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Apple CEO Tim Cook seems to be taking some heat from his employees following his attendance at a meeting Dec. 14 between President-elect Donald Trump and a number of leaders in the technology sector. An unidentified employee posted a question to Cook on the company’s internal message board addressing the meeting directly, according to a report.
"Last week you joined other tech leaders to meet President-elect Donald Trump. How important is it for Apple to engage with governments?" the employee asked, according to sources at the TechCrunch news site, which reportedly had access to the Q&A discussion.
Indeed, Trump has been unpopular with many in Silicon Valley, both for the criticism he leveled at the industry during the campaign and for certain policies he has championed. Controversy, for example, surrounds his suggestion to create a government registry to help track radical Islamic terrorists, and another potential plan to deport millions of illegal immigrants. Some view these plans as offensive, and potentially detrimental to the tech industry.
Desktops Are 'Strategic' for Apple
Cook (pictured above) also responded, according to TechCrunch, to an employee's question about whether Mac desktops are currently being considered as strategic for Apple.
"The desktop is very strategic for us," Cook said. "It’s unique compared to the notebook because you can pack a lot more performance in a desktop -- the largest screens, the most memory and storage, a greater variety of I/O, and fastest performance."
The current generation iMac is the "best desktop" the company has ever made, he said, adding that its Retina 5K display is the "best desktop display in the world."
"Some folks in the media have raised the question about whether we’re committed to desktops. If there’s any doubt about that with our teams, let me be very clear: we have great desktops in our roadmap," Cook said. Although he didn't get into specifics, Cook advised, "Nobody should worry about that."
Governments Affect Our Business
The Apple CEO defended his decision to attend the tech summit organized by the president-elect based on the fact that Trump, as President, will influence a number of issues such as immigration, government surveillance, and censorship laws that are crucial to the tech sector.
"Governments can affect our ability to do what we do. They can affect it in positive ways and they can affect in not so positive ways,” Cook wrote in response.
Trump has been known to chastise some companies publicly and that could be cause for concern. For example, he recently attacked Boeing and Lockheed Martin on Twitter, which drove the stock prices of both businesses down. Lockheed may have lost as much as $4 billion in stock value following the president-elect’s attack.
During the presidential campaign, Trump also threatened to take unspecified action against Amazon, saying that the company "is going to have such problems" once he is in office. Trump has been critical of Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post newspaper. Some feel Trump's criticism of Bezos stems from the Post’s politically skewed coverage of him on a number of issues.
But despite the threats, Bezos was one of the tech leaders in attendance at the meeting, along with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Facebook COO Sharon Sandberg, and Alphabet (Google's parent company) CEO Larry Page and Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt. The meeting included Trump and three of his adult children.
Not Much Choice?
Although Cook himself has been clear about his concerns regarding a Trump presidency, he may have felt he had little choice in attending.
Apple recently experienced a 17 percent decline in year-on-year revenues, driven party by weakness in its once-core desktop business. The latest update of the MacBook Pro was met with disappointment from consumers who were hoping to see more significant upgrades and even some new desktop models.
Apple has also been experiencing increased competition in the market for creative professionals -- a market it dominated for many years. Microsoft has made major headway in developing tools for artists and other professionals, causing some core Mac users to switch systems. Others have complained that traditional desktop and laptop products are being deprioritized by Apple in favor of devices like the iPhone and iPad.
Cook has promised to wow the public with major new product launches in 2017, but the company is nevertheless facing increased scrutiny. On the positive side, the president-elect made it clear to Cook and other executives at the summit that he wants their companies to succeed, and help spur U.S. economic growth.


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SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Adobe Systems Inc. said 2.9 million customers had their IDs, passwords and credit-card data stolen by hackers who breached the U.S. software company's security.
"We deeply regret that this incident occurred," Chief Security Officer Brad Arkin said in a blog post. "We're working diligently internally, as well as with external partners and law enforcement, to address the incident."
The software company, known for its Photoshop graphics editing program, Acrobat PDF document readers and other programs, also said source code for numerous Adobe products was stolen in a separate but related intrusion.
Products whose source code was stolen include the Acrobat family of products, the ColdFusion Web application platform, ColdFusion Builder and unspecified other Adobe products, the San Jose, Calif., company said.
"Based on our findings to date, we are not aware of any specific increased risk to customers as a result of this incident," Adobe said.
But Alex Holden, chief security officer of Hold Security LLC, said the source-code theft could give hackers access to individual and corporate systems that use Adobe software, raising the specter of new attacks.
"Effectively, this breach may have opened a gateway for a new generation of viruses, malware and exploits," he wrote in a blog post.
Holden and Brian Krebs of the Krebs on Security blog were the first to identify and report the source-code thefts. Adobe said it thanked them for their help.
Adobe -- which said the "sophisticated attacks" were carried out "very recently" -- said the 2.9 million customers' stolen information included their names, encrypted information about their credit or debit cards, the cards' expiration dates and "other information about customer orders."
The company said it reset affected customers' passwords and contacted them by email with instructions about changing the passwords again.
Adobe also recommended those users change their passwords for other websites since the passwords, which they might use elsewhere, were now known to the hackers.
Adobe added it would send information showing customers how to guard against credit-card fraud.
The company offered those customers a complimentary one-year credit-monitoring membership.
In addition, Adobe said it notified banks about the attacks so they can help protect customer accounts.

domain: news


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Government intervention in a market that affects the production of a good.
Changes in consumer demand are important for lack of regulation. With every economic problem, there seems to be a big push for more regulation.
Raw Milk License
Federal agents recently raided an Amish farm because they were selling "unauthorized" raw milk.
Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Vendor License
In Lake Elmo, Minnesota farmers can be fined $1,000 and put in jail for 90 days for selling pumpkins or Christmas trees that are grown outside city limits.


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Jelly wrapper will be industry benchmark, says developer
Theegarten-Pactec, which unveiled developments for the packaging of small confectionery pieces at the German trade event, noted a good sales performance at the show and cited interest from confectioners based in Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, India and China.
The supplier reports that a new wrapping function for its CWM packaging machine - the diagonal envelope folding station - means the equipment is now capable of processing small chocolate products with six different folding variations. It added that it has a capacity range of up to 500 cycles per minute.
The German supplier said that the machine can be modified to various wrapping styles with the simple replacement of modules. It currently offers five wrapping styles: double-twist wrapping, top twist, side twist, top clip and bunch.
Theegarten-Pactec also flagged up the speed capability of its new jelly wrapper, the MCH, which it claims is set to become the new benchmark for the packaging of sensitive jelly products in double-twist wrapping as it can package up to 1,000 pieces per minute:
"This is more than 60 per cent above the average that other machines of this type on the market can reach."
The supplier said that the machines's three-part, rotating lower punch at the transfer point in the packing head enables the processing of larger product tolerances.
It added that the MCH can also be used for for hard candies and chocolate coated articles, and that it has protected twist, side twist and foil wrap capability in addition to the double-twist wrap function.
"The machine allows an uncomplicated change of product sizes and wrapping styles without excessive down-times," explained the supplier.
The company also noted growing industry interest in retrofitting of packaging machines at Interpack.
It said that it upgraded its older EK1 packaging machine - developed over 30 years ago - so that it can now wrap hard boiled candies in double twist and cites this "as an example of what can be achieved by way of a general overhaul."


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As B2B payments and commercial finance innovate, many products are beginning to blur the lines between the two financial tools.
Take the rise of commercial credit cards, for example. Used as both a way to access credit, then use that credit to make a payment, the card can be a versatile product that supports the cash flow needs of both sides of a B2B transaction — if a supplier is willing to absorb the interchange fee.
According to Jo-ann Chung, chief product officer at Australia-based WLTH, corporate cards are evolving within the ecosystem of corporate payments and finance disruption in ways that can reduce the burden on suppliers looking to get paid more quickly. She told PYMNTS about WLTH’s strategy to incorporate cards in the broader effort to optimize corporate cash management through payments and lending technology.
Tackling Business Pain Points
WLTH, which recently announced a seed funding round, offers both B2B and consumer-focused finance and payments solutions. As the firm introduces new products, B2B payments and finance remain in its focus: the company is developing a batch payments service, WLTH Pay for Business, to facilitate B2B supplier payments, for example.
“Business owners are time-poor,” Chung said, pointing to some of the biggest friction points that businesses face today.
Organizations need technology that not only facilitates an action, like making a payment or obtaining financing, but can actually help them streamline how those transactions are made. Services should promote cash flow management, she said, and provide actionable insights that allow a company to understand revenue and expenses in meaningful ways.
In other words, time- and resource-strapped companies need access to financial products that can generate value out of non-value-adding workflows.
“Paying bills is not a value-adding task for business owners, but it is a necessary part of running any business,” noted Chung. “Today, the process can be time-consuming and disjointed, involving multiple systems and processes, and often doesn’t give you the visibility you need to see where things are at.”
Adding Cards To The Mix
In addition to its batch payments and financing offerings, WLTH is investing in corporate card technology. Key to the proposition is having infrastructure that allows a business to access credit to make card-based payments, without forcing the supplier to accept that card.
Today, Chung said, businesses are forced to stitch together multiple services and products in order to benefit from the breadth of payments and financing options. This can be a costly strategy and hold a firm back from having access to value-added features.
“A lack of options in the market to help customers manage the end-to-end process [of managing finance] make it costly for customers [who] need to sign up for multiple solutions in order to get things done,” she said.
The lack of options, the lack of time to research the right solutions and the lack of access to data that can deliver richer insights about their businesses can continue to hold firms back from modernizing B2B payments, corporate finance and cash management strategies.
When connected with the right solutions, firms can gain the power to identify growth opportunities and operate with greater agility in the market. It’s what Chung said defines a firm’s ability to not just automate workflows like loan applications or payment reconciliation but actually optimize financial strategy.
“I believe that it means allowing a business to use technology to be able to easily manage their income, expenses, assets and liabilities with the objective of driving growth, maximizing profits and ensuring sustainability,” she noted.


