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Anyone scolded for pulling faces as a child could soon feel free to blow as many raspberries as they like. Not at dear old mom and dad, of course, but at their phones—to unlock them.
The Google idea for replacing standard passwords with specific facial gestures appears in a patent filed in June 2012. BBC News detailed the patent's plan to boost the security of Google's existing Face Unlock feature for Android smartphones, but could not get Google to comment on when such a feature might appear in consumer devices.
The facial recognition feature can only become a trusted replacement for passwords if it can authenticate a smartphone owner's face every time without fail. Facial recognition software works best with an ideal image of a person's face looking straight ahead—similar to driver's license or passport photos—but can still mix up similar-looking faces.
Google's Face Unlock first ran into problems when people showed they could trick the facial recognition security with a photo of the smartphone owner. When Google added a "liveness check" by requiring users to blink, researchers at the University of British Columbia showed that could still trick the smartphone security by editing a person's photo to make them appear as if their eyes were closed.
The newly-revealed Google patent filing aims to boost facial recognition security by adding a "facial landmark" requirement—asking users to make a face such as frowning, sticking out their tongue or raising an eyebrow. Random combinations of facial expressions could make it even harder to fool the facial recognition security.
Google goes even farther down the road into future paranoia. Its patent imagines the security threat of a futuristic device that simulates video of a person's face to make expressions upon demand. A counter for such a device might include light beams reflected off the person's eyes or a "3D-rangefinder" that uses lasers to map the 3D profile of a person's face.
One cybersecurity expert interviewed by BBC News said it might be years before people can feel completely secure relying on facial recognition passwords. Still, a combination of facial recognition and other biometric security scans involving fingerprints, voice, or even ears might do the trick.
The patent filing is the latest evidence of Google's strong interest in facial recognition—whether for improving personal security on mobile devices or making it easier to identify people in Picasa Web photo albums. But the Internet giant seems keen to sidestep privacy concerns surrounding the possible use of facial recognition for surveillance or stalking, given its recent decision to ban the technology in its "Google Glass" smart glasses.
Photo: Martin Palombini/Corbis
Jeremy Hsu has been working as a science and technology journalist in New York City since 2008. He has written on subjects as diverse as supercomputing and wearable electronics for IEEE Spectrum. When he’s not trying to wrap his head around the latest quantum computing news for Spectrum, he also contributes to a variety of publications such as Scientific American, Discover, Popular Science, and others. He is a graduate of New York University’s Science, Health & Environmental Reporting Program.


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- CORONAVIRUS NEWS: Confirmed cases of Covid-19 rise above 13.1 million worldwide
- CORONAVIRUS NEWS: "Mixed messages from leaders are undermining the most critical ingredient of any response: trust." - WHO DG
- CORONAVIRUS NEWS: Automobili Lamborghini launches photographic project in support of Italy
- CORONAVIRUS NEWS: Find daily news, feature stories, quotes and advice related to the outbreak of Covid-19
Las Vegas News Briefs - January 2017
Release Date: 03 January 2017
CES® 2017 Celebrates 50 Years of Inspiring the World
CES returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 5-8 in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary. CES is the world’s largest gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. This year’s event is expected to attract more than 165,000 attendees. Throughout its illustrious 50-year history, CES has launched notable products, including VCR, Camcorder, CD Player, DVD, HD Television, Satellite Radio, Xbox, Plasma TV, Blu-Ray DVD, Tablets, Notebooks, Smart appliances, Connected TV, Ford’s Electric Focus, Ultra HDTV, Driverless Car Technology, 3D Printers, Curved UHD, Wearable Technology. For more information, contact Heidi Hayes, LVCVA, email@example.com.
Celebrate the Year of the Rooster in Las Vegas
The sixth annual Chinese New Year in the Desert™ will celebrate the Year of the Rooster in Las Vegas Jan.27-29. Forbes Magazine named Las Vegas as one of the "8 Great Places to Celebrate Chinese New Year" in the United States and Canada. From cultural performances to parades and concerts, Las Vegas will not hold back for the new year. Participating venues include: Fashion Show Mall, Downtown Container Park and the LINQ Theater. For more information, visit www.cnyinthedesert.com or contact Jan-le Low, Golden Catalyst LLC, firstname.lastname@example.org.
Las Vegas Remains World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination
Las Vegas has been named the World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination for 2016, marking the fourth consecutive year it has been recognized for this honor by the World Travel Awards. The World Travel Awards supports and promotes the global travel and tourism industry by identifying and rewarding excellence and inspiring its practitioners to continually raise the standards of their product and service offerings. Recognitions like this one further cement Las Vegas as the ideal destination for meetings and conventions, hosting some of the biggest trade shows in the industry. For more information, contact Molly Castano, LVCVA, email@example.com.
Las Vegas Convention Center Moves Forward with Expansion Project
The LVCVA has moved forward with plans for their Las Vegas Convention Center District (LVCCD) project. The LVCCD will expand and renovate the current Las Vegas Convention Center property. Phase I of the project, which included the demolition and transformation of the Riviera Hotel and Casino, has now been completed. The Riviera site has been repaved and unveiled as the Diamond Lot, a parking and outdoor exhibition space. For more information, contact Amanda Arentsen, LVCVA, firstname.lastname@example.org.
Las Vegas Named Best U.S. City at Travel Weekly’s Readers Choice Awards
Las Vegas continues to impress the travel industry and has been named Best U.S. City in Travel Weekly’s 14th annual Readers Choice Awards. Ranging in 78 categories, the awards honor the best of the best in travel. The 2016 Readers Choice Awards were presented in December at a black-tie gala in New York during which many in the travel industry, from hotels to tours to destinations and airlines, were recognized for the quality and value of their products. Finalists were nominated and winners selected in two rounds of voting by readers of Travel Weekly. These kinds of recognitions further cement Las Vegas as a world-class travel destination. For more information, contact Amanda Arentsen, LVCVA, email@example.com.
Final Presidential Debate Generates $113.6 Million for UNLV and Las Vegas
The final presidential debate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) generated nearly $114 million in publicity for Las Vegas and the university. The figure is more than double the original projection anticipated by the host agencies. The Oct. 19 debate at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center was the third most watched in history, attracting more than 71 million television viewers. The figure does not capture individuals who streamed the debate online or through mobile devices. It was the first time in history that Nevada hosted a general election debate. For more information, contact Jeremy Handel, LVCVA, firstname.lastname@example.org.
Caesars Palace’s Alto Bar Introduces Las Vegas’ First Virtual Reality Lounge
On Dec. 28, Caesars Palace introduced Las Vegas’ first Virtual Reality Lounge, featuring Oculus Rift. Located in the private space of Alto Bar, the Oculus Virtual Reality Lounge will feature four Oculus Rifts with Touch, taking guests on a fully immersive 360-degree experience. The lounge will include a variety of the most popular VR games available, providing guests with the ability to manipulate objects and gameplay elements with extraordinary precision. For more information, contact Chelsea Ryder, Caesars Entertainment, email@example.com.
Wynn Las Vegas Announces Addition of Amazon Echo to All Hotel Rooms
Wynn Las Vegas and Amazon announced plans to equip all 4,748 hotel rooms at Wynn Las Vegas with Echo, Amazon's hands-free voice-controlled speaker. The introduction of this technology into every guest room, which began in December with installation in suites, will be an industry first in the world, allowing guests of Wynn Las Vegas to control various hotel room features with a series of voice commands via Alexa, the brain behind Echo. For more information, contact Deanna Pettit-Irestone, Wynn Las Vegas, firstname.lastname@example.org.
Grand Bazaar Shops Ushers in Exciting New Strip Dining Options
Grand Bazaar Shops has welcomed new and expanded venues within its growing outdoor dining and entertainment corridor. Showcasing a dynamic mix of well-known brands, unique first-to-Las Vegas concepts and international dining outlets, Grand Bazaar Shops offers exciting experiences and delicious tastes to suit a variety of visitor’s preferences. New additions include Chicago’s famed deep dish pizza venue, Giordano’s, and country music star’s John Rich’s first unique country music bar, Redneck Riviera, slated to open Jan. 1. Other fare includes the expansion of the popular Ramen-Ya, the addition of Istanbul Mediterranean, as well as the openings of locally-owned Born and Raised tavern and sub-shop favorite Subway. For more information, contact Michelle Monson, BRAINtrust Marketing, email@example.com.
Premier Social Lounge LEVEL UP Opens at MGM Grand
MGM Grand welcomed LEVEL UP on Dec. 29 as a new and exciting ‘place to play’ concept. Changing the way Las Vegas views lounge entertainment, LEVEL UP presents a new era in interactive, skill-based fun. Located between Hakkasan Nightclub and the MGM Grand Race and Sports Book, the tech savvy, adult playground will feature pay-to-play offerings in a social atmosphere, designed to not only attract the next generation of players, but also existing players seeking innovation. For more information, contact Kristina Bello, Hakkasan Group, firstname.lastname@example.org.
World’s Largest Marvel Retail Store Opens in Las Vegas
The immersive and educational attraction, Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. at Treasure Island Las Vegas launched a 7,500-square-foot retail experience on Dec. 17, giving fans superhero-sized access to a full range of apparel, toys, collectibles, housewares, and more in what is Marvel’s largest retail outlet in the world. Highlights include a green screen photo experience and the Become Iron Man interactive experience. For more information, contact Alissa Kelly, PR Plus, email@example.com.
Rí Rá Las Vegas Debuts New Event Space The Bordello
On the heels of its five-year anniversary, Rí Rá Las Vegas inside The Shoppes at Mandalay Place revealed The Bordello, a new event and dining space. The hidden gem expands Rí Rá’s total size to 11,000 square feet and provides guests with a new space for hosting private parties and events. Inspired by the classic high-end bordellos of years past, The Bordello transports guests to a bygone era with its high black ceilings, plush velvet curtains, Victorian red and gold interiors, lounge-style furniture and dim lighting. The venue spans 1,400 square feet of space, seats up to 64 dining guests and can accommodate up to 100 people for any reception-style event. For more information, contact Lea Komitzky, Kirvin Doak Communications, firstname.lastname@example.org.
Raiding the Rock Vault Coming to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas announced that it will soon be home to the ultimate rock concert experience. Raiding the Rock Vault will join the lineup of first-class entertainment on the property starting on Saturday, March 11, with headline shows inside Vinyl. Raiding the Rock Vault brings the history of rock ‘n’ roll to life, featuring classic anthems by the biggest acts in music, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Free, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Boston, Kansas, U2, Aerosmith, Van Halen, AC/DC, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Heart, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Supertramp and many more. For more information, contact Brigitte Ruiz, Kirvin Doak Communications, email@example.com.
Comedian Ralphie May Brings “No Apologies” Show to Harrah’s Las Vegas
The colossally clever Ralphie May is bringing “Ralphie May: No Apologies” to the Harrah’s Showroom at Harrah’s Las Vegas beginning Jan. 26. With no subject off limits, this raw, edgy, and uncensored, late-night show will reveal the hilarious quirks that infiltrate politics, race and even his family, curated especially for Las Vegas audiences. For more information, contact Brandee Taeubel, Caesars Entertainment, firstname.lastname@example.org.
City of Las Vegas Approves Expansion of Neon Museum
The Las Vegas City Council voted unanimously to approve a $425,000 grant from the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial to expand the Neon Museum—a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs. The grant will be used to purchase .27-acres of land adjacent to the current museum property. The grant is part of the Commission’s program in support of generating community projects that promote and preserve Las Vegas history. For more information, contact Jace Radke, City of Las Vegas, 702-229-2205.
Las Vegas Welcomes First Nonstop Flight from China
On Friday, Dec. 2, Hainan Airlines’ first flight from Beijing to Las Vegas touched down at McCarrran International Airport filled with excited Chinese travelers, media and company officials. This marks the first nonstop flight from mainland China to Las Vegas. With China considered to be one of the leading growth markets for visitation to Las Vegas, the accessibility of the new route introduces the destination to millions of prospective visitors and will be instrumental in increasing international visitation. It has been a longtime goal of Las Vegas to have a direct route from the historic Chinese capital. For more information, contact Heidi Hayes, LVCVA, email@example.com.
07 Jul 2020

