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VOL. 128 | NO. 23 | Monday, February 4, 2013
By Sarah Baker
The accessibility of wine for Tennessee residents could soon increase tenfold.
Gary Burhop, owner of Great Wines and Spirits, stocks wine at his store in Regalia Shopping Center. Burhop opposes grocery stores carrying wine because they will lack the selection and knowledge of liquor stores.
(Photos: Lance Murphey)
State Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and state Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, introduced on Thursday, Jan. 31, their bills – SB0837 and HB0610, respectively – to end the exclusive right of liquor stores to sell wine in Tennessee.
If passed, the referendum legislation would let Tennessee voters decide where they can buy wine, including in grocery stores, supermarkets and retail food stores. Grocery store sales would be limited to wine with an alcohol content capped at 18 percent and beer with an alcohol content of no more than 5 percent.
Jarron Springer, president of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association, released a statement Thursday, Jan. 31, that said nearly 70 percent of Tennesseans want to buy wine where they shop for food.
“It’s time to let Tennesseans vote on the sale of wine in retail food stores,” Springer said. “Local referendums have been used for decades in Tennessee to determine retail package store and liquor-by-the-drink locations. It makes sense to apply that same vetting process to wine in retail food stores.”
Other supporters of allowing wine sales in grocery stores include Kroger Co. and Memphis-based Superlo Foods, as well as the Red White and Food coalition of 25,000 Tennesseans who want the right to buy wine at retail food stores.
There are 36 states – including six of Tennessee’s border states – that sell wine in retail food stores, the majority of which Kroger has a presence in.
“We get enough customer requests for wine in our stores that it just makes sense to do it out of a convenience thing,” said Joe Bell, manager of marketing and public affairs with Kroger Delta Division. “Our (stance) is more of taking care of the customer and providing them what they want, whether it be wine or any other product.”
Tennessee lawmakers in the past have made attempts to stop the exclusive right of liquor stores to sell wine, but liquor stores so far have successfully lobbied to table or kill the measures.
For example, a bill (SB 0316) to create an additional class of licenses allowing the sale of wine at certain retail food stores in areas where liquor stores are allowed was nixed in April 2011.
Bell said there has to be a coexistence with grocery and liquor stores.
“All we’re asking for is a free market situation and you don’t have that with wine,” he said.
Meanwhile, opponents argue the change in wine accessibility would unfairly disrupt the existing liquor store business and laws the industry has had to abide by for years.
“This bill does nothing but hurt small businesses and will cost jobs all in the name of convenience for a select few and for large big box retailers like Walmart and Kroger – who will not hire one extra person to work their aisles – to grab our profits and send it out of state,” said Josh Hammond, president of Buster’s Liquors & Wines and head of the Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association.
A proposed bill in the Tennessee legislature would allow the sale of wine in grocery stores, a move opposed by liquor stores such as Great Wines and Spirits in East Memphis.
Supporters of the bill say that wine in grocery stores would increase tax revenues. But Hammond calls it an “unsubstantiated dangling carrot to lure legislators.”
“There is absolutely no proof wine tax revenue would double because it’s sold in grocery stores,” Hammond said. “The pie is only so big and this bill will dilute wine sales for many Tennessee small businesses.”
Data from the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission show that there are 586 licensed liquor stores in the state. But without the definition of the grocery stores being limited, businesses selling items as small as a bag of potato chips on every corner store in the inner city could be selling high-proof alcohol, said Gary Burhop, owner of Great Wine & Spirits in Regalia shopping center.
“Public policy doesn’t need that many additional outlets for alcohol,” Burhop said, adding that if grocery stores are permitted to sell wine he’d be forced into early retirement. “Grocery stores skim off the high volume products and that’s a significant portion of our business. What would happen is that basically the wide selection that consumers currently enjoy would disappear.”
Opponents also say the increase in supply would make higher-alcohol drinks more widely available to minors. Peter Margolin, senior vice president/sales of Star Distributors Inc., said anytime laws start changing, “you’re opening up Pandora’s Box.”
“If it’s very ambiguous or very amorphous, depending how they write the law, we could have a lot more accounts we have to service,” Margolin said. “We’re in the business to sell more product, but we also know that we have to be careful on how we handle it. We realize it’s a controlled substance and we need to be careful on how it’s sold.”
The vote would be placed on the ballot during the next general election, and the authorization law would take effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
But before that, a petition for the referendum has to be presented to the county election commission with signatures from 10 percent of the county’s population that voted in the last gubernatorial election.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has indicated he will sign a proposal into law allowing wine in grocery stores if it is passed by lawmakers this year.


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Foxconn EV production plan back in motion
Foxconn EV production plan back in motion with Lordstown Motors’ Ohio plant acquisition, says GlobalData
Following the news that Taiwanese iPhone maker Foxconn acquires Lordstown Motors’ Ohio electric vehicle (EV) factory for $230m;
Bakar Sadik Agwan, Senior Automotive Consulting Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:
“The acquisition is a milestone for Foxconn’s US EV ambition which came to a standstill with uncertainty looming over the company’s Wisconsin’s manufacturing plant. The purchase of Lordstown Motors’ manufacturing site, which was a GM plant till 2019, will be a turnkey solution for Foxconn’s EV manufacturing that will give it hand-off experience in the area. It indicates that a ready plant will garner ?quick learning’ with ?less investments’. The GM plant had a capacity to turn around up to 300K units annually, thus provide significant room for Foxconn to expand its capacity in the future.
“The deal is a win-win situation for both the parties. Lordstown Motors, which was in deep financial crunch and legal scrutiny recently, will revive with the fresh cash inflow from Foxconn. Lordstown Motors will leverage Foxconn’s technology, manufacturing and supply chain expertise to manufacture its Endurance pick-up truck for the US market.
“As per GlobalData Automotive Intelligence Centre, the ex-GM plant had logged a production capacity of 58K units in 2019. Foxconn may aim 50K annual production – similar to what it committed in its Thailand plant – and expand in later years.
“With the deal, Foxconn may lead ahead of its schedule to manufacture EVs in the US by 2023-end. Foxconn has been negating complexity in EV manufacturing and supply with its partnerships and vertical integration across the value chain. However, it will have to compete with the likes of Tesla, GM and Ford in the US which aims front row in the domestic EV market.”

domain: news


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The Ministry of Commerce has come up with 11 measures to support the operation of China-Europe freight train services, ship anti-epidemic goods to Europe and help production resumption at export-oriented firms to mitigate the damage from the COVID-19 outbreak.
The ministry will help the needy domestic manufacturers gain access to the transcontinental freight train services to procure supplies of materials and parts from Europe necessary for production resumption as soon as possible, said a circular issued by the ministry on Tuesday.
The freight trains linking Chinese cities with Europe have been a reliable channel for China to ship daily necessities, medical goods and production material to Europe during the fight against the epidemic. The services have ensured the smooth flow of the China-EU industrial and supply chains, said the document.
Apart from fiscal and other policy measures for medical equipment and goods manufacturers to expand production, the country has been arranging transportation of supplies to other countries in their fight against the novel coronavirus, said Lin Wei, director-general of the department of health quarantine at the General Administration of Customs.
Since the first train carrying medical supplies departed from Yiwu, East China’s Zhejiang province, on March 21, freight train services linking Chinese cities with Europe have transported 494 metric tons of epidemic prevention materials to countries like Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain by the end of March, data from the China State Railway Group showed.
While many European economies have decided to extend social distancing duration to reduce COVID-19 infections, the cargo train services have remained a reliable channel for transport of China’s medical devices and goods such as ventilators, medical masks, protective clothing, detection kits and infrared thermometers to Europe, said Li Muyuan, an expert specializing in cross-border cargo train operations at the Beijing-based China Communications and Transportation Association.
China’s medical goods shipment via the railroad to Europe will not only offset logistics disruptions at sea and by air between the two sides, but also help European countries gain material supplies to ease the pressure on their national healthcare systems and assist their manufacturers to either resume or manage the work to produce enough industrial products and living materials, Li said.
The Ministry of Commerce will also support the China-Europe freight train services to develop the cold chain logistics business. It will encourage railway stations with refrigerated warehouses and carriage maintenance facilities along the route, to facilitate the business.
China will help domestic companies to import meat, vegetables, fruits and dairy products from Europe through the cargo train service, to meet the growing domestic demand, said the circular.
In addition to farm products, China needs to import a large number of industrial parts, precision instruments, automobile batteries, chemical and pharmaceutical products from Europe every year. The transcontinental railroad services have proved that they can help companies from both sides sustain business, because their imports are complementary, said Luo Renjian, a researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission’s Institute of Transportation Research.
A total of 1,941 freight train trips operated between China and Europe in the first quarter of this year, while 174,000 standard-sized shipping containers were transported, growing 15 percent and 18 percent on a yearly basis, according to the Beijing-based China State Railway Group.
The State railroad operator said the number of trips from China to Europe in the meantime reached 1,049 with a total of 95,000 containers, while figures from Europe to China stood at 892 with 79,000 containers.


