text:
With the socio-economic digital transformation to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) moving at a brisk pace, the emerging technologies of the era are sure to affect all business sectors and social groups.
To keep up pace with the technological advancement and thrive, all businesspeople, in particular women, need to broaden their financial knowledge and digital know-how, a senior official urged.
Chhun Hak – director-general of Gender Equality and Economic Development at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs – made the call as his ministry organised a "Financial and Digital Knowledge" training course with 75 women participants from four target provinces including Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng and Kratie.
The training course was conducted in collaboration with the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), with corporate sponsorship provided by US-based financial services corporation Visa (Cambodia).
"One of the main tasks for all of us is to adapt and accept that change is coming and take advantage of digital technology in order for all of us to be actively involved in socio-economic development, as well as to participate in a better and more sustainable digital society.
"This requires everyone, especially young women entrepreneurs, to strongly develop themselves into new digital and modern citizens so as to catch up with the new era and expanding opportunities and potential and contribute to the rehabilitation of socio-economic development in line with the context of Industry 4.0," he said.
Industry 4.0 refers to the rapid changes to society now underway due to networking and information technologies, as well as smart automation, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) computing that utilises algorithms to analyse massive quantities of data, which is already resulting in unanticipated advances in many scientific and technical fields.
Ivana Tranchini, country manager for Visa Cambodia, said financial and digital literacy is an important driving force in sustaining the national and household economies, noting that the current level of financial and digital understanding possessed by women in the Kingdom is insufficient for the challenges they face.
“Through this training, we will be able to meet the practical needs of female entrepreneurs with basic financial and digital literacy and practical skills programmes that could give them lifelong benefits in this constantly developing situation,” she said.
According to a 2021 report by the Cambodia Women Enterpreneurs Association (CWEA), 61 per cent of all businesses across Cambodia were women-owned. Among those ventures, 62 per cent are microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees, 26 per cent are small enterprises with 10 to 49 staffers and 12 per cent are medium-sized enterprises with 50 to 249 people.
Most women-owned businesses are related to wholesale and retail services, accommodations and food service via restaurants, with some manufacturing and other services, and those sectors account for 97 per cent of women's businesses in total.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance is preparing policies for the digital economy, but according to finance minister Aun Pornmoniroth, it will take another decade of development for Cambodia to make the economy fully digital and modern.


text:
Secret Ponchos, a spaghetti western multiplayer combat game by Switchblade Monkeys was initially planned to be launched on PS4 but will also be coming to PC later this year.
The developers at Switchblade Monkey are gearing up for a beta launch of Secret Ponchos which scheduled to launch this summer.
“Since we first previewed the game at PAX East there has been an overwhelming amount of demand to bring the game to PC in addition to PS4, and we always promised we would do our best,” said Yousuf Mapara, creative director at Switchblade Monkeys in a press release. “We realized Early Access would be the perfect program for this; it creates an environment where we can self-fund development of the PC version to make it a reality, in addition to exposing all versions of the game to a broader round of polish and tuning that you can only get when developing with an actual beta community of players.”
Are you guys looking forward for the beta version of Secret Ponchos? Tell us in the comment section below.

domain: news


text:
Macau, China – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
Esteemed cognac house Hennessy recently launched its limited-edition XO Mathusalem designed by Arik Levy at a lavish weekend at the Banyan Tree Macau. The event for 100 VIPs included a private jetfoil from Hong Kong, a decadent multicourse dinner created by Banyan Tree Macau Executive Chef Matías Martínez and an after-party in the exclusive China Rouge club at Galaxy Macau. The event also celebrated the launch of the Musée d’Hennessy at Galaxy Macau. Limited to just 100 pieces, the bottle retails for US$45,000. Celebrity guests included Roger Lau and Candy Lo, Sheila Chin, Alex Law, Mabel Cheung, Olivia Lee-Davies, Sean Lee Davies, Ankie Beilke, Almen Wong Blair and Qinnie Chan.


text:
Apple’s Climate Message Receives Critiques
In an era where tech giants are leaning towards sustainability, Apple recently enlisted the help of none other than Academy Award-winning actress, Octavia Spencer to narrate a climate-related short film. However, instead of applause, Apple found itself at the receiving end of a harsh backlash accusing it of ‘greenwashing’.
Octavia Spencer Takes on Mother Nature’s Role
It was undeniably a creative approach. In the short film, Apple cast Octavia Spencer, who is known for her roles in critically acclaimed movies like ‘Hidden Figures’, as a representation of Mother Nature. The narrative involved Spencer scrutinizing Apple’s environmental efforts and providing commentary on the company’s green initiatives. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, also featured in the film, getting a few scoldings from ‘Mother Nature’ about the company’s environmental impact.
The Term That Dominated the Discussion: ‘Greenwashing’
The visceral reaction that followed could be encapsulated in one word: greenwashing. Greenwashing is a term used when a company or organization spends more time and money on marketing themselves as environmentally friendly than on minimizing their environmental impact. It’s a form of spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization’s products, aims, and policies are environmentally friendly when they are not.
Accusations and Reactions
Detractors are pointing out that while Apple’s efforts to cut carbon emissions are commendable in theory, they argue that in practice, it does not do enough to mitigate the negative impacts of its business operations globally. There are claims that the company’s manufacturing processes and the life cycle of its products have serious environmental implications that are not being adequately addressed, hence, the ‘greenwashing’ accusation.
Why The Spotlight on Apple?
As one of the biggest tech companies globally, Apple’s actions are closely monitored and scrutinized. The brand’s status in society comes with the added expectation that it will leverage its resources and influence to drive positive changes in sectors like the environment. That’s why it’s being put under the lens for making claims about its environmental commitments.
It’s clear that Apple’s attempt to use film as a medium to convey their environmental efforts wasn’t received as expected. Moving forward, the company will likely need to provide more evidence of its green initiatives, beyond what’s forecasted or planned, in order to back up its claims and quiet the critics.
No matter the opinions and discussions sparked, one can’t deny that this event certainly stirred an important conversation about greenwashing and the real measures companies need to take in order to be truly environmentally-friendly.


text:
Visa begins drive-in sponsorship promotion with TIFF
By Adnews Staff
Credit card company Visa has begun a sponsorship promotion with the Toronto International Film Festival called the “Visa Skyline Drive-In.” The initiative will take place at the CityView drive-in theatre in downtown Toronto, allowing consumers to view films from the festival while maintaining social distancing guidelines. In addition, Visa will use the events to promote local small businesses on-site and in its marketing, as well as food and beverages from local providers of candy, baked goods and other items to be consumed during the films. The Toronto International Film Festival will take place from Sept. 10 to 19.


text:
The Quest represented the majority of Oculus’ hardware sales in 1621855, according to SuperData; its , units sold surpassed sales of the Oculus Rift and Oculus Go, combined (despite the fact that the Quest did not launch until May). At this rate, the number of Quest units could easily surpass the total number of Rift units on the market by the end of 01575879. Add in the fact that the Quest
can now also be hooked up to a PC for tethered gaming , and we wouldn’t be surprised if the wireless unit becomes Oculus’ main focus going forward.
Despite all the relative sales jockeying among competing headsets, overall sales for the entire category remain too small for the market to be anything but a small niche for the time being. Only PlayStation VR — which recently passed the 5 million sales mark and has outsold all other VR headsets combined — makes anything approaching a dent on the wider gaming market. And the size of that dent is roughly comparable to failed accessories like the Sega CD , proportionally.
Half-Life: Alyx will help push VR sales out of the doldrums in the future. For now, though, the entire segment is still waiting for a breakout moment where it catches on with a critical mass of consumers. (Read More)


text:
Milford board approves 1st brewery with pub, outdoor patio
Milford's Planning and Zoning Board voted Tuesday night in favor of a special permit needed to allow a craft brewery proposal to fully move forward.
It will be the first brewery in Milford and is proposed for 100 Raton Drive, an old industrial site. The area is zoned to allow beer production, but Tribus Beer Company needed an exception permit
to build a pub and patio.
Supporters of the project include Milford native and beer enthusiast Brett Broesder, who started a petition in favor of it. More than 500 people have signed the petition. Broesder says Connecticut is in the middle of a craft beer boom resulting in a nearly $569 million economic impact.
Several neighbors have concerns about the pub and patio. They say they're worried about drunken drivers, added traffic on nearby residential roads and noise.
A traffic study estimates the project would not have a significant impact, with an additional 37 cars during the peak evening traffic hour. Tribus says there are no plans for outdoor music or entertainment.
The company says it hopes to start serving beer in about a month.


text:
After the success of Microsoft’s Surface Book, there is a lot of expectation for the company to release a new device for the line.
It was reported that Microsoft is gearing up for the Microsoft Surface Book 2, which is expected to launch next month. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is said to boast the similar design features as the previously released model. It will include the 13.5-inch display that was used in the first Surface Book.
However, the new device will provide improved graphics that will allow for a resolution up to 4K pixels, instead of the 3000 x 2000 pixels resolution. In addition, the new installment will provide a USB-C port which will enable an improve transfer speed. It will also allow the device to be hooked up to a secondary display.
According to some reports, Microsoft is working hard to address the issues presented by the first model. One of the complaints stated is regarding the device’s fulcrum high, which leaves a gap when closed. There is a lot of expectation for the device to improve that design aspect when the next model released.
In addition, many users also complained about the device’s battery life. It was suggested that the Skylake processor used by the Surface Book was the reason for the lackluster battery life of the device. With that, Microsoft is expected to use the Intel i5 and i7 processors in order to address the issue.
Meanwhile, there are also expectations for the device to be priced at a lower cost since many complained about its high price tag. The most affordable variant of the Microsoft Surface Book was priced at $1499 USD while the variant with a larger storage reached around $3199.
However, Microsoft has yet to release any details regarding the price and release date of the upcoming device. There are speculations that it will launch sometime next month.