domain: news


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Japan tech giant Hitachi has almost doubled its net profit for its first quarter, on the back of construction machinery, power and automotive systems businesses.
For the three months ended June, the company said that net profit was 7 billion yen (US$89.2 million), up from 75 percent from a year ago, according to its statement Monday. This was despite a 1 percent drop in overall revenue to 2.12 trillion (US$27.1 billion), which the company blamed largely on the blow to hard disk drive sales due to the supply chain disruption last year.
The postive factors were increasing operating income in the automotive systems, power systems and construction machinery on the back of higher revenues.
Hitachi noted that the Japanese economy staged a recovery in the first quarter, supported by higher public works spending to help for reconstruction efforts after last year's earthquake in Japan, and by higher consumer spending spurred by government programmes.
"Exports, however, struggled due to the global economic slowdown and persistent yen strength," the company said in the statement.
"In terms of the overall business environment going forward, credit worries in Europe are expected to drag on, while at the same time there is a slowdown building in China and other emerging economies," it added.
The rising yen and stiff competition have been adding pressure on Japanese companies, setting up a cautious outlook for the next quarter for them.


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Showing results for tags 'nakoruru'.
Storm Collectibles has released a preview image for their upcoming Samurai Showdown Nakoruru 1/12 scale figure. Stay-tuned for more images and details to be released soon.
Storm Collectibles has released some early prototype images for their upcoming Samurai Shodown Nakoruru figure. Look for more details on this figure to be released soon.


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Apple Fixing iPhone Signal Bug
Apple Fixing iPhone Signal Bug – Apple recently admitted that their iPhones’ signal bars give incorrect readings. The issue reportedly dates back all the way to the earliest iPhone. The phones have been showing two more bars than it should when the reception was low. The company said that the phones have been boosting the supposed signal strength in order to mask the poor reception that the phones had. The company said that it was embarrassed to have found the flaw in the phones, and would work to correct the issue.
“Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong,” Apple said.
iPhones have reportedly been displaying two more bars than they should have throughout the lifetime of the device. It is not immediately clear whether or not the boosted signal was done intentionally or not.
The company is also working to fix an issue with their iPhone 4, which was recently released. The company admitted last week that holding the phone in your left hand can block the signal for the phone, because your hand wraps around the antenna, which is located inside the phone.
The iPhone 4 sold 600,000 preorders almost as soon as the phone went up online. The rush to the Apple and AT&T websites was so huge that a number of users reported problems and security flaws during the check out process. AT&T had to shut their website down while the figured out the problem.


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Christmas Lite Show returns to LMCU Ballpark for 26th year!
The Christmas Lite Show, West Michigan’s largest Christmas light display, will return to LMCU Ballpark for its 26th year in 2023! “The whole mission is to bring a smile to the kids. It’s all about the kids,” says Christmas Lite Show founder Bill Schrader. Bill’s team of family and friends work hard year-round to bring new and …Read more


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What’s next for company that invented electric shavers and the CD?
However, for Europeans the history goes 100 years back with Philips. After Gerard and Anton Philips brothers opened up the company in 1881, it became the first company in Europe to commercialize the use of light bulbs. Thereafter, Philips dominated European markets in diverse sectors including TV, radio, music and home appliances.
It was the first in the world to start experimental TV productions in 1925, and by 1932, it sold a million radios taking the crown as the biggest radio manufacturer. And this is not the only “the world’s first” title they own. In 1939, they released electric shaver, in 1971 home video cassette recorder (VCR) and in 1982 they developed CDs.
Philips is well known as a health care and home appliances company, but for the past 120 years it has been a lighting giant in the world market. One out of four light bulbs used in the world is from Philips. One out of three cars and 65 percent of world airports are using lights produced by the company.
“Currently, lighting takes up 19 percent of the world electricity usage and due to increase in population and rapid urbanization, the rate is expected to grow further,” explicated Frans van Houten, the Philips’ CEO. “Therefore, we are focusing on LED (light emitting diode) lighting solutions development that could be connected to networks and is energy-efficient.”
“Lighting today accounts for 19% of the world’s total electricity consumption and we estimate that global electricity consumption can be reduced by 8% through the increasing adoption of connected, energy-efficient LED lighting solutions,” explicated Frans van Houten, the Philips’ CEO, about Philips’ recent focus in preparation for the electricity consumption due to increase further.
Recent developments evolved lighting technology into a “connected” sector where the light is connected to human, space and environment by internet and telecommunications technology. The change has brought diverse additional functions to lighting compared to the past when lighting was seen only as a light-emitting object.
For instance, the light turns on just in time for user’s return home and in emergency situations lights turn on and off to alert the people inside. People can also control lights remotely via smartphone outside of the house. “Additional functionalities and control is possible because light points can now be connected,” Houten said.
BY SOHN HAE-YONG [email@example.com]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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Steve Nash gyms to reopen under new brand, new owners after acquisition
A Steve Nash Fitness World location that closed down during the pandemic.
VANCOUVER -- Steve Nash Fitness World has been acquired by a group of investors, after laying off 1,300 staff and seeking creditor protection earlier this year.
The chain, which has more than two dozen locations across British Columbia, including Crunch Fitness and UFC GYMs, closed its doors in March because of the pandemic. By April, it owed tens millions of dollars and had filed for creditor protection.
Now, an undisclosed group of investors have acquired the rights to Steve Nash Fitness World & Sports Clubs, and in a news release Tuesday said the existing CEO, Chris Smith, will stay on.
"We have plans to rebrand the clubs and create incredible value for the communities that we serve," Smith said in the release. A note on the Steve Nash Clubs website said he will "navigate the return of the fitness centers for members, employees, and partners."
The new ownership team plans to honour all of the existing service agreements members had with the club, including personal training services, and says monthly dues will remain the same.
No information has yet been released on who the new owners are, or what the new branding will entail.
Meanwhile, other gyms are working to capitalize on the closure. Innovative Fitness said Tuesday it would offer "up to $1,000 in free personal training to Steve Nash members who are unable to access pre-purchased credits."


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Japanese authorities Thursday ordered two cryptocurrency exchanges to suspend operations as part of a clampdown following a massive hack that saw thieves steal hundreds of millions of dollars in virtual currency.
S Japanese authorities (Thursday)
V [ordered] 命じました
O two cryptocurrency exchanges 通貨交換
C [to suspend] operations
as part of a clampdown 取り締まり
O a massive hack 大きな痛手
steal (hundreds [of] millions [of] dollars)
[in] virtual currency.


