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Think twice before having a glass of milk. You may be drinking a 'cocktail of milk, white paint and detergent.
After repeated checks to counter adulteration in tea dust, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is currently examining samples of tea and coffee decoction.
There are successes in India's dairy story to celebrate, the reality of some unsafe food products continuing to percolate into the system cannot be ignored.
Trichy: After banning the use of carbide stones in artificially ripening mangoes, the food safety and drug administration department is now focussing on using ethylene powder to ripen the fruit.
The district administration has warned eateries, tea shops and shops selling food items not to pack food items or snacks in printed materials including newspapers and plastic covers.
The civic body has decided to act tough against vendors selling such unhygienic drinks which may cause water-borne diseases among consumers.
When it comes to following a healthy diet, smoking is considered to be one of the biggest evils risking our health.
Use of newspapers, recycled papers, and plastic sheets to wrap food directly has been banned by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The FSSAI has drafted new regulations called the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2019.
The brain produces a molecule which stimulates eating
Indulging in high-calorie ‘comfort’ foods when you are stressed can lead to more weight gain than usual, scientists say.
Forfeiting our commons
The Lancet’s Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition
President Obama's grand climate plan does not add up
Climate change can no longer be ignored
NGO demands withdrawal of Niyamgiri gram sabha notificatio


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Microsoft will release a digital-only Xbox One variant in 2019 ahead of its next-gen Xbox Scarlett console, reports indicate.
Thanks to the success of services like Game Pass, I originally predicted a digital-only, online-driven Xbox console could happen at some point. Shortly after reports indicated a disc-less Xbox was indeed in the works and would serve as a lower-cost entry point to the Xbox gaming and live service ecosystem. Now Thurrot.com's Brad Sams reports the console will launch sometime in 2019.
We originally thought the digital-based Xbox, which won't come with a drive to play disc-based games, was part of the new Xbox Scarlett family. But that's apparently not the case; the cheaper model is coming in 2019 whereas Microsoft's true-next gen system will launch in 2020.
The new system is likely a smaller set-top box with similar specs as the original Xbox One model that can download, play, and eventually stream digital games from Xbox LIVE (as well as multimedia services like Netflix). Exact details are unknown but it's fair to say we shouldn't expect Xbox One S or X level hardware.
This new console will have initiatives to ensure whole libraries of disc games aren't displaced. Microsoft will allow users to essentially convert their physical disc games into digital downloads for play on the new box. Gamers can go to retailers and trade in their physical copies for a digital version--a move that makes Microsoft very, very happy given it's strong emphasis on digital gaming.
This conversion plays right into Microsoft's online-focused business. If gamers trade in parts or even their whole disc collection for digital copies then they're much more likely to stay online.
Since everything is now digital, players are likely to go and play online. Once online, users are more likely to buy into key services like Xbox LIVE and Game Pass for long periods of time. And once users are playing first-party Microsoft games online, they're more likely to spend money on DLC and microtransactions (and in the case of Game Pass, new games).
This progressive push-cycle is all by design and feeds directly into the company's current monetization model.
Microsoft's strategy with this box is clear. It will serve as a low-cost gateway to the company's strong service roadmap, which includes subscriptions like Xbox LIVE and Game Pass, alongside Mixer and other content that's organically wrapped in a revenue-generating engagement strategy. Games are the foundation of this ecosystem, and everything has been tied into a synergistic model that cyclically churns online engagement via multiple ways, including multiplayer gaming, community-driven events, and other premium services.
The games-maker will attend E3 2019 and we should see the new system announced at the show. Reports say the digital-only Xbox is orbiting a $200 or less price point.
- > NEXT STORY: Sony skips E3 2019 for PlayStation-centric showcase
- < PREVIOUS STORY: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales fails at sales expectations

domain: news


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Americans are drinking as much wine as ever despite the massive economic turmoil. But now they stoop down in the grocery aisle to buy a cheap bottle, rather than reaching for the top-shelf luxury wine that characterized the industry only a few years ago.
"Cheap is chic," said Tony Correia, a veteran vineyard appraiser who spoke at a two-day wine conference in Napa that concluded Tuesday.
Chatter at the 19th Annual Wine Industry Financial Symposium frequently revolved around when, if ever, wine drinkers would return in large numbers to the high-end wines produced on the North Coast.
"I think the next 12 months will be very hard for the $25 and up price points," said Ray Chadwick, executive vice president at Young's Market Company, a wine distributor. "The lower price points will continue to do exceptionally well."
Retail sales are closely tracked within the industry because consumer prices trickle down and impact every part of the business – from grape prices to land valuations.
Facing financial pressures, many North Coast wineries have discounted their retail prices since 2008. The practice has generated necessary cash, but often has resulted in prices that don't cover the higher costs of producing wine in Sonoma and Napa counties.
"It is going to be challenging for the luxury market to get sustainable prices for some time," said Steve Fredricks, president of Turrentine Wine Brokerage, who spoke at the conference Tuesday.
Many speakers offered predictions for when the North Coast wine industry would hit bottom, or when wine drinkers would return to the high-end market.
"I think it's pretty close to the bottom," said Joe Ciatti, a winery broker and partner at Zepponi & Company. "But we're not going back to a time when $200 bottles are flying off the shelf."
An industry survey showed that nearly 100 percent of respondents feel wine drinkers are now more focused on value. Only 75 percent felt similarly last year, according to the annual survey conducted by Robert Smiley, director of wine studies at University of California-Davis.


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Britain’s wheat industry enjoying boost from fall in sterling after Brexit referendum vote
Britain’s wheat industry is enjoying a boost from the fall in sterling, following the Brexit referendum vote.
The fall in the pound has meant UK wheat has become more competitive against rivals in the world market.
Freight rates have also reduced which has meant the commodities from the UK have become cheaper to export.
One large UK port, the Grain Terminal in Ipswich, reported a 50 per cent rise in exports in the first half of 2016 at more than 550,000 tonnes.
In some cases it has become cheaper for US buyers on the east coast to import British stock rather than buy from elsewhere in the country. It has been reported that 63,000 tonnes were sold to the US in May alone.
However competition is increasing in the second half of the year, particularly from the Ukraine and Russia, where harvesting is currently underway, according to the FT.
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A crisis like the pandemic COVID-19 Corona Virus is the first of its kind that ChavaraMatrimony.com and the entire world have ever seen in recent times. ChavaraMatrimony.com went to action mode on a war footing to ensure that Matrimony operations are not affected and the safety of our employees are not compromised.
Team Chavaramatrimony.com reached out to many people to ensure that we as one big family remained safe to deliver our duty as the most dedicated team of largest offline and online matrimonial service of Kerala
With the outbreak of COVID-19, various measures were taken to increase awareness among the employees for the sanitization procedures to be followed. All consoles and common facilities like computer, mobile etc. were sanitized before and after work hours. All the employees were given personal sanitizers and advised to sanitize their hands regularly and their work space as well as work equipment. Wearing masks was made mandatory. The workplace and its premises are sanitized properly and disinfecting regularly before reopening, to ensure the safety of our employees as well as our visitors. Strict protocols were enforced for hygiene and cleanliness.
COVID-19 SAFETY KEY
ChavaraMatrimony.com developed a COVID-19 Safety Key especially to prevent the spread of germs and keep each one safe from Corona Virus Pandemic. An initiative that aims at ensuring responsible actions from everyone for personal safety. A portable, easy-to-carry, multi-use product to be used to avoid direct contact during your essential errands. It could be used to do a whole lot of functions like Operating Elevator (Lift) Knob Buttons, Opening/Closing Doors, Operating Switches, Carrying Grocery Bags, Operating ATM and Money Deposit Machines by working as stylus and button pusher without damaging the surfaces and screen. With its built-in stylus and hook design, you can easily use it to press buttons, pull handles or doorknobs, push doors, and touch screens. Safety Key easily attaches to belongings like a keychain, so you can quickly take it out whenever you need it.
COVID-19 FOOD KITS
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lock down, provision stores and supermarkets ran out of essential food supplies, including the suppliers to restaurants and cafes. Prices of key commodities surged largely because of panic buying. ChavaraMatrimony.com took a step forward and initiated the supply of Basic Essential Food Kits to the poverty-stricken homes and Old Age homes where people were stuck and struggled due to inaccessibility of basic food essentials across Kerala. Thus with this little big act of kindness and generosity, we could touch those in need of our help and support.


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Sony’s Shawn Layden has given more information on the state of the cross-play feature of the PlayStation 4 and made it clear that the company is interested in having it. Layden spoke with Game Informer and gave more information on the feature, which is currently available in a few games.
The President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment said that they have learned from the feedback from their fans that it was important. He added that they have tried to be so good over the last four or five years and listen to what fans want. Layden also explained that it is not like flipping a switch. Sony’s console currently offers the feature in just a few games, including battle royale title Fortnite.
Sony saw some criticism last year over Fortnite and other games that offered the feature for other consoles. The tech giant took time to bring the feature for Fortnite, which is available for PC, Xbox One and many other platforms.
Cross-play between PS4 and Xbox One was not available for a while but Sony later announced its launch. The announcement was big news for the feature since it allowed Fortnite players from other platforms to play against PS4 owners.
Before the announcement, many believed that Sony was taking its time and doing all it could to prevent players from competing against other consoles. Cross-play has been part of other games in the past but Sony had not really brought the feature until Fortnite.
In recent months, several game developers have expressed their interest in using the feature. Other games such as Rocket League now have cross-play enabled. Layden did not give any information on the games that could have the feature.
The lineup of games offering the feature for the PS4 remains quite small. The feature seems to have drawn lots of interest from game developers but Layden’s explanation gave a different take. He went on to explain that they are open for business and that all it takes is for publishers and developers to work with the PlayStation account manager.
Part of his comments are good news for those who want to see more cross-play but his comments do leave some questions without answers since it makes it seem like companies behind games aren’t stepping up to bring the feature.
For now, Fortnite and Rocket League are the only two games to offer this feature on Sony’s console. Rocket League’s cross play feature is actually less than a month old on the PlayStation 4. The game has announced that its cross-platform party system will arrive on February 19. This is great news because cross-play can be a little complicated due to the fact that players from different consoles can’t join party chats. This means that the game needs a party system to make sure all players can play and talk together.


