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The ingenious ways in which producers try to get around laws and regulations are on display in a customs dispute up in Maine.
A customs dispute at the U.S.-Canada border is threatening America’s supply of a key fish used for popular products such as fish sticks and fast food sandwiches.
The Alaska pollock has a complicated supply chain. After being caught as part of the largest commercial fishery in the U.S., the fish are transported by ship to New Brunswick, Canada, near the border with Maine. They are then loaded onto rail cars for a brief trip down 100 feet (30 meters) of track in Canada, before being put on trucks and crossing the border into the U.S.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has alleged that shippers are violating the Jones Act, which requires that goods shipped between U.S. ports be transported on U.S.-owned ships.
The agency has assessed more than $350 million in penalties to the shippers, records state. Two of the shipping companies have sued in federal court to stop the enforcement, which they characterized as heavy-handed, unexpected and unfair.
The dispute left 26 million pounds of fish in cold storage in Canada until a federal court judge issued an injunction on Sunday to let the seafood be shipped into the U.S. Members of the industry said they’re concerned about permanent disruption to the seafood supply chain if the disagreement continues.
There’s more at the link.
The fishing companies are trying to launch a smokescreen of “Oh, it’s for the good of all Americans, so you’ve got to let our fish through!” That’s not true, of course. They’re trying to evade the costly provisions of the Jones Act, which are quite specific, thereby saving themselves tens of millions of dollars. They’ve been caught at it, so now they’re trying every wriggle and twist they can think of to get off the hook.
Customs, on the other hand, has been turning a blind eye to this for years; they only recently cracked down on this particular situation. There simply aren’t enough US-built and -flagged ships to transport all the cargoes needing to move between US ports, so companies have been employing such fig-leaf work-arounds for a long time. They argue that they’re adhering to the letter of the law – and they are. Customs argues that they’re violating the spirit of the law – and they are.
Meanwhile, the rest of us see how the deadweight of burdensome laws and regulations is affecting us, and we get more and more angry. As Winston Churchill pointed out:
If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law.
The real problem lies with those who passed a law back in the days (1920) when there were plenty of US-flagged ships to do the fetching and carrying, and the volume of trade wasn’t so high. The law has not kept pace with current reality on the seas, where US-flagged ships are largely conspicuous by their absence. Even if the fishing companies wanted to fully comply with the law, they couldn’t, because they couldn’t find enough qualifying ships to handle their cargoes.
That’s what happens when pressure groups pass laws to their benefit, but bureaucrats don’t build in enough flexibility. I reckon at least half the laws on the books in this country fall into that category. President Trump was on the right track when he decreed that for every new regulation they implemented, government departments had to retire at least two old, outdated ones. It’s a great pity that didn’t go on long enough, and that he couldn’t apply it to the laws themselves.
So, we may run out of fish sticks. Oh, shuckydarn. Having been almost force-fed the damn things through childhood, I’ll try to bear up manfully under the blow . . . Meanwhile, the Canadians had better hope and pray they don’t suffer a power failure to the temperature-controlled warehouses containing those 26 million pounds of fish. If they do, the problem will rapidly become aromatic rather than economic!
Looks like Alaskan Pollock is a west coast fishery. How do they get the catch to Maine? Or are they fishing a different species off the east coast? BTW, Pollock makes a reasonable substitute for Haddock or Cod.
No it doesn't. Certainly not for cod.
Same with the Icelandic Cod… sigh Long John Silvers may go out of business.
Saw the Jones act rear its ugly head when people tried to ship relief supplies to Puerto Rico after the hurricanes and stupidity of rapacious Democrat Party officials there.
Had fish sticks every Friday in grade and secondary school. Did not like them then, don't miss them now. One thing they can take off the shelf as far as I am concerned.
Buttigieg is worse than useless. We are better off with him doing nothing, than with him doing his "job"
Like most govt functionaries. He's a net drain on the economy
Jones Act was written to protect the US ship building industry. US port to port in US made ships. Not just flagged. Without it China would decimate the US ship building industry by dumping/subsidizing excess building capacity here. Goodbye to another US industry or core competency, hello globalism and another dependency on China.
US long liners for tuna and swordfish of the Grand Banks always had to notify Canadian Coast Guard and Customs when transiting the miles in Canadian water by radio.
If the Canadians want to play rough, they will make all fishing vessels stop both coming and going for an inspection or make a big detour farther east before heading back north.
Time is money.
I for one welcome the effects of bureaucracy. The problems here are purely the result of a failure to protect the American Nation's interests in favor of financial gains for the FIRE barons.
As Spin noted, shipbuilding is a vital industry, as are the ability to fab your own chips, manufacture your entire auto parts chain, be energy independent, and maintain all your own infrastructure.
That used to be America. However, anywhere where the FIRE industry has touched it has consumed, and made its own regulations to aid and abet monopoly and oligopoly.
Couple that with the Green mafia's own regulatory quest for destruction of America and you get the current crises.
I'm completely for the application of consequences upon the citizenry that thought they could have their cake and eat it too.
I am a lady, and therefore I cannot discuss my opinion of the Jones Act. There are things that are Not Done.


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The Qurbani Campaign, “#BiratHaat”, jointly organized by Bikroy, country’s largest marketplace and the most famous site for online buying and selling of Qurbani cattles along with Minister Hi-Tech Park, is in full swing. This campaign which was launched on 19th August has already received a viral response from online buyers. Hundreds of buyers have already joined in the hashtag contest (#BiratHaat) of this campaign.
Through this Eid al-Adha campaign, Bikroy has created a large demand for qurbani cows such as the legendary “Sultan Deshi”, “Hasa Damur” and also generated substantial demand for high-ticket Qurbani cows that are priced ranging from 1 to 1.5 lacs Taka. To participate in this campaign contest, interested participants have to share the ad link of their desired sacrificial animal from Bikroy.com with a hashtag (#BiratHaat) on Facebook. From the most liked, commented and shared posts, 15 lucky winners will get refrigerator, smart LED TV and other exciting home appliances from Minister. Moreover, during this campaign customers of Bikroy’s Deals Shop can get the advantage of free home delivery on orders with lots of gifts through the “Buy Now” feature of Bikroy. Before purchasing a Qurbani animal from Bikroy, the buyers can also visit the farm and check the Qurbani animal themselves before making the final purchase.
Regarding the huge response for online buying and selling of cattles, Mr. Yasser Noor, the Director Marketing of Bikroy said,” People are more busy with work nowadays and on top of that the relentless traffic on road has made many lose interest on purchasing cows from conventional Qurbani haats. To ensure that customers can comfortably buy their desired Qurbani animals online without having to deal with such hassles, we have brought some exciting offers, gifts and free delivery system for the Bikroy’s deals shop cattle buyers.”
|Business Services in Dhaka||Business Services in Chattogram|
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domain: news


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The northernmost tip of Greenpoint is getting a new 24 hour food market this fall. Riverside Market has signed a contract to open at 7 Bell Slip at Greenpoint Landing, Commercial Observer reports.
The Greenpoint Landing mega development from Park Tower is currently adding 745 more apartments and a 2.5 acre park with two Tetris-like buildings resembling a ziggurat and its inverese near the former Greenpoint sludge tank.
When complete, Greenpoint Landing will have approximately 5,500 total apartments spread among 11 towers. Eleva Coffee opened on the ground-floor of 7 Bell Slip in December, becoming the first commercial tenant at the development.
Riverside Market will carry “organic juices and salads, non-GMO products, paninis, vegan fare, and sandwiches, as well as sundries,” according to the Commercial Observer. Directly across the street from the future food market sits the Nuhart Plastics Superfund site where a cleanup of toxic chemicals oozing beneath Franklin Street has been stalled for years.
The closet food market to Greenpoint Landing is a few blocks away at Lincoln Market (1133 Manhattan Ave.), which recently rebranded from “Gourmet A’Fare Market.”
A partnership between the development and Loop, a zero-waste food packaging company, was announced last year as well.


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Alibaba A.I. Labs will launch its service robot for the hospitality sector next month.
The service robot will be able to deliver meals and take laundry to guests. Guests can talk to the robot via voice command, touch and hand gesture, and its responses are driven by AliGenie, the software that powers Alibaba A.I. Labs’ smart speaker, Tmall Genie.
Also, the robot has a aluminum casing with multi-sensor data functionality and parallel computing for lightning quick responses. It also includes a semantic map, autonomous navigation system to identify obstacles, communication systems to control elevators, and identity verification via facial-recognition technology.
Less than one metre tall, the robot boasts a walking speed of one metre per second. After a trial at a hotel, Alibaba A.I. Labs will assess its suitability for other areas, including hospitals, restaurants and office services.
“We are excited by this tremendous development that is helping us bridge the gap between guest needs and the response time that they expect. Alibaba A.I. Labs’ robot is the next step in the evolution towards smart hotels. In addition, it is solving pain points in the hotel sector, such as enhancing service efficiency, with our leading AI technologies,” said Lijuan Chen, general manager of Alibaba A.I. Labs.


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American Girl introduces Grace, its 2015 Girl of the Year doll. (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/9/2015)
You'd never know it from this promo.
Middleton-based American Girl — part of toy giant Mattel — is tying the doll’s story to a nationwide nonprofit, No Kid Hungry, an organization that connects low-income families to meal programs and teaches them how to cook inexpensive, nutritious food.
Source: Social Security Administration


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Not long after 2K Games confirmed the rumoured cancellation of WWE 2K21, the company updated the fans with some important info for the future of the franchise.
With everything that's been going on with the franchise, including the fiasco that was the launch of WWE 2K20, 2K Games' official statement is probably the least that the faithful fans deserved. Many silently hoped the dev will bring back Battlegrounds, and their wish will be coming true.
"We’re thrilled to introduce you to WWE 2K Battlegrounds, a completely new WWE gaming experience that will feature arcade-style action and over-the-top Superstar designs, environments and moves. We’re focusing on social pick-up-and-play fun, but with plenty of depth for those who want to get way into it", the company wrote.
Unlike 2K20, which was handled by Visual Concepts, WWE 2K Battlegrounds will be developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind NBA 2K Playgrounds and World War Z. According to the announcement, they're already hard at work, and the coming months should bring more info.
2K Games also wrote they appreciate the feedback for WWE 2K20 and vowed to continue to polish the game. They also stressed that WWE 2K19 servers will keep running.
As for the next WWE 2K instalment, Visual Concepts have bolstered their ranks with new executive producer in Patrick Gilmore but will be skipping the 2021 edition of the game. 2K Games is certain the added time will allow the team to make the best game possible.
You can find the announcement here .


