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Browse press releases below or select media contacts to reach out to our team
April 7, 2020 | Port Tracker, Supply Chain, Trade
Imports at major U.S. retail container ports dropped to their lowest level in five years in March, and are projected to remain significantly below normal through early summer as the coronavirus pandemic continues, according to the Global Port Tracker report from NRF and Hackett Associates.
April 1, 2020 | Economic Review, Economy
In the April issue of the NRF's Monthly Economic Review, Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz says the coronavirus pandemic “has triggered shocks” – but that the underlying economy is sound.
March 27, 2020 | Economy
The CARES Act will provide critical financial relief for American workers, families and small businesses impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
March 25, 2020 | Economy
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said economic stimulus legislation intended to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic will help businesses "get through this turbulent time."
March 21, 2020 |
Business groups send letter to White House calling for swift and flexible economic stabilization efforts
NRF was among 90 retail industry trade groups that sent a letter to the White House today.
March 15, 2020 |
Joint statement from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay and RILA President Brian Dodge.
March 13, 2020 |
Statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay in response to the COVID-19 pandemic being declared a national emergency.
March 12, 2020 |
Bill Thorne, SVP of communications and public affairs, will become the new executive director of the NRF Foundation.
March 10, 2020 |
NRF, AAFA, RILA and USFIA are working together to address the situation.
March 9, 2020 | Port Tracker, Supply Chain, Trade, Forecasts
The coronavirus outbreak is expected to have a longer and larger impact on imports at major U.S. retail container ports than previously believed as factory shutdowns and travel restrictions in China continue to affect production, according to the Global Port Tracker report from NRF and Hackett Associates.


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JITA: Thousands of starving Capsuleers were celebrating last night after they joined dancing household pets and celebrity AMA’s on the world’s most popular internet front page, reddit.
“I can’t believe we finally made it,” said Maggy Lycander as she waited seven hours for bread in Sendaya. “I mean, we’re right up there with ’7 Reasons Your Cat Is Adorable’, ’15 Sexy CCP Devs’ and ’25 Funniest Shadoo Photobombing Memes’. This is the best day ever!”
Failing to mention she had just fell from the arsehole of her Titan doomsday machine.
The article on the starving Capsuleers, number 9 on the reddit top list at the time of going to press, was yesterday wedged between a three-second repeating GIF video of Reese Witherspoon at the Golden Globes and an article about McDonald’s secret menu items.
“Our starvation right next to the McDonald’s menu! It’s just awesome,” said Chango Atacama as he was seen hunting for scraps in a burned out Ragnarok hull.
Regular reddit reader and Curse resident, KarmaHoney_YoloSwagMommy94, said she was ‘real glad’ to see the Capsuleers on the reddit list. “I didn’t click on it or anything but it made me feel like a good person because I read the headline and gave it an upvote,” she said.
Reddit news editor, Auto Moderator, said that the EVE Online article generated 191,215 clicks, compared to 32,546,457 for ’19 Dogs Who Would Be Awesome Ninjas’ and 43,569,324 for ’12 Things Only Short People Born In The 80s Would Understand’.

domain: news


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‘We want developers to be successful’
Speaking in a keynote address atIndieCade’s professional conference Friday,SCEA vice president of publisher and developer relations Adam Boyes addressed exclusives and their impact on independent developers.
“Right now exclusives are just a way for [console makers] to brag louder,” Boyes said. “Nobody gains from exclusivity in perpetuity.”
Though exclusive content might encourage hardware sales, Sony wants studios to be successful. “Developers now have the option to deliver on a huge number of platforms,” Boyes added, saying this will almost inevitably lead to multiplatform publishing.


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Hyundai will equip second generation Genesis with HTRAC
Hyundai has confirmed that the upcoming Genesis sedan will get the HTRAC all-wheel drive system. Europe is the home market for the Genesis sedan and the new model is expected to be unveiled by the end of this year. The current Genesis is a rear-wheel drive.
The new model is expected to be an all wheel drive, while the current Genesis is a rear wheel drive
The HTRAC system electronically controls torque split between the front and rear axles depending on road and driving conditions, offering greater stability on slippery roads and in corners. Unlike the mechanical AWD system which splits limited torque between front and rear wheels, the HTRAC allows drivers to select driving modes for further optimal ride quality. Hyundai has honed the drivetrain of this car at their Nurburgring centre.
"Hyundai Motor's HTRAC system has secured best-in-class durability and driving performance through strict tests carried out in various locations worldwide, including the famed Nürburgring in Germany, the Yeongam F1 circuit in Korea and in severe winter tests in Europe. We expect our customers to feel world-class safety and driving performance in the all-new Genesis equipped with the HTRAC system," said Woong-Chul Yang, vice chairman and head - R&D Center, Hyundai Motor Company.
- 2021 Force Gurkha deliveries begin across India
- Comparison review: Jeep Compass vs Citroen C5 Aircross
- Near-production Skoda Slavia spied ahead of early 2022 launch
- 2021 Toyota Innova Crysta Limited Edition launched with added tech features, prices unchanged
- Top 10 best selling cars in India 2021 - Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai dominate


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Ferrari NV hired Apple Inc.’s former design chief Jony Ive as it readies its debut into full electric vehicles.
Mr. Ive’s design company LoveFrom Inc., which he formed in 2019 alongside industrial designer Marc Newson, will work with Ferrari and its largest shareholder, Netherlands-based Exor NV on a number of projects, the companies said Monday.
Exor is the holding company controlled by Italy’s Agnelli family that also holds stakes in Stellantis—of which Chrysler and Fiat are part of—and the Italian soccer team Juventus F.C.
Ferrari declined to reveal the specifics of the collaboration, but said it sees potential in working with LoveFrom across the whole range of its business. Alongside its legacy production of its engine-powered cars, the company sells clothes, watches and other apparel.
Ferrari said in April that its first battery-powered vehicle would hit showrooms in 2025.
LoveFrom is set to work with Exor on other projects outside of the Ferrari brand. John Elkann, chairman and chief executive of Exor, and chairman of Ferrari, said the holding company had started talks with LoveFrom’s founders soon after they formed the design firm.
“Ferrari represents a first, exciting chance to do great things together as we build our future,” Mr. Elkann said.
Luxury car makers and auto giants are expected to drive more than a dozen electric models into U.S. showrooms this year, competing for drivers alongside stand-alone EV startups such as Lucid Motors Inc. and Rivian Automotive LLC, as well as electric flag-bearer Tesla Inc.
Meanwhile Apple, Mr. Ive’s former employer, is said to also be exploring a move into automotive as the industry and its customers embrace electrification. Ford Motor Co. earlier this month hired Apple vice president Doug Field, who was reported to play a critical role in the tech company’s automotive ventures.
Mr. Ive assumed leadership of Apple’s design team in 1996. He spearheaded the 2015 launch of the Apple Watch, and worked on the company’s new headquarters which opened in 2017.
Write to Katie Deighton at email@example.com
Copyright ©2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


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India’s health sector and medical industry may see negative effects in the future stemming from an over reliance on imports of medicine and raw materials from China, claims the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA), the apex organisation for Indian pharmacists. However, these Chinese raw materials are used in medicines destined for domestic consumption and for export to other developing countries; consumers in Europe and North America get high-quality products made with Indian raw materials.
India has created a generics market that sends low cost medications across the globe. This has earned it the title of “the pharmacy of the developing world”. The larger India’s generics market becomes, however, the more it depends on a steady supply of raw materials. These raw materials are not frequently sourced within India, making the industry dependent on those supplying the materials.
A cause of concern
The IPCA has marked this as a cause of concern. They note that around 75 percent of bulk drug imports are sourced from China. This includes both medicines and raw materials, often including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), the active substances in medicines. Estimates from the IPCA calculate that around 80 percent of all raw pharmaceutical materials used in Indian manufacturing are sourced externally.
In a more conservative estimate the Lok Sabha was told by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh L. Mandaviya claiming 66 percent of all APIs were imported from China. The total value of the imports reached a considerable figure of Rs 12,254.97 crore over the 2016 to 2017 period. Mandaviya said he had no concerns over the figure, citing economic considerations as the reason behind the vast number of imports.
The government has acted to reduce reliance on imports but its efforts have only paid off in products made for export to Europe and North America. On January 29, 2016, the government decided to withdraw customs duty exemptions on import of 73 active ingredients. This made the import of active ingredients more expensive and has, over two years, reduced the value of the imports. However, the volume remains very high.
Chinese APIs are rarely used in products designed for the US or Europe because the strict regulations in those countries would not permit it. However, Niranjan Singh, a consultant who helps Chinese pharmaceutical companies get their products registered in India says that Chinese APIs are used in products destined for India and the rest of the world because they are cheaper.
Sourcing all the active ingredients within India would drive up production costs significantly. This might allow cheaper imports to take a bigger hold on the Indian market.
Concerns have been expressed over the supply line largely being restricted so a single country. “Over-dependence on China for APIs is likely to affect the bulk drug manufacturing sector, and subsequently have an impact on our population in plausible scenarios of drug shortages brought down by interrupted imports from single source country,” said Dr. Dhirender Kaushik, Organising Secretary of the 69th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress.
While India clearly has the technical capacity for production of the AP, using these products for all medicines produced in India would be costly. This could cause an upset that could cause long lasting effects on the generic market. Opposing this is the possibility of supply chains from China being broken. Even temporarily this could cripple Indian generics companies ability to manufacture. Either scenario could be disastrous, leaving both the pharma industry and policy makers scrambling for a viable solution.


