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Monopoly919 - stock.adobe.com
As 2023 draws to an end, it’s natural to look back at the new things that have emerged in the networking industry over the last 12 months and assess what impact they have made and what impact they could have over the next year. To draw a baseline, virtually everyone would agree that this is now truly the age of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual/augmented realities, and that companies are beginning to see the emergence of significant and meaningful applications based on these platforms. Key among them has been the appearance of spatial computing, a phenomenon which has existed in theory for a while, but which is now making its mark in transforming the world of work.
Immersive technologies are fast heading from the games and leisure arenas and into the industrial, manufacturing, education and enterprise segments, poised to invent new paradigms for each sector, and to address the new realities of enterprise. These emerging technologies are being used to great effect at the intersection of computer vision, artificial intelligence, deep learning, cutting-edge computer graphics, high-throughput, super-low latency 5G networks, and the cloud.
Using them all can create a new, intelligent perception of the world through augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR) devices. This means addressing devices, display technology, computer performance, network performance, perception technology, content, contextual AI, batteries and charging technologies and connectivity in general.
The spatial computing world is thus one of huge complexity and has created its own ecosystem to address the fundamental functional elements. It is also the fruits of around three to four years of development by leading technology companies.
Moving to spatial computing
For Jérôme Jacqmin, senior director of product marketing at Qualcomm France, the journey to spatial computing comes from rather a longer way back than that. Indeed, he suggests that we have come on a journey from 2D images which, over the past tens and hundreds of years, people have used to communicate with one another.
“So now we move to spatial computing, and suddenly it's the world that surrounds you basically that becomes your desktop and [the world] with which you are going to interact,” he says.
“You need to provide users with significant applications that really matter to them. This is going to happen thanks to artificial intelligence and the interaction between on-device computing and cloud computing. And this is where 5G plays a very important role. It's very high throughput, super low latency and service in real time, with the best user experience between the devices and the cloud.”
Qualcomm believes that in order to create effective immersive headsets and devices, a number of perception technologies need to be addressed. From a user understanding perspective this includes tracking technologies that encompass hand controllers, support six degrees of freedom for head movements, as well a tracking of eyes and even facial expressions. This creates an environmental understanding that supports spatial mapping and meshing with scene awareness and object/image recognition.
Jérôme Jacqmin, Qualcomm France
The technology also needs to support 3D place detection as well as local anchors and image persistence. Running over all of these capabilities, there needs to be optimised processing that covers head-mounted split rendering and low-latency video see-through.
In October 2023, Qualcomm announced the fruits of a technology partnership with Meta in the form of two new spatial computing platforms – Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 and Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 – designed to be the base for the next generation of MR and VR devices, as well as smart glasses.
The Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform is said to contain a graphics processing unit and AI that can deliver what Qualcomm calls “ground-breaking” immersion that seamlessly blends the physical and virtual worlds, while the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 Platform is said to be the first dedicated processor for smart glasses, which delivers premium camera quality, on-device AI and what the tech firm calls “blazing-fast” connectivity. The platform is said to be designed to democratise premium MR and VR technology in a single-chip architecture to unlock gaming, productivity and entertainment experiences in thinner and more comfortable headsets that don’t require an external battery pack.
Offering richer visuals with enhanced clarity, textures and colours at more frames per second compared with previous versions, it is also optimised for resolutions up to 3K per eye to deliver better pixel quality and high-fidelity visuals. The platform is also intended to allow users to blend virtual content with their physical surroundings to transition between MR and VR experiences. It provides full-colour video pass-through capabilities with speeds up to 12ms for improved visual fidelity and digital comfort in MR experiences.
Qualcomm regards video see-through (VST) latency as a key differentiator. It says traditional systems are built on a stack with elements comprising camera, lens correction, wait-for-frame, render, wait-for-display, warp and display that result in latencies of over 50ms. By contrast, its solution is based on a stack with just camera, single step and display elements leading to a 12ms latency.
In what is almost certain to be a massive boost to the commercial prospects of the processors, both platforms will debut on Meta devices before the end of 2023. Specifically, the Meta Quest3 will be powered by Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 Platform and Ray Ban Stories, powered by the Snapdragon AR1 Platform.
“At Meta, we’re focused on developing the technologies of the future in mixed reality and smart glasses, as well as the foundational innovations that will one day power our vision for AR glasses,” says Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer and head of the social media giant’s Reality Labs.
“We are defining next-generation technologies that deliver massive breakthroughs in power, performance, and AI. Building this future computing platform requires an industry-leading partner, and this is where our longstanding collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies is critical. The latest Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 and Snapdragon AR1 Platforms, which power Meta Quest 3 and our next-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, are another testament to the strength of this partnership, and we are thrilled for users around the world to experience them.”
This is a hugely important point - spatial computing is all about ecosystems and partnerships. And while partners and brands probably don’t come much bigger than Meta on the tech side and Ray-Ban in terms of eyewear, Qualcomm revealed in September that it is working with a number of leading European technology companies to support spatial computing in a variety of use cases, in particular gaming, education, engineering and industry 4.0.
Read more about spatial computing
- Nimo Planet completes spatial computing system for hybrid work: Spatial computer productivity platform provider launches proprietary hardware and OS to enable virtual workplace system comprising personalised, multi-screen workspace experience to hybrid workforce.
- Qualcomm looks to reshape digital world through spatial computing: Mobile tech giant announces new platforms, developed in close collaboration with Meta, to provide breakthrough performance in immersive applications such as mixed and augmented reality.
- IoT data will power a spatial computing revolution: Internet of things data, when applied with augmented reality, can change the way workers do their jobs in the field to improve accuracy, efficiency and safety.
- Adopting and adapting to the industrial metaverse: The industrial metaverse heralds commercial transformations, driving benefits across operations and industries. We look at the benefits an industrial version of the emerging computing environment can offer to corporations.
Founded two years ago, France’s Lynx Mixed Reality has been working with Qualcomm to develop the Lynx-R1 headset. Boasting a team of 15 people with various backgrounds from designers to electronics engineers and from Unity experts to low-level system architects, the company’s stated mission is based on its belief that “virtual reality as a medium is the best storyteller, and augmented reality is basically a superpower.”
With the Lynx device, the company believes that it is pioneering standalone mixed reality, and that its AR/VR ecosystem deserves a versatile and open device, at a “very affordable” price point to empower professionals and industries across the globe to transform how they work, train and learn.
At the product’s launch in 2023, Lynx Mixed Reality CEO, Stan Larroque, said the company had been working with Qualcomm for three years to create what he believed was the first high-end consumer electronics device of its type coming from a European company.
“It's like Apple Vision Pro, but so much less expensive, but it does kind of the same stuff,” he said, during a demo of the product’s capability. In addition to a detailed look around a hugely complex 3D computer-aided design model of an aerospace engine, looking at how engineers could basically fall right into parts and sub-assemblies, the company also showed medical applications with realistic 3D immersive views of skeletons and musculature.
A world of learning
In education, technology company Avantis Systems has been working for the last three years with Qualcomm to develop ClassVR, as part of its mission to inspire a world of learning where “the impossible becomes possible’. ClassVR was conceptualised in 2014 and launched in January 2017, with the company’s devices aiming to improve student outcomes through increased engagement in the classroom and to improve knowledge retention by learning through experience. The set-up comprises virtual reality headsets, a headset management portal and curriculum-aligned content to add value to lessons regardless of subject. The result of this combination is said to give students the ability to “foster curiosity, ignite imagination and enhance engagement.”
Describing itself as an expert of AR/VR and streaming technologies, Germany’s Holo-Light was founded in 2015 and has over 80 people working from offices in Austria and the US as well as its domestic territory. Focused on the industrial metaverse, it specialises in immersive software and technology for the enterprise market and looks to pave the way for increased adoption and scalability of XR with its XR Streaming platform aiming to change the way companies design and develop products.
As well as being a partner of Qualcomm, the company has a client list including blue chips such as Northrop Grumman, P&G, BMW and Mercedes Benz. Its technologies see use in a number of situations including product development, design reviews, stakeholder engagement, plat design, assembly training and remote support.
Arthur Technologies aims to solve enterprise hybrid work with a mixed reality office solution that introduces what the company calls meaningful presence and collaborative productivity, enabling firms to embrace hybrid work without what the firm calls its downsides. The technology is deployed in use cases including special events , learning and development, client and team meetings as well as what it calls agile project world and meetings. At the heart of the solution is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform which Arthur says allow the company to reach its goals faster in spatial meetings, local spatial anchors and hand tracking.
And while it is totally behind its own developers such as the aforementioned firms, Qualcomm stressed that it was essential that all of the players in the immersive space prospered to create a tide that would lift all virtual boats. Jacqmin noted the importance of Apple with its Vision Pro AR/VR product. “We want them to be successful,” he reveals, “It is important for them to be successful. [That will be] very important for the ecosystem of the market and will attract a lot of developers to invest into it.”
The brave new world of spatial computing will indeed be a complex one, with many moving parts and totally dependent on a number of companies co-operating with each other at various parts of an intricate and multifarious ecosystem. The shape of things to come in many industries is set to be a lot clearer.


