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Arjun Munda launches tribes India products on GeM and new website of TRIFED through video conference
Webinar-Be Vocal for Local and go Digital-TRIFED embarks on a massive digitisation drive to connect tribals with mainstream held
The unprecedented situation in our country due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has affected all segments of our society.The livelihoods of the poor and marginalised communities have been seriously impacted and the tribals are some of the worst affected in these trying times. To ease the burden of the tribal artisans during such troubled times, TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal affairs has initiated several immediate initiatives to re-energise the lagging economic activity for sustaining the livelihood development of tribals. . Addressing a video Conference to launch the Trifed Digital Platforms, through Video Conference, Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs said that the Team of “Trifed Warriors” will take Tribal Commerce based on forest produces, handlooms & handicrafts to a new high for transforming tribal lives and livelihoods. He stated that with more and more people going online to meet their various needs – be it for business operations, shopping and communication, an important strategic push has been to adopt an all-encompassing digitisation drive to
New Delhi:The unprecedented situation in our country due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has affected all segments of our society.The livelihoods of the poor and marginalised communities have been seriously impacted and the tribals are some of the worst affected in these trying times. To ease the burden of the tribal artisans during such troubled times, TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal affairs has initiated several immediate initiatives to re-energise the lagging economic activity for sustaining the livelihood development of tribals. . Addressing a video Conference to launch the Trifed Digital Platforms, through Video Conference, Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs said that the Team of “Trifed Warriors” will take Tribal Commerce based on forest produces, handlooms & handicrafts to a new high for transforming tribal lives and livelihoods. He stated that with more and more people going online to meet their various needs – be it for business operations, shopping and communication, an important strategic push has been to adopt an all-encompassing digitisation drive to map and link its village based tribal producers to the national and international markets setting up state of art e- platforms benchmarked to international standards.This was the key focus area of the webinar ‘TRIFED Goes Digital’ and “Be Vocal for Local’ #GoTribal ”which was organised by TRIFED today and was attended by over 200 participants. The main highlight was the launch of the TRIBES India products on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) (with a diverse range on display) and TRIFED’s new website (https://trifed.tribal.gov.in) by Shri Arjun Munda, the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs. Shri Ramesh Chand Meena, Chairman, TRIFED, Smt. Pratibha Brahma, Board Member, TRIFED, Shri Rajeev Kandpal, JS& CFO, GeM and Smt Nanu Bhasin, ADG, PIB also attended the launch. The TRIFED team was represented by all the heads of departments and senior officials.
Expressing his hearty appreciation at the occasion, Shri Arjun Munda, the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs first inaugurated the TRIBES India store on Government eMarketplace which can now help in facilitating purchases by Government and then the revamped website (https://trifed.tribal.gov.in/), which has all relevant details about the schemes and initiatives underway to the benefit of tribal communities.In his address, Shri Munda spoke about the unprecedented situation that our world is facing and how the migrant labour have suffered a lot. He expressed his pleasure at the efforts being put by “the TRIFED Warriors” and the Ministry officials to revive the flagging economic condition of the tribal artisans and tribal gatherers. He emphasised that empowering the tribal communities and utilising their skills, which has so far been disconnected from the mainstream, should be of prime focus and we should capitalise on opportunities that have been thrown open during the unprecedented situation.Shri Munda opined that TRIFED plays a major role in connecting the tribals to the mainstream and congratulated the team for their two major initiatives being launched today. Using nuggets from philosophy and management principles and real-life examples, he shared his views on the road ahead for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and “the TRIFED Warriors” as they set about in their task to include the tribal communities in the mainstream. He urged them to focus on extracting and utilising the wealth of information and knowledge that the tribal communities have, especially with regard to the jungle, and how that can be used to not just benefit their community but also be of greater help to the country and people in these troubled times.Post this detailed presentation on TRIFED’s activities, Shri Ramesh Chand Meena, Chairman, TRIFED congratulated the entire TRIFED team for its sustained efforts and was positive that the Rs 2 lakh crore tribal economy will definitely get doubled or trebled. Also he was certain that these efforts would result in the products and produces of tribal gatherers and artisans would get maximum coverage – both in the country and abroad.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Shri. Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED thanked the Union Minister for his presence at the formal launch of the two digital initiatives through a webinar – a first definitely. Acknowledging the Union Minister’s unstinted support for the cause of tribal welfare, Shri Krishna spoke about TRIFED’s ambitious digitisation drive and how this is aimed at creating a level playing field for more than 50 lakh tribals (artisans, gatherers, dwellers) who will be connected with the mainstream using state-of-the art technology. Mr. Krishna also thanked the GeM team for their cooperation in making the Tribes India store going live on GeM a reality.Shri Rajeev Kandpal, JS& CFO, GeM in his address, spoke about how the TRIFED and GeM teams have worked hard under the overall guidance and leadership and this has resulted in the Tribes India store on GeM. Government Departments Ministries and PSUs can now access TRIBES India products via Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and shop as per GFR regulations. He pointed out that social inclusion was a major focus in GeM and that niche supplier segments such as start-ups, rural entrepreneurs, tribal entrepreneurs, women, tribals have been encouraged. Taking the example of the newly-inaugurated Rural Development store, which has generated positive response,Post this speech, a detailed presentation was made about the all-encompassing digital transformation strategy embarked upon by TRIFED and also the various measures put forth by the team to help ease the situation of the tribal community. The presentation began with a focus on the digital initiatives which are underway, especially two of which are being launched today. It also covered, at length, the measures taken by TRIFED and the Ministry of Tribal affairs to help ease the burden of tribals in the country. Touching upon both the MSP for MFP Scheme which has now emerged as a panacea for tribals with a total procurement of Rs 2000 crore (through government and private trade) and the successful implementation of the Van Dhan Yojana (Start-ups scheme), an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which has resulted in the establishment of 1205 Tribal Enterprises and providing employment opportunities to 3.6 lakh tribal gatherers and 18075 Self-help groups in 22 States, the presentation covered the impact of these and other initiatives. In particular, outcomes from different champion states such as Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Manipur were highlighted as examples. The presentation also threw light on the other measures during this crisis.
TRIFED has issued Advisories relating to MFPs to be kept in mind during Covid-19, providing suggestive practices for maintaining personal hygiene, adopting cashless practices, among others. It is working on setting up of 15,000 ‘Van Dhan Social Distancing Awareness cum Livelihood Centres’ from the recently sanctioned Van Dhan SHGs among the 1205 Van Dhan Kendras. TRIFED has also collaborated with UNICEF for developing a digital communication strategy for promoting the Abhiyaan. Additionally, TRIFED has partnered with the Art of Living Foundation’s #iStandWithHumanity Initiative with a Stand With Tribal Families component in providing much needed food and ration for survival of the tribal community.The digital strategy takes into account the entire supply-demand tribal chain, each and every stage, and includes a state-of-art website ((https://trifed.tribal.gov.in), which offers all information related to the organisaton and its various tribal welfare schemes; setting up of an e-Market Place for Tribal Artisans to trade and directly market their produces; digitisation of all information related to the forest dwellers engaged in its VanDhan Yojana, village haats and warehouses to which they are linked.Keeping every aspect of tribal lives and commerce in mind, TRIFED has also commenced the digitisation of the procurement of MFPs through government and private trade and the related payments to tribals. Leveraging the e-commerce boom, TRIBES India products are available at www.tribesindia.com with all regions working together to ensure that varieties and offerings of all kinds are readily accessible at other platforms such Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Paytm, and Shopclues. These products range from creative masterpieces and artefacts such as Dokra metal craft pieces, beautiful pottery, different types of paintings to colourful, comfortable apparel, distinctive jewellery and organic and natural foods and beverages.In addition, the Tribes India e-Marketplace, coming on the heels of the Retail Inventory Management System which has automated the sourcing and sale of stocks, is an ambitious initiative to on-board almost 5 lakh Tribal Artisans on the e- market platform to provide them access to national and international markets. This is likely to be commissioned by end July 2020.TRIFED’s Van Dhan Integrated Information Network facilitates the pooling of all information pertaining to forest dwellers engaged in Minimum Support Price Operations and its VanDhan Yojana linking them up to Village haats and Warehouses. This helps in monitoring the country wide programme and taking decisions to facilitate smooth implementation. This scheme has been implemented in 22 States touching the lives of almost 3,61,500 Tribals. The tribal clusters identified and mapped across the country are eligible beneficiaries under Atmanirbhar Abhiyan. The aim is to work in convergence with various Ministries and agencies and help bring the benefits to these vulnerable and distressed communities. TRIFED is equipped to advocate and support the tribal cause under Atmanirbhar Abhiyan.Shri Anil Ramteke, ED, TRIFED concluded this inspiring and informative session with his Vote of Thanks. He thanked the Union Minister, Shri Arjun Munda for his inspiring and wise address and looked forward to his continued leadership and guidance.