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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – German drug company Merck says it has agreed to buy St Louis-based chemical firm Sigma-Aldrich Corp for $17 billion in a deal Merck says will strengthen its business in chemicals and laboratory equipment.
Darmstadt-based Merck KGaA said Monday it is paying $140 per share in cash for all of Sigma-Aldrich’s shares – a premium of 37 per cent over Friday’s closing price of $102.37.
Sigma-Aldrich has over 9,000 employees worldwide and supplies chemicals and laboratory equipment to government and commercial facilities. It said its board of directors has unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close next year, subject to regulators’ approval.
Sigma-Aldrich CEO Rakesh Sachdev said the deal was a “very positive outcome” for shareholders due to the price premium and for employees, “who will benefit from enhanced opportunities as part of a larger, more global organisation.”
Merck said it would expand the reach of its EMD Millipore chemical and equipment division, based in Billerica, Massachusetts. “In one of the world’s key industries two companies that fit perfectly together have found each other to present a much broader product offering to our global customers” in research facilities and drug manufacturing, said Merck CEO Karl-Ludwig Kley.
Employees of pharmaceutical company Merck Serono stage a die-in during a demonstration in front of the pharmaceutical company Merck, in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 19, 2012. Merck says it has agreed to buy St Louis-based chemical firm Sigma-Aldrich Corp for $17 billion in a deal Merck says will strengthen its business in chemicals and laboratory equipment – EPA
Merck said the combination would enable it to save 260 million euros ($340 million dollars) a year in costs within three years after closing the deal. The company said, however, that it would maintain a “significant presence” in both Billerica and St Louis.
Merck shares shot up on the announcement, trading 8.9 per cent higher at 75.82 euros.
The company said it already had financing for the deal and would pay using a combination of cash, bank loans and bonds.
Merck KGaA is not affiliated with US drug maker Merck & Co.


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Conclave Infratech, which owns The Conclave hotel in Hyderabad, alleges contract breach of Rs 13 lakh per month since May 2018
Oyo, which is undertaking layoffs across multiple markets across the globe, as it struggles to rein in costs, said losses in its home market of India had, however, been pared down to $83 million for fiscal 2019.
FabHotels has denied these allegations even as some hotel owners have filed cases against the Goldman Sachs and Accel Partners-backed budget hotel chain.
The Vision Fund posted an operating loss of 225 billion yen ($2.05 billion) for the quarter compared with a 176 billion yen profit in the same period a year earlier.
Some late-stage consumer internet and B2B startups are also evaluating flipping their parent companies abroad, a process that usually takes as long as one year, they told ET.
Young employees are more concerned about their earning capacity while for experienced candidates, it is about their role, ownership of tasks, job security and opportunity to grow
Some parts of Oyo Hotels & Homes weren’t probably ready for the pace of growth it has witnessed and the hospitality chain is trying to address such issues this year, says its new chief executive for India and South Asia, Rohit Kapoor
With the rush of capital and new types of investors coming in, venture capitalists said the time taken for startups to grow their business and rack up $100 million in funding has also shrunk over the past few years.
A large part of the money likely to be used to grow Oyo's US business; valuation soars to $10 billion
Students with engineering degrees, especially those from the computer science, electronic and electrical streams, are back in big demand this placement season at the IIMs and other top business schools.
Screenshots shared by the researcher showed that Oravel Stays, the parent company of Oyo Hotels & Homes, has offered to pay Rs 25,000 to the researcher for reporting the vulnerability.
Under the terms of the partnership Drivezy has stationed 1,200 bikes in multiple Oyo properties with the aim of parking 100,000 vehicles over the next three years
The top 10 list this year featured three new entrants - bike-sharing startup Bounce, AI-driven crowdsourced marketplace, Playment, and an online doctor consultation platform, mfine.
Kunal Shah, founder of Cred and Maninder Gulati, chief strategy officer at Oyo Rooms also participated in the round in their personal capacity.
The three-year loans that has already caused stir in banking and technology circles have been given against shares. They are expected to get repaid during the company’s proposed IPO in three years time.
The company cited a “large” potential investment round falling through as the reason for the retrenchment
A closer look at today's biggest tech and startup news and why they matter.
Some private e-commerce names have been creating quite a splash in the unlisted market.
OYO Hotels & Homes is looking into setting up a hospitality property fund and has held discussions with a number of global money managers on this, people in the know said.


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A federal judge is expected to decide on Sunday morning whether to allow the US government to ban new downloads of TikTok in the Apple and Google app stores. The ban would take effect later that same day at 11:59 p.m. ET unless it's blocked.
The US Justice Department had until Friday to either delay the ban or file legal papers defending it. The DOJ filed a sealed opposition to TikTok's preliminary injunction to block the ban of the video app.
US District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, DC, is scheduled to hold a hearing on TikTok's preliminary injunction request at 9:30 a.m. ET, according to court documents.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in August that bars any US transactions with TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Trump, citing national security concerns, announced his intention to ban TikTok unless it was purchased by a US company.
Trump's executive order said the data TikTok collects "threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' personal and proprietary information" and could allow China to track the location of federal employees and contractors. TikTok says it's never turned over US user data to the Chinese government and wouldn't do so even if it were asked.
The administration has issued two executive orders concerning TikTok. An Aug. 6 order would've barred any US transactions with ByteDance and was set to go into effect on Sunday. A separate executive order, issued Aug. 14, ordered ByteDance to sell its US operations by Nov. 12.
TikTok and ByteDance sued the Trump administration on Sept. 18 for a second time after the Commerce Department announced an upcoming ban on new downloads of TikTok this month. In the lawsuit, the companies allege that Trump overstepped his authority and that the upcoming ban violates free speech and due process.
A deal for Oracle and Walmart to acquire stakes in the US operations of TikTok appeared in jeopardy as Trump said he'd revoke his initial approval of the deal if ByteDance retained a stake in a newly created company that would house the US operations.
The three companies said over the weekend they had struck a deal that gives Oracle and Walmart a combined 20% stake in a new company, TikTok Global, that would provide service to American users and run on Oracle's cloud computing service.
Neither the White House nor ByteDance responded to requests for comment.


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SANTA FE, NM — Electric vehicles are gaining in popularity and recognition and a car show is taking place Saturday in Santa Fe Plaza to reflect that.
PNM and AVANGRID are hosting their first Electric Vehicle Car Show from 10 am to 3 pm Saturday. The show is free and open to the public.
For anyone with an EV, you can bring yours and enter it into the car show. To sign up to be entered in the show, visit this website and learn more about the EV car show on the PNM website.
Danielle Todesco talked with an organizer about the event, in the video above.


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Painesville Local Business
Local business in Painesville, OH
Sunday Nov 24 | via Crain's Cleveland Business
ECM BioFilms Inc. chief financial officer Kenneth Sullivan, left, and president and CEO Robert Sinclair pose in front of a variety of products that contain their firm's biodegradable additives. Comment?
Thursday Nov 21 | via Plastics News
Saying the science is on his side and the Federal Trade Commission is "out of the loop," the CEO of ECM BioFilms Inc. pushed back against allegations the company misrepresented the biodegradability of its products. Comment?


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Trade Finance Global (TFG) is excited to announce that we have partnered with Trade and Export Finance (TXF) for two of their upcoming 2021 flagship conferences
Factoring, as an important method to extend credit, is a type of financial transaction where the creditor assigns its receivables to an assignee at a discount. In recent years, there has been a large growth of factoring transactions around the world.
MSMEs around the globe struggle to obtain financing. Why do these MSME financing constraints exist and is a digital future providing new hope for all those firms that are struggling to stay afloat?
WTO, TFG and ICC have today launched their latest publication ‘Accelerating trade digitalization to support MSME financing’
We take a dive into the world of Letters of Credit (LCs) and Standby Letters of Credit – some of the essential tools in cross-border trade transactions.
LONDON, March 16, 2021. Trade Finance Global released its spring issue of Trade Finance Talks entitled ‘A pathway towards sustainable trade finance’.
A three pillar approach to achieving a more sustainable and inclusive future for global trade
Data will be at the centre of a brave new world in trade finance – Natasha Condon, JP Morgan
As MSMEs are weaned off fiscal support, a radical new attitude to how they access working capital will be needed more than ever.
As Africa enters a revolutionary period of intra-continental trade, factoring will be crucial to the growth of MSMEs.
How interactive tools can empower firms to trace vital supplies in times of crisis
Digitalising these documents may seem like a bridge too far for some banks, but the risks of not investing in these technologies are comparatively greater.
The resilience of global supply chains lies with…ANY IDEAS? Alexander Malaket explains what COVID-19 means for future access to trade finance
Ziyang David Fan at World Economic Forum discusses how TradeTech can help build a resilience in global value chains (GVCs)
The very public implosion of a high-flying boutique finance firm has left ripples in the Supply Chain Finance industry. Should we reverse this outcome?


