV segment is “the near-exclusive use of some others. We have a reasonable chance of getting at least part of the market.”
Ever since Ram was separated from Dodge to distinguish its pickups and commercial vehicles in the marketplace, it has never offered an SUV model. As the lineup gets ready for a redesign, Marchionne says there is room for an SUV and is exploring the idea.
SEE ALSO: 7 Things FCA is Actually Doing Right
The move makes sense, considering the Jeep brand also falls under FCA so it’s not like the automaker is entirely clueless on how to develop a proper SUV. A Ram offering wouldn’t compete with the upcoming three-row Jeep Grand Wagoneer, although that has been delayed until 2019. Jeep is developing the Grand Wagoneer as a luxury model to compete with the likes of Range Rover, while the Ram SUV would be more like the Chevrolet Suburban and Ford Expedition.
[Source: Automotive News]
Discuss this story on our Ram Forum


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Amazon began making changes to its search results last year to prioritize profitability over relevance, according to The Wall Street Journal. Those changes were reportedly spurred on by demands from Amazon’s retail divisions and private label team, and they’re said to have the effect of often boosting Amazon’s own products in search listings.
To avoid antitrust concerns at a time when Amazon’s role as both a product maker and a platform company are under scrutiny, Amazon doesn’t directly boost products based on how profitable they are, according to the report. Instead, the Journal says that Amazon boosts other factors that its search engine can consider, which collectively have the effect of elevating more profitable products.
Amazon has dozens of in-house brands
Amazon initially issued a narrow denial, saying, “We have not changed the criteria we use to rank search results to include profitability.” That doesn’t necessarily discount what the Journal reported, which is that Amazon changed the criteria around aspects linked to profitability without boosting profitability directly. Amazon followed up with a later statement more explicitly saying, “The Wall Street Journal has it wrong” and that the story is “not factually accurate.”
A spokesperson for Amazon said the company looks at “a number of metrics” when testing new features, “including long term profitability, to see how these new features impact the customer experience and our business as any rational store would, but we do not make decisions based on that one metric.”
While Amazon-made gadgets like the Kindle and Echo are its best-known products, the company has been rapidly expanding its private label offerings over the past several years. There are dozens of them, but so far, sales have seemingly been weak, and Amazon has largely failed to break in beyond basic goods like batteries.
Tweaking its search algorithm to favor Amazon-made products could help expand sales of those products. As the Journal reports, the majority of clicks come from the first page of search results, with most coming in just the top few rows.
Update September 16th, 2:22PM ET: This story has been updated with an additional comment from Amazon more forcefully denying the Journal’s story.


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NEW YORK (AP) -- He's only 17, but pop sensation Justin Bieber is back with his second book.
HarperCollins announced Tuesday that it will publish "Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started." The book is described as "the second official photographic book" from the multiplatinum-sellin g superstar.
The company says it will be released worldwide in September.
The new book promises a look inside the world of Bieber: touring the globe, making a movie and recording his new album.
His first book, titled "First Step 2 Forever: My Story," was published in October 2010. It has sold more than a million copies in 25 languages.
Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, and Maggie Gyllenhaal all get an F on this week's Fashion Offenders.
Find out which stars attended Jennifer Lopez's birthday celebration on today's Celebs Gone Social.
Get the scoop on Naya Rivera's wacky wedding on Replay hosted by Wonderwall's Kirby Kristen.
Cameron Diaz, Rumer Willis, and Ellie Goulding all get an F on this week's Fashion Offenders.
Let's check out some of Eva's tactics behind her baby bump secret on Replay hosted by Wonderwall's Kirby Kristen.
See how Taylor Swift has been rocking red over the years.
From Beyonce to Jennifer Lopez, see how these stars keep their figures trim.
© 2014 Microsoft


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U.S. Stocks Rise on Europe Auction Costs
(Bloomberg) U.S. stocks rose, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index higher for a fourth day, as a drop in borrowing costs at debt auctions in Europe overshadowed disappointing data on American jobless claims and retail sales.
“There are significant cross currents,” Michael Mullaney, who helps manage $9.5 billion at Fiduciary Trust in Boston, said in a telephone interview. “Lower borrowing costs will help in the refinancing that’s due in the next few months in the euroland in general. Still, they’ve got to spur growth to get things going. In the U.S., today’s economic numbers were weaker than anticipated. The market has had a nice run here. Sentiment has gotten more bullish, which makes me nervous.”


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Amazon says it will take steps to close the racial gap in its same-day delivery services.
A Bloomberg analysis in April found that Amazon's same-day delivery service for Prime members was not available in some predominantly black zip codes despite being available in most parts of those cities.
That led to some odd situations, such as the majority-black Boston neighborhood of Roxbury, which was excluded from the service but entirely surrounded by whiter neighborhoods that were included.
Amazon extended service to Roxbury after the Bloomberg report, and now says it will implement a broader program designed to prevent such a disparity from arising in the future.
Amazon made the pledge in a statement obtained by the Congressional Black Caucus. The organization, which represents black members of Congress, had alerted Amazon it was monitoring the situation and supported calls for an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission into the service boundaries.
"Very shortly, we will be expanding Prime Same Day Service to every zip code of the 27 cities where Prime Same Day delivery is currently launched," Amazon said in the statement obtained by the caucus and shared with Bloomberg News. "We will further not launch the service in any new regions, until we are able to secure a carrier for every zip code. We are still figuring out the details and procuring last mile delivery for each of these zips, but we should have 100 percent coverage shortly."
In short, this means:
- Amazon will extend its service to all zip codes in cities that already have same-day delivery.
- Amazon will not move same-day delivery to a new city until it can serve all zip codes.


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FAIRFIELD TWP. – Claremont Distillery has begun making hand sanitizer as shortages of the products continue amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials have been urging people to wash their hands with soap and water to avoid spreading the new virus. If that is not available, they have said to use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
On Saturday, March 21, the business at 25 Commerce Road planned to hand out thousands of free bottles of hand sanitizer, giving priority first-responders and people with medical conditions.
Tim Koether, owner of the Claremont Distillery, said the next batch of hand sanitizer should be available Wednesday, March 25. After that, the distillery should be able to generate a steady stream of the product.
First-responders will receive 12-ounce bottles, and 3-ounce bottles will go to the general public.
Koether, a Bernardsville resident who started the business after more than 25 years as a hedge fund manager on Wall Street, said memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks inspired his decision to convert production from vodka, bourbon and whiskey.
“I was in New York on 9/11. I lost friends. I saw the way people came together then,” he said.
“It’s what we’re supposed to do. We have the ability to do it. ... It’s just a little thing that we’re doing to try to help out.”
He said it also is a good lesson for his children, who were working with his brother and employees Friday, March 20 to bottle the hand sanitizer. His daughter, Anna, attends Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., and his son, James, is a junior at Gill St. Bernard’s School in Gladstone.
