text:
“Pinduoduo’s cross-border e-commerce platform Temu surpasses Amazon in one-day downloads, COSCO Shipping announced that it will suspend the acquisition of Hamburg Port Terminal, and DHL will build a new parcel sorting center in Atlanta”
1. Pinduoduo cross-border e-commerce platform Temu surpasses Amazon in single-day downloads
On September 23, according to data from mobile data tracking company SensorTower, Pinduoduo cross-border e-commerce platform Temu ranked first in terms of downloads among shopping apps in the Google Play Store on September 17, ahead of Amazon and Shein. It is reported that Temu will be launched in the US market in September 2022, with 15 product categories covering fashion, beauty, pets, office supplies, etc.
2. COSCO SHIPPING Announces Suspension of Acquisition of Hamburg Port Terminals
On September 23, COSCO SHIPPING Ports disclosed the latest progress on the acquisition of the Hamburg Container Terminal. The announcement stated that in view of the fact that the closing conditions have not been met, the parties concerned agreed to extend the final closing date to December 31, 2022 . If the acquisition is completed, COSCO SHIPPING will thus become the first foreign operator to acquire a stake in the German port of Hamburg.
In September 2021, Hamburg Ports & Logistics announced that COSCO SHIPPING Ports will acquire a 35% stake in the Tollerort Container Terminal in the Port of Hamburg. However, this supposedly smooth deal was blocked a year later by the Scholz government . Several government sources said there were divisions within the German federal government over the issue.
3. DHL will build a new parcel sorting center in Atlanta
DHL Express expects to open a new aircraft apron and parcel sorting center in Atlanta in mid-October, and announced its first major West Coast air hub in January to keep up with growing demand. Freight volumes, DHL Americas chief executive Mike Parra said final licensing details and other operating conditions needed to receive host city approval are being worked out.
The addition of the Atlanta hub will enable more direct air service, helping to speed up delivery times in and out of the rapidly growing Southeast region. DHL has sufficient export volumes from its integration centers in Leipzig, Germany and Hong Kong, and can now send goods directly to Atlanta, simplifying network operations.
4. Cainiao International and SHOPLINE reached a strategic cooperation
It was reported on September 23 that Cainiao International and SHOPLINE have reached a cooperation. The two parties will jointly provide "end-to-end" full-link logistics solutions for global cross-border merchants and cross-border brands, including domestic collection, international distribution, and logistics details tracking. , one-stop after-sales service, etc. At present, the customized logistics services jointly launched by the two parties cover nearly 130 countries and regions around the world, providing tiered products such as Cainiao International Express and Standard, and customize logistics services based on the characteristics of merchants and categories , such as multi-platform one-click Collection, etc., optimize logistics timeliness and service experience.
5. Dianxiao Mi ERP announced that it has successfully connected with the British local e-commerce platform Fruugo
On September 23, Dianxiaomi ERP announced that it has successfully connected with Fruugo, a local e-commerce platform in the UK, to support intelligent order processing, help sellers to centrally manage multi-platform, multi-store, and operate cross-border business. The Fruugo platform is authorized by the seller's ERP in the store to realize automatic synchronization of order data, automatic audit, intelligent matching of suitable logistics channels, timely distribution and delivery, real-time update of accurate inventory, and interception of orders in abnormal status to prevent errors Shipping and other operations resulting in loss of funds.
6. Shopee Philippines shortens the seller's warranty period
On September 23, Shopee announced that from September 19, 2022, the Shopee Guarantee period will be shortened from the previous 5 days to 3 days . This adjustment applies to local ordinary sellers and preferred sellers in the Philippines, and the Shopee guarantee period for mall sellers is still 7 days.
The shortened Shopee guarantee period means that sellers have a certain chance of receiving payment for their orders sooner. Buyers who have not yet received their package, need more time to inspect the item, or give sellers more time to prepare their package, can extend the Shopee guarantee period once per order by 3 days each.
7. Fevad: Sales of mainstream platforms such as Amazon have plummeted by 11% in France
According to data from the French e-commerce association Fevad, in the second quarter of 2022, sales of e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and CDiscount in France fell by 11% year-on-year, but still increased by 29% compared with the same quarter in 2019. .
According to data reported by Fevad, in the past year to September 1, French e-commerce sales increased by 10%, and e-commerce sites increased by 14,000, an increase of 7%. In the second quarter, e-commerce sales in the country reached 35.7 billion euros, an increase of 3.3 billion euros. Driving the growth of French e-commerce is the transport, travel and leisure sector, which grew by nearly 68% in the second quarter.
8. Australia Post strengthens cooperation with Asia Pacific Postal Union
On September 23, the Australian Government and Australia Post announced the signing of a joint statement with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Asia-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) to enhance the efficiency and security of its postal services in the Pacific region. To support this three-year partnership, the Australian Government has provided Australia Post with a $450,000 grant to improve postal systems, processes, technology and training in the aforementioned regions.
9. French logistics provider Urb-it integrates with Metapack
On September 23, French logistics provider Urb-it announced its integration with Metapack, a global e-commerce distribution and delivery company. Urb-it will provide sustainable last-mile delivery for retailers integrated with Metapack. According to the official website information, Urb-it was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Stockholm. It is a sustainable logistics platform.
To date, Urb-it has provided last-mile delivery services to over 4 million UK citizens and also operates in Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux in France and major cities in the UK and Spain.
Official Account: Cross-border Logistics Bai Xiaosheng


text:
Lenovo has warned ThinkPad owners that the August 11, 2020 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 10 version 2004 is causing Blue Screen of Deaths (BSODs) and breaks Windows Hello biometric login.
The issues affect Lenovo ThinkPads made in 2019 and 2020 and, according to a support article from Lenovo, stem from the Enhanced Windows Biometric Security setting in BIOS setup. The bug appears in the cumulative update KB566782 for Windows 10 version 2004, which included over 100 security patches as well as new security features for the OS.
After installing KB566782, users may notice BSODs when booting, when starting the Lenovo Vantage for updating drivers, or when running a Windows Defender scan, according to Lenovo.
Other symptoms include being unable to login using face authentication with Windows Hello, as well as errors in Device Manager that are related to both the Intel Management Engine CPU subsystem and the device's infrared camera.
Fortunately, Lenovo notes there is a solution: "Disable the Enhanced Windows Biometric Security setting in BIOS Setup -> Security -> Virtualization menu."

domain: news


text:
The Horsefair’s H.Samuel store has recently appointed a new manager who will oversee the day to day running of the store.
Daniel Gunn, who managed the Peterborough H.Samuel store in the past, is pleased to have been selected for the position at the Wisbech branch.
He said: “I am keen to ensure my staff offer the highest standards of customer service and I am looking forward to arranging in store promotions such as the Wedding Fair that will be taking place from 9 – 10 August.”
Horsefair manager Kevin Smith said: “Daniel is a great addition to the H.Samuel team and he is dedicated to driving the store forward, I wish him the best of luck in his new role.
For more information on the Horsefair Shopping Centre call 01945-584109 or visit www.horsefairshoppingcentre.co.uk


text:
Printers in Ebola-hit regions of West Africa are making more money than ever before printing awareness materials, but are conflicted about the source of their success.
Emmanuel Mator, who owns a print company in Monrovia, Liberia, one of the countries hardest hit by the deadly virus, says revenue is unprecedented at some US$1300 a day, from printing thousands of flyers bearing Ebola awareness and preventative messages.
“Business has not been this good in my company in a long, long time,” he says.
“And Ebola has also afforded my company a unique advertising window. We print thousands of flyers with our company logo and give them to customers for onward distribution in their communities – our own small way of giving back.”
Despite the booming business, Mator admits he is conflicted about benefiting from the devastation the disease is causing in his country.
“Do I want this situation with the current outbreak of Eloba to end? My honest answer is a big yes. Do I want my improved daily sales to end? Well, my not too honest answer is a small yes,” he says.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter


text:
Unitil alerts customers to scam
July 11. 2013 9:20PM
Unitil says its customers in the Seacoast region may have been contacted by phone as part of a national scam commonly referred to as the "green dot" scam, the company said Thursday.
On the call, the scammer demands the customer make a cash payment via a "green dot" prepaid card in an hour or less or face immediate disconnection. Unitil said it will, at times, reach out to customers by phone if there is a payment issue or to offer payment options, but never demands the use of a prepaid card to make payment over the phone.
Customers who receive unusually specific demands should not make a payment and are urged to contact Unitil customer service directly to verify account status.
Unitil's customer service number for the Seacoast area is 1-800-582-7276; for the capital area it is 1-800-852-3339; and for all New Hampshire natural gas customers it is 1-866-900-4115.


text:
Meta collapses after Mark Zuckerberg says he will not give up on the metaverse; stock falls from $300 to $97
Is Facebook’s Meta going the way of MySpace? Earlier today, we wrote about Meta after the company reported a loss of $3.6 billion from its Reality Labs metaverse unit in the third quarter of 2022, causing its stock to close at about $130.
Now, Meta’s stock continues in a free fall immediately after the market opened after Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he will not give up on the metaverse. As of the time of writing Meta has fallen further to $199.58.
During the earnings calls yesterday, during the earnings call yesterday, Zuckerberg reiterated his commitment to spending billions of dollars developing the metaverse as investors grow weary about the health of Meta’s online advertising business. In the past 12 months, Meta has repurchased $42 billion of stock at an average price of $300. It is now trading at $112.
“I just think that there’s a difference between something being experimental and not knowing how good it’s going to end up being,” Zuckerberg said in response. “But I think a lot of the things that we’re working on across the family of apps, we’re quite confident that they’re going to work and be good,” he added
However, Zuckerberg said he “can’t tell you right now how big they are going to scale to be,” each improvement is “kind of going in the right direction.” Zuckerberg said that “obviously, the metaverse is a longer-term set of efforts that we’re working on” and that he thinks “that that is going to end up working, too.”
Meta has lost more than 70% of its value since peaking last year as all its business units continue to get pummeled on multiple fronts. The social giant has lost 70% of its value YTD as its stock falls from $300 to just $100.
It all started back in October of last year after Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed the corporate name from Facebook to Meta to reflect its focus on the metaverse, a term the social giant described as “an embodied internet where you’re in the experience, not just looking at it. We call this the metaverse, and it will touch every product we build.”
Zuckerberg is now doubling down on losing even more money building the metaverse. Meta also said it plans to invest $10 billion in the metaverse to reflect the company’s new vision. At the time, Meta said it plans to hire 10,000 people in the European Union to build a “metaverse.” Zuckerberg added that the metaverse is a major investment for the company and plays a vital role in the company going forward.
Meanwhile, CNBC analyst Jim Cramer cried and apologized for being wrong and misleading investors.
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) October 27, 2022
Update (4:06 PM EST): Meta stock has plunged by another $2. It’s now trading at $97.94 as of 4:06 PM New York Time.


