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August 21, 2020
British automaker Jaguar Land Rover is experimenting with a new recycling process that could help curb aluminum production emissions as part of its Destination Zero mission.
Through Destination Zero, the automaker is hoping to achieve “zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion” through its manufacturing and vehicles with innovative and autonomous technologies. Jaguar Land Rover’s latest efforts have the potential to reduce the its reliance on raw materials.
The REALITY project “upcycles” aluminum waste from drink cans, bottle tops and even end-of-life Jaguar and Land Rover models into new high-grade aluminum for new vehicles.
Although aluminum is one of the most recycled materials globally, post-consumer recycled aluminum is primarily used for everyday products and rarely for high-end applications such as car manufacturing.
According to Jaguar Land Rover, the REALITY process cuts carbon dioxide emissions by up to 26 percent, as well as reducing the amount of virgin aluminum used to manufacture new cars. The method was first tested on pre-production Jaguar I-Pace prototypes.
As part of the process, older vehicles are scrape, with the aluminum melted and reformed. JLR enlisted experts from Brunel University to test the recycled aluminum for strength and purity.
“This project has allowed us, for the first time, to recover premium automotive-grade aluminum from scrapped vehicles and re-use its unique properties,” said Gaëlle Guillaume, lead project manager for REALITY at Jaguar Land Rover, in a statement. “The potential of this on the production process is a reduction in CO2 impact as well as helping us re-use even more aluminum.
“As we move into an autonomous, connected and electrified future, with the potential of shared fleets being de-commissioned en masse, it could allow Jaguar Land Rover to engineer this closed loop recycling alloy into tight production schedules to further improve efficiency and environmental benefits.”
In 2016 alone, the automaker reclaimed more than 50,000 tons of aluminum scrap during the first year of XE model production. As part of Jaguar’s REALCAR initiative, an aluminum recycling project, the reclaimed scraps weigh the same as 200,000 XE body shells and prevented more than 500,000 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere by not using new materials (see story).


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Baidu BIDU , the Chinese search giant, has revealed a new custom designed robotaxi it states will go into service in their Apollo Go autonomous ride-hail service starting in 2023. Baidu states the vehicle costs around $37,000 to make and will allow them to scale-up their service to tens of thousands of units over time.
A strange feature of the design is that the initial vehicle includes a steering wheel which will never be used in normal operation. Instead, it is designed to be removed, and will be once Chinese law permits vehicles with no steering wheel. The result will be a more open
→ Continue reading at Forbes

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Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday encouraged Alabamians to take advantage of Alabama's third sales tax holiday and get prepared for the next severe weather situation.
"Being prepared and having the proper emergency supplies are essential," Governor Bentley said. "If people have the emergency supplies they need, it will go a long way toward helping them survive any storm, regardless of the season."
Alabama's sales tax holiday will begin Friday, February 21, 2014, at 12:01 a.m. and end Sunday, February 23, 2014, at midnight. Alabamians will have an opportunity to purchase certain severe weather preparedness items free of state sales tax. More than 220 local governments across the state will participate in the annual sales tax holiday.
"I am especially proud that more and more of our local government partners are joining the state in participating in this year's sales tax holiday. Last year, less than 200 participated. This year, our most recent information indicates that 227 local governments are participating, the most ever in the holiday's three-year history. This equates to real savings for our citizens --sometimes tax savings totaling as much as 10 percent on emergency preparedness items that will help keep Alabama families safe and protected during severe weather conditions," State Revenue Commissioner Julie P. Magee said.
The sales tax holiday for preparedness items was a key recommendation of Governor Bentley's Tornado Recovery Action Council. The council was appointed by the Governor following the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.


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Internet service provider Concentric Network, which is planning to launch an initial public offering, today provided a peek at its latest quarterly performance with a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Concentric posted shrinking losses and sharp revenue growth for the three-month period ending June 30.
The company lost $12.9 million for the quarter, compared with a loss of $15.4 million a year ago. In the previous quarter, the ISP lost $14.7 million.
Revenues, meanwhile, grew to $10.8 million for the quarter, up from $2.5 million a year ago.
Concentric said its increased revenues reflect growth in its expanding product offerings to enterprise customers, and that the company has leveraged its marketing arrangements with partners. Concentric noted its Internet access revenues are growing as well.
Concentric plans to sell 3 million shares and has set an initial pricing range of 10 to 12 a share, which would raise $36 million in capital. The ISP has previously stated it plans to use the proceeds to expand its network and data center operations, with the remainder to be used for operating capital and repurchasing some outstanding common stock.
Meanwhile, Bay Networks (BAY) and Williams Communications Group have agreed to purchase approximately $18 million in shares directly from the company via a private placement when the IPO closes. This private placement will also include $3 million in canceled debt for Concentric.


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Scientists told how much coffee you should drink to lose weight.
Scientists have proved that coffee can fight with the extra pounds.
This is stated in the study, published in Nature Communications Journal.
Chinese scientists from the Guangzhou University of science and technology said that coffee is not only prolongs life and reduces the risk of type II diabetes, but also promotes weight loss.
In the course of a scientific experiment scientists injected laboratory mice with caffeine and concluded that after its use in rodents decreased appetite, with the result that they began to lose weight.
This effect of coffee can be attributed to several reasons. First of all, it should be noted that coffee improves metabolism by 3-11%. Caffeine is able to start the process of lipolysis — the breakdown of fats in the body and their subsequent conversion into energy.
In addition, coffee provides a boost of energy, thanks to which people can lead a more active lifestyle and therefore lose more calories. The scientists also found that coffee reduces the appetite and need for sweets.
The researchers said the amount of coffee per day is optimal for dieters. They argue that to achieve the effect you need to drink 4 cups of coffee a day, combining it with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
It is best to drink coffee 30 minutes before workout. If you wish no problem to sleep last Cup of coffee should be drunk no later than 16:00. While scientists warn that if you drink more than 400 mg of coffee a day may increase heart rate and cause a constant feeling of anxiety.
© 2017, paradox. All rights reserved.


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EU: Food labelling: health-focused campaigning continues (COMMENT)
A new report calls for further EU regulations on labelling and advertising. Campaigners know that until the vast majority of people have taken on board the anti-obesity message of avoiding fats, sugar and salt, food manufacturers will continue to cater to current tastes. Regulating labelling and marketing is a vital step in changing consumers' attitudes.
Despite already instituting regulations on food labelling that have given food marketers cause for alarm, the EU came under further pressure today to adopt tougher measures on food advertising to children and more effective labelling restrictions. The London based International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) has produced a report highlighting the need for the food industry to be "part of the solution".
In many ways the food industry is only too happy to provide products which will help consumers combat obesity, as this is something of a growth area. However, groups such as the IOTF fear that many of the changes the food industry will make of its own accord are cosmetic and, for example, the amounts of fat, salt and sugar to be found in processed foods will not change without outside regulation. Consequently, their report calls for an end to the 'hard sell' of such products. This would include changes in labelling which draw consumers' attention to the levels of these ingredients in processed foods, and strong encouragement to create more products with healthy ingredients.
While labelling is the main issue that consumer groups focus on, the report highlights other avenues of approach for the EU, such as using subsidies to reward farmers who grow healthier crops and not, for example, oils and sugars. However, the view of the EU, as well as pressure groups, is that the fight against rising obesity will be won by converting consumers to a healthier lifestyle. As this begins to happen, food manufacturers are providing healthier products - Appletise, for example, is now proudly free of all added sugars, preservatives or additives. However, this is still very much the exception rather than the rule.
Changing consumers' attitudes is going to be a long, hard task, and food manufacturers will fight proposed regulations as much as they can, in order to protect their current interests.
(c) 2003 Datamonitor. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without prior written consent. Datamonitor shall not be liable for errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
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Sticking with its winning formula, the UK Pool & Spa Expo returns to the NEC in Birmingham in January promising to deliver an unmissable trade show, that brings together the whole of the UK wet leisure industry and associated sectors.
Now in its third year, the 2015 show is shaping up to be a truly international affair with visitors and exhibitors expected from countries across the globe including Hungary, the USA, Netherlands, China, Greece and Germany.
Claire Saunders, event director comments: “We were new to the industry, but we have run two successful shows and now it is time to take it up a notch. “The 2015 event focuses as much on its exhibitors and product displays as it does on networking opportunities, and so the visitors are just as important as the exhibitors.
“Last year’s visitor list included top personnel from Center Parcs, John Lewis, Crest Nicholson and AEW Architects to name just a few. Our VIP invitation list this year has been built on these foundations and will make for an even stronger ‘who’s who’ rundown for 2015.”
Located in the larger Hall 10 at the NEC, a bigger floor space means a bigger show and as well as returning favourites, there will also be some new additions.
One of the new features of this year’s Expo is a new Question Time slot as part of the Expo’s education seminar. With questions from the floor this is a chance to debate the strengths and weakness of the hot tub industry in the wake of the Trade Price Group imprisonments and the boost to hot tubs generally thanks to high profile programmes like Hot Tub Britain. The Question Time panel will feature key industry personnel on a distinguished panel, including Jonathan Bunn of Hydropool, Steve Hasenmeuller, of Marquis Spas and Christina Clarke of the Pool &Spa Company. Chaired by Pool and Spa Scene’s Christina Connor and taking place at 11am on Friday January 23, in the Seminar Theatre, within the central hub of the Expo, this is a debate that no-one involved in the spa industry will want to miss.
Maintenance, equipment and facilitator companies will be given the opportunity to occupy the lounge area on the second day, to meet with individuals from their target markets. Situated in the heart of the exhibition hall, the Central Hub is also new for 2015 and will feature a mix of catering, and exhibitor lounge, an open seminar auditorium and the Pool and Spa Scene magazine team.
Following the success of the New Product Zone at previous shows, many exhibitors will be using the UK Pool & Spa Expo as their primary showcase for a host of new products and technologies in the first quarter of 2015.
Pre-registration is now open for fast track tickets at www.ukpoolspa-expo.co.uk
To read more of this story, please subscribe online.