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Excerpts from articles on the lithium sector. Shared by Teo Luan Boo
I am an investor focused on the Electric Vehicle theme with a special interest in lithium, which is one of the key battery material minerals. As a shareholder of Alliance Mineral Assets, I constantly keep myself up-to-date on all things happening in the lithium sector. Through these excerpts (which I hope to share regularly), I hope more investors can keep up with developments in this exciting and fast-evolving space.
|♦ The lithium industry needs a $17b injection to meet 2025 demand – here come the deals
US lithium expert Joe Lowry told delegates at the Latin America Downunder mining conference in Perth that the ‘Big Four’ global lithium producers – SQM, Albemarle, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium and Tianqi – could not alone meet 2025 lithium demand.
“Overall, the industry faces a lack of financing and needs to inject more than US$12 billion within five years to have a chance of meeting demand,” he said.
“This requirement is exacerbated further by known and emerging failures in lithium start-ups which have demonstrated a lack of necessary skillsets – high profile failures that have discouraged sector investment.
“There will not be any significant lithium chemical oversupply anytime soon. While there have been many optimistic supply forecasts, recent results speak for themselves.” Read more...
|♦ BHP, Rio Give Their Blessing To Battery Metals
It was all about the major miners declaring they were part of the electric vehicle and renewable energy storage revolution.
Content in the past to say that their copper interests gave them all the exposure they needed, there was a distinct change of attitude.
Jacques said Rio was “looking at options to grow our positions in materials relating to battery technology” as the world shifts to a low-carbon future. Read more...
|♦ Volvo taps Asia's LG Chem, CATL for long-term battery supplies
Swedish carmaker Volvo said on Wednesday it had signed long-term battery supply deals with Asian firms LG Chem and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), as it pushes its EV target of 50 percent of sales by 2025.
The agreements follow a series of pacts between Asia-based battery companies and global carmakers, who are planning a $300 billion surge in spending on electric vehicle (EV) technology over the decade.
Volvo Cars is investing about 5% of its annual revenue - a little more than $1 billion a year - on electric and driverless cars.
Long-term battery supply arrangements are much-valued by carmakers and investors, as they help to clear supply bottlenecks at a time of soaring demand and hold out the promise of cheaper batteries over time. Read more...
|♦ Mercedes-Benz says half its sales will be PHEV or electric by 2030
Ola Källenius, who steps into the position of Daimler CEO from May 22, has laid out his Ambition2039 environmental plan for the automaker.
According to Källenius, the company sees the "Paris Agreement [on climate change] is more than an obligation – it’s our conviction".
In addition to reducing tailpipe emissions, the automaker says it will make all of its European factories carbon neutral by 2022. Read more...
|♦ 5 Factors Defining the “New Normal” in the Lithium Space
Speaking about how prices have performed in the past few years, Miller said the space saw a ramp up in prices starting in 2015, with the key factor impacting the market being that supply wasn’t able to react fast enough to what the industry was requiring at that point.
Starting at the end of 2017 and throughout last year, the space started to see a bit of response from the supply side and a new generation of mines coming to production. That resulted in a price correction both for lithium carbonate as well as hydroxide.
“We are now in a period where there is a ‘new normal’ in the market,” Miller explained.
Read more... to learn the five supply and demand factors that are defining this “new normal” that every battery metals-focused investor should pay attention to in the coming years.

domain: news


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In an effort to kickstart the flagging Google Wallet payment offering, Google has just acquired payments technology company TxVia. TxVia specialise in offering advanced processing systems for prepaid and gift cards. Sadly we can’t tell you much more about them as Google have ripped most of the TxVia website down and replaced it with a holding page.
However it’s pretty obvious that relationships are what Google are after as to date they’ve failed to make inroads into the mobile market. Google Wallet still only works with NFC mobile handsets on the Sprint network leaving them way behind PayPal in the race for anywhere anytime payments.
Google say that they’ve “worked closely with TxVia over the last year” but the big question is will the difference between working with them and owning them boost their payments offering? What Google needs to get Google Wallet on the map is for consumers to start using it and that will only happen when it’s an easy frictionless payment process. For that to happen firstly merchants have to offer it and secondly they’ve got to figure out a way for consumers to pay offline via Google Wallet. Currently they’re not even winning online which would at least get consumers to open accounts. To win offline they’re not only up against PayPal but also the incumbents such as Visa and Mastercard.
Maybe TxVia’s relationships and some 100 million accounts will give Google Wallet the boost it needs. Time will tell, but they need to start moving fast or they’ll be left even further behind in the payments race.


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Been eyeing the attractive new Defender but have yet to pull the trigger because your family needs three rows of seating? Land Rover has some exciting news for you.
According to an article at Automotive News Europe, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Mardel spilled the beans on an upcoming Defender variant that will add an extra row of chairs.
Scheduled to show up in the next 18 months, it’ll be called the “Defender 130.” Sharing its wheelbase with the current four-door model, the new rig will apparently be over a foot longer than the existing 110, measuring just over 200 inches. The two-door Defender 90 is 170 inches long, in case you’re wondering.
This addition to the lineup will plug a gap in product for Land Rover, since many of its tony competitors offer a three-row solution to customers. This is not lost on the suits at JLR. “The Defender 130 will hit a sweet spot in North America,” said Mardel on a call with investors late last month. He added the markets of “China and also the Middle East, which we’re not yet touching,” to his remarks about Defender 130.
In case you’re wondering, the 90-110-130 naming convention stems from the days when those number were directly tied to the wheelbase measurements of various Defender models. Clearly, that’s no longer the case but it does provide a handy reference ladder for customers who are new to the brand. Land Rover has been open about its intent to harvest some conquest buyers with the new Defender and its rugged design language, seeking to attract shoppers new to the brand.
Earlier this year, Land Rover announced a supercharged V8 engine will be offered in Defender. Presumably, it’ll be available in this new 130 variant, since it shares engine bay dimensions with other Defenders. The extra grunt will likely be welcome since the three-row will surely weigh more than its smaller brothers.
Globally, Defender ranked fourth in Land Rover’s sales volume last year with 16,286 sold.
LISTEN: We kick off Season 4 with at look at new EVs available in Canada.


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The beginning of a new year is often a time to reflect on the previous year and look ahead.
In doing so, many residents resolve to improve themselves by making resolutions.
Saving money, managing debt, getting fit and losing weight are atop the list of most popular resolutions for 2009, according to the federal Office of Citizen Services and Communications.
Saving money and managing debt can be accomplished by simply managing your cash flow, said Will Rogers, a senior financial adviser for Ameriprise Financial in Evans.
Like losing weight, changing spending habits isn't always easy.
"Changing your cash flow is as complicated as changing your weight," said Rogers, who also is a certified financial planner and charted financial consultant. "Eat less, exercise more. Spend less, save more. Neither one is necessarily easy. They are just simple."
Rogers said the best way to successfully follow through with a financial resolution is to change spending habits until they become automatic. He said to keep a diary of all expenditures to see where money is going, then create a spending plan and stick to it.
"You prioritize. You decide what you want to spend your money on," Rogers said, adding that any expenditure outside the plan over a set dollar amount should be discussed with a spouse or other person who can hold you accountable for spending outside of your plan. "It is not a permission thing. It is an accountability thing."
Most people have a handle on their large expenses such as mortgages, vehicle payments and utilities, Rogers said, but the big budget busters are the items closely related to a need such as purchasing a mansion instead of a more affordable home, or driving a Mercedes when a less-expensive vehicle will do.
Small expenditures can add up fast, Rogers said. So cutting out extraneous, impulse buys like a daily fancy coffee drink is a good way to save a little cash.
Rogers said most people are better off paying down high-interest credit card debt than saving or investing extra money.
"If you need help restricting your use of credit cards, wrap your credit cards in paper first, because this protects it, then wrap it in duct tape," Rogers said, adding that the cards are still accessible for emergencies. "The stronger the better."
He also suggests putting 10 percent of take-home pay in a savings account.
"When you first start this, have the savings in truly a regular savings account that is just awkward or inconvenient to access," he said. If money for needs runs out before the end of the month, the money is accessible.
Once residents have some money built up and are comfortable with their new saving habits, Rogers suggests moving the money from a savings account into a ROTH individual retirement account.
Rogers said investment safety comes with diversity.
"In my opinion, the safest investment is a collection of three or four really, truly different types of investments, each with its own risks, but the risks are different than the other three or four," he said. If the market negatively affects one kind of investment, it is unlikely it will affect them all.
Like managing debt and saving money, getting fit and losing weight can be a slow process that easily can become discouraging.
Hayley Zielinski, a personal trainer and Activate America coordinator at the Marshall Family Y in Evans, said people flood into the gym in January gung-ho about their new rigorous workout routine that often leaves them fatigued, discouraged and sometimes injured.
Start out slow and build up to a more strenuous routine to prevent injuries and build stamina, Zielinski said.
"They need to find what suits them," she said.
Those looking to join a gym, especially newcomers or those taking on a new exercise plan, should get familiar with the gym, its equipment and staff through a fitness orientation.
"They must always, always make an orientation with a fitness trainer, whatever gym they go to," Zielinski said.
"They need to know how to use the equipment safely and correctly."
An orientation is often a tour given by a certified trainer through the gym to explain how to use the equipment. The trainer also can help plan an exercise regimen to match the goals, fitness level and limitations of those looking to shape up.
Working out at a gym also can become a social activity.
"People just form friendships in the gym, because it is really not just about getting healthy and fit," Zielinski said. "It should be a place where you are meeting new friends and just doing new things."
Those looking to add more activity to their daily lives without joining a gym can increase the activity of everyday tasks.
Cleaning house, gardening and walking around the neighborhood are ways to move a little more at home, while opting to take the stairs instead of an elevator or parking a little farther away from a store can add a few extra steps to the day.
"They can buy exercise DVDs ... there are so many on the market that cater to beginners," Zielinski said, adding that everyone should be checked by a doctor for medical problems and other physical limitations before beginning an exercise routine.
Like getting a handle on financial issues, dieting and losing weight is not an easy road, but is based on simple principles.
"It is not rocket science. There is no magic pill," Zielinski said, adding that crash or fad diets can cause more harm than good. "It is calories in versus calories out."
Those looking to lose weight in a healthful way need to eat sensibly and burn more calories than they are taking in.
In the end, Zielinski said, to succeed in losing weight and getting fit, people must stay positive and find a regimen that they can do and enjoy long-term, including the activity, the gym and the diet.
"It is all about something that you can do for the rest of your life," Zielinski said.
The Columbia County News-Times ©2013. All Rights Reserved.


