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Article | July 23, 2020
2 Top Data Storage Trends That Simplify Data Management
2.1 AI Storage Continues to be The Chief
2.2 Price Markdown in Flash Storage
2.3 Hybrid Multi Cloud for The Win
2.4 Increased Significance of Software-Defined Storage
2.5 Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) Beats Data Center Fabrics
2.6 Acceleration of Storage Class Memory
2.7 Hyperconverged Storage – A Push to Edge Computing
3 The Future of Data Storage
There’s more to data than just to store it. Organizations not only have the responsibility of dealing with a plethora of data, but are also anticipated of safeguarding it. One of the primary alternatives that enterprises are indulging in to keep up with the continuous data expansion is data storage entities and applications.
A recent study conducted by Statista revealed that worldwide spending on data storage units is expected to exceed 78 billion U.S. dollars by 2021. Going by these storage stats, it can be certainly said that data is going to be amplified at a much faster rate, and companies do not have a choice but to be geared up for a data boom and still be relevant.
When it comes to data management/storage, information technology has risen to all its glory with concepts like machine learning. While the idea of such profound approaches is thrilling, the real question boils down to whether organizations are ready as well as equipped enough to handle them. The answer to this might be NO.
But, can companies make changes and still thrive? Most definitely, YES!
To make this concept more understandable, here is a list of changes/trends that companies should adopt to make data storage a lot more easy and secure.
2. Top data storage trends that simplify data management
Data corruption is one big issue that most companies face. The complications that unfold further because of the corruption of data are even more complicated to resolve. To fix this and other such data storage problems, companies have come up with trends that are resilient and flexible. These trends have the capability of making history in the world of technology, so, you better gear up to learn and later adapt to them.
2.1 AI storage continues to be the chief
The speed with which AI hit the IT world just doesn’t seem to slow down even after all these years. We say this because, amongst all other concepts that were and are constantly being introduced, artificial intelligence is one applied science that has made the most amount of innovations. To further add to this, AI is now making enterprise data storage process easier with its various subsets like machine learning and deep learning. This technology is helping companies in accumulating multiple layers of data in a more assorted format. It is automating IT storages including data migrating, archiving, protecting, etc. With AI, companies will be able to control data storage across multiple locations and storage platforms.
2.2 Price markdown in Flash storage
As per a report by Markets and Markets, the overall All-Flash Array Market was valued at USD 5.9 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 17.8 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 24.53% during this period. This growth only states that the need for all-flash storage is only going to broaden. Flash storage has always been a choice that most companies stayed away from mainly because of the price. But with this new trend of adopting flexible data storage ways coming in, flash storage has been offered at a much-depreciated price. The drop in the cost of this storage technology will finally enable businesses of all sizes to invest in this high-performance solution.
READ MORE: HOW BUSINESS ANALYTICS ACCELERATES YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH
2.3 Hybrid multi cloud for the win
With data growing every minute, just a “cloud” strategy will not be enough. In this wave of data storage services, hybrid multi-cloud is one concept that is helping manage off-premises data. With this growing concept, IT authorities will be able to collect, segregate and store, on-premises, and off-premises data in a much-sophisticated manner. This will enable in centrally managing while reducing the effort of data storage by automating policy-based data placement across a hybrid of multi-cloud and storage types.
2.4 Increased significance of software-defined storage
More the data, less reliability on hardware devices – this is the growing attitude of most companies. This fear certainly has the possibility of becoming a reality. Hence, an addition to the cybersecurity strategy that companies can make is adopting software-defined storage. This approach of data storage disconnects the underlying physical storage hardware. It is programmed in a way that can function on policy-based management of resources, automated provision, and computerized storage capacity reassignment. Due to the automated function, scaling up and down of data is also faster. Some of the biggest advantages of this trend will be the governance, data protection, and security it will provide to the entire loop.
2.5 Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) beats data center fabrics
NVMe – as ornate as the name sounds, is a concept that is freshly introduced with the aim of making data storage simpler. Non-Volatile Memory Express is a concept that enables accessibility of high-speed storage media. It is a protocol that is showing great results in a short amount of time of its inception. NVMe not only increases the performance value of existing applications, but also enables new applications to real-time workload processing. This feature of high performance and low latency is surely a highlight of the concept. All in all, this entire trend seems to have a lot of potential that are yet to be explored.
READ MORE: HOW TO MAXIMIZE VALUE FROM DATA COLLECTED FOR BUSINESSES SUCCESS
2.6 Acceleration of storage class memory
Storage class memory is a perfect combination of flash storage and NVMe. This is because it perfectly fills in the gap between server storage and external storage. As data protection is one of the major concerns of enterprises, this upcoming trend, does not only protect data but also continually stores and improves it for easier segregation. A clear advantage that storage class memory has over flash and NVMe storages is that it provides memory-like byte-addressable access to data thus reducing piling up of irrelevant data. Another benefit of this trend is that it indulges in deeper integration of data for ensuring high performance and top-level data security.
2.7 Hyperconverged storage – a push to edge computing
The increased demand for hyper converged storage is a result of the growth of hybrid cloud and software-defined infrastructure. Besides these technologies, its suitability for retail settings and remote offices is add on to its already existing set of features. It’s the capability of capturing data from a distance also enables cost-effectiveness and scales down the need to store everything on a public cloud. Hyper converged storage if used in its true essence can simplify IT operations and data storage for enterprises of all sizes.
3. The future of data storage
According to the Internet World Stats, more than 4.5 billion internet users around the world relentlessly create an astronomical amount of data. This translates to propel companies into discovering methods or applications that help them store this data safe from harmful ransomware attacks and still use it productively for their advantage. One of the prime changes that can be estimated about the future of data storage is that companies will have to adapt to the rapid changes, and mould their process to enable quick and seamless storage of data. Another enhancement would be that IT managers and responsible authorities would have to be updated and proactive at all times to know what data storage has been newly introduced, and how it can be used for the company’s advantage.
Here’s a thing, amongst all the research that enterprises are conducting, not all data storage technologies will end up becoming a hit, and will fulfil the specification of high-speed storage. But, looking at all the efforts that researchers are taking, we don’t think they are going to stop any sooner and neither is the augmentation of data!
Article | July 23, 2020
We know that data and analytics play a role in everyday products from recommendations on what music we might like to hear to automated re-routing by our GPS system. But how might the power of analytics be brought to bear on a disease that is currently threatening the health and economic welfare of people across the globe?If we rewind the clock to the 1850s, there are two significant examples of how early pioneers in data science made incredible impacts on the world that can provide some insight into what we might see happen next.
Article | July 23, 2020
Deep learning, the main innovation that has renewed interest in artificial intelligence in the past years, has helped solve many critical problems in computer vision, natural language processing, and speech recognition. However, as the deep learning matures and moves from hype peak to its trough of disillusionment, it is becoming clear that it is missing some fundamental components.
BIG DATA MANAGEMENT
Article | July 23, 2020
The Internet of Things has been the hype in the past few years. It is set to play an important role in industries. Not only businesses but also consumers attempt to follow developments that come with the connected devices. Smart meters, sensors, and manufacturing equipment all can remodel the working system of companies.
Based on the Statista reports, the IoT market value of 248 billion US dollars in 2020 is expected to reach a worth of 1.6 Trillion USD by 2025. The global market is in the support of IoT development and its power to bring economic growth. But, the success of IoT without the integration of data analytics is impossible. This major growth component of IoT is the blend of IoT and Big Data - together known as IoT Data Analytics.
Understanding IoT Data Analytics
IoT Data Analytics is the analysis of large volumes of data that has been gathered from connected devices. As IoT devices generate a lot of data even in the shortest period, it becomes complex to analyze the enormous data volumes. Besides, the IoT data is quite similar to big data but has a major difference in their size and number of sources. To overcome the difficulty in IoT data integration, IoT data analytics is the best solution. With this combination, the process of data analysis becomes cost-effective, easier, and rapid.
Why Data Analytics and IoT Will Be Indispensable?
Data analytics is an important part of the success of IoT investments or applications. IoT along with Data analytics will allow businesses to make efficient use of datasets. How?
Let’s get into it!
Using data analytics in IoT investments businesses will become able to gain insight into customer behavior. It will lead to the crafting offers and services accordingly. As a result, companies will see a hike in their profits and revenue.
The vast amount of data sets that are being used by IoT applications needs to be organized and analyzed to obtain patterns. It can easily be achieved by using IoT analytics software.
In an era full of IoT devices and applications, the competition has also increased. You can gain a competitive advantage by hire developers that can help with the IoT analytics implementations. It will assist businesses in providing better services and stand out from the competition.
Now the next question arises: Where is it being implemented? Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Siemens, VMware, and Huawei are using IoT data analytics for product usage analysis, sensor data analysis, camera data analysis, improved equipment maintenance, and optimizing operations.
The Rise of IoT Data Analytics
With the help of IoT Data Analytics, companies are ready to achieve more information that can be used to improve their overall performance and revenue. Although it has not reached every corner of the market yet, it is still being used for making the workplace more efficient and safe.
The ability to analyze and predict data in real-time is definitely a game-changer for companies that need all of their equipment to work efficiently all the time. It is continuously growing to provide insights that were never possible before.


