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The global automotive digitization and electrification process continues to move forward. Yet for the last two years, it has been stuck due to the automotive chip and lithium battery crunch. When can this material shortage end? So far, it doesn’t seem to be an easy task, mainly because the supply is lagging far behind the increase in demand. The regional development of the supply chain may face different situations before the newly expanded production capacities are put into operation.
Anticipation about out-of-stock parts
To fully understand the dynamics of the automotive chip supply, we need to start with the supply structure. To begin with, let’s take a look at the chip suppliers for mainstream car brands:
First, 80% is in the hands of integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), including Infineon, NXP, TI, Renesas, STMicroelectronics, and more. These IDMs have been partnering with mainstream car brands for a long time. Therefore, when the shortage occurred in 2021, the IDM’s production capacity was first fought over by the car brands. By the end of 2021, a high percentage of them was tightly bounded by contracts.
Second IDMs do need support from contract chipmakers for urgent orders. For parts where IDM production capacity is not sufficient, help will be sought from contract chip makers such as TSMC, Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS), and UMC. However, it still depends on the available capacity of each contractor, which naturally has its limits, especially with the contractors’ major clients being those from the consumer electronics sector.
Since 2021, it has been a tug-of-war for production capacity between consumer and automotive chips. The war was fierce for the first few quarters, but with fluctuations in the overall economy, consumer demand has noticeably declined recently. Automotive chips took advantage of the uptime softening and grabbed the available capacity. However, key applications such as microcontrollers (MCU) and insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) are still lagging.
Moreover, the drip feed of new production capacity for automotive chips fails to catch up with demand. Including companies like Texas Instruments (TI) and tier-1 European supplier Bosch, new production capacity has been made available, but it may not solve the crunch in the short term. The other comes from the Chinese supply chain. The region is highly self-sufficient, due to semiconductor self-production being China’s established policy. However, this new capacity will mostly be provided to China’s brands.
Last but not least, the potential new supply in the future is worth anticipating. This includes TSMC establishing factories in the US and Japan, as well as UMC’s new production lines in Singapore and Japan. In addition, GlobalFoundries (GF) has expanded its production to Europe and Singapore. Intel and Samsung Electronics have also been actively participating in the future car market, with Samsung working with Tesla to fulfill the latter’s chip demand.
Vehicle supply chain said to reduce demand for 4Q22
It’s worth noting that not all automotive chips are experiencing a shortage. Examples include display driver IC (DDI), audio IC, power management IC (PMIC), and diode, all of which could go through a demand slowdown in late third-quarter 2022 and fourth-quarter 2022. In addition, materials for PCBs like copper-clad laminate (CCL) are set to be considered products in the long supply chain.
As the consumer electronics market weakens, the supply chain is accelerating their deployments in the automotive field. However, supplies from the short supply chains have seen little improvement, which means car assembly is still being hindered. Shipment momentum to the automotive field is said to be declining, probably because car manufacturers are turning conservative.
The production and sales goals set by car manufacturers are unlikely to materialize by the end of the year due to abundance of black swans in the first three quarters. Now car makers are more eager to be able to produce acceptable financial reports for the year. Controlling inventory costs and layoffs are the most common strategies.
The gap between supplies from the long and short supply chains has been too big for car makers to cope with. At the beginning of the year, it was thought that there would not be chip shortages, which later turned out to be overly optimistic, with the short supply chain playing a key role in their production. The issue has caused Toyota and Tesla to announce that they would temporarily stop accepting orders on certain car models, though car makers believe they should restart pulling in shipments in early 2023.
However, for new energy vehicles (NEVs), they have more than just chip shortages to worry about. Supply of lithium batteries has been a problem. The lithium batteries, a key electric vehicle (EVs) component, account for around 30-40% of the overall vehicle cost.
With the global demand for EVs rapidly rising, the supply expansion has not been able to keep up. Currently, there are two major types of EV batteries: ternary and LFP. The former is mainly supplied by the big three of Korea – LGES, SK ON, Samsung SDI – and by Panasonic of Japan, and some Chinese manufacturers. As with LFPs, a high percentage is supplied by Chinese manufacturers such as CATL, BYD, and Guoxuan.
The 2022 lithium battery shortage could be more severe than the chip shortage, as it will take time to build new production capacity. Market observers estimate that production will not only see significant increases until 2024.
Strong demand from battery makers has been heaping pressure on the upstream mineral supply. In 2022, the mineral attracting the most attention is lithium carbonate, which is used in both ternary and LFP batteries. Because the mineral refinement supply is lagging far behind the demand for lithium battery cores, the prices have spiked, affecting the downstream battery and car manufacturers.
Supply reversal momentum appears
The fight for chip production doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. The issue is that with consumer applications so weak, why is there still a need to fight for car chips? In reality, the major IDMs are all waiting for production on the foundry side. For the foundries, they hope to maintain fairness as they don’t want to displease any client. Thus, they’ve distributed their potential car-grade production to each IDM.
Since most foundries are verified to make only commercial grade applications for large parts of their capacity, they are at the mercy of the ups and downs of the consumer market. This will cause the semiconductor industry to experience a very polarizing fourth quarter.
In terms of semiconductor equipment, most industry-grade production can be upgraded to car grade. This was why during the car-grade shortage back in 2021, industry grade production became the first to be sacrificed. By the time early 2022 arrived, even equipment manufacturers couldn’t produce equipment due to the chip shortage. Only then did people realize how serious the problem was.
To solve this shortage of industry-grade chips, the sector has been shifting to new designs that use more advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes to avoid a clash with car-grade chip production, which mostly relies on mature processes. However, with the impact of the macro environment, the semiconductor sector is also slowing down its expansion, which could reduce the demand for industry-grade chips.
Demand softening for parts of the automotive market
It’s worth noting that the aforementioned interpretation is on the basis that the end-user demand for cars holds up. With international black swan events swarming, talks about softening demand have emerged in the automotive market.
Europe market: Caught between the Russia-Ukraine war and the energy crisis, some European automotive makers have publicly delivered a warning about their orders softening from the peak. In addition, the energy crisis has caused some European governments to consider prioritizing the daily electricity use of citizens. Factories may have to shut down and car assembly may be affected.
Moreover, the rising cost of components has caused NEV prices to remain high. Consumers are starting to feel that the benefits of buying a new car are diminishing. Add to that is Germany’s decision to cut subsidies by the fall of 2023, and the concern is that the small, compact NEV market will collapse.
China market: In the second half of 2022, the purchase tax on fuel vehicles in China will be halved. To compensate for the poor sales in the first half due to the COVID lockdowns, fuel vehicles are pushing price discounts. Noticing a clear decline in orders, some NEV makers are pushing price discounts amid signification reductions in orders from car users. With component costs remaining high, the profit margin is being squeezed.
China is the world’s largest NEV market and is estimated to maintain high growth in 2022. But the NEV purchase subsidies will end at the end of of 2022 without any new subsidies policy in sight. And it has been speculated that in the future, taxes on NEV purchases will be necessary. That may the reason why car users are rushing to buy NEVs in China: NEVs as proportion of overall car sales sales has increased to 35% from 20%.


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Logistics and parcel delivery provider DHL Supply Chain launched its Advanced Regional Center (ARC) in Singapore on April 19, 2016. Built at an investment of more than 90m (US$100m), the new 970,000ft² warehouse includes a 10.6m (US$12m) multi-customer automation system featuring advanced robotics.
The pioneering system uses 130 robotic shuttles to pick and store products from 72,000 locations spread across 26 levels, improving picking efficiency by 20% and utilizing 40% less space than conventional warehousing operations.
The new system is the first of its kind deployed by DHL globally and creates a model for the future of warehousing in land-scarce countries and dense cities where land availability is limited and expensive.
Frank Appel, CEO, Deutsche Post DHL Group, said, “As an organization our spirit thrives on a hunger for new knowledge and innovations that we can bring to customers to meet the challenges of Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution. We see the Asia region as a swift adopter of technologies for enhanced productivity and efficiency. By 2020, Asia will constitute 30% of our total revenue. Facilities like the ARC offer a ready model of innovations that reduce complexity, improve accuracy and maximize opportunities for productivity gains.”
As well as high processing speeds, the ARC offers DHL customers bespoke solutions to cater to specific industry needs. This includes clean rooms for life sciences and healthcare businesses, specialized infrastructure for aerospace operations, and customized storage solutions for managing service parts for technology customers.
Oscar de Bok, CEO, Asia-Pacific, DHL Supply Chain, said, “We’ve seen a swift uptake from multinational companies using the ARC as their regional or global logistics hub.
“By providing this solution in a multi-customer environment,
it uniquely opens these types of solutions and advantages to a wider customer base. The system is modular in design and can be expanded depending on customer needs.”
Co-located within the ARC is the DHL Asia Pacific Innovation Center (APIC), DHL’s first innovation center outside of Germany and a joint development with the Singapore Economic Development Board. Launched in 2015, APIC is the first dedicated center for innovative logistics services in the Asia-Pacific region and showcases futuristic technologies.
April 19, 2016

