text:
Google parent Alphabet Inc. is scheduled to announce third-quarter earnings after the market closes Thursday. Here's what you need to know:
Earnings forecast: Alphabet is expected to report per-share earnings of $8.31, according to analysts polled by FactSet, compared with $9.06 on that basis a year earlier.
Continue Reading Below
Revenue forecast: Analysts expect revenue of $21.93 billion excluding payments to advertising partners, compared with $18.27 billion on the same basis in the year-earlier period.
WHAT TO WATCH:
-- TAC: The fees Google pays to distribution partners -- called traffic acquisition costs -- have been steadily rising in recent years, swallowing up a bigger share of its revenue. Google pays the fees to keep its search engine and other apps front and center on smartphones made by other companies, and analysts attribute the recent TAC increase to pricier contracts with Apple Inc. Google paid those distribution partners $2.05 billion in the second quarter, or 11.1% of the revenue from Google websites -- up from 7.6% two years prior. Analysts expect those distribution fees to increase to $2.37 billion in the third quarter, or 12.3% of Google sites' revenue. Google's total TAC, including payments to third-party sites where it places ads, is expected to increase 25% to $5.24 billion from $4.18 billion a year prior. Investors are watching TAC closely to see if it will continue to eat up more revenue. Some analysts warn potential regulatory action in Europe could further increase TAC by forcing Google to pay Android phone makers more to promote its services.
-- MARGINS: While Google's ad operation continues to be a robust and stable business, Google's net operating margin has declined year-over-year for four consecutive quarters. Excluding the loss-making "other bets" segment of Alphabet -- and the impact of a $2.7 billion fine from the European Union -- Google's net operating margin declined to 37.7% in the second quarter from 40.3% a year prior. It could dip again in the third quarter: Mark Mahaney of RBC Capital Markets estimates a 36.5% margin, down from 37.5% a year prior. The shrinking margins are in part because of increasing TAC and growing investment in YouTube and its Google Cloud business, two major bets for its future. "Although Alphabet's revenue is growing at a healthy rate, growth areas are increasingly coming from lower margin businesses like mobile search and programmatic, putting increased pressure on profits," eMarketer analyst Martin Uteras said in an email.
-- OTHER REVENUES: Google is eager to build another booming business alongside advertising, and its main bet to do it is via the cloud. Google is battling with market leaders Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to sell computing power and storage over the internet to corporations. Revenues from its cloud division are wrapped into its "other revenues" segment, along with sales of apps and its new hardware devices. Investors watch that segment for signs of progress in its cloud effort -- and its renewed push into hardware, which is more likely to show movement in the fourth quarter, with the launch of new products. After "other revenues" increased by 42% in the second quarter to $3.09 billion from a year prior, analysts expect the segment to grow by 39% to $3.39 billion in the third quarter.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 25, 2017 05:44 ET (09:44 GMT)


text:
copyright of the image
The Bank of England should not relax its efforts to revive the British economy despite the forecast for higher inflation this year, said Deputy Governor Ben Broadbent.
The The pick-up in the inflation rate, which the Bank expects to reach over 3%, is mainly due to temporary increases in property prices, he said.
The uncertainties around the pandemic remain, he added.
But some rs Bank policies have suggested that a change may be needed.
Last week Michael Saunders and Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden - both of whom are members of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) - said the time for a policy tightening monetary policy could approach.
But another MPC member Jonathan Haskel said reducing support for the economy was not the right option for the foreseeable future and Catherine Mann, who joined the MPC on September 1, warned against reducing stimuli too early.
Rising bills have sparked some headlines warning of a return to an era of high inflation and rising rates.
"Not So Fast " is the message of the one who matters really.
The Deputy Governor can only be one of the eight (usually nine) strong panels that set interest rates.
But he is Usually a good mood barometer at the Bank of England.
What we are seeing, it may indicate an adjustment: supply catching up with demand as the The economy is opening up.
There are physical bottlenecks, production problems and freight transport issues making thesubject of international trade.
We focused on spending on goods - a new TV says - rather than services - trips to the movies - under lockdown.
And companies have had to pay more to recruit staff, as time off limits job seekers.
These, Mr Broadbent said, should be installed. The peak in inflation may be temporary.
But it takes a year or two for interest rates to have an impact on inflation, and that is the horizon that policymakers are really focusing on.
What happens then, he says, depends on the job market.
Will today's higher inflation and skills shortages allow workers to secure sustained wage increases, putting pressure on prices?
Or will the end of the leave put a brake on wages with an influx of job seekers?
There is a lot of uncertainty -but our wages may hold the key to the future of interest rates.
The central bank of the UK Uni has two main tools for controlling inflation, which is measured by how quickly the prices of goods and services are rising.
One of these tools is setting interest rates , that the Bank does this by controlling the rate charged to banks to borrow money.
The second tool he uses is to create money digitally to buy bonds. 'State and corporate, that is, debts issued by the public and private sectors, traded as assets. This is called "quantitative easing ".
The Bank currently has a target bond purchase program of £ 895 billion.
Mr. Broadbent said on Thursday that it was probably not a good time to start pairing that support the comeback, despite the recent rebound in inflation.
"Although we know that going to go further over the next few months, I am not convinced that the current inflation in retail goods prices by itself should mean higher inflation 18 to 24 months ahead, the most relevant timeframe for monetary policy, "he said.
Most of the inflation in g Oil prices are due to rising oil prices, he said, which is expected "collapse " in early 2022.
The pressure will likely remain on suppliers of goods even if some of the heat comes from consumer demand, and it still existsurges to global supply chains due to Covid outbreaks.
Mr Broadbent's comments came as the European Central Bank decided to keep interest rates as they are and was giving indications that rates would likely be lower for longer.
The Bank of England will issue its next decision on UK Interest Rates on August 5.

domain: news


text:
Acer Sick of Being "Cheap" and "Unprofitable", Wants to be Like Apple
December 8, 2011 3:44 PM
comment(s) - last by
Company hopes that ultrabooks are the answer to its sales woes
Taiwan's Acer Inc. (
) is sick and tired of making "cheap" products. It lusts for the kind sleek designs that highly profitable American computermaker Apple, Inc. (
Acer CEO J.T. Wang was blunt when he remarked, "We will shift our strategy to improving profitability from pursuing market share blindly with cheap and unprofitable products."
The candid rhetoric is a sharp departure from that of company founder Stan Shih who in 2010 fielded such wild opinions as stating that Acer's products were so cheap they would put Dell, Inc. (
) and Hewlett-Packard Comp. (
out of business in 20 years
Apple was a "mutant virus"
that would go the way of "Betamax". At the time Acer had just
stolen the number two spot
in global sales from Dell.
However, since then it's been all downhill for the firm. It began to post losses, its
CEO was forced to resign
, and suddenly "cheap" was perceived in a whole new light. Suddenly Acer began to
aspire to be more like Apple
-- a premium vendor with large margins.
In 2011, the situation has progressively deteriorated for Acer, despite its change in attitude. Tablet sales
passed netbook sales
-- Acer's traditional sales driver. Acer had prepared for this
launching an Android tablet
, but this first crack at the tablet market proved a relative flop, forcing it to
cut sales estimates almost in half
Recent estimates on global PC sales show Acer shedding nearly 20 percent of its U.S. and 10 percent of its global market share,
falling to fifth place in the U.S.
and fourth place globally in PC sales (excluding tablets).
Acer feels that by focusing on good battery life, a thin design, and light weight it will be able to return to sales success. The culmination of all those characteristics is "ultrabook" a class of PCs first introduced by
Apple's MacBook Air
luxury designs back in 2008. Officially
the term "ultrabook" comes from
chipmaker Intel Corp. (
) and has a strict set of hardware quality requirements for use.
Mr. Wang comments, "Selling more ultrabooks will also help improve our profit margins as they command higher prices."
Acer's first ultrabook, the
, went on sale on Oct. 10, 2011. The 13-inch design is remarkably similar in look to the MacBook Air, complete with a thin metal shell case. It's currently retailing for as low as
from Amazon.com, Inc. (
for the cheapest 13-inch MacBook Air.
If all goes according to plan, Acer hopes to halt the losses and grow 10 percent in 2012. But to do that, it argues, it must stop selling "cheap" junk.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Asian Business 101
12/8/2011 7:05:35 PM
Seems like the majority of asian-operated businesses all use the same model: undercut everyone no matter what. They fail to understand the nuances of the markets they're selling to. They don't realize that are plenty of people willing pay more for quality, aesthetics or a combination of the two...and even if they did, they'd probably lack the creativity to make something people really want (which is going to be Acer's main hurdle).
I guess that's why US colleges don't want asians flooding their ranks - they're more like robots than humans, incapable of independent thought and only effective when they're operating as part of the "yellow collective". They're great a copying, mimicking and performing repetitive tasks, but fail at creativity and invention. I will exclude Japan from this statement, at least in terms of creative potential and coming up with unique and interesting things. Maybe japanese should be reclassified as its own race so as not to lump them in with mere asians.
RE: Asian Business 101
12/8/2011 10:21:34 PM
Nice racist trolling.
RE: Asian Business 101
12/9/2011 3:47:44 PM
Oh, did I say something untrue?
"This is from the DailyTech.com. It's a science website." -- Rush Limbaugh
Tablet Shipments Outpace Netbook Shipments in Q2 2011
October 25, 2011, 9:24 AM
Lenovo Airs First Ultrabook W/ Dedicated GPU, Acer Clones MacBook Air
September 4, 2011, 3:00 PM
Intel Shows Off Ultrabook BOM to Prove Machines Can be Built, Sold for Under $1K
August 8, 2011, 1:54 PM
Analysts: Apple Now Has More Than 10 Percent of the U.S. PC Market
July 14, 2011, 1:52 PM
Acer Slashes Year-End Tablet Shipment Target by 60 Percent
June 15, 2011, 10:15 AM
Apple's iPad Air 2 Features Triple-core A8X Processor, 2GB of RAM
October 21, 2014, 8:32 PM
Toshiba Launches 11”, 2-in-1 Convertible PC for $329
October 21, 2014, 2:11 PM
Microsoft Begins Shifting Nokia Lumia Branding to "Microsoft Lumia"
October 21, 2014, 10:52 AM
Tim Cook Touts Apple’s Product Portfolio, Performance in Letter to Employees
October 21, 2014, 8:05 AM
Buoyed by Strong iPhone Sales, Apple Reports Revenue of $42.1B, $8.5B in Profit for Fiscal Q4
October 20, 2014, 5:21 PM
Windows 8.1 + Android "Sell Mini PC" w/ Bay Trail Creates New PC Form Factor
October 20, 2014, 5:07 PM
Most Popular Articles
Cool Science Video of the Day: Carnivorous Leech Eats Giant Jungle Worm
October 16, 2014, 6:44 PM
HBO, CBS Lead Charge to Ditch Cable
October 16, 2014, 4:40 PM
PS4 "Masamune" Update 2.0 Will Bring New Music and Customization Features
October 17, 2014, 1:05 PM
Report: 2015 Ford Focus Electric MSRP Slashed by $6,000, Will Retail for $29,995
October 18, 2014, 6:23 PM
Apple Announces iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, 27" iMac with Retina Display
October 16, 2014, 1:22 PM
Latest Blog Posts
The Surface Mini That Was Never Released Gets "Hands On" Treatment
Sep 26, 2014, 8:22 AM
ISIS Imposes Ban on Teaching Evolution in Iraq
Sep 17, 2014, 5:22 PM
Space Terrorism is a Looming Threat For the United States
Apr 23, 2014, 7:47 PM
Facebook Aims to Provide Internet to "Every Person in the World" with Drones, Satellites
Apr 1, 2014, 10:20 AM
Retail Mobile Sites Experience Outages in Light of Simplexity's Bankruptcy
Mar 14, 2014, 8:48 AM
More Blog Posts
Copyright 2014 DailyTech LLC. -
Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information