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Yesterday in Scott Charney’s RSA 2012 keynote, he made reference to a statistic stating that 92.5 percent of respondents believe cybercrime laws need updating. This was one of the many findings of the Trust in Computing research recently conducted by the Trustworthy Computing team.
The Microsoft “Trust in Computing” research was conducted in nine countries around the world; the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Russia, India and China. Questions were asked on the Internet, devices, security, privacy, reliability, Cybersecurity representing use, experiences and perceptions.
For more details, see the blog post and keep following as we release more data in the coming months.
As a small taster here are some interesting findings.
Security, Privacy and Reliability of online services?
- 86.6 percent of respondents were concerned about the Security of online services they use
- 86.7 percent of respondents were concerned about the Privacy of the online services they use
- 80.5 percent of respondents were concerned about the Availability of online services they use
Where your data is stored and who has access to it?
- 59.1 percent of respondents are very concerned with where their data is located in the world.
- 51.1 percent of respondents are concerned about their spouse or partner knowing their location information.
- 71.5 percent of respondents are concerned about their Government having access to their location information
There are more findings in the Trust in Computing Research here.


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Thursday, Sep 20, 2018 | Last Update : 04:01 PM IST
GST became a reality as a process of cooperative federalism was followed led by the finance minister.
19 Jul 2017 2:15 AM
This book is about Mr Modi and the inclusive transformation he has wrought in governing India.
30 Jun 2017 12:30 AM
Consider, that the most vocal protests against GST have come from dry fruit traders, cloth merchants and jewellery makers.
23 Jun 2017 2:28 AM
Hindu traditionalist members wanted complete protection for the cow as a fundamental right.
03 Jun 2017 12:00 AM
Technology is fast eroding the capacity gap between the unique attributes of human labour and machines.
16 May 2017 12:09 AM
Can things change even before 2020, if Arvind Kejriwal resigns, admitting he has lost the mandate to rule?
27 Apr 2017 12:16 AM
The Planning Commission was merely an extended office of the Prime Minister.
25 Apr 2017 12:18 AM
No surprise then that Ram Vilas Paswan, minister for consumer affairs, chose three unorthodox areas to show his department’s proactivity.
19 Apr 2017 2:03 AM
Curbing drunken driving requires that drivers, a small fraction of all travellers, be targeted. Most travellers are passengers.
08 Apr 2017 3:57 AM
PM Modi is not one to be hesitant about funding innovative ideas in the public interest.
31 Mar 2017 2:21 AM


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UPDATE: Bank of America Upgrades Starbucks; Raises PT
According to a research report published this morning, Bank of America has upgraded Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) from Neutral to Buy, and raised PT from $65 to $68.
In the report, Bank of America said, "We are raising our rating on SBUX shares from Neutral to Buy. SBUX has corrected by about 14% since its April high and subsequent March quarter earnings release with the weakness, in our opinion, is more a function of pre-release investor expectations getting too high than any significant fundamental issue."
Starbucks closed yesterday at $53.37.
(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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Firefox OS 2.0 plans include copy and paste support, a new mechanism for launching apps and switching among them, a more useful lock screen, a find-my phone system, and more. Those features will be crucial to the success of the nascent OS, which lags Android and iOS by years but which is critical to Mozilla's continued relevance.
There have been a lot of interesting developments surrounding Mozilla's Firefox OS platform and smartphones built on it. Mozilla made clear at the recent Mobile World Congress conference that it wants to seed a market for $25 phones based on the platform, putting smartphones in the hands of many people who haven't owned mobile phones before. And, a while back, I covered Geeksphone's concept for a high-end Firefox OS phone called Revolution that would purportedly run both Mozilla's platform and Android. Now, the Geeksphone Revolution, an Android smartphone on which it is easy to install Firefox OS, has gone on sale in France, Germany and the U.K. Some reports say that it will also go on sale in Italy.
Two of the communities that lay claim to being among the most tolerant and inclusive have shown intolerance of a very high order, acting like a lynch mob to ensure that a top technologist was forced to leave his job as chief executive of a well-known software group.
This weekend, North America Mozilla Reps gathered in the not-so-sunny Portland, Oregon. We worked from the Portland Office during the weekend, where we collaborated on plans for North America for the next six month period. We also tackled a number of topics from websites and refined our priority cities which will help us be more successful in moving forward in our mission to grow contributors in North America.
Mozilla and the Rust community are pleased to announce version 0.10 of the Rust compiler and tools. Rust is a systems programming language with a focus on safety, performance and concurrency.
While Mozilla has mostly been in the headlines this week for news related to contributions made by its new CEO Brendan Eich, another piece of meaningful news regarding the company is largely being ignored: Google Chrome has moved past Firefox to take second place in desktop browser market share, according to web traffic stats from Net Applications. In March, Chrome grabbed 17.5 percent of desktop brower traffic, while Firefox sat in third place with 17.2 percent. This is a first for Chrome, according to Net Applications' data, and is possibly driven by Google's extensive advertising for Chrome and Mozilla's new focus on Firefox OS and mobile technology.
If you've ever done any web development work, you are probably intimately familiar with the fact that what you build on the web may show up fine in one browser, yet be completely broken in another. It used to be that this problem simply meant testing sites and pages across popular desktop browsers, but in the age of mobile technology, you now have to test your creations across mobile devices, too.
Ubuntu 14.04 Beta was released and OMG!Ubuntu! has a What's New. Red Hat stock took a bit of hit today and Forbes.com is reporting oversold conditions. And finally today, Jack Wallen has a look-see at GNOME 3.10 stable in light of yesterday's GNOME 3.12 release.