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ALOR SETAR: An 11-year-old boy had to endure almost 30 minutes of excruciating pain when the big toe of his right foot was stuck in an escalator at a shopping complex here.
A Kedah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operation centre spokesman said the department received an emergency call from the management of the shopping complex at 2.54pm Saturday (May 14).
"A team was dispatched to the scene. The rescue work was also assisted by the maintenance personnel of the shopping complex and the boy’s big toe was pulled out after 15 minutes.
"Early treatment was given by the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) before the victim was sent to the Putra Medical Centre (PMC) by the management of the shopping complex for further treatment,” he said in a statement here.
Bernama journalist Ima Aimi Nadia Ibrahim who happened to be at the location of the incident heard the screams and cries of the boy and rushed to the escalator on the second floor of the shopping complex.
"The maintenance personnel tried to help the victim before the firemen arrived but I urged them to stop because the victim was crying and screaming in pain. I was worried that the boy could suffer a more serious injury.
"As soon as the firemen arrived, they calmed the victim down while trying to pull the toe out. They were able to do so after 15 minutes and the victim suffered a slight injury on the big toe of his right foot,” she said. - Bernama


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NEW YORK, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co agreed to change labels on its Vitaminwater beverages to resolve a lawsuit claiming it overstated their health benefits, but will not owe damages to consumers who alleged they were misled into buying the drinks.
Under a settlement made public late Wednesday and ending more than six years of litigation, Coca-Cola would add the words “with sweeteners” in two places on Vitaminwater bottles, and display calorie counts more prominently.
It would also stop making some claims about the beverages, including the phrase “vitamins + water = all you need” and that drinking Vitaminwater may improve metabolic or immune functions or reduce the risk of eye disease.
The settlement requires approval by a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York.
Coca-Cola would begin making the changes within three months, and complete them within two years.
The Atlanta-based company would also pay up to $2.73 million to cover fees and expenses of the plaintiffs’ lawyers.
Food and beverage companies are often targeted in lawsuits claiming that their products are less healthy than advertised.
PepsiCo Inc in 2013 agreed to stop calling its “Naked” juices “all natural” as part of a $9 million settlement.
Vitaminwater is part of a beverage category sometimes called “enhanced water,” filling a gap between soft drinks and water.
“We are pleased to reach an amicable resolution of these cases,” a Coca-Cola spokeswoman said. “Although we remain confident in our legal position, it simply made no sense to continue this costly legal battle.”
The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), and the law firms Scott + Scott LLP and Reese LLP.
In court papers, the plaintiffs’ lawyers called the accord reasonable given the litigation risks, and said that even if Coca-Cola could settle for more “it is more important that a class receive some relief than possibly ‘yet more’ relief.”
Maia Kats, director of litigation for the CSPI, said: “Injunctive relief is critical to protecting consumers moving forward, and our plaintiffs fully support that goal and end.”
Vitaminwater comes in flavors such as acai-blueberry-pomegranate, dragonfruit and tropical citrus. A typical 20-ounce (591 ml) bottle contains 120 calories and 32 grams of sugar.
The cases are Ackerman et al v. Coca-Cola Co et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 09-00395; and Ford v. Coca-Cola Co et al in the same court, No. 11-02355. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Spray Sunscreen Review Heats Up As FDA Looks Into Burn Report
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
FDA launched an inquiry following a report that a man suffered second-degree burns after using a Banana Boat spray sunscreen from Energizer Personal Care. The firm has submitted to FDA data showing the safety and efficacy of spray sunscreens, in support of their inclusion in the final monograph.
You may also be interested in...
Energizer Personal Care’s recall of 23 Banana Boat spray sunscreen SKUs came in response to five reports of consumers burned after using the products. A broader problem may be the lack of a formal or recognized industry standard for dispensing volumes of continuous spray sunscreens.
The Environmental Working Group says many children’s sunscreens have “safer, more effective ingredients than those in other products.” But the Personal Care Products Council questions EWG’s research, saying the group’s report “could confuse consumers and discourage them from using sunscreen.”
The marketer of Coppertone sun care products says “it is reasonable to assume” the “element of convenience” with spray products would encourage consumers to apply sunscreen initially, and promote reapplication.


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IBEF: September 14, 2021
The UK government said that Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal would hold virtual discussions with his UK counterpart, Mrs. Liz Truss, on Monday to explore the next steps in launching negotiations for a UK-India trade deal.
The meetings between Secretary of State Mrs. Truss and Mr. Goyal, according to the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT), are part of preparations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. It comes after the UK's official consultation process ended ahead of the August 31 discussions.
Following the close of the public consultation on August 31, International Trade Secretary Mrs. Liz Truss will meet with Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr. Piyush Goyal to discuss timeframes and next actions in beginning negotiations for a UK-India trade pact, according to the DIT.
The negotiations for a free trade deal with India are moving further. It was stated that an agreement would provide a significant boost to UK exporters by cutting tariffs, simplifying regulation, and increasing bilateral trade, which totaled 23 billion Pounds in 2019.
Given India's position as one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, with over a billion customers, increasing UK-India commerce has been termed a tremendous opportunity by the UK.
Mrs. Truss remarked at a City of London Corporation event last week honouring the UK-India economic cooperation, “I see the UK and India in a sweet spot of the trade dynamics that are shaping up.”
We are considering a comprehensive trade deal that would include everything from financial services to legal services to digital and data, as well as commodities and agriculture. We believe we have a good chance of reaching an early deal in which both sides cut tariffs and more products move between our two nations, she added.
Mr. Goyal has also stated that a trade arrangement with the United Kingdom for early harvest is in the pipeline.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.


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* See the Top 75 China-made brands and Top 422 models by clicking on the title *
If you thought all records that could possibly be broken already have in China this year, think again. Consumers take advantage of the last month of purchase tax for vehicles with small engines reduced to 5% to once again flock to dealerships en masse. Light vehicle sales are up 9.1% to 2.67 million units, the largest ever monthly figure in China – and any country in the world. If sedans are down 3% year-on-year this month to 1.251.299 units and MPVs down 0.3% to 269.496, SUVs continue to be the sole responsible for the Chinese market growth in December, catapulting up 33% on December 2015 to establish a 4th all-time monthly record in as many months. After September (891.612), October (919.279) and November (1.023.633), December SUV sales lift the all-time high bar to 1.081.014 units. It is indeed only the second month in history that SUV monthly sales surpass 1 million in China. Freefalling microvans make up the rest of light vehicle sales.
In the brands ranking – with all figures in this article excluding imports and LCVs – Volkswagen doubles the market growth at +13% followed by Hyundai up 14%. The performer of the month is without a doubt Chinese SUV specialist Haval, up a gigantic 73% to a record 136.522 deliveries, shooting up to third best-selling brand overall in China. This month, Haval outsells household names such as Honda (133.225), Buick (123.278), Nissan (109.982), Ford (99.788) and Toyota (92.019), and sells almost three times as many SUVs than its followers in the segment: Changan (52.099) and Honda (50.623). The Haval H6 lodges a third straight monthly record: after 56.666 sales in October, 70.292 in November, no less than 80.485 H6 found a new home in December, up 89% year-on-year. Haval even has the two best-selling SUVs in the country this month with the H2 up 76% to 35.284, boosted by the arrival of the H2s. Finally the H7 continues to gear up with a new record at 10.852 sales.
Geely is the other stunning performer in December with once again sales doubling year-on-year at +101% to 109.328, a new record for the brand which has now posted six-digit sales figures for the second consecutive month – and ever. The Emgrand EC7 remains the brand’s best-seller at 28.539 units (+21%) but the Boyue SUV is catching up fast, crossing a new milestone at 20.377 sales. The Emgrand GS (10.222) and GL (10.103) also break their monthly record while the Vision (12.028) and Vision SUV (10.526) maintain themselves at very robust levels. Baojun is the third Chinese brand above 100.000 sales in December, and it passes its signpost for the first time in its history thanks to all-time high performances by the 730 MPV (50.128) and 310 hatch (17.896).
Further down, notice Changan (+43%), Dongfeng (+12%), Chery (+25%), Peugeot (+12%), GAC Trumpchi (+30%) and Roewe (+189%) resuscitated by the RX5 SUV breaking its monthly record again to 24.778 and 7th best-selling SUV. Historical event in the luxury brands ranking: for the first time in the history of automobile in China, Mercedes takes the lead thanks to a 14% lift to 34.582 sales, dethroning Audi down 42% to 27.063 while BMW lurks in third place at 26.427 (+9%). Mercedes is taking advantage of exceptional performances by the new E-Class (+72%) and GLC (+92%). Among smaller brands, Lifan up 108% thanks to the Myway at a record 10.138, Cadillac up 168% thanks to the CT6 and XT5, Jeep up 144% with the Cherokee and Renegade now joined by the Compass, JMC up 380% and Changhe up 99% are among the biggest gainers. We also welcome two new brands: Bisu and Horki. More detail in our “Focus on all-new models” December update coming shortly.
In the models ranking, other notable record-breakers this month include the Chery Arrizo 5 (21.148) now comfortably installed in 2nd place in the Chinese passenger car ranking below the Geely Emgrand EC7, the Hyundai New Verna (19.080), BYD Song (18.178), Dongfeng Fengguang 580 (17.078), BAIC Senova X35 (16.348), Peugeot 408 (14.855), Chevrolet Cavalier (14.834), Ford Edge (13.837), Chery Tiggo 7 (11.039), Citroen C3-XR (10.239), Jeep Cherokee (10.109), JMC Yusheng (9.623), SWM X7 (7.168), BAW BJ20 (6.637) and Hanteng X7 (6.031).
Among nameplates launched last month, three comfortably cross the 5.000 monthly sales milestone: the Karry K60 is first to the finish line in December with 6.829 sales, up 160% on its inaugural month, but it is followed closely by the Zotye SR9 up 105% to 6.747. The most impressive performance however is tdelivered by the GAC Trumpchi GS8 up 160% to 6.501 sales and mimicking the success of its little brother the GS4, a lot more affordable. Priced between 163.800 and 259.800 yuan (US$23.500 – 37.300), the GS8 has already smashed the bar for success we established at 6.000 sales. The Renault Koleos is up 9% to remain above the Kadjar but the VW C-Trek surprisingly dives 51% to just 2.772 sales. This month’s all-new nameplates will be covered in a separate post shortly.
Previous month: China November 2016: One million SUVs lift market up 17%
Full December 2016 Top 75 China-made brands and Top 422 models below.


