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Since the Googles Project Zero team released information in the past 7 days about two Windows 8.1 bugs, Google itself has come under fire for their tactics. They are also being criticised for how they are dealing with a major bug in their own Android operating system. This bug affects the WebView component of Android 4.3(or earlier). WebView is the core component used to render web pages on devices using Android 4.3(or earlier). This is not the case with Android KitKat (4.4) and lollipop (5.0) as Blink is used instead.
As 60 percent of Android users are on Android 4.3 (or earlier), this bug affects 930 million phones and should be viewed as a priority but Google don’t seem to think so and won’t be issuing a patch for the flaw. When a bug is found it is reported to Google who then develop a fix and publish it as part of Android Open Source Project release. In this case the bug was reported to Google and no fix will be made available.
The Android security team said “If the affected version [of WebView] is before 4.4, we generally do not develop the patches ourselves, but welcome patches with the report for consideration. Other than notifying OEMs, we will not be able to take action on any report that is affecting versions before 4.4 that are not accompanied with a patch”. They also said “If the affected version [of WebView] is before 4.4, we generally do not develop the patches ourselves but do notify partners of the issue[…] If patches are provided with the report or put into AOSP we are happy to provide them to partners as well”.
If Google were to release a patch, phone manufacturers would then have to modify the update before releasing it to mobile carriers who would then test and validate it before they release it. This can take around 6-9 months before they release it to their customers. Sadly this won’t be happening and most mobile phone users won’t be given the option of upgrading their phones to KitKat or even Lollipop.
Manufacturers release so many different Android phones that upgrading them all to KitKat or above will take a lot of work. Also cheaper models may not be able to be upgraded as their hardware cannot handle it. Updating all phone models with a patch from Google would be easier and take less time to update.
You could update to KitKat or Lollipop by getting the latest updates online from various sources, but it may not work as it has not being customised to work with your phone and may cause problems with some of the hardware such as the camera. It is also worth noting that if you update your phone manually you cannot be sure that the KitKat or Lollipop update is not filled with malware.
Google have produced an Operating System that does not have a direct distribution channel to push out updates, unlike Apple or Microsoft, who release updates over the air direct to the phone. Google release their latest major updates to all the Android phone manufacturers who then customise it before they put it on their latest models or release it to the mobile phone carriers (who sell the Android phone).
Google update all their own apps that are available on their Play Store but this is of little consolation to users who cannot get any patches or who cannot safely update their phone to KitKat or Lollipop. This also means that any future bugs will not be patched perhaps causing future security headaches and forcing companies to rethink their BYOD policies.


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Tourism in Norwich now worth more than £750m, report reveals
The value of tourism in Norwich has edged over the £750m milestone, according to new figures.
In 2017 tourism in the city was worth almost £751.7m to the local economy, an increase of 2.8% on the previous year, according to the latest Economic Impact of Tourism report.
This was composed of £573.7m of visitor spending and a further £177,97 of indirect spend.
The total number of trips taken during 2017 was just under 12.28 million – comprising 11.83 million day trips and 444,200 staying trips, both up 5.5% on 2016.
The number of nights stayed also increased by 4.8% to 1.476 million – ahead of the national increase of 4%.
The report found increases in visitor spend, too. The total spend during day trips rose 2.5% to almost £475.43m while the total value of overnight trips increased by 3.7% to £104.74m.
However, it also found a drop in the average spend per visit – the spend for an overnight stay fell by 1.1% to £70.96 while the average day trip spend dropped by 2.9% to £40.26.
The report – compiled by Destination Research – said that tourism supported 13,178 jobs in Norwich in 2017 – a quarter (24.9%) of all employment.
Stefan Gurney, executive director of Norwich Business Improvement District (BID), which oversees tourism body Visit Norwich, said: “This is a strong set of results for Norwich, with great figures for both day visits and stay trips.
