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WAFIOS has issued invitations to an Annual Fastener Open House & Technology Symposium from 1..
infinix precision corp is dedicated to servicing its customers with a wide range of forming tool..
Celebrating 45 years of fastener tooling manufacturing experience, CTR Carbide Dies Ltd speciali..
When process monitoring and simulation shake hands, process quality and tool life improve. ..
With a strong fastener manufacturing background, San Shing’s tooling factory has developed to be..
Ingramatic is always in motion in expanding new technology on its I-Thread range. During Fa..
Since purchasing the company in the beginning of 2016, National Machinery LLC has been serving a..
MARPOSS, a specialist in measurement and testing technology, has expanded its product family of ..
Chun Zu Machinery Industry Co Ltd expanded its factory at the beginning of 2017, to include a ma..
Dwell for a moment on any one of the punches displayed by Sala Punzoni at Fastener Fair Stuttgar..
The process of continual improvement and investment, throughout the organisation, is in the DNA ..
For three very successful show days, the Dimac team presented best sellers MCV1 and SPC-LAB..
CAN-ENG Furnaces International Limited has been contracted to commission a turnkey 36 feet diame..
SACMA Group was very satisfied with Fastener Fair Stuttgart 2017, where it introduced the world ..
WAFIOS Umformtechnik will showcase its automatic pointer SKM at the 2017 Fastener Expo Shanghai ..
Greenkote Technologies has announced it is supporting Cranfield University based research work, ..
SACMA Group has announced that all its 6 die net shape parts formers, for special parts producti..
Manufacturing currently follows a series of fixed, separate stages. If machines or equipment sud..
Aerospace is undoubtedly one of the market segments where industry-specific requirements are mor..
By Reinhard Bührer, head of marketing and sales (member of the management board), Hatebur Metalf..
WAFIOS Umformtechnik and EWMenn will be showcasing their wide range of innovative thread rolling..
Videx has expanded its extrusion line, capacity and is now offering a combined single and double..
Introduced to the market for the first time in 2016, the SPC-LAB is a first piece inspection mob..
Lazpiur has developed the new BEGItech CLT inspection machine, which performs a full inspection ..
Marposs, specialists in measurement and testing technology, has expanded its product family of p..
Ingramatic says its new RP220 (W10/TR2) machine is the best compromise between rigidity and high..
Regg Inspection will be entering both its new i600 inspection machine with higher resolution cam..
To meet future customer demands for wire rod products and greater coil weights, Swiss Steel has ..
Greenkote Plc, a provider of advanced anti-corrosion metal coatings, has more than doubled the c..
HEROSLAM S.A.L will showcase its full range of thread rolling tools, including flat, cylindrical..
At Fastener Fair Stuttgart, 28th – 30th March 2017, SKAKO Vibration AS will present its compact ..
Amongst its wide range of lubricants dedicated to the requirements of cold heading machinery, CO..
The RADYNE range of vertically loaded bar end, billet heating machines covers a wide range of ro..
CAN-ENG Furnaces International Limited has been chosen to design and commission a 500kg/hour con..
In March 2016, following feedback from its German wire rod customer base, British Steel made a s..
In 2016 Hatebur Metalforming took the next step in its growth strategy with the acquisition of C..
Dimac Srl is a strategic partner for the most important automotive fasteners suppliers worldwide..
Sorting and inspection machines need a steady and reliable flow of material, in order to secure ..
To respond to the demand for more flexible and cost-effective packaging for hardware sustainable..
GWI GmbH is the new exclusive German sales agent for RTM Products Inc – an ISO 9001 certified ma..
BRANKAMP GmbH, part of the MARPOSS Group, is a manufacturer of systems for the process monitorin..
Primarily focused on the ceramic industry since 1976, Italian-based Tecnopress Srl is currently ..
By Julia Kiewitter, marketing, TesT GmbH A modern car or aeroplane is composed of many thousand..
At Fastener Fair Italy SACMA Group focused on its ‘Italian Excellence’ and why it is leading the..
Here Paul Black, CEO at sales-i – a specialist in sales performance software, discusses the bene..
US–based Tectorius® has announced the Tec–Kote™ 7000 Series of speciality coatings – a fam..
The Austrian AICHELIN Group has acquired US-based Atmosphere Group, holding company of AFC-Holcr..
Fasteners, including screws, nuts and washers, as well as fixing technology, are all C-parts. In..
Weighpack International (WPI Services B.V), a specialist in fastener inspection and packaging eq..
Kistler Group has acquired Schatz AG, based in Remscheid, Germany, as well as its US sales and s..
With more than 70 years of experience HEROSLAM S.A.L has established itself as a manufacturer of..
With over forty years experience in high precision ‘added value’ engineering, CTR Carbide Dies L..
CAN-ENG Furnaces International Limited has installed and commissioned a 6,000lb/hour continuous ..
Italian-based Dimac Srl has solved what it sees as the most difficult sorting and inspection pro..
GWI GmbH has become the official German agent for Giovanni Anceschi Srl (GAM) — an Italian..
Major Industries Ltd is a Taiwanese manufacturer and distributor of cold and hot forming tooling..
The revival of the British Steel brand marks a new chapter in the life of Scunthorpe Rod Mill (S..
Dimac Srl has reported “great success” at the recent wire® 2016 show with a large number of visi..
In-line with its company policy to build on the latest technology available, Lazpiur S.A has dev..
Lubo International and Wagener & Simon GmbH & Co KG (WASI) have announced their strategi..
BILWINCO A/S has been a manufacturer of weigh-counting and packing systems for fasteners since 1..
TLM Srl is always working on new projects to develop innovative technologies aimed at supporting..
Under the motto ‘innovations and highlights’ WAFIOS Umformtechnik GmbH, together with WAFIOS AG,..
wire® 2016 was a very important edition for SACMA Group as it was an opportunity for the company..
SMART Machinery Srl and its thread rolling equipment was a key part of the National Machinery LL..
SOLO Swiss Group recently delivered a new automatic heat treatment line for fasteners to one of ..
Located in Villingen-Schwenningen, within the Germany Black Forest, Ernst Reinhardt GmbH – a man..
Michael Klauck, president of CAN-ENG Furnaces International Limited, has announced a series of o..
Hall 15. Stand H15 The machining of internal threads is a real challenge within the fast..
Hall 15. Stand C40 German-based CPM Gesellschaft für Computeranwendung, Prozeß- und Mate..
Hall 15. Stand A31 Manassero & C Srl has announced that it has just been appointed e..
Hall 15. Stand H14 Lazpiur S.A has developed the new BEGItech CLT machine, which is able..
Hall 15. Stand F26 SACMA Group will present all of its innovations, machines, and events..
Hall 15. Stand B55 RLS Tooling Ltd has manufactured thread rolling dies since 1989 and c..
Hall 15. Stand A53 Videx Machine Engineering Ltd is able to manufacture a wide variety o..
Hall 15. Stand E06 Italian-based Tecno Impianti Srl will exhibit the latest version of o..
Hall 15. Stand F22 Weighpack International (WPI Services B.V), a specialist in fastener ..
Finnish-based Aztec Nordic Ltd, a manufacturer of automated powder coating machines for roofing ..
Hall 15. Stand A06 For 42 years SMF Tools has been producing high precision tools for th..
Hall 15. Stand G47 T.L.M Srl is constantly working on new projects to develop innovative..
Hall 15. Stand E36 Once again Talleres SASPI S.A will be exhibiting at the wire® 2016 sh..
Hall 15. Stand F42 Dimac Srl recently supplied its MCV4 and MCV2 rotary table machines to G..
Hall 12. Stand B34 In the modern market place everything starts with the customer. Tata ..
Hall 15. Stand A06 Nedschroef Herentals N.V has invested considerable resources, with great..
Hall 15. Stand A26 National Machinery LLC’s stand at wire® 2016 will be bigger this year,..
From 4th – 8th April 2016 the world’s leading trade fairs wire® – the international wire and cab..
CAN-ENG Furnaces International Limited has been contracted by a large Canadian-based tier 1 auto..
Nakashimada Engineering Works Ltd and National Machinery Europe (NME) have jointly announced tha..
Here Martyn Cleaver, managing director at Forward Industrial Products Group, looks at the use of..
Attentive to market demands and needs, Italian-based Dimac Srl is always looking to develop, eng..
WAFIOS Umformtechnik GmbH has acquired EWMenn GmbH & Co KG and is now able to offer a broad ..
Wallwork Group has reported that its Nadcap approval has now been extended to cover both its alu..
UK-based DSL Ltd has continued its recent period of investment by adding an i-300 Regg Inspectio..
National Machinery LLC has taken a controlling interest in SMART Machinery Srl. SMART Machinery ..
As recent headlines have highlighted, these are tough times for the steel industry. Tata Steel’s..
With 25 years’ experience servicing industrial accounts, Schwer + Kopka GmbH has established its..
SKAKO Vibration has introduced a new compact weighing and filling system to fill different kind ..
Weighpack International (WPI Services B.V), a specialist in fastener inspection and packaging eq..
There is no second chance to achieve a good first impression – which is why STRUBL GmbH & Co..
OSG USA Inc has announced the release of its latest thread milling NC code generator software – ..
Brooks Forgings Ltd is always looking for new developments in technology that can help achieve a..
CAN-ENG Furnaces International has recently received four contracts for the design, manufacturin..
San Shing Fastech Corp has added new features to its SBM-35L First Article Inspection System, wh..
For more than 10 years GEFRA GmbH has been able to offer a real 360° surround inspection using f..
In 2015 UK-based Mayes & Warwick Ltd, a manufacturer of thread rolling dies in a wide variet..
Met-MAX Innovations – the tool design department of National Machinery LLC – has designed a devi..
Lubo International, based in Kortgene, the Netherlands, has developed a lubrication that it says..
Videx Machine Engineering Ltd has added a new series of extrusion machines that are automaticall..
UK-based Performance Feeders Ltd says it is able to supply a unique high-speed line for automati..
For over 61 years Duroc NV has been a key player in the European market for the surface treatmen..
Ernst Reinhardt GmbH recently held its first in-house exhibition, with over 50 invited guests gi..
BECK Fastener Group states that its Diamond Coating surface treatment offers a significant incre..
Aerospace fasteners – bolts, studs, screws, and rivets – are among the most critical components ..
UK-based Lamons UK manufactures bespoke fasteners for use in a wide range of demanding industrie..
CERATIZIT S.A has acquired the German manufacturer of solid carbide cutting tools – Klenk GmbH &..
The new Pramet range of indexable tooling – a comprehensive programme of turning, milling and ho..
Caparo Testing Technologies has announced that, as part of an extension to its UKAS scope of acc..
Recognised for its famous brand name Don Quichotte, the Netherlands nail manufacturer de WIT rec..
TEMSA, a high precision dies manufacturer from Barcelona, Spain, has recently acquired the Spani..
In a bolted joint designed correctly according to VDI 2230 the bolt performs a clamping force, w..
Weighpack International (WPI Services BV) has recently introduced an innovative, low-cost and co..
ENKOTEC A/S, the Danish nail machine supplier, has agreed to a cooperation agreement with VIBRON..
Ingramatic SpA, the leading Italian company for designing and manufacturing thread rolling machi..
Warning lights on load monitoring systems typically show when a heading or thread rolling machin..
CAN-ENG Furnaces International Limited has commissioned a 1,500lb/hr continuous mesh belt atmosp..
Carlo Salvi SpA has developed a new motorised header model – 248 E – which it says is an enhance..
Weighpack International (WPI Services BV) is a specialist in fastener inspection and packaging e..
The demand on automatic inspection equipment for the 100% inspection of screws, nuts, stamped pa..
Since 1995 GEFRA’s OPTISORT® systems have been synonymous with ultra-fast high-end measuring and..
© Fastener + Fixing Magazine 2017. Part of the Mack Brooks Group


