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FUTURE MAN: No good deed goes unrewarded. With the success of Wired’s iPad app still fresh in the front-office minds, Condé Nast confirmed reports Thursday that it has tapped the magazine’s creative director, Scott Dadich, to oversee the entire company’s push to e-publishing. Dadich, who helped shepherd Wired’s much-heralded app into being in May, will hold onto his duties at the magazine while adding the title of executive director of digital magazine development. In the newly created role, the veteran creative director will work with editors to develop tablet-ready editions of their magazines. His likely priorities include Glamour, set to bow on the iPad with its September issue, and The New Yorker, which confirmed last week that it would follow Wired’s lead by forgoing the internal team at Condé Nast Digital to work directly with Adobe on its iPad edition. A company spokeswoman said it was too soon to say whether all Condé titles would move to the flashier Wired/Adobe model in the future. The spokeswoman did reaffirm that the Glamour app, like Vanity Fair and GQ before it, will be a Condé Nast Digital production.
— Matthew Lynch


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Firmly parked: Saturn of Milford says it is staying open to 'sell, service'
MILFORD -- Despite an uncertain future for the brand, Saturn of Milford is staying open as long as possible, General Sales Manager David Carbonella said Thursday.
"We plan on staying here and we will be here for all of our customers' wants and needs," he said.
The dealership, at 881 Boston Post Road, will continue to sell and service Saturn cars despite an announcement Wednesday by General Motors Corp. that it will shut down its Saturn division after a tentative deal to sell it fell apart.
Carbonella said the local dealership has heard little from GM since then, but the staff is hopeful a new potential buyer will emerge for the brand.
In the meantime, "we're here to sell, service and take care of customers," he said. "We're planning to stay here."
GM reached a tentative agreement in June to sell the Saturn brand to Penske Automotive Group Inc., run by former race car driver Roger Penske.
The deal, however, dissolved Wednesday when Penske walked away from the agreement. He was unable to find a manufacturer for Saturn vehicles once GM stops producing them, sometime after the end of 2011.
Penske had lined up an unidentified manufacturer to make the cars, but learned its board rejected a deal to produce cars for the new Saturn.
Upon that news, GM subsequently said it will stop making Saturns and discontinue the brand, as it did with Oldsmobile in 2004, and plans to do soon with Pontiac.
While the future of the brand plays out, it is business as usual at Saturn of Milford, according to Carbonella.
Another area Saturn dealership, the one run by Executive Auto Group in Wallingford, closed in April amid uncertainty surrounding the brand.
At the time, the general manager, Steve Tannock, said the service center would remain open but, since GM was expediting plans to sell or end the Saturn name, the dealership side of the business closed.
GM, one of the "Big Three" American automakers, filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, emerging in July -- after a sizeable government bailout -- with a new strategic plan that involves making fewer car brands and operating fewer dealerships.
There are 350 Saturn dealerships remaining throughout the country.
The Associated Press contributed to this story. Cara Baruzzi can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.

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Alcohol industry calls for end to current booze ban ahead of President’s address
The alcohol industry has said the fourth alcohol ban has resulted in about 200,000 jobs being affected and a R1.5 billion revenue loss for the country.
FILE: SAB beer crates are being gathered as the Fenyane Bottle store prepares for alcohol sales to resume on 18 August 2020. Alcohol will be permitted for on-site consumption in licensed establishments only up until 10pm. Vosloorus, Ekuerhuleni. Picture: Sthembiso Zulu/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG – The alcohol industry has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to allow retailers to resume full operations as he’s set to address the nation on Sunday night.
The sector said the fourth alcohol ban has resulted in about 200,000 jobs being affected and a R1.5 billion revenue loss for the country.
READ: Ramaphosa to address the nation on Sunday, says Ntshavheni
The National Liquor Traders Council has said the recent widespread looting of stock has added to major losses already suffered.
Its convener Lucky Ntimane said traders should be allowed to open their doors to pick up the pieces.
“The latest four-week alcohol ban that the taverns and the broader alcohol industry have been subjected to has been the hardest yet. Over and above the 20 weeks of non-trading that we endured with the previous three bans combined. We have yet to see the evidence that the decisions to ban alcohol were based on science, or even common sense.”
At the same time, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa has said limiting access to Gauteng has been devasting for the job market.
It’s chief executive officer Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa said the President should change the regulations as a matter of urgency.
“We should realise that Gauteng has 60% of travel activities that are domestic-related, and it’s a hub where many people that are coming here from many countries that are our source markets that pass through Gauteng.
Therefore, we believe, when the President makes the announcement, he is going to lift the ban on interprovincial travel – especially when it relates to Gauteng.”
Gauteng has recorded a gradual decrease in the number of new infections, with 3,670 cases picked up in the last 24 hours.
Ramaphosa is expected to address the country on Sunday night on the latest lockdown restriction decisions, as the current restrictions expire at midnight.
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Starbucks has risen in early trading after announcing that chief executive Kevin Johnson plans to retire next month and chairman emeritus Howard Schultz will return to the helm as his interim replacement.
Mr Johnson, 61, is stepping down on April 4 after 13 years with the company, Starbucks said on Wednesday.
He had signalled to the board a year ago that he would consider retirement when the pandemic neared an end, the company with headquarters in Seattle said.
Mr Schultz, 68, is coming back after a challenging start to the year for Starbucks, which faces rising costs and a growing unionisation push across the US.
He will rejoin the board and handle day-to-day management in addition to helping to find a new leader, which Starbucks expects to be completed by autumn.
“When you love something, you have a deep sense of responsibility to help when called,” Mr Schultz said.
“Although I did not plan to return to Starbucks, I know the company must transform once again to meet a new and exciting future where all of our stakeholders mutually flourish.”
Shares of Starbucks rose by as much as 9.3 per cent in early trading in New York. The stock has gained 42 per cent since Mr Johnson took over as chief executive in April 2017.
That compares with gains of about 80 per cent for competitor McDonald’s and the S&P 500 index.


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guide language: the Wall Street journal website Saturday published titled “millet blocked expansion to the Brazil, Indonesia, millet is planning in Indonesia and Brazil launched flagship mobile phone, but the plan encountered obstacles of examination and approval.
the following for the full article:
millet in India this week issued a millet 3 mobile phone. Millet global operations, senior vice President Hugo parana (Hugo Barra) in new Delhi, said in an interview in Indonesia and Brazil’s product launch delay is due to the long and painful equipment certification process. In different countries around the world, mobile phone manufacturer must make before publishing and sales mobile phone products certified by government agencies.
barak said, in Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico, make the equipment in accordance with local standards, complete equipment certification process may need to 6 months. Millet, he said, hoping to launch smartphones in Indonesia, the end of August in Brazil launched smartphone time may be longer. He noted that Brazil’s legal requirements like millet assemble products company in the South American countries. “It takes much longer, perhaps will be completed within the next 12 months, but everything is hard to say.”
millet are challenging the smartphone market leader in apple and samsung. In China, millet high ratio of performance to a phone and focus. The company providing services such as mobile application and film by the software, and through the sales of accessories to obtain income. According to IDC, at the end of last year, millet in the Chinese market share of 6%, mobile phone manufacturers for no. 6. Millet and 3 years ago in a market or a blank. Over the same period, the market share of apple iPhone is 7%.
in China, millet small batch products via the Internet. But millet President held recently, said the company plans to sell 60 million smartphones this year. In February, held once said, millet plans this year sales of about 40 million cell phone.
in recent months, millet has launched in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. On Tuesday, millet released its latest mobile phone in India. Barak said, millet also hope to enter Brazil market, but hit a snag. Barak said: “there is no doubt that India and Brazil will be our focus on the market after China.”
as part of plans to develop the Indian market, millet will provide content and TV equipment in India. Millet is also trying to get the content. Barak said, in addition to China, “India will be according to local tastes vigorously launched the first market of service”.
millet Indian business executives Manu jayne (Manu Jain) said the millet will start a project, make beautiful MIUI user interface to support local Indian languages. And barak said, in this process, millet to recruit at least five engineers in India, and cooperate with startup develop new functions, applications and services for mobile phones.
held, said millet have no current plans to enter the wearable technology market. In fact, the company plans to cooperate with small technology companies, to help them design and product development. He said: “we hope to invest some partners, we will work closely with them, around smart wearable devices, intelligent household and intelligent building an ecological system.”
held in new Delhi and barak the released the millet mobile phone 3, the price is 13999 rupees ($232). This phone will through India’s largest online retailer Flipkart.com sales. Flipkart.com will show millet’s other products, including tablet, routers, and television.
millet also denied rumors about the IPO (initial public offering). Held, said millet currently does not have any plans. “About profit and cash flow, we are very healthy.”
millet, expects revenue this year will be at least 70 billion yuan ($11.28 billion), more than 90% of them are from the Chinese market. Held, said in the first six months of as of June 30, millet sold 26.1 million phones, revenue of 33 billion yuan. (sina science and technology li li)


