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We're in the midst of another fiscal earnings reporting period, with many well-known industrial distributors and suppliers posting their latest quarterly performance. Here's a roundup of the key figures posted by Stanley Black & Decker, Honeywell and SKF.
Stanley Black & Decker
Sales continued to grow at a faster rate for Stanley Black & Decker in its 2017 second quarter. Total sales of $3.2 billion increased 10.1 percent year-over-year, while organic sales grew approximately seven percent. Those figures far outpace Q1's total and organic growth of 5 percent.
The company said the 10.1 percent overall growth was driven largely by an 8-percentage point increase in volume and 7-point increase from acquisitions, partially offset by divestitures (-3 percent), price (-1) and currency (-1).
Total company profit of $277.2 million increased from $271.5 million a year earlier. Q2 gross margin was 37.5 percent, and excluding charges was 38.3 percent — relatively flat year-over-year.
By business segment in Q2:
Tools & Storage sales of $2.26 billion jumped 17.0 percent year-over-year — with 11 percentage points of that growth due to acquisitions as the company's completed acquisitions of both Newell Tools and the Craftsman brand were incorporated for the first time. Volume contributed nine points to the growth, partially offset by divestitures (-1), price (-1) and currency (-1). Organic sales increased approximately 8 percent. Total profit of $374.3 million increased from $362.5 million a year earlier, while profit rate of 16.6 percent was down 1.5 points.
Industrial sales of $496 million increased 7.2 percent year-over-year, powered by a seven-point increase in volume. Engineered Fastening organic sales increased approximately 6 percent, while Infrastructure organic sales jumped approximately 19 percent. Total profit of $96.4 million jumped considerably from $78.8 million a year earlier, while profit rate of 19.4 percent was flat.
Security sales of $474 million were down 11.9 percent year-over-year, largely due to the company's recent divestment of its Mechanical Security business, which impacted sales by 14 percentage points. Likewise, total profit of $51.9 million was down from $67.7 million a year earlier, while profit rate of 11.1 percent was flat. North America organic sales increased 4 percent.
"Supplementing the solid organic performance, our recent acquisitions added seven points of revenue growth," Stanley B&D president and CEO James Loree said. "The integrations of both Newell Tools and the Craftsman brand are in full swing and on target. I am pleased with our team's solid execution, and with our continued efforts to become known as a leading innovator, deliver top-quartile financial performance and elevate our commitment to social responsibility."
For the full year, the company is expecting mid single-digit organic growth in Tools & Storage; low single-digit growth in security; and relatively flat in industrial.
Industrial conglomerate Honeywell reported 2017 Q2 total sales of $10.08 billion, up 0.9 percent year-over-year and beating Wall Street expectations of $9.83 billion. Organic sales improved approximately 3 percent. Total profit was $1.39 billion.
By business segment in Q2:
Aerospace sales of $3.67 billion decreased 2.9 percent year-over-year, while organic sales increased approximately 2 percent. Profit of $819 million improved from $719 million a year earlier, and operating margin increased 140 basis points to 22.3 percent. The company said organic sales growth was driven by strength in commercial aftermarket, growth in U.S. defense and a continuing recovery in commercial vehicles in transportation systems.
Home and Building Technologies sales of $2.74 billion increased 2.2 percent year-over-year, while organic sales increased approximately 4 percent. Profit of $420 million improved slightly from $412 million a year earlier, and operating margin of 15.4 percent was flat. The company said organic growth was driven by Smart Energy program roll-outs, air and water product sales in China and continued growth in the distribution business
Performance Materials and Technologies sales of $2.24 billion decreased 8.7 percent year-over-year, while organic sales increased approximately 6 percent. Profit of $524 million improved slightly from $520 million a year earlier, and operating margin increased 200 base points to 23.4 percent. The company said organic growth was driven by continued strength in Solstice sales in Advanced Materials and double-digit growth in modular gas processing in UOP.
Safety and Productivity Solutions sales of $1.10 billion soared 29.7 percent, though organic sales increased approximately only 1 percent. Profit of $214 million improved approximately 24 percent, and operating margin decreased 70 base points to 15.0 percent. The company said organic growth was driven by higher volumes in industrial safety products, sensing controls and voice-enabled workflow solutions.
The company raised its 2017 full year sales outlook from a previous $38.6-39.5 million to a current $39.3-40.0 million, and expects organic sales to post an incrase of 2-4 percent.
Sweden-based bearings maker SKF reported Q2 total sales of $2.45 billion, up 7.5 organically year-over-year. North American sales grew 10 percent, while Asia sales grew 12 percent.
The company said improved sales volumes and factory utilization rates contributed to an adjusted operating profit of $295 million.
"The second quarter saw strong organic growth and an improved operating margin. Sales development was positive in all regions, as underlying industrial activity and investments increased," said SKF president and CEO Alrik Danielson.
SKF's industrial business posted an adjusted operating margin of 13.8 percent, while the automotive business' was 8.1 percent.
"As we move into the second half of the year, we expect to see continued broad-based industrial activity and growth," SKF's Q2 earnings press release stated.
The company expects Q3 demand to be higher year-over-year, but down from Q2 2017.
"The demand for SKF’s products and services is expected to be lower for the group and industrial and slightly lower for automotive," SKF said. "Demand is expected to be significantly lower in Europe and relatively unchanged in North America, Asia and in Latin America."


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- Tasmania is opening a second round of travel vouchers to encourage residents to travel within the state.
- It comes after registration filled up for its first round of vouchers in 40 minutes.
- Under the second release, residents who already have a travel voucher won’t be eligible for a new one.
- Visit Business Insider Australia’s homepage for more stories.
Tasmania has opened another round of travel vouchers to encourage local tourism in the state.
Under the state’s $7.5 million ‘Make Yourself at Home’ scheme, residents could register for travel vouchers which allowed them to claim back what they spent on accommodation and travel experiences in the state.
When the initial round of travel vouchers were released earlier in September, registration filled up in just 40 minutes, the ABC reported. Some residents even expressed having difficulty when trying to get the vouchers.
At the time more than 21,500 vouchers were given – the equivalent of around 40,000 nights of accommodation and at least 40,000 experiences.
Amid the immense popularity of the program, registration was closed.
Now Tasmania is opening up the second round of travel vouchers worth $5 million, which will be available on Wednesday 30 September at 7pm.
But this time, they come with a few extra rules.
There is no waitlist, so residents can’t pre-register for the vouchers. If you already received a voucher, you won’t be eligible for a new one.
There will even be a hotline people can ring if they can’t access the internet.
Tasmania is among the states and territories that have released travel incentives to boost local tourism.
The Northern Territory recently unveiled its largest summer campaign yet, worth $5 million. Under the scheme, residents can get a $200 rebate for every $1000 they spend on booking travel on accommodation, flights or tours with partners such as Helloworld, Flight Centre and Holidays of Australia.
South Australian residents over the age of 18 can get a ‘Great State voucher’ from Thursday 15 October, which they can use at participating accommodation locations. The incentive includes a $100 voucher for accommodation in the CBD and a $50 voucher for stays in regional and suburban areas.
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Silicon Valley gave the world the first iteration of digital, mobile-first fintechs. Now some of its leading companies – which have provided an inspiration to startups around the world – are maturing and coming to grips with changing macroeconomic realities. DigFinattended a CB Insights conference in New York to hear some of their stories. Today’s story looks at lending platforms. (Click here for our report on U.S. robo advisors.)
SoFi: becoming a bank
SoFi has weathered its first crisis. The San Francisco-based startup, founded in 2011 to match investors (including alumni) to students to provide cheap student loans, extended into personal loans, mortgages and now investments. But in January its co-founder and CEO, Mike Cagney, stepped down amid allegations of sexual impropriety.
In came Anthony Noto, former COO at Twitter, who has been busy reestablishing the company’s culture and values. This comes at a time when U.S. interest rates are rising. This creates a challenge for traditional lenders, but startups like SoFi have yet to be tested by a real change in macro conditions.
The company has two responses: improve its borrower profile, and engage its customers more regularly via wealth products. Already catering to the highest end of student borrowers, the company needs to turn itself into a de-facto bank, at a time when Marcus by Goldman Sachs is already making headway as an online lender into the same millennial marketplace.
“Our top priority is to strengthen our core loan products,” Noto said, speaking at the CB Insights conference on June 20. The company is reviewing algorithmic variables such as pricing, tenors, loss rates, and credit decisions. He says the product can’t be just about giving millennials access to the cheapest borrowing.
Noto says value derives from a mix of price, convenience (including speed), content, trading execution, and personalization, all of which are driven by technology. The upshot is SoFi is moving to improve its exposure to solid borrowers. “We need a credit profile that endures through this cycle,” he said.
The second tactic is to leverage its relationship with millennial borrowers into a wealth offering. Last week it launched SoFi Money, which Noto says is more than just a robo advisor aggregating equity ETFs. It is a mobile wallet that allows peer-to-peer payments, bill payments, debit card services and advice on discretionary spending. “This is the first product to let us have a daily relationship with our customers,” he said, adding the company wants to use this to increase its data points, so it further personalize its offering.
The company is well funded for the fight, with Softbank have led a $1 billion Series E funding round in 2015 and Silver Lake leading a $500 million Series F in 2017, which included money to fund global expansion.
Kabbage: from loans to payments
Atlanta-based Kabbage, whose platform provides small businesses with access to loans, is also going through a new maturing phase. Since its launch in 2008 it has facilitated the lending of nearly $5 billion in loans to small companies – about 21% of the U.S. total lending to this segment, according to co-founder Kathryn Petralia.
Inspired by eBay – “We thought we could use APIs to get third-party financial information and make loans to businesses on eBay”, she told the CB Insights audience – the platform has expanded beyond ecommerce players. Kabbage now helps all kinds of businesses, from doctors’ offices to restaurants to home builders, cut through the paperwork and complexity of bank loans.
Eligible borrowers can get financing on Kabbage’s app in under 10 minutes, thanks to its use of customer data instead of traditional credit scores. It also enables a variety of financing means, including securitization, factoring and merchant cash advances, all powered by artificial intelligence.
Kabbage is a success story (its backers include Softbank) but it faces many competitors and needs to enter new segments in order to grow. Last month the company announced a move into payments.
Petralia says the company is betting its relationship over ten years with its customers will give it an edge as it comes with other products to help companies manage their working capital. “In a year from now we’ll look more like a Square or a PayPal than a monoline,” she said.
This comes at a time when Square and PayPal are entering SME lending, and sets all of these players more directly in competition with ecommerce giants like Amazon.
Who will emerge the winner? “We need to focus more on the user experience rather than delivering a product,” Petraliya said.
Credit Karma: trusted by millennials
Who has the biggest claim on U.S. millennials? It could be Credit Karma, a comparison site that uses A.I. to help individuals make financial decisions and select products at competitive prices. Most of all, its services are free, giving it a huge brand advantage. (It generates revenue from product providers when there is a sale over the platform, and from advertizing).
All fintech companies (and traditional financial service providers) talk about trust as their coin. Credit Karma, founded in 2008, saw a huge boost to its business of providing data-driven credit scores and recommendations in the wake of the 2017 Equifax hack, which saw the personal details of 145 million people stolen.
Today Credit Karma serves 80 million people, one in three U.S. adults and one in two millennials, says Kenneth Lin, co-founder and CEO. Key to this success – and to building trust – is not just the free services, but also using A.I. to personalize recommendations.
Moreover, unlike many fintechs, Credit Karma helps poor people as well as rich ones, by using a matching engine to connect them to providers willing to give them a credit card or a loan.
The company has avoided scandals and doesn’t feel the need to grow by moving into new market segments filled with big existing competitors. Its pure, everything-for-free model has struck a chord. It seems to be a genuine example of a fintech built around the needs of a broad customer base. Ten years in, Credit Karma does not appear in need of a pivot. It just needs to keep doing what it’s doing.