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When it comes to consumers, the markets for several of the major product categories involved in kitchen remodels are expected to decline in 2023 and 2024, and then rebound from 2025 to 2027. This includes paint and preservatives; plumbing fixtures and supplies; kitchen cabinets and countertops; and doors and molding. On the other hand, the market for hard-surface floor coverings is projected to continue growing among homeowners and DIYers from roughly $7.6 billion in 2023 to $21.6 billion in 2027.
HIRI research shows that, for DIY homeowners, the markets pertaining to bathroom remodeling projects—plumbing fixtures and supplies, as well as bath cabinetry and countertops—are expected to decline in 2023 and 2024, with growth rebounding 2025 through 2027.
From HIRI’s Q2 2023 project activity report, we see 2 quarters of growth following a low in Q4 of 2022. Complementing this equity is historically low unemployment rate and above average wage growth.
HIRI recently released its latest iteration of the U.S. Home Improvement Products Market Forecast, offering valuable insights into the state of the industry and the broader economic landscape. Here's what we know:
Throughout 2022 and 2023, consumer sentiments have been low and the result has been postponement of larger home improvement and remodeling projects. As we look towards 2024, with economic uncertainty easing, home improvement spend is also anticipated to resume.
HIRI has analyzed recent market performance and consumer preferences to get a comprehensive picture of the state of the lumber and building materials market. The wood-based building materials market has experienced both positive and negative performance in recent years, and current HIRI size-of-market research points to a continuation of that pattern. Consider these figures:
From this 10 minute video, you'll get a sense of the current macro-economic environment and how it is impacting homeowner behaviors.
As of findings from March of 2023, the majority of homeowners feel it is a bad time to start a remodeling project over $5000. But, the number of homeowners with positive sentiments towards starting smaller remodeling projects, under $5000, remains high, at 44%. Here's what we're seeing:


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According to Consumer Reports Green Car Survey, nearly 80 percent of survey respondents said they would “strongly support” or “somewhat support” a national goal of reducing oil consumption. And more than 70 percent said they would support increased government funding for measures aimed at achieving that goal. Still, 94 percent named a high purchase price as a deterrent to choosing an “environmentally friendly or green” vehicle. READ MORE >
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Kara Swisher, Re/code co-executive editor, joins the Squawk Alley panel to discuss topics including Twitter and their CEO report and Amazon.» Read More
Wells Fargo is the front-runner to buy GE's railcar financing unit. - Bloomberg
Facebook hits a huge milestone.
B&G Foods in late-stage talks to buy Green Giant from General Mills. - Reuters
Walmart starts holiday layaway payment plan two weeks early.
Brett Wong, senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, says this isn't the end for Monsanto pursuing a business in the crop chemistry sector.
Dave McKay, Royal Bank of Canada CEO, talks about the core strength of RY despite Canada's lagging economy.
A Schlumberger-Cameron International deal may bring about an oil industry breakthrough.
Maker of angry birds may have some (former) workers very angry indeed.
Amazon's Prime Now service begins testing alcohol deliveries in Seatle.
Ryan Stokes, CEO of Seven Group Holdings, outlines where the media and industrial conglomerate sees opportunities as mining projects shift from construction into the production phase.
Toyota says it's testing potential alternatives to Takata air-bag inflators.
Daniel Loeb's Third Point hedge fund settles regulatory charges over 2011 Yahoo stake.
Boeing workers brace for layoffs in the satellite business.
Monsanto increases its offer for Syngenta.
Sears looks to boost its brands with new hire.
GE completes the sale of its sponsor finance business to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
Chipotle to hire 4,000 employees; plans Career Day on September 9.
Maya Mailer, head of humanitarian policy and campaigns at Oxfam, explains why Europe's refugee crisis is worse than people think.
João Augusto de Castro Neves, director for Latin America at Eurasia Group, says the corruption allegations will continue to permeate Brazil's government.
Marina Prentoulis, spokesperson for Syriza, talks about what the younger generation truly want for Greece.


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When considering the switch to point-of-sale devices capable of handling EMV or mobile transactions, many merchants may still have lingering concerns. As far as security goes, most of the issues retailers face have been allayed simply through proof of concept; in-store fraud is on the decline since EMV came into widespread use.
The good news for merchants is that mobile payments are more secure than traditional credit card transactions. For those still worried about PCI compliance, there should be no issue transitioning to this more secure payment type.
For some time now, POS resellers have been able to provide merchants – particularly smaller ones – with affordable payment solutions that can still meet customers’ changing demands for both security and convenience, according to Business Solutions Magazine. This may be especially vital as time goes on, because as more merchants adopt EMV and particularly mobile, consumers’ expectations for ease of use will only continue to grow. This trend means that some merchants may be left behind if they aren’t quick to adapt.
Mobile Continues To Ramp Up Slowly
Today, about 1 in 5 consumers who have a mobile wallet account set up with one of the three main providers – Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay – say they use it whenever they can, according to a new survey from PYMNTS. Apple Pay actually has a lead with 22 percent of people who have tried it at least once, ahead of 15 percent for Samsung Pay and less than 10 percent of Android Pay.
And while adoption is still slower than experts might have anticipated, consumers are getting over their initial concerns about security, and experts now believe that much of the issue is that they haven’t been incentivized enough to eschew card-based transactions.
“So far mobile wallets aren’t attracting much consumer interest with Apple Pay the oldest regularly clocking in between 4 to 5 percent of people who could use their wallet actually using it,” said Karen Webster, CEO of PYMNTS. “The lesson, though, isn’t that wallets are dead but that the providers, and innovators, really need to focus on features – or something – that will get consumers, and merchants, excited.”
Getting More People Onboard
When it comes to incentives, fewer than 1 in 3 mobile pay users say they have actually been given any – though that number is up from 19 percent last year, according to a new survey from the Auriemma Consulting Group. But what’s interesting is that nearly 9 in 10 people who were offered an incentive took advantage of it either through the mobile payment app or when making an in-store purchase.
In all, 46 percent of those incentives were offered by merchants themselves, compared with 40 percent offered by financial institutions, the survey found.
This may show the next frontier in highlighting the benefits of mobile payments and incentives for merchants of all sizes. If retailers can get people intrigued by emerging platforms through incentive offers, they may create a safer payment environment, and POS resellers can help achieve that goal.Back To Blog


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Ubisoft® and South Park Digital Studios announced that South Park™: The Fractured But Whole™ will be available at partners across North America and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Asia) on October 17, 2017. From the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone,
Overwatch is now a year old, and we list out some of the best seasonal events in the game.
Asia’s largest, world’s second largest Business to Business (B2B) computer technology exhibition, COMPUTEX Taipei 2017 will be held during May 30th ~ June 3rd. A global leader in mobile peripherals, PQI of Foxlink Group will be exhibiting at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, booth
Sony Interactive Entertainment Hong Kong Limited Singapore Branch (SIES) announced that the “WipEout Omega Collection” will be available in Blu-ray Disc. It will include English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean and will be available on 6thJune 2017at a suggested retail price (SRP) of PHP 1,799.
Ubisoft® announced that the second Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands expansion, Fallen Ghosts, will be available to season pass owners simultaneously on Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC on May 31, 2017. The expansion will release for individual purchase for


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Freedonia In The News
Article Title: Demand for Automotive Sensors Worldwide to Hit $15.9 billion in 2014
Publication: AZosensors.com, 7/7/2010
Freedonia Study: World Automotive Sensors (2640)
Quote from article
A recent study conducted by an industry market research company The Freedonia Group, Inc. has indicated that the worldwide demand for light vehicle OEM (original equipment manufacturer) automotive sensors will increase to $15.9 billion by 2014, registering an annual increase of 11.8% from 2009. The demand for sensors will grow in tandem with the demand for electronics.
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Latest News on Mobile Internet
Showing of 0 - 10 from 137 results
Mobile Internet - Total results - 137
May 24, 2018
As protests rage for 102nd day, Tamil Nadu govt suspends mobile internet in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari districtsWith protests in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin town entering their 102nd day on Thursday, mobile internet services have been suspended in Thoothukodi, Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts.
Mar 01, 2018
Aircel bankruptcy proves a point: Spectrum is a horrible burden, content is the emerging kingIt is quite clear that Aircel seems to be walking into the arms of an eager Sunil Mittal's Bharti Airtel. What is emerging is a clash of three giants: Idea-Vodafone, Reliance Jio and Airtel.
Jan 26, 2018
Mobile internet services snapped in Kashmir as precautionary measure on Republic DayMobile internet services have been snapped in Kashmir as a precautionary measure on the occasion of the Republic Day, officials said.
Dec 14, 2017
Rajasthan 'love jihad' case: Udaipur on high alert; prohibitory orders issued, mobile internet suspendedMobile internet services were suspended for 24 hours and prohibitory orders issued in Udaipur district as a precautionary measure in view of an information that there was a possibility of disturbance of communal harmony
Dec 11, 2017
Ookla's Speedtest Global Index for November ranks India at 109th place for mobile internet speedsOokla analyses the performance of the internet in every country based on consumer-initiated tests taken by real people using Speedtest.
Nov 25, 2017
Mobile internet services in 13 Haryana districts suspended for 3 days in view of rallies by Jats, BJP MPThe Haryana government has suspended mobile internet services in 13 districts for three days, apprehending law and order problem.
Nov 06, 2017
Mobile internet connections in Africa to double in next five years; likely to cross the billion markAfrica’s mobile internet connections are set to double in the next five years, thanks to affordable smartphones and the roll-out of high-speed networks.
Nov 02, 2017
Bharti Airtel will expend $250 million to expand its 4G mobile network in IndiaMobile internet traffic in the Indian market is also growing rapidly as more users upgrade to smartphones from basic and feature phones, using the Internet for everything from watching movies to shopping online.
Sep 27, 2017
Mobile internet and cloud computing are the foundational technologies of the 4th industrial revolution: Mukesh AmbaniAmbani addressed the audience to stakeholders and the audience a speech on the importance of mobile internet in the current age.
Aug 29, 2017
Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets 20 years in jail: Mobile internet remains suspended in 'sensitive' parts of Haryana till WednesdayMobile Internet services will remain suspended in "sensitive" parts of Haryana till Wednesday to prevent any disturbance following the sentencing of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.


