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Simply stated, BBC Audiobooks
have set the standard for excellence in spoken word programming," said Brian Fielding, Executive Vice President, Programming, Audible, Inc.
com is proud to announce the availability of new audiobook
distribution service Author's Republic, an aggregate audio publisher helping to bring independently published audiobooks
onto more platforms than ever before.
NOOK Media LLC, a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble Inc (NYSE:BKS), a retail bookseller and retailer of content, digital media and educational products, announced on Wednesday the availability of the NOOK Audiobooks
App for Android, a new, no-commitment way to experience a selection of audiobooks
on Android smartphones and tablets, including the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK devices.
Tenders are invited for 15ODLSH1 - Audiobook
Services for Elementary and Secondary Textbooks
8220;People who download ebooks will love the enhanced convenience and enjoyment of downloading audiobooks
On the CD, Jacqueline reads her wonderfully written and engaging memoir of her life as a teenager - which is just released by BBC Audiobooks
at pounds 12.
stimulate student imagination by making teens visualize the characters and settings from the words of plays themselves.
Don't fall into the trap of believing audiobooks
are strictly for the sight impaired or people too intellectually lazy to read.
, I will argue, complete her response to the problem of the double audience by commodifying an African-American authorial voice within texts which themselves place a black oral tradition alongside their narrative representations of race in America.
com, the world's largest producer and seller of digital spoken-word entertainment, today announced that the Audiobook
Creation Exchange, the online audiobook
rights marketplace and production platform it launched in 2011, produced ten times as many audiobooks
in 2012 as it did during its debut year.
Customers who listen to Christian based audiobooks
tend to only listen to Christian based audiobooks
," Stafford says.
A retail audiobook
publishing programme is being launched by BBC Audiobooks
America, a publisher and distributor of audiobooks
and radio dramatisations, marking its entry into the US trade market.


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A book store owner in the UK took to his store’s Facebook fan page to seek pity for the store’s dismal sales, and the post actually helped bring paying customers into the shop. The owner of the Saltaire Book Shop posted this cry for help on January 10th:
URGENT! We need customers. Yesterday the shop took £7.50 (that’s about minus 50 after cost of books and heating) and the day before £13 (about £6 after books and heating). Today we have so far taken £6 (about £2). It’s clear this cant keep going on like this and there is a serious question mark over the future of the shop. If you want Saltaire Bookshop PLEASE tell all your friends about us and get them to spend money in the shop (people putting up posters or trying to sell me books dont count!). This is an urgent appeal. The roadworks and blocked pavements before Xmas meant our trade was down 50%.
It worked.On January 12th, the company posted. “We had an excellent Saturday,” the store posted on Facebook. “Thank you everyone who came in to the shop and we would love to see more of you over the next few weeks.”
The Daily Mail has more: “ In just one day he saw his profits boosted to an incredible £300 – 400 times what he usually earned, which has meant better days for the shop owner.”

domain: news


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Late on Monday, Microsoft announced that its Zune service would expand overseas this fall, bringing Microsoft's music and video purchases to several major markets.
The free Zune software, Zune Marketplace, and Zune Pass will be made available to the U.K. and France, with video rentals, video purchases, music purchases, and the Zune pass subscription made available to those two markets. However, the other regions will also receive some of those capabilities.
Microsoft has made the Zune software the multimedia keystone of Windows Phone 7, and the new version 4.7 client will be available for free in the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The idea, Microsoft said, is to allow consumers to stream multimedia content on the screen of their choice, whether it be the PC, Xbox 360 game console, or their Windows phone, once referred to as the "Zune phone".
"The integration between Zune, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox LIVE is an exciting expansion in our entertainment offerings," said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president, Interactive Entertainment Business Group at Microsoft, in a statement. "Zune enables users to access the entertainment they want, wherever they want it and now, more people than ever will be able to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that the Zune service offers."
But the associated services themselves will hopscotch around various markets.
Apple has yet to offer a subscription music service, and Microsoft faces challenges from Spotify, the unlimited, free music streaming service available in the U.K., France, Finland, and other European countries. Microsoft's Zune Pass, however, will only be offered to the U.K., France, Italy and Spain, for 9.99 euros or 8.99 pounds sterling per month. (Within the U.S., the Zune Pass costs $14.99 per month, with the option to keep ten MP3s.)
And while those four countries will also be able to purchase music (and music videos) from the Zune Marketplace as well, Microsoft has chosen to allow Germany only access to its music store, and not the Zune pass.
Microsoft has also allowed few countries to buy videos on its Zune Marketplace, although many more can rent them. Fourteen countries - U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - will be able to rent movies and sync them to either their PC, Xbox or Windows 7 phone. But just six - U.K., France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - will be able to buy movies on those same platforms, Microsoft said.
Some HD movies will begin streaming instantly, with no buffering required, Microsoft said.


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EUROPE: The purchase of French air conditioning manufacturer CIAT by Carriers’ parent company UTC looks set to go ahead following approval by the European Commission.
The take-over, first announced at the end of July, was today approved under the EU Merger Regulation.
In a statement, the Commission said its investigation found no competition concerns “as the market share increments in most cases remain modest and customers will continue to have an adequate number of alternative suppliers in all markets.”
CIAT achieved a turnover of €256m in 2013, 54% of which was from exports. The company has 1,000 employees based outside France and boasts subsidiaries and approved distributors in over 70 countries.
Carrier’s main European factory at Montluel, near Lyon, is a mere 80km from CIAT’s plant in Culoz.
UTC will grow the CIAT brand – July 24, 2014
FRANCE: United Technologies, parent company of US air conditioning manufacturer Carrier, has confirmed its intention to purchase CIAT and expand its hvac portfolio. Read more…


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First hands-on video with IKEA’s much delayed smart blinds, coming soon
The release of Ikea’s smart blinds has been delayed since February due to “an opportunity for improved functionality”. The two blinds- FYRTUR and KADRILJ- are now expected to be ready for release in August in E...
Ikea is designing a gaming chair perfectly tailored to an individual thanks to body scanning and 3D printing
If you’re a professional gamer in eSports or just happen to play for several hours at a time, Ikea may have just designed the perfect chair for you. Announced at the Ikea Democratic Design Days 2018 event, the Ubik gaming c...


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The iconic ’90s sneaker is making a return.
“Fire Red,” “White Cement,” “Bred” and “Military Blue” come together.
Featuring eco-fur lining.
First released in 2004, it’s back for another go-around.
Combining the benefits of Joyride beads with a traditional running shoe feel.
Nike VP Ron Faris talks to us about the future of the SNKRS app.
It’s all about the details and materials on La Flame’s newest Forces.
The Foot Locker-exclusive footwear collections return.
Inspired by Greenland’s frosty Polar Circle Marathon, the coldest marathon on Earth.


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Geotrends, new Seppic cosmetic formulations inspired by beauty trends
January 14, 2019 in Cosmetic trends
Seppic wins the LUDO'S AWARD for the best make-up effect!
November 15, 2018 in Beauty Care
FLUIDIFEEL™ EASY wins Silver at In Cosmetics Asia 2018
November 14, 2018 in Beauty Care
Seppic Inc. and BioActor B.V. announce their intention to enter into a partnership for dietary active ingredients
October 31, 2018 in Dietary Supplements
Seppic Pharma team at CPhI 2018
October 18, 2018 in News
SEPPIC inspires its customers with sustainable solutions for Hair Care!
April 4, 2018 in News
Athleisure Beauty, Seppic’s newest cosmetic formulas take their inspiration from sports
April 3, 2018 in News
SEPPIC presents new results for OLIGOGELINE™PF
October 26, 2017 in News
SEPPIC now on Pinterest!
May 19, 2017 in News
SEPPIC discloses new biological results for SEPIWHITE™ MSH
April 7, 2017 in News
SEPPIC presents new data on FLUIDIPURE™ 8G(1)
April 6, 2017 in News
EMOSMART™* & EMOGREEN™**, sustainable emollients connected to emotions
March 30, 2017 in News


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Electricity providers are racing to build shingles that deliver photo voltaic strength, and a single business suggests the cost may well be only $15K a lot more than a standard roof replacement.
NEW YORK – Tesla initial manufactured photo voltaic shingles a matter in 2016, when the corporation unveiled the Tesla Solar Roof. Blending asphalt shingles with the indicates to produce vitality was a new plan – one that other companies have tried using to emulate.
Consumers have been hesitant to adopt photo voltaic shingles mainly because of the steep price to manufacture and put in them. Also, they are not yet as successful as regular photo voltaic panels.
GAF Power is the most up-to-date business to be a part of the photo voltaic shingle race. One particular of the biggest roofing companies globally, GAF Electrical power introduced its launch of photo voltaic shingles with the debut of Timberline Photo voltaic, which it claims will be a more affordable different to Tesla’s Solar Roof. The corporation by now gained attention with a Finest of Innovation Award for Wise Cities at CES 2022, the annual mega tech exhibit that ran past week in Las Vegas and practically.
“We’re component of the world’s biggest roofing manufacturer,” Martin DeBonon, president of GAF Electrical power, explained to CNBC. “We have access to resources that normal photo voltaic organizations do not have obtain to. No 1 has ever exclusively attempted to make a solar item that a roofer can install. And we’ve finished it, and our item goes on with just a nail gun. It goes on 2 times as quickly as regular photo voltaic.”
The shingles are 17 inches tall and 64 inches long, or bigger than Tesla’s solar shingles. The enterprise states the more substantial shingles necessarily mean there are less elements to manufacture and less wiring connections, which will enable decrease expenses. GAF Strength did not launch specific pricing data.
“Let’s say in several elements of the nation, you have a $15,000 value for the roof. Acquiring a solar technique, including that would be an additional $15,000,” DeBono stated. That would involve a new roof and solar panels, which at $30,000 overall would be much less costly than other similar solutions.
Tesla’s projected charge for an common-sized 1,700-square-foot Photo voltaic Roof in the Bay Spot is about $40,700, prior to solar subsidies, CNBC reports.
Roofing gurus believe GAF Strength is in a key placement to shake up the solar shingles race. About 1 out of each three asphalt shingle roofs in the U.S. is a GAF roof, David Wintertime, co-CEO of Standard Industries, mentioned.
“So we’re the persons that are sitting down at the proverbial kitchen desk with the property owner at that second that they have to have to replace their roof, where by we can introduce the idea of photo voltaic,” Winter mentioned. “The pure second to essentially place solar on a roof is that minute when you’re already about to swap your roof. It helps make practically no feeling to put brand new PV on an outdated roof that is nicely into its warranty.”
Supply: “Roofing Big Takes on Tesla to Make Solar Roof Shingles Far more Affordable,” CNBC (Jan. 3, 2022)
© Copyright 2022 Facts INC., Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688