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In this Amazon Seller's Week in Review, Julie Spear, our Operations Manager, shares her take on recent news highlights and what these could mean for brands selling on the Amazon marketplace.
1. Amazon Continues to Build Out EU Markets
Last week, Amazon announced plans to grow its UK staff by 25% throughout 2017, adding 5,000 jobs to its London office and throughout the UK. Positions will run the gamut according to Doug Gurr, Amazon’s UK country manager: “We are hiring for all types of roles from flight test engineers, software engineers and corporate managers in our development centers and head office, to operations managers, supervisors, engineers, service technicians, HR roles and order fulfilment roles in our fulfilment centers". The expansion will also include 3 additional fulfillment centers in Tilbury, Doncaster and Daventry.
In more EU news, Amazon also announced plans to add 1,500 jobs in France and open its fifth logistics center in Poland. The new center will be located in the southern city of Sosnowiec. Amazon added 2,500 jobs in Poland in 2016 and is said to have invested more than 3 billion zlotys ($737 million) in the country since 2014.
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Canada, Germany, UK and Mexico.
2. And the Oscar Goes to...Amazon!
Amazon Studios took home three Oscars at last night’s Academy Awards. “Manchester By the Sea” earned two with Best Actor winner, Casey Affleck, and Best Original Screenplay. Amazon Studios was also behind the winner of Best Foreign Language Film, “The Salesman”.
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) February 27, 2017
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) February 27, 2017
3. Amazon Chime
Amazon Web Services continues to expand with the addition of the video conference app, Chime. Amazon Chime offers customers the one-click feature they love while shopping on Amazon.com but this time, the click allows them to start or join audio and video meetings on iOS, Android, or desktop devices. With features that include screen and content share, Chime aims to resolve the issues many people experience on other platforms like Skype. With no PIN required users can more easily join conference calls, using any device. The basic version of Chime is free while paid versions offer user management features, message history storage, and VoIP Support.
4. Amazon’s Home & Kitchen Growth
One Click Retail shared an analysis of Amazon’s Q4, focusing specifically on Housewares. Housewares accounted for 15% of Amazon’s Year over Year growth in 2016, generating almost $7 billion in sales. Figures from the International Housewares Association indicate the total value of the U.S. Housewares Market was $80 billion in 2016 showing 9.4% YoY growth.
Amazon holds 8.5% of that total market. These numbers prove more interesting given the fact that housewares products are generally heavy and more expensive to ship. You could conclude customers value the ease of purchasing online and home delivery over a potential increase in price due to shipping. Customers’ priority of ease and efficiency is further evidenced in some of the top selling products in this category: iRobot Roomba Vacuum Cleaner (37% YoY growth), Keurig K-Cup Coffee Maker (61% YoY growth) and Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (53% YoY growth).
5. Amazon Matches Walmart
Amazon recently lowered the minimum purchase price for non-Prime customers from $49 to $35, enabling these customers to get free shipping on eligible products. This move could be seen as a direct answer to Walmart’s recent shift in its minimum purchase threshold for free shipping.
Speaking of Walmart… while specific dollar amounts were not shared, Walmart released their Q4 2016 earnings and reported 29% increase in online sales. They are now the second largest online retailer as measured by revenue and continue to aggressively expand their catalog of products offered to customers. Taking steps like acquiring Jet.com, ShoeBuy and Moosejaw make it evident that Walmart is committed to growing their online retail footprint.
6. Amazon Celebrates Poll Results With $8.62 Customer Discount
After earning the highest score of 86.27 on the Harris Poll, Amazon decided to share the love with its customers. The poll surveyed customers on topics including social responsibility, emotional appeal and workplace environment.
Customers who spent $50 or more on Feb. 22 received a discount of $8.62 off their purchase. Jeff Bezos congratulated Amazon employees for the high marks in an email saying, “These accolades are a direct result of this team’s obsession over customers, pioneering spirit, commitment to operational excellence and willingness to lean into bold bets.”
Until next week's round of Amazon Seller's Week in Review, join us in our private community for brand owners and Channel Managers on Facebook: Amazon Chanel Mastery for Brands. We share insider tips about e-commerce and selling on Amazon. This is where you can get to know us, and your peers, a little better.


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Welcome back to the Brazil Sports newsletter! This week, Ronaldinho Gaucho’s latest advertising foray which has him in hot water with the courts. Corinthians dumped out of the Copa Libertadores in a night full of surprises and coincidences. That and much more. Enjoy your read!
Ronaldinho’s pyramid schemes
Twice World Player of the Year Ronaldinho Gaúcho has been made a defendant in a civil class action demanding he pay BRL 300 million in damages for his involvement with the company 18kRonaldinho, which sold “luxury experiences” including beach holidays, watches and cars in a textbook pyramid scheme.
Fingers in all...