“Tourism is an integral part of the Norwich city experience with the city constantly delivering new reasons to travel here. We’re keen to build on this success and we have exciting plans in development to keep raising awareness of Norwich as a leading UK city to visit in 2019.
“We should be very proud of the contribution that tourism continues to make to the local economy, supporting over 13,000 jobs in the area.”
Of the people visiting Norwich, two-thirds (65%) were staying in paid accommodation while the remainder were with friends, relatives or at second homes.
A breakdown of visitor expenditure showed that 39% of money spent went on shopping, 35% on food and drink, 10% on entertainment and 11% on travel. Just 5% was spent on accommodation.
Spending was more prone to seasonal peaks and troughs than visits, the report found.
Some 6% of overnight visitors and day visitors made their trips in February – but the month accounted for just 3% of total spend.
Meanwhile in August, which accounted for 10% of overnight visitors, 15% of the total overnight visitor spend was made.
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London wine tasting will include Childress
Published: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 9:49 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.
Childress Vineyards of Lexington will be among 10 Southern wineries participating in a first-ever tasting in the United Kingdom.
The tasting, organized by the Southern U.S. Trade Association, will include wines from North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas and will be at the trendy London restaurant Hush on Jan. 25.
Winemaker Mark Friszolowksi will represent Childress at the event. Other N.C. wineries taking part will be a second Yadkin Valley winery, Shelton Vineyards of Surry County, and Duplin Winery in Rose Hill in the state's southeastern corner.
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A personal email from Mark Zuckerberg promising you, and only you, a new iPad3 before Apple even releases it? If it sounds a little phishy, a little too good to be true, then you're a step ahead of the game, and will hopefully avoid getting reeled in by the alluring offer.
This particular scam, spotted by researchers at Symantec, arrives in victims' email inboxes in the form of a personalized email titled "Dear Facebook User." Supposedly signed by the social networking giant's chief executive officer, Mark Zuckerberg, the email says Facebook has "joined up with Apple for a one-time promotional event today" to give away an Apple iPad3.
The iPad3, of course, is not yet on the market, and Apple has not announced a release date.
Recipients of the malicious email are told to click on a link to visit the promotional site to ensure that Facebook and Apple reserve the iPad3 for the lucky winner. The site, Symantec discovered, is a survey that demands that users input their email addresses — a move that generates money for the scammers and could leave victims vulnerable to spam or identity theft.
This email should raise some immediate red flags. For example: Why would Mark Zuckerberg email you? How did you win a contest you didn't enter? How can you win a product that, like the iPhone 5, doesn't exist? Its questionable characteristics and popular keywords — Apple, Facebook, iPad — make this scam a perfect representation of how online crooks angle for your identity using alluring bait and hope to reel you in before you do any second-guessing.
A few basic tips: Be skeptical about any unsolicited emails, especially any messages that mention a prize or contest you've won, or that come from somebody (such as Mark Zuckerberg) who has no business personally emailing you. Make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your system. And remember, as always: If something seems to good to be true, it probably is.


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Aside from the ability to show off company products, Google may be eyeing the tremendous revenue potential that Apple has demonstrated with its stores. At the conference, Cook noted that the average Apple Store (Apple has more than 400 of them around the world), racked up over $50 million in revenue last year. In total, the stores hosted over 370 million people.
Other companies besides Google have attempted to exploit retail. There were the Gateway stores in the 1990s that demonstrated success for a period of time. Microsoft (MSFT) has also tried its own retail approach, albeit with mixed results.
Google's reported change in thinking comes just a few months after Sameer Samat, Google Shopping's vice president of product management, told AllThingsD that Google doesn't intend to go the retail route. "We aren't planning on being a retailer," Samat said in an interview. "We don't view being a retailer right now as the right decision."