text:
Consumers are gaining trust in businesses around the world above nonprofits, government and media, according to this year’s Edelman Trust Barometer.
The news puts a new spotlight on how CEOs continue to feel pressure to take the lead on a range of societal issues.
“The increased level of trust in business brings with it higher-than-ever expectations of CEOs to be a leading voice on societal issues,” Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, said in a press release, noting on topics including climate change, economic inequality and workforce reskilling.
PR giant Edelman, which surveyed 32,000 adults in more than two dozen countries, argued that societal leadership is now a core function of business. But the survey results also raised questions like how much responsibility corporations should really take on, how they should work alongside the government, what deeper conversations need to take place, and how to avoid greenwashing.
“It’s a double edged sword that CEOs face,” said Jonathan Anastas, board chairman of Alpha Metaverse Technologies Inc. “There is an opportunity for business leaders to leverage this trust to create better brand love and company loyalty by becoming public activists with their dollars, investments and choices in the things their customers like. However, there is a risk in this where businesses can get sucked into the polarization cycle, which can damage a view of trust.”
Do we get back to the days of staying quiet and selling things? That’s not what experts are suggesting.
Instead, Alison Taylor, clinical professor at NYU Stern School of Business who researches business ethics, says there needs to be a more serious discussion about what businesses are expected to do in terms of social responsibility and what the government needs to do in terms of laws and policies for change to really happen.
“It’s not enough to say we have a lot of societal problems and people don’t trust the government anymore so therefore businesses need to solve those problems,” said Taylor. “We need to have a more serious discussion about what is a policy responsibility and what is the responsibility of business and where that line should sit. We’re not having that conversation.”
Edelman does suggest a path forward that includes businesses collaborating with the government to “deliver results that push us towards a more just, secure, and thriving society,” according to the report. More than 40% in the survey believe governments and companies must work together to solve social issues, with the onus on the most trusted institution — business — to bring people together. Anastas said that there isn’t just one path for every company or CEO to do this.
“CEOs need to follow their own moral compass, but that moral compass needs to be informed by what their customers believe if they want to make that moral compass public,” said Anastas.
It’s true that not every corporation will always have their morals and ethics in line when it comes to social responsibility. Many companies talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. Greenwashing, a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization’s products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly, is something consumers need to be aware of.
“Companies might tell stories that people want to hear and maybe exaggerate their commitments,” said Taylor. “I would rather see CEOs think very seriously about what kind of environmental and social challenges they can and cannot solve. Rather than promising they can solve all of society’s challenges, maybe focus on things that are really important to their business.”
Leaders might do that by considering time off to vote or for civic engagement, which would in turn encourage corporations and government to work together rather than having people trust one more significantly than the other.
Meanwhile, others are asking if we should even trust the survey itself.
“There is a very obvious agenda for a PR firm like Edelman to try and send these messages to businesses because there is a lot of work and money in helping businesses with PR strategies making them look like they are responsible today,” said Taylor.
Adam Stoverink, director of Walton MBA programs at the University of Arkansas, argued otherwise, largely due to the fact that businesses haven’t always been on the top of the trust scale until recent years. The online survey is now in its 23rd year, which Stoverink also says helps its credibility.
With businesses gaining more trust than the government for another year, there comes more responsibility.
“Throughout history, businesses have had a psychological contract with society, where society gives them critical human resources that are educated, trained and talented, and society expects them to return the favor by investing in the community and doing things that make societies better,” said Stoverink. “Business leaders need to recognize they have the power to make real positive changes.”


text:
Snapcommerce, a digital brand that has raised over $100 million in funding, has rebranded to Super, acquiring the Super.com domain name en route. The company has now officially launched its rebrand.
The Super.com domain may be familiar to regular JamesNames.com readers who may have read about a company’s rebrand from Super.com to SuperGG.com in August 2022.
Snapcommerce, founded in 2016, aims to personalize the mobile shopping experience and deliver the “best promotional prices” for its users. The company initially focused purely on the travel industry, originally naming itself Snaptravel before broadening its reach and rebranding to Snapcommerce.
Now, the company has secured Super.com and switched to the succinct brand name, Super.
This week, I spoke with CEO Hussein Fazal to get an insight into why the company rebranded. According to Fazal, the expansion into fintech drove the rebrand, “The driving force was ultimately our expansion into fintech, with the launch of SuperCash. Snaptravel is a powerhouse travel brand, but we needed to bring all of our products under one umbrella and choose a name that could scale with each and every expansion now and to come.”
“Snapcommerce encompassed two hero products: Snaptravel and Snapshop (formerly Daily Steals, a company we acquired). However, as we expand into fintech and grow as a company, we needed a name that could grow with us and Super fit the bill.”
The brand is using Super and Super.com as a versatile base to provide consumer savings across multiple industries, but why did the company invest in Super.com? According to Fazal, “We kind of joked that Target would never be Target if their domain was ‘shoptarget.com.’ So when you put it in perspective, this domain name is a signal, investment, and marketing strategy that sets us up for success.”
While Fazal couldn’t disclose the price paid for Super.com, which previously traded for $1.2 million in 2018, he said, “We knew having our domain name match our brand name was paramount. The cost was an investment in building a strong brand to reach and help people for years to come.”
Fazal also shared that Name Ninja helped the company acquire Super.com.


text:
A 25% increase in advertising revenue at mainland Chinese business magazine Caijing helped to fuel a big gain in first-half profit at SEEC Media Group amid cooling economic growth in the country.
Overall revenue at Hong Kong-listed SEEC Media increased by 12% in the first six months of 2012 from a year earlier to HK$231 million, helping net profit to rise by 35% to HK$19.1 million, or $2.5 million, the company said in an announcement on Friday. Besides Caijing, SEEC’s other titles include “CapitalWeek,” “China Auto Pictorial,” “Autocar,” and “Real Estate.”
SEEC’s shares have lost about 40% in the past year amid worries about slower growth in consumer spending in the country.
Overseas media companies including Forbes Media, Pearson and News Corp. also compete in the market for Chinese-language news and analysis, though face restrictions. The New York Times started a Chinese-language website earlier this year.
-- Follow me on Twitter @rflannerychina


text:
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has served Celcom Axiata, U Mobile, and Digi Telecommunications each a commission directive for failing to meet broadband service standards in the country. MCMC also said that the telcos failed to meet broadband service standards at a few locations identified in Langkawi, including Langkawi Highway and a few tourist destinations. The telcos can be fined up to RM200,000 in accordance with Section 109 of the Communications and Multimedia Act if they fail to follow through with the directive.
This follows a nationwide technical audit in 3,038 locations across Malaysia’s 13 state and three federal territories after being prompted by the minister of multimedia and communication Annuar Musa. The locations were picked based on complaints received by the MCMC from Malaysians.
The directives require the telcos to improve the quality of their service and user experience in accordance with MCMC’s Mandatory Standards for Quality of Service which encompasses the minimum standards for customer service and service quality standards for telecommunication networks.
MCMC further added that the auditing process is a routine that it will regularly carry out to regulate the quality and integrity of the services provided by telcos and internet service providers. From 2021, MCMC has made improvements to its offices by increasing the number of its auditing teams, from six teams to 14 teams.
On 16 June, Annuar had come out with a statement regarding the situation. He had urged MCMC to conduct audits on telcos in Malaysia, as they reportedly make the most profits. He urged MCMC to come up with its own countrywide mapping instead of relying on reports given by the telcos. The video can be seen on Musa’s Twitter account.
Separately, just a week ago, MCMC and the Royal Malaysian Police investigated the acts of individuals who have uploaded content considered to be "indecent" and "offensive" on TikTok and Instagram. According to MCMC, these individuals comprise celebrities and founders of beauty products. MCMC’s statement advised people, especially celebrities, to be wiser and more responsible when uploading content online, urging them to abide by Malaysian laws.
Meanwhile, last June, MCMC partnered up with 15 telcos to educate consumers to identify fraudulent activities and steps that can be taken to prevent the increasing number of fraudulent attempts in a campaign titled Telecommunication Crime Prevention Awareness Campaign. According to MCMC, the campaign was a way to monitor and enforce actions carried out in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Police.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top marketing stories.
We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's marketing development – for free.subscribe now open in new window


text:
Table of Contents
The impact of Covid-19 brought hassles for the emerging OOH advertising industry
In the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the financial market is being adversely affected due to the decline in operating profits of the companies. Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising has come up as a better example of it. The sector has witnessed a downtrend in its growth since the lockdown has been implemented. In contrast to this, advertisers have adapted by following consumers. It means that they have prioritized digital advertising as the rise in the digital field has been a remarkable change due to the pandemic.
Last year during the lockdown period (April-July), the average monthly spending on the OOH advertising industry noticed a severe drop down by 80%. It is not a matter of amazement that the decline played a very crucial role in the economic sector.
Downfall in the OOH advertising industry left a remarkable impact
Out-of-Home advertising includes Transit Advertising, Billboard Advertising, Stunt Advertising, Retail Advertising, Ambient advertising, and many more. All these types of advertisements have been affected badly in the pandemic. Reduction in public traffic at places has done away with the need for this kind of advertising. Lockdown has changed the way we live and the way in which we consume media. People had been urged to stay indoors. This resulted in the streets and roads being empty.
Public transportation has faced a grand halt. It has further led to a vacuum in bus shelters and train stations and the busy shopping areas are deserted. The so-familiar bright branding of Oppo, Vivo, is no longer visible while walking down the busy areas. Many hoarding sites have been left empty because there are no consumers to view them. Whether it be temporary, but the scenario has totally changed the OOH industry. In the financial year 2019, the revenue generated from OOH advertising was over Rs 34 billion across India. As per the FICCI-EY Media & Entertainment Report 2021, the OOH industry in the year 2020 faced a decline in its growth of approximately 50%.
Post-Lockdown Expectations in the OOH advertising industry
The post-pandemic effect on the OOH advertising industry is going to be remarkable. Many scholars have pointed out their views on the growth of the OOH industry in the post-pandemic scenario. Some have suggested that the OOH media is going to drive audience sentiment at a much larger scale. New categories such as OTT entertainment, online education, and hygiene products emerged as the biggest spenders have emerged as big investors and this situation is going to play a positive role.
Cab-Branding emerges as a new trend of brand advertisement in the OOH advertising industry
Amidst all the new opportunities in the field of the OOH advertising industry, Cab Branding is becoming quite a unique ideology with a wider impact on people. The advertising on cabs has come with a new opportunity for companies to promote their brand in a large geographical area. This advertisement can be carried out at a pretty reasonable cost compared to other methods of brand advertisement. It is a true fact that cabs don’t offer big advertising slots such as buses for brand promotion, but brand advertising carried out on cabs offers deeper ingress in the target audiences. It is a bit more costly than the other forms of branding, as it provides a more personalized experience to travelers.


