text:
Europe Digital TV News
Pay TV in Portugal grows 4.1% YoY in 1H 2020
Sep 16, 2020 – According to Anacom, in Portugal in the first half of 2020, around 89.3% of households had pay TV, 3.3 percentage points more than the previous year. The number of subscribers was 4.15 million, up 165,000 (+4.1%) year-on-year.
News categories: Anacom, Digital TV, Market Research, Portugal, Subscribers
ViacomCBS global streaming service to be called Paramount+
Sep 15, 2020 – ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC, VIACA) has unveiled 'Paramount+' as the brand name for the company’s upcoming global streaming service. CBS All Access will be rebranded as Paramount+ in early 2021 as part of the service expansion.
News categories: ViacomCBS, Bob Bakish, Marc DeBevoise, Australia, Denmark, Digital TV, Finland, Latin America, Norway, OTT, Sweden, USA
TV3 to trial 5G immersive sport at Superbike World Championship
Sep 15, 2020 – Catalonia's TV3 is to trial a 5G immersive sport experience at the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), due to take place at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from the 18th to 20th of September.
News categories: TV3, Guttmann Institute, IRI-UPC, Kataclack, Vodafone, 5G, Digital TV, Spain, VR
Finns prefer to watch streaming services on the TV
Sep 15, 2020 – A TV screen is still the most popular choice for keeping up with the content in paid streaming services, according to DNA’s Digital Lifestyle survey. The TV is still the most common viewing device in the home.
News categories: DNA, Mervi Rouvinen, Digital TV, Finland, Market Research, OTT, Set Top Box
Proximus Pickx Android TV service goes live with 3SS
Sep 15, 2020 – 3 Screen Solutions (3SS) has announced that Proximus Pickx, an IPTV+OTT TV offering from Belgium's Proximus, has gone live on an Android TV Operator Tier STB. The service replaces Proximus’ legacy AOSP-based TV offering.
News categories: 3SS, Proximus, Kai-Christian Borchers, Jim Casteele, Advertising, Android TV, Belgium, Big Data, Digital TV, IPTV, Set Top Box, UX
Disney+ launches in eight more European countries
Sep 15, 2020 – Disney+, the streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, has launched in Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Disney+ already has more than 60.5 million subscribers.
News categories: Disney+, Rebecca Campbell, Belgium, Denmark, Digital TV, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, OTT, Portugal, Sweden
Orange delivers 1.75bn multi-DRM licenses with Viaccess-Orca
Sep 15, 2020 – Viaccess-Orca (VO) has announced that 1.75 billion licenses of its multi-DRM cloud service have been delivered in the last 12 months by Orange, demonstrating the scalability of the solution for IPTV and OTT service protection.
News categories: Viaccess-Orca, Orange, Philippe Leonetti, Christian Bombrun, Belgium, Côte d'Ivoire, Digital TV, DRM, France, IPTV, Poland, Spain
Broadpeak powers NPVR service for Orange France
Sep 15, 2020 – Orange France has successfully launched a Network PVR service powered by Broadpeak. Using Broadpeak's Cloud PVR solution, Orange subscribers can record content directly in the cloud, enjoying seamless switching from one screen to another.
News categories: Broadpeak, Orange, Jacques Le Mancq, Yvonnick Boursier, Digital TV, France, IPTV
Eastern Europe SVOD subscriptions to more than double
Sep 14, 2020 – According to Digital TV Research, Eastern Europe will have 26.42 million paying SVOD subscriptions in 2025 - more than double from the 10.26 million recorded at end-2019. Russia will generate 4.8 million of the growth.
News categories: Digital TV Research, Simon Murray, Digital TV, Europe, Market Research, OTT, Subscribers
- MediaKind first to deploy latest You.i TV video experience SDK
- TVSquared and Blockgraph partner on TV and cross-channel measurement
- PlayStation 5 launches this November
- BrightLine launches connected TV ad solution
- FIH and NAGRA launch Watch.Hockey app
- Gracenote enables cross-platform search and discovery for sports content
- VR headset market expected to grow despite short-term decline
- Pay TV in Portugal grows 4.1% YoY in 1H 2020
- Liberty Puerto Rico launches Hub TV powered by TiVo
- Verizon Media offers header bidding-like solution for OTT publishers
- Watch Brasil launches SVOD Smart TV app with Accedo
- ViacomCBS global streaming service to be called Paramount+
- TV3 to trial 5G immersive sport at Superbike World Championship
- Finns prefer to watch streaming services on the TV
- Proximus Pickx Android TV service goes live with 3SS
- Disney+ launches in eight more European countries
- Orange delivers 1.75bn multi-DRM licenses with Viaccess-Orca
- Dotscreen renews metadata deal with Red Bee Media
- Broadpeak powers NPVR service for Orange France
- ZEASN announces Smart TV App Store v3.0


text:
As on March, 2015, India Brand Equity Foundation quotes India as one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets in the world and that India has established itself as a global manufacturing and research hub. A large raw material base and the availability of a skilled workforce give the industry a definite competitive advantage.
- The Indian pharmaceutical industry was estimated to be worth US$ 12 billion in 2013 and is expected to touch US$ 100 billion by 2025
- Globally, India ranks third in terms of volume of production and fourteenth largest by value and is also expected to move up to eleventh place by 2017
- Indian pharma sales stood at US$ 22.6 billion in 2012 and is expected to register US$ 27 billion by 2016 growing at a rate of 14.4 percent
The pharmaceutical exports market in India is growing at a very rapid rate.
- India exports to more than 200 countries; its share of exports is expected to grow manifold
- Pharmaceutical exports from India grew at a rate of 1.2 per cent to reach US$ 14.84 billion in 2013-14
Looking at this the world is now considering India as the profitable venue to manufacture its pharmaceutical products. Pharma export market in India is very potential for the buyers for procuring their required pharmaceutical formulations in all the available dosage forms.
Milan has achieved remarkable success in exporting pharmaceutical products to over 43 countries spread in all the continents of the world. We are looking forward to make such tie-ups and find new customers to whom we can offer our spare capacity and export pharmaceutical formulations to the markets where we are still not present.

domain: news


text:
India's automotive industry is rapidly accelerating toward becoming the third largest in the world by 2030, bolstered by strategic government schemes and innovative collaborations. This rapid expansion is not limited to Asia, as some Indian giants are also investing in Mexico.
India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) is working to strengthen this rapidly growing sector. The ministry organized a conference to review the Production Linked Incentive - Auto Scheme (PLI-Auto), which aims to foster dialogue with stakeholders to further understand the opportunities presented by this industry.
The PLI-Auto scheme, supported by a Rs 25,938 crore (US$3.14 billion) investment, has strengthened the automotive sector's growth by incentivizing local production and technological advances. With the government's commitment to fostering deep localization and developing Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) products, the industry is poised for exponential expansion.
“India has gained recognition as one of the world's Top 3 rapidly growing innovation economies, attributed to a transformed higher education system, a vast talent pool and the government's supportive stance toward fostering intelligent solutions,” Amit Miglani, President, India-Mexico Business Chamber, tells MBN.
As India’s automotive industry takes off, some companies have turned their sights to Mexico. Indian investment in Mexican companies has increased by 48%, as the country has several characteristics that make it an “alluring destination,” says Miglani: “Essentially, the country offers the necessary infrastructure and support to enable companies to fully leverage its advantages. Finally, Mexico facilitates the reinvestment of earned capital, providing an additional incentive for companies.”
For example, Indian multinational Tata Group will build a mega factory in Nuevo Leon, according to Governor Samuel García. Tata Group’s automotive gigafactory in Nuevo Leon is set to make the state a frontrunner in the global electromobility movement, aligning with the surge in electric vehicle adoption. Tata Group's investment reinforces the region's significance in the international electromobility landscape. Nuevo Leon, will also host Tesla's forthcoming gigafactory, solidifying its position as an electromobility hub.
García also met major Indian corporations, like Infosys and HCLTech, as well as key figures in the automotive industry to foster bilateral trade between both regions.


