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Apple users now have another complaint to lodge. Following the iOS 6 and Wi-Fi goof up, they are now troubled with the functioning of the iMessage. A storm was raised all over Twitter for the common subject – nonfunctioning of iMessage!
Twitter was crammed with hundreds of complaints from iPhone users, claiming that their Apple text messaging system was not working.
iMessage is Apple’s proprietary messaging system, which works using Internet data rather than cellular networks. Using this service, users can send messages only to those who have Apple devices.
The system crashed Monday morning at around 10 am, following which many complaints were made.
The issue was taken to Apple Inc, who is working on to fix it. The firm has already fixed its iOS 6 Wi-Fi bug following complaints.


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Two Assembly measures sponsored by Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling designed to help New Jersey’s burgeoning winery industry create jobs and economic development were advanced Thursday by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee during a special meeting at the Jessie Creek Winery.
“New Jersey boasts many wonderful wineries that contribute to the economy, and help promote the state’s agricultural industry,” said Assemblyman Houghtaling, vice-chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
“Ensuring their success benefits the state and our agricultural communities.”
The bills advanced by the committee include:
- A-1046 - Requires EDA, in consultation with Department of Agriculture, to establish loan program for certain vineyard and winery capital expenses.
- A-1054 - Clarifies certain responsibilities of licensed wineries and retail sales rooms.

domain: news


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Schools across the United States have been struggling with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Smart Snack” rules, a part of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act introduced in 2010. While some schools have chosen to abandon the plan, others are trying to comply with the seemingly nonsensical guidelines.
Ditch Bottled Tea for Gatorade G2?
One of the most peculiar rules is the requirement for schools to replace bottled teas with Gatorade G2 (GG2). Although removing bottled teas filled with sugars and other additives from school menus makes sense, replacing them with a less-than-healthy beverage like GG2 raises some eyebrows.
The Downside of Gatorade G2
So, why is GG2 a poor choice for kids and adults alike? Here are some of the ingredients you’ll find in GG2:
- Splenda: A synthetic sweetener containing sucralose, Splenda can be found in thousands of processed food products. Unfortunately, the human body doesn’t have the enzymes needed to break down the covalently bound chloride found in Splenda. Some common consumer complaints include gastrointestinal issues, seizures and dizziness, blurred vision, allergic reactions, increased blood sugar, and weight gain. Research also shows that sucralose destroys beneficial gut bacteria, killing up to 50% of the helpful bacteria in the intestines.
Acesulfame Potassium: A zero-calorie sweetener that’s 200 times sweeter than sugar, acesulfame potassium has been shown to stimulate insulin secretion in a way that could lead to hypoglycemia. Furthermore, studies with lab animals have connected it to lung, breast, and organ tumors, leukemia, and chronic respiratory diseases. Long-term use in humans has resulted in headaches, visual disturbances, mental confusion, nausea, depression, and liver and kidney damage.
Monopotassium Phosphate: This additive can create an imbalance of phosphorus and calcium in the body. Too much phosphorus prompts the body to draw calcium out of the bones, which can lead to osteoporosis.
FD&C Blue No. 1: Commonly known as blue dye, this ingredient has been linked to allergic reactions and carries a warning label “Caution: Do not consume if sensitive to aspirin.” In 2003, the FDA issued a safety warning concerning its usage following reports of discoloration of the skin, urine, and feces in patients given a feeding solution containing the dye.
Considering these alarming ingredients and their potential side effects, it’s hard to believe GG2 is being promoted under a program meant to promote healthy eating habits for kids.
Alternatives to Unhealthy Beverages
Instead of offering children chemical-laden, potentially harmful beverages like Gatorade G2, schools should consider healthier options. Here are a few suggestions:
- Water: Opt for pure water or, better yet, provide hydration stations where kids can refill their reusable water bottles. This way, schools can help reduce plastic waste too.
Unsweetened Tea: Unsweetened iced tea can serve as a refreshing, healthy alternative when water gets boring. There are numerous flavors to choose from like black, green, or herbal teas.
Natural Juices: Providing kids with natural, 100% fruit juices with no added sugar is another way to offer variety without the need for artificial and dangerous sweeteners.
Overall, it’s crucial for schools to prioritize the health of their students when choosing beverages and snacks. Offering drinks with harmful ingredients and side effects is doing a disservice to our children’s health. The “Smart Snack” rules need a revision that truly puts students’ well-being first. Healthy kids? It is possible if we make the right choices.


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December 18, 2009
Eagle Warranty Corp. sued by state, assets frozen
Posted at 04:57:25 PM on December 18, 2009
If you bought a used car warranty from Eagle Warranty Corp. of Eynon, Lackawanna County, it's worthless, state Attorney General Tom Corbett says.
But there's a chance you could get your money back because Corbett's office has sued the company and its operators, freezing their assets to preserve them for restitution to their customers, which may number 65,000.
The office sued the company, which closed suddenly on Dec. 11, and president Charles Yaskulski of Uniondale and vice president Edmund Yaskulski of Moscow.
The lawsuit alleges Eagle Warranty's warranties were worthless, as it failed to honor auto repairs it had authorized, sticking consumers with the bill. Authorities allege the company sent rubber checks to consumers and repair shops to cover claims, and no longer can process claims on outstanding warranties because it has closed.
The attorney general's office has received more than 160 complaints from vehicle owners in Pennsylvania and 15 other states. Consumers who bought coverage through Eagle Warranty can file a complaint online or by calling 800-441-2555.
Categories: Current Affairs, Investigations, Mismanagement, Poor Service, Public Dollars, Scams, Watchdog
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This dog look very healthy one I think he are doing Jim now..just kidding its body look like mussel DOg.
Posted By: r4 | Jan 7, 2010 7:26:20 AM
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Amidst controversy over the benefits of Nigeria’s signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA, the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the new trade environment will boost the country’s export by eight percent. Osinbajo Osibanjo disclosed this at a conference organised by Financial Derivative Company in Lagos yesterday.
Represented by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment stated:
“The AfCFTA can transform Nigeria from a target economy to the gateway economy by boosting job creation through increased intra African trade and spurring growth through enhanced economic welfare with an estimated 8percent increase of Nigeria’s total export.”
Read more at: Vanguardngr.com


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Thousands of small suppliers could see their bulk orders vastly reduced in the coming months, according to insiders.
Following a crackdown on counterfeit products two months ago, which involved the halting of thousands of orders and caused widespread panic among suppliers, Amazon.com is reportedly set to embark on a purge of small suppliers that could dramatically alter the relationship between the world’s largest online retailer and many of its long-time vendors.
In the next few months, bulk orders are expected to shrink for thousands of mostly smaller suppliers, according to people familiar with the plan. Amazon’s aim is allegedly to cut costs and focus wholesale purchasing on major brands, according to reports. The company aims to ensure adequate supplies of high profile, must-have merchandise, to help it compete with the likes of Walmart, Target and Best Buy.
As a result, the so-called ‘mom-and-pops’ that rely on Amazon for consistent revenue streams will now need to explore new ways to conduct business on the platform. Rather than selling in bulk directly to Amazon, they’ll need to win sales directly with individual consumers. The new approach would be one of the biggest shifts in Amazon’s e-commerce strategy since it opened the site to independent sellers almost 20 years ago. Although the plan could still be amended, or even cancelled, it’s currently reported to be moving forward.
“This is the kind of change that will scare the living daylights out of brands selling on Amazon,” said James Thomson, who organizes the Prosper Show, an annual e-commerce conference focused on Amazon. “Amazon usually doesn’t give a lot of lead time, and brands will be left scrambling. If they make this change soon, brands will have until the end of the summer to get their acts together or their holiday quarter will be at risk.”
However, Amazon has denied the reports. In an emailed statement, a spokeswoman said: “We review our selling partner relationships on an individual basis as part of our normal course of business, and any speculation of a large scale reduction of vendors is incorrect.”


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Salisbury FC has announced that a limited number of supporters can attend the forthcoming friendly with Andover Town. Supporters will be required to purchase tickets in advance, but the news will be welcome to the Whites Fans.
The original away friendly match against Andover has now been switched to the Ray Mac on Tuesday 25th August (KO 7-45pm).
Following yesterday’s FA announcement re fans being allowed to matches, we are pleased to confirm that we will admit up to 200 for this match to ensure that the event runs smoothly.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance of the game, and there will be none on sale at the ground. Tickets will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and priced at £5-00 for all classes except Under 5’s who will be admitted free of charge.
Details of payment facilities will appear on the website later.
Tickets will be available to purchase from 9 am on Friday 21st August.
There will be no refreshment facilities available and the Sarum Suite will remain closed.
If you intend to come to the game, please ensure that you follow any guidance offered to you, as well as any signage in place, and maintain 2-metre social distance.