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26 Oct 2021 Morgan Hayze
Nigeria Leads Africa And Launches A CBDC, Despite Usage Uncertainties
Nigeria became the first nation on the African continent to delve into the CBDC realm, as Nigeria‘s President Muhammadu Buhari officially announced the eNaira launch. The digital currency is a collaboration with the fintech company Bitt, which also announced the launch.
According to Buhari, the CBDC launch is the culmination of several years of research by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The President also noted that the core aim of the eNaira project is to expand the boundaries of payment systems to make financial transactions easier and more convenient.
“We have become the first country in Africa and one of the first in the world to have introduced a digital currency for our citizens,” Buhari added.
The government of Nigeria seeks to promote and aid cross-border remittances and financial inclusion for persons outside the formal Nigerian economy. The new asset would work in conjunction with the fiat currency in Nigeria, the Naira, and pegged to the price of the fiat currency.
“eNaira marks an important step in the evolution of money and CBN is committed to making eNaira, like physical naira, accessible to everyone.” CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele added.
The first batch of eNaira is set at 500 million, which is approximately $1.21 million. Furthermore, two cryptocurrency applications have been deployed in the Google Play and Apple stores – the eNaira settlement wallet and the eNaira merchant wallet.
The Nigerian government expects the CBDC to expand the nation’s gross domestic product by $29 billion in a decade.
However, the CBDC launch makes a sharp contrast with Nigeria’s issues with the growth of cryptocurrency activity in the country, which ultimately led to a China-like ban on cryptocurrency transactions in the banking sector in February this year.
However, Nigeria’s central bank postponed the scheduled for Oct. 1 launch, due to the country’s independence celebrations. Further uncertainties include the CBN not clarifying if users can exchange eNaira for traditional Naira, nor can they trade the eNaira for other cryptocurrencies.
Furthermore, the Lead Director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Eze Onyekpere, raised his voice of doubt, adding that the eNaira adds “no spectacular value” to the economy.
“I think the important thing right now is what adds value to the economy in terms of job creation, stabilizing our currency, economic growth, and reducing the run on the Naira. So all these, be it e-money or x-money, is not adding any spectacular value; it’s just a different format of the money available.” Onyekpere noted.central banks currency cryptocurrency news crypto news digital CBDC


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Potosi, Mo.-based Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. is planning to open two new retail outlets in Phoenix, Ariz., this year.
One is slated to open in May or June and the other will open later in the year, according to Chuck Pilliod, Purcell's vice president of finance.
Purcell already has 20 stores in Phoenix. "It's our largest market," says Pilliod.
The new outlets will contain six to eight bays each and will sell Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly and Hankook passenger, performance and light truck tires.
Purcell Tire is the ninth largest independent tire dealership in North America with 62 outlets, according to Modern Tire Dealer statistics.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures were pointing to a somewhat weaker start Thursday, with some bearish outlooks from Amazon.com, Whirlpool, Starbucks and others balanced by a surprise profit at Ford Motor Co. and data showing falling jobless claims.
After data on durable-goods orders and jobless claims, stock futures were off lows of the day but still pointed down: S&P 500 futures were off 1.5 points to 1,377.00, Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 4 points to 1,901.50 and Dow industrial futures slipped 12 points.
Hurt by a strike in the auto industry, orders for U.S.-built durable goods slipped 0.3% in March, the third decline in a row, the Commerce Department estimated. The decline was as expected by economists following an upwardly revised 0.9% decline in February.
First-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level in two months in the latest week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending April 19 fell 33,000 to 342,000.
New home sales may have slipped 2% from February levels, according to economists polled by MarketWatch. That data is due out at 10 a.m. Eastern.
The interest rate debate may be back in focus as The Wall Street Journal said the Federal Reserve may consider a pause in rate cuts after making a quarter-point reduction next week.
The euro dropped sharply against the dollar as a closely watched German business climate poll dropped more than economists had forecast.
Oil futures fell 79 cents to $117.51 a barrel and gold futures broke back under the $900 an ounce mark.
Apple AAPL, -3.20% see-sawed in pre-open trade, recently up 1%. While the Macintosh and iPhone maker recorded 36% profit growth and 43% sales growth during its fiscal second quarter, its current quarter outlook was on the cautious side.
"While the conservative EPS forecast is not untypical of this management team, we are concerned that slowing first-quarter cash flow momentum could flow through into second-quarter earnings realizations," said analysts from Credit Suisse.
Ford Motor Co. F, +0.24% returned to profitability, earning $100 million during the first quarter, and said revenue outside Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin climbed. Ford shares climbed 5.5% in pre-open trade.
Whirlpool WHR, -3.40% dropped 9.2% after it cut its earnings outlook for the year.
Starbucks SBUX, -2.35% dropped 12% as the coffee retailer warned second-quarter and annual profit will be hurt by decreased traffic at U.S. stores and a weakening of the U.S. consumer environment.
Amazon AMZN, -4.01% fell 4% in pre-open trade as the online retailer's flat margins offset a 30% profit rise.
"Like last quarter, revenue results and outlook are outstanding, given the recessionary environment," Mark Mahaney of Citigroup wrote in a note to clients. "Also like last quarter, the margin outlook is disappointing."
After the closing bell, Microsoft MSFT, -3.12% will report results.
Overseas, Shanghai stocks surged 9% on the government's move to repeal a stamp duty tax. But other international markets weren't as strong, with the FTSE 100 down 1.7% in London.
U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday, with better-than-forecast results from Boeing helping steer stocks up in a choppy session. The Dow industrials finished nearly 43 points higher, the S&P 500 rose almost 4 points and the Nasdaq Composite rose 28 points.


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Evidence continues to mount that a third entry in the Star Wars: Battlefront series is in development at Legendary: The Box developer Spark Unlimited.
As noted by PlayStation Lifestyle, a new job listing at the studio calls for a "senior combat designer for a 3rd Person Action/Adventure sequel in a high-profile science fiction franchise currently greenlit for full production development for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC markets."
The site also spotted the LinkedIn profile of a former senior software engineer that mentions time spent on an "unannounced third person sword fighting game (well known IP, Xbox 360, PS3)". *Cough* lightsabers *cough*.
On top of that, a further LinkedIn page belonging to another staffer lists a mysterious "AAA third person shooter using Unreal Engine and Kynapse AI middleware."
This isn't the first time we've heard chatter of a new Battlefront game being in the works at Spark. Late last year, the studio Tweeted about one of two unannounced titles it's currently working on.
"Publisher hasn't stated when or where the announcement will take place. The time and place could be close or far, far away," it read. Cryptic.
The previous entry in the Battlefront series came out on last-gen consoles back in 2005, developed by now-defunct studio Pandemic.


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Pat Sweet I assetfinanceinternational
UK start-up Imperium Drive has begun trials of a new on-demand car-hailing service called Fetch using remote-controlled driverless vehicles. Drivers summon an unmanned vehicle via an app, which is navigated by a remote driver to their location. Once the customer has driven to their destination, they end their trip via the phone app and a remote vehicle operator takes over control and pilots the car back to base or to the next user.
Currently the service is on trial in Milton Keynes with a variety of vehicle types, from standard saloon cars to electric microcars, which are equipped with Imperium Drive’s proprietary remote driving software. The technology, based on 5G connectivity, enables remote operators to switch between controlling different cars when required.
The fleet is currently operating on private routes under controlled conditions, but the plan is to include public roads in the next 12 months. The company aims to launch a fully operational remote-operated car-hailing service in the UK in the second half of 2022. It wants to move to fully autonomous vehicles within the next five years.
Koosha Kaveh, CEO of Imperium Drive, said: “For many people, public transport is cheap but inconvenient, while ride-hailing and taxis are convenient but also expensive. Our goal is to make on-demand door-to-door transport more cost-effective and convenient than every alternative, even privately owned cars. There are real environmental benefits too, with the potential to greatly reduce the number of private cars on the road. With Fetch, users hail a car to their doorstep and within minutes can be on their way, driving themselves to their destination in their own time and at their convenience. They don’t even have to worry about parking when they get there.”
Remote driving technology is attractive to fleet operators in the car sharing and short-term rental sector, as it enables them to increase revenue per car. They can relocate cars more quickly at periods of high demand, such as during rush hour, which is key to maximising utilisation rates. They can also extend the reach of their operations to enable intercity travel, while reducing fleet management costs associated with repositioning cars when rental periods end.
The UK Fetch trial is backed by private investment and supported by Milton Keynes Council, with funding also provided by the government’s ‘5G Create’ initiative. It has also been awarded funding by start-up accelerator funds Entrepreneur First and Techstars.
Ford’s autonomous pilots
Ford’s Self-Driving Research Programme, designed to help businesses understand how autonomous vehicles could benefit their operations, is running a trial with a simulated autonomous vehicle at DP World London Gateway, a deep-sea container port in East London. The aim is to demonstrate how useful such future technology could be to those managing – and employed on – large worksites.
For the trial, Ford used a specially adapted Transit fitted out to mimic the look of an actual self-driving vehicle with a driver concealed within a “Human Car Seat”. Employees at the company’s reception building loaded packages into secure lockers in the rear of the Transit. Then, at set delivery times, the Transit travelled to the main reception 3.5 km away so that colleagues there could retrieve them. In the normal way, staff currently retrieve packages from reception themselves. While time consuming, these trips do not warrant a full-time driver.
The process was monitored by researchers who found that employees quickly became comfortable with using the specially equipped van. Some proactively trained colleagues to access their packages, while others were resourceful in overcoming difficulties intentionally introduced by the researchers: such as the wrong parcels being stowed in the wrong lockers.
“Having what appeared to be a self-driving vehicle on site created a real buzz. Everyone wanted to use it. Popping in the car to pick up a package from elsewhere on site might not seem like it takes that long, but across multiple journeys over weeks, months and years, this can add up to a lot of time and money,” said Ernst Schulze, UK chief executive of DP World.
Richard Balch, director, autonomous vehicles and mobility, Ford of Europe, said the company was exploring how existing processes and human interactions can work alongside automated vehicles. “What worked so well at DP World premises could equally be of benefit at universities, airports and manufacturing facilities,” he said.
In June, Ford ran a short trial with doorstep delivery specialist Hermes to assess the potential uses and impact of autonomous vehicles on courier services in cities, and has been testing self-driving technology in major cities across the US in partnership with Argo AI. Ford plans to invest around $7 billion in autonomous vehicles during 10 years through to 2025 – $5 billion of that from 2021 forward – as part of its mobility initiatives.