text:
Sergei Sidorsky reminded that in 2009 Belarus-Germany trade totaled $3.2 billion. He underlined that equipment used for economy modernization makes up the bulk of Belarusian import from Germany. German investments are used in various branches of the Belarusian economy. “We will add power engineering, primarily renewable energy sources, to basic industries. Now we will do our utmost so that German investors would supply the first wind energy plant in Belarus,” said Sergei Sidorsky.
The Prime Minister added that Belarus is interested in joint projects in other promising industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and IT.
In the last few years Belarus’ export to Germany soared by 40% (except for oil products). “Once again it confirms that our trade and economic relations are advancing. This is why our interest in the presence of German investments has compelled us to hold the Belarus Investment Forum in Frankfurt am Main this year. We hope to invite a large number of participants and hope to exceed the 2008 Belarus Investment Forum in London in the number of breakthrough ideas and projects,” said Sergei Sidorsky.
He said he hopes that at the forum German investors will see new prospects of investing in the Belarusian economy.
According to Sergei Sidorsky, German business may be interested in the Belarusian economy in view of the creation of the Customs Union. The Customs Union opens up new opportunities to step up sales of high-tech products.
The Prime Minister also stressed that regional cooperation with Germany is important for Belarus. Belarus has concrete areas of developing trade and economic relations with regions of Germany. They are primarily connected with priority areas of development of the two economies.
Sergei Sidorsky said he hopes that Christof Weil’s mission in Belarus will be successful and that Belarus-Germany relations will grow stronger, that the two countries will set an example of enhancing relations and cooperating like good neighbors.
“We highly appreciate that Germany supported Belarus in last year’s political and economic conditions. We highly appreciate that Germany has become the country to support Belarus’ participation in the Eastern Partnership Initiative,” stressed the Prime Minister of Belarus.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Belarus Christof Weil added that he had talked to German economists prior to his arrival in Minsk and saw that “the Belarusian market is of interest to German businessmen.”
The Ambassador attributed the slowdown in the flow of German investments to the obscure framework conditions in Belarus. Therefore, the Belarus Investment Forum in Frankfurt am Main will offer a good opportunity to explain the legal and tax system of Belarus to German investors.
“I think it is a good opportunity to present Belarus’ potential to German investors,” Christof Weil said.
In 2009 German investments in the Belarusian economy amounted to $59.7 million (51.1% as against 2008), with FDI at $51.6 million (55.1% as against 2008).
In Belarus there are 345 companies with a share of German capital, including 189 joint ventures and 156 foreign-owned companies. Since their registration $118.5 million has been poured into their authorized funds.
In Belarus there are 97 representative offices of German companies. The largest are BASF AG, Lufthansa, Bayer AG, Siemens AG, Autoran, the Representation of the German Economy, and Fresenius.
In Germany there are seven representations of Belarusian companies, namely Belimpex Handels GmbH in Leipzig (Minsk Tractor Works), Belastahl Au?enhandel GmbH in Berlin (Belarusian Steel Works), Belmagistralavtotrans Speditions GmbH in Alzey (Belmagistralavtotrans), the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Leipzig, the national air carrier Belavia, Belneftekhim concern, Belarusbank in Frankfurt am Main.
Credit and investment cooperation plays a major part in Belarusian-German relations. Since 1992 Belarusian companies have attracted over €560 million in German loans against guarantees of the Belarusian government.
In 1992 the Belarusian-German Economic Cooperation Council was set up with a view to coordinating and developing economic ties between the two countries. The first session of the Belarusian-German working group for scientific and technical cooperation took place in Minsk on 19 March 1996. The first Belarusian-German energy forum took place in Minsk in May 2008. The Belarusian-German economic forum Belarus Day was held on 23 April 2009 as part of the Hanover Fair.
Cooperation with several federal states of Germany is advancing, primarily cooperation with North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Lower Saxony.
The legal base of the Belarusian-German cooperation includes over 20 international treaties and documents in various areas. A package of basic economic agreements has been formed. Those are agreements on cooperation in economy, industry, science, and technology, on promotion and mutual protection of investments, on avoiding double taxation of income and property. Agreements on aircraft traffic, motorway traffic, cooperation between the defense ministries and between the customs services of the two countries have been signed.


text:
US-based vaporisation products and accessories distributor Greenlane Holdings has completed the acquisition of child-resistant packaging solutions maker Pollen Gear for an undisclosed value.
Greenlane has been the exclusive global distributor of Pollen Gear products over the last three years.
As the transaction is complete, Greenlane will now gain operational control of supply chain logistics and quality assurance. It will enable designers and engineers of Pollen Gear to focus on product development and innovation.
The packaging firm will continue to focus on programmes to produce custom packaging solutions for individual customers.
Greenlane CEO and co-founder Aaron LoCascio said: “We are excited to make an already strong partnership with Pollen Gear even stronger and officially welcome them into the Greenlane family.
“With the additional resources we can allocate to Pollen Gear, we intend to bring our customers a higher quality of service and a wider array of packaging solutions.”
Pollen Gear co-founder Ed Kilduff will continue to serve as the packaging firm president.
Kilduff said: “Taking our partnership with Greenlane to the next level gives us access to incredible tools and resources.
“We are eager to continue pioneering solutions in this exciting and evolving new industry, expanding our product assortment and IP portfolio while leveraging our industrial design acumen across other Greenlane product categories.”
Based in Hermosa Beach, California, Pollen offers consumer products and packaging solutions to various companies, including Nike, Sirius/ XM, Reebok, OXO, Starbucks, and Unilever.


text:
Justin Bieber's marketing team sues company for 'idiot' comment
Justin Bieber. (WENN)
Bosses of Justin Bieber's marketing company have launched a $100,000 lawsuit after a merchandise team allegedly branded the singer an "idiot".
Chiefs at Bravado International Group Merchandising Services filed papers in Manhattan Federal Court on Friday, according to the New York Daily News.
The documents allege representatives at a merchandising company broke an agreement to sell vinyl wall graphics of Bieber by criticizing him online.
Bravado bosses are suing for $100,000, alleging breach of contract.


text:
Washington, Europe and other trading partners say those plans violate China's market-opening commitments.
Talk might be cheap, but it is certainly better than another round of multi-billion-dollar tit-for-tat tariffs between the United States and China.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recently sent an invitation to Chinese officials proposing a bilateral meeting at ministerial level, the daily reported.
Mr. Trump threatened to increase that number by another $267 billion to bring the total tariffs to an amount equal to all of China's annual exports to the U.S. The administration already imposed tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods, slapped tariffs on aluminum (10 percent) and steel (25 percent), and raised duties on washing machines (up to 50 percent) and solar panels (up to 30 percent).
"If nearly a half of American companies anticipate a strong negative impact from the next round of USA tariffs, then the US administration will be hurting the companies it should be helping", he said.
In the case of the Trump administration's trade tensions with China, the USA clearly has an edge when it comes to imposing tariffs.
The U.S. has enjoyed near-record low joblessness and faster economic growth in 2018, while Beijing's economy faces growing long-term concerns, including a sharp decline in the value of its currency.
More than half of firms say they are already feeling Beijing's wrath, with 27% reporting increased inspections, 19% feeling heightened regulatory scrutiny and 23% witnessing slower customs clearance.
China has also warned it could unleash "qualitative" measures, which US business groups have interpreted as more burdensome regulations, stalled visas and other red-tape headaches.
News of the invite comes as it emerged Thursday that United States firms in China are beginning to feel the pinch of tariffs already imposed on the Asian giant.
"The U.S. administration runs the risk of a downward spiral of attack and counterattack, benefiting no one", William Zarit said in the statement.
Some 63.6 percent of more than 430 companies that responded to the American chambers' survey said profits and customer demand have fallen due to the US tariffs and 62.5 percent said the same about retaliatory Chinese tariffs. They said almost one-third are thinking about canceling or postponing investment decisions. President Donald Trump said last week that new tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods could go into effect "very soon" and warned that an even bigger raft of measures is in the works.
The survey released Thursday by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China polled almost 200 European firms doing business in China and found 17% are delaying investment or expansion plans.
"I think most of us think it's better to talk than not to talk, and I think the Chinese government is willing to talk", Kudlow said.
"We share the concerns of the United States regarding China's trade and investment practices, but continuing along the path of tariff escalation is extremely unsafe", warned Harborn.


text:
Thursday March 24, 2016 0 comments
HONG KONG -- Otter Products, LLC, a leader in protective cases for mobile technology, today announced four key appointments, including Jim Parke as CEO and Steve Nisbet as president, of the global company based in Fort Collins.
In the APAC region, Bonnie Soon has been promoted to general manager for Otter Products APAC and Rob Kovacs is now VP of business development for Otter Products APAC.
Nisbet joined Otter Products in 2010 and led the company's expansion into strategic APAC markets, now the fastest-growing region for the company outside North America. In his role as president, Nisbet will oversee daily operations as well as global growth.
Otter said Soon successfully expanded the business into more than a dozen countries during its first year of operation in 2011. As VP of Otter Products APAC operations, Soon developed the e-commerce channels throughout the region and most recently developed strategic relationships with key partners to drive the regional sales strategy in her role as the VP of Otter Products APAC business development.
Otter Products APAC has grown more than 100 percent year-over-year for three consecutive years in key markets and continues to see high potential growth opportunities in Asia.
With more than 10 years' experience in the technology industry, Kovacs will lead the business development team and all business partner activities across the APAC region in his new role. He was previously the business development executive for Australia and New Zealand.
"This is an exciting time for Otter Products as we aggressively grow our global and regional sales, building our strategic relationships with key partners," Nisbet said.
"With their extensive knowledge and experience in the market, Bonnie and Rob will continue to deliver strong leadership in the region to ensure the company is well-positioned for its next phase of growth."


text:
ViewSonic today announced the US release of two touch-enabled products, that of the VX2258wm 21.5-inch monitor and of the VPC220T all-in-one PC. Both products target businesses and consumers and promise to deliver a full multi-touch experience.
The VX2258wm costs $339 and features native a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a 5ms response time, a 1000:1 contrast ratio (100,000:1 DCR), a typical brightness of 200 cd/m2, D-Sub, DVI and USB ports, 3.5mm audio in/out, two 2W speakers and a stand enabling height adjustment tilt and swivel.
As for the VPC220T all-in-one, it has an estimated price tag of $1,049, has an LED-backlit 21.5-inch Full HD panel, and packs a 3.06 GHz Pentium E6600 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a DVD writer, a GeForce 310M graphics card, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, a 4-in-1 card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, two 3W speakers and a HDMI output.
The VX2258wm is backed by a three-year warranty, while the VPC220T comes with a one-year warranty.


text:
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, together with Steve Jobs helped change the course of personal computing forever.
Though Wozniak’s influence at Apple has been effectively non-existent since the mid 80’s, Woz is forever tied to Apple and is arguably, behind Jobs, the most well-known Apple figure in company history.
In an interview with the AP following Jobs’ passing at the age of 56, Woz said that the world has “lost something we won’t get back.”
“The way I see it, though,” Woz explained, “the way people love products he put so much into creating means he brought a lot of life to the world.”
Woz said that he last saw Jobs about three months ago, shortly after Jobs delivered the keynote address at this year’s WWDC event.
Wozniak, 61, said Jobs was a good husband and father and a great businessman who had an eye for details. He said Jobs was a good marketer and understood the benefits of technology…
According to Wozniak, Jobs told him around the time he left Apple in 1985 that he had a feeling he would die before the age of 40. Because of that, “a lot of his life was focused on trying to get things done quickly,” Wozniak said.
“I think what made Apple products special was very much one person, but he left a legacy,” Woz said.
Indeed he did.


text:
Young people in Cardiff have been praised for their part in improving shops in their neighbourhood.
Members of the Llanrumney Youth Centre worked with Cardiff-based artist, Kyle Legall, to create a new mural design for the end wall of the Burnham Avenue shopping precinct.
The pirate theme, heavily influenced by local history and geography, was developed at workshops the youngsters attended during their October half-term.
The project took place as part of wider improvements to the area, carried out by Cardiff council, who commended the youngsters' enthusiasm and dedication.
'It's excellent to see young people taking a key role in the area in which they live,' said Councillor Judith Woodman.