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Wal-Mart said Aug. 9 it would allow unions to be set up at all of its outlets in China, although the nation's government-run labor organization maintained a hard line against Wal-Mart. "Our announcement today that we intend to collaborate with the All China Federation of Trade Unions... reflects our mutual aim to establish grassroots unions within each Wal-Mart store throughout China," said a company statement. "Wal-Mart China desires to further strengthen its ties to China and our associates."
Employees of Wal-Mart have set up five unions over the past two weeks, following two years of intense pressure from the All China Confederation of Trade Unions to allow unions at the organization's stores. Wal-Mart has 60 stores in China and employs more than 31,000 workers. The company has always maintained its employees have been free to set up unions if they wished and that it followed Chinese laws.
Despite its insistence and the Aug. 9 statement, the confederation, which is run by the ruling Communist Party, indicated its continued distrust in Wal-Mart. The confederation issued a statement on Xinhua news agency warning Wal-Mart not to take "revenge" against those employees who had set up the unions over the past two weeks. "The federation... will take measures to protect these workers if they are revenged by Wal-Mart," Xinhua quoted Gou Wencai, a senior official with the union body, as saying.
Guo was also quoted on television as saying it intended to eventually set up union branches in all foreign companies in China to better protect the rights of workers in the private sector. "We have a work target: the establishment of unions in foreign-invested enterprises has to reach 60% by year-end. This is a difficult task but we must try our best," Guo told China Central Television.
However joining the confederation's unions offers workers no guarantee against exploitation, with the organization often criticized by international labor rights groups for doing very little to protect workers' rights. China's trade union law outlaws workers from forming independent unions or organizing collective bargaining activities outside the federation. Many international rights critics say China's economic growth has been built on the back of exploited workers, especially those in the construction and service industries.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006


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Articles tagged ‘oled’
LG Electronics has just announced two new OLED TVs for the Singapore market. Both have a 55-inch screen size and support DVB-T2, but one is curved and the other is flat.
You thought your 1080p TV looks good, but wait till you see the picture quality of a 4K ultra-HD TV. That said, is 4K for everyone? And what exactly is this OLED technology that you've been coming across on websites and magazines recently? Well, these are just some of the questions answered in our recent PlayTest event which we teamed up with South Korean TV maker LG. Find out what took place!
The Samsung Galaxy Note II and the Galaxy Camera may have taken all the headlines, but Samsung has more than that going for them at IFA 2012. How does a 55-inch OLED TV, a 75-inch LED Smart TV, or the world's first Windows Phone 8 device sound to you? Come on in to find out all the highlights from Samsung at IFA 2012.
- Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch in Singapore today
- Signeo SEA announces launch of BackBeat Pro wireless headphones and Moktak NFC speakers
- Trade-ins of Samsung phones tripled last week ahead of new iPhone launch
- Gigabyte GeForce GTX 980 G1 Gaming card unveiled!
- New NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series graphics cards launched!
- Smartphone with a 1-inch camera sensor? Panasonic has it
- Samsung to launch Galaxy Note 4 in October, Galaxy Note Edge in Q4
- Logitech unveils G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard


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The 27th Annual Oakhurst Fall Festival, located at the south gate entrance to Yosemite National Park, presented by the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the entertainment line-up for the festival from Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13.
Save the date for a full weekend of fun for the entire family!
The Oakhurst Community Park will be filled with more rides, food and specialty booths offering everything from collectibles to local wine samplings, hand-crafted beers and more. The Oakhurst Fall Festival is the largest event in Eastern Madera County with attendance from locals in Oakhurst, Fresno, southern California, San Diego, and as far away as Australia, Germany & India.
Christian Mueller, Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce member and festival committee member said, “we are really excited about this year’s Fall Festival Entertainment lineup. We truly have something for everyone. From new artists like Jubilee Bound and Terry Robinson, who has developed a large local following this year, to established local favorites like The Dave Henderson Band, Phil Miller Music Man and Good Medicine. We also have Ed Tide organizing an Open Mic on Sunday morning. I am hoping for some strong audience participation for that show. We sure have plenty of musical talent in this town.”
- Friday, Oct. 11
- 3 p.m. Phil Miller Music Man
- 7 p.m. Jedi Academy
- Saturday, Oct. 12
- 10 a.m. Terry Robinson
- Noon: Yosemite High Band
- 1 p.m. Good Medicine
- 4 p.m. Dave Henderson Band
- 7 p.m. Mana Fire Dancers
- Sunday, Oct. 13
- 10 a.m. Ed Tide
- 2 p.m. Jubilee Bound
“This family friendly event offers locals and visitors a carnival themed experience and people of all ages are sure to find something they like! I’m so thankful to the Oakhurst Chamber and Festival Committee for putting on such a fun-filled event” said Donna Smith, Chamber President and Festival Co-Chair.
Children’s activities include balloon animals, face painting, rides, games, rock painting and a scavenger hunt.
There will be more rides this year including the Ferris Wheel, Big Slide, Inflatable Obstacle Course, Jalopy Junction, and Mind Winder! Tickets for rides will be available for sale separately from the admission price into the festival.
Live acoustic music will be playing in the food court for enjoyment during the entire 3-day event. There will be lots of vendors offering everything from homemade goodies to clothing and merchandise for sale. A variety of food trucks will be in attendance all three days, along with a beverage booth offering sodas, water, beer and wine for sale.
Saturday the Beer & Wine Tasting Pavilion is open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Taste hand-crafted brew from Oakhurst’s South Gate Brewing Company as well as other California brews. Sip wine from local wineries along the Madera Wine Trail and a few other California wineries. New this year is Hard Cider tasting from Sierra Cider.
The 2019 Oakhurst Fall Festival hours are; Friday, October 11 from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Daily admission is $3 per person and kids 5 and under are free. New this year will be a special 3-Day Pass for only $5 per person, details to follow on the website: oakhurstchamber.com.
Beer & wine tasting tickets with souvenir tasting glasses will be sold for the Saturday tasting event from noon to 7 p.m.
Located close to the entrance of Yosemite National Park, the Oakhurst Community Park is located at 49074 Civic Circle Drive in Oakhurst, adjacent to the Oakhurst Community College near Hwy 41 and Hwy 49. Follow the signs to this fun event for the entire family!
Contact the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce at 559.683.7766.


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Shippeo, creator of a supply chain visibility platform that enables large companies to track road transport flows in real-time, today announced the closing of a €10 million Series A round led by Partech Ventures and Otium Venture. This new round comes only 18 months after the startup’s first funding round of €2 million, led by Otium Venture.
The fresh capital will be used to further develop and expand the Shippeo chain visibility platform in Europe. The partnership with Partech Ventures will allow Shippeo to accelerate its development in the following areas:
- Continue Shippeo’s expansion in the French market, after having signed 30 key accounts in the last 18 months,
- Implementation of new interfaces allowing even greater productivity and quality of service gains for all Shippeo users (shippers, 4PLs and carriers),
- Strengthening the team with 40 new hires to support the company’s growth,
- International expansion, including expansion into the German market on the first quarter of 2018.
Shippeo aims at bringing B2B manufacturing and retail expectations closer to the standards generated by B2C. The digitalization of road freight transport has become one of the main levers to improve quality of service, customer satisfaction and operational excellence for manufacturers and retailers.
Shippeo helps leading Supply Chains deliver exceptional customer service. By having instant visibility of every delivery, companies can proactively communicate with end-customers to alert them of any delays or delivery issues. Carriers also benefit from Shippeo since the platform connects to their customers’ transport management systems, which enables automatic data interchange and thus significant productivity gains and improved quality of service.
Founded in 2014, Shippeo tracks more than 40,000 deliveries per month throughout Europe for market-leading customers such as Leroy Merlin, Saint-Gobain, and Faurecia, and connects to more than 600 carriers.
Pierre Khoury, the co-founder and CEO of Shippeo stated: “Real-time Supply Chain visibility has become the central theme for those in the road transport sector looking for optimizations through better data integration from different stakeholders. This new capital increase will allow Shippeo to accelerate its international business development while maintaining strong R&D investments.”
Philippe Collombel, Managing Partner of Partech Ventures, commented: “Shippeo greatly impressed us by the quality and maturity of its technology and the quality of its customers: they work or are in discussion with more than half of the top 120 French manufacturers and retailers. We have never seen such a dynamic in a young company. In addition, all customer feedback is remarkable from every point of view. The management team has the potential to position Shippeo as the leading data interchange platform for road transport in Europe”


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These screens will pop up when customers open the Play Retailer.
Chrome can even give customers the choice to choose an alternate search engine.
Final 12 months the European Fee dominated that Google had illegally used Android to dominate search. Final month the European Fee gave Google suggestions that bundling Chrome with the OS was additionally frowned upon. This week Google is implementing precise software program adjustments to Android. The corporate has created a Home windows-style poll system which is able to encourage customers to actively decide different browsers and engines like google.
Google outlines the brand new poll system in a publish on its official weblog. Photos present two new setup screens in Android, one exhibits the at the moment put in search engine (often Google Search) and gives to put in options like DuckDuckGo and Qwant. The second display exhibits the at the moment put in browser (Chrome) and gives options like Firefox and Edge.
Slightly than make these screens a part of setup that will be proven to new customers solely, Google says “These new screens shall be displayed the primary time a person opens Google Play after receiving an upcoming replace.” The browser and search pages every present 5 apps complete, together with any apps which might be already put in. Google notes that the app choice will fluctuate by nation, and that new apps “shall be included based mostly on their recognition and proven in a random order.” There’s additionally going to be a brand new immediate in Google Chrome, which is able to encourage customers to choose a search engine.
These are simply the newest adjustments Google has made to Android in response to the EU’s antitrust investigations. After a $5 billion superb got here down final 12 months, Google dropped its “all or nothing” coverage for transport the Android Google apps, unbundling Search, Chrome, and different apps from essential ecosystem apps just like the Play Retailer and Google Play Companies. That possibility got here with the caveat that these apps would now not be free to OEMs—Google stated that as a result of apps like Search and Chrome helped fund the event of Android, producers that dropped them could be charged a per-device price as excessive as $40. Google additionally dropped its coverage of punishing Android producers that shipped forked, non-Google Android, permitting producers to disregard the Google apps and Google compatibility necessities on some telephones, whereas transport the Google apps on others.
Google says its new browser and search poll screens shall be “rolling out over the subsequent few weeks” to new and present customers in Europe. The corporate additionally says will probably be “evolving the implementation over time.”
Itemizing picture by Aurich Lawson / Getty Photos