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Apple TV runs iOS just like as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, it’s possible to jailbreak it like other iDevices. iPhone Dev team member Musclenerd just confirmed that jailbreaking Apple TV with SHAtter exploit is possible, you can indeed jailbreak the Apple TV’s iOS 4.1 installation. Jailbreaking Apple TVopens the possibility of running unapproved apps and programs on the new Apple TV.
MuscleNerd also warned potential jailbreakers via Twitter: “Those interested in *potential* AppleTV JBs, better buy early! SHAtter is a low-level bootrom exploit which will allow the use of unsigned code execution. The specialty of this exploit is that it cannot be patched with software or firmware update and requires new bootrom to get patched. So chances are higher that Apple will update hardware in upcoming lot of Apple TV.


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ExactTarget co-founder Scott Dorsey to step down as CEO
ExactTarget’s co-founder and most prominent company executive, Scott Dorsey, will resign this summer as chief executive of the Indianapolis tech company.
Dorsey’s resignation notice, revealed today, comes almost a year to the day that ExactTarget agreed to be bought by San Francisco-based Salesforce.com.
“I have decided to transition out of ExactTarget and Salesforce later this summer. As you might imagine, this was an incredibly difficult decision. I have loved every minute of the last 14 years — and feel terrific about the future of the business,” Dorsey said in a memo to employees released by the company.
He said he’s resigning “to begin a new chapter — both for our company and for me personally.” Dorsey also said, “We have made enormous strides integrating our business with Salesforce over the last year.”
He’ll be replaced as CEO by Scott McCorkle, ExactTarget’s president of technology and strategy.
Dorsey called McCorkle “absolutely the best leader on the planet to become our next CEO. Scott has led the technology team at ExactTarget for nearly nine years and was instrumental in every stage of ExactTarget’s growth — from acquisitions to the IPO to the acquisition of ExactTarget last year.”
Dorsey was among executives and directors at the Indianapolis digital marketing firm who stood to reap large profits from the sale to Salesforce.com., which took the form of a $2.5 billion cash-for-stock deal. His take was estimated at $70.5 million, based on his prior ownership of about 3 percent of ExactTarget’s shares.
Dorsey’s resignation announcement comes a day after computer software giant Microsoft announced a strategic partnership with Salesforce.com, but ExactTarget spokesman Mitch Frazier said the resignation “is not related to the partnership announcement. Microsoft is great customer of the ExactTarget Marketing Cloud.”
Dorsey said he will remain as an adviser to Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and to McCorkle through the end of August. He’ll also remain a director on the ExactTarget Foundation.
Call Star reporter Jeff Swiatek at (317)444-6483. Follow him on Twitter: @JeffSwiatek.


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It made a comeback of sorts after the Swedish police raided its data center in Nacka and arrested one of the admins in 2014. It was merely a couple of days back when the shutdown of the torrent website. The group behind the new domain has identified itself as a bunch of admins and uploaders from ExtraTorrent and claimed that it has previously resurrected websites including The Pirate Bay and KickAss Torrents, as per a by The Inquirer. A an email send to several news outfits they claim: We are a group of uploaders and admins from ExtraTorrent. This looks more feasible as the Cocos Islands is governed by Australia which has a history of blocking torrent websites.
As you know that Extratorrent website was shut down permanently by its registrar. The authors have decided to remove all of their content to display a short message confirming that the page has been closed forever. This is mostly misleading for users, so they do not find the right web address extratorrent. You can access ExtraTorrent by going to. ExtraTorrent with all mirrors goes offline. But you should keep in mind that we are doing this as a hobby! Many users have also notified us that has helped them in solving this problem.
Stay away from fake ExtraTorrent websites and clones. Last week, the world of online piracy lost one of its major players in the form of ExtraTorrent and before the users could even start missing the website, it seems like it is back online. Extratorrent is often referred to as Extratorrent s. The group behind the new domain has identified itself as a bunch of admins and uploaders from ExtraTorrent and claimed that it has previously resurrected websites including The Pirate Bay and KickAss Torrents, as per a by The Inquirer. Those are cheep fakes who want to earn money with malware, only is run by the former team! We permanently erase all data. Let us know so we can update it. So, what do you think about this? In an unexpected move, the popular torrent website which goes by the name Extratorrent was shut down.
ExtraTorrent with all mirrors goes offline. The new domain might serve to defeat the purpose of that last message from ExtraTorrent to its users but online pirates are likely to swarm the new domain in large numbers as they finally have their torrent website back, well sort of. What do you think about this, tell us in the comment section below? Only the good old torrent tracker was larger. Now, a group of uploaders and Extratorrent admins claim to have revived the torrent site on a new domain. The new domain might serve to defeat the purpose of that last message from ExtraTorrent to its users but online pirates are likely to swarm the new domain in large numbers as they finally have their torrent website back, well sort of.
They can also continue using hundreds of proxy torrent websites which are available. Well, a few days ago we have seen the authors of Extratorrent have decided to shut down the site permanently. Nobody wants to waste his life for torrent files. On May 17, ExtraTorrent voluntarily. The staff behind the new Extratorrent. As you know, SaM from ExtraTorrent pulled the plug yesterday and took all data offline under pressure from authorities. Media companies and anti-piracy activists have been putting on the heat on the Australian government to block all Torrent websites from Australia.
Menu Comment ExtraTorrents has voluntarily folded, but a new domain purportedly run by the site's uploaders has surfaced. So, we must take this news with a pinch of salt as Extratorrent. Share your views in the comment box below. Check Extratorrent status to see whether Extratorrent is down for everyone or just for you. After the shut down of KickassTorrents and Torrentz. The fans of the torrent website have reportedly put up a new domain — ExtraTorrent. We permanently erase all data.
We were in deep shock and have been working hard to get it back online with all previous data. As most of you know, the original ExtraTorrent. However, some people associated with ExtraTorrent now claim to have successfully the torrent site. ExtraTorrent was the second-largest torrent site back in November 2016. When checking the user login and upload pages one is forwarded to the homepage. The team behind claims to have the new site been restored from ExtraTorrent.
In case they cannot access Extra. Torrents from other categories seem to be mirrored from The Pirate Bay. If you are still searching for alternatives to Extratorrent, check out our. After the demise of original this website took its place and since it has gained lots of popularity with its unique style website look. We will then later add other sections and add the old database.


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In what has been seen as a major baller move, Nike came together with Colin Kaepernick for the 30th anniversary of the iconic “Just Do It” motto. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback stirred mass debate and discussion by taking the knee (while the national anthem was being played) during the 2016 season – Kaepernick did so to protest the police killings that majorly appear to affect the African American community.
“We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward,” Nike executive Gino Fisanotti told ESPN. “We wanted to energize its meaning and introduce ‘Just Do It’ to a new generation of athletes.”
Following the release of the advertisement, several right-wingers on Twitter posted images and videos of themselves burning their Nike products – some even cut out the swoosh symbol from their clothing. However, despite such massive outrage on social media, the company’s online sales actually grew by 31 per cent, according to researcher Edison Trends.
“The research confirms that, at least for now, the company is suffering no negative repercussions in sales,” the firm said, according to BBC.
It doesn’t stop here – on Friday, Nike’s stock closed at a record high. Fortune reports that the company’s shares closed up 2 cents to $83.49 and that it’s stock has risen 5 per cent since the partnership with Kaepernick was announced.


