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https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/waffle-house-adds-egg-surcharge-menu-amid-bird/story

Waffle House Adds Egg Surcharge as Avian Flu Outbreak Continues

Waffle House is implementing a 50 cent per egg surcharge, in response to shortages driven by an ongoing avian flu outbreak. Rising cases of avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu have continued to impact egg laying flocks in the U.S., forcing egg suppliers to cut production and, in turn, causing shortages nationwide, prompting skyrocketing prices.

The average price for a dozen eggs in the U.S. rose by nearly 37% year-over-year in December 2024, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicting an additional 20% increase by the end of 2025.

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The ongoing Red Sea crisis continues to send shockwaves through global supply chains in early 2025, with major shipping companies still diverting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to delivery times and significantly increasing transportation costs. This disruption has led to a ripple effect across industries, with retailers and manufacturers reporting inventory challenges and increased operational costs, while consumers are facing higher prices for imported goods.

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The Impacts of the Red Sea Shipping Crisis | J.P. Morgan

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How is the Red Sea shipping crisis disrupting global supply chains and increasing freight costs? Will it fuel inflation? Find out.

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The bird flu outbreak has caused a big shortage of eggs across the U.S., making prices go way up. Millions of chickens have been killed to stop the virus from spreading, which has made the problem even worse. Experts say that when people notice a shortage, they rush to buy more, making prices rise even faster. Some experts think better early detection could help prevent future outbreaks, but for now, the egg shortage is an example of how fragile supply chains can be.

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Flu outbreak disrupts egg supply chain, sparking shortages and rising costs

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The disease has impacted millions of chickens, severely limiting the egg supply nationwide. Stanford menu offerings remain stable.

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in this energy forecast it shows that the prices for oil will decrease over the next couple of months due to a higher supply over demand causing a decrease in price

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Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government

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MSI has confirmed that RTX 5090 supply will be very tight due to a limited number of GB202 GPUs from Nvidia. Other brands, like Zotac, also expect big delays, and some stores might only get a few cards at launch. This shortage is likely because Nvidia is focusing on making high-margin AI chips, which use the same TSMC N4 process as gaming GPUs. Since this process is in high demand, fewer RTX 5090s are being made. As a result, buying one at a normal price will be nearly impossible for now.

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Credit: Future

Anyone who has been around in PC gaming for a long time will know that every time a new high-end graphics card gets launched, supply is never enough to meet demand. In the case of the GeForce RTX 5090, board partner MSI says that its cards will have limited availability and it's down to an insufficient number of GB202 GPUs from Nvidia.

While this news probably isn't a shock to any graphics card enthusiast, it's worth noting that this isn't some rumour or leak-it's an official statement by MSI, one of Nvidia's key GPU partners, as reported by IT Home (via Wccftech).

As with any manufactured product, the overall availability can only be as good as the weakest link in the supply chain. In this instance, according to MSI, it's the number of GPUs being provided by Nvidia.

MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, and all other AIB vendors purchase graphics processors from Nvidia, which then distributes them mostly from its centres in Hong Kong. However, one can't simply rock up and ask for 100,000 chips-orders need to be placed well in advance and then Nvidia will allocate processors based on a number of factors, such as the size of the order, relationship with the partner, what deals are in progress, and so on.

It's not just MSI that is struggling to meet demand. Zotac Korea says that there's no chance of any 5090s being available (via Videocardz) until early February and that, as things currently stand, there is no confirmed date for the release of its RTX 5080 models.

This all tallies with the remark from UK retailer Overclockers saying that it will only have a 'single digit' number of 5090 cards available when the GPU is released for purchase.

So what to make of this? Is Nvidia deliberately constraining the supply of its GB202 chips, to charge board vendors more for each tray of processors they order? Or is it down to the fact that at 750 mm2 in size, each silicon wafer isn't going to produce many fully working dies, even if the yields are very good, so TMSC just can't make enough of them?

Even if the former isn't remotely true, the latter will be to a certain degree, and I can't imagine that Nvidia is sitting on a huge pile of Blackwell chips. We picked up through the grapevine various mutterings that Nvidia commenced manufacturing of RTX 50-series GPUs quite late in 2024, though we couldn't pin down such rumours nor determine any possible explanation for such a decision.

However, one factor that may have played a role is the consumer-grade Blackwell chips are made on the same process node as datacentre Blackwell, i.e. TSMC N4 (Ada Lovelace GPUs are made on a custom version of that node).

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MSI says that the supply of its RTX 5090 cards will be very tight, due to a limited supply of GPUs from Nvidia

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Artificial supply constraint or a sign of genuine manufacturing limitations?

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AI will protect global supply chains from the next major shock.

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AI will protect global supply chains from the next major shock.

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The recent article titled "AI Will Protect Global Supply Chains from the Next Major Shock" discusses how advanced technologies like AI are expected to transform global supply chains in 2025, particularly in response to disruptions from climate change and geopolitical tensions. In economics, a supply shifter refers to factors that cause the supply curve to move left (decrease in supply) or right (increase in supply). The article highlights that ongoing issues such as strikes and natural disasters can lead to a decrease in supply, while the adoption of AI can enhance efficiency, potentially increasing supply. Additionally, geopolitical factors like tariffs can further impact availability, shifting the supply curve. Understanding these shifts is essential for grasping how economic conditions influence supply and demand in various markets.

