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HONG KONG — Organizers of Interstoff Asia Essential began repositioning the fair toward eco-friendly textiles last year and this edition saw the results of those moves.
For the 8,000 attendees and 2,000 exhibitors at the show, which ended its three-day run on March 14, the highlight was the introduction of a new eco-labeling system that clearly identifies fabrics that have eco-friendly raw materials, manufacturing techniques and finishing processes.
Lewis Briggs, general manager of California-based start-up brand Bumboo, said the new labels and an array of organic textiles fit the bill.
"We're looking for reliable sources and partners for bamboo and organic fabrics," Briggs said. "I like these eco labels. It seems there is a lot of recycled stuff, which isn't what we're looking for, but is good to see."
Bumboo, which plans to enter the spa market and to make lifestyle clothing for men, women and children, is in the process of developing prototypes.
"Bamboo is really our inspiration," Briggs said. "It provides shelter and food, and now clothing, too. It's quite remarkable."
Hong Kong-based freelance designer Jessica Mitchell, who has worked for Triumph, Wacoal and Topshop, said, "It's all about eco at the moment. But buying eco-fabrics and sorting out who is really organic can be a minefield. I would really like to support fair trade, too, but it's a concept that isn't really understood in this part of the world."
Messe Frankfurt, which organizes the fair, did its best to help retailers and vendors with a series of seminars on the organic theme. Hong Lee, a representative for Asia Pacific of Control Union Certifications, told a crowd about the complexities of certification for retailers looking to add "organic" to their hangtags.
"Organic is not a gimmick anymore; it has become a strategy for a lot of retailers," said Lee.
Beyond the overriding importance of eco, three major fashion trends emerged for spring 2009:
l Clarity: Includes sorbet-inspired colors and an array of floral prints and micro-stripes.
l Patina: More romantic, earthy shades and subtle additions of silver or gold.l Orientalism: Featuring bright rich hues of the Middle East, India and Africa, and luxurious fabrics like shantung, taffeta and velvet.
The fair also included the first-time participation of Japan Fashion Week-Japan Creation. Akira Kawashima, director of JFW-JC, said promoting expensive Japanese products is not easy in the current economic environment, domestically and abroad.
"Maybe we have to think more seriously about 'work share' in Asia," he said about finding regional partners. "I don't think we'll have integrated manufacturing in one place, but perhaps processing in Shanghai and planning and finishing in Japan."
Kawashima added that in order to attract more buyers, "We need to enhance the trend aspect and the quality aspects — like the multifunctional and eco-friendly qualities of our fabrics."
Taiwanese companies such as Shiuan Jia Industrial Co. are already working with the Japanese to make advanced textiles like Tenmous, which features such permanent functional aspects as deodorization, antibacterial properties and moisture repellency.
"Our market is usually Japan, but right now buyers are concerned about price," said Jerry Long, sales representative from Shiuan Jia Industrial. "We have to focus on quality and delivery to compete and to look toward new markets like China."
Soo Hoon Chae, director of the Korean Textile Trade Association, said, "Because we just cannot compete with China and India, the Korean industry changed its emphasis from making low- to midpriced fabrics to making mid- to high-priced textiles. Now the decrease in the U.S. economic situation means that most Koreans think they have to put [emphasis] on value and on looking at other markets. So, we're going to Europe, to Russia and so on."
Besides looking for eco-friendly textiles, buyers were in the market for paler colors and understated patterns.
Ashutosh Kumar, a representative of Banaras Silk, one of two Indian exhibitors at Interstoff, said, "Buyers are looking for subtle colors and Oriental patterns, not like the heavy embroidery we had two years back."
@margotrobbie steps out onto the red carpet wearing @miumiu. The actress is nominated for “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role” in “I, Tonya” at the #SagAwards. (📷: Stewart Cook) #wwdfashion
For @massimogiorgetti of @msgm, the Nineties are his favorite decade. “They had a huge impact on my personal growth. What I like of the Nineties is that they are not so precise in terms of style as other decades…there was actually a bit of everything,” he said. As seen on MSGM’s Spring 2018 show: tie-dye and a bit of grunge, two styles that are synonymous with the decade #wwdfashion #wwddecades (📷: @kukukuba)
Breaking News: @hedislimane joins @celine as its new artistic, creative and image director. One of fashion’s preeminent image-makers and trendsetters, Slimane is to join the LVMH brand on Feb. 1 and unveil his first fashion proposition for men and women next September during Paris Fashion Week. It marks a major homecoming for Slimane, who cemented his reputation – and influenced men’s tailoring for more than a decade – as the designer of Dior Homme between 2000 and 2007. He went on to reinvent and ignite the house of Yves Saint Laurent, which he rechristened Saint Laurent, between 2012 and 2016 – all the while maintaining a close relationship with the Arnault family, which controls LVMH and Dior. Read the full exclusive story on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
“Personally I believe the Eighties have been the richest and more vivacious period for international fashion,” Giorgio Armani said when asked what his favorite decade of fashion is. It was a moment of disruption and experimentation and only thinking back to the first years of that decade is always an emotion for me, for what they have meant to me and my work.” The influence is clear in @giorgioarmani spring 2018 collection, pictured here, which was full of bright colors and unexpected prints. Read more about which decades designers loved most on WWD.com #wwdfashion #wwddecades (📷: @aitorrosasphoto)
For Lady Gaga’s only Italian show on her “Joanne World Tour,” the singer wore a range of @versace_official outfits. The standout piece: this custom-made bodysuit inspired by the brand’s spring 2018 collection. #wwdfashion (RG: @ladygaga)
@_camillaruth_ is expanding on the wellness-craze concept with @westbourne – a new NYC restaurant that’s both a healthy-minded café as well as a business that gives back to the community. Marcus works with the Robin Hood foundation to give back to The Door, a non-profit providing youth development services, and also hires employees through The Door. Read our full interview with Marcus on giving back through food on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)


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We’ve already had news of one designer/high street collaboration this week thanks to Maison Martin Margiela for H&M, and now we have another one courtesy of Topshop and JW Anderson.
Yep, JW Anderson is the latest designer to collaborate with the high street store, and his debut collection is due to hit Topshop from September, with a second one slated for early 2013!
“I am very excited to collaborate with Topshop,” the designer said. “It gives me the opportunity to reach a much wider audience with my designs. It has always been very important to me that my collections are made accessible to anyone interested in fashion and design.”
As well as clothing, we can also expect to see collectable items such as pencils, USB sticks, vintage magazines and photography books. Rather interesting, no?
Keep your eyes peeled for sneak peeks of the collection when we get them!

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Barbie's boyfriend Ken has gotten several brand new looks nearly five decades after he was originally created! Following the evolution of Barbie last year, in which the doll was created with new body types, skin tones and hairstyles, Ken now comes in three different body types – slim, broad and original, and has a selection of different hairstyles to choose from, including a man bun!
READ: Barbie recreate Zendaya's Oscars look for one-of-a-kind doll
Ken now has a man bun
People had a hilarious reaction to the new Kens, particularly the one sporting a man bun. One wrote: "Y'all one of the new Ken dolls has a man bun, pls help," while another added: "There's a new Ken doll with a Man Bun. He's paired with Very Sad And Embarrassed Barbie." Others were quick to praise the new collection in comparison to their choices of childhood toys, with one writing: "Would have loved one of these! Stuck with a blonde. Blah," while another added: "My Barbie dated my brother's Stretch Armstrong." Another person suggested that the Ken dolls have hair to play with next time, tweeting: "Natural next step since the release of more physically diverse Barbie moulds, but man-bun Ken should have flexible hair that could do more."
READ: How the world reacted to Barbie’s new makeover
Ken has a whole new look
Others looks for the 'Fashionista' range of Ken dolls include cornrows and peroxide blonde hair, while they wear a countless variety of trendy outfits including a shirt and tie and thick-framed glasses. Speaking about the evolution of Barbie's beau, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Barbie, Lisa McKnight, said: "By continuing to expand our product line, we are redefining what a Barbie or Ken doll looks like to this generation. Evolving Ken was a natural evolution for the brand and allows girls to further personalise the role they want him to play in Barbie's world."


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Technology is everywhere, and our cars are no exception, but despite all the sophisticated new features, seatbelts are considered the first – and best – line of defence against potential harm. With 63% of drivers saying that too much in-car tech can be a dangerous distraction, OSV Ltd wanted to know which tech drivers actually wanted, and which they could live without. In some cases, the answer seems to be ‘most of it’.
Any self-respecting driver needs a few gadgets and accessories to enhance their driving experience. For many people who travel long distances, their cars become a second home. Some people spend more hours a day in their car than their front room. So the driver's seat needs to offer some home away from home luxuries. In this article, we'll round up the top car accessories you need. From budget to luxury, there's something for everyone in this round-up.


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Cabinet paper tabled to keep commodities stable for three months
Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena stated in Parliament today (05) that a cabinet paper has been tabled to keep the prices of several essential commodities stable for the next three months (May, June and July).
During February, March and April, prices of several essential commodities such as dhal and sprats remained stable without any shortage, the Minister said.
The Minister pointed out that the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) was distributing goods islandwide at low prices and that the daily income of the CWE exceeded Rs. 100 million, earning between Rs. 300 and Rs. 400 million per day for the first time in its history from April 1 to 13.
He also mentioned that the closure of the Dambulla Economic Center last week was due Covid-19 situation in the country, which happened for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka. The Minister also pointed out that there was a risk of rising commodity prices in the country due to the reduction in the supply chain in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic
The Minister also called on all members of the Opposition to help save the country from the Covid-19 issue without political divisions and to move the economy forward without locking down the country.