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After spreading in many countries, including neighbouring France, the business of drones starts in Italy too. Piaggio, Alenia and many start-ups tuned in this market, which could represent a useful innovation to create new jobs.
Italy had a delay because of the legislation not permitting to start the business the same way as neighbouring France, where already two years ago were settled the legal aspects for the industry, leading to the development of a portfolio that includes more than 700 companies and over 2,000 workers.
“The Italian market is still very fragmented – explains Claudio Canella, owner of Cardetch of Padua and Vice President of AiDroni – where next to start-ups and craft activities there are structured aeronautical companies interested in this field.
In fact there are over 70 manufacturers of drones in Italy, accompanied by 350 innovative SMEs that provide services related to the drones themselves, which produced about 400 models for civil use.
This regulatory gap seems now to be filled, thanks to a law of April 30th, which took into account the drones (unmanned aircraft for civil use) classifying them in those weight classes (below or above 25 kg) as aircraft in all respects. To fly drones a license and a special permit are needed if used over populated areas.
Since September, the ENAC, Italian National Agency for Civil Aviation, began tracking the flight operators authorized to critic flights: these include Aermatica in Como, Selex Galileo Falco, the Sky X and y of Alenia Aermacchi, Eos Xi of Turin Nimbus, or the Hero of Sistemi Dinamici of Pisa, a joint venture with Agusta Westland.scritto da Itim il 14 November 2014
Tags: made in italy @en

domain: news


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Harare – Pan African and Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed (ZSE) fast foods operator Simbisa Brands released impressive half year earnings on Thursday, as disciplined cost of sales management and controlled price adjustments filtered through.
Simbisa is a fast food outlet company in Africa with its roots in Zimbabwe. The company was a subsidiary of the Innscor Africa Limited group until 2015 when it was unbundled and listed separately on the ZSE.
In Zimbabwe, Simbisa operates quick restaurant brands such as Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Nandos, Steers and Creamy Inn. It also has operations in Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, DRC, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Mauritius, Swaziland and Lesotho.
Profit for the period jumped 109 percent to US$16.5 million from US$8 million achieved in the same period in 2017.
Revenue came in at US$143.3 million compared to US$99.3 million achieved in the prior year, representing a growth of 44 percent.
Operating profit was up 82 percent to US$27.4 million against US$15.1 million achieved in the comparative period in 2017.
“Despite challenges in this market, our experienced management team’s efforts combined with a robust business model have allowed the Group to defend our market share and continue to grow the business,” Simbisa CEO Basil Dionisio said in a statement accompanying the financials.
“We continue to generate value for our stakeholders through delivery of consistent, quality restaurant experiences to our valued customers,” he added.
The increased profit saw basic earnings per share rose by 100 percent to 2.92 US cents from 1.46 US cents in the comparative period last year.
Total assets grew to US$104.6 million from US$84.9 million while total liabilities also increased from US$46.7 million to US$53.2 million.
In the outlook, the company expect the challenges in the trading environment to persist, particularly in Zimbabwe where further price increases, labour unrest and continued uncertainty continue to disrupt the normal course of business.
“However, as in the period under review we remain confident that our experienced management team will continue to take pro-active measures to ensure we grow the business and deliver,” said Dioniso.
Revenue attributed to Zimbabwe operations increased by 55 percent year on year across existing stores with a further contribution from 8 new counters opened during the period to bring total revenue during the six month period to US$108.65 million, up 60 percent on prior year.
“The Group has managed to maintain GP margins and though disciplined cost management have increased Operating Profit Margins to 22.6% in H1 FY2019 (17.7% in H1 FY2018) resulting in a 105% year-on-year increase in Operating Profit to US$24.53 million,” said Dioniso.
In the outlook, the company seeks to grow quick service restaurants in existing and new African markets, to develop and acquire brands in the quick service and casual dining segments.
-Equity Axis News


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Despite a constant downpour on a recent Saturday people lined up for the holiday shopping food and fellowship event at Finds in Midway.
There among the shoppers was a familiar face – Dr. Valya Lee, former Liberty County School System Superintendent of Schools.
Lee was not there to shop.
“This is my store,” she said. “And we moved into this location on Highway 84 in June.”
Lee said she’s always loved the retail business.
“In fact, this is my third store,” she said. “I had a clothing boutique near Atlanta and then a shoe store when I worked for the School System in Twiggs County. But I had to close both of those as I got more involved in my work with the school systems.”
“She loves being in retail and she has this blessed God-given talent, in creating the perfect outfit and looks for people. From the dress down to the accessories,” Lee’s sister Dr. Jacquelyn George said.
Finds was originally opened as Soror Finds. Dr. Lee said she started that store with a small booth inside the Plunder Box store.
Soror Finds specialized in selling clothing and accessories items from the top University Sororities.
“But husbands would come in with their wives and ask if I carried any Fraternity items,” Lee said. “Then more and more people would ask me if I carried clothing and fashion accessories other than those for sororities and fraternities.”
Lee rebranded the store as Finds. The store offers an eclectic collection of fashionable clothing, earrings, necklaces, scarves, leggings, shoes and more.
“I still sell sorority and fraternity items, but most of those items is sold online now,” Lee said.
Lee said she has done well at her store and at local events. She said she sold out of several unique items at the Nov. 9, Rice Fest. She added she has done well at recent pop-up stores and through her online store as well.
During Saturday’s holiday event patrons filled the store, many trying on clothing or perusing the jewelry. Others mingled as they sampled the food offered for the holiday shopping event. Lee’s family was there offering support and filling in as her customer service and clothing specialists.
“For as much rain and cold as we have right now, she sure has a great turnout,” Lee’s husband Gerald Lee said.
“Every now and again a Board of Education member or educator might come in the store. They look at me and they say, “’Dr. Lee you sure do look like you are a lot less stressed,”’ Lee said, then smiled. “Well I am.”
Finds is located at 9784 E Oglethorpe Highway, Suite B, Midway. Store hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon until 6 p.m. All other days by appointment only.
On Nov. 30 Finds will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with 20 percent off storewide for National Shop Small Day.
Bring a friend who shops and get an additional 5 percent off. There will be food, fun and fellowship and a chance to win $100 shopping spree.


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Retail is inherently risky, so why is a successful cigar brand looking to do a whole lot more of it? “Ultimately, we want to be able to service more and more adult cigar smokers across the U.S.,” says Rob Maneson, general manager of Casa de Montecristo, who says the company’s retail shops have been remodeled with larger lounges to meet increasing consumer demand. “There are fewer and fewer places that adult consumers can smoke, relax and enjoy their cigars with friends and acquaintances. We believe our store model meets consumer needs and we want to expand it further to a broader base of adult consumers.”
Tobacco Business talked with Maneson shortly after the company announced plans to open three new locations by July of 2017 in the cities of Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Austin, Texas. The stores are a mix of company-owned stores and licensed-based partnerships with some of the top established premium cigar retailers in the country.
For example, the new Casa de Montecristo by Tampa Humidor represents a partnership with Mike Howe, one of the area’s top cigar retailers. Located on the popular South Howard Street in South Tampa, the store will feature a full liquor bar, lounge space and a well-stocked premium cigar humidor.
The other two new stores are pure-play company ventures. Nashville’s new Casa de Montecristo will be a 3,200-square-foot store featuring a walk-in humidor, private patio space for 20 people and a full-liquor bar. Scheduled to open in April 2017, the store will be located in the Gulch area of Nashville—a fast growing neighborhood on the southwest fringe of downtown, featuring lively restaurants, bars, boutique stores, hotels and condominiums.


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The standards, which require more sustainable and equitable practices than many existing certifications, are based around three pillars: soil health and land management, animal welfare, and farmer and worker fairness.
New on the Podcast: Jeff Huckaby and Laura Batcha on Organic Farming.
Jeff Huckaby and Laura Batch discuss the growth of organic farming.
COVID-19 and the Global Food Supply: Big Lessons from the World’s Small Farms
Successes in farming communities from Nepal to Guatemala hold lessons for those in the U.S. who see small-scale farms as one way to build resilience. Though each success story is different, the communities often share three commonalities.
Helping Local Farmers in Madagascar Create Sustainable (And Profitable) Businesses
Dani Nierenberg chats with Tim McCollum, founder and CEO of Beyond Good, an organic chocolate company that exclusively sources cacao from local farmers in Madagascar and Uganda.
Supporting Organic Farms at the Market and the Bank
Raya Carr, Events Coordinator and Shepherdess at Mint Creek Farms, shares new ways that we as consumers and investors can support local organic farmers, and those who want to start their own farms.
How an Iowa Family Shares its Well-Honed Organic Farming Practices
While farming organically for more than three decades, this Iowa family farm frequently shares its knowledge and passion with others.
Opinion | How An Innovative Grain CSA Encourages Sustainable Food Systems
An innovative model of Community Supported Agriculture tackles the challenges of small-scale organic farming and food loss in Manitoba, Canada.
Mobile Markets Improve Fresh Produce Access in Chicago Neighborhoods
A Chicago nonprofit sells fresh fruits and vegetables from renovated buses to counteract the lack of full-service grocery stores in local neighborhoods. Well-priced and largely organic, the fresh produce can improve food flavor and nutrition.
Opinion | We Can Stop the Climate Crisis
As extreme weather events become more frequent, agricultural systems must become more resilient. Our research has found that organic crops have the potential to produce yields up to 40 percent higher in times of inclement weather—like flooding or drought—than conventional systems.
Eating Organic for One Week Can Reduce Pesticide Levels
Researchers found that eating organic food for one week had significantly reduced levels of toxins within the body, and in turn, reduce the health risks of pesticide exposure.