Koether’s brother, J. Scott, a member of the stagehands union in Connecticut, said he came to help after theaters closed last week.
Koether said they put 1,200 pounds of sugar and 600 gallons of water in big containers Friday morning, then heated it to create sugar water. When the temperature falls to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they planned to add yeast and move it to the fermentation tanks. The mixture takes three to four days to ferment, then the alcohol will be distilled.
The 70 percent alcohol is mixed with aloe and glycerin to make the hand sanitizer. Claremont workers made aloe gel using xanthan gum.
The company expects to receive a donation of 2,000 bottles soon, and Koether said a large cosmetics company on Friday agreed to provide all the bottles he needs.
He had closed the distillery founded in 2014, a couple weeks ago because of concerns about the coronavirus. All five of his employees were back working on the new product Friday.
Contact Kathy Shwiff at email@example.com
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Hi. I am Gary Nitzkin. I am an attorney with Credit Repair Lawyers of America. There is always going to be a debate about whether a debt is good or bad, but what we can all agree on; is that debt collector harassment is a bad thing. If you are being harassed by debt collectors, [...]
Unfortunately, student loan scams are on the rise, but California consumers can protect themselves from fraudsters by following these tips from the FTC.
When California consumers get calls or letters from debt collectors, they can never just assume that the agents are demanding the correct amounts. Here’s why.
Many Pennsylvania Millennials are struggling with medical debt right now, but they DON’T have to put up with debt collector abuse.
Frequently, Minnesota consumers find out that they owe taxes on canceled debt, and they are often surprised when they get the bill from the IRS.
In case they don’t know, here are a few of the things that Ohio consumers should know about debt collectors and the term, “beyond statute.”
Georgia Attorney General Settles with Debt Collection Agency and Wipes Out $8.8 Million in Consumer Debt
Big News: The Attorney General in Georgia wiped out $8.8 million in consumer debt when he settled with an FDCPA violated debt collection agency.
How do debt collectors locate consumers in Michigan? Here are a few of the most common methods employed by debt collection agents.
Whether or not pay-for-delete actually improves Pennsylvania credit scores depends on several important factors. Here’s what you need to know.
What Florida Consumers Should Know About the Mistakes Made by the Internal Revenue Service in Outsourcing Tax Debt Collection
Clearly, the Internal Revenue Service has made some mistakes in outsourcing tax debt collection. Here’s Florida consumers should know about the situation.
Most Illinois consumers know that it’s good to pay their current bills on time, but should they pay off debt already in debt collections?
For Minnesota consumers concerned about identity theft, here are seven signs to look for. Also, act quickly if you notice anything suspicious.
Ohio consumers pursued by debt collectors should know that, under the FDCPA, there are certain things that debt collectors can and cannot do.
Bankruptcy normally leaves you with damaged credit, but Michigan consumers can start a credit repair plan during bankruptcy or right after discharge.
Too many Michigan consumers have fallen victim to tax debt collection call scams. So, here are some tips to help you deal with these fraudsters.


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The European Union continues to regulate its exports of certain products in accordance with its regulations on export control of dual-use products.
In parallel, the European Union introduced export authorization measures that prohibit the external sale of personal protective equipment (such as masks, goggles, and clothing) from that trading bloc without prior regulatory approval, in the context of COVID-19.
In 2013, the European Commission launched a procedure to examine the export control regime, which led to a legislative proposal in 2016 to improve the existing rules to meet new challenges.
The approach taken by the Commission in its proposal was to modernize and improve the existing framework, with a particular focus on cyber surveillance technologies and human rights issues.
European Union: Composition of exports, 2015 and 2018
Specifically, it foresees the need to require an authorization to export certain cyber surveillance technologies, including those that are exported electronically; the modernization of the current control provisions, among others those related to intangible technology transfers; the fight against illegal trade through certain controls, including an anti-circumvention clause; harmonization of licensing procedures; and improving transparency and disclosure.
The European Parliament adopted its position on the proposal in January 2018, and the European Council agreed on its position in June 2019, so tripartite dialogues are currently being held with a view to finalizing the legislative process and agreeing on a new regulation.
Exports and COVID-19
The European Commission has established that when its Member States impose restrictions on the transport of goods and passengers for reasons of public health, it should be done only if those restrictions are transparent, that is, enshrined in public declarations or documents.
They must also be properly motivated, that is, they need to explain the reasons and the link to COVID-19, in addition to that the justifications must be scientifically based and supported by the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center European for Disease Prevention (ECDC).
Other considerations are that the restrictions must be proportional (not go beyond what is strictly necessary); relevant and mode-specific, that is, restrictions on any of the different modes of transport must be tailored to that mode.
Since 2009, the regulation in question and its amendments apply controls to products identified in various international instruments, such as the Wassenaar Agreement, the Missile Technology Control Regime (RCTM), the Nuclear Suppliers Group (GSN), the Australia Group, Resolution 1540 of the United Nations Security Council, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Convention on Biological Weapons and the Convention on Chemical Weapons.
The Regulation establishes customs procedures, control measures and other provisions; the products covered appear in its annexes. According to the Commission’s estimates, in 2017 exports of controlled dual-use products represented about 2.3% of total exports from the European Union.


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Silver award for Fairtrade post office
- Credit: Jon Craig Photography
A VILLAGE post office has been recognised for the support it gives to the international Fairtrade initiative.
Pill Post Office won a silver award at the South West Fairtrade Business Awards, held in Bristol earlier this month.
More than 50 companies were represented at the event which saw accolades presented by TV presenter and ethical and green expert for The Observer newspaper, Lucy Siegle.
Pill Post Office sells a range of fairly traded products from chocolate to toilet rolls.
Sub postmistress, Kate Jopp, said: “I really believe in supporting third world producers who are linked to the Fairtrade symbol.
You may also want to watch:
“They not only get a good price for their products but the community also gets the Fairtrade premium which they can decided how to spend for the good of them all.
“This includes schools, medical screenings and other basics such as roads to get their products to market.”
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RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM
As I look through my closet I’m hard pressed to come across a single “Made in the USA” tag. Almost without exception, the companies that are infamous for their “sweatshop workforces” have manufactured my clothing. The term “sweatshop” is familiar to us all. The brands we see advertised everyday are embroiled in scandal over mistreatment of workers. The Gap (many times), Walmart, and Nike have been at the very center of such scandals in recent history. Manufacturers from many industrialized nations have found it in their best fiscal interest to exploit cheap labor around the globe while reaping aggressive profits. By way of outsourcing—using the pitifully cheap labor in foreign lands to avoid paying competitive wages in their home countries—corporations have rigged the system in their favor. These foreign lands suffer from severe poverty, and their people are not only willing, but happy, to work for pennies on the dollar. Practices of this nature are not foreign to American companies; on the contrary, American companies are specialists at global outsourcing.