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Google Assistant “Ambient” mode coming to phones, tablets
Even though the Google Home and Nest Hub provide smart features to tables and kitchens, you might soon be able to get similar features on a spare phone or…
Sep 08, 2019 11:02 UTC Read More
Google Assistant Ambient Mode Offers Hands-Free Whatsapp Audio and Video Calls
Google has announced a new feature for the Assistant at IFA 2019. The Ambient Mode, which will make its debut on select Android devices, will allow users to…
Sep 06, 2019 12:49 UTC Read More
Google Assistant’s Ambient Mode Will Turn Your Android Devices Into A Smart Display
What started out as smart speakers quickly evolved into what we know as smart displays. These are essentially smart speakers that come with a...
Sep 06, 2019 11:30 UTC Read More
Google’s new Ambient Mode turns your screen into smart displays
Internet search engine giant Google has officially introduced the new Assistant Ambient Mode for Android phones and tablets at IFA 2019 Berlin.
Sep 06, 2019 10:33 UTC Read More
New Google Assistant Ambient Mode revealed, coming to certain devices soon C. Scott Brown 20 hours
A new Google Assistant feature called Ambient Mode will give you quick access to information while your device is idle. Coming to certain devices soon.
Sep 05, 2019 20:59 UTC Read More
Google app 10.41 preps device notifications in Ambient Mode, Alarms in At A Glance [APK Insight]
Despite the last beta coming on Monday evening, a new version of the Google app is ready for testing. Google app 10.41 continues work on Ambient Mode...
Aug 09, 2019 06:59 UTC Read More
Google Assistant Ambient Mode shows hidden Android Q clock face
The new Google Assistant Ambient Mode can be launched in Google App 10.24. Enabling it shows Android Q's hidden stretch clock and a pop-up for Driving…
Jul 18, 2019 06:59 UTC Read More
Chrome OS ‘Ambient Mode’ could bring Chromecast screensavers to your Chromebook
According to some new commits, it appears that Google is working to add an 'Ambient Mode' to Chrome OS which would support screensavers on…
Jul 15, 2019 07:00 UTC Read More
Here’s an early look at Google Assistant ‘Ambient Mode’ [Gallery]
Over the past several Google apps, we've been tracking a Google Assistant Ambient Mode. With the latest beta on Friday, we now have our first early look...
Jul 15, 2019 06:59 UTC Read More
Latest Google app teardown hints at Assistant “Ambient mode” and “Shortcuts” news
The feature allows Google Assistant to show relevant information using the Pixel's built-in Ambient Display feature.
Jul 05, 2019 06:59 UTC Read More
Samsung Brings QLED Technology and Ambient Mode to The Serif in 2019
Samsung Electronics America Inc. announced the evolution of its award-winning lifestyle TV, The Serif. Now featuring QLED picture quality and Ambient Mode,
Jun 24, 2019 06:59 UTC Read More
Enable Ambient Sound Mode on the Samsung Galaxy Buds
In this guide, we will look at how to enable ambient sound mode on Samsung Galaxy Buds to hear ambient sounds while listening to music.
Jun 01, 2019 05:51 UTC Read More
How to change Ambient mode on Google Nest Hub
We explain how to switch Google Nest Hub's ambient mode without having to factory reset the whole thing. Here's how to switch from the clock face to Google…
May 08, 2019 06:59 UTC Read More
Samsung introduces new 2019 lineup of QLED TVs with Ambient Mode
Samsung is known for innovation in the TV space, and this year's QLED TV range is no different. With 2019 QLED TVs, Samsung is introducing Ambient Mode,…
Mar 21, 2019 07:00 UTC Read More
Google Chromecast ambient mode update adds Google Sans font
A tiny update to Google's Chromecast streaming device adds Google Sans and a few other visual tweaks to its ambient mode.
Jan 24, 2019 08:00 UTC Read More
This is how Samsung's Ambient Mode matches your environment
This past summer, Samsung thought it would be a good idea to break folks' TVs in the United Kingdom. It wasn't real, of course – it was an attempt to show off a…
Nov 21, 2018 07:59 UTC Read More
Competition-winning design for Samsung's Ambient Mode transforms TV into "lifestyle object"
In this movie, jury members for the Dezeen x Samsung Ambient Mode design competition explain why they awarded top prize to a responsive fish mobile.
Sep 10, 2018 07:00 UTC Read More
Samsung Shows Off Ambient Mode TV Designs –
Samsung has shown off some new trendy designs for its QLED TVs that could make an appearance in Australian homes. Samsung Electronics teamed up with…
Sep 04, 2018 07:00 UTC Read More
Last chance to enter and Samsung's €29,500 TV Ambient Mode competition
There are just two weeks left to enter Dezeen and Samsung's competition to create Ambient Mode graphics for the brand's QLED TVs.
Jul 20, 2018 06:59 UTC Read More
Google Home v1.30 rebrands Backdrops to Ambient Mode, continues work on Google Assistant for Households, and more [APK Teardown]
Google Home v1.30 is rolling out today with a minor feature rebranding and some internal changes that show continued development on Google for Households…
Jul 11, 2018 07:00 UTC Read More
Samsung and Dezeen Hold a Global Design Competition for Ambient Mode
Competition to reward €29500 (R468,969) prize money in total, with grand prize winner receiving *€8000 (R127,178)
Jul 02, 2018 06:59 UTC Read More
Samsung launches design competition for Ambient Mode TV animations
Samsung's 2018 line of QLED TVs launched with a clever feature for stylish smart homes. Ambient Mode means that when you're not actually watching your TV…
Jun 26, 2018 07:00 UTC Read More
Firefly wireless earbuds: ultra-fast charging, ambient mode, and more
AirPods were arguably the flashpoint for the truly-wireless earbuds industry. The market has seen models launched by big and no-name companies alike, some…
Jun 14, 2018 07:00 UTC Read More
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Kentucky: Take free, anonymous internet speed test to help state determine need to expand home internet access
Published 6:44 am Friday, January 22, 2021
Kentucky has launched a broadband speed test project to gather information needed to expand home internet access.
The test is free and anonymous and can be taken at http://ewdc.ky.gov/Initiatives/Pages/KBI.aspx through Feb. 18.
The information is needed to expand access for distance learning, telework and telehealth, the state said in a news release. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced the program Thursday.
Anyone who doesn’t have Wi-Fi can submit the address of a home without service by using access at the local library or locations such as stores or restaurants that offer free access.
“We need as many Kentuckians as possible to take this internet speed test, to get an accurate picture of who has adequate internet access across the state,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “The more speed tests taken, the better understanding we will have of our state’s internet capabilities, and the better prepared we will be to repair and expand it.”


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Verizon is apparently preparing to add another Kyocera phone to its portfolio - Kyocera Brigadier.
Sadly, we are not sure what the upcoming device will be all about. Chances are it will be a rugged device that will keep working even under the harshest of conditions. However, it’s not clear whether it will be smartphone or a plain feature phone that could end-up in Verizon’s prepaid line-up.
But even if it’s a smartphone, it will likely be a mid-range one. For some reason, makers of rugged devices think their customers don’t need the latest bells and whistles.


