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In recent weeks a raging economic and political war has been heating up between India and Pakistan as India lodged an application to the European Union Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) commonly known as Geographical Indication (GI) for the exclusive claim of basmati as Indian grown rice which will, in turn, give India rights to export basmati rice to the EU.
Pakistani rice exporters will then be barred from accessing the lucrative EU market for their basmati rice exports if India is successful in registering the Basmati rice as their geographical product with the EU GIs commission for registration.
The size of Indian rice exports is over 4.4 million tons with a value of $6.6 billion, which makes up 65 percent of global basmati rice exports compared to Pakistan's 300 000 tons with an estimated export value of $2.2 billion.
The basmati rice industry is one that Pakistan heavily contributes to and relies on. Pakistan contributes 35 percent of global basmati rice exports and its trade with the EU has grown from 120 000 tons in 2017 to 300 000 tons in 2019.
The problem arose in recent years when Indian basmati exports were declining due to the failure to comply with EU phytosanitary import regulations. The crop protection pesticide used by Indian farmers was also not accepted by EU food and drink importation rules.
Pakistan, which is a much smaller producer of basmati rice compared to India, has tighter production and export regulations and is meeting EU standards for importation. Pakistan has increased her market share in the EU market.
Technically, Indian regulatory bodies should be looking into increasing hygiene standards and pesticide control in basmati rice production, but they rather chose to eliminate and marginalise Pakistan basmati rice exports to the EU.
India did this by lodging an application for basmati rice production exclusivity rights to the EU GI commission for registration.
The EU GIs has given both countries a time frame to resolve this matter amicably by September this year.
This also raises serious concerns about why South Africa's custom and excise have not banned the Indian basmati rice into South Africa as the EU has done.
The EU-wide system for GIs was first introduced in 1992 and has been revised twice since then in 2006 and 2012. By 2009, GI systems were already used in 167 countries and regions.
The EU system has two major types of GI. Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) are very similar to the French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system.The GI has three pillars to its system for approval - market size, price premium and rural development.
Analysing these GIs, parameter market size and price premium is quantitative analysis, but the impact of GI product endorsement on rural development is a qualitative analysis.
The GI registrar commission will consider the fact that India claims to be the sole cultivator of basmati rice to be baseless as it is a geo-sub-regional cultivation share between India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kashmir, Sri-lanka, and other variants of basmati do cultivate in Indonesia and Mozambique.
Basmati rice has a typical pandan-like (Pandanus amaryllifolius) flavour caused by the aroma compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. Basmati grains contain about 0.09 ppm of this aromatic chemical compound naturally, a level that is about 12 times as much as non-basmati rice varieties, giving basmati its distinctive fragrance and flavour.
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, basmati, brown, wild, short and long grain rice has a "medium" glycemic index (between 56 and 69) as opposed to jasmine and "instant" white rice with a glycemic index of 89, thus making it more suitable for diabetics as compared to certain other grains and products made from white flour.
The rice war in India and Pakistan have multidimensional repercussions, political, economic, socio-economical, moral and ethical.
There had been diplomatic heated exchanges taking place between India and Pakistan’s trade and economic department.
If this Indian application does get a successful hearing at the EU GIs commission for registration, then the economic impact on Pakistani exports to the EU market will suffer a blow which will directly affect the socio-economic conditions of thousands of basmati rice farmers and their families who solely rely on the income as cooperative growers of basmati rice in Pakistan.
Economically it will affect Pakistan in foreign exchange earnings.
The Indian application for the basmati rice GI tag is misplaced, and India needs to understand, appreciate and accept that basmati rice was cultivated in the Indian-subcontinent for centuries, well before the region was divided into India and Pakistan.
Giving the ownership right of basmati rice to India is nothing short of lunacy and it is morally and ethically sub-standard trade practice.
It is a tradition of the Indian government to deal with bilateral issues with Pakistan in this manner since the partition and birth of two nations in 1947.
Let’s look at the issue of Kashmir when Indian forces illegally landed in Srinagar on October 27, 1947’ under a false pretext of Maharaja invitation and signing of the “Instrument of Accession” to India Union.
The original copy of such a document is still to be presented to the UN and ICC by India.
The matter of Kashmir could have been amicably resolved through dialogue between India and Pakistan, but unfortunately, India approached the UNSC to intervene, and today the matter is unresolved and it is the longest unresolved matter of territorial dispute between two countries on the UNSC agenda.
This is not the only issue, it was the same in Hyderabad, Junagadh, Manavadar, Sir Creek, Saichen Glacier with Pakistan, Kalapani and Susta territories with Nepal and Bhutan, and Tibet with China.
It is hoped that sanity will prevail and India will learn to live peacefully with her neighbours and adopt a policy of “Live and let Live.
Between 1839 and 1842, British forces fought a war in China that benefited drug smugglers. Their subsequent victory in the conflict opened up the lucrative Chinese trade to British merchants.
In this case, the final winner will be Pakistan as this saga will promote Pakistani’s basmati rice export to lucrative markets of Europe, Asia and the United States.
The battle between India and Pakistan is not all about biryani, but the key ingredient which is basmati rice.
* Salman Khan is a human rights activist and an independent political analyst of South East Asia.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of IOL and Independent Media.


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World Trade Organization talks: rich vs poor nations as all try and salvage the Doha agenda
Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (L) stands along side her Kenyan counterpart-Uhuru Kenyatta (C) and WTO's Director General-Roberto Azevedo arrives at the opening of the Tenth ministerial conference in Nairobi, Kenya. (AFP/Tony Karumba)
Efforts to agree on a fair free trade system for poor and rich countries could face a setback this week at ministerial World Trade Organization (WTO) discussions in Nairobi, if the Doha round of talks that was started 14 years ago breaks down.
What was the aim of the Doha round?
In November 2001, industrialized, emerging and developing countries agreed in Qatar's capital that they would work to liberalize global trade. Customs barriers were to be removed and markets were to be opened to everyone. Developing countries were to be supported so that they could profit from trade and escape from poverty. However, the Doha process seems to have hit a dead end.
Has there been no progress at all over the past 14 years?
The WTO members, currently 162 countries, have found agreement on parts of the ambitious Doha agenda. In 2013, they closed a deal to simplify customs bureaucracy around the world, which would result in significantly lower costs for exporters and importers. However, the agreement has not come into force because 51 WTO countries have yet to ratify it.
Is there any hope for the Doha process?
The United States effectively declared it dead ahead of the Nairobi conference. The world's biggest economy is calling for new approaches. Large emerging countries such as China, India or Brazil want to continue the Doha round, no matter what it takes.
Why do emerging economies hold on to the talks?
They want to keep their status as developing countries within WTO, enabling them to profit from special trade conditions reserved for poorer economies. They and most of the developing countries want to keep negotiating until all the development issues on the Doha agenda have been addressed.
Why are rich countries opposed to this approach?
The US, the European Union and others argue that global trade has changed since 2001. Many once poor countries have turned into significant players, for example in the markets for electronics, alternative energy technology or cars. This includes South Korea and China.
Could Nairobi yield any real results?
There might be agreements in some areas, such as implementing an agreement on around 200 IT products. The WTO says this could greatly reduce costs for tariffs and for storing merchandise during customs procedures. In addition, WTO ministers are expected to extend measures that help poor countries import medicines and produce generic version of brand-name drugs.
What is the most contentious issue?
An agreement on scrapping government subsidies for domestic farming sectors is not within sight. The US wants all countries to open up their agricultural markets and to end government support for food prices and the farming industry. However, development organizations charge that the US and the EU continue to protect their farmer from global competition.
Is there no chance for a compromise?
The EU, Brazil, Argentina and a number of other developing countries have come up with a possible compromise that aims to reduce subsidies over the long term. It proposes to scrap government support for exports.
Is this a promising approach?
The EU's export subsidies for the farming sector do not play a significant economic role. Ending them would be a mostly symbolic gesture.
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Chinese consumers are increasingly warming up to the concept of "leftover blind boxes" — or randomly packed boxes of unsold food and beverages available at discounted rates — as a way of preventing food wastage and saving costs.
Merchants are using these "mystery gift boxes" as a promotional tool to attract more environmentally conscious consumers, especially younger ones.
"We launch leftover blind boxes when there is food nearing its expiry date at the end of the day. We pack products such as milk, bread, cake, and sandwiches in blind boxes, and sell these at half the price. Usually, the blind boxes are sold out quickly," said Wu Tian, a staff member at a convenience chain store in Beijing.
WeChat's leftover blind box mini program Xishi Magic Bag is registered with several bakery brands such as Bread Talk, Dim Sum Bureau of Momo, Withwheat and KenGee, and offers blind boxes containing bread to consumers.
Xishi Magic Bag usually launches blind boxes at 7 pm every day. They are priced between 11.9 yuan ($1.7) and 15.9 yuan, and contain two bread loaves whose original price tag is around 40 yuan.
"I often browse the mini-program and buy the leftover blind boxes. It saves money and prevents food waste. I enjoy it a lot," said Zhang Kai, a loyal consumer of Xishi Magic Bag.
Currently, Xishi Magic Bag is available in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Changsha in Hunan province and Chengdu in Sichuan province.
People in cities where the mini-program is not available currently have requested to launch the service quickly.
"Leftover blind boxes, as a new business mode, are very promising. They have great advantages in terms of price, and can attract more consumers," said Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the e-commerce research department of the Ministry of Commerce. "In addition, they conform to the concept of zero-waste and environmental protection. Therefore, they are gaining popularity among consumers."
This year marks the second anniversary of the passage of China's Anti-Food Waste Law.
In March, the State Administration for Market Regulation launched a three-month special drive to stop the wastage of food and beverages.
By the end of May, more than 2 million food and beverage enterprises were investigated, over 27,000 food and beverage waste problems were spotted, and penalties were imposed in 8,986 cases.
Though leftover blind boxes benefit people, they also come with food safety issues.
Some consumers have complained that they received poor quality from leftover blind boxes, and became sick after eating the food.
Zheng Lei, chief economist at cloud services provider Smydigtech, said that a supervisory mechanism should be established to ensure the food safety of leftover blind boxes.
"As food and beverages can be contaminated during production, transportation and storage, qualified suppliers should be selected to ensure the quality of products. Leftover blind box providers should standardize their operations to satisfy consumers," Hong said.