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Impossible Foods’ newest meatless product is ready to hit tables from Thursday: plant-based pork that claims to be tastier and more healthy than the true deal.
The floor pork product will first be obtainable in eating places in the U.S., Hong Kong and Singapore, with additional plans for retail enlargement in these markets in the approaching months. It marks the California-based firm’s third business launch after floor beef and hen nuggets because it seeks to solidify its place in the rising plant-based protein area.
Speaking in a first-on interview forward of the launch, Impossible Foods’ president Dennis Woodside informed CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that the pork various might beat the true deal in each style and dietary worth.
“Pig typically isn’t regarded as a healthy product, but here you have a substitute that tastes just as good but is actually better for you,” he stated.
According to the corporate, the product — which is made primarily from soy — offers the identical quantity of protein as its conventional meat counterpart, however with no ldl cholesterol, one-third much less saturated fats, and much fewer energy.
Meantime, in a latest blind style take a look at performed by Impossible Foods, it discovered that almost all (54%) of Hong Kong shoppers stated they most popular the meatless pork product.
“We’re not going to launch a product unless it’s actually better than the animal analog — both in terms of taste, which that data proves, and in terms of nutritional value,” stated Woodside.
Impossible Pork Char Siu Buns are sampled throughout an Impossible Foods press occasion for CES 2020 on the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on January 6, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
David Becker | Getty Images News
Impossible’s meatless pork debuts at New York’s Momofuku Ssam Bar this Thursday, Sept. 23. It will then be obtainable in Hong Kong from Oct. 4 and Singapore later this 12 months. Participating eating places embody U.S. chain Ruby Tuesday, Tim Ho Wan and Hong Kong’s Beef & Liberty.
Woodside stated it will be right down to particular person eating places to find out their pricing, including that Impossible merchandise are usually “around the same price in a restaurant as animal meat — sometimes a little bit higher.”
The launch comes amid a rising urge for food for various protein as shoppers and firms alike turn out to be extra conscious of the environmental influence of conventional animal agriculture. It is estimated that the trade is responsible for 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse fuel emissions.
Impossible Foods, for its half, claims its pork product makes use of 81%-85% much less water, 66%-82% much less land, and produces 73%-77% much less greenhouse fuel emissions than common pork manufacturing.


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Volkswagen’s small van narrowly missed out on a ‘gong’ at the Fleet Van awards this year, losing out in the end to the new Fiat Doblo Cargo.
But had the judges been assessing this new upgraded model, which is due in UK showrooms this month, things may have been different.
Not only has VW added a range of Euro V engines which promise up to 13% more fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions but there’s also a redesigned front end, other minor upgrades and – more importantly in the health and safety stakes – the addition of ESP stability control as a standard fitment across the range.
It’s all part of a renewed fleet push by the German firm which has seen it make enormous inroads into the fleet market this year, a fact rewarded by the title of Van Fleet Manufacturer of the Year at our prestigious awards.
The first thing you’ll notice about the new model is its fresh face, with differently-shaped headlights.
But it’s under the bonnet that the most impressive changes have taken place.
The old engines have been junked in favour of common rail Euro V compliant TDI ones, which come at 1.6-litres and 2.0-litres.
The smaller engines have power outputs of 75bhp and 102bhp while the bigger ones offer 110bhp and 140bhp.
There is also a Maxi version on offer with extra loadspace and – unique in this sector – a four-wheel drive 4MOTION variant. Volkswagen also offers its DSG gearbox with either six or seven speeds on higher-powered models.
Also new are more comfortable seats, daytime running lights, a gearshift indicator and a new power steering system.
Volkswagen has also launched a + series which gives enhanced payloads and a BlueMotion badge which involves the fitting of a stop-start system to enhance fuel economy.
Prices start at £12,100 ex-VAT and rise to £22,690 ex-VAT.


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Freightos has received a $44.4 million round of funding, led by the Singapore Exchange (SGX), to scale its online international freight marketplace, launched in 2016, signaling how new technology has rekindled the concept of rate indices as an associated derivatives market.
A new breed of commercial solutions, mostly developed by startups, aiming to reshape price discovery and ease of quoting, has engendered new possibilities when it comes to freight derivatives. If these new solutions — specifically freight rate marketplaces or crowd-sourced rate benchmarking tools — get enough traction with shippers, they could eventually underlie a move toward the use of derivatives by forwarders, carriers, and beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) to hedge underlying contracts or spot market purchases.
The investment could be seen, on the surface, as yet another bet by investors on the power of emerging logistics technology solutions. It brings the amount that Freightos alone has raised to nearly $100 million, putting it only behind the freight forwarder Flexport in the amount of funding raised by startups in the international logistics space. But this particular round of funding is significant in a different way, because it is directly tying Freightos’ ability to create freight rate data in both ocean and air cargo with the idea that it could lead to the creation of a securities market based on that information.
Freightos, one of the most prominent names to emerge in the current wave of technology startups addressing the international freight industry, has evolved into a multifaceted company with different products for different parts of the industry.
It provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) systems to help forwarders manage freight rates and automate quotes, in competition with providers such as Catapult, CargoSphere, Info-X Software, and Freightgate. Its marketplace is an online tool to match buyers and sellers of freight. But Freightos founder and CEO Zvi Schreiber told JOC.com he sees his company as a “platform for digital interactions between all players in international freight.”
That includes what he called a “data hub and data standards to allow communication between the players. We do see industry data, indexes, and derivatives as an important future aspect of the platform allowing the industry to move to dynamic pricing instead of fixed-price tenders that really don't work."
Reliable indices are required to provide a baseline for derivative products, but also for instant quoting, proponents argue.
Schreiber said that most of Freightos’ revenue currently still comes from SaaS products (rate and sales management for service providers and a little bit for enterprise shippers). “Our marketplace is bigger in terms of bookings but from an accounting perspective we only book our actual fees as revenue. So actual marketplace revenue is still a minority of revenue but growing very fast — at least 20 percent per quarter or 100 percent per year.”
It has long been Schreiber’s contention that the long-term contract rate culture in liner shipping doesn’t serve small and medium-sized shippers or large BCOs well. On the small and medium enterprise side, a lack of leverage pushes them into spot markets that have traditionally been opaque. On the large BCO side, annual contracts don’t reflect the realities of more dynamic consumer patterns that demand more flexibility with regard to weekly freight allocations. He’s made the comparison to electricity consumption, with large BCOs having a “base load” that’s automatic every week, but a variable component that doesn’t jive well with annual procurement.
Another startup, Xeneta, uses crowdsourced contract freight rate information to provide its customers with benchmarking. It launched an index of its own over the summer based on its data.
Freightos handles more than 1 million instant freight quote requests every month, based on over 1 billion rate data points and routing and pricing engines, the company said. The company’s global rate database also underpins the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX), a container freight index the company started in April with the Baltic Exchange, which is part of the SGX group.
“Xeneta has more market intelligence for negotiating annual fixed tendered rates while Freightos has by far the biggest data set for short-term rates,” Schreiber said. “I would point out though that in line with all other industries, freight is starting slowly to transition to floating index-linked rates rather than fixed rates and that's where FBX with the backing of SGX is a key resource for the industry.”
Freightos — at the forefront
Michael Syn, head of derivatives at SGX, said, “Freightos is at the forefront of a new wave of solutions for price discovery and digital marketplaces in global freight — an industry at the heart of the global economy. SGX is excited by the potential to develop risk management tools and services, and build on Singapore’s unique position in the trade ecosystem, to bridge the physical and financial markets.”
But is that hopefulness realistic? Even with a new generation of tools that could empower dynamic pricing and quoting, the ocean freight industry has been slow to warm to any significant change to procurement processes. That’s especially true for large BCOs that see their leverage tied to annual offline contracting, where they can negotiate out surcharges and get preferential base rates. Large BCOs generally want their rates to be competitive relative to their peers but need to lock in capacity to ensure goods hit store shelf or e-commerce time windows. Due to this underlying need, they have shown little interest in participating in the freight market as they would in the foreign exchange market, for example.
That said, there has always been a school of thought that the container market, indeed freight markets generally, is really a financial market, just one that has yet to take shape. Freightwaves, for example, is planning to release a trucking futures contract. But most big BCOs reject that point of view, arguing they aren’t financial players in relation to freight transportation; rather they are retailers or suppliers that source goods in one location and need to get them into stores.
In the aftermath of the financial crisis, a group of well-regarded organizations in the financial and shipping industries including Morgan Stanley, Clarksons, and ICAP set out to create a market for containerized freight rate derivatives. The idea seemed sound on its face, but despite intensive marketing, it never was able to gain the necessary liquidity to become a viable marketplace and eventually went dormant. With few buyers (shippers, freight forwarders, and BCOs) and especially sellers (carriers) willing to use the market to hedge actual underlying buy or sell positions, it eventually faded away — another concept intended to improve a volatile market that never took hold.
Attitudes can change, though, and the amount of money flooding into logistics technology empowering new pricing and quoting mechanics could eventually be the catalyst for that change.
“Startups don’t want to create a business that does something,” Kurt Cavano, president of GT Nexus said Thursday at project44’s Transform 2018 Executive Tech Summit in Chicago. “They want to disrupt an entire business.”
Cavano said the amount of available capital, computer processing power, and the sheer number of entrepreneurs addressing supply chain as a whole suggest that industries will be irrevocably altered.
“All these companies have access to more capital than we can even think of,” he said. “It’s going to disrupt almost every business out there. There’s so much cash around that’s not been here before.”
Cavano suggested there is more than $1 trillion of “dry powder” from venture capital and private equity entities across all industries. “That’s money committed to be invested that’s looking for a home. You could give 10,000 startups $100 million each with that. We have this transition taking place. It’s a recipe for something amazing or a disaster.”
The latest funding round for Freightos includes new and existing Freightos investors, including General Electric Ventures, ICV, Aleph, and others.


