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Revere Plastics Systems Continues Growth in Central U.S. with Acquisition of Ferguson Production, Inc.
July 7, 2021 (Novi, MI) – Revere Plastics Systems, LLC, one of the nation’s premier manufacturers of highly-engineered plastic injection...Read More
Glen Fish, CEO 02/19/2021 by Brittany Willes, contributing writer, Plastics Business There is no denying that with technological advancements come great...Read More
Revere Saltillo, Mexico January 5, 2021 (Novi, MI) – Revere Plastics Systems, LLC, a leading manufacturer of highly-engineered plastic injection...Read More
We're very excited to announce Eric Berg, Director of Engineering at Revere Plastics Systems, LLC, was nominated and received the Above...Read More
BY MICHAEL CRUMB, Senior Staff Writer, Des Moines Business Record Monday, July 6, 2020 11:24 AM Revere Plastics Systems LLC...Read More
July 09, 2020 Words by Jerry Underwood AUBURN, Alabama — Revere Plastics Systems, a leading manufacturer of highly engineered plastic injection...Read More
Revere Plastics Systems Continues Expansion of Geographic Footprint With Acquisition of Two Techniplas Plants
NOVI, Mich., June 18, 2020 (Newswire.com) - Revere Plastics Systems, LLC, a leading manufacturer of highly-engineered plastic injection molded parts and...Read More
June 10, 2020 Don Loepp, Plastics News Editor Injection molder Revere Plastics Systems Inc. is growing again through acquisition, buying two...Read More
Glen Fish, CEO of Revere Plastics Systems, LLC., was interviewed by MSNBC on the effects of tariffs on the washing machine industry.
May 10th, 2019 https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/garrett-haake-reports-on-how-tariffs-have-driven-up-the-cost-of-washing-machines-and-dryers-59384901661Read More


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BlackBerry has been in the news recently with rumors of it working on two Android-powered devices referred to as Venice and Dallas. But now we have reports suggesting these models are now in India for evaluation and testing.
Test units for India
Indian import and export tracker website Zauba reported the entries of both models into the country. Zauba reports that two units of the BlackBerry Dallas and five units of the Blackberry Venice were transported to India from Canada on July 4. The price of the Dallas is reported to be Rs. 24,623 (approx. $388), while the Venice is shown at Rs. 63,262 (approx. $997). Similar to earlier devices such as Leap, the current ones are labeled as evaluation units, suggesting they are test devices for the company’s Indian employees.

domain: news


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Nigeria is 60 years. Abuja is hosting the 4th annual Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecom Awards (NTITA) as part of the commemorative events to celebrate Nigeria’s Diamond Jubilee. The race is already on to honour Nigeria’s iconic ICT figures and models in the tech and innovation terrains.
Top on the list are Nigeria ICT Governor of the Year, Digital Leader of the Year, Public Sector ICT Woman of the Year. Public Sector ICT CEO of the Year, Broadband Oxygenator of the Year, Telecom CEO of the Year, the ICT First Lady for 2020, Emerging ICT CEO for 2020, Most Innovative and ICT Focussed State 2020, Most Innovative Operator 2020, and a host of other awards.
NTITA 2020, Nigeria’s most prized IT and Telecom event, is putting the spotlight on the country’s technology leadership, most promising innovations, companies and projects; and political leaders pushing the required willpower to foster right environment for ICT to flourish.
The contest is hot as the NTITA Board work to unveil the 2020 winners, said
InstinctWave, Africa’s premium B2B event and media specialists, organizers of the event.
NTITA, partnering with the country’s leading stakeholders, recognizes and rewards innovations and excellence from individuals and organizations involved in advancing technology and transforming today’s ICT industry.
The most celebrated ICT & Telecoms awards, NTITA has grown to be the ‘Oscars’ of the ICT and Telecom industry attracting the crème de la crème and top decision makers in the sector.
Every year the categories are updated to reflect the latest market trends and to ensure they do justice to our increasingly diverse industry. The new featured award categories allow us to recognize contributions from all parts of ICT sector; from communication service providers, solutions providers, banking, health, insurance, Fintech, cloud, cyber security, digitization and consultancies.
According to InstinctWave Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akin Naphtal, the awards has grown over the years, in participation and prestige; setting the highest industry standard for honouring organizations and individuals in the Telecom & ICT sector in Nigeria. The platform has also become the benchmark for outstanding performances in the industry and a symbol of excellence that marks leadership, quality and innovation.
Further expressing his excitement, Naphtal said: “We are proud to have been the harbinger and promoters of the giant strides made by the industry, regardless of the very challenging business environment since the last four years when we debuted the awards.”
“This year’s edition will be especially memorable because Nigeria will be celebrating 60 years of independence from colonial rule. NTITA traditionally takes place in Lagos but in the spirit of the Independence Day celebration of our dear country, we will be moving the event to the country’s capital, FCT Abuja. We will also be recognizing the efforts of the different organizations and government institutions in mitigating the challenges posed by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country”. He added.


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The microblogging company says it favors tools and services over ads as a way to build revenue.
Breaking News Section Index
Long-range success may be a challenge for Twitter. A study indicates that the majority of people who join the social network quit using it after one month.
Spurred on by Twitter and Facebook, Yahoo is turning up the volume on many of its communications and community features and building bridges between the collection of Yahoo sites that have at times...
Google will begin to aim online ads at people based on their Web browsing history.
Google canceled plans for a search advertising partnership with Yahoo amid opposition from antitrust regulators and advertisers.
It appears Google isn't giving up on the proposed ad deal with Yahoo as executives say talks are still on.
The Google-owned business is taking the first steps toward building an e-commerce service through which it will sell media-related products.
Google and Yahoo decided to delay implementing a controversial search advertising partnership.
Article Published On 26-Sep-08
New system would allow for the cross-selling of ads between sales forces.
Yahoo rolls out redesign of its homepage offering personalized view of the Web.
Vintners are buzzing about the possibilities that the online retailer is gearing up to sell wine. While this may be good news for wine lovers, it remains to be seen how it will affect small online...
The auction leader is making moves in response to waning interest in online bidding and continued strength from rivals' traditional e-commerce models.
The would-be Google rival says its methods are better than prevailing search techniques that focus on Web links and audience traffic patterns.
EBay scored a major legal victory on Monday when a federal judge absolved it of responsibility for policing fake Tiffany jewelry.
France plays hardball and slaps eBay with a stiff penalty for allowing the sale of illegitimate goods.
Google will offer advertisers a free media planning tool to help them locate target audiences on the Web.
eBay is laying out Project Echo, a plan to give independent developers a path to having their software featured within eBay's core site.
Under the agreement, Yahoo can run ads supplied by Google alongside its own search results.
Yahoo and Wal-Mart announce ad partnership while Microsoft still waits in the wings.
The online purchase of an electric shaver by a California woman spurred a class action suit against Target.
Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo's search business and take a minority stake in the Web pioneer, stopping short of a full-out merger.
Microsoft puts another offer on the table, but will Yahoo raise the ante again?
Craigslist filed a countersuit alleging eBay used its minority stake in Craigslist to steal its corporate trade secrets.
MySpace social network will let users share their public profile information, such as pictures, videos, and text, across the Web.
It appears Microsoft is abandoning its Yahoo takeover, amid rumors of a Yahoo-Google ad partnership.
Success Story: How to Establish Internal Communications & Collaboration for 160,000 with No Impact on the Network Nestle is the world's leading nutrition, health, and wellness company, with offices, factories, and R&D centers worldwide. In the past, Nestle...
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2015 Gartner IDaaS Magic Quadrant Gartner has named Okta as the only leader in its 2015 Identity & Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) Magic Quadrant. Access your complimentary...


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"What about the tech world today keeps you up at night?" was the question. RSA encryption algorithm co-inventor Leonard Adelman, "Father of the Internet" Vint Cerf and cryptography innovator Manuel Blum all shared their biggest fears.
Late last week, Google appeared to be blocking links to imageboard 8chan on the grounds of hosting "suspected child abuse content." The imageboard is routinely criticized for hosting pedophilic content, and even had its domain seized over allegations of hosting child abuse content in January.
A major corporation is misusing grsecurity's trademarks and violating the terms of the GNU Public License – and as a consequence, the leader of the project said Wednesday, grsecurity will stop making its stable patches available to the general public.
The FTC's PrivacyCon will include brief privacy and security research presentations, along with expert panel discussions on the latest privacy and security challenges facing consumers. Whitehat researchers and academics will discuss the latest security vulnerabilities, explain how they can be exploited to harm consumers, and highlight research affecting consumer privacy and data security.
Security researchers from Symantec have identified 49 more modules of the sophisticated Regin cyberespionage platform that many believe is used by the U.S. National Security Agency and its close allies.
Every time Sony thinks it's out! Microsoft pulls it back in. The storied electronics maker got out of the PC business in 2014, but it will still support some of its more recent Vaio models in making the move to Windows 10. Eventually.
People who pre-ordered the Surface Hub from Microsoft were notified Wednesday that their mega-display and conference room collaboration tool won't arrive until 2016, at least four months after Microsoft originally planned.
Time's a-ticking, and we're getting closer and closer to what is almost certainly the launch of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, though not the iPhone 7. The latest leaks, reported by Chinese website Daliulian, say that the new models to be revealed on September 9 will be available in a metallic pink finish for the first time. Reese Witherspoon's character from Legally Blond ought to be thrilled.
A Boulder, Colorado-based startup announced today that it has raised $3.6 million in seed funding to build the commercial version of the SlamData open-source project, helping businesses visualize semi-structured NoSQL data.
When Cisco Systems employees head into work Monday they'll encounter something they haven't seen in two decades: A new boss. Chuck Robbins -- formerly senior vice president of worldwide operations -- takes over as CEO from John Chambers, one of the most visible and quotable figures in business.
Amazon Web Services is hoping better management tools will convince enterprises to move more applications to the cloud, but getting their internal management processes right is even more important than anything the vendor can offer.