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AI will protect global supply chains from the next major shock

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Climate change, geopolitics and industrial action are still exerting pressure on global supply chains, but advanced technologies like AI can help refine and optimize them.

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Technology has completely changed the oil industry, making it way more advanced and way less risky than it used to be. Earlier, drilling was basically just guessing and hoping for the best, but now companies use AI, 3D modeling, and real-time data to find and extract oil way more efficiently. Deepwater drilling and automation have made it possible to reach oil that was once out of the question, and digital tools help keep things running smoothly while cutting down on costs and environmental damage.

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Weather causing the decrease of supply in fuel and in the automotive industry - kavya

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Weather causing the decrease of supply in fuel and in the automotive industry - kavya

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Shortages 2025: Geopolitics, severe weather fuel uncertainty

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Tariff threats, lingering storm impacts and regulatory uncertainty are creating challenges for supply in the automotive, medical and food sectors.

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The World Beekeeping Awards will not award a prize for honey next year after warnings of widespread fraud in the global supply chain. The decision came as beekeepers and importers face a mounting crisis over the scale of fraud with warnings that genuine products are bulked out with cheaper sugar syrup. Jeff Pettis said there was widespread adulteration in cheaper commercial honeys. The fraud can occur at any point of the supply chain, with many importers and retailers unwittingly trading in fake honey.

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The Russian government is prioritizing lowering domestic food prices amidst rising inflation and a spike in staple food costs like butter and eggs. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev warned of potential export restrictions if prices continue to rise. The situation is further exacerbated by a poor harvest and high state spending.The deputy emphasized the government's primary goal of ensuring an ample domestic supply, urging milk producers to be proactive amidst rising demands. Price surges in essential goods have led to unusual phenomena, such as butter theft in supermarkets.

President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to maintain food supply stability, addressing an inflation rate that had reached 9.5% last year and provoked the central bank to raise interest rates significantly. The 2024 situation is compounded by poor harvest yields, driving further economic concerns among the population.

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Russia’s Struggle to Balance Domestic Food Supply and Exports | Headlines

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The Russian government is prioritizing lowering domestic food prices amidst rising inflation and a spike in staple food costs like butter and eggs. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev warned of potential export restrictions if prices continue to rise. The situation is further exacerbated by a poor harvest and high state spending.

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In light of the difficulties that Ukraine is facing- not only politically but economically- the government has turned to farms to produce a higher quantity, quality and affordability of produce. The government has been investing more of its money in agricultural subsidies in order to keep their citizens fed at a lower price, allowing farms to produce and supply more for less profit.

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BBC Wales Environment Correspondent

Disruption to food supplies caused by the pandemic and war in Ukraine should trigger a rethink of major changes to farm subsidies, a union has said.

Ministers plan to offer agricultural funding for environmental work.

But NFU Cymru said it risked "widespread" land use change and farmers needed ongoing "stability payments" to grow food.

The Welsh government said it was in an "ongoing process of engagement" with the industry.

Ministers are due to unveil details of their long-awaited Sustainable Farming Scheme to replace EU-backed farm payments this summer.

A first-of-its-kind Agriculture Bill for Wales is set to follow in September.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said 2022 was a "seminal year" for the industry and, from a farming perspective, the new legislation would be "the most important to go through the Senedd in its 23 years of existence".

Instead of offering direct payments to farms based on how much land they have, a new funding model is set to focus on rewarding work to deliver clean air and water quality, mitigate flood risks, fight climate change and boost biodiversity.

Enhancing access to the countryside, protecting natural and historical landscapes as well as improving animal health and welfare will also lead to payouts.

It is not yet clear how exactly this will work in practice and how individual farms will fare financially.

But NFU Cymru is making a last-ditch appeal for some sort of direct payment to farms to be retained as part of the new system, as it hosts an event in the Senedd on Tuesday.

Direct payments provided "a key safety net for Welsh farmers" in the past, it said, while the new scheme could lead to "widespread land use change into forestry or... rewilding", resulting in the displacement of people and communities.

Mr Jones said revisions were needed to ensure levels of domestic food production were "assessed, maintained and enhanced" alongside the environmental commitments.

"Welsh agriculture makes an unparalleled contribution to our rural communities, economy, landscape, as well as to our national identity, our language and culture," he said.

"More than ever, in these difficult times, the continued supply of safe, high-quality, affordable food has to be a strategic priority for the nation."

Sheep farmer Gwawr Parry from Llanfair Caereinion in Powys said what she needed was "a level of certainty, to understand a bit better what the plans are and what will be available to farms".

"At the moment if we're looking at a five-year plan we wouldn't understand what we could achieve or invest in," she said, adding that the new scheme needed to be simple and open to all active farmers.

Environmental groups have been pleased with the route the Welsh government is taking and do not want the reforms to get any less radical.

Arfon Williams of RSPB Cymru said: "Any short-term gains in food production at the expense of the environment will have a significant impact on food production in the medium and long term.

"This means any form of stability payment for farmers must support them to move towards a more sustainable farming model."

A Welsh government spokeswoman said stability payments for farmers would continue during and beyond this Senedd term as part of a transition to the new system, due to be introduced from spring 2023.

