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Progress on vaccinations has continued to strengthen indicators of economic activity and employment, the Federal Open Market Committee said today, adding that while the sectors most adversely affected by the pandemic have shown improvement, they have not fully recovered.
Led by gains in consumer spending, economic activity is expanding at a historically rapid pace, according to members of the Federal Open Market Committee.
Risks to the economic outlook remain even as progress on vaccinations will likely continue to reduce the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Open Market Committee said today, adding that the path of the economy will significantly depend on the course of the virus.
The economic projections coming out of the Federal Open Market Committee’s April meeting were slightly stronger than the group’s March forecast. In minutes from the committee’s April 27-28 meeting, members said that real GDP growth was projected to post a “substantial increase” this year, along with a “rapid decline” in the unemployment rate.
Consumer prices for April showed a 4.2% year-on-year increase today, outpacing analysts’ expectations. What does rising inflation mean for the path of the economy in 2021?
Headline inflation measures could move above the Federal Reserve’s 2% long-run target in the coming months, due in part to supply-chain bottlenecks that have emerged with the economic rebound and forced prices to increase, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said today.
Indicators of economic activity have strengthened recently as a result of progress on vaccinations but the COVID-19 pandemic still weighs on the economy, the Federal Open Market Committee said today.
Real gross domestic product growth is projected to be substantial this year and the unemployment rate is expected to decline markedly, according to members of the Federal Open Market Committee.
The Federal Reserve will continue to keep its target range for the federal funds rate at zero to 0.25% as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, causing “tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world,” the Federal Open Market Committee said today.
The path of the U.S. economy will continue to depend on the course of the coronavirus and progress in vaccination, according to members of the Federal Open Market Committee.


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Food safety raid: 30 firms get improvement notice
Thiruvananthapuram: The raids conducted by food safety department in curry powder manufacturing units and food business centres concluded with the department slapping improvement notices in for 30 units and a fine worth Rs 1.7 lakh.
The department closed down Midhilaj restaurant and catering service in Nadakavu near Kasargode and Akshay Bakery (manufacturing unit) near Govt hospital Kanhangad after finding that the institutions were functioning without mandatory food safety license and in unhygienic condition.
In the first and second phases of raids conducted in six days, the department has conducted inspections in 146 units. It took 101 statutory samples and 217 surveillance samples.
The raid was conducted on the directive of health minister K K Shylaja who received complaints over adulteration of packaged items such as curry powders and atta.
Around 23 units were inspected on Wednesday. Of these, four were given improvement notices. A fine of Rs 15000 was slapped on two units.
During the first phase of raids held last week, Nirapara Roller Flour Mill, Attingal, which was engaged in powdering and packaging of wheat, was closed down by the food safety department after finding that it was functioning in unhygienic circumstance. The department also seized and sent for lab test powdered products such as cumin, coriander and turmeric worth Rs 4.71 lakh manufactured by Palakkad-based Anakkara Food Processing and Export Private Limited.
The first phase raids were conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kannur districts. The second phase, which concluded on Wedneday, covered the next seven districts.

domain: news


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The second day of the annual World Retail Congress in Paris has shifted its focus onto cohesive supply chains, sustainable consumption, and...
Tesco today (22 September) revealed a GBP250m (U$408.1m) profit overstatement in its first-half accounts, pushing shares down nearly 8% in e...
Intense competition, pricing pressure and currency headwinds are still denting UK retailer's expectations of an economic recovery, taking pr...
Clothing remains one of Tesco's more exportable offers and is likely to remain a central focus for the retail behemoth when incoming CEO Dav...
Without knowing the precise history of the products it sells and then being able to verify the claims it makes, Tim Wilson, CEO of Historic Futures, believes the apparel industry will never be able to make a real difference to issues ranging from sustainability to illegal subcontracting. He is now taking the company's String platform back to the drawing board to tackle the issue of total traceability across the clothing supply chain.
With 20 years of experience across manufacturing, retail and international development to her name, Abi Rushton is well-placed to help steer apparel sourcing strategies of the future. just-style news editor Joe Ayling found out more in the first part of an extended inteview on the global supply chain.
The most-read stories on just-style this week include a look at the potential growth for smart garments and wearable technology, fashion brands indicating their support for talks to raise wages for Cambodian garment workers, and analysts' thoughts on Tesco's profit overstatement.
UK retailer Sports Direct International has made a GBP43m (US$70.1) bet on shares in beleaguered retailer Tesco.
Tesco has said new CFO Alan Stewart will join with immediate effect just a day after the troubled retail behemoth revealed a GBP250m (U$408.1m) profit overstatement in its first-half accounts.
Tesco's share price fell nearly 8% in early trading as the UK retail behemoth revealed a GBP250m (U$408.1m) profit overstatement in its first-half accounts.
Bangladesh's apparel exports edged up by 1.7% in the first two months of the current fiscal year as buyers continue to remain cautious following last year's factory safety issues and subsequent strikes and disruption as a pay rise was negotiated for apparel workers.
The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, and the Accord on Fire and Building Safety have both issued their first annual reports, providing an update on the work carried out on improving safety and working conditions in the country to date.
Further confirmation that China's garment manufacturing industry continues to lose its competitive edge came last week when it was revealed that a number of Hong Kong garment companies are looking to build plants in Burma/Myanmar.
Tesco Corporation - Strategy and SWOT Report
Tesco Corporation - Strategy and SWOT Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company’s structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offeri...
Tesco PLC - Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & All
Project Synopsis: MarketLine's Company Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity unde...
- Li & Fung: China consumption to bring major change
- INTERVIEW: Crystal CEO rises to the challenges
- Pacific Crystal Textiles gears up for production
- Innovation and e-commerce key to Nike's growth
- Growth in smart garments and wearable technology
- Addressing anaemia key to Cambodia productivity
- Chinese firm to invest in Ethiopian textile plant
- Activists slam dismissals at Sri Lanka shoe firm
- Columbia Sportswear hires global manufacturing VP
- Textile value chain making Africa more competitive


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May 16, 2019
By Dennis Kaiser
As CBD and cannabis-related stores become legalized, shopping centers are faced with a multitude of decisions. Recently, Metro Commercial surveyed more than 13,000 industry professionals to get their opinions on whether or not CBD stores should be a “permitted use” in shopping centers. Jim Savard, EVP of Leasing & Management at Metro (pictured), offers insights on the results of its recent CBD survey in our latest 3 CRE Q&A.
Q: Are retailers generally more willing of stores selling cannabis? Can you provide some data to back this point up?
A: Yes, the study shows that retailers are generally open to stores selling cannabis and CBD products, with approximately 70% responding that they do believe retailers selling cannabis products – cannabis stores, medical marijuana dispensaries, cannabis cafés – should be allowed in shopping centers located in states where the sale of marijuana products are legal and would support their inclusion. Not surprisingly, the legality of cannabis where the store is located is a large determining factor for acceptance across the board. Additionally, the physical appearance of the cannabis retailer plays a big part in growing acceptance.
Q: Were respondents more accepting of CBD and cannabis retailers rather than vape stores?
A: Yes, overall respondents are more accepting of CBD and cannabis retailers as a permissible use in shopping centers over vape shops. While owners are equally supportive of both at almost 70%, approximately 75% of brokers support vape shops as a permissible use, versus 85% supporting CBD stores; just under 60% of retailers support vape shops versus almost 80% supporting CBD stores; and 75% of attorneys support vape shops versus 80% supporting CBD stores as a permissible use. The physical appearance, experience and “first-class” nature of the vape shop store design will help vape shop owners change public perception and garner more acceptance in traditional shopping center formats.
Q: Do retailers have a policy against leasing to a retailer who sells cannabis/CBD products?
A: Almost 80% of retailers responded that there is not a policy against a property owner leasing to a retailer who sells cannabis-related products in a state where the use and sale of marijuana are fully legal, or where medical marijuana dispensaries are legal. Almost 60% of owners said the same, while approximately 20% were undecided. The biggest discrepancy between groups comes with attorneys – 50% responded that there is, in fact, a policy against this, while 25% were undecided. Though there might not be a specific exclusion, many leases contain clauses restricting owners from leasing to “head shops” or drug paraphernalia stores and other noxious uses inconsistent with a Class A shopping center. The debate will continue whether a store selling cannabis products falls under that category.
For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser


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By Staff writer
New visual identity and global campaign will eventually be rolled out in 140 markets worldwide
American drinks giant PepsiCo has announced Saudi
Arabia will be the launch market in the region for 7up’s new logo, visual
identity and branding, it was announced this week.
The company’s second largest beverage brand
internationally, the new multi-channel campaign and rejuvenated visual identity
in the kingdom in early December before rolling it out across the rest of the
GCC in early 2015 as part of a global campaign in more than 140 countries.
“The Middle East is an important market for 7up and
we look forward to launching our new look and campaign in Saudi Arabia as one
of the first of 140 markets across the world,” said Carla Hassan, chief marketing
officer at PepsiCo Middle East & Africa.
“7up is renowned for its truly unique outlook and
as consumption trends evolve, we look forward to introducing a refreshed take
on this iconic beverage.”
Two global television commercials – and several
digital vignettes – feature not celebrities, but everyday personalities who PepsiCo
believe best exemplify the 7up brand.
The first television creative shares the story of
Magda Sayeg, a knitting enthusiast, while the second spot features Marty
Cooper, better known as @Hombre_McSteez, an animator and guerilla cartoonist.
The ads will be part of the brand’s “Feels Good to
Be You” mantra.