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In The News Article
This fish is ‘king of the reef.’ But high-end diners may change that
Weighing up to 400 pounds with distinctive markings behind its eyes, the humphead wrasse is an endangered reef fish. It’s considered a luxury food, especially in Hong Kong, and is a victim of illegal fishing.
See Media Clip
Published by: National Geographic on March 20, 2020
Programme: Living Oceans, Wildlife Trade in


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The first blockchain solution has been delivered to the certification industry to fight against fake certificates in the sector, Deloitte has said.
Two of VeChain’s partners, DNV GL and Deloitte, have joined forces together to deliver the first set of blockchain-based certificates. At the moment, 90,000 certificates have been moved to a private blockchain.
According to a report published by Deloitte, one of the world’s Big Four” accounting organizations, the innovation allows for transparent communication between companies on certifications.
Certifications issued through this means ensures that certificates are stored on blockchain, digitally tagged, traceable, and immutable. This was achieved by the joint work of DNV GL and Deloitte EMEA Blockchain Lab.
The CEO of DNV GL, Luca Crisciotti, said the company has been working on building trust for about 150 years.
“In the age of digital transformation, there is an increased need for transparency in a volatile business environment,” says Crisciotti.
With the use of blockchain, certificates are given more credibility and traceability. Each issued certificate is attached a unique digital identity after it has been digitized and sent to blockchain.
Certificates are uniquely issued and the original is stored on Blockchain in a network of computers instead of a central repository. For confirmation purpose especially against fraud, each certificate is attached a unique QR code which is scanned and verified by anyone through blockchain.
Martin Bryn, Partner at Deloitte, and Lory Kehoe, EMEA Blockchain Lab Lead at Deloitte also commented on the development.
Bryn said the innovation, which is one of the maiden applications of blockchain outside the finance industry, shows the potency of the technology.
“In not too long there will be concepts, prototypes and investments emerging in every major industry,” Martin Bryn said.
Similarly, Kehoe greeted the achievement with delight, saying EMEA blockchain lab is elated to be part of the ground-breaking project.
“This is an excellent example of blockchain technology entering the production life-cycle stage of the technology with DNV GL and Deloitte at the forefront of this digital transformation journey”, Lory Kehoe, said.
VeChain, DNV GL and Deloitte Speak at Shanghai International Blockchain Week
VeChain, alongside its two partners, attended the Shanghai International Blockchain Week 2019 as a keynote speaker.
As an enterprise-friendly public blockchain technology, VeChain, via its representative Sunny Lu, spoke about how blockchain helps enhance business value. Sunny said for blockchain to get mainstream adoption, it has to offer a compliant, fair and cooperative environment.
VeChain’s Strategic partner Deloitte said blockchain is a comprehensive ecosystem that goes beyond just being a decentralized governance technology.
Deloitte CTO, Antonio Senatore, said public blockchain allows connection of products enterprises and people in a digital way.


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The Star Sydney has announced the appointment of senior marketer Jo Bennett as its new marketing director for leisure and entertainment.
In her new role, Bennett will be responsible for the development and management of strategic marketing programs and stakeholder engagement at The Star Sydney.
The role will see Bennett focus on driving brand awareness for The Star Sydney’s restaurants, casual dining venues, bars, hotels, and retail precinct, as well as its B2B portfolio.
Bennett brings more than 20 years of operational, strategic marketing, business development, and leadership experience to The Star Sydney across a range of key categories, including retail, hospitality, destination, and large-scale events in local and international markets.
Prior to joining The Star, Ms Bennett has held senior marketing and operational positions at The Cru Media, Matt Moran’s restaurant group, Morsul, and in the UK with Marks & Spencer, Selfridges, Ian Schrader Hotels, The Hospital Club, and Marco Pierre White.
Melinda Madigan, general manager of marketing and entertainment at The Star Sydney, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jo Bennett, as she brings a new level of experience and an impressive track record of managing multiple projects and leading teams to achieve continuous, improved business performance for premium hospitality and tourism brands.
“The Star will undoubtedly benefit from her extensive experience designing and delivering innovative marketing strategies and activation campaigns to drive brand advocacy, visitation, footfall, revenue and profit.
“We are particularly excited to welcome Jo to The Star at this exciting time, as we undertake significant redevelopment to boost the hotel, food and beverage and retail offering to provide visitors with a truly unique experience at Sydney’s only world-class integrated resort.
Commenting on her new role, Bennett said: “I’m thrilled to join The Star Sydney’s dynamic marketing team to drive innovative marketing programs to further enhance the reputation of the world-class property.
“I have extensive professional experience and a deep personal interest in premium food and beverage, retail, accommodation and events, and am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to such a profiled brand with a strong and expanding customer proposition.”
Bennett’s appointment is effective on Monday 29 May 2017.


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The adoption of new services by blockchain companies has been seen as a mark of increased industry growth. This mantra was again put to action when DLive, the popular blockchain-based content sharing platform announced that they would be joining the BitTorrent ecosystem. DLive’s entry will also mean that the organization will begin its migration to the Tron blockchain.
The content-sharing platform will use the much-lauded BitTorrent File-Sharing System [BTFS] to ensure that the content uploaded on DLive moves to a more secure and decentralized system.
“Starting today, DLive and its blockchain development team will collaborate with the BitTorrent team to bolster its products and services. BLive, the live streaming platform introduced by BitTorrent in early 2019, will be merged into the DLive platform, and their team will join the DLive team. DLive has grown in strides over the past 15 months. The streaming platform boasts a passionate community, a niche product-market fit, and strong adoption has grown to over five million monthly active users.”
Tron Foundation CEO Justin Sun had also heaped praises on DLive by calling it one of the best real-world examples of what is possible when an organization combines blockchain and digital media. The CEO was confided that with the DLive-BitTorrent collaboration, content creators will get a proper chance at launching their stuff. DLive had first migrated to the Lino blockchain in September 2019 and their last major update was introducing the IDA-Lemon as the platform currency on the Lino blockchain.
Charles Wayn, the CEO of DLive further opined that Tron’sn advancements in the digital asset space go hand in hand with DLive’s goal of empowering creators and rewarding communities with amplifying their capabilities. The organization has revealed that it will begin to offer rewards and benefit points to already existing users to move from Lino to the BitTorrent ecosystem. According to DLive officials, once all users transition from the Lino blockchain, it will no longer be used.
Despite the developments on the Tron blockchain, the cryptocurrency has still not witnessed marked upkeep in its price with the bear market not doing it any favours. At press time, Tron held a value of $0.013 and a total market cap of $890.8 million, a far cry from its range in the billions. The 12th placed cryptocurrency held a 24-hour market volume of $1.15 billion.


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Need to speak to someone? Please reach out here and your Account Manager will be in touch.
This is a friendly reminder that the QuickBooks Commerce standalone product (formerly TradeGecko) is now retired, and all accounts have been permanently closed.
QuickBooks Commerce standalone (formerly TradeGecko) will no longer be available starting on July 10, 2022
Export your data before your data is deleted on August 10, 2022.
QuickBooks sent the first announcement about retiring the product on June 9, 2021.
Why are we doing this?
In September 2020, Intuit launched QuickBooks Commerce as a result of its acquisition of TradeGecko, an inventory management solution that integrated with QuickBooks Online. In June 2021, we announced the sunset of TradeGecko as a standalone product, and have been working with the US-based customers over the last 13 months to transition them to QuickBooks Commerce or other services of their choosing. On July 13, 2022, the sunset of TradeGecko will be complete. We continue to invest in the development and growth of QuickBooks Commerce in the U.S. and its integration with the QuickBooks platform.


