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Digital Manga’s adult imprint Project-H has reopened its online store and has posted the Kodomo no Jikan e-books for sale again. According to Anime News Network, the website is based on Wix and uses the same payment processor as before. It was also stated that the staff is still refining the site, and plans to re-implement the old site’s points system.
Project-H announced in December 2018 that its website had been banned from its ecommerce platform Shopify for violating the platform’s Acceptable Use Policy. Digital Manga then announced that it had removed Kodomo no Jikan e-books from its eManga website, which is also hosted by Shopify, as a “precaution.”


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Electric Driveline For Rosenbauer Fire Truck
By Mike Osenga08 February 2019
Volvo Penta has announced its first industrial OEM partnership in the area of electromobility with fire service vehicle manufacturer and longstanding customer Rosenbauer, Leonding, Austria.
Volvo Penta will develop the electric driveline in Rosenbauer’s first electric fire truck, the Concept Fire Truck (CFT), taking a system delivery approach. Rosenbauer uses Volvo Penta Stage 4/Tier 4 final and Euro 6 emissions-compliant diesel engines. The launch of the Concept Fire Truck is scheduled for 2021. No further details were released.

domain: news


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[author: Kate Prince]
New Jersey rang in the new year with the signing of a state privacy bill. On Jan. 16, Gov. Phil Murphy signed SB No. 322, stating he was proud that New Jersey had joined the ranks of states with consumer privacy bills.
Businesses that abide by the Connecticut Data Privacy Act and Colorado Privacy Act will find that many terms in the New Jersey bill overlap with these laws, but there are some key differences that companies will need to keep their eye on.
The New Jersey law (the Act) will go into effect Jan. 15, 2025.
Scope and Applicability
The Act will apply to “controllers that conduct business in the State or produce products or services that are targeted to the residents of the State, and that during a calendar year either:
- control or process the personal data of at least 100,000 consumers, excluding personal data processed solely for the purpose of completing a payment transaction; or
- control or process the personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and the controller derives revenue or receives a discount on the price of any goods or services, from the sale of personal data.”
Government entities, certain regulated entities and data, and institutions of higher education are exempt.
Privacy Notice, Disclosures and Opt-Out Requirements
Like other state privacy laws, the Act requires that a controller’s privacy notice be “reasonably accessible, clear, and meaningful.” Section 3. The notice must disclose the categories of personal data being processed, the purpose of the processing, the categories of personal data that the controller shares with third parties, the option to opt out of targeted advertising or profiling, how the controller informs consumers of material changes to the privacy notice, an email address or online mechanism that the consumer can use to contact the controller, and how consumers may exercise their consumer rights and appeal decisions. The process for a consumer to appeal a denied request must be conspicuously available and similar in process to submitting the initial request.
Notably, if an appeal is denied, the controller must provide the consumer with either an online mechanism or some other means with which to submit a complaint to the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Starting July 2025, controllers that sell personal data or process personal data for targeted advertising must honor a universal opt-out mechanism.
Timeline for Responding to Privacy Requests
Controllers must respond to requests within 45 days of receipt. An additional 45 days is allowed when reasonably necessary, provided the controller informs the consumer within the initial 45-day period and provides the reason for the delay.
Controllers must also respond within 45 days with any action taken, or not taken, in response to an appeal.
Data Protection Assessments and Contracts with Third Parties
Data protection assessments are required for the processing of personal data that has a heightened risk of harm to the consumer.
The assessment must be made available to the Office of Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs upon request.
Processors must assist the controller in meeting their obligations under the Act.
The attorney general has exclusive authority to enforce violations. However, a cure right exists and does not sunset until July 1, 2026.
- No exception for nonprofits.
- A data-level (not entity-level) HIPAA exemption, exempting PHI collected by a HIPAA covered entity or business associate.
- The director of the Division of Consumer Affairs has been authorized to promulgate rules necessary to carry out the Act. There is no timeline for this rulemaking.
While this might be the first new privacy law of 2024, it is far from the last. New Hampshire recently passed its own law, which is currently awaiting the governor’s signature. Companies will need to monitor the resulting rulemaking from the director of the Division of Consumer Affairs as they adjust their policies and procedures to comply.


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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Google Inc Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt blasted proposed legislation to tighten online copyright regulation on Tuesday, saying the bills would lead to censorship of the Internet.
Intended to combat the trade in pirated movies and music, the two bills would give copyright holders and law enforcement officials added powers to cut off websites and require search engines, payment collectors and others to block access.
"The solutions are draconian," Schmidt said during an appearance at the MIT Sloan School of Management. "There's a bill that would require (Internet service providers) to remove URLs from the Web, which is also known as censorship last time I checked."
Schmidt said content owners like Hollywood studios have a legitimate problem, since increasing trading of pirated movies threatens their revenue.
"Their business models are threatened by theft," Schmidt said. "We don't endorse it. Please don't do it. If you're doing it, stop. I hope that's very clear."
The legislation Schmidt opposed is called the PROTECT IP Act in the U.S. Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Instead, Schmidt recommended regulations based on tracing payments spent at websites offering illegal materials.
The remarks followed a letter to lawmakers opposing the bills from a group of Internet companies including Google, AOL Inc, eBay Inc, Facebook, Yahoo Inc and Twitter.
"We are concerned that these measures pose a serious risk to our industry's continued track record of innovation and job creation, as well as to our nation's cybersecurity," the companies wrote.
(Reporting by Aaron Pressman; Editing by Richard Chang)
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The Cider Festival is making its highly anticipated return to Sydney’s Watson’s Bay on Sunday 30 October.
Now in its third consecutive year, the one-day festival will be staged Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel, featuring delicious food, live entertainment, and of course, the beverage of the season, all set against a backdrop of picturesque harbour views.
Cider brands on board this year include Sassy Cider, Sidra Del Verano, 5Seeds, James Squire Orchard Crush, Bilpin, Somersby, Thatchers Gold, Rochdale, Kirin, and many more.
There will be a Cider Trail Tasting experience where guests can wander through 10 cider varieties before finishing with a bottle of their choice at the pop-up cider bar.
A variety of street food stalls will be dishing up casual sweet and savoury treats as perfect pairings for a pint of cider, with options including pulled pork rolls, spicy BBQ ribs, corn on the cob and homemade Nutella donuts.
In addition, for the very first time, the festival will also feature the Garden Lounge – a chill out area allowing guests to kick back, relax and enjoy some of the finest local and international cider favourites and try their luck at the apple bobbing competition.
The event kicks off at 11am and is for people aged 18 years and over – minors must be accompanied by an adult.


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November is Diabetes Awareness month, and while the condition is well-known, misconceptions about how to manage a diet still persist.
Nicole Ebratt is a retail dietitian at the ShopRite on Bruckner Boulevard. While working with clients, she's found many people living with diabetes believe they have to give up all of their favorite meals to keep their blood sugar in check.
"Yes you can eat carbs ... however they have to be in adequate portions, and just being mindful and reading labels," says Ebratt.
While carb guidelines vary from person to person, many of Ebratt's clients come in believing they have to give up fruit because of its sugar content. She says it's about choosing the right type of fruit -- for instance, a cup of strawberries has 12 grams of carbs, which is about the same as half of a banana.
"Berries are your best friend ... you can have a higher portion size and it's full of vitamin C," says Ebratt.
When shopping for bread, rice and pasta, Ebratt says look for whole grains instead of white flour. She also recommends swapping half of your bowl of traditional pasta for a half-portion of zucchini noodles.
And with the holidays coming, she says to swap out baking oils for ingredients like apple sauce and pumpkin puree.


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Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM, was not only known for his DJing, but also for his prized sneaker collection. Six years after his death, a documentary about his life and times is set for release, and the self-financed and independently produced doc needs some help getting across the finish line.
Through an Indiegogo campaign, DJ AM’s sneakers — part of his 900-plus collection — are available for purchase, and the money from the sales will help with the release of the film, “As I am.”
The campaign has already raised over $90,000 and is looking to reach its goal of $125,000.
One of the most expensive collectables in the campaign, set for $5,000, are Goldstein’s Air Force 1 DJ AM Lasers — a gift from Nike made just for the DJ. Each shoe has unique, individual DJ AM logo placements.
Other sneakers for sale include the Nike SB Dunk Danny Supa, which was the first Nike skateboarding shoe ever made. Pro skater Danny Supa helped with the design, and its colorway was inspired by the NY Mets.
In 2005, one of the most chaotic sneaker releases came from the Nike SB Dunk Pigeons x Staple Design Pigeon lows. The collaboration with Jeff Staple sparked on riots in NYC, according to sneaker expert Jordan Geller. The pair for sale is one of only 202 that were made. The kicks never hit the auction and were only on display at a local Undefeated retailer.
More shoes from Goldstein’s sneaker collection included Nike Lebron Zooms, Nike SB Dunk Tiffany x Diamond Skate Supply Co. and Nike Hyperstrike highs that were never released to the public.
You can help fund the film by visiting the Indiegogo campaign page.
Watch Geller detail each sneaker in the video below.