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MGM Resorts International, owner of such popular Las Vegas resorts and casinos as the Excalibur and the Bellagio, recently filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the owner of the Internet domain excaliburpoker.com.
Excaliburpoker.com owner and operator Adam Majewski does not believe his website’s name infringes on MGM’s rights.
“Excalibur is not a distinctive mark,” Majewski’s court documents stated, according to the Las Vegas Sun. “It was the sword of kings in the Arthur legends. Thousands of businesses use this name – Excalibur Bowling, Excalibur Taxi and even Excalibur Condoms.”
With the website’s line of business very similar to that of its popular casino, MGM believes that the domain name is allowing Majewski to piggy-back off of MGM. MGM is alleging the defendant is guilty of “cybersquatting,” or using a domain with the intent to profit off of another person's or business’ trademark.
MGM is in lawsuits with several other domains, including luxorpoker.com and bellagioonlinepoker.com. MGM is hoping to launch its own online poker websites tied to its popular casinos, and believes these competing domains could stymie these plans.


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San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner may have a rep as someone who is ahem parsimonious with his NBA millions – notoriously both eating Subway and riding the subway while a member of the Toronto Raptors years ago – but some would argue that Bonner is being more sensible than anything.
Case in point – after Bonner’s 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix recently bit the dust and with Pontiac long having gone out of business and unable to offer a replacement Matt was seen tooling around San Antonio in a classic Chevrolet El Camino last summer. Keen to stick with the Chevy brand but needing something a little more modern and practical Bonner has picked a new car for the 2013-14 season.
A tricked-out Denali? A fire-spitting ZR1 Corvette? Nah Bonner is going with an Impala. And not the classic six-figure type that Kobe Bryant likes to cruise in. A nice 2014 Chevrolet Impala. From Dan McCarney at the San Antonio Express-News:
“Love it” he said. “It’s completely remodeled. It’s American-made. You h...


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South Korean tyre maker Hankook Tire, Finland’s Nokian Tyres and Italy’s Pirelli have been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for industry-leading sustainability.
‘Sustainability is one of the five cornerstones of Nokian Tyres’ strategy, and we are proud to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. We have ambitious targets in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions as well as increasing the share of renewable or recycled raw materials in our tires, naturally without compromising on safety. In early 2023, we will begin the construction of the first zero CO2 emission factory in the tire industry in Oradea, Romania,” says Nokian’s Teppo Huovila, Vice President, Quality and Sustainability.
Nokian Tyres scored 75 (out of 100) in the 2022 S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (score date: Nov 18, 2022). The company achieved a full score in the Product Quality and Recall Management, Environmental Reporting, and Social Reporting criteria, out of 23 total criteria covering Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance areas. Nokian Tyres was also industry* best in the criterion Occupational Health and Safety (82 points; *industry sector = Automotive components).
To be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index means that the company is among the most sustainable listed companies in Europe. Only three companies were selected in the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index from the industry sectors Automobiles and Automotive components.
DJSI World represents the top 10% of the world’s 2,555 largest companies in the S&P Global BMI with leading performance in economic, environmental and social impact. This year, the list included 326 companies worldwide: 12.8% of the top 2,555 global corporations. Hankook Tire represents the Korean auto components industry alongside Hyundai Mobis.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Pirelli is confirmed global Leader in Sustainability in the ATX Auto Components sector in S&P Global’s 2022 Corporate Sustainability Assessment, obtaining the highest score in its segment.
The results published by S&P Global – valid for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability indices – highlight Pirelli’s score of 85 points (+8 points above 2021, as already announced on 26 September 2022) as the highest in the ATX Auto Components sector and significantly higher than the sector average of 24 points.
Pirelli achieved top scores in many areas including Governance and Due Diligence in the context of human rights, management of natural resources and reduction of CO2 emissions. The company also obtained maximum points in the areas of innovation and cyber security, as well as for the completeness and transparency of its social and environmental reporting.
Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli, commented: “The result obtained in S&P Global’s sustainability assessment rewards Pirelli’s path towards sustainable and resilient growth. The company’s work in this direction reflects our values and constant commitment to supporting the United Nations Sustainability Goals”.


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Truck rentals on major routes surge by 3% to 4%Aparna Ramalingam | TNN | Nov 17, 2012, 06.20 PM IST
CHENNAI: Truck rentals on the trunk routes surged by 3%-4% during October over previous month levels due to a 10%-15% increase in dispatches due to peak festival season, 15%-20% increase in arrival of fresh fruits and vegetables in APMCs (agriculture produce market committee) and diversion of trucks in several states for paddy crop procurement.
"October has expectedly seen buoyancy in truck rentals and increased fleet utilization by 10%-15% due to peak festival season and consumer spending on one hand and 15%-20% increased arrival of fresh fruit and vegetables in the APMCs. At the same time, diversion of the truck fleet to intra-state operations to meet the transport requirement of paddy procurement in several states in the country also gave a fillip to the rentals," states a report from IFTRT (Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training).
During September, truck rentals went up by 12% to 15% in a knee jerk manner on the call given by transporters associations in lieu of diesel price hike of Rs 5 per litre as announced on September 13. However, within a week from the steep hike in rentals, the freight market presented a huge resistance due to continued low cargo offerings across the economy.
However, truck rentals during April- September 2012 period dropped 1-3.8% year on year on most of the trunk routes despite a diesel price hike. Except fuel cost, rest of the fixed and operating cost for truckers have relatively remained soft in the last six months.


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Google Updates Music Manager for Easier File Management
Google today provided an update to its Music Manager software for computers. This software is what syncs your PC-based music library with Google's cloud-based music storage service for Androids smartphones. The new version contains a tool that lets users download all the tracks from Google Music back down to a PC, including those users have purchased and those users have uploaded. Additionally, Google has made it possible to share YouTube videos that are associated with Google Music purchases to Google+. The new software is free to download and use.
YouTube Music App Launches for Android and iOS
YouTube's stand-alone music app is now available for download. The app includes a home tab for recommended artists, as well as user-configurable stations based on individual tastes.
Google Music for Android Gains Support for Podcasts
Google today added podcasts to the online and Android versions of its Google Music service. Similar to how Google Music suggests playlists for certain moods or activities, so too will the service recommend podcasts based on interests and activities.
Google to Merge Google Play Music and YouTube Red
Google plans to shake up its music offering and ad-free video service, according to statements made by Lyor Cohen, the head of Google Play Music. As it stands today, Google Play Music is available to a single person for $10 per month and families for $15 per month.
Google Improves Playlist Discoverability in Google Home App
Google has made it simpler to find music when casting or streaming thanks to a small update to the Google Home app. The latest version of Google Home now includes a Listen tab that's dedicated to music.
Google Play Music to Be Default Music Player on All Samsung Devices
Google and Samsung today said starting with the launch of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Google Play Music will be the default music player and music service on Samsung phones and tablets globally. Consumers who buy the S8 or S8+ will receive a free three-month trial of Google Play Music, which offers ad-free access to some 40 million tracks.


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Adidas AG, the worlds second-largest sports gear manufacturer, made an official statement that it will launch a massive marketing campaign in order to stop market share losses as decreasing golf equipment demand and an increase in production costs prompted the company to reduce its 2014 profitability forecast.
Mr. Herbert Hainer, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the company, said in the statement, which was cited by the Wall Street Journal: “It is with disappointment that after such a great summer of sport, I have to report that our group hasnt been able to meet…high expectations.” He added: “We take full responsibility to rectify our shortfalls swiftly.”
Adidas AG shared in its statement that it projects its operating profit this year to be 6.5% to 7% of sales, compared to 8.5% to 9% of sales that it predicted earlier. The operating margin, a closely watched indicator by analysts, fell to 7.5% of of revenue from 9.7% over the same period a year ago.
The investors of the company saw a 16% fall in Adidas second-quarter net profit. The companys shares also collapsed this week after the warning that Adidas AG would miss its profit targets for 2015 due to harsh market conditions.
The Germany-based company has blamed the poor economic conditions, as well as the decreasing demand for its products in Russia for its weak performance over the second fiscal quarter. In addition, it explained that its second-quarter results were affected by increased marketing expenses and negative impact of volatile currencies on its earnings.
As reported by the Financial Times, the companys Chief Executive Officer Mr. Hainer shared: “Missing our goals is something we take very seriously as a management team and we definitely reflect critically on. We clearly recognise that part of this underperformance is due to our executional mistakes.”
Adidas AG were losing 4.27% to trade at 55.61 euros per share by 13:02 GMT, marking a one year change of -35.17%. According to the information published on the Financial Times, the 33 analysts offering 12-month price targets for Adidas AG have a median target of 69.00 euros, with a high estimate of 108.00 euros and a low estimate of 50.00 euros. The median estimate represents a 18.78% increase from the last price of 58.09 euros.


