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Pig World columnist Duncan Berkshire, from Bishopton vets in Yorkshire, outlines his concerns about the longer-term impact of the backlogs on pig farms
With the dawn of the New Year, many had firm hopes that things would start looking better at farm level and, even if not immediately, there would be a clear path ahead to show how things would improve over the coming weeks and months… unfortunately, we are still far from where we need to be and frustration is building.
We need some serious efforts to join our supply chain together, so that communication occurs from farms all the way through to retailers – we are sorely missing that, at the moment, but this is integral to a functioning pig sector.
There is plenty of space within the UK pig arena for a whole variety of farming systems, which is very much a strength and provides the UK consumer with choices that are absent from many countries around the world.
We also have space for different ownership structures, from the multi-national company down to the smaller family farm and everything in between, but only if we actually work together. Our competitors are not the farm down the road, however, and nor should they be the multifaceted business that has a lot of different fingers in many pies.
We should all be proud of producing a high-quality product here in the UK, and putting that on the shelves instead of products from abroad that don’t even adhere to our legal standards. The recent drive to get consumers to #BiteIntoBritish is a major part of that campaign, aiming to bring benefits to the whole supply chain, from retailers down to farm level. Hopefully, this is recognised by all within it and will engage their support.
On a farm level, however, the continued backlog of pigs due to processors not taking them is leading to what will be one of the worst periods for pig health and welfare in living memory. The short-term impacts on welfare are all-too-clear for people to see and have, unfortunately, resulted in the on-farm destruction and waste of tens of thousands of pigs already – how has the supply chain, as a whole, even allowed it to get to this point?
My biggest worry, though, are the longer-term effects that we are not even starting to really understand yet.
We have proudly advanced our pig farms and their systems to enhance and maintain good health and welfare over the last few decades, a process that has brought with it concurrent advances in production and efficiencies at a time when the pig sector has had to fend for itself.
Many of these advances in health have been based on pig flow and strict management rules to give us the UK pig sector of today. Yet, what are we compromising right, at the moment? Well, all of these rules that we have spent so long putting in place, and ‘normal’ pig flow is now up the proverbial creek. This is setting us up for a very protracted recovery period over the coming months and years.
All-in-all-out farms now have different age groups on them, something that would have been unheard of until now. Full clean-downs, rest periods, and disinfection regimes that would have been sacrosanct have all gone to pot, and ‘dirty’ buildings are also the reality on most farms.
What are we setting ourselves up for? At some point there will be a reckoning where health deteriorates – we are currently in a honeymoon period, but this will unfortunately not last forever.
We are already starting to see deteriorations in respiratory and gut health on farm – so far, mainly minor, but signs of things that are on the horizon. We have made enormous strides in antibiotic reduction over the past few years but these, along with phasing out of zinc oxide, are real threats to all that progress.
Supply chain overhaul
So, what do we need to stop this from happening? An overhaul of the entire supply chain would be a start and the only real option, if we want a pig sector in this country for the future.
If this doesn’t happen, whether driven by Government or the sector, ourselves, then I think we can draw our own conclusions about where food production in the UK is headed.
In the short-term, if you are having challenges on farm then make sure you or your team reach out to others – that can be a neighbour, friend, advisor, your vet, or one of the excellent helplines.
Remember we are all on the same side and I, for one, want us to continue to have a successful pig sector here in the UK that we can all be proud of.


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“What are three things you believe will be dramatically different in the digital signage market five years from now?”
The digital signage industry continues to grow and shift, and it’s hard to predict where it will be in five years. Three things that will have shifted by 2023:
1) Buy-in across organizations. The more digital our society trends, the more credence this channel will get. Instead of being this ‘new shiny’ tool, it will be a trusted vehicle for important communication.
2) Increased personalization. Using data to improve the specific communication to a certain user will continue to develop. In five years, expect this to truly shape how content is streamed to certain audiences.
3) Generally, the industry will look more complex, smarter and more interactive. Look how far we’ve come in the last five years to now. Digital signage will continue to advance at an even faster pace.

domain: news


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Kia Motors, the world’s 8th largest automaker established its footprint in Nagpur, with the launch of its much-awaited dealership and world class service facility with Jiaka. The 8,600 square meter state-of-the-art dealership will house highly trained sales and service personnel to ensure highest levels of sales and after-sales services to the valued Kia customers. Jaika Kia Motors has experienced rapid growth and innovative excellence under the leadership of Director Jaika Kia Kumar Kale, Director Jaika Kia Gautam Kale and Director Jaika Kia Kartik Kale. One of the most reputed and established automobile dealers in the city, Nagpur Jaika Kia Motors’ presence in the commercial, premium and luxury automobile market include coveted automobile brands under its portfolio.
The dealership will offer integrated 3S – Sales, Service and Spares facility for the customer to enjoy hassle-free and unique Kia car ownership experience. The customer test drives of the Seltos will begin across its dealerships to its customers from the second week of August. The mid-SUV will be launched in India on 22 August. The dealership is based on Kia’s ‘Red Cube’ concept, which has been developed to promote trustworthiness and differentiate the dealerships from the grey and repetitive city landscape thereby designed to portray a dynamic brand identity with its strong red fascia.
To showcase the utmost importance and care for its customers, the company has crafted its exclusive Kia CARE service. Through Connected through digital service, Adaptive to specific needs, Responsive through network and offerings and Engaging for a better future, Kia Motors India will ensure optimum service quality and customer satisfaction. Manohar Bhat, Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing, says, “We are extremely happy to partner with Jaika Kia dealership. This region is a key market for premium cars and SUVs, and We are confident that Kia Seltos will be a game-changer in this segment.”
Director Jaika Kia Kumar Kale, Director Jaika Kia Gautam Kale and Director Jaika Kia Kartik Kale, dealer partner of Kia Motors India hailing from Nagpur believes, “We are excited to be introducing Kia cars in our market. Our association so far has been nothing but exceptional therefore, we have full confidence in Kia and the upcoming bold and badass- Seltos. Kia cars represent futuristic technology and features, and we are sure, the Seltos will generate high demand in the Indian market.” Details are available on the Kia Motors India website (www.kia.com/in). For more information about Kia Motors and products, visit www.kianewscenter.com. For details about Jaika Kia Motors contact : +918975768392, +917666905263.


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PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has reassured that Starbucks drinks are halal after a viral message claimed otherwise.
A representative from Jakim's halal hub division told The Star Online that the message was not new and had previously gone viral two years ago.
"We debunked this rumour before. We can assure you that Starbucks Malaysia is certified halal and its certification has never been revoked," said the officer, who requested anonymity.
The viral message, which is being spread on social messaging platform WhatsApp, claimed that several of Starbucks' drinks were haram (not permissible in Islam) as it contained E471 (Emulsifier 471) and a food additive of porcine origin.
The Jakim officer said it was not within their power to stop the spread of the fake message.
"We can only repeat what we have said before, but it is Starbucks Malaysia that has to take a legal action against those who spread the fake information," she said.


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More Official 'Game of Thrones' Beers Are Coming to Celebrate the TV Series' 10th Anniversary
Ten years have passed since Game of Thrones debuted on HBO. Nearly two years have passed since the show ended its run. And during the eight years in-between, GoT had no shortage of food and beverage-related tie-ins: wine, whisky, Oreos, Mountain Dew, Shake Shack, and more.
One of the biggest partnerships was with Ommegang: Over the course the series, the New York brewery released (and occasionally re-released) 15 different official Game of Thrones' beers—with the final one, My Watch Has Ended, arriving after the show's finale.
But we're already coming full circle: A new beer is arriving in celebration of the ten-year anniversary of Game of Thrones' first episode. And this time around, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered with a different brewery to launch what is set to be an entirely new range of GoT-inspired beers. On April 17, fans can get their first sip of Mikkeller Iron Anniversary IPA.
The Denmark-based Mikkeller—which also operates locations around the globe including in San Francisco, San Diego, and formerly New York—will bring a larger scope to this new Game of Thrones collaboration, with the beers set to be sold around the world. That said, this first release will only be available in limited quantities in select markets… though thankfully that includes the United States.
"From the very beginning, collaborations have been one of the key elements in Mikkeller's universe and are one of the things we have the most fun with and love the most," said Mikkel Bjergsø, the brewery's founder and creative director. "We have done a lot of them, but this is without a doubt the biggest so far, and we are extremely proud and happy to get this opportunity. We are looking forward to brewing a lot of fantastic beers and sharing them with the series' dedicated fan base and other beer lovers."
Iron Anniversary IPA is a 7 percent ABV New England-style IPA, described by Bjergsø as offering a "bright aroma of fresh pineapple, mango, peach, rose petals and a hint of vanilla [followed by] flavors of passionfruit, papaya, mango and berries [with] a hint of hop bitterness" and a crisp finish.
But television is a visual medium, and the beer was designed with that in mind. "The first step of the collaboration involved creating a beer label that elegantly merged Game of Thrones' unique universe with Mikkeller's more lighthearted and colorful expression," Bjergsø explained. As such, Mikkeller's longtime art director, Keith Shore—known for his somewhat cartoony work—was also the one who designed the Iron Anniversary label.
And that's just the beginning of this multi-year partnership. The brands say plans are already underway for two more beers to be launched this year alone, with "several more" coming in the "next few years." These beers are set to cover a wide range of styles—lagers, stouts, spontaneously fermented beers, and even non-alcoholic beers—featuring a mix of wide and limited releases. And, yes, Mikkeller will be selling GoT-inspired merch, too.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. For now, Iron Anniversary IPA will be available starting April 17 for direct-to-consumer sales where available via Mikkeller's website as well as in select retailers in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and North Carolina.