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The China Alternative is our series on other manufacturing destinations in Asia that are now starting to compete with China in terms of labor costs, infrastructure and operational capacity. In this issue we look at Thailand.
By Teja Yenamandra and Jennifer Park
Mar. 25 – While usually famous for its beautiful women and the sport of muay thai, Thailand is also increasingly becoming an attractive destination for foreign capital.
Thailand was once an agricultural economy, but reformed itself into an industrial powerhouse in the 1970s. Between 1984 and 1994, Thailand had the fastest economic expansion of any nation in the world, but such rapid growth tended to have a destabilizing effect on social and political institutions, creating vacuums for corruption, and civil strife. Thailand has long been the subject of criticism for its poor infrastructure, as improvements are often delayed by cost and indecision.
Located squarely in Southeast Asia, the nation shares a border with Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. It shares a maritime boundary with Vietnam, Indonesia and India.
The nation’s political, commercial, industrial, cultural center is Bangkok – one of the most well-known cities in Southeast Asia. Thailand is the world’s 50th largest country by total area (smaller than Yemen and larger than Spain) and is roughly the size of the American state of Wyoming. It is the 21st most-populous country, and has approximately 64 million people. Roughly 95 percent of the nation practices Buddhism.
Interestingly, the country’s form of government is a constitutional monarchy, with King Bhumibol Adulyadej reigning since 1946 and holding the record for the world’s longest-serving current head of state. The current prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has promised to hold an election this year, but tensions between opposing political forces and the eventual death of the current king may potentially be destabilizing in the months ahead.
Corruption also remains a major issue. The nation’s Anti-Corruption Commission said that Thailand is losing close to 100 billion bhat (roughly US$3.3 billion) per year because of official corruption.
Analysts predict that real GDP will grow by 4.3 percent in 2011, contrasted with the rapid 7.8 percent growth in 2010. However, with higher commodity prices, inflation may rise in the country. Thailand’s current account balance will remain in a surplus, and thus limit its exposure to foreign economic shocks, but its percentage of GDP will fall from roughly 5 percent to 2.5 percent over the next five year period.
According to predictions made by the Economist Intelligence Unit, economic policy will continue to support low-income groups such as taxi drivers and workers with menial jobs with government spending.
Thailand’s financial institutions did not suffer tremendously from the Global Financial Crisis, as their exposure to foreign credit markets remain limited. In June 2009, the government released its Capital Market Development Master Plan, which will aim to guide the economy in 2010-2014. The plan will attempt to introduce more financial products, stronger legal safeguards, and a gradual economic opening up.
Thailand’s export industry rebounded in 2010 after a poor 2009 year due to the world economic crisis. Exports grew by 28.1 percent from 2009, with their combined value reaching US$195.3 billion. Imports also soared in 2010, rising 38 percent since the past year.
Given that Thailand’s natural resources include tin, rubber, timber, lead, and fish, it is not surprising that the country’s main export goods are computers, electrical devices, rubber, jewelry, and fishery products. Thailand is the world’s second largest tungsten producer and third largest tin producer. Thailand is also known for its tourism, textiles and garments, and agricultural processing. Thailand’s main export destinations in 2009 were the United States (10.9 percent), China (10.6 percent), Japan (10.3 percent), Hong Kong (6.2 percent), Australia (5.6 percent), and Malaysia (5 percent).
Thailand’s main imported goods are capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, and fuels. They mainly come from its neighboring Asian countries like Japan (18.7 percent), China (12.7 percent), Malaysia (6.4 percent), Singapore (4.3 percent), and South Korea (4.1 percent). The United States (6.3 percent) and the UAE (5 percent) are also Thailand’s frequent importing nations according to the CIA’s 2009 data. Roughly US$157 billion went into Thailand’s importing in 2010.
According to Economy Rankings conducted by International Finance Corporation (2010), Thailand is ranked 19th out of 183 nations regarding the ease of doing business, just below Japan ranked 18th. Although it is ranked relatively low in terms of ease of starting a business (95th), getting credit (72nd), and paying taxes (91st), it is relatively easy to obtain construction permits (12th), protecting investors (12th), and trading across borders (12th) as well as enforcing contracts (25th) in Thailand. The increased transparency and simplicity of customs procedures and crucial elements of trade facilitation now makes doing business in Thailand even easier. The trading process has shifted to paperless and corruption has also diminished over the years. If we compare this with China, where dealing with constructions permits can be extremely difficult (ranked 181st) and paying taxes even more difficult than is in Thailand (114th), Thailand may be a good alternative destination for those planning to start business in Asia.
The largest overseas investor in Thailand at the end of 2009 was Japan, followed by Singapore and the United States. The most popular foreign direct investment sector was manufacturing. Retail and wholesale trading, non-banking financial institutions, and real estate were also targets of foreign direct investment.
Foreign direct investment reached US$4.71 billion from January to October 2010, which was a 17.7 percent increase from the same 10-month period in 2009. In 2010, an improved benefit for foreign investors with regional operating headquarters in Thailand was that businesses may now qualify for a full waiver of corporate taxes for 15 years on income earned from services for companies overseas. Indeed, the trend of rising favorability for foreign investment is one that contrasts directly with the trend occurring in China at this time.
Various incentives are provided through Thailand’s Board of Investment and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand to attract foreign capital. Policy states that preference is given to investment projects that are located in provincial areas (in particular, Greater Bangkok). Agricultural projects, ones related to technological and human resource development, projects that improve public utilities and infrastructure, and ones that pose solutions for natural resource conversation are also given special treatment.
Thailand was among the first countries in Asia to introduce programs to promote foreign investment. Under the Investment Promotion Act, both tax and non-tax incentives are provided.
Some examples are:
- Value added tax (VAT) is applied at a rate of 0 percent to exported goods. Customs duties on exported goods are generally exempted except on certain goods and agricultural products
- Import duty reduction/exemption on machinery and raw or essential materials
- Corporate income tax exemption for one to eight years
- Double deduction from taxable income of transportation, electricity, and water costs
- Tax exemption for dividends paid out of the exempted profits during the tax exemption period
- Tax exemption for fees for goodwill, copyright, or other rights received from a promoted activity
- Exemption from customs duties on imported goods is granted to member countries of certain international organizations or agreements such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the ASEAN Free Trade Area, the Thailand and Australia Free Trade Agreement, the Thailand and New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement, and the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between the Association of South East Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China
Industrial operators are given the right to own land in the industrial estate’s area, to obtain work permits for foreign technicians and experts, and to remit foreign currency freely abroad. Those who set up shop in Export Processing Zones are provided further tax-based privileges.
Regional operating headquarters, a company incorporated in Thailand in order to provide managerial, technical, or supporting services (“qualifying services”) to its associated branch, are also given additional tax benefits. Privileges include a reduction of corporate tax income from 30 percent to 10 percent on net profits derived from services, royalties, and interests on loans, tax exemption from dividends received from associated enterprises, and accelerated depreciation for buildings used in regional operating headquarters.
The investor must submit an application form along with supporting documentation to the BOI to be considered for incentives. The processing of an application typically takes two to three months.
Like other large industrializing nations in the region, Thailand is a member of the World Trade Organization and thus is bound by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
Under Thai law, the principal forms of business organization are sole proprietorship, partnership (unregistered ordinary partnership, registered ordinary partnership, and limited partnership), limited company (private company limited and public company limited), representative office, branch office, regional office, and regional operating headquarters.
The Foreign Business Act requires Thai-majority ownership in activities such as farming, fishery, land trading, mining, wholesale/retail, restaurant, and various service activities. Other laws such as the Telecommunications Act, Insurance Act, Financial Institution Business Act, Travel Agency Business and Guide Act, and Private School Act also limit foreign equity ownership.
Regarding infrastructure, there are currently 39 major airports in Thailand and the railway system is the most popular means of transportation. The railway stretches from Bangkok to even remote areas in Thailand. The railroad also crosses over into neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. Trains are well-equipped for longer trips and are clean as well as punctual.
Active international trade is conducted through Thailand’s ports. Klong Toey Port on the Chao Phraya River is where approximately 85 percent of Thailand’s trade takes place. Much international trade also occurs at the deep seaports located on the eastern coast and the southern coast of Thailand.
Thailand’s public transportation is in the process of being overhauled to compensate for Bangkok’s notoriously congested traffic jams. Interestingly, Thailand is within the world’s top-five markets for pickup trucks, illustrating both Thailand’s high level of commerce as well as the degree of congestion present in the developing nation.
Thailand’s telecommunications industry has come a long way over the past decade, measured by the increase in usage of fixed-line telephone systems and the wide-spread availability of cellular, paging and other technology. However, Thailand’s teledensity remains very low, indicating both an opportunity for potential growth in the sector, as well as a potential hindrance to conducting business.
The China Alternative
Our complete series on other manufacturing destinations in Asia that are now starting to compete with China in terms of labor costs, infrastructure and operational capacity.
This unique book is an introductory study of all 14 of China’s neighbor countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam.
Operational Costs of Business in China’s Inland Cities
It is widely held that land and labor costs in inland provinces offer quite significant cost savings over major east coast and southern cities. In this issue, we take a quick look at the numbers behind these beliefs.
Coastal China, Inland China, India or Vietnam for Your Sourcing Business?