text:
Anthony Persse, director of strategy at Ultimate Finance discusses the potential solution to late payments, which keep plaguing SMEs.
Businesses are failing to produce updates on investigations into slavery within supply chains, but there is not punishment for non-compliance.
The 2017 Budget announced how £200m would be used to boost internet speeds £10m of which has now been dedicated to testing full-fibre broadband across the UK.
According to a psychology professor, the disadvantages of enforcing strict dress codes far outweigh any possible benefits.
The All Blacks are one of the most successful sports franchises in history. They appear to work together seamlessly, something most companies dream of when it comes to staff collaboration. But with practice drills not an option in the office, bosses can instead hope to foster such collaboration through connected planning.
Trading overseas is fraught with challenges, and one important thing is to keep an eye on domestic currencies.
With a culture of diversity and inclusion at its centre, Fujitsu considers itself a ?People Company” and Real Business heard how SMEs can get there too, as well as the benefits they can expect.
For the vast majority of businesses, its employees are the lifeblood. Which is why having a co-operative group of individuals that can work well together in a team is crucial to the success of a business. Easier said than done, however.


text:
Last night we reported that PEGI had rated Final Fantasy IX on Playstation 4. Now during the Playstation Press Conference at Tokyo Game Show, the announced they would be releasing the game on Playstation 4 via the Playstation Store today.
The game is at the discounted price of $16.79 until September 26. Afterwards, it will go up to $20.99. You can view the announcement trailer down below..


text:
In many ways, the path taken by Apple’s chip chief Johny Srouji resembles that of Tim Cook, the company’s current chief executive. Both of them were recruited from IBM to come run seemingly unglamorous business areas: Mr. Cook was tapped to head logistics and supply chains, and Mr. Srouji took on processors and chips. In both cases, they transformed their domains, generating strategic advantages over Apple’s competitors.
For daily updates, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here.
As Apple’s senior vice president for hardware, Israeli-born Mr. Srouji is likely to steer the company’s transition from using Intel chips to new in-house wares. Success in this effort could help make the case for him to become Cook’s eventual successor.
Cook began making his mark on Apple a decade ago when the iPhone was not brand new anymore, Android was growing, and the market was still open to new players. Back then, Hewlett-Packard just acquired Palm for a billion dollars, hoping to become one of those players. The challenge was to get quality components. As the story goes, Palm said to HP that it needs better screens. HP responded that Apple had already bought all of them. The same thing happened with cameras. Palm was forced to settle for lesser quality parts and its products were subpar. The effort failed and Palm ceased to exist in 2011.
Palm and HP were not the only player to face hurdles. Almost every competitor in the mobile phone market was forced to deal with the lack of quality parts. With remarkable long-term vision, Mr. Cook and Apple cornered the market, having bought enormous inventories and established an amazingly quick and efficient supply chain. For years, their edge in logistics allowed the company to absolutely dominate the market.
A similar thing is happening now with processors and chips, which are the domain of Mr. Srouji. Take the example of Apple’s AirPod earbuds. Introduced in December 2016, AirPods became an immediate hit and Apple’s most successful product launched in years.
Competitors have tried responding by introducing similar products but theirs were more cumbersome, offered less battery life and had delays and problem syncing. The reason the AirPods are better is the W1 chip, which optimizes battery use in a way that competitors could not yet imitate.
Just as Mr. Cook was responsible for Apple’s success in logistics, Mr. Srouji is in charge of the company’s success with chips—and it’s not just earbuds. The iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch all use chips whose development was supervised by Mr. Srouji.
Mr. Sourji is said to be one of the top ten most senior executives at Apple. Last year, his compensation package totaled $24 million, the second highest at the company.
Apple has not said much about its decision to drop Intel chip in favor of its own design, but it is likely that Mr. Srouji was heavily involved in the strategic shift. He is facing the most significant challenge of his career and the results could determine the fate of the company and that of the wider tech industry.
If he succeeds, Apple will be stronger, more independent, and better positioned to bring innovations to market according to its own vision. Mr. Srouji could see himself in the same position Cook was a decade ago


text:
You are here
LONDON -- Members of the British Parliament are being urged to put pressure on the British Office of Fair Trading to consider blocking the acquisition of Jacksons Stores, the 114-strong convenience chain, by Sainsbury, the supermarket group.
David Rae, the chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, which represents 30,000 small shops, has written to the 46 parliament members who have Jacksons outlets in their constituencies, voicing "extreme concern" about the effects that Sainsbury's acquisition will have on local competition.
Members to receive the letter include John Prescott, the deputy prime minister, and Patricia Hewitt, the trade secretary.
Rae said he is concerned that the "massive buying power" of multiple retailers undermines local diversity and makes it extremely difficult for smaller retailers to compete. He is calling for a full review of the grocery sector and has asked the parliament members to highlight to the OFT the negative impact that the Jacksons acquisition could have on competition in the grocery market in their constituencies.


text:
Nov. 1--Passengers at Miami International Airport may soon be seeing advertising everywhere from flight information displays to ticket counter monitors and jetbridges, and the facility may have its first magazine, as part of its search for a new ad company.
Even the parking garages can be named for a price, as MIA Tuesday puts out its first request for proposals for a new advertising firm in more than 13 years, hoping for a new, innovative program.
But the revenue generated may not be a financial windfall. And there are only two major players in the industry, though other companies are nipping at their heels and may join the bidding fray.
A total of 320 locations at MIA will be available for advertising, including displays at ticket counters, gates and baggage claim, luggage carts and jetbridges, and on its website, as well as a request to publish a magazine, said Patricia Ryan, Miami-Dade Aviation's division director for commercial operations.
"Hopefully the new advertising program will be so innovative it will create an avenue for passengers to be entertained and inspired and provide new revenue opportunities for our business partners," Ryan said.
That would include more new technology such as the interactive video wall that MIA's current ad company JCDecaux installed at MIA's Concourse D. Put up a few weeks ago, it is the third such interactive display in the country, after those at New York's JFK and Chicago's O'Hare airports.
But passengers at MIA won't see any ads for cigaretttes or promotions for alcoholic beverages that show people actually drinking. (An ad that shows a small liquor bottle and no one sipping is allowed, Ryan said.)
And nothing too risque. "We are a family-centered airport, so we watch the amount of exposure of a body -- male or female. We try to make sure the clothing is appropriate," she said.
Just two companies dominate the airport segment of the outdoor advertising industry: JCDecaux, which has held the contract at MIA since at least 1994 -- through its predecessors -- and Clear Channel Outdoor, which holds the contract at major airports such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Chicago O'Hare, and was recently ranked No. 1 by Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood's selection committee, and is in negotiations with the airport.
Neither JCDecaux nor Clear Channel Outdoor would comment for this article.
But other companies are trying to enter the field, as long-held, politically-ingrained airport contracts come up for bid.
Among those is Corey Airport Services, an Atlanta-based airport advertising firm that has won contracts at Atlantic City and Cincinnati airports and is eyeing MIA.
"Our only concern [at MIA] is they will put minimum requirements in to exclude everyone but those two companies," said Steve Moody, vice president at Corey, who ran JCDecaux's southeast regional office out of Coral Gables until 2001. "We just want a level playing field and to be inclusive of smaller out-of-home media companies and not just the media behemoths."
CBS Outdoor, which, along with other firms, attended meetings on the proposal at MIA, may also enter the bidding.
"We are definitely interested in pursuing the opportunity and seeing if it's something we are going to actively seek," said Jodi Senese, executive vice president of marketing for CBS Outdoor in New York. The company is not at any airport locations, but is at rail and bus terminals and malls.
Overall, the outdoor industry segment is a $7 billion business and the second-fastest growing medium in the ad industry, after internet advertising. In fact, outdoor ads are growing at twice the rate of the total ad industry -- or 8 percent both last year and this year, said Stephen Freitas, chief marketing officer for the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, a trade group based in Washington, D.C.
The airport segment is particularly attractive to advertisers because it reaches white-collar business professionals who travel frequently and are otherwise elusive, he said.
"There is a unique opportunity in airports," Freitas said. "They typically have consumers and travelers who are waiting and have time to kill, which allows the travelers to engage with the advertisement for a deeper, richer experience, and to be able to learn more about the products and services."
JCDecaux's contract at MIA was originally granted for four years, with a three-year extension that took it to Feb. 28, 2001. But since then, it was extended on a month-to-month basis until May 1, 2005, and then on a permit, expiring April 30, 2008. The reason for not putting it out to bid sooner: construction at the airport, Ryan said.
The ad company generated $4.4 million in ad sales in fiscal 2005; $5 million in fiscal 2006, and an expected $5.8 million in fiscal 2007, MIA figures show.
The airport itself, which gets a portion of those sales, received $3 million in fiscal 2005; $3.5 million in fiscal 2006 and more than $3.6 million is expected in fiscal 2007.
Unlike the previous contract, in the new contract, the advertising company -- rather than the airport -- will be responsible for the capital outlay for the fixtures, such as the backlit displays used for the ads. As a result, the percentage of gross revenues generated by the ads will be less than what MIA currently receives, Ryan said.
In fact, the new contract will carry a minimum annual guarantee of $3 million, though bidders can offer more. The airport will get the greater of that minimum annual guarantee or 50 percent of the monthly gross revenues -- or higher, if bidders propose a higher percentage.
"We would hope that we would have no less than the current revenue we have now," Ryan said.
The Miami-Dade County Commission on Oct. 16 voted that wording be added to the proposal, requiring that any bidder disclose whether it has received any notices of any violations of the county's sign code, or is currently in litigation with the county regarding any provision of the sign code.
As of Thursday, neither JCDecaux nor Clear Channel Outdoor had any outstanding violations, said Miami-Dade spokesman Owen Torres. Clear Channel had previous violations that have been corrected, he said.
Expected to be approved by spring, the contract will extend 10 years, with one two-year extension, Ryan said. Bids will be due Dec. 7.
To see more of The Miami Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald.com. Copyright (c) 2007, The Miami Herald Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email email@example.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.