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Hulu Plus has followed Netflix down the Android path today with the announcement that its service is now available on six devices, starting with the Google Nexus One and Nexus S, Motorola Droid 2, Droid X, and Atrix, and the Inspire 4G from HTC. It's not much of a selection, but the assumption is that Hulu shares the same concerns Netflix does: the video it airs is all tightly rights-managed, and seeing how Android is a bit of a free-for-all, the company wants to certify devices individually to make sure it's going to be difficult to rip streams.
What's interesting to me about this is that of the initially-supported devices, only two use Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Qualcomm had seemed to suggest early in the year that Snapdragon's in-built support for secure media would be integral to the rollout of services like Netflix (and, by transitivity, Hulu Plus) -- but at the end of the day, it turns out that TI and Nvidia have had just as much luck being a part of these deployments. Long term, the bigger concern is that the Android ecosystem comprises a nearly endless array of hardware that's only going to grow, and it'll be tricky for these guys to stay on top of new launches in a timely fashion -- in other words, if you subscribe to these services and you're a heavy mobile user, it's always going to make you think twice about rushing out for a new model. Follow the break for Hulu's guided tour of the app.


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21st March 2024
Vans customers have been warned to watch out for “fraud” linked to a data breach
VF Group, which owns the shoe brand, “detected ‘unauthorised activities’ on a part of its IT systems in December 2023, the group said.
This story was reported by the BBC. You can read the full story here
What Action Were Taken?
The company took immediate action and is investigating the incident. It announced that “it cannot be excluded” that cybercriminals could use the stolen data.
Vans in a statement said: "Our investigation revealed that the incident has affected some personal information of our customers, that we normally store and process in order to manage online purchases, such as email address, full name, phone number, billing address, shipping address."
The company has advised customers to be on the alert for suspicious emails, texts and calls for personal information.
The statement continued: “Vans has contacted the relevant law enforcement agencies and says it will review its cybersecurity policies.”


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This past Tuesday, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York kicked off a new initiative for digital currency while working with a series of major banks just as chaos erupts across the larger cryptocurrency sectors.
Slated to be carried out over a period of 12 weeks, the digital dollar simulation will “experiment with the concept of a regulated liability network,” which is a concept for infrastructure for a financial market that would allow “digital asset transactions that connect deposits held at regulated financial institutions using distributed ledger technology,” as explained in a press release issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Analysts are expected to test the “feasibility of payments between financial institutions” utilizing tokenized assets.
The previously mentioned other financial groups — Citi, Mastercard, BNY Mellon, and Wells Fargo — are also expected to take part in the simulation and will determine whether or not the project is actually feasible for a full-scale rollout and could result in a series of technical design insights.
This simulation takes place just as legislators discuss the idea of a digital currency from the central bank, which would end up safeguarding the international role of the dollar while helping deal with the standard pitfalls normally associated with cryptocurrencies, like credit risk and liquidity risk, as reported in a release from the Federal Reserve. Something like a digital dollar could be fairly easily privacy-protected, intermediated via digital wallet services put forth by the private sector, and be entirely transferable between people of entirely different intermediaries. necessary identity verification through banks would be in place to try and mitigate money laundering.
Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, claimed this past summer that his “mind is open” to the use of a digital dollar, highlighting that he was “legitimately undecided” on if the “benefits outweigh the costs” of digital currencies from the central bank. “We would want very broad support in society and in Congress,” he explained to legislators. “It’s a very, very important initiative, and I do think we should ideally get authorization.”
Additionally, the central bank is slated to test out a new instant payment service in order to get rid of the need for merchants to wait a period of one to three days prior to payments being deposited, along with the need for employees to wait multiple days prior to getting their paychecks. On average, retailers are paying a $0.23 interchange fee every time a user utilizes a debit card, according to a data set issued by the Federal Reserve, which the brand-new platform would be able to slash quite a bit.


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Friday Five Business Briefing – April 16, 2021
Consumers business services
Do you have business banking questions? Contact our knowledgeable business development managers.Learn more
Here’s news to help you in a constantly changing business environment, including where Michigan ranks for new businesses, how to boost productivity and a how a scavenger hunt could boost Mother’s Day sales.
- Michigan entrepreneurs in the Top Ten — Actually, we’re #9 in a list of top states for new businesses created between February 2020 and February 2021—an increase of 56%. Get the whole story.
- Twittersphere opens more conversation — Twitter is bringing a Clubhouse-like audio chat feature called Spaces to users this month. See how it works.
- Microbreaks and Mondays off for higher productivity — New research shows that taking many microbreaks of less than 10 minutes each can boost productivity. Meanwhile, Fast Company reports how a four-day work week forces people to re-evaluate their calendar, eliminate unnecessary meetings and prioritize better.
- Change in leadership style grows revenue 1,500% — The pandemic crisis showed a startup founder that candid feedback in the moment followed up with asking how he can help is more effective than his former passive style. Read how he leads now.
- Boosting sales for Mother’s Day — In response to lower sales due to the pandemic, struggling businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina, are using scavenger hunts to encourage people to visit their locations. Just before Mother’s Day, over two dozen businesses will give away prizes to hunters that would make good gifts for moms—and get more foot traffic in their shops and restaurants. Read or listen to the details and maybe organize a scavenger hunt in your town.
Thank you to our Friday Five sources: Grand Rapids Business Journal, The Verge, Acorns Grow, Fast Company, Inc. and The Charlotte Observer.
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"Exports of plastic products are gradually increasing. So, it is possible to reach the milestone, said Jashim Uddin, president of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, at a press conference in Dhaka on 11 Sept. 2012.
He, however, stressed the need for using modern technology. "We have to adopt modern technology and add value to our products.
In terms of exports, the plastic industry is in the 12th position in Bangladesh. The country earned $90.10 million in fiscal 2011-12 year from exports of plastic goods, up from $68.76 million a year ago.
The association organised the press briefing to announce the schedule of the upcoming eighth International Plastic Fair-2013 on 23-26 January at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The association and Chan Chao International Co Ltd, a Taiwan-based company, are co-organising the show.
The organisers said the fair will be held every year now due to the rising demand for plastic goods at home and abroad.
Jashim Uddin, also the first vice-president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said the garment industry is doing good business only because of compliant factories and the recent development in infrastructures.
Referring to China that is relocating its factories to Bangladesh, he said Bangladesh can easily utilise the opportunity through value addition.
He favoured relocation of the plastic factories from Old Dhaka to a suitable place having all required facilities.
The government should focus more on setting up a technology centre as well as some training centres to create modern designs and attract more buyers, said Jashim.


