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Recently, at the Credit Suisse 2013 Technology Conference, EA CEO Andrew Wilson had a few things to say about Sony and Microsoft's new consoles. Wilson said that, in a few years' time, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will be facing "stiff competition" from companies like Google and Apple.
Hit the jump to read the full quote.
RPG fans, get hyped. Namco Bandai has started counting down to the reveal of the next Tales of game. In just six days, we'll most likely get the first shots of the new main characters, as well as the game's title, and maybe even a target release. Don't bet on it being soon, though, since Tales of Xillia just came out earlier this year, and both Tales of Symphonia Chronicles, (an HD remastering of Tales of Symphonia and its Wii sequel) and Tales of Xillia 2 are coming out in early 2014.
The Tales of series has been a favorite of RPG fans everywhere since it saw its first release in the 1990s. It's nice to see Namco Bandai still supporting it, and it seems now the series is becoming a stable American release for the company. Be sure to come back in a few days to see everything the reveal has to offer.
Here's more information from the Siliconera interview with Reggie Fils-Aime! While Reggie said that the Wii Remote is the "most significant gaming innovation in a decade", another question was asked regarding the DS. How does the completely different play style and concept of the DS appear in the 3DS? Reggie answered this question by not actually answering the question.
When you released the DS, you had an entirely different idea of play style in mind. How does that concept manifest itself in the 3DS?
"So here’s what’s interesting. The question that you asked me is 'what was the single biggest innovation in the video game industry in the past decade?' If you would have asked the question differently, 'during my tenure, what was the gaming system that arguably has redefined the industry,' I would’ve said the [Nintendo] DS. Because if you think about it, it was the first system that had a touch screen, a built in microphone—and 'the types of games that that enabled?' You know, in many ways, it’s the forefront of what’s happening now with mobile and touch and things of that nature. 'The system that sold over 150 million globally?'" — Reggie Fils-Aime
In what was quite an interesting and informative interview with Reggie Fils-Aime by Siliconera, Reggie revealed to us his thoughts on the company, games, and the effect fans have on the decisions of Nintendo of America. While many questions were asked and answered, one stood out to me; it asked what the most significant gaming innovation of the past decade was. Reggie's answer was, of course, the Wii Remote.
What would you say is the most significant innovation in gaming in the past decade?
"It’s gotta be the Wii Remote. The Wii Remote introduced a completely new style of play that arguably set an industry standard for motion controls, and let the consumer experience games in an entirely new way. The thing, I think, that’s really set Nintendo apart from the competition is its focus on new styles of play. We’re always looking for ways to innovate, ways to bring new and fun experiences to the consumer. In the end, it’s all about the software, and all about how you experience that software—and controllers have a huge effect on that." — Reggie Fils-Aime
Hardware manufacturer Nvidia may have found itself left out from this console cycle, with PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Wii U all touting AMD graphics, but that doesn’t mean they're out of the gaming loop; some of the most powerful graphics cards exist on the PC platform, and are produced by Nvidia. In an interview with MCV, Nvidia consumer sales manager Matt Wright claims that the PC platform is superior to any of its competitors, citing the added utility of a desktop computer as a benefit.
“The PC platform is far superior to any console when it comes to gaming, plus you get all the extra functionality that a computer brings.” – Matt Wright
Moreover, Wright also spoke about Valve’s SteamOS and PCs as living-room replacements to consoles, but you’ll have to hit the jump to read about that!
A few weeks back, we reported that two Dutch retailers had updated their stock with two brand-new 2DS bundles, coming with Pokémon Y and X respectively. Now, we can report that the devices will hit store shelves in America as well, with the two bundles coming out tomorrow, December 6th. US Retailer Target will stock its stores with a red 2DS that comes pre-installed with Pokémon X, while Toys R Us will sell a blue 2DS, pre-installed with Pokémon Y.
Have you yet to pick a member of the 3DS family, and if so, will this bundle convince you to do so? Share some of your thoughts in the comments!
For those of you who don’t know, GameSpot's Danny O'Dwyer hosts a weekly show called The Point, where he picks apart and analyzes hot topics within the past week or so. This week, Danny analyzes how the Wii U has been doing as of late. He argues that the Wii U has finally managed to collect enough software to have a good library of games, but it still doesn’t seem to be enough.
Want to know why? Check out the video after the break!
Last February, Nintendo announced that 2013 would officially be the Year of Luigi! In 2013, we got games like Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, New Super Luigi U, and even Luigi Bros. and dozens of little 8-bit Luigis running all around Super Mario 3D World, all to celebrate the history of Mario's less-famous younger brother. But if you thought that your Luigi fix would be coming to an end in 2013, you were sorely mistaken. According to Reggie Fils-Aime, the Year of Luigi will actually extend into 2014.
"There are some Year of Luigi activities that will continue into 2014—including some of the special products that we’ve launched (the Luigi remote and the Mario and Luigi 3DS XL)—so there will be some Luigi products to carry the Luigi banner into the next calendar year." — Reggie Fils-Aime
Some are joking that this should be called the "Fiscal Year of Luigi." Some are saying "the Decade of Luigi." But no, folks, welcome to The Glorious Age of Luigi. All hail The Green Lord.
Rare Ltd. is one of the most famous game developers in the industry. Founded over 28 years ago and still going Strong, Rare has a lot of history behind them. Perhaps the most famous event at Rare was the acquisition from Microsoft after Nintendo sold their 49% stake in the company. But against what many have said and heard up until now, two Rare employees have recently revealed that they believe Microsoft was actually a healthy change for the company.
"I think there is a level of professionalism and project management that has ingressed here that we didn’t have so much before. The industry has changed—it really is an industry now, and there is so much more to developing a hit title than simply writing something that you thought was cool. I think we’ve grown up." — Paul Machacek
Head past the jump to see what Gregg Mayles, an employee of Rare since 1990 had to say!
Call of Duty is, regardless of how you feel, one of the best selling series year in and year out. But this year, the new installment Call of Duty: Ghosts only had the third biggest launch of the year behind GTA V and FIFA 14. However, sales of the game are down 50% from Black Ops 2.
When asked if the series was suffering from franchise fatigue, Activision's publishing boss Eric Hirshberg had a lot to say and started off his answer with a simple "no."
Hit the jump to read the rest of Hirshberg's thoughts.


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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - If worker shortages weren't already enough of a struggle for small businesses, now cracks in the supply chain industry are causing concern about getting product.
From restaurants to boutiques, business owners in Dallas' Bishop Arts District say they're finding necessities out of stock or stuck in transit, which on the back end are driving up prices.
"It's a mess, and there's no quick fix," said Brenton Phillips, Co-Founder of the Tribal All day Café. "Prices have definitely increased, and they seem to still be increasing."
Despite trying not to, he's had to slightly increase menu prices to compensate.
And he's not alone.
According to the USDA Consumer Price Index, the cost for restaurant purchases went up almost 5% from August of 2020 to August of 2021.
To put that in perspective, a $10 meal, would now cost you $10.50.
And though that may not seem significant, experts say think of it being added to all of your purchases.
"Unfortunately, I think costs are going to go up. We are going to be facing some inflation," said Dave Malenfant, a TCU supply chain expert.
He says it's a ripple effect of issues that stemmed before the pandemic, but has worsened because of it. And unfortunately, he says it's hitting all types of businesses.
Katy Sensenig Schilthuis is the Owner of Mosaic Makers Collective in Bishop Arts.
Her store sells locally made goods.
So far she says she hasn't had price increases just yet, but those who make her goods, have.
"For example, we have makers who print from paper and use plastic sleeves to hold their cards, and those are missing," Schilthuis said. "We have shipping from China that never made it, and they can't find the plastic we need anymore."
In the short term, business that rely on the holiday season are trying their best to order ahead and be prepared.
But unfortunately, experts say the current state of the supply chain backlog could stick around until spring of 2022.
"I am not optimistic, that It will get corrected before Christmas, or before the holiday season," Malenfant said.
for more features.