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Valve, the company behind popular PC game download service Steam, is set to take on the likes of the Oculus Rift and Microsoft’s HoloLens with its own piece of virtual reality tech.
The company has hinted that it will be showcasing its ‘SteamVR Hardware’ at the Game Developers Conference 2015 (GDC) which takes place from March 2nd to 6th.
A page on the Steam website said: “At GDC 2015, we’ll be giving demos of the refined Steam Controller, new living room devices, and a previously-unannounced SteamVR hardware system.”
The company has announced that it intends to demo the product during the event.
Steam also revealed that it is actively seeking VR content creators, asking developers to sign up to try out the system at the Game Developers Conference.
Other companies such as Sony have also tapped into the virtual reality market, with its Project Morpheus virtual reality headset. It was revealed at GDC in 2014, and is designed for use with the PS4.
Microsoft has also developed its own piece of wearable tech: The HoloLens. This is powered by Windows 10 and lets users bring HD holograms to life.


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Plans Underway For S.H.E. Trucking Expo In Chattanooga
Organizers are busy putting together a trucking convention here in Chattanooga come mid-September.
The event will be open to all truckers everywhere.
With a special emphasis on one special group of workers.
Chattanooga’s own Sharae Moore has been a truck driver for seven years. Four years ago, Sharae started S.H.E. Trucking.
It’s grown to over 20-thousand members nationwide.
And now, Sharae Moore is organizing the first ever SHE Trucking Expo.
“We want to provide more jobs, Moore says.”
“This is an 800 million dollar industry. We want people to understand the industry.
Come and purchase their own trucks. And get all of the tools they can.”
According to company board member Dr. Erica Bass Flimmons, “the expo is not just about driving the trucks.
It’s about so many other parts as well, to include things such as dispatch.”
The expo, which will be held at the Convention Center come September, will be open to all truckers.
With a special emphasis towards female minority truckers.
There is not necessarily a shortage of truckers overall. But the industry can always use younger drivers.
Especially women and minorities.
Especially younger people who would like to start their own company.
Thomas Johnson is the CEO of Unite Us Logistics. He says there are other expos around. But they are geared towards the larger corporations.
“This one is unique” he says.
The event will also target trucker training and mentor-ship. With over 100 vendors on hand. There will be speakers, a black tie event……and a little truck painting as well.
Call it a bonding experience.
“The goal is to grow together.” That’s according to Christine Thompson, who owns Painting With A Twist.
For more information, head to the website: SheTruckingExpo.com.


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By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf
At a time the nation’s energy crisis appears intractable, Koolboks Nigeria Ltd, is set to tackle the problem frontally with renewable and solar-powered solutions. Koolboks, headquartered in France and with footprints in other parts of the globe including Nigeria is already leading revolution within the solar-energy landscape. Giving insights on the range of products including cool chain stores during the maiden press conference in Lagos at the weekend, Ayoola Dominic, the CEO of the Group led other members of staff including Olalekan Agbaje, In-country engineers, Adelowo Adebumiti, Marion Okewih, during the virtual interactive session.
According to Dominic, Koolboks products aim to bridge the gap in the three basic needs of Nigerians, which are light, energy and refrigeration, saying that the Koolboks vaccine fridges, also come equipped with external LED bulbs to aid sight at night and other emergencies and also two USB ports to charge mobile phones. “It is designed with an advanced temperature monitoring system that enables the user to remotely access, monitor and control the vaccine fridge from anywhere in the world, even in rural areas with no GSM network coverage.” He explained that with a KoolHome Freezer, those in the business of needing a quality cooling system can go and sleep.
“The freezer is unique in the sense that it has two USB ports for charging of phones and also has automatic switch between AC and DC, with a two 150W solar panel and it comes with as low as N14, 179 installment payment with assets financing scheme with some of the banks for prospective customers and interested members of the public.
This is a product that without power can refrigerate your food, drinks and medications for up to four days even in the absence of sunlight. Our mission is to make cooling affordable and accessible to everyone that needs it,” he said.


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(MARKETING) The Blemish Effect dictates that small, adjacent flaws in a product can make it that much more interesting—is perfection out?
(TECH NEWS) The Apple Watch Series 6 is a ridiculous display of self-flattery—but that doesn’t mean people won’t line up to buy it in droves.
(MARKETING) In banning extension payments through their own platform, Google addresses a compelling, if self-created, issue on Chrome.
(TECH NEWS) For the all-time low price of—well, free—Invise gives you the option of learning a few basic UI and UX design techniques.
(EDITORIAL) Startups have a lot going for them, environment, communication, visible growth. But why else would you work for one?
(TECH NEWS) As Apple moves to verify third-party MacBook repair services, some anticipate problems despite more access.
(TECH NEWS) Now that many of us have grown accustomed to remote work whether we like it or not, can we expect it to stick around...
(TECH NEWS) Boeing still uses floppy disks to install updates for its 747s and 737s. But if it "ain't broke," do we need to stress over...
(BUSINESS FINANCE) Small businesses looked all over for financial aid — everywhere, it seems, but their communities.
(TECH NEWS) Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang created the Data Dividend Project to make sure you get paid when companies use your data to make money.
[TECH NEWS] Facebook plans to merge Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp into one ubiquitous app.
(OPINION EDITORIAL) Advice about surviving a recession is common these days, but its intended audience can leave a large gap in application.
(TECH GADGETS) Huawei beats Samsung as the top seller of smartphones for the first time ever -- but can they keep it up? How will COVID...
(TECH GADGETS) Screen recording your mobile device is a valuable trick, but not many people realize how easy it is. Here is how it's done.
(BUSINESS NEWS) Walmart+ is being delayed once again, but the service has yet to be cancelled. Will it be another flop?
(TECH NEWS) Cohere enables live, virtual onboarding at bargain prices to help you better support and guide your users.
(TECH NEWS) In order to track and limit the spread of COVID-19 smart clothing may be the solution we need to flatten the curve--but at what...
(BUSINESS MARKETING) Snapchat released a report that shows some useful insights for future video content creation.
(TECH NEWS) Google plans to do away with third-party cookies in favor of “trust tokens”. The question is, will they gain our trust?
(BUSINESS NEWS) As remote work becomes more common, some employees won’t be returning to the office--ever. Big Tech has almost unilaterally jumped on board.
(BUSINESS NEWS) As families gear up for more virtual learning, back-to-school retailers anticipate major losses.
(TECH NEWS) Google Messages just added a bunch of features (including a web version) to make the chat service feel a lot more like iMessage. Better...
(TECH NEWS) App usage is increasing, but the apps that people are using aren’t necessarily remaining consistent.
(OPINION EDITORIAL) COVID-19 is an excuse for a lot of inconveniences--prices, shipping times, poor quality--things we shouldn’t have to live with now, but especially once all...
(TECH NEWS) Spike can help you optimize your website by finding your trouble spots and helping you fix them. Considering the heavy use of the internet...
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Inefficient border procedures are leading revenue losses of over 5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product in some African countries, a roundtable conference on trade facilitation at the East African Community (EAC) headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, has heard.
Speaking at the one-day conference on Thursday, James Kisaale, an assistant commissioner at Uganda Revenue Authority, urged sub-Saharan Africa countries, including EAC members, to embrace formalities like automation, as well as simplify and harmonise documents, and ease access to information to help lower cost of trade.
Citing a 2013 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report, Kisaale said reducing global trade costs by one per cent would increase global income by more than $40 billion, with developing countries being the biggest beneficiaries.
Organised by the EAC Secretariat to review and fast-track the implementation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA), the roundtable brought together EAC development partners, as well as customs and trade experts from the EAC Secretariat and member states’ ministries of trade. The conference brought together development partners who will work with the EAC in the implementation of the TFA.
While opening the roundtable, the EAC director general for customs and trade, Kenneth Bagamuhunda, said trade facilitation was an integral part of the EAC Customs Union Protocol which explicitly provides for reduction in the number and volume of trade documents.
“Trade facilitation also provides for the adoption of common standards of trade documentation and procedures, coordination and facilitation of trade and transport activities. There is also the reviewing of procedures adopted in international trade and transport facilitation with a view to simplifying and adopting them for use in the EAC,” he said.
The official disclosed that an EAC trade facilitation sub-committee has been established to supervise the implementation of the WTO TFA at regional and national levels.
He said regional and national implementation plans for the WTO TFA have been finalised and adopted by the policy organs. “Amendments to regional laws, regulations and procedures; development of project proposals for resource mobilisation, and sensitisation of stakeholders is currently underway,” he added.
Bagamuhunda cited the single customs territory and the interconnectivity of customs systems among some of the key TFA components that have been implemented by the EAC.
“The single customs territory provides for the free circulation of goods, reduces cost of doing business, reduces non-tariff barriers, ensures competitiveness, boosts business predictability and promotes investment,” he said, adding it is premised on the use of electronic systems.
Other components already implemented are the establishment of one-stop border posts, harmonisation of standards, reduction of non-tariff barriers, and publication of the EAC trade and investment report.
Speaking at the event, Amb Arthur Mattli, Switzerland’s representative to the EAC, said that bureaucratic delays and red tapes pose an unnecessary and expensive burden for moving goods across borders.
Amb Mattli said the TFA would help developing countries diversify their exports and tap into global value chains. He disclosed that Switzerland had so far disbursed $3.5 million as part of its contribution to the TFA’s trade facilitation support programme, a multi-donor programme of the World Bank Group’s Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice which provides support to countries seeking assistance in aligning their trade practices with the WTO TFA.


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CTIA has been long awaited, many tablets and devices are expected to be announced at this occasion and one of those moments have arrived. The official prices and release dates have been told by one of Samsung presenters. The difference price of $100 is not so bad where the 16GB Wi-Fi Tablet is recommended to be sold at $499 while the 32GB Wi-Fi Tablet is supposed to be sold for $599.
Not only the 10.0 Tablet details were informed, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 prices were told to the media. Priced at $469 16GB and $569 for 32GB. The confirmed details aren’t so bad but the prices are rumored to drop as are some of the Tablets on American networks.