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Days of Our Lives’ Joseph Mascolo to Host Soap Murder Mystery Cruise!
Some lucky Days of Our Lives fans will be getting a unique treat. Next March they could be on board a cruise ship with none other than Stefano DiMera. Well, the actor who plays him at least. Soaps vet Joseph Mascolo will be hosting a murder mystery cruise on Holland America Line’s ms Veendam. Unlike the bizarre cruise plots that used to happen on Days, this mystery will unfold over a single week while passengers sail from Tampa, FL to Key West, FL; Belize City, Belize; Santo Toman De Casilla, Guatemala; and Costa Maya, Mexico. Day by day, guests will lounge and try to figure out “whodunit” while they will are treated to special gifts, a private cocktail party, mystery games and other exciting prizes.
This event is being presented by Don and Marky Fenwick of Cruise Works, Inc.. The Soap Opera Themed Murder Mystery Cruise will launch on March 29, 2009. For more information, please call 800.876.6664 or email email@example.com.
Photo Credit: NBC
Fun fact! Matthew Purvis wrote this story just for you on August 26th, 2008 |


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Less than a week before Apple is expected to unveil its much-anticipated Tablet, Amazon has announced that it will open up the Kindle e-reader to software developers who can create custom apps Ã la iPhone. Starting next month, developers will be invited to take part in a beta program testing out the Kindle Development Kit, and the content itself will be available at the Kindle Store later in the year.
Developers will receive 70% of their app’s profits, minus a $0.15 delivery fee, according to Amazon. The release states that apps already in the works include restaurant guides from review company Zagat and word games and puzzles from Sonic Boom.
Users will, however, have to abide by Amazon’s guidelines, which prohibit voiceover IP functionality, advertising, offensive materials, collection of customer information without express customer knowledge and consent, or usage of the Amazon or Kindle brand in any way.


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If it's the EV that we learned about in 2008, then it is a four-seater that will at first only be available in India. The Economic Times reports that the vehicle would be available by the end of 2010. M&M also plans to begin selling hydrogen-powered three-wheelers and HCNG vehicles (which use a blend of hydrogen and CNG) between now and the end of 2011. Both Honda and Toyota will be introducing small cars at the show as well.
[Source: Economic Times via Green Car Congress]


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Today I’m looking at two brilliant companies whose share prices could rise next week.
You may not have heard of Keywords Studios but it’s a stock that’s making some serious waves in the global video games industry.
The AIM-quoted company -- which provides technical assistance to game developers -- is riding the stunning popularity of the Fortnite franchise across the world, and said in January said that it expected full-year revenues for 2018 to have leapt to “at least” €250m from €151.4m the year before.
The Fortnite phenomenon is yet to show any signs of dying down any time soon as developer Epic Games stays committed to bringing out different playing modes for the popular franchise. Indeed, the company estimates that the Creative mode which was launched in December has attracted some 100 million gamers already. And this bodes well for Keywords’s bottom line for a long time yet.
For this reason I’m expecting another strong update when full-year results are put out on Monday, April 8. But Keywords is by no means a one-trick pony.
The tech titan is expanding its range of services to cover exciting new areas, ones like “predictive analytics, music services, marketing services, sound design, and Hollywood-based voice production and writing services” (as the firm itself noted in January’s update), and areas which the business has built its presence in with the help of ongoing M&A activity. It’s made nine acquisitions since the start of 2018 alone.
One other reason to be bullish: the rollout of 5G mobile networks and improvement in internet bandwidths, moves which will bolster the growth of so-called cloud gaming, also presents stunning sales opportunities for Keywords further down the line.
City analysts are certainly optimistic and they predict earnings expansion of 21% in 2019 and 12% next year, projections that make the business a bargain on paper (it sports a forward PEG reading of just 1.1 times). In fact, this low rating could provide the platform for Keywords’s share price to take off in the wake of fresh trading details next week.
Newsagent chain WH Smith is also riding the crest of wave at the moment, its share price trading just a whisker off the 14-month highs struck in the wake of great trading numbers in January. All eyes, then, will be on whether the FTSE 250 firm can gain extra ground when half-year results are unpackaged on Thursday, April 11.
I’ve long admired the cracking performance of its Travel stores in the UK and in overseas territories, and was cheering the start-of-year update when it was revealed that total sales at this division had risen 16% in the 20 weeks to January 19 (with like-for-like turnover growing by 3% year-on-year).
The results paid tribute to the massive sums that WH Smith is investing in its business across the globe, including the potentially game-changing acquisition of US-based travel chain InMotion late last year.
The retailer is in great shape to capitalise on surging traveller numbers the world over as it expands its geographic footprint, and it’s why City brokers are predicting earning growth of 5% and 10% in the years to August 2019 and 2020 respectively. Forget its slightly-toppy valuation, a prospective P/E multiple of 18.8 times, I say. I reckon WH Smith’s share price is in great shape to sprint skywards, possibly as soon as next week.


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After several major accidents in textile factories in Bangladesh over the past couple months, in which hundreds of workers died, Walmart sent a warning of its new “Zero Tolerance” policy to suppliers. At least two of these factories had what Walmart called “unauthorized” contracts with its suppliers. Walmart has reacted by informing its suppliers that it will no longer tolerate unsafe working conditions or unethical practices in the factories that make goods destined for Walmart stores. In a letter sent to suppliers outlining the company’s new policy, Walmart states that suppliers who fail to meet Walmart’s new guidelines could risk being permanently barred from doing business with the retailing giant. Is this move by Walmart just PR damage control or do you think the company will truly follow through on this new policy? If the company does follow through, is this new stance based purely on calculated analysis that will save money in the long run, or does Walmart truly care about human rights?
On April 24th a Bangladeshi garment factory complex collapsed killing 362 people, although the building housed nearly 6,000 employees and many are still unaccounted for (Link #1). This disaster is at least the third of its kind to occur in the south-Asian nation since 112 workers died in a factory fire in November 2012.
With wages and inflation increasing in China, Bangladesh has seen many garment manufactures move to the impoverished nation. China’s average hourly wage is now $1.34, while Bangladeshi wages are on average between 18 and 26 cents per hour, the lowest in the world. Spurred by cheap labor, the garment manufacturing industry in Bangladesh has grown to about $19 billion as of 2013 (Link #2). This quick growth, coupled with a low-cost focus, has led to unsafe conditions in which many factories have been converted from residential buildings, thus not meeting fire safety or maximum occupancy regulations. According to the executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, about half of the factories in Bangladesh do not meet legally required work safety standards, standards that are much lower than other emerging nations to begin with.
To combat this problem, Walmart has released a document spelling out its “zero tolerance policy” pertaining to working and safety conditions in factories suppliers subcontract with (Link #3). Within this document, Walmart states it “would like to improve the safety of [its] global supply chains”, and that it “is committed to value chains that empower people who work in them.” To oversee this goal, all factories in Bangladesh are to be audited by Walmart to ensure they are abiding by acceptable safety standard regulations and “Ethical Sourcing” requirements. Factories that fail to meet these requirements will be added to a “red card” list on Walmart’s corporate website, which will bar them from being included in the company’s massive supply chain. Further, according to the “Zero Tolerance” document, Walmart has been meeting with government officials and other companies who outsource manufacturing to Bangladesh in order to create a united front against subpar labor standards.
If the “Zero Tolerance” measures don’t work in Bangladesh, Walmart’s suppliers may have to move contracts to countries like Cambodia or Vietnam where average hourly wages are 29 cents and 55 cents, respectively. This move will undoubtedly raise costs associated with Walmart’s supply chain, as will implementing the auditing process of Bangladeshi factories.
As a reader of this blog, what do you think Walmart’s motives are for implementing these strategies? From a profit and loss standpoint, do you think this will help or hurt Walmart’s shareholders?


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updated 07:25 pm EST, Tue January 31, 2012
RIM-made BlackBerry London render escapes
RIM's BlackBerry London has been refined in looks ahead of what could be an attempt to return to the US in force. New leaks to CrackBerry have the render of the first BlackBerry 10 phone's expected finished look making it considerably more refined than the very angular, Porsche Design-like look of a dummy unit. A presumably mock screenshot also points to a more refined media player than either on BlackBerry 7 or on the PlayBook.
What may be more important is an expanded launch strategy, sources argued. The London might be a UK- or Europe-specific model where two variants previously only hinted at, the Laguna and Lisbon, would be meant to bring the phone to AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon in short order. While speculative, it's possible the US variants would ship to the US first.
Reflecting the importance is a hint that RIM may change entire chipsets to make sure US carriers get support. A 1.5GHz TI OMAP5 and a similarly clocked Qualcomm Snapdragon chip are supposedly both in testing. Qualcomm might be meant to get CDMA into the chipset where TI tends to favor GSM, although both were already expected to carry 4G LTE.
While RIM is unlikely to confirm the rumors before the device is ready, the multi-carrier strategy and hardware changes would show the importance of the London. It's expected to be the cornerstone of its 2012 strategy and may only come in the late summer or early fall, leaving a wide gap in releases between now and then. Having multiple carriers onboard for the same device would help make up for lost time effectively handed over to Apple and Google.