Google responded to TheStreet's request for comment in an email, saying the company doesn't "comment on rumor or speculation."Shares of Google were higher in Tuesday trade, gaining 1.29% to $803.10. --Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York >Contact by Email. Follow @Commodity_Bull
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Here is the first of a series of infographics we are creating on the iPad and media. It shows the growth in sales of the iPad, including actual sales figures announced by Apple and forecasts by a variety of players for the end of this calendar year.
It is interesting to look at the forecasts made before the launch of iPad for September 30 (Apple’s end of financial year). No-one had any idea how successful the iPad has turned out to be. Given continued shortages in the stores, it appears clear that any forecasts for sales this year need will be driven by supply capacity rather than demand.
While some believe these high initial sales are just early adopters and Apple fanboys (and girls), I think the higher range of forecasts for this year and beyond (some as high as 35 million for next year) are likely.
[NOTE:] Our iPad Strategy Workshop on 27 August in Sydney is now at 75 registrations and will almost certainly sell out, so register soon if you want to come!


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A 1985 article in the New York Times wondered what had happened to the fad of laptop computers, which had (the article claimed) been relatively common in the early 1980s but had since dropped in popularity. "People don't want to lug a computer with them to the beach or on a train to while away hours they would rather spend reading the sports or business section of the newspaper," the Times wrote. A 1980 article about early online news services made a similar point: "you cannot tuck a computer under your arm as you head for the subway."
The recent swirl of speculation around Apple making a car has provided many opportunities for people to make a similar mistake — this time about autonomous cars. When they think about the future of self-driving vehicles a couple of decades from now, too many people envision a world that looks mostly like our world today except that drivers can activate a sort of super-cruise control that takes over the steering wheel. The Economist, for example, cites a research report predicting that the market for cars with self-driving capabilities will never exceed 25 percent of the market.
But the history of the PC revolution illustrates how wrong this way of thinking is. As PCs got cheaper and more powerful, the rest of the world didn't stand still. Ubiquitous PCs made it possible for ordinary consumers to get on the internet. A wide variety of industries — music, newspapers, books, retail stores, maps, cameras — got re-built around digital devices. New services like social media and streaming video were invented that made PCs and smartphones even more useful.
The same point applies to self-driving cars. Cars in 2035 could look as different from cars today as today's iPhone looks from a PC circa 1995. A number of industries — trucking, restaurants, retail stores, delivery services, public transit, real estate — will adapt to the new capabilities of self-driving vehicles, making those vehicles increasingly central to the economy. And people will develop totally new services using self-driving vehicles that are hard to imagine today.
Self-driving cars are likely to be rented, not owned
Probably the biggest difference between today's car market and the self-driving market of the future is that the dominant business model is likely to be Uber-style ride-sharing, not personal car ownership. Right now, most cars are sold to individual families because the need for human drivers makes it too labor-intensive to share vehicles between multiple families. But once drivers become unnecessary, it will seem (and be) wasteful for individuals to own cars that sit idle 90 percent of the time.
And this has big implications for the economics of self-driving cars. For example, people have argued that the low-margin auto industry is a bad place for Apple, a company that has traditionally made high-margin products. As my colleague Matt Yglesias points out, this argument doesn't make much sense because Apple has a long history of building high-margin products in low-margin industries like smartphones and PCs. But it's also true that margins will become a lot less important in a future where cars are mostly sold to ride-sharing services like Uber instead of directly to consumers. Ride-sharing companies may be willing to pay a hefty premium for a car that offers extra reliability, efficiency, or other features.
Self-driving cars will look a lot different from today's cars
Today's cars all look pretty similar: most have seating for four or five passengers, a trunk, an engine powerful enough for freeway driving, and a big enough fuel tank for hundreds of miles of driving. Yet for many people, the primary use of their car is for single-person commuting for no more than 10 or 20 miles.