"Future farm support will reward farmers who take action to meet the challenges of the climate and nature emergencies in ways that make the sector more competitive and resilient," she added.

"The sustainable production of food and actions to deliver environmental outcomes are complementary, not competing agendas."

The Conservatives have called for a "food summit" to cope better with the consequences of the war in Ukraine and reduce the risk of shortages.

Welsh Tory rural affairs spokesman Samuel Kurtz said "we need all parts of the supply chain to get together, from producer to retailer, supported by the Welsh government, to develop a plan to ensure our high-quality Welsh produce continues to find its way onto the tables of the people of Wales".

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Ukraine war should trigger farm subsidies rethink - union

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BBC Wales Environment Correspondent Disruption to food supplies caused by the pandemic and war in Ukraine should trigger a rethink of major changes to farm subsidies, a union has said. Ministers plan to offer agricultural funding for environmental work. But NFU Cymru said it risked "widespread" land use change and farmers needed ongoing "stability payments" to grow food.

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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/rain-threatens-cane-supply-forcing-indian-sugar-mills-to-close-early/articleshow/97428929.cms

Input prices(crisis in resources)

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Rain threatens cane supply, forcing Indian sugar mills to close early

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The western state of Maharashtra, which accounts for more than a third of the country’s sugar output, could produce 12.8 million tonnes of sugar in the 2022/23 marketing year that began on Oct. 1, down from an earlier forecast of 13.8 million tonnes, Maharashtra’s sugar commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad…

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Information are delivered through social media rather than physical papers -Rachel

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Information are delivered through social media rather than physical papers -Rachel

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Technology innovations has allowed news and information to be spread through social media and online resources which lowered the production rate and demand of physical papers. This in result has lowered the price of the papers.

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Carlow Today & Tomorrow | Creating a More Just and Merciful World

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Technology has transformed the way we interact in profound ways.

New devices and platforms are constantly coming out. We can communicate and work seamlessly while being remote or traveling. In homes and offices, we can get information and operate things with the stroke of a finger or sound of a voice.

The communications field, in particular, has been greatly impacted by digital media and technology. Here are some ways digital media has changed communications:
New Media vs. Traditional Media
New technology has created compelling opportunities for advertisers and media organizations to communicate with audiences. People used to rely on newspapers and television to get information. There are now several channels and outlets for people to consume content, spanning websites, video platforms and social media.

Social media apps and sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, are now the go-to sources for breaking news and information. This has caused competition between professional journalists and amateur publishers for readers' attention.

Numerous platforms also mean there are many more ways advertisers can reach consumers. Instead of focusing on everybody, advertisers can now display ads that appeal to individualized interests. They have also expanded their marketing and communications capabilities, including:

Retargeting ads, which follow web users as they visit various sites.

Native advertising, which resembles editorial content in a publication, but is paid for by an advertiser to promote a product or service.

Customer relationship management tools that allow for greater automation and insights into customer data.

Big data, which provides marketers with vast amounts of information about audiences so they can make predictions and smarter decisions.

Media Consumption Habits
Meanwhile, Americans are spending more time on mobile devices. Since 2011, mobile internet usage has grown 504% in daily media consumption.

According to a new report from mobile data and analytics firm App Annie, global consumers are now spending an average of 4.2 hours per day using apps on their smartphones, an increase of 30% from just two years prior. In some markets, the average is even higher, topping more than five hours.

The growing variety of tech devices means people can be constantly connected through a computer or mobile phone anywhere.
Time and Money
Although we are spending more time online, technology has saved us time and money in many areas of our lives, whether through online shopping and banking, less paper use or the assistance of navigation and location tracking while driving and traveling.

Communication today is instantaneous with the help of social media, emails and text messaging. We can send a message and receive a response in seconds. Digital communication also allows us to share photos, videos and stories instantly.
In the Workplace
Technology has changed how businesses market, operate and interact with employees.

For businesses, technology has improved collaboration, costs and co-worker communication. Today, work teams have several options to communicate without being face to face, including by email, instant and direct messaging and group collaboration software. Video conferencing and teleworking also became major activities recently as people across the world worked from home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Opportunities in Digital Media
Digital media has become an essential part of daily life. You can learn the skills needed for this rapidly evolving field in Carlow University's Bachelor's in Digital Media degree program. As a Communication major specializing in Digital Media, you can gain experience in marketing, social media and public relations. You will master the elements and software of digital media to deliver your message clearly, concisely and widely through courses such as Digital Storytelling, Mass Media Society and Communication Ethics.

Tags: how digital media has changed communication

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how digital media has changed communication

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How Digital Media Has Changed Communications | Carlow Today & Tomorrow

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Technology has transformed the way we interact. The communications field, in particular, has been greatly impacted by changes in digital media and technology. Here are some ways digital media has changed communication.

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Mango export to South Korea rises - VnExpress International

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Vietnam exported 1,700 tonnes of mango to South Korea for $7.4 million over the past 11 months of 2022, up 19% in volume and 25% in value year-on-year, according to the Agency for Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

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The US supply M1 tanks in support of Ukrain 

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The US supply M1 tanks in support of Ukrain 

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The supply of battle tanks and hundreds of other armored vehicles is because Ukraine is finding itself to have a shortage of resources and military power. The supply shifter are then technological innovations and subsidies.