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Nandan Nilekani, the recently appointed Infosys Chairman, giving a clean chit to the company's acquisition of Israeli firm Panaya Ltd in 2015, and absolving the previous board and former CEO Vishal Sikka, has left N.R. Narayana Murthy fuming.
Nandan Nilekani is back at Infosys as its non-executive chairman, an initiative welcomed by the company's beleaguered investors.
RBI Governor Urjit Patel and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian are at loggerheads over policy rates.
On her second visit to India, Safra Catz, CEO, Oracle. spoke on a range of topics - the immigrant issue in the US, start-ups, GST and the India plans of Oracle.
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Aurica Motors today announced plans to take over the Nummi automotive plant run by Toyota in Fremont, California. When Toyota vacates, Aurica wants to make all-electric cars with swappable batteries at the plant. The company claims that its "Recurve" drivetrain allows Aurica's car to go farther on a charge than competing cars can.
"Aurica's drivetrain holds the secret to increasing range," the company's website says. (The drivetrain is not associated with Recurve, the energy-efficiency retrofitter.)
It's not the only secret. Other ones are: who are these guys? Where did they come from? Who backs them? The maiden press release says the company was founded by a noted Silicon Valley physicist and that its scientists have worked three years on developing the drivetrain. There is an illustration of the battery swap system at this link: It is the thing that looks like the entrance to a wedding chapel in Reno.
The car will cost less than half as much as the cars that sell in the $100,000 range like the Tesla Roadster, it claims. If the company can get federal funding, Aurica says it will be able to retain the 4,700 Nummi employees and come out with a car in two years. Whether Aurica has an application for funding in, however, is unknown. There's virtually no chance that millions would pour in to save the factory by April even if Aurica had applied for funds a long time ago.
Ideas for reviving Nummi have been fielded by the company since the closure became certain.


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Coinbase has been ordered by Apple to remove the crypto collectible game War Riders from their iOS Wallet’s listing soon after they enabled native support for the game’s NFT (non-fungible token).
Soon after the crypto collectible game War Riders was featured on the Coinbase Wallet iOS app, Apple ordered Coinbase to remove it from their iOS Wallet’s listing.
War Riders is a next generation, post-apocalyptic MMO strategy game of crypto mining and blowing up cars. The game revolutionizes blockchain asset trading by introducing the first ever, in-game item marketplace truly owned by its users. The goal is to build your own customized war vehicle for the purpose of mining Benzene (BZN), and decimating your enemies. There are 2 ways for players to earn BZN: the first is by driving through waypoints, and the second is raiding other players and stealing their coins.
On Monday, Coinbase enabled native hosting of the dapp’s NFTs on its app. That day, War Riders got native support for its NFT (non-fungible token) on Coinbase, which means that the game can be found not only by name, but also by purchasing NFTs, and the purchase will be shown in the wallet.
On Tuesday, Vlad Kartashov, CEO of Cartified, the company behind the game, said that War Riders was no longer showing up as “featured dapp” within the Coinbase Wallet at all. He said:
“I’m not sure what’s exactly bad with people wanting to play games.”
There is no any specific rule in Apple’s app store that prohibits non-fungible tokens, however, the decision towards cryptocurrency and NFTs are often against them. For example, Coinbase was once removed from the App Store, as well as Trust Wallet. Viktor Radchenko, the CEO of Trust Wallet, said:
“Apple is not happy with digital goods. They told us to remove all digital good dapps or Trust Wallet would be remove from the App Store within two weeks.”
“Experience with Apple is just terrible. No communication from there on how to work with NFT’s or even with cryptocurrencies.”
A Coinbase spokesperson said:
“Quick heads up – we will be removing from the iOS version as we’re not able to highlight dapps that facilitate purchase of digital goods.”
Apple is famous for being not very friendly to cryptocurrencies, and it is not the first time that Apple has halted cryptocurrency transactions on Coinbase. It also removed SaruTobi, a game that allows players to collect Bitcoin. However, one of Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak is a Bitcoin evangelist who has remained much vocal about his fascination with the world’s largest currency. Recently, Wozniak became a part of crypto startup Equi Capital. Wozniak said that this would be for the very time he will be working with a blockchain-focused firm and also added that he “was amazed at the technology behind [cryptocurrency].”


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BY DAVID ROSARIO
Several blocks of Bell Boulevard in Bayside will close this Sunday for the Bayside Village BID Sunday Stroll, which gives residents and shoppers the chance to leisurely take in all the shops and restaurants the strip has to offer.
Two blocks of the boulevard between 39th and 41st avenues will close from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 27 for the stroll, which is sponsored by the Bayside Village Business Improvement District and the city’s Department of Transportation.
The Sunday Stroll aims to create an opportunity for pedestrians to be able to walk around and enjoy the area without any vehicular interference.
Unlike the traditional city street fair, Bell Boulevard will not be filled with vendors or stands of any kind. It instead will be left vacant for the purposes of providing more space for the community to walk across this stretch.
All of the dining and retail establishments on this two-block stretch will have the option to display their merchandise in front of their businesses on the sidewalk, but all transactions must be made inside of the businesses themselves.
The walk is subject to cancellation due to any inclement weather. Families from Bayside and beyond are invited to come out and enjoy all of the great programs and activities planned for the day.


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The Body Shop confronts closures beyond the UK, employee layoffs and an excess of beauty ingredients after being sold to Aurelius in November, coupled with the recent administration filing of its UK arm.
The Body Shop’s fair trade suppliers, working with people from the Amazon and Africa, say they have over US$1 million worth of beauty ingredients that may never be ordered or paid for.
Recent reports reveal The Body Shop will shut up to half of its 198 stores in the UK and cut the size of its head office, incurring hundreds of job losses. According to the firm overseeing the restructuring of the beauty retailer, closures will begin this Tuesday.
Additionally, The Guardian asserts the Body Shop’s German stores are beginning to close down, a process that will reportedly soon continue in Belgium.
Natura &Co agreed to sell The Body Shop to the international private equity group Aurelius for £207 million (US$261 million). The value falls short of the £880 million (US$1.1 billion) that Natura &Co paid L’Oréal to buy the retailer in September 2017.
Beauty ingredient surplus
The Body Shop operates 18 community fair trade partnerships worldwide. Several suppliers told The Guardian they could be left with hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock if the business goes bankrupt. This money is said to be “very meaningful” to families working for the suppliers and living on low incomes in remote areas.
The suppliers said they had no written contract with The Body Shop but had produced an agreed amount of product for the brand for many years.
Most of the fair trade community projects do not directly supply the business but sell the ingredients to intermediaries such as oil refiners or one of the group’s more than 20 cosmetics and beauty product manufacturers.
The producers are concerned that they will not be paid if administrators do not pay manufacturers.
Store and staff cuts
The beauty retailer employs approximately 2,200 people in the UK, including 750 staff at its head office. The administrators say the cuts would “help re-energize” the brand.
Four stores will be affected in London, where rents and other costs are the most expensive. The chain’s remaining shops and the website will trade as normal as the restructuring proceeds.
“It is expected that at the conclusion of the restructuring, more than half of The Body Shop’s 198 UK stores will remain open,” says the administrator, FRP Advisory.
Currently, The Body Shop’s global franchises in the Middle East, Asia and Africa are unaffected by closures. However, it is selling most of its businesses across Europe and in parts of Asia to an international family office.
The retailer recently told Retail Week it will prioritize its “strategically important markets and global head franchise partner relationships, which it will look for opportunities to build…The ambition is to create a modern and dynamic beauty brand relevant to customers and able to compete for the long term.”
The BBC reports that consumer expert Kate Hardcastle, who spent time with The Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick, said the closures were a stark reminder of the current “volatile” retail landscape.
“However, relevance is equally crucial. A brand must evolve with its audience. The challenge lies in upholding these values and communicating them effectively to a generation that demands authenticity and action,” she highlights.
Staff said they would have to apply to the government-backed Redundancy Payments Service for their payoffs, with some having spent decades in the ethical business.
“It’s a shocking way to treat people,” one insider told The Guardian.
German and Belgian shutdowns
Reports say staff from The Body Shop were told that more than 60 stores and the head office in Germany, where the business employs approximately 400 people, were likely to close. An insolvency specialist, Dr. Biner Bähr, at the White & Case law firm, has been appointed to handle the German business.
Workers in Belgium, where the chain has approximately 16 stores and 50 employees, are also reported to have been told that administrators were to be appointed.
Sources tell The Guardian that The Body Shop’s operations in Ireland, Austria and Luxembourg, which together have about 20 stores and more than 100 staff, are also expected to be put into administration shortly. The Austrian and French websites were not operating last Friday.
By Sabine Waldeck
McCain Foods has completed the acquisition of Irish plant-based frozen food manufacturer Strong Roots. The acquisition follows McCain and Strong Roots’ strategic partnership, which began in 2021 and resulted from a $55 million investment.
Cargill partners with Voyage Foods to scale up alternatives to cocoa-based products to meet consumers’ indulgence needs. The commercial partnership will also provide food manufacturers with nut spreads produced with no nut or dairy allergens used in the recipe formulation.
L’Occitane International owner Reinold Geiger is reportedly close to taking the company private in a deal with Blackstone. The French skin care company’s filing halted trading of its Hong Kong-listed shares this week. This is the second time in months that the Australian billionaire has attempted a buyout.