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Half of Americans report regularly taking vitamins or other mineral supplements, according to a poll conducted by Gallup, a company providing data-driven news based on U.S. and world polls, daily tracking and public opinion research.
Many people take supplements in order to support their health and well-being. However, there are many factors that determine a supplement’s effectiveness.
“Different people taking supplements might have different reasons,” PSUC nutrition and dietetics assistant professor Terrence Vance said. “But a lot of people take supplements because supplements can benefit them, either help with the lack of diet or herbal supplements for weight loss or social performance like sport.”
Vance also mentioned the pros and cons of taking supplements. For pros, he said supplements could be beneficial for some people. For example, pregnant women are recommended to take prenatal supplements in order to cover any nutritional gaps in the mother’s diet and maintain her own health during pregnancy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the authority to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, according to the FDA’s official website.
Vance said this is one of the big cons of taking supplements.
“The burden is really on the consumers to make the choices,” he said.
Therefore, Vance suggested everybody should contact a professional to find out reliable and recommended brands if they want to take supplements.
Research shows that about two-thirds of American adults take at least one dietary supplement, the most common include multivitamin or mineral pills.
There are many other factors that can affect the product’s quality. Sophomore nursing major Emily Haibon said everybody should pay attention to the amount off supplements that he or she takes and not overuse them.
She suggested people should try to change their diet first before choosing to take supplements.
“You have to be really careful about toxicity level because your body can reach a point that you can get sick if you get too much of something,” Haibon said.
For example, she said excess amounts of vitamin A are not good, and they could develop vitamin A toxicity. Taking too much vitamin A can cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, coma and even death, according to the National Institutes Health. High intakes of vitamin A can also cause birth defects in pregnant women.
“Some people sometimes just self-prescribe for whatever reason,” she said. “Then they unintentionally take too much and harm their bodies.”
Senior nursing major Kelsey Borcina recommended people should talk to their doctors before deciding to take supplements.
“If you are on a certain medication, a supplement can interfere with those medication,” she said.
For that reason, she emphasized the importance of seeking professional help in order to get the most out of vitamin or mineral supplements.
Borcina said one of the reason people take supplements is because they do not eat a well-balanced diet and end up not getting all the daily vitamins and minerals they need for their bodies.
“I think we should all eat a healthy diet because I just believe in the most natural holistic kind of way to get things done,” she said. “The food in plants and animals that are available to us have the vitamins in a natural form, and if you eat the right food, you are going to get what you need.”
Vance also believes that the best choice is to get as much nutrients from food as possible. When someone eats a well-balanced diet, he or she does not just get one specific kind of vitamin, but multitude of them. Therefore, he highly recommends that everybody take supplements when needed.
“Sometimes you do need the supplements because your body does not produce enough of something,” Haibon said. “Before taking anything, go to your doctor, ask for a checking and try to change your diet first.”
Email Hilly Nguyen at email@example.com


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High fuel and oil prices will have a direct effect on home heating costs this winter. As reported by USA Today, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates Americans will spend nearly an additional 20% more on energy this year than last year. Throughout the year and especially during the heating season, The Division of Standards conducts spot checks for all types of commercial transactions and heating oil deliveries. Each fuel meter has a meter security seal affixed by the weights and measures official which prevents tampering with the meter calibrator and other adjustable meter components. This safeguard ensures consumers get the exact amount of fuel they are paying for. Field officers check these meters during deliveries to make sure the security seals are intact. While on site, the officers also check the delivery ticket to ensure nothing fraudulent has taken place during the delivery.
Spot checks at motor fuel locations are conducted to confirm accurate price signs are posted and dispensing equipment is marked with the correct brand and octane value. Octane tests are conducted on site to ensure the proper octane is being dispensed and that lower and higher octane fuels have not been mixed.
During a recent inspection, the Division of Standards found all 69 randomly selected gas stations were within the acceptable limits of the advertised and posted octane levels. To see the full survey, search "Octane Survey 2008" on our website, www.mass.gov/standards.
Meat and Produce
Field officers also inspect prepackaged meat and produce to ensure the actual weight and price matches the marked cost on the package. Sometimes, food retailers will include the package weight in the item pricing. The Division of Standards encourages consumers and retailers to be mindful of what is being weighed and its cost. For example, in the annual survey of seafood sales, the Division issued four citations to retailers who overcharged customers at the seafood counter. Survey results can be found by searching "Seafood Survey" on our website.


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Millions of small businesses are filing their full-year taxes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for the first time. The National Federation of Independent Business has heard from our members about the difference the new law makes.
Fairfield Insulation and Drywall, a small Ohio-based company, was able to expand life insurance benefits for its employees last year. This year, it will increase its 401(k) match.
Greetings, Inc., a trucking and warehousing business in Iowa, opened its new warehouse expansion this past December. This grew the company’s warehouse space by nearly 10 percent.
Suburban Painting Co., out of Kentucky, recently hired four additional workers and bought a new truck to help it expand its services.
And GKM Auto Parts, out of Zanesville, Ohio, reinstated health-care benefits for its employees. The company had ended this benefit in 2016 after unaffordable double-digit premium hikes.
Stories like these can be found in nearly every community in every state. As of 2018, there are more than 30 million small businesses – representing 99.9 percent of all firms in the United States – and they employ nearly 60 million workers, nearly half of the U.S. workforce. According to NFIB research, three-quarters of these firms expected the tax cuts to benefit their business, and only three percent thought it would hurt. Such optimism was well-founded.
Consider the law’s cuts to individual income taxes, which lowered rates and raised thresholds for nearly every tax bracket. This helps the roughly 75 percent of small businesses that pay taxes as individuals. These companies also benefit from the higher threshold for the Alternative Minimum Tax, which now kicks in at a million dollars instead of $160,900. Finally, tens of thousands of small businesses benefit from the doubling of the estate tax exemption. Many family-owned firms can finally keep the business in the family.
Most importantly, the more than 90 percent of small businesses organized as pass-throughs can now claim a 20 percent deduction on business income, a concept we originated and helped secure. Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation estimates this deduction saved small businesses some $27 billion in 2018. Over 10 years, it will enable small businesses to put an estimated $414 billion back into their employees, their communities, and their futures. This is the largest tax cut for small businesses in history.
These victories explain why small businesses entered 2019 with 45-year records for job openings, hiring plans, pay raises, profit growth, and inventory investment. Moreover, in February, small business job creation hit an all-time high, with manufacturers and construction companies showing the strongest plans for further expansion.
But while the excitement is evident in this tax season, small businesses fear it could soon fade without action by Congress.
The law’s tax cuts for corporations are permanent. Its individual tax cuts and the small business deduction are not. These crucial provisions will now disappear in less than seven years. For NFIB members, most of whom are already planning well into the future, this deadline is fast approaching.
The President’s Council of Economic Advisers recommends that Congress make permanent all of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s expiring provisions. This is a sound policy that would give small businesses greater confidence to make decisions with long-term consequences. Conversely, every year that Congress fails to act will cause small business uncertainty to grow, with potentially disastrous results.
We caught a glimpse of this during the recent federal government shutdown, which saw the NFIB’s uncertainty index rise by nearly 10 percent in January. This contributed to a noticeable decline in reports of pay raises the following month. The lesson for lawmakers should be clear: When small businesses worry, workers and communities suffer.
This tax season is a time for celebration for millions of small business owners and their employees. For Congress, it should be a time for action. A bipartisan group of Representatives has already introduced a bill – the Main Street Tax Certainty Act – to make the tax cuts permanent. They know that supporting small business is a bipartisan cause and the benefits can be felt in both red and blue states.
Congress should advance this bipartisan bill as soon as possible. The longer lawmakers delay, the more difficult it will be for small businesses to contribute to the economy and their communities – even though they want to do even more.
Ms. Duggan is president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business.


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Locating close to customers often is more important than tax and financial incentives in choosing distribution facilities, shippers told The Journal of Commerce Inland Ports conference in Chicago this week.
The Apparel Group chose Dallas as the site for its main import distribution center because of its central location of the country. Dallas offers rail and highway connectivity, and the airport is a foreign trade zone site, said Brad Campbell, director of transportation and logistics.
Commentary: The Lure of Inland Ports
Although tax incentives were part of the attraction, the main focus is to get shipments to customers on time, Campbell said. The Apparel Group can pay a charge-back of as much as 10 percent of the invoice if a shipment is a day late, Campbell said.
As fuel costs rise, Hallmark Cards has considered near-shoring in countries like Mexico for the paper products, ornaments and figurines that it imports. However, most of Hallmark’s imports are still sourced in Asia, said Larry Faitz, international transportation manager.
According to Faitz, Kansas City offers attractive labor costs and is a growing rail logistics hub. The inland port status is convenient for receiving imports from Asia, and Kansas City’s central location helps to reduce inventory carrying costs for outbound shipments to stores, he said.
The Scoular Company exports grain products in containers from transload facilities in the Chicago area, Minnesota and Southern California. “We are a back-haul shipper,” said Doug Grennan, senior manager of the international container trade group.
One of Scoular’s main objectives is the cost-effective repositioning of empty containers to its transload facilities, especially those in the Midwest where much of the nation’s grain is sourced, Grennan said. Grain exports are more price-sensitive than transit-time sensitive.
Scoular, therefore, transloads more than 50 percent of its grain shipments in the Chicago area where import distribution centers generally offer an adequate supply of empty containers.
If rail rates for shipping grain in hopper cars to the West Coast were more attractive, and cost-effective transload facilities were established in Southern California, it would be the “Holy Grain” for containerized grain exports because the region always has a surplus of empty containers, Grennan said.
--Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at email@example.com.