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The highly anticipated Broadcast Asia Show 2023 is set to kick off at the Singapore Expo, with industry professionals and top brands gathering for this renowned event. With the setup day currently underway, participants are busy preparing their stalls and testing equipment in anticipation of the exhibition. The Singapore Expo houses a vast exhibition space spanning four halls, with halls three to six interconnected. Various equipment manufacturers, broadcasters, stakeholders, and systems integrators have come together to showcase their offerings.
Notable pavilions include those from China, the United States, Korea, and Germany. Shirish Nadkarni, speaking on behalf of Asia Pacific Broadcasting, provided an update from the event’s venue. “We are on the setup day, which means all the stalls are not ready. They’re still being set up, they’re still being tested,” Nadkarni explained. Standing at the intersection of halls four and five, he highlighted the diverse array of stalls extending throughout the exhibition space.
While some booths are already prepared, many are still in progress, particularly those within the Chinese Pavilion. The exhibition is scheduled to commence on the morning of the seventh and run until the ninth of June, providing attendees with three days of insights into the world of broadcasting. As the event unfolds, Shirish Nadkarni will serve as our eyes and ears on the ground, delivering the most captivating highlights from the BroadcastAsia Show.
In his own words, “I will be your eyes and ears on the ground. And I shall bring you all the interesting happenings in the broadcast world to the best of my ability.” The BroadcastAsia Show is widely recognized as a premier event in the broadcasting industry, attracting professionals from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
With an impressive lineup of top brands and industry leaders, the exhibition offers a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and showcasing the latest advancements in broadcasting technology. Industry experts eagerly anticipate the unveiling of cutting-edge equipment and solutions that will shape the future of broadcasting.
The event serves as a meeting point for manufacturers, broadcasters, and systems integrators, fostering collaborations and partnerships that drive innovation in the field. With pavilions dedicated to different regions, participants have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of products and engage in fruitful discussions with industry peers. As the countdown begins for the official start of the BroadcastAsia Show 2023, attendees and participants alike are eager to delve into the world of broadcasting. From state-of-the-art production equipment to groundbreaking broadcasting technologies, this exhibition promises to showcase the very best in the industry.
Stay tuned for more updates as we bring you the latest news and highlights from the BroadcastAsia Show 2023, ensuring you stay informed about the cutting-edge advancements revolutionizing the broadcasting landscape.


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Displaying items by tag: fraud
The Cologne police force has set up a special team to combat a growing black market in forged vaccine certificates. Fraudsters are communicating via an encrypted messenger service which makes investigations difficult, and the police are still trying to determine the scale of the problem nationally. Some people are duped into paying about £86 then get nothing. Covid ‘passports’ to ease travel are being rolled out now across the EU. 44% of Germans have had at least one jab and over 18% of the population are fully vaccinated against Covid. The fraud takes place on the Telegram messenger service and involves both real traffic in fake certificates and fake offers which lure people into paying but provide nothing. Often cryptocurrency is used, like in the online black markets in drugs and weapons. Telegram has become a hub for anti-vaxxers, suspicious of vaccines and denying official data about the pandemic. Proving that you are Covid-free allows access to restaurants, leisure facilities, foreign travel, and more.
Fraud and error on the main Universal Credit (UC) benefit have reached record levels, according to new official figures. The department for work and pensions reported £8.4bn lost in 2020-21, almost entirely due to fraud and almost double the previous year. The number of people on UC has doubled to six million since the pandemic started. Officials said the increased fraud is a product of more people applying for the benefit, and the value of each fraudulent case rising, rather than a higher proportion of people engaging in fraud. It can be as simple as individuals claiming money to which they are not entitled, like not declaring income from other sources. More complex cases involve criminal gangs stealing people's details to apply for advance payments of UC. The money is paid to them, but the person whose identity has been stolen gets the bill.
Nearly half of world exports come from countries that fail to punish foreign bribery. That’s half of G20 countries and eight of the top 15 global exporters. Since 2018, fewer countries have been actively working against foreign bribery. One obstacle to enforcement is shell companies which cover up payments, making it difficult for authorities to trace the origin and destination of money. But even when countries actively enforce against foreign bribery, victims’ compensation is rare and most proceeds of corruption are never returned to countries or citizens. Citizens of countries where multinationals bribe public officials pay higher prices than they otherwise would for possibly lower-quality goods and services. Public money wasted on unnecessary contracts and deals deprives people of essential services like education and healthcare. The EU’s seven-year budget for Covid-19 recovery funds are at risk of abuse unless open, data-driven mechanisms to protect public contracts are put in place.
A BBC investigation found criminals setting up fake businesses on an industrial scale and successfully applying for government-backed Covid-19 emergency loans, with no intention of paying the money back. Builder Mark Telling had his details stolen to set up a bogus company which ‘borrowed’ £50,000 from the scheme. Mark, who had no idea the company had been set up in his name, was horrified when the BBC told him what had happened. Victims like him could find themselves liable for the debt and have their credit rating badly affected. Also the public has been warned to be on their guard against scammers taking advantage of the current coronavirus situation to extort money, or gain access to homes. Online shopping scams are the most widely reported method: see
Everyone has movement restrictions, and millions are working from home or have stopped working. As a response, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced huge packages of financial assistance in grants for the self-employed and paying wages for employed workers. Yet in announcing his help for self-employed, he acknowledges the scheme could facilitate opportunities for perpetrating fraud. He recognises that whatever the health of an economy - or the financial standing of an individual or a company - there will always be those looking to make fraudulent gains. Coronavirus has produced new openings for committing fraud, which is like a virus: it will spread and cause the maximum amount of harm unless the right precautions are taken.
We are all at risk from false information. For instance, a photo was circulated of a busy mosque supposedly in lockdown, but it was taken before lockdown. Another image showed trucks said to be carrying bodies of Covid-19 victims - but this was untrue, and the picture had been taken in Italy. We can pray that the waves of fear generated by similar scams are prevented by astute reporting and investigating. More serious than false news is fraudulent information and theft when members of the public are texted and told to share their bank card details in order to receive a supposed Covid-19 relief payment from the government. Similarly-worded emails have been sent from a website named ‘uk-covid-relieve.com.’ The true government’s website has a ‘gov.uk’ URL, not a ‘.com’. The authors of the email are thieves.


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Mazda Announces Plans For 2011 Geneva Auto Show
While Acura has already announced part of its 2011 Chicago Auto Show lineup, Mazda has skipped ahead to its Geneva Show plans. When the world’s media descends on Switzerland for press days on March 1 and 2, Mazda will be treating them to a new concept titled MINAGI, as well as the Zoom-Zoom manufacturers SKYACTIV technologies.
According to Mazda, the MINAGI Concept will be a compact crossover inspired by the Kodo design language that we saw on the Shinari Concept Car back in Los Angeles
. Besides the new design language, the MINAGI will feature several of the automakers SKYACTIV technologies.
These items are designed to offer driving pleasure without compromising environmental efficiency. To that order, the MINAGI will feature a SKYACTIV engine, transmission, and lightweight body and chassis. The chassis and body receive particular attention, with Mazda stating that they are to be lightweight and with “ample” safety features.
The official unveiling of the MINAGI and the SKYACTIV technologies will be on March 1. Check back then for all the latest news from Geneva.
Please scroll down for the official press release from Mazda.
Mazda MINAGI Concept to Shocase Mazda’s All-new SKYACTIV Technologies and KODO Design at the Geneva Motor Show
HIROSHIMA, Japan – Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premiere of its new MINAGI compact crossover SUV concept car during the press days of the 2011 Geneva motor show, which is being held from March 1-13, 2011. The Mazda MINAGI concept fully embraces Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technologies and its new design theme, KODO – Soul of Motion. The exciting MINAGI concept is the forerunner to the launch of Mazda’s upcoming next-generation products and symbolizes the evolution of the Mazda brand as it begins a new era.
The Mazda MINAGI is a compact crossover SUV concept that combines Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies – which represent the harmony between driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance – with emotional KODO design that communicates pent-up energy bursting with vitality as the vehicle nimbly navigates a sprawling urban cityscape. Fully introducing SKYACTIV technologies throughout, MINAGI is equipped with a SKYACTIV engine and SKYACTIV transmission fitted to a SKYACTIV-Body and chassis that merge comprehensive weight reduction with the assurance of ample safety features.
Mazda’s stand at the Geneva show will also feature new SKYACTIV technology exhibits and the Mazda SHINARI design concept car, among a wide range of products.
Officially titled the 81e Salon International de l’Auto de Genève, the show’s press days are March 1 and 2, and the public days are March 3-13, 2011. Mazda will hold a press conference on Tuesday, March 1.
Main Exhibits at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show
Mazda MINAGI (world premiere)
Mazda SHINARI (European premiere)
New Mazda SKYACTIV-G direct injection gasoline engine
New Mazda SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine
New Mazda SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission
New Mazda SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission
Vehicles currently on sale
Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6, Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-7, Mazda BT-50


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SpikeSource –a Silicon-Valley startup once blessed by big names and championed as the future of making money on open-source – has shut-up shop after seven years. The assets of SpikeSource have been bought by Black Duck Software. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Welcoming the deal was Ray Lane, managing partner of …
-never seen the point of spikesource. they were trying to sell an approved software stack at first, but that puts them straight up against JBoss and hence redhat, who are at least positioned to go all the way down the support stack right down to OS-level issues.
- Updated HIDDEN packet sniffer spy tech in MILLIONS of iPhones, iPads – expert
- RISE of the Jesus Phone MOUNTAIN: 80 MILLION 'Air' iPhone 6s ordered
- Students hack Tesla Model S, make all its doors pop open IN MOTION
- BBC goes offline in MASSIVE COCKUP: Stephen Fry partly muzzled
- PROOF the Apple iPhone 6 rumor mill hype-gasm has reached its logical conclusion


