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TTIP: Does the European Union need a free trade agreement with the United States?
by Jan Teresiński, CASE — Center for Social
and Economic Research | 13.05.2015
Since 2013, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is being negotiated between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). The TTIP is a trade agreement aiming at creating a free trade area between the EU and the US. Trade activities between the two economies are already highly liberalized — why is further liberalization needed?
The United States are the main trade partner of the EU. The total trade exchange between the two economic powers accounted for 484 billion euro in 2013, which constitutes 14% of the EU total external trade. The USA are the main receiver of EU exports, as 16.6% of total EU exports go to the US. The United States are also the third most important partner of the EU (after China and Russia) for imports, as 11.7% of total EU imports come from the US. This raises the question of trade liberalization level between the two economies, which may result in significant economic gains due to a large trade volume.
It appears that traditional trade barriers between the US and the EU are low, as the average tariff is under 3%. The problem lies in non-tariff barriers to trade, due to some incoherent regulations in force in both economies. They constitute a main obstacle in the development of transatlantic trade. That is why, besides further tariff reduction, cooperation in terms of regulatory harmonization is necessary.
An important part of TTIP will be devoted to the removal of non-tariff barriers. It will include sections related to regulatory coherence, technical barriers to trade, food safety, animal health and environment protection, and industry-specific regulations. Regulatory coherence is crucial, since the necessity to respect diverging norms and standards on both sides of the Atlantic results in redundant transaction costs. In the case that there was no such divergence, it would be easier for companies to sell their products on new markets. Lower costs for exporters allow domestic firms to buy cheaper intermediate inputs from abroad and thus become more competitive.
A study by the Center for Economic Policy Research prepared for the European Commission shows that TTIP will lead to significant economic gains: the EU GDP should rise by 119 billion euro a year, while the US GDP should increase by 95 billion euro. The rise of both GDPs will have the consequence in raising the disposable income per household in the EU and the US by 545 and 655 EUR respectively. EU exports to the US should increase by 28%, while US exports to the EU should rise by 37%. 80% of these gains will come directly from the reduction of regulatory barriers to trade.
It is important to note that free trade and higher exports mean not only higher national income and reduction of firms’ costs, but also a higher competition and eventually, lower prices for consumers. Moreover, we can expect that consumers will have access to even wider choice of products; once the barriers are gone the goods which weren’t imported because of regulatory divergence will henceforth appear on the market.
Trade liberalization is often controversial because of unavoidable changes on the labor market — labor shifts between sectors and income redistribution: in some sectors wages rise, in others they fall. In the context of TTIP, it seems that only 0.7% of the labor force will be affected by the Partnership. If it comes to wages, various studies show that they will rise for both skilled and unskilled workers in the long run because lower transaction costs lead to productivity gains, which results in wage increases. However, regulatory cooperation raises concerns about the lowering of the standards in force, especially in terms of food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection. Yet, it is worth mentioning that EU and US standards are among the best in the world, so it seems that concerns about those issues are exaggerated. The standards which are currently in force, although somewhat different have similar goals, and leave the door open for common agreements.
To summarize, it appears that a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States is needed and it should bring positive outcomes to both sides. As tariffs are already low, the most important part of the agreement will be regulatory cooperation: it will result in lower transaction costs, lower prices for consumers, gains in productivity, wage increase, trade facilitation, increase in incomes and, as a consequence, economic prosperity.


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Tomorrow, Saturday 30 July, is the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking In Persons which aims to combat modern day slavery through awareness campaigns. This year, the United Nations “Use and Abuse of Technology” theme focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking.
Alexander Russell, the Car Wash Association’s Director of Strategy comments:
“There have been some high-profile stories in the press recently relating to the hidden crime of modern-day slavery occurring within non-compliant hand car washes. As a response to this, the National Crime Agency launched ‘Operation Aidant’ in June that involved local police forces working alongside partner agencies to tackle Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking which uncovered numerous examples of modern slavery that still exists in some car washes. Operation Aidant ran for three weeks and resulted in 44 victims of modern slavery being rescued from their circumstances.
Russell continued: “In line with this year’s theme of technology and abuse, the Car Wash Association vigorously encourages all motorists to download the ‘SafeCarWash’ App, developed by the Clewer Initiative. SafeCarWash is a practical tool to help consumers identify labour abuse on non-compliant hand car washes, thereby enabling them to make an informed choice as to where they have their vehicle washed. 21st Century Britain should have no place for modern slavery; we are appealing to all motorists to play their part in helping to end this moral outrage.”
NOTES TO EDITOR
Annaluce Cavalmoretti, RMIF Communications Assistant
Direct: +44 (0) 0207 307 3414
Mobile: +44 (0) 07384514978MI
Operation Aidant is an operation co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) that focuses on vulnerability, exploitation and modern slavery. For more information, visit the website: https://www.northants.police.uk/police-forces/northamptonshire-police/areas/northamptonshire-force-content/c/campaigns/2020/operation-aidant/
Alexander Russell is available for interviews.
The Car Wash Association represents the major car wash operators, manufacturers and suppliers of car washing equipment.
About the RMI
The Retail Motor Industry represents the interests of operators in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man providing sales and services to motorists and businesses. The RMI has a formal association with the independent Scottish Motor Trade Association which represents the retail motor industry in Scotland.

domain: news


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- azar mod apkMOD (Unlimited Money) v1.7.1b9
"Oh, I don't know--you and Gilbert are such CHUMS. I don't see how you could help telling him everything."
Train Simulator(mod)The update train just won't stop for Fast RMX. After an update last April that brought a much requested time attack mode, the wizards at Shin'en have now brought six new tracks in two new cups for the price of nothing. Those are part of the Remix Update that mixes tracks with new elements. This update also contains some bug fixing and AI balacing.The carcase of a beauty spent and done.
All vows and consecrations giving place,Mercury and the Workmen
Yet showed his visage by that cost more dear;They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due to others.
Whose rarest havings made the blossoms dote;Upon her head a platted hive of straw,
As I'm sure you're aware, this week researchers revealed that Intel, ARM, and AMD had discovered gaps in the security system in their central processing units. While there wasn't much information about at the time, Apple confirmed yesterday that both Mac and iOS devices are affected, but they're already working on a patch.The security flaws, known as Meltdown (rogue data cache load) and Spectre (bounds check bypass), affect a wide range of devices including Mac and iOS products. Though the fault is applicable to nearly all modern devices, Apple has stated that there are no known exploits affecting customers at the moment."Since exploiting many of these issues requires a malicious app to be loaded on your Mac or iOS device, we recommend downloading software only from trusted sources such as the App Store," it's suggested on the blog post.Though it is a concern, Apple has already released mitigations in iOS 11.2, macOS 10.13.2, and tvOS 11.2 to help protect against Meltdown, though Apple Watch isn't affected by this particular flaw.A guard against Spectre will hopefully be launching for Safari in the next couple of days, so keep your devices updated, including your search engines, and don't download anything you shouldn't be.Read more right here.Nexon’s Darkness Rises is collaborating with Ubisoft for a crossover event with For Honor, starting today and lasting until 16th March, 2021 so you have plenty of time to enjoy the content.The popular third person action RPG will have players heading into battle wearing costumes inspired by each of the different classes available in For Honor, including Kensei, Peacekeeper, Nobushi, Hulda, Warden, Raider and Black Prior.'"O then advance of yours that phraseless hand


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With almost everyone today using Facebook, Twitter and Youtube you need the safety of Area 51 to keep something secretive for very long. Case in point is the new Mercedes A-Class caught completely undisguised on the public roads of Canary Islands.
When the unsuspecting Mercedes crew are filming for the promos far away from the prying eyes of the bhp paparazzi, a cyclist with a video camera decided to advance the unveiling ceremony through a Youtube upload.
Mercedes Benz must be pissed.
Mercedes is introducing the 5-door hatchback before the sedan and the SUV bodystyles (all three could reach India in the next two years) according to our friends at CarScoop. The hatchback is a direct competitor to the likes of the Audi A3 (which is also moving to the next generation at the Geneva Motor Show next month) and the BMW's new 1 Series introduced last year.
Designed around the Concept A-Class showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo last month, its fair to say Mercedes' A-Class has edged out its rivals to take the crown of the most creative design in its crop.
[Source - CarScoop.blogspot.com]