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- Arby's latest creation is a "megetable" called the "Marrot," a carrot made of meat that looks and tastes just like the orange vegetable.
- Arby's says it boasts more than 30 grams of protein and more than 70% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A.
- INSIDER had a chance to taste the Marrot ahead of its public reveal, and it was shockingly reminiscent of a carrot in both taste and appearance.
- Neville Craw, Arby's brand executive chef, hinted to INSIDER that the Marrot could roll out in stores across the country.
- Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.
From venison, elk, and duck to sandwiches with layers upon layers of meat and curly fries stacked on top, Arby's has offered some particularly unique products in the past.
Now the sandwich chain is flipping the vegan "meat" trend on its head, leaning into its "We have the meats" slogan and creating its most bizarre concoction yet: the "megetable," a vegetable made out of meat.
And Arby's new megetable, the "Marrot," is exactly what it sounds like: a meat-based carrot that not only tastes like the orange vegetable but has much of its nutritional value.
Read more: PETA says Arby's 'megetable' — a carrot made of turkey that takes a jab at vegan 'meat' — shows the company is stuck in 'the Stone Age'
Conceptualized by Neville Craw, Arby's brand executive chef, and his sous-chef Thomas Kippelen, the Marrot boasts more than 30 grams of protein and more than 70% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A.
INSIDER had a chance to taste the Marrot ahead of its public reveal, and it was shockingly reminiscent of a carrot in both taste and appearance. The turkey-based pseudo-vegetable had a sweet maple taste with earthy, herb-filled undertones. The only major difference between the Marrot and a traditional carrot was the crunch of the vegetable. Instead, Arby's megetable had a crisp, glazed coating with the tender interior of a well-prepared turkey breast.
Read more: 12 over-the-top sandwiches from fast-food chains
I surprised myself by finishing the whole Marrot while sitting and chatting with Craw and Kippelen about the complicated, weeks-long process of creating the admittedly unorthodox product. Craw told INSIDER that Arby's playful decision to create the megetable was all about embracing what the restaurant does best.
"Creating the Marrot was really about staying true to our brand more than anything else," Craw said. "We really focus on how to connect with our customers and how to bring the best thing to the table."
As other brands embrace vegan "meat" by partnering with companies like Impossible Foods, Arby's has promised to never, under any circumstances, offer substitutes for real meat.
Read more: The best dessert to order at 17 of America's most popular chain restaurants
"Arby's is not one of the restaurant companies interested in working with Impossible Foods," Arby's said in a statement this May. "The chances we will bring plant-based menu items to our restaurants, now or in the future, are absolutely impossible."
And now that Arby's has created the Marrot, it appears the brand is moving in the opposite direction of many of its competitors.
Craw said the Marrot was designed to be simple to make at home or on a large scale, adding that he feels "pretty good" about the chance of megetables showing up at Arby's franchises around the country.
"No promises," Craw said. "But it's starting to look like it could be heading in that direction."
- Read more:
- You can get paid $10,000 to be a 'chief grilling officer' and travel across America and eat the best BBQ ribs in the country
- A video of a viral garlic-peeling hack is blowing everyone's mind — and even Chrissy Teigen is impressed
- People are outraged after someone said they swapped the labels on meat and vegetarian products at a supermarket for a joke
- Kraft is selling 'Salad Frosting' — ranch dressing in a pouch — that's meant to trick kids into eating more healthily, but it's not all that good for you


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PC is still the Platform of Choice for Gaming
Out of 14.000 interviewed Europeans, 72% indicated to play computer games. 60% of these said to primarily play games on their PC, while a third play their games on a console. Gaming on mobile phones is also on the rise, with 27% of the interviewed gamers indicating they also regularly play on their mobile device.
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Electronics, especially smartphones, depreciate very fast. In many cases, special deals and promotions start to pop up just a few weeks after launch. After a few months, even expensive device can become quite affordable. After a year, many phones are simply dirt cheap. The ZTE ZMAX 2 Android phone certainly is – the handset is now on sale for just fifty bucks without contract. To be more precise, the ZTE ZMAX 2 currently costs $49.99 and is available on eBay and at Best Buy. It’s a pretty generous price cut considering that the phone was launched with a $149.99 price tag.
Remember when few days ago we reported on HTC adding Camellia Red and Topaz Gold to the HTC 10’s US lineup? Hot on the heels, Samsung decided to enliven the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge US line just as well by offering a sophisticated pink gold model of its recent flagship. So far the Pink Gold version of the Galaxy S7 was known only on the international market, today it finally hits the States having Best Buy retail stores for its exclusive distributor.
If you happen to look for a really lucrative deal for the HTC 10, then the latest BestBuy’s offer should draw your attention. Within its ‘Cyber Monday in July’ promo the big retailer is now selling the phone significantly discounted. This means that the HTC 10 may be yours for less than $50 if you have nothing against carrier’s commitment. Those who want to take advantage of the deal need to make a really quick purchase decision as the promotion expires today after midnight.
The launch of any flagship smartphone is a pretty exciting event for every smart technology enthusiast, but some phones are more anticipated than others. That’s the case with the Moto Z Droid which went official last month at Lenovo Tech World event. The manufacturer kept the release date a secret, but luckily, this time we didn’t have to wait long. Exactly six weeks after the phone was introduced to the world, it’s ready to hit the market. Verizon just kicked off pre-orders for the Moto Z Droid, but it might be a good idea to explore other options as Best Buy has a better deal for you.
There are plenty of deals on Android smartphones, so a discount, even a significant one, is nothing unusual. However, when it comes to iPhones, interesting promotions are few and far between. That said, if you are in the market for the iPhone 6S, you may be in luck. Best Buy is currently selling the device at a lower price and it’s not just a symbolic price cut. The retailer is offering Sprint iPhone 6S for no more than a buck.
Looking for a really lucrative deal on Apple Watch? If you answerd “yes” to the question, right now you got an unexceptional opportunity to get one and save some money thanks to Best Buy retail store. The big electronics retailer has just rolled out a new weekend promo, slashing prices of Apple’s smartwatches and iPads Mini 2 and Pro 12.9-inch noticeably. The discount is available online and lasts through Monday.
Samsung made its fans extremely happy by launching the Galaxy S7 almost immediately after announcement. LG wasn’t that quick, but the wait for the company’s latest flagship is slowly coming to an end. In fact, you can already pre-order the LG G5 from Best Buy to make sure you will be one of the first people to get your hands on the phone. As expected, LG G5 pre-sale began earlier today and the retailer is offering the device priced at only $99.99.
Since the latest updates to the Motorola’s Moto X and G lines have been present on the market for several months now, it’s the highest time for their predecessor to get a significant price cut. Usually sold for something round $299 the 2nd gen Moto X is now within your reach considerably cheaper via Best Buy, a similar Amazon’s offer covers the 2nd gen Moto G whose price has also been significantly discounted.
Get a free TV if you buy the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge + or Note 5 on contract with Verizon, AT&T or Sprint
To catch our attention during Black Friday shopping holiday Sprint announced a special promo within which they added a free TV set with a purchase of the Galaxy S4. Those of you who didn’t manage to take advantage of the offer will surely be glad to know that a similar deal is still available at Best Buy. What’s more expect for Sprint the said promo has been expanded to Verizon and AT&T. Right now if you buy one of the Galaxy S6 line phones or the Note 5, you will receive a bonus in the form of a TV set.
Best Buy offers the deepest price cuts on Apple products; iPads on sale with $125 discount plus iPhones prices slashed by $100
Black Friday brought a handful of pretty decent discounts on Apple products but as soon as the day was over, prices went up to their regular level leaving many potential buyers very unhappy. Those who are in the market for the Apple Watch had yesterday a reason to smile, since Best Buy discounted the device significantly. It appears that it was just the beginning. Starting today, the retailer offers the deepest price cuts on Apple products – iPads are on sale with a $125 discount and iPhones prices were slashed by $100.
During holiday shopping season, smart tech market is teeming with promotions. However, you have to look very hard to find a deal on an Apple device and even if you do come across one, the price cut is usually not very significant. That’s how things are with Apple. Black Friday brought a pretty generous discount on the Apple Watch but like other deals that day, it was short-lived so many users were unable to buy the wearable. If you missed the opportunity to get the “iWatch” at a lower price, you now have another chance to do so as Best Buy undercut Amazon and Apple stores and offers the device with a $100 discount.
BestBuy Black Friday deals offer gift cards on Samsung Galaxy phones, Apple iPhones and discounts on Apple Watch
When it comes to shopping on a day like Black Friday it’s best to prepare yourself as much as possible, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. Retailers are well aware of that and announce their deals in advance to make it easier for customers to plan their day. We already know what to expect from Costco, Sam’s Club or Target. Today it’s time for Best Buy to reveal its Black Friday deals. The retailer will be offering, among others, gift cards on flagship Samsung Galaxy phones and Apple iPhones as well as discounts on Apple Watch.
Black Friday is still three weeks away but it doesn’t mean that you have to wait until November 27th to buy electronics at discounted prices. The biggest retailers in the US started dropping prices last Sunday (November 1st) and most likely will be offering special deals until Black Friday and even longer. For instance, Best Buy will host a pre-Black Friday ‘Special Holiday Shopping Event’ this Saturday, November 7th.
Keeping in line with its agenda Motorola made available nationwide the new Moto X Pure Edition smartphone via Best Buy shops. Distributed by one of the biggest electronics chain stores in the US, the phone is offered in variety of finish, color options, storage space and price range. Sold unlocked, the update for the last year’s Moto X, is promised to be compatible with all major US carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, US Cellular, Verizon and Sprint, which is quite surprising as the three last carriers runs on CDMA network instead of the GSM.
The Pebble’s Kickstarter campaign backers were the very first who got the opportunity to put their hands on the company’s newest smartwatch, the Pebble Time. Right now the wearable gadget becomes available for a wider audience having Best Buy for its exclusive distributor. Pre-sale on the smartwatch kick off today and the giant retailer is offering the device nationwide dressed in white, black and red color configurations.
While many manufacturers typically start discounting their new phones a few months or even weeks after the launch, Apple is rather reluctant to offer generous deals on its smartphones. That’s why we are grateful for any promotion that allows to grab an iPhone at a cheaper price. If you are in the market for a new iPhone, Best Buy has a pretty good promotion for you right now. The retailer offers the iPhone 6 for $1 on contract if you trade in your old iPhone 5.
One of the most fervently awaited flagship smartphones for 2015, the LG G4, is just around the corner and Best Buy store has already started accepting preorders on the phone. The retailer offers AT&T, Verizon and Sprint variants of the handset promising its customers to receive the phone the same day as it hits the carrier stores. What’s more to make the offer even more tempting Best Buy is additionally giving away special gift cards, each worth $100.
Don’t you just love it when great phones get discounted? We know you do. Very few people could ignore a good price cut especially if it’s a premium device that is offered for less than usual. The devices in question are the T-Mobile version of the Nexus 6 that just got $100 cheaper and the HTC One M8 which is currently on sale for $299 without contract.
Only a couple of days ago Amazon and Best Buy launched a great deal aimed at those who wanted to grab the Moto 360 and save some money in the process. However, it appears that it’s not the only promotion on Motorola’s smartwatch – Best Buy has another interesting deal for you. Now you can get the Moto 360 $100 cheaper when you buy any Android phone.
Finally the day has arrived and the Apple Watch is almost ready for sale. “Almost” is a key word here, since you can only pre-order the device today and there is no telling how long you will have to wait for it. There are, however, other amazing smartwatches out there, for example the Moto 360 running the latest Android Wear OS. And great news is that as the Apple Watch goes up for pre-order, the Moto 360 prices go down.


