text:
One of the nation’s largest unions is urging northeast governors to protect cannabis workers’ rights by requiring that companies seeking business licenses allow for labor peace agreements.
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union sent a letter asking for “consumer and worker protections to be a top priority” to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.
UFCW represents 1.3 million workers in industries from retail and food processing to meatpacking and cannabis. The union represents thousands of cannabis workers in 12 states.
This letter comes as a response to last month’s Regional Cannabis Regulation and Vaping Summit, during which northeast governors laid out plans for a coordinated approach to adult use legalization, a UFCW spokesperson told Cannabis Wire.
At the summit, Cuomo said that, when it comes to legalization, “the devil is in the details. It can be a positive if done right, negative if done incorrectly,” adding, “This issue is complicated, controversial, and consequential. It is probably one of the most challenging I’ve had to address in New York, and it’s a challenge for all the states.”
UFCW wrote in the letter that the “joint agreement” between these northeast states, which aims to limit licenses and prioritize smaller cannabis businesses, and create the types of programs that will empower those who have cannabis convictions, will “support thousands of good jobs, strengthen our region’s economy, and move our nation closer to a unified cannabis policy that extends opportunities for working families across the country.”
“UFCW understands that strengthening worker rights and safety standards are essential to a successful cannabis industry and we urge you to prioritize labor peace agreements in the new joint framework on cannabis reached by your states,” the letter continued.
Such agreements ensure the neutrality of the employer if and when a group of employees decide to unionize. Labor peace agreements also give workers an “independent voice,” the letter continued, “about any compliance concerns without fear of retaliation.”
New York and New Jersey already have such agreements in place for their medical cannabis industries, which could be a foot in the door for UFCW’s proposal. Though, as a result of the commitment to a coordinated approach, UFCW will likely need buy in from each state.
“As has been the case for the medical cannabis industry in New York, Governor Cuomo’s proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis in New York last year included a provision requiring a labor peace agreement,” Cuomo spokesperson Caitlin Girouard told Cannabis Wire. “And as New York continues working to advance an adult-use cannabis program we will take every precaution to ensure the safety of workers and consumers.”
California requires a labor peace agreement for all businesses applying for a cannabis license, Illinois requires these agreements for “most cannabis operators applying for a license,” and Pennsylvania regulators consider labor peace agreements when reviewing applications for cannabis business licenses, according to a UFCW spokesperson.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said at October’s gubernatorial cannabis policy summit that “This patchwork quilt of regulations makes no sense at all,” emphasizing the complications that arise with so many smaller states clustered together in the northeast. “My state of Connecticut, people cross the border. They drive up to Massachusetts where they buy some cannabis and bring it back, and that makes a real problem for our state police.”
Murphy, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the matter. Cannabis Wire has reached out to the other governors that UFCW sent the letter to, and will update this story with responses.
At the summit, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told Cannabis Wire, and a small group of journalists, “The more coordinated and harmonious we can be, the better off we’ll all individually be. Obviously, we’d keep our own legislative reality. Your executive order authority is your own, but I’m optimistic we can do this in a way—this being both vaping and adult use of recreational marijuana—in a coordinated way.”
Separately, UFCW has been lobbying at the federal level on cannabis-related bills and issues since late 2018. The union met with House and Senate staff to discuss “cannabis classification and related issues” and “cannabis banking legislation, Secure And Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019 (HR 1595).”
The letter was signed by the following:
UFCW International President Marc Perrone (Washington, D.C.)
Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union President Stuart Appelbaum (New York, NY)
UFCW International Vice President and Region 1 Director David Young (Little Falls, NJ)
UFCW Local 152 President Brian String (Egg Harbor Township, NJ)
UFCW Local 328 President Timothy Melia (Providence, RI)
RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 President Jon Durso (Mineola, NY)
UFCW Local 360 President Salvatore “Sam” Ferraino (West Berlin, NJ)
UFCW Local 371 President Thomas Wilkinson (Westport, CT)
UFCW Local 919 President Mark Espinosa (Farmington, CT)
UFCW Local 1445 President Jeffrey Bollen (Dedham, MA)
UFCW Local 1459 President Tyrone Housey (Springfield, MA)
UFCW Local 1776KS President Wendell Young (Plymouth Meeting, PA)
RWDSU New York City Director Dave Mertz (New York, NY)
This story was updated at 4:26 p.m. eastern with additional information from UFCW. It was updated again at 5:28 p.m. with comments from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.


text:
Reliance Jio will very soon come out with a GigaFiber fibernet Jio broadband internet network that promises to go beyond conventional broadband and offer internet speeds of 1Gbps for home users.
The Reliance Jio GigaFiber is a wired system of networks, and this fibre to the home (FTTH) service is already under test and will initially be launched in certain parts of India as a trial initiative, Gadgets360reported.
The report quotes users who have apparently received access to try out the Reliance Jio GigaFiber service as a free 90-day trial initiative (not live for everyone).
Users have reportedly checked out network download and upload speeds of an uniform 90Mbps.
The trial has been initiated in Mumbai and Pune, which gives an impression that the Reliance Jio GigaFiber FTTH wired broadband initiative is being tested in these cities, and may be officially launched here.
Also, a PhoneRadar report states that the Jio Broadband GigaFiber internet tariff plans would start from as low as Rs. 500 for 100Mbps speed (under the trial offer). At this point in time, it is not known whether there would be a data limit imposed on the 1Gbps plan.
Reliance Jio's 4G offer is taking Indians by storm, and the offer has now been expanded to a large number of LTE-enabled smartphone models. Users can simply walk into a nearest Reliance Digital Store with relevant documents to get a Jio 4G SIM card.

domain: news


text:
Haynes revs up for bigger profit thanks to booming demand for car, motorcycle and novelty manuals
Booming demand for car and motorcycle manuals and a growing interest in online products boosted sales for publisher Haynes.
The company revealed rising sales in the six months to December, thanks to growing popularity of its key brands.
Sales in the six months to November 30 increased by 15 per cent to £14million – up from £12.2million the year before.
Digital products, which include the group's online titles, accounted for 36 per cent of the group's overall sales at £5.1million, an increase of 50 per cent year on year.
Profits rose 67 per cent to £500,000 from £300,000. Haynes said its non-car related titles had also performed strongly in the UK and its new humorous mini manual, 'Haynes Explains', lifted sales 47 per cent.
It added that its sales in the UK alone were up 17 per cent from the previous year.
The strong results follow the decision to close US and Swedish printing and distributing bases in May last year.
Haynes said falling print sales had made it 'no longer commercially viable' to keep the businesses, axing 41 jobs.
The firm now outsources US distribution while Swedish customers are served by the UK.
Haynes said the move allowed it accelerate the development and marketing of its digital platforms.
Most watched Money videos
- Lamborghini unleashes the 217mph Sian Roadster hypercar
- Jaguar Land Rover introduce safety measures to reopen factory
- NHS test and trace give you warning signs to look out for
- Jaguar car showrooms prepare to reopen after coronavirus lockdown
- The first Aston Martin replica from 007 Goldfinger ever made
- Ineos reveals its brand new model Grenadier 4X4
- The all new Ford Puma is unveiled by Ford
- Is Japan an investment opportunity in the coronavirus storm?
- What the fund that beat the crash is buying now
- Aston Martin reveals sneak peak of its first ever motorcycle
- Lamborghini teams up with Italian boat builder to create superyacht
- How to avoid online fraud as 'copycat' websites are on the rise


