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You know that manufacturing is an industry where Singapore has played its game outstandingly for decades now. Every year, this country walks down the path of manufacturing excellence with new sorts of innovations, technologies, and revolutions. However, considering the weight of competitiveness they receive from the global manufacturing realm and their Asian rivals, Singapore has decided to revamp the manufacturing ecosystem with experiments and new strategies targeting the year 2030.
In this article, we explore how Singapore is preparing for the 2030 manufacturing boost through the paths of experiments, perfection, and resilience.
Why is 2030 Special for Manufacturing Singapore?
In this section, we will look into the circumstances that led Singapore to consider reshaping the manufacturing sector all of a sudden. According to the reports, Singapore has plans to boost its manufacturing sector’s contribution to $160 billion by 2030. The current territory stood at $130billion.
Singapore said in 2021 that it intended to increase the manufacturing sector by 50% by 2030 as part of its Economy 2030 plan. The goal was to achieve both quantitative growth and a ‘qualitative transformation’, with a stronger focus on advanced manufacturing.
This is highly important on a global scale, as 17% of the world’s output comes from the manufacturing industry.
When it comes to this boost in manufacturing in Singapore, the government has decided to enhance three key areas. The first category is innovation for performance, which is vital in reinforcing supply chain resilience through efficiency and connectivity. Smarter and more connected manufacturing will lower risks and open up new economic opportunities in politically unreliable and chaotic times, especially in Asia.
The second area is manufacturing sustainability. The Singapore Green Plan 2030, which details Singapore’s manufacturing sustainability initiatives, places a strong emphasis on reducing carbon emissions, increasing efficiency, and promoting more circularity. The development of creative solutions, such as a circular economy for used electric vehicle batteries, is a step towards net-zero production.
The third area is thriving Industry 4.0 in the manufacturing sector to find manufacturing excellence. This not only emphasises the development of Industry 4.0 technologies but also trains a skilled workforce to work with such advanced technology.
What is the Singapore Manufacturing 2030 Strategy?
More Focus on Advanced Electronics Manufacturing and Innovation
Singapore’s shift towards advanced electronics manufacturing and innovation presents a compelling strategy for boosting its manufacturing sector by 2030.
With this strategy to prioritise advancements in electronics manufacturing, Singapore can extract the best of it and build a strong technological infrastructure and skilled workforce to drive innovation and competitiveness in the global market.
With this emphasis, Singapore is able to make use of cutting-edge technology like robots, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, creating an atmosphere that is favourable for research and manufacturing development.
Furthermore, making investments in the production of modern electronics boosts manufacturing sustainability, productivity, and efficiency, ensuring Singapore’s dominance in the world’s manufacturing sector.
Adopting this approach helps Singapore achieve its goals of a prosperous and sustainable future by diversifying its economy, generating high-value employment, and maintaining long-term development in the manufacturing sector.
Plan for Green Growth
We know that Singapore is highly enthusiastic about manufacturing and sustainability. However, in the 2030 green plan, this aspect has received much attention. It seems that Singapore predicts they can reduce environmental impact, minimise resource depletion, and enhance operational efficiency by prioritising sustainability.
They understood that investing in waste reduction programmes, renewable energy sources, and eco-friendly technology not only supports manufacturing innovation and competitiveness but also complies with global sustainability goals. Plus, sustainable manufacturing attracts environmentally conscious consumers. It helps expand market opportunities and drive economic growth in Singapore.
Also, it reduces the risk of resource shortages and regulatory changes, securing long-term profitability and resilience.
Therefore, it is a clear factor that, through its initiatives to develop sustainable manufacturing, Singapore can position itself as a global leader in environmentally responsible production very soon. It will drive them to achieve prosperity and achieve their manufacturing sector goals by 2030 quite easily.
Asia’s Leading Logistics Ecosystem
Singapore is trying harder to build Asia’s leading logistical landscape by 2030. If they need to accomplish this smoothly, they have to implement strategic initiatives that bridge infrastructure, advanced technology, and resource collaboration from warehousing manufacturing logistics.
The Singapore manufacturing plan must include modern port infrastructure, effective transit systems, and smart logistics plans to improve connectivity and operational effectiveness.
On one hand, digitalisation, blockchain, and manufacturing IoT optimise supply chain management by 200%, enabling real-time tracking and predictive analytics. On the other hand, incentivising partnerships between industry players, research institutions, and government agencies encourages manufacturing innovation and knowledge exchange to build a resilient logistic environment.
Singapore could boost its competitiveness both domestically and internationally, cut expenses, and expedite logistical procedures by giving these initiatives top priority.
This robust warehousing and manufacturing logistics ecosystem not only supports the 2030 manufacturing sector boost but also positions Singapore as a hub for global trade and commerce, driving economic growth and sustainability.
Industry 4.0 Digital Ecosystem
It has been quite some time since the Singapore manufacturing domain understood the importance of Industry 4.0 capabilities. However, in order to include this in the 2030 plan, a multi-faceted approach is necessary to develop an Industry 4.0 digital ecosystem for Singapore’s manufacturing sector.
Singapore should invest in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and the manufacturing IoT while promoting collaboration between industry stakeholders, research institutions, and government bodies.
Establishing supportive policies and incentives for digital transformation initiatives helps manufacturing innovation and the adoption of smart manufacturing practices. On the other hand, enhancing the skillsets of the workforce through specialised training programmes ensures alignment with evolving technological demands.
By giving these initiatives top priority, Singapore could help its manufacturing sector’s preparation for Industry 4.0 while boosting productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness.
As you can see, this transformation lays a solid foundation for achieving the 2030 manufacturing sector boost, positioning Singapore as a pioneer for advanced manufacturing in Asia and beyond.
Additive Manufacturing and Robotics
Singapore can advance manufacturing capabilities through additive manufacturing technologies, customised production, and reduced material waste.
Integrating robotics into manufacturing processes enhances automation, precision, and scalability, leading to increased productivity and cost-efficiency. This means Singapore is highly focusing on the automated factory concept.
Embracing additive manufacturing and robotics not only strengthens Singapore’s position as a high-tech manufacturing landscape but also drives sustainable growth, job creation, and competitiveness in the global market. The combination of robotics and manufacturing surely aligns with its vision for a leading manufacturing sector by 2030.
Upscaling and Reskilling the Workforce
One of the main strategies Singapore is currently focusing on is the strategic upscaling and reskilling of its workforce. They intend to make their workforce ready for an industry 4.0-powered tomorrow by 2030.
These initiatives focus on providing comprehensive training programmes to equip workers with relevant Industry 4.0, technological, and manufacturing sustainability skills.
This involves collaborating with educational institutions and industry partners to develop specialised courses and certifications tailored to emerging industry demands. With this strategy in place, Singapore not only becomes the pioneer in the manufacturing sector in the region but also the number one country with a full-scale workforce.
Cerexio as the Best Encouragement for the 2030 Manufacturing Boost in Singapore
In its quest to win the battleground of the global manufacturing ecosystem, Singapore has to implement the best strategies on its way to the 2030 goal. Cerexio solutions are powered by Industry 4.0 digital capabilities that cover every aspect of manufacturing, from production to distribution. Cerexio is the ideal partner in technology on Singapore’s way to manufacturing perfection in 2030.
Bridging Innovation and Skills through Advance Manufacturing Tech
Every day, there is a blooming of new tools and technologies around the world. Manufacturers can extract the best essence out of their processes and machines if they can couple them with the most suitable solutions. One simple tool can bring production excellence to your feet.


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They were left shocked and devastated by the sudden collapse of Thomas Cook on September 23, then surprised and delighted when Hays Travel stepped in on October 10.
Manager Samantha Griffiths said: “I had just come out of an interview at the job centre when I got a call from my old regional manager, who is now at Hays Travel, telling me they wanted to open a shop in Alnwick.
“He said they wanted the whole team to come back so I told the other girls, although our initial thoughts were that it was too good to be true!”
A week later, contracts had been signed, training completed and the Bondgate Within shop was open again.
“It still feels a bit surreal but amazing at the same time,” said Samantha. “The general public and customers old and new have been so nice to us. Their first thoughts were about us rather than their holidays. It really was quite overwhelming.”
Former Thomas Cook staff Michelle McDonogh, Molly Lewis, Joanne Leightley and Sasha Knox are also back on board – and new positions are being created at the branch.
“It’s hard to believe we’re expanding,” said Samantha. “Everything has happened so quickly but the people at head office have been so friendly in helping us get everything in place.
“Thomas Cook were very regimental in how we did things but Hays Travel, without having its own flights, want us to focus on what the customer wants. They’re very flexible and we have a lot more options to offer customers.
“We have been so busy since reopening. Our old customers have started to come back but we’re also seeing new ones so it’s been great.”
It is hoped that new signage will be in place soon, while the staff have even improvised to incorporate the Hays Travel corporate colours into their uniforms.
“We didn’t want to wear our Thomas Cook uniforms so we improvised with these orange and blue outfits until we get our proper uniforms,” said Samantha. “People are still a bit confused with the old Thomas Cook signage still there but hopefully the Hays Travel signs will get done soon.”
The staff were owed a month’s pay when Thomas Cook collapsed, as well as holiday pay and bonuses, but the government sorted it out within 10 days.
Michelle said: “It’s been a complete rollercoaster. It was the strangest three-week period.”
Although there had been media speculation about Thomas Cook’s financial predicament in the days leading up to its collapse, Michelle says she was still taken aback when it happened.
“The company had told us not to worry and that everything would be fine so we were in the dark about the seriousness of the situation and it came as a huge shock,” she said. “I had just marked my 18 years’ service on my last working day before it happened.”
Samantha added: “The news broke early in the morning and we wanted to come into the shop to sort out customers’ holidays but we were told not to touch anything.”
Sunderland-based Hays Travel has reopened 555 former Thomas Cook stores across the country and now has 1,210 people on its books.
Owners John and Irene Hays, speaking last month, said: "We are really humbled at the fantastic response there has been from our wonderful staff, our customers, suppliers, friends and many complete strangers who believe in what we're doing."There's a huge will to see our high street shops thrive and we're determined that we will be doing our bit for the travel industry with the help of everyone in the now extended Hays family."We'd like to thank everyone who has helped make this happen - we know the hard work is just beginning for our brilliant teams."