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The Downtown Jersey City lunch crowd has a new option along the waterfront as New York City’s Naya Middle Eastern Counter & Grill has officially launched their second Garden State outpost.
Jersey Digs broke the news on the company’s impending arrival in Jersey City last year. Naya’s fast-casual dining has drawn accolades for its authentic ingredients and bold flavors since launching in Manhattan 13 years ago, with the brand making its New Jersey debut in Montvale last year.
Their latest New Jersey spot is now open daily at 15 Exchange Place. Owned and operated by Hady Kfoury, the Lebanese restaurant allows diners to customize their experience via a roll, bowl, or fresh salad with sumac pomegranate vinaigrette.
Proteins like chicken shawarma, shish taouk, kafta lamb kebabs, or falafel give customers a nice variety of combinations, and an epic mixture of 17 toppings including hummus, baba ghannouj, or lemon tahini add to the fun.
The appetizer menu at Naya has lighter fare like tabboule or grape leaves plus unique dishes like kibbe (fried beef dumplings) or rekakat (three Mediterranean cheeses wrapped in phyllo, deep-fried). Desserts like nutty baklava or nammoura round out the menu.
Naya is offering a few discounts to their new Jersey City customers. Through March 15, diners will get 50% off entrees for the entire day, with proceeds from the discount benefitting the York Street Project. The week of March 18th through the 22nd will see customers who purchase any bowl or roll nab a free kid’s meal.
The hours of operation at the Jersey City spin on Naya run from 11:00 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. The outpost is not offering pickup or delivery orders just yet but should be rolling out that service in the coming weeks.

domain: news


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Facebook will be awarded a trademark for the word "face," pending some action from the social network, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
As first reported by TechCrunch, The U.S. Patent And Trademark Office has sent Facebook a Notice of Allowance, which means the government will award the social networking site the trademark under certain conditions.
The type of application Facebook filed requires the company to provide a sworn statement that it intends to use the trademark on products. The company will have to file that "Statement of Use," and then it will have to use the "in commerce" before it has actual legal claim to the word "face."
Patent lawyers had been skeptical that Facebook would be granted the trademark to such a generic word.
But once Facebook completes the paperwork and uses "face" in commerce, the USPTO will grant the trademark for: "Telecommunication services, namely, providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among computer users in the field of general interest and concerning social and entertainment subject matter."
In August, Aaron Greenspan received an extension of time to file an opposition to Facebook's "Face" trademark attempt. Greenspan is the president and CEO of Think Computer, the developer of a mobile payments app called FaceCash. He would not comment on whether he did file an opposition to the "face" trademark."
Greenspan, a former Harvard classmate of Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, claimed he had a hand in developing the social networking giant. The case was settled last year.
Facebook has also waged wars against sites using the word "book." In August, Facebook sued start-up site Teachbook.com -- which claims it is merely a teacher's community. The social networking giant also forced the travel site PlaceBook to change its name to TripTrace this past summer.
HSBC banker arrested at JFK airport as he prepared to leave the country. He and former trader face federal charges they manipulated currency trades. More
With one exception, every vice presidential candidate in the past 40 years has released a tax return. Given that Donald Trump hasn't released his tax returns, will Mike Pence be the second exception? More
In 1998, Ntsiki Biyela won a scholarship to study wine making. Now she's about to launch her own brand. More
A discount on a student loan from Wells Fargo is now yet another perk Amazon offers its Prime customers. More


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Price and the specifications of the upcoming rumored Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet have been leaked via a listing of the device on Tmall online store in China which is also Nokia’s official market place in the country. The accidental listing of the device on the store confirms that it will be having the price tag of 4,999 Yuan or $820 which converts into Rs. 50,200.
Specifications of the phone are also leaked by the same online store which suggests the phone will be having a 6inch full HD display with the resolution of 1080*1920 pixels. It is powered by a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 powerful processor along with 2GB of RAM. The famous gadget leaker @evleaks Twitter account has also confirmed these specs via a Tweet.
According to the @evleaks, the upcoming Nokia phablet will arrive in 16GB and 32GB internal storage models. It will be available in Yellow, White and Black color variants. It will be also having 20.7MP rear camera with Nokia’s PureView technology. It will also come with Wireless charging just like its other high-end Lumia siblings.
Nokia is hosting an event on October 22nd
in Abu Dhabi where it is expected to launch six new devices and Nokia Lumia 1520 will be one of them. Nokia is also reported to launch its first ever Windows RT tablet as well as a new phone in the Asha series dubbed as Nokia Asha 502
in this event. It might also launch Nokia Lumia 525
which is said to be the successor of the Nokia Lumia 520


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No matter how much companies try to persuade people to their new software products, there will always be those who refuse to change and will persist in using old, tried-and-true software, no matter how bad it is. For many years, Microsoft has been trying to move people away from its old operating systems Windows 7 and Windows 8 (does anyone honestly still have that last awful OS), along with its aging browser Internet Explorer.
Well, for gamers, Nvidia is going to lend a helping hand to get people off these outdated operating systems in to announce that the company and eventually drop support for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 later this year, with drivers only available for Windows 10 as of October and only critical security updates on this older operating system maintained until 2024:
The vast majority of our GeForce customers have migrated to Windows 10 OS. To ensure GeForce owners experience the best possible security, support and functionality, Nvidia will now focus on the Windows 10 operating system.
Given that Microsoft has already dropped support for these older operating systems, this movie from Nvidia shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that there’s no point in investing efforts in technology that probably isn’t supported by many games anymore, anyway. The company believes that the vast majority of its user base has already migrated and hopefully this news will help those last few dinosaurs make the digital evolution to Windows 10.
although according to stat counter, while there are 1.3 billion Windows 10 devices worldwide, Windows 7 still accounts for 15 percent of all total Windows versions, while Steam that number is reduced to 2 percent. Small, but sizable numbers to perhaps explain why NVidia has continued their support even as Microsoft tries to persuade people to switch.
Seriously though, if you are one of the few people using these operating systems and want to buy a new graphics card, rather spend your money and buy Windows 10 instead. It will provide a much better performance boost than any graphics card. on those older versions.
Last updated: June 15, 2021


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UK inflation fell back to 3.4 per cent – the lowest level in more than two and a half years – as food prices eased for cash-strapped households.
The larger than forecast decline is a significant boon for Rishi Sunak who made reducing inflation one of his key economic pledges and it has also increased the chances the Bank of England will look to cut interest rates in the summer.
The figures from released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released on Wednesday morning showed that inflation was 3.4 per cent in February, which is slightly lower than the 3.5 per per cent predicted by economists.
This is the lowest level inflation has been at since September 2021. Despite inflation falling it does not mean that prices are falling, only that they are falling less fast.
The latest figures are moving gradually closer to the Bank of England’s 2 per cent inflation target and comes ahead of the interest rate decision on Thursday.
Financial markets overwhemingly think that policymakers will keep interest rates on hold at 5.25 per cent, but the fall in inflation today increases the chances of them being cut in the summer.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt did little to dismisss this idea when reacting to the latest figures and said it could pave the way for the BoE to cut interest rates.
He said: “Families today will heave a sigh of relief that we are firmly on track to bring inflation down to its target of 2%. This is the lowest headline rate for two-and-a-half years.
“But most encouragingly food inflation, which was nearly 20% a year ago, is now just 5%.
“And what this shows is that the plan to bring inflation down – it was over 11% when Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, now just 3.4% – that plan is working but we do need to stick to it and see it right the way through.”
Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said: “Inflation eased in February to its lowest rate for nearly two-and-a-half years.
“Food prices were the main driver of the fall, with prices almost unchanged this year compared with a large rise last year, while restaurant and cafe price rises also slowed.
“These falls were only partially offset by price rises at the pump and a further increase in rental costs.”
Paula Bejarano Carbo, economist at the National Institute for Economic Research, said: “Annual CPI inflation was 3.4 per cent in February, falling from 4.0 per cent in January, driven by downward contributions from food and alcoholic beverages.
“This figure represents the lowest annual CPI inflation figure since September 2021 and possibly signals that the MPC can start to cut interest rates in the coming months – though we don’t expect any change at tomorrow’s meeting.”
Dr George Dibb, associate director for economic policy at IPPR, said: “Today’s news that inflation is falling is welcome, but it doesn’t mean prices are falling – just that they are rising less fast.
“The details of where prices are still rising the fastest also show we are entering a new phase of the inflationary period with food prices and restaurants making the largest downward contribution.
“The Bank of England’s high interest rates continue to cause pain in the economy. Indicators are heading in the right direction, with goods inflation, services inflation and ‘core’ inflation all falling this month, so we want to see interest rates come down.
“Alongside this, government must also make a shift away from the tax-cuts-at-all-costs strategy towards the much-needed prioritisation of investment into public services.”
This is breaking news story…more coming


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Rumours abound about the next iteration of Google’s hi-tech eye-tech, Glass, with reports indicating that Google Glass 2.0 could be released in early 2016.
Sales of the first edition were halted in January when the Glass Explorer programme was wrapped up. The project has been moved out from Google X Labs – the innovative technology arm of Google developing a number of health-related technologies, such as smart contact lenses – to sit with Google-owned tech company Nest.
Following January’s announcement, a Google+ post from the team behind Glass stated: “We’re continuing to build for the future, and you’ll start to see future versions of Glass when they’re ready.”
Signs have emerged this month that things may be ramping up, with Google creating a new name for Glass employees: Project Aura, Glass and Beyond. The project has reportedly recruited a number of engineers and developers and is hiring to fill a number of other listed jobs.
Details are still emerging, but one thing that is known is that Italian eyewear firm Luxottica will work with Google on future designs for Glass.
Google, now a subsidiary of the newly created Alphabet, is distributing an Enterprise Edition of Glass exclusively for healthcare and manufacturer industries. Tech website 9to5Google reports that Glass EE has a new design which is “foldable, more water resistant [and] rugged for the workplace.” This version is reported to be a modified version of Explorer edition.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the brains for the next generation of Glass will be supplied by microchip firm Intel, with Google Glass 2 expected to run on an Intel processor. A number of patents have also been filed from the tech giant for new designs, including tension adjustments to the sides of the frame.
Image credit: Mikepanhu


