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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Leo Friedman pivoted his corporate gifting company, iPromo, to help provide his clients with needed products like masks and gloves.
Now that many of those clients have their employees returning to offices, companies want to provide them with rapid tests to protect against in-office transmission.
Friedman has been trying to fill those rapid test orders, but he can't meet demand. When he does find a new batch of product, prices are inflated because they're being resold.
"Most of the time, you go on Amazon and search BinaxNOW, and there's nothing there," Friedman told MedPage Today. "When there is supply, they get bought up by bots, and end up being resold."
For several weeks now, rapid tests have been in short supply, for several reasons. There's new demand from employers returning to in-office work. At the same time, manufacturers bet against the need for testing as cases took a nosedive last spring (Abbott notably destroyed several batches of its rapid tests over the summer). Then, there are concerns about the FDA authorization process being too strict, asking manufacturers to meet what some consider an unnecessarily high bar before being allowed on the market.
Experts are saying that the tests can provide a helpful means of controlling spread, especially in offices, schools, long-term care facilities, prisons, and other crowded settings. The White House seems to recognize that value, as it has recently pumped billions into several initiatives aimed at bolstering rapid testing.
Market analysts have said it will likely be weeks to months before supply can finally catch up with demand -- and that's worrisome as the cooler weather is already bringing more people indoors.
Currently, FDA has authorized eight over-the-counter rapid antigen at-home tests:
- Abbott BinaxNOW
- Access Bio CareStart
- ACON Flowflex
- BD Veritor
- Celltrion DiaTrust
- Ellume Home Test
- OraSure InteliSwab
- Quidel QuickVue
All are at various stages and levels of production and distribution.
BinaxNOW is the market leader, with 75% of the market share, Abbott CEO Robert Ford said during the company's latest earnings report call. Ford noted that the company had 90% of market share before dropping to 60% in September, which fell "just because of supply," apparently acknowledging the summer purge.
Abbott recently re-opened an Illinois manufacturing plant it had shuttered when it bet that demand for rapid testing would fall, according to Reuters. Ford said during the earnings call that the company can now make more than 100 million tests per month -- but still a far cry from what a nation of 330 million people could use.
While initially governments were its best clients for rapid tests, Ford pointed out that Abbott has now seen a rush of requests from companies and employers.
"In the beginning of the pandemic, most of our sales were focused to governments, whether international governments, federal government here in the U.S., state governments also. And that continues to be pretty strong," he said. "But what we've seen now grow pretty significantly, and I think it's aligned to the screening pieces, the private side of the market, whether it's OTC, cash pay, whether it's a lot of companies. We've seen a lot of companies, in the last couple of months here, signed contracts with us to ensure that they've got rapid testing to be able to give to their employees."
Similarly, Quidel CEO Doug Bryant told Reuters, "Employer demand has gone crazy. We won't be able to meet all the requests that we're having."
While the supply side struggles to catch up with demand, some experts have also raised concerns that FDA's regulation of rapid tests may be too stringent.
In an op-ed for STAT, Daniel Oran, MA, of the digital medicine group at Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, argued that FDA shouldn't classify rapid tests as medical devices. Instead, they should be considered public health screening tools and evaluated on their ability "to identify and isolate infectious individuals on a timely basis."
Tinglong Dai, PhD, of Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in Baltimore, agreed that "FDA has been conservative and slow-moving in terms of approving rapid tests."
Generally, he said, rapid tests have to prove their accuracy by being tested against gold-standard PCR testing -- but that's not necessarily the right comparison for tests that aim to pick up the most infectious cases that are most likely to spread. PCR, on the other hand, may turn up positive even when an individual is no longer infectious.
Dai noted that the European Union has authorized more than 100 different rapid tests, which has helped make them nearly ubiquitous there and allowed them to play a key role in helping to stop the spread of the virus.
What Happened to $5 Tests?
Several times in the last week, this reporter tried to purchase an Abbott BinaxNOW on Amazon. In most instances, there were none available.
Finally, on Tuesday morning, a positive result: a BinaxNOW was available for $14. The kit, which includes two tests, was placed into the virtual cart, ordered, and is supposed to be delivered between October 28 and November 4.
A few hours later, however, no more of the Abbott tests were available on Amazon.
In its place, a rapid antigen test called On/Go, made by Intrivo Diagnostics, was served up for $34.99.
That pricing is more in line with iPromo's pricing, which ranges from $26 to $35 for a single box with two tests, the result of having to buy from middle-men, Friedman said.
The tests are supposed to be available at large retailers like CVS and Walgreens, but they have also been reported to be in short supply in these locations.
While the BinaxNOW was on sale at Walmart.com for $14, it was out of stock. It was, however, available online at both CVS and Walgreens, but for $23.99.
Dai noted that these prices are so much higher than what public health experts had initially hoped for.
"Originally we thought these tests could cost $5 each, we had a lot of hope for that," Dai told MedPage Today. "At CVS and Walgreens they cost more than $20 apiece. That's crazy."
Dai, who reviewed the Abbott earnings call, lamented its focus on revenue and profit around testing: "I find it bizarre that there's very little concern for public health."


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Arizona Border Town Losing Last Hardware Store
(Aug. 30, 2017) Robinson’s True Value Hardware & Home Center, Nogales, Az., is the latest longtime retailer to close in the city’s beleaguered downtown.
The town’s main thoroughfares are now dotted with dozens of empty storefronts. It’s also lacking a hardware store for the first time since the 1920s.
Store owner Jim Capin said Nogales has yet to recover from the 2008 economic downturn and is seeing fewer shoppers come across the border from Mexico.
Capin’s family bought Robinson’s in the 1960s; he, his brother, and his brother-in-law then bought it in 1995.
Robinson’s is selling the last of its merchandise at 50% off, then will liquidate its fixtures and office supplies.
Capin’s company, JNG Holdings, continues to operate five other locations in Arizona and New Mexico. He’s also searching for office space in Santa Cruz County where his store manager in Nogales, Martin Medina, will maintain commercial accounts and take special orders that can be picked up by JNG’s True Value store in nearby Green Valley, Az.

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Housewares manager: Plans for seven homes above revamped Sidmouth store was ‘future-proofing’ measure
PUBLISHED: 11:33 03 February 2020 | UPDATED: 11:23 05 February 2020
The manager of a household goods store in Sidmouth said an application to build seven homes in the centre of town was made to ‘future-proof’ the business.
Chris Parkyn, who runs Housewares in Fore Street, said he 'followed the necessary channels', despite the application being refused by district planners.
Mr Parkyn said: "We were doing it to future-proof the shop - we have the space and the opportunity to do something, as the high street is getting harder.
"We followed the necessary channels and it was turned down.
"It means we have got to find other ways of keeping ourselves afloat.
"We will keep giving that customer service that people expect from us. We are trying to fit in with modern times and trying to keep up with everybody."
The business has recently undergone a revamp, which Mr Parkyn said has been appreciated by customers.
The shop now has new flooring and tills, and stock has been moved around to make the shopping experience easier.
Mr Parkyn said: "The shop is third generation-run.
"With that comes fresh plans to make the business work in the hard times that are now."
A new access ramp has been installed at the shop to allow disabled customers to enjoy shopping independently.
"Customer feedback has been fantastic," Mr Parkyn said.
"We have invested in new shelving too. We have been told it is a more pleasant shopping experience."
The application for Housewares sought to demolish the rear section of the premises and build seven two-storey homes above.
District planners threw out the plans, citing concerns with potential flood risks, the design and scale of the potential build and an 'unacceptable' loss of privacy the development would impose.
The application's design and access statement said the current extension at 22 Fore Street is being used as retail space by the shop.
The plans sought to knock down the extension and erect a new shop area, with seven small townhouses above the shop space.
No car parking would have been provided for the tenants, as the development would be close to two public car parks.
An existing car park, for nine cars, within the existing curtilage would have remained unchanged.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Midweek Herald. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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The US will purchase $3 billion worth of dairy, meat and produce from farmers and ranchers starting early next week, President Donald Trump announced.
“The USA will be purchasing, from our farmers, ranchers & speciality crop growers, $3 billion worth of dairy, meat & produce for food lines & kitchens,” US President Donald Trump tweeted.
The President noted that the government purchase was part of the “Farmers to Family Food Box”, calling it “great news for all”, reported in media.
Demands for agricultural products have plummeted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as widespread lockdowns since late March have disrupted supply chains across the nation, even forcing some farmers to destroy their products that can’t be stored.
Some of the country’s largest slaughterhouses have closed due to growing infections among workers at certain facilities, presenting additional challenges for farmers.
Trump has recently signed an executive order to keep meat-processing plants open, but it has drawn backlash from the country’s largest meatpacking union.
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union announced its opposition to the re-opening of 14 meatpacking plants under the recent executive order, raising concerns about the serious safety issues at these facilities that put workers and the food supply at risk.
Meanwhile, farmers and ranchers have been devastated by the COVID-19 crisis, with year-on-year farm bankruptcies increasing 23 per cent, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Wisconsin was the hardest hit with 78 filings in the 12-month period, followed by Nebraska with 41 filings and Iowa at 37, the American Farm Bureau Federation noted.
More than 50 per cent of the filings were in the 13-state Midwest region, followed by 19 per cent in the Southeast.
Trump had recently announced a $19 billion- relief program to help farmers and ranchers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with $3 billion in purchases of fresh produce, dairy and meat for distribution at food banks.
The coronavirus food assistance program will also provide $16 billion in direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted by the pandemic, according to the Department of Agriculture.