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“Catch ‘Em All” while you eat.
That’s the goal of a new Yelp filter that helps Pokémon GO players, known as trainers, find restaurants and shops near PokeStops so they can grab a tasty bite to eat and chase the virtual creatures at the same time.
Pokémon GO, an augmented reality game for your cell phone, has taken the world by storm and now Yelp has designed a search filter that will display restaurants near PokeStops, according to Yelp’s official blog.
“We know you’re going to Diglett.”
PokeStops are virtual locations in the Pokémon GO game that give trainers free in-game objects like potions and Pokeballs that help players catch the virtual creatures.
Yelp’s new search option works just like their other filters; simply search for a type of business, like a bar or restaurant, and browse through the filter options to find PokeStop. Yelp users will then see PokeStops near their favorite businesses so they can run errands and Catch ‘Em All at the same time.
— Ratsel (@ArcaneRatsel) July 16, 2016
The feature has only been available for 24 hours, but already Yelpers have helped identify thousands of PokeStops in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, and they’re still searching for more. To help other trainers find nearby PokeStops, users simply need to check-in to a location and answer a few questions.
The new Yelp feature is available on iOS and Android.
Pokémon GO has only been available since last week, but already the augmented reality game is turning into a social phenomenon. Instead of sitting on the couch, Pokémon GO forces its players, or trainers, to venture out into the real world to capture the coveted virtual creatures.
The game has been credited with increasing exercise rates and encouraging social interaction, but some people have taken their commitment to Catching ‘Em All to a whole new level.
Tom Currie, a 24-year-old New Zealand man, quit his day job so he could hunt Pokémon characters full-time. A week after handing in his resignation, Currie has fielded offers from numerous New Zealand bus companies offering to transport him around the island for free.
If you play Pokemon Go, but don't tweet about it. Are you really playing Pokemon Go?
— Brandon Rodgers (@Sharp_tK) July 16, 2016
Not everything with the game has been sunshine and rainbows, however; some trainers have caused quite a few problems; usually by not heeding the game’s advice to pay attention to their surroundings.
Two San Diego men walked off a cliff this week while hunting for the elusive Pokémon characters while three Pennsylvania trainers found themselves trapped in a cemetery after closing time. At least two people have ran off the road while playing and driving at the same time and a group of newly licensed teenage drivers have been cited for playing the game while on the road.
In New York, hundreds of people caused a stampede when several trainers found rare and elusive Pokemon in Central Park.
Pokémon GO has become so popular that millions of would-be players signed in this weekend and overloaded the game’s servers. Users across Europe and the U.S. began complaining around 2 p.m. Eastern Time that they couldn’t log in to play their favorite game.
A hacking group with the name PoodleCorp has taken responsibility for crashing the game’s servers using a denial of service (DDOS) attack upsetting millions of trainers around the world who planned to hunt Pokémon this weekend, according to the Independent.
“Just was a lil test, we will do something on a larger scale soon.”
Pokémon GO players took to social media en mass to condemn the hacking group as a bunch of killjoys who don’t want other people to have fun.
How dedicated are you to Catching ‘Em All?
[Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images]


text: According to The China Times, the iPhone 5 will release the second week of September. It should have an initial order of 4 million units, plus suppliers are even said to be currently preparing 400,000 trial-run units. The news report also indicates that the next iPad may be delayed until Thanksgiving due to component shortages. The report does pretty much live up to what the rest of the Net is predicting. And since Apple usually has an iPod media event in September, Apple could use it to showcase the iPhone launch, alongside the public release of iOS 5. Just in time for Back To School.


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The freight forwarding market is experiencing its fastest expansion in a decade, according to the latest issue of Ti’s report published on 23 June.
Global Freight Forwarding 2022 says that in 2021 the global forwarding market rebounded and exceeded its pre-pandemic levels. However, limited capacity and record-high freight rates present a challenging market for shippers, but also an extraordinary ‘uplift’ in the profitability of freight forwarders.
The global freight forwarding market grew by 11.2% in real terms during 2021, the fastest expansion in a decade. This is the fastest growth since 2011, bringing the market value to €270 billion.
The market is forecast to grow 5.7% in 2022 and at a 3.7% CAGR over the five years to 2026.
Forwarding growth in 2022 will be driven by air freight, which is forecast to grow by 6.1% in real terms.
However, 2026 forecasts are more pessimistic due to inflation, the war in Ukraine, and consumer spending slowing down.
The air forwarding market is forecasted to exhibit slightly faster growth, expanding at an average of 4.0% a year from 2021-2026, while the sea forwarding market is expected to grow slightly less quickly at 3.6% over the period.
Ti says that Kuehne + Nagel and DSV are the biggest companies in the field, having successfully integrated acquisitions in recent years.
The entrance of shipping lines into the acquisition market has created a new driver of industry consolidation, not least due to the carriers’ almost unlimited funds and access to ‘cheap’ money.
Digital forwarders must combine smart technology with operational experience to be game changers in the industry, Ti adds. Achieving both objectives while remaining profitable will be a challenge, especially if access to capital becomes more limited.
Ti senior research analyst, Viki Keckarovska, said: “Demand for capacity continues to outstrip supply, contributing to increased freight rates and consequently increased yields and revenues among forwarders. Driven by these challenging market conditions, shippers are re-assessing their freight procurement strategies and contractual relationships with logistics service providers to adjust to the ever-changing environment. The digitalization trend in the forwarding industry, which was already gathering pace before the pandemic, has been accelerated further by the crisis, with the adoption of digital forwarders, online freight booking platforms and marketplaces increasing threefold since 2019.”


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March is National Women’s History Month, a perfect time to celebrate the accomplishments of women business owners today. Most of us know that recent years have seen an increasing number of women starting businesses, and growing them into ever more substantial enterprises. Not surprisingly, there has been a corresponding rise in interest in women-owned firms as customers and suppliers by major corporations as well. And we all know that data from the US Census Bureau, and research by the Center for
Women’s Business Research and others, has given us the numbers we have needed to amplify our voices and draw attention to our accomplishments. For example, most of us can recite these key women’s business ownership trends:
- There are an estimated 7.7 million majority women-owned businesses in the United States as of 2006, and another 2.7 million jointly-owned firms;
- These businesses are increasing in number and economic clout at rates greater than the national average; and
- The diversity of women-owned firms–both the types of businesses being created and the ethnicity of the women creating them–is increasing.
Enriching those impressive trends are the faces of women’s entrepreneurship today. Our community is blessed with some very visible icons of women’s entrepreneurial achievement, who serve as examples of what can be achieved. These business leaders include Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart, women of immense business accomplishment. These two women started their own businesses, have grown them into impressive personal brands and business empires, and are feted annually in Fortune magazine and other business lists as two of the most accomplished businesswomen in America today.
But Women’s History Month is also a good time to learn more about the largely unheralded achievements of the pioneering entrepreneurial women who helped pave the way for our current business successes. After all, Women’s History Month should be a time to take a look back at our entrepreneurial past as well as celebrate our current progress.
Early in our country’s history Mary Katherine Goddard, who grew up in Connecticut, established a family printing business in Providence, Rhode Island with her mother and brother after their father died. They published newspapers, had a bookshop and bindery, and later moved to Philadelphia, then Baltimore. As her brother traveled to start other newspapers, Goddard ran the businesses, later laying claim to the publications and becoming very involved in the politics of the American Revolution. When the Continental Congress met and issued the Declaration of Independence, it was her business that was chosen to print the first copy of the signed document.
In the 1800’s, much of the American West was settled not only by pioneers heading west in Conestoga wagons, but by immigrant and slave labor from across the Pacific Ocean. One of those immigrants was Polly Bemis. Born Lalu Nathoy in China, Bemis was sold into bondage and transported to the Pacific Northwest, where she was purchased by a saloon keeper in Oregon. She overcame those circumstances and became a successful business owner in the late 1800’s, running a boarding house and starting a successful ranch in Idaho.
One of the most famous women entrepreneurs of the early 20th century was Madam CJ Walker, born Sarah Breedlove–the daughter of slaves who came from humble beginnings as a sharecropper to become the Nation’s first African American millionaire through her direct-selling hair-care products business. She managed the entire supply chain, from developing products to training sales people and beauty salon operators and, in so doing, empowered countless other African American women. She also became a very committed and visible philanthropist–establishing educational scholarships at the Tuskegee Institute and becoming a major benefactor of the NAACP.
During this same period, other women were asserting themselves in the fashion and female products businesses as well–such as Carrie Marcus Neiman of Neiman Marcus fame, Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubenstein and Coco Chanel. Women were finally gaining some measure of visibility in the world of business.
Yet, it was not until the late 1970’s that official recognition of women’s role in the country’s history was first seen. It started in 1978 by the Sonoma County, California Commission on the Status of Women, which declared a “Women’s History Week” to coincide with March 8th – International Women’s Day. Three years later, in 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women’s History Week. This was later expanded to the entire month of March in 1987, due to the lobbying efforts of the National Women’s History Project. Every year since then, Congress has issued a resolution and the President has issued a proclamation honoring March as National Women’s History Month.
This year, the theme of Women’s History Month was “Generations of Women Moving History Forward.” So, take a step back from the daily details of running your own businesses to acknowledge–and perhaps even honor–the women who, through their early struggles and hard-won accomplishments, have made it easier for all of us who own and operate our businesses today. And let’s all pledge, shall we, to make it even easier for those who are coming up behind us.
Three other important dates in women’s history:
International Women’s Day, March 8- got its start in the early 1900’s socialism/labor movement to recognize the contributions of women workers. Still celebrated much more abroad than in the US, it gained increased recognition here as a result of women’s equal rights activities in the 1960’s and 1970’s. It is the reason that Women’s History Month is celebrated in March.
Women’s Equality Day, August 26- the date, in 1920, that the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote. In 1971, a joint resolution of Congress was passed to designate this date every year as Women’s Equality Day.
Third Week of October: National Business Women’s Week- established and sponsored by Business and Professional Women/USA and celebrated every year since 1928, the organization uses this occasion to draw attention to the accomplishments of women in business (both business owners and professionals).
To learn more about National Women’s History Month, women’s history in the United States, or the accomplishments of the country’s early women entrepreneurs, utilize these available resources. And do you think you already know something about women’s history in the US?
See Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business,for information about the exhibit that traveled to six US cities in 2002-2005, educational materials available for classroom use, and the book that was published to accompany the exhibit.
By, Julie Weeks.Originally published in the February/March 2006 issue of NAWBOTime, the newsletter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.© 2007 Womenable