text:
Tourism in Indian Country: an economic success story
By: Ron Erdmann, Deputy Director, Research, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO) – in partnership with AIANTA
AIANTA has always known that the potential economic impact of Indian Country tourism is significant. And with a booming tourism industry, this has never been more true.
Take the announcement recently made by the Department of Commerce, National Travel and Tourism Office for example – 2015 was another record year for overseas travel to Indian Country, when nearly 2 million overseas visitors to the United States spent some time visiting Native American, Native Alaskan or Hawaiian sites.
Tourism is our country’s number one service export, and tribes are increasingly taking advantage of the trends to build travel destinations that attract millions of visitors each year. Interest by overseas travelers in Indian Country has increased in the last six years and even set records in the last four.
As part of our mission to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism, we’re helping even more tribes create the same kind of success. There’s never been a better time for Indian Country tourism. In working toward achieving even more of this success, AIANTA will be working closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce to continue to expand overseas visitor interest in the United Kingdom and Italy through the Market Development Cooperative Program award recently received, and continue to increase outreach to the German market as well.
The cooperation will include making better use of the market intelligence provided by Commerce that has helped us understand Indian Country’s position as an activity for overseas travelers.
We hope to work closer with other travel and tourism businesses to show them that by building partnerships in Indian Country, they, too, will benefit. since “your” travelers already stay longer, visit more places, and, most importantly, spend more money than visitors to the United States who don’t visit Native American lands, which is exactly what everyone in the industry wants!
This improved cooperation and collaboration we hope to engender from other federal agencies who can assist us to expand travel and tourism to Native Lands truly gives us something to celebrate during National Native American Heritage Month.
Here are some of the important numbers to note from NTTO’s recent reports:
- The top countries generating visitors to Indian Country in 2015 were: China, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Korea, Germany and Italy. All but Germany posted increases in visitation between 2014 and 2015
- China has been the top market for the last two years and has grown five of the last six years from very small numbers in 2010 to jump to the top spot in 2012, 2014, and 2015
- The U.K. which was the top market back in 2010 and 2011 has held the number two spot for the last four years
- France has held the third or fourth spot for several years, but in 2014, it moved up to tie the U.K. for the second spot, only to fall back to the number four spot in 2015
- Germany which had held the number two or three spot for the last several years also declined in 2013 only to rebound in 2014. But another decline in 2015 has caused the market to decline to the sixth spot in 2015
- Italy had held the fifth largest market ranking for Indian country back in 2009-2010. But, it too has fallen in 3 of the last 5 years
Are you looking for partners? Need more information about tourism in Indian Country? Email us today.
Read a recent International Trade Administration press release.
Become an AIANTA member.


text:
China’s exports rose 30.6 percent year-on-year in March due to increased global demand at a time when the Asian country is the only major economy operating without restrictions.
According to China’s General Administration of Customs, exports rose to $241.1 billion (almost 203 billion euros). Imports rose 38.1% year-on-year to $227.3 billion (about 191 billion euros).
“It is a positive sign that overall economic and trade activity is recovering and market confidence is increasing,” customs spokesman Li Kuiwen pointed out at a press conference.
Li warned that the “global economic situation is still complicated and severe”.
China’s exporters have benefited from the early reopening of its economy, while other governments continue to adopt Covid-19 restraining measures that limit business and trade.
In the first three months of 2021, exports soared 49% year-on-year to $710 billion (€597 billion). Imports grew 28% to $593.6 billion (€499 billion).
Year-on-year comparisons of Chinese trade in the first quarter of the year produce particularly resounding figures, as in early 2020 China shut down factories and isolated entire cities due to the new coronavirus, resulting in a sharp fall in foreign trade.
Exports to the 27 countries of the European Union amounted to $36.6 billion (€30.7 billion), while Chinese imports of European products stood at $27.5 billion (€23.1 billion).
Exports to the United States rose 53.6% in March to $38.7 billion (€32.5 billion), despite continued punitive customs duties on several goods produced in China following the trade war launched by former US President Donald Trump.
Imports of US goods by China, which were also punished with an increase in customs duties in retaliation, rose 74.7% to $17.3 billion (€14.5 billion).
Biden, who took office last January, has not yet given any indication that he may withdraw the punitive tariffs that sparked the biggest ever global trade conflict.
There is also no date for a meeting between the two countries’ top trade officials.
China’s trade surplus fell 30.6% in March from a year earlier to $13.8 billion (11.6 billion euros).
The surplus with the United States grew 39% to $21.4 billion (18 billion euros).
The Communist Party China has set an economic growth target for this year of above 6%, which should boost demand for oil, iron ore, food, consumer goods and other imports.
China is the biggest customer for Angola’s oil. In 2020, the Asian country was the destination of over 27% of products exported by Brazil, according to official data.


text:
It's an exciting few days ahead for the gaming community.
Publishers, developers, journalists and gamers themselves are flowing to Los Angeles so they can descend upon the annual E3 gaming convention.
There's going to be conferences, new games and if we're lucky a bit more info about those rumoured new consoles.
Either way, it's an fantastic time from gamers and the Daily Star will be there reporting live so you don't miss a thing.
But in the mean time, take a gander at the below gallery and have a look at 16 of our most hotly anticipated new games, which we personally can't wait to get our hands on, when the show kicks off on Sunday.
Don't want to miss any of the action?
Well, The Daily Star will be covering each conference with a live stream on the Tech section, but below you'll find a rundown of what is happending when, to make sure you don't miss anything from the biggest gaming conference in the world.
- EA – June 12, 9pm BST
- Bethesda – June 12, 3am BST
- Xbox – June 13, 5:30pm
- Ubisoft – June 13, 9pm BST
- PlayStation – June 14, 3am BST
- Nintendo Treehouse: Live – June 14, 5pm BST


text:
World-renowned veterinarian Dr. Jan Pol from National Geographic series The Incredible Dr. Pol has joined forces with charitable company Givebones for February’s National Responsible Pet Owners Month.
They will host a Twitter contest beginning on Valentine’s Day and ending on February 27th, 2013, which marks National Spay Day, to promote and encourage responsible pet ownership techniques.
Here's what Dr. Pol said:
“Approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized each year due to overcrowding and poorly-funded shelters. Spaying and neutering is the best way to prevent overcrowding in shelters. I admire and support organizations like Givebones that recognize the importance of rescuing pets and helping shelters around the country.”
Tricia Andrews, founder of Givebones, said:
“I’m thrilled to have Dr. Pol’s support and want our partnership to inspire animal lovers everywhere to join the movement and support this vital cause. Purchasing a Givebones collar is one more way you can be a responsible pet owner.”
One lucky pet owner will win a care package of animal friendly swag and Givebones will make a donation on behalf of the winner to The Humane Animal Treatment Society. All a potential winner has to do is tweet a photo of their pet along with the pets name at both @Dr.Pol and @Givebones.
Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!!
P.S. CLICK HERE to "follow" Perez on Twitter!
P.P.S. CLICK HERE to "like" Perez on Facebook!


text:
Hot on rumors with a possible acquisition by Adobe, Simplify360 collaborates with researchers from New York University’s Stern School of Business to conduct joint work on the Superbowl and other major sporting events. The collaboration is focused on analyzing complex patterns of social media discussion, and the impact of chatter on advertising performance.
Simplify360, a leading name in the social business intelligence industry with a presence in India and US, has decided to monitor conversations on Twitter and Facebook but not limited to them. To start with, the research focused on America’s biggest sporting event of the year, Super Bowl XLVIII will try to find answers to questions such as:
1. How do people react to advertisements during the Superbowl?
2. Is there an effect of team winning or losing on advertiser impact?
3. Beyond buzz, which ads were genuinely high-performing for long run impact?
4. Why did some ads fail to get traction?
5. What is the behaviour of people discussing different brands? Does the match of the ad sentiment with the brand image matter?
NYU Professor Arun Sundararajan who is spearheading this research in collaboration with doctoral candidate Tingting Nian stressed that the research will shed light on human behavior that drives social media chatter, taking analysis in this space beyond rankings and polarity counts, and bringing a rigorous brand framework into the picture.
Getting insights about human behavior during major sporting events and how people react to brand promotions during such events has been an area of interest for networking giants as well as for social media analytics giants. Though there have been reports on how sports fans engage on social media but trying to compute business value out of it has been rare.
To start with Super Bowl XLVIII, the American football event that drew more than 100 million viewers to watch the Denver Broncos battle the Seattle Seahawks is perfect sporting event since it is undoubtedly a full-on marketing showdown — with 30-second spots running $4 million. So for marketers it has become extremely crucial to understand the impact of these ads as granular a level as possible. Attempts for research reports like this between Simplify360 and Stern School of Business could provide a more reliable picture of how impactful are brands in such sporting events.
With Axe scoring the most points with their “Make Love, Not War” and Subway’s Fritos Chicken Enchilada ad, Toyota’s Muppets ad being the duds of this year, it would be interesting to find out what the Simply360 report would have to say about it. Will the new Axe ad sustain beyond the regular buzz, will it genuinely create a long term impact?