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Business Innovative ways to enhance corporate social responsibility
How companies in industries such as pharmaceuticals are starting to learn that by giving more data away, they actually get more back.
Hal Varian, chief economist at Google, discusses methods of big data analysis that can indicate not just correlation but also causality.
Many valuable datasets remain locked away or siloed across different organizations and sectors. This panel from our February data conference looks how we can collaborate better on data projects.
Keeping sustainability programs on track requires a new mind-set, executive leadership, and clear public commitments.
Activism against companies can stigmatize them with politicians.
Men find environmentally friendly products threatening to their masculinity.
The promise of investing big in underserved entrepreneurs in America.
For-profit executives use business models—such as "low-cost provider"—as a shorthand way to describe the way companies are built and sustained. Nonprofit executives have not had an equivalent lexicon—until now.
The public debate around climate change is no longer about science—it’s about values, culture, and ideology.


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DOVER, Del. (AP) — Delaware consumers made the second highest rate of fraud complaints in the nation per capita in 2020.
The information was included in the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network database. That placed Delaware behind only Nevada in highest frequency of fraud complaints. Delaware residents reported losing $9.1 million to scams last year in 6,651 reports.
The median loss was $400 and the average was roughly $1,372 per report. Identity theft made up 29% of Delaware’s reports overall.
Delaware was No. 12 nationally per capita in identity thefts.
Source: AP – All contents copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Written by: administrator


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Apple launches $300 mn clean energy fund in China
Amid heightened trade tensions between the US and China, tech giant Apple has joined hands with its suppliers to launch a $300 million clean energy fund in China.
The "China Clean Energy Fund" will invest in and develop clean-energy projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in China, the equivalent of powering nearly 1 million homes, Apple said in a statement on Thursday.
"At Apple, we are proud to join with companies that are stepping up to address the climate challenge," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.
The Cupertino, California-headquartered tech giant said 10 of its initial suppliers have come forward to jointly invest in the nearly $300 million fund over the next four years.
"We're thrilled so many of our suppliers are participating in the fund and hope this model can be replicated globally to help businesses of all sizes make a significant positive impact on our planet," Jackson said.
By virtue of its size and scale, the China Clean Energy Fund will give its participants the advantage of greater purchasing power and the ability to attain more attractive and diverse clean energy solutions.
The China Clean Energy Fund will be managed through a third party, DWS Group, which specializes in sustainable investments and will also invest in the fund, Apple said.
The announcement to invest in the clean energy fund in China follows Apple's announcement earlier in 2018 that its global facilities are powered by 100 percent clean energy and the launch of its Supplier Clean Energy Programme in 2015.
Apple in 2017 announced it would invest nearly $500 million in China to build two new R&D centers in Shanghai and Suzhou.
In September 2016, Apple opened its first China R&D center in Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park, often referred to as "China's Silicon Valley".
Read more news:


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Insomniac Games is currently working on the latest Spider-Man game and the developer has released new PS4 trailer at the ongoing Paris Games Week. Marvel’s Spider-Man is based on Marvel Comic’s best loved superheroes and will be published by Sony Interactive. Insomniac’s latest trailer gives us a sneak peek at Spider-Man as Peter Parker, and also introduces us to some of the games’ main characters.
Marvel’s Spider-Man PGW 2017 PS4 Trailer
The upcoming action adventure is due for release in 2018 on PlayStation 4. -Check out the Marvel’s Spider-Man Paris Games Week 2017 PS4 trailer in the video below:


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Cipla launches rapid antibody test kit 'Covi-G' for COVID-19 detection
PB Jayakumar November 18, 2020
Drug major Cipla has signed a licensing agreement with a Belgium-based firm, Multi G for the distribution of their COVID-19 rapid antibody test kit across most emerging markets and Europe.
Cipla will distribute the rapid antibody kit branded as 'Covi-G'. The product will be manufactured by Multi G. This was among the earliest antibody kits to declare CE-compliance, the quality certification of the European Union and is awaiting approval by respective country regulators. The product, which claims to have an accuracy of about 92%, has already been commercialised in over 20 countries.
The kit gives results within 10 minutes. Cipla will sell these kits across 25 markets in Asia, Middle-East and North Africa, Latin America, EU and Australia, said Cipla. The third largest domestic pharma company, Cipla sells its products across 80 markets and is a world leader in inhalation therapies.
"Cipla's expansive reach, network and partnerships with public health authorities as well as private institutions will help in ensuring the seamless access of these kits," said the company.
Earlier, Cipla had launched Elifast diagnostic kits for mass screening of COVID-19 patients. It can be used to detect patients who have had a suspected asymptomatic or mild infection in the past, identify potential plasma donors and possibly prioritise susceptible populations for vaccines. The company also sells Remdesivir, a drug used in the treatment of COVID-19, with a licensing arrangement with Gilead Life sciences.


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Telecoms giant BT has been forced to build its own hardware for trials of a pioneering TV-on-mobiles service.
BT has defined the hardware for its trial
Those taking part in the BT UK Livetime trial get access to Sky news services, a music channel and 50 radio stations.
BT has drawn up its own designs because no phone maker produces handsets that can decode the digital radio signals used to carry TV pictures.
Testers will get BT Livetime either via a specially-created smartphone or a portable media centre.
The four-month trial began on 20 June and uses Digital Audio Broadcasts to beam popular programmes to mobile phone users.
BT first unveiled its plans for Livetime in early June. It has been forced to produce its own specifications for phones and media centres to be used in the trial because no-one else makes such hardware.
"We're the first company outside of Korea to implement mobile TV using Digital Audio Broadcasting," said Emma Lloyd, chief commercial officer at BT Livetime.
Triallists will either get a Windows smartphone or a Windows portable media player to watch the channels. Taiwanese hardware firm HTC will make the smartphone prototypes for the service.
Arqiva (formerly NTL Broadcast)
"We're seeding the market with two devices," said Ms Lloyd, "but we very quickly expect that Tier 1 manufacturers will adopt the technology and bring it to wider usage."
The lucky 1,000 users picked to take part in the four-month trial get news from Sky and Sky Sports as well as programmes from the Blaze music channel. The trial area will fall inside the M25 motorway around London.
Also key to the service is an electronic programme guide that lets people know what shows and clips are coming up.
"One of the things that's going to drive adoption of mobile broadcast services is its ease of use," said Ms Lloyd, chief commercial officer at BT Livetime. "The guide is just like you get on TV."
Contrary to press reports, the service will not be offering music downloads in the trial or the first commercial phase that begins in early 2006.
Ms Lloyd said the ability to download music might be added in later phases, but even then BT did not envisage setting up a rival to online download services.
Livetime means the birds have fallen silent
"Because it's a broadcast service, it's only going to make sense to distribute the most popular tracks such as top 10s," she said.
Ms Lloyd said the combination of broadcast and more traditional mobile technology was a very good fit.
"The one-to-many aspect in conjunction with the one-to-one type of stuff that's more unique to you makes real sense to consumers," she said.
Livetime will be a data service broadcast on the digital radio spectrum owned and run by national DAB broadcaster Digital One. Livetime has taken over a popular channel, known as D1 Temp, that before now has been broadcasting birdsong.
Soon after the Livetime announcement the birdsong was turned off in preparation for the trial.
One-time BT mobile service O2 has announced a deal with NTL Broadcast (now known as Arqiva) for trials of its own TV-to-mobile service.


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We've seen dumping outside charity shops during lockdown - but the latest target is somewhere more sacred.
Auckland's Birkenhead-Glenfield Cemetery has fallen victim and for one city councillor trying to stamp out the problem it's become personal.
Discarded chairs, a lawnmower, shoes and televisions. They're a jarring sight at a resting place where people gather to be near their loved ones - including Auckland Councillor Richard Hills.
On the same day his sister gave birth, no less.
"It was right in front of my grandparents' graves," he says.
"So to see my grandparents disrespected like that on the same day was a bit upsetting for my family.
"But others who will have family members at this cemetery will be thinking what kind of person just comes and dumps it?"
And now it's a problem for essential workers.
"The waste team are doing amazing work under tough conditions while everyone else is in lockdown," Hills says.
"So this kind of thing adds to putting themselves at risk to do this work and keep our community clean."
Everything but the kitchen sink is being dumped in other parts of the city too. Goods that may have otherwise been able to be onsold at op shops are exposed to wet weather and rotting.
Despite pleas from the Auckland Council and charity shops, people continue to illegally dump their goods daily, rather than hold on to them and go through official channels.
"We have the free inorganics that will come back after lockdown and also it doesn't cost a huge amount to take to the dump like everyone else does," Hills says.
Actions that will avoid situations like this, so no one - not even those who can't speak up - have to put up with it.