text:
last updated 30/08/2018
The Coffee Club baking up a storm for SPCA Cupcake Day
last updated 30/08/2018
30 August 2018 – The Coffee Club's cupcake sales help raise lots of dough for the SPCA
SPCA Cupcake Day, which is in its tenth year, officially took place on Monday 6 August, but 63 cafes and restaurants in The Coffee Club franchise raised funds for an entire week to help animals in need. On top of the funds raised by local volunteers across New Zealand, sales of special cupcakes at The Coffee Club in that week helped raise a further $30,000.
A cheque for the funds raised by the popular café brand were presented to the SPCA this week. “We are very proud to support Cupcake Day and to be able to help the SPCA,” says Andy Lucas, Director of The Coffee Club. “Buying a cupcake is a pretty nice way to do something good, and we are really pleased that so many people purchased one this year.”
SPCA CEO, Andrea Midgen said that the day was an important success in their efforts to stop animals from being neglected. “The funds raised by Cupcake Day help keep the SPCA going. We can provide vital care to animals that need it, and work towards improving things in the future. We are very grateful for all the support we receive from our volunteers and sponsors like The Coffee Club for their fund raising efforts.”
Supporting a good cause
According to the 2017 Survey of Franchising, almost a quarter of all franchises in New Zealand contribute over $100,000 each to charities every year. We explored the reasons behind The Coffee Club’s support for Cupcake Day in this article last year.
SPCA CEO, Andrea Midgen welcomes the support for the event, and encourages everyone to get involved. ‘With the help of The Coffee Club and its customers, the SPCA will be able to provide vital care to neglected animals across New Zealand. As well as saving lives, the money from cupcake sales will be used to care for the animals in our shelters as they wait to find their forever home.’
Now in its tenth year, SPCA Cupcake Day is the SPCA’s fun, community-driven annual fundraiser, with all proceeds going towards protecting animals in need. Since 2009, supporters of the charity have raised more than $2.3million through the baking and selling of cupcakes and other treats.
Goodwin Turner Commercial Lawyers aims to provide a modern, friendly, client-focused and efficient approach to your legal business requirements, with a...
Westpac is New Zealand's most experienced bank in franchising and the only bank offering dedicated franchise only specialist managers throughout the...
The Seasons Art Class is the UK’s premier adult art class provider. Now seeking new franchisees nationwide for our exciting expansion into New Zealand....
Oncore is New Zealand's leading team for residential and commercial repairs, maintenance, insurance work, and product installations. We are looking for...


text:
Poker as a sport has always been a topic of debate. Some call it a game of chance while others talk about the skill and observation factors which is much like any other sport. Recently, the Protocol Sports Marketing signed a media rights distribution agreement worldwide with Triton Poker.
This deal was announced on Monday, giving Protocol exclusive worldwide distribution rights for Triton shows. A new 10-hour series based around the record-breaking Triton Super High Roller Series London will get the partnership underway. The hour-long episodes will recap the £1.05 million buy-in event that took place in August 2019. The world famous and the owner of 6 WSOP bracelets, Daniel ‘Kid Poker’ Negreanu will provide expert commentary.
Protocol Sports Marketing is a sports marketing agent that specializes in developing new and meaningful opportunities for rights holders and sports federations who sanction or produce live sports events and other sports related content. The company has its roots in traditional sports such as boxing. Among its list of 98 partners are brands such as Golden Boy Promotions, Matchroom Sport, and Cyclone. Triton Poker is part of Protocol’s new wave of partners. On the other hand, Triton is as the poker industry knows, an organizer of the Super High Roller series which was launched in 2016.
We have always seen Triton Poker live streams its tournaments and its video content on YouTube, but this partnership will see a specially created TV product sold to networks around the world. Protocol Sports Marketing president Lowell Conn said, “Our relationship with Triton Poker Series represents a new chapter for Protocol. Protocol’s goals are Triton’s goals. We will help Triton to build on its plans to host the biggest and most successful poker tournaments that the world has ever seen, while sharing Triton’s values of sustainability and charity.”
Focusing on both niche and mainstream sports, Protocol joined hands with the International Floorball Federation. Working with Triton Poker is seen as a continuation of this expansion.
Stay tuned to GutshotMagazine.com for poker news and gaming industries around the world.
Sign-up to PokerSaint using the code “GUT100”. Also, check out our online poker rooms section, where you can read reviews on the biggest and best poker rooms in the country, while also taking advantage of their bonuses and promotions. Check out these top poker rooms HERE.
SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE
SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE


text:
Organised by the Union of Employers of Republika Srpska (RS), the conference is included in the process of developing the RS Economic Reform Programme 2022/2024 and is part of the EU-funded project “Contribution of civil society organisations to improving the impact of entrepreneurship on the socio-economic development of BiH – EISE project”.
Addressing representatives of employers’ organisations, government officials, the academic community, institutions and expert organisations, Ambassador Sattler underlined the opportunities presented through the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans worth €6 billion, including closer economic integration with the European Union and deepening regional integration.
He stressed however the importance of reform. “Only with swift and rational adoption and implementation of key reforms will BiH be able to compete on the European Market, with a population of close to 450 million and GDP of close to EUR 16 trillion in 2022”, Ambassador Sattler said. Speaking about the concrete reforms, the Ambassador noted, “Among the reforms should be transformative issues, such as electronic signature or energy legislation that will allow BiH companies to remain competitive on the European market”.
The EU and its Member States are BiH’s biggest trading partner, biggest source of investment, and biggest provider of assistance. Almost three-quarters of BiH’s exports go to the European Single Market, and the EU has provided almost two billion euros in grants over the past decade in pre-accession assistance. By bringing down barriers to trade with the EU and the region, and stimulating reforms, it is estimated that combined with EU assistance, the Growth Plan could double the size of the region’s economy over the next decade.
“There are many successful companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina who have found opportunities in the EU market in traditional industries such as furniture, automotive and the outsourcing of business processes such as ICT. The recent development of ‘nearshoring’ could make Bosnia and Herzegovina a big supplier of goods and services for the EU market”, stated the EU Ambassador.
Ambassador Sattler also highlighted that the EU would continue to support BiH in the reform process, and called on the country to use the opportunity. “The Growth Plan is an opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina that it cannot afford to miss. And we will help BiH with both the design of policies and reforms and their implementation”.
The conference “Challenges and Future of Business #3” gathered several hundred participants with the goal of discussing the key economic and social challenges and mapping out the steps which would contribute to development in the society. It is organised by the Union of Employers of RS for the third year in a row.


text:
RTL AdConnect have launched a new tool AdXplorer, designed with marketers in mind. This new tool allows advertisers to mix and match a range of solutions to build pan-European online video campaigns based on region, target group, ad format. Just select the countries and the campaign criteria to create a mock-up of your international campaign plan.
Discover our huge inventory of premium online video publishers, made up of over 300 platforms including:
– Social Video
Build an international campaign in as many as 19 different countries and regions, including:
– in 17 European countries: the UK, France, Belgium (North and South), the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Finland
– the USA


text:
Harbourside is stealing my parking spaces, says nearby plaza owner
Diplomacy by Jupiter officials has settled a parking problem between Harbourside Place and The Shoppes of Jupiter shopping plaza.
Visitors to Harbourside Place are snatching parking spaces from my shop owners, said the plaza general manager, according to Jupiter records.
Orange signs with black lettering reading “No Harbourside Parking” began appearing on the entrances to the plaza about three weeks ago. Shoppes of Jupiter is located across U.S. 1 from Harbourside Place.
Is there a parking problem? It depends on who you ask.
No, said one Shoppes of Jupiter store owner. Harbourside Place patrons spend money in my store.
Yes, said another. Harbourside Place patrons take my customers parking spaces, he said.
“This is summer. When the season comes, it will be worse,” said another, asking not to be named.
Mike Reed, the regional manager for the 14-screen Cinepolis movie theatre, wants the “No Harbourside Parking” signs down.
“There was a problem on July Fourth. But its OK now. Harbourside has been a good neighbor,” said Reed.
Here’s the end of the story:
Detente was reached Wednesday after Jupiter Police Chief Frank Kitzerow met with the Shoppes of Jupiter general manager.
The signs are coming down.
“(Jupiter Police) will be working on a parking plan to protect (Shoppes of Jupiter) spaces for his customers during special events at Harbourside,” according to an e-mail from Town Manager Andy Lukasik.
- Tiger Woods to open his first restaurant at Jupiter’s Harbourside Place
- Is Harbourside music too loud?
- Read past Post stories about the development of Harbourside Place in Jupiter.