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Real ale produce Stroud Brewery is sporting a new and refreshed look, after undergoing a rebrand on its labelling, logo and website.
The updated and modern look is designed to consolidate Stroud Brewery’s leading reputation, in addition to communicating its ethical and organic messages more directly.
Coinciding with the rebrand, the award-winning producer plans to further its commitment to brewing almost entirely as an organic brewery in the new year.
Having gained great momentum over time, Stroud Brewery’s owner, Greg Pilley, made the decision for a rebrand and refresh, providing the business with an affective new image.
Taking care to create a unified look across the entire range, from typography to logo, the design focuses on sustainability, ethical buying and the British palate – aspects that are paramount within the company.
Speaking of the development, Greg said: ‘The look and feel we came up with has been designed to reflect the progressive and spirited nature of our brand; it retains a professional corporate image, but also illustrates that quality ale is still at the core of the company.
‘We are confident that the fresh look will allow us to push our organic ales in to more outlets and increase our distribution across the UK, which will be the next challenge.’
Thursday 15 December 2016
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With 2017 coming to a close, SoGlos is on the hunt for a new local organisation to be named our charity of the year 2018.
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The lowered price for each engine is made possible through acquisition efforts of preowned engines that are now refurbished like new.
Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) June 26, 2013
The Ford family of sport utility vehicles has remained in production since 1983. New models are consistently added each year to keep up with the demand from consumers worldwide. Replacement engines for these Ford brands can now be purchased online at the RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com company. This company is now including recycled Ford SUV engines for direct sale at http://remanufacturedenginesforsale.com/ford/ford-remanufactured-engines. These motors are offered in V6 and in V8 size for marked down prices.
The displacements that are included with these refurbished units includes 3.0, 4.0, 4.6 and the 5.4 series. These engines represent a large range of the current engine engineering put forth by Ford Motor Company for North American vehicles. The lowered price for each engine is made possible through acquisition efforts of preowned engines that are now refurbished like new.
The sport utility vehicle development by Ford was launched with the Bronco. The Explorer, Expedition and Escape are now among the alternative types of vehicles that are in production. The variance in motors for these vehicles has created more options for power and performance for vehicle buyers. This expanded range of engine types is helping the Remanufactured Engines for Sale Co. build a larger inventory online.
The change to adding more SUV engines this year is in response to Chevrolet engine upgrades announced previously this year. The boost to the GM inventory of engine brands has expanded the types of motors that can be researched or purchased online. The news release announced to buyers at http://www.prweb.com/releases/reman-chevy-engines/rebuilt-chevy-engines/prweb10702504.htm announced the introduction to reman Chevrolet motors available in the company inventory online.
Additional motor types from Dodge and Jeep are currently in development. These PowerTech and Magnum motors in refurbished condition are expected to be announced for public sale before the close of the summer months.
The RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com company is a leading North American engine company refurbishing Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and other engine types. A series of price drops are frequently announced by this company to ensure all buyers receive access to save money replacing motors. A dedicated toll-free telephone number system was introduced this year to offer offline customer service. The RemanufacturedEnginesforSale.com company promotes its rebuilt engines using its detailed website for educational purposes online. A three-year protection warranty plan is now supplied with all motors stocked.


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With experts predicting slower than expected economic growth in 2016, the challenges of running a small business increase. As financial pressures continue to rise, many businesses are looking at ways to cut their spending in order to survive.
Insurance, according to research by the Insurance Council of Australia, is often the first expense in line for a trim. One recent report estimated that 37% of SMEs do not have adequate insurance cover and only 40% of insured businesses (PDF, 539KB) have business interruption cover.
While for some, this is a deliberate choice in an attempt to reduce costs, Prue Willsford, CEO of ANZIIF and the Know Risk Network, says that many business owners may not be aware of the many risks their businesses face.
“People generally only account for the things they can see and touch, so businesses usually insure those things, such as buildings, stock or vehicles ,” says Willsford.
“But it’s the risks we don’t see or know about that can hurt us the most.
“While a property can be rebuilt and stock can be replaced, it’s the halt on your potential to earn that has the greatest impact on any business.”
Unforeseen factors can leave your business vulnerable and whether there’s a delay in rebuilding, or an interruption to the supply chain, the cost to cash flow can be severe.
Take for instance a fire in a thriving commercial laundry business that was servicing the city’s hotel industry as its primary source of income. Due to a faulty thermostat, a fire broke out in one of the company’s large, purpose-built dry cleaning units and destroyed it completely. While the flames were contained to that area, the smoke and water damage to the rest of the laundry and the garments within was considerable.
Every business has its risks and the savvy owners of the laundromat thought they had a thorough understanding of theirs. After the flames died down, they quickly put their disaster recovery plan into action, prioritising towel delivery to key customers by working a third overtime shift in three locations and putting on extra collection and delivery runs to ensure the customers received the contracted deliveries of their personalised garments and towels.
However, no matter how prepared they were, keeping the business going was arduous and costly. From overtime payments, to securing additional drivers and vehicles to re-route deliveries, to paying for overtime staff — and their meals — the price of remaining open and keeping those highly-prized customers happy was considerable.
This frantic level of activity went on for a number of months and the toll on the business was significant. As a replacement unit could only be sourced internationally, the delay forced the owners to concentrate their efforts on keeping their existing clientele, thwarting plans to gain new business.
It took nine months before the laundry was up and running normally again, the total cost exceeding $1 million. Fortunately, the owner’s business interruption insurance included cover for “Additional Cost of Working”, which covered the unforeseen costs of simply staying afloat and the shortfall in earnings for new business.
“It’s not just damage to property or stock people need to consider,” Willsford says.
“As seen here, the time it takes to get back to full capacity and the extra cost of maintaining a business can be immense. Having the right coverage in place is critical.”
Statistics show that almost 50% of SMEs will fail after a major loss. Thankfully, for the owners of the laundromat, their insurance coverage enabled them to make a full recovery.
“Extended delays in rebuilding or reopening after a loss are all too common. This is a prime example of how the added costs of staying afloat have the potential to cripple a business,” Willsford says.
“Try as you might, you cannot expect the unexpected, so business owners need to ensure that whatever happens, they have cover to not only pay their staff and pay their bills, but get up and running again as quickly as possible.”
Know Risk is a free, independent, practical risk and insurance information resource for the small business community designed to help business owners better understand the risks their businesses face. For more information, visit knowrisk.com.au or download the free Know Risk Insurance Tracker app.
Know Risk is an entirely independent, not-for-profit information resource that aims to improve the community’s awareness and understanding of insurance and risk management. Know Risk offers impartial, practical and easily accessible content, with hundreds of articles, videos, interactive checklists, e-newsletters and more on a wide range of insurance and risk management topics.


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In cooperation with the World Economic Forum (WEF), the international organization based in Switzerland that organizes an annual meeting in Davos, the ministry will transmit information related to such Japanese companies at international meetings and via its relations with multinational companies in countries in Europe and North America.
It is aimed at helping to create business opportunities for Japanese companies, with the ministry serving as a go-between and supporting them as they pursue technological innovation.
Multinational companies in Europe and the United States, such as German sportswear maker Adidas and Swedish clothing retailer H&M, have set goals of reducing their use of plastics by replacing plastic-based materials with recycled and eco-friendly ones. However, many of these firms have yet to come up with specific alternative materials and are still studying possible materials and production methods.
The government intends to globally promote Japanese companies that are trying to venture abroad with their plastic-related technologies. Envisaged technologies include those to design products that do not use any superfluous plastics, to develop plastics whose raw material is not petroleum, or to develop new methods for recycling plastic waste.
The government will begin selecting companies, such as beverage makers and household utensil manufacturers, as early as next month. In the future, the government plans to publicly invite applications from companies, with a goal of increasing the roster of such companies to about 100. Those selected companies will go ahead with their technological development, with advice from a governmental committee of experts.
These technologies will be publicized by the government at the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy, an environmental activity group under the umbrella of the WEF, in which take part about 60 organizations, including global firms such as Apple and Google, international institutions and governments.
The government is also considering introducing these technologies at the WEF’s “Sustainable Development Impact Summit,” at which private companies and governmental organizations gather in September every year.
“We want to encourage business models in which developing technologies that are easier on the environment is a key to success,” an Environment Ministry official said.