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Beijing’s shift of its focus onto detailed air pollution control guidelines for the “2+26” cities over October 1-March 31 2019, which differs from the specific and detailed blanket control over polluting industries including steel on their capacities,will by no meanssuggest “the loosening in control or lower severity in essence from the 2017 winter”, according
China’s Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council will impose a 5% or a 10% tariff on another batch of the US-origin products valuing $60 billion starting September 24 in the response to the US’ latest announcement to impose a 10% tariff on additional Chinese goods valuing $200 billion on
FEATURE: Changzhou mills under pressure on emissions Jul 31, 2018
Changzhou city in East China’s Jiangsu province is among the latest to join Beijing’s drive to improve air quality, with the city explicitly instructing 48 local steel mills to continue to cut their daily steel output beginning July 25 and lasting possibly until year’s end, an official from Changzhou City Environmental Protection Bureau confirmed on July 30.
China expects good tungsten market in 2018: CNMN Mar 09, 2018
The outlook for China's tungsten market this year is positive, with domestic demand for the metal seen benefiting from China's focus on new materials and advanced manufacturing in its still-robust economy, argued a post on China Nonferrous Metal Network(CNMN) on March 2.


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BRITISH AIRWAYS ADDS FORMER RED LIST DESTINATIONS TO ITS NETWORK FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Following the welcome news that a significant number of countries have been removed from the UK Government’s red list, British Airways is resuming services and increasing frequencies to a number of destinations.
British Airways is set to ramp up services to popular winter sun destination South Africa, with daily services to Johannesburg expected by mid-December. The airline will also restart services to Cape Town, offering three flights a week in November, before moving to a double daily service in December.
The airline’s services to Mexico City will also be increasing to five services a week from November 6, and Cancun flights will resume from October 22 and operate daily.
Elsewhere popular South American destinations Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires are set to return in time for Christmas.
British Airways Holidays is now offering up to £300 off holiday packages to some of these destinations, including Mexico and South Africa. Packages currently available include:
All-inclusive Cancun: British Airways Holidays offers seven nights at the 4* Allegro Playacar from £794pp, travelling on selected dates between 1 November – 30 November 2021 inclusive.
Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport, 23kg luggage allowance and accommodation on all-inclusive board basis. For reservations visit www.britishairways.com/mexico
British Airways Holidays offers seven nights, at the 3* Holiday Inn Express Cape
Town City Centre, from £789pp, travelling on selected dates between 1 November – 30 November 2021 inclusive. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “It finally feels like we are seeing light at the end of a very long tunnel. Britain will benefit from this significant reduction in red list countries, and now it’s time to turn our attention to eradicating testing for fully vaccinated travellers to ensure we don’t lose our place on the global stage.
Once we have a firm date for the reopening of US borders in November, we look forward to
reconnecting our two countries, reigniting transatlantic businesses and reuniting families who have been separated for the best part of two years. We are ready, and we look forward to operating our first flights and welcoming back our customers.”
The news of frequency increases and additions to its flight schedule follows an announcement from British Airways that it is planning on operating its biggest schedule since March 2020. Despite no firm date from the government on US borders reopening, the airline is planning to increase flights to the US from early November and will even be bringing back its much-loved A380 to operate some of these services. Customers booking with British Airways can do so with absolute confidence, thanks to the airline’s flexible booking policy. Customers are able to exchange their booking for a voucher or move their dates without incurring a change fee if their plans change. British Airways Holidays’ customers also have access to a range of additional flexible booking options, as part of the company’s Customer Promise, including securing a holiday with a deposit from just £60 per person and lounge access for those spending over £1,500 per person.


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It was a summer season like no other before: travel warnings, Corona measures and the request of numerous governments to take vacations in their own country. A call that many people followed. Bookings fell dramatically all over the world. The calls to stay at home have naturally had a negative impact on the global tourism industry. What is the future of traveling?
Anyway, some experts point out to Italy's example. The country was badly shaken by the first wave. The majority of Italians, therefore, decided this year not to travel at all and spent their vacations at home. As a result, the number of cases in Italy is now manageable. If the country had not requested for vacations to be spent at home, then the consequences would not be relatively glaring so far.
Although tourism alone is not responsible for the recent increase in infections, mobility is an essential factor in the spread of the virus.
One thing is certain for the tourism experts in any case: in the medium term, a lot will change. Post-Covid tourism will not be the same as the one we have known so far. The longer the crisis lasts, the more lasting and serious the change. Business trips, cruises and city trips will be most affected. The companies recognize that many trips can be replaced by online meetings at low cost. City trips, on the other hand, are decreasing, since crowds of people are avoided by consumers as far as possible. Cities are considered risk areas for many travelers. Post-Covid tourism will not be the same as the one we have known.
After years of boom, cruises are also facing a reorientation. There is a hardcore of cruisers who will go on a ship again and again. However, it is difficult for shipping companies to win new customers. The trend is therefore moving away from the recent years’ gigantism, in which larger ships were still being built. The future belongs to smaller boats with fewer passengers.
Experts predict, it will be a long time before people undertake long-distance travel again. It is likely that the future of traveling will focus on shorter distances. We have now made the experience that it can be difficult to come back in case of a crisis. Therefore, vacations will mainly take place in countries that are on short and medium distances. Regions would therefore have to reorganize themselves and develop a new market. Thus, inner-European tourism will become more important, and inner-Asian tourism will become more important in Asia.
The fact that humans want to refrain completely from journeys in the future is not conceivable. Will this crisis also create opportunities for tourism? Absolutely. After all, mass tourism, in particular, had already been hotly debated before Corona. There were flight shame and climate movements, for example. Everything that is now moving towards sustainability could benefit from it. The crisis has also made it clear to people what freedom of travel really means. Before Corona, many of us flew to Barcelona for a weekend for little money, without giving it much thought. That will change. Partly because travel will become more expensive in the medium term. And experts are also convinced that the population's awareness regarding travelling will increase again.


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Japan's economy kicked into high gear during the first quarter as policymakers worked to combat decades of falling prices and spur growth.
Japan's economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5% in the first three months of 2013, Japan's Cabinet Office said Thursday. The expansion was much quicker than the 2.7% increase expected by analysts.
On a quarterly basis, Japan's gross domestic product increased by 0.9%. Consumer spending and exports were particularly strong.
Japan's economy had been in a shallow recession as recently as last year, and the positive data should bolster hopes that the country's economic outlook is brightening. The growth should also provide a boost to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's reform efforts -- a set of policies dubbed "Abenomics."
"Abenomics' first report card did not disappoint," said Izumi Devalier, an economist at HSBC. "The Japanese economy is beginning to fire on all cylinders."
Abe had argued forcefully that the Bank of Japan needed to take aggressive action to stimulate Japan's flagging economy -- and made that a centerpiece of his election campaign last year.
The idea is that further easing, combined with more government spending on economic stimulus, could push up prices and end years of deflation, leading to more robust growth for the world's third largest economy.
Two of Abenomics' three policy pillars are already in place. Japan has ramped up government spending and the central bank is injecting money into the economy on a massive scale.
The central bank announced in April that it would expand its balance sheet by purchasing longer-term debt and securities like ETFs. The bank also merged its asset-purchase programs and suspended a rule that prohibited the purchase of longer-term debt.
The new purchases -- made at an annual pace of 60 - 70 trillion yen -- will double the bank's monetary base over a two-year period.
Markets have responded as expected, with the yen falling around 30% against the dollar since November, and the Nikkei rising to a five-year high while breaking the 15,000 point barrier. Corporate Japan has bought in too, delivering solid returns and forecasting higher profits.
Yet it's not clear that the excitement is translating into other parts of the economy. Wages are flat-lining, while retail sales, private investment and industrial production indicators have also failed to impress.
The remaining pillar of the strategy -- structural reforms -- could prove to be the most beneficial over the long-term, if also the most difficult to implement.
Abe's government has proposed reforms that would make the labor market more flexible, encourage immigration, bring nuclear power plants back online and draw more Japanese women into the workforce.


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The Burles Group, the parent company of leading VEKA trade fabricator Modplan, has just reported a rise in pre-tax profits of 60% for the year ending 31 December 2012.
Heidi Sachs, Modplan’s Managing Director, is delighted by the company’s success in 2012 and equally delighted that it looks set to build on it in 2013. “We’re forecasting £24m in turnover for this year as a group – up from £22.5m last year – and another increase in profit too. Our exports were up and we’re expecting more export growth in the current year too.”
Heidi has a particularly good reason to be pleased by the Burles Group’s success: it is attributed to an increase in sales at her company both in the UK and through its foreign subsidiary Modplan Nordic A/S.
Heidi says her company’s success is down to two things: “Extending the range of products we offer has been valuable. We plan to add a new product division this year too. The initial feedback has been very positive because it further adds to our portfolio of products and makes us an attractive one stop shop for our customers. Our drive to attract new customers has also worked well. We find that our genuine partnership approach is very appealing, especially in the difficult economic climate.”
Modplan’s success means the company has just acquired a further 45,000 square feet of manufacturing space opposite its headquarters in Abercarn, Gwent. The new property manufactures all of Modplan’s roofs, plus holds a brand new, state-of-the-art spray plant and glazing facility. Heidi is extremely positive about the expansion, saying, “We’re already noticing a big difference by moving just one division into the new site – it’s given us more manufacturing capability.”
In the directors’ report Burles Group said: “Against the unsettled economic backdrop the group has continued to invest in both new technology and its employees. We believe the group is in a strong position to ensure that we can achieve our goal of making money by supply our customers with excellent products and service while maintaining a sustainable profit margin by which to invest in future group activity.”
And judging by Modplan’s success, the trade fabricator is a perfect example of this offering in practice!