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Apple, especially, Steve Jobs, is known to be a hard negotiator. Having revolutionized the digital music industry with the iTunes store, the media industry is no stranger to the ways and methods of Apple negotiations. But recently, Apple seems to have been going through a hard time negotiating with record labels and artists for one little reason, they are late. The music streaming service, which was pioneered by various start ups like Pandora in the US and Spotify in the Europe, is a novel way to listen to music, for free. Supported by advertising, the streaming services apparently make far less money than the traditional a la carte way of buying music, like the iTunes. They might be late but that doesn’t stop Apple from launching their own streaming service, because that’s the demand of the day.
New York Times reports that Apple are pressing hard to finish the licensing deals with music companies as soon as possible so as to get the service ready for a WWDC reveal on June 10th. Most big companies including Microsoft, Google and even Nokia have a streaming service to their name. Google launched a Spotify+Pandora like service at their developers conference a month back, and we might see a similar service from Apple too, which has been supposedly a long time coming, since last summer. Nicknamed “iRadio” for now, the service should bring music radio over internet tailored to specific user tastes, and this, we hope, learns from the iTunes Genius playlists, and might just be called the same.
With the already robust iTunes infrastructure and the ability to buy songs from the catalog instantly, if you wish, for permanent storage, the iTunes streaming service might be just the exact solution the music companies have been waiting for. Let us hope Apple delivers on the promise, at the WWDC event on 10th.


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Exporters mustn't underestimate their value to our economy. In fact, they need to do more.
Every time I drive down Speke Boulevard or the Knowsley Expressway, I see car transporters loaded with Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery models.
The sight of them embarking on the first leg of a journey from the Halewood factory to destinations all over the world never fails to raise my spirits.
It tells us that this city is connected with global markets and is supplying something that customers want.
Like the UK as a whole, we need more exporters. Why? Because exporting boosts productivity. Not only is there a whole host of academic research to prove* it’s also common sense.
In the face of global competition, businesses can only sell their products around the world if they are as productive and efficient as possible.
And as a country, we desperately need to boost productivity. It won’t be mentioned much during the General Election campaign, but the shocking trend in productivity per head in Britain’s private sector is the most pressing economic problem we face. It has fallen 4 per cent since 2008 compared with a rise of more than 8 per cent in the USA.**
That’s why I welcome the interim report of the Cole Commission on Exports and, in particular, its call for the issue to be at the heart of economic planning.
The commission, headed by Graham Cole, chairman of Agusta Westland UK, was set up by the Labour Party but its findings should be acted upon by whoever forms the next government.
It calls for big ticket projects to be handled by a merged UK Trade & Investment and UK Export Finance, while Chambers of Commerce provide a one-stop shop for SMEs.
Helping exporters is already a key part of our core business and we’re keen to do more. The message to exporters is clear – your country needs you and ought to be doing a lot more to help.
* Do exports generate higher productivity? Evidence from Slovenia. Jan De Loecker, Department of Economics, Stern School of Business, New York University.
Does Exporting Increase Productivity? A Microeconometric Analysis of Matched Firms. Sourafel Girma, David Greenaway, and Richard Kneller.
** Thomson Reuters Datastream/Fathom Consulting.


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A LEADING urban planner has called for Parisian-style tax breaks for small local firms to prevent Wales’ towns and cities becoming indistinguishable clones.
Roger Evans, who last night delivered a lecture at Cardiff University’s School of City and Regional Planning, believes half a century of unimaginative high street development has left Wales’ urban areas bereft of individuality.
Mr Evans said in Paris small businesses like local bakers are exempt from paying full commercial rates to preserve the boulevard patisseries that give the city its unique feel.
And his idea is backed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which favours controlling rents as well as rates to protect local heritage here.
Before giving the annual Sam Romaya Memorial Lecture, Mr Evans, managing director of Oxford-based urban planning firm studioREAL, said: “In Paris they have a by-law that ensures local bakers don’t pay full commercial rates, so there’s a hidden subsidy for them.
“But it means every locality has its own baker and that’s something that’s valued by the French.
“There’s no reason why similar prioritisation of local business can’t happen in any town.”
Mr Evans, whose lecture was on sustainable urban development, added: “The historic cores [of our towns] are absolute treasures. They’re priceless, but the new areas over the last 50 to 60 years have often been quite uniform – both in the thought process that has gone into them and also in the building types that have been used.
“It’s possible now to go to a builders merchants and you can buy the same materials up and down the UK.”
Research by the British Shops and Stores Association has shown shoppers believe a high street needs a good mix of outlets, including a butcher, greengrocer, fishmonger, post office and restaurants, as well as areas to sit and rest.
The BSSA, which represents independent stores, says its findings make clear that the public wants government action to protect the unique character of the high street.
FSB Wales spokesman Russell Lawson said in Cardiff only the independent traders operating in the city’s arcades protect it from the bland sameness dominating elsewhere.
He said: “If you look at the experience of Cardiff city centre all the shops are just the same shops you’d get in every other town – WH Smith, M&S, Currys and BHS.
“And part of the problem is that we’re now getting a lot of the same outlets in out-of-town shopping areas.


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September 24, 2021 12:46
Hyundai's Santa Cruz has been named this year's best pickup truck by the U.S.' Northwest Automotive Press Association, the automaker said Thursday.
The Santa Cruz, recently released in the U.S., won because it "boasts bold yet sophisticated design, efficient powertrain options, a flexible open bed for gear, cutting-edge connectivity, and a highly maneuverable all-wheel drive platform."
Cars were tested for acceleration, handling, braking and rear-view cameras.
"Its bold styling coupled with secure open-bed flexibility meets the changing everyday needs of adventure-oriented buyers, while powerful engines and superb maneuverability ensure it is a pleasure to drive in urban or off-road environments," the carmaker said in a press release.
The Santa Cruz was also the fastest-selling new car in August in the U.S., according to automotive research website iSeeCars.com.
The car takes an average of eight days to sell on dealers' lots, faster than the Chevrolet Corvette (8.3 days) and the Mercedes-Benz GLS (8.7 days).
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com


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In a case-quantity world, conveyor was king. E-commerce, poly bags and the need for incredible flexibility posed a brief challenge, but convey and sort technologies have reclaimed the crown.
The growth of e-commerce is driving profound changes in the way warehouses and distribution centers operate, and the effect is particularly pronounced in the world of conveyors and sortation systems. Historically, these systems were designed around fulfilling retail, brick-and-mortar stores with full cases on a conveyor or line sorter.
Operating in a singulated flow, these systems ferry one large case after another. This design becomes much more difficult in e-commerce, where equipment is expected to handle each individual item. From small adjustments to wholesale replacement, there is no shortage of options to address the issue. Certainty of what the future will bring and how best to design solutions accordingly is in much shorter supply.
I think of it as a journey,” says Tim Kraus, director of product management for Honeywell Intelligrated. “The entire industry is trying to find better solutions as it shifts to handling individual items. The most critical element right now is that conveyors and sorters must be able to adapt.”
Adaptability is not a feature for which conveyors and sortation systems are known. Brad Radcliffe, vice president of sales, sortation and distribution for Beumer Corp., says that thinking has already changed.
“High end sortation, loop sorters and fixed conveyors have always been seen as a fixed solution to a moving target, so they carry that stigma to some extent,” Radcliffe says. “The technology now lends itself to more flexibility since it now incorporates the next evolution of communication. In the past, when you wanted to modify a sorter, you had to go put physical things on it to tell it to take a certain action at a certain point. Now, there’s constant communication throughout, and so you can systemically make changes to the sorter on the fly. This is a game-changer, and customers are coming to understand that’s a huge piece of the puzzle.”
Modifications, modules and maintenance
Materials handling calls for highly configurable equipment as no two applications are the same. In fact, Kraus says, a single standard conveyor product could be configured in millions of different ways depending on length, speed, motor size, controls and more. But, what if you would like to transform the conveyor you have into one of its millions of other forms?
According to Ken Ruehrdanz, manager of the distribution systems market for Dematic North America, the technology has to be designed, engineered and implemented so it can be easily reconfigured.
“A lot of professionals might think of convey and sort as old technology from the 1990s for case conveying, but it has a foundational place in the new, modern DC,” Ruehrdanz says. “Methods that are more automated, more space-saving and more productive need to be connected somehow, and that’s with conveyor. Because the new supply chain is so variable, the mechanization also has to be able to change with ease. Ten years ago, the distribution environment didn’t change as much as it does today, but if it did have to change, the legacy of convey and sort products was that each divert point, curve or incline is a separate piece of equipment hooked together, a ribbon of conveyor. Now, we can reset the components in the side channel to reconfigure one to the other.”
Read the full story here: https://www.mmh.com/article/conveyors_sortation_carrying_the_e_commerce_burden/conveyors


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Virginia Cooperative Extension expert offers tips for healthy eating at home during COVID-19
“It’s already a stressful time for everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we don’t want to add any extra stress in feeding and preparing meals at home. It’s important to focus on shelf-stable, mix-and-match type recipes that can keep you well-fed,” said Austin Brooks.
As these unprecedented times are navigated, it is important to maintain a nutritious diet at home – something that can be done with simple recipes with common, long-lasting ingredients found in your pantry, said Austin Brooks, project associate in the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program.
“It’s already a stressful time for everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we don’t want to add any extra stress in feeding and preparing meals at home,” Brooks said. “It’s important to focus on shelf-stable, mix-and-match type recipes that can keep you well-fed."
VCE has a vast library of resources on healthy eating and a full list of publications on health and nutrition at home can be found here.
Some ingredients for a shelf-stable grocery list are:
- Grains, such as rice, pasta, bread, oatmeal, and quinoa.
- Proteins, such as canned fish, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, eggs, and chicken.
- Fruits, such as apples, bananas, dried fruit, and frozen or canned fruit.
- Vegetables, such as garlic, carrots, potatoes, cucumber, canned or frozen vegetables, and others.
- Dairy products, particularly milk, can be frozen for longer shelf life.
A variety of other ingredients that don’t add fat, sugar, or salt, such as olive, canola, and vegetable oils, dried herbs and spices, condiments, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, and vanilla extract.
“It’s a good time to have family time in the kitchen and have everyone participate in food preparation, which can also a good learning opportunity for kids. They can measure, stir, wash produce, and contribute to meals in additional ways. Participating gets them invested in the food so they are more likely to eat it,” Brooks said.
With more people at home, there are healthy alternatives to traditional snack food, Brooks said:
- Instead of the salty snacks, leave carrots or snap peas on the desk
- Bake kale chips to leave on the counter
- Eat mixed unsalted nuts
- Try edamame


