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Gas prices no longer seem to be as big of a factor when it comes to consumers purchasing vehicles as automobile manufacturers build more fuel efficient cars. August was a perfect example of this as gas prices rose and automakers reported sales also grew by almost 20%. According to analysts, the wide rang of fuel efficient, hybrid, and electric vehicles have made it easier for consumers to spend their hard earned money as the average car and truck on the road reaches over 10 years old. The biggest gains came from Toyota and Honda who experienced low sales last year in the wake of an earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Detroit automakers also showed substantial gains with the introduction of their high mileage car lineup. General Motors (GM) United States sales grew over 10%, driven by strong sales of the Chevrolet passenger cars like the Sonic subcompact and the Spark minicar. Ford also reported an almost 13% increase with the sales of the Focus compact car and the Escape, one of the smallest sub compact sport utility vehicles (SUV) on the market. According to analysts the strengthening industry has surpassed expectations and has helped automobile manufacturers keep inventories stable and sales incentives relatively low.
Tag Archives: California Gas Prices
Low Gas Tax Revenue Prompts New System
Counties in the San Francisco Bay area are considering getting rid of gas taxes and switching to a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) system instead. The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission (NSTIFC) recommends the switch because revenue from gas taxes have declined over the years as hybrid, electric, and more fuel efficient vehicles become prevalent on roads. They say that it will “balance the costs and benefits of the surface transportation system to those who are using it”, and could also reduce traffic congestion on the roads. The proposal is one idea in long range planning, updated by the agency every four years. If the idea is accepted, it would likely not be fully imposed until 2020.
Randy Rentschler, a spokesman for the regional commission, admits that the idea could be difficult to introduce. Radical changes like this will always be opposed by certain groups, and privacy issues will be questioned as a GPS based systems would be used to log information on when and where drivers are traveling. Transit advocacy groups are encouraging the transition to a VMT system to be tested first in the Bay area where the idea will be more easily accepted and the revenue could be used to support alternative public transportation options.
Automobile Sales Up For June
Automobile manufacturers reported strong vehicle sales in June despite analysts predictions that the automobile economy is likely to slow for the summer. The average increase for dealership sales was 22% with Toyota and Honda showing the strongest gains. Consumer interest in larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is being attributed to a sudden drop in the price of fuel, and low interest rates and the release of new models is bringing in consumers who have been delaying purchasing a new vehicle because of lack of confidence in the economy.
Fuel Saving Technology At A Cost
With fuel prices on the rise, more Americans are turning to electric and hybrid vehicles for the promise of saving money. Today’s consumer is offered a wider selection of vehicles, advertising better fuel economy with super fuel saving technologies. Even the government has jumped on the bandwagon with significant changes to fuel economy window stickers that estimate what a drivers annual fuel costs and savings will be. But, once the consumer starts looking into buying one of these vehicles, the promise of saving money is not always apparent.
According to recent studies, even if gas prices would climb to $5 a gallon, it would take the average hybrid or electric vehicle, six years before the consumer would start to see any savings. Analysts say that the price of these new technologies is a road block that limits the appeal of fuel efficient cars and trucks. The proof in in the numbers, with hybrid and electric car sales accounting for less than three percent of the total market.
So why do consumers pay more for these advanced technologies that promise to save them money? Many are blinded by advertising, but never actually sit down to do the math, or they overestimate the miles per gallon savings compared to actual savings. Some see the better fuel economy as better for resale, and hope to make up the difference when they sell their vehicle. Others just want to do something for the environment. Regardless of what the reason is, every day that gas prices increase, electric or hybrid automobile owners can feel better about the purchase they made.
Honda Civic 2012 Green Car of the Year
Last years Los Angeles Auto Show focused on the electric car with the debut of the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf. Throughout the year, other automobile manufacturers continued to release electric hybrid and electric cars, but sales were poor even with government rebates and perks. This years LA Auto show still has its share of electric vehicles, but the 2012 Green Car of the Year shows that there is no single solution to efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.
Some of this years contenders included the Ford Focus Electric, Mitsubishi i, Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Passat TDI, but the six judge panel decided to award the Honda Civic Natural Gas version the 2012 green car of the year award. According to Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal, “The new generation Civic Natural Gas features greater fuel efficiency, a more attractive and roomier design with tailpipe emissions lower than any other internal combustion produced vehicle. There is no other vehicle like the Civic Natural Gas on American highways, and this recognition has been a long time coming for Honda.”
The Civic Natural Gas is the only natural gas passenger vehicle to be mass produced. It was first introduced as a fleet vehicle in 1998, and is in its fifth generation. It offers 110 horsepower and has a range of about 240 miles on a full tank. It is reasonably priced at just over $26,000, and is available at 200 Honda dealers in 36 states.
Electric Car Charging Station Apps
It seems inevitable that the electric car will be a part of our future. With fuel efficiency standards becoming tighter, automobile manufacturers will include electric vehicles (EV) in their line ups in order to meet them. Even though this technology has come a long way in the last decade, auto manufacturers are still looking for additional ways to help the consumer get the most out of their EV’s.
One of the biggest drawbacks of an electric vehicle is the need to charge the battery. Having a charging station at home and at work makes electric car commutes trouble free, but long trips can make drivers uneasy. A new smart phone app hopes to relieve this anxiety by allowing hybrid and electric car drivers to find charging stations wherever they go. The app will let drivers know where the stations are, if they are available and whether the station offers free or paid charging. Some of the apps will even allow you to reserve the charging station, leave comments about the stations, as well as give you a street views through Google Street View. Some of the newest applications being launched include ChargePoint, ECOtality, Recargo, and PlugShare.
The Comeback Of The Electric Car
The 2006 documentary film, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, deals with the history of the electric car, specifically the General Motors EV1, and its development in the mid 1990’s. The film explores the roles of automobile manufacturers, the oil industry, the US government, the Californian government, batteries, hydrogen vehicles, and consumers in limiting the development and adoption of this technology. Today’s environmental concerns, volatile gas prices, and advancements in electric car technology, have lead to auto manufacturers and the government into taking a second look at the electric vehicle.
Everyone is familiar with the Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf because they were one of the first electric hybrid and electric vehicles sold to the general public, but today, almost every car manufacturer is developing an electric vehicle. Tesla is a car company devoted to building only electric cars, and BMW has recently started it’s own brand of electric vehicles, the i brand, to name a couple.
If you are thinking of making the move to an electric vehicle, here are a few things to consider before making the purchase:
- Even though electric vehicles are advertised as “saving you money at the pumps”, the original purchase price will be more expensive than a conventional vehicle. There are government tax credits for purchasing an electric vehicle, but you will still end up paying a bit more.
- Drivers are limited to the distance they can commute. Battery technology has improved, allowing drivers to travel further distances than ever before, and hybrids add the extra security of an engine back up, but driving an electric vehicle long distances relies on finding charging stations along the way.
- Unless your neighborhood or work place is adequately supplied with charging stations, you will probably want a charging station at your home. This is an added expense to install, and will result in electrical bills being a bit higher.
- Finally, as with all advanced technology products, the longer you wait to buy, the better and cheaper the technology gets. As more auto manufacturers release their versions of the electric car, more data will be available to the consumer to help make the decision of what electric vehicle to buy.
Some other electric vehicles you can expect to see on car lots and roads soon, includes: the Fisker Karma, Ford C-Max Energi, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi I, Tesla Model S, Rav 4 EV, and the Fiat 500 electric.
Californians Turn To Domestic Cars
Historically, imported vehicles have dominated the market in California, but a recent trend is seeing more and more consumers turn to domestic auto makers when replacing their old vehicles. Companies like Ford, Chrysler and GM have improved their sales in the state last year with the introduction of new models of small cars and compact SUV’s. The improved reliability, fuel economy, advanced electronics and added luxury options are starting to give domestic brands an advantage over once popular rivals like Honda and Toyota. Some of the more popular vehicles being sold in California are GM’s Chevrolet Volt , Cruze and Camaro, and Ford’s Fiesta, Focus and Fusion. The growth in California is important to local car dealers who have experienced sluggish auto sales for almost three years now. Some analysts, however, question whether traditional buyers of Japanese cars are switching to domestic brands, or just waiting for depleted inventories to be replenished.


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Coway Co., Ltd. reported third quarter financial results that illustrated a cumulative revenue for 2022 of $2.1 billion, a 5.8% increase year over year. In the third quarter of 2022, the company reported $709 million in revenue, a 3.8% increase, with $120 million in operating profit.
Domestic environmental home appliance sales revenue in the third quarter reached $418 million, a 2.7% increase, in part buoyed by the launch of the Icon Ice Water Purifier. Total revenue from overseas subsidiaries in the third quarter was $259 million, with Malaysia seeing a 7.9% increase in revenue, totaling $202 million.
“We had a steady third quarter thanks to opportunities from our Digital Transformation (DX) and innovative product launches,” said Soon Tae Kim, Coway Chief Financial Officer. “To continue our stable trajectory in this tough market, we will focus on research and development for exciting future products.”