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President Biden announced plans to supply Ukraine with M1 Abrams tanks on Jan. 25. (Video: The Washington Post)

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The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will send 31 of its premier battle tanks to Ukraine, following agreement with Germany for the delivery of scores of its Leopard 2 tanks from across Europe. The decisions end months of debate among Western allies and pave the way for a major shift in the balance of power on the Ukrainian battlefield.
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President Biden said after morning calls with European leaders that the decisions belied Russian President Vladimir Putin's belief that the West would eventually tire of its commitment to Ukraine and "break up" its coalition.

For NATO, founded as a defensive alliance in the wake of World War II, the supply of battle tanks and hundreds of other armored vehicles also being transferred to Ukraine is a prelude to what is shaping up to be ground warfare of a scale not seen in Europe for more than seven decades. While the United States and its allies insist they have no desire to engage Russia directly, the decisions significantly up the ante of how far they are willing to go to help evict Putin's forces.

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Over the 11 months since Russia's invasion, the sophistication and lethalityof armaments provided to Kyiv have steadily risen, from those focused on short-range defense to heavy artillery and precision munitions. Ukraine, which had long urged the supply of heavy tanks, has said it will also need fighter aircraft and long-range missiles if it is to be assured of victory. Both have so far been denied by the West.

"We are fully, totally and completely united," Biden said in a brief address at the White House. "Today's announcement builds on the hard work and commitment of countries around the world. ... That's what this is about - helping Ukraine defend and protect Ukrainian land."

The Biden administration announced Jan. 25 that it will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, but they're unlikely to arrive by the spring. (Video: The Washington Post)

But Western unity had been undeniably strained over the past several weeks, as Germany refused to approve sending the tanks that Ukraine had requested or to authorize other countries that also field Leopards to transfer theirs, unless the United States would agree to send its M1 Abrams. The Defense Department had long insisted the Abrams tanks were too complex for transfer and use by the Ukrainians.

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Biden congratulated German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying that "Germany has really stepped up." Berlin "didn't force me to change our mind," he said. "We wanted to make sure we're all together."

Debate over the tanks was resolved in recent days with a compromise. The U.S. tanks - to be purchased from manufacturers rather than transferred from existing American military stockpiles - will not arrive in Ukraine for many months, at the earliest. Administration officials have emphasized that the M1s are part of long-range planning for Ukraine's armed forces rather than weapons that will be put to immediate use.

What to know about M1 Abrams tanks and why they matter to Ukraine

The plan is to transfer the Leopards, currently spread throughout numerous countries in Europe, in time for Ukraine to defend against an anticipated Russian offensive and launch its own counteroffensive in Russian-occupied territory in the spring.

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Stressing the capabilities heavy battle tanks will bring to Kyiv's efforts, National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby told reporters: "You don't go after a crocodile with a cornstalk. ... They're going to have an effect."

In Europe, the goal is to quickly assemble two Leopard tank battalions - equivalent to at least 70 tanks. As a first step, Germany will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks from its army's stocks, the government in Berlin said in a statement. Germany's Defense Ministry said it aims for the tanks to be on the battlefield by the end of March. That leaves a tight window for logistics and training expected to begin within days.

Germany will also provide re-export authorization for other countries to provide Leopards in their own arsenals. Poland and Norway have already announced they will contribute. Spain is expected to send some of its large Leopard fleet to Ukraine. The Netherlands is weighing whether to buy some of the Leopards it leases from Germany so it can give them to Kyiv, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Dutch media. Finland, which shares a vast land border with Russia, plans to participate in the effort in some way, but is still weighing whether it can spare its own tanks.

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"A Leopard coalition with partners worked!" Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted Wednesday. "Leopards look good on Ukraine!"

For Ukraine, what's so special about Germany's Leopard 2 tanks?

Earlier this month, Britain announced it would send 14 of its heavy Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, while France said it would transfer an unspecified number of AMX 10-RC light tanks.

In Washington, officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to brief reporters said the Abrams tanks will be paid for with the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a pot of money used to purchase military equipment that the United States does not have readily available.

It was not immediately clear why the Biden administration decided to pursue purchasing new tanks for Ukraine rather than sending some of the thousands that already are in the U.S. military inventory."The Pentagon assesses that they don't have any excess Abrams ... that all of them are gainfully employed for our own national security defense," Kirby said.

Even if there were extras available, he said, "it would take many months anyway" to get them in position, as well as provide the necessary training and logistical and maintenance support. "When they get there, we want to make sure that they fall on ready hands."

The U.S. plan calls for sending enough tanks for one Ukrainian battalion, 30, plus one for command and control, Kirby said. The administration also will send eight M88 armored recovery vehicles, designed to tow and repair tanks.

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Administration officials said training in how to operate and maintain the Abrams, and incorporate them into offensive operations with other weapons, will occur outside of Ukraine. One possibility might be the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany, the largest U.S. installation of its kind in Europe. This month, the U.S. Army began training a battalion of more than 600 Ukrainian troops there on how to combine artillery, fighting vehicles and other weapons to maximize the damage they can cause.

