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Facebook is asking a federal appellate court to refuse to revive a lawsuit accusing the company of tracking logged-out users throughout the web via the "Like" button.
The company argues in new court papers that the consumers who filed suit shouldn't be able to proceed because didn't allege that they were harmed by Facebook, or that Facebook broke any promises to them.
"They have not identified a single specific piece of data that Facebook supposedly received while they were logged out," Facebook writes in a brief submitted Monday to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. "Plaintiffs fail to allege that Facebook made or breached any promise regarding the receipt of data from logged-out users during the relevant period."
The lawsuit came after Australian developer Nic Cubrilovic reported that Facebook was able to identify users whenever they visited sites with the "Like" button. At the time, Facebook said that a "bug" allowed the company to receive data about logged-out users. The company also promised to fix the bug, and said it never retained data that tied users' IDs to the sites they visited. (Facebook's practices subsequently changed. Currently, the company intentionally collects some information from logged-out users.)
U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, Calif. dismissed the lawsuit last year. He said in the ruling that Facebook didn't violate the federal wiretap law because it didn't "intercept" communications. The wiretap law prohibits companies from intercepting electronic transmissions, without the consent of at least one party.
He also ruled last year that the users couldn't proceed with claims that Facebook violated its own policies, or that it violated a California privacy law. Davila also said in his ruling that the users hadn't shown that they suffered an economic injury as a result of the alleged privacy violations. The judge added that Facebook's users could have taken steps to prevent the tracking, such as by blocking cookies, using ""incognito mode" browser settings, or installing plug-in "browser enhancements."
The users recently asked the 9th Circuit to reverse Davila's ruling and reinstate the case. The advocacy group Electronic Privacy Information Center is backing that request.
"Users expect that their web browsing history will remain private -- no one imagines a marketing executive standing over their shoulder and taking notes as they use the Internet," EPIC wrote in a friend-of-the-court brief filed recently with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Facebook is asking the 9th Circuit to reject requests to revive the case. The social networking service raises several arguments, including that the users who sued didn't establish that they had a "reasonable expectation of privacy" in the identities of the sites they visited.
Facebook writes that California's privacy law only protects people against the spread of "sensitive and confidential" information. In this case, the consumers didn't specify which sites they visited while logged out, and therefore "failed to allege that the fact that they visited those sites is 'sensitive,' 'confidential,' or even personal," Facebook argues.
The social networking service is also facing another privacy battle in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. That matter stems from allegations that Facebook tracked users at health sites -- including ones operated by the American Cancer Society, Melanoma Research Foundation and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center -- via the "Like" widget.


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With the upcoming Apple iPhone15’s worldwide release now imminent, a survey has shone a light into attitudes about one of its most-discussed new features.
According to online-based mobile device provider SellCell, when one thousand Android users were asked how the move by Apple to adopt the USB-C charging port for the upcoming new model might affect their future choice in purchasing a smartphone, a total of 63% replied that it could influence them in a positive manner towards choosing the iPhone15.
An additional 37% said they would do likewise because it would mean having a single, not to mention highly convenient, charging port for all their devices at once, and a clear plurality of 66% still thought they would make the upgrade to the iPhone15 when it’s released, regardless of concerns pertaining to its charging.
44% of those same Android owners questioned replied that the move to a standard port would surely tempt them to buy the new device, while another 35% stated that they were interested because the new iPhone port would simultaneously be compatible with charging for non-Apple devices.
The switch to a universal port across all Apple e-products is in direct response to a recent EU directive that stipulated all mobile device charging ports within the 27-nation continental alliance be compatible with each other, and Apple made a patently commercial decision, as is their prerogative, that rather than have different ports for different parts of the world market, they simply adopted the USB-C as a universal standard.
The current charging port for Apple smartphones, up to and including the recent iPhone14, has used the so-called ‘Lightning’ charger for the last decade, but in recent years, Apple has actually switched ports for their iPads and MacBooks to USB-C so, in real terms, it is simply the tech giants aligning all their electronic mobile products to one standard rather than a sudden shift to a whole new one from scratch.
The iPhone gets its official and much-anticipated launch in California at the Wanderlust event on September 12.

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Date Added: 05.12.2021
Mins Read: < 1 min
Author: Josh Seaward
CHS launch "Big Freeze" campaign for Hyperoptic
The Big Freeze
The campaign is the agency’s first piece of work for Hyperoptic and comes hot off the heels of being named the brand’s new creative partner following a competitive pitch process.
Running from December 2021 to January 2022, ‘The Big Freeze’ is a winter acquisition campaign offering a once-in-a-lifetime broadband deal.
By starting a contract with Hyperoptic, tech savvy consumers can now enjoy 50 Mbps wifi speeds at a frozen price of £17.99 per month which will remain unchanged for 24 months.
Jawad Safdar, Head of Channel Marketing at Hyperoptic, said: “We operate in an environment where prices are constantly shifting and changing.
“As a brand, we’ve strived to do things differently by making a simple promise to customers – that we won’t increase the price of anyone’s broadband halfway through their contract.
“This is our first campaign working with CHS, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with how they’ve brought this idea to life.”
CHS have rolled this message via a new creative platform that brings the big freeze to life through animation across digital display, social videos and social statics.
In addition to managing the campaign’s digital output, CHS have also been working closely with Hyperoptic’s internal teams. Helping Hyperoptic to replicate The Big Freeze concept across other marketing channels such as ad vans, press advertisements and direct mail.
Chris Southgate, Managing Director at CHS, said: “At CHS, we’re firm believers that working well with internal teams sets the foundation for long and enduring client relationships.
“We‘re delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Hyperoptic, helping to bring this exciting and unique initiative to life – especially as our first agency-client project with them.
“All corners of CHS have had a role to play in the success of this campaign. So if there was any way to show what a full-service agency really means – this is it!”


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Only a handful of automakers have chosen to stick to hydrogen fuel cells instead of moving to electric- and battery-powered vehicles. The Honda Clarity made a name for itself but a lack of infrastructure has pushed the Japanese automaker in another direction. Honda’s new partnership puts a new focus on electric vehicles. Unlike other automakers, however, Honda’s vehicles will use both batteries and fuel cells.
Honda has partnered with Hitachi to produce more affordable electric motors. The joint venture is a sign that, while Honda isn’t walking away from hydrogen power, the company is pushing for more alternative fuel sources.
Hitachi has a reputation for building electric motors for vehicles of all shapes and sizes. As federal emissions standards grow tighter, the call for more affordable electric powertrains has been deafening. The Honda-Hitachi partnership aims to lower the cost of mass producing engines.
The partnership will originally launch in Japan manufacturing operations. The venture will eventually expand to operations in North America and China as well. While Hitachi and Honda will work together, Hitachi will continue to produce motors for other automakers while Honda will use in-house motors in some vehicles.


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A start-up developing cell-cultivated meat technology has been a $25,000 Minimum Viable Product grant by the New South Wales Government. VOW has created the first ever cell-cultured kangaroo meat grown from stem cells. Read more
Quarter of all manufacturing in south-east Melbourne is in the food and beverage sector, research by the Australian Food and Grocery Council has found. Food processing is now the fifth largest economic contributor to five federal electorates: Aston, Chisholm, Deakin, Hotham and Isaacs.
Global metal packaging manufacturer Jamestrong opened a new $15 million, future-proofed, can making facility in Auckland last night, catering to the burgeoning infant formula market.
PepsiCo has spent $37m upgrading its Regency Park manufacturing facility in South Australia. Over the last three years, new technology has been installed and legacy equipment replaced to increase capacity and improve environmental performance.
With growth in the functional beverage space showing no slowing down, Australian Beverages Council CEO Geoff Parker takes a closer look at the sector.
Global ingredients and premix company Prinova has set up a subsidiary in Australia to better service the Asia-Pacific market. It comes as a direct response to customers wanting production support in APAC, the company said.
Coles has unveiled its first convenience-focused supermarket in Glen Waverly, Melbourne. The new ‘store of the future’ format caters to increasing consumer demand for easy meal options including prepared ingredients and ready meals.
Early bird tickets have just gone on sale for the Food & Drink Business + PKN LIVE breakfast forum on 11 October in Melbourne, which will explore what it takes to be a truly brave brand.
Every year, in collaboration with market research firm IBISWorld, we gather together all of the latest company data to reveal Australia's heaviest hitters in food and beverage. Here are some of the highlights.
Hyster-Yale Asia Pacific is delivering the latest Yale forklift range to the region for clients seeking cost-effective handling solutions for low-hour requirements.
Chinese Sichuan brand Haoji has entered Australia with its range of sauces, and is the first market launch for the brand outside of China.
The KitKat Chocolatory has introduced a limited edition release range of dark chocolate, crafted from some of the world's rarest cocoas sourced from three volcanic islands.
Going beyond a label and packaging refresh, Taylors Wines' portfolio update includes augmented reality to deepen engagement with consumers, and an NFC-chipped screw cap for authentication and tamper-evidence.
FMCG brands are fast realising the power of the printed pack as a platform for driving consumer engagement, with AR technology advances taking this to the next level. At a forum in Sydney on 12 August, Campbell Arnott's will put AR to the test.
Sydney-based printing house Luminar has ramped up its digital pouch printing capabilities with the purchase of a mammoth new press – a move that could give food and beverage manufacturers a big boost.
A water brand created by US actor, rapper and entrepreneur Jaden Smith has launched into Australia with packaging designed to ease plastic bottle pollution in the ocean.
Brewing luminary Chuck Hahn has taken Kosciuszko Brewing Company back to tins with a couple of innovations planned for the canning line.
Global metal packaging manufacturer Jamestrong opened a new $15 million, future-proofed, can making facility in Auckland, New Zealand last night, catering to the burgeoning infant formula market. PKN was there.
Full year results for packaging giant Orora have with underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) up 4 per cent to $217m, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) 3.7 per cent higher to $335.2m and earnings per share (EPS) up 3.7 per cent to 18 cents per share.
Pact Group has cited the drought, weaker demand from the agri and food & beverage sectors, and higher raw material and energy costs as contributing to the FY19 loss.