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Everyone agrees on the importance of starting the day with a nutritious and satisfying breakfast. Fortunately, more and more Britons are moving away from the traditional artery-clogging fry-ups of cholesterol-packed eggs, fatty sausages and greasy rashers and demanding lighter and more nourishing fare – which often means delicious vegan options. To mark Farmhouse Breakfast Week (22 to 28 January), we’ve scoured the country to find the top 10 vegan breakfasts in the country. Winners were chosen based on a number of criteria, including reputation and the … Read more.
Posts Tagged ‘Top 10’


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UK-based SABMiller has announced that its upcoming brewery in Namibia has been scheduled to commence production during the first half of 2014
According to The Namibian, the US$41.23mn facility coming up in Okahandja is expected to have an initial production capacity of 260,000 hectolitres. Earlier this year, SABMiller had announced that the facility would become operational only by the middle of 2015.
The project known as SABMiller Namibia, is 60 per cent owned by SABMiller, 20 per cent by Onyewu Investments and 20 per cent by three Namibian private stake holders.
SABMiller Namibia managing director Cobus Bruwer said, “Good progress has been made by local contractors less than six months after commencing the project. Now we are closer to fulfilling our commitment to the people of Namibia and in helping the government realise its Vision 2030 goal of an industrial nation. We have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to society.”
In the long term, SABMiller said it has planned to increase the capacity of the brewery to 400,000 hectolitres and invest in a 750ml returnable bottle packaging line, along with setting up warehousing facilities.
With operations spanning two decades in Namibia, SABMiller has introduced brands including Castle Lager, Carling Black Label and Castle Lite.


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Two new studies which shed new light on the cost and impact of unnecessary red tape and arbitrary trade rules on New Zealand’s exports have been welcomed by Minister for Trade, Todd McClay.
“Technically referred to as non-tariff barriers, these unfair obstacles are costing New Zealand businesses US$5.9 billion every year,” says McClay.
This is according to a report released this week by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) – Quantifying the costs of non-tariff measures in the Asia-Pacific region. The research was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign and Trade as a contribution to Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) work on this issue.
In that, the overall cost of NTBs within APEC is estimated to be US$790 billion – three times as much as the costs associated with simple border tariffs, comments NZIER chief executive John Ballingall.
“New Zealand’s primary sector exporters bear the brunt of APEC economies’ NTBs. The dairy sector alone faces NTBs within APEC of US$2.7 billion per year,” he says. “Our beef and horticultural sectors suffer too, facing additional costs of US$770 million and US$310 million respectively each year.”
In parallel to this, the APEC Business Advisory Council has released a new study – ‘Non-Tariff Barriers in Agriculture and Food Trade in APEC: Business perspectives on Impacts and Solutions‘ commissioned from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. This shows that, due to non-tariff barriers, food trade is more difficult and expensive than it should be, undermining goals of food security in the Asia Pacific region.
“Non-tariff barriers to trade are a pervasive, costly issue for our exporting businesses. As the studies show, even as our growing network of trade agreements has reduced the costs for our exports, there has been a significant rise in the number of non-tariff barriers that exporters face,” says McClay.
“These new studies underline the importance of the Government’s efforts to address non-tariff barriers, to ensure that New Zealand businesses can compete on a level playing field overseas.
“Addressing non-tariff barriers has always been a significant part of our export-focused work. It is core work for a range of government agencies.
“A cross agency group has been set up under the Government’s Business Growth Agenda to get to grips with the impact that non-tariff barriers are having on our exporters and what we can do to get rid of them. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is encouraging its export customers to come forward with market access issues they may be encountering.
“Reducing the impact of non-tariff barriers on New Zealand business has also been highlighted as one of the key issues under the Government’s refreshed trade policy strategy.”
McClay, who was recently in Lima for the annual APEC Summit, welcomed the role that APEC has been playing in highlighting the issues posed by non-tariff barriers.
“I am pleased to see APEC taking a leadership role on this issue. New Zealand has been a big driver of this work and we will continue to make a strong contribution to APEC’s efforts in this area,” says McClay.


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international housewares association
Two events focused on the next generation of the housewares supply chain will be held during the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show, March 2-5 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
Euromonitor International will host a keynote session at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago to explore the effects of digital communication and shopping on the marketplace.
The International Housewares Association is changing the name of its annual Chicago event from the International Home + Housewares Show to The Inspired Home Show as part of an effort to address the changing reality and lifestyle captivation of today’s marketplace, IHA officials said.
Wayfair co-founders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine, Ulta Beauty CEO Mary Dillon and William Foley, chairman and CEO, Libbey, will be honored for their philanthropic endeavors by the Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) during its annual Housewares Cares Charity Gala on Monday, March 4 during the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago.
The 2019 International Home + Housewares Show is sold out with more than 2,200 exhibitors, according to the International Housewares Association. The show begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 2 and closes at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5.
Cleva North America gave participants at the International Housewares Association 2019 Show Preview an advance look at its new licensed Kenmore electric floor care product line that will be featured at the International Home + Housewares Show in March.
With the International Home + Housewares Show on the horizon, the International Housewares Association is offering a series of webinars focused on key elements of the annual trade show held in Chicago.
Regions of the country impacted by Hurricane Michael can receive assistance from Good360, the charity the International Housewares Association has partnered with to provide hurricane victims with home goods products as they rebuild their lives and homes. Last month, IHA partnered with Good360 to help the Carolinas recover from Hurricane Florence.
Housewares suppliers can help residents of the Carolinas recover from Hurricane Florence by donating needed products to Good360 in partnership with the International Housewares Association.
As was detailed in the March 5 issue of HomeWorld Business, small-parcel delivery from the U.S. Postal Service, in compliance with rules set by the Universal Postal Union, can weigh heavily in the favor of overseas shippers versus those in the U.S., and now more is being done to correct that inequity.
The International Housewares Association is speaking out against the latest round of tariffs being proposed by the Trump Administration, with the IHA’s chairman labeling the new tariffs now being discussed as potentially “disruptive.”
The International Housewares Association is urging its members to contact their congressional representatives and ask them to support H.R. 5524, the Packages Overseas Subsidy Termination or POST Act, which is under consideration in the United States House of Representatives.


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The London-based consultancy has created a new corporate identity based around the idea of messenger apps’ ellipses devices.
The annual tradeshow – which forms part of London Design Festival – will see a guest country pavilion from the US, and a craft pavilion hosting Britain-based designers and makers.
The new exhibition looks at the Dutch designer’s research into the endless possibilities of colour, and aims to open visitors’ eyes to the world around them.
The late Mark Wickens, who co-founded WTS – which later became Brandhouse – is remembered by his colleague Bron Westrip as a generous and industrious designer who was equally at home working on creative and strategic design solutions.
Central Saint Martins graduate Angela Mathis has created a project called Ectosymbiont, which explores the possibilities of using plant tissue for transplants in humans. Mathis got the idea for the project based on the number of preventable deaths due to a lack of organ donations, such as in the US where 22 people die a […]
Design duo Craig & Karl has created a range of minion-themed phone cases and other accessories to mark the opening of film Despicable Me 3. The range features colourful illustrations of yellow minion characters dressed up as pineapples, hula dancers and other creatures. Featured products include phone cases, watches and wallets, which are available from Collette and Casetify.
The annual Jerwood Makers Open exhibition has returned for its sixth edition, displaying work from five emerging artists working with a variety of materials including wood and organic waste. The five selected artists were chosen from 271 applications in late 2016, and were awarded £7,500 each to develop their projects. Selected artists include Juli Bolaños-Durman, […]
Maxxi museum in Rome, Italy has opened a new exhibition to mark the one-year anniversary of architect Zaha Hadid’s death. Made in Italy has been curated by the museum in collaboration with Zaha Hadid Design, Zaha Hadid Architects and the Zaha Hadid Foundation, and explores the architect’s long-lasting relationship with the country. It features conceptual […]
Designer Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio has redesigned the interiors of the brasserie in shopping and entertainment complex Publicis Drugstore in Paris, France. The studio has renamed the restaurant as Le Drugstore, and added oxblood coloured upholstery and brass fixtures to complement the existing timber walls and marble bars in the space. The interiors take […]
California-based brand consultancy Troika has created a new visual identity for US streaming site, Hulu. The new design looks to “unify” the brand’s look across the site’s user interface and print and digital touchpoints such as marketing campaigns. The existing, square-shaped logotype has been retained and appears in white, while a bright mint green has […]
Leo Porto, a designer at New York agency Collins, has worked with Felipe Rocha on the branding and orchestration of Bonde, a new Brazilian design conference launching next month in New York. The designs use a simple typography led approach and a yellow and black colour palette. The Maar Sans typeface by foundry Commercial Type […]
Leeds-based studio Brass has created 40 animations for new CBBC show The Pets Factor, a children’s documentary series that goes behind the scenes of UK veterinary practices. Brass was brought in to work on the project by production company True North, and created animations of each of the animals, the four vets featured in the show […]