Asked whether the Germans made it a precondition that the United States commit tanks before they would send theirs, administration officials declined to answer directly."There's a lot of diplomacy that went into the announcements today," Kirby told reporters. "The decision you saw, by both Germany and the United States ... was several weeks in the making through many discussions."

"There was also a military component," he said. The Abrams tanks "are not going to get there for many months, but these Leopards" will be on the battlefield in the spring. "We're not wasting any time."

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A senior French official, however, was less certain of the timing. "Even if the Ukrainians have shown a great agility and a very uncanny ability to absorb new equipment," operational and maintenance training "will take time," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

Kirby and other administration officials denied that Washington had undergone an abrupt change of heart on the issue of tanks or that reluctance from the U.S. military had been overruled.

As recently as last week, senior U.S. defense officials insisted that the Abrams tanks would be too burdensome for the Ukrainian military to operate and maintain. "I just don't think we're there yet," Biden's undersecretary of defense for policy, Colin Kahl, told reporters after returning from a visit to Kyiv. "The Abrams is a very complicated piece of equipment. It's expensive. It's hard to train on."

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But recent events on the battlefield have also driven home the urgency of Ukraine's need. On Wednesday, Ukrainian military spokesman Sergiy Cherevaty confirmed that Kyiv's forces have withdrawn from the small eastern mining town of Soledar after a fierce push by Russia's Wagner mercenary group. Wagner claimed it had captured the town more than a week ago, but Ukraine had repeatedly denied those assertions.

While it is of little strategic value, with a prewar population of about 10,000, Soledar is the first significant town taken by Russia since July.

As it long resisted calls to send tanks, Berlin said it would act only in tandem with allies and did not want to be seen as a direct participant in the war or inviting retaliation from Russia. In recent weeks, German officials had been more explicit in linking any decision to send tanks to a similar move by the United States.

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But intense international pressure - and the reversal of Washington's position - broke the logjam. In a speech to parliament Wednesday, Scholz defended his decision to take time to coordinate with allies.

"It is correct to never go it alone," he said. "We will do anything necessary to support Ukraine, but we want to avoid an escalation of this war, so it doesn't become a war between Russia and NATO."

Even as Scholz reminded lawmakers of Germany's close geographical proximity to the war, Russia's ambassador to Berlin warned that the decision to send tanks to Ukraine crosses a red line, and he compared it to Nazi tanks invading Russia during World War II.

"This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation," Sergei Nechaev said in a statement following the announcement. "Red lines are a thing of the past."

Training for Ukrainian forces on the Leopards will begin in Germany "almost immediately," said German Defense Ministry spokesman Arne Collatz. Poland, which is also planning to send a company of 14 tanks, has said it will begin training Ukrainian soldiers within days.

It is possible that more Leopard 2 tanks will be sent from German industry's stocks, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Wednesday. German arms maker Rheinmetall has told German media that it can deliver 29 Leopard 2A4 tanks by April or May and a further 22 of the same model around the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Inside the urgent push to arm Ukraine for a spring offensive

European allies had hoped to announce a package of Leopards at a meeting on Ukraine at Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week. But Berlin's new defense minister had said Germany needed more time to make a "careful" decision and assess its stocks.

As Germany dragged its feet, Poland had threatened to send its own German-made tanks with or without Berlin's permission. On Tuesday,Poland formally requested German authorization for re-export, ramping up pressure on Berlin to come to a decision.

Agreeing to send the Leopards is a big step toward Ukraine ending the war "by winning it," said Norbert Röttgen, a German parliamentarian with the opposition Christian Democrats and foreign policy expert. But it is a "catastrophic signal" that Germany rejected European action on tanks without an American contribution, he tweeted.
Morris reported from Berlin and Rauhala from Brussels. Vanessa Guinan-Bank in Berlin, David Stern in Kyiv, and John Hudson and Paul Sonne in Washington contributed to this report.

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U.S. will supply M1 tanks to Ukraine; Germany approves Leopards

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Listen CommentArticle The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will send 31 of its premier battle tanks to Ukraine, following agreement with Germany for the delivery of scores of its Leopard 2 tanks from across Europe. The decisions end months of debate among Western allies and pave the way for a major shift in the balance of power on the Ukrainian battlefield.

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Various western and European countries are experiencing a shortage of the avocados, as production of the fruit has decreased globally in response to non-price factors. Specifically, rapid climate changes around the world have shortened the number of ideal months in which avocados are normally produced. Additionally, high shipping and flying costs have certainly not incentivized businesses in importing countries to buy more avocados.

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Much is currently changing on the avocado supply side, says Annabel Könst, who buys avocadoes for the Dutch company, Nature's Pride. "The 2022-2023 winter season looks different from last winter. The different origins all have lower supply. That will become very noticeable in the coming weeks and months."

Situation per country of origin
"Looking at each country of origin, Chile, for instance, has less supply which is falling fast. Most of its avocados will be off the market by late January, two months earlier than last year. There's less volume available and local market competition, which pays better, is much less risky," Annabel begins.

"Spain, too, has less supply. Last year, they went on for too long. That's affecting this season's supply. Growers know they're one of the few on the market, and there's plenty of competition for this fruit. So, it's expensive. Israel also has less supply. Last year was an on-year, so this is an off-year. Again, competition and prices are high."

