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Spring Hope, NC, Sept. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NEWMEDIAWIRE — Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP), a global leader in the industrial hemp industry, announced today the company has safely secured its existing biomass, industrial hemp and kenaf in North Carolina through strategic partnerships with existing storage warehouses in preparation from the brunt of Hurricane Florence. While the Carolina coast expects winds reaching up to 80 miles per hour and torrential rain, Hemp, Inc. executives want to assure everyone that the storm’s possible effect to industrial hemp crops in North Carolina will definitely not affect other cultivation and manufacturing operations the company has created. With its footprint across the United States, Hemp, Inc.’s bottom line will remain intact thanks to the hundreds of thousands of pounds of hemp growing in Oregon on farms surrounding Hemp, Inc.’s new processing center, almost 3,000 miles away.
“First and foremost, I want to take this opportunity tell fellow Carolinians and everyone else to be safe and use caution, especially those in the path of Hurricane Florence. Follow the advice of your local officials and comply any evacuation mandates. Safety first,” says Hemp, Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin. According to one news source, authorities have instituted a 24-hour curfew and evacuation procedures for Carolina Beach, which is less than 5 feet above sea level, and about 2 hours (or approximately 150 miles) from Hemp, Inc.’s industrial hemp processing facility. With the largest multipurpose industrial hemp processing facility in the western hemisphere, Hemp, Inc. executives assure its shareholders that while this is a potentially devastating hurricane, it will not (in any way) affect their bottom line.
The company has hundreds of thousands of pounds of hemp growing in Medford, Oregon (at their first local processing center) and hemp growing in Nevada, Colorado, Kentucky, and West Virginia, not to mention the millions of pounds of kenaf safely stored in warehouses in and around its Spring Hope, NC facility. “It’s enough to easily last us over a year running the plant at full capacity,” said Perlowin.
Whether it is luck or destiny, Hemp, Inc.’s business this year will barely (if at all) be hurt by Hurricane Florence, primarily because the vast majority of its hemp will be processed in Hemp, Inc.’s new processing facility in Medford, Oregon. “As company policy, we always have well over a year’s supply of kenaf stored up just in case we have a bad year growing that crop. This strategy is certainly paying off this year. Hemp, Inc. business will go on as usual,” according to Perlowin.
(Please share this to spread the word… to alleviate anyone’s concerns.)
Hemp, Inc. recently announced its agreement to enter into a majority ownership agreement with JNV Farms LLC for an Oregon hemp cultivation and processing company in Medford. As the majority owner of the hemp cultivation and processing company, Local Processing Center, Inc. (LPC), Hemp, Inc. will be able to create a pipeline of industrial hemp and hemp products in states, where legal, on the West Coast. The agreement establishes Hemp, Inc. as a bi-coastal hemp processing center in America with many more Hemp Local Processing Centers planned for other areas where hemp is being grown.
“Our vision has always been focused on ensuring we have long term success,” said Hemp, Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin. “To achieve the most value for shareholders that also aligns with our operational goals we are committed to offer the services and biomass needed to supply the booming hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) market.”
Hemp, Inc. is also helping to build the industrial hemp infrastructure that was basically non-existent in America. And five years later, it’s still in its infancy as our nation, gradually, embraces industrial hemp as a new emerging multi-trillion dollar industrial agricultural green revolution. Our focus has been on building five hemp infrastructures, Divisions One through Five.
Division One – The Industrial Hemp Infrastructure
Division Two – The Hemp Extraction Infrastructure
Division Three – The Hemp Farming Infrastructure
Division Four – The Hemp Educational Infrastructure
Division Five – The Hemp Marketing Infrastructure
Hemp, Inc.’s strategic hemp growing partner Veteran Village Kins Community Arizona, Inc. has a 500-acre Veteran Village Kins Community in Golden Valley, Arizona. The Veteran Village Kins Community is designed to grow hemp and produce cannabidiol (CBD) products to benefit veterans as well as generate revenue for Hemp, Inc., the Veteran Village, and individual veterans living in the community. Already a $100 million industry, the CBD market is expected to grow over 700% and balloon to $2.1 billion by 2020.
For a more complete description on the Veteran Village Kins Community, read the following, modified, October 24, 2017 press release, Hemp, Inc. Announces Strategic Hemp Growing Partner “Veteran Village Kins Community Arizona, Inc.” Completes Final Site Plan Blueprints, below:
Hemp, Inc. has announced that its strategic growing partner, “Veteran Village Kins Community Arizona, Inc.,” has completed its final site plan blueprints for its 500-acre site in Golden Valley, Arizona (20 miles north of Kingman, AZ and 90 minutes from Las Vegas, NV). The site plan was submitted to the Mohave County Building Department for final review. The Company is also in the final stages of completing the necessary infrastructure to support an off-grid, renewable, energy system. With the solar equipment in place, the site’s solar power operation will be completed in the next days.
As soon as the live streaming video cameras are up and operational, the world can actually see the way the Veteran Village Kins Community is designed and watch it being built. According to Perlowin, the basic framework or overall plan of the Veteran Village Kins Communities is to create a holistic healing and learning center that is designed to educate and heal veterans with PSTD, alcoholism, meth addiction, opioid addiction, and other psychological conditions while at the same time training them on the numerous aspects of being part of the emerging multi-billion dollar hemp industry.
We will also be building hemp-growing communities for other groups such as “Abused” Women & Children Village Kins Communities, the “Orphaned” Children Village Kins Communities, “Homeless” Village Kins Communities and the “Healers” Village Kins Communities (the healers are professionals who are knowledgeable in the modalities to treat these traumatized groups). These particular communities are all synergistically aligned to work simultaneously supporting each other.
For example, the “Healers” heal the traumatized veterans and women & children; the women support orphan children and orphan children want to see people living in homes and not homeless. Thus, a portion of the hemp grown in each community goes to create and support another community, giving everybody a sense of giving back and helping others as they help themselves. This circles back to the healers who also work to heal the veterans and the other traumatized groups. This is the economic foundation on how the sale of the hemp products operates as a “quantum economic matrix” or an example of “symbiotic economics” which is more complex than this brief description allows.
Dwight Jory, the Project Manager for the “Veteran Village Kins Community Arizona, Inc.,” said, “We are very happy with the progress. Our Kins Community is really beginning to come together.” In anticipation of planting to begin during the spring, 300 acres have been fenced, 16 overnight trailer park sites are under construction, and six 40×40-ft organic vegetable gardens have been planted and are currently producing food and kenaf, according to Jory. These organic gardens double as experimental growing modules using an entire array of different growing technologies to see which modalities grow the best in a desert environment. As for the 6 geodesic domes mentioned in an earlier press release, 1 is structurally complete with only the electrical and plumbing to be completed. The rest are on site awaiting final site plan approval.
“We are now accepting volunteers who have expressed an interest in helping to build the first Kins Community for our veterans,” said Jory. Those interested in making the first hemp growing CBD-producing “Veteran Village Kins Community” become a reality should contact Ms. Sandra Williams via email (firstname.lastname@example.org).
One thousand trees, on 36 of the 500-acres, have also been planted, with an additional 1,000 trees on order. The “Veteran Village Kins Community” will include a 100,000-square foot GMP compliant, central processing plant, a state-of-the-art testing laboratory, and various health and wellness centers to support veterans who may have psychological, emotional or health issues.
“As Hemp, Inc. positions itself on the forefront of America’s industrial hemp revolution, we see our partnership with ‘Veteran Village Kins Community Arizona, Inc.’ being paramount in supporting the small family farm movement that we are confident will reshape the American landscape,” said Perlowin. “As we work toward getting our eco-village up and running in Arizona, we are also aggressively scouting strategic locations in other states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. Giving veterans and other Americans a place to learn new skills and take part in this multi-billion-dollar hemp CBD market is very exciting. It’s a big part of our mission to give back. Recently we have expanded our Kins Community concept internationally focusing, but not limited to, Israel, New Zealand, Canada, Africa, and Uruguay.”
According to Perlowin, we hope to have 50 “master hemp growers” working on their first Veteran Village Kins Community in Arizona. To date, we have growers from Oregon, Colorado, California, Kentucky, North Carolina, Nevada and, Arizona who have expressed an interest in pursuing a joint venture with Hemp, Inc. to each grow industrial hemp on 5 of the 300 fenced acres in Arizona. Perlowin says he’ll call this “The Great United American Hemp Project.” Any grower having an interest in pursuing a joint venture on 5 of the 300 fenced in acres in Arizona should contact Project Manager Dwight Jory. Or, anyone interested in attending the 2 – 7-day hands-on hempcrete house building should contact Dwight Jory as well. (Dates to be determined.)
UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC EVENTS
Across the globe, the hemp industry is rising to astronomical levels. In the wake of the hemp industry projected to grow 700% and hit $1.8 billion by 2020, there has been more education and networking within the industry. That means more events and conferences, thus, Hemp, Inc. has started compiling an ongoing list of upcoming hemp events around the world. Check out the listing of international and domestic events here.
ABOUT HEMP, INC.
With a deep-rooted social and environmental mission at its core, Hemp, Inc. seeks to build a business constituency for the American small farmer, the American veteran, and other groups experiencing the ever-increasing disparity between tapering income and soaring expenses. As a leader in the industrial hemp industry with ownership of the largest commercial multi-purpose industrial hemp processing facility in North America, Hemp, Inc. believes there can be tangible benefits reaped from adhering to a corporate social responsibility plan.
https://www.facebook.com/KingOfPot (Bruce Perlowin’s Facebook Page)
https://www.facebook.com/TheHempUniversity/ (The Hemp University’s Facebook Page)
SUBSCRIBE TO HEMP, INC.’S VIDEO UPDATES
“Hemp, Inc. Presents” is capturing the historic, monumental re-creation of the hemp decorticator today as America begins to evolve into a cleaner, green, eco-friendly sustainable environment. What many see as the next American Industrial Revolution is actually the Industrial Hemp Revolution. Watch as Hemp, Inc., the No. 1 leader in the industrial hemp industry, engages its shareholders and the public through each step in bringing back the hemp decorticator as described in the “Freedom Leaf Magazine” article “The Return of the Hemp Decorticator” by Steve Bloom.
“Hemp, Inc. Presents” is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by visiting hempinc.com. To subscribe to the “Hemp, Inc. Presents” YouTube channel, be sure to click the subscribe button.
FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURES
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties.
Source: Hemp, Inc.