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Pretty much every mobile VR platform runs on a smartphone SoC in one way or the other. The most popular implementations of Samsung's Gear VR and Google's Daydream platforms strap entire smartphones onto users' faces, and HTC's Vive Focus and Oculus' Go are built around Qualcomm processors. The San Diego-based chipmaker hopes its new XR1 SoC can help it secure its footing as the leader in silicon for mobile VR and AR, a broad product category it calls “XR.”
Qualcomm's press release was pretty short on details, vaguely stating that the new silicon would bring together the company's ARM CPU cores, vector processor, GPU, and AI engine. The company says the XR1's hardware features are backed up by an advanced XR software service layer, an XR-specific SDK, and Qualcomm's security-and-connectivity special sauce. The company's announcement specifically listed support for 4K video playback at up to 60 FPS and the Vulkan, OpenCL, and OpenGL APIs.
The XR1 supports controller-tracking schemes with three or six degrees-of-freedom, depending on the camera and sensor configuration of the surrounding device. As for audio, Qualcomm says the XR1 SoC supports its proprietary Aqstic 3D audio and aptX hi-fi technologies. The platform also has visual inertial odometry features for placing augmented objects into scenes. Qualcomm says its Spectra ISP can reduce noise from incoming camera feeds in order to provide the user a better representation of the outside world in augmented reality applications, too.
Qualcomm didn't provide any information about pricing or availability for the XR1 SoC, but that's not terribly surprising—this is more of a foundation for mobile AR and VR companies to build atop on the way to selling retail hardware. Anandtech says the new platform is designed for a midrange class of mobile headset in between low-cost strap-a-phone-on-your-face systems and premium HMDs based on the latest whiz-bang smartphone tech like HTC's pricey Vive Focus. The most prominent current member of the mobile VR middle class is the Oculus Go, a headset that uses a midrange Snapdragon smartphone chip with more performance-oriented power management to deliver a three-DoF experience for under $200. We'll be keeping an eye out to see where the XR1 shows up.


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The NGO launched new guidance yesterday (13 May) to help retailers introduce consistent collections for flexible plastic packaging and help divert more from landfill or incineration.
Flexible plastic packaging includes items such as salad bags, crisp packets, biscuit wrappers, bread bags and frozen food bags.
Marcus Gover, WRAP’s CEO, said: “I am delighted that, through the UK Plastics Pact, the proportion of the population able to recycle all types of plastic bags and wrapping at supermarkets is on the increase, and we expect that by the end of the year it will be widely available.
“It is a critical step forwards when just 6% of plastics bags and wrapping currently get recycled – despite making up 22% of all plastic packaging by weight. Ensuring that consumers have consistent information on where to recycle plastic bags and wrappers is also critical.”
The guidance outlines best practice for introducing or refining existing collections. It calls for the collection of all types of plastic bags and wrapping used for everyday items.
It also calls for consistency in language and ease of use. WRAP suggests the design of packaging plays a critical role, urging businesses to move packaging into simpler ‘mono-material’ designs. The guide stresses the critical role played by businesses in stipulating recycled content in products and packaging wherever possible, to create the demand for recycled plastic.
Flexible plastic packaging
WRAP’s rallying cry was backed by several UK plastic film recyclers.
Mike Baxter, external affairs director at plastics recycler Berry Group, said: “Having already recycled front of store collected plastic packaging, we well understand the challenges. We have proved these materials can be recycled and, most importantly, re-manufactured into new packaging. However, we can’t do this on our own. All stakeholders have an important role to play, especially by ensuring purchasers of packaging specify front of store recyclate is included in raw material specifications.”
WRAP says that currently less than 20% of local authorities collect plastic bags and wrapping as part of their kerbside recycling service. It claims a “significant proportion” of the public say they are happy to take flexible plastic packaging to a supermarket for recycling until kerbside collections are rolled out widely.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is currently consulting on whether to include plastic film and flexible packaging within its minimum or ‘core set’ of dry recyclable waste streams requiring collection from the kerbside (see letsrecycle.com story).
Mike Maxwell, operations director at UK plastic bag and wrapping recycler Jayplas, said: “Our film sortation plant will sort this material by polymer type and colour and will contribute towards the UK significantly, increasing its recycling rates under the aims of the UK Plastics Pact.”
Many supermarkets already collect some types of plastic bags and wrapping, including soft stretchy plastic used for carrier bags, frozen food bags, bread bags and toilet roll wrap.
In March, Tesco announced 171 of its stores across the southwest of England and Wales would collect all types of plastic bags and wrapping, with plans to roll this out to all its stores nationwide.
Sainsbury’s began trialling collections in the northeast in February, with a full rollout expected by the end of this year (see letsrecycle.com story).
Other supermarkets are also carrying out trials, including the Co-op at 51 stores across the southeast (see letsrecycle.com story).
Iain Ferguson, environment manager at the Co-op, said: “Co-op is committed to making it easy for households to recycle all of their plastic food packaging, to prevent unnecessary waste and reduce pollution. Our own trials inform us that shoppers support simple solutions to these everyday issues with accessible disposal routes and clear messaging. We welcome the industry guidance which is designed to simplify recycling for consumers.”
WRAP’s front of store retailer guidance


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"We are proud of our company and excited to represent a state that supports entrepreneurship and innovation", Kelly A. Brown, managing partner and founder.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) February 14, 2013
American Deposit Management, LLC. of Delafield, Wisconsin, was named Blue Ribbon Small Business Award® winner today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This company was recognized for its dedication to the principles of free enterprise and its contributions to restoring jobs and prosperity.
"The Blue Ribbon Award winners show that, even facing uncertainty and economic challenges, small businesses can grow and succeed,” said Thomas J. Donohue, U.S. Chamber president and CEO. "They are American's economic engine, driving growth and job creation all across this country."
The awards program, sponsored by Sams® Club, honors companies that demonstrate excelled business practices in several areas including strategy, growth, employee development, community involvement and customer service. “We are honored to have been chosen for this prestigious award. We are proud of our company and excited to represent a state that supports entrepreneurship and innovation”, said Kelly A. Brown, managing partner and founder. “Wisconsin has been a wonderful state to start and grow our company. The support and encouragement of the business community and the abundance of state resources available have assisted us in our tremendous growth,” Brown continued.
“The Chamber celebrates the outstanding achievements of these award winners and is proud to recognize them for the positive impact they are making in their communities,” continued Donohue. “These small businesses are wonderful examples of the American Dream at work in our nation.”
This year, the Chamber saw a record number of nationwide applicants for this award. American Deposit Management, LLC. will be honored at America’s Small Business Summit 2013, which will be held from April 29-May 1 in Washington, D.C. They are also eligible for the Community Excellence Award, which will be decided through online public voting February 8-22, 2013.
To learn more about America’s Small Business Summit, visit http://www.uschambersummit.com.


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Spellweaver Launch Trailer
Spellweaver, a free-to-play digital card game, launches officially today with this updated game trailer.
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As their name implies, solid-state batteries use solid rather than liquid materials as an electrolyte.
Because they do not leak or give off flammable vapor, as lithium-ion batteries are prone to, solid-state batteries are safer.
Solid-state batteries are a promising power source for the internet-of-things devices that are coming into wider use, and for electric cars because of their potential to offer greater range than the stacks of lithium-ion cells that power such vehicles now.
The project aims to develop technology to make solid-state automotive batteries practical and mass-produce them.
It hopes to come up with designs and develop manufacturing processes and testing methods for automotive solid-state batteries by the end of March 2023.
It is working with Japan’s Honda Motor to develop batteries for electric vehicles aimed at the Chinese market, and is set to start supplying batteries to Germany’s Volkswagen.
Japan still has the edge in solid-state batteries, with its companies holding nearly half the patents in the world for related technologies.
This article was summarized automatically with AI / Article-Σ ™/ BuildR BOT™.
Solid-state batteries contain no liquid parts that could leak or catch fire.
Low current is considered one of the biggest hurdles in the development of solid-state batteries because the batteries take a relatively long time to charge, usually about 10 to 12 hours in the case of a fully discharged battery.
In addition to the development for electromobility, the spokesman for the “Battery storage” topic in the Helmholtz Association believes solid-state batteries will also be used in other areas in future: “Solid-state batteries are currently being developed with priority as energy storage for next-generation electric vehicles. But we also believe that solid-state batteries will prevail in other fields of application that require a long service life and safe operation, such as medical technology or integrated components in the smart home area,” says Eichel.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have addressed one of the major disadvantages of all-solid-state batteries by developing batteries with a low resistance at their electrode/solid electrolyte interface.
A rechargeable battery technology developed at the University of Michigan could double the output of today’s lithium ion cells-drastically extending electric vehicle ranges and time between cell phone charges-without …. Liquid microscopy technique reveals new problem with lithium-oxygen batteries.
Using an advanced, new microscopy technique that can visualize chemical reactions occurring in liquid environments, researchers have discovered a new reason lithium-oxygen batteries-which promise up to five times more energy …. Nanowires could make lithium ion batteries safer.
In an effort to develop a safer …. Milestone for next-gen solid-state batteries to power future long-range electrical vehicles.
This article was summarized automatically.


