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Water and sewage systems are vital services for both residential and commercial customers. Industry regulator Ofwat recognises the society’s role in shaping the priorities of the water sector, precisely that of the providers delivering such services.
Private water companies set their priorities based on price regulation schemes involving consultations with the general public, wide-interest groups, and consumers. The Price Review, or PR19 for short, dictates what happens to prices in the sector from 2020 to 2025.
PR19 is Ofwat’s latest judgment on the draft determinations that offers a comprehensive look into how the UK water industry will be operating for five years. Experts bill it as the ‘game-changer’ that imposes stringent measures to water firms and their services, pricing, and incentive packages.
This article sheds light on PR19 and how it affects the water sector as a whole.
The PR19 is the document published by Ofwat that reveals in detail the latest judgment of the stricter Price Review measures involving fourteen water firms in England and Wales. This comprehensive plan was created after several consultations involving both companies and their consumers.
The results of this review serve as the basis for pricing, services, and incentives that the water companies can provide for the next five years, from 2020 to 2025. These matters will involve the four pillars of the industry, which include efficiency, innovation, customer service, and resilience.
The goal of PR19 is to provide better service to consumers while also highlighting environmental improvements that support the government’s long-term targets.
Rachel Fletcher, Ofwat Chief Executive, calls PR19 as a serious stretch in achieving the goals of the water sector. It involves reducing as much as two-thirds of supply interruptions and slashing pollution incidents by over a third.
It also aims to lessen mains bursts by up to 12% and cut leakage rates by as much as 16%. This bold target will save as much water as required by Manchester, Leicester, Cardiff, and Leeds combined.
Ofwat is also eyeing to boost innovation competition by injecting up to £200 million from 2020 to 2025. Water firms are advised to play on the increased business efficiencies and decreasing costs, indicating that an extra £12 billion will be spent on planned investments and supplemental costs for operations.
Water and sewage services will be optimised for customers through PR19. Aside from the expected improvements in the resilience and efficiency of the companies, several measures will also be set in motion to support about 1.5 million consumers who are unable to fulfill their payments.
Water bills for UK households will enjoy a £17 cut on typical use for 2020. It is the direct result of the price review, which sees a drop to £396.60 from £413.33. This amount drop in price is like water bills from a decade ago.
The 4% price cut means that consumers will have access to drinking water, dependable sewage systems, and environmental protection for only £1 a day.
Christine McGourty, Water UK CEO, highlighted the water industry’s commitment to providing excellent value for money to water consumers. For a low price of £1 per day, customers can expect responsible wastewater management and world-class water and related services.
Water companies are feeling the pressure of the PR19, particularly since they are expected by the general public to enhance their services.
Tony Smith, Chief Executive of Consumer Council for Water, stated that more steps should be taken to ensure that everyone can have affordable access to water and water-related services. He added that water firms have ‘had it good’ for a long time. PR19 might, therefore, be the reprieve that allows a fairer market.
Ofwat has expressed its intention of abolishing the status quo and promoting a customer-centric industry, laying importance on efficient customer communication.
The industry watchdog believes that water companies doing their best to serve consumers will be able to enjoy more significant financial support. On the other hand, those found taking advantage of the situation will be penalised and sanctioned to return what is owed to customers.


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Coronavirus: Shoppers find delays in grocery pickups, deliveries
Shoppers who want to get groceries without entering stores should settle in for a long wait.
Delivery and curbside pickup services have been overwhelmed by demand as stores scramble to keep up.
Home delivery of groceries that once was done in a day, or even in hours, can now take more than a week, assuming shoppers can even schedule a time.
The same is true for curbside grocery pickups, which are now being scheduled days or even a week in advance.
This story is being provided free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. You can find more stories on coronavirus here. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Columbus Dispatch at subscribe.dispatch.com.
“We’ve seen an unprecedented demand for curbside and delivery services,” said Giant Eagle spokesperson Jannah Jablonowski.
“We are working around the clock to figure out solutions for capacity.”
Demand for the services jumped after medical experts, public officials and even retailers began encouraging shoppers to avoid stores if possible.
“This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe,” White House coronavirus coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx recommended during a recent news conference.
Shoppers heeding the call are finding they need patience along with groceries.
Debby Anthony of Newark has tried to avoid stores since the outbreak to protect her family, including her 4-year-old son and elderly parents. She initially had success using Instacart to deliver her groceries from Aldi and ordering groceries for curbside pickup at Walmart.
Now, she finds those systems so backed up she can’t even submit orders.
“I can no longer place an order due to the volume of orders they are getting,” she said.
“I will try again, but if it still stops me from submitting my orders, I will just get bare necessities at a gas station drive-thru.”
A Dispatch review of delivery and pickup options at central Ohio grocery chains found several that offered no available delivery or pickup dates, requiring shoppers to keep checking in the hopes of landing a spot in line.
Walmart’s response was typical: “We're sorry! All of today and tomorrow's times are currently booked. Please continue checking back with us new time slots open up every morning.”
Most stores traditionally have not allowed shoppers to schedule pickup more than a day or two away, so when those slots are filled, no options are left.
In response to coronavirus demand, Kroger eliminated the time limit, allowing shoppers to start a cart for pickup even if the pickup date is several days away.
Kelly Helbig started using Kroger’s pickup service after the state issued its stay-at-home order March 15. The Dublin woman has seen pickup schedules go from four days away to eight, but she plans to continue using the service.
“I have a family of five,” she said while picking up groceries Tuesday at Kroger’s Sawmill Road store. “This isn’t just more efficient, but it’s keeping my family safe.”
Kroger and other stores are scrambling to accommodate demand. They’re adding workers to shop for guests and even rearranging stores to stack orders.
Giant Eagle is converting some of its unused space, such as prepared-food areas, into staging grounds for pickup orders, Jablonowski said.
“In the last 10 days alone, we have doubled our capacity for orders for pickup and delivery in the Columbus market,” she said. “At our Sawmill Road location, we’ve had five times the (pickup and delivery) orders as in a typical week.”
“We can only schedule curbside and pickup deliveries as fast as we can shop for those orders,” she added.
Delivery services are even more crunched. Most area stores including Aldi, Costco, Fresh Thyme, Kroger, Meijer and Sam’s Club partner with Instacart, the California-based shopping service that once promised same-day grocery delivery.
According to the company, order volume was up 300% last week compared with the same week a year ago. Individual orders are 25% larger than previous averages as customers stock up when they do shop.
Demand for the company’s service grew so dramatically that it announced March 23 that it was hiring 300,000 more workers for its roster of 200,000 shoppers. So far, the company said it has added half of those new workers.
Instacart also is starting to roll out new features such as an option to order up to two weeks in advance.
Despite the changes, the company cautioned that “customers can expect to see delivery availability vary across stores during the busiest request windows.”
Instacart’s competitor, Shipt, which serves Target, Giant Eagle and Meijer in central Ohio, also has been overwhelmed by demand. (One Dispatch reporter spent 3 1/2 hours on hold trying to confirm a Meijer order with Shipt last week.)
Grocers and delivery services speculate that the coronavirus crisis might end up converting some shoppers into regular pickup or delivery customers.
Claire Porter of Powell used Kroger’s pickup service for the first time Tuesday after her daughter-in-law showed her how.
“I might just continue it,” she said as a worker loaded groceries into her trunk.

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Here's a sampling:
-- Southern Manatee Fire Rescue is asking the community to help the family of six who lost almost everything in a house fire. Reporter Beth Burger's coverage brought calls offering that help almost immediately.
As told in this story and photos by reporter Paradise Afshar and photographer Paul Videla, Kingdom Life Christian Church and the Bradenton Police Department helped 100 families in the third annual Honoring the Badge -- a shopping spree that helps kids in need, and helps build a much-needed bod between officers and our community's youth.
-- Southeast High students created a special Christmas for developmentally disabled youngsters attending Manasota ARC, as chronicled in reporter Angeline Taylor's story here.
-- Downtown Bradenton merchants and non-profits have organized a charity drive to help people in need -- and their four-legged friends.
Here at the Herald, HR director Holley Pauley organized a drive for the Community Coalition on Homelessness in Bradenton. Hearty piles of donations were stacked in our conference room this morning. Here's a list to keep handy -- all year.
Here are a few items that are desperately needed.
Dog food/treats – The shelter is completely out of dog food.
Children’s clothing all sizes boys/girls
Small bottles of Shampoo
Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss
Small stationery kit with notepaper, envelopes, pen, stamps
Comb, hairbrush, and small hand mirror
Soap and washcloth
Underwear all sizes (male/female/children)
Blankets and sleeping bags (can be used if recently washed)
Non perishable snack foods
Deck of cards or small games
Hand can openers
Duffle bags (easy to carry)
Recycled clothing items
Tops and jeans of all sizes
Sweaters and jackets
Shoes in good condition


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Infineon Monitoring Chip Supply Chain Risks, Raises Outlook
(Bloomberg) -- German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies AG forecast 2021 full-year revenues of around 10.8 billion euros ($13 billion), topping estimates and above the previous outlook of 10.5 billion euros.
- Infineon’s robust earnings comes after Qualcomm Inc., the world’s largest smartphone chipmaker, warned it is struggling to meet demand, signaling that a global semiconductor shortage is spreading.
- “Semiconductors are needed more than ever,” said Reinhard Ploss, CEO of Infineon. “We are monitoring ongoing risks closely.”
- Shares fluctuated, and were little changed in early afternoon trading in Frankfurt on Thursday.
- The company will move up the start of production at its new chip plant in Villach to the last quarter of fiscal year 2021. Infineon could expand production in Dresden, executives told reporters on a conference call.
- Demand is outstripping supply in several areas, including microcontrollers and the Internet of things, executives said on a conference call with analysts.
- Infineon said first-quarter revenues were particularly strong in the automotive segment, and that it expects second-quarter revenues between 2.5 billion euros to 2.8 billion euros.
- “In view of dynamic ordering momentum and manufacturing plants running at good utilization rates in the majority of product areas, we are making a slight upward adjustment to our outlook for the full year,” Ploss added.
- Last year Infineon shares had their best performance in a decade, climbing about 55% in 2020 as the company was bolstered by a recovery in the auto sector as demand recovered from the pandemic.
- Analysts expect Infineon to continue benefiting from its strong presence in automotive chips as electric vehicles gain market share, and manufacturers roll out more hybrid and electric models
- Other trends seen boosting Infineon include the shift to work-from-home, gaming and 5G, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analyst Alexander Duval.
- The firm reported first-quarter total segment profit of 489 million euros, versus analysts’ estimate of 416.8 million euros.
- Get the full results here.
- Bloomberg Businessweek story on how a shortage in chips during the pandemic disrupted the auto industry.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.