Self-driving cars will allow greater specialization, and therefore greater efficiency. If you're commuting by yourself, you might be able to hail a 1- or 2-seat vehicle that costs less and gets better mileage. If your trip doesn't require freeway driving, you might get an super-efficient electric car that doesn't go faster than 30 miles per hour. When you do need to transport more people or stuff, you'll be able to get a gasoline-powered minivan or pickup truck at a higher price.
The biggest change, though, may be the rise of vehicles designed for zero people. For example, right now if you order a pizza, it's usually delivered by a human driver in a full-sized car — that's thousands of pounds of steel and glass to deliver a pizza that weighs a few pounds. But once you eliminate the need for a human driver, there's no reason for delivery vehicles to be so big, heavy, and expensive.
Navigating this kind of change will be difficult for conventional car companies, which are organized around the assumption that a car must cost tens of thousands of dollars and have room for several human passengers. Gadget makers like Apple, which are used to operating on a smaller scale and squeezing out every ounce of unnecessary weight and cost, might have an edge.
Self-driving won't just be a luxury feature
The Economist quotes a Boston Consulting group study predicting that self-driving cars will account for just 10 percent of the market in 2035, and that demand for automated driving capabilities in general will top out at 25 percent.
Obviously, it's hard to know when fully self-driving cars will first reach the market — technological and regulatory obstacles could delay its introduction beyond the 10 years Boston Consulting is assuming. But once the technology enters the market, it's likely to reach a lot more than 10 percent of the market in its first decade.
This is because the big technological barriers remaining to full self-driving capabilities are mostly software-related. The sensors needed for self-driving capabilities exist now, and while they're currently expensive, they should be a lot more affordable in a decade. The problem is that we don't yet know how to write software that can gracefully handle all of the emergency situations a car might encounter.
But once suitable software is developed, it should be possible to deploy it widely. It might even be possible to upgrade the software on many semi-autonomous cars to give them full self-driving capabilities. Of course, our roads won't become 100 percent self-driving overnight, because people won't want to immediately junk their conventional cars when self-driving alternatives come on the market. But the convenience and safety advantages should cause people — especially younger riders — to adopt those cars very quickly.
And once self-driving cars become safer than human-driven ones, there will be a serious debate about whether people should be allowed to drive their own cars at all. After all, human-driven cars killed 33,561 people in 2012, many of which were due to drivers who were too distracted, tired or drunk to drive safely. Once a safer alternative is available, people may view that as an unacceptable hazard.
Self-driving cars will reshape other industries
In a couple of decades, self-driving cars are likely to control a big chunk of the conventional car market. But self-driving technology is likely to create new product categories as well.
For example, self-driving vehicles will pose a huge competitive threat to package delivery services like UPS and FedEx and catalog and online retailers that rely on them. Because we send drivers out on daily delivery routes, package delivery times are usually measured in days. But once you dispense with the driver, routes and delivery times can be much shorter. Small, automated vehicles could allow people to order everything from diapers to books in the same way we order pizzas today — and at a fraction of the delivery cost.
It's hard to predict what this market will look like, but it's safe to say that a new generation of retailers will want to buy a lot of self-driving vehicles and that these vehicles will look different from any car on the road today.
Existing car companies will struggle to compete
The Economist warns that Apple will need to "catch up with the established carmakers, which are also busy hiring software talent and which have been introducing ever more sophisticated 'assisted driving' features in their models, such as the ability to park themselves, and to navigate stop-go traffic unaided." But thriving in a software-heavy industry — which is what cars will increasingly become — requires more than just hiring a bunch of programmers.
The experience of legacy media organizations is instructive. Over the last two decades, record labels, newspapers, Hollywood, and other traditional content producers have poured millions of dollars into trying to build internet-based platforms for their content. Yet the market is increasingly dominated by outsiders — YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime for video, iTunes and Pandora for music, startups like Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post for news, and so forth.
Building great software requires a certain kind of culture that Silicon Valley startups have and most other types of companies do not. For example, a big obstacle to making car software more secure and reliable is the fact that today's cars are cobbled together from components supplied by dozens of contractors. These contractors treat their software's source code as a closely-guarded trade secret, which makes it almost impossible for the company manufacturing the car to audit the software looking for bugs or security flaws.