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An overwhelming majority of UK drivers (84%)* believe that electric cars are at least as safe as a typical combustion car, new research shows.
A poll conducted by TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk reveals that nearly half of drivers (45%) believe that electric cars are as safe as their fossil fuel counterparts while a further 39 per cent said they thought they were actually safer.
Just a tiny minority said they thought electric cars were less safe (10 per cent) with just 6 per cent saying they thought they weren’t safe at all.
The results of the survey will be welcome news to the up-and-coming electric car market, which has suffered the odd set back in recent months. Stories of battery fires involving Chevrolet Volt and Fisker Karma models have caused a largely groundless blemished to their reputation.
Hard evidence from safety authorities such as Euro NCAP and The National Highways Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that new generation electric cars are among some of the safest cars available. Euro NCAP gave the Vauxhall Ampera and Nissan LEAF a five star rating for crash safety while even the small Mitsubishi i-MiEV scored four stars. NHTSA gives identical star rating to these models.
And while recent reports of Fisker Karma fires in the wake of Hurricane Sandy again stoked concern, new research from vehicle testing experts at DEKRA concluded that vehicles containing lithium ion batteries are at least as safe as their combustion counterparts**
“Because electric cars are still a niche product, whenever there is a problem, it hits the headlines,” says TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk’s editor, Faye Sunderland.
“It is reassuring to see, that despite the distorting affect of media coverage, people seem to be confident that these products are as safe-maybe even safer than conventional models-and there is research to support that.
“A vehicle fire is something nobody wants to experience, it is a dangerous situation to be in, but the risk is low and manufacturers work hard to ensure that all their products are as safe as possible. In that sense, electric models are no different and even have some key advantages; namely that they don’t contain a tank full of highly flammable liquid,” she adds.


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The first slayer coffee machine in Perth can be found at Pony express O, a unique coffee outlet hidden down a laneway in West Perth in a hundred-year-old stable. “Pony express O is experiential coffee where the customer actually stands in the barista’s space while their coffee is being made,” explains owner, Garrett Walsh. Two machines sit back to back in the shop. The first is a Wega Vela Vintage, with its own blend from local roaster crema. The Wega is used to make all the traditional types of coffee.
The second machine is the eye- catching slayer, which recently made headlines as Pony express O is the first café to bring a slayer machine to Western australia. The move, Garrett notes, is a growing sign that it may be time to pay attention to what’s happening out West. “We’re trying to get Perth in touch with the east coast,” Garrett says about why he purchased the machine.
Garrett comes from a cooking background, and says that with the slayer he gets a better chance to “play around”with coffee like he could with food in the kitchen. The $30,000 machines are handmade in seattle, Washington and custom ordered.“All I do is coffee, and this is just an amazing way to do that.”
He says that while Perth is catching up to Australia’s leading coffee cities, many people still drink a lot of milk in their coffee. To encourage them not to, Garrett will only serve single origin beans from the slayer machine, and only as short or long macs, and short or long blacks.
“We are trying to get customers to drink their coffee with less milk and be involved in watching their coffee being made, which is a beautiful process with the slayer, “ says Garrett. “It is a testament to the slayer that people are being easily converted in their coffee habits, which makes it money well spent.”
As a coffee focused café, Pony espress O does not serve any food, however customers are welcome to bring their food in. Photos courtesy Dave Hutson, www.flickr.com/photos/dapperado


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She has been living with a 'big guilt' since she started her modelling career. Photographs: Courtesy Gigi Hadid/Instagram Supermodel Gigi Hadid,... ...http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/glamour-why-is-supermodel-gigi-hadid-guilty/20180619.htm
What the models wore to the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards. Take a look at some of the boldest looks from the red carpet. Kendall Jenner stepped out... ...http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/glamour-oops-kendall-jenner-just-wore-a-flamingo-dress-on-the-red-carpet/20180606.htm
The stunning, Urvashi Rautela has been ruling the hearts of millions with her drop dead gorgeous looks and fashion forward style! The actress... ...http://www.santabanta.com/bollywood/125280/watch-out-for-indias-new-gigi-hadid-urvashi-rautela/
"Game of Thrones" actress Nathalie Emmanuel has been announced as a new brand ambassador of fitness brand Reebok thereby joining the likes of Gigi... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/game-of-thrones-actress-joins-reebok-as-brand-ambassador-118051400665_1.html
We love how the tinsel town celebrities fashionably document their style shenanigans on the new age digital journal, Instagram. Style has many... ...http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/weekly-best-dressed-celebrities-priyanka-chopra-sonakshi-sinha-alia-bhatt-shilpa-shetty-janhvi-kapoor-keep-chic/
Supermodel lingerie two piece Gigi...


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HANOI: Vietnam and India hold great potential for cooperation in establishing supply chains following Covid-19, which has seriously affected both economies over the past two years due to regional and global disruptions, according to Indian analysts.
India is trying to establish new supply chains to overcome the consequences of Covid-19 and Vietnam is considered a partner of potential, said Sanjaya Baru, former secretary-general of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
According to the Centre for the World Trade Organisation and International Trade at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vietnam is an attractive market due to being a signatory to a number of free trade agreements.
“India and Vietnam can work together on establishing new supply chains so that Indian exports to South-East Asia and East Asia can be enhanced through joint ventures,” Baru said.
At the Vietnam-India Business Forum in New Delhi last December, the two countries signed 12 cooperation agreements in various fields, including human resources training in information technology, oil and gas processing and energy, and trade and investment promotion activities.
Meanwhile, Jagannath Panda, head of the Stockholm centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific affairs, described Vietnam as an important country in South-East Asian and Indian supply chain networks.
He lauded Vietnam-India relations, which have been progressing well and developed into a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2017.
A turning point in relations was the initiation of India’s Look East policy in 1991, aiming to cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations with South-East Asian countries, according to Amitendu Palit, senior research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies under the National University of Singapore.
The success of the Look East policy encouraged India to make it more action-oriented, resulting in India’s Act East policy, which was announced in 2014. The policies have made India much more outward looking, Palit said. — Viet Nam News/ANN


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Clean Beauty Brands Face Perception Challenges When Competing With Traditional Beauty Products
NEW YORK, May 19, 2022
New MROC Study Identifies The Brands That Are Winning With Consumers
NEW YORK , May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The clean beauty market is set to reach $22 billion in 2024. In a recent study, Vesta, the leader in online brand community software, identified three critical perception challenges for clean beauty, as well as the brands getting it right and the strategies to stand out.
The study found that 1 in 3 beauty consumers have started using clean beauty brands in the last 12 months. Using an innovative Market Research Online Community (MROC), consumers identified top brands including Briogeo, Beautycounter, and Dr. Dennis Gross. They also highlighted the challenges these brands face, including convincing the clean beauty skeptic of effectiveness and building trust to break through a competitive landscape.
"Our MROC found there is a general expectation that clean beauty products may be less effective or not last as long. Proof that natural products work as well as traditional brands will win people over," says Christoph Knudsen, VP of Insights at Vesta.
Access the infographic: https://go.vesta-go.com/hubfs/Clean%20Beauty%20Infographic.pdf
Recommendations from this study include:
Foster education with "Small Asks"
Consumers describe their discovery of clean beauty as an "awakening" that starts by asking about what they're putting on their bodies. Half (50%) strongly agree they look for fewer chemicals and more natural ingredients.
Emphasize Value and "Use Less but Get More"
Clean Beauty is about simplicity. Highlight the sustainable processes, as well as quality ingredients, that justify the higher price.
Create Community Connections and Purpose
Clean beauty connects consumers. Users are passionate about animal rights, sustainability, and/or helping people take care of their bodies.
"Authentic peer recommendations extolling the virtues of your new clean beauty line are the best way to address any skepticism from consumers," says Knudsen.
Research was conducted via an online survey of the Smiley360 online community, completed by 1,230 U.S. respondents between October 5 - November 29, 2021, and an MROC conducted October 18 - December 6, 2021, with 60 participants.
Vesta is a leader in Community Powered Marketing. Our all-in-one online community software helps brands nurture consumer relationships and mobilize advocates to drive customer acquisition and emotional loyalty.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clean-beauty-brands-face-perception-challenges-when-competing-with-traditional-beauty-products-301551328.html


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Hit Against Investment Fraud
A coordinated action undertaken in November 2022 revealed a case of large-scale investment fraud using cryptocurrencies, with the estimated number of victims in the hundreds of thousands. Using dozens of call centres in numerous countries and hundreds of online platforms, members of the organised crime group presented themselves as brokers helping investors to earn large amounts of money through small investments. The damage caused is estimated at €50 million per quarter since the start of the fraud (likely in 2016). Investigations began in 2018. Since then, 13 coordination meetings have been held at Eurojust. In addition, Europol provided analytical support in seven operational meetings. On the action day, 15 call centres were searched as well as 27 other locations and five vehicles. Five suspects were arrested and hundreds of objects seized. The action involved 10 European countries.