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SOurce: Forbes September 30 2015
Two lifestyle companies are proving that is possible to manufacture in the United States. In fact when the tide turned and everybody went overseas to Asia, these two stayed at home, rallying for a different business model — one that was set on long-term gains.
Duluth Pack and Topo Designs specialize in a mixture of rugged outdoor backpacks, messenger bags for city dwellers, accessories, and clothing. Their stories offer an alternative to the tales of companies opting for cheaper, larger scale production facilities.
If these two can do it, and keep their doors open, is there hope for more American brands to resurface and survive? Seems so.
Tom Sega, a well-traveled businessman, says he got tired of rolling through briefcases and bags. “All of them would just fall apart.” That’s when he discovered Duluth Pack, a Minnesota-based company that made leather and canvas bags in their 100-year old workshop. “I just wanted something that wouldn’t break on me in a few months.”
“That’s how I landed in this position. I became a fan of their products,” he says in a phone interview from their historic headquarters. ”I’m now sitting in the building where they’ve been making the products for 104 years.”
Named after its hometown, Duluth, Minnesota and a pack designed with leather straps and canvas, nicknamed the Duluth Pack, the company was founded in 1882. The brand was started by Camille Poirier, a French-Canadian, who opened shop and filed for a patent for the original Duluth Pack design.
In 2007, however, when Sega stepped in as president, a position that he had sought after, business was challenging. Duluth Pack had an expensive product, much more costly than the standard backpack at big box stores, he says.
“It was a luxury item, in a time of a recession. It was something people could do without.”
Yet, he didn’t veer off the American-made track, even if that meant the company could increase its profit margins.
“We didn’t shrink. We stuck true to our guns.” Rather, the company grew from 21 employees, in 2007, to 90 today.
Manufacturing in America is expensive, Sega says, not just because of the labor but all the frills that come on top of paying a worker a fair wage. There’s the benefits, the 401k plan, health insurance, he lists. “Those costs have to be absorbed somewhere.”
Hence, the retail prices are high. The company’s most iconic canoe packs range from $100 to $400.
Duluth items are manufactured in a workshop, or what Sega refers to as the ‘sewing room.’ When he joined the company, he says, it was hard to find people who were artisans and could craft these bags. They had to be trained how to sew. “We were hiring people because they could show up on time, do their job diligently, and learn the craft along the way. It was an education on the job.”
Today, as the company’s brand has become more widely known, skilled craftsmen and women apply to work at Duluth Pack. They can produce up to 1,000 bags a week, or 4,000 a month. Given that Duluth offers 175 different styles in various colors and fabrics, it’s more of a custom order build than an off-the-rack company. “We don’t have stock in all 175 styles sitting here at the workshop,” Sega clarifies. Often times the bags are personalized to a customer’s request.
The bags at Duluth Pack, much like Topo Designs, come with a lifetime guarantee. If they fall apart, both companies are happy to repair. It’s part of the long-term vision to keep quality high, customers satisfied, and environmental impact low.
In fact, Sega says that he’s seen a shift in the clientele that’s opting for these ‘Made in America’ designs. More younger customers, from 30 upwards, he says, are buying their bags. “People are going back to appreciating quality. Young people are saving up to buy one solid product.”
Topo Designs founder Jedd Rose says that the production story helps sell the product: “We found that if we tell the ‘Made in America’ story to our consumers, they are willing to pay to support the local cycle.”
Topo’s primary customer base is Millennials who want a simple solution that takes them from hiking to work — preferably, all in one bag. That simplicity, with a 60s and 70s vibe, is what inspired designer Jedd Rose to take on an outdoor brand — an industry that he knew as a consumer, not as an entrepreneur.
Rose began his venture from the basement of his Fort Collins home on a “shoestring budget,” he says. Rose was the creative force, designing and sewing the packs himself whereas his friend and business partner Mark Hensen focused on sales, relying on his local contacts in the region, to help them secure their first orders.
It wasn’t till 2011, (3 years after the company had been cobbled together in Rose’s home), that the two started building out their team. Today, the company has 18 full-time staff with a handful of part-time employees on the retail end.


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Ambrane FitShot Sphere smartwatch debuted in India at Rs. 4,999
Ambrane FitShot Sphere smartwatch is up for sale on Amazon. Check specifications and price
Ambrane, the Make in India mobile accessories brand has launched FitShot Sphere smartwatch in India. The accessory is priced at Rs. 4,999. The Watch comes in a circular design, a faster processor, and several other health functionalities. The product has debuted in shades of Black and Peach. It is available on Amazon. The company launched the Ambrane FitShot Zest earlier this month. Checkout the specifications and features here
Ambrane FitShot Sphere smartwatch: Specifications
The smartwatch features a circular display with a 1.28-inch screen size and 450 Nits of brightness. Furthermore, the Sphere has a silicon strap. The smartwatch provides customers with various watch designs and customizing choices, including 3 Watch Faces and 46 Cloud Watch Faces for a wonderful user experience.
Ambrane FitShot Sphere features a heart rate monitor and a SpO2 blood-oxygen-level monitor. In addition, the smartwatch also has 17 Sports Modes, including the new Stationary Bike and Rowing Machine as well as a sleep tracker. The Sphere is powered by a 270 mAh battery that offers a week long battery life for a seamless experience.
The FitShot Sphere smartwatch offers connectivity with Bluetooth v5.0 and supports smart alerts like Incoming call alerts, FB Messenger, WhatsApp, SMS Etc., and along with controls for music and photography apps on the phone. The Watch has an IP68 rating and is water-resistant.
The FitShot Sphere could be an apt choice for those who are equally obsessed with their fitness and health. The smartwatch comes with a slew of smart capabilities as well as additional health-related sensors which will keep a track of one's health.
Ambrane FitShot Sphere smartwatch: Price
The device is already up for sale on Amazon. It is priced at Rs. 4,999, however, it is available at a discounted price of Rs. 2,999 for a limited time.
Follow HT Tech for the latest tech news and reviews , also keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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Redberry Announces New Franchise Partnership With Taco Bell Canada
Redberry today announces a new multi-year development agreement with Taco Bell Canada following Redberry’s agreement to acquire 14 Taco Bell locations across Ontario. Redberry intends to develop 50 Taco Bell restaurants in Canada over the next few years supporting Taco Bell’s plans to expand its footprint across the country.
Redberry Restaurants, one of the largest and fastest growing quick-service restaurant franchisees in Canada with 135 restaurants across four provinces, will acquire Taco Bell restaurants in Brantford, Guelph, Hamilton, Hannon, Kitchener, London, Mississauga, Saint Thomas and Toronto.
“We are thrilled to be joining the Taco Bell family and expanding our portfolio of Redberry Restaurants across Canada,” said Ken Otto, CEO, Redberry Restaurants. “The entrepreneurial, ambitious spirit of the Redberry team aligns very well with the fun and youthful Taco Bell brand loved by all generations, and together, we look forward to exemplifying the essence of ‘Live Mas’.”
The new partnership comes on the heels of a year of growth for Taco Bell Canada, following the recent launch of a new online ordering platform on tacobell.ca and the expansion of delivery options through DoorDash and Uber Eats for Taco Bell customers across Canada.
“We are excited to welcome Redberry Restaurants into the growing Taco Bell family of franchisees, partners and team members to help bring an unmatched customer experience to our fans,” said Matthew Shaw, General Manager, Taco Bell Canada. “Redberry’s franchise and business expertise will be a great addition as we continue to grow the Taco Bell brand in Canada and get our favourite menu items into the hands of more Canadians!”
Customers can order all their Taco Bell favourites, including Tacos, Crunchwraps and Fries Supreme, from each of the 14 newly managed locations, or any other Taco Bell Canada restaurants for delivery and pick-up through www.tacobell.ca or via Uber Eats and DoorDash.


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BSP leader's meat factory raided in UP
The raid ended late on Thursday night. Sources said that a sample of suspected 'cow meat' found at the factory has been sent for test
A meat factory owned by former minister and BSP leader, Haji Yakoob Qureshi, was raided by a joint team of the police, weights & measures department, pollution board and other departments.
"The raid was conducted after complaints that the factory's licence had expired, but processing/packaging of meat was still on. A big consignment of meat was stored in the factory and officials were assessing its weight and legal status," said SP (rural) Keshav Mishra.
The raid ended late on Thursday night. Sources said that a sample of suspected 'cow meat' found at the factory has been sent for test.
Situated on Hapur road, the factory, Al Faheem Meatex Pvt Ltd, exports packaged meat to the Middle East and other countries.
Haji Yakoob's son Imran Qureshi, said he was out of town and did not know much about the raid. He, however, claimed that there was no illegal practice in the factory.
"Some packets of stored meat were damaged while shifting and they were being re-packed," he added.
BSP leader Haji Yakoob had contested 2019 Lok Sabha election and lost by a slender margin to his nearest rival - BJP's Rajendra Agarwal.
He was a minister in the BSP government in UP and made headlines after announcing a bounty on the head of a Danish cartoonist who made a caricature of Prophet Mohammad in 2006.


