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News and Updates
March 17, 2005
Washington DC—In Arkansas, the birthplace and headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the state’s Department of Human Services released damning figures yesterday stating that the retail giant leads the list of top 10 employers whose workers are receiving state welfare. Arkansas is the ninth state to release such figures recently, showing Wal-Mart consistently ranking at or near the top in total employees on state aid.
According to a statement by the United Food and Commercial Workers at www.ufcw.org, “Wal-Mart is in the midst of a multi-million dollar media effort in an attempt to hide serious employment practice problems. When the company continues to price health care coverage out of reach of approximately 700,000 employees nationwide, it’s bound to force workers onto state aid programs and force taxpayers to foot the bill for Wal-Mart’s irresponsible corporate behavior.”
The Arkansas study shows that nearly 4,000 of the companies 45,106 employees are on public assistance, with a vast majority of them receiving Medicaid for their children. Food stamps and transitional employment make up the rest of the public assistance, costing the state $39.6 million per year.
“Wal-Mart—one of the richest companies in the world—has cheated workers out of pay, shifts health care costs to taxpayers, faces the largest sex discrimination suit in history, and puts illegal operations into motion whenever workers seek a voice on the job,” noted the UFCW statement. “It’s a company where fairness for employees and taxpayers in communities where Wal-Mart operates is hard to find. Every one, in one way or another, has to pick up the tab for Wal-Mart’s irresponsible conduct.””
While Wal-Mart claims to have similar health care coverage as other large retailers, a recent Harvard Business School study shows otherwise. The study, conducted in 2002, shows that Wal-Mart spent an average of $3,500 a year on health care for each employee, compared with $4,800 for the average retailer and $5,600 for the average U.S. company. In Tennessee these numbers are even worse, with 9,617 of Wal-Mart’s 3,700 employees, or 26%, on state aid according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
This nation-wide trend is putting pressure on state health care systems. To contrast the problem of employers like Wal-Mart shifting the cost of health care on to taxpayers, twenty-six state legislatures are currently considering bills to require states to disclose which employers are abusing state public health care programs.
Wal-Mart is in the midst of a multi-million dollar media effort in an attempt to hid serious employment practice problems. When the company continues to price health care coverage out of reach of approximately 700,000 employees nationwide, it’s bound to force workers onto state aid programs and force taxpayers to foot the bill for Wal-Mart’s irresponsible corporate behavior.
Wal-Mart—one of the richest companies in the world—has cheated workers out of pay, shifts health care costs to taxpayers, faces the largest sex discrimination suit in history, and puts illegal operations into motion whenever workers seek a voice on the job. It’s a company where fairness for employees and taxpayers in communities where Wal-Mart operates is hard to find. Every one, in one way or another, has to pick up the tab for Wal-Mart’s irresponsible conduct.
March 10, 2005
Joseph T. Hansen, International President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) was named to a 14-member Citizens’ Health Care Working Group. Hansen is the only representative from organized labor working with the esteemed group of health care providers, economists, health care advocates and other leaders.
The fourteen panelists, named by the Comptroller General of the United States David M. Walker, were assembled from more than 500 applicants and are charged with the duty of holding a national dialogue on issues relating to health care services, delivery and cost.
“I am deeply honored to serve in this vital endeavor to address the growing health care crisis and I look forward to working with my fellow panelists,” said Hansen. “The nation’s health care tab is already the highest in the world, and I am committed to exploring solutions that will reduce costs while improving care for the greatest number of people.”
The working group was created by Congress and will hold hearings and community meetings across the country on health coverage and cost issues, and, ultimately, issue a “Health Report to the American People.”
As the leader of the 1.4 million-member UFCW, Hansen represents America’s neighborhood union. UFCW members put food on the table for America’s families, working in neighborhood supermarkets, as well as in meatpacking, food processing and other industries.
With more than 40 years of experience negotiating contracts covering wages, health care benefits, pensions and other workplace benefits, Hansen is acutely aware of the nation’s health care crisis. He understands how rising health care costs are forcing a downward pressure on workers’ living standards. He also knows first-hand how skyrocketing costs are encouraging some employers to scale back and eliminate employee health care plans in order to gain competitive advantages in their industries.
“The health care crisis is a national problem that requires a national solution,” said Hansen. “I have great confidence that our group can lay the foundation for bringing America together to confront this challenge.”
February 24, 2005
Wal-Mart used children for hazardous jobs in its U.S. stores according to a U.S. Labor Department investigation as reported in the New York Times on February 12, 2005. Wal-Mart is being sued for sexual harassment in Florida by the federal government as reported in the Bradenton Herald on February 18, 2005. Wal-Mart was cited in Alabama for having the most employees on taxpayer-funded Medicaid health program as reported in the Associated Press on February 22, 2005. Wal-Mart is the target of a Georgia legislative initiative on companies with large number of employees receiving taxpayer-funded health care after it was revealed the retail giant ranked number one for employees on the government health program as reported in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on February 23, 2005.
In a ten-day period, Wal-Mart compiled a virtually unmatched public record of abusive, illegal and irresponsible conduct involving women, children and taxpayers. These most recent reports come on top of Wal-Mart already facing the largest sex discrimination lawsuit in history, court convictions for forcing employees to work without pay, and government complaints for the illegal firing and intimidation of workers for exercising workplace rights. In Canada, Wal-Mart is closing a store and taking away the livelihoods of almost 200 workers rather than comply with the law providing a fair and impartial process to reach a contract with workers.
So what does Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott do? He delivers a speech attacking the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).
In his speech delivered in Los Angeles yesterday, Scott glibly ignored the company’s very public record of shameful conduct; blamed the UFCW and other critics (the “guppies” according an earlier Scott pronouncement) for his problems; and, created an alternative reality where low wages, unaffordable benefits, the massive export of U.S. jobs to overseas sweatshops, the suppression of worker rights and taxpayer subsidies for the giant retailer have somehow made the world a better place.
The Scott speech continues a public relations offensive launched several weeks ago to prop up the company’s sagging image, pump up stagnate stock prices, and sidestep holiday season reports that competitors from Sears to Best Buy offered lower prices. The speech contains the same willful distortions and Orwellian double-talk as the company’s ad campaign. Repeating a lie does not make it true.
Scott brags, as did the ads, about the number of full-time employees– except full time in Wal-Mart speak is about 30 hours a week, not 40 hours as in the rest of reality. Scott proudly proclaims that Wal-Mart’s average wages are about twice the minimum wage. He ignores that Wal-Mart uses its enormous political clout– the largest political giver in 2004– to keep the minimum wage in real terms at its lowest level in decades. Even at the supposed Wal-Mart average wage, a family with a Wal-Mart income is still left scraping the poverty line. Scott cites Wal-Mart health insurance as a positive, but fails to mention that 700,000 Wal-Mart associates do not have the company’s health insurance, and that those who do, pay more on average than employees of other major companies.
In instance after instance, Scott contorts the facts to serve his own purposes. He cites the lack of opposition to his company in communities across California, and declares opposition to Wal-Mart is limited to urbanized areas– except the overwhelming majority of Californians live in those urbanized areas. He talks about company tax payments, but doesn’t mention the tax costs the retailer imposes on states and communities with its low wages and lack of affordable health benefits.
Despite Scott’s protestations, Wal-Mart is not just a simple retailer. Wal-Mart is the largest single economic force in history. It is the largest private employer in the country, and the largest corporation in the world. Walton family members comprise five of the ten richest people in the world. About one percent of the wealth of just one of the Walton richest five would provide affordable health insurance for all Wal-Mart workers in the U.S. Wal-Mart is about high profits, not low prices.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union has 1.4 million members working in neighborhood supermarkets, retail stores, meat packing and food processing plants. UFCW retail members work for major retailers such as Kroger, Safeway and Albertsons.
February 17, 2005
Food and Commercial Workers Union and Child Labor Coalition Present Proposal to Immediately Stop the Use of Children in Hazardous Jobs at Nation’s Largest Employer
Wal-Mart could stop illegal child labor in its stores through distinctive employee badges for underage workers that could readily identify them as being prohibited from hazardous assignments, according the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the Child Labor Coalition. Combined with unannounced Labor Department inspections, the use of children for hazardous jobs would come to a rapid halt.
The two organizations are sponsoring, at www.ufcw.org, an e-mail campaign directed at Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott and U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao asking them to abandon a sweetheart deal on child labor announced earlier this week, and to take meaningful action to end the abuse of young workers.
Key to the union/coalition proposal is the re-badging of underage workers. Both managers and young workers would always be aware that certain assignments are illegal. Compliance would require unannounced inspections to make sure that badges are properly issued, and that no manager is pressuring minors into illegal assignments.
Scott and Chao are being presented with a demand to amend a settlement agreement that required the Labor Department to give Wal-Mart an unprecedented 15 days notice before any inspection. Advanced notice clearly undermines compliance, and allows managers simply to re-assign underage workers before an inspection.
Hundreds of children are maimed and crippled in accidents, some losing arms and legs, every year involving balers and compactors commonly used in Wal-Mart and other retail stores to handle the disposal of boxes and similar materials. The law has long prohibited minors from operating this kind of machinery. A Labor Department investigation brought allegations that Wal-Mart was using illegal child labor to operate the hazardous equipment in several states. To settle the case, Wal-Mart paid $135,000 and the Labor Department agreed to advance notice of inspections.
The UFCW and Child Labor Coalition’s actions today are supported by leading worker advocates in the U.S. Congress, including Representative George Miller (D-Calif.) and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). Their statements follow:
Statement of Representative George Miller (D-Calif.), Senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
I congratulate UFCW and the Child Labor Coalition for proposing a workable, inexpensive and effective way to end the illegal use of child labor, and I would hope that both Wal-Mart and the Department of Labor will respond positively.
Statement of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Wal-Mart’s Sweetheart Deal with Department of Labor on Child Labor Violations
The Department of Labor has shamefully abdicated its responsibility by acquiescing in Wal-Mart’s continuing violation of child labor laws and other worker protections. Even worse, the Department conspired with Wal-Mart to conceal this sweetheart deal from the public. The Department is there to enforce the law, not be muzzled by America’s largest employer.
February 14, 2005
STATEMENT OF THE UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
The nation’s largest employer, and one the nation’s largest corporate political donors, was cited for using children in dangerous jobs in its U.S. stores; and, then got a sweetheart deal that gives the company fifteen days advance notice before the government will initiate any investigation of future violations of federal workplace laws.