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Recycling isn’t the end-all solution to our over-consumption of the planet’s resources, and the process comes with its own challenges and drawbacks, but generally, re-using discarded materials and turning them into something useful again is a step in the right direction. Today, Lego revealed its first brick made from recycled plastic; a prototype that won’t be showing up in official sets for a long time, but why is it taking so long to create a recycled Lego brick?
Back in 2018, Lego revealed the first results of its efforts to make its business more environmentally minded with pieces made from polyethylene plastic created from ethanol derived from sugarcane waste instead of oil sucked out of the earth through invasive mining processes. There was a catch, however. The new sugarcane plastic was softer than the rigid material Lego uses for its structural bricks, so to date, it’s only been used to create pieces like plants and trees which have always had a bit of flex to them. Lego promises it’s impossible to tell the difference between old Lego fauna and pieces made with the new environmentally mindful material.
Replacing the plastic used in other Lego pieces has been more of a challenge because it needs to exhibit the same properties as oil-based plastics, including rigidity and durability. The tendency for two Lego pieces to stick together when stacked or attached is known as their clutch power and it comes from both the unique design of the pieces—including the size and shape of the studs on top and the hollow structures on the underside—as well as the material used. Traditionally, this has been a plastic known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS, for short) that’s created using petroleum, which is often cited as the reason Lego can be so expensive.
As durable as plastics can be, they don’t last forever, and in 2013, Phillipe Cantin, a Canadian Lego fan and software developer, combined his two passions to create an Arduino-based machine that tested the limits of the clutch power of two classic 2x3 Lego bricks.
The crude-looking machine had a single purpose, it simply connected the two pieces together and then pulled them apart, keeping count of how many times that could happen before the pieces exhibited no resistance when separated. Cantin predicted the pieces could endure over 5,000 separations, but the machine ran for 10 days straight and revealed that it took over 37,000 separations for the pieces to lose clutch power.
It sounds like overkill, but it also represents a strong commitment to quality control. And knowing that the Lego bricks you played with as a kid will still continue to work when passed onto other children is a big reason why the toy has been so popular for so long. It spans generations, and it’s why Lego seemingly has no interest in short-cutting its way to finding a sustainable replacement for the ABS plastic it currently uses and compromising the quality of what is easily the world’s most popular toy.
But it’s not an impossible goal, as today’s announcement proves. The prototype brick is the result of three years of research and development that involved testing over 250 formulations of polyethylene terephthalate plastic (or PET, for short) derived from discarded and recycled plastic bottles. There are countless products on the market made from PET plastic, but to use it to make plastic building bricks, Lego has had to also create its own custom strengthening additives so that the final material is strong enough to give the pieces sufficient clutch power to hold together.
Lego claims the prototype revealed today “meets several of their quality, safety and play requirements – including clutch power” but it will continue to rigorously test the new recycled bricks for at least another year before making the decision to move on to start testing mass production of the pieces. The company says that a one-liter plastic PET bottle can potentially be used to make ten 2x4 Lego bricks, although it remains to be seen if the recycling process results in pieces that are more affordable than those made using oil-based products.
It’s, unfortunately, going to be quite a few years before recycled Lego bricks start appearing in sets, as in addition to strength requirements, the company will also need to find ways to color the recycled material to match the vibrant shade the toys are known for. And while they’ve succeeded in making a classic 2x4 brick from the recycled material, it remains to be seen if it’s going to be strong enough for thinner pieces that are more prone to snapping, or if transparent plastic pieces, like windows and windshields, can also be made from PET plastic. As good as it is to see Lego pursuing its environmentally-minded goals, it’s doubtful fans of the toy will want to see the company compromise on quality to reach those goals.


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Mobile use tops desktop use around the world for the first time, show analytics recorded in October by independent web analytics company, StatCounter.
“Its research arm, StatCounter Global Stats finds that mobile and tablet devices accounted for 51.3% of internet usage worldwide in October compared to 48.7% by desktop,” explained the company’s Nov. 1 press release.
But while most internet users the world over may be using mobile devices more than desktops or laptops to reach the web, users in the U.S. and U.K still prefer the ol’ fashioned monitor, keyboard and CPU.
“In the US desktop still accounts for 58% of internet usage compared to 42% for mobile and tablet,” said the company’s statement. “In the UK desktop is on 55.6% with mobile and tablet on 44.4%.”
“This should be a wake up call especially for small businesses, sole traders and professionals to make sure that their websites are mobile friendly. Many older websites are not,” said StatCounter CEO Aodhan Cullen. The company is based in San Francisco and Dublin.
Overwhelming and growing mobile use is not really news as much as continuing confirmation of the reality of a changing world in which our communications and information fit right in our pocket and go with us wherever we go. It’s a mobile world and we’re just living in it.
Search and advertising giant Google confirmed this, too, in research published in September.
80 percent of us now use a smartphone, revealed the Google research. Nearly 60 percent of us will use more than one mobile device. Only 14 percent of us remain tethered to a desktop or laptop as our only connection to the internet.
And at this point in our evolution, 27 percent of us are using only a smartphone to reach the broader world through the internet.
This is what’s called a paradigm shift.
“Nearly 40% of people search only on a smartphone in an average day as they look to meet immediate needs,” Google points out. “As a result of this shift, more Google searches are happening on smartphones than computers.”
What’s more: we’re spending almost three hours each day on our smartphones, while also and typically moving back and forth between smartphones, other mobile devices and laptops (or desktops).
“When at home, 1/5 of people use another device while concurrently using a (laptop/desktop) computer,” Google explains. “Fluid movement between devices changes our approach to marketing. Consumers now interact with your brand concurrently on more than one type of device, making it critical to provide the same great experience across screens.”
To say the internet is mobile may, at this point, seem obvious if not redundant.
But it remains a point to be made over and over until we all begin to realize we’ve really long ago left the friendly confines of a desktop computer tethered to land connections and, rather, started roaming expansively across the world linked to the Interwebz by the mobile devices affixed to our belts or stuffed into pockets and purses..
One must think mobile today, if one is going to succeed online (however success measured for individual companies or organizations).
The bottom line here for businesses and organizations, digital marketeers is we must also adapt to the new realities.
It means, simply put: Go Mobile or Go home.


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A posh space designed for innovation is quickly becoming the catch-all for thought leaders, with designer offices and exclusive social events in its prominent flagship location of more than 50,000 square feet.
District CoWork, located in the bustling Flatiron district on Broadway, has raised funding from prominent investors to become the only coworking center that also features shared spaces for burgeoning chefs in the food market and up-and-coming products and technologies in the innovation store to serve Manhattanites and beyond. District will also be launching New York’s first Innovators Only rooftop lounge designed to foster relationships among thought leaders, creatives and influencers across industries.
“Hospitality and commercial real estate are converging. People crave a space where they can work, socialize, and learn. District serves this innovative work culture,” said Neelam Brar, District’s co-founder and CEO. “I was inspired by the name ‘District’ because technology has effectively enabled several types of businesses the ability to work side by side. From fashion to finance, we cover all of Manhattan’s districts.”
With further plans to develop a co-living space and full concierge service for New York’s innovators, District soon will have …read more


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Carmakers, mobile operators, device vendors and other telecom players showcase connected car solutions at MWC.
The mobile telecom industry’s largest trade show of the year, Mobile World Congress (MWC), was held in Barcelona on 2-5 March 2015. Over the years, the show has grown in size and scope as more and more companies and organisations are adopting mobile technologies. This year, the event attracted a record 93,000 attendees from 200 countries that visited conference sessions and exhibitions held by more than 2,100 companies and organisations.
It can be a challenge to pick out the most interesting news at MWC. Not only is it easy to become overwhelmed by the deluge of press releases issued during the show and the weeks before, navigating your way through the crowded halls also takes patience. However, it did not take long to realise that cars had more presence at this year’s MWC than ever before. Many full size cars and concept models were exhibited by mobile operators, carmakers, device vendors and other telecom players that see connected cars as a new business opportunity.
AT&T showed how connected cars can become a part of the larger Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. The operator’s connected car platform AT&T Drive can now integrate with AT&T’s home security and automation service AT&T Digital Life. Car manufacturers can thus allow their customers to manage their connected home systems from their cars using the Digital Life app through the dashboard control panel. Future connected cars can also support online commerce services. Visa demonstrated a proof-of-concept connected car in cooperation with Accenture and Pizza Hut. The companies intend to test a connected car commerce experience in California in the spring of 2015 that allows users to order and pay for food from their car using Visa Checkout.
The IoT was a major theme at MWC, addressed by countless players in the value chain. Smart cities and mobility services are two topics within the IoT that directly applies to connected cars. Ford announced the expansion of its global Ford Smart Mobility plan with an experiment to study how electric bicycles can work with cars and public transport to deliver faster commutes and help businesses operating in urban centres. Ford presented the two prototypes MoDe:Me and MoDe:Pro e-bikes that fold and stow easily in Ford vehicles. The bikes are intended to be used together with the MoDe:Link app that for instance provides multimodal navigation and integration with the Ford SYNC infotainment system in the vehicle. A majority of carmakers now offer some form of smartphone connectivity, but a few vendors are also experimenting with wearable devices – a category of products that is seen as a new growth market by consumer electronics manufacturers struggling to compete in the smartphone and tablet markets. LG for instance showed how its new smartwatch can be used to unlock the doors of Audi cars. BMW and Hyundai are closer to commercial launch. Hyundai has already introduced its Blue Link app for smartwatches based on Android Wear that allows users to access features like remote door unlock and service information. BMW became the first carmaker to show an app compatible with the new Apple Watch that goes on sale in April 2015. The i Remote App enables owners of BMW i3 and i8 hybrid cars to monitor information such as vehicle status, battery level and estimated charge time, as well as locate the car and unlock doors.
BMW also demonstrated how future cars will better support use of mobile devices by passengers. Together with Peiker Acoustic and Nash Technologies, the company showed the Vehicular Small Cell research project that aims to develop a femtocell cellular base station for integration in the car. The Vehicular Small Cell improves access to cellular networks via the vehicle antenna, whilst reducing electromagnetic radiation inside the car.
The IoT and cars are also seen as growth opportunities for semiconductor companies. The leading mobile chipset vendor Qualcomm, which has been a long time supplier of cellular chipsets for car telematics, continues to broaden its product portfolio for cars. The company displayed a Maserati Quattroporte GTS concept car equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Solutions that for instance provide 3G/4G LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspot, mobile device integration and wireless charging, 3D navigation, lane departure detection, driver distraction alerts and parking assistance.