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Remke biggs plans super double coupon event
- Staff Cincinnati Business Courier
Remke biggs will double the face value of all manufacturer coupons up to $1 at its Super Double Coupon event on Tuesday.
While the grocery chain with 13 Tri-State locations typically hosts double coupon events with a maximum of coupons that have a face value of 50 cents doubling to $1, this event will double the face value of coupons up to $1 for savings of up to $2. For example, a coupon with a face value of 75 cents will double to $1.50 and a coupon with a face value of $1 will be worth $2.
Any coupon that will double to more than $2 will be worth its face value.
Customers will be limited to purchasing a maximum of three like items.
The event comes a month after Kroger announced it will no longer double customer coupons in favor of everyday low prices and new shelf tags.
Remke biggs is an employee-owned grocery store that has been serving local communities since 1897.
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Yahoo is counting on rival Google to help accelerate its revenue growth.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Online reviews site Yelp Inc. reported a narrower fourth-quarter loss on Wednesday as visitors to its website and apps grew from a year ago, before it had gone public.
NEW YORK (AP) - CVS Caremark's fourth-quarter earnings climbed 6 percent, as revenue from its established drugstores grew and new customers helped its pharmacy services segment.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Treasury Department said Wednesday that it has resumed borrowing now that Congress has approved a temporary measure that allows the government to take on billions of dollars in debt to fund its most basic operations.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - America's major freight railroads expect to hire 11,000 people and invest $13 billion in their rail networks and equipment this year.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Shoppers hit stores for the holidays in the final months of 2012 and it seems many of them were armed with credit and debit cards using the Visa network.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Slumping personal computer maker Dell is bowing out of the stock market in a $24.4 billion buyout that represents the largest deal of its kind since the Great Recession dried up the financing for such risky maneuvers.
REDWOOD CITY (AP) - Shutterfly Inc. on Tuesday reported a 50 percent jump in quarterly profit as more customers snapped up its photo prints, photo gifts and stationery during the holidays. The results blew past Wall Street estimates and the online photo service also forecast better-than-expected results for 2013.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) - The end is near for the shoe, wheelbarrow or iron in the classic Monopoly game as fans vote in the final hours on which token to eliminate and which piece to replace it.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Online games company Zynga said its loss narrowed in the latest quarter even though revenue was largely unchanged as the company cut expenses by laying off workers, closing offices and shutting down poorly performing games.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Eighteen people have been charged in what may be one of the nation's largest credit card fraud rings, a sprawling international scam that duped credit rating agencies and used thousands of fake identities to steal at least $200 million, federal authorities said Tuesday.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Beyonce's splashy show, a freak power outage, and -oh, yeah- a captivating game of football combined to generate a record 24.1 million posts on Twitter during Sunday night's Super Bowl.
NEW YORK (AP) - McDonald's says it is offering its first new Happy Meal entree in a decade: Fish McBites.
REDWOOD SHORES (AP) - Oracle will Acme Packet Inc., which makes equipment for telecommunications companies, for about $2.1 billion.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Alaskan Brewing Co. is going green, but instead of looking to solar and wind energy, it has turned to a very familiar source: beer.
NEW YORK (AP) - Pizza Hut is letting customers play mad scientist, giving them the freedom to make pies with honey Sriracha sauce or add curry flavor to the crusts.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Target is planning to offer Black Friday deals before the Thanksgiving holiday, in its latest move to boost sluggish sales heading into the holiday shopping season.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Postal Service said Monday it had been hacked, potentially compromising sensitive information about its employees such as names and addresses, Social Security numbers, emergency contacts and other information.
NEW YORK (AP) - Arby's, the chain known for its roast beef sandwiches, is trying to stand out in the crowded fast-food industry. It's marketing its meats as being of superior quality and pushing to let customers know they can order sandwiches sans onions or mayo.
LONDON (AP) - Oil prices slumped to multi-year lows on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia cut the price of oil sold to the U.S., a move that is shaking an already volatile market but will likely give the world economy an unexpected stimulus.
NEW YORK (AP) - Burger King said bringing back its "Chicken Fries" helped sales jump in the U.S. and Canada by the biggest amount in two years.
SANTA MONICA (AP) - Activision Blizzard Inc., maker of the blockbuster "Call of Duty" video game franchise, said Tuesday that strong sales led to better-than-expected results for its third quarter and raised its full-year forecast. The stock jumped in after-hours trading.
CVS'S 3Q BENEFITS FROM GENERICS, SPECIALTY DRUGS: WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) - CVS Health Corp. reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings Tuesday as increased use of specialty drugs helped offset missing sales of tobacco products, which the company stopped selling this fall.
NEW YORK (AP) - This year more Americans than ever are expected to make their lists, check them twice, and then click the "add to cart" button.
NEW YORK (AP) - Hotels don't want guests to have to linger at the front desk - or even stop by at all.
NEW YORK (AP) - It turns out people go to Red Lobster for the seafood.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A federal judge on Monday said Honeywell Inc. could begin penalizing workers who refuse to take medical or biometric tests.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Twitter's third-quarter revenue outpaced expectations, but investors concerned about user growth and holiday-quarter revenue clipped the company's stock price late Monday.
NEW YORK (AP) - Dunkin' Donuts plans to roll out a croissant-doughnut hybrid in the U.S. next week, but the company says please don't call it a "Cronut."
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans signing contracts to buy homes ticked up only slightly in September, as it remained difficult to qualify for mortgage financing.


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When companies are busy announcing their products at CES 2018, Acer has launched Predator Galea 500 gaming headset in India for Rs. 12999. Moreover, the company also released Cestus 500 gaming mouse. The main highlight of the Acer Predator Galea 500 gaming headset is the integration of TrueHarmony 3D Soundscape technology, which is capable of offering a perfect sound experience.
The Predator Galea 500 gaming headset ships with a Bio-Cellulose driver unit with rubber surround, which is capable of delivering a true cinematic surround experience.The patented Soundscape technology recreates the acoustic space based on the head orientation. The headset delivers clear highs with resounding lows and responds quickly to vocals and mid-high range noted.
The newly launched Acer Predator Cestus 500 gaming mouse is equipped with a dual switch design to enable gamers to make use of the click resistance. It includes lighter resistance for FPS games and heavier resistance for RTS games. The mouse includes 16.8-million RGB lighting with eight different lighting patterns, five onboard profile settings, eight programmable buttons including a precision control USB connector.
Commenting on the development, Chandrahas Panigrahi, CMO and consumer business head, Acer disclosed that the company is happy to introduce Galea 500 gaming headset along with the award-winning Cestus 500 gaming mouse. The mouse is designed to cater to the growing requirements of the hardcore gamers.
The main purpose of the Acer Predator Galea 500 gaming headset is to recreate the acoustic space based on the overall orientation level of the player’s head. The end result is to provide an impressive and true gaming feel without sacrificing performance.
The headset also ships with several customisation options using which users to adapt the accessory based on the situation. In addition to EQ Music, the Predator Galea 500 gaming headset also includes modes such as Movie and Sport. The company also released Cestus 500 gaming mouse for Rs. 4599.
We don’t have any information about the exact availability of the Acer Predator Galea 500 gaming headset and Cestus 500 gaming mouse. We will continue to keep track of the developments and provide you with updates. Stay tuned.
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The Food and Drug Administration is punishing a number of companies that make and disperse kratom, a supplement with pain-relieving and psychoactive qualities that's been connected to a recent salmonella break out.
In a letter released on Tuesday, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb gotten in touch with three companies in various states to stop selling unapproved kratom products with unverified health claims. In a declaration, Gottlieb said the companies were engaged in "health fraud rip-offs" that " position severe health risks."
Originated from a plant native to Southeast Asia, kratom is typically sold as pills, powder, or tea in the US. Supporters state it helps curb the signs of opioid withdrawal, which has led people to flock to kratom over the last few years as a way of stepping down from more powerful drugs like Vicodin.
However since kratom is classified as a supplement and has actually not been developed as a drug, it's exempt to much federal policy. That suggests tainted kratom tablets and powders can easily make their method to store racks-- which appears to have actually occurred in a recent outbreak of salmonella that has actually so far sickened more than 130 individuals throughout several states.
Extravagant claims and little clinical research
The FDA's current crackdown seems the most recent step in a growing divide in between supporters and regulative companies regarding the usage of kratom The business the agency has named are Front Range Kratom of Aurora, Colorado; Kratom Spot of Irvine, California and Revibe, Inc., of Kansas City, Missouri.
The claims these three business have made consist of marketing the supplement as " really reliable against cancer" and recommending that their products might help in reducing the signs of opioid addiction.
But there are few existing clinical studies to support those claims. Research on kratom has discovered, nevertheless, that the drug taps into a few of the exact same brain receptors as opioids do. That spurred the FDA to classify it as an opioid in February.
Professionals state that due to the fact that of this, it makes good sense that people with opioid use disorder are turning to kratom as a way of abating their signs and stepping down from more powerful drugs like Vicodin.
But taking any supplement that hasn't been checked for security by doctor can be dangerous.
The dangers of taking kratom.
Previous FDA testing found that a number of products distributed by Revibe-- among the 3 business called in the FDA letter-- were polluted with salmonella. Last month, as part of a demand from the agency, Revibe damaged several tainted products still at its facility, but the company has yet to verify that it remembered products that had already delivered to shops.
Last month, the FDA issued its first-ever compulsory recall of kratom items after those produced by Las Vegas-based Triangle Pharmanaturals were found to be polluted with salmonella.
As of April 5, a overall of 132 individuals throughout 38 states had actually been sickened with the bacteria, which can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain lasting up to a week.
Besides handling the risk that kratom products could bring damaging bacteria, those who take the supplement blog here have no dependable way to figure out the correct dosage. It's likewise challenging to find a verify kratom supplement's full component list or account for potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs or medications.
Kratom is currently banned in Australia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and a number of US states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). Throughout the United States, several reports of deaths and Visit Website addiction led the Drug Enforcement Administration to position kratom on its list of "drugs and chemicals of concern." In 2016, the DEA proposed a restriction on kratom however backtracked under pressure from some members of Congress and an outcry from kratom supporters.