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NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Barnes & Noble Inc on Tuesday unveiled its electronic reader in a challenge to Amazon.com Inc’s dominant Kindle, featuring a color screen and the same $259 price, ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Barnes & Noble said it would allow its users to share most books, a function that the Kindle currently does not allow. The device, dubbed the Nook, will use AT&T for wireless and Google Inc’s Android mobile platform.
The Nook will be available at Barnes & Noble’s nearly 800 U.S. stores in late November. Shoppers could pre-order the device from the bookseller’s site on Tuesday.
The nascent electronic reader market -- arguably built by the Kindle although Sony Corp was first to market -- has turned into a key battleground for the consumer electronics industry this holiday season.
Some 3 million e-readers are expected to be sold in the United States this year, with sales doubling in 2010, according to Forrester Research.
Retailers, electronics manufacturers, publishers and wireless operators are all hoping to gain a toehold in what is expected to be the transition of books to a digital format, not unlike music and newspapers before them.
Barnes & Noble is unique in its use of a dual display and color. A smaller color display -- positioned below the main display for reading that uses e-Ink technology for easier reading -- allows users to browse the company’s bookstore and click on titles.
The Nook can hold 1,500 books -- equivalent to the Kindle. But it lacks a web browser, currently an experimental function in the Kindle.
Barnes & Noble said that most of its titles can be lent for up to two weeks to friends, a function that should be attractive to users who do not want to be limited by a proprietary system like Amazon’s.
In addition, the Nook’s titles can be viewed on a variety of devices, such as the Blackberry from Research in Motion Ltd, Apple Inc’s iPhone, PCs and Macs and others.
“That sound you heard was the air being let out of the Kindle’s tires,” wrote Gartner Vice President Allen Weiner on the technology research company’s blog.
Weiner, reached by phone, said the pre-holiday timing was right for the Nook, as many consumers have been delaying a purchase, knowing more e-readers would hit the market, including rumors of a possible tablet device from Apple.
“The timing works very nicely with Barnes & Noble to come in with a device priced competitively with Amazon that supports open standard,” he said.
“The impact of that (open standard) is so big,” he added. “This is a game changer.”
SUPPORTS EPUB FORMAT
The Kindle, which has taken a page from Apple Inc’s dominance in the digital music industry, operates on a closed system in which books ordered on Amazon can only be read on the Kindle, or on the iPhone or iPod Touch.
Barnes & Noble said it was supporting the ePub format, a publishing standard allowing users to read content on multiple devices, as well as an antipiracy protection from Adobe Systems Inc.
Sony, whose Sony Reader features a touchscreen, is shifting its digital bookstore to these standards by year’s end.
The debut of the e-reader follows Barnes & Noble’s launch of an online digital bookstore this summer that it touted as the world’s largest, with over 700,000 titles. The Kindle store offers more than 350,000 titles.
Analysts say Barnes & Noble’s advantage could be in its nearly 800 physical stores across the United States where users will be able to test out the device. The Nook will connect via WiFi while the user is in the company’s brick and mortar stores, allowing users to access special content and promotions.
Also important is Barnes and Noble’s existing relationship with publishers, although Amazon, too, shares that advantage -- one that analysts say Sony, for example, does not enjoy.
While the Sony Reader currently is estimated to hold the No. 2 position, behind the Kindle, other devices include Interead’s “Cool-er” and the Cybook OPUS from Bookeen.
Other e-readers expected to hit the market soon include devices from iRex Technologies, a spin-off of Royal Philips Electronics, Taiwan’s Asustek, a Hearst-backed venture called FirstPaper, and Plastic Logic, whose QUE reader due in January is geared to business professionals.
E-reader hype has hit a peak in the past month, as Amazon rolled out the Kindle internationally, Google Inc unveiled plans for an online e-book store, and News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch visited Asia, possibly to investigate e-reader technology.
Barnes & Noble shares rose 10 cents after closing down nearly 6 percent to $18.90 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Editing by Richard Chang, Steve Orlofsky, Phil Berlowitz
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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UPDATE AUG 6, 2019
We told you earlier that Just Ice Cream had grown out of their tiny storefront on Main Street and would be moving to a much larger property at 115 N. Market Street. The time has come and they will open for business at the new location at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6th. It’s now indoors with tables and chairs.
It’s also noteworthy to mention that they will continue with their regular menu of various flavors of Loblolly ice cream, along with special treats on special days – like Will’s Cinnamon Rolls on Friday and Saturday. They’ll also continue to provide live music in the evenings and they have also added coffee to their menu. Okay, not fancy coffee with all the flavors and stuff, but it’s coffee from Red Light Roastery out of Hot Springs.
Congrats on your new place, Jon and Tia Wind.
EARLIER JUL 15, 2019
A sweet downtown business is growing out of their small space, so they decided to rent a bigger one. Just Ice Cream has gotten popular quickly. It’s hard to believe they only first opened their doors in April – three months ago – and now they are moving to a space many times larger.
Owners Jon and Tia Wind are as community-minded as they come, bringing Loblolly’s brand of ice cream to Benton, then adding Dale’s Donuts to the morning lineup at one point and more recently, Will’s cinnamon rolls. They have also joined in the planning for Third Thursday events and even supported live music by inviting local musicians to perform on weekend nights at their current location at Main St. Station.
It’s been a long time since anything at all was open past 6 p.m. in downtown Benton, and now there are a few things, including Just Ice Cream, which has been open for 6 days a week until 8 p.m. or sometimes later if there was a line.
They knew they would need a bigger space, and one recently opened up for them at 115 N. Market Street. This location is the red painted brick that was the previous home to Silver Linings, Twigs, and Leave it to Liz. We’ll post more info soon about exactly when Just Ice Cream is ready to open the doors and what else they have planned. Meanwhile, follow their Facebook or Instagram.


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Share buying and selling within the Chinese property large Evergrande has been suspended following studies the corporate founder and chairman had been taken by police.
Concern concerning the firm’s future and talent to pay its payments has grown as investigations have meant it has been unable to concern new debt.
Evergrande has been teetering on the brink of collapse for 2 years. If the corporate folded, the results could be devastating for the Chinese property business which is 1 / 4 of the world’s second-largest financial system and dangerous to the general international financial system.
The world’s most indebted firm has liabilities of $300bn (£247bn), roughly the identical as all the products and companies produced in Finland in 2021.
Has China’s financial system run out of steam?
The worldwide results attributable to deflation in China
No purpose for the pause in buying and selling was given nor was there official affirmation of Bloomberg’s report of police surveillance of chairman and founder Hui Ka Yan.
Police motion in opposition to different senior officers within the firm has additionally taken place. Earlier this month police within the southern metropolis of Shenzhen revealed motion in opposition to a senior determine inside Evergrande’s wealth administration arm, Du Liang, and others.
It’s additionally not the primary time buying and selling was halted: there was none for 17 months, up till final month, amid a string of defaults and the creation of a restructuring plan that’s but to be agreed with collectors.
The firm sought chapter safety within the US courts in August because it appeared to restructure its debt. But the most recent developments symbolize one other issue for the embattled agency and the Chinese financial system.
Talk of the corporate struggling an implosion, equal to the 2008 fall of Lehman brothers, have been revived although earlier issues of it sparking defaults amongst its lenders, given how a lot it has borrowed, haven’t come to go.
An estimated 128 banks have lent cash to Evergrande and so have some 121 non-bank establishments equivalent to asset managers and insurers.


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NEW YORK, June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:
According to the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GAS), China's import volume of pesticides increased by 8.1% year on year in the first quarter of 2012 to 16,000 tonnes.
Although the import volume of fungicides ranked the second among all pesticide categories in China in Q1 2012, reaching 3,439 tonnes, its YOY growth rate witnessed a slip of 5.0%.
With the large-scale occurrence of crop diseases, the production and consumption of fungicides in domestic market have entered into peak period recently. For instance, China's output of carbendazim technical exceeded 14,000 tonnes (calculated by 100% AI, similarly hereinafter) in Q1 2012. Moreover, the sales volume of this fungicide from domestic market hit about 7,000 tonnes at the same time.
Azoxystrobin, the most popular strobilurin fungicide around the world, began to be in hot registration in China in 2010, and this situation has been still continuing since early 2012. Statistics from the Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture (ICAMA) show that the registration quantity of azoxystrobin has reached eight from Jan. to late April this year, accounting for 40% of the total registrations of this fungicide during 2006~late April 2012 (not including repacking registration, similarly hereinafter).
Qianjiang Biochemical's net profit witnesses a sharp drop of 79.80% year on year to USD1.59 million in 2011.
Noposion's net profit decreases by 25.24% year on year to USD12.92 million in 2011, but its fungicide revenue witnesses an increase of 8.25% year on year.
Huifeng Agrochemical's net profit continues to go down in 2011, reaching USD9.90 million, down 38.10% year on year.
SYRICI has successfully developed pyrametostrobin•thiram 25% SC through the wet grinding process.
Xi'an MPC has been vigorously promoting cuppric nonyl phenolsulfonate 30% ME in domestic market in recent years.
China's import volume of pesticides increases by 8.1% year on year in Q1 2012 to 16,000 tonnes.
China's output of carbendazim technical exceeds 14,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2012.
China is drawing up national industry standards for kasugamycin (TC, AS and WP), which will improve the development of kasugamycin industry.
On 20 April 2012, Changqing Agrochemical successfully launches its fenoxanil technical production line with the capacity of 500t/a.
Bowin Agriculture's azoxystrobin•prochloraz 30% ME will enjoy a bright market prospect in the future thanks to its excellent control effect on rice sheath blight and blast.
Key crop diseases are predicted to occur on large scale in Guangxi in H1 2012, reaching 1.46 million ha.
The occurrence areas of wheat diseases and insect pests will accumulatively reach 21.55 million ha. and 26.00 million ha. respectively in China from late April to June this year.
Azoxystrobin has been in hot registration in China since early 2012, and this situation is estimated to continue in the next few months of this year.
The registrations of tebuconazole products, especially formulations, are hot in early 2012.
The ex-factory price of tebuconazole 97% TC witnesses slip in early May 2012.
Qianjiang Biochemical's net profit sharply drops in 2011
Noposion: net profit slides but fungicide revenue increases in 2011
Huifeng Agrochemical's net profit continues decrease in 2011
SYRICI successfully develops pyrametostrobin•thiram 25% SC
Xi'an MPC vigorously promotes cuppric nonyl phenolsulfonate
China's import volume of pesticides increases in Q1 2012
Domestic output of carbendazim technical exceeds 14,000 tonnes in Q1 2012
New policy beneficial to development of kasugamycin
Changqing Agrochemical successfully launches 500t/a fenoxanil technical production line
Azoxystrobin•prochloraz 30% ME to enjoy bright market prospect
Key crop diseases predicted to occur on large scale in Guangxi in H1 2012
Diseases and insect pests to seriously occur in middle and later stage of wheat
Azoxystrobin registrations keep hot in 2012
Registrations of tebuconazole formulation go hot in early 2012
Ex-factory price of tebuconazole 97% TC witnesses slip in early May 2012
Qianjiang Biochemical, Noposion, Huifeng Agrochemical, SYRICI, Xi'an MPC
To order this report:
Contact Nicolas: [email protected]
Intl: +1 805-652-2626