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May 12, 2021
German automaker BMW is revealing how it created a unique driving sound for its electrified BMW M cars with the help of an Academy Award-winning composer.
In a short vignette, film score composer Hans Zimmer and Renzo Vitale, creative director of sound at the BMW group, embark on a meaningful journey to develop a sound that matches the emotional, cinematic experience of the electric M vehicles. BMW M models are the automaker’s high-performance vehicles, so a distinctive driving sound is integral to the upcoming electrified models.
“This video spells out spells out BMW's intention to be somewhat experimental with the sounds of future all-electric BMW M vehicles, which is intriguing,” said David Undercoffler, editor in chief at Autolist.com, San Francisco. “Automakers like Porsche and BMW have for decades been revered for their cars' distinct engine and exhaust notes; they told your ears what brand of vehicle it was long before you saw it.
“With the move into electrification, these brands are struggling a bit with how to maintain a similar identity when the vehicles are inherently silent, or nearly silent,” he said. “Thus, you see Audi, Porsche and now BMW making a point to show the world that their electric vehicles will be just as engaging as the gas cars on which they built their reputation.”
The video begins with aerial views of Los Angeles and Munich. A series of shots are then spliced together, including a man walking, a sound system and two clouds of the color red permeating a black background.
Mr. Vitale’s voiceover then begins.
BMW works to create the driving sound took coincides with the exciting experience of an M vehicle
“M is a type of car which goes in the blood of people,” he says, immediately establishing the thoughtful approach of the video.
Suspenseful music plays in the background as the shot cuts to Mr. Zimmer at a computer. He explains they are composing a sound that is a beast in itself, yet still has precision — the overall ethos of an M vehicle.
The entire video is highly cinematic, with additional closeups of a hand manipulating a stereo and music-composition tools, keyboards and computers as Mr. Vitale explains how they are creating a sound that coincides with the extremely physical yet emotional experience of riding in an M vehicle.
“When you are pressing the pedal of an M car, you suddenly have goosebumps all over your body,” he says. “It’s something that shuts down your head and is a pure, emotional feeling.”
The shot cuts back-and-forth between Mr. Vitale and Mr. Zimmer explaining their thought processes, as additional dramatic shots including birds flying together, the moon and more play in between.
Mr. Zimmer talks about how he and the automaker asked themselves how they could produce a sound that was unlike any experience consumers may have had in a non-electric car before. The composer wonders aloud how he can make the M vehicle experience even more exciting and joyful with this sound creation.
The shot then cuts to Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Vitale together in a studio, discussing the project and experimenting. Mr. Vitale explains that he aimed to have those who stepped into the M vehicle experience an explosion of sound.
The BMW creative director of sound adds that they wanted to create a sound texture that could simultaneously express force, a fusion between strength and a flowing energy.
Mr. Zimmer then adds that they are aiming to have the sound represent the willingness for something new and adventure that is inherent in the M vehicle and its drivers.
Sound and song of the future
Mr. Zimmer has collaborated with BMW and other automakers on composition and musical efforts in the past.
In 2018, Mr. Zimmer created a musical score inspired by a drive in a 2018 Range Rover along the Angeles Crest Highway. While adventure is central to Land Rover’s brand messaging, this was a more upscale take for the automaker as it captured the emotion of riding in its vehicles (see story).
Last August, Mr. Zimmer was a guest for the second episode of BMW’s Play Next podcast which highlights new artists and covers challenges facing the music industry. In his episode, Mr. Zimmer discussed the evolution of music production (see story).
BMW is among the premium and luxury automakers continuing to innovate and invest in electric vehicles, without sacrificing style, speed and even sound.
“The new trend in electric vehicles is performance, as we are seeing luxury automakers release high-performance EVs to compete with Tesla,” said Julie Blackley, communications manager at iSeeCars, Boston. “This BMW M video helps usher in the next generation of electric vehicles that are aimed to win over car enthusiasts who equate performance with loud brawny engines.”


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28 Apps in 28 Days: Every day this month, we’re launching a new connected service on Zapier.
New support help desk Snappy is now one of 280-plus connected apps on Zapier, meaning there are new ways to track tickets, communicate with your team, and provide a better customer experience.
From saving tickets, to creating notifications, adding team wall posts and even creating tickets from a web form, the possibilities of Snappy on Zapier are endless. Here are a few examples of some of the neat things you can do with the new Snappy integration. For more, check out the Snappy Zapbook page.
Get updates about new apps, triggers and actions available on Zapier.


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|Bid||24.54 x 800|
|Ask||24.55 x 1000|
|Day's Range||24.24 - 24.76|
|52 Week Range||15.28 - 30.63|
|Beta (3Y Monthly)||0.78|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||22.77|
|Earnings Date||May 29, 2019|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||0.80 (2.68%)|
|1y Target Est||24.50|
Dollar Tree's (DLTR) margin in first-quarter fiscal 2019 might be hurt by higher cost pressures. However, its store optimization program is commendable.
Foot Locker (FL) posts lower-than-expected first-quarter results. Management now anticipates high-single digit increase in earnings per share for the fiscal year.
While Deckers' (DECK) Q4 earnings increase year over year, revenues decline from the year-ago period. The company also did not provide an encouraging view.
Ulta Beauty (ULTA) is expected to gain on strong omnichannel efforts and solid loyalty program in Q1. However, high SG&A costs are a worry.
Persistent softness at Gap's (GPS) namesake brand may hurt first-quarter fiscal 2019 comps performance. Nevertheless, growth initiatives such as the expansion of omni-channel capabilities are encouraging.
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, May 23, 2019 -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) today reported that on May 22, 2019, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of.
Abercrombie (ANF) possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Nordstrom (JWN) posts lower-than-expected earnings and sales in first-quarter fiscal 2019. The company also lowers its view for the fiscal year.
Urban Outfitters' (URBN) first-quarter net sales showed a marginal improvement but earnings fell sharply from the year-ago period.
DICK'S Sporting (DKS) is grappling with soft margins, which may continue in first-quarter fiscal 2019. Nevertheless, its efforts to boost omni-channel capabilities are encouraging.
Foot Locker (FL) is trying to improve performance through operational and financial initiatives. This is likely to favorably impact first-quarter results.
Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
Abercrombie (ANF) might move higher on growing optimism about its earnings prospects, which is reflected by its upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy).
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) closed the most recent trading day at $26.14, moving +0.27% from the previous trading session.
Deckers (DECK) has been grappling with falling sales from the Sanuk Brand. Management has guided that sales from the brand will be down in mid-single digit in fiscal 2019.
PVH Corp (PVH) gains from its diversified brand portfolio, particularly the Tommy Hilfiger brand. This is likely to drive results in first-quarter fiscal 2019.
Abercrombie (ANF) witnesses strength on the back of multiple endeavors that include planned capital investments and cost-saving efforts as well as loyalty and marketing programs.
Ross Stores' (ROST) store-expansion efforts are likely to drive its top line in first-quarter fiscal 2019. However, higher freight costs remain a persistent concern.
In the latest trading session, Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) closed at $26.01, marking a -0.31% move from the previous day.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is doing away with the chief operating officer position as part of the company's ongoing restructuring effort. Joanne Crevoiserat has been in the COO role since 2017 and will "leave the company following a short transition period," the company said in a news release. "Joanne has been a key partner in our transformation journey over these past five years, helping stabilize the business and embed transformation across the organization," CEO Fran Horowitz said in a the release.
Abercrombie (ANF) has an impressive earnings surprise history and currently possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely beat in its next quarterly report.
announced a corporate governance restructuring that will eliminate the role of chief operating officer and streamlines the retailer's corporate governance structure. Current Chief Operating Officer Joanne Crevoiserat will leave the company following a short transition period that also will see the company's chief financial officer, chief information officer, head of global supply chain, and head of the transformation management office report directly to the CEO.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Tuesday Chief Operating Officer Joanne Crevoiserat will leave the company, as the apparel retailer has decided to eliminate the COO role. Crevoiserat joined the company as chief financial officer in May 2014, and has been COO since February 2017. The company's decision to eliminate the COO role is part of its effort to streamline the organization during its "transforming while growing" phase. "Based of our company-wide transformation initiatives, and the continuing focus on driving additional agility and efficiency throughout the business, we have decided to eliminate the COO role," said Chief Executive Fran Horowitz. The stock, which was still inactive in premarket trade, has rallied 30.1% year to date, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has lost 5.2% and the S&P 500 has gained 12.2%.


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Car clubs are essential the preservation of classic vehicles on our roads, it takes a lot of effort and attention to detail to keep these older vehicles running, let alone the patience needed sourcing parts when the inevitable happens and something breaks!
We’re thrilled that Car Club Square has grown in 2018 and we can provide more space to the enthusiastic clubs and their best models.
Many of the top marques – including Audi, BMW, Corvette, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Porsche and Rover – will be well represented with many showcasing standout models on their bespoke displays.
As previously announced, the Jaguar XJS Club will be presenting a unique XJ-S Cabriolet specially commissioned for Diana, Princess of Wales. Produced in 1983, this illustrious XJ-S comes with a pair of small rear seats for her two young Princes, William and Harry.
The TVR Club is also celebrating open top motoring, marking an important milestone in the Blackpool-based sportscar company’s history. It’s now 40 years since the launch of the company’s first convertible, the TVR 3000S, in 1978. Likewise, the theme of the Bristol Owners’ Club dazzling display will be ‘dropheads’ with a pair of rarely seen one-off models under the spotlight on its noteworthy stand.
The Kent branch of the Ferrari Owners’ Club has big plans, too. It will be flaunting a totally original 288GTO plus a mint Boxer BBi, one of only 42 right-hand-drive imported to the UK.
Another very special supercar – albeit a contemporary classic – will take pole position on the Aston Martin Owners Club display. It is one of a limited edition of just ten Vanquish S RAF Red Arrows models commissioned to raise awareness and donations for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Those with a passion for all things Ford will also be out in force. The RS Owners Club is celebrating 50 years of the MK1 Escort Twin Cam while the Capri Mk1 Owners’ Club three very special models, topped by a very scarce South African produced Capri Perana powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine sourced from the contemporary Ford Mustang.
With a reputed membership numbering more than any other single marque car club in the world, it is no surprise to see a sizable MG Owners’ Club presence in Car Club Square. Its display will include the famous ex-factory MGB that Paddy Hopkirk and Andrew Hedges raced at Le Mans in 1965. More recently the car (DRX 255C) was owned by renowned MG stalwart Barry Sidery-Smith who sadly passed away last summer. As a fitting tribute to him, the iconic MGB will be returning to Le Mans in June.
“Whether its displaying these truly special cars or just sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with show goers, the presence of these passionate car clubs really adds yet another key dimension to the visitor experience,” enthused Bas Bungish, Event Director. “Since being introduced three years ago, Car Club Square has expanded enormously and it is now an integral part of what’s the greatest gathering of classic cars ever seen at ExCeL.”