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Google’s at it again, changing the game just when marketers thought they had it figured out.
Gmail now automatically sorts its users’ emails into different tabs. The Promotions tab is the default home for marketing emails and newsletters.
Now that Google has quarantined your email marketing, will it ruin your business’ third strongest customer acquisition channel?
Vocus Senior Product Manager Eddie Howard took an early look at the facts and explained why Gmail tabs won’t devastate email marketers. Here’s why:
Clicks have gone up
Before the good news, a small piece of bad news. A majority of email service providers have seen open rates dip slightly because of the tabbed inbox.
The following good news outweighs the bad, though. Some email service providers have reported increased click rates, a metric usually preferred to open rates.
Eddie cautions against reading too much into those stats, though. The results may be only temporary and can vary from person to person.
Christopher S. Penn, for example, ran a pre- and post-tab analysis of his email newsletter and found that his open rates increased 39 percent after Google installed tabs.
Gmail isn’t a giant
Gmail has seen its market share decline to 4 percent. Apple iPhone and Microsoft Outlook lead the way with 23 percent and 18 percent market shares, respectively.
Even if Gmail does have a negative affect on your email marketing, it won’t cripple it to the point where it’s not worthwhile.
No inbox but no spam
Your newsletters and other emails may no longer fall into the prized inbox, but they also may escape the doomed spam folder.
Anecdotally, some email service providers have noticed that Google now treats their newsletter as a promotion instead of spam, Eddie says.
More competition but so what
Another part of the new Gmail is ads disguised as emails that might not be subject to CAN-SPAM compliance.
The new Google ads will appear only in the Promotions tab, are of higher quality than previous Gmail ads and will appear only if they have relevant placements.
These ads will be extremely targeted and create competition in the inboxes, but competing for eyes in inboxes is nothing new for email marketers, Eddie says.
Other voices from around the web
- Debra Murphy says newsletters that end up in their own tab may actually help you because subscribers often delete promotions if they are busy. The new tab allows subscribers to save newsletters for their downtime.
- DJ Waldow predicts that click to open rates will increase because loyal subscribers will either take the time to find your email in the Promotions tab or will move it to the Primary tab. Besides, creating timely, targeted, valuable, human emails is the most important thing.
- Brad Tuttle of Time Magazine contends that subscribers who opt in, stay on, and click your newsletters in the Promotions tab are “marketers’ dream shoppers.”
- ProBlogger addresses some of the ups and downs of the Promotions tab, but argues that this shouldn’t affect email marketers who consistently provide good copy.
Anything that threatens to harm email marketing, the bread and butter of many businesses, will set off alarm bells. After all 92 percent of marketers say that their email marketing does or will produce a return on investment.
However, as several authoritative voices have confirmed, Gmail tabs are unlikely to lower the $44.25 businesses make on every $1 spent email marketing.
Image: Kinologik (Creative Commons)


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Tablet sales this quarter could be suffering from a hangover from the holiday season. According to a DigiTimes report, the global tablet shipments will decline by 30% in Q1 2012 compared to Q4 2011.
Such a large decline is not good news for the tablet industry, especially Apple, because the iPad accounts for about 13% of our $550 price estimate for Apple stock.
The launch of the iPad 3, expected to be introduced later this quarter, however, could help boost the tablet industry and be part of the reason why buyers might hold off from making purchases in the beginning months. Our price estimate for Apple stock is about 10% above the current market price.
iPad 3 could propel tablet industry’s growth
Although Apple has officially not disclosed any details around iPad 3, industry sources indicate that Apple is all set to announce the launch of iPad 3 in March this year. AllThingsD reported that Apple could introduce the iPad 3 as early as the first week of March in an event in San Francisco.
The report suggested that iPad 3 will be a much advanced tablet:
A device similar in form factor to the iPad 2, but running a much faster chip, sporting an improved graphics processing unit, and featuring a 2048×1536 Retina Display - or something close to it
According to another report, the iPad 3 could support 4G technology so that Verizon and AT&T could start selling it on their 4G networks. (Read Apple's Ready to Roll Out 4G Enabled iPad 3 for Verizon and AT&T) These are promising signs for Apple and tablet industry as a whole. However, the real impact of iPad 3 will only be seen in Q2 2012, and hence Q1 could well be a dampener for the tablet industry.
- Global tablet PC shipments down 30%, says Digitimes Research, February 20th, 2012 [↩]
- Apple to Announce iPad 3 First Week in March, AllThings D, February 9th, 2012 [↩] [↩]
Like our charts? Embed them in your own posts using the Trefis WordPress Plugin.


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Browser-based demo gives a sneak peak at the new adventure.
A browser-based demo of Professor Layton and The Miracle Mask is now available on Nintendo.co.uk.
In the demo players will get to tackle two puzzles from the professor's upcoming adventure, including saving a clown who has been entangled in his own balloons.
The new adventure features 150 brand new brainteasers, a new set of mini-games, plus 365 additional Daily Puzzles distributed via the Nintendo Network – one puzzle a day for a whole year from the day of the game's launch.
The game arrives for 3DS on October 26.


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This is part of our Covidnomics Series which is looking at interventions the Federal Government could design and fund with its N3.5 trillion COVID-19 Intervention Fund. The recommended interventions could both help contain the spread of Coronavirus while also reducing its economic impact by allowing many productive activities to safely continue. Agriculture employs about 70% of Nigeria’s labour force while the sector accounts for 21% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Given the obvious economic importance of the sector, measures to keep farmers working will significantly reduce the economic impact of COVID-19. Equally important is the task of feeding Nigerians as they wait for the country to be rid of COVID-19. It’s urgent for Government to take action as the prices of foodstuffs have risen by around 150% in some markets in Lagos (a basket of pepper is reported to now cost N14,000 in Ketu, up from N5,000 two weeks ago).
Here are interventions that could help achieve the twin objectives:
1.) BAN INTERCITY TRANSPORT: Farming communities until now have been shielded from infection – they are remote from the “jet-set” elites through whom COVID-19 has been transmitted to Nigeria and are also largely less densely populated than urban areas. Farmers can safely keep working; farming is mostly done “alone together”. States should not only prevent movement in and out of their territories; traffic between urban and rural areas should also be severely restricted. Some food processing areas are just on the outskirts of cities.
2.) PASSES FOR TRUCKS: Special passes should be issued to trucks and traders to travel to food-producing areas to buy and bring food into cities. Drivers and traders should be tested for COVID-19 and their passes renewed every 10 days (this also provides an additional means of testing infection in the urban population and tracing contacts).
3.) SOCIAL DISTANCING IN MARKETS: Markets selling foodstuff should remain open but innovative social distancing measures adopted. For instance, sellers of different combinations of items should sell on different days e.g. grains and vegetables on Mondays and Tuesdays and meat, fish and groceries on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The “spacing out” that will be achieved will allow setting up posts for washing hands and handing out face masks.
4.) ONLINE FOOD MARKETS: This can connect bulk traders of foodstuffs to homes in urban centres, thereby further reducing the crowds in markets. Government role can be limited to explaining the system to the traders and organizing them to use it. This can provide employment for some graduates. Companies like Jumia and Konga can do the rest. Uber and Taxify could be engaged to deliver the foodstuff at 80% of the regular travel cost. Tricycles (Keke Marwa) could be engaged to deliver to those who want cheaper delivery options. Everyone involved in the delivery should also be tested every ten days.
5.) RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE: This is the only thing that will cost a bit of money but it’s a very good investment. Roads connecting cities to Nigerian food baskets should be repaired or rebuilt. It’s a good time to do this – the roads are free of traffic. It will also put cash into companies and the economy. It’s safe to do because building roads is a low-contact kind of job. This intervention will not only prevent COVID-19 from doing lasting damage to the economy, but it will also do lasting good.
Like other ideas in our Covidnomics Series, these ideas require more organisational capacity than cash. If Nigeria can implement some of them, one of the gains of the unfortunate pandemic would be that the Nigerian Government would enhance its capacity to organise and get things done.


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Kadi and Kelli celebrated Tea Time in Cayman’s one year anniversary by returning to where it all began, the What Women Want Expo at the Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa on November 29, 2012.
It’s hard to believe that only a year ago we launched Tea Time in Cayman with 14 varieties of loose leaf tea and through our own developing taste and requests from our customers we are now up to 34 varieties and even more exciting and stylish teaware options.
We couldn’t do it alone this year so we brought in back up! Our moms volunteered and lent their support throughout the event. Thanks Moms!
We’re looking forward to next year! Thanks to Z99 for putting on this great expo for the ladies of Cayman!


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Unity Bank Plc has declared a N2.2 billion profit for the nine-month period ended September 30.
In its third quarter result released on Friday, the Bank said the amount represents a 17 per cent in gross earnings to N42.2 billion for the same period, as against N36.2 billion in the corresponding period of 2021.
The company attributed the increase to new products that were focused on deep penetration and driving volume in the retail market space.
Also, a review of Agric-focused lender’s unaudited results released to Nigerian Exchange Ltd., NGX, showed the bank’s profit before tax rose by five per cent to close at N2.206 billion.
The bank also recorded an equal marginal growth in its profit after tax, which increased to N2.03 billion, representing a five per cent rise from N1.9 billion recorded in the same period of 2021.
Similarly, total loans and advances grew to N284.2 billion, representing a six per cent spurt from the N269.3 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2021.
Other key highlights of the nine-month financials included customer deposits of N334.7 billion which represented a four per cent increase from N322.3 billion in the corresponding period.
The position underscored the increasing uptake of the market for the Bank’s products innovation, and mass-market-oriented retail focus that continued to boil wide acceptance across various segments of the mass market.
The lender’s performance came on the heels of a fragile recovery from the global pandemic buffeted by economic headwinds including rising inflationary trends, interest rate hikes, foreign exchange volatilities, etc. which have impacted severely on the overall economic outlook in the country and the rest of the world.
The managing director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Tomi Somefun, said that the outlook for the full year 2022 remained positive, reflecting optimism, stability, and growth in key performance indicators.
She noted that the growth trajectory recorded in the bank’s revenue by 17 per cent, profit by five per cent and deposit by four per cent among others, was a testament to the positive sentiment in the market.