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For many with diabetes, life is a constant drill of poking and prodding as many are required to regularly test their blood sugar levels. Pharmaceutical companies are working hard to be the first to create a fully artificial pancreas.
Currently, the artificial or bionic pancreas is undergoing a number of studies. The vast majority of these studies are small, lasting only three days. The reason for these short studies is that FDA regulations will not allow for the devices to be used outside of a hospital. Continue reading Artificial pancreas could provide relief for thousands
Nomophobia is described as the condition of being tense and/or anxious when not having access to a mobile phone. The condition is also known as no-mobile-phone-phobia. Recent research conducted by an Internet security firm has indicated that this condition of the digital age is growing at a rapid rate. Continue reading Nomophobia: A condition of the digital age
Pink slime has become a recent buzz word in the media. Pink slime is the process through which scrap meat and connective tissue are cleaned and clarified to create ground meat safe for humans to eat. Attention was drawn to this issue by an episode of “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.”
The process of creating pink slime is grinding scrap meat and connective tissue from parts of the animal most people do not eat. The connective tissue acts to firm the meat up. As the meat is being ground, a mixture of water and ammonia is added to the meat connective tissue mixture; this is done to help ensure the meat lasts longer by preventing E. coli or salmonella. The company that creates this product is called Beef Products, Inc. They are responsible for providing McDonald’s and other companies with their meat products. Continue reading The controversy of the pink slime
MicroCHIPS is a company that hopes that their flash-drive sized microchips could be the way of the future for doctors looking for a better way to treat their patients. In a study published in early February, MicroCHIPS released their findings on a new study involving women with osteoporosis. Continue reading MicroCHIPS invents the pharmacy of the future
Norovirus is the second most common illness behind the cold. It is a virulent form of food poisoning, one that spreads easily and hits hard and fast. Continue reading Outbreaks of norovirus on the rise


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You can’t talk about weed culture without talking about Cypress Hill. It just wouldn’t be right. From songs like “Hits from the Bong” and “I Wanna Get High” to legendary moments like lighting up a joint on Saturday Night Live — and being banned forever — they’ve been here, advocating for legalization and free use of the plant since the jump.
So when I had the chance to talk to B-Real, one-fourth of the hip hop collective, in celebration of his appearance on BET’s Smoke: Marijuana + Black America documentary, it was an immediate “yes.”
“[BET] just asked for my involvement, and I was like yeah for sure. Anytime you get a chance to speak on behalf of the culture, in terms of cannabis, I’m always willing.”
B-Real has a very cool demeanor. He’s calm, collected, and ready for all the curveball questions, just like you’d expect from someone who’s been talking about legalization and the cannabis business for years now. When asked what cannabis culture means to him today, he told me, “Every part of it has a sub branch from the original shit. There’s the cultivator culture, there’s the brand culture. Cannabis and music always went together. People smoking, at any degree, most times, are rocking that shit with music. We were able to talk about cannabis in our music, so that’s a part of the cannabis culture.”
Navigating legalization and how to keep the culture alive
Cypress Hill has been championing cannabis for over 30 years now. Since before Washington and Colorado even considered the thought of legal weed. “Back when we started, legalization was the big thing. To get to a point where people would be open to the thought of legalization — who knew what it would turn into?”
What it’s turned into is the majority of the United States having some form of legalized cannabis, and generating billions of dollars in tax revenue from it.
“It’s great that we’re there in terms of acceptance, and the fact that we are the template with how it would operate. We’re the template to show that it either works or it doesn’t, and soon enough, most of the states will become recreational. Those old ways of thinking are breaking down,” said the LA native. “It’s just taking time because you have very conservative places that still, despite the information of how it would stimulate their economic flow, it’s always a hard sell on them.”
Federal legalization, whenever it happens, is inevitable. With it, we can only hope that everyone gets to eat — not just the big corporations that will flood the market. When asked about his thoughts on the future of legalization, and the big-bank-take-little-bank business practices that are sure to exploit it, B-Real says that’s the big worry.
“You’ve got to survive this tidal wave of shit, but I think it’s on your brand building. If you build something of quality and consistency that the consumers trust and know that it’s the shit, they will stand with you. Others, they might not be fortunate enough. You might have to white label and say fuck a brand, I’m just going to be a producer. But yeah, a lot of those operators are going to go away. They’ll probably sell their license to investment groups that are trying to get into cannabis.”
Luckily for B-Real, he owns one of those companies that consumers stand behind. “Dr. Greenthumb” isn’t just one of Cypress Hill’s biggest songs, it’s also the name of B-Real’s chain of dispensaries, and web-series/podcast channel. The dispensary is known for their flagship strains: Insane OG, Insane Christmas Lights, Hindu Funk, and when it’s available, Ice Cream Cake.
For now, Dr. Greenthumb has six locations spread throughout Southern California. The plan for the future is expansion into other states, and eventually other countries. “We want to plant flags in the United States and then eventually go over to Spain and plant a flag there. Because Cypress Hill has a fanbase there that is very supportive. So if we were to open a retail spot and take our genetics down there, it would go a long way. Our fans expect that experience, so it’s just a matter of time.”
Since B-Real is such a figure in the cannabis world, we couldn’t hop off the Zoom without also discussing his weed ritual, habits, and favorite products. Here are some of the products the hip-hop legend and cannabis entrepreneur B-Real can’t live without.
Cypress Hill Phuncky Feel Tips
Cypress Hill’s Phuncky Feel Tips are B-Real’s brand of glass joint tips that produce a Cypress Hill series. “I cannot smoke a joint without those glass tips. It’s not the same for me. Once you smoke on a glass tip, smoking anything else just doesn’t seem right. That’s my number one shit right there.”
B-Real’s a flower man. He used to be heavy on the dabs, but he prefers to smoke joints over everything. When asked how much weed he smokes per day, he responded, “We’ve tried to count and we lose count. We smoke before we’re on the podcast, which is a two hour show, so we’re smoking 4 joints each for those 2 hours. And then there’s the 5 or 6 before the show, and the other 10 after the show. We’re smoking all day over here, it’s crazy.”
Dr. Greenthumb’s Insane Christmas Lights and Super Chief by RedLine Genetics are the strains he’s been smoking.
With his abundance of good flower, B-Real can’t live without a good grinder.
Vibes is Berner’s rolling papers brand, and B-Real’s preferred roll-up.
Featured graphic by David Lozada/Weedmaps


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Ever heard of TD-SCDMA, WAPI, AVS or EVD? They are standards pertaining to mobile telephony, wireless LAN, audio-video coding for broadcasting, DVD format and are all developed in… China, as part of the country’s ambition to develop its own intellectual property and create high-technology national champions whose product will flood world markets.
During the last decade, the Chinese government has adopted a policy of strong support to its domestic ICT industry through the creation of national champions (China Mobile, Lenovo) and the development of domestic standards.
Has it worked? Not quite, or at least not yet. EVD is going back to the drawing board because Hollywood movies don’t come in the EVD format. WAPI has been rejected by ISO (International Standard Organisation) to the Chinese delegation’s great displeasure. The fate of AVS and TD-SCDMA is less clear. Both may benefit from the tremendous technological enthusiasm created by the 2008 Beijing Olympics. China Netcom (one of the largest telecommunication companies in China) has announced that AVS will be used as the only standard for IPTV while most Chinese mobile operators are running trial TD-SCDMA networks. If that wasn’t enough, the Chinese government announced last week a government-backed venture capital investment, which will support mainly high-technology and telecommunication industries.
Does it make sense? In certain cases, firms were given a significant competitive advantage when their countries created a system which eventually became a worldwide standard – just imagine what a Chinese installed-base means in terms of economies of scale! On the other side, the history of technology is littered with (very) expensive examples of failed policies in standards-setting.
The good news is that once a country starts to own intellectual property (IP), it starts to protect IP rights!


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Latest Coats Stories
This fashion-forward company has created a jacket that changes with your mood.
DressVe.com, a well-known garment manufacturer and retailer, has recently unveiled a new selection of new wool overcoats for 2014.
Today, Fecbek, a well-known clothing manufacturer and retailer, has delightedly released its new arrivals of trendy men’s jackets; all these items are offered at extremely low prices
Recently, DoudouneCanadienneGoosePasCher.fr, a distinguished clothing supplier, has unveiled its trendy and comfortable Canada Goose Trillium Parka Marine collection. (PRWEB)
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Students wear lab coats at a title I school in Texas and sees AP Biology class population double. Lewisville, Tex. & San Clemente, Cal.
NOTTINGHAM, England, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week marked the first day of spring and although that means lighter morning and nights it also means that there is a higher chance of
Medelita is adding a new men’s lab coat to its slim fit collection in January, 2014. San Clemente, CA (PRWEB) January 22, 2014 In March 2013 Medelita
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- The act of burning, scorching, or heating to dryness; the state or being thus heated or dried.
- In medicine, cauterization.