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B2B digital lending startup Mintifi raised $40 million on 8th February in Series C round of funding which was led by “Norwest Venture Partners” and “Elevation Capital”. Avendus Capital, a Financial Services firm, acted as the advisor for the funding.
Who founded Mintifi?
The company which was founded by Anup Agarwal, Ankit Mehta and Sanjay Shome in 2017 will use these funds to improve their tech infrastructure and expand the product offerings. It will build an end-to-end fulfilment platform to deepen its engagement across the supply chain network.
Major clients of Mintifi.
The company serves over 100 clients, which include Tata Motors, Bridgestone tyres, and Berger Paints. Through digitalizing, invoicing, and purchase financing solutions, distributors and retailers can improve the process of their supply chain. The company also offers loans to nearly 9000 distributors and retailers.
The current credit terms of B2B payments are rigid and don’t always fit the cash-cycle needs of retailers and distributors. According to the company, Mintifi’s payment and financing stack improve payment processing time for brands, distributors and retailers.
“Mintifi adopts a full-stack approach to address the transaction, financing and payment needs of the B2B ecosystem through its unique B2B BNPL solution and technology platform. Mintifi’s offering has witnessed strong adoption from over 100 leading brands in India while operating a profitable business model,” said Niren Shah, MD and Head at Norwest Venture Partners India.
With annualized purchases of $300 million, the company has grown four times over the last financial year. By 2023, the company expects its annual purchase finance volume to reach $1 billion.
“The entire B2B ecosystem is at the cusp of a massive transformation across credit, payments and fulfilments and we are happy to play our bit in driving it. Today, across industries, brands are using our platform to drive higher efficiency and faster growth in their supply chain network,” said Anup Agarwal, co-founder and CEO at Mintifi.
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Between 2010 and 2015, Britain’s independent professionals experienced wage growth at six time the rate of full-time employees, according to new analysis of labour market data.
The study, undertaken by freelance marketplace PeoplePerHour with researchers from University of Westminster Business School, showed that the average hourly rate charged by freelancers on the platform in the five-year period increased by 26.83 per cent moving from 16.34 to 20.73 per hour by 2015.
To put that wage growth in perspective, the study looked at freelance wagesagainst data taken from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). For workers in regular employment, wages rose by just 4.52 per cent in the five years to 2015 meaning slow growth from 14.60 to just 15.26.
By the end of 2015, freelancers were earning an average 5.47 per hour more than the national average for employees, or 36 per cent.
Commenting on the significant wage growth enjoyed by freelancers, Xenios Thrasyvoulou, founderand CEO of PeoplePerHour. attributed the widening gap to two central factors the quality of work delivered alongside greater demand from businesses for experienced professionals on a short-term basis.
with more highly-skilled professionals seeking equilibrium in their work-life balance, many are turning to self-employment as a way toboth command higher hourly rates and to have the autonomy they crave, ” Thrasyvoulou said.
equally, as companies switch on to themany benefits of the freelance workforce, freelancers are able to pick and choose their clients and negotiate theirhourly rate they are worth, and in turn, businesses are willing to pay more for the skills, expertise and flexibility such a workforce brings.”
Working for free
Despite the strong figures produced by PeoplePerHour, previous research has highlighted trends within freelance industries of unpaid work. In 2016, 70 per cent of freelancers were asked to work for free, according to one study.
Freelance photographers received the most requests, with 87 per cent asked to work for free. Some 16 per cent throughout the UK agreed.
The figures were released by Approve.io as part of wider research into workplace exploitation. A common tactic employed by larger brands on social media to get freelancers working for nothing, the company claimed, was the promise of industry exposure.
there’s a difference between helping out a mate or offering your time for free to a good cause or charity and being exploited by a businesses that could and should be offering to pay for your talent, said Charlotte Whelan, a project manager at Approve.io
you wouldnt walk into a hairdressers and ask for a free haircut on the promise that youll tell all your mates where you got your hair done.
In a recent article for Business Advice, Jason Kitcat, micro business ambassador for Crunch Accounting, advised freelancers to think of alternative ways to compensate for working for free.
if your new client genuinely doesnt have the funds to pay you, try and figure out another way that you can have a mutually beneficial relationship with them. Does the client offer any services or products that could help your business grow and get off the ground?
instead of working for free, find out if you can trade your skills for something they have that could bring value to your company.


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America’s Ports, Freight System Recognized in MAP-21 Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization. With congressional passage today of MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) says elements in the two-year, $105 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill elevate the priority of freight movement in a way that constitutes major progress in recognizing the value of America’s seaports and freight network to the economy, jobs creation and business development. The bill, which includes important language in support of maintaining federal navigation channels and creating a national freight plan, authorizes and funds transportation programs at current levels through the end of fiscal 2014. AAPA Executive Vice President Jean Godwin said the association and its member ports have fought “long and hard” for many of the provisions agreed to in this bill. “For the first time, a surface transportation reauthorization includes consideration of the water transportation mode and elevates goods movement priorities that have traditionally been ignored in previous surface transportation bills,” said Ms. Godwin. “This legislation demonstrates meaningful progress toward creation of a national freight policy and highlights the critical importance of fully funding the costs of maintaining America’s federal navigation channels.”
President Obama is today, expected to sign a five-year, $305 billion transportation reauthorization bill that Congress overwhelmingly passed yesterday which includes $11 billion in new freight funding grants and programs and other top priorities among America’s seaports. The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (H.R. 22) is the first long-term transportation bill in 10 years, and the first ever to make freight a priority and significantly focus on port
Stressing port industry concerns over the growing volume of freight moving over Americaâ€™s already congested transportation system, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jean Godwin will go before the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission on March 19 to urge Commission members to recognize the importance of efficient port access when making recommendations to Congress to address future surface
Asia to Northern Europe shipping freight rates for transporting containers jumped by 177.3 percent to $1.109 per 20-foot container (TEU) in the week ended on Friday, reports Reuters, quoting data from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange. As all major container shipping lines implemented a price hike announced earlier, the freight rates rose nearly three-fold. Freight rates on the world’s busiest shipping route have tanked this year due to overcapacity in
Shipping freight rates for transporting containers from ports in Asia to Northern Europe fell by 13.9 percent to $469 per 20-foot container (TEU) in the week ended on Friday, one source with access to data from the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index told Reuters. It was the fourth consecutive week of falling freight rates on the world's busiest route, and the current level is widely seen as loss-making to shipping companies.
Shipping freight rates for transporting containers from ports in Asia to Northern Europe fell 13.1 percent to $636 per 20-foot container (TEU) in the week ended on Friday, a source with access to data from the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index told Reuters. The shipping industry has been battling overcapacity linked to a glut of new vessels ordered during a boom period before the global financial crisis of 2007-2009.
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), in coordination with the Georgia Ports Authority, will host the seminar Communicating the Importance of Infrastructure Investment, June 21-23, at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Ga. Targeting public and government relations professionals throughout the freight transportation industry, the conference will focus on effectively communicating with policymakers, and those who influence policy
As the shipping operator BG Freight Line is set for a new freight service connecting the links, Scotland’s food and drink, chemical and manufacturing industries are looking for a boost. BG Freight Line, wholly-owned by Clydeport owner Peel Ports, has extended its Irish Sea network with a new service connecting Rotterdam, Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin and Greenock. The route, which will also take in Belfast
Freight rates for shipping containers from Asia to northern Europe fell 10 percent to $233 per 20-foot container (TEU) in the week ended on Friday, one source with access to data from the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index told Reuters. It was the fifth consecutive week of falling freight rates on the world's busiest route. Rates are at their lowest since June 19, and widely seen as at loss-making levels. Rates dropped 20 percent from Asia to ports in the Mediterranean
Shipping freight rates for transporting containers from ports in Asia to Northern Europe surged 327.7 percent to $988 per 20-foot container (TEU) in the week ended on Friday, one source with access to data from the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index told Reuters. The fourfold increase was the result of planned rate increased announced earlier in October by the majority of the largest shipping companies. In the week to Friday
Santosh Gangwar - Minister of State for Finance, GoI laid the foundation stone of a project intended to offer convenience to transporters CHAs and FFs of the country’s largest all-weather; deep water port on the east-coast of India – Krishnapatnam Port.
Capesize market "absolutely dead" on Thursday - broker. Vale says no new cargoes but owners sail empty vessels to Brazil. Freight rates for large capesize dry cargo ships on key Asian routes will continue to fall next week as too many ships chase available cargoes
Members of BSR’s Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) have agreed on a climate action statement and call to action for the container shipping sector and its value chain to support private-sector contributions for the global goals on climate change.
The recent rally in Asia to Europe spot market rates has improved carriers’ chances of securing higher 2017 contract rates. How much extra will shippers have to fork out? It has been another typically volatile year as far as the spot freight rate market (i.e
Capesize rates slip from year-long highs as miners absent; owners still optimistic of Q4 rate bounce. Freight rates for large capesize dry cargo shippers on key Asian routes, which hit the highest in about a year last Thursday, are set to remain buoyant during China's week-long National Day
Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Mario Cordero announced that the Commission has completed compromise agreements recovering a total of $338,000 in civil penalties. The agreements were reached with one vessel-operating common carrier and six ocean transportation intermediaries (both
What does the story of the collapse of Korean container shipping line Hanjin illustrate in terms of the journey undergone by the liner sector in modern times? Clarksons Research analyses the biggest headlines that the container, or any other
Owners seeking to push rates higher, close to year-long highs; dry bulk sector to see greater consolidation - BIMCO. Freight rates for large capesize dry cargo ships on key Asian routes are likely to remain steady next week even as owners try to push rates up close to year-highs
The Port of Barcelona is pursuing an active policy to increase the competitive edge of its customers, fostering the development of efficient and operational services that respond to their needs for international shipping and logistics services
Gibdock has redelivered the Seatruck Ferries container/ro-ro vessel Clipper Point on-time, after a fast turnaround 11-day renewal project for the Clipper Group-owned operator. The ship has subsequently been introduced to Seatrucks’ Irish Sea operations.
Many vessels available for charter put pressure on freight rates. Freight rates for large capesize dry cargo ships on key Asian routes are set to slide next week as the number of ships available for charter outpaced cargo demand, ship brokers said on Thursday.
The European Union's securities markets regulator has dropped proposals to make participants in the multi-billion dollar commodity derivatives market for freight rates disclose knowledge of loading conditions, the Baltic Exchange said.
Already the busiest port of entry in America for international air freight, Miami International Airport will soon be able to receive perishable freight imports by sea as well – a first for any Florida airport – through a permit approved in September by the U.S
CMA CGM informed its customers that the collection of Terminal Handling Charges (THC), which was introduced in Ghana on July 20th, 2016, has been temporarily suspended, effective October 4th, 2016. CMA CGM will communicate on the resumption in due course.
Hanjin’s receivership represents the trough of the container shipping market and despite continuing concerns of weak trade growth and fleet oversupply a gradual market recovery is now expected, according to the latest annual Container Forecaster and Review 2016/17 report published by global