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By Rob Fucci
CONCORD, Mass. (Concord Journal) — Sophie Gechijian admits her first days as an entrepreneur were quite scary.
The Concord native, who works as an electronic trader in Boston, felt she could make a difference for those who crave nutrition bars. But without a background in business, she knew it could be a rough road.
“I decided to jump in and start teaching myself,” she says. “I’m figuring out every hurdle and challenge as they come.”
Those first hurdles and challenges happened on October 2018 when she launched her nutrition bar company, f(x) foods. Pronounced “function foods,” Gechijian said the goal is to make nutrition bars that “serve a greater function than just filling you up.”
The Concord-Carlisle 2012 graduate says it was hard to find a good nutrition bar on store shelves that met her requirements. She wanted a bar that was functional, tasty and healthy. She often searched for a bar that would fuel her brain, but those typically came away with an unappealing taste.

domain: news


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Forty percent of U.S. consumers would rather give up TV than the Internet. That’s a big leap from the 26 percent who felt that way five years ago.
Just one of many interesting factoids to be found in a new study on online and multimedia usage habits by Arbitron and Edison Media Research.
- 27 percent of those surveyed had watched TV shows on DVD
- 73 percent of home Internet users employ spam and ad blocking software
- 23 percent of Sirius Satellite Radio subscribers got the service just to listen to Howard Stern
- DVRs are “gaining wider acceptance” and the ability to skip through commercials is the major selling point for many;
- a lot of people are still confused by what podcasting is all about
(Via Paid Content.)


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MicroEJ at CES 2017 !
2017 promises to be an exciting year for MicroEJ with a lot of news and announcements. First up will be a 4-days exhibit at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Have you planned to attend? If so, don’t miss our booth #41166 at Sands Expo, Level 2.
Be ready to experience new products and demos running MicroEJ OS.
IoT is creating great new opportunities for consumers to engage in an easier connected life. Devices and services are transforming our day to day life and MicroEJ is at the hearth of this transformation.
This will be on display at CES Las Vegas with the announcement of new clients products: smart home, retail, smartwatches, and healthcare devices will be in the spotlight on our booth. We’re almost ready:


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Google unleashed a salvo of new YouTube video stats during its second quarter earnings call, as the Internet company looks to fight back against the rising threat from social network Facebook.
Google said that total YouTube "watch time" in the second quarter jumped 60 percent year-on-year, its fastest growth rate in two years. What's more, YouTube's watch time on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets more than doubled year over year.
On mobile devices, the average viewing session is now more than 40 minutes, up more than 50 percent from a year ago.
YouTube is increasingly prioritizing watch time over the sheer number of videos that are streamed, which is the preferred metric of Facebook.
Facebook's video streams have been growing like gangbusters, and are now up to 4 billion every day, thanks to its autoplay videos which automatically begin to play in users' news feed (Facebook counts any video that autoplays for three seconds or more as a "view").
Both companies are battling to make their online services the go-to destination for video viewing as smartphones and computers gain ground on televisions. At stake are billions of dollars in video advertising.
Google still does not break out the revenue and profit for its YouTube division. But Google executives reeled off a number of other interesting YouTube stats during the call.
YouTube reaches more 18 to 49 year olds in the U.S. than any cable network, said Google sales boss Omid Kordestani. And the number of users who start a video viewing session at YouTube's homepage is up more than 3x year over year, the company said.
On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.


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It's that time of year again when the decorations start trending to orange and brown, and the fall festivals begin to appear, and although the Northwest Florida air may not yet have a chill in it, these beer fests will definitely offer a cold one to help cool you down and get you in the mood for fall.
Oktoberfest at HarborWalk Village: Following the true German tradition of Oktoberfest, HarborWalk Village in Destin will host their beer-themed festival through Saturday. Festivities began Thursday and continue tonight with an Oktoberfest Pub Crawl to benefit the EOD Warrior Foundation. Participants don your best German costume and enjoy drink specials all up and down the HarborWalk Village. For tickets visit http://bit.ly/2vco0nW. Saturday from noon to 5 p.m the real party takes place. Bring the whole family to the harbor to enjoy live music, local food and drink vendors, arts, crafts, games and much more.
Ye Olde Brothers Brewery: If you are in the Navarre neck-of-the-woods, check out YOBB Oktoberfest 3-9 p.m. Sept. 23 at 4458 State Road 87. The festival will include the micro-brewery’s three in-house beers, live music and, of course, brat dinners. Visit them on Facebook by searching Ye Olde Brothers Brewery or call 850-684-1495.
Oktoberfest at Bluewater Bay: The Mid-Bay Rotary Club will host the 23rd annual Oktoberfest at Bluewater Bay on Sept. 29 from 5 to 10 p.m. and on Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m in the Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza of Bluewater Bay in Niceville. This is a free event and is open to the entire family and will feature authentic German cuisine, beer, wine, a German band, dancers, clowns and children’s rides among other entertainment. All proceeds go to local charities. Visit www.midbayrotaryclub.org.
30A Craft Beer & Spirits Festival: This two-day beer festival will feature craft beer, spirits, cocktails and foods from around the world, and the best part is, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to supporting the Seaside School Foundation. The festival will be held at Gulf Place on 30A in South Walton on Sept. 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Oct. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. Both nights will feature live bands and beer tastings, with the feature of Friday night being a cocktail contest judged by the crowd, and Saturday’s feature event will be the food vendors and more than 100 craft beer and artisan spirits vendors on site. For ticket prices and more information, visit www.30acraftbeerandspiritsfestival.com.
HoundFest: Idyll Hounds Brewing Company will host HoundFest on Oct. 7 from noon to 5 p.m. at their taproom, 845 Serenoa Road in Santa Rosa Beach. HoundFest commemorates the local brewery’s third anniversary and to celebrate, the brewery will host live music, food and brand new beers. For tickets or more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/houndfest-2017-tickets-36225722110.
Oktoberfest Downtown Panama City: Oktoberfest in Downtown Panama City will be a two-day beer-lovers paradise spanning the downtown area of Panama City at 409 Harrison Avenue on Oct. 6 beginning at 6 p.m. and Oct. 7 from 2 to 6 p.m. The event will feature beer-tasting, food, entertainment and family friendly activities. Visit www.pcoktoberfest.com.
ApalachOktoberfest: This one may be only for those die-hard beer fans ready for a road trip, but ApalachOktoberfest will be worth the three-hour drive. This three-day festival will be held in Apalachicola Oct. 6-8 at Bowery Station on 131 Commerce Street in Apalachicola. Festivities will include live music, food, contests and, of course, beer. Visit www.apalachoktoberfest.com.
Oktoberfest with Destin Brewery: The Destin Library is getting in on the fun of Oktoberfest by hosting the Destin Brewery on Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. There will be local craft beer from Destin Brewery, a talk with Master Brewer and owner of Destin Brewery Kelly Taylor, and lots of German inspired snacks to sample. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Baytowne Beer Fest: What goes better with the beach then beer? The 10th Annual Baytowne BeerFest takes place in the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin in Miramar Beach, and the event will feature more than 200 domestic and international beers for sampling. See what all the fun is about on Oct. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Oct. 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Baytowne Wharf Events Plaza. For tickets or more information, visit www.baytownewharfbeerfestival.com.