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A week or so ago, we had the pleasure of Henry Blain, the Head of Livestock at Sainsburys speak to us at the Thames Valley branch of the IAGRM. Henry has been one of our members in the past, when he was first studying at Reading University and then working at the Royal Farms in Windsor, before joining Tesco and then eventually moving to Sainsburys. He gave a wide ranging talk to virtually a “full house” at Mapledurham Golf Club with around 30 of our members in attendance.
In his talk and then a lively Q & A session, Henry touched on a whole range of subjects, but to me some of the most interesting were as follows:
- the Sainsbury commitment to agriculture and farming is big – they have a team of some 15 people managing this, which includes 10 development groups, 30 grower/crop groups, 190 dairy farms, 900 sheep farms and 300 pork producers and then 160 packers and food processors
- the whole subject of the use of better and more data will become increasingly important over the next few years
- UK and international farming (overall JS source from over 60 countries) faces a number of key challenges, such as ASF in China, avian flu in the UK, theuncertainty around the introduction of ELMs, the impact of food inflation and then the challenges, and to some extent opportunities, presented by a combination of climate change and the need for enhanced biodiversity
- JS adopt a flexible approach to how products are supplied to them, with both aligned supply chains (i.e. dairy ) and then non aligned (i.e. beef) and so for JS, “no one size fits all”
- in terms of developing a more sustainable supply chain,JS is looking to drive industry change, but this represents a massive challenge still. As a result, JS is working closely with arange of stakeholder groups, such as WRAP, WWF, RSPB, RSPO, the UK Soy Manifesto, Red Tractor to achieve this
- at the same time, while looking to drive this change, JS do not want to tell individual farmers how to farm
- the need to be able to demonstrate good environmental and sustainability credentials going forward for farmers will form part of the “right to supply” and measuring carbon will be a key new metric. Everyone in the supply chain has to be able to improve performance and increase the uptake of innovation and its application to help bring new products to market
- the supply chain has to be prepared to share additional costs and benefits this might produce, but it is very difficult to pass these extra costs on to consumers. How this is achieved is still one of the biggest challenges at JS faces
- JS wants to be able to “plan for better” in its agricultural and farming supply chains. While there is no one single approach to achieve this, it is clear that they will need to be prepared to make some tough decisions on this going forward, as sustainability is such a strong cross cutting theme across the business per se, not just farming
- in this respect, key areas for future attention include those such as water usage, plastic reduction, re cycling, food waste, healthier diets, carbon reduction and enhanced biodiversity, as well as improved animal health and welfare
- the ultimate objective that JS are looking for is what might be termed “end to end (supply chain)” financial security, more direct relationships with farmers and increased security of supply
This was a very enjoyable and very informative evening. Thanks Henry for coming to talk to us - its much appreciated. It really was great to have you back in our (and your own ) “home patch” and hear how a leading supermarket in the UK sees the future development of its relationships with farm suppliers and what they are doing to support this.
The fact that so many people stayed on after the event had formally finished is testament to how much they enjoyed it and we had to be virtually kicked out by the golf club staff at the end of the evening !
John is a Divisional Director with Promar International, the consulting arm of Genus plc and a long standing remember of the IAGRM Thames Valley branch. He is also Chair of the annual City Food & Drink Lecture.


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Earlier this month in the UK, several publishers formally raised concerns about Amazon’s deal to buy online bookseller The Book Depository, and asked their government’s Competition Commission to review the matter. I’m not sure whether any Irish publishers expressed similar concerns, but regardless Ireland’s own Competition Authority has just given Amazon an all clear to proceed.
From the agency’s announcement yesterday:
The Competition Authority has cleared the proposed transaction whereby Amazon.com, Incorporated would acquire sole control of The Book Depository (International) Limited. The transaction was notified by the parties under the Competition Act 2002 on 4 July 2011.
The Authority has formed the view that the acquisition will not lead to a substantial lessening of competition in any markets for goods or services in the State. The Authority will publish a public version of the reasons for its determination on its website (www.tca.ie) no later than 25 September 2011 after allowing the parties the opportunity to request that confidential information is removed from the published version.
The Bookseller says that Britain’s Competition Commission should finalize its review by the end of August.


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Nigerian Breweries dismisses report of fake product
The Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has dismissed allegations that one of its products- Amstel Malta is been paraded in the market as fake.
A statement by the firm noted that the claim was based on a video circulating on some social media platforms alleging the existence of a ‘fake’ Amstel Malta in the market.
The company, which clarified and assured its customers that there is no fake Amstel Malta in the market, noted that it recently revised the packaging of the product and incorporated the new NIS Quality logo from the Standards organisation of Nigeria, (SON).
It explained that the claims are based on the fact that there are differences in the NIS Logo on the product packaging.
The firm noted that the change was approved by the relevant regulatory agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The statement reads: “The claim, in the video under reference, that the Amstel Malta with the new NIS Logo is ‘fake’ is incorrect and misleading.
“SON, the owners of the NIS Quality Logo, have variously confirmed the change in its certifying logo and had in fact commended Amstel Malta for being the first producer to incorporate the new NIS Logo in its packaging.
“The false claim and video have been previously addressed by NB in 2017 when the video was first circulated. A joint press conference was addressed by SON, and NB Plc affirming the packaging change with new NIS logo and correcting the false claims in the video.”
“We are concerned that the same misleading video has resurfaced and is again being circulated on some social media platforms. We therefore appeal to the public to ignore this video and refrain from re-circulating this untrue information.”


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Diesel selling at record Rs 80.53 / litre in Delhi after yet another fuel price hike
After a one-day break on Sunday, fuel retailers hiked petrol price by 5 paise per litre and diesel by 13 paise on Monday, making the two costlier by 12.87%, and 16.05%, respectively in three weeks. Following the hike, petrol is now selling at Rs 80.43 per litre and diesel at record Rs 80.53 in Delhi.
Pump prices of auto fuel were raised on Monday even as international oil prices softened and benchmark Brent crude plunged by about 1.97% at $ 40.21 per barrel during the intraday trade. Brent had closed at $41.02 on the previous trading day on Friday.
So far, petrol prices have seen 21 revisions and diesel rates have been revised 22 times in the last 23 days. Before the start of daily price surge, petrol was sold at Rs 71.26 per litre in Delhi and diesel at Rs 69.39 a litre on June 6. Retail prices of auto fuels differ from city to city across the country due to variations in local levies.
Two people with direct knowledge of fuel pricing matters, requesting anonymity, said that the price rise in last three weeks also gave opportunity to state-run oil marketing companies to recover their past losses as they had frozen fuel rates to provide relief to the consumer who had been distressed by Covid-19 pandemic.
Fuel retailers had frozen petrol and diesel rates since March 16. However, retail prices were raised on May 5 because the Delhi government raised the value-added tax (VAT), the first person, who works for a state-run oil company, said.
Almost all states have raised VAT on petrol and diesel since mid-March to take advantage of low oil prices in the global markets.
The second person, who works in the petroleum ministry, said, “All past dues of oil marketing companies have already been recovered. Now, fuel price hikes are purely aligned with international prices of petrol and diesel. Diesel prices in Delhi have surpassed petrol because the state government raised VAT on diesel sharply. Even otherwise, internationally, diesel rates are higher than petrol.”
The official said the government has no role in the daily revision of petrol and diesel prices as they are deregulated products. The government had deregulated petrol pricing in 2010 and diesel in 2014.
The petroleum ministry did not respond to an email query. State-run fuel retailers – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) – declined comments. The three public sector oil companies control over 90% of domestic fuel retail trade.
The oil company executive mentioned above said petrol and diesel rates are also high because of a significant jump in central levies that mop up the entire price benefits when international crude oil prices were low.
The Union government raised excise duties on petrol and diesel twice – first on March 14 by Rs 3 per litre each, and later on May 5 by Rs 10 a litre on petrol and Rs 13 on diesel. A Re 1 per litre hike in excise duty meant an additional Rs 14,500 crore revenue to the exchequer.
According to IOC website, total taxes on petrol and diesel are more than 60% of their retail rates. The basic rate of petrol in Delhi was Rs 22.11 a litre on June 16. Taxes on the fuel (both central excise and state levies) were Rs 50.69 a litre of which central taxes accounted for Rs 32.98. Similarly, the basic price of diesel was Rs 22.93 per litre, but total taxes levied on the fuel were Rs 49.43 per litre, with central taxes accounting for Rs 31.83.
The consumer could not reap the benefit of the recent oil price slump because both centre and states have cornered the entire benefits.
Brent crude was trading at $40.21 a barrel in the intraday trade on Monday (June 29), 108% higher than its low of $19.33 seen on April 21, 2020. India’s average crude oil import price in April was $19.90, $30.60 in May and about $40.5 a barrel in June (as on June 26), according to an official data.


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Nick Jeffery will leave in February, to be replaced by Ahmed Essam as CEO of Vodafone’s UK opco.
Vodafone Group has announced that Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone UK, is to take up a new role outside the company and will leave on 21 February. Separately, Frontier Communications named him as its new CEO to succeed Bernie Han who will leave on 1 March.
New broom in the UK
Ahmed Essam will become the new CEO of Vodafone UK from 1 February, promoted from his current role as Group Chief Commercial Operations and Strategy Officer, which he has held since 2018.
He joined Vodafone in 1999 and has held many senior roles including CEO of the Europe Cluster, CEO of Vodafone Egypt, Commercial Director for Vodafone’s Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific region plus Group and local Commercial functions including Consumer Business and Customer Care. Essam will remain on the Vodafone Group Executive Committee.
Alex Froment-Curtil will become Group Chief Commercial Officer and join the Vodafone Group Executive Committee on 1 February. He joined Vodafone in 2003 working at Group and in markets including CEO in Vodafone Hungary, Egypt and Turkey.
At the Frontier
Cable company Frontier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2020 – a move that had been expected for some time. It offers telecom and pay TV services in 25 states.
Frontier said it recruited Jeffery after an extensive search, noting that during Jeffery’s tenure at Vodafone UK, the opco increased both revenue and market share, improved customer service, reduced churn and increased customer and employee satisfaction.
Prior to his tenure at Vodafone UK, where he spent eight years, the last four as CEO, Jeffery spent more than a decade at Cable & Wireless, where he led the UK and international markets business units.
Moving to fibre
In a press release, Robert Schriesheim, chairman of the finance committee of Frontier’s board of directors, said that in addition to Jeffery becoming CEO, John Stratton will become Frontier’s executive chairman after it emerges from Chapter 11.
Frontier said it is progressing its reorganisation plan, including recapitalising the balance sheet, which when it leaves Chapter 11 will have reduced its debt by about $11 billion and its annual interest expense by about $1 billion.
The cable company plans to become a fibre-based broadband service provider and has had five consecutive quarters of consumer broadband subscriber growth.