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Otago Daily Times technology editor Dene Mackenzie has sourced a product that could be your saviour if travelling unknown roads on your summer holiday.
We have one TomTom to give away to a lucky Summer Times reader.
TomTom's latest updates to its Android and iPhone navigation apps bring leading mapping technology to even more smartphone owners.
The newest version of the Android app is optimised for use with the latest and most popular smartphone handsets, supporting more than 200 of the newest devices. Meanwhile, the iPhone app makes the most of the extra screen offered by the iPhone 5.
Each of the apps offers the functionality of a dedicated GPS with the portability and convenience of a smartphone, with TomTom's IQ Routes, free lifetime maps, Advanced Lane Guidance and High Resolution maps which avoid chewing through data.
The app integrates seamlessly with contacts and Bluetooth and HD Trafiic, the most accurate real time traffic alert on the market, is available as an in-app purchase. But for those drivers who still like the TomTom attached to their dashboards, the Otago Daily Times has one to give away.
Please tell us the most remote place you visited through your holidays between December 26 and January 14 to be in to win.
Send your answers to email@example.com with Summer Times TomTom in the subject line and include your name, address and email.


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PM Modi meets chiefs of top pharma companies, asks them to follow ethical marketing practices
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met chiefs of top pharma companies, hospitals and medical device makers to deliberate on issues and future roadmap for progress.
The meeting comes amid concerns related to unpredictable regulatory environment impacting growth and unethical manufacturing and marketing practices maligning the image of local pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.
Also read: Pharma Cos Seek hike in drug rates
Meeting attended by Top Pharma Cos.
The meeting was attended by top executives from the industry including Pankaj Patel of Zydus Cadila, Sudhir Mehta of Torrent, Rajiv Modi of Cadila Pharma, Habil Khorakiwala from Wockhardt.
Shobana Kamineni, executive vice chairperson of Apollo Hospitals, Satish Reddy from Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Pavan Choudary representing Medical Technology Association of India, sources said.
It was organised by Invest India – the national investment promotion and facilitation agency.
Sources said the deliberations included compliance with ethical marketing practices, regulatory structure and boosting investment.
Follow ethical marketing practices
While the industry executives highlighted that uncertain regulatory environment is posing challenge for companies to plan their business strategy and sought policy interventions to boost investment in R&D, the PM reportedly insisted on companies to follow ethical marketing practices and maintain quality of their products and services.
Sources said Modi also asked industry leaders to ensure the image of industry is not maligned and that interests of patients and consumers are protected.
“It was a very positive discussion and the PM was really interested to know how the government can support growth,” an executive present in the meeting said.
Of late, the government has taken various stringent regulatory measures, especially related to price caps and trade margin rationalisations putting pressure on margins of the industry, particularly hospitals and other trade channels.


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2015 Toyota Camry to Receive Refreshed Look
In an effort to retain its current status as the number one bestselling car in the United States, Toyota has revealed plans to release a refreshed Camry in 2015. Over the past few years, the Camry has received minimal changes and updates.
But even so, there’s no denying that it is a strong contender in the midsize sedan market. And with its current sales figure, its title as 2013’s strongest selling sedan is in the books. However, this is something that analysts cannot fully guarantee next year.
While Toyota does not share the same opinion, it is not the least bit worried about it. Promising ‘significant attention’ to the refreshed 2015 Toyota Camry, the car manufacturer promises that it will not be a too drastic full-scale redesign. But if needed, the car manufacturer promises to work on ways on how it can retain its number one spot.
As of this writing, a release date on the arrival of the 2015 Toyota Camry has not yet been announced. But many speculate that it will take part in one of the first major auto shows for 2014; either Detroit’s North American International Auto Show or the Chicago Auto Show.
Stay tuned on our blog as we give you more updates about the 2015 Toyota Camry. Until then, be sure to check out our inventory of the 2014 Toyota Camry and contact us at Limbaugh Toyota to set up a test drive today!


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OPPO F17 and OPPO F17 Pro will launch in India on September 2nd, confirmed OPPO via its official account on Twitter. The handsets will be unveiled via an online music event, with performances by some of our favourite artists, added the tweet. The new OPPO F17 and F17 Pro are touted as the sleekest smartphones under Rs 25,000. The handsets are tipped to rock quad camera setup in a squarish camera module at the back and a near bezel-less display with a punch-hole cut out to accommodate the selfie camera in the top left. Here’s a quick look at the OPPO F17 and F17 Pro expected price and specifications in India.
The most flauntastic moment is finally here! 🤟
Presenting the First Ever Flauntastic Online Music Launch of #OPPOF17Pro, with performances by some of our favourite artists! 🎤
Join us LIVE on September 2, 7PM. #FlauntItYourWay pic.twitter.com/teGluzkS6V
— OPPO India (@oppomobileindia) August 26, 2020
OPPO F17 and F17 Pro: Price in India
The OPPO F17 series that’ll succeed OPPO F15 from earlier this year will most likely be a mid-range offering. The teaser by the company a few days ago suggests that the handsets could be priced in India under Rs 25,000. The handsets will be sold via Amazon.in as well as Flipkart.
OPPO F17 and F17 Pro: Specifications
The OPPO F17 and F17 Pro are tipped to sport around 6.4-inch s-AMOLED punch-hole display with a Full HD+ resolution and in-display fingerprint scanner. The handsets are likely to run ColorOS 7 based Android 10 out of the box and house a 4,000mAh battery with 30W flash charging support. The vanilla OPPO F17 is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 662 SoC coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The handset could also sport a 16MP selfie and quad camera setup comprising 16MP primary camera, an 8MP wide-angle lens, and a couple of 2MP sensors. The F17 is expected to be launched in Dynamic Orange, Navy Blue, and Classic Silver colour options.
The OPPO F17 Pro, on the other hand, is said to feature dual front cameras with 16MP primary and 2MP depth sensor for portrait shots. The rear cameras of the phone may house 48MP primary sensor, 8MP secondary, and a couple of 2MP sensors paired with LED flash. The handset will reportedly have MediaTek Helio P95 chipset aided by 8GB RAM and 128GB of onboard storage ticking at its core. The handset is expected to be available in Matte Black, Magic Blue, and Metallic White colour options. The Pro model is already confirmed to weigh 164 grams and measure 7.48mm in thickness.