"Morocco, too, has less product than last season. That's mainly because it was too hot there last summer. Again, competition for these avocadoes will be high in the coming weeks. Colombia expected growth but should end up at the same quantities as last season. That's due to weather conditions in last year's second and third quarters, " says Annabel.

"There, too, competition for this fruit is high, driving up prices. Everyone's trying to get their hands on what little avocadoes there are. Looking a little further ahead, countries like Peru, South Africa, and Kenya should start harvesting a little earlier and deliver as early as March. That's also sorely needed to keep the supply flowing in."

Sales over Christmas and start of 2023
Avocado sales did not increase significantly over the festive season. "Avocados aren't a traditional Christmas item. Around the holidays, there's a healthy rise in consumption, but it's never been a product that shows immense growth because of Christmas. In contrast, in supermarkets across Europe, the start of a new year is always when shoppers focus on healthy eating. Avocados are very healthy, so it's a good product to boost. Retailers from almost all over Europe have promotions early in the year," Könst says.

Inflation
"Because of lower supplies, market prices are higher than before. But given their availability, avocado prices should have been even higher. Last year, European demand was much higher."

"That was thanks to the pandemic. The volume Europe received recently would've led to a shortage in the previous years. Here, inflation is having an impact," says Annabel.

"That means avocado consumption is stabilizing or even declining slightly in various countries. Over the next three months - due to the situation described earlier - imported avocados will be very pricey. There's no telling at this point how much that will affect supermarket prices."

"It, thus, remains crucial to keep sharing knowledge about avocadoes and inspiring people. Some aren't aware of its health benefits and high nutritional value," explains Annabel. "And they don't always know which recipes to use avocados or how to prepare them. In May and June, we're responding to this with the 'Avocados All Day' campaign."

"We'll have accessible, delicious recipes to inspire shoppers to use avocadoes at different times of the day. By combining promotions and in-store activities with online touchpoints, we'll increase the impact and measure the effects. So, by mid-year, we hope to have a better balance again, with more people enjoying avocados," concludes Annabel.

For more information:
Annabel Könst
Nature's Pride
Tel: +31 (0) 174 219 155
Email: Annabel.Konst@naturespride.nl
Website: www.naturespride.nl

Publication date:

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"Imported avocado prices to rise sharply in the next three months"

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Much is currently changing on the avocado supply side, says Annabel Könst, who buys avocadoes for the Dutch company, Nature's Pride. "The 2022-2023 winter season looks different from last winter. The different origins all have lower supply. That will become very noticeable in the coming weeks and months."

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Agencies

The US economy is forecast to have grown but at a slower pace in the final months of 2022, helped by consumption and business investment although recession fears loom.

Economic activity has been easing as the US central bank hiked the benchmark lending rate seven times last year, in hopes of cooling demand and reining in costs as inflation surged.

The property sector has slumped, followed by declines in manufacturing and retail sales.

Against this backdrop, the world's biggest economy is seen to expand 2.6 percent in the October to December period, according to a consensus forecast of analysts, down from 3.2 percent in the third quarter last year.

This would mark the second straight quarter of growth after two rounds of contraction.

But the housing sector was likely a drag, with mortgage rates still high and weighing on affordability.

- Recession risks? - While unexpectedly resilient consumer spending has supported growth, there are signs that households are drawing down on their savings from the pandemic period.

This could point to more subdued expenditures ahead, analysts say.

"Recent economic data signal the economy entered 2023 on a weak footing," said Ryan Sweet of Oxford Economics.

He expects the US could enter a recession in the second quarter as consumers limit their spending and businesses become more reluctant to hire and invest.

But others believe the country may yet avoid a downturn.

Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics said that healthy household balance sheets along with a strong labor market could keep things positive this year.

"We're still seeing wage growth that is way above the pre-pandemic trend... We're not seeing a surge in jobless claims," she told AFP.

"Companies are very reluctant to let go of workers because they've struggled so much in terms of staffing," she added.

Despite announcements of layoffs from major companies, the fact that claims are not rising "means a lot of these people are finding jobs," she said.

Moody's Analytics economist Matt Colyar added that consumers' excess savings act "as a firewall."

Even if households are eating into their funds due to inflation, "they're coming from a very high point," and this should alleviate or prevent a protracted downturn, he said.

- Layoffs 'contained' - Meanwhile, large-scale layoffs appear hard to imagine for now, Colyar added.

Despite job losses in the tech sector, retail giant Walmart, the biggest private employer in the US, said Tuesday it was raising its minimum wage, an indication of persistent tightness in the labor market.

"The labor supply issue is keeping people hiring, and it's believable that the softness we're seeing stays relatively contained," Colyar added.

Looking ahead, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael Brainard has warned that the drag on growth and employment from monetary policy is likely to rise in 2023 given that it takes time for policy changes to ripple through the economy.

"That said, there is uncertainty about the timing and magnitude," she added in a speech last week.

It remains possible, she said, that moderating demand could allow for easing in the labor market and a reduction in inflation "without significant loss of employment."

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US growth expected to slow in fourth quarter as downturn fears loom

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Economic activity has been easing as the US central bank hiked the benchmark lending rate seven times last year, in hopes of cooling demand and reining in costs as inflation surged. The property sector has slumped, followed by declines in manufacturing and retail sales.