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Redazzle 2010 Set for February 25th
Recently, the ladies of Trendsetters launched an outdoor advertising campaign to promote Redazzle. Currently in its second year, Redazzle is scheduled Thursday, February 25 at The Cotton Mill. Enjoy a great evening with a fashion show, silent auction and a jewelry exchange. In addition, several area boutiques will be there displaying their merchandise. Proceeds from this event benefit Hope’s Door, a women and children’s shelter in Collin County. According to Sarah Marshall, a member of Trendsetters, “Last year, this event raised $5,000 with a little over than 300 ladies attending. This year, our goal is to have 500 ladies in attendance.”
Wayne Reynolds, Owner/President of Radius Mobile Media, said “I am excited that Radius Mobile Media is able to partner with Trendsetters in promoting Redazzle to the local community. This is a great event benefiting a local organization dedicated to assisting women and children in need, and I am confident that the ladies will reach their goal of attendance numbers.”
About Radius Mobile Media, LLC: Radius Mobile Media is the premier provider of Mobile Outdoor Advertising and Marketing in North Texas. Operating in affluent Plano, Frisco, Allen and McKinney, Radius Mobile Media provides extensive daily and event coverage for large brands and those that want to become large. As a member of the award-winning GoMobile Advertising Network, Radius Mobile Media provides local, regional and national reach with direct access to over 100 mobile advertising assets in 60+ markets across the country. For a media kit or more information, please visit www.RadiusMobileMedia.com or call 469.396.3464.


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Legal Weed Is Coming Fast To Massachusetts, But What About Cafes?
In 2016 Massachusetts voted to legalize recreational cannabis with some exciting add-ons, namely home bud delivery and cannabis social clubs or cafes. However, in March of this year, the Cannabis Control Commision changed all that.
India’s Innovation Is Booming In An Underground Cannabis-Centric Market
Among the top ten cities in the world consuming the most cannabis per capita per...
Quadron Cannatech Sells First High-Tech Mobile Extraction Module
TLC Botanicals in Langley, B.C. purchased Quadron Cannatech’s first mobile extraction module recently and the new machine is set to revolutionize how pen extractions are done.
This American Cafe Just Debuted CBD-Infused Ice Cream
Marijuana is simply part of our culture now, all the way to down-home, local sweets.
The 3 Stocks To Watch As Canada Legalizes Cannabis
Canada is on the brink of legalizing cannabis nationwide after the Canadian Senate recently voted 56-30 in favor of the move.
The East Coast’s Largest Marijuana Dispensary Opens In NJ
Since Governor Phil Murphy took office, medical marijuana in the Garden State has expanded beautifully.
Mitch McConnell Is On Board With Descheduling Hemp
It is speculated that hemp’s ability to make paper, fiber, plastics and even fuel was a major reason for it being banned.


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Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game is less than a week away from being the next Olympics release!
So, check out everything we know so far about the upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game below.
Latest News - Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 available on multiple platforms this week
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game is set to release on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC (via Steam), Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
While technically moving to next gen because of optimization for Xbox Series X|S, there won't be any changes to the features in this Olympics Video Game on next gen.
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game
While this will be the first Olympics Video Game to land on next gen platforms, it continues a longstanding tradition dating back to 1984.
The first officially licensed Olympics Video Game was Hyper Olympic '84, an Arcade title that got the Olympic license only in Japan.
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game will be the 14th official Olympics Video Game, and this year the title is going to be including some less than usual costumes.
Sonic the Hedgehog was revealed as having a less than natural looking costume for the upcoming title, and he's probably not the last unique costume we'll see.
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game has a release date of June 22, 2021.
There is not currently any announced or expected Early Access to be available via pre order or a special edition.
The title initially released on Japan on July 24, 2019 and received a few updates with additional sports or events, but this upcoming release will be the first time the game is available worldwide.
Olympics Video Game Announcement Trailer
The announcement trailer for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game was released on May 26, 2021.
A second trailer was released on May 27, 2021 featuring the new Sonic the Hedgehog costume that will be available in the title.
We don't yet know if there will be more trailers to come for this Olympics Video Game, but they could drop more before the title releases next month.
All Sports & Events
So far, a total of 18 different events or sports are known to be available in Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The official Video Game.
Four of them weren't available in the initial Japanese release for the title and instead added in later updates, so we could get more events added as future DLC.
All of the following sports or events are confirmed for the game so far:
- 4 x 100M Relay
- 110M Hurdles
- Sport Climbing
- Long Jump
- Hammer Throw
- 200M Individual Medley
- Table Tennis
- Football (Soccer)
- 100M Freestyle
- Beach Volleyball
- Rugby Sevens
It will be interesting to see how some of the larger sports included, such as baseball and basketball, compare in this title to their own major franchises like MLB The Show 21 or the upcoming NBA 2K22.
Players will be able to compare gameplay in-game for football (soccer) to titles like FIFA 21 (soon to be FIFA 22) but will have less of a baseline for things like long jump or swimming.
All Playable Nations and Countries
While there aren't any specific Olympic Athletes known to be partnered with this title, we do know which nations should be playable in the release.
The following nations or countries are included in the Japanese release and should still be playable when the title launches worldwide:
- Costa Rica
- Czech Republic
- The Gambia
- Great Britain
- Hong Kong
- Ivory Coast
- New Zealand
- ROC (Russian Olympic Committee)
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Chinese Taipei
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
You'll be able to enjoy the game with others as well, since the title will have local co-op and online multiplayer with two to eight players.


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Ford has announced today that is doubling production of its latest EV, the Ford F-150 Lightning. It has recently stopped taking new reservations of the electric pickup due to increased demand and the company has said it is “completely oversubscribed.”
Production will be increased to 150,000 vehicles per year and the pre-orders for the F-150 Lightning have been capped at 200,000 for now. To help with the demand, Ford has drafted in some other employees from different areas of the business to help with production, with extra help coming from manufacturing, purchasing, strategy, product development, and capacity planning to see if there can be anything done to boost production.
For the company’s other EV, the Mustang Mach-E – Ford has announced that production will be tripled, to help it reach 200,000 per year by 2023.
The Ford F-150 Lightning will go on sale this spring in the US, with prices starting at $39,974.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of J.C. Penney dropped more than 15 percent in premarket trading Thursday as the department store operator reported its fourth straight quarterly loss.
On Wednesday the chain posted a much larger-than-expected loss in its fiscal fourth quarter on a nearly 30 percent plunge in revenue. It's the latest sign that shoppers aren't happy with the changes the Plano, Texas, company has made in the past year.
The quarterly performance puts additional pressure on CEO Ron Johnson, the former Apple Inc. executive who was brought in a little more than a year ago to turn around the stodgy retailer.
J.C. Penney's quarterly loss widened to $552 million, or $2.51 per share, from a loss of $87 million, or 41 cents per share, a year ago. Excluding charges related to restructuring and management changes, its adjusted loss was $1.95 per share.
Total revenue dropped 28.4 percent to $3.88 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expected a loss of 23 cents on revenue of $4.08 billion.
Deborah Weinswig of Citi Investment Research called the performance disappointing, saying in a client note that its thinning profit margins surprised her the most.
The retailer's results fell short of her forecast for a profit of 3 cents per share.
Still, Weinswig said that the company has learned some lessons, as it has brought back promotions and will be running one sale event per week in 2013. The analyst also believes that the launch of nearly 20 home shops and a Joe Fresh shop this spring could help growth.
Weinswig maintained a "Buy" rating, but lowered her price target to $22 from $25.
J.C. Penney Co.'s stock slid $3.26, or 15.4 percent, to $17.90 before the market opened.