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What will be the developments of the US economy in the near future?
Michael Roberts is an Economist in the City of London and a prolific blogger
Cross-posted from Michael Roberts’ Blog
During the year of the COVID, global consumer and producer prices dropped fell. In some manufacturing-based economies, there was even a fall in price levels (deflation) eg the Euro area, Japan and China).
US inflation rate (annual %)
“Effective demand” as Keynesians liked to call it, plummeted, with business investment and household consumption dropping sharply. Savings rates rose to high levels (both corporate savings relative to investment and household savings).
Household savings rates (% of income) – OECD
|Euro area (16 countries)
Many companies went bust and many lower income households either lost their jobs or faced reductions in wages. Higher income households maintained their wage levels, but they were unable to travel or spend on leisure and entertainment.
But now, as the rollout of vaccines accelerates across the advanced economies and governments and central banks continue to inject credit money and direct funding for business and households, the wide expectation is that the major economies will make a fast recovery in investment, spending and employment – at least by the second half of 2021.
Now the concern is that, instead of a continued slump, there is a risk of ‘overheating’ in the major economies, causing an inflation of prices generated by ‘too much’ government spending and continued ‘loose’ monetary policy.
The UK’s Financial Times echoed the voices of leading mainstream American Keynesian economists that “a strong recovery and sizeable stimulus raise the possibility of the US ‘overheating’”. Former treasury secretary Larry Summers and former IMF chief economist Oliver Blanchard both warned that the passing by the US Congress of the proposed $1.9tn spending package, on top of last year’s $900bn stimulus, risked inflation.
Summers argued that the size of the spending package, about 9 per cent of pre-pandemic national income, would be much larger than the estimate of the shortfall in economic output from its ‘potential’ by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). That, combined with loose monetary policy, the accumulated savings of consumers who have been unable to spend and already-falling unemployment could contribute to mounting inflationary pressure. ‘Pent-up demand’ would explode, leading to 1970s-type inflation. “There is a chance that macroeconomic stimulus on a scale closer to World War II levels than normal recession levels will set off inflationary pressures of a kind we have not seen in a generation,” said Summers.
Summers’ view must be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt, considering that in April last year, he argued that the COVID pandemic would be merely a short sharp decline, somewhat like tourist areas (Cape Cod in his case) closing down for the winter, and the US economy would come roaring back in the summer. Two things blew that forecast out of the Atlantic: first, the winter wave of COVID (actually in the case of the US, because of lax lockdowns etc, the spring wave just continued); and second, hundreds of thousands of small businesses (and some larger ones) went bust and so business was not able to return to normal after the ‘winter break’.
Summers’ argument is also based on some very dubious economic categories. He measured the fiscal and monetary stimulus being applied by Congress and the Fed in 2021 against the “potential output” of the economy. This is a supposed measure of the maximum capacity of investment and spending that an economy could achieve with ‘full employment’ without inflation. The category is so full of holes, that economists come up with different measures of ‘potential output’, which anyway seems to be a moveable feast depending on productivity and employment growth and likely investment in new capacity.
Larry Summers reckons the Biden relief package will inject around $150 billion per month, while CBO says the monthly gap between actual and potential GDP is now around $50 billion and will decline to $20 billion a month by year-end (because the CBO assumes the COVID-19 virus and all its variants will be under control).
Former New York Fed President Bill Dudley backed up Summers in arguing that Four More Reasons to Worry About US Inflation. First, economic slumps brought on by pandemics tend to end faster than those caused by financial crises. This is Summers’ Cape Cod argument revived. And second, “thanks to rescue packages and a strong stock market, household finances are in far better shape now than they were after the 2008 crisis.” You might ask whether a rocketing stock market benefits the 93% of Americans who have no stock investments (or large pension funds). And while the better-paid may have increased savings to spend, that is not the case for lower to middle income earners. Dudley also claimed that companies have “plenty of cash to spend and access to more at low interest rates”. Again, he seems to concentrate on the large techs and finance firms that are hoovering up government money and stock market gains. Meanwhile there are hundreds of thousands of smaller companies which are on their knees and in no position to launch a big investment plan even if they can get loans at low rates. The number of these zombie companies are growing by the day.
It’s true as Dudley says that ‘inflation expectations’ are rising and that can be a good indicator of future inflation – if households think prices are going to rise, they tend to start spending in advance and so stimulate price rises – and vice versa. And it’s also true that, given the sharp fall in price inflation at the start of the pandemic lockdowns last year, any recovery in prices now will show up as a statistical year on year rise. But as you can see from this graph below inflation expectations are hardly at a level of “of a kind we have not seen in a generation” (Summers).
The other worry of the ‘inflationists’ is that the US Fed will generate an inflationary spiral through its ‘lax’ monetary policies. The Fed continues to plough humungous amounts of credit money into the banks and corporations and also has weakened its inflation target of 2% a year to a 2% average inflation over some undefined period. Thus, the Fed will not hike interest rates or cut back on ‘quantitative easing’ even if the annual inflation rate heads over 2%.
Fed chair Jay Powell made it clear in a recent speech to the Economic Club of New York (business people and economists) that the Fed had no intention of reining in its monetary easing. Powell even gave a date – no tightening of policy before 2023. This has upset the anti-inflation theorists. Gillian Tett in the FT put it: “the Fed has now taken this so-called “forward guidance” to a new level that seems dangerous. He should puncture assumptions that cheap money is here indefinitely, or that Fed policy is a one-way bet. Otherwise his attempts to ward off the ghosts of 2013 will eventually unleash a new monster in the form of a bigger market tantrum, far more damaging than last time — especially if investors have been lulled into thinking the Fed will never jump.”
The FT itself went on: “The Fed’s pledge to leave policy on hold until 2022, however, risks undermining its credibility: it cannot promise to be irresponsible. … it must watch out for any sign that inflation expectations are rising and respond to the data rather than tie itself to the mast.” Dudley echoed this view. “If the Fed does not tighten when inflation appears, it might have to reverse course quickly if it starts getting out of hand. That, in turn, could set off market fireworks.”
But are the inflationists’ warnings valid? First, they are really based on a quick and significant ‘Cape Cod’ economic recovery. But the pandemic is not over yet and the vaccines have not been rolled out to any level to suppress the virus sufficiently yet. What if the new variants that are beginning to circulate are resistant to existing vaccines so that a new ‘wave’ emerges? A summer recovery could be delayed indefinitely.
Moreover, these inflation forecasts are based on two important theoretical errors, in my view. The first is that the huge injections of credit money by the Fed and other central banks that we have seen since the global financial crash in 2008-9 have not led to an inflation of consumer prices in any major economy even during the period of recovery from 2010 onwards – on the contrary (see the US inflation graph above), US inflation rates have been no more than 2% a year and they have been even lower in the Eurozone and Japan, where credit injections have also been huge.
Instead, what has happened has been a surge in the prices of financial assets. Banks and financial institutions, flooded with the generosity of the Fed and other central banks, have not lent these funds onwards (either because the big companies did not need to borrow or the small ones were to risky to lend to). Instead, corporations and banks have speculated in the stock and bond markets, and even borrowed more (through corporate bond issuance) given low interest rates, paying out increased shareholder dividends and buying back their own shares to boost prices. And now with the expectation of economic recovery, investors poured a record $58bn into stock funds, slashing their cash holdings and also piled $13.1bn into global bond funds while pulling $10.6bn from their cash piles.
So Fed and central bank money has not caused in inflation in the ’real economy’ which continued to crawl along at 2% a year or lower in real GDP growth, while the ‘fictitious’ economy exploded. It is there that inflation has taken place.
This is where the ’Austrian school’ of economics comes in. They see this wild expansion of credit leading to ‘malinvestment’ in the real economy and eventually to a credit crunch that hits the productive sectors of the ‘pure’ market economy. This view is expressed by that bastion of conservative economics, the Wall Street Journal. So while the Keynesians worry about overheating and inflation in true 1970s style, the Austrians worry about a credit/debt implosion.
In contrast, the exponents of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) are quite happy about the Fed injections and the government stimulus programs. Modern Monetary Theory exponent Stephanie Kelton, author of The Deficit Myth, when asked whether she was worried about the stimulus bill causing inflation, said: “Do I think the proposed $1.9 trillion puts us at risk of demand-pull inflation? No. But at least we are centring inflation risk and not talking about running out of money. The terms of the debate have shifted.”
But neither the Keynesians, the Austrians nor the MMT exponents have it right theoretically, in my view. Yes, the Austrians are right that the expansions of credit money are driving up debt levels to proportions that threaten disaster if they should collapse. Yes, the MMT exponents are right that government spending per se, even if financed by central bank ‘printing’ of money will not cause inflation, per se. But what both schools ignore is what is happening to the productive sectors of the economy. If they do not recover then, fiscal stimulus won’t work and monetary stimulus will be ineffective too.
Take the proposed $1.9 trillion stimulus package. Even assuming the whole package is passed by Congress (increasingly unlikely) and then implemented, the stimulus is spread over years not months. Moreover, the paychecks to households will more likely end up being used to pay down debt, bump up savings and cover rent arrears and health care bills. There won’t be much left to go travelling, eat in restaurants and buy ‘discretionary’ items.
Moreover, as I have argued in many previous posts, the Keynesian view that government spending delivers a strong ‘multiplier’ effect on economic growth and employment is just not borne out by the evidence. Sure, government handouts to households and investment in infrastructure may generate a short boost to the economy. But raising government investment from 3% of GDP to 4% of GDP over five years or so cannot be decisive if business sector investment (about 15-20% of GDP) continues to stagnate. Indeed, as government debt grows to new highs (in the case of the US, to over 110% of GDP) even if interest rates stay low, interest costs to GDP for governments will rise and eat into funds available for productive spending. And with corporate debt also at record highs, there is no room for debt heavy corporations to cope with any reversal in low interest rates.
The problem is not inflationary ‘overheating’; it is whether the US economy can ever recover sufficiently to get close to ‘full employment’. The official US unemployment rate may be ‘only’ 6.7% but even the statistical authorities and the Fed admit that it’s probably more like 11-12% and even worse if you include the 2% of the labour force that has left the labour market altogether.
The problem is the profitability of the capitalist sector of the US economy. If that does not rise back to pre-pandemic levels at least (and that was near an all-time low), then investment will not return sufficiently to restore jobs, wages and spending levels.
Last year, G Carchedi and I developed a new Marxist approach to inflation. We have yet to publish our full analysis with evidence. But the gist of our theory is that inflation in modern capitalist economies has a tendency to fall because wages decline as a share of total value-added; and profits are squeezed by a rising organic composition of capital (ie more investment in machinery and technology relative to employees). This tendency can be countered by the monetary authorities boosting money supply so that money price of goods and services rise even though there is a tendency for the growth in the value of goods and services to fall.
During the year of the COVID, corporate profitability and profits fell sharply (excluding government bailouts and with the exception of big tech, big finance and now big pharma). Wage bills also fell (or to be more exact, wages paid to the many fell while some saw wages rise). These results were deflationary. But the central banks pumped in the money. US M2 money supply was up 40% in 2020. So US inflation, after dropping nearly to zero in the first half of 2020, moved back up to 1.5% by year end. Now if we assume that both profits and wages will improve by 5-10% this year and Fed injections continue to rise, then our model suggests that US inflation of goods and services will rise, perhaps to about 3% by the end of 2021 – pretty much where consumer expectations are going (see graph above).
That’s hardly ‘generation high’ inflation. And the view of Jay Powell and new Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is “I can tell you we have the tools to deal with that (inflation) risk if it materialises.” Well, the US monetary and fiscal authorities may think they can control inflation (although the evidence is clear that they did not in the 1970s and have not controlled ‘disinflation’ in the last ten years). But they can do little to get the US economy onto a sustained strong pace of growth in GDP, investment and employment. So the US economy over the next few years is more likely to suffer from stagflation, than from inflationary ‘overheating’.