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Although the company may not be able to summon supernatural help in its bid to become an alternative to the boob tube, it can't hurt to try. With an IPO in the offing, Digital Entertainment Network (DEN) yesterday unveiled new programming and music aimed at teens.
Hoping to persuade teenagers to view TV-like programs online instead of on cable networks such as the WB, DEN is targeting Net users aged 14 through 24 by streaming original programs, music, and sports and offering chat rooms. The company plans to make money through e-commerce, album sales, and sponsorships from such companies as Blockbuster, Microsoft, and Pepsi.
The network is no doubt targeting the most ferocious consumer and media market. But because of low production quality and internal management shake-ups, DEN faces major challenges when it comes to impressing Wall Street and viewers alike, analysts say.
"The most wired people on the Net tend to belong to 'Generation Y,' and they are also the most bored," said Ed Winter, DEN's chief marketing officer. "They discover the Blair Witches and South Parks--they have an appetite for original content."
DEN's new shows include AggroNation, an extreme sports show; ConfiDential, in which young people talk about their lives in a documentary-style setting; and Direct Drive, which is about the music DJ culture. On the music side, DEN has set up "listening posts" for streaming and purchasing CDs. The company also plans to sign recording artists and introduce them on the Net.
A chief obstacle facing DEN as it readies to try to raise $75 million through an IPO is that its programs could be crippled by the overall shortage of high-speed Net pipes, and that its shows are costly to produce. DEN reported a net loss of $20 million in the six months ended June 30, 1999, and did not generate any revenue during that period.
"The Net is not ready for linear, TV-style programming--the experience isn't great," said Patrick Keane, a senior analyst at Jupiter Communications. "It's going to cost a hell of a lot to build this brand without TV content partners as anchors. I just question if they can build an audience quick enough to support this model."
DEN's music strategy, on the other hand, is being closely watched.
"Video as entertainment is not going to be the killer application for the Web anytime soon," said Jupiter music analyst Mark Mooradian. "But downloading a song has gotten to be realistic for people, and signing bands and distributing them offline and online is their good idea here."
Despite its critics, DEN contends there is a market for six- to eight-minute shows based on research about teenagers and the box-office demand for independent films.
"The programs are grainy and not perfect, but it's more about originality, not production values and big screens," said DEN's Winter. "This generation wants original content, so the audience has been very forgiving."
Although some analysts are skeptical about the immediate future of TV-style programming for the Net, entertainment heavyweights are turning to the medium as a way to test ideas and distribute content. Animation and short films are especially heating up online.
Imagine Entertainment and DreamWorks SKG teamed with Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen to launch a Web entertainment company, Pop.com, last month. The site will allow users to view short live-action or animation clips, live events, and video on demand, which will last one to six minutes per episode.
With investors such as Warner Bros. Online, Seattle-based AtomFilms is gaining ground with its strategy to market short films online as well as offline to television stations and airlines. Since it launched in August, the company says it has delivered 1.5 million video steams per month via the Net.
"We are finding top talent and creating properties around them--the content is unique enough to drive an audience that is large," said Matt Hulett, chief marketing officer for Atom. "Short films work well online. People can fit us in like a digital water cooler break."
Atom said today that it plans to sell itself or take itself public next year, according to Bloomberg.
DEN's management turmoil a setback
Even with growing investment in the online video entertainment space and an estimated 1.5 million consumers already using high-speed Net connections, DEN faces other issues that could affect its IPO.
After filing to go public in September, three prominent executives abruptly left the company last month, including chairman and founder Marc Collins-Rector and executive vice presidents Chad Shackley and Brock Pierce.
The company also is trying to deflect reports that its executives are overpaid compared to those at other Net companies in which stock options outweigh salaries. For example, company president David Neuman makes $765,030 per year, according to DEN's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"The people that have been running this company and are running our company are our biggest asset right now," said DEN spokeswoman Anna Caldwell. "In terms of financials, I can't comment because we're in our quiet period."
The management issues could temper investors, however.
"Hollywood is late to the game, and they are catching Net equity at a quick rate, but its unsettling if you're an investor to see what has gone on at the company so far," Keane said.
Bloomberg contributed to this report.


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“This is the Real Meaning of ‘Bipartisanship’”
Yes, so no tax internet shopping harms some local retailers. The solution? Harm the internet retailers too. That’s government in one lesson. Hobble everyone.
Gruesome VIDEO of a man being killed by an endangered tiger after allegedly jumping into its moat at an Indian zoo. The man, named locally as Maqsood, is said to...Read More
Associate Professor of Economics, North Carolina State Univ.
The New Deal Was A Failure: Hoover and FDR Prolonged the Great Depression with Big Government The Center for Freedom
The End of the Internet as We Know It Tomorrow, the House Judiciary Committee will hold their first hearing on
Cross-posted on UNCOVERAGE.net The pantie-wetters on Wall Street were craving just one good thing, anything, before heading off to double


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“You will see the continuous expansion over the next year into many different categories,” says Rent the Runway CEO Jennifer Hyman. “Anything that you do not use every single day, we want to make it fiscally irresponsible for someone to not have a subscription to Rent the Runway. We’re trying to build the Amazon Prime of rental.”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled their Stadia game streaming platform at the 2019 Game Developers Conference in San Fransisco today. Stadia is designed to bring high-end gaming to Chrome and other devices and aims to eliminate the many barriers to gaming.
Direct to Consumer, or DTC, is a fundamental platform shift, according to former AOL and Verizon digital properties CEO Tim Armstrong. “There have been a couple times in my career where there has been what is basically a fundamental platform shift,” noted Armstrong. “I felt like direct-to-consumer was something that was going to be a platform shift.”
Pandora is considered the world’s most powerful music discovery platform, using algorithms to determine which music to play to a subscriber at any given time. The question is how do they do it so successfully?
Imagine just clicking a button on an app and having your cars gas tank filled while you are working at the office. That’s what Booster Fuels is currently doing. Booster has brought the on-demand business model to fuel and it’s extremely popular in its launch markets of SF Bay, San Diego, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.
SiriusXM CEO James Meyer says that Pandora will make Sirius subscribers more sticky and will overall reduce churn. Meyer indicates that Pandora’s focus on advertising revenue will also help Sirius monetize the two-thirds of auto sales free trials that don’t convert to a paying SiriusXM subscriber.
In the earning call SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer talked about adding 300,000 net new self-pay subs in the third quarter, Amazon partnership, Pandora Acquisition, Connected Vehicle initiatives paying off, and how it’s going with Automatic Labs, which they acquired last year.
The clothing as a service business model is not disruptive for clothing retailers says CaaStle founder and CEO Christine Hunsicker. “One of the big things about this technology is that it’s not disruptive.”


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Nautilus hires Linda Pearce as CFO
Nautilus Inc. has hired a veteran Portland financial executive as its new chief financial officer.
Pearce joins the Vancouver-based fitness equipment maker (NYSE: NLS) from Warn Industries, where she was CFO between 2000 and early 2012. Warn makes equipment and accessories for off-road vehicles. While at Warn, Pearce helped lead an evaluation of strategic options that eventually led to the acquisition of Warn by Dover Corp.
Pearce previously held financial management positions at Gardenburger and Blount International.
“We are excited to have Linda join our management team and are confident that given her strong financial background, combined with her strategic planning and operational experience, that she will provide significant contributions to our company as we continue to execute on our key strategic initiatives," said Nautilus CEO Bruce Cazenave in a statement. "Linda’s financial expertise will be instrumental as we design, launch, and market new products with a focus on continuing to improve product and operating margins.”
Pearce joins Nautilus as Cazenave, who took over as CEO in July 2011, continues to execute on a strategy designed to erase years of decline with new innovations and products.
The company has struggled in the past 12 months to remain in compliance with New York Stock Exchange listing regulations that require shares to remains above $1. Nautilus has managed to remain above the threshold recently despite a recent two-day 27 percent decline in its share price.
Nautilus shares lost more ground Monday, closing down 6.87 percent to $2.44. Its stock has traded between $1.35 and $3.64 over the past 52 weeks.
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Cabela's in Polaris offers more than 35 flavors daily.
National Fudge Day is June 16 and Cabela's is ready.
In what might be a little-known secret -- and then again, maybe not -- the sportsmen's paradise at Polaris takes the confection very seriously.
Cabela's, 1650 Gemini Place, has a recipe catalog of more than 50 flavors, 38 of which are offered daily.
They range from the traditional, such as chocolate, to the more exotic: red velvet, amaretto chocolate swirl and jalapeno.
The most popular options are peanut butter and chewy praline.
Anne Bauer, one of two fudge-makers at the store, said she's been making the rich treat since she was a little girl.
Bauer, who will be studying law at Ohio State University this fall, said when she applied for the job at Ca-bela's she had no idea she would be assigned to the store's cafe.
"They said, 'We want you to make fudge,' " she said. "I said, 'I'm so there.' "
And how does Cabela's fudge stack up against her homemade stuff?
"This is much better," she said.
One of the reasons, she said, is heat control. Cabela's uses two self-stirring kettles that are set up similar to a double-boiler and maintain a consistent temperature level.
They turn out 36 pounds, or six pans, per batch, each of which takes about 30 minutes to complete. It then takes a full day for the fudge to cool and set.
Cabela's uses Calico Cottage pre-mixed dry ingredients, although the store adds butter or sour cream and has some latitude to tweak the recipes, Bauer said.
Samples are free, but individual quarter-pound pieces are $3.50 and a six-piece box -- if you buy four you get two free -- is $14.
One might think that, as Cabela's plays to the rugged adventurer with its racks of camouflage clothing, guns, fishing gear and camping equipment, fudge would be the last specialty at the store.
Even the 46-seat cafe seems to salute the courageous eater by offering elk, wild boar and bison sandwiches.
But Derrek Shively, retail marketing manager for the Polaris Cabela's, said the explanation is simple: Fudge is a homey, rustic treat to which anyone can relate.
"Cabela's caters to more than just the hardcore hunter," Shively said.
Melissa Kinder, who runs the bakery at Smith Farm Market, which has locations on the Southeast Side of Columbus and in Gahanna, expects to see a bump in sales from National Fudge Day and Father's Day, which fall on the same date this year.
Kinder said her homemade fudge has been a big seller since she introduced it about six years ago when she took over the bakery.
"It's at least a top-five seller in our bakery, and we have lots of items," she said. "We probably have 600 to 800 items."
She sees fudge as somewhat of a lost art for the home cook, mainly because it's time consuming and difficult to maintain consistency.
Modern machinery has helped streamline the process for professional kitchens.
"When it's something that is one of your specialty items, you kind of do that to perfection," she said. "It comes out the same every single time."