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CEVA builds Iberian chemical presence
CEVA Logistics has expanded its services provided at its multiuser Ontigola hub in Toledo, building a 240 square metre specialist Chemical Storage Area.
The supply chain specialists built the new area in the Ontigola warehouse as part of its commitment to providing best in class services and give a more streamlined focus on customers. A team of specialised engineers built the area in compliance with all existing rules and requirements relating to the safe storage of chemical products and risk prevention in the workplace, and the completed area was approved by the relevant authorities.
The Chemical Storage Area is an independent fire fighting area, equipped with specialist fire-fighting equipment including sprinklers and manholes placed in every door to collect any possible spill of product.
“The building of the first Chemical Storage Area for CEVA in Iberia demonstrates our commitment to meet the needs of customers in this highly regulated market,” Marco Galbusera, CEVA’s Manager Director in Iberia said. “This investment will allow us to extend our relationships with our customers and will help us to keep growing our footprint in the logistics market.”
Strategically located south of Madrid, the Ontigola site is well connected by the N-IV road and the R4 highway, as well as the planned motorway to Valencia, an increasingly important import hub.
The center at Ontigola will make use of shared technologies, skills, space and transport, to deliver true value and considerable economies of scale to customers. In the current economy where cost effectiveness is critical for any supply chain, multi user sites offer synergies to meet the most complex needs of customers even in highly regulated and sophisticated markets, like the chemical industry.
Google and NIST Address Supply Chain Cybersecurity
As high-level supply chain attacks hit the news, Google and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have both developed proposals for how to address software supply chain security. This isn’t a new field, unfortunately. Since supply chains are a critical part of business resilience, criminals have no qualms about targeting its software. That’s why identifying, assessing, and mitigating cyber supply chain risks (C-SCRM) is at the top of Google and NIST’s respective agendas.
High-Profile Supply Chain Attacks
According to Google, no comprehensive end-to-end framework exists to mitigate threats across the software supply chain. [Yet] ‘there is an urgent need for a solution in the face of the eye-opening, multi-billion-dollar attacks in recent months...some of which could have been prevented or made more difficult’.
Here are several of the largest cybersecurity failures in recent months:
- SolarWinds. Alleged Russian hackers slipped malicious code into a routine software update, which they then used as a Trojan horse for a massive cyberattack.
- Codecov. Attackers used automation to collect credentials and raid ‘additional resources’, such as data from other software development vendors.
- Malicious attacks on open-source repositories. Out of 1,000 GitHub accounts, more than one in five contained at least one dependency confusion-related misconfiguration.
As a result of these attacks and Biden’s recent cybersecurity mandate, NIST and Google took action. NIST held a 1,400-person workshop and published 150 papers worth of recommendations from Microsoft, Synopsys, The Linux Foundation, and other software experts; Google will work with popular source, build, and packaging platforms to help companies implement and excel at their SLSA framework.
What Are Their Recommendations?
Here’s a quick recap: NIST has grouped together recommendations to create federal standards; Google has developed an end-to-end framework called Supply Chain Levels for Software Artifacts (SLSA)—pronounced “Salsa”. Both address software procurement and security.
Now, here’s the slightly more in-depth version:
- NIST. The organisation wants more ‘rigorous and predictable’ ways to secure critical software. They suggest that firms use vulnerability disclosure programmes (VDP) and software bills of materials (SBOM), consider simplifying their software and give at least one developer per project security training.
- Google. The company thinks that SLSA will encompass the source-build-publish software workflow. Essentially, the four-level framework helps businesses make informed choices about the security of the software they use, with SLSA 4 representing an ideal end state.
If this all sounds very abstract, consider the recent SolarWinds attack. The attacker compromised the build platform, installed an implant, and injected malicious behaviour during each build. According to Google, higher SLSA levels would have required stronger security controls for the build platform, making it more difficult for the attacker to succeed.
How Do The Proposals Differ?
As Brian Fox, the co-founder and CTO at Sonatype, sees it, NIST and Google have created proposals that complement each other. ‘The NIST [version] is focused on defining minimum requirements for software sold to the government’, he explained, while Google ‘goes [further] and proposes a specific model for scoring the supply chain. NIST is currently focused on the “what”. Google, along with other industry leaders, is grappling with the “how”’.


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It could be the cure for what ails the Lincoln Motor Company: An all new Lincoln Continental Concept is set to debut at New York International Auto Show.
The HondaJet — Honda’s unique take on an executive jet — got provisional type certification (PTC) from the FAA. Next step: final certification.
The Ford F-150 will make use of REPREVE — a fiber made from 100% recycled plastics including those from plastic bottles — in its interior.
The Ford Focus RS is set to debut at New York International Auto Show, bringing all-wheel drive to the Focus in North America for the first time.
Lotus Cars launched a game called #itsnotforyou this week. It may be the most frustrating game this side of the departed (how we miss thee) Flappy Bird.
When Mitsubishi gave us a tease for a New York Auto Show vehicle, we were hoping for it to be a Montero. But we’ll settle for the more refined Outlander.
We take a look at the infotainment setup in the redesigned Cadillac Escalade, and we compare its MPGs to the Ford Expedition King Ranch we tested recently.
If you lease a Honda Fit EV and love it, good news: Honda is offering a lease extension with all the same benefits as when the car was new at a lower price.
Chevrolet said the 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid will carry a healthy dose of hybrid technology borrowed from the next-generation Chevy Volt.
A California compliance car no longer, the Kia Soul EV will be making its way into five additional states soon, according to Kia Motors America.
The JVC KD-R85MBS is ready for boating season with a range of connectivity options and a full array of accessories to get your tunes wailing on the water.
FlashLogic remote start is now available for a wide range of vehicles from Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles.


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Surprise decline in output data
Manufacturing output drops
IN THE SECOND blow for South Africa’s economy this week, Statistics SA yesterday said that the country’s manufacturing output fell the most since July 2014 after it contracted by 4.1 percent year-onyear in April, despite an increase on a monthly basis.
This was worse than the 1.6 percent decline economists and analysts had predicted.
According to Stats SA, the reported annual decline in production in April was due to lower production in eight of the ten manufacturing divisions, while positive contributions were only recorded for food & beverages and radio, television and communication sectors.
The largest single contributor to the surprisingly poor result was the sharp contraction of production in the automotive sector, which fell by 17.7 percent year-on-year, which cut 1.4 percent off of headline growth.
Production in the glass and non-metallic mineral products fell 10.9 percent, while electrical machinery shed 16.8 percent in the period.
Furniture and “other” manufacturing were down 13.6 percent. On a monthly basis, manufacturing production rose 2.3 percent, the first increase since November.
According to Trading Economics Industrial Production in South Africa averaged 0.96 percent from 1974 until 2017, reaching a record high of 18.5 percent in May of 1995 and a record low of -23.20 percent in April of 2009 – in the midst of the global financial meltdown.
John Ashbourne, Africa economist at Capital Economics, said that April’s activity data suggested that South Africa’s economy remained weak at the start of the second quarter, but that sales figures expected next week will give a clearer picture of the state of the economy.
“Retail sales figures for April will be released on June 14. Given that consumer-facing sectors were the key cause of the recession in the first quarter.
“This figure will be a crucial sign of whether or not things have improved. Indeed, as the current period of rapid mining growth passes, the economy will be increasingly dependent on the faltering consumer sector,” Ashbourne said.
April’s downbeat manufacturing and mining figures are the second set of data to catch pundits by surprise.
Earlier in the week the country surprisingly fell into a technical recession after the gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by an annualised 0.7 percent in the first three months of the year, following a 0.3 percent drop in the comparative period.
The manufacturing sector contributes around 12.4 percent to GDP.
Elize Kruger, a senior economist at NKC African Economics, said that South Africa’s recent credit rating downgrades to sub-investment grade had increased the risk of further currency depreciation, a higher tax burden and lower investment, which would weigh on overall economic and manufacturing sector growth.
“April’s production figures confirmed that the sector remains under pressure, plagued by weak domestic and global demand for locally manufactured goods, while low confidence levels among households and businesses further strain the sector,” Kruger said.
She, however, said a slight improvement in global economic conditions could be somewhat of a positive offsetting factor.
Last week, the World Bank said global economic growth will strengthen to 2.7 percent this year, driven by a pick-up in manufacturing and trade, stabilising commodity prices and rising market confidence. It also expected growth to resume in the commodity-exporting emerging market and developing economies.
Stats SA also said that the mining sector also fell into contraction in April, with production down 1.6 percent on a monthly basis after in had picked up significantly in the preceding month.


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LOOKS LIKE IT MAY FLY. Canada tries a Loonie idea: a $1 gold coin
`Go with it,'' says the television message. The ad isn't for some new yogurt or soft drink. It's for Canada's new gold-colored $1 coin. So far, Canadians are doing just that - going with it. Since the coin was introduced early last summer, Canadians have ``bought'' more than 75 million of them. For several weeks the handsome coins were pocketed as rarities or curiosities. Now, says Denis M. Cudahy, vice-president of manufacturing at the Royal Canadian Mint, they are showing up more often in transactions, as 6 million a week are minted.
The Canadians have even coined a name for their new coin - the ``Loonie'' - referring to the loon, the watergoing bird with the eerie call, which is engraved on the reverse of the coin. (A likeness of Queen Elizabeth II is on the obverse side.)
``It is not a derogatory term,'' says Mr. Cudahy. ``People tend to give nicknames to things they like.'' The Canadian Press news agency was quick to give the nickname an official spelling - Loonie - heading off renderings such as Looney or Loony.
For the Mint, the coin's easy acceptance is a considerable relief after the American public's flat rejection of the the Susan B. Anthony $1 coin, introduced in 1979 only to pile up in the vaults of the Federal Reserve System. Apparently consumers in the United States found it too similar to the quarter and not especially attractive.
The Canadian Mint, which moved back into its rehabilitated castle-like home here in July 1986, decided to learn from the US experience. It also studied the example of Britain, which introduced a 1 coin in 1983 and discontinued its 1 note in 1984.
To curry public acceptance, Canada's new currency was designed to have a pleasant ``fondle factor.'' The coin is sufficiently larger than the quarter to be distinctive; it has 11 sides, enabling even the blind to recognize it easily. And the coin is attractive, with its copper-tin (bronze) aureate coating electroplated onto the nickel planchet before striking.
Canadians seem to like the design, perhaps because many have an affection for the loon, a diving bird that's common in Canada, although it has become fairly rare in the US.
To make certain the coin would do what it was intended to do - replace the paper $1 bill - the government announced at the start that it would withdraw the $1 bill starting and ending in 1989. This has given the vending machine industry an incentive to start converting its machines to accept the coin.
On the other hand, when the US Treasury introduced the Susan B. Anthony, it was silent about its intentions for the $1 bill. So the vending machine industry decided to wait and see about converting equipment, and there was little incentive for the public to make the switch.
Canada also has the advantage of having in wide circulation a $2 bill, so consumers don't have to jump from a $1 bill to a $5 bill in making change.
Because the new dollar coins are expected to last at least 20 years in circulation, far longer than the year or so for paper $1 bills, the new coins will save the government money. It expects to save some $175 million over a period of 20 years in production and distribution costs.
Since the coin costs only 12 cents to make and has a face value of $1, the government should also make a profit, known as ``seignorage.'' That profit, says Cudahy, could amount to $270 million, if the Mint is able to circulate about 600 million of the coins to replace its 300 million $1 bills.
Public-transit companies expect to save $4 million a year by not having to unfold dollar bills put in collection boxes. Vending-machine operators hope to do more business because of the convenience of a $1 coin. Thousands of ``Use It Here'' decals have been placed on converted vending machines.
Though the government apparently is not financially loony in making this biggest change in the Canadian currency in some 50 years, there was some looniness involved in its introduction.
For one thing, the original design featured a traditional ``voyageur'' theme on its reverse side - a portrayal of a white man and an Indian in a fur-laden canoe. But the master dies for this design mysteriously disappeared during a snowstorm last November, when they were transported from Ottawa to the production plant in Winnipeg by a courier company.
The dies have not shown up, despite an intensive search by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. So for security reasons, the Mint substituted the loon motif.
Mr. Cudahy isn't entirely unhappy with the switch, noting that the loon is common to all of Canada, whereas the voyageurs were something of an eastern Canadian theme.
Another bit of looniness occurred when a Mint mix-up resulted in some of the coins being distributed to the public in the west a week early.
On the whole, however, Mint officials are delighted with the reception to the coin. A public survey shows 65 percent firmly in favor of the coin and another sizable percentage fence-sitting.
Says Mint spokesman Murray Church:``Going loonie has become an in thing.''