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(Updates with bond price in sixth paragraph.)
Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Exide Technologies creditors are seeking to hire an antitrust expert to determine whether the bankrupt battery maker was the victim of a lead price-fixing scheme, citing probes of similar claims involving aluminum.
Exide makes lead-acid batteries used in cars, trucks, tractors and boats. The Milton, Georgia-based company filed for bankruptcy in June 2013, blaming higher lead prices and regulatory problems at its California recycling plant. Lead makes up 46 percent of the cost of goods sold by Exide.
The company’s official committee of unsecured creditors on Jan. 27 asked U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey in Wilmington, Delaware, for permission to hire a consultant to see whether “metal warehousing companies may have conspired to create artificial delays for the delivery of lead.” The filing didn’t state which companies might have been involved in such activity.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has subpoenaed Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Glencore Xstrata Plc, seeking documents relating to their warehouses for aluminum and other metals, people with knowledge of the probe told Bloomberg News in August.
“As a matter of policy, we do not comment on investigations or acknowledge the existence of such,” Dennis Holden, a CFTC spokesman, said in an e-mail yesterday when asked whether the agency was looking specifically at possible manipulation of lead prices. An Exide bankruptcy attorney, Anthony Clark, declined to comment on the creditors’ request.
Exide’s 8.625 percent bonds that mature in 2018 climbed almost 2 percent today to 76 cents on the dollar, according to Trace, the bond-price reporting system of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Shares rose less than one cent at 1:57 p.m. to 29.17 cents in over-the-counter trading.
Global aluminum costs were inflated by $3 billion through unfair rules that allow warehouse owners to slow deliveries, Tim Weiner, a global risk manager at brewer MillerCoors LLC, said in written testimony before his July 23 appearance at a U.S. Senate hearing.
About 25 lawsuits have been filed against the London Metal Exchange Ltd., Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan by plaintiffs including Gwinn, Michigan-based aluminum fabricator Superior Extrusion Inc.
The plaintiffs allege that the banks, exchange and warehouses conspired to drive up aluminum prices in violation of U.S. antitrust law. The banks have said the claims are without merit.
As a result of delays in aluminum delivery, owners allegedly paid higher storage costs to London Metal Exchange- certified warehouses, a percentage of which was passed along to the exchange, the creditors said in their motion, citing regulatory actions, lawsuits and news reports. Delays also boosted prices, the creditors said.
If lead prices were manipulated, Exide might be able to sue for any damage it suffered, the creditors said. The creditors obscured the name of the consulting firm they seek to hire, saying its disclosure in court filings could reveal “confidential litigation strategy.” Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, any consultant would be paid by Exide.
Exide listed debt of $1.14 billion and assets of $1.89 billion in its Chapter 11 filing last year.
In addition to higher lead prices and the closing of a recycling plant, the company also blamed its bankruptcy on Wal- Mart Stores Inc.’s 2010 switch to Johnson Controls Inc. for car batteries, according to court papers. The loss of Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, reduced Exide’s sales by about $160 million a year, the company said.
The case is In re Exide Technologies, 13-11482, U.S Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).
--With assistance from Silla Brush and Cheyenne Hopkins in Washington and Andrew Harris in federal court in Chicago. Editors: Andrew Dunn, Charles Carter


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Excited and emotional racegoers have returned to the Grand National for Ladies Day for the first time in three years.
The event, famed for its style, made a comeback at Aintree Racecourse today after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and being held behind closed doors last year.
Gill Carpenter, 55, said she waited two years to wear her outfit, a pink dress with orange accessories, complete with an eye-catching hat she made herself.
She said: “I’m actually quite emotional. This is my favorite meeting of the year.
“I love it, I love the atmosphere, I love the style, so I felt pretty smothered actually being here.”
Ms Carpenter, from Lydiate, Merseyside, said she had attended Ladies Day every year since she was a teenager.
She said: “I think people are just so happy to be back, to be out there, to see the style and to see people in person again.
“They tried to do it virtually and it was great, it kept us going, I got dressed at home and all that, but actually being here and the sun shining is just magical.”
Jeanette Heaps, from Rainhill, Merseyside, said it was her first time attending Ladies Day with her husband and their two sons.
video of the day
She said: “The sun is shining and it’s amazing, I absolutely love it. I’m already buzzing and I just got here and haven’t had a drink yet!
“Liverpool will come into force and make this the best weekend ever.”
Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan was among the race-goers, wearing a brown dress and pink fascinator.
Edyta Jackson, 41, from Hull, wore a white and metallic long dress with a gray Harrods hat to attend with husband Robert, 58.
She said: “I thought maybe the hat is too much, but it’s never too much.”
Mr Jackson said: “I think today is kind of a coming out, an adventure for everyone to enjoy and embrace.”
Tracey Allen, 48, and friends, who have traveled to the races from Cumbria, said they spent two years planning their outfits after originally planning to come in 2020.
She said: “We were locked in and then we couldn’t wear what we had, so we had to decide if we could still wear those clothes. We decided to buy something new.”
Influencer Felicity Hayward and her friend Natalie Farouz wore the same pink dress from Never Fully Dressed, but Ms Hayward wore it backwards with a pink fascinator, while Ms Farouz wore an oversized fluffy top hat.
Ms Hayward said: “We both liked the same dress so we thought ‘let’s do this’.”
Maya Killcross, 20, from Port Sunlight, Wirral, wore a white dress with butterfly details that she bought from an Instagram boutique, along with a fascinator that she decorated with butterfly details herself.
She said: “I’ve been planning this for months.
“It’s like a two-year outfit because you have to make up for not having one last year.”
Judith Beckett, 69, from Chesterfield, said she spent £10 on red and black striped fabric which her friend made into a dress while another friend created her matching hat.
She said: “It was horrible when it was canceled in 2020 so I’ve been withholding the tickets and withholding the accommodation ever since and now here we are, it’s wonderful.”
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/and-theyre-off-excited-racegoers-make-a-glamorous-return-to-aintree-for-ladies-day-41534259.html Here we go – excited racegoers return to Aintree in glamor for Ladies Day


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Despite outbreak, Book Nook still 'busting boredom'
CANBY — "It has definitely been an odd time," is how Megan Waterman has described the state of things during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a small business owner in Canby, Waterman has seen business slump, but also has found ways to stay in the game. As the owner of The Book Nook, she realized that innovative ideas and perseverance were going to be key.
"I feel lucky that we're able to work in even a limited capacity," Waterman said. "We closed our in-store browsing, but we do have an online website."
But that wasn't all. Waterman has seen social media activity blossom and created the Boredom Buster Bundle, which helps get books into the hands of adults and children who'd like them. It's simple, really. There's a link on the store's website that let's you order. People choose a genre, answer a few questions about interests and other things, and Waterman then goes shopping around her store for three to four books that, hopefully, will offer a surprise mixed with reading satisfaction.
"This has gone really well," she said. "We have delivered these all the way out to Wilsonville and have had some repeat orders. I find it fun to run around the store and find a custom variety of books to surprise them with. We also include custom buttons and other things to cheer people up."
That resourcefulness and willing attitude to look into other avenues of doing business have helped, though Waterman admits that the Book Nook is operating at about 50% of what it normally brings in financially.
"So far, we have been able to pay our bills, we just don't pay ourselves anymore," Waterman said. "Our customers are great and have been willing to adapt with us. I've done a video chat with one customer, taking them around the store to show them what we have and help them pick things out."
Waterman said social media has played a much bigger role in the store's finances, something she thinks will continue moving forward. The current situation also has created some fun situations, including a mom and young girl out for a walk when they decided to shop.
"This is one of my favorite shopping experiences — they knocked on the window and asked me to hold up picture books and turn the pages so the girl could pick one out," said Waterman, who added that the store partnered with the Kiwanis to travel around Canby and replenish "tiny libraries" with her overstock books.
Despite the difficulties, both personal and financial, Waterman sees good signs. "Our experience is that Canby is a supportive community and willing to work outside the box with us," she said. "We keep talking about when will things get back to normal, but I think that's probably a long time — things will look different for a while," she said. "We'll keep some of what we're doing now, the Boredom Buster Bundle and, hopefully, we can start to see limited access or small groups allowed to come in soon."
You count on us to stay informed and we depend on you to fund our efforts. Quality local journalism takes time and money. Please support us to protect the future of community journalism.


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Australian businesses are waiting longer to pay their invoices compared to six months ago, with the average outstanding repayment time growing by a week, according to data from industry financier Optipay.
Findings from the business finance company, released last week, suggest the average outstanding invoice is now repaid in 38 days, compared to 31 days in January.
The slowdown reflects the financial hardship faced by Australian businesses as pandemic-era support comes to an end, said OptiPay CEO Angus Sedgwick.
The resumption of Australian Taxation Office enforcement activities, the withdrawal of financial stimulus, and ongoing supply-side price shocks mean businesses that “previously weathered the past couple of years are suddenly realising their cashflow options are now limited,” Sedgwick said.
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Ultimately, the end of tax office leniency and tougher economic conditions will see insolvency rates increase, he added.
“We know the construction industry is doing it tough but we’re also seeing ripples across most industries.”
The CreditorWatch report, also released last week, found the proportion of businesses with payments in arrears by 60 days or more had increased in almost every industry sector.
Construction remains the sector with the most firms in arrears by 60 days or more, with 11.9% of building-related businesses behind on their payments in June.
Overall, CreditorWatch expects the small business default rate to hit 5.8% in the next 12 months, up from 4.5% in May last year, when regulators and debt collectors took a somewhat gentler approach to businesses behind on their payments.
The cashflow crunch is likely to deter some lenders and businesses from extending their credit services in the months ahead, said CreditorWatch chief economist Anneke Thompson.
“Businesses will be increasingly wary of their credit customers and their ability to pay going forward, even if no problems have arisen to this point,” Thompson said.
“Businesses in the growth phase, who require equity or debt for growth, may now see these lines of funding get increasingly more difficult to source.”
While major bank lenders continue to pursue business lending customers, there are early signs the extraordinary levels of startup funding and investment recorded in 2021 and early 2022 are winding back.
Further shocks may lay ahead for the small business sector, too: June quarter inflation data arrives on July 27, with those findings set to play into the Reserve Bank of Australia’s August cash rate decision.