According to allegations contained in a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, Wal-Mart was engaged in the unconscionable practice of using children to operate hazardous machinery in stores in New Hampshire, Arkansas and Connecticut. The machinery referenced in the case— balers, shredders and compactors— are standard equipment in retail stores, and are commonly associated with injuries involving the crushing or severing of arms and hands. Safety regulations on the books for decades have prohibited employers from using children to operate the machines. A company the size of Wal-Mart with a long history of operating retail stores should have been well aware of the law as well as the dangers to children in operating the restricted machinery.
While the corporate giant with billions of dollars in revenue agreed to pay a $135,000 fine, its representatives got a sweetheart deal that could insulate the company from getting caught in future violations. Wal-Mart gets fifteen days written notice of any government investigation or audit. Wal-Mart can work a child on a compacting machine or baler without fear of any unannounced enforcement action, and simply reassign the child worker during the time of the prearranged inspection. Further, the agreement allows the company ten days to correct the violation. A literal reading of the agreement would allow Wal-Mart to continue to put children at risk for over a week even if the government uncovered the violation.
Wal-Mart was the biggest political giver in the 2004 election, with the overwhelming majority of its money going to the party controlling the White House, Congress— and, the Department of Labor.
The UFCW is preparing a letter to the Secretary of Labor, and will seek Congressional review of the agreement.
February 11, 2005
(New Castle, Penn.) – Wal-Mart forced workers to wait four and a half years for an election in their Tire & Lube Express Department of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart’s high turnover rate pushed out the union supporters who began organizing with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 880 in June, 2000, because they felt Wal-Mart ignored their complaints about safety hazards.
Then, two days ago, Wal-Mart announced plans to shutter its store in Jonquiere, Quebec, rather than face the decision of the Quebec Labor Ministry that would have initiated a process to establish a fair and impartial wage and benefit settlement between Wal-Mart and its workers. Today under the appearance of opportunity, the workers failed to gain a voice on the job — because Wal-Mart had already silenced their voice.
“Wal-Mart struck the final blow against these New Castle workers by showing them and the whole world to what lengths it will go to deny their employees a voice on the job. It’s not surprising that the Tire & Lube Express workers would turn away from union representation after Wal-Mart’s actions in Canada,” said Joe Hansen, UFCW International President.
“Wal-Mart is the richest corporation in the world, yet cowers in fear of a unified workforce. It is reprehensible that this giant corporation would drag out a union election process for nearly five years, drive union supporters out and strike fear into the hearts of workers who simply asked for the opportunity to participate in a democratic process at work,” continued Hansen.
The UFCW has launched a campaign to mobilize workers and community members to send a strong message to hold Wal-Mart accountable for its anti-worker actions. To get involved with the UFCW campaign and to sign on to the electronic petition, visit www.ufcw.org
February 11, 2005
No one validates Wal-Mart criticism better than Wal-Mart itself. The retail giant announced plans to shutter its store in Jonquiere, Quebec rather than work with its employees and their certified representative, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
Joe Hansen, UFCW International President, announced a major grassroots mobilization targeting Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott that will reach out to workers and concerned community members to take action in support of Wal-Mart associates. The UFCW launched an electronic petition campaign to Wal-Mart calling on the retail giant to, abandon plans to close its Jonqueiere, Quebec, store, and to live up to the responsibilities that come with being the worlds largest corporation. Those responsibilities begin with respecting workers, consumers and communities.
Hansen said, “”Wal-Mart is choosing to destroy the livelihoods of nearly 200 working families rather than accept a compromise agreement with workers. It is clear from its actions in Jonquiere and in Jacksonville, Texas, that Wal-Mart will go to any length to avoid recognizing its workers organized voice on the job.””
Wal-Mart announced, yesterday, it was shutting down the store where workers had unionized six months earlier. Workers at the Jonquiere, Quebec store had been in negotiations with Wal-Mart the last several months, attempting to reach a fair agreement on wages and benefits. The company pulled the plug on the store when the workers appealed to the Quebec Labor Ministry to initiate a process that would establish a fair and impartial wage and benefit settlement.
Wal-Mart is no good for any community when it turns its back and runs away from its employees. The only way Wal-Mart will change its behavior toward workers and our communities is by people coming together and sending a unified message to the giant corporation. To get involved with the UFCW campaign and to sign on to the electronic petition, visit www.ufcw.org
December 15, 2004
On the Unveiling of a Public Display Marking the Body Count of U.S. Losses in Iraq in the Heart of Washington, D.C.
STATEMENT OF THE UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION— THE UFCW
OCTOBER 13, 2004
ON THE UNVEILING OF A PUBLIC DISPLAY MARKING THE BODY COUNT OF U.S. LOSSES IN IRAQ IN THE HEART OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
Today, the 1.4 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) unveils a massive display in the heart of the nation’s capital marking the daily body count of Americans killed and wounded in Iraq. These are the sons and daughters of working America who are making the sacrifice at the call of their government. The UFCW— a voice for working America— will never forget the sacrifice of our service men and women, their courage and commitment, and the grief of their families.
For the families of those who have fallen, we mourn your loss. For those who have been crippled and maimed in the service of their country, we honor your heroism and support you in your struggle.
We have placed a display here at the corner of K St. NW and 18th St. NW in Washington D.C. Every day we will update the count of American losses in Iraq so that corporate lobbyists and the foreign policy think tanks that dominate the canyons of K St. NW as well as the leaders around the corner at the White House and up the hill in Congress will always remember the impact of the policies that they advocate and the decisions that they make.
In Washington, the war in Iraq may be a matter of policy and politics. In working America, the war in Iraq is a matter of life and death, human sacrifice and suffering.
The UFCW will never forget. We want to make sure that those in power never forget either.
(Approximately 40 UFCW members have been killed in Iraq. Untold hundreds of immediate family members and relatives of UFCW members have been killed or wounded in Iraq.)
The UFCW represents 1.4 million workers at neighborhood grocery stores, department stores, food processing plants, nursing homes and hospitals, and chemical and other manufacturing facilities.
August 4, 2004
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC – A Wal-Mart located in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada is on its way to becoming the only unionized Wal-Mart in North America after a ruling on Monday by the Quebec Labour Relations Board (QLRC) to grant employees union certification with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Canada.
The union accreditation was issued by the QLRC after a majority of employees at the store signed UFCW Canada membership cards. QLRC adjudicator Jocelyne Houle stated that, “the applicant is representative, as required by law.” A hearing has been scheduled for August 20th to finalize the specific definition of which employees will have the right to union representation.
“The Quebec certification shows that when workers’ rights are protected, Wal-Mart workers will exercise those rights for a voice at work. Our challenge is to make sure that governments protect workers rights across Canada, the U.S. and around the world,” said Joseph Hansen, UFCW International President and President of the Union Network International, a global trade federation representing 16 million workers in 100 countries.
Today’s Labour Board victory is the latest in a series of organizing drives at Wal-Mart stores throughout Canada. Currently UFCW Canada has other applications pending for Wal-Mart stores in Weyburn and North Battleford, Saskatchewan; in Terrace, British Columbia, in Thompson, Manitoba; and in Brossard, Quebec where a majority of workers have sought UFCW representation.
The Quebec store will be the first wall-to-wall Wal-Mart store where workers successfully chose union representation. Meat department workers in the Jacksonville, Texas, Wal-Mart Supercenter voted for UFCW representation in 2000. Wal-Mart refused to bargain with the workers, despite orders from the National Labor Relations Board. It also eliminated the meat department in Jacksonville and across the country in an attempt to scare workers from standing up for a voice on the job.
Wal-Mart stated publicly that it supports workplace democracy and that it would not close the store because workers chose a union. The UFCW Canada looks forward to sitting down to negotiating a first contract without delay.
June 23, 2004
WAL-MART’S “”OPEN DOOR”” SLAMS SHUT FOR WOMEN WORKERSWal-Mart On Trial In The largest Sex Discrimination Lawsuit In History
“”…women working at Wal-Mart stores are paid less than men…and, that the higher one looks in [Wal-Mart] the lower the percentage of women.”” Judge Martin Jenkins in his decision granting class action status citing the “”largely uncontested descriptive statistics”” presented by the plaintiffs in the case.
The “”door”” in Wal-Mart’s much touted “”open door policy”” of personnel management does not open wide enough to let women into higher paid jobs or management positions, according to allegations contained in a suit brought against the nation’s largest private employer. Despite its denials and legal maneuvers, Wal- Mart will have to stand trial and face the charges of pervasive sex discrimination in the largest civil rights class action case in history.
Six women stood up to challenge pay and promotion practices at Wal-Mart stores across the country. Now a federal judge has certified the caseDukes v. Wal- Mart Stores, Inc.(N.D. Cal. No C-01-2252)as a nationwide class action sex discrimination lawsuit covering all women employees who worked a U.S. Wal-Mart store anytime since December 26, 1998. More than 1.6 million women will be represented in the lawsuit.
In issuing his decision, U. S. District Court Judge Martin Jenkins referred to the overwhelming evidence presented in the case showing a pattern of lower pay, fewer promotions and less opportunity for women at Wal-Mart in every region of the country. Expert reports relied upon in the judge’s decision exposed the reality behind Wal-Mart’s smiling face. Women who had worked longer for Wal-Mart, had higher job performance evaluations, and did the same jobs were paid less than the men they worked next to. The sexism prevalent in Wal-Mart’s management practices robbed women and their families of the pay they worked for. Wal-Mart devalued women’s work, and paid them less simply because Wal-Mart thought it could get away with it.
The 1.4 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) has been actively organizing, mobilizing and empowering women to take action to create equity in all workplaces. In instances where there was evidence of sex discrimination, the UFCW regularly refers workers to attorneys experienced in civil rights litigation. From small groups of women workers talking with each other, with the UFCW, with public interest groups and civil rights lawyers grew the legal action that Judge Jenkins described as “”historic in nature, dwarfing other employment discrimination cases before it.””
Wal-Mart has aggressively sought to suppress workers in the exercise of their rights, and has been particularly focused on dissuading workers from connecting with each other or acting as a group. Workers are repeatedly told they do not need “”third party representation”” and that Wal-Mart has an open door policy that allows workers as individuals to resolve their problems with management. Wal-Mart’s failure to address issues of sex discrimination as reflected in the Dukes case, and the success of women acting together with a strong voice and effective representation to take their case forward, however, demonstrate that Wal-Mart’s management system is fatally flawed and cannot meet the needs of a 21st century workforce.
“”An organized voice for workers is the solution for the problemsfrom low pay to inadequate health care, from high turnover to discriminationat Wal-Mart. The Dukes case is an inspiration for all other Wal-Mart workers that acting together they too can bring change to the workplace,”” said Joe Hansen, UFCW International President.


