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C-Store clerk admits $800 robbery was a hoax
A gas station convenience store clerk told police she felt sorry for a homeless man and handed him $800 out of the till, covering up the donation to make it look like a robbery. The 33-year-old woman was booked Wednesday on preliminary charges of theft and filing a false police report in the incident. Detectives were suspicious of her robbery story, and a sworn Decatur police affidavit said she was arrested after being called to police headquarters for questioning. All preliminary charges are subject to review by the state’s attorney’s office.
Writing in the affidavit, detective Jason Derbort said the woman admitted her robbery story wasn’t true and, instead, described giving the money to the homeless man after deciding to “help him out.” “(She) stated the man gave her back approximately half of the money she turned over to him,” Derbort said. “She stated the man put the money in the front passenger seat of her car, and (the cash) totaled $459.” Derbort quoted the woman as saying she cooked up the robbery story after a customer asked her what was going on.“… She decided she needed to call the police to report this as a robbery as she did not know how to explain the missing money to her boss,” Derbort said. The woman remained held in the Macon County Jail on Thursday night, in lieu of posting $5,000 bail. A message left with FasMart management seeking comment was not immediately returned. [Source: Herald & Review]
Shoplifter stymied by pregnant store clerk
A pregnant store clerk in South Carolina thwarted a shoplifting attempt at a Family Dollar store in Greenville Friday, according to the Greenville Police Department. Officers responded to the reported shoplifting at the Family Dollar. Police Department spokesman Donald Porter said in a press release. Store employees and witnesses reported a man who had attempted to leave the store without paying for a speaker system, Porter said.
The pregnant clerk tried to take the item from the man as he was leaving, and the man retaliated by grabbing the clerk by her throat and pushing her away, Porter said. “Another customer came to the rescue and scuffled with the suspect, eventually shoving the suspect out of the store,” Porter said in the release.
The suspect fled the scene on a bicycle… without the speaker. The suspect is described as a white man in his 20s, about 6 feet tall with a medium build, short brown hair and some facial hair. He was last seen wearing a green hoodie, black pants and black shoes.Police ask anyone with information on the man’s identity or location to contact CrimeStoppers at 23.CRIME (864.232.7463). Tipsters can remain anonymous. [Source: Greenville News]
How to check to see if you are part of the 770M affected in massive data breach
Security researchers recently discovered that over 770 million email addresses and passwords had been compromised making it the largest collection of breached data ever. The information breach is made up of several individual data breaches from thousands of websites, rather than just one hack of a large service or internet site. And with that many accounts hit, it’s more than likely one of your profiles is part of the mix. “It seems like it’s a reality of today’s world that you’re going to have your information out there all over the place,” breach victim James Nichol said.
But one security researcher has made it easier than ever to know for sure if you’ve been affected or not. You just type in your email address at Have I Been Pwned?, and there it will tell you how many breaches your account has been linked with and just what information was taken. Email addresses, IP addresses, names, and your physical addresses are common things that are compromised in the breaches. “I don’t know really what to think, it’s not something you come across everyday knowing that your passwords have been hacked,” Jonathan Fernandez said. [Source: Valley News Live]
Employee stole more than $16,000; charged with 31 felony counts
A Save-A-Lot employee in Pennsylvania is accused of stealing more than $16,000 from the store over 18 months, police said. Beaver Falls police charged 31-year-old Dorothy Grier, 31 with felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property. According to the police report, Save-A-Lot’s loss prevention associate contacted police on Jan. 14 about the possibility of theft by an employee. The LP associate told police they had discovered that an employee, identified as Grier, had been stealing money from the store.
Save-A-Lot estimated that Grier had stolen about $16,078 between July 2018 and Jan. 14, according to the police report. Grier was ringing in higher-value items at her register as if it was a customer purchasing them and then quickly returning the items and pocketing the return money, the LP associate told police.
Police said Grier admitted to stealing money from Save-A-Lot by making fictitious returns and keeping the money, but said she had no idea how much money she’d taken. Grier told police she had some health issues that made her miss work and she was behind on some of her bills. She was free after posting $10,000 bond. [Source: The Times Online]
Prolific armed robber in custody
A Michigan man with an extensive criminal background has reportedly confessed to four armed robberies in Pontiac and Waterford occurring in the last few weeks, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported Friday. Richard Allen Jefferson, 50, is in the Oakland County Jail, awaiting arraignment.
Detectives say he has confessed to the following armed robberies:
⁃ Dec. 23, 2018 – Rite Aid – $900 taken
⁃ Jan. 7, 2019 – Thrifty Florist – $150 taken
⁃ Jan. 7, 2019 – 7-Eleven – $200-$300 taken
⁃ Jan. 14, 2019 – TCF Bank – $1400 taken
Detectives from the sheriff’s office and the Waterford Township Police Department partnered on solving the robberies and identified Jefferson as a suspect. He was located at a residence in Flint, arrested by Flint police at the request of the sheriff’s office and then transferred to the sheriff’s office where he was interviewed and ultimately confessed, the sheriff’s office said.
“I am pleased with the police work done and am grateful for the partnership with Waterford Township PD, who assisted in bringing justice for the victims of these armed robberies,” said Sheriff Mike Bouchard. “This career criminal is now behind bars without further harm to our community.” [Source: The Oakland Press]
Here we go again; Gymboree may close remaining stores
Remember the scramble to grab everything possible from Toys “R” Us before they officially closed shop? Well, here we go again. The once popular children’s clothing retailer Gymboree, which at one time had a nearly cult-like following, is expected to file for bankruptcy and close its remaining brick-and-mortar stores, the Wall Street Journal first reported. The Gymboree website says it operates more than 900 retail stores in the U.S. and Canada, as well as franchises around the world.
So what happened to this company that once saw a rush of parents and kids in their stores? It’s a combination of many things. Allen Adamson, New York University adjunct professor at the Stern School of Business and author of “Shift Ahead,” told TODAY Style that the retailer simply couldn’t cut it in the modern retail landscape. It’s possible that the company’s higher-end brand, Janie and Jack, may be sold to another company, according to CNBC.
So what to do if a Gymboree gift card is sitting around the house? Go out and spend it quickly, advised Dart. The company will likely try to sell off as much of its merchandise as quickly as possible (remember Toys “R” Us?) and then close within a matter of months. [Source: TODAY Style]


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Here are the top trending news from the world of technology. News that every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.
Apple Music shuts down Siri only $5 Voice Plan
Apple seems to have shut down its lowest cost Apple-Music subscription plan, the Apple Music Voice Plan. Although Apple hasn’t officially announced about discontinuation of the plan, it is no longer available on Apple Music website. It is also currently unavailable for purchase through Siri. Launched in 2021 in limited markets, users could access Apple Music Voice Plan through voice assistant Siri instead of the music app. However, this plan came with serious limitations. For instance, users were unable to add songs to their library or create their own custom playlist. Besides, they were not able to enjoy real time lyrics and couldn’t use this plan on non-Apple devices.
YouTube is cracking down on Ad Blockers
YouTube has decided to start a global war against Ad Blockers. The Google owned streaming platform has decided to block all ad blockers on its platform. What this basically means is that users can no longer watch YouTube’s free version by using ad blockers. Such users will now have to subscribe to YouTube’s premium plan. YouTube has taken this step obviously because it heavily relies on advertising revenue. If users use ad blockers then they can’t see ads and YouTube can’t earn revenue. Another reason why YouTube may have taken this step is because ad blockers hinder the user experience. Interestingly, YouTube claims that viewing ads actually enhances the user experience of its users.
Twitch’s AI Seinfeld Show almost breaks down
The AI rendition of Seinfeld that has been playing in continuous loop on Twitch since last one year has developed a problem. The images appeared to be broken and pixilated and the loop seems to have broken. It is not clear exactly what is causing this problem. Twitch has not removed the show and the show is still continuing on the platform. The AI Seinfeld is very unique show since it is completely generated by AI, from the writing to the acting to the directing. It has been primarily created with the help of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, DALL-E and Stable Diffusion. Although the AI Seinfeld loop doesn’t enjoy great viewership on Twitch, the die-hard Seinfeld fans certainly seem to be hooked by the show.
UK to invest $273 Mn to build its own AI Supercomputer
The UK government has announced that it is investing $273 million to build a dedicated AI super-computer. This super computer will be called Isambard-AI and will be the most powerful supercomputer in UK’s entire history. Its main aim would be helping United Kingdom in accelerating research in a wide-range of fields, including AI, climate change, and drug discovery. This move seems to signify UK’s commitment to becoming a strong leader in AI and compete more strongly with the US and China in the field of AI. The US and China are already home to some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, and they are investing heavily in AI research.
At UK’s AI summit, UK announces Bletchley Declaration signed by 28 countries
At the ongoing global AI summit in UK, the UK’s Minister of Technology Michelle Donelan announced on Wednesday the ‘Bletchley Declaration.’ Expectedly, the Bletchley Declaration calls for AI to be “designed, developed, deployed, and used in a manner that is safe, human-centric, trustworthy and responsible. The Bletchley Declaration seems to be yet another global effort safeguarding the world against possible risks associated with AI. The UK’s two day AI summit is indeed special one as for the first time countries from around the world have come together to agree on a set of principles for AI safety.