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COMMENTARY: Apple's Bleaker Outlook Reflects How Both Sides Are Hurting in Trade War
Falling stock markets and slowing growth show companies in both the U.S. and China are struggling and that it’s time for Presidents Trump and Xi to make a deal.
As a new year dawns with the U.S.-China relationship in turmoil, it's a good time to take stock of how the two nations' economies might affect trade negotiations.
And as it turns out, one company's fortunes serve as a strong symbol of how things are going. In Apple's shock announcement this week that it was cutting its revenue outlook for the first time in more than 16 years, CEO Tim Cook put much of the blame on weakening demand in China.
The specter of an iconic American company, which builds its flagship iPhone in China and sells millions of them there, should inject a sense of urgency into trade talks that reportedly are about to resume between Washington and Beijing. It certainly put renewed urgency into the stock market, as Apple's announcement caused the Dow Jones Industrial Average to plunge 660 points Thursday. Apple plummeted 10 percent, the most in nearly six years.
Rumblings about whom the tariffs are hurting more may now be beside the point. Companies everywhere are feeling the pain – from agribusiness in California to manufacturers in China's Guangdong province to the big automakers in Detroit.
U.S. economic performance has outperformed much of the world during the past year, but it faces headwinds that include political chaos in Washington caused by an undisciplined and unpredictable White House.
Economies Under Pressure
For China, problems abound. Growth is slowing and probably is well short of the 6.5 percent GDP performance officially reported for last year's third quarter. Few analysts believe those numbers when viewing China through the prism of other indicators.
Manufacturing activity contracted in December for the first time in almost two years, with the Purchasing Managers' Index coming in at a surprisingly low 49.4.
Chinese authorities have been encouraging banks to lend more by lowering reserve-ratio requirements and changing other rules. But it is trying to thread the needle, targeting more funds for small businesses but not to hugely debt-burdened state-owned companies.
Growth in consumer spending is slowing amid an explosion of household debt.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index fell 24.6 percent in 2018 – the worst performance of any major market in the world and a likely precursor to more economic woes in 2019.
All of this might point to Beijing trying to make a deal with the Trump administration to end a trade war that clearly is contributing to China's problems. President Trump has already put tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods – about half of America's imports from the Middle Kingdom. China has retaliated with taxes on $110 billion of American imports.
Much more damage could be done and the entire global economy is threatened if an all-out trade war ensues between the two largest economies in the world. Companies are starting to move long-established supply lines out of China, fearing the tariffs will persist and price them out of markets.
The Woes of Apple
Apple is so big that its problems rain down on other companies – especially those that make components for its popular products. Stocks of some of those firms also fell sharply this week, and China's tech companies have been plunging for months.
Some argue that Apple's fall signals that Trump is winning the trade war, and that China is being hurt more than the U.S. There are several problems with that thinking. One is that it assumes the U.S. economy will remain as resilient as it has so far. But as the tariffs have barely taken effect, this is not a given.
In addition, pain is already being inflicted on our side of the Pacific. Shanghai is not the only suffering stock market. Wall Street indexes fell in December the most since 1931, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite hitting bear market territory.
Further, while Cook attributed much of his company's woes to China, Apple has other serious issues. It derives more than half of its revenues from one product – the iPhone – and its latest iteration, released in September, isn't selling particularly well anywhere. People are keeping their phones longer than they used to, perhaps because of fewer innovations in the new ones. They are also buying the competition.
"I've argued for a year that Apple is in trouble in China - why buy an iPhone when Huawei is 50 percent cheaper?" Shaun Rein, who runs the Beijing-based China Market Research Group, wrote in a LinkedIn comment. "Many consumers (like my family) have switched to Huawei at 30-50 percent cheaper and as good quality."
Rein noted a secondary reason - the arrest in Canada of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at U.S. behest.
"Many Chinese are protesting Apple products," Rein said. "Apple (not Canada Goose) will be harder hit as consumers see the U.S. more than Canada as the bogeyman."
Few Winners on Either Side
In the end, it's hard to see who wins in a trade war. Trump's goal of prying open China's markets to greater U.S. participation could bear some fruit. But China's consumers are increasingly demanding and fickle, and Xi's propaganda machine can turn them against U.S.-made products.
Some of Trump's other demands, such as a stifling of China's Made in China 2025 technology initiative, likely will go nowhere.
Meanwhile, Wall Street seems to be screaming a message Trump doesn't want to hear: His trade war is having a negative impact on a growing number of American companies.
It's time for leaders in both countries to acknowledge that their markets are reeling, their economies are in jeopardy, and that it's time to get serious about coming to an agreement.


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Thailand's top golfer on handling success, failure
Earlier this year, Ariya Jutanugarn became Thailand's first-ever golfer to win a major championship. Now, the rising star looks to add to her success by becoming the best golfer in the world, and to do so on her own terms.
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Earlier today, PUBG: Battlegrounds went fully free-to-play – and the effects are already being felt. While we can’t see any data on how it’s performing on consoles just yet, its Steam player count has increased significantly.
According to data from Steam Charts, PUBG’s player count quickly surpassed the peaks of the days leading up to the free-to-play update and has climbed to a peak of 667,000 players today. This is the highest that PUBG’s Steam player count has been for since May 2020.
PUBG’s shift to a free-to-play model brings it in line with some of its main battle royale rivals, such as Call of Duty Warzone and Apex Legends. All players will now be able to get a Basic PUBG account for free, which grants you access to most of the game’s content. Existing players that had previously bought the game have been automatically upgraded to a BATTLEGROUNDS Plus account, which has access to all content and the game’s ranked mode. New players can pay a one-time fee of $12.99 to upgrade to a Battlegrounds Plus account if they want to try and climb the PUBG ranks.
With PUBG being free on all platforms, the entire player base is likely much higher than what it’s achieving on PC right now.
With extra tutorials being added into the game to onboard new players, there’s hope that PUBG will be able to retain a large amount of players that are trying the battle royale out for the first time now it is free to play.
Despite today’s update resulting in a clear increase in players, PUBG will have some way to go before it matches its previous peak Steam player count record of 3.2 million, set in January 2018.


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|Illustrative image. FLC Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh province (Source: VNA)
On March 30, the group kick-started the construction of the four-star Maia Quy Nhon Beach Resort on 34.15 hectares. The resort is designed with 755 rooms, and 80 percent of its villas have swimming pools and outdoor living space.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Phi Long said the project is expected to promote tourism in Binh Dinh.
He stressed that the province is investing to build a road connecting Phu Cat airport to Nhon Hoi economic zone, and Cat Tien urban area.
This will help ensure the success of the resort and other tourism projects, Long said.
Chief Operating Officer at VinaCapital Brook Colin Taylor said he is confident that the Maia Quy Nhon Beach Resort will become one of the most popular destinations of tourists in the future.
Binh Dinh welcomed more than 4 million tourists in 2018, up 10.6 percent from a year earlier.
Among the visitors, there were over 286,400 foreigners and 3.8 million domestic holiday makers, respectively rising by 8.3 percent and 10.8 percent.
The province recorded a surge of almost 55 percent in tourism revenue to reach 3.3 trillion VND.
The province aims to welcome 5.1 million tourist arrivals in 2019, up 25 percent from this year, and earn 6.5 trillion VND in revenues.


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Container Port Crisis Impacting Retail Peak Season
UK container transport and container ports are in crisis right now following the coronavirus outbreak and a high demand retail peak season from Asia.
International shipments moving through the UK’s main three container ports – Felixstowe, Southampton & London Gateway – are likely to be significantly delayed due to major port congestion, operational procedures impacted by covid19 measures and container transport that just cannot cope with the volume.
The delays at ports has been so severe that vessels have cut and run before discharging and some lines are even considering dropping the UK from some of their schedules.
The now extended peak season from Asia is believed to be central to the issues we are witnessing. Despite global lockdowns earlier in the year, demand for products from China has remained high. This has effectively led to 6 months worth of trade being squeezed into the last four months, which has heaped extreme pressure on the UK’s container shipping infrastructure.
While most high-street retailers have seen a significant downturn in business, online sales have been driving the high demand peak season in the build up to Black Friday and Christmas sales.
Container transport operators are also struggling to provide enough transport for the volume of containers that have been entering the UK. Trying to book collection slots from ports, especially Felixstowe, has been extremely challenging and the industry is suffering from a shortage in drivers. The latter being impacted by many foreign nationals returning home in the build up to Brexit.
Right now, importers can expect delays of up to two weeks in the delivery of containers after vessels dock at any of the three main ports. If you are concerned this may affect any shipments en-route then please contact an Evolution team member for more information.
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Dangerous Goods Logistics
Dangerous Goods Compliance
Lithium battery safety has been the hot topic again this week, with concerns being shared about the safety of their travel on passenger aircraft.
The ICHCA and IVODGA have signed an agreement to crack down on safety procedures surrounding the movement and storage of dangerous goods.
International logistics is these days fraught with congestion, following the ongoing impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Below is an update for the major regions.


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Recently, Procter & Gamble announced an ambitious new goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities 30% by 2020. Developed in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, the goal represents an important step in the Company's continued efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
P&G is also joining the Climate Savers Program, a program sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund to enable leadership companies to collaborate and accelerate their efforts to address climate change. The initiative will have significant benefits aside from the obvious environmental impact as well.
"Energy conservation and increasing renewable energy will not only drive emission reductions, but will decrease costs and help create innovative solutions that will help our brands win with consumers" said Martin Riant, Group President at P&G.
Going Green is Good for Businesses of all Sizes
As large anchor companies continue their efforts, they will want to partner with smaller companies in their supply chains to improve overall sustainability efforts. Increasingly, buyers are under pressure to find suppliers that can help them achieve their environmental goals. Since smaller companies are often more flexible, they can innovate quickly, securing relationships with large customers. Green initiatives lead to cost savings, talent attraction and enhanced reputation.
So, even though companies like P&G may get more press, smaller companies stand to benefit greatly from developing their own green plan.
Suppliers who use Ariba Discovery can distinguish themselves as organizations taking green practices seriously. Ariba Discovery's Green Initiative labels provide a way for suppliers to highlight their online profiles, making it easy for buyers connect with like-minded partners. The green Initiatives labels cover Planning, Energy, Carbon Footprint, Transportation and Products and Services. It's never been easier for buyers to find green suppliers and for environmentally conscious suppliers to be found.


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NAGPUR: If you are a vintage car and bike enthusiast, then Nagpur is the place to be this Sunday. Exquisite vintage beauties on wheels will be rolling down the city streets for a rally organized by TOI.
Shahrukh Cassad, founder-member of CentInd Vintage Automobile Association said, “There will be about 25 four wheelers and 10 two wheelers participating in the rally. It is going to be a delight for Nagpurians to see these cars in action. These are beautiful vehicles that were made to last. Even today when you see them on road it will reflect the glory and glamour of the era they belong to.”
The oldest car registered for the rally is truly a blast from the past, a 1936 Morris 8 Tourer that will hit the streets in all its grandeur.
It’s also expected that a World War-II era motorcycle will also participate in the rally thus giving it a ‘complete’ feel with oldies from both two and four wheelers making their presence felt.
Vintage vehicles maintain their roadworthiness thanks to regular maintenance and major restorations. Restoration of an automobile means making it look exactly the way it was on the day that car rolled out of the factory.
While restoring a car, using modifications or adding your own personal touch is a strict no-no because the original design has to be copied in detail. It is a puritan’s field where nothing less than perfection is acceptable.
In rallies where prizes are given, judges look at which parts were replaced and which restored. Replacing parts with originals is an extremely difficult task because their production stopped decades ago, so sourcing has to be done from manufacturers in India or abroad who make replicas.
For Nagpurians, to watch these motorized beauties during the public display before the rally will be a sight to behold. Owners or caretakers will be sharing history of the vehicles and their design.
The company will stop producing Jazz after October 2022 while the crossover WR-V will not be produced beyond March 2023. The carmaker will also stop the production and sale of the 4th Generation Honda City by December 2022 in the country. However, the 5th generation of the sedan will continue to be available in the market, a source in the know of things told ETAuto.