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New targets for antibiotic reduction in agriculture have been set by a group of farmers and vets alongside the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (Ruma) Alliance. Together with the future targets, the 2020 ‘Target Task Force Report’ has shown continued success in the reduction of antibiotic use achieved by the UK livestock sectors over the past five years.
Conceived in 2016 in response to the seminal Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Review, the Targets Task Force (TTF) group was a result of growing concern over the critical issue of antibiotic resistance and the possible contribution from global livestock farming.
Since the TTF’s first report in October 2017 the industry as a whole has significantly reduced antibiotic use and achieved a huge reduction in use of Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics. Furthermore, this has been done on a voluntary basis, which RUMA believes to be unique globally.
The targets for 2021-2024 follow on from the good progress made from 2017 – 2020 which includes:
- The sale of UK antibiotics to treat food producing animals falling by half since 2014
- The position of fifth-lowest sales of antibiotics for food producing animals in Europe, the lowest among more commercially productive European countries
- Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotic (HP-CIA) sales for UK food producing animals falling by 75% since 2014, and sales of colistin plummeting to virtually nil
- Less than 30% of UK antibiotics being used to treat disease in food producing animals, despite over a billion farm animals being reared and managed in the UK every year.
With over 75% of the original targets now achieved early or on track to be achieved by the December 2020 deadline, the time is right to ‘reset’ in some sectors with refreshed challenges for the next four years says RUMA chair Cat McLaughlin.
“The UK farming industry has responded extremely well to the targets. Our original aim of lowering overall antibiotic use, and in particular highest-priority critically important antibiotics (HP-CIAs), has been categorically achieved in the face of some challenging external conditions,” she says.
“Most sectors are now capturing data on antibiotic use across 90% or more of their sector which has been a key part of the success.
“Even where usage data is lacking but good sales data are available, for example in cattle and sheep, sizable reductions have been achieved especially in sales of HP-CIAs.”
Targets across the ruminant sectors also include a focus on disease prevention and herd and flock health planning, with plans to develop a new network of ‘Farm Vet Champions’. While specific reduction goals have not been set for beef and sheep, there is an aim that dairy and calf rearing will secure reductions in use of 15% and 25% respectively across the national herd by 2024 as data becomes available.
Other sectors aiming to achieve reductions in antibiotic use as a result of farm-level interventions include the pig sector, with plans to decrease by a further 30% by 2024, and gamebirds with a goal to cut back by 40%.
Among other activities, the pig sector is promoting best-practice guidelines to reduce post-weaning diarrhoea, a common cause of antibiotic use, and will be identifying and supporting reductions among any farmers using higher levels of antibiotics within the sector. Gamebird farmers and vets will be focusing on improved practices, research into disease and farm assurance.
The poultry meat and trout sectors achieved significant reductions in recent years, and join laying hens and salmon in opting to hold their targets at current levels.Preventative use has been phased out completely in these sectors, meaning many animals receive no antibiotic treatments at all in their lifetime.


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With the likes of Home Depot, Carrefour, IKEA and Lowe’s committed to purchasing a growing volume of wood products from responsibly managed forests, the prospects for sustainable forestry management are looking better and better. Buyers of wood products and other bounty from the world’s forests are starting to ask questions about sources, putting pressure on timber companies and others along the value chain. Meanwhile, environmental groups that once urged extreme measures, such as ending all
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Microsoft has added the Razer Phone 2 to its lineup of Android handsets that it has for sale. The device can be pre-ordered for $799.99, and it will release on October 22. Oddly, the firm is still selling the original Razer Phone for its original price of $699.99, while it was discounted by a couple of hundred dollars for weeks previously.
Razer announced its new flagship gaming handset last week, with a number of improvements. It now has a glass back, so it can support wireless charging, and it has a Chroma RGB logo on the back. The lighting can be customized, and it will also change colors according to notifications that are received.
Audio, video, and performance have all been improved as well. The front-facing speakers are now waterproof, and despite that, they sound even better. The display has improved HDR as well, on top of the 120Hz refresh rate. And of course, the chipset has been bumped up to a Snapdragon 845.
Samsung's Galaxy Note9 also showed up on the Microsoft Store, which is good news as the selection was getting a bit stale, with just the Razer Phone, Note9, and Galaxy S9. That can be yours for $999 for the 128Gb model, or $1,249 for the 512GB model which is out of stock.


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The Future of Electric Batteries
Updated: Sep 16, 2020
NIO will hold a conference on Thursday 8/20.
Will discuss their "BaaS".
BaaS Vs. Charging Stations
The Electric Vehicle Industry, albeit in the beginning phases, has used 2020 to install the inevitable. The future is electric, and with this responsibility, comes great power. Electric Power that is. Lets discuss what the EV Battery future looks like, and where to invest.
Defined as "Battery as a Service", the idea revolves around an inter-exchanging of batteries and not needing to charge. The best way to understand to watch this $NIO video.
NIO ($NIO) &
Kandi Technologies ($KNDI)
Both EV manufacturers, NIO and Kandi Technologies, develop their own Charging Stations.
Recently had their 2020 Q2 earning reports and EV-News.com would like to admit that NIO is a top company in the EV industry. Up four times (x4) compared to 2019 Q2 sales, #1 SUV seller in China priced about 400,000 RMB ($57,500 USD), NIO also has an important aspect to their company that is often overlooked. The BaaS / Suppliers of Power.
During their Earning's Report, NIO declared that the manufacturing cost of an individual battery has diminished, while the efficiency of the chargers has surged. NIO already has BaaS systems installed throughout China.
Kandi Technologies also had Q2 earnings recently. While not as impressive as $NIO, they announced some valuable information. Kandi has expanded their vehicle sales and charging stations into China's beach resort destination province of Hai Nan 海南. Hai Nan province also established that corporate and individual income taxes will be no more than 15 percent, making it the best place to do business in China.
*Sanya, China posted below!
Kandi Technologies' charging stations are even faster than that of $NIOs.
Serving in an almost gas station function, I have difficulty imagining the BaaS system having much functionality in the United States. However, the charging stations...
Blink Charging ($BLNK)
Located in 6 different countries, 3 continents, Blink Charging has grown continuously for the last 3 months and the outlook is electrifying. Partnered with a Greek company, Blink Charging is looking to expand globally and has $16 million in cash to do so.
Look at their stock after 2020 Q2 earnings
The United States, Canada, and most of Europe are vast areas and while it has it's share of big cities, the majority of the aforementioned places do not live in high rise apartments. The in-garage charging boxes and outdoor charging stations are preciously what works and helps the EV Industry gain momentum outside of China.
The EV Battery industry is on the rise. EV-News.com was extremely pleased to hear and financially see the success of Blink Charging after their earning report. I recently asked in a poll which stock is going to hit $20 next. While it is a long shot (according to the voters) it would be great to see $Blnk get there the fastest. These battery chargers are, afterall, providing the EV industry with power!


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Chicago (May 19, 2022) — Clover Imaging Group has announced that it is exiting the European market effective June 2022. Clover Imaging continues to see strong post-pandemic sales in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America and remains bullish about the opportunities in these markets. 100% of Clover Imaging’s focus and resources will be invested in growing sales in these regions.
Over the last two years, the European market has been hit particularly hard with supply chain disruptions and increased costs in freight, materials, labor, and utilities. These dynamics, coupled with several strategic accounts exiting Europe, and the European Commission’s rejection of the EVAP ‘Voluntary Agreement’, all factored into Clover Imaging’s decision.
Clover Imaging’s Vietnam facility will remain fully operational as a contract manufacturer for imaging supplies and other product categories. Environmental sustainability and supply chain vulnerabilities have rapidly become major focuses throughout the public and private sector. Clover Imaging remains enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead in the Americas as its unique value proposition that combines sustainability with cost savings continues to gain momentum with businesses and consumers seeking alternatives to costly OEM cartridges and the environmentally harmful single-use-plastic cartridges being imported from China and ending up in U.S. landfills.
About Clover Imaging Group
Centered around sustainable innovation, Clover Imaging Group’s broad array of products and services includes award-winning remanufactured printer cartridges and parts, a comprehensive suite of managed print and technology services, and unparalleled marketing and sales support.
Far from its beginning as an ink and toner remanufacturer, Clover Imaging has evolved into a global enterprise backed by world-class engineering, manufacturing, and distribution infrastructure. These expansive capabilities enable Clover Imaging to provide a level of partnership unsurpassed in the aftermarket imaging space.


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While natural gas supplier Eesti Gaas has been offering the option of a fixed-price package to domestic consumers for some time, it has not publicly advertised this on its website, and in fact has stated that a 12- or 24-month fixed price package is currently unavailable.
Eesti Gaas board member Raul Kotov told ERR that: "The information has not been up [on the site] as recent experience has shown that when customers have signed up for a fixed package, they have not fully realized that if they then want to terminate the package early, an early termination fee is due."
"We had wanted our customer managers and customer service representatives to be able to clarify this [to consumers]," he added.
Fixed package customers have wanted to terminate early following the fall in natural gas prices on the Netherlands-based Title Transfer Facility (TTF) in recent weeks, he added.
Since the TTF price is likely to fall further, Kotov went on, there is no real reason for customers to want to fix prices at this time, while the risks associated with a fixed package should be talked through between customer and customer relations manager.
Eesti Gaas had earlier halted its fixed-gas packages in September at a time of soaring (€300 per MWh or higher) TTF prices, and offered an exchange-based deal, or a flexible package (see diagram below). Much has changed since then, however, when the price halved by mid-December 2022, halving once again between then and year-end.
"At a time when the price on the [TTF] Dutch stock exchange stands at €70 [per megawatt-hour], I would venture to say that it could drop further from €1.25 [per cubic meter, the price to domestic customers Eesti Gaas is offering from next month]."
"By how much, however, I cannot say more precisely at the moment," he added.
As of Thursday morning, natural gas futures were trading at €67 per MWh on the TTF.
Eesti Gaas informs its customers of price changes one month in advance, meaning the recent drop would not be reflected in customer bills until February in any case – ie. when the price to householder drops from its current level of €1.75 per cubic meter, to €1.25 per cubic meter.
In any case, domestic consumers can also obtain a fixed price package of €1.25 per cubic meter, inclusive of VAT, for a one-year term, Kotov added.
The graphs below, taken from Eesti Gaas' website, show the packages offered to domestic consumers as of the time of writing.
The current TTF price is also significant in that it is below the €80-per-MWh threshold the Estonian state put in place for energy support measures, rolled out at the start of autumn.
The state pays 80 percent of that component of a domestic natural gas bill which exceeds €80 per MWh in price, with a consumption cap placed based on the average household gas usage. Customers can consume more natural gas than that figure, simply that compensation will not apply to that excess.
With the price below €80 per MWh at present, that compensation will no longer apply, for as long as it stays below the threshold.
The compensation measure, along with similar measures put in place for electricity and district heating, runs to the end of March, traditionally, and as often as not, in actuality, the end of heating season in Estonia.
Factors behind the fall in international gas prices include the unusually mild winter, if viewed on a Europe-wide basis, and the fact that fears of potential gas shortages resulting from the need to decouple from Russian supplies have not materialized.
Editor: Andrew Whyte, Barbara Oja


