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Go plastic free this July
Plastics are everywhere, from the packaging of our food to toys for our kids, and from heat-saving domestic insulation to life-saving medical innovations.
Most of us are aware of our over-reliance on plastic and our over-use of single use plastics in particular. Our disposable throw-away culture has led to plastic pollution being one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Recent statistics (pre-Covid) have confirmed that Ireland is the number one plastic waste producer in the EU and over a third of all produced plastic, such as straws, shopping bags or bottles, is used only once and then discarded.
Here are some sobering facts (pre Covid):
•An estimated two million disposable coffee cups a day in Ireland went into landfill.
•Around 22 million plastic bottles were purchased in Ireland each week.
•Each person in Ireland produced 54kg of plastic waste per person each year, compared to the EU average of 33kg, making Ireland the largest producer of plastic waste in Europe
•Ireland also has the fourth lowest recycling rate, with 31% of plastic packaging waste produced
•Approximately 9 million tons of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans and seas each year (about a truckful every minute).
•Plastic generally takes between 450 and 1,000 years to decompose.
We can make a difference – our choices matter. Making better decisions to buy and use items to reduce our plastic waste production is what Plastic Free July is all about.
So here are some simple ideas to help make July, and beyond, Plastic Free:
•Let’s start with the really simple ones: cut out the use of disposable straws, coffee cups and water bottles.
•Clingfilm – use lunchboxes instead or beeswax wrapping.
•When shopping, choose loose fruit and veg and packaging free items. It’s important to support businesses that offer these options.
•There’s a lot of plastic in the bathroom. Look at using soap instead of shower gel in plastic bottles, likewise try out shampoo and conditioner bars.
There are a lot more ideas – if anyone would like to share their ideas or Plastic Free July journey, we would love to hear from you!
Political Engagement in Belmayneread more
Milford Family Fun Dayread more
Clúid Resident Newsletter – Summer 2023read more


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Society has reached the moment of “peak beard,” at least according to science. A new study out of the University of New South Wales has revealed that largely due to its over-abundance, the reign of the hipster fashion beard is finally nearing its end.
The founders of LaunchKey hope to put the days of stolen and forgotten passwords behind us.
How a brand handles its customer’s security and personal information is obviously a decision consumers weigh when giving up their information and hard earned money. It will be interesting to see how brands continue to research this crucial obstacle in the purchase process and address it in creative ways… LaunchKey is definitely onto something!
I’ve enjoyed watching brands take to Instagram. It’s clearly the immediate future of advertising through social media… but for some reason, most haven’t yet figured out how to do it. Instagram posts from the biggest global brands still need to be published from a phone, and they can’t be scheduled in advance. The race is on!
It took a while, but someone has finally lampooned Cadillac’s much-derided “Poolside” commercial starring Neal McDonough. And not just any old someone—Ford Motor Co. Nice counterpunch Team Detroit! This has Toby written all over it, awesome work!

domain: news


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Samsung Heavy picks GTT tank design for two new LNG carriers
Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has ordered the tank design for two new LNG carriers from the French LNG containment specialist GTT.
GTT revealed in a statement that it has received an order from its partner Samsung Heavy for the tank design of two new LNGCs on behalf of a European ship owner. The shipowner remains undisclosed for the time being.
The shipyard will deliver the vessels in the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2026.
Following the latest news, Samsung Heavy’s order book for this year amounts to 33 vessels so far, representing 72 per cent of its annual order target.


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In September, GFI threat researchers documented a number of cybercrime campaigns directed at users of various social networking sites including direct message spam on Twitter and a phony Pinterest application.
Users of Android smartphones and tablets also encountered mobile malware under the guise of Grand Theft Auto and lingering Olympics 2012 applications.
“With the emergence of smartphones and widespread access to the Internet, today’s consumers have an ever-growing demand for constant, reliable connectivity at all times. However, constant connectivity to social networks, websites and email goes hand-in-hand with constant threats of malware, spam and phishing attacks,” said Christopher Boyd, senior threat researcher at GFI Software. “The convenience of being connected 24 hours a day requires constant vigilance if the user wants to keep their personal devices and sensitive information safe from cybercriminals.”
Many Twitter users received direct messages linking them to a phony login page for the “Twitter Video” application on Facebook. Users who entered their Twitter account credentials had their own accounts hijacked for direct message spam campaigns and were directed to download an Umbra Loader Botnet building tool disguised as a Flash Player update.
Pinterest users looking for a way to quickly and easily view full-sized images without having to click through to individual pages were also targeted with the fake “Pin Photo Zoom” application which infected their system with adware.
Mobile users using Android devices continued to be at risk of downloading malicious programs last month including a fake “Results for the Olympics” application which sent premium text messages from the victim’s phone. Mobile gamers were also targeted with a phony Android version of the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City containing a Boxer Trojan disguised as a Flash Player.


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ECO Spin is made of recycled materials, the raw material for the airjet spun fiber of which the fabric is made
Vapor Apparel's production is based in Colombia, due to the country's environmental credentials and proximity to the U.S.
Vapor Apparel will be launching its new ECO Spin recycled fabric range at the EcoPrint show in Berlin
The textile and fashion industries have a huge environmental footprint as their production cycles rely on oil, pesticides, and great amounts of energy and water. For that reason, some companies are looking for new manufacturing methods, including recycling, as a way to mitigate their ecological footprint. One of them is Vapor Apparel, a U.S. company specializing in performance fabrics and digital sublimation printing that is launching a new range of 100 percent recycled fabric during the upcoming EcoPrint show in Berlin, Germany.
Other Images from this Gallery


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Samsung has revealed A sharp decline in profits for 2022, mainly due to weak demand for its chips and smartphones, which are the company’s main money makers. The Korean tech giant reported annual revenue of KRW 302.23 trillion (US$245.4 billion), a new record in the company’s latest earnings report. But full-year 2022 operating profit of KRW 43.38 trillion (US$35 billion), down KRW 8.5 trillion (US$6.9 billion). from previous year.
“The business environment deteriorated significantly in the fourth quarter due to weak demand amid the global economic slowdown,” the company explained. While the technology giant’s foundry business posted an increase in profits due to customer and application diversification, its semiconductor business performed poorly overall. Overall, there was weak demand for its chips as customers adjusted and reduced their inventories amid economic uncertainty. The price of its chips also fell, largely due to a surplus of unsold inventory, contributing to the business’s decline in annual revenue.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, Samsung’s semiconductor business generated consolidated revenue of KRW 20.07 trillion (US$16.3 billion), but only KRW 0.27 trillion (US$219 million) in operating profit. In comparison, it posted an operating profit of KRW 26.01 trillion (US$21.6 billion at early 2022 exchange rates) and KRW 8.84 trillion (US$7.35 billion) in Q4 2021. Samsung has been pushing for a persistent trend throughout this downward trend. In the next few months, it expects demand for its semiconductors to pick up in the second half of the year.
Similarly, demand for smartphones remained weak in the fourth quarter of 2022. Sales of Samsung’s most affordable phones fell, and while flagship sales were in line with market expectations, they were lower than in previous quarters’. The company expects demand for mass-market smartphones to weaken further in 2023 “due to persistent macroeconomic conditions.” But as demand for premium devices is expected to remain firm, it promises to strengthen “the competitiveness of its premium flagship products”. Note, Samsung does Hold its first Unopened event in 2023 It will launch its next flagship phone, the Galaxy S23, on February 1.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team independent of our parent company. Some of our stories contain affiliate links. If you purchase one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.


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LG is set to showcase its 8.8mm thin LED TV that features Nano lighting technology at IFA.
Click to enlarge
LG claims that the Infinia LEX8 is 8.8mm thin with a bezel that is 12.5mm wide, making it the ‘slimmest Full LED TV in the world’. This new TV features a thin film printed with small dots positioned in front of LEDs.
According to the company, this feature disperses light more evenly and will create better picture quality. In addition, the LEX8 has improved localised dimming in both 2D and 3D with its Micro Pixel Control. An added anti-reflection panel on the screen claims to minimise reflection from external light sources. The TV will also come with TruMotion 400Hz, 3D-capabilities, and Netcast.
LG’s President and CEO of Home Entertainment, Simon Kang said, “In creating our first television using NANO technology, LG is continuing to set new standards in TV technology and demonstrating once again that we’re pushing the envelope of home entertainment. Just as difficult as it is to watch standard TV after experiencing high definition, people will resist going back to regular LED LCD TVs after viewing the LEX8.”


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Since JCPenney added Minneapolis-based Peterson Milla Hooks to its agency roster over a month ago, some were wondering where this move would leave Saatchi & Saatchi NY, which has exclusively handled creative duties for the brand for the last five years (who can forget “Beware of the Doghouse”). Well, over the past week, we’ve received a few tips from different sources claiming that the retailer has indeed parted ways with Saatchi and that the parties involved are just keeping things quiet.
We reached out to JCPenney the minute we started hearing these grumblings on Dec. 20, but have yet to hear a peep from the brand or Saatchi for that matter. Well, it is the holidays after all, but considering that JCPenney’s new management brought PMH on board and changed PR agencies in just a month’s time, would a split from Saatchi seem all that shocking? Hopefully we’ll find out whether the relationship’s intact or not as we head into 2012. OK, back to autopilot mode.
Update: Well, they’re keeping quiet no more as a JCPenney spokesperson tells us, “Both jcpenney and Saatchi mutually decided to end our relationship.” According to tipsters, the creative account is worth something to the tune of $400 million, though we’re checking with Penneys on that.