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Electric car sales have more than halved this year. Figures obtained by CleanGreenCars reveal just 156 were sold from January to October 2008, compared to 374 for the same period in 2007.
News of the 58% drop comes as one of London’s two electric car distributors, Nice Car Company, was plunged into administration. Set up in 2006, the company had been selling an all-electric version of the French-made Aixam Mega.
It had also planned to bring a range of new models, including a two-seater and MPV, to market by the end of the year. However, sales dropped to fewer than one car a week.
“While volumes are still tiny, any drop in electric car sales will come as a shock to most people,” commented Richard Bremner, editor www.cleangreencars.co.uk “Perhaps the market for quirky electric vehicles like the Mega City and G-Wiz have had their day. Buyers could be holding off for cars from mainstream manufacturers, although they may still have years to wait before mass production is a reality.”
There are around 1,100 all-electric cars currently on UK roads. The vast majority are owned by Londoners and are quadricycles rather than fully type-approved cars. Congestion-charge concessions for all-electric vehicles helped create the market, however customers have since turned away.
So what hit sales?
CO2-based congestion charge proposals
Ken Livingstone’s proposals to exempt sub-120 g/km CO2 petrol and diesel cars from the congestion charge damaged the market. The proposals were subsequently scrapped by new mayor Boris Johnson, but many had turned away from all-electric motoring in the interim.
Electric quadricycles and safety
Quadricycles are not required to undergo the rigorous crash tests of standard cars like a Corsa or Fiesta. Their safety record has therefore been questioned with programmes like BBC Top Gear highlighting poor performance in an impact.
City of London’s U-turn on parking concessions
Electric cars were exempt from parking charges in the City of London, until a U-turn announced in June this year. The concession was thought to be worth up to £4,000 a year for those regularly parking in the City.
Models by mainstream car makers
Many early-adopters have become wary of dipping their toes in the market with independent companies like Reva and NICE, particularly since mainstream car makers announced their plans to bring electric cars to market.


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TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust.
Looking back: It might be hard to remember now, but when Diablo III launched in 2012, fans had two major gripes about it --- the always-online requirement and the auction house. Despite the many loudly voiced complaints, Blizzard kept the features for over two years, and the developers recently explained why --- it was the box.
First, let's remember the issues that had people outraged at Blizzard. Nobody wanted or asked for an auction house. Many cried "money grab" at the developer. Even more annoying was the forced online aspect of the game. Having to log in to Blizzard servers to play with friends is one thing, but the single-player campaign also required users to have an internet connection. The reason for this was "security."
One of the big problems with Diablo 2 was item duplication. Hackers would figure out exploits to create accounts with rare gear or loads of gold, then sell them online. Blizzard decided the best way to combat counterfeiting was to control the reseller market. So it created a marketplace they could monitor for cheats.
At this year's Portland Retro Gaming Expo, former Lead Designer Jay Wilson said the auction house was never about making money (masthead). They knew it would not generate much income compared to the likes of WoW. Instead, they aimed to control the marketplace, so players didn't get scammed. Of course, this required the game to be fully online.
"And that's the other reason we went online only," Wilson explained. "Because when you ... don't go online only ... the hackers got you."
Wilson said the team was not allowed to say it was for security because that would only provoke the hackers into trying to compromise their efforts.
While the developers wanted to remove both aspects immediately, they couldn't because the auction house was an advertised feature on Diablo 3's packaging. Lawyers feared a false advertising claim. So for two years, the dev and legal teams argued about the situation until they finally decided to remove the problems and hope for no lawsuits.
Since nearly the entire community hated these two aspects of the game, the gamble was worth the risk. They removed the marketplace and online requirement in 2014, and everyone lived happily ever after --- that is, until Diablo Immortal, but that's another story.


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Managing and tracking the success of sustainable packaging is about to get easier for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s (APCO) new SME Report streamlines the reporting process to reduce the workload and make it more efficient for members.
APCO works with government and more than 1500 businesses to reduce the environmental impact of packaging in Australia.
It is actively tracking and reviewing the industry’s progress toward achieving Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets, which includes 100 per cent of packing being reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
Recent updates to the Packaging Sustainability Framework and APCO Members’ reporting requirements come into effect for the 2022 Reporting Round.
APCO says members can complete annual reporting up to 80 per cent quicker with SME Report.
“The average small business owner has a lot on their plate so it is critical that we support them however we can. We know time is such a valuable resource for them, which was a key driver for us in streamlining the reporting process,” Brooke Donnelly, APCO Chief Executive said.
“SMEs can now more easily fulfill their responsibility for managing their packaging waste, while continuing to identify ways to improve their overall approach to managing it in a way that brings value to their business as well as the environment.”
The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, said many small businesses do not have the time, resources and expertise to be across legislative and regulatory change that affects them on an ongoing basis. Small business owners, who often must carry out a variety of tasks ranging from sustainability to human resources, face significant time constraints and reporting can be a significant burden on time.
APCO member and reusable coffee cup manufacturer KeepCup is empowering others to put sustainable packing on their agenda.
“The journey to reduce impact is without end. Technology changes, processes improve, and new materials become available. And most importantly customers are demanding change,” said Abigail Forsyth, KeepCup Co-Founder and Managing Director.
“Wise businesses are putting sustainability and the circular economy at the centre of their commercial strategy.”
For further information visit: firstname.lastname@example.org


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the mobile app that will make it even easier for you to keep track of your classes, no matter where you are or what device you’re on.
TeamWork 2015, the Google for Work Annual Partner Summit
Inbox by Gmail, helping you focus on the things that matter to you
Many organizations are in the dark about the security of their data, especially with the rise of shadow IT and numerous recent breaches. It’s no wonder IT execs are concerned about how their data is protected and who has access to their confidential information.
Today’s post comes from Henrik Poulsen at Arbejdernes Landsbank, a full service retail bank in Denmark. Arbejdernes Landsbank recently introduced Chromebooks to help customers become more digitally savvy.
Google Apps and a new integrated system delivers a stylish ‘front of house’ and hard working back office solution.
Chico’s FAS stores, use Chromeboxes to personalise the shopping experience by tailoring their digital signage to the city, the store, and even the specific department.


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Vintage Brand, a digital sports brand, and Curran Media Co., a sports marketing and brand development agency for athletes, have announced a non-exclusive partnership to develop and monetize merchandising brands for college athletes.
The Vintage Brand College Athlete marketplace allows athletes to build and develop their own personal merchandising brand. While the Curran Media Co. works with athletes to develop an individual brand strategy for each athlete and seamlessly execute the merchandising strategy to monetize each college athlete’s name, image and likeness.
“The Vintage Brand College Athlete Marketplace provides a turnkey platform to build and merchandise individual college athlete brands and allow fans to purchase branded merchandise,” said Chad Hartvigson, co-founder of Vintage Brand. “Our innovative technology platform and print-on-demand manufacturing enables college athletes to create and monetize their merchandising brand.”
Curran Media Co. is actively working with a select group of partners to expand merchandising opportunities for their NIL athletes. The Vintage Brand technology platform will enable Curran Media Co. athletes to create, build, and develop their personal merchandising brand. The platform provides a turnkey e-commerce store, printing, fulfillment, and customer service. College athletes earn money on every sale from their e-commerce store.
“This strategic partnership allows Curran Media Co. to leverage the Vintage Brand platform to create unique merchandising opportunities to help their athletes maximize their value,” said, Michelle Young, co-founder and creative director at Vintage Brand.
“The combination of Vintage Brand’s branding and e-commerce expertise, along with Curran Media Co. sports marketing and brand development, provides a best-in-class solution for college athletes to develop and monetize their brand.”
The new partners launched their initial NIL merchandising collaboration for Ole Miss Women’s Basketball AP Honorable Mention All-American Shakira Austin. Austin is expected to be a Top 5 pick in the WNBA Draft next month.
Both companies are founded by former college athletes. Curran Media Co. co-founders Tim and Pat Curran are brothers and played football at Bowling Green State University.
Vintage Brand co-founder Chad Hartvigson is a former University of Notre Dame and University of Washington baseball player and co-founders Michelle Young and Erik Hartvigson played basketball at Seattle Pacific University and Notre Dame de Namur University respectable.
About Vintage Brand
Vintage Brand is a digital sports apparel and merchandise brand celebrating the rich history of American sporting culture. Vintage Brand introduced the first college athlete brand merchandising marketplace offering college athletes the opportunity to monetize their name, image and likeness through branded merchandise.
About Curran Media Co.


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Allegiant Air is pitching the idea of you working from Las Vegas. With hotels on the strip struggling to bring in tourists during the pandemic, Allegiant will begin offering 3 and 4-night packages to entice remote workers to visit Vegas. You can do your job and then hit the tables. The “business trip” includes airfare and a stay at hotels like MGM Grand and Bellagio. Allegiant flies to 58 cities and the airline is based in Las Vegas.
Allegiant Air plans to start peddling work-from-Las Vegas travel packages, including nonstop airline tickets and a hotel room. The pitch: Fly, stay, work and play. https://t.co/uzAOazSkZu
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 30, 2020


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Master Mechanic: How Ford Is Making Car Parts From Coffee
At Master Mechanic, we’re all for innovation in the automotive industry–especially when that innovation helps reduce the environmental impact of vehicles on the road. That said, even we were surprised when we heard that Ford Motors and McDonald’s were teaming up for a project to do just that. How, is an interesting as the partnership itself.
McDonald’s serves over a billion cups of coffee each year, which means there’s a lot of associated waste involved in the production process. As an example, after roasting coffee beans, the skin, known as the chaff, must be removed and discarded. While it can be composted, it is often burned and sent to landfills instead. Each week, coffee roasters in North America produce 1.2 million pounds of chaff alone with no current use for it. That’s where Ford comes in.
Debbie Miewelski, Ford’s senior technical leader of materials sustainability, recently challenged her team to explore the potential of coffee by-products for vehicle parts.
Coffee into For Car Parts?
As common members of the World Wildlife Foundation’s Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance, it was easy for Ford and McDonald’s to begin collaborating. The team at Ford discovered they could heat the coffee by-product (chaff) under unique conditions and mix it with plastic to create a strong, heat-resistant composite. This composite just so happens to be the perfect material for a car’s headlamp. We say perfect because not only are the new headlamps more environmentally friendly than what Ford is currently using, they’re 20% lighter!
Drivers will begin seeing the new composite headlamps in Ford Mustangs and Lincoln Continentals in 2020.
Ford: A History of Environmental Innovation
This is not the first time that Ford has implemented an environmentally friendly alternative in their cars. From coconut fibre mats in the Ford Focus to rice hull electrical covers in the Ford F150, and a cellulose-based composite made from recycled paper waste in some center consoles and cupholders, they’ve always been committed to reducing the impact of their vehicles.
These innovations don’t just help lower the environmental impact of Ford drivers, either. Ever since Miewelski came up with a soy-based foam that could be used in car seats and cushions 20 years ago, Ford has been sharing their inventions with all companies. You heard that correctly. In the environmental space, Ford does not charge licensing fees for companies that want to use the technology. It’s a completely non-competitive space that’s focused purely on the benefiting the environment and slowing climate change. That’s something we certainly respect and applaud!
If you have any questions or concerns about your vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact your local Master Mechanic–or stop by for a coffee. We’re always happy to help diagnose the issue and provide you with options on how to proceed.