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Oakland officials are looking into banning all flavored tobacco products to prevent the sale of these items being in the hands of kids.
Popular brands such as Backwoods and Zig Zag wrap their flavored products in colorful wrapping that resembles candy packages.
According to East Bay Express , vape Juice and flavors such as gummy bear, chocolate, honey-berry, and wham-bam watermelon are already banned by federal law.
Earlier today and meeting was held to grant approval for this proposal but no word if it has passed.
LA, it sounds like we are in the safe zone for now.


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First Pokemon did it; then Harry Potter did it even bigger: How to turn a kids property into a global licensing and merchandising juggernaut will be the subject of a pair of gabfests during the 11th annual Mipcom Jr. Oct. 8-9.
4Kids Entertainment chair-CEO Al Kahn and Warner Bros. Consumer Products exec VP Jordan Sollitto will take delegates into the particulars of their licensing and merchandising strategies Oct. 8.
Both companies have built global licensing programs for a variety of properties, including Harry Potter (Warner Bros.) and Pokemon (4Kids).
On Oct. 9, leading licensing experts will gather for the panel “Brand Builders and Profit Drivers.” Kids producer Alice Donenfeld, MTV Networks’ Jean-Philippe Randisi and Sesame Workshop’s Martha Van Gelder are among those who will unveil strategies to turn entertainment properties into profitable revenue channels.
License! editor-in-chief Joyceann Cooney will moderate both sessions.


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King of fruits, Mango arrives at Asia's biggest mango market, the Nunna market.
The markets have begun with 100 tonnes of Banginapalli. The price of Banganapalli is hovering around Rs. 35,000 per tonne, to Rs. 45,000 per tonne, which is less compared to last year.
The recent hailstorm has left black spots on the fruit and also the production is less compared to last year.
The fruits from the market are exported to Delhi, Ahmedabad and also to Kolkata and Nepal.


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Cheyenne Regional Medical Center had 34 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, October 25.
That's according to a post on the CRMC Facebook page.
According to the post, 28 of the people hospitalized had not been fully vaccinated, while 6 people had been vaccinated. The post says 12 people were in the Intensive Care Unit of which one person was fully vaccinated.
Of the 11 people on ventilators at CRMC, none was fully vaccinated. But one person on a ventilator was partially vaccinated.
CLASSIC CHEYENNE: The Cole Shopping Center
In December of 2020, Blue Federal Credit Union
completed its new headquarters at the corner of Converse and Pershing in Cheyenne. Well, it’s not so much a ‘corner’ as it is the smooth edge of a roundabout, but anyway. Before Blue FCU built its new campus, the site was at one time a premier shopping destination for Cheyenne. From the 1950s through 2016 it was Cheyenne's Cole Shopping Center.
Local businessman Frank Cole bought the land that would become a Cheyenne gathering place in the 1950s when the corner of Converse and Pershing was the edge of town
. Starting in 1952, three
different Safeway grocery stores called the Cole home over its half-century of existence. A plethora of other stores served the neighborhood too. From the movie theater to Blockbuster; there was the Cole Department Store, the fabric store, the East Branch of the Carnegie Library, and so much more.
As Cheyenne grew and changed, the Shopping Center fell into decline. Stores closed and new ones didn't take their places. The anchor of the area, Safeway, closed for good in 2016 with much of the rest following. In 2018 the buildings were demolished
and the new construction began.
The Cole was so integral to the neighborhood that when we asked on social media for folks’ memories we were flooded with hundreds of responses.
Check out many of those memories below, along with several pictures of the Cole Shopping Center, mostly from near the end in the twenty-teens.


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If you’re a Ring owner frustrated by the lack of Google Assistant support, help may be on the way. In an interview at CES on Tuesday, Ring founder and chief inventor Jamie Siminoff said one of the tasks facing him is expanding support for third-party products.
“I think we’re going to see over the next few years a lot of growth in the connecting of other products,” he said. “So at Ring you’re going to see us connecting with a lot of other third-party products where they’ve done a great job of building those things, like locks.”
Some of that is already happening. At CES this week, Ring announced new support for its Ring Alarm system and smart locks from Kwikset, Schlage and Yale.
But when it comes to smart assistant support, Ring offers Alexa and nothing else. That’s not a surprise, as Amazon acquired Ring last year and ever since then, customers have been wondering if support for Google Assistant would be coming.
I asked Siminoff about Google Assistant and he said Ring is open to working with all platforms.
“We’re looking at integrating with all the different types of platforms out there. It’s not just about keeping it internal,” he said.
I pressed further, asking if that means we might see Google Assistant functionality at some point in the future?
“Absolutely,” he said. “We would like to be integrated with every platform that’s out there, best choice for the customer. That’s what’s always most important for Ring as well as Amazon.”
Google Assistant is installed on more than a billion devices, many of them phones, and active users have increased four times in the last year, according to the Google. Adding support for Assistant could open up Ring to customers in the Google ecosystem who are interested in smart home technology, and want full functionality.


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Honda's Rugged Self-Driving Vehicle Is Going Off-Road At CES, the automaker is showing off its Autonomous Work Vehicle prototype, a rugged self-driving car.
This story originally appeared on PC Mag
Honda has taken a more patient approach to self-driving tech. The carmaker hasn't jumped into the fray quite as quickly as other manufacturers, but in the past year has begun to pull back the curtain on its two-pronged autonomous vehicle strategy.
On the consumer side, the company announced a $2 billion investment and exclusive collaboration with GM's Cruise last October on an autonomous vehicle. On the other side is Honda's Powersports group, which builds ATVs, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles. At last year's CES, the manufactuter unveiled the prototype Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle (AWV) -- essentially a rugged four-wheel-drive blank canvas that can be programmed for various off-road self-driving tasks.
At CES 2019, Honda is showing off how it has deployed its AWV over the past year, from search and rescue and fighting forest fires to agriculture, solar panel maintenance, and even snow plowing. We spoke to Pete Wendt, senior planner in Advanced Product Planning for Honda R&D Americas, about the Autonomous Work Vehicle's development and testing, and what comes next for the rugged self-driving prototype.
Wendt, who works in the Powersports group, stressed that the project is completely separate from the auto autonomous side of the company, but that the two teams do share expertise and research.
That said, the autonomous software challenges are a lot different. Self-driving cars are traveling at higher speeds and object detection is focused on what a driver would see on the roads, whereas off-road challenges could mean training the autonomous system to deal with all manner of natural obstacles.
"One of the craziest use cases we came across were ranchers in Australia herding cattle," said Wendt. "They were using two guys on off-road motorcycles, a dog, a helicopter, and a few people on horseback. Now think about a fleet of 20 autonomous work vehicles that would know if a few cows branched off, let's say two vehicles would start honking to drive them back into the herd."
The AWV has different autonomous modes depending on the deployment situation. "Follow Me," for instance, is designed for firefighters fighting forest fires and wildfires to help carry gear. Honda has been testing the AWVs with a wildland firefighting division in Colorado. The autonomous vehicle would be loaded up with the 60-70 pounds of gear, including water, that firefighters would otherwise have to carry with them as they respond as quickly as possible to a situation. The vehicle simply follows them and does the heavy lifting.
This mode is also key for search and rescue or emergency response situations, where the AWV can be sent into more dangerous situations or treacherous terrain.
"Search and rescue teams have to drive somebody up a truck to the highest mountain areas or down into mines with comms equipment in the truck," said Wendt. "That person sitting in the truck could instead be used to search. As we get more comfortable with the technology and it gets more powerful, it'll be amazing to see how it can be helpful."
Other modes -- including "Pattern" and "A to B" -- are more suited to farming and agriculture situations, Wendt explained. The autonomous vehicles can be trained on patterns for spreading fertilizer, for instance, or picking fruits and vegetables during a harvest season where there's a greater demand for manpower in the fields. Another interesting use case Honda has explored along these lines is solar panel maintenance, which Honda has been testing with a large-scale solar operations company in North Carolina.
"This was one we never expected. The [solar company] contacted us and explained that they have weeds growing in vast solar fields that span hilly areas with mud and rocks and rough terrain," said Wendt. "They tried goats, but the goats ate the electrical wires. Then they tried sheep, but the sheep wouldn't eat some of the weeds. So the vehicles drive up and down the roads and cut down weeds. We're now talking about equipping them with sensors to scan the panels for damage or dead spots, even perhaps with a thermal imagery sensor to look for hotspots."
This kind of large-scale agricultural and operations automation is one big potential use for these kinds of business-focused autonomous vehicles. It's still early days for Honda, but Wendt said it's hoping to meet potential partners at CES that can start building out an ecosystem.
"The idea is that if and when we launch, [the vehicle] will come with a variety of accessories, from simple things like a dump bed to more advanced accessories like a pesticide or fertilizer sprayer," said Wendt. "As the technology evolves, we'll add more accessories, and third-party suppliers and partners can create their own specialized attachments for this low-cost platform. We might not have the expertise to create a robotic arm, for instance.
"What made the iPhone so great wasn't the phone; it was the apps. Most of those were developed by third parties," said Wendt.
The AWV is still in developmental stages, so Honda declined to provide launch timing or pricing.