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Who wants to be an e-millionaire? Sir Martin Sorrell wants to know.
The WPP Group chief executive last week grilled contestants on a new U.K. game show called "The Emillionaire Show." The program, which debuted July 10, offered budding Web-preneurs a chance to win $1.5 million in funding for their proposed e-commerce ventures.
More than 7,000 hopeful U.K. dot-com millionaires e-mailed their ideas to emillionaireshow.com. Andersen Consulting winnowed them down to 15 concepts in five categories: leisure, travel, family, services and lifestyle.
The 30-minute program aired live on the U.K.'s Channel 4 for five weekday evenings. Every night, three contestants had 60 seconds each to pitch their ideas before a studio audience as well as a panel of three celebrities and business tycoons, including Sir Martin and Tim Jackson, founder of eBay's European rival QXL.com.
AD, WEB SHOPS AID PITCHES
Each finalist was assigned both an ad agency and a Web design shop. In an effort to enliven the contestants' sometimes shaky pitches, rough print ads and frames from the Web site were projected behind them. The advertising and online shops agreed to participate for free.
After interrogating the candidates, the panelists voted for their favorite idea of the night. So did the wildly enthusiastic studio audience. However, the votes that counted were those that viewers at home cast by e-mail and telephone (at 40 cents per call) for their favorite contestant each night.
At the end of the week, each of the five e-entrepreneur finalists, who included a music teacher and a policeman, scurried away with an ad agency to film a quick commercial and return for the final shoot-out on a sixth show on Sunday night.
`NOT A CASH GIVEAWAY'
"The series is not about a cash giveaway; it's about creating a viable dot-com business," said David Lloyd, Channel 4's head of news, current affairs and business programs.
Besides $1.5 million for the winner, another $1.5 million will be divided equally among the other four finalists.
The July 13 episode featuring Sir Martin included a contestant identified only as Mr. X. The contestant, whose entire face was never shown on-camera, insisted on being anonymous because his idea--to offer car owners access to highly discounted car parts--would anger the auto industry. (Publicity material later revealed that he is Paul Clarke, owner of an after-sales company called AutoConnect.)
Sir Martin gave the thumbs down to Beepboutique.com, a Web site that helps visitors track down unusual items, such as a pair of genuine blue suede shoes. Ironically, this was the site the studio audience overwhelmingly decided was the funkiest idea that night--as compared with the car parts retailer and hairtohair.net, a Web service for hairdressers, which Sir Martin decided was the evening's best idea.
An overall favorite among the panelists, studio audience and viewers was Youreable.com, a portal that would offer information and merchandise aimed at the U.K.'s 8.5 million disabled people. The idea was movingly pitched by Joe Rajko, a wheelchair-bound charity worker who shattered his spine in a motorcycle crash.
One panelist, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, entrepreneurial founder of cut-rate European airline EasyJet and a chain of Internet cafes called EasyEverything, was especially impressed. "If you don't get funding from here, give me a call," he said.
Youreable.com's ads, created by Grey Global Group, demonstrated that the disabled can be adventurous vacationers. One ad portrayed a huge desert, with the symbol for disabled access stamped on the sand. Another, for scuba divers, showed the same symbol underwater.
"His idea was so good, I was tempted to invest in it," said Tim Mellors, creative director of Grey Worldwide. "But he's so determined, one way or another, he'll see this through. I have even been told that people have called the program and offered to back him."
Other ideas like personalized children's stories (bethereatbedtime.com) and travel sites (mykindofholiday.com) seemed to offer little revenue potential or required huge amounts of investment and research. And even the most creative concepts didn't necessarily come with charismatic contestants.
Colin Robinson, a Mars Inc. employee, had a good business-to-business concept for a collective buying site for schools but lacked personality. "I want to do something I'm passionate about," he said in a monotone as he sipped a cup of tea.
"If you're going to do these things, you need to weigh what's in it for you. It needs to be good for the profile as well as be fun and lively for the team," said Minnie Moll, marketing director for ad shop HHCL & Partners, a London agency that worked with the three leisure category contestants.
For WPP-owned Syzygy, the show could raise the profile of online agencies.
"People still have difficulty understanding the concept of what we do as a digital media agency," said Charlie Pownall, Syzygy's communications manager.
FOLLOW THE WINNERS
In the next step, U.K. production company Princess Productions will follow the winners for a future program about their attempts to launch a successful dot-com.
The $3 million prize money came, in part, from Rupert Murdoch's daughter, Elisabeth, who recently quit her job at Mr. Murdoch's British Sky Broadcasting, a U.K. satellite TV company. She and her boyfriend, U.K. PR guru Matthew Freud of Freud Communications, co-founded an Internet incubator company called Oxygen Holdings.
"I hope that the winners would actually have succeeded on their own," Mr. Freud said. "I think they'll have had a fantastic shortcut."


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CHANNEL islands company Northern Leaf has successfully secured a medical cannabis cultivation licence to produce medicines for the UK and European markets.
The Jersey Government, under the guidance of the UK Home Office, has issued Northern the first British high-THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) commercial cultivation licence since 1998.
The multimillion pound development will see Northern Leaf start commercial cannabis cultivation in the next few weeks with the aim of supplying product to the European market.
This will be seen as a major breakthrough for the UK medical cannabis community and comes almost two decades after the first commercial high-THC medical cannabis licence was issued to GW Pharmaceuticals in 1998.
Backed by London-based venture capital firm Chrystal Capital Partners Northern has acquired 75,000 sq ft of greenhouses – equivalent to the size of a football pitch.
Campbell Dunlop, chief executive of Northern Leaf, told the Financial Times: “Demand is increasing globally and the market is currently undersupplied.”
Tristan Gervais, Head of Chrystal Capital Cannabis Advisory, told BusinessCann: “We are delighted to have advised Northern Leaf on securing the first full commercial medical cannabis licence that has been awarded in the British Isles since GW Pharmaceuticals 22 years ago.
“This is a significant milestone for Northern Leaf and a big step towards its goal of becoming a leading supplier of EU-GMP grade medical cannabis to the rapidly growing European markets, forecast to be worth $3.9bn per annum by 2025.”
The cannabis plants will be processed and cannabinoids extracted at the Jersey facility which will also produce pharmaceutical-grade flowers and oils for the wholesale market, or to be processed into Northern’s own brands. It is also exploring ways to enter the UK market through the ‘specials’ medicine’ route.
Northern says the award of the licence is a strong endorsement, at Government level, of the quality of the company’s pharmaceutical-grade operations and management team.
Speaking to BusinessCann Kingsley Wilson, Co-Founder of Chrystal Capital Partners spoke of its £3m investment in the company to date.
“We have helped Northern Leaf become established by acquiring greenhouses in Jersey and helping in the development of the management team, as well as helping secure its high-THC licence and bringing in off-take partners for its products.
“We have raised £3m so far for the business and will be helping to raise a further £5m.”
The development will see Northern become the UK’s second domestic medical cannabis producer following trailblazer GW Pharmaceuticals.
GW is one of the world’s leading medical cannabis companies with its home-grown cannabis going into its licensed drugs Sativex and Epidyolex. Its first cultivation facility was built over 20 years ago.
Its research operations are based in Kent and its growing facilities are owned and managed by British Sugar in Wissington, Norfolk. They consist almost 2m sq ft of growing space – equivalent to 34 football pitches.
Chrystal’s cannabis practice is the only dedicated cannabis corporate finance advisory team in Europe. This is Chrystal’s 14th cannabis advisory deal in the last four years. It has raised and advised on over $400m of public and private transactions in the cannabis sector across North America, Latin America and Europe.
Peter McCusker is the Founder and Editor of BusinessCann and an experienced news and business editor, who believes it’s time to fully embrace the multiple, proven, medical benefits of the cannabis plant. BusinessCann covers the ins and outs of the growing European Regulated Medical Marijuana marketplace. Peter can be reached at [email protected].
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The U.S. market for cannabis is staggering, according to Tilray (TLRY) CEO Irwin Simon — even as it awaits a green light from Congress. “The U.S. is a $100 billion opportunity in cannabis,” Simon told Yahoo Finance Live (video above). “If you look at cannabis today in the U.S., 93% of Americans want medical cannabis…
Curaleaf, one of New York’s medical marijuana operators, has pulled tens of thousands of units of cannabis from dispensary shelves after the company switched to an unauthorized way of labeling potency that led patients to believe the marijuana they purchased was much stronger than usual. Curaleaf began displaying “dry weight” measurements on its products in July without…
Since 2012, 19 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam have legalized marijuana for recreational use — something 55% of Texans have said they either support or strongly support, according to a new Dallas Morning News-University of Texas at Tyler poll. And the numbers are even higher for medical use: 72% of those surveyed said they would either support or strongly…
Columbia attorney Dan Viets has promoted legalizing recreational marijuana for decades, and if his prediction and polls are correct, it could happen in November when voters statewide will cast ballots on the matter. “The data that we have from very recent independent polling is that 62% of Missouri voters approve it,” Viets said. “We’re not taking anything for granted,…