text:
© Rolls Royce (illustration purpose only) Business | May 02, 2019
A 'telling off' for Rolls-Royce?
Recent changes made to the assessment criteria for the UK Government’s Prompt Payment Code have resulted in its suspension from the Code – specifically, in respect of its failure to pay at least 95% of their supplier invoices within 60 days.
"This non-compliance assessment is disappointing as we are demonstrably committed to the fair and appropriate treatment of all our suppliers. We look forward to working with CICM and the Prompt Payment Code Compliance Board to assist them in gaining a clearer understanding of the way in which we differentiate between large suppliers and smaller suppliers, who we believe merit additional assistance", a statement reads. With over 500'000 payments to suppliers every year, Rolls-Royce has adopt a "flexible approach which matches payment terms to the requirements and capabilities of our suppliers, [...] applying appropriate and jointly agreed payment terms to each". This approach, coupled with shorter payment terms for smaller suppliers, was apparently sufficient for Rolls-Royce to meet the criteria when they signed up to the Code in 2012, and were re-confirmed in 2016. "Nothing has fundamentally changed in our approach since then – as a group we pay around 90% of our invoices on time. We have long-term contracts with larger suppliers where payment terms have been mutually agreed at 75 days end of week. Previously we were able to balance these against the more preferential treatment we offer smaller suppliers, and remain compliant with the Code. Following a change in assessment approach, this is no longer the case. We continue to believe the way we have designed our payment terms is in keeping with the spirit of the Code. However, the significant volume of invoices we receive from our large suppliers – and the removal of the consideration of our preferential treatment for smaller suppliers – has pushed us below the compliance criteria as it is now being assessed", the press release continues.
Car supplier Harman plans to close German site The automotive supplier Harman apparently wants to stick to its plans and close the plant in Straubing (Germany). Between 625 and 700 jobs are affected.
Camtek receives orders for 34 systems from five manufacturers Camtek says it has received orders for 34 systems for 2D inspection of CMOS image sensors from five different manufacturers, of which 25 are from two customers.
Changes to Next Biometrics' management Next Biometrics' CFO, Knut Stålen, will step down from his position on the last day of February 2020. Knut Stålen has been with NEXT Biometrics since 2014.
Foxconn and Heraeus sign MoU Foxconn Technology Group and Heraeus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic cooperation within the space of 5G.
Sponsored content by CMLCML manufactures Metal Substrate solutions Printed circuit boards (PCBs) plays an important role in our day to day life. Whether it’s the car you’re driving, the phone that you’re scrolling through or computers that you’re sending emails from. What happens when you use heat generating components on a PCB? That’s right, cooling is needed!
BAE to pick up Collins Aerospace’s GPS business and Raytheon’s ATR business BAE Systems has reached definitive agreements for the proposed acquisitions of Collins Aerospace’s military Global Positioning System (GPS) business and Raytheon’s Airborne Tactical Radios (ATR) business.
JEOL Ltd. acquires Integrated Dynamic Electron Solutions JEOL Ltd. , manufacturer of semiconductor equipment and other industrial instruments and equipment, announced the acquisition of Integrated Dynamic Electron Solutions Inc. (IDES), an entrepreneurial venture specializing in technologies related to transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
NEXT receives major order for Indian government program NEXT Biometrics has received an order for UIDAI and STQC certified fingerprint biometric readers in India with a value of USD 750,000.
Cadence completes acquisition of AWR from NI Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has completed the acquisition of AWR Corporation from National Instruments Corporation.
Fiat Chrysler and Foxconn plans EV joint venture A new competitor in the industry for electric vehicles are in the making.
Collins Aerospace inks multimillion-dollar space contract Collins Aerospace Systems has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to provide critical subsystems to support production of NASA’s Orion spacecraft fleet for Artemis missions III through VIII.
Imagination Technologies expands with new European design centre Imagination Technologies has opened a new design centre in Timisoara, Romania. The centre will focus on IP designed for artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision.
AKI Electronic becomes Schurter Electronics As part of the further integration into the Schurter Group, AKI Electronic spol. s r.o. changes its name to SCHURTER Electronics spol. s r.o.
From Bosch to Silicon Mobility - Kallenbach takes the helm Automotive semiconductor company, Silicon Mobility, has appointed former Robert Bosch GmbH executive Rainer Kallenbach as CEO of the company as of January 6, 2020. The current CEO Bruno Paucard will remain with the company as COO and on the Board of Directors.
NEXT Biometrics reorganises - reduces headcount NEXT Biometrics says it is executing a program to optimise the organisation and cost base with its strategic priorities and market opportunities; which also translates to layoffs
LPKF delivers laser system to semiconductor industry customer In December, LPKF delivered – for the first time – a highly automated version of its LIDE system for integration into a semiconductor fab to an unnamed semiconductor manufacturers.
ROHM company SiCrystal & STMicro ink wafer supply deal ROHM and STMicroelectronics have signed a multi-year silicon carbide (SiC) wafers supply agreement with SiCrystal, a ROHM group company having a top share of SiC wafers in Europe.
Cadence expands collaboration with Broadcom Cadence Design Systems says it has expanded its collaboration with Broadcom Inc. for the creation of semiconductor solutions targeting next-generation networking, broadband, enterprise storage, wireless and industrial applications.
Marvell expands R&D footprint in India Marvell has announced the addition of its new facility in Bangalore, part of Marvell India Private Limited, the company’s second largest research and development (R&D) effort spanning three sites – Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad.
imec spin-off raises €4,5 million in funding MICLEDI Microdisplays, the latest spin-off of imec, has raised EUR 4,5 million seed capital from imec.xpand, with participation of PMV and FIDIMEC.
Synopsys to acquire certain IP assets of INVECAS The acquisition broadens the company’s IP portfolio and adds a team of experienced R&D engineers to the company’s development department.
Fire at Kioxia's Yokkaichi NAND fab A fire broke out at Kioxia’s Yokkaichi plant – a joint venture facility owned by Kioxia and Western Digital – in Japan on January 7.
New Hella electronics JV starts production in China The joint venture HELLA BHAP Electronics has started production. The company was founded in 2018 by HELLA and BHAP, one of the largest automotive suppliers in China.
European backing for Prodrive's growth plans The European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 50 million loan to Dutch technology company Prodrive Technologies.Load more news


text:
NYC Mayor Bloomberg set to ban sale of sweetened drinks larger than 16 ounces; Update: Bloomberg supports ‘National Donut Day’ tomorrow
**Written by Doug Powers
Conversation coming soon to a prison near you:
“What’cha in for?”
“Armed robbery. You?”
“Sold a 24 ounce Mountain Dew.”
From the New York Times:
New York City plans to enact a far-reaching ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts, in the most ambitious effort yet by the Bloomberg administration to combat rising obesity.
The proposed ban would affect virtually the entire menu of popular sugary drinks found in delis, fast-food franchises and even sports arenas, from energy drinks to pre-sweetened iced teas. The sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces — about the size of a medium coffee, and smaller than a common soda bottle — would be prohibited under the first-in-the-nation plan, which could take effect as soon as next March.
The measure would not apply to diet sodas, fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages; it would not extend to beverages sold in grocery or convenience stores.
Word is that the Mayor canceled a scheduled press conference after a member of his security detail informed him a street vendor had been spotted selling large cups of Barq’s outside a heroin needle exchange. To the Nanny-Mobile!
Did it ever occur to Bloomberg that the only exercise some of us get on a regular basis is lugging our giant soft drinks around?
It’s ironic that some feel the only way to save Americans from getting fat is to make the government nanny morbidly obese:
Update: Go figure. Tomorrow, Bloomberg will recognize and support
Mixed Message Day National Donut Day in NYC:
At Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s press conference touting his efforts to stop the sale of large soft drinks in restaurants, one reporter in attendance brought up the interesting fact that his administration also supporting “National Donut Day” tomorrow and inquired as to whether that muddled the mayor’s message on the issue.
Indeed, at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, Entenmann’s will be unveiling “Custom-made Entenmann’s large donuts, 1-foot in diameter” at Madison Square Park at the same time they unveil a “Proclamation Letter by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.”
**Written by Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBeblog comments powered by Disqus
April 27, 2017 07:59 AM by Doug Powers
April 18, 2017 09:56 AM by Doug Powers
March 13, 2017 08:44 PM by Doug Powers
March 10, 2017 01:49 PM by Doug Powers
March 9, 2017 08:45 PM by Doug Powers


text:
Global StarCraft II League to be held at BlizzCon 2011
Blizzard Entertainment has formally announced that the ever popular Global StarCraft II League will make it to Blizzcon this October. BlizzCon 2011 this year will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in California on October 21 and 22, and the finals of the GSL will be held at this same locale too.
The big news behind this is that for the first time, the GSL will be playing outside of Korea. StarCraft has always been very popular as a national sport over in Korea, but this move may very well mark a milestone of the growing popularity of competitive gaming overseas.
BlizzCon is currently sold out, but virtual tickets -- which provide live, comprehensive coverage of the convention -- are available for $39.99 USD at the official website. The GSL finals will be presented for free over the Internet on this site. All that is needed to watch is a free Battle.net account. Setup email comments
Please report harassment, spam, and hate speech to our community fisters
, and flag the user (we will ban users dishing bad karma
). Can't see comments?
Apps like Avast
or browser extensions
can cause it. You can fix it by adding *.disqus.com to your whitelists.


text:
VW offloads Bugatti to Rimac to form new EV company Bugatti-Rimac
“Rimac and Bugatti are a best match in regards to what we each give the table,” said creator and CEO of Rimac, Mate Rimac, in a declaration. “As a young, nimble and fast-paced vehicle and innovation company, we have developed ourselves as an industry pioneer in electric innovations. With the Nevera, we have actually also shown that we can develop and manufacture exceptional hypercars, that are not only fast but likewise interesting and premium. Bugatti, with over a century of experience in engineering quality, likewise has one of the most extraordinary heritage of any vehicle company in history.”
The formation of Bugatti-Rimac does not affect the investor structure within Rimac Group. Mate Rimac will continue to hold his 37% share in Rimac Group, with Hyundai Motor Group holding the same 12% and other investors at 27%, according to a statement from the company. Porsche recently upped its stake in Rimac from 15% to 24%, but its overall ownership does not offer It a managing interest in the brand-new EV business, the companies told FT.
The business just recently unveiled the Nevera, a hypercar powered by a 120kWh battery pack and four motors to attain a staggering 1.4 MW of power, which has to do with 1,914 horse power. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 1.85 seconds and has a top speed of 258 mph. The Nevera is expected to be the fastest cars, a spot previously held by the Bugatti Chiron’s.
Together with this statement, Rimac stated it would separate the development, production and supply of battery systems, drivetrains and other EV elements into a brand-new entity owned by Rimac Group called Rimac Technology, which will work individually with other worldwide car manufacturers.
“Rimac and Bugatti are an ideal match in terms of what we each bring to the table,” said creator and CEO of Rimac, Mate Rimac, in a declaration. Rimac’s meteoric increase from bootstrapping in a garage in 2009 to building supercars with one of the most well-known and desirable automobile brand names shows how electrical cars are beginning to take over the luxury and sports car market. The development of Bugatti-Rimac does not affect the investor structure within Rimac Group.
Croatian electric supercar startup Rimac Automobili is taking control of Bugatti. Rimac will own a managing 55% share in the brand-new business, Bugatti-Rimac, with VW’s Porsche owning the staying 45%, according to reports by the Financial Times.
Mate Rimac will lead Bugatti-Rimac, which will be headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia. Bugatti’s production will remain in Molsheim, France.
Rimac’s meteoric rise from bootstrapping in a garage in 2009 to building supercars with among the most popular and preferable cars and truck brands demonstrates how electric automobiles are starting to take over the luxury and cars market. It’s not almost doing what’s right for the environment– it’s about pioneering speed in the future of autos.