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First commercial shipment from Gwadar leaves for UAE
Addressing a ceremony in the Balochistan city, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Chaudhary Jaffar Iqbal said today the Gwadar port has been made operational from commercial shipments. Every week, a commercial cargo ship will leave for different countries from Gwadar, allowing the traders from Pakistan and Central Asia to sell their products across the globe.
— Voice Of Balochistan (@VofBalochistan) March 7, 2018
In his address, Gwadar Port Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini said a ship carrying raw material will leave for different countries from the port every week.
Chinese company launches most expensive ever ... 02:53 PM | 4 Mar, 2018
LONDON - A leading investment group has launched the most expensive, diverse and creative advertising campaign ever run ...
— محمد فیض انور ?? (@EngrFaizMeo) March 7, 2018
On Tuesday, Chairman and CEO of China Overseas Ports Holding Company, Zhang Baozhong while detailing the initiation of commercial services from Gwadar, said that the Cosco would operate a cargo ship with a capacity of 5000 containers on the route.
“The service has been designed in a manner to ensure to and fro movement of goods between Gwadar and any country,” Baozhong explained.
The official claimed that contrary to other ports of Pakistan, the containers would be offloaded and cleared in less than 48 hours at the Gwadar port and importers/exporters would not face storage space issues.
PM Abbasi inaugurates first 'Gwadar Expo 2018' 12:30 PM | 29 Jan, 2018
ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday inaugurated the first international 'Gwadar Expo 2018'. ...
In January, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had inaugurated the first international ‘Gwadar Expo 2018’. The event organised by Gwadar Development Authority along with China Overseas Ports Holding Company was attended by foreign dignitaries, ambassadors and people from business community across the world.
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- Famous figures who survived serious plane incidents07:21 PM | 29 May, 2021


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FinTech Investments Quadruple: Top Trends to Watch
Friday, July 24, 2015
Investments into FinTech startups recently quadrupled, growing from just over $3 billion in 2013 to over $12 billion in 2014. And consider alongside that another trend showing that crowdfunding will surpass VC in 2016 as a funding source–given that crowdfunding itself is a segment of the FinTech market.
The growth of capital being invested in FinTech startups underlies how technology and the Internet are radically changing the nature of money and financial services. From the ways that people save, to how they spend, to the tools they use to invest their money – all of these are changing more rapidly today than ever before.
The entrepreneurs of FinTech are giving money a major face-lift, one larger than the departure of Alexander Hamilton from the $10 bill. And over the next few years we’ll continue to see our money go from paper and plastic to zeros and ones of computer code. It’s not just possible, but likely that in one generation from now, most consumers and investors won’t handle physical money, checks or cards at all.
Some may find this hard to believe, but remember that even Thomas Watson of IBM said at one time that the world would never need more than five computers, at most.
As money becomes increasingly stored as digital data and moves with us on our mobile devices, it will flow fluidly, and at a far lower cost from person to person; from consumer to vendor; and from investor to business.
As this happens, the traditional revenue streams big banks and brokers have enjoyed monopolistic control over will be challenged — money transfer fees, account management fees, trading fees and more — as the banking technology they have charged us to use is rebuilt and improved by FinTech entrepreneurs and simply downloaded to our phones.
To better understand where your financial life is headed, and what that means for you and the startups and investors driving innovation in these new markets, let’s first look at the recent events that brought us here.


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Never Miss a Post with Twitter’s Tweet Repeater, “While You Were Away”
Twitter is once again giving people something to talk about with a new feature that sums up the most-talked-about tweets that appeared since the user disappeared from the site. The feature is called “While you were away” and along with recounting the most recent tweets, it tracks down and displays the most popular tweets that the user missed while away from the app. It is intended to help users stay on top of top tweets before they get lost beneath newer posts. This corresponds with Twitter’s goal of staying on top before they get lost beneath new social media sites. Mashable.com summed up the story.
Compelling Over Current
This feature uses an algorithm based more on engagement than chronology. So while Twitter has always shown real-time posts, it will now also display the most interesting posts that were shared and shown since you last logged on.
More Relevance, More Revenue
By seeking out tweets that engage and interest users, Twitter is differentiating itself from other social media sites among both users and advertisers.
This focus on striving to increase engagement will appeal to users by showing that Twitter is providing the most personally relevant content, which will drive them to Twitter more than other social media sites. As a result, advertisers will realize that consumers are flocking to Twitter and will follow their lead for the increased exposure the site can offer. Twitter’s user-focused approach will become more and more valuable to advertisers that want to ensure that their social media placements get maximum visits and views.
Initially announced late last year, the feature was first rolled out to iOS users early in the month. Twitter plans to expand its rollout to Android and its website in the near future to help users keep up and keep visiting.
Discover strategies for successful social media marketing. Contact MDG.
MDG, a full-service advertising agency with offices in Boca Raton and New York, NY, is one of Florida’s top branding firms. MDG’s capabilities include print advertising, direct mail marketing, branding, logo design, creative, digital marketing, media buying and planning, radio and TV advertising, Web design and development, online video advertising, infographic development, email marketing, mobile marketing, content marketing, social media marketing, paid search marketing, and SEO. To learn about the latest trends in advertising and branding, contact MDG.


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A machine that fixes the best breakfast meal you could ever imagine – and even delivers your morning paper! – will make breakfasts worth waking up for.
The 14-year old student just created a product which earned him an early recognition in the business world. Taylor Rosenthal invented the first-aid vending machine which started as a school project. Today he is receiving offer to sell his product for $30 million.
Colin Furze, who has more than 2.5 million followers on his Youtube channel, has also created DIY wolverine claws and wrist-worn flame throwers.
In a quest to address the common travel dilemma of language barriers miscommunication, a team of Swiss designers have created an item of clothing that speaks for itself.
When you think "future roads," you might start thinking of glistening stretches of metal under hovering cars, or perhaps endless blocks of sturdy solar panels that shine with LEDs. Now, researcher have announced that the next generation of roads might simply be green - made from discarded plant product rather than oil-based bitumen.
The public is only just now learning how the unique skin of chameleons can change color. Now, researchers are also revealing that they are in the midst of imitating this strategy for our own use, creating ways to display color never before seen outside of nature.
An Australian father-son pair recently put their minds together to birth an invention that may very well change how beekeeping is done forever. Called the Flow Hive, this revolutionary beehive puts fresh honey literally on tap, reducing labor for beekeepers, and - most importantly - stress for the world's most important pollinators.
Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to inspect each and every apple, plum, or pear for ripeness at the grocery store? Standing at a fruit stand assessing potential purchases is not only time consuming, but relatively inaccurate. Now researchers have introduced a device that helps fruit suppliers measure ripeness, allowing for their fruits to hit shelves and stands at the perfect time.
A type of carnivorous plant, called the pitcher plant, may soon be saving more lives than it takes. The unusual insect trap has inspired the creation of a new coating for medical devices that could potentially prevent deadly clotting and infections in vulnerable patients.