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Luxottica and Intel both focused on smart eyewear
Wednesday, December 3 2014 | 00 h 00 min | Agreements and Partnerships
Luxottica and Intel Corporation have formed a multi-year alliance to fuse “smart” technology with luxury and sports eyewear.
The first product to come out of the collaboration is expected to launch in 2015. The two companies hope to create frames that integrate a limited number of apps, adding real value for the wearer, without having to compromise on design.
The engineers and developers will work in California, whereas all design will be done in Italy. Part of the projects will be completed in Asia.
The agreement in no way takes away from the partnership that exists between Luxottica and Google for the development of Google Glass, a new version of which will be released in 2015.
For further information: http://www.luxottica.com/en/Luxottica_intel_pressrelease


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Total Telecom Reports That the Chinese Semiconductor Industry Is Speeding up Advanced Chip Development
Total Telecom finds that China has accelerated its efforts to advance its semiconductor industry in the wake of increasing geopolitical tensions with the US.
China has acquired new capability to produce 28-nm chip wafers, one of several demonstrations of the growing capabilities of Chinese chipmakers, this will likely become mature this year. Total Telecom reports that it is a sign that China is fast developing high-end skills in chip manufacturing.
Chinese companies have started moving their 14nm chipset orders from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC). By the coming year, China is expected to have gained required expertise in the manufacturing of 14nm chips and will also run trial production of 7nm chips this month. They are likely to introduce mass production in October.
Total Telecom says that the geopolitical tensions between the US and China are forcing the country to enhance its capability in chip manufacturing.
Semiconductors are the foundation of our modern digital lives. From being a part of your smartphone or laptop to cars, washing machines and medical devices, semiconductors power our lives. Further, all the upcoming technologies, like the Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality need chips to turn the vision into reality.
With the surge in demand driven by the COVID-19 pandemic while under sanction, Total Telecom reports that China is changing the market practice from being the world’s largest importer and consumer of semiconductors to be the manufacturer and less dependent on imports for its chip requirements.
By acquiring expertise in new areas like the manufacturing of 14nm and 7nm chips, Total Telecom believes the Chinese semiconductor industry is all set to grow in prominence and well on its way to becoming self-reliant and disrupting the global semiconductor industry.
About Total Telecom
Total Telecom offers daily online news with the option to sign up for headlines by email and monthly analysis. Total Telecom organises the annual World Communication Awards, Asia Communication Awards and a range of conferences and networking opportunities, including Submarine Networks EMEA, 5GLIVE, Gigabit Access, Connected Britain and Connected Germany. Find out more at www.totaltele.com
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FUNPLUS4.8.2021 17:17:06 CEST | Press release
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ENEDYM4.8.2021 14:02:11 CEST | Press release
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ATLANTA — The nation’s truckers provide vital resources during COVID-19 pandemic but the crisis has still had a negative impact on the industry as a whole, according to a report released today (May 5) by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).
According to the report, the global crisis has affected all aspects of trucking operations, including deliveries, travel times, detention and truck parking. The report also provides recommendations and guidance on future strategies should another national disaster strike.
“The trucking industry has weathered national disasters in the past and is doing so again through the current COVID crisis,” said Rebecca Brewster, ATRI president and COO. “However, this latest data quantifies the challenges motor carriers and drivers are facing during this pandemic to keep essential goods moving.”
Key findings of the joint research effort include:
- Long-haul trips are down considerably as container imports at ports dried up. At the same time, local trips under 100 miles increased by more than 100%.
- While certain segments of the industry, such as medical devices, perishable foods and paper products, saw solid COVID-19-related increases in truck traffic, nearly 50% of respondents described freight levels as “somewhat” to “much” lower due to COVID-19.
- Nearly 70% of specialized and tank truck operations were negatively impacted. In nearly every instance, smaller fleets reported greater negative impacts than larger fleets.
- More than 40% of respondents said truck parking was not any worse due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but categorized by fleet size, the larger fleets did describe truck parking as more difficult to find during the pandemic.
- The research confirmed that driver detention generally did not change due to COVID-19; however, owner-operators and small fleets experienced much worse detention delays relative to larger fleets.
- In terms of disaster planning, almost 80% of owner-operators and small fleets do not have any plan in place for managing operations during natural disasters.
- The trucking industry generally has a favorable attitude towards state and federal responses, policies and programs set up to address the pandemic, with the federal response viewed as more favorable than the state responses.
“This research puts solid numbers to what we otherwise only suspected,” said Andrew King, research analyst for OOIDA. “While we may be turning the corner on the COVID pandemic, we’re not out of the economic woods yet.”
To download the full report, click here.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.


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Activision has formally announced their remake of eight Zombies maps, with the price tag confirmed at £25.
The reception to last year’s Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare trailer was a real low point in Activision ’s recent history. And it wasn’t just that the sci-fi setting was unpopular, the trailer itself simply wasn’t very well put together.
But judging by recent efforts we get the feeling someone got sacked last year and a much better editor was brought in. Because not only was the recent WWII trailer great, but so too is this new one for Black Ops III Zombies Chronicles.
Although technically it’s only just now been announced, almost everything about Zombies Chronicles has already leaked out. But the story trailer below is definitely new.
For the record, Zombies Chronicles will be released on PlayStation 4 on May 16, with the other versions expected to arrive a month later. The price is £24.99, with pre-orders granting you a free system theme.
This is the official blurb in terms of how the maps have been updated: ‘The collection adds vibrant current-generation visuals, enhanced lighting, revamped character models and environments, and updated AI and audio systems. Zombies Chronicles also lets players use custom weapons, including current weaponry featured in Black Ops III that wasn’t featured in the original maps.’
As well as the eight remastered maps (three from World At War, four from Black Ops, and one from Black Ops II) the download will also include 20 vials of liquid Divinium, two all-new GobbleGums, and an exclusive Zombies Pack-A-Punch weapon camo.
Finally, a ‘8 Days of the Undead’ promotion is planned, starting on May 16, where you can earn double XP, compete in community challenges, and get more free stuff.


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THE ABBOTT NUTRITION facility in Sturgis, Michigan, which produces much of the U.S. supply of baby formula, shut down in February, bringing production lines to a grinding halt. Following a voluntary recall and investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the stoppage stemmed from a bacterial outbreak whose effects would be felt months later. Starting last September, five babies who had consumed the plant’s formula contracted bacterial infections. Two of them died.
The production pause is now contributing to a national shortage of formula, a crisis that experts believe will continue for months. Abbott, however, disputes that there is any link between its formula and the infant illnesses.
Questions are now swirling about alleged problems at the Abbott-owned factory, which produces popular brands such as Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare. A recently disclosed whistleblower document claims that managers at the Sturgis plant falsified reports, released untested infant formula, and concealed crucial safety information from federal inspectors.
But eight years earlier, the formula industry rejected an opportunity to take a more proactive approach — not only for increasing supply capacity, but also for preventing a potential outbreak. Records show that the industry successfully mobilized against a 2014 proposal from the FDA to increase regular safety inspections of plants used to manufacture baby formula.
At the time, the FDA had proposed rules to prevent the adulteration of baby formula in any step of the process in order to prevent contamination from salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii, which led to this year’s Sturgis plant shutdown.
The largest infant formula manufacturers quickly stepped up to delay the safety proposals. The International Formula Council, now known as the Infant Nutrition Council of America, is the lobby group that represents Abbott Nutrition (owned by Abbott Laboratories), Gerber (owned by Nestlé), Perrigo Co., and Reckitt Benckiser Group, the companies that control 89 percent of the baby formula market in the U.S.
In March 2014, the group wrote to FDA officials to request additional time to respond to the proposed rules. The agency, the industry claimed, had used a cost-benefit analysis that “overestimates the expected annual incidence of Cronobacter infection” using “outdated data.” The formula representatives asked for an additional 30 to 45 days.
“We feel the agency and the industry would benefit from this additional time,” wrote Mardi Mountford, an official with the International Formula Council.
That June, after months of deliberation, the FDA released a new interim final proposal that incorporated some of the industry concerns. The rules reduced the frequency of stability testing for new infant formulas from every three months to every four months. The FDA also provided a number of exemptions for manufacturers, allowing them to shirk testing requirements if the “new infant formula will likely not differ from the stability of formulas with similar composition, processing, and packaging for which there are extensive stability data.”
Later that year, the lobby group petitioned the FDA to revisit the safety manufacturing rule with even lower standards, including fewer inspections. In a letter to regulators, Mountford wrote that compliance costs would reach slightly over $20 million a year, including increased personnel and lab fees. “The IFC believes that the additional requirements for end of shelf-life testing under the Final Rule are unnecessary and burdensome and do not provide any additional public health benefit,” Mountford wrote in the September 2014 request. “Based on the frequency of manufacture and store inventories,” the letter noted, “virtually all infant formula is consumed early in its shelf-life (consumers typically purchase and use infant formula between 3 and 9 months after manufacture and do not stockpile infant formula at home).”
The Infant Nutrition Council of America did not respond to a request for comment from The Intercept.
As critics have noted, the formula industry had wide latitude to expand production and increase spending on safety standards. Abbott last year announced that it had spent $5 billion purchasing its own stock.
Abbott Nutrition has declined to inform other outlets whether additional cases of Cronobacter have been identified.
Following publication of this story, a spokesperson for Abbott provided a statement disputing the whistleblower allegations.
“This former employee was dismissed due to serious violations of Abbott’s food safety policies. After dismissal, the former employee, through their attorney, has made evolving, new and escalating allegations to multiple authorities. Abbott is reviewing this new document and will thoroughly investigate any new allegations,” said the Abbott spokesperson.
The spokesperson also provided a statement regarding the Abbott’s trade group lobbying efforts. The International Formula Council’s efforts, said the spokesperson, do “not align with Abbott’s actual past or current practices with regards to testing for Cronobacter sp. Abbott has been conducting finished product testing for Cronobacter sp. in our powdered manufacturing facilities long before the Infant Formula Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) rule requiring this testing was finalized. Additionally, Abbott has always tested for Cronobacter sp. at more than twice the sample size