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Shares of Netflix NFLX.O tumbled 9% on Thursday after the video-streaming pioneer’s lackluster revenue rise sparked concerns of a longer road to growth from its new initiatives.
The company added nearly 6 million subscribers in the second quarter – almost three times above Wall Street’s expectations – thanks to a crackdown on password sharing and the introduction of a cheaper subscription tier that is bundled with advertising.
However, quarterly revenue growth and forecast lagged estimates, prompting co-Chief Executive Officer Greg Peters to caution that it would take “several quarters” to see returns from those efforts.
Netflix shares, which have risen more than 60% this year, were on course for their worst day in 2023, erasing nearly $20 billion from the company’s market value if losses hold.
“Netflix needs to squeeze as much juice as it can from different avenues,” Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Sophie Lund-Yates said, adding the market was “realms away from knowing” if the much-touted ad tier could become the new cash cow.
The company has been fighting off rivals Disney+ and Amazon’s Prime Video in an industry that is showing signs of saturation in the United States. Many of the company’s new sign-ups are in countries where it charges lower prices.
However, analysts remained broadly upbeat on Netflix stock, with at least 25 of them lifting their price targets on the belief that revenue growth would accelerate in the second half of 2023 thanks to the new money-making initiatives.
They also said the ongoing strike in Hollywood might not hit Netflix’s content slate until 2024 and that it could give the company an edge over its peers as it has a solid lineup of shows.
The company also has a big international presence, giving it access to a wide range of non-U.S. shows and shielding it from the strike. Its non-English titles such as “Physical 100”, “The Glory” and “Alice in Borderland” have also been gaining in popularity.
“Every other streamer is now increasing prices, while Netflix is now extremely competitive with its ad tier. It is putting all the building blocks in place for future revenue growth,” PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore said.
He added the company would also benefit from its move to remove the cheapest plan without ads tier in core markets, which should help support declining average revenue per user.
Netflix on Wednesday raised its 2023 free-cash-flow forecast to at least $5 billion from an earlier estimate of about $3.5 billion as a result of the strike.
The median price target on the company now stands at $445, or about 7% lower than its last closing price. Netflix has a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 36.16, well above Disney’s 18.12 and an industry mean of 15.47.
—Reporting by Samrhitha Arunasalam in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Anil D’Silva


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Dirty Dunkin': Tray of dropped donuts sold to customers
Company says franchise owner spoke to restaurant manager about incident
An entire tray of donuts was accidentally dropped on the floor at a local Dunkin' Donuts, but it's what happened next that had people losing their appetites.
It was business as usual inside a Mendon, Massachusetts Dunkin' Donuts on Uxbridge Street Thursday night, but former employees are speaking out about what was captured on video last November.
The employees said it shows what an employee did before the store opened that has them coming forward.
A video shows a tray of donuts accidentally spilled on the floor. The female manager picked them up, waited some time and then put them back onto the tray and into the case to be sold.
Liam, who didn't want his last name used, said to the best of his knowledge the donuts were then sold to customers when the store opened.
He told NewsCenter 5's Maria Stephanos that he was taken off the schedule after working there for three years. He admitted that when that happened he wasn't happy so he came forward with the video, but he said the video speaks for itself.
"People are eating food that went to the ground, to the counter, and then putting it into their mouth," Liam said. "That's a problem."
NewsCenter 5 reached out to Global Public Relations for Dunkin' Brands and they said they "are aware of the video and take matters like this very seriously. The actions seen in the video at a franchised Dunkin' Donuts restaurant are absolutely inconsistent with our strict food safety standards and requirements."
Dunkin' Donuts went on to say that the franchise owner met with workers to explain that those donuts should have been thrown out immediately.
Video of the incident has been viewed on Facebook more than 56,000 times. Some people questioned whether the video was edited, but when NewsCenter 5 spoke to officials, they never disputed the video's authenticity.
Dunkin' Donuts said they were aware of the video and dealt with it appropriately.


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SINGAPORE (Jan 28): Aspen Group will officially begin trading on the Mainboard of the SGX-ST on Jan 28 following its transfer from the Catalist board.
The group was listed on the Catalist board via an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares on July 28, 2017.
“We are pleased to announce that we have officially moved to the Mainboard after trading on the Catalist Board for the last 3.5 years. Our intention for the move was to increase the group’s exposure and improve our access to the larger capital markets including institutional and retail investors”, says Dato’ M Murly (pictured), the group’s president and CEO.
“Recently, the Group diversified into the healthcare sector with the manufacturing and distribution of high-quality medical grade latex and nitrile gloves. We believe that being on the Mainboard will be beneficial to the future growth of the Group and allows for greater financing flexibility for business expansion including our glove manufacturing business, which will in turn enhance the long-term value for our shareholders,” he adds.
In addition, Murly revealed that the group is targeting to award the machinery procurement for the six additional production lines by early February.
“Concurrently, we are negotiating on a sales contract for the production from Phase 1b and will make further announcements if and when we have entered into a definitive agreement which we expect to take place within 1Q2021”, he says.
For FY2021, Aspen revealed that it targets to launch new projects with an estimated gross development value of RM500 million (S$163.9 million) within its Aspen Vision City master plan development undertaken jointly with IKEA Southeast Asia.
It adds that its focus for FY2021 will include the commencement of the development of the integrated e-commerce logistic hub in Shah Alam through the joint venture with Logos SE Asia Pte. Ltd.
Shares in Aspen closed 0.5 cent higher or 1.9% up at 26.5 cents on Jan 27.
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Credit unions, banks and A.T.M. operators are asking Congress to change a rule that requires them to display notices outside automatic teller machines that warn noncustomers that they may incur fees by using the A.T.M.
The requirement, part of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, also mandates that machines notify consumers of fees on-screen, as well.
But in recent years, banks say, the requirement of a physical, external notice has made them vulnerable to so-called “A.T.M. vigilantes,” who use A.T.M.’s that are missing the placards and file lawsuits against the institutions. The notices are typically affixed on or near the A.T.M. with adhesive. (A Michigan couple has filed dozens of suits, which were settled for thousands of dollars, according to news reports.) The Credit Union National Association says at least 110 class-action lawsuits have been filed against credit unions over the last two years, at least 20 of which were filed in the first four months of this year.
Banks and credit unions deem the lawsuits frivolous and have asked Congress to drop the requirement for external notices, leaving only the mandate for an on-screen notice. According to a summary of legislation (H.R. 4367) proposed by Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, Republican of Missouri, there have been some instances in which placards may have been intentionally removed. The bill has been approved by the House financial services committee and may be presented to the full House as early as Monday.
Financial institutions argue that the requirement for external notices is outdated and redundant because consumers must be notified of fees on screen – and indicate they accept them — before continuing with an A.T.M. transaction.
A letter signed by 10 industry groups and sent to the committees considering the House and Senate (S. 3204) versions of the bill said in part:
A physical placard fee notice may have played a useful role when Congress first enacted the statutory provision in the 1990’s. At that time, off-premise A.T.M.’s were relatively uncommon, and some consumers might have been unaware that they may be charged a fee for using an A.T.M. Also, many A.T.M.’s were not capable of providing the notice on the monitor. …
Today, consumers expect to pay a fee at an A.T.M. unless they are using an A.T.M. owned or operated by the bank or credit union where they have their account or their financial institution has agreed to pay for the use of the A.T.M.
Moreover, when the ATM disclosure requirements were adopted, ATM video monitors were much smaller and the images displayed were not sharp or crisp. … Today, ATM video monitors are much larger, display a sharp image and are designed to place the video monitor ‘front and center’ to the consumer.
Still, some consumer groups, including Consumer Action, Consumers Union and U.S. PIRG, oppose the legislation. The notices still serve as a reminder — before consumers insert a card into the machine and begin a transaction — that they may be charged fees, said Linda Sherry, director of national priorities for Consumer Action. “It’s a tickler for consumers to remember that they may be charged a fee,” she said.
In a letter to Mr. Luetkemeyer, the three groups say they wouldn’t, however, oppose steps by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to issue regulations to clarify banks’ liability in such situations.
Do you take notice of the external fee notices on A.T.M.’s? Do you find them valuable?


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Liquid Telecom registers growth on backdrop of diversification
By Valentine Kondo | November 16th 2018
NAIROBI, KENYA: Liquid Telecom Kenya on Wednesday, released a second 2018 Sustainability report reflecting key strategies that have aided its sales growth in this fiscal year in terms of revenue and profits.
East Africa Liquid Telecom Kenya Managing Director, Adil Youssefi said the company registered performance of 20 percent growth in sales with business internet service contributing 56 percent of total sales in 2017.
Youssefi said the company’s performance was due to its efforts in diversifying services.
“We believe the strength of the business performance reflects the better value and wider range of services we have been able to offer as a result of the financial, transparency and efficiency gains from our sustainability initiatives,” he said.
The company had adopted 2015’s KEPSA Code of Business Ethics in abolishing conflict of interest, proper use of resources, maintaining business integrity well as lessening its environmental impact.
The company reduced dependence of its dirty fuel by 35 percent in 2016 by connecting solar panels, setting up voltage regulators on generators and building a power substation prompted by grid power outages.
The introduction of energy saving light bulbs saved a further Sh2 million in electricity costs.
Youssefi said the company’s commitment in building socially accountable firms will help boost the economy.
“We believe that our ongoing commitment to building a strong and socially responsible business is, furthermore, delivering accelerated economic development for Kenya as well as expanded job opportunities for youth,” he stressed.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 9 calls on states, companies and individuals to “build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.
Figures from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) show that there were nearly 55,000 fixed fibre optic subscriptions in June 2017, double the approximately 27,500 connections recorded in June 2016.
The sins of power producer
- Fuliza defaulters to have KCB, M-shwari accounts blocked as Safaricom tightens rules
- Hope for cheaper cooking gas in sight as State eyes loading plant
- Senegal and Mali beat Kenya in internet speed
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SHIPPING & LOGISTICS
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By XN Iraki