text:
Although major manufacturers have launched a lot of mobile phones in the first half of the year, many of which are flagship products, according to the shipment/sales statistics given by the three-party agencies, it seems that the performance is not very satisfactory.
This should mean that there will be iterative models taking over in the second half of the year, stimulating consumers to buy by improving appearance, configuration, photography, features, software, etc. What’s more, for the Android camp, the iPhone 14 series that has undergone a lot of upgrades and changes will be fiercely killed in the fall.
A few days ago, after digging, xiaomiui was surprised to find that the model number 2207122MC (L2M), which is suspected to correspond to the new Xiaomi Mi 12S Pro, is actually equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor.
Even, the report also interestingly explained that Xiaomi Mi 12S is L2, is the M after “L2M” the abbreviation of MediaTek (MediaTek)?
The codebase shows that L2M has the “damuier” development code, and the corresponding processor platform is Dimensity 9000. It has been previously reported that the Dimensity 9000 is also developing a higher-frequency performance version (Dimensity 9000 MAX?), perhaps this has won the favor of Xiaomi.
Of course, the previously exposed 2206123SC (L3S) version of Xiaomi 12S (codenamed “Listening”) and 2206122SC (L2S) version of Xiaomi 12S Pro (codenamed “Unicorn”), the letter “S” may be the generation of Snapdragon (Snapdragon) It refers to TSMC’s 4nm version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 Plus.
In this way, at least the Xiaomi Mi 12S Pro has planned a dual-processor version, and whether it will be launched simultaneously (expected in mid-to-late August) is convenient for consumers to choose by themselves, we will wait and see.


text:
Keynote presentation at The Inspired Home Show shows importance of durability.
IHA’s Derek Miller thanks all those who took part in The Inspired Home Show.
Leatrice Eiseman explained the colour palettes for 2023 in her keynote address in Chicago.
Seven inspirational retailers from four continents are announced as honorees in Chicago.
Excitement mounts for show, and UK community is invited to join gia night virtually.
Chicago’s keynote speakers include Pantone’s Leatrice Eiseman and trend guru Tom Mirabile.
82% of the top US retailers plan to attend “turning point” show, writes IHA presid
Looking ahead to 2022, Derek Miller, president of The International Housewares Association (IHA) addresses
A week of virtual events in October for top housewares retailers and wholesalers.


text:
OKLAHOMA CITY – A beverage company is looking to test Oklahoma City’s honesty.
Honest Tea is conducting social experiments in all 50 states to see how honest people are when no one is looking.
According to the tea company, this week unmanned kiosks stocked with bottled drinks and snacks will be set up next to a clear Lucite box asking people to pay one dollar for each item, buying them on the “honor system.”
Information on who buys and who steals the tea will be collected to discover which states and citizens are the most honest.
The national results will be released on August, 19.


text:
Posting a photo of your keys is something new homeowners do all the time when showing off their exciting new purchase, often dangling them in front of their front door. But TikTok user Cathy Pedrayes warns fellow TikTokers to not post photos of their new house keys online.
As Pedrayes explains in the Oct. 25 video, some nefarious intruder could make a copy of your key just from that photo alone. And according to the experts, there’s more than one way a potential burglar could do so.
For more, visit the original post from Apartment Therapy, published December 1, 2020.


text:
Some of those changes will absolutely be for the better, but others require significant strategizing to avoid pitfalls, according to a recent industry survey conducted by Foley & Lardner LLP. While 62% of respondents will shift their supplier base to ensure they can adhere to a just-in-time model so they can be more responsive to developing issues.
Along similar lines, more than 9 in every 10 respondents said that they were trying to do more to build additional visibility into their full supply chains so they always have the best information available, the report said. Many are shifting away from truly global supply chains to create a more regionally focused approach, with more sourcing coming not from China (where 59% say they are cutting supplier ties) and more from the U.S. (with almost three-quarters increasing ties), Mexico (nearly half) and Canada (close to 1 in 4).
Why the shift is necessary
It should come as little surprise that the COVID crisis led to shifting trends among consumers as well, and nowhere is that more clearly illustrated than when it comes to e-commerce — a trend which logistics firms have to account for these days, according to CNBC. As recently as the start of this year, e-commerce only accounted for about $1 out of every $9 spent on retail nationwide. However, since the pandemic started, that number has been cut by one-third, to $1 out of every $6 spent on retail.
Meanwhile, it seems that specialization in retail stores could be headed the way of the dodo, with stores that sell a little bit of everything (like Target, Walmart or even Best Buy and the Home Depot) continuing to go strong while smaller, more specialized competitors struggle in the new environment.
Changing worker roles
Just about everyone in the U.S. has had some aspects of their jobs disrupted by the pandemic, and those who work in the supply chain have likely been impacted far more than others, according to Transport Topics. After all, someone has to pick and pack items from warehouse shelves, put them out for delivery, take them from Point A to Point B, receive those shipments and distribute them further. That's true for business-to-business or direct-to-consumer shipping, and perhaps most importantly, when it comes to getting health care professionals the supplies they need to test and treat coronavirus cases.
The more that can be done to adjust processes so that logistics firms are always able to respond to shifting needs and simultaneously keep their own workers safe, the better off the future of the supply chain on the whole is going to be.


text:
Latest Company News
- Foot Locker Eliminating Footaction Banner, Opens New Store RIS News
- US footwear brand Foot Locker names Melody Ehsani as creative director Fibre2Fashion Corporate News
- Foot Locker names L.A. streetwear designer creative director for women's business
- Foot Locker announces search for new CFO as company veteran retires Bizjournals Bankruptcy News
- Footaction Launches La Msica, Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by Highlighting Groundbreaking Reggaeton Artists The Olean Times Herald - News
Get access to financial news alerts, bankruptcy, tax liens, and other credit related insights by joining the Cortera Credit Community - Completely free!


text:
June’s sales reports, released by the Massachusetts Association of
Realtors and The Warren Group, should pretty much squash any lingering
optimism about a 2007 recovery.
Oddly, though, inventories of homes for sale have shrunk
dramatically, which isn’t what you’d expect in a downswing. Houses on
the market have dropped from a year’s supply early this year to just
7.5 months’ supply currently.
Some agents and analysts suggested that supply may be shrinking
because so many prospective sellers have decided to sit this market out.


text:
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has caused chaos internationally, across the world’s stock markets, sporting competitions, and even the world of leisure and entertainment. Its impact is being felt by everybody, in one way or another.
Of course, the nature of the virus’s spread means different countries are getting to grips with it at different times. And what would eventually become known as Covid-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China as far back as December 2019.
The nation recorded its first death from the virus less than two weeks later, before instances in Japan and Thailand were traced. And the crisis spiraled from there, as authorities in USA, Nepal, France, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan all confirmed cases in the days that followed.
To date, more than 3,100 people in Hubei, China have died from the coronavirus, as well as more than 5,000 in Spain and more than 9,000 in Italy. More than 607,000 total cases have been confirmed around the world. The numbers are rising in countless other countries and governments are racing to put measures in place to contain the pandemic.
Table of Contents
It is a scary time for many and especially for the most vulnerable in society, while business owners and those who are self-employed are having to adapt and work harder than ever before to make ends meet, both for the company and its staff.
One industry feeling the impact of coronavirus is the gambling industry, which must adhere to the new regulations being imposed dictating which businesses are allowed to remain open, as part of measures to prevent unnecessary travel and socializing that could spread the virus.
In Australia, casino operator Star Entertainment has been forced to stand down more than 8,000 staff members due to new social distancing rules. The firm has had to totally shut down its operations in major cities including Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Steps are being taken in America too, with the Native American casino industry in particular feeling the impact of the lockdowns being imposed. The industry has requested $18bn in federal aid to help them through the difficult period. It’s perhaps more of an acute issue in this sector as many of the casinos exist as the sole source of income for Native American communities.
The shutdown of casino operations around the world and the anticipated closure of many more are clearly having a major effect on the industry, with stocks being hit dramatically and little known about how the economy will recover in the months, or even the years ahead.
Empty casinos, quiet streets & closure signs. The Las Vegas Strip isn’t the same without people to enjoy the neon nights. It has been a few days since @GovSisolak ordered Nevada casinos & nonessential businesses to shut their doors. But, we’ll be back. #StayHome4NV
— FOX5 Las Vegas (@FOX5Vegas) March 22, 2020
A hope online
However, casino gambling is one of many industries to have embraced the possibilities of online consumption, and many of the industry’s brands with operations on the internet could in fact seize an opportunity to engage with new players, as we have seen with online brands across a variety of sectors.
Gambling restrictions differ from country to country, while the shutdowns of many of the world’s top sporting competitions and showpiece events like the Olympics and Euro 2021 have also fallen by the wayside as the world works collaboratively to curb the crisis.
The lack of major sporting action naturally limits the betting markets available -although esports remain largely unaffected by the pandemic- while facilities like virtual sports betting also become more valuable as providers scramble to offer their regular customers something to engage with.
Earlier this month, we asked all travellers to self-isolate when they returned to Canada. Today, we are making this isolation mandatory under the Quarantine Act to better protect our most vulnerable. pic.twitter.com/bKLdKh4mEu
— Patty Hajdu (@PattyHajdu) March 25, 2020
But it’s perhaps online casino games, like blackjack, roulette and online slots, that offer the best chance for the casino industry as a whole to ride out the current global crisis. And it’s times like these when introductory offers to new customers become even more important.
Casino websites, poker rooms, bingo sites and bookmakers use such welcome offers to engage with new players who haven’t played games with them before. Offers include free bets or money back if your first bet loses, which means new players don’t have to worry about staking any money to sample the provider in question’s offering. Another popular method to appeal to new players is free spins and free online slots, which come in thousands of different themes. Whether it’s online-only slots or more traditional pastimes like poker or blackjack, a growing number of online casino players are playing games for free, or at least becoming familiar with them in this way before making their first deposit.
These kinds of tactics are particularly crucial in the current climate, where physical casino operations are being halted and where people globally are increasingly finding themselves with more free time, as their national governments impose lockdown, limit non-essential travel and close workplaces.
So, although stock in many of the leading casino brands has inevitably fallen, there remains opportunity for the industry to show its resilience and ride through the present challenges. By allowing players to play for free online and by providing the right introductory offers, brands can engage with new players while keeping existing customers entertained.