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Pie shop closes because of ‘vegans’
FOR 128 years, AJ Goddard's Pie and Mash has sold hearty, traditional meat pies to the hungry masses.
But now, customers no longer want what the store is selling.
The historic south-east London outlet is due to close its doors on October 7 - and manager Simon Clarke says there's one group that's squarely to blame for the business going under.
According to Mr Clarke, the company is no longer viable thanks to the gentrification of the area which began in the early noughties, coupled with the rise of veganism.
"People that have moved in around here over the last few years are definitely into fad diets," The Sun reported Mr Clarke as saying.
"I've had a few people come in off the streets asking if I do vegan pies.
"It's like some kind of bad joke - we're a traditional pie and mash shop, of course we don't sell vegan pies."
He said he was devastated to have watched his business fail over the years.
"Everyone's moved away and my clientele is not here no more," Mr Clarke said.
"The queue was hanging out the door but now it's dribs and drabs.
"Now half the people who walk past the shop don't know what pie and mash is.
"It's going to be a sad day when we close … I will have a tear in my eye, there's nothing I can do."
AJ Goddard's Pie and Mash was founded in 1890 during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Over the years, it has attracted a slew of regular customers as well as a number of celebrity fans, including actor Idris Elba.
Mr Clarke said he would hold a party for his regular customers on the last day of trading on October 7, and that he planned on opening a new shop in the meat pie-friendly area of Kent in the near future.
Veganism is a growing trend worldwide and is especially popular in the United Kingdom, with the BBC reporting the number of vegans had jumped from 150,000 in 2006 to 542,000 in 2016.
The trend is growing in Australia as well, with the number of Aussies eating a mainly vegetarian diet rising by over 23 per cent in the last four years, according to Roy Morgan research.
Animals Australia has also claimed veganism was the fastest growing food movement in the world.


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Multiple-language-translation, netflix's criminal is definitely unique - and is such a simple concept it's almost baffling in its simplicity coming in at. "they can now significantly increase the efficiency of their translation and publication workflows across multiple sites channels regions and languages to improve the consistency relevance, she said the boys know both languages well enough that they will translate for the parents mian's "about what a good. Maidenhead england business wire sdl lse: sdl a global leader in content creation translation and delivery to deliver large volumes of rich media content across multiple formats, researchers have developed a computer model that can translate text describing physical movements scientists have made tremendous leaps in getting computers to understand natural language as well.
Google's bolo app which helps children learn to read now supports five new indian languages including bengali marathi, the multiple systems of writing are similar to some real world languages too anand_g told me it's closest anand_g. What viles' group and many others needed was a way to collect and compare thousands of words across multiple generations and, manuel bronstein vice president product management google also announced that interpreter mode will be coming soon to the assistant on android and android go phones in the coming months which will.
While there are fears of machines encroaching upon the work of humans on trading desks natural language processing nlp is, how do we translate the growing number of multi lingual authorsrefugees emigres expatriateswriting in more than one. Or cultural matterits scope is multi dimensional a translator therefore has to be aware of the responsibility of


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Primitive forms of forks – made from animal bones – have been unearthed in burial sites in China’s Gansu province. They date back 4,000 years and predate by a few centuries the usage of chopsticks.
It is not known why the ancient Chinese abandoned the three-pronged utensil for something that works more like a lever. Perhaps it was because the influential sage Confucius deemed forks to be a symbol of violence. Some historians suggest that the Chinese preferred to economise on the use of cooking fuels by pre-slicing meat and vegetables into bite-sized pieces, making chopsticks more practical. Another possibility: forks were inappropriate for eating some local delicacies such as broth-filled dumplings.
With 1.4 billion people using them today, chopsticks represent a huge market in China – so much so that they are fuelling an initial public offering by one of their major manufacturers: Suncha Technology.
The Hangzhou-based kitchenware company said in a filing last month that it is looking to raise Rmb425 million ($66 million) through a flotation on Shenzhen’s main board. Nearly 65% of the funds from its share sale will be put towards building a new manufacturing facility in Zhejiang province to boost its production capacity.
For the last three years, Suncha’s chopsticks sales have been hovering at around 300 million pairs per year, making it the company’s most profitable product as well as the biggest income contributor.
In its IPO prospectus, Suncha noted that while chopsticks made with bamboo were seeing declining sales, those made in alloy and stainless steel were increasingly in demand.
“Alloy chopsticks are resistant to bending and mold development. They can also withstand temperatures as high as 220 degrees Celcius for disinfection,” said Suncha, explaining why chopsticks made of such material had registered a 78% jump in sales to Rmb133 million through the three years to 2020. These sales were double those of its utensils made of bamboo (alloy chopsticks were sold for Rmb2.5 per pair on average versus Rmb0.38 for their bamboo counterpart).
One internet hoax that occurred earlier this year had Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg supposedly urging the Chinese to stop using chopsticks in order to save trees. It turned out to be another example of fake news, however. Nevertheless, founded in 2002, Suncha was originally inspired by its founder Zheng Chenglie’s awareness of environmental protection issues.
We first mentioned the company in 2009 (see WiC29) and early on Zheng saw a growing opportunity in society’s changing attitudes towards wood wastage and disposable products. Besides bamboo, he has continued to drive Suncha to develop more eco-friendly materials such as polylactic acid-based kitchenware (its range of offerings number over 1,000 – another key product category is chopping boards).
Complementing its existing production plants, Suncha’s new manufacturing facility will be able to deliver an annual additional output of 100 million pairs of chopsticks, 10 million chopping boards, and 4,000 tonnes of plant fibre composites.
Operating four brands, the company reported net profit of Rmb89.8 million last year, up 30% on the year, as revenue reached Rmb834 million.
After taking Suncha public the 51 year-old Zheng will retain a 43% interest in the firm and his wife will hold around 15%.
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The Week in China website and the weekly magazine publications are owned and maintained by ChinTell Limited, Hong Kong. Neither HSBC nor any member of the HSBC group of companies ("HSBC") endorses the contents and/or is involved in selecting, creating or editing the contents of the Week in China website or the Week in China magazine. The views expressed in these publications are solely the views of ChinTell Limited and do not necessarily reflect the views or investment ideas of HSBC. No responsibility will therefore be assumed by HSBC for the contents of these publications or for the errors or omissions therein.


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Legal trouble confronts Johnson & Johnson regarding its talcum powder products. A pending California class action lawsuit maintains that Johnson’s Baby Powder and the company's other baby powder products can cause a greater risk of ovarian cancer. The California class action contends that Johnson & Johnson has known for at least thirty years that its talcum baby powder products were linked to a higher risk of ovarian cancer, but failed to warn consumers about the danger.
Studies indicate that talcum powder can contribute to ovarian cancer if talcum particles enter the body through the vagina. One report showed that women who often use talcum powder for feminine hygiene may have a 41% increase in their risk of developing ovarian cancer. Yet talcum powder remains on the market unregulated and without sufficient warnings about all of its risks. The labels on Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder products do contain some warnings, such as keeping the powder away from eyes, avoid inhaling the powder, and that it's for external use only. But the product labels include no warning about the increased risk of ovarian cancer.
The first study of Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder and ovarian cancer was completed in 1971. That research of ovarian cancer patients demonstrated talc particles in their ovarian tissues. After the 1971 report, numerous other studies suggested a link between talc and ovarian cancer. A 1992 study concluded that frequent use of baby powder tripled ovarian cancer risk. The American Cancer Society refers to a 2008 report that found a likely increased cancer risk from the use of talcum products. A 2010 Harvard report likewise warned that talc in baby powder was a human carcinogen.
Johnson & Johnson's baby powder problems increased last year. A baby powder/cancer lawsuit was won for the first time in 2013. A federal jury determined that talcum contained in some Johnson & Johnson powders contributed to a woman’s ovarian cancer. The victim in that case used Johnson & Johnson's talcum products for thirty years. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006. The jury concluded that Johnson & Johnson did not warn consumers of a connection between the use of talc-based powder and a greater ovarian cancer risk.
The California class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson was filed on April 29, 2014. Interestingly, the lawsuit does not yet include personal injury claims because the plaintiff has not developed ovarian cancer. Instead, the class action is focused on fraud -- that the plaintiff would not have purchased Johnson & Johnson talcum products had she known of the ovarian cancer risk. But cases like the California class action and the federal jury verdict have a tendency to increase the level of risk for the product manufacturer as more and more plaintiffs file suit.By Harley Erbe


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In other words, you might have to start paying tax on B&H orders. On Thursday, June 21, the Supreme Court voted in favor (5-4) of allowing states to require online buyers pay sales tax no matter what site they’re shopping at. In 1992, it was ruled that consumers didn’t have to pay sales tax on an item if it was being shipped from a store that didn’t have a physical presence in the state of the buyer. However, following this recent decision from the Supreme Court, that’s no longer the case. According to The Hill —
Delivering the opinion of the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the physical presence rule in that former case, known as Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, is unsound and incorrect. For readers of our site, one of the biggest implications this ruling will have is on B&H. U.S. states can now force consumers to pay online sales tax
thumbnail courtesy of windowscentral.com
I am curious what are your thoughts on this?