text:
Australian trade title Bicycling Trade has hosted an interesting live Q and A with a number of key representatives across retail, distribution and a diverse trade audience.
Centred on surviving in a changing industry, the session touches on the importance of retaining key staff, the increase in B2C trade via the dealer, the addition of Cytech training to the market, how women are often better customers, halting the volume of servicing freebies given to customers and tactics to defend your trade against online. The session runs 25 minutes, but is well worth a watch if you’re in the business.
Tony Cook, the founder of Clarence Street Cyclery reacted to Trek’s announcement that it would follow suit in the Australian market in selling online via the dealer. Furthermore, he said he expected other brands will follow suit shortly, before discussing the issue of Shimano products discounted heavily, often beyond trade cost, stopping short of alluding to the likely future outcome. “It’s just rampant, where do we go with this?,” he asks.
“Trek needs to sell it’s product online from a consumer convenience point of view. That’s the way the world’s going, but Trek will look after their dealers, i’m sure and it had to happen. They’ve innovated and done their homework.”
As is the case in many other territories, the Australian market isn’t helped by unfriendly legislation. $425 fines have recently been handed out to cyclists trackstanding at traffic lights.
On the panel you’ve insight from:
Peter Bourke, CEO of Bicycle Industries Australia and Cycling promotion fund
Allan Stonestreet, Carbuta (distributor)
Lenneke Lucas, Bates Bikes (Retail)
Tony Cook, founder of Clarence Street Cyclery (retail)


text:
Samsung is working to expand its smartphone range with new devices in the coming days. The Korean tech giant will introduce more mid-range and budget devices in its Galaxy A and M lineup. These new phones will be launched somewhere around the Galaxy S21 line up, which will be launching at the start of 2021.
Until now we know about many smartphones that the company will bring and now a Geekbench score leaked suggests that there is one more budget 5G phone that we may see along with other smartphones. It was spotted on the Geekbench site for the model number SGH-N378. Although, the name of the device is not known.
This device earned 523 points for single-core and 1895 points for multi-core score. The listing also reveals that this smartphone will be powered by a Snapdragon 750G processor along with 6GB of RAM. And it also suggests that it will come with pre-installed Android 11.
Samsung SGH-N378 (5G) Spotted On Geekbench.
•Snapdragon 750G 5G
•6GB Ram pic.twitter.com/V7gRJBgcah
— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) November 20, 2020
Till now there is no official confirmation about the device itself and the further specs it will have. But if the information is correct then we may see a budget 5G device from Samsung. For now, you can check the other device from the company that is Galaxy M12, and take a look at its first look.
Samsung Galaxy A54 with Exynos 1380 visits Geekbench
After the flagship Galaxy S23 series in February, Samsung will launch its mid-range A-series phones including the Galaxy A54, next year. We have heard a lot about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A54 smartphone and now it visits the Geekbench database.
Spotted by MySmartPrice, the Geekbench listing reveals some important details about the phone. As per the new information, the Galaxy A54 smartphone, which carries model number SM-A546B, will come with Exynos 1380 mobile platform.
Samsung is yet to launch the Exynos 1380 processor. It is expected to bring at least two ARM Cortex-A series high-performance CPU cores and the Mali-series GPU for faster performance compared to the Exynos 1280. It is also likely to equip a fully integrated 5G modem with support for mmWave and sub-6GHz connectivity.
Other than the processor, the Samsung Galaxy A54 Geekbench listing further shows off the single-core and multi-core test results. The report says that the device has managed to score 776 points in the single-core round of the Geekbench 5 test. Whereas, in the multi-core round, the score was recorded as 2599 points.
Samsung Galaxy S23 to feature 8K recording at 30 fps
Samsung’s next-gen flagship smartphone lineup could finally bring a significant upgrade in terms of video recording. As per the latest input, the Galaxy S23 is likely to introduce 8K video recording capability at 30 fps. If this leak is correct, it will be noted as a big upgrade when it comes to camera.
IceUniverse, through his cryptic Tweet, revealed that the Galaxy S23 smartphone will feature 8K video recording at 30 fps (frame per second). Do note that the current Galaxy S22 flagship allows you to record 8K high-res videos only at 24 fps (7680×4320).
Earlier this year, the Korean tech giant introduced the Galaxy S22 smartphone lineup. The device allows you to record 8K videos at 24 fps (7680×4320), 4K UHD videos at 60 fps (3840×2160), 1080p FHD videos at 60 fps (1920×1080) and 720p HD video at 30 fps (1280×720).
Samsung could launch the Galaxy S23 series in the first week of February 2023 at an in-person Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco, United States. As we are still away from the tentative launch timeline, more leaks and rumors will continue to come.
Samsung Galaxy S23 key features revealed in possible specs sheet
Samsung is rapidly working on its next flagship smartphone lineup. Ahead of the official launch, a tipster revealed a possible specs sheet, revealing some of the key features of the Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone.
According to IceUniverse, Samsung Galaxy S23 key specs include a 120Hz OLED display panel with 2340×1080 pixel resolution with up to 1500 nits peak brightness and 240Hz PWM (PWM reduces display luminance).
Under the hood, the device will use Qualcomm’s 4nm process-based Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, worldwide. However, it’s rumored that the Galaxy S23 phones may equip an overclocked variant of 8 Gen 2.
In terms of memory, the standard Galaxy S23 could come with 8GB RAM along with 128GB and 256GB of internal storage. BTW, the tipster compared S23’s pricing and specs against the iQOO 11 smartphone.
Coming to the battery, Ice claims the Galaxy S23 phone features 3900mAh battery, which can be charged with 25W fast charger. On the flip side, iQOO’s phone features 5000mAh battery along with charging support of up to 120W.
Lastly, the leak included information about the possible primary camera sensor of the Galaxy S23. Not interestingly, the standard model apparently uses a 50MP ISOCELL GN2 camera sensor, while the price could start at $799.


text:
Arizona Cannabis Laboratory Association co-founder George Griffeth poses with a device that tests cannabis for contaminants at his Scottsdale Laboratory on Sept. 15. /Erasmus Baxter
In a nondescript office park in Scottsdale, George Griffeth is getting ready. Griffeth has been running a lab for two years out of another, smaller, office in the complex. But as November 1 approaches, and with it the requirement that all cannabis sold in the state be tested by private laboratories, the attorney-turned-lab-operator is bringing on new employees and tripling the size of his facilities.
He and two other Arizona lab operators told Phoenix New Times they are seeing an influx of interested customers as the deadline grows near, and are staffing up to meet the demand.
“I’m kind of bracing for a little bit of mayhem,” said Jessica Crozier, operations and logistics manager at C4 Laboratories in north Scottsdale, of the pending deadline.
By Erasamus Baxter | Phoenix New Times


text:
PHOENIX — In the wake of the merger that nearly doubled its store count to 102, Sprouts Farmers Market, a chain of natural and organic stores based here, is pursuing a green agenda aimed at making its refrigeration systems among the most environmentally friendly in the industry.
Since acquiring 34 Henry's and nine Sun Harvest stores from Los Angeles-based Smart & Final in April, Sprouts has added to its list of stores receiving certification from the Environmental Protection Agency's GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership. In April and May, two Sprouts stores earned silver GreenChill certification awards, and in April a store in Thousand Oaks, Calif., received platinum certification — the highest level of certification, given to only two other U.S. stores, operated by Price Chopper and Star Market.
Sprouts now has a total of eight GreenChill-certified stores, including one with gold and four others with silver, across its four-state chain. Only one other food retailer, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, El Segundo, Calif., has more GreenChill-certified stores, with 13. All told, there are 61 GreenChill-certified U.S. supermarkets (three platinum, 24 gold and 61 silver). GreenChill certification must be renewed annually to remain current.
More GreenChill stores are in the works for Sprouts. “We're planning 10% growth in the number of stores every year going forward,” said Jerry Stutler, vice president, construction and facility engineering for Sprouts Farmers Market, in a statement. “Our goal is to have every one of the new stores GreenChill-certified.”
GreenChill was established in 2007 as a voluntary program to help food retailers reduce the quantity (charge) of refrigerant used in their stores, as well as reduce the leakage of refrigerant into the atmosphere, transition from R-22 refrigerant to non-ozone depleting variants, and test so-called advanced refrigeration systems that serve all of those goals.
GreenChill established best-practice metrics by which stores could receive silver, gold or platinum certification. To earn platinum status, for example, a store must either use refrigerant with a very low global warming potential (GWP) of lower than 150, or, more commonly, use HFC-based refrigerant that meets very strict leak and charge requirements (a leak rate of 5% or less and a charge equal to or less than 0.5 pound of HFC refrigerant per 1,000 BTUs per hour total evaporator cooling load).
Sprout's Thousand Oaks store met GreenChill's platinum-level requirements by installing a carbon dioxide-based “cascade” refrigeration system for both low-temperature and medium-temperature cases — the Second Nature MT2LX system from Hill Phoenix, Conyers, Ga. It is one of a handful of U.S. stores employing a cascade system in place of a conventional DX (direct expansion) refrigeration system, and the first to be platinum-certified. Other chains testing cascade systems include Food Lion, Price Chopper, Stop & Shop and Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. Cascade systems are widely used in Europe.
“We challenged Hill Phoenix to come up with a design that would reduce our use of refrigerants by an amount that would allow us to meet GreenChill platinum standards,” said Stutler.
“The platinum award is hard to achieve,” said Henry Pellerin, director of marketing programs, Hill Phoenix. “Using the right technology is a key part, but also designing it at the store level.” Hill Phoenix also installed the unit and continues to service it.
The key to the Thousand Oaks store's cascade system is that it relies on carbon dioxide to cool all refrigerated and frozen cases, not HFC refrigerant, which is confined to the machine room and condenser.
For medium-temperature cases, the system uses liquid carbon dioxide as a secondary coolant; for low-temperature cases, it employs carbon dioxide as a direct expansion (liquid to gas) refrigerant. The system also incorporates an air-cooled microchannel condenser that is energy-efficient and helps to reduce refrigerant charge.
Carbon dioxide, though the most common greenhouse gas, has a very low GWP (1) compared with conventional refrigerants, and is far less expensive than conventional refrigerants. The lines required for carbon dioxide transport are typically one to two sizes smaller than traditional DX piping systems, thereby reducing the weight of installed copper lines by 50% and cutting installation costs.
By limiting the scope of HFC refrigerant, Sprouts' cascade system reduced the amount of HFC needed in Thousand Oaks by 72% to 235 pounds (it also uses 900 pounds of carbon dioxide). “Since we joined GreenChill in 2010, we've been really working hard to reduce the amount of [HFC] refrigerant in our stores,” said Stutler. “That's not only good for the environment in terms of less leak potential, but also makes sense financially.” Sprouts also wants to be prepared for stricter regulations, particularly in California, on greenhouse gas emissions, he added.
The average Sprouts store, which is about 25,000 square feet, uses a DX refrigeration system containing about 2,000 pounds of [HFC] refrigerant. In about 20 stores, the chain has installed “distributed” refrigeration systems with 600 to 800 pounds of refrigerant. Sprouts is now working with Hill Phoenix on developing an ammonia-based refrigeration system, expected in 18 months to two years, that would eliminate HFCs altogether. Ammonia, like carbon dioxide, is an all-natural refrigerant.
The HFC refrigerant chosen by Sprouts for the platinum-certified store is R-407A, which has one of the lowest GWPs (2,107) of any HFC refrigerant. About 1½ years ago, Sprouts began replacing R-22 refrigerant in five stores with R-407F refrigerant, which has an even lower GWP (1,824). Sprouts is one of a small group of food retailers using R-407F, said Stutler, because major compressor manufacturers are not offering warranties for its use. Sprouts has started to employ a compressor from the German manufacturer Bitzer, which does warranty R-407F.
Sprouts is now committed to using R-407F in every new store and all R-22 retrofits over the next two years. “The R-407F is so close to R-407A that we're confident in using it,” even with compressors that don't warranty it, he said.
Sprouts is embracing the challenge of being among the first to test a cascade system in a live setting. “We wanted to be a GreenChill partner that would participate in alternative refrigeration systems and be somewhat of a testing or proving ground,” he said. The more retailers that conduct such tests, the more likely the technology will be understood and widely used, reducing its cost, he noted. Meanwhile, at the Thousand Oaks store, “we have not had one issue or service call on this system to date; it's still running perfectly,” he said.
Stutler acknowledged that Sprouts paid a 12% to 15% premium on the cascade system compared with a conventional system, including installation. On the other hand, the system is designed to cut leaks by 11% compared with a standard DX system, and replaces HFC refrigerant with cheap carbon dioxide. Hill Phoenix estimates that the system will yield a 5% reduction in energy consumption; Sprouts is in the process of measuring that energy usage.
“It's tough to put a dollar value on the potential payback for this investment,” Stutler said in a Hill Phoenix document on the Thousand Oaks store. “Certainly we're hoping to save money over the years, but how do you put a dollar amount on the value of being green, reducing your carbon footprint and improving the overall system performance?”