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Vivint CEO encourages entrepreneurs to pitch ideas
PROVO, Utah—A group of 10 Utah County-based startup companies competed to win $4,500 in cash and a chance to sit down with Vivint founder and CEO Todd Pedersen, according to an article from the Daily Herald, a newspaper based here.
The 10 companies were given a pitch environment in which they had four minutes to present business ideas to Pedersen, who asked questions and offered advice, though he did not pick the winner, which will be decided by an online vote.
Among products pitched at the competition was a baby monitor that tracks the vital signs of infants and sends the information to a person's smartphone, the article said.
It said that after gaining more than 1,000 votes, the Lunch Box Company took home the cash prize. The company also won the title of “Top Gun Entrepreneurs” in Utah Valley and the chance to meet with Pedersen, who heads home automation/home security giant Vivint, which is based here.
For the contest, the Lunch Box Company promoted a phone app that informs students at Brigham Young University where they can find free food on campus. Throughout the course of the contest, Pedersen counseled the presenters about the importance of protecting their products from duplication by competitors, stressing that the entrepreneurs should look to secure patents for their products, while ensuring the technology is easy for customers to use, according to the report.


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Chrysler's Chehab on 200, 300 SRT8 Models, Sales
March 27 (Bloomberg) -- Saad Chehab, president and chief executive officer of the Chrysler Brand for Chrysler Group LLC, talks about sales and design of the Chrysler 200 and 300 SRT8 models. Chehab speaks with Matt Miller at the New York International Auto Show on Bloomberg Television's "In the Loop." (Source: Bloomberg)
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Is the Trump Market Risk Overrated?
58:08 - AMP Capital Head of Dynamic Asset Allocation Nader Naeimi discusses his outlook for the markets, China and central banks monetary policies. He speaks on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia." (Source: Bloomberg)


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Discover more from The Shortcut
Samsung's new foldable phones launch August 10
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 poised to show up at a virtual Samsung Unpacked event on August 10
Samsung is offering up to $200 Samsung credit that can be unlocked with its Reserve Now campaign
It’s official: Samsung’s next big launch event is August 10, and that’s when we’re poised to see Samsung’s next two foldable phones – the rumored Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4 – alongside two Galaxy Watch 5 smartwatches.
In fact, the Samsung Unpacked 2022 invite seems to picture the foldable Galaxy Z Flip 4 phone in an almost Pac-Man-like pose. It shows August 10 > Today. Clever.
Galaxy Z Fold rumors point to a lighter foldable phone, better cameras, and maybe a cheaper starting price, although nothing will be confirmed until August 10. For me, any change that gets a foldable phone’s cameras closer to the top-notch Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (or any traditional flagship phone) would be welcomed.
I expect the clamshell-style Galaxy Z Flip 4 foldable phone to have a bigger outer screen, and we’ve actually seen leaks of a Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, neither of which have the rotating bezel of Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.
Samsung Unpacked 2022 will be held virtually, according to the event invite and will be bright and early: 9am ET / 6am PT with a live stream happening on Samsung’s site (and you can expect YouTube as well).
Samsung ‘reserve program’ returns
Samsung wants you to “reserve” its phones and smartwatches right now – even though they’re all unannounced. But the “Reserve Program” attaches incentives – up to $200 – to pre-ordering the devices, which, during a time when inflation is red hot, seems like a nice bonus. Plus, you don’t have to buy them in the end.
Here’s what you’ll get, depending on what you end up pre-ordering on August 10:
$200 credit towards Galaxy phone, watch and buds bundle
$150 credit towards Galaxy phone and watch bundle
$130 credit towards Galaxy phone and buds bundle
$80 credit towards Galaxy watch and buds bundle
$100 credit to use on Samsung.com towards eligible products when you reserve a Galaxy phone, which is double the credit of the Galaxy S22!
$50 credit to use on Samsung.com towards eligible products when you reserve a Galaxy watch
The Shortcut is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.


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The finance ministry of Thailand has reportedly eased up crypto tax rules to advertise funding within the digital asset market.
The adjustments to the tax rules come only a few weeks after the authorities scrapped its early plans of introducing a 15% tax on crypto positive aspects. The brand new tax coverage exempts crypto merchants from the 7% value-added tax (VAT) on approved exchanges, reported Reuters.
The revised tax coverage would additionally permit merchants to offset their annual losses towards positive aspects for his or her crypto funding. This comes as large aid for merchants, given a lot of the governments at this level are solely trying to tax positive aspects with out making an allowance for the losses incurred by merchants as a result of crypto market volatility. The brand new tax exemptions would come into impact from April 2022 and final till December 2023.
The brand new tax coverage guarantees to supply tax exemptions of as much as 10 years for buyers who make investments for no less than two years in crypto startups within the nation.
The finance minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith stated that the revised tax insurance policies had been developed to advertise the nascent digital asset market in South East Asia’s second-largest financial system. Thailand has grown to develop into one of many main crypto locations in Asia, owing to the federal government’s crypto-centered rules and skill to work on the suggestions from the stakeholders of the ecosystem.
The brand new tax insurance policies might additionally develop into a benchmark for different nations at the moment trying to impose some type of crypto taxation. Indian crypto merchants have been demanding one thing related after the Indian authorities introduced a 30% tax on crypto holdings with out accounting for the losses incurred by merchants.


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The COVID-19 pandemic has been rather tough for most businesses. While the virus inflicted an unprecedented threat to our health, the string of lockdowns and restrictions had a devastating impact on many business sectors. One such sector has been the restaurant and hospitality industry. With the continuous dip in sales, many of these ventures were forced to shut down or at least downsize their staff to cope up with economical challenges. However, in the middle of all this chaos, an eatery outlet in the US’ Louisville took its employees on a trip to Las Vegas as a reward for their hard work in testing time. Sounds too good to be true, right? But, it did happen.
Informing its customers about the closure of the outlet for a week, the eatery named Ramen House Louisville posted a Facebook picture of its employees sitting in the airport waiting lounge before the start of the trip. “Sorry, we are closed this week. Our employees have worked so hard and diligently through all the crazy times we went through. They deserve a break. So, we’ve decided to take them to Vegas,” wrote the eatery in its caption for the picture.
The sweet reward given by the eatery evoked a lot of reactions from people online and the post received over 2 thousand likes and nearly 1.5 thousand shares along with several comments from Facebook users. “This is amazing and a great way to show appreciation to your employees!! Yall the real mvps," wrote a user posting her appreciation for the eatery’s decision.
The comment section was flooded with reactions commending the eatery’s decision and people added that other businesses should also take inspiration and reward their hard-working employees.
And if the reactions are any indication, looks like the eatery is going to receive a lot of job applications in the near future. What are your thoughts on this decision?


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Is your phone or smart home device spying on you? Picks of the Week
Are your sensors spying on you? | Science Daily Amazon Makes the High-Performance 7-Mic Voice Processing Technology from Amazon Echo Available to Third-Party Device Makers | Amazon Hackable IoT washing machine provides channel for breaching hospital IT | CyberScoop Technology is infused in our modern life. Attempts at attaining perspective often fall to historical comparisons. Images frequently circulate of warehouse-sized computers from the 1960s which can hardly compare to the … Read More
Pell Center Cyber Leadership Fellow Takes Part in Data Privacy Day 2015 Conference
Data Privacy Day (DPD), an international effort centered on respecting privacy and safeguarding data, was celebrated on January 28 in commemoration of the signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Across the country and around the globe, people celebrated DPD with events aimed at raising consumer and corporate awareness about data privacy issues, including the Internet of Things (IoT), data breach … Read More
Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s an MQ-1 Predator!
Drones and American Society Over the last decade, drones have risen in the skies over America’s wars, along our borders, and now—increasingly—across our land. What are the implications for our civil liberties of a surveillance—and even strike—capability that is persistent and growing? Does the President have the authority to strike U.S. citizens with a drone? Are there ethical implications for drone warfare? Join us for a provocative lunchtime discussion. Lunch is … Read More