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Game-related startup companies raised $600 million throughout 2009, according to GamesBeat's analysis. And while $600 million is a lot of money if you're, say, trying to sell a shooter based on the art of modern warfare, it's not quite that much when you're an up-and-coming game developer. Total investments in the field were actually down by 36% since last year. That's not a bubble bursting, but it does mean that startup investors might be a little more careful with their money in the year to come.
The biggest winners in the scene include Zynga, makers of Mafia Wars and a few other popular Facebook titles, who nabbed a big $180 million investment from a Russian technology company, and Playdom. You may not have played Sorority Life, the company's MySpace hit, but Lightspeed Venture Partners must have, because it invested $43 million in the company. If there's a theme here, it's social networking and online games: PopCap is probably the highest traditional game developer on the list, but even its $22.5 million investment was marked for putting its games on the web, mobile platforms, and social networks. Of course, that pull doesn't include the buck we gave them for Peggle.


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By the bioMérieux Connection Editors
Despite recent outbreaks of severe foodborne infections from consuming unpasteurized or “raw” milk and milk products, the trend of consuming these products shows no signs of abating, with at least one state debating if it should remove restrictions on the commercial sale of unpasteurized milk. In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we reviewed the origins of the “raw” milk movement and the legality of selling raw milk and milk products in the U.S.
Since progress can often be hidden by success, it’s worthwhile to look back at the world prior to milk pasteurization. It wasn’t pretty. According to Karen Mullen, Regional Director Animal Health at bioMérieux, foodborne infections and fatalities were all too common prior to milk pasteurization.
“I don’t think it’s possible to put a number on the lives saved, but there’s no doubt that the widespread pasteurization of milk has saved many lives,” Mullen said.
When the U.K. was debating mandatory milk pasteurization during the second World War, a study called Pasteurization of Milk, published by the British Medical Journal, revealed that at least 1,500 people died each year in England and Wales from tuberculosis “of bovine origin.” Each year, thousands of cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid fever, dysentery, and “undulant fever,” or, brucellosis, caused by the bacteria Brucella, were attributed to contaminated milk.
In the 25 years from 1912 to 1937, nearly 200,000 children under age two died from diarrhea epidemics in England and Wales. While it was impossible to pinpoint the cause of each epidemic, the BMJ authors assert that many of these deaths were due to contaminated milk.
There are multiple points of potential contamination in dairy production, which makes quality control vital to the safety of dairy products, according to Mullen, a microbiologist who has been with bioMerieux for nearly 20 years. “It’s absolutely essential to take every possible step to ensure the product is free of pathogens and spoilage organisms. Of course the QC process must begin on the farm with strong hygiene practices.” Mullen added.
“Some people feel that raw milk is beneficial because it maintains more vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids that are lost during the pasteurization process,” Mullen said. “However, there have not been any studies that show pasteurization significantly reduces the nutritional value of milk.”
There have been some studies that indicate pasteurization reduces lactoperoxidase activity, which is an antimicrobial that helps control harmful microbes; however, other antimicrobials remain mostly unchanged, she said.
“With all decisions regarding public health, we have to balance the risks with the benefits,” Mullen said. “For example, physicians were initially opposed to pasteurizing milk early in the 20th Century, but as they saw the benefits, the consensus shifted in favor of pasteurization.”
Ultimately, the decision to consume unpasteurized milk and mild product is a personal one if you live in a state that allows the sale of those products, Mullen said. However, consumers of unpasteurized milk need to fully understand the risks involved before bringing the products into their homes.
“For example, if you have children or elderly family members, they are vulnerable targets for the pathogens that are often found in raw milk products. What might cause a mild stomach ache in a healthy adult could cause a catastrophic infection in a toddler or senior,” Mullen said.
“The same is true for those with impaired immunity. For example, if a family member is being treated with chemotherapy or is the recipient of a donor organ, they have compromised immunity and are also very vulnerable to these opportunistic infections. So when you bring raw milk and raw milk products into your home, it’s absolutely essential that you think about the risks not just to you, but your entire family.”
Opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of bioMérieux, Inc.


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JD to build pharmaceutical cloud warehouse with Harbin firm
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com (JD) recently announced that it will cooperate with a Harbin-based pharmaceutical wholesaler to establish a pharmaceutical cloud warehouse in the city’s Limin Development Zone.
It will be the first of its kind in Northeast China when it commences operations.
According to information from JD, the cloud warehouse will serve pharmaceutical production companies, wholesale enterprises, pharmacies, hospitals and health stations –– providing complete pharmaceutical logistics supply-chain solutions involving medical acceptance, storage, transportation and distribution.
Harbin Zhengda Longxiang Pharmaceutical Co is JD’s partner in Harbin, and it is a representative pharmaceutical wholesaler for Northeast China. It has warehouses covering an area of 15,000 square meters, and annual turnover of 1 billion yuan ($150.64 million).
JD will take full advantage of its logistics supply chain and infrastructure to establish a professional pharmaceutical logistics network, pushing forward the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Harbin, said a staff member from JD.
The autumn schedule for power grid maintenance in Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province concluded on Oct 30.
The High People’s Court of Heilongjiang province officially launched Thunderbolt Action.
About 10 government departments in Daoli district, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, carried out joint enforcement June 1 to remove more than 20 illegal constructions with a total area of over 2000 square meters to advance an expropriation project.
Harbin has seen a dramatic reduction in traffic congestion, according to statistics released by Amap, a Chinese navigation service provider.


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Drivers report bad gasoline in N. Charleston, state issues 'Stop Sale' orders
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) —
Numerous drivers are complaining about bad fuel at local convenience stores. They say their vehicles won't run, and the repair costs aren't cheap.
The manager of the Circle K on Rivers Avenue and Otranto Road in North Charleston wasn't available to talk to ABC News 4. But several drivers took to social media about the problem.
They say gas from the pumps at Circle K, nearby Murphy USA, and a gas station on Dorchester Road caused their cars to conk out.
Drivers visiting the Circle K certainly have fewer options of fuel to choose from. Bright orange tags prevent customers from using low and mid-grade octane gas.
The consumer protection division of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture issued a Stop Sale Notice because of bad fuel. It’s a problem affecting numerous drivers.
“One thing they should do - get to their local ASE-certified mechanic as soon as possible. Have that ASE-certified mechanic assess the situation to see how bad that particular bad gas is in their vehicle,” said Casey Jiles of Hudson Nissan in North Charleston.
He says a troubled tank of fuel can damage many parts under the hood.
“The problems will pretty much start in this area which is the main component. Which is the engine itself. And just like anything that’s bad it starts to travel,” Jiles explained.
That’s why he recommends people who suspect faulty fuel in their car, truck, or SUV to get it checked.
“The ASE-certified mechanic would drain the bad gas out of their vehicle to make sure it doesn’t affect anything else with the other supporting parts around the engine,” he said.
Jiles says newer vehicles can be more expensive to fix because of high-tech components. He suggests drivers pay attention to what they pump and how their vehicle performs.
“Don’t wait. Just get it in as soon as possible. Have that problem assessed because the longer you wait, the worse the problem can get for you and unfortunately for your pockets,” he said.
Local car dealerships tell us they have an agreement with this Circle K to buy fuel for their vehicles.
So far, there are no reports of bad gas in their cars. An associate from Crews Chevrolet who told ABC News 4 one of his customers bought a truck from him two weeks ago. It’s in the shop for repairs because of bad gas. It'll cost $1100 dollars to fix.
We reached out to the Department of Agriculture for a comment about the fuel, but no one has returned our calls.


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Blakemore Trade Partners (BTP) has pledged to help its independent Spar retailers grow their margin by 1% every year and continue to match their investments pound for pound.
Speakers at the 2018 Spar Retail Show unveiled a series of new initiatives to provide retailers with ‘food for thought’ and equip them with tools to grow their sales and margins. Spar managing director Debbie Robinson revealed that overall Spar sales increased by 8% this summer, with basket spend up by 6%.
BTP sales director Neil Mercer said: “It is our objective to create a platform that enables retailers to grow their margin by 1% every year. This is about us delivering a clear plan of retail solutions that if implemented brilliantly will create an environment to enable our retailers to deliver the target.”
New initiatives include a new ‘Tonight’s Tea’ concept, which includes a premium ready meal Kitchen range. It was trialled across company stores earlier in 2018, and is now in 39 independents.
Independent retailer Edward White, of Spar Calver in Derbyshire, said ready meal sales had increased by 40% since introducing the new format.
BTP is also aiming to help retailers grow fresh produce sales, with regional sales director Stephen Gale highlighting the category opportunity for Spar retailers given that only 2.3% of BTP sales are in produce – compared to a UK average of 11% (Kantar). As such, Gale announced fundamental changes in the packaging, pack sizes, quality and pricing of the fresh produce range, enabling retailers to build their sales without the challenges of high wastage.
Mercer also announced that retailers on the Retail Partners Scheme (RPS) would receive rebates on their Guild fees.
He added: “We want long-term partnerships with our retailers, helping them to grow both sales and margin through strategic sales drivers that are based on consumer insight, market trends and innovative thinking designed to provide growth and margin opportunities.
“We continue to put a lot of work into researching shopping missions and how our formats can deliver against these missions. The way consumers shop is ever-changing and we are constantly responding and evolving to who they are and what they need, both now and in the future.”
A.F. Blakemore joint managing director Jerry Marwood announced new investment in warehousing infrastructure and technology. The launch of a new commercial system will put the business at the forefront of technological innovation in the UK convenience market, he said.
He confirmed that Blakemore had shed its final cash & carries. “We’ve paid all our debts, we’re out of cash & carries, and we can now further invest in the rest of the business.”