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If the virus responsible for Covid-19 was found on frozen beef and tripe in China, how frozen food could be possible modes of transmission and the risk of contracting the virus
Following current reports that the Sars-CoV-2 – the virus in charge of Covid-19 – was located on frozen beef and tripe in China. The Straits Times checks out how frozen food and food centers could be feasible modes of transmission and the risk of contracting the infection in such a way.
Should I be worried about contracting the Covid-19 virus through frozen food or food packaging?
The Globe Health And Wellness Organisation (WHO) has said it is not likely for individuals to get Covid-19 from food or food product packaging. Transmission using infected food is not a significant infection route. Similarly, the Singapore Food Firm posted that it is “not aware of any evidence” recommending that the infection be transferred to people through food or food product packaging and tools.
However, it added that contact with these things is “no different” from contact with typical surfaces such as lift buttons and door handles, which could be conveniently contaminated with the Covid-19 infection. But the danger of feasible transmission through these surfaces remains low. Because of this, it is essential to preserve excellent personal health.
Should People be screening all of its frozen food imports?
No, as the risk of transmission from frozen food is reduced. Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, program leader of infectious diseases and co-director of international wellness at the National College of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock Institution of Public Health, said: “Today, the cost of evaluating all icy products is high about the potential advantage, as well as various other courses of transmission are more likely as well as present a greater danger.”
He added that Singapore could consider screening all its frozen food if it is eventually aiming for no Covid-19 situations and after it has made up and regulated all other common routes of virus transmission and importation.
What are the implications of the virus persisting on the packaging of these frozen goods and should people be wary of frozen food imports?
Teacher Dale Fisher, a senior specialist at the department of Contagious Illness at the National University Hospital, stated that there is circumstantial evidence revealing that food handlers may come to be contaminated from imported infection on fresh or frozen food. Nonetheless, by the time packaged food reaches customers, there is almost no chance that the disease would still be on the packaging.
Even if it were, there would undoubtedly have to be an adequate infective dose to be a path of transmission. Dr. Danielle Anderson, the clinical director of the Duke-NUS Medical Institution ABSL3 laboratory, claimed that there is currently no clear-cut evidence of individuals being contaminated from food packaging. As a safety and security precaution, they should make sure that they prepare food thoroughly and clean their hands well after taking care of raw food, as these actions can also help avoid foodborne diseases.
Can the Covid-19 virus be spread through cooked food?
There is no evidence that individuals can capture Covid-19 from prepared food, according to the WHO. The Covid-19 infection can be eliminated at temperatures comparable to various other known viruses and germs. For that reason, foods such as eggs and all meat – consisting of fowl – must be cooked to at the very least 70 deg C.
Should we be worried about food processing and cold storage facilities? Are they a hot spot for the virus to spread?
The virus often tends to make it through much longer in chillier temperatures. The conditions at these centers tend to be extra good for its transmission and spread. Dr. Anderson feels that the centers are a concern as employees are often close to one another and might be yelling or speaking loudly. Masks might likewise become wet and inefficient at chillier temperatures.
She noted that many of these workers are afraid of losing their tasks if they take days off, making them more likely to find work even when unwell. All work environments, consisting of neighborhood food handling centers, have to follow Safe Monitoring Steps. Employers that fall short to do so may deal with stop-work orders or financial penalties.


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- The stock market gained again on hopes for progress in U.S.-China trade talks.
- Core consumer prices rise; retail sales robust.
- Retail used vehicle sales and prices strong.
The stock market kept its winning streak going for a third straight week, and again it was mainly related to rising hopes of progress with U.S.-China trade talks. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank beat the U.S. Fed to the rate-reduction punch by lowering its official rate by 10 basis point in the EU – it is now down to a negative 0.5% – and re-starting quantitative easing in Europe.
The market also cheered the latest data that point to the consumer keeping the U.S. economy in drive.
Consumer prices rise: Core consumer prices are heating up despite headline inflation that is staying low due to lower energy costs. As a result of the lower headline inflation, the consumer is seeing real gains in earnings due to the strong labor market. Consumer credit also is expanding to support more spending. Overall retail sales were stronger than expected in August.
The consumer has been the sole source of growth in the U.S. economy this summer. With consumer sentiment appearing to recover somewhat in September, consumer spending could continue to power economic growth in the third quarter. However, if gas prices remain elevated following the spike in oil from the attack in Saudi Arabia, higher energy costs could change consumer attitudes.
Strong used vehicle sales, prices: Cox Automotive reported that as a result of another strong month of retail used vehicle sales, used vehicle prices gained in August and produced a new record on the Manheim Index. However, this year we are seeing normalizing depreciation, which is resulting in difficult comparisons to last fall’s price index gains that continued through October. We are not likely to see new records on the Manheim Index over the next few months. That’s good for the market, as used vehicle prices will remain more in balance with new vehicle prices this fall than they ended up last year.
Looking ahead: We’ll receive August new construction and existing home sales data, and we will learn about the Fed’s rate decision and latest communication about U.S. monetary policy. We will also learn the outcome of a UAW strike against General Motors which, once settled, will move the spotlight on negotiations with Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.


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CVMA Concerned With Negative Impacts on Auto Manufacturing from the CPTPP Agreement
The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA) remains concerned that the tentative CPTPP agreement announced today will disadvantage auto companies that have invested in job sustaining manufacturing in Canada while providing competitive advantage to other TPP countries. The CVMA remains concerned that access for automotive exports from our factories to the CPTPP markets has not been materially improved by the agreement.
“Canada’s trade agenda needs to ensure our large manufacturers get fair reciprocal access to the markets of our trading partners before we further open up Canada’s market to companies that do not manufacture in Canada or employ significant numbers in Canada”, stated Mark Nantais, CVMA President. “Otherwise this is a harmful one way street for automakers who invest billions in Canada. We urge the government to address these concerns prior to signing onto the agreement, or exclude auto until such time as the auto sectors concerns can be addressed.”
For further information, please contact:
Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association
About the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA)
The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association is the industry association that has represented Canada’s leading manufacturers of light and heavy duty motor vehicles for more than 90 years. Its membership includes Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Canada, Inc.; Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited and General Motors of Canada Company. Collectively its members account for approximately 60% of vehicles produced in Canada, operate 5 vehicle assembly plants as well as engine and components plants, and have over 1,300 dealerships. 130,000 jobs are directly tied to vehicle assembly in Canada. Direct and indirect jobs associated with vehicle manufacturing are estimated at over 500,000 across Canada. Please visit www.cvma.ca.


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MUNICH—Wacker Chemie A.G. raised prices Sept. 7 for its Vinnapas dispersions and dispersible polymer powders line that is sold in Asia.
And effective Sept. 15, the chemical company will raise prices by 10 percent across its entire product range, "or as customer contracts allow."
"This measure has been necessitated by the increase in raw material costs and the extreme tightness of various raw materials," Wacker said in a Sept. 7 release. "The price adjustment enables Wacker Polymers to continue providing customers with a wide range of innovative quality products and comprehensive technical, sales and customer-support services."
The Vinnipas line of dispersions and powders is used in construction, adhesive and caulk sectors, nonwovens, paints and surface coatings, paper, carpets and textiles.
A division of the parent company, Wacker Polymers maintains facilities in Germany, China, South Korea and the U.S.


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Jamie Oliver’s introduction of a sugar tax in his restaurants helped cut the sale of added-sugar beverages by more than 10%, according to researchers, although sales did begin to creep up over time.
A study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of Cambridge found introducing 10p per drink to the price of added-sugar drinks in Jamie’s Italian restaurants across the UK contributed to a significant decline in sales.
After adjusting for general trends in sales, it found that adding a 10p levy to sugar-sweetened beverages sold in 37 of the restaurants, combined with activities such as redesigning menus, offering new lower-sugar drinks and related publicity, was associated with an 11% decline in sales per customer, 12 weeks after the levy was introduced.
A decline in sales of 9.3% per customer was still observed six months after the September 2015 levy was introduced.
The authors said further research with a longer follow-up was required to assess whether the pattern would be sustained.
Steven Cummins, professor of population health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who led the study, said: “Obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are among the most pressing global health challenges facing the world today. Evidence suggests that excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is an important contributor to these potentially life-threatening conditions but we still don’t have a clear answer on how best to encourage people to consume fewer of them.
“Our study showed that a combination of the levy, menu changes and clearly explaining to customers why it was introduced, and that the proceeds would go directly to a worthy cause, looks to have had a relatively large effect on consumer behaviour given the small size of the levy. This type of ‘complex intervention’ has also been shown to be successful in economic studies of levies on alcohol.”
The study also found there was an overall decrease in the numbers of non-alcoholic beverages sold per customer, with the exception of fruit juice, which increased by 22% after six months. Sales of diet cola and bottled waters also declined.
Professor Cummins said: “A possible reason for this decline could be that more people were choosing tap water, but data on tap water orders was not available as it was not recorded on the restaurant’s sales system. Overall, our study suggests that a small levy on sugar-sweetened drinks sold in restaurants, coupled with complementary activities, may have the potential to change consumer behaviour and reduce the consumption of these drinks, which are associated with major health risks.”
Assistant professor in public health economics Dr Laura Cornelsen co-led the study. She said: “This study raises interesting questions about how fiscal interventions may work beyond the effect of the price increase. For example, how big a role did the menu change or the text introducing the levy play? Taxes and levies on sugar-sweetened drinks are regularly framed as health-related measures and such framing might be having an effect of its own, including on both the quantity and the range of beverages sold.”
The research comes ahead of the introduction of the government’s Soft Drinks Sugar Levy in April 2018.
The levy will see a rate of 18p/litre for drinks with 5g-8g of sugar per 100ml and a higher rate charge of 24p/litre for drinks imposed on suppliers, although it is not clear if suppliers and retailers intend to pass on the costs to consumers.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has a long track record of clashing with the soft drinks industry and food and drink bosses in general.
It has previously produced research slamming the food and drink industry’s record in tackling obesity, with a series of reports attacking the weakness of the Responsibility Deal, of which Oliver has also been a major critic.
The drinks industry has repeatedly disputed evidence that sugar taxes have been successful where introduced in other countries such as Mexico.
The government and Public Health England claim the looming tax has forced a recent wave of reformulation among suppliers.