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COVID-19: Telecom majors offer extra talktime, extend validity to provide relief
Major telecom operators have come forward to provide relief to customers amid coronavirus outbreak and extended the validity of prepaid plans to April 17 besides crediting Rs 10 talktime in accounts of low-income subscribers.
Reliance Jio has said it will provide 100 minutes of talktime and 100 text messages to all its users till April 17. The company also said customers will be able to receive incoming calls on their Jio numbers even if the validity of their existing packs have ended. Vodafone Idea too said it will extend the validity of prepaid packs used by low-income customers that use feature phones. The company said it will credit Rs 10 talktime in the accounts of the customers who use feature phones.
Bharti Airtel along with state-run network operators MTNL and BSNL have also announced that they will extend the validity of the prepaid plans till April 20.
The extension of validity packs was announced by telecom operators after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) asked them to do so.
The regulatory body said subscribers must get uninterrupted services during the 21-day nationwide lockdown and asked operators to provide details on the steps taken to ensure that.
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2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI35
The new 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is just right. Presented at the 2019 Chicago Motor Show, the new hot Volkswagen compact sedan gained the much-needed overhaul with a fine upgrade that came from none other than the parts bins of the Golf GTI and the Golf R. It is a thoroughly improved car, with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, gasoline engine, a fresh new look, and a far more advanced suspension compared to the lesser units. Let me just say it - rear multi-link. It has it.
With the new model introduced in Chicago, Volkswagen USA officials actually noted that the new car will come with two trim levels, while the limited edition GLI 35 serves as sort of a high-end model of the GLI world.
Now, we’ve already learned a lot about the new Volkswagen Jetta GLI, but what about the Volkswagen Jetta GLI35?
2020 Subaru Legacy
First arriving on the scene in 1989, the Legacy nameplate has served as Subaru’s flagship sedan for six full generations. Now there’s a new seventh-generation arriving for the 2020 model year, and it’s framed as “the most advanced Legacy in the model’s 30-year history.” Sporting a revised exterior, oodles of new technology and luxury features in the cabin, as well as a new platform and a new turbocharged engine option, the Legacy is feeling fresher than ever. But with segment competition tightening, does the Legacy have what it takes?
Is There Be Room in the VW Range for an Even Hotter 2020 Volkswagen Jetta R?
Volkswagen has launched a new 2020 Jetta GLI that borrows a lot of Golf GTI visual cues, as well as its powertrain and more advanced suspension. But the new GLI is only so extreme and, in fact, in China and other markets, you can actually get an even more powerful version of it that isn’t branded as anything special. The GLI is only the most powerful Jetta you can buy in North America.
2020 VW Jetta GLI vs 2019 Honda Civic Si Sedan
Volkswagen has finally given its Jetta sedan for North America the power, exclusivity, and extra sporting edge that some enthusiasts felt were missing from the package. The new 2020 Jetta GLI has addressed all those concerns and is now a model with enough brawn and sophistication to go head to head with all the sporty sedans in its size and price brackets. If you’re into fast driving, then you will be happy to note the new Jetta GLI gets the exact same engine as the (Golf) GTI, a standard limited-slip differential, and a snappy six-speed stick shift.
One of the new Jetta GLI’s main rivals is the2019 Honda Civic Si sedan, a very hard contender indeed. The Civic Si has a smaller displacement engine than the Jetta GLI, and has less power, but it is also quite a light car, one renowned for its excellent handling and road manners. It also looks somewhat sportier than the Jetta too, especially if you see its trunk lid-mounted wing, the center exhaust, and the aggressive overall design and stance.
If this were purely a visual comparison to discover which car looked more aggressive, that distinction would automatically go to the Civic Si. But it’s not all about the visuals, especially since the Jetta is more powerful than the Civic and it also has a more sophisticated independent rear suspension that VW doesn’t offer on any other Jetta model.
For $695 Hondata Will Give your 2019 Acura RDX the Mid-Range Torque it Deserves
Acura revamped theRDX last year and gave it a more aggressive face coupled with a sporty profile. All that is great, but the new car is lacking when it comes to mid-range torque. That’s where Hondata jumps in with its Flashpro system that gives you the ability to extract 45 more pound-feet of torque at the peak of the curve over the 280 you get from Acura.
Mid-range torque is a very important aspect, especially when we’re talking about SUVs. The RDX is Acura’s compact crossover offering and, while it does offer 28 pound-feet of torque more than the previous RDX with its 3.5-liter V-6, there’s still room for improvement. Hondata has already released ECU kits for the Civic and Accord, and now it’s the RDX’s time to shine with extra torque and, also, more power across the band.
2019 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition
The Rock Creek Edition is a special-edition version of the Nissan Pathfinder that includes new accessories and a few extra features at no additional cost. Introduced at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, it freshens up the somewhat dated fourth-generation Pathfinder, which was launched in 2012 and went through a mid-cycle upgrade for the 2017 model year. Offered on SV and SL grades (no soup for you if you want the base model or the range-topping Platinum trim), it costs only $995. Nissan says it will save you $1,315 compared to a similar vehicle with all those features ordered separately, but is it worth it? Let’s find out in the review below.
2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Pacifica 35th Anniversary Edition
It was not just Mazda which brought an anniversary edition model to Chicago Auto Show.The MX-5 Miata 30th Anniversary Edition might have stolen the limelight, but Chrysler and Dodge have launched anniversary editions of their minivans as well. Perhaps, they went unnoticed because they are humble minivans and not some fancy roadsters. Oh, automotive enthusiasts, thou art mean.
The Redesigned 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is Here to Cosplay As The Eclipse Cross
Don’t get confused by the ASX nameplate on this newly released 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport crossover. The ASX is a name stashed on the back of the European Outlander Sport, and as the new one will be released at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, it is only logical. What seems less logical is yet another facelift for the Outlander Sport. The car has been around since February 2010, and for the past nine years, it received exactly three facelifts (this being fourth). This means that the third generation of the Outlander Sport has exactly five different looks. While previous redesigns haven’t been, what one would call...ahem... exhaustive, the new redesign is. The new 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport received a full visual makeover with the styling cues reminiscent of all new Mitsubishi cars. So, it looks a lot like the Eclipse Cross then.
2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
The 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the latest performance-oriented version of the compact sedan. It’s based on the seventh-generation Jetta what was unveiled for the 2019 model year, and just like its predecessor, it rides on underpinnings borrowed from the Volkswagen Golf GTI. More aggressive than ever design-wise, the 2020 Jetta GLI is also the most powerful GLI ever built. Powered by a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, it comes with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. For the first time ever, the Jetta GLI comes close to the Subaru WRX, although it still doesn’t have an all-wheel-drive system. Find out more about the new Jetta GLI in the review below.
Volkswagen gives 2019 Passat for Europe its midlife nip and tuck
Volkswagen has updated the current Euro market Passat and as with all new products from the German giant, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. But it is certainly different if you look at details like the Arteon-infused styling refresh as well as the long list of new tech features added along with the facelift.
Kia Drops Pricing Info On 2020 Telluride SUV, Looks Like a Steal Against the Competition
Strutting its stuff earlier this year at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, the Kia Telluride is poised to hit dealerships later in 2019, and now we’re getting the low-down on how much it’ll cost. Long story short, the 2020 Kia Telluride offers tons of features and equipment for not a whole lot of scratch, starting at $31,690, and tagged at $41,490 for the range-topper.
5 Reasons the 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Needs a GTI Badge ASAP
The Jetta GLI returned to the market at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, and needless to say, it’s cooler than it has ever been. Although the previous model was nothing to sneeze at, the seventh-gen GLI is a proper four-door GTI. The only thing that bugs is that Volkswagen didn’t drop the "GLI" badge for a proper Jetta GTI name. And here’s why I think it should have.
Old versus New: How different is the 2020 Subaru Legacy to its predecessor?
Subaru has revealed an all-new seventh-generation 2020 Legacy sedan at the2019 Chicago auto show, but right off the bat it was criticized for playing it too safe with its design and styling. Some even say it looks nearly identical to the vehicle it’s meant to replace and while that is an overstatement, you really have to look at the fine details to be able to tell them apart.
And that’s what we’re going to do here, put the two models side by side and dissect their differences so that you don’t have to. Besides, Subaru has been doing this whole conservative, evolutionary design approach for most of the last decade now, but if you remember crazy cars like the SVX coupe from the company’s past (as well as the current BRZ), you know it wasn’t always so restrained.
In the press release that accompanied the reveal of the new model, Subaru mentioned it rides on the company’s new Subaru Global Platform it introduced in 2017, its new 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer with 260 horsepower, improved interior with extra tech and last but not least the car’s “bold design” that follows a “Dynamic x Solid” philosophy. But let’s see the two cars side by side first, then start judging them.
2020 Ford Explorer gets Yakima accessories for outdoorsy types
Buying an SUV you also buy into the idea of a more outdoorsy style and Ford is promoting that idea with the new dealer-fit accessories it’s showing at the 2019 Chicago auto show.The move also aims to hint at the vehicle’s off-road capability and encourage future owners to use their Explorer to... do more exploring.
2020 Kia Sportage Revealed Without Many Meaningful Updates For a Good Reason
Kia revealed a slightly refreshed 2020 Kia Sportage at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show. The new compact crossover is only slightly touched up with new details up front and some cool tech inside. However, closer inspection does suggest that Kia designers reimagined numerous design cues on the crossover that grew into a modern compact crossover. Changes inside aren’t as profound, but still, Kia designer team did a bit of TLC and even offered some new features for the beloved Sportage. On the other hand, we have an all-new 2020 Kia Sportage S next to the LX, EX, and SX models.
2020 Toyota Tacoma Arrives At Chicago With New Features And Mild Visual Updates
Although the Sequoia made the news for being roped in by the TRD Pro division, let’s not sideline the best-selling mid-size pickup truck in the States. Toyota refreshed the Tacoma for the 2020 model and has brought it to Chicago. Although the visual changes may not be visible to a layman, there are a few cues that help differentiate the 2020 Tacoma from the 2019 model. The drivetrain, however, still remains the same. Should Toyota have bumped up the power figures a little bit?
2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI emerges with extra power, clever suspension
Volkswagen finally took the wraps off the seventh-generation Volkswagen Jetta GLI, eight years after the previous Jetta GLI also debuted at the Chicago Auto Show. The 2019 model comes with the same 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque engine as the Golf GTI Rabbit Edition plus upgraded suspension and a six-speed manual as the standard gearbox.
The Jetta A7-based GLI wasn’t really Volkswagen’s best-kept secret. We knew since last summer that it would get the engine from the Golf GTI hot hatch and, judging by the sneak preview Volkswagen offered us a couple of days ago, it was clear that the German automaker wasn’t about to unleash a bonkers-looking sedan. Then again, Germans aren’t the ones you should expect surprises from, but that doesn’t mean the Jetta GLI is boring, at least not by looking at all this package has to offer.
2020 Subaru Legacy Brings New Engine and Tech to Chicago
Subaru launched the new, seventh-generation Legacy at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, replacing the previous midsize sedan after six years on the market. The new Legacy was redesigned from the ground up, featuring new styling cues inside and out, new tech, and a brand-new engine.
Jeep Gladiator Goes Fancy with Katzkin Leather in Chicago
The iconic Jeep Gladiator made a comeback after several decades and it’s already a popular topic among truck enthusiasts. A true work horse in base trim, the Gladiator can also be order with premium features and loads of accessories through Mopar. Now, you can also add Katzkin leather via a package that Jeep just showcased at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.
The 2020 Subaru Legacy is Upon Us - Will It Get Any Love at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show?
Subaru announced that it will be unveiling the 2020 Subaru Legacy at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show. The announcement comes just a couple of days before the car’s official launch and it comes along with two teasers that showcase the exterior and the interior. To be honest, we weren’t very excited until the company decided to drop those two teasers, and now, we cannot wait to check this beauty out.
The New Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson is a Fat Boy on Four Wheels
The Ford F-150 is once again on the receiving end of a Harley-Davidson makeover. The 2019 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition is the latest creation in a long line of collaborations between what is arguably America’s most popular car brand and its Wisconsin-based motorcycle counterpart. In keeping with the theme of past F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition models, the 2019 model packs plenty of aesthetic touches, a lot of which are there to celebrate the long-standing partnership between the two American icons. It’s not just about the visuals, either. Form meets function in this creation; the F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition builds on the F-150’s all-world, go-anywhere capability with new equipment that lives up to the tradition of past F-150 Harley-Davidson Editions. The special edition pickup is on the clock to make its debut at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show. Pricing starts at $97,415 and goes all the way up to $98,433 depending on the exterior paint color of the pickup.