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This put up was final up to date on
Loads of issues have been mentioned and mentioned for this present unsure scenario the world is witnessing. The lack of livelihood alternatives for most individuals is among the main considerations that has additionally grappled the world economic system. However there may be one business which has proven distinctive development, even in these robust occasions and that’s the video gaming business. A latest report from market researcher Newzoo forecasts that the Cell Video games will generate a whopping $77.2 billion in 2020. That may be a development of 13.3% year-on-year. They’ve additionally forecasted that the world video games market will generate revenues of $159.Three billion in 2020 which corresponds to year-on-year development of 9.3%. That’s means up!
What else the report initiatives
Of the two.7 billion complete avid gamers projected to play in 2020, 2.6 billion will play on cellular gadgets, in line with the evaluation. This may be evident from the way in which Hyper-Casual games have become popular across the globe. Earlier, we lined the newest report by Sensor Tower Retailer Intelligence, which states that of the two.1 billion installs amassed by the 20 most downloaded video games launched in 2019. 77.6 p.c had been from the video games belonging to the hyper-casual style, this quantity was 68%, the 12 months earlier than. This quantity is predicted to develop additional in 2020, as persons are dwelling quarantined as a result of COVID-19. And this leads to extra gamers turning to cellular gaming.
We additionally lined a report by Sport Analytics as Mobile playtime increased by 62%, with the in-app purchases (IAP) up by round 30% in Q1 of 2020. The above knowledge reveals a change could be witnessed in shopper conduct and shopper spending. Individuals have adopted cellular gaming as a vital a part of their life through the coronavirus (COVID-19) induced shutdown. Additionally, there was an exponential enhance in eSports Championship across the globe. The latest of which is PUBG Mobile India Series (PMIS) 2020 with a prize pool of $65,500 (INR 50 Lakh). And COD Mobile World Championship 2020 with a prize pool of greater than $1 million.
Statista report forecasts the expansion of esports
A report from Statista means that by 2023, there are anticipated to be nearly 300 million frequent viewers of eSports worldwide. It is going to be an unlimited increment from 173 million in 2018. If we discuss knowledge from america, then there have been an estimated 25.7 million eSports viewers in 2018. It’s projected to develop to 46 million by 2023. Additionally, one other report from Newzoo means that the worldwide esports revenues will cross $1 billion in 2020. All these knowledge present the variety of cellular avid gamers worldwide together with the IAP will proceed to extend.
Cell can have extra development than each PC and console gaming
Gone are the times when PC and console gaming used to rule over the gaming market. Because the report additionally means that the present traits present that cellular gaming will witness extra development in comparison with each PC and console gaming. There could be numerous causes related to it.
- Lowest entry barrier: In response to Statista, the variety of smartphone customers worldwide is greater than three billion. And that is forecast to additional develop by a number of hundred million within the subsequent few years. This leads to the bottom entry barrier in cellular gaming.
- Free-to-play sport: Many of the cellular video games are free-to-play and that’s why new gamers are becoming a member of each second.
- No PC cafes obtainable: Because the world has turn into standstill because of the pandemic, all of the PC cafes have been shut down. Cafes are utilized by many in growing international locations, closure of which has resulted in folks turning to cellular gaming.
- The Cell growth course of is much less complicated: The cellular sport builders have been very fast is launching new titles because the growing part is much less complicated than PC. Subsequently, much less more likely to undergo delays from COVID-19-related disruption.
Newzoo additionally initiatives the business to surpass $200 billion in income in 2023. Additionally, nearly half of the patron spending on video games will come from the U.S. and China in 2020 throughout all of the segments like PC, console, and cellular. The one sector throughout the gaming business anticipated to lose income is in browser-based gaming due to delays within the growth part.
What after the scenario normalizes?
As a few of the international locations are on the verge of partially lifting the lockdown to handle their financial downfall. It’s going to be a difficult activity for sport firms to retain newer gamers.
In the event you discover this text useful then be sure to observe GamingonPhone on Twitter, and Instagram for more gaming news. And if you’re searching for a gaggle of cellular avid gamers to hang around, soar into our Discord server in the present day.


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In the early afternoon of Thanksgiving Day, JCPenney stores across the United States will be opening their doors to waiting crowds. Starting at 2 p.m. on Nov. 23, JCPenney will be offering sizable discounts on all of its inventory, from apparel to appliances. Even Sephora’s located in JCPenney retailers will jumping on the Black Friday bandwagon and will be open the same hours as the retailer.
Black Friday deals in JCPenney will be available until Nov. 24 at 10 p.m. Though many major retailers will be closing for a few hours overnight from Thanksgiving to Black Friday, JCPenney will remain open for 30-hours straight.
One of the retailer’s best offers is the possibility for an exclusive in-store coupon. Customers that shop on Thanksgiving Day will be enticed with the possibility of earning $500 off of a $500 purchase, $100 off of $100, or $10 or a $10 sale. Restrictions apply and supplies will be limited.
During the Black Friday event, JCPenney will heavily discount much of its inventory. Items will range anywhere from 10% to 60% off and include:
- $200 off Samsung 55” 4K Ultra HD Smart TV
- $100 off PlayStation 4 1 TB console
- Up to 80% off fine jewelry
- $1,000 off Samsung 26 cu. Ft 3-Door French-Door Refrigerator
- $100 off Shark NV70 Navigator
- $799 for Google Home
- 60% off North Pole Trading Co. Christmas Trees
According to the Black Friday Deals ad, all Black Friday offers will also be available on JPC.com throughout Thanksgiving Day. Online shoppers can also benefit from free shipping on orders over $49 through Friday.
JCPenney also has a rewards program for frequent shoppers. Rewards members accumulate points with each purchase, which can be applied towards future purchases. Sign up is free and can be done through the JCPenney website or in store. Rewards members can also earn points faster with a JCPenney Credit Card.
To see if local store hours differ from the scheduled Black Friday sale hours, visit the online store locator and follow the location’s posted hours.


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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 5Gservices on Saturday at the sixth edition of Indian Mobile Congress (IMC 2022) 10am scheduled to be held in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. 5G technology promises to offer seamless coverage, high data rate, low latency, and reliable communications to mobile users in India. Two of the biggest telecom service providers in the country Airtel and Reliance Jio have announced that they will start 5G services this year, however, so far there is no clarity on the tariffs and from when users will be able to get access to 5G services.
Here's a ready reckoner on 5G services rollout in the country.What is 5G?
5G is the next generation mobile network capability that can facilitate transmission of a large set of data at a high speed. 5G has a low latency (efficiency to process a certain volume of data with a minimal delay) as compared to 3G and 4G, and will enhance user experiences in various sectors. 5G has the potential to be up to 10 times faster than 4G. The 5G rollout is also expected to bring more development in remote data monitoring in sectors such as mining, warehousing, telemedicine, and manufacturing, among others. Other sectors where 5G will benefit customers is edge computing.Who will launch 5G services in India?
The telecom giants, including Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea took part in the mega auction for spectrum that concluded on August 1 where they bid for a combined value of Rs 1.56 lakh crore. Various previous reports suggest that Airtel and Jio will be the front-runners in launching 5G services in India. The companies will initially launch 5G in a few cities across the country, these include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jamnagar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. This means that not all users will get access to the 5G service this year. What will be the tariff for 5G services?
The telecom giants have not revealed the pricing details but they will be on par with that of 4G prepaid plans, as per Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister. Once 5G is rolled out properly, people will have 5G tariff plans just like 4G plans. At a recent JP Morgan investor summit, Bharti Airtel managing director Gopal Vittal said that the company sees average revenue per user (ARPU) growth via tariff hikes as its primary engine of 5G monetisation in the near term and is not too worried about consumer acceptance as telecoms is an essential service.
The telecom carriers in India are expected to invest around $19.5 billion in the development of advanced infrastructure for 5G by 2025, according to a report. Recently, GMR group that runs Delhi Airport has announced that the passengers can avail 5G connectivity on the airport once these services are rolled out by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).Will 4G SIM work in a 5G phone
In order to get 5G connectivity, one must have a 5G-enabled smartphone/ tablet. A report says that 9.7% of smartphones in use in India are 5G-capable. When 4G was launched, telecom providers started disseminating 4G SIM cards to people in India. Thanks to the technology, we won’t be needing to line-up or apply for a new SIM to get benefits of 5G services.
A 4G SIM can work in 5G-powered phones, however, you won’t be able to leverage the 5G capabilities to the fullest. To enjoy the 5G network to its maximum potential, one is required to have a 5G SIM with a 5G phone.