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During Computex 2021, G.Skill has announced a couple of new memory kits featuring its regal-looking Trident Z Royal Elite heatsinks. Available with super tight primary latencies of CL14, the new Trident Z Royal Elite kits will be available in DDR4-4000 and DDR4-3600, with various capacities available, including 16, 32, 64, and 128 GB kits. There are many different parts of a system that can add varying levels of aesthetic glamor, including the motherboard, CPU cooler, fans, anything with RGB on it, but almost everything struggles to be as bling as G.Skills Trident Z Royal Elite memory. Launched back in April, the G.Skill Trident Z Royal Elite comes available in gold and silver. Both color variants feature eight customizable RGB LED lighting zones, with a patented...
Perhaps more widely known for its array of NVIDIA based graphics cards, American based company PNY has announced its latest product, the XLR8 Gaming Epic-X RGB DDR4 memory. Built...27 by Gavin Bonshor on 7/14/2020
HyperX has unveiled two new kits of DDR4 memory from its Predator range, offering speeds of DDR4-4266 and DDR4-4600. The new kits come in 2 x 8 GB sets...10 by Gavin Bonshor on 4/25/2019
GIGABYTE has released UEFI BIOS updates for its motherboards based on Intel’s C246 and Z390 chipsets that enable support for 32 GB unbuffered memory modules from Samsung. This enables...28 by Anton Shilov on 1/24/2019
This week, Samsung has announced that it has started mass production of its GDDR6 memory chips for next-generation graphics cards and other applications. The new chips will be available...27 by Anton Shilov on 1/18/2018
An average personal computer nowadays is equipped with 8 GB or less of DRAM, according to analysts from DRAMeXchange. Due to the requirements of Microsoft Windows 10 operating system...10 by Anton Shilov on 1/21/2016
One of the more important announcements this year in the world of DRAM has been the march towards 16GB un-buffered modules. We saw last year Intelligent Memory launch some...33 by Ian Cutress on 4/24/2015
After talking about Avoton and Bay Trail on Twitter, I was approached by the company heading up the marketing and PR for I’M Intelligent Memory regarding a few new...61 by Ian Cutress on 2/11/2014


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Walmart International CEO Says It’s Moving On After a Major U.K. Setback
That was then, this is now.
That’s the attitude Walmart International CEO Judith McKenna is adopting for the company’s British grocery business Asda just weeks after U.K. regulators blocked Sainsbury’s proposed $9.5 billion (7.3 billion pounds) takeover of Asda, a major setback for both chains.
“Life moves on fast, and that’s really what it’s all about for us now,” McKenna said at the World Retail Congress in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
The companies had argued that the deal would lower prices for its customers, but the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) felt otherwise, saying the transaction would have led to a substantial reduction of competition at both a national and local level, resulting in higher prices in stores, online, and at fuel service stations.
The proposed deal was aimed at helping Sainsbury’s better take on Tesco, and it was a way for Walmart to reduce its exposure to the U.K. as McKenna focuses her Walmart division on promising international markets like India and China. Walmart International operates in 26 countries and last year reported revenue of $120.8 billion.
“That was a bold move. We genuinely believed that creating this combination from a unique, one-off opportunity would have allowed us to accelerate lowering prices for all our customers,” said McKenna, who took over Walmart International in 2018 and is currently ranked No. 14 on Fortune‘s Most Powerful Women list.
Now that the deal is dead, Asda will focus on making “sure it has resources going forward to make sure it’s successful,” McKenna said. And there is reason to believe the business can thrive: Reuters reported recently that Asda has had seven consecutive quarters of growth and leapfrogged Sainsbury’s in April to become the second-biggest U.K. supermarket operator behind Tesco, according to data from Kantar.
As for the benefits of a deal as recently as last month, McKenna said, “that was then.”
More must-read stories from Fortune:
—Get to know all of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates
—Who does more housework: married women or single moms?
—Esther Wojcicki on raising three daughters who are Silicon Valley superwomen
—Meet Chiquita Evans, who made history in male-dominated e-sports
—Keep up with the world’s most powerful women with Fortune‘s Broadsheet newsletter


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CAMBODIA: Garment workers' strike garners conflicting reports
Conflicting reports are emerging of the support given to a five-day stay-at-home protest by Cambodia's garment workers trying to put pressure on their bosses to increase wages.
Workers representing eight trade unions were due to extend their Khmer new year holidays which lasted from 13-17 April, staying at home on annual leave from 17-22 April as well.
Ken Chhenglang, vice president of the National Independent Federation of Textile Unions of Cambodia (NIFTUC), told just-style: "Nearly 80% of the country's 600,0000 garment and footwear industry workers participated in the protest."
But the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) disagreed. These union federations "represent the minority of workers," the association said - confirming a story published earlier this week on just-style.
And it is maintaining its opposition to increasing wages after the minimum monthly wage for garment workers was raised from US$80 to US$100 earlier this year. Workers are demanding it be increased to US$160, but the association said it is waiting for a government appointed committee to report on recommended wage levels for the year ahead.
The unions and GMAC also differ over the legality of collective agreements on annual leave.
Garment industry unions asked GMAC to approve annual leave for workers before the new year holidays, giving workers protection over their pay if they joined the stay-at-home protest. But the association said it had no mandate to order time off.
It is the "exclusive right of the employer of each enterprise according to article 2 of the [Cambodia] Labour Law," said the GMAC statement. Moreover, article 313 of the law does not allow unions to request annual leave on behalf of workers, the association added.
Local media reports also suggest that isolated protests have emerged in Svay Rieng, Kandal and Kompong Speu provinces over claims that those who extended the new year break to take part in the demonstration have had their pay docked.
- M&S to launch supply chain human rights policy
- VF pushes ahead on chemicals management
- M&S project benefits garment worker health
- Can the Gap brand reclaim its iconic status?
- Nike reaffirms US production commitment
- C&A to add "accurate fit" label to garments
- China cotton stockpile auction may shake up market
- Myanmar makers mull shut-downs over wage plans
- WEBINAR: Compliance: Why has it failed?
- Cotton tracing "biggest challenge" for M&S


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OS X El Capitan Security Update 2018-001 is, I think, the most substantial update to 10.11.6 since 2016, […]
Full release for El Capitan, Sierra, and High Sierra, and corresponding versions of macOS Server. Now with full Help book.
A more objective comparison with the El Capitan and Sierra product cycles shows that High Sierra isn’t that much worse. Although APFS has matured well, a few obvious and serious security gaffes have marred this cycle.
A starting point for diagnosing and fixing your Mac problems, with links to key articles here.
From 10.8 onwards, you will not see the classic grey display, but your Mac will spontaneously restart or shut down. Here are the details, and what to do next.
Apple has today pushed out an update to its Gatekeeper Configuration Data, for Sierra and El Capitan users. […]
Apple has today pushed out a new version of its Incompatible Kernel Extension Configuration Data, which has been […]
Apple has silently pushed out an update to the XProtect settings for OS X El Capitan and macOS […]
Apple has recently pushed out silent updates to both its Incompatible Kernel Extension Configuration Data (on 25 October) […]
Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra have been free, until the release of the next major version, when they become priceless for some users.


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The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is officially going to be launched next week and so it’s pretty obvious that many leaks and rumors surrounding the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S will come in the tech community. The leaks which are released so close to the date of the official launch of the device are both very thrilling and exciting because at this time everyone think’s they know everything about the device, but then these types of leaks come and change the entire perspective about the device.
Today we have heard such leaks and rumors about the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S. As per the leaks, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S will also come in an all black variant with 8+256 GB memory combination. The photo given below confirms these leaks about the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S:
By seeing the above photo, it’s crystal clear to everyone that this leak is totally correct and true. It looks like Xiaomi is going to give serious competition to all other smartphones in the market with its Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S in an all black variant with 8+256 GB memory combination. Currently, the biggest memory combination is the 6+256 GB which belongs to the Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design and the Newly launched Samsung Galaxy S9+, but the main problem with these devices are that they cost a whopping $1420 and $1199, respectively. But as far as Xiaomi’s pricing is concerned, they always find a way to offer high end smartphone specifications in mid range prices. We are pretty sure that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is going to cost much less than the current high end smartphones in the technology market.
Recently, many people have been complaining about the high price of the smartphones such as the iPhone X, Huawei Mate 10 etc but very few of us actually know that the recent hike in the cost of Smartphones has been due to the continuous price increases of DRAM memory. According to a report in October 2017 by IC insights, the prices of the DRAM memory chips rose from $2.45 to $5.16, with an amazing 111% increase in the rates. As a result of the increase in the rates, the pc, smartphone, laptops and tablets markets suffered a lot in determining the pricing for their phones.
It doesn’t seem that there is anything new here for the die hard Xiaomi enthusiasts, because last year, Xiaomi did the exact same thing with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 by introducing the Mi Mix 2 in the all-ceramic variant with an 8+256GB memory combination.


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After launching in May, Google’s Gboard app for iOS quickly became one of the market’s most popular keyboard experiences. There was only one major problem: It wasn’t available for Android, something Google at the time said was being considered.
Now, seven months after it was made available on iOS, Gboard features are being brought over to Android in an update to Google’s stock keyboard app.
According to Android Police, the new features are currently only available as an APK, but the official update should be available to everyone soon. Similar to Gboard for iOS, features such as gestured typing, the ability to insert GIFs, and a box for quickly performing web searches are all available.
What makes Gboard such a joy to use is users don’t need to jump out of an app to perform a search. When talking to a friend through Hangouts, for example, users can search the web right from Gboard. It’s a convenience thing that work phenomenally well.
The update should be available soon
An official changelog hasn’t been made available by Google just yet but Android Police has a running list of the features that are available. In addition to the ability to perform quick searches and find GIFs, Glide typing is available, along with an optional number row.
For the most part, Gboard for Android should function similar to how it does for iOS devices. The design is different but that’s to be expected since Google likes to stick to its Material Design guidelines on Android.