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These days, smartphones aren't so much a useful tool as a national obsession. For many of us, it seems we can't go 30 seconds without checking our WhatsApp messages or posting something to Instagram, and any lull in the conversation is an excuse to whip out your handset and start tapping away.
Perhaps one reason for this is there's so much we can do on our phones these days. Both the iOS and Android app stores have hundreds of thousands of offerings letting you do everything from kill zombies to finish that work spreadsheet you've been putting off.
And for those who seriously struggle to leave their phone alone, there are even apps that purport to help you quit your technology addiction.
It might seem counter-intuitive – an app to stop you spending all your time using apps – but there are now several such solutions available, and their makers believe they can fulfil a real need.
Michael Dettbarn, co-founder of one such app, Offtime, told Reuters that even though we all love our gadgets, every once in a while we all need some time off.
However, he noted this can be hard when everyone is so connected, as even a few minutes offline can lead to people worrying that they're missing out.
"People are starting to notice they check their mobile devices all the time, not because they need to, but more out of habit. We want to help people become more aware of that," Mr Dettbarn said.
Offtime works by tracking an individual's usage, taking a note of what apps are most time-consuming. It also lets users decide how long they would like to stay unplugged and which contacts and apps they want to remain active while all others are temporarily blocked. When a user gets back online, they can see a list of whatever they missed.
And Offtime is far from the only choice for people looking to cut down on their smartphone usage. Another app, Checky, for instance, lets users know exactly how many times a day they look at their phone, while Moment allows iPhone owners to set limits on their daily usage.
Mr Dettbarn said that as digital technology becomes even more ubiquitous, thanks to devices like smartwatches, people will need to find some time for themselves. "It's not going to be tolerable to be distracted all the time, so we will need to come up with solutions," he added.


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Well this is just peachy – cybercriminals are actively using a malvertising campaign that infects routers and even Android devices. If the router is pwned, then every device connected to that router is pwned. Proofpoint researchers warned that cyber thugs are using a new and improved version of the DNSChanger exploit kit (EK) for this malvertising campaign.
View full story
ORIGINAL SOURCE: Computerworld


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Red Nose Day Vending
In support of Red Nose Day, M&M’s created a special vending machine that was “powered by fun and laughter.” Users interacted with the humor-activated machine by making a silly face, performing a simple dance or telling a funny joke. In return, the machine dispensed coupons for M&M’s and also helped raise donations and awareness leading up to Red Nose Day.
In the ongoing Amazon versus brick-and-mortar retailers’ war, Walmart may have found a way to provide friendlier, faster home delivery than Amazon ever can. Walmart is testing home delivery using its own associates to make deliveries on their way home from work. Participation is voluntary, and proprietary software will allow associates to determine how many packages they can deliver, as well as size/weight limits and days they are available to make deliveries. Walmart says, “Packages will get to their destinations faster and more efficiently while shipping costs will be cut and associates will pick up additional pay.”
Wandering Wonder Vault
OREO is in the middle of their #MyOREOCreation crowdsourced event which will eventually produce three new flavors for fans to choose from. In the meantime, for some lucky fans who submitted entries to the contest, they’ve resurrected the mysterious OREO Wonder Vault that appeared briefly in NYC last year dispensing creamy goodness to those brave enough to open its custom sample packages of fan-designed flavors. The robot will roll up to their front door and extend a tray with the sample when the vault door is opened.


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Author of What to Eat When You’re Broke and Bloom Where You’re Planted online course
There’s an epidemic spreading across America, and it isn’t the one the mainstream media is talking about. It’s the epidemic of flash mob robberies. This is not only causing problems due to the violence and trauma inflicted on those present during the event. It’s also driving up costs even further in a nation facing unprecedented inflation.
According to Loss Prevention Magazine, each event costs retailers approximately $700,000 for every billion dollars in sales, and it’s happening almost daily.
A lot of people seem to brush off flash mob robberies as a bunch of kids who got together through social media getting out of hand. But they’re symptoms of a bigger rot: organized crime and neutered criminal justice policies that are spreading across our country fast.
What’s a flash mob robbery?
If you haven’t heard of these, you may be wondering what a flash mob robbery is.
A flash mob robbery is a form of organized crime that occurs when groups of people suddenly enter a store, steal as many items as possible, and vanish as quickly as they appear. For those around them, it’s often terrifying and disturbing. The schemes are usually thought out via social media and executed within a matter of minutes. The groups typically disguise themselves by wearing masks, hoodies, or gloves. Often, aggressive behavior is used and causes those who are present great distress.
The trend began in California, but it’s important not to think, “Oh, I’m safe because I don’t live in California.” It’s beginning to spread outside of the state because of several reasons.
1.) Nobody stops them. People in retail outlets just stand back for their own safety. (Most locations require employees to do this.)
2.) On the off chance the criminals are caught, they’re generally released within a matter of hours because of bail reform.
It may just be a big city problem right now, but I am certain we’ll see this spread more and more as the criminally inclined – or even younger folks in general – see others getting away with it with no consequences.
Best Buy has previously cited organized retail crime as the reason their profits have continued to dip.
It’s not just kids out for kicks.
Before we start dumping on the younger generation, however, it’s important to note that, in many cases, this is organized crime. According to the GVWire:
The flash mobs are usually organized by local people who recruit their crews and send them to steal specific merchandise requested by criminal organizations throughout the country, said Ben Dugan, president of the Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail.
Those who do the stealing get paid between $500 and $1,000 to take as much as they can and bring it back to organizers who ship it to other parts of the country.
“Crew bosses organize them, they’ll give him the crowbars, and in some cases even rent them cars, or provide them with escape routes or a list of products to actually go out and steal. It looks very chaotic but it’s actually very well organized,” Dugan said.
The flash mobs are a symptom. The organizers are the illness.
It’s not just high-end luxury stores either.
The Los Angeles Daily News cited a podcast when explaining the issue in a recent article.
However, according to the National Retail Federation, high-end stores with luxury items represent the minority when it comes to targets for organized retail crime.
“(Organized retail crime) groups also target everyday consumer goods,” David S. Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations with the federation, said in a video the organization made on retail crime. “They have a preference (for) goods of lesser value with an increased resale value.”
Some then sell the stolen merchandise to individuals or a group, called a “fence” by law enforcement, through online marketplaces, swap meets or seemingly legitimate businesses, CHP officials said. The buyers may or may not be aware the items they purchase were stolen.
The LADN continues to explain:
LAPD has dealt with groups of high school kids overwhelming convenience store clerks for several years, but said these flash mobs are well-planned and organized.
“They’ve cased it out, they’ve looked at it, they get it over with quickly,” Pitcher added. “It’s different from the thrill of doing it for public consumption.”
Organized retail crime rings target items that are difficult to track and are easily resold. Stolen items such as Tide detergent, baby formula, cosmetics, Louis Vuitton handbags and vitamins that once were hawked at flea markets or street corners are now fenced online by gangs to raise money for their activities, said Rachel Michelin president and CEO of the California Retailers Association.
“What we are seeing is more sophistication,” Michelin said. “We see a lot more recruiting; they recruit street gangs, the homeless. They will pay them 100 bucks to go in and steal.”
In many cases, the suspects – almost all wearing hoodies and masks – have been in and out in between two and four minutes, Pitcher said. Police are also learning most of the getaway vehicles are either rented under fictitious names, or “cold plated”, meaning they’re affixed with license plates that don’t match the vehicle’s registration, most likely because a thief has stolen a license plate off another car.
Store security isn’t really much help, as the numbers are so overwhelming, and they are restricted by laws that don’t allow them to use force in the protection of merchandise.
Bystanders, whether they’re store staff or shoppers, are encouraged by law enforcement and management to “be good witnesses” and not do anything to prevent the thefts.
What can be done?
Until these crimes are prosecuted and the organizers sniffed out, there’s little that can be done to prevent the ongoing spread of flash mob robberies. Weak policies that allow criminals to leave after being arrested with zero-dollar bail offer little in the way of deterrence.
Mall and retail security expert David Levenberg and Ben Dugan, president of the Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail, talked to The AP about it:
“Crew bosses organize them. They’ll give him the crowbars, and in some cases even rent them cars, or provide them with escape routes or a list of products to actually go out and steal. It looks very chaotic, but it’s actually very well organized,” Dugan said.
“We’re not talking about someone who needs money or needs food. These are people who go out and do this is for high profit, and for the thrill,” he said.
In some cases, though, the thieves may be copycats rather than people working with organized networks, Levenberg said. He said the thieves may be thinking: “‘Did you see what happened in San Francisco? Let’s go to the Grove and do it.’”
And while smash-and-grab thefts are occurring nationwide, Levenberg said cities with progressive prosecutors — like Los Angeles and San Francisco — are especially hard-hit because the punishments for perpetrators are not as harsh as in other cities.
“The consequences are minimal, and the profits are substantial,” said Levenberg, founder of Florida-based Center Security Services.
There’s not a lot that can be done on the personal end to prevent such crimes.
- Retailers are advised not to put expensive goods near windows or exits and to focus employees on keeping customers safe rather than interacting with thieves.
- The other important factors are installing district attorneys who are tough on crimes like this. These modern catch-and-release policies don’t work, and we’re seeing what happens when laws are not enforced with enough deterring factors to make people think twice.
- The other side of the coin is that you should be careful what you buy off websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Those bundles of laundry soap you’re getting for a dime might not be as appealing if you realize they could be stolen goods.
If you’re present at a flash mob robbery, think carefully before engaging. Personally, I’m not putting myself or my family at risk to engage with a group of 20+ people intent on stealing someone else’s merchandise. You may feel differently, but it’s essential that you don’t put other innocent people in harm’s way to confront a group of criminals.
What are your thoughts?
Have you ever been present at a flash mob robbery? Have any happened in your state that you know of? What do you think is causing all of this? What do you think should be done to prevent it? What would you do in that situation?
Let’s discuss this concerning phenomenon in the comments section.
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, adventure-seeking, globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites. 1) The Organic Prepper, which is about current events, preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty; 2) The Frugalite, a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com, an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews.
Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Gab, MeWe, Parler, Instagram, and Twitter.