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Fri 4 Aug 17
The University of Essex contributes more than £500m to the UK economy, a rise of 11% compared to the previous year, according to its latest Economic Impact Report.
The report shows the University has broken through the half a billion pound mark for economic impact for the first time as it attracted record numbers of students and turnover reached well over £200m.
The total figure combines the University’s total revenue across its three campuses and the indirect contribution to the economy through research, business collaboration and the cutting-edge courses delivered to more than 13,000 students.
University of Essex Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster said: "The University is a powerhouse that helps to boost productivity and drive growth through life-changing research and innovation.”
The latest report shows the economic impact of the Colchester Campus is now £478m. This includes delivering courses to more than 11,530 students, employing more than 2,000 staff and indirectly supporting over 2,000 additional jobs. The report estimates the contribution of students to the local economy – through their purchases and use of services - is £38m.
"We’re making an important contribution to the economy of the East of England and the UK and we want to take that even further in the future."
The Southend Campus, which opened 10 years ago, has an economic impact of £55m, delivering courses to more than 1,200 students, employing more than 100 staff and indirectly supporting more than 160 additional jobs. Students contribute £3.8m to the local economy.
Professor Forster said: “We’re making an important contribution to the economy of the East of England and the UK and we want to take that even further in the future. We are building new space for innovative companies which want to join our thriving business community and we’re also helping our students develop the skills businesses are seeking as they look to grow in the years ahead.”
The University has invested nearly £15m in creating world-class infrastructure at the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park on its Colchester Campus. The first phase of Parkside Office Village has already attracted more than 20 businesses and work on the next phase of Parkside will start in the autumn. Work has also started on the Innovation Centre, which will welcome more than 50 businesses.
This will allow more businesses to benefit from close links with a ‘dual intensive’ university - gold rated in this year’s Teaching Excellence Framework and ranked in the UK top 20 for research excellence. It is also in the top 10 in the UK for Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
The new report underlines the progress the University has made since December 2015 – when it released its first report on its impact. The report is now aligned to the financial year although it still uses the framework developed by Dr Abhijit Sengupta from Essex Business School which is informed by financial modelling used by Universities UK in its reporting of economic impact.


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NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
- It was predicted that Google Android Sales will Overtake iPhone in 2012 and the predictions came to be true.
- Intel doesn’t want to lose ownership of the netbook market, so they need to prepare for anything, including Android
- Fujitsu launched an initiative to offer consulting and engineering expertise to help run Android on embedded hardware, which aside from cellphones, mobile internet devices, and portable media players, could include GPS devices, thin-client computers and set-top boxes.
- Google executive Huga Barra said that Google’s Nexus family of devices will be the first to get the new version of Jellybean Android 4.3, but the Google Play Edition phones will have to wait a little while.
- Amazon is reportedly working on developing an Android-operated gaming console (like the Ouya) scheduled to be released by this year.
- The next Android OS Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie is expected to launch in October 2013 alongside the new Nexus 10 tablet.
- Intel unveils 2 android based tablets for education purpose.
- A new app has been developed for iOS and Android devices that will protect Twitter users’ accounts from hackers and other attackers.
- Android won an astonishing 79% of the global smart phone market in Q2 with 187 million devices shipped; Apple sold 31 million iPhones but its market share fell to 13%.
- Googe play store beats Apple App store in app downloads but not in revenue.
- After $5,720 worth of Bitcoins were stolen using Android security flaw, Google engineers now warn devs to avoid JCA after “random” number generator produces duplicates.
- A mobile port of LibreOffice is “frustratingly close” to completion, but needs additional support to make it onto Android , hence LibreOffice devs are seeking Android’s help.
- Android founder Andy Rubin,the man behind the smartphone operating system will focus on new projects at Google, and makes way for Google Chrome’s Sundar Pichai Chrome VP.
NEWS FROM OUR MOTHERLAND
- Indian Government especially Ministry of External Affairs, has now entered into the world of smart phones with the launch of interactive app for Android and iOS devices.If you want to apply for a passport, check your passport status or ask any query to MEA ,then this app will surely save your time.
- Narendra Modi fans have come up with a new dual-SIM Android mobile phone ” Smart Namo ” dedicated to the Gujarat CM.


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Batter up! Softball’s unexpected connection to Iowa farmers this National Ag Week
I met my sister for lunch recently after she stopped at a sporting goods store to buy softball equipment for my 9-year-old niece, who is in love with the sport.
However, my sister couldn’t find a softball glove that fit my niece. The store clerk explained that there is a leather shortage right now and the store’s softball glove inventory is low.
Apparently, the shortage is so extreme that pro golfers are advised to keep their leather gloves instead of giving away autographed gloves to fans.
Yet from what I have read, it isn’t so much a supply shortage as it is a supply chain shortage.
Here in the Midwest, we raise the raw materials (livestock hides) that are sent overseas for manufacturing into automobile leather, shoes and apparel, and, yes, sporting goods – like softball gloves, basketballs, etc.
Yet many of these manufacturers are struggling with COVID-related shutdowns, as well as continued back-ups at major U.S. shipping ports.
If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s how much agriculture connects us all, in ways we might not realize – like our kids’ favorite sport.
We now have a greater appreciation for how much we depend on the work of Iowa farm families to raise high-quality food, fuel and fiber, all while remaining focused on providing the best possible care for farm animals and protecting the environment.
As spring planting season nears and farmers return to the fields, Iowans are invited to help celebrate National Ag Week March 20-26 (and National Ag Day on March 22) to recognize the contribution of agriculture and farmers in our everyday lives.
I’m grateful for the productivity and hard work of U.S. farmers. Americans spent an average of 8.6% of their disposable personal incomes on food in 2020, a historical low, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In addition, one U.S. farm today feeds about 166 people here in the U.S. and abroad annually, the USDA reports.
Agriculture and its related industries also provide 10.3% of U.S. employment, the USDA says.
Here in Iowa, where our economy is dependent on agriculture, we are all connected to farmers – either through our jobs as teachers, health care providers, small business owners and more.
I encourage you to join the National Ag Week celebration. Share a post on social media about what agriculture means to you.
Even better, give back to your community. Donate to a local food pantry, or make a donation to the Iowa 4-H, Iowa FFA or Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation to support ag education efforts in the state.


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Monetizing Which Way the Wind BlowsBy
An unusually mild winter in the U.S. made the economy look better than it was, as consumers purchased goods and businesses hired workers earlier than they normally would because of the warm weather. While this effect shows up in macro indicators such as retail sales and the jobs report, small businesses can have trouble gauging how temperatures and rain or snow directly affect their bottom lines.
Weather Underground, a site that compiles local data collected by 24,000 weather geeks with sensors on their roofs, this week released a free tool for businesses to use to look for patterns in their sales related to the weather. Anyone can punch in a location and time period to download a spreadsheet with detailed weather data. The file also has a place to enter daily sales (which comes prepopulated with fake sales numbers) and charts that show the sales numbers in relation to temperatures, precipitation, and dew point (a measure of humidity). The spreadsheet calculates the correlation between sales and those three weather metrics to show which have a meaningful relationship.
Weather Underground’s main business since it started in 1995 has been targeting ads on its site for brands that want to reach consumers during certain weather conditions. Companies can, for example, offer getaway deals to Hawaii during nasty winter storms, or hawk lawn furniture and garden supplies on the first sunny weekend of spring.
Showing companies how weather affects their business will boost awareness of the site’s advertising options, says Toby Skinner, Weather Underground’s vice president for marketing. “We want people in the business community to understand the value of weather data as part of marketing strategy as well as logistical planning,” he says.
Weather Underground’s site, which cheekily shares the name of the violent antiwar group from the 1960s and ’70s, gets more than 10 million page views a day, Skinner says. Other websites can use its API to tailor ads to the weather as well.
Clients have used sophisticated weather analysis to target ads and adjust their business to meteorological conditions. For example, Sears, recognizing that car batteries more than five years old tend to die after three consecutive nights of subzero temperatures, bought battery ads that would show up the day after the third freeze, Skinner says. The Cheesecake Factory looked at how restaurant traffic was affected by weather and reduced staffing on shifts that were expected to have fewer diners.
The new data tool is only a taste of the kind of number crunching deep-pocketed businesses routinely do with weather data. Skinner says it will help Main Street companies understand how weather affects their businesses too. “It’s not rocket science,” Skinner says. “We could delve a lot deeper into the analysis if we wanted to.”
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text: US food and farm goods shippers are considering alternatives to West Coast ports due to ongoing problems, even after congestion has eased and a labour deal has been reached. JBS USA, a major meat packer, is looking to move products through East Coast ports to avoid West Coast delays. While the West Coast still dominates beef exports, other ports are gaining market share. In 2022, beef exports from the West Coast declined by 14%, while the East Coast saw a 6% increase and Gulf Coast ports experienced a substantial 62% jump. JBS plans to consolidate refrigerated exports at five centres and open a new centre in Colorado to improve flexibility and utilize intermodal services connecting Denver to the Port of Houston. These changes reflect a shift in the industry’s distribution strategies and transportation directions.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Honda Motor Co.
said Friday it will not renew contracts with all 3,100 of its temporary workers and will trim production for the current fiscal year, reports said. Japan's second-largest automaker said it will cut production in Japan by 56,000 vehicles, and will halt work at its U.K. plant for two months to trim that facility's output by 17,000 vehicles. Smaller rival Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
also said Friday it would eliminate an additional 1,800 jobs by the end of February to cope with reduced output.