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Founded in 1928, Genuine Parts Company (GPC) is a service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products and electrical/electronic materials. Our products and services are offered through a network of approximately 2,600 operations located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.
2013 was GPC’s 86th year in business and our distribution expertise and well positioned, regionally located distribution centers continue to provide us with the unique ability to adapt our products and services to the ever changing needs of our customers. GPC’s commitment and reputation for excellent service and quality products position the Company as a critical partner to our customers’ success.
- Company Generates Record Sales of $4.0 Billion -
- Earnings Per Share of $1.24 Up 11% -
ATLANTA, Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) reports sales and earnings for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
Thomas C. Gallagher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, announced today that record sales totaling $4.0 billion were up 8% compared to the third quarter of 2013. Net income for the quarter was $190.5 million compared to $173.7 mi...
ATLANTA, Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) plans to release Third Quarter Earnings on October 20, 2014. Management will also conduct a conference call on this date at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. The public may access the call on the Company's website, www.genpt.com, by clicking "Investor Services", or by dialing 877-331-5106. The conference ID is 12374803. If you are unable to participate during the call, a replay of the call will be available on the Company's web...
ATLANTA, Aug. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today the election of E. Jenner Wood, III, as a new independent Director of the Company. Mr. Wood is currently Executive Vice President of SunTrust Banks, Inc., a position he has held since 2005, and was also named Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of SunTrust's Atlanta Division in April 2014. Mr. Wood has 39 years of experience in banking and investment management and also serves on the boards of ...
- Company Generates Record Sales of $3.9 Billion and Earnings Per Share of $1.28 -
- EPS Up 9% Before One-Time Adjustment in Prior Year -
ATLANTA, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) reports sales and earnings for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2014.
Thomas C. Gallagher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, announced today that record sales totaling $3.9 billion were up 6% compared to the second quarter of 2013. Net income for the quar...
We will provide without charge, at the request of any shareholder, a hard copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our complete audited financial statements, excluding exhibits. Requests should be made by selecting the "Contact" option found above.
Replication or redistribution of EDGAR Online, Inc. content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of EDGAR Online, Inc. EDGAR Online, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.


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On May 20, NetEase Games will host the annual NetEase Connect 2022 exhibition, giving players a showcase of what awaits us, as well as interesting announcements about existing games on the company’s list. In particular, fans can expect more juicy details about Harry Potter: The Magic Awakening, The Lord of the Rings: Rise of War and Naraka: The Blade.
The NetEase Connect 2022 global epic event, created for developers and publishers, will give players a glimpse into 15 games in a variety of genres, including six new games that will be featured exclusively at the event. The live broadcast, organized by Daniel Robson of IGN Japan and Esra Krabe, will be available on the official NetEase Games website Facebook, Twitch and YouTube pages.
Fans in Japan can catch the broadcast at 4:30 a.m. PST, while fans who want to watch in English can do so at 10:30 a.m. PST.
NetEase Connect 2022 will also give us more information about future collaborations with other studios. Right now, fans are already working out their own assumptions as to what news the big annual product launch will bring, including what many fans consider to be the official announcement of the global launch of Marvel Super War.
For now, all we can do is wait and see, but you can set up alarm clocks and reminders on your calendar to catch the YouTube video built-in above when it finally goes live. You can also join the subscriber community on the official website Facebook page to keep abreast of all the latest developments.
While you wait, you may want to spend time with a wonderful free waste of time that will cost neither your hands nor your feet. If so, why not take a look at our list 25 best free games to play on your iPhone, iPad or Android phone in 2022?


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The idea that Adobe Systems Inc. could be purchased by Microsoft Corp. was never taken very seriously when it first arose in early October. Nonetheless, Adobe’s stock jumped by 17% within a day of the takeover rumours first surfacing in a New York Times blog posting dated 7 October. Despite all the skepticism that has […]
Having a private, hour-long chat with Steven A. Ballmer can make people think the craziest things. When the New York Times published a blog Thursday afternoon claiming that Mr. Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft Corp., had recently attended a secret meeting with Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Systems Inc., the markets went wild with speculation. […]
Apple’s iPad will undoubtedly adorn many a wish list this holiday season, though a number of rival media tablet devices will be available by then to compete for space under the tree. Among the first will by the Galaxy Tab by Samsung Electronics, due to hit Canadian retail shelves by mid-November.
U.S. equity index futures are higher this morning. S&P 500 futures are up 7 points in pre-opening trade. Index futures responded to better than expected economic data released at 8:30 AM EDT. Consensus for the July U.S. Trade Deficit was $47 billion versus $49.9 billion in June. Actual was $42.8 billion. Consensus for weekly jobless […]
Apple CEO Steve Jobs took some time to clarify his position on Adobe’s multimedia software, Flash, at Tuesday’s D8 technology conference in Los Angeles. If you aren’t already aware, Jobs has been backing an emerging web language, HTML5, as a replacement for Flash. Adobe’s proprietary software has been around since 1996 and is nearly ubiquitous […]
The new iPhones went on sale today in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, France, Germany and the U.K., before rolling out in Puerto Rico, Canada and the U.S.
Alibaba.com has been known to sell well-disguised counterfeit goods, but a lot of stuff is straight up bizarre
A study from Oxford Properties, one of the largest landlords in Canada, finds the city is leading the pack in LEED certified buildings
Auditions for Shark Tank are usually held in major cities including Chicago, L.A. and New York. But this year the show was more 'Shark Tank Meets Main Street'
Six years after TransCanada filed its application, the 1,900-kilometre pipeline has yet to be built and instead has become a symbol of deep ideological divisions


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The deal, which was brokered by AEG Worldwide, changes the name of the venue to the “SSE Arena, Wembley”. It will be used in all future marketing activity for events at the site with the energy firm hoping to eventually replicate the equity O2 has built around the Millennium Dome.
SSE will use the site to widen its positioning around music and entertainment by offering advanced ticket sales through its SSE Reward scheme. The platform launched last summer for its sponsorship of the Hydro entertainment arena, offering customers access to an exclusive 48-hour pre-sale ticket service.
A campaign will launch later in the year to trumpet the deal.
Will Morris, SSE’s group managing director for retail, says the Wembley Arena tie-up bolsters the firm’s “impressive” entertainment offering and will help improve facilities at the venue. The company has previously said future campaigns will push added-value services rather than just its tariffs in a bid to overcome the distrust in the sector held by many homeowners.
Morris adds: “We stand out in the market place as the only energy company able to give its customers early access to some of the most in-demand events in the UK. We know entertainment is a key driver for our customers so it makes sense for us to build on our established sponsorship of The SSE Hydro and ensure more customers can take advantage of the great benefits ssereward.com has to offer.”
SSE will be able to use a mix of mobile and experiential promotions to tie the brand to live events after the rights package was overhauled last year to offer real-time marketing opportunities via a planned high-density wi-fi network. Experiential activity around the company’s energy business could also feature at the venue.
Paul Samuels, executive vice president at AEG Global Partnerships, who led negotiations, says the effectiveness of the venture will be judged on “several KPIs” including awareness, customer feedback and retention.
He adds: “The energy market now is a place where there is lots of competition. There is not a huge amount of difference between energy prices so its about benefits like this that an energy company can offer that make it different to the customer. We’ve found with other naming rights partnerships people that are aware of the sponsorship and the rights offer a greater chance in terms of staying or purchasing from that particualr company.”
Data captured from the loyalty scheme informs SSE’s nascent CRM strategy. The energy provider previously told Marketing Week it is developing a plan to link all areas of its marketing strategy including sponsorship activations through customer data.
SSE replaces Barclaycard as Wembley Arena’s lead sponsor after the latter opted not to renew its deal.


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Tag Results for cloud technology (1 - 5) of 5
AT&T Small Business Customers Can Work Smarter via the Cloud with Microsoft® Office 365(TM)
Taking advantage of cloud-based solutions is now easier than ever for small business owners thanks to AT&T, which today announced the availability of Microsoft Office 365 from AT&T....
AT&T and IBM Create Breakthrough Global Cloud Service for Businesses
AT&T (NYSE:T) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a business agreement to deliver a highly secure, first-of-its-kind “network-enabled” cloud service that uses private networks rather than the public Internet....
Network & Technology Innovation for Consumers, Businesses
Learn how researchers from AT&T?s labs are bringing network innovation and new technology to AT&T wireless customers and business customers. Our innovative new products.
Advanced Communication Suite Cloud Applications for Enterprise Customers
AT&T Advanced Communications Suite (ACS) is a suite of discrete self-service web-based cloud applications aimed at providing enterprise customers with simple ways to communicate with employees, partners, suppliers, and customers...
New Cloud Technology, Mobile Cloud OS from AT&T Labs
Learn about AT&T latest innovation, Mobile Cloud OS. This cloud solution will let AT&T wireless users connect by creating intelligent cloud services via AT&T network.