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food safety | sanitary and phytosanitary standards
South Korea and the US have agreed to establish a standing committee on sanitary standards for agricultural and food products, which will make it easier for the US to ask for expanded trade of genetically modified crops. However, negotiations on pharmaceuticals have hit a snag, with neither side willing to budge.
Panama could reach a free trade deal with the United States by the end of this year, despite lingering differences over US food safety, a senior negotiator said on Tuesday.
Letter from the US Biotechnology Industry Organisation to the US Trade Representative on intellectual property, GM labelling, biosafety, GM contamination and other issues BIO wants addressed under the US-Korea FTA talks.
Letter from the US Biotechnology Industry Organisation to the US Trade Representative on intellectual property, GM labelling, biosafety, GM contamination and other issues BIO wants addressed under the US-Malaysia FTA talks.
Seoul and Washington have failed to narrow their differences on some 60 percent of items on the agenda at their first round of free-trade talks in Washington. The talks started Monday.
South Korea and the United States ended the third day of their first round of talks over a free trade accord Wednesday, with both remaining far apart over rice and quarantine issues, Seoul’s chief negotiator said.
The United States is pressing Peru to remove technical barriers to US agricultural products concerning food safety before the two countries sign a bilateral free trade deal, a senior US lawmaker said on Monday.
Panamanian unions and civilian groups Friday warned they would continue pressuring the government in order to hamper signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US and support a similar pact with Chile.
The resignation Wednesday of a key minister at Panama-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks added more fuel to the national atmosphere, which looks like it’s heading for a revival of the union movement.
Panama’s agriculture minister resigned on Tuesday, alleging that a proposed free trade deal with the United States could expose the country to bird flu, foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease.
Thailand is unlikely to gain much benefit from service sector liberalisation in a free trade area (FTA) agreement with the United States, a Thai trade negotiator says as the talks reach their halfway point.
Press release from NZ government outlining key features of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore.
Fruit exporters seeking to enjoy tariff-free access to China must ensure that their products come from orchards certified by local authorities, starting on May 1.
Australia is fortunate to be one of few countries to remain free of BSE, the degenerative
brain disease in cattle that causes the deadly variant CJD in people. But the Free Trade
Agreement recently signed with the United States may change this.
While the main
US goal on agriculture in many FTA
negotiations often is to secure non-SPS
related concessions such as lower tariffs,
the foreign partners often see the FTA as
an opportunity to resolve outstanding
SPS issues with the US as well as seek
accelerated new market access to the US
for their animal and plant products.
Australia has always enjoyed rigorous national food standards that were applied equally to both domestically produced and imported food. The capacity to maintain and apply these standards, however, is now being undermined by international trade agreements and procedures for settling trade disputes with a result that challenges to public health are being significantly increased.
Sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) are receiving increasing attention within the framework of international trade. SPS measures are meant to ensure that imports do not undermine national health and safety.


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Phoenix Kothari Footwear Ltd is promoted by Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd and Taiwan-based Evervan Group
Chennai: A footwear manufacturing facility set up by JR One Footwear Pvt Ltd in Tamil Nadu is expected to commence production soon, the company said on Wednesday.
JR One Footwear Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between Phoenix Kothari Footwear Ltd and Shoetown Footwear Co to manufacture the ‘Crocs’ brand’s range of footwear in Perambalur district, about 250 km south of Chennai.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin laid the foundation stone for the factory in 2022.
Phoenix Kothari Footwear Ltd is promoted by Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd and Taiwan-based Evervan Group.
“The (Tamil Nadu) factory has been built in a record time of one year. This stands as a testament to the dedication and efficiency of the Phoenix Kothari Footwear team and its commitment,” said company Chairman J Rafiq Ahmed, in a company statement.
Guidance Tamil Nadu, the nodal agency set up by the government to promote investments in the state, signed a memorandum of understanding with Phoenix Kothari Footwear in August 2022, which committed investments of Rs 1,700 crore.
Spread across 50 acres of land in Perambalur, the manufacturing unit is expected to generate 4,000 jobs in and around the region.
“The Perambalur Footwear cluster is expected to provide significant job opportunities for women. This is also expected to give a big push to the social development goals of the state,” Ahmed added.


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Investors in SABMiller, the world's largest brewer, were left with a bad aftertaste on Thursday.
The firm's shares dropped in London after Belgian rival InBev offered to buy Anheuser-Busch for $46.3 billion, dispelling hopes that it might buy
A deal between InBev and
Shares in SABMiller fell 2.6%, or 32 pence (62 cents), to 12.06 pounds ($23.40), on Thursday afternoon in London, while shares in InBev rose 2.6%, to 48.53 euros ($78.81), in Paris.
The announced deal could undermine SABMiller's business in the United States and in South America. The firm's operations in Colombia and Peru will be particularly vulnerable once InBev starts consolidating its business there.
SABMiller, the London-based maker of Miller Lite, Peroni and Pilsner Urquell beers, has said that most of its worldwide operations are in the high-growth, developing economy markets of Latin America, Asia and Africa.
"SABMiller will see tougher competition in the overall Pan-American market," Paul Hofman, an analyst with CA Cheuvreux, told Forbes.com.
"I don't believe anyone will bid for SABMiller in the short-term," the analyst added, airing a widespread view in the market.
SABMiller has been playing its own version of the consolidation game recently. It bought Dutch brewer Grolsch last February, and won approval last week to combine its American operations with


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"After browsing around the gaming area at Target, I've spotted one of their reservation cards for Gran Turismo 5, indicating a March 30th release. Although there have been reports of the game being delayed until Autumn of this year, this could be putting those rumors to rest."
On Target's official website, they have a release date for June 29th of this year. I've also missed the 'Game release date subject to change.' bit on the bottom. I suppose the game really is releasing this Autumn... :-(


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Speaking of Café Gratitude, the restaurant’s former S.F. location (2400 Harrison at 20th, across from Flour + Water) is becoming the second outpost of The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen right around the new year. Co-owner Heidi Gibson reports that health and building inspections are done, and she expects to be open by the end of the first week of January. They’ve spent the last six months remodeling the space, adding new walnut cabinetry and shelving behind the bar. And the deal will be similar to the flagship South Park location, with a menu of signature grilled cheeses with various fillings — like the Foghorn Leghorn (creamy havarti, Point Reyes blue cheese, Zoe’s Roasted Chicken, arugula, dill-dijon mustard on whole wheat) and the Jalapeno Popper (local chèvre, Monterey jack, applewood-smoked bacon, apricot-jalapeño relish on levain). But the new spot will also have De La Paz Coffee as well as four wines and six beers on tap. Stay tuned for an exact opening date as soon as we learn it. Update: Gibson clarifies that they’re going to start with breakfast and lunch only, and add dinner service a few weeks in, by February. [Earlier]
The Piglet sandwich, with Tillamook sharp cheddar, cured ham, apple mustard, and rosemary butter.