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The Scroogled advertising campaign undertaken by Microsoft to ding and scuff its rival Google appears to be an effective effort, according to statistics recently published by AdAge. That publication’s report details data collected for Microsoft by Answers Research indicating that, following a visit to Scroogled.com, Google’s favorability gap with Bing with users fades from 45 points, to 5.
Also in the AdWeek report is internal Microsoft data, indicating that after watching a Scroogled ad, the chance of a viewer recommending Google to a friend falls by 10 percent. The chance that they recommend Bing rises by 7 percent after watching the same ad.
So what we can take from this is that Microsoft likely isn’t going to give up on the Scroogled push any time soon. The ads, pitting Bing against a somewhat strawmanned Google, are slightly reminiscent of the now historical Mac vs. PC advertisements that pitted Apple devices against Windows-based machines.
Microsoft views its Scroogled ads as comparative, not negative, a perspective that I can’t share as I felt that Apple’s ‘comparative’ ads were comparatively negative, and slightly petty. I view the Scroogled ads in the same way.
That said, Microsoft is spending money to generate a certain impact, and its dollars do appear to be generating that result. In my conversations with Microsoft, I’ve heard the same note hit, that while you and I might not be in the target demographic for the advertisements, they do work among the folks that Microsoft is trying to reach.
Fine. This is the first time I’ve seen hard numbers, so I could previously only estimate the impact of the site and campaign. I doubt that all Scroogled ads generate the same favorability swing as the campaign’s website, but even if the result is one-third as great, Microsoft is likely content with it.
Bing from its first days has suffered from a reputation — deserved or not doesn’t matter here — as something less than an also-ran next to Google’s market-dominating search technology. The long-term way to end that perspective is to invest heavily in technology and build a product that evangelizes for itself through excellence. Microsoft is certainly pursuing that strategy, pumping money into Bing and integrating it as a service into its various platforms.
The faster way to change opinions is to trash the competition, calling their integrity and business practices — and even focus on children’s education — into doubt. And, as in politics, the negative advertising appears to be working.
And don’t think that this is too surprising. Microsoft said earlier this year that “Scroogled will go on as long as Google keeps Scroogling people.” Okay, sure, but Microsoft defines what “Scroogling” is, not Google, and I think that some of its advertisements are unfair in their portrayal of Google.
For example, the following ad says that Google “goes through” every line of every one of your emails, with human eyes superimposed over the screen, implying that Google is reading all of your email. It isn’t. It automatically scans them, which is different, but Microsoft makes the implication anyway.
So, who is really getting Scroogled? Google, for serving ads against your email, or the user, after Microsoft misdirects them?
Top Image Credit: Forest Runner


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Let’s admit it: brand names matter. You take notice when you hear someone interns at Apple, Nike or Walt Disney. So do employers. And when it comes to the best summer internships for MBAs, top honors belong to Google according to Vault, a leading collector of market intelligence for employer ratings and reviews. For the fourth consecutive year, Google fended off all contenders in Vault’s 2019 “Most Prestigious Internships” ranking. Demonstrably tech-heavy at the top, the prestige ranking features Apple as the runner-up, with Microsoft, Tesla, and Facebook rounding out the top five firms.
CULTURE AND MISSION CENTRAL TO GOOGLE’S APPEAL
Vault’s prestige ranking focuses on which companies are most “desirable” to students. The results are taken from a survey of 13,000 current and former interns, whose ranks include both graduate and undergraduate students. Along with rating their own internships – which is covered separately in Vault’s “50 Best Internships” ranking – the sample also evaluated the prestige of a list of employers, using a 10 point scale where 10 is a “It’s a dream job” and 1 means “No one wants to work here.”
You won’t hear the latter sentence uttered much at Google. That’s because the company is organized with employee satisfaction at the forefront. Look no further at the Googleplex headquarters, with perks designed to remove all clutter and distraction from employees. That starts with free gourmet meals (and even cooking classes). The venue offers everything from an onsite health center and daycare to haircuts, laundry, and shuttles…not to mention a fitness center too. Yes, employees can bring their dogs to the office too. Beyond that, employees enjoy flexible work schedules, a friendly parental leave policy, PTO for volunteering, and even equity.
However, it is the company’s culture and mission that truly resonates with employees. In a growth-mindset company that is constantly innovating, employees are encouraged to think outside the box, experiment, create, and occasionally fail (fast, preferably). Even more, Google is seemingly the place to be if you want to actively shape the future, as the company moves into spaces like driverless cars and artificial intelligence. Indeed, Google is expanding upon its stated mission to make information “universally accessible” – and becoming a player in fields outside the internet. No wonder the company receives two million resumes a year!
APPLE CLOSING THE GAP WITH GOOGLE IN PRESTIGE
Chances are, some of them will come from survey respondents, who universally gave the firm a thumbs up in responses shared exclusively with Poets&Quants. The appeal is summed up by one respondent: “Impressive on resume, everyone knows Google, super far reaching – found everywhere, impact in everything from phones to web to hardware, great pay, great work environment, the leaders in so many things tech related, passionate, “Do the right thing” slogan is awesome, best-of-the-best work there, hire me please.”
Google isn’t the end-all-be-all for prospective interns, however. Just look at Apple, which has finished as the runner-up to Google in all four of Vault’s prestige rankings. The silver lining? The gap is increasingly shrinking, with just .247 of a point separating the two firms – way down from the .411 difference just three years ago. To some, Apple has lost a step after the death of Steve Jobs, missing out on the digital assistant craze and losing the top spot for camera phones. Despite this, Vault intern respondents often described Apple using terms seemingly culled from the Google lexicon.
A big advantage for Apple is familiarity. “[A] company that many people entering job market grew up on their technology,” writes on intern. Another laid out their positioning this way: “Very popular, great culture. Strives for innovation.” That’s not to say the company receives rave reviews from every corner, however. One respondent described the firm as “prohibitively Apple secretive,” with another adding, “BS pricing on products makes me dislike them.” The harshest criticism? “A cult of their devices.”
FACEBOOK LOSING ITS LUSTER?
Microsoft may not have the “cool” factor going for it like Google and Apple. Over the past four prestige rankings, it has gained nearly .4 of a point from prospective interns. The tech giant is summed up this way by one survey respondent: “Microsoft does everything, and does everything very well. Probably the most respected software based company on the planet.” Another respondent trumpeted the company’s “awesome culture” and “high pay” – with a third citing that interns “learn a lot” and receive “good development opportunities.” However, survey respondents clicked off some downsides to interning at Microsoft as well. For one, it isn’t easy to get hired there. “Heard [it is] incredibly competitive and only take top-tier candidates, notes one respondent. “Seems like it isn’t as innovative anymore,” adds another.
The intern reviews weren’t as upbeat at Facebook, which slid from 3rd to 5th in 2019. Despite being dogged by a data breach scandal, the firm earned plenty of acclaim from interns. One intern lauded Facebook’s “awesome culture” and “phenomenal pay.” Another noted how the company name still “looks impressive on a resume.” Even more, Facebook is hardly resting on its laurels. “Very innovative company,” writes one intern, “works hard to stay ahead of industry curves, much larger than anyone realizes.”
That said, interns have taken note of the bad press, as every positive comment is seemingly followed up with an asterisk. “Not a fan of this company,” asserts one intern. “I don’t trust them after all the scandals they’ve had this year with transparency.” “Slowly ruining their name,” adds another survey respondent. Perhaps the most damning comment of all? “Hard internship to get, but company doesn’t seem extraordinary anymore.”
TESLA RISES…IN SPITE OF ELON MUSK
Facebook isn’t the only one that has been courting controversy in recent years. Case in point: Elon Musk. Earlier this fall, Musk was docked $20 million dollars by the Securities & Exchange Commission for making false statements about Tesla’s finances in a tweet. His response? He labeled the SEC as the “Shortseller Enrichment Commission.” Such impulsiveness, coupled with an incident where he allegedly smoked marijuana during a podcast, have left many wondering if the tech pioneer has become another Howard Hughes – a man who is increasing losing self-control in the face of shareholder demands for increased automobile production and profitability.
Alas, Musk personifies the Gen-Y spirit. A brazen visionary, Musk tackles the big issues with the potential to transform how people live: space travel, high-speed “hyperloop” transportation, and artificial intelligence. As a result, legions of ambitious business professionals and engineers flock to his fledgling ventures. That includes Tesla, his Palo Alto umbrella that includes everything from electric cars to solar panels to batteries and chargers.
Not surprisingly, Tesla has become one of the hottest tickets for prospective interns, with its prestige ranking increasing from 6th to 4th over the past year. The upside? For starters, according to one survey respondent, there is an “almost 100% hire rate of interns.” Another touts the Elon Musk name, adding “interns make $28/hour and are allowed to work overtime, and it’s in California.” Beyond that, the attraction is what anyone might expect, including “great product and reputation,” “cutting-edge innovation,” “constant collaboration,” and “impressive on a resume.”
TWO ELON MUSK COMPANIES RANKED AMONG THE 10 MOST PRESTIGIOUS
Like Facebook, Tesla also comes with a dark side. One intern, who worked at a different firm, equated working for Tesla to “slave labor.” Another cited the firm’s “amazing projects,” but added this caveat: “You will burn out – heavy workload.” Another pointed to the company’s hubris, calling it “massively overconfident” with “no regard for safety.” That begs the question, writes one respondent: “How much longer will Tesla be afloat?”
“It is the future,” he adds, “but change is necessary.”
How potent is Musk’s vision? He is the only leader with two companies in Vault’s “Most Prestigious Internships” this year. His SpaceX enterprise debuts in the ranking at #9, the highest debut of any company in the ranking’s history. From the outside looking in, it is the place to be, with one intern joking, “I’d pay money to intern SpaceX.” However, word is getting out among interns that SpaceX drawbacks similar to Tesla. Notably, intern pay is low and the demands are “grueling.”
Go to next page to see Vault’s 50 Most Prestigious Internships