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NFT seems to be getting very popular this year. Many Celebrities came onto it and now cricketer Yuvraj Singh has joined the bandwagon too. Yuvraj has tied up with a Colexion, a leading NFT marketplace in Asia. The company has launched the cricketer’s NFT in a unique style by launching his bat into space.
Non Fungible Tokens are digital assets that can be sold online by the author. They are unique in the sense that they are a non-interchangeable unit of data that is usually stored in the blockchain. In a video, Yuvraj Singh could be seen explaining why NFT will become popular in the coming years. When asked by a journalist about the NFT of a cricketer he would like to buy, Yuvraj Singh replied ‘Sachin Tendulkar’
The bat which was launched into the space came back in one piece and the video of it will be publically available by the company in the last week of December. Chris Rose, the project manager of the company said in the video that they have launched Yuvraj Singh’s first milestone century bat into space. He speaks about the innovation that has gone for sending the bat into space.
In the video, Yuvraj Singh also said that he will be offering more valuables through his NFT. The bat after touring the space came back without any damage.


text: Coronation Street’s Carla Barlow (Alison King) to appear at Southport Flower Show 2014 July 29th, 2014 admin Latest News Shares Comments Coronation Street’s Carla Barlow (Alison King) to appear at Southport Flower Show 2014. Coronation Street star Carla Barlow (Alison King) will be appearing at the Southport Flower Show 2014. Alison is the latest star who is lined up for this years show. Submit News Contact us with your community, business or sport news. Phone 07930717137 Email [email protected] Twitter www.twitter.com/onthespot_news Facebook www.facebook.com/otsnews.co.uk Related Comments comments!


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Software and technology
December 22, 2014
Marriott Key West Beachside is one of the marketers leveraging a Wi-Fi managed service platform using geo-targeted advertising that enables mobile users to browse online and businesses to connect to nearby consumers.
Mobile Minutes: Line buys Microsoft's MixRadio; T-Mobile's rollover data; Cheap fitness trackers; Santa apps
December 22, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Naver’s Line messaging app to buy Microsoft’s MixRadio; Retro again? T-Mobile brings 'rollover' to data in yet another shot at rivals; Movo Wave: Cheap fitness tracker aims to shake up crowded market; Santa apps bring fun and order to the holiday season.
Mobile Minutes: Instagram's new filters; Android Lollipop 5.1; Facebook's privacy; Apps for protests
December 19, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Instagram update includes 5 new filters; Android Lollipop 5.1 release in Q1 2015 will slowly address major bugs; Facebook follows Google as Dutch watchdog probes privacy; FireChat messaging app seeks to build on success at Hong Kong protests.
Mobile Minutes: Foursquare's iPad app; Yelp for business owners; Amazon Fire adds HBO Go app; Quiz app improves health
December 17, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Foursquare launches app for iPad; Yelp’s new mobile app lets merchants reply to ranting customers on the go; Amazon Fire TV adds HBO Go app; An app that improves your health by quizzing you.
Mobile Minutes: Nexus 5 retires; Facebook dumps Microsoft searches; USPS app holds mail; Chat app Momo surges
December 16, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Nexus 5 retiring as Google steamrollers smartphones towards phablets; Facebook dumps Microsoft Web search results; Use the USPS mobile app to place a hold on your mail; Alibaba-backed Chinese chat app Momo surges in U.S. debut.
Mobile Minutes: Apple releases iOS 8.1; Google's big picture apps; Tracking apps; New faces for Android wearables
December 12, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Apple releases iOS 8.1.2, it will anger users; Google tells developers to design apps for a billion users; It's 10pm, do you know where your kids are? (This app does); Google puts new face(s) on Android Wear smartwatches.
Mobile Minutes: Facebook's search tool; Samsung's curved Note; Google's Inbox app; Illegal cellphone unlocking
December 10, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Why Facebook's new search tool could ding Yelp; Samsung's latest WTF phone; The future of email: Google's 'Inbox' team reveals what's next; Why cellphone unlocking could soon be illegal once again.
Mobile Minutes: Oscar Health uses wearables; Alibaba challenges Android; Mobile apps collect kids' info; Apps for winter
December 9, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Oscar Health using Misfit wearables to reward fit customers; Alibaba must deploy cash to challenge Android: Real M&A; Mobile apps still collect information on kids; Apps that can help in planning for wintry weather.
Mobile Minutes: Google, Facebook slow mobile ads; Verizon kills 3G; App recognizes faces; Baby wearables rise
December 5, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Google, Facebook mobile-ad share ebbing as rivals woo marketers; Verizon is killing off 3G; 1U app replaces passwords with your face; Baby monitors for a smart nursery, but parents are still better.
Mobile Minutes: Twitter's Block function; Wire app; Uber in Mexico; App-controlled hearing wearables
December 4, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Twitter unveils new tools to block abusive messages; Wire app wants to be the most beautiful communication tool; Uber teams up with Carlos Slim to lure riders in Mexico; Hearing aid? No, Soundhawk is an ear wearable.
December 3, 2014
Pandora Internet Radio is refitting its music streaming and automated recommendation mobile application with new personalization tools that will enhance and simplify the music listening experience for mobile consumers.
December 2, 2014
Brands such as Barnes & Noble, Microsoft, Facebook and Foursquare are creating a slew of standalone mobile applications targeting specific user groups with streamlined features to combat frustration with do-it-all apps.
Mobile Minutes: Twitter tracks apps; Higher iPhone tariff; Facebook's political campaigns; Samsung's Tizen smartphone
December 2, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - Twitter is tracking users’ installed apps for ad targeting; Apple’s higher iPhone tariff may spur more Russian price rises; A Facebook change makes it harder for political campaigns to see your friends; Samsung Elec to launch Tizen smartphone in India: South Korea paper.
Mobile Minutes: BlackBerry pays iPhone users; Shazam's mobile coupons; T-Mobile alters data limits; Loyalty card apps
December 1, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - BlackBerry offers $550 if you trade iPhone for Passport; You can now receive coupons in stores just by Shazaming a song; T-Mobile changes data throttling notification; Apps to clean up the loyalty-card clutter.
Mobile Minutes: Twitter and Ebola; WeChat duels with WhatsApp; Beer-brewing app; Smartphone-enabled frying pan
November 26, 2014
Today in mobile marketing - What Twitter can tell us about Ebola; Tencent drafts Chinese expats for U.S. duel with WhatsApp; Brewing your own beer, with help from an app; Why a smart frying pan isn't as dumb as it sounds.


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Sony: Sony’s Playstation Network underwent a massive hacking attack, and hackers are now believed to be trying to sell a database of 2.2 million Playstation owners’ credit cards on underground forums, as well as exposing 77 million users’ account information, according to Gawker.
Rep. Bobby Rush, of Illinois, announced Wednesday that he would reintroduce data security legislation similar to a bill he introduced in the previous session of Congress. Rush said the bill “requires ‘for-profit’ entities holding data containing consumers’ personal information to have reasonable and appropriate security measures in place to protect that data,” Broadcasting & Cable reported.
Apple: Following problems with iPhones and iPads storing location data, it is likely Apple will testify before Congress, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said Wednesday, according to Politico. Earlier this week, Sen. Al Franken, of Minnesota, said he will hold a hearing next month called “Protecting Mobile Privacy: Your Smartphones, Tablets, Cell Phones and Your Privacy.”
Google: The online search giant is also expected to testify at the same hearing, held by Franken. Lawmakers are concerned that Google’s Android phones, along with iPhones, “collect, store and track user location data without the user’s consent,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, of Vermont, according to Computer World.