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This appears to be an entirely new category of Nokia phone if the naming convention applies. The Lumia 1020, Lumia 920 and Lumia 720 were all major releases suggesting this new "20" ended handset will be beginning its own class.
That supports the new 6-inch size which is expected to sport a 1080p display and, of course, Windows Phone 8. Nope, there's been no word of Windows Phone 8.1 sadly.
Other leaked specs include a 20-megapixel camera and Snapdragon quad-core CPU. The 1080p screen upgrade, known as GDR3, will mean an extra column of Live Tiles on your start screen, rotation locking, driving mode, and some minor UI modifications.
The phone is apparently being tested now with plans to launch, in the US at least, at the end of this year.


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IMDb TV, Amazon’s free streaming service, launches in the U.K.
Amazon has brought its ad-supported free streaming service, IMDb TV, to the U.K, packing both original and licensed content that wasn’t available on Prime Video before. IMDb TV launched in the U.S. a few years ago, and the service only recently received iOS and Android apps. It’s initially going to be available via a carousel in Prime Video, though a standalone app will also be available on Fire TV in the coming weeks. No subscription to Amazon Prime is required.
IMDb TV’s launch in the U.K. comes with a smaller selection of TV shows and movies for now, but it will be expanded in the future. Original U.S. content is available such as “Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary” and “Moment of Truth,” but both of those are produced by Amazon Studios as IMDb TV exclusives. In the U.K., “Pulp Fiction” and “2 Broke Girls” are also available on the service. Ryan Pirozzi, co-head of content and programming at IMDb TV alongside Lauren Anderson, told Variety that the selection would be tailored specifically to customers in the U.K.
“Free streaming services are not unique, especially in the U.K., where there’s several broadcaster options [such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4’s All4],” Pirozzi told Variety. “I think what is unique about us is ambitious, premium original series from Amazon Studios inside a free service: that is much more unique.”
As Pirozzi notes, Amazon likes to refer to IMDb TV as “the modern version of a network.” It’s seen as complementary to Prime Video, and they want to produce content that people might expect will be behind a paywall. The company hasn’t written off U.K. exclusive original content yet either, though it’s not happening any time soon. Pirozzi says that the launch of IMDb TV is still “day one” for them and that they’re still learning from customers. The service is funded by advertisements that are shown in the middle of programming and is entirely free to use.
If you live in the U.K., you can check out IMDb TV now.


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Tesla Large Battery In South Australia
Author: Source: Datetime: 2018-05-07 12:56:01
Australian Energy Week presented at the meeting of McKinsey and its partner Godart van Gendt in Melbourne on Thursday showed the country’s first utility-scale battery-economy astonishing figures.
Van Gendt, a panel member who helps manage the transition to renewable energy in Australia, has demonstrated that solar power generator battery storage will "play a very important role." He said that there has been much discussion around the success of large batteries - the largest of its kind in the world so far - and delivered at a rapid pace - focusing on the fact that "we did it" rather than the economy. "So, I think I will give you some data from market data," Van Jain said.
"In the first four months of the Hornsdale Energy Reserve (the official name of Tesla Batteries owned and operated by Neoen), the price of frequency aid services has dropped by 90%, and therefore is 9-0%." And 100MW batteries in South Australia The FCAS revenue has exceeded 55%. As a result, South Australia’s capacity accounts for 55% of South Australia’s total revenue, which is 2% of it.
"This is great for the first battery on the market," he added. "But if you already have 55% of FCAS now no longer exists, right... and the price has dropped by 90%." Of course, the business case is, of course, the attraction of the second battery is a bit small."So I hope the second battery in South Australia is very good! ”
Van Gunter's calculations are just the latest in a series of evaluations that show that Tesla batteries, despite being criticized by the critics for their small size, have an impact on the market.
It is estimated that consumers in the FCAS market alone saved about $35 million in costs during the first four months of operation. This is a very good return for the South Australian government’s estimated investment of 50 million U.S. dollars.
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Fence posts made from recycled milk bottles will soon be used on New Zealand farms
Managing Director of Future Post, Jerome Wenzlick, told RadioLIVE's Rural Exchange that the company is looking at developing other sustainable products for farmers.
"What we're doing is repurposing waste that could have gone to landfill and turning it into a valuable product for consumers," he said.
He believes it's not enough to just recycle.
"It's about creating less waste, full-stop - or at least turning it into something useful," said Mr Wenzlick.
"That's why these fence posts are so exciting - they're made from 100 percent recycled material, and have a life expectancy of more than 50 years," he said.
Fonterra Brands New Zealand's (FBNZ) Sustainability and Environment Manager Larisa Thathiah said the posts are an innovative new way for farmers to improve their on-farm sustainability.
"This partnership provides farmers with a more environmentally-friendly fencing option, made from the packaging of our farmers' milk," she said.
The initiative is part of Fonterra's ongoing environmental programme.
Last year, the Co-op partnered with SkyCity to turn Anchor Light Proof milk bottles into shampoo, conditioner and body lotion bottles for guests.
Watch the full interview with Larisa Thathiah and Jerome Wenzlick above.


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It’s no secret Uber is interested in removing the other guy/gal in the car with you, and the company has already started testing its self-driving fleet of vehicles in two markets, although the state of California wasn’t too happy about Uber circumventing the rules in San Francisco. In the future, the ride-sharing company will employ a diverse fleet of autonomous vehicles that will include Mercedes-Benz cars.
Uber inked a deal with Daimler, Reuters reports, that will bring self-driving Mercedes models to Uber’s fleet of self-driving vehicles in the coming years.
It’s unclear at this point when these Mercedes cars will be incorporated into Uber’s fleet, or what type of vehicles to expect. Neither Uber nor Daimler offered additional details on the deal. However, Reuters notes that Daimler is the first auto company to join Uber’s self-driving initiative.
“We are incredibly excited by the potential for self-driving cars to further our mission of bringing reliable transportation to everyone, everywhere,” Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick said in a blog post.
“They will also help to reduce traffic accidents, which today kill many people a year; free up the huge amount of space currently used to park the world’s billion-plus cars; and cut congestion, which is choking our cities.”
Uber, however, doesn’t want to make its own self-driving cars. That’s why it needs Daimler and many others.
“Auto manufacturers like Daimler are crucial to our strategy because Uber has no experience making cars — and in fact, making cars is really hard,” the CEO said.
That said, Uber is still developing its own self-driving technology. It previously inked a $300 million deal with Volvo, whose cars are currently part of Uber’s self-driving pilots in Pennsylvania and Arizona, which replaced California.
While Uber and Volvo are developing self-driving cars together and these test Volvo cars have Uber self-driving technology preinstalled, the Mercedes models won’t be managed by Uber, and they will run autonomous driving technology created solely by the German giant.


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Gregory Guez Joins IoXt Alliance Board of Directors
ioXt, the global standard for IoT security and preeminent IoT security alliance, announces the appointment of Gregory Guez, Senior Director of Product Marketing, IoT Security at Silicon Labs, to its board of directors. As a founding member of the ioXt Alliance, Guez has been instrumental in shaping ioXt's work towards creating the internet of secure things.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200116005021/en/


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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CBD was recently linked to Steven Johnson syndrome, but was this a false alarm?
Cannabis skeptics had a field day when they woke up to the headlines “First CBD Related Death.”
Finally, the CBD bubble had been ripped apart, not just busted.
This news was based on a research that was spearheaded by a team of researchers from SUNY Upstate Medical University, NY and was titled “commercial cannabinoid oil-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome.”
The CBD market has been burgeoning progressively in the last decade. Surprisingly, growth in sales have not been hampered by the global COVI-19 pandemic. It appears that people are using CBD to quell anxiety that is related to the pandemic. They could also be using CBD to suppress symptoms of depression and generally achieve deep relaxation at such difficult times. Additionally, the number of medicinal cannabis patients appears to be growing in leaps and bounds the world over. Manufacturers of CBD products are “falling over themselves” trying to satisfy the needs and desires of this growing clientele. And that is where the problem lies.
The CBD market is largely unregulated. The weakness that this creates is that it is difficult to guarantee the quality of all the products that enter the legal market. Just last year, some vape cartridges that contained toxic chemicals found their way into the market and unfortunately caused several deaths. Has history repeated itself?
Was This The First CBD- Related Death?
Cannabidiol (CBD) sales in the US last year alone stood at a value of $5 billion dollars. Putting this in perspective, PepsiCo. Raked in about $26 billion. Considering the infancy of the CBD market, it is surprising that CBD sellers are able to move such volumes.
The question here is, how comes we did not hear of “CBD- related death” in the past, given that consumers have been using CBD for a while now? It is important to note that several well-standing reports have indicated that CBD is safe for human consumption, even when used in high- doses. To corroborate this, reported adverse effects from CBD use have been mild, few, and far between.
It appears that there is more than meets the eye.
CBD- Induced Steven Johnson Syndrome
The above mentioned study linked CBD use to a case of Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS). This unfortunately led to the untimely death of a 56 year old woman. Interestingly enough, this woman had used CBD products in the past with no adverse reaction.
The said woman had started using a liposomal CBD product when she developed typical features of SJS-TEN. She was admitted to hospital in the burns unit where she was receiving treatment. She later went into septic shock and succumbed a month later.
The unidentified woman was also using a couple of other drugs: amotidine, lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide, and meloxicam to be specific. Meloxicam has been linked to SJS-TEN. But given that she had used the said drugs for about five years, it is highly unlikely that they were the trigger for SJS-TEN. This leaves us with CBD, or rather the new CBD product that the woman had recently began to use.
What Caused the SJS-TEN related Septic Shock?
Steven Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe adverse reaction to some drugs that presents with cutaneous (skin) reactions that appear like burns. When more than 30% of the skin is involved, the condition is referred to as toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS- TEN) as was the case with this woman. This is a medical emergency and often requires admission in the burns unit or intensive care unit. Drugs that are known to trigger SJS-TEN include carbamazepine, nevirapine, lamotrigine, oxicam, and allopurinol.
According to the researchers who conducted the study, CBD in and of itself was an unlikely trigger for the fatal condition. However, they observed that “involvement of other ingredients in this non- FDA regulated product could be the causative agent.”
The researchers went further to admit that no chemical analysis had been conducted on the said CBD product.
With this information, it seems obvious that CBD is not to blame for the SJS-TEN. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of contaminated CBD being the culprit. It is unfortunate that to date, we still do not know what was in the liposomal CBD product.
Liposomal CBD sprays have been in the market since 2018. To date, there have not been any reported cases of adverse reactions that have been linked to liposomal CBD products. Liposomal products are packed in liposomes to enhance the rate of absorption and bioavailability of CBD. This means that a little CBD in liposomes goes a long way.
Is CBD Really Safe?
A couple of studies have shown that CBD is safe when used by humans as well as animals. A 2011 review on the safety and side effects of CBD showed that CBD is safe even when used in doses as high as 1,500mg per day. There are also studies to show using CBD for nerve pain can be safe and helpful.
However, there is one caveat, when CBD interacts with other drugs it might cause severe adverse effect. Studies have shown that CBD interacts with drugs that are metabolized through a pathway that is known as cytochrome P450 (CYP450). Meloxicam, which the woman was taking, is metabolized through this pathway.
Is there a chance that CBD interacted adversely with the meloxicam to trigger the development of SJS-TEN?
For sure, there is no scientific evidence to confirm or rule out this possibility. When CBD interacts with drugs it can either increase or decrease their concentration in blood. Given that CBD was available in higher amounts due to the liposomal product, there could be a chance of an adverse interaction.
We can make two broad conclusions from this study. The first is that it is possible that contaminants or ingredients in the liposomal CBD product could have triggered SJS-TEN that eventually lead to death. The second is that adverse drug interactions linked to the liposomal CBD product triggered SJS-TEN and death.
We can also learn a few things from this unfortunate event. It is important to ask for and scrutinize third party results before purchasing any CBD product. Also, it is more important to be open with your healthcare provider if you are using any CBD product.
With this, you can make your own conclusion; was CBD falsely linked to Steven Johnson syndrome?
Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.