text:
As sure as night follows day, we can expect to see a Google Pixel 7a to follow in the footsteps of the Pixel 7, offering a budget alternative to Google’s flagship phone.
Google has yet to mention the existence of a next-generation Pixel a-series phone, and the rumors around it are pretty slim as it stands. But we’d place a significant bet that Google will release a Pixel 7a in the first half of next year, given the rave reviews Pixel a-series phones have received with pretty much every iteration.
With that in mind, we expect the Pixel 7a will be much like the Google Pixel 6a, our top pick for the best cheap phone, by taking the flagship Pixel phone recipe and cutting it back a little to make it more affordable but still very capable.
So here’s what we expect from the Google Pixel 7a.
Pixel 7a latest rumors (Updated Nov 30)
- New renders show off what the Pixel 7a could look like, and it's not hugely surprising
- A new report says that the Pixel 7a could get a powerful trio of cameras, including a new telephoto lens.
- The Pixel 7a could be the first phone in Google's lineup to support wireless charging.
Google Pixel 7a release date and price speculation
We’d expect to see the Pixel 7a arrive in the first half of 2023, as that would roughly track with the release windows of previous Pixel a-series phones. For example, the Pixel 6a was launched in May at Google I/O and then released on July 28; we’d expect the Pixel 7a to track with this.
However, the Pixel 7a could arrive even sooner than that, as Amazon was letting customers sign up for updates related to the phone's arrival (opens in new tab) in late October.
As for price, the Pixel 6a came in at $449/£399/AU$749, and given how the Pixel 7 costs the same as the Pixel 6 did, we would then expect the Pixel 7a to follow the pricing of its predecessor. And the price seems to be a relative sweet spot for a phone that offers a lot of smart features, excellent camera performance and a slick design for under $500.
Ideally, we’d like to see Google drop the U.S. price down to $400, which would put it in the same competitive price bracket as the excellent Pixel 4a. But it looks like Google’s hike in pricing, which arrived with the Pixel 5a, looks set to stay. Just bear in mind Pixel phones get regularly discounted a few months after its release, so we’d not be surprised to see the Pixel 7a be available for under $400 at some point.
Google Pixel 7a design and display
Much like the Pixel 6a aped the design of the Pixel 6, with that striking rectangular camera visor, we expect the Pixel 7a to look near-identical to the Pixel 7 at a quick glance.
With the Pixel 7, Google took the camera bar and gave it a single aluminum bar to hold the main and ultrawide angle camera, along with the flash. That’ll likely be the same story for the Pixel 7a.
But if Google wants to save a little on manufacturing costs, and thus keep the Pixel 7a’s price down, the aluminum could be replaced by polycarbonate; something Google does a good job at making it feel solid rather than cheap. And we’d expect the glass back of the Pixel 7 to be replaced by a plastic rear for the a-series model, as that’s what happened with the Pixel 6a.
New renders that have appeared online show off a device that looks very much like the Pixel 6a, which isn't a huge surprise. It's unlikely that Google would make any grand design changes on its cheapest handset, instead holding them for a future flagship.
Smartpix, which published the renders, even claimed that the Pixel 7a would be roughly the same size as its predecessor. 6.0 x 2.87 x 0.35 inches, compared to the Pixel 6a’s 5.99 x 2.82 x 0.35 inches.
Expect an OLED display for the Pixel 7a, likely measuring 6.1 inches and sporting a resolution of 2400 x 1080. Ideally, we’d like to see a higher refresh rate for the display, as that’s been stuck at a now-sluggish-for-2022 60Hz. Given a lot of affordable phones target refresh rates of 90Hz, we’re hoping Google gives the Pixel 7a an upgrade.
Otherwise, the Google did a sterling job with the Pixel 6a’s display. So we can expect the Pixel 7a to track closely with its predecessors panel, though it could get the boost in brightness that the Pixel 7 got.
No word on colors yet, but expect them to be slightly modified takes on the Obsidian, Snow and Lemongrass hues offered by the Pixel 7, perhaps with a muted green or orange added into the mix.
Google Pixel 7a cameras
A report says that the Pixel 7a could get pretty radical camera upgrades (opens in new tab). According to 9to5Google (opens in new tab), the Pixel 7a could pack the same Samsung GN1 50MP sensor that debuted on the Pixel 6, but it would come with two additional sensors: the Sony IMX712 13MP lens for ultrawide and the Sony IMX787 64MP camera for telephoto.
This seems a bit far fetched, but it's certainly possible that Google may choose to revamp the Pixel a camera system.
Depending on the camera hardware the Pixel 7a gets, video could be improved with software and AI smarts rather than upgraded physical stabilization.
Google Pixel 7a specs and performance
The Tensor G2 enables features like Photo Unblur, which can make your blurry images look sharper. See how well this feature works in our Photo Unblur test.
RAM is likely to stick to 6GB, a 2GB drop from the Pixel 7, to cut down on cost; though 6GB is plenty for everyday smartphone use. And storage will probably weigh in at 128GB, much like the Pixel 6a’s storage — we’d expect Google to offer only one storage option to both save on production costs and also encourage buyers to go for the Pixel 7 if they want 256GB of storage.
Google Pixel 7a battery life and charging
Battery size for the Pixel 7a is likely to track closely with the Pixel 6a’s 4,410 mAh cell. That delivered a battery life of 6 hours and 29 minutes on the Tom's Guide Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing.
This result was a far cry from reaching the 11.5 hour threshold to make it onto our best phone battery life list. So we’re hoping Google does some work on the battery optimization front to get more endurance out of the Pixel 7a compared to its predecessor. Hopefully, the Tensor G2’s smarts will help.
According to a developer, the Pixel 7a could be the first Pixel phone to support wireless charging (opens in new tab).
Google Pixel 7a outlook
If the Pixel 7a follows the Pixel 6a’s example then we could be looking at one of the best Android phones of 2023, thanks to a suite of smart features, great photography chops and an affordable price.
We're especially intrigued by the telephoto camera rumor and the possible addition of wireless charging.
But the competition in the sub-$500 phone arena keeps getting tighter, and we’d expect to see a new version of the iPhone SE and next-gen Samsung Galaxy A-series phones to offer compelling smartphones for appealing prices.
Yet, if Google continues to evolve the Pixel a-series recipe, then we can expect the Pixel 7a to have a lot of appeal.


text:
The Oscar Wilde bookshop in Greenwich Village, said to be the nation’s oldest gay bookstore, will close its doors due to the economy, City Room reports. A sad loss.
Wrote its current owner Kim Brinster in a letter to customers:
“It is with a sorrowful heart that after 41 years in business the Oscar Wilde Bookshop will close its doors for the final time on March 29, 2009. We want to thank all of our customers for their love and loyalty to the store over the years. You have helped make this store a world wide destination and all of us at the store have enjoyed welcoming our neighbors whether they are next door or half way around the world. In 1967 Craig Rodwell started this landmark store that not only sold Gay and Lesbian literature but also became a meeting place for the LGBT community. Over the years it grew into a first-rate bookshop thanks to the loyal, smart and dedicated staff. There are not enough words to thank these dedicated booksellers for making the OWB one of the world’s finest LGBT bookstores. I feel very honored to have gotten to work with them. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to weather the current economic crisis and find it’s time to call it a day. So thanks to all who have been a part of the Oscar Wilde family over the years, you have truly been a part of a great global community.”
The store has had four previous owners, and Brinster says there’s just no way to keep up in the economy: “Even if we were rent-free it wouldn’t be enough for us to cover the bills we have. This is one instance in New York where it’s not a case of the landlord gouging the tenant. Our landlord has always remarkable with us.”
Philadelphia’s gay bookstore, Giovanni’s Room, celebrated its 35th birthday in October. At the time, its owner Ed Hermance expressed concern about who his successor might be.
Watch a 2007 interview with the folks at the Oscar Wilde Bookshop, AFTER THE JUMP…
Venerable Gay Bookstore Will Close [city room]


text:
NPA says car importation, revenue dropped by 20%
By Richards Adeniyi
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said recently that revenue on car importation into the country dropped by 20 per cent this year, fallout of the Federal Government’s Automobile Policy.
It warned that the revenue dip was a bad omen for the government’s overall revenue take and called for the urgent review of the policy in order to reduce the losses.
The automobile policy was introduced by the government to encourage local car production/assembly plants while cutting importation and raising import duties.
But, recently the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, told the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways that the policy had led to a revenue loss by 20 per cent.
Bala-Usman appeared before the committee, which is chaired by a lawmaker from Enugu State, Pat Asadu, to speak on the internally generated revenue of NPA for 2017 and the projections for 2018.
She stated that contrary to the government’s expectations, the policy had not achieved its objectives, while on the other hand, it continued to lose revenue that would have ordinarily accrued from car importation.
“We have written Mr. President on this policy and we will continue to defend our position that it should be reviewed because the government runs the risk of losing both ways.
“We have recorded a drop in revenue by 20 per cent. How many cars are being manufactured and how many Nigerians can really afford or buy the brand new cars?
“So, the implication is that while the government is losing revenue on importation, the manufacturing or assembly plants are not achieving the aims of the policy,” he said.