In America child labor laws and minimum wage laws were implemented in 1924 and 1938 respectively. Up until then the laissez faire attitude of the US government allowed for many companies to exploit American workers, including women, children, and especially immigrants. Under the protection of these laws and many like them, it is more difficult to get away with exploitation today but it does continue to go undetected.
In 1911 a deadly fire engulfed the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in New York City’s garment district. The fire killed 146 young women and men—they were trapped, having been locked onto various floors to prevent them from taking breaks. The tragedy brought widespread attention to the dangerous sweatshop conditions of the garment factories; over time, it led to the development of a series of laws and regulations to protect worker safety. Tragedies have contributed to furthering the rights and safe practices of workers in the United States. Fast forward to 2012, the New York Times reports on one of many factory fires in India killing 100 workers in 2012. The article adds that over 500 Bangladeshi workers have been killed in factory fires since 2006. As with New York’s Shirtwaist Factory fire the causes, sadly, remained the same: the factory’s location deep within cramped neighborhoods, too few fire escapes, and blatant disregard for safety measures. Why then do we, as American consumers, continue to accept worker conditions in foreign lands that we absolutely consider unacceptable in this land?
RECOGNIZING THE SOLUTION
If brands such as Walmart, Tommy Hilfiger and Gap (all of which engage this specific factory in Bangladesh) insist on conducting business with factories that ignore minimal worker safety precautions and fair wages, why should we promote them? It is difficult to shop responsibly. In today’s market the lure of cheap fashion is hard to ignore, we all want the newest trend—and we want it cheap. Is it worth buying an eleven-dollar sweater if the sweater comes at the expense of grossly exploited workers in China, El Salvador, Vietnam or anywhere for that matter? Can we conscientiously object to these manufacturers, is it possible to raise our expectations and thereby raise a corporation’s practices? We all deserve fair pay in exchange for fair work; we all deserve safe working conditions. We can identify and purchase from manufacturers that promote and promise fair practices. I myself am a fan of fashion, but let’s do our research, if we as consumers expect fair conditions we will impress upon manufacturers to insist on fair conditions. It matters, and the human multitudes across the globe that are reliant on the American consumer are worth the price of clear-conscience shopping.
Below are some links to online stores and fair trade websites to help you guide your search for kinder clothes. Let’s make improvements.


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Samsung is finding itself in a position of nobody’s envy as it tries to fight a losing battle on many fronts. After reported incidents of the Note 7 phones catching fire, we had another instance in India where in a Note 2 phone caught fire in the middle of a flight. Subsequently, the DGCA or the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an advisory that forbade anyone from boarding a plane with Note 2 phones. The company had already issued a global recall of the Note 7, as it tried to assuage customer feelings and strong reactions from the investors. The stock had already tanked by the time Samsung began taking action to recover some of the lost ground. On 9th September, Samsung’s stock on the Korean Stock Market went down under $1,500 mark.
Samsung issued a global recall and shipped close to 500,000 replacement handsets to the United States. It also came out with a software update on 20th September. The software code would limit the charging on Samung Note 7 phones to 60 percent of the total battery capacity as the issue with overheating of the phone was found to be a consequence of faulty battery on the phones. The software update also warned users against charging the phone or making use of the phone. While all this was going on, the replacement phones started arriving in the US stores. Previous owners were requested to get their phones to check if the battery was faulty. If the battery was from a defective lot, the phones would be replaced. Quite a few people availaed the replacement scheme. However, the pace of replacements worried Samsung as less than 50 percent people had come forward to get their phones replaced. Due to the slow pace of phone exchange, Samsung put off the resumption of Note 7 phones in Korea by 3 days to 1st October.
In the past couple of days, however, there are reports of the new Note 7 phones reporting the same problems of overheating. Yesterday, a Note 7 phone caught fire in China and the owner mentioned that his phone had a safe battery. Samsung has sought access to the phone to find out the cause of the device catching fire, but the owner has refused access to them. Samsung has maintained that the issue of battery is limited to phones that had been sold in the US before 15th September, and hence the recent incident of Note 7 catching fire in China needs to be investigated by its technical team to find the actual cause.
The problem for Samsung is that Apple has unveiled the iPhone and iPhone 7s. Both devices are almost on an identical price line with Samsung’s Note 7 and this is making life difficult for Samsung. The company, for sure, is ceding ground to Apple as it is fighting a battle of perception and quality across the world.
Have a look at the following video to keep updated with the current status of recall:
Opera became the first browser in the world when it integrated virtual private networking in the browser’s privacy and security settings. Used by more than 50 million desktop users in the world, Opera browser’s latest version is equipped to run with or without VPN on desktops and phones powered by Android or iOS mobile operating systems. Opera 40 has augmented user security options to offer private networking through the browser.
The company had been beta testing its version of browser for past 6 months, and the new launch will be a shot in the arm for Internet security hawks, who would take this latest development as a step forward to controlling IP address spoofing and resultant frauds that happen with undue accuracy on a daily basis. The way Opera 40 works is that it will redirect the Internet traffic through one of its servers, and the user will actually surf the Internet using one of the IP addresses that belongs to Opera servers. The company has servers at five different locations to cater to VPN requests of users. Anybody who is trying to listen to the IP traffic originating from your desktop or phone will be unable to use the originating IP address for launching malicious security attacks.
Opera users can toggle on or toggle off the browser’s VPN feature. If they choose to use the VPN, they will be able to choose the geographic location that they connect to or they could let Opera choose the most optimal setting for the enhanced performance.
Opera is currently supported on Windows 7 through 10 and Mac-OS. All flavours of Linux also work well with Opera. The VPN feature comes for free to Opera 40 users.
Samsung started rolling out the latest software update to try and control the damage arising out of Note 7 battery issues. The Note 7 phone’s battery had exploded in at least 2 different cases in the United States, and fears around user safety had forced Samsung to issue a recall of the Note 7 phones. As part of a temporary fix, Samsung had promised that it would roll out a software update for the Note 7. This update would limit the charging on the phone to 60 percent of the total battery capacity.
As per some analysts’ estimates, upwards of 2.5 million handsets had been sold and of these less than 30% users have participated in the recall program of the company. There is a thinking amongst some analysts that people may be waiting for replacements to arrive, so that they could just get their faulty phones replaced. Some 500,000 phones have been shipped from Korea to be served as replacement phones for those users who exercise not to get a refund. These replacements should start arriving in the stores in a day or two.
The software update that has been developed by Samsung will also warn users whenever they try to charge the battery or whenever they bring on a phone from an off state. The warning message tells the users to visit the store and return the handset. Apart from this, the software update will also check the battery status and if it finds the battery in a good, reliable state then it will show a green battery icon on the screen. This is an indication that the battery of that particular phone is absolutely fine. Samsung has confirmed that not all Note 7 phones have faulty battery. However, if the user wants to return or replace the handset, the company will accept the request. For customers looking to get a refund, the company has already offered a refund of the amount paid to buy Note 7.