text:
10% of those surveyed said they pay for their travel with BNPL or instalment options
BR-DGE research reveals 1 in 10 fund travel with flexible payments among holiday demand
Payment orchestration provider BR-DGE has revealed new research showing “strong demand” for package holidays among UK consumers, despite the cost-of-living crisis.
Analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics by BR-DGE calculates that UK consumers are set to spend £40.9bn this year on package holidays both at home and abroad.
This is 94% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019 when Brits spent a total of £43.5bn on package breaks, which they say highlights the continued recovery for the travel sector following the pandemic.
In June 2023, UK online searches for package holiday deals increased by 31% month-on-month, showing travel demand growing ahead of the busy summer trading period.
Friday 9 June was the most popular day for package holiday searches during June, as UK temperatures hit 30C and the UK Health Security Agency issued an extreme weather warning.
BR-DGE also had a survey conducted on their behalf, of over 1,2000 consumers which showed the trend is set to continue, with two-thirds (65%) of UK holiday goers reporting that they spend over £1,000 a year on travel holidays.
More than a fifth (21%) of those who purchase travel use their credit and debit cards for transactions.
More consumers are turning to alternative payment options to fund getaways and travel, with 1 in 10 UK holiday goers (10%) paying for their travel and holidays with BNPL or installment options. This then rises to nearly 1 in 5 (18%) among millennials.
The survey also found that 42% of respondents said that they would be open to using alternative payment methods such as Buy Now Pay Later in order to buy holidays in the future.
Emily Whalley, travel specialist at BR-DGE, said: “The UK travel industry is reaching a tipping point as travel demand is soon set to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.
“Travel firms are seeing positive momentum as consumer demand for hassle-free holidays remains robust, despite disposable incomes being hit by the increased cost-of-living.
“We continue to see holiday goers looking for value and flexibility, seeking out discounts and deals for quick getaways and greater personalisation at the checkout via new payment methods.
“This data further shows the value of creating bespoke payment workflows and checkout experiences that align with different consumer habits so that holiday goers are supported throughout the customer journey.
“For travel providers, this highlights the importance of delivering an end-to-end frictionless customer experience in order to drive loyalty, protect margins, and deliver a first-class holiday for all.


text:
Corn futures are narrowly mixed amid conflicting demand signals.
- This morning's weekly export sales data showed sales of 282,300 MT for 2012-13 and 371,000 MT for 2013-14, which was above expectations.
- But while traders recognize recent demand for old-crop corn and an uptick in new-crop bookings, they are also taking note of end-users seeking alternatives for U.S. corn.
- Gulf corn basis is down 5 cents for immediately delivery to stand 71 cents over May futures. A softening of basis is another sign demand for old-crop corn has softened.
- Recent soil moisture improvements across the Corn Belt are also limiting buying to short-covering in new-crop futures. This week's drought monitor reflects further Midwest drought improvement, although it notes frozen soils limited deep soil moisture penetration.
Soybean futures are mostly 3 to 5 cents lower on followthrough from yesterday's sharp losses.
- The wind came out of bulls' sails yesterday as futures posted a sharp correction and a low-range close. This spurred followthrough selling in overnight trade.
- Traders expect demand for U.S. soybeans to decline as South American supplies become readily available.
- However, more port strikes are scheduled next week in Brazil, which raises concerns about shipping delays from the country.
- This morning's weekly export sales data showed sales of 657,700 MT for 2012-13 and 126,000 MT for 2013-14 -- matching expectations.
- Gulf soybean basis is steady for nearby deliver this morning to stand 75 cents above May futures.
Chicago wheat futures are mixed amid bull spreading, with Kansas City mostly marginally to 2 cents higher. Minneapolis wheat is narrowly mixed.
- May Chicago wheat futures have returned to a premium to May corn futures due to signals end-users are seeking alternatives to U.S. corn
- This morning's weekly export sales data is supportive for wheat futures, as sales of 888,500 MT for 2012-13 and 198,500 MT for 2013-14 were well above expectations.
- Wheat futures have enjoyed corrective trade this week to signal near-term lows have been posted, although much more work is ahead for the contracts to confirm lows are in place.
- This week's drought monitor reflects slight improvement across the Central and Southern Plains, although the large drought footprint remains in place.
Live cattle futures are called mixed as traders wait on cash cattle trade to begin.
- Asking prices and bids are about $5 apart, which signals cash cattle trade is unlikely to begin today.
- Traders still expect at least steady to $1 higher cash trade compared with last week's $128 trade given strength in the boxed beef market.
- Choice beef values have improved by around $1.41 from last week, with Choice now at $197.49 -- up $7 from last year at this time.
- But demand concerns linger, as beef movement has remained lackluster this week, which is limiting packers' demand for cash cattle.
Lean hog futures are called mixed due to demand concerns.
- Traders remain cautiously optimistic lean hog futures have posted a near-term low, but concerns about pork demand is keeping traders from actively rebuilding long positions.
- Adding to concerns about pork demand is that fact that pork cutout values have slipped about a dollar from last week and are around $5 lower than last year at this time.
- Packers have seen profit margins tighten this week, which is limiting demand for cash hogs. The cash market is expected to be mostly steady today.


text:
01/22/2010, 09:01 am
Selling an estimated 5 million units in its first year as a "base case" scenario, Apple's tablet would earn the company $2.8 billion in additional revenue and solidify it as more than a niche product, a prominent investment baking firm said Friday.
01/22/2010, 07:01 am
Just days before Apple is expected to introduce its multimedia touchscreen tablet, the company is said to be in negotiations with a variety of companies for content. The latest alleged participants: educational publisher McGraw-Hill and trade book publisher Hachette Book Group.
01/21/2010, 09:01 pm
Apple is still ironing out last-minute details with both Verizon and AT&T about supporting its forthcoming tablet, and may offer two different versions designed specifically for each carrier.
01/21/2010, 03:01 pm
While consumer interest in Apple's forthcoming tablet is high, a price north of $700 could turn off many potential buyers, a new survey has found.
01/21/2010, 12:01 pm
When Apple finally takes the wraps off its long-anticipated tablet next Wednesday, the device will strike a familiar chord with owners of the original iPhone, with similarities in industrial design trickling all the way down to the handset's button and connectivity components, AppleInsider has learned.
01/20/2010, 09:01 pm
The Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell of tablet and Apple-related information Wednesday evening. Among the new details: Apple sees its tablet as a device that will be shared by multiple family members -- and it might even recognize their faces.
01/20/2010, 07:01 pm
Apple has extended the time available for it to make a legal argument against Fujitsu over the "iPad" name according to Trademark Office documents, and AT&T may be prepping its network for "unannounced devices."
01/20/2010, 11:01 am
Amazon announced Wednesday that its share of revenue from some content sold for its Kindle e-reader will be more akin to Apple's iPhone App Store business model, with a 70-30 split in favor of the content provider.
01/20/2010, 09:01 am
U.S. publishers are reportedly negotiating tablet-related content deals with Apple in New York; a list of potential component suppliers for the hardware has surfaced, including a P.A. Semi-designed processor; and new allegations claim Time Inc. has little knowledge of the tablet.
01/19/2010, 03:01 pm
While Apple's tablet is still expected to see a formal introduction at a media event next week, issues with battery life and durability could result in a June launch, an analyst said Tuesday.
01/19/2010, 09:01 am
With Apple expected to introduce the long-awaited tablet next week, the company's content partners will likely play a part in the unveiling. While there is an indication games might play an important role in the presentation, music labels are not expected to be a major presence.
01/19/2010, 08:01 am
A strong holiday quarter, higher than expected Mac sales, and hype leading up to Apple's expected tablet unveiling next week are all expected to drive the company's stock to new heights, one Wall Street analyst said Monday.
01/18/2010, 09:01 pm
Apple and publisher HarperCollins are reportedly conducting talks over possible e-book offerings for Apple's new tablet device, with pricing that would follow the current App Store model.
01/18/2010, 03:01 pm
A new report Monday from FoxNews.com cites an anonymous source to claim Apple will introduce its tablet, "iPhone 4" and iLife 2010 at next week's event.
01/18/2010, 12:01 pm
Apple officially sent out invitations Monday for its expected Jan. 27 event in San Francisco, where it is anticipated the company will introduce its new touchscreen tablet device.
01/18/2010, 11:01 am
Given their high cost and a lack of supply in the 10.1-inch size, AMOLED displays are highly unlikely to be a part of Apple's forthcoming touchscreen tablet, a new report has concluded.
01/15/2010, 07:01 am
Apple's anticipated press event later this month is widely expected to debut a new tabled-sized device as a sibling to the company's Mac, iPod and iPhone product lines. Here's what has led up to the launch, and why the futuristic tablet hasn't taken off so far.
01/14/2010, 02:01 pm
A Web site offering up to $100,000 for details on Apple's forthcoming tablet has been asked by the Cupertino, Calif., company's lawyers to stop, alleging the "bounty" is in violation of California laws protecting trade secrets.
01/14/2010, 08:01 am
New patent applications revealed this week show Apple has investigated creating a stylus for use on a touch-sensitive panel like the iPhone, and creating dynamic user interfaces for mobile devices that would adapt to location and use.
01/13/2010, 11:01 am
Clues on Apple's forthcoming tablet continue to surface as the device is expected to debut this month, with a new report referring to the device as an "iPhone on steroids."