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Google needs our data to run its business, but it’s not going to get it unless people trust the company has good intentions. Naturally, Google has always tried to give us some control over what happens to our personal info, and it’s expanding that control today.
With Incognito Mode in the YouTube app, you can watch content that won’t affect your search results or watch history.
Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.
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For the first time, ITB Berlin is devoting an international platform for tours & activities technologies, which is the most exciting part for the travelers. What do you remember and tell everyone about your trips? It's more likely to be what you did or ate than the airport, the flight, the train or the hotel room. Travelpayouts Affiliate Network - top travel advertisers in one dashboard
See opportunities offered by Booking.com, Viator, Kayak and more than 45 other advertisers here.
As described in a session during ITB Berlin led by Milena Nikolova, the human brain has two systems for decision-making: one is for the spontaneous ("What will we do tomorrow?") and other for a more considered decision ("Where will we go on holiday?"). Tours & activities need to recognize that travelers mostly decide to purchase on the spontaneous mode and gear up their business accordingly
For tours & activities, business models require partnerships among tech suppliers, tour operators, sellers, and destinations, bringing for everyone new commercial possibilities. An essential part of partnerships and customer acquisition is where your customers are, being on social media or on offline channels, or even beyond the traditional travel industry.
Following the technology for tours & activities, the travel specialist Peter Syme pointed out from discussions on Arival the growing gap between the most technologically developed tour operators and the rest is getting wider,
while there are operators moving into dynamic pricing and yield management, the majority of the industry is still offline. The industry tech landscape is like a mangrove swamp so collaboration is useful to fix the current challenges of tour operators, but where will the industry shaking innovation come from?
Based on a comprehensive survey of European travelers, the report The Arival Guide to Tour & Activity Booking in Europe
reveals how changes in technology, marketplace dynamics, and consumer booking patterns are pushing tours and activities operators to move online - ready or not. Some of the main insights from the last Arival event in Berlin
is that attractions can lead the distribution debate, as on the case of The Van Gogh Museum. And operators from all over Europe are redefining tours and activities alongside new consumer demands. Airbnb-HotelTonight Deal
Continuing on tours and experiences, Airbnb has acquired HotelTonight
to broaden its range of offerings as a travel platform on all kinds of trips, including last-minute travel experiences as the home-sharing platform has noted that same-day bookings are growing 2x year over year
This acquisition could accelerate Airbnb's expansion and preparation for an IPO, and an alternative for the short-term regulation battles around the world that threatens its core business. So how much did Airbnb pay to acquire HotelTonight? The deal price was on $400 million
, with half in cash and half in stock. While landing the HotelTonight deal, Airbnb is leveraging a potentially rich valuable stock and putting it to work, according to Skift senior research analyst Seth Borko.
One reason Airbnb may want to make more time before it goes public
is to sort through its hotel strategy, particularly after the acquisition of HotelTonight. Executives may want to work through a key strategic initiative, without the public glare of an anticipated IPO. OTAs
Google expanding for hotels and alternative accommodations, Bing giving sign to buid their own travel guide, Despegar moving to mobile, Klook pushing global growth. March was an exciting month for the OTAs segment.Google has added a full-fledged destination site for hotels, with potential implications for booking sites and Airbnb
, offering now a clear index for prices, reviews, and photos, making the hotel's content stand out more prominently. In some markets, a tab for flights is available, so customers having booked hotels can simply move on to book flights and vice versa.
After revamping its hotel platform, Google has expanded into alternative accommodations
and mobile users have the option to book entire lodgings. The rentals encompass whole units such as apartments, villas, cabins, and houses.Is Bing about to launch its own travel guide to compete with Google?
Bing's XML Sitemap includes references accessible on the link https://www.bing.com/travelguide/sitemaps/sitemap.xml
The largest OTA in Latin America Despegar has been riding the trend of mobile transactions investing heavily in its mobile offering
to skip the economic crisis in its home market Argentina. Mobile accounted for 36& of all the company's 10.4 million transactions in 2018.
Two new partnerships, one with TUI Group's Musement and the other with Rezdy, underscore the Ctrip's strategy to strengthen its fast-growing international business
A question that many people in the travel industry have asked: who is winning the direct booking wars?
The hotels or the OTAs?AirAsia is becoming a richer online travel platform and it's increasing efforts to sell additional travel-related services
such as hotels, tours, insurance and more to their customers.
TripAdvisor's restaurant reservation subsidiary, TheFork, has acquired South American competitor Restorando
, which has a platform with more than 4.5 million annual users.
Indonesia's unicorn Traveloka ventures beyond Southeast Asia for the first time into Australia
, with a partnership with Indonesia's tourism ministry.Klook aims to push global growth to expand offerings for its rapidly growing Asian customer base
, which is looking for a greater host of destinations and opportunities. And the company has also invested in bringing Westerners to Asia.
Startups, Funding & Acquisitions
The highlights of March for funding and partnerships on travel tech, including startups from Asia.
TechCrunch notes that the travel industry had in the last five years it has raised more than $1 billion in venture capital funding
that includes short-term rental startups, travel and tourism apps, marketplaces for experiences and other travel platforms.AirAsia announced a partnership with the accelerator and venture capital firm 500 Startups
, in conjunction with RedBeatVentures, the company's digital venture arm, to expand their presence in Southeast Asia.
The property management platform for short-term rental Guesty has raised $35 million
in a series C round of funding.
The New York City-based travel startup community Voyager HQ acquired ATX Travel Tech
, the most popular travel technology meetup group in Austin.
Dutch travel marketplace Withlocals raised €8 million in a Series B funding
, aiming to grow in new cities, strengthen its community of local hosts and offer more experiences.
The Vietnamese travel startup Triip is challenging established rivals by offering customers the chance to monetize their personal data with cryptocurrency
rewards by using blockchain technology.Karachi-based OTA FindMyAdventure has raised seed funding from a Middle East-based investor
. The startup claims to be the first Pakistani OTA that enables users to discover, search, compare and book trips, tours, and activities all over Pakistan.Indian startup Guiddoo has raised an undisclosed amount to expand its footprint in China and to strengthen its operations
and product development. Offering in-destination experiences to travelers in 15 destinations, they also want to add new destinations in the Middle East and Africa.The US-based software Ebix has offered $336 million to acquire Indian startup Yatra Online
. The startup provides travel-related services such as air ticketing, hotel booking, rail ticketing, tours and activities, and more services.
Taiwanese Airbnb-like platform AsiaYo will be launching its services in Singapore and Malaysia
in the second quarter of 2019.
South Korean OTA Tidesquare has taken an investment of $44.3 million
to fend off global OTAs in the home market.
Events Skift Forum Europe will happen in London on April 30
. The event is focused on the top marketers, strategists, and technologists in the travel industry.On 15-16 May, Phocuswright Europe takes place in Amsterdam
. The event will set the stage on the online travel market, travel tech and innovation in the European market.EyeforTravel's Digital Strategy Summit happens in London on May 21-22
. A conference and exhibition gathering leaders from hotels, airlines, OTAs and tour operators, and case studies using digital technologies.Voyager HQ Disruption Summit, happens in New York, on May 22
. The event is dedicated for leaders and technologists in the travel industry. With lots of love, yours truly, Valentin Dombrovsky, Chief Alchemist at Travelabs, Andre Fernandes and Travel Tech Newsletter Team
P.S. If you received this message from a friend or found it via link somewhere, don't forget to subscribe to Travel Tech and Startups Newsletter
not to miss news and opportunities.


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New Delhi: Harman has partnered with Spotify to integrate the app in its Ignite automotive cloud platform, informs the company in a release.
Harman Ignite is an end-to-end platform that enables the connectivity, device management, application enablement, analytics and managed services capabilities, says the company.
The Harman Ignite cloud platform allows the automakers, dealers and service providers to introduce and easily deploy new cloud applications and services, claims Harman. This platform is both scalable and modular enabling OEMs to initially purchase a base set of functionality.
This partnership between Harman and Spotify will further extend the audio solution provider's ecosystem of application content partners. This partnership will also represent the next phase in Spotify’s long-term partnership with Samsung.
As the company claims, this partnership will enable the drivers to download the Spotify app tailored to the in-car environment. For automotive manufacturers, this partnership offers a path for accessing the industry-leading streaming service through the Harman Ignite cloud platform.
The platform also comes with personalized content, OTA updates, automotive UI.
Since the fiscal benefits are available, if the investment in the state is substantial, the government will be willing to offer these benefits to whoever buys the Ford factory. Apart from this, the government will also enable and fast track all necessary approvals so that the sale goes through smoothly in an effort to bring a quick resolution to the issue.


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ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports have dropped 42 percent to 645 million US dollars in March 2020, with apparels falling 41 percent to 531 million US dollars and tea falling 50 percent to 62.5 million US dollars, the state export promotion office said.
A Coronavirus epidemic in China at first disrupted inputs for the export industry, then a spreading pandemic in the West killed demand. A domestic lockdown then halted factories, many of which have started operations in April.
In the quarter ending March, merchandise exports fell 19 percent to 3,382 million US dollars from 4,176 million US dollars in 2019.
In the quarter to March 2020, merchandise export earnings have fallen 17.6 percent to 2,577 million US dollar, down from 3,116 million a year earlier.
Estimated service exports, made up of information technology and outsourcing, financial services, logistics and tourism were down 24 percent to 805 million US dollars from 1,060 million US dollars.
Total good and services exports were down to 3,322 million US dollars in the first quarter of 2020 from 4,176 million US dollars a year earlier.
Some exporters have also been hit by import controls slapped to contain a foreign exchange shortages as the central bank printed money in a ‘monetary stimulus’, despite having a soft-pegged exchange regime.
Exports of rubber products fell 35 percent to 55.8 million US dollars, coconut products were down 38 percent to 38 million US dollars, engineering products were down 48 percent to 27 million US dollars and food and beverages were down 14 percent to 29 million US dollars.
Other exports were down 47 percent to 54 million US dollars.
Petroleum products made up mostly of aviation fuel and ship bunkers grew 16 percent to 28 million US dollars.
Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board said Coconut Milk Powder, Defatted Coconut, Coconut Kernel Products, Coconut Shell Charcoal, Essential Oils, Oleoresins, Ginger, Lemons, Melons & Papayas, Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Processed Food, Rice, Green Gram, Lentils, had shown growth.
Organic Chemicals, Electrical Transformers, Boat Building also grew in March.
“..[T]he EDB is taking every effort to assist the exporters to resume operations and we firmly believe that exports will be back on track in the near future,” Chairman Prabhash Subasinghe sad.
Demand for seafood and tea is strong in export markets officials have said, while apparels which have been badly hit were adapting to making personal protective equipment (PPEs).
Sri Lanka’s National Medical Regulatory Authority and Consumer Affairs Authority, the two price control agencies, initially placed price ceilings and export bans in a knee jerk reaction amid economic illiteracy, blocking domestic production.
The controls that blocked domestic production, supply, and export potential have been removed. (Colombo/Apr30/2020-sb)


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Oshawa, Ontario – Chevrolet has announced the initial launch markets for the electric extended-range Chevrolet Volt, which will go on sale in the second half of 2011. The Volt will initially be available in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Oshawa, Ottawa-Gatineau, Vancouver and Victoria.
The automaker also announced a new partnership with Hydro-Québec by which the utility company will integrate 20 Volts into its fleet starting in 2011. Hydro-Québec intends to assess the car’s environmental benefits, specifically in terms of greenhouse gas reductions. They will be mostly used by customer service representatives and by regional community relations staff.
The Volt can be charged via a standard 120-volt plug or, for faster turnaround, with a charging station. Chevrolet said that the Volt has a total driving range of about 580 kilometres, with the first 40 to 80 kilometres on battery power alone. When the battery runs low, a 1.4-litre gasoline engine starts up and operates like a generator to provide electricity to extend the range.
It is expected that the Volt will be more broadly available for sale at dealerships nationwide before the end of the 2012 model year, although Volt-authorized service points will be available across Canada during the initial launch.


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During an experiment earlier this year McDonald's extended breakfast hours in a handful of UK restaurants - something breakfast lovers have been calling for, for years.
Instead of those shiny menu boards rotating at 10.30am on the dot, the trial continued to serve hungry and hungover customers until 11am.
Today, Friday November 15, lazy heads can rejoice at the news hash browns, McMuffins and pancakes will be available for half an hour longer, everywhere.
Michelle Graham-Clare from McDonald’s UK, said: "We all understand the pain of missing out on a McMuffin by a matter of minutes," reports The Mirror.
"We have listened to our customers’ pleas and are delighted to extend breakfast serving time until 11am, particularly as we head into the festive season when we see a rush of latecomers searching for those all-important hash browns," she continued.
From next Wednesday (November 20) the new breakfast times will be rolled out and of course, that means here in Somerset too.
It's also important to note that if you're a fan of ordering online, the changes mean you now have until 10.45am to order through Uber Eats.
However, if you're a fan of a Big Mac for breakfast, we're afraid you will have to wait an extra half-hour to get the day time menu.
Let us know what you think! Comment below.
Tweet me@YazCookeor send me an email firstname.lastname@example.org
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After the WWDC18 keynote concluded last Monday. Apple released a brand-new Pride Watch Face and Pride Watch Bands. To celebrate Pride month across the globe, Apple is now promoting the new products in certain retail stores.
Apple has selected 13 retail stores from a range of countries to feature the custom Apple Watch display tables dedicated to showcasing the Pride Band and Watch Face. Just like last year, Apple continues to use the Pride version of their logo which can be seen at either end of the table.
Two of the thirteen stores that are currently featuring the Pride Band and Pride Face are Apple Regent Street in London and Apple The Summit in Alabama. With private #ApplePride events taking place yesterday. The celebration being held at Birmingham’s, Haven.
Retail staff invited to the celebrations, wore Apple Pride shirts. Alongside, Autographing a commemorative six-color Birmingham sign and listened to speakers.
Apple first introduced a Pride Watch Band for employees who took part in the Pride Parade back in 2016. With it being available for anyone to purchase in September. However, Apple updated the band’s design this year to make sure it aligns with the stripes on the Pride Watch Face.