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Traction in orders in India have been seen in the food industry, beverages, automobile, and auto ancillary, said MS Unnikrishnan, MD, Thermax.
The Thermax Group has bagged an export contract of USD 43 million from a cement company in the UAE for design, engineering, supply & construction of captive power plant. The contract has to be commissioned in 18 months
Throwing more light on the above contract and the business outlook MS Unnikrishnan, MD, Thermax said he expects better order intake for the entire year – the first quarter was good and expect second quarter to be better than last year’s Q2.
Have seen a surge in finalisation of contracts globally and domestically, there have been lot of finalization of contracts post goods and services tax (GST) implementation but cannot confirm of a turnaround yet.
Thermax. D Ltd. is an Indian energy and environment engineering company based in India and Britain. It manufactures, boilers, vapour absorption machines, offers water and waste solutions and installs captive power projects.
So far the order intake has been more on the international side than domestic, said Unnikrishanan. In India, the order ticket size has been small so far, he added.
Traction in orders in India have been seen in food industry, beverages, automobile and auto ancillary, some pharma companies, light engineering – so more from spaces that are consumption oriented.He is hopeful of doing a better in terms of topline for FY18 than FY17, so better profits and although margins are under pressure, they would focus on stabilising them through better cost management.

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The Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lineup might be merging into one unified series in the future. Samsung’s upcoming foldable phone may be to blame for this, as well as falling profits.
According to The Bell, Samsung wants to simplify its flagship portfolio by pushing the so-called Galaxy X as the most premium option and the joint Galaxy S/Note as the conventional option. This makes sense, as the foldable device is supposed to be extremely expensive as compared to its rigid counterparts.
Why Samsung is merging the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note
Having 3 different series at 3 different price points would confuse any consumer and eat into profits. That may already be happening with the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lineup right now. There’s very little to differentiate the two in terms of specs, resulting in consumers turning to the Galaxy S8+ as a cheaper alternative to the Galaxy Note 8 last year.
After all, both phones were almost the same size, were powered by the same processor, and featured the same Infinity design. The Galaxy Note 8 had the advantage of an S Pen, but not everyone needs to have a stylus around.
Samsung apparently is of the same mindset, ordering a modest 12 million units of the Galaxy Note 9. The Galaxy S9 pair hasn’t sold as well as the brand had hoped, so there’s a chance the Note 9 could go a similar way. It’s still a million more than the Note 8, but that’s accounted for by the former’s earlier launch.
GSMArena posits that Samsung could bring this unification about with the Galaxy S10 series. There are already rumors about the company launching 3 phones this time around. The base Galaxy S10 could be aimed at budget-conscious consumers, the standard Galaxy S10 at those who prefer the classic flagship, and the biggest Galaxy S10 for Note users.
Samsung would have to introduce S Pen support for the Galaxy S lineup to make this happen, since Note users probably won’t jump ship until that happens. The company has been considering the merger for over a year now, but hasn’t come to a conclusion yet. There’s a lot at stake, but the upside is that it would save a lot of money on development.


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May 14, 2010 - Saint John|
The three Maritime provinces, Atlantic Superstore and Moosehead Breweries Ltd. have teamed up for the second year in a row to support the lobster industry. Consumers who purchase a specially marked 12-pack of Moosehead's Clancy's Amber Ale will receive a coupon for $5 off a minimum purchase of $20 of live or cooked lobster from Atlantic Superstores. The stores will feature seafood displays in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
From left: Lionel Duguay, manager of the Atlantic Superstore in Millidgeville (Saint John); Andrew Oland, president of Moosehead Breweries Ltd.; and Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet.


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US telecommunications company Verizon has today (Monday) sealed a $4.83bn (€4.38bn) deal to acquire the operating business of internet company Yahoo.
The deal follows months of speculation over Yahoo’s future direction. Verizon was said to be the leading contender to acquire Yahoo’s online business following the closure of the first round of bidding in April.
The addition of Yahoo to Verizon, which also acquired AOL last year, will create one of the largest portfolios of owned and partnered global brands with extensive distribution capabilities. Combined, AOL and Yahoo will have more than 25 brands in its portfolio.
The sale does not include Yahoo’s cash, its shares in Chinese conglomerate Alibaba Group Holdings, its shares in Yahoo Japan, Yahoo’s convertible notes, certain minority investments, and Yahoo’s non-core patents – known as the Excalibur portfolio.
These assets will continue to be held by Yahoo, which will change its name at closing and become a registered, publicly traded investment company. Yahoo said it will provide additional information about the investment company at a future date.
Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and chief executive, said: “Just over a year ago we acquired AOL to enhance our strategy of providing a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers. The acquisition of Yahoo will put Verizon in a highly competitive position as a top global mobile media company, and help accelerate our revenue stream in digital advertising.”
Yahoo will be integrated with AOL under Marni Walden, executive vice-president and president of the product innovation and new businesses organisation at Verizon.
Marissa Mayer, chief executive of Yahoo, said: “Yahoo is a company that has changed the world, and will continue to do so through this combination with Verizon and AOL. The sale of our operating business, which effectively separates our Asian asset equity stakes, is an important step in our plan to unlock shareholder value for Yahoo. This transaction also sets up a great opportunity for Yahoo to build further distribution and accelerate our work in mobile, video, native advertising and social.”
Yahoo has increased its activity in the sports sector considerably since the turn of the year, striking partnerships with North America’s Major League Baseball and NHL ice hockey leagues, as well as golf’s PGA Tour. In March, Yahoo also launched a new service dedicated to coverage of major esports events around the world.
The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, approval by Yahoo’s shareholders, and regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017. Until the closing, Yahoo will continue to operate independently.


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MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — As college football kicks off this week, the nation’s premiere all-star game is showing it’s appreciation. Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy made the rounds Tuesday, delivering game jerseys to local establishments. Nagy stopped by Callaghan’s Irish Social Club and Moe’s BBQ downtown to hand-deliver the jerseys and thank restaurant owners for their support of the game.
“Mobile has always embraced the game and we’re part of the fabric of the city. We’re just trying to give back a little bit and show our appreciation for them and everything they do to support us,” Nagy said. “To me, a big thing at Senior Bowl is we wanna get our brand out there. So to drop these off, I think we are going to 50 establishments around Mobile, it’s gonna be great. I can’t wait to come in places and see the jerseys up.”
The Senior Bowl is set to kickoff February 5th, 2022 at Hancock Whitney Stadium.


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NYSE-listed Chinese EV maker NIO is recalling almost 5,000 of its flagship ES8 all-electric SUVs due to its batteries made by China’s CATL overheating and spontaneously combusting
As reported by Quartz: “Chinese electric-car manufacturer NIO, which went public in New York last year, is recalling around 4,800 units of its flagship electric SUV after the model caught fire or sputtered smoke in multiple incidents in recent months…”
To continue reading, click here to read Quartz’s full article.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from/through New Energy Narrative, which I am the founder and owner of).


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Sales of desktop discrete graphics cards hit a record low in 2023Q1
Over the past three and a half years, the sale of discrete desktop graphics cards has experienced a rollercoaster of extreme highs and lows. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, an increased demand for home entertainment, combined with a surge in cryptocurrency markets, led to a persistent shortage and elevated prices of these GPUs. However, a combination of relaxed pandemic management policies, cryptocurrency market crashes, and economic downturns precipitated a dramatic plunge in shipments, reaching the lowest point since 2005 in last year’s third quarter.
Recently released market data from Jon Peddie Research (JPR) reveals that after a rebound in the fourth quarter of 2022, sales of discrete desktop graphics cards continued to contract in the first quarter of 2023. Dealers and OEM manufacturers persist in their inventory reduction strategies, pushing sales volumes to a new nadir unseen for decades. Sales of discrete desktop graphics cards for the first quarter of 2023 are estimated at about 6.3 million units, representing a 12.6% sequential decline and a 38.2% year-on-year drop, falling below the 6.9 million and 7.43 million units of the third and fourth quarters of 2022, respectively.
Nvidia continues to dominate with an 84% market share, selling roughly 5.29 million discrete desktop graphics cards, marking its poorest performance in years. AMD takes the second spot with a 12% market share, shipping approximately 760,000 units; it appears that the Radeon RX graphics cards have settled into a pattern of sub-million sales each quarter. Unlike Nvidia and AMD, who are downsizing their inventory, Intel increased the supply of its Xe graphics cards in the first quarter of 2023, shipping around 250,000 units and securing a 4% market share.
Jon Peddie, President of Jon Peddie Research, posits that the PC market is languishing due to inflation worries and widespread corporate layoffs, leading suppliers to further reduce inventory levels. Many consumers opt to purchase older-generation products, which in turn impacts the shipment of new ones. The second quarter traditionally experiences a decline, and this year is projected to follow suit. However, with the reduction of inventory and manufacturers’ marketing efforts for new products, a rebound in sales is anticipated by the third quarter.