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Today I was planning on posting some of the latest developments in the “Battle of the Bulge” as people like to call our war against obesity (For so many years, it was drugs…now it’s pounds we’re fighting against!)
I was all set to write the post (which will now come later in the week) but then I came across this horror in the Daily News today.
The “Craz-E-Burger”: a 1500 calorie arterie-clogger. One beef patty. Loaded with cheese. Topped with bacon. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s sandwiched in between 2!!! Krispy Creme donuts. I seriously just vomited in my mouth.
First, it sounds just nasty. I thought the McGriddle was gross (a sandwich in between french toast), but this has trumped that. According to the article, this bad boy is the “hot” thing at fairs popping up across the country. And people aren’t only eating it, they’re eating A LOT of it. And loving it.
Experts, food companies, and politicians are racking their brains trying to find ways to get America slimmer. What’s the point, I ask, of labeling the calories im a bottle of Coke when people are eating “food” like this? There’s something MUCH deeper going on here, and it’s really scary. This makes deep-fried twinkies look as healthy as brocolli.
What we need is EDUCATION on proper nutrition. Stat! Before we have even more “Craz-E-Burger” induced heart attacks!


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Square Enix will continue to squeeze every possible dollar out of the “Kingdom Hearts” franchise. Every new game comes an additional opportunity to sell, sell sell! That being said, Kingdom Hearts: All-In-One Package really is the full package, minus the latest Kingdom Hearts III DLC: Re:MIND. The latter is sold separately on the Playstation Store for $29.99.
Square Enix released a trailer to celebrate the official launch of “Mobius Final Fantasy.” The latest smartphone game in the Final Fantasy lineup. Mobius is billed as a “console-quality” game packed into an app. Continue reading


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These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at Burnin’ Daylight Brewing Company, a brewpub that is the first for the City of Lomita, where they celebrated their long-awaited grand opening. The event featured a ribbon cutting (that I missed) and a beer garden featuring live music, a DJ, a silk screener, food from the Burnin’ Daylight kitchen, and unlimited pours of dozens of beers.
The grand opening was a ticketed event for those attendees that wanted to go out back to the parking lot that was set up as the beer garden. For the price of admission, attendees received a commemorative tasting glass and unlimited pours of Burnin’ Daylight’s brews, as well as the collaboration brews they had done with El Segundo Brewing. Since Burnin’ Daylight is a brewpub, they are able to have guest taps; they took advantage of this by including brews from El Segundo Brewing, Riip Beer, Smog City, Three Weavers, Beachwood, Stone, Tortugo, and HopSaint. If you did not want to go to the beer garden, you were able to buy full pours in the brewpub. Continue reading
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon, when I made my first visit to Inglewood’s second craft brewery, Tortugo Brewing Company.
If you happened to read my review of 2018, you might recall my saying that I kind of feel like a slacker due to my inability to keep up with the local craft beer growth stating that there were at least two breweries in the South Bay that I had yet to visit; Tortugo Brewing was one of those two.
Tortugo opened at the end of June and definitely stands out as you drive down the street towards it. It is a 6,600 square foot building that appears even larger with its bright orange and blue highlights paint job. As founder Joe Kovach put it, there has been nothing new on the street in a couple decades; the color makes it pretty tough to not notice something new on the street. The color scheme is meant to represent a bright sunset (the orange) over the ocean (the blue). Continue reading
These photos were taken Saturday evening at Lomita Alehouse, where they celebrated their second anniversary by holding Lomita’s first ever craft beer festival. The event featured beer and cider from about a dozen craft breweries and one cidery. Oaxaca on Wheels made food available, and live music was provided by Prime Livity. A portion of the proceeds from the event went to the Keep a Breast Foundation.
Participating breweries included long time local favorites like El Segundo Brewing, Smog City, King Harbor Brewing, Three Weavers, and The Dudes’, as well as the new guys on the block like Zymurgy, Yorkshire Square, and Ximix Craft Exploration. They even had a tap from Inglewood’s newest craft brewery, Tortugo Brewing Company. 101 Cider House, Hangar 24, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, and Karl Strauss were also in attendance. Continue reading


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It’s safe to say that the world of online retail is in a state of transformation. Evolutions in purchasing behavior and new developments in technology have prompted a significant shift in the way that people approach e-Commerce strategies. e-Commerce is booming overall, and according to the latest article published by ecomsuccessacademy.net, retail sales online are expected to reach a value of about $4.5 trillion by the end of 2021. That’s a massive uptick compared to 2014.
There are plenty of technologies out there that can be connected to the boom in changing eCommerce over recent years, from the growth of PPC advertising to the increasing popularity of email newsletters. Even content marketing, SEO, and social media have all played their part. There are several training courses on the market which help newcomers to eCommerce to learn about new approaches and methods used in online business. GFKamerica has just published a review of the best selling course by Adrian Morrison called 7 Figure Cycle here: http://www.gfkamerica.com/ecom-success-academy-review
While these technologies will continue to be important in the years ahead, we feel that the following solutions will also help to take eCommerce into a new era for 2018.
1. Discovery Shopping
For several years now, modern businesses have been focused on pushing their customers towards their product by any means necessary. However, the rise of a new trend means that traditional search-based platforms for shopping like Amazon will soon be completely different.
Rather than connecting customers with the specific products they’re searching for, discovery shopping is about attracting customers who aren’t specifically looking to fill a need. These solutions are designed to deliver fun and interesting experiences by displaying discounted items that customers can bid for. Essentially, it’s about having fun while you shop in a rapid-fire auction format.
In an era where most companies would struggle to fight back against marketplaces like Amazon, rapid-fire solutions like Tophatter are getting some serious growth.
2. Crowdsourced Shipping
Designed as a method of working around high-costs for shipping, while offsetting the expenses of travel, sites that deliver crowdsourced shipping have emerged as more popular over the years, using existing infrastructure instead of allowing it to sit idly. By combining businesses with a huge pool of potential shippers, crowd shipping means that businesses can deliver anything from fresh foods to documents.
You can even integrate options for crowd shipping onto pre-existing e-commerce websites, and, businesses can decide whether they’d prefer to use professional couriers for their service, or hire freelancers who want to make additional money.
So far, we’ve seen the crowdsourcing trend work for everything from transportation to hospitality and fundraising. Now, it’s giving us a new delivery solution too, without the huge costs.
3. Email Commerce
If you’ve ever spoken to a marketer, then you’ll probably know all about the potential benefits of a good email campaign. The truth is that emails still have a great return on investment, and many studies find that email continues to be more effective than any other channel for long-term success.
However, there are still ways that companies could be getting more out of their average customer’s inbox. Many email campaigns are focused on driving additional traffic to a website, while companies like Rebel allow customers to buy items recommended to them without leaving their mail application at all. With an interactive email, you can even encourage your customers to take surveys or write testimonials for your brand.
4. Omni-Platform Commerce
Finally, according to Google, about 85% of people on average begin shopping online with one device, them move onto another before they complete their purchase. Although a lot of retailers today are building their presence on multiple devices and channels, a growing trend for this year is sure to be the development of new integrated experiences for the average consumer.
True integration will involve providing a constant experience for anyone who visits your brand across any channel, through visual design and branding, along with messaging, payment processing, and sales solutions too.


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Информация об ОАО “Гарантийный фонд” на сайте Представительства Германской экономики в Центральной Азии
- Posted by: Admin
- Category: Digest
26.02.17 Agriculture, Food Industry, Transportation & Traffic, Kyrgyzstan, Banking & Finance.
(24.kg) – In four months Guarantee Fund issued 16 guarantees in the amount of KGS 11 million or about €150,000. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Daniyar Imanaliev reported at a press conference at the end of February.
According to Imanaliev, today one of the most challenging and outstanding issues is insufficient collateral for loans. About 40-50% of loan applications are rejected by commercial banks due to insufficient collateral. The most difficult situation is in regions.
Collateral is fully covered only in cities such as Bishkek and Osh. In regions collateral value is low and it is insufficient for loan.
“Within anticrisis measures in 2016 the Government created Guarantee Fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises,” – said Daniyar Imanaliev.
Capital of GF constitutes KGS 282 million or €385,000. KGS 1 million was allocated from the budget and KGS 210 million is a grant of Asian Development Bank. The Fund issues guarantees at 1,5% of the loan amount, and since March 1, 2017 – at 2,5%
The priority sectors for support are production and agro-processing, clothing and textile industry, construction materials production, tourism development, medical services industry, transportation and logistics services.
In addition, it is planned to use possibilities of Guarantee Fund while implementing the Cabinet of Ministers export-oriented and import-substituting productions support program.