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Almond Market Update
By Bill Morecraft
General Manager Global Ingredients Division
August almond shipments showed a meaningful gain of 6% versus prior year as the 2012 crop was cleared out. Domestic shipments continued to show strength against prior year with growth of 5%.
Industry commitments through August represent 30% of the projected almond crop vs. 25% last year. After some early corrections, market pricing appears to be stabilizing as the harvest progresses. With the size of nuts smaller this year, the gap on pricing between mid-range and small sizes will be large throughout the year. Large CPOs will be in very short supply.
In addition to the strong domestic shipments in August, shipments to China were robust, growing 43% and 5.3 million lbs over last year. Demand for both inshell and kernels have been steady throughout August and early September.
Despite ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, shipments to key import destinations were up 20%, a positive development and reversal from last year’s declining shipments.
The EU also showed growth as shipments expanded 10%, although this reflects shorter-term commitments versus a sustainable increase in demand.
Crop receipts were up significantly over last year, however it is much too early to draw any conclusions. The NASS estimate of 1.85 billion pounds still appears to be the best working projection.
The prospects for the 2013 almond supply continue to indicate a no-growth year, with some substantial shifts in CPO availability due to small sizing. The early strong start to shipments will inevitably be drawn back to an ultimate shipment number that looks more like the last two years. The next significant inputs to pricing and availability trends will occur as the industry gets deeper into harvest by the end of October, and gets an early look at fall and winter precipitation.


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By Joselyn Biira Mwine
The recent high profile case of the hacking of Stanbic Bank and telecom giants MTN and Airtel has proven the extent of damage to an organisation if information gets into the wrong hands. The so-called Internet of Things – digitally connected devices like appliances, cars and medical equipment – promises to make life easier for consumers. But it comes with a price. The more computerized and dependent on wireless communication we become, the more vulnerable we are to hacking. The late security expert Barnaby Jack exposed weaknesses in pacemakers, insulin pumps and ATMs, showing how everyday objects not commonly thought of as targets can be taken over by malicious third parties. As we speak, many homes contain dozens of networked devices. This includes computers, cell phones and tablets, but also many traditional home products such as refrigerators, televisions, and security systems.
So what does this mean for the future? How alarmed should we be, with all these smart products attached to the Internet? The answer is very. And we don’t have to wait until we experience security vulnerabilities. These weaknesses are already here, and found in webcams and cameras of all sorts – not to mention banking systems, ATM machines, industrial control systems and military drones. With all of these things “hackable”, here is my “red line”. It is one thing to usurp my identity and make unauthorized charges on my credit card. But it is quite another to go after my new-born baby via its monitor or my insulin-dependent father on his glucose meter. Protecting against unwarranted access of software and cyber-attacks, needs to be a priority for both government and business. Bearing all this in mind then, how safe are the businesses that produce our goods and services?
Information security incidents are on the rise as cyber criminals increase their focus on both large and small businesses. The threat landscape of mobile security is moving at a very rapid pace. Mobile hackers are on the prowl, cooperating with cyber criminals to pass on stolen private and business information. What’s more, threats in the mobile landscape are becoming smarter and targeting mobile devices. More and more organizations are embracing online opportunities to promote their business and solidify their position in the marketplace through the use of mobile devices and apps, not to mention social networking sites. In so doing, these companies are magnifying the number and sophistication of threats targeted at them. Today’s companies have no choice but to protect themselves by implementing the Uganda Standard US ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Requirements.
Used internationally since 2005, this standard has helped thousands of organizations around the world boost their information security. Implementing an information security management system will provide your organisation with a system to eliminate or minimise the risk of a security breach that could have legal or business continuity implications.
An effective US ISO/IEC 27001 information security management system (ISMS) provides a management framework of policies and procedures that will keep your information secure, whatever the format. By establishing and maintaining a documented system of controls and management, risks can be identified and reduced. This standard takes into account of past user experiences, improvements in security controls apt for today’s IT environment, namely identity theft, risks related to mobile devices and other online vulnerabilities, and aligns with other management systems. Business boom and bust Cyber security is not just an IT challenge, it is critical to the running of any business.
The benefits of using a framework for managing cyber risks cannot be overstated:
- Protecting information from getting into unauthorised hands
- Ensuring information is accurate and can only be modified by authorised users
- Assessing the risks and mitigating the impact of a breach
- Increased reliability and security of systems and information
- Improved customer and business partner confidence
- Increased business resilience
- Alignment with customer requirements
- Improved management processes and integration with corporate risk strategies
To tackle the cyber problem, we not only need more robust technical solutions, we need management solutions to improve the business processes to handle the risks to confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and, very importantly, to improve the awareness and skills of staff and users to achieve this protection. US ISO/IEC 27001 can help companies improve their defences against cyber-attacks and, in turn, enable businesses to offer better security in the services they provide their customers. As a result, customers will have greater trust and confidence in a secure business partner. Cyber risks cause much harm to online markets by compromising electronic transactions and inflicting costly damage.
Organizations that manage their information security risks through US ISO/IEC 27001 certification are well recognized by the marketplace. There is no doubt that compliance to US ISO/IEC 27001 will enable businesses improve their own approach to all aspects of information security and physical security. In addition to this, particular benefits will be seen in colleague awareness and supplier selection and management.
Thousands of organizations around the world use US ISO/IEC 27001 to manage their information security risks. And in a world increasingly plagued by cyber-attacks and other threats, anything else would be unthinkable. Whether we like it or not, information has become one of the critical commodities in today’s fast-moving interconnected world. Safeguarding our cyberspace is an urgent business issue and one that needs immediate and ongoing attention. In a number of cases, the right security measures can discourage expert hackers and beat opportunists. And US ISO/IEC 27001 is your first line of defence. But standards are only good in as far as they are used. So the next time you go to an ATM, ask yourself this: Did my bank consider the possibility of hacking? Did the company implement US ISO/IEC 27001? If the answer to both questions is no, then maybe you should think twice. Ignorance is no excuse. Standards can be accessed through the UNBS Webstore at www.unbs.go.ug
The writer is the Public Relations Officer at Uganda National Bureau of Standards.