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Gluten-free festive bake-off: Quality vs nutrition
Science papers and R&D investments are piling high in the gluten-free arena as the trend continues to balloon across industry but where is the money being pumped into?
There are a number of hurdles to jump when developing gluten-free breads, cakes or snacks but two dominant challenges are achieving good quality and high nutrition.
Both of these often work alongside one another and have therefore been reviewed and researched simultaneously in many cases.
Let the bake-off commence…
‘No single ingredient for boosting gluten-free quality’
A scientific review published in the European Food Research and Technology Journal concluded: “A customer-satisfying structure, a high volume and a good taste can only be reached by a composition of replacers”.
The biggest industry challenge will be to discover the interaction of each functional additive with basic ingredients, the review said.
‘Calcium salts stable with addition of inulin’
Research published in the journal of European Food Research and Technology found that calcium content in gluten-free can be upped by as much as seven times.
It found that calcium carbonate was the most effective combined with inulin, with calcium content rising from 0.15 mg/g to 10.85.
“Calcium fortification of such products could increase the calcium content in the celiac patients’ diet, allowing them to obtain the amount of calcium they need to prophylactic or therapeutic use,” the researchers said.
‘Buckwheat flour improves texture’
A study published in the journal Food Hydrocolloids showed that the inclusion of up to 40% of buckwheat flour in formulations had a favorable impact on the leavening characteristics of gluten-free breads.
“The improvements in dough development due to the incorporation of dehulled buckwheat flour can be attributed to an increased viscosity, due to its high dietary fiber content, to the swelling and gelling properties of the buckwheat starch and to the emulsion-forming and stabilizing properties of the globulin protein fraction,” the researchers said.
The study noted that buckwheat also worked to improve the nutritional content of the bread.
‘Lupin cereal plugs health’
A new lupin cereal product was developed in Australia following extensive research from food and technology scientists at Curtin University.
The cereal is gluten-free, high in protein and low in fat and the developers claim it could tackle broad health issues.
The product is not the first on the market but the lead professor Vijay Jayasena told BakeryandSnacks.com that the new product had a higher lupin content at 30%.
“To really reap the full health benefits, a food product should contain at least 20% of lupin,” he said.
‘Rice bran shows potential to improve sensory acceptance and shelf-life’
Published in the Journal of Cereal Science, researchers found that adding rice bran to a rice flour-based gluten-free recipe could improve the sensory acceptance and shelf-life.
The study “clearly demonstrates” the potential of rice bran to enhance the quality of gluten-free breads, the researchers said.
“These results prove that addition of rice bran not only enhances the physicochemical and nutritional profile of the final gluten-free breads, it was also preferred by the panelists over the control bread,” they added.
‘Fruit flours inject fiber into gluten-free’
On-going research conducted by scientists in Ireland has found that apple and orange fruit flours made from the by-product of juice and cider production are highly nutritious.
The senior research officer on the project, Eimear Gallagher, told BakeryandSnacks.com: “These by-product flours are high in dietary fiber.”
She said that further nutritional studies are underway, but it is anticipated that findings will show the flours to be high in antioxidants too.
‘Processing temperatures are as important as ingredients to ensure high quality’
UK research institute Campden BRI told this site at the trade show IBA 2012 that the processing of breads, particularly the baking temperature, is almost as important as selecting the right ingredients for gluten-free breads.
The research institute is evaluating different processing to manage end quality of gluten-free breads.
“We’re looking at more gentle processes such that the bread will hold together,” Charles Speirs, baking science manager at Campden said.
‘Sprouted soybean paste creates high protein and low carb baked goods’
A Hungarian start-up firm Fitorex has a patented sprouted soybean paste that ensures gluten-free baked products that are high protein yet low in carbohydrate content.
Lidia Szabo, sales and marketing manager for the product ‘Yaso’, said the high nutritional content, combined with a low carbohydrate content positions it well to special diets such as diabetics or weight loss management as well as celiac consumers.
‘Chickpea flour ensures good baking and sensory properties’
A study published in the Journal of Cereal Science concluded that chickpea flour has the best potential for replacing soya protein in gluten-free formulations.
“Chickpea bread exhibited the best physic-chemical characteristics and, in general, good sensory behavior, indicating that it could be a promising alternative to soya protein,” the researchers wrote.
The flour also ensured a soft crumb.
‘Inulin has a prebiotic function in gluten-free’
A study published in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers found that inulin can work in gluten-free bakery providing the water binding properties are stabilized.
The water binding properties of inulin lead to changes in dough properties but this can be offset by careful recipe selection.
“In the design phase of gluten-free products with added inulin it is then especially important to choose a preparation with appropriate degree of polymerization (DP) and properly adjust amounts of water used in the recipe,” the researchers said.
‘Potato protein isolates create favorable color, shape and shelf-life’
Research conducted by Dutch ingredients firm Solanic finds that potato protein isolates have the potential to address some manufacturing issues with gluten-free bread.
Paul Hard, manager for gluten-free at Solanic, said: “It [the protein] gives a very fine cell distribution in the bread crumb and looks much more like a wheat bread.”
He said it also ensured a 7-day shelf-life and produced better color and shape.


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The job site Monster.com has recently announced its database has been breached, but the number of those affected is still unspecified. The site has however admited that the breachers accessed job seekers’ names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, log-in names and passwords.
“Immediately upon learning about this, Monster initiated an investigation and took corrective steps,” the company said in its statement quoted by SecurityFocus. “It is important to know the company continually monitors for any illicit use of information in our database, and so far, we have not detected the misuse of this information.
According to SecurityFocus, the Web site, run by New York-based Monster Worldwide, released very limited details on the breach. The however made a point in explaining that the intrusion did not compromise any Social Security numbers or personal financial details, as the company does not generally collect them. The Monster.com’s government client, USAJobs.com, has also been affected by this breach and immediatelly posted a notice.
This is not the first breach affecting the job seeking site. In August 2007 the company released information about a then discovered and terminated breach that affected 1.3 million users. Let’s hope the numbers are lower this time and that they’ll take better care for their database security in the future.
Portable storage device applications and endpoint security solution provider CoSoSys has just risen the red flag regarding Netbooks. As they explain, although treandy gift and excellent PC replacement for all offices, netbooks embed serious threats to corporate and individual security. While their seamless connectivity and increasingly large solid state disks (SSD) or traditional HDD capacities can help everyone of us increase productivity while considerably decreasing the weight we carry around, they are also the perfect means for both intentional and unintentional data breaches.
“Corporate IT departments needs to consider Netbooks as a serious issue when it comes to Endpoint Security and they are advised to take control over them as they enter their networks rather than waiting for the first data breaches to happen. Enforcing Endpoint Security policies with Endpoint Protector allows IT administrators to fully control all ports and data transfers from endpoints, including Netbooks, to any other portable device such as USB Flash Drives or External HDDs to prevent data loss” said Roman Foeckl, CoSoSys CEO.
While the CD or DVD drive is no longer a threat, netbooks come with almost immediate access to any data through wireless networks, USB Ports, SD Card readers and other ports, making it extremely easy for confidential details to be transferred in and out of unsecured networks. And if you run a search through our blog to see how many laptops have been lost, stolen and misplaced in the past, we have to also wonder about how much easier it is to steal or lose a much smaller version.
So take this warning seriously and stay trendy and safe at the same time!
Apart from the economic downturn, the year 2008 brought another critical issue to US companies: a nearly 50% increase in data breaches, leading them to lose considerably more sensitive data. According to an Identity Theft Resources Center (ITRC) study quoted by the Register, last year 35 million data records were exposed in 656 admitted incidents, amounting to a 47% increase compared to the 446 data loss incidents reported in 2007.
ITRC also states that about 40% of security breaches are never reported, thus the true number of exposed confidential records is most likely to be far greater than the study suggests.
Computer malware, hacking, and insider theft accounted for 29.6 per cent of recorded breaches, where the root cause of the attack is known. One in six breaches (15.7 per cent) were blamed to insider theft, a figure that’s more then doubled between 2007 and 2008.
The good news is that as education regarding data loss prevention reached more companies, the number of incidents caused by human errors has decreased. But that is a very small light in a highly untrained corporate world, where most reported data breaches involved data unprotected by either encryption or the simplest password protection. Let’s hope for a better protected 2009!
Fashionably late, as the who’s who laws require, electronic payment services firm RBS WorldPay has admitted a breach that exposed 1.5 million payroll and gift card holders exposed to fraud and identity theft. The breach was caused by a group of hackers finding their way to the RBS network and accessing about 1.1 million social security records, along with other private details, reports The Register.
RBS disclosed the breach to law enforcement and regulators on November 10, but waited untill December 23rd to also let those affected know their private data was at risk. Great Christmas gift idea! Yet the company pledges strong commitment to prevent any fraud or identity theft attempts and offers 12 months complimentary membership to a credit monitoring service toall those whose personal information has been exposed by the hackers. Does this mean they will also take a good look at everything going on in their customer’s accounts between November 10 and December 23? 100 payroll cards have already been misused as a result of the breach, but have been deactivated since. We hope the toll does not go up.
I’d like to wish you all a happy, sucessful and above all safe 2009! Hope you’ve had and are still having an amazing holiday and that the new year will bring us all everything we wish for! Happy New Year!


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In Britain, Cadbury Schweppes said revenues increased 5% for the year to 31 December, boosted by a good recovery in chocolate following last year's product recall.
Revenues in the second half of the year also benefited from the relaunch of Wispa in October and its drum-playing gorilla advertising campaign for Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury added.
The demerger of its confectionery business and US soft drinks division was continuing, with completion expected in the second-quarter of the year.
Cadbury Schweppes also confirmed deputy chairman Roger Carr would replace Sir John Sunderland as chairman of Cadbury. Wayne Saunders will chair the US soft drinks business Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
“Although the economic outlook for 2008 remains uncertain, we are encouraged by the good trading momentum we have seen in the new year and our continued progress on cost reduction initiatives,” said CEO Todd Stitzer. “We expect meaningful margin progression in 2008.”