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J.D. Byrider Opens First New York location, 150th Store Systemwide
August 21, 2013 // Franchising.com // ALBANY, N.Y. – Albany-area residents have another option for purchasing used cars now that a new J.D. Byrider location is open at 2017 Central Ave., Albany, N.Y. The new store is the 150th J.D. Byrider dealership nationwide and the first in New York. First-time J.D. Byrider franchisees Thomas Hoffman Jr. and Ron Slone will own and operate the new location.
“J.D. Byrider has built a reputation on providing quality cars for those who have less-than-perfect credit,” said Hoffman. “We’re dedicated to help customers get a car and financing that fits their needs and budget – we’ll help make anyone ‘Good to Go’ in the greater Albany area.”
The 20,000 square-foot location will offer used car sales, 12 service bays, a 36-month/36,000-mile warranty for those who qualify to purchase a vehicle, affordable pricing on parts and labor, a customer service center and J.D. Byrider’s industry-leading financing options. The dealership will also create approximately 12 new jobs.
"Our Albany, N.Y., store represents a remarkable milestone for J.D. Byrider and our dealer body of 52 franchisees,” said Tom Welter, vice president of franchising at J.D. Byrider. “Twenty-five years into this business, our value proposition continues to resonate with our franchisees. Our current franchisees represent two-thirds of our new store openings in 2013, and our new franchisees see J.D. Byrider as one of the highest return-on-investment franchises in America.”
“Our business model and strong returns, combined with the relationships we have built with our franchise community, will continue to generate double-digit unit growth for the foreseeable future,” said Welter. “We look forward to expanding our footprint in new markets and states like New York to serve the needs of our customers."
In addition to the Albany location, J.D. Byrider opened new locations in Jackson, Miss., Barboursville, W.Va., Rockford, Ill., Bradenton, Fla., and Omaha, Neb., this year. Last year, J.D. Byrider had its biggest year for growth, opening 14 new dealerships across the United States. With these new stores, J.D. Byrider now has 150 locations in 30 states, with plans for continued growth in 2013.
About J.D. Byrider
Founded in 1989, J.D. Byrider is the nation’s leading used car sales and finance enterprise. The company was founded to serve customers with special auto financing needs and to ensure that they receive the same quality service in every J.D. Byrider dealership. With more than one million consumers matched to quality, affordable vehicles and a franchise system servicing more than $1 billion in retail contracts, the company continues its focus on reliability and customer satisfaction. Headquartered near Indianapolis in Carmel, Indiana, J.D. Byrider consists of 127 franchised- and 23 company-owned dealerships in 30 states. Visit www.jdbyrider.com or franchise.jdbyrider.com to learn more.
SOURCE J.D. Byrider
Tim Coxey | Andrea Farmer
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- Expansions & Growth
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Cybersecurity firm discovers 17 Android apps that secretly flood users' phones with pop-up ads even when they're not running
- A new report from cybersecurity firm Bitdefender has identified a rash of adware
- The apps fill a person's phone with pop-up ads and drain its battery
- The threat comes from 17 apps on the Google Play store
- Google says they're aware of the apps and are working to remove them
Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender has discovered a group of 17 apps on the Google Play store that will randomly run ads on a user’s phone, even when the apps are closed.
These apps include a barcode scanner, a car racing game, a weather app, an ovulation cycle tracker, several 4K wallpaper apps, and a QR code scanner.
Though it appears the apps come from different developers, they have similar effects on a users phone.
A new report from cybersecurity firm Bitdefender has flagged 17 apps on the Google Play store that causes ad pop-ups to appear even when the app is closed
After each is downloaded, they’re designed to operate normally for several hours to avoid detection, then they split their core files into multiple directories to further evade malware detection tools.
After this initial period, the apps will begin to download or stream popup advertisements using the phone’s data and draining its battery life.
The apps don't need to be open for the ad pop-ups to appear, and they’re coded to appear at random times to make it hard for users to anticipate.
Many of the apps are also designed to actually remove their icons from the phone once the ad streaming begins, making it even more challenging to track down the source.
According to Bitdefender’s report, the group of 17 apps have been downloaded more than 550,000 times.
Google has said they're aware of the apps in question and are in the process of removing them from the Google Play store.
According to Bitdefender, Google is aware of the 17 exploitive apps and is in the process of having them removed from the store
The apps are designed to function normally for several hours to avoid raising any immediate concerns, then they split themselves into multiple directories and often the app icon will disappear completely, making them almost untraceable
The apps will cause a random but persistent string of streaming video ads and pop-ups to appear on a person's phone, gradually draining their battery
The apps include a wide variety of different functions, inlcluding a period tracker, a car racing game, QR code readers, and more
The user reviews for many of the apps are filled with warnings expressing shock that the apps slipped past Google’s malware detection tools.
'The app is showing full screen ads and that is all. Don’t ever install it. I am writing to complain to Google store,‘ one user writes.
‘This app went invisible from the menu and kept consuming battery, and spamming ads on other apps! Don’t download this one,’ claims another.
‘Horrible intrusive ad popups even when the app is closed. I would give 0 stars if I could,’ another says.
WHAT ARE THE 17 ANDROID APPS?
Car Racing 2019 Developer: Racing 3D Game
4K Wallpaper (Background 4K Full HD) Developer: Ames Co., Ldt
Backgrounds 4K HD Developer: wixi
QR Code Reader & Barcode Scanner Pro Developer: Ames Co., Ldt
File Manager Pro – Manager SD Card/Explorer Developer: Ames Co., Ldt
VMOWO City: Speed Racing 3D Developer: vmowo
Barcode Scanner Developer: redads
Screen Stream Mirroring Developer: Amanote
QR Code – Scan & Read a Barcode Developer: Mob Net
Period Tracker – Cycle Ovulation Women’s Developer: Ames Co., Ldt
QR & Barcode Scan Reader Developer: amanozi
Wallpapers 4K, Backgrounds HD Developer: amanozi
Transfer Data Smart Developer: Amanote
Explorer File Manager Developer: amanozi
Today Weather Radar Developer: Amanote
Mobnet.io: Big Fish Frenzy Developer: Mob Net
Clock LED Developer: Maint
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The change is part of a C-suite reshuffle at the snacks maker that will see top marketer Mary Beth West leave after three years. Her marketing focused insight and consumer services responsibilities will pass to chief growth officer Mark Clouse, who will also take charge of the corporate strategy, global category, invocation and quality units.
Unifying the disciplines under one remit is intended to “more efficiently” allocate resources to marketing its power brands, Mondelez said. The plan is supported by efforts to switch the focus of the marketing teams from local to regional initiatives worldwide next year to quicken the rollout of best practice across categories.
Chairman and chief executive Irene Rosenfeld said the revaluation of marketing brings the same focus and discipline to driving sustained, profitable growth that “we have brought to improving our cost structure and expanding margins”. Moreover, it serves as way for the Cadbury owner to achieve the same standards and measurement across the globe spanning campaigns and innovations to agency relations and technology.
Aly Richards, chief executive of marketing consultancy The Intelligent Marketing Institute, a knowledge exchange for marketing and communications professionals, says the removal of the CMO role from the business is a “direct response” to marketing often “lacking the accountability and measurement integrity to drive value to the bottom line”. It echoes a wider sentiment sweeping across the FCMG sector that has seen P&G, SABMiller and Pernod Ricard restructuring to align their wider divisions around the customer.
“We have to accept that the age of the mad men is over and getting “Don Draper” to write you a catchy ad simply will not drive value”, she adds. “Therefore, if you move marketing to an area that is targeted with hard numbers then it should lead to more accountability to driving real business value. It is not about how much you can spend on marketing any more, it is about what return you get on that investment.”
The depths of Mondelez’s changes reveal the innovative marketing that has come to define the business since splitting from Kraft in 2012 has stumbled to drive category growth in the short term. And it has not gone unnoticed by Mondelez, which has extended the payment period for its agencies, slapped marketers with cost-control measures and reoriented media buying around mobile over the last year in search of significant financial savings through focused investments.
Though sales have slowed in 2014, the company has delivered better margins through cost savings such as spinning off its coffee brands alongside productivity improvement. In the three months to 31 March net revenue fell 1.2 per cent, while operating profit climbed 1.1 per cent to $843m (£499m).
Emerging markets remain the company’s growth engine in the medium to long term, as population and income per capita rises, creating opportunities for new products. With nearly half of revenues coming from these markets and 75 per cent of its brands in the snack category, the chief growth officer could manoeuvre Mondelez to benefit from changing diets and packaging requirements affecting China and India.
Maria Trindade, senior consultant at Brand Union, which has advised Kraft on strategies in the past, says: “By integrating marketing with other parts of the business it suggests the company is looking to drive growth from new occasions at a time when consumption habits are slowly becoming healthier.
“Even though Mondelez have scrapped the CMO role, by replacing it with the word growth it actually suggests marketing, albeit in a more integrated fashion, is still top of mind for companies. Hopefully, that’s the objective behind the new role rather than restructuring for the sake of it.”
The reimagined Mondelez chief marketer is born from the need to put hard targets above any other form of marketing activity. Shifting the CMO’s role and responsibility to a new Chief Growth Officer shows an acceptance that marketing needs to work in tandem with the wider business in order to drive the business forward commercially.


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By Eric Savitz
Amazon (AMZN) today announced that it has taken a stake in Bill Me Later, which offers a system for making online purchases without a credit card. Amazon will allow consumers to use Bill Me Later as a payment option for purchases.
Terms of the investment were not disclosed.
Scott Devitt, Internet analyst at Stifel Nicoalus, says that “the deal is material for two reasons:”
- Amazon has “strategically outmaneuvered eBay.”
- The deal could help Amazon address 200 basis points of its cost structure in credit-card processing fees.
“Amazon has essentially stepped into a position that could have and should have been eBay’s,” Devitt writes. “PayPal would have been able to integrate Bill Me Later across its global platform and mitigate/monitor a long-term competitive threat to its franchise…eBay missed one here.”
Devitt contends that Bill Me Later’s processing costs are about 50 basis points below that of credit cards, so that “Bill Me Later funded transactions should be operating margin accretive to Amazon at the outset.”
Today, Amazon is down 87 cents at $92.15.