text:
Charity shops have seen their sales and stock donations fall by up to 30 per cent as the adverse weather put people off leaving their homes.
Cancer Research UK saw a 30 per cent decrease in stock donations in the week beginning 4 January, and health and social care charity Sue Ryder Care said sales of donated items had dropped by up to 27 per cent over the past two weeks compared with the same period last year.
Andrew Adair, director of retail at disability charity Scope, said sales in the charity's shops were down by a quarter over the past two weeks compared with last year's figures.
"A small proportion of our shops actually had to close because of the snow and ice," he said.
Mike Lucas, director of retail at the British Heart Foundation, said the weather had caused a "significant drop in donations", although no exact figures were yet available. "This has undoubtedly caused problems and had a real impact on our stock levels," he said.
Age Concern and Help the Aged said last week they could lose as much as £500,000 in revenue from charity shop sales because of the weather conditions.


text:
Google Pixel Buds Stories May 15
During I/O 2018, the Google app gained the ability to customize what notifications get sent to Assistant headphones. Today, Google is rolling out a number of new features to Pixel Buds, including new double and triple tap gestures, as well as the ability to easily switch between devices.
Google Pixel Buds Stories May 10
Deal: Get Pixelbook at 25% off: $750!
Google Pixel Buds Stories May 9
Google Pixel Buds Stories March 19
Earlier this month, our APK Insight of Google app 7.23 revealed that Pixel Buds might soon add the ability to customize the Double Tap gesture, among other new commands and possible in-ear detection. An update is now rolling out to the Pixel Buds that changes Double Tap to skip tracks.
Google Pixel Buds Stories March 9
The latest beta version (7.23) of the Google app is rolling out this afternoon and it reveals a number of upcoming features for Pixel Buds. Namely, users will be able to customize controls like Double Tap, while a new Triple Tap gesture addresses a common complaint of these Google Assistant headphones.
Google Pixel Buds Stories December 5, 2017
Leading up to Google’s October 4 event, we knew that Google was planning to introduce a pair of wireless earbuds that would compete with the likes of Apple’s AirPods. The key differentiator for Pixel Buds — besides Android optimizations — is the Google Assistant. They seemed more sophisticated and feature packed than the competition even with the wire connecting the buds.
As we wrote in the Pixel Buds’ review, these are the smartest earbuds you can buy, but with some clear flaws. Unfortunately, though, those flaws were enough for me to return my personal set and switch back to using AirPods with my Pixel 2…


text:
Toyota’s new hybrid Tundra uses an electric motor for more power
Sep 26, 2021 3:00 PM
How to keep track of what’s new on Netflix and what’s leaving
Sep 25, 2021 4:59 PM
How to eat sustainably without sacrificing your favorite foods
Sep 25, 2021 9:00 AM
Your iPhone already tracks your steps. What if it tracked your mood, too?
Sep 25, 2021 7:00 AM
Best Xbox One controllers: Gamepads for every player
Sep 24, 2021 7:00 PM
How to use Apple’s new Mail Privacy Protection to fight email tracking
Sep 24, 2021 6:30 PM
The CDC recommends booster shots for healthcare workers and other at-risk groups
Sep 24, 2021 5:04 PM
Set a spooky Halloween scene with these painted marbled pumpkins
Sep 24, 2021 5:00 PM
The best golf balls for beginners to help beginners learn the game
Sep 24, 2021 4:30 PM
Featured by Sharon Weinberger
PopSci Investigation: What Kind Of Top-Secret Assassination Tech Does $58 Billion Buy?
Not since the end of the Cold War has the Pentagon spent so much to develop and deploy secret weapons. But now military researchers have turned their attention from mass...


text:
The Google Glass app that makes them pointless: Gadget that was supposed to free us from our mobile can now be controlled by your ... phone
- Google Glass was designed to be wireless and voice-activated
- Users criticised swipe bar, commands and gestures for being tricky to use
- In response, Google has created the MyGlass app that lets people control the headwear with an Android phone
Since its unveiling last year, Google Glass has been touted as the ultimate in hands-free technology, yet the device's head gestures, swipe bar and voice commands haven't been as easy to master as many people expected.
To solve this problem, Google has released a companion app, called MyGlass, that lets users control the device using an Android smartphone, but that ultimately does away with the hands-free functions.
The app makes it easier to navigate the device's menus, simpler to take photos, read emails, add content to Google+ and call contacts, for example.
The MyGlass app, pictured, makes it easier for Google Glass wearers to navigate the device's menus and makes it simpler to take photos, read emails, add content to Google+ and call contacts, for example
GOOGLE GLASS PORN APP BANNED
Earlier this month the first pornographic app for Google Glass was released before being quickly banned.
app store MiKandi, makers of the headmounted pornography, were told by
Google to remove the app and have been prohibited from making any such
The 'T*** & Glass,' app was downloaded from the developer's website by 17 Google Glass owners on its debut day, while the site was visited by some 10,000 people.
app allowed viewers to browse adult content and, with Glass’s
capability of displaying and recording, the app also reportedly allowed
users to record and upload their own intimate content.
According to the app's description, it uses Glass' screencast feature, which lets wearers share what they are seeing through the Glass visor using their Android device's screen.
It says: 'Remote control/input for screencast. Touch/swipe/tap to control the Glass UI through the screencast experience.'
The app has also been designed to make it easier to take photos and video 'surreptitiously', which may anger privacy campaigners further.
A recent study from London-based web hosting company Rackspace with the Centre for Creative and Social Technology (CAST) at Goldsmiths, University of London found that one in five adults in the UK wants to ban Google Glass completely because of privacy worries.
Google launched its Glass, pictured, device in 2012 and only select customers, known as Explorers, have been able to get their hands on the technology. Rumours suggest the glasses will go on general sale later this year
Researchers based in London surveyed 4,000 adults about the rise of wearable technology.
Despite 18 per cent of those questioned saying they plan to buy Google Glass when it goes on sale next year, 51 per cent expressed serious privacy concerns about the device and 69 per cent demanded greater regulation.
Some users have complained on Google+ that the MyGlass app doesn't work on their headset, although Engadget notes that the headset
might need an update to allow the use of remote controls in order to work.
Most watched News videos
- Man punches kangaroo in the face to save dog being strangled
- Mob storm police station and lynch suspected paedophile
- Boy shows amazing talent impersonating Winifred from Hocus Pocus
- Watch the original 1972 trailer for 'Last Tango in Paris'
- Moment judge gets slapped in the face at 2016 IFBB Diamond Cup
- The hunt for Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live
- 100 special police agents protect suspected paedophile from mob
- Amazon staff work tirelessly to get parcels out to customers
- 73-year-old ex-Marine punches bear in the face to save his dogs
- Can you spot something odd about The Apprentice 'walk of shame'?
- Police protect Douglas Carswell from angry London protesters
- Reckless 20-year-old streams doomed joy-ride on Facebook Live
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
We are no longer accepting comments on this article.


text:
Old Etonian boss of Dixons Carphone becomes latest executive to jump ship at ailing retailer
The Old Etonian boss of Dixons Carphone has become the latest executive to jump ship at the ailing retailer.
Sebastian James, who has been at the helm for six years, is leaving at the end of April to take charge of High Street chemist Boots.
On the move: Sebastian James is leaving at the end of April to take charge of chemist Boots
He will be replaced by Alex Baldcock, former boss of online sales company Shop Direct, in a clear signal the company is pinning its hopes on digital growth.
Dixons unveiled a dive in half-year profits in December, down from £154m to £61m, as customers abandoned it for internet retailers.
James, a 51-year-old father of four who is an old friend of ex-prime minister David Cameron, masterminded the £3.8bn merger of Dixons and Carphone Warehouse in 2014. His departure comes just weeks after finance boss Humphrey Singer left for Marks & Spencer.
Baldcock, 47, is expected to shutter many of the firm’s 1,000 stores and focus on web sales.
Most watched Money videos
- Land Rover Defender pulls transporter carrying seven SUVs
- Chinese Nio ET7 electric family car costing £60,000
- 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV sold for 11% above market value
- Can Scottish Mortgage keep climbing? Tom Slater interview
- Renault 5 EV prototype will look like the 1980s rally car
- Land Rover unveils the fastest and most powerful Defender V8 yet
- Hyundai develops autonomous vehicle that walks across terrains
- Mercedes announces smart home system to control home from your car
- Nick Train interview: There's plenty to be optimistic about
- Promo shows ability of Land Rover Defender to travel rough terrain
- 1972 Bentley Corniche showcased in auction promo
- Porsche's eFuel could dramatically cut CO2 emissions of cars


text:
American Express is joining the crypto trading gold rush with an investment in institutional digital asset platform FalconX
American Express Ventures joins existing investors Accel, Accomplice VC, Coinbase Ventures, Fenbushi Capital, Flybridge Capital Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Avon Ventures, adding to a $17 million funding round FalconX announced in May.
Trading as principal, FalconX provides institutional clients the ability to access cryptocurrency markets through a single platform for trading, credit, and clearing.
The company serves 250 institutional clients, up 150% from May 2020, and its transaction volumes have tripled to around $3 billion on a monthly basis.
“FalconX is helping bring simplicity to the increasingly complex digital asset space through a platform that provides discovery and pricing all in one place,” says Harshul Sanghi, global head of Amex Ventures. “Amex Ventures invests in startups as a way to better understand emerging areas of the payments ecosystem, and we are pleased to support FalconX as it continues to drive innovation in the digital asset space, including digital currencies.”
Elsewhere on the crypto front, blockchain infrastructure firm Paxos has closed a $142 million Series C round of funding, led by Declaration Partners. PayPal Ventures, which uses Paxos crypto broker platform for its recently-announced bitcoin offering, also renewed its investments.
Charles Cascarilla, CEO and co-founder of Paxos, commented, "In the last year, global adoption of crypto and blockchain-based solutions by enterprises has accelerated. We are proud to count among our clients' global leaders in payments, banking, trading and fintech, such as PayPal, Credit Suisse, Societe Generale and Revolut. Paxos is uniquely positioned to address the digital asset needs of global brands and bring our solutions to enterprises with trillions in assets and billions of end users."
He says the company will double the size of its team and and scale its technology to cater for the opportunities opening up in the white hot crypto space.