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Tobacco companies are targeting financially vulnerable consumers with the launch of cheap cigarettes. The move by Imperial Tobacco and Gallaher comes in the wake of a government consultation that could restrict the promotional activity of tobacco giants.
Imperial Tobacco, which makes brands such as Lambert & Butler, will launch a new brand called JPS Silver next month at a price of £4.21 for a pack of 20.
Meanwhile, Gallaher, which makes Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut, will reduce prices on its budget brand Sterling by 7% to £4.20 a pack.
Lobby group, Action on Smoking and Health research manager, Amanda Sandford, has slammed the move by the tobacco companies. “Whenever the price of cigarettes falls, there is an impact on consumption – that hits poor people the hardest. This is bad news,” she says.
The budget cigarette category has seen growth in recent years, with the sector accounting for 10.5%, or £1bn, of sales last year, compared with 6% in 2005. Cigarette companies say the growth is due to the economic downturn, where rises in fuel and food costs have encouraged adult smokers to “down trade”.
The budget cigarette sector – defined as cigarettes priced at £4.60 or below – is expected to account for 12.5% of the market by the end of 2008.
The Government is considering plans to force tobacco companies to sell cigarettes in unbranded packets. This would see the removal of any logos, colours and graphics on packs. The Department of Health is considering the plans as one of the many measures to reduce the number of smokers.


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The Fenton blog is a multi-author, multi-purpose playground: you’ll find thoughts on the latest issues affecting the sectors we work in, personal interest stories, and practical communication tips.
Video: the medium that moves with the times
A Cisco white paper predicts that by 2019, 80 per cent of all internet traffic will be video content. According to the paper, videos made up 64 per cent of internet traffic in 2014. By 2019 online video content will have increased by 16 per cent in just five years….Read more


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Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) is joining those speaking out against a highly anticipated United Nations advisory that’s expected to expand calls for reduced meat consumption across western nations.
The U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP28) convened in Dubai on Thursday and is set to run until Dec. 12, with participants discussing a number of strategies to address climate change and other environmental topics. Coinciding with the summit, the U.N.’s Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) is expected to release its roadmap for sustainable food production.
The FAO’s roadmap is expected to continue asserting a link between livestock and growing carbon emissions, and to recommend curbs on meat production and consumption. But some meat industry supporters are pushing back, including Mr. Flood.
“As a Nebraskan, from the largest beef-producing state in the nation, this would just economically—it would eliminate jobs, wipe out farms, ranches, and feed that all underpin rural communities and our way of life,” the congressman told NTD’s “Capitol Report” on Friday.
Ahead of COP28, the Global Meat Alliance (GMA) began preparing its members and supporters to push back on efforts to constrain meat production. The GMA’s effort is bolstered by the world’s largest meat company, JBS, as well as other industry members like the Global Dairy Platform and the North American Meat Institute.
For the most part, Mr. Flood said these meat industry leaders like JBS “can make this case better than I can,” but insisted on speaking out regardless, as the meat industry presents a key issue for his home state.
“I don’t understand this. We have to find ways to feed the world. And Nebraska has been doing that since before we were even a state. As a territory, the Native Americans were eating buffalo meat. I mean, this just doesn’t make sense. And I’m not surprised it’s happening at this summit. And I hope that JBS rings the bell and tells our story,” he said.
The Republican lawmaker said members of the global community pushing for the United States and other western nations to cut their meat consumption aren’t doing enough to account for the nutritional needs of these nations, or the economic impacts of such a shift.
“They’re not talking about how this would harm America’s food security, how it would harm our economy,” Mr. Flood said.
Data recorded by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019 found that the meat industry accounts for about 527,000 jobs.
Congressman Points to China for Environmental Answers
Rather than going after meat production as a means of driving down carbon emissions, Mr. Flood argued that the international community should look more closely at China’s carbon emissions and how these policies would alter the balance of power between the United States and China.
“China does what’s in China’s best interest, and that is to operate in such a way that works to tear down the United States and reduce our authority as the world’s sole superpower. And so when it comes to their emissions, and how they produce food, and then their industries, I have no confidence that they’re going to do what’s right for the world, or for their country, or for their people,” Mr. Flood said.
According to global emissions data collected by the European Union’s Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), China was the country with the largest carbon footprint in 2022. EDGAR data indicates China’s population produced the equivalent of about 15.68 billion metric tons of CO2. The United States’ carbon footprint ranked second, with the equivalent of about 6 billion tons of CO2 in 2022.
With a population of 1.4 billion people in China and about 336 million people in the United States, the people of China produce less carbon emissions on a per-capita basis than the people of the United States. EDGAR data found the average person in China produced the equivalent of 10.9 tons of CO2 in 2022, while the average person in the United States produced about 17.9 tons of CO2. On the other hand, EDGAR data indicates individual carbon footprints have been growing at a faster rate in China than in the United States in recent years. U.S. consumers have reduced their carbon footprint by about 2 percent since 1990, while Chinese consumers have increased their carbon footprint by about 285 percent since 1990.


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Tag "playstation phone"
After careful consideration and feedback, Sony plans to leave the Playstation Phone at Gingerbread.
The “PlayStation Phone” hits it stride with a full library of games written for the added hardware buttons.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY finally makes its way to the United States later this month as Verizon confirmed a May 26 launch date. Announced in a press release today,
The Xperia Play was announced by Sony Ericsson at MWC, and it was launched recently in UK. We heard that Verizon will be launching this phone in U.S., and it
Now that the PlayStation Phone has landed in a number of markets, Sony Ericsson needs to generate interest and get people excited over the phone/gaming device hybrid. And, no, we’re
Sony Ericsson has a handful of new clips to hype the Xperia Play. Featuring the very funny Kristen Schaal, each ad shows us how awesome the “PlayStation Phone” really is.
The PlayStation Phone is set to get some great exposure in the gaming community thanks to a partnership with the MLG.
According to Sony Ericsson CTO Jan Uddenfeldt, the “Playstation Phone,” the Xperia Play, may launch on more than one U.S. carrier. Uddenfeldt said that Sony Ericsson is excited about their
In what was no surprise at all, Sony Ericsson officially announced the storied “PlayStation Phone,” the Xperia Play, at MWC on Sunday. We also could have guessed that we’d get official
Rumors of a PlayStation phone have swirling for months, and more recently we learned it will be called the Xperia Play and saw a fairly thorough hands-on with the device.
A leaked copy of Sony Ericsson’s first ad campaign for the PlayStation Phone has arrived online. Android is ready to play, are you?
Engadget, long a source for excellent PlayStation Phone rumors, has just published their exclusive hands-on with the device. Known formally as the Xperia Play, the phone gets an extensive walkthrough and early preview. Those lucky fellas over there tell us that the phone has been there daily driver for the last few days and things look to be as advertised.
How about a host of videos of the we-know-it’s-real-so-just-announce-it PlayStation Phone? Each is only a couple of minutes long at the most, but they do give us a good look at the form factor and UI that awaits us.
This is a big one. Chinese website IT168 posted a lengthy, rich, and media filled PlayStation Phone preview. The article confirms many of the phone’s specs, and also dives into the software and gives us a good look at the OS.
Here’s a bit of a 2-for-1 Playstation Phone rumor for you guys to chat about. Engadget believes that the hotly anticipated handset may end up with the name of Xperia Play.


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Monday is the coming-out party for Apple’s Hollywood ambitions: After years of trademark secrecy about its plans to stream into video entertainment, the tech giant is set to pull back the curtain at a media event.
The live program kicks off at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, on Monday, March 25, from the Steve Jobs Theater at the tech giant’s campus in Cupertino, Calif. Apple is offering a free live stream of the big reveal at apple.com/apple-events/livestream.
In addition to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the company has invited stars of several of its original series to the event, who are expected to join execs in unveiling the first looks at clips of some of Apple’s projects.
Shows that Apple has announced to date include a Reese Witherspoon-Jennifer Aniston morning show drama; dramas “Little Voices” and “My Glory Was I Had Such Friends” from executive producer J.J. Abrams, with the latter starring Jennifer Garner; drama “Are You Sleeping” starring Octavia Spencer; and a comedy about a video-game development studio from Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”).
On Sunday, users spotted a mock-up of a text exchange between Tim Cook and Kevin Durant — the NBA star who’s the subject of an Apple docu-series about his early life and career — on Apple’s placeholder page for the live-stream. Also seen was an image showing an incoming call from Chris Evans, who is starring in Apple’s “Defending Jacob” limited-series thriller.
It’s still not clear when those Apple original series will be available — or how much users will have to pay to watch them. Those details are expected to be revealed Monday.
Initially, Apple’s subscription-video product is expected to center on a bundle of third-party TV services; in recent months, the company has held talks with HBO, CBS, Showtime and Starz about being part of the integrated service. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said last week that it will not be part of Apple’s subscription service.
Apple has been negotiating with HBO, Showtime and Starz to offer their streaming services for $9.99 per month each, the Wall Street Journal reported. Apple also plans to charge a fee for its originals, per the WSJ report, which didn’t have that pricing info.
The company sent out invitations to the March 25 confab to media two weeks ago, which said only “It’s show time.”
In addition to news on the video front, Apple also is expected to launch a revamped news subscription service based on Texture, a magazine-subscription app the company acquired a year ago. The Wall Street Journal is reportedly in the mix, while the CEO of the New York Times Co. signaled it’s going to sit out.
Apple also may announce a game-subscription service at Monday’s event, Bloomberg reported.
Cook tweeted Monday ahead of the event, “Excited for a big day ahead!” along with a GIF showing the sun rising on the Steve Jobs Theater.
Excited for a big day ahead! pic.twitter.com/0N25nLC0Tw
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 25, 2019