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Daimler Financial Services, the global financial services provider of Daimler, is acquiring the electronic payment services provider PayCash Europe to develop a presence in the electronic payment (ePayment) sector. The German multinational corporation, which is one of the world’s leading automotive groups, intends to launch its own electronic payment services provider under the “Mercedes pay” brand name.
Daimler Financial Services, which provides financing, leasing, insurance, fleet management, insurance services, banking and credit/debit cards services in more than 40 countries, recently expanded its portfolio to offer mobility services under the brands car2Go (a leading car-sharing service), mytaxi, Mercedes-Benz Rent and moovel. “Mercedes pay” will be integrated into Daimler Mobility Services, a subsidiary of Daimler Financial Services, with a number of different mobility services. The company plans to use the new payment system to facilitate car financing and related transactions.
“We invest in the future of mobility and are a pioneer in the realm of innovative mobility services,” notes the mobility services website. “With smartphone based mobility concepts, we optimize the use of existing transportation infrastructure and develop flexible and ecofriendly mobility solutions of the future.”
“‘Mercedes pay’ is a fundamental component of our mobility and digitization strategy,” said Bodo Uebber, member of the Daimler Board of Management. “Daimler’s new payment system underscores our ambition, as a leading provider of digital mobility services, to make the products and services we offer even more appealing.”
“Our philosophy is to provide mobility at your fingertips,” added Klaus Entenmann, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services. “‘Mercedes pay’ allows our customers to easily and securely pay for our mobility offerings and services using their smartphones. ‘Mercedes pay’ will mainly benefit customers who, in the future, will only need to provide their payment details one time, in order to be able to use a range of Daimler’s services. This is made possible by the eWallet function, a virtual source of payment.”
PayCash Europe, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Luxembourg, offers a digital payment platform for mobile payments, e-money, voucher and loyalty solutions, and digital currencies. The company has an e-money license, issued by the Luxembourg financial supervisory body CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier), which allows it to operate as a one-stop payment partner.
It’s worth noting that digital currencies, including bitcoin, are prominently featured in the service portfolio of PayCash. “Get your business ready for virtual currencies,” says the company. “Whether you are operating a bitcoin exchange or a merchant business that wants to offer its customers bitcoins as a payment solution, our backend solution provides the technical and legal platform to implement the virtual currency into the existing payment infrastructure and enables payments to be processed in all major fiat currencies.”
The PayCash platform enables bitcoin exchanges to run fiat currency accounts in the most traded currencies, managed through connections to the banking system. “We are able to offer your business a merchant account for the exchange and a dedicated E-wallet for your customers and exchange users,” claims the company. “Finally, to make our platform the best fit for your business, PayCash offers a Full KYC (Know Your Customer) service.”
Since digital currency solutions are but one component of PayCash service offerings, the acquisition does not necessarily imply that bitcoin will be part of “Mercedes pay” or other Daimler mobility services. However, the Daimler press release explicitly mentions that PayCash “offers solutions for cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and eWallet systems, in addition to mobile payment services.” Digital currencies are now part of Daimler’s infrastructure, and the company has in-house industry-standard and KYC/AML-compliant means to offer digital currency options to its customers. For example, it seems likely that, given sufficient user demand, Daimler Financial Services could offer bitcoin options for car financing and other mobility services.


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MapleStory Europe – You and I Teaser
A teaser for the last and greatly anticipated update for MapleStory EU in 2014.
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Suzuki Motorcycle India has kick-started the second-phase of its helmet awareness campaign – #HelmetForLife. In a bid to promote safe-riding habits and encouraging two-wheeler riders as well as pillion-riders to always wear a helmet, the #HelmetForLife, campaign was announced in the presence of KK Rao, Commissioner of Police, Gurugram; Manish Sehgal, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India; and Sajeev Rajasekharan, Executive Vice President, Suzuki Motorcycle India.
The Suzuki Motorcycle India management also presented Gixxer motorcycles to the Haryana Police. Under the #HelmetForLife campaign, Suzuki Motorcycle India will be distributing 60 Gixxer motorcycles to the traffic-authorities and more than 12,000 helmets, across 12-cities during the next few days.
The 12 cities that will be covered in this phase of ‘#HelmetForLife’ campaign are Gurugram, New Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Calicut and Kolkata.
At the ceremony conducted at the Gurugram Commissioner office, Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India said that helmets are not just an accessory, but are a very important safety-gear that can improve the chances of survival. Suzuki has always invested in making riding experiences exciting and safe for its customers.
Sajeev Rajasekharan, Executive Vice President, Suzuki Motorcycle India added that after the encouraging response to the #CaughtWithoutHelmet campaign in terms of creating awareness, the ‘#HelmetForLife’ initiative is a very-important step towards triggering a behavioral change amongst two-wheeler riders. With the Gixxer motorcycles that carry the message of #HelmetForLife as well as on-ground helmet-distribution initiatives, Suzuki Motorcycle India hopes to take the message of safe-riding to maximum number of people in Gurugram.


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- Enjoying the Olympics? Maybe, but people would enjoy it more if they could watch it live, says Heidi Moore, who’s been one of the most outspoken critics of NBC’s time-delayed coverage. She asks, “In a media industry dying from lack of profits and inattention, is the ideal solution to force viewers back into the past?”:
It is absolutely extraordinary that smart viewers are frustrated with NBC’s coverage and flaunting their use of proxy services to watch the BBC. It is not piracy â€“ the proxy services are legal, and the BBC has broadcast rights too â€“ but the fact that tech CEOs, journalists and others are sharing tips about how to avoid a major network is a sign that the network is missing a crucial turning point in responding to what audiences want from Olympics coverage.
Things got worse when Twitter suspended the account of reporter Guy Adams, who had also been a vocal critic of NBC’s coverage. Since Twitter has an Olympics partnership with NBC, this act of censorship was especially troubling, says Jeff Jarvis:
Twitter is going to have to learn the lesson that newspapers had to learn when they started accepting advertising: that when trust is your asset, you must run your service and your business according to principles of trust. Newspapers built church/state walls to demonstrate that they could not be bought by sponsors’ influence. Twitter needs that wall. Every tech company fancying itself a platform does. Or it can’t be trusted and won’t be used and will lose value. Those are the economics of trust.
All of this points to some sort of lesson about how social media has transformed the way people consume, and interact with, major global events like the Olympics, but rather than make that statement here, please refer to this Storify of people saying “Hi” to the U.S. women’s gymnastics team.
- The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, however, remains immune to the scourge of social media after ejecting a student reporter for live-tweeting from an open board meeting.
- Lockhart Steele â€“ owner of Curbed and Eater.com â€“ explains how his national hyperlocal network has been able to make money (unlike AOL’s Patch): Â
“It’s a little counterintuitive. We’re a local company that’s not really interested in local advertising,” says Steele, explaining that the sites’ primary sponsors are national brands with big ad budgets like Ben & Jerry’s or Absolut Vodka.
Steele says big brands use Curbed to tap into local communities of shoppers, foodies or home buyers in different regions. He cites a recent example in which Curbed threw a party in Portland on behalf of Patron Tequila. “We can activate audiences in each of these cities we’re in, and activate a real community.”
Steele says there simply isn’t enough money in local advertising â€“ with one exception. “The one place you can sell local is real estate â€¦ Itâ€™s the only category of hyper-local that’s really flush with money.”
- The value of Google’s cost-per-click has been steadily declining since late 2011. What does that mean for the rest of the online ad industry?
Even at the company that managed to make money off of Internet advertising, those online ads are continually losing value. In the scheme of the Internet, Google’s loss shows an unfortunate reality of online advertising. Unlike the print world, Internet ads lose value over time.
- Craigslist now claims it is the “exclusive licensee” of the content in its users’ postings.
- Add McClatchy to the list of paywall adopters.
- “Great long-form journalism comes from the author’s irrepressible need to answer a question. Fictional long-form journalism comes from the writer’s irrepressible need to be hailed as an oracle,” writes Ta-Nehisi Coates in response to the recently-revealed fabrications of Jonah Lehrer.Â “In the former fabulism isn’t just wrong because it cheats the reader, it’s wrong because it cheats the writer. Manufactured evidence tends not to satiate an aching curiosity. But it does wonders for those most interested in oraculism.”Â
- The Center for Investigative Reporting has launched an investigative news channel on YouTube called, “The I Files.”
- This year the U.S. will surpass Asia as the largest market for mobile advertising, projects eMarketer.
- The fall and rise of mobile-local advertising.
- Seven mobile ad networks for local publishers.
- Three reasons intent based ads are the next big thing.
- 50 percent of consumers say they would trade location privacy for discounts.
- And finally, “My Career Ended While I Was in the Bathroom,” a symbolic tale by David Sheets, who was laid off by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week.