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When it comes to security updates, Android is a real mess.
Even after Google timely rolls out security patches for its Android platform, a major part of the Android ecosystem remains exposed to hackers because device manufacturers do not deliver patches regularly and on a timely basis to their customers.
To deal with this issue, Google at its I/O Developer Conference May 2018 revealed the company’s plan to update its OEM agreements that would require Android device manufacturers to roll out at least security updates regularly.
Now, a leaked, unverified copy of a new contract between Google and OEMs obtained by The Verge reveals some terms of the agreement that device manufacturers have to comply with or otherwise they have to lose their Google certification for upcoming Android devices.
images from Hacker News


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\Still not worth it.
3G variant hits AT&T next month, but the network, it seems, isn't taking any chances. According to the Vita's AT&T page, Ma Bell's making sure you'll never be blocked from nabbing those download-capped PlayStation Minis by upping the previously announced 2GB for $25 plan to 3GB for $30. Surprised? Don't be -- this change just brings Sony's next generation handheld in-line with the network's updated data plans. The Vita's budget-friendly $15 for 250MB option is still ripe for the picking, but that won't get you far if you plan to watch Netflix on the go, will it?


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Nigerians on Instagram are not getting over nollywood actress, Oge Okoye's dog theft story in a hurry.
Oge Okoye's fans who commented on the stunning photo she shared on Instagram, asked her of Rob and Rosy, which is the name she allegedly gave the pets belonging to Kenya Moore.
According to some of her fans, it's her makeup that leaves her without enough money to
buy her own pets. Nigerians haba mana!!
Here are more beautiful photos of the actress;


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Shop Our Tee Shirts 👕
September 17, 2018 1 min read
Fifteen gambling regulatory bodies in Europe, along with Washington State, are coming together to discuss the "risks created by the blurring of lines between gaming and gambling".
Various countries including Spain, the UK, Malta, France, Austria, Ireland and others are joining an ever-increasing band of national governments shining a spotlight of in-game trends such as loot boxes, as well as unlicensed third-party websites that sell rare skins and other in-game items.
"We have joined forces to call on video games companies to address the clear public concern around the risks gambling and some video games can pose to children," stated Neil McCarthy, Chief Executive of the UK's Gambling Commission. "We encourage video games companies to work with their gambling regulators and take action now to address those concerns to make sure that consumers, and particularly children, are protected."
This group movement is part of a recent string of news stories concerning in-game purchases, which has seen countries such as Belgium force the removal of paid loot boxes in titles such as Blizzard's Overwatch and card packs from NBA 2K titles. While the new European movement is targeting third-party sellers first and foremost, they have stated that they will look into in-game purchases to ensure it does not constitute gambling under law.
The full list of signatories to the new motion is as follows:
Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more …


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More than 100 cruise ships in US waters were exposed to the Covid-19 virus, according to the CDC.
Citing CDC data, the New York Times reports just 15 out of 121 cruise ships that entered US territorial waters did not have at least one coronavirus case onboard.
It was supplied with the data under a Freedom of Information Act request.
More than 3,000 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 which were linked to their cruises, and more than 80 died, according to analysis from the Miami Herald.
It is now three months since the CDC issued a ‘no sail’ order for all large cruise ships and there is no timeline yet on when the cruise industry will restart.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) voluntary extended the pause from US ports until September 15 as there is apparently still work to do to convince authorities cruise operations can be resumed safely.
“The cruise industry is taking a holistic approach to planning for Covid-19 safety, when sailing is allowed, that would ideally entail a door-to-door strategy beginning at the time of booking through the passengers’ return home,” said CLIA spokesperson Bari Golin-Blaugrund.
CDC data showed Carnival Corp was most affected with Covid-19 cases linked to 47 of its ships.
Carnival disputes this number, the NYT said.
There were cases reported on 28 Royal Caribbean ships.


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Rent the Runway customers can now be one step closer to actually not having a closet. The company just announced they are launching same-day delivery in NYC, with plans to expand to other markets soon. Customers who order by 12pm will have their order delivered by 5pm, and receive live updates with the ability to adjust the delivery window.To be clear, Rent the Runway has experimented with… Read More
NYS Entity Status
NYS Filing Date
OCTOBER 07, 2013
NYS DOS ID#
NYS Entity Type
DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION
2013 - J B I Y INC.
AROUND THE WEB
- Rent the Runway is launching same-day delivery, starting in NYC
By Fitz Tepper - Thursday Jul 27, 2017
- The Top 10 Moments of New York Fashion Week
By THE NEW YORK TIMES - Friday Sep 15, 2017
Highlights from the shows, including a celebrity-packed front row at Calvin Klein and a trek to Bedford Hills, N.Y., to see Ralph Lauren’s vintage cars.
- NY AG presses TransUnion, Experian for cybersecurity details
By DAVID KLEPPER, Associated Press - Tuesday Sep 19, 2017
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is pressing TransUnion and Experian to explain what cybersecurity they have in place to protect sensitive consumer information following a recent breach at Equifax that exposed the data of 143 million Americans.In letters to executives at the two credit monitoring companies, the Democratic attorney general asked them to describe their existing security systems as well as what changes they've made since the Equifax cyberattack."The unprecedented data breach experienced by Equifax Inc.
- For Daily News, a Publisher From Its Past Faces Digital Future
By JAMES BARRON - Tuesday Sep 5, 2017
Tronc, publisher of The Chicago Tribune, is taking over the New York tabloid, giving Tronc newspapers in the nation’s three largest markets.
- Food & Wine Magazine Will Leave New York for Alabama
By STEPHANIE STROM - Friday Jun 23, 2017
The move reflects a changing business in which traditional food magazines, and a Manhattan address, are less important.
- DraftKings' planned merger with FanDuel faces FTC challenge
By Bloomberg News - Monday Jun 19, 2017
The proposed merger between fantasy sports rivals DraftKings Inc. and FanDuel Inc. is facing a challenge from the Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of California and Washington, who...
To view the full story, click the title link.


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Top Bidder Fail to Pay for Special Sony PlayStation 4
Eye-popping bids for a retro-themed, special edition model of the PlayStation 4 console, some topping Y15 million ($129,000), turned out to be a little too rich after all.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said the top bidders for unit No. 00001 ultimately declined to pay up and the model will now be displayed at the company’s showroom in Tokyo.
“We thank for everyone who participated in the campaign, and we appreciate understanding on the auction outcome,” Sony said in a statement.
Sony held the auction last month, after introducing the retro-themed consoles last year in honor of PlayStation’s 20th anniversary. It had offered to donate the price paid to charity along with a matching gift from the company. Normal PlayStation 4 consoles are available for around Y40,000 and other special edition models were priced at Y49,980.
Sony said it would still make a planned matching gift part of a donation to charity, adding an amount based on a Twitter promotional campaign to bring the total to around Y15.16 million.
Source : The Wall street Journal


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Driving around Las Vegas, it’s simple to think the valley has far excessive retail, as shopping center huge and small line the primary streets with a seemingly endless amount of big-box stores, restaurants, clothing shops and beauty parlor.
Southern Nevada, it ends up, is the most saturated retail market in the nation.
A brand-new report, by publisher Directory of Major Malls and mail-services business Pitney Bowes, says Las Vegas has 44.9 square feet of gross leasable retail area per family. That’s greatest among the 54 U.S. city areas with a minimum of 1.5 million locals.
Phoenix is No. 2 at 42.5 square feet, and Albuquerque, N.M., is last at 13 square feet.
Las Vegas likewise has the youngest retail centers in the nation, with a typical opening year of 1999. Phoenix once again was No. 2, at 1998, and three cities were tied for last, at 1981– Buffalo, N.Y., Louisville, Ky., and Baltimore.
The report took a look at almost 5,000 shopping mall nationally, all with a minimum of 200,000 square feet of leasable area.
Las Vegas’ resort corridor is packed with malls, and Hal Hopson, a managing director with Pitney Bowes, stated one factor the valley tops the list is due to the fact that a great deal of its retail centers accommodate travelers.
However his group’s findings likewise appear to highlight how overbuilt Las Vegas ended up being during the boom years, when designers, backed by simple cash, flooded the valley with tract real estate, strip malls, workplace buildings, stockrooms and other properties.
National retail chains are all over in Las Vegas. As of 2012, the valley had one of the most Wal-Marts in the nation– 19 within 10 miles from the center of town, according to Forbes magazine.
“For a city of just under 2 million, that’s a lot of Wal-Mart,” Forbes composed.
Regional retail plazas were filled with renters during the boom years but cleared out throughout the economic downturn, when buyers cut back on spending and stores failed.
The job rate for anchored retail centers soared from about 4 percent in 2007 to 12 percent in 2011, according to Colliers International. The rate was 9.9 percent in the first quarter this year, down somewhat from 10.1 percent a year back.
In the past years, average asking rents for anchored centers came to a head locally in the fourth quarter of 2007, at $2.28 per square foot. They’re now $1.25, down from $1.29 a year earlier, Colliers reported.