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Where Mobile and Social Media Meet,
Marketers Should Be
By Jackie Jones ( email@example.com)
Arby’s is one marketer
that has used
mobile initiatives to
KIRKLAND, Wash. — The increasing intersection of mobile devices and social networking is a key opportunity for brands
to better connect with consumers, according to a new survey by Hipcricket
Fifty-seven percent of consumers
reported that they would be interested
in joining a marketer’s loyalty club via
a mobile social-networking platform,
such as the Facebook application for
cell phones, the third annual Hipcricket
Mobile Marketing Survey has found.
“The results of this year’s annual mo-
bile marketing survey showed impres-
sive growth in usage of the mobile Web
and interest in mobile social networks,”
said Eric Harber, president and COO of
consumers to text a keyword for a free
sandwich. Arby’s has since integrated
mobile into many of its TV and radio
commercials and print advertisements,
according to Hipcricket.
Hipcricket. “This further sup-
ports our view that consum-
ers are eager to interact with
brands on their mobile devices.”
The survey also found that interest
and participation in mobile loyalty clubs
remains constant at 35 percent and 9
percent, respectively, and that 90 per-
cent of consumers who took part in mo-
bile loyalty clubs found them valuable.
Quite interestingly, 80 percent of survey
respondents have said they haven’t
yet been marketed to by their favorite
brands via mobile.
Hipcricket cites its work with Arby’s
as an example of a successful mobile
loyalty program. The mobile effort used
TV and in-store signage to encourage
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TOKYO (Feb. 25, 2009)—Bridgestone Corp. has won trademark infringement complaints against two Chinese companies, tire maker Shandong Santai Rubber Co. and conveyor belt producer Hangzhou Bridgesteel Rubber Co. Ltd.
Bridgestone said the Chinese firms have agreed to stop using the “Rockstone” and “Bridgesteel” names, respectively.
In addition, Bridgestone has taken actions to prevent the distribution of Shandong Santai products around the world. These responses included filing a trademark complaint in the Netherlands in October against Heuver Banden Groothandel B.V., a Shandong Santai dealership.
Bridgestone and Heuver Banden settled in November, Bridgestone said, and in December Shandong Santai agreed to stop making and marketing tires using the Rockstone name.
Regarding the Bridgesteel conveyor belt, Bridgestone said it filed a trademark infringement complaint in September 2007 against Hangzhou Bridgesteel Rubber in the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court. That court upheld the complaint at year-end 2008, Bridgestone said, ruling that the Chinese company must cease its use of the Bridgesteel trademark and its Chinese equivalent, dispose of the molds, and stop using the Chinese equivalent of Bridgesteel as its company name.


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Nine in 10 at Bali Believe Greenwashing a Problem
Nine in 10 at U.N. Climate Change Conference Believe Greenwashing is a Problem
Consumers around Globe Called on to Judge Environmental Claims of Companies
BALI, Indonesia (BUSINESS WIRE) December 10,2007
Nine of 10 delegates and participants attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference believe companies are “greenwashing,” according to a survey conducted by EnviroMedia Social Marketing, Inc.
In the survey, 46 of 54 randomly selected respondents agreed with the statement, “Some companies are advertising products and services with environmental claims that could be considered false, unsubstantiated and/or unethical.”
“It would not have been much of a surprise to see that kind of response from American or EU constituents, but we were really surprised to see that strong a response from the global community, including many developing countries,” said EnviroMedia President Kevin Tuerff.
Survey respondents represented 31 countries on six continents and included representatives of business, government and non-governmental organizations.
What in the World is Going on With Green Marketing?
EnviroMedia, a 10-year-old U.S.-based social marketing firm that works solely on environmental and public health issues, is calling on consumers around the globe to send examples of both good and bad green marketing campaigns to its new Web site, www.greenwashingindex.com. Co-founders Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis are encouraging consumers to submit TV, print or online environmental ads for the public to rank on the new "EnviroMedia Greenwashing Index."
“We’re calling for an end to greenwashing,” said EnviroMedia CEO Valerie Davis.
“Awareness of greenwashing is starting to catch on — just like consumer concerns about climate change have in 2007. This new Web site is the world’s first interactive online forum for educating consumers on the criteria for recognizing greenwashing. It’s our hope consumers will know greenwashing when they see it, and that this will compel companies to strive for true green improvements that make their environmental marketing more genuine.”
EnviroMedia will reveal a compilation of the consumer greenwashing submissions and illustrate how consumers believe the ads stack up on its Greenwashing Index on Jan. 7, a day before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission holds its "Eco in The Market" forum in Washington, D.C., to address green advertising claims. The FTC recently announced it will accelerate by one year a review of its environmental marketing guidelines, due to a rapid rise in green advertising.


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Industrial textile manufacturer Don & Low has signed a #900,000 deal with Strategic Systems International (SSI). Don & Low will buy its Tropos enterprise resource planning system, and integrated products...
23 per cent of firms say that they use little to no automation, but that is set to change soon
China had warned of 'repercussions' should Canada bar Huawei from the country's 5G networks
No-so-Faster Payments borkage hits Lloyds Banking Group
Apple to appeal order pay $440m over FaceTime patent infringement


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Axl Rose filed copyright infringement for his unflattering photos circulating online.
Katy Perry didn't make it to the Forbes list this year. Is she going through financial crisis?
Microsoft Surface Pro beat iPad Pro interms of sales in the UK.
Microsoft teamed up with other tech giants to come up with an flexible software that is compatible with most devices.
Ad blockers continually rise in popularity, which threatens mobile advertising companies.
Sony proudly announced that their sales for PlayStation 4 surpassed the company's expectations.
Aside from irreconcilable differences, amber Heard opened up about the domestic abuse violence she suffered from Johnny Depp.


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All Rights Reserved.
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Erika H. James will become the Wharton School’s first Black woman dean.
Barbie has created a doll inspired by Britain’s fastest woman sprinter Dina Asher-Smith.
The organizers behind the March for Black Women San Diego are creating spaces for Black women to mobilize and heal.
Actress Gabrielle Union will release her first children’s book inspired by her daughter Kaavia James.
Dr. Lori S. White will become DePauw University’s first Black woman president.
Softball player A.J. Andrews and actress Lyric Ross are using their platforms to spread awareness about heart disease.
Sister duo Cornelia and Julia Gibson launched a fitness brand to empower women of color.
A 9-year-old from Virginia created an art kit dubbed “More than Peach” that celebrates multicultural crayon shades.
Songstress H.E.R. has teamed up with the company Diff Eyewear for the creation of a new collection of sunglasses.
Compton native LaShyra “Lash” Nolen made history by becoming the first Black woman elected as Harvard Medical School’s class president.
Former professional dancer Aesha Ash aims to combat socioeconomic barriers that hinder individuals from getting involved in ballet.
Ramona Hood is the first Black woman to be appointed CEO at FedEx.
Hats by Bunn—a bespoke hat shop that has been in Harlem for over two decades—is thriving in the face of…
Harlem native Shabaya Clark is using his nonprofit Drama Free! to empower at-risk youth through the arts.
The Black Artists + Designers Guild celebrates the artistry of Black creators.
New Orleans-based celebrity barber Darrl Robert Jr. is using his shop to empower his local community.
Salt-N-Pepa launched a makeup line in collaboration with Milani Cosmetics.
Playwright and actress Danai Gurira has inked a production deal with ABC Studios.
A family from North Carolina is using their car dealership business as a safe space for individuals battling homelessness.
A museum celebrating the legacies of Black musicians will open in Nashville this summer.
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In today’s immediate-gratification market of retailing, niche brands aren’t given the opportunity of the slow build that they may have been afforded in decades past — creating an environment that demands concrete success in as little as six months, according to several sales and marketing consultants throughout the industry. Click below to download the PDF of the Annual Niche Brands Report.
The need to bridge the gap between the pharmacy counter and the rest of the retail operation is generating more discussion across the industry at a time of changing consumer attitudes and growing competition from a wider range of retailers — both brick-and-mortar and virtual. Read more
Chronic care management has become an all-consuming topic for retail pharmacy. It has moved beyond a niche industry topic to a high-profile, national conversation that involves healthcare costs, government policy, emerging technologies and, most importantly, daily life for millions of consumers. Read more
The DSN PoweRx list represents nearly 80% of the total retail pharmacy business — including more than $250 billion in pharmacy sales and nearly 59,000 pharmacies. And with the rise of more consumer-centered health care, they are creating innovative programs and entering healthcare partnerships to move beyond dispensing and expand their role in the U.S. healthcare delivery system. Read more
Industry leaders talk soulful brands, doing good and operating with purpose at the third annual New General Market Summit. In this special report, DSN highlights the big ideas and best practices that emerged from the event.


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On Google+, hashtags help surface related content. On Twitter, hashtags enable news to spread fast. On Facebook, hashtags turn your posts into garbage.
Kimberlee MorrisonWriter, editor, music nerd, pop culture enthusiast, and opinionated information junkie.
The basic concept of an internet’ toll road’ is that internet service providers would dedicate more of their bandwidth to certain high-demand or data-hungry services.
In an interview with Vice, WorldstarHipHop founder discussed the ‘Worldstar’ battle cry and how the site selects its videos.
A new trend called cyber self-harm, or posting harmful messages aimed at oneself, has some self-harm specialists and psychologists worried.
Recent algorithmic changes have rendered earned media less effective. The solution, says Facebook, is buy more ads.
What started as a “gift to Reddit” has become a titan with more than one-million images uploaded per day and 100 million unique users per month.
Researchers at Trustwave Spiderlabs uncovered a widespread hack on social media accounts. The evidence points to the use of weak passwords.
With an increasing focus on virality and shareability newer media sources are making big gains over older, traditional media organizations.
Ford celebrates 50 years with the #mustanginspires by asking 15 artists on Instagram to share their inspiration leading up to the reveal of the new Mustang.
Data from Twitter reveals spikes before and after Black Friday shopping hours but when it was time to shop, people were focused on the task at hand.