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|Published:||Nov 10, 2010 6:50 AM EST|
|Updated:||Nov 10, 2010 1:48 AM EST|
NAPLES, Fla. - Combining the old with the new. That's the idea behind the renovation of a hardware store that's been operating for the last 50 years in Naples.
Sunshine Ace Hardware has spent $400,000 to add lots of rich history to their store, from the murals of the Pier in the 1950s, to the personal photos taken from owner Michael Wynn's own family album.
Old meets new in their sporting goods department with scent technology.
"When you walk through and you're thinking about your day on the water, you're going to smell the ocean," Wynn explains.
The store has also added nearly a dozen flat screen televisions to give product information and share more historic photos and facts.
The store will have it's official grand re-opening Saturday. If the new design goes well other stores Wynn owns in Collier and Lee County may follow with their own motif related to that area's history.
- LCSO finds, arrests North Fort Myers murder suspect
- Suspect in Lehigh double murder located in WY
- Man pays down 76 layaway orders at Fla. store
- FMPD arrests 32 suspected drug dealers
- LCSO searched for missing 29 y/o Bonita man
- Attorney blasts investigation into FSU's Winston
- Deputies shoot bank robbery suspect who claimed to have bomb
- 2 transported by helicopter after serious crash on SR 776
- Corrections officer accused of stealing inmate IDs
- USPS to deliver mail in SWFL on certain Sundays


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Better service on a flight is one way an airline can stand out among the crowd, and Finland's majority state-owned carrier Finnair is betting that improving its selection of added paid services will attract more customers.
The renewed focus on better service is a U-turn from the trend of recent years, when traditional airlines eliminated or charged for services in order to compete with budget airline pricing. For example, British Airways was heavily criticized earlier this year for reducing its services and cutting leg space to fit in more seats.
Business at Finnair has been good of late and the airline has decided to go the other route – adding cabin crew and expanded service options so customers can enjoy a better experience.
"We have examined what is most important to passengers on a flight, and it is the personal service that they receive while they are on the plane," says Finnair's CEO Pekka Vauramo.
Spending money on more than just the ticket
The airline's assessment also found that ticket holders appreciate an unhurried approach as much as friendliness. Being available to suggest added services or provide time-saving advice is seen as a valuable service.
"People tend to buy the tickets for their flight months in advance, but they wait until shortly before the flight to decide on their meals and other services. That way it feels like it comes from a different budget," says Vauramo.
Ancillary revenue is an increasingly large share of airline profits. For Finnair, it already represents a quarter of all sales. Digitalization will likely only hasten its growth, as it becomes increasingly easier to tailor-make travels.
Business class food for economy travellers
One added service Finnair will start to offer is the option of pre-ordering a business class meal for an economy class seat.
"We can personalise the food service, so the old rule that says your seat number determines your food will be history," the carrier's CEO says.
Choosing food before the plane departs will also cut down on waste, and Vauramo predicts that the airline could stand to save over ten million euros a year with the new pre-order service.
Travelling to collect exotic and unique experiences is on the rise, and many tourists from Asia in particular chose to travel in business class when they embark on leisure trips.
"We've seen clear growth in the passenger segment that chooses business class for their holiday travels. I understand the logic well. If you are heading out for a short getaway, it makes a difference what kind of shape you are in when you arrive," says Vauramo.
Demand for business class seats in package holiday flights is also up. For example, Finnair's Aurinkomatkat tour operator has already sold over half of the available business seats to its winter destinations.


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Lowe's also reaffirms that it expects revenue to increase roughly 5 percent by the end of the year. » Read More
U.S. luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers reported a 40 percent rise in quarterly profit as it sold more homes and said its orders jumped 26 percent. » Read More
As demand weakens for its condensed soups and V8 vegetable juices, Campbell warned its full-year sales could decline. » Read More
The U.S. farm equipment maker raised its fiscal 2017 financial forecast. » Read More
The company also reported that revenue from its data centers came in slightly below analyst expectations.
American Express reported quarterly earnings that beat analysts' earnings per share estimates and missed revenue estimates.
Morgan Stanley topped analysts' estimates for the second quarter, reporting earnings per share of 75 cents and revenue of $8.9 billion.
Goldman Sachs topped forecasts with earnings per share of $3.72 and revenue of $7.932 billion.
Johnson & Johnson reported a 3.9 percent increase in second-quarter sales, helped by strength in its pharmaceuticals business.
UnitedHealth reported a better-than-expected profit due to strength in its benefit management business, and technology and consulting divisions.
"There is no announcement today," Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said about what she called a "well-run, robust process."
Yahoo reported quarterly earnings that slightly missed analysts' expectations, and revenue that beat expectations on Monday.
The company said it added 1.7 million subscribers during the quarter, below its own expectations of 2.5 million.
The enterprise technology company reported second-fiscal-quarter earnings Monday after the bell.
The commercial banking giant posted second-quarter earnings per share of 36 cents, compared to 45 cents a share in the same period a year ago.
Hasbro reported higher-than-expected profit and revenue, driven by strong demand for its Disney Princess and "Frozen" dolls.
Analysts say Yahoo's impending sale will matter more to its stock price than its earnings, which will be reported Monday.
Citigroup reports quarterly earnings and revenue that easily beat analysts' expectations.
Wells Fargo met earnings expectations, but missed slightly on revenue.
"JPMorgan Chase continued to perform well in all of our major businesses," says CEO Jamie Dimon.
BlackRock delivered quarterly earnings and revenue that met analysts' expectations on Thursday.
Yum Brands on Wednesday reported second-quarter earnings that beat analyst expectations, but its quarterly revenue came up shy.
Shares of CSX rose more than 3 percent after the company released its second quarter earnings.
Seagate Technology estimated fourth-quarter revenue higher than Wall Street expectations, helped by strong demand for hard-disk drives.
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Forza Horizon 5 has passed 20 million players in just under seven months.
The milestone is confirmed in the game’s Hall of Fame leaderboard, which can be accessed at the main Horizon Festival site.
The leaderboard shows the player’s total score and where it stands compared to every other person who’s played the game.
At the time of writing, the Hall of Fame gives a total of 20,012,405 players.
This is the latest milestone in what Xbox has previously called its “biggest launch ever”.
The game had already attracted nearly 1 million players before it had even been officially released, due to the Premium Edition allowing early access.
This was particularly notable because the game was available on Xbox Game Pass on day one, showing that some of the audience were still happy to pay either $99 / £85 for the full Premium Edition, or $45 / £40 for the Premium Edition’s add-ons (including early access).
As such, the title had already grossed between $36 million and $79 million a week before its general release.
Following its release, Xbox then confirmed that the game had been played by more than 10 million players in its first week, making it the “biggest first week in Xbox history”.
The figure was more than five times higher than that of its predecessor, Forza Horizon 4, which also launched on Game Pass and reached 2 million players in its first week.
The game’s first DLC could be revealed soon, perhaps at the upcoming Microsoft & Bethesda Showcase presentation.
Testing for what appeared to be the game’s first expansion was spotted back in February, but there’s been no official announcement year.
Forza Horizons 5 has an Expansion Bundle available on the Xbox Store, which “includes two game expansions when they become available. Each expansion will introduce a new location, vehicles and gameplay.”
Forza Horizon 4‘s Expansion Bundle included the Fortune Island and Lego Speed Champions game expansions.
Fortune Island saw players travel to a mountainous island filled with tough terrain. The expansion features the single largest mountain road in the history of the Horizon series. It also added 10 cars, which could be used in the main game.
Lego Speed Champions added the Lego valley, a new location in the game in which most of the environment was made of Lego. This expansion added 5 Lego versions of popular cars, several of them based on real Lego sets.
It’s currently unclear where the expansion will be set, but if it’s following the release cadence of Forza Horizon 4, it’s likely that the first piece of DLC will be a smaller region similar to the main game.


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Home's where we like to party and sell some products
- From: The Advertiser
- February 24, 2013
AT-home product parties are still a real income spinner for women. Callie Watson reports.
THEY are the party hosts defying the move towards online shopping and whose role extends beyond providing a few nibbles for guests.
More women are getting involved in the direct selling industry, using at-home product parties to sell everything from cookware to make-up, candles and lingerie.
Direct Selling Association Australia figures show sales in the industry, which includes door-to-door sales, are worth $1.4 billion each year.
Tupperware, a pioneer of this type of selling since it launched here in the 1960s, has more than 6500 demonstrators throughout Australia and New Zealand. About 850,000 people in both countries attended Tupperware parties last year.
Deakin University consumer behaviour lecturer Dr Paul Harrison attributes the popularity of party-plan selling to its ability to bring people together.
"The bricks and mortar retailers have misread consumer behaviour," he says.
"People do not shop purely to save money; it's to have an interaction with another human being, and this is where the party-plan really thrives.
"Women are social creatures and it provides them with an opportunity to gather with friends and connect in a world where we're losing connections. And because you've been invited into someone's home, to some degree, you feel you have an obligation to buy something to help out a friend.
"There is that aspect too."
Direct Selling Association of Australia executive director John Holloway says women comprise 80 per cent of the industry and many use it as a way to bring in extra cash.
"It's the lifestyle component that really appeals to people; there is real flexibility," he says.
Mr Holloway says direct selling has a 20 per cent market share of complementary medicines sold in Australia each year and 15 per cent of the country's skincare sales.
PartyLite marketing director Andrew Stevenson says the company, which specialises in party-plan parties selling candles, has recorded its biggest January sales figures since starting in Australia 11 years ago.
"We've had 600 per cent growth in that time. the great thing with direct selling is you can make it whatever you want," he says.
Karen Stock's party-plan business Kaszazz, which provides scrapbooking and craft supplies and workshops, grew from a one-woman business in Adelaide's west 19 years ago to a company that has about 1000 consultants throughout Australia.
"At the beginning I was running the parties, packing the orders, ordering the stock, doing everything," she says.
"I think of it in terms of a community business - it reminds me of many years ago when women used to sit around and do patchwork.
Aberfoyle Park mother of five Cheryl Devlin, 49, has been a Kaszazz consultant for 10 years and oversees a team of 120 consultants.
"I try and host three or so events each week and combine that with the training and development work I also do," she says. "The catalogue I bring with me is like a shopfront that allows people to window shop in a fun environment with their friends." Campbelltown resident Lee Altamura has also moved through the ranks of Tupperware, working her way up from demonstrator 10 years ago to an executive manager.
"I was looking for a full-time job at the time and went to a friend's Tupperware party and was approached by a manager and it just went from there," she says.
"The flexibility the work provides is a huge benefit."
Clearview resident Chantelle Iadanza juggles her role as a consultant with skincare and cosmetics company Nutrimetics with work as a radiation therapist.
"I started about six years ago and do three to four parties a week," the 28-year-old says.