text:
AS PART of its continuing efforts to promote franchising as a tool to create thousands of businesses and millions of jobs, the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) will hold a ‘How to Franchise your Business’ seminar in Cagayan de Oro City on February 10 at Seda Centrio Hotel. The said seminar is a key component of the Franchising Regional Enterprises by Women (FREE Women) project, which is an advocacy project of PFA aimed at helping women entrepreneurs grow their business via franchising.
The said project, which is supported by the US Embassy, has already held seminars in Cebu, Tagaytay and Davao targeting women entrepreneurs in Visayas, South Luzon and South Mindanao. The seminar in Cagayan de Oro hopes to gather participants from North Mindanao and the Caraga region.
Recognizing the contributions of women entrepreneurs in the country’s economic advancement, the seminar is open exclusively for women entrepreneurs and is for free. Interested participants may get in touch with the PFA secretariat via email at firstname.lastname@example.org.
After the seminar, a select few will be chosen to be featured in the Incubation pavilion of Franchise Asia Philippines 2015, PFA’s annual franchise show. Participating in the said international franchise expo will give them the opportunity to test the market, attract possible investors and partners, and benchmark with the best practices of successful franchise concepts.
The FREE Women franchise seminar in Cagayan de Oro is held in partnership with the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Photo shows the Davao leg of the FREE Women franchise seminar, which was attended by more than 60 participants. (PR)


text:
Small breweries warn 'reverse Robin Hood tax system' putting jobs at risk
Brewers are worried that cuts to tax relief could bring more challenges during an already difficult time.
Sunday 25 October 2020 06:03, UK
Small breweries in Britain are warning that hundreds of jobs are at risk over government plans to cut tax relief.
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) described the proposals as "madness" during a period when many businesses are on the brink of collapse.
Under the plans, up to 150 small breweries would have to pay higher rates of tax.
"This is definitely going to put jobs at risk if this goes ahead," Jaega Wise from SIBA said.
"Part of the issue is we don't entirely know what the tax change is going to be."
Small breweries have struggled with COVID-19 and its effect on planning.
Ms Wise said they were left with a "reverse Robin Hood tax system" where the government plans "to take away relief from smaller breweries in order to give to larger breweries".
Currently through the Small Brewers' Relief scheme the amount of beer produced by a brewery determines how much tax they pay.
For many small businesses it means they fork out just half of the duty paid by the largest companies.
Under the plans, small breweries producing between 2,100 hectolitres and 5,000 hectolitres of beer a year would no longer get the tax relief.
William Harris, who helps run the Wild Card Brewery in east London, said they had managed to stay afloat during the pandemic by setting up an online shop.
He admitted his brewery would be adversely affected by any changes that see the amount of tax relief withdrawn.
"It will definitely hit our bottom line," he said. "It just creates more problems in a really, really challenging environment."
Summer is usually the brewery's busiest time of year, but instead was "a really difficult period".
He added: "We've got another winter ahead of us and now this on top of that is really, really hard."
In July after pubs reopened, independent craft beer sales were just 51% of what would be expected, according to SIBA.
During the national lockdown sales were down to 18%.
Alongside looming cuts to tax relief, it has meant that more than half of brewers are delaying investment and hiring staff.
The Treasury, however, said it is supporting small breweries and that 80% will be unaffected by the proposed changes.
It said hundreds of breweries consulted said that, under the current system, tax relief was being withdrawn "too quickly" and it was "preventing their businesses from growing".
A Treasury spokesperson added that small breweries will "still benefit from the relief as they gradually expand their businesses, rather than having an all or nothing approach where it's rapidly withdrawn above a certain level".


text:
For whatever reason – money – Chipotle investors and apologists are willing to look beyond the company’s many failings.
If Chipotle really wanted to be a leader they’d stop playing to consumer fears with their advertising.
If Chipotle really wanted to be a leader, they would embrace genetically engineered foods that require fewer and far less harmful pesticides.
Chipotle is a follower, sucking up dollars wherever it can.
In its latest PR rah-rah stunt, Chipotle is going to close all of its 1,900 outlets on Feb. 8 for a few hours “for company executives to be transparent about the status of the E. coli outbreak, and what Chipotle is doing to prevent it from happening again.”
Chipotle’s stock price sits is currently down around 40% off its 52-week high, as the outbreak news hurt sales more than had been expected. The company has advised investors that it could be a few rocky quarters before Chipotle sees a definitive, positive improvement.
In an effort to bring back some of the customers it’s lost, Chipotle co-CEO Monty Moran said Wednesday it will be doubling the amount of free food restaurants can give away to its customers, reports CNBC.com.
The New York Times says, with a straight face, Chipotle’s new mantra is “Safe food, not just fresh” while gushing that, “From its start in 1993 as a burrito stand in Denver opened by a young Culinary Institute of America-trained chef who borrowed money from his parents, Chipotle now has more than 2,000 locations. Its stock nearly doubled over the last five years, and in August the company reached a market value of $23 billion.
That’s not doing anyone any good.
It’s marketing BS.
Consumers aren’t so dumb or confused. Chipotle said same-store sales dropped a greater-than-expected 14.6 percent in the last quarter, and analysts have been scrambling to downgrade their ratings. On Tuesday, Chipotle shares dipped below $400 and were down 47 percent from the August high.
Two of the incidents, the one in Simi Valley, Calif., in August that sickened 234 people, and another in Boston in December, which affected at least 136 customers, were linked to a norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis. It is spread through contact with an infected person, a surface bearing the virus, or by contaminated food.
Chipotle has said both outbreaks were caused by sick employees who ignored strict policies prohibiting them from coming to work and, without elaborating, said that disciplinary measures were meted out to those responsible.
Anyone can say they have strict policies (Heston-norovirus-isn’t-my-fault Blumenthal comes to mind) but verification, that takes effort.
In August, 64 people were treated for salmonella after eating at a Chipotle in Minnesota. Fresh tomatoes were identified as the culprit.
Chipotle shares have jumped nearly 14 percent over the last two days after company executives gave an upbeat presentation to investors, bankers and analysts at the ICR investor conference in Orlando, Fla., where they predicted the brand would regain its luster and reiterated an aggressive expansion and growth plan.
Follow the money.


text:
Shenmue III's Release Date Finally Revealed at Gamescom 2018; Coming August 27, 2019
The release date long-awaited third instalment of the iconic Shenmue series has finally been revealed at Gamescom 2018's opening ceremony this morning.
This morning’s news from Gamescom 2018 in Cologne, Germany just keeps coming; and as promised, they have delivered a release date for Shenmue III. The game will be coming on August 27, 2019, according to the brand new trailer.
The long-awaited sequel to the fondly remembered Sega Dreamcast classic first reared its head back in 2015 during E3. It was then followed by a hugely successful Kickstarter. This morning’s Gamescom conference saw Deep Silver announcing a final release date alongside an epic new trailer which tells the tale of a prophecy. However, it seems that those who’ve been waiting for more than a decade to get their hands on a third installment in the much-loved Shenmue series will have to wait just a little longer, as it’s booked to launch next year.
Shenmue III will be arriving on PlayStation 4 and PC on August 27, 2019. However, for those waiting patiently for the game’s release, this is the perfect time to revisit the first two games in the franchise and refamiliarize yourself with the series. Shenmue I and II are available now on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, which you can grab from Amazon if you are catching up with the series. Meanwhile, check out the Prophecy Trailer below:


text:
As supply chain jobs go, few are more stellar than the Chief Supply Chain Officer at a Fortune 100 industrial software giant – a status that has now been bestowed on Torsten Pilz, who has been appointed to that very role by Honeywell Inc.
Pilz comes with a glittering CV, having formerly been a senior supply chain executive (vice president) at Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) for 18 months and at Amazon.com Inc, where he spent three years as VP of worldwide operations overseeing a raft of business endeavours including Prime Pantry and Amazon Fresh.
Young professionals aspiring to the more prestigious and challenging procurement jobs might do well to note Pilz’s career progression. Before Space X and Amazon, he worked for eight years in Germany at the chemical and consumer goods colossus Henkel AG & Company. He eventually became Head of Global Operations for its beauty care division. During his time there, he pioneered Henkel’s efforts to outsource its North American logistics operations, engaging a third-party logistics provider to manage all relationships with logistics and shipping suppliers.
He arrives at Honeywell at a challenging moment. The company has recently seen freight costs soaring and has been spending unprecedented sums on shipping, a predicament facing most US manufacturers at present.
Pilz’s newly created role will see him shouldering responsibilities for the company’s integrated supply chain, including procurement, as well as pushing through improvements in plant efficiency and working capital.
Welcoming Mr Pilz to the firm, Honeywell’s CEO and Chairman Darius Adamczyk emphasised that Honeywell’s future growth rested critically on its integrated supply chain, adding: “Torsten has a track record over the past two decades of driving operational improvements and delivering outstanding results for a variety of companies with complex global supply chains. He is the right person to help Honeywell continue our transformation into a premier software-industrial company by simplifying our manufacturing footprint and enhancing our ability to execute with speed and precision across our operations.”
If your looking for your next procurement or supply chain job click here