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UAE firm launches new range of emergency lights
Dubai, July 28, 2013
Mr. Light, a brand for household lighting gadgets of the UAE-based Moonway Group, has launched Rangeela, a new addition in the emergency lights technology.
Rangeela, the first two cut mould design in emergency lights, is a sleep aerodynamic design and has a varied colour range of lamps, said a statement.
“The Rangeela emergency lamp boasts an unrivaled package of the most theme-based lighting solutions to create a sophisticated interior ambience, and having unique power saving features, durability and sustainability,”said Abdul Gafoor, CEO, Moonway Group.
“We are able to assure our customers further peace of mind with extended warranty offers through Mr. Light Care Centres. As a sign of our commitment to customers, we also have ensured a strong distribution channel to ensure easy accessibility and high quality of service,” said Gafoor.
The products are widely and easily available across leading consumer electronic and home appliance outlets in the region. - TradeArabia News Service
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Mazda’s long time relationship with Ford is weakening as Mazda looks to Toyota for hybrid drive train technology. In the past Mazda has used Ford’s hybrid system in its sport-utility vehicle, the Tribute, but because Mazda plans to make their new hybrid car in Japan, they decided to lease the technology from Toyota instead. Masaharu Yamaki, Mazda’s executive vice-president, said the group had chosen Toyota’s technology over Ford’s because, “We need to procure components quickly and reliably from domestic suppliers.” The agreement which the two companies had been negotiating since last spring, will include hybrid components such as control systems, inverters and the regenerative braking mechanism.
Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota’s executive vice-president, said the Mazda deal would help lower production costs for Toyota’s own hybrid cars by expanding the market for shared components. As a result, “We hope that the cost of parts will fall and new innovations will emerge.”


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- Danielle Wightman-Stone |
London Fashion Week in September is to host a photographic exhibition celebrating Minnie Mouse’s influence on the fashion industry.
Supported by the British Fashion Council, the ‘Minnie Style’ exhibition will be curated by model Georgia May Jagger and will include interpretations of Minnie Mouse’s style from magazine fashion shoots to pop culture images. Jagger, who is also a passionate photographer, will also be displaying some of her own artwork in the exhibition.
“From that famous Herb Ritts shot of Madonna to the Minnie LOVE Magazine cover or Victoria Beckham at Vogue Festival, Minnie has some serious fashion credentials,” explains Justine Finch, director of franchise for the Walt Disney Company UK. “The exhibition at London Fashion Week in September will bring all of this together in an innovative and fun way, showing how Minnie has been a global fashion influence across the decades.”
The Minnie Style exhibition will run from September 18-22 as part of London Fashion Week, and to celebrate the exhibitions launch the Jagger has posed for a series of images shot by Sharif Hamza for Dazed Magazine, in which the model wears specially created, Minnie-inspired designs by London name Ashley Williams.
Images: Disney/Dazed Magazine
- FashionUnited |
Want to keep up with what's happening backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich? Keep up with their Pinterest board for the latest behind-the-scenes looks from each show! Over the course of four days national and international designer present their newest Spring/Summer 2015 collections and transform Zurich into a vibrant fashion metropolis. Be a part when the latest trends are showcased on the catwalk and enjoy the unique atmosphere. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich Backstage Access HERE on Pinterest


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PlayStation News of the Week: December 9 - 14, 2013
- Posted December 15th, 2013 at 06:13 EDT by Michael Harradence
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
PlayStation 4 named as YouTube's biggest trending gaming video of 2013
The PlayStation 4 video which accompanied the announcement of Sony’s next-generation console in February had today been revealed as the top trending gaming video on YouTube in 2013.
DFC: PS4 is the 'leading system of this generation'
The PlayStation 4 boasts the best two-week sales of any video games console in history, DFC Intelligence has revealed.
The Elder Scrolls Online coming to PS4 in summer 2014
Bethesda has announced that The Elder Scrolls Online will launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2014.
Fallout 4 in development, casting call reveals Boston setting
Leaked casting call documents have confirmed that a new Fallout game, presumably Fallout 4, is in development.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Collector's Edition announced, pack full of cool extras
Square Enix announced a Collector's Edition of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be available in North America at launch.
Dying Light dev: PS4 'is truly fantastic,' expect 'advanced graphical fidelity' over PS3, 360 versions of the game
Dying Light producer Tymon Smektala has confirmed there will be no differences from a gameplay perspective between the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 versions of the upcoming zombie title.
BloodRayne dev closes its doors, according to ex-employee
Terminal Reality, the developer behind the BloodRayne series and 2009’s PlayStation 3 iteration of Ghostbusters, has reportedly shut down.


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Samsung is already preparing the second generation version of its Galaxy Fold foldable smartphone despite the first version still not being available to consumers, according a The Elec report.
The second generation Galaxy Fold will reportedly use the same in-folding technology as its predecessor, and will feature an 8-inch display and S Pen. Samsung has already requested its S Pen-making partner to make components for an S Pen that would fit inside the second Galaxy Fold, according to the South Korean tech news outlet.
Suppliers for the Galaxy Fold have also been given a ‘stand by’ order from Samsung, which means they can start production and supply right away after a launch date is set, with production expected to begin around August.
The report also added that the second generation Galaxy Fold will be unveiled in December at the earliest, with a commercial launch planned for sometime next year.
See also: Galaxy Fold – What went wrong?
The original Galaxy Fold, which sports a 7.3-inch display when opened and a 4.6-inch cover display when folded, was slated for an April launch in…


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Walt Disney Studios has announced their very exciting line-up for the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con today that starts on July 23rd in only a few more weeks. We've heard tidbits and details about what to expect, but we now finally have confirmation on everything, and this looks like it'll be some the best stuff we'll see. Animation greats Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter and directors Robert Zemeckis and Tim Burton will take part in their first ever Comic-Con. The filmmakers will be on hand to help Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures showcase a wide-ranging roster of upcoming films. Read on for the schedule and more details!
The King of Comic-Con returns again! We're proud to announce that Bob $tencil himself will be back this year to provide more coverage of the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. If you don't know who Bob $tencil is, you can catch some of his old videos from Comic-Con 2008 and Sundance 2009 right here on FS.net. Bob sent over a special teaser video in anticipation of this year's Comic-Con to give us a glimpse of what's coming and also take a quick look back at some of his memories from Comic-Con's past. Whether you've never seen any Bob $tencil before or just want to revisit some of his greatest moments, then fire this up!
We've got even more San Diego Comic-Con news for you today! SlashFilm has confirmed that Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass is heading to Comic-Con this year. Matthew Vaughn will be in attendance, along with some of the film's cast, to present some of the first real footage. We haven't seen a trailer or anything else from Kick-Ass yet, so this will literally be the world premiere of anything from his movie. Kick-Ass is the biggest non-studio produce comic book movie of all time. As part of the news, SlashFilm was sent over that badass new photo of Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl that you see above. This is one panel I am very excited for!
Comic-Con is still another three weeks out, but Fox is already starting to build buzz for James Cameron's Avatar. Exactly as we expected, the highly anticipated feature will have a huge presence at the Con, and that includes starting with the advertising around town. As always, banners are put up on street lights around San Diego for Comic-Con with one half of them an advertisement. A few years ago it was Iron Man and last year it was Star Trek. This year it's Avatar. And considering this is a combination of the two things I am most excited for at this moment, there's no way I could pass up sharing this with everyone today.
While the full schedule for Comic-Con will probably be announced this week, we just can't wait to tell you know about some of the things we've heard will be going on down in San Diego. A few weeks ago we published an Early Comic-Con 2009 Buzz article with lots of early tidbits. Now we can confirm today a few things. First off, Derrick Comedy's Mystery Team will definitely be screening at Comic-Con (more details on that below). Secondly, comedy mastermind Mike Judge will be in attendance to promote Extract with his cast. And lastly, we've heard that Shane Acker's 9 will have a special sneak preview screening, too
While we're still waiting for Comic-Con to announce the full programming schedule for this year, Warner Brothers has released their line-up to press already. In addition to confirming that they'll be bringing Sherlock Holmes, Jonah Hex, The Box, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Book of Eli, Where the Wild Things Are, The Final Destination, and Robert Rodriguez's Shorts, they have also confirmed that Hall H has been converted to 3D for multiple presentations this year (which is great news for James Cameron's Avatar). Read on for the preliminary details and timing for Warner Brothers three big Comic-Con 2009 panels!
The 2009 San Diego Comic-Con kicks off in 37 more days (on July 22nd). That means geeks everywhere are starting to get very excited and we've started planning our coverage. While it's expected that Comic-Con won't officially announce all of their panels and presentations until sometime in July, we've heard some early details on who might show up. For those who thought it might not have been a good year - just wait until you see what could be there! There may only be one superhero movie next summer - Iron Man 2 - but that doesn't mean Hollywood isn't bringing some of their other highly anticipated movies to San Diego!