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Google has released Chrome OS 92, which supports eSIMs, bundles Google Meet, and offers other usability improvements.
Recent Google Stories
Google has released the first stable version of JetPack Compose, its modern UI toolkit for Android, and a new version of Android Studio.
Google announced today that employees returning to work at its campuses starting in late October will need to be fully vaccinated.
Google had a monster quarter of its own with its parent company reporting a net income of $18.5 billion on revenues of $61.9 billion for the prior quarter.
This evening, Google announced a new and more detailed timeline for implementing its Privacy Sandbox, which includes FLoC and Fledge.
What a difference an antitrust lawsuit makes. Google on Friday said it would delay the implementation of Play Store requirements for developers.
France fined $593 million for ignoring a 2020 ruling that requires the search giant to reach a fair deal with French news sources from which it stole content.
Google’s consumer and commercial customers will soon transition to a new Google Drive sync client for Windows and Mac.
Google argues that consumers have more choices on Android than they do on iPhone. That’s true, But it’s also irrelevant.
36 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, accusing it of abusing its Play Store monopoly.
Google today announced that it will tweak Search results when a developing issue is happening so that users understand things might change.
The European Union announced that it is investigating whether Google’s advertising business has violated EU competition rules.
Google is making paid Workspace features available to non-paying Google account holders, creating a single, integrated experience for everyone.
Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives today introduced several bipartisan bills aimed at curbing and even reversing the power of Big Tech.
Google revealed today that it is making major changes to the Search Choice Screen that appears in Android in the European Union.
If you have a recent Pixel, you may want to check for updates, as Google has just issued one its biggest-ever Feature Drops.
Just kidding: Google would never go as far as Apple does. But it is making concessions related to personalized ads in a bid to avoid antitrust troubles.
Google confirmed that the latest update for the original Nest Hub replaces the underlying Linux-based OS with its homegrown Fuchsia OS.
With Google Photos changing its storage policies in one week, the firm is reminding users about the change and offering some transition help.
Google said that it would open a retail store location in New York City where fans can buy Pixel phones, Nest products, Fitbit devices, and more.
Google has announced several new coming updates to Google Maps that will make the service a lot more useful.
With over 3 billion Android devices now in use around the world, Google has released the first beta of Android 12 with a new user interface.
As part of today’s Google I/O event, Google announced that Google TV now has over 80 million monthly active devices.
Italy has fined Google $123 million for abuse of market dominance because it restricts developer access to Android Auto.
While Microsoft has long embraced a world of “no passwords,” Google has been a bit slower. That’s going to change. Eventually.
After employees balked at Google’s aggressive return to work schedule, the online giant said that it would implement a flexible hybrid work model instead.
Google today announced a new feature for Android tablets called Entertainment Space that combines access to movies, shows, videos, games, and books.


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Nearly 1,000 Avocados Stolen from New Zealand Farmers
NEW ZEALAND - What would you do to get your hands on a coveted avocado in the off-season? Would you sell all your personal belongings? Fly to the ends of the Earth? Offer up a blood sacrifice? In New Zealand, one group of avocado enthusiasts resorted to stealing from a local grove—and that is one method the ANUK team just cannot get behind; we say stick to blood sacrifices!
According to local news source sunlive, Lyn Pratt and Neville Cooper discovered that their avocado grove had been pilfered from, believing approximately 1,000 pieces of fruit were stolen off of the trees.
“We got about three or four lots stolen last year, but this is the first lot for this year,” Pratt said to the news source.
Pratt also noted that the fruit was prematurely picked—and if you’ve ever had the displeasure of trying to enjoy a ‘cado that’s not ready yet, I’m sure you’ll join me in questioning just what these perps expect to do with all that unripe fruit.
“Ours aren’t normally ready until September,” Pratt continued.
Since Millennials’ favorite fruit isn’t in season now in New Zealand, prices are a tad bit high—one of the main reasons why Pratt and Cooper believe a group plundered the local Whakamarama couple’s grove.
“They left behind a couple of bags, an onion bag full and another carry-on bag, and there was quite a few avocados,” Pratt added. “There always seems to be someone that will buy stolen fruit.”
Here’s to hoping all those embezzled avocados are restored to their rightful owners, and may this serve as a warning to all those who think they can rob fresh produce from its perch on the right hand of justice.
To stay ahead of the latest in fresh fruit and veg, keep clicking to AndNowUKnow.


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- Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder in which consumption of gluten causes damage to the small intestine
- People with celiac disease should avoid eating gluten-containing foods such as wheat, rye and barley
- The prevalence of celiac disease has remained stable in the past few years
- But, people without celiac disease are following a gluten-free diet, claims a new study
In the recent years, the prevalence of celiac disease has remained stable. However, the number of people following a gluten-free diet is on the rise, according to the findings of a new study.
Adherence to Gluten-Free DietLead author Dr. Hyun-seok Kim, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, and coauthors conducted the study. The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2009 to 2014. The survey included 22,278 participants over the age of six and had undergone blood tests for celiac disease. The participant's information about the prior diagnosis of celiac disease and adherence to a gluten-free diet was collected in a direct interview.
The results showed that 106 (0.69 percent) people were diagnosed with celiac disease, and 213 (1.08 percent) were adhering to gluten-free diet although they were not diagnosed with celiac disease. The findings correlated to an estimated 1.76 million people with celiac disease and 2.7 million people who adhere to a gluten-free diet even though they do not have the disease.
‘People without celiac disease are consuming gluten-free foods due to growing availability of gluten-free products and increased perception that it may be healthier.’
The increase in consumption of gluten-free diet by people without celiac disease could be due to factors such as
- Increased availability of gluten-free products
- Self-diagnosis of gluten sensitivity
- Increased perception that it may be healthier
The study is published in the JAMA Internal Medicine.
Celiac disease also known as sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy is an autoimmune disorder in which consumption of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. When people with celiac disease consume gluten-containing foods, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. The immune reaction damages the villi in the small intestine and prevents absorption of nutrients. Globally, one in hundred suffer from this disease. In the United States, more than two million people are undiagnosed and are at increased risk of long-term health complications.
Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. A gluten-free diet is recommended for people with celiac disease. Gluten is a protein that causes inflammation in people with celiac disease. Eating a gluten-free diet helps control the signs and symptoms of the celiac disease such as skin rash, joint pain, acid reflux, and heartburn.
The Pros and Cons of a Gluten-Free Diet
- Promotes weight loss
- Insulin resistance
- Reduces inflammation
- Reduces consumption of processed foods
- Low fiber
- Lack of essential nutrients
- Causes folate deficiency
- What is Celiac Disease https://celiac.org/celiac-disease/understanding-celiac-disease-2/what-is-celiac-disease/
- Celiac Disease http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/celiac-disease/home/ovc-20214625
- << Obesity Risk Increases by 15% in Children Via Caesarean Birt...
- Zika Virus in Tears: Possible Clinical Implications >>


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Ready or not, marketers in China have kick-started a new race of marketing with events including Lunar New Year and the recently-concluded Beijing Winter Olympics being the key dates in the marketing calendar so far. With one marketing season fast moving into another in the new year, what are the priorities that marketers should focus on?
The team at Dao Insights has selected 5 key consumer trends in China for 2022 to help brands market with confidence, in a future rife with the uncertainty following a prolonged pandemic and fast-evolving consumer market.
Second-hand market scales up
China’s reselling market continues to gain traction after another year where consumers have appeared to be more conservative when it comes to consumption, according to the latest China Monitor Report. The growing consumer rationale is due partly to the lingering impacts of the pandemic on the country’s economy, which resulted in dwindled personal income. In the meantime, consumers are becoming more environmentally aware in response to the continuous government call for a green economy and recycling policies.
Such change in consumer behaviour has driven the sales of second-hand products ranging from home appliances, fashion and accessories, furniture, and books. The luxury resale market alone has been experiencing a massive boom. Moreover, as traditional online resale markets such as Xianyu sees rapid growth, digital platforms under tech giants like Taobao and Kuaishou have also been doubling down their efforts in building up their marketplaces for second-hand products.
The young generation of Chinese consumers are more willing to pay for their hobbies and, therefore, understanding where their interests lie is the ticket to winning over the Gen Z crowd. An average of 85% of China’s Gen Z agreed that it is important for them to get involved in a community where they can share what they like, as the report shows.
The growing importance of interest-based socialising has allowed marketers to penetrate these young people in a way that they are more likely to engage in and provides opportunities for marketers to create online communities to foster their relationship with the target audience. On top of that, brands can also enhance their understanding of the young generations of consumers.
High-tech products become highly sought after
The emerging buzzword of Metaverse in 2021 seems to have spurred Chinese consumers to embrace high-tech-oriented products. It is reported by the fourth quarter of last year, 82% of the middle-class showed their willingness to pay for goods and services that incorporated new or updated technology. The figure amongst Gen Z, on the other hand, climbed up to 73% by Q4 2021, from 65% in Q2, showing the mounting interest in these young consumers and products with advanced technology.
Offline experience remains vital
Although the digital space seems to have been the main battleground for marketing, brands should never overlook the importance of offering offline experiences. While the gradual recovery from the pandemic has allowed the offline experience to regain its ground in marketing, China’s young consumers’ demand for a rich and entertaining shopping experience has also contributed to the trend.
To cater to the diverse needs of China’s Gen Z, many brands have been turning their storefronts into a space for immersive experiences including sports activities, video games, and nature adventure. These interactive events not only elaborate the physical ambiance but also strengthen the link between brands and their target consumers.
China’s Gen Z are becoming more health-conscious amid the global health crisis and more of them believe that nature is the best cure for a locked-down life, driving the growth of China’s outdoor activities market. While winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding are the latest hypes thanks to the Winter Olympics, camping has been another popular outdoor activity that has been drawing in many young Chinese. With this trend continuing to be on the rise, the market potential remains a huge opportunity for brands to tap into.