text:
Canadian federal and provincial governments raked in $186 million in tax revenue from the sale of cannabis in the first five and a half months following legalization, according to new Statistics Canada data — the first of its kind.
The tax earnings came from both excise taxes and general taxes on goods and services (GST), and were distributed almost evenly between the two kinds of taxes.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Between last October and the end of March this year, provinces came away with excise tax revenue totalling $79.1 million, while the federal government earned $18.8 million.
Federal GST in that same time period came to $35.5 million, while provincial tax earnings from the sale of cannabis was $52.7 million.
The government charges an excise tax of 10 per cent on the sale price of cannabis, or $1 per gram, whichever is greater.
Provincial governments reaped the bulk of this revenue due to a pre-legalization agreement between provinces and the federal government that saw 25 per cent of excise tax revenue going to Ottawa, and the remaining 75 per cent to the provinces.
Global marijuana trade is still five to seven years off, but Canada aims to be world's cannabis king
No cannabis edibles on the shelves until mid-December, and then selection limited, says Health Canada
What cannabis shortage? Analyst warns oversupply could become a problem in mere months
Ottawa has previously proposed a 50/50 revenue split but received significant pushback as provinces argued that they would bear the financial brunt in regards to setting up a retail system, and potential policing and health care costs.
Early data showed revenue from excise taxes increasing on a quarterly basis — excise taxes increased 12.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2019 from the fourth quarter of 2018 due to stronger sales by licensed producers to retail distributors, according to Stats Can.
The agency predicts that excise taxes will continue to rise in the second half of the year, as more cannabis stores start opening across the country.
Growing sales of cannabis also led to an increase of 68.1 percent in GST revenue for the federal government and provinces between the last quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.
Critics of the excise tax system on cannabis have long argued that the policy is counter-intuitive to the government’s overall goal of eliminating the black market because it raises overall cannabis prices on the legal market, dis-incentivizing consumers from buying legal weed.
Some licensed producers, like Aurora Cannabis Inc., and CannTrust Inc. absorb the excise taxes charged on medical cannabis and are currently lobbying the federal government to remove them altogether.
• Email: firstname.lastname@example.org | Twitter: VanmalaS


text:
National Engineering Industries (NEI), which is part of the $2.4-billion diversified CK Birla Group, and Amsted Seals, on Friday, announced a joint venture (JV) to manufacture railway bearing seals in India, according to a press release. The US-based Amsted Seals provides sealing solutions and metal fabrication.
NEI has a 51 per cent stake while Amstead Seals has a 49 per cent stake in the joint venture, which is already making prototypes and will start production next month, Rohit Saboo, Director, NBC-Brenco, told BusinessLine. With installed capacity of two million seals a year, the company will supply products in India as well as to international markets.
NEI declined to share factory investment details. The joint venture will market products under the brand name NBC-Brenco and plans to add automotive seals and products with metal fabrication in the future.
NEI and Amsted Seals will collaborate to develop a greenfield project in Solitaire Industrial Park Bagru in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Saboo, who is also the CEO of NEI, said in the release: “Our joint venture with Amsted Seals is a significant step towards diversifying our product range and offering complementary products to our customers in railways around the world. We have a very long association with Amsted Rail that dates back over 35 years.”
Michael Carter, Director of NBC-Brenco and President of Amsted Rail Company, said, “We are looking forward to developing localised India seal manufacturing capabilities with our long-time partner NEI. Our newly constructed seal facility in Jaipur, will have the ability to serve both the domestic and world rail seal market.”


text:
Slim one-room gyms are in, and the low cost of starting them is turning gym rats and workout instructors into entrepreneurs.
There are no Olympic-sized pools, rows of treadmills or steam rooms in these small fitness studios. Instead, devotees sweat through hour-long classes in tiny spaces, swinging heavy kettlebells or practicing yoga poses. Some of the studios resemble high-energy nightclubs with dim lights and loud music. Classes can be pricy, at about $30 each, but that's not keeping people away.
Boutique fitness studios are growing fast, popping up in cities around the country, taking over small spaces that once housed businesses such as beauty salons or video game shops. Starting out small makes these slim gyms a low-risk bet for aspiring entrepreneurs.
"We started this with zero dollars," says Brittany Blum, co-owner of yoga studio Ritual San Francisco. Ritual opened earlier this year in a 1,000-square-foot studio that is inside a large gym. Ritual's owners negotiated a deal with the gym, paying it a percentage of sales instead of a monthly rent.
Ritual charges $25 for its classes. Yoga moves are set to the beat of bass-heavy songs, such as Ginuwine's "Pony" and 50 Cent's "Candy Shop." The studio is lit only with candlelight, and clients get a head massage before leaving. "You feel like a better version of yourself; calmer, happier, more energized," says Anne Faricy, a brand strategist in San Francisco, who goes to Ritual's classes about four times a week.
Blum is looking for a second space for Ritual that's double the size. The current studio holds 16 customers at a time. "It's packed in there," Blum says.
Two years ago, The Fhitting Room in New York opened with a 1,000-square foot studio; now there are two additional locations in the city.
The "hit" in Fhitting's spelling stands for high intensity training, a strength-building workout that uses kettlebells and pull-up bars. Owner Kari Saitowitz was a marketing executive before she quit to raise her two children. She started taking high intensity training classes and decided to open a studio of her own. Saitowitz hires trainers to teach the $35 classes, while she focuses on the studio's branding. The lime green towels, for example, match the color of The Fhitting Room's logo, customers are called "Fhixers" and t-shirts sold at the studios say "Live Fhit."
Saitowitz plans to open a studio outside of New York. "We have a short list of cities," she says.
Boutique fitness studios are the fastest growing part of the gym industry, says Meredith Poppler, spokeswoman for the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. They made up 21 percent of the fitness industry in 2013, the first and most recent year the IHRSA measured boutique studios. Awareness may grow even more next month, when the E! network airs "Hollywood Cycle," a reality show that follows the owners and instructors of Los Angeles cycling studio Cycle House.
The trend has been fueled, in part, by cycling chain SoulCycle and intense workout craze CrossFit, says Poppler, both of which gained popularity in the past decade. And word of mouth helps too: "If you're seeing results," Poppler says, "you're going to tell your friends about it."
Fitness fanatics are willing to pay for the high-priced classes because they "see being fit as a status symbol," says health club consultant Bryan O'Rourke. "There's a cool factor."
O'Rourke says studios can be opened for as little as $30,000, if the space is small and not much equipment is needed, but can balloon to $500,000 if owners go all out with designing the interior. By comparison, hiring staff, buying exercise equipment and building locker rooms for a big, traditional gym can cost up to $1 million or more. Major cities, such as New York, Los Angeles and Miami, face fierce competition from already established studios, O'Rourke says.
Garrett Roberts planned to open a 14,000-square-foot gym in Hoboken, New Jersey, but negotiations on the $30,000 a month rent fell through and a big gym chain snapped up the space. A real estate agent showed him a nearby 1,000-square-foot studio for $2,050 a month in 2011. He took it. "It wasn't a huge investment," Roberts says. He opened GoRow, a studio with nine rowing machines that charges $29 a class. Many of GoRow's customers live in Hoboken, but work in New York, where they're used to walking past boutique fitness studios. "I knew it would work," he says.
At Grit Fitness in Dallas, classes can sell out a week in advance, says owner Brittani Rettig. She opened the studio in January, using $30,000 she saved up before quitting a consulting job late last year. She plans to open a second location this fall.
Grit Fitness packs up to 25 people in its 1,100 square-foot studio, charging $25 a person for kickboxing classes or hip-hop dance lessons. The crowded room keeps people pumped up, Rettig says, "Do you want to go a bar or restaurant with four people in it? No, you want to go to a crowded place with energy."
When class starts, the overhead lights are turned off, the colorful flashing lights go on and the music is turned up. "Nothing serene, chill or calm," says Rettig. "There's a lot of Beyoncé going on."
The Fhitting Room: http://www.fhittingroom.com
Grit Fitness: http://www.dallasgritfitgoodgness.com
Ritual San Francisco: http://www.studioritual.com
Follow Joseph Pisani at http://twitter.com/josephpisani


text:
Foodpanda partners up with Nokia for launch food delivery app
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia announced the launch of food delivery app by Foodpanda/Hellofood across the Nokia Asha, Lumia and X family of devices. Many partners such as Facebook, BBM, Twitter, LINE, Viber, Electronic Arts, Gameloft and Rovio are also making their key apps available across Nokia's device portfolio of feature phones, Asha, Nokia X and Lumia.
Bryan Biniak, VP and GM of developer experience, Nokia, said, “Across our portfolio of devices, Foodpanda/Hellofood is delivering a convenient way to view menus and order food with major restaurant franchises around the world. We're getting hungry already as we look forward to working with Foodpanda/Hellofood to expand the reach of their app in growth markets."
Rohit Chadda, MD and co-founder, Foodpanda.in, said, “We're glad to be associated with a global brand like Nokia. With Foodpanda app now being available on Nokia smartphones, we are excited to bring the convenience of online food ordering to millions of Nokia customers.”
Online food ordering platform Foodpanda/Hellofood helps restaurants to increase delivery sales through online and mobile platforms by processing the order directly to the restaurant, which delivers the meal to the customer. Foodpanda/Hellofood partners with over 22,000 restaurants worldwide.