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It is boom time in the IPO market with companies queuing with their public offers, but it is largely institutional investors who are taking the bait while retail investors and HNIs still appear to be cagey.
While two major IPOs — low-cost carrier IndiGo”s parent InterGlobe Aviation and fragrance maker S H Kelkar & Company — are set to hit the market this week, the last two issues (by Coffee Day Enterprises and Prabhat Dairy) could not get full subscription for the shares reserved for the retail investors.
In case of Coffee Day, even the portions reserved for HNIs, as also their own employees, remain under-subscribed, although both the IPOs managed to sail through on the basis of stronger response among institutional investors, as per the data available with the stock exchanges.
Most of the brokerage firms and investment bankers are advising the investors to subscribe to the upcoming two IPOs, but they remain cautious about the fact that the interest among retail investors was not very strong in recent issues.
Some of them admitted that high price might be keeping individual investors at bay and blamed the promoters and existing private equity investors for this.
InterGlobe will launch its IPO on October 27, through which it aims to raise about Rs 3,000 crore, while the public issue of S H Kelkar is schedule to open on October 28 to garner Rs 500 crore.
The Rs 1,150-crore IPO of Coffee Day Enterprises, which runs Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) chain of restaurants, closed on October 16 with final subscription of 1.82 times but demand from retail investors was not as strong. The portion of the float reserved for them was subscribed 90 per cent.
The shares reserved for its employees saw a subscription of 86 per cent.
The maiden public offering of Prabhat Diary, which closed on September 4, managed to sail through but the shares set apart for retail investors were subscribed just 34 per cent.
A total of 16 companies have launched their IPOs in 2015 so far and have collectively raised about Rs 7,800 crore, making it the best period in four years in terms of money raised through public offers.
However, when it comes to response from retail investors, only 11 IPOs have witnessed full subscription for the portions reserved for such investors, while another six have seen a relatively tepid interest.
Apart from Coffee Day and Prabhat Dairy, shares reserved in IPOs of Pennar Engineered Building Systems, PNC Infratech, MEP Infrastructure Developers and Ortel Communications did not get enough response from the retail investors.
The portion reserved for retail investors in the IPO of MEP Infrastructure saw a subscription of 97 per cent, followed by Pennar Engineered (41 per cent), Ortel Communications (39 per cent) and PNC Infratech (28 per cent).
In case of seven IPOs out of total 16 so far this year, the portions reserved for HNIs remained under-subscribed. These included Coffee Day, Navkar Corp, Manpasand Beverages, PNC Infratech, Syngene, Adlabs and Ortel.


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The latest edition of the OC Show from OverClocking-TV has arrived, with Xyala and Massman once again giving us a thorough run down of pretty much everything that has happened in the world of overclocking in the last few weeks. The show includes a roundup of the Pro OC Cup where Dancop again proves to be a the man to beat, plus there’s the conclusion of the Challenger Divisions on OC-ESPORTS as Round 2 came to a head at the end of June. Divisions I through VII reveal a mix of new and more familiar faces.
To be fair, June was a very busy month for the HWBOT crew as it also included the World Asia event at Computex 2016. The guys take a moment to discuss everything that happened during what must have been one of the busiest weeks of the year. In terms of new technology, Nvidia launched the highly anticipated GTX 1080 cards that feature the new Pascal graphics chips, plus Intel launched it’s Broadwell-E chips including the Core i7 6950X which was used throughout the World Series contest at Computex.
When it came to overclocking contests, June has seen plenty of action. We saw G.SKILL hold their annual OC World Record Stage plus the climax of the OC World Cup live each and every day at the company’s booth at Computex. G.Skill even managed to beat their own fastest DDR4 frequency record during the show, with their new B-die sticks pushing towards a record DDR4-5200MHz. The guys also recall the HWBOT World Series Asia contest that was the centerpiece of the World Tour event, plus news of an Overclocking event held in a shopping mall in Jakarta, Indonesia where some solid extreme and ambient contests were held.
Catch the full show by clicking here on the OverClocking-TV YouTube channel.


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Google is more than a search engine, it has loads of life-changing services on its shelf to offer to millions of people who live across the globe.
In the past years, Google introduced a service aimed at partnering with local players to provide WiFi hotspots in public spaces where persons can get access to free internet connections.
Google had announced the start of the Google Station Program in Africa, with Nigeria being one of the first countries to enjoy this free service.
One of the aims of the Google station program in Africa is to solve problems with internet connectivity.
In this writeup, you will know what google station is, how many countries have benefitted from it and how many Nigerian cities enjoyed this free internet service.
What is google station?
In 2012, Google started its Google Station initiative with its inaugural launch in countries like Thailand, Mexico, India, and Indonesia. Google stations are positioned to offer free WiFi services to their beneficiaries.
In 2018, Nigeria joined the other countries to become the 5th beneficiary of the free WiFi program as provided for by Google.
The program’s model is designed in such a way that local partners and Google will team up to provide the hardware and software that will facilitate the actualization of the “Free WiFi goal for all” goal.
Most organizations that partnered with Google on this project are Mobile Network Operators, The Government, Fibre providers, and even infrastructure companies.
Google Station in Nigeria
In order to bring free WiFi to different cities in Nigeria, Google sets out to partner with 21st century Nigeria, a Nigerian-based fiber network company to make internet access free in 200 locations of 5 different cities in Nigeria.
This project started in Lagos. Target locations include; well-populated areas like transport hubs, schools or tertiary institutions, the airport, parks, and even malls.
After Lagos had had a successful google station up and running, they move on to establishing the same services in 5 additional Nigerian cities — Abuja, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt.
The free internet service provided by Google was fast and secure.
Don’t miss important articles during the week. Subscribe to techbuild.africa weekly digest for updates.


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Jeep Liberty Recall Expands to 347,000 Units
Owners living in states that use salt to clear snowy roads are the most likely to own an affected vehicle. In some cases, the control arms can rust and cause a crash, though Chrysler said it hasn’t learned of any accidents or injuries occurring as a result of the issue.
The original recall was announced in March and called for roughly 200,000 units manufactured from 2004 to 2005 to be recalled. Now the stroke has broadened to include cars manufactured between July 3, 2003 and June 29, 2007.
Chrysler says it will contact affected vehicle owners to bring their cars in for service free of charge but you can also contact the company directly by calling 800-853-1403.
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on Twitter looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on Twitter and Google+.
More by Luke Vandezande


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Is your venture capital on the digital health bandwagon?
Last year digital health startups fared very well in attracting venture capital. This year their fortunes may be even greater, at least according Anne Zieger in her article “Digital health should see major VC investments in 2015,” published at Nuviun.com.
If you think that investment in digital health is limited to supporting startups selling ideas for apps, you’re wrong. According to Zieger there are at least four other markets within digital health: “According to research by Mercom Capital Group, consumer-focused technologies took in 65% of all VC investment in Q3 of 2014, including $345 million in mobile health deals and $101 million in telehealth funding. VC firms also invested $85 million in personal health firms, $70 million in social health companies, and $23 million for tech supporting medical scheduling, rating and shopping. These investments are up sharply from 2013, and should shoot up again in 2015 unless something dramatic happens to dampen investors’ enthusiasm.”
Some VC firms have neglected opportunities in digital health because of the fear that overinvestment in mHealth may create a bubble that abruptly pops in the near future. Zieger explains why this opportunity is different: “But there’s a big difference between these times and the dotcom bust in 2000. While startups and investors were trialing creative concepts on the web—often with little attention to controlling their burn rate or even defining their customer base—today’s crop of entrepreneurs are largely working on real, well-defined business models.”
Another reason to feel good about investing in mHealth is the investment in mobile health that’s already happening among consumers: “Also, with clinicians, payers, employers and patients adopting mHealth-connected health technologies, and even investing in companies that create digital health technology, it seems clear that demand for digital health innovations will remain in force—and that’ll keep VCs interested,” argues Zieger.
So, considering the landscape is digital health the investment you’ve been waiting for?
Related Story: Big data apps can mean big business
- World Entrepreneurs’ Day – female-founded firms on up in USLeadership & Strategy
- Canadian VC market has strongest first quarter on recordCorporate Finance
- Q1 2018 sees record high venture capital funding in CanadaCorporate Finance
- Figure 1 is Canada's response to crowdsourcing diseases with social mediaTechnology & AI


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From Community Impact
Businesses opened and construction progressed at several mixed-use and retail developments in master-planned communities such as Fairfield, Bridgeland and Towne Lake, including the Fairfield Town Center, the Boardwalk at Towne Lake and the Lakeland Village Center.
A variety of tenants opened in all three developments in 2017. Lakeland Village Center welcomed Pizza Cucinova, Pinot’s Palette and Le Macaron. Tenants that opened in Fairfield included Russo’s New York Pizzeria, Sub Zero Ice Cream and Dressbarn. New tenants at the Boardwalk included Beau Kisses, Burgerim and The Cheese Bar.
More tenants have already been announced for the Lakeland Village Center and the Towne Lake Boardwalk. Specializing in Swiss cuisine, Edelweiss Stube is expected to open early 2018 at the Lakeland Village Center, along with Chilosos Taco House. L3 Craft Coffee will open in February. Officials hope to fill the center’s remaining vacancies by the end of 2018.
The Towne Lake Boardwalk will soon break ground on a new building near a recently opened parking lot. Although officials are not prepared to announce tenants that have been confirmed for the new building, other businesses such as Torchy’s Tacos and World of Beer are expected to open in the spring.