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Redbus puts Prague web hotel on ice
DATA centre group Redbus Interhouse has further cut its already-curtailed building programme by halting plans to build a new internet hotel in Prague. Chairman John Porter said it had decided to delay opening the planned 64,000 square feet facility amid a difficult time for an industry facing sluggish prices and demand.
The group has already deferred a combined 148,000 square feet of new facilities planned for Munich and Luxembourg, and Porter said: 'Prague is in the build programme but without a date on it'. He said the company will build its third London centre.
Turnover fell and losses widened over the past three months. With positive earnings 15 to 18 months away Porter wants to conserve as much of Redbus's remaining £40m in cash as possible.
Small, privately-backed rivals continue to fold, but he said overall prices in the sector are still falling. Redbus paid £230,000 to advisers who worked on its abortive £50m takeover of rival Telecity in August. Quarter-on-quarter pre-tax losses to 30 September rose to £2.43m on revenues to 30 September down 2% at £2.31m.
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NEW YORK – U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has made the fight against what he sees as man-made climate change one of the top priorities of the world body. On Friday, he got a first hand taste of the future he hopes to create.
Ban hitched a ride to work in the Solartaxi, an experimental solar-powered car that is currently being driven around the world by Louis Palmer, a Swiss schoolteacher and sometime adventurer, who is hoping to promote alternative fuels.
•Click here for photos.
Designed and built by students at Lucerne University in Switzerland, the small, two-seat electric vehicle pulls a trailer outfitted with solar panels and lithium-ion batteries. Fully charged, the car has a range of 250 miles and can travel at speeds of up to 60 mph. It can also be plugged into an electrical outlet on those days when the sun just isn't around.
Palmer claims the Solartaxi could be mass-produced and sold for under $5000, but the awkward design of the prototype looks like it needs quite a bit of work before it is ready for the marketplace.
•Click here for video.
Palmer's journey began in June of 2007, driving through Europe and Asia before making the trip to the United States. He plans to comple the trip this December at the U.N.-sposored Climate Change Conference in Ponzan, Poland.
"It is my first time riding in a solar-powered taxi," Ban told reporters upon his arrival at U.N. Headquarters. "I hope it is not the last time."


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This latest video shows the car on the street and features the sound you’re likely to hear when seeing the 4C in person.
It was taken by the guys at OmniAuto prior to the 4C’s debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show last week.
For the most part, the car is only idling, but in the few instances when the driver presses the pedal the exhaust note of the car’s meager 1.75-liter engine sounds very sporty.
The video also gives us an up-close view of the 4C’s minimalist cabin.
The 4C, which goes on sale at the end of this year, initially in its ‘Launch Edition’ trim, is a mid-engine, two-seat sports car built around a carbon fiber monocoque structure. Power comes from a turbocharged and direct-injected 1.75-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at 240 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and paired to it is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
While pricing for the U.S. market is yet to be announced, a final figure around the $60k mark is expected. That may be steeper than originally anticipated but still a bargain when you consider the car’s specifications and exclusivity.
The 4C will initially be sold through top-ranked Fiat dealerships in the U.S., and only around 1,000 cars are expected annually.


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Apple has started negotiations and the government can consider Apple’s request to set up a manufacturing plant in the country.
Commerce and Industry Minister, Suresh Prabhu informed that early January 2019, he will meet with the top leaders of Apple in Davos to discuss their plans to set up a manufacturing plant in India. He said to PTI that talks are already on with the company and the government can consider Apple’s request to set up a manufacturing plant in the country.
Where does Apple stand currently
Though the offer came two-three years back, the minister feels that the situation has changed for them as well as for the Indian government and so it is a good time to meet and discuss and finalise the much awaited deal. He further informed that the tax and other concessions demanded by them can be negotiated and worked upon for time is ripe for Apple to step into the Indian market.
It has been seeking duty-free for 15 years for manufacturing and repairing units, components, capital equipment and consumables for smartphone manufacturing and service/repair.
The company also hopes to relax 30 per cent of local parts procurement requirements while reducing tariffs on fully disassembled and semi-disassembled equipment assembled in the country.


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It’s not every day that you hear about a classic film line being brought back from the dead, but that’s what’s being announced today. Kodak Ektachrome film is coming back for film photographers.
The announcement was made [Thursday] at CES in Las Vegas by Kodak Alaris, the separate company owned by the Kodak Pension Plan in the UK that runs Kodak’s old Personalized Imaging division.
The original Kodak Professional Ektachrome color reversal film line was killed off by Kodak back in 2012 after years of sales declines and a drop in usage by photographers. It seems that trend has reversed.
“The reintroduction of one of the most iconic films is supported by the growing popularity of analog photography and a resurgence in shooting film,” Kodak Alaris says. “Resurgence in the popularity of analog photography has created demand for new and old film products alike.”
It’s like vinyl, except for color slides.


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Now in it’s 20th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies and organizations to educate others on online safety.
From mobile to connected home devices, technology is deeply intertwined with our lives. And while the evolution of technology accelerates, cybercriminals are working just as hard to find ways to compromise technology and disrupt personal and business life. Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to highlight some of the emerging challenges that exist in the world of cybersecurity today and provide straightforward actionable guidance that anyone can follow to create a safe and secure digital world for themselves and their loved ones.
The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Secure Our World, with the main messaging revolving around four key cybersecurity best practices:
- Use strong passwords.
Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication.
You need more than a password to protect your online accounts and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts.
- Recognize and report phishing.
Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.
- Update software.
Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.
More information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month and how to stay safe is available on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency website.


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Volta giving Hawaii nonprofits free space on EV charging stations
Volta Industries launched a new program Friday with the goal of helping Hawaii nonprofit organizations to get the word out about their missions.
The program, called Awareness Powered by Volta, will give nonprofits free advertising space on Volta’s electric vehicle charging station kiosks — a marketing opportunity that many nonprofits today can’t afford on tight budgets.
“We are installing 10 new, free charging stations at locations around Oahu this quarter, and felt it only right to give back by offering some of this advertising space gratis to deserving community groups,” CEO Scott Mercer said in a statement. “Oahu has so many worthwhile nonprofits that operate on small budgets and marketing dollars are often non-existent.”
The program will give $3,000 worth of advertising space to one nonprofit and $900 worth of space to a runner-up.
Arden Penton, Volta’s director of marketing, said the company is looking to select nonprofits that show a strong dedication to giving back to the local community, whether its through labor services or environmental work.
Nonprofits can apply for the contest online by Feb. 22. Volta Industries will select three semi-finalists. From there, the public will vote for the final two winners on Volta’s Facebook page between March 1 and March 15.
“The nonprofits can compose their own ad so they have creative leeway,” Penton explained. “We will print them and install them. They’re going to be set-up for the short-term, but we’ve also talked about using them as fillers so they could potentially go out multiple times throughout the year.”
Jenna Blakely covers health care and nonprofits for Pacific Business News.
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Activision Blizzard has announced plans to release “another strong premium” Call of Duty game in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The news was revealed by chief financial officer Dennis Durkin during the publisher’s fourth quarter earnings call on Thursday.
It’s unclear which studio is making the next entry in the series, which had rotated development duties between Infinity Ward, Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games for several iterations until 2020, giving each team a three-year creation cycle.
More Call of Duty:
Activision reportedly overhauled its plans for 2020’s Call of Duty game following a dispute between previous joint lead studios Sledgehammer and Raven Software, putting Treyarch in charge of the follow-up to 2019’s Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, which released two years after its previous game, 2018’s Black Ops 4.
Sledgehammer said in May 2020 that it was working on multiple projects. The studio was founded in 2009 and is best known for Call of Duty titles Advanced Warfare (2014) and WWII (2017).
Activision Blizzard claimed during its earnings call on Thursday that the Call of Duty franchise has generated $27 billion in lifetime sales since launching in 2003.
The figure “makes it one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time”, president and COO Daniel Alegre said.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick also said Call of Duty attracted over 250 million players in 2020, up from 70 million in 2018.
Likely driven by the popularity of free-to-play games Call of Duty Warzone and Call of Duty Mobile, the brand “sustained more than 100 million monthly active players” for a fifth consecutive quarter (up from 40 million in 2018).
Call of Duty premium unit sales grew more than 40% year-over-year in 2020, with a continued “strong shift” to digital downloads, helping the franchise achieve annual net bookings of “approximately double the year ago level”, Activision said.
Black Ops Cold War was the best-selling game of 2020 in the US, followed by Modern Warfare, marking a 12th consecutive year that a Call of Duty game has ranked as the No.1 title, according to market research firm NPD Group.
The first season of Black Ops Cold War and Warzone content has seen the most Battle Passes consumed since the introduction of the new in-game system in late 2019, Activision Blizzard said on Thursday.
Given the franchise’s success, Activision Blizzard said it plans to apply the Call of Duty framework across its other brands, mixing multiplatform, free-to-play and premium experiences. In line with this strategy, it announced that multiple free-to-play Warcraft mobile games are deep in development.
The latest major Black Ops Cold War update released this week, adding new Zombies and multiplayer content, fresh modes and featured playlists, plus gameplay improvements, bug fixes and weapon tuning.
Headlining the update were new Zombies map Firebase Z, which is set in the jungles of Vietnam, and 6v6 multiplayer map Express, which was originally included in Black Ops 2 and takes place in a hi-tech train station.