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Sales “Medium,” Some Resistance to Prices at Hong Kong ShowJune 23, 08
Sales and movement at the recent June Hong Kong Jewellery and Watch Fair were medium, according to exhibitors, and the overall show, taking into account foot traffic and buying activity, was good, but not great, especially in comparison to last year’s June event.
Sales were reasonable and were affected by the recent price hikes in the market, said the manager of one firm specializing in high-end, white goods. Following the weak JCK show and weakness in the
Strong sales were noted in particular for 5-3 carat stones in the lower H-K color range. Indian buyers were reportedly offering cash for these goods and buying almost anything they could.
Traffic at the show was at a medium level, sales were acceptable and overall it was a good show, but not a great one, “Last June’s show was a great show, but we have to take into consideration all of the factors playing in the Asian market right now,” commented the general manager of the
“There are problems with the Vietnamese currency, for example, many people are unsure about what’s going on with the prices and this is only June – not the high selling season – so our expectations were not so high to begin with,” he said.
“The powers of the market are stronger than any speculations or predictions about price… and there is still movement,”
A fancy colored diamond distributor, who also described the show as “medium” and sales as “a bit too weak,” said that in terms of what was selling, it was mostly “common goods” –mid-range yellows – and buyers that were buying pinks and blues, were buying mainly smaller diamonds. He noted that, true to form, it was buyers from Asian countries like
The show’s organizers, CMP Asia, said that the event would see a record of 1,290 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions. The Diamond Pavilion in the expanded Grand Hall hosted upwards of 120 diamond companies in over 250 booths.


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Six young men from North Wales have taken their first steps into a new career in the offshore wind energy industry having been accepted as trainees with the UK’s only dedicated trainee academy for the offshore wind industry, Offshore Marine Academy. Ranging in age from 20 to 24, the trainees come from a variety of backgrounds including plumbing, the Royal Marines and electronics, but all applied with the aim of starting a long-term career in the growing local offshore wind industry. The trainees are the second group to embark on a12-month programme with Bristol-based Offshore Marine Academy, which launched its Offshore Trainee Programme in the South West of England last year. Its aim is to give successful applicants the right mix of training and experience to begin a new career in this developing industry. Chosen from more than 200 applicants, the trainees are: Scott Pitman, 24 from Holyhead; Joe Stafford, 21 and Ronan Conway, 24 both from Colwyn Bay; 24-year-old Martyn Berrington from Rhos-On-Sea; Troy Melling, 21 from Old Colwyn and 20-year-old Ralph Williams from Penrhynside. Martyn Berrington said he was surprised to see such an opportunity in the current economic climate but not being in an office was a big motivator. While with many friends and family already working in renewables, Ralph Williams has always hoped for a long-term career in the industry.
CEVA Logistics, a leading global supply chain management company, announced a contract renewal and expanded business with L'Oréal in Indonesia, the world's leading beauty brand. CEVA's partnership with L'Oréal started more than 3 years ago when the company took on the warehouse management of L'Oréal's distribution centers in Bekasi, providing warehousing and distribution services as well as value added services
Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder arrived in , , to pick up Ukrainian personnel and members of the U.S.-based Institute for Exploration for an upcoming at-sea capabilities demonstration with ’s Department of Underwater Heritage. In April 2008, the Ukranian government invited the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet to demonstrate U.S. Navy hydrographic survey capabilities and to help search for SS Armenia, a sunken, World War II Soviet hospital ship.
After the critical shortages of containers of last year, production has picked up again, but high container prices and a tight ratio of containers to vessel slots will continue to constrain the availability of boxes, according to the Container Census – Annual Survey and Forecast of Global Container Units, a new report from Drewry Maritime Research. At the end of 2010, the global fleet of containers exceeded $90 billion in replacement value for the first time, according to the report
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received consecutive orders for large size container ships from the Evergreen Group of Taiwan, one of the leading container transportation operators in the world. Since 1992, MHI has received orders for 38 container ships from Evergreen without a break, of which 32 ships have either been built, or are to be built at MHI’s Kobe Shipyard and Machinery Works, and six at Nagasaki Shipyard and Machinery Works
Langh Ship Cargo Solutions has extended its offering to include tank containers equipped for hook lifting. “Often the on-carriage of tank containers meant for transportation by sea is quite expensive on land, as the need for special lifting equipment makes the handling of the containers difficult,” said Product Manager Markku Yli-Kahri. Just like the company’s other containers, Langh Ship Cargo Solutions’ tank container equipped for hook lifting has been developed
Freight rates for container shipping from Asia to Northern Europe fell by 5.6 percent in the Monday through Wednesday period compared with last week, to $1,085 per 20-foot container (TEU), data showed on Friday. Rates on the route, which is the world's busiest for container shipping, were thereby 28 percent lower than at the same time in 2013. From Asia to ports in the Mediterranean, container freight rates fell 4.8 percent from last week, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index showed
The owners and operators of the foreign-flagged container vessel Med Taipei have agreed to pay $3.25m to the United States to resolve allegations that the 15 containers lost overboard in 2004 resulted in long-term damage to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce announced on July 25. The settlement in behalf of MBNMS, located off the coast of California, and the owners and operators of the vessel – All Oceans Transportation
The IMO has approved international regulations ensuring the weighing of containers before their carriage by sea informs the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) . The provisions will increase safety, contribute to preventing accidents and prevent loss of containers over board. The DMA considers it a milestone that the IMO has now approved international SOLAS regulations. The regulations ensure that a container is not loaded without its weight having been verified in accordance with
Dredging of toxics resumes in upper Hudson River for fifth season; PCB cleanup designed to restore Hudson River; created hundreds of new jobs The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that dredging operations are expected to resume on Wednesday in the Upper Hudson River. In 2014, dredging will begin south of Schuylerville, New York and proceed south towards Troy. Dredging will also occur in a two-mile section of river near Fort Miller that is not easily accessed by boat
Nils Andersen, chief executive of AP Møller-Maersks, has warned that global trade will never return to scorching pre-crisis growth rates, in part because western companies are looking to manufacture more goods closer to home, says a report in the Financial Times.
The appointment of Tim Marsh as senior vice president sales and marketing by Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd is aimed at bolstering its battered intermodal business, says a report from Globe and Mail. Marsh, who brings 25 years of international shipping industry sales and marketing experience
Container volumes through Puget Sound’s largest container ports remained flat in 2014, according to numbers released jointly for the first time by the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. “Reporting our combined cargo volumes demonstrates our commitment to the Seaport Alliance
The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) reported that container business rose 12 percent in 2014, a year highlighted by strong volume growth and substantial forward progress on the harbor deepening project. In December the port handled 141,956 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs)
Cargo numbers edge up with economy Cargo container trade at the Port of Long Beach climbed 1.3 percent in 2014, indicating continued economic growth for the U.S. and bringing the port its third-busiest year ever behind the peak years of 2006 and 2007, the port announced.
Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has been awarded a contract to provide an integrated automation system to handle operations at Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd's (VICT) new terminal in Melbourne, Australia. According to the contract
India will develop Visakhapatnam, the largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh, into a regional container transshipment hub. According to Visakhapatnam Port Trust Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu as part of transshipment hub plan, feeder services to Haldia, Kolkata
Eyeing strong growth in China-Myanmar trade, State-owned China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and MCC Transport, a subsidiary of AP Moeller-Maersk Group, plan to launch services direct services from Shanghai to Yangon on January 25. CSCL and MCC Transport will deploy smaller vessels without
Vesper Marine has been awarded the contract to provide Virtual Automatic Identification System (AIS) Beacons to mark seven reefs hazardous to shipping in the Bay of Plenty, as well as provide a coastal monitoring capability. The beacons will alert ships’ crews and the local
Shippers will soon have new direct weekly options to Europe from the Port of New Orleans. CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container carrier, will add the Port of New Orleans to its Victory Bridge Service. The service is scheduled to launch February 2 with the arrival of the CMA
Last July, President Obama announced the Build America Investment Initiative, an Administration-wide effort aimed at boosting private investment in our nation’s infrastructure. And Friday, Vice President Biden announced new steps that federal agencies are taking to bring private sector
After two consecutive years of negative volume growth, Europe’s busiest box port Rotterdam was back on the growth trail in 2014, as container throughput grew 5.8% to 12.3m teu. The different market sectors performed quite dissimilar. The break-bulk, with 12
The Kuwait government is eyeing for its port sector’s growth as this will boost growth at the Gulf state’s ports, both though spending on the infrastructure projects and boosting imports of containerized goods, reports Customs Today.
Three Chinese naval vessels with 800 sailors docked in Germany’s Hamburg harbor for the first time in history on Monday, Michael Setzer, the Commander of Hamburg’s Military Liaison Office, said. The dock landing ship, Chang Beishan
At a meeting with the Port customers and other stake holders/ agencies, the Chairman, JNPT, N.N.Kumar, announced the performance achieved by JN Port in calendar year 2014 totalled 64.42 million tonnes. This year container handling was 4


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French crepe shop Crepes & Delices closed its doors at 72nd Street between Columbus and Broadway this week, with an Out of Business sign on the window. We reached out to the owner but have not heard back. Thanks to Eileen, Erica, Dan and Bradley for the tips.
Some sudden business closures have Upper West Siders scratching their heads, as some new spots get set to open.
Espresso Matto at 95th and Broadway closed suddenly on Wednesday by the state Supreme Court with a notice on the door encouraging employees to contact an official about new jobs. “Officers kicked everyone out , put up signs and sealed the premises at about 5:30pm today,” David tells us. We’re still trying to determine what happened. The cafe chain recently indicated it was opening another spot in the neighborhood. Thanks to Paul and several other people for photos.
Sugar Factory, which is going into the former Ollie’s at 1991 Broadway (68th, next to the Apple store) is expected to open by the end of the year, workers told our tipster Eric. And the website says they’re already taking reservations starting Dec. 1. Sugar Factory sells candy, sweets and cocktails and its various global locations apparently attract celebrities. The company calls it a “dining adventure”: “Sugar Factory has expanded its New York presence with this newest dining adventure. When you first arrive you are welcomed by a working carousel, as well as a cafe that opens onto the entrance plaza. Inside are two levels filled with the glitz and glamour that Sugar Factory is known for the world over. Plush leather banquettes and celebrity photos adorn the interior, and it won’t be long before one of our outrageous desserts makes it nightly Broadway debut.”
Grand Metro Hardware on Broadway and 96th closed suddenly about a week ago. A Yelp user says a marshal was there to shut them down. No one was answering the phone on Thursday to confirm. “It is been a mainstay at 96th and Broadway for many many years,” said William. “I would hate to see them go.” Thanks to Nydia and William for the tips.
Bella Luna at 88th and Columbus is being turned into a gym, Ali Lebo tells us. It’s not clear what gym. The restaurant is moving to 87th and Columbus once it renovates its new space.