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ThinkAnalytics provides recommendations for Astro’s NJOI Now OTT serviceMonday, July 3rd, 2017
ThinkAnalytics deployed for Astro’s NJOI Now video streaming service
- Astro is now live with ThinkAnalytics on its NJOI Now subscription-free live streaming service, Astro GO mobile app and pay-TV STB platform
- Initial results from Astro GO and pay-TV STB deployments show that ThinkAnalytics’ multi-language content recommendations account for over 70% of viewing on average
- Astro has seen VOD consumption treble since the introduction of the recommendations engine and the new VOD UI in June 2016.
LONDON and LA — ThinkAnalytics™, Emmy® award-winning developer of the world’s most deployed multi-platform TV search and recommendations engine, today announced that Astro, a leading Southeast Asian content and customer-focused company, has gone live with the ThinkAnalytics Recommendations Engine on the newly launched NJOI Now free video streaming service. NJOI Now lets anyone in Malaysia view content for free on mobile devices and online – including live sports, breaking news and a choice of more than 2,200 movies and drama box sets.
The ThinkAnalytics launch follows successful deployments on Astro’s pay-TV DTH platform in June 2016, and the Astro GO app (formerly known as Astro on the Go) in January 2017. All three ThinkAnalytics deployments run in the cloud.
Initial data shows that, on average, over 70% of viewing on both the pay-TV DTH and Astro GO platforms is driven by ThinkAnalytics’ content recommendations. Astro has also seen VOD consumption treble since the introduction of the recommendations engine and the new VOD UI in June 2016.
Astro believes personalized TV is key to its future. The operator selected ThinkAnalytics to help attract, engage and retain more consumers by using machine learning and predictive analytics across four languages to suggest relevant, personalized content. Deep viewing insights are gained by tracking real-time viewing behaviour, individual preferences, topical trends, social channels and more. For example, the platform learns consumers’ likes/dislikes by tracking what content has been viewed in its entirety, and what has been abandoned before the end.
As of 31 May 2017, the Astro GO app has been downloaded 3.6 million times and has 1.3 million registered users. Astro launched recommendations on the app in January 2017 and then rebranded in March 2017 with a new name, Astro GO. Data from the first four months of 2017 shows that the average user spent 186 minutes per week watching content on Astro GO.
Liew Swee Lin, Chief Commercial Officer, Astro, commented, “Since we went live with ThinkAnalytics on our DTH platform and Astro GO app we have seen a huge uptick in viewing – and an average of over 70% of viewers choosing to watch content proposed by the recommendations engine. We expect the ThinkAnalytics platform to have the same positive impact on NJOI that it’s had on DTH and Astro GO.”
“Astro’s approach to offering personalized viewing on any screen is proving to be incredibly successful and is reflected in its growing customer base. Our search and recommendations engine gives customers like Astro a fast return on investment. It not only boosts the number of channels viewed, but also increases overall weekly viewing times and is demonstrated to positively impact customer loyalty,” said Peter Docherty, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, ThinkAnalytics.
The Astro GO and NJOI Now apps are available for download from the Google Play Store and Apple Store for tablet/smartphones or consumers can watch online.
Across the globe the ThinkAnalytics Recommendations Engine now serves over 75 billion recommendations a month and is available as a cloud service or on premise.


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Samsung, the world's biggest maker of smart phones, has now lost ground for four consecutive quarters as low-cost Chinese rivals chip away at both its market share and the average selling price it can command per handset. And the firm warns the problems will continue well into 2015.
To be clear, Samsung continues to sell more smart phones than before. But like Apple, which also experiences year-over-year unit shipment increases, Samsung is still losing market share because low-cost Chinese rivals are growing so quickly. Likewise, with sales of high-end handsets slowing, Samsung can no longer command the high prices it one enjoyed. And its average selling price (ASP) per unit is going down along with its profits.
Indeed, Samsung will suffer from an astonishing 60 percent year-over-year drop in profits in the current quarter: It estimates that it will earn a profit of approximately $3.8 billion, compared to $9.6 billion a year ago. This is the fourth straight quarter in which the firm's profits will decline year-over-year. And revenues will decline in the quarter as well, by 20 percent to about $44 billion.
In China, 8 Chinese hardware makers now control 65 percent of the world's largest market for smart phones. Worse, Samsung has slipped behind China-based Xiaomi to become only the second biggest maker of smart phones in that country.
To help regain some lost ground, Samsung pushed up the release of its next phablet in China, the Galaxy Note 4, from October to September, because the Chinese market has a disproportionate interest in these larger smart phones. But the move was also aimed at undercutting Apple, whose phablet-sized iPhone 6 Plus had been delayed in China due to spurious regulatory requirements.
Unfortunately for Samsung, none of this may matter: Apple sold over 10 million iPhones 6 handsets (including the more normally-sized non-Plus iPhone 6) over its opening weekend without relying on China sales, and it's now quite likely that Apple, not Samsung, will have the biggest phablet launch there this fall. And now cleared of regulatory hurdles, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus go on sale in China on October 17.
Squeezed on the high end by Apple and everywhere else by cheaper China-based smart phone markets, Samsung may never regain its footing in that country. The question is whether Samsung's problems in China impact it around the world as well.


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Apple Martin is all grown up! On Saturday, Gwyneth Paltrow took to Instagram to wish her daughter a happy 18th birthday by posting a stunning picture of her looking into the mirror.
Admitting that she was at a “loss for words” at the milestone, she wrote in the heartfelt tribute: Related: Has Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Gone Too Far By Introducing $120 Luxury Disposable Diapers?! The 49-year-old momma continued: Time flies, huh!
But this was such a sweet tribute to Apple! You can ch-ch-check out the entire post (below): As you know, Gwyneth welcomed Apple in May 2004 with ex-husband Chris Martin, with whom she also shares 16-year-old son Moses.
Their daughter’s unique name has often been a topic of conversation – and it turns out it’s all thanks to the Coldplay frontman.Read more on perezhilton.com


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Sales in November were 8.1 percent higher than a year ago but year over year sales have slipped from increase of 18 percent increase in August and 13.1 percent in July.
November home prices were 1.4 percent higher than they were in October. However, prices remained 4.2 percent lower than they were in November last year, the November RE/MAX National Housing Report, a survey of housing data from 53 metropolitan areas,
The RE/MAX survey found that the number of homes for sale, or inventory, fell for the seventeenthh straight month. The average inventory of homes-for-sale in the 53 metro areas surveyed dropped 8.3 percent from October and 23.7 percent from November last year. Given the current rate of sales, and the active inventory, the resulting months supply is 7.8, just slightly higher than the 7.7 reported last month, but significantly lower than the 10 month supply seen in November 2010. months supply is the number of months it would take to clear a market’s active inventory at the current rate of sales. A six-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.
“This market is trying hard to stabilize itself with home sales significantly stronger than one year ago, even though we are entering the holiday season when sales traditionally decline,” said Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX, LLC. “With sales trending higher and inventory falling, we would expect the result to be rebounding prices when we enter the stronger selling season next spring and summer.”
In this month’s survey of 53 metro areas, 33 showed price increases from October, while 9 reported increases over November last year, including: Orlando, FL +8.5 percent, Miami, FL +6.1 percent, Detroit, MI +5.9 percent, Houston, TX +2.6 percent, and Denver, CO +2.3 percent.


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The European Shipping Week 2020 - the biggest shipping event in Brussels and the flagship event of … Read More
AND GALA DINNER
Building on the success of the first two European Shipping Weeks, in 2015 and 2017, the third will take place between the 17th and 21st February 2020. The week will feature an array of events with high-profile keynote speakers from the world of shipping and the European institutions.
ESW SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
A variety of high visibility sponsorship packages are available for European Shipping Week, from Diamond to Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze each designed to suit different budgets.
Port towage is an essential sector for the EU economy, the industry assists 80% of cargo that … Read More
At the ECR Conference on Maritime Security and the Blue Economy yesterday in the European … Read More


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Inspiring “ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs” was the theme of the 2nd ASEAN Women's Summit, held on October 13. The forum focused on promoting gender equality by encouraging women in business.
Held by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the forum recognised outstanding women entrepreneurs from ASEAN countries, who were selected after vigorous evaluations by a committee. The ministry hoped the awards would encourage other women entrepreneurs to increase their contributions to the economic growth of the region.
From Thailand, Nicha Ratanachinda is one of the winners who used her business to boost her nation’s economy. She was excited to attend the event.
“I am honored to receive the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Award today. It is my great pleasure to be a role model for other women on the path towards financial independence,” she said.
Another winner, Mailin Abiva from the Philippines, said recognition would serve as motivation for her to continue contributing to her society.
“Over the years, I have used my business to help strengthen the knowledge of women in my country. I am always pleased to see positive changes in their knowledge and ability to find better jobs,” she added.
The Cambodian winner, Po Chou, an entrepreneurial consultant in accounting and business tax, noted that a large number of women did not have the opportunity to work because they were housewives.
She said that she had established a forum which employed these women, offering them the chance to work remotely online. No matter the circumstances, women can still earn an income. They should not miss out on job opportunities due to family responsibilities, she added.
“Women are often assigned many responsibilities, which means they are more likely to lose the opportunity to earn an income. This loss has hindered the development of women in the business community,” Kong Sorita, undersecretary of state at the women’s ministry.
For this reason, the ministry used many mechanisms, including the Women Entrepreneurs Forum, to demonstrate that women are capable of achieving success in all fields, including business.