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Mastercard plans to leverage Polygon to help guide musical artists into the Web3 space, including with minting their own NFTs.
Mastercard announced Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, that it will use the Polygon blockchain to launch its Mastercard Artist Accelerator.
The program is designed to help musical artists learn how to expand their brands through minting NFTs, building an online presence, and establishing a community. While Mastercard has not yet said who will participate in the accelerator, the company said the accelerator will end later this year with a live-streamed artist showcase.
Mastercard says the aim is to create a space for music content creation, collaboration, and ownership, using the accelerator to connect artists worldwide with mentors in Web3.
“Kicking off in spring 2023, the Mastercard Artist Accelerator will prepare five emerging artists—such as musicians, DJs, producers—with the tools, skills, and access to forge their own musical paths in the digital economy,” Mastercard said in a press release.
According to Mastercard, the accelerator will include a limited edition NFT called “The Mastercard Music Pass,” which the company says will give holders access to exclusive music educational materials, unique resources, and other physical and digital experiences.
NFTs are blockchain-based tokens linked to digital and physical content, providing proof of ownership, authenticity, or membership in a group. NFTs have also been a lucrative side project for musicians in the past.
In March 2021, singer and songwriter Grimes sold a collection of visual art for over $6 million. That same month, EDM musician, 3LAU, made $11 million by selling an album as 33 individual NFTs. DJ Steve Aoki famously said in February of last year that he made more money from NFTs than from 10 years of advances from his music.
Source : decrypt


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Office Launches 2006, Ballmer Cant Dance
Though Microsoft Vista nor Office 2007 will available for consumer purchase until next year, the Redmond-based software giant did confirm that business customers would not have to wait that long.
The next version of Office will be available to business customers through the volume licensing program in October this year, says the company.
Retail and OEM availability of the product dare scheduled to coincide with the retail and OEM availability of the Windows Vista operating system in January 2007.
If you’d like to exact a little revenge for making everybody wait an extra five years or so, giggle yourself to death watching one of the Masters of the Universe dance his bald patootie off.


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Aberdeen Cyrenians has become the first charity in the north-east to use an innovative app designed to help the public donate to foodbanks.
The app, called Foodbank, was launched by the charity today. It features a regularly updated list of items required by the charity and is colour-coded red, amber and green depending on priority.
“We can instantly update the list to show items we need, meaning we can react immediately to the donations we receive.”
As well as food, the list includes more practical items like plastic forks, freezer bags, and polystyrene burger boxes. These items will primarily be used by the Street Alternatives service which provides hot meals and access to laundry and cleaning facilities four times per week for those who are sleeping rough or who do not have access to cooking facilities.
“Our Street Alternatives service is incredibly busy and helps around 25 people per session,” said Scott.
“These items will allow us not only to provide hot meals at the time, but will also allow our service users to take food and cutlery away to eat later in the day.
“Some of the food will also be used in the food parcels which are handed out at our Drop In Service. Each parcel includes a variety of items like soups, pasta and sauces, and is designed to last three days.
“In 2015 so far we have been giving out an average of 150 food parcels every single month. This is an increase of 50% compared to last years figures, so all donations to help this service are gratefully received.”
Aberdeen Cyrenians is teaming up with several local supermarkets to launch the new app. Asda Bridge of Dee manager Martin Green, who helped launch the app in store yesterday, said: “We are really pleased to be involved in this project to make it easier for people to donate to those in need across the north-east.”
Asda Portlethen and Sainsburys St Nicholas Centre are also providing dedicated donation points in store. Abbie Whitelaw, Community Life Champion for Asda Portlethen, said: “I am delighted to be able to help those in need across the North-East in such a new and innovative way. As a Cyrenians volunteer, I have seen just how valuable the services they provide are to those in need.”
The app is available to download for free from Google Play and the App Store.
To use the app:
Step 1 – Download the Foodbank app and select ‘Aberdeen Cyrenians’ from the list
Step 2 – Check the live shopping list to see which items we need
Step 3 – Buy something from the list and drop it off at an in-store donation point or at 62 Summer Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1SD


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Just last week Jimmy Kimmel previewed the first trailer for the brand new Assassin’s Creed film, based on the highly successful…
Steve Jobs is set to give us an insiders view of the tumultuous teenage years of the tech giant.
Struggling to find something worthy to watch this month? Here’s a little of what’s on offer!
Michael Fassbender becomes Macbeth in Australian director Justin Kurzel’s violent new adaptation.
2015 looks set to be a huge year in film, with some big names returning to the screen. Here’s our list of what’s got us excited to hit Gold Class this year.


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FDA allows allulose to be excluded from sugar declaration on updated Nutrition Facts
Allulose maker says FDA’s move opens the door for the sugar substituteThis article is powered by Food Chemical News
Companies will have one less food ingredient to worry about when declaring added sugars on the new Nutrition Facts labels – allulose.
The agency issued a new guidance Wednesday (April 17) spelling out a decision to exempt allulose, a sweetener that may be used as a sugar substitute in some foods, from the total and added sugar declaration mandate on the revamped Nutrition Facts panel.
The guidance, which is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Thursday (April 18), says the agency plans to exercise enforcement discretion on the exclusion of allulose, specifically when the substance is used as a food ingredient.
The move represents the first time that FDA has decided to exclude a sugar from the requirement and is a part of an increased effort to push out the last remaining guidances related to the new Nutrition Facts labels ahead of the implementation deadline, said Susan Mayne, the director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), in comments about the change.
The decision, Mayne said, illustrates FDA’s commitment to a “flexible and science-based approach to food product labeling.”
"The latest data suggests that allulose is different from other sugars in that it is not metabolized by the human body in the same way as table sugar,” Mayne said. “It has fewer calories, produces only negligible increases in blood glucose or insulin levels, and does not promote dental decay.”
With the January 2020 deadline for the biggest companies to adopt the new Nutrition Facts panel, FDA will be pushing out more guidances to help companies meet the new mandate, including a guidance to address the declaration of added sugars on packages and containers of honey, maple syrup and certain cranberry products, FDA said Wednesday.
Allulose will still count towards the caloric value of the food on the label and must still be declared on the ingredient list of products. The sweetener will also continue to be listed on the nutrition panel as a carbohydrate.
However, the new guidance states that companies can use a revised, lower calorie count of 0.4 calories per gram for allulose when determining calories for the Nutrition Facts panel.
The change spells good news for industry, as it opens the door for greater use of allulose as a low-calorie sugar substitute.
Allulose, or D-psicose, is a monosaccharide that is naturally present in small amounts of wheat, fruits such as raisins and figs, and other foods, including molasses, brown sugar and maple syrup. The substance can also be synthesized from fructose.
The new FDA decision comes in response to two Citizen Petitions from industry that had requested an exclusion for allulose from the sugar declaration.
One petition came from Food Lawyers and requested that allulose counts for 0.4 calories per gram in the calorie declaration. The other petition was from Tate & Lyle and called for allulose to account for 0.2 calories per gram.
The two petitions provided evidence to support each request and FDA concluded that “the caloric contribution of allulose is very low (e.g., no more than 0.4 kcal/g) because the majority of allulose is excreted intact in the urine, and because allulose is poorly fermented in the gut.”
“We have limited evidence from human studies, using different methodologies, upon which to determine the caloric value of allulose,” the agency explained in the guidance. “Therefore, we intend to exercise enforcement discretion for the use of a caloric value of 0.4 kcal/g for allulose because, based on the range of data we have, such a caloric value would not underestimate the caloric contribution.”
Tate & Lyle welcomed the FDA decision on Wednesday and said it will clear the way for food and beverage manufacturers in the United States to “reap the full reward for products incorporating allulose.” That reward, the company said, is the ability of allulose to deliver both calorie and sugar reduction in products.
“It’s very rewarding to receive this decision and unlock the great potential that Allulose has to reduce calories in a significant way while delivering great taste and functionality,” said Abigail Storms, the company’s vice president of global strategic marketing.
Tate & Lyle was the first to commercialize allulose in 2015, but the labeling of the sweetener had been a “hurdle,” Storms said.
“I am excited at the impact we can now make together with our customers on the reduction in sugar consumption in brands across categories in the US,” she added. “This is a breakthrough in our ability to offer consumer and customer relevant solutions in the face of today’s obesity and diabetes health crises.”


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Volkswagen Group has urged its dealers to make up for falling revenue on sales and aftersales by selling insurance products.
Improved and more flexible asset protection is now available to VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat and commercial vehicle franchise holders.
David Maloney, business development director, said: “This is a wake-up call to dealers to mitigate some of the difficulties created by the decline in the economy.
“Some of our dealers are improving their income from GAP (guaranteed asset protection) products,” said Maloney.
“We used to have a ‘one size fits all’ product, but we now take account of changes, such as car buyers’ greater awareness of the scale of depreciation on vehicles.”Finance and Insurance products
Dealers in the group’s franchised networks can sell other F&I products, and Maloney said the changes were in part made because of competition.
Another is his expectation that the Financial Services Authority will soon take a closer look at GAP insurance following its enquiry into PPI (payment protection insurance).
Volkswagen estimates the UK retail value of GAP insurance is around £60 million. About 200,000 policies are sold annually.
On average, dealers sell the products for around £300 each.
Dealers can fix their own showroom price after buying the products from Volkswagen.
New product structure
Maloney said the new product structure was worked out in consultation with dealer councils.
The basic asset protection covers the difference – in the event of accidental damage, fire or theft – between the price paid for the vehicle and the amount owed on the finance agreement, up to £10,000.
A ‘plus’ product covers the gap between the purchase price and the insurance pay out. Volkswagen now allows claims of up to £25,000 for vehicles priced over £30,000 – an increase of £10,000.
Maloney said the group now enabled customers to buy the cover they needed. The claim limit has been halved to £7,500 for vehicles priced up to £10,000. It is now £10,000 for vehicles costing £10,000-£20,000.
Dealers can set up the scheme online at the time of the sale.
Volkswagen allows customers up to 90 days to buy a policy, giving dealers a reason to contact customers.