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Azimo, the online money transfer service, today announced that customers across Europe can now send money instantly to the mobile “eWallets” of M-PESA’s 19 million subscribers in Kenya.
Kenya boasts one of the highest global rates of mobile banking, with around 60 per cent of all Kenyans sending or receiving money via their smartphone. Between January and February 2013 almost 100 million mobile banking transactions were recorded totalling $3.3 billion.
Central Bank figures show Kenyans living abroad sent US$1.38 billion back home in 2013. Azimo’s new service means that tens of thousands of Kenyan migrants can now send money home to support their loved ones at a lower cost than other services.
Azimo offers rates up to 85 per cent cheaper than high street banks and traditional money transfer providers.
The service is available across the UK and Eurozone, including Italy, Ireland and Germany. Funds are delivered instantly, enabling M-PESA customers to withdraw money from any M-PESA agent outlet or participating ATM network in Kenya.
Azimo users can send money using only the recipients name exactly as it appears on their M-PESA account and their mobile number. Registering to use Azimo is free and takes just a few seconds from a PC or phone using an email address or Facebook profile.
“We are delighted to be working with M-PESA to expand our global money transfer network,” said Azimo CEO Michael Kent. “Africa has long been at the forefront of mobile money and our new service will allow us to help our customers hold on to more of their hard-earned cash.”
Mastercard is working with Stripe to expedite the payment process for American sellers on the latter's marketplaces using the instant payouts feature from Stripe.
Chase, the US consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co, has signed a multiyear agreement with Best Buy, that will see the electronics retailer accept Chase Pay in its stores, on BestBuy.com and in the Best Buy app.
Barclaycard has partnered with Case Station, a company that makes personalised phone cases, to embed contactless technology in the latter's smartphone cases.
Digital challenger bank, N26, which has been live for one and a half years and has more than 200,000 customers, rolled out a new feature that allows its customers to transfer money using Siri. All they have to do is talk to it.


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As reported yesterday, The Pokémon Company announced a brand new generation of Pokémon titles during today’s Pokémon Direct broadcast: Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Little was revealed about the new pair of games, aside from the fact that they will be launching later this year during the holiday season and are being developed for the Nintendo 3DS family of handhelds, but it’s nonetheless exciting to have confirmation of the pair’s existence after their trademarks and logos were discovered online.
Broadening the series’ global appeal even further, The Pokémon Company confirmed that Sun and Moon will be available to play in nine different languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, and both traditional and simplified Chinese.
That wasn’t all the Pokémon-related news to come from today’s broadcast, however. Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara also announced that the Virtual Console releases of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow (which hit the 3DS eShop tomorrow, February 27) will be compatible with the series’ cloud storage service, Pokémon Bank, allowing you for the first time ever to transfer pocket monsters from the original Game Boy titles to the upcoming Sun and Moon versions.
What do you think about Pokémon Sun and Moon? Are you excited to finally be able to bring your favorite Pokémon from Red, Blue, and Yellow over into the new games? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Pokémon Direct


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Apple settles in e-book antitrust case with states, consumers
Terms are sealed, await court approval
- Sarah Drake
- Contributor- Silicon Valley Business Journal
After 2 years, Apple Inc. has reached a settlement with some U.S. states and consumers in a civil class-action antitrust lawsuit related to claims of overcharging for e-books, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Exact terms of the settlement are under wraps and await approval by the court. The plaintiffs, who claimed Apple overcharged consumers by $280 million for e-books, had been seeking $840 million in damages.
The agreement is conditional on the outcome of Apple’s appeal of an antitrust ruling last year by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote that said the company conspired with five major U.S. publishers to hike up the cost of e-books. The suit claims the publishers and Apple agreed to raise the price of best-selling e-books by $2 to respond to the discounting of their books by Amazon.com Inc., according to the article.
Cote appointed a court monitor last fall, an assignment that Apple fought, to oversee the Cupertino-based company and the steps it planned to take in reforming e-book pricing. The monitor, former Justice Department inspector general Michael Bromwich, revealed a 77-page report in April on positive advances he said Apple is making in improving its antitrust compliance plan, though more work should be done.
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According to DRAMeXchange , a division of TrendForce , the global server market is predicted to continue growing in 2019, but under the pressures of business cycles and worldwide uncertainty, this year's server shipment growth has shrunk slightly compared to 2018, coming to 3.9%.
DRAMeXchange Senior Analyst Mark Liu points out that, upon analyzing the market, worldwide server growth momentum in 2018 mainly derived from North American brands, which comprised over 30% of total shipments. Category-wise, enterprise servers still form the largest shipment group, while the share of shipments toward internet datacenters is growing year by year, growing from 35% in 2018 to 40% in 2019. As 5G begins to transform businesses, telecommunications companies and internet providers will increase in their demand for servers. Predictions are that server shipments will peak in 2020.
Looking back at the first season this year, datacenter demand was relatively unaffected by the traditional offseason, as total shipments continued to experience stable growth. ODM direct business shipments grew by 1.3% compared to the previous season. As orders continue to arrive in the second season, we may still see seasonal growth of around 1%-3%, bringing market shares up to 26.6%.
Brands were hit by the offseason in the first quarter, with their shipments falling by over 20% compared to last quarter, but the market made a notable recovery entering the second. Looking at the global market share rankings of server brand manufacturer in 2H19, we see Dell EMC, HPE (including H3C) and Inspur taking the top three spots, with market shares of 15.8%, 13.7% and 7.5%, respectively.
Worth mentioning is that China's top cloud service providers will drop by about 15% YoY in server purchases this year, while North American companies will be less affected, their purchases projected to keep growing by 5%-10%. As for second-tier companies such as China's Bytedance and North America's NetApp, this year's server purchases will grow by over 40% compared to last year, thanks to overseas business development and self-built datacenters contributing to demand.


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Researchers in Australia have unveiled a working prototype of a “proton battery” that they say could eventually overtake lithium-ion as a more powerful and sustainable alternative.
The Melbourne RMIT University team said potential applications for the proton battery include home energy storage devices charged from solar panels and electric vehicle charging.
The researchers, whose studies have been part funded by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group and the US Office of Naval Research Global, said the prototype uses a carbon electrode as a hydrogen store, coupled with a reversible fuel cell to produce electricity.
According to the team, during charging, the carbon in the electrode bonds with protons generated by splitting water with the help of electrons from the power supply. The protons are released again and pass back through the reversible fuel cell to form water with oxygen from air to generate power.
“Unlike fossil fuels, the carbon does not burn or cause emissions in the process,” the team said.
Experiments showed that the small proton battery, with an active inside surface area of only 5.5 square centimetres (smaller than an Australian 20 cent coin), “was already able to store as much energy per unit mass as commercially-available lithium ion batteries”. This was before the battery had been optimised, the team said.
Results showed that a porous activated-carbon electrode made from phenolic resin was able to store around 1 wt% hydrogen in the electrode, the team said. “This is an energy per unit mass already comparable with commercially-available lithium-ion batteries, even though the proton battery is far from being optimised. The maximum cell voltage was 1.2 volt.”
Lead researcher Professor John Andrews said: “It’s the carbon electrode plus protons from water that give the proton battery it’s environmental, energy and potential economic edge.”
“Our latest advance is a crucial step towards cheap, sustainable proton batteries that can help meet our future energy needs without further damaging our already fragile environment,” Andrews said.
“Future work will now focus on further improving performance and energy density through use of atomically-thin layered carbon-based materials such as graphene, with the target of a proton battery that is truly competitive with lithium ion batteries firmly in sight,” Andrews said.
“Powering batteries with protons has the potential to be more economical than using lithium ions, which are made from scare resources,” Andrews said. “Carbon, which is the primary resource used in our proton battery, is abundant and cheap compared to both metal hydrogen-storage alloys, and the lithium needed for rechargeable lithium ion batteries.”
Details of the RMIT research have been reported in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.


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Squeezing a camera into a phone is always going to be a compromise, but a pair of upcoming models look set to offer far better image quality and versatility than we’re used to.
A new leaked image purporting to show the Nokia EOS’s body all but confirms (assuming it’s legit) that it will feature a 41MP PureView camera with Zeiss optics, the same used by the Nokia 808. Crucially, however, it’ll shoehorn it inside a much thinner, more stylish body, and the phone will run Windows software rather than the clunky, outdated Symbian.
On the 808, the PureView sensor actually crops out a few megapixels: if you shoot in 4:3 format images are 38MP in size; in 16:9, they’re 34MP. But that’s still a great deal more detail than you get from the 5MP, 8MP or even 13MP cameras you’ll find on rival smartphones. The larger pixel count means you can crop photos down without losing detail – effectively giving you a way to “zoom” without a zoom lens.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, of course, goes a step further by actually whacking a 10x optical zoom lens on a Galaxy S4 (albeit one that has been a little pruned in the specs and features department). So it’s a point-and-shoot compact camera that also happens to be a powerful Android smartphone.
We’re expecting to go hands-on with the Galaxy S4 Zoom (and possibly an Android-powered mirrorless camera) at next week’s Samsung event. The Nokia EOS, meanwhile, is still not officially confirmed, but more information seems destined to leak out in the coming weeks.