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June 29 is the release date for Apple's highly anticipated iPhone. AT&T stores nationwide are gearing for the 6:00 PM "sharp" launch time by closing the stores starting at 4:30 to prepare for the onslaught of technophiles.
Gridskipper.com has posted the Ultimate iPhone Campout Guide to map out urban Apple Store hotspots where shoppers can be first in line for the trendy gadget. Some locations are already working with local law enforcement to plan for crowd control.
AT&T Wireless has added 2,000 more salespeople to their retail stores in preparation for iDay.


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Verizon has received FDA clearance that will expand a physician-facing patient engagement tool to capture patient data between office visits to the iOS network, according to a company statement. The majority of physicians using mobile devices tend to be iPhone and iPad users.
The Converged Health Management platform is a cloud-based tool that transmits patient data to physicians’ mobile devices. “Status categories” are designed to make it easier for physicians to spot declines in their patients’ condition so they can intervene before they need to be hospitalized.
Although clinicians can access the data for analysis and intervention, patients can view the data too.
It also added Telcare and Genesis blood glucose monitors to biometric devices on its platform, which began with Ideal Life’s blood pressure cuff, glucose monitor model, pulse oximeter and weight scale with a total of six devices. The platform is designed to accomodate more.
Verizon initially got FDA device approval for Converged in August last year.
A survey from researcher Black Book found 68 percent of physicians said they used iPhones. The Converged Health Management software application collects and stores biometric data from physiological measurement devices, according to a company statement.


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Recently featured on the cover of Mergers & Acquisitions, Sterling Partners is one of several PE firms capitalizing on the rise of e-commerce, picking up Innotrac, which provides services to J.Crew, Zara and other retailers.
“It’s no secret to anybody that the [e-commerce] space continues to grow in double-digit rates, and we were trying to figure out the best way to invest,” says Sterling Senior Managing Director Rick Elfman. “Fulfillment seemed like a good place to start because of the recurring revenue – it’s a very steady revenue source.”
“We’re big believers that e-commerce provides solutions for customers and retailers, and will continue to experience strong long-term growth,” says Sterling Vice President Todd Miller. “The overall industry to e-commerce is growing rapidly, and these fulfillment businesses are growing rapidly as well,” says Miller.
Read more from Rick and Todd in the Mergers & Acquisitions article “Retail Reboot: Investors Snatch Up E-Commerce Services.”


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CHENNAI: The reduction in oil import bill resulted in narrowing of India's trade deficit in Novermber as compared to October, said Prabhudas Lilladher Pvt Ltd.
The trade deficit narrowed month-on-month (MoM) in November to $23.89 billion as against $27.58 billion in October, while up only 13 per cent year-on-year (YoY), said Amnish Aggarwal, Head-Research, Prabhudas Lilladher.
According to Aggarwal, the dip was largely on account of decline in imports led by sequential decline in oil imports from $18.2 billion to $15.7 billion.
On a YoY basis, imports grew by 5 per cent while exports remained flattish.
India's exports exhibited a positive YoY growth in 15 out of 30 sectors in November and imports surged in 19 out of 30 sectors YoY.
In the exports category, electronic goods (54.48 per cent), rice (19.16 per cent), ceramic products & glassware (22.64 per cent), fruits and vegetables (25.01 per cent), cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed (22.75 per cent), other cereals (53.78 per cent), oil seeds (38.83 per cent), oil meals (17.55 per cent), tobacco (101.02 per cent), and tea (27.03 per cent) recorded positive growth.
Oil imports growth slowed down to 11 per cent YoY to $15.7 billio, while down 13 per cent MoM.
Non-oil and non-gold imports also slowed to 7 per cent to $36.7 billion, while gold imports were down YoY by 23 per cent and down by 12 per cent MoM to $3.6 billion, Prabhudas Lilladher report notes.
According to the report, services trade balance continued to show resilience and grew by 59 per cent YoY to $11.1 billion in November supported by 27 per cent growth in exports while imports grew by 7 per cent.
Overall trade balance, comprising merchandise and services, stood at $11.1 billion with exports at $58.22 billion growing at 10.97 per cent YoY.
Total imports were at $69.33 billion, up 5.6 per cent growth over November 21, Prabhudas Lilladher said.


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BELLPORT, N.Y., June 6, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perfumania Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:PERF) announced today that Perfumania, one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries which operates specialty retail fragrance stores throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, reported total net sales of $20.6 million for the four week fiscal month of May 2013, which ended June 01, 2013, versus $20.3 million for the four week fiscal month of May 2012, which ended May 26, 2012. On a year-to-date basis, total net sales were $79.5 million in the current year compared with $78.4 million last year. For the month of May 2013, comparable store sales increased by 1.6%. Comparable store sales on a year-to-date basis decreased by 0.2%. Comparable store sales measure sales from stores that have been open for one year or more. We exclude stores that are closed for renovation from comparable store sales from the month during which renovation commences until the first full month after reopening.
PERFUMANIA MAY AND YEAR TO DATE 2013 RETAIL SALES ($'s in $000's):
|Number of Open Stores, May||335||(1.8%)||341||(1.7%)||347|
|May Total Retail Sales||$20,598||1.3%||$20,339||(0.8%)||$20,495|
|Year to date May Total Retail Sales||$79,466||1.3%||$78,447||0.3%||$78,243|
|May Comparable Store Sales||1.6%||(0.8%)||11.8%|
|Year to date May Comparable Store Sales||(0.2%)||1.1%||13.6%|
CONTACT: Company Contact: Michael W. Katz President and Chief Executive Officer Perfumania Holdings, Inc. 631-866-4156
Source:Perfumania Holdings, Inc.


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Shawnniecakes Specialty Treats
NewBo City Market has a new bakery. Shawnniecakes Specialty Treats has been appearing as a pop-up business at the market and now the sweet treat shop has signed a lease for a permanent stall.
With cakes, cookies, treats like cinnamon rolls and more, the Shawnniecakes Facebook page declares, “Each recipe has been specially created to give you ‘yummy goodness’ like no other baked goods you’ve had before. The taste reminds you of those treats that Grandma used to make from scratch and not a box.”
Butter Custom Bakery
Iowa City also is getting a new bakery. Butter Custom Bakery, 805 S. First Ave., should be open any day now, as a Facebook post said the bakery is waiting on some final construction details and inspections before opening.
Sweetopia Artisan Chocolates and Cakes
This Lindale Mall candy shop is coming under ownership as the current owner moves to more scenic pastures.
“It is with a sad heart to say that Sweetopia will be closing its door July 5, 2019. My family is moving to Hawaii for my husband’s new job. We want to thank everyone for their support the last 3.5 years. We have loved getting to know our customers and serving chocolates to Cedar Rapids,” a Facebook post from July 1 read.
Then, on July 3, a new post stated that Sweetopia will live on under new management:
“We are NOT closing!!
New Ownership coming July 12, 2019
Sweetopia will no be closing. Recently the business was purchased and the new owner will take possession on July 13, 2019.”
The new owner Tina Kerslake, has a passion for baking and is looking forward to continue providing our high quality products and introducing some new items to the menu.
The shop was formerly at NewBo City Market and before that was located at 3260 Southgate Place SW under previous ownership.
House Divided Brewery
Ely will soon have it’s own brewery. House Divided Brewery is under construction on a previously empty plot across the street from the Ely Public Library. According to Facebook, the brewery hopes to be open and pouring beer by late August or early September. With the tagline “Beer Even Your Rivals Love,” owner Calvin Corrin started as a home brewer who is taking his hobby professional.
Fans of potato oles in Hiawatha have a new source for their addiction with the opening of a Taco John’s at 1940 Blairs Ferry Rd. According to a news release, this is the 61st Taco John’s in Iowa and the 391st systemwide, with restaurants in 23 states.
“Guests can now enjoy the popular quick-service restaurant’s bold, Mexcellent flavors,” the release declares.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
Editor’s Note: This article was edited on July 5 to reflect the change to Sweetopia’s ownership situation.
• Comments: (319) 398-8339; email@example.com
11:47AM | Fri, January 15, 2021
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The price of pork around the world is set to soar as an outbreak of a deadly virus sweeps China and surrounding countries necessitating the cull of millions of animals.
Experts say the epidemic of African swine fever is set to have as big an impact on the world meat industry as Bovine spongiform encephalopathy – or mad cow disease – which swept the world in the 1990s.
In China, as was the case in Britain at the height of the BSE crisis, entire herds of animals are having to be killed and burned or buried in an effort to contain the disease.
Mongolia, Vietnam and Cambodia are also fighting outbreaks and the disease has also been reported in wild boar in Eastern Europe and Germany.
Denmark is erecting a 43-mile fence in a bid to keep out infected animals and customs officials have been placed on high alert in Britain and across the European Union.
Since the virus was first reported in China in August last year more than a million pigs have been culled globally and international wholesale pork prices have climbed by as much as 20 per cent.
“African swine fever will be the biggest influence on global meat markets possibly for the next few years, if not possibly the decade,” said Tim Ryan, a Singapore-based market analyst with trade group Meat & Livestock Australia. “I don’t think there’s going to be enough meat around the world available to actually fill the gap.”
China is the single biggest consumer of pork in the world and even in normal times has a near-insatiable appetite for the product.
Now with 20 and 30 per cent of its livestock lost, it is turning to international markets to fulfill demand.
It’s pork imports – which mostly come from the European Union, Canada and Brazil – are expected to surge 40 per cent to 1.7 million tons this year, before increasing to 2.1 million tons in 2020, the China Daily newspaper reported, citing a report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Beijing.
Brazil’s pork exports to China may climb as much as 61 per cent to 250,000 tons this year, Adolfo Fontes, an analyst at Rabobank, said this month.
The fever, which cannot be passed to humans, is fatal in pigs and spreads when animals consume affected meat products or come into contact with contaminated animals or materials.
As yet there is no approved vaccine against the disease although scientists, including at the Pirbright Institute in the UK, are working on one.
According to the European Commission the average price of pork in the European Union has gone up about 20 per cent compared to the same price last year.
Consumer prices in of bacon, sausage and other pork product in the UK have not yet started to climb but are expected to do so as the crisis grows and the summer barbecue season drives up demand.
UK pork producers say that stockpiling in advance of March 29, the day the UK was due to leave the European Union, have also worked to keep UK prices stable.
Zoe Davies, chief executive of the National Pig Association, said that rising prices in Europe were due to demand from China, which before the outbreak of African swine fever was home to half of the world’s pig population.
“Exports from the EU into China have shot up. So far, China has lost about 20 per cent of its breeding herd,” she said.
She added:“The fever is in every single province in China and it’s also in Cambodia and Vietnam. It’s spreading and nothing has been put in place to stop it. The Chinese authorities have reportedly brought in a requirement to test animals when they arrive in the abattoir but there are still a hell of a lot of animals being transported all over China and very few controls on transport and biosecurity.”
Richard Brown, director of Gira, an industry analyst, said that African swine fever was set to have as big an impact on the worldwide meat industry as BSE.
“The Chinese eat far more pork than any other protein. A very large number of pigs are going to die because this is a naive herd – they’ve never been exposed to this disease. In China, pigs are reared largely in backyard and small family farms and there is little biosecurity. The Chinese government was slow to accept they had African swine fever and because they haven’t compensated farmers people have not admitted they have it,” he said.
He added that Chinese pork production is set to reduce by about 13 million tons this year - about the same amount of pork that the US produces every year.
About 60 per cent of the pork consumed in the UK is from Europe, said Dr Davies, so price rises will eventually hit the UK.
She added that price rises may bite sooner in restaurants, hotels and other food outlets, the majority of whose pork is imported.
“Some indications have shown that in the first quarter of this year the price has gone up by about 40p a kilo which is a massive price hike,” she said.
Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security