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Infotech Lead America: Molson Coors Brewing Co. has tapped HP to transform some of the brewer’s finance and HR processes and systems to reduce costs.
To increase efficiency and improve access to critical information, HP Enterprise Services will support Molson Coors’ migration from
regional support to a cost-efficient and flexible HP cloud environment.
The cloud environment, according to a statement from HP, allows Molson Coors to scale resources up and down as business needs change.
HP claims that its improved Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) platform offers clients more robust workflows, while integrating tightly into enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to improve operational effectiveness.
In addition, Molson Coors’ move to a cloud hosting environment via the new HP BPO platform will standardize HR and finance processes globally to their corresponding business applications.
By better aligning processes and applications, Molson Coors can easily expand into new markets more quickly and cost-effectively.
“In the evolving beer market, we look for business solutions that help keep us nimble and flexible, so that we can focus on brewing great beer brands for our consumers,” said Gavin Hattersley, chief financial officer, Molson Coors Brewing Company.
Molson Coors will receive BPO services from HP’s centers of excellence in Canada, Costa Rica, India, Poland and the United States.
HP’s delivery model — that combines the power of HP technology with experienced professionals around the world — will enable Molson Coors to benefit from better flexibility and cost efficiency while minimizing risks.
“With top brewers joining forces to compete, it’s critical for Molson Coors to use the latest processes and technologies to drive even more operational efficiency,” said Dennis Stolkey, senior vice president and general manager, Americas, HP Enterprise Services.


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It's been a strange couple of months for on-demand transportation startup Uber. A Medium article published in September by entrepreneur Peter Sims revealed that Uber's all-seeing "God View" tracking software was occasionally (or perhaps frequently) used for non-business purposes, and while a claim...
You may have already seen a Lyft driver without knowing it. If not, you will. One day, you'll be on your way to the grocery store, and a car will pass you. That car will be wearing a funny pink mustache. And someone will be getting a ride. Lyft is a ride-sharing program that draws from a communit...
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- Vizzywig 8xHD price tag now a very affordable $49.99
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We are just months away from the launch of the iPhone 12. 2020 iPhone 12 is expected in the month of September or October. There are already so many expectations on iPhone 12 as there were leaked pictures and device videos. Apple would name 2020 iPhone series as iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 pro if it continues the same scheme as in 2019 lineup.
Although Apple company did not reveal the available colors of upcoming iPhone, the sources says that iPhone 12 models could probably add new color ie., Navy Blue Finish. Apple have introduced midnight green color in iPhone 11 Pro lineup.
Rumors suggest that Apple will be releasing four iPhones in 3 different sizes.
As per the information available on iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro so far, the new iPhone will be available in 5.4 Inches, 6.7 Inches and two different models of 6.1 inches iPhone. Sources say that 5.4 inches iPhone will be similar to iPhone 8 model.
Features at a Glance


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If you missed out on tickets to Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)—
and since they sold out in three minutes, it’s quite likely you did—you may be soothed by news of a second Apple-centric conference in San Francisco going on at the same time.
Appsterdam on Thursday announced
AltWWDC, a free conference it will open just a block away from the Moscone Center where WWDC is held.
Described as “a free and open alternative to Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference,” the five-day AltWWDC event will include talks, food, and co-working space. Confirmed speakers include former Apple engineer Mike Lee, NetNewsWire creator Brent Simmons, TUAW’s Victor Agreda, Jr., and developer and occasional Macworld contributor Brett Terpstra. The event is scheduled to run from June 10 through June 14, just like WWDC.
Via email, Appsterdam COO Judy Chen told Macworld, “AltWWDC was inspired by the sharing spirit of Appsterdam, and Appsterdam was inspired by the feeling of camaraderie that you get while attending a conference.” She described AltWWDC as an opportunity “for app makers to get together socially, share knowledge, improve their skills, and increase their network.”
For many developers within the Apple ecosystem, getting the opportunity to socialize and trade tips with their colleagues proves just as appealing as Apple’s conference itself. Numerous
smaller, Apple-centric conferences continue to pop up around the globe, as developers seek out more ways to interact with each other in person. AltWWDC, however, appears to be the first such event intentionally scheduled for the same time as Apple’s flagship developer event as counter-programming.
Among the currently scheduled events is a keynote breakfast on June 10, during which attendees at AltWWDC can watch live streams of the WWDC keynote expected for that day. Presumably, new versions of OS X and iOS will be previewed then.
In recent years, more members of the Apple development community have traveled to San Francisco during WWDC week, even when they don’t have tickets to the event. Tickets to WWDC cost $1599—and that’s only if you can buy them before they sell out. Chen noted that a year ago, “many of our colleagues were extremely disappointed that they couldn’t attend WWDC” because it sold out quickly. “We saw our community was in need.”
And AltWWDC really is free. “It’s expensive enough to stay in a hotel for a week in San Francisco,” Chen said. “We didn’t want the cost of our event to be a barrier to keep people from attending.”


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The company's first ever brand campaign features well-known TV personalities such as Ruby Wax, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, and Martine McCutcheon relaxing in the confines of Schreiber bedrooms, Bath Co bathrooms and Hygena kitchens.
The new TV and print campaign, produced by Publicis, looks to imbue the MFI brand with that element of class and credibility it has hitherto lacked.
To achieve this, the director Jeff Stark and the Royal photographer Patrick Lichfield were drafted in.
So do the new ads reflect a new product? "MFI has had this type of offering for a while now, but people who don't shop there haven't been aware of it," Chistine Ebeling Long, Publicis' director in charge for MFI, says.
"Some people think that MFI is all about cost-effective goods you can assemble yourself. While it still sells these products, for some time now the majority of its sales have come from its fitted range."
Gerry Moira, the chairman and executive creative director of Publicis, describes MFI's predicament as "one of those rare situations where the product is ahead of the brand image". So why hasn't the public been alerted until now?
MFI wanted to wait until it had changed the face of its stores. Its strategy of appealing to the fashion-conscious began in 2001 when it appointed the style guru Peter York as a non-executive director. It then hired Conran Design to transform its stores.
The strategy has already paid dividends. In December 2002, the company posted pre-tax profits of £80.8 million, a rise of 24.9 per cent. Sixty-eight of its 219 stores have been refurbished and 65 revamps are planned for this year.
The campaign brief is by no means straightforward. Taking a brand up-market without completely destroying its hard-earned reputation for offering good value is a risky path to take.
Kamarama faced a similar task with Ikea. Its co-founder, Naresh Ramchandani, explains: "With companies such as this, there is such a latent perception of good value that pushing the brand up-market is reasonably safe."
However, MFI won't be totally discarding its old image. The fast turnaround, special-offer executions that are a little too close to DFS ads for comfort will still run. However, as they will now be filmed in the new, refurbished stores, won't customers find the two messages confusing?
Moira doesn't think so. "People are used to the sales message - MFI offers good value and pays VAT on some products. The new campaign is aimed at a different group, MFI sceptics who would normally go to Habitat, John Lewis and Magnet. Besides, lots of brands offer a dual message. It's an old Procter & Gamble trick."
MFI's new advertising campaign is based upon a wider strategy that already seems to be working. Nevertheless, it's important that this attempt to appeal to style-conscious young mothers does not alienate the price-driven customer base the company has grown from. Using dual messages is a tricky strategy. An old P&G trick it may be - an old MFI trick it is not.


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View of the Port of Tema, in Ghana. © APM Terminals
If you’re eating a chocolate bar in Malaysia, Belgium, or the United States, odds are the cocoa bean flavoring was harvested in Ghana. Cocoa is one of Ghana’s top exports. Its globe-spanning journey typically starts at the country’s main seaport: the Port of Tema, 30 kilometers east of Accra.
That port is about to get a lot bigger and more efficient thanks to an over $1 billion project to build and operate a new container terminal. IFC is supporting the expansion by leading a $667 million financing package. This will nearly double the container capacity of Tema—which already handles more than 90 percent of Ghana’s container traffic—and create thousands of jobs through increased imports and exports.
The new deep-water container terminal is needed because the existing container terminal is reaching capacity and lacks the necessary infrastructure to accommodate deep-water cargo ships. Planned investments include a kilometer-long quay for three container berths, a yard for containers, a breakwater, and a new access channel with a deep draft to accommodate some of the world’s biggest container ships.
The project is a joint venture between the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, APM Terminals, and Bolloré Transport & Logistics. IFC’s financing package includes $195 million from our own account and $472 million from three commercial banks—Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Standard Bank—and the Dutch development bank FMO. It is IFC’s largest port sector investment to date and the biggest infrastructure mobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The rise in imports and exports made possible by the new port construction and upgrades will have a significant ripple effect, leading to a positive impact on trade, economic growth, and job creation.
By increasing the revenues of Ghana’s import and export companies, the boost in trade is expected to lead to as much as a $1.1 billion rise in value added to the Ghanaian economy and as many as 450,000 new jobs, according to a study by QBIS Consulting conducted on behalf of APM Terminals.
Ghana’s largest port, Tema handles about 12 million tonnes of cargo a year, including petroleum, cement, aluminum products, and textiles. Our financing package for the Tema project—alongside the financing of other port projects around the world—represents our commitment to assisting country-led efforts to catalyze trade and promote economic growth.
In Ghana specifically, a large infrastructure deficit has limited the country’s competiveness and private sector development. Closing the infrastructure gap is an important pillar of the national development agenda.
The investment is well-timed. Ghana’s container market grew by 8 percent annually from 2005 to 2015. Regionally, the West African container market is expected to expand significantly over the next decade, driven by the increasing deployment of large vessels by shipping lines transporting commodities and other goods.
IFC has financed more than 60 port projects around the world—and anticipates further investments in Africa’s port sector in the coming years.
Stay connected: #6DecadesOfExperience
Published in September 2016


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Shopify announced today that it has joined the Facebook-founded Libra Association, becoming the first new member of the organization since it was officially unveiled with 21 other partners last October.
As the latest member of the Libra Association, the e-commerce giant will work collectively to build a payment network that supports consumers and merchants while making money easier to access, the company noted in a blog post.
Facebook’s Libra confirms its governing council after several major companies withdraw
“We are proud to welcome Shopify to the Libra Association. As a multinational commerce platform with over one million businesses in approximately 175 countries, Shopify brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Libra project” wrote Dante Disparte, the Libra Association’s head of policy and communications, on LinkedIn. “Shopify joins an active group of Libra Association members committed to achieving a safe, transparent, and consumer-friendly implementation of a global payment system that breaks down financial barriers for billions of people.”
Steven Eliscu, executive vice-president of DMG Blockchain Solutions, had described Libra as the evolution of PayPal, in an interview with IT Business Canada last year. Eliscu said this is evident in how Facebook wants its new cryptocurrency to be easier to use with fewer fees and more accessible for the people without bank accounts.
“We think it’s great. People have, for years, been trying to shoehorn Bitcoin as a medium of exchange,” Eliscu told the publication after Facebook revealed the details of its digital currency. “This idea of having an in-network payment system that is tied to fiat – it makes total sense.”
With online commerce becoming increasingly borderless, much of the world’s financial infrastructure fails to handle the growing needs and scale of internet commerce. Payments of goods is still not a solved problem everywhere. Shopify said it has joined the Libra Association in an attempt to make all types of commerce better.
“This is one step, but not the only step we’ll be taking to be a part of the solution to this global problem,” indicated Disparte.
The Libra Association last year said that over 1,500 organizations had shown their interest in joining the Libra project initiative, but only 180 of those organizations were able to meet the preliminary membership criteria established by the association.
The official launch of Facebook’s permissioned blockchain digital currency is planned for sometime this year.