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A customer service rep (CSR) for U.S. Bank’s 24-hour banking hotline has stepped forward from the shadows to reveal 12 tips that can save customers money and time. Insider tips on how to get fees refunded, how “available balance” is a lie, and why you should demand the Portland call center when you have a fraud problem, inside…
The BBB says its concerned about gasoline-hedging company MyGallons.com and its ability to live up to the advertising claims on its website. A spokesperson for the BBB tells us that the biggest “red flag” they’ve discovered is that MyGallons claimed (in their press release) to have partnered with US Bank. However, when the BBB called US Bank to confirm this, they found out that it wasn’t true. US Bank had discussed the opportunity with MyGallons, but had declined. According to the BBB, despite the fact that they have no contractual agreements in place to process transactions, MyGallons is still signing up new customers.
Used to be with check that you could count on there being at least 3 days between someone cashing your check and the charge being run on your account. The delay is called “float” and writing a check before you have the money but think you’re going to deposit enough is called “gaming the float.”
Sick of paying annual fees, Steve wanted to get out his NWA WorldPerks Visa Signature Card he had going on with US Bank.


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Nexus 5 users can access notification panel by just swiping down on the fingerprint.
Google equipped Pixel with certain features that were not extended to Nexus, though they wished to have in their flagships as well. One of such features was accessing notification panel via swiping down on the phone’s fingerprint.
But now the game goes balance.
The users of Nexus 5X too can enjoy jumping to their panels via the same route. The update comes from Google’s latest modification to Android 7.1.2.
It was already made clear through a discussion on Google platforms that they are evaluating the feature for better and effective performance, which might take a bit of time to update it on Nexus smartphones, they did it finally.
How to find the feature?
Install the latest developer preview on your device from developer.android.com. Go to the phone’s settings menu where it is listed under ‘Moves’.
However, the feature is yet to be released to Nexus 6P, which has the same fingerprint as that of Nexus 5, though it is hoped to be taking place very soon.
On the other hand, the Pixel’s fingerprint sensor has a different setup that displayed notification feature out-of-the-box. Therefore, it seemed to be really a task for Google to bring the two phones in step at least for this feature.
It is reported that when Google released its 7.1 update, it refrained from providing the particular functionality through fingerprint to Nexus users, who definitely felt dismayed.
However, with the recent Android 7.1.2 update, the company is compensating for the delay that took place on the other side of the smartphone lovers.


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In an age where everyone is glued to their cellphones and spamming the internet with their selfies, the new generation has been busy on all fronts of social media giving rise to sites like Facebook and Twitter. Now a study has surfaced from the SXSW (South by Southwest) festival that dwells on the social activity of electronic dance music fans over the web. It tallies over 70 million posts related to EDM over the course of 2013.
This study was conducted by the online ticketing company for event organizers and promoters called Eventbrite and partnered with a social media analysis firm called Mashwork. Together, the two companies have gone into great depth on the booming relationship between EDM and its rising success. This study also gives a huge advantage to brands and other companies where to focus their products and how to do so towards the EDM social-media-philes. One such advantage is the usage of visuals or images to sell or advertise an event or product. The study says:
“brands that emphasize visuals trends in their marketing and on their social channels can leverage this behavior to drive greater engagement with EDM Fans.”
Check out the full study here or check out the visual conclusion Eventbrite put together below. Also leave comments on whether you agree with the study or not.
(Photos courtesy of famehouse.net and Eventbrite.com respectively)


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Italy-based Persico has teamed up with Structura/IQ Holding to create a new thermoplastic PBT composite material.
To make the material, the company impregnates thermoplastic PBT with fibres such as glass, carbon and basalt. The resulting thermoformable material is recyclable, environmentally friendly and made without VOCs or toxic emissions, says the firm. Persico supplies the material in coils ready for thermoforming. The pre-forms can be The pre-form (or the layup made up of a number of different pre-forms) is heated at temperatures in excess of 250°C, put into a cold male/female mould and left to cool down under pressure. The high crystallisation temperature of the PBT makes the forming process extremely fast and, as a result, the line’s production potential very high, says the company.


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Just days after the conclusion of the first leg of the 2018 NewFronts, event organizer Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has set the dates on which its annual pitch series will conclude. The first-ever West Coast edition of the online video conference will take place over two days this fall, beginning on October 9 and continuing through October 10.
While NewFronts has typically been spread across multiple venues, the West Coast presentations will all take place at a central hub: Neuehouse Hollywood, located just a couple blocks from the heart of Tinseltown. In a press release, IAB said 16 online video companies will join the West Coast NewFronts marketplace, though the industry organization did not clarify which platforms attendees can expect to be present.
“We are excited about bringing the NewFronts to the West Coast—and brands and media buyers are already calling to see how they can claim a seat,” said Anna Bager, EVP of Industry Initiatives for IAB, in the press release. “The Los Angeles event will be a bit different from those in New York, with one central location hosting a myriad of media powerhouses and digital native all-stars. We also expect to see even more out-of-the-box programming in the mix, taking full advantage of emerging formats ranging from virtual reality to podcasts. This represents yet another vital marketplace from IAB, designed to encourage growth across the industry.”
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IAB first announced the West Coast edition of the NewFronts back in February, when it also said the East Coast portion of the conference, previously spread across two weeks, would span five days in 2018. Between April 30 and May 4, 18 companies descended on New York to talk to agencies, brands, and executives about upcoming programming and trends in the online video industry.
With the West Coast NewFronts looming on the schedule, several companies, including Jukin Media, opted to move their events westward rather than hosting them in New York. The IAB has urged potential Los Angeles presenters to contact it for more info. Other interested parties can expect registration for the West Coast shindig to begin at some point in the summer.


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BellaGiada to showcase sustainable materials range at London Packaging Week
Luxury packaging supplier BellaGiada will be showcasing its range of new sustainable natural materials on stand D64 at the London Packaging Week 2022 show on 21 and 22 September at London Olympia. The range, which is branded ‘Reborn’, includes certiﬁed 100% recycled leather and alternatives to plastic ﬁlm and vac formed trays – perfect for eco conscious brands looking for credible sustainable luxury material options that can still deliver an all important premium look and feel.
In addition to the Reborn portfolio, the company will also have on display a collection of highly creative luxury packaging solutions, produced specifically by BellaGiada for leading luxury beauty, drinks, confectionery and gifting brands.
The company will be using the show to demonstrate how its UK based design team works in harmony with its manufacturing operations to deliver eye catching creative packaging, supported by outstanding customer service and unrivalled supply chain efficiency. It will also be launching its new UK customer services and design hub, while showcasing the benefits of direct to manufacturer services for the region.
‘We are really looking forward to the event,’ said BellaGiada’s Simon Dipple, senior vice president international business development. ‘Key to our success is our creativity and our manufacturing. We are passionate about bringing clients outstanding pack designs through local creativity, innovation and the highest level of customer service.
‘Furthermore, our new recycled leather material from our ‘reborn’ range is a world first as a new sustainable material for the luxury packaging market and we very much look forward to showcasing that to visitors on our stand.’


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Late last month, New Jersey lawmakers in both the Assembly and Senate voted to advance a bill legalizing adult use cannabis and establishing a retail industry in the state. The vote to advance S2703 out of committee represents the first official legislative action on adult-use cannabis since pro-legalization Gov. Phil Murphy assumed office in January. But the lengthy and contentious public hearing that preceded the vote highlighted the breadth of opposition to the specifics of the bill, if not legalization in general.
Although far from its final version and still very much up for major changes, the bill’s advancement signaled that New Jersey is well on the path toward a regulated and taxed adult-use cannabis industry. Yet while state lawmakers work to craft a legal framework, dozens of New Jersey towns have quietly passed resolutions banning the industry.
Dozens of New Jersey Towns Have Already Banned the Cannabis Industry
Since their 2016 takeover, New Jersey Democrats have expanded qualifying conditions for medical cannabis treatments and licensed more dispensaries. And they’ve made criminal justice reform a centerpiece of their legalization campaign. Additionally, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has instructed prosecutors to adjourn all marijuana-related cases until the attorney general’s office can