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This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on October 31, 2022 - November 6, 2022
The jaw-dropping fall of the stocks of US tech giants over the past week, which wiped off nearly US$800 billion (RM3.8 trillion) in market value, has prompted
investors to rethink the intrinsic value of the counters for which they once paid top dollar because of the anticipated exponential growth.
The disappointing financial results and weak outlook guidance from Google’s parent Alphabet Inc, Microsoft Corp, Meta Platforms Inc and Amazon.com Inc seem like a reality check on the steep valuations of tech stocks globally.
The better-than-expected earnings by Apple Inc — the most valuable US tech company — offered a glimmer of hope in a gloomy week, but its iPhone sales came in
below analysts’ targets.
Adding fuel to the fiery selldown is Chinese President Xi Jinping’s precedent-breaking third term. Xi is known for cracking down on Chinese tech companies, many of which are listed on the Nasdaq, including Baidu Inc, Tencent Holdings Ltd and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
The market value of the Nasdaq has been slashed by a third so far this year, with Meta on the brink of falling out of the world’s top 20 stocks list. On Bursa Malaysia, the fall in the technology index is even bigger, down 40% year to date.
An optimistic tone was struck when investors started to dump tech counters
early this year. While the US Federal Reserve’s hawkish policy to contain inflation was
initially said to be the culprit, it is now
evident that the tech rout is not a temporary shake-out, following the latest dismal financial results.
Is there another opportunity to gain from the tech space, as it is still a major contributor to economic development?
Given the recession fears brought about by the aggressive interest rate hikes globally and with liquidity drying up, perhaps the more relevant thought should be taking whatever profit is still left on the table, if not cutting losses, before the giant bubble bursts.
Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.
P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's AppStore and Androids' Google Play.


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Uber on event Apps?
Event apps are the fastest growing part of the event tech industry in 2016. From attendee management, meeting software, event planning, beacons or simply an update to the old event agenda – event technology is changing the way we plan and run events. It should come as no surprise then that sources in the tech industry are looking to integrate Uber in to their offering
Ridesharing behemoth Uber have recently unveiled an official “Uber Ride Request Button” that developers can add to iOS and Android Apps they create. Thus allowing event apps to integrate the newly released Uber functionality in to any new update.


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(Reuters) --Soaring sales of new and used vehicles boosted the first-quarter results at Group 1 Automotive Inc. and Asbury Automotive Group Inc.
The results underscored what has emerged as a blockbuster quarter for most of the major U.S. auto dealership groups. AutoNation Inc., Penske Automotive Group Inc., Lithia Motors Inc., and Sonic Automotive Inc. all reported solid quarters in their reports this week.
Group 1 today said it posted its biggest quarterly profit ever. And the retailer said it expects new vehicle industry sales of 14.5 million units in 2012.
The company is heavily reliant on Toyota Motor Corp. for its sales. In the first quarter, Toyota's new-vehicle sales rose 12 percent.
Houston-based Group 1's revenue from new vehicles rose 16 percent to $912.6 million, while sales of its smaller used-vehicle retail segment jumped 28 percent.
January-March net income rose to $23.1 million, or 97 cents per share, from $15.4 million, or 64 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 18 percent to $1.66 billion.
Analysts had expected a profit of 88 cents on revenue of $1.59 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.
Group 1 shares dipped 1 percent to $57.64 in trading on Thursday.
Group 1 ranks No. 4 on the Automotive News list of the top 125 U.S. dealership groups with new vehicle sales of 102,022 in 2011.
Meanwhile, Asbury Automotive reported higher income from continuing operations as it posted gains from both new and used vehicle sales.
The company, in a report today, said it posted income from continuing operations for the first quarter of $18.0 million, or 57 cents per diluted share, versus adjusted income from continuing operations in the first quarter 2011 of $11.4 million, or 34 cents per diluted share.
January-March net income fell to $17.6 million, or 56 cents per share, from $19.9 million, or 59 cents, a year ago.
Excluding items, Asbury earned 57 cents per share. Revenue rose 7 percent to $1.1 billion. Analysts had expected a profit of 49 cents per share on revenue of $1.13 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.
New vehicle sales rose 5 percent to $589.7 million, while revenue from its smaller used-vehicle segment jumped 10 percent.
Asbury shares rose 2 percent to $27.72 in Thursday trading.
Asbury, based in suburban Atlanta, ranks No. 7 on the Automotive News list of the top 125 U.S. dealership groups with new vehicle sales of 68,770 in 2011.


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Even Ferrari Has Closed Its Factory Doors
First it was Lamborghini that temporarily shuttered its factory for the coronavirus pandemic, and now its Italian supercar rival, Ferrari, has also stopped production until March 27.
The road car factory and Formula 1 operations, located in Maranello, will be closed. According to a statement by Ferrari, while it had tried to keep its factories going, the problem is with the supply chain that has inhibited production. All non-production work will continue, with employees working from home.
“At a time like this,” said Louis Camilleri, Ferrari’s CEO, in a statement “my gratitude goes first and foremost to Ferrari’s women and men who, with their tremendous commitment over the past few days, have demonstrated the passion and dedication that defines our marque. Together with our suppliers, they have ensured the Company’s production. And it is out of our respect for them, for their peace of mind and those of their families that we have decided on this course of action.
“Our clients and fans are also top of mind for us at this time, as we prepare for a strong restart.”
The Italian government has taken extreme measures to fight the coronavirus, including closing schools, bars and restaurants, as well as issuing severe fines to members of the public caught outside for no reason. Formula 1 has also cancelled the first race of the season in Australia and at least postponed upcoming Grand Prix in China, Vietnam, Qatar and the Netherlands, with the sport’s governing body suggesting the start of the season may be postponed to the end of May.
*Images courtesy of Ferrari


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Memory chip manufacturer Rexchip is hoping to recoup about one-sixth of the 10.47 billion yen (US$128.8 million) its parent company, Elpida Memory, owes it following the approval of the latter's financial restructuring plan.
The Taipei Times reported Monday that Rexchip, a joint venture between Elpida and Taiwan's Powerchip Technology, will look to receive about 1.8 billion yen (US$22.4 million) for previous contract DRAM (dynamic random access memory) manufacturing services.
The estimated sum comes after the Tokyo District Court approved Elpida's financial restructuring plan earlier this month, it added. The Japanese company will repay only 17.4 percent of its debts to creditors which have no collateral guaranteeing repayment such as Rexchip, and these payments will be spread over a seven-year period.
It will, however, pay of all its debts to creditors that have sufficient collateral to protect their rights, the report added.
Rexchip said it has booked provisions covering all of Elpida's debts, and any amount repaid in the future will be treated as non-operating income. The Taiwanese company has a NT$2.6 billion loan (US$88.7 million) due Nov. 20, but has only about NT$500 million (US$17.1 million) in cash on hand currently, it noted.
Elpida filed for bankruptcy protection back in February this year and delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, after it suffered heavy losses amid a sluggish demand in the global DRAM industry. Bloomberg reported the company lost money for five straight quarters and was unable to sustain its debts of 448 billion yen (US$5.5 billion) as it could not get fresh funding.
In July, Micron Technology said it will acquire Elpida for US$2.5 billion.