text:
Music Gear News
Facebook music service stumbled upon
A new music service from the social networking giant Facebook has allegedly been stumbled upon inadvertently.
Jeff Rose, a software developer and self-titled "open-source" hacker, announced on his own personal blog that he came across the code called Facebook Vibes, which connects with a page that supposedly will one day allow users to download music.
Writing on his blog, Mr Rose said: "I searched around to see what this is all about, and it seems that this is an unannounced feature that has yet to be released. The vibes app connects with a music download dialog in the page though, so I'm guessing that with this release we are seeing the seeds for Facebook’s upcoming music offering."
Much like Google, Facebook is continually looking to evolve its brand.
If what Rose has come across is the first signs of Facebook's foray into online music software production, it will be joining an already crowded market, with Spotify, Amazon, iTunes already offering their own unique music streaming services.
It's nothing new as rumours have always surrounded the social media giant's intentions towards cracking the music market.
Back in 2008 the New York Post revealed that Facebook was looking to develop something similar to MySpace.
Save Money Now And Buy Online Today
Posted on 12 Jul 2011 10:07 to category : Music News
Related Music News
Featuring a whole host of professional grade components, Antelope Audio's Zen Studio is available now at an incredibly discounted price.
Chief executive of UK Music expects difficulties in the near future for UK artists wishing to work in the USA
Ticket touters have been routinely slammed by artists and promoters for quite some time. Now, the government are to host an evidence session in which ticket touters and secondary tickets websites will be investigated.
Shure announce their 'Call for Legends- Live Contest' in which the company search high and low for the next living music legends.
In August controversy was in the air as the Dirty Dancing stage show fired its live musicians in favour of a backing track. Now the Musicians' Union urge its members to join in the protest.
In recent times, the theft of musical instruments and gear seems to be more prevalent than ever. With this GPS guitar pedal, users can track their stolen equipment simply by logging in online on their phone or tablet.
Recent Music News
Changing colour from its previous grey to a sleek black, the Launch Control XL's appearance has been re imagined to keep it inline with its Launch key and Launchpad counterparts.
Designed to simulate various classic amp tones, Supro's Tremolo Pedal introduces the new school to the old school
A premium belt-drive turntable that features wireless streaming, the BT-500 has been designed to extract every musical detail of your record collection
With new windows drivers installed and great savings to be made on selected models, Focusrite are giving you more and more reasons to be merry this Christmas
Straight from the 90's, the legendary synth has been given a modern makeover to make it more versatile than ever
Those who purchase a Zen Tour, Zen Studio, Orion Studio, Orion 32, Orion 32 or Goliath interface will be eligible to receive a free copy of PreSonus' Studio One


text:
We've just launched the Under The Same Sun Hat Giving Challenge leading up to International Albinism Awareness Day - June 13. This is a social media campaign to raise awareness about the #1 challenge facing people with Albinism in Tanzania and other parts of Africa.
Did You Know...
The top killer of people with albinism in Tanzania is skin cancer?
With its scorching hot sun, the tropical climate of Tanzania puts people with albinism at a high risk for developing skin cancer at an early age.
100 PERCENT of children with albinism in Tanzania show signs of SUN-RELATED SKIN DAMAGE by the age of 10.
About 30,000 people have albinism in Tanzania today. HALF of them will develop ADVANCED SKIN CANCER before the age of 30.
LESS THAN 2 PERCENT WILL LIVE to be 40 YEARS OLD.
Yet simple items like HATS AND SUNSCREEN CAN HELP PREVENT the deadly disease. Wide-brim hats are handmade in Tanzania employing people with albinism. Specially formulated sunscreen is also manufactured locally.
Most people with albinism in Tanzania are utterly poor and CAN'T AFFORD the hats and sunscreen that could help save their lives
That's why Under The Same Sun is inviting everyone to take the Hat Giving Challenge leading up to the first International Albinism Awareness Day (June 13, 2015)
Creating awareness and giving people with albinism the protection they need is as easy as 1-2-3.
1- Pose in your favorite sun hat and post your picture on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
2- Donate $5 to give a sun hat to a person with albinism in Tanzania, and help protect them from deadly skin cancer.


text:
Consternation over retail sales has store managers not only complaining that the Grinch has arrived instead of Santa, but anticipating that the holidays will turn out more blue than green. Looking at government retail sales figures for much of this year, however, things appear somewhat more prosperous. In fact, Commerce Department numbers show a rise, albeit a small one, for much of 1990. That would appear to belie the notion that a recession is under way. The numbers are complicated, though, by a wild card in the government's system: The totals include car and truck sales. Relatively strong vehicle sales have kept the government numbers from descending steeply, even while department stores are being pinched. Get ready for more agonizing as another Commerce report comes out Thursday.
WATCH FOR: A small hop forward in total retail sales during November, to around $155 billion. Don't be surprised if analysts again dismiss that gain as signifying a glass that is half empty, instead of half full.
AFTERTHOUGHT: Certainly, consumers have pruned spending sprees, as confidence in the economy wanes. Overall sales aren't keeping up with the inflation rate. But overbuilding of shopping malls adds to the anxiety that permeates retail sales reports. A parallel dilemma, also reflected in the reaction to the Commerce reports, is overcapacity in the auto industry. Because of Japanese "transplants," analysts believe American car factories are operating at only 60 to 70 percent of capacity.
PROSPECT: "Auto sales have been holding in a range of 6.5 million to 7 million since the autumn, while the auto firms are slashing output to 5.5 million units," says David Hale, economist at Kemper Financial Services Inc. of Chicago. His conclusion: "If consumer demand for autos does not falter, there will be a large production rebound during the first quarter."
NEXT UP: Recession talk won't go away. Expect banks to cut their prime lending rate below 10 percent in coming days. On Friday, the Federal Reserve, eyeing a severe downturn in the nation's job market, allowed the key federal funds rate, which it controls, to decline a quarter-point, to 7.25 percent. Many analysts expect the Fed also to reduce its discount rate, which is at 7 percent.
UPBEAT VIEW: James Howell, former economist for Bank of Boston and president of the Howell Group, told a symposium last week that deep pessimism isn't justified. "Economic forecasts have turned a mild slowdown into a major recession," Howell says. "Economists have been far too negative and have given us a legacy in which we feel bad about the economy." He looks for a short slowdown, provided there is no Mideast war.
EVENTS: The National Association of Purchasing Management tomorrow releases its semiannual forecast. On Thursday, Detroit's automakers report early December car and truck sales.
MORE EVENTS: The Labor Department Friday reports the producer price index, or wholesale prices, for November. Also Friday, the Federal Reserve reports industrial production for November, and Commerce reports business inventories for October.
MARKETS: The Dow Jones industrial average gained 30.45 points last week, closing at 2590.10.


text:
Global retail giant GAP, a brand of BCI Retailer and Brand Member GAP inc., reinforced their stance on their responsibility and pride in protecting communities and the environment, by sharing their new commitments last Friday, in advance of Earth Day 2017.
They plan to dramatically increase the use of more sustainable fibres and processes in apparel production practices within the next five years and also further build on existing goals on their water usage, GHG emissions, among others, as part of the ‘Gap for Good’ platform for more sustainable fashion.
On more sustainable fibres, Gap launched the new commitment to obtain 100% of its cotton from more sustainable sources by 2021. This includes Better Cotton, organic cotton, recycled cotton, and American-grown cotton.
Gap Inc. will continue to source Better Cotton to support these sustainability targets. Since joining the Better Cotton Initiative, they have sourced 5000 metric tonnes of Better Cotton lint, the equivalent of 7.4 million pairs of jeans worth of cotton.
Gaps commitment to more sustainable sourcing comes in the backdrop of increased effort and attention on the matter from other brands. BCI Retailer and Brand Members are setting their sights on doubling their 2016 performance this year to 1,000,000 metric tonnes sourced as Better Cotton lint.
You can find a full list of all BCI Members here.


text:
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that the European Commission is making some efforts to stimulate more people across the European Union to at least consider becoming a tech entrepreneur.
One way to do this is to look at ways to change the typical cultural reaction so prevalent among Europeans, that entrepreneurship isn’t really a career and ‘failure’ in starting successful businesses is a bad thing (rather than what I like to call it, education).
The European Commission is keen on attempting to put Web entrepreneurship-as-a-career in the spotlights by, for one, partnering with The Next Web for a prestigious awards ceremony dubbed Europioneers.
That’s not all, though.
Follow the leaders, leaders
Today, European Commission VP for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, is announcing the formation of a so-called ‘Leaders Club’ in another effort to celebrate some of Europe’s most notable Web entrepreneurs and mostly to inspire future generations of successful startup founders.
The 9 (first?) members of the Leaders Club are:
– Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon (Spotify)
– Niklas Zennström (ex-Skype and Kazaa, now Atomico)
– Zaryn Denzel (Tuenti)
– Joanna Shields (Tech City, UK)
– Kaj Hed (Rovio)
– Reshma Sohoni (Seedcamp)
– Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten (The Next Web)
– Lars Hinrichs (formerly XING, now HackFwd)
All of them have committed to regularly engaging with Neelie Kroes in meetings and come up with ways to inspire future Web entrepreneurs across Europe by sharing strategic views, experiences and best practices on what needs to be done to improve the current situation.
The Leaders Club is part of Startup Europe, the European Commission’s action plan to support, promote and celebrate Web entrepreneurship.
Similar to the Startup America program in the United States, Startup Europe’s goal is to bring together commitments and pledges from the public and private sector to strengthen the Web entrepreneurship environment and stimulate technological innovation in Europe.
Over time, Startup Europe will launch more initiatives aimed at accelerating and connecting local ecosystems across the region to help tech startups start and stay in Europe, but also to scale their businesses on a global level.
Image credit: GEORGES GOBET for AFP / Getty Images


text:
Mars recalls candy bars in 56 countries
Feb 24, Washington: US chocolate giant Mars has ordered a massive international recall of Mars and Snickers bars made at its Dutch factory after a piece of plastic found in one snack was traced back to the site.
The move comes after a customer found a red piece of plastic in a Snickers bar - billed by the company as "the world's biggest selling candy bar" - bought on January 8 in Germany.
Millions of chocolate bars were deemed possibly unsafe for consumption in 56 countries after a customer in Germany found a piece of red plastic in his Snickers bar last month, media reports said.
The recall of the chocoholic snacks on Tuesday also affects Milky Way minis and some boxes of Celebrations. It hit most European countries, but it also extended as far as Vietnam and Sri Lanka in Asia, Al Jazeera reported.
"As far as we know there are 55 countries involved," Eline Bijveld, Mars corporate affairs coordinator for the Netherlands told the AFP news agency earlier in the day, refusing to reveal the whole list.
After he complained to Mars, the plastic was traced back to Veghel which determined that it came from a protective cover used in the plant's manufacturing process.
Mars prides itself on having five billion-dollar brand names in its stable of 29 separate chocolate products, including M&Ms, Twix and Dove.
It is the first time it has had to recall products made at its Veghel factory, which opened in 1963 and employs some 1,200 people, reports said.
In a statement announcing the recall in Germany, the US chocolate giant said: "We would like to prevent consumers who have purchased one of the above-mentioned products from consuming it".
The Oslo Times