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KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Royal Caribbean cruise ship headed back to its home port in the U.S.
NEW YORK — Royal Caribbean signaled a rebound in the cruise industry Monday by posting a fourth-
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Royal Caribbean cruise line on Sunday ended a ship's 10-day trip in the
KINGSTON, Jamaica — U.S. health officials will board a cruise ship docked in the U.S.
JUNEAU, Alaska — Celebrity Cruises announced Tuesday it was cancelling the remainder of a s


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Featured Artexpo Studio Artist: James E. Caldwell III
As some of you already know, earlier this year we launched Artexpo Studio, the latest in our efforts to empower artists and connect them with a global audience. Artexpo Studio is more than a fine art retail site, it’s a fast growing go-to destination for artists, galleries, and publishers looking for information and tools to grow their business in today’s rapidly changing fine art marketplace. It provides a community not only for artists but art enthusiasts and industry professionals looking for easy access to innovative new art. Today we are excited to share some news with you on one of our newest member artists, James Caldwell!
Artexpo Studio’s Charter Member Artist James Caldwell will be attending the 2011 Concours D’Elegance this week at Pebble Beach. Caldwell was chosen as this year’s featured Artist for the Tour D’Elegance at Clint Eastwood’s Tehama Golf Club, creating his newest oil original from the world’s finest collection of Collector Automobiles. Bugatti, Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche, Maserati, Duesenberg, and others will be included during the Tour, some of which are valued at over $20,000,000. Caldwell and his agent Richard Ahart will announce the chosen car for this years painting at the Sunday Finale’ on the lawn of the 18th green.
“I have always loved cars, as I became more serious about my painting they seemed to be an obvious subject choice. I continue to find capturing the complex reflections and distortions of light and color in the intricate surfaces to be a rewarding challenge.”
James is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and follows in the footsteps of his father, renowned California landscape painter Jim Caldwell.
Fine art reproductions of James Caldwell’s work are available on Artexpo Studio:


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One of the beautiful things about the Internet is that it frees us from the constraints of our physical existence.
Want to rent a DVD and buy a new laptop? You used to have to drive to Blockbuster and then to Best Buy. More often than not, thanks to the mass consumerization in the U.S., you could do both in the same strip mall.
But with the Web, you can get the video from Netflix in one browser window, while you order a new PC from Best Buy’s e-commerce site or even Amazon in another. This is deliciously liberating; you save time spent traveling and save money on gas.
But with each stroll on the Web, we leave the digital footprint that identifies our behaviors. Some companies are tracking consumers’ online behavior to better target them with Web advertising. Jeffrey Chester, torch-bearer for the Center for Digital Democracy, has a glut of material on this here.
As I type this, a war is being waged between privacy advocates such as Chester, who rails about preserving our anonymity online, and the Web services providers who collect data about us to give us our virtual freedom.
This has been going on for years. I’m not pretending it is new. But the fight, which limped along in the Bush administration and continues in the Obama admin, is relevant in light of testimonies given to two U.S. House subcommittees yesterday by Chester and others on Capitol Hill.
The Wall Street Journal’s Amy Schatz covered the hearing, noting (paywall warning): Lawmakers in the House are drafting Internet-privacy legislation designed to provide consumers more information about what is being collected online and to give them greater control about how that data can be used.
Chester and his cohorts contend that the online data culling practices by Google, Facebook, Yahoo and others are intrusive, invasive and downright infringing on our civil liberties. Chester underscored the argument in his testimony:
“Powerful techniques of data collection, analysis, consumer profiling and tracking, interactive ad creation and targeting have emerged across the online venues Americans increasingly rely on for news, information, entertainment, health, and financial services. Whether using a search engine, watching an online video, creating content on a social network, receiving an e-mail, or playing an interactive video game, we are being digitally shadowed online. Our travels through the digital media are being monitored, and digital dossiers on us are being created–and even bought and sold.“
Chester and others claim the vendors’ data collection practices are so opaque as to be sneaky. His testimony proved effective, causing this response from Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas.: “I think it’s a big deal if someone tracks where you go and what you look at without your personal approval. We wouldn’t like that in the non-Internet world, and I personally don’t like it in the Internet world.”
Privacy officials from Google, Yahoo and Facebook, who are almost invariably lawyers, have to suffer this kind of awkward phraseology every time they meet with the politicos in Washington, D.C. These officials claim Chester’s hyperbole makes their practices look too evil when all they’re trying to do is serve us helpful, efficient Web services.
But here is the Catch-22: To keep providing us with these services, these vendors claim they need to collect data on us to effectively turn an advertising dollar or $2 billion online. Of course, these vendors claim to do so with the utmost protection of our privacy.
How can both sides meet in the middle? One way would be for Google, Yahoo, Facebook and others to create a simple, “opt-in” button their users could click that would let service providers harvest and use data on the users. There are no such buttons now; instead consumers must sift through myriad terms of services legalese to find out how to opt out, if there even is such an option.
This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it is. Most consumers are ignorant about the data collecting practices that go on at Web service providers. In fact, unless you’re covering high tech or are suspicious by nature, chances are good that you didn’t know about these online behavior practices, let alone how they work.
Case in point: My wife was shocked when I told her about companies’ online data collection behaviors. She had no idea, and she uses the Web daily as a garden variety surfer.
And that is just fine with the Web service providers. If Web users know that companies are collecting information about them, the digital equivalent of following them around (as Barton roughly characterizes the action), they will most certainly not click a button to opt in.
Moreover, more of them may in fact opt out. Some companies, such as Yahoo, say both opt-out and opt-in buttons should be used, but that will be too confusing for consumers who haven’t even grokked the concept yet.
But what about you Web-savvy users familiar with the way companies like to track us? If the House does in fact pass legislation requiring Google, Facebook and others to plug these opt-in Easy Buttons into their end-user pages, would you opt in, allowing providers to keep tabs on you?
Yes, no or maybe? Why?


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What have Virtual Realms been up to since the soft launch of Warhammer: Odyssey began in February? According to the latest announcement on Discord, the developers have been hard at work fixing bugs, and expanding on the content that is already there.
Kevin checked out the recent mobile MMO to launch this past month, Warhammer Odyssey. Billed as a true MMORPG on mobile, Kevin put this to the test to find out if it truly was more MMO than typical mobile fare.
Warhammer: Odyssey is just a couple short weeks out from its global soft launch, and the game will see its first patch bring some welcome changes, despite the team acknowledging that there's still quite a lot left to do.
In the echo chamber of repetitive, sleep-inducing, auto-play mobile games, Warhammer: Odyssey (W:O) takes a mild departure into the mobile realm as an authentic, traditional MMORPG experience. With success all but guaranteed, W:O stops short of one major victory, convincing PC MMORPG players that mobile is the genres savior.
Warhammer's mobile MMO, Warhammer Odyssey, is now available globally for both Android and iOS users.
With the start of the winter season James York, co-founder of Virtual Realms, is back to answer more questions about the upcoming Warhammer: Odyssey Mobile MMORPG. In this interview round we ask questions about character advancement, party/raid size and the state of the game.
Warhammer: Odyssey has been trucking along in development, and the team have unveiled a new video showcasing the character creation within the upcoming free-to-play MMORPG.
With everyone at home right now the team working on the upcoming Warhammer: Odyssey Mobile MMORPG have taken the time to answer another set of our interview questions. In round 3 of our developer interview James York, co-founder of Virtual Realms, answers further questions covering everything from from quests vs. grinding to the current state of development.


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Wal-Mart’s (WMT) surprise drop in sales caused considerable tension in the market, as stocks took their biggest five-day tumble of the year last week. This unsettling news could have serious ramifications for investors of every stripe. So what gives?
Wal-Mart’s recent trouble may be due to lower income consumers having trouble with cash flow. During the same quarter, car sales have been very strong, as has consumer discretionary spending. It may be that people are simply putting their money elsewhere.
Or, the problem may be with Wal-Mart itself. The company has been criticized for years about the dismal conditions at its stores, poor wages and declining customer satisfaction. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Wal-Mart placed last among discount stores in the American Customer Satisfaction Index, the sixth year in a row the company has either tied or taken the last spot. It could be that shopping at Wal-Mart just isn’t fun anymore.
Finally, the economy could be foundering. Worries over rising rates have caused headaches in the mortgage market and made corporate purchasers pull the breaks on future expenditures. The resulting uncertainty should naturally put a dent in the willingness of consumers to spend.
So which of these scenarios are most likely? We probably won’t know until next quarter’s earnings come out, and as a result, the buying and selling you’ll be seeing in the meantime are traders positioning for the most obvious outcome. Those with short-term objectives may want think about buying at the low end of the range and selling tops for the next few months. Longer-term investors will want to take a serious look at their holdings with an eye toward capital preservation and portfolio risk levels as the scenario unfolds.