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New Zealand's Economy Expected to 'Bounce Back' Post-election: But Big Businesses Remain Struggling
Experts forecast that New Zealand's economy might see a post-election uplift, but it might mean little for big businesses struggling with cost-of-living effects.
New Zealand is a nation affected by cost of living pressures this year, with many households cutting their spending on groceries and retail. This knock-on effect impacts many businesses as significant drops in retail spending have been recorded.
However, labour pressure costs are expected to ease in the upcoming year. Additionally, the recent ANZ Business Outlook index shows improved business confidence overall. However, these indicators bring little immediate benefit to big businesses.
"Business confidence hasn't flowed through to the real economy yet."
Big businesses are still reporting a slow performance, and there has yet to be a tangible result of the economic uplift. According to Frances Sweetman, a portfolio manager at Milford Asset Management, big companies are still recovering from interest rate rises. Speaking to AM, Sweetman said.
"We've had people like Fletcher Building continue to be more cautious around their house sales; they're now expecting them 25 per cent lower than last year,"
"We've seen Freightways say they're seeing packages of kind of 5 per cent. The Port of Tauranga, who do loads of imports, saying they are seeing total volumes of 9 per cent - so what you're getting from big businesses instead is this ongoing slowing … and that pickup in business confidence hasn't flowed through to the real economy yet, so it's just not happening."
Claiming that big businesses are facing a difficult point in the economy, Sweetman cannot confirm when these companies will see a positive change.
"One of my grandma's favourite phrases was don't try and pick up pennies in front of a bulldozer, and the bulldozer that we're trying to deal with is those rising interest rates and people's mortgages. Still, a lot of people haven't rolled over onto those seven percents that we're seeing now - that hurts, and that will continue to weigh," she said.
"But we're in this weird place where if it doesn't, then we'll just see more rate rises because we still need the economy to slow. It's almost like good news is bad news."
Migration and tourism could provide a boost
There might be a piece of positive news for big businesses, as increased migrations and a big tourism forecast this summer could potentially be significant in turning things around for these companies. New Zealand's annual migration levels have surpassed its pre-pandemic levels in April, a testament that the nation remains an attractive employment destination.
"All signs are that migration is going to continue to boom, and it's a great one that you pick up on because that will really help the economy, bringing in more demand and also helping to ease those labour constraints. So that's one thing that could change the story a little bit is that migration and also, a really good tourism summer would also really help," Sweetman said.
Additionally, businesses in the essential services sector, like electricity and telecommunications, are seeing "great" results. Sweetman claims big businesses could expect their revenue to moderate next year after a short summer hiatus. However, this depends on various economic factors and "moving parts."
"I think maybe we'll have a bit of a summer hiatus, but I think next year we'll continue to see things moderate…. I think that the hiatus over summer is real, and then the bit that's really weighing on the economy, in addition to the interest rate rises, is the global economy."
Reverencing other factors that affect the economic implications for big businesses, Sweetman says.
"We've seen dairy prices come off, and that's another big factor; if the global economy turns around, maybe those oil prices come back down, that would also be helpful. So there's a lot of different moving parts - but at the moment, the real game in town is those interest rates and inflation."
What it means for businesses
With increased economic uncertainties, businesses are under more pressure than ever to minimise risk and ensure their projects are safeguarded from cost-of-living pressures. While the market remains uncertain for the year ahead, businesses should take steps to manage their asset and be prepared for any scenario.
Bonded NZ helps business owners remain efficient in economic uncertainties through comprehensive and tailored business insurance. Whether it's public liability or professional indemnity insurance, our cost-effective options help them secure their business at every angle.
For more information about our services, contact our team today.


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Patch 1.09 arrives for Killzone: Shadow Fall
The latest patch has arrived for Killzone; Shadow Fall bringing an array of fixes and updates to the PS4-exclusive shooter.
The biggest improvement to the game comes in the form of clan support. Features like inviting party members to join your clan and clantags are now available in-game as well as on the game's official website.
The single player has also received a host of improvements including the ability to lock the frame rate to 30fps for a more stable visual experience and adding checkpoint saving to every revive event to make the game less of a trek if you die.
More information is available over on the Killzone website.
- Borderlands 2 writer leaving Gearbox to join Freddie Wong's RocketJump production company
- Bloodborne will be harder than Demon's Souls and features procedurally generated dungeons
- Hearthstone users pass the 75 million mark, new expansion on the way says new report
- Square Enix unveils the Final Fantasy Type-0 Collector's Edition
- Life Is Strange arrives today
- SEGA cuts jobs in the biggest strategic shift since they binned the Dreamcast
- Big new update arrives for Frozen Cortex
- Introversion's Prison Architect will see its full launch this year, mobile version announced
- Ken Levine's next game is a first-person sci-fi title


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The latest UK manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reading is still well above the break-even 50 level and consequently it is consistent with strong growth in the sector, with the report suggesting that domestic demand is the main driver of growth. Apparently exports are improving “only in fits and starts” despite the strong European economy and the competitiveness boost from sterling weakness.
While this is clearly a positive story, we have to remember that manufacturing is a relatively small part of the UK economy. Services appear to be under more pressure, as highlighted within the 1Q GDP report and we will be closely following Monday’s services PMI to see if it can hold onto recent gains.
Our chief concerns regarding the economic outlook surround consumer spending given that wages are failing to keep pace with the cost of living. Meanwhile Brexit uncertainty is likely to make businesses more cautious about hiring new workers and investing in their businesses. This lead us to think the economy will grow only 1.5% this year.
UK Markit/CIPS manufacturing PMI
Irrespective of the election outcome, Brexit uncertainty is unlikely to fade meaningfully anytime soon. With growth risks remaining to the downside we continue to expect stable policy from the Bank of England until the negotiations are concluded, given the lack of domestically generated inflation pressures.


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Daily News Archive
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Inglis Premier Sale Live On TVN
ThoroughVisioN will broadcast live from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands in Melbourne on both Sunday & Monday. TVN will also broadcast live next month from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale at Newmarket in Sydney. Managing director Reg Inglis commented: "Inglis yearling sales create a unique atmosphere that holds a particular fascination for many people & we are delighted TVN viewers all over Australia will be able to share that experience with us in Melbourne this weekend."


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Africa's Challenges Are Tech Startups' Opportunities
Local Entrepreneurs Develop Sturdier Products Tailored to Continent's Technological Needs
NAIROBI, Kenya—About a year ago, a nationwide blackout and accompanying power surge sent a jolt of electricity through this city's grid that fried computers and other electronic devices. What was a catastrophe for many companies here presented an opportunity for another.
Nairobi-based BRCK Inc. is about to release a surge-resistant, battery-powered router that can access data via cellular connections, in the latest example of local technology companies coming up with new commercial products specifically designed to address African problems.
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Fans around the world gathered online to discuss and critique each pick in the NFL’s biggest event of the off-season. It brought some sense of normalcy and hope to many fans in a time we can all use it.
For card collectors, the draft brings new players for team collectors to collect, a little clarity to where the hottest rookies will play and a shot to size up the roster battles for your favorite sleeper prospects. It
Today’s card of the day honors the #1 Overall Pick in last night’s NFL Draft! We saw this 2020 Leaf Metal Draft Gold AutographJoe Burrow 1/1 sell for $1,500 via best offer last night. That’s a pretty hefty sum for a non-NFL jersey rookie card. It will be interesting to see how Burrow progresses and to see how hot and heavy collectors pursue his cards.


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TCS had first replaced RIL as the most valued firm more than five years ago.
New Delhi: Reliance Industries Ltd on Tuesday regained its status as the country's most valued firm by market capitalisation (m-cap), replacing Tata Group's TCS from the top slot.
During afternoon trade on BSE, the market valuation of RIL stood at Rs 7,47,676.35 crore, which is Rs 8,378.48 crore more than that of Tata Consultancy Services' Rs 7,39 ,297.87 crore m-cap. Shares of RIL surged 2.75 per cent to Rs 1,181.35 -- its lifetime high on BSE on Tuesday.
On the other hand, shares of TCS fell by 0.79 per cent to Rs 1,929.55. TCS had first replaced RIL as the most valued firm more than five years ago. So far this year, RIL shares have surged over 28 per cent, while those of TCS slumped 28.5 per cent.
Reliance Industries had earlier this month crossed the USD 100-billion market capitalisation mark. The m-cap figure of companies changes daily with stock price movement.


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412® x The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy® 2021
412® and The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy® have announced a new partnership to celebrate the Parks Conservancy's 25th anniversary. The brand-new partnership kicks off with the launch of an apparel and accessories collection featuring graphics celebrating Pittsburgh's parks.
We kicked off our partnership with a call to action on a billboard near Schenley Park. GO OUTSIDE was our Spring 2021 theme to raise awareness of the many great parks in our city.
We donated a portion of proceeds from this collection to support the non-profit's Campership program, which provides scholarships for children whose families who can cannot afford the full cost of the Conservancy's summer camps.
is backordered. We will ship it separately in 10 to 15 days.


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It was an accident. It was a municipal headache. It was a Roald Dahl fan’s dream.
Soon, the leaked liquid chocolate — about a ton in all — solidified in the crisp December air, creating something of a magical carpet that blanketed Weststrasse.
“A ten-square-meter choco-pancake formed,” the Werl fire department explained in a dramatic statement that warned chocolate lovers to “stay strong” before reading about the incident.
Comparisons to “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” were inevitable.
The Werl fire department said the road was closed for about two hours and cleaned “with shovels and muscle power.”
“This was a traffic hazard, which made the use of the fire department necessary,” the department said.
Images of the cleanup effort showed firefighters using shovels, blow torches and hot water to remove the congealed and hardened chocolate — and appearing to, alas, throw it away in nearby bins.
The Werl fire department assured people that “despite the heartbreaking incident, it is unlikely that a chocolate-free Christmas is imminent in Werl.”
DreiMeister chief executive Markus Luckey told the Germany newspaper Soester Anzeiger that it would have been “a catastrophe” had the spill happened closer to Christmas and that the chocolate factory would be reopened Wednesday.
It’s not the first time Europe has seen such a delicious mess. Earlier this year, about 12 tons of melted chocolate spilled across a highway in Poland after a tanker overturned.
Isaac Stanley-Becker contributed to this report.