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Norwegian Cruise Line has announced plans to return to service, with new itineraries sailing Europe and the Caribbean, from July 25th. The news comes after more than a year out of the water.
A suspension of all sailings until at least the end of June impacts all three lines in the portfolio - Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has reported an adjusted net loss of $2.2 billion for financial 2020 after nearly a year out of the water. This compares to an adjusted profit of $1.1 billion for 2019.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has cancelled all sailings until at least the end of May as the cruise sector struggles to battle back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
As Norwegian Cruise Line prepares to return to the water, UK, Ireland, Middle East & Africa managing director, Eamonn Ferrin, here tells Breaking Travel News what changes passengers can expect in the post-Covid-19 world
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has confirmed none of its three brands will return to operation until at least the end of November. The move also impacts Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas.
Norwegian Cruise Line saw revenue fall to just $16.9 million in the three months to June 30th, as the sector came to a virtual standstill during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cruise industry leaders Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have announced a collaboration to develop enhanced cruise health and safety standards.
As the road back for the cruise sector grows ever long, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has confirmed a new wave of cancellations. Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises will not now return to operation until at least October.
As the hospitality industry seeks to rebuild trust among travellers, a cruise ship can be “safer than anywhere else in the world” Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, has argued.
Norwegian Cruise Line has reported a net loss of $1.9 billion for the first three months of financial 2020, down from a profit of $118 million for the same period last year.
Having warned earlier this week it might not be in a position to continue trading in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has secured fresh investment.


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The new investment adds to the $17 million of Series A funding it received in 2012 and provides a sizable balance to fund continued growth.
CRMnext has raised Rs 42 crore in series A round funding from Norwest Venture Partners. The company provides cloud-based customer relationship management for enterprises.
After a clutch of global giants, back home Infosys too is rethinking this statistical model as a tool to rate its 150,000-plus employees.
The two funds will invest Rs 84 crore in the Bangalore-based company in a deal that values the company over Rs 600 crore.
The question of just how ancient Egyptians moved the 2-tonne stones that made up the famed pyramids without help of modern technology has long plagued scientists.
This year, technology product startups have received just $18 million (Rs 108 crore) of venture capital out of a total of $420 million (Rs 2,500 crore) according to research firm Venture Intelligence.
India’s startup sector has drawn up a long wish list for the attention Modi ranging from clarity on regulatory policy to uniform taxation
The venture arm of Qualcomm has invested in 200 companies over the last 14 years including Hyderabad-based chipmaker Ineda Systems.


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Inflation leads portuguese consumers to rule out sustainability
With less income and products becoming more expensive, families are seeking strategies to save on purchases, namely by opting for less environmentally friendly goods.
The rising cost of living is already leading to changes in consumption habits, with families eating more often at home, looking for cheaper or second-hand products and preferring reusable items instead of “use and throw away”. These are data from the latest Kantar Worldpanel survey that show that, faced with the impact of inflation on their pockets, families are prepared to abandon the most environmentally friendly brands to save money.
Sustainability is a topic dear to consumers’ hearts, but only when they can afford it. The survey data shows that 58 percent of respondents regularly buy grocery products from environmentally friendly brands, a rate of 53 percent for cleaning and hygiene, 52 percent for paper goods, 27 percent for cosmetics and 11 percent for baby items. However, only 15 to 20 percent of respondents guarantee that they will maintain their investment in this type of brand, even in the face of a reduction in income.
In fact, the study shows that 23 percent of buyers of environmentally friendly grocery products have already exchanged them for cheaper items, a percentage that rises to 36 percent when it comes to baby products. 32 percent say they are likely to make the switch and 28 percent say they might. In terms of markets, the study says, commitment to eco-friendly brands is higher in Germany and Spain, with rates of 27 and 26 percent, than in France (15 percent) and India (11 percent).
Read more in: Dinheiro Vivo
Este artigo está disponível em: Português


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Apple, at WWDC 2022, has announced the next major versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. These are iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9. The developer preview is now available to Apple Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. A public beta will be out next month at beta.apple.com. Apple will roll out the updates for all users later this fall possibly alongside iPhone 14 launch.
Also read: Apple to update entry-level iPad with USB Type-C charging, A14 Bionic chip, and 5G: Report
While iOS 16 will bring big updates to lock screen, messages, and keyboard haptics to iPhone, iPadOS 16 will bring enhanced productivity to iPad. macOS Ventura will bring features like Stage Manager multitasking and Continuity Camera to Mac, while watchOS 9 will bring Atrial Fibrillation History, sleep stage detection, and medication tracking to Apple Watch.
Here’s the full list of Apple devices eligible for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9 updates announced at WWDC 2022:
IOS 16 ELIGIBLE IPHONE MODELS
The following iPhones are eligible to get iOS 16 update:
iPhone SE (2nd generation and later), iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
IPADOS 16 ELIGIBLE IPAD MODELS
The following iPads are eligible to get iPadOS 16 update:
iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later)
MACOS VENTURA ELIGIBLE MAC MODELS
The following Macs are eligible to get macOS Ventura update:
iMac 2017 and later, iMac Pro 2017, MacBook Air 2018 and later, MacBook Pro 2017 and later, Mac Pro 2019 and later, Mac mini 2018 and later, MacBook 2017 and later
WATCHOS 9 ELIGIBLE APPLE WATCH MODELS
The following Apple Watch models are eligible to get watchOS 9 update:
Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7 paired with iPhone 8 and later with iOS 16


text: ATMI ( ATMI) was downgraded by UBS on Wednesday to neutral from buy and its price target was lowered to $19 from $24. UBS checks indicate there will be some level of a second-half 2010 inventory correction in the semiconductor industry. ATMI furnishes chipmakers with ultrapure materials and related packaging and delivery systems used during semiconductor production. DigiTimes first made the observation in an April 16 article. " Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ( TSM), alarmed by its rising inventory level, has demanded IC-design houses take delivery of their ordered wafer starts before placing new orders, according to industry sources." The article added that Taiwan Semi's inventory of analog integrated circuits is currently 50% higher than its safe level, while inventories of both network- and consumer-related IC segments have also exceeded their safe levels by about 20%, sending Taiwan Semi to undertake inventory control measures. Double-booking, which may be a factor in Taiwan Semi's concerns, is what brought down the semiconductor industry in 2001 when fear of a shortage in DRAMs, based on overzealous (and erroneous) market forecasts, led most users of DRAMs to make double purchases. Chipmakers, not having inventory control measures in place at the time like there are today, and thinking the illusion was real, built more fabs, purchased more equipment, and made more chips. The year 2000 ended with about $10 billion in excess chip inventory that took more than a year to work off. ATMI got singled out by UBS, but any inventory correction will not only impact material suppliers such as ATMI, but the entire supply chain to the semiconductor manufacturers. Most at risk is the semiconductor equipment market, which has been struggling since the semiconductor market crash of 2001. Top-tier companies Applied Materials ( AMAT), KLA-Tencor ( KLAC), Lam Research ( LRCX), ASML ( ASML), ASM International ( ASMI) and Novellus ( NVLS) recorded a drop in revenue of 30% to 55% in 2009, and are just now eking out decent quarter-to-quarter revenue growth in 2010. Our proprietary leading indicators, which show inflections in global economic activity several months out, show no signs of abating from upward growth through the third quarter. As part of our normal market analysis and forecasting, we have over the past 15 years correlated these indicators with semiconductor and semiconductor equipment growth. Shown in the chart is the correlation with semiconductor revenue. Looking ahead, it doesn't appear at this time that any downturn in the semiconductor industry will rear its ugly head through at least the third quarter of 2010.