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This trend, said Sales Manager Andy Green, reflects “increasing international concern” about the environmental effects of palm oil production. “We are working with many more clients who have identified how important it is to their business to be able to provide assurance about the sustainability of the palm oil that they use. We anticipate that the trend towards certification will continue to gather momentum worldwide.” Palm oil represents around 30% of all vegetable oil production around the world and can be found in one in 10 supermarket products, including both food and toiletries.
One client who has already achieved certification with BM TRADA is AAK UK, in Hull, specialists in edible oils and fats for the food manufacturing and baking industries. Marketing Controller Judith Murdoch said: “We have been working with BM TRADA for only 18 months, since we started on our journey to gain certification. This is a complex commodity and supply chain but BM TRADA has, in a short time, gained a clear understanding of the issues affecting our product sector. It is crucial to have a robust audit system in place to ensure the success of the RSPO system and we were delighted to be amongst the first to achieve certification.”
BM TRADA became the first independent body to gain approval to carry out third-party certification under the RSPO schemes in March last year, and is still the only UK body with RSPO approval. With a worldwide network of joint venture partners and representatives, BM TRADA has in depth experience of supply chain certification, working with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and other national schemes.
BM TRADA Certification
Tel: 01494 569700


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Lululemon Founder Chip Wilson: 'Now Is the Right Time to Step Away' The controversial leader resigned from the company's board today, after having stepped down as chairman in 2013.
This story originally appeared on Reuters
Lululemon Athletica Inc founder Chip Wilson, a sometimes controversial figure who helped build the Canadian yogawear retailer into an international success story, said on Monday he was resigning from the company's board.
"I believe that now is the right time to step away," Wilson said in a statement.
Wilson, who founded Lululemon in 1998, withdrew from day-to-day management in early 2012, and stepped down as chairman in late 2013.
Shares in Lululemon fell 1.4 percent at $65.34 on the Nasdaq.
In early 2013, the company was hit by a high-profile recall of its signature yoga pants after complaints mounted that they were overly see-through. Wilson briefly returned to take a more active role in operations.
The fallout from the recall led to departures of top executives and a public relations headache for the company.
The problems were compounded later that year, when Wilson said fabric in some pants was not holding up because some customers' thighs rubbed together, adding that "some women's bodies just actually don't work" for Lululemon's clothing.
His comments sparked an uproar, in part because of the perception that Wilson was blaming quality issues on customers. Wilson later said he was "sad for the repercussions of his actions."
Wilson stepped down as chairman in December 2013, but stayed on as a director.
Tensions remained, however, as Wilson lashed out at the retailer's board last June, saying the new chairman and another director were too focused on short-term growth.
A proxy war was averted when Wilson agreed to sell one-half of his 27 percent stake in Lululemon to private equity firm Advent International for $845 million. Under the agreement, Advent added two of its senior managers to Lululemon's board.
Lululemon has seen the beginning of a turnaround in recent months, under the direction of new chief executive officer, Laurent Potdevin.
Wilson said he will work with his wife and son on their new business, Kit and Ace, a luxury casual wear company that opened in July.


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The UK's smallest operator, Three, has launched a preemptive strike against the NFC gang of three which was announced in June, claiming its exclusion is competitively motivated. The alleged cartel, which still lacks a name, is jointly owned by Everything Everywhere, Telefonica UK and Vodafone, and is intended to create a …
The operators will screw this up, just like they seem to screw everything else up.
I can see either one of the payment companies succeeding, or maybe Google. But not an operator.
NFC = Near Field Communications
You obviously have not been paying attention recently...
Time for the naughty step laddie.
No Flipping Clue
National Flight Centre, Nuclear Fuel Complex, National Football Convention, National Finance Centre, Network File Control, National Freight Corporation, National Fertilizer Corporation, who knows?
I wonder whether this is actually about some kind of "RFID" technology? There is nothing like a bit of confusing re-branding to make a flawed technology more secure. I seem to recall the UK Gov ministers avoiding the potential security and privacy problems with RFID tags in UK passports by the simple expedient of refusing to call it by that name. Perhaps the same thing is going on here, but it is hard to tell. In my view, an RFID tag by any other name smells just as bad.
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- Episode 9 BOFH: The current value of our IT ASSets? Minus eleventy-seven...


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Toronto-based lighting manufacturer Eurofase has announced several key appointments. Industry veteran James Ashley, who was most recently Senior VP/Sales at ELK for the past 10 years, is now VP/Sales, a position in which he will oversee all sales for Eurofase.
The manufacturer has also promoted 20-year company veteran Sue-Anne Montoute to Customer Service Manager. Known for her passion in serving customers and for her problem-solving skills, Montoute has worked alongside the Commercial Sales and Customer Service teams to give Eurofase a competitive advantage.
New to the lighting category, but not to the marketing field, Alyson Martin has been hired as Eurofase’s Director of Marketing. With more than 10 years of successful marketing experience in retail, Martin will lead Eurofase in brand development, social media, digital management, communications, product launches, and an updated go-to-market strategy.


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Over the past year, China’s ZTE has expanded in the U.S. market by selling affordable smartphones with technological features comparable to more expensive models from better-known brands. The next big challenge for ZTE is how to build a brand image that isn’t just about low prices. In the U.S., ZTE was the fourth-largest smartphone vendor in the third quarter with a market share of 6.3%, behind Apple, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, according to Strategy Analytics.
Last month, the Shenzhen-based handset maker expanded its sponsorship deals with U.S. National Basketball Association teams, becoming a sponsor for New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors in addition to its existing partnership with Houston Rockets that began last year. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Lixin Cheng, head of ZTE USA, talked about what the company is doing to build a consumer brand in the U.S. Read More »


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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA (October 28, 2019) – Ten months ago, car enthusiasts and patrons of Alpio’s at Troon began opening their hearts and their wallets the second Saturday of each month to raise money for charity.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, Alpio Barbara, owner of Alpio’s at Troon, and Sue Pille of Platinum Companies, will present a check for $40,000 to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation/Golf-Fore-Charity at the monthly Cars and Coffee at Alpio’s at Troon event.
“It’s amazing how a $2 tip has turned into $40,000,” said David Reese, who along with Mike McDaniel and Tiffany Sharp are co-chairs of Golf-Fore-Charity 2020. “It’s no secret that Alpio has a passion for cars, people and helping kids. We’re honored to be a part of this great event.”
This year’s check presentation is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Alpio’s Troon, 10452 E. Jomax Road, Scottsdale. Last month’s 2-year anniversary event drew 153 custom and high-performance cars. Cars and Coffee runs from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month.
In November 2017, Barbara hosted his first Cars and Coffee at Alpio’s. It continued to grow, even after Barbara was in a life-threatening motorcycle accident in April 2018.
“I knew the show had to go on,” Barbara said. “My great circle of friends came together and kept the event going. A gentleman in attendance at the June 2017 event wanted to leave a $2 tip for the free coffee provided by Platinum Companies. ‘That’s not necessary; we’re just happy to have you join us.’ In July, a tip jar for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation was placed at the coffee counter.”
Each month Barbara and House of Hardtops match the tips. Golf-Fore-Charity will match any donations collected up to $2,000 for the month of November.
Additional donations are raised by the North Scottsdale Coffee Group charging a nominal fee to go on group rides around Arizona.
“It all adds up,” Barbara said. “It’s not about me; it’s all about the kids.”
About Alpio’s Troon
Alpio Barbara is a Californian who now spends most of his time in the Valley. The owner/operator of Redwood General Tire in Redwood City, Calif., he was awarded Tire Dealer of the year by Modern Tire Dealer Magazine in 2016. Like so many successful entrepreneurs Alpio just couldn’t slow down so he has combined his personal passion and collection of automobiles with yet another business venture. Needing a place to store and display his cars and motorcycles, he bought a building in the Villages at Pinnacle Peak shopping center at Alma School and Jomax in the Troon development. He designed and built a classic 1950s style diner with a dozen of his ever-changing collection of cars prominently displayed with a backdrop of life-size mannequins of the Rat Pack, Marilyn Monroe, motorcycle officers, vintage gas pumps and more. Hanging from the ceiling are large-scale models of military aircraft acquired from private collections and period neon signs. For more visit https://alpiosattroon.com.
For 19 years, Golf-Fore-Charity has actively raised money for Phoenix Children’s Hospital and St. Vincent DePaul. Last year’s total contributions of more than $1.4 million placed this 501 c3 charity in the Top 15 charity events in Metro Phoenix. For more information, contact Dave Reese, Co-Chairman at (602) 679-0966 or visit Golf-Fore-Charity.org.
About Platinum Companies
Platinum Companies, Inc. has been designing and building luxury custom homes since 1999. Our success is no surprise. It is the result of hard work, trust and integrity, the three ingredients we prize above all others. Our team is a group of professionals with innovative and creative ideas from backgrounds in engineering, design, architecture, construction, accounting and supervision. For more information visit platinumcompanies.com.