text:
Farm Press Release
For release Wednesday noon, June 25, 1997.
Contact Bob Brammer -- 515-281-6699.
Miller: Zeneca, Inc., Will Pay States $3.9 Million to Resolve Alleged Price-Fixing in Sale of Farm Chemicals
DES MOINES. Attorney General Tom Miller announced Wednesday that Zeneca, Inc., a farm chemical manufacturing company based in Wilmington, Delaware, will pay $3.9 million in a multi-state settlement to resolve alleged price-fixing in the re-sale pricing of Zeneca chemicals. Zeneca markets Dyfonate, Eradicane, Fusilade, Gramoxone, Sutan, and other farm chemicals in Iowa.
"We alleged that Zeneca illegally tried to control the retail prices that were charged to farmers by independent dealers," Miller said. "We believe farmers had to pay higher prices for farm chemicals because the company essentially set artificial floor prices for their independent dealers." Miller said the states' Complaint was filed today in Dallas with the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas, along with a Consent Decree and Settlement Agreement that requires court approval. Forty-eight states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will share in the settlement. Miller said Iowa's share is $89,974.57, and that the funds will go for enforcing antitrust laws, including in the pricing of agricultural products. Miller is chair of the Antitrust Committee of the National Association of Attorneys General. "These are always complicated cases, and we are much more effective when we handle them together. I think the States are sending a clear signal that we will react strongly when we have evidence of price-fixing of any kind."
The Zeneca case was handled for Iowa by the Farm Division in Miller's Office.
In January, the States settled a similar complaint against American Cyanamid Co. -- the maker of Prowl, Counter, Pursuit and other farm chemicals -- and obtained a payment of $7.3 million for alleged price-fixing in re-sale pricing of American Cyanamid products.
"Under state and federal law it is illegal for a manufacturer or wholesaler to dictate the re-sale prices charged by independent retailers. That's an antitrust violation called re-sale price maintenance," Miller said.
"In this case, we alleged that Zeneca used its 'Stewardship Bonus Program' from the late 1980s through 1993 to illegally influence the re-sale prices set by independent distributors. We alleged that the Bonus Program illegally required dealers to peg their prices at or above a Zeneca price schedule in order to receive cash rebates. Zeneca withheld the rebates if a dealer did not follow Zeneca price schedules," he said.
The agreement prohibits Zeneca from conditioning dealer rebate payments on the re-sale prices dealers offer to farmers. It also prohibits the company from making other agreements with dealers to control or maintain the dealers' re-sale prices. The States' investigation of Zeneca began in 1995.


text:
Stay updated with the latest in Tech, Science, Culture, Entertainment, and more by following our Telegram channel here.
As the concept of "work from home" expands everywhere, the latest workplace is the driver's seat of your truck, because the recently announced electric Ford F-150 Lightning truck has a hidden workspace.
The first electric truck from Ford made its California debut on Thursday at Ford's Silicon Valley offices. It won't start production in Michigan until next year, but reservations are already open with over 120,000 pre-ordered. The base version starts at US$39,974.
The truck is recognizably a Ford F-150, but electric. It features most of the same design as the latest 2021 version of the gas-powered truck, including a work station that folds out of the front console.
While exploring all the nooks, crannies, compartments, and massive frunk (that's the portmanteau for "front trunk") where an internal combustion engine used to sit in non-electric F-150s, it was fun to discover the secret feature in the front seats. Once parked, pushing a button on the base of the gear shifter moved the lever down so it lay flat.
Then the center console opened up turning into a flat surface. It then became a spot for writing (instead of attempting to use the steering wheel) and a space to place your laptop. The spacious, two-row truck cabin becomes an impromptu office space.
When it's time to drive, pull back the compartment and push the button to return the gear shifter to an upright (and driveable) position.
In front, near the makeshift work station, there are also outlets for plugging in a computer or other electric equipment. A front slot has wireless charging for cellphones, and there are USB ports, too.
Darren Palmer, head of electrification for Ford, spoke about turning the e-truck into an air conditioned office when it's not going 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds.
"[The Lightning] is our definition of the truck of the future," he said at the Palo Alto event.
The truck runs entirely on a battery, and has up to 300 miles of range. Ford has been claiming since the May unveiling that the Lightning has enough battery to power a house full of appliances for up to three days during a blackout or outage.
On the same day the truck was on view for the first time in EV-friendly California, President Biden announced an executive order setting a target for US sales of zero-emissions cars at 50 percent by 2030. That includes electric trucks like the Lightning and other fuel cell and plug-in hybrid models.


text:
Customers of Amazon.com (AMZN 1.63%) can now return their packages to any Kohl's (KSS 5.57%) store after the department store chain announced it was expanding the pilot program to all 1,150 stores in 48 states.
Begun in 2017, the Amazon returns partnership allows any customer to bring a purchase into Kohl's, where the retailer will pack and ship the item back to the e-commerce giant free. Kohl's CEO Michelle Gass said, "This new service is another example of how Kohl's is delivering innovation to drive traffic to our stores and bring more relevance to our customers."
It is unique and runs counter to the experience many other retailers have when they let Amazon stick its nose under their tent. But it is still difficult to see how there's any real, meaningful benefit to Kohl's.
By all indications, the partnership between the two has not been negative, and all three parties involved in the the transaction presumably benefit.
- Customers appreciate the relative convenience of taking their packages to the store and not having to bother with wrapping them up or paying for the return.
- Kohl's enjoys the incremental foot traffic it brings into the store and the potential for Amazon customers to turn into Kohl's customers if they browse its aisles.
- Amazon is able to make another connection with customers in physical retail stores while increasing the ease of shopping on its website.
The question is: Just how much of a benefit is Kohl's really getting out of the returns program? Although the retailer itself has yet to provide any numbers, there are indications it may be working, beyond the fact Kohl's is taking the program companywide.
In the year after the pilot program launched, a Gordon Haskett Research Advisors survey suggested it was having the desired effect. Data from 13 Chicago-area Kohl's stores found that traffic at the five stores participating in the returns program was 8.5% higher than at those that weren't participating. Those stores also drew in 56% more people who hadn't visited a Kohl's store in the three months before the program started.
But it's hard to pinpoint why those shoppers were actually there, and suggesting that only the returns program drove large crowds into the retailer seems a stretch.
...But little real impact
Comparable-store sales at Kohl's were up 1.7% in 2018, which isn't all that much different from the comps growth of 1.5% it experienced in 2017. Although the program was only in 80 or so stores for the first year, or about 7% of the total, it seemingly had a negligible impact -- if any -- on growth. Furthermore, the returns program was bumped up to 100 stores last October when it was expanded into Wisconsin, yet Kohl's fourth-quarter comps tumbled from a gain of 6.3% in 2017 to just 1% last year.
Other numbers also call into question just how great the partnership is. Amazon generated some $207 billion in worldwide retail sales in 2018, but allocated just $627 million for returns, 0.3% of the total -- or about 1% if we back out Prime membership fees from total sales.
Because those are global numbers, the amount coming from the U.S. is even smaller, though the U.S. makes up the lion's share of sales.
Besides, there are a number of ways Amazon customers can return a purchase. These include the local post office, which is certainly more convenient than running to the mall -- though the customer is responsible for packaging and possibly paying for the return. When you factor all this in, the number of people going to Kohl's can't be all that large enough to make a difference.
Moreover, Amazon also launched a "returnless refund" program where customers aren't even required to return the item to get a refund.
Although the Amazon partnership makes the department store more of a "good neighbor" to customers, and that may generate some goodwill, Amazon's customers are the ones getting the benefit as Kohl's is facilitating sales at the competition.
Unless Amazon is grooming Kohl's for an eventual buyout -- something numerous analysts have speculated Amazon should do in its pursuit of a physical retail strategy -- Kohl's isn't really doing itself any favors by making its rival a better place to shop.


text:
Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has won the prestigious International Paul Pietsch Award 2013 for technological innovation at the Auto Motor und Sport Best Cars Awards.
This is the fifth award that the 1.0-litre engine has won globally since launching in spring 2012, including; the Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club in Great Britain, a Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine in the U.S and 2012 International Engine of The Year from Engine Technology International – won by the largest voting margin in the award‘s history.
The International Paul Pietsch Award has been presented annually for 24 years and is chosen by a jury of 30 Motorpresse Stuttgart Group editors-in-chief from 22 countries worldwide.
“This award goes to a technology that has made such an impact in the automotive world,” said Bernd Ostmann, Auto Motor und Sport publisher at the award ceremony in Stuttgart. “The Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine makes a real difference; it performs well, is great to drive, uses a very modern and light construction and it represents green technology.”
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost is the company’s first 3-cylinder engine, and debuts many new technologies never before seen in a Ford vehicle, including an integrated exhaust manifold, variable oil pump, a split cooling system, an offset crankshaft and a small, highly-responsive turbocharger that spins up to 248,000 rpm.
Ford last year confirmed that the 1.0-litre EcoBoost will make its North American debut in the new FordFiesta.
Acura unveils SUV concept
The 2014 Acura MDX prototype debuted at the recent Montreal International Auto Show.
The prototype features smooth, arching body lines matched to an efficient architecture. The new MDX will feature a new direct-injected 3.5 litre V6 engine that will deliver improved torque and, according to Acura, expected class-leading fuel economy.
“Since its introduction, and with every new generation, the MDX has redefined what an SUV can be,” said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Acura Canada.
“In true Acura fashion, this next model will take the current MDX’s inspired performance and move the needle further by improving fuel economy, luxury and comfort.”
The “Aero Sculpture” styling of the prototype pursues the direction of a strong, bold, and premium appearance with low, wide and sleek proportions; clean, efficient and uncluttered design; and elegant, premium detailing, including the next-generation Acura grille design and signature Acura Jewel Eye LED headlights.
Ghent plant hits milestone
Volvo Car Group’s plant in Ghent, Belgium, has now built five million cars since it started operating in 1965. “This is a milestone for the entire Volvo Car Group. Five million cars is a landmark achievement,” said Lars Wrebo, Senior vice-president of manufacturing at Volvo Car Group.
The five millionth car was a Volvo V40 D2 that rolled off the assembly line in Ghent at the end of 2012. The almost 5,000 plant employees got to sign their names on the car, and today it is on display at the Brussels Motor Show.
At present three different Volvo car models are built here. The Volvo XC60 was introduced in 2008 and is currently the best-selling Volvo the world over.
Since last year the Volvo V40 and its V40 Cross Country variant are also built here. Both models got off to a very promising sales start. The third model produced in Ghent is the Volvo S60, with production starting in 2010.