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Bleak times came for tourism in Hong Kong, as arrivals are expected to continue on a declining trend in 2016, following a drop of 8% in the fourth quarter of 2015 alone. Based on the official numbers, the possibility that the 2.5% drop in arrivals registered last year will be repeated or even aggravated this year is quite real, according to experts.
During the Lunar New Year holiday, the amount of mainland Chinese visitors dropped by 11.7% year-on-year while the neighboring Macao reported a 4.7% rise, compared to the holiday last year.
There is more than one reason for the gloomy trend of tourism in Hong Kong, and while it is easy to say economic factors are to blame, the truth is the violent riots which have plagued the city during the Lunar New Year period, have affected Hong Kong not only inwardly, but also its international reputation, discouraging in-bound Chinese tourists, in particular.
Tourism is one of Hong Kong’s key industries, contributing 5% to the overall GDP. However, given this doomsday scenario, economic measures will have to be taken, with great costs for the city’s finances.
A hefty HK$380million are expected to be spent by the government in actions meant to reestablish Hong Kong’s international image, while another $200million will be injected in the industry specifically.
Additional short, medium and long-term initiatives will also be put in place to aid the ailing tourism in Hong Kong, according to city’s financial secretary John Tsang. This new strategy to be implemented by Hong Kong’s government aims not only at recovering the sinking industry, but also at opening new markets, and it focuses heavily on overseas promotion meant to fix the city’s image as well as encourage inbound activity by showcasing tourist attractions such as MICE tourism and “fly cruise” tours, among others.
The new measures to be implemented include waiving license fees for several of the industry’s key players, as well as hosting important and exciting international events, meant to bring new and returning visitors to the Far Eastern city.
In the longer term, infrastructure is also expected to be updated, namely in Disneyland, one of Hong Kong’s key attractions, which will soon be facing stiff competition from Disney’s first resort in mainland China, which will not only be much bigger and more modern, but will also be quite a lot cheaper to attend.


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On March 13th, LA City Attorney Mike Feurer and District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced a joint Coronavirus Task Force, and warned Los Angeles residents about cases of fraud involving COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, and tests.
According to the LA City Attorney’s Office, they have taken action to remove Internet ads that made false claims about COVID-19 prevention and treatment. The Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission have already issued a warning that there are currently no vaccines or drugs approved to treat COVID-19.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Feurer’s office is investigating two Los Angeles companies, SafeBabyHealthyChild, which was promoting vitamin C as a COVID-19 treatment, and ModernBeyond, which offered face masks for sale.
“We’re fighting to protect an anxious and uncertain public from price-gouging, online scams and misinformation,” said Feuer. “My Office is investigating traditional stores and online retailers, uncovering unsubstantiated advertising claims about alleged coronavirus prevention, treatment, and cures, and investigating safety products—such as protective masks—that may not perform as advertised, as well as products being sold at astronomical prices. And we’re taking action. If you’re a victim, please contact our Office.”


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Tasmania has signed up to be part of a national coordinated response to outbreaks of Queensland Fruit Fly.
An incursion of Queensland Fruit Fly in 2018 threatened to close markets for fruit growers and their exports and triggered a large scale response by government departments DPIPWE and Biosecurity Tasmania.
However, since then, Tasmania has been able to maintain its fruit fly free status, despite the detection of single flies or of larvae at different times.
This year there have been two instances of fruit flies found in produce.
However, the fight against fruit fly has taken another step forward in Tasmania, with the state signing up to a national strategy.
In other news:
The strategy was launched on November 12 at a meeting of the National Fruit Fly Council.
Chairman of the National Fruit Fly Council and general manager of Biosecurity Tasmania Lloyd Klumpp said the strategy provided a framework for governments, industry and research funders.
"It is a blueprint for national cooperation as we seek to both manage our existing pest fruit fly species, Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly, and prevent exotic species like Oriental fruit fly establishing in Australia," Dr Klumpp said.
The NFFC is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 2020-25 National Fruit Fly Strategy and will be developing annual implementation plans to identify and monitor key activities under the strategy.
RELATED STORY:Fruit fly free status instills hope
"While it is the council which will oversee the implementation of the strategy, our real strength lies in the contribution that every individual and every organisation makes to combating fruit fly," Dr Klumpp said.
"Effective management of fruit flies relies on cooperation at all levels of government, and between industry bodies, research institutions, regional groups, growers, and community and home gardeners."


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Amazon trials drone delivery service
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos reveals company's latest attempt to ensure faster product drop-offs.
Online retail giant Amazon wants to use drones to deliver packages weighing up to five pounds to customers within 30 minutes of ordering.
The firm's chief executive Jeff Bezos told American TV show "60 Minutes" the use of unmanned aircraft to deliver packages is being trialled at the moment.
The delivery method, dubbed Prime Air, is not expected to be introduced for another four-to-five years, Bezos said.
"I know this looks like science fiction, but it's not," he said.
"We can do half-hour deliveryand we can carry objects, we think, up to five pounds, which covers 86 per cent of the items we deliver."
The drones Amazon intends to use resemble remote control planes and will pick up items from Amazon distribution centres and drop them off at customers' homes.
In a post on the Amazon website, the firm said it will need to wait for clearance from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before it can push ahead with its drone delivery plans.
"From a technology point of view, we'll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place," the company said.
"One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today."
The company has also been quick to assure customers the drones will be designed with safety in mind.
"The FAA is actively working on rules and an approach for unmanned aerial vehicles that will prioritize public safety," the company said.
"Safety will be our top priority, and our vehicles will be built with multiple redundancies and designed to commercial aviation standards."
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UK Gambling Commission Releases Official Statement on Loot Boxes
As gambling regulators and other influential bodies continue to investigate loot boxes and their [...]
As gambling regulators and other influential bodies continue to investigate loot boxes and their impact in video games, the UK Gambling Commission has released their official stance on loot boxes.
Like other organizations, the UK Gambling Commission looked into loot boxes after gamers petitioned and drew attention to the topic. In their statement, Tim Miller, the executive director of the commission, explained that their first step is to see if a product or situation could legally fall under gambling laws before they investigate further. But when it comes to loot boxes in video games with items that are confined to those games, Miller said that the product doesn't exactly fit as an example of gambling.
"A key factor in deciding if that line has been crossed is whether in-game items acquired 'via a game of chance' can be considered money or money's worth. In practical terms this means that where in-game items obtained via loot boxes are confined for use within the game and cannot be cashed out it is unlikely to be caught as a licensable gambling activity. In those cases our legal powers would not allow us to step in."
Miller does add that when it comes to loot boxes and similar purchases in games, whether they can legally be considered "gambling" isn't the main concern for parents and players.
"However, many parents are not interested in whether an activity meets a legal definition of 'gambling'. Their main concern is whether there is a product out there that could present a risk to their children. We are concerned with the growth in examples where the line between video gaming and gambling is becoming increasingly blurred. Where it does meet the definition of gambling it is our job to ensure that children are protected and we have lots of rules in place, like age verification requirements, to do that."
The executive director rightly said that parents and others will expect precautions to be taken against products that are seemingly harmful, but without the loot boxes being considered gambling, it's not something that the UK Gambling Commission could regulate on their own, Miller adding that they'd be willing to share "experienced and expertise" with others that would be able to regulate the games.
You can read the full statement from Miller and the UK Gambling Commission here.


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HOUSTON (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Telescan fell Wednesday after the company said it won't sell off its Web hosting services for the time being.
The financial-related Internet technology firm (TSCN) tscn had put the hosting business on the block last fall and found a buyer -- a "large financial concern," a spokesman said. The deal fell through when revenue rose to nearly $4 million in the past year, but the purchase price didn't budge.
Telescan's Web hosting services include purebaseball.com, where it's a 50-percent partner; the makings of a golf site, for which it's looking for a joint venture partner; and the Web sites for publications like Hollywood Reporter and Billboard magazine.
Telescan may choose to sell the hosting services again, and has retained NationsBanc Montgomery Securities to advise the company, said spokesman David Brown.
Shares fell 2 1/4 to 14 5/8.
The investment banker helped arrange Telescan's CNBC deal. The cable station's parent General Electric on Tuesday said it will buy a 10 percent stake in Telescan to enhance its CNBC.com Web site. See full story.
Telescan also posted fourth-quarter results Wednesday. The company posted a loss of $3.42 million, or 31 cents a share vs. a loss of 4 cents a share a year ago. Revenue in the fourth quarter was $3.36 million, down from $3.76 million a year ago. The results include a $1.53 million pretax writedown of the non-financial operations.