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This edition of our weekly newsletter as usual covers noteworthy and curious news from the international hospitality business, must-knows to speed up your business. Find out what we discovered about US teen's new favourite restaurant chain, latest prospects for the – technological – future of restaurants, and sneak with us into Noma's fermentation kitchen.
Your FoodService Bites team
Brands Chick-fil-A has dethroned Starbucks as the teens’ favourite restaurant
A new survey reveals the chicken-sandwich chain has become the number one fast-food destination for youths of both upper and average income groups for the first time ever. (Approx. reading time: 2 min.) restaurantbusinessonline.com
Subway: The future means 'more'
In an interview with QSRweb about new brand initiatives, Subway's Chief Advertising Officer Chris Carroll discussed some of the actions planned, as well as relaying a few details about franchisees relations. (Approx. reading time: 2 min.) qsrweb.com
'World's healthiest restaurant and bar' to launch Seven Dials flagship
Vegan, gluten-free and alcohol free restaurant and bar Redemption will launch its third site this winter, having successfully crowdfunded the money needed to finance it. (Approx. reading time: 1 min.) bighospitality.co.uk
Weekly Research Bite
16 billion visits take place during lunch in the European Big5 (Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain) – a huge potential for all restaurant operators in the market. Overall lunch represents 29% of all visits. Great Britain and France have an over average lunch share. Every 3rd visit in the Foodservice market in these countries is for lunch. On the other hand, Italians and particularly Spaniards focus their visits on other day parts.npdgroup.com
Digitalization Uber's online-only restaurants: the future, or the end of dining out?
There are now about 800 such virtual restaurants in the USA, often created when enough customers look through the Uber Eats app for a certain type of food in their area that they can't find. (Approx. reading time: 3 min.) npr.org
3 big changes looming for restaurants?
Third-party delivery and guest loyalty programs may be undergoing a major change, according to attendees of this week’s TechTable conference. (Approx. reading time: 2 min.)restaurantbusinessonline.com
Amazon Alexa Fund makes its first investment in restaurant tech with SevenRooms
The Amazon Alexa Fund is making a significant investment in hospitality management platform SevenRooms in order to bring in-service, voice-enabled tech to restaurants for the first time. (Approx. reading time: 1 min.) fortune.comBlockchain and the future of the food supply chain
Blockchain has been a huge buzzword in and out of the food industry in recent years. While it’s easy to simply equate the technology with Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, it actually holds huge promise for several other applications. In fact, grocers and restaurants alike are dipping their toes into blockchain technology to find ways to improve transparency, quality and food safety. (Approx. reading time: 3 min.) smartbrief.com
Consumer Trends The new QSR battleground: $5 meal deals
Among quick-service chains, $4 has been the go-to price point for individual value meals. But now chains are looking to wean off customers from margin-hurting $4 meals. Chains pushing $5 promotions this month include Taco Bell, Rubio’s, Carl’s Jr., Del Taco and Pizza Hut. (Approx. reading time: 4 min.) nrn.com
What's trending on the burger front?
Is burger boredom taking hold at your operation? While regulars might revolt if you ditched their favourite bacon cheeseburger, some customers may be ready for trendier choices on the menu. Technomic data provides insight into the cheeses, toppings, buns and condiments that are emerging. Here’s what’s happening in burgers. (Approx. reading time: 2 min.) foodservicedirector.com
By the way … Inside Noma's fermentation lab
The Michelin-starred restaurant in Copenhagen ferments a range of ingredients — sometimes for months. (4 min. video) restaurant-hospitality.com


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Monro walks away with £9.5m
FORMER Matalan chief executive Angus Monro bagged a £9.5m package to compensate him for being ousted from the top job. Monro, who spent five years at the helm until his departure in April 2001, was given £746,000 in cash and allowed to keep 2.12m share options.
He pocketed £3.4m from cashing in part of the options in May 2001 and made another £2.6m in February this year.
Monro, now boss at engineer Oystertec, still owns 750,000 Matalan options worth £2.7m. Many were granted before the discount clothing chain floated in 1998. The shares were worth less than 50p then, but a surge in sales sent them soaring to an 800p peak in 2000. They are now 357 3/4p.
Monro's replacement, Paul Mason, who joined in January, is not doing too badly either. The company's latest annual report shows he received a £450,000 'golden hello' to compensate for loss of bonus at former employer Asda. He also got £75,000 salary for his first two months' work.
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South West farmers finishing Beef Shorthorn-sired cattle will have the first-time opportunity from March 2021 to supply the Morrisons Shorthorn Beef Scheme and receive premiums of up to 30p/kg.
Due to the growing volumes of Shorthorn-sired cattle located in the Cornwall, Devon and Dorset area, a collection centre will be held once a month, to supply prime cattle into Woodheads Spalding abattoir. Transport will be arranged via Woodheads at a discounted fee.
Jessica Tomley, livestock buyer at Woodheads, Morrisons, said: "The Morrisons scheme currently sources cattle for kill on a weekly basis in central England and Scotland to supply the Shorthorn Beef brand throughout Morrisons stores across the UK.
"However, as the initiative is continuing to expand and build momentum, we are now actively looking for new farmers to join our producer group across the South West of England.
“The new initiative marks further development of the Morrisons Shorthorn Beef Scheme. The supermarket has worked with the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society for the last decade to help to grow the breed and generate a sustainable partnership. We look forward to developing further new relationships.”
Martin Reynolds, from the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society, commented: “We welcome this new opportunity for South West finishers to be part of the Morrisons and Woodheads supply chain, the sole UK supermarket to retail Shorthorn Beef. It’s a development that reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to the breed and an offer that features new logistical benefits throughout the supply chain.”
All steers and heifers sired by a registered Beef Shorthorn bull under 30 months of age will be eligible for premiums of up to 30p/kg; they must be farm assured, within the 270kg to 400kg deadweight range and O+ to -U, fat class 3 - 4L.
To find out more information or book in cattle, please contact Jessica Tomley on 07814075468 or send an email to email@example.com


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After years of speculation that cell phones may harm your brain, new research suggests they may actually fight Alzheimer’s disease.
Yes, you heard right.
Microwave radiation from cell phones may protect against and even reverse Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, according to a new study involving genetically tweaked mice.
The results were so surprising that study co-author Juan Sanchez-Ramos didn’t believe them at first.
“It’s such a dramatic and counterintuitive effect,” said Sanchez-Ramos, a University of South Florida neuroscientist.
“I joked that the animals must have been mislabeled or that the power wasn’t switched on.”
Cell Phones Provide Protective Radiation?
The primary culprits in Alzheimer’s disease—which is marked by dementia and cognitive decline—appear to be sticky brain deposits known as beta amyloid plaques, which can build up between nerve cells.
In the experiment, scientists examined the effects of cell phone radiation on 96 mice that were genetically engineered to develop beta amyloid plaques and thus Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. The mice normally developed the first signs of the disease around 6 months. By 8 months they were already experiencing cognitive declines.
Both the Alzheimer’s-prone mice and normal mice were then exposed to cell phone-level microwave radiation for two one-hour periods daily for seven to nine months.
The study found that if cell phone exposure began before the genetically engineered mice started showing signs of Alzheimer’s, they were less likely to develop symptoms later on in life.
These mice performed as well on memory and thinking-skills tests as normal mice without Alzheimer’s. For instance, the mice were given a cognitive interference task that tested their ability to remember something after an interruption. The team also put the mice through a three-armed Y maze, which measures basic memory function.
Protective radiation? Yeah, see, if we microwave your head long enough, the amount of time you spend worrying will be dramatically deceased! Ah, the science an industry with billions of dollars at stake can buy. The study that showed cell phones burn holes in the brains of rats was not “speculation”.
On the other hand, if there are billions at stake, and the danger was real, it seems some lawyer somewhere would have tried to cash in… Wait, doesn’t this sound like exactly what happened with the big tobacco?
… there’s this incredibly popular product that has widespread consumer use and a massive marketing presence. Nearly everyone uses it, and it has very high social acceptance, even though some people find it annoying when it’s used in public. It’s highly habit-forming; people who use the product on a regular basis find it almost impossible to live without.
Unfortunately, studies start to appear showing that the product might be harmful to its users–even cancer-causing. The product’s manufacturers deny the presence of any danger and even spend millions of dollars trying to discredit the research that points to problems. Then, an insider emerges, seemingly with proof that the product could be dangerous.
The industry agrees to publish warning data about the product, but continues to maintain that the product itself is safe for use. Lawsuits against the product’s manufacturers are filed, but all are dismissed. Industry analysts know that any case that does succeed could start a domino effect of future lawsuits, which keeps the industry determined to maintain that the product is harmless, despite increasing evidence to the contrary.