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There’s by no means a boring second in tech. Elon Musk and Ford CEO Jim Farley obtained into it on Twitter yesterday after a brand new Ford commercial seemingly tossed shade at Tesla’s Autopilot.
Heads up: The true lead right here is that Ford’s new BlueCruise equipment, a driverless automobile system, will launch on sure Mustang and F-150 fashions. Can all of us take a second to acknowledge how superior the concept of an autonomous Mustang sooner or later is?
However: Elon being Elon, there was no approach the information was ever going to be about something apart from him.
BlueCruise! We examined it in the true world, so our prospects don’t need to. pic.twitter.com/dgqVkWH31r
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) April 14, 2021
Ford CEO Jim Farley apparently couldn’t resist trolling Tesla a bit when he tweeted that his firm examined BlueCruise “in the true world, so our prospects don’t need to.” This has been interpreted to be a jab at Tesla’s simulation-based coaching strategies.
Musk responded (to a tweet that includes the quote) by invoking Farley’s cousin, the late Chris Farley. Sure, that Chris Farley:
I discovered some footage of the drive https://t.co/TXeLQO9Spr
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 14, 2021
Many on Twitter discovered the reply innocuous and good-natured, others noticed it as over-the-top and disrespectful. It’s typically thought of rude to make use of a clip of somebody’s deceased relative to troll them on social media.
Right here’s the factor: It’s macabre for Musk and Farley to joke about coaching driverless automobiles. Autopilot failures have been a contributing consider quite a few accidents involving Tesla autos, a few of which have been deadly.
Tesla’s “Autopilot” and “Full Self Driving” methods should not succesful of auto-piloting or self-driving. Full cease.
This type of rhetoric, two infantile CEOs bantering in regards to the talents of their autos, provides customers a bloated view of what these automobiles are able to. Whether or not customers suppose Ford’s constructed one thing that’s higher than “Autopilot,” or that Tesla already has issues found out – it appears the fact of stage two autonomy is getting misplaced within the hype.
The underside line: The expertise powering these autos is superb however, on the finish of the day it’s simply glorified cruise management. Drivers are supposed to preserve their arms on the wheel and their eyes on the street always when working any present manufacturing car, whether or not its so-called self-driving options are engaged or not.
When these corporations and their CEOs interact in back-and-forth on Twitter, they’re taking a calculated threat that buyers will purchase into the rivalry and benefit from the capitalist competitors because it performs out for his or her amusement.
They take the identical form of calculated threat after they proceed advertising their merchandise as “self-driving” options even after prospects preserve overestimating their talents and dying.


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Mark Zuckerberg to Be Added To Facebook Privacy Suit – The New York Times. (2021). Mark Zuckerberg will be added to a Facebook privacy lawsuit. Web.In only 3 hours we’ll deliver a custom Legal Issues of the Facebook Company essay written 100% from scratch Get help
Facebook is marred with different legal issues that continue to impact the operational processes. The causes of these issues are diverse given wider association and continuous mergers with other tech and non-tech companies. Every company operating both locally and internationally has to comply with the set laws and regulations that are beneficial to both the consumers and other businesses. However, Facebook, in several occasions, has failed to comply with the set regulations, particularly those involving data privacy. For instance, in the recent years, Facebook has been on the news for the mishandling of user data. The lawsuit alleges that Facebook has been allowing third-party apps to access personal information of users without their consent. There has also been claims that Facebook has failed to disclose to users about the sharing of their data with third parties.
There are many causes of the legal issues facing Facebook. A few of the most notable ones are as follows: -Lack of User Consent: One of the primary issues that has caused Facebook to face legal trouble is their policies around user consent. In particular, it has been alleged that the company did not properly obtain user consent for certain purposes, such as data sharing between Facebook and third-party companies. -Cambridge Analytica Scandal: Another major issue that Facebook has faced in recent years is the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This scandal involved a data mining firm that had access to private user data from millions of Facebook profiles without users’ consent. This raised serious questions about Facebook’s ability to protect user information.
Between June 2021 and February 2022, several articles were published discussing the various legal issues facing Facebook. For example, on October 10th, 2021, Reuters published an article discussing how Facebook was being sued by the state of Washington over the alleged failures to protect user data (Mark Zuckerberg to Be Added to Facebook Privacy Suit – The New York Times, 2021). This was due to the massive breach of security that occurred in late 2020, where hackers were able to gain access to user data from millions of accounts. It remained unclear as to what kind of damages the state was seeking. However, this could be a major blow to Facebook as they continue to try and rebuild their image after the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Analysis of the Legal Issue
There are a few potential legal issues that could arise from failures to protect user data. One issue could be negligence- if a company fails to take reasonable steps to protect user data, they may be liable for any damages that result. Another issue could be invasion of privacy- if unauthorized individuals gain access to user information, the users may have a claim for invasion of privacy (Mark Zuckerberg to Be Added to Facebook Privacy Suit – The New York Times, 2021). Finally, companies could also face regulatory penalties for failing to protect user data. Protection of user data is a potential legal issue faced by different tech companies particularly in the current environment. In fact, there have been a number of class action lawsuits filed against companies whose user data was compromised in recent years including Facebook Company.
Explanation of the Law
These lawsuits typically allege that the company failed to implement appropriate security measures to protect the data, and that as a result, the company’s customers suffered damages. Therefore, if a company does not take appropriate steps to protect user data, they are always at risk for a class action lawsuit. Also, it is important to note, however, that each case is unique and depends on the specific facts surrounding the breach. There are a number of laws surrounding the protection of user data. In the United States, these include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). These laws require organizations to take steps to protect user data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. They also require organizations to provide notification to affected users in the event of a data breach.
Impacts of the Legal Issue on the Business
The impacts of laws surrounding failures to protect user data on Facebook’s business are significant. For example, Facebook may face increased government scrutiny and regulation in the wake of this incident, which could limit the company’s ability to collect and use user data going forward. Additionally, Facebook may experience a decline in user trust and engagement, which could lead to a decrease in advertising revenue. Overall, these events are likely to have a negative impact on Facebook’s bottom line.Academic experts
available We will write a custom Case Studies essay specifically for you for only $16.00 $11/page Learn more
Discussion on Why the Article is of Great Interest
The article is interesting because it underscores the growing concern over how technology companies handle our personal data. It also raises questions about what role, if any, government should play in regulating these companies. The article is important because it could set a precedent for how other states decide to handle Facebook’s recent privacy breaches. If Facebook is found guilty, it could face significant fines and be forced to change its data-collection practices.
Mark Zuckerberg to Be Added To Facebook Privacy Suit – The New York Times. (2021). Mark Zuckerberg will be added to a Facebook privacy lawsuit. Web.


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Will unbanning robusta cost Costa Rica?
Robusta has been banned from Costa Rica for 30 years to protect the nation's crops from the coffee borer beetle, but since the beetle has now been present for some years, that ban may be overturned.
According to Costa Rica’s Ministry for Agriculture, the nation will soon be lifting its 30-year ban on robusta – the only step left is for President Luis Guillermo Solis to sign off on the decree.
It’s a controversial move; introducing robusta could diminish Costa Rica’s reputation for quality arabica production. Thanks to this reputation, the nation’s coffee growers enjoy good prices, something that producers will be eager to defend.
Robusta was initially banned in 1988 for ‘phytosanitary reasons’ in hopes that it would prevent the coffee borer beetle entering the country (borer beetles prefer robusta to arabica). Unfortunately, this measure is now redundant since the pest has been present in Costa Rica for several years.
The Costa Rican Ministry for Agriculture meanwhile sees introducing robusta as an opportunity to create more jobs, and to make better use of land.
Robusta trees are more resistant to the threat of La Roya (also known as coffee rust disease) than Arabica trees. Subsequently, they can be planted successfully planted at lower altitudes where heat and moisture make for ideal conditions for the fungus. This means robusta can produce effectively where arabica is susceptible to infection.
In an attempt to pacify those worried about their nation’s prestige for quality, the Ministry is making assurances that robusta varieties will only be permitted to grow in carefully restricted areas. They have also stated that measures will be taken to ensure varietals aren’t mixed, either at the farm or in processing stations.
Introducing robusta may eventually boost total production in Costa Rica. This might slightly lower prices for them across the board – but probably not by much. Losing their 100% arabica status may compound this – the exclusivity of Costa Rican coffee is part of the reason they have in the past been able to charge slightly more.
It will open up land that wasn’t previously workable for the coffee industry, and create jobs – which is good news, as long as it’s done with a careful, strategic approach. We think that there may also an opportunity here for the Costa Ricans to apply their expertise in arabica and develop a top-quality robusta, which could be really interesting.
We’ll be monitoring the progress of the ban-removing decree in Costa Rica closely; stay tuned for updates.


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Before pivoting to smart glasses, Thalmic Labs (now North) tried its best to make its Myo gestural arm band controller the future of user input. Now, another startup is picking up the baton, acquiring patents related to the product and customer data.
The IP is being bought by CTRL-labs, a New York-based startup full of neuroscientists aiming to build a wrist-worn input device that translates electrical signals from your body into computer input. The startup closed a $28 million Series A last year with funding coming from Vulcan Capital, GV and others.
In December, CTRL-labs launched its own development kit for a device similar in scope to the Myo armband but more robust in its sensing capabilities.
While Thalmic Labs had its own ambitions for extracting input from the body’s electrical signals, CTRL-labs tells me that the patent purchase is largely focused on acquiring the tech behind the armband’s gestural controls, which translated sweeping arm movements into input mechanisms. The startup hopes that by integrating the tech into future development kits, developers will have more options for functionality as the company strives to fine tune its more complex readings.
The purchase marks the close of an era for North, which has raised nearly $200 million according to CrunchBase and marked a major pivot last year away from its Myo armband towards its new Focals smart glasses. North has been full steam ahead on the smart glasses and seems to have dumped plans to pursue the Myo band further so offloading the patents seems like an easy choice as the team labors to scale sales of its smart glasses that starts at $599 ($799 with prescription lenses).
For its part, CTRL-labs exec Josh Duyan tells me that the connection between the two firms came about due to mutual investor Spark Capital making the connection. Duyan declined to disclose the price of the deal.