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- By Don Dwiggins
- Posted Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Have you used the library to save money during tough economic times?
During difficult economic times we’re all more mindful of our personal and family budgets and become quite creative in stretching our dollars. Clipping coupons, purchasing generic brands, and buying used instead of new merchandise are but a few of the more popular ways to avoid having “too much month at the end of the money” as popular financial advisor Dave Ramsey often says.
When it comes to saving money, have you ever considered the library as a source of tips and information on stretching budgets? The fact is libraries are filled with numerous publications that can directly help you save money during challenging economic times.
Do you have a story about using the resources and services at the library to save money, search for a job or manage your small business? If so, your story could be selected to appear in Woman’s Day magazine.
Between now and May 18th, the Forsyth County Public Library is inviting women 18 and over to tell their story in 700 words or less and send it to firstname.lastname@example.org
and also to email@example.com
. Forsyth County Public Library will post your story on our website to share with others in the community and Woman’s Day will select up to four stories that will be highlighted in the March 2010 issue of Woman’s Day. For more information and to read the official rules, click here


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For many, this time of year is about colorful lights and good will towards men. At Insight Marketing Design, it’s also about glue, sparkles and […]
Insight Marketing Design is proud to announce the promotion of Kari Geraets to Operations Manager.
Kari has worked with Insight for ten years and most recently held […]
The international MarCom Awards competition has announced the 2015 winners. From over 6,000 entries sent in from all 50 U.S. states and 35 countries, they […]
Many months ago, Insight’s designer and web developer, Jill Smith, shared with us the story of a young boy named Austin. Austin had lost his […]
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For a natural remedy meant to ease anxiety, the cannabidiol (CBD) market has become a place of confusion — not calm. On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held its first hearing on cannabis products, including CBD food and drink products. Over 100 speakers, health professionals, manufacturers, consumers and others, urged the FDA to act quickly to create federal guidelines for the growing — and largely unregulated — industry.
“While we don’t generally require foods to be approved by FDA before coming to market, we do require that a new food additive be approved as safe by FDA before being put in the food supply, unless the substance is generally recognized as safe, or GRAS,” Ned Sharpless, FDA’s acting commissioner, said at the hearing.
The FDA panel listened, asked some presenters questions and asked those who presented research to add it to the public docket, which is open for comments until July 2.
CBD was the main topic, but the hearing covered the cannabis space overall. From controlled studies on CBD’s benefits to safety concerns and pleas for strict control, one thing was clear: the FDA has many issues to address in the cannabis space, and the public wants CBD regulation to happen quickly.
A study by media corporation Consumer Reports of over 4,300 adults found that 25% have tried CBD at least once in the past two years; 35% of them tried it in food and drink, and 34% bought it at retail outlets, Lisa Gill, deputy editor at Consumer Reports, said at the hearing. While only 13% of CBD consumers were concerned about product safety, according to the survey, CBD retailers, manufacturers and many consumers are demanding that the FDA provide guidelines on labeling and dosage — two of the current market’s biggest pain points.
Why Does FDA Say CBD is a ‘Drug’?
Sharpless noted at the hearing that both CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), compounds found in hemp and marijuana plants, have been approved as drugs. The Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act prohibits drugs from being added to human or animal food in interstate commerce.
Epidiolex, a drug for epilepsy control, is the only FDA-approved drug containing CBD.
“Although the law says that FDA can issue regulations to create new exceptions to these statutory provisions, FDA has never issued a regulation like that for any substance,” Sharpless added. “So, if we were thinking about doing that for a substance like CBD, it would be new terrain for the FDA.”
Epidiolex’s label does contain warnings about liver toxicity, suicidal behavior/ideation and hypersensitivity reactions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean CBD itself poses those risks. Many hope FDA regulates CBD separately as a supplement for use in food and drink.
“Hemp extract, hemp CBD and derivatives are simply not related to the product it’s being compared to, which is pharmaceutical,” Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of the Organic and Natural Health Association said at the hearing.
Instead, the regulatory framework already in place for dietary supplements in food could be applied to CBD if the FDA allows it, Megan Olsen, assistant general counsel at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, said to panelists. But the FDA provided no details or timeline on how long it would take to formally regulate CBD products and legalize CBD in food and drink.
“Despite the FDA’s current position, the CBD food and supplement marketplace is exploding,” Olsen said. “FDA does not have the luxury of time. They must act quickly to address the market that is out of control.”
FDA’s Questions: “Unique Complexities” for Regulation
“While we have seen an explosion of interest in products containing CBD, there is still much that we don’t know,” Sharpless said.
The FDA’s questions, which create “unique complexities” for regulation, he said, include: dosing, usage, safety for use by pregnant women, drug interactions and prolonged use.
Some of these issues were also presented by attendees, while some attendees provided research to help solve them. CBD is available in places from c-stores to wellness centers, with a variety of cannabinoid content claims and labels, along with different state-to-state laws, despite hemp itself being federally legal.
“I encourage [FDA] to establish regulations immediately for content, quality control and labeling — and urgently fund cannabis regulatory science,” Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said at the hearing.
Some attendees encouraged FDA to enforce third party testing: any CBD product must be tested by a third party for toxin presence and to confirm ingredient accuracy. Though 0.3% is the legal threshold of THC content allowed in a CBD product, many products contain more, which could pose a safety risk. The FDA must clarify and specify this guideline to create product consistency, some speakers said.
Yaël Ossowski, deputy director for the Consumer Choice Center, called for “smart cannabis safety,” noting that in the current market it’s “hard to tell the difference between different brands.”
“It’s important for consumers to know the side effects and what the benefits are going to be,” Ossowski said.
Additionally, he said, FDA must decide whether an age restriction, similar to medical marijuana or alcohol, is necessary, along with addressing expected effects of CBD on children — a child could easily eat a CBD gummy or chocolate.
The FDA has sent several warning letters to companies it said were making “unfounded, egregious” health claims on their products; in early April three companies, including Diamond CBD, which produces CBD oil and edibles, received warning letters. But warnings may not be enough to control an overflowing market.
“This successful experiment is now becoming a permanent reality,” Jonathan Miller, general counsel of business advocacy organization the U.S. Hemp Authority, told the FDA. “We believe the FDA has all the tools necessary to expeditiously issue a rule allowing CBD in food and dietary supplements.”
A transcript and webcast of the hearing will be posted within 30 days.


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If you think that this year’s drought, which has been slashing this summer’s Midwestern corn crop won’t affect your life, think again. Around 75% of the food on your supermarket shelves contains corn. From salad dressing to yogurt, corn has infiltrated our diets in ways that don’t look or taste anything like the “on-the-cob” variety. Will the suffering crop and the dominance of corn prove to be the perfect storm for your grocery bill?
The Midwest has been experiencing the most intense drought since the 1950’s. To simplify the equation that is the backbone of American agriculture, no rain equals no pollination equals fewer kernels of corn. And when corn is everywhere, the loss is huge.


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BOSTON, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- World Usability Day (WUD) will be highlighting innovation in the field of usability on November 12th. WUD has been held for the past 10 years in over 40 countries with hundreds of events surrounding it. Over 60 events in 25 countries have already been announced for this year's World Usability Day. The purpose of this day is "to ensure that technology helps people live to their full potential and helps create a better world for all citizens everywhere," according to the WUD charter.
"It is exciting to see so many countries still involved after 10 years, especially countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Mexico, Costa Rica , Germany, Sweden as well as many events in the United States," says World Usability Day Founder and Director Elizabeth Rosenzweig. "The message is getting out there, people have a right to products and services that are easy to use"
Innovation in User Experience means creating products and services that people can use correctly while solving problems in new ways. Rosenzweig says the inspiration for this theme is the rapid maturity of the field, allowing practitioners to look at user experience in new ways. "Innovation is an important element to a successful user experience," says Rosenzweig. "It is not enough that the technology has the fastest processor or solves problems in a creative way, it has to work for the people who are using it. Consumers have come to expect both, innovative technology that has a good user experience."
WUD is supported by many organizations such as the User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA) chapters around the globe including Sao Paulo, Seattle, Berlin, Istanbul, and Zurich.
The first World Usability Day was in 2005 with one of its largest events being held at the Boston Museum of Science. That year events included relay races and sorting activities to appeal to the general population for raising awareness of usability. Interest in WUD has now shifted towards the professional field over the past decade, a shift that Rosenzweig describes as a positive side effect of its evolution.
WUD themes from previous years include Usable Transportation Systems, Healthcare, and Education.
To find an event near you, post an event, or learn more, visit worldusabilityday.org.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Rosenzweig, firstname.lastname@example.org, 781-891-2032
SOURCE World Usability Day