text:
SwiftWall® Solutions of Midland was selected along with 100 companies from around the world for the 16th annual Aggie 100. The annual award honors the fastest growing companies owned or operated by former students of Texas A&M University. With a compound annual growth rate of 234%, Swiftwall® Solutions earned the number one ranking. The Aggie 100 is founded and hosted by the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University.
Swiftwall® Solutions was founded in 2014 by Joe Asiala, an Engineering graduate of Texas A&M University and Rick Brouwer, a graduate of Central Michigan University. Asiala, an engineer who worked for 30 years at Dow, developed the modular wall system manufactured and sold by Swiftwall® Solutions. The system was designed to provide an aesthetically appealing, fast, and sustainable solution for solid temporary walls and partitions.
“Our team was thrilled to be honored by Texas A&M for our work,” said Asiala. “It has been incredibly exciting to see our product utilized by a variety of companies and seeing the positive feedback. We’re constantly learning and finding new applications, which will continue to serve us well into the future.” Swiftwall® Solutions products have been utilized at construction sites, museums, casinos, airports, universities, trade shows, and a variety of other commercial spaces. The product was most recently used for a retail space buildout at Los Angeles International Airport, one of the company’s largest projects to date. The temporary walls are installed in 15% of the time required to install traditional dry-wall, and more environmentally friendly as it can be disassembled and reconfigured for other uses. The 100 Aggie-owned companies with the highest compound annual revenue growth from 2017 to 2019 were revealed and recognized during a live-stream awards showcase on Friday, November 6, 2020. The awards production is available for viewing at tx.ag/2020Aggie100.
“The Aggie 100 brand represents the most elite group of successful Aggie entrepreneurs, whose endeavors have truly made our world a better place to live,” said Blake Petty, Director of the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship. “Texas A&M recognizes both their individual efforts and their collective success, in the same way these honorees acknowledge the important role our beloved university played in the development of their character. The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship proudly embodies the legacy through which our Aggie 100 honorees can contribute to developing the next great generation of Aggie entrepreneurs.”
About Aggie 100
Aggie 100 honors the 100 fastest growing Aggie-owned or -led businesses in the world. In addition, it fosters a network of leaders who inspire the next generation of Aggie entrepreneurs. While there are many ways to define business success, Aggie 100 uses growth rate as an indicator as it reflects a ventures capacity for job creation, product acceptance, and entrepreneurial vision. Nominated companies are ranked by percentage of compound annual growth in sales or revenues (net of returns), over a three-year period. Nominees are required to provide detailed company information to PKF Texas who then evaluate and rank the nominees based on these requirements. The 100 fastest growing organizations, or Aggie 100 Honorees, are recognized each Fall during an invitation only awards dinner and reception. In addition to growth and leadership criteria, companies named to Aggie 100 must operate in a manner consistent with the Aggie Code of Honor and the values of Texas A&M University. Aggie 100 has grown significantly from its inception in 2005 and is now being emulated by a number of other top universities, including several of our SEC partners.


text:
Asbury Group, the US-based new car retailer and the 7th largest group in the country, announced recently it entered into an asset purchase agreement to purchase the ten dealerships along with 17 new car franchises from all around Texas from Park Place Dealerships.
This purchase will help Asbury expand its luxury car revenue from 33% to 50% and increase the group's revenue from the Texan market to around 36%. The company stated that the market in Dallas has a 30% higher penetration of new, luxury car sales when compared to the rest of the country.
"We truly believe Park Place will transform our company long term," Asbury CEO David Hult recently told analysts.
Hult also stated that the purchase would help to improve the company's margins, creating around $20 million in savings during the next three years and increase annual revenue by 30%, to $9 billion. He also expects the acquisition to improve the group's financial and insurance revenues and increase gross profits from parts and services from 48 to 50%. He also believes the group might see growth in auction or subscription services that were part of the deal.
The purchase is expected to close by March and needs to be approved by manufacturers and regulation officials. If approved Asbury will be buying three Mercedes dealerships, two Jaguar-Land Rover dealerships, two Lexus stores, one Porsche dealership, one Volvo store, and a Park Place Premier Collection which offers McLaren, Karma, Maserati, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce vehicles.
Ken Schnitzer, the Chairmen of Park Place, started the company back in 1987 and said that the choice to sell his dealership wasn't a simple one.
"I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and the culture we have built," Schnitzer, 66, said in a statement. "I will keep my hand in the automotive industry by retaining two dealerships and a body shop in Grapevine."
The Presidio Group from San Francisco, the investment banking company representing Park Place, had its CEO talked about how serious Asbury has been for the past three months about purchasing the Park Place dealership.
"There were several other interested potential buyers, all of whom were qualified to both purchase it and integrate it and operate it," Cobb said. He could not identify other suitors because of nondisclosure agreements.
"It seemed like a very good fit for where Park Place has been and is today," Cobb said recently. "And they seem like excellent stewards of the Park Place brand, its stores, its employees and, ultimately, its customers."
Asbury has been focused on growing its dealership portfolio and had already bought four dealerships, a store, and a collision center from Bill Estes Automotive around Indianapolis and in Thorton, Colorado. This purchase added around $425 million in revenue per year and cost the company $210 million.
The company stated that the Park Place acquisition will include around $215 million in real estate and leasehold improvements and around $30 million in parts and other assets. Asbury said it would pay for the purchase using credit, current cash flow, and financing.
Join us February 26-27 for the Property Portal Watch Conference Bangkok 2020.


text:
Chemtura's agchem sales up 13% in Q3
Improved sales volumes in all regions except Asia Pacific boosted Chemtura AgroSolutions’ revenues by 13% in the third quarter of 2011, according to provisional figures. Sales amounted to $93 million in the third quarter of 2010 ( Agrow No 604, p 5). Operating profit on a managed basis was $2 million higher than in that period due to higher sales volumes and lower selling, general, administrative and research expenses. Provisionally reported profit is $5 million higher because the previous year’s figure of $6 million was impacted by a $3 million legal settlement. Chemtura’s third-quarter results are due to be issued on November 1st.


text:
Definition of Decimating:
Synonyms of Decimating:
● Wipe out
● Kill off
Sentence/Example of Decimating:
After the closure of stores decimated the in-store sampling that many beauty brands relied on, Marie Claire launched a direct mail sampling operation, expecting to gather tens of thousands of signups within the first year.
The ASF outbreak that decimated China’s pig population in 2019 resulted in national pork output hitting a 16-year low.
That’s as scared as I’ve ever seen Thanos, and if he hadn’t said decimate my entire team to get her off of me, I think she would have done it.
Stocks have been on a record-shattering tear after a devastating drop-off during the pandemic’s first wave, even as the coronavirus continues to cause mass deaths, halt travel, decimate businesses and push millions into poverty.
With the coronavirus pandemic still raging and decimating local businesses, Manna, a drone delivery company, gained approval in late October to launch its service in Oranmore, Ireland.
What’s more, the Pew study was published in March 2019, a full year before a pandemic wiped out — as of this writing — 1 in 1,000 Americans over the course of nine months and decimated businesses, homes, and families.
Airlines and the hospitality industry were absolutely decimated by the pandemic as travel plummeted and restrictions were put in place.
Ovbiagele imagined them as players in the protracted Boko Haram war that has decimated Nigeria’s northeast and claimed the lives of more than 37,000 people.
Now, lockdowns and distancing to stop the spread of the coronavirus have decimated the industry.
Amazon also decimates local budgets through its effect on traditional retail.


text:
Wall Street: Wednesday opening
BLUE chips dipped in early trading after a sour investment call on retailing giant Wal-Mart, which owns Asda in the UK. Investors, disappointed by a bleak report on consumer confidence on Tuesday, are waiting for key reports this week on US gross domestic product for the third quarter and October unemployment data to shed more light on the pace of the recovery.
Speculation is mounting the Federal Reserve may soon cut interest rates to revive the sluggish economy.
The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average was off 51 points or 0.62% at 8,317 and the technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was up 0.32 of a point or 0.02 percent to 1,300.
Wal-Mart fell $2.06 or almost 4% to $54.41. Investment bank Goldman Sachs lowered its rating on the retailer, saying there was little room for the stock to rise from already steep levels.
Citigroup was unchanged at $36.50. The banking heavyweight, under pressure to sever relationships between investment banking and research operations, said on Wednesday it would split off its equity research and private client brokerage units.
Activision, the No. 2 independent video game publisher, climbed $1.74 or more than 9% to $19.95 in active trading. The company said quarterly profit more than quadrupled, driven by strong sales of some extreme sports titles and hits like Spider-Man.
Maxim tacked on $1.44 or almost 5% to $30.87. The chip maker reported higher first quarter net income, as revenue increased 19%.
Most watched Money videos
- The stunning new Aston Martin Vantage AMR with a manual gearbox
- Investing Show: Can UK shares shake off the Brexit hangover?
- Legendary car designer Gordon Murray introduces new T.50 supercar
- Highways England explains why drivers should not ignore Red X
- Mazda 3 scores highest adult occupant protection score ever
- MINI celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Italian Job
- Supermodel David Gandy with newly restored classic Jaguar XK120
- Nissan unveils Britain's first battery-powered ice cream van
- Sadiq Khan Mayor of London launches the LCV a new electric van
- The solar car that is powered using energy from the sun
- Richard Farleigh reveals how he chooses shares to invest in
- What next for Neil Woodford and his investors?


text:
Cairns Regional Council will review whether Sunday parking fees introduced in the CBD in January last year should be abolished.
At its general meeting today, Councillor Brett Moller formally raised a motion to review the Council’s Sunday parking policy.
As part of the review, data on CBD visitation levels before and after the new restrictions came into effect will be examined.
The impact to Council coffers of waiving Sunday parking fees will also be looked at.
“There are plenty of difficulties that tourism and small businesses are facing in our city at this point in time and it’s very easy for some in an emotional state to lay that back on parking,” Cr Moller said.
“Certainly the parking arrangement was done for a reason.
“But it doesn’t hurt, when some of our residents have raised concerns about it, to say we’re big enough to do a review and we’ll get some facts and data behind that to make a decision on Sunday parking.”
The issue was initially raised by Councillor Richie Bates during a Council meeting last November, but no formal motion for a review was made.
Cr Bates told today’s meeting he’s supportive of the move.
“We do have to bring this to some sort of conclusion,” Cr Bates said.
“We’re just talking about waiving Sunday parking.
“I would like to see a range of scenarios that we can support, however in the interests of expediency, I’m happy to support this.”
Small business owners have long complained that the introduction of new parking restrictions has stopped shoppers buying local in the CBD’s boutique CBD stores.
Bree Russell, the co-owner of Earth Toys in Oceana Walk Arcade, told Tropic Now she welcomes any Council moves to entice people back to the CBD.
“It’s such a blockage for people to have to pay parking and pay massive fees if they’re slightly late,” she said.
“It’s one of many reasons we’re not open on Sundays.
“Small businesses should be considered as part of Cairns City and what they’re doing and what they’re planning.”
Ms Russell said it would be even better if parking was free all weekend.