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The newest Main Event Entertainment™ facility in San Antonio, TX, boasts the company’s first fully digital AV infrastructure center, powered by Kramer CORE products. In its tenth location, Main Event Entertainment continues its innovative concept of bowling, laser tag, obstacle courses, arcades, pool tables and food and beverage offerings all under one roof. The newest center adds a rope course and a Bowling Music System, along with a digital sight and sound experience.
Designed and installed by SAVE Electronics, a local professional electronics design and integration company, the San Antonio complex features 35 big-screen TVs ranging in size from 47 to 70 inches, as well as 11 WXGA projectors. Bowlers in the 22-lane bowling alley enjoy programming on 11 screens that span two lanes each. Music videos, advertising and programming are transmitted from six digital satellite receivers, six digital signage PCs, and five laptop connections.
According to Tim Boyd, owner of SAVE Electronics, who has been designing complex AV systems for over 30 years, the San Antonio location is the first of its kind, with a completely digital AV electronics system. It required switching equipment that could handle both the heavy source volume and be expandable for the future. “No one had a big enough switcher that would send video from the satellite receivers to all the TVs. Kramer was the only one that could handle it at the resolution we required,” Boyd said. “The system lets us send anything, anywhere throughout the building.”


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ABOUT 16 shops are closing every day as retailers restructure their businesses and more shopping moves online.
A net 1,234 stores shut on Britain’s top 500 high streets in the first half of the year, according to research by PwC and the Local Data Company.
That is up from 1,123 in the same period last year and the highest since the survey began in 2010.
Fashion retailers saw the biggest declines in the period, followed by restaurants, estate agents and pubs.
According to PwC, fashion retail continued to be the hardest hit sector in the six months to June, with 10 stores a week closing, mainly as a result of high profile administrations and restructurings
Meanwhile, there were net declines of 103 restaurants, 100 estate agents and 96 pubs.
Greater London saw the largest number of net closures of any region, although when taking into account its higher number of shops, its closure rate was in line with the national average.


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Google Motorola Mobility hardware unit has begun laying off about 1,200 employees, or more than 10% of its headcount, according to a company email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, as the smartphone maker continues trying to return to profitability.
Motorola staffers were informed by the company via email this week that "while we're very optimistic about the new products in our pipeline, we still face challenges." The company email added that "our costs are too high, we're operating in markets where we're not competitive and we're losing money." The layoffs will affect workers in the U.S., China and India.
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The Great Duel: Trump & Biden’s Boom for US Economy! Sit tight, folks, as we witness the clash of economic titans that promises to propel America to new heights! With their unique visions and strategies, Trump and Biden are set to unleash a cheerful economic frenzy, sprinkling prosperity across the nation. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of growth, innovation, and a brighter future!
The High Price We Pay When Supporting Products from China that Abuses Human Rights In today’s globalized economy, it is increasingly difficult to know where the products we buy originate from. As consumers, we must be aware of the human cost of the products we purchase and be willing to stand up against unethical practices….


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May 23 2023
In light of recent regulatory changes, first-party data is quickly eclipsing third-party data in the marketing world—making now the time for restaurant owners and operators to learn how to collect and leverage this data.
First-party data is information you collect about your consumers directly. In the restaurant industry in particular, this data can provide valuable insights, […]
May 16 2023
Many restaurants can trace a direct throughline between weather and sales. In fact, in a survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association, 90% of restaurant operators reported that changes in weather conditions impacted their sales.
Knowing this, how can you as a restaurant owner or manager leverage consumer weather psychology to your advantage?
This guide will explore […]


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Covidien discontinuing non-sterile alcohol prep pads
Covidien recently announced the discontinuation of its non-sterile alcohol prep pad product line sold under the brand names Webcol and Curity. The change takes effect in February. “In an effort to reassure our customers and reduce any risk to patients, we have made the decision to discontinue these products,” said Jim Clemmer, the firm's president. However, Covidien will continue to offer equivalent sterile products as a replacement for the discontinued non-sterile codes, he said.


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MATTHEW WILLIAMSON, Lulu Guinness, MiH, Browns and Qasimi will bring the party to London in January when they donate the fruits of their creative labour to Catwalk Carnival: a show designed to blast away the winter blues.
The event, which will take place at London club SEONE on January 15, was dreamed up by a dynamic group of young twenty-something friends to raise money for The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, which aims to boost awareness of the nature and dangers of depression while reducing the stigma of the illness. Many of them will take to the catwalk on the evening.
"The concept grew from a realisation that January is a bleak month in the year, with festive spirit giving way to a rather sober period of abstinence," explains event organiser Oonagh Weldon. "Drawing inspiration from Rio carnival and New Orleans Mardi Gras, we wanted to create a luminous evening of fashion and music to brighten up the start of 2009."
As well as the catwalk show guests will be treated to some "effervescent 21st century swing" from DJs The Correspondents, Glitterball and Hugh de Winton, plus nibbles and drink aplenty.
Sound like fun? For further information and tickets, which cost just £35 each, visit www.catwalkcarnival.co.uk.


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Tastemakers 2019: Cara, Nicole, Krista and Carla Woodhouse, Owners of Woodhouse Vegan
Run by three sisters and their mother, Woodhouse Vegan’s pop-up has been lighting up Oddfellows Liquor Bar on Mondays and Tuesdays with its 100-percent vegan menu of comfort foods.
Why They’re Tastemakers: Woodhouse Vegan’s reality for the last two years sounds like a Top Chef challenge: cook a 100-percent vegan meal for a bar full of patrons out of a tiny kitchen with dicey electricity. Oh, and you’ll need to draw customers without a traditional website. Woodhouse Vegan is doing just that, all while reaching an audience beyond the vegan community through its ever-changing menu of accessible comfort foods and savvy use of social media. This summer, Cara, Nicole, Krista and their mother, Carla, are set to open Woodhouse Vegan Café in an old brick house at the corner of Fourth Street and First Avenue in Italian Village. The menu will feature their core items, like nachos, grilled cheese sandwiches and Caesar salads, along with rotating specials and a full bar.
From Home Meals to Oddfellows: “It all started with Cara,” Krista says. “She started doing meal prep for people who were interested in having easy access to healthy food, something that was home-cooked.” Cara had about a dozen clients, most of whom were not vegans, but she was uncompromising, offering them vegan soups, salads and entrées. It started to grow naturally into a catering business. Cara’s sisters were living in Florida at the time, and they moved back to help run the company. Having watched Hai Poke launch its concept at Oddfellows (Cara and Nicole both worked at the Short North bar when it opened, and Nicole continues to bartend there), the family shifted to the pop-up idea. “I think probably half the people that come to our pop-up are not even vegetarian, much less vegan. They just come because they like the food,” Nicole says. “We feel like for so many years the word vegan was almost a dirty word. … Veganism is not a scary thing.”
Shifting Traditions: Woodhouse Vegan’s focus on comfort food staples provides a different take on plant-based cuisine than, say, newcomer Comune [see Page 60]. It’s the kind of food that is wrapped up in memories of their childhood, which they describe as very meat-and-potatoes. All three sisters and their mother are now vegan. Cara started making the shift to veganism in college and fully committed to the lifestyle seven years ago. Carla, who was both supportive and skeptical of Cara’s decision almost 20 years ago, decided to go vegan at the age of 56. “I feel like the hardest reason to make that shift is because of the attachments that you have to the food that you think you’re going to miss,” Cara says. “The traditions,” Krista interjects.
Liquid Gold: With comfort food comes cheese. Making their own vegan cheese is one of the most labor-intensive things that they do, Nicole says. It takes about five hours to make one day’s batch of their signature nacho cheese, which is nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free (Krista and Cara both have soy allergies), relying on potatoes and carrots to do the heavy lifting. “We work really hard on understanding the people who have those needs,” Cara says. They use a similar mixture for their best-selling mac ’n’ cheese, adding a cashew base for texture. “The cheese is like liquid gold,” she says.
Social Creatures:Woodhouse Vegan’s social media game—largely Cara’s doing—is strong. It’s a big reason why Woodhouse has quickly grown from about $50 in sales during its early pop-ups to selling out. “It is our main form of communication with the community. I interact with almost everyone that sends us a message,” Cara says, explaining that she fields gluten-free requests and questions about their specials and where else to grab a vegan meal in the city. She’s become a go-to resource and even keeps handy a long list of Columbus’ best plant-based options—from bakeries to high-end restaurants. “We really are such a supportive community,” Nicole says. “There are a lot of other vegan or vegetarian places popping up, and we all support one another because we are all striving to do the same thing … fighting to change the world.”
Hometown(s): Columbus and Naples
Previous gigs: VP of worldwide product development for a software company
Go-to Columbus spot: Strongwater Food & Spirits
Hometown: Fairport, New York
Previous gigs: Oddfellows Liquor Bar; Corso Ventures
Dream last meal: “Vegan mashed potatoes. Extra butter.”
Previous gigs: Late Night Slice; Hofbräuhaus
Recommended reading: “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer
Go-to Columbus spot: Seventh Son Brewing Co.
Previous gigs: Philco Bar + Diner; Bodega
Recommended reading: “Animal Liberation” by Peter Singer
Go-to Columbus spot: Service Bar
@woodvhouse on Instagram