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The energy crisis in Argentina will cause an increase in wine prices of up to 15% according to sources in the industrial sector.
The lack of natural gas has had a direct impact on must and glass suppliers, who have had to use alternative sources of energy up to seven times more expensive. The constantly increasing price of energy also accounts for a significant rise in winemaking costs.
Wine bottles are the hardest hit. Glass suppliers use natural gas as a main source of energy, representing almost 5% of the cost of each bottle.
Not only is the price of gas increasing, but supply has also been reduced. Bottle manufacturers have had to look to alternative sources, in some cases using fuel oil, which is several times more expensive.
Cattorini, one of the biggest glass suppliers in Argentina, has already announced a 15% increase in the final price of its bottles. Wineries will have to decide whether to absorb the extra cost themselves or raise the price of their wines.
Power cuts are another problem. Energy consumption has been increasing but electrical companies have not made any investments since 1998. The impact on the wine industry, however, will be moderate, since wineries use little energy during wintertime.
The minister of Economy, Roberto Lavagna, announced that over $2,000 millon will be devoted to facing the energy crisis.
Written by Jaquelina Jimena


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J-Phone Announces Global Rental
J-PHONE Co., Ltd., to be renamed Vodafone K.K. tomorrow, announced today that on October 1 it will launch Vodafone Global Rental, a mobile handset rental service for visitors to Japan. With this offering, visitors who come to Japan either on business or pleasure can now enjoy the same communication services that they do at home. Vodafone Global Rental is not just a mobile handset rental service for visitors toJapan-customers of overseas mobile operators who have roaming agreements with J-PHONE(currently 110 operators in 79 countries and areas) can enjoy voice, SMS and packetroaming in Japan by simply inserting their GSM SIM card into a 3G rental handset, a firstin the Japanese market.
Vodafone Global Rental services will be managed by Australia-based GSM Rentafone Pty Ltd.(Japan Branch), a rental company that has a tie up with J-PHONE.
To provide its customers with a service environment similar to their home country’s whileroaming abroad, J-PHONE will launch a Short Code (designated number) service wherebysimply dialing 151, J-PHONE customers can access the international call center whileabroad. The service will be available on Vodafone networks in five countries at the timeof launch with further expansion scheduled thereafter. In addition, visitors to Japanroaming on the J-PHONE network with Vodafone Global Rental will be able to enjoy a similarservice environment. Customers will be informed of available Short Codes automatically bySMS in their Welcome Message when visiting a roaming partner network.
On the day of its company name change to Vodafone on October 1, J-PHONE is furtherbreaking down the barriers of mobile communication with new global services.For more information, please contact:
J-PHONE Public Relations
Tel: +81 3 6403 1000
J-PHONE: +81 90 6010 4034


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Ford trims 2017 profit forecast over credit arm
Ford Motor Co. on Thursday lowered its 2017 adjusted pre-tax profit estimate, citing an expected $300 million reduction to its Ford Credit business over previous guidance a few months ago.
Ford, in a regulatory filing, said it expected Ford Credit adjusted pre-tax profits would total about $1.5 billion in 2017 due to lower used-car auction values. Ford in September said it expected its Ford Credit subsidiary would make about $1.8 billion in 2017.
“The focus of the reduction in auction values had been in small vehicles and small utilities,” said Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks in a forum for analysts and investors Thursday. “It’s now starting to spread to other vehicles as well.”
The automaker expects to continue to take in more vehicles at the end of their leases, and prices being paid at auctions for those used vehicles is declining. About 200,000 vehicles are coming off lease this year at Ford, the company said, and it expects more next year.
Shanks said Ford expects its core business to improve next year and in 2018.
The Dearborn-based automaker reaffirmed it expects the company’s overall adjusted pre-tax profit will fall in 2017 from the $10.2 billion it expects to earn this year as it invests in emerging opportunities. Ford this fall lowered its adjusted pre-tax profit outlook for 2016 by $600 million due to a recall.
It predicts profits will improve in 2018.
Ford stock was trading down less than 1 percent in trading Thursday morning.


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Macy’s said Monday that it plans to hire 2,900 seasonal employees for its 11 Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores in the Miami metro area.
The new hires are part of its plans to fill 86,000 seasonal positions at its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers nationwide for the 2014 holiday season. The company’s 2014 season hiring plan is up 3.6 percent from 83,000 in 2013.
Seasonal associates at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s serve customers on the selling floor, work in store operations positions, interact with customers via the telephone in call centers, and staff the distribution and fulfillment centers that coordinate shipments to stores and directly to customers who buy online or via mobile, Macy’s said.
Most seasonal positions are part-time, and often require the applicant to work evenings, weekends or overnight. In some cases, temporary seasonal associates are offered open year-round positions based on their skills and performance over the holiday season.
Applications for seasonal positions at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are being accepted at www.macysJOBS.com and www.bloomingdalesJOBS.com. Candidates who submit applications online will receive a response via email. Hiring for store sales positions will begin in mid-October. The company said it has already begun hiring for sales support positions, such as in distribution centers, call centers and store receiving.


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Ever since VMware bought Nicira last July the term software-defined networking (SDN) has taken off, with players like Cisco, Juniper, VMware and even HP and IBM jumping on the bandwagon.
- Google+ leak affects 52 million users and G Suite users
- Microsoft's big Windows Defender ATP update: bad macros, fileless malware and faster response
- Singapore's central bank launches S$30 million cybersecurity grant for finance sector
- Huawei security fears - paranoia, blowback, or both?
- UK Facebook internal docs reveal Zuckerberg plans for exploiting user data


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After 25 years, DC will distribute their comics to shops without the help of the industry’s traditional distributor.
DC Comics is cutting ties with Diamond Comics Distributors and will use the two new distributors that came into existence during the coronavirus pandemic to deliver comics to retailers.
Lunar Distribution and UCS Comic Distributors, the distributors with ties to comics retailers Discount Comic Book Service and Midtown Comics, will distribute periodicals to stores. Retailers can also order books through Penguin Random House, who handle DC’s trades and graphic novels for the book trade.
“After 25 years, DC and Diamond Comic Distributors are ending their long-standing relationship,” a spokesperson from DC told The Hollywood Reporter. “Moving forward, comic book retailers can obtain their DC books from Penguin Random House, or their books and periodicals through Lunar or UCS comic book distributors. DC continues to be committed to providing the Direct Market with best in class service and the fans with the world’s greatest comic books.”
Continue reading “DC Comics drops Diamond as they shift completely to Lunar, UCS”
Plus: Lynda Barry, ‘Cathy,’ Brian Hibbs and more.
Censorship: The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Marcello Crivella, sent a team of law enforcement agents to the International Book Fair in his city to confiscate any and all copies of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, on the grounds that it shows a same-sex kiss. The mayor was concerned that it was “sexual content for minors” and would lead the children of Rio de Janeiro astray, but the joke was on him: The comic had sold out by the time his officers got there. The festival organizers took him to court and won an injunction against any further seizures or attempts to pull the festival’s permit, but the ruling was partly overturned the next day. “We will always continue to defend the family,” said the mayor, an Evangelical preacher, who apparently found a drawing of a kiss to be a more pressing matter than the fact that 40% of Brazilian children live in poverty.
Late-breaking addendum: Despite Crivello’s admonition that “Books like this need to be wrapped in black sealed plastic with a content warning displayed on the outside,” the daily newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo put the image on its front page.
Continue reading “Comics Lowdown: Rio mayor arrives too late to seize ‘Avengers’ comic”
Plus: Seth Mann, Bianca Xunise, Mimi Pond, Noah Van Sciver, Peter Bagge and more.
Passings: Indian cartoonist Mohan Tadi, described by one admirer as “a humanist cartoonist” and another as “the first cartoonist to introduce European satire to telugu journalism” has died at the age of 67. (Telugu is an Indian language.) Born in Andra Pradesh in 1951, Mohan studied at Andhra University and began his career in 1970 as a sub-editor at the Vishalandra Telugu, a daily newspaper. He worked for several newspapers and as an independent journalist as well as a cartoonist; he was also the head of animation for Sakshi News.
Continue reading “Comics Lowdown: Indian cartoonist Mohan Tadi has passed away”


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Virtual Pay is the newest global payment gateway to enter the East Africa market. The company launched its services recently at the Serena Hotel. It was also awarded the PCIDSS certification during the event. PCIDSS is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is the global standard governed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC).
Speaking about Virtual Pay, the company’s CEO, David Morema, was at hand to say, “We at Virtual Pay strive to be one of the world’s leading global payment technology companies. We have a best-in-class portfolio of payment solutions and are positioned to continue in our pursuit of excellence in providing cutting-edge payments solutions. Our promise it to continue to drive growth for businesses by creating tomorrow’s technology, solutions and services to modernize payments.’
The company is operating in a wide range of industries such as: Financial Services; Online Retail & Trading; Hospitality & Travel among others. The company’s launch was attended by payment industry professionals like bankers, retailers, insurers and technology providers.
Also speaking during the event, the MD of Digital Jewels, Adedoyin Odunfa, who were the Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) engaged, affirmed Virtual Pay’s commitment to aligning it technology and processes to the globally accepted payment security standards.”
Dennis Njau, the Associate Director Payments at Equity Bank also spoke at the launch. He affirmed the importance of synergies between the different players in the online payments processing space. The conversation into the future will be driven by all actors – acquiring banks such as Equity Bank, Fintechs such as Virtual Pay, among others.
Write to us firstname.lastname@example.org