text:
FourKites' acquisition of NIC-place to boost European supply chain visibility options
Chicago-based FourKites, a real-time supply chain visibility platform, on January 18, announced the takeover of the European supply chain visibility software solutions provider NIC GmbH (NIC-place).
Matt Elenjickal, CEO and founder of FourKites, said the move would be beneficial as NIC-place tracked the largest rail network in Europe. "This acquisition creates a powerhouse of carrier as well as shipper-focused expertise that accelerates end-to-end visibility and the delivery of new solutions tailor-made for our customers' unique requirements."
Tracking the rail network in Europe is vital as many companies shift more shipments to rail in the backdrop of ocean shipment challenges, and rail's many inherent advantages in advancing sustainability goals. "With the addition of the largest European rail network, FourKites is now the only provider in Europe to track all modes on a single platform," Elenjickal said.
He added that the combined over-the-road, rail and ocean carrier networks of FourKites and NIC-place would create the largest multimodal carrier network in Europe. "We will be ready to serve global shippers with the most comprehensive end-to-end global supply chain visibility platform."
Since its establishment in 2016, the Germany-based NIC-place has emerged as a market leader in supply chain visibility software solutions. Tailored and adapted to fit the needs of transport companies, carriers and logistics service providers (LSPs), NIC-place ensures a customisable and secure pathway for carriers to share supply chain data with customers. This enables customers with complete control of their businesses, network and data. Their clients include Kuehne+Nagel, H.Essers, Unterer, Quehenberger and Frigotrans.
Pete Jendras, founder and managing director of NIC-place, said they were thrilled with the move. "FourKites shares our vision for prioritising data security and integrity and empowering carriers to collaborate easily with their supply chain partners. We look forward to extending the combined benefit of NIC-place's leading carrier solutions with the largest global real-time visibility network in the world."
On the way forward, the FourKites said, "NIC-place will continue their work on providing carrier-oriented solutions, while also drawing on FourKites' shipper network, global scale and R&D engine with the major push on innovation. The companies will maintain the NIC-place name, while also retaining site offices across Germany. It will also focus on the expansion of teams and operations."
A recent research report on the state of European supply chains released by Reuters and FourKites stated that 78 per cent of European companies indicated that end-to-end freight traceability was their most significant supply chain hurdle.
"The acquisition will also accelerate the adoption of secure real-time visibility solutions specifically designed for carriers while shortening the time to value for shippers with complex, multimodal carrier networks," Elenjickal added.


text:
BlackBerry's touchscreen talk interrupted by service outage
At 3GSM in Barcelona this week, Research In Motion Ltd. looks forward to new form factors while back home, customers are left confused as to whether their e-mails are being received.
At 3:30 pm EST Monday afternoon, a widespread infrastructure outage hit BlackBerry services, cutting off wireless e-mail for users all across North America. An emergency notification to corporate customers was sent to users providing no insight into the cause, scope, or estimated resolution time of the outage...ironically, via e-mail.
Today, assuring customers that their messages have not been lost, Research In Motion issued a statement, though still lacking an explanation as to why the outage occurred. Some are speculating that IP address glitches in the RIM network factored into the outage, but nothing has been confirmed.
This is the second time in under a year that an outage of "critical severity" has taken place for the Ontario-based service. In the wake of the last outage, RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie said that such occurrences were very rare.
At 3GSM today in Barcelona, prior to the outage news, Balsillie had enjoyed a day of being asked about the possibility of a touchscreen BlackBerry. His answers were purposefully vague, but favorable nonetheless.
He said the company is looking at "all kinds of different device packaging and presentation," while noting that "getting religious" with device style and packaging isn't a prudent route to take, and that it should depend on the user's preference.
User preferences today appears to highly favor touchscreen devices, with Apple's top-selling iPhone, HTC's popular Touch, LG's Voyager, and now Sony Ericsson's new X1. With former competitor Palm's success severely on the wane, BlackBerry could ease into the space formerly occupied by the longtime touchscreen smartphone manufacturer, providing business-optimized handsets with full QWERTY and tactile interfaces.
An improved interface, however, would not compensate for RIM's network's inability to sustain its critical e-mail traffic. RIM headquarters maintains the company is focusing on providing "industry-leading reliability" for its products and services.


text:
Java chips to be used to access Internet
Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, May 22, 1996
Continuing the network computer blitz, Sun Microelectronics announced Wednesday that Northern Telecom Ltd. will use Java chips in a new generation of phones and wireless devices to access the Internet.
Sun Microelectronics, a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems Inc. in Mountain View, said in February it was designing three customized chips to run the Java programming language, which is becoming a key software for Internet applications.
Northern Telecom is a Canadian-based manufacturer of telecommunications equipment.
Monday, Sun was part of a media event staged by Oracle Corp., Apple Computer Inc., Netscape Communications Corp., and International Business Machines Inc. to support the concept of Network Computers. Internet phones are a spinoff of the NC.
LATEST BUSINESS VIDEOS
- Facebook Admits Social Media Can Be Bad For You Veuer
- Facebook Admits Social Media Can Be Bad For You Buzz60
- Federal Reserve raises benchmark rate for third time this year Fox7
- SpaceX 1st: Recycled Rocket, Recycled Capsule AP
- FOX Business Beat: Subway brings back $5 footlong; Google tool helps save on flights Fox5DC
- Mother Arrested After Taking Child to the Doctor 323 Times TMTime
- New Natural Hair Emojis Are Getting Mixed Reviews Buzz60
- Beverly Hills Anesthesiologist Charged With Murder Buzz60
- Beverly Hills Anesthesiologist Charged With Murder Veuer
- Disney Buying Large Part of 21st Century Fox AP
Nortel executive Chris Koehncke said his company will use the Java chips as the "brains" of Internet phones that will receive Java programs. A touch screen device on the phone will let the user choose menu items for home banking applications, for instance.
He said Nortel will test prototypes this summer, and hopes to conduct field trials early next year before shipping the Internet phone before year's end. Pricing was not announced, but Koehncke said it would be "substantially below" the $500 bar being set for NCs.
Raj Parekh chief technical officer of Sun Microelectronics said Sun was negotiating with "five to 10" chip factories that would manufacture Java chips according to Sun's design. He did not disclose the names of the factories but expects to do so shortly. He said the chip designs were nearly final.
Linley Gwennap, editor of the Microprocessor Report in Mountain View, said he was unconvinced that a custom-designed Java chip was a good idea.
"Here you have this language called Java that is supposed to run on any microprocessor, then you turn around and design a special microprocessor for it," Gwennap said.
Parekh said there was no contradiction. Yes, Java software could run on any processor. But by "removing the unnecessary baggage" Sun could design cheap chips that would run Java better, he said.<


text:
Following the release of their debut single ‘Spell’ last year, France’s Planet 1999 are back with new bop ‘Party’.
Part of the PC Music crew - the group actually co-wrote and co-produced Charli XCX’s ‘February 2017’ single from her recent record ‘Charli’ - it’s a characteristically crystalline pop bop, with a bit of shoe gaze thrown in, from the pioneering future-pop label that follows the trio’s ethos: “EVERYTHING IS ABOUT EMOTION”.
Accompanied by a new video shot by Aidan Zamiri and featuring a cheeky cameo from PC Music founder A.G. Cook, Aidan explains of the visuals, “We wanted to make a video that felt as cool and surreal as the song. I think it’s the perfect starting point to enter the world of Planet 1999”.
Have a peep below:
It’s the third preview of debut album ‘Makes Me Sick Makes Me Smile’, due this month.
It comes alongside the news that they’ve signed to Dead Oceans.
The trio’s last album came in 2017 with ‘After Laughter’.
The “dance banger” track, which appears on imminent new album ‘Hold The Girl’, is described as a “turning point” in the record.


text:
ASIA – Barilla, world’s leading Italian pasta brand, has launched a new whole wheat pasta range in the Middle East, made of 100% whole wheat.
Barilla’s whole wheat pasta serves as an excellent source for fibre as it provides 6g of fibre per serving, which is three times the fibre in traditional pasta.
According to mayoclinic.com, “grains are naturally high in fibre, helping you feel full and satisfied — which makes it easier to maintain a healthy body weight.
Whole grains are also linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and other health problems.”
Saudi Gazette reported that the wheat is made with non-GMO ingredients, as the pasta range comes in six different options which include fusilli, pennette rigate, spaghetti, farfalle, coquillettes, and tortiglioni – and stays true to the Italian company’s promise of providing great taste and quality to Italian flavours.
The new pasta line also compliments well with the range of Barilla’s existing sauces, which are all gluten-free, making it a complete, healthy Italian meal.
“Since we launched in this region, we have witnessed a change in demand from our consumers.
With our gluten-free pasta launch last year, we have committed ourselves to providing consumers with a range of options whether it is for health reasons, taste or for personal preference.
We want people to believe Barilla is not just one option amongst others, but it is the only choice for a good Italian meal,” said Loay Elkhouly, Managing Director, Barilla – MEA, commenting on the launch of the new range.
The pasta giant also offers other options such as the 100% durum wheat and the gluten-free pasta range that suit different consumer dietary lifestyles.
As part of their growing portfolio, Barilla also offers a range of authentic Italian sweet and savory bakery products, Mulino Bianco.
Driven by passion for pasta, Barilla was founded over 140 years ago in Parma.
Since the beginning, the pasta giant has been inspired by the Italian tradition to bring high quality and great tastes to every home and lifestyle through its products.
This is further enhanced by Barilla’s commitment to promoting more sustainable agricultural and farming practices that improve the efficiency of production processes in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.
The company added that it does not only invest in developing products, it also aims to inspire food connoisseurs through Barilla’s recipe app, nutritionists, and its super chefs.
Barilla’s newest pasta range is now available across all major stores in the region.


text:
WEST ASHLEY, SC (WCSC) - A former Chick-fil-A employee is accused of going on a shopping spree after stealing a customer's credit card at a drive-thru in West Ashley.
The Charleston Police Department arrested 36-year-old Kinya Lavette Gatling on Wednesday and charged her with financial transaction card theft.
Gatling's arrest stems from an incident on March 15, 2013 where police responded to the Chick-fil-A on 2013 Magwood Drive in reference to credit card fraud.
The restaurant manager told police that an employee, Gatling, stole a woman's credit card while serving her at the drive-thru window. The manager said he received a call from the victim who said she did not receive her credit card back after her purchase.
A police report states surveillance video showed Gatling placing the victim's credit card under the cash register, and later putting the credit card in her pocket.
The victim said her credit card was then used to make purchases at Target and two gas stations.