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Click here to download the report
No Match Found
of all customer frauds in India were payment (credit card and digital wallet) frauds
of all fraud incidents in India were platform fraud
of Indian organisations lost over USD 1 million due to platform fraud
of perpetrators commit fraud for financial gain
The second edition of PwC’s Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey 2022: India Insights looks at the new frontier of economic crime – platform fraud, or fraud associated with social media, enterprise, e-commerce and other kinds of platforms. Largely unrecognised for years, this insidious form of fraud has become more common since the start of the pandemic, owing to the rise in remote work and growth in e-commerce, delivery applications and contactless payments. And it is evolving and growing at a worrying pace, posing a new set of challenges for Indian companies.
For the second report in this series, PwC surveyed 111 organisations across India from diverse industries such as technology, financial services, banking and capital markets, consumer products and retail, education, healthcare, hospitality and leisure, and industrial products and manufacturing.
Fraudulent access to platforms can take place across multiple entities such as social media, knowledge, media sharing, services and goods platforms. Such fraud accounted for 64% of platform fraud in India. The unfamiliar and innovative nature of platform fraud is a key reason behind a general lack of understanding among business leaders about their risk exposure to this fraud category.
NET: Fraudulent access to a platform
NET: Fraudulent activity on a platform
NET: Fraudulent transfers to/from a platform
Our survey reveals that organisations in India are grappling with various types of platform fraud, as platforms became an integral part of the way they conduct business. Social media platforms connect us every day. Ecommerce platforms provide access to goods and services. And enterprise platforms help companies interact with customers, process transactions and move funds. On average, organisations operate five platforms in the normal course of business vis-à-vis the global average of four.
Newer entrants to the platform environment face an increased risk as fraud perpetrators have become more sophisticated. Our survey shows that too many business leaders, both providers and users, aren’t fully aware of their exposure to platform fraud.
Organisations often don’t view platforms as a discrete sector. For instance, a company dealing with five platforms in the normal course of business may not address the grouping as an entity with common risk considerations. Rather, they are treated as five separate vendors, each with its own threat profile.
Platform fraud has opened up a new frontier for fraud and economic crime. Financial gain is the most common motive in platform fraud cases – in India, 44% of perpetrators commit fraud for financial gain. Other motives listed out by organisations were brand damage (32%) and competitive advantage (21%).
Financial platforms were found to be the most vulnerable, particularly those involving fund transfers – 62% of all platform frauds took place on financial platforms. The financial impact of such frauds is just a part of the harm caused to organisations. Damage to the brand and loss of customer loyalty and trust can be far more significant.
But there is hope. With proper security and controls in place, organisations can protect themselves. An understanding of who the malefactors are, where they’re coming from, and how they’re breaching the perimeter forms the framework for mounting a proper defence. Protecting your business begins with identifying the vulnerabilities along the new frontier.
During the pandemic, Indian consumers and organisations were quick to adopt new platforms. Today, an average Indian company operates five platforms in the normal course of business. As a result, the incidence of platform fraud is a lot higher in India.
Platform fraud requires executive attention and an integrated, enterprise-wide response strategy with a focus on resilience. A C-suite level executive should be responsible for risk control policy. And organisational leaders must guide the risk management programme – particularly when an emerging threat has the potential to upend the business.
Risk leaders need to be proactive and design a meaningful strategy to identify, assess and execute a fraud response. Otherwise, the consequences can be devastating. This can be achieved by putting in place a monitoring programme that identifies anomalies and alerts the company. Similarly, corporations need to be aware of a spike in online activity, especially after long periods of dormancy.
Negative media coverage can also provide clues. If platforms form a significant part of your business, it’s critical to pay attention to their presence in the news. Be aware of what analysts, consumers and competitors are saying about the platforms you work with, and regularly check watchdog sites for service complaints. Social media monitoring is another important tool to keep you on top of what’s happening in the market and alert potential bad actors.
Your customers trust you with their personal data. Conduct a risk assessment to determine your exposure and establish protocols for gaining visibility into the platforms you work with.
Purpose-built transaction monitoring systems are necessary and an effective way to prevent and detect red flags. But depending on your exposure, knowledge of your partners’ controls is crucial – perhaps in the form of third-party audit reports.
- Sanctions evasion
Fraudsters are increasingly circumventing sanctions in certain jurisdictions to conduct platform fraud – primarily in the financial realm. Stay informed and aware of this risk if you have potential exposure.
- Environmental, social and governance (ESG)
Under this broad umbrella encompassing environmental, social and governance issues, rising criminal threats include human trafficking and privacy invasion – by government entities, in some cases, as a cost of doing business.
Given the rapid increase in and growing sophistication of platform fraud, this category of fraud poses a substantial risk to organisations in India. Even though Indian organisations have been undertaking measures to combat fraud for several years now, platform fraud is a dangerous and growing risk. It has emerged as the most aggressive threat of the era – particularly with the pandemic accelerating digital transformation and sparking a sea change in how we conduct financial transactions.


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(MENAFN - NewsBytes)
Gurugram start-up Milkbasket raises $7mn in funding
22 May 2018
Gurugram-based micro-delivery start-up, Milkbasket, has raised $7mn in a Series A funding round led by Bengaluru-based Kalaari Capital and Singapore-based BeeNext.
This is the second fundraiser by the start-up, this year.
Founded in 2015, Milkbasket delivers milk, groceries, and other daily necessities to customers' doorsteps.
As of now, Milkbasket services over 40,000 households across 180 communities in Gurugram.
Kalaari Capital MD justifies the $7mn investment in Milkbasket
"A strong founding team, focus towards data-based decision-making, operational rigour, and incessant focus on customer delight, backed by a large market opportunity in the grocery space culminated into us leading a $7mn Series A round into Milkbasket," said Vani Kola, MD of Kalaari Capital.
Milkbasket was 2017's 'Start-up of the Year'
Milkbasket was founded by Institut EuropÃ©en d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) alumnus Anant Goel, along with Ashish Goel, Anurag Jain, and Yatish Talvadia.
The company follows a no-contact, micro-delivery model similar to newspaper and milk supply chain models, and delivers daily essentials by 7am in the morning.
At the coveted Small Business Awards 2018, Milkbasket was declared to be 2017's 'Start-up of the Year'.
In three years, Milkbasket has already raised over $10mn
Prior to the $7mn Milkbasket raised from Kalaari Capital and BeeNext, the company had raised $3mn in a pre-series A funding round in January led by Unilever Ventures.
Even prior to that, Milkbasket had raised around $1mn in seed funding and angel investments from a bunch of Chinese venture capitalists and domestic angel investors.
The latest round brings Milkbasket's total funding to over $10mn.
How Milkbasket plans to utilize the freshly injected funds
According to CEO Anant Goel, the start-up plans to use the freshly injected funds for making its supply chain more efficient, providing last-mile logistics and unmatched customer experience, and expanding into other cities. Which cities, however, was not specified.
Milkbasket operates with a full stack in-house supply chain model, and reached positive unit economics within the first six months of operation.
Milkbasket focused on '3Ts'
"This funding will help us to continue investing in the 3Ts - talent, technology and territory, and in achieving our vision to create the most convenient grocery fulfilment model for today's busy households," explained Milkbasket CEO Anant Goel.
Milkbasket faces stiff competition in the months to come
Online grocery market
However, Milkbasket won't have it easy with several competitors like MrNeeds, Supr Daily, Daily Ninja, and Doodhwala emerging in the micro-delivery space.
Meanwhile, giants like Flipkart and Amazon are also beefing up their online grocery business in India, where the online grocery market was valued at $1bn in 2017.
The market for online groceries is expected to grow at 55% CAGR through 2021.


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Interview with Zemedeneh Nigatu- The Progress Towards A Continental Free Trade Area
INTERVIEW: The progress towards a continental free trade area
One of the African Union’s main projects this year, is getting all 54 member states to sign and implement the agreement to establish a continental free trade area. But will this plan implode like so many grand efforts before it? At the moment, grand ideas like the Yamoussoukro Decision to treat African airspace as a single block, or simpler ones like the Abuja and Maputo declarations, which set minimum levels for governments to spend on healthcare and agriculture, are yet to be fully implemented. CGTN’s Robert Nagila put that question to Mr. Zemedeneh Nigatu, Head of Ernst & Young’s operations in Ethiopia.


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Poor diet bigger health hazard than killer diseases like TB, Malaria, says UN body
Poor quality diet is a greater threat to public health across the world than malaria, tuberculosis or measles as diet-related factors now account for six of the top nine contributors to the global burden of disease.
Poor quality diet is a greater threat to public health across the world than malaria, tuberculosis or measles as diet-related factors now account for six of the top nine contributors to the global burden of disease. Though the world is producing more food than it needs, an estimated three billion people have inadequate diets.
This was stated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in a report it co-authored with the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition. “Every year, approximately 1.3 billion metric tonnes of food produced for human consumption — one third of the total — never reaches the consumer’s plate or bowl,” stated the report.
The report titled “Preventing nutrient loss and waste across the food system: Policy action for high quality diets” stated that “eating more of the nutrient rich food already being produced would result in savings to land, water and energy consumption tied to food production, and resources used in industrial food fortification. In addition, the scale and pace of food production would not need to increase at the rates currently required to meet the demand of an additional 1 billion people by 2030.”
The traditional response to ensuring food security was to promote higher output of staple crops such as grains, tubers and starchy foods to provide nutrient energy (kilocaories). However, policymakers around the world are increasingly acknowledging the challenge of meeting the rising demand for a healthy diet rather than just calorie sufficiency, the report said. The world’s total supply of calories has never been greater in human history thanks to remarkable gains in agricultural productivity. The report recommended higher consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and greater dietary diversity to tackle micronutrient deficiencies.
Globally, in 2016, one in five deaths was associated with poor diets including increasing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with the rise of obesity, also linked to poor-quality diets.
Across all food groups, half of all food loss and waste was associated with nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, stated the report, adding that about a third was associated with staple crops like grains and roots. Around 25% of all meat produced, equivalent to 75 million cows, and over 30% of the total fish and seafood harvested each year is lost or wasted.
FAO data indicates that in low-income countries, food is mostly lost during harvesting, storage, processing and transportation, while in high-income nations the waste is at retail and consumer level. Together, they directly impact the number of calories and nutrients actually available for consumption, stated the FAO.
“With the value of global food lost or wasted annually, estimated to be around $1 trillion, cutting down on waste would also yield major economic benefits,” said the FAO.
Over a dozen companies, including Hetero, Sun Pharma, Natco and Dr Reddy’s are in the process of rolling out the oral therapy developed by Merck and and its partner, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, at prices ranging between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 for the complete treatment, sources told TOI.