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Another Covid surge in China is the global supply chain’s biggest fear, but it may be overstated (Luca) 

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Another Covid surge in China is the global supply chain’s biggest fear, but it may be overstated (Luca) 

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The new surge in covid cases in China has raised fears for suppliers and companies around the world of how this will affect the supply chain thanks to China being one of the biggest producers and exporters in the world. This is thanks to the exit of producers thanks to having fewer workers in factories.

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Another wave of Covid infections in China is the biggest fear for supply chain managers, but those whose companies were impacted by the first pandemic wave are optimistic the impact will be short-lived.

"After talking with my team and a few of our suppliers in China, they're not expecting the next wave to be as extreme the second time around," said Dave Collier, COO of Infinite Electronics, a global supplier of electronic components. "The first surge was interesting. I remember distinctly speaking with our general manager of Asia Pacific on a Friday afternoon who told me one person at the plant was out with Covid. And by the following Monday, it was a third of our workforce and then half, and then it quickly peaked at about three-quarters of our workforce."

Collier said employees were back after two weeks.

"We saw with our production or our suppliers' production, a fairly significant decline from one to two weeks as the Covid impact filtered through, but we recovered quickly," Collier said.

As China has relaxed restrictions in its "Zero Covid" policy and reopened its economy, there have been reports of major outbreaks at factories and ports. Reduction in workforce is a major factor in the CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map for China, with heavy congestion at the ports.

The Chinese population has been traveling during the holiday to an extent not seen previously during the pandemic. Shanghai medical researchers projected in a recent study that major Chinese cities would already be through the worst of Covid by the end of 2022, while rural areas and remote provinces would see the worst infection spikes during mid-to late January, with the holiday, during which hundreds of millions of citizens usually travel, contributing. But a top Chinese government scientist recently said that with up to 80% of the population previously infected with Covid, the chances of a major outbreak over the next two to three months are remote.

"Some of our logistics partners I have heard from are concerned that there might be some potential labor issues at airports and ports," Collier said. "There are no details yet on how much if any delay it's going to cause, but there is worry."

ContainerX, a major platform for container logistics, said its data shows 73% of supply chain officials expect a disruption after Lunar New Year.

One of the biggest lessons learned during the pandemic by manufacturers and supply chain executives was to understand tier two, three, and four suppliers at a deeper level.

Collier said companies analyze sourcing statistics and how much of a product is sourced in a particular region of the world, but often don't go far enough into the supply chain data. "They make sure that they're diversified, but they're only looking at that first tier, so you really have to look back at the second and third tiers," he said. "And you'll find that often, the second and third tiers are coming from that region of the world that you've moved away from, for good reason. And so that analysis needs to be done. And I will tell you, those disruptions continue."

CNBC's Supply Chain Heat Map shows how the weaker global economic conditions are influencing U.S.- China shipping routes. Ocean freight bookings from China to the U.S. have plummeted 87 percent since June as companies pull back on orders.

"Manufacturing orders are down 40% to 50% in some cases in China, and so their factories are not necessarily idle, but certainly not at capacity," Collier said.

Infinite Electronics is expanding its manufacturing footprint to avoid China's Covid slowdowns. Earlier this month, the company acquired UK-headquartered Bulgin, which makes connectivity equipment and has operations in multiple regions.

"Supply assurance plans are not something that happens in the short term," Collier said. "These types of plans don't happen overnight. The U.S. is making tremendous investments along with its partners, particularly in semiconductors, to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., back to Mexico, to Canada. We are seeing companies make those moves. We're also considering those types of moves as we look at our long-term network strategy. So it's certainly happening. But it's going to take time, and it's gonna take massive investment. This is a transition that will take decades, not years."
Source: CNBC

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Another Covid surge in China is the global supply chain's biggest fear, but it may be overstated

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Another wave of Covid infections in China is the biggest fear for supply chain managers, but those whose companies were impacted by the first pandemic wave are optimistic the impact will be short-lived.

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Chip Shortage Creates New Power Players - Devansh Konda

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Chip Shortage Creates New Power Players - Devansh Konda

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Supply Shifter: Expectation of future prices and Technological innovations

According to the article, the shortage of computer chips is affecting various industries, including the automotive sector and consumer electronics. This means that the shortage is impacting the production of vehicles and consumer electronics products, causing difficulties for companies and potential product delays or price increases for consumers.

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Chip Shortage Creates New Power Players (Published 2021)

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Low-profile chip makers with aging factories have become surprisingly powerful, leading to industry changes that may outlive the pandemic-fueled supply crunch.

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https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/54458/1/textile-workers-protest-minimum-wage-human-rights-fast-fashion-pakistan-exploit

Supplyshifter: input prices

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Garment workers in Karachi, Pakistan are protesting outside the Denim Clothing Company, which produces apparel for fast fashion brands. In a video uploaded to Twitter, labour and human rights journalist Fawad Hazan filmed the crowd holding banners and chanting for minimum wage, social security, and other basic rights, with a further clip purporting to capture the moment that plain clothes officers started to baton charge, beat, and abduct 35 of the protesting employees.