text: BUSINESS: Suppliers Italy's ANFAO Reports Increased Exports for 2022, Cites Concerns About Inflation and Other Factors for 2023 By Staff Tuesday, December 27, 2022 12:21 AM PIEVE DI CADORE, Italy—The ANFAO (Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers’ Association) general meeting was held earlier this month at the Eyewear Museum of Pieve di Cadore to take stock of the eyewear industry's performance and review the forecast for the coming months in Italy and internationally. The organization noted that exports from Italy's eyewear industry, which comprise about 90 percent of the sector's overall production, enjoyed a strong showing, especially in the first eight months of 2022. For the January-August period, exports increased 22.4 percent over the same period in 2021 with an overall value of €3.23 billion. Looking at the month-by-month performance of exports in the first 8 months of 2022, the trend follows that of previous years with constant growth and a key spike in March, that significantly outpaced industry performance from 2019 to date. Exports of Italian eyewear by geographic area are also recovering in all areas, compared to 2021. The most significant figure are the results in value achieved over the same period in 2021 Exports to countries within Europe rose by 50.8 percent, to America by 35 percent and to Asia, by 12.6 percent, ANFAO reported. For year-end 2022, ANFAO forecasts overall growth in exports of 12 percent to 14 percent, representing an 8 percent to 10 percent increase in production compared to the prior year. Shipments to the domestic Italy market remain stable, compared to 2021, with growth forecast between 0.5 percent and 1 percent. At the same time, ANFAO stated concerns with the overall economic outlook for 2023. The organization noted, "With the gradual waning of the COVID-19 pandemic and loosening of restrictions, expectations around the globe tended to be more positive, but the reality that emerged at the beginning of 2022 is turning out to be much more problematic. This context is heavily impacted by increasingly rapid change, political and media polarization, supply chain issues, inflation, debt and geopolitical conflicts." The statement cited forces like the war in Ukraine and the sharp spike in the cost of living and rising inflation. It also noted "a new era of anxiety, from climate concerns to political stressors including consumer mindsets and behaviors." Commented Giovanni Vitaloni, president of ANFAO and Mido, “All of this requires that we be extremely prudent and think long-term. Our sector is performing well. It is on the upswing and we expect to close out the year on the 'plus' side. And yet, the rise in prices we are experiencing will soon limit family purchasing power and the increased cost of raw materials, the energy crisis, galloping inflation and the unstable geopolitical situation call for extreme caution and keeping a close eye on future forecasts. "We will have to roll up our sleeves in order to not leave anyone behind on the road to progress. To fuel this spirit, collaboration and cooperation are required, which certainly are not lacking in the eyewear industry, along with a major intervention plan from our government," Vitaloni said.


text:
|Bid||1.35 x 1500|
|Ask||3.00 x 1000|
|Day's Range||1.72 - 2.15|
|52 Week Range||0.38 - 4.50|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Earnings Date||Oct 18, 2017 - Oct 23, 2017|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||0.00 (0.00%)|
|1y Target Est||3.00|
NeuroMetrix Inc (NASDAQ:NURO), a USD$3.90M small-cap, is a healthcare company operating in an industry, which faces key trends such as rising demand fuelled by an aging population and the growingRead More...
NeuroMetrix Inc (NASDAQ:NURO), a healthcare equipment and supplies company based in United States, saw significant share price volatility over the past couple of months on the NasdaqCM, rising to theRead More...
NeuroMetrix, Inc. today closed a $3.5 million private placement of 3,500 shares of Series F convertible preferred stock at a price of $1,000 per share that are convertible into 1,330,798 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $2.63 per share.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2017 / NeuroMetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NURO ) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q3 Earnings Call to be held October 19, 2017 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. ...
NeuroMetrix, Inc. announced today that it plans to issue its 2017 third quarter financial results before the opening of the market on Thursday October 19, 2017. The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time on October 19, 2017 to discuss its financial results as well as business developments affecting the Company.
If you are a shareholder in NeuroMetrix Inc’s (NASDAQ:NURO), or are thinking about investing in the company, knowing how it contributes to the risk and reward profile of your portfolioRead More...
NeuroMetrix, Inc. today announced it will be a presenting company at the 19th Annual Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference, sponsored by H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC.
NeuroMetrix, Inc. today reported that it will present two scientific posters at the upcoming PAINWeek national conference to be held in Las Vegas, NV, September 5-9.
In recognition of Pain Awareness Month this September, NeuroMetrix, Inc. is partnering with the U.S. Pain Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving those who live with pain conditions and their providers, to raise awareness of the issues impacting the chronic pain community.
Research Desk Line-up: DENTSPLY SIRONA Post Earnings Coverage LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 17, 2017 / Pro-Trader Daily takes a look at the latest corporate events and news making the headlines for ...
NeuroMetrix, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 9,731,126. The patent covers novel technology whereby the Quell® device automatically modulates therapeutic neurostimulation based on the user’s sleep characteristics.
NeuroMetrix, Inc. today reported an agreement with Fukuda Denshi for DPNCheck® distribution in Japan. DPNCheck is NeuroMetrix’ rapid, accurate, and quantitative point-of-care test to detect diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
NeuroMetrix, Inc. reported today that it had shipped its 100,000th Quell® wearable device for treatment of chronic pain since commercial launch in mid-2015. Quell device shipments have posted growth in each of the eight sequential quarters that it has been on the market.
Research Desk Line-up: NeuroMetrix Post Earnings Coverage LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2017 / Pro-Trader Daily takes a look at the latest corporate events and news making the headlines for Teleflex ...
Categories: Yahoo FinanceGet free summary analysis NeuroMetrix, Inc. reports financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. We analyze the earnings along side the following peers of NeuroMetrix, Inc. – Medtronic plc (MDT-US) that have also reported for this period. Highlights Summary numbers: Revenues of USD 4.31 million, Net Earnings of USD -3.24 million. Gross margins ... Read more (Read more...)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 20, 2017 / NeuroMetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NURO ) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q2 Earnings Call to be held on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 8:00 AM Eastern ...
NeuroMetrix, Inc. announced today that it plans to issue its 2017 second quarter financial results before the opening of the market on Thursday July 20, 2017. The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time on July 20, 2017 to discuss its financial results as well as business developments affecting the Company.
NeuroMetrix, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement with a healthcare dedicated institutional investor in connection with a private placement of 7,000 shares of Series F convertible preferred stock at a price of $1,000 per share.
NeuroMetrix, Inc. today reported that Michael MacDonald has been promoted to SVP and General Manager of Diagnostics. In this role, Mr. MacDonald will oversee the Company’s diagnostic products which include DPNCheck® and ADVANCE™.
NeuroMetrix, Inc. today provided an update on its data science initiative and the related Quell® Health Cloud.
NeuroMetrix, Inc. today provided an update on its Quell® clinical program. Quell is a wearable non-invasive neurostimulator that provides widespread analgesia for chronic pain.