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12 December 2019
They knew that any subsequent shortage would be a big problem because, as one shopper at Mei Foo wet market put it, “any respectable Chinese household needs pork bone to make soup at least twice a week”.
Pork is a staple of the Hong Kong diet, from dumplings to Cantonese soups, and to meet demand the city usually imports about 4,000 live pigs from the mainland every day to complement the 500 or so from local farmers. But since imports from the mainland were first suspended in May, that number has dropped sharply. On December 9, it was just 1,324.
This scarcity has sent prices soaring to HK$159 (US$20.31) per kg (up from HK$75.7 per kg in January), sending many market stalls out of business. Meanwhile, the meat loving population – the average Hongkonger consumes 664g of pork and beef a day, about four times that of the average Briton – is having to cut down on its favourite ingredient.
NTS Centre / Online
Last updated on 16/12/2019


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It’s part of a broader US consumer trend.
Sales of tech-based "smart" durable petcare products reched $400 million last year, according to a new report.
The products create a "connected" lifestyle between pet parents and their fur babies, according to market research firm Packaged Facts in the report Durable Dog and Cat Petcare Products, 2nd Edition.
"Americans love their pets. And they love their devices. Pet tech products satisfy both affections by creating a closer bond between pet and owner, and by using technology to make petcare easier," said David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts. "Make no mistake, pet tech is big business, and products that can connect pet owners with their pets, whether via Bluetooth, over WiFi, or using a home network, are in high demand."
In the report, durable petcare products include toys; collars, leashes and harnesses; beds; carriers, crates and housing; bowls, feeders and waterers; apparel and fashion accessories; and litter boxes and accessories. The market accounts for about $5 billion a year in sales.
The trend toward connected products is part of the much larger trend in the consumer packaged goods market, with U.S. consumers using the internet to connect themselves to brands, companies, and other consumers, not to mention marketers increasing their market penetration via e-commerce sites and social media, according to a Packaged Facts press release.
Many technology-focused products work with smartphone or desktop apps that allow pet owners to interact with the products and their makers, and Packaged Facts expects smart products to play a larger role in 2018 and beyond.
Products designed to perform a service are well-established segments of categories formerly limited to manual items, from self-cleaning litter boxes to automated feeders to collars with Bluetooth monitoring capabilities.
Packaged Facts also expects products that monitor a pet's activities, vital signs, body functions and location to become a norm among engaged pet owners, enabling them to detect health problems — and spurring them to take action — earlier.
Such products will increasingly interface with petcare services, with product makers, marketers, and service providers working together (or merging) to create new paradigms of pet monitoring, according to the firm.


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Shopping local? It’s not only a challenge to do so in rural areas but also in cities. In the German city of Wiesbaden, a new concept is being put forward: an e-bike delivery service with a social mission.
The growing online shopping trend has a flip side: steadily growing piles of rubbish. Items are also sent back and forth with about every tenth order from roughly 800,000 packages sent back to the retailer daily in Germany. This equates to about 400 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Then there is, of course, all the packaging waste that comes with it. Simultaneously, small shops and city coffers suffer through the disappearance of traditional retailing. In 2013 alone, the city of Wiesbaden missed out on 18 million EUR through the loss of the 10 per cent business tax that the city’s residents paid on mail and delivery services.
Kiezkaufhaus (translated: neighbourhood shopping centre) is offering an alternative, combining a delivery service with the offerings of local businesses. The products are delivered by e-bike the same day they are ordered. In this way, the young start up cuts down on transport emissions, supports the local economy and manages to pack in a social outcome as well: it’s not just young cyclists zipping around for Kiefkaufhaus – they also employ retirees to make the deliveries, too. Some of the products on offer include bread, jams, fruit and vegetables as well as design items, toys, books and theatre tickets.
The Kiezkaufhaus is a convenient alternative for residents who aren’t able to make it to their favourite baker or theatre by foot or who are in urgent need of a present. The service means shopping is not only convenient, but also avoids fumes, noise and congestion in the city. We can only hope that the example sticks; it’s estimated that, in Europe, up to 51 percent of deliveries could be made via bike (PDF).
The company won the German Bicycle Prize. Check out their website (in German) for more information.
Translate from this article by Marius that was originally published on our German-language platform.


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Blog Android Central has been slipped a scintillating sliver of information suggesting that T-Mobile’s G2X handset will launch on April 15th. The full-touchscreen, NVIDIA Tegra 2 device was announced back in March, but its release date has been somewhat of a mystery. The G2X will run an unmodified version of Android 2.2, sport a 4-inch display, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera, HDMI-out, and a host of other high-end features. The handset will also contain a 21Mbps HSPA+ radio. If you live in the States, your tax returns aren’t due until the 18th this year, so there will be no excuses for you not to pick up a G2X come the 15th. Until then, check out our two hands-on posts from CTIA.
If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.


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Two domestic companies in Taiwan were using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) technology to improperly display specific brand names on search engine display results, making consumers mistakenly believe that the stores were selling specific brand products in order to promote their own website visit rates. The Fair Trade Commission decided on 12 April 2022 that such behaviors violated Article 25 of the Fair Trade Act, and imposed fines of 2 million and 800,000 New Taiwan dollars on the two companies respectively.
The Fair Trade Commission stated that when consumers enter a specific brand name on the Google search engine, such a specific brand will appear in the search results. Such a result is produced by these companies using SEO techniques.
The Fair Trade Commission further explained that it does not oppose SEO technology, but the presentation of search results should not have any effect of misleading consumers. When Consumers search for information about a specific brand on the Google search engine, they may be attracted by such misleading texts. Such behaviors are equivalent to luring consumers to go to the wrong street. This approach can not only increase the visitor rate of these companies' own website but also attract consumers to compare or purchase other brand products sold on these companies' website, thereby reducing the sales opportunities that consumers originally want to search for brand products.
In the past, the Fair Trade Commission has found that using the...
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“Mobility and industry are mentioned in the NDCs but they are not explicit what is India going to do in this space. We need NDCs like the North Star because these are the signals that’s going to tell us what the next decade is going to look like,” Nitin Prasad, country chairman, Shell Companies in India, told ET in an interview. NDCs, or nationally determined contributions, are national climate plans governments aim to implement to deal with climate change.
Shell, which currently runs a natural gas import terminal, a small chain of fuel retail stations and a lubricant business in the country, has begun investing in renewables energy in India, in line with its evolving global philosophy on the energy mix in the face of the urgency created by climate change.
The power sector needs further reforms to remove hurdles to open access and allow power trading exchange to grow much bigger so that buyers and suppliers can trade as much as half of India’s power, Prasad said. “Some of the legacy policies have to move forward,” he said. The current merit order dispatch system also needs to be reformed as it shows preference for cheaper power produced from older but highly-polluting plants, he said.
Shell is also seeking policy clarity on future energy mix and how the Indian government plans to get there. “We need to have a range of lower-carbon solutions and give consumers the choice. Policies are strong signals, pricing is also a pretty strong signal,” said Prasad on the need to have clear and enabling policies to help both industry and consumers.
“Blanket statements that suggest that there is a silver bullet and we adopt a silver bullet by a certain time frame is not going to work out,” Prasad said on some European nations’ decision to ban petrol and diesel cars by the end of the decade and if such policies would be effective in India.
“It would be very good to have a common definition of mobility. Is aviation in? Is shipping in? I have not seen the clarity there,” said Prasad. With too much focus on electric passenger cars and bikes, the policy discussion tends to miss buses, which makes up 60% of people transport in India, and will find it hard to run on electricity but can use relatively clean natural gas, he added.
Shell has access to new energy technologies but their deployment in India would depend on when there is optimal demand for it, he said.
Shell is also planning to cut about a tenth of its jobs by 2022 globally. Its impact on India is unclear as of now, Prasad said. Shell, which currently imports and markets petrochemicals in India, is also exploring opportunities to set up manufacturing facilities here.
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- Nov GST Mop-up Rises 11%; Factory PMI at 3-Mth High
India’s goods and services tax (GST) collections rose 11% in November from a year earlier to ₹1.46 lakh crore, adding to other data released on Thursday that showed economic resilience despite rising headwinds.Best Offer 60% Below Liquidation Value, RCap Lenders to Meet All Bidders Today
The administrator at Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Capital has told lenders that the highest bid received for the insolvent financial services company is 60% below its aggregate liquidation value, making it imperative to seek improved plans from bidders, two people aware of the development told ET.
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Voysis, an Irish company that developed tech to wait on digital bid assistants perceive pure language, has been snapped up by Apple.
On Friday (3 April), Bloomberg reported that synthetic intelligence (AI) launch-up Voysis has been received by Apple. The Dublin-primarily based company has since shut down its web situation.
Voysis was founded by Noel Ruane and Peter Cahill in 2012, with the objective of enabling firms to residing up deep-arena, place-particular, clever bid methods to enable producers and users to bear rich, pure language interactions. It frail bid expertise to make user and enterprise-facing functions more intuitive, ambiance friendly and personalized.
Cahill has ride researching speech expertise and neural networks, whereas Ruane is a outdated-fashioned IDA Ireland govt who played a necessary characteristic in constructing Dublin’s Dogpatch Labs.
Constant with Bloomberg, the corporate’s web situation beforehand acknowledged that the expertise developed by Voysis was targeted on bettering digital assistants in online shopping apps.
As an illustration, customers could exercise the expertise to tell, “I need a fresh LED TV” and “My funds is $1,000”, to slim down search outcomes.
The expertise has been described as being identical to Apple’s Siri bid assistant, but for firms.
To wait on construct this tech, Voysis opened offices in Edinburgh and Boston, and raised $8m in challenge funding from Polaris Companions in 2017.
Terms of the acquisition bear no longer been disclosed. It was the 2nd Apple acquisition reported final week, following the news that the corporate purchased weather app Darkish Sky.
Commenting on the deal, Apple acknowledged that it “buys smaller expertise firms infrequently, and we on the total design no longer focus on our motive or plans”.
Bloomberg instantaneous that the corporate will exercise the “received know-the vogue to enhance Siri’s conception of pure language or to give the Voysis platform to hundreds of developers that already integrate with the Apple digital assistant”.
Some of Apple’s various most modern AI acquisitions comprise Seattle-primarily based Xnor.ai, and machine discovering out firms Laserlike in 2019 and Seattle-primarily based Turi in 2016.