text:
Google confirms a core algorithm update, the December 2020 Core Update, is rolling out today.
Later today, we are releasing a broad core algorithm update, as we do several times per year. It is called the December 2020 Core Update. Our guidance about such updates remains as we’ve covered before. Please see this blog post for more about that:https://t.co/e5ZQUAlt0G
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) December 3, 2020
As mentioned in the announcement, Google’s guidance regarding the update remains the same as it always has been.
This is the third core algorithm update of the calendar year. A fair amount of time has passed since the last core update, compared to the average time between these types of updates updates.
The last core update rolled out on what the internet refers to as “Star Wars Day,” also known as May 4th.
It’s likely the pandemic delayed the rollout of Google’s next core update. As more time than usual has passed, could that mean the impact of today’s update will be more impactful?
We won’t know the answer to that today, or even tomorrow, as the rollout process of a core update can take weeks.
Expect Google to publish tweet when the update officially starts rolling out later today, and another tweet some days later when the rollout is complete.
For more guidance on how to respond to a core update as an SEO or site owners, Here are some of the best resources we’ve published on this subject in the past:
Continue Reading Below


text:
Integrating Cresa’s services allows for a disciplined, conflict-free approach to maximize cost savings and allocate more resources to staff and students.
The current global pandemic has severely tested the resiliency aspect of supply chains, with delays and disruptions pervasive. As all of these phenomena collide, COVID-19 could be the catalyst for a complete rethink of supply chains as we know them.
Hugh Rader with Cresa Global Inc. represented the buyer, Highlight Storage Partners, LLC (RRB Development), in acquiring its 50,775 SF industrial facility
The office space available for sublet in downtown Vancouver had already doubled, from about 130,000 square feet at the end of the first quarter to over 260,000 square feet when broker Ross Moore recently cited it as a mini-milestone. Moore now says the available sublet space has gone up again, rising to around 370,000 square feet in just a week.
Now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended sweeping changes to American offices, companies around the country are preparing elaborate new routines intended to keep their employees healthy. But some of these measures have practical limitations, says Cresa CEO Jim Underhill.
The supply chain is growing and improving throughout the U.S. with the emergence of last-mile facilities and delivery – and Mexico and Latin America are presenting new opportunities for relocation, investment and supply chain extension.
In France, the National Institute of Statistics and Studies (INSEE) assessed the GDP decrease as being closer to 9%, including a rebound of +19% at Q3 2020 and +3% at Q4 2020.


text:
“I don’t enjoy when I don’t shop,” Hinduja told ETPanache, discussing his recent visit to the day-long bonsai exhibition held in Mumbai, at the school where his three children studied at. “It’s something different from everyday business activities. And it’s also extremely relaxing and calming,” he said.
He enjoyed interacting with the small-scale entrepreneurs at the event, shopping for organic foods and plants that are missing in his home garden. This time, he picked some ornamental chillies, red leaves crassula and dotted hearts, to name a few.
India Inc Gets Budget-Ready; Ronnie Screwvala, Cleartrip Boss, Spykar Lifestyle CEO Share W...
The Countdown Begins
It's that time of the year when all eyes are on the Finance Minister. Dalal Street, India Inc, tax-paying individuals, consumers, traders - almost everyone is looking at Nirmala Sitharaman with hope. This Budget, that comes in the wake of a slowdown, and muted consumer spending, is the first one that's being presented by the Narendra Modi government after storming back to power in the Lok Sabha elections last year.
As the countdown begins, here's a look at what India Inc has on their wishlist from Ms Sitharaman this time.
ETPrime stories of the day
11 mins read
13 mins read
14 mins read


text:
- 18 February 2010
Green Monday, the top networking event for corporate sustainability leaders, is expanding nationally in partnership with ENDS. ENDS will leverage its knowledge and contacts to advise on topics, content and speakers, and will bring Green Monday to the attention of its wide network of sustainability professionals.
- 16 February 2010
ENDS and environmental consultancy Aether together announce the first global directory and marketplace for environmental accounting tools: Environment Tools.
- 15 January 2010
The Green Business Awards, a leading barometer of excellence in green practice, strategy and products in the UK, is now open for entries.
- 21 December 2009
ENDS reporters and expert guest contributors produced one of the best and most comprehensive contemporaneous records of the chaotic Copenhagen world summit on climate change, which ground to a halt on 19 December 2009.
- 25 November 2009
Brand Emissions, the first annual survey of the carbon performance of 600 of the UK’s biggest brands, identifies the brands that are leading on carbon emissions reductions and those which are lagging behind.


text:
Toy Soldiers, Ubisoft’s action/ tower defence series, will land on PlayStation consoles for the first time with the upcoming next-gen release of Toy Soldiers: War Chest.
The game, which will also be available on Windows PC and Xbox One early next year, has been developed by Signal Studios. In the game, players chose from one of four armies to face off against waves of enemy soldiers.
As you can see from the trailer, it’s not the most realistic of games. It has fairies and unicorns, after all. That should be a hint about the spirit in which this game is being offered.
Having never played a game in this series before, after seeing the trailer it’s safe to say I’m rather amused and interested. It’s unlikely to be a classic game remembered fondly for generations, but it looks set to be good, honest fun.
– Matt S.
Find me on Twitter: @digitallydownld


text:
أعمال فنية غريبة في وقت القفل
Since March the Tedeschini's art changed towards the use of occasional materials, and no longer traditional ones such as cotton or linen canvases, poplar or fir wood boards, that he used to paint and set up.
In fact, one of the artworks that we show you hanging up this article has been selected for a display at the Municipal Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome in via Crispi of the circuit of the Galleria d'Arte Moderna in via Giulia (Ex GNAM). Even the latest auctions have seen the return after a brief appearance of works on traditional media of assemblages that have been sold in a satisfactory way for the well-known artist in Europe who received by his website and his purchaes an interesting volume of business:
This year a report is being prepared that is about to have a numbers of100,000 visitors to the website www.davidetedeschini.com


text:
Star Wars Celebration Art Show Revealed
With Star Wars Celebration just a month away, Disney has announced details on what artwork will be available at the event, as part of its Art Show.
The Art Show brings together artists of myriad disciplines and styles to celebrate Star Wars with original works created just for Lucasfilm’s official event; it’s become a tradition, and StarWars.com is excited to reveal the full lineup of prints coming to Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, with selections honouring Disney+ shows like “The Mandalorian”, the sequel trilogy, Star Wars animation, and much more. From Al Abbazia’s heartwarming personal expression to Shyla Lee’s winking Grogu tribute, this year’s Art Show is, once again, a wide-ranging display of talent and affection for the saga.
Here is a look at some of the artwork based on many Disney+ Originals, including “The Mandalorian”, “Andor”, “Tales Of The Jedi” and more that will be available exclusively at Star Wars Celebration:
Pre-orders will go live at DarkInkArt.com on March 10 at 12 p.m. PT and run through March 20th at 12 p.m. PT; all prints will be limited to 250 pieces, with 200 available for pre-order and pick up at the Art Show, and 50 reserved for sale at Celebration. All pre-orders are pick up only (no pre-orders will be shipped).
Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 will be held April 7-10, 2023, at ExCeL London in England.


text:
MGM Moves To All-DVD Screeners25 Jan, 2002 By: Jessica Wolf
It's a sign of the DVD times we're in that some studio press release goodie bags will now be stuffed with discs rather than cassettes. After a recent screener paradigm shift, MGM became one of the few studios to mail out DVD screeners along with street date announcements rather than VHS copies. "It just seemed like the time was right and that retailers would appreciate getting screeners on DVD," said MGM spokesperson Steve Wegner.
The first two digital screeners went out last week for the recently announced titles Bandits, which streets April 2 (prebook March 5) and Original Sin, which streets March 26 (prebook Feb. 26). For future releases MGM DVD screeners will include other MGM trailers like VHS screeners typically do—though these first two are movie-only. There wasn't enough time for this particular solicitation cycle to get additional content on the discs, Wegner said.
Wegner said special features like audio commentaries, deleted scenes or even interactive menus and scene selection options are usually not ready in enough time to be included on early industry screening copies, which are typically sent out well before street date.
Wegner said the studio has not yet received any feedback from retailers on the new screener format.


text:
Toronto, ON 2010 ShipCanada.ca, a leading online transportation management company based in Newmarket, Ontario, has just announced it’s new customs clearance service for North American shippers.
According to executives at ShipCanada, a div. of Equitrans Global Logistics, one of Canada’s 50 fastest growing companies in 2007 according to Profit magazine; the integration of a customs service was inevitable.
The online brokerage, known for its proprietary freight quote technology, traditionally only offered trucking company services for shippers moving freight throughout North America. The customs offering, which will be rolled out in the fall, will be facilitated by Livingston International at the major U.S., Canadian and Mexican commercial border crossings.
The service, which is intended to streamline the shipping and customs compliance functions that is traditionally handled by two separate companies will be of immediate benefit to shippers according to ShipCanada’s VP Brandon Rowland:
“Most shippers that move Cross-border freight dread reconciling freight invoices with customs clearance paperwork at the end of the month. With this new program all applicable charges will be on one simple to read invoice.”
The Livingston / ShipCanada partnership was also a strategic move with long-term growth implications says Brandon: “When we started looking at brokerages to represent us on the front-line we knew we needed a company with a physical presence at all major border crossings as well the latest technology to facilitate online commerce.”
Shipping Canada from the U.S. will be handled in the same fashion as U.S. bound freight. As ShipCanada eyes an increasing market for importing U.S. vehicles to Canada it remains to be seen how much of the new Customs service will be marketed to include non-commercial shippers who require the services of trucking companies with customs capabilities.