Car companies will need to rethink how they manage their supply chains if they want to avoid producing cars with huge security flaws. In contrast, companies like Apple and Google have long experience developing secure and reliable software and are less likely to make the same mistakes.


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Tim Hortons supersizes its coffee cups
Your small Tim Hortons coffee is now an extra small. The Canadian coffee joint will change the names of its sizes and introduce a 24 oz. cup.
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The beloved Canadian coffee joint will shift the names of its sizes starting next Monday to make room for a 24 oz. cup — the new extra large.
Small will become extra small, medium will become small and so forth, making the sizes more comparable to American standards.
“We tested the names of the new hot cup sizes with our guests and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Dave McKay, a marketing director at Tim Hortons, in a statement.
At 8 oz., the current small is not available in the U.S., but will remain at the approximately 3,225 Tim Hortons locations in Canada.
Customers will pay the same price for the same amount of coffee, according to the statement.
Ordering a large coffee will put an extra 6 ounces of coffee in your system, making the new large the same size as a 20 oz. Starbucks venti. Starbucks tall (small) and grande (medium) sizes will be 2 oz. larger than the same sizes at Tim Hortons.
To cater to its consumers’ expanding desires — and waistlines — the American premium coffee giant introduced a 31 oz. cup called the Trenta in January 2011.
Health Canada recommends that adults have no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day — about the amount in a 24 oz. of coffee, it says. (There is 200 mg of caffeine in Tim Hortons’ current 20 oz cup, according to its website.)
Over the past 25 years, supersized portions have contributed to rising obesity levels in North America.
Tim Hortons new sizes:
Extra small — 8 oz.
Small — 10 oz.
Medium — 14 oz.
Large — 20 oz.
Extra large — 24 oz.
Short — 8 oz.
Tall — 12 oz.
Grande — 16 oz.
Venti — 20 oz.
Trenta — 31 oz.
- Updated Oakville city councillor Max Khan dies
- Updated No serious injuries after Air Canada flight crash lands in Halifax
- Target closing Canadian stores earlier than planned
- Former Wildrose Party leader loses Tory nomination months after crossing floor
- Canada’s richest woman battles former CEO in court
- NEW More people died in these three provinces than were born last year
- Future Shop closing all stores in Canada; 1,500 jobs lost
- Should poor seniors have to pay to volunteer? Porter
All 133 locations across the country will be shut down as early as mid-April, a month ahead of schedule.


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[Update] Nintendo Completes Stock Buyback From Founding Family
Update: Nintendo has completed the purchase of stock from the Yamauchi family. The company reports that it acquired all 9.5 million shares through off-auction trading (such that no other entities could purchase).
The publisher paid ¥114,237,500,000 ($1.12 billion). Nintendo allotted ¥125 billion ($1.23 billion) for stock reacquisition of up to 10 million shares to be completed by the close of the company's fiscal year on March 31, 2014.
Nintendo has announced its intentions to purchase up to 9.5 million shares of stock from the company’s founding Yamauchi family. The news will see up to 7.5 percent of outstanding shares return to the company’s treasury.
The shares are in the possession of former CEO Hiroshi Yamauchi’s four children. While they are not completely divesting, the move would significantly reduce the family’s holdings, currently estimated at 10 percent of total outstanding shares.
As of publication, the share value is $14.60. If Nintendo were to fully purchase the 9.5 million shares, the total cash outlay would represent as much as $1.13 billion of the $1.2 billion buyback plan. The total number of shares to be included will depend on market conditions
Nintendo reported cash equivalents of approximately $11 billion in its third quarter financial report. While the repurchase of common stock would represent about 10 percent of cash and equivalents, Nintendo still has a significant war chest should it decide to invest in talent or infrastructure.