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WASHINGTON - West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has joined 47 colleagues in a letter sent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over prescription drug abuse.
The letter, sent March 11, asks the FDA to ensure that generic manufacturers of opioid prescription drugs use tamper-resistant and abuse-resistant formulations. The lead authors are Luther Strange of Alabama, Pam Bondi of Florida, Jack Conway of Kentucky and Roy Cooper of North Carolina.
"(T)he development of tamper-resistant drugs provides an opportunity," says the letter, which was sent to Commissioner of Food and Drugs Margaret A. Hamburg.
"Adding new physical and chemical features to prescription opioids to deter abuse could reduce misuse of these drugs and the sometimes early consequences."
The attorneys general say they are concerned with the possibility that generic versions of extended-release opioid prescription drugs and other non-tamper-resistant products may soon reach the market.
They also applaud the FDA for proposing guidelines to establish clear standards for manufacturers who develop and market tamper- and abuse-resistant opioid products and consider incentives for companies that undertake the research and development necessary to bring those products to market.
Morrisey noted that research from the Centers for Disease Control shows West Virginia had one of the highest rates of drug overdose in 2008 in the nation - more than 25 deaths per 100,000 people.
"That is a very sad and scary statistic that is made all the worse when you think of the families and lives forever changed by this plague," Morrisey said.
"We joined in with other states and territories in the hope that if pharmaceutical manufacturers can make all prescription opioid-based pain relievers tamper-resistant and abuse-resistant, it will help to address one part of the prescription drug abuse problem."


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City claims trolley tagging success
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s trolley tagging initiative has been labelled a success, with figures showing a 50 per cent drop in abandoned trolleys in the CBD between March and April.
The City implemented the trolley tagging campaign, carried out by rangers, in March as part of a recommendation from the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Reference Group.
Each tag has a unique number which rangers can use to identify how long an abandoned trolley has been there.
Supermarkets are issued with letters ordering them to collect the trolleys within 24 hours or have them impounded.
The supermarkets have to pay $120 a trolley as well as a $25 a day charge until they are collected.
City chief executive John Walker said the trolley tagging campaign was started after police representatives told the community safety group that abandoned trolleys could increase antisocial behaviour.
“As well as looking untidy, abandoned trolleys were being used to do things like smash shop windows in the CBD,” he said.
“Rangers have been carrying out regular inspections, tagging any abandoned trolleys and notifying the shop owners.”
Mr Walker said since the campaign started, the number of abandoned trolleys tagged had dropped from 219 in March to 105 in April.
“We are hoping to see this downward trend continue, and encourage anyone who sees a trolley lying around, especially if it is outside of the CBD, to report it to rangers, either over the phone or through the Snap Send Solve app,” he said.
Rangers can be contacted on 9021 9697.
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Mercedes unveiled a GLE Coupe on the eve of the Detroit auto show (Photo: Arjen Bongard)
DETROIT -- Mercedes-Benz will keep renewing its product lineup in coming years, with particular focus on premium SUVs, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said Sunday.
Speaking on the eve of the Detroit auto show, Zetsche noted that Daimler had launched 15 new vehicles over the past two years and that this "renovation" had been a major factor in boosting the premium car maker's sales. Daimler sold a record 1,6510,919 vehicles in 2014, up 12.9 pc from the year before.
To underscore the importance of the SUV segment, Daimler unveiled a new model in Detroit, the GLE Coupe. "The market for SUVs is only getting stronger," Zetsche said. "We have set ambitious goals for this segment."
Volkswagen is bringing a mid-sized seven-seater SUV to Detroit as a concept car, but the carmaker saidÂ that, from the end of 2016, it will start building the model at its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. VW called the plug-in hybrid "one of its most important new models in the past five decades."


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The Information Resource for Food and Drink Processing
05/25/2018 12:09 PM
AHDB launches £1m thin cuts campaign
Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Beef & Lamb has launched a Â1m advertising campaign promoting thin-cut steak.
05/25/2018 09:42 AM
Trade bodies urge AHDB to halt MLCSL sale
Key meat industry bodies have expressed concern over the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Boardâs (AHDBâs) decision to sell abattoir and classification provider Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Limited (MLCSL) to HallMark Veterinary Services.
05/24/2018 03:09 PM
Packaging education offer set to ramp up
Packaging education in the UK, as it relates to food and drink, is set to improve dramatically, with at least one university-based degree apprenticeship course due to get off the ground next year.
05/24/2018 12:29 PM
Food exports grow 5.5% to £5.2bn
UK food and drink exports grew 5.5% to Â5.2bn in the first quarter of 2018, according to new statistics from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).
05/23/2018 12:35 PM
Action on Sugar calls for confectionery tax
Pressure groups Action on Sugar (AOS) and Action on Salt have called on the Prime Minister to introduce an energy density levy on confectionery, as part of its seven-part plan to help prevent obesity and related diseases.


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By Waseem Afzal, general manager of Transact, OMD’s e-commerce arm
‘Don’t be dazed by the complexity of the technology landscape.’
This statement consistently made the headlines in most high-profile industry conferences both regionally and globally in 2017. There is no denying the fact the technology landscape is complex and getting more crowded, and is still evolving very quickly. Even though it does garner a lot more attention than ever, very few people can figure out where to start.
Technology continues to advance, which means the landscape will become even more fluid in the immediate future. And that’s OK. In fact, it’s a positive sign. As investments in marketing services continue to grow globally with this evolving digital, media and consumer landscape, we see a lot of opportunities for strategic discussions around technology coming to the fore.
Many companies focus squarely on the outcome rather than the output, leveraging a host of external factors from competitive pressure to marketplace dynamics to influence their business direction. While this is not a bad approach, there is a missed opportunity in not looking at internal factors, of which tech is an important element.
Clients and agencies have covered significant ground with the integration between agency partners, channel planning and execution, and measurement of marketing investments against the bottom line. There is still both an opportunity as well as an essential need to build true integration across the tech ecosystem. After all, it is the foundation that connects insights with data, content with consumers and performance with results….
To read the article in full, go to Campaign Middle East


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With a much larger screen size, the iPhone 6 may be the most radical redesign of Apple’s smartphone ever. But with such a major redesign in the works, there’s a lot that can go wrong, and it looks like something already has: according to reports, defects in the iPhone 6’s metal chassis could lead to short supply of enough devices to go around when it launches in September.
All items tagged with "Catcher Technology"
Apple’s much-anticipated iPad mini is expected to make its debut in mid-October, but it may be a little more difficult to get hold of than other iOS devices. According to sources in the Cupertino company’s Taiwanese supply chain, iPad mini shipments are already stumbling due to the low yield rates of the tablet’s aluminum chassis.
DigiTimes reports that Apple’s manufacturing partners in Taiwan are said to be bending over backwards to secure orders for the company’s latest devices by constructing specialized plants that will be dedicated to producing parts and components for the iPad mini and the next-generation iPhone.
Apple is set to expand its environmental concern by teaming up with China’s Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs to audit its Chinese supply chain for pollution. Joint investigations are expected to start “in the next few weeks,” according to one report, with “a maker of printed circuit boards” the first of Apple’s suppliers to enter the spotlight.