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Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing unit of the Seattle online retailer, notified customers in Washington state this week that it plans to begin collecting sales tax on the online services if offers next month.
“We wanted to let you know that starting with your March 2012 bill (sent out at the beginning of April), AWS will begin collecting Washington State sales tax for accounts with a billing address in the state of Washington,” the company wrote in a message to customers. “We are doing this in order to comply with changes to state law, which requires us to remit this tax to the State.”
Amazon.com has been locked in an ongoing battle with many states over the collection of sales tax as it relates to the sale of physical goods. The company has argued that it should not have to collect sales tax because it does not operate brick-and-mortar operations in those states, and it has lobbied for a federal policy on sales tax collection.
In Washington state, where Amazon.com is headquartered, it has always collected sales tax when customers buy a book, . But the move to collect the tax on online services like S3, EC2 and Dynamo DB could signal a new move.
We’ve reached out to both Amazon.com and the Washington State Department of Revenue for comment, and we’ll update the post as we hear more.
Tatango CEO Derek Johnson, an Amazon Web Services customer, received the notification Thursday. He said the tax increases will have little impact on his Seattle text messaging marketing startup since the company’s server needs are fairly minimal.
“Governments are always looking for additional sources of revenue and this is just another way to tap into sales tax revenue that isn’t being collected,” noted Johnson. “If I was managing Washington state, I’d be going after the additional revenue as well.”


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Rural e-commerce is making Chinese farmers more vulnerable
Rural e-commerce is a huge success story—unless you’re a farmer. Even if a program is not profitable, tech giants still reap market share and reputation; governments realize political achievements; consumers get good prices for agricultural products.A few villages have won big with e-commerce. Jingdong claimsits flagship corporate social responsibility project, “Running Chicken,” has helped farmers in Wuyi “increase their annual income by several thousand RMB each.” But it’s a winner-take-all system, and many products fail. And when a product fails in this market, the rural communities behind ...
China looks to robots, big data to drive agriculture forward
China wants robots and big data to drive the rural revival, according to a digital agriculture plan released Monday.Why it matters:The Xi Jinping leadership has vowed to bridge China’s urban-rural gap, which dates back to the Mao era. It has settled on digital agriculture as the answer.Digitalizing farming can raise average incomes and mobilize the rural consumer class. The next wave of growth will come not from top-tier urban hubs such as Beijing or Shanghai but from lesser-known third and fourth-tier cities.Details:The “Digital Agriculture and Rural Area Development Plan 2019-2025” acknowled...


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California Inks Nation’s First Pay-for-Delay Law
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the nation’s first legislation barring drugmakers from paying other companies to delay competing generics.
As of Jan. 1, 2020, the state will invoke the new law to go after such secret deals that halt research, production or marketing of a generic rival. In a typical pay-for-delay scheme, the branded drug company sues a generic developer for alleged patent infringement, and then settles out of court in a confidential deal that keeps the generic off pharmacy shelves.
The new law presumes that “these agreements are anti-competitive and delay the entry of the generic drug into the market place,” notes the state’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra. It would also “limit the ability of drug companies to use attorney-client and common-interest legal privileges to withhold relevant evidence.”


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U.S. retailers have plenty of room to improve when it comes to reaching shoppers across all channels and personalizing their shopping experiences.
For example, only 29.1% of store-based U.S. retailers offer in-store pickup of online orders, according to the newly released Omni-1000 report from e-commerce technology provider OrderDynamics. And, retailers that offer in-store pickup of online orders can do a better job of telling consumers how to pick up their package and notifying them when it’s ready, OrderDynamics finds.
In this sponsored technology focus report, industry executives discuss ways retailers can better target shoppers across all channels and deliver more choice to consumers.
How to Become a Site Member for Free
Gain access to in-depth industry leading analysis to help you drive your business forward faster


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India-based mostly friendly and mobile gaming operator Nazara applied sciences has bought into Kenya’s real-money sports betting market, despite ongoing uncertainties involving local tax duties.
On Monday, Indian media outlets said that the Mumbai-based mostly Nazara had based a Kenyan subsidiary, NZWorld Kenya Ltd, which holds a license issued by Kenya’s making a bet manage and Licensing Board. Nazara will cling 70% of NZWorld, with its native companion controlling the ultimate 30% stake.
Nazara CEO Manish Agarwal cited that actual-money online gambling isn’t yet prison in India, but is “a extremely large market in Africa and is the leading reason we are setting up a brand new entity in Kenya.” Agarwal brought that his business is investigating further actual-cash regional opportunities in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria.
Nazara plans to introduce its current items into the Kenyan market, together with its matey prediction sports and fable activities apps. The precise-money products will open in Kenya ahead of this month’s kickoff of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Aganwal claimed that Kenya became marketplace for expansion due to its ‘well laid out and clear licensing framework,” although different Kenyan operators haven’t been so laudatory. in fact, Kenya is reportedly making ready a wholesale rewrite of its playing legal guidelines as a result of operators’ concerns.
KENYA playing ACT: another time UNTO THE BREACH?remaining yr, Kenya’s parliament permitted the imposition of a uniform 35% tax on all playing earnings, a major hike from the latest prices, which for having a bet had been a mere 7.5%. the new tax rate kicked in on January 1, leading some operators to shut down their not plausible operations.
closing month, Kenya’s national meeting committee on Labor and amicable Welfare put the kibosh on proposed amendments to the recently revised betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act. The amendments would have changed the 35% tax with a 15% expense on having a bet income, whereas introducing a 20% tax on gamblers’ winnings.
ultimate week, Kenyan media pronounced that the country wide meeting’s Departmental Committee on sports, subculture and Tourism supported scrapping the amendments, asserting they might “depart the current Act indistinct, hence inflicting conflict and disharmony among gamers within the trade.”
although, committee chair Victor Munyaka cited that the committee became “alive to the issues” of native operators. As such, the committee said it became rejecting “piecemeal” refinements to the latest suggestions, in its place proposing a “comprehensive mop up of the archaic legislations” protecting playing pastime in Kenya.
online gambling will reportedly function prominently in the committee’s plans for a rewritten Act, agen piala dunia partially because of the existing lack of a felony framework under which online recreation will also be without problems monitored to be certain the executive isn’t lacking out on tax salary.
closing summer time’s debates over the uniform 35% tax have been contentious, and it continues to be to be viewed whether executive leaders share the committee’s need to reopen this may of worms. meanwhile, Kenyan-licensed on-line having a bet operators will battle to present a aggressive product for punters seeking World Cup wagering.


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| October 20, 2012
NYTimes For iPhone Updated In Preparation For Live Election Night Coverage
With just over a couple of weeks to go before the U.S. presidential election this year, NYTimes for iPhone has just been updated in preparation for the much-anticipated event. NYTimes for iPhone is, of course, the official iPhone app of The New York Times. The app offers journalism from the world-famous news organization to subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Subscribers get full access to all types of content in the app. Non-subscribers, on the other hand, are treated to the Top News section only, which is not bad at all. Ahead of the upcoming election, NYTimes for iPhone has just been updated to include live election night coverage on Nov. 6. The coverage shall feature live updates, videos, interactive maps, and county-by-county results. Along with some bug fixes and stability improvements, the new version of the app also features a new gesture for saving or sharing articles. To easily save or share an article, just tap and hold on it until the context menu appears. NYTimes for iPhone is available in the App Store as a free Newsstand app. If you want more in-depth election-related news coverage, you might also find the separate and similarly free NYTimes Election 2012 app to your liking. [gallery link="file" order="DESC"]


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Google has unveiled a neat way of pushing its Glass Explorer units into the hands of a larger audience. On April 15, the company says, it will make the device available for purchase to all U.S. residents.
U.S. armed forces tend to be the earliest users of many of the major and significant technological innovation. The same now goes for Google Glass which is currently being beta-tested by the Air Force for possible battlefield use.
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have made a new atomic clock NIST-F2, which they claim, is the world’s most accurate clock and won’t miss a second for 300 million years.
Yesterday, HBO live streamed Game of Thrones Season 4 Episode at 9 p.m. ET. People who didn’t subscribe to HBO were also able to watch the Game of Thrones Season 4 online. Can you abstain from watching?
During a talk show, musician Will.i.am revealed that he had made a smartwatch that can make/receive phone calls without being connected to a smartphone. The smartwatch will be launched it in July of this year.
Microsoft launched Office for iPad on March 27 and it seems like within a week, it has garnered over attraction of people. Yesterday, Microsoft announced via Twitter that until April 3, Microsoft Office for iPad was downloaded more than 12 million times.
Until recently, if you punched in an emoji character in your tweet, it turned to tiny squares when you posted the tweet. That is changing now that Twitter has announced official support for emoji characters.
If you are suffering from insomnia and are a regular user of smartphones or tablets, then you are likely getting it from one of these gadgets. Head over to this article in order to learn more about this condition, and check out our tips to overcome it.
We have seen a number of smart lights in the past few years, as part of the greater home automation front. Now, Philips is pushing the boundaries by offering Hue Tap, a nifty gadget that lets you control smart lights through a tap.
You can get your hands one of the best iPad slates there is within a budget of $1000. Now imagine being offered a PDF-reading e-ink reader with a price tag of $1100. Pretty unimaginable, no? Sony begs to differ.
The Tech Journal is a technology news website that covers consumer technology news. We aim to provide you with latest information about what's going in the consumer technology industry. Over time, we want to grow in a technology news portal providing you with news, information and tools to help make your way through the tech clutter.