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Huazhu Hotel Hackers Sell 130 Million Users’ Data For 8 Bitcoin (BTC) On Dark Web
The dark web has always represented all of the darkest things about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. In the beginning days of Bitcoin, politicians pointed to the prevalence of cryptocurrency usage on dark web marketplaces as one reason that the currency itself ought not be trusted. And much like a ghost that continues to haunt the industry, the dark web was used in a high-profile incident yet again this week, this time acting as the setting to facilitate the trade of millions of sets of consumer data.
This revelation follows one of the biggest leaks of user data in the history of China, with a small group of hackers announcing to the world that they had been able to steal the data of over 130 million different individuals. Though it was unclear at first whether the motivations behind the hack were financial or merely political, a report from The Next Web revealed that one of the hackers involved in the heist attempted to sell the data of those 130 million users, asking a price of around eight Bitcoin for the entire set.
Amounting to $56,000, this would be a major sale of information. But for the users effected and the general financial security of effected parties the impacts are far greater than $56,000.
The original theft of user information happened when a security breach within the Huazhu Hotels Group was exploited. This hotel chain is the largest in China, with 10 unique brands spanning over 380 cities and in 3,800 unique hotels. The data itself is no joke, either, the total data stolen amounting to around 141 gigabytes, and containing 240 million records taken from an astonishing 130 million guests, both recent and far in the past.
It is speculated that registration info, including ID number, phone number, email, and password login were all compromised, along with booking information, which would include the card number and hotel ID number. Though it is unclear what exactly hackers might want to do with this information, there can be no doubt that this security breach is a significant one with major ramifications for users who have had their data stolen.
The main outside investigation into the matter is being headed by Zibao, which is a Chinese cybersecurity group. The organization has outlined their belief that the leak happened while developers and programmers with the hotel chain decided to upload some pats of the database to GitHub earlier in the month.
The hotel group has contacted the Shanghai police force, which has worked hard to show their support for the massive hotel chain during this difficult time. Huazhu has spoken out on the incident, acknowledging the seriousness of the problem and outlining the work of their own officials in favor of figuring out who all was responsible for the security breach.
The Shanghai police have also released an official statement on the ongoing investigation, saying that those individuals who committed the illegal acts “will be heavily punished.”


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Image by Courtesy Brandy Gossin
You may want to check your shelves for peanut butter that's being recalled due to salmonella concerns.
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says Sunland is voluntarily recalling some of its 16-ounce jars of Naturally More Peanut Butter, Gluten Free Vegan. The affected jars have sell-by dates between 5/1/13 - 9/24/13.
There have been 29 confirmed cases of salmonella in 18 states, including Missouri. The outbreak has been traced to peanut butter from companies like Trader Joes and Sunland.
Edited news release from Springfield-Greene County Health Department:
A recalled peanut butter product may be on local store shelves, and health inspectors are asking consumers to be aware.
Earlier this week, Sunland, Inc. announced a voluntary recall for a variety of peanut butter-based and related products due to confirmed cases of salmonella. These kinds of voluntary product recalls are not uncommon and are a result of a system put into place to safeguard consumers from illness. Typically, this process catches potentially contaminated products well upstream of their appearance on store shelves, and that is what has happened with the vast majority of the Sunland products that are part of this recall.
However, food inspectors with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department have found one particular product on some store shelves, which is why the department is asking consumers to be check their shelves at home.
The product: 16 oz. containers of Naturally More Peanut Butter, Gluten Free Vegan, with use by dates between May 1, 2013 and Sept. 24, 2013.
The voluntary recall was initiated after 29 people reported Salmonella Bredeney PFGE matching illnesses in approximately 18 states, including Missouri. No local cases have been reported.
These products may be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Specific products information can be found here.
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This week’s issue of Weekly Famitsu had a brief article on the upcoming PS4 exclusive JRPG by Compile Heart Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force, including a new batch of screenshots.
Looking good Loving the JRPG magic that Sony has been bringing to the table.
is this coming to the US? it's compile heart so i'm assuming eventually, but not sure if there is official word.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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The emerging ransomware group RansomedVC has claimed an attack against Sony Corporation, offering to sell the data they claim to have stolen from the Japanese technology giant.
The threat actors have also shared the tree structure of the accessed databases as proof of the breach onto Sony’s systems, as well as samples of access on dashboards, source code, account panels, PowerPoint presentations used internally, and more. RestorePrivacy has examined the samples, and while they look authentic, we have no way to confirm they’re the genuine products of a breach on Sony.
“We have successfully compromised all of Sony’s systems,” reads the announcement on RansomedVC’s extortion site.
“We won’t ransom them! We will sell the data. Due to Sony not wanting to pay, the data is for sale.”
This statement indicates that the company did not respond to the attackers or did not accept to enter any negotiation rounds, assuming that the claims about the attack are valid.
The threat actors offer to sell access not only to the stolen data but also to Sony’s systems. Interested buyers are urged to contact RansomedVC on a given Tox address (P2P, end-to-end encrypted instant messenger).
It is important to note that the Cl0p ransomware gang included Sony in its extensive list of MOVEit victims in June 2023. However, Sony never admitted nor disputed the allegation, showing no interest in engaging with the attackers or handling rumors that hit the press.
If Cl0p really breached Sony recently, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to suggest that RansomedVC might have bought the stolen data and now attempts to resell it on the dark web or simply uses it as a means to boost its reputation. Still, this is merely speculation at this point, as neither attack has been officially confirmed.
In an email to RestorePrivacy, a Sony spokesperson stated that they are investigating the situation and have no further comment.


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Talented Southwold youngsters show off their business and creative skills
PUBLISHED: 11:52 28 November 2018 | UPDATED: 11:52 28 November 2018
A group of pupils put the fruit smoothies they had created before a panel of judges in an Apprentice-style event to test their business skills and healthy food-making talents.
The 28 students aged nine to 11 from Years 4, 5 and 6 at Southwold Primary were tasked as part of their school coursework to develop a smart range of smoothies, creating their own unique recipes along with a complementary packaging range, marketing ideas and business strategy.
The enterprise contest teams visited the The Sail Loft restaurant-with-rooms on Southwold seafront to be grilled by an expert business panel of judges.
Sail Loft general manager Peter Websdale, head chef Tom and beverage supplier Samantha Scriven interviewed the eight teams, looking at the flavour and texture of their smoothies, the creativity and design of their product image, their target audience, market messages and eco-friendliness.
The winning smoothie team was Bolt, with students praised for their confidence and communication, who with the two highly commended teams, E-Boost and Super Smoothies, were noted for their creativity, design and delicious recipes.
All the students who participated received gift vouchers to spend at The Sail Loft with their families.
Head judge Mr Websdale said: “It is so good to see how much time and determination has been put into every team’s presentation and smoothie products.
“The students were extremely keen to display their wares and to tell their story. As judges, we were just so delighted to see a new generation develop their business expertise and foodie creativity. With ‘5 a day’ fruit and vegetables so important for youngsters’ health, it was very encouraging to be judging this nutritious challenge and of course, very delicious, too.”
Senior teacher at Southwold Primary, Daniel Cordice said: “The smoothie challenge encouraged the pupils’ business skills and gave them practice in confidently communicating with adults in a business-like setting.
“We firmly believe at Southwold Primary School that the pastoral and holistic development of our students is as valuable as their academic achievements in maturing them for secondary school and beyond.”
For The Sail Loft’s chef-owner Jonathan Nicholson, embracing local neighbourhood life is vital and he was delighted to support Southwold Primary School once again.
He said: “This highly enjoyable smoothie showdown has built on the eye-catching coastal art competition and exhibition we organised for Southwold Primary School students last winter.
“Now we are working with their new senior teacher, Daniel Cordice on our new challenge for them, a Christmas cooking competition in December. It’s just lovely to see how enthusiastic and interested the students are to get involved, whether it’s The Big Painting Challenge, The Apprentice and next The Great British Bake Off!”
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The only game Call Of Duty has to worry about in 2021 is Call Of Duty. That’s according to the latest video game sales report from the NPD Group. Black Ops Cold War’ As 2021’s Best-Selling Video Game
The best-selling video game of November was the newly released Call Of Duty: Vanguard, but it still takes #2 for the year overall, coming in just behind its predecessor, Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
This is in stark contrast to the release of Black Ops Cold War in November of 2020. It instantly became the top-selling game of the year, eclipsing Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare in its first month.
In 2019, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare was the best-selling game of its release month, October, and instantly became the best-selling game of the year as well. Vanguard continues the streak of being the best-selling game of its release month, the 14th consecutive year in a row for a Call Of Duty title, but falls short of topping Black Ops Cold War for year-to-date sales. I’m curious to see if that changes when we have December’s numbers.
Vanguard is a pretty good game regardless of its sales shortcomings, and it’s entirely possible that WWII is simply not as popular as the Black Ops and Modern Warfare Call Of Duty sub-franchises. Lackluster reviews for the campaign also dampened excitement, though a strong multiplayer offering ought to make up for that.