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A pretty high number of Samsung devices have recently been getting the Android Jelly Bean treatment as we recently reported the Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy Tab 7.0 and Galaxy Ace 2 have all received their respective updates. It looks like we can add another Samsung device to the list as Sprint is announcing the Galaxy Victory 4G LTE will be receiving Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
The Galaxy Victory 4G LTE’s Jelly Bean update has started to roll out to devices earlier this morning, so if you’re a Sprint subscriber who has the device sitting on your desk, then you can expect the update to hit your device soon. The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update will add a number of new capabilities such as the inclusion of Swype, new notifications for incoming SMS and MMS messages and the grouping of notifications coming from the same application. Victory users will also be able to voice type without the need of an Internet connection, the creation and management of Google+ events and even indoor walking directions within Google Maps.RELATED
- Google News For Android And iOS Gets A Makeover
- Huawei Ascend Mate 2 Gets Certified To Go On Sale In China
- Samsung Argues That Without High Subsidies, Their Global Business Would Suffer
- Low-end Nokia Lumia Device With 4.5-inch Display Sighted
- Sony Xperia ZL Android 4.3 Update Screenshots Leaked
- Follow: Android, Jelly Bean (Android), Samsung, Sprint,


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Generation of child web addicts: Youngsters are becoming so obsessed with the internet they spend more time on YouTube than with friends as parents struggle to keep control of their online usage
・Shocking scale of children’s internet obsession revealed by new Ofcom study
・Seven out of ten take their phone to bed and even under-5s spend hours online
・A fifth of children 8-12 are on social media – despite supposed ban on under-13s
a fifth of で、５人のうち一人がです。
・A growing number of parents admit to having ‘lost control’ of children’s habits
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” the process of using something “という風に記載されていますね。
We charge a monthly usage fee of £6
The study tracks credit card usage over the last ten years.
Cambridge dictionaryによると ” one of five equal parts of something: “ という風に記載されていますね。
One fifth is the same as 20 percent.
Children have become such screen addicts they are abandoning their friends and hobbies, a major report warns today.
Researchers found under-fives spend an hour and 16 minutes a day online. Their screen time rises to four hours and 16 minutes when gaming and television are included.
Youngsters aged 12 to 15 average nearly three hours a day on the web – plus two more hours watching TV. The study said YouTube was ‘a near permanent feature’ of many young lives, and seven in ten of those aged 12 to 15 took smartphones to bed.
It concluded: ‘Children were watching people on YouTube pursuing hobbies that they did not do themselves or had recently given up offline.’
A growing number of parents admitted to researchers that they had lost control of their children’s online habits.
To average (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to usually do, have, involve etc a particular level or amount “というふうに記載されていますね。
It’s a small shop, averaging about 500 customers a week.
The cost of developing a new drug now averages around £500 million.
Campaigners described the report from media watchdog Ofcom as frightening.
‘In the early years, children need interaction with other people, and play – it is key to their social skills,’ said Sue Palmer of the group Toxic Childhood.
‘If that doesn’t happen when they are small, I don’t know where it leads. There is the screen time itself, and then there is what the screen time is displacing.’
The annual report, which was based on 2,000 interviews, also revealed that:
- Children aged five to 15 spend 20 minutes more online a day than watching TV;
- One in five pre-schoolers and two fifths of five- to eight-year-olds have an iPad or tablet device;
- A fifth of children aged eight to 12 are on social media – despite a supposed ban on under-13s;
- Nearly one in five children aged 12 to 16 have accidentally spent money online.
Children aged three and four still watch more television than online videos, but their TV consumption is shrinking whilst their time online is rocketing.
To displace (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to force something or someone out of its usual or original position: “という風に記載されていますね。
The device displaces the air inside the container.
The building of a new dam will displace thousands of people who live in this area.
Macmillan dictionaryによると ” the use of something such as fuel or energy, or the amount that people use “ という風に記載されていますね。
Most people need to increase their daily consumption of fruit and vegetables.
As a nation, our consumption of junk food is horrifying.
Many newer cars have a much lower fuel consumption.
Many flock to YouTube and spend hours watching child-friendly videos such as how to make slime or draw animals. Others seek out ‘unboxing’ videos in which YouTube stars unwrap new products.
Some youngsters are becoming so obsessed with YouTube celebrities that they idolise them as role models, the Ofcom report said.
Some upload videos of their own, hoping to make a career for themselves. Disturbingly, many watch the lifestyle ‘vloggers’ pursuing hobbies and interacting with friends instead of doing so themselves.
To flock (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to gather together in a large group, usually because there is something interesting or exciting “というふうに記載されていますね。
Tourists still flock to the Tower of London.
Hundreds of people flocked to the football match.
Crowds of people flocked to see the Picasso exhibition.
Tourists flock to the village.
Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” the activity of taking new products out of their packaging, especially on videos on the internet “という風に記載されていますね。
To idolize (verb)
Macmillan dictionaryによると ” to think that someone is perfect “ という風に記載されていますね。
Her young fans idolize her.
She idolized her father.
She idolized her husband and would never criticize him.
Cambridge dictionaryによると形容詞disturbingの意味は ” making you feel worried or upset: “ という風に記載されていますね。
The article described the latest crime figures as “disturbing”.
She was strangely calm – I found it quite disturbing.
The crimes were disturbingly similar.
Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas.
Ofcom spoke to a number of children who had given up their hobbies – such as drawing and doing scooter stunts – in order to watch films on YouTube.
One child who described herself as ‘very arty’ admitted she rarely tried any crafts, and preferred to watch others being creative online.
Some youngsters said they socialised with friends less, because it was ‘too much effort’ to go out when they could interact with them online instead.
‘YouTube was a near permanent feature of many children’s lives, used throughout the day,’ researchers said.
But many children who go online to watch harmless videos find themselves watching deeply disturbing material. Often they come across unsuitable content by accident, when they are searching for something else.
Sometimes they simply seek out material they are too young to view. They are also led to it by YouTube’s own algorithm which feeds them suggestions based on their tastes, Ofcom found.
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” something dangerous, for example jumping from a building, that is done to entertain people, often as part of a film “というふうに記載されていますね。
Cambridge Dictionaryによると ” trying to be like artists or dress and live in the style typical of artists, esp. while lacking any real understanding of art or the work of artists: “という風に記載されていますね。
an arty crowd
Cambridge dictionaryによると ” (in newspapers and magazines or on television) a special or important article or program, esp. one that gives details about something that is not part of the main news: “ という風に記載されていますね。
Children prefer YouTube to old-fashioned television or TV on-demand services because they ‘could easily access exactly what they wanted to watch and were being served with an endless stream of recommendations tailored exactly to their taste,’ the report said.
Many of the parents involved in the research were shocked to learn what their children had been watching. Two fifths of those with children aged five to 15 feared that their children were being pressured to spend money on the web.
Half worried about tech firms harvesting too much information about their children, and around a third feared their offspring would see unsuitable content or become radicalised by extremists.
Despite these fears, many parents of teens admitted that they struggle to control the amount of time their children spent online.
Part of the problem was that youngsters prefer to watch content on the web on their own, according to the report.
They view watching live TV as a family activity, but feel far more comfortable on a device which they can control in private.
Children often use multiple screens at once – but the hours they spend on each are counted separately for the Ofcom research.
They are also using multiple social media profiles to project a ‘picture-perfect self’ and to avoid bullying. The number of those aged 12 to 15 being bullied online nearly doubled from 5 per cent in 2017 to 9 per cent last year.
Youngsters now often use several accounts to project different versions of themselves so their ‘real self’ can avoid social stigma, the report said.
More than half of the children surveyed said social media presents an unrealistic image, and researchers said glamorous and flattering filters to make them look ‘prettier’ were being used in many cases. About 20 per cent of girls said they needed to look popular online ‘all the time’ compared with only 11 per cent of boys.
The watchdog found children increasingly faced bullying through services such as WhatsApp.
Last week the father of 14-year-old Molly Russell blamed Instagram for her death, after she viewed posts on the social network that glamourised suicide and self-harm.
The Google-owned YouTube platform has also come under fire for allowing jihadists, far-Right activists and hate preachers.
To prefer (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to like or want someone or something more than someone or something else “というふうに記載されていますね。
I prefer red wine to white.
Even today, most Americans prefer coffee to tea.
To tailor (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to make or change something especially for a particular person or purpose “という風に記載されていますね。
All our courses can be tailored to the needs of individuals.
computer software that is specially tailored for schools
We tailor any of our products to your company’s specific needs.
on demand (phrase/adjective)
Cambridge dictionaryによると ” at any time that someone wants or needs something: “ と、” a service for watching films or TV programmes at any time: “ という風に記載されていますね。
They believe that abortion should be available on demand.
We can’t simply make cosmetic surgery available on demand.
Cable customers pay an extra $6.95 a month for on-demand.
To harvest (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to collect or obtain something “というふうに記載されていますね。
To radicalize (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to make a person, group, or system more radical “という風に記載されていますね。
Macmillan dictionaryによると ” perfect in appearance “ という風に記載されていますね。
To flatter (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to praise someone in order to get something that you want, especially in a way that is not sincere “というふうに記載されていますね。
You’re trying to flatter me, and it won’t work.
I knew he was only flattering me because he wanted to borrow some money.
To utilize (verb)
Macmillan Dictionaryによると ” to make something more exciting and attractive: “という風に記載されていますね。
a culture that glamorizes drugs, sex, and violence
The ad glamorized life in the army, emphasizing travel and adventure.
The ad glamorized life on the island, emphasizing the beaches and warm weather.
最後に、内容が理解でき、新しい単語も知ることができたら、必ずCambridge Dictionaryか、Macmillan Dictionaryで例文を読むようにしてください。そして一番シンプルで、自分が日常使いしときやすそうなもをノートやスマホに書き溜めておいてください。そしてこれを移動中の時などに声に出して覚えることが本当に大事です！（電車では難しいので、僕はよく歩きますw）