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Ribbon Communications Inc., a global software enabler in secure and intelligent cloud communications, has announced that its Session Border Controller Software edition (SBC SWe) supports the recently launched Amazon Chime Voice Connector on Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Amazon Chime lets you meet, chat, and place business phone calls inside and outside your organization with the security of AWS. The Amazon Chime Voice Connector is AWS’ new SIP service that offers a secure, global calling service with pay-as-you-go pricing and no upfront fees. Ribbon’s SBC SWe provides Amazon Chime customers security, high availability and interoperability for Voice over IP (VoIP) traffic being sent to and from Amazon Chime Voice Connector.
“We want to make collaborating online easy, productive, and accessible for our customers and our new Amazon Chime Voice Connector allows us to do just that.” said Peter Hill Vice-President of Amazon Productivity Applications. “We are pleased to leverage Ribbon’s Session Border Controller in our new service for real-time communications, extensive interoperability, and certified support for Amazon Voice Connector for Amazon Chime Business Calling.”
“We are extremely excited to continue to expand our partnership with AWS by adding interoperability for their Amazon Chime Voice Connector service,” Patrick Joggerst, Chief Marketing Officer for Ribbon. “Having our SBC SWe support their new offering is further testament of the market-leading scale, reliability and security that our SBC portfolio can deliver our customers without compromising performance.”
Ribbon’s SBC SWe offers enterprises a number of benefits including redundancy to ensure service continuity, industry-leading media transcoding capabilities using Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), and enhanced security/encryption services to protect privacy and ensure compliance.
The Ribbon SBC portfolio and other Ribbon solutions will be on display at Enterprise Connect at booth #811, March 18 -21 in Orlando. For more information on the Ribbon SBC SWe’s support of the Amazon Chime Voice Connector click here. The Amazon Chime Voice Connector service will be demonstrated at the AWS booth #2106.


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Over the past few weeks, ZTE has been in turbulent waters over the US supply ban placed on it. Some good news came through earlier last week which indicated that the company’s troubles might soon be over. The reports stated that the United States and China finalizing a deal that could end the ban placed on ZTE.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the ZTE deal is one of the steps towards resolving the trade war between China and the United States.
“The U.S. and China have agreed on the broad outline of a deal that would save imperilled Chinese telecom giant ZTE Corp., according to people with knowledge of the matter in both countries, as the two sides move closer to resolving their trade dispute.”
Reuters also reported that –
“Washington neared a deal to lift its ban on U.S. firms supplying Chinese telecoms gear maker ZTE Corp, sources said on Tuesday [May, 22], and Beijing announced tariff cuts on car imports, further easing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.”
According to the above Reuters report, China would remove import tariffs placed on agricultural products imported from the United States, and will also be purchasing more of those products.
Although the China and the United States are close to reaching a settlement, ZTE will still have to pay the price for its disobedience. The Wall Street Journal also reported that –
“Instead, ZTE would be forced to make big changes in management, board seats and possibly pay significant fines, the people said.”
In a new development that arose today, Donald Trump stated that ZTE will be slammed a $1.3 billion fine in order for the sanctions imposed on it to be lifted. As reported by the BBC, apart from the fine, the Chinese company has to change its management, board of directors, and requirements for purchases of U.S. made goods.
Some US senators have shown discontentment over the deal, believing that the conditions for the agreement are too lenient.
A group of 27 senators decided to take actions by writing an open letter to the executive arm of the government “not to compromise lawful U.S. enforcement actions against serial and pre-meditated violators of U.S. law, such as ZTE.”
The supply ban was imposed on the Chinese company after the US discovered that it has been shipping hardware to Iran, in a move that violates the U.S. sanctions on Iran.


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Telltale's The Walking Dead is back on Steam and you can get the entire series for the first time ever on Nintendo Switch.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners VR Interview — Creative Director Delves Into a Game Where Moral Choices Reign Supreme
In an interview with the The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners devs, the importance of realistic combat and moral choices are delved into.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a mix of high-stakes combat and moral choices that leave you second-guessing yourself at every turn.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Cinematic Trailer Conveys the Trials and Tribulations of the Apocalypse
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners cinematic trailer is a moving look at a city gone mad after the Walker outbreak takes hold.
The lessons and experiences that Clementine both learned and taught in The Walking Dead has aided me for when I eventually become a father.
Skybound Games and Beamdog are bringing Baldur's Gate I & II, Planescape, Icewind Dale, and Neverwinter Nights to Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series is coming this September with all seasons getting a graphical update and new bonuses.
With the conclusion of Telltale and Skybound's The Walking Dead: The Final Season, one fan created a tribute to the series in pixel art form.
With the final chapter bringing Telltale and Skybound's series to a close, Clementine's story comes to a bittersweet and emotional finale.
Just a few months after the game's release, Overkill's The Walking Dead has ended development for the console versions and future PC content.
In the first episode of The Walking Dead: The Final Season since the end of Telltale Games, Clementine's journey picks back up towards an emotional finale.
Comics and media publisher Skybound Entertainment has announced that the company is expanding into video games with a new publishing division.
Telltale Games and Skybound have announced that The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Games Mini-Series will be releasing this fall. The story will tell Michonne's untold story during issues #126 and #139. The mini-series will contain


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TAMPA — Devices designed to steal credit card information were found affixed to fuel pumps at three South Tampa gas stations this weekend, prompting a public warning from police.
The "skimming" devices were found at Shell gas stations at 4015 S West Shore Blvd., 6416 S Dale Mabry Highway, and 3650 S Dale Mabry Highway, police said.
The devices were attached to the computer hard drives inside the pumps, making it difficult for attendants and customers to notice them, police said.
No arrests have been made and it was unclear how many customers might have had their information stolen.
On Tuesday, police issued a warning with tips on how to spot such devices and avoid having card information stolen. Among the tips:
• Before using a gas pump, check to see that the security seal near the card reader has not been tampered with.
• Don't use gas pumps that are out of view of a station clerk.
• If in doubt, pay the clerk in person.
Anyone with information about the card skimming devices can call Tampa police at (813) 231-6130.


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(3DPrint.com) Australia’s Oventus has developed a customizable titanium mouth device called the O2Vent that helps the sleep apnea patient breathe... View Article
Affiliated news property 3dprint.com.
3d Printing News
(3Ders.org) Belgian aerospace company Sonaca announced a partnership with France based Fives-Michelin Additive Solutions (FMAS) to develop and produce 3D... View Article
(DesignNews) BMW, an HP ecosystem partner, intends to expand the use of 3D printing in its cars even more in... View Article
(3DPrintingIndustry) Daimler has adopted additive manufacturing for producing spare parts on a ‘just in time’ basis.t Daimler will introduce 3D... View Article
(3DPrintingIndustry) Materialise NV has announced the opening of a new 3D Printing Center of Excellence in Malaysia. The facility aims to... View Article
(3Ders.org) The team at Vortic is back on Kickstarter and is seeking funds for its latest 3D-printed wristwatch collection, the... View Article


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Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting COUNTY GAZETTE to 80360 or email us
Generous shoppers in Minehead help the Food Cupboard
The Food Cupboard helps those in need in West Somerset by providing food parcels.
They have seen the demand double this year and rely on the generosity of people in West Somerset.
Christmas can be a depressing time for those with little food and the Food Cupboard helps to put a smile on their faces.
Christmas foods like chocolates and mince pies can make all the difference to a family in need over Christmas.
The Food Bank thanks everyone who has donated so far.
Comments are closed on this article.


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Geeba is going to usher in a new futuristic age of delivery service through the use of robots and blockchain to make last mile delivery faster, more efficient and cheaper.
November 11, 2018: Next-gen blockchain-based delivery platform Geeba is proud to announce its listing on the esteemed Latoken Exchange during its Pre-ICO and ICO stages. The company has just launched its pre-ICO and its users will be able to purchase tokens via the Latoken platform during the Pre-ICO and ICO. Geeba will also have a listing on the same prestigious exchange after the ICO completion.
The token price for the Geeba pre-ICO stage is – 1 Geeba token = $0.10. The price will stay at $0.10 until the hard cap is reached. During the pre-ICO, there is a 25% bonus on all tokens purchased.
As per the reports, Geeba is accepting Bitcoin cash (BCH) too during its pre-ICO and ICO stages. BCH is the currency of famous Bitcoin news portal Bitcoin.com. Investors aspiring to invest in Geeba pre-ICO can invest with Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin (BTC) and BCH payment methods.
After the ICO, customers will be able to trade in 3 pairs- ETH, LA (Latoken token) and USDT.
A pathbreaking name in the current crypto scene, Geeba introduces a decentralized delivery ecosystem which allows deliveries utilizing smart hubs and autonomous vehicles. The platform is going to redefine last-mile logistics by eliminating its typical issues like inefficiency, delayed delivery, and high costs. Backed by state of the art blockchain technology, Geeba aspires to enable the community to proactively participate in the revolution. Through the Geeba ecosystem, e-commerce site owners and carriers can connect with a network of shippers that are powered by autonomous vehicles. These autonomous vehicles will offer same-day delivery, express delivery, and 24/7 delivery via one web-based shipping interface or via API integrations.
“The existing delivery sector is plagued by the absence of efficient, scalable, sustainable and affordable solutions. This is where Geeba comes to the rescue with its breakthrough decentralized delivery ecosystem that is all set to usher in a new era of delivery service with robots, blockchain and the power of the community. If you are planning to invest in a promising ICO in recent times, Geeba is a great option hands–down”, stated Mr. Sydney Ifergan, cryptocurrency expert and one of the most senior advisors of Geeba.
Geeba assures a number of state of the art benefits-
“What’s so special about Geeba is that it has put the needs of the industry first to serve in a better way than ever with its highly efficient and balanced decentralized ecosystem.”
For more information, please visit https://geeba.io
Join our Telegram Channel: http://t.me/geeba
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When Google introduced a downloadable image recognition application for search based on pictures taken by handheld devices, anticipations to identify virtually anything pullulated significantly. After releasing this app for Android-powered phones, the company recently announced that Goggles is now a feature of Google Mobile app for the iPhone.
The exciting app already lets users speak their queries, and can use their phone’s location to give them more relevant search results. In this newly unleashed version of Google Goggles, users can now just tap on the camera button in order to search. This way, Goggles will analyze the image and highlight the objects it recognizes, reveals the official Google Mobile blog.