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The humble morning coffee is shaping up as one of Australia’s biggest drags on productivity, with the daily routine collectively losing employers 1.3 million hours in working time each and every day.
Research commissioned by Nespresso found that the average coffee run to the cafe down the road takes 11 minutes out of the working day.
For the nation’s roughly 7.1 million workers, that equates to around 1.3 million hours lost for every coffee trip made.
However, is this time really a dead loss, or an investment in employee wellbeing?
Apart from the obvious caffeine hit, 81 per cent of the 1,000 adults surveyed said that having coffee with a work colleague actually enhances their conversations and communications at work.
Just over half (57 per cent) said that of the things important to them for a positive working environment, good quality coffee is one of them.
An unlikely downside of our love of coffee, though, comes down to the type of coffee people drink.
The research found that almost one in 10 (8 per cent) of people admit to judging a person by the type of coffee that they drink.
Adam Zuchetti is the editor of My Business, and has steered the publication’s editorial direction since early 2016.


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(RxWiki News) Just how much are underage youth affected by alcohol advertisements? The connection between magazine ads and underage drinking may be strong, according to the authors of a new study.
The researchers explored alcohol advertising in magazines to underage audiences during 2011.
The study found that youth between the ages of 18 and 20 were the most heavily hit audience for ads promoting many of the alcohol brands most consumed by underage drinkers.
"Talk to your children about the dangers of drug and alcohol use."
This study was led by David H. Jernigan, PhD, of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland.
According to Dr. Jernigan and colleagues, new research has helped identify which alcohol brands underage youth consume most.
These researchers set out to see how often youth were exposed to alcohol advertisements for these brands and others. To do so, they used national data on 2011 magazine advertisers and audiences from the organizations Nielsen and GfK MRI to compare advertising between brands and exposure rates for different age groups. A total of 124 magazines were analyzed.
After analyzing the data, the researchers found that males between the ages of 18 and 20 were the age group most heavily exposed to advertising from 11 of the top 25 brands most consumed by underage youth.
When considering females, those between the ages of 18 and 20 were the age group most heavily exposed to advertising from 16 of the top 25 brands most consumed by underage youth.
Dr. Jernigan and team noted that at the same time, people of both genders between the ages of 18 and 20 were only the most heavily exposed group for less than 10 percent of the other 308 alcohol brands advertised in magazines that were studied.
"These findings suggest a relationship between advertising exposure and youth alcohol brand consumption," the study's authors wrote. "Current alcohol industry self-regulatory codes may not be sufficiently protective of youth."
While this study suggested an association between the two, further research is needed to understand the relationship between underage drinking and alcohol magazine advertising.
This study was published in the July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. No conflicts of interest were reported.


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Sales of Sprinter vans are on the rise in the U.S., and that has the Mercedes-Benz plant in North Charleston expanding its storage area for completed vehicles.
The manufacturer has applied for a permit that would allow a 63-acre expansion of the parking area where new Sprinters are stored before they are delivered to customers. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is reviewing plans for the site off Palmetto Commerce Parkway.
The plans also show a proposed car wash and van work station and office.
Mercedes-Benz Vans set a record in 2019 with 31,851 Sprinter sales to U.S. customers — nearly 7 percent better than the previous year. That demand has been buoyed by online retailer Amazon's order for 20,000 of the vans to be used in its home delivery network.
The State Ports Authority's inland port in Dillon is attracting more speculative warehouse and distribution space.
Equus Capital Partners Ltd., a developer and private-equity real estate fund manager, has broken ground on a 373,100-square-foot logistics facility in Dillon County. The project, named 95 Inland Port Logistics Center, is located along U.S. Interstate 95 less than a mile from the inland port site and about five miles from the South Carolina-North Carolina state line.
The inland port, completed in April 2018, has CSX Corp. rail service to and from the Port of Charleston.
"Inland Port Dillon has been an economic driver in our region since it opened," said Jeff McKay, executive director of the North East Strategic Alliance economic development group. "We have seen significant interest throughout our region from companies who are seeking to utilize its many advantages."
Volvo Car USA marked its 13th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth in the United States in January, with 6,157 new vehicles purchased by consumers.
That total includes 1,348 sales of the new S60 sedan that's built at the carmaker's manufacturing campus off Interstate 26 near Ridgeville.
Volvo's line of XC SUVs grew a combined 28 percent year-over-year, with the XC90 notching 1,994 sales.
"The XC range continues to attract people into the Volvo family,” said Anders Gustafsson, president and CEO of Volvo Car USA. “We anticipate this momentum to continue as we ready the introduction of our first electric SUV, the XC40 Recharge, which has already garnered significant interest from customers."
Globally, Volvo sold 45,752 cars in January — down 9.7 per cent compared with the same period last year. The Swedish automaker, which is owned by China's Geely Holding Group, said volumes were down last month because of a new, updated tax system in Sweden and lower sales performance in China.


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NEW YORK (VIP NEWS) — Lady Gaga has announced the release date of her 'ARTPOP' app and revealed a few details about what it contains.
Gaga's new album will be released through the app on November 11 and, taking to Twitter yesterday afternoon (July 31), the popstar answered questions about what fans can expect from the release.
Chatting with fans for around an hour, Gaga revealed that the app will be available on iTunes and GooglePlay and stated: "The ARTPOP app is free, available in App Stores on your device. You can purchase the music through the ARTPOP app once it's downloaded. Or you can purchase the album at the music store+download the free app separately at the app store." The app, Gaga explained, is "in essence, an interactive jewel case".
Meanwhile, Gaga revealed that the app will be available worldwide and that her fans will be able to socialize via the app on November 11, the day 'ARTPOP' is released. Fans will be able to pre-order the app from August 19, the same day her new single 'Applause' is debuted to the world.
Last week (July 27) Gaga shared the single's title and artwork with her fans. Gaga revealed that she chose the artwork, which features a close-up of her face smeared in paint, to show a more vulnerable side that she doesn't often share with the public.
It was previously rumored the song would be titled 'Applause', after her make-up artist, Tara Savelo, posted a photo of the popstar on her Little Monsters social networking site working on what appeared to be the track's artwork. –According to NME.com


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In second quarter of the year 2012, Blackberry had maintained itself as the top smart phone of Indonesia, but it has a reason to be sad as Android has overtaken Blackberry OS as the most popular OS. Currently, Android has more than half of the market share in its pocket, which is true based on facts given by IDC.
According to statement given by Darwin Lie, who is a Market Analyst with IDC for the Client Devices Research branch, incoming bulk of Android phones in Indonesia are responsible for increase in its market share, apart from the reason that android phones are easy on budget.
Lie said that Android phones are cheap and have a whole lot of applications, and not to forget, Blackberry 10 has been delayed. All buyers, including those who are willing to wait for Blackberry 10, are shifting base to Android for the time being, which has further pushed sales of Android phones and shifted the OS base from Blackberry.
Market statistics say that mobile phone market in the country has increased by 10% in each quarter, which is a decent growth. It is to be noted that shipments of feature phones has increased gigantically since the second quarter in Indonesia. The growth was mainly accelerated by vendors who have stocked handsets for the festive season of Id-ul-Fitr. There has been an increase in customers who have been looking forward to get phones with touch-screen, which will further increase shipment of smart phones in Indonesia up to 7 million units, predicts IDC.
Here is quick take on the varied smart phone manufacturers with major share in Indonesia.
In the second quarter of 2012, Blackberry had maintained its share in the market with a marginal fall of 6% in comparison to the first quarter. In this period, Android OS gained its share over RIM’s Blackberry OS. Currently, there are more than 10 popular vendors who are offering Android smart phones in the country.
The strong and persistent performance of the Asha and the X series has helped Nokia in maintaining its presence in the market. For the second quarter of the current year, Nokia witnessed decent profits with the launch of Lumia 610 and 900, with both of them getting successful reactions from all and for being dependable models.
Another player that maintained itself in the mobile phone market is Cross. It had great shipment volumes in the second quarter and has smart marketing activities happening in the country. The natives of the country still prefer Cross over others for varied reasons.
From the galaxy series to the basic feature phones, Samsung has restored to pure marketing techniques to maintain its share, and as for the launch of Galaxy S3, it ensured that the company remained in news and retained its share in the market. For now, Samsung seems to be in a comfortable position in Indonesia that cannot be harmed.


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Despite their low incomes compared to the working-age population, seniors remain the most rational consumers and biggest savers in Estonia, according to banks.
"A couple of weeks ago we conducted focus group studies in different customer segments and the results were predictable - seniors think about their finances a lot and consume very rationally,” said Teet Parring, head of segments at Nordea. Though he said there are no precise statistics, he estimates that a quarter to one-third of all the savings in Estonian banks belong to senior customers.
Statistics recently compiled by SEB reveal that around 50 percent of over 66-year-olds have savings equal to at least 13 months of their pension. “Currently around 20 percent of our working-age customers have savings, while with pensioners the figure stands at 80 percent,” said Mart Maasik, head of SEB's Business Development Division.
As pensions were not reduced during the recent economic downturn, savings by seniors grew significantly even during the crisis period, ETV reported.
According to Hanna Turetski, spokeswoman for the Consumer Protection Agency, this trend is not surprising considering the fact that seniors often have to make ends meet on around 300 euros per month. "They of course have more time, their inquiries are much more thorough and they are definitely more price sensitive," she said.