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CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) and Dangote Industries are expanding their long-term partnership by renewing Dangote’s sponsorship within CNN Marketplace Africa, launching a new brand campaign on CNN TV and Digital, and – in a media-first – integrating Dangote Industries with a video series on cinematic storytelling network Great Big Story.
This partnership makes Dangote Industries the first African brand to be part of Great Big Story, which was launched by CNN and Turner in 2015 to tell amazing stories that appeal to today’s global generation of intellectual, curious and connected consumers. Since launch, Great Big Story has told more than 1,650 original stories from over 95 countries, has 10m+ fans around the world and has an average age audience of 29.
Dangote is associated with the Great Big Story series Eyes on Africa, which tells the stories of individuals across the continent making a difference in their communities. All videos are introduced with Dangote Industries branding and use sophisticated data-driven targeting to reach key audiences via social media, Great Big Story’s app and website, and on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
In addition, CNNIC’s branded content studio, Create, will produce a 360-degree campaign called Touching Lives, comprising a new branded film to air on both CNN US and International TV networks, as well as documentaries and interactive content for a Dangote Industries content hub promoted using native advertising across CNN Digital.
Touching Lives marks a departure from previous campaigns by telling the story of how Dangote’s multi-faceted business activities impact the lives of ordinary Africans.
“Dangote Industries has been a true innovator for many years now, and we are delighted to extend its relationship with CNN with this media-first,” said Vice President, Advertising Sales, CNN International Commercial, Cathy Ibal.
“This exciting new partnership is part of a wider trend amongst leading African brands who are moving towards creative marketing solutions that combine the very best in data, content and platforms. By harnessing the power of TV, digital and social across CNN and Great Big Story, Dangote Industries’ powerful message will resonate in Africa and beyond.
”Entrepreneurship holds the key to the future economic growth in Africa and at Dangote Group, we are passionate about creating African success stories,” said President & Chief Executive, Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote “Through this partnership, we aim to re-create the continent’s narrative, showcasing innovation, resourcefulness, resilience and more importantly, the success stories of our entrepreneurs who are challenging the status quo and breaking new business frontiers.”


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Cosmetics members club brand Beauty Pie will make its first foray into the physical retail space with a pop-up at Harvey Nichols, UK.
The luxury Knightsbridge department store will host the brand in its ground floor beauty section, offering visitors the chance to shop its products and meet founder Marcia Kilgore.
The Canadian entrepreneur established Beauty Pie in 2016 as a one-stop destination for luxury beauty products without charging for the ‘middleman’ or retailer mark-ups.
Today, it offers products across make-up and fragrance, as well as skin, hair and body care.
Speaking about the new space, Jo Osborne, Harvey Nichols’ Director of Beauty and Concessions, said: “We are incredibly excited to launch Beauty Pie in our Knightsbridge flagship with their first three month retail pop-up.
“Their ethos as a boundary pushing and rule breaking brand resonates with our own Harvey Nichols beauty vision of being leaders of the ‘new, niche and groundbreaking’, making this a perfect partnership.”
She continued: “We understand our customers are always looking for something different and know that they will enjoy being able to shop the brand in person and being introduced to the vast selection of products they offer.”
Customers will also be able to buy drop-in passes for £20 to receive 50% off all items stocked, while members will have access to an 80% discount.
Kilgore added: “Harvey Nichols has the vision, the sense of humour and emboldened take on radical new retail ideas, and knows how to keep their shopping experience fresh, fun and new.
“When they approached us offering to host our first-ever pop-up it was impossible not to.”
The space is set to open on 12 March for 12 weeks.


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The Warehouse agrees to pay living wage
The Warehouse has reportedly agreed to pay thousands of staff a living wage.
The retail company agreed to the deal after four days of negotiations, Radio New Zealand reported last week.
If approved by First Union members, the decision would see 7000 employees at The Warehouse paid at least $20.50, with an increase to occur in August next year.
The wage would apply to First Union members with at least 12 months’ experience at The Warehouse, the national broadcaster reported.
First Union has been fighting for members to receive a living wage for over a year.
The union recently organised a stop-work meeting near Westfield’s St Lukes shopping centre in Auckland, which was attended by members from Countdown, Farmers, Kmart, The Warehouse and Bunnings.
First Union members at Farmers have been embroiled in industrial action to achieve a living wage.
Meanwhile, Kmart, Bunnings and some New World stores have already made the commitment to pay works a living wage.
The Warehouse Group has been contacted for comment.
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So you’re supporting only legally-owned dispensaries—perhaps even one that opened under a social equity initiative. You buy local products, contribute to a community marketplace, and buy only lab-tested legal cannabis. But did you know that you are still breaking federal law even in legal recreation-use markets?
Since cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, financial institutions (including banks, ATMs, and Point-of-Sale terminal developers) are explicitly in the wrong when they process cannabis transactions. It’s a tricky spot that no one is yet sure how to get out of, especially since little has been established in the way of monitoring for or punishing this supposed “crime.”
While it’s a backburner issue for most as they attempt to secure hardware solutions that circumvent federal regulations, it opens up a question of who or what will be the first above-board means of Legal Cannabis financial processing across a nation edging closer to total legalization every year.
Beyond being immensely helpful for business owners who are afraid of losing their business through no fault of their own, it will be an unthinkably profitable development for an industry already marked by technical innovators.
Today, we are diving deeper into any compliant business owner’s situation—how do you handle recreational-market money the government refuses to see as clean?
The Patriot Act And Legal Cannabis Banking
Unfortunately for federal authorities, their efforts to chase criminals through the Patriot Act have been mostly futile and, in the case of legal cannabis businesses, debilitating.
Financial institutions (as well as Money Transmitters, Merchant Payment Processors, and Money Services Businesses) are required under the Patriot Act of 2001 to know their customers and be aware of their customers’ customers. Due in large part to federal cannabis prohibition that limits banking and lending options, the fact is that cannabis is a cash-dominated sector with anonymous consumer behavior, making it extremely difficult to identify and trace customers as required by federal regulations—putting business owners in the crosshairs for attempting to do honest business.
Despite the intricate web of federal requirements governing due diligence (laws such as Know Your Customer (KYC), Financial Crime Enforcement Network Reporting (FinCEN), Anti Money Laundering (AML), and Customer Identification Programs (CIP), the compliance situation has not improved when it comes to accomplishing market transparency for vendors or investigators. These laws were put in place to keep money from falling into the hands of unscrupulous actors and keep it out of the hands of terrorist organizations—something that cannot be monitored for when cannabis goes ignored mainly due to the grey area the legislation results in.
Financial institutions have been subjected to a great degree of scrutiny since the Patriot Act’s adoption. As a result, they are wary of exposing their assets to federal audits, seizures, and raids. As a result, both the banking and credit card industries have mostly ditched working with the Legal Cannabis businesses.
This leaves the question of what a business owner is meant to do if no clear support is offered for handling non-cash payments? It doesn’t appear that either VISA, the government, or banks have any answers.
Some dispensary owners have been creative in handling the federal process of cash processing in cannabis—namely, by not tying transactions to cannabis at all.
In some stores, owners will simply round up sales to offer cash-back, turning the transaction into something called a “cashless ATM.” In this way, the cannabis transaction is not tied to a card, despite the glaring inefficiencies. It is ironic further to recognize an enormous cash industry of over $25 billion springing up over a few years with armored truck businesses and safe manufacturers existing with the sole purpose of transferring what is little more than “drug money” in the eyes of the law.
Non-brand payment systems are on the table for dispensaries, but like any shaky regulation, the question becomes “for how long?” Business owners are following the rules and trying to build the businesses that will thrive as a market matures. What they cannot predict is how poorly implemented laws may overlap and force costly changes on organizations who were doing their best with the tools provided.
Until federal legislators offer better, more widespread solutions, the attitude towards handling payments will continue to follow the reasoning of “ask forgiveness” rather than “ask permission.”
The next wave of legal cannabis businesses will remain in limbo, but hopefully, create spaces where compliant companies can work together to solve mutual challenges. Through collaboration between activists, lawmakers, and communities, we hope to see changes in how the federal government interfaces with cannabis at a state level.
Beard Bros Pharms believes that only through leveling the playing field (both legally and socially) can we experience the full benefits of cannabis in our culture.
For more news on cannabis legality, research, and economics, follow our news tab here.


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Retail sales rose in December as frigid temperatures prodded Americans to buy discounted winter clothing and shop online for the holidays, capping what may have been the strongest quarter for consumer spending in three years.
Ask a bunch of New Yorkers where they spend their money: apartments, cars, vacation lodgings, maybe designer handbags. In the new American “sharing economy,” these can all be enjoyed at a fraction of their normal cost. Just not if you’re a New Yorker.
Marks & Spencer Group Plc Chief Executive Officer Marc Bolland doesn’t make as much money selling clothes as smaller rival Next Plc. To soften the blow, some investors would like him to mimic his competitor’s record on giving back cash.
The biggest gun-control fight next year is shaping up as dueling ballot initiatives in the state of Washington, a continent away from the Connecticut elementary school where a mass shooting ignited a national push for tougher firearms laws.