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Michigan companies are finding new ways to save money and increase productivity using ACD’s fiber optic network. Watch the video and learn more about the internet of everything here.
Phones today provide far more than a way to talk to other people physically distant from the caller. While traditional telephones have been around for over 100 years, new voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) phones are becoming the next new ‘must-have’ technology. As highly versatile communications devices, they can be as valuable to your business as your desktop computers. Think PCs and the Internet in 1996 and now think VoIP phones and seamless communications in 2016.
With these Internet phones, you can take your company to the next level with low- cost, seamless communications for the 21st century. Designed for portability, versatility, and ease of use, VoIP phones can save your business time and money. And that translates into greater productivity and increased profits.
More and more U.S. companies now use Internet phone connections instead of conventional phone lines. A VoIP system provides sophisticated functionality at a cost savings compared to a landline system. And placing a call with a VoIP phone is usually no more complicated than making
a conventional phone call. VoIP capabilities can be easily added to conventional phones with an adapter.
Upgrading to a VoIP system can increase your profits as soon as you plug it in. Your VoIP system will boost productivity, increase mobility, and strengthen your competitiveness.
It’s no longer a question of whether VoIP will replace conventional phone systems, it’s now merely a question of when. The simplicity of a VoIP system has made it a perfect t for the Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA).
Nancy McKeague, Senior Vice President of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, knows it’s no longer a question of whether Internet phones will replace conventional phone systems, but when.
“All of the settings are web-based so it couldn’t be easier,” said MHA Senior Director of Information Technology, Mike Nowak. “We rarely have any interaction with users that have phone problems.”
Installation of the phone system can be almost as easy as making calls to customers.
“We put a lot of front-end leg work in setting up our customers’ VoIP phones,” ACD Sales Engineer, Kevin Meeker emphasized.
Upgrading to a VoIP phone provider will help improve your call ow as your phones will be set up to operate more ef ciently. VoIP systems provide automated attendants, call queues, and computer integration that allows desktop computers to be turned into “softphones.”
VoIP digitizes the sound of speech into digital data packets. So you might think of VoIP as the World Wide Web for voice communications. The magic is that routing phone calls over the Internet instead of conventional phone lines and towers results in enormous cost savings for your business.
“Slow Internet connections cost businesses money, especially when it comes to employee productivity,” said Chris DeVine, ACD’s Major Business Accounts Manager. “Fiber-based data networks from ACD, coupled with business IP phone services, offer our customers a powerful combination for solid and reliable business communications.”
Businesses can use VoIP for basics like teleconferencing, call screening, and voice-mail-to-email transcription. And businesses can become more efficient by creating a ‘placeless’ workplace with employees untethered from the physical office.
Equipped with advanced calling and conferencing tools, good voice quality in VoIP phones is important. And ACD guarantees call quality. That’s unique.
It’s the only company that makes this guarantee for VoIP services.
You can take your VoIP phone with you and use it anywhere you have access to a broadband Internet connection. The system’s “follow me” feature enables users to take calls on their smart phone from their desk phone.
“Our staff doesn’t have to sit at their desks waiting for calls,” said MHA Senior Vice President, Nancy McKeague. “Our of ces are now placeless. Our staff now have the freedom to travel anywhere in the state without missing a single call.”
The VoIP connection also provides handy efax service. Faxes are sent to the recipient’s email inbox in PDF format instead of being received the traditional way.
“You can be driving down the freeway and all of a sudden that fax is in your inbox, so when you get to your client you already have it available,” said Meeker. You are not tied to the fax machine anymore.
“All of the settings are web- based so it couldn’t be easier. We rarely have any interaction with users that have phone problems anymore.”
– Mike Nowak, MHA Senior Director of IT
VoIP system capacity includes seamlessly connecting a workplace that has multiple physical locations. If a user wants to connect with a coworker across the city or state, they simply use a 3-digit extension. No more direct dial or calling the main phone line to get routed through the phone tree.
No more delays. It’s easy and seamless.
The VoIP system environment is also highly collaborative in its support of media applications, such as video. Computer-based VoIP systems also often allow data sharing or application sharing with the person you’re talking to. As a result, important interactions are not limited to voice communications.
At ACD, we’re fascinated by any and all technologies.
This weekend’s Michigan Nordic Fire Festival in Charlotte, MI is a time to celebrate the technology of the Viking culture.
Some of the most famous Viking technologies include:
– Ulfberht sword made from crucible steel
– Strong and surprisingly small ocean going ships that allowed them to navigate in very shallow water and at fast speeds
– Advanced compasses called Uunartoq discs that allowed them to sail whether sunny or cloudy outside
All of these technologies were unique to the Vikings and unheard of at the time of their occupancy. Most were not discovered until recently.
ACD likes to lead a culture similar to the Vikings and be ahead of the technology advancements brought to you and your families.
We look forward to the festival this weekend and hope everyone in attendance has a safe, fun, and culturally enlightening experience. See you there!
For more information on the Michigan Nordic Fire Festival, please visit: http://www.michigannordicfirefestival.com
Guest Blogger: Sanjeev Verma, Director of Network Operations, ACD
Three Things to Keep Your Data Safe
ACD’s experts want you to know that more apps and more features on your phone and desktop have created more doors for cyber robbers to get your money and your identity info. Being able to keep your money and your family safe are two critical concerns on the Internet today. It is imperative to know how to stay safe on the Internet so hackers don’t learn personal information.
What Can You Do?
The Department of Homeland Security says October is National Cyber Security Awareness
Month. The message this year is:
Stop think and connect which includes:
– keeping a clean machine,
– protecting your personal information and
-connecting with care.
Step One: Clean Machines are Safe Machines
First, to keep a clean machine one should keep security software current, enable automatic software updates, protect all devices that connect to the Internet including smartphones and gaming systems by enabling virus and malware protection, and scanning devices before plugging them in (such as USBs and other external devices).
Step Two: Logins are Key
Next, to best protect all personal information, it is important to lock down your login, make passwords a sentence that is at least 12 characters, have a unique account and password via different passwords for every account, and write passwords down to keep it safe.
Step Three: Social Media Security
Finally, to connect with care one must keep emails and social media clean by deleting threads every so often, limit the scope of usage on WiFi hotspots, and always check that a site is security enabled when banking and shopping online. These simple steps can make it much easier to keep yourself and your assets safe online.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month is upon us, and we want to help raise awareness about cyber security.
You likely won’t see them, but Lansing-based technology firm ACD installed 14 distributed antenna systems and built a fiber network throughout East Lansing.
This gives East Lansing world class Internet coverage, allowing businesses access to fiber optics for powering desktop computers, and gives the public improved cell phone and wireless Internet coverage.
“The improved coverage ensures that there is substantial capacity increase on 4G wireless service to East Lansing and will also result in improved broadband capacity for East Lansing,”according to Kevin Schoen, ACD’s CEO. “This next generation broadband network will also increase local companies connection speeds and reduce their business operational costs.”
How Will East Lansing Benefit?
• East Lansing residents are major consumers of broadband. MSU’s thousands of researchers have this need for speed, and it’s tech savvy residents made it a perfect place to build this network.
• The region has taken a huge leap forward in the next generation of broadband, into a gigabit network that lowers broadband costs for homeowners, government, and businesses.
• East Lansing is on its way to becoming a “FiberHood,” which means its residents now have world-class smartphone coverage and access to up-to-Gigabit-speeds in their offices — 100-times faster then regular broadband.
• How Did This Happen in East Lansing? The collaborative efforts of city officials and ACD have led to this important economic investment. ACD is building fiber networks in the areas where they can complete engineering and necessary permits. East Lansing city officials understand the importance of working with a provider such as ACD to build out broadband networks.
“People are making decisions on where to live and work based upon the technology infrastructure available to them. Our mission is to bring direct world class connections to all business andresidents, said Schoen.”
Tell Your Town’s Government Leaders To Get World Class For Your region’s Internet and Cell Phone Connections….It’s only a phone call away: 517-999-9999
About ACD and ACD Telecom, Inc. ACD owns an extensive statewide fiber network and is a leading fiber optic provider of broadband services to businesses and residential customers. ACD is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. Learn more about ACD.net and its commitment to the state of Michigan at www.ACD.net
Pokemon Go is a lot of fun, but the App is also very nosey. If you don’t like your every move being tracked, don’t go with Pokemon Go. It’s cartoon world is fueled by GPS satellites just like hundreds of other Apps. With some cell phone operating systems, Pokemon Go asks to download the personal data stored on your phone.
Here some great content from a Dow Jones article on GPS, it might surprise you.
Author Greg Milner became interested in GPS — Global Positioning System — several years ago as consumers started using it more frequently on their phones to access maps and directions.
“It seemed like this thing that everybody used and no one knew anything about,” Milner said.
Although consumers might be most familiar with using the service on mobile applications such as Google Maps, Milner said it affects daily life in a lot more ways. By 2019, the number of apps that use GPS will double, according to his research, which he turned into a new book about GPS, “Pinpoint,” which was published by W.W. Norton & Company in May.
But not everyone is comfortable with being tracked. Here are some things you should know about using GPS:
GPS is made in America, and other countries are making their own versions
Milner became even more interested in GPS when he learned that it originated with the U.S. military; GPS operates out of Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado.
GPS is made up of 24 navigation satellites, plus ground stations and receivers.
The U.S.’s Naval Research Laboratory had been experimenting with positioning satellites since 1960, and added a timing signal to them in 1964. The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force were working on their own satellite positioning technology at the same time. The Navy and Air Force launched a combined program in 1974 and called it NAVSTAR. That technology has improved over time.
In 2000, then-president Bill Clinton announced the U.S. would stop giving civilians only selective access to GPS, and they would be able to pinpoint locations up to 10 times more accurately than they’d been able to in the past.
The U.S. government does not charge companies or individuals a fee for using GPS (besides taxes that support the military).
Yet so many companies benefit from using it that Milner estimates it has a value of $3 trillion — from cutting down on inefficiencies in industries including transportation, shipping and farming, to making other industries possible, such as geography-based dating apps or games like Pokémon Go.
Other countries have set up their own satellite-based navigation systems, including Russia, China and the European Union, in order to not be solely reliant on the U.S.-based system.
Russia was developing its system, GLONASS, at the same time as GPS and it became fully operable in the mid-2000s; but GPS has better coverage, said Greg Worona, a senior security consultant at cybersecurity firm NCC Group. The EU’s system, Galileo, is expected to reach global coverage by 2020 and will potentially be even more accurate than GPS, Worona said, because it may be able to track locations within one centimeter. China’s system is expected to be complete in 2020 as well, he said.
Why do all of these governments need their own systems?
During a military strike, any government could disable the civilian versions of the navigation service, so countries want to be covered in those cases, Worona said.
In theory, without a navigation system available to them, countries wouldn’t be able to find targets accurately during a war, said Rick McElroy, a security strategist at the security firm Carbon Black.
GPS works when your phone is off
GPS has also been used as evidence in crimes because it can signify the location of the person carrying the phone, including in the 2007 murder of Rachel O’Reilly in Ireland and in the trial of Adnan Syed, who was accused of killing his high-school girlfriend in 1999. Syed’s case was featured on the popular podcast “Serial.” Syed was granted a new trial in June after a new witness came forward to say she saw him at a library at the time police believe the victim was murdered; a judge also decided Syed’s late trial attorney “failed to cross-examine the state’s expert regarding the reliability of cell tower location evidence.”
Consumers should know GPS can still track cellphones when they are powered off, McElroy said, because even after using the “off” switch, many phones are still performing some limited functions.
To completely cut off GPS tracking, consumers would have to remove the battery from their phones, he said.
When people don’t want GPS to track them, there are a few options.
Putting phones on “airplane mode” is more effective in turning off GPS tracking, McElroy said, but may not work on every device. Plus, hackers can easily make phones appear to be on “airplane mode” when they’re not, so if a phone has previously been hacked in this way, GPS may still be picking up on a user’s location, he said.
People who don’t want to be tracked would be safest not carrying any devices with GPS capability or any that transmit radio frequency, such as using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, Worona said.
Sometimes, those who don’t want to be tracked try more sophisticated technology though, in a process known as “jamming,” or intentionally interfering with GPS signals by using a device known as a “transmitter.” Although this process is fairly easy to do, Worona said, it’s also easy to detect. “Jamming” GPS signals is illegal.
Another way consumers sometimes interfere with GPS is by “spoofing,” or essentially fooling a GPS receiver into providing false position, velocity and time information, Worona said. There have been some reports of Pokémon Go players using this technology to trick the game into believing they had visited certain GPS locations when they had not.
Most consumers probably don’t realize how much information apps are picking up about them by using GPS, McElroy said.
He recommended reading more closely what type of data an app will require before downloading it and said even if consumers are OK with giving those apps and websites their data, there’s a chance companies will sell the data to other companies without explicitly telling consumers their plans.
“Consider if whatever that activity is, is worth giving up all that data,” McElroy said. “It may say it’s ‘free,’ but the payment you make to that organization is your data.”
GPS directions don’t always pan out
GPS isn’t always accurate and people have gotten into some dangerous situations, Milner writes, such as a mom who drove down a road in Death Valley National Park and became lost while using GPS in 2009. She and her 6-year-old son Carlos were lost for five days, and Carlos died before park rangers found them. Park officials called the incident and others like it “Death by GPS.”
(The mother and son left their vehicle to find help in the heat of the summer, which is dangerous in itself.)
Of course, GPS isn’t the only problem in many of these cases, but it may contribute to motorists’ decisions to try driving in dangerous locations they wouldn’t otherwise, because GPS provides a sense of security.
“Something is happening to us,” Milner writes in “Pinpoint.” “Anyone who has driven a car through an unfamiliar place can attest to how easy it is to let GPS do all the work.”
GPS may be changing our brains
Because the rise of GPS is relatively recent, researchers don’t know yet the extent of its impact on the human brain, Milner writes. But there is some evidence that an over reliance on GPS may also be bad for our brains.
Some London cab drivers actually had larger hippocampi, the area of the brain that stores spatial information about the environment, than control subjects who didn’t drive taxis, leading researchers to believe the human brain can actually change in response to different demands, according to a 2000 study published in the scientific journal of the National Academy of Sciences, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. It stands to reason that many people aren’t creating the mental maps they would without GPS. The same size was small; the researchers studied the brains of just 16 drivers.
And yet it’s hard to argue with the benefits of GPS, Milner said.
“It’s a free thing given to the world to play with,” he says. That is, if you don’t include the data it uses up on your cellphone plan. Pokémon Go, for instance, has shown that GPS can now be used for augmented reality, which mixes real-time images as seen through a smartphone camera with added graphics or video, Milner said. “There’s so much potential for creativity.”
Certain game-changing events are as rarely seen as a black swan. Black swan events can be disruptive or creative, and they can happen to every Midwest industry.
Black swan events are extreme outliers. Rare as they are, they have vastly greater impact than regular occurrences. These large magnitude events include the rise of the personal computer and creation of the Internet.
Whether your business is selling baked goods or supplying parts to a global company, how you use technology to improve your company is an indicator of the future of your business — or if it even has a future.
Technology is naturally disruptive and generates more than its share of unpredicted black swan events. Smart-tech professionals are aware of this.
In 1995, only a few years before the creation of Google, Bill Gates said that large competitors didn’t worry him as much as small groups working on something completely new. Google’s market capitalization surpassed Microsoft’s in 2012.
“Small business people need to keep an eye out for these millennials working out of basements and garages,” ACD CEO Kevin Schoen said.