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SILICON STUDIO’S FANTASICA SURPASSES FOUR MILLION USERS WORLDWIDE
Silicon Studio, famed developer of Bravely Default and powerful next-gen middleware solution YEBIS 2 – as seen in the trailer for Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XV – is pleased to announce their free-to-play mobile RPG Fantasica has surpassed 4 million users worldwide.
Available for both Android and iOS devices through Mobage, a popular mobile and social games platform, Fantasica has wowed gamers across the world with beautiful visuals, brilliant music, and addictive gameplay that perfectly blends card-collecting, role-playing and tower defense genres. Fantasica received Mobage’s Game of the Year Award for Best Art Style, as created by famed Final Fantasy art director Hideo Minaba. Fantasica is available in the US, Japan, Europe, China, South Korea, and Taiwan.
“It is truly an accomplishment to hit over 4 million downloads,” says Takehiko Terada, CEO of Silicon Studio. “Fantasica is a stunning game with highly addictive gameplay and it’s amazing to see so many people are enjoying it.”
This year Fantasica celebrates its first anniversary and Silicon Studio is organizing an in-game event to celebrate this accomplishment. Players should stay tuned for the exciting new adventures and opportunities in the world of Fantasica!
More Fantasica information, footage, and screenshots can be found here: www.siliconstudio.co.jp/socialgame/fantasica/en/
More information on Silicon Studio and its products can be found here: www.siliconstudio.co.jp


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German consumer sentiment is expected to rise slightly in June after falling to a record low in May, but high inflation and the war in Ukraine continue to weigh on household spending.
- The GfK institute stated its consumer sentiment index increased slightly to -26.0 points heading into June after reaching a revised all-time low of -26.6 points in May.
- Rolf Buerkl GfK consumer expert, stated that the consumer climate may have improved slightly, but consumer sentiment is still at an absolute low.
- Buerkl further stated that despite the easing of COVID-related restrictions, the Ukraine war, and above all, the high inflations are weighing significantly on the mood of consumers.
Last month, Germany’s economy ministry lowered its economic growth outlook for 2022 to 2.2% from 3.6% and projected that inflation this year could hit 6.1%.
DAX down -0.25%, EURUSD down -0.70%


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One of Tanzania’s biggest manufacturing and trading firm, Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Ltd plans to invest $250 million to expand its business in Zambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Madagascar and Ethiopia.
“We want to expand our presence in Africa to capitalize on a growing middle class demand. The focus for investment would be in manufacturing, particularly cotton,” company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Dewji said.
“Our vision is that by 2020/21, we want to be a $5 billion revenue company,” he said. Revenue was expected to reach $1.9 billion in 2014/15.
Regarding plans to invest $250 million over two years, Dewji said: “Half of this … will be our equity and the other half will be raised through banks.”
The company operates in 11 African nations, mostly in East Africa, including Kenya and Uganda, as well central and southern states such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
Established in the 1970s, the firm has more than 30 factories making consumer products ranging from bicycles and detergents to edible oil and beverages.
Other investments cover the agriculture, infrastructure, energy and mobile phone sectors. METL employs 24,000 mostly in Tanzania.
Dewji said he expected this to rise to more than 100,000 in five years.


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Press Release – 29 July 2014
Action for Economic Reforms (AER) refutes the claim of the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC) and Oxford Economics (OE) that nearly P16 billion was lost in illicit cigarette trade in the Philippines, mainly causing the drop in legal domestic sales of cigarettes in 2013.
The said ITIC-OE study entitled “Asia-11 Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2013 Update for the Philippines” estimated that illicit consumption of cigarettes in the country increased from 5.9% of total consumption in 2012 to 18.1% in 2013. Moreover, it claims that the total consumption of smokers was only down by 3% after a year of implementing the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012.
Yet AER argues that the study is a case of conflict of interest. ITIC is a research firm that claims to be independent even while Philip Morris International’s Vice President for Fiscal Affairs and International Trade (Mr. Huub Savelkouls) actually sits in the Board of Directors, along with other global tobacco industry representatives.
AER recalls that at the height of the sin tax debate in Congress in October 2012, ITIC organized the Ninth Asia-Pacific Tax Forum in Manila and used the occasion to criticize the government’s proposed reforms, including the cigarette tax increase. In the experiences of other countries such as Australia and the UK, using alleged threat of smuggling has been among the strategies of tobacco companies to oppose tobacco tax reforms.
Significantly, said AER Coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana, the ITIC-OE study suffers from serious methodological problems starting from its data gathering process to analysis.
It employed “empty pack surveys” which, by its very nature, may suffer from selection bias of sources of litters or incorrect deciphering between counterfeits and legal non-domestic products.
Secondly, the study used a formula which assumed values of too many important variables such as other cigarette companies’ declared and actual volume in the market, which, because of BIR’s disclosure information
Although the artificially depressed prices of some cigarette brands are worrisome, AER asserts that they are not sufficient to automatically conclude that the manufacturers of such brands are already engaged in illicit trade.
“Not only Mighty but also PMFTC’s Jackpot as well as other variants have more or less the same artificially low prices,” said Sta. Ana. At present, PMFTC’s low-end brands sell at around P1.25/stick when Mighty cigarettes typically sells at P1.50/stick. AER sees this price war as an unsustainable strategy to gain market share especially with the application of a unitary tax scheme by 2017.
Lastly, AER also emphasizes that aside from doubling excise tax collections, the Sin Tax Law greatly reduced cigarette consumption. Far from the 3-percent estimate of ITIC, smokers from Angono, Rizal and Cotabato City reduced smoking by 14.3% and 22.9%, respectively, according to AER-DOH surveys in 2013.
More recently, the 2014 Social Weather Stations survey on cigarette consumption revealed a drop in smoking prevalence, particularly among the young and the poor.
Despite the questionable nature of the Asia-11 report, AER supports the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s effort to pursue an investigation on illicit trade. AER also lauds the latest measure of having stamps on cigarette packs to distinguish the paid packs from the illicit ones.
Action for Economic Reforms (AER) is an independent policy think-tank and a core member of the civil society coalition that pushed for the passage of the Sin Tax Law in 2012.


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U.S. stocks edged up on Wednesday, with the Dow rising for the ninth straight session to another record, buoyed by surprisingly strong retail sales that suggested the economy is gaining momentum.
The Dow Jones industrial average’s nine-day winning streak is the longest consecutive run since November 1996.
But trading volume was light. Moves have been muted in recent days as investors consolidate positions after a strong run-up in the first three months of the year. Still, weakness in stocks has been met with buying, which helped propel the market’s advance.
The broader S&P 500 is within striking distance of its all-time closing high of 1,565.15 and about 1 percent away from all-time intraday high of 1,576.09 – both set in 2007.
“I think we will soon see the S&P at all-time high levels. I don’t think the market has topped yet, and there is still strength to move the market higher,” said Ari Wald, technical strategist at C&Co/PrinceRidge in New York.
“Will we see a correction of 10 percent or so soon? Not imminently. We have not seen a divergence of behavior yet where participants become more selective on which stocks to buy.”
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 5.22 points, or 0.04 percent, to 14,455.28, another record closing high. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 2.04 points, or 0.13 percent, to 1,554.52. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 2.80 points, or 0.09 percent, to end at 3,245.12.
Signs of strength in the economy and the Federal Reserve’s easy monetary policy have helped U.S. equities accelerate their advance. The blue-chip Dow is up 10.3 percent for the year and the benchmark S&P 500 index has gained 9 percent.
Wednesday’s retail sales report reinforced the view that the U.S. economy has momentum, even with the obstacles the recovery is facing. Sales increased 1.1 percent in February, the largest increase since September.
Investors had been looking for signs of any impact on spending from stubbornly high unemployment and a higher payroll tax that went into effect at the start of the year.
Coach <COH.N> shares rose 1.8 percent to $49.67 after Citigroup raised its rating on the luxury leather goods company’s stock to “buy” from “neutral.” Earlier, the stock had risen as high as $50.09 – up 2.6 percent from Tuesday’s close.
Walgreen <WAG.N> jumped 4.2 percent to $42.78 after UBS raised its rating to a “buy” from “neutral”, and lifted its price target to $48 from $41 on the stock of the largest U.S. drugstore chain.
But Express Inc <EXPR.N> shares slid 3.2 percent to $18.25 after the apparel retailer posted fourth-quarter earnings and said it was off to a slow start in the first quarter.
Volume was below average, with roughly 5.5 billion shares trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and the NYSE MKT, compared with the 2012 average daily closing volume of about 6.45 billion.


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So even though both companies want Fox’s assets for different reasons, and are willing to divest similar unwanted parts like regional sports networks, both companies are now fighting for the whole bundle of assets, including cable stations FX and Nat Geo and Endemol Shine Group.
There are personal relationships at play here, too. Don’t forget that Comcast tried to buy Disney in 2004, and the Disney board wouldn’t talk to Roberts about his $54 billion offer. And the CEO of Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, Steve Burke, worked for Disney from 1986 to 1998, including a tenure directly with Iger after Disney bought Capital Cities/ABC.
The two companies have very similar market valuations, with Comcast at around $148 billion and Disney at $158 billion. Whichever company succeeds at buying Fox will become the dominant force in media.
Disney is actively considering its options, including an increased cash-stock offer, according to a person familiar with the matter. Given the stakes and the personalities involved, don’t expect either company to back down without a fight.
A Comcast spokeswoman declined to comment. A Disney spokeswoman couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the difference between Comcast and Disney’s bid because it didn’t properly account for the change in Disney’s share price on Friday.
Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC and CNBC.com.