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Exciting time for William Rast denim brand
William Rast, the "New America" denim culture brand, founded by Justin Timberlake in 2005, has refocused its efforts on the contemporary American-made denim category the brand originally became known for at its inception. The company will launch the updated and expanded collection at ENK Vegas, February 14th – 16th.
The denim offering will include newly developed fabrics, innovative and on-trend washes and new fits, all accompanied by fresh, modern branding and packaging. The company has brought on board a team of denim and sportswear experts in design, merchandising and sales.
"We see a huge growth opportunity in denim for 2011 and beyond," said Colin Dyne, Chief Executive Officer of People's Liberation, the parent holding company of William Rast. "After seeing a slow year for denim in 2010, we think the consumer, who has filled their closets with alternatives such as leggings, jeggings, chinos and cargos, is ready to come back to denim. We have invested significantly in denim development to come up with the best fits, and have taken all steps necessary to make sure we have the softest, most comfortable and sophisticated fabrics and washes in the market for Fall 2011."
Newly appointed President of Wholesale, Rick Spielberg, will be leading the team of denim experts, as well as the new sales team, each of who has extensive domestic and international experience. "We have perfected the fit on each of our denim styles and are using only premium fabrics from our mills in Italy, Japan and the US, resulting in a product with a softer, more natural feel," says Rick Spielberg. "We have been working extremely hard with our Los Angeles factories to create a truly contemporary American-made denim that offers unbeatable value to the premium denim consumer."
Overseeing the creative direction for non-denim, sportswear apparel, is industry veteran Gregg Fiene, founder and previous owner of XOXO. In this role, his initial focus will be on building complete collections for both retail and wholesale to support the denim category. "I am excited to come in and support the growth for such an amazing brand. The ambition is to develop a full sportswear collection for the retail stores and offer that for wholesale for next season."
Adding to its recently launched eyewear partnership, the brand will continue to expand into other licensed categories, and is actively in discussions regarding footwear, watches and leather goods. The brand will also further pursue the roll out of additional freestanding William Rast retail stores.
"This is such an exciting time for the brand. We just successfully concluded our limited edition, five-week designer collaboration with Target, where we designed specific product unique to that channel, and we are being honored as Brand of the Year in April at the AAFA American Image Awards", says Colin Dyne. "It is a great kick-off to the new year to have this kind of exposure as a platform to leverage the company's investment in the design and sales team, and to launch our newly developed, exclusive premium denim collection."
William Rast, the 'New America' denim culture brand, was conceptualized and founded by Justin Timberlake in 2005. The company is operated through subsidiaries of People's Liberation Inc, under management of CEO, Colin Dyne. Originally comprised of only denim, the brand has expanded into a complete lifestyle collection, including leathers, outerwear, wovens and knits; known for delivering quality, fashion forward design, and premium fit.


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Tesla’s German plant hits snag as public consultation repeated
21 Oct 2021
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is trading up 0.18% at 865.80
An online consultation for local citizens to express objections to Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s huge factory near Berlin will be repeated, the regional environmental ministry said on Thursday, over concerns the process did not comply with regulations.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said at a visit to the factory site in Gruenheide on Oct. 9 that he hoped to begin production in November, which looks increasingly unlikely as authorities first need to review the latest submissions before deciding whether to grant approval.
The repeated process, only open to those who expressed an objection in previous public consultation rounds but were not satisfied with the response from Tesla or the environmental ministry, will run from Nov. 2-22, the statement said.
A Tesla spokesperson said the company was maintaining its target to begin producing cars before the end of the year and then ramp up as quickly as possible.
Authorities decided to repeat the process after environmental groups disputed in a separate case also moved online that citizens were not warned far enough in advance that the consultation would be digital, prompting concern that the same applied to the Tesla consultation.
“Since, in the absence of sample cases, it is difficult to assess which legal opinion the administrative courts in Brandenburg would adopt in the event of a lawsuit, the licensing authority decided to repeat the online consultation in the emissions control procedure for the vehicle factory for reasons of legal certainty,” it said.
On technical fronts Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) RSI stood at 87.73 and currently stock is trading above all MA. So, BUY position can be taken with following target and stoploss:
TRADE SIGNAL – : Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – BUY : 863.90, TARGET: 868.90, STOP LOSS : 862.22


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It’s all in the photos
This Thanksgiving, have your mashed potatoes and eat them too.
Think you know the rules about healthy foods and can pick the best-for-you fruit from the produce section? These facts might surprise you.
Sticking with a Mediterranean diet throughout most of your life may pay off with a disease-free old age, according to researchers in Boston.
We eat what our friends eat, according to a new study presented at the Agricultural and Applied Economic Association’s 2013 annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
For the first time, researchers show how a plant-based diet, stress management and other lifestyle changes may lead to longevity.
What’s good for the heart may not be so healthy for other organs, says the latest study that links omega-3 fatty acids to an elevated risk of prostate cancer.
Most studies involving video games and avatars have been connected with weight gain, but seeing our virtual selves could also melt pounds away — if the avatar adopts the right healthy habits.
Weight is never an easy subject, but it can be especially dicey when parents broach the issue of eating habits and weight with their teens.
Loading up on burgers and deli meats may be tempting, but too much red meat could trigger metabolic changes that upset the body’s glucose balance.
In one of the largest studies to date, researchers from Loma Linda University in California report that vegetarians outlast meat eaters.
How marijuana contributes to weight loss — and a reduced risk of diabetes; researchers zero in on the first genes associated with postpartum depression; and ADHD in childhood may be linked to obesity later in life. These are the stories making health news this week; for more, visit TIME Health & Family.
Toking up may help marijuana users to stay slim and lower their risk of developing diabetes, according to the latest study, which suggests that cannabis compounds may help in controlling blood sugar.


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Acer reveals new Predator gaming desktop, notebook and display
The Predator G1 desktop, Predator 17X laptop and Predator Z1 monitor are the latest entries in the series.
Acer unveils new Chromebook, convertible and ultrathin notebooks
The company held a live event in New York this morning.
How It Stacks Up
Galaxy Note 10.1


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Updated : 2 years, 7 months ago IST
New Delhi [India], Dec 20 (ANI-BusinessWireIndia): CSS Corp, a global leader in Customer Experience (CX) and Technology transformation services has announced that it has been identified as a "Leader" in NelsonHall's NEAT report for Cloud Infrastructure Migration and Management
New Delhi [India], Dec. 19 (ANI): Whirlpool of India, a subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation, unveiled its brand new collection of 28 products, from its premium kitchen appliance brand 'KitchenAid' in Mumbai.
New Delhi [India], Nov 28 (ANI): Leading online recruitment marketplace Aasaanjobs today announced its entry into the bustling RPO segment.
Washington D.C. [USA], Oct. 25 (ANI): Lady Gaga, who will appear on tonight's 'The Late Late Show' with James Cordon, gave a little sneak peak from the probably legendary segment.
New Delhi [India], Oct.18 (ANI-Businesswire India): Solar market place MYSUN  (https://www.itsmysun.com)/has announced that it has received an initial funding of 2.5 million dollars, which is by
New Delhi [India], Oct 7 (ANI-BusinessWireIndia): In a bid to take customer pampering to the next level, Jean-Claude Biguine, leader in the luxury salon and spa chain segment, has acquired 'The Home Salon', an existing well-known brand for home services in Mumbai.
New Delhi, Oct 6 (ANI): Fossil Group today marked its foray into the wearable device market by unveiling a range of connected devices across six of its owned and licensed brands - Fossil Q, Michael Kors Connected, Skagen Connected, Chaps, Emporio Armani and Misfit.
New Delhi [India], Oct 3 (ANI): The leading mobile wallet company MobiKwik has announced its foray into the consumer loan segment to enable customers to avail short-term credit for one-time festive buying or register for EMIs from their account.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Sept.21 (ANI-Businesswire India): Nirvana Realty, one of India's leading and most trusted names in the weekend homes segment announced its association with Singapore Based Hospitality Venture TripVillas.com. In India, Nirvana Realty has given us some of our
New Delhi [India], Sep 18 (ANI): Tata Motors has said it is focusing on its cargo vehicles segment, including tippers, even as the medium and heavy commercial segment grew by just three percent in April-August.
New Delhi [India], Sept.16 (ANI-Businesswire India): SilverPush, a data-driven marketing and measurement company, today announced the findings of its TV and digital advertising mapping report on the smart-phone and mobile operator industry for the India market. The report captures the data c
New Delhi [India], Sep 16 (ANI): India's pioneering online automobile transactional marketplace Droom has announced its foray into the new vehicles' segment to firmly cement its market leadership position in the overall automobile sphere.


text: Jun 08, · Back in , there were approximately 11, reported online dating scams in the US. By , that figure was up to more than 32, These numbers could be even higher if unreported incidents were factored shambhalafundacion.orgted Reading Time: 6 mins. Feb 01, · The Federal Trade Commission receives thousands of reports each year about romance scammers who create fake online relationships only to steal their victims’ money. Unfortunately, an online love interest who asks for money is almost certainly a scam shambhalafundacion.orgted Reading Time: 9 mins. Sep 16, · One of the most disturbing and heartbreaking scams, however, is the romance scam. With dating websites, social media, email, and mobile devices, it’s easier than ever to wage an online dating scam to defraud someone, steal their identity, or their money. The FTC reports that $ million is lost each year in dating scams. That is more than any other type of scam committee in the shambhalafundacion.orgted Reading Time: 9 mins.