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Ten Washington state Starbucks are about to get a little dimmer as the coffee house chain launches a trial program to get employees to think about energy efficiency. The participating locations will attempt to reduce energy consumption, which will be monitored via a tablet program on display over the next 30 days. The store which manages to reduce its power the most will be rewarded with "some sort of a party." Laptop squatters, prepare to migrate elsewhere, because odds are step one is cutting off your supply.
Starbucks' director of environmental stewardship (Starbucks has a director of environmental stewardship) says the contest is part of a plan "to [reduce] energy and water use in company-owned stores by 25 percent by 2015." Sounds good. But how does going into the K-cup business fit into that whole scheme, again? And what happened to the plan to reuse or recycle all cups by 2015? Oh well, here's a press release about the contest:
10 Starbucks stores to use Lucid’s Building Dashboard® platform to promote employee behavior change through real-time energy usage information.
Oakland, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2012
Lucid, innovator and pioneer provider of real-time feedback technology for buildings, is spearheading a study of resource consumption and behavior change with Starbucks Coffee Company. Developed in conjunction with the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) and Portland Energy Conservation Inc. (PECI), the pilot project will be hosted by 10 Starbucks stores in Snohomish County, and will serve to test and document measurable energy savings in retail locations.
The program encourages Starbucks employees to identify conservation strategies that will reduce the amount of energy required to run their stores while not impacting customer service. The pilot project, funded in part by a grant from the Bonneville Power Administration, will evaluate energy savings derived by providing energy use data to employees, coupled with friendly competition among stores.
The pilot pairs a 30-day competition among 10 Starbucks stores with Lucid’s Building Dashboard® platform to promote behavior change through real-time energy usage information, employee engagement and focused energy savings strategies. It complements a broad range of energy efficiency and sustainability goals embraced by Starbucks throughout its retail locations.
“Lucid looks forward to working with the project team to quantify the impact that real-time resource-use feedback can have on the retail environment,” said Michael Murray, Lucid’s chief executive. “We hope the measurement and verification process that is developed during this pilot will demonstrate that behavior change can provide significant and persistent energy savings in buildings. In the future we hope to see other utilities implement behavior-based energy efficiency programs.”
For Starbucks, the pilot continues its leadership around conservation. “We have committed to reducing energy and water use in company-owned stores by 25 percent by 2015,” said Jim Hanna, director, environmental stewardship at Starbucks. “This pilot project demonstrates our ongoing desire to meet our customers’ expectations of providing a premium experience while at the same time constantly evaluating our environmental performance.”
The pilot will run for at least one year. In September, 2011, BPA issued a funding opportunity for behavior-based efficiency pilot programs because of significant energy savings potential from behavior change, calling the potential “too significant to ignore.”


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The two biggest factors holding back electric cars are price and driving range – fortunately, Chevrolet just solved both problems wth one vehicle. Meet the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV – a next-gen electric car that goes over 200 miles on a single charge, costs under $30,000, and could very well be the first electric car for the masses. The 2017 Bolt is set to hit the streets later this year – will it kick off an electric vehicle revolution?
While many electric car owners aspire to get their hands on the Tesla Model S, the reality is that until the Model 3 arrives, Tesla’s current sedan is priced far out of reach for most buyers. On the other hand, there are other electric car options, but because most only having a driving range of about 80 miles on a single charge, they aren’t really viable for most people. Enter the 2016 Chevy volt: the first electric car for the masses.
The 2017 Bolt is a technological feat – so Chevy has chosen to unveil the production version of the vehicle at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Chevy gave us a preview of the Bolt exactly a year ago at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show and now we have our first look at the production version. Overall the 2017 Bolt’s styling is pretty close to the concept version, with some of the bigger changes happening to the front and rear of the EV.
Related: 2016 Chevy Volt released in California, but the rest of the country has to wait until 2017
Inside the Bolt’s interior has room for up to five passengers and 16.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, which is more than the BMW i3. The interior also features a “floating” instrument panel with a large 10.2-inch touch control screen and a bright color palette that emphasizes the open passenger environment.
As of right now, Chevy is hoping to start production of the Bolt EV by the end of this year, which is when we should also know the official pricing and performance specs.
All images @ Chevy


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Emirates Skywards adds The Wall Street Journal to list of partners
Emirates Skywards has signed on The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) as its latest partner, enabling members to redeem Miles for an annual digital subscription to the world's leading source of business news.
This is the first time Emirates Skywards has partnered with a global publication to provide an annual digital membership, which will give Emirates Skywards members unlimited digital access to WSJ’s world-leading markets coverage and industry scoops.
Emirates Skywards members, regardless of tier, can redeem an annual digital subscription to The Wall Street Journal for 20,000 Miles, while Platinum members can receive the same annual membership for free. All Emirates Skywards members opting in will be able to enjoy Wall Street Journal Plus (WSJ+), giving unique access to exclusive events and offers.


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On Monday, GM was back at it again, this time recalling an unbelievable 8.5 million vehicles. According to the official GM report, these recalls were necessary because of another faulty ignition switch issue that has been linked to 7 crashes, 8 injuries, and 3 deaths.
In case you were wondering, that is 16 deaths in total that GM has claimed responsibility for this year, which is also just 1 less than Ted Bundy’s impressive resumé. Why is nobody going to prison again???
The vehicles included in the latest recall are:
- The Chevy Malibu: 1997-2005
- The Oldsmobile Intrigue: 1998-2002
- The Oldsmobile Alero: 1999-2004
- The Pontiac Grand Am: 1999-2005
- The Chevrolet Impala: 2000-2005
- The Monte Carlo: 2000-2005
- The Pontiac Grand Prix: 2004-2008
At this point, none of us can be too surprised by the announcement. However, we are all wondering one thing: when will all of this end?
It has now gotten to the point that every few weeks the public can bank on a GM recall. So far this year, GM has recalled approximately 29 million vehicles in North America alone. That’s more than their TOTAL sales from 2005-2013.
For the most recent recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has already issued an important warning to drivers, saying, “[the latest ignition defects] can result in the air bag not deploying in the event of a crash. Until this recall is performed, customers should use only the ignition key with nothing else on the key ring when operating the vehicle.”
Thankfully, GM replaced the entire ignition switch system for the previous recalls from earlier this year. BUT WAIT!!!
For the latest batch, GM has decided that dealers will just fix the problem by converting the slot on the vehicles’ key head to a small hole, which they claim will reduce the potential for swinging key chains to move the ignition out of the run position while cars are being operated.
How about just replacing the whole damn system? Being cheap and trying to cut costs is what caused this entire mess in the first place. In fact, it has been reported time and again that GM has known about many of their recall issues for years, but decided not to act because it would set their profits back considerably. Is that what is happening with this solution, as well?
So far this year, GM- the nation’s largest auto maker- has spent about $1.2 billion on recalls. Judging by their track record over the last few months, though, I’d bet that the number will be even higher very soon.


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PS5 consoles will be made available to pre-order at BDDY.ME and in GameStop stores TODAY: Friday 9/25.
on September 17, PS5 preorders went alive and within seconds it was sold out, making many gamers very upset. With the whole purchasing chaos the official made an apology and promised more consoles are coming.
Some fans are very infuriated about the can’t-buy-it situation.
Wish every gamer can buy the console they desired!