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OnePlus’s high-end phone, the OnePlus 7 Pro, will feature a super smooth display and 5G support.
OnePlus CEO Peter Lau said in an interview that the screen of the OnePlus 7 Pro would be da super fluent and quite lively One. Previously, rumors of the OnePlus 7 Pro screen, 90 Hz screen refresh rate was said to have. From what Lau says, this rumor can now be assumed to be true.
Previously, smartphones with high screen refresh rates were higher than 60 Hz. One of them was the Asus ROG Phone 90 Hz, the Razer Phone and the Razer Phone 2 had a 120 Hz screen refresh rate. However, if the OnePlus 7 Pro reaches a value of 90 Hz, this will be the first among mainstream phones. Razer Phone and ROG Phone were game-centric phones.
This attack by OnePlus will ultimately compel companies like Samsung and Apple to a similar level, but the most curious part here is, of course, how this development will reflect on the price of the phone. In the interview, it was said that the OnePlus 7 Pro was spending three times more money on the screen. This could mean that OnePlus is now starting to move away from being a flagship killer in price.
In addition to the 5G support, the OnePlus 7 series will also be among the world’s top 5G phones.


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For much of 2017, shares of Apple (AAPL 0.22%) surged higher, driven primarily by the growth of the company's services business and excitement about the new iPhone X. However, various negative reports about iPhone X demand have surfaced in the past month, taking some of the shine off the stock.
One analyst thinks that a rising tide of share buybacks -- enabled by the recently passed tax reform bill -- could propel Apple stock higher in 2018. In fact, Steven Milunovich of UBS expects Apple to buy back $122 billion of stock over the next two years. However, that eye-popping figure isn't as impressive as it might seem at first glance.
There will be a lot of cash available
As of the end of September, Apple had $252.3 billion of cash and investments held outside the U.S. in order to avoid stiff repatriation taxes. That probably increased to at least $270 billion by the end of December, as Apple usually produces very strong free cash flow during its first fiscal quarter.
Under the new tax reform law, Apple will incur a one-time repatriation tax of 15.5% on its overseas cash and investments, less than half of what it might have owed otherwise. Assuming conservatively that Apple had $270 billion held outside the U.S. at the end of last quarter, this tax bill would come to just shy of $42 billion, leaving Apple with an extra $228 billion to use for buybacks, dividends, acquisitions, research, or any other purpose.
Most analysts assume (quite reasonably, in my opinion) that Apple will set aside a bunch of its overseas cash to pay down debt, while using most of the rest to buy back its stock. Milunovich gets to his $122 billion estimate by assuming that the company will produce about $60 billion of free cash flow annually and maintain net cash of $90 billion.
This level of buybacks wouldn't be that unusual
This $122 billion might seem like a huge number. However, it doesn't look quite as impressive when compared to Apple's buyback activity over the past five years.
In total, Apple has repurchased $166 billion of stock during this period. Furthermore, looking just at the two-year period beginning in April 2013, the company spent $78 billion on buybacks. Since its stock price was much lower at this time, $78 billion was enough to reduce the share count by 818 million (on a split-adjusted basis). To buy back 818 million shares at today's stock price, Apple would need to spend upwards of $140 billion.
Thus, repurchasing $122 billion of stock within a two-year span might itself be unprecedented, but that sum wouldn't buy as much Apple stock as the company repurchased during its most productive two-year period for share buybacks.
Furthermore, Apple stock trades for about 15 times its projected fiscal 2018 profit. While that's relatively cheap compared to the market as a whole, it's near the high end of the stock's long-term trading range. Thus, multiple contraction could potentially offset the EPS benefit of shrinking the share count with buybacks.
There are other reasons to own Apple stock
The potential for $122 billion of share buybacks isn't a good enough reason to own the stock. However, Apple may take a more aggressive approach to returning cash to shareholders, which could have a more meaningful impact on the stock price. For example, if it opted to maintain $10 billion of net cash instead of $90 billion, that would free up another $80 billion for buybacks in the next year or two.
Meanwhile, on the business side, strong demand for the iPhone X in China could potentially power Apple to much stronger profit growth than investors currently expect. Furthermore, the growth of Apple's services business could convince investors to award Apple a higher earnings multiple. Either development could help the shares break out of their recent funk.
Thus, there are plenty of potential catalysts that could justify owning Apple stock right now. But the mere prospect of $122 billion of share buybacks in the next two years wouldn't by itself be enough to keep the stock marching higher.


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The iconic denim company filed a trademark infringement suit in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco two weeks after Evisu announced plans to launch a Private Stock collection, reports WWD.
But rather than come up with, say, a few new styles, Evisu was intent on paying tribute to the Levi's of old -- namely, the 1944 501 jeans, 1890 Nevada design, and 1917 Campbell style.
At the time of the collection's announcement, Evisu's CEO Scott Morrison claimed the brand was "merely taking inspiration from our past and paying homage to one of the oldest, or historically relevant, jeans in existence, which in this case happens to have been an amazing pair of Levi's," reports the fashion news site.
"We're not remaking a Levi's jean, nor are we claiming that this is a Levi's jean," Morrison added.
Levi's isn't buying Morrison's excuse.
Apparently, this legal clash of the denim titans is part deux of a long-standing affair. Levi's previously sued Evisu in 1999 over pocket designs that were allegedly too similar to Levi's own trademark and also over some earlier styles that used the name "Evis."
According to the defendant's bio on Evisu's Web site, founder Hidehiko Yamane originally called his jeans Evis after the Buddhist god of prosperity. Even so, Levi's came home with an injunction against Evisu in that suit. Now, the San Francisco-based company is alleging that Evisu has breached the 1999 injunction.
Levi's lawyers point out that images of Private Stock jeans were posted on the defendant's Web site (they weren't in the online shopping section when StyleList checked today, but unidentified pairs could have been featured in the artsy 2010 preview photos), and that the press release announcing the collection contained the name Evis, reports WWD.
A quirk in this whole court ordeal is that the injunction's terms don't apply to Evisu in Japan, where the brand currently offers jeans with red tabs on the pocket.
Speaking of dirty denim, the cutthroat jeans industry has inspired a documentary.


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Well, when it comes to the news that they're living apart, we guess it's not that easy to hide.
Now Nick has finally responded to the rumors, and his answer confirms our worst fears for the pair. He said:
[Image via FayesVision/WENN.]
Here's a gimmick we can get behind!
Starting in January, McDonalds will be offering free, unlimited wireless internet access to their "dining room" customers!
The mega-chain has offered wireless access in their restaurants for five years now, but for the price of $2.95 every two hours.
"We're not just about hamburgers," chief information officer for McDonalds, Dave Grooms said. "We are about convenience and all kinds of value."
Will U dine-in more at McD's with the free wireless access??
[Image via WENN.]


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|You Save||$99 (100%)|
Christmas is December 25. Amazon is offering a Sign Up for a FREE 6 Month Amazon Student Trial with .edu email registration. After the trial ends you will be eligible for 50% off 1 Year Amazon Prime, including all of Prime Benefits. This is one of the best ways to receive expedited 2-day shipping for those last minute Christmas purchases without paying hefty fees. Not a student? Alternatively, there are a couple easy ways to get Prime to be eligible:
If you are a frequent Amazon shopper, this is one of the few paid store memberships that we would unequivocally recommend! There are a lot of benefits to having Amazon Prime Membership which includes:
Disclaimer: The Black Friday deal information given above is without warranties on accuracy and availability. Black Friday deals tend to sell out very quickly and as retailer only keep low inventories for doorbuster deals.
Amazon Prime Membership - Get your gifts in time for Christmas!
Black Friday 2015 is here. The early Black Friday 2015 Sales launched. I4U News is features in-depth coverage of Black Friday 2015 ads, deals, and sales. We have more Black Friday services and content than ever before. Find below the highlights.
Black Friday 2015 on I4U News
Find the latest Black Friday 2015 Deals
I4U News is daily News site for the Geek Mind. Expect the latest technology news including the juiciest rumors. Stay up to date with the biggest discoveries in science. Other featured news topics include cars, celebrities, movies and more.Read more.


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Macys Black Friday Ad 2023
Macy’s Black Friday for 2023 runs from 11/19 – 11/25
The Macys Early Black Friday Sale Starts 11/10 – Read about it here!
Black Friday Details:
Be sure to visit the Black Friday Page for all the current Black Friday Ads including store hours and online deals. There will be ads from 30 different retailers including CVS, Target, Walgreens, Kohls, Macy’s and much more


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After more than a year spent in a former grocery store, Burlington Post Office workers were seen Friday working to return to their location at 300 N. Main St.
The location is expected to reopen at some point after Sept. 19.
Postal trucks and employees were coming and going between locations yesterday but it was unclear what specifically they were transporting.
Post office boxes and daily operations moved last July to Tom’s Market when storm water and sewage backed up into the downtown location’s basement during the the third-highest flood on record. The building’s heating, cooling and electrical systems were damaged.
Customers have been inquiring to post office workers at Tom’s Market as to when they could expect the Main Street location to reopen. Though local staffers were not able to give customers any specific information about the move, they did say the transition back downtown was underway.
City bus driver Stephanie Shute said she found out Friday the post office was returning downtown.
“Personally, I’ve found this location (Tom’s Market) much more convenient because I don’t have to be dropping off and picking up people downtown,” she said.
As recently as last week, a postal official said an Aug. 28 target was proving to be overly optimistic.
“The Burlington Post Office is not yet ready for the Postal Service to reoccupy,” said Twana Barber, a regional corporate communications representative from Kansas City, Mo. “The safety of our employees and customers are paramount, and we will ensure all the necessary repairs needed are made to our satisfaction before reopening, which we anticipate sometime next month.”
Steve Hoschek learned through word of mouth about the move back to Main Street.
“I’m glad they’re moving back,” he said.
Andrew Hoth, an attorney whose office is across the street from the post office at the corner of Jefferson and Main streets, will be glad to see the post office return.
“It’ll be nice to have it back here because of the convenience,” he said. “The temporary location has worked out all right, but traveling back and forth does add a little bit of time to the day.”
Until the downtown location reopens, local customers will continue to get their post office boxes and conduct all mailing needs at the temporary location at 550 Division St.
“We apologize to our customers for the temporary inconvenience and will notify them with instructions on accessing their mail during the transition process back to the Burlington office,” Barber said.
Processing equipment and carriers are starting to transition downtown but no retail items are being moved at this time.
Since last year’s flood, which reached 23.65 feet, the city of Burlington successfully submitted a $26.2 million flood mitigation plan to the Iowa Department of Homeland Security. A flood wall extending from Big Muddy’s restaurant to the wastewater treatment plant — but excluding the BNSF rail yard — will be constructed over 10 years and financed over 25 using an increase in local sales tax revenues.