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Android apps have been secretly sharing usage data with Facebook, even when users are logged out of the social network – or don’t have an account at all.
Advocacy group Privacy International announced the findings in a presentation at the 35th Chaos Computer Congress late last month. The organization tested 34 apps and documented the results, as part of a downloadable report.
The investigators found that 61% of the apps tested automatically tell Facebook that a user has opened them. This accompanies other basic event data such as an app being closed, along with information about their device and suspected location based on language and time settings. Apps have been doing this even when users don’t have a Facebook account, the report said.
Some apps went far beyond basic event information, sending highly detailed data. For example, the travel app Kayak routinely sends search information including departure and arrival dates and cities, and numbers of tickets (including tickets for children).
Language learning app Duolingo was among several apps that the report called out for sharing extra data, including “how the app is used, which menus the user has visited, and other interaction information”.
The occasional message telling someone that you’ve opened a language learning app and decided to brush up on your German may seem harmless enough, but it still has Privacy International worried. The report said:
If combined, data from different apps can paint a fine-grained and intimate picture of people’s activities, interests, behaviors and routines.
Moreover, the report says that this basic SDK data could cross over into a special category of user data specially protected under GDPR. If you open a medical or religious app and that data is sent to Facebook, it could include data about the user’s health or religious beliefs, it says.
This is more likely when apps send this information with a unique Google advertising ID (AAID), which according to the report they often do. Many advertising technology companies sync AAIDs across different devices so that they can build a better profile of a user’s activities across mobile and desktop.
What could Facebook use such information for? Some possible uses highlighted by the report include matching contacts and building targetable audiences. The social network has also been known to track application usage in the past to gain market intelligence about which apps people are using, as it did with the Onavo VPN product that it purchased and subsequently removed from Apple’s app store.
Facebook provides opt-out mechanisms that are supposed to allow people without Facebook accounts to control the ads they see. However, using those opt-outs don’t stop the apps sharing the users’ usage data, the report alleged. Neither do enhanced controls to govern how apps collect data, which Google included in Android 6.0 and up.
Apps share this event data via a software development kit (SDK) that developers must use if they want their apps to interact with the social network. The report says that while developers have been able to restrict the event data that they send for a while, the SDK still sent the basic data about opening apps as part of an initialization process that developers couldn’t control.
The default data collection could put Facebook in violation of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), according to Privacy International. The inability to stop their own apps sending data to Facebook led several developers to contact Facebook raising concerns about compliance.
The report warns that automatically giving up user event data via the SDK may contravene GDPR’s consent rules, adding that even if the user agreed to blanket terms and conditions when installing an app, they couldn’t easily revoke that consent later. It said:
…under the default implementation of the SDK, personal data is transmitted to Facebook before an individual has had the opportunity to be provided with further information or to consent to such data sharing.
Facebook released version 4.34 of the SDK on 28 June, which it said allowed developers to delay sending SDK initialization data until the developer had gained the user’s consent. However, that SDK release came 35 days after GDPR came into effect. Even now, developers must still opt to delay the SDK sending that data.
The report suggests that the SDK as it stands may well violate GDPR’s principle of data protection by design and by default, which requires companies to gather only the data they need for specific purposes:
…the design of the Facebook SDK together with the default Facebook SDK implementation does exactly the opposite, namely automatically (by default) transferring personal data to Facebook for unspecified purposes.
Should Facebook be responsible for how third-party developers pass on user data? Privacy International thinks so, asserting that they share responsibility:
Facebook cannot simply shirk responsibility for the data transmitted to it via Facebook’s SDK by imposing contractual terms on others such as App developers or providers.
Some developers have already responded to the Privacy International report. Skyscanner, which was using a pre-June version of the SDK, said that it had updated its app to use a newer version and would audit its consent tracking.
Privacy International’s research project couldn’t have come at a more sensitive time for Facebook. The Irish Data Protection Commissioner is already investigating the company’s data breach last year, which saw up to 50 million accounts compromised, to see if it violated the GDPR:
Investigation commenced into Facebook data breach. @DPCIreland statement beneath. #dataprotection #GDPR #eudatap pic.twitter.com/7eHKUigTq5— Data Protection Commission Ireland (@DPCIreland) October 3, 2018
6 comments on “Some Android apps are secretly sharing your data with Facebook”
How has this gotten so out of hand!? As few as 20 years ago no one would have believed that a few companies would be able to follow my movements so closely. They say it’s just for advertising, but as the article mentions, there could be religious and medical implications as well. This isn’t good by any means or standards. Unfortunately, this is one of those bells that cannot be on unrung, no matter how many laws are put in place. As I’ve always said, you make a rule, I’ll find a way around it….. unfortunately.
If Facebook shares data about your travel plans with a third party – say a company that is part of an international burglar ring that makes it a point to rob houses while people are on vacation, can Facebook be sued for contributing to the burglary? Or will they be exempt like Agency xxx is for creating exploits used in international crimes?
I know, not really a question, more of a statement. It’s just so frustrating to see these Data Leaks generate fees/fines/taxes for companies, while individuals get jail time. It sends a clear message to companies that they can do anything and only have to share a small portion of the profits to cover the fine.
Thank you for reporting on this abusive trend, and noting some of the companies that are being responsive to privacy concerns.
The best way to protect your privacy is not to share any personal data at first with companies like Google. I am using /e/ on my Galaxy S9 instead of Google Android. It is Android based mobile OS designed with privacy in mind. Does not send any private data like contacts, emails or location to Google. Instead of Google apps it uses open source android apps. So far it works great.
Why was the name and url removed? Im interested in anything other than google..
The name of the product is right there in your comment. Easy enough for anyone who is interested to find.
For safety’s sake we don’t allow off-site links in comments.
Hi, thanks for reporting this important issue. Please note, that iOS-Apps are also affected. A smaller study from the German consumer information platform mobilsicher.de has published a very similar study some weeks prior to Privacy International (disclaimer: I am the author) with the same results. The iOS-Versions from this study were subsequently tested and all of them had the Facebook-SDK too. Would be great if you update this in your blogpost.


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A number of grocery stores have pulled frozen biscuits from their shelves after a recall over fears of listeria contamination.
The T. Marzetti Company issued a recall of a number of its frozen biscuit products over concerns that the foods may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to USA Today. A list of the products that were recalled, along with their UPC numbers, is below. All "best by" dates are included in the recall.
No illnesses have been reported.
Stores that have pulled the products from shelves include Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly and Lowes Foods. The products were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Only biscuits were included in the recall from brands such as Southern Home, Shur Fine, Valu Time, Food Lion, Food Club, SE Grocers, Piggly Wiggly, Lowes Foods, Premium Pick, Laura Lyn, among others.
In a Dec. 29, 2017 statement, the T. Marzetti Company called the voluntary recall a "precautionary measure."
None of the products are ready-to-eat and had baking instructions which would reduce the risk of illness, but the company advised consumers not to eat these products.
It said consumers can destroy the products or return them to the store where they bought them for a full refund.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause the food poisoning condition listeriosis, according to WebMD. Pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems can be especially vulnerable to listeriosis.
Symptoms include nausea, fever, muscle aches and diarrhea. The infection can also spread to the nervous system, causing loss of balance, convulsions, stiff neck, confusion and headache.
Pregnant women affected by listeriosis may run the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery or stillbirth.
People older than 65 are four times as likely to contract listeriosis because of weaker immune systems and reduced stomach acid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of all listeria infections occur in people who are 65 or older.
In general, healthy adults will not need treatment for listeriosis, and it will go away in a few weeks on its own. For those at risk, however, antibiotics may be needed.
Listeria bacteria can be inside many types of foods, including soft cheeses, raw sprouts, melons, hot dogs and other lunch meats, smoked seafood and unpasteurized milk.
Safe food handling can help prevent listeriosis, such as refrigerating meat and dairy items and not consuming raw or undercooked meat or fish. The CDC also advises eating pasteurized dairy products to avoid listeriosis.


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The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is currently reviewing proposals from Tishman Speyer to construct new attractions at Top of the Rock, New York City’s historic public observatory at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown, Manhattan. The attractions will debut as “Lunch atop a Skyscraper,” named after an iconic photograph of 11 construction workers seated along a steel crossbeam high above 30 Rockefeller Plaza in 1932.
Vinyl retailer Rough Trade recently debuted a new Manhattan flagship store in Rockefeller Center. Following seven years in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the retailer has relocated to Midtown and is now open for business in the former RCA Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, just steps from Radio City Music Hall.
In an exciting reveal, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has approved plans from Tishman Speyer to construct a lush rooftop park above Radio City Music Hall and a pedestrian bridge connecting the property to 1270 Avenue of the Americas.
Insurance conglomerate AIG has officially announced the relocation of its global headquarters to 1271 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown, Manhattan. The new headquarters will span eight floors or approximately 325,000 feet.