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SAN FRANCISCO — There’s one pandemic change that Californians are sure to toast to: The to-go cocktail.
California Governor Gavin Newsom says the state will allow restaurants to continue selling takeout alcohol and keep expanded-outdoor dining until Dec. 31.
“With new opportunities and support for businesses large and small and the California can-do spirit that has carried us through the past year, we will come roaring back from this pandemic,” Newsom said.
Restaurants turned to takeout and outdoor seating during the last year as coronavirus restrictions limited indoor service. The state's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control relaxed regulations to allow them to keep selling alcohol.
The move was pivotal for Raymond James Irwin's business, Fizz, a champagne bar in Sacramento's Downtown Commons. When he couldn't serve indoors, he faced the potential of shuttering.
“Having this terrace when we couldn’t even be opened inside, made the world of difference," Irwin said.
The Downtown Sacramento Partnership estimates 10% of downtown businesses shuttered during the pandemic, said Emilie Cameron, a spokesperson for the business group.
The partnership along with many downtown business and customers say they would like to see this permanently.
California is set to drop all capacity limits on businesses, indoor and outdoor, on June 15. Still, the state-level relief measures permitting restaurants and bars to continue outdoor dining in sidewalks and parking lots and to continue the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages with food deliveries will remain. Newsom is also urging local governments to follow suit in continuing to allow outdoor dining and the sale of to-go cocktails.
Newsom's announcement will also allow bars to continue to partner with food trucks, catering companies and restaurants to sell meals with their beverages. Wineries and breweries can continue to partner with restaurants to host virtual dinners with wine and beer pairings as well.
While wine tasting dinners can stay, the order did not include the continuance of virtual wine tastings. Other pandemic innovations that will go away for restaurants, bars and other food and beverage locations after June 30 include drive-thru windows for businesses that previously didn't have one, changes in retail sales, delivery hours until midnight and distilleries providing spirits for disinfection purposes.
Watch the full announcement:


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The race is on to build a self driving car that can negotiate difficult driving conditions, with auto manufacturers trialling a number of different technologies.And now BMW has revealed it is testing autonomous cars that can slide round corners at high speeds, with the sort of precision it takes racing drivers years to perfect.
The German car company’s new prototype cars use ‘advanced technology to demonstrate maximum safety up to the car’s dynamic limit,’ by enabling them to negotiate turns and obstacles at high speeds.
BMW showed off a modified 2-Series Coupe and 6-Series Gran Coupe sporting its latest technology, at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Both cars are fitted with a Lidar system – a remote sensing technology that measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analysing the reflected light – 360 degree radar, ultrasonic sensors and cameras that track the environment, enabling them to make driving decisions.
HOW DOES THE CAR DRIFT?
Sensors monitoring road conditions as well as picking up other data feed information to the car’s computer so that it can make autonomous decisions.
Understeer – where the car pushes over its front wheels – is controlled by ‘opening’ the steering and a sliding rear end (oversteer, which is used to drift) is caught using a carefully gauged combination of countersteering and brake inputs.
This allows a driver to slide around a corner at speed but also in safety.
The programmable electronic steering required to make this possible carries out carefully targeted and rapid adjustments such as braking at the perfect time.
These technologies, coupled with electric braking, throttle and steering control that comes with all new BMWs, means that the cars can change lanes, slide round corners and even perform a slalom at high speeds without any intervention from the driver.
BMW said: ‘The prototype can pilot its way at high speeds and with exceptional precision on a slalom run between cones, adheres to a marked out circular course regardless of the friction coefficient of the road surface and executes an obstacle-evading lane change to perfection.’
The fact that the cars are able to ‘drift’ by themselves has excited motoring enthusiasts, as it is a tricky technique used by professional drivers who intentionally oversteer so that the rear tyres slip but they maintain control of the car. This move enables them to take corners quickly and efficiently.
While the self driving technology will excite would-be racers, it could help people in dangerous driving conditions such as aquaplaning to give a regular driver the skills of an expert. Here a demonstrator keeps his hands on his lap as the car takes a corner at high speeds.
‘Even when deliberately provoked into oversteer – the clearest way of highlighting a vehicle’s dynamic limit – the highly automated prototype follows its path safely and along almost identical lines time after time,’ the car company said.
While the technology will excite would-be racers, it could help people in dangerous driving conditions off the track. It would give a regular driver the skills of an expert when aquaplaning, for example.
The cars constantly factor in the condition of a road surface to respond intelligently and BMW has tested them on the famous Nürburgring circuit.
Look, no hands!
The new self driving technologies, coupled with electric braking throttle and steering control that comes with all new BMWs, means that the cars can change lanes, slide round corners and even perform a slalom at high speeds without any intervention from the driver
The intelligent systems actively intervene in the direction-changing, decision-making process and BMW says its technology goes ‘a crucial step further than current systems’ that which react to the onset of understeer or oversteer with carefully calculated braking inputs, to keep drivers safely on the road.
BMW is testing the high-speed self driving system as it believes only one that can master all driving situations will gain the trust of the public.
Original article can be found at Daily Mail UK.


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E-commerce business arm of Avenue Supermarts, DMart Ready reported over two-fold increase in revenue at Rs 1,667.21 crore in FY22, even as its loss widened to Rs 142.07 crore.
Avenue Supermarts Ltd owns and operates retail chain D-Mart.
However, Avenue E-Commerce Ltd (AEL), a subsidiary of Avenue Supermarts engaged in the business of online and multi-channel grocery retail under the brand name of DMart Ready, had posted a revenue of Rs 791.29 crore in the FY 2021.
"AEL's revenue from operations for FY 2022 stood at Rs 1,667.21 crore vis- -vis Rs 791.29 crore in the FY 2021. The company registered a loss of Rs 142.07 crore in FY 2022 against the loss of Rs 80.62 crore in FY 2021," said the latest annual report of Avenue Supermarts.
DMart Ready, which completed five years of service in the e-commerce space in January 2022, has expanded its coverage to include over 500 pin codes in nine cities,
AEL's customers can order grocery and household products through its mobile app and website.
It delivers the order to customers' doorstep and also has self-pick-up points. At many Pick-up Points, it also offers a select range of merchandise available for instant purchase.
AEL also operates a small format grocery store under the brand name, DMart miniMAX. It has two DMart miniMAX stores one in Mumbai and another in Hyderabad.
DMart's revenue from operations in FY22 was at Rs 30,353 crore.
It had added 50 stores in FY 2021-22, taking its total count to 284 stores, spread across 10 states, one union territory and NCR at the end of the financial year.
Copyright©2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


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STATE DOMESTIC PRODUCT
Yogi govt eyes investment worth RS 7.3L cr in next 5 years
Adityanath also directed officials to focus on the sector so that it provides new opportunities for growth, development and employment in the state. Nearly 20 lakh people are associated with this sector.
Kirit Parekh panel recommends 20 pc premium for new gas production by ONGC, OIL
The Kirit Parikh Committee, which recommended a floor and ceiling price for natural gas produced from legacy fields of state-owned producers to moderate input price for CNG and fertilizer, has favoured paying ONGC and OIL a premium of 20 per cent over such price for any new gas production they add from old fields.
Indian missions to be roped in for branding, promotion of domestic millets
The ministry is also organising a 'Millets Smart Nutritive Conclave' on Monday wherein stakeholders of the supply chain such as Farmer Producer Organisations, startups, exporters, producers of millet-based value-added products are participating, it said in a statement.
Kharif pulses production drops about 8% year on year
Among the key Kharif pulses crop, Moong is the only crop in which production is expected to increase by 3% year-on-year to 1.53 MMT against 1.48 MMT in the previous year
Proposed battery swap subsidy unlikely to be linked to EV standards
India is unlikely to link the likely subsidy for battery swapping to adherence of standards, to be announced soon. Existing electric vehicle manufacturers are opposed to homogenous swapping standard.
These nine companies rally up to 100% in NovemberPublic sector companies hogged the limelight during the month, particularly the railway companies and state-run lenders. Other gainers majorly belonged to infrastructure and related sectors.
U.S. third-quarter economic growth revised up; goods trade deficit widens in OctoberGross domestic product increased at a 2.9% annualized rate, the Commerce Department said in its second estimate of third-quarter GDP. That was revised up from the 2.6% pace reported last month. The economy had contracted at a 0.6% rate in the second quarter. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast GDP growth would be raised to a 2.7% rate.
From Rupee depreciation and GST to India’s outward remittances - a look at top headlines dominating the Indian import sectorA look at some of the top headlines dominating global and domestic markets that could potentially impact the Indian import sector
India annual GDP growth to slow in September quarter as COVID effect fadesAsia's third-largest economy is expected to post annual growth of 6.2% in the three months to Sept. 31, according to a Reuters poll, down from explosive growth of 13.5% in the previous quarter, which was inflated by comparison with weak activity during COVID-19 lockdowns.
From nuts and bolts to software: Auto component firms gear up for the EV raceThe two- and three-wheeler segment is getting electrified faster than cars and heavy vehicles. Auto component firms have noticed this trend and are finding ways to stay relevant.
Pricing domestic natural gas, fuelling right answersThe Asian benchmark for spot LNG was less than $10 per mmBtu for 53 of the 60 months in the five years through 2020. Since January 2021, average monthly prices have varied wildly between $6 and $54. For GoI, higher gas prices could result in increased revenue from higher levies and increased dividends from state-run producers. A significant share of the dividend, however, would leak to other shareholders.
Mazda unveils $11 billion EV spending plan, considers investing in battery productionThe investment plan by Mazda follows similar announcements this year by domestic rivals such as Toyota and Honda, which have been criticised by environmentalists and green activist investors for being slow in electrification.
British finance minister reveals UK in recession, unleashes tax risesChancellor Jeremy Hunt tabled the Autumn Statement in the House of Commons, cheered on by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to lay out the government's plans to get the economy back on track following the shockwaves of a rolled back mini-budget of predecessor Liz Truss in September.
G20 summit deplores war in Ukraine 'in strongest terms'The leaders of the world's biggest economies also agreed to pace interest rate rises carefully to avoid spillovers and warned of "increased volatility" in currency moves but it was Ukraine that dominated the summit on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Madhya Pradesh aims to contribute USD 550 billion to India's GDP by 2026: Shivraj Singh Chouhan"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a pledge to make India a USD 5-trillion economy. It will be achieved when states do their part. So we will be contributing USD 550 billion to the country's economy by 2026. We have made a road map to accomplish this (target), and attracting investment is a part of this plan," Chouhan said.
Election takeaways: No sweep for the Republicans after allRather than a wholesale rejection of President Joe Biden and his party, the results were far more mixed as returns from Tuesday's midterms trickled in. Many Democratic incumbents proved surprisingly resilient, outperforming their party's own expectations. Meanwhile, Democrat John Fetterman won an open Senate seat currently held by the GOP, while other key races that will determine control of the chamber remain too early to call.
China exports fall in October, first decline since 2020China's exports shrank in October, the first such decline since mid-2020, customs authorities said Monday, as a domestic slowdown and the threat of global recession hit international trade.
Germany keeps 'head above water' with surprise Q3 growthEconomic output in the third quarter was driven primarily by private consumer spending in Germany. In the previous quarter, the German economy grew slightly by 0.1% quarter on quarter. Year on year, GDP rose by 1.2% in the third quarter in seasonally adjusted terms, also beating analysts' forecast of 0.8% growth.
China's Q4 GDP hits early speed bump as Covid stifles economyMobility statistics - from metro passenger traffic in cities and flight cancellations to domestic container handling at major ports - have worsened in October despite falling local coronavirus cases, suggesting Covid-19 preventive measures, or fear of those measures, are still stifling economic activity. China reported on Monday a faster-than-expected 3.9% expansion in its economy in the third quarter, but data for September showed weak imports of goods and retail sales, reflecting its still subdued domestic demand.
Asian stocks ease to 2-1/2-year lows, pound lifted by Sunak's victoryThe European Central Bank meets this week and is widely expected to raise rates by 75 basis points. In commodities markets, gold prices rose 0.1% to $1,650.6 per ounce, while benchmark Brent crude futures were steady at $93.2 per barrel.
IndiGo introduces 8 new flights to bolster domestic connectivitySanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo said: "We are pleased to enhance connectivity and accessibility by introducing exclusive flights on new domestic routes between seven states. We will start direct flights between Bhopal and Udaipur under the UDAN scheme. Enhanced connectivity between the political and commercial capitals of these states will help bolster economic growth through increased trade opportunities and tourist footprint.
Trade is a launchpad for the development of the domestic economy: Suresh PrabhuFormer Commerce & Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu highlighted that trade always has upsides and downsides, and trade policy measures should aim to leverage the positive gains and minimise the negative consequences.
Toy sector pitches for PLI scheme, export council to promote growthLittle Genius Toys Pvt Ltd CEO Naresh Kumar Gautam said although support measures announced by the government are helping the industry, the PLI scheme and a council would give further impetus as it holds huge potential for creation of jobs.
Government working to increase domestic coking coal output: Steel SecretaryThe government is working to increase the domestic production of coking coal as the country aims to have a steel making capacity of 300 million tonne by 2030-31, a senior official said on Thursday. Coking coal is a key input in steel making and the country remains dependent on imports to meet 85 per cent of its coking coal needs.
Water-stressed Karnataka proposes penalty for unnecessary use of water, restricting groundwater extractionHowever, the policy promises measures to tackle the challenges ahead by proposing measures such as penalties for unwise use of water, restricting groundwater extraction, among others, as it aims to provide directions for strengthening water resources management and to optimise the use of the state's limited water resources, officials from the Water Resources Department said.
Foxconn expands its Tamil Nadu factory as Apple’s business gainsThis comes amid strong India sales for Apple and high localisation for its high-end smartphones range not only in the country but also in other developing Asia-Pacific markets.
Closure of Vedanta's copper unit at Thoothukudi results in Rs 14,749 crore loss to economy: ReportThe cumulative loss for the entire period of plant closure is roughly around 0.72 per cent of the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) of Tamil Nadu. The report further said that closure of plant has amounted to a loss of around Rs 4,777 crore to the company. The Tamil Nadu government had ordered the permanent closure of the unit in the port city of Thoothukudi in May 2018 following violent protests.Load More
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Isabella-Rae Banda has celebrated the one-year anniversary of her purchase of Amazonia Superfoods in Malta.
Amazonia is an Australian global health company leading innovation with certified organic, wholefood supplements and plant-based food products.
Ms Banda described how she took over the local branch, which was established in 2018, from her good friend, since when it has been “flourishing and growing each and every day.”
“I’ve always been extremely passionate about health and wellness and food. Being a part of something like this had been a dream of mine for many years and I’m extremely proud of how far we’ve come over the past year,” she wrote.
“Thank you to all of your support! I truly hope you love our products just as much as I do!” she concluded.
Ms Banda is also Managing Director of The Writers Group Content Agency, which she founded in 2019, and last year became the Owner of SoL Health Bar in St Julian’s.
IZI Group’s Head of Finance, Nicolo’ Baldacchino Orland, will fill the role of CFO on an interim basis.
Geoffrey Fichte was speaking as the bank announced a record participation of 30 interns in its summer and two-year internship ...
He takes over as CEO of the McDonald's licencee following Victor Tedesco’s resignation.
Speaking to MaltaCEOs.mt, the HR Consultant and Trainer states that business leaders need a ‘change of mindset’ to prioritise upskilling ...