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E3 2014 Nintendo Predictions: Wii U Redesign, Zelda Wii U, New Mario, and Release Dates Galore
E3 2014 could be a new start for Nintendo and the Wii U, that is if they even show up. Could a new Zelda and Mario show up for Wii U? How about a redesigned Wii U console and Gamepad?
E3 2014 is set to be a real blockbuster of a E3 showing. I know people say that every year, myself included, but something about this year feels epic already. Maybe it is the fact that all major developers and publishers seem to be holding their cards close to their chest after the arrival of the Xbox One and PS4, or it could be that Microsoft and Sony are already hyping of their show over a month before it happens. Either way, something about E3 2014 feels as if its going to be a huge show, but what about the third player in the “console war?” Nintendo has spent a lot of time lately showing what we already know. Last year they barely had an E3 presence and was ultimately left in behind when it came to gaming talk due to their lackluster showing of pretty much anything. Will E3 2014 be any different?
I guess the first big question is if Nintendo will even have any kind of actual E3 presentation, or will they simply do another Nintendo Direct like last year? That is honestly the hardest question to answer right now. Nintendo is in such a weird spot right now it is impossible to see what their next move is. Personally, I have the feeling they will show up to E3 2014 with a presentation ready in a more traditional sense that gamers are used to. If Nintendo decides to not have a press conference I think it will just end up hurting them even more than last year.
The Wii U is not anything for Nintendo to brag about yet. Mario Kart 8 hits right before E3, and that will probably boost the Wii U sales, but the console has an identity crisis that needs to be solved. Which is where my first prediction comes in, and it is a bold one. Nintendo will introduce a new redesigned Wii U with a drastic difference in appearance to help and try and solve the Wii U identity problems. The Gamepad will be slimmer and have better battery life, come packed with a Wii U pro controller in preparation fro Super Smash Brothers, and the Wii U console itself will now be designed to look nothing like the Wii. I have always said that the Wii U hardware, and in some aspects software wise, gives me a beta impression as if Nintendo was held back by some sort of complication with the design process. The Wii U console itself is ugly and doesn’t have any visually striking appeal, and the Wii U Gamepad is comfortable but is far too bulky for a final product with such a poor battery life. These are things that needed to be addressed by Nintendo and E3 2014 is the perfect place to start a new chapter in the Wii U ‘s life.
People can debate all day whats wrong with the Wii U. Many think it is the power of the console, but I am personally in the camp of the Wii U needs more software and is falling victim to consumers not understanding the system completely. There is so much wrong the image of the Wii U, and a majority of it is the Wii name and design in general. Gamers understand that the Wii U is not just a new controller for the Wii, but the design of the Wii U doesn’t do even a decent job of communicating that Nintendo has a new console. Hell, even the Wii U console itself looks like a slightly rounder but longer version of the Wii. Nintendo has said themselves that the Wii U has an indenity problem among consumers, so they have to be thinking of someway to get the message out there.
Zelda for Wii U is almost a given at this point, but will Nintendo go with a darker Zelda? Hopefully E3 2014 will be a big debut.
What is the best way to show off a new redesigned Wii U? Well to show some new games of course! Nintendo’s big reveal this year will most likely be Zelda Wii U. Nintendo themselves said they were going to show off Zelda last year, but simply weren’t ready to show it off. A year will of passed since then, and if Nintendo isn’t ready by now they never will be. The real question is, what will the new Zelda U look and play like. Nintendo has had conflicting messages about their design of the next Zelda game. When the Windwaker HD was being debuted lead producer Eiji Aonuma talked about Zelda U and stated it would follow more traditional design akin to Ocarina of Time. Then after E3 last year, other producers and Nintendo employees started saying that it would be more dynamic similar to Skyward Sword.
Zelda Wii U needs to be a show stopper in whatever form it shows up at E3 2014. Personally, I feel like Nintendo is going to go for a more darker feel similar to Twilight Princess. A lot of core Zelda fans were ultimately let down by Skyward Sword, myself included. Coming off of Twilight Princess, which happens to be my favorite Zelda title, Skyward Sword felt like it wasn’t designed to be a Zelda game for the Wii, but more like a Zelda game desgined for the Wii Mote. It made sense considering the Wii Mote was the whole idea behind the Wii, but it felt like too much of a change for my liking. It was a good game, but not the Zelda myself and many others were looking for. Now that Nintendo tried their experimental Zelda game, it is time to get back to their roots and make a more conventional Zelda like Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. Not only would that make Zelda fans rejoice, it could help move a ton of Wii U units.
Super Mario Galaxy 3 seems to be a logical choice to get a real 3D Mario out sooner rather than later on Wii U.
Then there is the other Nintendo mega franchise known as Mario. Wii U owners got Super Mario 3D world in 2013, and while that was a fantastic game, again a lot of Nintendo fans felt as if it wasn’t the true 3D Mario they expected. A lot of gamers expected Nintendo to make Super Mario Galaxy 3, but that just didn’t happen. That is until E3 2014. Yes, i honestly think Nintendo is going to bring Super Mario Galaxy 3 to the show, and that is simply because it will be a “true” 3D Mario that the Galaxy team can create in a timely fashion. I have the feeling that Super Mario 3D World was created alongside Super Mario Galaxy 3, after the development of Galaxy 3 was taking too long. So Nintendo had their dev teams create a game using the same engine and assets as Galaxy 3. It seems like a logical move to not only give gamers a Mario title and something to play on the Wii U, but give the Galaxy dev team more practice in HD development. Super Mario Galaxy 3 makes sense to me, and you better believe myself and other gamers would buy it day 1.
What about Nintendo’s other franchises? Will Metroid show up at E3 2014? Metroid could show up, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t. Retro Studios is most likely working on a new Metroid for Wii U, even though they have stated a few times they are doing other things, they haven’t ever really come out and stated they aren’t working on a Metroid game. Considering that Metroid: The Other M was a big flop all around, Nintendo is probably not going to let just anyone handle the next Metroid title. Retro has a proven track record, and they know the Wii U hardware probably better than most studios, especially since they created Metroid Prime and have proven they can make a fantastic Metroid title. The problem is I firmly believe we are going to see Zelda and Mario already at E3 2014, and if that happens it is doubtful Nintendo would show off all three of their big franchises at one show. If Metroid Wii U does show up, i doubt it will be anything more than a teaser.
How about Star Fox U or FZero U? Don’t count on it. Thats E3 2015.
Then there are the other Wii U titles we already know about that will probably get release dates. X, Bayonetta 2, Hyrule Warriors, and Super Smash Bros for Wii U will all making a showing, and will all get release dates for 2014, with Super Smash Bros obviously being their main 2014 title. All of the mentioned titles will probably get a nice fancy trailer, but we have seen these games for months now, so don’t expect anything new.
The 3DS is already doing fantastic, so don”t expect anything huge announced for the hand held at E3 2014
There is one little device I haven’t mentioned from Nintendo yet, the 3DS. Nintendo’s latest portable will obviously be at E3 2014, but I expect them to focus on the Wii U at this show. Simply because the 3Ds is doing just fine right now and isn’t i need of help like the Wii U. Plus we already know a ton of titles hitting the 3DS, sure some of them are releasing before E3, but the release list is stacked either way. Theres Kirby Triple Deluxe, Mario Golf: World Tour, Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney, Monster Hunter 4, and oh yea Super Smash Bros for 3DS. I’m sure there will be some nice sizzle reel trailers for those titles that won’t be released yet, and 3DS gamers will remember why Nintendo is king of the hand held gaming market.
E3 2014 could be a big hit for Nintendo. The Wii U needs a boost in software desperately, and Nintendo has been begging gamers to please wait. Well Nintendo gamers aren’t going to wait much longer. If Nintendo doesn’t show up to E3 2014 with big titles in hand it could start to spell real disaster for the future of the Wii U. Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros are going to be big hits on the Wii U either way, but Nintendo can’t just bet on those two titles to fix the Wii U identity issues. Every year I end my Nintendo predictions with the two rules you can’t ever forget about E3. Expect the unexpected, and never count out Nintendo. Hopefully this year will be one where both of those rules are realized.


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One of the trends that can be seen in the equity market in recent years is the growing interest in companies related in one way or another to technology.
- In 2020 the companies of the sector will increase their profits by 10%.
- Apple will be the firm that wins more this year
- Microsoft is the favorite of analysts
Investors and analysts have fed back on their appetite for this type of company over the last few years in a trend that has accelerated in recent months, in which they have shown great resistance on the trading floor while achieving less impact on the income statement. Proof of this is that the profits of listed companies in the sector will increase by 10% this year, according to FactSet forecasts, and in 2021 this growth will reach 17%.
The boom in teleworking brought about by the pandemic has only perpetuated the role of technology. Companies in this sector have an increasingly important role in the market, and have even become a sort of lifeline in times of stock market crashes.
So far this year, the most relevant companies in the technology industry are pointing to increases of more than 27% in the stock market as reflected in the behavior of the Nasdaq 100. And this despite having recorded a lower rise than the rest of the sectors in recent sessions. This is despite the fact that the ghost of the tax increase proposed by the Democratic candidate Joe Biden for capital gains has been spreading among investors and analysts, leaving the way open for technology sales.
In addition, the fact that the U.S. Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit against Google, owned by Alphabet, accusing Mountain View of abusing its monopoly in the online search business has been described as a serious threat to the stock markets, because a good part of the market belongs to the sector in which the U.S. is one of the big heavyweights.
Nevertheless, according to the latest Dow Jones Market Data, which was echoed in the Wall Street Journal last month, technology and its influence in all areas – from those dedicated to manufacturing cell phones to those of social networks – weigh 40% in the S&P 500, even surpassing the 1999 record.
Apple leads the ranking
However, among the largest in the sector, there is one that stands out from the rest. This is the case of Apple. The U.S. firm is established in 2020 as the company that will obtain the highest net profits in 2020 and 2021. Analysts’ forecasts -increased in recent weeks after announcing their results for the first nine months of the year- point to a net profit of more than 49,200 million euros in 2020, 1% more than in 2019 despite the turbulent year. A figure that will rise to 57,100 million in 2021.
Behind this figure, Microsoft, Alphabet and Facebook will complete the list of companies that will obtain the most benefits in 2020, according to the market consensus gathered by FactSet. On the other hand, Salesforce.com, the Australian Xero Limited and the Chinese Baidu will be, according to analysts, those who will manage to increase their meager profits for 2019 at the end of this year.
In the ranking of the cheapest companies in the sector, it is the French company Atos that stands out. Its profit multiplier -the number of times its earnings per share are reflected in the price of its stocks- is the lowest among the largest companies in the sector. Its PER of 7.8 times puts it at the head of the industry giants in that respect.
However, there are other smaller firms that also trade at a similar or lower profit multiplier, such as Indra or the lesser-known Micro Focus International, DXC Technology or Econocom Group.
However, the most complete firm for analysts is Microsoft. The American firm has taken over the position as the company with the strongest buy recommendation for market consensus from Alphabet in the last few sessions, which has seen legal disputes hindering its advice.