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Amazon lawsuit causes judge to temporarily block Microsoft Pentagon contract
The big picture: Amazon claims the decision to hand Microsoft the contract for the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) project in late October was influenced by President Trump, who has repeatedly and publicly taken shots at Amazon and its owner Jeff Bezos.
- The cloud computing network was set to become active on Feb. 14, per the Washington Post.
- As part of the lawsuit, Amazon wants to question Trump about his communications with its competitors and with Pentagon officials to establish his "well-documented personal animus towards Mr. Bezos, Amazon, and the Washington Post," according to a court filing.
- The court filed the injunction on Thursday, but documents were sealed, per CNBC.
What they're saying:
“While we are disappointed with the additional delay we believe that we will ultimately be able to move forward with the work to make sure those who serve our country can access the new technology they urgently require. We have confidence in the Department of Defense, and we believe the facts will show they ran a detailed, thorough and fair process in determining the needs of the warfighter were best met by Microsoft.”— Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft corporate vice president for communications


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SEATTLE (AP) Alaska Airlines says it will stop flying to Havana after demand dropped and the Trump administration imposed new restrictions on travel to Cuba.
The Seattle-based airline said Tuesday that its last flight between Los Angeles and Havana is planned for Jan. 22.
Last week, the Trump administration put into effect rules that ended an allowance for “people-to-people” or individual travel to Cuba. Alaska said 80 percent of its passengers used that allowance.
Alaska began flying to Havana in January, but it says it was considering pulling out even before last week”s change in travel rules.
After starting slowly the Los Angeles-Havana flights were barely half-full in January the airline was selling about 85 percent of the seats on average by April. Demand remained strong through the summer “but from there we saw softer bookings in the fall,” said airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan.
Caribbean hurricanes and the impending change in travel rules both contributed to lower bookings, she said.
U.S. airlines were eager to fly to Cuba last year after the Obama administration eased longtime limits on travel between the two countries. The airlines reconnected Americans to an island that had been virtually cut off by a 55-year-old trade embargo and a formal ban on U.S. citizens visiting Cuba as tourists.
But flagging demand and overblown expectations have led several carriers to end or reduce service to Cuba including American, Southwest, Spirit, Frontier and Silver Airways.


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Among endless stars at Tom Ford’s fashion show, the designer seemed most blown away by Chaka Khan.
The queen of funk was attending her very first ever New York Fashion Week show, and the “I’m Every Woman” singer sat front row between Ciara and Kim Kardashian.
We’re told Ford dressed her and was “in complete awe. She was so excited to be there. She loved experiencing it,” said a source. “This wasn’t around during her heyday. It was the highlight of her trip to New York.”
André Leon Talley and Carine Roitfeld rushed over to pay homage.
“It was a surprise how the fashion community embraced her,” the source said. “She was meeting a lot for the first time. She and Kardashian traded ‘hair stories.’”
Khan’s expected to be a surprise performer at a V Magazine bash.


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Net1 sticks with SA focus as it reports recovery from June
The technology group’s micro-lending and insurance businesses were under pressure amid Covid-19 lockdowns, but focus remains on SA
Financial services and technology group Net1 UEPS says it is eyeing continued expansion in SA in spite of a Covid-19 hit, saying loan advancements showed strong recovery in June, when ATM utilisation returned to pre-Covid-19 levels.
The group said it believed it was well-positioned to provide value-added financial services, looking to take advantage of some of the “emerging trends in electronic payment methods and related areas.”
The group provides transaction processing services, including being a leading payment processor and bill payment platform in SA. The group also leverages its banking and payment platform to provide to “distribute low-cost financial and value-added services to under served consumers and small businesses.”
Net1 reported its headline loss narrowed to $52.3m (R881m) in its year to end-June, from $282.6m previously, receiving about a $192m boost from the sale of its South Korean payment processor KSNET. This sale was announced in January.
The net impact of the lockdown on the group’s fourth quarter to end-June was an earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) loss of R32m, the group said.
Net1 said it was unable to charge about R27m of withdrawal fees under the pandemic regulations and its micro-lending and insurance businesses was unable to operate during the initial lockdown period.
“SA is, and always has been, the engine room of Net1,” said CFO Alex Smith. “Following our strategic review, we intend to focus our incremental capital and management resources to scale up our South African businesses, and return Net1 to a sustainable, cash generative business,” he said.
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BEIJING: China’s trade surplus with the US jumped in May, official data showed yesterday, worsening the imbalance at the centre of tensions between the economic titans while Beijing’s advantage with the rest of the world shrank.
The figures may reinforce Washington’s determination to move forward with new tariffs on tens of billions of dollars of Chinese imports as early as next week.
Beijing has warned those tariffs would void agreements made between the two powers over months of trade negotiations between the world’s two largest economies.
The record imbalances are at the heart of US President Donald Trump’s anger at what he describes as Beijing’s unfair trade practices that are hurting American companies and destroying jobs.
Trade is also expected to dominate upcoming G7 talks – which do not include China – with Canada and leading European nations warning Trump they will not back down over tariffs.
For the first five months of the year, China’s surplus with the US crossed the $100 billion mark, hitting $104.8bn.
Customs data showed the surplus grew 11.7 per cent on-year to $24.6bn in May, with exports to the US rising by about 12pc and imports up 11pc.
With the wider world, Chinese demand has outpaced its shipment growth, with its surplus of $24.9bn for the month down 38.9pc from last year.
China’s exports grew 12.6pc in May while imports jumped 26pc on-year, outpacing forecasts of 11.1pc growth and 18pc respectively, by analysts pooled by Bloomberg News.
“The particularly strong May figures are due to uncertainties from the trade negotiations,” said Iris Pang, an economist at ING Groep NV in Hong Kong to Bloomberg News.
“Exports risks are mounting, so the exporters expedited importing components for re-export.”
On Thursday in Washington, the US announced it had reached a deal with Beijing to ease sanctions that brought Chinese smartphone maker ZTE to the brink of collapse, a possible indication of progress in fraught trade talks.
The ZTE settlement came just days after Beijing reportedly offered to ramp up purchases of American goods by $70bn to help cut the yawning trade imbalance with the US – moving part-way towards meeting a major demand of Trump.
Trump has demanded a $200bn reduction in its trade deficit with China over two years.


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Buyer of ex-Visteon factory in Ypsilanti will use site for manufacturing
A new wave of skilled automotive manufacturing will move into Ypsilanti's former Visteon factory sometime in 2010 after its new owner - precision tubing manufacturer Angstrom USA - renovates what today is a 1 million-square-foot building.
"Initially we have a plan to redevelop the site," said Nagesh Palakurthi, president and CEO of the private company based in Taylor. "We'll bring it up to 2010 style and usability."
His ultimate goal, Palakurthi said, is to consolidate his company's manufacturing operations and move some of Angstrom's 400 global jobs to the Ypsilanti property.
There's also room for future growth as grants or other incentives become available, Palakurthi added.
"A good portion of the building will be used pretty quickly," he said.
The purchase was finalized Friday, officials told AnnArbor.com Monday. The seller, Automotive Components Holdings, is a Ford Motor Co.-controlled holding company that started the sales process after the Ypsilanti plant closing was announced in 2005. ACH was charged with shuttering and selling the plant, which Visteon had operated for five years.
Palakurthi declined to disclose the purchase price, but said he'd been considering the building for at least a year. He also looked at up to 30 other properties in the region as he weighed buying a new facility.
"It's a manufacturing building with very good visibility on I-94," he said. "It's a good site, and there's a good workforce available there."
ACH officials said parts of the factory date back to the 1880s, with much of it rising up piecemeal over the years as it operated under various owners, including Ford.
Before the plant closed, employees made starter motors and ignition coils. Under Angstrom, employees will build highly engineered specialty tubing for customers that include Ford, Toyota and Chrysler.
Palakurthi said an architect is working on a plan to bring more uniformity to the building, with some new construction possible in the existing footprint. ACH will demolish about 250,000 square feet as part of the deal, and that work will begin in January.
Changes will be most visible by improvements planned to the building along the I-94 frontage, Palakurthi said.
"It's going to become a standard, high-tech looking building," he said.
Despite the downturn in the automotive sector, Angstrom is experiencing growth, Palakurthi said.
Its financial stability lets the company take advantage of the opportunity to buy the building, he added.
"It's the right thing to do at the right time," Palakurthi said. "We'd like to grow (in Michigan) if it's feasible."
Paula Gardner is business director of AnnArbor.com. She can be reached by email.