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It’s no secret that a premium brand perception pays off in the limited-service industry.
Big flavor and high protein come together to create a Power Platform at Taco Bell, launching nationally on Thursday, July 17.
New York’s highest court has upheld a lower court’s decision to overturn the 2012 ban on the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks larger than 16 ounces.
Teriyaki Madness, a fast-casual Asian concept, announced the addition of Heather Winslett as the company’s director of operations.
Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc., franchisor of the quick-service sandwich chain with nearly 3,400 Arby’s restaurants worldwide, announced today its pl
The NBA Finals repeat between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs have given two Fiesta Restaurant Group COOs a reason to renew a sibling-rest
Corner Bakery Cafe announced the appointment of franchise and restaurant veteran Michael J.
Potbelly Corporation announced that Susan Chapman-Hughes has been appointed to Potbelly's board of directors.
Visits to casual dining restaurants were at a 6-year low in the year ending February 2014, finds The NPD Group, a leading global information compan
Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s life has been about defying the odds.

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We continue to like the business and recognize numerous tailwinds for the company like the GST opportunity, strong exports, strategy on defense, and last but not the least, the focus on electric vehicles (EVs).
Ashok Leyland (AL), the second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, reported a strong topline number for the second quarter ended September 2017 driven by robust volume growth. However, margins were impacted by high raw material prices. We continue to like the business and recognize numerous tailwinds for the company like the GST opportunity, strong exports, strategy on defense, and last but not the least, the focus on electric vehicles (EVs). Any weakness in the stock should be an opportunity for long-term investors.
Quarter at a glanceTopline – Strong volume growth
With the GST impact tapering off, the company posted a significant growth of 30.8 percent (YoY) in net revenue from operations. The growth was driven primarily due to a strong volume growth (22.6 percent) and 6.7 percent increase in realization.
AL’s EBITDA margin declined by 150basis points (YoY) in 2QFY18. The management mentioned multiple reasons for the contraction in the EBITDA magin: it had got a very large and high margin order in the year-ago quarter, it could not pass on the raw material price increase (up 340bps (YoY) as a of net revenues) to the customers because of the heavy discounts offered by the competitors; export of its BS-III inventory was done at a lower margin and lastly, the tax benefit of its Pantnagar facility has gotten over. The reduction in other expenses partly offset the rise in raw material prices.
Looking beyond the earningsHinduja Foundries to be EBITDA accretive
Commenting on Hinduja Foundries in the last conference call, the management had indicated that it would be EBITDA positive, going forward. It has become EBITDA positive in the second quarter itself and its margin came at around 8 percent.Market share – confident of continuing gains
The company had achieved the highest ever market share of 34.7 percent in 1QFY18 which has now come down to 33.6 percent (40bps YoY). The fall was primarily due to the deep discounts offered by the competition. The management indicated that the company will not offer discounts just to gain market share if discounts don’t make financial sense.
The management is confident that the price sanity would come back in the market, going forward, and the company is well placed to take advantage on the back of its innovative BS-IV compliant iEGR technology.Volumes recovery
With many of the headwinds largely behind, volume pick-up has started, riding on the positive impact of GST rollout and the government’s increased focus on infrastructure spending. The management also indicated that the strict ban on overloading would increase the demand for its products. While recognizing the competitive intensity, the management is confident about its products and its position in the market.Focus on electric vehicles
The company is very focused in the EV space. It expects EVs to form a large part of business in the coming years and expects higher volumes in all of their categories. Ashok Leyland is making significant investments in technology and putting a lot of efforts to make EV a reality. The company is also focusing on all technologies as of now as no one is currently sure which technology would produce the optimum result in future. AL is giving maximum weight to the total cost of ownership of electric vehicles as that is the critical component for wider adoption of EV.Strong position in defense
With the governments’s increasing focus on defense, the management is very confident and excited about the long-term opportunity in the defense sector.
In sum, we are positive on the medium to long term outlook on Ashok Leyland. The company has bolstered its position in the market and looks set to gain from GST, infrastructure spending and the market’s return to normalcy post BS-IV implementation.ValuationAt the current price, the stock trades at a reasonable valuation of 19.4x FY18 projected earnings and 16.5x FY19 projected earnings, which make it an ideal candidate for accumulation.Moneycontrol Research Page.


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Castle Water has won the Customer Service Excellence Award at the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards. Held at Crieff Hydro Hotel on Friday 19th November, the awards recognised the excellent work and achievements of businesses in Perthshire.
As the UK’s leading independent business water retailer, servicing more than 350,000 business customers, Castle Water takes a long-term view of customer relationships and do as much as possible to help its customers, saving UK businesses up to 20% on their business water when they switch to Castle Water.
In April this year, Castle Water received its 10,000th customer review on Trustpilot, a significant milestone for the company. With over 12,000 customer reviews, Castle Water remains the most reviewed water retailer on Trustpilot, with more 5-star reviews than all other water retailers combined.
Saving customers over £6 million during lockdown
In a recent news post, Castle Water’s CEO, John Reynolds, said it had been a busy year for the company.
In the face of the pandemic, the water supplier stopped charging many of its business water customers for the lockdown, saving its customers over £6 million. This meant producing twice the number of invoices and reports than normal, due to customers being forced to close and re-open their business premises in accordance with lockdowns.
John said, “We found a way to reduce customers’ fixed charges at the start of the lockdown, which made life easier for them. It’s been intense and hardworking, but not problematic. A lot of customers have said we’re the only utility supplier that’s actually been helping them.”
Customer service without compromise
Castle Water’s phone lines remained open despite the pandemic, and it quickly deployed more people to handle customer webchats; preferred by many customers as they adopted ‘working from home’.
Castle Water’s Head of Customer Service, Mary Haviland said, “Between April 2020 and May 2021, over 21,000 customers said they were happy with Castle Water’s webchat service. 74% of all those who reviewed used webchat when volumes of contact were up to 80% above average levels.”
Making account management easier for customers
In its latest Customer Service Update, Castle Water confirmed it will continue to invest in its customer portal, with a major platform update planned for release by the end of 2021. The customer portal currently provides many ways for Castle Water customers to manage their account online, including downloading invoices, viewing your account balance, submitting meter readings, finding your water meter, and viewing account transactions.
Also in the update, Castle Water confirmed it’s on track to install 5,000 Automatic Meter Reading devices, free of charge to eligible customers by 2022. The project will save Castle Water customers over £2.67 million in installation costs, and up to £9 million per year in potential leakage costs. Castle Water continues to invest in its free online customer resources that provide practical ways its customers can save water, cut costs, and get the most from their Castle Water account.
Tribute to the team at Castle Water
Castle Water remains in a very strong position and continues to see significant growth. Despite a drop in revenue, the company has seen a rise in profit before tax to £3.9m, up from a loss of £14.4m in 2020.
In his recent news post, John credits the results to the dedicated team at Castle Water saying, “It’s been intense hard work for everybody, but it’s been commercially successful. Most water suppliers lose money, but we’ve made a modest profit over the past year. We’re in a very strong position and I think we stand out in a sector where a lot of companies have performed very badly. That’s a tribute to all the staff at Castle Water.”