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Microsoft is having another go at the entertainment market with its new Surface tabletop display.
Place your casino loyalty card on the display and you'll automatically be able to order services paid for with your frequent gambles points.
Despite the failure of Google Glass, the company is still investing in augmented reality
If the government doesn't like you, you'll have to walk to work
Connexin drops out of Ofcom auction due to start next week
SwiftKey users now send two billion emoji every week


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Are overseas investors eyeing your business?
Jul 29th 2011, 12:37
While reports suggest that consumer confidence has declined in South African retail, the recent international interest in South African retail and logistics paints a completely different picture
(Growth Slows in South Africa’s Retail Sector as Consumer Confidence Declines)
A leading home appliances manufacturer in Southern Africa, the Defy Appliances brand, has recently entered in an agreement last week to be acquired by Turkey’s Arcelik Group (Turkey's Arcelik Group acquires Defy). Arcelik Group belongs to the largest conglomerate in Turkey and s listed as the only Turkish company on the Fortune Global 500 list
On the other side of the globe Brazil is showing increased interest in the South African food industry. Brazil is one of the World’s biggest poultry exporters (World's biggest poultry exporter shows commitment to SA trade partnership) and exports large amounts of poultry to South Africa.: “Of the poultry imported to supplement demand in South Africa, Brazilian poultry accounts for 73% with the balance being supplied by countries that include Argentina, Canada and England.”
International investors are also showing interest in the South African logistics and distribution industry in that Lonhro has recently bought Grindod PCA. “Grindrod PCA is a leading exporter of fruit, vegetables and fish from Southern Africa to the global market. It operates international standard cold store and logistics facilities in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and George.” (Lonhro buys Grindrod's food exporter).
A recent report compiled by Deloitte Touche Tohmats suggests that South African food retailers, in particular, are large when compared to retailers in other countries around the World: (2011 Biggest Global Retail Companies in South Africa - Largest African Retailers) .
This, coupled with the recent acquisitions in the South African retail industry by international investors, means that it’s only time before other foreign investors will make their mark, not to mention the pending and much debated deal between Walmart and Massmart.
What are your thoughts on international interest in South African retail and logistics? Post your comments on our Facebook page, .
Focusing on general issues that affect the FMCG and Retail Industries.
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Unions warn Australian workers are facing epidemic levels of abuse
Up to 85 per cent of workers in retail, fast food outlets and restaurants have been verbally abused by customers, some even report being threatened and spat at.
Earlier this year, a group of teenagers spat at and physically threatened a McDonalds worker in Mandurah, making headlines across Western Australian mastheads.
Unions are talking about a harassment and abuse “epidemic” and are warning of the impact it can have on the physical and psychological health of retail workers.
Retail and Fast Food Workers Union secretary Josh Cullinan and SDA WA secretary Peter O’Keefe join Karl to talk about abuse and harassment in the industry.
Download this podcast here


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Heluva Good! deal for HP Hood dairy plant in Steuben that makes Crowley, Hershey's, more
The Southern Tier dairy industry is expected to get a boost when a Steuben County plant that makes cottage cheese, Heluva Good! dips and other products expands.
A $150,000 grant from Empire State Development will support a $2 million expansion of the HP Hood dairy facility in the Village of Arkport.
The company will install a new high-pressure homogenization system and other equipment at the Arkport facility, one of five dairy plants operated by Hood in New York state.
The Arkport site currently employs 110 workers. The announcement of the expansion does not indicate how employment levels will be affected.
Founded in 1846, HP Hood, based in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, is a national food and beverage processor.
In addition to Heluva Good!, its portfolio of brands includes Crowley Foods, Lactaid, Hershey's Milk and Milkshakes, and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze.
Dairy makes up about half of agricultural production in New York state. New York is home to approximately 4,500 dairy farms with 620,000 cows, producing 14.9 billion pounds of milk, according to Empire State Development.
Other Hood facilities in New York are in Vernon, Oneida, Lafargeville and Batavia.
“The expansion of the HP Hood plant in Arkport is great news for local workers and their families, as well as for the short- and long-term strength of the agricultural and food manufacturing industries in Steuben County and the Southern Tier," state Sen. Tom O'Mara, R-Big Flats, said in a news release. "State investments like this one continue to help strengthen local ag-based economies and encourage badly needed job growth."
Overall, New York state ranks third in the production of milk nationwide and is first in the production of other dairy products such as yogurt and cottage cheese.


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Xbox owners could soon be able to wage online war against PlayStation rivals once Microsoft opens up its system to support cross-platform play.
Currently gamers can only play against others on the same gaming system, but Rocket League will be among the first games to go cross-platform through Xbox Live, Microsoft has confirmed.
The move is a first in the competitive gaming world - a step towards greater collaboration, given that many first-time console buyers choose the platform their friends use in order to play against them.
Microsoft's Xbox One console is believed to have shipped around 19 million units, compared to 35.9 million PlayStation 4 units Sony has sold.
PlayStation's gaming platform...
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A dynamic new organisation which aims to support female entrepreneurs was launched on 26th June 2013 at the House of Lords in Westminster. The British Bangladesh Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (BBCWE) is a not-for-profit organisation formed to provide support and guidance at all levels for British-Bangladeshi women who want to start a business or need additional or specialist expertise to develop their current enterprise.
BBCWE aims to facilitate skills training, financial and business knowledge development and best practice sharing to business women and entrepreneurs.
Another key objective of the organisation is to be a strong campaigning body for female entrepreneurs and an effective policy-influencing organisation. The Board also aims to share and celebrate success stories of female entrepreneurs and engage with them and their communities to learn and share their talent.
In order to deliver these aims and objectives, the BBCWE will work in partnership with local, national and global organisations to enhance, empower and advocate on issues affecting female entrepreneurs.
The organisation has already managed to secure support at the highest levels.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “I would like to wish the British Bangladesh Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs the very best of luck with their exciting new venture. I hope that it will not only encourage British Bangladeshi women to start their own businesses but also highlight the immeasurable contribution that London women make to our capital.
“I believe entrepreneurship will not only help strengthen our economy but empower women and help them contribute further to society. I hope the BBCWE helps to instil confidence in the next generation of Bangladeshi entrepreneurial women and create a platform for the development of new relationships and collaborations.”
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of London Borough of Tower Hamlets, said: “I am delighted to support the British Bangladesh Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs. I admire their vision to promote and empower women in business and entrepreneurship and to be a world class business network working globally and putting across women entrepreneurs issues on the business agenda and the global map.
“I believe this initiative will inspire women to enter into business and become more independent. It will provide the opportunity for women to excel in business and learn new skills which will enable them to create broader links and further their careers. Celebrating the success of female entrepreneurs is important in our community and I am pleased to see women from all across the board establishing such an admirable project. I wish them all the very best with all future endeavours.”
Dilara Khan, President of BBCWE, said: “I have great pleasure in launching the British Bangladesh Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (BBCWE). Our objective is to provide support at all levels for British and Bangladeshi women who want to start businesses and to ensure they have the skills, knowledge and financial links to run a successful business. We will work closely with women and encourage them to move forward with innovative ideas, actively share and celebrate their success stories and engage with women and their communities to learn from them.
“I look forward to working with the Board of Directors. They are very experienced and professional individuals who bring to the organisation expertise, diversity and immense commitment. I hope everyone’s support will enable us to break all barriers to women entering business. I am hopeful together we will create the British Bangladeshi business leaders of the future.”
The event was hosted by Baroness Pola Manzila Uddin who is also an Honourable Patron of the BBCWE. Speakers at the event, which was attended by noted members of the business and political community as well as members of the British and Bangladeshi communities, included Rushanara Ali MP, Syed Kamall MEP, Anne Main MP and former British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury.
For further information about the BBCWE and to view the full profiles of the Board of Directors and Honourable Patrons, visit: www.bbcwe.com.


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Remember the J. Crew pink toenail controversy? MRC’s Culture and Media Institute started a firestorm of controversy last spring by drawing attention to an ad in which Jenna Lyons, J. Crew president and creative director, was painting her son’s toenails pink.
The caption in that ad read: “Lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink. Toenail painting is way more fun in neon.”
On April 8, MRC’s Culture and Media Institute started a debate when it called attention to an e-mail ad from J Crew that featured a mother painting her young son’s toenails pink. The story gained national attention on radio, TV and the web. And now it’s made “The Daily Show.”
J.CREW, a popular preppy woman’s clothing brand and favorite affordable line of first lady Michelle Obama, is targeting a new demographic -- mothers of gender-confused young boys. At least, that’s the impression given by a new marketing piece that features blatant propaganda celebrating transgendered children.
An email sent to customers on Tuesday, April 5th contained a promotion for free shipping if the customer spends $150 or more. The email also contained a feature called “Jenna’s favorites,” highlighting special selections by J.CREW designer Jenna Lyons. Jenna selected a striped long-sleeve t-shirt, and hot pink nail polish by Essie, modeled by her young son.