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By Kami Navarro
As the nation embarks on its first, tentative steps towards reopening the economy, it’s safe to say that life in Singapore has been dramatically reshaped by the pandemic. In public, mask-wearing is now the norm, as is safe distancing. When entering local venues, scanning NRIC cards or using SafeEntry has become second nature.
Amidst all these drastic changes, digital tools have helped many individuals and businesses maintain some semblance of normalcy. Digitalisation has enabled doctors to conduct consultations through telemedicine, school children to learn even at home, and businesses to continue operations remotely. Indeed, recent data from McKinsey indicates that COVID-19 has prompted the world to adopt five years worth of digital change in just two months.
In a post-COVID world, it’s clear that digitalisation is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. Recognising this, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has set up the SG Digital Office (SDO) to lead nationwide efforts to empower and equip our community, especially seniors and stallholders who are not digitally savvy, with the digital tools and skills to navigate in our new normal. Here’s five things to expect from the SDO and IMDA’s digitalisation initiatives.
SDO aims to raise the digital skills of 100,000 seniors
Based on the 2019 IMDA Household and Individual Infocomm Usage Survey, relatively few seniors above 60 report being able to use instant messaging (46.5%), buy products online (16.6%) or transact digitally with the Government (12.9%).
This is why since 2007, IMDA has sought to bridge the digital skills gap among seniors through its Silver Infocomm Initiative (SII). Through programmes like the Digital Clinics (which have gone virtual amidst the COVID-19 situation) and Silver Infocomm Wellness Ambassadors, over 50,000 seniors are annually engaged by the SII.
But with the rise of digitalisation due to COVID-19, it’s clear that efforts to reach out to seniors need to be significantly ramped up. After all, not only are they the most vulnerable segment in our community to COVID-19, but they are also the group that is least equipped to use digital technology.
Therefore, SDO’s Seniors Go Digital programme aims to raise the digital skills of 100,000 seniors by March 2021, up from the current annual target of 10,000 seniors reached through one-to-one reskilling efforts.
Seniors Go Digital will address three gaps: skills, affordability and mindset
To achieve their goal of reaching 100,000 seniors in less than a year, the Seniors Go Digital programme seeks to address the barriers Singapore seniors commonly encounter in their digital journeys via a three-pronged approach. The first prong involves improving the digital skills of seniors through a tiered learning programme.
From using common communication tools like WhatsApp to becoming familiar with digital services like SingPass and SGQR codes, these one-on-one or small group learning sessions will equip seniors with much-needed basic digital literacy.
Meanwhile, to ensure that no senior will be left behind as Singapore digitalises, the second prong addresses the issue of affordability. Accordingly, seniors can sign up for exclusive telco deals to enjoy mobile services at lower cost, and seniors from low-income households will be provided with financial assistance to obtain their data plans and smartphones.
Achieving a fully digitalised Singapore, however, is a collective effort. To cement this mindset in the wider community, IMDA worked with industry, corporate and community partners to continue opening more digital opportunities for seniors. For more information on the online resources and classes for seniors, visit www.go.gov.sg/seniorsgodigital today!
Reaching out and supporting 18,000 stallholders to adopt a unified e-payment solution.
Singapore is famed worldwide for its vibrant food culture, made possible by the hawker centres, industrial canteens and coffee shops we all know and love. But in the age of safe distancing, it’s best for stallholders to reduce physical contact with their customers as much as possible. This means leveraging on the unified e-payment SGQR solution.
In partnership with Enterprise Singapore and IMDA, with support from the Housing and Development Board (HDB), JTC Corporation and National Environment Agency (NEA), SDO will reach out to and support 18,000 stallholders to start using the unified SGQR code in NEA hawker centres, HDB coffeeshops and JTC industrial canteens. Through e-payment, stallholders will be able to receive payments through 19 different payment schemes, ranging from DBS PayLah! to GrabPay.
To incentivise SGQR adoption, through the newly launched Hawkers Go Digital programme, stallholders will receive an e-Payment Bonus of $300 per month over a period of any five months to stallholders who come onboard the initiative before the 31st of December, 2020 . Signing up is free for eligible stallholders. For more details on eligibility and requirements, check out the Hawkers Go Digital page or contact IMDA through email via email@example.com or phone via 6377 3800.
1,000 digital ambassadors will drive SDO’s efforts
Helping 100,000 seniors and 18,000 stallholders go digital is no mean feat. Hence, the SDO is set to recruit and deploy 1,000 digital ambassadors by the end of June 2020 to provide personalised support to seniors and stallholders who require additional assistance as they embark on their digital transformations.
So where can you find these digital ambassadors? For the Seniors Go Digital programme, they’ll be stationed at familiar haunts like the public library or community centre.
Meanwhile, stallholders in hawker centres can expect a visit from a friendly digital ambassador by the month’s end.
Starting July 2020, efforts will be ramped up to also reach out to stallholders in coffee shops inside industrial canteens. To make things even more convenient for our seniors and stallholders, digital ambassadors will also be roving the streets and offering their assistance if needed. So keep your eyes peeled—your helpful digital ambassador could be just around the corner.
Eligible businesses can receive up to $10,000 for going digital
Given the unprecedented two-month suspension of dine-in options and brick-and-mortar stores, food services and retail are two sectors where the impacts of COVID-19 have been heavily felt. Digitalisation, however, could be the lifeline that these sectors are looking for.
In a bid to spur the adoption of digital tools by food services and retail enterprises, IMDA has launched the Digital Resilience Bonus (DRB) to provide support of up to $10,000 for businesses that start using solutions from three-predefined categories, namely: (1) business process solutions like accounting and inventory management, (2) food delivery and e-commerce solutions and (3) advanced data analytics. To be eligible for the DRB, solutions must be adopted by 30 June 2021 in addition to PayNow Corporate and Peppol e-invoicing. For more details on e-invoicing, check out the Nationwide E-invoicing Initiative here.
These exciting initiatives are just the beginning of the IMDA and SDO’s efforts to spark a nationwide push towards digitalisation and build a resilient digital future. Find out more about the initiatives by the SG Digital Office at www.sdo.gov.sg.


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Printer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard is teaming up with an Irish company to develop a skin patch that delivers precisely controlled amounts of drugs with tiny needles. The drug delivery system uses some of the same technology as ink printers, and could inject different drugs at different times. "Squirting ink and squirting drugs— it's not a whole lot different," said one executive.
The technology could provide the equivalent of a thousand hypodermic needles per square inch that are all electronically controlled, according to a company spokesman. The system could be ready as early as 2010, and is expected to be relatively cheap. The patches could last for days or weeks, and would be particularly useful to patients who need to take several drugs on a complicated schedule.


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The Hong Kong-based third-party logistics provider has renamed Albini & Pitigliani Sverige AB, known as ALPI Sverige, Kerry Logistics (Sweden) following the integration of the company’s businesses.
Hanne B. Sørensen, chief executive of A.P. Møller-Maersk’s third-party logistics subsidiary, will be replaced by current Maersk Line Head of East West Trades Klaus Rud Sejling, the company said in a statement.
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index fell 3.5 percent from last Friday to a reading of 707.68, declining for the second straight week as the short-term boost after Hanjin Shipping filed for receivership at the end of August has now faded.
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APM Terminals appointed A.P. Moller Shipping Services Chief Executive Morten Engelstoft to succeed current CEO Kim Fejfer, who will be taking up a new role at APM Holding A/S, according to a statement from the company.
Crane Worldwide Logistics appoints senior director for life sciences, while Röhlig names air freight manager for Germany.
Citing the ongoing economic slowdown in China and waning U.S. imports, the World Trade Organization on Tuesday slashed its 2016 global trade forecast to 1.7 percent from a previous projection of 2.7 percent growth this year.


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Rapper Ma$e and Other Notables Celebrate at Harlem Haberdasheryâ€™s 2015 Masquerade Ball [PHOTOS] The inaugural ball was a fabulous benefit for the Harlem Hospital Center's Pediatrics Department
Artist in Residence: Bradley Theodoreâ€™s Fashionable Mashup In honor of New York Fashion Week we are honoring a few of our favorite designers, street style stars and more.
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NEW YORK (Hypebot) — Warner Music is reportedly in the final stages of negotiating a deal to distribute 12 Tone, the new label helmed by Doug Morris, the former CEO of WMG, Universal and most recently Sony.
When Warner Music Group fired Doug Morris in 1995, their former chief executive filed a $50 million wrongful termination lawsuit. In court proceedings, WMG alleged that Atlantic Records, one of the labels under Morris’ supervision, regularly sold CD’s off the books to music distributors and retailers and pocketed the money.
The practice, known as selling ‘cleans,’ allegedly cheated the company, musicians, and songwriters out of millions of dollars.
3 years later, Morris is reportedly close to signing and deal with WMG for his new label 12 Tone, according to multiple sources.
“Why would Warner hire a guy they had fired for cause?” an industry veteran told Page 6. “How do these people get away with it?”
WMG and Morris have thus far not commented not publicly commented on the story.


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SEATTLE Starbucks Corp. will broaden its reach in Europe with locations in Bulgaria and Portugal next year through deals with two existing developers, the company said.
The first Bulgarian location will open in the capital city of Sofia through a joint venture agreement with Marinopoulos Group of Athens, Greece. Starbucks has previously worked with that company to develop locations in Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Switzerland and Austria.
Similarly, a new deal with Grupo VIPS of Madrid, Spain, which has previously developed Starbucks locations in Spain and France, will lead to a new store in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
Both locations are planned for 2008, but targeted opening dates were not disclosed.
"Extending the reach of our agreements with established business partners gives us the capability to gain leverage," said Cliff Burrows, president of Starbucks' Europe, Middle East and Africa division. "We look forward to bringing our high quality coffees and the Starbucks Experience to these important emerging consumer markets."
Seattle-based Starbucks operates or licenses about 15,000 locations in the United States and 42 other countries.