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The new 2021 Acura TLX Sport Sedan has officially entered series-production at the company’s Ohio plant, with the first examples set to arrive at dealers on September 28.
The new Acura TLX Sport Sedan is based on a brand-exclusive platform that’s engineered for high performance, particularly in the case of the reborn Type S variant.
Acura is particularly proud of the new TLX, claiming that this will be “the quickest, best-handling and most well-appointed sport sedan in the brand’s 35-year history”.
Read More: 2021 Acura TLX Type S Confirmed With 355 HP And 354 LB-FT Of Torque
The range will include two powertrains, with the base TLX featuring a 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo with 272 HP (276 PS) and 280 lb-ft (379 Nm) of torque and a ten-speed automatic transmission. Customers will be able to opt for Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system as an option.
The range-topping 2021 Acura TLX Type S is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 Turbo which is expected to produce 355 HP and 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) of torque. It will be also paired to a ten-speed automatic transmission and the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system as standard but you’ll have to wait until next spring when it will be officially launched.
“On behalf of everyone who designed and developed this amazing 2021 Acura TLX, seeing the first vehicle roll off the assembly line is a dream come true,” said Marc Ernst, TLX global development leader. “This TLX epitomizes Acura’s focus on performance and premium quality, and the passion of both our development and manufacturing teams here in Ohio are embodied in the product that we’re delivering to our Acura customers.”
The new Acura TLX is built using a high-accuracy body weld process and high-performance adhesive, leading to the most rigid body ever for an Acura sedan. The 2021 TLX is also the first Acura to feature a laser brazed roof, a new process that joins the roof to the body side panels without the need for a garnish over the rain channels.
Prices for the 2021 Acura TLX start from $37,500 for the base 2.0 T model and from $39,500 for the AWD version. Acura will release the pricing and full technical details of the TLX Type S model closer to its launch date.


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Recovery in Autos
He’s on Donald Trump’s Business Advisory Council, and he had a great relationship with the Obama administration. He sucked up more government freebies than any welfare queen, and yet I think Elon Musk is a true American business hero/visionary.
Some call him a modern-day P.T. Barnum, but it turns out that Elon Musk is more of a combination of his namesake automobile company and Henry Ford.
His company Tesla (TSLA) came up a little shy of the company’s year-end sales target, and the shares were slightly lower. However, the Street soon woke up to the bigger picture.
In fact, this picture will eventually be a 5,000,000 square feet factory, churning out lithium-ion batteries.
The industry is currently dominated by Asian suppliers, so this is a major breakthrough in a period when talk for competition revolves more around taxes and regulations rather than innovation and investments.
With a third of the plant completed, 2,900 people are working to push out the batteries that will power more than transportation in the future. Much is made of America’s antiquated power grid. Well, Musk is coming to the rescue with a backup plan for the grid and pure power sources for homes.
Getting America Moving Again
Consider the big news this week from Ford, who is investing $700 million for a plant to churn out autonomous vehicles and electric cars to the electric business that just raised $140 million on top of an earlier tranche of $150 million. It’s clear that the way we move is finally going to move into a higher gear.
Every facet of our daily lives has come a long way since the invention of the car, which more or less is very much the same as the Model T, save for some fancy improvements. I want to see America at the forefront of the vehicle and the power revolution. The next ‘Industrial Revolution’ won’t just be on the information superhighway, but on a physical road as well.
I came into yesterday’s session ready to play taps for the auto industry, whose fabled boom has now seen seven consecutive years of an unprecedented improvement in sales. It’s a mind-boggling achievement that belies the broader economic malaise that’s haunted the nation over the same period of time. It’s true that there have been extenuating circumstances:
Perhaps the party is just getting started as all those factors are still in place.
The average age of cars on the road hit an all-time high record of 10.5 years back in 2009. That same year, February saw a record low of 9.05 million sales. Coming into 2016, the average of cars on the road had actually leaped to 11.6 years. Meanwhile, rates are still relatively low; with wages increasing, we could see fewer sub-prime loans.
Auto sales hint at a breakout. Perhaps we could retest the monthly all-time record of 21.77 million back on October 2001. One thing is for sure; the ‘peak car sales’ theory and subsequent crash look like folly now.
By the way, Jaguar Land Rover sales surged 31% last month, and the Maserati was up 58%; it’s probably a statement from the 1% that they’re ready to party in the Trump Era.
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Refreshing or Revolting: 2014 Chevrolet Impala
The debate over the 2014 Chevrolet Impala's design generated mixed opinions among car enthusiasts.
Some found the refreshment of the Impala's styling to be a welcome change, praising its modern and sleek appearance.
The updated front grille, distinctive headlights,
and streamlined silhouette were viewed as positive enhancements that brought the model into a more contemporary era.
On the other hand, some critics expressed dissatisfaction,
considering the design changes to be revolting compared to the classic look of previous Impala iterations.
showcased Chevrolet's commitment to delivering accessible, well-equipped vehicles to the market.


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Our Raging Grannies are quoted in the December 9, 2013 issue of the People’s World. The People’s World reports on the movements for jobs, peace, equality, democracy, civil rights and liberties, labor, immigrant, LGBT and women’s rights, protection of the environment, and more. You can read it in Spanish at Mundopopular.org.
Their commitment to the labor movement is pictured in their emblem above.
One of our organizing Grannies spoke at the demo for an increase in pay for fast food workers in front of a San Jose McDonald’s last week. From the article:
"We subsidize these workers with our taxes." said an organizer from Raging Grannies, one of the groups supporting the action. "McDonald’s actually tells its workers to get food stamps. Do we want to subsidize McDonald’s shareholders?” She reported that McDonald’s urged itsemployees to sell their Christmas gifts on eBay to help get by.


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- Real Parenting 'Bakit Ang Tagal Sa Banyo?' Mga Tanong Ng Mommies, Sinagot Nina Ogie Alcasid At Michael V
- Your Kid’s Health Mom Shares Story Of Toddler’s Paracetamol Overdose: ‘Do Not Self-Medicate’
- Wellness This Mom Spent Around 2.2 Million On BTS-Inspired Items With Hubby’s Full Support
- Special Occasions Jollibee’s Latest Tribute To Untiring Dads Is A Tearjerker So Prepare Yourself
Study: Kids can’t Tell the Difference between Favorite Food and their Veggie-Fortified VersionA recent study reveals that hiding vegetables in children’s favorite food helps increase vegetable intake and lessen calories.by SmartParenting Staff .
It’s always been a colossal difficulty for parents to get their children to eat vegetables. Blame it on the texture, the look, the taste - there’s really something about veggies that disgusts children. You probably may have felt the same way (or still feel the same way) about them, but as parents, we value our children’s health and nutrition and yes, vegetables are a big chunk of the food pyramid.
Many methods have been developed to get children to eat vegetables. You have your vegetable-based food products and vegetable-fortified fast food menu offerings. Or there’s always the stealthier approach. Yes, many moms have admitted to actually sneaking in veggies in the dishes they prepare. If they can’t see them, they wouldn’t know the difference, right?
Barbara Rolls, a nutritionist, echoes the concern of experts and parents: "Childhood obesity rates are on the rise, and at the same time children are not eating the recommended amount of vegetables. Vegetables have been shown to help lower calorie intake, (but) the problem is getting kids to eat enough vegetables."
In the U.S., a recent experiment published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed just how effective this technique is to get children to eat more veggies. When researchers from Pennsylvania State University added pureed vegetables to the favorite food of 39 children, they found out that preschoolers consumed twice as many vegetables and 11 percent less calories throughout a day.
Vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini, cauliflower and squash were used in the study. The researchers modified standard recipes to cut down the calories by 15 to 25 percent. Says Maureen Spill, one of the lead authors, “We were pleased to find that the children found the vegetable-enhanced versions to be equally acceptable to the standard recipes."ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
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text: Finlay Enterprises will take a big hit from the Federated Department Stores merger, which will force it to shut 194 jewelry departments, leaving it with 404. Most closings are the result of Federated’s eliminating the Marshall Field’s brand in favor of Macy’s East and West stores, where Finlay has not traditionally operated. Those stores accounted for about $242 million in revenue for fiscal year 2004, about a quarter of the company’s earnings. “We are disappointed that our total store base will be reduced,” said the company’s chief executive officer, Arthur E. Reiner. As a result of the realignment, Finlay also expects to add 11 new doors that could add some $15 million in new revenue.


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Possibly the most photographed car of the summer in 1994
Classic Car Auctions are honoured to be offering the 1994 Audi A4 Cabriolet that was once the personal transport of Diana, Princess of Wales, a car she clearly enjoyed, regularly used and was photographed in.
The Princess was adored by the British public and for Audi this was a real coup, a member of the Royal Family driving a German car was unheard of.
For Audi this was a huge public relations opportunity, the most photographed Princess driving one of their cars, they couldn’t have wished for more. Audi later reported that sales had doubled once Diana was seen driving the car.
Diana used the car from March, when it was registered, until July when she gave it back to Dovercourt with just 4,000 miles on the clock. It wasn’t long before it was bought by political commentator, broadcaster and author Ian Campbell Dale who bought it on the spot once he knew of the car’s provenance. He promptly went on holiday in it.
After two years of ownership the car changed hands again, its next owner, a neighbour to Kensington Palace, owned it for the next 17 years. In 2013 the car was again sold and still with very low mileage, it has been in a couple of private collections since.
With 22,000 miles now on the clock and with the provenance that comes with the car, has been very well looked after. It is supplied with a good history file including the relevant manuals and handbooks.
For anyone wishing to bid for this car you have an opportunity to own a very high-profile car that was used to transport the young Princes, one being our future King, around during the summer of 1994.
At the time this was probably one of the most photographed cars and is now being offered for £35,000 to £40,000 and includes a selection of images of Diana using the car.
Simon Langsdale Classic Car Auctions Specialist commented: “This is a stunning car, one that is remembered by many of us of a certain age at the height of the Princess popularity.”
Viewing takes place on the 27th March between 10am and 5.30pm with the auction getting underway on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th from 12pm.