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STONELEIGH, Warwickshire (Reuters) - McDonald's said on Monday it is to convert its British delivery fleet to run on biodiesel made largely from its own recycled cooking oil.
Matthew Howe, senior vice president with McDonald's UK, said the fast food restaurant should eventually be able to replace the six million litres of diesel its fleet used last year with cooking oil from its 1,200 restaurants in Britain.
"We may even have a little bit of excess (biodiesel) capacity we can sell into the market," he told Reuters.
McDonald's launched its rollout on Monday with half of its 45-strong fleet based in Basingstoke and in about 12 months would convert all its 155 delivery trucks to run on the green fuel...
The biodiesel will initially be made up of 85 percent used cooking oil collected from around 900 McDonald's restaurants and 15 percent from pure rapeseed oil.
"As we get better at the refinement we will be able to remove virgin rape (oil) from the process," Howe said.
Howe said the company keeps its used cooking oil apart from other supplies.
"We have ensured we don't have any other oils. A lot of other cooking oils that are collected are very contaminated," he said, noting animal fats can cause refining difficulties...
Seed companies have expressed concerns that the growth of demand for rapeseed oil from the biofuels sector was hampering the expansion of healthier but sometimes lower yielding high oleic varieties.
By using the fuel, McDonald's will save 1,675 tonnes of carbon per year, the company said.
If a company wants to reduce its carbon footprint, then as far as I am concerned this is a very practical way to do it. Simply find a way to recycle your waste. Not everything needs to be thrown out.
What's important to note is that no one is forcing McDonald's to do this. There's no law. They took the initiative themselves. I would like to see more food companies follow McDonald's lead if they can.


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NEW York is home to even more glamour, with Michael Hill International opening its second store in the Big Apple.
The new addition marks the New Zealand founded and Brisbane-based jeweler's 11th store in the US, opening its doors at Roosevelt Field in Long Island.
The shopping mall hosts 22 million visitors each year, and is home to iconic brands including H&M, Apple and Bloomingdale's.
The new Michael Hill store features a wide range of diamond rings, including Sir Michael's personally designed bridal collection proving to be a popular choice at the first New York location in the Queens Centre.
Michael Hill International CEO Mike Parsell says the company's experience in the city has been positive, bolstering the possibility of further overseas expansion.
"We are thrilled to open in Roosevelt Field and we look forward to introducing even more New Yorkers to our unique and inspiring range," Parsell says.
"It gives us confidence to continue looking for new opportunities."
Michael Hill Group now owns 302 stores in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the US.
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ATLANTA -- Coca-Cola Co. in May swapped out some of the sugar in its Glaceau Vitaminwater for stevia, but said it is switching back to its original formula following negative feedback by consumers.
"The fans have spoken. We're changing back to the taste you know and love," Coca-Cola says on its website. "We tinkered with the taste of Vitaminwater and our fans haven't had the greatest things to say about it. So we're changing back to the taste you know and love … Like many good things, this process will take some time, but we'll move as quickly as we can."
The beverage giant said its first production facility making the switch will be up and running in August. The original Vitaminwater will start appearing back on shelves this fall and be available across the country by the winter.


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Making headlines earlier this month, Montana became the first state to ban social media platform TikTok.
Montana’s House of Representatives voted last month 54-43 to pass SB419, which will take effect in January. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law last week later tweeting “To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned TikTok in Montana.”
The bill also prohibits mobile application stores from offering TikTok within the state.
Chris Vaughan, VP, Technical Account Management at Tanium, commented that these bans boil down to whether there is enough separation between TikTok and the Chinese government, which is hard to determine. He also said that by accepting the TikTok terms and conditions, users authorize access to a lot of their data.
“There’s also a concern that TikTok, under the influence of the CCP, will tweak algorithms to display content designed to alter political opinions and deepen divisions in society,” Vaughan continued. “What’s interesting is that in the specific case of Montana, TikTok will be banned from appearing on app stores — but those with TikTok already installed are free to continue using it. This does pose the question of how effective the ban will be in defending against the concerns expressed by the state of Montana.”
Tiktok is owned by its Chinese parent company ByteDance. In a March hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said as a private company, ByteDance is not “owned or controlled by the Chinese government.”
The new law is the furthest restriction against the popular social media platform – which boasts more than 150 million American users. Earlier this year, North Carolina banned TikTok, and WeChat, from government devices due to privacy concerns. In February Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a statewide plan for banning the use of TikTok on government devices and in March the U.K. banned the service on government devices as well.
Craig Jones, Vice President of Security Operations at Ontinue, said wisely balancing freedom of expression and cybersecurity is a challenge that “defines our era.”
“Gov. Gianforte's decision to ban TikTok in Montana is undoubtedly sparking extensive discourse, as it seems to establish a delicate balancing act between cybersecurity and digital rights,” Jones said. “The attempt to insulate Montana from potential cybersecurity risks by addressing the alleged data sharing practices between ByteDance and the Chinese government stands as a significant move that could shape cyber policies across the country.”
Jones adds that the law is viewed by many as a potential risk to freedom of digital expression and user rights.
“With prominent entities like TikTok and the ACLU raising concerns about First Amendment rights, it's clear the issue is far from black and white,” Jones said. “The law's potential impact on individuals and businesses that rely on TikTok for various purposes — self-expression, information sourcing, or small business operations — cannot be overlooked.
“The ensuing legal battles are expected to be fierce, setting the stage for precedent-setting rulings on digital rights, internet regulation, and the operation of multinational tech companies,” Jones continued. “As such, this move in Montana will likely be a catalyst for broader discussions and legal debates that could redefine the future of the digital world.”
Craig Lurey, CTO and Co-Founder at Keeper Security, said cybersecurity threats have become a pervasive aspect of daily life and users can no longer trust that an app or website will keep their data safe.
“It’s imperative that everyone take proactive measures to protect themselves online through strong cyber hygiene,” Lurey said. “That means users should take extreme caution when downloading any app onto their devices. Malicious phone apps have the power to remotely access a device or harvest detailed, personal information about those who use them — oftentimes with the user's unknowing permission as they accept vague terms and conditions. There is also concern about who has access to this data, particularly when it's a nation state. The best way to defend against malicious apps is to remove them from your phone altogether.”


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May 3, 2009 |
MUMBAI: The slowdown seems to have affected Tata Motors which saw a 2% decline in its total sales including exports in April 2009, compared to the previous year. The country's largest commercial vehicle maker said its total sales declined to 37,518 units, from 38,149 units last year. Tata Motors however managed a marginal growth in domestic sales by registering a 1% increase in sales at 36,275 units this April, compared to 35,844 units last year. The fall came in passenger vehicles while the...
March 3, 2009
We draw your attention to the report, 'Tata Motors may take Sumo, Safari to Latin America', by Sachin Dave (ET, Mar 02). The report is absolutely wrong. The company categorically denies any dialogue with Fiat on the launch of the Sumo and the Safari in Latin America. Our president, passenger cars, Mr Rajiv Dube, did not have any conversation with Mr Dave on the matter. Words ascribed to Mr Dube - "I can only confirm that something is on at the global level with Fiat.
May 6, 2006 |
MUMBAI: Tata Motors announced on Friday a joint venture (JV) with Brazil-based bus body maker Marcopolo to manufacture fully built buses and coaches for the domestic and export markets. Tata Motors will hold 51% in the JV with the $800m Marcopolo, one of the largest bus body makers in the world. The JV entails an investment of Rs 150-200 crore to set up a manufacturing facility in India with a capacity of 7,000 units per annum, which can be increased if justified by market demand.
January 5, 2010 |
NEW DELHI: Tata Motors on Tuesday previewed 'Aria', a cross-over between a multi-utility and sports utility vehicle, at the Auto Expo here and billed it as a four-wheeler built for Indians by Indian engineers. The company, however, did not say when it plans to commercially launch Aria. Tata Motors' current line up of SUVs and MUVs include Safari and Sumo Grande. "My memory goes 20 years back when we were a truck manufacturer.
February 17, 2012 |
Rajat Bose , rajatkbose.com in a chat with ET Now shares his views on various stocks What is your call on Tata Motors? There would be some profit booking in the second half of the session. So, I am issuing a sell call on Tata Motors and target is to 269 and 267.


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The Android juggernaut continues to explode, now owning 25% of US mobile web browsing.
Quantcast data for August is in and the trends we’ve been seeing since the beginning of the year have continued. In the last two months (including the launch of the iPhone 4) Google’s (GOOG) Android OS has jumped from 21% to 25% and at the same time, Apple’s (AAPL) iOS has dropped from 58% of mobile browsing to 56%.
Since the beginning of the year, iOS has lost over 11% of its US market share to Android…
Overall, Android is cleaning house as the only mobile OS to gain share in 2010 so far.
At Apple’s iPod event this week, CEO Steve Jobs accused Google of cooking their numbers by counting upgrades. Google not only flatly denied those charges, they also went on to say they weren’t even counting all new devices, just those by Open Handset Alliance members. All of those Chinese knockoff brands don’t count.
You don’t need to look very hard to see that Android devices are exploding. The number three Android phone maker, Samsung, said it had sold over a million Android devices in the US alone in just under a month and a half. Even more interesting is that those sales were on AT&T, the iPhone’s US carrier and the smallest US carrier, T-Mobile. Sprint and Verizon both have Galaxy phones launches this month.
Another analytics company, NetApplications, released a different set of numbers today saying that the iOS’s current
market share is still 5-6 times greater than Android. Android isn’t available in as many countries as the iOS however and is two years younger than iOS. NetApplications also measures browser numbers vs. Quantcast’s traffic.