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Evercore’s still way positive on Apple, negative zero-COVID in China and fighting union with “union.”
Evercore Dubs Apple a ‘Set and Forget’ Investment
If there is one thing Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani likes, it’s a longterm investment in Apple shares. MarketWatch highlighted a note he wrote on Friday, wherein he named ticker symbol AAPL his firm’s top “set and forget” investment. Yes — he knows about the fiasco that is/was iPhone City. It does not concern him. Quoting his note:
While we understand investors are concerned about the near-term iPhone outlook given manufacturing disruption issues in China, we see any headwinds as transitory and investors should remain focused on the long-term opportunity…
I think he means opportunity that is Apple, since he outlines a couple of opportunities for the Cupertino-company. Quoting his note again:
We feel confident that Apple is working on AR/VR [augmented reality/virtual reality] products and this will likely be the next major hardware product… On the software side, Apple is making big moves in advertising and payments that are generally underappreciated by investors.
Daryanani sees a “high probability” that Apple will try the mixed-reality headset thing in the next six-to-twelve-months. If it follows a similar trajectory to Apple Watch, “it could contribute $18.1 billion to sales and 19 cents EPS [earnings per share] at scale,” according to the analyst.
As for the payments part, the analyst says:
Apple’s interest in financial services makes a lot of sense, as a big part of their digital services strategies revolves around building ‘toll booths’ throughout the ecosystem…
The way he sees it, the fintech side of the tech giant could generate $11.6 billion in revenue by fiscal year 2026. If there’s one thing he likes, it’s a longterm investment in Apple. Daryanani has a positive rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $190.
‘iPhone City’ Lifts COVID Restrictions as China Abandons Zero-COVID Policies
Most COVID restrictions have been lifted at Foxconn’s iPhone City plant in Zhengzhou, China — so says a piece from 9to5Mac. The closed loop is apparently no loop now — with the plant’s point-to-point system ended. The piece explains that that was the system:
…in which workers were only allowed to move directly between their dormitory and place on the production line, with no other movement within the plant allowed.
That meant “no access to cafeteria and leisure facilities,” and — of course — no leaving. The change comes as China seems to have abandoned its zero-COVID restrictions. It also comes as the country faces “its biggest public health challenge since the start of the coronavirus pandemic,” according to CBS News. Quoting that report:
Nine days after the [Chinese] government abruptly abandoned its draconian “zero-COVID” policy, halting mandatory mass-testing and forcible quarantines, COVID-19 is once again spreading like wildfire across the vast country.
Interestingly, the World Health Organization says one has nothing to do with the other. Dr. Mike Ryan, head of emergency programs for the organization, says:
The explosion of cases in China is not due to the lifting of COVID restrictions… The explosion of cases in China had started long before any easing of the zero-COVID policy.
Sounds kind of crazy. Then you remember that the COVID outbreak at the iPhone City plant started when zero-COVID was still in full effect.
If you’re wondering what all of this means for iPhone production, we will have to wait and see. 9to5Mac says:
It’s still likely to take considerable time to ramp up iPhone 14 Pro production to the point where supply balances with demand, but at least iPhone workers will have dramatically better working conditions. This, in turn, should help Foxconn recruit more staff to replace those who left.
CWA Accuses Apple of Using Fake Union to Fight Union
You know the phrase “fight fire with fire?” Apple stands accused of trying to “fight union with union.” We’ve heard talk throughout 2022 of Apple Retail locations considering moves to unionize. We’ve also heard accusations of anti-union maneuvering by the Cupertino-company. Now, a piece from 9to5Mac says the company has tried to head off unionization moves by organizing a “pseudo-union.”
Highlighting a Bloomberg report, 9to5Mac says the Communication Workers of America (CWA) filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board last week, accusing Apple of “soliciting employees to join an employer-created / employer-dominated labor organization as a means of stifling union activities.” That is in addition to a (starting to become) standard charge of:
…holding mandatory anti-union meetings in which management falsely claimed the company would be legally barred from negotiating on certain topics if workers unionized.
The most recent complaint is said to center around activities at Apple’s Easton Town Center store in Columbus, Ohio. In an email to Bloomberg, a CWA exec said:
Creating a work group controlled by management is undemocratic and a clear attempt at union-busting… If management actually cared about workers having a voice on the job, they would direct them to Apple Retail Union/CWA which is run by workers, not bosses.
Apple did not offer comment for the Bloomberg report.
Report: Apple Trying to Get Out of Office Lease in Moscow
Here’s something crazy sounding: Apple has a lease on an office in Russia out of which it is trying to get. The lease that is. Not Russia. Apple’s pretty much out of Russia, but let’s back up.
Back in mid-2021, the Russian government passed laws requiring tech companies that wanted to do business in Russia to have offices in Russia. In early 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and suddenly those tech companies didn’t want to do business in Russia. But Apple had just moved into its Russia office about a month before the invasion. While the company has gotten its workers out, stopped product sales in Russia, and suspended most services there — they were one month into a three-year lease on an office that can’t have been cheap. It is within sight of the Kremlin, according to a piece from Apple Must.
It is so strange to me that the company is trying to terminate the lease. Why not just pay it out? Why not just keep sending checks once a month? Unless it’s about not wanting to give any money to Russia, in which case — why not stop paying?
But… Apple Must says the Cupertino-company is “in talks” to close the office.
All of this proves one thing: The world will never stop being weird.
Deadline: ‘Shantaram’ Canceled After One Season
The curse of the Apple TV+ series Shantaram has come to an end — in a way just as cursed as the rest of the series. One of the earliest titles picked up by Apple — long before Apple TV+ was announced, the show got a couple of episodes into filming before producers found out that the original writer and show-runner hadn’t gotten around to writing all of the episodes they were supposed to film. Then COVID-19 hit, hampering the search for a new writer, and slowing international shooting once they actually had scripts to shoot.
Finally produced, it finally started running… and that seems to have been plenty for Apple. A piece from Deadline says the Cupertino-streamer has cancelled the show after its first (and now only) season.
Working Apple-1 Numbered By Steve Jobs Sells for $442K
And finally today, checking the working Apple-1 price index… I told you a week or so ago that another one of those allegedly rare machines was going up for auction. What made this one special (besides the fact that it exists and works) is that it was hand-numbered by Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs.
RR Auction had expected the machine to fetch ~$375,000. It did better than that. A piece from AppleInsider says last week’s auction ended with the machine going for $442,000.
Other Jobs paraphernalia up for bids included a NeXT computer brochure signed by Jobs — that went for $18,210. An early production model of an actual NeXT Computer (circa 1988) went for about a third of that, selling for just under $6,100. And getting a bit of love from bidders was current Apple CEO Tim Cook. AppleInsider says an Auburn University football signed by Mr. Cook sold for just under $5,700.
Today on The Mac Observer’s Daily Observations Podcast
Today, on the Daily Observations podcast, TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and I talk the lifting of COVID restrictions at the iPhone City plant. Plus: Will Smith, AirDrop, and Continuity each pop out of the mailbag. That is all today on the Daily Observations Podcast from The Mac Observer.


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Washington [United States], January 11 (ANI): Amazon is reportedly looking at grabbing a share of the gaming market with its very own carrier.
The e-trade massive is seeking to build an online gaming provider. The enterprise is in talks with publishers approximately capability titles for the service. However, the service is unlikely to be ready for launch till subsequent 12 months, Mashable reported.
What could possibly set apart the purported gaming provider is that in contrast to Twitch that is a game streaming service, the one with the aid of Amazon will will let you play video games while not having to down load them.
those on line games may be hosted by using cloud servers and streamed over the internet, giving users the hardware-flexibility. When the provider does release, it'll compete towards Google's project move, Sony's ps Now, Microsoft's project xCloud, and Nvidia's GeForce Now, among other cloud gaming platforms. (ANI)


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|Up to 71 per cent of computers and mobile devices in Việt Nam are infected with malware, announced the Authority of Information Security (AIS).— VNA/VNS Photo|
HÀ NỘI — Up to 71 per cent of computers and mobile devices in Việt Nam are infected with malware, announced the Authority of Information Security (AIS).
Every second four new malware viruses are released and as many as 170 cyber attacks occur in Việt Nam, of which three have specific targets, according to the AIS.
Cyber security firm Trend Micro in a recent report ranked Việt Nam top of Southeast Asian countries falling victim to cyber attacks. Việt Nam was also among the top 20 countries in the world infected with ransomware, according to Trend Micro.
According to the AIS, there were 1,020 virus-infected websites that were collecting personal information of Vietnamese internet users.
AIS head Nguyễn Thanh Hải said that more than 90 per cent of information security breaches happen because of human error, of which a lack of awareness of the risks was a main reason. — VNS


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A Weekend of Record Breakers for Okemo
LUDLOW, Vermont — For the second year running, the Sunday of Presidents’ Day Weekend was a record-breaker for Okemo Mountain Resort. Skier and snowboarder visits were up three percent for the day, compared to last year’s historic milestone, and up more than five percent compared to the previous best day in February 2005.
Skier visits for the two-day period including Sat., Feb. 16 and Sun., Feb. 17 placed the weekend as the second-best two-day period over the past five years and the resort posted record revenues for the weekend. As of Feb. 17, skier visits for the season were 38 percent ahead of last year.
A number of departments across the resort reported increases and set new records. Resort lodging saw a 22 percent increase in Presidents’ Day Weekend room nights compared to last year. On Sunday, Okemo’s Cutting Edge Learning Center hit a new high in the number of private lessons taught in a single day, and equipment rentals were up 8 percent in quantity and 13 percent in revenue over last year. Okemo Valley Nordic Center reported one of their strongest days in recent history. Record numbers of skiers and riders visited resort restaurants as well. Feb. 17 witnessed a record-breaking three-percent increase in the number of lunches served at Coleman Brook Tavern. The Roundhouse and Epic beat their previous bests by nine percent. Siena, Okemo’s Italian bistro saw a 27 percent increase over its previous best day.
Okemo started the 2007-2008 ski and snowboard season with great optimism. Season pass sales were up 30 percent this year and college season-pass sales were up nearly 300 percent.
Resort officials attribute the record-breaking day and year-to-date increases to favorable weather patterns and Okemo’s positive reputation for snowmaking, grooming and customer service.
More information about Okemo Mountain Resort may be obtained by calling (802) 228-1600 or by visiting okemo.com.