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Seventh Generation Commits to Sustainable Palm Oil by 2012
Seventh Generation aims to exclusively use certified sustainable palm oil for its household products by 2012.
Palm oil is used in foods, drugs, personal care items and detergents by many companies. Seventh Generation uses palm oil in its plant-based surfectants.
Over the next two years, Seventh Generation will identify what it considers to be responsibly managed sources of palm oil, according to a press release. Then, Seventh Generation will require that its palm oil suppliers be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.
Earlier this year, figures showed that only 1 percent, or about 15,000 tons, of sustainable palm oil available on the market was being purchased, prompting the World Wildlife Fund to begin developing a scorecard for manufacturers’ use of sustainable palm oil.
After widespread consumer protests, Cadbury New Zealand earlier this year decided to eliminate palm oil from its dairy milk chocolate products.
Energy Manager News
- Entergy Arkansas Reaches Rate Settlement
- EMEX Named TEPA Aggregator/Broker/Consultant of the Year
- Switching to LEDs Without Leaving the Past Behind
- McKinstry Replacing 6,200 Lights with LEDs in Henderson, NV
- USDA Investing More than $300M in Efficiency, Renewables
- ERC Price Benchmark Trends Week Ending: October 21, 2016
- Could Cleaner Energy Save Ohio Ratepayers $50M in 2030, Alone?
- Yakima City Council Mulls Utility Rate Hike on Large Businesses to Bolster Reserve Fund


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It’s no secret that EA haven’t supported the Nintendo Switch a great deal since release. With heavy hitters such as Mass Effect: Andromeda, Need For Speed: Rivals and Star Wars Battlefront II all giving the Switch a miss, EA has so far only confirmed that FIFA 18 will be coming to the console.
Well, it appears that they’ll look at bringing other games to the Switch if FIFA 18 does well. I actually wouldn’t be too surprised it does exceed their expectations. I’ve played FIFA 18 on Switch and it’s without doubt the best portable version of the game and they way I think a lot of people will prefer playing it.
It feels like a fully-fledged version of the game with the ability to take it anywhere. If FIFA Ultimate Team is executed properly, that’ll draw FIFA obsessed gamers in with the ability to manage their team on the go.
“We believe that we want to be a part of the Switch, and help Nintendo grow that installed base; that’s why you’ll see FIFA, which by the way is really good this year. It’s a full-fledged FIFA game, for the first time to be honest, on a portable device,” said Soderlund.
“But at the same time we have to look at it from a resource standpoint and, at some point, the numbers become a factor. So for us it’s about supporting the platform, building technology for the platform, testing it out with big things like FIFA – and maybe a couple of others, we’ll see – and if they go well, I see no reason why we shouldn’t have as much of our portfolio on that platform as possible.” continued Soderlund.
FIFA 18 releases on the Nintendo Switch on September 29th. It’ll be interesting to see how it fares, as we already know that it’s missing The Journey, but I’m not sure how big of an issue that is.


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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd announced that it has agreed to acquire a stake in China’s Dalian Wanda Group Company’s cinema operator unit for an investment totaling over $1.2 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Alibaba would pay Wanda Film Holding Co a sum of 4.68 billion yuan for a stake of 7.66%, which would make the e-commerce the second shareholder of the company. The Cultural Investment Holdings, which is controlled by the China government, will pay the remaining 3.21 billion yuan for the 5.11% stake.
The acquisition is the first major sale that Wanda Films has ever made to the external investors after it was listed on the Shenzhen bourse in 2015. The grand sale comes at the time when the billionaire founder Wang Jianlin is selling off some of its assets from his real estate and hotels to help in paying debts. The fundraising also comes at the time when the company is restructuring its film unit, whose shares have been suspended from trading in the stock market since July 2017.
Alibaba stands to benefit more by investing in Wanda since the company’s founder, Jack Ma plays a major role in China’s film industry and is projecting to become the world’s largest box-office by the year 2020. In 2016, Alibaba acquired a stake in Amblin Partners through its Alibaba Pictures Group Ltd, a subsidiary of the company. Alibaba is currently competing in the film space with Tencent Holdings Ltd, which is also taking up movie and TV production.
Wanda Film will now work closely with Alibaba and the Cultural Investment Holdings to enhance various areas of operation including the film distribution, marketing, financing, advertising, and e-ticketing according to the regulatory filing. The company has sold a chain of stakes to investors for the last six months, a move that the government has scrutinized closely. However, Wanda stated that it will still hold a major stake and confirmed that the latest deal with Alibaba would bring in strategic shareholders.
Last year, Wanda faced pressure from the government to scale down its business operations after spending more than $3.5 billion on foreign production studio Legendary Entertainment and about $ 2.6 billion on the cinema chain AMC.
The company announced last week that it would sell a $5.4 billion stake to Tencent. Furthermore, the company has sold more than $9 billion in the tourism and hotel assets within China to two Chinese property developers.


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The arrival of the internet has ushered in unfathomable wealth of value creation, the most important being the ability to successfully transmit real-time information. In Africa, The successful adoption of mobile technology means we skipped the desktop era and went mobile first. According to NCC, there’s an estimate of 97 million mobile internet users across the four major network operators in Nigeria. This confirms that a vast majority of Nigerians access the internet through mobile devices making us a predominantly mobile driven economy. As with every product, there is a need to monetize for value. Mobile payment hit the ground running on arrival as its adoption kicked off with the intention to displace traditional payment options.
When Apple Pay went live in 2014, over 1 million shoppers registered in the first 72 hours alone. Smart local content developers and curators saw a money making tool and latched onto it. The reason behind this isn’t far fetched. The volume of available mobile users made it an easy sell to concerned parties. Research showed that nearly 30% of shoppers will choose to pay with their phones than their wallets. Mobile payments has been adopted globally and is becoming mainstream.The mobile payment revolution in Nigeria is only just beginning. Local companies like Interswitch, Cash Envoy, Vogue Pay, Simple Pay etc. who have been in the game offer merchants a viable means to monetize online in the mold of foreign giants such as PayPal, Braintree (now a part of PayPal), & Stripe. But the pace at which Nigerians have adopted the internet has not been in tandem with our willingness to pay for things online. The market here is still at the “Early Majority” phase where besides the tech enthusiasts and adventurous ones, everyone else hits the “Pay on Delivery” button. I recently stumbled on an article by Interswitch’s Ope Adeoye with startling numbers on our online payments ecosystem. Of the 30 Million cardholders in Nigeria, only 200 Thousand people cardholders use it online. Now, that’s a huge gap.
It’s very clear from these numbers that the vast majority of the 97 million of Nigerians who interact online only do so to access social media, messaging & other free to access content platforms that have found other indirect means to monetize – Ads, Sponsored Content etc.
Issues surrounding the low financial inclusion level in Nigeria has been a cause for worry. That just 30 Million Nigerians are cardholders is an indication of this. There are millions of Nigerians who are under-banked and are without Bank accounts & ATM cards. Some are online yet do not have a means with which to pay online, There is a need to cater for this group. A possible solution to this is Direct Carrier Billing. We recently introduced “tmoni”, a mobile billing platform that enables merchants seamlessly monetize digital content across Africa. It’s frictionless and easy to use as a one-click payment process is all that’s required. This means that barriers like keying in lengthy credit card numbers, do not exist. It also means dramatically improving the probability that a potential lead will turn into a client. Conversion rates for cards generally average 20% while those of mobile operator billing average 50-60%. tmoni expands the reach of content providers to a much larger audience while delivering better conversion rates and higher transaction volumes.
Going by the successes of mobile VAS & digital connections (as seen by the high growth /adoption of internet technologies), the premise of Direct Carrier Billing puts it in position to offer a viable alternative to cards in the future. Operator billing serves a viable option to the over 67 million Nigerians online who are financially excluded and without any viable means to pay online.
Smart businesses understand the need to integrate mobile payment options into their business as it makes it easier for customers especially the underbanked to pay for products and services purchased. Turning a blind eye to this payment method strengthens your competition profit as they plug into using solutions that enables them access funds from people with low financial inclusion