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Are Gaming Companies facing financial losses?
Most if not all of you have heard of big gaming company titles such as Blizzard or Electronic arts , or even Bugie , but have you heard that a lot of big title gaming companies are facing financial losses? Yes , that is correct . These big gaming companies have been dominating the market for years and years , but then on July 25 , 2017 , a game named “Fortnite” came into the world and people started to play it , it caught their eye because it was free to play , this caught some people’s attention right from the start. The cartoon like graphics , the constant updates , new weapons coming in and also being vaulted. People really enjoyed this game. Now this game made a huge impact in the gaming industry , it impacted in a good way , and it also hurt other gaming companies.
On September , 2017 , this game became extremely popular , all ages were playing it , for hours and hours. On that date , fortnite become one of the most best selling games in the entire market , epic games “Creators of fortnite” has amassed 126 million players world-wide , and had gotten a total of 1.2 billion dollars. But as fortnite and epic games Started to grow in players and size of a company , other gaming companies lost millions of dollars and players , they all migrated to fortnite. This hurt major gaming companies in a financial way , and many people had to be fired.
I believe that this also hurt a huge gaming company that made their own genre of game , this company was “Telltale games.” This company had sold well over 1 million copies of their game “The walking Dead” in just 20 days! But I think that the growth of fortnite and epic games hurt this company , and literally killed it. On September 21 , 2018 , Telltale had announced that their entire company was shutting down and they had to fire over 800 employees. Only 25 employees were left with the difficult challenge of finishing the last season of “TWD” within less than 40 days. Epic games has dominated the gaming industry , selling millions of copies world-wide , putting people out of jobs , but I do not want to say that they are deliberately trying to put these games in the grave.
Now , epic games has put some people out of jobs , but they have also helped people get ones , whether it is through the “Support-a-creator” system , or by them employing people into their company. It has helped a man named Tyler blevins AKA “Ninja” grow extremely popular , with well over 20 million subscribers on youtube and something million followers on twitch , Tyler Blevins has grown his channel off of fortnite , and a bunch of other youtubers found this as a great way to become popular , so they fed off the meat and many people actually become extremely popular , all because of fortnite. Epic games has done some significant damage to the gaming market and companies. But they have also helped many people.
There will be a point in time where Fortnite will become less and less popular , as all game does , they die in the end at some point , and there is a new and more popular game that comes along and dominates in the gaming industry. That is just the cycle of games and companies , one moment they are really popular , and big. Then they die , their game is no longer played , no one is interested in that specific game anymore , and they move on to play a different game. Now It may take a while for fortnite to die , but there are companies rising from the grave to rise back , and some people have gotten bored of the game , many twitch streamers have gotten tired of Fortnite and moved onto other games , but this significantly decreased their viewer count. But they would much rather play a game they love and have less viewers , than playing a game they hate and have more viewers.


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Rabat – The European Commission (EC) has laid to rest Clara Aguilera’s claims that Moroccan tomato exports as a threat to “the stability of the EU tomato market.”
Agulera, a Spanish Member of the European Parliament (MEP), has been rallying behind two main claims to urge the the union to take action against Morocco’s tomato exports to Europe. She claimed that imported Moroccan tomatoes have been fraudulently labelled as originating from Spain, and that Morocco is exceeding the EU’s import quotas.
For the Spanish MEP, Morocco’s exports are threatening the EU’s tomato market and the livelihood of Spanish farmers.
In response, Stella Kyriakides, the EU’s Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said, according to Spanish newspaper Diario de Almeria: “In 2019… there were 297 exchanges in the EU regarding suspected fraud. The Commission did not receive any information from the Member States on the change of origin of imported fruit and vegetables.”
Read also: Morocco Could Surpass Spain as UK’s Main Supplier of Fresh Produce
Kyriakides added, “In any case, when a control determines that the products are not compliant, they cannot be marketed in the EU. The options are that the trader adapt them to be compliant and commercialize them after the national control body has re-evaluated the conformity, or discard them from the market.”
Under the EU’s stringent controls, suppliers must indicate the country of origin on all invoices, as well as other accompanying documents, when exporting a product. The country of origin must also be labeled on the product’s packaging, whether it is at the wholesale level, or at retail.
Meanwhile, European member states should also enforce regular conformity checks. These rules apply to both imported produce and produce that originated in the EU.
Regarding the EU’s tomato quotas, the commissioner indicated that under the EU-Morocco agreement, the export quotas for tomatoes have already been set.
Last season, Morocco exported approximately 423,000 tonnes of tomatoes to the EU, of which 256,000 tonnes were subject to the aforementioned quotas.


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Companies need an ethicist armed with a moral compass to build trust in AI
KPMG report says understanding and explaining how algorithms work is also key to success.
Salesforce is integrating ethics and values into its use of AI, day-to-day decision making processes, and to connect with customers.
At this point in the artificial intelligence transformation, it’s easier to spot the mistakes than the successes.
When Apple and Goldman Sachs rolled out the Apple credit card, one high-profile tech founder and applicant described how the team clearly failed on the “explainability” requirement for AI efforts.
Co-founder & CTO of Basecamp David Heinemeier Hansson complained about the card’s application process after he and his wife both applied for the card. Her credit limit was much lower than his, even though her credit score was better. When Heinemeier Hansson tried to find out why, the first customer service agent literally had no answer:
“The first person was like “I don’t know why, but I swear we’re not discriminating, it’s just the algorithm.”
The second customer service agent highlighted the explainability fail:
“Second rep went on about how she couldn’t actually access the real reasoning (again IT’S JUST THE ALGORITHM is implied).”
How can Apple and Goldman Sachs prove the credit review process is fair if no one has any clue how it works?
Every company should have an AI ethicist to define, document, and explain algorithms, according to “Ethical AI: Five Guiding Pillars” by Traci Gusher, principal, Innovation and Enterprise Solutions, artificial intelligence, and Todd Lohr, principal, Advisory and a KPMG Digital Lighthouse Network Leader.
For AI to succeed, someone has to own these algorithms and be able to explain exactly how the analysis works to team members and clients, as the KPMG principals explain in the new report. The authors stressed that AI must be governed and controlled in a meaningful way to win acceptance among clients and employees.
“AI-driven enterprises know where and when to use AI,” Gusher said. “They have an AI compass that helps point them in the right direction for governance, explainability, and value.”
Naming a specific owner of AI efforts at the corporate level can also make transparency easier.
This owner should take the lead in explaining to customers how data is being used and how it influences the customer experience.
The report authors recommend that companies let customers choose whether to opt in or out of data sharing, while at the same time illustrating the benefits of opting in.
KPMG recommends following these guiding pillars to ensure AI efforts are ethical:
- Transforming the workplace
- Establishing oversight and governance
- Aligning cybersecurity and ethical AI
- Mitigating bias
- Increasing transparency
To monitor and remove bias in AI, companies should make sure algorithms align with corporate values and ethics, compliance and security and quality standards. When bias could have an adverse social impact, companies should arrange independent reviews of those models.
Security concerns sharpen
Executives are starting to understand the security risks around AI, namely “adversarial attacks that poison algorithms by tampering with training data” that could compromise privacy and create bias.
Seventy-two percent of CEOs stated that strong cybersecurity is vital to building trust in AI systems, compared to only 15% last year. Healthcare and finance leaders are the most concerned about ethics in AI, according to KPMG research conducted with 750 industry insiders in October 2019.