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A new Disney Store is coming to New York City’s Times Square with a grand opening on November 9th. However, last night they debuted the bright new video marquee for the store. It fits right in with all the other video heavy displays in Times… Read More »Disney Store debuts new Marquee in New York City’s Times Square
The Disney Store
A few days back I was in NYC and remarked how odd it would be to have a Disney Store right next to a Forever 21 location in Times Square. Well, the jokes on me. Disney and Forever 21 have a closer relationship than just… Read More »Forever 21 to offer Minnie Mouse Apparel and Accessories for Holidays
The closing of the only Disney Store in Vancouver, BC has raised the ire of Disney fans in the area and generated a petition to keep it open. According to numerous Internet posts, the store is set to close on Saturday, Jan. 23, or earlier… Read More »Disney Store closing only store in Vancouver
We’ve heard a little about the new State-of-the-Art store design coming to The Disney Store brand. Inspired by Walt Disney’s legacy of innovation and Steve Job’s Apple Stores, interactivity and personalization will be the name of the game at these new locations. The first location… Read More »Disney Store prepares to roll out new concept
TheStreet.com TV has an insightful interview with Simon Waters, vice president and general manager, Disney Consumer Products North America. Waters explores how vast and varied the company’s product lines now are. What I would have liked to see covered is where Waters sees The Disney… Read More »Disney Consumer Products strikes Gold
Today has been one of those days. I’m sick and have been just hanging out in bed most of the day. But the world goes on… like that great Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa special on NBC tonight. Not quite as good as the classic… Read More »Disney Links – Wednesday Edition
With one of the nations biggest shopping days right around the corner, The Disney Store has been erroneously included in a rumor that is circulating the internet about stores that are closing locations. The Disney Blog has not been one of those sites. You may have seen the email which warns consumers not to buy gift cards this holiday season. Just to be clear the Disney Store is NOT closing 98 stores and gift cards will still be honored.
“As you may know, Disney Store closed 88 locations earlier this year to adjust our overall store portfolio,” said Jim Fielding, president, Disney Stores Worldwide. “This occurred during the transition from being a licensed business separate from The Walt Disney Company to becoming part of the Disney family once again. Disney Store has no current plan or announcement to close 98 Stores. This is inaccurate information that has been circulated via the Internet.”
Disney Store currently has locations in more than 220 malls across America. Like many other stores, they are gearing up for the day after Thanksgiving and stocking the shelves with toys and items for Disney fans across the nation. More than 100 locations are opening at midnight this year. To find out if a store near you is opening at midnight, please go to www.disneystore.com and click on the store locator or call 800-757-5933.
The full press release with details on the special deals available beginning on Friday at The Disney Stores, click below the cut:
The failed experiment that was The Children’s Place attempt to run The Disney Stores is now officially over. Disney takes back operations today after The Children’s Place had to file for bankruptcy in the subsidiaries that ran The Disney Stores. In 2000, there were 741… Read More »Disney regains control of The Disney Stores today


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DP World's Dubai ports hit by Iran woes, rivalry
DP WORLD Plc handled smaller cargo volumes at its home ports in Dubai for the fifth consecutive quarter, with US sanctions against Iran and competition from neighbouring Abu Dhabi contributing to the latest year-on-year decline, according to industry consultant Drewry.
The recent surge in tensions over shipping incidents in the Persian Gulf region, however, had little if any impact on the company's second- quarter throughput, said Neil Davidson, senior analyst for ports and terminals at London-based Drewry.
DP World, which operates ports from Vancouver to Hong Kong, runs terminals at Jebel Ali and Port Rashid in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
US President Donald Trump's tightening of sanctions on Iran in November was a "significant factor" behind the company's declining cargo volumes at the two Dubai ports, Mr Davidson said.
In addition, Jebel Ali faces tough competition from inside the UAE. Khalifa Port in the neighbouring emirate of Abu Dhabi has joint-venture agreements with Hong Kong-based Cosco Shipping Ports and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co, and these deals have diverted a lot of container traffic away from Jebel Ali, Mr Davidson added.
The expansion of Khalifa Port is likely to continue to erode Jebel Ali's market share, he said. Abu Dhabi Ports chief executive officer Mohamed Al Shamsi said in December that Khalifa Port's capacity will double in 2019.
The embargo of Qatar continues to have an effect as well, he said. The UAE and several other Gulf Arab nations severed ties with Qatar in June 2017. BLOOMBERG


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The financial future of struggling Internet delivery company Webvan (Nasdaq:WBVN) appeared more clouded than ever after statements released Monday by the company’s auditor, Deloitte & Touche, in Webvan’s annual report.
“There can be no assurance that [Webvan] will be successful in its efforts to achieve future profitable operations, generate sufficient cash from operations or obtain additional funding sources,” the auditor said in the report.
Webvan also remains in imminent danger of being delisted from the Nasdaq because it has not been able to elevate its share price above US$1.Webvan shares closed at 13 cents Tuesday, with no change from the previous day’s trading.
No Legal Ease
On top of the bleak financial future painted by Webvan’s auditor, the company faces legal challenges, including a lawsuit from Amazon.com against Homegrocer.com, which was purchased by Webvan last year. The lawsuit alleges that Webvan breached its advertising agreement by failing to make quarterly payments to Amazon.
Amazon is seeking $6.25 million, plus attorneys’ fees and expenses. Webvan said it intends to “vigorously pursue its case against Amazon.”
Webvan is also under attack from the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UCW), which filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that Webvan maintains illegal rules restricting employee rights to organize, support and join a union.
Webvan executives said that the company denies the charges and will defend its case against the UCW.
Although Webvan has been able to survive the dot-com shakeout so far, its time may be running out. Since its inception, Webvan has incurred significant losses, and as of December 31st, had an accumulated deficit of $612.7 million.
“Webvan may continue to suffer significant net losses and a negative cash flow from operations,” the auditor said in the report. “These matters raise substantial doubt about Webvan’s ability to continue as a going concern. Webvan’s continued existence is dependent upon several factors, including its ability to increase revenue levels and reduce costs of operations to generate positive cash flows.”
Webvan attempted to move forward by cutting back throughout the first quarter of 2001 — redesigning its site, providing online coupons and launching frequent shopper programs.
Webvan also launched a new marketing campaign aimed at building its brand and reaching additional target customers.
Since September, Webvan has reduced its workforce by approximately 1,300 employees, or 27 percent. Other cost reduction measures have included minimizing how much infrastructure is required to process orders, raising the minimum order size required for free delivery, extending the delivery window in certain markets from a 30-minute to a 60-minute duration, and outsourcing certain operations to third parties.


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Tarantura just released Rainbow Friday Night. Covering the August 28th 1981 show at the Budokan Dai Hall in Tokyo, it is a three disc box set with a booklet, limited to 200 copies. The first disc has the (unnamed band’s) opening set, and the second two discs has the Rainbow show.
King Crimson’s DGM website is taking pre-orders for their latest installment in the KCCC silver pressed CD series. Live at the Marquee, August 10, 1971 is, according to the website, “Arguably the greatest find in Mister Stormy’s trawl through the Crimson archives: uncovering a previously unheard set on the second night at the band’s stint at The Marquee.” Having a perfect soundboard recording for the Islands line-up, my personal favorite, is tremendous news and worth checking out for all fans of the group.
Well, I shall not be buying a Rainbow show with only 2/3 of interest to me.