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Kroger customers encouraged to help raise support for hurricane relief efforts
Kroger is asking its customers to give money to benefit victims of Hurricane Harvey by “rounding up” their purchases to the nearest dollar or making a cash donation when they visit their local Kroger. Customers’ donations will assist the American Red Cross in providing aid to victims of Hurricane Harvey.
“Kroger customers have shown time and time again they are very compassionate and always willing to help those in need,” said Felix Turner, corporate affairs manager for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “Every contribution will allow the Red Cross to provide assistance to the victims of this devastating storm. We are encouraging all of our customers to come together as we ‘round-up’ support for victims and help in the much-needed relief efforts.”
Kroger will begin accepting donations on Monday, Aug. 28 and will continue through Sunday, Sept. 3. Kroger wants to provide aid to all those in need and a Round-Up is a simple way for shoppers to give. Round-Up funds add up quickly, so even a small amount of change will make a very big difference. For example, a customer who purchases $99.02 of groceries can “Round Up” his bill to $100 – so 98 cents goes toward the relief effort.
The Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund will use Kroger customers’ donations to deliver food, water, clothing and other necessities to help displaced residents and victims.
Visit www.kroger.com to find the location nearest you.


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- Amtrak started a casting call for its social media residency program that will showcase the diversity of passengers and their train travel experiences, according to an announcement shared with Mobile Marketer. The #AmtrakTakeMeThere program is looking for social media leaders, not professional travel bloggers or influencers, to share their stories about riding on Amtrak.
- The passenger railroad service's judging panel will evaluate applications based on writing skills, photography and videography skills, social community engagement and online personality. The railroad is looking for social media users who could represent the Amtrak brand effectively, according to its announcement.
- Amtrak is accepting online applications on the #AmtrakTakeMeThere webpage through Jan. 31. Applicants must answer questions about social media engagement and their travel goals with Amtrak. The railroad company expects to announce winners in early spring.
Amtrak's program to recruit social media users — but not professional bloggers or influencers — aims to discover people who can demonstrate the joys of train travel to their follower network in an authentic manner on popular social platforms. The emphasis on authenticity is part of a broader trend among brands to demonstrate their values and commitment to causes that their customers care about. Authenticity is especially meaningful to millennials and Generation Z, which also are more likely than older generations to post vacation-related content on social media.
As expected, younger generations tend to utilize social media and mobile technology when planning and undertaking travel experiences. Eighty-four percent of Gen Z travelers said social media can be influential when it comes to travel, particularly for deals, promotions and pictures or videos from friends or experts, according to a survey by Expedia Group Media Solutions. About one-third (30%) of millennials said they spend more than four hours a day on their mobile devices while traveling, a Hotels.com study found.
Amtrak's social media push comes as the passenger railroad seeks to broaden its appeal under the leadership of CEO Richard Anderson, who previously led Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The #AmtrakTakeMeThere campaign follows a similar user-generated content push from TripAdvisor, which loops in content by brands, publishers and influencers to user's travel feeds.


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Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Goldman Sachs's private equity unit have agreed to buy the Kion forklift unit of Linde Group for €4bn (£2.7bn) in what would be Germany's biggest takeover by a leveraged buyout firm.
The purchase price includes €400m in pension commitments, lease obligations and other liabilities. KKR and Goldman said they planned to hold an initial public offering for Kion in the "medium term."
Linde is exiting material-handling to focus on the growing market for gases following its $15.2bn (£8bn) purchase of BOC Group. Earnings at Kion grew the fastest among the company's divisions last quarter, with pre-tax profit increasing 31pc. The unit attracted "strong interest" so selling it made more sense than a listing, Linde said.
Kion was sold to "a strong and strategically oriented partner, who will facilitate a seamless transition", Linde chief executive officer Wolfgang Reitzle said in a statement.
The division, which had sales of €3.6bn in 2005, extended shifts and cut workers' pay in exchange for a guarantee that existing factories in Germany will stay open for six years. KKR and Goldman plan to honour labour agreements, Linde said. The sale of the unit is subject to approval by regulators.
Spokesmen for KKR and Goldman couldn't be immediately reached for comment.
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, based in New York, is investing a €4.5bn European fund it raised last year. Buyout firms have announced a record $173bn of deals so far this year in Europe, up from $93bn in the same period last year.


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Just in case you haven’t had your fill of Nazi Zombies just yet, take a look at Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army 2, which just got a release date announced by developer Rebellion. The game will be coming out this Halloween, on October 31st.
To accompany the announcement, Rebellion has also released a new trailer alongside some screenshots of the game. CEO Jason Kingsley also came out to say some words concerning the new assets in the game:
“We wanted to twist the occult horror from Nazi Zombie Army into something more nightmarish, more insane. There’s been a huge focus on making the levels more intimidating and the enemies even more grotesque and challenging. The first game really tested players’ abilities to work as a team in co-op, but also allowed solo gamers to hone their skills by multiplying the number of zombies in the campaign. Make no mistake, if you’re looking for shooter that puts your back to the wall, Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army 2 has got you covered.”
Nazi Zombie Army 2 depicts the same tried and tested plot covered in other WW2 zombie games such as Black Ops. The basic gist of it is that Hitler has unleashed a plague upon Europe to turn the tide of the war when he was losing. You’ll be playing as part of a squad that has been sent to Berlin in order to acquire the artifacts that were used in the summoning.
Nazi Zombie Army 2 is currently available for pre-order through Steam and Rebellion’s Gamestore. Pre-order customers will get 20% off the game’s $14.99 price. They are also considering the possibility of a PS4 and Xbox One release.


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Something a little different today. For years I've posted studies showing that eating organic foods lowers pesticide levels in the body quickly, eating organic foods is the only way to avoid the presence of the controversial pesticide glyphosate (Roundup) in food, the nutritional profile (especially fatty acids) of meat and milk from grass-fed, pasture raised animals is different and healthier than conventionally raised animals (and even organic animals not raised on pasture), and on and on. In other words, eating organic foods has health benefits. All good.
But meanwhile, the National Organic Program and National Organic Standards Board (which controls the national organic foods certification program) is being influenced by big agriculture lobbying - to the dismay of real organic farmers. Yes - real organic farmers, who farm the way we expect our organic meat and crops to be raised. You know - cows grazing outside, chickens pecking away for insects outside, crops being raised in real soil (and not hydroponics).
But ... Big Agriculture with the mega-farms and lots of chemicals, and animals confined by the thousands indoors, have decided they want a piece of the organic action, and have now influenced the National Organic Program and National Organic Standards Board with the result of weakening of organic standards. But there are other problems too with the organic program as it currently exists.
The Washington Post did a series of articles last year about a huge issue of fraud - about how so-called organic food from other countries may really not be organic (esp. corn and soybeans), and this mega-influx of fake organic food with lower prices is something real organic farmers in the US can't compete with. Also, how "larger agricultural companies have sought to loosen organic rules in the name of efficiency and affordability". The organic market is a big one, and growing bigger every year (billions of $$). It benefits large corporations and huge mono-crop farms financially to have watered down standards.
Another example: the organic milk that one buys may not really be organic (and the same issue with organic chickens). Organic dairies are supposed to have their dairy cows out grazing in the pasture for a minumum of 120 days per year - it is a requirement. But big dairies that are only organic in name ignore that requirement - such as the huge Aurora Dairy. Yup, they lie.
And in September 2017, the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) didn't punish the 15,000 cow Aurora Dairy - instead they "exonerated the enormous Aurora Dairy CAFO (Confinement Animal Feeding Operation) of any wrongdoing at their Colorado “farm.” This dairy operation was described in detail in one Washington Post article, along with compelling test results to prove the cattle weren’t on pasture." So of course now they and other mega-dairies will just ignore the organic regulations, because they can without any penalty. ...continue reading "Is A New Organic Label Needed For Farmers Following Traditional Organic Practices?"


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One of the largest tech services organisations, Wipro, is currently deep in its Cloud 2.0 strategy implementation. However, discussions around its Cloud 3.0 strategy have already started. Anup Purohit, CIO, Wipro throws light on best practices and risks that organisations need to factor in a while embarking on a cloud journey.
In the wake of a scathing report about its grueling work atmosphere, Amazon is stepping up a program to find out how happy, or disgruntled, its employees are.
According to a Bloomberg report on Friday, Amazon is expanding the use of Amazon Connections, an internal Q&A tool that collects employee feedback over their job satisfaction, leadership, and training opportunities.
The system first rolled out last year among Amazon's blue-collar workers, but it's now made available in other departments as well, including its corporate workers, the report said.
The wider use of the internal feedback system comes just two months after the release of a scathing NY Times report that portrayed Amazon as a brutal workplace rampant with internal politics and fierce competition. For example, it describes some employees learning how to "diplomatically throw people under the bus," while another said there's an internal platform called "Anytime Feedback Tool" which lets employees secretly praise or critique others.
In response to the NY Times report, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos sent a company-wide memo, where he writes, "I strongly believe that anyone working in a company that really is like the one described in the NYT would be crazy to stay. I know I would leave such a company."
Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through hispersonal investment company Bezos Expeditions.
David Ryder/Getty Images