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The US division of a Japanese video game developer and publisher has been hit by a major data breach. Customers of NIS America had their personal and financial details compromised in the early part of 2018.
Between January 23rd and February 26th, hackers gained access to the addresses and payment card details of customers using credit cards to pay for new orders. Anyone using PayPal was unaffected.
NIS has urged all customers to change their passwords and be extra vigilant. It has reopened its online stores and is confident that they are now secure. As a gesture of apology and goodwill, all of its customers will receive a $5 compensation voucher.


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SMS Showcased Superior food Innovation at Puget Sound IFT 2020
February 25th, SMS and Big Deal Ingredient exhibited the booth at Puget Sound IFT, in Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA. Big Deal ingredients is an ingredient Broker that focuses on value added, clean label Ingredients combined with technical support in ingredient solutions in America and Canada.
We showcased the starch innovation for clean label, specialty, thickening and texturizing solutions and highlighted innovative starches for free-from food such as gelatin-free confectionery, gluten-free baked goods. Lots of visitors from America came up to share experience in food industry during the show and discuss new innovation to life up food products to superior level.


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087 – Tech Conferences Ain’t Dead!
COVID-19 has changed everything, and hit every area of life. That’s also true for the tech industry, and no part of our industry has been hit harder than tech conferences. What’s their future?
That’s what ActualTech Media Partner James Green and HashiCorp Head of Global Events & Experiential Marketing Jana Boruta tackle on this episode of “10 on Tech.”
The reality is that no one knows when things will return to normal—or even if that “normal” will ever return at all. Here’s how one company is adjusting its focus to online conferences, and some of their innovative solutions to helping attendees enjoy the shows almost as much as being there in person.
Highlights of the show include:
- The impact of the pandemic on the trade show industry
- How online conferences have to change
- The differences between in-person and digital conferences
- Why HashiCorp is building a custom conference platform
- How do companies re-create the community aspect of conferences?
Resource links from the show:
HashiCorp — https://www.hashicorp.com/
HashiConf Digital in June — https://hashiconf.com/digital-june/
HashiConf Digital in October — https://hashiconf.com/digital-october/
We hope you enjoy this episode; and don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher.


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Today, May 11th, Apple announced a couple of new environmental projects in China. These plans makes reference to renewable energy and environmental protection, including one with the World Wildlife Fund that is a long-term plan to improve forest resources.
The Forest project aims to protect almost one million acres of forests, areas that are an important source of fiber pulp, paper and wood products. Apple’s goal is to achieve sustainable virgin fiber with zero impact on the global supply, while companies worldwide will use 100% renewable energy. Lisa Jackson, Apple VP said that forests can also become a renewable resource, just like the energy.
Also, Apple wants to set an example to others by using clean energy like that provided by Amigo Energy in its data centers, retail and office facilities. Tim Cook, company’s CEO said that such a thing requires years of effort, but in the end the result will be important. We get to know that three weeks ago, Apple with the help of the finest solar systems perth company established the first solar power project in China, a little step in using clean energy.
In order to offer more clean energy, Apple signed a partnership with Leshan Electric Power, Sichuan Development, Tianjin Jinlaintouzi Holdings, and SunPower Corp. for the construction of two 20-megawatt solar farms. The solar panels will produce 80 million kWh of clean energy per year, amount that will provide electricity for 61.000 Chinese households.
At the moment, 87% of Apple’s operating facilities found worldwide are using renewable energy and bio-degradable products products which uses ferrous sulfate. These new project will bring Apple closer to the 100% target of its commitment of using renewable energy. As you already know, China is a big market for Apple, country where it has 19 offices and 22 retails stores.


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Nintendo's total lack of communication about when pre-orders would go live, and where, resulted in a lot of frustrated consumers.
With the demand of the NES Classic resulting in supply issues, many fans were left anxious that a similar issue will arise when with the release of the forthcoming SNES Mini. If Nintendo can indeed meet demand this year, you shouldn't have to drop more than the $80 asking price.
It's something Fils-Aimé said was "outside of their control".
For what it's worth, Nintendo is promising that the SNES Classic will be more readily available than the NES Classic, even if pre-orders have played out exactly as they did before.
As I've said before, given Nintendo's track record (not just with the NES Classic but other systems dating back years ago), there's simply no reason for gamers to believe the company will produce enough units to satisfy demand this holiday season.
Now, on the eve of the SNES Classic release, Nintendo seems to be following a similar script.
I'm not suggesting you should pay an inflated price on eBay - eff those people - but you should definitely keep your expectations in check.
It's not easy to find a Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo wants you to know that they can't guarantee that it's going to get any easier.
Despite retailing for $79.99, the NES Classic was going for upwards of $200 on eBay nearly immediately.
However, given that's never been the company's style, and we can expect more shortages throughout the holiday season.
The unexpectedly high demand and "multiple choke points" in the supply chain have led to a dismayed fanbase, most notably in Japan.
Royal Caribbean cancels Empress of the Seas sailing due to Hurricane Irma
Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 1st quarter valued at $119,000. The stock of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (NYSE:RCL) has "Neutral" rating given on Thursday, October 27 by JP Morgan.
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The Australian TV market has reported minor declines in advertising revenue in the second half of 2017 as Nine's strong second half helped it deliver the largest revenue share for the calendar year.
The latest figures, audited by KPMG and released by ThinkTV, show the total TV ad market, including metropolitan free-to-air, regional free-to-air and the relatively small amount of advertising on Foxtel, had a year-on-year decline of 0.7% to $2.17 billion in the second half of 2017.
This is a significant improvement on the 3.1% decline for the same period a year earlier.
Although the total TV market was down 0.7%, metropolitan free-to-air TV ad revenue grew 1.4% to $1.5 billion - the first time the metropolitan ad market has had growth in three-and-a-half years.
BVOD advertising revenues, which include advertising revenues from online catch-up services and the live online streaming of TV, grew 23.9% in the six months.
“The total TV ad market performed well, in fiercely competitive conditions, with the rapid growth in BVOD revenue reflecting marketers’ confidence in the power, reach and efficacy of today’s multi-platform TV,” ThinkTV chief executive Kim Portrate said.
Deutsche Bank analyst Entcho Raykovski recently noted the recovery of the metropolitan FTA TV market.
"The Metro FTA TV market appears to have staged a level of recovery in 1H18," Raykovski wrote in a note to investors.
"This is generally consistent with our discussions with media buyers, who have suggested to us that the TV market has benefitted in 1H18 from (1) some of the issues with digital advertising (lack of measurability and potential for brand damage), (2) lobbying efforts from Think TV, who have emphasised to advertisers the value delivered by TV, and (3) the success of new formats like Australian Ninja Warrior providing increased confidence in the medium."
Nine grows share
Of the three commercial FTA TV networks, Nine had the strongest year with huge gains in ad revenue share.
Nine's tent pole shows Married At First Sight, The Voice, Australian Ninja Warrior and The Block helped it end 2017 with the largest ad revenue share for the first time since 2005.
Nine grew its commercial revenue share by 3.1 points to a 38.3% in 2017, knocking Seven off the top spot, which lost 2.2 points to a 37.9% share. Ten Network declined by 0.9 points to a 23.8% share.
The key for Nine was Australian Ninja Warrior, a new format that had a national series average audience of 2.5 million and built momentum for The Block.
In a comparison of the top 20 programs, Ninja Warrior featured six times and the Block twice with most other spots taken up by large sporting events.
In the December half, Nine grew its ad revenue share by five points to a 40% share, while Seven lost 4.4 points to 36.4% share and the Ten shed 0.7 points to a 23.5% share.
Although Seven still won the ratings season by winning the most number of weeks with total people, Nine's consistency in schedule helped it win key demos, which has rapidly turned around its ability to commercialise content.
The huge improvements on a disappointing 2016 was not lost on Nine boss Hugh Marks.
“To achieve this result in such a short time frame is very humbling and validates our strategic focus on delivering the demographics that matter most to advertisers,” Marks said in a media statement.
The overall results indicate that advertisers are still willing to invest in television in a highly fragmented and competitive media landscape.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at email@example.com


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Some people use frozen berries without first cooking them, increasing their risk of exposure to harmful viruses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported three hepatitis A virus outbreaks and one norovirus outbreak linked to frozen berries in the United States from 1997 to 2016. The FDA began sampling frozen berries for each hazard as part of the agency’s efforts to protect consumers and ensure food safety.
The sampling assignment began in November and is estimated to last approximately 18 months. The agency is collecting domestic samples of frozen berries in retail packaging from processors, distribution centers, warehouses, and retail locations. The agency is also collecting import samples from ports of entry, importer warehouses, or other storage facilities where foreign goods are cleared for entry into the country. The FDA plans to collect and test 2,000 samples in all.
Frozen berries are used as ingredients in many foods without being cooked; cooking would reduce or eliminate potential contamination. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are delicate and may become contaminated with bacteria or viruses if handled by an infected worker who does not use appropriate hand hygiene, or if exposed to contaminated agricultural water or a contaminated surface, like a harvesting tote. Freezing preserves berries but generally does not kill viruses, which can survive at low temperatures.
If the FDA detects hepatitis A virus or norovirus in a sample, the agency will notify the firm of the finding(s) and work with the firm to take appropriate action to protect the public health. Upon detecting a positive test result, the FDA may also take actions such as placing a firm on an import alert, overseeing a recall, or issuing public warnings.
The FDA will post the sampling results on its FY 19-20 Frozen Berries Assignment page on a quarterly basis and will publish an analytical report once the assignment is complete.