For more details about the latest status on the Note 7 recall, please have a look at the following video:
Amazon has launched its voice recognition cum voice activated little home automation device -Echo in the UK. Also called as Alexa, UK becomes the second country in the world to get to receive Echo as Amazon offers its flagship product for the first time in Europe. Germany would be second country that would get the Amazon Echo later in the autumn.
Amazon Echo is available for pre-order in the UK at £150, while Amazon prime customers will get a discount of £50 if they order it within the next 2 days. Amazon Echo is a small 360 degree box that has been programmed to perform a set of tasks upon being activated through a name call. The Echo gets activated whenever a user calls Amazon, Echo or Alexa. Upon being activated, Alexa becomes like a virtual assistant and performs a variety of tasks such as turning off the lights, ordering a pizza, dimming the lights, booking a taxi etc.
The Echo has a speaker and a microphone and its voice processor will process your commands. The UK version comes in two colours. Echo is now offered in white and black colours. You would remember that in the UK, Echo was launched in black. Interestingly, the UK version has been programmed to hear and act upon British accent. It has specifically been coded to recognize and spell out English thesaurus in British English.
For more details about how Alexa works, please have a look at the video below:


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Tukaiz Gains Compelling Edge by
Digitally Producing Print with Dimension
— Together, Scodix and HP Indigo technologies drive differentiation for
50-year old printing business in the very competitive direct mail and POP segments —
CHICAGO – October 17, 2012 –
Tukaiz, a fast-growing marketing services production company, today reported upon its success with a recently installed Scodix S74 digital enhancement press in its production facility in Franklin Park, Illinois. Installed last January, the company reports the new printing capabilities achieved by meshing the Scodix system with its current workflow of HP digital presses has garnered Tukaiz a significant and compelling competitive edge in their market. Tukaiz not only reported several new jobs won because of the new technology but growing market interest in several future projects. Tukaiz is expected to exhibit some of its recently completed projects at Graph Expo (Chicago, October 7-10) in the Scodix booth (#1658). For more information about Tukaiz, go to www.tukaiz.com.
A Top 50 Fastest Growing Company in Chicago
Since 1963, Tukaiz has grown into a $35 million per year, family-owned-and-operated marketing services production company by positioning itself on the forefront of new technology and innovation. The philosophy has paid off with continued revenue growth. In 2011, Tukaiz achieved an impressive 8.3% revenue increase, earning the company a spot on a list of the 50 fastest growing companies in Chicago, recognized by Crains Chicago Business. The company expects similar growth in 2012, thanks in part to its philosophy of implementing leading-edge technology. One of the latest technologies Tukaiz installed is the Scodix S74 digital enhancement press that adds dimension and texture to the high-quality, on-demand prints from its HP Indigo digital presses and HP Scitex large-format printers.
A Production Perspective
“The biggest advantage of the Scodix press is being able to offer something new in the industry that not many people have right now,” says Matt Giandonato, Digital Print Manager, Tukaiz. “We’re educating people that we can do Scodix enhancements on offset, digital, large-format, and we can do variable as well. The detail you can achieve with Scodix is way beyond anything else out there right now. If you had an option to do something similar like a Spot UV, when you compare the two side by side, the Scodix stands out so much more.”
A Sales Perspective
“We recently won a bid with the United States Postal Service (USPS) that I can attribute directly to the Scodix system,” notes John Misasi, Director of National Sales for Tukaiz. “If you go into any one of 47,000 different post offices across America, you can see a point-of-purchase display that can only be done with Scodix. With Scodix we gain a tremendous competitive advantage that not only differentiates us in the market, but provides our customers with an obvious value-added solution, especially in the direct mail and POP segments. We’re simply winning and producing jobs that no one else in our market can. Scodix is that unique and that impactful.”
The Tukaiz Production Line-Up
Tukaiz houses a production facility equipped with eight HP Indigo digital presses for short-run, on-demand production of sell sheets, brochures, packaging, direct mail, and POP displays. This includes five HP Indigo press 5000s, two HP Indigo 5500 presses, and an HP Indigo s2000 press. The company’s production facility also features six HP large-format printers, including three HP Scitex LX850s, a HP Scitex LX800, a HP Scitex FB700, and a HP Scitex XL1500 for printing POP applications. Its Scodix S74 system, which can produce up to 99 Gloss Units (GU) and density capabilities from 1% to 100%, can also be fed from conventional sheetfed presses. New Scodix software now makes variable data for personalized products productive.
Results in Action
In addition to the USPS, other notable clients that turned to Tukaiz for eye-catching projects with high-quality detail include:
• USO: For the United Service Organizations, Tukaiz produced 2,000 invitations for an event. “We ran the invitations offset, put a soft touch coating on them, and then we applied the Scodix on top,” explains Giandonato. “There was a lot of contrast between the soft touch coating and the Scodix, which made it really stand out. It was a classy-looking piece that really jumped out at you.”
• Jack Daniels: Tukaiz created 1,000 20×20 point-of-purchase posters with raised Jack Daniels’ bottles and added textured sweat, which were sent to distributors nationwide.
• National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame: For an event honoring athletes being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Tukaiz produced more than 2,000 programs with the front and back covers featuring enhanced textures that matched look with feel. The entire program was printed on HP Indigo 5000 and 5500 presses and then Scodix enhancements were applied to give each booklet an even more dynamic dimension.
Tukaiz anticipates that the Scodix system will be at 70% to 80% capacity by the end of 2012 or early 2013. Growing interest is being generated by designers and ad agencies due to the visual impact produced by the press. At the recent HOW Design Conference (Boston / June 2012), creative professionals were very impressed to see the Scodix results, says Misasi, “Even though there were only about 3,800 attendees, we [Tukaiz] handed out over 10,000 samples.”
Tukaiz is a family owned and operated supplier of quality marketing communication products and services. Founded in 1963, Tukaiz has always been a leader in establishing an innovative approach to media development. From humble beginnings of prepress manufacturing, Tukaiz now provides worldwide development for companies in Digital Imaging, Specialty Print and Interactive Media. With over 100,000 square feet, Tukaiz employs the industry’s leading artists and craftsmen, along with the finest technology available in hardware and software solution tools in our field. Their range of services offer clients the ability for complete media flexibility, from design and capture to print and internet. For more information, go to www.tukaiz.com.
— ### —
Copyright 2012. All brand names are the property of their respective owners and may or may not be trademarked


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Hostelworld, the Irish travel website which raised EUR 180 million from its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in November, has said booking in the second half of 2015 were up 21% versus the same period a year earlier.
The group said it has continued to experience sustained growth in booking for its flagship Hostelworld brand with bookings up 17 per cent on an annual basis.
It said full-year earnings, which are due to be announced in April, are in line with expectations.
Hostelworld, which also operates the Hostelbookers and Hostels. com brands, said overall bookings growth during the second half of 2015 were up 2% and up 1% for the full-year.