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Stire tematica: e Turbo News
Organizers of IMEX America, the new US trade show for the worldwide incentive travel, meetings, and events industry, have revealed more details about the full business, networking, and educational line-up scheduled for the debut show October 11 - 13 at the Sands Expo and Venetian/Palazzo in Las Vegas.
The trade show is set to welcome 1,500 exhibitors, with a broad representation of companies from many countries around the world and across all meetings and incentive travel industry sectors.
Thanks to the reputation and proven success of the IMEX hosted buyer model - which has been used at IMEX in Frankfurt over the past 9 years - IMEX America will host over 2,000 meetings and events buyers from the US and internationally. IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, also confirmed that the ratio of buyers remains at 80% from the US market - who plan business internationally - and 20% from the international buyer market who will have a strong interest in placing business with North American exhibitors.
In addition, thousands of buyer attendees from the US domestic market are expected to take part in IMEX America attracted by the organizer's promise to deliver "more than just a trade show" with - unlike most US shows - free entry and a free education program, plus unmatched networking and business opportunities.


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There’s nothing wrong with automakers offering their consumers the choice of electric vehicles (EVs) versus cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) (or, for that matter, the combination of the two represented by hybrids). Nor is the argument that greater electrification of private cars could eventually help reduce carbon dioxide emissions false (although the people who make it often mislead with their claims that EVs are “emissions-free” even though they’re currently made in largely fossil-fuel-powered factories and charged by largely fossil-fuel-powered electrical grids).
But a tremendous problem with the headlong rush to EVs was highlighted by last week’s nearly simultaneous news stories that the state of California had passed a mandate that all new vehicles sold there be EVs by 2035, just over a dozen years from now, and that the state was also discouraging those who currently own EVs from charging them due to likely electrical generation shortfalls. That irony shows that we’re likely leaping to a “solution” that could well prove to be anything but. Current public discussions are lopsided in favor of EVs–but as we saw with the one-sided discussions around our Covid-19 policies, a failure to have proper analyses, debate, and cost-versus-benefit calculations can lead to enormously costly public policy failures.
Potential over-exuberance about EVs is a reality nonetheless.
U.S. automakers jump in with both feet
For example, American automakers are leaping headlong onto the EV bandwagon. Tesla, the domestic EV leader, was founded as an EV-only maker, and now both GM and Ford have launched their own aggressive EV development targets. General Motors (GM) is committed to 30 new global EV offerings by 2035, and is making both Cadillac and Buick EV-only brands (effective immediately for Cadillac, and by the end of the decade for Buick, which won’t even have an EV on the market until 2024). It’s targeting (though not committing to) an all-EV lineup by 2035. Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, plans to invest over $35 billion in EVs through 2025, and is targeting a full EV lineup by 2028. Foreign automakers aren’t so hasty; It’s notable that just a year and a half ago, world market leader Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, publicly questioned the wisdom of the rush to EVs. Honda’s VP of Business and Sales for America, Dave Gardner, recently said that his company doesn’t believe EVs powered by the current lithium-ion battery technology will ever reach cost parity with ICE vehicles.
Bloomberg declares a tipping point (but is it really?)
Meanwhile, in July, Bloomberg reported that U.S. electric vehicle (EV) sales had surpassed 5% of the total market, and characterized that as a “tipping point” past which the share of domestic new-car EV sales will soon inexorably skyrocket. That prediction was based on what happened in 18 other countries Bloomberg studied that had previously reached that magical 5% EV mark in new car sales.
The trouble, though, is that the numbers don’t support that argument. Of the 18 other countries in the analysis, 15 are in Europe. All those nations are far more densely populated and urbanized than the U.S., making EVs a much better choice there. And taking away Iceland, Norway and Sweden, extremely urban nations where EVs were heavily subsidized and where electricity is both plentiful and relatively cheap, even the European market share numbers look less than impressive, with no other nation yet cracking the 20% barrier, despite reaching the “tipping point” as long ago as late 2018. South Korea, by contrast, hit the 5% ”tipping point” over a year ago–and is at 6.5% EV share of its new-car market today.
America is a decidedly more difficult EV market for a number of reasons. First, it’s a whole lot bigger and more spread out. (Neither France nor Germany, for example, are as big as Texas alone.) As a result, it’s far less urbanized, so EVs simply don’t make as much sense here. Patrick Anderson and his Anderson Economic Group, a boutique consulting firm in Lansing, Michigan, have broken down the adoption numbers, and their analysis shows that the 5% market penetration touted by Bloomberg starts to look a lot less impressive when you dive deeper. In all of 2021, they found not a single U.S. EV sale in the entry-level market segment. In the second quarter of 2022, they showed, only 22.2% of those sold were mass-market, with the remaining 77.8% being luxury cars and SUVs. According to Kelley Blue Book, in June of this year the average cost of an EV in the U.S. was nearly $67,000. (The report highlights the market opportunity for mass-market EVs, saying, “High gas prices are driving consumers to consider electric vehicles, hybrids and smaller, more fuel-efficient gas-powered models.”) All told, the numbers don’t herald an imminent onset of mass U.S. EV adoption.
The cost premiums for EVs
Most people currently on the market for an EV will be aware of the large purchase price premium over the average ICE vehicle. However, Anderson also found tremendous EV disadvantages in the time costs for both trip planning and vehicle refueling. The firm’s analysis showed that EV owners faced a refueling time burden five to ten times that of an ICE vehicle owner. That added burden includes the longer actual time for each refueling, the necessity of refueling an EV more frequently, and the added travel time to a refueling point, part of which is caused by the much lower reliability of EV charging stations versus our ubiquitous gas pumps.
Range anxiety remains a tremendous hurdle in the far-more-rural U.S., and that itself adds a time burden for trip planning. Anderson, an EV owner himself, had a personal story highlighting that challenge. “I had to drive from Lansing to Petoskey,” he said. “I had to charge twice to get there, and I was ready for that. But then I had to make an unexpected side trip to the U.P. [Michigan’s very rural Upper Peninsula]. Once you leave St. Ignace, there are no chargers. I had to stop and charge in Mackinac City. If you miscalculate on a trip like that, you don’t get back.” The recent headlines about Ford’s new F-150 Lightning EV pickup’s range dropping to under 100 miles when towing didn’t help public perceptions any. Despite the federal spending recently passed in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to build more chargers across America, EV range coupled with a lack of working chargers will remain an impediment to mass EV adoption. “On that jaunt to the U.P.,” added Anderson, “I must have planned for over an hour, and then stopped twice enroute each for over an hour, just to make sure I got there and back. And I was only going 80 miles one way!” A Wall Street Journal reporter’s recent 2,000-mile EV trip was even more fraught.
Other market difficulties
The top-down push for a wholesale transition to EVs could itself backfire, according to Luke Lloyd, an investment strategist who’s a frequent commentator on Fox Business and Fox News. On an appearance with Neil Cavuto recently, he pointed out that the carmakers who expect the public to buy their vehicles because of government mandates and incentives might be in for a rude awakening. “If EVs are pushed on us before consumers are ready to buy one,” he said, “these car companies are in for a rude awakening. People will just buy used cars.”
In a separate discussion with this author, Lloyd questioned the effectiveness of the government incentives themselves. “The politicians are giving tax credits for EVs, and that should be a sign that EVs aren’t the answer yet,” he explained. “If you have to pay the average family to buy one, then I think that shows EVs aren’t where they need to be.” That’s not the only problem with the government incentives, as the IRA legislation also muddied the waters there. Anderson’s firm’s analysis of the law found that, because of new price caps for EVs, battery component sourcing requirements, and modified Adjusted Gross Income thresholds, an estimated three quarters of recent EV transactions wouldn’t qualify for incentives. The law also creates new burdens for auto dealers, saddling them with the responsibility to explain the confusing new tax credit eligibility rules to car buyers.
The raw materials challenge
Yet another enormous challenge is arising on the supply chain side. If you’re a backer of the push toward EVs, the fact that just about everybody, it seems, is jumping into the battery-making business is great news. Most of the major automakers have established partnerships or joint ventures with third-party battery producers, with Toyota announcing a $5.6 billion investment just last week.
But it’s one thing to build a battery plant, and a whole other thing to source the minerals required to actually produce the batteries. There’s a huge problem brewing there, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Because EVs take about six times the minerals to manufacture as ICE cars do, demand for them will skyrocket. In a recent report, Mineral requirements for clean energy transitions, the IEA predicted that by 2040, demand for rare earth elements may be seven times higher than in 2020. For cobalt and graphite, demand could be as much as 30 times higher, and for lithium, as much as a whopping 51 times higher. The trouble here is twofold. First, the world is currently heavily reliant on China for much of these materials, and as recent events have shown, that’s a precarious supply position to be in. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is trying to have it both ways on domestic mining, invoking the Defense Production Act for some of these minerals and requiring North American EV material sourcing in the IRA, but larding on new mining and manufacturing regulations and hurdles while dubiously canceling mineral leases for mines that have been years in development.
Our creaking electrical grid
And finally, as if to add insult to injury, as the ironic California situation last week starkly demonstrated, we simply don’t have the electrical generation capacity needed to charge all the millions of EVs our government and business leaders envision. It’s not just the Golden State; the Texas grid has been notoriously shaky, as has been much of the Northeast. And even the Midwest has had early warning of supply shortfalls. It’s been amply demonstrated in Europe as well as parts of the U.S. that the rush to renewable energy causes both supply problems and skyrocketing prices, and nobody, it seems, has a solution. “EV tax incentives are the last thing the government should be doing right now,” said Lloyd. “They should be fixing the infrastructure, fixing the electrical grid.”
It's doubtless that EVs will play an important role in our transportation solutions of the future. But our present state is rickety in a number of different ways, and if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s plain that the many tremendous challenges we face in getting to an emission-free transportation future state caution against our current (sometimes mandated) rush to EVs.
This article has been updated to correct and highlight minor points.