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VIDEO: How SoulCycle went from a business plan scrawled on a napkin to an IPO candidate
When asked about what the future holds for SoulCycle, cofounder Julie Rice told the audience at this week's PandoMonthly fireside chat in New York, "We think about different things every single day."
A cynic would say that only someone with something to hide would dare answer a question so vaguely. And they would be right, it seems: Sources revealed to Reuters today that the cult-like cycling chain, which began 9 years ago as a business plan written on a napkin, is considering going public.
As for what prospective investors might expect from a newly-public SoulCycle, the answer is simple: more cities -- like London and Chicago -- and more events -- like the upcoming SXSW SoulCycle takeover and a USO partnership to "bring SoulCycle to the troops," but the same relentless focus on people and experience.
But while growth is important to the pair -- and will be even more important if they go through with an IPO -- on a personal level, cofounder Elizabeth Cutler still thinks of SoulCycle as a passion project. She recalls her husband telling her that in 25 years as a banker he never received a "thank-you note." (And what should we thank the ex-Lehman Brothers banker for? Causing the recession? But I digress). Cutler, on the other hand, regularly hears words of thanks from riders like the women who found solace through SoulCycle while her sister battled cancer.
"That is, to me from a very personal perspective, so gratifying to have the privilege of putting that into the world," Cutler told Sarah Lacy.When SoulCycle journey began on that fateful Starbucks napkin, neither Cutler nor Rice expected to build a giant business.
"If we could have 75 people a day, we’d be able to pay part-time babysitters," Rice said of SoulCycle's genesis. Now the company's in a position to be bigger than either cofounder ever dreamed.
This isn't the first taste of liquidity for the founders, however. The pair sold a majority stake in the business to Equinox in 2011 for a sum reported to be approaching $25 million. Now, it appears, the founders wand to sell most or all of the remainder of their stakes. But, if their passion for SoulCycle runs as deep as they say, it seems they may stay involved and continue spreading the fitness religion.
Watch Cutler and Rice discuss the future of SoulCycle:


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Artemis received the best designed silver jewelry award in Vietnam for the first time due to their exquisite styles and designs which is considered masterpieces.
Artemis Silver has been awarded the best silver jewelry designer in Vietnam. Their unique designs capture the attention of potential customers which have led them to increases their sales significantly especially with their new arrivals. Find out more—
This is the first time the organization has received this prestigious award which this firm was trying for the last few years. They are excited to win this and to share their success with their customers have showcased new designs that are simply amazing.
Their line of products includes silver rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants, necklace, shaking legs, charms and accessories. These and more are available for people who are interested in investing in silver jewelry.
With the award, this organization believes that there will be more responsibility on them to offer unique and high-quality products to their entire clientele and they are looking forward to this challenge. Also, this award has helped them acquire more customers in recent times as people are now aware that this firm offers exquisite products.
According to this firm’s head designer, "When this organization was started, our primary objective was to ensure that each of our clients receives something unique when they shop from us. Thus, as a designer, I and my team was constantly coming up with creative designs for silver jewelry be it a ring, earrings, necklace, etc. So receiving this award after just a few years was the ultimate achievement for our company.”
This award has led to numerous other opportunities for this firm. One of which is extending their services by opting for an expansion of their business. After receiving this prestigious award, they came across several investors who are willing to invest in this company so that this organization can offer their pieces to everyone in Vietnam without any hassle.
Though this is quite an attractive offer, the company hasn’t decided whether they will be expanding their business right away. However, they have mentioned that expansion is in their mind but right now they will prefer to enjoy their recently acquired success and work hard to keep up their remarkable work.
The CEO of this organization remarked, “When we started our business it was our goal to win this award. However, we knew that like us there are other silver jewelry companies in this nation. To stand apart we started offering people unique designs that would instantly attract anyone who looks which led to our massive growth. We plan on keeping this work up and hopefully, are even larger than we are now.”
So, if anyone is looking to purchase silver jewelry which would offer one a unique look, this is the best place currently in Vietnam. For more details, one can simply visit their website: View Here.
About the company:
Artemis is a brand of VN Nam Dan Van An, based in HCMC since 2012. Swiss silver 925 material combined with Swarovski international standard master stone and Cubic Zirconia stone, with shiny and luxurious Rhodium (precious metal in the world), luxurious and rigorous testing process, Artemis expects to give customers the experience of beauty products jewelry
Release ID: 88920004


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A holiday that’s been around since ancient times, the Lunar New Year tradition of gifting red envelopes for prosperity and blessings, is now going digital.
New data from lifestyle payments app Beem It showed that out of the over 50,000 transactions processed leading up to Lunar New Year last year a large percentage were by users either gifting or celebrating Chinese New Year through the app, including sending digital versions of red envelopes and indulging in celebratory lunches.
Most common Lunar New Year transaction descriptions
- lunar new year
- chinese new year
- chinese new year lunch
Out of the transactions relating to Lunar New Year, over one in five (22 per cent) were made by users between the ages of 20 and 22 years old.
While the end of 2019 saw Beem It launch a gifting feature, this new data comes just in time for Beem It’s new Lunar New Year gifting animations which began rolling out from last week. The launch of this new feature means Aussies can now gift red envelopes to their loved ones digitally, perfect for relatives who aren’t home with their families.
CEO of Beem It, Angela Clark said they have created a new form of gifting ‘Ang Pow’ due to the success their Christmas gifting feature had over December.
“While Beem It already has several features that make payments efficient and easy, we’re constantly striving to find new ways to make transactions fun; whether that be paying friends and family back, splitting expenses or gifting for special holidays or birthdays,” said Clark.
“The gifting feature that we launched in December last year, just in time for Christmas, was so well-received that we thought it just made sense to elevate that with a Lunar New Year version.
“With twenty-two per cent of Lunar New Year-related transactions being conducted by young Aussies, it made sense for us to give them even more incentive to gift digitally,” she said.


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Huawei has unveiled the nova 5T, its latest budget flagship smartphone, taking aim at the millennial segment as it aims to grow its market share in the MENA region.
At an event in Dubai today, Huawei announced that the nova 5T will be able for pre-order in the UAE starting October 22, and for sale starting October 31 at a retail price of AED1,599.
The nova 5T will be available in 3 color variants— black, blue, and a flagship purple that comes with a new nova monogram pattern.
As with most Huawei phones, it is the camera setup that needs to be talked about first and most.
The Android-powered 5T comes with four rear cameras, including a 48MP HD lens, 16MP wide-angle lens, 2MP macro lens, and 2MP bokeh lens. This camera setup is complemented by features such as AI Image Stabilization, Super Night Mode, AI HDR+ backlit photo, Auto Exposure Lock and Auto Focus Lock.
On the video front, Huawei has added features such as AI Portrait Color, which adds a cinematic effect of a greyscale background with only the subject in full color, as well as Super Slow-Mo, which shoots at a 960 fps.
There is, of course, the fifth camera—a 32MP AI Selfie camera with 4-in-1 Pixel fusion and AI HDR+ features.
The nova 5T, which comes with a 6.26-inch HUAWEI Punch FullView Display, uses the EMUI 9.1 operating system, which is powered by the premium Kirin 980 AI processor and 8GB of RAM. This is supported by 128GB of storage for storing what predictably could be large amounts of photos and videos.
The nova 5T supports fast charging—its 22.5W SuperCharge technology can quickly charge the phone’s large 3750 mAh battery. The nova 5T also packs Histen 6.0, Huawei's third-generation headset 3D audio technology, which supports 9.1 channel for a 3D audio experience.
Watch this space for a full review soon.


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Dell Technologies is selling Boomi, a data integration company, for about $4 billion. The proceeds should help Dell reduce its debt, which has been a focus of the company lately.
Boomi is being purchased by the investment firm Francisco Partners along with the private equity firm TPG Capital. The sale is expected to close by the end of 2021.
More than 15,000 customers use Boomi’s cloud-native software to manage data. Boomi’s platform, AtomSphere, allows companies to share data between their various backend platforms where the data would otherwise be locked in separate silos.
"Boomi has flourished as part of Dell Technologies, growing exponentially since we acquired them in 2010,” said Jeff Clarke, chief operating officer of Dell Technologies, in a statement. “This proposed transaction positions Boomi for its next phase of growth and is the right move for both companies, our shared customers and partners.”
Clarke said Dell Technologies is focused on its primary businesses of core infrastructure, cloud and edge as well as its PC business. Dell is dealing with about $40 billion in debt. Last month it announced it was spinning off VMware, which will net it about $9.5 billion.
Dipanjan Deb, CEO of Francisco Partners and Brian Decker, a partner at Francisco Partners, issued a statement saying, “The ability to integrate and connect data and workflows across any combination of applications or domains is a critical business capability, and we strongly believe that Boomi is well positioned to help companies of all sizes turn data into their most valuable asset.”
Private equity firms such as Francisco Partners improve processes and functions at companies to reduce costs and improve margins, and then they usually sell them for a profit.


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Spot truckload freight volume had the strongest April on record despite slipping 6.8 percent lower than what was reported in March, which is a common seasonal trend. Compared to the same month in 2017, freight availability rose 32 percent, according to the DAT North American Freight Index. Flatbeds contributed disproportionately to the volume increase, with a 59 percent boost compared to a year ago.
The Freight Index, a monthly measure of demand for spot market freight, is published by DAT Solutions, which operates North America’s largest load board marketplace.
Flatbed freight rates set another record in April, at $2.65 per mile, including fuel, a 12-cent increase over the previous record in March. Flatbed rates were a full 58 cents higher in April than in the previous year.
Van rates rose to $2.16 per mile, a 2-cent increase compared to March. Rates for refrigerated (reefer) cargo were up 3 cents to $2.43 per mile month over month. Rates gained 49 cents per mile for both trailer types, compared to April 2017.
Rates continued to rise sharply through the first week in May, as weather improved in the Northeast and Midwest and produce harvests added to pressure on truck capacity in the Southern band of states, especially Georgia and Florida.
“May and June are typically peak season for agriculture and construction, and retail freight appears to be expanding, as well,” DAT industry analyst Mark Montague says. “Seasonal demand should keep rates high at least through the end of the second quarter.”