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- Press Releases
September 14 (Renewables Now) - India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended that the country imposes anti-dumping duty on the import of certain flat-rolled aluminum products from China used in solar manufacturing.
The recommendations were made after an investigation concerning the period between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020. The probe was initiated following an application filed by Indian aluminium and copper manufacturing company Hindalco Industries (BOM:500440) on behalf of the domestic industry.
The petitioners claimed that the dumping of flat-rolled aluminum, which is used in the production of solar module mounting structures for ground-mounted and rooftop installations, has injured the Indian market by causing inventory surpluses as domestic producers were not able to sell their products due to the dumped prices.
According to the submission, the imports of flat-rolled aluminum products from China have increased from 39% to 64% during the period under investigation.
DGTR’s examination confirmed that the domestic industry suffered a material injury during the aforementioned period as its market share contracted by 12%, whereas the market share of Chinese imports jumped by 35%.


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Zev Siegl's comments on brand building and investor perception come at a time when many Indian start-ups have diversified their business models or pivoted to newer things to attract funding over the last few months amid a slowdown in global financial markets
With this move, BITS is also taking on the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), which continue to dominate the startup and unicorn ecosystems in the country
“I have, with the help of my office, put together a basic entry-level pitch deck," Ratan Tata wrote.
“The Russian invasion has spurred a lot of people to pull up and start building new businesses,” said Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, which has become a locus for people fleeing the war-torn east.
[Vivriti Presents The Game Changer Summit 2022 in Partnership With CNBCTV18]. This is a space where pathbreakers meet path makers and innovation can provide Inspiration. As part of the summit, Vivriti and CNBC TV18 bring to you series of podcasts, a celebration of impactful stories of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Asish Mohapatra and Ruchi Kalra, alums of IIT and McKinsey, created history by becoming India's first husband and wife team to build their startups into unicorns - OfBusiness and Oxyzo. While Mohapatra is the CEO of OfBusiness, Kalra is the CEO of Oxyzo. What's more - Both their startups are profitable. But what do their startups do? How did they go from bits to billions? When will their companies go IPO? Watch them in conversation on Bits to Billions.
Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath added that out of a 100 new businesses that sprout in India, only about 1 per cent of it become sustainable and are able to survive.
Build the right team and the right mindset, and you are halfway there
Many times entrepreneurs become too serious and get bogged down by the headwinds they face. This can be counterproductive.
Enterprising college students dreamed big and slogged it out to create a content marketplace that attracted one of the world’s top VC firms. Starting with writing 250 articles themselves for the first order received 10 days before final exams at BITS Pilani, they now aim to storm the global $400 billion market with plans for Pepper Content to enter the US.
Under the scheme, bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore are provided to at least one Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks.
Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2021: The four-day online event will begin on February 25. It will include keynote sessions, fireside chats, workshops, competitions, networking sessions and an intern fair.
Fellows under MGNF will acquire academic expertise and technical competency in understanding the overall skill ecosystem along with being attached to District Skill Committees.
Atul Nishar, founder and chairman, Hexaware Technologies on his first leadership lesson, what he learnt about communication and how to treat people
The inspirational story of furloughed London fashion professional and mom-of-two Tracey Curran, who started her own label during the pandemic.
Inspire others to be better than you. Lead with clarity and a sense of security and confidence, says Cyril Shroff, one of the premier corporate lawyers in India.
Droves of small businesses have been shuttered by the economic fallout of the coronavirus, but for Dave Summers, starting a new one was the best option.
TA Krishnan on leaders who have influenced him, his management style and advice to the new crop of leaders.
During my initial days, nobody was willing to give me a loan for my business as they did not understand biotechnology and therefore, did not understand my business idea, Mazumdar-Shaw said.
"Don’t expect people to follow you as a genuine leader unless you have the qualities that inspire a following" - that’s the management mantra of the straight talking Zia Mody, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of top law firm AZB & Partners.
Resolution to India’s growth slowdown does not lie in misplaced populism, nationalization and unfettered PSU growth. We need policy responses that recognize the interlinkages in the economy and facilitate entrepreneurship.
A win for Kotak will prompt a much needed review of regulation and will bring in new banks, increased competition and hopefully better services.
Airbnb also runs a program called Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) under which 2 million rural Indian women are employed
Other young achievers include YouTube personality Prajakta Koli and young singer Meghna Mishra
Bansal plans to set up a holding company through which he will establish new businesses and make fresh investments


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Consumers spent a whopping $35.3 billion during last year’s cyber week shopping season. With Cyber Monday accounting for $11.3 billion in revenue alone, this period remains one of the biggest online shopping events of the year.
Unfortunately, hackers are making bank alongside online retailers. As we enter the holiday season, ecommerce websites are at an increased risk for security threats like skimmers, MageCart, ransomware, and phishing. Software vulnerabilities remain one of the most common threats impacting ecommerce websites — with successful exploits known to result in heavy losses for unprepared web stores and organizations.


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Namibia's meat processing and marketing entity Meatco exported the first consignment of beef to China in March, signaling the commencement of a new channel of trade.
The southwestern African country has about 2.4 million heads of cattle, of which 427,017 were marketed at an average producer price of 37.64 Namibia dollars per kg (about 2.66 U.S. dollars), according to Meat Board Statistics 2018. The meat processing and marketing entity said that statistics for live export for 2018 was 30,874 heads, while export abattoirs stood at 77,471 heads.
Local economist Daniel Kavishe on Friday told Xinhua that ultimately any boost in exports of products that are legally sourced in Namibia is a positive for the country's foreign earnings and ultimately good for the country. The move to export beef to China should be welcomed as it allows our farmers and producers access to new markets that were previously untapped, he added.
Kavishe is of the view that exporters of meat have the advantage of setting the price and managing supply. Meatco Board Member, Mushokobandji Mwilima in a statement said the Asian market gives Namibia the choice of another valuable market.
"An added bonus for Meatco is the placement of our products in a niche market where we can achieve the best prices possible for Meatco producers and continue to contribute to the economy in a positive manner," he said. Mwilima added that the significance of the Chinese market, compared with the EU and others, is that it allows for the exportation of bone-in beef. "The fact that Meatco will be allowed to export bone-in beef will most likely allow the Namibian producers to send bigger volumes of beef into the Chinese market," he added.
Namibia's trade and industrialization minister Tjekero Tweya said at the launch ceremony of beef export to China in Windhoek last week that Namibia will focus on value addition to the beef before it is exported. He said value addition will help the beef sector generate more income and create employment. "We will not continue to send unprocessed meat, but we will have value addition," he said, reiterating that producers should take value addition seriously before exporting unprocessed products, as reported by Xinhua.
The journey to export beef to China began in 2011 when an agreement on animal health and quarantine was signed in Beijing before a Health Certificate was approved in 2015. A final memorandum of understanding was signed on March 29, 2018, while declarations for lumpy skin disease were completed in early 2019.


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A big fourth quarter propelled mall and online retailer Dillard’s, Inc. to a stellar year of profits.
The Little Rock-based retailer reported fourth quarter net income of $141.5 million boosted by a $28.7 million after-tax favorable legal settlement with a software firm. Revenues for the quarter topped $2 billion. One year ago, Dillard’s posted net income of $109.6 million on revenue of $1.977 billion.
For the full year, Dillard’s recorded net income of $463.9 million, up more than 1.5 times last year’s net income of $179.6 million. Full year revenues climbed slightly higher to $6.4 billion, an improvement over last year’s total sales of $6.25 billion.
The retailer also blew past analyst estimates. Per share earnings for the fourth quarter were $2.21 and $4.31 for the year, better than market predictions of $2.02 and $4.15, respectively.
“We are pleased with our progress in 2011 where we delivered a record setting performance,” said Dillard’s CEO William T. Dillard. “With strong operating cash flow, we purchased $491 million of our Class A Common Stock during the year with $99 million accomplished in the fourth quarter. In 2012, we will remain focused on creating a clearly distinctive shopping experience at Dillard’s in merchandise selection as well as in customer service.”
Same-store sales — a key barometer of retail performance — was healthy for Dillard’s. The company saw comp store sales rise 3% in the fourth quarter and 4% for the year.
Dillard’s also announced it will no longer report monthly sales results, but will issue quarterly press releases on its sales performance. “Management believes that providing sales information quarterly with operating results provides a more complete representation of the company’s performance,” the company said in a note to investors. Many retailers report sales on a quarterly basis to avoid one-time trends.
Dillard’s share price closed trading Wednesday at $52.20 and was poised to open higher on Thursday in pre-market activity. The company’s stock has ranged from $37.87 to $61.08 during the last 52 weeks.
Latest posts by Roby Brock (see all)
- David Pryor Appears In New Mark Pryor Senate Ad - August 20, 2014
- $130 Million Wood Pellet Plant Chooses Pine Bluff - August 20, 2014
- Alcohol Expansion, Minimum Wage Signatures Turned In - August 18, 2014


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WiFi Alliance to Start Certifying WiGig Gear
Oct 24, 2016, 8:52 PM by Eric M. Zeman
The WiFi Alliance today said much faster WiFi is coming to smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other gear starting next year. The organization announced the WiFi Certified WiGig program, which will ensure compatibility between various WiFi technologies. WiGig operates in the 60 GHz band and allows for multi-gigabit speeds (up to 8Gbps) over shorter distances. The Certified WiGig program will allow WiGig equipment to work smoothly with other WiFi gear that operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, allowing for seamless handoffs between them. WiGig relies on beamforming to minimize interference and operates at distances up to 10 meters (33 feet). The WiFi Alliance says WiGig is ideal for in-room and other line-of-sight use cases such as virtual reality, gaming, and multimedia streaming. For example, WiGig would allow people to download an HD movie wirelessly in several seconds. The organization has already approved a handful of WiGig devices for testing purposes, including a Dell laptop, Intel modem, Peraso USB modem, Qualcomm WiFi router, and Socionext reference adapter. The WiFi Alliances says WiGig radios will appear in mobile devices next year, and expects half of all smartphones to include the technology by 2021.
Feb 9, 2022
Samsung today announced its lineup of flagship phones for 2022: the Galaxy S22 series. The top-end S22 Ultra sees the biggest changes as it essentially absorbs Samsung's Note series with an integrated S Pen stylus and a more Note-like shape and design, instead of the Contour Cut design of the other models.
Mar 23, 2021
OnePlus today announced the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, its newest flagship phones. The 9 Pro is a true flagship-class phone with a QHD AMOLED display with variable refresh from 1 to 120 Hz, and IP68 water rating, starting at $969.
Aug 10, 2022
Samsung has announced its newest generation of foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4. Both have similar designs and features compared to their predecessors, with a slew of small updates and refinements across the board.
Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.
Jan 14, 2021
Samsung today officially unveiled its Galaxy S21 series of flagship phones for 2021. All three models sport a distinctive new "Contour Cut Camera" design where the metal frame extends around one corner to surround the rear cameras.