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North American publisher Electronic Arts is letting go of 600 staff after taking a fall in profits.
The publisher lost $310 million in profits in its second quarter fiscal results despite strong sales of Madden and Spore. As a result, 6% of the workforce is being let go.
Electronic Arts spokesperson Mariam Sughayer confirmed to Kotaku: "We have begun a cost reduction initiative which will include eliminating approximately 6% of our existing workforce - or approximately 600 positions. We will also reduce hiring and close some open positions that we had previously planned to fill this fiscal year.
"These are challenging economic times around the world, and it's impossible for any business leaders to predict the future. However, EA has made good progress in improving product quality, building a holiday lineup of titles that is extremely strong, filling our new IP pipeline, and expanding our Direct-To-Consumer and online businesses. As well, our talent remains the best in the industry.
"Decisions that impact people's jobs are always extremely tough but all of the people affected will be treated fairly and respectfully."


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It is vital for humanity’s well-being to tackle the pandemic and prevent its further spread, and isolation and quarantine seem to be the best options. Because they are at higher risk of getting infected, both authorities and families recommend isolation for the elderly population. This means that recreational walks in the park, shopping for fun, or meetings with family are out of the question. For this category of people, grandchildren make their world go ’round. So, it’s obvious why they might feel a little more depressed during these times.
There isn’t much we can do to bring them joy. We can video call them, play online games with them, encourage them to take up a new hobby, or send them a really nice message which can be heard across the city. Thanks to McDonald’s Sweden’s latest campaign, we can now add one more thing to the list. One that actually promises to improve the mood of the elderly.
Since its beginnings in 1979, the Happy Meal has become almost synonymous with children’s happiness. Now, the fast-food restaurant wants to turn the surprise around and extend the surprise to our elders. Plus, McDonald’s wants to prove that, indeed, true happiness comes from small things.
Developed in partnership with creative agency Nord DDB, the newly-implemented Happy Meal Senior can be delivered to a family’s elders. Instead of finding a toy within the box, the seniors are surprised with a greeting card, drawn by their grandchild.
The campaign unfolded in a Swedish McDonald’s restaurant during a weekend. Throughout the event, the brand invited families to surprise their relatives with something delicious and pleasant for the eye and soul. “We wanted to let the kids surprise their grandparents with what they themselves love most, along with a surprise that we know the grandparents appreciate. We hope the initiative has made the lives of the grandparents a little more enjoyable,” says Sofie Lager, Senior Marketing Manager at McDonald’s.
The HoReCa industry is one of the worst-hit sectors by the coronavirus. Still, the industry is trying to adapt to the new rules imposed by the governments. One example is McDonald’s Netherlands, which imagined a new coronavirus-proof prototype restaurant back in May 2020. The brand promised customers to deliver the same atmosphere while strictly following the rules of hygiene.
However, this is not the first time the restaurant has “adjusted” one of its locations to fight with some of the world’s most-burning problems. Just a year ago, terrified by the fact that the planet is losing bees at an alarming rate, McDonald’s alongside its partner-in-crime, the Stockholm-based agency, created “McHive,” the world’s smallest McDonald’s restaurant, perfectly adapted to the bees’ needs. It seems like they have made a pledge to help these tiny insects thrive so, in September 2019, the duo continued their mission to give bees a little push in the right direction by turning some of McDonald’s OOH posters into bee hotels.
Client: McDonald’s Sweden
Agency: Nord DDB


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As an active equity investment firm, we have fiduciary responsibility for the long-term investment returns of our clients, where all material aspects of sustainability are carefully considered.
Nutrition or more specifically malnutrition is a major global challenge. Governments and consumers are increasingly demanding more healthy food products and require more accountability from the food and beverage manufacturers in terms of the nutritional content and the marketing of their products.
The US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has approved a new revolutionary cancer therapy, CAR-T, for leukaemia. Thus, medical science has passed a new milestone in their endeavours to cure cancer.
Once Donald Trump’s upcoming growth plan for the United States begins to materialise, we see good opportunities for growth and expansion for companies with business models directed at the construction industry.


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Is there really anybody out there who thinks schools should be selling junk food to kids?
The answer, apparently, is yes, because proposed bans often generate controversy. School districts and junk food vendors both profit by selling sodas, cakes, potato chips and the like, and often oppose restrictions by arguing that kids will only buy the stuff elsewhere.
Now comes the first large national study of state laws on junk food, released online Monday by the medical journal Pediatrics. The results? Students living in states with strong, consistent laws curbing school junk food gained less weight over a three-year span than students in more lax states.
The findings will provide ammunition for barring junk food from schools, even if the argument for doing so should need no bolstering. New York already has a law on this, but it bars junk only up until after the day's last meal period -- and in some places, junk food sales have been found going on all day. At the very least, New York needs strict enforcement of the law we have. Better still, let's ban unhealthy snacks and drinks at school all day long.
Opponents of such bans have cited past junk food studies showing mixed results, but those studies usually have been smaller and depended on self-reported weight, which makes them less reliable. The latest effort, led by Daniel Taber of the University of Illinois-Chicago, overcomes those limitations by using data on 6,300 kids in 40 states. Student heights and weights were from actual measurements.
To classify state laws on school junk food, which is the unhealthy stuff served outside school meals, Taber and his colleagues drew on a system used by the National Cancer Institute to characterize the laws as strong, weak or non-existent. Laws were considered strong if they were specific -- barring soda, for example. Weak laws might only offer recommendations, or use vague words such as "healthy."
The student data included "body mass index," which relates weight to height. Students who spent all three years -- from 2004 to 2007 -- in strong-law states gained .44 fewer BMI points than kids in no-law states. For a 5-foot child weighing 100 pounds, that's about 2.2 pounds. The study also found that weak laws weren't much better than no law.
The new study doesn't prove tough limits on junk food in school will make kids slimmer. But it certainly is suggestive. And it's hard to see how it can hurt to rid campuses of sugary soft drinks and snack foods stuffed with empty calories. Their removal will underscore an important message: This stuff isn't good for you.
The Taber study notes that nearly one in five Americans ages 12 to 19 are obese, a condition that predisposes them to lifelong health problems. Yet the U.S. Department of Agriculture has delayed by months a plan to propose national standards on junk food in schools (what a short memo this ought to be!). And last year a USDA plan to require healthier school lunches was defunded by Congress.
On the other hand, public and private schools don't need a law to get junk food out of their facilities. It might cost a little revenue at a time when funding is tight. But surely there are better ways to raise money than selling unhealthy products to children on school premises.


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According to recent reports, the BS6 Royal Enfield Bikes are now available across the dealerships with offers worth INR 10,000. The brand has recently announced the offers on its motorcycle portfolio that will be valid until the end of May 2020.
The customers booking the BS6 Royal Enfield motorcycles by the end of this month will be able to get their hands on the INR 10,000 worth of benefits which they can use for apparels, genuine accessories as well as for getting an extended warranty. In addition to this, the brand is also offering an additional 20% off on the purchase of Royal Enfield accessories or apparel if bought separately. The all-new offers are valid for every motorcycle under the Chennai-based manufacturer’s portfolio.
The customers can either book a motorcycle by visiting their nearest dealership or can book via the online platforms. Since there are so many customers that are waiting for their RE bikes to be delivered post lockdown and are not cancelling their orders due to the current pandemic situation, the brand is also offering them the same offers worth INR 10,000 as a token of appreciation for their utmost loyalty.
Royal Enfield is one of the very first manufacturers that has resumed its manufacturing operations according to the newly suggested government guidelines that ensure social distancing and proper sanitation. There are several RE dealerships that are now open for the customers while the remaining will be working in the full swing in the coming days. The brand has announced interesting offers on the BS6 Royal Enfield Bikes to make them attractive to the customers even in the hard times. One can further expect the brand to reveal its upcoming RE Meteor 350 in the coming days as well.