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“ATMX” Gains Before Hang Seng Index Inclusion Trading on Friday
4 Min. Read Time
We have two webinars coming up in September. You can find the descriptions below.
China Macro: Thursday, September 17th, 9 am EST
China Macro Economic Outlook: Digital Transformation and Structural Reforms Provide Catalysts for Post COVID-19 Growth
EM Consumer Technology: Tuesday, September 15th, 11 am EST
COVID-19: An Inflection Point For Emerging Markets Consumer Technology
Asian equities followed US equities higher overnight. The Hang Seng initially fell on several negative news items such as reports that TikTok’s sales might be in jeopardy, the US military’s belief that China is increasing its nuclear weapon stockpile, and the White House’s Peter Navarro saying other Chinese apps could be banned. At the same time, the US extended tariff exemptions on electronic watches through the holiday season (it might be time to replace my FitBit with the new model). Growth names led Hong Kong as the volume leaders were Xiaomi, which rose +0.39%, Tencent, which gained +1.11%, Alibaba HK, which rose +2.97% after raising its stake in delivery company YTO, Meituan Dianping, which was up +3.1%, Wuxi Biologics, which fell -1.97% on a large share sale at a discount to yesterday’s close, JD.com HK, which rose +7.37%, and Geely Auto, which rose +3.27% on news it will pursue a dual listing on the Mainland STAR Board.
Remember that Alibaba HK, Meituan, and Xiaomi will be added to the Hang Seng Index on Monday, which will require ETFs and index funds to buy the stocks at the close on Friday. It should be fun to see the Friday volumes at the close. Education stocks were off on policies supporting nonprofit programs though we’ve had this chatter in the past. Social distancing measures in Hong Kong are being loosened as the third coronavirus outbreak appears to be petering out. Overnight, August Hong Kong retail sales came in at -23% year over year. Macau visitor numbers were off over 90% year over year, which weighed on gaming names. Shanghai and Shenzhen also clawed back from morning losses as growth outperformed value in the Mainland as well. YTO (600233 CH) rose +10% on the Alibaba investment news.
Foreign investors sold a healthy net $969 million worth of Mainland stocks via the Northbound Stock Connect program overnight. The selling was concentrated in Shanghai-listed stocks, which tend to be large companies with a value bias.
Foreign flights are now allowed into Beijing from eight countries, though I assume visitors will have to quarantine for 14 days.
Walmart denied selling its Chinese stores after a Mainland media source reported that it was. Walmart sold its online business to JD.com in exchange for an ownership stake. Working more with JD.com makes sense for Walmart, which stated that they wanted to open 500 more stores in China, though those stores may end up being fulfillment centers
On September 24th, FTSE Russell will announce whether Chinese government bonds will be added to World Government Bond Index (WGBI). China is the second largest bond market in the world so it might be worth adding!
The European research arm of a global Wall Street firm recommended being overweight to China versus Emerging Markets Ex China. This is the first time I’ve seen a researcher break out China from broader Emerging Markets though I believe we will see a lot more of this in the years to come. This is a significant thesis for our firm as China’s weight in EM has grown from 17% to over 40% since 2014. The rationale behind the move was the growth orientation of Chinese equities versus the value orientation of the rest of Emerging Markets. Additionally, China’s economy is rebounding post quarantine while many Emerging Market countries are, unfortunately, still dealing with coronavirus outbreaks. They also noted that many Emerging Market countries are cutting interest rates, which may lead to significant weakness versus the US dollar.
GSX Techedu (GSX US) reported strong top line revenue growth, but light EPS. The company, which has been accused by short sellers of malfeasance, disclosed a SEC investigation on the claims. As a great company, let them prove naysayers wrong or be punished if they did something wrong.
On a side note, KraneShares CEO Jonathan Krane recently made an appearance on PBS series Travels & Traditions With Burt Wolf to discuss his experience starting a business in China and his thoughts on the country's growth.
The Hang Seng was off -1.01% but mitigated the loss to -0.26%/-64 index points to close at 25,1120. Volume was up +14% from yesterday’s lackluster trading day while breadth was off with 16 decliners and 33 advancers. The 204 Chinese companies within the MSCI China All Shares Index rose +0.5% led by discretionary, technology, and staples as financials and energy underperformed. Southbound Stock Connect flows were moderate as Mainland investors were buyers of Hong Kong stocks. Mainland investors bought $5 billion worth of Hong Kong stocks today as Southbound Connect trading accounted for 9.7% of Hong Kong turnover.
Shanghai & Shenzhen also mitigated losses to close -0.17% and +0.46% at 3,404 and 2,321, respectively. Volumes picked up +13% though only just above the 1-year average. Large companies underperformed medium and small companies. The 517 mainland stocks within the MSCI China All Shares +0.02% led by discretionary, communication and health care while energy, materials and financials underperformed. Northbound Stock Connect had moderate volumes with foreign investors sellers of predominantly Shanghai listed stocks. Foreign investors sold -$969mm of mainland stocks as Northbound Stock Connect accounted for 8% of mainland turnover.
Last Night’s Exchange Rates & Yields
- CNY/USD 6.84 versus 6.83 yesterday
- CNY/EUR 8.10 versus 8.16 yesterday
- Yield on 1-Day Government Bond 1.12% versus 1.05% yesterday
- Yield on 10-Year Government Bond 3.10% versus 3.05% yesterday
- Yield o 10-Year China Development Bank Bond 3.68% versus 3.63% yesterday


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Jony Ive will team up with OpenAI to bring a device to market
Jony Ive may be returning to the tech world with the help of the creators of Chat GPT!
After leaving his position as Apple’s design director, Jony Ive devoted himself to his personal project LoveFrom, which he created for important organizations and foundations unrelated to the technology world. Although returning to this region was only a matter of time. As it turns out, Ive would work with OpenAI, the developer of Chat GPT, to bring a device to market.
The following statements were made in the report published by The Information: Ive discusses the creation of “AI Hardware” With OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
I’m back in the world of technology
Right now Specific details, such as what the purpose of this device will be or what it will look like, are unknown. and it is only known that this will work “for the AI era”.
But that idea alone has already convinced major investors like SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who will apparently join conversations between Jony Ive and Altman. The report states that OpenAI has already raised $11 billion from high-profile investors, including Khosla Ventures and even Mictosoft.
I’m after Apple
After leaving Apple, Ive’s work was associated with to Airbnb and Ferrari. This year, he designed a red clown nose as a solidarity initiative in the United Kingdom, and months later he was presented to King George III. He was commissioned to create the emblem for Charles’ coronation.
But his years at Apple and his contribution to achieving the perfect combination of software and design that represent the company continue to be recognized. In April 2023, Sir Jonathan Ive received the Edison Achievement Award for his long career dedicated to design. In his acceptance speech, the man responsible for Apple’s most iconic designs had words for his many career collaborators and, of course, his friend and colleague Steve Jobs.
Jony Ive’s reasons for leaving Apple have always been the subject of speculation, but it turns out that none of them definitively take him away from the tech world. And lonely We hope his comeback is as impactful as his years in charge of devices with the bitten apple logo on them.
Source: i Padizate
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.