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The Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index, a real-time measure of the flow of goods to U.S. factories, retailers and consumers, fell 0.5 percent on a seasonally and workday adjusted basis in April, marking a continuation of the see-saw economic performance experienced over the past 12 months.
The Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index, issued Wednesday by the UCLA Anderson School of Management and Ceridian Corp., is based on real-time diesel-fuel consumption data for over-the-road trucking and serves as an indicator of the state and possible future direction of the U.S. economy.
By tracking the volume and location of fuel being purchased, the index closely monitors the over the road movement of raw materials, goods-in-process and finished goods to U.S. factories, retailers and consumers.
“Though down in April, the decline offset only a fraction of the exceptional 2.7 percent gain posted in March, which was sufficient to drive continued growth in the three-month moving average of the PCI,” said Ed Leamer, chief PCI economist and director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast.
“However, the disappointing 1.8 percent growth of real GDP in the first quarter remained consistent with the pattern of modest, fitful economic growth reflected by the PCI since the first quarter of 2010," Leamer said. "The most recent report reinforces our long-held cautious, below-consensus outlook for growth in GDP and employment.”
“Until we see acceleration in the PCI, we expect monthly employment gains to remain range-bound between 150,000 and 200,000 new jobs,” Leamer continued. “For the second quarter, the PCI suggests GDP growth in the 2 percent to 3 percent range, not the 5 percent to 6 percent range necessary to drive meaningful reductions in unemployment.”
Year-over-year growth in April was again positive, up 3.5 percent. This was the 17th straight month of year-over-year improvement in the PCI and a clear indication that the economic recovery continues.
From an absolute standpoint, GDP remains ahead of the previous peak reached in the fourth quarter of 2007. But the PCI and industrial production are still about 5 percent below their previous peaks – meaning that the goods-producing component of GDP is still well below its previous high.
“Over time, the PCI has shown a substantial correlation with industrial production,” explained Craig Manson, senior vice president and index expert for Ceridian.
“In fact, the PCI forecast of 0.8 percent growth in industrial production for March matched the estimate subsequently released by the Federal Reserve. This was the second straight month that the PCI matched the subsequent government estimate. Based on the relatively weak April result, the PCI is calling for growth of 0.25 percent in industrial production when the government reports its number on May 17.”
The PCI is not only closely correlated with industrial production, it has also shown a remarkable correlation with retail sales over the past 10 years.
© 2017 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.


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August 13, 2013 9:54:58 AM
TORONTO -- BlackBerry will consider selling itself after the long-awaited debut of its new phones failed to turn around the struggling smartphone maker.
The company said Monday that its board has formed a special committee to explore "strategic alternatives" in hopes of enhancing the company's value and boosting adoption of its BlackBerry 10 platform.
The company said its options could also include joint ventures, partnerships, or other moves.
The Canadian company's U.S-traded stock closed up 10.5 percent to $10.78 on Monday.
The BlackBerry, pioneered in 1999, had been the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other consumers before Apple debuted the iPhone in 2007 and showed that phones can handle much more than email and phone calls. In the years since, BlackBerry Ltd. has since been hammered by competition from the iPhone as well as Android-based rivals.
In January, the company unveiled new phones running a revamped operating system called BlackBerry 10 designed to better compete. But its market share continues to lag.
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SAN DIEGO, CA – Following the recent passage of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, GlobalFoundries (GF), a world leader in high-performance semiconductor manufacturing, and San Diego-based Qualcomm Technologies have announced that they will double their long-term wafer manufacturing agreement.
The intent of the expanded agreement is to secure the supply of electronic tablets and support U.S. manufacturing by expanding the capacity of the company’s state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication facility.
The announcement was made in Washington, D.C., during a CEO Summit co-hosted by GF, Ford Motor Company and Applied Materials and attended by National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainability William LaPlante and National Security Council Senior Director for Technology and Homeland Security Tarun Chhabra.
Qualcomm Technologies, said GF has been manufacturing the high-performance chips for the California company for many years. In 2021, Qualcomm Global Trading (QGT), a subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, was one of GF’s first customers to secure its supply with a long-term agreement spanning multiple geographies and technologies. That agreement secured 22FDX capacity at GF’s Dresden facility and will now include capacity at GF’s recently announced Crolles (France) facility, making QGT a major customer for GF’s proprietary technology in Europe.
QGT has also secured capacity in GF’s market-leading silicon-on-insulator (RFSOI) radio frequency technologies for the Sub 6GHz 5GHz 5G front-end module (FEM), which will be manufactured primarily at GF’s Singapore facility, where site expansion plans are well advanced and a full ramp is expected in early 2023.
The announcement of specifically expands QGT’s U.S. collaboration with GF on FinFET for 5G transceivers, Wi-Fi, automotive and IoT connectivity. GF’s FinFET platforms provide a best-in-class combination of performance, power and area that is well suited for high-end mobile, automotive and IoT applications.
“This agreement through 2028 demonstrates what we have always known: that the industry will grow here when we are competitive with Asia and Europe. With major new federal incentives for U.S. microchip manufacturing, I look forward to many more announcements like this,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
Worldwide demand for semiconductors is growing at an unprecedented rate, and GF is responding to this growth through a series of long-term strategic agreements with existing and new customers, as well as simultaneously expanding global capacity to meet customer demand in collaboration with federal and local governments.


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The Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, the Hon Michael Sukkar, issued a compulsory recall on 27 February 2018 for all vehicles with defective Takata airbags, following an ACCC safety investigation.
The Takata airbag recall is the world’s largest automotive recall, affecting an estimated 100 million vehicles globally. It is the most significant compulsory recall in Australia’s history, with over four million affected Takata airbag inflators and involving more than three million vehicle recalls.
The compulsory recall required suppliers to account for 100% of affected vehicles by 31 December 2020 (unless the ACCC had agreed to an extension).
After 31 December 2020, suppliers have ongoing obligations to replace affected airbags. If a consumer has not yet sought a replacement airbag during the operation of the recall, they should still contact their vehicle manufacturer for a free replacement.
- Consumer Goods (Motor Vehicles with Affected Takata Airbag Inflators and Specified Spare Parts) Recall Notice 2018
- Explanatory statement (Takata)
- Compulsory recall of vehicles fitted with defective Takata airbags - Minister’s media release
Recall progress data
Recall progress data as at 30 June 2021.
- Total airbags replaced
- Total airbags deemed compliant
- Total airbags remaining
 Total airbags replaced: Total number of airbags replaced or otherwise accounted for. E.g. the airbag has been retrieved and/or confirmed as destroyed.
 Deemed compliant: Includes vehicles reported by suppliers as unrepairable or for which deemed replacement is recognised under the Takata compulsory recall due to being a statutory write off, unregistered for two years or more, exported, stolen or the supplier has complied with its communication obligations and the consumer is unresponsive or uncontactable.
 Total airbags remaning: Total airbags remaining excluding those in vehicles deemed compliant.