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KFC's secret recipe found in a scrapbook?
This article was originally published in August 2016.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that it may have uncovered Col. Harland Sanders' secret original recipe for his famed fried chicken, the linchpin of KFC's global franchise of some 18,000 restaurants in 115 countries.
In a story posted on the Tribune's website Friday, a freelance reporter for the newspaper said he stumbled upon the recipe at the home of Joe Ledington, a nephew of the colonel by marriage, while paging through a scrapbook once owned by Sanders' late wife, Claudia Sanders.
But in an email to The Courier Journal, a KFC spokesperson said the recipe isn't theirs. "Many people have made these claims over the years and no one has been accurate – this one isn't either," the email said. "Though, we imagine that might make some tasty fried chicken, too."
Ledington, in an interview with the Courier-Journal, said the scrapbook was passed down through various family members since Claudia Sanders died in 1997. Ledington said the book – which contains photos of the Sanderses' wedding, original franchise agreements and original photos of overseas restaurant openings – has been in his possession about four years.
The recipe was handwritten on a piece of paper tucked into an envelope that contained a copy of Claudia Sanders' will, he said.
Ledington said he grew up mixing the herbs and spices at the Sanders Court and Cafe, the restaurant and motel where Sanders pioneered his now-famous recipe, working there from the time he was 8 or 9 years old for a quarter a day and access to the motel's swimming pool.
"I was more excited about the pool than the money," said Ledington, a 67-year-old retired school teacher who lives in the home where he was reared, about 300 yards from Sanders' first restaurant.
KFC protects the recipe in a vault and has sued to keep its recipe secret in the past.
According to the Tribune, Yum! replied with an email that said, "In the 1940s, Colonel Sanders developed the original recipe chicken to be sold at his gas station diner. At the time, the recipe was written above the door so anyone could have read it. But today, we go to great lengths to protect such a sacred blend of herbs and spices. In fact, the recipe ranks among America's most valuable trade secrets."
So, does Ledington think the recipe is the real McCoy?
"Yeah, I do," he said. "I don't want to get in an argument with Yum! Brands about it but ... I'm pretty sure that it's pretty close to the original."
According to the Tribune, the recipe calls for two cups of flour, 2/3 tablespoons of salt, 1/2 tablespoon of thyme, 1/2 tablespoon of basil, 1/3 tablespoon of oregano, 1 tablespoon of celery salt, 1 tablespoon of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of dried mustard, 4 tablespoons of paprika, 2 tablespoons of garlic salt, 1 tablespoon of ground ginger and 3 tablespoons of white pepper.
Former Gov. John Y. Brown Jr., who bought Kentucky Fried Chicken from Sanders in 1964 for $2 million before selling it in 1971, said he doesn't know the recipe but that he has doubts that Ledington's recipe is the real thing.
Brown said it was Sanders who began the tradition of having two different companies make parts of the spice blend so that no one had the full recipe.
"I wouldn’t pay attention to it," Brown said of Ledington's claim. "There have been claims for the last 50 years."
"People along the way have all claimed they have the recipe," he said. "I discount that. It makes a good story."
The Tribune, however, whipped up a couple of batches, added a little Accent, a brand of MSG, to boost the flavor and, voila, it said the bird it cooked was indistinguishable from what it purchased at a KFC restaurant.
Ledington said he's not surprised. Now he just hopes Yum doesn't take offense.
In fact, he said, he didn't give it a second thought before sharing the recipe with the Tribune reporter.
"I really didn't think about it. I didn't use my head and I certainly don't want to get sued by Yum! Brands," he said. "But I didn't think much about it. I grew up with it."
Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702. Reporter Jere Downs contributed to this report.


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Nvidia revealed it was caught off guard by a brand new US ban on the sale of AI chips to China, with the ban coming prior to anticipated.
Nvidia made the announcement in an SEC submitting:
On October 23, 2023, america Authorities knowledgeable NVIDIA Company, or the Firm, that the licensing necessities of the
interim remaining rule entitled “Implementation of Extra Export Controls: Sure Superior Computing Gadgets; Supercomputer and Semiconductor
Finish Use; Updates and Corrections”, dated October 18, 2023, relevant to merchandise having a “complete processing efficiency” of 4800 or extra
and designed or marketed for datacenters, is efficient instantly, impacting shipments of the Firm’s A100, A800, H100, H800, and L40S
merchandise. These licensing necessities have been initially to be efficient after a 30-day interval, as first described within the Firm’s Present Report
on Type 8-Ok filed with the U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee on October 17, 2023. Given the energy of demand for the Firm’s
merchandise worldwide, the Firm doesn’t anticipate that the accelerated timing of the licensing necessities may have a near-term significant
affect on its monetary outcomes.
As Ars Technica factors out, Nvidia had developed a line of chips to adjust to US export restrictions once they have been introduced in September 2022. Sadly for the corporate, the brand new restrictions introduced this week eradicate the export of these new chips as nicely.
Huawei has already been working to interchange Nvidia within the Chinese language market. These newest restrictions are certain so as to add momentum to that firm’s efforts.


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Ally Financial Inc. will pull out of its RV and transportation equipment finance segments to focus on the its core auto finance business.
Ally, one of the nation's largest auto lenders, is phasing out transportation equipment finance, which covers marine vessels, airplanes, rail cars and other nonautomotive vehicle assets that are originated directly with the customer, as well as the commercial and consumer lines of the RV business, Ally said in a statement Wednesday.
Doug Timmerman, president of auto finance for Ally, said in an email to Automotive News that the company is exploring the possibility of selling or winding down the businesses, but has nothing specific to announce at this time.
Ally would not specify what percentage of the company's portfolio is dedicated to those business lines, but it did say Ally's Commercial Services Group, which finances and leases commercial vehicles, will not be affected by the transition.
The company will continue to service existing RV consumer retail contracts, and it will notify those customers of any changes. Ally stopped accepting new applications earlier this month.
Ally RV dealers were informed about the change earlier this month. Timmerman said the company is working with commercial dealer customers on their timing needs to ensure a smooth transition to new finance providers.
Timmerman said the changes will allow Ally to turn more energy to auto finance.
"We have a long history in auto finance and it's what we do best," he said. "So maximizing the resources we have in support of dealers is the right step."


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Google plans to push its Android multimedia platform
TV through the launch, by the summer, of a new media player
which will probably go alongside the range of devices
“Sabrina”, Google’s new media player for streaming
“Sabrina” is the temporary name of the new multimedia device branded Google that
foresees as the first novelty a multifunction remote control in combination, already registered in early March by the company as Google Remote. The use of the TV dongle will therefore be completely
independent of the smartphone, differing substantially from the Chromecast experience.
Based on rendering
published by XDA Developers, the device will have an oval shape, can be connected to the TV via HDMI
and will be available in white, black and pink.
In addition to
classic function keys, the supplied remote control has a
sort of click wheel, useful when navigating between
content. Also integrated an IR sensor, a microphone and the button that
call Google’s assistant to allow the use of
voice commands. It cannot be excluded that Google decides to market
the product as part of the Google Nest device family.
information leaked, Sabrina will have an Amlogic SoC on board and will be
compatible with Dolby Vision content. Still early to define the sale price to the public, which according to
initial estimates should not however exceed $ 79.
Android TV changes its face
Google has thought
also to a renewal of the Android TV interface, in sight
the launch of the new device dedicated to streaming. The current
version focuses on apps and shows available content
divided according to the selected service, suggesting to end the
vision of the titles left in half.
The new interface will lay
instead more attention to the contents, shown according to
user preferences, regardless of the streaming service.
The sections will be divided into: For You, Live, Film, Show, App and
Library. In particular, the platforms that broadcast live programs including YouTube will flow into the Live section.
on the integration of Google Assistant which will show the results
of the search in a dedicated screen. Android TV will allow
and finally manage Google Nest cameras, allowing you to receive notifications directly on your TV.


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Two weeks ago, a bottle of Rémy Martin cognac — called the Louis XIII Grande Champagne Très Vieille Age Inconnu — sold for 50,000 euros (US$70,155); it was the highest price ever paid for a Rémy Martin.
The Rémy Martin cognac, a brand owned by French winemaker Rémy Cointreau, was on display alongside other fine spirits and wines such as a bottle of Royal Salut Tribute to Honour whiskey, which went for 278,000 Singapore dollars (US$219,964).The buyer was unidentified, but the bottle fetched its list price at a first-ever invite-only sales exhibition of alcohol in Singapore, “Master of Spirits,” organized by DFS, the Hong Kong-based duty-free retailer. Lynn A. Arce, a DFS consumer-marketing vice president, said the company plans to hold more such sales exhibits in the future.
Augustin Depardon, a global marketing director at Rémy Martin, says that the company decided to open its heritage cellars — a rare cache of its “oldest and most refined” eaux-de-vie (fruit brandies) — for the Singapore sale because it is “a cosmopolitan city known for attracting passionate collectors.” Apart from a 2005 exhibition in Shanghai, this is the only time that Rémy Cointreau has sold a heritage-cellar bottle of brandy in Asia.
He tells us why the Louis XIII de Rémy-Martin was valued at 50,000 euros.
A true cognac: In the world of alcoholic spirits, only a specific kind of brandy, which is made from white grapes, can be called cognac. Mr. Depardon, who is based in France, says the term refers to brandy from the French region of Cognac that has been distilled twice in copper stills made in the French region of Charente and is then blended by a cellar master. It must be aged for at least two and a half years and possess an alcoholic content of at least 40%. Regular brandy is typically aged for at least six months and contains 36% alcohol.
Provenance and age: The Rémy Martin cognac was marketed as consisting of “a century in a bottle”: It was one of a series of cognacs bottled for a 1938 royal banquet at the opulent Château de Versailles that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth attended (parents of the current Queen of England). Mr. Depardon notes that some of the eaux-de-vie blended to form this particular cognac date back to the middle of the 19th century.
Timeliness: Mr. Depardon says he thinks it was a “fortunate coincidence” that the cognac went on sale shortly after the movie “The King’s Speech” won Best Picture at the Oscars in late February. Rémy-Martin’s marketing department played up the cognac’s link to the movie, which starred Colin Firth as the stammer-prone King George VI (the actor won Academy Award Best Actor for his performance). Even so, it is a stretch to suggest — as the press materials did — that the cognac “may have been what left George VI speechless.”
Exclusivity: Mr. Depardon says that the price reflects the cognac’s “value of rarity.” The carafe of cognac sold at the DFS exhibit was one of the few remaining in Rémy-Martin’s heritage cellars, which holds the “rarest and most delicate eaux-de-vie” in the brand’s collection since it was first bottled in 1874. He declined to reveal how many bottles remain in the heritage cellars.
Packaging: The crystal carafe of cognac comes with some history. It is based on the design of a 16th-century metal flask, says Mr. Depardon, discovered by a vine grower in 1850 in a battlefield near Cognac, the French town from which the spirit draws its name. For the sale, the decanter was placed in a jewelry box made from lacquered rosewood and leather embossed with an ostrich-skin pattern.
Ingredients: More than 1,200 brandies were blended to form this cognac. The ugni blanc,colombard and folle blanc grapes used to make them were harvested in the Grande Champagne area, which Mr. Depardon says possesses the “most prestigious” vineyards in Cognac.