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The proposed .XXX domain is back in the news. Quite a few outlets are carrying stories about ICANN’s decision to revive the proposal to create what Forbes calls an "online red light district" but with new restrictions prohibiting child pornography and requiring labeling of websites carrying sexually explicit material.
Identity theft remains a hot news topic. WTOP reports on a bill to be introduced Wednesday in the Virginia legislature that would require potential victims to be notified of any breach of security whenever personally identifiable information is hacked or stolen from a government or private agency. A similar measure has just been signed into law in Michigan.
The Register reports on a new proposal in the UK that might deter cybersquatting by requiring the loser in a domain name dispute to pay the winner’s legal expenses.
Saturday’s New York Times has an important article on the increasingly sophisticated programs being used by cybercrooks to secretly capture personal computers and turn them into "zombies" unwittingly distributing spam and stealing personal data.


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One manufacturer bets it all on Microsoft.
LG has some serious designs for Microsoft' new mobile OS. What HiFi reports that the manufacturer will be betting quite a lot of their future on the success of WP7. European models will hit in October as part of the Optimus line of phones. They will have 3.8" displays.
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A month later, LG will roll out with US WP7 smartphone. These will be similar models, with added-in sliding hard QWERTY keyboards. LG told Korean reporter that they expect WP7 to outperform both Android and iOS. That's quite a long shot, but I guess someone has to bet on Microsoft.


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The Federal Reserve reported that manufacturing production was unchanged in January for the second straight month. As such, output in the sector essentially has paused at the beginning of 2018, but we anticipate that this breather will be short-lived. Indeed, we expect manufacturing production to rise by 2.1 percent in 2018, up from 1.7 percent in 2017. In terms of the latest data, manufacturing production rose by 1.8 percent since January 2017, slowing from the more robust 2.3 percent pace seen in November, which likely represented a rebound in the aftermath of several hurricanes. Much like the headline number, manufacturing capacity utilization was flat in January’s report, unchanged at 76.2 percent.
On a regional basis, manufacturing activity in the New York and Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank districts both reflected strong expansions in activity in February. New orders and employment were higher in both surveys, even as some of the other key measures eased a bit. More importantly, manufacturing respondents remain very upbeat in their outlook for the next six months, with that optimism at its highest level since January 2011 in the Empire State Manufacturing Survey. At the same time, more than 60 percent of those completing the survey in the Philly Fed’s region see new orders and shipments rising in the next six months, and at least 44 percent anticipate additional hiring and capital spending. If there are any concerns in the data, they are with input costs, which continued to increase in both regional reports, each to multiyear highs, mirroring accelerations in other data.
Along those lines, consumer and producer prices both jumped in January, primarily on higher energy costs. For manufacturers, producer prices for final demand goods jumped 0.7 percent in January, its fastest pace in two months. Led by sharply higher energy costs, which were up 3.4 percent in January, this increase was largely consistent with recent observations in the spot price for West Texas intermediate (WTI) crude oil, which increased from an average of $57.88 in December to $63.70 in January, its highest monthly average since November 2014. Excluding food and energy, producer prices for final demand goods were up by 0.2 percent in this report, increasing for the sixth consecutive month. Nonetheless, core producer prices continue to be modest at 2.4 percent. Similarly, consumer prices have risen 2.1 percent year-over-year, with core inflation up 1.8 percent since January 2017.
Meanwhile, housing permits soared in January to their best pace since June 2007. New residential housing permits increased from 1,300,000 units at the annual rate in December to 1,396,000 units in January, a post-recessionary high. This should bode well for the housing market in the coming months, with stronger permitting activity pointing to healthy construction data moving forward. In that way, this report mirrored a similarly upbeat assessment from homebuilders, who anticipate single-family home sales rising briskly at rates not seen since June 2005. On a year-over-year basis, housing permits have risen 7.4 percent, up from 1,300,000 units in January 2017. New housing starts were also encouraging, up from an annualized 1,209,000 units in December to 1,326,000 in January, its highest level since August 2007. Housing starts have increased 7.3 percent over the past 12 months, up from 1,236,000 units one year ago.
Finally, the consumer data were mixed last week. On the positive side, the University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters reported that the Index of Consumer Sentiment rose from 95.7 in January to 99.9 in February, its highest level since October’s robust reading (100.7), which was the highest point since January 2004. The increase in February came “despite lower and much more volatile stock prices,” according to Richard Curtin, the Survey of Consumers Chief Economist. Overall, these data are consistent with 2.9 percent growth in real consumer spending in 2018.
Yet, retail spending declined by 0.3 percent in January, which was disappointing, especially given the consensus expectation for a 0.2 percent increase. Moreover, retail sales were unchanged in December, a notable revision from the prior estimate of a 0.4 percent gain. As a result of these latest figures, it is clear that consumer spending has been softer in the past two months than we would prefer. Yet, the larger narrative remains an encouraging one, with consumers being a bright spot over the past year. Indeed, retail sales have risen 3.7 percent year-over-year in January, suggesting a decent pace overall even if it represented a deceleration from the more-robust rate of 5.2 percent in December. Excluding automobiles, the pace was even stronger, with retail sales up 4.2 percent over the past 12 months.
The international economy has improved significantly over the past year, with manufacturing activity in many key export markets expanding at multiyear highs. This is especially true in Europe, which experienced an all-time high in the 20-year history of the IHS Markit Eurozone Manufacturing PMI survey in December. This week, there will be new survey data from IHS Markit, both for the Eurozone and the United States. Notably, the U.S. data in January also improved, as the headline measure had the best reading since March 2015. Other highlights to look for this week include manufacturing survey data from the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank and updates on existing home sales and leading indicators.
Chad Moutray, Ph.D., CBE
National Association of Manufacturers