text:
Tuesday Morning Reads, News, Options
- Trade War Hurdle
- Unusual Action
- Where and When?
- $515 Billion Boycott
- EPA plans to expand sales of higher ethanol blends of gasoline (ADM, GPRE, XLE). Reuters Report
- Doordash valued at over $6 bln (IPOXX). WSJ Report
- Tesla (TSLA) autopilot blamed for NJ crash. ABC News Report
- SoftBank (SFTBY) plans to invest in driverless technology company Nuro. FT Report
- Scott Ferguson is urging Zayo (ZAYO) to sell the company. NY Post Report
- Wal-Mart (WMT) and Deliv plan to end grocery partnership. Reuters Report
- India is looking at accusations Google (GOOG) abused Android. Reuters Report
- Mexico looks to renew natural gas pipeline contracts (TRP, XLE, USO). WSJ Report
- Peloton Interactive talking to bankers about IPO (IPOXX). WSJ Report
- Energizer (ENR) among companies looking to purchase stake in Eveready India. Economic Times Report
- Futures buoyed as shutdown fears fade3h
- Walmart, Deliv end online grocery partnership3h
- New Residential Investment beats by $0.036m
- Under Armour beats by $0.05, beats on revenue7m
- FDA accepts Pfizer's marketing application for Bavencio + Inlyta for RCC13m
- Viking Therapeutics, Madrigal move up as Gilead liver drug fails to meet goals13h
- Venezuela oil venture commitments on the line1h
- Omnicom beats by $0.11, beats on revenue21m
- Shopify beats by $0.05, beats on revenue2m
- Pentagon to review SpaceX launch vehicle certification1h
- Pompeo: Huawei presence complicates U.S. dealings2h
- WarnerMedia talks late-2019 streaming plans12h
Earnings this week:
Dow futures are pointing to triple-digit gains as U.S. lawmakers reached a tentative $1.38B border security deal that could help avert another government shutdown. Democrats kept funding for physical barriers along the border far below President Trump's $5.7B request, but Republicans blocked efforts to place certain limits on detention beds, an issue that had derailed the talks over the weekend. The deal still has ways to go before heading to Trump's desk for approval.
With expectations for a Fed rate hike this year hanging by a thread, market watchers today will be tuning in to further hints on the outlook for monetary policy. Most of the focus will be on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who will be speaking at the Hope Enterprise Corporation Rural Policy Forum at 12:45 p.m. ET, as well as speeches this afternoon from Fed Presidents Esther George and Loretta Mester.
"We now all need to hold our nerve," Theresa May will tell MPs today, as she pleads for more time to secure changes to her Brexit deal. The EU has refused to reopen the divorce agreement as talks continue in Brussels, though May insists she can get legally binding changes to replace the contentious Irish border "backstop." The British parliament is also set to hold a debate on Brexit on Feb. 14.
Twelve Catalan separatist leaders go on trial in the Supreme Court in Madrid today over their roles in the region's failed independence bid in 2017. The case comes at a delicate time for the minority government of Pedro Sanchez, with a parliamentary vote on Spain's budget due this week. Differences could lead to the collapse of Spain’s ruling coalition and usher in early elections.
Foreign partners of Venezuela's PDVSA are facing pressure from the state-run oil firm to declare whether they will continue as minority stakeholders in Orinoco Belt projects following U.S. sanctions, Reuters reports. France's Total (NYSE:TOT), Norway's Equinor (NYSE:EQNR), Russia's Rosneft (OTCPK:RNFTF) and U.S.-based Chevron (NYSE:CVX) are facing difficulties getting cashflow out of the country, straining their ability to continue their JVs output and exports.
The White House is demanding that Iraq end purchases of energy from Iran after pulling out of the Iranian nuclear accord and reapplying sanctions. However, Baghdad called the demand impossible as the energy-starved nation is reliant on its neighbor for much of its electric and natural gas needs. Last October, the Trump administration scored a multibillion-dollar Iraqi power generation agreement for General Electric (NYSE:GE), after Siemens (OTCPK:SIEGY) had been on the verge of landing the deal.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, chairman of the Small Business Committee, is backing a new proposal to tackle one of Democrats' favorite talking points: stock buybacks. The plan would raise taxes on capital gains as a way to discourage companies from pursuing share repurchases by reducing the difference between what investors pay compared to dividends, which are taxed at individual income rates.
Another hit to Huawei? Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has cautioned allies against deploying gear from the Chinese telecom equipment giant on their soil, which the U.S. believes could be used for espionage. "If that equipment is co-located where we have important American systems, it makes it more difficult for us to partner alongside them." Bad news for Huawei has generally been seen by investors as an opportunity for Nokia (NYSE:NOK) and Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC).
Legislators in Georgia are pushing for a 4% tax on Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) and other streaming services, such as digital books and music downloads, that would subsidize construction of high-speed internet lines in rural areas. Price breakdown: If you spend $13 on a Netflix subscription, you could be taxed about 50 cents on your bill. Only a handful of other states - Hawaii, Pennsylvania and Washington - have imposed this kind of tax so far, but similar proposals have been introduced in legislatures nationwide.
With upcoming challenges in mobile gaming, PC-based e-sports and streaming, Sony (NYSE:SNE) is shaking up its flagship games division by appointing Jim Ryan, its London-based deputy president, as PlayStation chief. "This industry is relentlessly fast moving, and to remain the market leader, we must constantly evolve ourselves with a sense of urgency," Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said in a statement.
The CEO of Colgate-Palmolive is leaving the position after almost 12 years, marking the latest changing of the guard at the world's largest consumer goods companies. Ian Cook will be replaced by Colgate (NYSE:CL) chief operating officer Noel Wallace at the start of April. The CEOs of Unilever (NYSE:UL), PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP) and Beiersdorf (OTCPK:BDRFY) have left within the past six months, following departures at Nestle (OTCPK:NSRGY), Mondelez (NASDAQ:MDLZ) and Campbell Soup (NYSE:CPB).
Walmart and logistics firm Deliv have pulled the plug on a key same-day grocery delivery partnership, dealing a setback to the retailer's race against rival Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN). Sources told Reuters that Deliv drivers had to frequently wait 40 minutes or more to collect grocery orders when they showed up at stores because Walmart (NYSE:WMT) gave priority to customers during regular hours.
Meanwhile, Amazon is acquiring Eero, a developer of easily connected home internet routers. While financial terms were not disclosed, its latest push into the smart home market follows the acquisition of video doorbell maker Ring last year for $1B. Amazon's (AMZN) primary home device is its own Echo smart speaker, powered by Alexa.
Tech crackdown? Online platforms including Google (GOOG, GOOGL), Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) should be regulated in how they distribute news content and these efforts should be enforced by a state regulator, according to a new U.K. government report. It also said they should sign a "code of conduct" to govern their commercial agreements with publishers and called on the U.K.'s competition authority to investigate online advertising to "ensure fair competition."
Nissan's CEO will meet Renault's (OTCPK:RNLSY) chairman this week in Japan as they look at ways to strengthen their partnership after the ouster of former alliance leader Carlos Ghosn. It comes at an important time... Nissan (OTCPK:NSANY) this morning booked around $84M in charges related to under-reported compensation for Ghosn, and slashed its annual profit outlook on weaker global sales.
The Pentagon is initiating a review of SpaceX's (SPACE) Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy to determine whether the launch vehicles complied with certain guidelines of the U.S. Air Force. In December, SpaceX completed its first national security space mission for the U.S., breaking into the lucrative market for military space launches dominated by Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT).
In Asia, Japan +2.6%. Hong Kong +0.1%. China +0.7%. India -0.7%.
In Europe, at midday, London +0.4%. Paris +1.2%. Frankfurt +1.2%.
Futures at 6:20, Dow +0.8%. S&P +0.7%. Nasdaq +0.9%. Crude +1.8% to $53.33. Gold +0.4% to $1316.90. Bitcoin -0.5% to $3568.
Ten-year Treasury Yield +2 bps to 2.68%Today's Economic Calendar
6:00 NFIB Small Business Optimism Index
8:55 Redbook Chain Store Sales
10:00 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
12:45 PM Jerome Powell Speech
5:30 PM Fed's George: "Charting America's Economic Course"
6:30 PM Fed's Mester: Monetary Policy and Economic Outlook


text:
This year’s MaArte Fair will be pushing through online
Although previously canceled, the The Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI)’s MaArte Fair 2020 has announced that the fair will be debuting online
Oct 13, 2020
Although previously canceled, this year’s MaArte fair—typically held at The Peninsula Manila in the middle of August—will be pushing through and migrating to Zalora’s online platforms to accommodate the new normal.
View this post on Instagram
We are sooo excited to partner with Zalora for #MaArteFair 2020, bringing the country’s most talented artisans and its patrons together, in the new normal! Starting October 16, our exhibitors will be available in all @zaloraph platforms, both accessible through their website and app! ✨ Get ready to whip out your phones, shop, and #BeMaArteForACause wherever you are in the country! 🇵🇭 Proceeds go to support the National Museum of the Philippines and other cultural projects of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. #MaArteAtZalora #ZaloraPH #MuseumFoundationPH #SupportNationalMuseumPH #ProudlyPinoy #LoveLocal #Philippines #SupportLocal
Starting Oct. 16, the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (MFPI)’s MaArte Fair 2020 will be hosted on Zalora’s website and app to give patrons a safer and more convenient way to shop.
MFPI hosts the MaArte Fair as an annual fundraiser that showcases the finest, locally-made products and promotes the best in Philippine crafts, culture and heritage. As an added benefit, the proceeds from this year’s online fair will be going to the National Museum of the Philippines and MFPI’s other cultural projects.
Past editions of the fair exhibited unique pieces from local artisans that ranged from home decor to apparel. Delicacies from different parts of the country and homemade food items were also showcased (and taste-tested) during the three-day fair.
View this post on Instagram
Have a taste of Pinoy delicacies at MaArte oPEN house! From single-origin chocolates, to gourmet home-cooked meals, organic treats, and herbal teas, a symphony of flavors awaits you! @aurochocolate @felicisimogourmet House of Negros by @creativedefinitions @greenbabesmnl ¡BUEN PROVECHO! by @oliverandmaude @tsaalaya MaArte oPEN house is organized by MFPI to raise funding support for the National Museum and its network. ⠀ MAARTE OPEN HOUSE 16 – 18 August 2019 10:00 am – 8:00 pm | The Peninsula Manila ⠀ #BeMaArteForACause #MaArteoPENhouse #MaArteAtThePen #ThePeninsulaManila #ProudlyPinoy #LoveLocal #Philippines
The final roster of exhibitors is yet to be announced, but we’re already getting our wallets ready to do some early Christmas shopping.
Header image courtesy of MaArte Fair Facebook
Get more stories like this by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here.
Futur:st’s pop-up benefit dinner will help feed more than just the attendees
Halaman na ulam? Your prized houseplant can be an ingredient for your next meal
Here’s where you can find eco-friendly cleaning supplies online
These teacup sets are *literally* works of art
HOME AND DESIGN
Biophilic design is the home trend everyone needs to know about


text:
Perspectives: Local Farmers Markets
From fewer than a handful a generation ago, the Tallahassee area now has scores of farmers markets, featuring locally grown produce, as well as dairy and meat products. The Frenchtown Farmers Market even has a state-of-the-art kitchen to encourage more local food product commercialization. Jim Bellamy, executive director the Frenchtown Neighborhood Improvement Association is on hand to talk about that. Meanwhile, the demolition of the Market Square Pavilion means that market is relocating to the corner of Kerry Forest Parkway and Thomasville Road. Local farmers Derek Phillips and Greg Juvinski discuss that and the joys of growing and selling a wide range of healthy foods.


text:
CFDA names Elaine Gold 2019 design finalists
The Council of Fashion Designers of America and the Accessories Council’s joint initiative for young designers, the Elaine Gold Launch Pad, revealed its five 2019-2020 finalists on Monday.
The finalists are Loren Thomas and Caragh Bennet for Tribe + Glory; Graham Baldwin for Graham Tyler; Shanel Campbell for Shanel; Rui Zhou for Rui Zhou; and Dana Hurwitz and Mariah Pershadsingh for Bond Hardware.
Aimed at supporting young design talent, the finalists -- who have all been in business for less than three years -- will participate in a 23-week virtual residency and hope to win a portion of the fund’s $175,000-prize money.
This year, the CFDA’s first-ever global ambassador, Adrian Cheng, has been elected to the Elaine Gold Launch Pad Selection Committee and Advisory Board. Cheng will provide focused mentorship to each of the finalists, as well as additional financial support towards the program, alongside other advisory board members including Antoine Phillips of Gucci, Karen Giberson of Accessories Council, and Thomas Gibb of Tidal NY, to name a few.
“As CFDA and Accessories Council enter the third year of Elaine Gold Launch Pad, we are immensely proud of the success of past participants. They have pioneered new approaches to fashion such as inclusivity, accessibility, and circularity. They look at the fashion model through a whole new lens, which is exciting and inspiring,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA.
“We were delighted to have more entrants than ever before. It was quite a task to pick the group for this round. We are excited to start working with this talented and diverse team," added Karen Giberson, President of Accessories Council.
Past program participants include emerging fashion designers, Emily Adams Bode of Bode, Maria Kazakova of Jahnkoy, and Ali Rose and Jack Burns of Flint, Michigan-based Genusee.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