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Google's Android operating system has rounded up developers and a bevy of hardware partners to swamp the smartphone industry with devices. Android's market share has surged courtesy of devices from HTC and Motorola and analysts are generally upbeat about the platform's prospects and ability to crack the top three platforms.
Articles about Android
Russian search company Yandex places Android and iPad first on mobile.
Huawei's Ascend P6 brings its own UI and slim metallic body, but no LTE support.
Canonical is hoping to lure mobile operators to back Ubuntu with the promise of having a helping hand in the OS' development.
Australia Post uses Agile software development methods to keep the technology team constantly ensuring that the company's Android app matches its iOS counterpart.
Apple rallied its troops of developers at its recent developer conference and dissed the rival Android platform. But Apple shouldn't worry about defections: developers are following the money and that means iOS.
All four major US carriers now have LTE rolling out and PCMag visited 30 countries testing data speeds and reliability. Results are presented for regions and each city so check to see what the best option is for your area.
Sony is bringing their high-end, 5-inch display, water-resistant Android smartphone to the US soon. T-Mobile will launch the device in the coming weeks on their Simple Choice plans.
Much like cloud computing and big data, bring your own device has become an irritating buzzword that is being tossed around with unrelenting vigour in the IT industry, but mobility isn't just about BYOD.
If you thought you were seeing tablet computers everywhere, you were right. Over a third of Americans now own a tablet and more are buying them every day.
The executive body is reportedly looking at how Google licenses Android, such as the "potential requests" to cancel or delay the launch of rival platforms.
More details of the rumored HTC One Mini appeared yesterday. Samsung is releasing the Galaxy S4 Mini and I wonder if we are starting to see a trend towards smaller smartphones.
Actually, Apple's forthcoming iOS 7 isn't so much an Android clone as it is a mashup of everyone else's mobile operating systems.
There will be no send-off for the last of Nokia's Symbian shipments.
With the exception of Google, Microsoft, BlackBerry and Apple had to take a stab at a redesign for various reasons. The risk of doing nothing was too great.
Apple is going to improve the camera and photo experience with iOS 7, including new image filters and viewing tools. The HTC One already has these capabilities and a whole lot more.


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Dennis Schaal , Skift
The site, which likely is only visible to a segment of users, isn’t as pretty as Pinterest. But, Hopper offers image-led, or alternately, map-based search that you can tweak by selecting desired themes such as wine, hiking or snowboarding, or you can browse by destinations, resorts, volcanos and natural wonders, for example.
In some ways, from its outward appearance, at least, Hopper resembles the bevy of Pinterest-influenced trip-planning or social discovery sites (Wanderfly, Trippy, Gtrot etc., or fill in the blank) that arrived and departed over the last couple of years.
The Hopper homepage presents images of U.S. getaways, including Southern California, Cape Cod, and Chicago, with flights to some cities bookable on Travelocity, others on AirTran.com, and many flight links not working at all. After six years in the making, Hopper states on the site that flight-search is “coming soon!”
via First Look at the $22 Million, 6-Year-in-the-Making Travel Planning Website Hopper – Skift.
Mexico was selected to be the official host country for World Tourism Day (WTD) 2014 and Burkina Faso for WTD 2015. The respective themes will be
“Tourism and Community Development” for 2014, and “One billion tourists, one billion opportunities” for 2015
The announcement was made at the 20th UNWTO General Assembly (Victoria Falls, 29 August). Celebrated annually on 27 September, World Tourism Day is the biggest international event in tourism. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the global community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address the global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlight the tourism sector´s contribution to achieving these goals.
WTD 2013 will be held at the Maldives, centered on the theme “Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future”, highlighting the tourism sector´s leadership role and contribution in facing the global water challenge.
via Mexico and Burkina Faso official hosts of World Tourism Day 2014 and 2015 | World Tourism Organization UNWTO.
Aug 26, 2013 7:00 am
Now that TripAdvisor has launched Kayak-like hotel metasearch, the two companies are competing head to head for the first time.
That’s the context for a new feature that Kayak is introducing today: User rating scores to rival TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index for hotels.
And, as part of Kayak’s changes, which also includes a redesigned homepage, it is not-so-coincidentally dropping its use of TripAdvisor user reviews.
via Kayak Drops TripAdvisor Hotel Reviews, Adds Its Own User Ratings – Skift.
Saudi Arabia has become the latest Middle Eastern country to place a major order for the iconic London black cab.
The kingdom’s Ujra Holding Company has ordered 200 black taxis and 200 in assorted colours, according to BBC News.
They are due to be delivered by the end of the year.
Dubai also has ordered 200 black taxis, according to the London Taxi Company, which manufactures the cars.
“We’ve got a very good business partner in the Middle East and he’s developed the London Taxi concept into Riyadh in particular,” London Taxi Company vice president Peter Johansen said.
“People prefer to use our taxis over the local taxis because they’re more comfortable and, in particular, in Saudi women are treated slightly differently from the west.
“Because our taxi provides a segregated compartment, separate from the driver, ladies in Saudi are allowed to use our taxis on their own, whereas they’re not allowed to use the local taxis.”
The company said it was also in talks with Azerbaijan.
Abu Dhabi and Bahrain also made large orders of the taxis in 2007 and 2008, respectively, as a tourism initiative, although as yet they have not put the cars on the road.
via AirGuideOnline.com — Saudi Arabia places a large order for the iconic London black cab.
International tourist arrivals grew by 5% during the first half of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, reaching almost 500 million, according to data just released by UNWTO. Growth was above the projection made at the beginning of the year (+3% to +4%) and is also exceeding the trend of the UNWTO long-term outlook Tourism Towards 2030 (+3.8% a year).
Destinations around the world welcomed an estimated 494 million overnight visitors in the first six months of 2013, according to the Advance Edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer released on the occasion of the UNWTO 20th General Assembly. This represents an increase of 5% or an additional 25 million international tourists compared to the same period of 2012. Growth was stronger in emerging economy destinations (+6%) than in advanced economies (+4%), a trend which has marked the sector for many years now.
Asia and the Pacific and Europe lead
Asia and the Pacific (+6%) saw robust growth boosted by the increase in arrivals to South-East Asia (+12%), a subregion which is maintaining the extraordinary momentum of recent years, and South Asia (+7%).
In Europe, international tourist arrivals were up 5% despite the lingering economic difficulties. Growth was led by Central and Eastern Europe (+10%) and Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+6%).
The Americas (+2%) reported a rather weaker first half of 2013 compared to the strong growth of previous years. Central America (+4%) performed above the region’s average, while arrival numbers were flat in the Caribbean and in South America.
In Africa (+4%), the growth of recent years was sustained during the first half of 2013 due to the continued recovery of North Africa (+4%) and the positive results of Sub-Saharan destinations (+4%).
The Middle East rebounded after two years of negative growth with an estimated increase in international arrivals of 13%. Yet, results should be taken with caution as growth is rather uneven across destinations and this assessment is based on still limited available data and reflects data up to June only.
via International tourism demand exceeds expectations in the first half of 2013 | World Tourism Organization UNWTO.
MIDDLE EAST LCCs ARE NOW ESTABLISHED, but there is still plenty of upside:
by Airline Leader
ALTHOUGH THE LCC MARKET IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS SMALL, it is certainly vibrant and contains several strains of the genre. From the original Air Arabia, still very faithful to its low-cost roots and able to be consistently profitable, through Jazeera and NAS Air to the now-largest, flydubai – the latter now becoming a closer partner with fellow Dubai airline, Emirates.
A new reported commissioned by Expedia into the consumer booking process for travel.
Target the consumer traveller at the right time
When it comes to leisure travel shopping, consumers spend a significant amount of time online researching options. Up to 45 days leading up to a booking, a consumer will conduct as many as 38 visits to travel sites. Knowing how and when to influence their decision-making process is crucial to generating mindshare and ultimately driving bookings. With this custom research, you will learn what the overall purchase path looks like from initial exploration through the booking stage, and how you can alter your marketing approach to reach consumer travellers at the right time so that you can get the best return on your marketing dollars.
Download the custom research and learn:
- How travel-seeking consumers view content online across multiple types of websites
- When is the best time to target consumers in the process
- Why you can’t rely on your site alone to generate bookings
- What is the best way to alter your marketing strategy to drive more conversions
via Path to Purchase.
The global tourism community gathers this week at Victoria Falls for the 20th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly. Visa facilitation, connectivity and accessibility will be key topics at this Assembly, aiming to advance tourism´s sustainable growth (Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe, 24 – 29 August 2013).
Key issues such as visa facilitation, connectivity and accessibility will be in the agenda of the over 120 delegations from UNWTO Members States gathering this week at Victoria Falls. The 20th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly will also debate the Organization’s Programme of Work for 2014-2015 and elect the Secretary General for the next four years’ period.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon greeted the participants in a video message. “Tourism is an undisputed generator of national wealth, corporate income and local employment. Managed sustainably, it can benefit people and planet alike,” he said addressing the Assembly. “As we work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and define a post-2015 development agenda, I call on all UNWTO Members and the global tourism community to examine how best to contribute to sustainable development.”
“This Assembly is a timely opportunity for all of us to continue along an encouraging path to drive tourism towards its fullest potential in fostering sustainable economic growth, jobs and development and what better backdrop to do so than here in Africa, a region where we believe tourism can be a true force for good”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
The General Assembly is the main statutory meeting of UNWTO and the most important gathering of senior tourism officials and high-level representatives from around the world. Held every two years, the Assembly is attended by delegations representing Full and Associate UNWTO Members, Affiliate Members, and representatives of other international organizations.
via UNWTO General Assembly opens in Victoria Falls | World Tourism Organization UNWTO.
An interesting article on the role of the Chief Marketing Officer.
Our response to this is as follows:
“An interesting viewpoint. I think the IKEA and Apple leadership approach speaks for itself. Marketing has moved on and is still a misunderstood and ill defined term. Our view is that the modern CMO needs to be able to lead and fuse science, art & technology to build lasting and profitable customer relationships. Kamprad and Jobs did this. The CMO needs to get the facts that data (in increasing forms) can provide to drive decisions. The art of marketing remains with the needs to build positive brand affinity. Any CMO that does not understand what technology can do for their business needs to get educated and the entire area of relationship building and engagement have been revolutionised by the opportunity presented by social marketing. We don’t believe the CMO role is dead. It is a role that has been transformed and those companies that get it and have CMOs that fuse science with art with technology and relationship building will probably be those most likely to succeed.”
via The Chief Marketing Officer is Dead | LinkedIn.