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THE company issues a safety notice as it warns consumers to check their products to see if their tub is one of those affected.
BOSSES at the drinks company fear the slogan would be linked to the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant organisation, and cause offence to Catholics
MORE than 300 branches are to be sold in England and Wales as the banking giants ditch the RBS brand they believe is too toxic to save.
THE chief executive of the state-backed bank blames "legacy" issues for the losses after RBS was forced to shell out another £450million to cover payment protection insurance.
STUNNED workers have been handed a manual telling them how to break the stores down before they close for good.
RMT Union members had three more walkouts scheduled for this month but ScotRail made a new offer guaranteeing there will be a conductor on every new electrified train.
THE retailer says it is now more expensive to import clothes from overseas which will push up costs and that prices could in turn go up by five per cent next year.
Waitrose is warning ndeclared presence of almonds, Brazil nuts and pistachio nuts could be potentially deadly.
ASDA, the Co-op, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose are all affected by the recall notice over fears the products contain rubber
People who miss the cut off face losing payments or being hit with penalties
THE boss of Scottish car sales firm Phoenix says his “bold” new package is aimed at giving his workers a better work-life balance.
THE part state-backed bank is targeting £1.4 billion in cost savings by the end of next year but it is not known how many of the closures will be north of the border.
AS fury grows at RBS warning over negative interest rates, we explain what they are and what they mean.
THE Angus site is one of three across the UK to benefit from the £275m investment with "new employment opportunities" expected to be created as a result.
Harriet heard workers sniggering and making comments about her appearance - now Superdrug say they will use her Facebook post in training


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QIF is the Quality Information Framework, and additive manufacturing will see a lot more of it in the future.
ANSI COVID-19 Equipment Standards Released, But…
ANSI has released several official standards related to the production of emergency medical equipment to address the COVID-19 process, which may apply to 3D printed components.
A New Portal For Additive Manufacturing Standards
ANSI and America Makes open a new online portal for additive manufacturing standards.


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“Japanese scrapyards may increase their offers next week because of the strong yen,” a scrap buyer in east Asia said. “However, this may cause difficulty in selling scrap export cargoes because Japanese scrap will become less competitive in the spot market,” a scrap buyer in east Asia said.
The Japanese yen rose to a high of 104.70 to the US dollar on Thursday January 3, climbing 5% over the past five weeks.
However, this has been balanced by weak demand in Japan's key export markets of Vietnam and Taiwan, where buyers have reduced their bids in the face of lower offers for deep-sea scrap.
And Japan has been enjoying a week-long holiday this week, which has limited the offers for Japanese H2-grade heavy scrap.


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The UK’s Food Standards Agency has advised consumers that some pies in batches of three brands of fruit pies have been found to contain mould.
The FSA said the situation is believed to have occurred because a preservative was left out during the production process that resulted in the mould growing.
The three affected brands, all made by Manor Bakeries, are Mr Kipling Six Fruit Selection Dessert Pies, Asda Six Assorted Fruit Pies and Tesco Summer Fruit Pies, all of which have UK wide distribution.
The FSA said that whilst the products are believed to have been removed from the shelves, people could still have them at home as the best before dates are up to 11 June. There are nearly a million pies in total in the three batches.
“Whilst eating the mouldy pies is unlikely to be a significant health risk, it could be unpleasant and there have been at least 28 consumer complaints received by local authorities so far,” the FSA said.
For full details of the affected products, click here.


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Experts are saying China will soon become the most powerful economy in the world and there are two reasons for its stunning surge up the rankings - President Obama and David Cameron.
Prime Minister Cameron and his sidekick Nick Clegg recently unveiled a master plan to reduce Britain's crippling deficit by £15billion over the next 10 years.
The first step is to look at all our spending over the past five years, determine what's unnecessary... and then ask China for £15bn. Meanwhile Obama recently met the CEOs of the biggest companies about creating a better economy.
After the meeting all the bosses flew home on the same flight to China, which now has the second most powerful economy in the world.
Ladbrokes have just opened a market over when the dragon economy will reach No.1, which was more than China Crisis ever did.
They go 6-4 for before 2020 - and if that does happen everyone will get a free portion of prawn crackers.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JOHN SHAW


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Port of Oakland forecasts steady growth as partners invest
Nearly $700 million going into major projects, many to come online by summer
Oakland, Calif. – March 30, 2018: Containerized cargo volume moving through this city is expected to increase 2 percent annually for the next five years. The catalyst for growth: a nearly $700 million injection of capital from outside investors. That’s the message Port of Oakland officials delivered to trade and transportation leaders here this week.
“This is good, measured growth that’s not debilitating for our community or our operations,” Executive Director Chris Lytle told a meeting of the Port’s 55-member Efficiency Task Force. “A big shout out to those who have stepped up to make the investments that will drive our growth – they’re showing faith in Oakland’s future.”
The Port boss said investment in facilities and infrastructure is boosting Oakland’s global trade status. Projects range from a new logistics campus to an online information gateway for cargo owners. Mr. Lytle said many of the projects would come online by summer, including:
- Substantial completion of TraPac marine terminal’s $60 million expansion to double the size of its Oakland footprint;
- Completion of a $15 million project to heighten four ship-to-shore cranes at Oakland International Container Terminal;
- Groundbreaking for a $52 million Seaport Logistics Complex by CenterPoint Properties;
- Opening of a $90 million Cool Port Oakland refrigerated distribution center by Lineage Logistics and Dreisbach Enterprises;
- Launch of a $40,000 web-based portal by Advent Intermodal Solutions for shippers to track containers or manage cargo pick-up.
Still on the drawing board: a $500 million upgrade at Seventh Street, one of the Port’s principal entryways. That project would include separating rail lines from roads. It would also introduce new technology to help freight haulers navigate the Port. Alameda County’s Transportation Commission is seeking government grants to finance the work, Mr. Lytle said.
“How do you make traffic flow at the Port?” Mr. Lytle asked. “How do you eliminate congestion points? We couldn’t do it without the support of the County Transportation Commission.”
Port Maritime Director John Driscoll predicted that new development would increase cargo volume on Oakland docks. Cool Port alone could account for more than 50,000 20-foot containers of cargo annually, he said.
“We applaud the vision of those who are investing in Oakland,” said Mr. Driscoll. “The payoff will be more business for the Port and more jobs and economic stimulus for the city.”
About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront including Jack London Square. The Port's 5-year strategic plan - Growth with Care - pairs business expansion with community benefits, envisioning more jobs and economic stimulus as the Port grows. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release reflect not historical facts but forecasts, projections, estimates and other “forward-looking statements.” In this respect, the words “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “forecast,” “assume” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forecasts, projections, estimates and other forward-looking statements are not intended as representations of fact or guarantees of results. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those that have been forecasted, estimated or projected. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Port assumes no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any changes in the Port’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Port of Oakland
Port of Oakland


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Berlin, 23.03.2023 - PXR has advised Berlin-based FinTech Raisin on its Series E financing round of €60 million. The start-up is known in Germany in particular for its investment platforms WeltSparen and ZINSPILOT. Among the company's well-known investors is the US investment bank Goldman Sachs.
Raisin offers consumers and SMEs free access to deposit products and diversified ETF portfolios from across Europe. With a valuation of over one billion euros, the start-up is one of the most prominent FinTech companies in Germany. According to the company, Raisin has been profitable for six months and currently manages a total of 38 billion euros in savings and investment products for customers worldwide.
Focus on expansion and greater accessibility
Participants in the new financing round include the Catalyst Fund of London-based investment firm M&G and other globally active financial services companies. Raisin plans to use the new capital to provide more consumers with access to its products. The focus will be on new features, streamlined processes and broader platform accessibility. Furthermore, the new resources will be used to accelerate growth in markets such as the US.
Long-time client of PXR and Dr. Peter Möllmann
Raisin has been a client of PXR since its founding. Even before that, founder and managing director Dr. Peter Möllmann advised the FinTech, founded in 2012, for several years. In 2021, PXR worked with the startup on its acquisition of open banking platform Deposit Solutions.
Dr. Peter Möllmann says: "I am delighted that we have been able to accompany Raisin's impressive success story for several years now. The current financing round shows that with good and sustainable business models, a growth course is possible even in difficult market situations. Especially for the FinTech industry, this is a very important sign in the current times."
PXR team for Raisin
For the financing round, the team from PXR consisted of: Dr. Peter Möllmann, Daniel Grisar, Katharina Erbe, Asina Roth and Isabella Schuh (all Corporate/Venture Capital).