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Burgers and fries at McDonald's are now WORSE for your health than they were in 1989 - despite chain's efforts to offer more healthy options
- McDonald's Big Mac French Fries and Vanilla Milkshake among unhealthier items
- It's said a Big Mac and Filet-O-Fish has three times the sugar than 30 years ago
- French Fries contain 42% more calories than in 1989, it has been reported
- McDonald's says it's 'very difficult' to compare the menus like for like
McDonald's most famous menu items are higher in salt, calories and sugar than they were 30 years ago, it's been claimed - despite the chain offering more healthy options.
The fast food giant's Big Mac, French Fries, and Quarter Pounder with Cheese are among the meals found to be unhealthier in 2018 compared to the calorie, salt and sugar content they contained in 1989, according to a leaflet printed at the time.
Daniel Jones at The Sun reported that a Big Mac and Filet-O-Fish now has three times the sugar that burgers contained 30 years ago, while regular French Fries have 42 per cent more calories.
Certain McDonald's menu items including its regular French Fries and Big Mac have increased in calories, fat and sugar, according to a new report
How McDonald's food has changed since 1989
Big Mac: Sugar up by 221%
French Fries: Calories up by 42.8% (salt and fat up too)
Vanilla Milkshake: Calories up by 25.2%
Cheeseburger: Sugar up by 248%
Quarter Pounder with Cheese: Sugar up by 285%
The leaflet, which gives the nutritional values of McDonald's food in 1989, revealed that compared to today's fare, today's burgers contain a fifth less protein, according to the report.
A Big Mac contains 9g of sugar today - but in 1989, the burger contained 221 per cent less sugar, or about 4g, it's said.
Similarly, regular French Fries today contain 337 calories, but The Sun reports that this has increased by 42.8 per cent.
A McDonald's spokesman told FEMAIL that it is 'very difficult' to compare the 1989 menu to today's as it has 'has evolved in many ways including portion size, breadth and nutritional content'.
McDonald's states that nearly 90 per cent of its menu now has 500 calories or fewer
He added: 'Since 2005, we’ve reduced the salt content across our entire menu by nearly 35 per cent, the trans-fat content of our cooking oil by 94 per cent and saturated fat by 83 per cent, and almost 90 per cent of our standard food and drink items now contain fewer than 500 calories.
'For more than 30 years we have provided clear nutritional information, at point of sale and on tray liners, to help our customers make informed choices, and our menu has evolved over the years so it provides more choice than ever from salads, to wraps, to coffee, to fruit bags.'
The news comes after the food industry was ordered to slash calories by Public Health England to combat obesity rates.
Lunches and dinners are to be cut to 600 calories at fast food outlets and on ready meal shelves at supermarkets, in new guidelines from Public Health England (PHE).
The health body's chief nutritionist Alison Tedstone said Britons were consuming 200 to 300 calories a day too many.
She said meals 'out of home' were a major cause, with retailers selling high-calorie foods as 'treats' which encouraged overconsumption.
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Credit card balances surged from July to September as Americans continued to sink deeper in debt amid rampant inflation, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.
Credit card balances increased $38 billion in the third quarter to $930 billion, the New York Fed found, with balances once again matching the pre-pandemic peak of $930 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019. Year over year, credit debt grew by 15%, the largest jump in more than 20 years.
The figures underscore Americans' growing dependence on credit cards even as recent Fed rate hikes push interest rates to record highs, placing a heavier burden especially on lower-income households and younger adults.
“New purchases adding to the credit card balance reflect robust demand amid higher prices of goods and services,” a group of New York Fed researchers said in a blog post. “The Consumer Credit Panel sheds light on the more rapidly increasing debt burdens and delinquency of younger and less wealthy card holders, and may suggest disparate impacts of inflation.”
Younger borrowers take on higher debt levels
Younger borrowers — defined as those under 30 years old — registered the highest balances during the third quarter, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, the New York Fed found. Younger adults also saw the smallest reduction in their average balances in absolute terms.
This group was followed by 30- and 59-year-olds, which saw balances inch closer to levels seen in the fourth quarter of 2019. For older borrowers — those between 60 and 79 — their average balances rose modestly, but remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Pandemic stimulus payments and aid distributed during the last two years made a significant impact on the financial stability of borrowers across the U.S., researchers said in a press call. Now that the financial cushion is “largely gone,” it’s likely that Americans will continue to take on higher levels of credit, especially younger adults, as they attempt to offset inflation.
Delinquency levels increase the most among lower earners
Ballooning consumer prices have added greater burdens on U.S. households, New York Fed researchers found, particularly on lower-earning households. These borrowers had a harder time paying back balances and were at larger risk of slipping into delinquency.
For instance, those in the highest-income areas had an average balance that was $300 lower in September 2022 than in December 2019. By comparison, lower-income borrowers saw their credit card balances surpass the average from December 2019.
Likewise, the share of credit card borrowers in the highest-income areas that were likely to transition into delinquency remained well under historical trends. Meanwhile, the percentage of low-income borrowers flowing into delinquency is now over the pre-pandemic level.
Still, delinquency levels remain low compared with the Great Recession and through the period preceding the COVID pandemic, the New York Fed noted, suggesting that consumers are still able to “manage their finances” through this period of price increases.
“With prices more than 8% higher than they were a year ago, it is perhaps unsurprising that balances are increasing,” New York Fed researchers reported. “Notably, credit card balances have grown at nearly double the rate since last year. The real test will be to follow whether these borrowers will be able to continue to make the payments on their credit cards.”
Editor's note: This version corrects the total amount of credit card debt in the third quarter of 2022.
Gabriella is a personal finance reporter at Yahoo Money. Follow her on Twitter @__gabriellacruz.


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DETROIT (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) is more than doubling a three-year-old recall of its Chrysler-built Routan minivans that have ignition switches that can be knocked into the accessory position and shut off the engine, according to documents filed with U.S. safety regulators.
VW is recalling about 20,417 Routan minivans from model year 2009 in the United States and Canada, adding to the 2010 models it recalled in 2011 for the same issue and bringing the total number of vehicles affected to about 34,210 vehicles, according to the documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A VW spokeswoman said on Friday there have been no reported accidents, injuries or deaths related to the issue, and no other markets were affected.
The automaker expanded the recall after Chrysler in late June sent documents for a recall of its own minivans for the issue, saying 2009 Routan models were affected as well, according to the NHTSA documents. In June, Chrysler, a unit of Fiat FIA.MI, added almost 696,000 minivans from model years 2008 and 2009 to a recall of 2010 models for the ignition switch issue.
Attention to the issue of ignition switches that can be inadvertently turned off while driving, causing the loss of air bags, power steering and power brakes, increased after General Motors Co (GM.N) recalled 2.6 million cars because of a defective ignition switch linked to at least 13 deaths.
The crisis at the No. 1 U.S. automaker has led to numerous investigations by NHTSA, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Justice and several state attorneys general.
Like other automakers who have dealt with this safety issue, VW is advising customers with the recalled vehicles to remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key, according to the NHTSA documents.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will modify the ignition switch at no cost, according to the NHTSA documents. The recall is expected to begin by the end of this month.
Of the cars affected in the 2009-model recall, about 18,526 were sold in the United States and about 1,891 in Canada, VW said.
Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Paul Simao


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Crown Imports' 'Banner Year'
Modelo Especial surpasses 40 million case annual milestone
CHICAGO -- For the first time in its history, Modelo Especial, the No. 3 imported beer in the United States, surpassed 40 million cases in depletions for the year, Crown Imports LLC said earlier this month.
"This is a remarkable achievement for the Modelo Especial brand, which is growing at more than 20% for the year and continues to grow at double-digits year over year," said Bill Hackett, president of Crown Imports, Modelo's exclusive U.S. importer.
"We are especially excited about the brand's overall performance due to growth in both the bottle and can packages. Bottles, which represent 30% of the brand's business, are posting significant growth trends with Modelo Especial 12-pack bottles up 29%, indicating continued discovery by General Market consumers in addition to the already strong Hispanic market sales," he said.
Crown executives Jim Sabia, chief marketing officer; Bruce Jacobson, executive vice president of national sales; and Bill Hackett, president, shared the news with employees and toasted the achievement at a recent company event.
In what the executives called a "banner year" for the premium Mexican beer, Modelo Especial was recently awarded the Leaders Choice "Beer Brand of the Year" Award by Market Watch magazine, as well as a Hot Brands award for the 18th consecutive year. Additionally, IMPACT magazine awarded Modelo Especial a Blue Chip Brand award.
Chicago-based Crown Imports is a joint venture that imports, distributes and markets the Modelo portfolio and other beer brands across the entire United States. The Modelo portfolio includes Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifico and Victoria (in select markets) beer brands. Crown also imports the Tsingtao beer brand in the United States.