“The increased focus on Hostelworld as the primary brand and the ongoing integration of the Hostelbookers technology platform has, as expected, resulted in a continued reduction in Hostelbookers bookings in the period,” the company said adding that a new website was going live this month.
Hostelworld was founded by businessman Ray Nolan who sold the business to Hellman and Friedman in 2009 for EUR 202.5 million in a deal which netted Mr Nolan EUR 100 million.
The company specialises in offering online booking services and maintains a database with over 12,600 hostels in 170 countries.
In a trading update, Hostelworld said its mobile business is thriving with bookings made through smartphones and tablets now accounting for more than 40% of Hostelworld brand bookings last year.
The group said it continues to enjoy strong cash conversion and expects to announce its first dividend as a public company in April.
“We are pleased with the financial performance of the group in 2015. Following the re-branding of the Hostelworld and Hostelbookers websites, the integration of the group’s technology platforms, the continuing advancement of our mobile offering and November 2015’s successful IPO, we look forward to the current year and beyond with confidence,” said chief executive Feargal Mooney.
Shares in the company which mainly trades in London closed down 2.5% on Wednesday at 207.25 pence.
Source: The Irish Times


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7,100 tonnes) to increased 9% to 1,500 tonnes\", com- total 52,300 tonnes. In a similar mented Jennie Tanner, Analyst, AHDB. Jennie Tanner,Analyst,AHDB trend to sheep meat, exports to China dropped by 11,200 tonnes, Irish beef farmers urge Govt to to 39,500 tonnes. Japan, Taiwan, follow the Belgian model South Korea, Canada and Indone- sia all recorded growth of betwe- \"There is a real danger that we are being left behind\", complains en one and two thousand tonnes each, according to an AHDB analy- IFA President Tim Cullinan. sis. Geoffrey Wong, Business Prices Dublin. Irish beef farmers are asking the Government to do more to support meat expor- Acting Manager NZ ting companies and to follow the Belgian model applied for food exporting companies. Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President Tim Cullinan said the approval by the EU of a Belgian initiative to support companies that export at least 30% of turnover must be used by the Irish Government as a precedent to provide export credit insurance for the dairy and meat sectors. “Other countries have invested over €1 billion in their Agri sectors to help them through the COVID-19 crisis, under State Aid rules. There is a real danger that we are being left behind,” he said. The current level of support provided by the EU through the APS scheme is considered insufficient by both beef and dairy producers. “The meat market has also been badly hit by COVID-19, and farmers will need additional supports over and above APS. As well as direct EU supports for livestock farmers, export credit insurance under the recently impro- ved EU State Aid rules, and the €2 billion loan scheme which is to include farmers, Tim Cullinan,President are packages the Irish Government must Irish Beef Farmers deliver urgently,” IFA National Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden concluded. FOODMEAT 45 GIUGNO / LUGLIO 2020 News from europe.eu Brussels A CURA DI JEAN BRENTEL \"Too big to fail\" scenario COVID-19 crisis shakes the North- may reduce meat American meat industry consumption Canada and the US are facing a sectorial crisis as meat plants are Industries that have experienced disruptions in the supply chain may shutdown by COVID-19 infections. see consumption habits changing fast. Montreal. The North-American meat industry is facing a sectorial crisis as the disruptions in the supply chain are resulting in a meat shortage in the market. Too big-scaled operations are now considered too fragile to stand the storm created by the coronavirus outbreak. In the US, pork and beef pro- cessing plants are operating at 70% of their capacities, more than 13,000 workers are presumed to be virus carriers and many others have choose to stay at home during this period. In Canada, beef processing plants are falling following the same model seen in the US and the situation could go even worse. Canada has 22 slau- ghterhouses and cutting plants but 85% of the cows slaughtered in the coun- try are entering only three major plants owned by Cargill and JBS, according to Financial Times. The need for a change in the supply chain is no longer a matter of \"if\" but \"when\". As COVID-19 thrives in crowds one solution to end the long line of disruptions is to have smaller units in the field. As major exporters of beef and pork, the US and Canadian plants have spe- cial lines for cutting parts that meet the requirements in other markets, such as Asia. These are the most crowded lines in a meat factory in North-America New York. The US meat industry could witness a change in as export operations are getting the big bucks. \"The part that has the most consumption habits in the domestic market due to the co- people is the cut up. On the slaughter side, the people are much further apart and it’s easier to pull them ronavirus crisis and supply shortage, according to a USDA apart, but on the cut-up side they’re estimate. shoulder to shoulder,\" explained With meat products becoming scarce on the shelves and Temple Grandin, professor at the Colorado State University. For the more and more expensive, consumers may look to other fo- industry to change it may take ye- ods, warns USDA. According to the officials from the Depart- ars but the need for improvement ment, that means a drop in consumption of 4.5 kilos per per- is clear. \"Will the industry be chan- son as the beef, pork, and poultry production is falling due to ged by this? I think there’s no doubt about that. t’ll have to change to sector adjustments \"to COVID-19 and economic uncertainty\". Temple Grandin, professor at the mitigate the spread of infection According to data collected from the American market, at le- Colorado State University between employees which is so- ast 52 meat plant workers have died and more than 13,000 mething we’ve never had to think employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and processing about before. Can we do it within the plants we have? I don’t think capacities are down by at least 30%. \"The 2020 projections we know that yet,\" answered Mike changed a lot this month, with sharp reductions in production von Massow, a food economist at for all of the meat type. I assume that reflects, at least in the University of Guelph. Shorter supply chains and auto- part, the closures and slowdowns at meatpacking plants,\" mation may solve some of the commented Patrick Westhoff, head of the FAPRI think tank at problems but time is needed to the University of Missouri. Mike von Massow, a food econo- make these changes. Experts are Per capita meat consump- mist at the University of Guelph expecting radical measures to be adopted in the future, reshaping tion will fall to 98.4 kg this the whole industry where possi- year, ending a five-year rise ble. \"There is an awareness that in consumption, said the what plants looked like pre-COVID USDA report. Last year, per isn’t what they will look like when this is over,\", stated Chris White, capita meat consumption president of the Canadian Meat in the US was 101.6 kilos. Council. For now, producers in both Two years ago, the US was countries brace for big losses due to plant shutdowns and meat pri- ranked No.1 in a top of meat ces in retail are spiking. Analysts consuming countries, with Chris White, president of the Cana- are expecting the food shortage to more 99 kg consumed yearly Patrick Westhoff, head of the FAPRI think dian Meat Council. by every person. tank at the University of Missouri be present in the North-American markets until July. FOODMEAT 46 GIUGNO / LUGLIO 2020 A CURA DI JEAN BRENTEL News from europe.eu Brussels Shelf-life improvement China opens its market announced for Welsh for Russian turkey lamb Cherkizovo has sent already the first batch of 27 tonnes of tur- key wigs to mainland China and hopes to double its overall tur- The meat is well preserved for 33 days now, resulting in an exten- key exports for 2020. sion of shelf-life for the product. Moscow. Turkey products from Russia are now allowed to enter the Chinese market and the largest poultry producer in the coun- London. Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has announced a signifi- try hopes to double its overall turkey exports for 2020. The first cant lengthening in the average shelf-life of PGI Welsh Lamb, a turkey shipment weighed in at 27 tonnes and was sent to China key objective in improving the long-term competitiveness of the from Tambov Turkey, a joint venture between Cherkizovo Group industry. Previously, shelf-life figures ranged from around 21 to and Spain’s Grupo Fuertes. The shipment included turkey wing 28 days, but figures collated from Welsh processors confirm pieces that are very popular in retail chains throughout China. a 16% improvement over the year, to an average of 33 days. In a move expected to more than double its overall turkey expor- Some overseas producers have pioneered extending the shel- f-life of lamb in recent years. Emulating this improvement has ts, Cherkizovo is going to ship about 2,000 tonnes of turkey to been identified as a key factor in helping Welsh Lamb’s compe- China by the end of 2020. Last year, the Group exported around titiveness in the domestic retail market, and in attracting new 1,500 tonnes globally. export customers. In leading the industry towards these impro- China is Cherkizovo's key export market. Poultry exports to vements, HCC has worked at all stages of the supply chain. the Asian country started in May 2019. By the end of the year, This has included holding training courses for farmers on best practice in terms of livestock presentation and working with 14,000 tonnes had been shipped to China, accounting for more processing companies on improvements at abattoirs, cutting than 40% of that year's total poultry exports. This year, Cherkizo- plants and transportation. vo plans to push this amount to over 50,000 tonnes. “Improving shelf life has been an important strategic aim, and “Despite the impact of coronavirus on global food trade, Cherki- it’s pleasing to have taken a significant step forward,” said zovo's poultry exports to China have been on the rise in recent HCC Chief Executive Gwyn Howells. He explained, “The shelf life figure varies somewhat between months, with regular monthly volumes reaching some 5,000 ton- different cuts; some products now have a shelf life of signifi- nes or more. CHERKIZOVO 77, a brand we use for products made cantly longer than a month, which is a great help in attracting at various facilities across the Group, has gained both trust and new export customers and traction among our Chinese customers, including distributors also aids the industry in and meat processors,” com- being able to achieve a con- sistent year-round supply mented Andrei Terekhin, to retailers in Britain. Since Head of Exports at Trading we started focusing on this Company Cherkizovo. The area, many hundreds of far- company announced that mers and agriculture studen- ts have attended our free is looking for new shipping courses on presenting live- opportunities to China, cur- stock for slaughter. We're rently using rail transport, determined to continue this as it proved to be faster and momentum and achieve cheaper than traditional ma- rine routes. HCC Chief Executive even better results in years Andrei Terekhin, Head of Exports Gwyn Howells to come,” explained Gwyn. at Trading Company Cherkizovo. FOODMEAT 47 GIUGNO / LUGLIO 2020 News from europe.eu Brussels A CURA DI JEAN BRENTEL Vion wants repeated Multivac to showcase preventive testing of packaging machines for small all employees to medium-sized batches Ronald Lotgerink, CEO Vion Food Group: “We’ve got nothing to hide!\" At interpack 2020, the company will present a range of simple and Groenlo (Netherlands). Vion needs-based solutions for packing products in small and medium-sized Food Group wants to take batches. immediate preventive mea- Koln. Multivac intends to focus on hand-craft businesses and sures to contain corona in- smaller processors with a ran- ge of simple and needs-based fection within its companies solutions for packing products in small and medium-sized ba- after dozens of workers at tches. These enable small com- panies to make the entry into one of its plants, in Groenlo, automatic packaging, with the aim of achieving maximum effi- have tested positive for CO- ciency and optimum product pro- tection. In addition to various chamber machines of different sizes, the exhibits will VID-19. In addition, Vion cal- also include a compact thermoform packaging machine and two traysealers. When it comes to packing in film pouches, MULTIVAC will be presenting its complete ls on the Municipal Health product range, consisting of tabletop, free-standing, double chamber and chamber belt machines. Thanks to their wide range of equipment options, the machines can Service/Regional Medical be adapted to the individual requirements of the customer, and this makes a major contribution to maximum process efficiency. In addition to the semi-automatic T Assistance Organisation 060 traysealer, MULTIVAC will also be exhibiting here its automatic T 300 model, which will be used at interpack to produce MultiFresh vacuum skin packs. (GGD GHOR) and the Safety Council to conduct repeated preventive tests of The range of compact thermoforming packaging machines will be represented by the R 105 MF, which is designed for producing high-quality MultiFresh vacuum all employees of its meat companies. That way, the company can continue to skin packs. At interpack this machine will run MULTIVAC PaperBoard, a paper fi- ber-based carrier material, which has a sealing medium specially designed for the supply to the Netherlands. Vion will provide all available data on compliance MultiFresh skin film, enabling perfect pack results to be achieved. and supervision as regulated by its corona protocols, said the company in a press release. \"We’ve got nothing to hide. We contribute to the food supply in the Netherlands. As a ‘vital industry’, our sector has been asked by the cabinet to continue wor- king during the corona crisis. Our people are fully committed to this every day, complying with the regula- tions of the authorities, such as the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Inspections confirm that we meet those required measures. Compliance with and supervision of our corona protocols in all our companies show the same\", stated Ronald Lotgerink, CEO Vion Food Group. However, despite all these measures, infections have reached the staff in Weber enters Top 100 of the most innovative companies in Germany Vion's processing plant in Groenlo and all 600 employees have been sent in quarantine and operations halted. \"Following this situation in Groenlo, we call on the Municipal Health Service and NVWA to conduct preventive tests for co- rona of all our employees of our meat companies and other companies in the industry. Not just once, but repeatedly, so that it is easier to determine who is infected and who is not; to see how the virus develops; to home quarantine The company filed about 30 new patents last year for the digitiza- tion of applied technologies. infected employees immediately; and to monitor whether the measures have sufficient effect. We think it is undesirable that employees cannot be reached Koln. Weber Maschinenbau was included in Top 100 of the most innovative companies or fail to respond. And we will do everything we can to reach out to these em- in Germany published by the Swiss consulting firm EconSight. Weber ranks 45th in the ployees and hold them responsible. In this corona crisis, we must act together. national list of best companies and, in an international comparison, ranks 644th in So we must sit around the table and discuss this. Central and local authorities the Top 1000. EconSight identified all patents that are intended to protect particularly must be able to trust that we are doing everything in our power to do what is relevant innovations for the digitization of applied technologies. Weber Maschinenbau best for our employees, for the people around them, and the meat supply in the filed about 30 new patents last year. For the best list, not only the number of all paten- Netherlands\", added Mr. Lotgerink. ts applied for by the companies was examined, but also how often they were referred Several cases of COVID-19 infection to in the last two years. If an invention builds on an existing patent, the more valuable have impacted meat processing uni- it is and leads to a better ranking. \"We are very proud of our placement in the Innova- ts in Germany, Italy and Spain, crea- tion Ranking Germany. Not ting disruptions in the supply chain only the number of patents in Europe. In the US, the situation is filed in 2019 was decisive, far worst, with meat processing units but also the fact that our falling one after another. It is belie- patents are often referred ved that more than 13,000 employe- to. This shows that Weber es in the American meat industry Maschinenbau often leads have been infected with COVID-19. the