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Airgun Depot has a great package sale on the Crosman DPMS SBR Essentials Rifle Kit for just $229.99, with FREE shipping. You save $50.00 of the $280.00 MSRP.
Airgun Depot has a great package sale on the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Revolver Combo for just $59.99, with FREE shipping on orders $179+. You save 20% of the $80.00 MSRP.
Airgun Depot has the Crosman SNR357 Dual Ammo Revolver on sale for $75.99, you save 41% off the MSRP. Free shipping on orders $179.00 or more.
Airgun Depot has the Crosman DPMS SBR Rifle on sale for $179.99 with Free shipping. Buy one and check that holiday gift box.
Air Gun depot is running a holiday sale on the Crosman 1077 Air Rifle for just $59.99, which is 36% OFF the MSRP and even the discount kings at Amazon can not beat this deal. This is a great holiday..
Airgun Depot has a sale on the top-selling Benjamin Wildfire 0.177cal PCP Air Rifle for just $109.99 or 45% OFF. Thus is great price to get started with PCP guns.
A few weeks ago, 85 competitors registered for the three-day competition which featured multiple shooting matches including the main two-day rifle event.
The Crosman All-American Field Target Championship has hosted hundreds of competitors from around the globe for nearly 10 years. First-time participants welcome.
Crosman Corporation today announced that its board of directors has approved its holding company’s new name: Velocity Outdoor.
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has announced that starting with the 2018 hunting season, big bore PCP air guns will be legal to hunt Deer, Elk, and Bear…
Dedicated air gun competitors from around the globe can now register for the three-day competition which features multiple shooting matches including the main two-day rifle event.
Crosman features a lineup of Remington products, including one of the most powerful break barrels on the market, the Remington Model 725 VTR.
Crosman, partnering with DPMS Panther Arms, is proud to announce the new DPMS SBR full auto CO2 rifle – the most fun you’ll ever have shooting an airgun.
Crosman Corporation is introducing several new key break barrel technologies and features at SHOT 2018.
Building on the success of the Sniper Crossbow, Centerpoint is now introducing an expanded package with even more value and performance at an extreme value.
HAVA celebrated its 10th Anniversary at their flagship HAVA/SAPD National Family Day event at the 700-acre San Antonio Police Academy on Saturday.
John Crump, reviews the Crosman Maximus Hunter PCP air rifle and beside just plain fun , finds it a useful training tool for rifle shooters.
Crosman Corporation, a leading airgun designer, announced today the hiring of Dan Maier as Vice President of Finance.
LaserMax, Inc. is a 28-year old technology company that specializes in hardening and miniaturizing laser and optical systems for hostile environments.
Crosman Corporation announced the acquisition of LaserMax, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of gun mounted laser aiming devices.


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Have surfers discovered the future of sustainable design?
Surfboard materials are experiencing a wave of innovation with big implications for other industries. But could familiar concerns about performance, appearance and costs hinder sales?
Like many athletes, surfers — and the manufacturers who produce their expensive boards — are very particular about their equipment.
Even minute details can make or break the next wave, which has led to quite a conundrum for the stereotypically-green surf culture.
Lots of professional surfers, manufacturers and industry nonprofits preach ocean conservation and organize beach clean-ups, but day to day the surfboard industry remains reliant on unsustainable materials laden with carcinogens and petroleum byproducts.
Sure, a few environmentally-minded groups have attempted to develop soy-based oils or other alternatives for foam surfboard cores, known as blanks, but the results have been less than stellar. Inconsistent supply chains, not-quite-right material densities and ugly discolorations have made prototypes far from commercially viable.
"The soy looked dingy on the racks. It looked like it was sitting in the sun for a few months," said José Ignacio Lozano, CEO of surfboard blank company Arctic Foam. “The oils being used were also coming up with some pretty soft foam — we didn’t think that was ultimately going to be what would marry oils from sustainable source with high performance."
Those sorts of shortcomings, whether aesthetic or performance-based, aren't an option for Arctic Foam, since the Southern California company's blanks will be shaped into boards for some of the world's best professional surfers.
In recent months, however, Lozano has found a reason to be more optimistic about the future of sustainable board design. An unexpected application for a commercial algae oil already on the market recently helped researchers in San Diego and surf industry veterans at Arctic Foam develop the world's first algae-based surfboard.
The implications of that material science breakthrough, coupled with much broader activity in plant-based bioresins, recycled materials and new types of supplier-manufacturer collaboration has the surf industry poised to catch an unprecedented wave of innovation — one which could also have big implications for a range of other industries, from food systems to renewable fuels to the shipping business.
“This is pretty dramatic," said Michael Stewart, co-founder of the independent nonprofit Sustainable Surf. "If the technology works — and from what we saw with the (algae) board they actually had — it looks like it’s basically the game changer that every one thought it was going to be."
An algae cultivator, a surf company and a team of Southern California academics might sound like the wind up for a bad joke about West Coast hippies. But that is the trio that unwittingly came together to create surfing's inaugural algae board, which was debuted in San Diego in late April.
"We were actually contacted. We had no idea this was going on," said Joseph Zwillinger, vice president of industrial products for micro algae purveyor Solazyme.
The 12-year-old California biotech company, which raised $145 million in funding before going public in mid-2011, was staying busy honing its algae-based renewable fuels and exploring how its algae oils might translate to other industries when they got a crash course in surfboard materials.
In early 2015, Lozano's team at Arctic Foam had approached materials science researchers at the University of California, San Diego, about teaming up to take another crack at sustainable surfboards.
"They had already made a new foam in the lab but didn't have a foam manufacturer," Lozano recalled of an initial conversation with Stephen Mayfield, a UCSD professor of biology and algae geneticist, who was interested in applying Solazyme's oils to polyurathane materials.
"The event itself is basically the only sort of surfboard manufacturer-specific trade show left," Stewart said. "It’s kind of the leading light of the brands and the manufacturers — the people who make the foams and the resins and fiberglass."
In another indication of the surfing industry's increasing interest in sustainability, Sustainable Surf for the first time this year oversaw the event's best in show awards. Arctic Foam nabbed the best sustainable advancement award for the algae board's potential to achieve scale that impacts the entire surfing business.
“Having this change on the foam blank side of things — it’s hard to overstate the importance of it," Stewart said. "Instead of working more on the margins or the specialty markets, this has the ability to get into the actual mainstream."
Part of the reason the material innovation could prove so important is the potential to be adapted with relative ease into existing supply chains and market structures. Polyurethane blanks like those made by Arctic foam make up about 70 percent of the surfboard market, and the shift to algae oil would really only entail replacing a single raw material.
"It really comes down to how much Solazyme charges them for the algae-based poly oils," Stewart said. "It’s one component with one price. They can source that just like anything else."
Arctic Foam's surfboard blanks, which it supplies to major brands like Lost and Rusty in addition to independent shapers, start at around $50 for basic off-the-shelf models and retail for $150 or more for higher-end versions. Lozano said Solazyme's costs are only marginally higher than its traditional petroleum suppliers.
"We’re still a bootstrapped company, so we’re very concerned about the cost," he said. "We’re thinking quite literally that the added cost to the end user is going to be somewhere south of $5."
One slightly less clear cut variable in the algae surfboard development process will be hammering out an intellectual property agreement with researchers at UCSD — a particularly timely question given the push currently underway by the California public university system to increasingly commercialize R&D work being done in campus labs.
Licensing agreements are fairly common with industrial innovations spawned by academic research, though University of California higher ups are also experimenting with new investment models being developed with the help of Silicon Valley investors. Lozano said Arctic Foam is in "ongoing conversations" with UCSD.
The company hopes to start selling blanks with the algae-based material in time for the company's busy pre-winter production run, when the waves get bigger and major stops on the professional world tour kick off. Arctic Foam also isn't just mulling one or two novelty eco board lines.
"Our goal is to replace everything with sustainable oils," Lozano said. "Within two years if anyone is still using petroleum-based polymers for their foam I’m going to be surprised. It’s just going to be that ubiquitous."
New value on dry land
Lozano's growth outlook for unconventional sustainable materials may sound ambitious, but the drivers behind his optimism are also spurring design teams and procurement officers in other industries to rethink their go-to materials.
“This microorganism has incredible breadth and applicability," Zwillinger said of Solazyme's lab-engineered micro algae.
The company started with a mission to supplant old-fashioned petroleum in the combustion process for industrial engines, which drew enough interest to secure investment from fossil fuel incumbents including Chevron. Newer potential market openings for the company range from triglyceride oils that could serve as a lower-cholesterol alternative to butter or other cooking oils or cosmetic applications, like soap made by Solazyme client Unilever.
Other tryglicerides, like palm oil, cocoa butter and coconut oil have turned into cash crops for developing nations in equatorial regions of the world, like Southeast Asia, Central Africa and South America — but the increased exports have also come at high social costs and helped accelerate mass deforestation.
"If you look at a map of the world 10 degrees North and South of the Equator, you have a high density of tropical rainforest that are very sensitive for climate issues and also very poor," Zwillinger said. "You get this mass of really significant environmental degradation, and you also have pretty bad exploitation of workers in the region."
Solazyme is also just one example of an advanced sustainable materials provider looking to navigate a very broad landscape of potential business opportunities.
Lozano from Arctic Foam also coyly notes that his company's foray into sustainable product design could have applications "for lots of stuff" in all sorts of industries. One natural progression for his company would be to move from the inside of the surfboard to the exterior materials used to finish blanks.
“We’re not looking at stopping with the foam," he said, adding that the company has already grown from selling about 45,000 blanks a year five year in 2007 to 85,000 this year. "We’re looking at having the whole board."
Already, a small but growing group of boutique bioresin companies, like Green Room Resin and Entropy, are working to develop a market for plant-based materials to coat surfboards, as opposed to traditional fiberglass or petroleum-based epoxy.
Should those companies decide to branch out if and when sales pick up, the current crop of surfing-specific sustainable resin providers would also likely be well positioned in the broader biocomposite sector.
Plastic alternatives are already drawing interest from the likes of automakers, the military and just about any kind of business seeking something other than plastic to package or ship its products.
Hitting the big time
For Stewart and Sustainable Surf Co-Founder Kevin Whilden, one particularly surreal moment in the last year cemented how far the surfing industry has come on sustainability.
It wasn't when Surfer magazine declared that "An Eco-Revolution is Upon Us" — though that was nice, too — but when the most famous surfer of all time, Kelly Slater, strode down the stairs toward the surf for his opening heat in one of the first world tour events of the season.
Emblazoned on Slater's board alongside myriad sponsor names was an Ecoboard project logo, denoting that the board made by long-time sponsor Channel Islands surfboards was up to the standards of Sustainable Surf.
"We were like 'Dude, look!" Stewart recalled. "We didn’t even actually try to make that happen. What we did was change the actual system, so that Channel Islands — which is his surfboard sponsor for more than 20 years — shifted their practices. It by default carries our logo."
For Stewart, the unexpected cameo on the world tour speaks volumes about both the logistical and marketing challenges of getting an entire industry to not only take sustainability seriously, but to then turn lofty rhetoric into action.
With Channel Islands, Stewart recalls the company “farming out” early lines with more sustainable epoxy resins. But the shaper based in Santa Barbara has since started its own operation to produce about 40 of the boards per week in the Southern California beach town.
“Surfboard margins are quite low,” Stewart said. “But they made the investment to actually build their own epoxy shop.”
Overall, the inventory of sustainable boards on the market has expanded from “maybe about 400 eco boards” in the mid-2000s to “about 22,000 for this year,” Stewart said.
Stewart and Whilden, who previously worked in consumer electronics manufacturing and geology, respectively, espouse a "science-based" approach to greening the sport. The three-year-old Ecoboard verification project established benchmarks for sustainable materials, like bio content of 15 percent or higher.
Perhaps most encouraging to the duo is how industry companies have chosen to run with the concept of sustainability in their own supply chains. In an example than transcends the surfing industry and illustrative of calls from leaders across the corporate sustainability spectrum, several surfboard materials companies have opted to both invest in new processes and collaborate where possible.
For example, Marko Foam, a blank company that has experimented with recycled EPS foams for years, had trouble establishing a steady supply of recycled material. Programs like Sustainable Surf’s Waste to Waves reuse campaign have helped that company and others, like Reef,more efficiently collect styrofoam from businesses or surf shop drop-offs:
Beyond the nitty gritty of manufacturing logistics and materials specifications, Stewart sees Sustainable Surf’s overall charge as shifting the narrative around sustainability to “the exact opposite of what the environmental movement and the environmental message has been,” he said.
“It was, you know, ‘You should be bummed and ashamed of what you’re doing.’ It’s going to suck and it won’t be any fun,” Stewart explained. “We said, ‘You know, if you blend the eye candy and the lifestyle appeal of surfing… what if you took that sort of vehicle and grafted sustainability onto it?”
The emphasis on a “deep blue lifestyle,” Stewart said, most resonates with a surfing audience because of the sport’s roots in Hawaiian permaculture, where daily lifestyles as a whole were more localized and sustainable.
Still, for all the historical resonance and narrative appeal of making surfing an icon of green recreation, Lozano insists that the sport's wave of green materials innovation comes down to business.
“It’s got to be commercial," he said. "We’re not just going to do this as an intellectual exercise."
Correction: A previous version of this article inaccurately described the origin of Solazyme's algae oils. The company's main main oil-producing microalgae strain dates back over a century to the sap of a species of chestnut tree.