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This Week In Tech And Telco: It's All About 5G
Happy New Year and welcome back to our weekly round-up featuring all things tech and telco. I’m not sure about you, but we are ready to ramp things up! Read on:
The biggest talking point in tech so far seems to be the further development and adoption of 5G, with the next generation technology topping trend predictions. But putting aside the 'trends to watch out for in 2019’ listicles, what news has slipped through the net over the festive season? Read on:
AT&T launched fifth-generation network hotspots across 12 cities at the end of 2018. Hotspots are due to the lack of 5G-enabled devices.
One Reddit post, however, shows a Speedtest result of 194.88Mbps down on AT&T’s 5G network using a hotspot. The speed isn’t bad, however, the same user tested AT&T’s 4G network from the same location and received 187.44Mbps down.
The network’s race to be the US’ first 5G provider may damage adoption - we’re probably still a couple of years away from having vast and strong 5G connections.
AT&T is will rebrand 4G LTE into “5G E”, but it’s merely an indicator on existing 4G Android devices.
While AT&T is struggling to fight for dominance in the states, GSMA welcomes the decision of the Arab Frequency Management Group (ASMG) to open the 3.3 – 3.8 GHz frequency band for mobile broadband; this will increase the availability of a harmonized frequency band for 5G deployment in the Arab world.
ASMG, representing the 22 countries of the Arab countries, coordinates issues related to frequency band management and the ITU World Radio Communication Conference among the Arab countries.
5G equipment operates over a wide frequency tuning range of the band. By supporting this system, equipment manufacturing will increase alongside the 5G economy.
Deutsche Telekom has launched legal proceedings against the German government over obligations it has imposed on telcos looking to roll out 5G services across the country.
Germany has stated that any telco purchasing spectrum at its 5G auctions must also commit to meeting minimum coverage areas.
Speaking with Mark Chong, the group chief technology officer at Singapore Telecommunications, you wouldn’t be out of place if you think 5G is a little over-rated.
Chong told the Australian Financial Review that 5G adoption will struggle without a killer flagship product to encourage consumers to take up the speedy network.
“5G needs an iPhone moment,” says Chong in an exclusive interview with Chanticleer in Singapore.“When Steve Jobs created the smartphone that saw the rise of 3G and 4G. We need that sort of breakthrough to generate excitement among consumers and enterprises. To be honest, consumers are generally happy about 4G.”
Due to an apparent dispute between Apple and Qualcomm, a 5G-enabled iPhone is not expected until the end of 2020. Considering over 50% of Australia opts for the brand’s mobile devices, this may be troubling for the country’s 5G take-up.
Another hindrance for 5G smartphones is the fact that Telstra, Australia's leading provider of mobile phones, mobile devices, does not stock products made by Chinese company Huawei, which also happens to be banned from supplying 5G telco equipment in Australia.
But let's get away from next-gen connections and back to good ol' fiber... M&G Prudential's Infracapital has reached an agreement to buy 50% of SSE Enterprise Telecoms for £380m, meaning private equity has found another pile of fiber infrastructure to invest in over in the UK.
SSE Enterprise Telecoms is the network arm of SSE Group, the Scottish-based energy utility, which will continue to own the other half.
The network operator has 13,700km route miles of intercity and metro fiber hooking up markets throughout England, Wales, and Scotland. SSE Enterprise Telecoms will use the new funding to accelerate its investments in additional infrastructure to prepaer for 5G and other next-gen tech.


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The sale of high street chains Oasis, Coast and Warehouse has been shelved after the last remaining bidder was a billionaire who is the subject of an Interpol “red notice” over a fraud allegation.
However, the retailers’ operators has insisted the sale was called off as the market did not “currently recognise the value” of the businesses.
Oasis, Coast and Warehouse are all part of the Aurora Fashion Group – which is majority-owned by the administrators of now-defunct Icelandic bank Kaupthing – and were put up for sale last November.
Takeover bids for the womenswear retailers, which have 750 stores and employ more than 6000 staff between them, began in May.
According to The Sunday Times, Emerisque Brands, founded by UK-based Indian entrepreneur Ajay Khaitan in 2004, was the last remaining bidder for the chains.
Last month, reports emerged that he was reportedly working on a £60 million acquisition deal of the three chains.
It also emerged Interpol has an international arrest warrant on Khaitan due to allegations he was involved in “submitting fake and fabricated documents” in an old dispute over invoicing back in Calcutta.
Khatian has said he was not personally involved with the 1988 transaction that prompted the warrant.
A spokesman for Khaitan also told The Telegraph last month that he had repaid the £7000 claim with interest and that the warrant was issued because he had not attended the hearings the invoicing case generated in India.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group owner Philip Day – who has acquired Austin Reed and Jaeger in the past 12 months – is thought to have been one of the other bidders, alongside turnaround firms Endless and Alteri Investors, and South African-based retail companies Foschini and Truworths.
Kaupthing would not clarify its reasons for not proceeding with a sale but did say it was under no pressure to sell the businesses.
“We feel the market does not currently recognise the value we see in the business,” its chief executive Paul Copley told The Sunday Times.
Kaupthing is thought to have been aiming for a £100 million sale for the high street chains.


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Cosmetics: Sunscreens Made in Europe
A close-up on the complexities of the TTIP trade negotiations
May 20, 2014
The TTIP negotiators risked getting sunburned when they gathered outside of Washington to start the fifth round of negotiations for a Transatlantic free trade agreement on Monday, May 19. But the representatives from the EU might have had better protection if they had brought sunscreen in their luggage instead of buying it upon arrival.
The Environmental Working Group, which independently evaluates health benefits and risks of skin care products, has long warned that sunscreens available in the United States offer worse protection against the dangerous UVA rays that don’t cause acute sunburn, but long-term damage to the skin.
The superior filters used in many European sunscreens (Mexoryl and Tinosorb) are not available in the United States since the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the ingredients that experts on both sides of the Atlantic deem to be the most effective.
These experts also agree that safety concerns are not what is holding the FDA back, but its own procedures.
EU exporters and American manufacturers would like to see these substances approved in the United States sooner rather than later. The trade organizations Cosmetics Europe and the Personal Care Products Council fight side by side for the goal that “the U.S. should recognize EU positive list materials (eg. UV filters).”
The regulation of sunscreen may not be at the top of the priority list for the TTIP negotiators. But it is a good example of the herculean task of trying to harmonize regulations for chemicals, pharmaceuticals or cosmetics on both sides of the Atlantic.
For starters, it is not even clear under which category sunscreen falls. Just like fluoride toothpaste and antiperspirants, it is considered a cosmetic product in the EU. But due to their active ingredients, all three products are categorized as over-the-counter-drugs in the United States. For drugs, however, the regulatory approval process is longer and more cumbersome.
European regulations create confusion for manufacturers in other areas. According to Thomas Hartung, a toxicologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, not even European cosmetic companies know what the EU’s Chemical Directive REACH will mean for their business.
Under REACH, the risks of all chemicals have to be re-evaluated, and that also applies to ingredients used in many cosmetics.
The EU ban on animal testing (whose last stage went into force this year) in the cosmetics industry presents another headache to manufacturers from the United States where the practice is not forbidden.
The industry on both sides has moved away from animal tests, but companies now urge their governments to harmonize alternative testing methods and to allow some flexibility for areas where such methods are not yet available, such as long-term toxicological tests for hair dye.
Just how much work lies ahead becomes clear in the paragraph on labeling in the cosmetic industry’s joint submission to the Working Group.
The manufacturers urge the United States to allow the term “aqua” on labels, instead of forcing importers to translate it to “water.” Their explanation: “This requirement is a costly and very unnecessary exercise given the total lack of a health risk from using this ingredient.”
Dermatologists would argue that the filters in sunscreens are a more serious case. It seems as though the TTIP negotiations have helped to move the debate in the United States.
According to the Washington Post, European manufacturers of the chemical ingredients such as BASF have lobbied Congress, and lawmakers are discussing ways to speed up the FDA approval process for over-the-counter-drugs.
And if an EU delegate really forgets to bring sunscreen: The French cosmetics giant L’Oreal is the only European manufacturer that managed to get FDA approval for a few products in its pricier lines Lancome and La Roche Posay that contain Mexoryl. The safest and cheapest option might just be to stay inside the conference center and focus on the talks.
European sunscreen is considered a cosmetic product in the EU but an over-the-counter drug in the US.
The EU’s Chemical Directive REACH requires re-evaluation of all chemicals, including in cosmetics.
The EU has a ban on animal testing but the US does not.
The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved ingredients that experts deem most effective in sunblocks.
The US requires the European cosmetic manufacturers to translate “aqua” to “water,” a costly exercise.


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The Supply Chain Matters blog highlights a Bloomberg report that describes how Delta Airlines was able to take advantage of a trade rule loophole to circumvent import tariffs for new aircraft produced in Europe.
As we approach the mid-point of November 2020, Supply Chain Matters provides a brief update on two global trade developments, that of Brexit and the other of RCEP.
The Supply Chain Matters blog highlights for readers a turn for the worse in the ongoing Brexit Withdrawal talks, and a ruling by the WTO in favor of China. Thus in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 disruption, multi-industry supply chains will have to continue to assess the impacts of a hard Brexit and a more frosted trade relationship and the partial de-coupling of the manufacturing economies of China and the United States.
The Supply Chain Matters blog provides an editorial commentary on global container shipping lines financially benefitting from ability to collective cut-back on capacity availability during the COVID-19 disruption that has impacted so many industry supply chains.
The Supply Chain Matters blog continues to highlight ongoing political and global trade developments that have impacts to high-tech and consumer electronics supply networks in strategic dimensions.
The Supply Chain Matters blog updates readers on some key big-picture economic data developments relative to select economies continuing to be impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The Supply Chain Matters blog provides a commentary on the eve of the implementation of the state of Brexit and what that could imply for industry supply chains.
The Supply Chain Matters blog provides a reflection on a significant day for global trade implications and that geo-political forces foretell a very challenging 2020 in global customer demand and supply management.
The Supply Chain Matters blog highlights the likely consequences of one of the largest U.S. independent branded milk producers declaring bankruptcy this week.
The Supply Chain Matters blog highlights a published report indicating a period of synchronized stagnation and identifies areas of concentration that global supply chain management teams should prioritize and focus in the coming year.
Another Burden for Industry Supply Chains- Imposition of U.S. Import Tariffs on EU Produced Products
The Supply Chain Matters blogs provides commentary reflecting on planned added trade and tariff actions related to the United States and the Eurozone sector, with specific impacts for commercial aerospace and automotive sectors.
The Supply Chain Matters highlights a Wall Street Journal report indicating that in the current backdrop of escalating trade conflicts and tariff impacts, trade and tariff experts are suddenly in hot market demand.