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In shocking revelations, Cyber security Researchers have discovered more than 200 bugs Wi-Fi Router Manufactured by nine popular manufacturers, suggesting that millions of the most common devices worldwide are vulnerable to attacks.
IoT inspectors and CHIP researchers test devices Asus, AVM, D-Link, netgearedimax, tp-link, Synology, and Linksys, and found a total of 226 potential security vulnerabilities.
Florian Lukavsky said, “The test negatively exceeded all expectations for secure home and small business routers. Not all vulnerabilities are equally significant – but at the time of testing, all devices showed significant security vulnerabilities that could be vulnerable to hackers.” Can make life a lot easier.” CTO of IoT Inspector.
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The two devices with the most vulnerabilities were the TP-Link Archer AX6000 with 32 vulnerabilities, and Synology RT-2600ac With 30 weaknesses.
According to the researchers, some security issues were detected in several devices, usually due to outdated software. They understand that, since integrating a new kernel into the firmware is a costly affair, all routers tested were running older versions. Linux kernel
Similarly, additional services, such as multimedia streaming or vpn, were usually found to be powered by older software.
When contacted by the researchers, all manufacturers responded quickly by issuing firmware patches to address the issues.
The researchers also used this opportunity to point out that the new German government’s coalition agreement seeks to hold manufacturers accountable for vulnerabilities in their products.
“This puts increased pressure on the industry to continually safeguard products to avoid huge claims of harm,” say the researchers.
- bring down the hatch with the help of Best Firewall Apps and Services, and make sure your computers are protected from best endpoint protection tools,


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Now that's a defence!
The Microsoft anti-trust proceedings, which are fast becoming one of the tech industry's longest-running soap operas, have moved into a new phase as class actions are brought by consumers against the company. The consumers claim that, because Microsoft is a monopoly, it must have overcharged them for their Microsoft products. They want to be compensated for the difference between what they paid for Windows, Office and other MS staples, and the "fair" price they would have paid in a more competitive marketplace.
If you reckon that's going to be the mother of all legal minefields, you're not alone. But Microsoft has lent a helping hand. In its defence, the company says that by abusing its monopoly power, it helped consumers. It offers as an example the case of Netscape, which was forced to stop charging for its Netscape Navigator browser (former retail $US50) when Microsoft started giving away Internet Explorer for free. Thus, Microsoft saved Netscape's customers $US50 each.
Of course, Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar entity that could afford this kind of generosity. Netscape was a relatively new start-up with few sources of revenue. Giving its core product away gratis caused the company to go into a tailspin, and it now exists only as a division of America Online. By definition under American anti-trust laws, destroying your competitors harms your customers.
Perhaps MS should get new lawyers?
Hacking, the warrior way
Bill Gates, in Sydney in September (speaking at a something-or-other so he could write off his Olympic trip as a business expense), claimed that English would remain the primary language of the Internet for the foreseeable future. We Backbyters, however, feel there may be a serious challenge to this claim in the offing - and it's not from Homo sapiens.
A growing presence in the human technology realm appears to be the Klingon race, originally believed (at least by us) to be a fictional creation in a cheesy TV show. But now, the Klingons have their own programming language (var'aq), a description of which can be found at www.geocities.com/connorbd/varaq/varaqspec.html.
Not only do the Klingons have a hacker culture, but apparently they purchase DVDs, as evidenced by the Klingon subtitles available on a title called "Earthlight". It seems they're coming.
The ultimate sell-out
What would you do if we offered you cash incentives to name your brand new baby "Backbyter" in our honour? You'd spit at us, and rightly so. Some parents aren't as conscientious as you, though. Word reached us recently of a couple in Kansas (alarm bells ringing) who named their child IUMA, in response to a challenge from the Internet Underground Music Archive (www.iuma.com) to devise clever ways to promote the site. For their efforts, they won $US5000 (roughly three million Australian dollars).
Apparently the father of the unfortunate infant (Iuma Dylan-Lucas Thornhill, just so you know) is in a band (called Opus) and promotes his work through IUMA (the site, not the kid). He reckons "he'll have such a cool story when he grows up". We reckon the kid will want to find a deed-poll office as soon as possible. He is at least a little bit lucky - IUMA is pronounceable. What if the challenge had gone out from MSNBC?
IUMA is looking for nine more tragically-monikered kids before the contest closes on 1 November. Get in quick!
(For the record, Bytesback is not offering any such incentive.)Sue this!
Remember McLibel, the infamous case in which McDonald's sued two British activists because they distributed anti-McDonald's propaganda leaflets? The defendants weren't the authors of the leaflets, they were just handing them out. Macca's sued them, hoping they'd run away and agree to stop being mean. Instead, they went to court and caused the world famous magical clown more than a little embarrassment.
Great story, but it came at enormous cost to the activists involved. Now, thanks to the wonders of robotics, this may never have to happen again. The Institute for Applied Autonomy (IAA) claims to have developed a robot called "Little Brother", aka "Pamphleteer", designed to distribute subversive literature and incite insurrection. The advantage of "Pamphleteer" is that it is, of course, immune from prosecution and civil litigation. Robots are not currently recognised as potential litigants in any of the world's major courts. Also, unlike many activists (typically long-haired, unshaven, not particularly clean and dismissed as "ratbags"), the Pamphleteer is cute as the dickens. You can't sue something this cuddly.
Responding to a downturn in the market for "tools of repression", the IAA has identified the "market of cultural insurrection" as a potential source of stable growth. Who knows? Someday we may all have subversive robots in our homes.


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New guideline to facilitate market entities in Shanghai
An aerial view of Shanghai. [Photo by Du Lianyi/China Daily]
Move by city aims to improve business environment, boost fairer competition
The latest measures announced by the Shanghai municipal government on Thursday to activate the growth and development of market entities showed the metropolis' resolution to guarantee a fair play business environment for its more than 3 million market entities, experts said.
The Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation issued the guideline on the development and expansion of market entities.
By taking market entities' full life cycle into consideration, the guideline looks to optimize the business environment for all businesses, including those of State-owned, foreign-funded, private and self-employed, said Qi Xiaozhai, director of the Shanghai Commercial Economic Research Center.
"Amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, all businesses are challenged in their operations. The new guideline, by providing considerate and extensive rules, will promote business entities in Shanghai to maintain their momentum," said Qi.
The guideline aims to be systematic, inclusive and forward-looking. They fall into five main categories and include efforts to deepen reforms to facilitate the entry and exit of market entities, provide high-quality and convenient administrative services, implement high-standard service-oriented market regulation, and safeguard the materialization of measures to help the markets develop and grow.
Liu Mingyu, associate professor at the School of Management, Fudan University, said he was impressed by the degree and extent of the "service-oriented" measures.
"Giving market entities the right of making decisions on entering the market will reduce business cost and encourage entrepreneurship, while giving that on exit can boost the efficiency of resources reallocation. By improving government supervision and enhancing its service-oriented role, a better business environment can be created," said Liu.
Given uncertainties in business operations, the detailed regulations set clear boundaries for government regulations and services provided, which will boost market expectations for a healthy and stable business environment, while promoting their growth and expansion, he said.
There are more than 3.18 million market entities registered in Shanghai in December. Among them, 2.67 million are enterprises, up 10.8 percent year-on-year, said the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation.
Every 1,000 persons in the city operate 107.4 enterprises on average, leading other Chinese cities. As many as 2,174 new enterprises are being launched in Shanghai every day. The rapid growth is not possible if not for the city's fair, stable and predictable market environment, experts said.
The guideline urged to thoroughly examine and verify policies and measures with regard to market entities economic activities, eliminate differentiated policies and measures, get rid of discrimination in ownership, location and implicit barriers, and prevent excessive use of administrative powers in competition to ensure all businesses under varied ownership and coming from different areas and regions can compete fairly and equally.
The guideline also vowed to strengthen regulatory compliance on market operation activities. Several guidelines regarding antimonopoly, online marketing algorithms and blind box sales would also be formulated and executed.
Business experts said Shanghai's new guideline on promoting market entities is a nice move in improving the business environment through laws and regulations.
The improvement in business environment will in return help the local government gain healthy, sustainable and stable tax revenues, and create "a win-win situation for government and enterprises", said Liu.


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Resolution on the abolition of the FTA with Russia within the CIS and to enter embargo on certain goods from Russia were adopted in Ukraine on December 30.
KYIV, Jan 2 The government of Ukraine of January 10, introduced an embargo on certain goods from Russia, said in a statement released on Saturday the decree of the Ukrainian government.
“To ban the import into the customs territory of Ukraine of goods originating from the Russian Federation under the list according to the application. This decision shall enter into force on 10 January 2016”, — stated in the document.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 30 December adopted two resolutions — on the abolition of the FTA with Russia within the CIS and to enter embargo on certain goods from Russia. The corresponding decree of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers from December 30, published Thursday on the government website. The Ukrainian government promised to introduce these measures immediately after the entry into force of trade measures in Moscow.
Russia to protect its market from January 1, suspends the operation of the Treaty in the framework of the CIS free trade zone with Ukraine, and also introduces customs duties and grocery embargo similar to the one that applies to countries that supported anti-Russian sanctions.
Their decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from January 2, will cancel FTA with Russia within the CIS, and 10. January introduced an embargo on some goods.