text:
Globally, the ethnic foods market is projected to grow 10.33% annually—to US$98 billion in 2028, up from US$49 billion in 2021, according to Fortune Business Insights. Asian flavours are expected to fuel this growth.
- By 2036, immigrants are expected to represent up to 30% of Canada’s population
- In the next three years, Canada will welcome 1.2 million immigrants
- 640,000 international students attend Canadian colleges and universities each year
Canada, like many countries, has an aging problem. As a society, we’re getting older. The cause is a combination of a general increase in life expectancy, and a century of declining fertility rates: Unchecked, this is a recipe for population decline and economic stagnation.
In response, the Canadian government has unleashed a plan to dramatically support increased and sustained levels of immigration. Canada exceeded its immigration target and “welcomed more than 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021. Surpassing the previous record from 1913, this is the most newcomers in a year in Canadian history,” according to a release from the Federal Government.
2022 was another record-breaking year, when more than 430,000 immigrants arrived. The targets for the next three years are higher still—465,000 in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025. By 2036, Statistics Canada projects that “immigrants will represent up to 30% of Canada’s population, compared with 21% in 2011.” In addition, 19.7% of the population will have at least one parent who was born outside of Canada. Essentially, nearly half the population will be first or second generation.
Customers not numbers
These aren’t just numbers, they’re your customers: Considering these immigration trends, the demand for ethnically diverse food and beverages is skyrocketing.
Particularly so if your c-store is in a large urban centre. In 2021, South Asian people represented more than 10% of Toronto’s population. Vancouver is home to the second largest populations of Chinese, South Asians, Filipinos, West Asians and Koreans in the country. Montreal has a larger than average proportion of Arabs, Black, and Latin American peoples. In the Prairies, the profile is uniquely Filipino. In 2021, more than one in four Filipinos in Canada lived in the regions of Calgary (9.3%), Winnipeg (8.8%) and Edmonton (8.4%), according to Statistics Canada.
Even smaller communities are growing through immigration.
Thunder Bay, for instance, is a microcosm of this phenomenon. immigrants make up “nearly 9% of the city's population… Roughly half of those newcomers are from Europe, while the rest are split between Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South and Central America,” according to a CBC report about what’s propelling the growth of small business in the area.
This demographic tsunami is driving change, both in the food offerings and the expansion of the taste sensibilities of Thunder Bay residents. The city now offers authentic Syrian and Portuguese fare. Milktease bubble tea shop has opened three locations in Thunder Bay since 2020, tapping into the popular Asian fare.
In turn, getting to know your changing community, then ensuring you are stocking the products, services and menu items they desire is essential for c-stores to thrive.
As an added incentive, the market for ethnic-inspired foods goes beyond people craving a taste of home. Mintel research from 2019 found that more than half of Canadians say they are more open to eating international foods than they were a few years ago, while 77% agree international foods are more mainstream than they used to be.
And that’s just the beginning. Globally, the ethnic foods market is projected to grow 10.33% annually—to US$98 billion in 2028, up from US$49 billion in 2021, according to Fortune Business Insights. Asian flavours are expected to fuel this growth.
Knowledge, as the saying goes, is power. As the world increasingly migrates to a digital footprint, acquiring consumer knowledge has become easier.
Google Trends is an open resource you can use as a reference to benchmark consumer interest by province and city. For instance, the data reveals that online interest in Indian food in Canada has generally been trending upwards for the last five years. Provinces with the highest levels of activity at the beginning of 2023 were British Columbia Ontario and Manitoba. Further, clicking on “B.C.” allows you to drill down by city, revealing Penticton and Surrey to be the top two geo-locations for topics relating to Indian food.
In addition, Google Trends can be a source to inform innovation in your foodservice offerings. If you are thinking of a new Mexican ethnic entrée, for instance, you can use Google Trends to bubble-up ideas. A few clicks on the site let you check on the penetration of “viral” TikTok foods like Jalisco Barria Tacos, a braised beef taco served with a beef broth dip that is popping up across Canada in kiosks, markets, food trucks, as well as restos run by celebrity chefs.
A data-drive approach can also help discern what products interest your local target market.
In Hamilton, Ont., the owners of Pasta Mercato—founded in 2021 as a small grocer with a takeout restaurant—wanted to grow, but they weren’t sure how. They tapped into My Main Street (mymainstreet.ca), a government funded small business data-driven accelerator designed to support spur business growth in 65 communities across Ontario. The resource produced a market research report tailored to their neighbourhood. Using this consumer data, Pasta Mercato determined that their customer base was likely interested in premium products and would support them if they improved the quality of their coffee and food ingredients. Customers “responded by spending an average of 15% to 20 % more per cheque,” according to a piece in The Globe and Mail.
As an added incentive, multicultural Canadians spend 1.5X more on consumer goods than the general population, according to research from Ipsos.
Given their numbers, growth, and outsized purchasing power, ethnic product lines promise c-stores the potential for increased foot traffic and bigger basket sizes.


text:
According to the founder and CEO of e-commerce giant JD.com, Liu Qiangdong, subsidiary JD Logistics faces a persistent financing dilemma, and ending base salaries for delivery staff while increasing commission rates are among the steps the company is using to deal with the problem.
"As one of the e-commerce frontrunners, JD's move to build its own logistics system has created a better user experience. But a heavy financial burden came along with the benefits," Li Chengdong, an independent industry analyst, told the Global Times on Monday.
"If JD Logistics could realize a profit on its own, it would be a huge financial relief for JD.com," he said.
It's reasonable for JD Logistics to lower its personnel expenses to deal with its financial dilemma, since most of other logistics firms don't have insurance support for employees at all, Li noted.
"The 2018 annual loss of JD Logistics surpassed 2.3 billion yuan ($343 million). It was the company's 12th year of losses, and we only had enough money left to make up for operating losses for two more years if we didn't act," Liu Qiangdong said in a letter to the company's delivery staff on Monday.
He said that insufficient operating income and high internal costs put JD Logistics into a financing dilemma.
Besides cancelling base salaries, JD Logistics also raised the commission that staffs make for each delivery to motivate them to take new orders and raise the company's income, the letter noted. "The previous structure didn't motivate outstanding employees," JD Logistics said on its account on the Weibo platform.
"The policy has been tried in the southern China branch for about half a year, and a lot of the delivery employees' incomes have increased as a result. The best performer earned more than 80,000 yuan per month," Liu said.


text:
Amazon Video has recently added a few classic game shows, courtesy of FremantleMedia North America’s BUZZR, to its on-demand digital library. Match Game, Family Feud, Press Your Luck, Tattletales, and Card Sharks are among the shows available for viewing if you have an Amazon Prime membership. Each title currently contains 20 episodes and there is no word yet on whether FremantleMedia is planning to add any more shows to the collection in the future.
This is not the first time FremantleMedia has released episodes from its magnanimous game show collection for online streaming. Since the summer, BUZZR has been rolling out episodes of What’s My Line? and To Tell The Truth on its Facebook page and YouTube channel every Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
If you are a Prime member, head to Amazon Video to check out and start binge-watching these classic titles in the links below!