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Target just announced “Deal Days” for October 13 and 14 while Walmart is holding a “Big Save” online event that runs October 11-15.
Are you shopping today? Who are you spending your money with?
Some of the deals you can expect from Walmart are:
- JVC 55″ 4K HDR Roku Smart LED TV – $248 (was $399, $151 savings)
- Super Mario Party video game for Nintendo Switch – $39.99 (was $59.88, $19.89 savings)
- Roku Ultra LT Streaming Media Player – $69 (was $79, $10 savings)
- Pioneer Woman 6 Quart Instant Pot – $49 (was $99, $50 savings)
- Tzumi Ion Robotic Vacuum – $99 (was $179.88, $79.89 savings)
- Best Choice Products 250-Piece Kids STEM 3D Magnetic Building Blocks Play Set (Marketplace Item) – $64.99 (was $114.99, $50 savings)
Beauty and Fashion
- Hunter Women’s Original Tall Rain Boots (Marketplace Item) – $59.99 (was $79.99, $20 savings)
- Scoop Women’s Printed Maxi Shirt Dress – $39.99 (was $59, $19.01 savings)
Amazon Prime Day is usually held in mid-July, but it was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Amazon’s annual Prime Day event is here and just in time for the holidays, taking place October 13 -14 with two full days of incredible savings and deep discounts on over one million deals globally across every category. This year, Prime members can also shop tens of thousands of Prime Day deals from small businesses worldwide.
Members will get the chance to shop exclusive deals and top products for the holiday season including toys, electronics, beauty, fashion, home, and Amazon Devices throughout the two-day epic deals event.
Honestly, how much time do you spend online shopping during work hours? Are you one of “those” people who will get their entire Christmas list done by October?
- Paranormal W.Va: The Ghost of the Silver Run Tunnel
- Wild Texas strip club fight led to Army soldier’s murder
- Texas voters seek strong messaging on COVID-19, economy during final presidential debate
- VIDEO: Texas man sprays woman with water during Black Lives Matter argument with neighbor
- Reports: Texas among 5 states most at risk of election-time violence from militias


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It really is a consumer issue worthy of our attention." said Margot Gilman, money editor for Consumer Reports.
Overall, respondents preferred free sites like Ok Cupid, Tinder and Grindr over paid sites like Match and e Harmony, in part because of the value.
She downloaded the Match app and connected with Justin Pounders, also 34, almost immediately. Nearly half, or 44 percent, of those who tried online dating said it led to a serious long-term relationship or marriage, the magazine found.
The two decided to meet "IRL" (in real life) days later. Traditionally known for reviewing products like household cleaners and washers and dryers, Consumer Reports surveyed nearly 10,000 subscribers in the fall of 2016 about online dating and then rated matchmaking sites based on their overall satisfaction.
Whether it’s a failed relationship or the urge for a new beginning that has propelled you into the dating wilderness, online dating almost certainly has someone waiting for you. Match group now owns Tinder, Plenty Of Fish, Ok Cupid and, of course, Match, making it the biggest player in the online and app dating industry.
e Harmony is another massive player, with 3 million users signed up.
Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where sites appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
Some find this a barrier to join, fans say it weeds out the casual chancer from those truly looking for love – and means you don’t have to wait to broach tricky topics.
I've been hearing my girlfriends discuss their wins and losses with a variety of online-dating phone apps, so I'm breaking down the newest means of tech-based courtship.
On Valentine's Day, some singles may be inspired to step up their dating game. Amy Giberson, now 34, was reluctant to try internet dating again but she decided to give it one more shot in 2014. There are a slew of sites and apps to help singles find love and, for the most part, they work, according to Consumer Reports.
It seems like every day there's a new form of online dating.
No matter what type of relationship you're looking for — from the forever kind to the friends-with-benefits kind — there's an app for that!


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There’s a chance that Gates Corp., an iconic Denver brand, could regain its independence if reports floating around Wall Street pan out.
Onex Corp., the Toronto-based private equity owner of the maker of automotive and industrial components, is looking to either sell Gates or take it public in an initial stock offering, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.
A spokesperson with Gates declined to comment on “speculative press articles.”
Onex, together with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, purchased Tomkins PLC, the London-based parent of Gates, back in 2010 for $4.5 billion.
“They bought this in the depths, when things weren’t going well in automotive,” said Mark Sunderhuse, a managing partner at Red Rocks Capital, a Golden money manager that owns 3.56 percent of Onex’s public shares.
Since that well-timed purchase, Onex has sold off several Tomkins and Gates units, reaping more than $2.5 billion. Those lucrative sales combined with strong cash flows have allowed Onex to recoup most of its initial equity investment and pay off much of the debt used in the leveraged buyout.
Assuming a buyer is willing to pay 10 times the company’s operating profits of $551.4 million last year, that would represent a $5.5 billion price tag for Gates, which Sunderhuse called a “tasty gravy.”
“It will be a function of price and terms and what keeps the company healthy,” Sunderhuse said regarding whether Onex pursue an outright sale or a stock offering.
A stock offering could generate a higher payout, but it would also require Onex to hold onto Gates’ shares for a longer period, he said.
Charles Gates Jr. sold the privately held Gates Rubber Co. in 1996 for $1.16 billion after failing to find a successor within the family to run the company.
His father, Charles Sr., bought the Colorado Tire & Leather Co. in 1911 for $3,500, and over the years Gates became famous for innovations such as the reinforced rubber V-belt and radiator hoses and employed thousands of Denverites.
The pared-down Gates looks more like the original business, but one with a much broader global reach.
Although Gates no longer manufactures in Colorado, its global headquarters is located at 1551 Wewatta St., and the company employs about 400 people in metro Denver.


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Prism Worldwide (PWW) is pleased to announce the opening of a brand new, state of the art production facility in Reno, Nevada. The 70,000 SF plant will manufacture Prism Thermoplastic.
PRISM™’s first-of-its-kind technology converts used tire rubber into a re-crosslinkable thermoplastic rubber without breaking the critical sulfidic bridge, leaving essentially all the valuable polymers, linkages, and carbon black intact.
PTR™ means stronger communities and sustainable solutions
PRISM™ enhanced asphalt rubber binder is a significantly better binder for hot mix asphalt roads.
PTR™ will become a significant substitute for virgin rubber and other feedstock materials in the production of new tires.
PTR™ will enhance the asphalt used in the roofing industry, whether it is shingles or built up roofing products.
30 years in the making
This innovative patented process is the invention of Mr. William Coe, former scientist of Lockheed Martin, and is the result of 30 years of research and refinement. This technology makes possible a long overdue transformation for end-of-life tires and a market shift towards a more sustainable future BY CREATING reusable rubber.


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Huawei is reportedly planning to launch its second-generation foldable smartphone, the Huawei Mate X2, sometime in Q3 2020. As per reports, the company’s suppliers have already begun a small volume trial production of some components, including hinges and panels. The IFA 2020 in Berlin is likely the platform Huawei is aiming for. The 2020 edition of the annual trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances is scheduled to commence on September 4 next year.
The Mate X2 will adopt a Samsung Galaxy Fold-like inward folding design, reports suggest. There will be a full-sized smartphone screen on the inside, and a smaller secondary display on the outside. Huawei’s device will likely be much compact than the Galaxy Fold and feature smaller display panels, though. For the record, the Samsung Galaxy Fold features a 7.3-inch main display and a 4.6-inch secondary display.
The Huawei Mate X2, in all probabilities, will be powered by the upcoming Kirin 1000 SoC. The chipset itself will likely be announced at IFA 2020. It is rumored to be based on a 5nm process, featuring Cortex A77 architecture. Unfortunately, nothing else is known about the Mate X2 as of now.
Mate Xs coming in March 2020
In addition to the Mate X2, Huawei is also working on an improved version of the original Mate X. The second Huawei foldable smartphone, which will be called Mate Xs, will be launched at the MWC 2020 in Barcelona on February 24. The device will arrive on the market in the following month.
The Mate Xs will incorporate changes in the hinge and display department, making it more durable. Huawei will also equip the upcoming device with the Kirin 990 5G processor. The design will remain the same as the Mate X, and so will most of its specs.
It’ll be interesting to see how Huawei prices the Mate Xs. Mate X was finally released last month after multiple delays with a price tag of CNY 16,999 ($2,429) in China. Clear enough, it’s an expensive device and without Google services, Huawei might find it difficult to sell this device outside of its home country. The Mate Xs will also launch without access to Google services and apps.
The Mate X2, meanwhile, is not expected to have these sorts of problems. China and the US will hopefully bring an end to the ongoing trade war in time for the Huawei Mate X2 to get full access to Android. Huawei might also be exploring some cost-cutting measures to make the Mate X2 a more appealing proposition. Samsung’s second-gen foldable smartphone is also rumored to be much more affordable than the Galaxy Fold.