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Your source for the latest technology information of interest to credit unions across America.
Subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter and/or our monthly newsletter and stay on top of the latest technology trends in Hardware, Software, ATMs, Biometrics, Wireless, Online Banking, Marketing, Security, Internet Access and Call Centers.
This Week's News is Sponsored by Better Branches ~
Finopotamus, the only online resource providing in-depth technology coverage exclusively to CUs, announced the winners of its inaugural 2021 Tekkie Awards. The winners are: Core Integration: Meridian CU; COVID-19 Response: co-winners Community First CU and Delta Community CU; Data and Analytics: Northwest Community CU; Lending: Nuvision FCU; and Self-Service: iTHINK Financial.
MX announced the launch of new Financial Insights APIs and embeddable user interfaces, or widgets, to help developers quickly and securely connect MX-powered financial data into their current products and offerings.
ThinkPad power users have a new option in Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 which is powered by Intel’s latest 11th Gen processors, up to a Core i9 H-Series chip with vPro. It can also be configured with up to a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 64GB of RAM, two 2TB SSDs, a 90Wh battery, and optional 5G support.
Microsoft's new Windows 365 service (AKA Cloud PC) is basically an easy-to-use virtual machine that lets you hop into your own Windows 10 (and eventually Windows 11) installation on any device, be it a Mac, iPad, Linux device or Android tablet. It builds on Microsoft's Azure Virtual Desktop service, which lets tech-savvy folks also spin up their own virtual PCs, but it makes the entire process of managing a Windows installation in a far-off server far simpler.
Unified endpoint management (UEM) describes a set of technologies used to secure and manage a wide range of employee devices and operating systems — all from a single console. Seen as the next generation of mobility software, UEM tools incorporate several existing enterprise mobility management (EMM) technologies — including mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) — with some of the tools used to secure desktop PCs and laptops. This article goes on to desceribe UEM in great detail.
ATMs went through a challenging year in 2020, but as the industry comes out of the pandemic, a question emerges: What's on the horizon? This article features some insights from various ATM industry experts on where ATMs are headed.
Here is a chance to learn about real life credit union success stories from various technology vendors through the words of their clients. This week's vendor is:
and their client is:
NorthEast Alliance Federal Credit Union
Mastercard and Verizon announced that they intend to work together to make 5G connectivity available in a wide variety of applications, including contactless transactions, autonomous checkout, and bill pay. However one industry expert warned that “5G has a way to go before it will have the critical mass needed to impact the payment space.”
A new Accenture report highlights what the firm characterized as the often unseen connection between the new ecosystem, the Dark Web economy, ransomware disruptions, commodity malware and pirated software abuse and their collective, disruptive effects on both IT and OT environments. There are four techniques ransomware actors use: Local denial of access (encryption); leak extortion (also known as "name and shame" tactics); distributed denial-of-service (DDoS); and contact with a victim's customers.
Technology and Marketing
The Zoho BI platform combines Zoho DataPrep with an enhanced version of Zoho Analytics. The company says it "enables organizations to cleanse, unify, and analyze cross-departmental data, obtain an encyclopedic view of the company, and ultimately move toward a more competitive business strategy based on real-time insights.” The platform provides pre-built, visual dashboards, comprehensive data integrations, data preparation, augmented and embedded BI, security and privacy capabilities, flexible deployment models (cloud or on-premise), and scalability.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said recently that one of the stronger arguments for the Fed to set up a digital currency is that it could undercut the need for private alternatives such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Asked during a congressional hearing if having a digital currency issued by the Fed would be a more viable alternative than having multiple cryptocurrencies or stablecoins emerge in the payments system, Powell said he agreed. Powell reiterated that if the Fed were to move forward with developing a CBDC, it would consult with Congress and the public. He repeated his view that as the holder of the world's reserve currency, it would be more important for the United States to "get it right" than to move quickly.
The author is convinced that it’s hard to imagine an industry more ripe for disruption than the business of money. He states that underserved markets (25% of U.S. households are either unbanked or underbanked) are ripe for FinTech insurgents to seize and launch an attack on incumbent FIs from below. He goes on to conclude that FinTechs are zeroing in on everything traditional FIs aren’t - and his observations make for interesting reading.
SES Networks became the first satellite service provider to achieve certification under Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) Direct Connect program, putting it in prime position to serve up cloud access to customers in hard-to-reach locations. Amazon's Direct Connect – and similar programs from Microsoft and Google – require partners to meet certain performance requirements.
Every machine connected to the Net is exposed to a constant barrage of scans, web crawls, probes and attacks from tens of thousands of unique IP addresses per day. This 'Internet noise' is generated by both good guys and bad guys, and it triggers security tools to generate thousands of events to be analyzed, with little context on the potential threats. In response, the GreyNoise Community has grown in the past year to over 12,000 accounts and more than 1,000 active daily users of the company's free version of its service. This community version gives analysts and researchers access to basic Internet noise data via the GreyNoise Visualizer and Community API, as well as a limited number of alerts and bulk analyses.
NICE CXone SmartReach is an artificial intelligence (AI) powered solution that enables organizations to have proactive, multi-day, asynchronous conversations – interacting with consumers through their channels of choice even before they reach out for service. Powered by Enlighten AI, CXone, a cloud CX platform, now natively combines digital and self-service.
While accurately authenticating a caller is the most critical function of a contact center representative, the way contact centers go about this process can make or break an excellent over-the-phone interaction. The author states that there are benefits for both the contact center professional and the consumer for utilizing digital identity technology in place of question and answer authentication interviews.


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Hannover Messe IoT Announcements
Industrial Internet of Things services and products were the main focus of this year's Hannover Messe, an industrial automation conference held in Germany.
Vendors on the IT side were eager to show their new Internet of Things services for factory floors and manufacturing customers, as well as new partnerships with operational technology companies.
From predictive maintenance tools to "digital twins" – the digital companions of physical assets to represent objects' real-time status and working condition – the show also put the industrial market's top trends on the forefront.
Here's some of the biggest Industrial IoT news coming out of this year's Hannover Messe show.


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Latest News on Chinese Equities
Showing of 0 - 10 from 3 results
Chinese Equities - Total results - 3
Dec 14, 2018
China's consumers, factories take a beating as economic gloom deepens; pressure on to defuse trade dispute with USOver the weekend, China reported far softer than expected November exports and imports, reflecting slower global demand and waning domestic factory activity as profit margins narrow.
Aug 03, 2018
Trump effect? China loses world's No 2 spot to Japan on fears of trade war with the US, slow economic growthChinese stocks were worth $6.09 trillion, compared with $6.17 trillion in Japan.
Jan 04, 2016
From Chinese crash to weak domestic cues: Here's why Sensex fell 538 points todayhe 50-stock CNX Nifty also ended below the psychological 7,800-mark at 7,791.30, down 171.90 points, or 2.2 percent


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With a subordinate clause in an interview, Dan Houser, one of the chief executives at Rockstar Games, has started a renewed debate on working conditions at the company. In the meantime, the company has said that a comment on 100-hour weeks has only referred to a handful of executives and on limited occasions – yet it continues to seek mitigation. According to a report on Kotaku on 18 October 2018, the company has now allowed its employees to report on their working conditions on social networks .
This has almost immediately led to a whole series of contributions, according to which the burdens were last quite tolerable – at least compared to previous projects. “Crunch at Red Dead Redemption 2 was clearly better than at GTA 5, where I had to go through a month with 70 or more hours,” writes one of the programmers on Twitter . There are a number of similar reports, none of which sounds like really exaggerated pressure.
The situation does not seem to be completely relaxed. A few days later, on October 21, 2018, according to another report on Kotaku at Rockstar Lincoln, a quality assurance studio in the UK, there was a major meeting where overtime was discussed. Although they should be officially voluntary, but actually more work during the week and on the weekends were simply assumed – that should also know one or the other German workers. The management has now pointed out that overtime would normally not be mandatory or would be remunerated separately.
In the game industry, there are always discussions about long working hours – which would be arranged not only by employers. To some extent, especially among newcomers to the job, a great willingness to perform is probably part of the self-image, which can then lead to excessive self-exploitation.
In the case of Rockstar Games, there is the peculiarity that the company is more isolated from the rest of the industry than other companies. At major industry events, the studio is virtually unrepresented: at the E3 gaming fair, for example, there is usually no stand. At the main industry convention Game Developers Conference (GDC), held each spring in San Francisco, Rockstar is the only major company which hardly ever lectures or participates in panel discussions. This also means that less is known about the working conditions and the working atmosphere than other studios.
In particular, a public letter from the wives of developers who had worked on the first Red Dead Redemption in 2010 denounced working conditions. The next installment of the games series will be released on October 26, 2018 for Xbox One and Playstation 4.


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According to the United Nations there are 783 million people living with less than two dollars a day, and millions of these people are children who sometimes do not have to eat and almost never to buy shoes. From here BECAUSE was born, a young company that already bills $ 2.5 million annually, manufacturing products to improve the lives of these people.
One of the most amazing products is sandals that can be extensible up to five sizes and ultra-resistant. They cost between $ 15 and $ 20 and are designed to be purchased by NGOs, administrations or individuals who want to distribute them in the countries most in need. The idea of a business model should not be bad, since only in 2018 more than 100,000 pairs of extensible shoes were sold. The same company also has manufactured anti-malaria stores so that children can sleep without contracting the disease.