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One of the underlying themes of UD is that we need to be aware of how big, powerful institutions and organisations can go wrong. A typical rhetorical response to that, is to dismiss such concerns as mere ill-founded, empty conspiracist theorising.
So, it is appropriate to point out a striking case that shows how easily institutions and organisations can lock in a group think mentality and march right over the cliff:
Before reading the Business Insider clip below, ask yourself, do you think that no-one in Apple ever paused and asked whether this was a sound idea? Then, ponder why the firm marched in lockstep right over a cliff like this:
>>Apple confirmed a longtime conspiracy theory — and gave regular customers a big reason to distrust it
- Apple on Wednesday admitted it had been secretly throttling the performance of older iPhones.
- The admission outraged even some of the company’s biggest fans.
- Customers have good reason to be distrustful of the company and to suspect its motives.
[ . . . ]
Apple has long inspired an almost religious devotion among customers and tech aficionados — but it just seriously undermined its fans’ faith and loyalty.
The company on Wednesday acknowledged what some people have long suspected: that it has been secretly stifling the performance of older iPhones.
Critics have accused the company in the past, based on anecdotal evidence, of purposely slowing phones to compel users to upgrade to the latest model. While Apple admitted to the practice on Wednesday, it sought to underscore that it had done so for a purely altruistic reason: to prevent older phones from shutting down unexpectedly.
The justification hasn’t mollified Apple’s outraged fans. If anything, the company’s statement has stoked the conspiracy theories, and for good reason . . . . If Apple didn’t acknowledge that it was throttling older phones until one year after it started doing so, what else is the company not telling customers? Why should iPhone users believe the company’s explanation for why it’s throttling phones? And why should they believe that it only started doing that a year ago?
Such questions might sound like the ravings of conspiracy theorists. But in this case, the conspiracymongers were proved right: Apple was slowing down its phones. And there are rational reasons to think the company may not be offering a full explanation why . . . >>
Does this pattern sound familiar?
What do you think will happen once the sort of domineering behaviour and ideological censorship too often found in institutions of science and science education as well as the media and government become common knowledge?
Will modern civilisation recover from falling off that cliff?
Food for thought. END
PS: Let me add an analysis of how marches of folly go over the cliff’s edge:


text: AUD/JPY marches on at a steady pace since the open of markets on Monday, with the latest buying flows out of Asia now allowing the Aussie to break above 85.50, setting a new 3-day high of 85.70 ahead of 85.85/86.00 macro level. Japan: Upbeat household spending, retail sales disappoint Fundamentally, amid a vacant calendar in Australia, Japan published mixed data, with overall household spending for February upbeat, coming at +1.2% vs -1.9% expected and -3.1% last, while on the flip side, Japan retail sales (YoY) registered at 0.5%, below expectations (1.7%) in February. Meanwhile, Japanese Finance Minister Aso said earlier today that FX and stock markets are showing signs of stabilisation. AUD/JPY key levels Should the ascent persist, bulls will find in 85.85 up to 86.00 a hard nut to crack. Should a resolution above this macro level be successful for the interest of buyers, 86.40/50 (March 11 high) is next focus for the Aussie. On the downside, 85.50 now becomes immediate support intraday followed by 85.35 (daily pivoy) ahead of a deeper retracement towards 85.00. For more information, read our latest forex news.


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IoT Analytics, this month launched the State of IoT – Summer 2021 and the updated Cellular IoT & Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) Market Tracker (Q3 2021), finding that the number of connected IoT devices is growing 9% globally.
Despite the chip shortage and COVID-19’s extended impact on the supply chain, the market for the Internet of Things continues to grow. In 2021, IoT Analytics expects the global number of connected IoT devices to grow 9%, to 12.3 billion active endpoints. By 2025, there will likely be more than 27 billion IoT connections.
This is one of many findings in IoT Analytics’ latest reports: State of IoT—Summer 2021 and the updated Cellular IoT & Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) Market Tracker (Q3 2021).
The 2020 actuals for the number of connected IoT devices came in slightly lower than the mid-year 2020 forecast (11.7 billion connected IoT devices forecasted for 2020 vs. actual of 11.3 billion).
The forecast for the total number of connected IoT devices in 2025 has also been lowered to 27.1 billion (compared to 30.9 billion forecasted in 2020). Two critical factors are leading to the dent in the growth curve:
The COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19 has impacted both demand and supply. Supply was reduced, as production was halted at times, and supply chains and access to raw materials were not intact. In the first half of 2020, budgets were frozen. In the second half of 2020, demand came back, but supply was often disrupted. Many IoT initiatives were halted or, in some cases, canceled in 2020. In 2021, COVID-19 effects have continued to significantly impact some regions, resulting in additional supply chain issues, such as a lack of vessels and shipping containers and port congestion.
The chip shortage: Initially, the chip shortage was a by-product of the COVID-19 impact on the supply chain. However, it has become its own issue; the supply capacity is not available to meet global chip demand. The chip shortage first impacted the automotive industry and then extended to other segments, such as smartphones, televisions, gaming, and IoT. In 2021, the chip shortage is expected to be a factor for up to two more years before enough additional production capacity becomes available. The current shortage is so pervasive that, of 3,000+ analyzed public companies, 11% mentioned “chip shortage” in their conference calls in the second quarter (Q2) of 2021.
These two factors are expected to have a negative impact for several years.
From a connectivity point of view, new technology standards, such as fifth-generation (5G), Wi-Fi 6, and LPWA, are driving device connections. A wildcard in the mix is satellite IoT, which could make a bigger impact toward the latter part of the forecast period.
It is important to note that, while the forecast for the total number of IoT connections has been lowered due to the aforementioned reasons, IoT markets, in general, are accelerating post-COVID-19 (as previously reported). The IoT acceleration is driven by investments into additional software tools and applications and the required integration. Global enterprise IoT spending in 2020 grew 12.1%, reaching $128.9 billion as reported earlier in the year.
Cellular IoT market deep dive: two billion active connections by the end of Q2 2021
The number of connected IoT devices using cellular technology grew 18% year-over-year (YoY) to reach 2 billion by the end of the first half (1H) of 2021. China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom account for almost three-quarters of the market. In the past 12 months, China Telecom grew 42% and increased its market share by more than two percentage points. Vodafone continues to lead the global market outside of China with a 6% global market share. US-based AT&T grew 22% YoY and held a 4% global market share in 1H 2021. IoT initiatives in China during the last 1.5 years were much less affected by COVID-19 and, in many cases, continued as planned after a short COVID-19 lockdown.
Regarding cellular technologies, the decline of 2G and 3G IoT connections continues, while the mass deployment of 5G connections is anticipated to start this year. Fourth-generation long-term evolution (4G LTE) connections grew 25% YoY due to higher adoption of the long-term evolution category 1 (LTE-Cat 1) and LTE-Cat 1 bis subsegments.
LPWA market deep dive: licensed LPWA market now larger than unlicensed LPWA
In 1H 2020, the share of connected IoT devices using unlicensed LPWA (e.g., long range (LoRa) and Sigfox) led with a 53% share, and licensed LPWA (i.e., narrow-band IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-machine-type communication (LTE-M)) contributed 47% of global LPWA connections. A year later, licensed LPWA leads with a 54% share, while unlicensed LPWA has a 46% share of global LPWA connections. A key reason is that NB-IoT connections grew 75% YoY in 1H 2021. NB-IoT as a single technology now dominates the LPWA connection market with 44% market share, and LoRa has slipped to second place with a 37% share of global connections.
In the last 12 months, asset tracking and monitoring were the key applications driving unlicensed LPWA growth, while growth in NB-IoT was driven by smart meters and buildings and infrastructure industry verticals.
IoT Analytics expects that NB-IoT and LoRa/LoRaWAN will continue to dominate the market in the coming five years, with LTE-M and Sigfox in distant third and fourth places, respectively. While other technologies will continue to exist, at this point, it does not appear as though they will play a significant role in the overall global market, although they remain attractive for certain niche applications.