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The concept has skyrocketed for all things produce, and the industry is still working to catch up to its rapid growth spurt.
It’s with this in mind that the Organic Produce Summit (OPS) was conceived: to achieve a meeting of all sides of the industry to educate, connect, and leverage the growing method that has become its own facet of produce.
The unveiling of this organic-focused affair drew over 800 attendees to Monterey, California, last year, as well as 72 exhibitors. Over 150 buyers from 70 different buying groups made the inaugural event, representing over 50,000 stores across North America that are purchasing organics.
On July 12th through 13th of this year, organizers Matt Seeley and Susan Canales promise even more with 120 booths of growers, shippers, and processors of organic fresh produce. The Monterey Hyatt Resort & Spa show floor itself was sold out well in advance of this year’s July show, but worry not–if anything this promises to mean more for those who attend.
Susan, Director of Operations for OPS, tells me there will be a series of educational breakout sessions focusing on excellence of organic produce merchandising at retail. Those of you who made it to last year’s might recall that every session was not only relevant and resonating, but packed to the brim with eager industry members.
An overview of the current debate on growing organics hydroponically and in enclosed environments, as well as a look at robotics and automation in organic fresh produce production, are also on the agenda for this second annual summit.
The buy-side will be present in force, it seems, with Susan sharing that over 200 retailers/buying organizations representing over 80 different companies confirmed their attendance as of late last month.
“I am attending the Organic Produce Summit in an effort to improve organic offerings for our consumers,” Ed Pohlman, Produce Category Manager and Senior Buyer for Schnuck Markets, tells me. “I hope to do this by conversing with current and maybe future suppliers on specific programs.”
Ed is far from the only one, it seems, as Susan looks forward to topping last year’s numbers.
“We are thrilled to host the largest gathering of organic fresh produce growers, shipper and processors, and members of the buying community ever assembled at an event dedicated exclusively to organic fresh produce,” Susan says. “OPS provides the entire organic produce industry an opportunity to see firsthand the current–and future–state of organics on California’s Central Coast, the cradle of organic fresh produce production. There is an enormous appetite for information and education as it relates to organic fresh produce and OPS 2017 will be the place to network with leaders in this multi-billion dollar industry.”
As retailers and foodservice providers continue to work on catching the still-rising organic wave, the summit also brings insights from those on the buy-side doing it best. Susan and returning Master of Ceremonies Tonya Antle tell me that a retailer roundtable is one of the key highlights on the docket. The event will feature executives of three of the nation’s largest and most progressive retailers–Wegmans, Costco, and Sprouts, all of whom have managed to stay ahead of the curve on the trend.
“I am delighted to once again be Master of Ceremonies of the Organic Produce Summit this coming July,” Tonya, who is also Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Organic Produce Network, says. “The general session on day two will be the main highlight of the OPS education agenda. We will be bringing together leading authorities in their fields of expertise, to share and discuss issues and opportunities for the organic category, organic retailing and what the organic consumer is demanding.”
The retail roundtable will include Dave Corsi, Vice President of Produce and Floral for Wegmans Food Markets, Heather Shavey, Assistant Vice President of Global Produce of Costco Wholesale, and Chad Miller, Vice President for Produce Procurement, Sprouts Farmers Market. “These three panelists are highly regarded as thought leaders in organic produce purchasing and merchandising. They will be sharing their insights, as well as what the future of the organic category looks like for their companies moving forward,” Tonya adds.
In fact, a few notables from Costco have gone on to dive even deeper into organic and, as such, are making sure to keep OPS on their calendar.
Erica Welton, a former Organic Milk Buyer for Costco, and former Costco executive Dennis Hoover, have teamed up to create The Organic Coup, a chain of now nine retail locations throughout California’s Bay Area and plans to open more throughout 2017, including AT&T Park.
Both Erica and Dennis will be at OPS to share not only their passion for organics and The Organic Coup’s conception, but the summit’s importance as well as they look to engage and inspire productive talks at the event.
“OPS is a tremendous opportunity to share our story with those responsible for producing and marketing organic fresh produce,“ Erica shares. “The future of food come from people with deep courage, powerful voices, and unwavering vision who want to make a positive impact. It’s rewarding to connect with others who share our mission and we look forward to being a part of OPS 2017.”
And they are far from the only ones in the retail sector counting the days until the second OPS.
“It was great to be a part of the first annual Organic Produce Summit Last year. The show offered a concentrated look at the full organic selections from many grower/packer/shippers,” Chris Miller, Regional Coordinator of Produce, Meat, Bulk, Seafood, Cheese for MOM’s Organic Market, tells me. “The size of the show floor was just right for the time laid out. It did not feel rushed, and there was a lot of awesome opportunities for one-on-one conversations. I was impressed by the organic centric programming that allowed for lots of great discussions. It was also great to have a happy hour event where everyone had interest in organics!”
And as for whether or not he’ll be there for round two? Absolutely. “I am looking forward to seeing new organic offerings from the many brands exhibiting at the show this year. It will be great to get in on the educational sessions while catching up with old friends and meeting new ones!” Chris adds.
Last year’s success has also spread to include new faces from the buy-side, bringing first-time attendees to get in on OPS while it is still new and growing.
“We are looking forward to a great show,” shares United Supermarkets Procurement Manager Kyle Reeves. “We are committed to growing our organic business and wanted to expand our knowledge of the business while possibly growing our partner base as well. We heard a lot of good things about the show last year and decided that we should attend. We are looking forward to the tours and all that OPS has to offer this year.”
Also attending for the first time will be Greg Corrigan, Senior Director of Produce for Raley’s.
“I am looking forward to this year’s coveted Organic Produce Summit as both a first-time attendee and supporter of growth in the organic fresh produce sector,” Greg says. “Last year wrapped up with rave reviews, and I am eager to experience this unique trade show first hand and see what new and exciting items our industry’s growers, packers, shippers, processors and distributors are bringing to the table. See you all in Monterey!”
In addition to The Organic Coup, keynote presentations will include an overview of organic fresh produce sales, trends, and drivers by data company Nielsen, while noted Dietitian Ashley Koff and food industry analyst Robyn O’Brien will discuss the key factors impacting consumer demand for organics today and in the future.
“The audience will also be wowed by two of the leading experts in nutrition and the food movement towards more organic consumption, Ashley Koff and Robyn O’Brien,” Tonya says. “We are sure to be all enlightened and entertained with their hot TED Talk-style. Both are sought-after speakers and influencers of consumers everywhere.”
With last year’s inaugural event keeping all it promised and beyond—packed sessions, heavy presence from key buyers, insights into consumer demand, and genuine networking—I can only imagine what this second round has in store for us.
So block off July 12th and 13th, book your ticket (travel advisors say six weeks out is the ideal time to buy) and meet us at The Crown and Anchor for a drink before we head to all things organic.


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BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In less than a month land borders will reopen across the Rio Grande Valley. It is a glimmer of hope for a small business owner, who is cautiously optimistic about the future.
Of the 14 fabric shops that once operated in the downtown Brownsville area, El Conquistador is the only one remaining open.
“Business is good because of competition,” store owner Juan Kenigstein said. “But there’s no competition and there’s no business.”
Kenigstein told ValleyCentral he sees roughly 20 customers per day. It is a sharp decline from the more than 100 he had seen pre-pandemic.
“It’s been very difficult,” he said. “We’ve been down 70 to 80 percent.”
After more than 19 months of being closed, land borders linking the United States and Mexico are finally reopening for leisure travel.
For small business owners like Kenigstein, it is the saving grace needed to remain open.
A large portion of people who visit his downtown store come from Mexico. Many cross the Gateway International Bridge daily to shop and eat in the area.
Kenigstein said, his store briefly closed due to COVID-19, but he eventually reopened to sell fabric, so people could make masks, but, “it stopped, everybody started making masks … and they make the disposable ones,” Kenigstein said.
Congressman Henry Cuellar said constant pressure on the Biden Administration led to the reopening.
“They had to understand that this was important to our economy,” Cuellar said. “How do you lose $19 billion from the Mexicans that were coming over and shopping?, and that doesn’t include what the Canadians were spending.”
It is welcome news for Kenigstein whose family business has been a part of the community for the past 50 years.
“It will help our business [and] we will be able to provide more labor, and we’ll be able to be here for another 50 years, hopefully,” he said.
After nearly two years of closed land borders, Kenigstein said he fears some shoppers may not return.
“They got used to buying things in Mexico, they might not buy the same things here. Maybe a few will, but not all of them,” he said.
White House officials said border travel restrictions will be lifted on Nov. 8, for fully vaccinated people.
“That will really help,” Kenigstein said.” But I will believe it when I see it.”