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The Consumer Electronics Show is wrapping up in Las Vegas this week. Every year, tech companies get together to show off all their coolest stuff. Most of it isn’t as cool as they think. However, some trends give us an idea of what we can look forward to from tech in 2016.
High-End Virtual Reality Headsets Launch This Year, If You’re Willing to Pay
The Oculus Rift has been an amazing futuristic toy for early adopters everywhere, but most normal people haven’t really had the chance to use it. HTC is also working with Steam on the Vive, which is also a self-contained VR unit, with the added benefit of a camera, so you can see the real world, with VR elements on top of it. Both should arrive in consumer’s hands this year.
The Oculus Rift will retail for $599 when it starts shipping at the end of March. If you can’t wait, pre-orders opened on Wednesday. This is one of the first high-end VR headsets that will be commercially available. The HTC Vive doesn’t have a release date or pricing yet, but the company says they plan to release it around April 2016 (though it’s worth pointing out they also planned to release it in 2015, so take that for what it’s worth).
Both of these VR headsets will offer the first high-end experience for virtual reality in the home. Up until now, your only other options were the all plastic Samsung Gear VR or do-it-yourself cardboard kits. While these are handy for getting a feel for what VR is, it takes a lot of pixels to render realistic VR, so phone-based VR will never be as high quality as dedicated systems. The Oculus and the Vive are the first that will push this category of devices forward in a meaningful way.
The important question is, do you really want this? At $600, the first edition of the Oculus Rift will be a hard sell for many people. The Oculus Rift also comes with some hefty system requirements. Oculus sells Rift-ready PCs, that are in the $1,000 range. You can probably shave that if you build your own, but don’t expect to buy the Rift without spending a few extra hundred dollars upgrading your system. In the short-term, VR headsets that use your phone are more accessible will continue to be more accessible for the average user.
Once you get it, there’s the question of apps. VR headsets are primarily gaming devices, and graphics-intensive games are notoriously expensive. There’s a reason there are a hundred equally-adequate Flappy Bird clones, but first-person shooters are harder to come by. Developing games for the Oculus will take time. Think of it like the launch of a new console. There will probably be a few big titles when it’s released, but it will take time for a huge library to grow.
Of course, there are non-game uses for VR, too. Oculus already has an app store that, while mostly full of games, has a few non-game uses. You can explore some Street View locations, watch 360 degree YouTube videos, watch drone videos, and even utilize a virtual desktop. Netflix, Hulu, and Twitch also have apps that offer whole viewing experiences inside the headset. While it might sound silly to put on a headset to watch Netflix, it’s a neat personal theater that won’t disturb other people.
This will be a big year for the development of VR, but it’s also hard to come right out and say it will go “mainstream.” The price of entry for high-end, desktop-based systems alone may keep it out of many hands. The fewer people are able to adopt it at the start, the less incentive developers have to make sweet new apps. Valve is working on the Vive, so that’s at least one big developer for that platform, which is great. We’ll see how many others will follow. However, mobile-based VR systems are also becoming widely available, so both early adopters and casual users have something to play with. All of this could mean big things for the VR landscape. Or the whole idea might fizzle and die off once regular people get their hands on it. Either way, if you’re interested in VR, now’s your time.
Cord-Cutters Enter the Golden Age of Internet TV
The Consumer Electronics Show is usually about, what else? Consumer electronics. However, Netflix decided to make an appearance to kick 2016 off by completely owning your entire TV watching habits. To start with, Netflix is now available in 130 new countries (which is to say, most of them), starting this week. That’s a huge new audience. They’re also adding 600 hours of new content this year. For perspective, if you watched two hours of Netflix every day, you’d have new stuff to watch for 25 days of every month of the year. That’s a lot for a company that’s not a TV network. And that’s only the original content. There’s so much that we’ve started keeping track of all the original shows that streaming sites are releasing, and it’s a tall order. If you’re looking to cut cable, there’s never been a better time.
Just in case you were worried Netflix is the only company in the world that can do internet TV well, Sling also announced that its Sling TV service would be getting a new interface. Which is great, since the interface was one of the worst elements of an otherwise decent service. The company is also adding ESPN3 to its existing library which already includes ESPN and ESPN2. That’s three whole ESPNs worth of sports (and in many cases, live sports, the bane of cord cutters everywhere) through the internet!
NBC also jumped into the pool with a comedy-focused service called Seeso. For $4 a month, you can get unlimited access to clips and episodes of shows like Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, and Monty Python. It’s yet another in the long list of narrowly-focused video services. If you’ve ever dreamed of picking and choosing the channels you like to watch and only paying for those, you’re sort of getting your wish.
All of that is just what was announced this week at CES. Over the last year, we got ad-free Hulu, ad-free YouTube, Amazon made a big push into original programming, Crunchyroll has dominated the anime streaming market, and HBO Now finally lets you watch Game of Thrones without a cable package.
Most of us watch at least a few shows, and cable isn’t getting any cheaper. Fortunately, the industry finally seems to grasp what we’ve all been saying for the better part of a decade: the internet is the future of TV. If you’ve been thinking of cutting the cord, there’s never been a better time to do it.
Dumb “Smart” Gadgets Keep Coming, But Some Don’t Suck Now
CES is the place for tech companies to show off their latest “smart” gadget that probably didn’t need to be smart to begin with. To wit, Samsung kicked things off this year with a refrigerator housing a massive touch screen. This was not Samsung’s first smart refrigerator. Unsurprisingly, the promise of a touch screen has not made the whole of America run out and replace their fridges.
The hits don’t stop there. A company called Polar announced a $100 smart scale (which is mostly notable for being the cheapest smart scale yet). Securifi made a wireless router that’s also a security system. This is a 9 volt battery for smoke detectors that can send push notifications to your phone. Here’s a rubber duckie that connects to your phone via Bluetooth to let you know when your child’s bathwater is too hot.
Look, CES is weird, okay? There’s a reason most normal people don’t go, and it’s not because it’s supposed to be “press only.” While some big companies use it as a place to announce their new products, most smaller companies are throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks and announcing vaporware just to make a name for themselves. Some smart things are awesome. Others make you wear out the word “Why?” It’s enough to make you think that all these “smart gadgets” are pointless, and that the phrase “internet of things” is meaningless. Well, okay, it is meaningless, but some things in the smart device world are actually really interesting.
For example, wearables are maturing. Fitbit released a fancy new fitness tracker that actually kind of looks like a watch. Casio announced a rugged Android Wear watch that can, coincidentally, function like a fitness tracker. It’s also specced to handle enough wear and tear to be suitable for military use. Not bad. Wearables, despite many of us having fitness trackers in our pockets for years now, are still a new category, and not everyone agrees on what they’re good for. However, they haven’t died off, and people are actually buying more of them.. Between the interesting (if questionably useful) array of data they can provide, and the mild convenience, wearable devices like smart watches and fitness trackers at least stand out from other needlessly “smart” gadgets.
Bottom line, putting a couple sensors and a wireless connection in something doesn’t immediately make it better. If CES is good at nothing else, it excels at advertising fancy smart gadgets that nobody needs. However, some devices: watches, fitness trackers, connected TVs, and audio systems, are worth making a little smarter. As we move into 2016, we’re getting a better idea of what we do and don’t want from our connected gear, and manufacturers are taking notice. They’re ham-fisting it at first, like they always do, but it’ll settle down, and this year will be the year we start to see the useful separate from the superfluous. If you’ve been skeptical of a device that didn’t used to have a computer in it, but does now for some reason, it might be worth taking a second look. Just don’t wear a smart belt, okay? That’s too far.
Drones Are Cool, Even If You’ll Never Own One
Tech people love talking about drones, and they’re everywhere at CES, despite the fact that most normal humans don’t need them. They’re an admittedly really cool hobby though. However, as drones become more common, the controversies that surround them will start to spill over and affect everyone, in both good and bad ways.
The rules regarding where and when drones can be flown are catching up to the hobby. There have already been issues with drone safety. In one instance, drones prevented emergency services from helping people in burning cars. The Secret Service got involved when someone flew his drone a little too close to the President’s motorcade. Controversies like these have led to small, localized restrictions (or bans) in certain parts of the country.
Towards the end of 2015, the FAA released its first drone regulations. As more people use drones, and more edge cases start popping up, you can look forward to cases that challenge these rules and explore the gray areas. Everything drone-related up until this point has existed in a sort of wild west of regulations. Now we’ll start to see how they integrate into society at large.
This is good, because businesses are ready to start using the capability of drones to offer cooler services. Amazon and Walmart are in a well-advertised race to bring drone delivery to the masses. Some real estate agents are using drones to take pictures of houses, and at least one construction company wants to use drones to oversee outdoor workers. A Chinese company has the crazy idea to use autonomous drones as taxis. And I’m still holding out hope for the Tacocopter.
Even if you don’t want to personally own a drone, chances are good that you or someone you conduct business with will want to use a service that employs drones in the near future. We’re still scratching the surface of what drones—whether remote-controlled or autonomous—can do. This is the year we get to see what happens when the metaphorical rubber of regulation meets the road that those drones are flying above.
Laptops, Tablets, TVs, and Phones Are All Mercifully Boring Now
Every year at CES, companies announce a ton of new laptops, tablets, phones, and TVs. This year that happened, but with one key difference: the updates aren’t all that interesting. This TV with a lot of pixels has a slightly smaller bezel than this other TV with a lot of pixels. Another company made a laptop that looks a bit like a Macbook. Computers are slightly faster than they used to be. Woo.
This is actually kind of a relief. We rely heavily on an increasing number of gadgets that iterate too quickly. Now, the most common pieces of tech in our lives aren’t in as much danger of getting ripped out from under us by obsolescence (planned or otherwise). Of course, throughout the rest of 2016, you’ll no doubt see endless ads about the latest Macbook, Surface, 4K TVs, and smartphones. However, most of these are iterating because tech simply gets better over time. Not because you need to upgrade now. If you’re happy with your basic devices, just enjoy them this year. If you feel like spending some money on a gadget, there are better places to look. All of the interesting trends in tech are going to be outside the realm of basic devices. Like this amazing turntable that Alan is geeking out about.