text: On their debut trading day, Ribo Fashion shot up a staggering 44 per cent on the Shanghai Exchange, while rival Speed Apparel tumbled below its listing price in Hong Kong. The opposing fates of the two similar companies and IPOs stemmed from what analysts described as the difference in the mechanism and investment fashion of the two markets. Ribo Fashion soared immediately after the market opened and touched the daily increase limit of 44 per cent just 30 minutes into trading. It closed at 10.2 yuan, up from its IPO price of 7.08 yuan. The Shanghai-based maker of women’s apparels raised 424.8 million yuan, selling 60 million shares. In contrast, Speed Apparel, which debuted on the Growth Enterprise Board in Hong Kong, fluctuated between gains and losses throughout the trading day. It ended at 49 Hong Kong cents, below its listing price of 50 Hong Kong cents. The Hong Kong-based knitwear supplier raised a net HK$37.1 million through its IPO. “First-day returns on mainland China’s IPOs are unusually high, which has become an interesting phenomenon,” said Kenny Tang Sing-hing, chief executive of Jun Yang Securities. “Basically, it’s because the IPOs are underpriced and there is a limited supply of deals on the market,” he said. Mainland IPO shares are priced at no more than 23 times earnings to ensure that there will be take up and the stocks will rise on their debut, according to unwritten regulatory rules. “Mainland’s IPO mechanism isn’t purely driven by market-based demand and there’s a sort of administrative intervention,” said Wu Kan, a Shanghai-based fund manager at Shanshan Finance. Coupled with the first-day trading limit of 44 per cent, retail investors who dominate the mainland stock market, often blindly chase a limited supply of newly-listed stocks. Mainland’s IPO mechanism isn’t purely driven by market-based demand and there’s a sort of administrative intervention Wu Kan, Shanshan Finance In the lottery-like IPO market, returns are almost guaranteed for those who are lucky enough to be alloted shares in the offering. From the start of the year to May 24, all 207 IPO stocks in the mainland had risen to the 44 per cent limit on the first day of trading. “A share investors have a different investment style compared to Hong Kong [investors]. They usually do little research on the fundamentals of newly listed companies. After obtaining the allotment, they sit back and wait to sell the stocks at a profit, ” Tang said. In addition, the new regulatory rules restricting stock disposal by pre-IPO shareholders were fuelling the enthusiasm towards new shares, analysts said. After obtaining the allotment, they sit back and wait to sell the stocks at a profit Kevin Tang, Jun Yang Securities All pre-IPO investors are restricted to sell no more than 1 per cent of their stakes in listed companies every three months, as opposed to previously, when only major shareholders were subject to a lock-up period, according to the rules released by the China Securities Regulatory Commission over the weekend. Chinese regulator tightens rules to pace substantial shareholders’ stake disposals Hong Kong presents a mixed picture in IPO stock performance. For the year to May 26, about one-fourth of the 59 IPO stocks had fallen below their listing prices on trading debuts. The worst performer was Sanroc International, a construction machinery supplier that dropped 23 per cent on its first day of trading. Hong Kong to rank top again this year for global IPOs, raising HK$220 billion, PwC predicts “Hong Kong investors are more mature,” Tang said. “They look more at the fundamentals and tend to shun the companies that they are unfamiliar with. It’s also quite easy for them to obtain the allotment under the share allocation rules, as the more you subscribe, the more you can win.” In a hot deal, the issuer can even increase the number of shares offered to retail investors under the “claw-back mechanism”. Investors are wary of IPO stocks on the GEM, where the quality of companies varies widely, he added. For Speed Apparel and Ribo Fashion, both have posted positive growths. Speed Apparel reported an 18.5 per cent on-year increase in revenues for the eight month ending November 2016, according to the prospectus. Ribo Fashion also posted a 3.8 per cent increase in revenues for the first quarter of this year, and expected its first-half earnings to rise as much as 5 per cent.


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Public voting opens for Pro Carton’s Young Designers Award
Public voting is now officially open for the Pro Carton Young Designers Award which is run by the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard Manufacturers. The winners of Europe’s leading annual packaging design competition for young talent will be announced during an online virtual celebration on 7 October 2020.
Despite the global coronavirus pandemic, 2020 proved to be another record year for the Pro Carton Young Designers Award. The number of entries reportedly increased by almost 20% year on year, with well over 550 cartonboard designs submitted from 85 schools and universities in 25 different countries across Europe.
Tony Hitchin, general manager of Pro Carton said: “The judges have shortlisted the designs they want to go through to the public vote, and so now it’s left to the people to decide which creative young designer is the worthy winner!”
“We are incredibly pleased with the volume as well as the standard of entries submitted; 2020 has proven to be the most successful year yet, despite difficulties around the global crisis. The Pro Carton Young Designers Award has proven itself again to be a fantastic platform to reach the next generation of designers, not only teaching the importance of using recyclable packaging materials such as cartonboard, but also inspiring a sustainable ethos.”
To vote for the Pro Carton Young Designers Award 2020, visit: voting.procarton.com/en/pcyda.
Voting closes at midnight on 30 September.


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International banking giant HSBC and virtual gaming platform The Sandbox have announced a partnership. The collaboration comes a month after JPMorgan launched its first metaverse lounge on Decentraland.
“While we think the metaverse itself remains more conceptual than fait accompli at this stage, it is clear that neither investors nor companies are waiting on the sidelines,” Jon Gordon and Sundeep Gantori, strategists at UBS, told Euromoney.
Metaverse tapping the gaming community
HSBC is set to acquire virtual real estate in The Sandbox metaverse with the aim of connecting with gaming and sports enthusiasts.
The bank said: “The agreement opens the door for other global institutions to continue innovating in Web3 as consumer adoption demands more robust experiences in the metaverse through decentralized and gamified offerings.”
With the metaverse expected to become a trillion-dollar opportunity this year, Suresh Balaji, Chief Marketing Officer, Asia-Pacific, HSBC, said: “The metaverse is how people will experience Web3, the next generation of the Internet – using immersive technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and extended reality.”
The space has gained major traction since the start of the year. DappRadar noted that “virtual land is a booming business”, and added, “A piece of NFT land in a virtual world is a hot commodity at the moment, as investors and opportunists want a piece of the metaverse.”
Virtual land becomes a booming business
Late last year, Animoca Brands subsidiary The Sandbox announced a partnership with PwC Hong Kong.
Like HSBC, the accounting firm had acquired a LAND site in their metaverse.
“We are pleased to see large, trusted institutions such as HSBC join The Sandbox open metaverse, and embrace the culture of Web3. We believe this is the beginning of broader adoption of Web3 and the metaverse by institutions driving brand experiences and engagement within this new ecosystem,” said Sebastien Borget, COO and co-founder of The Sandbox.
Names like Gucci, Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, The Walking Dead, Snoop Dogg, and Adidas have already staked their claim on the Sandbox metaverse.
William Gee, Partner at PwC Hong Kong, said: “The Metaverse offers new possibilities for organizations to create value through innovative business models, as well as introducing new ways to engage with their customers and communities.”
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.


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Facebook puts smart speaker unveil on hold amid user data scandal
Smart speakers are currently the hottest new device in the world of consumer tech, with companies left and right trying to get a piece of the pie. Facebook was the latest player to announce its plans for entering the market, but in light of recent scandalous revelations about the company's handling of user data, these plans have been postponed.
Bloomberg sources familiar with the matter, plans for the reveal have been postponed indefinitely. This is not to say that Facebook's smart speakers won't see the light of day. In fact, the hardware and software are now "undergoing a deeper review to ensure that they make the right trade-offs regarding user data," Bloomberg's sources said.While the hardware wasn't expected to hit the market until this fall, Facebook's was planning to show off its smart speaker at the company's big May developer conference. However, according to
50 million Facebook users had personal information used without their permission to create psychological profiles for the 2016 US presidential election, wouldn't do the company any good.Aside from the supposed revisions of the speakers, unveiling a smart connected device in the fallout of the recent data scandal would be a detrimental move for Facebook. Smart speakers are devices that use an array of different sensors, including cameras and microphones, to keep track, listen to, and see their owners. Asking users to trust the company with even more personal data, after it was revealed that
According to Bloomberg, Facebook has recently done focus-group testing that reflected users' concerns about placing a Facebook-branded device in their living rooms. Still, the company reportedly is on track launch the devices before the end of 2018, after the needed revisions have passed.
So, tell us, would you ever by a Facebook-branded smart speaker after what came to light recently?


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CNN recently interviewed Cherica Haye, the interior designer behind Rolls-Royce Motor Cars‘ limited-edition Serenity Phantom, which features exotic Asian silk, embroidered and hand-painted cherry blossoms, and polished bamboo in its cabin. When the vehicle debuted at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, it was hailed the “world’s most beautiful Rolls-Royce” and “fit for royalty.”
During the interview, Haye revealed what inspired the one-off interior, the emotions she hopes it evokes and the hard work that went into creating it.
“With the fabric, the beauty of it, you just have to stop what you were thinking about and enjoy the moment,” she said, describing its gorgeous silk cabin. “It brings you down from 100 to a normal level. With materials you can do that.”
Although Haye is a color and material designer with Rolls-Royce Bespoke, she wasn’t always interested in cars. In fact, she initially wanted to work in the fashion industry.
“I wanted to be head of material development and design at Dior,” she said. “I don’t even know if that exists, but that’s what I wanted to do.”
Finding the world of fashion to be a lot more competitive than the automotive industry, Haye eventually shifted her focus to automotive design — conceptualizing materials for the likes of Jaguar, Kia and Audi. Here work eventually caught the eye of Rolls-Royce design director Giles Taylor, and the rest is history.
Of course, Haye isn’t the first fashionista to be plucked from the world of fashion to design car interiors. In fact, it’s become pretty common. CNN also notes that her team is comprised of professionals from a wide range of disciplines — including tattooing, sign-making, yachting, saddlery and costume design.
“There’s a constant coming together of different disciplines, but what strings us together is that we’re all design,” Haye said.
“You just have to have an eye, and that’s what connects… Not everybody’s taste is going to be the same, but you have to have that.”
In fact, Haye sees a lot of similarity between designing couture dresses and high-end car interiors, and says her skills make the transition easy.
“At heart, I’m a textiles designer that specializes in color, in material makeup, in material innovation. Not just the overall feel of it, but to the minute, micro level. I do color, I do material overlaying, material-making, designing,” she said.
To read the full interview, see “The fashion maven behind the world’s most beautiful Rolls-Royce.”