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Entrepreneur and developer Alan Glazen pauses in the Waterloo neighborhood he's trying to help reinvigorate. His father grew up in the area.
(Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Alan Glazen's "Operation Light Switch" in Cleveland's Waterloo district takes another step forward, with the entrepreneur's announced plans to bring a craft brewery to the east side neighborhood.
"Our working name is 'The Waterloo Brew,' " says Glazen, the outspoken force behind an ongoing project to reinvigorate the proud section of the Collinwood area. He adds that the name of the building where the new brewing operation will be housed will remain the
Glazen is developing his latest project with restaurateurs Randy Kelly and Linda Syrek, who are also husband and wife. Together they operate XYZ the Tavern, Ontario Street Cafe and two ABC The Tavern locations, all in Cleveland.
In revisiting the building's facilities, which he and his partners took over late last year, Glazen realized that the space once occupied by bowling lanes -- stripped away years ago -- deserved further consideration for a new use.
Sam McNulty, who has spearheaded much of the redevelopment of the Ohio City neighborhood with brew-centric bars like
, prompted him to consider adding beer production to the space, Glazen says.
"He said 'Maybe you ought to consider this, because that’s [craft brewing] what really put us on the map," Glazen recalls.
"That got us thinking, because though brewing isn’t really our area of interest, it's altogether feasible. It's as possible for a restaurant as it is for a coffee shop to roast its own beans," he adds.
Better still, creating a small scale brewing operation enabled Glazen and his partners to approach the City of Cleveland's Department of Economic Development to seek funding for the project.
"You know, in order to get funding for a project such as this, you have to be something other than a bar or restaurant -- you have to go into something like manufacturing, and beer-brewing is a form of manufacturing," Glazen says. "So the city's Department of Economic Development has been amazing in their willingness to help. I've been an outspoken critic of Cleveland government, but the Economic Development folks really have done handstands, making every effort to help get this project off the ground."
At the moment, Glazen and his partners are shopping for the brewery equipment which is built to specifications and takes several months to construct, deliver and install. At this stage, he adds, he anticipates producing the equivalent of roughly seven barrels of beer each week, though that amount could perhaps double.
"It's hard to estimate just how much we can sell," Glazen says. "But we don’t want to sell it anywhere other than in our own places. I'm not interested in retailing it."
Because Glazen's group still holds to plans for several new businesses to debut simultaneously -- thus, the "lights on" aspect of Operation Light Switch -- an opening date for Waterloo Brew has not been set. Completion of streetscaping and other renovations, plus completion of chef Steve Schimoler's Crop Rocks (an east side restaurant and "vinyl vault," in partnership with former Rock Hall head Terry Stewart), are pending.
"For our part, we'll be ready to roll by June of next year," Glazen adds.


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For those who are not aware, Lucas comes from the video game ‘Mother 3’ which was designed for the GameBoy Advance. It was the official sequel to Mother 2, which was famous as ‘Earthbound’ in North America.
Mother 3 was never released in U.S but gamers have decided to make and release their own fan-translation English patch. Nintendo wishes to keep launching more DLCs with additional characters that will be decided through an online poll, where gamers can vote who they want to be added next.
Earlier, Lucas was a part of the “Super Smash Bros: Brawl” roster, due to which many fans were utterly shocked, when he wasn’t in the authentic roster for Super Smash Bros 4. It was even more surprising since Ness was included. In the meantime, Nintendo has released Amiibo figurines like Meta Knight, Ike, and Marth on 29th May.
Stay tuned for more updates on Super Smash Bros 4!


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The survey, conducted in July, 2016, includes a total of 5,400 consumers without nut allergies from 10 different markets around the world. Each market covers 500 consumers, except China and India, each of which has 700.
ABC noted that the 2016 study is used to update and expand its previous learnings from 2012 and 2014.
Almond chocolate consumption remains stable
The global chocolate consumption bounced back after a dip in 2014, the study said, with consumer reported eating chocolate an average of 10.6 times per month in 2016, compared to 10.4 times per month in 2014.
Despite the chocolate bar consumption tapering off in several markets, including Russia, China, India, and South Korea, chocolate with almond consumption remained stable over the years.
“Average monthly chocolate with almond occasions increased or stayed the same in seven out of 10 countries (US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Brazil, and Japan),” SRG said in the report.
However, there was a fractional decrease in China, India, and South Korea, the group added.
“82% (up three points versus 2014) of consumers believe chocolate with almonds is more nutritious, while 81% (up two points versus 2014) of consumers worldwide believe chocolate with almonds is crunchier,” SRG added.
Increasing nut consumption
SRG data suggested fruit remains the top replacement food for chocolate despite a 10-point drop from 2014.
Meanwhile, yogurt, nuts and ice cream all gained three points each versus 2014, according to the data. Nuts consumption in particular has increased seven percentage points since 2012.
The study pointed out that among all the surveyed markets, the US and Brazil both saw a highest growth of preference for nuts in chocolate (4%) during the period.
“Milk chocolate with nuts continues to be the most popular type of chocolate, followed by plain milk chocolate and dark chocolate with or without nuts,” the study added.
The data included in the survey also indicated that almonds remain the top nut in chocolate, now appearing in 59% of recent nut/chocolate occasions, even though it decreased by four percentage points from 2014.
Pistachio outpaced other nuts in dark chocolate
In the dark chocolate segment, other nut types have experienced stronger consumption growth compared to almonds, the study said.
While almonds consumption increased by 3% in dark chocolate globally, walnuts, macadamias and pecans all grew by 5% each.
Pistachio nuts outpaced all types of nuts by with a seven-point increase during the two-year period (2014 to 2016).


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Added as a paragraph today's China Unicom earnings statement:
On 28 August, the Company and Apple reached a three-year agreement for the Company to sell iPhone in China. The initial launch is expected to be in the fourth calendar quarter of 2009. This will provide users with brand new communication and information experience.TechCrunch confirmed this is for both the 3G and 3GS phones.
China Unicom is the second largest telco in China with 140 million subscribers, double the size of AT&T.
And guess what, because the iPhone has a soft-keyboard it's ready to go, no retooling, no new keyboard layouts, no new models.
I'm not sure if the financial analysts have worked this out, but it's the end game in the smartphone market, and if Apple can capture China, it's going to be a long, tough slog for other vendors.


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The new manager of the Perry Hy-Vee will take up his duties at the store Monday, according to employees familiar with the leadership change.
Scott Johnson will take the reins at the Perry store. Johnson has managed the Kirksville, Mo., Hy-Vee since 2015.
The Perry Hy-Vee opened in 1977. The store employs about 150 full-time and part-time workers.


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L'ABUS D'ALCOOL EST DANGEREUX POUR LA SANTÉ. À CONSOMMER AVEC MODÉRATION.
Tara Jarmon Flagship Store Opening Party
Today Tara Jarmon has reopening their huge flagship store on The Champs Elysées. Jean Paul Bize, new owner of Tara … Read more
Stéphane Kélian pop-up store at L’Exception Launching Party
L’Exception hosts Stéphane Kélian pop-up store until the 30th of November in its Flagship, 24 rue Berger. Thanks to Mai … Read more
TOM GREYHOUND 3rd Anniversary Party
The Parisian concept-store Tom Greyhound celebrated its third anniversary with the launch of three exclusive collaborations with Ader Error, Gentle … Read more


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With Pioneer continuing to supply conservatories to a French home improvement specialist based near Paris at a rate of two articulated truck loads a month, the company say Brexit will not present any barrier to sales, say both supplier and customer.
Sales of Pioneer’s ‘English Conservatories’ continue to grow to several International customers, including those located in countries as diverse as Japan and France.
Danny Williams, managing director of Pioneer, and a committed Brexit supporter, said that none of his customers see any issues with business continuing as usual after the March 2019 exit date for Britain to leave the EU. He said: “If anything trade with Japan might even get easier but our French customer, who has been taking around 150 conservatories a year from us for the past six years, says that unless huge barriers are imposed, they don’t see why anything should change.
“We addressed the issue again more recently, now that we are just a year away from leaving the EU. They tell us that unless ridiculous tariffs and physical barriers are imposed they see no reasons to change, which is exactly our position. Our customers are entirely pragmatic about the political situation, and our French customer especially is continuing to enjoy growing sales of our conservatories to their customers, who buy them in standard sizes and install them themselves.”