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"Whether or not you retread your tires or buy retreads, this shortage can have a negative impact on you, whether you have one truck or one thousand," says RTA Managing Director Harvey Brodsky. "Retreads act as a brake on new tire prices. Whenever there is a shortage of retreads, new tire manufacturers do not have any reason to hold back on raising their prices, and everyone who purchases truck tires feels the pain in their checkbooks."
There are a number of reasons tire makers have recently been raising prices, including volatile market conditions, supply pressures and escalating raw materials costs. Price hikes that went into effect last week include:
* Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations raised Bridgestone and Firestone truck tire prices an average of 11%.
* Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. increased the dealer base price list on commercial truck tires up to an average of 9% on July 5.
* Yokohama Tire Corp. raised its medium truck and commercial light truck tires effective July 1, an average of 8%.
* Continental Tire the Americas increased prices on all Continental, General and Ameri*Steel brand replacement commercial truck tires sold in the U.S. by 11%.
* Michelin North America increased prices by an average of 12% on Michelin and BFGoodrich replacement commercial truck tires. The increase also includes Michelin Retread Technologies retreads sold in the U.S.
Last month, Double Coin, Falken and Hankook raised prices.
Brodsky says truckers who are sitting on retreadable casings should either have them retreaded now, or if you don't wish to use retreads, should sell them since they will bring a higher price than ever before. "Retreaders are hungry for retreadable casings and are willing to pay a premium for popular sizes of truck tires," he says.


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Clinical laboratory services provider $LH said it has appointed Richelle Parham to its BoD, effective Feb. 8. Parham has more than 20 years of experience at such companies as $EBAY, $V, Digitas and Citibank, leading end-to-end marketing efforts including brand, performance and loyalty marketing. Parham was most recently CMO of $EBAY.
$VZ down more than 2% after a disappointing third quarter. A lot of uncertainty on the Yahoo deal too.
Wanna know what $TSLA announced yesterday? Watch the video!! Tesla Self-Driving Car Level 5 Autonomy. This is crazy!!
Construction equipment supplier $URI reported that in U.S., the employment report for September was encouraging. Geographically, the company is experiencing growth in the east and west coast regions. $URI added that in Canada, the economy is challenging. Rental revenue from Canada was down approx. 10% in 3Q16.


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- Minneapolis Communities
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- Twin CitySuburbs
- Local Area Index ALL Twin Cities
There are 1 blog entries for August 2012.
Sunday, August 26th, 2012 at 3:03pm. 1038 Views, 0 Comments.
The Twin Cities- based JimBergTeam.com at Re/Max Results has launched a new mobile search app, ResultsRadar, for iPhone, iPad and Android devices that incorporates augmented reality technology.
ResultsRadar overlays property information such as pictures and property description when the phone's camera is pointed at a property, and indicates the location and proximity of other properties for sale nearby.
In addition to retreiving MLS-derived property information, the app pulls additional property details that the brokerage may have about the property.
The ResultsRadar app is available to consumers and agents.
The app is available for iPhone, iPad and devices running on the Android operating system -- the first time an augmented reality…


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Move aside, Tinder. Ever since the release and surge in popularity of the hot or not smartphone app, other brands and developers have been attempting to create their own versions of the popular platform. Among the latest entrants is Luxy, a new dating app for those with deep pockets.
It has been a few years since we first mentioned Cycloramic, an innovative app that automatically spins an iPhone by activating its built-in vibration motors for capturing hands-free panorama photos and videos. This week, Cycloramic for iPhone 6 was released with support for shooting 360-degree videos on the new smartphone.
Each month, gaming website IGN partners with popular developers to offer a Free Game of the Month promotion. This month, it has joined forces with Cartoon Network to give away Ski Safari: Adventure Time, an endlessly fun downhill adventure game for iPhone and iPad that normally costs between $0.99 and $1.99 on the App Store.
Livestream has become a popular application within the iOS App Store, as it allows users to not only watch live events as they take place all over the world that are being recorded, but by also allowing people to use their phones to record events as they take place. Now, they’re adding support for GoPro cameras, opening new doors for real time broadcasting.
The Wall Street Journal on Friday reports that Yahoo plans to reinvest a portion of the earnings it made from an early investment in Alibaba in the fast-growing startup Snapchat. The ephemeral app allows iOS and Android users to send photos and videos to others that only last for a matter of seconds before permanently disappearing.
We’re back with our weekly Best New Games roundup, covering the best new iPhone, iPad and iPod touch game releases from this week. Apple typically refreshes the App Store with a lineup of exciting new games on Wednesday night, this week featuring Card Dungeon, Cloud Knights, Tiny Troopers: Alliance and Marble Mountain.
A number of developers have taken advantage of iOS 8’s newly added support for third-party keyboards on iPhone and iPad to come up with creative keyboard solutions on the App Store. Translator Keyboard is one of the latest keyboards to hit the App Store, allowing users to quickly translate words to different languages without leaving the app they are currently using.
As an increasing number of users transition away from digital music downloads and towards streaming music services like Spotify and Rdio, the platforms are working hard to add several new features to satisfy their growing user bases. Look no further than the latest update to Spotify for iPhone, which adds support for CarPlay-equipped vehicles.
In late July of this year, Spotify’s iOS app received a major update that brought in new features, as well as an invite system for Canadians who wanted to try out the music streaming service. Now, two months later, the app is finally publicly available.


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On Friday at 6 pm EST, the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible made its way to the center stage at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in Palm Beach. Up for grabs was the right to buy the very first retail production Corvette Stingray Convertible when it becomes available later this year. In the front row sat Chevy dealer and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who paid $1 million for first Stingray Coupe at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction in January.
Our DVR’s will be working overtime this weekend as we’ve got a 2nd big auction taking place. While Barrett-Jackson is in Palm Beach,
Last week we attended the New York Auto Show and were able to see the new 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible. It made its American debut wearing Night Race Blue with the 3LT Brownstone interior. While We were very impressed by the new convertible model and its distinct “Corvette” profile, it was the interior that had us wagging our tongues. If you were impressed by the previous C7 interiors you’ve seen, the 3LT Brownstone redefines the standard of luxury available on the new Corvette.
The Barrett-Jackson 2013 tour makes its annual spring stop in South Florida this Thursday through Saturday. If you didn’t discover a Corvette in your Easter basket last weekend you’ve got a chance to score one of the no reserve offerings available in Palm Beach. SPEED will air 18.5 hours of live TV coverage with additional Saturday coverage available via SPEED.com and some regional Fox Sports Networks.
The worldwide appeal of the Chevrolet Corvette was never more evident than during a recent event in Abu Dhabi, thousands of miles away from the assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky.
An exclusive drag day event for Corvette owners helped kick off the Corvette UAE Club’s Chevrolet Knights chapter on March 15 at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. More than 100 Corvette owners and guests attended the event.
On Wednesday afternoon at the 2013 New York Auto Show, Chevrolet held its press conference to show off its new performance car lineup. As the crowd of journalists crowded into the North Hall of the Javits Center, we figured something special was in progress when Chevy reps started handing out ear plugs.
The presentation got started with a very loud video showing highlights of Chevrolet racing on the bowtie jumbo-tron. With the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe positioned in the middle of the stage under the bowtie, GM’s North American President Mark Reuss addressed the crowd.
If you are like most enthusiasts about this time of year you are experiencing a bad case of “cabin fever”. Shut in by the cold and the snow and too early to wake your hibernating car from its winter sleep and take it for its initial Spring cruise, you can’t help but think of the warm weather and all of the things you will be doing once your Corvette emerges from beneath its flannel lined custom car cover and once again hits the road. One of the things that can help allay the winter doldrums and kick off the Spring is to begin to plan your summer “bucket list” of “can’t miss” events and one of the events that should be at the top of that list is “Back to the Bricks” and the fourth annual Corvette Reunion for 2013.
One of the interesting displays at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was from Hagerty Insurance. It’s the 50th anniversary for two automotive icons – the Porsche 911 and the Corvette Sting Ray – and Hagerty asked fans to vote for their favorite.
The new 2014 Corvette Stingray was one of the star attractions at the Amelia Island Concours earlier this month. In addition to showing off the new C7, they also gathered together a collection of some very rare 1963 Sting Rays as well. Click past the jump to check out some of the 50 year old Corvettes that were in attendance at Amelia Island.
Each year at the Bloomington Gold Corvette show attendees have the opportunity to increase their Corvette knowledge in a variety of areas in the GoldSchool. This year they’ve revamped the program slightly and will hold all of the classes on Friday June 28th. Click past the break for a complete rundown of the classes available this year.


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Those stories here in our daily news roundup.
- Erin Fetherston's website redesign, which debuted on Tuesday, enables fans of the brand to buy Fetherston's clothes online. Users can also bid on vintage pieces from her personal collection, which she's auctioning off to raise money for charity:water. [Erin Fetherston]
- Shalom Harlow was shooting the cover of the latest issue of Oyster magazine at New York's Bowery Hotel when an unknown man walked into the shoot. Harlow flashed him, and the resulting picture — shot by photographer Cass Bird — is now part of the coordinating editorial. [Fashionista]
- Model Josie Maran, who expects to deliver a baby boy or girl within the next four weeks, is spending her Summer in a farmhouse in Pennsylvania. Maran had been the face of Maybelline until she started her own cosmetics line for QVC, located a convenient "10-minute drive" from her temporary home. [People]


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News A new mode called Nuclear Winter is planned for summer and a new main quest will arrive this fall in Wastelanders.
News They've collected a large amount of ammo, while a Bethesda community manager is looking into it.
News There's now also an absolute hard limit on carry weight to cut down on the number of items in the world.
News You could see it coming. It doesn't help that the jacket itself comes in a Fallout 76 bag.
News Like Fallout 4, Fallout 76 has a room containing every item in the game—and some players have apparently found a way inside.
News If you played Fallout 76 in 2018, you can get Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics for free on Bethesda's launcher.