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Shopify recently released their annual report on eCommerce trends for 2021, and one of the major highlights was that retention has overtaken acquisition and conversion as a top priority for many businesses. This development is due to rising acquisition costs, as well as the fact that many eCommerce brands saw unprecedented growth in new customers in 2020, as customers further shifted from in-store to online shopping.
Improving customer retention by just 5% can increase profits by 25%-95%, so it’s worth investing in. As part of our Amazing Women in eCommerce Europe event, we spoke to four inspiring, innovative women on the cutting edge of eCommerce about their top strategies for customer retention.
Launch a loyalty program to reward customers
Loyalty programs are one of the best ways to boost customer retention. According to Yotpo’s own research, 52% of customers would join a loyalty program would join a loyalty program with a preferred company. Loyalty programs give brands th …
This story continues at Yotpo


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Scientists have made what they describe as a 'Kitty Hawk' moment for commercial fusion power.
One of wind power’s biggest sustainability problems has been solved with recyclable turbine blades.
Market gardens are rising up to deliver eco-friendly, farm-fresh greens direct to your front door.
With polystyrene taking its final bow, could more natural solutions save the day for chilled deliveries?
Those tiny, single-use toiletry bottles from hotels may soon be making their final trip to landfill.
The Tokyo Olympics put hydrogen on the world stage as the power behind the Olympic flame.
Speeding through steel tubes in a vacuum-powered pod – is this the future of sustainable travel?
Manufactured from air and electricity, could Solein become the world's most sustainable protein?


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Asshat of the month award for July goes to Stan Beer of ITWire in Australia for being nothing more than a Dvorak channel.
Reading the essay titled Exploiting the iPhone on the website of security firm Independent Security Evaluators, two things are crystal clear. First, the iPhone is actually a computer. Second, Apple is about to get a taste of the security nightmares that have plagued Microsoft for the past 13 years since the Internet went mainstream.
Okay Stan, let’s see what you’re saying. By this logic, the Mac, which is also a computer, but one which is open source AND has for the last 7 years shipped with Terminal and Developer tools should have given Apple a taste of the security nightmares Microsoft has brought upon themselves. Apple have been shipping around 600 000 of these Mac computers a quarter until recently when that figure went up to a million which means there’s probably 10 million+ Mac OS X machines out there which are ripe for these exploits you fear so much?
But that hasn’t really happened. Has it. Come on, be honest.
Why is this such a big deal for Apple?
Did you make a big scary woo-woo when Palm bought the Treo? What about when the Psion devices moved their Symbian OS onto phones? Ah, the iPhone is going to be a game changer? It’s going to revolutionise the phone market? It’s also going to revolutionise the Spam and Malware market?
No, Stan, there’s always going to be asshats running underprotected versions of Windows and that low hanging fruit is far too tempting.