text:
In a fairly unsurprising announcement, Valve has given more evidence that their online distribution service is coming ever-closer to self-awareness. Steam apparently saw a 25 percent increase in accounts in 2009, bringing the total to over 25 million, which is impressive no matter how you slice it.
December was also a busy month as the record for concurrent users was broken with 2.5 million gamers simultaneously shooting, stabbing, platforming, running, puzzling, or any other possible action we do so very much in one of the over 1,000 games now available on Steam. If I had to take a guess, however, I would bet that number was in no small part due to Modern Warfare 2.
Valve’s Gabe Newell had this to say:
“Steam turned five years old in March 2009. With the introduction of each new platform feature released over the years, such as the Steam Community, Steam Cloud, and Steamworks, we’ve seen corresponding growth in account numbers, concurrent player numbers, and developer support for the platform. As such, we plan to continue to expand and grow the platform to better serve the developers supporting the open platform and millions of gamers logging in each day.”
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Steam. With awesome deals that will literally blow your mind, how could any PC gamer not be? I know there is criticism floating around out there about how Steam dominates the market, and with companies like Infinity Ward requiring it to use the multiplayer in huge releases like Modern Warfare 2, I think some is justified. But I also truly believe no company does more for PC gaming than Valve.
And you can take that to the bank.
What about you guys? Like Steam? Hate it? Console gamer and don’t care about it?


text:
French high-end fashion retailer Zadig & Voltaire wants to top 80 stores internationally by the end of this year.
The retailer has 60 stores worldwide at present, including six in London. In the UK, it is also set to open at Westfield London and in Hampstead, as a concession in Selfridges, and in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Chief executive and founder Thierry Gillier said: “The UK is a big place for fashion today. We are very established in France but the UK loves what we do; we’re bringing something new to the market.”


text:
Intel's Quarky Arduino Adventure
With all the cornucopia of Valve-related announcements for gamers over the past few weeks, it may be difficult to imagine that the Linux world could have any more good news in store. That supremely encouraging gaming news, surely, was enough to last us a few good months here in the Linux blogosphere.
Well think again! In yet another expression of the never-ending fabulousness that is open source, none other than our friends at Intel have been busy at work with the interests of a different set of users in mind -- specifically, makers and students.
"Introducing the Galileo development board, the first product in a new family of Arduino-compatible development boards featuring Intel architecture," the chip giant wrote in its press release last week. "The platform is easy to use for new designers and for those looking to take designs to the next level."
Yes, that's right, Linux fans -- Intel and Arduino.


text:
Comscore, a company that tracks internet usage, calculates that 1 billion people who logged on to the world wide web in December 2008 – the first time this number have ever been online in a single month.
The actual number of Web surfers is probably higher than that as comscore said its figures were based only on the number of Internet users aged 15 and above working from home or work computers.
They did not take into account traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or personal digital assistants.
The figures also show that there are now more Chinese internet users than Americans, with 178 million Chinese compared to 163 million Americans.
Google was the most frequently visited website in December with 778 million unique visitors, followed by Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL and then Wikipedia and its sister sites.
Facebook, the social networking site, grew by 127 percent in the past year with 222 million visitors in December.
"Surpassing one billion global users is a significant landmark in the history of the Internet," said Magid Abraham, Comscore's chief executive officer,
"The second billion will be online before we know it, and the third billion will arrive even faster than that, until we have a truly global network of interconnected people and ideas that transcend borders and cultural boundaries."


text:
Inflation surged 8.5% for the year through March, the fastest pace since December 1981. And last month, the Fed raised its benchmark interest rates for the first time since 2018.
But with most savings accounts still paying less than 0.7% annually, things remain challenging for investors looking to earn a passive income.
The good news? Even in the current interest rate environment, you can find companies paying generous dividends to investors.
Rock-solid dividend stocks can help investors diversify their growth-oriented portfolios. At the same time, they offer a reliable income stream so investors don’t have to time the market to make money in stocks.
Here’s a look at three dividend stocks that could be an opportunity for income investors for the rest of 2022.
At a time when many brick-and-mortar retailers remain in the doldrums, powerhouse Walmart stands out.
The company runs a massive retail business with approximately 10,500 stores under 46 banners in 24 countries. Thanks to its “Everyday Low Prices,” Walmart attracts around 230 million customers to its stores and websites every week.
Walmart has thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the three months ended Jan. 31, 2022, revenue grew 0.5% year over year to $152.9 billion. Notably, comparable-store sales — a key measure of a retailer’s health — at Walmart U.S. rose 5.6%.
The company has also capitalized on the e-commerce boom, which is often considered a threat to physical retailers. Compared to two years ago, Walmart U.S. e-commerce sales grew 70%.
The retail giant started paying dividends in 1974 and has increased its payout every year since.
With a quarterly dividend rate of 56 cents per share, Walmart offers an annual yield of 1.6%.
When you make payments to a company every month, wouldn’t it be nice to get some cash back from it?
Well, investors can do that with Verizon — one of the largest telecommunication companies in the U.S. that also happens to be paying generous and reliable dividends.
Millions and millions of people pay Verizon every month to use the company’s service. Its 4G LTE network covers 99% of the American population, and more than 230 million people are already covered by its 5G network.
Verizon has been raising its payout annually and currently offers an annual dividend yield of 5% — a very generous amount in today’s market.
Business is growing, too. The company’s wireless segment had 1.06 million retail postpaid net additions in Q4 of 2021. Operating revenue totaled $34.1 billion, up 4.8% year-over-year after adjusting for the sale of Verizon Media.
Despite Verizon’s solid business and rising dividend payouts, its shares have slipped 11% over the past 12 months. With most of the market looking expensive by historical standards, Verizon could give contrarian investors something to think about.
Ellington Financial (EFC)
If Verizon’s 5% yield still isn’t juicy enough for you, check out Ellington Financial.
Headquartered in Old Greenwich, Conn., Ellington Financial has a portfolio of financial assets that provide it with a predictable income stream. It then passes those profits to shareholders through monthly dividends.
The company’s investments include residential and commercial mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities and consumers loans among others.
While Ellington isn’t a widely followed financial play, it stands out in today’s market due to the sheer size of its payout. With a monthly dividend rate of 15 cents per share and a current stock price of $17.75, the company offers a staggering annual yield of 10.1%.
In Q4 of 2021, Ellington Financial generated core earnings of $24.9 million, or 44 cents per share. Its book value per share at the end of December was $18.39.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.


text:
Currency transfer app Revolut has landed up to £6.75m in Series A funding in a round led by Balderton Capital.
Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Ribit Capital, Index Ventures, Point Nine Capital, Venrex and Seedcamp also invested in the round.
Daniel Waterhouse, general partner at Balderton Capital, said he was confident that the London-based company would exceed expectations, despite the current unpredictable environment as a result of Brexit.
“The positive feedback from consumers has been overwhelming; the speed of company and product development has been rapid; the plans for the future very exciting … We are delighted to lead another round of financing, and continue to work with an international team that are building a global business from London,” he continued.
The raise comes as the startup claims to have handled more than $500,000,000 in transactions and attracted 200,000 users since launching in July last year.
Nikolay Storonsky, the CEO, spoke about the raise. ” These have been difficult weeks for UK markets, but where there is uncertainty, there is opportunity and we look forward to continue building a ground-breaking British business.”


text:
Indore: Dairy farmers in the city again started to press for demand to increase the procurement price of milk again. They claim that the actual cost of a litre of milk between Rs 43 and Rs 45 and the MSP per litre they sell should be at least Rs 48 to Rs 50.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the members of Kisaan Sena – an organisation of dairy farmers in Indore division — alleged that MP State Co-operative Dairy Federation Limited (MPSCDFL) has not been giving them justice as far as the price of milk is concerned.
“We have been selling milk to the federation at a comparatively cheap price. The production cost of a litre of milk in Sanwer, Depalpur, Hatod, Chandrawati Ganj, Tillor, Mhow, Shipra, Rau and Semalya Chau is Rs 44, but producers get around Rs 36 to Rs 40,” said Kedar Patel, president of Kisaan Sena. He said the government has not accorded priority to the dairy sector, and isolating it will not help the region become self-reliant in milk.
Dilip Singh Pawar, president of Kisaan Shoshan Virodhi Manch – another organization of milk producers, said prices of animal feed, grass, medicine, machinery and fuel, among other inputs, have increased by more than 50 percent over the year but the price of milk has remained the same. “We have demanded that the federation increase the procurement price,” said Pawar.
He said the federation procures milk at Rs 6.20 per fat (a measurement of the quantity of fat in milk), while in states like Gujarat, the milk is purchased at Rs 6.80 per fat. “The pricing policy has discouraged milk producers in the region and many of them may abandon this work if things are not sorted out,” he said. He added thata memorandum will be submitted to the federation to demand for an increase in the procurement price.
MPSCDFL’s CEO (Indore) AN Dwivedi said, “We have not received any such demands from milk producers. There seems to be no scope of increase in procurement prices as prices of milk powder and butter in the national market hasn’t increased,” he pointed.
Source: The Times Of India


text:
Drone Delivery Canada, DSV Air and Sea launch second cargo drone route
Drone Delivery Canada has successfully launched its second cargo drone route with DSV Air and Sea Canada using the Toronto-based company’s drone delivery platform.
DDC initially captured the contract with DSV – a subsidiary of Danish conglomerate DSV Panalpina – back in June.
Last year, DDC announced the initial partnership with the European logistics/transport group to provide a drone delivery platform to the company’s new Canadian air and sea division.
The project will allow DSV to deliver payloads such as healthcare-related cargo from a DroneSpot takeoff-and-landing zone at DSV’s warehouse in Milton, Ont. to a DroneSpot at a facility approximately 2.5 miles away owned by RB, a global producer of health, hygiene and home products.
“We are excited to bring the benefits of our drone delivery solution to yet another company, RB,” DDC CEO Michael Zahra said.
“The route includes transport over Highway 401, one of the busiest highways in the world, adding a unique dimension to this project. I don’t know that any other commercial delivery drone operator has done this before. DDC’s solution is one of the most advanced in the world.”