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Samsung has the most mysterious and attractive Android phones in recent years while compared to Nokia and LG. Although Nokia’s Lumia 900 can hit the specification of Samsung Galaxy SII. But some difference in Galaxy sII can make it stands top, i.e operating system (Android), style, processor and etc.
Ok, Now coming to main topic we are about know the upcoming Samsung Galaxy SIII features, specifications and release date. Which is the next smart phone from Samsung after Galaxy Note. According to sources, the specs of the Samsung Galaxy S III have been leaked on the Web. There are so many rumors and questions being asked about it that is hard to keep track. And the common asked questions about the phone is when it will be released. Samsung didn’t revealed any official announcement about Samsung Galaxy SIII, But it will be soon to make an official announcement regarding the Galaxy S3, mind, but the pieces are falling in to place. Samsung’s processor developments are clear to see, with the company announcing several new Exynos cores during 2011 that could power the new Galaxy S3.
While we wait for an official announcement, here is a great looking concept for the Samsung Galaxy S3 made by Tyler Lehmann.
Samsung Galaxy SIII Specifications and features (Rumored):
- 1.5GHz Quadcore Samsung Exynos CPU, A Quad-core processor – probably Exynos 4412 with ARM Mali-400 GPU.
- 2GB of RAM
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a refreshed TouchWiz skin
- 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD display (or 4.65 inches as the lowest range)
- 8 megapixel main camera with LED and Xenon flash
- 32 or 64 GB of internal memory
- Ceramic Shock-resistant Case
- 4G LTE right off the bat
- Touchwhiz 5.0 overlay
- And a 9mm thick body.
So this are the most important specs of the Samsung Galaxy S3 that we have managed to obtain from different sources, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S3 smartphone, also known as the “iPhone killer”. It is also claimed to be 5 times faster than its Mali-400 MP chip of its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy SIII will be releasing in April 2012?
We should point out that the event might be moved to April, which is what companies like Samsung are famous for. They give us some information that we want to be true, but they warn us it may not be so, yet we choose to believe it because we want to.We believe this: the Samsung Galaxy S3 release date is coming closer and closer! However, reports state that it would be ready for release in mid-2012 along with the release of the iPhone 5.


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The life cycle of the iPhone 14 could go down in history as one of the most peculiar ones for a smartphone to be witnessed by humans. No, we aren’t being sarcastic. Released in 2022 as the bread-and-butter variant of the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 14 was the epitome of what happens when Apple becomes a bit lazy with its R&D for a new product. Critics and fans were quick to label it as the ‘iPhone 13S’, a minor revision of the brilliant iPhone 13 with little changes to the specs (Apple didn’t even upgrade the chipset!) Along with the iPhone 14 Plus, it struggled to get off the shelves in its first few months and questions were raised about the iPhone 14’s future.
While the sales figures have improved in recent months, thanks in large part to the plethora of price cuts, the iPhone 14 is now rumoured to be getting a mid-life upgrade that could finally give it the superstar status it deserved, despite the arrival of the new iPhone 15 in a few weeks. For the uninitiated, the iPhone 14 will get a small yet crucial hardware upgrade, a first for any Apple iPhone in history. Sadly, it’s not the chipset upgrade that most fans and consumers were expecting.
Nevertheless, the upgrade is crucial to Apple and its consumers across the world. The updated iPhone 14 could present a more diverse lineup of iPhones this year, allowing Apple to gently hike the price of the iPhone 15 by a notch and offer the iPhone 14 as a great choice for the value-conscious buyer. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what the iPhone 14’s future has in store for customers.
The iPhone 14’s future: What can you expect?
Based on Apple’s long history of putting its older iPhones on sale, it was expected that the iPhone 14 could continue to sell as a low-cost alternative to the newer and much improved iPhone 15. However, from 2024 and onwards, this lineup wouldn’t be allowed to sell in several European countries.
Thanks to the EU’s revised norms, Apple is now forced to include the USB-C port on every iPhone model it intends to sell in 2024 and beyond. As such, it was a no-brainer to expect Apple to release the iPhone 15 series with the universally accepted USB-C port. The USB-C port is expected to make life easier for an iPhone 15 user, considering the charger for most Android smartphones, Windows PCs and Apple’s Macs will now be able to charge iPhones too. The need to tag along a Lighting cable will no longer be necessary.
However, based on codes extracted from beta versions of tvOS by an Apple developer and writer, it seems that Apple could be giving the iPhone 14 the USB-C treatment as well. This isn’t surprising. After all, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will only be a year old when the iPhone 15 comes out and are likely to be sold for two more years as an affordable alternative to the iPhone 15 and possibly even the iPhone 16 next year.
Would the iPhone 14 USB-C stand out from Apple’s upcoming lineup?
With the USB-C port, the iPhone 14 could end up being the most value-for-money pick in Apple’s 2023-24 iPhone lineup. The same can also be said for the iPhone 14 Plus, which offers a bigger display and a larger battery.
The iPhone 14, in general, is the complete smartphone package in the premium segment. It offers a well-tuned OLED display, a pair of nice cameras, commendable battery stamina and a super reliable user experience. The A15 Bionic chip in 2023 and 2024 may not inspire confidence on paper but you can count on Apple’s clever optimisation to keep it agile and capable with iOS 17’s newest features. In fact, the A15 Bionic continues to be more powerful and efficient than most chipsets used by Android’s ‘flagship killers’.
With a USB-C port, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will now be future-proof for the rest of their life cycles, getting more compatible with other devices and universal chargers.
iPhone 14 to also get security updates for years to come
Apple will continue to bring all of the latest iOS updates to the iPhone 14 long after the iPhone 15, iPhone 16, iPhone 17 and even iPhone 18 are released. Unlike the largely fragmented Android ecosystem, the older iPhones continue to get the newest OS updates as well as the latest security patches on the same day as the newest models.
Hence, in the event of a security threat, the iPhone 14 will continue to be as secure as the next five generations of iPhones.
iPhone 14’s future: Will we see any new colours?
That’s always a possibility!
The iPhone 14 was originally launched in five colours, including Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Product Red and Purple. Earlier in 2023, Apple released a new shade of Yellow for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. With six colours already available, it’s unlikely that Apple will release its iPhone 14 models in another shade of colour. That said, we won’t mind the return of the iPhone 13’s dark green on either the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15.
Will the iPhone 13 and iPhone SE also get USB-C ports?
As of now, the leaked codes only hint at the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus getting the USB-C treatment. While there’s no mention of the iPhone 13 or the iPhone SE in these codes, we aren’t ruling out the possibility.
In 2023, the iPhone 13 is two years old and it won’t make for a profitable business decision to modify it with USB-C. Hence, the iPhone 13 may end its life cycle with the trusty Lightning port and will be sold for as long as the law allows it. The same can be said for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, both of which will be replaced by the iPhone 15 Pro series.
As for the iPhone SE, it’s up for debate. The iPhone SE 3rd Gen has been around since early 2022 and with the Lightning port, it’s good to sell for a few more months. Rumours of an iPhone SE 4th Gen have been doing rounds and it’s a possibility that Apple could repurpose the old iPhone XR as the new iPhone SE 4th Gen. The only changes expected in the new iPhone SE would be the iPhone XR’s body with a USB-C port and a newer A16 Bionic chip (or even an A17 Bionic chip, if Apple decides to be generous).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Will iPhone 14 get USB-C charging?
Yes, the Apple iPhone 14 is speculated to get the USB-C charging port as a midlife hardware upgrade.
– Which iOS updates are coming to iPhone 14?
The iPhone 14 is already running iOS 16 and will be among the first iPhones to get the iOS 17 update.
– Will iPhone 14 launch in new colours?
The iPhone 14 is unlikely to launch in new colours in the near future.
Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy Thai Nguyen via Unsplash
This story first appeared on Augustman India.


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Cell phone manufacturing company Samsung has recently announced that their android cell phone The Galaxy S2 has recently passed the 10 million sales mark. So, from that point of view it can also be described that it has already proved itself as the best competitor of Apple iPhone at global level.
Another new smart phone is all set to be launched in the market, this time by Android maker Google and the device is going to be called Google Nexus Prime. There has been wide speculation about the release date. While one news reveals an October release, mid November release news is also doing rounds. Nexus Read more


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Beyoncé UK tour: Edinburgh hotel room prices go through the roof ahead of singer’s Murrayfield Stadium show
Beyoncé fans have been going wild over the pop megastar’s visit to Edinburgh – and accommodation costs have soared on the night of her show.
The Grammy-guzzling US singer will play a huge outdoor gig at Murrayfield Stadium on May 20, 2023.
It will be her first trip to the Scottish capital since 2003, when she visited Edinburgh for the MTV Europe Music Awards in Leith.
The former Destiny’s Child singer confirmed the news of the tour on Wednesday morning (February 1).
Since the announcement, fans visiting the Capital have been desperately trying to book into B&Bs as hotel prices more than double.
According to The Times, a double room at the Holiday Inn on the historic Royal Mile on the night of the gig will cost £765 – up a whopping 142 per cent from the previous Saturday when the same room cost just £315.
The Intercontinental Hotel in Edinburgh’s New Town, meanwhile, is charging 54 per cent more for that evening compared with a week before, with a king bed premium room costing £748 on May 20 – up from £483.
IHG Hotels & Resorts told The Times: “Our hotel owners set their pricing on a daily basis, in line with supply and demand. This means their prices vary depending on availability, date, location and whether there is an event in the area.”
Since the presale for Beyoncé kicked off on Thursday (February 2), fans have gone into a frenzy trying to get their hands on tickets.
O2 apologised to fans who have faced “difficulties” while trying to buy tickets for the singer’s UK tour dates, after experiencing “huge demand”.
After pre-sale tickets went live for O2 customers via the O2 Priority app and website on Thursday, some customers reported issues during the purchasing process.
A spokesman said: “We apologise to any customers who are experiencing difficulties trying to get Beyonce tickets through our Priority platform today.
“We’re seeing huge demand and we’re doing everything we can to help ensure all our customers can get through.”
Live Nation customers entered the presale on Friday and there will be another pre-sale ticket sale on Monday, followed by general sale on Tuesday.
Beyonce’s last tour was the mammoth Formation World Tour in 2016, which was announced after her guest appearance at the Super Bowl 50 half-time show.