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RIM’s iPhone rival launching in Q3?
Permalink: RIM’s iPhone rival launching in Q3?
by Jan Harris
If rumours are correct, Research In Motion Ltd (RIM), is preparing to launch a touch screen BlackBerry to rival Apple’s iPhone.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the device, known as the Thunder, could be launched as early as the third quarter.
It is understood that the Thunder will be available on Vodafone’s network, or through Verizon Wireless in the US.
A touch-screen phone would be popular with consumers, and would be in line with RIM’s recent moves to diversify from its core business market.
RIM hasn’t commented on the speculation.


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It's official: Friday is the grand opening of the DQ Grill & Chill in Little Rock.
That’s according to franchisee Blake Lively and the Facebook page for the store at 6100 W. 12th St., which is near University Avenue.
The first 100 people to buy a cake will get one free Blizzard a week for an entire year.
Operating hours for the new restaurant are 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, though Lively says they may close the lobby an hour ahead of that and operate only through the drive-thru.
The phone number is (501) 661-8171.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more restaurant news in the weekly Restaurant Transitions column.


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Economic Statistics for 30 Jul 13
Here are today’s statistics on the state of the economy:
In weekly retail sales, ICSC Goldman reports weakness, with a -01.6% weekly sales drop, and a 2.2%% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, Redbook says sales rose a moderate 2.9% on a year-ago basis.
The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index rose 1.0% in May, still strong, but down from the 1.7% and 1.9% of the previous months.
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence fell a point to 80.3 in July, but that disguises a 5-point gain in the "present situation" component.
The State Street Investor Confidence Index for July rose to 107.6, as institutional investors increased their appetite for risk.


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The Red Bull Art of Can exhibition, running from July 31 through August 22 at Galleria Dallas, has started attracting a decent crowd already. More than 50 unique artworks created from recycled cans, digital media and paint are displayed at the event. Ranging from a full-scale racing airplane, an old world style painting, and a baby bull to a ball gown, all the artworks share a common thing i.e. the iconic blue and silver Red Bull cans.
The competition is asking for submissions from all: professionals, amateurs and neophytes, which would further include medical professionals, students and fashion designers as well. Local Dallas finalist Hai Nguyen, who created a cascade of migrating birds in flight, says…
The Art of Can exhibition gives everyone, whether they are a full-time artist or not, the opportunity to showcase their work to thousands of people and meet other artists and art lovers in their community.


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A pair of IDEX Biometrics executives have bought significant share holdings in the Norwegian fingerprint sensor specialist, according to mandatory trade notices from the company.
Two of the notices concern Stephen A. Skaggs, a member of IDEX’s board. One notice, issued August 21st, attests that Skaggs “bought 50,000 shares in IDEX in the Oslo Børs market at the equivalent of USD 0.1782 per share,” bringing his total number of IDEX shares to 100,000. The other notice, issued the following day, notes that Skaggs bought another 50,000 shares, this time “at the equivalent of USD 0.2021 per share,” bringing his IDEX share holdings to 150,000.
Skaggs is the newest member of IDEX Biometrics’ Board of Directors, appointed in late spring of this year. Skaggs boasts of 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, having served as CEO of Lattice Semiconductor for two of them.
IDEX’s other mandatory trade notice concerns another recent hire, Derek P. D’Antilio, who became the company’s new Chief Financial Officer in July. On August 22nd, D’Antilio bought 50,000 shares in IDEX at NOK 1.78 per share; as a result, he now holds 50,000 shares as well as “2,000,000 incentive subscription rights to shares in IDEX,” according to the company’s notice.
The share purchases come soon after IDEX’s Q2 update, in which the company emphasized its progress in gearing up for the emergence of biometric payment cards, an area in which IDEX has sought to establish itself as a supplier of fingerprint sensor technology used in such cards.
August 23, 2019 – by Alex Perala


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Price City recently made the announcement that the city is hosting an online surplus auction. The sale began on March 1 and will continue through March 20.
There are 18 vehicles and pieces of equipment for sale. These pieces have come to be available as there has been some remodeling and cleaning out citywide. There will also be items such as tables and chairs up for grabs.
Price City Public Works Director Miles Nelson stated that they wished to make the public aware that this is ongoing. He stated that they plan on conducting another sweep in two or three months as the city has a lot of items that need to be cleaned out or updated.
This online auction is the first auction since before the pandemic, and was declared and made official by the Price City Council in February. The item list is available on the public surplus website or Price City’s website.
Those that have questions regarding the surplus auction may contact Price Municipal at (435) 637-5010.