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Mindbody FitPro Business Conference to Launch September 2012
San Luis Obispo, CA – June 11, 2012 – Mindbody, a leading provider of online business management software to the health, wellness and beauty industries, and Mad Dogg Athletics, the world’s largest equipment-based education company, have joined forces to create Mindbody FitPro, a new business conference for fitness and wellness professionals.
Scheduled for September 8-9 in Marina del Rey, CA, this 2-day conference will feature business education seminars, instructor training courses, fitness classes, and networking events.
“Mindbody FitPro is the perfect event for any fitness and wellness professional interested in enhancing the success of their business as well as their own practice,” said Bob Murphy, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Mindbody. “Different than most conferences, ours is designed for just 300 attendees to ensure a more personal and focused experience for everyone.”
Over 60 business education sessions will be offered exploring the best business practices related to customer service, sales, retention programs, marketing, and social media outreach. An additional 60+ fitness classes will keep attendees moving throughout the weekend, and provide insights into unique instructional techniques.
“The goal with this conference is to speak to both the business side of operating a facility and the programming side,” said John Baudhuin, CEO at Mad Dogg Athletics. “Mindbody FitPro provides the best of both – insights into cutting edge business tactics and programming to improve your profitability.”
Conference attendees will also have access to numerous continuing-education and certification courses, pre-conference trainings, and daily group fitness activities that include workouts on the beach and on the conference hotel’s rooftop helicopter pad. Networking opportunities will include a Saturday night mixer with fellow attendees and presenters.
An expo hall will feature the latest in fitness equipment, accessories, clothing, and music presented by conference sponsors: Spinning, Peak Pilates, Body Blade, Resist-a-Ball, Zumba Fitness, The willpower Method, Savvier Fitness, CrossCore, Power Music, Hyperwear, Yoga Journal, Constant Contact, Listen360, and the Fitness Consulting Group.
To register for Mindbody FitPro, visit the conference’s website (www.mindbodyfitpro.com) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MindbodyFitPro). Early bird discount pricing ($249) ends July 15th. Afterward, the full conference will cost $349.
Founded in 2001, Mindbody is the largest online software provider in the health and wellness industry, offering web-based business management software to over 18,000 clients worldwide, including fitness, yoga, Pilates, dance, and martial arts businesses. Mindbody clients use the software to operate all aspects of their business, from scheduling and staff management to automated marketing and eCommerce. Mindbody’s clients process over 13 million class and appointment bookings per month in the company’s software. Over 3.6 million of those sessions are booked online directly by consumers via websites, mobile devices and Facebook pages.
About Mad Dogg Athletics
Home of the Spinning®, Peak Pilates®, Resist-A-Ball®, Bodyblade®, freeFORM® and SPIN Fitness® brands, Mad Dogg Athletics is the world’s largest equipment-based education company. Mad Dogg Athletics has trained over 200,000 instructors and has reached millions of enthusiasts in over 80 countries worldwide through a network of over 35,000 fitness facilities. The company manufactures home Spinner® bikes, Pilates and functional training equipment, DVDs, and a complete line of Spinning-branded apparel and accessories. Mad Dogg Athletics also works closely with Star Trac®, who is the licensed distributor of the patented line of Spinner® bikes for the commercial market.


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The all-new Ford Fiesta is one of the most promising and best looking mid-size sedan in the country, but its sales couldn't pick up as it should have been considering the oomph factor it reflects. To give a push to the sales of the Fiesta, Ford is contemplating the option to provide an automatic gearbox in the car as suggested by the recent spy shot.
Our friends at Team BHP got their hands on the facelifted Ford Fiesta with an automatic gearbox. To give you a brief history insight, Ford launched a petrol variant with automatic gearbox when the new Fiesta was initially launched. But they discontinued it in June 2014 after the sedan got a mild makeover and only a diesel engine with 5-speed manual transmission is on offer now.
Ford named the 6-speed dual-clutch transmission as the 'Powershift' model and will be aimed to compete against Honda City CVT, Hyundai Verna AT, Volkswagen Vento TSI, and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz AT. The Powershift gearbox offers a best in class 10 years maintenance free operation and comes with a dry sump technology.
Ford will re-introduce the Fiesta Powershift with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine capable of producing 112ps and 140 Nm of torque. The first generation of new-Fiesta offered a mileage of 17kmpl with AT gearshift, but the 2014 facelift model is more aerodynamic. So expect a better efficiency figure from the sedan.


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Remember the Yamaha R7? No, not the new one—the original race homologation special, which Yamaha sold just enough units of so that it could go World Superbike Championship racing. Also known as the OW-02, only 500 of these bikes were ever made and sold back in 1999.
Boasting an array of choice bits including a full Öhlins suspension, titanium valves (20 of ‘em), titanium connecting rods, twin injectors, and more. It was engineered for both Endurance World Championship and World Superbike racing, and it showed. Stock horsepower was only a claimed 106, but the purchase and installation of progressively bonkers race kits could bump it up to 135 or even 162, if you really wanted to get nuts.
When new, the asking price was a cool $32,000 in 1999. While that sum wouldn’t exactly be pocket change in 2023, when adjusted for inflation, that’s the equivalent of about $59,947 at the time of writing on October 17, 2023.
Gallery: 1999 Yamaha YZF-R7 OW-02
How much can one of these beauties fetch in 2023, though? Given their rarity, it seems that at least one zero-mile 1999 Yamaha R7 OW02 has been floating around England for the past couple of years. Another one of these legendary machines just sold at the 2023 Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale, which is a major motorcycle auction held by the auction house every year.
The bike in question has zero miles on the clock, was never registered, and fetched a total of £37,375 (about $45,534) including the buyer’s premium. Given what the original asking price would have been when adjusted for inflation in 2023, that seems like more of a bargain than you might expect.
According to the seller, this bike was one of six that Yamaha supplied to the Virgin Yamaha race team back in 2001. Of those six bikes, four were raced, one was set aside and kept by the team, and the last one was purchased by a member of the team.
This is that last bike, which the former team member then sold to the seller in November 2019. Prior to that time, the former Virgin Yamaha team member kept it tucked away in a climate-controlled garage. Once the seller got their hands on it, they brought it inside their home, where it’s lived ever since.
If you’re curious about what one of these bikes sounds like, our colleagues over at Bike World had the chance to ride one of these exceedingly rare machines earlier in 2023. Although it isn’t the exact bike that just sold here at auction, if you watch this video, you can get a sound and feel for what this dream machine would be like to ride.


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The British Retail Consortium is calling on the government to take action over the rising levels of crime against retail workers.
The BRC’s latest crime survey found the amount of violence and abuse against retail workers reached 1,300 incidents per day between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023 – up from 870 per day the year before.
The annual survey looks at the scale of violence and abuse inflicted on retail staff, which includes racial abuse, physical assault, sexual harassment and threats with weapons.
The survey shows the huge increase in violence and abuse in retail has reached levels seen during the pandemic, at nearly half a million incidents a year.
The surge in retail crime comes despite retailers investing in crime prevention. Over the 2022/23 period, retailers spent £1.2bn on precautions such as CCTV, body-worn cameras and more security personnel, up from spending £722m the previous year.
The cost of theft to retailers increased to £1.8bn from £953m the year before, meaning the overall cost of crime to retailers was double the previous year at £3.3bn.
Sixty per cent of respondents described the police response to incidents as “poor” or “very poor”, up from 44% last year.
The BRC and retailers are urging the government to introduce a standalone offence of assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker to send a “clear message” that these crimes will not be tolerated.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Despite retailers investing huge sums in crime prevention, violence and abuse against retail workers is climbing. With over 1,300 incidents every day, the government can no longer ignore the plight of ordinary, hardworking retail colleagues.
“Teenagers taking on their first job, carers looking for part-time work, parents working around childcare. And while the violence can be over in a moment, the victims carry these experiences with them for a lifetime.
“And we all know the impact does not stop there – it affects their colleagues, friends, and the family our colleagues go home to. This is a crisis that demands action now.
“Criminals are being given a free pass to steal goods and to abuse and assault retail colleagues. No one should have to go to work fearing for their safety.
“The Protection of Workers Act in Scotland already provides additional protection to retail workers, so why should our hard-working colleagues south of the border be offered less protection? It is vital that government takes action – introducing a new standalone offence for assaulting or abusing a retail worker.”


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The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.
BBC World Service
News and insight from the business world with Adam Parsons and Mickey Clark.
BBC Radio 5 live
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
Insights into the business world from the BBC.
The latest news and views on business.


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Excited gamers are continuing to queue ahead of the release of the eagerly anticipated PlayStation 4 console.
A selection of dedicated fans even camped overnight before queues began to build up outside the launch venue in London's Covent Garden earlier today.
The PlayStation 4 officially goes on sale in the UK on Friday, but Sony has said customers who pre-ordered the machine could collect them from GAME stores a day early.
The next generation console will go head to head with Microsoft's Xbox One which launched last week.
More top news
The singer best known as Johnny Rotten offered advice for Britain's Brexit negotiators as he told ITV News his biggest hit is misunderstood.
The Atlantic regains control of our weather
Bosnian Kerim Ahmetspahic smashed the concrete blocks in just 35 seconds, achieving a Guinness World Record in the process.