text:
We are seeing a big reversal in the stock market today based on a variety of factors. The personal income numbers were terrible:
"Incomes dropped 0.7 percent, the first decrease since August 2005, reflecting the end of the rebates, after a 0.1 percent gain the prior month. The median projection was a decline of 0.2 percent."
The same report showed that consumer spending slowed and inflation rose:
"Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Spending by U.S. consumers slowed in July as the impact of the tax rebates faded and a pickup in inflation eroded Americans' buying power.
Purchases rose 0.2 percent, one-third the pace in June, the Commerce Department said today in Washington, while prices surged the most in 17 years. The Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment was at 63 this month, from 61.2 in July.
The figures on spending, which accounts for more than two- thirds of the economy, underscore projections for growth to slow from the 3.3 percent pace last quarter that the government reported yesterday. With unemployment rising and home values dropping, Americans are cutting back on big-ticket items like automobiles and furniture, today's report showed. Stocks fell.
``We are looking for a clear slowdown in the economy,'' said Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist at Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts, who accurately forecast the gain in spending. ``Inflation has been eating into spending power.''
"The Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of prices, which excludes food and fuel, climbed 0.3 percent for a second month. The so-called core price measure was up 2.4 percent from a year before, the most since February 2007. That compares with the 1.8 percent to 2 percent median forecast of Fed officials for 2010, which is an indication of their target for the measure."
When you put these three things together the story makes sense right? Lower incomes combined with higher inflation= a slowdown in consumer spending.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out why the economy is in such bad shape. What confuses many in this country are the constant sticks saves by the government combined with the unrelenting bullish bias in the financial media.
They both want you to think that the economy is fine, and you should continue to invest in stocks. The facts tell you a completely different story. How can you be bullish on this economy when personal income dropped almost .7% in one month?
Now granted, the end of the rebates represent a good chunk of this number but certainly not all of it. The thing to focus on going forward is there are no more rebates! Incomes continue to drop and inflation continues to run higher than the Fed is comfortable with. This is going to severely hurt growth going forward.
I still have yet to see a catalyst to take this market higher. Whats scary is the majority of the stimulus used by the Fed is now past us. The stimulus checks have been spent, and the Fed is done cutting rates. The one big stick save that's waiting in the wings is the GSE bailout which is just a matter of time.
As I have said before, the market will not like this bailout. You may see a small bounce on the news. This IMO will be followed by a sell off when the bond market gets its say and takes rates higher.
After the GSE bailout, I think the Fed will basically be forced to sit on the sidelines for the duration of the correction. They will be out of cash from backing up the GSE's, and the bond market vigilantes will control interest rates as they take the 10 year higher. They will be switching into "damage control" mode.
The economic numbers were pretty rough this morning. The sell off today shouldn't be taken very seriously. All of the moves this week have been on light volume.
Gustav has many investors spooked heading into Labor Day. As a result, they are selling positions and running to the sidelines in case Gustav does some major damage. The personal income data obviously put further pressure on equities.
If anything hits over the weekend, I will have it up here. The market has a history of dropping major bombs over a long weekend in hopes that its forgotten by Tuesday! I think most of the pigmen are probably heading to the Hamptons for the weekend so don't expect much!
I hope everyone has a great Labor Day! Drink a beer, spend time with your families, and try to forget about the stock market for a few days.
Those are my plans!


text:
Twitter is expanding its premium subscription service to more users. Twitter Blue, which unlocks additional features like the ability to “undo” a tweet or browse news without ads, is now available to users in the United States ($2.99/month) and New Zealand ($4.49/month).
The service is designed to appeal to Twitter’s most dedicated power users, with the kind of specialized features that have sometimes appeared in third-party Twitter clients. For example, Twitter Blue comes with an “undo” feature that’s likely the closest thing to an edit button the company will ever make.
A subscription also buys several new customization tools, including the ability to rearrange which features appear as shortcuts in the app’s navigation bar, or the option to choose new color themes and app icons. Subscriptions also buy you early access to new features as Twitter tests them out. For now that includes video upload up to 10 minutes long (videos are capped at 2 minutes for non-paying users) and the ability to pin conversations to the top of your DM inbox. These experimental features “might eventually become available to the rest of Twitter, graduate to a feature of Twitter Blue, or sunset based on feedback we hear from subscribers,” the company says.
Notably, the latest iteration of Twitter Blue also comes with two new features powered by the company’s recent acquisition of Scroll, a startup that partnered with publishers to offer ad-free content. Twitter Blue subscribers are now able to access ad-free articles from more than 300 publishers, including The Atlantic, BuzzFeed and Rolling Stone.
It’s somewhat similar to Google’s AMP or Facebook’s Instant Articles in that articles are meant to load quickly and cleanly. But unlike those programs, where readers are directed to stripped down article pages, Twitter Blue articles will still open directly on the publisher’s website. Tony Haile, the former Scroll CEO who now is the senior director of longform at Twitter, says the company is trying to build “win-win partnerships” with publishers who retain “complete control of the experience.”
Though the company hasn’t disclosed the terms of these arrangements, a portion of each Twitter Blue subscription goes directly to publishers, Haile said. And subscribers will also get access to a dashboard in the Twitter app that breaks down your news-reading habits and how much revenue your clicks are bringing to the publishers you read most often. “Our goal is to help each publishing partner make 50% more per person than they would’ve made from serving ads to that person.” Twitter writes in a blog post.
Finally, Twitter Blue comes with a “top articles” feature that brings in some functionality from the niche but highly regarded news app Nuzzel, which was shuttered earlier this year. Like the original app, the new “top articles” feature will curate a list of the top stories shared by people in your Twitter network over the last 24 hours. (Former Nuzzel fans will be happy to learn they can pin the new “top articles” section directly to their nav bar from the in-app settings menu.)
The expansion of Twitter Blue comes amid a broader shift for the company, which has been shaking up many of its core features for the first time in its 15-year history. Elsewhere, the company has embraced creator-centric features like Super Follows and Ticketed Spaces, and is building out a newsletter platform. Twitter Blue is different, though, because the company is hoping to draw in its most hardcore users rather than attract new voices to its platform.
But it’s unclear just how many of those users will be willing to pay for those extra features. The company has been testing Twitter Blue in Australia and Canada since early June, but hasn’t shared on early adoption or other metrics for the service, Twitter said Tuesday it will continue to add new features and will be paying close attention to user feedback.


text:
Tradle, a Vancouver-based venture that offers a baby clothing subscription from top brands, was named winner of the Circular Economy Innovators Pitch Competition on June 9th. Founder Blyth Gill made the winning pitch, explaining Tradle’s circular service, which allows parents to easily replace clothing as Baby outgrows them, for a fraction of the cost of new outfits.
Tradle won a prize package that includes $1,500 cash, 10 hours of one-to-one coaching with a Foresight Executive in Residence, access to Foresight accelerator training, and a spot in an upcoming pitching/matchmaking event.
The other presenting companies were Calmura Natural Walls, Reusables, Service Enviro SCAD, and Unbound Chemicals. They presented intriguing solutions for markets ranging from construction to retail.
The judges – Kookai Chaimahawong with Pangaea Ventures, Chris Legler with Axios Growth, and Nelson Switzer with Climate Innovation – rated the pitches based on criteria such as immediacy of impact, how circular the product or process is, and benefits delivered.
Hosted by Foresight, the Circular Economy Innovators Pitch Competition was a side event in Metal Tech Alley’s Industrial Circular Economy Conference, ICE2021. The pitch competition drew an audience from as far away as Texas, San Francisco, and the Netherlands, and from across Canada.
Demand for circular economy solutions is spectacular, according to competition judge Nelson Switzer. Congratulations to all the pitching companies, who demonstrated that innovators are working hard to meet this demand and address urgent climate change challenges.


text:
According to The New York Post, Rihanna allegedly cut an impressive deal with Samsung: the company will chip in $25 million to sponsor the singer’s ANTI album and the following tour. The Post theorizes that in return for Samsung’s support, the company “wants to use Rihanna to help promote its Galaxy line of products and wants exclusive use of Rihanna-related video content to release via its Milk Music radio service.”
As The Post points out, Rihanna’s is signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation. The rapper’s last album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, came out with help from Samsung, which drew a withering critique from The New York Times—“If Jay-Z wants to know about my phone calls and e-mail accounts, why doesn’t he join the National Security Agency?—and questions from Killer Mike.
The release date for Rihanna's forthcoming album, ANTI, remains unclear but it's rumored to drop in the next few weeks. While you wait, revisit Rihanna’s FADER cover story.


text:
“The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance is looking for artisans, artists and businesses interested in participating in the second phase of the PescArt Menorca project”
- 25th November
- 10 – 12h
- Recinte Firal de Es Mercadal
- Registrations: firstname.lastname@example.org
The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance is seeking people and businesses interested in participating in the second phase of the PescArt Menorca project, focused on the recycling of fishing nets for their reconversion into economically viable products, encouraging the creation of a circular economy. For this purpose, we are organising a workshop open to all interested people and businesses on 25th November from 10 am to 12 noon at the Recinte Firal in Es Mercadal. To attend, please send an e-mail to email@example.com.
For the implementation of this second phase of the project, the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance has counted on funding from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through which it will focus on involving more people and businesses that want to contribute by creating products from fishing nets, to guide and support professionals in their commercialisation process and to continue collaborating with the Foundation for People with Disabilities for the treatment of the nets. Likewise, and thanks to the collaboration of Ports IB and the fishermen’s guilds, two containers have been installed in the ports of Fornells and Ciutadella so that fishermen can deposit the discarded nets.