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How One Direction helped KitKat get its most retweeted tweet ever
If it’s anyone in the world who deserves a break, it’s One Direction.
Ever since being thrusted into the spotlight five years after appearing on “The X Factor (UK),” the British boy band has endured a grueling string of tours, album releases and publicity appearances.
Well, it’s all coming to an end in March, when the band says it’s taking a “hiatus.”
KitKat, probably sensing its “Oreo moment,” jumped on the news Thursday to capitalize on its iconic “Have a Break” moment, tweeting this (and shamelessly tagging the band members):
Enjoy the break & see you soon! @Harry_Styles @Real_Liam_Payne @NiallOfficial @Louis_Tomlinson #HaveABreak #1D pic.twitter.com/BRlD1pYSyO
— KITKAT (@KITKAT) December 17, 2015
Twitter and One Direction go together just as good as chocolate and wafers (after all, One Direction accounted for half of the 10 most retweeted tweets on Twitter this year), so the odds were in their favor of this being a massive viral hit. Thanks to some assistance by way of a retweet from singer Liam Payne and his 21.5 million followers, KitKat’s tweet garnered 66,000 retweets and 84,000 likes, making it brand’s most popular tweet ever.
Prior to this, KitKat’s #bendgate tweet mocking the iPhone’s bending abilities was its most popular tweet, with 13,000 likes and 66,000 retweets, but this eclipsed that by far.
“You always try these things with a bit of hope, but don’t really expect such a personality to take notice,” Barry Christie, the creative director of J. Walter Thompson, the agency behind the tweet, told Digiday. “We have heard before that 1D are partial to a KitKat or two, so there was an inkling of hope,” he added pointing to the brands previous reactive tweets have been popular, like #bendgate.
The tweet ignited a wave of ecstatic responses from One Direction’s fans begging the brand to sell the customized candy bars:
@KITKAT @1Dnoticia @Harry_Styles @Real_Liam_Payne @NiallOfficial @Louis_Tomlinson I WANT IT SO HARD — ta. (@hesfools) December 17, 2015
@KITKAT @Harry_Styles @Real_Liam_Payne @NiallOfficial @Louis_Tomlinson hoping these are actually available to buy…..
— Kirsty (@KirstyLBx) December 17, 2015
@KITKAT can you sell these? I would buy them — nataly (@almightysides) December 17, 2015
KitKat, you better listen up before the teens hyperventilate.
Inside NHL’s content strategy ahead of the Stanley Cup Finals
The NHL is offering live and on demand content on YouTube and across social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.
‘We need an ad exchange for identity’: Overheard at the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit
Brand and agency executives discussed the state of cookieless identifiers, ad tech firms attempting to become one-stop shops and the extent to which ads should and shouldn’t be personalized.
Five years in, the GDPR has had a double-edged impact on the ad market
When it launched in 2018 the GDPR was hailed as a privacy superhero of sorts. It set the rules for how companies handle personal data, making sure they couldn’t just grab it without someone’s permission.
SponsoredHow enterprise-grade CDPs are enhancing data processes and improving customer experiences
Produced in partnership with Marketecture The following article highlights an interview between Martin Kihn, Salesforce’s senior vice president of Marketing Cloud, and Ari Paparo, founder and CEO of Marketecture Media. Register to watch more of the discussion and learn how brands are making the most of enterprise-grade CDP technologies. As brands expand across channels and […]
GroupM’s JiYoung Kim calls for programmatic innovation and cites creative as an area in need
During a session at the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit, the agency executive cited ad creative as one specific area in need of innovation.
Digiday+ Research: Agencies choose contextual targeting over first-party data in post-cookie era
Three-quarters of agencies are actively preparing for the end of the third-party cookie, and 70% said they're doing so by spending more on contextual targeting campaigns.


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Automated bundles make digital advertising easy
By Alan Wolf, YSN
In today’s retail world, digital marketing is indispensable for engaging current customers and capturing new ones — and not just during the big holiday selling season.
If anything, stoking the post-holiday fires may be even more important to keep your business top-of-mind with shoppers. To that end, AVB Marketing (AVBM) has developed a comprehensive ad campaign for the first quarter of 2023 (Jan. 6 – March 27) that encompasses the New Year’s period, Presidents’ Day and the bridge promotion known as Spring Black Friday.
The good news for BrandSource members — aside from the added business the digital marketing will generate — is that the vendor-supported program will likely come at no cost following co-op reimbursements from GE, LG, Serta and Whirlpool. Plus, participating dealers will receive matching funds from AVB.
What’s more, AVBM has simplified the process by creating automated marketing bundles to engage consumers at every stage of their shopping journey via Google, Facebook, Instagram and, for the first time, email (free for the first month). Branded appliance advertising is available for LG, Beko, GE Appliances (plus first-timers Café and Profile) and KitchenAid, Maytag and Whirlpool, while touted mattress brands include Beautyrest, Sealy, Serta and Tempur-Pedic.
Non-branded promotional themes are also available for appliances, furniture and mattresses.
All that is required is a one-click sign-up before Dec. 23 to join the more than 200 BrandSource members who have plugged in with customers and boosted their sales. As AVBM’s digital strategy director Chris Swift said, “The strategy is set, the creative is done; a member needs only to ‘Plugin and Win!’”
For more information, please click here.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.


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American songwriter and rapper, Ye, who is popularly known by his stage name as Kanye West is no longer a billionaire after popular German sportswear brand, Adidas, cut ties with the rapper, leaving Kanye West out of the Forbes billionaires’ listing.
It will be recalled that on Tuesday, Adidas had announced that their partnership with Kanye West has been broken due to his antisemitic controversies.
American business magazine, Forbes quickly calculated Kanye’s net earnings and after the deduction of the $1.5 billion value from his Adidas deal, it was announced that Kanye West is no longer a billionaire.
Before his partnership with Adidas, Kanye West was partnered with another sportswear brand, Nike for many years, but, broke out in 2013 to join rival Adidas and in 2015, West and Adidas launched their first Yeezy shoe, which contributed to him becoming a billionaire.
“Without Adidas, Ye is worth $400 million. The remainder of Ye’s fortune, Forbes estimates, comes from real estate, cash, his music catalog, and a 5% stake in ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s shapewear firm, Skims. (A source close to Skims told Forbes Ye hasn’t been involved with the brand since its 2019 launch,)” Forbes reported.
With Kanye West and Adidas cutting ties, it means West will now go back to being dependent on his his earnings from his music and real estate.


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Apple Inc. and four companies selling digital books in Europe have agreed to dismantle a price-setting arrangement that raised prices for consumers, potentially ending a European antitrust investigation into the way e-books are priced and sold.
The European Union's antitrust body Wednesday published details of commitments made by Apple and four publishers to allay concerns that they have been involved in anti-competitive behavior and said it is seeking comments from consumers, publishers and retailers as a market test of whether the measures will be effective.
Source: Wall Street Journal. Read full article. (link)


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Yggdrasil, one of the iGaming industry’s leading online gaming solutions providers has signed a partnership with Betpoint Group. The partnership will see the developer’s entire games portfolio launched across Betpoint’s four casino brands.
The Malta-licensed operator owns four casino brands, including 21.com, Justspin.com, nitrocasino.com and neonvegas.com. The four brands are focused on the international market and have a strong presence in the Nordic, German and Japanese markets.
According to the deal, the operator will gain access to the supplier’s top-performing titles, including the recently launched Multifly, Arthur’s Fortune and Lightning Joker, as well as the hugely successful Vikings trilogy.
Included in the partnership are also the games developed through the YG Masters programme. The deal includes Yggdrasil’s ground-breaking Splitz mechanic, with games such as Stacks: Splitz and Neon Rush Splitz and Lucky Neko with the Gigablox feature added to the mix.
Representatives from Yggdrasil, which recently went live with Microgame, say that its newest partner’s brands have gained a large audience thanks to their commitment to providing the best casino offering. They say that this partnership allows them to further increase their growth.
Fredrik Elmqvist, CEO at Yggdrasil, said: “The Betpoint Group brands have rapidly gained a large following thanks to its commitment to offering the best online casino experience.”
“By partnering together we will be able to further propel the operator’s growth while our games will gain a new following within Betpoint Group’s growing customer base.”
Officials from Betpoint say that their brands are committed to providing players with the best possible casino experience and that they will be able to enhance their offering with the supplier’s games portfolio.
Karl Wijkmark, CEO at Betpoint Group, said: “Our brands are developed for casino fans and we aim to offer a fun, entertaining and unique experience to our customers.”
“With Yggdrasil’s wide and diversified games portfolio we will enhance our offering with some of the best titles on the market that we are confident will resonate with our loyal players.”
More About the Developer
Yggdrasil, which also recently unveiled its latest addition to its Joker Series, was founded in 2013. During its years in the iGaming industry became one of the leading providers of superior online gaming solutions for iGaming operators. It operates within the regulated remote gambling industry and is fully committed to fulfilling the licensing requirements of the licensing jurisdictions.
The company holds licenses from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority and the Romanian regulator (ONJN). They received the first license back in 2013 and in 2015 the company reached a milestone by releasing its in-game promotional tool Boost™.
“Yggdrasil joins forces with Betpoint Group”, yggdrasilgaming.com, June 29, 2020.


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The National Restaurant Association of India on Monday urged the government to restore input tax credit to restaurants while increasing the GST rate to 12 per cent from the current 5 per cent, ahead of the upcoming Union Budget.
In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) also called for an equitable and fair e-commerce policy, saying balanced policies and regulations are required to enable a level playing field, where platforms can continue to innovate, while restaurants, delivery partners and consumers are protected from potentially exploitative practices.
The restaurant industry was one of the sectors that suffered the most during the pandemic but showed great resilience to survive and has since been on a steady path of recovery. If the sector gets a certain amount of policy and budgetary support in the upcoming Budget, it will propel the sector towards an accelerated pace of growth, NRAI said in a statement.
Seeking restoration of GST input tax credit (ITC), the industry body said, “It is the only industry to be pegged at 5 per cent GST without the availability of ITC; a feature designed to avoid cascading taxation”.
The lack of ITC not only reduces the operating margin of the business but also enhances the capital budget for a new project significantly.
This increased project cost slows down the expansion plans, which massively impacts the overall growth of the sector, it added.
“The industry, therefore, recommends restoration of ITC to the restaurants while parallelly increasing the rate of GST to 12 per cent from the current 5 per cent,” NRAI said.
It further said, “We understand that it may create a compliance burden on the smaller businesses, and therefore, we feel that this can be done on revenue slabs. While restaurants below a certain revenue threshold can continue with the current GST provisions, the organised sector with higher revenues and capex outlay may move towards the proposed GST regime”.
NRAI President said the growth of the food services industry in India holds immense potential. The industry not only plays a pivotal role in contributing to government revenue but is one of the largest employers in the country.
“Balanced, fair and equitable policies by the government with respect to GST input tax credit, rationalised licensing norms and e-commerce policy will not only benefit businesses and consumers but also make a substantial contribution to overall economic growth and employment opportunities,” one of the industry expert said.
On an equitable and fair e-commerce policy, NRAI said the online platforms, while bringing convenience, have also created concerns regarding fair competition and equitable growth.
It also sought a grant of “industry status” to the food services sector, considering “the immense contribution” to the country’s economy.
“This will bring in multiple benefits through central or state industrial policies, including easier finance, special schemes, subsidies, fast-track clearance processes etc. It will also encourage enterprise as well as entrepreneurship,” the letter to the Finance Minister said.
NRAI also sought rationalisation of licenses and NOCs, saying on average, a restaurant is required to get 15-25 licenses/NOCs to open and operate an outlet.
“This myriad of licences and permits inhibits food businesses in growing beyond their core geographies and adds to the operational complexity and compliance burden,” it said.
The industry body also asked the finance minister for targeted subsidy schemes and access to debt financing for SMEs to consider subsidies on essential ingredients, utilities, and waste management to reduce operational costs for struggling restaurants, particularly in smaller towns and cities.
It also asked the government to consider allowing longer working hours for the restaurant sector and reducing GST on bagasse and other eco-friendly materials that are used as packaging material for home delivery.