text:
This week, Ford opened its new EV production facility in Cologne. The move is part of the American automaker’s aim to make its entire European passenger car range fully electric by 2030.
Originally opened in 1930, Ford has spent the past two years — and $2 billion — redeveloping the facility into an EV-only manufacturing center.
The Electric Vehicle Center in Cologne will produce Ford’s next generation of electric cars, the first of which will be the electric Explorer, followed by a yet-to-be-named sports crossover.
The plant is expected to produce more than 250,000 vehicles per year, a large part of Ford’s goal of building two million electric vehicles worldwide each year by the end of 2026.
Since 1931, we have built nearly 18 million vehicles at our assembly plant in Cologne. Today it officially reopens as the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, our first carbon neutral assembly plant in the world. The beginning of a new electric era for @Ford in Europe. #CologneEVCenter pic.twitter.com/6aUH3ic2Jq
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) June 12, 2023
Tickets are officially 90% sold out
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Europe’s leading technical event
It is being heralded as Ford’s first carbon neutral assembly plant as the company aims to achieve carbon neutrality across all of its European operations – including facilities, logistics and suppliers – by 2035.
“This facility will now be one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly plants in the entire industry,” said executive chairman Bill Ford, the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, who first opened the plant more than 90 years ago. .
In addition to its sustainability credentials, the state-of-the-art EV center uses machine learning, autonomous transportation systems, robotics, and augmented reality to improve manufacturing efficiency.
“We are deploying advanced technologies to build fully connected, software-defined vehicles that meet our customers’ demand for zero-emission mobility,” said Martin Sander, general manager of Ford Model e Europe.
Last year, Ford said it intends to to suggest three new electric passenger cars and four new electric commercial vehicles in Europe by 2024, and looks set to sell more than 600,000 electric vehicles in the region by 2026.
While sales of electric vehicles in Europe are reaching record levelsInevitably, Ford isn’t the only automaker to open EV mega-factories on the continent. Last year, Tesla opened its Gigafactory in Berlin, which can produce half a million electric cars a year, while Volvo is building a new electric factory in Slovakia, due to open in 2026.


text:
GREEN DEALS: TRU tap
An IPO for TRUenergy could be seen before the year is up, while Galaxy finds a lithium buy and the federal government tries to shield the winners of its coal compensation package.
Australian investors could soon be able to buy a piece of all of the ‘big three' energy retailers, with the long-rumoured TRUenergy IPO slated for November, according to a report from The Australian Financial Review.
Murmurings about a float of TRUenergy have been around for some time, with the rumour gathering weight after CLP Group – the Hong Kong-listed owner of TRU – said last month that it had “engaged financial advisors… to review the prospects for a future possible listing.”
It appears that the ‘prospects' are pretty good, with the joint lead managers expected to be released after the Easter long weekend.
TRU's purchase of the Energy Australia retail business in New South Wales last year offered it the size and scope to consider a listing, with the company now valued at somewhere between $6 and $8 billion. According to the AFR, the float will be for 49 per cent of the company to raise $3-$4 billion, almost certainly making it the biggest IPO on the ASX for 2012.
It was reported in January that plans to float the company may have been put off until 2013 due to challenging market conditions and struggles with its new billing system (Project Odyssey), which reportedly have yet to be resolved.
Andrew Brandler, CEO of CLP, is tipped to be the company's first chairman.
It will be interesting to see how the TRUenergy valuation stacks up compared to its peers, Origin Energy and AGL Energy, with some suggesting CLP's majority position may see it priced at a comparative discount.
ASX-listed Galaxy Resources is set to be the world's largest pure-play lithium company after agreeing to terms on a takeover of Canada's Lithium One, pending shareholder approval. The Perth-based group has offered 1.8 shares for every Lithium One share, valuing the Canadian group at $110 million. The deal, to create a $490 million company, has the approval of both the boards of Galaxy and Lithium One and could be finalised as early as next month.
Galaxy has tacked on a $50 million capital raising to the merger news, a raising that will include a share purchase plan. It is likely be completed at around a 6 per cent discount to the company's Friday close and will go ahead prior to a close of the merger.
Lithium is a metal in hot demand thanks to the growth of electric and hybrid vehicles, tablet computers, and smartphones, which use lithium-ion batteries. Given the interest in those products is unlikely to wane, demand will only rise. Producers of electric vehicles are hopeful of price falls in the key component however, with supply of lithium set to surge, possibly ahead of demand. A report last week from Pike Research said lithium-ion batteries could be 30 per cent cheaper by 2017.
The Gillard Government has finally outlined the recipients of around $1 billion in compensation for coal-fired power generators in 2011/12 – the first year of the carbon price. The government was, of course, not particularly keen to make front page news out of it – hiding it away on the climate change department's website and ensuring the link provided in the media release only went to the homepage and not the page where the real news was available. Its PR department is clearly well aware of how short on time most journalists are these days. It's here in case you were wondering. Or here, if you were keen on the Climate Spectator version.
Journey to the data complete however, and the biggest financial beneficiaries will be International Power-GDF Suez, TRUenergy and AGL. International Power for the Hazelwood and Loy Yang B power stations, TRU for Yallourn W and AGL for the Loy Yang A station, a power station it acquired last month. Compensation for Hazelwood is set at $266 million, while Yallourn gets $257 million, Loy Yang A $240 million and Loy Yang B $117 million. The packages are part of the $5.5 billion Energy Security Fund, which is integrated into the Clean Energy Future legislation.


text:
MTN Ghana has launched its redesigned corporate website aimed at facilitating communications.
The redesigned site automatically snaps to fit mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop screens, thereby making it very accessible to users everywhere they go.
The redesigned website www.mtn.com.gh hosts information on MTN’s products and services, promotions, Corporate Social Investment initiatives, and Corporate Information.
In a post on MTN’s official YouTube site to unveil the new website, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Mr. Serame Taukobong, noted that the redesign of the website is in line with the company’s renewed focus on enhancing customer experience, its vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to its customers, and its mission to make the lives of its subscribers a whole lot brighter.
He said, “The steps we are taking therefore are aimed at strategically and tactically delivering greater value to our customers while giving them greater opportunities to communicate more easily and more conveniently especially in this digital age.
“We invite you to visit us at www.mtn.com.gh and to follow us on our other social media platforms, which include Facebook: www.facebook.com/mtngh on, Twittersearch for @MTNGhana or Instagram, MTNGhana and on YouTube search for MTN Ghana and share your experiences with us,” he added.
MTN continues to pave the way to help subscribers reap the benefits of the digital age by providing affordable internet access to stimulate usage and social interaction. Recently, MTN in partnership with Huawei technologies launched the latest affordable smartphone, Huawei Y220, to improve the data experience of its customers.