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You can complain about the lack of jetpacks all you want, but more and more, it’s looking like we’re really living in the future. Case in point: the new transparent and mirrored OLED displays that Samsung unveiled today in Hong Kong.
Last year Samsung put OLED aside in its consumer televisions in favor of Quantum Dot LCD technology, and that might still be the case, as these new displays are meant more for commercial use. While looking at your TV only to find yourself staring back might not be convenient, these are perfect for retail applications, looking like something plucked out of a shopping mall from the future.
The new displays integrate Intel Real Sense technology which enables users to control interfaces via gestures rather than traditional tactile input. Combine this control with the new clear and mirrored designs and there are a whole lot of possible applications, but Samsung is currently focusing on “making the consumer purchasing experience more visually engaging,” according to a press release issued today.
One possible use outlined is a “self-modeling” wardrobe which could allow shoppers to see how clothes might look on them without actually having to try them on. Walking through a store, shoppers might even look into a mirror and find themselves wearing a different shirt without any effort on their part.
In the future, Samsung says that this type of mirror could eventually replace mirrors in your home as well, “providing digital information services to sophisticated consumers in the same space where they now just have a traditional mirror.” Time for a haircut? Your mirror lets you know. There’s no word yet on whether or not it will tell you if you’re the fairest of them all, however.
For the transparent display, Samsung has more traditional tasks in mind — replacing traditional LCD signage, for example — but it certainly is still impressive to behold.
Both models shown were 55 inches in size and offer some impressive specs. Samsung claims both the mirrored and transparent models show an increased color gamut over comparable LCDs (100 percent vs 70 percent of NTSC), and the mirrored model is said to have both better contrast and a faster response time than mirror LCDs. Since OLED displays don’t require back lighting, they’re more versatile when it comes to integration with new types of designs, and can also be remarkably thin.
While Samsung might not be focusing on OLED for consumer use right now, this latest showcase — perhaps a response to a similarly futuristic OLED demonstration from LG a few weeks back –proves that the company is still very hands-on with OLED display technology. These panels are ready to appear in retail locations right now, but there is currently no indication of how widely available they will be.
- The Razer Blade’s new 4K OLED gaming laptop starts at a whopping $3,299
- Sony’s massive new MicroLED display stands 17 feet tall and packs 16K resolution
- The best monitors for Mac mini
- LED vs. LCD TVs explained: What’s the difference?
- Sony’s super-tall Xperia 1 is the first smartphone with a 4K OLED display


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Compared with his predecessor Donald Trump, President Joe Biden’s trade policy actions have hit fewer headlines since his inauguration on 20 January 2021. Even so, these policies – along with the actions President Biden did not take – still send out critical signals about his approach to trade, writes Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor in Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware.
#1: Biden’s trade policy often touches on foreign policy goals such as national security, building a closer relationship with allies, and responding to the China challenge.
#2: Biden’s trade policy reflects two themes: being worker-centric and addressing climate change.
#3: Do NOT expect Biden to abandon all Trump’s trade policy actions anytime soon, such as the Section 301 action against imports from China. Likewise, Biden’s emphasis on human rights and climate change could lead to more trade disputes. Whether he will be more “import-friendly” than President Trump remains too early to tell.
22 April 2021 – US International Climate Finance Plan
The Biden administration released its US International Climate Finance Plan. As part of this, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) will “identify ways to significantly increase, as per its mandate, its support for environmentally beneficial, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage exports from the United States.” [Policy document]
16 April 2021 – Foreign Exchange Policies report
The Biden administration’s first Report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners (April 2021) removed Vietnam and Switzerland from the “currency manipulator” list, reversing the Trump administration’s December 2020 decision. China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Ireland, Italy, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Mexico were on the monitoring list. Analysts say the report reveals the Biden administration’s intention to de-escalate trade tensions with US allies. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]
31 March 2021 – National Trade Estimate report
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2021 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report. Most trade barriers facing US textile and apparel products in foreign markets concentrate on high tariffs, rules of origin documentation requirements, and licensing requirements. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [WTO] [Textiles and apparel]
29 March 2021 – Malaysia gloves made by forced labour
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced plans to seize disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by Top Glove Corporation Bhd based on a forced labour findings. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and apparel]
29 March 2021 – Trade with Myanmar suspended
In response to the military coup, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said it would suspend all US engagement with Myanmar under the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) “until the return of a democratically elected government.” The suspension does NOT mean the US is banning or prohibiting imports from Myanmar. However, should US Congress renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme, which expired in December 2020, Myanmar could be excluded from the benefits. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]
26 March 2021 – Proposed retaliatory tariffs against Digital Service Tax (DST)
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) proposed imposing up to 25% punitive tariffs on imports from Australia, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom in response to their planned digital service tax (DST) targeting US companies. The proposal covers several textile and apparel products (HS Chapters 50-63) from these six countries, including:
- Austria: 5209.12.00, 5402.49.91, 5404.19.10, 5404.19.80, 5603.94.10, 5603.94.90
- India: 5109.90.90, 6212.10.50
- Italy: all 8-digit codes under 6103, 6104, 6110, 6117,6203,6204,6211,6215
- Spain: no textile and apparel products covered
- Turkey: all 8-digit codes under 5702, 5703, 6302 and 6303.91.00
- UK: 6104.43.20, 6201.12.20, 6201.92.45, 6202.12.20, 6202.13.40,6202.92.90, 6204.43.40, 6204.44.40, 6204.49.10, 6205.20.20, 6215.10.00
Before taking action, USTR will accept public comments until the end of April 2021 and announce its decision by May 2021. Meanwhile, USTR also announced the termination of the DST investigation against Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union and Indonesia. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and apparel]
18 March 2021 – New USTR
Katherine C Tai was officially sworn in as the US Trade Representative.
10 March 2021 – China Section 301 exclusion extension
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced plans to extend the exclusion of PPE and medical-care products related to Covid-19 from Section 301 punitive tariffs against Chinese products. The exclusion covers a limited category of textile and apparel items, including 9903.88.64 (covering 5603.12.0090, 5603.14.0090, 5603.92.0090, 5603.93.0090), 9903.88.65 (5210.11.4040, 5210.11.6020, 5504.10.0000, 6210.10.5010, 6210.10.5090). The extension will be effective from 1 April to 30 September 2021. [Policy documents] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and apparel]
5 March 2021 – Punitive tariffs against the EU suspended
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said it would suspend airbus dispute 25% retaliatory tariffs on European Union products starting from 5 March 2021 for four months (until around 4 July 2021). USTR said the suspension would “allow time to focus on negotiating a balanced settlement to the disputes, and begin seriously addressing the challenges posed by new entrants to the civil aviation market from non-market economies, such as China.” Meanwhile, the UK ceased applying retaliatory tariffs in the Boeing dispute from 1 January 2021. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]
4 March 2021 – Punitive Tariffs against the UK suspended
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said it would suspend airbus dispute retaliatory tariffs on UK products starting from 4 March 2021 for four months (until around 4 July 2021). The 25% retaliatory tariffs apply to several apparel export categories (such as sweaters) from the UK to the US. USTR said the suspension would “allow time to focus on negotiating a balanced settlement to the disputes, and begin seriously addressing the challenges posed by new entrants to the civil aviation market from non-market economies, such as China.” Meanwhile, the UK ceased applying retaliatory tariffs in the Boeing dispute from 1 January 2021. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and apparel]
1 March 2021 – 2021 US Trade Policy Agenda report released
The Biden administration released its 2021 President’s Trade Agenda and 2020 Annual Report, which calls for “putting workers at the centre of trade policy.” It also says the administration will seek to understand better “the projected impact of proposed trade policies on communities of colour and to ensure those impacts are considered before pursuing such policies.” The report further confirms Biden’s emphasis on climate change and says his trade agenda will “include the negotiation and implementation of strong environmental standards that are also critical to a sustainable climate pathway.” Additionally, the new administration will “make it a top priority to address the widespread human rights abuses in China” and use the WTO to engage friends and allies. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [WTO]
24 February 2021 – CBP FAQ regarding WRO against cotton made in Xinjiang
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region WRO Frequently Asked Questions web page, which clarifies the scope of the Withhold Release Orders(WROs) against cotton made in Xinjiang, proof of admissibility, and due diligence. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and apparel]
24 February 2021 – Review supply chain in critical sectors
In an executive order (EO), President Biden announced plans to conduct a 100-day supply chains review on several key US industries, including semiconductors, batteries, strategic minerals, and pharmaceuticals. The review will also cover certain critical business sectors, such as national defence, public health, information and communication technology, energy, transportation, and agriculture. Further, the EO explicitly asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the heads of appropriate agencies, to submit a report identifying risks in the supply chain of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE includes textile products like facial masks, gowns and gloves. More comprehensive reform and supply chain strategies are likely to follow after the supply chain review. [Policy document] [Textiles and apparel]
2 February 2021 – Support for new WTO Director
The Office of the US Trade Representative Office said it would support Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director-General of the WTO. Previously, the Trump administration did not support Ngozi’s candidacy. [WTO]