text: For an article entitled Sweet Little Mystery published today, Which? analysed supermarket purchases of a single professional and a young family in the UK. It found that sweet treats were not the only products with high sugar contents, but the carbohydrate was also turning up in savoury goods such as ready meals. It flagged up a number of offending products, including Asda sticky chilli chicken and Tesco crispy beef with sweet chilli sauce, both of which were found to contain more sugar gram for gram than vanilla ice cream. "Sugar is used as a preservative as well as a sweetener," granted the report authors, "but in these meals there is more than three times the amount per portion that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) says is high." The Food Standards Agency's traffic light labelling scheme rates foods containing more than 15g of sugar per 100g, or 18g if the portion size exceeds 100g, as being high in sugar. For drinks, the 'high sugar' limit is 7.5g per 100g. The problem, says Which?, is that sugar comes in many guises, and may be listed as one of many ingredients, such as corn sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, glucose syrup, high-fructose glucose syrup, honey, invert sugar, invert sugar syrup, isoglucose, levulose, maltose, molasses, sucrose and sucrose syrup - all of which add up to total sugar content. But except for products that claim to be 'low sugar', nutritional labelling with sugars split out from carbohydrates is voluntary. This makes it hard for consumers to see just how much sugar a product contains. While Which? editor Neil Fowler supports the traffic light labelling scheme, he said: "It's no wonder if people are baffled about the amount of sugar they're consuming. Although many companies do voluntarily label their products, not all do." "Manufacturers need to raise their game and put full nutrition information on the back of packs too." However Melanie Leech, director general of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said: "Which? is pushing at an open door." She said that while labelling regulations require companies to include a precise description of the sugars used in a product, such as fructose or glucose, manufacturers are already making it easier for people to see exactly the amount of sugar in their food by putting Guideline Daily Amount information on the front of their packs. "This clearly shows the total amount of sugar in the product - whether added or naturally present. Over 15 000 product lines now feature this GDA information." Leech drew attention to a recent FDF survey conducted at the end of 2006, which found £33billion worth of food and drinks products voluntarily had full nutrition information on the back of their packs. The UK government currently has no recommendations for the total amount of sugar people should consume each day. But Which? anticipates such maximum daily amounts may be on their way, however, since FSA's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has been asked to review the amount of sugar in the UK diet. Along with salt and saturated fat, sugar is also one of the ingredients that food manufacturers seeking to tap the health and wellness trend are reducing in their formulations. While low sugar, low salt, and low fat claims were once the preserve of the dieters' aisle, such claims are increasingly appearing on mainstream foods, and when taste is unimpaired the indications are that consumers are receptive.


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Toyin Umesiri's career path changed three years ago when she returned to her home country of Nigeria for the first time in more than a decade to attend her father's funeral.
While there, she took a "deep dive" into her father's life and learned about his impact on the local community. The stories were enough to make Umesiri -- who was working in a corporate role at Walmart Inc. at the time -- start to evaluate her own life and ambitions.
"It really shook me," Umesiri said. "I was like, 'What are you doing?'"
The experience led Umesiri to begin a new mission of trying to facilitate trade opportunities between the U.S. and Africa. She created a company Nazaru LLC, that helps link U.S. businesses and African stakeholders and is taking a big step to help accelerate discussions this week.
Umesiri has organized the inaugural Trade With Africa Business Summit, a two-day conference that will be held in Bentonville beginning today. The event features about 40 speakers and promises to educate attendees about business opportunities and showcase effective strategies for increasing trade.
According to Umesiri, the African continent remains untapped despite the establishment of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act in 2000. It has helped create some success as U.S. trade with sub-Saharan Africa grew from $28.2 billion in 2001 to $72.3 billion in 2012. But Umesiri said less than 2 percent of U.S. global trade comes from the continent.
She created the forum to place business leaders in the same room with African representatives in hopes of strengthening partnerships outside of political relationships that have been forged in Washington, D.C. Umesiri believes American companies -- not additional governmental policies -- remain key to increasing trade.
She selected Northwest Arkansas because it was an "international hub of business activity" with companies like Walmart, Tyson Foods Inc. and J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
"We're not saying it's easy," Umesiri said. "You have to do your due diligence just like anywhere else. But we're saying it's possible. You can do good and make money."
Denise Thomas, director of Africa and Middle East trade desk at the World Trade Center Arkansas, said Umesiri's efforts in linking both sides have been "amazing." She believes the two-day conference will help Arkansas-based companies in attendance better understand the potential business available in areas like agriculture, technology and manufacturing.
"People don't really understand there really is viable opportunity," Thomas said. "I don't think people have a grasp of the potential that's on the continent. The people there want to be progressive and they want to move forward and they want to do business in the United States."
The summit will highlight success stories, including a keynote speech from Scott Ford, chief executive officer of Little Rock-based Westrock Group LLC. The group operates Westrock Coffee Co., which works with 80,000 farmers in countries like Rwanda who grow coffee beans.
The company, according to Umesiri, has increased Rwanda's gross domestic product by 1 percent.
An information session about the development of sustainable agriculture will feature former Tyson CEO Donnie Smith, who is the founder of the African Sustainable Agriculture Project. There are other panels scheduled to discuss health care and technology. Other information sessions will present road maps for exporting and sourcing from Africa.
Umesiri said it's clear that the continent, with a population of 1.1 billion that is expected to double by 2050, offers new markets for U.S.-made products. There also are opportunities for the U.S. to import raw and manufactured African products as well, including clothing and jewelry.
The summit will not signal the end of her efforts in facilitating trade between the countries. Instead, she described it as simply the starting point and is formulating plans to hold a second Trade With Africa Business Summit next year.
"We're not going to solve it overnight, but hopefully it addresses a lot of it," Umesiri said. "It tells people, let's think about Africa commercially and they will start working through it."
Business on 05/10/2018
Print Headline: NW trade forum offers Africa insight


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438 Interactions, 4 today
The Swiss government has always held an open mind when it comes to Bitcoin-related companies and legislation. Last year, the area voted to encourage consumers to pay their taxes using Bitcoin and Ether, which was perceived as a promising sign for the industry. Following that, Zug, one of the largest towns in the Alpine region, became the first canton, among many other Swiss towns, to allow cryptocurrency tax payments.
In a surprising turn of events, the region’s top financial regulator, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, or FINMA, has refused Bitcoin Suisse, the region’s largest crypto-financial service provider, a banking licence.
In 2019, Bitcoin Suisse AG filed for a banking licence with the regulator. However, FINMA ruled the company’s application for a banking licence “ineligible for clearance” earlier today.
According to FINMA, the permission was refused based on “current information” because “the prognosis is unfavourable.” As the regulator indicated that a licence is “unlikely,” Bitcoin Suisse told FINMA that it will withdraw its application for the licence. As a result, FINMA has agreed to halt the licencing process.
In a statement explaining its decision, FINMA said that it discovered “indications of vulnerabilities in the money laundering security mechanisms” and said:
“Bitcoin Suisse…is not supervised by FINMA but is, however, subject to supervision by an anti-money laundering self-regulatory organization.
FINMA’s responsibility for unregulated companies focuses on opening investigations and, where necessary, taking corrective measures where there are indications that supervisory law has been breached through the unauthorized activities being carried out without the required license.”
If the cryptocurrency corporation had secured the licence, it would have helped them. In fact, in most situations, the approval immediately allows the company to apply for a broker-dealer licence. Following this legal failure, it would be important to see if the organisation continues to stay or relocate its headquarters to other areas.


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The company has so far launched two smartphones in its 6 series. None of these smartphones have hit the Indian market. However, both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro handsets are available for sale on Amazon.
Google Annual Developer Conference: Many products can be launched in Google I / O 2022. Google Pixel 6a with Android 13, Wear OS may be unveiled at this event starting May 11th. Also the company is based in California (California) Shoreline will hold an annual event at the Amphitheater. There will also be a Google I / O 2022 virtual event. So in this event, the company may introduce the first glimpse of Android 13. In addition to this Pixel 6a smartphone at the Google event (Smartphone) Is expected to introduce the much talked about Pixel Watch. Pixel 6a It will be Google’s affordable smartphone. The company has not launched any smartphone in the Indian market since the Pixel 4a. But according to reports, the company may launch Pixel 6a in the Indian market. Apart from India, the company has also launched the phone in the US and other markets.Products Launch) Is going to.
The company has launched the Google Pixel 6 series in a limited market, but the company may have changed its plans regarding the Pixel 6a. However, there is no official confirmation about the launch of this phone in India. The company has not launched the Pixel 5a in India. Let us know what is special about this phone.
According to leaked reports, Google will launch Pixel in India. However, he was in the process of ‘private testing’. According to Tipsters, this phone may be launched in India soon. However, this has not been confirmed. The company has so far launched two smartphones in its 6 series. None of these smartphones have hit the Indian market. However, both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro handsets are available for sale on Amazon.
New Wear OS
The company may launch a new Wear OS for the smartwatch. Google announced at a I / O event last year that it would be working with Samsung on a wearable platform. Hope to see something new at this event this year.
The company may announce in the upcoming event not only about Android 13 but also about Chrome OS. Chromebooks will use Chrome OS. Recently, the company released a beta version of Chrome OS Flex, which is used in older Windows laptops. The company is expected to make announcements for high-end equipment at the event.
In this event, Google could raise the bar of discussion on Android 13. With some of its features, an experienced tech company can inform you about it. In terms of security and privacy, the company can add many new features to this update.


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The Rise of Sparkling Red Wine
In the UK when we think of a glass of sparkling wine we would imagine a chilled glass of champagne, prosecco or cava. And also growing in popularity in the last few years are English sparkling wine or a Crémant. The thing all of these wines have in common is they are typically classed as a white wine.
With the prosecco market maturing we are seeing consumers looking to diversify to something slightly different. This is where we are seeing an increase in demand for organic, rosé and red sparkling wines.
Interestingly, rose prosecco was only introduced last year with the prosecco DOC consortium (the governing body of Italy’s favourite fizz), announcing they were allowing the production of rosé prosecco in May 2020.
Whilst red sparkling wine is not a new phenomenon it could definitely be a trend to keep an eye on this year.
Here in the UK the idea of a sparkling red wine may be relatively new, in countries such as Australia and Italy, this has been a popular drink for many years.
Italians have the longest tradition of producing the red variety of a sparkling wine, with the most well known being Lambrusco. Although not Lambrusco as you and I remember, the Italian version is much more, with a dark and savory offering.
As you would suspect, sparkling red wine is made from red grapes. It is their red skins that add the colour when added. They are double fermented to add alcohol and carbon dioxide is then introduced to produce the sparkle.
Sparkling red wine has previously had a bit of a bad reputation, often considered overly sweet and cheaper than it’s paler counterparts. However over the past several years it has had a bit of an overhaul.
Although it remains relatively niche amongst the wine producers it has certainly been improved of late, becoming more sophisticated and complex. Gone are the days of a sickly, sweet Lambrusco being the only thing on offer.
There are red frizzantes and red sparkling and Chandon even released a red champagne at the end of 2019.
Another point that sets it apart from the still red wines is that it is best served chilled and drunk in the sunshine.
What Next for Sparkling Red?
According to a report by Technavio, the sparkling red wine market is poised to grow by £155 million between 2019 and 2023. Therefore many predict that the rise in popularity of the red variety will continue to trend upwards over the next couple of years.
If you are already a fan of the sparkling red or would like to try something new, the Bonarda Frizzante from the Tenuta Il Bosco estate, is a great place to start.