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Taiwanese chipset company MediaTek is optimistic about opportunities in the Indian market with growing business over the last few quarters and believes that 4G-enabled feature phone is an important segment. In an interaction with ETTelecom’s Muntazir Abbas, TL Lee, General Manager, Wireless Communication at MediaTek said that 2019 would be extremely crucial for the company as it plans to bring 5G solutions and forge partnerships with telcos worldwide by that time. Edited excerpts.
How Mediatek is doing in India and any new partnership with device vendors?
We are doing pretty well especially in India this year. All the major smartphone brands in India are running on Mediatek’s latest Helio processors like P60, P22 for their new commercial devices. So we are very excited to see the positive feedback from commercial devices like Nokia
, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme in India this year because of the Helio processors. We are witnessing traction of Helios processors in India this year.Any new partnerships? Are you in talks with homegrown vendors like Micromax and Lava?
They are our long-time customers. We keep a very good partnership with low-cost Indian brands like Micromax and Lava. Especially, they are increasing their investment in low-cost R&D in India, and we are supporting them. Lava will be launching the commercial device feature smartphone in India which is completely developed by our Indian team.India is moving towards 4G enabled feature phones, and this is a new segment which we know of with the entry of the new greenfield operator Jio. So what is your strategy for a low-cost 4G feature phone and how you are looking at the Indian market going forward?
Tactically this is a very important market segment for Mediatek. So we are now working on the 4G feature phone, and the devices will be available very soon early next year.What could be the price point of these new devices which will be launched early next year in the Indian market?
We are in the process, and a lot of it depends on the vendor side.But you mutually work on a kind of a strategic road map so would this be an extremely low cost or a mid-tier price range?
For feature phones, the price should be competitive.We are hearing about Helio P70 which brings AI capabilities. How are you gearing up for the next generation technologies like IoT and all? So can you please elaborate on Helio P70?
Mediatek has a dedicated prototype for IOT applications. So far it is going pretty good, and we have the best new IoT devices for the IoT applications, and they are partnerships with the telecom carriers for IoT.As we know the world is moving towards 5G and the global timeline is 2020 and India is also mostly on track to launch maybe one or two years later. So how MediaTek as a chipset company is gearing to embrace 5G technology and what are the challenges according to you in the entire eco-system?
MediaTek has signed 5G projects are going pretty okay now and 2019 will be very important for Mediatek because our 5G solutions will be ready in 2019 and we will spend the whole year to join hands with the major telecom carriers worldwide; in the US, China, India and Europe.The government has already set- up to a test bed for 5G even they are allocating free spectrum to operators to showcase its specific use cases. So how MediaTek is looking at this opportunity?
5G is an opportunity for Mediatek not only regarding mobile phones but also other applications because 5G will be everywhere and will be shared in everyday people's lives. For example, with a very short latency on 5G, the applications on automobiles become possible. For 5G, Mediatek came with mobile phones because the market is the largest platform for MediaTek to be a participant in 5G along with that other application like IOT, machine to machine, we do see the opportunities.What is Mediatek’s market share compared to major rivals like Qualcomm in India and globally?
We did much better business especially in India as compared to 2017. This is due to the strong momentum in smartphone adoption of our new Helio processors in the Indian market in 2018.And what is your market share?
I think in 2017 it was like one-third. In 2018 we will be much higher than one- third. Regarding global numbers, we will stay at around one- third.So when we talk about 5G because 5G, as you mentioned, is the new opportunity coming from your side, how is your plan to match Qualcomm in 5G and what is your roadmap to close the gap?
I will not say matching Qualcomm is our target. We have our plan. The priority and the main focus for us on 5G are whether or not Mediatek delivers the right solution on 5G to support our partners and Telecom carriers. This for me is far more important. So far we think it is going pretty okay.What is your India workforce headcount?
600+ people in India with a majority in Noida and Bangalore. We have also opened one office to work closely with operators in Mumbai. So we have four offices with two in Bangalore, one office in Noida and one working office in Mumbai as well.You outsource manufacturing to a third party or contract manufacturers. Are they based in India?
So far we understand that there is no semiconductor industry
in India at this moment. Because the market in India is big, and that might happen someday shortly. So probably they will start with packaging, testing and then move on to fabrication.Currently, you import chipsets from Taiwan?
We outsource the manufacturing to supplier TSMC for fabrication in their factories in Taiwan. But for packaging and testing, the job is more diversified worldwide. So we believe that someday the semiconductor industry in India may begin with packaging and testing.


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Renting movies on DVD could soon be a thing of the past, as cable operators experiment with new ways to get movies and even TV shows to viewers quicker, using their video-on-demand platforms.
On Monday, Comcast announced that it would provide some Hollywood hit movies on its video-on-demand, or VOD, service the same day they're offered on DVD. It also announced that some new television series will premiere on its VOD service at least one week before airing on regular TV.
Time Warner Cable started experimenting with a similar program in March 2007 in Austin, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio. It struck deals with Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema to offer new releases on its VOD service in those markets the same day the movies are released on DVD.
In an effort to appeal to subscribers who also want to own their movies, Cablevision Systems is taking a slightly different approach. Also on Monday, Cablevision launched a new service with Popcorn Home Entertainment that enables people to buy DVDs through the Cablevision VOD service and have them shipped to their home. With the purchase of the DVD, customers are also given immediate access to the movie via VOD.
Typically, there's a lag time between when movies hit video rental stores and retail outlets on DVD and when they're available by cable operators through video-on-demand. Studios make a lot of money from DVD sales and rentals, so they have resisted releasing new movies, especially big hits, on VOD at the same time they release it on DVD.
But movie viewers seem to like the convenience of video-on-demand. Comcast, which is the largest cable operator in the country, said its subscribers select a VOD program more than 100 times per second. That amounts to roughly 275 million video-on-demand selections per month.


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KADOKAWA announced on January 1 that the long-awaited next 15th volume of Kiyohiko Azuma's slice-of-life manga series Yotsuba&! is set to be released on February 27, 2021. It has been two years and four months since its previous 14th volume was released in Japan in April 2018. Hit the jump for more details.
As its 80th special exhibition, the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Hyogo Prefecture will host "Kiyohiko Azuma 'YOTSUBA&!' Exhibition of Original Manga Drawings" from June 8 to October 18, 2020. It was originally planned to be held from March 20 to June 27, but has been postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Hit the jump for more details including the special collaboration menu.
The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan will soon get a little bit cuter, because beginning in March of 2020 the museum will be hosting an exhibition of original manga drawings for Yotsuba&!, a manga that focuses on the adorable everyday experiences of an enthusiastic but eccentric little girl. Hit the jump to learn more.
Japanese department store chain PARCO will hold an original art exhibition to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga series at its PARCO Museum (Ikebukuro PARCO main store 7F) between April 5 and 22, 2019. Hit the jump for more details.
One day before the official release day of its long-awaited 14th tankobon volume in Japan, Kadokawa announced that Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga series has printed 16.7 million copies worldwide as of the release of the volume. The slice-of-life comedy manga has been released in 24 countries/regions in the world with 13 languages. See the latest cover illustration after the jump.
Following the announcement for the release day of April 28, the official Twitter for Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga series has also posted a cover illustration for its long-awaited next 14th tankobon volume. It will be the first volume in two years and five months since the last 13th volume in November 2015. Meet the green-hair adorable girl again after the jump.
The official Twitter for Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga series today confirmed that its long-awaited next 14th tankobon volume is set to be released on April 28, 2018. It has been two years and five months since the last 13th volume was released in Japan in November 2015. Hit the jump for more details.
The main cast and broadcast schedule have been announced for Nyanbo!, a short form TV anime based on a spin-off of the "Danbo" cardboard robot character from Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga. Hit the jump to learn more, nyan.
It's time for the prelude to summer's big events. And, as America's Anime Expo, San Diego Comic Con and the like begin to turn up the hype, so are Japan's notable gatherings. Towards this, the summer edition of the major figure event, Wonder Festival, taking place July 24th at Chiba's Makuhari Messe, has unveiled the latest edition of mascots Wonda-chan and Reset-chan. Get a look after the jump.
Asahi Shimbun today announced the winners of the 20th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. Kei Ichinoseki's kabuki and ukiyoe-themed mystery Hanagami Sharaku and Kiyohiko Azuma's slice-of-life comedy Yotsuba&! were chosen as this year's Manga Grand Prix winners from seven candidates. Hit the jump for more details.
Nyanbo - a cat-ear wearing, cat-tail sporting spin-off of the popular cardboard robot character Danbo from Kiyohiko Azuma's heart-warming Yotsuba&! manga - is getting its own short-form TV anime on NHK E TV in Autumn of 2016. Hit the jump to learn more.
For the first time in a decade, Azumanga Daioh - a 2002 TV anime based on the manga of the same name by Kiyohiko Azuma - will be available again on North American home video thanks to Sentai Filmworks. Hit the jump to learn more.


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French baker Eric Kayser during his visit to Manila. Photo by Karen Flores, ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA – Renowned French baker Eric Kayser is open to the idea of making his own version of the cronut – the well-loved croissant-donut hybrid – to his customers in the Philippines.
Kayser was in Manila last week for the grand launch of the first Philippine branch of his store, Erik Kayser Artisan Boulanger.
In an interview with ABS-CBNnews.com at the sidelines of the event, Kayser said he and his team of chefs in Manila are willing to make items that suit the local palate, including the popular cronut.
“If the people in the Philippines want cronuts, we can do [cronuts],” he said.
When asked what he thinks of the pastry invented by New York-based chef Dominique Ansel, he said: “Well for me, it’s okay because it uses the dough of the croissant and then you put it in the oil. It’s good.”
Several establishments in Manila have been offering versions of the cronut as more Filipinos are willing to wait in line for a taste of the food craze that gripped New York last year.
Wildflour Café + Bakery in Taguig, which was the first to sell cronuts in the country, has stopped producing the trendy pastry to focus on other products.
Local bakeries and franchises are expected to meet a tough contender in the cronut battle should Eric Kayser Artisan Boulanger decide to create the half-croissant, half-donut pastry in Manila.
While cronuts from Eric Kayser Artisan Boulanger in Manila have yet to materialize, customers here have to make do with another well-received pastry, the kouign amann.
Kouign amann, which hails from Brittany, France, is like a cross between a croissant and a palmier with layers of buttery, flaky pastry topped with slightly burnt sugar.
Chefs at the Manila branch of Eric Kayser Artisan Boulanger said the kouign amann is one of the best-selling items on their store, along with the ekmek (Turkish honey bread), Viennoise (soft white bread) and Financier, which is similar to a sponge cake.
Eric Kayser Artisan Boulanger’s kouign amann. Photo by Karen Flores, ABS-CBNnews.com
Kayser’s kouign amann has a crunchy, sweet crust with a nice level of sweetness, and is actually quite better than the trendy cronut offerings in Manila.
“It’s really good,” Kayser said of the pastry.
Eclair making a comeback
While he noted the popularity of both the cronut and kouign amann in the Philippines, United States and other parts of the world, Kayser said that back in his home country of France, a classic pastry is making a comeback.
“In France, what is coming back now is the éclair. It’s quite big there at the moment,” Kayser said.
The éclair is an oblong choux pastry that is filled with sweet cream and is usually topped with chocolate. Some shops in Manila have been offering both classic and modern versions of the éclair, but it never reached the level of fame achieved by the cronut.
Also popular among French customers today is the tart, which has a pastry base and an open top.
“People are going back to the tarts. They love tarts. They’re beautiful. People are going back to the classics,” Kayser said.