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WASHINGTON: Cannabis technology providers Dauntless Software, Inc. and Front Runner, powered by TetraTrak, have teamed up in an effort to deliver best-in-class business intelligence to their customers, the two companies announced last week at the Marijuana Business Association’s 2015 Washington Marijuana Producer/Processor Seminar in Spokane, WA.
As part of the partnership, Dauntless will deliver real-time data through its TraceWeed database to Front Runner, which will integrate the new information into reports and data to help producers and processors manage their businesses more efficiently.
“Customers shouldn’t have to wait so long to get data back from the state. TraceWeed can deliver real-time data while still protecting client confidentiality,” explains Dauntless CEO, Clark Musser. “Front Runner will provide the industry insights needed to increase the ROI for our customers, which is core to our mission as well.”
“We are thrilled to work with TraceWeed and Dauntless Software to push the envelope for efficiently generating unique insights from industry analytics, and distributing to our customers,” said Brian Yauger, chief executive officer of Front Runner. “By leveraging our best-in-class business intelligence platform, clients will be able to quickly determine possibilities and risks when making important business decisions.”
Both companies will offer a 15% discount ($615-$915 savings) on each license, though using both services is still voluntary and customers can choose to use one service if they wish. TraceWeed customers can add on Front Runner reporting services for $79 a month and have full access to that reporting suite. Those reports will be accessible through the TraceWeed login and interface shortly after data begins to flow in early December.
Dauntless is now scheduling installations for signed customers. New customers can expect to be up and running within 30 days.


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Merrion partners with Novo Nordisk on oral insulin formulations
DUBLIN , Ireland An Irish drug maker has announced a partnership with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk to develop orally administered formulations of insulin analogues for the treatment of diabetes.
Merrion Pharmaceuticals said Monday that it had entered a development and license agreement with Novo Nordisk to develop oral formulations of the Danish drug maker’s proprietary insulin analogues using Merrion’s GIPET pill technology.
Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk will fund the development and commercialization of drug candidates, while Merrion will take responsibility for the development and manufacture of the initial clinical batches. A joint development committee will oversee the two companies’ work.
Merrion will receive up to $58 million for the first product developed under the agreement that reaches the market, based on development, regulatory and sales milestones, as well as royalties on sales.
J&J announces tender offer to buyout Omrix Biopharma stock
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday that it would be making a tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of New York-based biotech Omrix Biopharmaceuticals in an offer worth about $438 million in cash.
Upon the successful closing of the offer, Omrix stockholders will receive $25 per share of Omrix common stock tendered in the offer, minus required holding taxes. Omrix will operate as a stand-alone company reporting through Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon.
J&J said it would file a tender offer statement with terms of the offer with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offer will expire at midnight on Dec. 23.
CVS Caremark, MinuteClinic working overtime to disseminate flu shots
WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS Caremark is working toward its previously announced goal of delivering one million flu vaccinations this year and as part of that effort has kicked off an advertising campaign to inform consumers about CVS Caremark’s integrated flu vaccination offerings, not to mention drive awareness of the MinuteClinic model.
The “Flu Shots Made Simple” campaign began in September and will run through Dec. 31. It is a multi-faceted campaign that includes in-store signage and store radio spots, a national television campaign promoting joint CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic flu shot services, a MinuteClinic-dedicated TV campaign in select markets, newspaper ads in select markets, direct mail to target consumers and public relation efforts.
The goal: To inform consumers about CVS Caremark’s integrated flu vaccination offering which includes MinuteClinic locations, pharmacist-administered shots and scheduled flu shot clinics within select CVS/pharmacy locations.
“Flu shots have always been a key service of CVS and MinuteClinic. We had the opportunity this year to align MinuteClinic’s flu shot capabilities with other flu vaccination services offered at CVS/pharmacy. It is a natural point of integrated services within CVS Caremark,” said Melissa Studzinski, director of marketing for MinuteClinic.
While the campaign runs through Dec. 31, flu shots will continue to be available at all 559 MinuteClinic locations on demand throughout the flu season, which could run as late as March or April.
As part of the campaign, the company has created a flu shot voucher program for Caremark clients whereby participating members are eligible to receive a flu shot at MinuteClinic with no out-of-pocket cost to them, noted Studzinski.


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What to expect from Google's Pixel 3 hardware event
Google’s now annual hardware is almost here. In New York on Tuesday, October 9 at 11AM ET, the search giant will show off a new range of products dreamt up by the Made by Google team.
We already have a good idea of the main attraction — the Google Pixel 3 series — but there’s still room for surprises when the event begins (and you can livestream it if you’re keen). Here’s what to expect from the Google Pixel 3 launch.
What we’ll definitely see
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
Following on from the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL last year, the third-generation Pixel phones are something of a known quantity.
There’s also a fairly blatant sideways love heart on the official invite which is quite clearly meant to hint at the number three.
As for the phones themselves, you can check out our rumor roundup here for all the details.
The most significant upgrades over the Pixel 2 series are the expected jump to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor and two front-facing cameras on the Pixel 3 XL. Otherwise, there’s a good chance what we’re going to see is a case of iteration of innovation, with slightly bolstered specs, Android Pie-powered software improvements, and likely a whole host of AI trickery.
The fact that both devices are all-but-certain to look almost identical to their predecessors — bar that controversial (and enormous) Pixel 3 XL notch — is the biggest giveaway that you shouldn’t hold out hope for any wholesale changes for Google’s flagship phones.
Google Home Hub
That could all change with the launch of a Google-made Smart Display, as there’s mounting evidence to suggest that’s what we might get in New York.
The latest leaks suggest this would be called the Google Home Hub and that it would offer voice control features similar to the Google Home smart speaker. This means organizing schedules and appointments, as well as offering smart home control. Naturally, the Home Hub would offer a more visual approach to answering questions, too.
It’s reportedly available from October 22, so Google is likely to unveil it at the launch event on Tuesday.
Best Buy has already sold an upgraded Chromecast to one customer, so we know it’s going to be officially announced at some point. Aside from a handful of aesthetic changes, we don’t know exactly what’s new just yet — the person who acquired the unit said they weren’t able to operate it until Google rolls out a software update.
Nevertheless, the new Chromecast will apparently go on sale tomorrow; if it does, Google is guaranteed to discuss it at the event.
What we might see
Google Pixelbook 2
The traditional, cheap, student-friendly Chromebook is as popular as ever, but with the Pixelbook, Google introduced an elite $999 flagship device that set a new benchmark for the Chrome OS family.
Some loved it, others questioned its mere existence, but there’s no denying it was an impressive, beautiful product with few undeniable flaws. That’s why it’s the perfect time for Google to release a refreshed Pixelbook this October, and based on recent rumblings, there’s every chance that’s exactly what will happen.
There’s no denying the original Pixelbook was an impressive, beautiful product that had a few undeniable flaws and missing features.
Feature-wise, the smart money is on the Pixelbook 2 being outfitted with a fingerprint sensor, thinner bezels, improved internals, and potentially a 4K display. If Google needs more inspiration it should maybe check out our suggestions here.
There’s also a chance we’ll actually see two Pixelbook hardware revisions — one with a traditional laptop design and the other a detachable.
Speculation regarding the latter device, purportedly called the Pixel Slate (seen above), has been mounting. This is tipped to be a Microsoft Surface-like tablet, coming with a 9- to 12-inch display and support for a stylus and keyboard. We should see Google reveal at least one Chrome OS product.
Second-generation Pixel Buds
Speaking of first-generation Google products that enjoyed a mixed reception and felt sorely lacking in some areas, we could also reportedly see new Pixel Buds in New York.
We already know it’s very likely that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will come bundled with USB-C earphones featuring a Pixel Buds-style design (seen above), but what about a true second-generation pair of Google’s wireless earphones?
While the original Pixel Buds improved over time with updates, particularly with the addition of playback controls, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Personally, I’d like to see a bump in audio quality, tweaks to the Google Translate functionality to more accurately reflect the Buds’ showcase last year, and potentially go fully wireless by ditching the wire that connects the two earbuds.
What we probably won’t see
The smartwatch sector may be in flux, but Google is still pressing forward undeterred with Wear OS. Following a comprehensive firmware update and tips from highly respected insiders, the time had seemed right for Google to release its own smartwatch, allegedly dubbed the Pixel Watch.
Previous reports had suggested that as many as three watches — codenamed Ling, Triton, and Sardine — would be released alongside the Pixel 3. The watches had been expected to run on the latest version of Wear OS and feature Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform.
There’s still a very good chance we’ll see at least one of these Google-made smartwatches at some point in the near future, but not tomorrow.
What would you like to see at Google’s 2018 hardware event? Let us know in the comments.