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As it added high-speed Internet customers at a faster pace than a year ago and video subscriber losses moderated, Comcast Corp.'s second-quarter net income rose 15 percent to nearly $2B.
Wireless carrier Verizon is launching a nationwide loyalty program, with a twist: To earn points for, subscribers must consent to have their movements tracked so the company can target ads.
Device maker Lenovo has clarified a report that indicated it is getting out of the small Windows tablet business -- as in the ThinkPad 8 and the 8-inch Miix 2. But the firm said it is not exiting that market.
Assimilated into Microsoft, Nokia will be making Windows phones and that's it. Microsoft has decided to end Nokia's development of Android-based phones, feature phones and the Asha operating system.
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Outdoor Industry Leads Paradigm Shift for Women in the Workplace
As #TimesUp for Hollywood and weekly headlines implicate one tech company after another, the $800 billion outdoor industry has been, for the past three years, investing in a cultural evolution where women leaders thrive.
It starts and stops with the CEO- over 70 of them.
We created our Camber Outdoors CEO Pledge in 2015—a first-of-its-kind initiative committing signatories to attract, retain, and advance women in their workplaces by elevating women’s leadership as a strategic business imperative. In a report released today by Heidrick and Struggles, five leading outdoor industry executives provide perspective on the impacts of the pledge: Donna Carpenter, CEO of Burton; Sally McCoy, former CEO of CamelBak; Jerry Stritzke, CEO of REI Co-op; Jim Weber, CEO of Brooks Running Company, and Deanne Buck, executive director of Camber Outdoors.
While other CEO Pledges, Paradigm for Parity, Catalyst CEO, Champion for Change, CEO Pledge for Diversity and Inclusion, have emerged in the past year, none focus on leveraging what makes a particular industry unique.
“A little over 3 years ago the outdoor industry collectively embraced an opportunity with only the vision of what was possible.” said Deanne Buck, executive director of Camber Outdoors. It is a testament to the leadership and spirit inspired by the outdoors that we are here today.”
We’ve come a long way in 2.5 years.
Active-outdoor industry executives agree they still have a long way to go to reach gender equality, but since signing the CEO Pledge and working with us, they have seen positive changes within their companies. Dialogue around gender equality has opened up and steps have been taken to provide more mentoring, sponsorship and leadership opportunities for women.
Since the pledge launched in 2015, it’s grown from twelve original signers to 75, and last year we held our first CEO Pledge Advisory Council where Peak Partners Arc’teryx, Burton, Patagonia, and REI came together to lay the groundwork for future priorities.
Above all, there is certainly increased awareness of a need for change, and advancing more women in leadership roles is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do for business.
We’re looking towards an equal future.
Creating a new paradigm won’t be short or seamless. As of now, on a national-level, women comprise 60 percent of entry-level positions, then 5 to 10 percent of c-suite positions, and even less among CEOs. “Research shows that companies see very little change or successes in 1 to 3 years. Within 3 to 5 years, they start to see some wins, but they really see momentum after 5 years,” explains Buck.
Take Donna and Jake Carpenter of Burton Snowboards. Thirteen years ago, they looked around the room of a leadership meeting and saw no women. At that moment, they committed to understanding the why. Today 42% of their leadership roles are filled by women, a dramatic increase from 10%. Donna will be the first to say, “a great workplace for women is a great work place for all.”
As we’re looking at a what 2025 and 2030 may bring, this year matters, too. In 2018, we plan on bringing together 100 brands towards a common vision via the Camber Outdoors CEO Pledge. We will continue to prioritize research that makes a difference, and build an industry of leaders who wholly represent the people who play outside. We, with our partners, are leading the paradigm shift for women in the workplace.


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Taco has unveiled the online FloPro Team Neighborhood, a learning and social
environment where contractors and hydronic professionals can ask questions and
share jobsite experiences, photos and advice.
In this issue of Supply House Times, check out our 2015 Premier 150 Rankings. The annual survey, conducted by Supply House Times and BNP Media Market Research, ranks the top PHCP wholesalers by their reported sales for the past year.


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Melbourne-based independent creative group Icon Agency has announced it has been appointed as an advertising services partner for Federation University Australia (FedUni) following a public tender process.
Phillips Crone, marketing and communications manager at FedUni, said he was impressed by Icon’s integrated model – “particularly the focus on PR and communications, and the fresh thinking they will bring to our advertising and marketing program”.
Icon managing director Joanne Painter said she was excited to be working with an innovative challenger brand in the higher education marketplace.
“FedUni has achieved big things since it was launched in 2014,” she said.
“With a five-star teaching reputation, beautiful campuses in Ballarat, Berwick, Gippsland and the Wimmera, and a powerful value proposition for metropolitan and regional students, the university gives integrated agencies like Icon plenty to work with when it comes to advertising and marketing.
“We look forward to partnering with FedUni over the next few years and helping them amplify their strengths, create new conversations with students and build their brand.”
The appointment is effective immediately.


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October 18, 2001
In rough Q3, AMD reports loss, Apple beats expectations
Author: JT Smith
Kelly McNeill writes "The mixed bag of earnings reports being released this week continued Wednesday as chip maker Advanced Micro Devices posted a third-quarter loss of $186.9 million, while computer maker Apple delivered slightly on the plus side of estimates, recording a net profit of US$66 million, for its fiscal 2001 fourth quarter."
- Open Source


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15 January 1999
Booker plans further sell-off
BOOKER, the food group, which last year admitted breaching banking covenants, is to sell its Foodservice caterer supply business.
The group, which has facilities to cover £600 million in debt, is struggling and the extent of its liabilities varies with trading.
Booker chief executive Stuart Rose denied that Foodservice was being sold solely to cut debt, saying that the subsidiary failed to fit in with his plans.
The sale is the first to be ordered by Mr Rose, but comes after decisions to sell peripheral businesses in food manufacturing.
The sales will leave Booker solely as a cash-and-carry wholesaler.]
Foodservice could fetch about £100m on the back of 1997 operating profits totalling £12.1m achieved on a turnover of £900m.
Mr Rose said negotiations to sell Arbor Acres, the US chicken breeding business, were “advanced”.
- Booker sheds 200 at division head office, FWi, 07 January, 1999
- The Times 15/01/99 page 29
- Financial Times 15/01/99 page 20


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German car industry celebrates booming business as major challenges loom
The German car industry will likely book record sales in 2018, but a whole range of challenges makes prospects for future business uncertain, the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) says in a press release. Tougher car emissions standards in the EU, the ongoing dieselgate scandal, high levels of investment in e-mobility, and looming trade wars with important buyer countries pose a series of problems “for the short, medium, and long term that are decisive for the future of our industry,” the new VDA head, Bernhard Mattes, said at the association’s biannual press conference. “We need a stable government in Germany that can deal with these challenges and make its industrial policy positions heard in the EU and around the world,” he added. With an estimated 16.7 million cars out of a total of 86 million that will likely be sold across the globe in 2018, German carmakers build more vehicles than ever before, and one percent more than in 2017. Over 11 million German cars are manufactured abroad and another 5.5 million in domestic factories, 76 percent of which are then exported. The German car industry employs 832,000 people, the VDA says.
Read the press release in German here.
See the CLEW dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers and the article Economy minister Altmaier calls for mobility transition push for background.


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Research from chocolate manufacturer Callebaut has revealed that 40% of customers are prepared to pay up to £30 more per head for a dining occasion to be ‘made special’
Linen, towelling and soft furnishings supplier Mitre Linen celebrated its 70th anniversary this week with a visit from the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns.
Some 50% of UK hotels think they are missing out on opportunities to profit from food and drink, according to a report from Nestlé Professional.
Chef-restaurateur Cyrus Todiwala, of Café Spice Namasté and Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen, recently hosted a culinary masterclass to show how Indian food – and the products used to make it – has evolved.
The 2016 CESA Heavy Equipment Forum held at Whittlebury Hall in Northamptonshire earlier this month has reported a mini-boom in business, post-Brexit.
Premier Foods is in the Christmas spirit with the launch of a festive competition and recipe guide to help caterers prepare for the upcoming season.
Loughborough College lecturer and chef Darren Creed is preparing to head off to Erfurt, Germany, to compete in the Culinary Olympics with his young student chefs, Daniella Bromley, Emily Bucknall and Rebecca Brooks.
With 52% of vegetarians wanting to see more meat-free curries on menus, specialist vegetarian ingredient distributor Vegetarian Express is encouraging operators to make the most of National Curry Week (10-16 October).
Professional dry-cleaners are being urged to make the shift from using the solvent perchlorocethylene (perc) to wet-cleaning technology following a new industry report.
Foodservice Equipment supplier Manitowoc Foodservice has announced the opening of its new Middle East facilities located close to Dubai Airport and Downtown Dubai.
The British, family-run Ruark Audio company who have been designing and manufacturing radios and music systems for over three decades, have been selected by amenities group Buwier to join its collection of products to supply to the UK’s most exclusive hotels.
Santa Maria Foodservice has launched its latest street food insight report What’s next in street food?, discussing how the trend is continuing to have a huge impact on the eating out market in the UK.


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Chinese online games developer NetDragon has acquired a 100 per cent stake in US online learning community Edmodo.
The online learning platform was purchased for $137.5 million in a “definitive agreement”. The transaction will be paid in cash and shares of NetDragon’s education subsidiary, which is valued at a pre-acquisition valuation of $1.8 billion.
NetDragon has been expanding its operations into the online education sector over the past few years. Previous acquisitions include LA games developer JumpStart and London-based interactive learning technology provider Promethean
"We are truly excited by the synergies and monetisation opportunities that will be created through this acquisition,” said NetDragon vice chairman Simon Leung.
“We believe our complete product offerings will bring learning experience to another level for learners around the world, and more importantly, will continue to create value for our shareholders."
Last year NetDragon’s educational portfolio contributed to 54 per cent of its ¥3.868 billion ($613 million) revenue.