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Over 140 participating stores and restaurants in Covent Garden will be introducing new AR applications over the next six weeks in what will be the largest showcase of AR technology ever attempted in one location.
Merging bricks and clicks, visitors can expect fun and digitally enhanced immersive shopping experiences from world-class brands across beauty, fashion and accessories.
Families can meet Santa in an interactive neighbourhood Grotto, and embark on an AR treasure hunt to catch reindeers hidden around Covent Garden, including the largest digital reindeer ever which will soar around the famous Piazza, merging the real and virtual worlds.
Beverley Churchill, creative director of Capco Covent Garden, said: "We are looking forward to merging the old and the new, the real and the virtual in Covent Garden this Christmas to create a unique and truly magical shopping experience with our friends at Blippar."
Speaking at the launch, Blippar COO Danny Lopez said: "We are very excited to use the festive season as a backdrop for demonstrating the potential of augmented reality. This year we at Blippar will help digitally enhance the Christmas shopping experience and I’m thrilled that millions of visitors will be a part of such an exciting event."
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Commerce Dept has made preliminary determination that exporters from China have dumped certain glass containers and as a result, the U.S. will collect cash deposits from importers of the product, according to statement.
- Imports of the glass containers from China were valued at $370.8m in 2018; deposits will be collected according to dumping margins ranging from 7.6% to 255.7%
- Petitioner is American Glass Packaging Coalition
- Commerce to announce final determination on or about Sept. 12
- Read fact sheet
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As other regions face hunger, farmers in the North Rift are struggling to find a market for surplus produce.
The North Rift region is classified as the country’s grain basket, and every end of season leaves farmers grappling with surplus produce after toiling and contending with high cost of inputs.
The government’s declaration of drought a national disaster clearly means that the State has no food reserves in its strategic stores. This is ironic considering the low prices of maize at Sh2,500 per 90kg bag offered by the government for the last season, which was later revised to Sh2,700.
Most farmers sold their maize to the free market where they fetched better prices compared to that offered by the state.
Yesterday, a reliable source from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) said the government has no maize reserves in its reserves.
“There are no government stocks. The NCPB has its own commercial maize stocks of 700,000 bags each of 50kg across its depots. The board is selling the stocks to millers and other interested distributors,” said the source who did not wish to be named.
Jackson Kewambai, a farmer from Moiben in Uasin Gishu, said until three days ago, he still had maize in his stores but had to offload them to sort out some domestic needs.
“I sold 20 bags of maize three days ago to get some money to pay fees for my child who was reporting to university. Most families here have maize in their stores for their domestic use and for emergencies like medical and school fees,” said Kwambai.
He added: “The food crisis is the government’s own making. It failed to subsidise fertiliser in the last season and set a producer price of Sh2,500 for a 90kg bag, denying farmers an opportunity to make returns. Farmers in turn sold to middlemen and millers who bought at better prices.”
Ruth Kemboi, the Kenya National Federation of Farmers (KenFF) chairperson Uasin Gishu branch said the region produces substantial quantities of food and it was up to the government to mop it up after harvest so as to to reduce food and nutrition challenges in arid regions.
“Farmers have been left at the mercies of brokers who exploit us,” she noted.
Further, Kemboi said many farmers in the region still have maize stocks from last season.
“Most farmers released their produce to the market when the government allowed imports from Tanzania recently. They feared prices could dip further. The government should strengthen food reserves by offering better a price of at least Sh3,200 per bag of maize,” said Kemboi.
She further cautioned that the government should ensure there is no excess maize that is imported as this will cause a glut in the next month when the current season is harvested.
But Samuel Yego, Uasin Gishu County Executive for Agriculture blamed most farmers for hoarding their produce and only releasing them when the prices start appreciating.
“Most people wait until June when maize scarcity begins. Unless there are those contracted by millers to stock maize, I don’t think there are substantial maize in farmer’s stores at the moment. Produce from Tanzania has started making their way to the region,” said Yego.
He at the same time urged the government to consider more incentives for farmers including subsidized fertiliser, seeds, affordable fuel, farm machinery and credit facilities to make food production more cost effective.
Kipkorir Menjo, the Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director, said that lack of marketing strategies had led to a situation where some regions of the country have food in surplus, while other parts suffer acute deficits.
“Although there were adverse weather conditions at the start of the current season, projected maize produce at the end of the season will drop but only slightly. What we have will still be low to meet the country’s needs just like the past years,” Menjo told The Standard.
He added: “We expect a harvest of about four million bags of maize in the current season. But due to weather conditions in between the season, there could be a drop of about five per cent in yields thus achieving 3.8 million bags each of 90kg.”
Menjo said there is a need for good policies that will allow farmers access incentives and improve food production to meet the country’s demand.
“The problem we have currently is that regions that have food in plenty lack a market yet citizens in other regions suffer serious food deficits. Government should provide good structures to ensure farmers get value for their sweat,” he said.
Over the past three planting seasons, the government has neither provided subsidised fertiliser nor procured maize harvests from farmers through the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) Programme.
“We have been left at the mercy of brokers and middlemen who offer low prices for our maize. We lack an alternative market and only rely on these traders since we need money to pay our children’s school fees, pay medical bills and other financial obligations,” Kimutai Kolum, a farmer from Uasin Gishu County said.
This season produce is expected to drop due to rain failure between April and June.
“I’m not sure if I will get much from my 25 acres under maize this season,” said Sammy Chemweno from Moiben.
Chemweno, who has another 30 acres under wheat, estimates his production may reduce from 25 bags of maize per acre to about 10 or even less.
Thomas Kiptum, a farmer from Soy, said that the climatic conditions might lead to relatively lower yields adding to farmer’s plight of expensive farm inputs and poor market prices.
“We hope that this time, the government will factor in the expenses incurred in acquiring farm inputs to the harvesting process before offering us low market prices that often lead us to huge and irreparable losses,” said Kiptum.
James Rogong’ a farmer from Kipsangui, said the government should ensure that farmers are trained on how to achieve higher yields in order to ensure food security in the country.
“At such a time when drought is a national disaster, farmers should be supported so that enough produce is harvested to help feed the whole country,” said Rogong’.


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It's almost time for Intel and McAfee to show some fruitful results of 18 months of their joint efforts. Refusing to divulge any information about the product, all that is known as of now is that the combined hardware and software is most likely to be used to protect Internet-connected devices.
With the ever-growing risk of cyber threats, it looks like Companies have decided that it's high time they begin to curb the menace or at least take some necessary actions.
The $7.68 billion bid made by Intel to buy McAfee, if successful, would give rise to an unprecedented level of embedded security for all the networked devices ranging from smartphones to servers.
While the deal is being exemplified as one of the biggest deal in Intel's history, it is possible that this acquisition would also open up new sales opportunities.
"The current cybersecurity model isn't extensible across the proliferating spectrum of devices? The industry needed a standard shift; incremental improvements can't bridge the opportunity gap", says McAfee CEO Dave DeWalt.
The deal too is being followed by apprehensions by industry watchers, who feel that there is a probability that Intel and McAfee technologies might become too entwined and start excluding others.
Jonathan Chadwick, McAfee Inc.'s (MFE) Chief Financial Officer, is said to have been awarded with 97,500 performance-based stock units and 125,000 restricted stock units as part of his entire compensation package.
Good News USA
- Vodafone NZ’s new ‘Red Home’ packages will offer UFB and 150 TV channels
- Vodafone NZ’s full-year profit plunged by more than two-thirds to $56 million
- Vodafone adding 34 European countries to ‘AU$5 per day’ international roaming option
- Telstra launches its new ‘Every Day Connect Data Share Packages’
- Voyager signs “multimillion-dollar deal” with submarine cable group Hawaiki


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WNBA Mercury Rolling Out New Mobile Ticketing Application
The WNBA Mercury today are introducing a new mobile ticketing application that will allow fans to buy tickets via their mobile phones beginning with this Sunday’s game against the Lynx at U.S. Airways Center. The app was developed in a partnership with Ticketmaster. The Mercury are the first WNBA team to use this technology. Mercury President & CEO Amber Cox: “We want to make it as easy as possible for fans to make purchases.”
To use the app, fans must have a Ticketmaster account. After downloading the app, they can purchase tickets and have them electronically delivered to their phones. The app will serve as a test case for the Suns, who would roll out the same ticketing technology for next season, team officials said.


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Three million iPhone 3Gs sold in first month
According to Fortune and analyst Michael Cote of the (eponymous and nascent, from what I can Google) Cote Collaborative, Apple has already hit the three million mark, with many investors expecting only three to four million handsets sold by the end of the quarter.
Cote is a former T-Mobile executive, who Scott Moritz says has been accurate with his predictions in the past.
It took over 10 weeks for the original iPhone to sell just one million handsets. The iPhone 3G accounts for almost a third of all iPhones sold, ever.
Cote says that meeting demand will be Apple's challenge going forward, as it enters 20 new countries on August 22 -- almost doubling its market presence worldwide. "The demand is so strong it may impact or delay the new countries coming on," he said.
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Cloud-based wallet provider Cashcloud has secured second round funding as it looks towards adding NFC payments. Cashcloud says it hopes to become an all-in-one solution in Europe where users can send and receive money, apply parental controls, pay online, and pay in-store using MasterCard PayPass via NFC.
- Meet NFC World’s partners at Mobile World Congress
- Survey: India now has a higher percentage of citizens with a mobile wallet than China
- Alipay users sent red packets worth $79m during Chinese New Year
- Apple Pay users doubled in 2017 to 127m, says top analyst
- Six more Amazon Go stores to open this year?


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Mooring dolphin on Queens Wharf
16 May 2019
As the city’s regeneration agency, Panuku – on behalf of Auckland Council
– has been granted consent for a mooring dolphin on Queens Wharf to enable the future growth of the cruise industry in Auckland.
As the city’s regeneration agency, Panuku – on behalf of Auckland Council – has been granted consent for a mooring dolphin on Queens Wharf to enable the future growth of the cruise industry in Auckland. The consent has been appealed to the Environment Court.
A dolphin is a marine structure that extends into the sea above the water level. In the context of this proposal, two concrete structures would sit in the sea bed and connect back to Queens Wharf with a walkway. These would sit at 49m and 82m north of the northern end of the wharf.
Current cruise ship facilities do not adequately provide for the requirements of the cruise industry to operate a quality, efficient and safe service when visiting Auckland. This means the potential benefits associated with the cruise industry including those arising from economic gain to Auckland are compromised. Right now, our primary cruise berth – Queens Wharf – can only allow cruise ships up to 295m long to berth. Larger ships such as Ovation of the Seas, which is 350m long, can’t fit.
THE STORY SO FAR
In July 2018, Panuku lodged an application for a mooring dolphin on Queens Wharf.
On 10 September 2018, the application was notified for the public to have their say. Submissions closed on 10 November 2018 and a hearing was held by independent Commissioners in February 2019.
The consent was granted on 23 April for a period of 15 years with a condition that requires the dolphins to be removed once alternate mooring facilities are available. Two appeals have since been lodged with the Environment Court and these are expected to be heard later this year.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The application for a mooring dolphin was been lodged with the intention of delivering the structure in time for the 2019/20 cruise season, providing a boost to the $185 million and 3,000 local jobs the cruise industry adds to the region’s economy.
If approved, the project will build on the vision for Queens Wharf as a public waterfront space, a hub for major events and infrastructure for the cruise industry.
Our growing cruise ship industry provides significant economic benefits to Auckland businesses; last year cruise ships transported nearly 270,000 passengers directly to the heart of our city. The $185 million that passengers and the cruise industry are expected to spend will range across the retail, food and beverage, and accommodation sectors, on tour and attraction operators, and on provisioned goods and services.
As Auckland gears up to host the 36th America’s Cup, the dolphin will help make the most of the upgraded Shed 10 cruise terminal to welcome more international cruise ship visitors.
Below you can find links to listen to podcasts with John Smith about the mooring dolphin and cruise industry, and Rachel de Lambert from Boffa Miskell who worked on research around the public use of Queens Wharf as part of this project.