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The Food Marketing Institute has received a letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that supports the food industry’s efforts, in concert with the food manufacturing community, to reduce consumer confusion regarding food product date labels. “On behalf of FMI’s retail, wholesale and manufacturer members, we sincerely appreciate FDA’s recognition of the industry’s dedication to seeking solutions and mitigating consumer confusion in the… Read more »
The Food and Drug Administration said it will use enforcement discretion to allow allulose, a rare sugar, to be excluded from the total sugars declaration and added sugars declaration on the Nutrition Facts Label when allulose is used as an ingredient, according to draft guidance issued by the F.D.A. on April 17. The F.D.A. previously had said allulose counted in… Read more »
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s September 26th announcement that it plans to name retailers selling food that is being recalled instead of focusing just on food manufacturers looks like a big win for food-tracking blockchain. The latter is the same technology that underpins bitcoin digital currency. The FDA’s draft rules are primarily intended to apply to ‘serious recalls’… Read more »
Impossible Foods has received a no-questions letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), validating the unanimous conclusion of food-safety experts that its key ingredient – “heme” – is safe to eat. Impossible Foods makes meat directly from plants and the company uses science and technology to create wholesome, nutritious food, restore natural ecosystems and feed a growing population sustainably,… Read more »
The FDA is issuing new guidance that is permitting manufacturers to count eight additional fibers in the dietary fiber declaration on the Nutrition Facts label when the regulation enters into force. The goal is to make sure that consumers can trust that the latest fiber-rich snack food or cereal that comes on the market can offer them some real health… Read more »
Food manufacturers will have more reason to reduce added sugars in their products once the new Nutrition Facts Label becomes mandatory, and that’s especially true for makers of sweet baked foods. The Food and Drug Administration has mandated that a new Nutrition Facts Label include a line for added sugars, which is not on the current panel. Stevia and other… Read more »
Bakers and their ingredient suppliers, eager to put adjustment plans in place, are waiting on new Food and Drug Administration rulings. The F.D.A. has yet to finalize a compliance date for its new Nutrition Facts Panel, and it has yet to rule on whether certain ingredients, including inulin, meet the agency’s definition of dietary fiber. “The biggest challenge I think… Read more »
Armed with clipboards, swabs and a keen eye, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has slowly begun assessing bakery operations across the country. Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), baking facilities will undergo inspections verifying that preventive controls are in place. And while being prepared for an unannounced inspection is at the top of many companies’ agendas, what should they expect when the investigators walk through the door?
Each side has just the congressional recess left to practice its hyperbole for the coming Senate fight over how regulations will be used across government. It’s going to get nasty. And confusing. The practice of giving the other side’s bill a dirty name is now a common tactic.
The American Bakers Association (ABA) says that the current definition of dietary fiber is not practical or workable and requests that FDA reconsider its definition.


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AGF businesses are constantly innovating and could make good use of young people's input! The new generation of consumers are different from those of today. What's more, this new generation is still not really familiar with the food sector and the (international) career opportunities it offers. How can we innovate in the food sector and increase its appeal? By having students reflect on, for example, new solutions and ideas to market fruit and vegetables. In 2018, the Rotterdam Food Cluster is organising a 'Student Challenge' together with food businesses and educational institutions.
Innovation needed in the food sector
Johan in ‘t Veld, CEO of Cool Fresh International, explains why it is important for the food sector to constantly innovate. ‘AGF is a very traditional business, it needs to be more dynamic, more international and more sexy. That is why we need to involve the younger generation: to really understand how they make their purchasing decisions!’ explains Johan in ‘t Veld.
Why a Student Challenge?
‘New’ insights from the young generation are essential for innovation in the food sector. This offers added value to food businesses as well as to students:
- Fresh views produce new insights;
- Creating awareness of and offering an introduction to the food sector;
- Recruitment and PR, understanding career opportunities;
- Stimulating innovation for the food sector;
- Binding students – future employees – to the food sector;
- Students get the opportunity to experience what it is like to work as a real (marketing) specialist in practice;
- Students have the opportunity to network in the food sector.
What does the Student Challenge involve?
The Student Challenge is a two-day event organised in 2018. Students will work in multidisciplinary teams on a marketing issue from the business community. This issue could be: ‘How could we market our fresh products, and how can we continue to be relevant in the future as a trading business?’ The students will devise creative and innovative ideas for the future of the food sector. The findings will be presented to a professional panel at the end of the event and there will be prizes for the top three most innovative and creative ideas. The students will have the chance to win an international trip with a food company.
See how Cool Fresh International works with students to organise its marketing activities here:
Would you like more information about the Student Challenge in 2018?Contact Maureen Nejal


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It’s an interesting time for the U.S. auto industry. With more American consumers preferring to drive larger SUVs and crossovers, sedan sales are dropping, a shift that some manufacturers failed to anticipate.
Not all cars take the same amount of time to sell — some of the most in-demand models may find a buyer in just a few weeks, while other vehicles will sit on dealership lots for months before they are sold.
Days to turn also can be a useful metric in determining which car segments and models are fading in popularity. If a vehicle sits on the lot for six months, it often means the manufacturer overestimated how popular it would be.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the average number of days each car model sat on a dealer’s lot before being sold, or days to turn, in the U.S. market in 2018, based on data provided by Kelley Blue Book. These are the 26 cars that sold in more than 130 days in 2018.


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Despite some persistent controversies, advertisers had another big year on YouTube in 2017. Out of all the videos that aired as pre-rolls in 2017, ten made the year-end edition of the YouTube Ads Leaderboard, which ranks top spots in terms of viewership.
As is the case every year, several of the top ads of 2017 were tied to the Super Bowl. Budweiser‘s “Born the Hard Way,” which tells the immigrant story of Anheuser-Busch co-founder Adolphus Busch, ended up as the fifth most-viewed YouTube ad of the year, while a Kia Super Bowl spot featuring Melissa McCarthy came in right behind it at number six. The tenth-ranked add on the Leaderboard, from Mr. Clean, also aired during the Big Game.
At least one top YouTube channel was represented in the year-end Leaderboard as well. Dude Perfect, known for its trick shot videos, landed in the number-three position thanks to a partnership with Oreo that has rolled up 94 million views since its premiere in April.
To find the number -one spot, however, we must head to South Asia. A video from Samsung India has pulled in more than 150 million hits in 2017, allowing it to best all other ads.
The full year-end Ads Leaderboard can be found here. Its important to keep in mind the ranking’s parameters in mind while perusing it. Specifically, the Leaderboard only accounts for views received in 2017 and includes both paid and organic views. Nonetheless, the ultimate entrants on the list represent some of the year’s most notable pieces of commercial content.


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Kinetic Green appoints Pankaj Sharma as President of the two-wheeler business
Pankaj Sharma has three decades of experience in leadership roles at Royal Enfield, Volkswagen, Maruti, and Tata Motors.
Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions, has appointed Pankaj Sharma as the President of its 2-Wheeler business.
Pankaj who has extensively worked in the auto industry with three decades of experience in leadership roles at Royal Enfield, Volkswagen, Maruti, and Tata Motors will help to steer the Sullaja Firodia-run Kinetic Green's sales and marketing efforts to build a fast-growing electric two-wheeler business.
Kinetic's new President for the two-wheeler business has also worked at Ola Electric implementing their (direct-to-customer) business model.
Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO of Kinetic Green, said his appointment comes at an opportune time "as we gear up to introduce our blockbuster, e- Luna, and build a solid range of electric two-wheelers in the coming years."
At Kinetic Green Pankaj will lead the company's efforts in shaping the future strategy through a strong team that will take on the challenges facing India's transition to clean mobility.
Commenting on his appointment Pankaj said "I will be getting an opportunity to lead the launch of the legendary Luna in the new e-avatar right at the beginning. The next decade will see disruptive growth in the electric two-wheeler sector, and I am glad to be part of this exciting journey."
Aditya currently Deputy Managing Director, Stellantis India and Head – Jeep India, will succeed Roland Bouchara, who wil...
Tata Passenger Electric Mobility to set up over 10,000 charging stations by FY25 in collaboration with charge point operators
Through this collaboration, the CPOs intend to roll out over 10,000 additional charging points within the next 12-15 mon...
Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO, Kinetic Green stated that the company is preparing for the time when the gover...


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New York-based low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) said it is marking the fifth anniversary of its Terminal 5 hometown terminal at John F Kennedy International Airport.
The terminal, designed by Gensler and created in collaboration with Turner Construction Co, Arup, AECOM (as DMJM Harris) and Rockwell Group, has served more than 50m customers over the five years it has been open.
JetBlue launched its Live From T5 concert series in 2009, featuring artists such as Ellie Goulding, Goodie Mob with CeeLo Green, Chris Isaak, Sarah McLachlan, Phillip Phillips, Robyn, Emeli Sande, Taylor Swift, Il Volo and The Wanted.
Recently, JetBlue partnered with Air Ventures and Royal Waste Services to collect leftover food from participating T5 restaurants and repurpose it for composting at McEnroe Organic Farm in upstate New York.
Between October 29 to 31, JetBlue will host a Greenmarket at T5, featuring food and products from upstate New York.
JetBlue carries 30m customers a year to 79 cities in the US, Caribbean and Latin America with an average of 750 daily flights.
Find out more at www.jetblue.com.