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Plastic trash is becoming a big problem on land and sea and a company has found a new use for the plastic waste it’s been scooping up in the canals of Amsterdam — office furniture.
The company, Plastic Whale, boasts as being the world’s first plastic fishing company. More than 11,000 people have volunteered to help clean up Amsterdam’s canals since the company began its cleanup effort in 2011. In that time, over 100,000 plastic bottles and 2,000 bags of plastic waste has been removed.
Now Plastic Whale has teamed up with furniture maker Vepa and the Lama design studio to turn all that trash into high-end office furniture. The current lineup consists of a boardroom table, a chair, lamps and acoustic wall panels.
The table top is made from a sandwich of recycled PET, FSC-certified birch ply and metal plating. The bucket seat includes a cast iron base made from waste from the Vepa factory and a pressed and recycled PET felt back. The cushion is made using dust waste and wrapped in a cover fashioned from recycled plastic bottles.
All of the office furniture has been designed in such a way that, at the end of its useful life, it can be broken down for reuse or upcycled to make something new.


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Smuggling remains a problem in battling meth
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona has signed into law a measure that conforms with federal restrictions on sales of medicine containing an element of methamphetamine.
PEOPLE with head colds have been inconvenienced in the past two months by being required to limit their purchases of popular nonprescription medicines. The results are well worth the bother: making it difficult for a person to use the pills to extract an essential ingredient of methamphetamine, an illegal drug that has devastated many families in Hawaii.
Since April 8, pharmacies across the country have been required by federal law to limit a person's purchases of medicines containing pseudoephedrine to 3.6 grams in a single day and 9 grams a month. On Sept. 30, they will have to move the medicines behind a counter, ask the customer for photo identification and keep a logbook of the transactions.
Hawaii's Legislature enacted a weaker law last year allowing up to 9 grams of medicines containing pseudoephedrine for a single day's purchase. This year's session approved legislation that conforms with the new federal law, signed by President Bush in March as part of the USA Patriot Act. Some states have stricter laws; Oregon will require prescriptions for medicines containing the ingredient by July 1.
Drug manufacturers have responded by beginning to replace pseudoephedrine with other ingredients. For example, Pfizer has introduced a version of Sudafed using phenylephrine and is reformulating Benadryl and other products. Johnson & Johnson reportedly is remaking Sudafed, and Wyeth is reformulating Robitussin.
The restrictions will not end the meth epidemic. Eighty percent of meth is smuggled into the country, 65 percent from superlabs in Mexico from chemicals diverted from legitimate streams of commerce. Most of the pseudoephedrine is produced in China, India and Germany.
The pharmacy controls have been effective. Oklahoma was the first state to ban over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine-containing medicines, and it resulted in a 90 percent reduction in the state's lab seizures. However, Oklahoma's seizures of meth originating in Mexico rose nearly fivefold.
Keith Kamita, chief of the state Narcotics Enforcement Division, predicted the new law could reduce the number of meth labs in Hawaii by 75 percent. He said only one such Hawaii lab has been investigated this year, compared with 17 last year.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said last month that he and Mexico's attorney general have agreed on several initiatives that "represent a policy of true mutual cooperation that will put meth and all its horrors firmly on the road to extinction."
Gonzalez said they would "trace precursor chemicals destined for our region of the world, uncover and dismantle lab sites fueled by these chemicals and track the meth distribution trail into our country, from seller to buyer. We will attack these criminals in their labs, on their trafficking routes and in their markets."
Such initiatives must be highly successful in order to put a significant dent in this drastic problem.


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Today’s Nintendo Direct kicked off with a first look at Super Mario Maker 2, coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch this June. No doubt it will be featured heavily at this year’s E3 show. It was wildly successful a few years back with the Nintendo World Championships, so that leads us to wonder if Nintendo will try a repeat event?
This one includes all sorts of new items and tools to play around with, including a bunch of stuff from Super Mario 3D World. You’ll be able to play at Cat Mario and even include see-through pipes. People wondered how a game like this would work without the second touch screen like the 3DS and Wii U had, but it appears Nintendo has rolled with it by completely overhauling the UI!
There’s still a ton we don’t know about the game. One thing that stood out is that the title graphic on their YouTube video shows Mario and Luigi – so maybe it will include some sort of multiplayer angle this time around? No matter what, this one looks like it will provide endless hours of entertainment and we’re highly looking forward to it!
In this new game, a sequel to the original Wii U™ game, players can create the Super Mario courses of their dreams, with access to even more tools, items and features, including the new ability to create slopes for the first time. Super Mario Maker 2 launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch this June.


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The pandemic that has engulfed the world in chaos has infected over 350,000 people globally. During the coronavirus, it has been difficult for marketeers to get their brand across to consumers.
While some campaigns have been called out to be too insensitive, others have been deemed problematic for the ongoing situation, it is great to see the Pakistani brand, English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM) breaking through from the clutter and making its mark impressively.
The confectionery brand has recently announced that they would be moving off the airwaves in order to help and reach out to victims and those affected by COVID-19. The statement EBM has posted says:
“We’re here to nourish resilience”.
It indeed is the need of the hour, at a time when the country needs immense support from its local brands. This means you would not be seeing your favourite biscuits on your television screens for a while, since the brand is redirecting those budgets to help out Pakistan during its fight against COVID-19.
EBM mentions it will be heading into people’s lives, in the camps, clinics, isolation centres and wherever the community wants them to be.
The statement further reads:
“Whether we do that by distributing biscuits or by allocating rations, we’re doing our part to help ease the situation by redirecting and repurposing our advertising budget towards COVID-19 relief and response efforts.”
Here’s what they posted on social media networks!
The initiative by EBM has been met with great appreciation by the public for the efforts the brand is making by showing its social responsibility. The company has shown that they stand steadfast with Pakistan through this crisis and will work with the government to send relief wherever needed.
This is indeed a great initiative and hopefully other local brands will learn a lesson or two from EBM on fulfilling social responsibility to the society.
What do you think of EBM’s latest announcement? Let us know in the comments below.
Follow Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.


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For Dr Seuss it was the Grinch that stole Christmas in order to put an end to the festive cheer of the residents of Whoville. Now modern-day retailers have found their own way to stop Christmas from coming: Black Friday, the discount bonanza that today rivals Advent for its role in the countdown to the big day.
The online US import certainly cast a big shadow over the shops in the run-up to Christmas 2019, and next week we will start to see how some of the high street’s biggest names, from Marks & Spencer to John Lewis and Tesco, traded their way through a choppy landscape of clothing discounts and food discounters.
Analysts say the absence of profit warnings at this stage is encouraging for investors, but expectations are low after two years of effectively recessionary behaviour by UK consumers. Any pockets of exuberance were snuffed out by Next boss Simon Wolfson, who last Friday wisely pointed out: “There isn’t a special Christmas consumer confidence versus the-rest-of-the-year confidence.”
The monthly high street sales barometer produced by consultancy BDO helps sketch out the landscape: it detected only a marginal increase in store sales in December despite what it calls “extreme discounting”.
At the end of the book the Grinch has an epiphany: “What if Christmas … doesn’t come from a store?” Well, British shoppers are in some sort of agreement here too, although not in a spiritual sense: BDO’s survey finds online sales up nearly 25%.
Its retail supremo, Sophie Michael, says: “Black Friday never quite ended. Discounting helps to shift volume and increase footfall but requires retailers to continue trading on thin margins and thin ice.”
Next had cheered investors with its better-than-expected performance, but it has a stellar web operation, and the appearance of Jack Frost in November helped too. Next is the exception – in no small part because of Wolfson – rather than the rule.
So where does that leave high street grande dame M&S? Did shoppers “go jumpers” for its woolly sweaters? The sale rail in my local branch suggests they didn’t, but after several years of chunky declines, analysts think clothing sales will be down by around 1%, which would be an improvement.
There is more optimism in its food halls, which were replete with clementine gin liqueur snowglobes and sticky toffee Christmas puddings. Here sales growth of a similar magnitude is anticipated.
The battle for the Christmas food shop looks, again, to have been won by those pesky German discounters, who played hardball with promotions and price cuts – 15p Brussels sprouts, anyone? Shore Capital analyst Clive Black suggests the festive season was a “bit of a grind” for the major supermarkets, with Tesco the likely winner and Morrison trailing behind.
And what of the travails of the John Lewis group? This time last year, the mutual warned that after a torrid run it was considering suspending its staff bonus – it went on to pay 3% of annual salary, which was the lowest in 66 years. The group’s recent weekly updates have been disappointing, barring a big Black Friday week of trading.
The late surge at Waitrose could have helped make up lost ground, but the veteran retail analyst Nick Bubb is still not convinced: “It’s John Lewis where the main pressure is: Thursday’s update will not make happy reading, even if it may not count as a profit warning.”


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Aldi says it feels ‘angry and let down’ by its supplier after tests revealed some of its frozen ready meal ranges contained up to 100% horse meat.
The meals had been withdrawn earlier this week as a precautionary measure, but the supermarket chain has now confirmed that tests on Today’s Special frozen beef lasagne and frozen spaghetti bolognese found the meals contained between 30% and 100% horse meat.
An Aldi spokesman said: ‘Tests have been completed that show horse meat in the withdrawn products. In samples selected at random, tests demonstrated that the withdrawn products contained between 30% and 100% horse meat.
‘This is completely unacceptable and like other affected companies, we feel angry and let down by our supplier.
‘If the label says beef, our customers expect it to be beef. Suppliers are absolutely clear that they are required to meet our stringent specifications and that we do not tolerate any failure to do so.’
The products came from French supplier Comigel, which also produced the contaminated Findus beef lasagnes.
Aldi also stated it would no longer be stocking any products from Comigel.
‘We have acted quickly to withdraw the affected products from sale, conduct additional testing and review the performance of our suppliers. The products from Comigel will not be sold in our stores again and we will no longer take any product from Comigel,’ Aldi said.
While Aldi confirmed the meals would be tested for veterinary drug phenylbutazone, also known as ‘bute’, the chain said it was ‘confident’ the meals were safe.
Customers who bought the affected products can receive a full refund.
‘We already have rigorous testing systems in place, but clearly we need to do more to ensure that our suppliers are complying with our high standards,’ the spokesman added.
‘Aldi will not tolerate any supplier who fails to comply with our requirements and we will support any appropriate legal action taken against any supplier that knowingly does wrong.’
Meanwhile environment secretary Owen Paterson said it was ‘totally unacceptable’ that processed beef products had been found to contain horse meat.
‘To reassure the public, we are conducting an unprecedented analysis of processed beef products to see how far this either incompetence or negligence, or the criminal conspiracy extends, and we hope to have results by the end of next week,’ he told Sky News.
‘Our eyes are very much open to both possibilities, and the FSA have already started working with the Metropolitan Police, who are also working with other police forces across Europe.
‘If there is an international element to this, and there is a conspiracy across Europe, we need to work very closely with all our partners… I am determined that we will work with every possible agency and get to the bottom of this.’