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A spate of 2004 holiday spending reports and projections are circulating. The outlook appears upbeat, particularly for online purchases.
“Online purchases are trending ahead of overall consumer spending confidence. What this means is that online shopping is growing more ubiquitous,” said Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org. “We expect this to continue for at least a few more years into 2007 or 2008.”
What that growth translates to this year in hard figures is a projected $21.6 billion in online spending for November and December, a 19 percent increase over 2003, according to the latest figures from JupiterResearch.
While those robust numbers bode well for online purchases, a survey conducted by ChangeWave indicates that overall holiday spending will be about the same as in 2003.
According to the survey, which polled 1,430 consumers, a mere 18 percent projected they would spend more this holiday season than in 2003. An equal 18 percent of respondents said they would be spending less money.
Another report released by Atlas DMT, a division of aQuantive, predicts that peak in holiday spending will occur on December 13th, or closer to Christmas Day than in years past.
According to Young-Bean Song, director of analytics for Atlas DMT, that indicates growing consumer confidence in vendor shipping, one of the key swing factors in online buying.
“We’ve seen that peak shopping day get closer and closer to Christmas,” said Song. “The first couple times we did the study, the peaks occurred in early December, or even late NovemberIt reflects consumer confidence that vendors can deliver the goods on time and make sure the kids have presents under the tree by the big day.”
JupiterResearch, meanwhile, found that despite the growing amount of sales expected online this holiday, the cost and reliability of shipping remained the most crucial concerns for buyers shopping online.
The forecast was based on a consumer survey of 1,030 online shoppers.
According to the forecast, “free or discounted shipping and handling price” was the leading factor cited by respondents that would motivate them to begin buying online earlier. The discounted cost and guaranteed reliability of shipping factored into 3 other leading responses to the survey.
|Factors That Would Motivate
Holiday Shoppers to Begin Online
Holiday Gift Shopping Earlier
|Motivating Factors||Percentage of
|Free or discounted
shipping and handling price
|Discount off my current order||64%|
|Free gift with purchase||44%|
|Ability to shop for multiple
products in one location
|*Free upgrade to overnight
|*Guarantee that there will
be no delivery delays
|Free gift wrap||30%|
|Discount off next order||30%|
|Ability to check if product
can ship immediately
|Loyalty program reward||19%|
|Ability to pick up product
in a physical store
|E-mail featuring hot
|*More important for last minute shopping|
|Note: Responses below 11 percent not listed.|
|Source: 2004 JupiterResearch/Ipsos-Insight Consumer
Survey (9/04), n=1,030 (online holiday shoppers, US only)
According to data gathered for the report,‘Communications Infrastructure: The Backbone of Digital,’ 88% of IT professionals and 61% of marketers ranked their company’s current communication infrastructure as 'cutting-edge' or 'good.'
On Thursday, Twitter reported its earnings for Q4 2016, and the results have raised questions about the company's long-term future.
It probably won't come as a surprise that 2016's Cyber Monday has earned the distinction of being the biggest online sales day in US history.
Black Friday is here, but just how important is the day that has historically been the most watched of the holiday shopping season?


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The Bakersfield Police Department is seeking the community’s assistance in identifying and locating the following suspect wanted for robbery.
At about 9:30 a.m. on July 3, three men entered the Old Navy store in the Valley Plaza located at 2701 Ming Avenue.
The men selected merchandise and left the store without paying for the items, according to Bakersfield police.
The suspects were confronted by store employees at which time the suspects threatened the employees with physical violence causing the employees to be in fear at which time the suspects fled.
Two of the three suspects have been identified, the third suspect, described as black, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 20 years old with a short black afro-style hair cut has not yet been identified.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Lance O’Nesky at (661) 326-3561 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.
Trouble in Toyland report warns of toy dangers
The annual report lists toxins, choking hazards and other concerns about a wide range of toys currently on store shelves.
5 arrested during sweep in Maricopa
On November 21, 2015, deputies from the Taft Substation conducted a parole and probation compliance check in the City of Maricopa.
World-wide travel alert issued
The State Department issued a global travel alert to U.S. citizens. Authorities are warning Americans to take extra precaution during the…
E. coli found in Costco rotisserie chicken
CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, and public health…


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Although the country holds tremendous economic potential, particularly in relation to its young and burgeoning middle-class, two thirds of its 260 million citizens don’t have a bank account. On the other hand, gold is a major part of the nation’s savings culture, and is regarded as a legal investment under Sharia law (Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world).
What does the Indonesian launch entail?
In order to create the right conditions for launch and develop the necessary infrastructure to make the digital gold currency a success, Kinesis has worked in close collaboration with key stakeholders including the Indonesian government, and has partnered with a number of major national organisations for delivery:
Kinesis worked closely with the Indonesian government and financial regulator to foster the regulatory environment required to allow for the implementation of Kinesis’ monetary system, culminating in new rules regarding physical gold trading in February 2019.
The new rules state that any technology for online or exchange-based physical gold trading products must be deliverable and physically located within Indonesia. To this end, Kinesis has agreed, together with OZL (part of the Liechtenstein Precious Metals Group) and the state-owned post office PT POS Indonesia to build, develop and operate Indonesia’s first purpose-built bullion vault, according to international best-in-class standards.
Kinesis has partnered with Allocated Bullion Exchange (ABX) and the national commodities exchange – Jakarta Futures Exchange (JFX) to establish the spot Jakarta Sharia Gold (JSG) contracts to enable the physical trading, vaulting, vault management and logistics of Sharia Compliant physical bullion. PT Kliring Berjangka Indonesia (KBI), Indonesia’s state-owned commodity clearing house, will have oversight responsibilities; Kinesis as the Indonesia vault facility provider, when operational and ABX and PT POS as physical bullion agent and logistics provider.
In terms of distribution and enabling widespread usage, Kinesis has partnered with PT Bullion Ecosystem International (BEI), a leading Indonesian e-commerce and financial technology company which provides mobile applications for gold trading, collateral gold finance and Sharia gold financing. BEI’s technology will allow for delivery of white-labelled Kinesis products into the hands of millions.
Kinesis partner BEI has an exclusive agreement with Indonesia’s state-owned postal office company, PT POS to provide multiple gold and collateral financing mobile applications. With a reliable and comprehensive distribution system across Indonesia covering over 58,700 point-of-sale service points, PT POS, the world’s third largest postal service, offers a wide range of financial services and is Indonesia’s largest non-bank financial institution, serving an active customer base of 10 million and facilitating over US$10 billion in cross-border remittances alone annually. PT POS is going to integrate the Kinesis Monetary System, together with BEI, to permit Kinesis digital gold (KAU) as an accepted method for sending and receiving cross-border value for its customers, including migrant workers.
In order to further promote uptake, Kinesis has partnered with the Nobel-prize-nominated Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulamsa (NU), which has agreed to support Kinesis products as a Shariah-compliant option for its members. With over 100 million active members, NU will act as an investor base, facing millions of downstream users.
Gilarsi Setijono, President Director at PT POS Indonesia comments:
“Gold is a very important investment and savings asset class in Indonesia across all segments of society and the first and only purpose-built vault facility will give significant access and confidence to the market. This vault project together with Kinesis and OZL, as well as other government-related gold savings initiatives, will be of long-term benefit to Indonesia and Indonesian citizens.”
Stephanus Paulus Lumintang, President Director at Jakarta Futures Exchange, comments:
“JFX is committed to providing the best solutions and services in the futures and derivatives industry. It’s increasingly become clear to us that the benefits of distributed ledger technology, or ‘blockchain’ will unlock tremendous amounts of value for Indonesia and Indonesian people. Blockchain regulation in Indonesia is currently in progress, and it is quite an important, yet difficult task. However, JFX is ready to be a blockchain exchange company in Indonesia, in compliance with any legal and regulatory requirements. Our future partnership with Kinesis and ABX will enable us to not only tap into these advantages but to create a secure and transparent blockchain network that provides a credible alternative to existing systems of exchange.”


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NielsenIQ: 58% of South African consumers say they're buying a greater variety of brands than before Covid
According to the latest NielsenIQ study released today, 58% of South African consumers say they’re buying a greater variety of brands than they were before Covid-19. Consumers are also largely in search of their perfect brand match, with 76% of South African respondents feeling that if they look hard enough, they can find a brand that fits their exact needs.
These findings appeared in the Brands Balancing Act, which focuses on how inflationary pressures are changing the way small and medium brands can justify their worth and remain aligned to the core values sought by consumers. The analysis also highlighted:
- 55% of South African consumers prefer to buy locally made products from small businesses in their area
- 62% try to support small brands where possible, but are finding it harder to find them on the shelf
- 48% feel that small brands are more authentic and trustworthy than big brands
- 43% think that small brands are usually more expensive, but consumers are prepared to pay a bit.
NielsenIQ global director of Thought Leadership, Lauren Fernandes says: “Despite being largely ‘unfamiliar’ by respondents in terms of notoriety, small and medium brands have a great opportunity in today’s changed consumer landscape. Our data shows that the pandemic has changed consumer needs, values and priorities, and this has had a significant impact on their buying behaviour.”
Amongst the list of reasons to buy a brand, good value for money (97%), availability (96%) and a satisfying customer service (95%) are of utmost importance when making their purchasing decisions. As prices continue to rise across categories, affordability is a top reason backing this trend in functional buying.
“With 48% of global respondents saying that they plan to buy more from smaller brands in the future, clearly, the small and medium sized businesses who can understand motivators for purchase in this new landscape will most likely benefit from consumers’ updated preferences,” says Fernandes. “Today’s macroeconomic environment has created a perfect storm for small and medium-sized businesses to connect with consumers. The key will be finding the right levers, based on the right consumer data, to innovate within this space.”
NielsenIQ, a global information services company, delivers the gold standard in consumer and retail measurement, through the most connected, complete, and actionable understanding of the evolving global, omnichannel consumer. NielsenIQ is the source of confidence for the industries we serve and the pioneer defining the next century of consumer and retail measurement. Our data, connected insights, and predictive analytics optimise the performance of CPG and retail companies, bringing them closer to the communities they serve and helping to power their growth.
NielsenIQ, an Advent International portfolio company, has operations in 90+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit NielsenIQ.com.
Courtesy of Bizcommunity – Full article here