way as a pioneer in new The incident reported in Groenlo is technologies\", says Stef- Ronald Lotgerink, CEO Vion Food the first one reported in the Nether- fen Zecher, head of patent Group. lands. management at Weber. Tobias Weber,CEO Weber Maschinenbau FOODMEAT 48 GIUGNO / LUGLIO 2020 A CURA DI JEAN BRENTEL News from europe.eu Brussels UECBV feels need for Denmark bans harmful further checks and fluorinated substances balanced improvement in food packaging of Farm-to-Fork strategy Starting July, changes will be seen in the food packaging used in Denmark. Brussels. The European meat sector feels need for further Copenhagen. Cardboard, food and baking paper with fluorinated substances will be ban- checks and balanced improvement of the today's published ned in Denmark from mid-summer, according to the Ministry of Food. Fluorine substan- Farm-to-Fork-strategy to make sure what is stated to “leave no ces are considered to be both harmful for health and environment, said Mogan Jensen, one behind”. Danish Minister of Food. \"Fluoride substances can migrate into our food, and I will not Karsten Maier, Secretary General of UECBV, said: “We will analy- accept that risk. That is why we now have a Danish ban on fluorine substances, which se the text in more detail and comment on specific aspects in the will come into force on 1 July. I think the drugs are a serious problem and therefore we process. cannot wait for EU regulation,\" he said. When the Danish Food Safety Authority in 2015 Of course, we look forward to contributing to the Green Deal, as and 2018 examined a number of cardboard and paper packaging products in the Danish we committed to. market, fluorinated compounds were found in almost 50% of the samples. It is burger We will however do this by continuing to promote a sustainable li- paper, muffin tins, and microwave popcorn bags that typically have the highest content. vestock plus meat production and consumption, not forgetting that \"When we find harmful and environmentally harmful substances in almost half of the meat is deeply entrenched in both our culture and eating habits; it analyzes, for me as a minister there is no other way but to go to ban. I have noted that constitutes an essential part of a balanced diet, due to its nutrient the food industry has accepted the decision because there are solutions other than the density, and contributes to the pleasurable aspects of socialising.” fluorinated substances,\" added mini- The pandemic crisis demonstrated the importance of and the ster Jensen. role played by the whole food sector and therefore including the The Minister of Food, Agriculture and livestock and meat processing sectors as essential providers Fisheries agrees with a Danish ban, in the food chain throughout the Covid-19 situation. The meat because the EU Food Safety Authority, sector is a very important economic pillar in the EU, particularly EFSA, has changed the risk assessment for the rural economy across member states. It contributes to of fluorinated substances. Fluorina- direct employment, the livelihoods of farmers and EU trade, and ted substances are an environmental this should kept in mind for the future growth mentioned in the toxin that accumulates in humans and Green Deal. animals where they are suspected of The EU food system is very complex; it therefore has to be based being carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting on sound science, and on reliable figures, while reflecting the and damaging to the immune system. original goal of the Common Agricultural Policy in the Treaty of The ban includes cardboard and paper Rome: to produce safe food, in enough quantity to feed the EU; food contact materials that have been to provide a fair income to the farmers and guarantee affordable treated with organic fluorinated com- prices for consumers, while remaining sustainable from an envi- pounds, informs a press release from Mogan Jensen, Danish Minister of ronmental, economic and social point of view. the Ministry. Food Karsten Maier,Secretary General of UECBV Vietnam targets 100,000 tonnes of pork imports for 2020 The main suppliers of pork are Canada, Poland, Brazil, the US and Spain. Hanoi. Vietnam looks to increase its pork imports for 2020 to reach a total volume of 100,000, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Officials hope to lower the prices in the domestic market since the import products are much cheaper than local pig meat, reports Saigon online. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien af- firmed that he would create the most favorable conditions for enterprises under the Prime Minister's direction to import 100,000 tons of pork this year. The time of documenting and quarantine procedures for customs clearance is shortened by the ministry according to the \"single-door\" customs mechanism and the quality of imported meat must meet the European standards. The ministry also updated that since the beginning of this year, the volume of imported pork from countries including Canada, Brazil, Germany, Poland, the US, and Russia, has reached around 50,000 tons. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that up to now Vietnam has allowed 24 countries to export meat and cattle and poultry meat products into the country, of which, 19 countries have been given permission to export pork and pork products. In the first quarter of 2020, Vietnam has increased pork imports by 300%, rea- ching 70% of the total volume imported Phung Duc Tien,Minister last year. FOODMEAT 49 GIUGNO / LUGLIO 2020 News from europe.eu Brussels A CURA DI JEAN BRENTEL SIAL Paris goes forward with the event However, organizers announced \"unprecedented measures\" for both exhibitors and the public. Paris (France). SIAL Paris may remain on schedule (October 18-22), as the French government has already given the go-ahead for the resump- tion of events from early September, announced the organizers in a press release. \"Coming at the end of 6 months of quiet business, SIAL Paris will constitute, perhaps more significantly than ever, the major global event for the industry from 18 to 22 October 2020: as a catalyst for business and an acknowledged melting pot for worldwide innovation, SIAL Paris will kick off the recovery of food exports all over the world\", mentioned Nicolas Trentesaux, General Director, SIAL Network. Most of the events prepared for the food industry this spring have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and there were discus- sions about going ahead with international events planned for this autumn, such as SIAL Paris. For this editions \"unprecedented measure\" will be put in place to ensure the safety of both exhibitors and visitors. \"We are carefully prepa- ring a range of different \"public health\" scenarios to be able to welcome everyone in the safest conditions. Numerous measures are being studied, some more technical and linked to the rigorous management of flows, some more visible and directly linked to the implementation of barrier gestures: wearing of masks, systematic hand washing (hand sanitizer), disinfection and ventilation of spaces, badge digitalisation, a temperature-taking gantry.. We are also studying special arrangements to organise tastings specific to our sector: individual portions and packaging, slicing on demand, hermetically-sealed dustbins, etc. Finally, access to the exhibition centre (cars, taxis, RER) will be governed by the measures put in place by the Ile de France regional authority\", added Mr. Trentesaux. At the beginning of the week, the World Health Organisation launched a warning about a possible second wave in the COVID-19 crisis. During a media briefing on Monday, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said right now, we are “right in the middle of the first wave, globally.\" “We're still very much in a phase where the disease is actually on the way up. We cannot make assumptions that just because the disease is on the way down now that it's going to keep going down, and the way to get a number of months to get ready for a second wave – we may get a second peak in this way,\" he added, according to CNN. Ryan warned that a second peak or wave could come during the normal influenza season, “which will greatly complicate things for disease control.” Nicolas Trentesaux,General Director,SIAL Network. Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme FOODMEAT 50 GIUGNO / LUGLIO 2020
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French economist Thomas Piketty says wealth inequality will continue to rise over time.» Read More
After the stock market sank in 2008, many investors lost money from their 401(k)s, leaving those who are looking to retire strapped for cash, the New York Times reports.