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Malema tried to show that by inviting him to the SONA, the ANC had endorsed his views about apartheid, writes Adriaan Basson.
Light rain. More sun than clouds. Cool.
Opel will be launching four new vehicles in 2020, including the revised Astra, and all-new Corsa!
With March coming to an end, Wheels24 columnist Lance Branquinho takes a look at the five top stories of the month.
From driving the new Honda BR-V to watching Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg driving a Nascar race car, here are our top stories for the week!
'It’s like the finals of a beauty pageant, not so? The contestants might all appeal in various ways to various people but the judges have to pick a winner,' writes Egmont Sippel as he chooses his top 10 cars of 2016.
Hot off the heels of winning the 2016 Europe Car of the Year title, Opel's highly anticipated Astra made its local debut. Does it live up to the hype?
Opel’s new Astra is being touted as a paradigm shift for the automaker. We have details, prices and specs of the new Astra in South Africa.
Opel has updated its Astra range with the inclusion of the new Sport 1.6T automatic.
'It was a terrifically tough call for Volkswagen but hearty congratulations to Opel nonetheless,' writes Alex Parker as he shares his views on the SA Car of the Year competition.
For the first time in a few years, the 2017 WesBank South African Car Of The Year competition winner is not a high-end premium vehicle.
'More interior space, better standard spec and stronger engines... you’re looking at a winner.' Egmont Sippel takes a look at the Opel Astra 1.0T.
'The new Opel Astra in SA has taken a giant leap forward. It features tech previously found in premium brands and is a is a heck of a lot of fun to drive!,' writes Cyril Klopper.
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Another Tesla Gigafactory drone flyover video emerges on YouTube – this time captured and published with approval from Tesla Motors.
According to YouTuber MyithZ, who filmed the Gigafactory and its surrounding landscape in stunning 4k detail via a Tarot 680pro Hex with a GoPro Hero4, “This video was filmed with direct permission from Tesla Motors. Arrangements were made directly with Elon Musk and Tesla Security. Permission has also been given for me to upload it to my page.”
The first Gigafactory drone flyover video gave the world a glimpse of how enormous the lithium-ion battery production plant would eventually be. Shortly after the video went viral, Musk took to Twitter to clarify that the drone footage was only showing the “pilot plant” which represented 1/4 of the size.
This latest video provides a much broader look at the site of the Gigafactory. Steel construction beams can be seen forming a general outline of the Gigafactory footprint, further validating Musk’s Tweet that there’s much more development to come.


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The Renewable Fuels Association wrote a letter to Lowe’s CEO requesting that the “Ditch Ethanol” signs that were popping up on the Midwest be removed. Shortly after the letter was received, Lowes contacted RFA and said they were in the process of removing all the signs and they should all be gone within several days. The signs inaccurately warned consumers not to use ethanol in small engines.
“Thank you to Lowe’s for listening to RFA’s member companies and the nearly 400,000 workers and farmers across the country whose employment is dependent upon the success of renewable fuels,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “It is refreshing to see a large national corporation move so quickly to correct an obvious mistake. Lowe’s should be commended for the leadership they have demonstrated to address this situation conclusively and swiftly. We will continue to combat any and all misinformation about ethanol, to ensure consumers have access to the lowest cost, cleanest octane source in the world.”


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If you are paying through an international credit card abroad, you need to be cautious as such expenditure will now be treated as part of the limit under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), reported Business Line.
The latest rules have already been notified by the Finance Ministry.
Under LRS, all residents are allowed to freely remit up to $250,000 per financial year for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both. Further, residents can access foreign exchange facility only within the limit of $250,000
Rule 5 of Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, 2000, mandates prior approval from Reserve Bank of India for every drawal of foreign exchange for transactions. However, Rule 7 says Rule 5 will not apply to international credit card payments made during an overseas visit.
The Finance Ministry, in consultation with the RBI, has notified omission of Rule 7 with effect from May 16.
Explaining the changes, Abhishek Sanyal, Partner with Economic Laws Practice, says Rule 7 excluded the applicability of the $250,000 limit per financial year under LRS for international credit card payments during an overseas visit.
“This rule has been omitted and, accordingly, all payments made using an international credit card are also within the $250,000 limit per financial year. The intent is that all current account transactions by resident Indians should be under the $250,000 limit per financial year,” he said.
It may be noted that in the annual budget, TCS (tax collected at source) of 20 per cent was made applicable with effect from July 1, 2023, on any payment towards an overseas tour package.
This will also be applicable on international credit card spends. Yogesh Chande, Partner with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, says the deletion of Rule 7 will tighten the use of international credit cards during overseas visits, and will bring it under the purview of schedule III of the Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transactions) Rules, which deals with LRS.
This would allow RBI to closely monitor the use of credit cards for foreign travel.
“The deletion is to ensure that payments for foreign tours through a credit card do not escape tax collection at source,” he said.


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Next-Generation SUV Toyota Harrier 2020 will be launched in the home market in late 2020, and we can expect it to be launched in India in mid-2021. Although, no official date is announced by the Japanese carmaker. Toyota Harrier is the mid-size SUV and is not new to the Japanese as its models already exist in the market since 1997. In 2013, 3rd generation Harrier was launched in the market.
We can expect the Toyota Harrier will be packed with features like sharp LED headlamps along with a sleeker chrome upper grille, rear LED tail lamps, an electrochromic sunroof that can be dimmed, and dashcam integrated into the IRVM.
Toyota Harrier is expected to be launched based on Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) and expected in different engines -
In the Indian Auto market, the Japanese carmaker Toyota has a large share with different varieties of models meeting the needs of Indian car lovers. Glanza came up in co-operation with Maruti the biggest carmaker of India. Toyota has some successful models that are way ahead of their league i.e. Innova Crysta, Fortuner, etc.


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Recent research by SearchLab has shown the “Google vehicles for sale” option that allows vehicle dealers to list their inventories on their Google Business Profiles. Even though the feature is only available for dealers in the United States, it is expected to reach other parts of the world in the near future.
Google is one of the world’s most innovative and powerful technology firms, offering great advantages to people, especially business owners. The “Google vehicles for sale” feature was also one of them, and its beta version has been appearing in people’s searches. The new feature aims to help people find a great deal or reach out to car dealers more easily when searching for a specific car model using the search engine. Normally, people would have to hop on Google to look for the specs of the car they were aiming to buy, but now, they can find a couple of deals after putting the car’s model into the search bar.
Google vehicles for sale feature explained
A new “Google vehicles for sale” section will be added to the Google-generated widget with the car’s specifications if you search for a certain car and there is an inventory of that car listed in your area. For instance, if you conduct a computer-based search for “Peugeot 208” in Google, the right sidebar will display a section labeled “Peugeot 208 for sale.” Before the new widget, you would only see websites including the car specs and a bunch of big dealerships that rank higher in searches. Now with the new “Google vehicles for sale” tab, you will be able to see if there are any “Peugeot 208” cars that are currently on sale near you or in your area.
Moreover, any motor vehicle with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) will appear on the search. This means that it is for cars, motorcycles, trucks, and more. On the other hand, Google made it a top priority for mobile, looking at the search results. If you type in any car kind, let’s take Peugeot 208 as an example again, the listings will appear even before the search results. If you search for a car on your mobile phone, the first thing that appears on your screen will be the car’s listings from various vehicle dealers.
Last year, a support page was activated, and it was a signal of the Google vehicles for sale page. We knew that the new feature would go live soon, but its effects might be bigger than expected. With this new feature, it looks like all the other big car dealers, such as Cars.com and Autotrader, will look for a different strategy. Maybe they could devise a plan to be involved in the widget because it is very useful and easy to access. People won’t have to click extra to see the vehicle listings in their areas.
On top of its accessibility, the Google vehicles for sale tab lets you filter your search and find the best car for your needs listed on the widget. Just like the big vehicle dealerships but with much easier access. It is not known whether Google will prioritize the widget and invest more in it in the upcoming days, but even for now, it is very useful for the majority of users. We will keep you posted if any news comes from the Google side.
More news about Google can be found below:
- Google code red: ChatGPT vs Google vs You.com
- Google antitrust lawsuit filed by Justice Department
- Google is allegedly developing a competitor against Apple AirTag


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Lhasa Stores Running out of Tsamba Amid Donation Fervor
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Residents of Tibet's regional capital Lhasa have donated so much tsamba to the quake-stricken Yushu in the neighboring Qinghai Province over the past week that many stores selling the Tibetan staple food have run out of it.
Many tsamba shops on Ramoche Street, which is named after the famous Ramoche Monastery and is a major grocery street for Tibetans, have closed as their stocks had completely sold out.
Gurum Tsamba, the largest tsamba shop on the street, was the only one that remained open Saturday.
Shop assistant Tashi said daily sales soared from 10,000 to 40,000 kilograms after a 7.1-magnitude quake shook the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu on April 14.
"Many corporate donors have placed big orders directly with the mills, so we have to wait longer to get supplies," he said. The nearest mill that makes tsamba is in the outer counties about an hour's drive away from Lhasa's city center.
Tashi said his store offered a 4-percent discount for every kilogram of tsamba bought for donation. "This is the least we can do for those people in the quake-hit areas."
Tsamba is a unique Tibetan staple food made of highland barley flour. It is the ideal food for the tough plateau environment of Tibet and Qinghai, because it's easy to cook, high in calories and provides energy for a longer time than other food.
Tibet is the world's largest highland barley production base, with an annual output of 550,000 to 600,000 tonnes.
The donation fervor has also caused a local shortage of Tibetan tea bricks, an essential ingredient for the famous Tibetan yak butter tea.
"Many people buy dozens of tea bricks and mail them to Qinghai," said Lhadron, who owns a tea shop on Ramoche Street.
Like all other shop owners, Lhadron had not raised her prices. "The price we purchase it from the tea factories has also remained unchanged," she said.
Tibet has so far donated nearly 700 tonnes of relief supplies, including food, water and medicine for high altitude illnesses, to Yushu, said Xu Qiaofei, a civil affairs official with the regional government.
Meanwhile, cash donations have reached 11 million yuan (US$1.6 million).
(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2010)