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S2E7: Live from Singapore: Jack Ma and the Treasure of Alibaba
Jack Ma failed his exams. But that didn’t stop him from founding Alibaba Group, one of the largest e-commerce conglomerates in the world. Having empowered millions of entrepreneurs through Alipay – an online payment platform that has boasted more users than PayPal – Ma is now stepping away from his role as CEO to enter the world of philanthropy. In this live recording from the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Singapore, listen in as Steve talks to Ma about entrepreneurship, inclusivity, and fighting with Jet Li.


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Diesel tech manufacturer wants to build 300-person plant
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Startup manufacturer Hexfuel plans to add 150 to 300 employees over the next five years in Hastings.
Hexfuel makes the Boostbox, which it says improves cleanliness and performance of diesel engines by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules and feeding the gasses into the engine (view a promotional video below).
The patented renewable energy technology is about six years old, said Hexfuel CEO David Ault, who lives in Arden Hills and was part of a group that purchased the technology about 18 months ago.
"It produces pure hydrogen and oxygen for fuel efficiencies for the over-the-road trucking and power generation market," Ault said. "We get a lot of Fortune 1000 companies that are interested in deploying our product on their fleets and we really need have to have the production capability to meet some of those client orders."
Hexfuel has a contract to buy the 35,000-square-foot lumber yard building in Hastings at 1101 Spiral Blvd. in the Hastings Business and Industrial Park. Hexfuel also has about 25 employees at a plant in Utah, which it plans to keep.
Hexfuel is seeking between $500,000 and $1.5 million in subsidies through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to create 150 jobs in three years and 300 in five years, Ault said.
The Hastings City Council will hold a hearing Thursday to consider supporting Hexfuel's request.
The city will also consider granting right of first refusal to Hexfuel for the purchase of two city-owned development parcels totaling 34 acres next to its new building. If Hexfuel hits certain job targets, they would likely also qualify for Hasting's "Land for a Dollar" program, according to John Hinzman, community development director.
Sam Black covers real estate, manufacturing and economic development.
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Ford recalled nearly 1.5 million pickup vehicles Wednesday that could presumably presumably well downshift and cause their drivers to atomize, the automaker announced.
The buy contains 2011-Thirteen Ford F-a hundred and fifty vehicles with 6-dawdle computerized transmission that could presumably presumably well expertise the order when sending a signal from the transmission dawdle sensor, the company acknowledged.
Ford acknowledged it became attentive to 5 accidents that were precipitated by the glitch including one list of “whiplash.”
About 1.forty eight million F-a hundred and fifty pickup vehicles constructed at Dearborn Assembly Plant from April 28, 2010 to Oct. 28, 2013, and Kansas Metropolis Assembly Plant from Would possibly maybe presumably presumably also 18, 2010 to Nov. 18, 2013 are on the list of recalled vehicles.
Somebody with an affected pickup truck shall be notified by letter and could presumably presumably furthermore buy it to their dealership so its powertrain control module instrument shall be updated, Ford acknowledged.
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It’s no secret that many of us are fascinated with KITT. Yes, that cocky, talking black Pontiac Trans Am also known as the Knight Industries Two Thousand from the hit 1980s television series Knight Rider. While the show was aired more than 30 years ago, there are still quite a few followers out there who would love to see it once again.
Well, with the way things are shaping up, that wish might just be granted. A recently released teaser video entitled Knight Rider Heroes hints at a new project that has our favorite '80s automobile taking over the streets all over again.
As if this isn’t exciting enough, the project will also have the original Michael Knight, played by David Hasselhoff. He even dons his trademark leather jacket and sunglasses. While not too many details have been revealed as of this writing, the clip does show KITT riding across the desert. Those diehard fans out there may recall the show’s opening, which featured pretty much the same thing.
What this is, we’re not too sure. In fact, the project’s bosses haven’t revealed whether this will be a movie, a new television series, or what. All we know is we’re really excited to find out what the duo is set to do. And we’ll let you know once we learn more. In the meantime, enjoy watching the short teaser.


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Is An LTE-Connected Apple Watch Coming This Fall? I’m Betting Yes.
When Apple announces the Apple Watch 2—presumably this fall—it’ll have been more than a year and a half since the original Watch went on sale.
If Apple continues to release smartwatches at that time interval, the Apple Watch 2 will have to remain relevant and competitive for the next 18 months—and not get lapped by competing products from Samsung and LG.
As I’ve argued before, the next great leap forward for Apple Watch is the addition of a cellular radio, which would give the device more independence from its paired iPhone. The Watch would become far more than an accessory.
Apple is clearly thinking along these lines. It’s already enabled mobile payments on the Watch sans phone. The Watch can also connect directly with familiar Wi-Fi networks.
But others are thinking along those lines, too. The prevailing wind in the smartphone industry is smartphone independence. Samsung’s Tizen-powered Gear S2 is the company’s second cellular-connected watch. LG’s Watch Urbane 2 LTE is the company’s first try at it. Both those companies are no doubt working on the next generations of those devices right now.
Eleven smartwatch makers now have devices powered by Google’s wearables OS and Android Wear, and there will be more. Google just last week announced Android Wear 2.0—a series of improvements to the OS that center around the idea of making wearables more independent of smartwatches. Most importantly, Wear now supports direct cellular and Wi-Fi connections.
Google also added a small but surprisingly useful keyboard to the OS, as well as a handwriting recognition tool that scrolls to the left so there’s always room to write. Clever. These new input methods are meant to allow users to communicate directly from the wrist, instead of having to pull out the smartphone as before.
Research has shown that users of current 3G-connected smartwatches appreciate being able to (accidentally or on purpose) leave their phone at home, and still remain connected with their watch. They also appreciate the presence of a connected watch when their smartphone runs out of battery.
Can Apple really wait another year and a half to offer at least one Apple Watch that has a cellular radio?
My guess is that Apple will trot out a number of new Watches in the fall. You might see a sleeker and slimmer second-generation Watch that has roughly the same feature set as the original Watch, but everything will be faster and more battery-efficient. These new Watches might be made of new materials, like titanium, silver, or ceramic.
And I’m betting Apple will also announce a new Watch with a cellular radio inside (LTE, hopefully). This Watch would be a little larger—maybe the same size as the first Apple Watch—to fit the new radio and additional battery. It might even include a GPS radio, which would be great news for runners who yearn to map their runs without a big smartphone strapped to their arm.
The absence of a cellular-connected Watch this fall would be a real disappointment, and it would raise doubts about Apple’s ability to be the standard bearer in the category.
My guess is that Apple will announce watchOS 3—the operating system that will power the new Apple Watch 2—at WWDC. Apple may release a preview of the new OS to developers at the same time, so that they can start building apps that fully exploit the features in the new Watch.
With at least 10 million sold in the Apple Watch’s first year, I’d call the product a big success. It’s by far the leader in the smartwatch category so far.
But it’s also true that smartwatches are still far from mainstream, and cellular connectivity might be the thing that finally gives would-be buyers their “a-ha” moment.
Apple chose not to comment for this story.


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[Buffalo, NY] - ISI Technology, a leading software development company in the healthcare market, is pleased to announce the appointment of Casey Lopez as the company's new Director of Customer Success. This strategic hire highlights ISI's unwavering dedication to enhancing its customer support, implementation, and overall user experience.
Specializing in the medical transportation, medical billing, and homecare management markets, ISI Technology recognizes the significance of driving exceptional customer experiences. Casey Lopez, with her vast knowledge and industry acumen, embodies the company's mission to excel and innovate.
Speaking about the appointment, ISI Technology's leadership stated, "Her expertise, leadership, and passion for customer success are aligned with our company's values and vision. We are eager to witness the transformative impact Casey will undoubtedly bring to our growing clientele."
Earlier, ISI Technology introduced Casey to their online community through a spirited Facebook post: "Meet our new Director of Customer Success, Casey Lopez. We're excited to see how Casey’s knowledge and experience helps us continue to improve our support and implementation approach so we can provide a best-in-class customer experience! Join us in welcoming Casey to the ISI Technology family "
About ISI Technology: ISI Technology stands at the forefront of software development within the healthcare industry. With specialized products catering to medical transportation, medical billing, and homecare management, ISI Technology epitomizes innovation, reliability, and commitment to its diverse clientele.
Release ID: 753049


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Total U.S. retail sales of e-cigarettes amounted to 795 million U.S. dollars for the 52 weeks ended November 2, 2014. The convenience store channel accounted for about 81 percent of total category sales with 644 U.S. dollars. The leading producers of e-cigarettes in the United States include Reynolds American Inc., Fontem U.S. and Logic. For the 52 weeks ended January 23, 2016, Reynolds American held the largest piece of cake with 38.5 percent e-cigarettes market share, based on generated dollar sales.
The usage frequency of e-cigarettes is especially high among younger age groups. The e-smoking devices also made their way to middle and high school: some 5.3 percent of middle school students and 16 percent of high school students reported to have used e-cigarettes in 2015. These numbers show that e-cigarette use has surpassed the current use of every other tobacco category at schools. When consumers were asked what reasons motivated them to try e-smoking, some 39 percent of respondents indicated to favor the ability to being able to smoke inside.
The industry is now awaiting the newly proposed plan of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for how they are going to regulate the evolving industry. The plan suggests having every e-cigarettes product approved by the FDA before being sold on the market.