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A British consumer protection organization Consistency Due to the fact that of the expected Swindle in the PS Store on a compensation payment in the amount of 5 billion pounds . This reports Skies News in Great Britain. According to the claim, nine million customers would certainly have the ability to expect repayments in between 67 as well as 562 British pounds. The case excites memories of the conversation of Epic Games and Apple a long time back.
- Why is Sony taken legal action against?
- payment of 30 % are still commercial criterion
- That would obtain a payment?
Why is Sony taken legal action against?
British consumer supporter Alex Neill claims that Sony utilizes his power on the market as well as releases authors as well as developers unreasonable conditions . As an example, the firm 30 percent in every purchase in the PS Store-Gegal accumulates whether it has to do with the sale of an electronic video game or a microtransaction for in-game web content. According to the lawsuit, this rip-off need to cause the customers and costs have actually been paying far way too much for digital video games for six years.
payment of 30 % are still commercial criterion
Why the customer supporter concentrates specifically on a lawsuit versus Sony is still uncertain currently. The firm also sets Microsoft, Vapor, Apple and also Google-on a continued commercial standard , which is 30 % per acquisition. This high commission was additionally the focus of the court procedures of Epic Gamings and Apple. Alex Neill even launched a site for the case.
That would obtain a payment?
Given that the claim just refers to Fantastic Britain, only consumers on the island would certainly benefit from a potential settlement. In detail, all purchases have been given that the 19. August 2016 Component of the amount of problems of ₤ 5 billion. Until now there is still no statement ** of those liable for Sony.
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A British consumer protection organization Consistency Due to the fact that of the supposed Split off in the PS Store on a compensation payment in the quantity of 5 billion extra pounds . The case excites memories of the conversation of Impressive Games and also Apple some time ago.
British consumer supporter Alex Neill asserts that Sony utilizes his power on the market as well as publishes authors as well as designers unreasonable problems .


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Social media influencers in America might want to pay attention to regulators in the United Kingdom watching them closely as they’ve become rather big business. The FTC stepped in several years ago to make sure that social media influencers weren’t tricking their followers by not disclosing they were plugging brands while getting paid for it. While many still tempt fate by not disclosing that special #ad tag, it will catch up to them.
Since Instagram has become advertisers favorite social media for influencers, they are the first to really step in to better regulate things. It’s good as both Twitter and Facebook really suck at it. It’s very easy to slip product and advertising in without ever getting caught. You can see many accounts doing this every day. With Instagram and the UK stepping up on social media influencers, it will eventually come over to America. You have been warned.
British regulators said Friday that Instagram will clamp down on “hidden advertising” by social media influencers.
The Competition and Markets Authority said Instagram’s owner Facebook has committed to tightening policies to restrict influencers who don’t disclose they’re being paid to promote businesses on its platform.
It’s part of an investigation into the influencer industry the watchdog launched two years ago. Regulators are concerned that Instagram wasn’t doing enough under consumer protection laws to stop hidden advertising, which is illegal in the U.K. They want to make it harder to mislead people with posts that aren’t labeled as ads.
Influencers are online personalities with thousands of followers who can earn hefty fees from brands for endorsing or reviewing their products or services.
“These changes mean there will be no excuse for businesses to overlook how their brands are being advertised either – making life a lot harder for those who are not upfront and honest with their followers,” CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said.
Under the new policy, Instagram will ask users to confirm if they’re getting a reward for promoting a product or service and if they are, make them disclose it clearly.
The company will also start using technology and algorithms to spot users who haven’t clearly revealed that their posts are advertisements, and then report those users to the businesses they’re promoting.
Instagram is also opening up its “paid partnership” tool, so that any user can display a label at the top of a post.
The changes apply to all U.K.-based users as well as anyone globally who is targeting Instagram users in the U.K.
As part of its investigation, the competition authority last year secured formal commitments from 16 celebrities, including singers Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora, to label any posts that involved payments for or gifts of products they were pitching.
When social media tries to please everyone, they can wind up going too far, and it appears that Twitter is stepping up to say they might have overreacted to the New York Post story about Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
Twitter was wrong to block weblinks to an unverified political story, CEO Jack Dorsey said on Friday, as the company responded to criticism over its handling of the story that had prompted cries of censorship from the right.
“Straight blocking of URLs was wrong, and we updated our policy and enforcement to fix,” he tweeted. “Our goal is to attempt to add context, and now we have capabilities to do that.”
After initially blocking people from sharing links to the story Wednesday, on Friday Twitter was letting its users to post the link. It served as demonstration of how quickly things can change when it comes to social media, misinformation and the coming U.S. election as companies try to navigate unprecedented times.
Dorsey was weighing in after an executive at the social media company announced changes late Thursday to its policy on hacked content following an onslaught of criticism.
Twitter will no longer remove hacked material unless it’s directly shared by hackers or those working with them, the company’s head of legal, policy, trust and safety, Vijaya Gadde, said in a Twitter thread.
And instead of blocking links from being shared, tweets will be labeled to provide context, Gadde said.
“We want to address the concerns that there could be many unintended consequences to journalists, whistleblowers and others in ways that are contrary to Twitter’s purpose of serving the public conversation,” she said.
Twitter and Facebook had moved quickly this week to limit the spread of the story published by the conservative-leaning New York Post, which cited unverified emails from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s son that were reportedly discovered by President Donald Trump’s allies. The story has not been confirmed by other publications.
San Francisco-based Twitter initially responded by banning users from sharing links to the article in tweets and direct messages because it violated the company’s policy prohibiting hacked content. But it didn’t alert users about why they couldn’t share the link until hours later.
But by Friday, people were free to post the links again. Twitter said that was because the “once-private” information in the article is now “widely available” in the press and on other platforms.
Dorsey had first tweeted that it was “unacceptable” the company hadn’t provided more context around its action. A little over 24 hours later, Gadde announced the company was making changes after receiving “significant feedback (from critical to supportive)” about how it enforced the policy.
Facebook said it was “reducing” the story’s distribution on its platform while waiting for third-party fact-checkers to verify it, something it regularly does with material that’s not banned outright from its service, though it risks spreading lies or causing harm in other ways.
Trump is now incorporating Twitter’s action into his campaign rallies, pleading with his supporters to send a message on Election Day to what he described as “censors.”
“We’re not just running against Joe Biden. We’re running against left-wing media and we’re running against big tech,” Trump said.


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CTI Tool Launch: A big step towards a circular future
Yesterday marked a milestone for businesses and sustainability frontrunners worldwide.
Together with the WBCSD, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, we celebrated the launch of the CTI Tool: an online tool that will help businesses across industries speak the same language whilst measuring their Circular Transition Indicators.
The CTI Tool was developed in partnership with the WBCSD to complete the Circular Transition Indicators framework, and support companies worldwide in assessing and accelerating their circularity. The tool brings transparency, efficiency, and collaboration into the transition towards a circular economy while leveraging the power of digitization and smart software solutions in supporting companies worldwide. As it helps organizations generate better insights from their own data, the CTI tool also allows users to collaborate with stakeholders from their own organization as well as partners from the value chain.
During a time of global climate crisis and the need for urgent and effective change, the CTI Tool, alongside the CTI framework, emerges as a milestone in the transition towards a restorative and regenerative circular economy. More so, it will also help businesses grow and model their sustainable initiatives while becoming game-changers within their industry.


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Our New Village Shop and
Part-time Post Office Service
After over 40 years service to Troutbeck's community, Susan and Pam Black have now closed their shop and begun a well-deserved retirement in their new home in Windermere.
The good news is that Carly and Gareth Harding have now moved in to take their place looking after the Village Institute, and they've got exciting plans for a brand new Village Tea Room and Shop.
Carly and Gareth have run Rattle Ghyll Cafe in Ambleside for the last few years, and we can't wait to enjoy their lovely home baking in our very own tea room.
In the meantime building work is now well under way for the new tea room, and Carly and Gareth have re-opened a temporary village shop whilst construction is going on next door.