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How "Natural" are Naturally Labeled Foods?
A wide variety of packaged food that carry the label "natural" on US supermarket shelves were found to contain substantial amounts of genetically modified organisms (GMO), according to product testing organization Consumer Reports.
Tests on dozens of common food products including breakfast cereals, crisps and infant formula found almost all of them contained recognizable levels of GMOs.
The research results has led to Consumer Reports to now call for the mandatory labeling of GMOs in food and a ban on the "natural" label, which suggest products don't contain the controversial ingredients.
A recent survey of 1,000 American adults conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center showed that a majority of people â€“ 64 percent â€“ mistakenly equate "natural" with no GMOs. The same survey also showed that nearly three-quarters of all Americans are seeking foods produced without genetically modified organisms.
"Foods that are frozen, made from concentrate or homogenized are all required to be labeled. Why shouldn't products containing GMOs also be labeled?" said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives. "Shoppers are being misled when they buy products labeled 'natural' given their expectation that they are getting food that contain no GMOs."
Consumer Reports set out to discover how many foods contain GMOs, and whether or not people could rely on packaging claims that suggest there are no GMOs in certain products.
The organization bought more than 80 different processed foods containing corn or soy, two of the most widely grown genetically engineered crops in the US. It tested at least two samples of each product â€“ each sample from a different lot â€“ to measure GMO content. Finally, it compared the test findings with product claims to determine which ones were valid, and which ones were not. The products were purchased between April and July 2014.
In order for a product to qualify as non-GMO it had to have no more than 0.9 percent genetically modified corn or soy. In the European Union, ingredients that are greater than 0.9 percent GMO must be labeled as having GMOs.
Continue reading at ENN affiliate, ClickGreen.
Label image via Shutterstock.


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FIBER OPTICS INDUSTRY REPORT
After IPG Photonics (Oxford, MA) announced the pricing of its initial public offering (IPO) of 9 million shares of common stock at $16.50 per share.
IPG share price soars after IPO debut
After IPG Photonics (Oxford, MA) announced the pricing of its initial public offering (IPO) of 9 million shares of common stock at $16.50 per share (see www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/279683), Reuters reported later in the day that IPG shares rose as much as 56 percent to $25.70 as investors were attracted by its revenue growth and increased applications for its products. The IPG shares are quoted on the Nasdaq Market under the symbol IPGP. IPG sold 6.2 million shares, while selling stockholders, including Valentin Gapontsev, chairman and CEO, and other board members, sold about 2.8 million shares.
Alcatel-Lucent finalizes merger
Lucent Technologies (Murray Hill, NJ)and Alcatel (Paris, France) announced the completion of their merger transaction. The new company Alcatel-Lucent is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris; its stock will be traded on Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange under a new common ticker (ALU).
“Through this merger, we are bringing together two top-ranking companies to form an undisputed leader in the industry,” said Patricia Russo, appointed as CEO of Alcatel-Lucent. “Alcatel-Lucent is a strong and enduring ally that service providers, governments and enterprises can count on to help them unlock new market and revenue opportunities. Both Alcatel and Lucent embraced a common culture of innovation and excellence that will help ensure the success of our merger.”
JDSU reports positive first-quarter earnings
Optical products and communications test-and-measurement provider JDSU (Milpitas, CA) announced positive results for its fiscal 2007 first quarter. On a non-GAAP EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) basis, the company earned $9.6 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2006. “The achievement of positive earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis for the first time in more than five years marks another significant milestone on the company’s journey to sustained profitability,” said Kevin Kennedy, CEO .
LSI to buy Agere for $4 billion
In a new combined company to be called LSI Logic, LSI Logic (www.lsilogic.com) and Agere Systems (www.agere.com) have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which the companies will be combined in an all-stock transaction with an equity value of approximately $4.0 billion. According to the companies, LSI’s well-established presence in the storage and consumer electronics markets and Agere’s broad footprint in storage, mobility, and networking should enable them to drive sustainable long-term growth and shareholder value through the strengthening of its combined platforms and the expansion of its existing customer relationships.
Luxtera awarded DARPA transceiver grant
CMOS photonics maker Luxtera (Carlsbad, CA) has been awarded the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Electronic and Photonic Integrated Circuits (EPIC) Phase II contract based on successful completion of Phase 1 of the project, which resulted in the world’s first 40 Gbit/s dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) single CMOS-chip transceiver. Phase II of the project will result in a 40 Gbit/s transceiver offering improved performance, smaller size, and lower power than demonstrated in Phase I. The transceiver will also be designed so that it can scale to a 100 Gbit/s transceiver.
NeoPhotonics expands DWDM product line
NeoPhotonics (San Jose, CA) acquired Paxera (Santa Clara, CA) as part a significant expansion of its product line for reconfigurable dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) high-capacity optical networks. Paxera’s ultra-widely tunable lasers are expected to enhance NeoPhotonics’ existing broad line of network products.
Also in the news . . .
The IEEE 802.3 Higher Speed Study Group is evaluating 20 Gbit/s 1310 nm lasers used in a five-channel coarse wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM) configuration and 25 Gbit/s lasers in a four-channel configuration from Apogee Photonics (Allentown, PA) for future 100-gigabit Ethernet applications. . . . Opnext (Eatontown, NJ), an optical-networking subsidiary of Hitachi, hopes to raise $150 million in an initial public offering (IPO) of stock, according to a prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. . . . Redfern Integrated Optics (Santa Clara, CA), developer and manufacturer of optical transmitters for the data and telecommunications markets, has secured an additional $7 million for continued development of silicon integrated-photonics products. . . . Phoenix Contact and Siemens have selected Avago Technologies (San Jose, CA, and Singapore) Fast Ethernet optical transceivers with digital diagnostic monitoring interface for future industrial networking applications.


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Realme will launch its flagship smartphone – Realme GT 2 Professional in India on April 7. Apart from its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 telephone, the corporate has now revealed that it’s going to introduce the Realme E-book Prime, the Buds Air 3, and the just lately noticed Full-HD Good TV Stick too. Listed below are the main points to take a look at.
Realme E-book Prime and Extra Launching on April 7
All the brand new Realme merchandise might be launched through an internet occasion scheduled for April 7 at 12:30 pm in India. It would even be live-streamed through the corporate’s YouTube channel, and you may get data relating to the occasion through Realme India’s Twitter deal with.
Apart from the launch date, Realme has additionally given us some data on the brand new merchandise launching quickly. To begin with, the Realme E-book Prime, which was just lately introduced at MWC 2022, will include a 2K full-screen show, eleventh Gen Intel Core processor, and a skinny and light-weight design.
Because it has already launched globally, we are able to count on it to assist Wi-Fi 6, a backlit keyboard, as much as 12 hours of battery life, a thunderbolt 4 port, stereo sound by DTS, and extra. Extra particulars, together with the worth of Realme E-book Prime in India, might be introduced on the time of launch.
As for the Realme Buds Air 3, it was just lately introduced in China and likewise made its entry at MWC 2022. It comes with an in-ear brief stem design, ANC assist, as much as 30 hours of playback time, 88ms Tremendous Low Latency, and extra options.
The Realme FHD Good TV Stick, which just lately appeared on Flipkart, would be the second streaming system after final 12 months’s 4K Good stick. It would include a quad-core processor, a mini chassis, Full HD assist HDR10+, Android TV 11, and extra.
Correct particulars of those upcoming Realme merchandise in India might be out there on April 7. To recall, the GT 2 Professional would be the spotlight of the present and would be the firm’s first flagship of 2022 within the nation. It comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, varied fascinating digital camera options, a couple of world’s first options, and masses extra. Therefore, keep tuned to this house for all the data you want.