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India’s burgeoning beer-scape already has a breakfast-friendly milk stout, an India-inspired wheat beer, a creamy craft beer with hints of toffee and dark chocolate on offer, along with a unique monthly beer subscription program (in Mumbai) -- that this writer can personally vouch for -- and multiple new beer launches every month that it’s getting kinda hard to keep track of all the booze we’re making in the country’s alcohol-friendly fizzy market.
So, here, to help you make wiser drink choices at the bar and home, we’ve put together a list of five newly launched Indian beers to try this month. You can also check out six extremely cool and unheard of beer flavours that brewers are making in the country, currently, here. You’re welcome.
From a delicious honey ale to a citrus-infused craft beer, check out these 5 homegrown brews
Goa folks, and folks who are in Goa right now -- wear a mask -- the sunshine state’s Latambarcem brewery has launched a new craft beer brand Maka di that is currently serving four delish brews: Honey Ale, Belgian Tripel, Bavarian Keller and Belgian Blanche. If you’re craving a sweet pour, sip on Honey Ale. The brew is made from organic wild honey from the Jim Corbett Park in Uttarakhand. Available in Goa.
For those who’re not inclined to all things sweet, pick up a bottle of Belgian Blanche from the brand with notes of oranges from the Orange capital of the world, Valencia. Zesty beers pair beautifully with Indian grub! Available in Goa.
While United Breweries Limited’s first-ever non-lager beer debuted in Goa and Bengaluru in December 2019, it made its way to the Capital only in October. According to the brand, Kingfisher Ultra Witbier is brewed using natural extracts of orange, coriander, spices sourced from Belgium and aromatic hops from the USA. Available in Delhi, Goa and Bengaluru.


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on Thursday released a video demonstrating just how speedy its upcoming is, building hype around GM's nascent electric revolution. Aside from a sick drumbeat, this 31-second-long snippet (make sure to check it out below) shows the lumbering behemoth defying the laws of physics. It takes off like a cannonball.
This all-electric truck can blast from 0 to 60 in around 3 seconds, a supercar-rivaling feat, one that's all the more impressive when you consider this reborn Hummer's size. Not only is it boxier than a double-decker bus, but.
To deliver this speed, a special drive mode has to be engaged, one called Watts to Freedom, which playfully spells WTF, internet lingo for, well… I imagine you know. This mode lowers the body for reduced wind resistance and unlocks the powertrain's full potential. When it's time for some fun, just stand on both pedals, then release the brake to launch this boxy rocket and turn your viscera into a protein slurry.
Aside from whistling wind as the air battles this truck's huge body, and probably a lot of tire noise from those meaty, off-road rubbers, the entire experience should be nearly silent. This new Hummer truck features anall-electric powertrain, one that delivers up to 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of wheel torque. Yep, it takes a lot of kibbles and bits to move something this bulky that quickly.
Ashas proven, , like, seriously speedy. It will be interesting to experience this Hummer's crushing performance first-hand, which we might be able to do later this year, as production is expected to kick off in the fall. The and truck will be assembled in GM's Factory Zero, a facility in Detroit that's been completely retooled to build zero-emissions vehicles.


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Two pilot projects have received a total of just under $5.7 million in federal support to investigate the usefulness of blockchain in new supply chain solutions.
Everledger and convergence.tech were awarded $3 million and $2.663 million respectively in Blockchain Pilot Grants.
The grants/projects were explained as investigating the blockchain digital ledger in the following ways:
- Everledger would investigate creating a ‘digital certification’ for critical minerals throughout the extraction and movement phases. This will help companies in the sector to ensure adherence to compliance regulations and increase the demand for Australian products in global markets, while also simplifying the process and lowering costs; and
- Convergence.tech (VIC) would help automate key reporting processes under the Excise system, a commodity-based tax on goods including beer and spirits. This will help companies in the sector to reduce compliance costs associated with the creation, storage and transportation of their products.
The projects would, industry minister Christian Porter said, “demonstrate the potential for blockchain to help businesses to save money and cut red tape by improving processes such as tracking products throughout the supply chain and transferring customer information.
“These two successful projects will also highlight opportunities to improve the technical and regulatory environment for blockchain in Australia, bolster blockchain literacy and support collaboration between Australian governments, the private sector and blockchain companies.”
Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.


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It’s not often that a swimsuit photo a celebrity posts on Instagram is accompanied by an inspiring message, but when it does, it’s worth noting.
Such is the case with recent photos from Hilary Duff and Vanessa Hudgens, according to InStyle, who reported that the stars took to Instagram on April 28 to share a video of themselves in bikinis for underwear brand Aerie‘s “Love the Swim You’re In” initiative.
“For each unretouched bikini photo that someone posts to Instagram along with the hashtag #AerieREAL, the retailer will donate $1 to the National Eating Disorder Association,” says InStyle.
While Hudgens appears alongside her sister Stella in the video, Duff goes solo to spread the campaign’s message. Both, however, tell of the initiative from behind a bright blue towel with the hashtag #aerieREAL scrawled across the front.
InStyle reports that Aerie has “pledged to donate up to $30,000 to the NEDA through the Love the Swim You’re In initiative.”
And although celebrities are certainly taking to the campaign, you can participate by posting your own unretouched bikini photo to Instagram tagged with the hashtag #AerieREAL.


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Thread: Andro Ban
03-11-2004, 06:39 PM #1
US Cracks Down on Sale of Hormone Androstendione
11 Mar 2004, 19:51 UTC
U.S. government regulators have told food supplement companies to stop selling the hormone androstendione unless they can prove that it is not a dangerous drug.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services has warned 23 manufacturers to stop making the product - commonly known as andro - unless they can prove it is safe.
The FDA is using a seldom enforced provision of a law that defines as dietary supplements as natual substances that were on the market before 1994. Andro was not marketed before 1994 and so its producers have to prove it is safe before it can be legally sold as a supplement.
The announcement comes one day after Major League Baseball Players' Union head Donald Fehr challenged the U.S. Senate to change the law if it wants andro eliminated from sports. Testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee, Mr. Fehr said andro is a legal supplement and if the Congress wants it removed it should change the law.
The drug became famous when former Major League Baseball single season home run king Mark McGwire admitted using it to build muscle. Andro has long been sold over the counter as a dietary supplement.
Medical studies have shown that andro raises the body's testosterone levels . The government move comes as Major League Baseball is under a cloud of suspicion over allegations of steroid use by players.
looks like more will be joining the darkside soon
03-11-2004, 06:47 PM #2
Why in the #ell!!!, is the government getting involved in this? We are talking F@cking Senators & congress. Bush has got to go.
03-11-2004, 06:50 PM #3Originally Posted by Froggy
03-11-2004, 07:08 PM #4
I heard about this today. This is getting ridiculus. What's next protein!!
03-11-2004, 07:16 PM #5
Stupid Sh*t !! Next they will try to ban all supplements even protein.. Getting out of HAnd !!!!!!
03-12-2004, 03:34 PM #6
Looks like politicans doesn't like BBs. They are do like fat people
03-12-2004, 03:47 PM #7Originally Posted by Froggy
03-12-2004, 03:54 PM #8
I feel like I'm in cuba
03-12-2004, 04:31 PM #9
relax, their just trying to make it look like their cracking down on cheaters in sports and such.
also, this industry is worth millions of dollars. if something good gets banned it will probably be modified and put back onto the market as something else. just too much cash in it, someone will do it
03-12-2004, 04:38 PM #10
my buddies know i did andro...this makes me and the rest of people who have done it look like drug users....****ty deal
03-12-2004, 04:46 PM #11Associate Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2004
It sounds like they are cracking down on prohormones. What could you possibly do to put them back on the market?
Remember when you could buy the amino acid tryptophan as a supplement and the FDA banned it about a decade or so ago? You couldn't buy it for 5 years, because some people got sick from a bad batch that I think contained cyanide. Now you need a prescription for it .... thats total bs, I mean it's a freakin' amino acid.
My point is that if they ban prohormones they are gone for good.
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text: Eat and Drink NYCWFF 2014: Best dessert options The exterior of at Ample Hills Creamery in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Ample Hills makes their ice cream in house and will be opening a new store in Gowanus in June. Photo Credit: Linda Rosier By MEREDITH DELISO email@example.com @themerryness Updated October 8, 2014 2:35 PM Print Share Share Tweet Share Email Sweet tooths, the New York City Wine & Food Festival has your number. Among the dozens of dinners, classes and parties happening as part of the four-day festival are several devoted just to dessert. "It seems only right that we celebrate desserts, and in my case, ice cream," said Brian Smith, co-owner of Ample Hills Creamery, which is throwing an ice cream social as well as teaching class in making ice cream as part of this year's festival. "It seems right that during a festival like the New York City Wine & and Food Festival, that celebrates finer things in food, that we should be doing that with ice cream." From ice cream socials to candy classes to dessert buffets, here's a look at festival events that celebrate the sweeter things in life. Dessert First: A Sweet Surprise Eat dessert for dinner when Philippe Baranes and Chef Christopher Boucher of Dessance, Paris' first all-dessert restaurant, host this dining experience that promises both savory and sweet creations, like blue cheese madelelines. $225; Oct. 17, 7-10 p.m., International Culinary Center, The Studio, 28 Crosby St. Dominique Ansel's Wonderland The Cronut creator and other pastry stars will create treats at this "Alice in Wonderland" themed dessert buffet. If it's anything like the book, be wary of beverages labeled "Drink me." $125 (sold out); Oct. 17, 10 p.m.-1 a.m., High Line Hotel, The Refectory, 180 10th Ave. Candy Making Master Class Chef Jacque Torres shares professional tricks and techniques for his sweets. $200 (sold out); Oct. 18, 2-4 p.m., International Culinary Center, Pastry Kitchen, 462 Broadway Ample Hills Brooklyn's Best Dessert Party Brooklyn ice cream favorite Ample Hills will be joined by fellow borough dessert stars One Girl Cookies, Liddabit Sweets, Ovenly and Four & Twenty Blackbirds to create an elaborate sundae bar at this ice cream social. $125; Oct. 18, 10 p.m.-1 a.m., Maritime Hotel, 88 Ninth Ave.Ample Hills Ice Cream Making Master Class The next day, learn how to make ice cream from Ample Hills co-owners Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna. $200; Oct. 19, 2-4 p.m., International Culinary Center, Italian Kitchen, 42 Broadway By MEREDITH DELISO firstname.lastname@example.org @themerryness Meredith has been a features editor with amNewYork since 2013, covering dining, health, travel and books. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comments Comments section is temporarily on hold. Here’s why.