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Players have booted up the game to discover they’ve already ‘completed’ the story
Rocksteady Studios’ first big game in nearly a decade is off to a rough start. Players who had early access to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League started the game on Monday and were presented with a big surprise: Upon logging in for the first time, they had full story completion.
That massive bug, which would conceivably unlock certain game features and open the floodgate of story spoilers, forced Rocksteady to quickly take the game offline to perform maintenance. On Rocksteady’s X account for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the developer said it’s “aware that a number of players are currently experiencing” that issue. As it works on the bug, the game will be unavailable.
“We expect this to take several hours and will update once we have more information,” the developer said. “We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is an always-online game, meaning that even the single-player portion of the game is unplayable.
We’re aware that a number of players are currently experiencing an issue whereby upon logging into the game for the first time, they have full story completion.
To resolve this issue, we will be performing maintenance on the game servers.
During this time the game will be…
— Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (@suicidesquadRS) January 29, 2024
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League officially launches on Feb. 2, but customers who pre-ordered the game’s Deluxe Edition on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, or Xbox Series X get up to 72 hours of early access to the game.
That early access period now appears to have caused Rocksteady extra grief as word also spreads that publisher Warner Bros. Games did not provide pre-release review code to media outlets. Publications like IGN ran stories over the weekend, noting that the publisher has opted not to send out review code until the game’s servers go live — or not at all, in the case of IGN, which ran a negative-leaning preview of the game ahead of launch. Polygon also did not receive review code ahead of Suicide Squad’s launch.
Rocksteady’s journey to bring Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League to life has been a challenging one, beset by delays, major story leaks, blowback over the game’s live-service multiplayer focus, and the unwelcome revival of certain characters from the Batman Arkham games.


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xRichest Indian Mukesh Ambani on Monday announced plans to sell stakes in his flagship Reliance Industries’ oil and chemical business to Saudi oil giant Aramco and in fuel retail network to BP plc of UK for a combined Rs 1.15 lakh crore as he looked to make his company a zero-net debt firm in 18 months.
Parallelly, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate will roll out fiber-based fixed-line broadband services from September 5, offering internet speed of at least 100 mbps, free voice calls for life, television and video streaming on HD sets given for free along with the connection that would come for as low as Rs 700 per month, he said at the company’s 42th annual general meeting (AGM) here.
Ambani said Saudi Aramco will buy 20 per cent stake in Reliance’s oil and chemicals business at an enterprise value of USD 75 billion while BP will pick up 49 per cent in the company’s network of petrol pumps and aviation fuel facilities.
The Saudi investment is “the biggest foreign investment in the history of Reliance,” he said. “It is also among the largest foreign investments in India.”
BP had previously bought a 30 per cent stake in 21 oil and gas blocks of Reliance for USD 7.2 billion in 2011.
The deal with Aramco covers all of Reliance’s refining and petrochemicals assets as well as the remainder of stake the firm has in fuel retailing business after selling 49 per cent to BP, he said.
Aramco, the world’s biggest crude exporter, will also supply Reliance’s twin-refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat with 5,00,000 barrels of oil a day on a long-term basis, Ambani said.
The deal is subject to due diligence, definitive agreements, and regulatory and other approvals, he said.
Ambani said BP will pay about Rs 7,000 crore for acquiring a 49 per cent stake in Reliance’s fuel retailing network.
Last week, the two firms had announced a new joint venture to set up petrol pumps and retail aviation turbine fuel to airlines in India.
Reliance’s existing 1,400-odd petrol pumps, as well as 31 aviation fuel stations, will be transferred to the new joint venture where BP will hold 49 per cent equity stake. Reliance will hold the balance 51 per cent in the entity, which aims to expand the retail network to 5,500 petrol pumps in the next five years, the two firms had said.
“In a significant new initiative, BP acquired a 49 per cent stake in our Petro-retail business. Reliance will get Rs 7,000 crore from BP for this transaction,” Ambani said at the AGM.
The twin deals will help cut some of the Rs 2,88,243 crore group debt as on June 30, 2019. The debt, however, stood at Rs 1,54,478 crore after accounting for monetisation of telecom infrastructure such as towers.
“We have a very clear roadmap to becoming a zero-net debt company within the next 18 months, that is by March 31, 2021,” he said. “We expect to complete transactions with Saudi Aramco and BP within this financial year. These are expected to generate an inflow of Rs 1.15 lakh crore.”
Also, Reliance has received “strong interest” from strategic and financial investors for its consumer businesses — telecom venture Jio and Reliance Retail, he said without giving details.


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Pakistan, Belarus companies to sign MoUs for joint ventures todayArchive
ISLAMABAD: A number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) will be signed between companies of Pakistan and Belarus on Monday for joint venture collaboration in agro-machinery and dairy industries.
The Pak-Belarus Business and Investment Forum is being organised by the Board of Investment (BOI) in Islamabad ahead of a two-day state visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to Pakistan.
The areas of collaboration have been identified in sectors of agriculture, farm machinery, tractor plants, and milk and dairy industry.
As part of the presidential entourage, a 52-member delegation of businessmen and investors of Belarus headed by Industries Minister Vitaly M. Vovk and Minister for Agriculture and Food Leonid K. Zayats will participate in the business and investment forum.
Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015
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Samsung has released a new “cardinal red” color option for its Galaxy S10E, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10 Plus. It’s appearing first in the UK and Switzerland, per 9to5Google. UK availability is currently limited to people who buy the phone through carrier EE. If you’re in Switzerland, Samsung’s online store sells unlocked Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus phones (the S10E is omitted) in cardinal red. However, the new color is only applicable on the default configuration that has 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
It’s very possible that Samsung will bring this color variant to other regions eventually, but the company isn’t saying much on that yet — or whether the US will be included. A Samsung spokesperson told The Verge that it had “nothing to…
from The Verge – All Posts https://ift.tt/2XIqk7z


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All the Warm Fuzzies
Hot fashion and cuddly creatures at Cotton Creek Farms
By Al Parker | Sept. 11, 2021
After living in the Detroit area for two decades, Rebecca and Jason Gill longed for a change.
They said good-bye to their long daily commutes, high-stress jobs, and hectic schedules, then planned a relocation to northern Michigan. They sold their house, their lake house and their boats, bidding adieu to friends and swapping a Detroit suburban lifestyle for a quieter rural existence.
They didn't know their dream would turn into one of the fastest-growing alpaca farms in the state, Cotton Creek Farms, nestled between Thompsonville and Buckley.
Alpacas are unique animals that have only been in the U.S. Since 1984. They are part of the camel family and were domesticated more than 6,000 years ago. There are roughly 200,000 alpaca in the U.S., while there are some 4 million in South America, about 87 percent of those in Peru.
According to the Alpaca Owners Association (AOA) Ohio has 27,000 alpacas, followed by Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. Michigan has some 8,000 alpacas.
“We realized they were magical creatures,” says Rebecca, a Grayling native whose background in sales, marketing, and small business management enables her to handle the farm's website, social media presence, storefront and events. “We also realized alpacas had a large impact on sustainable living and eco-friendly fiber production. When we saw the happiness the alpacas brought to others, we knew the farm was going to be much more than a hobby.”
It's turned into a bustling business where the Gills have invested lots of love, capital, and sweat equity. They immersed themselves in the alpaca culture, learning all they could about bloodlines, fiber quality, genetics, reproduction and health. They visited other farms, attended shows and did tons of research, soaking up all the alpaca knowledge they could from more experienced breeders.
“The more we learned, the more we loved alpacas and everything they offered,” says Rebecca.
The farm generates revenues through a variety of avenues, all focused on the alpacas. One of their key products is high-quality fiber that's used in a variety of items, such as bags, blankets, shirts, gloves, mittens, capes, hats, Christmas ornaments, and more.
Similar to sheep shearing, the fiber is harvested once a year in the spring.
“We have professional shearers who come from Montana to do our shearing each May,” explains Jason. “This year they did 62 animals in seven-and-a-half hours. Some of the animals had 10 pounds of fiber. We have 500 pounds of fiber now waiting to go to the mill for processing. The animals love it, they run off and roll in the dirt. They feel so much lighter.”
Once the fiber is processed at the mill, it's turned over to a team of artisans who make many of the clothing products by hand.
Through their website (cottoncreekfarms.com) they also sell animals, priced from $1,000 to $15,000. Over the years, they've sold 45 to 50 alpacas, according to Jason.
“We have a hard time selling them,” says Rebecca. “We have to see the buyers setup and make sure they go to good homes. Many times I've cried when they left.”
In the summer of 2015, the Gills began searching for just the right piece of land and finally found a 27-acre parcel, a former Christmas tree farm, the following year.
“The land was raw and needed lots of work,” recalls Rebecca. “But it came with a quiet dirt road, a creek, a small pond and beautiful views of sunrises and sunset. You could heard the birds sing, you could smell the fresh air and occasionally you'd be hit by a passing butterfly. The land was unloved for years, but it was perfect.”
First they built a house and barn, then moved north in 2018. In January of 2019 they brought home their first four alpacas.
“Our alpaca farm began with the simple idea of having a few alpacas, sheep, and chickens,” recalls Rebecca. “Our goal was a hobby farm to keep Jason busy after retirement.”
But once they bought the Founding Four, they fell in love with the animals. Their herd now numbers between 50 and 60.
Alpacas are larger than their cousin, the vicunas, but smaller than another cousin, the llama. They come in 16 different colors, ranging from shades of whites, beige, fawn, browns, grays, and blacks.
People often confuse alpacas with llamas. But there are several differences.
Llamas are bigger than alpacas in both height and weight. They have longer faces and larger ears. Llamas are bred as pack animals, while alpacas are bred for high-quality luxury fiber. They are timid and more laid back than llamas.
“They are extremely intelligent and highly trainable,” says Rebecca. “They are really sweet and bring joy to a lot of people.”
They certainly bring joy to the Gills, who take the time to carefully name all of their alpacas.
“When we were first getting started, Rebecca went to a sale to buy 6 alpacas,” recalls Jason with a smile. “She bought 17.”
The farm continues to grow. In the spring of this year, the Gills finished building a second barn and an on-site farm market.
That gave them space for educational events and interactive alpaca tours, led by Jason.
“We try to keep them educational and super-friendly,” he explains. “We've taken 2,000 people on tours since April. Typical tour size ranges from 12 to 30 people. We've had people from Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo who come just to see the farm. It's a destination and we want it to be an experience for them.”
In addition to the weekend tours, Jason's role is to handle the daily operation of the farm and breeding operations. He also heads up the Michigan Alpaca Association and is a 4-H leader in Grand Traverse County.
“This would be difficult to do without the help of our son, Hunter,” says Jason, who gave up a 20-year automotive career to launch the farm. “He does whatever is needed and really loves the alpacas.”
The Gills are quick to give credit to a lot of folks who have helped them create the farm.
“We've had very good mentors in the industry who have helped us,” says Jason. “You know they say it takes a village to raise a child, well our farm has been raised by a village.”
PARTY AT THE FARM
National Alpaca Day
On Sept. 25, the Gills invite the public to help celebrate National Alpaca Farm Day. It's a free, family friendly event, and the farm will be open to explore. From 10am to 5pm there will be demonstrations, alpaca selfies, food, fun, and more. Call (231) 631-2341 or (248) 760-3586.
Hot Fashion for Fall (and Frigid Winters)
Cotton Greek Farms sells an impressive array of fashionable yet practical-for-cold-climes clothing, gifts, and even yarn made from sustainable alpaca fiber. Gloves, mittens, sweaters, rugs, and more can be found at the farm store. The items come in vibrant colors or soft earth tones, are durable, attractive, hypoallergenic, and extremely warm. Alpaca clothing and products also naturally repel water, are flame-resistant, and says the Gills, doesn't itch like wool.