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Sin or super food? It’s hard to think of another snack that’s been both vilified and hyped up as much as chocolate.
Dieters used to be told to steer clear of it — especially white or milk chocolate — because of its high fat and sugar content.
But increasingly studies show the dark variety has a myriad of health benefits.
A study this week found cocoa can lower your blood pressure and keep your heart healthy, by making veins and arteries stretchier, thanks to antioxidants known as flavanols.
The researchers, from the University of Surrey, urged more people to eat dark chocolate because it is high in cocoa, whereas most popular chocolate bars contain very little.
You may be surprised to know that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, as it is packed with the ‘love drug’ phenylethylamine which boost sexual desire by increasing levels of ‘happy hormones’ endorphins.
And it may also make men’s erections firmer due to its blood flow-boosting effects.
Scientists have also shown that regularly eating dark chocolate can improve alertness — with a 100g-sized bar having nearly as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. It has also been linked with making people happier and reducing the risk of depression.
However, the benefits of eating chocolate are only gained from snacking on options with a high cocoa content, which has a more bitter taste. And relying on the sweet treat for health benefits could lead to weight gain, which can offset health gains.
So, is chocolate a sin or a super food? And what do the studies show?
IT PROTECTS THE HEART
The latest piece of evidence hailing dark chocolate’s health benefits is the University of Surrey study which showed that it can lower blood pressure and make blood vessels stretchier within hours.
This is down to flavanols — antioxidants found in cocoa — that keep blood vessel walls elastic, allowing blood to flow through the body more easily.
The researchers recruited 11 adults, who consumed a cocoa capsule or placebo on alternating days for two weeks. Results showed their blood pressure was lower and their arteries looser on the days they took the flavanols.
However, those in the study were given super-strength supplements that would be equivalent to half a kilogram of dark chocolate — normally sold in 100g bars.
The researchers are still convinced upping the amount of dark chocolate you eat will be beneficial, however, even if you don’t eat copious amounts.
The findings build on those from a separate team of scientists in Portugal, who found eating dark chocolate every day lowers blood pressure in just one month due to the health benefits of flavanols.
Their finding was based on 30 young adults who ate 20g of either milk or dark chocolate every day for a month.
Those eating the high-cocoa chocolate saw their systolic blood pressure drop 3.5 mmHg, compared to 2.4 mmHg in the lower-cocoa group. And diastolic blood pressure was reduced by 2.3 mmHg and 1.7 mmHg, respectively.
On top of boosting blood pressure and blood vessel health, scientists have also found that it can lower cholesterol.
A team of US researchers asked 31 people to eat 50g of dark or white chocolate for 15 days. The scientists found those who ate dark chocolate had lower blood glucose and ‘bad’ blood lipids, which could have the knock-on effect of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
BRAIN HEALTH MAY BE IMPROVED
Dozens of studies have shown flavanols can also improve brain function, as the antioxidants boost blood flow.
A 2011 study by a team at University of Reading showed that memory and reaction time was boosted just two hours after eating dark chocolate, while no benefit was found among those snacking on white chocolate.
Other studies have pointed to longer-term benefits.
Researchers at Columbia University found in 2014 that adults in their fifties and sixties who took a cocoa supplement for three months performed better on memory tests on those given a low-flavanol pill. The study authors said their brain functioned as well as a 30-year-old’s by the end of the study.
A 2017 meta-analysis of existing studies on chocolate and brain health, published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found evidence that it improved brain blood flow, oxygen levels and nerve function.
The Italian researchers who did that study say that as well as flavanols, magnesium in chocolate may play a role in increasing the supply of oxygen to the brain and reduce the chances of brain damage through a stroke.
A separate study by researchers at Glasgow University in 2013 concluded that chocolate boosted carbon dioxide levels, improved blood flow and brain cell health. That team’s finding was based on measuring the speed of blood flowing through the biggest artery in the brain, while volunteers ate chocolate.
And a team at Cornell University in New York in 2014 identified an antioxidant in the sweet treat called epicatechin that may protect against the amyloid plaques which cause Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.
MAY MAKE YOU MORE ALERT
As well as boosting long-term heart and brain health, chocolate can also offer short-term benefits by tackling energy levels during the afternoon slump. The snack contains caffeine and theobromine, another stimulant.
US researchers recruited more than 100 young adults who ate just one gram of dark chocolate or a placebo for every kilogram they weighed. For example, someone weighing 60kg (nine-and-a-half stone) would be given 60g — a bit more than a Mars bar.
A 100g bar of chocolate has around 80mg of caffeine, just slightly less than a cup of coffee (95mg), and 1,000mg of theobromine — around a third less than a cup of black tea (1,600mg).
They then underwent brain scans while taking part in thinking and memory tasks.
Results showed that dark chocolate eaters were more alert and attentive than those who at other snacks. However, the Northern Arizona University team noted that the sweet snack could also raise blood pressure.
Scientists have found flavanols — antioxidants found in dark chocolate — can keep your heart healthy by lowering your blood pressure
COULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER
Eating just a few squares of chocolate per day makes people happier, scientists say.
A team of Korean scientists last year conducted what they called the first ever study that proved eating chocolate every day had positive effects on mood.
They recruited around 50 people who ate 30g of 85 per cent or 70 per cent dark chocolate — around a third of a large bar — or none at all daily for three weeks. Results from psychological tests showed that those who ate the darkest option were the happiest.
Analysis of volunteers’ fecal samples suggested chocolate increased microbial diversity in the gut, specifically gut bacteria Blautia, which may be the mechanism behind the boost in mood. Gut bacteria produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to regulate mental processes such as mood, memory and learning.
Separate research by a team at University College London suggests that those who regularly eat dark chocolate are less likely to be depressed.
They quizzed 13,000 people in 2019 about their chocolate consumption and symptoms of depression. Those who self-reported eating dark chocolate were less likely to suffer from low mood. However, there was no link between mood and eating white or milk chocolate.
While the team said the finding didn’t prove chocolate combats depression, they noted that it contains a number of psychoactive ingredients — including two forms of anandamine, which produce a feeling of euphoria similar to that of cannabis.
Dark chocolate also has more antioxidants, which reduce inflammation in the body – a reaction that some experts believe is linked to depression.
MAY INCREASES LIBIDO
Chocolate is said to function as an aphrodisiac — a substance that increases sexual desire — as it is packed with anandamide, a neurotransmitter that targets the same parts of the brain as cannabis, and phenylethylamine, which is known as the ‘love drug’ as it mimics the brain chemistry of a person in love. These two ingredients that cause the body to release the happy hormones, known as endorphins.
However, studies have produced conflicting results on the link between chocolate consumption and sexual habits.
A study by University of California last year concluded that those who ate chocolate more often were less interested in sex. The researchers quizzed 1,000 people on their weekly chocolate intake and attitude to sex.
But an earlier study of 163 women, conducted in 2006 by team at University Vita-Salute San Raffaelle in Italy, found that those who ate more chocolate reported higher levels of sexual desire and pleasure.
However, cocoa also contains methylxantines, which can make people more lethargic and lower the libido.
And flavonoids — the same blood flow-boosting antioxidants that mean chocolate supports heart health — may also result in better erections.
Results published by Harvard University researchers in 2016, based on questionnaires sent to 25,000 men, show that men who consume three or four portions of flavonoid-rich foods per week were around a tenth less likely to suffer erectile dysfunction.
…BUT THE DOWN SIDES?
Experts warn that many of the studies citing the benefits of dark chocolate don’t apply in the real world, as they use cocoa supplements rather than chocolate that people can buy in shops.
This means people would have to eat so much dark chocolate, that the gain of some health benefits would be offset by the extra calories.
And relying on dark chocolate for flavanols, which are also found in berries, apples, nuts and tea, could see snackers put on weight.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and some cancers — cancelling out any small gains in heart and brain health.


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This past Thursday, Plug and Play headquarters hosted a delegation from Hong Kong Cyberport for a Pitch and Networking Event. The group, led by Hong Kong Cyberport CEO Herman Lam, brought 15 of their hottest startups to present in front of a panel of judges composed of Plug and Play investors and Executives in Residence.
Cyberport, founded in 2002, is a “creative digital community with a cluster of technology and digital content tenants” that is owned by Hong Kong’s SAR Government. Their 100,000 square meter operation is host to a number of established companies in addition to an incubation program from which 15 startups presented in Sunnyvale and San Francisco yesterday afternoon. Cyberport’s startups represented a broad range of interests from retail optimization to education technology. The delegation featured entrepreneurs with innovative technology solutions across multiple verticals, each of which gave a five minute pitch detailing their idea. Plug and Play’s panel of judges sat in attendance providing feedback while considering potential investment opportunities.
There are a host of reasons that Hong Kong is an extremely exciting place for startups. Hong Kong has the infrastructure as well as the economy to capitalize on a consistently innovative local talent base, and the citizens have a heightened global sensibility that speaks to the city’s unique history. According to Herman, “There is a lot of talent. People in Hong Kong are very international, but at the same time they know about China. We are a part of China, but we are facing the world.” As a Chinese city with a globalized community, Hong Kong stands as a perfect starting point for foreign companies looking to become acquainted with the region.
Yesterday’s Pitch and Networking Event came as a perfect opportunity for collaboration as Hong Kong is a global launchpad point for tech startups in the same way that Silicon Valley is the digital nexus of the United States. According to Leslie Yuen, the U.S. Consultant for Cyberport, Hong Kong is special because it is “a city of immigrants, very similar to Silicon Valley. If you look at the delegation today we have members from India, Europe, Australia, and China: it’s a representation of Hong Kong. It’s a very global city, and we have the same dream and the same goal as silicon valley.”
The event was a testament to the nature of Plug and Play’s relationship with Cyberport, and we hope to collaborate as much as possible moving forward. To find out more about Cyberport, check out their website.
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Best Wireless Access Point 2020
Should you find any errors, please help us by reporting it here. 3T3R MIMO technology, 802.1x authentication, AirPrint support, Apple AirPlay, DiffServ Code Point (DSCP) support, Neighbor Discovery LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recent global wireless access point market report. This research report also lists 12 other prominent vendors The number of connected devices on the Internet will exceed 50 billion by 2020, according to Cisco handle heavy Internet traffic and deliver high speed are two new wireless access points from
Show full PR text TRENDnet® Launches First to Market 450Mbps Wireless Access Point Trendnet (12/20/2010) TORRANCE, Calif. –December 20, 2011–TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking With 2020 just around the corner Mark Warner: I’m not here to relitigate 2016, or the Mueller testimony, specifically. I would point out, out of the Mueller investigation: 37 indictments, the Welcome to the Cirrus Logic First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results Q&A session is something that you’re shipping to pretty much all your customers at this point. Jason Rhode– President
Best Wireless Access Point 2020 – March 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company, today announced it received Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 140-2 (FIPS PUB 140-2) certification for its wireless It’s been barely three months since Marantz announced the Melody X, the latest all-singing and all-dancing mini hi-fi system from one of the world’s best-regarded names in preamplifier, wireless The strong showing came as the company JW797A, AP325 and JW813A models sold well, finishing the period as the sixth, eighth and tenth-best-selling units overall, NPD said.