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Fiona Lambert has been appointed as product director at homewares retailer Dunelm, it has been reported.
The Mail on Sunday said her appointment was announced to staff at its head office on Friday and comes as the homewares market is increasingly driven by fashion.
Drapers exclusively revealed Lambert would leave her role as Asda’s vice-president of own label development in January last year.
Lambert originally worked alongside the founder of George, George Davies, to set up and launch the first supermarket fashion brand in 1990.
After a period at Next, Lambert returned to George in 2007 as brand director, overseeing the design, buying and quality of George clothing in Asda stores and on George.com. In addition to this, Fiona led the launch of the first ever range of George homeware in 2014.


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Emulsifiers Containing in Many Processed Foods Cause Cancer in Mice
A new study, published in the journal Cancer Research, claims that emulsifiers that are added to many processed foods can cause colon cancer in mice. They are chemicals that are used to keep food products stable and safe on shelves.
Emelie Viennois from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, a lead author of the research, showed in her earlier work that these chemicals changed good bacteria in the guts of mice. In this study, the researcher found that animals who consumed emulsifiers had changes in their gut microbiomes that were associated with promoting tumor growth.
Emelie Viennois advises: “I would tell people to try to cook instead of using food industry products. In meals, mix processed foods with some homemade food so you don’t have huge exposure to emulsifiers in one meal.”
More information here.
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Overseas tourists may soon find Thailand a more expensive destination than in the past two years, with the country now planning to raise hotel rates to pre-pandemic levels to support a faster industry recovery.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to ask hoteliers to introduce a dual rate structure under which foreign visitors could be charged similar rates to pre-pandemic days while locals could continue to enjoy rates reduced, Traisuree Taisaranakul, a government spokeswoman, said in a statement. Wednesday.
“It’s about maintaining our pricing and service standards for overseas tourists, which affects the perception of the country’s tourism brand,” Ms Traisuree said. “Fares that have been reduced during Covid-19 will be maintained for Thais to support the momentum of domestic tourism.”
Hotels in tourist hotspots such as Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui continue to offer huge discounts to attract visitors after the pandemic pushed room occupancy rates to around 30%.
Although there was no immediate response to the hotel operators‘ proposal, the Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will soon hold talks with the Hotel Association of Thailand regarding the dual pricing plan, according to Ms. Traisuree.
While the country has removed all Covid-related travel restrictions, the tourism sector is still reeling from the heavy losses accumulated during the pandemic. The government expects 9.3 million foreign arrivals this year, a fraction of the 40 million tourists who arrived in 2019.
It was not immediately clear how the government’s new plan to attract more foreign tourists to Thailand – by raising prices and charging them more than Thais – would impact foreigners living in the kingdom. Bangkok Post
- Key words: foreigners, Thailand


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By Tom McParland
Delaware lawmakers Wednesday introduced legislation that would force major drug manufacturers to help cover the costs of opioid addiction by imposing a fee on the amount of drugs dispensed in the state.
The measure, Senate Bill 34, would create a two-tier fee on pharmaceutical firms that produce the highest-strength and most widely distributed opioid products available for sale in Delaware, with the proceeds marked for a special fund to pay for treatment and prevention services.
The fee is expected to generate $8 million over three years, but would only kick in above a certain threshold, based on a formula used to calculate the strength of the drugs.
“For too long, these companies have reaped record profits while avoiding responsibility for the pain and suffering their products have caused,” the bill’s primary sponsor, Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, said in a statement announcing the bill.
“With this bill, we will begin holding these companies accountable by forcing them to direct some of that revenue toward breaking the cycle of abuse, addiction and death,” she said.
While at least 14 other states have introduced similar legislation, only New York has passed a comparable measure. New York’s Opioid Stewardship Act targeted both opioid manufacturers and distributors. However, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York in December struck down that law as unconstitutional, finding that a provision barring companies from passing the cost on to consumers had violated the dormant commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Failla’s ruling, which is now on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held that the OSA unlawfully imposed a penalty on opioid sales made outside of New York, breaching a the constitutional prohibition against state laws that place an excessive burden on interstate commerce.
An earlier version of Hansen’s bill had included similar language, but supporters scrapped the provision in the wake of the New York ruling. Instead, SB 34 seeks to impose an “impact fee” only on manufacturers whose products in Delaware exceed 100,000 morphine milligram equivalents, or MME, in a given quarter.
Producers of name-brand drugs would pay a fee of one cent per MME contained in each pill. For generic drug-makers, the levy would total one-quarter of a cent for every MME sold in the the First State.
For 10 milligram pills of Oxycodone—the most widely available prescription opioid in Delaware—the fee would amount to four cents for each generic pill and 15 cents for every name-brand pill sold in the state, Hansen said in an interview.
Hansen said the levy would not substantially increase the price of prescription opioids in Delaware because prices for the drugs are set nationally, and the overall fee would be “very small” compared to the profits that companies make off their products.
While individual firms could still pass the costs off on consumers, she said it would be more cost-effective for companies to just pay the fee, rather than alter the way they do business.
Hansen said she was confident her new bill avoided the constitutional pitfalls of the New York legislation, but also acknowledged that the bill could be susceptible to lawsuits from drug companies and special interests.
“I do expect some thought to be given to litigation,” she said. “Nonetheless, I’m hoping they will do the cost-benefit analysis and decide it’s in their best interest to pay the small fee and be at the table” for discussions on how to solve the current crisis.
According to the bill’s fiscal note, the impact fee is expected to generate $2.8 million in the 2020 fiscal year and $2.7 million and $2.5 million in the next two years, respectively.
That revenue would go to a designated “prescription opioid impact fund” to finance addiction-prevention and opioid-addiction services, including paying for overdose-reversing drugs, treatment programs, sober-living facilities and services for the under- and uninsured.
The bill is the latest effort in Delaware to combat the opioid addiction epidemic, which has been linked to 112 opioid-related deaths in 2016 alone. In 2014, 215 babies were treated for withdrawal in Delaware hospitals at a cost of $9.6 million, according to statistics included with the legislation.
Delaware is one of 30 states to sue opioid manufacturers and producers in state court for allegedly misleading doctors and consumers about the dangers of their products.
Last year’s budged approved $100,000 for substance use disorder services and the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone for first responders, as well as $328,500 for 20 additional sober living beds and $990,000 for emergency room consultations. Gov. John Carney’s recommended budget for the upcoming fiscal year also requests $1.8 million to expand prevention and treatment options in the state.
Hansen said she expected SB 34 to be scheduled for a Senate committee hearing in the coming weeks and hopes for a floor vote to follow by the end of March.


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Non-alcoholic beverages tradeThe sales volume of the non-alcoholic drinks market in Finland has constantly increased over the past few years. According to the Statista Consumer Market Outlook, figures will reach 635 million liters by 2026.
The value of imported non-alcoholic beverages to Finland also showed an upward trend, peaking at roughly 158 million euros in 2021. Exports of non-alcoholic beverages from Finland have fluctuated, amounting to almost 35 million euros in 2021. The fruit and vegetable juices export value decreased overall during the past decade, amounting to 3.27 million euros in 2021.
Production and consumptionThe number of enterprises manufacturing soft drinks, mineral water, and other bottled waters in Finland has fluctuated over the past few years, peaking at 25 in 2019. The non-alcoholic beverage consumption expenditure of Finnish households increased overall. According to the figures for 2020, the household consumption expenditure amounted to around 1.3 billion euros. However, most Finnish consumers never or only occasionally drank sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
Coffee drinking is deeply rooted in Finnish society. Finns typically drink several cups of coffee on an average day. It is also common to drink coffee in the evening or nighttime, with Finland's per capita consumption of roasted coffee amounting to over nine kilograms in 2021. The number of enterprises in the processing tea and coffee industry has been steadily rising. However, this does not display in the number of employees in the industry. The number has been subject to fluctuation in recent years, amounting to 503 employees in 2019.