text:
The board of AngioDynamics ($ANGO) has named Joseph DeVivo, who was most recently global president of Smith & Nephew Orthopedics, as the company's president and CEO, effective Sept. 7. DeVivo succeeds Scott Solano, who was named interim CEO in June following Jan Keltjens' resignation. Keltjens decided to leave after the medical instruments maker reported flat sales for the fiscal year and lower Q4 net sales of approximately $56.4 million versus $60.3 million a year earlier. Solano will return to his role as AngioDynamics' senior VP and chief technology officer.
While at Smith & Nephew, DeVivo led the company's $2 billion global orthopedics business to strong growth in part through emerging market penetration in China, India and Russia, according to an AngioDynamics statement. Prior to serving at Smith & Nephew, DeVivo was president and CEO of RITA Medical Systems, which AngioDynamics acquired in 2006.
In a statement, DeVivo emphasizes his enthusiasm about joining the AngioDynamics team. "Among the strengths that I see are the very promising NanoKnife System, a robust R&D pipeline with differentiated products, a strong presence in two key and growing markets, vascular and oncology, a strong balance sheet and significant resources that can be invested to expand growth opportunities and shareholder returns," he says.
Canaccord Genuity called the move "an excellent hire" and should "deliver material upside" for the company, the Albany Times Union notes.
According to an SEC filing, DeVivo's base salary will be $555,000.
- get the AngioDynamics release
- check out the Albany Times Union report


text:
Why Would Johnson Controls' Share Price Drop After a Surge in Earnings?
What: Shares of Johnson Controls are trading around 4% lower Thursday despite a surge in its quarterly earnings. In Johnson Controls' first fiscal quarter of 2014 it posted a 5% increase in sales to $10.9 billion. The company's segment and net income improved 25% and 31% to $686 million and $469 million, respectively. Johnson Controls' earnings per share rose 33% to $0.69. Let's break it down into its three business segments and better understand where growth will be coming from in 2014 and why investors are selling today.
Power solutions: Johnson Controls' power-solutions business segment benefited from higher volume, improved pricing and mix, as well as its increased vertical integration. That contributed to a 6% increase in net sales to $1.8 billion. The improved pricing and product mix enabled the segment to improve its margins by 90 basis points, which improved segment income by 12% to $308 million. The segment's sales were boosted by a strong performance in Asia where sales were up 22%.
Building efficiency: This segment represented the biggest hurdle during Johnson Controls' first fiscal quarter with net sales declining 4% to $3.4 billion and segment income down 15% to $146 million. Net sales were dragged down by soft demand; the Middle East and Europe were down 31% and 17%, respectively. While a 15% decline in segment income is rough no matter how you slice it, there are two things to consider.
In this quarterly report is a nonrecurring contract-related charge of roughly $20 million. Also, the quarterly comparison was more difficult because the first fiscal quarter of 2013 benefited from a $22 million contract settlement. When you take those two factors out of the equation, the building efficiency's segment income actually improved 6% despite the 4% decline in net sales -- proof that the company's focus on operating efficiency and cost control is paying dividends.
Automotive experience sales are surging. Source: Johnson Controls
Automotive experience: As you would expect with the automotive industry rebounding nicely over the last couple of years, Johnson Controls' automotive experience segment has surged. The segment's net sales and income were up 10% and 130% to $5.8 billion and $232 million, respectively, for the quarter. Seating, interiors, and electronics, posted sales increases of 10%, 13%, and 7%, sequentially. It should be noted that Johnson Controls is exiting its electronics business to lower its investments in new technology and automotive connectivity trends.
The significant improvement in profitability is due to higher volumes and benefits of cost-reduction strategies. Johnson Controls is gaining its own market share in its automotive experience business segment, and that's compounded as its automotive partners are gaining share in the overall automotive industry.
In addition to its improving business, Johnson Controls increased its quarterly dividend by 16% and repurchased $1.2 billion shares. The company is trading lower today as analysts expected a better forecast for the second quarter. I think the sell-off is unwarranted and investors should keep in mind that Johnson Controls is expecting its second fiscal quarter of 2014 to post earnings per share between $0.64 and $0.66 -- a 45% improvement from last year's comparable quarter. For 2014, the company expects sales to improve and segment income to rise 15%.
"We remain focused on operational improvements to drive continued increases in profitability and shareholder value and expect 2014 to be a year of record sales and earnings for Johnson Controls." said Alex Molinaroli, Johnson Controls' chairman and chief executive officer.
Two smart plays in the automotive industry
U.S. automakers boomed after WWII, but the coming boom in the Chinese auto market will put that surge to shame! As Chinese consumers grow richer, savvy investors can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the help from this brand-new Motley Fool report that identifies two automakers to buy for a surging Chinese market. It's completely free -- just click here to gain access.
The article Why Would Johnson Controls' Share Price Drop After a Surge in Earnings? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Daniel Miller has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


text:
Full profile →'">
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
Maybe Mitt Romney ought to just stop writing op-eds about the auto bailout.
In it, Romney lets fly with charges of "crony capitalism," and contends the Obama administration was "rewarding" union leaders by escorting General Motors and Chrysler through bankruptcy.
However, his bailout facts seem a bit off. Here's a short list.
1) Sell GM shares. The Treasury Department holds roughly 500 million GM shares, what's left after the initial stake it sold when GM went public in late 2010. Romney writes, "The shares need to be sold in a responsible fashion and the proceeds turned over to the nation’s taxpayers."
At the time of its IPO, GM shares traded at $33. On Monday, they closed at $25.34, as we point out at Changing Gears.
That means the Treasury would lose about $14 billion on its GM stake, writes Justin Hyde on Motoramic. Likewise, there would be no profit for American taxpayers, since the stock needs to sell around $50 a share for Treasury to break even on what GM received in bailout money.
2) Who bailed out Detroit. Three years ago, writes Romney, President Obama stepped in with "a bailout for the auto industry." In fact, the first $17.4 billion for the industry came from the Bush administration.
The money was lent to GM and Chrysler (Ford did not accept bailout money) when Congress rejected bailout legislation. Hyde points out that Bush said last week he'd provide the assistance again.
To be sure, the Obama administration provided the rest of the $82 billion received by the auto companies as well as suppliers, dealers and auto towns. But Obama didn't start the fire, as Billy Joel might tell you.
3) Auto titans found help elsewhere. Romney, writing about auto pioneers like William C. Durant, Henry Ford, and Walter Chrysler, says, “These giants never envisioned a role for government in their business, but relied on the hard work and commitment of private individuals.”


text:
WINDMILL COUNTRY: Lower prices at grocery store
The cattle, hog and turkey markets continue to struggle at the producer level, which drives prices even lower at the meat counter.
According to analysts, what was expected to drive beef demand up over the Labor Day weekend — the last big grilling time of the summer — failed to make a big impact. Now, hopes for moving beef stocks depend on tailgating as football season starts.
Sliced turkey prices fell 48 cents, or 9.7 percent, to $4.47 per pound in the third quarter, according to the latest Texas Farm Bureau Grocery Price Watch survey, data collected by 37 shoppers from Sept. 1-8.
'Those prices reflect increased turkey production for this summer, when farmers raised a record number of turkeys,' TFB President Russell Boening said. 'That production will likely remain high as farmers prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday.'
Lean ground beef decreased 20 cents, or 5 percent, to $3.73 per pound; 1 pound generic pork chops, center loin and boneless, $3.98 this quarter is down from $4.18 one year ago.
However, sirloin steak rose to $6.25 per pound, up from $6.04 last quarter. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts climbed 1 cent to $3.15 per pound from a year ago.
Overall, retail food prices showed slight decreases during the third quarter, with a basket of 16 staple items at the grocery store totaling $45.78.
'We have a large supply of several food items, which leads to the decreases we're seeing at the grocery store,' Boening said. 'Many of the items in the basket fall into a supply and demand scenario.
'Improved weather conditions have led to better yields compare to previous years,' he said. 'A stronger U.S. dollar makes American goods more expensive for foreign countries, ultimately leading to lower prices for U.S. consumers.'
Fresh produce was a mixed bag in the third quarter, according to the market watch. Lettuce dropped 4 cents to $1.15 per head, while fresh tomatoes increased 2 cents per pound to $1.18.
More interest in vegetables
Meanwhile, Texas A&M AgriLife Research is currently studying enhancements to the South Texas vegetable industry.
According to a news release, the Lone Star State has a deficit of 2.4 million pounds of red and orange vegetables, a 336-million pound deficit of beans and peas, and a 2.8-million pound deficit of starchy vegetables, which includes squash, sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Economist Luis Ribera said H-E-B, Walmart and Kroger all want certain fruits and vegetables year round to capitalize on consumers' needs.
For example, Ribera said South Texas farmers are looking to improve the seasonality of onions and the marketing time frame for onions produced in the Rio Grande Valley to capture more premiums.
'Mexico is usually first to market with onions and they can take advantage of higher prices,' he said. 'Texas then comes in with their harvest, but the timing is not at the top of the market. Mexico has also been exporting onions later and later, pushing our production window down.'
Ribera said there is a three-to five-year window to see profitable returns on onion crops. One year prices might be break even at $8 to $9 on a 50-pound bag, then another year be as high as $30 per 50-pound bag.
'It just hinges on demand,' he said. 'What we might see in Texas is a shift in cotton acres or other commodities to capitalize on the need for more produce.'
Tomato production is another area of study, Ribera said. H-E-B has increased its interest in producing a Texas tomato, one that has an attractive appearance with no cuts or blemishes, but also boasts enhanced flavor.
For years, tomatoes have been transported so far and long, Ribera said. 'A lot of them are harvested green and remain that way to a certain point once they arrive at the port of entry. By the time it reaches the grocery store, consumers prefer something fresher with a more favorable taste.'
The seasonality of imports is one focus area of AgriLife Extension's Healthy South Texas initiative, which aims to increase the consumption of vegetables and promote healthier lifestyles among those in South Texas. As the state and nation's population continues to grow, more fruits and vegetables will be needed.
'We are at a crossroads,' Ribera said. 'Are we going to depend on foreign countries to produce more fruits and vegetables or will we produce more?'
Jerry Lackey is the agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at email@example.com.