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The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Co-ordination on Friday withdrew 15 percent hike in medicine prices after intervention of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it is learnt. The Federal Ministry on Thursday (November 28) issued a notification increasing prices of about 40 percent of the medicines by 15 percent with immediate effect; except prices of 22 lifesaving drugs- medications for hepatitis, ulcer, cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, kidney, heart related ailments and antibiotics. Price of any medicine, subject to a court order was also exempted from the increase.
Taking strict notice of the increase in the medicine prices‚ the Prime Minister said increase in medicine prices would not be accepted, and directed the concerned authorities to bring the medicine prices back to the previous level, a senior official of the Ministry revealed.
After the intervention of PM, an emergency meeting was called at the Ministry where it was decided to reverse the increase in medicine prices and issued a notification in this regard, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder.
According to the notification; in exercise of the powers conferred by section 12 of Drugs Act, 1976 (XXX1 of 1976), read with clause (a) of section 7 of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XXI of 2012), the federal government is pleased to withdraw its notification No. S.R.O.1002 (1)/2013 dated November 27, 2013 ab initio and with immediate effect.
However, an anecdotal survey conducted by this scribe revealed that manufacturers and wholesalers increased medicine prices several days before the expected hike while an artificial shortage of some medicines was created in the market. The price of Centaurus used for Hepatitis C was increased from Rs 3100 to 3400, Calpol syrup''s price increased from Rs 25 to Rs 42, Selanzar and Pepzine used by stomach patients increased from Rs 180 to 189 and Rs 219 to Rs 230 respectively, and aero cast used for asthma increased from Rs 255 to Rs 270. Qalsan having calcium in great quantity has high demand nowadays and currently is short in market, traders and wholesalers revealed.
Taking to Business Recorder, Khawaja Javed Akbar, Secretary General, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), said the cancellation of the SRO would have negative effect and might lead to severe consequences as regards non-availability of life saving medicines and commonly used drugs.
According to a letter of PPMA wrote to PM Nawaz Sharif, the retail prices of drugs have not been increased since 2001. As per ECC approved formula the cost impact from 2001 to 2013 is 94 percent and on top of it US dollar exchange rate was Rs 58, which is now Rs 110/per US dollar. More than 90 percent of the raw material used in production of drugs is imported.
The letter further maintained that DRAP had initially proposed an increase of 18 percent in its fourth policy board meeting whereas PPMA had asked an increase of 50 percent in prices. After a lot of meetings and deliberation it was decided that an interim increase of 15 percent will be made in prices. This increase is applicable to only 40 percent of medicines, and life-saving drugs have been "excluded", while no price increase has been given on the most commonly used medicines. PPMA urged the PM not to cancel the SRO for increasing medicine prices.


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Danish GreenMobility to launch electric car-sharing in Antwerp
The Danish company GreenMobility, which operates electric car-sharing services in Copenhagen and Aarhus, becomes active in Antwerp in April. Brussels and Ghent would follow.
The company will set up its services in Antwerp in a joint venture with local partner Deurnese Transportmaatschappij (DTM), Green Mobility reported in a press release on Monday. GreenMobility will start with 200 to 225 vehicles and will expand that fleet to 475 vehicles if the evaluation project is positive.
First city outside Scandinavia
GreenMobility was founded in 2016 in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Meanwhile, the company is already active in Norway (Oslo), and the beginning of this year, GreenMobility will also expand to the cities of Malmö and Gothenburg in Sweden.
Antwerp will be the first city outside Scandinavia. The car-sharing system can be compared to that other car-sharing system, Poppy. The cars will not have to be parked at fixed locations, and a vehicle is reserved via the smartphone. The cars of GreenMobility, Renault ZOE models, are 100% electric.
“Antwerp offers a lot of opportunities,” says Thomas Heltborg Juul, boss of GreenMobility. “The city has the right size and population density. Moreover, the residents already have experience with partial mobility. We see Belgium as a strong and fast-growing market for electric car-sharing, the optimal opportunity for rapid market entry, and an interesting business model, especially in Flanders.”
Remarkable in Antwerp is the cooperation GreenMobility has set up with DTM Taxi. Initially, they appear to be competitors of each other. The taxi company is responsible for GreenMobility’s call center, which is constantly available. DTM Taxi takes care of the parking and maintenance of the cars.
“We have the experience to maintain a large fleet of cars,” says Steve Van Avermaet of DTM Taxi. GreenMobility had come to Antwerp anyway. As a taxi company, you’d better see if synergies could be developed. With GreenMobility, you rent a car without a driver, and with us, one with a driver. We notice that people come to the city with a shared car or public transport, but when they return home, they prefer to take a taxi.”
More charging points
Antwerp has 11 hotspots with charging and parking facilities for electric cars. This does not seem to be much if up to 475 shared electric cars are added in the long term. The number of public charging points for electric cars is now being considered.
“I think it is important to offer fast chargers in particular,” says Antwerp’s alderman for Mobility, Koen Kennis (N-VA). “We want to expand the number of charging points for electric vehicles in Antwerp within the year. Furthermore, the cooperation of GreenMobility with the taxi sector fits in with our conviction that combining modes of transport is becoming more and more self-evident.”
Trial period of one year
GreenMobolity wants to motivate users to charge the electric cars themselves, and they will be rewarded for this. The company will also create places where customers can charge and park cars for free. “Also, we have teams that drive to the cars to charge them on the street,” says Heltborg.
Nothing is yet known about the rates and other practical modalities. If the pilot project is evaluated favorably, the fleet will systematically grow from the middle of the third year to 475 vehicles in the fifth year. The objective is to grow from 15.000 to 20.000 users in the first year, to 60.000 users by the end of the fifth year.
Besides Cambio, Poppy, and the smaller Bolides, this will be the fourth car-sharing project of its kind in Antwerp.


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We’ve all used video conferencing services like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet a lot since the pandemic. Microsoft Teams recently received an update that will benefit the majority of Apple users. Tech behemoth Microsoft released a native Apple silicon version of Teams. This update will include some performance and efficiency improvements that will benefit Apple’s new M1 and M2 chips. Microsoft says that this update will be available in the coming months.
“For Mac users, this means a significant boost in performance, ensuring efficient use of device resources and an optimized Teams experience even when using multiple high-resolution monitors during calls or meetings,” says Anupam Pattnaik, member of the Microsoft Teams marketing teams in a blog post.
The current Mac version of Microsoft Teams runs as an Intel app via Apple’s Rosetta 2 emulator. Apple’s new MacBooks with Apple’s own M chips have been available for quite some time, and this native support for Apple silicon chips was a highly requested feature; now, all Mac users receive this update automatically.
“The generally available (GA) version of the native Teams app on Mac with Apple silicon is being rolled out to customers in increments over the coming weeks. As soon as the rollout is finished, everyone will be automatically upgraded with their most recent update to Teams, so there isn’t a need to search for download links and manually install Teams.” Pattnaik explains in the blog.


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Martin Lawrence seemed touched when he received some sneakers from LeBron James for his birthday. The new kicks are called the LeBron 16, and they’re inspired by Lawrence’s sitcom “Martin,” which ran from 1992 to 1997.
The shoes come in black-purple-yellow-and-orange, the same colors that appear during the show’s theme song and opening credits. They also have some of the famous sayings Lawrence used on the show, whether he was playing the lead or one of his other characters like Sheneneh.
On Saturday Lawrence posted a video of himself receiving the shoes, and he seemed very thankful.
“What’s up, y’all? Just got a package from LeBron James for my birthday,” said the actor and comedian, who turns 54 on April 16. “The LeBron James Martin shoe, a limited edition, so you got to get yours.”
“Got a lot of my sayings on the back,” he added. “‘Wazzup,’ ‘Oh my goodness;’ ‘GTD’ — Y’all know what that stands for: ‘Got the draws’ — ‘Get to steppin;’ and Sheneneh’s ‘I’m a lady.’ Thank you, LeBron. I appreciate it, brother. This means a lot to me. Much love.”
James’ “Martin” sneakers don’t come out of the clear blue, since the NBA star has often expressed his love for the show. You can also see him watching some of the episodes on Instagram Live every now and again.
“I laugh so hard watching that show,” he once tweeted about “Martin.”
James and Lawrence are also friendly with each other, and the Los Angeles Lakers forward has hung out at Lawrence’s house in the past.
“He wanted to meet me, so they surprised him and brought him to my house,” Martin said last year on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
James is currently sitting out for the remainder of the NBA season to nurse a groin injury, but he debuted his new shoes last week on the bench.
The Lebron 16s will hit stores on April 16 at select Nike retailers.