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We’ve seen 3D printing go to the stars and back, more or less literally. With all the expanding uses in high-tech industries like aerospace and semiconductors, we also need to remember to look closer to home… including in our own homes, to children. It’s today’s children, after all, who will really benefit the most from 3D printing as the technology continues to improve while their generation grows up.
The startup 3DP4E means 3D Printing for Everyone, and they mean it. Their mission statement “is to empower through design, technology and entrepreneurism.” 3DP4E has been working to ensure that the “Everyone” in their name includes children, bringing 3D printing to educational facilities like schools, as well as libraries and museums, where children can get some hands-on experience.
3DP4E has teamed up with Shapeways for support from an established company with real for-the-people 3D printing know-how. Shapeways is supporting 3DP4E as they expand and, now, bring 3D printing to a new exhibition. “Into the Third Dimension: 3D Printing for Young Artists” is a new exhibit at New York City’s Children’s Museum of the Arts which just opened November 20th and will run through January 11, 2015.
“CMA is delighted to partner with 3DP4E to draw attention to new techniques in artmaking,” said CMA Executive Director Barbara Hunt McLanahan. “The Museum is very proud of our permanent collection of over 2,000 pieces of children’s art from around the world, and we are always looking for new ways to encourage visitors to really look at and engage with these works. This exhibition showcases our collection while introducing children, their parents, and caregivers to a new art making technique — 3D modeling and 3D printing.”
The CMA exhibit will showcase some two-dimensional pieces from their permanent collection with a 3D printed element from each work. A dinosaur, for example, may come into three dimensions in front of its 2D likeness, or a baseball player may look really ready to swing into the air near a painting of a ballgame.
“3DP4E is about nurturing and expressing creativity and this exhibition presents a fantastic conduit for that. This partnership with CMA — arguably the city’s leading expert in engaging children through artistic endeavor and expression – will empower children and students through design and technology,” said Ron Rose, CEO and founder of 3DP4E. “We provide the technology, CMA makes it fun and educational. We are thrilled to help bring this exciting project to fruition.”
To help its visitors understand the process, the CMA will also present a short film that details 3D printing based on a 2D drawing. Kids love movies, but just watching a film won’t really provide a complete educational experience. Drawing workshops led by a CMA Teaching Artist will be held throughout the duration of the exhibition. From these workshops’ participants (ages 5 and older), 20 winners will be randomly selected to have their drawings rendered into 3D and printed by Shapeways.
The drawing workshops — “Experimenting with Dimensions” — will be held on five Saturdays throughout the exhibition. The workshops will run from 10 AM to 5 PM on November 22nd, December 6th and 13th, and January 3rd and 10th. The 20 winners whose artwork will go 3D will be invited to a presentation ceremony of the finished pieces in late January or early February, following Shapeways’ printing.
In addition to the CMA exhibition, 3DP4E has also launched a new website aimed at young artists. Kids Creation Station uses “3D printing technology to visualize your child’s imagination in a three dimensional space.” In about a 4-week turnaround, a child’s artwork can be rendered into 3D designs and then 3D printed and shipped out. The site also features an online portal where kids can create and share portfolios of their artwork. For $100 for the first model (and $60 for additional prints), parents can get a 3D model of their child’s artwork. Per KCS, the completed order will include:
- Your child’s artwork as a 4 inch 3D Printed Sculpture
- An openable diorama case
- A full-color background insert for the diorama case
- Lots of love
With Shapeways’ support, 3DP4E is really bringing 3D printing to new frontiers and a new, young audience. What do you think about the initiative? Will you be visiting the CMA exhibit? Let us know what you think at the 3DP4E/Shapeways Artist forum thread over at 3DPB.com.
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Coinbase users will now be able to store balances in US Dollars thanks to the platform’s new service USD Wallets.
Once dollars are deposited into the new wallet, users no longer need to wait for traditional bank transfers to clear before completing orders. From now on, Coinbase will be able to process bitcoin purchases on-demand using funds from the USD Wallet.
Previously, the only way to instantly acquire bitcoin on Coinbase was to enable instant buy, which required adding a credit card. USD Wallets let users transfer US dollars to their Coinbase Account, which can then be used to purchase bitcoin instantly from Coinbase.
If the funds are not spent, or if a user receives the US Dollar proceeds of a bitcoin sales into their USD Wallet, the funds can be withdrawn to the bank account they have linked to Coinbase, free of charge if via ACH bank transfer in the US.
USD Wallets are available automatically to Coinbase customers who have verified their identity in supported states within the US. So far, the service is available in 16 states – Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The company is in the processing of trying to expand access to other US states.
It seems laptops are about to catch the biometric fever as PayPal, Intel, Lenovo and Synaptics are collaborating to introduce FIDO-enabled embedded fingerprint solution to PCs.
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.
Lloyds has launched biometric finger print authentication for mobile banking.
Barclaycard has partnered with Case Station, a company that makes personalised phone cases, to embed contactless technology in the latter's smartphone cases.


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A man who pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit merchandise is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court.
Yan Chen, 68, of Cave City, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods and three counts of aiding/assisting in preparing false returns to the IRS.
Federal prosecutors accused Chen of selling off-brand clothing, technology, perfume, watches, wallets and other items in 2016 at Flea Land in Bowling Green and at Retail and Wholesale Market in Cave City.
The goods carried labels purporting to be from brands such as Apple, Burberry, Michael Kors, Nike Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Under Armour, Dolce & Gabbana, North Face and other well-known companies.
Chen also admitted preparing tax returns for the years 2013-15 that underreported his business income and gross receipts each year.
Chen’s attorney, Mark Chandler, filed a sentencing memorandum with the court that requests Chen not be incarcerated.
Chandler argued that imprisonment would be exceedingly harsh in this case because Chen’s age makes him “vulnerable to victimization, abuse and adjust problems in prison.”
Chen is also unable to communicate effectively in English, which Chandler said would add to his difficulties in prison. In court proceedings, Chen used an interpreter.
“Mr. Chen will be essentially deprived of all meaningful human communication should he be imprisoned,” Chandler said in his filing. “His ability to communicate with staff and fellow inmates to alert them of problems or health issues would be virtually nil ... linguistic isolation is likened to solitary confinement in its effect.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser has asked for a two-year prison term for Chen.
Weiser filed a sentencing memorandum Thursday in which he said the retail price of the counterfeit items seized in the investigation exceeded $2.2 million.
“Chen not only intentionally sold counterfeit goods, he also intentionally hid gross receipts and income from his tax preparer, resulting in a tax loss of over $270,000 for tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015,” Weiser said in the memorandum.
Weiser has also asked that U.S. District Court Chief Judge Greg Stivers direct Chen to pay $272,726 in restitution.
– Follow courts reporter Justin Story on Twitter @jstorydailynews or visit bgdailynews.com.


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The bleeding and exodus of jobs continues in California. Toyota is moving it's sales and headquarters to Texas. Eventually, Toyota will consolidate 4000 positions in Texas. So why is Toyota moving? To take advantage of lower taxes and regulation. If you make things too expensive or complicated for companies to do business, they will move someplace better. Toyota is not the first to move out from California to Texas. It will not be the last. In fact, Texas has lured thousands of jobs from California and other states across the U.S. Good for Texas!
What do you think?