text:
Lee launches new set of high-end ProGlass IRND filters for stills shooters
Two years in the making, Lee Filters has just announced that it is bringing its highly-regarded ProGlass IRND cinematography filters to the world of stills photography. The company calls these 'a new standard' in ND filters, claiming they are, "remarkably neutral, with almost no color shift and extremely accurate stop values."
The high-end filters will be available through the Seven5, 100mm and SW150 systems, and since they block both IR and UV pollution, they should deliver cleaner colors that require far less work in post-production.
This example, available in interactive form on the Lee website, comes from an unedited RAW file:
The new line will come in six different strengths: 2-stop, 3-stop, 4-stop, 6-stop, 10-stop, all the way up to an impressive 15-stop filter. And the 6, 10, and 15-stop models each feature additional foam light insulation to ensure there are no light leaks, no matter how long the exposure.
|Shot with a 0.6ND medium grad||Shot with a 0.6ND medium grad and the 4.5ND (15-stop) ProGlass IRND|
For more information, and to watch a demo video, visit the Lee Filters website. The ProGlass IRND Filter systems are available to stills shooters today in Seven5, 100mm and SW150 versions for £132.00 ($172 USD), £150.00 ($195 USD), and £346.00 ($450 USD), respectively.
ProGlass IRND Filters
Two years in the making, the ProGlass IRND range from LEE Filters sets a new standard in neutral-density filters.
ProGlass IRND filters were originally designed for the film industry, to meet the exacting needs of the world’s leading cinematographers, and have already been hailed as the best neutral-density filters on the market. Now, they are available to the stills photographer, in sizes to fit the LEE Filters Seven5, 100mm and SW150 systems.
Advances in coating technology mean that the filters, which are manufactured from 2mm-thick, optically flat glass, are available not only in strengths of two (0.6ND), three (0.9ND), four (1.2ND) and six (1.8ND) stops, but also in ultra-long 10 (3ND) and 15-stop (4.5ND) versions. Not only this, but all filters in the range – whatever their strength – are designed to be free of colour casts, with extremely accurate stop values, ensuring consistency in all shooting conditions and allowing for absolute precision when exposing images. Their neutrality also means less time spent tweaking colour balances in postproduction.
In addition, filters in the ProGlass IRND range are designed to block both infrared and ultraviolet pollution. As a result, blacks are rendered truly black, whites are clean, and results reveal a crispness that is second to none.
The 6, 10 and 15-stop versions of the ProGlass IRND filters come with a foam seal to prevent light leaks during long exposures, and should be placed into the filter slot closest to the lens. While the 2, 3, 4 and 6-stop versions do not feature a foam seal, it is still recommended also to place them into the slot closest to the lens.
All filters in the ProGlass IRND range can be used in conjunction with other filters, including neutral-density grads and the polariser.
ProGlass IRND Filter (Seven5 System) – £132.00 each (Excl VAT)
ProGlass IRND Filter (100mm System) – £150.00 each (Excl VAT)
ProGlass IRND Filter (SW150 System) – £346.00 each (Excl VAT)
For further information, contact LEE Filters on +44 (0) 1264 366245; firstname.lastname@example.org; www.leefilters.com
Shares of quantum dot (QD) specialists Nanoco dropped after reports Apple has decided to stop the development of QD image sensors because the technology was too expensive for mass production.
The second-generation portable motion control system adds USB-C, improved connectivity and more.
The patent details an Apple Watch band with integrated cameras so you could capture photos with a flick of the wrist.
At MWC Shanghai the Chinese manufacturer has revealed a device with the feature and provided more information about the technology.
The Loupedeck+ console can now be used alongside Adobe Camera Raw for Photoshop, adding yet another program to its list of supported apps.
Joshua Gross has meticulously rebuilt an old Polaroid SX-70 and turned it into a digital camera with the help of a Raspberry Pi computer, a fisheye lens, a little bit of wiring and a sizable chunk of programming.
The Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro is a lightweight, versatile lens for Canon's new EOS R system. Promising good close focus capabilities and built-in stabilization, is this the perfect lens for EOS R and RP shooters? Find out in our full review.
Metabones has updated the firmware of select Speed Booster and Smart Adapter units to bring frame rates up to 10 fps to Sony a7 III camera systems.
A month after the the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) sent out an alert stating that drones manufactured in China presented a security risk, DJI has told a Senate subcommittee that the China-based company doesn't collect flight logs and images to send back to the Chinese government.
Fujifilm has issued an advisory after it discovered counterfeit rolls of film bearing the ‘Fujifilm’ brand have been discovered.
A known Samsung leaker claims Samsung engineers informed him the upcoming Note 10 smartphone will feature a ‘three-stage variable aperture.’
The Strobe attaches to any drone, weighs only ten grams and has power for more than two hours of strobe action.
Phase One's new Creative Control Package update for the IQ4 Infinity Platform brings a new Raw capture mode the averages together multiple frames to yield a higher-quality image.
Bye Bye Camera detects and removes all humans from your pictures but is not meant to be a photo tool.
Polish artist Michal Karcz shared a post explaining that 500px requested he no longer post his content on the platform, as his images are photo manipulations, not photography.
Leica's new M-E (Typ 240) replaces the M-E (Typ 220). It comes with updated features and a smaller price, making it a little less painful on the wallet to hop on the Leica bandwagon.
The Wingo Pro is essentially a polycarbonate wing on a 2-meter string that allows you to control the camera's flight and keeps the subject right at the center.
Samsung's Isocell Bright GW1 sensor has been designed to rival the 48MP Quad-Bayer offerings from Sony.
Archivist Dr. Johnathan Burgess has teamed up with fellow archivist Jason Scott to publish nearly 2,400 images captured by an unknown individual at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers in New York City.
Alien Skin Exposure X4 4.5 improves performance, adds the ability to preview images on memory cards before import, assigns metadata while shooting tethered, adds LUT support and editable light effects, and more.
Looking for a new lens for your camera? Our lens buying guides have recommendations for all kinds of situations, so if you have a Canon/Nikon DSLR or Fujifilm/Sony mirrorless camera, have a look.
It's an official rule for drivers at the Combine Demolition Derby in the tiny town of Lind, Washington, to be aggressive or be disqualified. Not a single driver exhibited any such lack of aggression during a day of flying dirt, flying beer cans, twisted metal and screaming cheers.
Dale Sharpe, an Australian storm-chaser, landscape photographer and Nikon Ambassador has passed away after a tragic roadside accident while in the United States.
Summer is here, which means it's time for Chris and Jordan's roundup of new waterproof cameras for 2019: the Olympus Tough TG-6, the Ricoh WG-6, and the Panasonic TS7. Find out which one is right for your next vacation.
The latest version of Hasselblad's CFV digital back and the new super-slim 907X camera body make a beautiful combination – take a closer look.
Cinema5D is black with part two of its documentary series that shares an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the work Fujifilm has put into developing, engineering and launching its 100-megapixel GFX 100 mirrorless camera system.
The company says it looking into providing ‘new imaging experiences’ with technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The new models are designed to hold DSLRs or larger cameras and long tele lenses.
According to a report from German business newspaper Handelsblatt, Leica is cutting up to 100 jobs from its headquarters and adding up to 40 ’digital experts’ as part of a restructuring plan to help push its smartphone and computational photography technology forward.


text:
Australia's biggest telecom operator, Telstra, is under fire over its mobile and internet prices, with consumer advocacy group Choice saying its customers are paying too much.
Choice looked at 53 Telstra contracts and found consumers are paying hefty premiums to access the telco's network, which has been hit by seven outages since February.
On one of the 53 plans, customers were paying up to a 92 per cent price premium for Telstra's ADSL 'Large Broadband' plan compared to a no-frills TPG Telecom plan.
Telstra's $115 'Large Broadband' plan includes a 1000 gigabyte data limit, plus double monthly data for three months a year. Calls are charged separately with $203 upfront costs on a 24 month contract.
TPG's $59.99 'Basic Bundle' plan has no data limit, calls are charged separately, with $99.95 upfront costs on a 24 month contact.
"There's only so much free data Telstra can offer before they have to admit their network is failing on a fairly regular basis and its promised premium network is a thing of the past," Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said on Monday.
"With outages affecting pre-and post-paid mobile voice and data services, as well as broadband internet connections, it has become clear the 'Telstra tax' being charged to access its network is not deserved," Mr Godfrey said in a statement.
Choice said it analysed 280 telco products to see how much more Telstra customers are being charged when compared to equivalent or better offerings by other companies.
Of these, 53 like-for-like comparisons could be made with Telstra products with premiums on the majority of these ranging from six per cent to 92 per cent.
Telstra rejected Choice's analysis, calling it flawed and saying it takes into consideration just a handful of plans the company provides while ignoring the rest.
"In its analysis, Choice misses many of our most comparable plans and fails to consider things customers tell us are most important, such as the breadth, speeds and availability of our network," a Telstra spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also said Choice's comparison did not include extras such as free access to Australia's largest Wi-Fi network, free home broadband and mobile security, Telstra TV and free Apple Music on many plans.
"Our customers clearly recognise the value and competitiveness of our plans and this is reflected in the fact we're the most popular provider for mobile and fixed services," the spokesperson said.
Telstra recently committed a further $200 million to improving its network, in response to a string of outages that have damaged its reputation.
The latest investment is on top of the $50 million Telstra pledged in May and two free data days the telco has offered customers as compensation for the outages.


text:
Asus has officially announced it will no longer make products that use Microsoft's Windows RT, claiming the ARM operating system has "not been successful" for the company.
Build released to Dev channel fixes underlying issues with Start menu
windows 11 insider preview
Asus Chairman Jonney Shih has said his company will be scaling back plans for Windows RT products, though he didn't entirely rule out releasing future devices with the operating system.
AT&T announced today that it will sell the Asus VivoTab RT, running under Microsoft's Windows RT OS, for $499.99 starting November 16th, with additional savings if you get a new Windows Phone.
The just launched Asus VivoTab RT, using Windows RT, can already be bought for $50 off its normal $599 price tag at some retailers, along with an offer to get a free keyboard worth $200.
ASUS' upcoming VivoTab has been spotted early at an Office Depot store sporting Windows RT, a Tegra 3 processor, 32GB of RAM and more. The device is set to be shown off today at ASUS' event.


text:
Celebrating 12 years
Since NET started up in 2007, it has gone from being the smallest testing institute in the world with the authority to certify UN packaging, to becoming the largest in the Nordic region (measured in number of active certificates) with the most modern testing and handling solutions of packaging for dangerous goods. NET currently owns 36% of all active UN certifications in the Nordic countries, and within the field we originally came from, NET now has 52% of all plastic packaging certifications based on the standard liquid system in ADR for the same area. NET has always seen itself as a Nordic company, something the statistics also shows. Today, NET has 76% of its certification in Nordic countries outside of Norway.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank you for the year that has passed. 2018 gave us a record high turnover, much thanks to the new nitric acid test facility. From the doors opened January 12th last year and until New Year's Eve there was 42 ° C at the facility, even through the summer holidays NET was dependent on keeping the temperature up. We also look back at a brilliant exhibition in Gothenburg, Scanpack gave NET new customers who have already helped to make NET a better version of itself. It is through feedback and challenges from our customers that we can reach new heights and we feel privileged to have the best customer base in the Nordic region, which continuously challenges us on solutions and new ways of packaging dangerous goods. Finally, it should be mentioned that NET is experiencing an ever-increasing demand for product testing, which is an exciting area that has great potential both within and outside the borders. Much suggests that 2019 is going to be a brilliant year for NET!