text:
Yeah, you read that right. We are going to talk about coffee. Coffee… “Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure like an angel, and sweet like love”. What? I like coffee, OK? Sue me!
Legend has it that the origin of coffee can be traced to the day when an Abyssinian (Ethiopian) goatherd named Kaldi observed his goats uncharacteristically dancing around. Upon investigating, he found that the goats had eaten the red berries and shiny leaves of an unfamiliar tree. When he tried some himself, he became “the happiest herder in happy Arabia.” Kaldi took the fruit to some monks and that is how coffee began its journey around the world.
Coffee… “Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure like an angel, and sweet like love”
Coffee has come a long way since that day. Today, the global coffee industry is a $42.5 billion industry. Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day, equivalent to 146 billion cups of coffee per year. Coffee powers up the mornings of almost 75% of the world’s population.
However, it turns out that it has the potential to power up more than just humans.
Used coffee grounds have been turned into a cheap, renewable bio-fuel in the form of imitation wood logs and pellets that can be used in wood-burning stoves and other fuel based furnaces, according to a young London-based entrepreneur, Arthur Kay. He also claims that the coffee logs will cost half the price of wood or charcoal.
“It turns out that it has the potential to power up more than just humans. Used coffee grounds have been turned into a cheap, renewable bio-fuel”
Bio-bean, Kay’s company, collects coffee waste from a network of coffee shops, retailers, airports and coffee factories, and turns them into bio-fuel. According to their press release “The grounds are stripped of oil and packed together to form small bricks, which do not release an aroma when burnt, despite being made from used coffee”. Six tonnes of coffee grounds are needed to produce one ton of bio-diesel and Bio-bean has the capacity to make 50,000 tonnes of biomass at its Cambridge factory each year. However, the process used to make this transformation is not an easy one. Let’s break it down.
In the traditional process, coffee grounds are mixed with hexane (used for making glues for shoes and leather products among other things) and cook the mixture at 60°C for between 1-2 hours. Delicious. The hexane is then evaporated to leave behind the oils – kind of like baking cookies. Methanol (the toxic sister of alcohol) and a catalyst are then added to make a kind of bio-diesel and a wasteful by-product — which then also needs separating. Whew! That’s complicated.
Luckily, researchers at Lancaster University have found a way to significantly improve the efficiency of the process- vastly increasing bio-fuel from coffee’s commercial competitiveness! A team of smarty-pants at the university, led by Dr. Vesna Najdanovic-Visak, found they are able to combine all the processes mentioned above and eliminate the need to use hexane altogether. This resulted in zero chemical waste and by-products as well. The best part – the process now takes 10 minutes to gain the same yield of fuel from the spent coffee grounds. That’s roughly the same amount of time to make one cup of coffee for yourself!
Using coffee grounds, a waste product, instead of more traditional bio-fuel sources such as food waste presents greater ecological benefits. Surplus and leftover crop products can be used in better ways to fight the world hunger problem and leave the bio-fuel generation to actual waste materials. Like Dr. Visak states, “Anything that you use in fuel production which doesn’t compete with crops grown for food, is better.”
Some major coffee chains like Nestle and Costa are already waking up and smelling the coffee. They have started looking into mass commercialization of coffee generated bio-fuel generation and sale. Bio bean stated a forecast turnover of £7.5 million this year. Then there are the countless ecological advantages of a source of fuel that is truly renewable.
And besides, I mean, imagine a world where all of human civilization is powered by coffee – both literally and figuratively.


text:
April 30, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
The Motorola MB810 has just been certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance to include support for standard 802.11 b/g/n wireless support. That means nothing to most people, but there’s speculation that this could be the Motorola Shadow, previously nicknamed the Nexus Two as it was supposedly a Google-branded, Motorola-manufactured device that was supposed to come to Verizon.
I’m not much a believer in the “Nexus Two” name or even that this will be a device made for Google, but I’m definitely intrigued by what looks to be the next Android superphone. As a refresher, this device supposedly has 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen, QWERTY keyboarder, 8MP Camera w/ autofocus, and Android 2.2 OS. Whether unicorn or next must-have phone, this could take the Droid’s crown as best Motorola phone.


text:
Apple to release iOS 5.1 with expanded Siri language supportApple on Wednesday announced that the iOS 5.1 software update will be available today for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, including expanded support for Siri in Japanese.
iOS 5.1 is not yet available for download, but Apple promised at its iPad keynote that the software update will be available at some point today. Apple mentioned Japanese-language support for Siri, but offered little other detail on the iOS 5.1 software update.
It's expected that iOS 5.1 will update PhotoStream to allow users to delete individual photos stored in iCloud. It's also expected that a new camera slider feature will become available, making it easy for users to quickly access the camera on their iPhone.
On Topic: iPad
- Supply chain sees tablet market expansion, with Apple's iPad holding fast
- Microsoft ad says Apple's iPad Pro Smart Keyboard doesn't make it a real computer
- Apple to debut 10.5" iPad Pro in 2017, integrate flexible AMOLED tech in 2018
- Review: Logitech Create Backlit Keyboard Case for Apple's 9.7" iPad Pro
- Google updates iOS versions of Docs, Sheets & Slides with iPad multitasking


text:
Earlier Xiaomi has launched a few Wireless speakers which didn’t come with AI support. Later Xiaomi entered the smart speaker category with few AI support which didn’t have a screen. With Google launching the smart display aka Google Home Hub we have Xiaomi entering the race with its first AI-based speaker with touchscreen panel.
As per the source, recently Xiaomi alleged AI based speaker has passed through Bluetooth SIG certification which is listed as MI AI Speaker. The device has received Bluetooth 5.0 certified with A/V Remote control, A2DP, and Low Energy Link Layer protocols.
The Bluetooth SIG also reveals that the alleged Mi AI speaker is powered by MediaTek MT8167S chipset clocked at 1.5 GHz and comes with model number LX04. Apart from this, nothing much about the device is leaked.


text:
We are thrilled to announce that Vitamin Well, the famous Swedish sports drink company, chose TouchingLight, a patented technology by Swedbrand Innovations, to boost the launch of its new flavor – Hallon (Raspberry).
TouchingLight is a shelf display that lights up when customers either touch or select a product from the shelf. Even when customers interact with a competing brand on the shelf, the display lights up, catching their attention!
From now on you will be able to find Swedbrand’s patented innovation in stores that sell Vitamin Well across Sweden.
Vitamin Well is a modern, healthier and tasty alternative to sodas and sugary juices, founded back in 2008 in Sweden. The founders were looking for a beverage that was tasty, nutritious enough and contained less sugar than normal drinks, but they couldn’t find any. That’s why they decided to create one.
Today, eight years and several international market introductions later, the success of the vitamin drink is a fact. But it doesn’t end here. Vitamin Well is always striving to make even better, smarter and tastier thirst quenchers.
Since December 2014, Zlatan Ibrahimović, the world famous football player, is the ambassador for the Swedish beverage. Now, he even launched his own vitamin beverage, Vitamin Well Upgrade, with a fresh taste of lemon and cactus.
Watch here the video of TouchingLight in action!
Read more about Touching Light and its new features at http://www.touchinglight.com and don’t hesitate to contact us for any enquiries you might have!


text:
Atrix HD | Motorola
AT&T Black Friday 2012 deals
Motorola figures out solution to bootloader unlock mess, starting with Photon Q on Sprint
Motorola has announced it has "finally found a solution" that will let users unlock the bootloader of their Android device while simultaneously addressing carrier concerns about network security.
Motorola Atrix HD review
AT&T's take on the Droid RAZR quietly impresses
Images surface of Motorola's XT907 for Verizon — a budget RAZR for back to school?
images are surfacing of a Motorola LTE handset for Verizon bearing the number XT907. The phone features Motorola's familiar Kevlar back and an HD video camera.
Motorola confirms the Atrix HD will not support Lapdock accessory or WebTop environment
Motorola's new Atrix HD will not support the Lapdock accessories or the WebTop environment that past Atrix models have featured as a major selling point.
Motorola confirms locked bootloader for Atrix HD on AT&T
Motorola has confirmed that the just-announced Atrix HD on AT&T will feature a locked bootloader.
Motorola announces Atrix HD for AT&T: 4.5-inch 720p display, LTE, Android 4.0 for $99
Motorola officially announced the Atrix HD this morning, bringing the new handset to AT&T's LTE network.
Motorola Atrix HD pictures, features, and specs
Motorola just spilled the beans on the Atrix HD, an 4.5-inch LTE smartphone with Android 4.0 for AT&T.
Motorola Atrix HD for AT&T appears: 8.4mm thick with 4.5-inch 720p screen, Kevlar back
Motorola has posted a full page on the Atrix HD, the third-generation Atrix device that we first revealed last month as the "Dinara." It features a 4.5-inch 720p screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8BGB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera, and Android 4.0.
Motorola Dinara (Atrix 3?) for AT&T leaks out
The Verge has received a photo of what might be AT&T's next Motorola smartphone, the Dinara, which could come to market as the Atrix 3.