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SAN JOSE — After a full week of witness testimony, Apple and Samsung rested their cases Friday in their patent infringement trial against each other.
Apple used its precious hours of remaining trial time to attack Samsung on all fronts. Apple brought in witnesses to counter Samsung’s arguments that Apple’s patents were invalid, explain why Samsung’s patents were invalid, and outline why Samsung’s suit against Apple is a violation of antitrust law.
Samsung — with less than an hour of trial time remaining — chose to swiftly review Apple witness testimony and bring Samsung witnesses back to counter Apple’s antitrust and patent invalidity claims.
Apple is suing based on a design patent that describes the front face of the Apple iPad tablet. Samsung argues that the Fidler tablet — a 1994 mockup of a touch screen handheld device to be used for reading newspapers — prevents Apple from enforcing their patent against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.
Judge Lucy Koh began the court session this morning by denying Apple’s motion to prevent the jury from actually seeing the Fidler mockup in their deliberations.
The mood was lighter than Thursday because everyone knew this was the final day of testimony. Koh brought up yesterday’s rant in which she suggested Apple lawyers were “smoking crack” if they thought they could get through twenty witnesses in their remaining time.
Apple attorney Bill Lee told Koh that his 86-year-old mother heard that he had denied Koh’s allegation, to laughter in the courtroom:
“First she wanted to know what crack was.”
Fellow Apple counsel Harold McElhinny added that his daughter, a Washington, D.C. public defender, told him:
“As a general rule, when a judge asks if you’re smoking crack, the answer is ‘No, ma’am.’”
Apple experts who testified previously returned to counter testimony from Samsung designers and experts. Legendary icon designer Susan Kare disagreed with Samsung senior designer Jeeyuen Wang about how icons on a touch screen interface should be squares with rounded corners:
“That’s an option, not a requirement.”
Kare went even further in rejecting the need for colorful icons:
“Sometimes black and white is strong and terrific.”
University of Toronto professors Karan Singh and Ravin Balakrishnana appeared again to defend Apple against the claims that the LaunchTile system for the iPAQ and the applications running on the Diamond Touch Table invalidated the Apple software patents.
In contrast with his frustrated tone during Samsung’s cross examination last week, Singh enthusiastically explained that none of the references Samsung displayed could demonstrate all of the features of Apple’s patents on scrolling and gesturing technology for a touch-sensitive display.
The day neared its end when Apple and Samsung respectively had 16 and 20 minutes of trial time. McElhinny and Lee joked that they had six more witnesses to question, but Apple decided to rest its case instead.
Samsung recalled as many witnesses as it could to rebut Apple’s patent invalidity and antitrust claims. As Koh told Samsung attorney Kevin Johnson that Samsung’s time was up, Johnson answered as he rested Samsung’s case:
“We crossed the finish line.”
Over the weekend, Apple and Samsung will jointly draft jury instructions and the jury verdict form. Judge Koh told both sides that any objections they raise now should just incorporate the 700 pages of objections already filed.
Closing arguments are set for next Tuesday, and jury deliberations should begin shortly afterward.


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ForN announced on January 30 that YGG Japan, a blockchain game platformer with which the company has a partnership, has completed a private round of funding worth approximately 400 million yen. The incubation round was completed last summer, and YGG Japan’s total funding amount is said to be about 750 million yen.
YGG Japan is a platformer aiming to lead Japanese game users to the world of “Play and Earn”, and operates the blockchain game platform “GabeeTown”. We also support the launch of blockchain games for Japanese game companies.
YGG (Yield Guild Games), the co-founder of YGG Japan, is the world’s largest DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) gaming guild, with 80 game titles and infrastructure partners, and 8 regions connected by a subDAO network. .
｜Text and editing: coindesk JAPAN editorial department
｜Top image: YGG Japan


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Bulgaria’s annual consumer price inflation was 4.2 per cent in 2012, overshooting the 2.8 per cent target set in the country’s Budget, data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) showed on January 14.
In 2011, Bulgarian inflation was 2.8 per cent.
Monthly inflation in December was 0.4 per cent. Food prices were up by 0.9 per cent and service prices rose by 0.5 per cent, while non-food prices were 0.3 per cent lower on the month.
For the full year, food prices inflation was 5.2 per cent and services were six per cent more expensive. Non-food prices rose by 1.5 per cent in 2012, NSI data showed.
The harmonised consumer price index, calculated by the statistics board for comparison with European Union data, rose by 0.3 per cent in October. On an annual basis, harmonised inflation was 2.8 per cent.
The bulk of rise, in annual terms, came from the 4.6 per cent increase in the price of foods and beverages, 3.5 per cent increase in transportation costs and 9.4 per cent increase in the price of utilities. The three categories account for just over half of the harmonised consumer price index.


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Gulf Craft eyes 'wealthy' Indonesian market
Jakarta, June 5, 2013
UAE-based Gulf Craft, a global manufacturer of luxury yachts and fiberglass boats, sees a bright future for the luxury consumables market in Indonesia as the country gets set for an influx of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and significant wealth generation, said a senior official.
The company is continuing its strong push into the South East Asian market with a presence at the upcoming Indonesia Yachts Show, which takes place from June 8 to 9 in Jakarta.
"We were one of the very first companies in the yacht business to recognize Indonesia’s potential and have had a presence in the market for more than two decades," remarked Gulf Craft’s chief operating officer Erwin Bamps.
Our strong experience in emerging markets, our understanding of the needs of Asian customers and the heightened interest we received at recent Asian boat shows such as the Hainan Rendez-Vous, Singapore Yacht Show, the Phuket International Boat Show and the China International Yacht Show in Shanghai place us in a very favourable position to service the Indonesian market with yachts that are made for its waters,” stated Bamps.
“We anticipate a significant surge in interest in luxury goods in the coming years and we want to grow with the market,” he added.
Indonesia, which is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing pools of private wealth, is expected to see a sea change in coming years as the number of HNWIs witnesses a significant increase.
According to the “Wealth Report: Asia” released by prominent Swiss private banking group Julius Baer last year, the number of HNWIs in Indonesia is set to increase to 104,000 in 2015, from a mere 33,000 in 2010.
Bamps pointed out that Indonesia had an avid appetite for consumer goods and that this extended into the luxury goods market.
“The increase in disposable income combined with active marina development will lead the way for more Indonesian HNWIs to take to the water and we are watching the market very closely,” he remarked.
“We have a strong dealership network in Asia and we are constantly looking for ways to boost the support facilities we offer our clients. We are confident that our long presence and experience in Asia will serve us well in the years to come, especially in strong growth markets such as Indonesia,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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Adding a marketplace to Battle.net is taking longer than Blizzard expected, and there’s even a chance the project might get cancelled altogether.
Dustin Browder, StarCraft 2’s lead designer, says that Blizzard is “struggling” to create a marketplace for its Battle.net platform. This is the first time that the developer has ever tried to build such a service, and Browder says that there are a lot of difficult issues to solve before it can launch.
Blizzard originally announced the marketplace for Battle.net at Blizzcon in 2009. It was intended to be a venue for players to trade maps for StarCraft 2. This would include both free maps, and player-created, “premium” maps. The marketplace was supposed to launch soon after StarCraft 2’s release, but, as yet, still hasn’t materialized.
Browder said that player’s right issues – like how to prevent players from ripping off other people’s content – were proving a stumbling block, as was working out appropriate price points. He said that there wasn’t a firm launch date that Blizzard was working towards for the marketplace – which isn’t all that unusual for the developer – but that people shouldn’t expect to see it in the near future.
In fact, Browder said that there was a chance that the marketplace may never see the light of day. He didn’t suggest that Blizzard was really considering cancelling the project just yet, but he also didn’t rule it out either. He pointed out that Blizzard had cancelled Warcraft Adventures – a game that was early complete – and implied that the marketplace could suffer the same fate if Blizzard couldn’t figure out how to make it work.