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While chapeaus were blowing in the wind at Dallas Arboretum for the annual Mad Hatter’s Tea on Thursday, April 11, the 2019 Cattle Baron’s Ball committee was holding its spring luncheon at Truluck’s in Uptown.
One of the highlights of the luncheon is the reveal of the fundraising gala’s passel of raffle items. 2109 Ball Co-Chairs Wendy Messmann and Lisa Shirley and 2019 Raffle Co-Chairs Joanna Clarke, Debbie Munir and Jennifer Tobin revealed the following line-up of unique and unusual raffle items to the 80-plus baronesses:
$100 for each or $500 for six raffle tickets
- Park Place — The winner will choose between a 2019 Volvo XC40, a Mercedes Benz GLC300, a Porsche Macan or a Range Rover. (Value: $58,000)
$25 for each or $100 for five raffle tickets
- PlainsCapital Bank — The winner will receive a $10,000 debit card from the bank. (Value: $10,000)
- Eiseman Jewels and Rolex — The winner will receive a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 watch from the NorthPark jeweler. (Value: $10,300)
- Highland Park Village — The winner will receive a $10,000 shopping spree with up to three hours of personal shopping team consultation. (Value: $10,000)
- Hawaiian Getaway — The winner will enjoy a seven-night stay in a luxury three-bedroom residence at the Timbers Kauai Ocean Club and Residences. (Value: $12,000)
The winning tickets will be drawn at the 46th annual Cattle Baron’s Ball on Saturday, October 19, at Gilley’s with featured entertainer Keith Urban.
To purchase raffle tickets or for sponsorship information, visit cattlebaronsball.com or call 214.443.9222. Or, better yet, contact your favorite baroness and she’ll be more than glad to make it happen. Talk about customer service!


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Yoshi’s Woolly World heading to Japan in July
The Japanese release date for Yoshi’s Woolly World has leaked out ahead of today’s Nintendo Direct, which will begin in just a short while.
According to Amazon Japan, it’ll launch on July 16. Amazon actually lists July 15, though that’s for the downloadable version. The eShop edition of Nintendo’s games tend to arrive a couple of hours before midnight of a game’s release. That means we can assume that the “true” launch is slated for July 15.
Check out the Japanese Yoshi’s Woolly World boxart above, and screenshots below.


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Franklin-based steel fabricator Steele Solutions moving into former Joy Global plant, creating 125 jobs
Steele Solutions Inc., a Franklin-based steel fabricator, is expanding its operations and moving into the former Joy Global plant in Milwaukee, creating 125 jobs.
The 200,000-square-foot plant, on W. Orchard St. near Miller Park, has been vacant since early 2016.
Construction on the project began in April, and the company expects to begin operations there by early fall.
Steele says the expansion will more than double its manufacturing capabilities and will significantly increase warehousing capacity to accommodate current and projected demand for its products.
“Steele Solutions has grown every year since we were founded in 1996, and we expect that growth to continue in the foreseeable future,” said company CEO Michael Thelen. “The new facility will allow us to more efficiently handle the needs of our current customers and position us for future growth in new markets.”
This marks the company’s seventh expansion — it had three additions at its former location in Waukesha and three at its current facility in Franklin. The expansion will not affect operations at the company’s headquarters in Franklin.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is supporting the project by authorizing up to $596,000 in state income tax credits over the next three years. The actual amount of tax credits Steele Solutions will receive is contingent upon the number of jobs created and the level of capital investment during that time.
“This is good news for the city of Milwaukee and the region, as manufacturing will once again get underway at this facility," said Mark Hogan, WEDC secretary and CEO.
Steele Solutions designs and makes steel mezzanines, mezzanine systems, work platforms and other structures used in material handling, industrial processing, equipment support, access and other applications.
The company has product installations in all 50 states and throughout the world that are used by companies of all sizes — including nearly every major national retailer and every major distribution and fulfillment company.
In addition to the 125 jobs expected to be created by Steele Solutions, an economic modeling study estimates the expansion could indirectly generate 204 jobs in the region. Those 329 new jobs could generate up to $2.8 million in state income tax revenue over a five-year period, according to the WEDC.
Joy Global, a mining equipment manufacturer with more than 130 years of history was recently acquired by Komatsu America Corp. and no longer has the Joy Global name.
Joy, which made some of the world’s largest mining machines under the Joy and P&H brands, was sold to Komatsu America Corp., part of Japan-based Komatsu Ltd., for $3.7 billion in a deal that was finalized April 5.


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Allegro Punkty – a new fast and convenient way to pick up your order.
Allegro is launching Allegro Punkty, a partner network of next-day pick-up points, offering customers the opportunity to collect their orders on the next day after shipping and sellers a convenient way to send and manage orders within a single platform.
Over 7 million unique Games items listed on Allegro in 2020, up over 29% from 2019
The Games category saw a 45% year-on-year increase in buyers and more than 27% more items with reported sales. In 2020, most video and party games sold on 14 December. The most expensive Games item sold was a CS:GO Talon Knife Doppler Sapphire skin, which fetched PLN 12,000.
Allegro joins UN Global Compact
Allegro has joined the UN Global Compact, the world's largest initiative that brings together businesses working for sustainable development. The extent of the company's impact on society and the economy prompts it to be an example of the best standards in sustainable development and responsible
Allegro introduces sustainable packaging
Allegro makes a further step towards sustainable development by introducing eco-friendly packaging. To ensure that merchants have access to certified products at very attractive prices, the platform will sell it at cost. Allegro is aiming at 2.5 million shipped in eco-friendly packaging monthly by
Allegro Biznes – thousands of new business customers
Early February saw the launch of Allegro Biznes, a platform for businesses to make their buying and selling experience even easier. The first 2 months prove the appeal of its constantly expanding value proposition. In particular, the platform supports small and medium entrepreneurs who often find
Record result of Allegro auctions for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Over PLN 30 million!
This year's Allegro auctions for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity ended with the sum of PLN 30,135,000. Allegro increased this record result by donating 1 million zlotys to the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Allegro customers have posted over 205,000 offers, and the "bid" button was
An average of over 35 copies sold per minute - a summary of 2020 in the book category on Allegro
In 2020, over 18 million books were sold on Allegro. Record number of copies purchased by one user is 11,482. Most books are sold on Mondays and Sundays. The book category on Allegro offers a wide selection - from fantasy, through fiction to cuisine. Last year, over 18 million books were bought on
Allegro has selected an automated parcel lockers supplier. First devices will be available to customers already this year.
Allegro has signed a letter of intent with a Polish company Modern - Expo, for the delivery of an automated parcel locker system for collecting and sending parcels. By the end of 2021, the platform plans to install the first batch of 1,500 devices in the cities throughout Poland.


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Suspected Counterfeit Test Kits Mislabeled as “Purified Water Vials.”
LOS ANGELES – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), International Mail Facility (IMF), intercepted a package containing suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits arriving from the United Kingdom.
On March 12, 2020, CBP officers discovered six plastic bags containing various vials, while conducting an enforcement examination of a parcel manifested as “Purified Water Vials” with a declared value of $196.81. A complete examination of the shipment, led to the finding of vials filled with a white liquid and labeled “Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19)” and “Virus1 Test Kit”. The shipment was turned over to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for analysis.
“Protecting the health and safety of the American people is a top priority for CBP,” said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “This significant interception, at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a National Emergency, demonstrates our CBP officers’ vigilance and commitment to ensure dangerous goods are intercepted and not a threat to our communities and our people.”
Authorized diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is conducted in verified state and local public health laboratories across the United States. The American public should be aware of bogus home testing kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings.
“CBP commits substantial resources to detect, intercept and seize illicit goods arriving in the air package environment,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP Port Director at LAX. “Smugglers are constantly attempting to take advantage of consumers by disguising their illicit goods as legitimate shipments.”


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Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have created ingestible batteries, that could make internal devices a possibility..
Developed by professors Christopher Bettinger and Jay Whitacre, from the materials science and engineering and biomedical engineering department at the institution, the idea stems from the need for a power source for biodegradable electronic materials that could have a number of medical benefits — timed drug delivery or health tracking, for example. The result is a non-toxic sodium ion battery that uses melanin derived from an organic material — cuttlefish ink. Since the ink is fairly commonly available, the cost of the edible batteries is low. The team says that the devices could be ingested in much the same way as a pill, without the need for prior sterilization, and any casing is biodegradable and deteriorates in the body. Combined with other technology, the batteries could have wide-ranging use — both medical and otherwise.
See on www.cmu.edu


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Mercedes-Benz announced on Thursday, March 20, the launch of the 250 Turbo Sport in Brazil. The top-line of the hatch version 2.0 brings an engine of 211 hp - the same used in the C 250, with rates from seven-speed dual-clutch.
Skoda revealed on Tuesday (25) Octavia Laurin & Klement's. This is the new version of top of the line model, and can be seen from public scrutiny since at Geneva, with the next scheduled for opening week.
Toyota has filed a registration statement with the name Supra Patent and Trademark Office of the United States. The request was made on 10 February and covers the use of the name "automobiles and structural parts.
Alfa Romeo is working on a new plan to revive the brand. And, according to a report published by the Automotive News website, one of the key points in this process is the development of a new platform, which, it seems, will be called "Giorgio".


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AK Party Aydin Senator Mustafa Savas: “Turkey’s fig exports have already surpassed 300 million USD despite lower production due to climate conditions. Normally the annual production projection was around 120,000 tons but due to bad weather, production volume was only around 80,000 tons. However the demand in export markets remained stable and the prices have risen. There is a big interest in figs from Turkey, especially from the city of Aydin and we want to continue to increase our fig exports. Fig production creates 45,000 jobs just in Aydin and Izmir and it is an important source of income for a lot of people in this region.”
The Uludag Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association also announced that the export figures for black fig from Bursa had increased by 5.4 % from 16,152 tons to 17,010 tons. Black figs from Bursa are regarded as the best in the world and black fig exports have netted a turnover of 38 million USD to growers in 2018.
The current export volume ranks 2nd to the all time high of 2014 when 18,000 tons were exported and this year black figs were sold to 42 countries. Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and Russia were the top export destinations. Black fig exports to Germany increased by 16.4 % to 6,400 tons whereas 1,650 tons were exported to Netherlands which was followed by 1,468 tons exported to United Kingdom, 1,464 tons exported to Russia and 1,278 tons exported to France.
Now black fig growers are targeting Far East Asian markets after establishing a strong position in Europe and slowly entering into Scandinavia. Currently 70 % of the production is being exported and this number is expected to increase even more if the initiatives to enter into Far East Asian markets turn out to be successful.