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Microsoft’s focus on the cloud continues to pay off. The tech titan showed growth across all its cloud-based businesses during the last quarter ended Dec. 31, including Office, Dynamics and Azure.
Reporting financial results for its fiscal second quarter on Thursday, the company said its Commercial Cloud business is pulling in revenue at the rate of $14 billion per year. During the previous quarter, that rate was $13 billion.
Azure growth was especially strong. Azure compute usage more than from a year earlier, and revenue from the business grew by 93 percent.
Overall, Microsoft’s revenue and profit grew year over year. The company reached nearly $24.1 billion in total sales, with net income of $5.2 billion. That’s up from roughly $23.8 billion in revenue and slightly more than $5 billion in net income during the same period in 2015.
The PC market also showed strength during the quarter. Sales of premium Windows devices gained market share during the quarter, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood said during a conference call.
While much of its business did well during the quarter, Microsoft’s near abandonment of Windows smartphones remained a drag on its finances. Phone revenue fell off a cliff during the quarter, with revenue down 81 percent compared with a year earlier.
The company’s Enterprise Services revenue declined 4 percent after growing for three quarters. Microsoft blamed the reversal on businesses ending their custom support agreements for Windows Server 2003. Microsoft officially ended support for that server software in 2015, but some customers buy extended support under custom contracts.
The results didn’t reveal much about the impact of LinkedIn on Microsoft’s business, because the $27 billion acquisition of the enterprise social networking company didn’t close until about three weeks before the end of the quarter. Microsoft said LinkedIn had $228 million in revenue during that period and lost $100 million.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the biggest job for LinkedIn going forward will be to add users and increase engagement. To that end, Microsoft will focus on quick integration between LinkedIn and products like Office and Dynamics.


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California governor signs fur sales, circus performance bans
Saturday, 12 October 2019 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California will ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products and bar most animals from circus performances under a pair of bills signed Saturday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Under the first-in-the-nation fur law, residents will no longer be able to sell or make clothing, shoes or handbags made of fur starting in 2023. California is the third state to ban most animals from circus performances, joining New Jersey and Hawaii.
Animal rights groups cheered the fur ban as a stand against inhumane practices. The proposal was vigorously opposed by the billion-dollar U.S. fur industry, and the Fur Information Council of America has already threatened to sue.
It follows Newsom's signing of legislation that makes California the first state to outlaw fur trapping, and follows bans on sales of fur in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The new doesn't apply to used fur products or fur used for religious or tribal purposes. And it excludes the sale of leather, dog and cat fur, cowhides, deer, sheep and goat skin and anything preserved through taxidermy.
It could mark a significant blow to the fur industry that makes products from animals including mink, chinchillas, rabbits and other animals. The U.S. retail fur industry brought in $1.5 billion in sales in 2014, the most recent data available from the Fur Information Council.
Fashion designers including Versace, Gucci and Giorgio Armani have stopped or say they plan to stop using fur.
Under the new California law there is a fine of up to $1,000 for multiple violations.
"Given the overwhelming evidence of inhumane practices in the fur industry and the availability of so many different options for warm and fashionable fabrics, we will not continue to be complicit in unnecessary cruelty," Democratic Assemblywoman...
California will be the first state to ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products and the third to bar most animals from circus performances under a pair of bills signed Saturday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Katie Johnston reports.


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BONCAFE, BEING AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS BUDDY TO YOU
21-24 November 2019 – Boncafe (Thailand) took parts in one of this year’s largest exhibition, the 14th Makro HoReCa 2019 under the theme “The Culinary Passion” to celebrate Makro’s 30th years of being beside the customers with creativity and sustainability. The event was held at the IMPACT Exhibition Hall 6-7, Muang Thong Thani. In respondent of the dealers’ demands, the exhibition displayed a wide range of equipments and materials for the food industry along with several products from Boncafe that were especially selected to serve the attendees needs with both promotion and giveaway items from the coffee products, Fruit Teas, Bontea Mix, Bon Tea, and Bon Brown Tea. Boncafe aimed to create new business opportunities and revenues for the business owners, while also attracting new entrepreneurs that are looking forward to start their own business. Boncafe gain positive response from the dealers that attended the booth with many interests on Boncafe products and merchandise, especially the Thai made Ice Coffee Blend that was shelved exclusively at Makro.
Boncafe also held a special workshop activity for the attendees to learn how to create Mixology drinks from our experienced trainer while also distributing souvenirs to the booth visitors. Moreover, the Boncafe Milky Sauce was debuted at the exhibition as a giveaway item to every customer that purchased more than 200 THB from Boncafe products. The new product will be official sold later at Makro stores all over the country.


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* The hotel, ARTIC's first in Istanbul, is a 'distinctive addition' to company's investment portfolio, says its chairman
Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTIC) has announced the opening of the Sheraton Istanbul City Center Hotel, the "latest addition to the company's growing" investment portfolio.
Located in the vibrant Beyoglu district in the European side of Istanbul, Sheraton Istanbul City Center Hotel features some 254 spacious guestrooms, a restaurant and a lobby lounge, as well as seven meeting rooms, including a 702 sq m ballroom, and a Sheraton Club Lounge.
Facilities also include a gym, an indoor swimming pool and spa, and a Turkish Hammam. The Hotel has been awarded the “LEED or New Construction” Gold certificate by the US Green Building Council.
HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, chairman, ARTIC, said, “It is my great pleasure today to announce the opening of Sheraton Istanbul City Center Hotel. This is ARTIC’s first acquisition in Istanbul, one of the world’s prominent cities which also enjoys a distinctive investment climate for foreign investment. This wonderful hotel is a distinctive addition to ARTIC’s investment portfolio and an important milestone in our development and expansion.”
Qatar and Turkey enjoy strong economic ties based on trade exchange. These ties have lately seen great prosperity in various fields of economic activities, including manufacturing, food and beverage products, military equipment and tourism. We are proud to help strengthen strategic relations between Qatar and Turkey, as well as our growing relationship with Marriott International, allowing us to provide exceptional experiences in the cities where we operate.”
Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal al-Thani, vice-chairman, ARTIC, said, “ARTIC’s acquisition of Sheraton Istanbul City Center fits perfectly with our investment strategy in terms of location and commercial strength, and I am confident that this new addition will add value to both our existing portfolio and to the local community. We are pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Marriott International and we expect to be able to soon announce another collaboration in the Turkish market.”
Tarek el-Sayed, chief executive officer and managing director, ARTIC said, “We are delighted to announce the opening of Sheraton Istanbul City Center Hotel. The hotel was operating under a local brand and was classified as four stars. After ARTIC acquired it during the second quarter of 2019, we successfully completed a complete renovation process which led to the hotel achieving a five-star classification and operating under the Sheraton brand, one of the most trusted brands in the hospitality industry.
“Increasing operational efficiency in our assets with continuous investment through development and refurbishment works, as well as our commitment to a prudent investment strategy that focuses on location and asset quality, are some of the factors that make ARTIC a preferred partner amongst the world’s leading operators. We will continue to seek opportunities which support our growth strategies and create added value for all our stakeholders.”
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Opec+ agrees to adjust oil production target and redistribute cuts
EU’s new trade chief warns of persistent Brexit economic risks
US job growth increases by most in 10 months in Nov
Japan cosmetic giant Shiseido gambles on ‘Made in Japan’
‘China to keep 2020 growth within reasonable range’
China to waive tariffs on some US goods in goodwill gesture
SoftBank opens ‘Beyond AI’ Institute in Tokyo to hasten research
Samsung takes on iPhone with major 2020 camera overhaul
Trade hopes lift Asian bourses, but investors eye deadline


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On the other hand, the expansion of global and national super markets exerts increasing influence over what people eat and how that food is produced. Cheap packaged and processed food is replacing healthier daily meals influencing the health of the people.
As a resistance to the changing situations, which are not favourable to the small holder farmers livelihoods or to the overall health of the citizens, a number of peoples movements emerged, both at the national as well as at the international levels. For example La Via Campesina, an international peasants’ movement, has been fighting for restoring food sovereignty. Similarly, we find local initiatives such as The Anna Swaraj Abhiyan , by Navdanya, which was launched to connect producers to consumers and the village with the town in direct links through safe, fresh, local and fair food.
In this issue we would like to capture the full range of experiences – from agroecological practices on farms to emerging scientific insights, to linking producers and consumers and participating in movement and alliance building. We want to capture how local initiatives are leading to changes at national and international levels. What are people doing to claim and build their own food sovereignty? What strategies have farmers, fisher people and consumers developed to create space for themselves in the context of large multinationals, agribusiness, and strict regulatory measures that are not in favour of small producers? How are local experiences shaping and being shaped by global initiatives?
Articles for the March 2017 issue of LEISA India should be sent to the Editors before 31st January 2017. Email: firstname.lastname@example.org


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Interdealer, ICAP, has announced that it has filed an application with the CFTC to be a Swap Execution Facility (SEF) in compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act. According to the firm, ICAP plans on operating a SEF across multiple assets,including interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, equity derivatives, commodities, and NDFs. The SEF will be operated using a request for quote and central limit order book system, as well as offering block trade capabilities, electronic crossing and execution via brokers. The SEF will be headquartered in New Jersey.
With the news, ICAP becomes the latest firm, among a growing list of companies that have applied for SEF status from the CFTC. While essentially electronic trading platforms, the SEFs apply central clearing and pre and post trade credit monitoring to meet Dodd-Frank rules.
$100,000 Battle: PrimeXBT Debuts New Contests ModuleGo to article >>
Heading the ICAP SEF is John Nixon, Group Executive Director, Americas at ICAP, who was appointed Chairman, CEO and President of the SEF. Commenting on the news, Nixon stated in ICAP’s public statement that “the filing of our SEF application is a milestone for our organization, but it is also very much a logical evolution of our longstanding efforts to serve the needs of the OTC derivatives marketplace. Since its foundation, ICAP has developed marketplaces designed to provide its customers with effective and efficient means to take and manage risk. ICAP has invested heavily in technology that has permitted it to offer customers the ability to execute transactions on a fully electronic basis, or with the assistance of a broker. With our expertise and experience in operating regulated markets, the quality of our technology and the depth of our customer relationships, we look forward to our SEF serving as a leading facility for the trading of swaps in the new regulated landscape.”