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What the heck is "DeFi" and "Baas"? Few in banking would admit they don't really understand many of these new buzzworthy
A charter is a plus for the fintech, but the impact for traditional institutions may depend on the status of their digital
Free business checking offered with Green Dot Bank serves as a tie-in for firms using QuickBooks and as part of a 'starter kit' for future
The offering of fee-free deposits at close to 9,000 locations by Chime is the latest in a battle for consumers previously ignored by
A consortium of community financial institutions uses 'open' approach to give their customers a 'one-stop-' approach to mobile
A new report flags the skills gap financial institutions face as the industry becomes more tech driven. Altering hiring criteria is
The big fintech is building digital bridges connecting consumer and seller users into a growing ecosystem under the newly named parent,
Hands down, speed is the biggest competitive advantage a bank or credit union can have. Here's why, and what it takes to dial it
Fintechs have stolen a march on financial institutions via apps to manage joint accounts and other shared finance. But Forrester says banks have an
A bank that's 100+ years old doesn't have to be 'out of date.' As part of a sweeping tech upgrade, FNB brings retail savvy to banking.
Skyrocketing adoption of fintech is not only changing the way consumers bank, it’s changing how they live, think, and interact with money.
The mobile bank is the second European challenger within a few weeks to bow out. Fintech experts weigh in on what it means for
Amazon gives consumers a new way to pay, and sets Venmo's parent PayPal up to siphon even more payments away from credit card
Having achieved wide adoption, fintechs are now building a holistic ecosystem. Banks have much to gain in this process if they move
Consumers increasingly are willing to try new providers, looking for the best fit. Can banks and credit unions outpace neobanks and
'Synthetic banking' as practiced by fintechs and banking as a service users is targeted by the acting national bank
Independent contractors represent a fast-growing market, and millions of them need bank accounts. The right digital features are
Combinations multiply as financial institutions face increased demand for digital services and fintechs need a more stable business
The data aggregator launched an accounts-based payments ecosystem with the potential to sharply impact both bank revenues and card
Creating a seamless experience while keeping everything running may feel impossible for many institutions. Here's how you can pull it
Community banks and credit unions outpace megabanks and even neobanks in key areas, but that edge won't sustain those that lag in
Despite a failed bid for a traditional charter, Monzo has grand plans to put a mobile app and ultra-slick payments card into Americans'


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This nearly 4-feet cat may be world’s longest
MELBOURNE: An Australian cat, named Omar, is vying to become world’s longest for its extraordinary size of four feet.
Omar, a Maine Coon, measures 120cm from nose to tail, according to his owner.
The 14kg feline is fed on raw kangaroo meat and needs a dog crate to be taken to the vet, the BBC reported.
“It’s the only meat we could find that he actually wants to eat,” owner Stephy Hirst, of Melbourne, Australia, told the broadcaster.
“He does take up a bit too much room on the bed so he gets locked out of the bedroom at night,” Ms Hirst added.
The current official longest cat — according to Guinness World Records — is another Maine Coon named Ludo, who is 118.33cm.
Ludo lives in Wakefield, Yorkshire with owner Kelsey Gill.


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Birkenstock opens new German factory after sales peak
Sales at Birkenstock have been climbing since 2014 and further success after product placement in the Barbie film means that the German brand is heading to the US stock market. To keep up with rising popularity the company has opened a new factory in the federal republic.
Birkenstock opens new factory in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Birkenstock’s factory in Görlitz, Saxony, can no longer keep up with worldwide demand for the orthopaedic sandals. In what will be the largest single investment in the almost 250-year-long history of the international company, Birkenstock has opened a new factory in Pasewalk, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Development took around 17 months, and the number of employees at the factory - which has been built in the Berlin-Szczecin Business Park near the Polish border - is set to increase from 200 to 1.000.
Selecting the business park site was intentional after the company benefitted from its main factory in Görlitz being close to the Polish border. The site in Pasewalk has lain empty in recent years, but now Birkenstock will be joined on the site by a shelving unit production company.
Görlitz Birkenstock factory will focus on soles
The opening of the new factory in Pasewalk marks a milestone in the company’s so-called “ramp-up” expansion process.
Since the new factory intends to relieve an overburdened production line in Görlitz, the original factory will now focus on producing latex and cork for Birkenstock soles.
To celebrate the expansion, Birkenstock plans to produce a new “Made in Pasenwalk” line of sandals.
Thumb image credit: sylv1rob1 / Shutterstock.com


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Qualcomm partnership to set up smart cars lab in China
The new R&D center will be located in the city of Chongqing
Qualcomm has inked a partnership with Chinese tech firm Thunder Software Technology to establish a smart cars lab in mainland China.
According to international press reports, the new research and development facility will be located in Chongqing, in southwest China. Thundersoft is a provider of in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) solutions for connected vehicles.
The primary goal of the smart cars lab will be to create an ecosystem for IoT and boost research and development into IoT connected smart cars in China. The new center also looks to attracts additional car manufacturers and research institutions to establish their own facilities in the cluster. The center’s main areas of research will include intelligent cockpit and control systems, as well as interface and user experience.
“China has gradually become a core market in the global wave of development for IoT and connected smart cars,” said Frank Meng, chairman of Qualcomm China. “Chongqing is a metropolis with one of the biggest potentials for investment in western China. The city has speeded up its efforts in cultivating strategic emerging industries in recent years and has made notable progress.
Meng also said that the main aim of the strategic partnership is to strengthen Qualcomm’s cooperation with Chongqing city and Thunder Software Technology, as well as the relevant ecosystem in China. “We will use our industry-leading technology and help realize the future of internet of everything,” the executive said.
Meawhile, Wu Cunrong, executive vice-mayor of Chongqing, said the city will support Qualcomm and Thunder Software’s projects in the city and accelerate the development of artificial intelligence and information service.
The announcement of the creation of the smart cars lab came after Qualcomm and Thunder Software established a joint venture in February 2016 in Chongqing, to accelerate research and innovation in the IoT field.


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Dutch internet service provider Tele2 plans to upgrade its pay-TV service to include HDTV and other new features in the first quarter of next year, according to local reports.
Tele2 plans to add IP-based convergent services later in 2010, according to the reports.
Tele2 launched VDSL services in the Netherlands at the weekend, providing 60Mbps internet access. The service is currently available to 200,000 households, mostly in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Groningen. The operator plans to increase coverage to one million households in 2010.Â
ICYMI: English Premier League avoids rights drop by skipping auction, confirms renewed deals digitaltveurope.com/2021/05/13/eng… https://t.co/m9myuVN5X7
13 May 2021 @ 18:00:00 UTC
BritBox hires AMC’s Arnot as SVP of marketing digitaltveurope.com/2021/05/13/bri… https://t.co/LqbXrXHuxa
13 May 2021 @ 17:30:00 UTC
Amazon refreshes Echo Show devices, introduces new Kids model digitaltveurope.com/2021/05/13/ama… https://t.co/4HHcCUJ8Qd
13 May 2021 @ 17:00:01 UTC


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Oyogist has learned that Elon Musk the CEO of Tesla and space X has announced that Tesla Inc. will accept payment in Dogecoin for some merchandise.
Shortly after musk made the announcement, Dogecoin rose to 33%.
Some of Tesla’s “merch” would be buyable with the digital coin, the chief executive officer said Tuesday, with products including the $150 Giga Texas belt buckle featuring the carmaker’s logo. Last month, Tesla’s $50 Cyberwhistle sold out almost immediately.
Let’s See how it goes,” Musk said.
Dogecoin rose to a high of $0.20 after the tweet, declining to $0.18 after the initial spike.
Over the years, Elon Musk has been a stern supporter of Dogecoin, a “meme” cryptocurrency featuring a picture of a Shiba Inu dog.
The tweets from the world’s richest person have contributed to its rising popularity.