text:
The YouTube star unveiled a Pokemon-style game that lets players collect cryptocurrencies in the real world.
Pewdiepie, the world-famous gamer, and YouTube sensation, is promoting a novel, Pokemon-style game called Wallem,
and selling his own “PewDiePie skin” as a non-fungible token (NFT).The Wallem AR blockchain game is not the first
time the famous Youtuber Pewdiepie has endorsed distributed ledger technology. In February 2018, Pewdiepie
fun at Youtubers who shilled the Bitconnect crypto Ponzi. Then in April 2019, Pewdiepie joined the live streaming
platform Dlive, an alternative to video platform Twitch.
Wallem is an augmented reality (AR) video game for iOS and Android users. The AR is integrated with the real world
similar to the well known AR game Pokémon. In addition to the AR and 3D world, Wallem leverages the Ethereum
blockchain for a native game currency called pteria (PTE) and NFT-powered skins and items.
The game’s inventor, Andrea Bempensante, said that a future version of the game will allow players to steal tokens
from each other. An “open wallet” will display the value of tokens captured by players, who must then protect their
stash with special items or by moving away and turning off the application.
PewDiePie is no stranger to blockchain-based applications. Last year, he partnered with decentralized video streaming
platform DLive, only to leave it for his home turf YouTube. But he hasn’t abandoned crypto.


text:
New Research Shows 83% of U.S. Companies Anticipate a Potential Data Breach — Yet Two-Thirds Are Under-Prepared.
New York: Ensighten, data privacy and omnichannel data management company, today announced the release of its inaugural U.S. survey on Marketing Data Security. On the backdrop of GDPR and with the CCPA deadline fast approaching, the Spring 2019 survey, the first of its kind in the U.S. market, and accompanying white paper, “The Alarming Data Security Vulnerabilities Within Today’s Enterprises,” examines self-reported preparedness levels, knowledge of threat types and vulnerabilities. The research identifies organizations’ current and future plans, including investment around prevention of data breach and leakage.
IDENTITY RESOLUTION FOR WINNING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE- A GUIDE FOR ENTERPRISE MARKETERS
Identity Resolution is central to customer data management in the omni-channel world. Enterprise marketers would be unable to create winning CX without it. But customer data itself is both- a challenge and an opportunity.
Among numerous findings, the research shows that 83% of respondent companies, many with a global presence, suspect they are at risk of breaches, but two-thirds of them have not yet put proper protective measures in place. EMI Research Solutions conducted the survey for Ensighten.
Marketing News: Apollo.io Appoints Jim Benton as CEO
“In our survey of U.S. companies and global enterprises, we set out to better understand exactly where these executives stand regarding real-time control and management of enterprise and customer data on their websites and other digital properties,” said Ensighten Chief Revenue Officer Ian Woolley. “After all, a company’s website is more than a branding vehicle, more than a marketing piece. It is a data supported sales and marketing hub, a core business asset that needs to be protected. So, while our survey certainly showed a relatively high level of awareness—due to the uptick in breach-related headlines over recent years—we were startled by the lack of specific knowledge on threat types and corporate readiness in general.”
“The Alarming Data Security Vulnerabilities Within Today’s Enterprises” uncovers a state of transition and unrest when it comes to Marketing Security inside U.S. companies. Surveyed executives—all decision makers on data security, across Marketing, Security and IT—universally professed a high level of awareness and even alert on client-side website security vulnerabilities, yet they also confirmed that their organizations are not taking proactive measures and are effectively under-invested in protection.
Marketing News: BuzzFeed Appoints Shari Cleary as Senior vice President of Research & Insights
- Alert but Inactive. Executives are on alert and “deeply concerned” over recent headlines about high-profile breaches and the security of the customer data on their websites—but they are not yet doing much about it. Just over 33% of executives say they’ve fully implemented policies related to client-side website security of customer data.
- Compliance Challenged. Executives are turning their attention to CCPA compliance, but they’re concerned about the lack of information available on what’s required to achieve compliance. They also relay a self-awareness on their own lack of internal expertise, budget, and executive focus and concern.
- Rightfully Concerned. There is a rising level of awareness regarding data vulnerabilities, as most executives (83%) believe their companies could be at risk of a client-side website security breach. Given the many marketing functionalities operating on their websites (registration, log-ins, chat, payment processing, social utility and more), that perception of risk is very real.
- Underinvested, Overexposed. Many executives say they’re planning to spend “more” on client-side website security, but current spend levels pale in comparison to the devastating effects of even a single breach, let alone a string of them. According to a 2018 IBM study, the average cost of a data breach today runs at $3.86 million. Yet, annual investments toward actually preventing data breach and leakage are less than $500,000 at the vast majority (79%) of companies.
- Incapable of Detection, Prevention. Although executives recognize the vulnerabilities that third-party technologies can introduce to their sites, many are addressing the threat with regularly scheduled audits, which are a poor use of time and do not represent concrete, preventive measures. A full 57% of companies cannot identify leakage of sensitive data from the browser, and 47% cannot prevent leakage of sensitive data from the browser.


text:
Stillwater, Minn. (May 1, 2023) -- Known throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin for only serving authentic German fare, the beloved Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter is expected to reopen its 240 person capacity dining and banquet halls to the public this month sometime after Mothers’ Day.
Founded by Bavarian native Karl Schoene and his wife Elizabeth in 1966, their German-born son Carl Jr. grew up in the business and became heavily involved in its operations after his mother’s passing in 1971. Carl Jr. later took over the business in 1986 upon marrying his wife Kim (Wlaschin). After the passing of Karl in 1998 and Carl Jr. in 2003, Kim continued the Gasthaus’ traditions and festivities, including Waldfest, Oktoberfest, and Christkindlmarket. She later remarried Dan Quade in 2005 and the two operated the Gasthaus until their decision to retire in 2021 closed its doors.
Surviving great tragedies, the Gasthaus has been more of a community venture than a business. After fires and a tornado razed the site causing reconstruction, the community donated memorabilia, mugs, and other décor to bring back the warm and homey feeling that is the Gasthaus. Adult customers who first visited with their school’s German classes made the trek from Duluth and Mankato to visit. And, patrons even came to commune with the goats and chickens living on the property. Bicyclists, too, stopped at the Gasthaus for a Hefe (an unfiltered beer) while out riding on the trails.
Enter the Hammer-Schlagen® nail driving game that Carl Jr. started in his youth: local visitors to the Gasthaus would often try their hand at it. The restaurant’s presentation of Carl Jr.’s game at festivities held on its grounds popularized the game across Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the late-1980’s, Kim’s father Mike Wlaschin took over the game, and he eventually formed a corporation in 1999 which introduced Hammer-Schlagen® to the nation. Upon his retirement in 2014, his business partner Jimmy Martin took over the brand. Today, Hammer-Schlagen® is known across the world with European media outlets (like London’s SquareMeal) citing Carl Jr. as its creator nodding to its origins at the Gasthaus.
“From the schnitzels and potato salad recipes brought from the old country by Elizabeth to the beer and wine once imported from Bavaria by Karl,” says Martin, “I intend for the Gasthaus to operate the same as it always has been. The traditional Bavarian hospitality, authentic cuisine, and old-world customs that Minnesotans and Wisconsinites have come to cherish and love has been preserved all these years by Kim and Dan. It’s an honor to be chosen by them as the next steward of these traditions.” Says Kim Quade, “And, it’s great to see Hammer-Schlagen® and the Gasthaus operating under a single owner again after being separated for over a quarter of a century!”
# # #


text:
A-B kicks off beer giveaway as US nears vaccination goal
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Anheuser-Busch is preparing to open its taps as the U.S. inches closer to a vaccine milestone.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Budweiser brewer promised last month that once 70% of American adults are at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, it would buy a beer for anyone 21 or older. The U.S. isn’t yet there; 66.7% of adults had gotten at least one shot as of Friday.
But the company went ahead anyway and cracked open its online redemption portal at 11 a.m. Friday for the July 4 weekend.
Consumers will be able to upload a picture of themselves in their favorite beer-drinking location and get a $5 voucher for beer, seltzer, non-alcoholic beverage or other A-B product through 11 a.m. Monday.
The promotion is just the latest effort to encourage people to get vaccinated and get customers back to the bar.
In April, the Belgian brewer, which maintains its North American headquarters in St. Louis, produced an ad directing people to vaccine resources and offered 10,000 free drinks to adults 21 and older who showed proof of vaccination.


text:
The South African events industry is a thriving one, with a host of events and exhibitions happening each month at exhibition venues and conference halls across the country – with each major city centre boasting showgrounds of international quality. To stand out in this cluttered terrain does require excellence – both in terms of vision and execution, and an ongoing commitment to both.
It is for this reason that Decorex Africa, its national events and exhibitors, excelled at the recent AAXO Roar Awards. Held on the evening of Friday 31 January 2020, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, this year’s event gathered 300 industry practitioners and guests under one roof, all dressed according to the James Bond-inspired theme: “Licence to Win”!
The annual awards are administered by the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) and are hosted together with EXSA under the Exhibition Industry Alliance (EIA) banner. ROAR is an acronym for Respect, Opportunities, Achievements and Recognition, and, according to AAXO, the “awards are aimed at acknowledging and recognising excellence in exhibition organisation.”
Entries were judged on their successful exhibition strategy incorporating marketing, public relations, operations and activation. Decorex Africa and its associated exhibitors were recognised a total of eight times at the awards, including winning Best Overall Stand. SmartBuild, a Division of Reed Exhibitions (the organisers of Decorex Africa), won the Best Stand Overall for the Caeserstone stand built at Decorex Joburg, after having garnered this accolade in 2019.
For Decorex Cape Town:
- Decorex Cape Town received a Distinction in Marketing
- Franke received an exhibitor distinction for their stand at Decorex Cape Town
For Decorex Joburg:
- Decorex Joburg received a Distinction in Marketing
- Decorex Joburg won best overall Trade & Consumer show over 12 000 sqm
- Xperience Luxury received an exhibitor distinction for their stand at Decorex Joburg
- Task Interiors received exhibitor distinction for their stand at Decorex Joburg
For 100% Design South Africa, also part of the Decorex Africa portfolio:
In addition to the seven accolades received for the Decorex shows, the Decorex Africa portfolio also received a Distinction in Social Media for 100% Design South Africa, the country’s leading product design showcase.
Spearheading Decorex Africa at Reed Exhibitions SA is Sian Cullingworth, Portfolio Director of the lifestyle, design and retail exhibitions. Cullingworth has, in a few short years, grown the portfolio’s offering and proved a force in the events industry. With her extensive experience in marketing, communications strategy and business development, she guides the direction of the show, continually elevating the offering year on year. In addition, she enjoys coming up with fresh ideas and working closely with Creative Director, Anita Bloom, to brainstorm how they will bring the event to life.
“Naturally we’re thrilled to be recognised in this way and we’d like to thank AAXO as well as congratulate our fellow industry winners. We put maximum effort into realising our vision for Decorex Africa and ensuring that our exhibitors, trade visitors and members of the public enjoy a superlative experience with us, whether they’re looking for a commercial opportunity, pure inspiration or practical solutions. We look forward to welcoming everyone back again for our 2020 shows. Decorex kicks off in Durban, running from 19-22 March 2020, then moves to Cape Town from 30 April to 3 May 2020 and runs in Johannesburg from 6-10 August 2020. 100% Design South Africa is co-located with Decorex Joburg. We have upped the ante for 2020, so come expecting to be impressed!”
For more information about Decorex:
Follow Decorex on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decorexafrica/ – @decorexafrica
Twitter: https://twitter.com/decorexSA – @decorexSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decorexafrica/ – @decorexafrica
For more information about 100% Design South Africa:
Please visit www.100percentdesign.co.za.