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Global Trade. 1 June. 3 minute read.
Greater trade sanctions on Iran and Russia due to strained relations between the US and the two countries could impact the global container shipping trade. Maersk Line and MSC have announced that they won’t accept bookings or payments from any entity placed on the US Treasury sanction’s list.


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South Korean carmaker Hyundai is in advance talks with Ola as it looks to invest into the Indian ride-sharing service. The news of the investment talks was first reported by Entrackr, which claims that two rounds of discussions have already taken place between the companies.
Entrackr, quoting its sources, claims that Hyundai is looking to invest up to $300 Million (Rs 21.01 billion) in Ola. The publication's sources also claimed that the talks were expected to bear fruit within the next six weeks. The source stated that the size of the investment by Hyundai in Ola could vary between $200 - 300 million (Rs 14.01 - 21.01 billion). ET Auto following up on the same story claims that such an investment could give Hyundai a 4 per cent stake in the Indian ride-sharing app, which in turn could value Ola at over $6 billion (Rs 420 billion).
This will not be the first time that Hyundai has invested in India's vehicle-based services ecosystem. In August last year, Hyundai led a $14.3 million (Rs 1 billion) Series B round of investment into Gurugram-based car rental startup, Revv.
Carmakers investing into Indian automotive-based service platforms is nothing new. Both Mahindra and American automotive giant Ford have backed Indian car rental service Zoomcar by investing into the service multiple times. Toyota too dipped its foot into the Indian automotive startup scene last year when it led $30 million dollars (Rs 2.1 billion) worth of investment into Droom, the used automobile marketplace.
However, Entrackr claims that what really makes this upcoming Hyundai-Ola investment really interesting is the fact that Ola's electric mobility Arm, Ola Electric recently got invest worth $56 million (Rs 4 billion). The site claims that Ola has reportedly committed to bringing 1 million electric vehicles into its fleet of cabs by 2021.
Hyundai itself is quite bullish about electric cars and Entrackr claims the carmaker is reportedly investing over $1 billion (approximately Rs 70.07 billion) into its Sriperumbudur facility in Tamil Nadu in order to manufacture electric cars in India. Hyundai's first-ever electric car for the Indian market is expected to arrive in the second half of 2019 in the form of the Kona electric SUV. Hyundai-owned carmaker Kia is also expected to bring electric vehicles into the sub-continent and is reportedly working on an electric-SUV especially for India.


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The Leading Foreign Manufacturer in China, the world’s largest automobile market, Volkswagen AG, indicated on Friday that chip supply could increase in the next six months.
Due to shortages, automakers all around the world have had to change assembly lines as a result of manufacturing delays blamed by certain semiconductor companies on a faster-than-expected recovery from the coronavirus epidemic.
“We expect to see an improvement in this position within the second half of the year,” Volkswagen’s China boss, Stephan Woellenstein, told reporters.
Starting in August, Volkswagen will source some chips from a new supplier, Woellenstein said, adding that the move would start to ease the shortage in September.
Because of the chip shortage, Volkswagen, which has partnerships with FAW Group and SAIC Motor, saw its sales drop 12.3% between April and June compared with a year earlier. Volkswagen’s rival General Motors Co said its China sales in the second quarter grew 5%.
Premium brands including Audi and Porsche are growing, Woellenstein said. Audi sales in the first half this year in China grew 39% compared with the same period last year while Porsche increased 23%.
Woellenstein also said sales of VW’s electric ID.4 cars hit 2,900 units in June, up from around 1,500 cars in May. Reuters reported last month that the ID series – the backbone of its electric vehicle ambitions – is off to what even company sources call a worryingly slow start in China


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Alphabet's (GOOG 1.55%) (GOOGL 1.54%) Google recently unveiled Daydream, a new Android-based VR platform and headset design for "Daydream-ready" phones. The software platform looks similar to Facebook's (META -0.41%) Oculus Home, and several OEM partners will sell phones and headsets based on Google's specifications.
Several major smartphone makers -- including Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, LG, and HTC -- have already signed up to release Daydream phones and headsets this fall. Daydream-ready phones and headsets will be cross compatible, so Samsung phone users can buy HTC headsets, and so forth. The Daydream headset will also be paired with a small, one-handed motion controller with a circular touchpad for in-game controls. Google also plans to sell its own Daydream headsets and remotes.
Daydream will run on Android N, which will include an optimized VR mode for headsets. This means that when a phone is plugged into a headset, menus and notifications will all be integrated in the VR environment. Android N's native support for the Vulkan graphics API, which is used for high-end 3D games, will also likely deliver better game visuals without causing devices to overheat. That sounds like a promising leap forward from the crude Cardboard experience Google previously offered, but can it help the company close the widening VR gap with Facebook?
Daydream's key strengths
Google's biggest advantage is that it controls Android, the most popular mobile OS in the world. By convincing smartphone makers to launch high-end devices which meet its Daydream specifications, Google can standardize the Android VR experience and enable the Play Store to evolve into a VR marketplace.
Another advantage is the price. High-end smartphones still cost much less than "Oculus Ready" PCs, which cost at least $1,000. The Oculus Rift costs another $600. Assuming that Daydream headsets cost about the same as Samsung's $99 Gear VR, Google's VR experience should be much cheaper, since top-tier Android devices only cost around $600. Lastly, the mobility of Daydream VR headsets could make them more appealing than the Rift or HTC's Vive, which both need to be tethered to high-end PCs.
That's why Piper Jaffray believes that smartphone-based headsets will be more popular than high-end headsets this year. Piper expects Samsung to sell 5 million Gear VRs this year, compared to 3.6 million Rifts from Facebook and 2.1 million Vives from HTC and Valve. However, there could be plenty of room for these companies to grow -- Piper believes that annual sales of VR headsets could hit half a billion by 2025.
Oculus' key strengths
Facebook's Oculus has the advantage of being the first mover in the VR market. Prior to its $2 billion purchase of Oculus in 2014, few companies took VR seriously. Yet Facebook went against the grain and invested heavily in improving its hardware and software. As a result, Facebook beat Google to the punch by launching Oculus Home as the first major VR ecosystem last year. Developers have already flocked to the platform, and Facebook is already keeping a 30% cut of app sales.
Facebook also targets hardcore gamers, who are generally willing to spend over $1,000 on a high-end gaming rig to play Oculus titles and probably won't be satisfied with less graphically impressive mobile-based games. This means that Oculus probably won't directly compete against Daydream at first, just as it won't compete against Sony's (SONY 1.54%) PS4-tethered PlayStation VR. The only competition Facebook really should worry about is the Vive -- that's probably why it recently barred developers from porting Rift-exclusive games to the Vive.
Lastly, Oculus' strengths will likely only be fully realized after Facebook integrates more features from its social network, which hosts 1.65 billion monthly active users, into virtual reality. Oculus has already added social gaming features, but deeper integration could enable Facebook members to eventually visit each other in VR space -- a killer feature which Google, which lacks a major social backbone, could struggle to counter.
It's too early to declare a victor
Although the Daydream and Oculus ecosystems look similar, Google and Facebook are entering the VR market from different starting points. Google's approach represents a continuation of the Cardboard strategy, and builds upon Samsung's higher-end approach with Gear VR. Facebook's approach is heavily dependent on PC gaming, which will likely prevent the Oculus Rift from gaining much mainstream traction.
Facebook and Google's VR markets will likely overlap as PC and mobile devices fully converge, but it's still too early to say which company will own the dominant VR ecosystem. For now, investors should see if Google convinces more Android owners to buy Daydream headsets, and if Facebook can gradually integrate its massive social network into Oculus Home.


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Hundreds To Dine On Lawn Of State Capitol
California Grown Flowers Month is being celebrated throughout June with recognition from the California Legislature, in stores with California Grown Flower displays and promotions, and by florists and consumers who are relishing the abundant varieties of homegrown blooms available this month.
Guests will enjoy a multi-course artisan meal at tables overflowing with California Grown Flowers and Greens from up and down the state. And they’ll hear from flower farmers about the tradition of flower farming in the Golden State and the importance understanding the origin of flowers and the use of sustainable growing practices.
It’s going to be a glorious celebration of the bounty of flowers and greens that come from the Golden State!
And as part of the evening, legislators will compete in a floral design contest where they’ll take their best shot at creating a breathtaking bouquet. For the last four years, the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) has hosted this design competition to bring even more attention to California Grown Flowers Month. Combining the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner with this annual tradition by CCFC helps guests, including California’s lawmakers, understand just how valuable the American Grown Flower movement has become.
Participating are: Senator Mike McGuire, Assemblywoman Monique Limón (2018 champion!), Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath, Assemblymember Devin Mathis and Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
The winner will receive a delivery of fresh American Grown Flowers each month for an entire year to display in their office! Now that’s worth battling for.
If you’d like to join the celebration, there are still a few seats left!