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Engineering firm GKN Automotive recently demonstrated a new torque-vectoring electric drive system to customers at its Wintertest proving ground in Arjeplog, Sweden.
Torque-vectoring technology provides the ability to vary the torque to each wheel, generating a yaw moment in the car. By controlling the power to each wheel separately, a vehicle can respond to inputs with more stability, more responsiveness and more agility.
Vehicle dynamics experts from several automakers test-drove an SUV prototype equipped with the eTwinster, a plug-in hybrid module designed to make it simpler for vehicle platforms to offer electric all-wheel drive and torque vectoring. The driveline combines eAxle technologies that have already been used in PHEVs from Volvo, Porsche and BMW.
In the prototype vehicle, a 60 kW, 240 Nm electric motor drives an electric axle with a transmission ratio of 1:10. A dual-clutch Twinster system then vectors the resulting 2,400 Nm of torque between the rear wheels, improving dynamic response and handling.
The eTwinster is part of a range of eDrive technologies that GKN is developing to help shift the balance of power from engines to batteries. According to the company, current vehicle platforms can only draw around 30% of their energy from a battery, but small, powerful torque-vectoring electric axles could deliver 60-70% of the power in future vehicles.
“We believe our prototype torque-vectoring eAxle system represents the next step forward for the industry: a production-ready way to create higher performance hybrids that are more rewarding to drive,” said GKN Automotive President of Technology Peter Moelgg. “More powerful, dynamic electric drives from GKN will help put batteries in the driving seat and create new electric driving experiences for customers.”


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Despite the widely documented challenges faced by the U.K. pub industry - such as declining beer consumption, an increasing cost base and the upcoming smoking ban -companies are adapting to their environment enough to maintain levels of profitability. As a result, Fitch Ratings has affirmed all tranches of the 10 U.K. pub securitizations that it rates.
Fitch said that pub companies have maintained profitability since the consolidation between operators has resulted in economies of scale on the supply side, the enhancement of food and wine sales to offset the volume decline in beer sales and value-enhancing capital expenditure programs combined with the disposals of underperforming outlets. According to Fitch, 5,600 pubs changed hands in 2005 for a total value of GBP4.6 billion ($8.7 billion). And 2006 has also seen a number of transactions ranging from piecemeal disposals to large-scale acquisitions.


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According to the new IDC report, released on May 28th, 2020, the adoption of wearables still continues to grow globally at an amazing pace. The new IDC report found that the global shipments of wearable devices grew 29.7% year over year during the first quarter of 2020.
- A new breed of AI-Based Hearables are here from Whisper.ai to enrich the hearing experience
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- FitBit assisting Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with a VR based therapy for chronic low back pain
The amazing growth of hearables in mobile device markets
Analysts at IDC noted that the growth in wristbands and hearables helped offset the declines in smartwatches.
Fitbit owners can rejoice as the launch of Fitbit Charge 4 found decent success with the consumers.
The form factor of the new Fitbit charge 4 appears to resonate with the users who are looking for a wristband that can not only help with advanced fitness but also help monitor heart rate and provide auto sleep tracking.
The wearables category showed dramatic growth and grew at 68% and accounted for more than 54% of the total wearables market.
According to Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC Mobile, the growth in these new sophisticated hearables such as AirPods Pro was fueled by WFH (work from home) trends during the Covid-19 crisis.
“Consumers were clamoring for these sophisticated earpieces not only for the ability to playback audio. but also to help them increase productivity, as many of them were forced to work from home and sought ways to reduce surrounding noise while staying connected to their smartphones and smart assistants.”
Apple was once again the top wearables company with a 29.3% share and 21.2 million units. Although Apple Watch shipments declined due to difficulties in the supply chain, the strength of the Beats and Airpods lineup was more than enough to offset the negative growth.
Xiaomi claimed the second spot and shipped 7.3 million wristbands and watches.
Samsung ranked third as its hearables/earwear business accounted for 74% of its total shipments during the quarter, up from 58.9% in 1Q19. Both critics and users love the latest generation of Galaxy Buds and Buds+.
Fitbit declined 26.1% during the quarter as much of the company’s production was based in China. China faced supply issues due to COVID-19 for multiple weeks during the quarter. Fitbit currently doesn’t have a product positioned in the hearables space but is looking into remote health monitoring opportunities.
The Fitbit models Inspire and Ace 2 wristband trackers still are among the top 3 most gifted trackers on Amazon.
Do you currently own a wearable fitness tracker or are you planning to buy one this year? Please let us know what brands you are considering and why using the comments below.


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Hero MotoCorp said Coronavirus
(Covid-19) has affected the supply of some components to company's manufacturing facilities in India. This is likely to impact its planned production by around 10 per cent for the month of February. However, wholesale dispatches to dealers during the month remain unaffected.
"Any further impact on our production will depend on the situation developing in China. We continue to track it and keep evaluating our options," said the company.
TVS Motor, Honda and Suzuki have said that so far production has not been hit as the dependency on China is low. However, they did not share any numbers.
Passenger car makers Maruti and Hyundai say production hasn't been impacted as of now , but they are monitoring the situation. Reports stated Hyundai suspended its five main assembly plants in Ulsan, South Korea, due to lack of parts.
China's MG Motor did not respond.
“I don’t see any risk right now of BS IV ramp down and BS VI ramp up, except for what coronavirus
may do. We have one or two parts that are coming from China which are quarantined right now. I am hoping it will open up in the next one week or 10 days. Then there won’t be any impact. But if it goes beyond that, then we will have challenge of around 3000 BS IV vehicles for which all other parts are in our inventory. But we need to wait for this one part. Else we don’t see any risk. All products are ready for BSVI,” said Pawan Goenka, managing director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Vinnie Mehta, director general, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India said that at present the situation will not impact OEMS, but if the trend continues for the next 3 weeks or one month then the impact will be felt.
According to ACMA India imported around $ 4.2 billion of auto components in 2019 from China and exported $ 410 million to China in the same period.
While Tata Motors did not respond for an email, Emkay's report said in the near term, the Covid-19 outbreak could negatively affect China region revenues of Tata Motors (~11% of consolidated revenues) and Motherson Sumi (~6%), while it could support the margins of Battery and Tyre companies on account of the potential decline in global commodity prices.
TTMT derives about 11% of its consolidated revenues from the China region (on a pro-rata basis) through JLR's exports and the Cherry JV. JLR's China JV's plant is situated at Changshu, China, which is away from the epicenter of the Covid -19 outbreak (Wuhan). Assuming China volumes are impacted by 25% in the near term, consolidated EBITDA estimates could reduce by 6% and 5% in Q4FY20 and Q1FY21, respectively.
Motherson Sumi could see a marginal impact as the company derives about 6% of consolidated revenue es from the China region. Assuming China sales to be impacted by 25% in the near term, consolidated EBITDA estimates could reduce by 3%, be said Emkay report.
Ashok Leyland was planning to launch a new LCV in March, which is now pushed to April or May since virus issue at Wuhan, from where it is waiting for final set of toolings. The impact might not be direct, but suppliers might have an impact.
such as Apollo Tyres can benefit from a reduction in the prices of crude derivatives by up to 60bps, after assuming 75% pass-through in the replacement segment. An increase in steel prices could marginally impact the margins for CV and Tractor OEMs, while the impact is expected to be more than offset by lower Aluminum prices for two-wheeler OEMs.


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Intelligent electronics protection and management company, Innovolt recently announced that it has been named as a 2012 Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Pacesetter Awards finalist. This recognition program was designed to acknowledge the top 50 fastest growing private companies in Atlanta.
To celebrate its growth and share a few announcements, Innovolt was on hand at Interop (News - Alert) 2012 and made a stop in the TMC newsroom. To catch the latest news from this innovative provider of proven electronics protection for installed systems, access the video below.
In the past year (2010-2011), Innovolt increased its revenue by a staggering 588 percent. This growth has been driven by an expanding list of markets that range from medical technology, consumer electronics, HVAC, cable and satellite to control systems. At the same time, the company also enjoys the leadership of a strong executive team.
“Today’s electronics are pervasive, and the vast majority of equipment is being deployed with insufficient protection that results in damage from disturbances on the power grid. Innovolt is the first easily accessible technology that protects equipment from these damaging effects,” said Jeff Spence, COO and president of Innovolt, in a company statement.
“Our growth is based on a number of factors, but the more we can educate the marketplace on the imperative need for this technology, the better off we, consumers of electronic equipment, will be in the long run. We appreciate the recognition from Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Pacesetter Awards as it helps with our education initiative,” Spence added.
Part of the company’s success is due to its ability to fill a void in the power protection and management arena. All electronic equipment on the market tends to have two things in common – they need power and there are impacted significantly when power interruptions occur.
In the past, power protection solutions tended to be limited to surge protectors for the aftermarket consumer and not the commercial enterprise, or uninterruptable power supply (UPS) solutions that were consistently overpriced.
Innovolt is focused on bringing the right power protection solutions to the corporate environment. To learn what the company has been up to beyond their substantial growth, check out the video link above in full.
Edited by Brooke Neuman