text:
Payment technology will fuel the UK’s retail resurgence
By Andrew Howell, Global Marketing Director, K3
The UK’s retail sector has gone through some drastic changes over the past year. So drastic in fact, that it’s beyond recognition. Consumers are now balancing shopping requirements with personal safety, and buying behaviours have been flipped on their heads. Due to the national lockdowns of 2020, online retail spend rose from 20% of all sales in January, to 36% of all sales in November last year. We’ve also witnessed a demand for contactless and self-service options in high street stores — to put this into context, contactless payments have increased by 30% since the beginning of last year.
But, lockdown restrictions are easing and non-essential bricks and mortar stores have reopened — and they are all vying for consumers’ attention. To win over customer’s hearts and wallets and come out on top, retailers need to recognise the importance of payment options. Recent K3 research demonstrates that people will choose where to shop based on the payment methods being offered. So, how do retailers get payments right?
Demands are changing
One in ten consumers would avoid a retailer if it didn’t offer contactless payment options at the checkout. If retailers want to avoid losing a big chunk of their customer base, they need to start taking this seriously.
In addition, more than half of shoppers (51%) actively try to avoid interaction with assistants when in-store. There is a growing demand from consumers for retailers to introduce self-service options in-store, and this has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. To demonstrate this notion further, K3 research found that 41% of consumers would like to have more self-service tills in shops, and another 16% want checkout-free stores similar to Amazon Go introduced more widely on the high street.
COVID-19 has shone a light on the need for minimal contact experience in-store, and we’re unlikely to see these preferences reverse post-pandemic. Retailers need to take them seriously or see consumers walk away. However, there are other factors in addition to the pandemic that drive this shift, most notably a growing demand for convenience and new retail services. Crucially, payments options are a key facilitator for both.
Payments and convenience go hand-in-hand
Convenience is of huge importance to consumers. The majority of respondents said they used Amazon more this past year, with convenience being cited as their number one reason. But, the pressure retailers are under to offer shoppers convenience stretches back to pre-pandemic days. The brands that have done this have thrived – think of the likes of ASOS and Boohoo, which offer consumers seamless browsing, payment and return options. But others – such as high street stalwarts Topshop and Debenhams – failed to innovate and keep up with the competition.
When it comes to convenience, the in-store experience is currently found lacking. One of the top frustrations for shoppers is long queues, with 31% stating it as an issue forcing them to shop with competitors. However, it’s a problem that can easily be fixed with the right payment technology. For example, M&S recently rolled out a widespread installation of self-service tills and smartphone-based ‘mobile checkout’ services, giving customers the freedom to pay how they wish.
It’s this type of mobile service that is a key area for retailers to focus on if they want to win and retain customers for their convenience. Physical stores used to be black holes when it came to digital. While consumers could browse online and fill their digital baskets before visiting the high street, once they were on the shop floor, these digital touchpoints became irrelevant. But, with mobile payments, retailers are able to capture a single, digital view of shopper behaviour. In turn, this creates a bespoke, omnichannel experience.
Lastly, as part of their omnichannel strategy, retailers should be tying these digital payments to a loyalty scheme. And with 30% of customers feeling that not enough retailers offer such schemes, it’s a huge oversight. If retailers end the shopping journey at the point of purchase, they are ignoring the fact that the majority of their revenue will come from returning customers. Rewarding purchase through a loyalty scheme will mean customers are encouraged to come back. It also gives retailers vital data about their most valuable customers, providing them with another way to connect their physical and digital worlds and prevent physical stores from becoming digital black holes.
Powering new services
On top of increasing convenience and customer loyalty, payments can also be used to create more enticing purchasing options for consumers. The likes of ASOS have triumphed when it comes to buy now, pay later payment options such as Klarna – a hugely smart investment with over 7 million shoppers using Klarna to date in the UK. Echoing this, the K3 research found that 15% of shoppers want to see more of these buy now, pay later options – which should be a wake-up call for retailers.
As we ease out of lockdown, payment technology is becoming a critical enabler for a retailer’s success or failure, and this doesn’t mean a retailer should consider its payment offerings in silo. Instead, they should look at it holistically, incorporating it into their physical and digital experience. If used wisely, payments can entice customers back for more. However, retailers have to act fast. In today’s retail climate, they only have one chance to get their strategy spot on.
Banking1 day ago
In-Store, Online & In-App – Unifying Payment Authentication
Top Stories2 days ago
Oil markets steady as investors weigh banking crisis, Russia
Technology1 day ago
How technology can help public sector organisations navigate austerity
Top Stories2 days ago
U.S. mid-tier lenders shares rise in Frankfurt after SVB deal


text:
The U.S. recycling rates for both PET bottles and all plastic bottles have fallen slightly, according to two reports released by industry groups.
The annual report from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) shows over 1.8 billion pounds of PET bottles were collected in the U.S. for recycling in 2018, up 5% over the previous year.
But the U.S. recycling rate for those bottles remained roughly flat at 28.9%, compared to 29.2% in 2017, because generation increased. The rate is calculated by dividing total PET bottles recycled domestically and exported by the total used in U.S. bottles.
The study also documented an ongoing shift away from exports and toward domestic outlets. In 2018, U.S. reclaimers purchased nearly 1.7 billion pounds of recovered PET bottles, up 16% from the year before. About 140 million pounds of PET bottle scrap were exported (including to Canada), a decrease of 50%. The percentage exported – just under 8% – is the lowest since 2000.
All plastic bottles
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) jointly released a report examining the recycling of all post-consumer bottles, including those made of PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP and other polymers (APR owns Resource Recycling, Inc.)
The research found that U.S. consumers recycled nearly 2.9 billion pounds of plastic bottles last year, up from 2.8 billion pounds recycled in 2017. But because of growing sales of resin for plastic bottle production, the recycling rate fell slightly from 29.3% in 2017 to 28.9% in 2018.
The report also looked at the decrease in exports. After 15.2% of recovered plastic bottles were exported in 2017, just 9.9% left the country in 2018. The report points out that exports in 2011 and earlier were higher than 30%.
The ACC-APR report was based on reclaimer surveys from consulting firm More Recycling and the PET-specific figures from NAPCOR.
More stories about plastics
- Illinois bill continues chemical recycling debate
- California recycled content rulemaking moves ahead
- New York lawmakers consider three packaging EPR bills


text:
The days of mailing bill payments without stamps on the envelope may be drawing to a close.
The practice, which has betome a favorite device of some consumers for registering complaints against high prices and poor service and of others simply because they can get away with it, is facing a series of actions aimed at curbing it:
¶Two companies in the Be Telephone System have announced that they will no longer accept postage‐due mail. The United States Postal Service has been considering going them one better, and the Postmaster General may announce, as early es tomorrow at the National oPstal Forum, a rule abolishing delivery of letters with unpaid postage.
¶At the same time, the Brooklyn Union Gas Compeeny has gone in the opposite direction by seeking to reinstitute a policy of paying the postage of the return envelopes it sends with its bills. It used to pay return postage when first‐class mail cost 3 cents.
In a recent tentative approval for the company to increase. revenues by $35,907,000, the Public Service Commission approved a plan for the company to utilize some $600,000 to pay for the service. This would be raised by assessing each of the company's 1,125,000 customers 10‐cents on their bimonthly bills Additional costs that might be incurred for handling would, be paid out of the concern's operating funds.
However, since about onesixth of the gas company's re. ceipts are not received by mail, the company stands to gain a surplus from what it had repre sented as an operating expense of $50,000 last year, when 10 per cent of its mail arrived postage due. The proposal will not go into effect, however, until the P.S.C. gives final approval for the total revenue request, expected sometime next month.
Problem Called Serious
The problems of postage‐due bill payments have caused even such utility giants as the New York Telephone Company to describe the situation as “very serious.” A company spokesman said current losses from the practice, which he called stealing, were running at about $250,000 a year.Continue reading the main story
According to Section 1725 of Title 18 of the United States Code, “whoever knowingly and willfully deposits any mailable matter... on which no postage has been paid in any letterbox... wiih intent to avoid payment of lawful postage thereon shall for each offense be fined not more than $300.”
Despite passage of this law in 1934, no one has ever been prosecuted as a result of it, nor is anyone ever likely to be..
In a 1971 report by the General Accounting Office, it was estimated that the Postal Service was losing more than $5million a year because of mail with insufficient postage. Thel report recommended abolishing delivery of postage‐due mail.
The problem has apparently grown to such proportions that action is considered imminent, although the proposal under consideration would ban delivery of only unpaid‐for mail and not mail with shortpaid postage. Under the plan, unpaid‐for mail would either be returned to the sender or forwarded to a dead‐letter office. At present, postage‐due mail is delivered unless the addressee files a “reject” order.
Few ‘Reject’ Orders
Not many concerns file such an order for two reasons: a desire for their money with as little delay as possible and a fear of making a mistake.
“If we didn't accept the mail it would go to the dead‐letter office,” said Bill Hand, a spokesman for the Brooklyn Union Gas Company. “Then we'd have the customer as being unpaid and terminate his service. That would be quite an inconvenience to our customers and especially serious if the person had left the stamp off inadvertently or the stamp had fallen off.”
But last year, at least one company bit the bullet and another has followed suit. By Oct. 1, 1973, the Pacific Telephone Company in Crdifornia had notified its six million customers that it would no longer accept postage‐due mail. Although only 2.3 per cent of its customers were failing to put a stamp on their payment envelopes, it was costing the company an estimated $140,000.
A check with the regional office of the Postal Service in San Francisco showed the counterattack was working. In November, 1973, 12,900 letters were forwarded to the dead‐letter office. By last July, the figure had dropped to 5,500.
On Aug. 16, the Chesapeake Potomac Telephone Company notified its three million customers that it would also refuse postage‐due mail. A spokesman said that about 1 per cent of its customers were mailing in their bills with insufficient postage and that the practice would cost the company about $45,000 this year.Continue reading the main story


text:
The mobile payments market has been heating up like crazy ever since Apple entered the fray, with Google trying desperately to improve its existing offerings and Samsung just now entering the market, but one company has remained conspicuously absent: Microsoft. However, if the company’s recent filing to establish a new company known as Microsoft Payments is any indication, it won’t be staying out of the market for too much longer.
After Google’s acquisition of Softcard, Windows Phone users were left without a solution when it came to mobile payments via NFC. A new filing by Microsoft suggests that a new mobile payment system is on its way and it could be here soon. According to Faisal Khan, a banking / payments consultant, Microsoft has filed to establish a mobile payment company known as Microsoft Payments Inc; Microsoft has also registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Although this could yield some type of new payment system in the future for Windows Phone, it could also just be Microsoft registering to create a placeholder. While mobile payments have become a bit more popular thanks to the introduction of Apple Pay, it still isn’t a highly utilized method of payment. Although Google’s “Wallet” has been available for some time, it has failed to gain mainstream traction. Google and Apple will also face new competition in the form of Samsung’s LoopPay; Samsung recently acquired LoopPay, which is currently accepted at around 90% of retail location.