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Smart brands keep their separate channel audiences in mind and develop content with a specific purpose for each channel. One such brand, Boingo Wireless, uses Facebook to repost content that reflects its audience’s interests, Instagram to share behind-the-scenes moments, Twitter to showcase thought leadership and Spotify as a space for users to have fun and blow off steam.
Beyoncé announced on Instagram that she is once again pregnant, a revelation that sent the social media world into a frenzy. The post, a photo of the star posing nearly nude holding her belly, won 6.4 million likes and broke the record for most-liked post on Instagram (the previous record holder was Selena Gomez, with 6.3 million likes). While most PR pros probably can’t claim the nearly 100 million Instagram followers the pop icon boasts, here are a few major takeaways to consider the next time your brand has a big announcement.
For Arby’s, Twitter isn’t just a platform on which to advertise, it’s a chance to delight. The fast-food chain’s evolving Twitter strategy isn’t concerned with promoting its sandwich of the month or the latest addition to its menu. Instead, Arby’s is focused on engaging in conversation, identifying niche areas and most of all, having fun with its followers.
Facebook Live has a lot of advantages for communicators: It is novel enough that people are drawn to the medium per se out of curiosity, Facebook’s algorithm privileges it above other forms of content and the medium prompts engagement probably more than any other. But can you take those advantages and turn them into a winning strategy for capturing audience attention?
In this era of the 24/7 news cycle, Moments, Twitter’s curated collection of tweets and videos, has become a favorite stop for a fast check of the news and celebrity tidbits. But last week it seemed to disappear from mobile screens. It hasn’t. Moments has been moved somewhere less conspicuous. True, that seems like we should be preparing its obituary, but Twitter swears Moments is alive and well. And at least one social media insider says there’s a silver lining in all this for brand communicators.
All brands must have a plan in place to combat a fake news attack. This plan should be four-fold encompassing digital media, PR, influencer marketing and social media—employees in each discipline should be ready to engage at a moment’s notice. The faster a brand can combat the fake news, the better the results will be for mitigating its impact.
In crisis communication, more than any other facet of PR, planning is crucial; allowances must be made for various possibilities, and responses need to be deployed with utmost speed. It may seem a daunting task to develop such plans, but if you have a set of underlying principles, you may find that your plans flow out of that foundation in a very natural way.
The client arrives with a high-profile crisis or a bet-the-company situation. The last thing you want to do is scramble to figure out how much to charge. Here are five tips to help you remain calm and cool…and get the fee you deserve.
As the first month of the year comes to a close, there’s still time to take a fresh look at how you build awareness for your brand. We asked Mo Moorman of Aurora Healthcare to share a short case study about how he publicized a hospital and its services.
Have the efforts of Wells Fargo’s PR, communications and marketing teams shifted the conversation about the brand away from the bogus credit card scandal of early September? We asked TrendKite to crunch the numbers.


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Many left job at Ghazipur mandi, traders find hard to manage loss
NEW DELHI: A year after the sudden announcement of demonetisation, the vendors and traders of the Ghazipur mandi are still suffering from the shock of loss. While nearly 60 per cent of people related with the Mandi worked as porters, van driver has left the job, the wholesalers are finding it hard to manage the loss.
The traders' associations said that the continuous high price of onion and tomato is also connected with the loss in demonetisation.
"My business faced nearly 70 per cent loss last year. I am still struggling with that loss," said Prasad Sing, a vegetable shop owner at the Ghazipur sabzi mandi. He explained that after the demonitisation was announced, many of the porters left the place, the van drivers took over separate jobs and the day to day helpers also headed towards their villages to cope with the situation. "This crisis affected the whole place, there was a time when porters used to come to us for work and now we look for them," Singh said.
The meat market traders echoed similar views. They said the sale of meat has dropped nearly 30 per cent in the last one year. "The big restaurants are not buying much, people also have curtailed their cost, which have affected our business and now after GST we do not know when will it improve," said Mohammad Rashid, a meat seller.
Adding to this, the fish vendors said that the supply of fish has also dropped in the past one year. They pointed out that due to the crisis, the fishermen and the whole industry at the coasts and the riverside left these professions and took up other business. The changing profession and scarcity of labourers have affected the mandi which they are still fighting to overcome.
The traders' associations observed that the price hike of the vegetables is also related to these issues. 'Government is saying that the price rise is due to hoarding but we know that this is because of the supply. After demonetisation, this whole business chain has got affected and the price rise will stay in the coming days," said a member of the traders association.
However, the vendors asserted that the digital transaction in the market has increased.


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Following the success of TAGTech brand globally Abu-Ghazaleh Launches ‘TAG for Digital Transformation’ Tailored for a Challenging Digital Era
AMMAN- HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh announced the establishment of a new entity that aims to utilize latest technologies to serve the digital transformation of businesses with ease and minimal investment as part of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global’s growth strategies for a digital world.
The “Talal Abu-Ghazaleh for Digital Transformation” objectives are centered around digital transformation strategies, which include enhancing security, creating new business processes, culture, and ultimate customers’ experiences to meet changing business and market requirements.
“There is no doubt that today’s businesses care more about results and growth, two aspects that digital transformation is able to deliver by creating new experiences and procedures. TAG for Digital Transformation will create the core for all businesses to start embracing the latest technology in order to face the challenges at hand,” Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh who led the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT), said.
“The new entity, managed by Engr. Tareq Shahwan, an industry veteran and expert in the electronics engineering and information technology fields for more than 20 years, will work on improving operational processes and building more efficient business models at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG-Global) in order to provide our global clients with a rich portfolio of digital transformation consulting services,” he added.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh has been calling on all governments and businesses to adopt digital transformation simply because the world is “increasingly becoming more digital,” as the current COVID-19 crisis forced businesses and governments to go online worldwide.
“Our strategy survived the current challenges simply because we were ready and we even expected that the demand for digital devices will increase as more people are staying home; TAGTech company was the answer by producing high-level laptops, tablets and even smartphones with affordable process for all to take advantage of the high-tech we used in our products. Digital transformation will keep happening without any doubt,” Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh affirmed.
The success of TAGTech by using innovative strategies, products, processes and experiences created positive results in the times of challenges.
According to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, every business around the world must consider becoming a digital business. “The need to have everything digital increases day by day and growth will be the result of adopting new technologies and we are here to help.”
TAG for Digital Transformation will have an experienced global team to engineer the strategy related to digital transformation providing advice and consultation to all businesses. It will also continue in reshaping TAG.Global to become a model of a digitally empowered organization globally.


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Van Helsing starter kit in hand, roving reporter, Robertas Parazitas comes face to face with another automotive revenant.
The Geneva Salon is still a place where rich men can show their dreams made metal. Jim Glickenhaus was there with his SCG003S hypercar. Not far away, Felix Eaton, Huddersfield’s answer to Glickenhaus, proudly launched his graceful Black Cuillin. More modest in size, but equally single-minded is the Microlino, the creation of Wim Oubouter.
Oubouter has something of a track record as a transport innovator, which suggests that this venture is more than vanity or capricious whimsy. Continue reading “Geneva 2017 – L’Insolite: Mad Swiss Makes an Electric Ghoul Isetta”