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Spain-based jewellery brand TOUS has signed Gwyneth Paltrow as the star of its upcoming global advertising campaign.
The campaign, “Tender Stories Nº4,” will feature the Oscar-winning actor in a way that—according to the brand—will reflect “tenderness as a universal TOUS value.”
“We are delighted that Gwyneth is going to be the face of TOUS in our upcoming campaigns,” says Rosa Tous, the company’s corporate vice-president. “As well as being an incredibly beautiful woman, Gwyneth is a talented actress who is able to transmit the essential value behind our brand: tenderness.” CJ
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Live action Modern Warfare?! Yes please. For a while there was thinkins' that it might be viral ads by Activision/Infinity ward/whoever it is thats producing the next game (North Korea?), but it turns out its a project by an ARG project team - see quote from PC gamer:
The new information comes courtesy of Spike TV journalist Geoff Keighley, who has done some digging and revealed that the countdown was created by We Can Pretend, a team from Toronto working on a Call of Duty inspired project. Keighley said that “production sources who worked on the self-funded project call it visually spectacular.”Either way, its freaking awesome. When they planted the breach charges and then splattered that guy? Crazy.


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US-based electric automaker Telsa Motors has partnered with China Unicom, the country’s No. 2 mobile carrier, to expand its network of charging points in China.
China Unicom and Tesla last Friday signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly build charging stations in China. The two also held a ceremony to open the first surcharging station in Chengdu, Sichuan, China Unicom said in a statement.
As part of the agreement, Tesla will build 400 charging points at China Unicom sales stores in 120 cities. The two companies will also build 20 of Telsa’s fast-speed supercharging stations, known as Supercharger, at Unicom’s retail outlets in 20 cities. Telsa Supercharger stations allow its customers to replenish half a car’s battery in 20 minutes, which is far faster than typical public station.
Under the partnership, Tesla will provide the equipment for the charging stations, while Unicom will provide the land, and Tesla customers will be able to charge their cars for free at the stations, Bloomberg quoted a Tesla spokesperson as saying.
According to the company website, Tesla already has more than 200 charging points across China. It also has 13 Surperchargers in Asia, 12 of which are in China and one in Hong Kong.


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Huawei's net profits for the first half of 2022 declined by more than half as the vendor blamed the difficult economic backdrop.
Revenue also slumped 5.9 percent year-on-year to RMB 301.6 billion ($44.73 billion). The company's net profit margin shrunk by five percent to RMB 15.08 billion ($2.2bn), while net profit as a whole was down almost 50 percent from the RMB 31.39 billion ($4.6bn) reported during the first half of 2021.
However, Huawei has insisted the performance was in line with expectations.
"While our device business was heavily impacted, our ICT infrastructure business maintained steady growth," said Huawei's Rotating Chairman Ken Hu.
"Moving forward, we will harness trends in digitalization and decarbonization to keep creating value for our customers and partners, and secure quality development."
Supply chain issues, a weaker economy, and the Covid-19 pandemic have contributed to Huawei's challenges.
Sanctions against Huawei bite
The vendor has also suffered since 2019 because of restrictions imposed by the US, ultimately denying Huawei access to Google Mobile Services. Former US President Donald Trump enforced the sanctions on Huawei, deeming the company a national security risk, subsequently putting Huawei on the US Entity List.
This led to Huawei taking hits in other markets, including the UK, where the British government performed a U-turn on allowing Huawei to play a pivotal role in helping to build the UK's 5G networks. This has forced UK operators to remove all Huawei 5G kit from its networks by 2027.


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Time to think about those Forever Stamps again, all you snail mail sufferers:
The post office will get an extra 2-cents worth when you mail a letter starting in May.
The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday that the price of a first-class stamp will rise to 44 cents on May 11.
Now that I've finally gone to online banking, including bill paying, I no longer pay attention to the Postal Service's trials and tribulations and the minor annoyance of periodic price increases. The agency said the 2-cent jump would cost "the average household" about $3 a year. I don't know who this average house is, but that's 150 pieces of mail, or 12 or 13 a month. That sounds about right, for people who still mail their bills. I think I've used two or three stamps in the last six months.


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Apr 17, 2012
Proventia Group Oy has sold its stationary & marine business Proventia GmbH, located in Switzerland, to Mr Beat Wälti, the CEO of Proventia GmbH on 20 March 2012. The agreement includes 100% of the shares of Proventia GmbH.
Proventia Group concentrates on emission control in off-road and on-road applications both in the OEM and retrofitting markets. Jari Lotvonen, CEO of Proventia Group, states that the sale will allow Proventia to focus on its core business in the mobile OE and retrofit markets.
Proventia GmbH will continue in the field of stationary and marine emission control, where the company has operated since 1996. Proventia GmbH will be led by Mr Beat Wälti, and will also operate under the name Proventia GmbH for the next few months. According to Mr Wälti, a name change will however take place at the beginning of October 2012, when the new name Pure Clean Air AG/ PCA will become official. Meanwhile the company will continue to operate under the name Proventia GmbH in Winterthur and a new customer training centre will be established in Winterthur at Kronaustrasse 10. From now on, the main e-mail address will be info (at) pure-clean-air.com and the personal addresses for the staff will be firstname.lastname (at) pure-clean-air.com.
Aug 13, 2019
Proventia, a technology company based in Oulu, Finland, has agreed ...
Aug 2, 2019
The shareholders of Proventia Group Corporation are summoned to the...


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Automotive two-wheeler giant, Bajaj Auto has revealed its plans to invest Rs 750 crore in capital expenditure in the ongoing financial year, FY23, to set up facilities for its electric two- and three-wheelers as well as ramp up its premium motorcycle volumes.
This kind of investment is among the highest annual investments made by the company for the adoption of new technologies and capacity creation in recent times.
Dinesh Thapar, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Bajaj Auto, says the current investment is a step up over the past. The investment is allocated towards establishing an EV facility for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, in Waluj, Maharashtra. Besides this, a part of the investment will be spent on the expansion of a new manufacturing facility in Chakan that will be used to make Bajaj’s upcoming premium motorcycles, Thapar says.
In December 2021, Bajaj Auto established its Rs 300-crore electric two-wheeler plant in Pune’s Akurdi region where it currently manufactures Chetak electric scooters. The plant has been designed to manufacture 5,00,000 electric two-wheelers per annum.
The company had earlier hinted at introducing an electric model under the Husqvarna brand as well which means Bajaj Auto will also have a presence in this evolving segment.
“We have gradually increased our presence in 40 cities across the country,” Rakesh Sharma, executive director, Bajaj Auto, says. “We are also working towards expanding the EV portfolio to cover different emerging segments and geographies. Over the next 18 months or so, you will see three or four introductions that will attack new segments, not the same segment, but it will be under the Chetak Umbrella.”
Speaking of its Chetak electric scooter, Bajaj Auto posted a 50 percent growth, with the Chetak crossing 10,000 units in the second quarter of FY23 as against 6,200 units in the first quarter.
In the premium segment, the company has already added to its Pulsar brand a new 250cc model last year and is planning to come up with more models. The company adds that the new Bajaj Pulsar platform will be expanded further to strengthen the company’s portfolio in the premium motorcycling space.
In terms of the motorcycle segment performance, while there has been muted demand for entry-level 100cc bikes, particularly in rural areas, the company is witnessing significant growth for 125cc bikes.
Bajaj recently launched the CT 125X.
According to Sharma, since FY20, the industry has reshaped itself towards the 125cc segment, and it now constitutes almost 50 percent of the industry, while it was just about 40 percent three years ago.
Hence Bajaj plans to invest its resources towards the 125cc plus segment and improve its profitability and market share.


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Thai integrated communications group True Corp has posted a 4% year-on-year decline in EBITDA for the first quarter of 2011, to THB4.76 billion (USD157 million), on higher network and marketing expenses, and despite consolidated revenues that increased by 9.2% to THB17.26 billion, mainly driven by the recent takeover of the Bangkok-based Hutch CDMA business. The group reported a net loss of THB293 million for the three months ended 31 March 2011, compared to a net profit of THB1.24 billion in the first quarter of 2010, mostly attributed to forex losses. True’s wireless division, which now includes True Move, Hutch and the new ‘TrueMove H’ brand under which it is rolling out HSPA services over the Hutch network footprint, reported that service revenue excluding interconnection increased by 11.5% year-on-year to THB6.8 billion in 1Q11. Mobile division customers reached 18.4 million at the end of March 2011, with 552,000 net additions at True Move, taking its total to 17.67 million and with 730,000 customers attributed to Hutch.
In 1Q11 True adopted OECD reporting standards, which include broadband data services for enterprise customers within the Broadband segment; this had the effect of boosting its reported fixed broadband customers by around 360,000 – reaching 1.214 million subscriber lines – and increasing its reported Broadband revenue base by about 44%. It had previously only reported subscriber line totals for consumer broadband users. Also reporting simultaneously its subscribers under ‘old’ methods, fixed line and internet division True Online added 39,000 new fixed broadband customers (consumers) in the quarter to take its total to 853,000, as consumer broadband revenue grew 6.0% quarter-on-quarter and 13.6% year-on-year.


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|Last Price$23.94||Day Change (%)-3.00%|
|Open Price$24.37||Day Change ($)-0.74|
|Day Range23.85–24.37||52-Week Range14.38–25.40|
As of Thu 05/23/2013 09:57 AM EDT | USD
As the market shrugged off new eurozone worries in March, investors remained focused on finding cheap, wide-moat stocks and income-producing investments.
Detroit is leaner and greener and ready to meet the pent-up demand of consumers driving aging gas guzzlers.
After a few false starts, the auto industry is finally hitting a setback-free recovery in 2012, according to Morningstar's Dave Whiston.
We identify supplier traits that enable investor returns.