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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) late last week issued a new directive to owners of certain DOT-111 tank cars built between 2009 and 2015 that they may have "substantial weld defects" that could result in the release of hazardous materials.The cars of concern were built by American Railcar Industries and ACF Industries. The potential flaws were found in the welds at the bottom of the car where two components allow for product to be offloaded. Some of the welds don't meet federal safety regulations or industry specifications, FRA Administrator Sara Feinberg wrote in the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Fast Lane" blog."The good news is these flawed welds have been found in only a small portion of the U.S. tank car fleet" that were manufactured by American Railcar and ACF between 2009 and 2015, she wrote.The directive requires tank-car owners to act immediately to determine if their fleets contain any of these cars, and if so, to repair them.As of Sept. 30, the FRA began requiring tank car owners to:• determine within 30 days if their fleet contains any of the tank cars and report those to the FRA;• visually inspect the cars to ensure safety and that there is no visible leak; and• put the identified cars through ultrasonic and surface inspections to examine the welds, and if flaws are detected, immediately remove the cars from service and repair them.Tank cars with confirmed flaws that carry hazmat must be tested and repaired faster than cars that carry other products, Feinberg said.


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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- In a rite of fall, many supermarkets traditionally offer flu shots, but this year there will be one less.
hester, N.Y., has cut back. Meijer pharmacies are providing flu shots ranging from $15 to $20 depending on the market, and some stores are also offering pneumonia shots for $25 to $30.
Albertsons is also offering 4,300 flu clinics at its banners, including Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Sav-On Drug and Acme. "Immunization is the best way for families to pro


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After swinging the ax on about 75 employees Thursday—several of them top executives in the advertising group—Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has promoted Amy Wilkins to head of advertising, sales and marketing, the company said Friday.
Ms. Wilkins, the publisher of Martha Stewart Weddings, becomes the top ad sales executive at the company.
She assumes responsibilities that had been handled by Chief Revenue Officer Joseph Lagani, who left amid yesterday's cuts, according to a person familiar with the layoffs. Peter Medwid, the publisher of flagship publication Martha Stewart Living, has also left the company, this person said. No successor has been named yet.
Lara Pasternak, VP-integrated sales, and Jess Hollander, VP-digital sales, also exited.
The layoffs come just two months after Daniel Dienst joined the company as CEO. He is seen as a turnaround artist for the company, where broadcast and publishing revenues are on the decline. In the third quarter, for instance, publishing revenue fell 8.2% to $19.4 million while broadcast plummeted to $294,000 from $2.7 million after the company ended a broadcast agreement with Hallmark Channel.
Despite the steep declines, Martha Stewart Living magazine was up 11.7% in ad pages through the third quarter compared with the period a year earlier, according to the Publishers Information Bureau. Martha Stewart Weddings, a quarterly, was up 8%.
In a statement Friday, Mr. Dienst cited Martha Stewart Weddings' "record ad pages" this year. "Amy epitomizes the culture of the new Martha Stewart organization — smart, driven, focused and entrepreneurial with a keen eye for understanding what our partners are looking for in terms of reaching our loyal audiences," he said.
Prior to joining MSLO, Ms. Wilkins had been publisher at Meredith Corp. titles such as Country Home and Better Homes and Gardens. She started her career at Time Inc.


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Plans for Nigeria’s Next Super Model 2013 is already in the pipeline and will likely be staged in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for the
It’s only hours away as ECOWAS 38th Anniversary is set to hold this weekend in Abuja! Dates and venues have been fixed for the event.
Renowned American fashion brand Calvin Klein, will be launching a new fragrance “Downtown” this Summer. Aimed at young ladies between ages 25-35 years, the perfume
I recently stumbled on these pieces of hair jewelry by neoteric New York-based designer, Jennifer Behr. According to Frills and Thrills, Ms. Behr’s eponymous brand
It is rare to find photographers involved in arts and music effectively. One person that stands out in this light is UK-based Rob “Sloetry” Covell,
We have seen in topnotch editorials and few ladies (in Nigeria) rocking original designer bags named after iconic ladies. These pricey, individualistic style staples are
It was a day that held the audience spellbound as they watched models in pieces by House of J’Ola, a fashion brand owned by Mrs.
Modelling in Nigeria has been regarded by many as an unprofitable venture. In an era where there’s seemingly no structure for models to constructively gain
One thing we at PassionistaHub.com have come to believe is that every style-conscious lady out there has some plans this year! Whether it is to


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Instagram and Facebook ban 'miracle' diet and plastic surgery posts
Celebrities like Khloe Kardashian are among those who have been criticised for posting about dietary products on Instagram.
Thursday 19 September 2019 12:36, UK
Instagram and Facebook have imposed age restrictions on content about diet products and plastic surgery - with some posts banned completely.
Anything that promotes certain weight loss products or cosmetic procedures with an incentive to buy or a listed price will be hidden from users under 18.
Anything with "miraculous" claims alongside offers such as discount codes will be banned.
Instagram says it wants to ensure its photo-sharing app is a "positive place" following concerns about the impact of dieting, detoxing and cosmetic surgery content on young people.
Just last month, nutritionists told Sky News that certain social media accounts are to blame for a rise in people with eating disorders like orthorexia - when people are obsessed with healthy eating and become starved.
Emma Collins, public policy manager at Instagram, said the company had sought expert guidance to crack down on content that could impact mental health in such a way.
She added that the changes would "reduce the pressure that people can sometimes feel as a result of social media", while ensuring that Instagram "remains a platform for expression and discussion".
The move has been welcomed by campaigners, including actress Jameela Jamil.
She has criticised celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian for posting about dietary products on Instagram, and launched an online movement called I Weigh to encourage people to share their achievements regardless of body shape.
Social media influencers fuelled my 'clean eating' disorder
Nutritionist Pixie Turner writes about how her orthorexia was triggered by reading misinformation on social media
Hailing the change in policy as a "huge win", Jamil said: "Facebook and Instagram taking a stand to protect the physical and mental health of people online sends an important message out to the world.
"I'm thrilled to have been able to work towards this with them, alongside a host of other experts who shed light on the danger of these products.
"Instagram were supportive and helpful when I brought them my protests and petitions; they listened, they cared, they moved so efficiently, and communicated with us throughout the process."


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Travellers dream of the perfect trick to find the cheapest airfare every time, every trip.
There are theories, some of them backed up by real number-crunching — shop on a Tuesday, 57 days before your flight. But using a tidy formula to find the cheapest fare may be as futile as trying to time the stock market.
“There isn’t a golden rule anymore,” says Patrick Scurry, chief data scientist for Hopper, a travel-information firm that archives ticket prices. “There are these ‘average’ rules, but they’re not that useful necessarily for a specific trip.”
Airlines Reporting Corp., which handles tickets sold through travel agents, pinpointed Day 57 as when you’ll find the cheapest average domestic fares. But in a nod to the inexactness of the science, it also said that the lowest domestic prices are relatively unchanged about 50 to 100 days before a flight.
For international trips, ARC says shop 171 days out. CheapAir.com, a fare-search website, says the magic moment is, on average, 47 days before a U.S. trip.
As for the best day to shop for travel, the accepted answer for many years was Tuesday because that is when airlines often announced advertised sales. Expedia Inc. says for tickets bought at least 21 days in advance, Tuesday is still cheapest by a thin margin over Wednesday, but Sunday is better for tickets bought within 21 days of travel — an average savings of $12, or 2.2 per cent, over buying on Saturday or Tuesday, according to Expedia.
George Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.com, says you should keep checking fares every day because unadvertised sales can pop up any time during the week.
“Sometimes we’ll see amazing sales on Saturday mornings, especially to international destinations,” he says. “A lot of people don’t search on weekends because they’ve been brainwashed to think that Tuesday is the day to book.”
Conventional airline sales often run three days, but some airlines are now using flash sales that further erode old rules about when to buy. For example, Virgin America alerts its customers about a half-dozen times a year about a sale that usually ends within a few hours.
“They certainly work as long as you don’t do too many of them,” says Virgin’s CEO, David Cush. “It does create urgency in the consumer’s mind.”
Virgin’s flash sales are generally advance purchase for travel in a few weeks, so they are not practical for last-minute business trips.
Waiting until the last minute for a bargain fare doesn’t work as well anymore. Many flights are full, and prices usually rise as departure time gets close.
If you’re flying around the holidays, booking early is unlikely to save you much money. The experts say airlines know flights will be full, they know which days people want to travel — the Sunday after Thanksgiving, for example — so prices start high and stay there.
Buying too soon — booking that 2016 trip to Italy now because you had such a great time there last month — is a mistake because airlines usually aim high when they list flights 11 months or so before departure. But the experts say it’s less costly than buying too late when seats are sparse.
Even if you can’t always score the lowest possible fare, there are other things you can do to save money:
- Most obviously, compare prices from different airlines, and factor in extra services that might involve a fee, such as checking a bag.
- There are plenty of websites, apps and Twitter accounts that tell consumers about bargains on specific routes or sales.
- Consider alternate airports or days of travel — flying on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday tends to be cheaper.
- Connecting flights are often cheaper than nonstop, but you’ll spend more hours travelling and increase your odds of getting stranded.
There’s another little trick while booking, according to CheapAir’s Klee. If you’re buying several tickets, it can be cheaper to book them one or two at a time rather than all together because of the way airlines price and sell seats.
If you buy a ticket and see the same flight for less the next day, call the airline. Federal rules require that airlines give consumers a refund if they cancel a ticket within 24 hours and the flight is at least a week away. American Airlines lets customers reserve a seat for 24 hours before paying, while most airlines meet the requirement simply by offering refunds.