Nintendo is investing in itself via the stock repurchase. Theoretically, reducing the amount of outstanding common stock should increase shareholder value. Whether investors take this as a sign of confidence is something we’ll know when Japan’s market opens tomorrow. As for the Yamauchi family's motivations, it's impossible to determine if this is simply letting go of the family legacy or something more connected with the current performance.


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Nineteen billionaires release a letter asking the 2020 presidential candidates to support a tax on America's richest families.Economyread more
The Trump administration had argued the president has wide-ranging authority over national security matters.Politicsread more
Sen. Bernie Sanders will announce a plan Monday to forgive the country's $1.6 trillion outstanding student loan tab, intensifying the higher education policy debate in the...Personal Financeread more
Gold surged to its highest level in nearly six years on Monday as the prospects of lower Federal Reserve rates and lingering geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran...Marketsread more
Shares of Ulta Beauty and Sally Beauty dropped on Monday after Amazon launched its own beauty store for professionals.Marketsread more
Goldman Sachs says there's still life left in value investing, especially with the Federal Reserve set to cut rates again.Marketsread more
McDonald's says it gained market share in the informal-eating-out category for the first time in five years, thanks to its nationwide launch of fresh beef.Restaurantsread more
Six women are running for president. Five of them are career politicians. Then there's Oprah-approved self-help guru Marianne Williamson.2020 Electionsread more
The major indexes have stretched to all-time highs and are riding one of their best first halves in decades.Trading Nationread more
As candidates from Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to John Delaney jockey for position in the 2020 Democratic primary, business issues will come up in the first debates.2020 Electionsread more
Fast food giant McDonald's plans to stop reporting monthly comparable sales beginning July 1, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
The loss of the report means investors will lose a key gauge of incremental progress in McDonald's ongoing turnaround effort and also a read on the broader health of the U.S. consumer. (Tweet This)
The chain is changing its reporting "to focus our activities and conversations around the strategic longer term actions we're taking as part of our plan," said CEO Steve Easterbrook at the Sanford C. Bernstein conference.
Closing the veil on month-to-month performance gives McDonald's an added level of privacy as it embarks on a turnaround effort that new CEO Steve Easterbrook has acknowledged will be "bumpy."
"I understand why they're doing it, but I don't think it aids in the investment process. I think it takes away a tool that was useful in the investment process," said Matt DiFrisco, senior restaurant analyst at Guggenheim Partners, in a phone interview.
DiFrisco thinks the reports have helped reduce volatility following the chain's earnings reports since Wall Street has been able to bake two months of figures in to their models by the time the chain reports.
McDonald's is far from alone is discontinuing the monthly reports, which show rockier performance due to holiday shifts and weather than the quarterly reports, which average three months of trends.
Many big retailers, including Starbucks and Wal-Mart, have already stopped reporting trends by month. Coffee chain Starbucks axed the reports beginning in 2006 because it thought the reports encouraged a short-term focus and provoked volatility, while retail giant Wal-Mart ditched the reports in 2009.
"Disclosing our comparable sales as part of our quarterly reporting is consistent with nearly all retailers and will provide a greater understanding of McDonald's sales results in the context of the company's overall financial performance," Easterbrook said.
Once McDonald's stops disclosing monthly trends, investors will have to read the tea leaves elsewhere, such as third-party reports on restaurant sales or government data, for clues into the chain's performance, DiFrisco said.


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- Entertainment digital ad spending will decline 6.9%, compared with the overall digital ad industry's 1.7% growth.
- But strong SVOD growth will offset some of the losses from live entertianment.
- Insider Intelligence analyzes this industry and several others to provide in-depth analyst reports, proprietary forecasts, customizable charts, and more. Learn more about what we offer.
With the shuttering of amusement parks and cancellation of live events, the entertainment industry will see some of the biggest declines in digital ad spending this year, eclipsed only by the travel, auto, and media industries.