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Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India or Self-reliant India is the new ray of hope in the form of a scheme initiated by India's Government. The Aatmnirbhar Bharat scheme lays the foundation stone for the long-term reformation and growth in the Indian Economy's crucial sectors that would lead to raised per capita GDP in the hour of crisis. Aatm Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India is like a dream come true for plenty of business setups, migrants, vendors, indigenous families, etc. The Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India has played a cosmic role in the lives of suppressed sectors and people and has been a great success in converting the time of crisis into opportunity. The scheme has proved to be a blessing in disguise for most business organizations and people tremendously affected by the pandemic. The primary reason behind launching the strategy was to pursue those policies that are efficient, competitive, long-lasting, and resilient. The scheme resulted from India's efforts, which could sense the atrocities suffered by the majority of Indians and came up with this thought to revive the people's distorted lives.
On Tuesday, May 12, the whole world was waiting for the next step of the Indian Government; our Prime Minister Narendra Modi came up with the scheme of Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan as a sigh of relief to millions of uprooted business and lives of the people. Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan popped up as a shower of rain in the barren land, bringing relief for restoring the Economy and suppressed classes. The Aatmnirbhar Bharat yojana is the economic package announced in various tranches for refilling the empty pockets and stomachs who suffered a lot amidst the coronavirus crisis.
Union Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman made an announcement in a press conference regarding new fresh stimulus measures in the list of stimulus notifications - Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0, Indian folks have earned Diwali gifts from the central government via an eagerly-awaited stimulus package to provide the much-needed boost to the Indian economy. This announcement aims to uplift the COVID-19 hit economy and incite employment in the formal & informal economy, simplifying the process of carrying out business, increasing the deadline for the CLGS Scheme (Credit Line Guarantee Scheme), improve housing infrastructure, and more.
Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India is the stimulus package worth Rs 20 lakh crore that got allotted for different sectors to impede this pandemic's adverse effects. It is an economic relief package that has emerged as a light at the end of the tunnel for various uprooted sectors and people. As the name suggests, Aatmnirbhar Bharat scheme aims at making the people of India and the Nation self-sufficient in every manner by relying more on local goods rather than imported goods. The scheme facilitates to convert the period of crisis into opportunity by availing the means of livelihood, reliefs, and exemptions to many.
As per the source, the package announced under Aatm Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan worth Rs 20 lakh crore is equivalent to 10% of India's GDP. Our Prime Minister said that to deal with the current economic imbalance for COVID-19, we all need to focus on the Self-reliant Mission. He also stated that the Government should deliver more information about the financial package under Aatmnirbhar Bharat scheme in the coming days, announced in tranches. Our Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, later told about the five tranches of the economic package under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India. She also provided the detailed break-up of the 20, 97,053 crore package via a press conference.
This overall package includes INR 1.92 lakh crore measure announced by the Government as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan scheme. The monetary and fiscal measures announced by RBI were earlier in addition to the package. The Finance Minister has unveiled the tranches back to back accordingly for each crucial sector under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. She also has added how the stimulus package of Rs 20lakh crore will boost the Indian Economy with proper classification in favor of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Yojana.
In the speech, Modi Ji presented this new economic package of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India as one that would address the majority of businesses and workers' needs and enable India to become more self-reliant. The Aatm Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India shall cover five pillars: "economy, infrastructure, technology-driven system, vibrant demography and demand" and would further involve "land, labor, liquidity, and laws." He also gave the example that India's production of personal protective equipment (PPE) earlier in the pandemic was quite limited. Now more than 200,000 PPE kits and N95 masks are manufactured in India daily under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Our prime minister clarified that being Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan or self-reliant mission does not mean cutting off from the outside world, isolation, or solidarity; it is more or less about self-sustaining and self-generation. In no way a self-reliant scheme aims to be protectionist. The scheme's proponents have clearly expressed that India shall always welcome foreign direct investment, technology, ideas with open hands. It seeks to translate it into being a more significant and most crucial part of the Indian Economy. The world's current situation tells us that being Aatmnirbhar under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan or self-sufficient is the only path that can pull us out from the dark phase. To promote the same Government of India through Aatmnirbhar Bharat, Abhiyan focuses on being self-reliant and has initiated the slogan of "going vocal for local." Go vocal for local does not only aims at manufacturing local products but also promoting the same.
The intended objective of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India is two-fold:
Due to the long-lasting lockdown phases, India has come to a very crucial stage. Indian culture has always backed the concept of being Self-Reliant. Our Prime Minister explained the mission of this Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan as not being self-centric but being self-sufficient to bring co-operation and peace to the world. The Aatm Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India is a re-packaged version of the 'Make in India' concept with more benefits for the MSME sector, motivating private participation in various sectors, escalating foreign direct investment in the defense sector, and many others. The primary objective is the economic reform that will restore economic growth to its desired level.
Talking about the vision for the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, The Prime Minister urged to come up with a detailed analysis of every sector and think big in a new way. He further added that Intent, Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure, and Innovation are critical factors for India in responding to a high growth trajectory. According to him, such reforms are a systemic, planned, integrated, inter-connected, and futuristic process for the Nation's overall development. In his vision, he aims to promote local products and suggest everyone improve the quality, modernize the supply chain, and provide the best products. He emphasized more on inner strength and self-belief for making this Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan a successful mission.
The benefits and reliefs under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India are available for the cottage industry, home industry, small-scale industry, MSME, laborers, farmers, middle-class people, and those Indian industries which are working to boost our Economy consistently and dedicatedly.
Important areas upon which the scheme shall lay its benefits include:
The key highlights of the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India are:
The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, under Aatm Nirbhar Bharat scheme, did announce the package in five tranches in a press conference. The package is inclusive of Rs. 1.7 Lakh crore of free food grains to the poor and cash flowed to poor people and liquidity measures and interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India, which amounts to Rs. 8.01 lakh crore.
The Finance Minister has unveiled the tranches under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India as:
A total INR 5, 94,500 crore allotted for this tranche under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India, which shall solely focus and emphasize strengthening India's backbone and Economy. MSME is the real backbone of the Indian Economy; central banks and the Government are taking all possible measures to uplift small scale sectors' growth and development. Actions taken in the first tranche includes the following:
After the first announcement of the installation package, our Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the second tranche, mainly focusing on the Migrant laborers, farmers, and street vendors. INR 3,10,000 Crore allotted for the second tranche under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Yojana. The detailed elaboration of the measures taken by the Government in this regard includes:
A rental housing scheme is initiated for urban poor and migrant workers under PM Awas Yojana under which Government housing converted to an affordable loan for migrant laborers and workers. It will cost INR 11,000 Crore to the Government for providing food and shelter to migrant workers.
In addition to these specified measures, the Finance Minister also added other reforming labor laws. There are few specific future steps in favor of the migrant workers taken up by the Government for the migrant workers:
Under the third tranche of Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India, the Government has focused on agricultural reforms. Under this tranche, the main aim is to strengthen agrarian sectors, animal husbandry, fishery, and dairy. The Government announced an overall sum of INR 1.5 lakh crore as the agricultural infrastructure fund. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman came up with other necessary economic measures that solely focused on developing better infrastructure and capacities in rural areas. These additional measures, such as governance and administrative reforms, are also included in the list.
Aatm Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India also focuses on the legal framework related to the agricultural sectors, including making amendments in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Government is willing to bring the agrarian marketing reforms to increase farmers' marketing choices through central law. It will help the farmers expand their business in the open markets, large retailers, and exporters transparently.
Under the Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Government announced a fourth tranche worth INR 20 lakhs in favor of eight critical sectors like coal, defense, minerals, airspace, etc. The fourth and fifth tranches have an equal value of INR 48,100 crore, including the additional figure of INR 40,000 crore for MNREGA for creating job opportunities amidst the nationwide lockdown. And INR 8100 crore is in favor of viability gap funding.
In the last and fifth tranche of Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, our Finance Minister announced an additional package of worth INR 40,000 crore in seven steps for MGNREGA, health and education, decriminalization of Companies Act, Ease of Doing business, state government funds, and others.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the economic and social infrastructure of India. The world is now standing at the edge of a massive financial breakdown. India is going through an economic downturn while announcing 10% of the GDP under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India is a bold decision. Many sectors have already gained the relief funds, and other measures shall come in action soon to the respective sectors under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. But it depends very much on how these measures and schemes of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan will draw a rising curve favoring India's economic growth line. While the stimulus package under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India offers relief to various sectors, every Indian citizen has a significant role to play. The Prime Minister urged each of the citizens to promote local products and use Indian products comparatively. This, in turn, will enhance the domestic products, and people will start depending upon local goods and products, thereby contributing to the Economy.
Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India played a vital role in improving the economic condition of India. It has lived up to our expectations in restoring the ruined conditions of various sectors and the people's lives. Under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India, the financial assistance got distributed as per the needs of the industry.
Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India has been a great success and is implemented successfully in all the relevant sectors. As an Aatmnirbhar Sena, we are also contributing relentlessly to provide round-the-clock assistance to all the budding entrepreneurs and business establishments and help them establish their venture and secure a new means of livelihood for them. We have left no stone unturned in presenting this Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India, a successful mission by being their strength in this hour of need. The post-COVID-19 era may usher in unprecedented opportunities under Aatmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, provided the implementation deficit is effectively addressed. Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan in India is a success story for all of us.
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Google's Ara Project Set To Introduce Customizable, Configurable, and Modular Smartphone Handsets in Early 2015
The Google Ara project is set to revolutionize the way many people buy and use mobile phones in the near future. The goal of the project is to create a modular cell phone that can be assembled and configured according to the user's hardware preferences and budget. Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) department has a working prototype that is supposedly near completion and could be unveiled before April 2014th comes to a close.
Fully Customizable Phones That Are Easy to Upgrade With Endless Component Possibilities
The new type of phone would allow users to customize and upgrade their devices on an ongoing basis, individually replacing virtually every component including the processor, keyboard, memory chip, battery, screen, microphone, and any other piece of the phone. Users would buy an empty phone frame with nothing but the ports attached and then they would be free to buy and install new components as they wish.
The Ara phones will create an open hardware platform in which a phone could be quickly and easily upgraded and modified in the same manner as a PC. Perhaps even more exciting is the fact that virtually any type of electronic component could theoretically be attached to the main modular unit. In fact, according to MIT (who conducted a review of the pending prototype) it will even be possible to connect a module that reads blood oxygen level, or a module that allows for night photography.
Modular Phones May Bring High-Tech to the Less Fortunate
While it may seem as though these new modular handsets would be geared towards the upper class, it has actually been suggested that they will be made available to people in developing nations, where the cost of upgrading to the latest handset every year isn't practical for the average citizen. Instead, a consumer could buy and improve their smartphones one component at a time, gradually constructing a better device as they go along.
Although it is an admirable cause – creating a hardware platform that allows people to easily and affordably obtain the latest smartphone technology as their budget allows – it may be difficult for Google to persuade some of the world's tech giants to change their incredibly profitable whole-device upgrade sales structure.
Modular Hardware Components To Be Manufactured By 3D Printers
Another interesting point to note is that the components for these new modular phones will be printed out using 3D printers by a company called 3D Systems. Google is also working with a design company with the goal of letting users customize the aesthetics of the phone (i.e. - a custom casing decorated with the artwork or color-theme of your choice).
3D printers are one of the most exciting technological innovations of our generation, making it possible to literally print out fully functional items that can be as complex as microchips and aircraft components. They are basically miniature factories that can construct an item of any specifications out of special plastic and metal molding materials.
While the initial upgrade components will be manufactured at a corporate location by 3D Systems, in the future we could see people ordering a phone upgrade (i.e. - a new processor) and then printing it out right from their desk at home.
How Good Can These Phones Get?
Unfortunately, producing a top-of-the-line smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S4 using nothing more than a 3D printer might not be practical at the moment, so the first generation of modular phones will probably be more comparable to the mid-range cell phones that were popular 10 years ago. However, as technology advances it is certainly possible that high-quality upgrade components could be distributed to allow for the construction of some truly impressive custom smartphones.