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Double joy for Fresh Start Meals as service secures £30k funding
8th May 2017
A THRIVING meals on wheels service in the West Marsh is on the up after securing £30,000 worth of funding for a new kitchen.
Fresh Start Meals, which operates from the St Hugh's Centre on Haycroft Street, was awarded the huge amount of grant funding to transform one of the rooms of the St Mark's Church on Laceby Road into a bustling new kitchen.
The county-wide service continues to swell in size and now delivers around 800 meals to vulnerable people throughout Lincolnshire each and every week.
And now the team behind Fresh Start Meals have partnered up with fish processing giants Icelandic Seachill.
The firm has agreed to calculate the nutritional value of each of Fresh Start Meal's products free of charge.
Sandra Mason, meals service manager, said the gesture would save them thousands of pounds.
"The fact that a local company want to support us is a wonderful thing to happen," she said.
"It shows that even though they're a huge company they do care and that's what it's all about.
"I dread to think (how much it would cost to calculate the nutritional value of their food). We were struggling to find out where we would even get that information.
"We have very little money and because we live by good quality and don't cut corners with the food.
"It would have costs thousands. Icelandic Seachill have been wonderful, we're very grateful."
Over the coming days, Sandra will be sending her Fresh Start Meals recipes off to Icelandic Seachill, who will in turn produce the nutritional information to feature on new packaging.
The gesture will help the team at Fresh Start Meals to meet Government guidelines in relation to food packaging and it will also open up the possibility of the service being awarded contracts to serve food on behalf of the NHS.
The West Marsh group will also be adding products from the company's The Saucy Fish Company range to its menu.
It is the latest development in what has been an encouraging few months for Fresh Start Meals, after they were awarded a huge £30,000 grant from Wren to carry out their plans to expand the service into St Mark's Church in Grimsby.
The major revamp, which is expected to take place in June this year, will create one cook/supervisor position, as well as several voluntary positions.
It is hoped the new site will produce 1,000 extra meals a week.
The venture has come a long way since Sandra started delivering fresh meals to vulnerable people from the Haycroft Street centre back in 2012.
"We serve 800 meals a week and we're growing all the time," she added.
"It's the extra little things we do which keeps our customers happy.
"For a lot of people we are their first port of call. We are enabling people to be more independent."
And Sandra, who also works as manager of the St Hugh's Centre, remains hopeful that she will be awarded enough funding to build a community cafe within the Haycroft Street site after she unfortunately lost out on a £23,000 grant application.
It is hoped that once built, Cafe Avalon will be able to tackle social isolation in the West Marsh area.
As reported, the cafe would be built inside the community centre's main hall, and would accommodate around 50 people.
To find out more information about Fresh Start Meals and the services on offer at the St Hugh's Centre, call Sandra on
News Courtesy: www.humberbusiness.com


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// Online sales in May surged 129.5% higher compared with the same month last year – the highest jump on record
// This did not offset high street sales for retailers, with total like-for-like sales slumping almost 1/5
// Fashion and lifestyle retailers suffered the worst during May
UK retailers saw record online sales last month as trading more than doubled but it still failed to offset the impact of empty high street stores, according to new figures.
The BDO retail sales tracker for May revealed that online sales surged 129.5 per cent higher compared with the same month last year – the highest jump on record – as shoppers moved online during the lockdown.
However, retailers still saw total like-for-like sales slump by almost a fifth for the month.
- Consumer confidence tumbles to near-recession levels
- Shop prices drop at fastest rate in 14 years
- Retail sales bounce back in May but sector still “deeply depressed” (CBI)
The research said that sales across stores and online platforms fell 18.3 per cent against the same month last year, with the decline in sales slowing marginally compared with April.
Non-essential retailers, such as fashion chains, have kept their doors shut since the government-mandated lockdown was introduced in late March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
High streets are expected to pick up this month after non-essential stores were given the go-ahead to reopen from June 15.
In May, lifestyle retailers reported a 30 per cent slump in total like-for-like sales due to the closures.
Fashion sales dived 22.6 per cent for the month, although the category did see a slight improvement on previous months due to slightly higher online spending.
However, total homeware sales rose by 22 per cent in May on the back of strong growth by online retailers and the reopening of homeware and furniture stores midway through the month.
“Despite the significant pick-up in ecommerce, the monumental collapse in discretionary spend remains stark as retailers continue to face challenging headwinds,” BDO head of retail Sophie Michael said.
“As shops look to reopen on the June 15, they will face disrupted supply chains, mounting out of season stock and reduced footfall, as well as staffing uncertainty.
“These problems will be further compounded with the financial burden of implementing new measures to keep staff and customers safe.”
with PA Wires


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All eyes are on the lobster trade.
Need to Maintain Appearances
That Trump is worried if China is buying a few containers of lobsters so he can keep up appearances for the market, instead of solving for a crisis at home that will be soon killing thousands a day again, speaks volumes.
Maine’s Lobster Exports to China plunge 84%
Flashback May 16, 2019: Maine’s lobster exports to China plunge 84 percent due to trade war.
The tariffs, implemented in July 2018, had an immediate affect on the state’s lobster industry. Prior to the tariffs, Maine had been on track to have a record-setting year, with USD 87 million (EUR 77.8 million) worth of lobster exported through June 2018, over double the USD 42 million (EUR 37.5 million) shipped through the same period in 2017.
Soon after tariffs were implemented, however, Maine’s exports to China nearly disappeared completely, and according to the latest data from the MITC exports have plunged nearly 84 percent since the tariffs were implemented.
The latest talk on the trade front doesn’t point to any improvement in those numbers any time soon. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened and then implemented further tariff increases on 10 May. In response, China fired back with its own increased tariffs, including additional tariffs on a number of seafood products.
Despite the threat of escalation, for many lobster exporters, the damage has already been done. Whether the tariffs increase or not, most of the business had already dried up.
Reflections on the All Important Lobster Trade
With hundreds of billions of dollars of government stimulus sloshing around, Trump is now extremely worried over an $87 million lobster loss that was entirely of his own making.


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The Q7 was previously known as a big and not really efficient SUV which was perfect for a family thanks to the comfort it offered. However, things change over time so the 2016 Audi Q7 is going to be a completely different car, which is most likely going to become the best SUV in its class. Why are we saying that? Well, because Audi is finally going to move their flagship SUV to the new modular platform from the VW group, making the new model lighter, easier to manufacture, as well as a lot better on-road and off it.
Exterior and Interior Design
The new platform isn’t the only upgrade for the 2016 Audi Q7, but it is also going to get new engines as well as an improved running gear, both of which are going to finally make it a driver’s car. Besides the new platform, the biggest change is going to be the aluminum body. Most of the panels are going to be made out of aluminum to save weight, but Audi will still use steel in certain key areas of the car. The suspension system will also ditch the old air-ride system for a more conventional one which saves around 300 pounds. It is a lot easier to maintain and a lot more comfortable than before.
The outside of the 2016 Audi Q7 on the other hand is going to borrow heavily from the Crosslane Coupe, meaning it will get the same front grille as well as a very similar set of headlights to that car. However, the back will receive a major restyling which will bring it closer to what the new Q5 looks. The end result should be a more balanced car which doesn’t look like a van but more like a proper SUV.
On the interior most of the elements are going to come from cars such as the A6 or even the A8, while the finishing touches are going to be unique to it. The steering wheel and the infotainment system are going to be quite similar to what the A8 has, while the seats and the materials are going to be identical to those inside the A6. The base model will come with a lot of equipment which is going to include satellite navigation and radio, leather upholstery, a sunroof and even a great infotainment system which is going to use brand-new Android Auto based system.
Engines, Specs, Performance
While they initially said that the new model was going to get all new engines, they changed their mind about the 2016 Audi Q7, so it will now get a carried over engine as the base unit, the supercharged 3L 333-HP V-6, producing 325 lb-ft of twist. However, there are going to be two new engines, a petrol and diesel. The 2-liter inline-4 petrol unit is going to be good for up to 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, while the diesel will offer 272 horsepower and 443 pound-feet, which is a massive amount for any road car. All of these are going to be offered only with Audi’s improved 8-speed automatic, which should offer a much better feedback while being easier to use as well as their well known quattro AWD system as standard. A front-wheel drive version has been rumored but it won’t come any time soon.
2016 Audi Q7 Release Date, Price
As for the release date, the crossover SUV has been presented at the Detroit Motor Show back in January 2015, but the 2016 Audi Q7 is not going to hit the showrooms until the end of the year, meaning that Audi still has a few updates to do until then. The price won’t change all that much, so expect the base car to cost no more than 50.000 dollars.
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