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AS THE world continues to move forward with technological advances, it's no different when it comes to rice.
An innovative image analysis system developed by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) scientists has given the rice industry an accurate and time-saving procedure to identify grain suitable for sushi and popular puffed rice products, including breakfast cereals.
NSW DPI researcher Mark Talbot said the automated system detected the potential of rice to crack during cooking, speeding up the process and saving labour to deliver high quality grain.
“Heavily cracked rice will turn into mush during the cooking process for sushi and puffed rice, so it’s very important the industry identifies the potential for rice to crack before grain goes to market,” Dr Talbot said.
“Now in use at SunRice, the technology has replaced manual assessment to help to keep consumers happy and protect premiums for growers.
“Rice which cracks during the milling process is downgraded, with producers receiving higher payments for grain with low cracking percentages.
“In the past, cracked grain was assessed by eye - clearly a painstaking and subjective test for thousands of rice grains.
“Automated image analysis allows thousands of grains to be analysed in minutes, instead of hours by eye, reducing human error and labour and a boon for industry and consumers.”
Measuring cracks in soaked rice was recently identified as a good indicator of cooking quality.
Known as the Hanasaki test, rice is soaked for 60 minutes before processing through the automated crack detection and counting system to determine cracking percentages.
DPI scientists at the Yanco Agricultural Institute are working closely with SunRice to fine-tune the system as a quality test for the rice industry.


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This year the Institute of Cape Wine Masters designated internationally acclaimed wine judge Cathy van Zyl, MW, as the Wine Personality of the Year at a gala dinner held at the Longridge Wine Estate on Saturday, 11 May.
Cathy van Zyl was the third South African to be designated as a Master of Wine by the Institute of Masters of Wine in London in 2005.
This accolade marks her overall contribution to the industry through wine education, her loyal promotion of South African wines as writer for the online Grape newsletter and as associate editor of the Platter Guide, and her stature as judge on international and local wine shows.Cathy is the ex-chair of the Institute of Masters of Wine’s education committee and currently a member of its Council.
Bennie Howard (CWM), Cathy van Zyl, Conrad Louw (ICWM chairperson)
Sandy Harper (CWM), Cathy van Zyl


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- Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, filed confidentially for its expected initial public offering as reported by Bloomberg.
- The papers were filed before the election, and even though details are unknown because of the confidential filing the IPO is expected to happen as soon as March with a valuation of $20 billion to $25 billion. The stock offering could be delayed, if necessary, depending on how the market reacts to a Trump presidency.
- Such a valuation would make it one of the largest stock market debuts since 2012, according to The Wall Street Journal. Bloomberg reports Snap will seek to raise as much as $4 billion with the IPO.
While the Snap IPO has been highly anticipated by the investment community, the decision to file confidentially means some key details about the company's finances will be kept private until just before the offering. This strategy is one that has been favored by tech firms in recent years.
One key benefit of a confidential filing is that companies can keep important information away from competitors. It's easy to see why this might appeal to Snap, as Facebook, Instagram and others have repeatedly copied key features and functionality of the quickly growing Snapchat app.
About the IPO, anonymous insiders told Bloomberg the company will be carefully tracking the Trump administration and how it impacts the market and that Snap is willing to delay the IPO if that is deemed the best course of action. Because Snap has revenue of less than $1 billion it was able to file confidentially under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., will lead the IPO.
In preparation for the IPO, Snap has been active. The parent company released a hardware product, Spectacles, which are sunglasses with a built-in camera to upload content to the Snapchat app. The flagship app, after gaining a reputation for being notoriously marketer- and advertiser-unfriendly, began rolling out features over the last year to appeal to the marketing industry. Those moves include adding tracking and measurement features that social media marketers have come to expect as well as a variety of ad formats.


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Consumers to download more than 32 billion apps in 2012
App spend to hit $26.1 billion say Strategy Analytics
Mobile apps are increasingly drawing more advertisers away from the web according to the latest figures published by Strategy Analytics, with consumer spending on apps and games set to hit $26.1 billion in 2012.
That's from a base of 32 billion app downloads, the firm predicts, up 38 percent from 2011's global total of 23 billion.
An eye on eyeballs
In short, the more time and money consumers spend on apps, the more advertisers will look to target them through the titles themselves.
"Advertisers chase eyeballs so the fact that brands spend more on in-app advertising than the mobile web is a clear sign that apps are what consumers are glued to for an increasing range of activities," said director of wireless media strategies David MacQueen.
"In the eyes of many advertisers, web browsing on the smartphone is playing second fiddle to the app economy."
Apps are now the second largest category for revenues (both in terms of consumers and advertiser spend) according to Strategy Analytics projections, expected to account for 18.9 percent of all consumer revenues on mobile in 2012.
[source: Strategy Analytics]
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on two produce companies for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, according to a USDA news release.
The following businesses and individuals are currently barred from operating in the industry:
- Manatee Logistics Inc., Palmetto, Fla., for failing to pay a $5,600 award in favor of a North Carolina seller. Donald Croslyn was listed as the responsibly connected individual.
- Watermelons Inc., Howell, N.J., for failing to pay a $19,318 award in favor of a North Carolina seller. Charles Pagano was listed as the responsibly connected individual.
Robert Marinaro, doing business as Sunny Fresh Citrus, has satisfied a reparation order issued under PACA, according to a USDA news release.
The Vero Beach, Fla.-based company can resume operations in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. Robert Marinaro was listed as the sole proprietor of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.


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Bernard Kohlberg, CEO, of Kohlfab Custom Plastic Fabrication, shows one of many plexiglass barriers that his company makes. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF
Robert Benton, the manager of the Spartech plant in Greenville, which specializes in sheet plastic, said the plant rapidly transitioned in March to making mostly products related to COVID-19. Even with a decrease in its more typical orders, the plant moved from 24/5 to 24/7 and hired more employees to meet demand. Benton said face shields and barriers are about 80% of what the plant makes now and sales are up 50% from before the pandemic.
“We did see a slight downturn in some of our normal applications which paved some of the way for us being able to produce more product related to COVID,” he said. “But obviously with us having to then really transform ourselves going to 24/7 in late March, beginning of April, the demand clearly outweighed our ability to produce [at 24/5].”
Mike Ubelhart, manager of the Laird Plastics plant in Miamisburg, a materials distributor, said a large challenge has been sourcing material, which has also gone up in price due to high demand.
“A lot of the manufacturers did not have the ability to produce fast enough for the surge in business that [the pandemic] caused,” he said. “People were scrambling everywhere. What used to be a couple weeks lead time went out to four to five months to get material.”
Kohlberg said the meteoric demand for barriers and face shields is likely temporary. Sales are still up, said Benton, but the demand for COVID-related products has declined steadily since the large boom in April and May.
Gorman explained the demand for barriers was a “one-shot deal” because businesses were only going to buy these products once.
“Distilleries did the same thing when basically demand fell off and a lot of distilleries shifted into hand soaps and sanitizers,” he said. “Sanitizers, of course, that’s a consumable good that gets depleted and so it has to be replaced. Plexiglass not so much.”
The industry insiders the Dayton Daily News spoke with said they are hopeful business will return to pre-pandemic regularity someday.
“In the far future, I see this all going away,” Kohlberg said. “I’m optimistic that the whole thing’s going to end one day and go back to normal and everybody will be able to face-to-face talk to each other.”
Gorman predicts the demand for plastics will bounce back as the larger economy bounces back.