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The goodpurpose study is Edelman’s annual global research that explores consumer attitudes around social purpose, including their commitment to specific social issues and their expectations of brands and corporations. The survey was conducted in 13 countries among more than 7,000 adults. It is the only global study of its kind.
Edelman’s fourth annual goodpurpose® Study released today, indicates that consumers in emerging markets (Brazil, China, India, and Mexico) are the most likely to purchase and promote brands that support good causes, outpacing the UK and other developed economies in the West; nearly 8 in 10 consumers in both Brazil and Mexico are likely to buy products from companies that support good causes, compared to just over half (54%) in major European economies.
Although consumers in emerging markets now outrank their peers in developed economies in commitment to social purpose, UK citizens maintain a high level of interest and engagement in causes. The 2010 findings indicate that for nearly half of UK consumers, purpose is more important than design, innovation or brand loyalty as a purchase trigger, when quality and price are the same. Despite the prolonged recession, nearly two-thirds of UK consumers report that they are likely to buy and recommend products and services from companies that support a good cause. As UK consumer involvement rises, their expectation of brands and companies remains high, with nearly 9 out of 10 UK consumers believing that businesses need to place at least equal weight on society’s interests as those of business.
Key UK Findings
- 85% believe that business needs to place at least equal weight on society’s interests as on business’ interests
- 68% of respondents believe corporations are in a uniquely powerful position to make a positive impact on good causes
66% of consumers would be more likely to purchase a product from a company that supports good causes and has fair prices than a company that offers deep discounts but does not support good causes
- 65% believe corporations and the public working together to support a good cause can do more for a good cause than either corporations or the public can do on their own
- 63% would buy a company’s products or services if the company actively supported a good cause
- 62% would recommend a company’s products or services if the company actively supported a good cause
- 59% would share positive opinions/experiences about a company if the company actively supported a good cause
57% believe it is no longer enough for corporations to simply give money away to good causes, they need to integrate good causes into their day-to-day business
- 52% have a better opinion of corporations that integrate good causes into their business, regardless of the reasons why they do so
For the full report, please visit goodpurposecommunity.com.
For recent blog posts, please also visit the goodpurpose community site. Anne Augustine, Head of Sustainibility writes about consumers wanting brands to make it easier for them to make a positive difference in the world.


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Froogle's search results will remain separate from Google Base. However, the Froogle Merchant Center is being replaced by the Google Base dashboard. Items submitted to Google Base which are appropriate for Froogle will be displayed both in Froogle and in Google Base search results.In other words, it's another step towards Google Base becoming an all-purpose mart that can provide eBay-like ecommerce services for a broad array of content, goods and services. Just a minor technical migration, right? Thinking of the "Google Health is coming" meme that was circulating a few weeks back when in fact it was Google Coop that was coming along, it generally pays to look at some of the little details that come along from the Googleplex to see how the big picture is developing.
Monday, June 5, 2006
Heads Up: Froogle's Admin Hooks Migrate to Google Base
I've been in an email exchange with someone who insists that weblogs don't break important news. Well, here's a wonderful and simple example at Search Engine Roundtable. What does it mean that the administration of Google's Froogle online shopping service is migrating to Google Base? Not much, according to Google's Help Pages:


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B2B conversational marketing platform Drift has announced that Scott Ernst will become CEO while co-founder David Cancel will take on the role of executive chairman. Co-founder Elias Torres will continue in the CTO role. Cancel and Torres are a rare example of Latinx co-founders in the martech space.
Ernst spent over five years at market research and digital marketing company Macromill, leading it through a successful IPO, and was most recently CEO at social video measurement company Tubular Labs.
Cancel, who has led Drift for more than seven years, had previously become Chief Product Officer at HubSpot when his CX optimization company Performable was acquired. He was also the founder of Ghostery. Under his leadership, Drift reached a greater than $1 billion valuation, and built a global base of over 5,000 customers.
Why we care. Drift is unquestionably a success story and Cancel has been a very familiar figure as leader, not least on-stage at the Drift Hypergrowth events. We’ll be watching to see the direction Ernst takes the platform.
“I’m excited to continue to invest my time in Drift in this new capacity and role, while seeing the incredible journey Scott will lead Drift on as the company continues to mature,” said Cancel in a release.
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A lace wedding dress, a cat lady coat and a circus-inspired ensemble -- stars are rocking all the wrong trends this week!
Adrienne Bailon caught everyone's attention on the red carpet at Effy Jewelry's 35th anniversary in New York City on Monday -- and not in a good way.
"The Real" talk show host donned a white lace gown with a white bodysuit underneath that looked like a cheap wedding dress.
Hailee Steinfeld earned the top spot on our toodrab list this week for the cat lady coat that she wore to Miu Miu's show at New York Fashion Week.
Isn't she a little too young to be devoting her life to a dozen furry felines?
And, Lil' Mama seemed to be channeling a circus ringleader at the premiere of "About Last Night" in Hollywood on Tuesday.
She walked the red carpet wearing an oversized white blouse, too tight yellow pants and odd white knee-high boots, which featured a gold ring instead of a classic stiletto heel. Not to mention, she topped off her look with an orange-tinted, clown-inspired 'do!
It may be time for the rapper to hire a new stylist.
But they weren't alone -- see more of this week's worst dressed stars in the gallery above!


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Talking Biz News Deputy Editor Erica Thompson reached out to Qwoted’s community of experts, including Vendavo CEO Bruno Slosse, to inquire about supply chain disruptions that have fueled inflation concern.
Before the pandemic, supply chains were being “sweated” the same way capital intensive businesses push their assets for peak utilization and minimal downtown: working to utilize any spare capacity. For supply chains, that often meant rationalizing suppliers and input alternatives. When everything is fine, running on the razor’s edge works, but it puts more eggs into fewer baskets.
When things aren’t going well – when volatility strikes, and there’s no “spare” left in your supply chain, and there are fewer (if any) options to bring in new suppliers and it becomes a recipe for extreme volatility. Many folks respond to volatility by locking in stability – often paying for that stability with an added premium and with this the inflation fire is fueled.


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Purdue Student Farm helping to stock pantries
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Despite not having the usual vendors available, the Purdue Student Farm continues to produce food and is now supplying Food Finders Food Bank and the on-campus ACE Food Pantry with fresh produce.
Horticulture and landscape architecture professor Steve Hallett says they have donated 100 bags of fresh greens to Food Finders every Monday and Thursday during the pandemic.
“There is a possibility that there may be some shortages of fresh vegetables as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in donations to organizations such as Food Finders, and we want to do our part for our community,” Hallett said
Student farm manager Chris Adair says leafy greens are what’s most currently available and says they will continue to donate food as crops continue to grow.
“We’re going to run the farm for as long and as normally as possible,” he continued. “We try to always promote the idea that access to healthy food is essential for every community, not just during times like this.”
Workers on the farm are taking extra precautions, including being divided among two small groups that don’t interact, practicing social distancing while harvesting and packaging and workers are wearing gloves and masks at all times while handling food.
The farm is taking extra precautions to keep its student employees and beneficiaries safe and healthy. This involves dividing into two small groups that never interact with each other and keeping employees a safe distance apart while harvesting or packaging. Additionally, while handling food and packaging, students wear masks and gloves at all times.
“We are planning for the rest of the season,” Hallett says. “It is sowing and planting time. We hope we will be able to sell to the dining halls by the end of the summer, but if not, we will sell directly to the community and we will continue to donate.”


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Ivory Coast is the largest producer of a cocoa-the key ingredient in chocolate.
World’s most prominent cocoa farmer has power shortage issues which affect on their cocoa production. Ivory Coast cocoa production might fall by 40% to 25,000 tons in May and decline even further in June.
Since late April, the Ivory coast’s power generation has dropped. The power shortage caused households and businesses to fume and cut power supplies to neighboring West African countries Mali and Burkina Faso.
The industry regulator, the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC), said it would allow grinders to export and process beans elsewhere. Mainly, they can export in their European or American factories.
Sources said that this situation may still cause beans to accumulate in warehouses. It may increase the price of semi-finished products due to the difficulty of exporters to fulfill their contracts on time.
GEPEX includes multinational companies such as Cargill, Barry Callebaut, Olam, and Cemoi. All of them have established grinding plants on the Ivory Coast.
Ivory coast factories can not work with a maximum capacity
The total grinding capacity of the Ivory Coast is 712,000 tons.
Ivory Coast usually grinds 45,000 to 49,000 tons of beans every month. Grinders said that if the power outage is not stopped, it could drop to 20,000 tons by June. Ivory coast’s ground production in April was 42,000 tons.
In the April to mid-September crop, about 80% of soybeans are purchased by grinders, and they prefer smaller beans. The decline in purchases will be a blow for farmers who have been hit by low prices.
Due to the power outage, every grinder company uses only 50% capacity, or even less.
Sources from other grinding companies stated that they have stopped producing cocoa butter, powder and cakes, only producing cocoa nuggets.
There is only one company, ICP, that stated that its factory operates at total capacity. However, it can only rely on diesel generators, which increases costs.


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OBI donates first Copper River salmon sale to nonprofit supporting restaurants
The highly anticipated Copper River salmon season, which opens Tuesday, 18 May, has chefs, seafood retailers, and consumers paying top-dollar for the first fish to be caught and sent to the mainland United States from Alaska.
Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based OBI Seafoods opted to donate some of its first fish to the Seattle nonprofit We Got This Seattle, which supports frontline workers and Seattle restaurants.
The fish will be flown from Cordova, Alaska, to Seattle via Alaska Airlines and then delivered to Taku restaurant for a five-course Copper River salmon dinner prepared by well-known chefs.
The public was invited to bid on seats at the dinner, which will be prepared by James Beard-nominated chef Shota Nakajima, who is competing on season 18 of Bravo’s Top Chef; Byron Gomez, a chef and competitor on Top Chef; Matt Broussard, formerly of Tom Douglas restaurants; Zoi Antonitsas, formerly of Westward and a former Top Chef competitor; and Luke Koplin, formerly of Noma.
“This year has been a tough one for all of us – especially the restaurant industry,” OBI Seafoods CEO Mark Palmer said in a press release. “The start of the Alaska salmon season is always something to celebrate, and we are happy to provide this special fish to support We Got This Seattle, our frontline workers, and our restaurant community.”
Due to the high demand every year at the start of the season, there is short supply and not enough fish to go around for the first few openers, Palmer told SeafoodSource.
“We supply many restaurants and grocery stores and everyone is clamoring for the fish as soon as the season opens especially on the West Coast. This drives high prices that normally settle out after the first few openings, depending on how fast the run builds,” Palmer said.
Palmer said he hopes that this year’s run is better than projected, “but we will have to wait to see how it goes.” It is too early to tell how Copper River salmon pricing will end up, but executives will know more in a couple of weeks, he said.
Alaskan Salmon Founder Kyle Lee said, like last year, he expects Copper River salmon prices to be high due to a projected low run of the fish, with a projected allowable commercial harvest of 672,000 sockeye and only 13,000 kings.
Alaskan Salmon launched a direct-to-consumer online business this spring, which offers a VIP waitlist for Americans who want to be the first to have Copper River king and sockeye salmon delivered directly to their homes. In early May, more than 4,000 consumers were on the VIP list.
Image courtesy of Stephanie Forrer