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As campaigns against Chinese brands intensify and the virus keeps people indoors, Vivo plays it slow with a digital-first launch plan.
In the ordinary scheme of things, the launch of V19, the newly minted model from Vivo would have been a noisy affair.
In the past, its launches have usually been timed alongside the annual cricketing carnival, with flashy and long drawn campaigns.
But nothing about 2020 has been ordinary and Vivo, having decided to push the V19 launch by a few weeks, has kept the buzz down with a digital-first campaign, flipping its media strategy to bring out television commercials a few weeks after the official launch and building up expectations slowly.
The company says that the phones (priced between Rs 20,000-30,000) have been launched after due deliberation.
Instead of the euphoric highs of a cricket tournament, it was timed with the partial easing of the lockdown in some parts of the country - the phones hit the market mid-May - and the tone and pitch of the advertising campaign were adapted accordingly.
Nipun Marya, head of brand strategy at Vivo Mobile India said, “So far the response has been good. The market is not fully open and consumers are still afraid of coming out. Keeping all this in mind, we are doing fairly okay.”
The smartphone market, he points out, is a basket of imponderables at the moment.
In the pre-COVID-19 period, the Rs 20,000-30,000 segment (budget-premium) and premium segment were growing at a fast clip, propelled by hefty instalment schemes and offers.
Now, EMIs are harder to come by and the virus has tightened purse strings all around.
Marya says that some reports indicate that the demand is high for the sub-Rs 15,000 or budget segment.
But this could change within months, he warns as the market is changing its character by the day.
When planning the launch of V19, the marketing team took the uncertainty into account, as also the fact that reach was going to be a challenge without a vehicle such as the IPL.
Hence it was decided to cautiously build the product, starting off slowly with digital and Below The Line marketing before going national on television, with ambassador Aamir Khan.
“TV commercials used to be launched on day one, because the product was readily available.
"The situation being different, the company modified the strategy accordingly,” Marya said.
Digital media was also used innovatively, with augmented reality (AR) unboxing videos and as the environment improved, the company came up with its own retail scheme called Vivo Smart Retail.
“Customers don’t need to step out of their homes, they can message the company and the phone gets home,” he added.
However the lockdown is not the only challenge that the brand has had to contend with, the growing tirade against Chinese-origin products is a worry too.
There are two ways the company could have countered the negative narrative about Chinese brands.
By challenging those asking for a boycott to explain their stand or by letting it slide.
Vivo chose the latter, which experts believe, may be the safest way to ride the crisis.
“The traction of #VocalForLocal is yet to hit the markets, leave alone the streets. This might be a good open-window time for new launches," said Harish Bijoor, founder, Harish Bijoor Consults.
Vivo also hopes to leverage its two-year-old association with Aamir Khan to build a more compelling pull for the brand.
“We know how respected Khan is in India. The people don't just love him for his movies, but also the choices he has made as a person.
"People also know that if he endorses something, then the product or the brand must be good,” Marya said.
The brand also expects to reap the benefits of active reputation-building exercises undertaken during the past five years, be it in terms of the investments made in manufacturing and marketing the product or building a reliable distribution and retail network.
International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker says that in the year ended 2019, Vivo continued to lead the market with 28 per cent market share in the mid-premium segment on the back of its high selling Vivo V15 Pro.
And in the final quarter of 2019 as well as the first quarter of 2020, Vivo has managed to break past Samsung to be the second most sold smartphone brand after Xiaomi.
As demand for smartphones pick up gradually, the brand is hoping to keep climbing the curve.


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Galaxy A3 (2017) receives Wi-Fi certification
Less than a week after it surfaced on the official Geekbench online database, the Galaxy A3 (2017) has been granted Wi-Fi certification. Seeing as the handset has already acquired its Bluetooth credentials; it looks like the only pitstop it has to make before it hits the shelves is at the FCC — so it’s perfectly possible that Samsung will release the device on the open market before the year’s out.
If recent leaks, rumors and speculation are anything to go by, it looks like the Galaxy A3 (2017) will pack a 4.7-inch display, a 1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm CPU, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable flash memory, a 13MP rear-facing camera, an 8MP selfie shooter and a variety of internal sensors, including a pedometer and barometer. It’s also expected to ship running Android 6.0 Marshmallow.Via Source


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October 26, 2013
Stories this photo appears in:
Event features painted barrel auction
The third annual Taste of the Verde Valley Nov. 2 will incorporate a barrel auction with its usual wine, food and entertainment. Cottonwood's Chamber of Commerce President Lana Tolleson said the first barrel auction was held in the spring of 2012, and generated an $8,000 donation to the Southwest Wine center at Yavapai College.


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Farm-to-You Local Food
November 12, 2020 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the local food supply chain, presenting what could have been a dire situation for producers. But making a virtue of necessity, many Chicago-area farmers have pivoted to new ways of delivering local products straight to consumers — and companies that buy directly from farms to sell to consumers, eliminating the middleman, are playing a crucial role.
Naturally Chicago is pleased to present Farm-to-You: Delivering on the Promise of Local Food — part of our Navigating the New Normal webinar series. The webinar, which is free to attend (click the button below to register), will provide insights about the fast-shifting market for local food, and allow the farmers and businesses to connect with consumers in advance of the Thanksgiving and December holidays.
The expert panelists on Farm-to-You highlight a variety of models:
● Mandy Moody, Interim Executive Director, Chicago’s Green City Market: Green City Market, widely regarded as Chicago’s premier farmers market, lost the end of its winter indoor season and the beginning of the spring outdoor season to COVID shutdowns. But the Market quickly pivoted, first by providing space on its website for farmers to promote their e-commerce options, then by taking orders via the What’sGood app and aggregating product from vendors for home delivery to or pickup by consumers.
● Hayden Holbert, Owner/Manager, Avrom Farm (Ripon, Wisconsin): A Green City Market vendor, Avrom Farm started the year with a small e-commerce practice for its pasture-raised pork and produce. It came in very handy when the pandemic hit, creating uncertainty about the rest of the 2020 market season. Avrom Farm not only amped up its home delivery option in the Chicago area, but also partnered with other producers, turning its e-commerce site into a mini-market and aggregating product orders for delivery.
● Tracey Vowell, Founder and Principal, Three Sisters Garden (Kankakee, Illinois): In her earlier role as executive chef for Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill, Tracey was responsible for buying delicious food from Chicago region farmers. Eventually, she decided to become one of them herself, and her Three Sisters Garden became a Green City Market mainstay. When COVID hit, she shifted her direct-to-consumer business to home delivery, with free delivery with purchases as low as $20. Tracey and Three Sisters Garden also participated this year in the Restaurant Reboot Project by the Lee Initiative and Thumbelina CSA, a Community Supported Agriculture collaboration featuring six women-owned farms and food businesses.
● Irv Cernauskas, Co-Owner, Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks (Niles, Illinois): Since 2006, Irv Cernauskas and wife Shelly Herman has been innovating in buying products directly from Chicago region farmers and delivering orders to consumers. With the pandemic raising consumers’ concerns about health, wellness and food security, and with many local farmers needing a direct-to-customer outlet after losing a big chunk of their restaurant trade to the crisis, Fresh Picks is playing an even bigger role in the farm-to-consumer sector.
● Matt Wechsler, Founder, Village Farmstand (Evanston, Illinois): Matt is a film maker who connected with the local farm community while creating the beautiful 2016 documentary Sustainable. He deeply felt farmers’ worries about their loss of business, particularly from the sharp decline in orders from restaurants after the pandemic took hold, so he partnered with Marty Travis of central Illinois’ Spence Farm — the central figure in the Sustainable film — to create Village Farmstand, which takes orders from consumers and aggregates products from a number of farms for pickup at its storefront in suburban Evanston.
The event will be moderated by Bob Benenson, Communications Manager for Naturally Chicago and FamilyFarmed (a longtime farmers market regular whose wife grew up on a farm), and Anna Crofts, Program Coordinator for FamilyFarmed’s Market Development and Farmer Training Program, who formerly worked on a farm.
You will have the opportunity to pre-submit a question when you register for the webinar. Please join us for this opportunity to better know your farmers and your food.


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USDA said on Aug. 27 that it earmarked almost $85 million in new funding to purchase pasteurized fluid milk and other dairy products as part of the nearly $12 billion allocated for U.S. farmers and food manufacturers negatively affected by trade disruption this year. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), both based in Washington, D.C., said they support USDA’s efforts to provide additional benefits to people across the country who don’t have regular access to nutritious milk and dairy products, while helping to alleviate some of the financial difficulties facing dairy farmers and companies that stem from lost export sales.
“U.S. dairy foods companies applaud the efforts of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and his team at USDA for devising a package that will provide nutritious dairy products to people in need while addressing the financial hardships to the dairy industry caused by steep tariff increases and lost sales in foreign markets,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA’s president and CEO.
“Secretary Perdue clearly recognizes the vital role that American agriculture and food processors play in global trade,” he added. “With this funding package, USDA has erected a temporary bridge for agriculture while the administration continues its efforts to finalize the North American Free Trade Agreement and solidify other much-needed international trade pacts.”
Milk is one of the most requested nutrition staples at food banks, yet it is rarely available, the organizations noted. Since 2014, The Great American Milk Drive — a nationwide effort to deliver milk to children and families in need — has delivered more than 1.8 million gallons, or more than 28 million servings, of milk to Feeding America food banks. Together, the dairy community set a goal of providing 50 million servings of milk to kids and families in need by 2020.
“Milk is the top food source of three of the nutrients most likely to be missing from kids’ diets — calcium, vitamin D and potassium,” said Julia Kadison, CEO of MilkPEP. “Nearly 13 million children face hunger across the country, and we can help ensure they have access to milk’s much-needed nutrition. This announcement is a significant milestone and an important opportunity for milk processors to provide milk to children and families in need.”
The $84.9 million funding package is under the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the organizations said. Earlier this month, USDA announced, under the authority of Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, that it would purchase $50 million in pasteurized fluid milk for distribution to food banks and other feeding programs. Section 32 is a permanent appropriation that supports the farm sector through the purchase of commodities such as fluid milk to encourage domestic consumption.
“The purchases will address one of our country’s significant challenges — hunger — and at the same time, have a positive impact on the dairy industry at a time of significant market uncertainty,” Dykes said.
Also under CCC authority, USDA allocated an initial payment of $127 million to dairy farmers and another $200 million for trade promotion that will build and strengthen new markets for U.S. agricultural products, including milk and dairy products, the organizations said. CCC is a federally owned and operated entity that aids farmers through loans, purchases, payments and other operations, and helps to develop new domestic and foreign markets for agricultural commodities.