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Push for national approach to ‘free range’ eggs deepens
New South Wales (NSW) Fair Trading has recommended a “binding national information standard” be developed under the Australian Consumer Law that sets a clear definition of “free-range”.
“A three month investigation by NSW Fair Trading has found the ground rules for classifying eggs is unclear and open to various interpretations,” said Rod Stowe, NSW Fair Trading Commissioner. “Free-range eggs account for nearly 40 per cent of the egg market, but trying to protect consumers from misinformation is difficult,” he said.
“The existing regulatory framework includes a voluntary Model Code co-ordinated by Federal and State agriculture and primary industry departments,” Mr Stowe said. “The Model Code is currently under review but it is not legally enforceable,” he said.
NSW Fair Trading said multiple industry accreditation schemes had led to different interpretations of “free-range”.
“As a result, different organisations have different stocking densities that define free-range,” Mr Stowe said. “The Model Code specifies a maximum of 1,500 fowl per hectare for free-range eggs, but also allows higher numbers where regular rotational activities are followed. Stock rotation means access to the outdoors and space to move around. Other organisations may not consider stocking density the priority but rather animal welfare requirements,” he said.
Working with NSW Fair Trading, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is investigating ‘free-range’ claims and has asked some producers for information on specific production systems, stocking densities, shed and outdoor dimensions and access holes to barns or sheds. The investigation comes after consumer group CHOICE made a ‘super-complaint’ in August 2013 about the ‘free-range’ egg market.
NSW Fair Trading said it had observed examples of egg packaging imagery that “seems inconsistent with the production system being used and consumer expectations”.
“Also, NSW Fair Trading found some of the highest priced free-range eggs actually have some of the highest stocking densities,” Mr Stowe said. “Ultimately trying to protect the consumer and their rights is difficult when the ground rules are not clear. The potential for customers to suffer detriment due to misleading ‘free-range’ labelling has been established and NSW Fair Trading understands the ACCC is currently pursuing a number of inquiries relating to ‘free-range’ egg claims,” he said.
“The ambiguous and uncertain definition of free-range, barn or cage eggs makes enforcement difficult,” Mr Stowe said. “NSW Fair Trading recommends a binding national information standard be developed under the Australian Consumer Law that sets a clear definition of ‘free-range’ and a minimum labelling requirement,” he said.
CHOICE welcomes push for national standard
CHOICE has welcomed the call for a national standard for ‘free-range’ egg claims.
“We have repeatedly called for a nationally consistent and enforceable standard for ‘free-range’ eggs to stop consumers being misled by shonky claims,” said Angela Cartwright, CHOICE Campaigns Manager. “We presented evidence to NSW Fair Trading that dodgy ‘free-range’ egg claims are leading to major rip-offs, with these products costing up to twice as much as cage eggs despite the wide variation in how they are produced,” she said.
CHOICE said the push for an enforceable national standard was “great new for consumers”.
“This crackdown on dodgy free-range claims is long overdue and we welcome NSW Fair Trading’s commitment to protecting the growing numbers of Australians who pay a premium for these products,” Ms Cartwright said.
Egg category sales in Australia
According to market research organisation Nielsen’s ‘Retail World Grocery Guide 2012’, the ‘free-range’ egg category accounted for 39 per cent of value share in 2012 and 28.4 per cent volume share, compared with 47.6 per cent value share and 61.6 per cent volume share for cage eggs.
Barn eggs accounted for 10 per cent value share and 8.2 per cent volume share, and organic eggs accounted for 2.6 per cent value share and 1.2 per cent volume share in 2012.
Major players in the $209.6 million ‘free-range’ category in 2012 included Pace Farm (18.3 per cent value, 16.5 per cent volume), Manning Valley (12.5 per cent value, 11.3 per cent volume), and Novo (11.2 per cent value and 10.5 per cent volume).
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Aldi has recalled a range of hot dog rolls after metal shavings were found inside some of the rolls.
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New details about Hogwarts Legacy were revealed during today’s State of Play and Elden Ring’s new patch has added some quality of life improvements.
PlayStation’s latest State of Play was today, giving us a first in-depth look at the story and gameplay mechanics of Hogwarts Legacy. In other news, FromSoftware has released a beefy new patch for Elden Ring which had fixed several reported issues, and we also got a release date for Netflix’s live-action Resident Evil TV show. We’ve also got stories featuring Bandai Namco and Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games. You can find out more below.
Hogwarts Legacy New Story And Gameplay Details Revealed
Today’s biggest story is arguably the reveal of Hogwarts Legacy. Shown off during PlayStation’s latest State of Play, we discovered that the game will have you play as a customizable character that is entering Hogwarts as a fifth-year student. The showcased gave us a good look at some of the combat mechanics as well as an in-depth look at the game’s open-world and some of its characters. We also got confirmation that Hogwarts Legacy will launch at some point this holiday season, although a specific release date was not announced.
Elden Ring Patch Adds NPC Map Markers, Nerfs Mimic Tear, And Fixes Arcane Scaling
Elden Ring’s first beefy patch was released today and has fixed several issues with the game, much to the dismay of certain Elden Ring fans. While the patch does fix arcane scaling and adds handy little NPC markers to the game’s map, many have been mourning the loss of their overpowered builds as the Mimic Tear has been heavily nerfed alongside fan-favorite weapon Sword of Night and Flame. The patch has added a bunch of smaller fixes, so you might feel some improvements next time you jump into The Lands Between.
Netflix’s Live-Action Resident Evil Show Coming This Summer
We don’t know much about Netflix’s upcoming Resident Evil live-action TV show, but that looks to change over the next few months as the show now has an official air date. In case you haven’t heard of the show, it will follow Albert Wesker’s kids as they fight to survive an outbreak in New Raccoon City. The show will last for eight episodes and will start streaming on July 14 later this year. We’ll likely hear more in the run-up to the release date, so keep an eye out for more info soon.
2K Announces Friday The 13th-Like Horror Game Quarry.
2K has announced a new horror game that is being developed in collaboration with Supermassive Games, the studio behind Until Dawn and House of Ashes. The Quarry will follow a very similar story to Friday The 13th, having you decide the fate of a bunch of partying camp counselors. Just like Supermassive’s previous games, the cast of The Quarry is pretty star-studded, featuring actors like Justice Smith and David Arquette. It’s basically Until Dawn but set in a summer camp, and it launches on June 10 later this year.
Bandai Namco Mobile Is Testing Four-Day Work Weeks
Finally, we have the news that Bandai Namco Mobile is trying to improve work-life balance for its employees by testing out four-day work weeks. The company states that it has noticed similar tests by other studios across the globe and wanted to test the scheme out itself. As more reports of toxic conditions come out of studios across the game industry, it’s nice to see a company as big as Bandai Namco, albeit just its mobile division, try and improve the lives of its employees.
Next: Elden Ring’s New Patch Is Making Hardcore Fans Look Real Silly
Having a ranged weapon at your disposal in Tunic tips combat in your favor.
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- The diet drastically reduces red meat consumption and increases the amount of fruit, legume and whole grain intake.
- Researchers say estimated 11 million people could be saved from premature deaths linked to unhealthy diets.
Most diets promise to help you lose weight fast, but a new diet offers bolder claims. Researchers have developed the "planetary health diet" to make the world's population healthier, eliminate hunger, and save the planet.
An estimated 10 billion people will live on our planet by 2050. In a report published in The Lancet researchers warn that this large population, combined with current dietary trends and food production, wants only drive increase in diseases, world hunger and greenhouse gas emissions. But they say "we can provide win-win diets to everyone by 2050 and beyond."
If you already follow a plant-based diet, the proposed plan may not be so bad. However, if you're a regular steak eater, you'll have to make some pretty drastic changes.
Here's what the planetary health diet entails:
On this plan, you'll consume mostly fruits, vegetables and legumes, while cutting meat and sugar. In particular, red meat is significantly reduced. In fact, scientists estimate that North American populations eat six times more than the amount proposed in the planetary health diet.


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Fresh ahead of first deliveries of its ROBO-01 AI powered electric car later this year, Baidu’s autonomous EV marque JIDU has begun touting its second model – the ROBO-02. The Chinese automaker officially unveiled the new robotic EV sedan at the Guangzhou Auto Show alongside some images you can peruse below. Notice anything missing from the exterior?Expand Expanding Close
During its inaugural partner’s conference in Shanghai, autonomous-centric robotic car brand JIDU shared details of its lofty production expansion goals overseas. Furthermore, the CEO of parent company Baidu, said JIDU’s autonomous driving technology will “lead the Tesla generation.”Expand Expanding Close
During its Baidu World 2022 technology conference today, the Chinese technology company unveiled its sixth-generation fully-autonomous vehicle – the Apollo RT6. With a detachable steering wheel, Baidu has created a production-ready EV with Level 4 autonomous driving capability that is expected to join the Apollo Go robotaxi fleet next year.Expand Expanding Close
Following months of teasing the public, Baidu’s intelligent EV startup JIDU has officially unveiled its AI powered, robotic EV, called the ROBO-01. The ROBODAY presentation took place today on Baidu’s metaverse platform and included a slew of images, video, and details of the upcoming JIDU smart EV.Expand Expanding Close
Just over a year after being founded, intelligent EV startup JIDU is on the cusp of officially unveiling the concept of its first vehicle, referred to as the “Robocar.” Following delays due to COVID-19 restrictions in China, JIDU announced the EV concept will debut at its ROBODAY event in June.Expand Expanding Close
Baidu’s autonomous EV marque JIDU garners $400 million Series A funding round to support ‘Robocar’ launch in 2023
Intelligent EV startup JIDU announced a closed round of Series A funding that raised nearly $400 million dollars. The financing was led by JIDU’s parent company Baidu Group, and its business partner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group – the largest auto manufacturer in China. JIDU plans to use the funds for R&D of its teased “Robocar” concept, aiming for mass production in 2023.Expand Expanding Close
As we eagerly slam the book shut on 2021 and look toward a promising year of further EV adoption in 2022, it’s important to look back and assess how far the global market has come during this most recent trip around the Sun. From there, we can compare 2021’s numbers to the year prior and gain an idea of the trajectories many of the major EV automakers may travel on into 2022. We will begin with EV deliveries in China, a rich mecca of EV production and innovation with many companies now expanding to other markets around the globe.Expand Expanding Close
Chinese automotive design and manufacturing company SAIC Motor says it will launch 40 to 60 Robotaxis capable of Level 4 self-driving throughout Shanghai and Suzhou before the end of 2021. The bold statement was made by Zu Sijie, vice president and chief engineer of the company, during this year’s World Artificial Intelligence Conference.Expand Expanding Close
Why would companies that manufacture phones, like Sony or Apple, want to get into the electric vehicle business? A better question to ask is, “why wouldn’t they?” While electric vehicles have only just begun to corner a small portion of the automobile market, the upside of prospective growth is tremendous. As vehicles become more reliant on batteries, wiring, and programming in lieu of combustion engines, companies like Sony and Apple feel they have enough knowledge and expertise to take a crack at an electric vehicle of their own.Expand Expanding Close
Tesla is partnering with Baidu to provide map services in China as the automaker is increasing its presence in the market and trying to adapt its offering.
There are several different approaches to developing self-driving cars. Some companies are gradually releasing more and more advanced autonomous and semi-autonomous features leading to a fully autonomous system, like Tesla’s Autopilot, and others, like Google, are aiming to only release a system once the technology is ready for a fully (level 4) self-driving car.
Following a few recent accidents in the past weeks, Tesla received some criticisms over its approach on releasing semi-autonomous features. One of the most severe criticism came from renowned scientist Andrew NG who said that it was plainly “irresponsible” for Tesla to ship the Autopilot.
Baidu, China’s most popular search engine, like its US-based counterpart Google, is heavily investing in autonomous driving technologies and today it officially announced the launch of a self-driving car R&D center in Silicon Valley, right in Google’s backyard.
The company expects its team will grow to over 100 researchers and engineers by the end of the year. The company already moved several of its staff from its newly-created Autonomous Driving Unit (ADU) to Sunnyvale and recently hired a Tesla Autopilot software engineer.
Google has said that its goal is to reach widespread distribution of its self-driving car by 2020, but Chinese search giant Baidu might beat the Mountain View company. Today, Baidu, often referred to as the “Chinese Google” announced that its self-driving car successfully completed its first route through Beijing.