Standing with the factory workforce, Hazan sheds light on the alleged gross and exploitative practices of the Denim Clothing Company, which supplies H&M, Zara, and Levi's. "These factories are literally jails!," he Tweeted this morning, uploading pictures of the compound. "You see their structure, the barbed wires, the grills, armed-to-the-teeth guards, iron gates (which btw get closed when fire incidents happen so that workers 'don't steal the products'), and it all seems like a prison!" Among those taken into police custody was Yaseen Jhullan from the Sindh Renaissance Labour Federation, who had previouly assured area officials that today's demonstration was peaceful. Another video shows a police car parked and poised within the firm's "jail-like infrastructure".

A similar protest gathered traction in May earlier this year when workers, fearing they would not be paid an Eid bonus, congregated in front of the gates of the Denim Clothing Company, before being promised payment. The following day, the commuter vans which had previously taken staff members to and from work were suspended, while entry cards were cancelled, and doors to the factory were locked. Hundreds came together outside as management officials and police inspectors fired bullets into the crowd, injuring demonstrators. 24 hours later and the Denim Clothing Company had filed a case against eight hundred of its workers, who were only released from custody after trade unionists intervened.

Yet this is merely one factory, in one province, in one country. Garment workers suffer routine exploitation at the hands of fashion brands throughout the world. There are, of course, many cogs in the supply chain, but these labels are facing a moment of reckoning, with many leaning into a strategy of distraction to stave off criticism. See Boohoo's factory walking tours or Shein's reality TV series, for example. While workers are vying for more union representation in a bid to have their humanity acknowledged, fashion brands can no longer shift responsibility onto suppliers, and must recognise their role in global human rights disasters.

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Fast fashion's textile workers protest for basic rights and pay

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Garment workers in Karachi, Pakistan are protesting outside the Denim Clothing Company, which produces apparel for fast fashion brands. In a video uploaded to Twitter, labour and human rights journalist Fawad Hazan filmed the crowd holding banners and chanting for minimum wage, social security, and other basic rights, with a further clip purporting to capture the moment that plain clothes officers started to baton charge, beat, and abduct 35 of the protesting employees.

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Technological Innovations Shift

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Green Energy Investment Sets $1.1 Trillion Record in 2022

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Last year, global investment in clean energy passed $1 trillion-for the first time matching the amount invested in fossil fuels.

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Input Prices

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Samsung Electronics Co., the world's biggest smartphone maker, expects the smartphone market to contract in 2023.

The Suwon, South Korea-based Galaxy device maker said on Tuesday it sees demand for mobile devices shrinking in the current year, even after the economic challenges and disappointing sales of 2022. The company detailed its biggest profit drop in over a decade Tuesday, saying "the business environment deteriorated significantly" in the last quarter of the year.

Mobile device makers have been especially hit by the slowdown in consumer spending that resulted from surging inflation and interest rates along with geopolitical tensions last year. Hopes for a rebound in 2023 have been given some impetus by China's gradual reopening after the country relaxed its strict Covid Zero policy and unwinded some of the pressure on its domestic internet companies. China is the world's biggest smartphone market and is unlikely to repeat the double-digit falls in shipments and sales it saw in 2022, but Samsung 's outlook would suggest that won't be enough to return the mobile business to growth in the near term.

"Amid prolonging geopolitical issues, continued inflation, and the continued economic slowdown, we expect the smartphone market to contract in 2023, with the mass market impacted the most," Daniel Araujo, a Samsung vice president, said on a call following the company's fourth-quarter earnings.

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samsung electronics on smartphone market

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Samsung sees phone market shrinking again after 2022 woes

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Samsung Electronics Co., the world's biggest smartphone maker, expects the smartphone market to contract in 2023. The Suwon, South Korea-based Galaxy device maker said on Tuesday it sees demand for mobile devices shrinking in the current year, even after the economic challenges and disappointing sales of 2022.

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https://www.ledinside.com/news/2016/4/korea_to_boost_oled_development_with_increased_subsidies_in_2017
Subsidies

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Korea looks to increase subsidies it has been offering to OLED technology-related business projects to remain ahead of Chinese competitors, reported Korea Times.

Plans of allocating a new budget on the investment of OLED-associated projects will be in place around 2017, said Kim Jeong-hwa, director of the electronic component policy bureau at Korean government agency. These subsidies are initiated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

Observing the oversupply condition in LCD display market, many start to fear that the same would happen to OLED disply market though it's still a long way for OLED to reach that point.

The Korean government has been cutting subsidies for display since 2013. MOTIE invested KRW 27.6 billion (US $23.98 million) on research and R&D projects in 2013 and slashed the subsidies to only KRW 9.3 billion (US $8.08 million) in 2016. The cut worries many that Korea may lost its leading position in the development race of OLED in the long run.

Therefore, Han San-Beom, the chairman of Korea Display Association and CEO of leading Korean OLED manufacturer LG Display, urged MOTIE to increase its subsidies in OLED.

Meanwhile, industry insiders are convicned that it's very unlikely for Chinese manufacturers to catch up in the near future.

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Korea to Boost OLED Development with Increased Subsidies in 2017

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Korea looks to increase subsidies it has been offering to OLED technology-related business projects to remain ahead of Chinese competitors, reported Korea Times. Plans of allocating a new budget on the investment of OLED-associated projects will be in place around 2017, said Kim Jeong-hwa, director of th..

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Input Price Shift