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Cargill Inc. has broken ground on a $22 million plant in Chicago to make BiOH-brand polyols, the company announced July 8. The facility, expected to be operational in November, will be the first world-scale bio-based polyols plant, according to the Minneapolis-based company.
The new plant will produce Cargill's BiOH soybean-based polyols, which are designed to replace petroleum-based chemicals traditionally used in polyurethane products such as flexible foam.
``Only two years ago we committed to building a world-class renewable polyols business and to bring a more responsible option to the industry,'' said Yusuf Wazirzada, business unit leader for Cargill Biobased Polyurethanes. ``We are rapidly delivering on that promise.''
BiOH polyols ``provide a responsible choice in raw materials for furniture cushioning, bedding foams, automotive seats, and building insulation,'' the company said in a news release. The firm also said that manufacturing BiOH polyols results in 36 percent fewer global-warming emissions and requires 61 percent less nonrenewable energy than traditional petroleum-based polyols. ``For every 1 million pounds of BiOH polyols that replace petroleum polyols, 2,200 barrels of crude oil are saved.''
Cargill claims BiOH polyols can deliver unique performance benefits when used in flexible foam applications, including consistent product quality, low odor and load-bearing capabilities.


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Microsoft is expected to cut thousands of jobs, most likely this week, just ahead of its Q4 fiscal 2014 earnings report next week.
Expectations are the Nokia handset division, which n 2009 when it shed more than 5,000 employees., will bear the brunt of the cuts. (Microsoft acquired 25,000 Nokia employees as part of that transaction, adding to its workforce of close to 100,000.) Beyond those possible cuts, Microsoft also may cut more jobs in marketing across the company, Bloomberg reported on July 14, as it did i
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is working to focus the company on fewer, key areas where it has a better chance of winning. The areas whereare largely in the cloud -- with Azure, Office 365, Dynamics CRM Online -- and Office, Windows Server and business intelligence/SQL Server on premises.
The areas where Microsoft is struggling right now -- in terms of market share, positioning or both -- are in Windows on non-PC form factors (in other words, Windows 8, not Windows 7), Windows Phone (both hardware and software), Surface tablets and Xbox consoles.
Some on Wall Street, such as i, are believed to be in favor of Microsoft sticking to its enterprise software and services knitting. Things like tablets and gaming consoles don't have the meaty margins that software and cloud services do, they argue.
But Microsoft officials continue to publicly espouse the belief that Microsoft needs to be a player in both consumer and enterprise because -- as Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner told Microsoft's resellers this week at the partner show --with intertwined home and business lives.
Microsoft is in the midst of attempting to pivot and, rather than a devices and services company. That change is more than semantic. In the post-Ballmer Microsoft, hardware is interesting only insofar as it "lights up" productivity software and services.
Does that mean Microsoft will or should offload its hardware-focused businesses and leave the building of gadgets and appliances up to its OEM partners? I think many on Wall Street would say yes, but Microsoft management still seems to be saying, at least for now, no.
So if you're Microsoft management, where do you make cuts if you're trying to pare Microsoft down to core businesses where it has the best chance of winning?
Do you continue along the low-cost, high-volume path, which has been where Microsoft traditionally has focused? In the case of Windows Phone, that might make sense, given the bulk of Microsoft's success with that platform has been with cheaper smartphones, not higher-end flagship Lumia phones. If that's your plan, things likemake more sense.
Or do you shift gears and focus on offering premium software, services and hardware like Surface tablets and Perceptive Pixel large-screen touch displays? Leave the race to the bottom to Android vendors and focus on finding ways to upsell users on more premium hardware, software and services?
I don't know which way Microsoft will go. I'm thinking the expected layoffs -- based on what the company has done in the past when it has cut jobs -- won't result in many entire product lines or divisions being axed. (And at least some of those cut are likely to end up in new roles at Microsoft if the past is any indication.) But the cuts should provide more of an indication of where this "productivity and platforms" company will focus in 2015 and beyond.


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Indie auteur Wes Anderson didn’t make this new ad for Oreos, but it sure looks like he did. It’s adorable, quirky and downright twee.
The two-minute mini-movie covers a lot of tried-and-true Anderson tropes, including a wizened narrator, highly stylized alternate universe, precocious kids and sweet twist at the end. Sorry, loyalists, no Bill Murray.
Ad executives at The Martin Agency, who copped to being Anderson fans themselves, said they didn’t purposely set out to mimic the filmmaker’s distinctive tone and tactics. They wanted to make a piece of content that felt more cinematic and less like a typical commercial for Mini Oreos, a product that hasn’t had any advertising for years.
Their idea of creating a diminutive store called Mel’s Mini Mini Mart, which sells only a certain bite-sized cookie, and placing it on a dusty roadside, though, would be right at home in most any Anderson flick.
Executives actually made the spot on spec, building the tiny convenience store in associate creative director Brig White’s garage and shooting the footage with their own equipment and team on a weekend, without permits, not far from their Richmond, Virginia, offices.
“It just seemed like a better way to sell an idea than giving the client a script,” said Danny Robinson, svp/creative director at the agency, which is responsible for much-lauded work for full-sized Oreos under the “Wonderfilled” tagline. “Our storytelling around Oreo has been about changing perspective and looking beyond the surface, and we wanted to show how this carried the thread.”
Brand shepherds at Oreo’s parent company, Mondelez, liked what they saw enough to carve out some cash from their television ad budget so the agency could remake and polish the spot. It’ll air online and in movie theaters around the country as part of pre-show programs.
White, who directed the video, said he meant to borrow a bit from Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the French filmmaker behind Amelie, and didn’t notice the Anderson parallels until colleagues pointed them out.
“There were a number of influences and it’s flattering that anyone sees Wes Anderson in it,” White said, “As soon as we wrote it, we just had so much love for it.”
As it turns out, The Martin Agency isn’t the only one taking cues, either outright or subliminally, from the creator of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, Rushmore and other critical darlings. (He’s also a successful commercial director, not coincidentally, and the Internet is lovingly rife with “what if Wes Anderson made this ad” parodies).
Anderson’s thumbprint – figuratively speaking — is all over a spate of recent ads, which put some of his recognizable flourishes to work selling politicians, health insurance, skin care products, clothing and cars.
The “Live Long in Oregon” ad campaign for that state’s healthcare exchange ended up garnering national attention, mainly because it was hawking a hopelessly flawed website. The ads themselves, though, were some cross between a Portlandia skit and an Anderson-conceived acoustic musical number. John Oliver, comedian and host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, made a parody with singer Lisa Loeb after calling the original “violently adorable.” It’s tough to disagree.
In a blatant, and hilarious, rip-off, local politician Brett Smiley uses everything from an overachieving besuited grade schooler to a marriage proposal via PowerPoint presentation in his campaign ad. He’s running for mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, a liberal bastion where there just may be a few Anderson fans. They’ll probably see the humor.
Another advertiser, Tommy Hilfiger, also tried for a little Anderson magic:
Two preternaturally intelligent children banter back and forth in a Honda spot called “Gas Station Kids.” Love blooms, chastely, and then she’s gone. But not without picking up on his Thomas Carlyle reference. So very Andersonian.
Of course, Anderson is no stranger to TV commercial work himself. Here are a few of his top ads:


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A European self-driving company has entered into a partnership agreement with an Israeli security firm in a bid to accelerate their attempts to develop autonomous vehicles. Vedocom Tech and Israel's Karamba Security announced their collaboration by releasing a joint-statement. Both organizations expressed its confidence in the new partnership, which they hope can propel them into developing autonomous cars that will be deployed across major European cities in the next year.
A spokesman for Vedecom Tech said that 'completely autonomous' vehicles will be launched for commercial use in late 2017, or early next year. In addition to this, he disclosed that the commercial deployment will be by municipalities in France, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Holland.
It is believed that Israeli company Karamba's main focus will be on protecting the self-driving cars from potential cyber-attacks on external communications between vehicles, surrounding infrastructure and internal electronics in the car. The statement said the collaboration will represent the production of the automotive industry's first-ever 'cyberattack-secured' vehicle. It read, "This marks the industry's first production of cyberattack-secured, commercially-available automobiles."
The European self-driving company is a subsidiary of Vedecom Public Foundation, whose members include car manufacturing giants such as Renault, Peugeot and Valeo. The executive chairman of Karamba, David Barzilai, claimed that the first vehicles will be deployed in the French city of Versailles. The vehicles will be short-haul cars targeting tourists.
According to analysts fully self-driving vehicles are not expected to be widely available until 2021, but carmakers are already offering a variety of semi-autonomous driver assistance systems, such as Elon Musk's Tesla organization. Last week, Volvo Group announced that from 2019 onwards, all new models and vehicles produced by the car manufacturing colossus will be either electric or fully autonomous. Volvo is the first of the traditional car manufacturers to publicly state it would stop producing vehicles being powered by self-combustion engines.


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Blue Bell's Homemade Vanilla will be one of the company's first ice cream flavors to hit store shelves next week, the company announced on Instagram Monday (Aug. 24).
The Brenham, Texas-based company said last week it would start shipping products Aug. 31. Blue Bell recalled all of its products and shut down production at its manufacturing facilities after a listeria outbreak in several of its plants.
10:25 D.C. Braces for Tens of Thousands of Protesters During Trump’s Inauguration Week12
02:37 Nearly 40 Democratic lawmakers now skipping Trump’s inauguration26
16:16 Luxottica, Essilor $24 billion merger creates eyewear giant18
05:09 Sterling slides to 3-month lows on 'hard Brexit' fears13