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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - One of the hottest stars from the Real Housewives of Atlanta made several stops in Memphis Saturday.
Model, actress and business owner Cynthia Bailey kicked off her empowerment tour in the Bluff City as brand ambassador for Seagrams.
Our cameras caught up with her at the Cash Saver in Midtown, as fans got a chance to chat with the Atlanta mom and buy the drink she created for the beverage brand.
Bailey will make another round of stops at various stores Sunday.
On Monday night at 7 p.m. she’ll host a female-first panel in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn - University of Memphis. Tickets cost $15.


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- Nintendo shares have plunged nearly 20% over the past month.
- But Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal, who is the biggest Nintendo bull on Wall Street, says they still have tremendous upside.
- He points to the widely successful Nintendo Switch, and says the company could improve its mobile business.
- Watch Nintendo trade in real time here
Wall Street’s biggest Nintendo bull isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Shares have cratered nearly 20% over the past month as a result of weak April sales growth and what seems like a lack of new developments.
But Nintendo still has tremendous upside, according to Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal, who has a $87.21 price target, more than double the current level.
"We believe that Nintendo is moving in the right direction - both with Switch and with its Mobile game platform," Goyal wrote in a note out to clients.
Its Switch business is perhaps the one Goyal hangs much of his call on, as he projects an explosive rate of new Switch installations in the near future. "Switch average installed base is positioned to grow by 160% in 2019 and 70% in 2020," he said, adding that it "has 3-5 years ahead to drive earnings growth."
But Goyal warned of Nintendo's relative weakness in mobile gaming. "While Switch has its own momentum, Nintendo still needs to learn a few tricks for its mobile-game business," he said.
And mobile gaming is becoming increasingly important in the gaming space, as gaming sales shift from hardware to digital. So Nintendo may need to pick up the speed on its mobile business.
Newzoo market-intelligence data shows that mobile gaming will lead the entire market in 2018 as its expected to bring in revenue of $70.3 billion and take a 51% share.
Still Goyal sees a downside risk of just 6% when considering Nintendo's weak mobile sales, compared to an upside of 90%. "Nintendo stock becomes too attractive to ignore," Goyal said.
"As fundamental analysts, we look at business, competition, supply-chain, earnings, cash-flows, dividends, valuations – which are getting stronger, and we'd say BUY," Goyal wrote earlier in June. "And we do reiterate BUY."


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- Posted by México
- On Tuesday September 17th, 2019
- 0 Comments
Differences between NAFTA and USMCAN, the new trade agreement between Mexico, USA and Canada.
25 years after the creation of NAFTA, Canada, USA and Mexico have reached a new free trade agreement. This new treaty started with the request of president Donald Trump, who considered the original treaty as “a mess” for his country. The negotiations for USMCA (or CUSMA in Canada and T-MEC in Mexico) lasted 13 months in which the representatives of the original members updated conditions for free trade among these countries, taking into consideration the global changes that have occurred in the last few decades.
The new agreement was signed by Trudeau, Trump and the former president of Mexico, Peña Nieto in October 2018. However, it wasn’t until July 2019 that the Mexican senate ratified the treaty, it must also be ratified by the USA and Canadian legislatures before it can come into effect, hopefully during 2020.
Both agreements are significantly similar, but there are differences between them. One of these differences is chapter 24, where environmental rules are the core. In this chapter there are some relevant ordinances about CO2 emissions, restrictions to trading products than can affect the integrity of the ozone layer, measures that must be taken to avoid flora and fauna trafficking, the legal framework enforcement for environmental matters, and the inclusion of regulation of the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation.
Chapter 27 contains a brand-new topic in the negotiation: the implementation of measures to fight corruption in member countries. The forecasts related to transparency in business information and investment are capital. There should be a commitment from all members to not overlook the enforcement of domestic laws to guarantee the fight against corruption.
Due to the technological changes occurred in the last 25 years, it was prevailing to include a chapter on electronic trade. Section 19 verses about the regulations for the transactions of digital products such as software, music and books that will be not taxed. On the other hand, the parts must be committed to protecting consumers from possible fraud through the creation of laws to regulate the digital commerce in every involved country and reinforce the state’s entities to create a cybersecurity environment.
The automotive industry will be affected too. The USMCA includes new requirements for the free trade of vehicles, which must be 75%-produced in one of the three nations (at this moment the regulation demands only 62.5%). The agreement includes a clause that determines workers paid at least US$16 per hour must be producing 40%-45% of the vehicles, this comes with the intention of avoiding relocation of factories in Mexico.
The new treaty includes a “sunset” clause, that is nothing more than an expiration date after 16 years. The deal is also subjected to be reviewed every six years and the three nations can decide if they extend the USMCA or not. This agreement represents an opportunity to consolidate North America as a competitive region with plenty of possibilities to export its products and empower its supply channels, in opposition to protectionist paradigms and new global challenges.


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With sales of 621,700 units in 2012 (up 8.8% y-o-y), the South African vehicle market has just put in its third best performance ever. The giddy heights of 2006 and 2007, when 714,000 and 676,000 vehicles were sold respectively, came on the back of real GDP growth in excess of 5% in both years. So why has 2012 been so strong against a backdrop of just 2.7% economic expansion? Our latest Automotive report explores a variety of societal and demographic factors which outweigh simple GDP when it comes to shaping demand.
The underlying truth is quite simply that most South Africans aspire to own a car, especially given the sheer size of the country and the inadequacy of public transport options in many areas. As walking to work or relying on public transport are simply not options for most commuters, (sub)urbanisation is having a positive impact on car sales. In terms of the magnitude of this phenomenon in South Africa, the rural population has actually been declining since 2006, whereas the urban population is expected to grow by 3 million between 2012 and 2020, to be double the size of the rural population.
So, with the size of the employed population increasing again in both 2011 and 2012, pent up demand is coming back. At 13.6 million people, it is back at a level that is second only to its peak of 13.7 million people in 2008. Furthermore, the unemployment rate has stabilised after climbing since 2008, albeit at a comparatively high 25%.
And now align that with a decreasing annual percentage rate (APR), due to a decline in the government-controlled prime rate (known as the repo rate in South Africa), which is helping consumers to clear old debts as well as to start spending again. Indeed, we expect that by 2014 the outstanding balance of auto lending will return to its peak level of 2007.
Euromonitor International income data also reveal that the number of households that could be in the market for a new vehicle already set a new record in 2010, and continues to rise. Apart from in the periods 1999-2003 and 2008-2011, new vehicle registrations have equated to at least 10% of the number of South African households with an annual disposable income (ADI) over US$10,000. Even taking the conservative view that new vehicle sales will only equate to 10% of the number of South African households with an annual disposable income over US$10,000, Euromonitor International’s current forecasts for households by income suggest that new vehicle demand will climb to 780,000 units in 2020.
Finally, the consistent growth of households headed by women and, more recently, the proliferation of single-person households has naturally had an effect on the birth rate, which reduced to 21 per 1,000 of the population in 2012. The upshot is that the number of households with more than two residents has been declining since 2005 and is projected to fall by a million between 2012 and 2020. In contrast, the number of households with only one or two residents is projected to climb by 3.5 million over the same time frame. This phenomenon naturally means that household budgets will stretch further for discretionary items such as cars, almost regardless of the magnitude of economic growth.


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Aethereus recognized in Salesforce Partner Innovation Awards
Dallas,TX, January 02, 2022 – Aethereus announced that it has helped Airblack transform its business by reimagining their client experience spanning client acquisition, onboarding and customer service to fuel Airblack’s vision of enabling micro-entrepreneurs in the beauty segment.
For this innovative work, Aethereus has been named a recipient of the Salesforce Partner Innovation Award in Sales Cloud.
Airblack, a learning platform backed by VCs, is helping people learn passion skills and become micro-entrepreneurs and creators. Airblack Beauty Club is now a leading makeup and beauty skills platform, offering learners Makeup Artist certification programs.
With expertise in helping hyperscale startups, Aethereus worked with the Airblack CXO team to create a scalable sales blueprint for their business model. This helped them digitize the student acquisition and onboarding process while creating a foundation for 10X growth in the next 2 years. Aethereus leveraged EduAssist Lightning Bolt solution to streamline client experience across multiple channels, while improving sales conversions and lifetime retention of existing members.
Comments on the News
- “We’re honored to receive a 2021 Partner Innovation A Aethereus holds a strong commitment to innovation and customer success. This award recognizes our expertise and commitment to helping brands transform their businesses with the Salesforce’s platform,” said Vijay Gupta, Co-Founder and Head-Technology and Alliances at Aethereus.
- “As we drive B2C sales, having a real-time feedback loop on sales and marketing is critical and Aethereus has helped us make a fully digital stack using Salesforce. This has allowed us to scale our sales functions while having a real-time view of our funnel. The platform has helped us digitize Airblack’s entire sales funnel and enabled 4X scaling of our sales team.” said Videt Jaiswal, Founder and CEO at Airblack.
- “Salesforce Partner Innovation Award winners such as Aethereus work relentlessly to enable customers,” said Tyler Prince, Executive Vice President, Alliances & Channels, Salesforce. “Salesforce partners are integral to enabling digital transformation and success for customers in our new work-from-anywhere world.”
Salesforce partners such as Aethereus are part of the growing Salesforce economy, which according to a new study by IDC*, is projected to produce more than 9 million new jobs and $1.6 trillion in new business revenue by 2026. The study finds that Salesforce is driving massive gains for its partner ecosystem, which will see $6.19 in gains for every $1 Salesforce makes by 2026.
**IDC White Paper, sponsored by Salesforce, “The Salesforce Economic Impact,” doc #US48214821, September 20, 2021
Salesforce, Sales Cloud and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.
Aethereus is a multi-award winning Salesforce Summit partner with offices in Texas, USA and Pune, India, serving clients across 20+ countries. Aethereus provides deep industry expertise and solid Salesforce platform knowledge, focusing on multi-cloud deployments, industry clouds, and rapid sprints resulting in faster concept-to-market. We harness the power of modern technology and Salesforce along with an innovative design-led approach to help firms craft signature experiences for their clients.
Founded in 2019, Airblack is a learning platform, helping people become microentrepreneurs and creators through DIT (do-it-together) courses from curated experts. Airblack Beauty Club, launched by Airblack in 2020, is currently India’s largest live learning platform for Makeup and Beauty enthusiasts. Over 25,000 learners have taken Airblack’s DIT Courses in 500+ cities in India and UAE, and 45,000 hours of live learning happens on the platform every month.