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Ankita Gupta added new article
The Ifuture Apple Store India Is a Much-Anticipated
Apple fans in India, get ready to rejoice! The tech giant is set to launch its first-ever Apple store India. This store will be a one-stop-shop for all Apple products, from iPhones to Macbooks, and everything in between. The store will provide a premium shopping experience, complete with interactive displays, expert support, and hands-on demonstrations of the latest Apple products. Apple has...
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Wekfest, one of many car shows that is widely known around the world, kicked off its 2020 tour right here in Honolulu on Saturday.
What makes the Hawaii shows so unique is the different styles they bring. James Masao, 25, who participated in the show with his 2014 Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, was one of two AMGs in the show. His car is unique because it’s the first of its model to be entered in a car show in Hawaii.
Masao has over $23,000 worth of modifications done to his car. Most of his modifications are toward performance parts, which makes his car push more than 800 horsepower.
“I wanted my car to be in competition with the other Benz, but only one guy put his in the show and I can honestly say, it will be close for the both of us to win something,” said Masao, who graduated from Chaminade in 2014. “Nobody else in the European class can compete with us.”
Wekfest, which has been coming to Oahu since 2011, is a car show that displays a variety of vehicles: cars, trucks, motorcycles and even bicycles. The event workers divide the room into sections of car clubs and then categories of what the club has to offer. There were also sponsor tents and venders that support the show and drivers. Some sponsors such as Toyo Tires and Volcano E-Cigs come every year to and showcase their new line of products coming out.
The car clubs that entered have unique styles and presence toward their club. Sexii Munkii Garage, known locally as SMG, is a club on Oahu that was founded in 2007 and carries the fastest and most expensive cars. Most of the cars consist of Toyota Supras and Nissan GTRs, which cost at least $60,000 per car, not including the modifications can run up to $100,000 or more. Other clubs go for style and looks and not so much performance.
Pure V.I.P. is a club that consists of luxury cars. Their style consists of an expensive look to it, meaning big-name brand rims, lowest to the ground and the interior has to be as if you were sitting in a mini mansion. Most of the cars in the club consists of Lexus, Infiniti and Toyotas. Lexus LS430 was the most common luxury car at the show. Yet they were all so different because of the rims, body kits and color combinations.
“I like doing this not only because of the attention that I get, but also because it makes me feel happy to drive in general,” said Marcus Sumida, a 21-year-old car enthusiast who attends Wekfest every year. “Just hearing my car, being in my car and seeing my car every day always puts a smile on my face.”
The next big car show here in Honolulu will be Spocom on June 6 at the Neil Blaisdell Center.


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Ontario will close its tire recycling agency at the end of 2018, leaving auto dealers “very concerned” about how used tires will be disposed of and who will pay for it.
Minister of the Environment Glen Murray said the Ontario Tire Stewardship will be replaced by the new Waste-Free Ontario Act, designed to improve the recycling process.
The move comes after a lengthy Toronto Star investigation found the stewardship, which works at arm’s length from the provincial government, spent thousands of dollars on luxury trips, fine wine and donations to the Ontario Liberals.
The stewardship controlled the collection and movement of used tires in Ontario. Its work was paid for through “eco fees” charged to consumers every time they bought new tires in Ontario.
Retailers collected $70 million annually for the stewardship, according to The Toronto Star.
Frank Notte, spokesman for the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association, said what happens after 2018 “is the big question.”
The Toronto Star reports “the goal of the new law is to force producers and retailers to take individual responsibility for their products by creating innovative recycling programs.”
In an email to Automotive News Canada, the Ministry of Environment said producers will be on the hook for tire recycling.
“Under the Waste-Free Ontario Act, which came into force in November 2016, producers will be fully responsible for the recovery and reduction of waste associated with their products and packaging,” the statement reads. “This new framework gives producers a choice on how to manage their waste, including opportunities to use the most cost effective approach, while maintaining or improving recycling standards.
Notte said based on information the government has provided TADA to date, it’s unclear to dealers how Ontario’s new tire recycling regime will operate and impact them.
“We are very concerned the Ontario Government will place additional responsibilities on dealers when it comes to recycling tires,” Notte said. “Auto dealers provide sales and service to Ontario’s driving public. We are not experts in creating and running recycling programs – that should be the government’s job with consultation from industry.
“The new system should not become an added administrative or financial burden on the auto sector. In order to make recycling tires successful, participation in a new program should be quick and easy, with little-to-no administrative burdens.”


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Genentech Inc. had used gene splicing techniques to produce commercial quantities of human growth hormone, but lacked the ability to test, manufacture and market the product on a worldwide basis.
So the growing biotech firm agreed in 1978 to give a Swedish company the rights to produce and market the substance outside the United States and Canada in return for royalties and supply contracts.
Genentech, founded in 1976, says it has about a dozen such relationships with foreign companies in Japan and Europe -- companies that provided essential capital during the company's start-up years.
This pattern of cooperation dates back to the birth of the industry, in research laboratories all over the world. International cooperation in investment and research support also helped launch the companies that are turning scientific breakthroughs into commercial products.
But as the industry prepares to market these products, some of the U.S. and foreign biotechnology partners will be confronting each other as competitors. However, most experts say the continued sharing of technology will help, not hurt, U.S. firms. Genentech says the economic and scientific benefits of cooperating with foreign business partners outweigh the danger of sharing its technical expertise with potential rivals.
"These arrangements are vital to our growth," said Thomas D. Kiley, a Genentech vice president, adding that the company tries to "retain the technology whenever possible."
The United States leads the world in the commercialization of biotechnology, with more companies, scientists, research institutions and financial investment in biotechnology than any other nation.
That lead could be challenged, however, by Japan and several European countries that have made biotechnology a national industrial priority and have committed government resources to encouraging its growth.
"The issue has been raised; there is a sensitivity on the part of many companies . . . ," said Harvey Price, executive director of the Industrial Biotechnology Association. "But for most companies, at the present stage of development, relationships between corporations that cut across national lines are beneficial to both parties. The technology exchange goes both ways."
The U.S. Office of Technology Assessment said in a report that "most observers would agree that currently the net flow of biotechnology transfer is outward from the United States," and added that the long-term effect on U.S. competitiveness is unknown.
In the short run, business ties between U.S. and foreign firms serve domestic companies as a means to enter foreign markets, an important source of investment capital, a channel of technological exchange and an avenue of scientific progress.
No estimate is available on the number or value of business ties between U.S. and foreign biotech firms. The U.S. Commerce Department, in a report on biotechnology, listed a sample of 41 agreements between U.S. and foreign biotech firms, including 20 between U.S. and Japanese companies, and 53 agreements between Japanese and non-Japanese biotech firms.
Most of the agreements listed involve licensing and marketing arrangements for pharmaceuticals. Japan is the second-largest pharmaceutical market after the United States, and companies that want to enter that market have found it helpful to have a Japanese business partner. "You need a Japanese partner to be successful in Japan -- it's just the nature of the marketplace," said Barry Weiner, executive vice president of Enzo Biochem Inc., of New York City. Enzo has given Meiji Seika, of Japan, worldwide rights to market a pregnancy test using monoclonal antibodies produced by Enzo, in return for royalties and supply contracts.
E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., the giant chemical, energy and life sciences conglomerate, has teamed with Sankyo Pharmaceutical Co. of Japan for the same reason. "The culture makes it hard to crack the Japanese market without a Japanese partner in the pharmaceutical business," said Jurg A. Schneider, director of product licensing in Du Pont's biomedical products department. "The negative aspect is you must give up half the potential returns."
Du Pont and Sankyo have formed a joint venture to market pharmaceutical products developed by Du Pont. "We must give technical information to them," Schneider said, adding that Du Pont is not giving away trade secrets involving "basic innovation."
Amgen, a firm based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., has formed a joint venture with Kirin Brewery, of Japan, to produce and market a hormone used for treating anemia. "Absolutely, we gave them the technology in this case," said Amgen President George B. Rathmann, referring to the gene splicing technique used.
The economic advantages of such relationships, at least in the short term, far outweigh the possible technological risks, especially for young companies with high research costs and few, if any, product sales.
Foreign capital can be attractive, and perhaps addictive, at a time when the stock market has cooled to biotech firms and venture money is flowing less freely.
Kirin put in "the bulk of the money, and guaranteed the funding needed to bring our product to market," Rathmann said. Amgen retains rights to market the product in the United States, Kirin has rights to the Japanese market and Kirin-Amgen Inc. has rights to the rest of the world.
Many small companies say they prefer foreign companies as business partners because the large U.S. pharmaceutical and chemical companies do not want to give up rights to the U.S. market.
"The most difficult thing in the world" is to go to a U.S. company and ask them to forgo rights to the world's biggest pharmaceutical market, said Genentech's Kiley.
"Any small biotech company has two goals, to establish its long-term viability as a business in the U.S market and to raise the cash to develop its products in the short term," Rathmann said, discussing the benefits of Kirin-Amgen. "There are few deals as useful in meeting these goals."
"It is necessary for start-up companies to fund operations from sources other than sales revenue," said Kiley. "It often means trading future rights to moneyed organizations with a lesser grasp on the technology. We are technology-rich, but less well-heeled."