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Thanksgiving will be on the lighter side when it comes to the typical number of travelers on the roads and at airports. According to AAA Travel, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health concerns and high unemployment, are impacting Americans’ decisions to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday.
With health and government officials stressing that staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick, AAA anticipates at least a 10 percent drop in travel across America– the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008.
Based on mid-October forecast models, AAA would have expected up to 50 million Americans to travel for Thanksgiving – a drop from 55 million in 2019. However, as the holiday approaches and Americans monitor the public health landscape, including rising COVID-19 positive case numbers, renewed quarantine restrictions and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) travel health notices, AAA expects the actual number of holiday travelers will be even lower.
For New Mexicans who make the personal decision to travel for the holiday, it is important to know the risks involved and ways to keep yourself and others safe. In addition to CDC guidance, travelers should also be aware of local and state travel restrictions, including testing requirements and quarantine orders. Travelers can visit TripTik.AAA.com to find the latest state and local restrictions along their route.
Some helpful tips you need to know before traveling are to:
Plan Ahead: check with state and local authorities where you’re planning to travel to learn about local circumstances and any restrictions that may be in place.
Follow Public Health Guidance’s wherever you’re traveling to
Verify before you go: call ahead to hotels and car rentals, to minimize last minute surprises.


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iOS 16.0.2 released with several bug killers for iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 11, other iPhone users
Apple has released iOS 16.0.2 update addressing several bug fixes for the iPhone 14 models, iPhone 11, iPhone X, and more.
Apple has released iOS 16.0.2, fixing a number of bugs that the iPhone 14 users were facing including camera shake, black screen, and more. The update can be downloaded on all the iPhones supporting iOS 16. It can be known that Apple released iOS 16 on September 12, 2022, and this is the second update the company has made in two weeks. In order to download the iOS 16.0.2 update, iPhone users will have to go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Informing about the release of the iOS 16 update, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman tweeted, "Apple has released iOS 16.0.2 with a fix for the camera shake bug. Other bugs related to copy/paste, black screen, VoiceOver and touch input also squashed." As per the information, the latest iOS 16 update that is iOS 16.0.2 addresses several bugs that have been impacting the performance of iPhone 14 models and other iPhones running on iOS 16.
It can be known that due to the camera vibration issue the rear camera of the iPhone was shaking while filming video in apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. However, the issue has now been addressed by the iOS 16.0.2 update. The bug fixes and important security updates for your iPhone include the following:
1. Camera may vibrate and cause blurry photos when shooting with some third party apps on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
2. Display may appear completely black during device setup.
3. Copy and paste between apps may cause a permission prompt to appear more than expected.
4. VoiceOver may be unavailable after rebooting.
5. Addresses an issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone X, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11 displays after being serviced.
Also, Apple is already working on iOS 16.1. The first beta of iOS 16.1 has already been released for testing purposes to the developers. According to a report by MaxRumors, registered developers can download the iOS 16 profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once downloaded and installed, the beta will be available to them.
iOS 16.1 will bring several changes to the iPhones including- adding battery percentage to iPhone 13 Mini Status Bar, Clean Energy Charging option, Live Activities will come to the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, and more. iOS 16.1 is expected to release in October, however, the exact date for the same is not yet known.
Follow HT Tech for the latest tech news and reviews , also keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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Last week, DHS announced a new program for states and local towns/counties to beef up their cybersecurity stance. We look at the details of the program and what to expect.
Today we give a rundown on the current situation of the cyber war between Russia and Ukraine and what effect it has on businesses here in the United States.
In today’s cybersecurity landscape, protecting your business falls on more than just one or two people. Everyone plays a role, even if they don’t know it.


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On Wednesday Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said there would be no new income tax hikes this year because of the country’s weak economic outlook, which means you may have a little more to spend.
What does this mean for retailers?
Joanne Joseph spoke to Edcon CEO Grant Pattison to find out.
There was a huge sense of relief amongst retailers and retail investors as one could see on the JSE. There were some gifts from the minister that will be good for retail.— Grant Pattison, CEO - Edcon
Apart from not getting the VAT increase, the best piece of news was the above-inflation tax relief from the tax bracket. That will turn into cash almost instantly and will be in people's pockets. I am sure we are going to see it somewhere in retail— Grant Pattison, CEO - Edcon
Click on the link below to hear more...


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Could it be the humble tea leaf’s turn for premiumization?
From hazelnut macchiatos to smooth flat whites, there are endless ways for coffee lovers to get their caffeine fix – and now tea is having a renaissance too. As people’s tastes change, brands and chains are monitoring consumers’ habits for revenue threats – or opportunities.
After water, tea is the world’s most consumed beverage. It remains hugely popular in India and China – although, in the latter, it suffers from a perception that it is a drink for elderly people.
The challenge in developed markets is to elevate it to the same level of prestige as coffee, so consumers spend more – and don’t default to standard black/green/herbal varieties while basing their choice on price, Fair Trade status or decaffeination.
Specialist tea shops, with tea sommeliers taking the place of baristas, are becoming more popular. In the tea-loving UK, modern tea salons and Japanese and Russian tea rooms are now emerging. A report on tea-drinking trends by Allegra World Coffee Portal found that two-thirds of UK consumers want specialist tea shops in their towns.
The Irish have always liked their tea, as have the Dutch. Now France is turning over a new leaf, opening specialist tea salons and importing a wide range of fine teas. In Germany, consumption of herbal tea is at record levels.
In the US, Starbucks began investing in this sector 15 years ago when it acquired tea company Tazo. Within a little over a decade, its products (now sold in supermarkets) were contributing more than US$1bn in yearly sales. In 2012, Starbucks paid US$620m for the tea shop chain Teavana. It has since opened tea bars offering premium tea lattes, smoothies and loose-leaf tea mixtures created by ‘teaologists’. The more laid-back bars also offer healthy meals. Today, tea accounts for more than 10% of Starbucks’ US retail sales.
Food and drink brands can see the opportunity too. Five years ago, Nestlé introduced its Special.T single-serve machine, with 25 varieties of tea, drawing on the success of its Nespresso coffee devices and consumables.
The US (the second largest importer of tea, after Russia) is a major consumer of ‘ready-to-drink’ tea (e.g. iced tea), sales of which have grown more than 15-fold over the past 10 years, according to the Tea Association of the USA. Last year, sales were estimated at US$5.2bn. Figures suggest that four in five US consumers now drink tea, with Millennials the most enthusiastic (87%).
Drinks companies are expanding their tea ranges and sell at a premium. In the US, Argo Tea is rolling out tea-based dairy beverages at select retailers. Alternatives to iced tea include organic kombucha teas, cannabidiol-infused teas, and a sparkling, flavored Chai tea.
“The growing taste for tea in so many forms and across so many markets is a massive opportunity for retailers and brands,” says Mark Larson, KPMG’s Global Head of Retail. “We have seen the premiumization of wine in the 1990s, of coffee in the 2000s. Could it now be tea’s turn?”
© 2018 KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. All rights reserved.


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Huawei is all geared up to launch the Honor V30 lineup of smartphones on November 26. Before that, we will get to see the Huawei MagicBook Pro as well. Now, a recently filed trademark by the company has brought about three new terms by the company – Honor Go, Honor Home, and Honor Work.
Huawei has filed the trademark for Honor Home, Honor Go, and Honor Work. pic.twitter.com/1LQvQFktki
— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) November 21, 2019
As of now, there is no word as to whether or not these features would make their way to the Honor V30, but we are sure to receive further intel on the same in the coming days.
What are your thoughts on the Honor Go, Honor Home, and Honor Work? Do let us know in the comments section down below.


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With Bitcoin reaching out to find new users and expanding its influence, the issue of acquiring and spending the currency has been a significant barrier to the growth. We have seen a lot of effort put into developing new solutions that allow users to obtain digital currencies more conveniently, as well as moves to allow easier spending or converting of Bitcoin into fiat funds for use. One relatively new platform for this has been ABRA, which takes an app based approach to managing digital funds, in a similar way to other phone app based purchasing platforms. Ready to expand across the world from its successful Philippines launch, is this the solution that solves the digital currency problem?
Read the full story below.
A hot topic in the cryptocurrency industry has always been the ability to purchase and spend the digital currency. Transferring any digital currency in and out of the fiat money system will be a necessity until there is such widespread adoption that the digital currency can be used to fund everyday life and make purchases as easily as fiat money. Even the most optimistic people in the industry understand this is a long way off, and right now getting new people to adopt the technology means making it easier for them to acquire and then spend digital currency.
ABRA is a peer to peer digital currency payment system that aims to deal with this issue in a new way. We have seen the growth of physical payment cards that allow real time conversion of digital currency into local currency at ATM machines, here is a new approach. ABRA uses an app based infrastructure to allow users to cash out digital currency directly into their bank accounts, send digital funds to other users via the app and pay for goods with digital currency too. It also has a location based system for finding tellers signed up to the system near the user’s location where they can purchase digital currency for fiat cash over the counter, the digital currency being transferred to their app based wallet directly. With the ubiquitous use of smartphones today, this represents perhaps the most user friendly solution for Bitcoin yet developed.
Currently operating only in the Philippines, this year sees ABRA moving out to Europe and the Americas, and presents a new approach that has potential for the industry. As people become accustomed to Apply Pay and other phone based solutions, adding in a system that combines that convenience with Bitcoin offers a gateway to new users that will benefit both Bitcoin itself and raise awareness of the cryptocurrency industry as a whole.