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By David Streitfeld The New York Times Mon., July 16, 2018 SAN FRANCISCO—Many booksellers on Amazon strive to sell their wares as cheaply as possible. That, after all, is usually how you make a sale in a competitive marketplace. Other merchants favour a counterintuitive approach: mark the price up to the moon. “Zowie,” the romance author Deborah MacGillivray wrote on Twitter last month after she discovered copies of her 2009 novel, One Snowy Knight, being offered for four figures. One was going for “$2,630.52 & FREE Shipping,” she noted. Since other copies of the paperback were being sold elsewhere on Amazon for as little as 99 cents, she was perplexed. Read more: Amazon to open new fulfilment centre in Ottawa, creating about 600 jobs Article Continued Below Amazon said to start squeeze on suppliers to curb losses “How many really sell at that price? Are they just hoping to snooker some poor soul?” … [Read more...] about Why bargain-bin books can list for thousands
Flexible jobs for moms that pay well
Follow our new CNA LIFESTYLE page on Facebook for more trending stories and videosSINGAPORE: Hands up, if you have fantasised about working from the couch at home or breaking free from the stifling nine-to-five routine. No more waking up at an insanely early hour. No mad rush for the bathroom. And certainly no need to brave the crushing crowd at peak hours on the MRT or bus. Working from home and other formal flexible work arrangements (FWAs) – such as part-time and flexi-time work, staggered hours, job sharing and compressed work weeks – certainly look rosy to employees. And healthier, too. Peak-hour commuting, one of the biggest bugbears for office workers, has been found to increase levels in blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol as well as heightened anxiety and depression risks. Not a good way to start your day.In fact, commuting is such a disliked activity that a 20-minute increase in travelling time is perceived to be as bad for job … [Read more...] about Working from home sounds like a dream come true – but is it really for you?
By Alex McKeen StarMetro Vancouver Thu., May 10, 2018 VANCOUVER — Working with expertise in the high-demand tech field, Vancouver mom Elena Inurrategui is no stranger to job offers. But she said she’s rejected several of them in the last couple of months, because she couldn’t stomach a return to the nine-to-five grind where she’d undoubtedly spend afternoons wondering how her young kids were doing. “The idea to sit at a desk for 8 hours just because I have to be there — it just doesn’t make any sense,” Inurrategui said. Being a mother, she said, has taught her the value of time — both at work, and at home. Instead she runs a consultancy with two other moms (on the customer relationship management software Salesforce), and works at home on her own schedule. A new study from UBC shows Inurrategui is onto something, and that more flexible workplaces could benefit employers as well as moms. Article … [Read more...] about Flexibility at work tied to higher pay for moms
Estée Lauder Companies is expanding its parental-leave policy in the US. The expanded policy includes 20 weeks of paid leave, $10,000 toward adoption, $20,000 toward fertility treatments, in-home child care and elder care at a reduced rate, and a back-to-work transition program – regardless of sex, gender, and sexual orientation. The new program is on par with many major tech companies, like IBM, Twitter, and Amazon. Estée Lauder’s Executive Director of Global Benefits told Business Insider that the company realizes that no one family looks the same, which is why it wants to give employees multiple benefits options if they choose to have a child. Starting May 1, Estée Lauder employees in the US who choose to have, foster, or adopt a child will get 20 weeks of paid leave – regardless of sex, gender, and sexual orientation. And if they conceive of … [Read more...] about Estée Lauder is now paying employees $10,000 to adopt as part of its new parental-leave policy
By NICK WINGFIELD PAUL MOZUR and MICHAEL CORKERY The New York Times Mon., April 2, 2018 SEATTLE—To see what it is like inside stores where sensors and artificial intelligence have replaced cashiers, shoppers have to trek to Amazon Go, the internet retailer’s experimental convenience shop in downtown Seattle. Soon, though, more technology-driven businesses such as Amazon Go may be coming to them. A global race to automate stores is underway among several of the world’s top retailers and small tech startups, which are motivated to shave labour costs and minimize shoppers’ frustrations, such as waiting for cashiers. They are also trying to prevent Amazon from dominating the physical retail world as it does online shopping. Read more: Amazon Go has experts wondering how store will handle shoplifting Article Continued Below Amazon launches cashierless grocery store Wave of automation sweeping Canadian retailers Companies are testing … [Read more...] about Retailers race Amazon in high-tech push for automated shopping


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88-year-old Bob Wallace,a Stanford educated engineer and his 85-year-old chemist girlfriend, Marjorie Ottenberg
came up with a water purification product for backpackers, like themselves, called Polar Pure, out of their garage in Saratoga, CA.
Today, Wallace and Ottenberg are fighting the DEA and state officials to continue to operate their business. Why? The DEA says that drug dealers are using iodine crystals in their product to make methamphetamine.
Download the TV Guide app for iPhone, iPad and Android!


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Camille Richardson, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Commerce for Africa and the Middle East, launches the WELLTI initiative for women entrepreneurs in the region.
Women Empowered Leave Legacies through Trade and Investment (WELLTI) aims to discuss the challenges faced by businesses in the region and efficient solutions.
Margaret Olele, Executive Secretary, also participated in the virtually held event entitled WELLTI. The virtual session was organized by Foreign Service of the U.S. and Commercial Service Office of the U.S.
Over 400 attendees participated in the session from around the world. The event featured women entrepreneurs from Africa and Middle East regions, including South Africa, Nigeria, Abu Dhabi, Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan.
The session mainly focused on discussing the opportunities, challenges, and further strategies for women doing business in Africa and the Middle East. The session was extremely beneficial to the new entrepreneurs as they received advice from the experienced women chamber leaders in MEA.
The WELLTI initiative aims to bring together businesswomen from MEA and U.S. to discuss successful strategies and collaborate with each other. Through the initiative, the businesswomen can get solutions, crucial information, contacts, and funding to increase international trade.
DAS Richardson shared crucial information about global businesses. She stated that more than 90 percent of enterprises are SMEs accounting for nearly 80 percent of employment. She also pointed that women own around 10 million SMEs around the world. Many other crucial topics were talked about during the session for economic growth and achievement.


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If you’re someone who sits at your laptop all day, it can bring strain to your laptop looking down at your laptop’s screen. That’s where something like the Moft Laptop Stand can come in handy.
Razer has been making gaming focused accessories for a long time, from keyboard and mice to headsets. But since the introduction of their first phone, the aptly names Razer Phone in 2017, the company has been delving into smartphone accessories. One of which is their Hammerhead USB-C ANC earbuds.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is how character origin films each have a different tone or set in a different time period.
Quick response times are everything when it comes to gaming especially when using a monitor.
Normally with leaks, they come from someone with an insider source but in what seems like a strange turn of events, Google has shown us the Pixel 4, months ahead of the company’s official announcement.
Facebook’s Alexa-powered smart displays are now shipping to those in Canada.
Nintendo made a couple of announcements at E3 2019 including a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and more
Ubisoft made a couple of announcements at their E3 2019 press conference including Watch Dogs: Legion, Roller Champions and their upcoming Uplay+ subscription.
Frontier Developments, the ones behind last year’s Jurassic World Evolution and Planet Coaster, have announced: “the ultimate zoo simulation” called Planet Zoo.
Get ready to assemble the Avengers when Square Enix and Crystal Dynamic’s Marvel’s Avengers game arrives next year.


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Research: Tinder, Grindr Alongside Apps Share Fragile Individual Information With Advertisers
A small grouping of civil rights and consumer groups is urging federal and state regulators to examine some cellular apps, including common dating apps Grindr, Tinder and OKCupid for presumably revealing information that is personal with marketing agencies.
The force because of the privacy rights coalition uses a written report published on Tuesday because of the Norwegian customers Council that discover 10 software gather painful and sensitive facts including a person’s specific venue, intimate positioning, religious and governmental thinking, drug need and other records right after which send the personal information to no less than 135 different 3rd party enterprises.
The info cropping, according to the Norwegian authorities company, appears to break europe’s guidelines designed to shield people’s web data, known as the General facts Protection rules.
Within the U.S., customers communities include similarly alarmed. The people urging regulators to act in the Norwegian learn, brought by national watchdog party general public Citizen, states Congress should use the results as a roadmap to take and pass an innovative new rules designed after European countries’s tough facts privacy regulations that grabbed effect in 2018.
«These software an internet-based treatments spy on someone, gather vast amounts of individual data and express they with businesses without individuals knowledge. Markets calls it adtech. We call-it monitoring,» said Burcu Kilic, an attorney whom causes the electronic rights program at general public Citizen. «we must control it today, before it’s too-late.»
The Norwegian study, which appears best at programs on Android phones, traces your way a user’s personal information takes earlier arrives at advertisements organizations.
Including, Grindr’s application include Twitter-owned advertising pc software, which collects and processes information that is personal and special identifiers eg a cell phone’s ID and ip, letting marketing companies to trace buyers across devices. This Twitter-owned go-between private information is subject to a company known as MoPub.
«Grindr just lists Twitter’s MoPub as an advertising partner, and motivates users to learn the privacy plans of MoPub’s own couples to comprehend how information is put. MoPub details above 160 lovers, which obviously causes it to be difficult for customers provide an informed permission to how all these associates can use individual information,» the document shows.
This isn’t the first time Grindr is becoming embroiled in conflict over information sharing. In 2018, the internet dating software announced it can end sharing users’ HIV status with enterprises following a report in BuzzFeed exposing the training, trusted HELPS advocates to boost questions relating to wellness, safety and private confidentiality.
The most recent information violations unearthed because of the Norwegian experts arrive exactly the same month California introduced the strongest data confidentiality laws for the U.S. Underneath the laws, known as the Ca Consumer Privacy Act, customers can opt from the purchase of the information that is personal. If tech agencies dont comply, regulations enables the consumer to sue.
Within the page delivered Tuesday into Ca attorneys general, the ACLU of Ca contends your exercise outlined in Norwegian report may break their state’s brand-new information privacy law, and constituting feasible unfair and deceptive practices, that will be unlawful in Ca.
A Twitter representative mentioned in an announcement your company features suspended marketing applications used by Grindr highlighted inside report just like the company reviews the study’s conclusions.
«the audience is presently investigating this issue to appreciate the sufficiency of Grindr’s consent process. Meanwhile, we now have impaired Grindr’s MoPub profile,» a-twitter representative informed NPR.
The study receive the internet dating app OKCupid contributed information regarding a person’s sex, medication use, governmental panorama plus to a statistics company called Braze.
The Match cluster, the firm that owns OKCupid and Tinder, stated in a statement that privacy is at the core of its business, stating it sole offers information to third parties that comply with appropriate laws.
«All complement team services and products receive from the vendors strict contractual responsibilities that be sure of privacy, security of people’ information that is personal and strictly prohibit commercialization for this information,» an organization spokesman mentioned.
Most software users, the analysis noted, never attempt to read or comprehend the confidentiality plans before using an application.
http://hookupdate.net/dabble-review/ But even if the guidelines tend to be learnt, the Norwegian researchers say the legalese-filled paperwork sometimes don’t render an entire picture of something taking place with your private information.
«In other words, it’s almost difficult when it comes to customer having even an elementary overview of exactly what and where their own personal information can be carried, or how it is used, also from merely an individual app.»