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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): US-based Bunge Limited and Singapore-based Wilmar International Limited are anticipated to collaborate in Vietnam’s meal market as the market conditions of Vietnam is still challenging for agriculture suppliers.
In a publication Nov 5, AgriCENSUS citing market sources said this was due to the transfer of Japan’s Marubeni’s operations to Enerfo from Nov 1 amid difficult trading conditions, as the country grapples with an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) and slim margins.
AgrCENSUS said Wilmar Marketing CLV would be the agent for Vietnam Agribusiness Limited, Vietnam Agribusiness Holdings PTE Ltd and Bunge Asia PTE Ltd with effect from Nov 1.
All three companies are part of Bunge, the B in the ABCD quartet of global agribusiness giants. In addition, Wilmar will assume responsibility for sales of soymeal, corn, feed wheat and other agri products.
Moreover, Vietnam’s feed supply sector has been hit hard by shifting dynamics in its pig sector, with the industry undergoing huge expansion as it caters for China’s pork demand and burgeoning domestic demand.
However, a slowdown in demand from China in 2017 hit the sector hard, before China’s outbreak of ASF spread across the country’s border in early 2019 and infected most of Vietnam within months, with a loss of 5.7 million pigs.
One market source was quoted by AgriCENSUS as saying the market condition is tough.
“People are coming in and out of the market, but people are only losing money in Vietnam trades,” it said.
The feed sector continues to see major corn imports arriving, with November likely to see up to 1.4 million metric tonnes arrive again, as poultry and aquaculture pick up some of the slack.
However, the rampant price of pigs domestically is likely to bring further incentive amongst farmers to repopulate their pig herds.
AgriCENSUS said both Wilmar and Bunge were contacted for comment but it had received no reply.
PPB Group Bhd owns 18.5% of Wilmar International Ltd.


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Google steps up its legal defense of Android against Nokia and Apple
In two moves apparently targeted at putting its legal weight behind the embattled Android manufacturers, which are swamped with lawsuits left and right, Google has stepped up to the rescue.
First off, Google is now trying to be listed as co-defendant with HTC in its patent infringement lawsuit with Nokia. The Finns, in a possession of more than $6 billion worth of mobile related patents, are a formidable opponent, and without Google's help HTC might have to pony up even more in license and royalty fees, just when it is trying to save some cash, like wiggling out of the Beats Audio investment, for example.
We are grabbing our popcorn and waiting for the Google-Nokia patent fight, where El Goog is very likely to counteract with its Motorola patents, which it said were the main reason to buy Moto for $12.5 billion. Well, that, and some manufacturing prowess.
In another related move to defend Android from the lawsuits piling on it, Google has asked the FTC in a 15-page letter to consider Apple's design patents as FRAND, i.e. to be accepted as de facto industry standards, since otherwise Apple can sue anybody with a rectangular phone or tablet that uses sliding to unlock it, which we saw didn't work very well in the UK, for example. Apple caught wind of Google's filing, and sent its own 9-page rebuttal, saying that even if “a proprietary technology becomes quite popular does not transform it into a ‘standard’ subject to the same legal constraints as true standards".
Furthermore, in comments that are very much alluding to Samsung, and its charge to try and make Apple pay through the nose for some 3G-related standards it holds, Apple showed that it will make every effort to try and keep the distinction between standardized and non-standard technology and design patents. As per its General Councel Bruce Sewell:
To enhance their bargaining position, the FRAND patent holders have sought injunctions or other exclusionary remedies — to threaten companies like Apple that have been leaders in developing product-differentiating technology, and to force them to either pay exorbitant royalties or license their product-differentiating technology.
Ouch. And let's not forget that the CEO Tim Cook shares the same vision, as he was more than eloquent to clarify on the matter at the last D10 conference:
No one should be able to get an injunction off a standards-essential patent because the owner of the patent has the responsibility to license it on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory manner. And so when somebody comes to you and tries to get some obscene level of money from you for this, they are in essence telling you they are not going to license it because they want to go try to get an injunction and use the court system to do that. In my view, they use it in a way that it wasn’t intended...
And you can always argue about the payment, and there has to be a forum for resolving those disputes. The problem in this industry is if you add up what everybody says the standards-essential patents are worth, no one else could be in the phone business. Competition would be locked out. And so it’s kind of gotten crazy — this is one issue...
There is some of this that is maddening. It’s a waste; it’s a time-suck. However, does it stop innovation? It’s not going to stop us from innovating — no — but it’s overhead. It’s overhead that I wish didn’t exist.


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TSB has been named the nation's favourite bank for the sixth year in a row.
The 2021 Consumer New Zealand People's Choice Award for banking has been won by TSB after customers praised it for being the "best bank in NZ" during the annual industry survey.
The 2021 survey found 82 per cent of customers are very satisfied with the service at TSB, against a nationwide industry average of 64 per cent.
TSB chief executive Donna Cooper says the award is an honour for the TSB team, who strive every day to do the very best for their customers.
"To win this award for the sixth year in a row is fantastic recognition of the extra lengths our people go to look out for our customers, especially with New Zealanders needing support more than ever due to Covid-19. At TSB we're incredibly proud of our long history of delivering outstanding customer care and we use this as inspiration to always do our best and keep improving."
Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy says TSB is the only financial services provider in New Zealand to win more than three years in a row, which proves TSB is continually outperforming other banks.
"The people have spoken and TSB has been named New Zealand's favourite bank for the sixth year running. TSB continues to deliver exceptional customer service and go the extra mile. Consumer New Zealand is proud to present this award to TSB and recognise their efforts."
Donna says, "The great thing about awards like these is they encourage more Kiwis to join our New Zealand-owned bank, which means we can put more profit to purpose and give back to our amazing country."


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Micron Technology Inc. (MU, Financial) released earnings results for its third quarter of fiscal 2022 on Thursday after the market closed. Investors have been looking forward to the report because Micron’s May-ending quarter provides an extra month of data about the semiconductor market, which is experiencing a period of volatility.
We last got an update on the market from Nvidia (NVDA) for its April-ending quarter, which revealed negative effects from the Covid-related factory shutdowns in China as well as the war in Ukraine. In addition to these macro factors, analysts have also been noting signs that semiconductors were overbought in 2021 as companies sought to hoard them amid the fear of shortages.
On the positive side, Micron beat analysts’ estimates on both its top and bottom lines for the quarter. However, its outlook has investors concerned that near-term pain could be in the cards, not just for Micron but for the semiconductor industry as a whole.
Analysts polled by FactSet had called for Micron to deliver adjusted earnings per share of $2.43 on revenue of $8.64 billion for the quarter. Micron surprised to the upside with adjusted earnings per share of $2.59 and revenue of $8.64 billion.
These numbers also compared favorably to earnings per share of just $1.88 and revenue of $7.42 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Operating cash flow was $3.84 billion versus $3.63 billion for the prior quarter and $3.56 billion for the same quarter of fiscal 2021.
The gross margin was 46.7% and the operating margin was 36.4%, both of which marked improvements of approximately 5% compared to a year ago.
Despite the positive news for the quarter ending in May, Micron’s outlook for its next quarter was lower than analysts were expecting. The stock initially dipped in after-hours trading, though it soon recovered to near closing levels.
For its fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, Micron calls for revenue of $7.2 billion, plus or minus $400 million. Even at the top end of this estimate, it falls far below the $9.05 billion that analysts had been hoping to see, and it would mark a year-over-year decline from the company’s revenue of $8.2 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021.
The company anticipates adjusted earnings per share of $1.63, plus or minus 20 cents. Analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance have an average estimate of $2.62 for adjusted earnings per share, and the figure for the corresponding quarter of fiscal 2021 was $2.39.
Micron noted in its earnings presentation that near the end of the fiscal third quarter, it saw a “significant reduction” in near-term industry bit demand, mostly from weakness in consumer markets, including PC and smartphone.
President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra noted weakening demand in the short term, but remained confident in long-term demand:
“Recently, the industry demand environment has weakened, and we are taking action to moderate our supply growth in fiscal 2023. We are confident about the long-term secular demand for memory and storage and are well positioned to deliver strong cross-cycle financial performance.”
What this means for the industry
Micron is facing double headwinds from the consumer demand side as well as the inventory side, both of which the chipmaker expects to negatively impact its fiscal fourth-quarter results.
This reflects analysts’ growing worries that, in addition to the war in Ukraine extending supply chain issues that were previously hoped to be resolved with the winding down of China’s Covid-19 protection policies, the semiconductor industry will also face pain from companies rushing to overstock on fears of shortages, much like a tech industry equivalent of the great toilet paper rush at the beginning of the pandemic. Now that they have excess, demand from customers can be expected to decrease in the coming months.
Another factor to consider is venture capital flows to tech startups are dwindling due to high inflation, rising interest rates and fears of recession. Many job seekers in the tech industry are reporting their jobs are being cut either soon after they start or before they even begin work due to funding being pulled. This implies demand reduction from the enterprise side.
Overall, though, Micron seems most concerned about the weakening of consumer purchasing power, as it honed in on this subject in its earnings presentation.
These are unlikely to be issues that are unique to Micron, so investors can likely expect the industry downturn to continue for some months before beginning to recover.