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In April, at a Net-a-Porter event where the online retailer’s trends for this autumn were presented, one of the most popular accessories was not a leather handbag by Gucci or a leopard-print, high-vamp shoe, but the black Net-a-Porter.com-branded “keep” cups that the coffee was served in. At least one fashion editor was witnessed shouldering her way over to the bar muttering: “I just need one of those cups!”
Fashion fans are followers and consumers. If something’s in, hip, hot or cool they will want it and they will buy it. And if it’s not, they won’t. So when Lucy Yeomans, editor-in-chief of Net-a-Porter’s glossy publication, Porter magazine, says – as she did over the phone this week – “Plastic is not cool” then plastic should be afraid. Very afraid.
In the lead up to World Oceans Day on Friday, Yeomans will be at the United Nations in New York with Parley for the Ocean, an organisation tackling the global plastic crisis, to discuss how plastic pollution is destroying the environment. The current issue of Porter is dedicated to this cause (while still also dedicated to selling luxury fashion and accessories), done in collaboration with Parley, and guest-edited by its ambassador, the model Anja Rubik.
Subscriptions issues of the magazine will be delivered this month in paper rather than its usual plastic packaging – and once the company has used up all its remaining stock of the latter, it will move to using paper packaging on a permanent basis. It’s part of a commitment that the company has made to rid itself of unnecessary plastic. Its fashion shoots are now plastic-free zones – no throwaway bottles, coffee cups or cutlery, and so is the office. “I can’t see a single plastic bottle on any desk in here,” says Yeomans, who is also global content director for Yoox Net-a-Porter group.


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Crediting participation in LABACE for much of its success in the Latin American aviation market, Gulfstream Aerospace is at the show this year with a broad representation of its range of business jets: the G550, G450 and the G150.
Spectrum S-40 Freedom
GE Honda Aero Engines is putting the HF120 turbofan through its paces during the engine’s year-long certification tests, Bill Dwyer, president of GE Honda Aero Engines, told AIN during a recent visit to the company’s Cincinnati facility. Type certification is expected in the first quarter of next year.
Spectrum Aeronautical has delayed first flight of its S.40 Freedom lightweight midsize twinjet to late next year. Certification and entry-into-service should follow a year later.
The $6.795 million S.40 will be powered by GE Honda’s HF120 turbofan, which is slated for certification in early 2011.
The GE Honda joint venture last Thursday fired up the first conforming version of its new 2,095-lb-thrust HF120 engine currently slated for certification in 2011. Initial engine tests are typically completed in a sea-level test cell, with high-altitude performance testing conducted onboard an aircraft.
Two more OEMs–Spectrum Aeronautical and Viking Air– have selected Honeywell’s Primus Apex avionics suite. Spectrum selected Apex for its S-40 Freedom midsize jet and Viking Air for the resurrected DHC-6-400 Twin Otter. This brings to four the number of airplanes that will feature the Primus Apex suite, the other two being Grob’s SPn and the new Pilatus PC-12 NG, which is the first Primus Apex-equipped airplane to enter service.
A day before Honda Aircraft formally announced that the HondaJet will use the GE-Honda HF120 engine, Spectrum Aeronautical announced that its new all-composite midsize Freedom S-40 jet will be powered by the HF120, at a thrust rating of more than 2,000 pounds. The stand-up-cabin Freedom will cruise at up to 435 knots, and fly 2,200 nm at up to 45,000 feet. Certification and entry-into-service is set for 2010.
Spanish Fort, Utah-based Spectrum Aeronautical also selected the new GE/Honda HF120 turbofan to power a proposed $6.2 million midsize business jet called the S-40 Freedom. The 2,050-pound-thrust engine is slated for certification in 2009. The S-40’s certification and first deliveries are “targeted for” 2010. Spectrum said it chose the Honda engine because it believes that the engine is more efficient than the Williams International FJ44.


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Autoweek has driven the new 2014 Lexus IS, and came away impressed with the new model.
Key quote: “IS 350 with F Sport might be the most overtly sporting car in a class full of really good cars.”
Read the Autoweek IS review
i like even the way the wrote it
Updated coupe now being tested.
Owner updates from Lexus Enthusiast editor Kevin Watts.


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MUMBAI, May 18 -- RP Sanjiv Goenka Group-owned Spencer's Retail Ltd is set to acquire gourmet retail chain Nature's Basket Ltd for Rs300 crore, as it seeks to expand its footprint in the Western region, the company's filings with the BSE show. The acquisition is subject to shareholders' approval.
The deal will give Spencer's access to 36 Nature's Basket stores in prime locations of Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru. The Kolkata-based retail chain will also get access to Nature's Basket's online platform.
On Friday, Spencer's Retail shares rose 2% to 132.70 on BSE, while Godrej Industries Ltd, which owns Nature's Basket, closed at Rs449.70, up 2.34% from the previous day's close.
"The board meeting held earlier today has approved a proposal for ...


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by Alliance for Food and Farming
Posted: Friday, September 20, 2013 at 9:08AM EDT
On Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama held a meeting with food companies, media, consumer groups and academics to discuss the impact of marketing unhealthy foods to kids. In addition to encouraging a decrease in advertising and marketing of “junk foods,” Mrs. Obama repeatedly urged members of the audience to encourage healthy eating among children. At one point, Mrs. Obama told her audience that “If anyone can get kids to eat their vegetables, it’s you.”
But, at the Alliance, we see something else that needs to change in order to increase consumption – activist groups need to cease inaccurately portraying conventionally grown fruits and veggies as unsafe. The repeated unfair disparagement of these healthy foods that is often carried in the media directly undermines the efforts by the First Lady and health officials everywhere to get people to eat more fruits and vegetables.
While efforts to reduce advertising of unhealthy foods to kids continues, how about encouraging activist groups and marketers to stop calling the fruits and veggies that kids love “dirty” or stating that they are “full of poisons.” This type of messaging is simply ridiculous, lacks scientific credibility and is unfairly scaring moms who are trying to feed their kids a healthy diet.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Alliance for Food and Farming


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All eyes are on Apple to see what it will announce during the WWDC23 event on June 7 but beyond that there’s the small matter of the iPhone 15 lineup. One of those models will of course be the iPhone 15 Pro, but it sounds like buyers might want to consider giving it a miss.
That’s because, according to a new report by one well-connected analyst, the iPhone 16 Pro could have a couple of upgrades that are well worth waiting for — although you’ll have to wait a whole extra year to get your hands on them.
If Apple follows its usual release cadence we can expect it to debut the iPhone 16 lineup in September 2024.
It’s upgrade time
While the iPhone 15 Pro is expected to get a new Dynamic Island just like the best iPhones you can buy today, it sounds like the iPhone 16 Pro could get some upgrades of its own.
That’s according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who says that Apple will give the iPhone 16 Pro a feature we’re expecting the iPhone 15 Pro Max to debut — a periscope camera. Pair that with existing rumors of a display size increase and things get even more interesting.
According to Kuo, the slight display size increase will give the iPhone 15 Pro more internal space, allowing for the addition of a periscope camera.
“The display size of the iPhone 16 Pro will be slightly larger than the iPhone 14/15 Pro’s 6.1″, allowing the 16 Pro to equip with a periscope camera thanks to larger internal space,” Kuo said via a Medium (opens in new tab) post. “It’s expected that iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pro will have periscopes (vs. only Pro Max among the 15 series).”
Periscope cameras allow for an increased maximum level of zoom, potentially increasing the current 3x offering to something around 6x or more.
If that’s the case the iPhone 16 Pro could be a big camera upgrade over other non-Pro Max phones. But whether that’s enough to wait for is perhaps another matter entirely and will come down to personal choices and how important better zoom capabilities are.


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Toyota Indus Motors drastically increases Car Prices in Pakistan yet again
*LAHORE:* In a massive revision in prices, Indus Motors Company (IMC) for the second time since January 2018 on Wednesday announced a price increase for its Corolla, Fortuner and Hilux vehicles by a whooping Rs300,000. It was previously speculated that Toyota-IMC might revise prices amid the recent rupee depreciation.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) allowed the rupee to 4 per cent to Rs115 to the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Wednesday. The central bank has so far devalued the currency by a total of 9 per cent, including the 5 per cent plunge in December 2017.
After the second round of rupee depreciation and price increase in raw materials, car prices were expected to increase by as much as 5 per cent. Following this adjustment prices for Corolla have increased by about Rs100,000 while others have seen a price increase of up to Rs300,000.
Earlier, the company had increased prices ranging from Rs50,000-60,000, however, these changes were a partial adjustment for the increase in the cost of production.
The increase in price will not only hit new customers, but also those who have already booked their cars with the company a few months ago.
IMC increased the rate of Grande CVT SR by Rs75,000, which is now priced at Rs2.33 million, Grande MT SR saw its price jump up Rs75,000 to Rs2.51 million. Altis 1.8 CVT’s price was raised by Rs75,000 to Rs2.46 million, Altis 1.8 MT by Rs75,000 to Rs2.33 million, Altis 1.8 MT by Rs75,000 to Rs2.27 million, XLI by Rs75,000 to Rs1.89 million, GLI AT by Rs100,000 to Rs2.12 million, GLI MT SE by Rs100,000 to Rs2.15 million, and the price of GLI MT increased from Rs100,000 to Rs2.04 million.
It also increased the price of IMV 1 Deckless, IMC 1 4X2, IMC 1 4X2 up spec, Revo G MT, Revo G AT, Revo V AT, Fortuner 4×2 Hi and Fortuner 4×4 in range of Rs100,000-300,000.