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Sony's newest console, the PlayStation 4, sold more than 1 million units within 24 hours of hitting shelves, making it the fastest-selling PlayStation in the company's history.
The PS4 went on sale Friday, Nov. 15, in the U.S. and Canada to long lines of eager shoppers. Sony has said it expects to sell 5 million units by the end of its fiscal year in March.
"PS4 was designed with an unwavering commitment to gamers, and we are thrilled that consumer reaction has been so phenomenal," said Andrew House, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, in a statement on Sunday, Nov. 17. "Sales remain very strong in North America, and we expect continued enthusiasm as we launch the PlayStation 4 in Europe and Latin America on November 29."
Although PlayStations were flying off the shelves, some consumers weren't happy to discover problems with some of the consoles. Several users took to social media to report that the PlayStation 4 hardware wasn't working. Even when players did get the system running, some experienced instability.
The company issued a statement in response to the complains, saying: "A handful of people have reported issues with their PlayStation 4 systems. This is within our expectations for a new product introduction, and the vast majority of PS4 feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We are closely monitoring for additional reports."
Sony's success leads the pack of other highly anticipated game launches this holiday, including Microsoft's Xbox One, which launches Friday, Nov. 22.
Best Buy Stores to Open Early for PlayStation, Xbox Sales
Apple to Spend $10.5 billion on Robots, Supply Chain Technology
Samsung's Retail Strategy: Get Into Apple's Face
Apple's iPad Air Just in Time for Holiday Mobile Shopping
Apple's iBeacons To Let Stores Beam Location-Based Offers To iPhones


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"In the five year long second phase, the programme will be scaled up in size and coverage and will be introduced in five additional countries, namely Mali, Ghana, Togo, Zambia and Tanzania. The Cotton TAP programme will now cover 11 African countries including the C4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali)," an official statement said.
India remains committed to building on its longstanding development partnership with Africa, especially in the field of cotton, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said at the opening session of World Cotton Day in Geneva.
As one of the world's largest producers and consumers of cotton, India supports the World Cotton Day as an opportunity to recognise the significance of cotton as a global commodity, and, more importantly, as a source of livelihood for millions of small and marginal farmers in developing countries, said Irani.
Irani further said that India is also engaging meaningfully in providing assistance to strengthen both the agriculture and textile part of the cotton value chain in Africa through training and capacity-building of farmers, scientists, government officials and industry representatives and through the creation of cotton-related infrastructure.
She said that it is fitting that Mahatma Gandhi has been chosen as the icon for the World Cotton Day and to mark the celebration of the first World Cotton Day, India will gift a replica of Mahatma Gandhi's Charkha to the WTO.
The Textiles Minister also informed that cotton farming and the domestic cotton textile industry continue to be important pillars of India's economy.
As a country of 8 million small and marginal cotton farmers, India is sensitive to the challenges faced by the cotton sector in developing countries and India has been a proponent for the elimination of asymmetries and imbalances in the WTO agreements that lead to a distortion of global cotton markets, the Minister added.
Irani expressed hope that the World Cotton Day will help showcase innovative initiatives in the cotton eco-system and channel more development assistance for cotton.
- Front Page
- FM Delivers Balanced Budget, Minus Freebies
The budget achieves the hat-trick of greatly boosting capital spending, slashing taxes, and reducing the fiscal deficit.Budget Envisages PM’s Vision of Amrit Kaal
The resolve to see India as a global superpower during the 'Amrit Kaal' is no castle in the air, as it might sound to naysayers.Adani Enterprises Cancels FPO, to Refund Investors
Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) unexpectedly called off its ₹20,000-crore follow-on public offer (FPO) on Wednesday evening, a day after the company closed the offer successfully.
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Amazon, one of the world’s largest companies, has taken a giant leap in the race to provide global internet connectivity with the launch of its first two prototype satellites for Project Kuiper. This ambitious project aims to build a network of over 3,200 satellites in low-Earth orbit, delivering internet connectivity to even the most remote corners of the globe.
With this move, Amazon directly enters into competition with SpaceX and its Starlink system, which has already deployed over 4,500 satellites in orbit and offers commercial service in various regions. The global space-based internet market is perceived as a revolutionary solution to bridge the digital divide and provide high-speed internet access to areas lacking basic infrastructure.
However, the rapid growth of satellite megaconstellations has raised concerns about space debris and their detrimental impact on astronomy. Experts have emphasized the importance of responsible satellite deployment and their eventual deorbiting to mitigate these concerns.
Amazon’s success with the initial satellite launch opens the door for the company to deploy hundreds more in the future. In terms of affordability, the company aims to produce Project Kuiper terminals for as low as $400 per device, although pricing for monthly services has not yet been disclosed.
Despite facing some setbacks, Amazon remains determined to push ahead with its plans. The company intends to launch its first production satellites as early as next year, with beta testing expected to commence by the end of 2024. This timeline demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to bringing widespread internet connectivity to everyone across the globe.
As the competition between Amazon and SpaceX intensifies, the ultimate winners will be the billions of people who will gain access to the internet for the first time or experience improved connectivity. With giants like Amazon and SpaceX vying for dominance in this market, the future of global internet connectivity looks promising.
“Evil tv fanatic. Proud thinker. Wannabe internet trailblazer. Music specialist. Organizer. Hardcore pop culture expert.”


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When it comes to big esports tournaments in Malaysia, there is always the need to be cautious. The country have seen major blunders in big tournament over the years, from technical difficulties (which includes blackouts and short circuits) to major fumbles like not paying winners their rightfully earn share of the prize pool.
Speaking at the press conference after the soft launch of the Malaysian Cyber Games 2018, Suara Anak 1Malaysia Club President YB Dato’ Armand Azha Hj Abu Hanifah this will not be the case for the government-backed amateur esports event, set to be held this weekend on 13-14th January.
“We’ll give the cheques on the same date,” said Armand.
The organisers, Mineski Events Team and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia have been in talks to ensure that payment will be ready to be distributed right after all the winners have been determined, no need to wait a few weeks like most esports tournaments usually do.
The inaugural Malaysian Cyber Games was held in December 2015, offering 4 different game tournaments. Ever since then, Armand stated that it has build hype to the point more organisers have started doing esports event, with mixed results.
“Everyone want to be Malaysian Cyber Games.. imitate Malaysian Cyber Games, everybody said they are better than Malaysian Cyber Games, some even gave RM1,000,000 prize pool but at the end, the gamer community knows, it was unpaid.” The last part is obviously throwing shade at AGES 2016 which, despite being a nice esports event, had issues in payment that has yet to be resolved to this day.
“Today, we are telling everyone, you don’t imitate us, the real player is back. We understand the gamer community,” Armand added.
The 2018 edition will be the second and will see 9 different games tournament: Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, Injustice 2, Dota 2, CS:GO, Mobile Legends, FIFA 18, F1 2017 and Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). The 9 tournaments share a total of RM300,000 worth of prize pool.
The soft launch was officiated by the Minister of Communications and Multimedia, YB Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.


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Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast has taken legal action against TSR LLC to stop the development and publication of its forthcoming tabletop RPG Star Frontiers: New Genesis.
According to court documents, Wizards filed a preliminary injunction against both TSR, Justin LaNasa and the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum in Washington state’s district court on September 8th. Preliminary injunctions are commonly used to stop one party in a legal battle from doing any further potential damage to a plaintiff before they have the chance to bring a formal suit.
In this case, Wizards is shutting down production and distribution of TSR’s Star Frontiers: New Genesis, a tabletop RPG first published in 1982 that the smaller company is attempting to revive. Leaked playtest material hit social media and forums in July of this year (thanks, Techraptor), showing a slew of explicitly racist, bigoted, anti-trans and alt-right material throughout its worldbuilding and character creation.
LaNasa and the two companies - along with Gary Gygax’s son, Ernie Gygax, Jr. - comprise what’s commonly called “NuTSR”, a publisher who is already embroiled in an ongoing legal battle with Wizards of the Coast over the rights to the Star Frontiers licence. NuTSR dropped its lawsuit against Wizards amid a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, only to be slapped with a countersuit claiming continued fraudulent use of the TSR logo, among others.
Wizards of the Coast currently owns the rights to much of the original TSR’s games and properties after it purchased the nearly insolvent creator of Dungeons & Dragons in 1997. As outlined in the injunction, Wizards did not actively maintain registration of the two trademarks but upheld the legal standard for common law trademark rights by selling digital TRPGs bearing those logos through web stores such as Dungeon Masters Guild and DriveThruRPG.
Wizards of the Coast’s filing claims it wants to stop any further work or distribution of Star Frontiers: New Genesis, including playtesting, because it bears two logos legally belonging to the D&D publisher. It further states the public may mistakenly believe Wizards of the Coast endorses Star Frontier’s “reprehensible content”, which would do “irreparable harm” to the company’s recent efforts to foster a more inclusive environment around its products.
Wizards has filed an injunction against NuTSR to stop them from releasing "blatantly racist and transphobic" and "despicable content" using trademarks that belong to WotC.— NoHateInGaming (@NoHateInGaming) September 9, 2022
This thread will be updated as we get through the documents, there are three and they're long. pic.twitter.com/9Q2Q2VbOjn
Wizards of the Coast declined to Dicebreaker’s request for comment, and TSR LLC did not respond before publication. The former ended its injunction by claiming this is only the beginning of NuTSR’s latest legal trouble with the Seattle-based company, which is owned by toy-making giant, Hasbro. The document said “general infringement can be remedied through future injunctive relief and monetary damages which Wizards will prove at trial.”
Many will likely be happy to see NuTSR potentially crushed beneath the legal potency that Wizards of the Coast can bring to bear, and its hard to argue that the playtest version of Star Frontiers New Genesis (which explicitly stated it was “not to be given, released and handed to anyone associated with Wizard of the Coast[sic], Hasbro”) deserves space on game store bookshelves.
The preliminary injunction is noted for consideration on September 30th, meaning we will likely know more about Wizards of the Coast’s full legal plan and TSR’s potential rejoinder by then. More detailed information about all three documents can be found in a detailed Twitter thread by NoHateInGaming.