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The record labels’ lawsuit against the Limewire file-sharing service is nearing its final stage-a January trial has been set to calculate the damages. But as the lawyers prepare for that trial, the lawsuit has taken a surprising turn, with the judge asking the record labels for some new information. It isn’t a good omen for the labels, which have said they may ask for over $1 billion from Limewire and its founder Mark Gorton. Ultimately, the size of the punishment against Limewire will have a significant impact on how large a hammer record labels have to wield against the alleged copyright scofflaws of the future.
Limewire is essentially shuttered, and has stopped distributing its software, after a judge ruled last month that it had illegally encouraged copyright infringement. The company has even begun to sell off the still-legal elements of its business, such as its online music store.
The record labels may want a billion dollars, but that’s a lot of money to squeeze from a service that reportedly earned revenue of $20 million in 2006, a year when it was near the height of its popularity. They’re hoping to get some of that cash from founder Mark Gorton, who has moved on to other ventures. Gorton’s hedge fund, Tower Research Capital, was said to have had $117 million in assets in 2007.
We reached out to lawyers for the Recording Industry Association of America, which represents the labels, to ask them about their strategy for showing damages, and will update the story if and when we hear back.
To collect such a sum, the labels will need to use the provisions of copyright law that allow for large statutory damages-up to $150,000 per song in the case of willful copyright infringement. But the judge overseeing discovery in the damages case has already made an unusual ruling, asking the labels to prove how much actual damage they have suffered from piracy. It’s a surprising move, since copyright owners are usually exempt from showing they were actually hurt by illegal copying. Indeed, part of the idea behind statutory damages is to make it easy on plaintiffs who might have a hard time precisely measuring their harm.
The judge overseeing discovery ruled last week that Limewire’s lawyers should be given a chance to argue “that the statutory damages being sought by [the record labels] would be disproportionate to any actual damages.” How are they going to do that? They’re going to look at the actual royalty information for 300 copyrighted works-80 songs and 20 albums selected by Limewire’s lawyers, 80 songs and 20 albums picked by the record labels’ attorneys, and a similar number selected randomly.
It’s an early skirmish in this damages battle, but the focus on proving real harm in the nebulous area of internet piracy doesn’t bode well for the music-industry plaintiffs in this case.


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While Americans may be focusing their attention on the Super Bowl, their neighbors to the north are focusing on bigger, more global competition coming soon: The Winter Olympics.
In advance of the upcoming games in PyeongChang, South Korea, the Canadian Olympic Committee has launched a new marketing campaign to get Canadians excited and interested in the athletes representing their country. And it’s all under the tagline, “Be Olympic.”
Central to the effort is a new video campaign introducing a number of Canadian athletes who exemplify both Canadian and Olympic values. The spot takes a very stylized, dreamlike approach that showcases the athletes in a setting other than their fields of competition.
In slow motion, the athletes including Denny Morrison (long track speed skating); Chloe, Maxime and Justine Dufour-Lapointe (freestyle skiing), and Mark McMorris are depicted dramatically in a staged setting. “Who are these Olympians, who rise to dare greatly?” asks a voiceover. “Who believe glory is never limited to the victors? Who are they who stand for virtue and victory?”
The spot suggests Olympians don’t have to choose between the two. “Virtue is victory,” the voiceover says. “And struggle is triumph.” The spot concludes with a call to action for viewers to learn more about the athletes before the games.
Beyond the anthemic spot, the effort will also include short films highlighting the athlete stories and insights, as well as digital video content, out-of-home advertising and social media tactics. The campaign will run for about eight weeks, during which time the creators hope it sparks a national conversation about national identity.
“We wanted to shine a light on moments in our athletes' stories that showcase the best of us — values that define what it means to be Canadian and to be Olympic,” said Derek Kent, COC chief marketing officer, in a statement. “In doing this, we honor their dedication and their journey. We want to encourage Canadians to dig deeper and be inspired by our Olympians' incredible passion for sport. Inspired by their values of determination, unity and resilience.”


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By the Numbers
For The Record
Vol. 29 No. 12 P. 34
A Modis survey asked participants to share what they would be willing to give up if it meant never being hacked again. Alcohol (this percentage) was the leading response, followed by social media (30%) and chocolate (29%). However, in exchange for $1,000, some respondents were willing to leak personal photos (42%), browser history (39%), private messages (31%), or financial information (11%).
This percentage of respondents to a Modis survey wouldn't pay anything to recover their data if they were hacked, while 9% would pay less than $100, 19% would pay up to $999, and 5% would pay $1,000 or more. When given the choice of how they would rather spend $1,000, 79% of respondents chose paying off their credit cards over ensuring lifelong cybersecurity, and 74% chose going on a vacation over cybersecurity.
FNFV Group, the investment arm of Fidelity National Financial, paid this amount in cash to acquire HIT company T-System.
This percentage of consumers tended to use online portals to discuss health data with their physicians, according to Salesforce's 2017 Connected Patient Report.
According to the Change Healthcare Healthy Hospital Revenue Cycle Index, out of an estimated $3 trillion in medical claims submitted by hospitals in the United States last year, an estimated 9% of charges, representing this number, were initially denied. For the typical health system, as much as 3.3% of net patient revenue, an average of $4.9 million per hospital, was put at risk due to denials. While an estimated 63% of these claims were recoverable on average, reworking each denial costs providers roughly $118 per claim, for an approximate grand total of $8.6 billion in appeals-related administrative costs.
In 2016, 26.9% of medical school students graduated without debt. Of those who graduate with debt, this number is the average amount owed, according to a JAMA study. In comparison, the average medical student graduating with debt in 1986 owed $30,000, which would be $70,000 in 2017 dollars.
This percentage of consumers accessed their EHR through their health care provider's patient portal in 2016 compared with generally less than 5% in 2013, according to a survey on consumer access to health information presented by Kim Murphy-Abdouch, MPH, RHIA, FACHE, a clinical associate professor of HIM at Texas State University, at AHIMA's 89th Annual Convention & Exhibit. Additionally, in 2016, only 10% of consumers were charged for copies of their personal health information when they were requested compared with 65% in 2013.