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The Danielle and 1111 E. Pike Condominiums are close to selling out with just three homes left at each development. Marselle & Hjarta are over 75% sold and the Pontedera reduced prices significantly.
Continue Reading »
The Fifteen Twenty-One Condominium in downtown Seattle tops the list of the top ten 2011 most expensive Seattle condo sales.
The Escala Condominium has obtained full Fannie Mae approval, new land use approvals that may affect Belltown condos, Queen Anne High School lawsuit and project updates.
Sales and pricing updates at the 200 West Highland, 7800 Plaza and the Hjarta Condominium. Trace North is closing out with just 15 homes left.
744 Harvard’s huge price reductions, Marselle’s new campaign, Hjarta and 200 West Highland relaunch, Matrix’s annual survey findings.
With a new marketing team, Queen Anne’s 200 West Highland Condominium will relaunch on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.
200 West Highland will not face foreclosure as previously reported, sales to continue per Lorig Associates.
After a change in ownership, Queen’s Court is making a run to close out its remaining units with another price cut and getting FHA/VA approval.
200 West Highland has begun closing, Marselle is hitting its sales stride and Ruby is looking to close out strong.
Leona Condominium is down to its last unit, a 3-story 2-bedroom brownstone townhome.
Seattle’s condo market lifted off into the stratosphere last month with near record median sales prices and unit sales volume.
A unique three-level Pioneer Square penthouse with a private, urban retreat.
First Hill’s long anticipated Luma Condominium is opening its sales center doors beginning this weekend.
Seattle’s condo market rebounded in March with double-digit increases in median sale prices and unit sales volume.
Beautifully updated 2-bedroom condo home located on Phinney Ridge next to Woodland Park Zoo.
Seattle Condos and Lofts


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Mississippi SBA seeks nominations
The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for the 2012 Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year and Small Business Champion awards.
Each year since 1963, the President of the United States has designated a National Small Business Week. The highlight of Small Business Week activities is the presentation of awards at the state and national levels. The 2012 Small Business Week celebration next year will honor the small business community’s many contributions to the American economy and society. National Small Business Week will be observed May 20 – 26, 2012 in Washington DC.
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Act now to protect your family Flu season is here,...


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A feature on the forthcoming Windows 95 operating system from Microsoft is causing a stir among computer users.
At the root of the controversy is an electronic registration feature called Registration Wizard, which asks the computer user to fill out some forms on the computer screen, which are then electronically transmitted to Microsoft headquarters.
Nearly every software maker asks its customers to register their purchases.
What upsets some people about the Windows electronic registration is that the software also does a quick survey of hardware and programs on each computer and transmits that information to Microsoft.
Some people are protesting, saying that it gives Microsoft a list of its competitors' customers. Others say such a program is an invasion of privacy.
Microsoft counters that Registration Wizard will allow the company to build a database of its customers, which will improve customer service.
In addition, Windows 95 users are offered the option of disabling the Wizard before data is sent out.


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Singapore’s oBike reaches 10m rides but still peddles behind rivals
BIKE-SHARING startup oBike has passed 10 million rides since it was founded a year ago. But despite its success, the Singaporean company still has some catching up to do with its larger rivals from China, Ofo and Mobike.
Last month, Alibaba-backed Ofo announced the company saw 32 million daily rides. Mobike, on the other hand, saw around 20 million rides per day as of April 2017.
According to Tech in Asia, both Mobike and Ofo have outraised oBike in terms of external funding by “many multiples” – despite oBike raising one of the largest Series B rounds in Southeast Asian history.
The Singaporean startup seems to be at risk at losing its home turf. According to data and insights company App Annie, oBike is third and tenth, respectively, in the rankings in Singapore’s iOS and Android app stores. On the other hand, Ofo and Mobike surge ahead, ranking first and second in both app stores in the same country.
As reported by Tech in Asia, oBike co-founder Edward Chen argues its competitors have had a two-year head start in China, giving them a lot more time to accumulate resources as well as operational experience. In the future, oBike aims to expand overseas more aggressively.
According to Jackie Lam, co-founder of startup research firm Oddup: “Ofo will be the biggest concern for oBike, given they have backing from Alibaba and are ‘pushed’ to own the Asian market and take a bigger stake in Southeast Asia.” Alibaba already owns a majority stake in Lazada, a major e-commerce marketplace in Southeast Asia.
As well as this, Lam adds that bike-sharing companies such as oBike need to be aware of the importance of bike management and the potential legal problems that may arise in the industry.
“Margins on bike sharing are super thin, and there are major community problems that have arisen (like dumping of bikes in rivers, as well as stolen or lost bikes). These will affect the sector and these companies need to have money on their balance sheet to support a large legal bill which may arise,” she adds.
In Australia, state government minister Martin Foley announced this week that councils need to do more to tackle the problem of dumped oBikes in central Melbourne.
— Martin Foley (@MartinFoleyMP) December 17, 2017
As reported by Herald Sun, since the introduction of the hundreds of dockless share bikes in June, many have been damaged or illegally dumped around the city of Melbourne.


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Nokia Lumia 730 Superman photos hit the net
Everyone knows Nokia has a few Windows 8.1 handsets in the works, and one of those is the selfie snapping Superman phone. The device is believed to be the Nokia Lumia 730, and a new photo of that smartphone has just hit the web.
We’ve talked about the Nokia Superman in the past, and we got a look at a device rumored to be the Lumia 830 just last week. The new photo was obtained by the folks at WPcentral, and it shows a green Nokia Lumia 730 Superman running something called “Lumia Debian Red.”
The site wasn’t able to get any additional details, but the smartphone is believed to sport a 4.7-inch display and have a 5MP front-facing camera for taking super selfies. It’s rumored to be a mid-range handset as well, which means you could be looking at a 720p display, 1GB of RAM and the standard Snapdragon 400. As for the rear camera, we’re guessing 8MP, but Nokia could surprise us.
The Debian Red moniker is likely a codename for a firmware update running on the device. Previous versions were similarly named, and they tend to go alphabetically with the “Cherry Blossom Pink” Lumia Cyan and now Debian Red. Nothing else is known about the update, and we still don’t know when the new Superman phone will arrive, but we expect to learn more soon.
Which new Lumia Windows handset will you choose?


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The Honor Play 5 could be released soon, as the device’s detailed specifications have been leaked online. The design of the phone has already been revealed in leaked renders. The new Honor Play phone will most likely be a mid-range device with a MediaTek Dimensity processor. It will be a 5G phone that supports 66W fast charging, according to the leak. Digital Chat Station, a reputable tipster, revealed the Honor Play 5 specifications in a Weibo post on Friday.
Huawei recently sold its Honor sub-brand to a group of Chinese companies, as you may recall. As a result, it’s possible that when the Honor Play 5 is released in the global market, it will come with Google’s Android operating system.
Specifications for the Honor Play 5 (leaked)
According to the source, the Honor Play 5 will have a 6.53-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution support. The selfie camera will be housed in a waterdrop notch on the display. Because you have an OLED panel, the fingerprint sensor is likely to be embedded beneath the display. The MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset will power the 5G device. Honor Play 5 is expected to be available in 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations, with storage options ranging from 64GB to 128GB. However, the leak does not reveal any information about the phone’s software.
It’s possible that the Honor Play 5 will be able to run Google-centric apps, which were previously unavailable due to a ban prohibiting Huawei from collaborating with US companies.
Moving on, the Honor Play 5 will have a 64-megapixel primary camera on the back, as well as an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor and two 2-megapixel depth and macro sensors. The selfie camera’s specifications have yet to be revealed.
The tipster also claims that the Honor Play 5 will be one of the lightest in the segment, with a thickness of just 7.46mm and a weight of around 179 grammes. The small 3800mAh battery, which may support 66W charging via USB Type C interface, is responsible for the device’s lightness.
The leaked information pretty much confirms Honor Play 5’s existence. However, we can only hope that the device will see the light once the company announces an official launch date.