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What you need to know
- Facebook faces a record-setting 5 billion dollar fine in a decision from the FTC.
- It will also be required to improve its privacy protection for users.
- The settlement still needs to be approved by the DOJ before it becomes final.
This week, the FTC voted to approve a record-setting 5 billion dollar fine against Facebook. The fine comes in response to several privacy violations, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal, serving ads via phone numbers provided for security, and lying about its facial recognition software being turned on by default.
Along with the massive fine, Facebook is also being required to amp up its privacy protection for users. In a blog post from Facebook, it details how the new system will work going forward.
It will include more monitoring of what third-party apps are doing with your information, as well as detailed quarterly reports signed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg to verify compliance with the settlement.
There will also be independent oversight with a board dedicated to privacy with assessments sent directly to the FTC.
While the settlement was approved by the FTC with three votes in favor from Republicans and two votes against by Democrats, it still must be approved by the DOJ. However, the Department of Justice has a history of approving the settlements.
The two Democrats who voted against the measure did so because they felt it didn't go far enough. There had been talks of expanding the punishment to include executives such as Zuckerberg to hold them personally responsible.
However, Facebook strongly resisted holding Zuckerberg accountable and had the company walk away from what would have likely been a long and grueling trial.
If the settlement is approved, Facebook will end up paying a record-setting fine, which according to critics such as David Cicilline (a Democratic Rep. from Rhode Island) is little more than a "slap on the wrist" compared to its yearly profits.
Aukey 26800mAh 65W USB-C battery review: My new go-to travel power bank
There's been a steady improvement in really big portable batteries with high outputs for us with laptops as they shift to USB-C, and the latest I'm relying on is the Aukey 26000mAh portable battery.
Bethesda won't be holding a digital E3 showcase this year
We have some unfortunate news to share (and no, it's not an April Fool's joke). Bethesda Softworks has confirmed that it will not be holding a digital E3 showcase this year. Instead, news about Bethesda games will be shared in different ways in the months ahead.
Daily Coronavirus updates: UN says COVID-19 threatens global stability
COVID-19 has already infected over 877,000 people globally and caused over 43,540 fatalities. It has also had a huge impact on the tech industry, affecting the global supply chain and causing interminable product delays. Here are all the ways the coronavirus is affecting the world.
These are the best Ring devices you can get right now for your smart home
Despite having its share of negative publicity throughout 2019, Ring has continued to make some of the best home automation and security devices on the market. Here are some of our favorite Ring products for 2020.


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Android smartphones focusing on improved displays and cameras haven't beaten the iPhone but are narrowing the gap, suggests analysts from Cowen, with main rivals Huawei and Samsung said to be considerably outspending Apple on the rear camera assembly in each of their flagship mobile devices.
A preliminary analysis of the bill of materials (BOM) for the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and the Huawei P30 Pro reveals the two companies are getting quite close to Apple in terms of their margins, a Cowen investor note obtained by AppleInsider advises. While the iPhone has been estimated to cost low to mid-60 percent margins for the last couple of generations, the Galaxy S10+ is thought to have margins of 57 percent to 60 percent, while the P30 Pro is estimated to be between 63 percent and 65 percent.
"We estimate that Apple and its peers have been able to maintain or expand hardware margins in recent years even with escalating BOM costs in certain subsystems," according to Cowen.
The biggest and most obvious escalation in spending is on the cameras, with the S10+ having two front and three rear cameras, the P30 Pro having one at the front and four at the back, and the iPhone XS and XS Max using TrueDepth at the front and two at the rear.
Samsung's cameras are estimated to cost $44 per device, while the higher resolution and Time-of-Flight camera used in the P30 Pro pushes the cost up to $56, whereas the iPhone is thought to have a camera system that costs $34.50 per device, representing 8 percent of the BOM. Just on rear cameras alone, Samsung and Huawei are forecast to have respectively spent 1.4 times and 1.9 times as much as Apple.
The price difference may simply be down to the use of more cameras on the Samsung and Huawei devices. Apple is rumored to be adding a square camera bump and a triple-lens configuration on its 2019 iPhones, which could provide a third zoom option alongside the established wide-angle and telephoto cameras, or even to enable depth mapping.
Though iPhone remains competitive in camera quality, "Apple's greater integration of software to complement the hardware sensors is an element that cannot be fully captured in a BOM analysis," admits Cowen. "We also note that Google's Pixel smartphone family which has highly regarded image capture abilities still makes do with a single rear main camera with software helping it maintain an edge in image quality."
In comparing the displays, and assuming Samsung is the supplier for all models, the iPhone's screen is estimated to cost $120, while the higher pixel density Galaxy S10+ is worth $125, and the lower resolution and color gamut P30 Pro is $110. Representing between 20 and 25 percent of the BOM, Cowen concludes the screens of all three "are all of leading edge quality with subtle differences noticeable in a side-by-side comparison."
Though less of a competitive area, the processing capabilities of each are also thought to be worth monitoring, with the A12 Bionic using a hexa-core design while the Samsung and Huawei versions are octa-core based and have integrated LTE modems. "We believe the addition and innovation of AI accelerator cores or 'neural engines' as part of the GPU core design is of a greater focus," the note reads.
Cowen warns that the 4G design expertise of Huawei "and even Samsung" have garnered over the last few years could help the two companies put Apple at a near-term disadvantage for 2019 with the introduction of 5G cellular services. Apple is not anticipated to bring out a 5G-capable iPhone in 2019, which may give its rivals a significant advantage in terms of connectivity.
It is unclear if Apple will maintain its overall lead long term, as Cowen suggests "With peers focusing on superior display and camera quality, we believe it is too early to tell if catering to social media power users will lead to further iPhone sales declines."
While Cowen's BOM breakdown shows that there is comparative levels of cost between the three models, it is worth remembering that both the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and the Huawei P30 Pro are relatively new devices, whereas the iPhone XS was launched in September last year. Both Samsung and Huawei had the opportunity to learn what they needed to change in their flagship models to keep them competitive with the latest iPhones before launching them.


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Magpul continues to fight the good fight against the proposed 2nd Amendment encroachments in Colorado. HB1224, a Colorado House Bill to limit magazine capacity, is still on its way to becoming law, and, as many of you know, Magpul has stated that they will leave Colorado if it does.
MAGPUL INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES IT WILL LEAVE COLORADO IF GUN BILL PASSES
MOVE WOULD COST STATE 600 JOBS, $85 MILLION
Denver, Colorado – February 15th, 2013 – Magpul Industries, an Erie, Colorado, based manufacturer of firearms accessories, announced today that it will be forced to leave the state if House Bill 1224, which would ban standard capacity magazines, becomes law. The announcement was made to Governor Hickenlooper, state legislators, members of the media, and in a full-page advertisement to appear in the Denver Post on Sunday.
Richard Fitzpatrick, Founder, President, and CEO of Magpul Industries, said that regardless of any amendments that may be worked into the bill, he will no longer be able to continue to do business in Colorado if his core product is made illegal.
“Our company could not, in good conscience, continue to manufacture our products in a state where law-abiding citizens are prohibited from purchasing and owning them. ” Fitzpatrick said. “The passage of this bill will do nothing to enhance public safety, but will force us to immediately begin taking our business to another state.”
A proponent of the bill argued that with the amendment language, the choice to stay or leave was up to Magpul. Fitzpatrick responded, “Our relationship with our customers across the country would be severely damaged if this bill passes and we stay. We’ve already heard word of potential boycotts if that happens. They (legislators) really need to understand that our customer base is as passionate about freedoms as we are, and staying here if this bill passes would cripple the company. Make no doubt about it…we have no choice, and would be forced to leave in order to save the business.”
Magpul cited the example of the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show, which was canceled earlier this year after the organizers announced that it would not permit a popular category of firearm, like the ones Magpul makes accessories for, in the show. Public outcry from the customer base forced exhibitors to withdraw from participation, causing the cancellation of the show, and an estimated loss of $70 million of show revenue for hotels, restaurants, merchants, and other businesses in Pennsylvania, where the show was to be held.
Magpul Industries directly employs 200 people, supports another 400 supply-chain jobs, and contributes over $85 million annually to Colorado’s economy. Doug Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Magpul, says that it is a difficult position to be in. “We could choose to stay in a state that wants our jobs and revenue, but not our products, and lose half the jobs we are fighting to save, or potentially the entire business, when our customers stop buying. Or, we can take the company and those 600 jobs out of Colorado to continue our growth and the growth of American manufacturing in a state that shares our values. This is not really a choice. It’s an unfortunate and inevitable result of the actions of the Legislature if this bill passes.”
Magpul was started over a decade ago by Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. Marine. It has become one of Colorado’s fastest growing businesses, successfully marketing its products to American and allied military forces, police departments, sporting goods stores, and thousands of responsible private citizens. Fitzpatrick says that the rich western culture and strong values of individual freedom and responsibility, traditionally found in Colorado, were one of the reasons the company chose to remain in the state.
“It is heartbreaking to me, my employees, and their families, to think that we will be forced to leave,” Fitzpatrick said. “But if HB13-1224 passes, we will simply have no choice.”
They even took out a full page ad in the Denver Post.
HB1224 has passed in Colorado State House. It still has to pass the CO State Senate and be signed by their Governor.


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March 22, 2019
Partnering with 23 brands, Facebook’s Instagram debuted an easy-to-use in-app checkout tool for U.S. users. Adidas, Burberry, Dior, Nike, H&M, Zara, Kylie Cosmetics and Kim Kardashian West’s KKW Beauty are among the first retailers to sign on, with more to be added to the beta test throughout the year. Users in the U.S. will see the feature roll out over the next few weeks. Instagram head of product Vishal Shah noted that, “given that 80 percent of people follow a business on Instagram, the desire really is there to shop.”
The New York Times reports that, “Instagram has been working toward in-mobile shopping since the introduction of its shopping tags in 2016, which allowed users to tap on images of products and be linked to off-platform e-commerce via a pop-up browser window.” According to the company, 130 million users click to reveal shopping tags, up from 90 million in September. Since debuting the tags, Instagram also introduced “shoppable product stickers for Instagram Stories.”
With the newly debuted system, users can store credit card or PayPal details “and complete transactions all within the app itself.” Instagram will also charge a fee for purchases completed within the platform, but wouldn’t share the fee rate.
“Our primary business remains advertising, and we believe this will be an important driver of that business,” said Shah. “But you can think of this as a potential new business for us.” He added that, “for the time being, payment credentials will be stored only for use on Instagram accounts and will not be usable on Facebook or WhatsApp,” although he said that payments on these platforms — with a clear opt-out for users — would be “something we think about in the future.”
Shah noted that the new tool is ideal for Instagram where “fashion has always been a really strong vertical.” “Given the way that fashion industry pushes out new product, there is also an element of newness and seasonality that is really consistent with how people express themselves [there],” he said. Despite the rise of e-commerce, opined Shah, “if you were in the mood to shop, or just wanted to see the latest trends and latest fashion, there wasn’t really a good place that was the digital equivalent of the mall.”
“Shopping as a hobby, or as entertainment … we think that’s an untapped area of the retail marketplace, especially in mobile,” he said.