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Psycho Peacock adds to its plumage with double Durst installation
Published: 21 March 2024 | No comments yet
(From left to right) Andrew Mcintyre, general manager and Tony Marsh, head of graphics division, with the new Durst P5 350 digital hybrid LED platform
Large-format specialist graphics supplier Psycho Peacock has installed a Durst P5 Tex iSub dye-sublimation direct-to-fabric printer and a P5 350 digital hybrid UV LED platform to streamline logistics and provide faster installations for its customers.
A sister company to Full Circle Events & Exhibitions, Psycho Peacock is based in Salford, Greater Manchester and provides a service from design to installation for graphics in exhibitions, events, retail, museums, construction and visitor attractions. The investments are expected to provide up to six times the previous capacity, with the output from the previous four machines produced by the already installed and profiled P5 350.
Steve Comar, Psycho Peacock’s managing director, commented, ‘This investment gives us the scope and resources to fully deliver on our goals for both graphics and print, across our key sectors, live events, exhibitions and retail for the next three years. We can be assured due to the Durst technology, incredible quality and output metrics, that we can stand by our commitment to continually drive innovation which underpins our values and clients’ needs.’
The Tex iSub production printer is said to have opened up new business opportunities with dye sublimation for Psycho Peacock. The company said the investment in ‘cutting-edge machinery epitomising speed, quality and efficiency’ will ‘revolutionise output.’
Andrew McIntyre, general manager at Psycho Peacock, added, ‘The big thing with the Durst is that it provides the highest print quality, massive extra capacity and flexibility. Dye-sub also enables us to produce sustainable products, using fully recyclable materials, which means waste never goes to landfill. This opens up new business possibilities in a year when we are already beating our own ambitious sales targets.’
‘Delighted’ with Psycho Peacock’s investment in Durst’s technology, Peter Bray, UK and Ireland managing director of Durst Group, said, ‘Offering complete solutions from pixel to output, we continue to lead by innovation and look forward to continuing to help the team fully deliver on their goals. Our technology will help them further with their sustainability goals, commitment to excellence, streamlining logistics and moving towards greater automation.’


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In support of the same mission of affordability like Amazon Pharmacy, Mark Cuban launched his online pharmacy — The Cost Plus Drug Company — in January 2022.
As previously reported by AfroTech, the billionaire’s company provides low prices on common medications and customers pay for the pills based on what it costs to make. His act of disrupting the pharmaceutical supply chain isn’t solely for his own personal gain, but rather for the general public.
“I want to be above break even while maximizing the number of people who can afford their medications,” Cuban told TechCrunch. “Shoot. I would be happy if we can make a little, but push pricing of generics sold elsewhere down significantly.”
He continued: “Our challenge is to keep pushing prices lower. Our KPI is how much we can reduce the stress of our patients who buy generic meds. When people save a lot of money on their medications, they often will tell others they know that have the same challenges. That word of mouth impacts our growth the most.”


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Mobile Phones: Microsoft
iPad & Tablets: Microsoft
News & Reviews: Microsoft
Oct 21, 2021
Did you manage to get Windows 11 on your PC yet? If you did, you might be starting to wonder how to get more use out of it. One of Microsoft's plans is to get native Android support on Windows 11, and now we have some official updates on that.
Oct 18, 2021
On 19 October, Google will launch its highly-anticipated Pixel 6 series along with the in-house chipset Tensor. Besides Google, someone might also be interested in making a new in-house chipset that fits better with its own devices. According to the latest information, Microsoft could be planning to develop its own for the Surface devices.
Oct 01, 2021
Google is the most used search engine globally, and it's been a fact for some time. However, the company was recently tangled up with a $5 billion antitrust fine from the EU, claiming that Google needs to stop forcing Android smartphone makers to pre-install Chrome and Google search. To fight against it, Google showed some statistics that prove people use Google by choice, not by force.
Sep 29, 2021
When you download apps on your phone, you either use the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. But did you know that there are similar stores for Windows PCs? The one that we all have is the Microsoft Store, and it's now getting expanded with third-party app stores.
Sep 28, 2021
4K gaming is basically a must-have spec in the new generation of gaming consoles. Besides that, Microsoft is bringing its Xbox Series X / S consoles to the next level for visual by introducing Dolby Vision gaming support. Microsoft claims that the feature should result in "brighter highlights, sharper contrast, and more vibrant colours."
Sep 16, 2021
Last year, it was reported that HONOR had signed a global cooperation agreement with Microsoft to use Windows 10 as the official operating system in its 2021 laptops. Until now, the Chinese brand announces that it has signed a new strategic cooperation with the US company and will be one of the first laptop makers to release a Windows 11 pre-installed machine.
Sep 08, 2021
On 5 October, the latest Windows update will roll out and offer several new features and functionalities to users. Windows 11 will bring Microsoft Teams integration, a new design with an updated Start menu, Snap Layouts, Groups, Desktops for improved multitasking, an improved Microsoft Store app, and Android app support. Now, there might be a new thing to be excited about after the company acquired a browser-based video editing tool, Clipchamp.
Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Amazon want to get in touch with PM Ismail Sabri on Malaysia's cabotage policySep 06, 2021
Over the weekend, tech giants with the likes of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Amazon have sent a letter to meet our latest Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob regarding Malaysia's cabotage policy. In case you're unaware, this issue has been going on for a few months now about allowing foreign vessels to repair undersea cables.
Aug 31, 2021
You might be disappointed hearing this one, but still, Microsoft won't include Android app support at the launch of Windows 11 on 5 October. The feature is probably one of the highly-anticipated ones from the upcoming operating system update. However, Microsoft's spokesperson has somehow hinted that it won't arrive until 2022.
Aug 25, 2021
After the news came saying that the upcoming Halo Infinite is dropping without the campaign co-op and Forge mode, we now have the exact launch date of the highly anticipated video game. According to the source, Microsoft has planned for a launch on 8 December, just in time for Christmas.


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September 21, 2017
tokio - Nintendo released next week with an Android version of the game Super Mario Run. Which will be released on 23 March. It was already known that Super Mario Run somewhere would come in March to Android, but Nintendo had not yet announced the exact date.
Super Mario Run was already available for iOS since December 15th. The first levels are free, the other levels will be released for 9.99 euros.


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Marijuana Policy Project
The Marijuana Policy Project's newest report explores cannabis tax revenue data and how it has been impacted by the rising number of legal states and the pandemic.
May 2, 2023
While some states on the mainland are enjoying recreational cannabis sales, Hawaii advocates and legislators are gearing up to tackle adult-use in their own state.
January 13, 2023
A bill that would ban discrimination against state employees who use medical cannabis was approved by the Louisiana Senate on Wednesday, sending the legislation to the governor’s desk for his approval.
June 2, 2022
Recreational cannabis is generating big revenue in Big Sky Country, producing over $43 million in sales.
April 8, 2022
Data from the Marijuana Policy Project shows adult-use sales revenue in the United States is going up every year.
April 7, 2022
Toi Hutchinson has been hired by Marijuana Policy Project after ensuring equity in Illinois' cannabis industry as the state's "Drug Czar."
December 17, 2021


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New York, NY (BBN)– Yahoo says hackers stole information from about 500 million users in what appears to be the largest publicly disclosed cyber-breach in history.
The breach included swathes of personal information, including names and emails, as well as “unencrypted security questions and answers”, reports BBC.
The hack took place in 2014 but has only now been made public.
Yahoo said it believed the attack was state-sponsored. The FBI has confirmed it is investigating.
The data taken includes names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and encrypted passwords, but not credit card data, Yahoo said.
News of a possible major attack on the technology firm emerged in August when a hacker known as “Peace” was apparently attempting to sell information on 200 million Yahoo accounts.
On Thursday, Yahoo confirmed the breach was far bigger than first thought.
Yahoo is recommending all users should change their passwords if they have not done so since 2014.
In July, Yahoo was sold to US telecoms giant Verizon for $4.8bn (£3.7bn).
Verizon told the BBC it had learned of the hack “within the last two days” and said it had “limited information”.
It added: “Until then, we are not in position to further comment.”
Yahoo said in a statement: “Online intrusions and thefts by state-sponsored actors have become increasingly common across the technology industry.”