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Bathroom suite and fittings manufacturer Lecico has made two additions to its senior management team.
Peter Glanville has been appointed as head of supply chain and operations, while Kate Hirst has been promoted to sales director.
Glanville will be responsible for ensuring the company remains at the forefront of customer service and delivery.
He joins having had experience across a wide range of senior roles within logistics, supply chain and operations both globally and in the UK.
Hirst will be responsible for the company’s existing relationships within merchant and distribution channels.
During her time at Lecico, she has held numerous roles within sales, customer service and product development.
Managing director of Lecico Antony Thompson commented: “The appointments of Kate and Peter confirm our seriousness about growing our position in the UK bathroom market.
“We will continue to invest in areas where we see potential to grow our revenues and profit, ensuring we support the requirements of our expanding customer base.
“Both Peter and Kate are ambitious to support the growth plan and bring significant experience to their new roles.”
Lecico’s senior management team has undergone significant changes recently, with Antony Thompson and Bryan Ackers appointed in the summer as managing director and finance director, respectively.


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Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) reintroduced the prospect of a Primary Production and Processing Standard (PPPS) for so-called high-risk horticulture in May this year with an Information paper calling for comment on scope and approach. This follows their 2014 abandonment of an earlier proposal to introduce a standard across all horticulture. Such standards exist for most types of primary food production. The foodborne illness incidents involving rockmelons and vegetables (and imported frozen berry fruit and pomegranate) in recent years have led FSANZ to reconsider an on-farm standard but just for so-called high-risk horticulture products at this stage. PMA A-NZ responded to the Information paper on behalf of members.
FSANZ has recently communicated to stakeholders with
(89-19) that summarises the plan to undertake risk and other assessments and consultation that may result in the development of a new on-farm standard. PMA A-NZ will engage with members including the Fresh Salad Producers Group and food safety stakeholders in order to gather opinions for the public consultation process, which FSANZ has indicated will commence in late October.


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Blog: Wal-Mart's Mexican operations again in spotlight
Dean Best | 20 December 2012
Wal-Mart's operations in Mexico have again made headlines this week, with fresh allegations of bribery by the retailer's officials.
The US retail giant's business in the country have been under scrutiny since claims were made in April and, this week, The New York Times, which broke the initial allegations, published specific details.
In one instance, executives for Wal-Mart's Mexican business, the newspaper claimed, tried to bribe local planning officials to ease regulations prohibiting development near a region containing ancient pyramids.
The alleged bribe apparently paid off, The New York Times said, and a map outlining where developers could build was changed, allowing a Wal-Mart store to open in Christmas 2004.
Back in April, when the newspaper published its initial claims, it said Wal-Mart had learnt of the claims in 2006, including this particular alleged bribe, and launched an investigation. However, Wal-Mart closed the probe down.
The New York Times' fresh report, published on Tuesday, was part of what the newspaper said was its move to "pick up on where Wal-Mart's internal investigation was cut off".
The newspaper said it had travelled across Mexico, gathered documents on Wal-Mart's permits and interviewed government officials and the retailer's employees, including a former lawyer that had alerted the company in 2006.
"The Times's examination reveals that Wal-Mart de Mexico was not the reluctant victim of a corrupt culture that insisted on bribes as the cost of doing business. Nor did it pay bribes merely to speed up routine approvals. Rather, Wal-Mart de Mexico was an aggressive and creative corrupter, offering large payoffs to get what the law otherwise prohibited," the newspaper said.
Wal-Mart said the claims in the article formed part of an investigation it started "more than a year ago".
A spokesperson said: "At this point, the investigation is still ongoing and we have not yet reached final conclusions. A thorough and independent investigation will take time to complete. We wish we could say more but we will not jeopardise the integrity of the investigation."
He said Wal-Mart was "continuing to cooperate with the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission on this matter".
The spokesperson added: "While the investigation is ongoing, we have not waited to act. Over the past 20 months, we have made significant improvements to our compliance programs around the world and have taken a number of specific, concrete actions with respect to our processes, procedures and people."
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Singapore-based agribusiness giant Wilmar International is to publish more information on how it sources its palm oil, a move welcomed by environmentalists....
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Published on January 18, 2017 at 10:42 am
Bacup Post Office will be modernised and is set for longer opening hours as part of The Post Office’s new investment scheme.
The Post Office will open a newly modernised “main” Post Office at 5 Burnley Road, Bacup, OL13 8AA.
- Opening hours increased to 46 hours a week
- Convenient, quick service, new modern layout
- Banking services for personal customers and small businesses
- Bill payment, banking, benefits and travel money
- Postage, home shopping returns, Local Collect
- Financial Services Advice
The service, which will launch at 1pm on Monday 30 January, will be provided from four serving positions, one modern screened, two open plan and a Post Office serving point for use at the retail counter, which is available during shop opening hours offering selected services.


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Watch out GoPro, this tennis ball-sized camera is coming for ya.
609 Recent Stories
The consumer version of Oculus Rift, the most anticipated hardware in virtual reality, has finally been revealed.
The Oculus Rift storytelling team has unveiled an new virtual reality experience starring a hedgehog named Henry.
The Oculus Rift is coming, but, according to one of the company's co-founders, you should expect to pay handsomely for it.
The New York Times recently collaborated with a virtual reality filmmaker to visually immerse readers in New York City.
A new virtual reality experience puts you in the middle of the 2012 Trayvon Martin shooting, and the effect is disturbingly real.
Virtual reality cycling workouts may be about to become a reality thanks to this clever device that uses your existing bike.
Car companies Toyota and Chrysler are using the Oculus Rift to pull drivers closer the driving experience.
In a sea of booths and tethered smartphones at this week's Game Developers Conferences (GDC) in San Francisco, virtual reality had another “moment."
A gaming tool that finally delivers a real workout without sacrificing fun? This virtual reality accessory might be it.
After months of speculation, more details about the mysterious augmented reality and virtual reality company Magic Leap have finally trickled out.
Update: An LG spokesperson told Mashable that the company does not intend to sell the VR for G3 headset separately -- it will only be available to new G3 buyers. LG now has its own virtual reality headset, similar to the Samsung Gear VR. Designed to ...
Virtual reality came of age at CES 2015, with companies proving that VR is no longer a fad or gimmick -- it's about to become a very real part of our lives.
From the connected home to virtual reality, CES 2015 will be a showcase for some of the biggest trends in tech.
Following earlier reports that Samsung is working on a virtual-reality headset, a photo has surfaced that reportedly shows off what the device looks like.
Given Samsung's propensity to compete in virtually every conceivable product category, it's not surprising the company is working an Oculus Rift competitor.
With tech like Oculus, we may be nearing a new VR era. Yet the average consumer still can't picture the practical applications, much less stomach the cost.
As the director of the highest-grossing movie of all time -- the 3D technology-driven Avatar -- when James Cameron talks new film technology, Hollywood and Silicon Valley listen. That's why when Cameron responded to a question on Saturday about makin...


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If you don’t have a client in sports marketing, you’re probably gearing up to skip this article, right? That's a trap. Don’t. There’s more than meets the eye to Paul Kapustka and his Mobile Sports Report.
Journalists are leaving media brands every week. Read the fruits of 16 confidential interviews with journalists now working at tech brands or PR agencies, and five interviews with the executives who hired these journalists.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A week after a school shooting resulted in the deaths of three students and three adults at The Covenant School, Nashville is still mourning the lives that were lost on Monday, March 27.
With the grief still fresh, a few local businesses and residents are offering special sales and promotions that will give proceeds back to those affected by the tragedy.
The Happy Hour
The Happy Hour, a mental wellness studio located in Nashville, is holding a free community support group from 6 – 7 p.m. this Thursday. The session will be led by Tonia Dixon. To register, click here.
Livs Thread Co.
A Nashville-based custom embroidery clothing brand, is donating 100% of the profits from their “Nashville Strong Caps” toward the families with children who were impacted at The Covenant School. To purchase a cap, visit livsthread.com.
Bussin’ With The Boys
Bussin’ With The Boys, a podcast hosted by two former Tennessee Titans players Taylor Lewan and William Compton, announced that 100% of all net proceeds from merchandise sales will go toward the victims’ families. Click here to view all merchandise.
HangTN (Have a Nice Game)
This Nashville-based clothing supplier announced that 100% of all giveaway ticket sales will be donated to support the victims’ families through April 17. HangTN specializes in creating sporting goods inspired by Tennessee teams. The ticket will secure a spot in an giveaway for a vintage Oilers jacket.
In a post, the clothing brand also announced that 100% of all profits, including gift card purchases, will be donated to support the families. All orders $75 or above will have free shipping provided.
The Fund Recovery, a nonprofit that serves those seeking assistance with mental health or addiction issues, recently announced that all funds raised from their Charity Dinner and Concert will go toward those impacted by the school shooting.
“Our April 4th Charity Dinner and Concert will now benefit a dedicated fund for mental health services to be provided to those impacted by The Covenant School shooting,” said the organization.
Donations to the fund can be made here.
Caring for Covenant fundraiser
Immediately after the tragedy, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee established the Caring for Covenant Fund.
“All donations made to the Fund, minus credit card fees, will be directed to The Covenant School to support the healing of those affected by this tragedy,” said the foundation.
If you’re interested in making a donation to the Caring for Covenant fund, click here.