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Quanex Building Products Wins Construction Marketing STAR AwardDecember 4th, 2012 by DWM Magazine
Quanex Building Products Corp. was recently recognized by the Construction Marketing Association’s (CMA) annual STAR Awards for excellence in marketing. Quanex is the recipient of the 2012 Star Award for Trade Show Exhibit Promotion for efforts surrounding its attendance at last year’s GlassBuild America Expo.
The CMA Star Awards recognize excellence in 16 marketing categories and 81 subcategories including advertising, branding, website design, social media, brochures, catalogs, new product launches, packaging, photography, promotions, publicity, merchandising, trade shows, videos, employee communications and integrated marketing campaigns.
In 2011, the company said it hoped to establish Quanex as the go-to resource for IG components, extrusions and fenestration products, exhibiting for the first time with its full line of integrated companies dedicated to the advancement of the fenestration industry. To show how its business units could help customers drive their businesses forward, Quanex featured innovative product technologies through various displays and multimedia presentations.


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A group in Saudi Arabia has started a social media campaign to boycott American restaurants as punishment for President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The hashtag #BoycottAmericanRestaurants was trending on Twitter Tuesday, encouraging people to boycott chains like McDonald’s, Starbucks, Burger King and Pizza Hut among others, Newsweek reports.
“Participate in the boycott of American goods, you could have a direct effect on the American economy. The role of the people is greater [than that of governments],” one tweet read, according to a translation from The New Arab.
GIBSON’S BAKERY SUES OBERLIN COLLEGE OVER RACISM PROTESTS
This campaign comes less than week after President Trump announced he would officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered the State Department to move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv.
Trump’s controversial decision was met with criticism by many who believe the move could derail any hope of reaching a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian territories.
While some people support the boycott, others argue it is ineffective, noting the fact that people are using Twitter, an American website, as well as other American products to spread the word about the campaign.
Shopping and eating out are two of the main leisure activities for Saudis, many of whom have disposable income, according to a report by EuroMonitor International.
McDonald’s was the leading fast-food brand in Saudi Arabia in 2016, earning 8 percent of the overall market share.


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Tasman Holiday Parks has just wrapped up a remarkable transformation at its Racecourse Beach Park in a move to combine the comforts of modern living with the beauty of the great outdoors.
In today’s evolving camping landscape, vacationers are increasingly seeking the comforts of a ‘home away from home’ experience. The trend is shifting towards not just glamping but staying in full-sized modern cabins that offer all the comforts of home.
Tasman Holiday Parks has recognised this change and responded by investing in transforming its Racecourse Beach Park. To redefine the holiday park experience and embrace luxury, modernity, and accessibility like never before.
Located in the South Coast of NSW, just north of Batemans Bay and situated in Bawley Point, Tasman Holiday Parks Racecourse Beach recently unveiled its 14 brand new, thoughtfully designed villas.
The new villas
Operations Manager for Racecourse Beach, Sonya Mamouney said the plan initially included nine cabins but due to the overwhelming demand from eager holidaymakers looking for the ‘home away from home’ experience, the number was increased to 14 early this year.
“Our guests’ comfort and satisfaction are at the heart of everything we do,” said Ms Mamouney.
“The decision to increase the number of cabins from our original plan is a reflection of the overwhelming desire from holidaymakers to escape to our luxurious offerings at Racecourse Beach.
“Our new villas are designed to provide a home away from home, with modern amenities, beautiful artwork inspired by the South Coast, and a ‘Coastal Chic’ colour scheme that captures the essence of our stunning surroundings.”
The villa collection includes four spacious 3-bedroom villas, nine comfortable 2-bedroom villas, and a ground-breaking 2-bedroom accessible villa— a first for the Racecourse Beach park.
“This commitment to accessibility aligns with Tasman Holiday Parks’ vision to enhance holiday experiences for all,” said Ms Mamouney.
Moreover, it ensures families and individuals with accessible needs can enjoy their vacation together.
“These investments are a testament to Tasman’s ongoing commitment to creating unforgettable memories for guests in an idyllic coastal setting.”
Additionally, these new villas have been designed to challenge the norms of holiday park vacations. They are equipped with a host of modern amenities that elevate the guest experience. Each villa boasts state-of-the-art features, including dishwashers, air conditioning, washer and dryer combinations, and the added comfort of ceiling and wall fans throughout.
Also, part of the refurbishment was an extensive makeover of the Racecourse Beach Park’s pool, which now adds a splash of elegance to the park boasting an architecturally designed layout that spares no expense.
Creating a resort feel
“Tasman Holiday Parks Racecourse Beach has always been about creating memorable experiences for our guests,” says CEO of Tasman Holiday Parks, Nikki Milne.
“The refurbishment of the pool is a significant milestone in our journey to transform our Racecourse Beach Holiday Park into a premium resort-feel destination. We wanted to create a pool area that not only exudes architectural elegance but also provides an elevated experience for holidaymakers.
“The previous pool design had served us well, but it was time for a change. Our new architecturally designed pool, complete with European-imported decking, lush gardens, and mesmerising lighting, will redefine what it means to unwind and have fun during a holiday.”
The addition of four new decks aims to elevate the experience of lounging by the pool to a premium resort-level experience. Further enhancements include an extensive landscaping effort, with hundreds of new plants adorning the garden beds, creating a lush green oasis for guests to enjoy.
Additionally, Racecourse Beach welcomes both caravanners and campers and offers freshly minted evergreen sites and a state-of-the-art amenities block.
“The transformation of Racecourse Beach Holiday Park is not just about physical changes; it’s about creating lasting memories for our guests. We are excited to unveil these enhancements and invite travellers to experience the new era of holidaying at Tasman Holiday Parks,” said Ms Milne.
Tasman Holiday Parks Racecourse Beach has earned its place as a finalist in the Holiday Park category for both the CCIA NSW and NSW Tourism awards, a testament to its exceptional offerings and outstanding service, remarkable commitment to breaking the norms of stereotypical holiday parks, and delivering a sense of luxury and accessibility that will set new standards in the industry.
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