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EA stock soars despite deal doubts
Mixed analyst reaction to BioWare/Pandemic deal can't stop publishers' shares from hitting 52-week-high.
Yesterday, Electronic Arts announced that it would purchase BioWare-Pandemic from Elevation Partners for a grand total of $860 million in cash and other compensation. The initial reaction from the stock market has been positive, as shares of EA were trading up 4.4 percent this morning to a new 52-week high of $61.28. However, the reaction from analysts has been slightly mixed.
In a note to investors this morning, Pacific Crest Securities' Evan Wilson noted that the acquisition gives EA a better foothold in the action-adventure category, but openly questioned the price paid. He noted that BioWare and Pandemic fetched as much as RedOctane ($150 million), Criterion ($68 million), Mythic ($76 million), Bizarre (he estimates $40 million), Havok ($110 million), GLU Mobile ($210 million), and Harmonix ($150 million) combined.
"The price should also raise questions about [EA CEO and former Elevation Partners executive John] Riccitiello's relationship with [BioWare-Pandemic shell company] VG Holdings," Wilson wrote. "While he recused himself from the board for the final vote on the acquisition, we do not think that EA would have acquired VG Holdings without Ricitiello as CEO, or if it did, not for this price. We have not heard from our industry sources that this was a competitive bidding. While the acquisition will benefit Riccitiello to some extent, it benefits Elevation significantly and appears to be a concession to the other partners of Elevation because he left to go back to EA with his work in building a large-scale video game publisher only partially complete."
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter also noted Riccitiello's ties to Elevation Partners, saying he stands to benefit up to $4.9 million from the transaction. However, he also said the deal appeared to be fair and notes EA's disclosure of the potential conflict of interest in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
"We think that the acquisition, though pricey, will likely pay off," Pachter wrote. "The two studios have averaged almost three games per year over the last seven years, so in order to generate $300 million in revenue, their games will have to average around $100 million in sales, or 2 million units, apiece. Although these are big numbers, we note that several prior efforts were multi-million unit sellers. Should the two studios future performance mirror their prior performance, EA will likely achieve its goal of $300 million in annual revenue."
Lazard Capital Markets' Colin Sebastian didn't directly address whether or not the "significant" acquisition cost would turn out to be a sound investment, but did note that the developers are a "good strategic fit" for the company, and bring with them roughly 800 skilled developers. Nollenberger Capital Partners' Todd Greenwald also acknowledged the price paid for EA was steep, but ultimately said it was a wise use of the company's cash on hand.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.


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Facebook FB -1.31% users will soon be able to receive notices on their mobile app when they’re near friends, signaling an effort by the online social network to play a bigger role in real-world interactions.
Users will have to opt in separately to the feature, called “Nearby Friends,” and agree to give Facebook permission to track them at all times, even when not logged into Facebook.
Facebook said it will introduce the service gradually in coming weeks. Users of Facebook’s mobile app will get notifications prompting them to opt in.
Some privacy advocates expressed concerns about the implications for users of opting into the service. Chris Conley, a policy attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, said Facebook should keep users “regularly aware” of everyone with whom they’re sharing location. Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, called on the Federal Trade Commission to review the product.
A Facebook spokeswoman said users will receive regular reminders about Nearby Friends, and that the company regularly discusses its products and features with the FTC and other regulators.
With the new feature, Facebook is entering an already crowded space occupied by the likes of casual dating app Tinder and social check-in service Foursquare. Radar, a smartphone app released last year, tells users where their Facebook friends are. Cloak, on the other hand, uses Foursquare and Instagram to locate friends – and help people avoid them.
Facebook briefly tested a feature similar to Nearby Friends in June 2012, but quickly stopped after news reports of the test surfaced. At the time, Facebook said the effort was an experiment.
This time, Facebook is hoping to do better by leveraging its more than one billion users. Nearby Friends grew out of Facebook’s 2012 acquisition of mobile app Glancee.
Andrea Vaccari, Glancee’s former chief executive, said developing Nearby Friends posed two technological hurdles: making sure the Facebook app didn’t overwhelm users with too many notifications or drain the phone’s battery.
Source: Wall Street Journal | REED ALBERGOTTI


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brand new Mazda CX-9 crossover to be revealed at LA motor show
Source : brand new Mazda CX-9 crossover to be revealed at LA motor show
Mazda offers a glimpse at its brand new seven-seat SUV ahead of the LA motor show, nevertheless the brand new product isn’t coming to the UK
The sketch reveals the CX-9 has more aggressive external surfaces appearance than its predecessors in addition to also takes some design cues via the Koeru concept car unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
Mazda said the brand new CX-9 is actually the latest evolution of its Kodo design language in addition to also “moves toward a more premium design execution in which befits a three-row midsize crossover SUV.” The CX-9 offers seven seats as standard.
Engine options with This specific second-generation CX-9 haven’t been revealed, nevertheless Mazda has stated the item will feature “the latest SkyActiv technologies”. The current CX-9 comes with only one engine choice from the US – a 3.7-litre V6 petrol with 269bhp in addition to also 270lb ft of torque. the item seems likely in which the brand new car will continue to offer one petrol engine.
Despite the growing appetite for SUVs in addition to also crossovers in Europe, there are currently no plans to sell the brand new Mazda CX-9 here.
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Record low interest rates are expected to boost transport stocks this year, with executives positioned to present optimistic outlooks at first-half results even though any rebound in consumer spending may not be felt until later in 2013. Toll Holdings’ shares have risen 17 per cent since early December amid expectations the logistics group shifted reasonable amounts of retail and consumer goods over the Christmas period, although concerns remain it is losing business to Australia Post as more people shop online.
Tollroad group Transurban has been weathering the economic slowdown well, retaining solid traffic on its Australian roads. But its US roads have been less popular, with its new 495 Express Lanes near Washington DC producing disappointing traffic flows.Consumer spending is being closely monitored by Asciano chief executive John Mullen, who has already signalled his Patrick ports operations had “bumper" months in October and November, in part due to Australians’ penchant for new cars.
The prospects for Asciano’s Pacific National coal haulage business are less clear, with rival Aurizon having already indicated it expects 2013 coal haulage volumes to be at the low end of its forecast range and the most recent Queensland floods having once again disrupted operations. Aurizon is expected to retain BMA as its largest customer and win most of the contracts. As the incumbent operator, it has the flexibility to win any bidding war by pricing off depreciated train sets, according to Merrrill Lynch.
The Australian Financial Review


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IGA defibrillator saving lives for Calliope residents
THERE is no price on saving a human life and Calliope residents can do just that now a defibrillator has been installed at the IGA shopping centre.
Calliope Rotary Club president Marilyn Rayment said she welcomed the lifesaving equipment.
"The Calliope (and District) Community Bank contacted Calliope Rotary to oversee where to put the defibrillator,” she said.
"It was located outside the glass doors of the IGA shopping centre.
"This will be handy to have for any emergency first aid.
"The instructions on the container are very user friendly.”
A defibrillator or Automated External Defibrillator is a small compact medical device used to deliver a 'shock' to a victim's heart following a sudden cardiac arrest.
It is used to 'restart' a victim's heart rhythm to keep them alive.
Calliope community bank branch secretary Robbie Williams said he was glad to support the lifesaving venture.
"This defibrillator is very central, visible and in a high-traffic area if it's ever needed,” he said.
"The defibrillators cost approximately $3000 each but that's a small price to pay when saving someone's life.”
The idea came about after a series of discussions between St John's first aiders and bank branch manager John Wessling.
There are now three defibrillators in the region; one in the Boyne Valley at the Discovery Centre, the Calliope Bowls Club and now the IGA.


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For the second year the Ahwatukee Foothills community is being encouraged to shop local for a day on Saturday, Aug. 17.
The Cash Mob, as the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it, is different from a Small Business Saturday. Residents are encouraged to shop anywhere within the Ahwatukee Foothills Village since many businesses are run by Ahwatukee residents and the taxes from each sale directly benefit the local community.
The chamber hopes people will use the event as an excuse to try a new business or to simply patronize one they already love.
“Last year we got a response from the community thanking us for reminding them about our local businesses and who the owners of these businesses are,” said Anne Gill, chamber president and CEO. “They’re our neighbors and they’re active in our community. The second response we got was from businesses, whether they were members of the chamber or not, thanking us for reminding the community about the local businesses and focusing on the effort to shop local first.”
Because the event is being sponsored by the chamber, many chamber members are hosting specials this Saturday to encourage shoppers to come through their doors. All those deals can be found at ahwatukeechamber.com.
Businesses in Arizona usually slow down in the summer while many residents are away enjoying cooler weather. Now that schools are back in session, Ahwatukee businesses are ready to get back to business themselves. The Cash Mob is an effort to get people out of the house and supporting their local economy.
“It’s just our effort to keep reminding people how important it is not only for businesses, but for the community as a whole,” Gill said. “It’s important to shop local first and support our local businesses and our local economy. the dollars spent locally go back into our economy in a greater way than those that aren’t spent here.”
For more information or to search for deals, visit ahwatukeechamber.com.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-7914 or firstname.lastname@example.org.