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India's Tata Power posts surprise Q3 loss
Feb 11 (Reuters) - India's Tata Power Company posted a surprise third-quarter loss, hurt by higher finance and depreciation costs and foreign exchange losses.
The company reported a net loss of 3.29 billion rupees in the quarter that ended in December, compared with a profit of 2.98 billion rupees in the year-ago period.
Analysts on average were expecting the company to report a net profit of 2.7 billion rupees, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. (Reporting By Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Jijo Jacob)
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- U.S.-led air strikes killed 521 fighters, 32 civilians in Syria - monitor
- Google launches new email service dubbed "Inbox"
- Apple CEO says to add 25 stores in China within two years - Sina
- Japan PM's new minister hit by scandal over racy bar bill
- Nissan recalling 260,000 vehicles globally with Takata air bags


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Walmart’s Photo Centers might not seem like a major avenue for copyright infringement or photo theft. But PetaPixel has been made aware of an alleged policy change that makes it far easier for bad actors to use and print professional photos without permission.
The alleged policy change was first “revealed” on Reddit, when a user posted the following FYI:
Walmart Photo centers are now being instructed (as of 5/15/2020) to no longer ask for proof of copyright release. The associates are no longer allowed to ask if the images are professional or not.
This information is currently in their Wire (OneBestWay System), but it is being enforced on a store by store basis until none of the stores will be asking for copyright proof.
Following up on this initial tip, we were able to get in touch with a Walmart Photo Lab employee, who shed more light on the policy change, explaining why it was put in place and revealing the extent of the instructions employees have been given.
“About two weeks ago, a new policy came from our corporate headquarters in Bentonville, AK,” explained the employee, who asked to remain anonymous. “The policy stated that due to a message on the kiosk screens, stating that there is a copyright policy, most customers just click out.”
This is a problem, as it obviously cuts into Walmart’s Photo Center profits. As a result, employees have been told to take a different tack entirely.
“Corporate informed the labs that the associates are no longer required to ask about any copyright issues. The new policy actually requires us not to ask at all, whether the photo is professional or not.” said our source (emphasis added). “In addition, the store I work at wanted the associates to sign the new policy stating that we understand the new policy and that we, as associates, would not ask about copyright issues.”
Some percentage—perhaps most—of these customers are printing photos they are allowed to print. In fact, commenters on the original Reddit post describe being prevented from printing their own photos, even after they’ve provided proof, so the policy change isn’t entirely without justification. As one commenter put it, “why would they turn away revenue and anger customers if the risk of them being found legally responsible is slim?”
But this also creates an opportunity for copyright ignorant (or outright malicious) customers to pull high-resolution images offline, and create prints without permission. It’s unclear what options Walmart corporate considered, but something between “scare customers away” and “don’t even ask about copyright” might have been more appropriate than shifting the policy from one extreme to the other.
We reached out to Walmart Media Relations for comment several days ago, but have yet to hear back. As of this writing, the Walmart Photo Center copyright policy is still live and unchanged on the website, but don’t be surprised if employees no longer bother to ask if that professional photo your printing is yours at all—in fact, it seems they’ve been told explicitly not to.
Image credits: Header photo by Mike Mozart, CC BY 2.0.


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It’s a known fact that Kate Hudson and Michael Kors are BBFs — she even graced the opening of the American designer’s flagship store here in Singapore last November. So it comes as no surprise that Hudson is the special guest for the latest installment of Kors’ Glamour Games series. Watch the sizzling chemistry between the two friends as they quiz each other about their favourite items. We’re not going to give any spoilers, but our bet’s on Kate!
By Gerald Tan


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Brew City Promotions Inc.’s beer pouch sweat shirt — which allows the wearer to carry a brewski hands-free — has turned out to be the gift that keeps on giving for the small Milwaukee T-shirt company.
Since the rollout in 2007 of the hooded sweatshirt with a pouch, sales of the item have been so strong that Brew City finished 2009 with an increase in revenue. The beer pouch shirt has opened doors for the company to get products into high-profile venues such as Disney World and the NBC gift shop at Rockefeller Center.
Yes, Disney World. The family-focused theme park sells the beer-pouch shirt in the German village at the Epcot Center.
“We’ve been lucky,” said George Keppler, co-owner of Brew City. He credits the uniqueness of the $35 pouch shirt for its success in a recession.
Keppler has been pursuing sales to the tourism market for several years. Brew City has been selling products to The Paradies Shops, the Atlanta-based airport retail chain, and last year got the beer pouch shirt into Paradies stores at airports across the country. The shirts were designed with the name of each city where they were sold, Keppler said.
Brew City also makes products for such tourist locations as the Seattle Space Needle and the Chicago Blues Festival. Since launching the beer pouch at Epcot, the company has booked orders from Disney for other styles of shirts and hats.
The newest incarnation of the beer pouch, a Jimmy Fallon version, is being produced for the NBC gift shop.
Fallon called Brew City about the pouch shirt after seeing one. The late-night talk show host wanted a personalized version for the gift shop, Keppler said.
The Fallon pouch shirts will say “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on the front and will have his beer pong record listed on the back.
These recent successes are ironic, considering the initial reaction of retailers to the shirt, Keppler said.
“We worked on that for close to three years,” he recalled. “Everybody who first looked at it said ‘no.’ If I was smart, I would have given up on it.”


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Muscat: In line with the safety and wellbeing of all during the current COVID-19 challenge, Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has advised customers to use the bank’s contactless credit, debit and prepaid cards for making point of sale payments at supermarkets and groceries. Bank Muscat’s Just Tap contactless cards, which was launched earlier in 2019, has been very well accepted among customers for enhancing banking convenience with high security.
Cardholders can complete their low-value point-of-sale (POS) transactions with a simple tap of the card at a ‘Just Tap’ enabled point-of-sale (POS) terminal without the need to enter their identification number (PIN) for transactions up to OMR20. Customers will be able to conduct up to 10 transactions totalling up to OMR60 every day using the ‘Just Tap’ feature after which they will be prompted to enter their PIN for any further transaction. All transactions above OMR20 are authorised using a PIN, thereby enabling an ideal mix of convenience and security for customers.
Bank Muscat is the first bank to implement the full-featured contactless payment solution. To use the ‘Just Tap’ feature, customers can tap their contactless card on any POS terminal with the ‘Just Tap’ logo on it, following which the transaction will be automatically processed. The POS terminal will then issue a confirmation receipt for the transaction. With the entire process taking only a few seconds, the customer and the retail outlet will both benefit from faster checkout times. Customers will continue to receive alerts on their mobile phones for all transactions made using their cards.
Card payments and other electronic transactions are becoming increasingly popular with the general public in Oman and Bank Muscat has been facilitating transactional convenience by launching a number of new products in the recent past including contactless prepaid cards. The new contactless cards are in line with the Sultanate’s ambitious eGovernment project and conform to international standards. Their launch reflects the bank’s commitment to ensure ease of use and convenience along with security for all card transactions. More details regarding contactless cards are available at https://www.bankmuscat.com/en/bm-cards/Pages/cards.aspx


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Consumer Reports Wants More Tesla Defect Probe Transparency After Crash Subpoena RevealedAugust 8, 2019
Consumer Reports wants U.S. safety regulators to provide more information to the public on crash investigations involving Tesla’s Autopilot system and greater scrutiny of safety claims following the release of communications between federal officials and the electric-car maker on these matters.
The nonprofit membership group best known for its magazine and product reviews made its call a day after self-described legal transparency website PlainSite published 79 pages of emails and other communications between Tesla and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, obtained using a Freedom of Information request. The previously undisclosed material included a cease-and-desist letter sent to CEO Elon Musk by NHTSA in October 2018, objecting to how Tesla characterized federal crash test results for its Model 3 sedan in a company blog. The document dump also revealed a subpoena from NHTSA seeking information on Tesla crashes, including a fatal March 1 accident in Florida involving a 2018 Model 3 that happened while the Autopilot driver-assist feature was being used.
“We’ve been calling for an investigation into defects in Tesla’s Autopilot system after multiple crashes,” David Friedman, Consumer Reports’ vice president for advocacy, told Forbes. “Consumers should be aware when an investigation has been opened. Defect investigations are critical.”
Without directly responding to Consumer Reports’ push for greater transparency, Tesla said in a statement it’s in regular communication with NHTSA and shares information, “including Autopilot safety performance, which we also report publicly on our website.” The documents and subpoena posted by PlainSite, are “business as usual and reflect an open and collaborative relationship between Tesla and NHTSA,” the company said.
“We routinely share information with the agency while also balancing the need to protect customer privacy. Tesla has required subpoenas when customer information is requested in order to protect the privacy of our customers.”
The newly released documents also show NHTSA asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into whether Tesla’s crash safety claims about Model 3 were “unfair or deceptive acts.” The Silicon Valley carmaker touted Model 3’s crash-test performance in an Oct. 7 blogpost, claiming the car achieved “the lowest probability of injury of any vehicle ever tested by NHTSA.
The matter comes as Tesla expands sales of its speedy, stylish battery-powered vehicles that CEO Musk consistently promotes as both the most environmentally friendly and safest on the market. Along with the 3, Tesla’s Model S sedan and X crossover also received…