text:
Whole Foods allegedly suspended two workers at one of its New Mexico locations for speaking Spanish to each other while on the job.
Bryan Baldizan said he and a female employee were suspended for a day after their manager told them Spanish was not allowed during work hours.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Baldizan said. “All we did was say we didn’t believe the policy was fair. We only talk Spanish to each other about personal stuff, not work.”
Ben Friedland, who is the Whole Foods Market Rocky Mountain Region executive marketing coordinator, said the company believes in “having a uniform form of communication” to promote a safe working environment, NBC Latino reported.
“Therefore, our policy states that all English speaking team members must speak English to customers and other team members while on the clock,” Friedland said. “Team members are free to speak any language they would like during their breaks, meal periods and before and after work.”
Advocacy group, ProgressNow New Mexico, said it is organizing a boycott of Whole Foods. An online petition circulated by the group on Thursday collected more than 500 signatures of people who say they will not shop at Whole Foods until it changes its language policy.
"We want Whole Foods to rescind its English-only policy," said Pat Davis, executive director of ProgressNow New Mexico. "We don't think it's appropriate in a state as diverse as New Mexico."
According to Whole Foods spokesperson Libba Letton, the employees were suspended for "rude and disrespectful behavior," and the disciplinary measure had nothing to do with what language they were speaking.
"Due to their rude and disrespectful behavior both in an office and in the store in front of customers, they were suspended with pay," Letton said of the employees. "Their suspension was due to their behavior alone."


text:
eBay to prohibit alcohol, tobacco sales
Six months after closing down firearm sales on its site, online auction leader eBay announced it will soon forbid sales of alcohol and tobacco products as well.
The company posted the new policy on its announcement board this afternoon. A month from now it will begin the prohibition.
But unlike the uproar that surrounded the company's decision on firearms and a more recent policy retreat on so-called reserve auctions, today's announcement seems to leave most eBay users feeling indifferent. A few posted messages on eBay's "Discuss New Features" message board, inquiring of what other users thought. The eBay message boards on AuctionWatch seemed quiet as well, with only 5 messages posted on the subject.
The move seems to be part of eBay's maturation. As it becomes less of an Internet start-up and move of a established business, the San Jose, California, company has been implementing systems and policies to keep it from running afoul of the law, if not community standards.
eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove said the company had been considering the action for several months and made its decision because of the complications involved in interstate sales of tobacco and alcohol. What might be a legal sale in one state could be illegal in another, Pursglove said; and eBay users could commit a felony without realizing it.
"As a general rule, these laws are just so complex and contradictory, that we just decided that in the best interest of our users to prevent that situation from ever occurring," he said.
Pursglove said he was not aware of any tobacco or alcohol sale on eBay that had prompted a response from authorities.
He also said that alcohol and tobacco sales make up a small percentage of eBay's gross merchandise sales, but declined to state the percentage.
Andrea Williams, a research analyst at E*Offering, said that in eBay's calculations, the potential risks of continuing to have alcohol and tobacco products for sale on its site probably outweighed any possible benefits of keeping or regulating the sales. If a child were to buy alcohol or tobacco through the site, the company would suffer a "public relations disaster," Williams said.
"It was probably easier to ban it," she said.
Despite the new restrictions, eBay still permits sales on other controversial items, such as pornography. Although Pursglove said the laws are clearer on pornography, Williams said she was surprised that the company still allowed sales of such material. As Internet companies like eBay mature, they have become more their offline counterparts, she said.
"The loosey-goosey days of the first couple of years give way to companies that have to be run like businesses," Williams said. "That means fewer freedoms and more rules and regulations."
One eBay user spoke out against the policy, accusing the company of trying to control classes of auctions while masquerading as a "venue" where users can freely buy and sell.
"It's amazing how eBay constantly preaches 'only a venue' and then bans a class of items because they can't 'control' the sales of it," wrote "Johnpauljones" in a post to AuctionWatch. "They are talking out of both sides of their mouths again. ...It brings them closer and closer to a lawsuit."
But while eBay users have responded tepidly thus far, it comes at a time when the company seems to be walking on thin ice with many customers. Furious over the auction site's repeated outages as well as previous policy innovations, many eBay users have taken to skewering the company both on the company's own message boards and on outside boards like those at AuctionWatch.
Last month, for example, eBay modified an announced policy on reserve auctions after protests from users. Reserve auctions are a type of auction format in which sellers refuse to sell an item unless bidding on it reaches a pre-set or reserve price.
Many users have also moved some or all of their listings to other Internet auction sites like those on Yahoo and Amazon. However, neither Amazon nor Yahoo has been able to match eBay's number and breadth of listings.


text:
In case you missed it, we’re spending a few weeks this summer showcasing the book stock at Warrington’s libraries – and picking a few of our favourite genres and perhaps inspiring you to try something different from your usual read!
We’re calling this little campaign SummerStock 2019 and over the next 6 week’s we will be posting videos, photos, polls and general discussion points on this website and our social media channels.
We’d love YOU to get involved by commenting and sharing what sort of books YOU like to read – and what sort of books you would like to see on library shelves.
Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and community, Cllr Tony Higgins, said: “We want to make our libraries inclusive, creative and inspirational for all. High quality books is a hugely important part of that, which is why we’re investing so heavily in our stock.
“We’ve talked to local people about the types of books they’d like to see, and this has helped us stack our library shelves with a range of diverse titles, aimed at keeping people of all ages, abilities and interests, coming back again and again.
“Reading is one of the best things you can do. For adults, it can promote wellbeing, provide mental stimulation and reduce stress. For children, it can improve vocabulary, broaden horizons and boost imaginations. There’s never been a better time to get into reading in Warrington. So why not get down to your local library, and see what you can discover?”
After ‘going green’ last week, this week things are hotting up! You may not know but our libraries follow Heat Magazine’s ‘Recommended Reads’ promotion. Here,Sarah from our BIBS team (that department that catalogues all the books when they arrive at our libraries) tells all!
Sarah said: “I read Heat Magazine ever week, and every week they do reviews of current books by new authors. And we thought it was a good idea to invest in this stock and get it out to our customers.
“People come into the library over the summer looking for a good book to read and I like this promotion because it’s all sorts of genres – there’s thrillers, general, historical – there’s something for everyone to read and they are all brand new, current books.
“The latest one I’ve read is The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary, about how two people meet and fall in love – it’s a really good read!.
“We’ve invested in this stock and we really you hope you like it! And we’d love to hear on social media what you think about the books!”
So there you have it! Summer is coming to end as is SummerStock! We hope you’ve found this look into our libraries incredible range of books that is there for readers to enjoy. See you soon at the library! 🙂


text:
- The country must adapt to the fast pace of global trade, in a manner that will bring the greatest level of prosperity.
- Tariffs are almost a trading measure of the past.
- Investment drivers vary according to industry, a proper understanding of industry supply chains is critical in designing public policy.
Former Executive Director, International Trade Centre, Patricia Francis, says opportunities to be presented by the Logistics Hub initiative are “real”, so the country must adapt to the fast pace of global trade, in a manner that will bring the greatest level of prosperity.
“This can only happen if the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, act in tandem,” she suggested.
Ms. Francis was speaking at the opening session of the two-day Jamaica Chamber of Commerce/JAMPRO Jamaica logistics hub symposium, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, in downtown Kingston, on January 21.
Turning to how the new World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on trade facilitation will impact the policy environment, she noted that tariffs are almost a trading measure of the past.
The former Executive Director argued that the modern way of doing business involves: market access, efficient board administration, modern transport and telecommunications infrastructure, and competitive business environment.
“Those are the critical things that are actually going to add more to your cost than tariffs,” she added.
Ms. Francis pointed out that because investment drivers vary according to industry, a proper understanding of industry supply chains is critical in designing public policy.
“Governments must therefore address trade barriers in a structured and coherent manner. They need to understand their comparative advantage, decide where they want to go, and develop a strategic strategy to remove the relevant barriers that are in place,” she explained.
On the other hand, Ms. Francis said companies must learn to better assess supply chain risks, by taking into account all the possible associated costs.
Some of the topics discussed at the symposium included: integrating Jamaica into global value and supply chains; building out the physical infrastructure; scenarios for the future of the logistics industry; the Jamaica logistics hub and the Jamaican growth agenda; manpower planning; economic zone analysis; and the impact of the Panama Canal project on business networks and commerce.
The Jamaica Logistics Hub is a core plank in the Government’s economic growth strategy. It is aimed at driving investment and creating sustainable employment over the long term.
The country is being positioned to capitalize on its prime location for increased maritime and aviation traffic through the region, with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in 2015.