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Samsung Galaxy S11 series is rumoured to come in three different screen size options and include five different variants. According to a new report, Samsung Galaxy’s new three variants will be called the S11e, S11, and S11 Plus. These three variants will come with 6.4-inch. 6.7-inch, and 6.9-inch different screens size respectively. This smartphone is also expected to come with a new 108 MP camera. Other highlights include a curved-edge screen and 5G connectivity on all variants.
A previous report claimed that the Galaxy S11 would arrive in the third week of February. Possibly Samsung may launch the Galaxy S11 series in the launch event is said to take place in San Francisco, California.
Samsung Galaxy is expected to get the company’s in house 108 MP ISOCELL HMX sensor which is already present in the Mi CC0 Pro. This module would offer a 5x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS).
Samsung’s 108 MP camera captures images on extremely small pixels and uses pixel-binning to produce a high-resolution photo. Samsung’s ISOCELL sensor uses a design that prevents light bleeding into adjacent pixels. Samsung is likely to introduce the high-resolution sensor on the Galaxy S11 with a few minor enhancements.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S11 models with Exynos 9830 SoC for global markets and Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 for the US region. As per leak, the Galaxy S11 might feature Space Zoom along with enhancements to Face Unlock. The smartphone could get a bigger battery.


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A new whitepaper, presented in association with Alcumus, highlights the importance of robust auditing mechanisms for ethical and safety compliance.
If 2013 was the year that the risks in modern supply chains were laid bare by the horsemeat scandal and the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, 2014 is the year of accountability. Retailers involved in those two devastating blows to the reputations of their supply chains have stepped up their operations to ensure similar situations do not happen again.
Moreover, the incidents occurred against the backdrop of a British retail sector that was already in the process of re-examining and rebuilding its supply chains for a multichannel age. One in which pinpoint accuracy in the forecasting, sourcing and delivery of supply to customers is vital.
Retail chiefs are now painfully aware that any slip up could be exposed rapidly on social media, thus increasing the viral nature of reputational damage.
The impact of this microscopic focus on getting product from source to customer has been an overhaul of supplier relations across retail. Suppliers and retailers are on a journey to reach unprecedented business plans, long-term contracts and robust auditing mechanisms commonplace.
This whitepaper, in association with Alcumus, highlights how businesses can work in collaboration with suppliers to achieve true transparency over quality, safety, health and environmental (QSHE) compliance obligations and to build an agile, transparent and diversified supply chain that delivers now and in the future.
Download the whitepaper
The Managing Supply Chain Risk whitepaper is free to Retail Week subscribers. It is available to download here.


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21 June 2019 — Company | Responsibility
It's all about a strong network
Esprit invited its international wholesale partners to two exciting days at its Headquarters
On March 19 and 20, 2019 Esprit welcomed more than 120 franchise partners from 19 different European countries to the Esprit Partner Day. The management team presented the new brand direction, the improvements being made in product quality and the path to become best in class in wholesale.
“Welcome to the joy of Esprit. Welcome to the movement.” With this statement Daniel Mayer, Head of Wholesale Europe and Americas, opened the event. Day one was a series of inspiring presentations. “We believe that bold changes are needed to return Esprit to sustainable growth and profitability”, says Anders Kristiansen, Esprit's Chief Executive Officer. “Our purpose is to deliver joy and offer products that make people feel good every day.”
Mia Ouakim (Chief Product & Brand Officer), Ivana Aurich (Vice President Head of Men) and Anja Schuebeler-Droese (Senior Vice President Head of Women) gave an update on the new direction for product. Simon Heckscher, Head of Global Marketing, explained about the new brand direction. The event culminated in a vibrant fashion show featuring dancers and the latest Esprit styles.
Working together and exchanging experiences
The second day consisted of a series of engaging workshops on detailed operational topics designed to refine processes and develop the best possible service for partners. All in all it was about common goals and an exchange of experiences.
After two intensive, but also exciting and informative days, Esprit is looking forward to the next meeting with its international wholesale partners.


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Kroger announced the recall of 17 cheese dips this week due to the potential of salmonella contamination. The affected products have onions as an ingredient that may be tainted with the bacterium and if eaten, could result in severe illness to those individuals who may consume this product.
The following products are affected by the recall: DELI JARLSBERG CHEESE DIP, MURRAY’S BACON CHIVE JARLSBERG DIP, DELI RANCH CHEESE SPREAD KIT, DELI SOUTHWESTERN JARLSBERG DIP, AFIN JARLSBERG CHEESE SPREAD KIT, DELI BUFFALO BLUE CHEESE SPREAD KIT, MURRAY’S SOUTHWESTERN JARLSBERG DIP, DELI JARLSBERG JALAPENO DIP, MURRAY’S CHADS SMOKED GOUDA DIP, DELI JARLSBERG DIP, DELI BACON CHIVE JARLSBERG DIP, LCCV PIMENTO CHEESE DIP, JARLSBERG DIP, DELI APPLEWOOD CHEDDAR DIP, JARLSBERG DIP, DELI SOUTHWEST CHEESE SPREAD KIT and MURRAY’S JALAPENO JARLSBURG DIP.
The recall affects Kroger stores located in Greater Memphis area, Tennessee; Arkansas; Mississippi; Western Kentucky; North Carolina; Virginia; Eastern West Virginia; Eastern Kentucky; Southeastern Ohio; Texas and Louisiana; Frys, Fred Meyer and Smiths stores.
Customers who purchased any of the above item(s) between 5/15/20 and 8/6/20 should not eat the product. The product can be returned to the store for a full refund.


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People have until midnight Aug. 8 to vote online in American Farmland Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Markets Contest.
Jane Kirchner, the group’s senior director of marketing, said in a release that more than 22,000 votes had been cast since June and more than 700 farmers markets are competing.
“… This contest has shown how much people love to connect with their local farmers, and how consumers have a real loyalty to the markets in their communities,” Kirchner said in the release.
Coinciding with the final week of voting, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is celebrating National Farmers Market Week Aug. 2-8 by encouraging consumers to visit their local farmers markets, which have grown in number by nearly 5% in the past year, according to the release.
Consumers can vote at www.farmland.org/vote.
American Farmland Trust established the contest to highlight the necessity of farm and ranch land and local food, as well as help bolster community economic development.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack echoed those sentiments about National Farmers Market Week.
“One of the Obama administration’s top priorities is to make sure that all Americans, especially children, have access to fresh, nutritious food, and USDA’s ongoing support of farmers markets is important to reaching that goal,” Vilsack said in the release. “At the same time, farmers markets help support small family farms, help revitalize rural communities and often promote sustainable agricultural practices.”


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Mobility companies Local Motors and Protean Electric have expanded their partnership to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.
Autonomous vehicle firm Local Motors and Protean Electric, a motor technology company, have signed a three-year deal worth $7.3 million.
The deal would see Protean Electric will thousands of its ProteanDrive in-wheel motors (IWMs) to power Local Motors’ Olli 2.0 electric autonomous shuttles.
The Olli autonomous shuttles are currently used on campuses and city streets in the Americas, Europe and Asia and are powered by ProteanDrive’s in-wheel motors, which it says are lighter, smoother, and more energy-efficient than alternative solutions such as e-axles. According to the firm, the in-wheel motors also allow Local Motors to maximise passenger space, vehicle range and platform reliability.
Vikrant Aggarwal, president of Local Motors, said: “Now in live deployments around the world, Olli is truly changing the way that we look at transportation, providing a smart, safe, sustainable option for getting around.
“One of the keys in driving broad-scale adoption of electric autonomous vehicles is delivering an exceptional passenger experience, and the ProteanDrive in-wheel motors play a huge role in that experience, providing a smooth, quiet, and reliable ride while allowing us to optimise vehicle design to better address real-world use cases.”
Andrew Whitehead, CEO of Protean Electric, added: “We are thrilled to be building on our alliance with Local Motors, enabling them to rapidly scale deployments of Olli 2.0.
“This new deal not only reinforces Local Motors’ commitment to the ProteanDrive IWM solution but offers important industry validation that the technology is mature, reliable, scalable, and delivers the cost and performance needed to address the massive acceleration in electric vehicle adoption.”


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PR team: The Ideas Network
Timescale: July-November 2007
Some claim these antioxidants can help prevent some cancers, heart disease and stroke. The Ideas Network named the product Choxi+.
To promote the potential health benefits of Choxi+, while ensuring all nutritional claims were accurate. To attract other retailers to the brand, which was exclusive to Tesco at the November 2007 launch. To maintain coverage post-launch.
STRATEGY AND PLAN
According to Prestat's research, Choxi+ contains higher levels of antioxidants than any other chocolate on the market, with two squares providing a whole day's supply.
With obesity a key media issue, nutritional claims had to be carefully substantiated to avoid a backlash from cynical health journalists.
The Ideas Network built an identity for the brand around the theme of 'positive indulgence', highlighting the chocolate's health benefits without claiming that it was unequivocally 'good for you'.
A website was created at choxiplus.com, and more than 1,200 press packs were delivered with sample bars to food, health and lifestyle journalists. Nutritional information was brought to life through comparisons with other foods, such as sprouts, blueberries and apples.
Bill Keeling, owner of Prestat, was available for press and radio interviews, as was The Ideas Network creative director Alasdair McWhirter.
MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION
The launch gained worldwide exposure, with coverage from India, New Zealand, Poland and the US.
In the UK the launch achieved 19 national press pieces, including half-pages in the Daily Mail, Metro and the Daily Star, along with 18 regional mentions. There were 15 broadcast pieces including BBC Radio 4 News, You & Yours and This Morning.
Key messages were included in 95 per cent of coverage, with none of the campaign's nutritional claims challenged by the press.
The campaign continues to have an effect, with a further 30 consumer, 12 national, five broadcast and 20 regional pieces achieved since November.
Tesco sells thousands of bars of Choxi+ every week. After the launch, three other national retailers and a major food distributor approached Prestat to discuss stocking Choxi+ and possibly developing new products.