text:
India's self-employed face old age without pensions
Only a minority of working people in India have pension provision.
Some measures are being put in place to help the poorest workers, among them autorickshaw drivers.
One of these involves displaying advertising on the cabs.
Shilpa Kannan reports from Delhi.
14 Sep 2010
- From the section Business


text:
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Farmers’ Market will resume its outdoor market on Wednesday, May 5, at its traditional location in High Rock Park, while still operating at Wilton Mall, where it will move outdoors starting Saturday, May 1.
The Saturday market will be in the parking lots near the former Bon-Ton and Bow Tie Cinemas entrances to the mall, moving from the location it has used this past winter inside the mall. The market, which has had a number of different winter locations over the years, began holding its markets at the mall — with its ample parking — in the winter of 2019-2020.
The organizers said the Saturday markets, weekly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature around 65 local vendors selling fresh produce, dairy products, eggs, meats, flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, and other items. At Wednesday’s markets, weekly from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 20 vendors will be providing a similar range of items.
Organizers said the decision to start the summer season in two locations was made to keep market vendors and customers safe while the COVID-19 pandemic still requires social distancing. They said the smaller Wednesday market fits comfortably at High Rock Park, but for the larger Saturday market, a more expansive footprint is still needed. A survey conducted among customers, which gathered over 700 responses, indicated an even split in their location preferences, they said.
In 2020, the market’s warm-weather location was in the mall parking lot, and High Rock Park wasn’t used at all — because of COVID-19 concerns, and because construction of the City Center’s new parking garage was taking place nearby. The parking garage has since been completed, and is available for customer use.
For 2021, the markets will continue to follow current COVID-19 safety guidelines for farmers’ markets, with socially distanced booths, numerous hand-washing and sanitizing opportunities, and customers and vendors required to follow mask requirements.
The Saturday market will continue to offer its online pre-ordering and curbside pickup service. Market staff will continue to assess market safety and update operational guidelines for farmers’ markets. The market board has not ruled out moving back to the downtown outdoor location if state COVID guidelines allow it, although the Wilton location is considered to be successful.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market, now in its 43rd season, is a year-round producer-only market. From May through October, the market in good times hosts 80 vendors. The market provides customers with locally-made products from five counties: Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Washington, and Warren.


text:
AT&T Points Finger at Google for Delayed Android Updates, Prepares to Test Small Cells
May 10, 2012 7:52 AM
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson
Google responded to AT&T, saying that it doesn't have any agreements with AT&T that require a deal before the the launch of a handset
AT&T had a few choice words about Google concerning Android update delays at the Milken Institute's Global Conference 2012.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson addressed Android's slow pace when it comes to introducing updates for the mobile operating system. He ultimately blamed Google for the delays.
"It's an issue," said Stephenson. "Google kind of determines what platform gets the newest releases and when. Often times that's a negotiated arrangement, and so that's something we work at hard. We know that it's important to our customers."
Google responded to AT&T, saying that it doesn't have any agreements with AT&T that require a deal before the the launch of a handset. Rather, the latest release of
Android becomes available
at source.android.com when the first device that carries it launches.
Google executives also mentioned that the delays are caused by operator approvals, basically meaning that carriers are to blame.
Earlier this week, Stephenson also
picked on Apple's iPhone,
which he said he loses sleep over because of early AT&T pricing models and new messaging services like iMessage.
In other AT&T-related news, the carrier will be testing small cells later this year and early next year in an effort to up its network coverage. It was announced earlier this year that Cisco would work on the cells with AT&T, which are expected to launch at a fraction of the cost of a traditional tower. The cells can also be deployed in many different and convenient environments.
It is currently unclear whether the type of hardware being tested is 3G, 4G, etc.
"We shipped it on Saturday. Then on Sunday, we rested." -- Steve Jobs on the iPad launch
AT&T CEO: iPhone Unlimited Plans, iMessage Service Disrupting Business
May 7, 2012, 10:21 AM
AT&T Promises to Step Up Android Offerings, Shows 5 New Phones
October 11, 2011, 10:26 AM
Xiaomi Mi 6 - Flash Sale on April 28 in China
April 26, 2017, 7:45 AM
Apple Watch NikeLab Limited Edition unveiled.
April 22, 2017, 6:20 AM
What is the Apple’s iPhone 8 specifications and release date?
April 14, 2017, 5:43 AM
Xiaomi Mi Pad 3 tablet with Hexa –Core SoC, Android Marshmallow
April 6, 2017, 6:40 AM
Vivo launches V5 Plus IPL edition smartphone
April 4, 2017, 11:10 AM
Samsung S8 and S8 Plus: On Sale April 21 at Major Wireless Dealers
March 30, 2017, 7:35 AM
Most Popular Articles
Surface Pro 5 Rumors - New Release Date and Price
April 22, 2017, 6:45 AM
SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 580 8GD5 – Great Value for the Money
April 20, 2017, 7:47 AM
Dell Inspiron 17 7000 – A Premium Laptop featuring 7th Gen Intel Core i7 in a 2-in-1 Frame.
April 19, 2017, 7:45 AM
Tesla will announce electric lorry in September
April 19, 2017, 6:20 AM
Meet the Smartphone with four cameras - Alcatel Flashphone
April 5, 2017, 11:20 AM
Latest Blog Posts
Google Co-Founder, Sergey Brin has an Airship
Apr 26, 2017, 6:43 AM
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus – Lots of Glass that Breaks Easily
Apr 25, 2017, 7:20 AM
Samsung Galaxy S8 – Warning for Pet Owners
Apr 24, 2017, 5:59 AM
Sound Bars and the Costs?
Apr 23, 2017, 6:30 AM
Link your Brain to Your Computer – In Four Years…Maybe
Apr 22, 2017, 7:03 AM
Google Home can now identify users by their voice.
Apr 21, 2017, 7:15 AM
Amazon Lex – Now Available for Developers.
Apr 20, 2017, 6:58 AM
You can now use Instagram offline on your Android Smartphone
Apr 19, 2017, 8:00 AM
Now you can livestream to YouTube from your mobile device.
Apr 18, 2017, 8:05 AM
Google Home – Is It a Spy Device?
Apr 17, 2017, 7:30 AM
Apple added to self –driving test permit list
Apr 15, 2017, 6:21 AM
Project Scorpio – Coming on June 11
Apr 14, 2017, 6:20 AM
Looks Like Samsung Has Been Forgiven.
Apr 13, 2017, 6:50 AM
United Airlines - Blasted on China’s Social Network and the Stock Market
Apr 12, 2017, 6:50 AM
Amazon's Third-Party Sellers Hacked
Apr 11, 2017, 6:25 AM
Microsoft Surface Pro5 Details Revealed
Apr 9, 2017, 6:41 AM
Own An Android Phone? Then you could be hacked over Wi-FI
Apr 7, 2017, 6:47 AM
Apple confirms iOS 10.3 bug and its effect on iCloud Services
Apr 6, 2017, 6:30 AM
Apple Rolls Out New Version of Apple Music
Apr 5, 2017, 10:35 AM
Apple in the News
Apr 4, 2017, 9:03 AM
Apple iPhones Will Soon Feature Graphics Chips Designed BY Apple
Apr 3, 2017, 6:23 AM
More Blog Posts
Copyright 2017 DailyTech LLC. -
Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information


text:
No, Samsung isn't building a new chipset factory in the US
Samsung has effectively shot down the ongoing rumor that it's about to expand its US-based chip production business amidst South Korea's ongoing trade war with Japan. Local sources claimed that due to the tensions between the two countries, Samsung might feel pressed to expand its chip manufacturing business in its Austin, Texas-based foundry, which was founded all the way back in 1996 and has cost Samsung nearly $17 billion so far, or even invest in a whole new production factory. The facility doesn't produce bespoke Samsung chipsets but manufactures chips for export to other phone companies, with one of the largest clients being Apple.
However, The Korea Herald reports that Samsung has denied the rumors than any additional investments to increase its chip production in the US will be made. While increase in chip production is not ruled out, it wouldn't be related in any way to the trade friction between the two Eastern super-economies.
Japan has imposed a lot of export curbs on key chipmaking materials which are hindering the manufacturing process. The export of the rather important photoresists, fluorinated polyimides and hydrogen fluorine are all hindered by the recent Japan-imposed trade restrictions. To combat these new hurdles, Samsung is allegedly building a whole new hydrogen fluoride manufacturing plant in South Korea.
It's still largely unclear how the tensions between South Korea and Japan are going to affect Samsung, but hopefully, consumers wouldn't have to pay the bill.


text:
Regulator Ofgem has unveiled plans, in response to recommendations made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), to protect prepayment customers and encourage more energy switching, to help customers save money.
The news follows a two-year investigation which found Big Six companies had been overcharging customers. The investigation also found that two-thirds of householders had been paying more for their gas and electricity than customers who had switched suppliers.
From April next year, prepayment energy customers will be protected by an interim price cap, which is expected to save around four million people roughly £75 per year. The cap will expire in 2020 in time for the rollout of smart meters.
The plans will also require suppliers to hand over the details of customers who been on an expensive default tariff for three years or more, in a bid to encourage them to switch.
Dermot Nolan, Ofgem chief executive, said: “The CMA’s final report is a watershed moment for industry and consumers and points the way to a fairer and more competitive future. We are acting on these reforms and we expect energy companies, consumer groups and government to seize this opportunity to deliver a more competitive and fairer energy market for all consumers.
“We will closely monitor how the energy market develops as these reforms are implemented and will do so with a particular focus on consumer outcomes. We are committed to assessing competition and consumer outcomes in the GB energy market and we will not hesitate to take action if we feel that outcomes for consumers are not as good as they could be.”