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After a couple of years straight out of a surrealistic doomsday novel, 2011 could be a breakout year for the Detroit Three automakers and their CEOs.
As part of the unprecedented times this community has faced--and survived--each of the Detroit Three is headed by a CEO who isn't originally from around here.
They came to Detroit from different directions with different skill sets, and they came because they were needed.
Since they arrived in town, the three CEOs--Alan Mulally at Ford, Sergio Marchionne at the Chrysler Group and Dan Akerson at General Motors--have been preoccupied with restructuring, cutting costs and ducking wave after wave of economic setbacks.
But that's about to change, thanks to the way they have done their jobs and an auto market that is slowly but surely heading back to a more normal pace.
Automotive News reports the analysts' consensus sales volume for 2011 is 12.7 million cars and light trucks. Some of the more bullish prognosticators say 14 million, given the right set of economic circumstances.
That's still a long way from the 17 million units the industry sold annually until the recession tanked the economy. But even the consensus volume of 12.7 million units would be is a solid 10 percent improvement over 11.5 million units sold in 2010.
The Detroit Three are ready to cash in.
But it hasn't been easy.
Since 2006 when he was hired away from Boeing, Mulally has recast Ford into a single, global entity, using the "One Ford" concept to unify product development, overhaul the company's culture and eliminate unnecessary overhead. Unlike the two cross-town rivals, Mulally--with the solid backing of the Ford family--did it by hocking the company to get the necessary capital, which ultimately kept them from succumbing to a government directed bankruptcy.
Ford's approach has made...


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Royal Caribbean has introduced a new way for adventure seekers to be a part of a live, interactive experience with the launch of Come Seek Live. This latest activation of their “Come Seek” campaign enables explorers to interact in real time with guests aboard Anthem of the Seas through the social media app Periscope. This new installment of the campaign will also be showcased on billboards on the streets of New York City.
Starting last Friday, followers from around the world are able to experience the adventures of Royal Caribbean adventurers via live-streaming of 13 live broadcasts from five islands over seven days. Streaming begins at the Las Playas natural water slide in Puerto Rico and then move to playing with monkeys in Barbados and riding ATVs in St. Maarten. There will even be refreshments made by a robot at the Bionic Bar back on the ship. Periscope followers will be able to direct their next steps with the unfolding story, giving the streaming a personal, live touch.
Come Seek Live is a neat way for Royal to challenge the stereotypes and myths that travelers have about the cruise industry. They have developed the new, first-of-its-kind distribution platform using their VOOM wireless connectivity to beam the adventures to the streets of New York. It will be streamed to subway displays and newsstand screens at locations around the city including Grand Central, Penn Station, Union Square, 86th and Lexington Ave, Fulton Center, and more.
To join in the Come Seek Live adventures, follow Royal Caribbean on Periscope at periscope.tv/royalcaribbean.


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NCM Motorsports Park Readies for Grand Opening
The National Corvette Museum is putting the final touches on the $17-million Motorsports Park, which is scheduled to hold its grand opening on August 28.
The 2009 Blue Devil ZR1 prototype damaged in the National Corvette Museum sinkhole disaster is headed back to Detroit for restoration.
Chances are if you’re a Corvette enthusiast you might be on your way to Bowling Green, KY.
Now it’s official. The National Corvette Museum will be preserving the sinkhole that continues to keep people flocking to the Kentucky facility in droves just to see the darn thing.
Personally, I’ve had a tough enough time swallowing the idea that some of the damaged Corvettes might be left on display there in Kentucky, but preserving the sinkhole for a few extra ticket sales seems a bit much.


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COVID-19 and commercial forfeiture: A further update
In our previous blog, published on 28 March 2020 we confirmed that following the coming into force of the Coronavirus Act 2020, landlords are prevented from forfeiting a commercial lease for non-payment of rent until 30 June 2020, (subject to any extension); but that whilst protective measures have been put in place, business tenants are still under an obligation to pay rent
If a tenant is in breach of its obligation to pay rent, (which is defined under the 2020 Act as any sum a tenant is liable to pay under a relevant business tenancy), commercial landlords need to consider alternative remedies to recover their arrears of rent; however, the Government last week reduced the alternatives available to commercial landlords, as follows:
1. The use of statutory demands are now been banned until 30 June 2020. A statutory demand (for debts, including arears of rent greater than £750) being a precursor to the issue of a winding up petition, or liquidation of a company, which if unsettled within 21 days is pima facie evidence that a debtor, (i.e. the business tenant) cannot pay its debts; and
2. The use of CRAC has now been restricted until there is 90 days of unpaid rent. Under CRAR a landlord can instruct bailiffs to take control of business tenant’s goods, which they may sell if the rent remains unpaid after 7 days [CRAC is not widely used by commercial landlords, as the requirement to provide the business tenant with 7 days prior notice of a bailiff’s attendance has resulted in business tenants removing their goods from the premises. Coronavirus has seen a rise in commercial landlords use of CRAC, with business tenants not being in occupation, working remotely from home; hence, the above-stated restriction] What’s left for commercial landlords?
(a) To drawdown any rent deposit;
(b) To pursue a guarantor, or former tenant; or
(c) Give business tenants time to pay but subject to the parties entering into a payment agreement, which does not vary the lease terms and preserves the commercial landlord’s right post-Coronavirus, (if a commercial landlord is considering entering into a payment agreement, then we recommend that legal advice is taken beforehand).


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McDonald's Quietly Removed the Beyond Burger 'P.L.T.' from Menus
In January, McDonald's announced that it had doubled the number of Canadian restaurants that were demo-ing its Beyond Meat-topped Plant, Lettuce, and Tomato (P.L.T.) burger, which meant that the sandwich was available in 52 locations in southwestern Ontario. At the time, it said that its test run would continue for three more months.
It probably says a lot about how 2020 has gone so far that McDonald's quietly removed the P.L.T. from those menus in late April, but nobody seemed to really notice until last week. According to the CBC, McDonald's did not publicly comment when the test-run ended in April; all it did was pull all of the P.L.T.-related information from its website. "We have no current plans to bring it back to our menu at this time," the official McDonald's CanadaTwitter account told one dejected P.L.T. fan in April. "[W]e will be sure to share your feedback with our team for future consideration."
A spokesperson for Beyond Meat was equally tight-lipped, telling the outlet that it was "pleased with the test," but declining to comment otherwise. "I can assure you, there's no issue with McDonald's," Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown said during a conference call last month. "There's been no change in information since we began this test and got good results in the beginning and got good results at the end."
It's hard not to read something into the McDecision not to extend or expand the P.L.T. trial, but it could just be as simple (or, more accurately, as complicated) as the restaurant chain trying to determine the best way to withstand the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this year, McDonald's temporarily removed several options from its menus so it could continue to provide quick and accurate service, even if the restaurants were short-staffed. According to CNBC, seven of those items—including two kinds of Quarter Pounders, the Bacon McDouble, vanilla ice cream cones, and chocolate chip cookies—will be coming back to restaurants later this summer. But some of the products that were pulled could be permanently gone, which is bad news for anybody who went to McD's for the bagels, the salads, or the fruit parfaits.
“Now, we’re reintroducing some of our iconic offerings while keeping our menu streamlined—focusing on expert preparation, great service, and as always, quality ingredients,” McDonald’s USA said earlier this month. “With customers at the center of everything we do, we’ll continue listening to them and evolving our menu to meet their needs.”
McDonald's is also taking its franchisees into account, and apparently they want a more streamlined menu, permanently: the National Owners Association has already voted to bin the All-Day Breakfast menu for good. "The limited menu and ease of operations are allowing our teams to focus and provide blazing fast service,” Blake Casper, the chairman of the organization, said. “We are convinced. Keeping our menus simplified is your NOA’s number one priority.”
Focusing on fewer items could be bad news for the P.L.T., going forward, and for those who have already decided that they love it. "Read the room Mcdonald's," one customer tweeted. "Vegans are hungry."


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When we look at the carnage of our economy, it's not too hard to come to one hard conclusion: we're at rock bottom. And we may even get worse than rock bottom, but fortunately the English language has yet to cater for an expression of such depths of bottomness, so we'll just stick with "rock".
The consequences of the next few months' policies are going to shape how we recover from this. And while many have tried to devalue the importance of the US as the epicenter of the world economy, noone can escape the fact that the US is tasked globally with dragging us out of our current predicament.
The Chinese have long-boasted that they can shut themselves off from the problems of the West and thrive on their domestic and regional dominance, but the world's second-largest economy is now suffering from more severe recessionary problems than those which Western countries are going through (Iceland aside). They thrived on the US economic prosperity and its free-spending of the last two decades.
And having just spent three days with the leading retailers at the NRF show, all I can tell you is we're in dire need of an economic stimulus package and some new leadership. What a time for a new President to take the reigns – and what a mandate he has to make some bold new policies. Just when we're running out of hope, here comes the audacious one. Over to you Mr O… you couldn't have dreamed of a better platform to change the world.
Posted in : Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)


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Carolina Shows Inc., producers of Springtime Made in the South, will begin its season in Savannah on Feb. 10-12 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.
This is a juried show, and acceptance is based on uniqueness, unusual work, quality and booth design. The artists and craftspeople must be present the entire show to talk about their work.
Works are available in pottery, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, clothing, gourmet foods and much more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7, good for all three days. Free parking.