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Tekni-Plex buys Seisa Medical to boost medtech capabilities
Canadian PlasticsPlastics Processes
A contract manufacturer specializing in Class II and Class III devices, Seisa operates facilities in the U.S., Mexico, and Slovakia.
In a move designed to boost its reach in the medtech sector, Tekni-Plex Inc. is acquiring Seisa Medical Inc., a global full-service contract manufacturer of Class II and Class III medical devices and specialty components.
The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
“This is a transformative acquisition for TekniPlex Healthcare, moving us squarely into the CDMO (contract, development, and manufacturing organization) segment of MedTech for medical technologies,” said Chris Qualters, CEO of TekniPlex Healthcare. “The ability for us to engage with our global customers on new medical technologies by developing engineered materials, co-designing components and assemblies, utilizing advanced process technologies and providing sterile barrier products allows us to truly partner with them from concept all the way to the point of care to help improve patient outcomes.”
Based in El Paso, Texas, Seisa is a contract manufacturer of Class II and Class III medical devices that employs more than 2,000 people across four facilities in the U.S., Mexico, and Slovakia. Seisa brings broad capabilities to advance interventional technologies across a variety of stent grafts, mitral heart valves, endovascular procedures, and cardiovascular catheter delivery systems, TekniPlex officials said.
The combination of the two organizations will result in “one of the most comprehensive value-added CDMO platforms in the industry,” said Julio Chiu, Seisa founder and CEO.
Tekni-Plex, which is based in Wayne, Pa., operates in both health care and consumer packaging sectors. The company has operations throughout Europe and the U.S., as well as in China, India, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico.


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December 1, 2020 by Laura Winters and Gabrielle Martin
Join the Hingham Women’s Club in celebrating the spirit of the season with their Virtual Festival of Trees this December 1-5.
The Women’s Club will be launching a website where interested parties can place virtual bids on an assortment of wonderful items donated from generous businesses, groups, and individuals. And, in the spirit of the season, it’s benefitting a charitable cause: the money raised during this five-day event benefits the Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore and the Hingham Women’s Club Scholarship Fund.
In addition, over 30 decorated trees will be on virtual display for a bit of familiar festive fun!
If you’re interested in bidding, visit the Hingham Women’s Club website for more information and follow their Facebook page.


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Primate Labs Benchmarks The 21.5″ 2012 iMac [Geekbench Scores]
With the new 21.5″ and 27″ 2012 iMacs now available in Canada and the US, Primate Labs have just published the Geekbench scores for the 21.5″ version. The very first unboxing and teardown video of the 21.5″ iMac has already hit the web.
The new 2012 iMacs feature a super slim chassis but with powerful now Intel Ivy Bridge processors. In order to find out how these new processors perform compared to the Sandy Bridge processors found in the previous-generation iMac, and how the new iMac performs compared to Apple’s other desktop computers, Primate Labs have charted Geekbench results gathered from the Geekbench Browser for the following Macs:
- New 2012 iMac (21.5″)
- Mid 2011 iMac
- Late 2012 Mac Mini
- Mid 2012 Mac Pro
- Mid 2010 Mac Pro
The benefits of the new Ivy Bridge processors are clear; the new high-end 21.5-inch iMac is almost 10% faster than the old high-end 27-inch iMac. The new mid-range and low-end iMacs show similar improvements as well.
The new 21.5-inch iMac isn’t a bad upgrade (at least from a performance perspective). Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors give the new iMac a nice boost over the previous-generation iMac, and help make it competitive with all but the high-end Mac Pro.


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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday informed that India has achieved its highest ever goods export target of USD 400 billion nine days ahead of schedule.
In a tweet, he congratulated the farmers, weavers, manufacturers, exporters and MSMEs for the success and said that it was a key milestone towards the journey of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
"India achieves the target of 400 Billion dollars of goods exports for the first time ever. I congratulate our farmers, weavers, MSMEs, manufacturers, exporters for this success. This is a key milestone in our Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey. #LocalGoesGlobal," said PM Modi in a tweet.
On average, every hour USD 46 million goods are exported, USD 1 billion goods are exported everyday and USD 33 billion every month.
While the exports in the financial year 2020-21 were USD 292 billion, the exports in 2021-22 are USD 400 billion with a 37 per cent rise.
In February, the Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had said, "For 10 months in a row, continuously, from April 2021 to January 2022, India has posted over USD 30 billion of exports. We have already crossed USD 334 billion exports which is more than the highest ever that India had done earlier in a full 12-month period."
On March 7, the Commerce and Industry Minister also said that India's merchandise exports have reached USD 390 billion till March 14 of the current financial year and would certainly cross USD 400 billion during the year ending March 31, 2022.


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Press release 214/2013
8 October 2013
Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb will take a Team Finland trip, with an aim to promote exports and internationalisation of Finnish companies, to India on 14-18 October. He will be accompanied by a business delegation of 30 people, including representatives from such sectors as energy and environmental technology; mining, metals and construction industry; information technology; health and well-being services; and financing. The delegation was assembled by Finpro.
The purpose of the visit is to strengthen the image of Finland as a country with a high level of competence and an attractive target for investments, as well as to promote the business opportunities of Finnish companies in India.
The itinerary will include the cities of New Delhi and Mumbai. In New Delhi, Minister Stubb and the delegation will meet Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma and other Cabinet ministers. A FIND conference, bringing together Finnish and Indian companies, will also be held in the city with an aim to explore cooperation opportunities within various fields. In addition, the Minister will open the “Design Helps” exhibition, arranged by the Finnish Tikau Share association. The exhibition is continuation for a similar exhibition organised during the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 about how innovative design and solutions act as factors enhancing well-being. In Mumbai, the Minister will meet leadership of the state of Maharashtra, management of the Central Bank of India and local business leaders.
Over the past almost ten years, the volume of trade between Finland and India has grown strongly, but is still modest considering all the opportunities available. India became Finland's third largest trading partner in Asia in 2011, when the total trade between our countries amounted to EUR 1.3 billion. However, in 2012 trade between Finland and India turned into a sharp decline, no longer amounting to more than EUR 830 million. Decline in the exports of machinery and equipment was the biggest contributor to declining exports. The decline in imports, on the other hand, was mostly caused by a collapse in the import of oil products.
The companies participating in the trade mission are: Biisafe, Biolan, BioNavis, Chempolis, Cleantech Finland, CLEEN, Commit, Comptel, Finnfund, Finnvera, Fortum, KAATO, Konecranes, Labsystems Diagnostics Group, Metso Minerals, mfore Osuuskunta, Nexetic, NSN, Outotech, Pagasor, Pemamek and Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.
Additional information: Mari-Kaisa Brander, Press Attaché to the Minister, tel. +358 40 131 3388; and Sanna Halinen, Counsellor, Unit for Asia and Oceania, tel. +358 40 563 8691.