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OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continued their steep decline the second week of September 2016, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN. For the sixth week in a row, prices for fertilizers are considerably lower with all but one of the fertilizers having sizeable prices drops.
Leading the way lower this week is 10-34-0. The starter fertilizer is 10% lower compared to month earlier and had an average price of $474 per ton. UAN32 is 9% less expensive and has an average price of $272/ton. Potash is down 7% and has an average price of $320/ton.
Both urea and UAN28 were down 6% compared to the previous month. Urea had an average price of $324/ton and UAN28 $233/ton.
Both MAP and anhydrous were 5% less expensive, looking back to a month earlier. MAP had an average price of $458/ton and anhydrous $496/ton.
The one fertilizer with just a slight price decline compared to last month was DAP. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $444/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.35/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.42/lb.N.
Last week, the boards of directors of Agrium, Inc. and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) unanimously agreed to merge the two companies. This merger will create the largest crop nutrient company in the world, according to press releases from both companies.
A new parent company will be formed to own both companies, and the new company will be named prior to the transaction's closing. The new company will have 20,000 employees, operations and investments in 18 countries and have a pro forma enterprise value of $36 billion.
In addition, the new company would have net revenue of approximately $20.6 billion.
"Our merger creates a new premier Canadian-headquartered company that reflects our shared commitment to creating value and unlocking growth potential for shareholders," said PotashCorp President and Chief Executive Officer Jochen Tilk.
"This is a transformational merger that creates benefits and growth opportunities that neither company could achieve alone," Agrium President and Chief Executive Officer Chuck Magro said. "Combining our complementary assets will enable us to serve our customers more efficiently, deliver significant operating synergies and improve our cash flows to provide capital returns and invest in growth."
The new company will be led by Tilk, who will serve as executive chairman and Magro, who will serve as chief executive officer. Both will report to a new board of directors.
Following the closing of the transaction, the new company will have its registered head office in Saskatoon, with Canadian corporate offices in both Calgary and Saskatoon. The transaction is expected to be closed during mid-2017, subject to several different company and Canadian court approvals.
Retail fertilizer prices are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double-digits lower.
10-34-0 is now down 20% while DAP, MAP and UAN32 are all 21% lower. UAN28 is now 22% lower, anhydrous is 24% less expensive, urea is down 25% and potash is 31% lower compared to a year prior.
DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.
DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.
Retail fertilizer charts dating back to November 2008 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
|Sept 14-18 2015||563||579||462||432|
|Oct 12-16 2015||547||564||440||418|
|Nov 9-13 2015||547||561||426||405|
|Dec 7-11 2015||534||555||417||397|
|Jan 4-8 2016||495||521||392||381|
|Feb 1-5 2016||488||502||381||370|
|Feb 29-Mar 4 2016||476||492||373||374|
|Mar 28-Apr 1 2016||478||501||370||386|
|Apr 25-29 2016||476||502||366||386|
|May 23-27 2016||476||501||365||381|
|June 20-24 2016||470||495||358||366|
|July 18-22 2016||464||493||357||357|
|Aug 15-19 2016||452||471||333||337|
|Sept 12-16 2016||444||458||320||324|
|Sept 14-18 2015||593||653||300||345|
|Oct 12-16 2015||584||640||295||338|
|Nov 9-13 2015||581||631||289||332|
|Dec 7-11 2015||575||625||284||330|
|Jan 4-8 2016||572||582||273||316|
|Feb 1-5 2016||549||555||263||305|
|Feb 29-Mar 4 2016||566||537||260||309|
|Mar 28-Apr 1 2016||561||580||268||315|
|Apr 25-29 2016||560||587||274||321|
|May 23-27 2016||560||587||274||321|
|June 20-24 2016||554||567||265||305|
|July 18-22 2016||546||546||260||304|
|Aug 15-19 2016||513||516||238||285|
|Sept 12-16 2016||474||496||233||272|
Russ Quinn can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org
Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
© Copyright 2016 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.


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Uber has been in a long fought battle with their drivers over fair treatment under federal and state law. The overarching discrepancy is whether drivers should be treated as full-time employees or independent contractors.
Uber was set to pay up to $100 million to settle a legal dispute that claims the ride-sharing company mistreats their drivers by classifying them as contractors and not affording them the same benefits full-time employees receive. But US District Judge Edward Chen will not permit the agreement because he believes the deal “is not fair, adequate, and reasonable.”
The ride-sharing service has grown so big that Uber has seemingly paid less attention to satisfying their workers’ demands and more time focusing on expanding their operations into different parts of the world. Uber has been adamantly trying to carve out a sphere in the world’s largest market: China.
Uber drivers have complained so frequently about their informal employers that there is an oft-visited forum for them to anonymously scrutinize the ride-hailing service. Drivers all across the country have engaged in public protests over what they deem unfair business practices. (RELATED: Uber Drivers Caught Smuggling Illegals Across The Border)
Uber tried to placate their drivers by adding new features, like more easily allowing for bathroom breaks and providing discounts for drivers when they want to be riders.
On April 21, 2016, the company published a statement regarding the details of the settlement and what it means for its services. Uber thought they successfully settled the cases with drivers in two class-action lawsuits. But the $100 million maximum is only a small sliver of what the total damages charged could be. Chen slammed the deal because there is “no rational basis” for rewarding “only 0.1% of the potential verdict value.”
For the most part, both parties seemed to be happy with the deal, according to Ars Technica.
But now both sides will have to reconvene and plan their next step. “The settlement, mutually agreed to by both sides, was fair and reasonable,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re taking a look at our options.”
Chen scheduled a status hearing for the middle of September. This case is sure to continuously showcase how the relationship Uber has with its drivers is tenuous and needs further clarification.
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By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
The National Food Authority (NFA) Council will go after hoarders who they called “immoral” and can be charged with economic sabotage.
NFA Council Chair and Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco made the announcement Monday afternoon as he announced that the standby authority to import 250,000 metric tons of rice has been approved.
“Can you sleep at night knowing that a lot of people don’t have anything to buy [rice], and yet you’re hoarding so much? Economic sabotage ‘yan. They will have to be prosecuted,” Evasco said in a press briefing in Malacañang Monday.
“I think the NFA should be very proactive in monitoring first warehouses managed and ran by private traders. Private traders will always go for high price at the expense of the buying public,” he added.
According to Evasco, there will be an evaluation on NFA’s strategies to determine if the agency made lapses in dealing with hoarders.
“We did not make any definite conclusion on that, we just ask if there’s going to be an evaluation as to the strategies done by the NFA in buying, stocking, distribution, and everything,” he said.
According to Evasco, the standby authority to import 250,000 MT has been approved and considering the timing of the harvest season, the importation should arrive after the said harvest season, or by the end of June.
He also said that the mode of importation for the 250,000 metric tons Standby Authority will be government-to-private importation or Open Tender Procurement based on the same Terms of Reference as in the previous Government to Private Procurement of 2017.
Last week, President Duterte issued verbal instruction to go ahead in the importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice, subject to the NFA Council’s assessment on the timing and mode of importation.
Duterte’s order came following reports that there are no more NFA Rice available in the market.
Meanwhile, Evasco reiterated that there is no shortage of rice in the country and that the government is just importing rice to satisfy the required buffer stock of 30 days.
Evasco, in his press briefing, admitted that the country has only two days of buffer stock left. Buffer stock refers to the rice the country has in reserve in the event of typhoons and other eventualities.
“In this manner, the NFA Council has issued a directive on the reassessment of the inventory of the NFA, including its procurement and distribution strategies,” he added.
Currently, the NFA Management is implementing the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) Rice Importation Program amounting to 728,475.00 metric tons of rice. Of the said figure, 221,457 metric tons of rice had already arrived.
“The first tranche [is set to] arrive before the end of 28th February 2018, and the second not later than 31st August 2018,” Evasco said.
“As of February 2018, the country has 121 days of rice supply equal to 3.8 million metric tons,” he added.


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MERIC Howling Halloween Facts and Figures
Over seven in ten consumers in the Midwest, which includes Missouri, plan to celebrate Halloween. According to the National Retail Federation BIGinsight survey, Midwest consumers plan to spend an average of $73.20 this year on Halloween costumes, decorations, candy, and greeting cards. Total Halloween spending for the nation is estimated to reach $8.0 billion with a projected record number of 170 million people in the Nation joining the haunting festivities.
Estimated number of potential households in Missouri for trick or treaters.
Estimated number of all potential trick or treaters in Missouri (children 14 and under).
Estimated number of potential 15-19 year old in Missouri getting too old to trick or treat.
Estimated number of potential trick or treaters in the nation.
Pieces of candy corn that will be produced this year. That equates to nearly enough to circle the moon 21 times if laid end-to-end.
The amount of Candy Corn manufactured that is sold during the Halloween holiday.
Number of parents that said they sneak goodies from their kids' trick-or-treat bags.
Amount Midwest consumer plans to spend on Candy for Halloween.
Number one way Midwest consumers, including Missourians, plan to celebrate Halloween. Other popular ways to celebrate include decorating the home or yard, carving a pumpkin, and dressing in costumes.
The number of seeds that are found in some giant pumpkins. Large award winning pumpkins can weigh over 1,500 pounds and consume 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water over a four-and-a-half month growing season.
The number of pounds for the world record pumpkin in Fairfield, Massachusetts in 2012.
|Halloween Sounding Places in the Nation|
|Transylvania County||North Carolina||32,820|
|Pumpkin Center||North Carolina||2,222|
|Cape Fear||North Carolina||18,388|
US Census Bureau 2011 American Community Survey
National Retail Federation
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center's Association