text:
Car manufacturers recently publicly reiterated that they wanted to control and protect data they are collecting from customers who purchase and drive their cars. This indicated a significant change in focus for car manufacturers of recognising that the data they accumulate is worth as much to them as the intellectual property that they invest in. As a result these companies are now looking to amass and retain as much data as possible by investing in technology solutions.
It's not new for companies to expand beyond their core services, indeed, Porsche made headlines a few years ago when it emerged that it had "made six times as much on the stock market as it did making cars". However businesses are rapidly evolving. You wouldn't normally think of BMW or Tesco as a technology companies, but that's the lens through which we need to recalibrate our view of the world.
What we're seeing is that every business, large or small, is now in essence a technology company. Technology now underpins much of how organisations and companies operate on a daily basis, regardless of size or industry. At a basic level, these organisations rely on technology to communicate, complete deals and manage their work load.
The new currency in this technology-driven business world is Data. Personal data - even when anonymised - is incredibly valuable. At a basic level it can be used to paint a picture for those collecting it of individual habits and behaviour. In turn, this information can be leveraged to produce incredibly accurate targeted advertising. One only needs to look at Google, which relies on accumulating data to see how it can propel companies and build new corporate empires.
Whether consumers know it or not, almost every online service, laptop, mobile and app is now collecting data about them and how they consume digital services. And because of the value of all this information, companies jealously guard the data they acquire, preferring to derive the value themselves as opposed to gifting it to rivals. Indeed, it now means that companies from diverse markets like automobile manufacturers and online advertising are now faced with the reality that they are in competition with one another over information. As Audi CEO Rupert Stadler is reported to have recently said "The data that we collect is our data and not Google's data, when it gets close to our operating system, it's hands off."
Of course, with such a premium being placed on data, consumers need to be asking questions of companies and equally companies of themselves. For example, where do you as a company draw the line in terms of data collection and are we, as individuals, content with companies knowing so much about us?
As new technology emerges more questions and reputational challenges will inevitably arise as result of this new gold rush. Take for example the relatively new sector called 'sports tech'; what happens to all the extremely personal data these brands collect, who keeps it, where is it all kept and what is it used for beyond telling us how many calories we may have consumed?
Companies, even those that don't consider themselves to be in the technology business, need to be aware not only are they ever more reliant on technology and data but that over the coming months and years, consumers and stakeholders will become more attuned and self-aware of their digital worth forcing companies to be more transparent.


text:
Nutrition Capital Network Deal Download: December 2019Nutrition Capital Network Deal Download: December 2019
The year's biggest merger involves DuPont Inc., while ingredient deals dominated the month's investment news.
January 9, 2020
Nutritional ingredient deals
Nutrition Capital Network (NCN) had to wait until the end of the year to enter 2019’s biggest deal into the NCN Transaction Database—a blockbuster merger between International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) and DuPont Inc.’s nutrition and biosciences unit. IFF is merging with the $26.2 billion DuPont unit in a deal valuing the combined company at $45.4 billion. DuPont’s divestiture creates a global player in ingredients for food and beverage, health and wellness, and personal care markets with estimated 2019 pro forma revenue of more than $11 billion. The merger creates leadership positions in enzymes, cultures, soy proteins and probiotics, among other categories, IFF stated.
Also in December, Manna Tree Partners was the anchor investor in a $12.7 million Series C round in food technology company Nutriati. The Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund participated. Nutriati uses proprietary technology to make protein, flour and oil ingredients from beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas. Nutriati was a presenting company at the NCN Ingredients & Technology Investor Meeting in 2018.
Balchem Corporation acquired Zumbro River Brand Inc., a specialist in branded and contract-manufactured high protein and specialty extruded snacks, cereals and crisps. Zumbro will join Balchem’s Human Nutrition and Health Segment. Balchem reported third quarter net sales ended Sep. 30, 2019, of $158.6 million, up 2.3% compared to the prior-year quarter, with record sales in Human Nutrition and Health and Specialty Products.
Private equity firm Riverside Co. acquired HealthTech BioActives from Spanish pharma company Ferrer. HealthTech makes excipients, flavorings and sweeteners for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries and had total sales of €51 million in 2018 ($58.4 million on Jan. 1, 2019). Products include bioflavonoids, natural flavors and vitamin B12 derivatives.
Healthy food & snack deals
PepsiCo Inc. expanded its healthier snacks portfolio by acquiring BFY Brands from private equity firm Permira. A branded and contract manufacturer, BFY makes PopCorners better-for-you popped corn snacks, Flourish Veggie Crisps and Flex Protein Crisps with soybean and cassava. It will report to PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America division.
European investment firm True invested £26 million ($33.7 million on Dec. 24) in Soulfresh, a better-for-you food and beverage company with 11 own-brands in kombucha, plant milks, vegan chocolate and plant-based meat alternatives. Soulfresh is distributed in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The meat company Shenandoah Valley Organic closed a $15 million funding led by NRV with participation from Open Prairie and existing investors. Founded in 2014 by a sixth-generation farmer, SVO highlights traceability, linking products on the shelf back to the family farm that produced them.
Babyfood company Yumi announced another $8 million in funding from Allbirds, Warby Parker, Harry’s and Sweetgreen, among others, bringing its total raised to $12.1 million, Techcrunch reported. Yumi ships freshly made organic baby food directly to consumers.
Meat & dairy alternative deals
Perfect Day, a developer of animal-free dairy products, closed a $140 million Series C funding round led by Temasek. Perfect Day has developed dairy microflora that, via fermentation, produce the casein and whey protein found in milk. Perfect Day plans to announce its first commercial partnerships early next year.
Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and former CEO and chairman of Stonyfield Organic, invested in Hälsa Foods, a maker of dairy-free yogurt from whole grain oats. Danone Manifesto Ventures and the founder and CEO of Orgain also participated.
Evolution Meats, a Dutch start-up that produces vegan meat substitutes and snack products, received an undisclosed investment from Unovis Partners’ New Crop Capital fund. The company’s first product, the Green Doner Kebab, is available in the Netherlands in restaurant chains and from foodservice wholesalers.
Daring Foods, a plant-based chicken alternative made from five non-GMO ingredients, announced a strategic partnership with family-run butcher and food service supplier Rastelli Foods Group. Rastelli will act as exclusive national distributor and support Daring's expansion into direct-to-consumer delivery in February.
Bond Pet Foods Inc. completed a seed funding of $1.2 million led by Lever VC for “clean-meat” products. Bond’s proprietary process adds animal muscle protein genes to a microbe such as yeast and via fermentation produces proteins nutritionally identical to their meat counterparts.
Healthy beverage deals
Molson Coors expanded outside the beer category with a multi-year partnership and significant minority equity investment in beverage incubator L.A. Libations, which has been helping Molson Coors expand the Clearly Kombucha brand it acquired in June 2018. Molson Coors will have the option to purchase in full those brands created by L.A. Libations.
Culligan is acquiring publicly traded AquaVenture in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion including debt. AquaVenture has two operating platforms: Quench point-of-use filtered water systems for commercial and institutional customers, and Seven Seas desalination and wastewater treatment solutions. AquaVenture expected revenues of around $200 million for the full year 2019.
FoodMaven, an online marketplace dedicated to eliminating food waste, closed a Series B financing of $15.3 million with investment from an undisclosed Series A investor and Tao Capital Partners. FoodMaven creates new pathways for “lost food” due to oversupply, out-of-spec or local food without effective distribution channels.
Neurosciences startup Humm raised an additional $2.6 million seed round to launch a wearable patch and software app designed to strengthen neural circuits that regulate “working” memory. Blueyard Capital led the round. The U.S. Air Force has ordered 1,000 patches that will be used in a clinical trial at the Air Force Academy, according to Venturebeat.com.
Moodwork, a startup focused on wellbeing in the workplace, completed €2 million ($2.2 million on Nov. 29) round led by Newfund, according to EU Startups.com. Serving both businesses and employees, Moodwork offers desktop and mobile tools to measure quality of work life and follows up with personalized content, including input from psychologists and coaches.
One World Fitness PFF, owner and operator of Planet Fitness clubs in Philadelphia and New Jersey, acquired San Diego Fitness. The transaction represents One World Fitness' first add-on acquisition since a majority investment from Centre Partners in March. San Diego Fitness has seven clubs in Southern California.
Finnish startup Sulapac raised €15 million ($16.6 million on Dec. 11) to scale up and go international with its sustainable and biodegradable alternative to plastic straws. Backers included Chanel, Mousse Partners, Sky Ocean Ventures, Bonnier Ventures and Lifeline Ventures.
Vertosa (formerly Nanogen), a cannabis technology company providing customized emulsion systems for cannabis-infused products, closed a $6 million seed round co-led by AFI Capital Partners and Welcan Capital. Vertosa customizes solutions for the food, beverage, health and beauty industries; it sought investments from key players in food and beverages to bridge the gap between the mainstream consumer market and the cannabis industry.
Disclaimer: NCN does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any NCN news item. Before relying on any NCN News item the information should be independently verified.
You May Also Like


text:
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Frontier and Midwest airlines are merging, bringing together each company's most popular marketing effort: Frontier's "spokes-animals" and Midwest's warm chocolate chip cookies.
The owner of both airlines, Republic Airways Holdings (RJET), announced Tuesday that it will unite the two regional carriers under the Frontier brand and expand its Denver and Milwaukee hubs.
"This decision was an emotional one for everyone involved," said Republic Airways President Bryan Bedford in a prepared statement. "While the research showed that customers preferred the Frontier brand, they also expressed a strong loyalty to both brands based on affordability, convenience, destinations and delivery of a differentiated experience."
Republic Airways purchased both Midwest and Frontier in 2009 and plans to completely integrate the two divisions in the next 18 months. During that time, the airline will move to one Web site and one frequent flyer program. It will also add destinations and staff to its hubs in both Denver and Milwaukee.
The Denver hub will add 10 new destinations this year, and Milwaukee will add five, the company said.
Bedford also assured customers that the new Frontier would offer on-board baked chocolate chip cookies, an ammenity that has been popular on Midwest for years.
The company will also continue Frontier's former promotions featuring "spokes-animals" such as "Larry the Lynx," "Grizwald the Bear" and "Foxy the Fox," which the company says give the brand a sense of humor and show a sense of character and commitment to service.
Frontier currently features more than 60 animals, each claiming a distinct personality, on its airplanes.
Nike is opening up shop on Amazon.com and the company plans "big shifts" over the coming year. More
What is arguably the longest running war in U.S. history has racked up a tab of between $841 billion to $2 trillion since 2001, depending on the factors counted. More
78-year-old businessman Peter Sprague shares his latest invention as part of CNN Tech's "Tech versus Taboos" series: HearGlass, a hearing amplification device embedded into eyeglasses. More
In 1998, Ntsiki Biyela won a scholarship to study wine making. Now she's about to launch her own brand. More