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Wednesday, 1 October, 2008 0:35 AM
Dampens Restaurant Industry Outlook as Restaurant Performance Index
Stood Below 100 for 10th Consecutive Month
continued to report lower sales and traffic levels; Capital spending
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
July, all Steak and Ale restaurants closed nationwide along with
company-owned Bennigan's restaurants. This one was located in Plymouth,
Michigan. Meanwhile, the Bennigan's next door remains open because
-- Restaurant industry performance remained soft in August,
as the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of
restaurant activity stood below 100 for the tenth consecutive month.
The Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) - a monthly
composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S.
restaurant industry - stood at 98.3 in August, up 0.1 percent from
its July level.
recent lack of change in the Restaurant Performance Index reflects
the wait-and-see sentiment in the financial markets and overall
economy," said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research
and information services for the Association. "Restaurant operators
reported negative same-store sales for the eighth time in the last
10 months, and their outlook for sales growth in the months ahead
uncertain economy and rising food costs continue to pose a challenging
business environment for restaurant operators," Riehle added.
"A record 31 percent of restaurant operators said the economy
is the number-one challenge facing their business, while 22 percent
identified food costs as their top challenge."
is based on the responses to the National Restaurant Association's
Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey, which is fielded monthly among
restaurant operators nationwide on a variety of indicators including
sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures. The RPI consists
of two components - the Current Situation Index and the Expectations
Index. (Follow this link to view this month's report: www.restaurant.org/pdfs/research/index/200808.pdf).
is constructed so that the health of the restaurant industry is
measured in relation to a steady-state level of 100. Index values
above 100 indicate that key industry indicators are in a period
of expansion, while index values under 100 represent a period of
contraction for key industry indicators.
Situation Index, which measures current trends in four industry
indicators (same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital expenditures),
stood at 97.8 in August - up 0.2 percent from July and its first
gain in three months. Despite the modest improvement, August marked
the 12th consecutive month below 100, which signifies contraction
in the current situation component.
operators continued to report a same-store sales decline in August,
though results were an improvement over the previous two months.
Thirty-eight percent of restaurant operators reported a same-store
sales gain between August 2007 and August 2008, up from 36 percent
who reported a sales gain in July. Forty-eight percent of operators
reported a same-store sales decline in August, down from 50 percent
who reported similarly in July.
to soft sales results, restaurant operators continued to report
negative customer traffic levels in August. Twenty-five percent
of restaurant operators reported an increase in customer traffic
between August 2007 and August 2008, matching the proportion who
reported similarly in July. Fifty-five percent of operators reported
a traffic decline in August, down slightly from 57 percent who reported
negative traffic in July.
spending activity in the restaurant industry remains sluggish by
recent historical standards. Forty-one percent of operators said
they made a capital expenditure for equipment, expansion or remodeling
during the last three months, down from 42 percent who reported
similarly last month.
Index, which measures restaurant operators' six-month outlook for
four industry indicators (same-store sales, employees, capital expenditures
and business conditions), stood at 98.8 in August - down 0.1 percent
from July's level. In addition, August represented the tenth consecutive
month in which the Expectations Index stood below 100.
operators remain uncertain about sales growth in coming months.
Thirty percent of restaurant operators expect to have higher sales
in six months (compared to the same period in the previous year),
a level which has remained relatively unchanged for the last 10
months. Thirty-three percent of restaurant operators expect their
sales volume in six months to be lower than it was during the same
period in the previous year, down slightly from 34 percent who reported
similarly last month.
operators also remain relatively pessimistic about the direction
of the economy. Twenty-four percent of operators expect economic
conditions to improve in six months, up from 21 percent who reported
similarly last month and the highest level in 11 months. However,
33 percent of operators said they expect economic conditions to
worsen in six months, up from 29 percent who reported similarly
operators' outlook for capital spending activity remains soft. Forty-three
percent of restaurant operators plan to make a capital expenditure
for equipment, expansion or remodeling in the next six months, unchanged
from last month and equal to the lowest level on record.
RPI is consistently released on the last business day of each month,
more detailed data and analysis can be found on Restaurant TrendMapper
the Association's subscription-based Web site that provides detailed
analysis of restaurant industry trends.
Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business
association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 945,000
restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 13.1 million
employees - making it the cornerstone of the economy, career and
employment opportunities and community involvement. Along with the
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association
works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry.
For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.restaurant.org/
National Restaurant Association


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T2F (formerly The Second Floor) launched its bookstore facilitated by a bookshop, Mr Old Books, on Saturday evening.
The two-day event began at 6pm on Saturday with a short video, made by Dawn.com, about the decline in the number of old bookshops in the old city areas. These, among others, included famous bookstores such as Thomas and Thomas at Regal Chowk in Saddar. The owner of the shop, it was shown, was given multiple offers to move his establishment so that a fast-food outlet could be built in its place.
Similarly, it was shown that many bookstores were closed down either under pressure by other businesses or due to sharp decline in sales.
An interview with one such shop owner revealed that people no longer visit bookshops and if in case a bookseller dies, there is no one who could replace him or take responsibility of running the bookshop. This is where T2F comes in.
Speaking to Dawn, director of T2F Ellia Khan said that the idea behind the bookstore launch was to provide space to bookstall and bookstore owners to present their books.
“The whole idea is to revive the number of projects at T2F. We are working very closely with Mr Old Books at Boat Basin, a lot of the collection that we curated has been provided by them. Some books have been exchanged with Mr Old Books. They saw our collection and liked our books and in exchange we got a number of new books as well. This is how we are working together,” she added.
Explaining the concept of a monthly book bazaar, Ms Khan said that books donated to T2F by donors were presented at the bazaar.
At present, T2F is being revamped. Fiza Khatri and Asad Alvi have been hired respectively to look after the art collections at the Faraar Shop and to curate, fix and standardise the bookstore. The bookshelf includes books belonging to English, Russian and Urdu literature. Urdu translations of English and Russian literature are also kept, says Asad Alvi.
From then onwards, the open mic session, known as Nakaam Ishq Society, presented poetry, songs and quotes from those present at the event.
Originally published in Dawn, March 12th, 2017


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WELCOME TO The chemical REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
Bloomberg Environment | January 21, 2020
The European Chemicals Agency said Monday inspectors across the bloc had started checks on chemical products sold online for compliance with the EU’s REACH and other chemicals laws. Checks would continue through 2020 and would cover all types of online vendors, including websites aimed at consumers and specialist users of chemicals, and platforms including Amazon and eBay, the agency said. Inspection authorities in EU countries would check if online purchasers are sufficiently informed abo...
The Chemours Company | July 27, 2021
The Chemours Company, a global chemistry company with market leadership positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, Advanced Performance Materials, and Chemical Solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Mining Solutions business to Draslovka Holding a.s. for $520 million in cash (representing 10 times 2020 Adjusted EBITDA)1. Subject to regulatory approvals and other normal closing conditions, the deal is anticipated to complete in the fourth quar...
Rigzone | February 26, 2020
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported Tuesday that one of its economic indicators suggests a growth trend for the broader U.S. economy for much of this year. “The CAB signals gains in U.S. commerce into the fourth quarter of 2020,” ACC Chief Economist Kevin Swift commented in a written statement, referencing the organization’s Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB). According to ACC, the CAB stems from a composite index of chemical industry activity and comprises four main c...
Braskem | February 24, 2022
Braskem S.A. the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, as well as a market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, announced the expansion of its circular polymer portfolio to include two new polypropylene (PP) grades with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
Braskem's new PCR polypropylene grades can be used in a wide range of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food contact applications where PP is used today, including consumer ...
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For those of you keeping score in the "How many Android phones will HTC launch this year?" game, the answer is "at least three," according to HTC CEO Peter Chou.
That, in response to a question posed to him about whether or not rumors of five HTC-branded Android phones would hit the market this year. Chou didn’t divulge any further information aside from the fact that we’ll see at least three phones this year.
We’ve already seen the first — the HTC Magic/G2 that’ll be sold on Europe’s Vodafone network. Details on the remaining two handsets are unknown.