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Again, some members of Congress are using scare tactics on consumers to obtain a new farm bill. In addition, dairy farmers are being used as pawns by the same congressmen to get a new farm bill passed.
These congressmen are saying prices to consumers could double if a new farm bill is not passed by Oct. 1. The assertion is that if a new farm bill is not passed, then the 1949 Agriculture Act will be implemented. The same price hike was predicted on Jan. 1 if action was not taken by Congress. However, action was taken by Congress to prevent the implementation of the 1949 act. At that time, scare tactics were being used on consumers who were warned of an $8 per gallon price for milk. That didn't happen then and in all probability will not happen now. Even if the 1949 act had been implemented in January, we estimated the price would have been approximately $5.65 per gallon to consumers. It didn't happen then and, in all probability, it won't happen now.
Dairy farmers should not be used as pawns for Congress. At a time when many dairy farmers are scrambling to stay in business, we don't need these tactics to scare consumers away from buying milk. Fluid milk sales have been declining and some of this decline could be associated with these predictions of higher prices.
Any time there are controversies in agriculture, it seems that milk and our dairy farmers take the brunt of the blame. Actually, on Jan, 1, milk prices dropped about 20 cents per gallon.
It's time for Congress to step in and take real corrective action to relieve the financial burden endured by dairy farmers. Since 1981 Congress has failed to cope with the real problem facing the majority of dairy farmers: the pricing formula used to determine the value of milk at the farm level must be changed. If the parity price contained in the 1949 act is not feasible, then it's time for a new pricing formula that reflects the dairy farmers' costs. Anything else is just not feasible and should not be accepted by dairy farmers.
Unfortunately, Congress failed to give just consideration to the Specter-Casey bill known as the Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act. This bill would have based payments to dairy farmers on the national average cost of production. This bill would not have created $8 per gallon milk, or even $5.65 a gallon. The price would have been approximately $4.15 per gallon.
It's time Congress came to its senses and passes a realistic dairy bill patterned after the Specter-Casey bill. Anything else will only continue chaos on our dairy farms and continued decline of fluid sales.
Arden Tewksbury is manager of Progressive Agriculture, a dairy farm advocacy group.


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While we broke the story earlier this week that Outlast 2 won’t support PlayStation VR at release, developer Red Barrels confirmed that Outlast 2 will support PS4 Pro!
Speaking to Red Barrels President, Philippe Morin, we asked the upcoming horror game will benefit from the extra horsepower of the PS4 Pro.
PlayStation LifeStyle: With PS4 Pro out in about a month, is Outlast 2 going to have a PS4 Pro mode or any improvements that can capitalize with the new console’s power?
Philippe Morin: Yes it will. It will have higher shadow quality, higher quality texture filtering and more detailed meshes. That’s what we have so far, but we’re still working on some improvements.
While Outlast 2 PS4 Pro support being confirmed isn’t really that big of a surprise, given how almost every game will support Sony’s upcoming console refresh, knowing the game officially will and how should be a nice treat for those picking a PS4 Pro once it’s out.
Stay tuned to our full interview set to hit the site soon.


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Among the manufacturers of Android-devices Samsung has a special place. Her most famous smartphones and the most popular, though not as prestigious as the iPhone 6. Yet in these status telephones use processors manufactured by Samsung, which makes chips on the orders of the various companies, including giants such as Apple, Qualcomm and AMD. Now South Korean corporation moves to its new 14-nanometer manufacturing process.
President of the semiconductor business areas Samsung Kim Ki We noted that the start of delivery of these processors Apple will increase the profit. Processors Apple A8, which are based on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, made on the basis of 20-nanometer manufacturing process and are now produced under contracts the two companies, the South Korean Samsung and Taiwan’s TSMC. As the resource SamMobile referring to ZDNet Korea, Samsung produces 30% of the total CPU A8, while the rest are manufactured by TSMC.
With reference to “certain sources”, SamMobile reports that Samsung has already signed a contract for the supply of next-generation processors Apple A9, which will be manufactured in accordance with the 14-nanometer process. In South Korean corporation important advantage due to the fact that TSMC is expected to produce a new generation of processors according to the 16-nanometer process.
Samsung says that its new chips 3D FinFet be 35% more energy efficient than the current, and with the calculations they will deal 20% faster. However, their size is reduced from 20-nanometer chips by 15%.
Although Samsung and remains the world leader in memory products, this year the decline in demand from Apple have also affected the company. Apple is constantly reducing its dependence from Samsung, less and less ordering in the South Korean technology giant chips for their devices. In addition, Samsung is in a difficult competition with other manufacturers of processors, including Qualcomm and MediaTek. The only brands, Dewas which are currently used processors Exynos, Samsung and is directly Meizu. But there is hope, that of the future of mobile processors Samsung product will occupy one of the most decent places.
That technological edge, which has a Samsung with its 14-nanometer process, may allow the corporation to return the interest in their chips by Apple, regardless of whether its next iPhone called “seventh”, or in some other way. Because the production of smartphones and tablets, as well as other electronics is not the only business Samsung, which supplies components very well not only myself, but other companies, including competitors.
Will the Samsung its new technologies in the production of processors back orders, Apple’s production of chips for its legendary iPhone? Mobile processors are the manufacturer do you think the most innovative and meets all requirements of the time?
Read another very interesting article about alternative energy of the Sun, water and air.


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It’s been only three weeks since we published our report on energy storage, but already the ever-evolving field of battery technology has seen another advancement. Jeff Dahn, a prominent battery researcher for Tesla at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, announced at a talk at MIT last week that his team has substantially extended the lifetime of batteries of Tesla stationary charging stations. This is less than a year into his five-year research partnership with Tesla, and already he and his team have met a major research objective. Both the significance of this discovery and the potential that it signals for the pace of future research might make Tesla a more attractive buy.
This morning, the stock prices of GM and Ford tanked by about 4% each in response to a decline in April auto sales.
My first response, of course, was to have a brief heart attack. But in an effort to avoid giving in to my cognitive biases I decided to head to the news and see the details. The crux of today’s freakout seems to come from the fact that it’s seen as a confirmation of the recent narrative among automaker investors that auto sales are reaching a medium-to-long-term peak, which might be true for a few reasons. At the same time, I’m very hesitant to see this month’s numbers as actually indicative of a significant trend, for reasons I’ll explain.
When you hop onto the NASDAQ or whatever stock tracker you prefer and look at a classic chart of stock price over time, you’re not being told the whole story. If the aim of investing is to earn money, then it’s foolish to forget one of the major ways investors can make money – dividends.
Dividends are regular payouts of a company’s profits made to shareholders, paid per share. They are one of a few ways companies can use profits, other than buying back stock or simply retaining the earnings as assets. While often overlooked by beginning investors, dividends can constitute a significant portion of earnings. For instance, Ford (F) has paid out dividends equaling 5.25% of the share price over the past year, which is at least half as much as an average security’s price can be expected to gain in an average year. Simply put, even if Ford’s stock only gained a seemingly unimpressive 7% in a year, with dividends like that it would still add 12% to the total value of your holdings, a robust return.
One of Donald Trump’s latest eyebrow-raisers has been his conflicting statements about Chinese currency manipulation, or the lack thereof. This is yet another rehashing of an issue which has been debated since at least the Bush Administration, always loaded with implications for trade policy and the relative strength of particular industries.
There’s an element of truth to Donald Trump’s original stance – in the early 20-aughts, the Chinese government certainly engaged in currency intervention to manipulate the balance of trade with partners like the U.S., strengthening Chinese export prospects and, according to some, speeding the demise of American manufacturing. Trump’s lunch with Xi Jinping seems to have updated him on the state of affairs, though – for the last several years the situation has been more complicated, and in many ways the opposite. Continue reading “China: Monetary Meddlers?”
At the moment, nearly every investing advice platform is talking about one thing – Tesla’s (TSLA) recent and continuing stock bump following the unveiling of the Model 3 on March 31. As wary as I am of continuing the momentum of a story for its own sake, I think Tesla’s latest round of hype is worth talking about because it’s a good example of a broader pattern in the market that’s been emerging in the past several years.
As of the time of writing, Tesla’s market cap is neck and neck with GM’s, putting it at the top among U.S. automakers. This is where the similarities in their financials end, though – while GM consistently turns a steady profit, Tesla has yet to turn a positive net yearly income. Of course, this is no secret. So what’s the wind in Tesla’s wings if not actual cash? If a frequently-circulated remark by Piper Jaffray’s Alexander Potter is to be taken as a cue, for investors the decision to buy is about “optimism, freedom, defiance, and a host of other emotions that, in our view, other companies cannot replicate.” Continue reading “Are We Seeing Early Warnings of a Dot-Com Bubble 2.0?”


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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The coronavirus pandemic appears to have claimed its latest North Texas business.
The ice cream parlor’s building on Lovers Lane in Dallas is now for lease.
Howdy Homemade employed special needs adults.
Like many businesses, the pandemic forced them to make changes, including serving ice cream to-go in the parking lot.
But there just weren’t enough customers and the catering business suffered as well, forcing the business to close.
Howdy Homemade is hoping to gather enough donations to be able to move to a smaller location with less expensive rent.