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Social media giant Facebook has removed more than 15 billion fake accounts in the last two years, five times more than its active user base, according to data presented by StockApps.com.
According to the research, scammers use fake Facebook accounts to connect with users, get their personal information and steal identities. Most of them will reach out to anyone who’s accepted their friend request to try and scam them out of money.
Many fake accounts are also driven by spammers who are constantly trying to invade Facebook’s systems. Although the social media giant invested in enhanced technology to detect automated and coordinated spam, the problem is still getting worse.
According to the company’s official data, in 2019 Facebook removed 6.5 billion fake accounts, the highest number to date.
Last year witnessed a slight decrease, with 5.8 billion accounts being removed from the platform. However, during the first half of 2021, Facebook removed another 3 billion fake accounts from its platform, showing the number of spammers was on the rise again. Moreover, that was almost 20 times more than the number of active users who joined Facebook’s social media space in this period.
Although the number of spammers who use Facebook accounts to reach others remains high, content containing spam has fallen significantly. Between January and June, the social network took action on about 1.7 billion pieces of spam content, down from 3.3 billion in the same period a year ago.
Although fake accounts remain a huge problem for the social media giant, it hasn’t affected the growth of its active user base.
In the first quarter of 2010, the popular social media platform had 431 million users, revealed the company data. In the next two years, the number of active Facebook users surpassed one billion, making it the first social network ever to do so.
Statistics show the number of users continued growing in the following years and hit more than 2.5 billion in 2019.
However, as millions of people started spending more time indoors and online amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook`s user base jumped by nearly 300 million YoY and hit 2.8 billion in 2020, the highest annual increase in years.
As of the second quarter of 2021, Facebook had close to 2.9 billion monthly active users, showing almost a 300 million increase in a year.


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Leading Thai cigarette importer Philip Morris Trading desires the model new government and policymakers to start talking with the tobacco business to find constructive options to lowering harm brought on by smoking.
The tobacco big is hoping the model new government will think about innovative “smoke-free products” (vaping) for people who smoke, who would otherwise continue smoking.
Cut to the chase – Philip Morris, under assault from bad PR and a long time of regulation fits, are now swinging their product traces around to e-cigarettes and vaping, as a substitute of flamable cigarettes
Thailand has banned the import, sale and servicing of e-cigarettes since 2014, with violators facing arrest and a jail sentence. Philip Morris need the law modified so they can swing cigarette smokers over to a vaping habit instead.
Gerald Margolis, managing director of Philip Morris Thailand, says the company wished to name on the federal government to make method for a dialogue that is backed by findings about the influence of smoking and encourage policymakers to evaluation scientific proof indicating that smoke-free products are a safer alternative to cigarettes and will considerably reduce risks as quickly as people who smoke change fully to e-cigarettes (which Phillip Morris additionally produce).
“With current developments in know-how and science, it’s a great opportunity that we could get away from some ideological dialogues that we have had up to now and have extra talks about reality and science instead to assist create a smoke-free future in Thailand.”
Philip Morris International, together with its sister organisation in Thailand, is working to create a smoke-free environment by planning to completely discontinue the manufacturing and distribution of combustible cigarettes and replace it with smoke-free merchandise as soon as attainable, based on Margolis.
Since Surge , Philip Morris has invested more than 1.8 trillion baht to develop smoke-free products or “heat-not-burn” cigarettes that remain well beneath the purpose of combustion when lit.
Scientific research has found that the first source of hurt from smoking comes from dangerous chemical compounds within the smoke from a burning cigarette, not the nicotine that’s consumed.
In the previous, the tobacco firm held common discussions with the Commerce Ministry and Excise Department to share its scientific outcomes and studies on different products, nevertheless it by no means held face-to-face meetings with public health companies.
Margolis mentioned moves to chop down on tobacco-related hurt and promote smoke-free products was mostly profitable in international locations the place scientific findings were shared with and embraced by public health businesses, and corporations like Philip Morris have been allowed to share related data with shoppers so they could be taught in regards to the merchandise and their advantages.
Gerald Margolis, managing director of Philip Morris Thailand


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10th Annual Cider Summit Portland Goes Virtual in 2020
Though this year’s Cider Summit Portland two-day festival had been put on hold, this setback has not stopped the festival’s organizers from celebrating its 10th anniversary. To honor a decade of Portland’s premiere cider festival, the Virtual Cider Summit Portland will bring together an in-home tasting kit of eight ciders, tasting glasses, swag, Meet the Cidermakers, discounts to the 2021 Cider Summit Portland and more!
“We didn’t want our 10-year milestone to pass by unnoticed,” said Alan Shapiro, Cider Summit founder and producer, in a press release. “Creating a tasting kit was a way to stay engaged with our attendees during the pandemic. The cideries we selected for this package are all long-term partners of the festival, with some dating back to year one.”
It’s unfortunate that due to the COVID-19 pandemic that all in person cider events are cancelled for the foreseeable future. But to assist cider drinkers in this time of uncertainty, Cider Summit Portland will bring together seven Oregon made ciders along with one special barrel-aged cider from Michigan to taste through from the comfort of your own home. Cider Summit Portland’s Cider Festival in a (Zoom) Box will take place on Saturday, June 20th from 6:00-7:30pm.
The lineup for the in-home Cider Summit Portland tasting kit will feature the following eight ciders.
- 2 Towns Ciderhouse Prickly Pearadise
- Alter Ego Guardian Angel
- Anthem Break Cider (Anthem Tea)
- Avid Black Apple
- Portland Cider Peach Berry
- Reverend Nat’s Tepache Cider-Radler
- Swift Oregon Marionberry
- Virtue Salut! Barrel Aged Dry Cider (Collaboration with Cider Summit)
Orders must be placed by 2pm on Tuesday, June 16. Pre-purchased kits will be available for pickup up at a pop-up contactless drive-through on Saturday, June 20, from 12pm to 5pm at the Memorial Coliseum Benton Lot at the corner of North Broadway and North Benton. Bicycles and walk-ups will also be accommodated with appropriate social distancing measures. Home delivery to select zip codes is available for an additional $8; packages will be delivered on Thursday, June 18 or Friday, June 19, and an adult must be available to receive the package.
Additional add-ons are available for purchase, including a ticket to the Northwest Cider Association’s “Cider Festival in a (Zoom) Box” virtual party on Saturday, June 20 from 6pm to 7:30pm. The virtual event, held in honor of the ninth annual Oregon Cider Week, will offer 90 minutes of entertainment by several of the 2020 Cider Summit Portland makers who will go beyond the tasting notes to deliver their best jokes, juggling and songs in an effort to make people smile. The event will include a pop-up concert by Cider Summit favorite and local blues legend Norman “Boogie Cat” Sylvester. Tickets to the Cider Festival in a (Zoom) Box costs $8, with the fee allowing the Northwest Cider Association to assist cideries around the region that have been hard hit during the pandemic.
To learn more about ordering the Tasting Kit, Home Delivery, Cider Festival in a (Zoom) Box and more from visiting the website: https://www.cidersummitnw.com/tickets.
Cider Summit Portland’s Festival To-Go Tasting Kit is sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union, a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union that is excited to come together with partner organizations to toast the Pacific Northwest community. Tasting kits benefit the Cascade Blues Association and the Northwest Cider Association. Purchase packages and learn more at CiderSummit.com and engage with @CiderSummit on social media, using hashtags #CiderSummitPDX and #CiderSummitToGo.
So you have limited delivery? I live in La Grande we can’t get a kit delivered?


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|Việt Nam exports tuna to 97 countries and territories around the world. — Photo tuoitre.vn|Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s tuna export turnover has risen 21 per cent year-on-year to hit US$271 million in the first half of 2017.
Sharing export details, the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that tuna fillet brought in the most revenue, accounting for around 48 per cent of total tuna exports, followed by canned tuna (30 per cent) and other processed tuna (15 per cent).
The country exports tuna to 97 countries and territories, with the United States, the European Union (EU), Israel, Japan, Canada, China, Mexico and the ASEAN being its key markets. Collectively, these countries accounted for 88 per cent of Việt Nam’s total tuna export value in the first six months of this year.
Notably, tuna shipments to Mexico rose 125 per cent, with the country overtaking Canada and China to become Việt Nam’s sixth largest tuna importer.
However, despite this impressive growth, tuna exports are encountering difficulties related to raw materials and import duties in some of the key markets.
The VASEP has proposed to the Directorate of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to promote and develop purse seine fishing.
The association has also suggested that the ministry and the directorate work together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to finalise an agreement with the EU on a quota for tuna exports to the market.
The VASEP has requested the MoIT to consider eliminating tariff on tuna exports to Japan as Thailand and the Philippines have done, to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese products. — VNS