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1. SEC Postpones Ruling On Bitcoin ETFs To September
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided to postpone its decision regarding the approval or not of five exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to September. The independent agency announced the decision in its Federal Register. The approval requests were filed by Direxion Investments. One is based on Bitcoin price, while the other four on its price movements. SEC justified the decision by explaining that “the Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to issue an order approving or disapproving the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider this proposed rule change”.
2. Singapore Airlines Launches Digital Blockchain Wallet
Leading airline operator Singapore Airlines has launched a digital blockchain wallet called KrisPay. This will allow frequent fliers to convert air miles into digital currencies and use them in everyday spend with partner merchants. As of now, the retailers taking part in the initiative are 18 and operate in different industries. Many more will be added in the future. “KrisPay is the world’s first blockchain-based airline loyalty digital wallet”. During the launch period, discounts will also be made available. We first reported about this in February, when Singapore Airline announced its project, which came following a proof-of-concept trial conducted in collaboration with KPMG and Microsoft.
3. Bitcoin Surpasses $8,300
Bitcoin has peaked at over $8,300 (£6,313) earlier today. This has been the highest level in the past two months. Many believe that the surge was due to, at least in part, an impending approval by the US government for a cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund. The last figure comes from the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange. Bitcoin was at $8,198.04, a rise of 6.33%. Even the second biggest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, rose by 4.79% to $470.66 on Bitstamp.
4. TRON’s Purchase Of BitTorrent Confirmed
For some time there have been rumours about a possible acquisition of B2B platform operator BitTorrent by TRON. Founder Justin Sun has now confirmed the news, adding that this makes TRON the largest decentralized Internet ecosystem in the world. BitTorrent is a “file sharing communications protocol based on a peer-to-peer network”. Many consider this the origin of decentralisation online. TRON explained that one of the reasons which led to the acquisition is a common desire of a decentralised WEB. TRON also hopes to integrate BitTorrent’s tech talent and experience in its company.
This news roundup was brought to you by BlockEx.
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- Better Borrowing (213)
- Credit History & Credit Future (30)
- Ditching Debt (41)
- Household & Family (177)
- Income & Work (60)
- Money & Finance (168)
- News (89)
- Property (52)
- Top Tips (106)
- Video & Infographics (30)
Interest rates have been stuck at record lows for the best part of seven years and there is little prospect that this situation is going to change any time soon. The Bank of England’s bank rate is currently at 0.25 per cent – the lowest it has been at in modern times. It cut the rate from 0.5 per cent in the aftermath of the Brexit vote in June when it was widely anticipated that the British economy would fall into recession. But that didn’t happen with growth – particularly in the service sector – holding up. The Bank’s governor, Mark Carney, indicated in July that rates were likely to be cut further but that is now looking less likely with rising import costs putting pressure on inflation.
Yet despite the fall in the value of sterling since the referendum, Mr Carney has said that it is unlikely that it will be raising rates. He said in October:
We’re willing to tolerate a bit of an overshoot in inflation over the course of the next few years in order… to cushion the blow and make sure the economy can adjust as well as possible.
Many economists now expect inflation to start rising in the New Year as higher import costs start to filter through. Britain imports far more than it exports and so any fluctuation in the exchange rate can have a disproportionate effect on the price of goods for UK consumers.
One leading economist, Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight, said:
We expect consumer price inflation to reach 3 per cent by end-2017/early-2018 and the upside risks to this forecast are rising.
He had expected the Bank of England to cut interest rates to 0.1 per cent in November but encouraging output figures meant that this did not happen. But, he says, he expects them to now be cut to 0.1 per cent early in the New Year.
Low interest rates are good for borrowers. It is currently cheaper to borrow money in the UK than it has been at any point in modern times. Low interest rates on personal loans, mortgages and credit cards have become the norm with the result that average household debt in Britain has ballooned again after falling in the wake of the financial crisis. British households currently owe £1.5 trillion – up from £1.45 trillion in September 2015.
Should interest rates fall further, then we can expect household debt to continue to rise.
Savers have not had an easy time of it for the best part of a decade. With interest rates at such low levels, the returns on any form of saving have been pitifully small. Many bank savings accounts are currently offering savings rates of less than 1 per cent. Even ISAs present a bleak picture. And should rates fall further next year, then there is no reason to suggest that the prospects will get any better.
New research shows that, while unemployment is likely to continue to fall next year, this fall will slow down during 2017 and wages are also likely to remain depressed. Guidance published recently in the quarterly CIPD/Adecco Group Labour Market Outlook, shows that the net employment will continue to grow.
However, the survey also suggests that real wages are likely to fall during 2017. For the second quarter in succession, employers say that they anticipate average pay settlements of just 1.1 per cent for the 12 months ahead. With inflation forecast to be as high as 2.5 per cent, this would mean that real incomes will fall again in 2017.
Other economists believe that unemployment will start to rise in 2017. While the unemployment rate is currently at 5 per cent, UBS forecasts that it will rise to 5.5 per cent in 2017 and 6.3 per cent in 2018.
The major influence on unemployment will be a combination of slowing growth due to inflationary pressures and companies being careful when it comes to taking on new staff. After all this is a time of high uncertainty as Britain heads towards triggering of Article 50 and Brexit. When this finally happens this will have a further negative impact on wages and spending, consumption and growth.
Oliver Jones has written for Solution Loans since 2015. His passion for personal finance comes through in the 150+ blog posts he's written since that time. His talent for explaining all things money means he's covered topics as diverse as...Read about Oliver Jones
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Mobile West Africa is the foremost mobile technology event in the region. Each year, this conference brings together the best brains in the mobile ecosystem and covers the evolution of mobile data, products and services in West Africa. This year, the organizers; All Amber have announced that they have secured a wide-ranging selection of international and local partners for the 5th edition of Mobile West Africa, which is scheduled to take place between 21 and 23 April in Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos, Nigeria.
Mathew Dawes founded All Amber in 2009, solely to produce discussion-based events specifically aimed at high-level strategists in mobile technology across Africa. To date, All Amber events are industry leading and highly acclaimed. All Amber events provide abundant networking opportunities, which have been proven to lead to growing business and new partnerships. According to Mathew Dawes, “the conference has come a long way in the last five years, more so than I could have hoped for, and I want it to continue to facilitate progress. That’s what we’re here for. I’d like to encourage anyone with a stake in the industry to come and contribute to the discussions.”
Sessions to look forward to at the event include: The leaders of mobile, mobile gaming, universal access, mobile entertainment, local success case studies, mobile apps, mobile content, users & consumption, and debate surrounding the future of mobile money.
Sponsors: MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Etisalat Nigeria, Eskimi, VConnect, Gidi Mobile, Opera Software, MoboFree, Uber, MyMusic, Basebone, Mozilla, Jovago, Wiko Mobile and MTech Communications.


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ANZ's Job Ads series showed improvement for October, with the number of job advertisements up 0.4% from September. This followed a sharp rise of 3.8% month-on-month in September. The result sees job ads 12.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis than a year ago.
“The improving trend in job advertising is good news. Despite some challenges, the economy overall is currently tracking along pretty well," ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan said.
Hogan said the parts of the economy least affected by the ongoing resources downturn saw a strengthening job market.
"In particular, many services industries are experiencing relatively strong demand, and these industries are typically quite labour intensive."
The figures may provide little scope for an RBA cut in the near future. But Hogan said support of labour intensive sectors was likely to wane in the first half of 2016.
"Our view remains that this will ultimately prove too uncomfortable for the RBA and a little more monetary policy support will be provided by mid-2016.”
An RBA rate cut may be some way off with new figures showing an improving job market.


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Yellow Pages Group Acquires Canpages, Sells U.S. Directory Operations to Ziplocal
March 30, 2010 | Contributed by: Stephanie Hobbs
One week after introducing a new rebranding and expanded digital and mobile offerings, Canada’s Yellow Pages Group (YPG) announced a major acquisition today that CEO Marc Tellier said “will accelerate our business transformation to the digital world.”
In a press release, YPG said the company had acquired Canpages, a Canadian local search and directories publisher. In addition to its 84 printed directories with total circulation of 8 million, Canpages’ website, Canpages.ca, attracts more than 3.5 million unique visitors monthly. The company, which said its online operations account for 23% of its annualized revenues, employs about 700 people in Canada, of which 450 are sales consultants.
In a separate transaction, YPG said it contributed its U.S. directory operations, YPG Directories—the publisher of Your Community Phone Book (YCB)—to Ziplocal. YCB is the publisher of independent directories in selected Mid-Atlantic and Southeast American markets and was acquired from Volt Information Sciences in 2008. After the transaction, Ziplocal, which runs the Web site ziplocal.com, will reach over 300 U.S. markets. The deal will give YPG a 35% minority ownership in the new combined entity.
Today’s news is the latest in a string of new digital acquisitions and offering announcements by YPG. Last month, the company acquired the online directory 411.ca and RedFlagDeals.com, an online discount/coupon site, as well as launched a new search engine marketing service for small and medium-sized businesses.
We’re excited about Yellow Pages Group continued expansion in the digital space and the new opportunities it will provide local businesses in Canada to reach their target consumers on multiple platforms.


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The Journal Record: New Owners Update OKC Outlets, More Changes PlannedNovember 10, 2017
OKLAHOMA CITY – Outlet Resource Group Principal Lisa Wagner said the OKC Outlets fit perfectly into the company’s portfolio. It looks for properties that are performing well and have a high occupancy rate.
The 394,000-square foot OKC Outlets off Interstate 40 at Council Road in west Oklahoma City are 90 percent occupied, she said. The company purchased the center in July for $130 million.
“We know from being in the industry that (the former owners) do a great job of leasing the center and putting together a good tenant mix,” she said.
She said the opportunity to purchase the property came up through some connections in the outlet industry. It’s a small market, with only about 200 centers nationwide. But with no nearby competition, the OKC Outlets are a good performer and would likely stay that way.
Wagner said the company spent millions of dollars updating the center with new paint and will soon construct additional signage. The Wi-Fi was improved so that it worked throughout the center.
Outlet Resource Group has other changes planned, she said. A locally based coffee shop will move in soon, as well as a national brand, she said. The new retailer will be announced closer to Christmas.
The coffee shop was a needed addition, she said, because based on retail research, people still want places to gather.
“We’re trying to not be haphazard in our approach and just throw things in there, but be very deliberate,” she said. “We want to make it a great experience.”
Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau President Mike Carrier said the outlets are a popular destination for tourists. He said people from the Texas Panhandle and southern Kansas make trips specifically to the shops.
He said the outlets are also an attraction that can be listed when he and his staff are recruiting conventions or other events.
“As people are looking at amenities (for conferences), Oklahoma City certainly has a variety of different things,” he said. “Shopping is high on the list of priorities.”
When a group from New Zealand came to visit the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Steven Adams, they spent a few hours at the OKC Outlets.
Nationwide, outlet malls have seen a decline in visitation compared to 2016, according to a Cowen & Co. report. From September 2016 to September 2017, outlet mall visitation decreased 23 percent, where traditional shopping malls saw only a 14-percent drop.
But millennial women, aged 18 to 34 years old, increased their outlet mall visitation in the same time period by 0.8 percent, while their visits to traditional malls dropped 6 percent. Men in the same age group decreased their visits to both retail types by 22 percent. In 2016, men frequently visited outlet malls, with a 44-percent increase in trips during the summer, according to Cowen.
But the researchers said in their 2017 report that the slowing demand for athletic apparel may be a factor in why men have decreased their visits to outlet malls. Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas are tenants at outlet malls.
In June, Cowen interviewed Tanger Factory Outlets Centers CEO Steven Tanger about the staying power of outlet centers. He said centers allow four generations to shop together, from baby boomers to Generation Z.
Wagner said millennials grew up shopping at outlet centers and they love it.
“Millennials are coming on strong as our most frequent shoppers,” she said.
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