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Meijer Brothers Interview6.JPG
From left, Doug and Hank Meijer talk about the passing of their father, and the importance of family in a 2012 interview at Meijer Headquarters. The room they were sitting in is full of furniture from their grandmother, Gezina Meijer, who was Fred Meijer's mom. (Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- While most of the state's 11 billionaires hail from the Detroit area, the top two spots still belong to West Michigan natives.
The state's richest are amongst the 1,645 billionaires who made it onto the Forbes World's 2014 billionaires list, in an issue that hits newstands this month.
The magazine reported the fortune of the world's billionaires grew by a $1 trillion to $6.4 trillion.
The wealthiest of Michigan's deep pockets are those of Hank and Doug Meijer, with an estimated net worth of $8.5 billion. The brothers, who share chairmanship duties of the Walker-based supercenter chain Meijer Inc., ranked 153rd on the list. The private, family-owned retailer with 204 stores across five states does not disclose sales figures.
Last year, Forbes estimated their wealth at $8.3 billion in a list ranking the country's billionaires.
Rich DeVos, co-founder of Amway, came in at the 196th spot, with an estimated $6.9 billion fortune. The privately-held, Ada-based direct selling giant reported 2013 sales were $11.8 billion, up a $500 million from the previous year.
Dan Gilbert was the richest of the billionaires with Detroit ties. He came in no. 408 on the list. The Quicken Loans founder and owner of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers has an estimated value of $3.7 billion, according to Forbes.


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Doner Cardwell Hawkins has created a &£2m TV campaign for Young’s Bluecrest Young’uns range. The campaign, which shows children trying to make their own fish dishes, breaks on February 10.
Kaplan Thaler, Element 79, Grey Global Group, McCann-Erickson New York and The Martin Agency, have been shortlisted for Capital One’s &£150m global advertising business.
Advertisers are waiting with bated breath to hear what Stephen Carter has to say when he steps into the role of chief executive of Ofcom in March. The only signs of any views that he may have on the regulation of the telecoms and media industries are those he expressed at NTL – from which […]
While Bush and Blair are happy to unite in a war against Iraq, their inability to straighten out sound business relations with Europe bodes ill. By George Pitcher It is always invidious to consider the prospect of going to war in terms of the campaign’s effect on business. The anticipation of buoyancy or otherwise in […]
Diageo launched a global online training programme for bartenders to keep one of the most social work communities together during lockdown.
At the end of every week, I look at the key stories, offering my view on what they mean for you and the industry. From Unilever investing in digital skills to the lessons from Premier Inn, it’s been a busy week. Here’s my take.
After a year of upheaval for Facebook, from ad boycotts to rows over hate speech, Nicola Mendelsohn is focused on the future, the value of resilience and the rise of discovery commerce.
Good morning and welcome to Marketing Week’s round-up of the news that matters in the marketing world today.


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NAGPUR: Through city-based startup Buzzinga Labs
, it has now become possible to virtually tour a location without being present there. With the product named ‘imagyn vr,’ the startup offers virtual tours, which are being used by the hospitality industry as well as educational intuitions
of the region to let customers experience their premises. The startup has now started creating virtual tours of real estate, and the founders say that is the first initiative of its kind in Central India.
Co-founder Gaurav Totla (25) said, “Marketing had become too monotonous. Photographs and videos were the only tools people were using to sell products. Using this technology, we are taking clients to a particular place without really taking them there.”
Apart from Totla, who is from Aurangabad, the startup was founded by Preetam Dhengle (28) and Quais Husain (32), both Nagpurians, and Kishore Godithi
(29) from Orissa. The four belonged to the 2015 batch of Lemon School of Entrepreneurship
where they met for the first time.
The virtual tours can be accessed by a gyroscope-enabled cell phone. One can insert the phone in a virtual reality headset to take a 360-degree tour of any structure. Holding the view steady for five seconds on a door enables the viewer to virtually enter the next section of the structure. Currently, the startup is working on making its own customized headset, and they plan to give it to their client on a complimentary basis.
Lemon school director Deepak Menaria said, “As the interest of the four owners aligned at Lemon school, they started working on visualization, explored the field of animation and videogames and ended up on making virtual tours during October 2016.” The product entered the market in January this year.
Their clients come from diverse fields like hotels and resorts, educational institutions and real-estate developers. They have started getting clients from other states too. The owners are now working on a platform in which a layman can create their own virtual tour.
Dhengle said, “Since we have started getting clients from different states, we have thought of creating a platform using which people could shoot videos and create similar tours on that platform. We will give free workshops on using the platform. People can have couple of free trials and then we may start charging them.”


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Trust key for wider adoption of emerging technologies
Customer trust plays an important role in the buying decision, and companies understand the importance of building a trusted brand or concept that will attract and retain customers over the long term. With emerging technologies like cryptocurrencies and exchanges, the situation is no different.
“One of the most important services traditional banks provide is emotional trust,” said RA Farrokhnia, professor at Columbia Business School and executive director of the Columbia FinTech Initiative. And despite the economical rents and fees, banks “ensure that the counterparty risk is lower when you want to borrow money or make a payment because you have a central authority”.
Other companies like LendingClub, which offer unsecured personal loans to consumers, also act as intermediaries between lenders and borrowers, helping users complete transactions without entering a bank or using a credit card.
In one scenario where these intermediaries are removed, you are entering the decentralized finance (DeFi) realm where “you need to rebuild some kind of trust mechanism in the system,” Farrokhnia said.
The confidence deficit, however, has the potential to reduce costs and provide more access to those in emerging and developing countries who may not want to participate or may not be able to participate in the traditional ecosystem of financial services.
However, Farrokhnia pointed out that DeFi is still in its infancy and not very efficient.
DeFi and regulation
Farrokhnia claimed that contrary to popular belief, there is no “frontal collision” between regulation and DeFi and that regulation is important to ensure that the underlying products meet certain thresholds, standards and regulatory frameworks that have been set for traditional financial products.
Regulation is also important to protect retail investors, he noted because, like any other system, there are still bad actors and regulation will help minimize illegal activity in the area. It will further lead to more acceptance and less hesitation among users, while increasing the possibility of wider acceptance by the masses.
However, the road to regulation is not going smoothly. Farrokhnia said some innovative products like DeFi are behaving in ways that were not believed possible or may violate current regulations. This is why he said there is a lot of conversation going on between regulators and innovators as the former tries to keep up with the fast pace and figure out how best to regulate DeFi products.
Regional differences in the uptake of emerging technologies
One of the biggest problems that will determine how the nascent ecosystem will evolve is how restrictive or permissive regulations are and how they speed up or slow down the various types of innovations that are currently taking place, Farrokhnia said.
He added that most of the tools, techniques, and products are still in the hands of early adopters who are tech-savvy and know the ins and outs of the system. In order to reach the masses and a much larger audience, factors such as easy access and user-friendly interfaces need to be considered.
Commenting on the differences in acceptance in different parts of the world, he said: “There are certainly some interesting developments or ideas coming online in different parts of the world; You are still not at the point where you can still see a lot of differentiation. “
However, there are differences that exist from one location to another. For example, although countries like China and Japan are close together, the payment systems in the two countries are quite different. And in the case of Europe, where certain advanced countries like Germany were very cash-oriented and had a relatively lower acceptance of credit cards before the pandemic, it was only after the crisis began that more people, companies and merchants started switching online and started accepting cards.
He added that since Africa and Asia have skipped fixed line infrastructure development and moved directly to mobile telecommunications, “it is not out of the realm of possibility” that cryptocurrency development in emerging markets will follow a similar path of leap over traditional financial services.
He said so, affirming the fact that adoptions, applications and innovation will vary in different parts of the world, “depending on a variety of parameters, including the existence of sophisticated regulation of the financial services industry, economic stability, exchange rate volatility, access to Exchange rate and capital controls. “
Farrokhnia said blockchain technology could be one of the few landmark moments in the development of the financial services system since the invention of banking, “which could revolutionize and provide an entirely new paradigm for how people interact with the world and financial systems.”
But ultimately, the advancement of technology and other emerging technologies will depend on how, for example, privacy and access issues are addressed.
The timing of this development is impossible to predict, he said, “but I strongly suspect that this would be one of those scenarios that would have been very difficult to imagine not so long ago, and suddenly you can do things that you could do before not possible or would have been costly, and now you can do it more efficiently. “