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May 14, 2021
Lessons From the Pandemic
Yesway, Circle K and Wallis discuss innovations and initiatives from the past year, and which ones will have lasting impact on a new kind of consumer.
U.S. Grants Jones Act Waiver
Homeland Security seeks to ease fuel supply crunch; Colonial Pipeline reportedly pays ransom to hackers.
McDonald’s Promotes Vaccines Via Coffee Cups
The QSR partnered with the White House on the campaign; CDC updates facemask guidance.
Korean Consumers Splurge on Decadent C-Store Desserts
Sales of high-end sweets are soaring as South Korean convenience retailers stock more premium desserts.
Effective Category Management Delivers Excitement
A NACS webinar will share how to drive sales, reduce out-of-stocks and bring new products to shoppers.
The Future of Gas Stations Might Return to Their Roots
The answer lies in how convenience stores will reimagine their business model.
U.K. to Ban Junk Food Ads Online, on TV Before 9 p.m.
Also, BOGO supermarket promotions will be restricted for unhealthy foods starting next April.
QuikTrip Launches More Remote Travel Centers
The 30% larger stores have opened in three cities so far, with nine more scheduled through 2021.
May 13, 2021
Innovation Is the Only Competitive Advantage
Professor and author Soren Kaplan kicks off day two of the in-person NACS Leadership Forum.
Colonial Pipeline Restarts Operations
The company says it will take “several days” for the supply chain to return to normal.
Pilot Flying J Joins Chicken Wars
New offerings will greet summer travelers on the road.
Wawa Installs 50th EV Charging Site
The convenience retailer expects to exceed one million EV charging sessions by end of May.
7-Eleven Canada Rolls Out Summer Promotion
The promo offers skateboarders prizes, collector’s cup and LTO Slurpee flavors.
Sheetz Partners With University to Offer Employees Tuition Discount
Workers can earn degrees for “little or nothing” out of pocket.
May 12, 2021
NACS Works With U.S. Agencies on Fuel Waivers
As gas inventories run low, NACS is working with the Biden Administration to provide relief.
Sheetz Announces $2 Hourly Wage Increase
The chain will also invest $12 million in a summer stimulus program for its employees.
Delek DK Stores Roll Out AI Self-Checkout
The c-store retailer will have the touchless technology in place at more than 70 Texas locations by late summer.
Companies Wrestle With Vaccine Requirements
Many would prefer employees return to work fully vaccinated, but few want to mandate it.
Korean C-Stores Now Have Self-Test COVID-19 Kits
The home tests are available in grocery and convenience stores in South Korea.
How to Stop Foodservice Leakage to QSRs
Prepared food offers are the biggest differentiator for the convenience channel—and customers need to know that.
May 11, 2021
NACS Announces TruAge™ Digital ID-Verification Solution
Molson Coors is the first beer company to join TruAge™, with pilot tests at select convenience stores to begin shortly.
Wawa Offers New Hires $500 Bonus
C-stores and other foodservice operators tempt potential workers with bonuses, higher pay.
Enmarket and Trucking Firm Partner to 'Feed a Trucker'
Truck drivers can pick up free box lunches at a Georgia c-store.
Joe Freshgoods Creates 7-Eleven Fashion
Chicago designer collaborates with c-store to produce iconic gear.
Cannabis Users Splurge on Upscale Smoking Accessories
Retailers showcase designer bongs and luxury lighters.
Colonial Pipeline Hack Threatens Fuel Supplies
Temporary hours of service wavier issued for truck drivers hauling fuel to East Coast.
May 10, 2021
Colonial Pipeline Disrupted by Cyberattack
The pipeline carries about half of all the fuel used in the Southeast and East Coast.
Federal Reserve Clarifies Debit Rule
The agency says routing provisions should apply to card-not-present transactions.
How to Get People Back to Work
Although 10 million people are looking for jobs, industries struggle to fill open positions.
Convenience Retailers Can Help Celebrate 24/7 Day
This year’s 24/7 Day will honor local heroes who work around the clock for their communities.
Why Retailers Should Increase Online Visibility
Through technology, retailers can respond to consumer demand for e-commerce solutions.
Upcoming Food Safety Webinars
Learn about environmental sampling and the impacts of COVID-19 mitigation on international trade.


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Home Service employees were invaluable ambassadors of OPPD by teaching customers how to live better with electric appliances.
Lessons learned as a young girl in cooking classes remain in Silke’s memory.
Originally known as the Women’s Division, OPPD’s Energizers are one way for employees to give back to the community.
Advances in electric ovens help the national fast food chain provide uniform food quality to its customers.
The project was done in conjunction with larger construction for new peaking units in the 1970s.
The driven young man, featured in a 1923 employee magazine, had some specific opinions about how to be successful at sales.
In response to a typhoid outbreak in Omaha in 1923, the power company turned their power plants into water distilleries.
A big innovation for fast-food giant McDonald’s was highlighted in the January-February, 1968 edition of OPPD’s Ideas magazine.
In 2009, Omaha Public Power District brought Unit 2 online at their Nebraska City Station coal-fired generation plant.
Last year, OPPD’s service area was hit with one of the most devastating storms in the utility’s history in terms of damage.


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With Rupee losing its value, import bills are directly affected and this has consequently, lead to surge in prices. The rupee devaluation has also hit the automobile industry and they have seen to be revising the prices.
Indus Motors Increased Prices of Toyota Cars in Pakistan, in 1300cc to 1600cc category. According to the sources other companies are also in a process to raise the prices.
Toyota Cars in Pakistan witnessed following change: price of Altis 1.6 from Rs2.14million to Rs2.19million. Similarly, Price of Toyota Corolla Xli has been set to Rs1.81m from Rs1.75 earlier. Toyota Corolla GLi price has been revised to Rs1.94m from previously Rs1.88m. New price of Toyota GLi Auto transmission will be Rs2.02million against Rs1.96million earlier.
The import bill has also increased to $329million in this quarter (July-November) compared to $262 in same quarter last year, this include kits that are completely knocked down and semi knocked. CEO of Indus motors, also pointed toward the rupee devaluation against dollar a root cause for rise in prices of imported material which eventually pushes the industry to accommodate the price accordingly.
In a recent market perspective shared by some sources have predicted that, change in import duties and formalities involved in acquiring imported vehicle will reduce imported cars significantly.
Automobile sector will also experience variety of other models by early 2018. Government has encouraged the companies to install assembling plants and for this they will be duly facilitated and compensated.


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One of Britain’s rising entrepreneurs has signed a $10 million (£8m) agreement with the Ugandan government to provide its military facilities with off the-grid solar energy infrastructure.
The contract marks the inaugural project of Nexus Green, which was founded in 2015 by Rikki Verma to facilitate green energy projects in the developing world.
The company has more projects in the pipeline for Uganda, including solar powered water pumps for farmers and “home-kits” that include a small solar panel and LED lightbulbs for those living in remote areas – many of
which still use highly-flammable kerosene as their main energy source.
“There’s a huge problem with connectivity in those remote areas,” Verma told Eastern Eye. “Farmers are unable to connect to the energy [grid] and using diesel becomes very expensive and of course is not environmentally friendly.”
He says he hopes to follow these projects in Uganda by expanding the business into Rwanda and eventually across east Africa.
At 34 years, Verma has spent a majority of his life in business. After studying at Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire, he eschewed university in order to start his first business, in car modification, at 16.
He later pursued food distribution and founded his own brand of Basmati rice, My Skinny Rice, which is sold predominantly in health food stores along the east coast in the US.
Throughout his entrepreneurial pursuits, Verma says his parents – Baroness Sandeep Verma and Ashok Verma – have served as his greatest role models and mentors.
“My mum’s a big fan of throwing people into the deep end and she’s a big fan of entrepreneurship,” he said.
“[Mum said] ‘If you have a dream, you should pursue it’; she’s the one who pushed me to go ahead.
“I used to go to a lot of business meetings with my mum, and that helped me understand that being strategic – saying less and listening more – is more effective than being the loudest in the room.”
In an interview with Eastern Eye, Verma says although the UK government, and the Department for International Trade (DIT) in particular, provide good support for entrepreneurs, its promotion efforts should be streamlined and updated.
“I didn’t know about UK Export Finance until somebody asked me about it,” he said. “I did the research on it and it opened up to be a whole section; I didn’t know we had access to all this money.
“They need to simplify things and use today’s tools, like social media, as a better way of promoting the kind of items that entrepreneurs can have access to.”
On Brexit, Verma is optimistic that the “open door for untapped markets” will help to provide new opportunities for entrepreneurs.
He says he would like to follow his mother, who currently serves as a Conservative peer, into politics, but currently his focus is on growing his businesses. In 2007, he campaigned under the Tory party for a seat in Leicester city council, losing out by 100 votes.
“I think there’s no one [my generation] can relate to at the moment, I really don’t,” he said. “I want to be the representative of my generation and I really feel I’m a people person. I can relate to all walks of life, I think I could make a difference.
“As an entrepreneur you’re not quite doing everything the normal way, you’re thinking outside the box.”