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Consumers are snapping up water with added benefits, such as Aqua Plus, which is enhanced with electrolytes and minerals.
Consumers are increasingly looking for more benefits from their beverages. Chicago-based market research firm Mintel reports that nearly one-third (31%) of bottled water users are willing to pay a premium for waters with added health benefits.
Manufacturers are happy to oblige: Innovative formulations and packaging attributes have become key drivers in the functional water category, and industry experts predict continued growth in the segment over the next few years.
“Functionality is the most prevalent trend in the water market as brands enhance water’s inherent healthfulness with other functional benefits,” says Caleb Bryant, associate director, food and drink at Mintel. Sales of flavored still water (which includes many functional water brands) increased 60% from 2016 to 2021, Bryant adds.
“We’ve seen the functional water category explode over the past 18 months,” notes Adam Gauer, co-founder of Sheridan, Wyo.-based Plus Brand Industries, maker of Agua Plus, a pH9+ alkaline water enhanced with electrolytes and minerals. “The result is a breeding ground for even more innovation.”
The popularity of functional waters is attracting major players to the category. Last year, Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo introduced Soulboost, a functional sparkling water brand, in two varieties: Lift and Ease. The product contains real juice and functional ingredients. The Lift variety contains 200 milligrams of panax ginseng to help support mental stamina, and is available in blueberry pomegranate and black cherry citrus flavors. The Ease variety, formulated to help people relax, contains 200 milligrams of L-theanine, and is available in blackberry passionfruit and strawberry rose varieties.
According to Gauer, the category is expanding across age demographics. “Older consumers see the added health benefits of functional waters as an opportunity to be more efficient in their pursuit of all-around better health,” he explains. Younger consumers, meanwhile, are open to options beyond supplements.
The pandemic has fueled consumer interest in immunity-boosting beverages as seen in Wegmans Food Markets.
More Than Just Your Average Water
Marketers can alter the makeup of water to increase health benefits, such as adding electrolytes to boost hydration, oxygen to increase energy, or hydrogen to ease inflammation. Increased hydration is popular with consumers: Mintel research indicates that 30% of them are interested in waters that provide superior hydration.
“The strong growth of alkaline water opened the door for other waters that claim to provide enhanced hydration using varying elements and pH levels,” says Bryant. “Oxigen water is enhanced with oxygen and electrolytes, and Jove claims its alkaline water provides ‘cellular hydration.’”
As an example of this trend, Reno, Nev.-based Takeover Industries expanded distribution of its NXT LVL Hydrogen Water this past summer to Hy-Vee stores across the Midwest.
Bryant notes that the pandemic has fueled consumer interest in immunity-boosting beverages, paving the way for waters enhanced with ingredients/vitamins with inherent immune support benefits. According to Mintel, 3.2% of waters launched in the United States in 2021 carried an immune support claim. Only 1.9% of waters launched in 2018 featured such a claim.
Pure Life + Protect, which contains zinc, is one example. “Expect to see more vitamin D waters,” says Bryant. “In 2021, Anheuser- Busch announced it would distribute ShineWater, a functional water brand enhanced with vitamin D.”
Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans Food Markets recently featured Karma Water, which is based in nearby Pittsford and makes wellness and probiotic varieties, on an immune health display table along with Poppi functional sodas, Olly vitamins and other immune-boosting products.
Gut health is another growth area for functional waters. According to Bryant, 24% of consumers are interested in waters that promote gut health, and Mintel research indicates that 1.8% of waters launched in the United States in 2021 carried a probiotic claim, compared with 0.3% of waters launched in 2018.
The stress associated with the pandemic has also accelerated consumer demand for beverages boasting relaxation benefits. CBD-infused products have been showing up on more shelves as states allow the products to be marketed. “CBD waters represent a fast-growing segment of the water market,” affirms Bryant.
“The amount of positive press CBD has received regarding general wellness, particularly stress relief, has driven the demand in all age groups,” agrees Ricky Wright, president and CEO of the Alkaline Water Co. The Clean Beverage Co., a division of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based beverage manufacturer, recently launched A88CBD, a line of six natural CBD functional waters.
In 2020, mainstream brand Ocean Spray, based in Lakeville-Middleboro, Mass., launched CarryOn, a line of CBD sparkling waters, through its Lighthouse Innovation Incubator. The line consists of Elevate, a grapefruit flavor that blends choline for energy and focus with 10 milligrams of CBD, and Descend, a blueberry flavor designed for relaxation and containing L-theanine for calmness and 20 milligrams of CBD. The products are sold in Sprouts Farmers Market locations in Colorado and will likely gain wider distribution.
Among the new products introduced this year is Karma Water’s CBD Water, a cannabidiol beverage that the company just added to its portfolio of waters. Karma Culture CEO C.J. Rapp calls CBD “the next evolution of our premium infused waters portfolio.”
In addition to health benefits, consumers are using CBD beverages as a base for creating next-generation cocktails. “A lot of our flavor profiles, such as lemon lime, pineapple coconut, citrus, are being developed to meet this need,” says Wright.
Manufacturers are also positioning sparkling waters as alternatives to alcohol. “The sober-curious/mindful drinking trend is gaining speed as more consumers rethink their alcohol consumption behaviors and opt for [better-for-you] alcohol alternatives,” observes Bryant. “Sparkling waters are already popular with health-conscious consumers and waters featuring unique flavor profiles and enhanced with ingredients that provide relaxation will become alcoholic drink substitutes.”
Bryant cites Barbet, a sparkling water positioned as a nonalcoholic option for alcohol consumption occasions, with a lineup of flavors including Love Bite (grapefruit, ginger and juniper) and Wild Card (blood orange, calamansi and jalapeño), as an example of this trend.
“Recess launched a margarita flavor to coincide with Dry January, and sparkling water brand Hopwtr claims its flavor profile will remind consumers of their favorite IPA, and that its blend of adaptogens and nootropics provides a feeling of relaxation without alcohol,” says Bryant. As consumers rethink their pandemic alcohol consumption patterns, retailers can expect to see more sophisticated flavor profiles entering the sparkling water category.
Wegmans Food Markets recently featured functional beverages with energizing benefits in an end cap at its Montvale, N.J., store.
The Packaging Point of Difference
Even more category innovation is coming from the packaging side, however.
Karma Water products feature a patented protective Karma Cap that helps maintain optimal potency. The Alkaline Water Co.’s new launch features first-to-market patented Freshcap, powered by Vessl, a patented technology, that stores the CBD and other active or functional ingredients in a pressurized chamber in the bottle cap until the consumer twists it open for an instant infusion of flavor and functionality.
“Freshcap not only has functional capabilities, it has a wow factor,” asserts Wright. “Unlike a lot of other functional ingredients delivered through powder packs or technology, there are no floaties or shaking required.” The company is currently developing a line of non-CBD functional Alkaline88 waters related to energy, collagen, inflammation, digestion, memory/brain/cognitive and sports performance/endurance benefits.
Agua Plus comes in a bottle featuring All-Scratch Technology, a unique patented feature that allows a user to scratch their name, initial or other identifying marks directly on their bottle to eliminate bottle confusion, a leading cause of unnecessary waste and the transmission of germs, viruses and bacteria.
Cans are becoming a more popular packaging choice, and the eye-catching graphics that have dominated cans in the craft beer category to set brands apart are moving into the functional beverage category as well. According to Mintel’s Global New Products Database, 46% of all water product launches last year were canned.


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Darren Payne, the UK commercial director of Malaysia’s national car manufacturer Proton Cars, has left the company.
Payne, who left last week, joined Proton in June 1998 from Rolls Royce as head of sales and marketing.
He retained responsibility for sales and marketing when he was promoted to commercial director last March.
The company is not seeking a direct replacement for Payne. The marketing and sales function is being overseen by Tengku Hasmadi, who was transferred to the UK at the end of last year from Malaysia as director of customer retention and acquisition.
A spokesman for Proton says Payne is intending to set up his own business venture, and that his departure was not connected to Hasmadi’s arrival.
He continues: “His (Hasmadi’s) arrival was part of other strategic plans the company has for the UK.”
The car company, which also has a majority stake in Lotus cars had intended to export more cars to Europe from Malaysia.
However, these plans have been slowed down following the economic crisis in Asia.
According to figures released by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Proton sold 5,986 cars last year and had 0.27 per cent share of car sales in the UK.
This compares with 1998 when it had 0.32 per cent share and sold 7,269 cars.