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How COVID-19 has accelerated innovation and digital transformation
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Director General Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi said the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit global economies has also helped accelerate the digital transformation journey of most savings in a much faster way than imagined.
Abdulahi further said that the pandemic has fueled the innate ability of tech-savvy people to become more dramatic and forced them to develop disruptive solutions that provide opportunities for a more convenient online presence with less disruption, leading to the digital innovation and the Internet economy which have improved the digital economy.
Abdullahi said this during his presentation at the 8th edition of the International Data Corporation (IDC) West Africa CIO Summit 2021, which was recently held under the theme: “Innovation strategies evolving on demand for new realities are exciting ”.
He cited the 2020 Africa Economy reports, which found that by 2025, the value of the internet economy in Africa will reach $ 180 billion, accounting for about 5.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. continent and by 2050 its projection is estimated at $ 712 billion, or about 8.5 percent of the continent’s GDP.
According to Abdullahi, “Innovation is driving the growth of the Internet economy and has inspired three digital capabilities; first, ubiquitous data, which is used to make decisions and have information at all times.
“Second, unlimited connectivity, especially the Internet of Things (IoT), which makes it easy to connect and learn things. Finally, Massive Computing Processing Power, which has no limit to what can be processed. These capabilities are the inspiration that drives innovation and creates demand in the digital age. “
He added: “Global advancements and digital technologies are making the world a better place. We are inspired to deliver rapid business innovations and new customer value prepositions. African start-ups with unique business models, digital transformation platforms and services that create incredible value with significant impact on human lives and the economy, indicating that Africa will not miss the fourth revolution industrial unlike the first, second and third eras where we lost in the creation and capture of values across the world.
He told the global audience that in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari had laid the groundwork for a digital Nigeria by expanding the mandate of the Ministry of Communications to cover the digital economy, including the Minister of Communications and Digital economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has a greater focus the vision of the digitization of the country.
“In 2019, the ministry formulated a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, which serves as the basis for creating and capturing value from innovation in the digital economy.
“The implementation of the strategies within two years had a significant impact on the economy, with the digital sector being the fastest growing sector, which saved the country from the COVID-19 induced session. Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategies have developed the Strategic Economic Roadmap and Action Plan 2021-2024 with the aim of articulating new strategies for the Nigerian ecosystem in line with the current aspirations of the government which were based on seven strategic pillars, namely: development regulation, digital literacy and digital skills, digital transformation, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
He explained to the audience that part of NDEPS is to develop and innovate solutions using emerging technologies such as: artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT), among others, to provide quality life, education, poverty eradication, health and well-being.
Abdullahi encouraged CIOs of organizations to focus more on launching digital innovation strategies taking into account global digital trends and new realities.
“Every organization or country is unique and has its own unique characteristics, but digital strategies will provide a map for your journey. Our dream in Africa is to be digitally self-sufficient and to become a digital hub for the export of digital services, a key driver of digital transformation and a frontier for a dynamic and highly competitive digital economy.
“Our young population, our location and our time zone are our competitive age, and we CIOs are the engines of our dreams in our respective organizations and countries, being proactive and responding to the opportunities offered by technological innovations,” said Abdullahi.


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UK scientists have created a battery that may greatly increase electric cars’s range, but it is a decade away from production.
The electric cars have always been viewed with some reluctance regarding their limited range. But this perception might change in the near future as UK scientists have found a new battery technology that could replace the lithium oxygen ones. Researchers at the University of Cambridge reported the design of a lithium oxygen battery prototype that may overcome the current limitations in terms of power, size, price and, most importantly a much longer range between charges. The scientists believe the energy density in such lithium oxygen batteries could be ten times higher than a regular lithium ion battery. It is thought that this new battery, also called lithium air battery, will be able to extend the EV’s range in such manner that will eventually reach that of gasoline engines.
Other major benefits, researchers say, are the low weight and production costs. New batteries may also be a fifth of the cost and a fifth of the weight of current lithium ion batteries. But we’ll have to wait at least ten years, as researchers said, before a practical lithium oxygen battery is ready for mass production. And this is caused by the current battery’s low ability to charge and discharge. This is not the only research in this direction, but in contrast to others the Cambridge prototype uses lithium hydroxide rather than lithium peroxide in its construction. The result is a more stable and efficient battery that can be recharged more than 2,000 times and currently achieves an efficiency rate of about 93 percent.
Via Automotive News Europe
By Sorin Petcu


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Did you hear? On March 27, there will be a 24-hour changeover period during which the Helium blockchain will be paused. With this migration, activities like proof-of-coverage and data transmission will be impacted.
Helium Network, a communications network, has set March 27 as the date for migrating to the Solana blockchain and deploying Oracles to increase scalability and stability.
In the official blog post published on February 17, the existing Helium blockchain will be paused during the 24-hour changeover period on March 27. The network is also creating a working group of community volunteers to supervise the conversion process and ensure that the network’s Proof-of-Coverage and data transfer operations aren’t impacted.
What to Expect From This Migration?
According to a thread tweet notice by Helium, the network informed that following the chain halt, validators would cease issuing blocks, and transactions would be out of sync. Upon migrating all accounts and tokens to the Solana blockchain, the network will take a final snapshot of the blockchain. Hotspots will be created as nonfungible tokens (NFTs), according to the developers.
However, holders of HNT and MOBILE tokens, on the other hand, will not need to take any action to participate in the upgrade. Most Hotspot owners are in the same boat, while owners of big fleets may be able to test certain claim capabilities or design specialized wallet solutions.
Almost 80% of Solana residents voted in favor of HIP-70 on September 22, allowing Helium to relocate to the city. According to the developers, more of its original coin will be available in subDAO reward pools, optimizing the mining, and the ecosystem will be more stable thanks to the migration.
Moreover, Nova Labs, the company behind Helium, also teamed up with American telecoms company T-Mobile in September of last year to develop a cryptocurrency-powered mobile service that would reward users in Helium for contributing information regarding coverage quality and the locations of Helium dead spots.


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Indonesia recently imposed a three-week ban on exports of palm oil, a crucial commodity that is used in the production of various foods, cosmetics and other products around the world.
The country's action added further pressure to global markets and supply chains that were already feeling the strain of limited availability of sunflower oil resulting from the war in Ukraine. There were also repercussions including greater reliance on Malaysia as a supplier of palm oil and resistance to the policy from Indonesian farmers.
On May 20th, the Indonesian government announced that palm oil exports would be allowed to resume from May 23rd, with a domestic sales requirement in place.
Why did Indonesia ban palm oil exports?
The Indonesian government has used various tactics since December 2021 in an attempt to control prices and safeguard local supplies of palm oil, including price caps, export restrictions and cash payments to households.
Despite these efforts, it failed to bring bulk oil prices down to its target of 14,000 rupiah (95 US cents). This rising cost contributed to a broader increase in inflation, which reached a three-year high in April.
This led to the decision in late April to impose a wholesale ban on exports of palm oil, which restricted supply to global edible oil markets and prompted an angry response from Indonesian farmers, who saw the price of their products fall.
The effects of the ban
There was strong opposition to the ban in the local agricultural industry, with hundreds of smallholder farmers staging protests in Jakarta and other parts of the country to put pressure on the government to allow exports to resume.
On the global stage, one of the most significant ramifications of Indonesia's policy was an increase in supply from Malaysia, the world's second-largest producer of palm oil.
Malaysia positioned itself to take advantage of the sudden cut-off in supply from Indonesia, particularly to major markets such as India, by introducing policies including a reduction in export taxes.
B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, a vegetable oil trade body, told Reuters that Malaysia is the "biggest beneficiary from Indonesia's unpredictable policies".
"As Indonesia is not in the market, Malaysia is selling more, and at near record high prices," he added, speaking while the ban was still in place.
Resumption of exports set to ease global market pressure
While exports from Malaysia became increasingly important during the ban, the country only produces approximately 40 percent of Indonesia's total palm oil output, meaning it doesn't have the capacity to fully replace its rival's supply.
So it came as a relief to many when Indonesian president Joko Widodo announced the country would resume shipping the commodity from May 23rd. However, the government also said a domestic market obligation would be in place, to ensure ten million tonnes of cooking oil remains in Indonesia.
President Widodo said the decision to lift the ban was made in response to improvements in local supply and prices. He also said it reflected the needs and welfare of the 17 million people who work in the palm oil industry.
Gnanasekar Thiagarajan, head of trading and hedging strategies at Kaleesuwari Intercontinental, told Bloomberg that consumers could "breathe a sigh of relief" after the announcement.
However, with the ongoing war in Ukraine and other global challenges continuing to restrict the delivery of fundamental commodities to markets around the world, it's likely there will be ongoing pressure on supply chains and further increases in costs for the rest of this year and beyond.


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This is not an April Fools’ Day joke. Konami is really announcing a men’s clothing line based on game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Available for purchase online in US and Canada beginning on April 11, 2011, the collection will include … Continue reading →
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