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Hyderabad, Nov 22 (UNI) Telangana Commercial Tax Commissioner V Anil Kumar on Wednesday appealed to the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry and Super Market outlets to pass on benefit to the consumers on GST reduction rate.
Mr Kumar who conducted a meeting with the FMCG and Super Markets authorities in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, here said that the CGST and SGST rates on certain Commodities have undergone changes since the introduction of GST.
To this effect the GST Council in its 23rd meeting held on November 10 at Guwahati, has recommended the reduction of the GST rate from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, on goods falling under 178 headings, leaving only 50 items under the GST slab rate of 28 per cent.
A large number of items have also witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18 per cent to 12 per cent, 12 per cent to 5 per cent and so on. All these changes are effective from November 5. The benefit of reduction in the GST rate has to be passed on by the suppliers to the consumers by way of commensurate reduction in prices, he said.
The representatives from HUL, ITC Ltd, Colgate Palmolive, P & G, Godrej Consumer, Dabur India , Wipro Ltd, Future Retail, Heritage Foods, Emami, and also major super markets namely More, Reliance, D-Mart, Ratnadeep, Metro, Maxhyper, Spar, Q-Mart have attended and agreed that the benefit of reduction in GST rate will be passed to the consumers.
Source : http://www.uniindia.com/pass-on-gst-reduction-rates-to-consumers-ct-commissioner/states/news/1054883.html


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Walgreens plans to close about 200 U.S. stores as the nation's largest drugstore chain expands on a $1 billion cost-reduction plan it announced last August.Read More »
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Hospitals have long asked doctors to be on call in case of emergencies. Now Target is asking the same of its cashiers.
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News briefs, current events and projects involving various Long Island nonprofits and nonprofit organizations.
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MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Keep holding on as Asos shares still look a smart investment
Wobble: The fashion retailer’s stock has slipped, but underlying annual profits have risen by 37 per cent
Midas tipped shares in online fashion retailer Asos at the end of July when they stood at 4505p. The stock soared in the following three months and hit a peak price of 5449p in October, just before the group announced its results.
Anyone who sold at that point would have pocketed a 21 per cent gain.
The shares have since fallen back – though at 4890p they are still up by more than 8.5 per cent since our recommendation.
But hold on for more, because there is every chance that they will once again reach – and even exceed – those highs in the months and years ahead.
The full-year results showed a 26 per cent rise in sales and a 37 per cent increase in underlying profits. The statutory pre-tax profits fell mainly because of a one-off settlement in a trademark dispute with Assos, a Swiss cyclewear company.
But the underlying situation still looks very strong. The trends in fashion retail – fast turnaround in styles and online shopping – continue to play to Asos’s strengths and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
And as we mentioned in July, the group’s strong overseas business – about 60 per cent of its sales – means it benefits from the weak pound.
The company is running into some difficulties in the UK, having been targeted by unions for its allegedly poor employment practices for agency workers at its site in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Asos dismissed the claims as misleading. But whatever the merits or otherwise of the claims by unions, this is an issue the company should pay close attention to.
First because ensuring that staff are well treated and paid is the right thing to do, but also because it makes good business sense in a market of younger consumers who can react very quickly to perceptions.
Midas verdict: The market got a little ahead of itself with the surge in the Asos share price in October, but the direction of travel looks right. These shares are a hold.
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Say Aloha to Secret Ubers
A swell of innovation is arriving now on the streets of Honolulu, where Kala Alexander – Hawaiian Surf Legend – catches the first Secret Uber to come ashore on the island of Oahu. You’ve seen Kala on some of the biggest waves that the North Shore has to offer and on the TV series Hawaii 5-0. When Kala isn’t in the spotlight, he’s devoting his time to the Mauli Ola foundation, which has helped to introduce surfing as a natural treatment to people with cystic fibrosis. Today, he’s our Rider Zero, inaugurating the newest way to get around Honolulu!
Getting to your final destination can be a challenge on the Island of Oahu, which is home to some of the worst congestion in the country. Finding a solution to such a challenge is a huge undertaking. Uber adds a new option to get around, and a technology that will help alleviate a greater problem. Half magic, half math, 100% real, starting today!
Loving Uber is easy – It’s simple, safe, and possibly the most elegant way to travel in the Pacific!
Here’s how it works:
1. Open your Uber app and request a car to arrive within minutes.
2. Come out when you’re ready: not only will you see the car arriving on the Uber app, but you’ll also receive a text message when your Uber is pulling up!
3. Get out when you reach your destination. Payment is seamlessly billed to the card on file with your Uber account, your receipt is emailed to you and there’s no need to tip.
In this secret phase we still have very limited availability, but secret Ubers are on the road and ready for adventurous riders! Should you manage to get your hands on one of our fine Ubers in Honolulu, send us your feedback at SupportHonolulu@uber.com
Uber on, Hawaii!
A typical ride: you request, have small talk with your driver, and safely get where you need to go. For Jonathan, a driver-partner in California, his rides are anything but ordinary — he wants his passengers to have fun and turned each trip into a dance party — and now the latest viral video. We caught up with the man in front of the cam to learn more about what inspired him to create this feel-good video.
A new report conducted in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reveals that when empowered with more transportation options like Uber, people are making better choices that save lives.
New technologies are creating opportunities no one could have imagined. To understand Uber’s place in that trend, we commissioned a survey of our driver-partners and put together a comprehensive analysis.


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We’ve already started to see big M&A, as in multi-billion deals, finally pick up this year after a slow period last year. Today, KKR added to that growing total when it announced it was going to acquire Broadcom’s end user computing business for $4 billion.
These pieces include VMware Workspace One and VMware Horizon, two remote desktop applications that had been part of the VMware family of products. You may recall that Broadcom spent $61 billion to buy VMware last year and has been looking to recoup some of the high price tag ever since.
The deal was originally announced in May 2022, and it took until November 2023 to clear all the regulatory hurdles and close the deal. Almost immediately, Broadcom began slashing costs, starting with laying off over 2000 VMware employees, just a week after the deal was official.
The company then took the axe to 56 products a month later, as the cost cutting measures continued. As the company looks for other ways recover some of the high cost of buying VMware, it is perhaps logical to be selling off the end user computing pieces announced today as it seems the company is concentrating on core capabilities and getting rid of anything that doesn’t fit into its more narrow definition of what the company will look like moving forward.
During the early days of the pandemic when offices were forced to shut down, and employees needed to work remotely, having remote desktop tooling like Workspace One and Horizon gave IT more control over the remote environment. KKR managing director Bradley Brown still sees a lot of room for growth moving forward to build out the EUC (end user computing) division into a vibrant stand-alone business. “We see great potential to grow the EUC Division by empowering this talented team and investing in product innovation, delivering excellence for customers and building strategic partnerships,” Brown said in a statement.
One interesting aspect of this deal is that KKR intends to implement an employee ownership program, giving employees a chance to own equity in the new company alongside KKR. The deal is expected to close some time later this year, subject to standard regulatory approval of course.
Today’s deal marks the fifth multi-billion dollar deal of the year, joining among others, HPE buying Juniper Networks for $14 billion and Synopsys acquiring Ansys for $35 billion. Both of those deals were announced last month.


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From moving on in to moving on up— launching products and launching parternships, PactSafe has had a tremendous year and we couldn't have done it without your support! While we plan on taking 2016 by full force, let’s first take a second to look back on our noteworthy moments from 2015.
Author: Brian Powers, Founder and CEO of PactSafe, Inc / licensed attorney
© 2015 PactSafe, Inc, All Rights Reserved
By now, you're likely familar with daily fantasy sports powerhouses DraftKings and FanDuel and the controversy surrounding the two in recent weeks. Added capital, wild success, and a relentless advertising blitz helped to raise suspicions about the companies' practices—some of which were confirmed when reports surfaced that employees of the companies were using inside information to win large sums of money playing the games on the competitors’ platform. Since that time, the two companies have been served with a number of lawsuits for fraud, negligence, racketeering, and false advertising, in turn, facing heightened scrutiny from regulators. A federal inquiry is already underway into the industry's practices. Nevada has already demanded the sites become properly licensed in the manner of a sports book. But, the industry's most threatening move might come from the state of New York, where the state's Attorney General has requested an injunction to keep the sites from operating within the Empire State's borders.
Today marks the announcement of PactSafe's partnership with TRUSTe to help companies manage challenges of implementing Model Contract Clauses and remain compliant with EU data protection laws.
From vampires and witches on Halloween to stuffing induced food comas and onward—it seems as the season of holiday spending has snuck up on us once again.