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The “definitive version” of Deus Ex: Human Revolution is coming to the Wii U, Square Enix has announced.
The Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut features GamePad touchscreen controls for hacking minigames and so forth, but the biggest change is to the game’s much-maligned boss battles.
New traps and devices hidden in boss rooms will allow them to be defeated without players needing to fire a shot, opening up new hacking and stealth strategies for each.
"We went through all the boss battles and said, 'let's just start from the beginning,'" executive game director Jean-Francois Dugas told Eurogamer.
"So that's exactly what we did."
"They have to die," he added. "But the fact is you're not forced to go full-frontal with them. You can just use some of the devices or tricks in the rooms to eventually kill them without having to spend your own bullets."
The Director’s Cut will also integrate the game’s Missing Link DLC, give players a more generous energy recharge that will allow more frequent use of augmentations, and provide access to developer commentaries and in-game guides.
“Refined game balance and combat, improved AI, and striking visual improvements which make this edition the best looking and most immersive Deus Ex experience available,” said Square Enix.
"It's more powerful on the Wii U. Even some of the graphics that were improved already on the 360 for The Missing Link, we were able to go a little bit farther with the Wii U, just because of the hardware. In terms of the shadows, which are smoothed out, it's much different than the Xbox version," said Dugas.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut for Wii U is set to release on May 7 according to Amazon.
Square Enix has remained tight-lipped on whether it would be coming to other platforms.


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Mopar previews accessories for new Jeep Wranglerby Justin King
Add-ons include lift kits, beadlock wheels, tailgate tables, LED off-road lights and rock rails.
Mopar has previewed a few of its new accessories that have been developed for the next-generation Jeep Wrangler, revealed today ahead of its expected debut in Los Angeles.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' parts division wasted no time building an extensive catalog for one of the most accessorized off-road vehicles on the market. Engineers have already spent more than 100,000 hours developing over 200 add-ons.
Notable additions include the first-ever roof rack and tailgate table, along with new graphics packages, tire covers, fuel doors and other cosmetic tweaks.
Naturally, the company has prepared factory lift kits, beadlock wheels, off-road bumpers, LED off-road lights and unique rock rails, among other Jeep Performance Parts.
FCA says 98 percent of all Wranglers are outfitted with at least one Mopar accessory.


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A car servicing business in Milton has made $9.5 million selling three of its properties.
The neighbouring properties of family-owned business, Toowong Milton Body Repairs, were snapped up by two different buyers within two weeks of hitting the market.
An international developer bought two of the inner-city buildings, while an adjoining private business purchased the other.
Toowong Milton Body Repairs owner Chris Manteit said he had worked on the Milton site for four decades, but it was time to relocate.
“We have operated from our Milton site for 40 years, successfully servicing the local and greater Brisbane areas,” he said.
“We will be sad to leave, though look to our future with excitement as we begin construction on our new purpose built facility. We believe this will strengthen our position in the market, and take our business to a new level.”
Hong Kong developers Golden Horse Group bought two of the buildings – 10 Crombie Street and 38 Cribb Street – for a combined $7.15 million. The developers are noted for building Icon Milton, a luxury 20-level apartment tower linked by sky bridges and a rooftop garden.
The third property at 9 Railway Terrace will continue to be used as parking space by its new owner who adjoins the site. It was bought for $2.35million.
The sales were negotiated by JLL’s national director Christian Sandstrom who said the properties sold in two weeks.
“We ran a four-month campaign, but they sold within two weeks of each other,” Mr Sandstrom said.
“The two sites sold together will likely be developed into a mixed use building combining retail and residential,” he said.
“The other is going to be kept as a parking site for now, but there’s the option for the new owners to redevelop in the future.”
Milton is 1.5 kilometres from the CBD and has an established residential population across low and high-density development.


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PUBG Mobile has announced that it will be introducing a map to battle royale that will be exclusive to the mobile version of the game. Called Livik, it is the same map that was known as ‘Secret Map’ in PUBG Mobile Beta. interestingly enough, it is currently still tagged as Secret Map in the beta, but that should change soon. The developers made the announcement via a tweet.
The new map will be much smaller than previous PUBG Maps, even smaller than Sanhok. In an interview, the developers said that the map is designed to offer a 15-minute game, which should make it ideal for working professionals or anyone else who may not have the time to play through the 30-40 minute match on maps like Erangel or Miramar. It also features only 50 players instead of the usual, which should result in shorter games with faster pacing as compared to the current set of maps.
The developers also revealed that the new map will feature a brunch of new weapons exclusive to the new map. This includes the P90 SMG that was initially limited to Team Death Match Arena Mode. There is also the MK12 burst-fire sniper rifle that should add a new tactical element to matches. Finally, the developers note that A majority of the weapons found in the game will now be able to use the extended barrel attachment. The idea being that players will be able to use their starting weapons much more effectively in the late game stages as they may not have time to scavenge for new weapons.
It should also be noted that the map features a new unique vehicle, the Monster Truck.
While the developers didn’t mention Karakin, they did talk about Erangel 2.0 and said that they were “putting the final touches on the map.” While they did not specify an exact time when the map will be available, they did ask players to look forward to the second half of 2020. So we can expect the new version of the classic map to be available later this year.
You can learn more about the new map here.
Digit caters to the largest community of tech buyers, users and enthusiasts in India. The all new Digit in continues the legacy of Thinkdigit.com as one of the largest portals in India committed to technology users and buyers. Digit is also one of the most trusted names when it comes to technology reviews and buying advice and is home to the Digit Test Lab, India's most proficient center for testing and reviewing technology products.
We are about leadership — the 9.9 kind Building a leading media company out of India. And, grooming new leaders for this promising industry


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Posted by Abe Sauer on April 28, 2011 03:00 PM
Odd as it may sound, coffee fanatic David Lynch has his own brand of coffee, which comes in three blends (House Blend, Espresso, and French Decaf) and uses organic, fair trade beans.
The director, whose Twin Peaks made "damn good coffee" a catchphrase, naturally directed the above spot for his coffee and it's, well, perfectly on-brand for the king of quirk. (How Mattel feels about Barbie appearing in it is another matter.)
It's also, it seems, a damn good coffee. According to the UK distributor, a portion of the sales are being donated to the David Lynch Film Scholarship Fund at the American Film Institute.
Posted by Shirley Brady on April 25, 2011 06:30 PM
Apple hit with inevitable class action lawsuit over location tracking.
Donald Trump's birther fixation impacts personal brand, supposed presidential ambitions.
Enfamil settles mom's lawsuit over nutrient claims.
Facebook updates Groups, adds Send button.
GM minivan thrives in China post-US demise.
Kimberly-Clark and P&G to both raise prices.
Lenovo Honeycomb tablet coming later this year.Continue reading...
Posted by Abe Sauer on April 25, 2011 02:00 PM
After years of litigation between MGA and Mattel, with Barbie-maker Mattel charging copyright violation over the latter's Bratz line of dolls with a former employee, a court has finally found Mattel to be in the wrong.
The corporate espionage case has been brutal, with Mattel winning itself no sympathies with ad hominem attacks, referring to MGA as a "mediocre toy company."
On the (high) heels of news that it will be slammed by a $88 million court decision against it, Mattel is looking to positive areas, including playing nice with the environment with a new green initiative that was announced for Earth Day.Continue reading...
what girls want
Posted by Shirley Brady on April 20, 2011 11:30 AM
Galia Slayen created the "life-size" Barbie (39" bust, 18" waist and 33" hips) above for an eating disorders awareness event at her college, and stirred up enough debate (she also blogged about it on the Huffington Post) that NBC's Today Show brought her on to talk about the impact the doll had on her growing up.
“I’m not blaming Barbie [for her own eating disorder] — she’s one small factor, an environmental factor,” the 20-year-old Hamilton College, NY, student said in the segment, below. “I’m blond and blue-eyed and I figured that was what I was supposed to look like. She was my idol. It impacted the way I looked at myself.”Continue reading...
Posted by Dale Buss on March 22, 2011 09:00 AM
Apple sues Amazon over term 'app store.'
AT&T may sell some assets as it prepares for regulatory battle for T-Mobile — which unveiled new devices for CTIA Wireless.
Google leads list of desired employers; faces French fine for privacy breach.
HBO plans miniseries on Dick Cheney.
Japan's official death toll tops 18,000.
Mattel celebrates Ken's 50th with web series and new focus separate from Barbie.
New York Times paywall content will be available within search engines; and NYT journalists also released by Libya.Continue reading...
Posted by Dale Buss on March 8, 2011 09:00 AM
Aon plans to spend much of its big cash hoard to buy back shares.
Audi takes aim at toppling BMW.
Bank of America says home-loan business is recovering.
Barbie hits $3 billion in global annual sales as brand shutters China flagship.
Boeing gets a boost from China orders.
Cap’n Crunch gains guerrilla-fueled “success” in social media.
CBS, Warner Bros. and Charlie Sheen are at war, as Sheen apparently plans to sue post-firing.Continue reading...
Posted by Shirley Brady on March 7, 2011 05:45 PM
Mattel today closed its flagship Barbie store in China, which opened with a splash less than two years ago.Continue reading...
Posted by Abe Sauer on December 6, 2010 04:15 PM
After waiting a week for all the world to see the latest Harry Potter film… twice, Disney's modern day Repunzel tale Tangled took the top spot at the box office. After a string of years of heavy product placement and brand "jokes" in animated films, a trend toward minimalist product placement in animated children's films has become mainstream. Did Tangled continue the trend or did Disney let down its hair and signal a return to onscreen selling?Continue reading...


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Six-year-old Jacob Long and his grandfather Milton Long spent Saturday afternoon at the Middlesboro Mall parking lot, showing off Milton’s old-model Volkswagon Beetle convertible.
Grandfather and grandson have been making the trip over to Middlesboro for the “Cruisin’ the Crater” car shows since the summertime series first began in 2007.
Hundreds of people flocked to the car show over the weekend. Popular oldies band, the ‘Klassyc Tymes’ took the stage, covering songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
The Middlesborough/ Bell County Tourism Commission sponsors the event, which generally draws 300 to 400 cars. It’s a come one, come all type of show. Everything from antique cars and trucks, hot rods and motorcycles are featured in, “The tri-state’s biggest and best selection of automotive excellence!”
“Cruisin’ the Crater” takes place on the third Saturday of every month from May until October at the Middlesboro Mall parking lot. The hours are 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.