text:
Cruise is partnering with Walmart to test out a delivery service using a fleet of autonomous and electric vehicles. The pilot project will kick off in early 2021 and take place in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Cruise has yet to settle on a final number of cars it will use as part of the delivery service. The company has maintained a small fleet of five vehicles in Phoenix since 2016.
It’s the latest in a series of announcements centered on the use of autonomous vehicles in last-mile delivery scenarios, underscoring a core truth about the technology: it’s risky to put human passengers in robot vehicles, but it’s much less risky to put groceries and Walmart purchases in them.
It’s the latest sign that Cruise, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of…tech, The Verge


text:
Our China influence theme considers how China’s rapid growth in numerous spheres over the last two decades has helped shape the global economy as it is today, but more importantly, what the implications of these dramatic changes are for the future.
China’s rapid growth and voracious appetite for raw materials were the driving forces behind the industrial commodity super-cycle that lasted until 2011. However, the almost unprecedentedly rapid build-up of debt – the key means by which China managed to shrug off the global recession with such alacrity in 2009 – eventually convinced the Chinese leadership that this economic and debt growth profile was unsustainable. Tightening measures were introduced and the managed growth slowdown that resulted saw commodity prices fall almost as fast as they had initially risen. This has reverberated around the world, particularly in some emerging markets where industrial commodity exports make up a substantial chunk of foreign-exchange earnings.
So far, the gradual growth slowdown and transition away from fixed investment towards consumption has been taking place, but in fits and starts, with growth periodically slowing faster than desired, sparking increased amounts of ‘fine-tuning’ by the government via both monetary, and more recently fiscal, policy.
The most visible cost of this support has been that China’s debt-to-GDP ratio has continued to grow, often without being put to best economic use. It has leapt from 135% of GDP in December 2008 to 240% at the end of June 2016.
A growing portion is arguably being used to roll over the existing debt and interest of previous loans that borrowers are struggling to repay. More money is also going into less immediately profitable areas, inferred from the fact that private fixed investment growth has fallen far more than the slowdown in overall credit growth. This is corroborated by the significant rise in the incremental credit required per unit of GDP growth produced.
Despite this, all signs point to the government being firmly committed to ‘extend and pretend’ economic management while trying to buy time for reforms. China remains a socialist one-party state where the government still holds sway over much of the financial system and can greatly influence what happens because of this. The government debt-to-GDP ratio, at 45%, is still below levels considered critical, meaning that it could help fund a bank bailout, if necessary.
Irrespective of whether the government’s transition plans are ultimately successful, it seems likely that authorities will continue to experiment to achieve their aims in the short to medium term. As such, we cannot be at all certain when the eventual denouement will occur.
What the chart above also shows is that, while overall GDP growth continues to slow, consumption has now overtaken investment as the main growth driver. The services industry has now also eclipsed manufacturing and construction in size. This is a positive development.
Rising middle class
This brings us onto some of the longer-term observable structural trends. The emerging middle class has been, and continues to be, an investible theme across emerging markets, and China is no exception. As the middle class grows as a proportion of the population, consumption patterns change. Spending on discretionary and leisure goods and services grows at multiples of the economic growth rate, and the tertiary sector expands in importance. Moreover, technological changes have shaped how the middle-class consumer exercises those consumption decisions – consumption is moving online.
Since 2006, while China’s real GDP per capita in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms has increased by an impressive 2.1 times, the graph below shows how some fundamental drivers of three sub-sectors of China’s consumer economy have developed.
Rise of the internet
The internet has been a game changer, with internet access via smartphones a key driver in recent years. The number of new online shoppers has rocketed by 12.3 times since 2006. Multiply this by the fact that the average annual expenditure per internet shopper (in nominal US$) has risen by a factor of nearly 26 times, and the expansion in gross merchandise volume has been meteoric. While the incremental growth rate is slowing notably owing to base effects, there is still room for strong growth from here. Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, saw adjusted revenues (in CNY) grow 40% year-on-year in its recent quarterly report – far faster than overall retail sales for China which rose 10.6% year-on-year. Retail sales growth has, in turn, been much more resilient than GDP growth as the economy begins gradually to rebalance.
Travel and health-care spending are other prime examples in China, with both growing vigorously and having long runways for growth.
So what are the investment implications?
We think selectivity is key, and by investing thematically we can back specific niches within China’s economy which we believe can deliver structural growth with significantly reduced exposure to broader macroeconomic concerns. The prospective returns on offer from doing so mean there is a significant opportunity cost associated with avoiding China entirely.
To underscore our point, we look at the US$ equity total returns that could have been realised over the last 10 years by a portfolio made up of every investible security in the internet, health-care and leisure sectors domiciled in China (below). Our investible hurdle is set at a US$2bn market capitalisation and excludes A-share securities.
We find this approach has significantly outperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets index in US$ terms – which shows the benefit of taking an active approach to stock selection. Investors who remained on the sidelines would have missed out on these returns.
This demonstrates that there are areas where investors can benefit (and have benefited) from China’s rapid growth and development. We believe they will continue to be a fertile hunting ground for companies with outsized opportunities for profit growth.
This is a financial promotion. Any reference to a specific security, country or sector should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell this security, country or sector. Please note that holdings and positioning are subject to change without notice. Compared to more established economies, the value of investments in emerging markets may be subject to greater volatility owing to differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability.


text:
An abundance of Facebook changes have occurred in the past few months, a common theme..
As the launch of the new redesign for StumbleUpon rolled out, it has many scratching..
These two new Facebook features may not look so new to those of us who..
Good news for brand new Facebook page owners, you can now retrieve your custom URL..
Many people enjoy the Facebook chat element on Facebook; it has the old-style feel of..
Many of us are still trying to figure how Google+ fits within our social bionetwork,..


text:
Stay on top of the latest tech news with our free IT News Digest newsletter, delivered each weekday.
Automatically sign up today!
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
SANTA CLARA, Calif.–Sun Microsystems and Archipelago Holdings plan to build an electronic exchange where companies can buy or sell processing power, a step Sun hopes will further its vision that such power will become a true commodity.
Sun believes customers eventually will stop building their own infrastructure and instead buy computing power off a grid from companies specializing in such utility computing services. The new exchange is intended to make that power easier to buy.
“The ultimate statement of using this utility is to be able to trade it,” said Robert Youngjohns, Sun’s executive vice president of strategic development and Sun finance. The company wanted to make sure customers wanting to tap into that power “could buy it freely in an open-air market.”
Sun this week began offering some premium customers access to computing services costing $1 per processor per hour, letting them run programs such as financial simulations on banks of machines using Sun’s Solaris operating system and Advanced Micro Devices’ Opteron processor. Smaller customers will be able to tap into this Sun Grid later this year, Sun said.
Eventually, Sun wants to see prices set by the market, Youngjohns said. That’s where the deal with Archipelago, which supplies electronic exchange technology, comes in. Sun expects the exchange to open by the middle of the year, Youngjohns said.
Sun believes that being able to bid for the computing capacity on an open market will help establish the service as a commodity. Sun initially is the only supplier, but Youngjohns expects to be joined by business partners and eventually companies with their own excess computing horsepower.
With customers able to bid on computing cycles, Sun expects the arrival of the same sort of dynamics that characterize markets for traditional commodities such as crude oil or pork bellies.
“Maybe people will be trading in this commodity. Maybe they’ll think it’s a good idea to corner the market,” Youngjohns said. For example, perhaps Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will issue his latest economic views and 500 traders will want to run risk analyses immediately, so commodities traders would bank on an increased demand for the utility computing commodity, he said.
But some characteristics of Sun’s unit of computing power–the CPU-hour, or amount of work a processor can do in one hour–are different from typical commodities. Most commodities such as milk, unleaded gas or 24-karat gold are undifferentiated products that are largely identical regardless of supplier.
But Sun’s CPU-hour is hardly generic. Some processors are more powerful than others or are housed in more powerful systems. Some computers might be attached to fast networks, making them conveniently available to customers, or they might be located in hard-to-reach corners of the Internet. And Sun’s CPU-hour based on Solaris x86 would likely have limited interest for a customer that wants to run Windows or Linux software.


text:
2018 was a very successful year for Plzeňský Prazdroj. The Company managed to increase its beer exports by almost 13% and it also saw an increase
Plzeňský Prazdroj again managed to up its sales volumes in international markets last year, to a record 4.3 million HL, which is 4.5 percent more than
Plzeňský Prazdroj had an exceptionally strong year – in the local market, it sold 7.2 million hectolitres of beer, 3.8 % up on the previous year.
Plzeňský Prazdroj has recorded a very successful period under the new owner, Japanese brewing company Asahi. The months from 1 April to 31 December 2017 saw
The very first batch of Pilsner Urquell beer brewed in the expanded Pilsner Urquell brewhouse is ready to set off on its journey to consumers.