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Show traffic was up 12.5% at Vitafoods Europe this year meaning record numbers visited the 800+ suppliers and brands at the 3-day Geneva expo and conference.
Plant waters such as aloe, birch, artichoke, maple, cactus, and almond water are starting to challenge coconut water’s pedestal, with NPD in this emerging category booming, according to Innova Market...
Probiotic fruit drinks face different challenges to their dairy counterparts - but both face the same requirement to taste good.
An online UK juice, smoothie and healthy food merchant has fallen foul of the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over blood cleansing and other claims for some of its juices.
Inca berry, cape gooseberry, golden berry. It has many monikers but one primary Andean source in Peru and Swiss supplier Frutarom was promoting it at Vitafoods Europe last week.
A combination of extracts from grape juice and wine may help reduce blood pressure in people with untreated, mildly hypertensive people, says a new study from Unilever.
200 people from the European and international food and nutrition sectors helped 20 finalists and seven winners celebrate at the inaugural NutraIngredients Awards last night at Vitafoods Europe.
Vitafoods Europe - a global nutraceutical event - and Finished Products Europe are in full swing in Geneva this week. And beverages are well represented.
Australian researchers have tracked the anti-radical and antioxidant properties of coffee from bean to brew.
High dietary intakes of alpha- and beta-carotene are associated with reduced type 2 diabetes risk in generally healthy adults, says data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Netherlands (EPIC-NL).
Daily consumption of a low-calorie cranberry juice may improve certain risk factors of heart disease, including blood pressure and triglycerides, says a new study from the Agricultural Research Service at...
14 nutrition start-ups are formally seeking investment and partners the day before Vitafoods Europe officially opens next week in Geneva.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted its opinion on the safe consumption of caffeine with little change to its controversial draft after a heated debate period.
According to Euromonitor International, fortified or functional food and drink sales jumped by 25% between 2008 and 2013 to reach $267.6bn (€249bn). But what does this industry term really mean...
The approval of a health claim on carbohydrates and muscle function has shown that a successful dossier does not have to contain proprietary data.
A study comparing two methods of measuring protein quality has highlighted the need for one to be chosen and made EU law, says dairy player Volac.
There is substantial interest in calcium- and vitamin D- enriched products for improved bone health in the UK. But young people still don’t see the importance, says Canadean....
Global and EU regulation aims to stop companies using indigenous bio knowledge and material to make profits without filtering any of the benefits back.
An association between muscle-building supplements and testicular cancer is stronger for young men and long periods of use - with a 177% increased risk for those who mix supplements, warn scientists....
The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) has kicked out Protein World just one week after the UK retailer was busted by the UK’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA).
Consumers are keen to learn more about beverage ingredients, which is good news for the functional drink category, suggest beverage entrepreneurs.
With an ever increasing consumer demand for healthier food products, many within the industry are asking where the growth in healthy foods will come from.
Protein powders have been added to the UK’s ‘basket of goods’ – a list of staple products and services used to calculate UK inflation.
Researchers say the rapid rise in energy drink consumption among adolescents has ‘serious implications’ for cardiac health, as they compile recommendations for consumption limits in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
Are omega-3 fisheries really under threat? How many functional foods have cracked omega-3 blockbuster status? How is the sector recovering from the ‘Brasky effect’? How are developing markets developing? How...


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The Buckle has promoted Kari G. Smith to the newly created position of EVP of stores. In her new role, Smith will continue to provide leadership related to all aspects of the in-store shopping experience, including the education and development of the company’s sales team.
Kohl’s has teamed up with actress Katie Holmes to confront the “pink elephant in the room” — breast cancer — in a new awareness-raising initiative. Kohl’s will donate up to $1 million to Susan G. Komen to help support the cause.
Hudson’s Bay CFO Michael Culhane has resigned his spot following a leave of absence from the company. The news comes two weeks after the company brought in Douglas Scovanner as EVP of finance and accounting on an interim basis to support company president Donald Watros, who assumed the role of acting CFO.
Shopko is leveraging social media to tout its expanded brand assortment. The retailer is holding an eight-week Facebook giveaway offering participants a chance to win prize packages featuring some of the national brands it carries.


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Imagine owning a Jeep featuring a total body length longer than a full-size pick-up truck. That’s what is coming down the pipeline from Jeep with their long wheelbase Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer luxury utility vehicles, which are expected to debut later this year.
Per an Automotive News article, Jeep is getting ready to unleash longer variants of their top-tier Jeep SUVs that should grant them some considerable fight in the premium SUV category. The new Jeep Wagoneer L will be positioned against the likes of the GMC Yukon XL and Ford Expedition Max, while the Grand Wagoneer targets the GMC Yukon XL Denali, Cadillac Escalade ESV and the Lincoln Navigator L. A camouflage prototype of the Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer was spotted cruising around downtown Detroit earlier this month. The prototype seems significantly longer than the current models which sit at just under 18-feet in total length. To put that in perspective, a Ford F-150, with a 6.5-foot bed, sits at 17.5 feet in total vehicle length. The F-150 with a regular cab and an 8-foot bed makes the truck 19-feet.
Per the report, Chairman of the Stellantis National Dealer Council, Dave Kelleher, believes the price point for the new variation of Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be somewhere between 10-15 percent higher than that of the current standard body model which currently runs $112,000 fully loaded for the Grand Wagoneer Series III Obsidian. A 15-percent increase would push the selling price of the long wheelbase iterations up by $16,800 making an estimated selling price set at $128,800. It doesn’t take an accountant to realize that these vehicles are not going to be cheap.
One might ask if the company is able to sell their SUVs with such high price points, the answer is yes. Last year the company sold 5,307 Wagoneers and 2,585 Grand Wagoneers. Khelleher told Automotive News that he was optimistic that the long wheelbase Jeeps would arrive later this year.


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An 'anti-corona' fabric is being developed by a Victoria-based textile chemical company in association with an Indian textile company, which claims to reduce COVID-19 particles on textiles to virtually "non-detectable".
Dr Christopher Harvey, President of HealthGuard, says the company's product has been tested against and destroys Human Strain SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when tested at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at The University of Melbourne.
- Health Guard Australia has developed a technology that claims to make fabric Corona-resistant.
- WHO approved labs have tested this technology.
- Indian textile company Siaram's is using it to produce 'Corona-resistant' fabrics.
"This Research Institute was more interested in finding a vaccine rather than finding something that will mitigate the transmission of coronavirus. So we decided upon the protocol with Melbourne University. This was a live human SAARS-2 strain of COVID-19," said Dr Harvey.
"We had it tested with live human COVID19. They were absolutely amazed at the results they got with our product. Within 10 minutes, we had destroyed 99.99% of the virus."
How does it work?
A research letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine claims that the virus could live in the air for up to three hours, on copper for up to four hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic and stainless steel for up to two to three days.
"So far, evidence suggests that it's harder to catch the virus from a soft surface (such as fabric) than it is from frequently touched hard surfaces like elevator buttons or door handles," wrote Lisa Maragakis, MD, senior director of infection prevention at the Johns Hopkins Health System.
Dr Harvey explains that the diseases can be transmitted from textile surfaces.
He says we may wear a mask to prevent inhalation, wash our hands and use hand sanitizer, however, our clothes can carry live virus droplets for many hours.
"Most of our bodies are covered in textile surfaces during the day and during the night. We sleep within a textile bedding and sheets etc. We sit in the textile, in a chair unless we're sitting in a leather chair. That can transmit diseases to you."
"We are talking about all forms of textile which can be treated from curtains to bagging, carpets to car upholstery. Fabrics are in our lives everywhere, and they are able to transmit the diseases."
The product called HealthGuard AMIC has been on the company's product list for over 25 years since the H1N1 virus, which was the first coronavirus scare that the world had.
"So with slight modifications to the delivery system of my health guard dynamic, I've been able to successfully reduce COVID-19 virus particles on textiles and other trading services to non-detectable."
"When people sneeze, when we talk loudly when we shout or just by laughing, we are emitting micro-particles of moisture from our bodies. Now, these micro-particles contain a virus.
"These micro-particles are so light they will suspend in the air for many hours. We can be walking around the supermarket; we can be even walking around our own homes, in the street, in the car, on public transport. You will pass through them with your body. They are attached to your clothing. These particles can live on your clothing from nine hours to nine days."
"So, you can carry the virus particles despite wearing masks and using all the precautions. But, when we touch our face after touching our clothes, the virus is transmitted, and an anti-corona fabric can prevent that."
Indian textile company Siaram's has worked with HealthGuard Australia for many years to produce antimicrobial fabrics.
Anti-viral fabric is here to stay
In a statement, Ramesh Poddar, CMD of Siyaram's Silk Mills Ltd said, "We at Siyaram's have ensured that we do not compromise on the style quotient, the texture, the designs and the colour of the fabric.
"We want our customers to be protected in style, and in the coming days, the anti-corona fabric will not just be a trend, but it will be a necessity. This fabric will allow our customers to embrace life after lockdown with full confidence and have an armour against the adversities."
Dr Harvey says Siaram's was very quick to think it could be a golden opportunity.
"Plus, the Americans don't want to take many articles from India because of the chance of transmission from the textile factory through the contamination," says Dr Harvery, who says he has been contacted by many textile companies interested in his anti-viral technology.
He says many multi-national clothing brands are working with his company to use this technology.
"Fourteen companies listed in front of me are ready to go," he says.
"We're talking about one of the world's oldest and largest manufacturers of denim products which were all love to wear. 60% of the global production for this company is carried out in India. We have two of the biggest sportswear manufacturers popular amongst young people and athletes ready to go," says Dr Harvey adding that anti-corona fabrics are here to stay for a very long time.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. People are also advised to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Residents in Melbourne public housing towers who need access to support and assistance should call the Housing Call Centre on 1800 961 054. If you need a translator, first call 131 450. Both services are 24/7. More information can be found here.


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Apple has reportedly agreed to pay out $53M in regards to a settlement agreement concerning iPhone warranties. The basis was that Apple turned away customers under their one year and extended two year warranties for iPhone defects. Apple's old liquid damage policy stated that if one of the sensors were turned pink or red, Apple had the right to void warranty claims for any reason. Since, the policy has been changed. Wired's David Kravet writes:
According to several lawsuits combined in San Francisco, no matter what the problem, Apple refused to honor warranties if a white indicator tape embedded in the phone near the headphone or charging portals had turned pink or red. However, the tape’s maker, 3M, said humidity, and not water contact, could have caused the color to at least turn pink.
Users involved in the suit claim that Apple turned away warranty claims due to one of the liquid sensors being activated, even if the issue has nothing to do with liquid damage and was a physical defect. Those of us who have went through several iPhones or iPods in past years know how prone to hardware failure they can be, particularly the Home button. Apple's liquid damage policy left a lot of users with no solution when Apple would void their warranty due to liquid damage. For many users, using their iPhone or iPod on a docking unit while in the shower may not be uncommon, and according to 3M, the humidity could cause the sensor to go off as well. Users that live in particularly humid climates could have also been subject to the same situation.
Apple then changed their warranty policy and stated that only one triggered sensor was acceptable. On most Apple devices, there are at least three to four liquid sensors with two always being viewable externally, the headphone jack and dock connector with others located internally typically on the logic board.
The settlement could leave owners with affected devices with $200 or more in their pockets. Did any of you own one of these devices and find your warranty voided due to a liquid sensor being triggered?
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Need a clicker for your Apple TV? Here are the best
Whether you hate the Siri Remote, lost your old one, or just scouting out the market, here are our favorite remotes to control your Apple TV.