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iPhone 3GS to get iOS 6, first-gen iPad might pass
0. phoneArena 11 Jun 2012, 02:01 posted on
For those who own a first-gen iPad, the iOS 6 announcement might not be that exciting of an event, since the tablet might not get treated to an update. Links to a beta version of iOS 6 went live online just recently, and an iPad version was not on the download list...
This is a discussion for a news. To read the whole news, click here


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The popular British candy company now owns the rights to the shade of purple it uses to brand itself--just in time for Halloween. This marks the end of an 8-year legal fight, filled with controversy over whether Cadbury had the right to trademark a color.
It was a battle that pitted Mars bars against Flakes. After Cadbury applied for ownership rights in 2004, competing company Nestle appealed and tried to make the case that colors couldn't be trademarked. But several years of litigation later, the high court in London found that not to be the case and made the decision to grant Cadbury the trademark. "Our colour purple has been linked with Cadbury for more than a century and the British public have grown up understanding its link with our chocolate," the company said in a statement, welcoming the decision to allow them to "protect our famous colour purple across a range of milk chocolate products."
So enjoy your Cadbury Screme Eggs this October and appreciate that pretty purple on the wrapper. But don't think about using it to wrap and sell your homemade caramels at Christmastime.


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President Barack Obama submitted a free trade agreement (FTA) to South Korea, along with similar deals for Panama and Colombia to Congress on Monday.
Obama has been pushing Congress to pass the bills arguing that it would be mutually beneficial. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak left his country to personally meet Obama on Thursday regarding passage of the South Korean FTA.
The agreement would remove 95 percent of the tariffs on U.S. exports which should significantly increase U.S. business confidence by allowing them to trade more freely with the 12th largest economy.
The South Korean FTA is expected to support 70,000 American jobs. It is also expected to produce $13 billion annually for the U.S. However, the U.S. will also be required to end tariffs on 87 percent of South Korea’s imports as well.
One of the sectors the FTA is supposed to benefit the U.S. is the auto industry. U.S. auto makers only exported 7,450 vehicles to South Korea in 2010.
To demonstrate the imbalance between the two economies, Korea exported 560,000 vehicles to the U.S.
But even if Korea no longer has tariffs on U.S. exports, there is no guarantee they will buy more U.S. cars.
According to a U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) report, “The Korean market has long been perceived as preferring domestic over imported passenger vehicles, which could make Korean consumers less sensitive to changes in price and increased availability of imported passenger vehicles.”
Still, the House has been pushing to get the FTAs on the docket.
The House Ways and Means Committee approved all three agreements this week. David Camp, a Republican and chairman of that committee, said, “With zero jobs created last month and the unemployment rate hovering around nine percent, we must look at all opportunities to create American jobs.”
Obama has also strongly supported the bill, saying, “These agreements will support tens of thousands of jobs across the country for workers making products stamped with three proud words: made in America.”
Even though the bill has a lot of support from Republicans and Obama, there is still a healthy opposition. The Democrats on the House Ways and Means committees had disagreements about the Colombian FTA.
The Senate may even spark a bigger debate.
“I want everyone within the sound of my voice to understand that I do not like the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the Korea Free Trade Agreement or the Panama Free Trade Agreement,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “I will vote against them.”
Trade interests groups have also rejected free trade agreements because they think they ultimately hurt U.S. economic interests.
“We don’t have a free trade agreement with Great Britain, which could actually buy American products,” said Auggie Tantillo, executive director of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition. “Instead we have this penchant for doing free trade agreements with countries that are low-cost manufacturing centers. Why? Because multinational companies aren’t looking at this and saying, ‘It will be great to make things in Ohio and send it to South Korea.’ No, they’re looking at this and saying, ‘It will be great to make things in South Korea and send it to Ohio.’”
Regardless of whether the Free Trade Agreements are good or bad for the economy, they are being debated in Congress this week, and hose debates will be heated.
This time it will be Obama and the Republicans versus the Democrats. How that plays out in the 2012 elections remains to be seen.


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Ford Plans Eight New Models for India Market
Ford expects Asia to account for 70% of global growth in the next decade, The Associated Press reported.
"We have massive expansion across the region," Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, told the AP. "We believe the Indian market at the end of the decade will be the third largest auto market in the world behind China and the U.S."
The new models for India, to be launched by the middle of the decade, will be in the compact car segment and in more luxurious segments. Currently, small, affordable cars dominate the Indian car market. Hinrichs forecast that this would change as average incomes rise.
"We'll have different products to broaden our showroom appeal," Hinrichs said.
The Thai investment is a 50-50 joint venture with Mazda to revamp production at their pickup truck plant in Thailand. The investment won't increase capacity at the plant from its current level of 275,000 a year, Mazda told the AP.
Ford has no plans to export cars from India to Europe or the U.S.


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Chinese oil giant Sinopec has announced that it is expecting gasoline demand in #China to peak this year, two years earlier than its previous forecasts.
This is interesting. This prediction hasn’t come from an over optimistic industry analyst. It’s an oil company making the announcement that demand for its main product will decline from now on.
And it’s significant for the world in general. China has been the largest driver of global growth for refined oil products like gasoline and diesel over the last two decades.
And what is causing this? Uptake of #electricvehicles of course!
➡ EV adoption rates in China are approaching 40% of new passenger vehicle sales, up from 6% in 2020.
➡ 70% of total kms travelled by 2 and 3-wheeled vehicles have already switched over to electric.
➡ Ride hailing vehicles are also going big on electric, with 50% of kms travelled in the industry switching to electric, driven by government policy and lower operating costs.
The switch to electric trucks will take longer. And this is why BNEF (and the IEA and Rystad) are forecasting peak oil demand for road transport in China to peak next year.
Much has been made of Norway’s successful shift to #EVs, but Norway is tiny and this doesn’t have much impact on global oil demand. It’s a different story with China reaching peak gasoline.


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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham hold hands as they head into the Cross Creek Mall on Saturday (May 12) in Malibu, Calif.
The 25-year-old model and the 44-year-old actor checked out some stores in the shopping center and also grabbed some lunch.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Earlier in the week, Rosie attended the 2012 Met Ball in New York City while Jason was busy at work, shooting a film in London.
25+ pictures inside of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham at the mall…
Sponsored Links by ZergNet


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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called on the UK to invest in a series of gigafactories which will power the country’s electric vehicle revolution.
The society has published a plan to protect the country’s motor industry which called for what is described as an “ambitious” series of policies to put the UK at the centre of the world’s electric vehicle industry.
The UK automotive manufacturing sector currently employs around 180,000 people nationwide, contributes £15 billion to the economy and is the country’s largest exporter of goods.
The SMMT added three-quarters of people over 17 in England hold a driving licence, and 95% of car owners agree that their car gives them significantly greater freedom and mobility. “It is an industry that warrants unambiguous backing,” it added.
Commissioned by SMMT and written by Public First, the strategy, ‘Full Throttle: Driving UK Automotive Competitiveness’ sets out a series of proposals for this coming year and remainder of the decade.
“The UK industry has many strengths – the diversity of its companies, its engineering excellence, innovation, a highly skilled workforce and the strength of the UK market, but the global industry is fiercely competitive, and weaknesses must be addressed if its long term success – and the benefits that come with it – are to be assured,” it added.
The strategy calls for a new “Build Back Better Fund” to support industry transformation, not just in automotive but across other manufacturing sectors, to revolutionise production lines and overcome some of the areas where the UK lags in cost competitiveness or strategic support – from skills to energy costs. “Most importantly, the fund will help the sector transition to Net Zero and transform our existing manufacturing and supply-chain”.
“The shift to electrified vehicles is the biggest challenge facing the sector.,” it added. “Government is already working with industry to attract additional battery manufacturing to the UK but the report calls for a binding target of 60 GWh of battery capacity be built by 2030. These ‘gigafactories’ would give British manufacturers the capability to produce up to one million electric vehicles a year and ensure tariff free access to critical markets in the EU.”
The report calls for the installation of at least 2.3 million charging points nationwide before the end of the decade.
“This would ensure all drivers – especially those without driveways – have the confidence to invest in the latest zero emission technologies, investment that will not just support a healthy domestic vehicle market, but which will underpin mass market automotive manufacturing in the UK and help deliver the country’s climate change and air quality goals.”
The strategy said in a best-case scenario with the sector transitioning successfully to a zero emissions future, with ambitious global trading terms, there is the potential to gain 40,000 new, well paid and highly skilled sector jobs by 2030. This would provide a significant impact in auto heartlands such as the North-East and West Midlands, directly helping ‘level up’ the UK.
Without the competitive conditions, however, the UK’s automotive industry risks decline. In a worst-case situation, with the sector left stranded, analysis showed that around 90,000 jobs could be lost compared with the central scenario, with most of these outside London and the South-East, increasing UK regional inequality.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The next few years represent a critical period for the sector. The pace of technological change is accelerating and the competition more ferocious. If we are to secure vehicle manufacturing in this country, with all the benefits to society that it brings, decisions need to be made today. The automotive sector is uniquely placed to help this government deliver on its agenda; to level up, deliver net zero and trade globally. The Government has made clear its support for the sector in its negotiations with Europe, so now is the time to go full throttle and take bold action to support one of Britain’s most important industries.
“Full Throttle: Driving UK Automotive Competitiveness outlines 12 policy proposals. If acted on together, they will set the UK sector on course for growth, boosting innovation, productivity and enterprise with benefits for all society. If not, the industry risks falling behind, with production declining, jobs lost and economic damage not only in automotive, but in the many other sectors the industry helps support, from chemicals and steel to finance and advertising.”