As many as 27 percent of the 37 million student-loan borrowers have past-due balances of 30 days or more, a Federal Reserve Bank of New York report showed. The New York Times reports.
Warren Buffett's live appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box on February 27, 2012 generated some headlines as he said single-family houses are a bargain right now, revealed Wells Fargo is his favorite bank stock, and recalled the advice he gave Steve Jobs a couple of years ago on what to do with Apple's cash. You can read the entire three-hour conversation in this downloadable PDF transcript.
With its relatively heavy taxes on labor, light taxes on unearned income and broad ranges of rates within the same income levels, the American tax code violates fundamental principles of income taxation. The New York Times reports.
Chinese shoppers have become a fixture of the luxury retail scene in the US and Europe, drawn by much cheaper prices than at home. But many upscale brands have yet to bond with China’s million millionaires. The Financial Times reports.
Who are the one percent, and where are they from? According to Wealth-X, the United States is home to 57,860 such individuals. Find out which cities they call home.
On the heels of weak performance in 2011, Louis Bacon has to reveal information about $15 billion Moore Capital to the SEC — and he’s not happy about it.
A technical bug caused Citigroup, the nation’s fourth largest bank by deposits, to double the charge for online customer bill payments in recent months. The New York Times reports.
Most consumers know that they aren’t going to get a courtesy call from their service providers telling them they qualify for a better deal. Yet they still fail to review their policies or contracts each year to make sure they’re getting the lowest rates possible.
Is it possible to pay more than all of your taxable income? For one businessman, an eye-popping bill can be traced to punitive U.S. tax polices. Meet Mr. 102%. The New York Times reports.
CNBC.com ranks the 10 richest people who have sought the U.S. presidency since 1992. Check out the list!
The concept of profits has never been in favor among those who think that making a profit is the exploitation of labor.
Contrary to what might be a popular perception, men and not women make up the bulk of consumers buying luxury goods in China. Over the past 12 months, Chinese men on average spent 61 percent more than women on fragrances and 52 per cent more on watches, according to McKinsey.
Oren Etzioni writes articles about artificial intelligence for scholarly journals, is a renowned expert on data mining and gained fame when Microsoft paid $115 million for Farecast, an airline-ticket price predictor he founded.
Asia’s image-conscious rich are spending big money on adding frills to their million-dollar yachts.
A financial planner recounts how he and his family fell victim to the housing boom and bust and how they survived the ordeal in this story from the New York Times.
The recent fluctuations in gold prices have not deterred Asia's rich investors, who continue to bet on the yellow metal.
While price growth and transactions have slowed in Singapore's luxury property market, selective buyers, many of them from China and Indonesia, continue to snap up niche upmarket properties in tony areas like Sentosa Cove.
We’ve compiled a list of Asia-Pacific’s10 richest families. Find out which families are among the wealthiest in the region.
Family offices, a personalized wealth management service, is fast gaining currency with India’s rich who are often reluctant to take professional advice.
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Rising rates will impact consumers beyond bond portfolios, affecting credit card bills, auto loans and more.
Scammers are exploiting Heartbleed fears, so purported fixes might be ploys to get access to financial information.
Lack of insurance literacy could result in a costly surprise when it comes time to make a claim. Some common oversights.


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It would be an understatement if we told you that the whole world is going mad over the release date of Pokemon GO, the highly anticipated augmented reality mobile game. We all know it’s coming out in July, but the question is, when exactly? Let us first be crystal clear, the official release date has not been announced yet. However, we want to speculate on the most likely dates that Pokemon GO might be released on.
Reddit has been full of wild conspiracy theories with fans trying to guess the correct release date for the game. Our team has been over some of them and you would be surprised at the things people are saying over there. Yet, in the sea of uncertainty, we may have found viable release dates that you would be interested to know about. One specific theory that we want to share may hold a lot of weight actually.
On July 11th, 2015, Nintendo’s 4th President & CEO, Satoru Iwata, passed away at the age of 55. This July 11th (6 days away from now) will be the 1st anniversary since his death. It can be highly possible that Nintendo might release Pokemon GO on July 11th in his memory.
Of course, this may not be the case and if it’s not; then we believe the most strategic date would be between July 21st – 24th. On this date, San Diego Comic-Con International will take place for the year of 2016. This convention will be the best place to release Pokemon GO to the largest audience possible in the month of July. What are your thoughts on the release dates? Vote below on the date that you believe the game will be released on.
One thought on “Pokemon GO – Release Date Rumors & Speculation”
I hope it comes out on the eleventh because if it’s on the 21st-24th we would have to wait much longer


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Chai Sacco has tapped Kenya Commercial Bank’s (KCB) Sarah Kisaka to head its business development and marketing unit as part of broader strategy to strengthen its operational and service delivery.
The society is targeting top minds in the corporate market to enable it expand product offering over the next five years to grow a sustainable business portfolio and enhance customer service.
Chai Sacco’s Chief Executive Officer, Purity Maina, said Sarah’s appointment is in line with the cooperative’s strategic positioning.
“We believe modern financial services providers will continue to evolve with the changing needs of the consumer. As such, our primary goal is to continually hone the versatility of our proposition by strengthening our services delivery team and grow our branch network so as to meet our customers’ needs. This is a significant appointment for the co-operative,” said Maina.
Kisaka joins the sacco as the Business Development & Marketing Manager; she brings to the sacco diverse experience in the marketing industry and understanding of the financial sector spanning six years.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Kenyatta University and a MBA in Marketing from University of Nairobi – She will be instrumental in implementing the Sacco’s strategy.
“As we build a firm business platform across the country, we will continue to engage and hire the best experts so as to offer the very best in services delivery and product development to our members,” said Maina.


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Google’s Nexus handsets have landed on shelves with pretty decent cameras so far, but it seems that things will get even better in the future.In a recent comment on Google+, Google's Senior Vice President of Engineering, Vic Gundotra, confirmed that the company is committed to enhance the camera capabilities of these devices, although he did not offer further details on the matter.
“We are committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras. Just you wait and see,” Vic Gundotra said, as Android Central reports.
With Nokia stressing on the features of its PureView camera smartphones, it was only a matter of time before Google stepped up as well, though it remains to be seen what exactly will come to the Nexus lineup.
Some of the previous rumors suggested that Google might adopt Sony’s phone camera technology, at least for the long rumored Motorola X smartphone.