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Providing an interactive business networking platform for the world’s leading manufacturers and convertors of plastics and rubber in Düsseldorf, Germany, the K 2013 fair concluded its eight-day activities with Borouge significantly having succeeded enhancing its position as one of the world’s leading providers of innovative polyolefins solutions to a wide range of industrial sectors.
In addition to networking with the global leaders in the plastics industry at K 2013 fair, Borouge has successfully generated business leads and interacted with its major customers through holding meeting with them and discussing new approaches to better meet their industry requirements. Borouge has also introduced its customers and the visitors of the Company’s joint stand with Borealis and NOVA Chemicals, the latest innovative polyethylene and polypropylene products that Borouge is producing to meet the most stringent requirements of the customers.
Borouge’s demonstration of its new polyolefins grades and unique technologies have raised interest among the Company’s customers who came specifically to K 2013 fair to learn on the spot about Borouge’s new solutions. Borouge’s demonstration of its exciting expansion projects has attracted more attention and helped in reinforcing its position in the plastics industry. The expansion projects of Borouge will contribute to increasing its production capacity of polyethylene and polypropylene solutions for infrastructure, automotive and advanced packaging markets from the current 2 million to 4.5 million tonnes per year in 2014.
The senior management representatives of Borouge, Borealis and NOVA Chemicals toured the K 2013 pavilions and were briefed about the products on display of the participating companies including more than 40 machine suppliers who were demonstrating the process of plastics materials with Borouge’s Borstar® based materials.
Established in 1998 as a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Austria based Borealis, Borouge is committed to providing innovative plastics solutions that address global challenges and contribute to sustainable development every step of the way.
A group photo of the senior management representatives of Borouge, Borealis and NOVA Chemicals at their K 2013 stand


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That’s what the advisors from Bank Of America seem to think. Let’s face it, we’ve all had our issues with Hasbro this year. The prices are going up, the quality is starting to dip, and windowless packaging has been a real pain in the butt for MIB collectors and victims of figure swaps. Let’s not even talk about poorly planned Haslab projects like Reva’s lightsaber or the most recent Ghost Rider set. Interestingly, those aren’t the things that have analysts worried. It’s all about Magic The Gathering.
Magic accounts for up to 15% of Hasbro’s total profits right now and the game saw serious growth during the pandemic. However, that growth has stopped and BOA thinks that it is because of poor management. In fact, Analyst Jason Haas lowered his rating on the stock from buy to underperform, while cutting his price target from 73 to 42.
The real concern is that they are focused too much on trying to get consumers to spend more instead of trying to attract new consumers. One major example is their recent 30th Anniversary set which cost $999, but only included four packs of cards. Moreover, the packs included reprints of highly sought-after cards from the past, tanking the original cards’ values on the secondary market. It’s not attractive to new players and it alienates the fans who have been with the game for years.


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Balham's Ritherdon Road Street Party is bigger than ever this year, with the road being closed to traffic for the first time in the event's history.
About 50 stalls will pack the road for the one-day event this weekend, selling everything from jewellery to clothes to handmade toys to pet treats.
Food and drink feature heavily, with stalls selling Vietnamese street food, ice cream, crêpes, halloumi, chilli dogs and hog roasts. A craft beer tent will also be pitched up. It's all looking very tasty.
Also new this year is a full music stage, featuring The Thumping Tommys, Tony Bowen and The Balham Ukulele Society, among others.
Kids are well catered for with a funfair ride, bubbles, balloons, and entertainment from The Ministry of Giggles.


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Apple’s recent iOS 10.1.1 update appears to be causing problems for a significant number of users, due to a massive unexplained battery life drop and irregular charge reporting.
Apple’s new iPhone 7 has now been reviewed across the web. The overall conclusion is that it’s a very good device, but getting rid of the headphone jack requires compromises many users may not be happy with.
As long as you’re willing to put up with potentially buggy software, now’s your opportunity to try the latest and greatest out of Cupertino.
Apple decrypted the iOS kernel in its recent beta builds on purpose — supposedly to improve performance, but security may have been a larger motive.
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Pessimism rises among Swedish store owners
TT/The Local · 15 Feb 2008, 06:54
Published: 15 Feb 2008 06:54 GMT+01:00
- Analysts see more signs of slowing economy (23 Jan 08)
- Swedes more pessimistic about economy (09 Jan 08)
- Big fall in consumer confidence (21 Dec 07)
Nevertheless, optimism persists among individual store owners regarding sales potential in their own stores, according to the Swedish Trade Federation’s Business Climate Barometer.
“The public debate about a possible economic slow down presumably plays a major role in the panel’s view of the business environment,” said Swedish Trade Federation vice president Yvonne Ingman in a statement.
According to the barometer, merchants believe that jewelry, electronics, and furniture stores will be hit hardest by an economic downturn.
Grocery stores, the pharmacy monopoly Apoteket, and Systembolaget, the alcohol monopoly are expected to best weather a weaker economy.


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4 ways we keep wasting money
You may be paying for unnecessary, unused or even unwanted services. Here’s how to find — and zap — expenses that give you little or no value for your cash.
1. Credit cards
Any conversation about wasted money will inevitably turn to credit cards and the hefty price paid for their convenience.
There are approximately 610 million credit cards held in the United States, and the average credit card debt per household that has such debt is $15,788, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and CreditCards.com, part of the Bankrate Online Network.
The site crunched out that the average APR on a credit card with a balance is just shy of 15%. Total U.S. revolving debt (98% of which is made up of credit card debt) was $852.6 billion as of March.
All of these factoids add up to megabucks being handed over to credit card companies each year. Even with regulations imposed by federal reforms this year, it is unlikely Americans will stop carrying balances, and paying the price for doing so, any time soon.
2. Overdraft fees
Once considered a devastating and embarrassing faux pas, consumers these days actually seem to relish the opportunity to kite checks. As many as 75% of bank customers have opted to keep overdraft “protection” and the fees incurred, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Illinois-based Moebs Services, a banking analyst, estimates banks will collect upward of $38 billion in overdraft fees next year, up from this year’s estimated $35.4 billion. Last year, $37.1 billion was collected from overdrawn consumers, and the median overdraft price increased to $28 per check this year from $26 in 2009.
Economist Mike Moebs points out that overdraft fees are so high that consumers hit by them the most frequently could save money by instead taking out one of those much-maligned payday loans.
“The average amount overdrawn on checking accounts by about 70% of consumers, according to the General Accounting Office and the FDIC, is less than $100,” Moebs says. “Consumers who use a payday advance loan for $100 or less will pay an average of $17.97, which is 33% less than the $27 it costs for an overdraft of that same amount from a checking account.”
3. Unused memberships, gift cards and rebates
According to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, there were 45.3 million gym and health club members last year, and health club attendance averaged 102 days.
That means on average, up to 263 days of each annual membership go unused. Assuming that a monthly membership, on the low range of things, is about $30 a month, that’s $258 a year being paid by the average customer for unused days. One way to cut the waste is to increase gym attendance. One more day of gym attendance would reduce the per-visit cost of a membership from $3.53 to $2.38. But if you really don’t plan to use the gym much, or you feel it’s not worth the per-visit price, you may be wasting money.
Massachusetts-based research firm TowerGroup, a subsidiary of Corporate Executive Board, issued its annual overview this week of the gift card industry.
Spending on gift cards for this year’s holiday shopping season will increase for the first time in three years, reaching $91 billion in sales, it estimated, and could hit $100 billion by 2012.
The good news: In addition to the increase in spending on gift cards, “breakage” — industry jargon for the value left unused on gift cards — is expected to decrease by almost 50% since 2008, to 3.1%. The change is owed to new federal regulations.
The bad news: That’s still $2.5 billion consumers will never collect on.
How about rebates? Those deals on electronics and cell phones sound great — $50 off if you just clip the UPC symbol and mail it in. Blame procrastination, forgetfulness and tricky fine print for the fact that up to 60% of rebates are never filed and billions of dollars will never be collected.
Though numbers aren’t readily available, consider other services you pay for but don’t use — unused cell phone minutes and data allowances, lingering over one Netflix movie all month, paying for premium cable channels that go ignored until the next season of “Entourage” starts and all those impulse buys from Amazon that you’ll only glance at on your Kindle.
4. Airline fees
Ever-multiplying airline-imposed fees are another costly modern convenience. A typical bag of checked luggage will set you back at least $25 to $35 each way on many airlines.
Baggage fees charged by airlines totaled a mere $464 million in 2007. For the first half of this year, nearly $1.7 billion has already been collected in these fees, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Delta Air Lines led the pack with nearly $474 million in fees. Rounding out the top five were American Airlines ($280.5 million), US Airways ($256.3 million), Continental Airlines ($167.6 million) and United Airlines ($155.9 million).
It’s not just extra baggage that has us paying through the nose. Fees related to canceling and changing reservations earned airlines more than $1.1 billion in the first half of this year.
To fight the fees, however, you must first know what they are.
A survey earlier this year by the National Business Travel Association found that 61% of those who responded said it was “very important to know the total cost of the trip,” but 58% said they were “unable to track the total amount spent on ancillary fees.”
This article was reported by Joe Mont for TheStreet.


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The most valuable diamond to ever be offered at auction is expected to fetch in excess of £37 million.
Described as one of "the earth's greatest natural treasures", the Pink Star will go under the hammer at Sotheby's in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 13.
The oval-cut 59.6 carat jewel is the largest flawless or internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has ever graded.
One of the world's rarest diamonds is set to end up with a new and very rich owner later today. The diamond weighs 5.30 carats and is set in a Trombino ring made by renowned Italian jeweller Bulgari.
It is officially known as a 'fancy' diamond because of its intense colour. Deep-blue is one of the rarest colours the world. The ring was made in the 1960s and could fetch as much as £1.5 million at Bonhams Fine Jewellery sale.
There have only been 30 diamonds of this size and colour that have come up for sale over the last 10 years.