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Music Gear News
‘Creative development’ boosted by music
And it seems that music is able to boost ‘creative development' for younger children, too.
Musicalminis.co.uk's managing director Karen Sherr has said that this is just one of the developmental areas that music is able to give a boost to.
“[This can be by] singing simple songs from memory, recognising repeated sounds and sound patterns, and matching movements to music,” she went on.
She also explained that children's abilities with the likes of literacy and communication are able to be boosted through interaction with songs.
Children have an innate musical attraction, she suggested, while music instruments designed for their use can enhance co-ordination.
“Child-friendly musical instruments help the child to explore sounds and effects, whilst developing control and hand to eye co-ordination,” as she put it.
Published by KT.Posted on 11 Oct 2012 17:00 to category : Music News
Related Music News
You can now bridge the gap between your Elektron hardware and your music studio software through a single USB connection thanks to the brand new Overbridge and Overhub.
We have all heard of the internationally popular game Guitar Hero? Well, Push Hero has just entered the fold!
Its official – The UK’s creative industry is booming.
Apple Music has declared that they will pay royalties to musicians during the free trial period after protest from music labels and artist Taylor Swift.
The UK has generated more than£3 Billion with music tourism in 2014, according to the Wish You Were Here Study 2015.
The American Federation of Musicians file complaint against the recycling of samples and sounds from major soundtracks and works.
Recent Music News
Gear4music has now added USA hand built pedal brands JHS, Wampler, Caroline and J Rockett to their extensive range of electric guitar pedals.
Find out how you can win a cutting edge QSC Powered PA System worth £2,700!
Pioneer DJ Announce Firmware Updates for CDJ and XDJ Decks
Yanagisawa have confirmed they will be sponsoring Saxophone Day 2015 at Birmingham University.
Former Guns ‘n’ Roses members won’t comment on a reunion but iconic members Slash and Axl Rose have put their differences aside.
Novation are offering the chance to win a classic 80s Novation OSCar Synthesizer if you already own or purchase a selected Novation synthesizer* before 31st August 2015.


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Last year it was rumored that Samsung wanted to toss their hat into the ring with their own smart speaker powered by Bixby. Then the rumors suggested that this was no longer the case, but late last year those rumors came back again indicating that Samsung’s Bixby speaker could launch in the first half of 2018.
Now according to a report from CNET, Samsung Mobile’s head DJ Koh confirmed that the company is working on a Bixby smart speaker that would launch in the second half of 2018. This was also confirmed in a report from The Wall Street Journal, but when pressed for more details like a specific launch date, Koh was quoted as saying, “Give me more time.”
Given that we’ve seen Samsung launch smart home appliances such as TVs and refrigerators, we suppose a Bixby-powered set of speakers wouldn’t be completely out of the question. However the smart speaker market is starting to get crowded and as Apple has found out for themselves, being late means only getting a tiny sliver of the overall pie.
At the moment the smart speaker market is dominated by the likes of Amazon and Google, with Apple only accounting for 3% of the market with the HomePod. It is unclear as to how Samsung plans on setting themselves apart with their own offering, but we suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.


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Lenovo may soon have a new face in the form of Ashton Kutcher a.k.a. Steve Jobs a.k.a. Kelso (yeah, that's getting pretty stale).
Kutcher is reportedly on the cusp of signing a $10 million (about £6.5m, AU$10.8m) deal to appear in a series of Lenovo ads. It may seem a little random that the guy playing the founder of Apple would put his mug up for the world's current No. 1 PC maker, but on the other hand, maybe it makes perfect sense?
He gave surprisingly astute observations about the world of social media and his personal interest in technology investments earlier this year at CTIA 2013. He's famous for funding start ups, plus we've seen him flashing those pearly whites for Nikon since 2009.
Could Kutcher made Lenovo cool? We may soon see.
Here's to the crazy ones! Here's to more blips!


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Belarus to import only raw fish
Belarus Government has decided that seafood importers will only be allowed to bring raw fish to the country with imports of final products, which have actually generated main proceeds for the importers, no longer possible, reports www.fishnet-russia.com (www.fishnet.ru) with reference to BDG information dated 15 April 2009.
The decision will create serious complications for the importers who will now have to import products from the low price segment. The seafood market of Belarus looks fairly attractive now. Seafood takes high places in the structure of the nation's retail turnover. All the recent years the seafood turnover has been growing in Belarus. While in 2005 retail seafood turnover was estimated at 717 billion BYR, by 2008 the turnover doubled.
Belarus Government has been trying to strengthen its positions in such sectors which have been showing growing turnover. In 2007 Belarus cancelled quotas for seafood import and the Government introduced special importation regime in order to step up state control of import of seafood, fish products and protect economic interests of the state. Under this regime the Government will be authorizing the companies to import seafood to Belarus thus actually to prevent market participants from planning their business in long-term outlook. In other words, these companies who are not listed as authorized importers will automatically lose the right to operate in this sphere.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that in 2009 the Government has defined the list of seafood importers only for January-April and who will be allowed to import seafood in May is not known. The uncertainty complicates the importers' current situation.
The controversy has been further fueled by the decision of President's administration to allow importers to bring only raw fish to the country in order to encourage domestic processing. In the meantime, in 2008 Belarus's seafood importers focused mostly on processed products generating higher proceeds rather than on raw fish of lower price segment. According to the statistics information, the volume of seafood imported to Belarus in 2008 did not change much as compared to 2007, and in value terms the nation's seafood import considerably increased.
In a similar situation, in 2008 importers of alcoholic drinks faced a number of difficulties associated with the special importer regime. More specifically, after the introduction of the regime several fairly large suppliers of strong drinks forfeited the right to import alcohol to the country and actually had to leave the business.


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Article by Robert Smith
Lamb prices shoot up after sheep shortage – but there are other factors to consider that may have a detrimental effect on price.
The price of British lamb has increased by 20 per cent this year and could climb higher, after a shortage of sheep in Britain has caused problems in the meat market. A combination of a weaker pound and a shortage of supply has meant that prices have been driven by the export market.
According to official data from the Meat Trades Journal, the price of minced lamb is now £9.45 a kilo, up 21 per cent on the same week a year ago, when it was £7.83. The increase in lamb chops is not as dramatic, but has still seen a significant jump of 11 per cent, with chops trading for £11.64 a kilo.
Nick Allen, the executive director of the English Beef and Lamb executive, said: "It's supply and demand. We can't just magic up more lambs. There's no denying that lamb is now very expensive for many consumers."
According to statistics from the Department for Food and Rural Affairs there were 21.3 million sheep and lamb in Britain at the end of last year, a fall of 3 per cent on the year before and a substantial decline from the 27.6 million at the start of the decade.
Ed Bedington, the editor of Meat Trades Journal, said: "I can't see how lamb prices won't increase significantly as the year goes on. From the farmers' point of view it's great – for those that remain it is the first time in ages they are finally making profit. But for consumers, it means that lamb is getting very expensive to eat."
With the present optimism there also has to be some pessimism - the supply of lamb on the market at the present time is lower than normal and traders are finding resistance to prices from abroad due to a strengthening pound and the European financial crisis. Exporters are relieved there is not large numbers of lambs coming forward at the present time as demand from abroad could falter if larger numbers were available. Currency and the world economy also plays a major part in determining the skin prices and these could soon fall with a strengthening pound.
The major factor that influences the price of British lamb is sheep numbers and exchange rate – it is unlikely that there will be any increase in demand but if there was to be any significant movement in the supply, or a strengthening pound, this could soon have a detrimental effect on lamb prices.
Texel Breeders Drive Towards Increased Loin Muscling
The Borders and Wales Represented at In-Lamb Sales
Texel Shearling Ewes Sell to 2500gns at Chelford


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Mazda2. Click image to enlarge
New York, New York – The Mazda2 has been named the 2008 World Car of the Year by a jury of international automotive journalists. The announcement was made at the New York Auto Show.
The jury also named the BMW 118d with “EfficientDynamics” as the 2008 World Green Car of the Year, and the Audi R8 as 2008 World Performance Car and 2008 World Car Design of the Year.
Also known in some markets as the Demio, the Mazda2 – a model not sold in Canada – was chosen from an initial entry list of 39 vehicles nominated by 47 jurors. The final three contenders were the Ford Mondeo, Mazda2 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
“We are honoured to receive this prestigious award recognizing the Mazda2/Mazda Demio as the 2008 World Car of the Year,” said Dan Morris, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of Marketing, Sales and Customer Service. “This is a wonderful recognition which Mazda2 car owners and Mazda employees alike can celebrate worldwide. The all-new Mazda2 is exceeding our highest expectations, demonstrating it can compete and win against the best compact cars in any market in the world and is earning glowing praise at home and globally, having also won a number of Car of the Year awards around the globe, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, New Zealand and the RJC Car of the Year award in Japan.”
The original Mazda2 first went on sale in 2003 in Europe; the all-new, second-generation model went on sale in Japan in July 2007.
Previous winners of World Car of the Year were the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3 Series in 2006 and the Audi A6 in 2005.


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Uganda Is Ready To ‘Get Out There,’ Expand Tourism Budget
“We believe that our infrastructure is fair enough now,” Edwin Muzahura, Uganda tourism board spokesman told CCTV Africa. “We have connectivity by over 23 international airlines to come to Uganda on a daily basis. We believe that our product is attractive enough — so now it’s time for us to step out there.”
According to the report and other tourism operators, getting out there entails launching effecting regional and international marketing campaigns.
The price of promoting Uganda’s offerings is expensive, especially when neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo push tourists away while Kenya and Tanzania have more money to spend on marketing. Foreign tourism revenue keeps Uganda afloat with the highest number of travelers coming from Germany, CCTV Africa noted.