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Executive producer Tomasz Gop confirms the sequel to action RPG in Facebook post.
Lead mission designer Imran Sarwar says Heists have changed numerous times since their announcement.
Further improvements made to matchmaking and stability.
Third game in the series due in the first half of 2016 for PS4, PC and Xbox One.
Storm Island expansion adds new area, extreme weather, cars, achievements and an extra mode.
Dante must die, but he’s getting a new lease of life on the current generation.
“Please stay tuned for a step by step guide on how to claim your free game.”
Remastered version of the previously Japan-only Vita exclusive to ship with a “limited” number of demos for upcoming series saga.
Some things never change. Bioware’s latest delve into the RPG genre is the crowning jewel of the series.
Microsoft enjoys first month of sales dominance this gen.


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Priscilla Tan, like most of us, is busy juggling work and life and sometimes, might get carried away with working extra hours or back-to-back meetings. As a homemaker, she might face difficulties visiting wet markets to get what she needs due to her busy schedule.
And she is not alone.
To solve this problem, millennials like Priscilla are increasingly turning to online solutions, all thanks to affordable smartphones as well as connectivity around the island.
“Recently I was unable to do my fresh grocery shopping at the wet market due to my busy work schedule. I rely on a new online store PurelyFresh to help me in getting fresh seafood, vegetables and meat for my family. Their products came nicely packed, no bruises on the vegetables, meats were sealed in plastic and I also get S$15 off my first purchase,” Priscilla raved on her experience with PurelyFresh.
Readers of Vulcan Post might have heard of the new online fresh food delivery site, but for those unfamiliar with PurelyFresh, it is an online wet market, allowing customers to order fresh food and get them delivered to your doorsteps.
Since we last spoke with the team, PurelyFresh has grown even more: it currently features over 2,000 products on its online platform, making it one of the largest online wet markets in Singapore. One thing which customers love about PurelyFresh is that customers can customise their orders, such as having their fish sliced or having their meats minced.
As we previously mentioned, PurelyFresh has a strong competitive edge, enabling them to deliver the level of customisation and product freshness to their customers. The team behind PurelyFresh owns five wet and dry markets located in Sengkang, Punggol, Tampines and Woodlands. What this means is that customers are getting their products directly from these places. There is also a full money back guarantee if they receive any unsatisfactory products.
“We work directly with our own meat butchers and fishmongers to ensure that our customers get the best ingredients they can get. We ask ourselves what kind of ingredients we would want us and our kids to enjoy — that’s the same ingredients we deliver to our customers. We also import most of our vegetables and fruits so our customers get only the best,” Desmond Khoo, new father and also CEO of PurelyFresh told Vulcan Post.
Everyday, Desmond personally monitors all the orders that come through to PurelyFresh, and visits his wet markets to get a good sense of the latest products he can introduce to his potential customers. Once in a while, he also adds complimentary fresh fruits into his customers’ orders, providing in a personal touch that no other brands can deliver.
“We take our orders seriously, because it reflects the trust our customers have in our brand,” added Desmond.
Because of this commitment, PurelyFresh has been able to grow a steady pool of repeat customers from people like Priscilla, who order products such as vegetables, fruits, meats, and seafood from PurelyFresh’s fresh range of produce. Another happy customer, Jonathon Yeo, also relies on PurelyFresh to deliver ingredients to his home, making it easier for his mother.
As our lives increasingly revolve around on-demand technology, PurelyFresh is confident that it has all the ingredients to dominate the online fresh produce delivery space: the freshest ingredients from their own wet markets, low delivery fees with the option to pay cash on delivery, money back guarantee, and most importantly, a steady pool of satisfied customers.
And we are pretty sure both Priscilla and Jonathon would attest to that.


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The RSPCA has advised against dressing pets up for Halloween as costumes can increase stress in animals and cause them to "overheat and struggle to breathe properly."
The warning comes after a spike in social media content featuring pictures and videos of dogs, cats and other pets dressed up as spiders, pumpkins and ghosts, ahead of Halloween.
The British Vet Association (BVA) released a statement saying pets are "not fashion accessories" while the RSPCA told BBC News that some pets find the experience of dressing up "worrying and even scary."
The RSPCA made the following comment ahead of Halloween: "It's really important that pet owners think about how dressing up pets can make them feel, as whilst some animals may not mind being dressed up, other pets may find this worrying and even scary."
BVA Senior Vice President Justine Shotton told Sky News: "Most owners consider pets a part of the family, which is great, but it's important to remember that pets are not fashion accessories.
"Dressing up animals or otherwise unnaturally changing their appearance is not only unnecessary and potentially harmful, but in some cases can also prevent pets from expressing their natural behaviours and from using their body language to communicate."
Justine went on to explain how dressing your dog up could prevent them from regulating their body temperature and breathing freely.
She said: "It can cause them to get stressed, get too hot and struggle to breathe properly. This can be a serious problem for dogs like pugs and French bulldogs, who can already have breathing problems because of their flat faces and squishy noses."
Shotton added that pet owners should focus on keeping their fury friends "calm and reassured" rather an adding to their Halloween "anxiety".
She said: "Halloween is already quite a stressful time for some pets, with excited children, familiar people looking different in costumes and masks, and lots of unfamiliar people coming to the door too.
"It's always best to try to keep pets calm and reassured, rather than to add to any anxiety and discomfort by dressing them up too. If in doubt, ask yourself whether dressing your pet up is really going to deliver any tangible benefits for them."


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Sportingbet buys online rival
SPORTINGBET consolidated its position as the world's largest online betting company today with the acquisition of fellow UK internet betting group Sporting Odds but warned that a Brazil victory today and again in Sunday's World Cup final would take the smile off their faces.
Sportingbet, which has more than 600,000 customers worldwide, said it has bought Sporting Odds, the fixed odds business of spread betting firm Sporting Index, for a total of up to £5.3m.
Sporting Odds reached break-even recently although it lost £7.1m on a turnover of £38m last year. The deal is in shares and loan notes locked up for 16 months in a transaction that gives Sporting Index a 1% shareholding in Sportingbet.
Unveiling profits before tax of £5m in the year to 31 March against a £4.2m loss last time, Sportingbet chief executive Nigel Payne claimed the company is the second most profitable internet company in the world after online auctioneer eBay. House broker Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein forecasts current-year profits of £15m.
While the World Cup has so far delivered high margins for Sportingbet, which concentrates on 'leisure' punters - there is a £1,000 limit on bets and maximum exposure of £50,000 - Payne warned that a Brazil victory would pare back the gains from the early exit of other World Cup favourites.
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- Strategy and Management
- 2 min read
How AI is leading innovation in the BFSI sector: ETCIO BFSI Conclave 2019
Deepak Sharma, Chief Digital Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank, speaks about AI being at the forefront of all the innovations and figuring out technology relevant to the sector.heading digital strategy to drive digitization with future-ready initiatives.
The financial services landscape, today, is packed with several hyped and useful technologies. This can lead to confusion in any technology leader’s mind. “However, not everything has an equal impact. Organizations, therefore, have to make a choice on priority, depending on maturity and impact of the technology,” says Deepak Sharma, Chief Digital Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank at the ETCIO BFSI Conclave 2019, held in Mumbai.
Additionally Sharma opines that, “AI is at the forefront of all innovations and will continue to remain so in 2019-20.” Further explaining the impact he mentions that it is a host of multiple things, while some layers being relevant to the BFSI sector. Eventually, BFSI IT leaders have to figure out data to build new business models. Today the situation is such that few technologies are getting disproportionate usage, though they are at an early stage of the curve. Organizations have to go back to the drawing board and pick and choose, he says.
Pointing out other technologies that have made an impact he says, “Everybody is moving to voice globally. More digital transactions are happening in non-English in India, thanks to smartphones penetrating to corners of the country.” Therefore, building experience on voice is different from the traditional UX designed. Another platform is collaboration where you can share data, insights to generate value.
With all these, the future of banking in india will have two major things according to Sharma:
While AI is leading innovation, banks have started to see higher RoI. Overall fraud detection has been invested in. And, insurance technology is picking up AI. Concluding he says, the journey is not a sprint rather a marathon, “This is a multi year journey, you have to stay committed.”


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UH study shows hemp could be commercially grown here
WAIMANALO, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The demise of sugar has dealt a blow to the state's agriculture industry but University of Hawaii researchers are working on a potential alternative.
A report by scientists at the UH Waimanalo Research Station indicates that hemp can be commercially grown here. A study found that a single acre of land here can produce about 30 tons of hemp stock each year.
The study also found that an acre of hemp could also produce 30 tons of leaves and stem, which could be used to feed livestock.
"It's an amazing crop for Hawaii. With the sugar plantation shutting down on Maui, hemp is the natural replacement crop to go to Maui," said state Rep. Cynthia Thielen.
Hemp can be used in thousands of products including food, clothing, paper, rope and even building materials. And the UH study said that some subtropical varieties of hemp adapted well to Hawaii's climate.
"You end up with a hemp plant that will be 12 to 15 feet tall and it can actually grow that fast in 12 to 15 weeks," Thielen said.
The study comes on the heels of yesterday's announcement that HC&S is shutting down Hawaii's last sugar plantation and will lay off 675 workers.
HC&S said it is taking a close look at hemp.
It issued this statement today: "Once we are assured the activity is legal, we stand ready to begin trial plantings at HC&S," said Rick Volner, general manager of HC&S.
But there are hurdles. Even though hemp is legal here, it took UH researchers 11 months to get approval from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to import hemp seeds here. It could take even longer for a private company to start up their own hemp farm.
Copyright 2016 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.