text:
Very little can be discerned about the true state of a market from one month’s trade data.
Thus the news that the world’s biggest importer of oilseeds, India, imported 18% less refined palm oil (palmolein - a liquid form of palm oil used in cooking) in June (year-on-year) superficially sounds shocking, but in reality is yet another example of the time-lag effect.
The underlying reasons for the import drop are two-fold and likely to be temporary, although perhaps protracted.
The first is that in January this year India’s ministry of commerce pronounced that palmolein was no longer a "free" import but was now classified as "restricted", joining a list of more than 400 other items which includes unused postage stamps and depleted uranium.
The second is of course Covid-19 and India’s lockdown - which badly hit out-of-home dining, where palmolein is often used because buying it in bulk is generally a cheaper option for restaurants. About 9m tonnes a year of palm oil is consumed in India; household demand accounts for about 17% of that - remarkably close to the import drop in June. Palm oil accounts for more than 40% of India’s edible oil consumption.
The decision to make palmolein a "restricted" import in January by imposing a 5% import duty was an outright political act - it had nothing to do with palm oil.
Malaysia has been the biggest exporter of palmolein to India. In October last year the then Malaysian prime minister offended India’s Hindu nationalist government by criticising India’s new citizenship law. It took a few months but retaliation came in the form of the restrictions placed on Malaysia’s palmolein.
In March a new Malaysian government improved relations with India. The chill between the two countries is still thawing. The thaw, and India’s struggle to emerge from Covid-19 lockdown, are much bigger indicators of what’s going on than one month’s import data.
January crude palm oil prices traded above 3,000 Ringgits (more than $703) per contract on the Bursa Malaysia, before collapsing by a third in May They have since recovered to around 2,500 Ringgits, about $586 a tonne.
India’s Covid-19 lockdown has taken a savage toll. More than 100m of the country’s 1.4bn people could fall below the World Bank’s poverty line (for lower-middle-income countries) of just over $3 a day. Around 100m people have lost their jobs.
It’s not that India has lost its palmolein appetite, rather its ability to dine outside the home that has been knocked.
Malaysia has its own palm oil production problems. Its plantations’ sector - which include cocoa and rubber as well as palm oil, which accounts for about 20% of the country’s total agricultural area - is desperately short of the migrant workers it annually requires. Malaysia already loses each year as much as 20% of its potential palm oil production due to worker shortages.
Palm oil can be harvested all year round. If Malaysia struggles to gather in its crop, India’s reduced palmolein demand (which will recover in the coming months) could well run headlong into a reduced supply from its main source - which will be to the benefit of the world’s biggest palm oil producer, Indonesia.


text:
CBN Invites US Tech Company to Revamp eNaira, Proposes $800m Transfer to Poor Nigerians
The Central Bank of Nigeria has approached R3, a US-based tech firm, to help eNaira revamp
The CBN is said to be in talks with the tech firm to help rebuild the CBDC after suffering sluggish adoption by Nigerians
The plan to reconstruct the eNaira has been on since 2021, with another financial software firm, Bitt
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) seeks to revamp and drive the mass adoption of its digital currency, the eNaira and has contacted a New York-based tech company, R3, to help rebuild the CBDC and its underlying technology.
A report by Bloomberg states that the apex bank is in talks with new tech partners to develop a unique and enhanced system to manage the digital naira.
PAY ATTENTION: Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG!
CBN seeks complete control of eNaira
The report stated that the new software would allow the CBN to have more control of the eNaira.
Per the report, the plan to revamp Nigeria's digital currency has been in the works since 2021, with a financial software company, Bitt, touted to be the one to drive the update initially.
The Bloomberg report also stated that the new partner would wait to replace Bitt and gradually help hand control to CBN.
Bitt stated that it was aware that the apex bank works with various partners for its tech innovations, affirming that it still works closely with CBN and currently developing other features and enhancements for the country's cybercash.
eNaira fails to attract large users, suffers sluggish adoption
The eNaira got off to a slow start and suffered neglect by Nigerians despite being the first CBDC in Africa.
The usage of CBN's e-money in Nigeria could not pick up at the expected pace as more Nigerian youths, who were its primary target, shunned it for cryptocurrencies.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that only 8% of eNaira wallets had utilised the eNaira, averaging N53,000 in transactions.
The IMF noted that as of November 2022, eNaira had about 942,000 downloads in total.
The development comes as the CBN has proposed to the Nigerian government to use the eNaira for its $800 million social safety programme.
Use eNaira, internet banking as alternative to cash crisis, CBN tells Nigerians
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Central Bank of Nigeria had asked Nigerians to explore using eNaira and Internet banking as alternatives to the current cash crunch.
The bank’s Director of Corporate Communications Department, Osita Nwanisiobi, represented by the Director of Capacity Development of the bank, Mohammad Abbah, said this at the recently concluded 44th Kaduna International Trade Fair.
The CBN spokesman said the payment infrastructure could handle voluminous transactions across all channels.


text:
Thanks to virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR), workplaces are undergoing some significant changes. These technologies are now more popular than ever, with VR becoming increasingly common in home and recreational settings.
And it’s easy to see why: with VR, users can enjoy an immersive experience that transports them to new worlds and allows them to interact with these environments in a totally new way.
AR, on the other hand, offers many of the same benefits while blending the real world into the virtual one through interactive computer graphics.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have recently gone from sci-fi fantasies to practical applications that can change our everyday lives.
The most significant benefit VR provides is its unique ability to place you in any environment you can imagine or anything depicted on a screen.
But beyond that, virtual reality offers plenty of potential benefits that could impact how we communicate, collaborate, and even how learn and play.
Companies are beginning to experiment with virtual reality (VR) for all kinds of uses, from recruiting candidates to training employees.
A recently published McKinsey report identifies three key areas where VR can be useful: product design and development, marketing and sales, and client management.
Using a Virtual Reality (VR) headset for business is certainly not a new concept. Many companies have used it over the past few years to train employees on products, update workers on processes and procedures, or just provide an immersive experience that transports employees out of their office space and into an imaginary one.
In fact, many companies across several industries, from retail to manufacturing, have already begun implementing virtual reality into their organizations.
Google is currently on top with its innovative new headset called Google Cardboard. Facebook’s Oculus Rift and Samsung’s Gear VR will be coming soon as well.
And by 2017, more than 5 million headsets are predicted to be shipped worldwide. In fact, many believe virtual reality will take over PCs, smartphones, and tablets as our primary way to connect online by the 2030s.
Virtual Reality is continuing to show its effectiveness within various industries and fields. Though we’ve made many strides, there is still room for improvement. One primary focus is within workplaces.
A Gallup poll found that over three million employees have worked from home at least half of the time since 2017. With new advances in technology, more people will soon be able to work remotely while remaining productive and improving their skill sets.
While virtual reality (VR) isn’t going to replace desktop computers or laptops anytime soon, it’s a powerful tool that could streamline our work and make some tasks more efficient. Right now, most businesses don’t have a need for VR, but as more advances are made, workplaces will change.


text:
Govt plans to sell a 26% stake in wagon maker BEML as well as auction holdings in a clutch of other companies to help meet a record asset-sale target
New Delhi: India plans to sell a 26% stake in wagon maker BEML Ltd. as well as auction holdings in a clutch of other companies to help meet a record asset-sale target, people familiar with matter said.
The plan, which will be sent for cabinet approval soon, includes the sale of three factories of Steel Authority of India Ltd. to a strategic partner, the people said, asking not to be identified as they aren’t authorized to speak with the media. The government’s also looking to sell an NMDC Ltd. steel plant as well as its entire stake in Scooters India Ltd.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is seeking to narrow Asia’s widest budget deficit without cutting public spending that’s key to sustain India’s 7% plus growth rate. The shortfall reached 76.4% of the full-year target in the in the first five months of the fiscal year through August.
Other companies on the block include Hindustan News Print Ltd., Ferro Scrap Nigam Ltd., Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd., Project & Development India Ltd., Bharat Pumps & Compressors Ltd., Central Electronics Ltd., Bridge and Roof Company India Ltd. and Hindustan Prefab Ltd., the people said. The proposal has been circulated to the various ministries for their comments. Finance Ministry spokesman D.S. Malik declined to comment.
The government aims to collect Rs56,500 crore ($8.5 billion) from sales of stakes in state companies in the year through 31 March. That includes Rs20,500 crore from majority stakes, even though previous attempts have been hindered by labour union protests and volatile financial markets.
About Rs36,000 crore is being sought from the sale of minority stakes in companies such as Coal India Ltd. and Oil & Natural Gas Corp., which seems ambitious considering India’s highest ever annual collection since 1992 has been Rs24,300 crore. That happened in a year when the benchmark stock index rallied 25%; equities have risen 2.6% over the past 12 months.
Shares of BEML rose 0.8% to Rs935.10 in Mumbai. Scooters India fell 2.9%, compared with a 0.3% drop in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex. Bloomberg
Subscribe to Mint Newsletters
* Enter a valid email
* Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
our App Now!!