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LAST UPDATED : Oct 11, 2019, 06:02 AM IST
- Netaji birth anniversary:PM Modi inaugurates Subhash Chandra Bose museum at Red Fort
PM Modi also visited the Yaad-e-Jallian Museum, (museum on the Jallianwala Bagh and World War I) and is scheduled to visit the Museum on 1857- India's first war of Independence and Drishyakala-Museum on Indian Art at the same venue.The museum on Bose and the Indian National Army showcases various artefacts like the leader's wooden chair, sword, medals, badges, uniforms etc.
- Red Fort’s first fashion show celebrates India’s artisans
To celebrate India’s rich textile legacy and to honour those who have contributed to the promotion of handloom and craft, the Ministry of Textiles came up with a special event on Saturday, Artisan Speak, which happened to be the first fashion event to be held in the premises of the Red Fort.


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Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of the global online retail giant Amazon, has annouced he will be stepping down from the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. He will be replaced by Andy Jassy, the chief of Amazon’s cloud computing division. Meanwhile, Bezos will become executive chairman.
“In the Exec Chair role, I intend to focus my energies and attention on new products and early initiatives. Andy is well known inside the company and has been at Amazon almost as long as I have,” Bezos said in a letter to employees published online. “He will be an outstanding leader, and he has my full confidence.”
“Being the CEO of Amazon is a deep responsibility, and it’s consuming. When you have a responsibility like that, it’s hard to put attention on anything else,” he added. “As Exec Chair I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions.”
Bezos has been the CEO of Amazon since founding the company in 1997. Amazon started out as an online book retailer, and has since evolve into a $1.7 trillion global retail behemoth, making Bezos one of the richest men in the world.


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September 25, 2018
A lot of folks are coming out to encourage citizens to sign up to vote for National Voter Registration Day today--among them are celebrities like Kumail Nanjiani, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Lena Dunham, George RR Martin and Sarah Jessica
September 08, 2016
KFC is at it again. The fried chicken chain has yet another new Colonel Sanders. Actor and comedian Rob Riggle is the latest face of KFC in four TV commercials set to begin airing Thursday featuring a football focus.
July 15, 2016
Bribing ethics professors with smartphones, autotuning presentations and using noise-canceling headphones to ignore the rantings of new roommates are just a few of the ways Best Buy is encouraging shoppers to do college with comedian and actor Ada
February 22, 2016
Captain Obvious, the Hotels.com mascot who's kind of like a walking, talking dad joke, will be joining the 2016 presidential race -- by running across the entire country.
October 05, 2015
Lenny Kravitz and James Franco seek to outdo each other's rock star moves in the latest trailer for Activision's Guitar Hero Live -- and they both really suck ... at first.
January 29, 2013
Asking Amy" is the theme of this year's Super Bowl spot from Best Buy, and this spot, created by Crispin Porter & Bogusky, shows that the "asking" part is probably the adjective for Amy Poehler, in this case.
April 26, 2012
Wieden + Kennedy Portland pulls off a a football-centered, fast-paced and wonderfully shot ad that centers on the notion that 'Faster' is the new 'Stronger.' With an all-star cast, including Troy Polamalu, Calvin Johnson, Darrelle Revis, as well


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Each new month, naturally, brings a slew of fresh news in Microsoft’s video game-related department. The Xbox is booming all the time, with a bunch of new releases coming to Game Pass (the set for the coming weeks are definitely perfect).
And it is hard to get bored here, so in case you are currently simmering in your homes, this can be a great option for spending your free time.
And if by some miracle you haven’t found anything in the extensive library that appeals to you, then perhaps the list of launches that are lined for the coming week will be different.
New Xbox Releases for August 2022
Xbox team has shared a list of debuts that will take place over the next few days, and they are definitely worth a look:
Two Point Campus (August 9)
Book Quest (August 10)
Cult of the Lamb (August 10)
Arcade Paradise (August 11)
Offworld Trading Company (August 11)
Rumbleverse (August 11)
Voyage (August 12)
What’s up? Did something catch your attention for a longer period of time? There is no denying that the “cucumber season” has been in full swing and we will have to wait at least a few more weeks for the biggest hits.
Nonetheless, you certainly have found a few gems in this list that at least have the potential to attract you for longer. Which would you choose?


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GREEN BAY, Wis. — Kathie Doescher has looked into a lot of eyes during her career at Shopko Optical.
A certified optician, she gets a charge out of helping other people.
“My most favorite moment of all is typically kids. When a young person comes in and they’ve never had glasses before and you have them put the glasses on and have them turn and look at the world and that jaw-dropping, mouth-open, ‘Mom, I can see this. Mom, I can see that. Dad, look at this,’” she said. “It’s so awesome, and makes it all worthwhile.”
With 92 locations in Wisconsin and across the country, Shopko Optical continues to grow. It opened 11 stores in the last year, including a second location in Fond du Lac earlier this month.
Shopko Optical CEO Russ Steinhorst said plans call for further growth across its markets in the midwest and western United States.
“We expect to open close to 60 locations this year, which will bring our total in Wisconsin alone to 50 locations by spring of this year,” he said.
The company has more than 600 employees in the state, from manufacturing and headquarters operations to optical centers. It will likely add 500 jobs company wide this year, with between 75 and 100 of those in Wisconsin, Steinhorst said.
Many of the jobs blend medicine with fashion and customer service.
“We hire the personality, we can train the skill,” said Kirk Lauterback, the company’s chief operations officer. “We want people who are outgoing and customer service focused. From there we can teach them the technical aspects of optical.”
A long-time employee, he is proud of what employees do everyday.
“We help people see better. At the end of the day, that’s pretty valuable,” he said. “We might see a small child who comes in here to get an exam to get glasses. We might be helping that child ultimately get better grades in school because they have the proper eyewear. We might have a kid come in who is safer when they play sports. We may have a truck driver that it’s safer when they drive down the road.”
Doescher shares that pride.
“It becomes a part of you,” she said. “Like you’re part of the family.”
Open positions at Shopko Optical can be found here.


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It’s the 21st century, and the king is dead, but a new king is rising! Blockchain and cryptocurrency are dictating a new set of rules for the digital century. When the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic, it was clear that things wouldn’t remain the same.
The world is in the throes of a serious economic crisis, and there are real fears that a years-long recession is here with us. This same economic turmoil is playing a significant role in pushing blockchain technology and bitcoin into the mainstream. Bitcoin halving happened amid what the IMF called The Great Lockdown, in response to Covid-19.
According to the IMF, the current situation is leading to an economic downturn worse than the great depression. Muneeb Ali, the CEO of decentralized computing network and App ecosystem firm Blockstack said recently:
“Bitcoin was born during an economic crisis, and it fits that it’s about to have its most visible test before the general public, during a similar, if not more dangerous financial calamity […] it has never been a more fitting time to let people genuinely ponder the benefits of Bitcoin.”
The Flippening Moment
In the crypto sphere, flippening refers to the tipping point when one digital currency supersedes another; it almost occurred in May 2017 when Ethereum’s market cap almost reached Bitcoin’s during its surge in popularity. Some observers argue that the flippening that could bring a sea of change with far-reaching consequences will be when digital currencies supersede conventional fiat in demand.
Bitcoin is already worth thousands more than the most popular fiat currency, the Dollar, a sign of demand. We could easily say Bitcoin has already overtaken the Dollar; that’s hard to dispute on paper. As more people become privy to digital currencies, the demand will rise further along with how seriously the money is perceived.
Critics are already unhappy with the US Federal Reserve’s decision to print trillions of dollars. They have good intentions-to ease the country’s ballooning unemployment occasioned by the ongoing lockdowns. However, the effect of the move on the economy is disastrous. It is certain to cause inflation. The ripple effect will be felt by hundreds of millions of people in the developing world since the USD has been a hedge against their weak fiat currencies. This already happened in Lebanon at the end of last week.
The USD has always been the trusted fiat currency even beyond the borders of the US. Now that its supremacy is threatened, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will definitely become more attractive alternatives. Many countries were already looking towards cryptocurrencies even before the current crisis. Even fear that the Dollar is losing its appeal could easily hasten the process.
A Future without Fiat
A future where all currency is crypto is bright: a future where a currency’s value isn’t open to manipulation as quickly as fiat currency and one that propagates the idea of a universal basic income. It’s a future where the transaction for goods and services is handled digitally, and prices are affordable since cryptocurrencies eliminate intermediaries who take a cut.
That future will disrupt the current global economy as cash will become obsolete, true flippening; the losing party diminishes in value with nothing else to do. Governments will be hardest hit as they will lose control over currency and the ability to print more money in response to financial crises since cryptocurrencies are mined; flipping from fiat to crypto is a real prospect in our time, and could “disrupt” the way we spend and save.
Bitcoin is Anti Fragile
The price of bitcoin may still be somewhat volatile, but bitcoin HODLers can relax. They can be sure that no individual or central authority can seize or devalue their coins. The truth of the matter is that those who are losing faith in centralized financial systems wil spur bitcoin adoption. Bitcoin remains more permanent than risky as a result of its antifragility.
The cryptocurrency system is likely to extend the utilization of resources outside the control of the intentionally coordinated effort. Bitcoin is poised to eliminate the need for control. Bitcoin is the antifragile challenger of our characteristically fragile fiat monetary system.


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TITUSVILLE -- It's last call to buy tickets for the Oil Festival Wine Rush, coming up Friday from 5 to 9 p.m.
More than 200 tickets already have been sold. About 100 are still available at the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce office, 202 W. Central Ave. Cost is $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
This year's Rush is a walk between downtown locations, starting at the Chamber office for a souvenir wine glass. Sixteen wineries and restaurants will offer food and beverage samples.
For more information, call (814) 827-2941.
For a full schedule of Oil Festival events visit titusvillechamber.com/oilfest12.
See Friday's Erie Times-News and GoErie.com for more coverage.