text:
Yamaha gathers its factory racing teams for one big debut
Tag Archives: yzf-r1
Yoshimura system gives R1 5 more hp and sheds 12 lbs.
Yamaha also says goodbye to retiring VP and recognizes team manager's 30 years of commitment
Yamaha WSBK riders head to final European round, at Jerez
Latest Yamaha video reveals silhouette of what's likely the new R6
Guintoli out, Van der Mark in, at Pata Yamaha WSBK for 2017
Yamaha Factory Team dominate 2016 Suzuka 8-Hour.
Scholtz earns two second place finishes despite never seeing Laguna Seca before
Full list of Yamaha-related Laguna Seca activities contained within, including U.S. debut of FZ-10
SpeedMob slashing prices on select items until July 8


text:
Berlin-based travel startup Omio has raised a new $80m round of funding, with the money coming at a time when global travel and bookings are rebounding to record levels, following two years of Covid lockdowns and disruptions.
For the German unicorn, it represents the end of two years of pain and uncertainty.
“We will continue our global expansion now, but we will do it with discipline. We’ll go about it with humility and most importantly discipline, because we have a lot of scars from Covid,” Naren Shaam, Omio’s CEO and founder, tells Sifted.
The travel industry's Covid crash
It’s safe to say that if you were going to choose to be in one industry over the last few years it wouldn’t be travel.
The global pandemic cut the travel industry to its core, with airlines, hotels and booking companies like Omio seeing revenues plunge to close to zero almost overnight.
Up until then, Omio had been on a roll. “It was a fundamentally different company pre-pandemic,” says Shaam. “We launched in 2013. We grew 100% a year until 2019, and expanded across 37 countries."
In February 2020 Omio launched operations in the US and Canada, with plans to expand across four continents. Barely a month later it lost 98% of its revenue.
It wasn’t just the loss of income, but also money owed. “When Covid hit we had 10s of millions of euros in cancellations that we couldn't collect from all our suppliers, but we had to pay customers, so there was also this massive stability issue on the balance sheet.”
Ultimately Omio was forced to go through two rounds of furloughs and one restructure, and Shaam admits that there were moments when he wasn’t sure the company was going to survive.
Since January, however, the company has seen revenue grow 350%.
"We're here to stay"
Omio raised $150m in a Series D round in 2018, reportedly at a $900m–$1bn valuation, and followed that up with a $100m raise in August 2020, via a convertible note, which gave investors a discount on the next round.
This latest, a Series E round, includes some of the world’s leading tech and growth investors, including Lazard Asset Management, Stack Capital Group, NEA, Temasek, and funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, among others.
Shaam says Omio raised the capital in part to “make sure the market knows we’re here to stay," while also returning to earlier expansion plans, but this time with greater discipline.
“Before we were just growing so fast, and now we're going to be much more careful,” he says, adding that the new funding should give Omio a two to three year runway.
Omio plans to reinitiate global expansion activities, including through strategic mergers and acquisitions; more than 90% of its booking business is still in Europe.
“We want to go global, and we want to go about it with discipline,” says Shaam. “We have done a couple of M&As, so we've gone through the playbook of how to do that, how to integrate. There are some [companies] in a skeletal state and we'll go about [M&As] with discipline in terms of which ones are better to buy versus build.”
With a slightly smaller staff, but more operationally efficient business, we have doubled our revenue
Meanwhile, staff levels at Omio are still 20% below 2019 levels, at around 400 people, though the company is hiring fast and revenue is now double what it was in 2019. “With a slightly smaller staff, but more operationally efficient business, we have doubled our revenue. We're also spending a fraction of the marketing spend we used to before Covid, so the business has just gotten so much more efficient,” says Shaam.
“Our business is up 2x, but the whole travel industry is not yet back to 2x, so that means we probably took marketshare,” he adds.
Omio is operating in a much-changed travel industry
Shaam says that the pandemic has had a profound and likely long-term impact on the travel industry. “We saw some fundamental shifts in user behaviour coming out of Covid. Travel before is not the same as travel after.”
The startup says that ticket bookings are now more than 140% above pre-pandemic levels, with a continuous shift towards booking transportation via mobile apps. Today, 80% of Omio’s bookings are made via mobile, with a 25% increase in app booking since January 2019 (desktop bookings decreased by 13% over the same period).
At the same time, while flight bookings are still down 50%, ground transportation bookings are back above pre-pandemic levels. “It's not that ground transport was not big before, it just happened that more than half of tickets were sold at kiosks, standing in line at a train station. Now that's fundamentally shifted to mobile, and that experience is here to stay,” says Shaam.
Where people are traveling to has also changed a lot, with the rise of staycations. “People are traveling to smaller destinations, staying longer, working from there. What this creates is a more fundamental need for a platform that provides ground transport and allows air transport to be compared with ground transport or combined with it, because you're going to non-hub, non-crowded locations, smaller towns, more destinations.”
"Lucky to be here"
Shaam says one of the hardest parts of the last few years was watching other tech companies grow like crazy, in large part because of the pandemic. “We had to navigate through the crisis when everybody else was hiring and building and growing,” he says. “We were communicating consistently around ‘There's light at the end of the tunnel, we will come back, travel is eternal, we will rebuild'.
“We're lucky to be here and we're looking forward now to build,” he adds. “We have a lot of scars and lessons from this, and given the market conditions we will go about it with discipline and hopefully we can create products that permanently change consumer behaviour in the travel ecosystem.”


text:
Blog: Does technology deserve a sporting chance?
Leonie Barrie | 26 March 2008
Speedo’s slick new swimsuits are causing a bit of a splash in the swimming fraternity – and not just because of their revolutionary design. The LZR Racer, launched last month, has been deemed the “world's fastest” suit, but it now seems its ability to break world records is causing concern at the sport's governing body.
FINA (the Fédération Internationale de Natation) approved the $550 suit, which is made from a new, ultra-lightweight fabric and is ultrasonically welded together with panels to compress the swimmer's body into a more streamlined shape.
But it now wants to discuss the thickness of the material used and its potential buoyancy issues after 12 world records were broken since mid-February.
The increasing use of suits like this has opened the debate on the uptake of technology in sporting competitions.
Ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, it won’t just be Speedo that launches a new swimsuit – all the major manufacturers will. And similarly groundbreaking products that make runners, cyclists and speed skaters faster through advanced materials and aerodynamic considerations are sure to be unveiled too.
The Olympic Games is obviously a natural platform to showcase the latest developments in hi-tech sportswear, but the question now seems to be how far can technological advances be made without actually giving athletes ‘unfair’ advantages?
After all, if contestants can’t compete on a level playing field, then the whole ethos of sporting events like the Olympics is undermined, and making it onto the winner’s podium depends not so much on the ability of the individual athlete, but more on whether or not he or she can get hold of the best piece of kit.
Of course there has always been a progression in materials and equipment – it’s not that long ago that Lycra was seen as revolutionary. And with a split-second now making the difference between a Gold medal and no medal, perhaps it’s not surprising the race to be first shows no sign of slowing down.
Confirmation that digital supply chains are top of mind for apparel industry executives came last week with the latest plans from global sourcing specialist Li & Fung....
As a barometer of the issues top of mind for apparel sourcing executives, it is hard to beat the annual Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong. ...
Over the past month, Donald Trump and his team failed to offer any clear plan to ensure Americans would "Buy American, Hire American" - while the British government's attempts to clarify the specifics...
The Bangladesh government was forced to respond late last week to pressure over its crackdown on labour activists after a number of global brands and retailers, including H&M and Inditex announced pla...
- Why collaboration is key to fashion supply chains
- Rana Plaza four years on – Timeline of change
- Industry groups reaffirm commitment to Bangladesh
- Trump and Brexit get a dose of pragmatism
- Where does VF supply chain sit in growth strategy?
- Adidas to digitalise Speedfactory concept
- Nike filed patent for "reinforced denim"
- M&S extends sourcing deal with Lindsey brothers
- US Q1 in brief – Columbia Sportswear, Amazon
- Gap unveils five-year sustainable fibres pledge
- Global market review of denim and jeanswear – forecasts to 2022
- When Things Go Wrong - A Practical Guide to Managing Common Problems in Apparel Sourcing
- Clothing Market in the Top 5 American Countries to 2021 - Market Size, Development, and Forecasts
- Outdoor performance apparel 2016: A broader perspective
- Southeast Asia strategic sourcing review – a focus on Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar


text:
As part of a unusual marketing campaign to appeal to younger, hipper Americans, Lenny’s — I mean, Denny’s — restaurants has opened an all-night Denny’s Lounge at the campground at The Gorge during the three-day Sasquatch! Music Festival.
With more than 20,000 concertgoers attending each day, the festival could be a grand slam for the new Denny’s promotional campaign. The all-night eatery has been open daily from 10 p.m. to 11 a.m. near the entrance to the campground.
Denny’s, a sponsor of this year’s Sasquatch! festival, is hoping to spruce up its tired image as an after-show diner with “shareable” menu items and updated server uniforms.


text:
Kernel leads among grain exporters in 2018
By the results of 2018, Kernel is the key exporter of grain from Ukraine with 4.48 million tons.
Among the top exporters of Ukrainian grain in the indicated period are:
- Kernel — 4.48 million tons;
- NIBULON — 3.72 million tons;
- COFCO Agri Ukraine — 3.03 million tons;
- Bunge — 2.84 million tons;
- Louis Dreyfus — 2.73 million tons.
Learn more: TOP 10 grain exporters in 2018
Since the start of MY2018/19, as of December 12, Ukraine exported 20.41 mln tons of grain, which is 2.14 mln tons more than the indicator for the last year's comparative period.
The new infographic guide Agribusiness of Ukraine 2017/18 is available by the link.


text:
ETW Staff- Mumbai
Drukair has announced that it will launch its 10th international destination, Mumbai – the commercial hub of India, on February 5, 2014. Six of Drukair’s10 destinations are now in India. The new route between Paro International Airport and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport will commence operations from May 1, 2014. The three-hour flight will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays.
Commenting on their heightened presence in India, Damcho Rinzin, international travel, trade and PR of, Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB), said, “The Tourism Council of Bhutan is confident that the number of Indian and expat travellers to the Kingdom will sharply increase from the West and South of India with the introduction of these flights as passengers can now inter-change at Mumbai for a direct flight. The launch of operations will also further enhance the Kingdom of Bhutan’s image as a destination for luxury and special occasion segments such as wedding, honeymoon, anniversaries and other celebratory occasions.”
Drukair is the only airline operating from Bhutan to the financial capital of India and will provide a key gateway point for both business and leisure travellers.
According to the Tandin Jamtso, chief executive officer, Drukair, said, “Drukair is delighted to launch its maiden service to Mumbai, one of the busiest cities of India. By offering this connection to passengers, we are confident that this new route will become immensely popular with our travellers.”
The aircraft are configured with 16 seats in business class and 102 seats in economy class. TCB and Drukair, together with Taj Tashi Bhutan along with few other local tour operators will conduct road shows in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata to promote Bhutan as an upmarket destination and also to network with travel trade members.
The Tourism Council of Bhutan is keen to promote Bhutan in the Indian market given the proximity of the two countries, and is optimistic about tourists experiencing and enjoying Bhutan’s beauty, culture and hospitality. Unlike international visitors, Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Bhutan and can acquire a visitor’s permit upon arrival.