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Foreign buyers are gradually abandoning the US dollar in payments for Russian coal. Indian companies are increasingly resorting to other national currencies, with yuan dominating the amounts of transactions. This trend is caused by Indian counterparties willing to mitigate the risks of violating Western sanctions amid higher supplies of Russian material.
In June, Indian consumers paid for 742,000 t, equal to 44% of all Russian coal supply to India that month, using currencies other than the US dollar. The yuan accounted for 31% of payments, for Hong Kong dollars 28%, for the euro less than 25%, and for the UAE dirham about 16%.
For example, Raspadskaya, a Russian coal company, which a year ago did not carry out transactions in yuan, keeps Chinese currency in the equivalent of 92 million dollars on its accounts while reducing the amount of the US dollars.
Market participants expect that in the future the number of non-US dollar payments in settlements with Russian coal exporters will only increase.
In July, Russia became the third largest coal supplier to India, as the country reduced shipments of South African material and increased imports from Russia to 2.1 mio t (+0.4 mio t or +20% m-o-m).


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The COVID-19 lockdown has changed the face of coaching, with online training taking off. Head of Tuks Netball, Jenny van Dyk, is eager to continue this trend post lockdown as she tells Celine Abrahams about the value that online coaching has added to the team’s programmes.
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Ant Group Trades at 50% Premium in Hong Kong Gray Market
(Bloomberg) -- A rare move by China’s top regulators to rein in Ant Group Co.’s expansion plans hasn’t curbed interest in the fintech stock, which continues to trade at a 50% premium ahead of its debut this week.
Institutional investors bought shares at about HK$120 ($15.50) apiece in gray-market trading for a second day Tuesday, compared with the listing price of HK$80, according to people familiar with the transactions. They declined to be identified discussing private matters.
The preliminary trading suggests investors aren’t put off by a warning from China’s regulators that Jack Ma’s firm faces increased scrutiny and will be subject to the same restrictions on capital and leverage as banks. Ma, Ant’s billionaire co-founder, was summoned to a rare joint meeting on Monday with the country’s central bank and three other top financial regulators.
Ant’s initial public offering is the most anticipated in years, attracting at least $3 trillion in orders for its dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai ahead of its trading debut on Nov. 5. The stampede for shares is fueling predictions of a first-day pop, even as skeptics warn of risks including the U.S. elections, tightening regulations in China and rising Covid-19 infections worldwide.
“It’s pretty extraordinary given the backdrop and it shows you how much Asia is decoupling from the United States,” said Gary Dugan, chief executive officer of the Global CIO Office in Singapore, which didn’t take part in the IPO.
In a so-called gray market, investors can bid for new shares before they officially start trading on a stock exchange. The over-the-counter mechanism is often seen as an early indicator of investor demand for an IPO. Individual buyers will be able to trade through a similar channel on Wednesday in Hong Kong.
The fintech company’s $34.5 billion IPO gives it a market value of about $315 billion based on filings, bigger than JPMorgan Chase & Co. and four times larger than Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The sale vaults Ma’s fortune to $71.6 billion, topping the Walmart Inc. heirs.
The IPO surpasses Saudi Aramco’s record $29 billion sale last year, and the $25 billion raised by Ma’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. in 2014. Ant priced its Shanghai stock at 68.8 yuan ($10.27) apiece. The company may raise another $5.17 billion if it exercises the option to sell additional shares to meet demand, known as the greenshoe.
The IPO is attracting interest from some of the world’s biggest money managers, and sparking a frenzy among individual investors in China clamoring for a piece of the sale. In the preliminary price consultation of its Shanghai IPO, institutional investors subscribed for over 76 billion shares, more than 284 times the initial offering tranche, according to Ant’s Shanghai offering.
“The market’s infatuation with growth stocks is very strong at the moment,” said Arnout van Rijn, chief investment officer for Asia-Pacific at Robeco. With many investors betting China’s domestic economy will be sheltered from the trade war with the U.S., “it’s not surprising that there’s more demand than supply for a stock like this.”
Ant has faced censure in Chinese state media in recent days after Ma criticized local and global regulators for stifling innovation and not paying sufficient heed to development and opportunities for the young. At a Shanghai conference late last month, he compared the Basel Accords, which set out capital requirements for banks, to a club for the elderly.
“Good innovation is not afraid of regulation, but is afraid of outdated regulation,” Ma said. “We shouldn’t use the way to manage a train station to regulate an airport, neither should we regulate the future with the method from yesterday.”
Opinion pieces in official newspapers -- including those run by the central bank and banking watchdog -- have faulted Ant for straying from its core payments business and called out big tech for misleading users to consume beyond their means.
Ant said in a statement late Monday it will “implement the meeting opinions in depth” and follow guidelines including stable innovation, an embrace of supervision and service to the real economy.
Ant was formed when Alibaba launched the Alipay payments app in 2004 as an escrow service for buyers and sellers on Ma’s e-commerce website. In 2013, users were given the ability to save money and earn interest on the balances stored on their accounts. The firm then started offering credit to small businesses, branching out from its consumer-finance focus.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.


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Polymer market the biggest opportunity for talc processors
Published: Friday, 22 November 2013
Declines in talc for paper more than offset by plastics and coatings
s the paper industry increasingly turns to other minerals for
their filler capabilities, talc processors and producers are
finding opportunities in the growing polymer market.
Gerhard Fraundorfer, managing director of talc processing
company LITHOS, told IM that the company is
focusing on processing talc for the polymer and paint...


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Apple looks to protect IP on biometrics for vision correction and headset authentication
Apple has included facial recognition technology for the iPhone in one of its latest patents, which could potentially be used to help correct poor vision among users of its upcoming virtual reality headsets.
In the new tech, spotted by Patently Apple, an iPhone performs a facial recognition scan of a user with its optical sensor system.
This captures images using a “dot pattern” to create a biometric identity “depth map” of the face it is used on, or set of these.
The tech came as part of a wider patent for vision-correcting technology, which could theoretically help to combat poor eyesight in Apple’s new line of mixed reality headsets.
The news follows the Hong Kong Patent and Trademark Office publishing another patent filing for ‘Optic ID,’ the company new secure authentication system based on iris-based biometrics.
The tech giant has also been granted a patent in the U.S. and filed an application in Europe, though these used slightly different wording.
‘Optic ID‘ is set to handle biometric authentication for the new Apple Vision Pro Spatial Computing Headset, recently introduced at its annual WWDC23 Keynote, similar to how FaceID provides biometric authentication for iPhone users.
The tech giant also filed for yet another trademark — ‘Apple Reality’ — in Europe (UK), Australia, and New Zealand.
This is a term that has not been used in any of their public marketing material, and any potential link to biometrics is as of yet unknown.
Though this particular facial recognition technology is new, the is not the first biometrics-related patent the tech giant has rolled out in recent months.
In May, Apple was awarded a U.S. patent for binding a person to their digital ID with selfie biometrics.
In this patent, an iPhone user that has previously enrolled in a government ID program would then select the particular agency they wanted to interact with.
The users would then be able to connect this ID data collected on their phone to this government ID profile.
This type of tech could potentially be used for age verification.
Capturing health data may be one area of biometrics in which Apple which is performing strongly in.
According to data from Watch Faces, sales of the Apple Watch — whose ability to capture health data such as heart rate has remained consistently popular — hit 53.9 million in 2022, the first time it cracked the 50 million mark
In addition, the iPhone maker is also dominating the smart watch market as per the statistics, with the Apple watch accounting for 34.1 percent of all smartwatch shipments.


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OPEC's latest price hikes carry a burden for the US and the world, far beyond the 7 or 8 cents a gallon they will add to the retail cost of gasoline and heating oil in this country.
By forcing families around the globe to spend more of their income to heat their homes, cook their food, and run their cars, price hawks within the 13 -nation OPEC oil cartel may tip many nations toward deeper recession and higher inflation.
Consumer spending is the engine that powers economies, not only in the United States and other rich industrial lands, but in the poorer countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
When families have less money to spend on things other than fuel, food, and shelter, production of goods generally falters, people are laid off, and economic recession sets in.
In addition, it costs businessmen more to buy the fuel needed to manufacture and transport goods, with the result that retail price tags are higher and inflation is given an extra nudge.
To take two extremes:
* The mighty trading nations of Japan and West Germany both are experiencing large balance-of-payments deficits, because they must import almost all their oil and, in the case of Japan, food, and other raw materials as well.
* The world's poorest nations, already struggling to pay their oil-induced foreign debts, may have to shell out collectively another $10 billion in 1981 because of price hikes decreed by the Organization of Petro leum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at the end of 1980.
Giving point to all this is news that key members of OPEC are raisin the price of their oil by $3 to $4 a barrel. The cost of Libyan crude, for example, has risen to $41 a barrel. Nigerian crude has increased to $40 a barrel.
If Algeria follows Nigeria and Libya's action -- as it usually does -- and boosts the cost of its crude equivalently, almost one-third of all oil imported by the US will cost $41 a barrel, nearly triple the roughly $14.80 charged by these African producers only two years ago.
For the incoming Reagan adminstration, the price hikes pose a special problem. Marginally at least, the higher cost of oil slows down the economy, increases unemployment, threatens troubled companies like Chrysler, and boosts inflation.
The cumulative effect of all this is to increase federal spending for fuel for the US armed forces and for unemployment compensation and related costs. At the same time tax revenues, or government income, shrinks.
It may become harder than expected for Ronald Reagan and his team to cut the federal budget deficit, a key element in Mr. Reagan's effort to convince Americans that he can handle the nation's economic problems.
The latest OPEC price hikes coincide with higher US social security taxes, which will hit most American workers beginning Jan. 1, 1981.
Finally, the retail price of gasoline and heating oil will rise another 9 cents a gallon or so by next September, over and above what OPEC does, as price controls on domestic oil phase out -- or end all at once, if Reagan erases controls in one fell swoop.
Currently, world stocks of petroleum are high, which leads to the question: Can OPEC hawks make the latest price hikes stick?
"Yes, they can," says Lawrence Goldstein, a leading oil analyst. "Right now, it is true, there is more oil available than is necessary.
"But," he adds, "with OPEC now producing less than 24 million barrels a day, the surplus is not enough to prevent a possible tight market in the second and third quarters of