We expect digital entertainment ad spending to decline 6.9%—roughly $520 million less than 2019 totals—compared with the overall digital ad industry's 1.7% growth. It's a stark decline from the 28.2% growth that entertainment saw last year, but we anticipate a strong rebound next year of 20.7% to $8.48 billion as parks, theaters, and event spaces reopen.
Strong growth in subscription video services and gaming advertising will help offset some of the losses of live entertainment. While the pandemic has severely affected live events, time spent with screens has skyrocketed, shielded the entertainment industry from even bigger losses.
Gaming and esports are bright spots: Video game ad spending more than doubled from January to April, according to MediaRadar. And the launch of several new subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services during the pandemic like Peacock, , and Quibi—as well as Disney+, which launched last November—all contributed to significant ad spending.
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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Brilliant Polymers expects to grow at over 15% in the current financial year (April 2020 to March 2021). In this update we are sharing our views and experience with regard to the pandemic and its impact on our industry, supply of laminating adhesives to the flexible packaging industry.
Atin Chaudhuri, Industry Veteran discusses the specific case of toluene, nitrosamines in printing inks & the interpretation of FSSAI guidelines
The Indian packaging industry has gained in stature and has kept pace with the evolving needs of the brand owners. Over 50 urban agglomerations and thousands of Tier II/ III towns across the country’s landscape drive the consumption economy.
The coronavirus crisis has brought about unprecedented transformations at a global scale, and the packaging industry has been no exception.
While the consequences of COVID-19 have not been as negative for the packaging sector as they have for other industries, there have been significant trend shifts in relation to the future of packaging.
Ahead of the upcoming Sustainability in Packaging Asia conference, we caught up with Quentin Yan, Sr. Manager/Director, Consumer Packaging Strategic Marketing of WestRock. He gave us a sneak peek of what we can expect from his presentation on day two, taking place during our ‘Sustainability Through Whole Supply Chain’ session.
Analyzing data within the packaging sector does not have to be rocket science. If you work with the correct production metrics and KPIs, it can be pretty easy to understand what is failing and what can be improved at your factory.To help you get that, PackIOT and Packaging 360 have developed a Free Guide to help you understand which are the most appropriate metrics to use in your factory.
Sharon Xiao from UPM Raflatac will be presenting at this year’s Sustainability in Packaging Asia 2020 in September, discussing the material challenges and innovations in sustainable packaging industry.We spoke to her about her presentation and found out why she thinks it’s important to attend.
Ahead of the upcoming Sustainability in Packaging Asia conference, we caught up with Ashwin Subramaniam, CEO of GA Circular. He gave us a sneak peek of what we can expect from his presentation on day two, taking place during our ‘Circular economy and recycling consideration in packaging’ session.
The bio-based material should be originating from renewable resources completely and should have enough strength to get processed into packaging products. Various parameters like melt strength, tensile strength, elongation, processability, flexibility, thermal stability, biodegradability and composability decide the market acceptability and make any bio-based material to be commercially viable.
OEE is one of the most important metrics to track in a factory. It englobes performance, availability and quality and by evaluating these three factors, it provides information about which sectors of your operation need investment and improvements.


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World Bulletin / News Desk
Speaking at a daily briefing in Brussels, Rosario said: "The EU is ready to respond immediately if the U.S. decides to go ahead with the new tariffs on EU-origin products.”
In March, American President Donald Trump imposed a 25-percent tariff on imported iron and steel, and a 10-percent tariff on aluminum -- since then the issue has been discussed heatedly among the U.S. and its major trade partners.
After that, the EU placed a 25-percent tariff on American products and Trump threatened to impose more tariffs on all European cars.
Last month, Trump hosted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Washington.


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With female entrepreneurs accounting for less than a third (31%) of all entrepreneurs in the country, according to the 2018 Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, it is up to local businesses to encourage more women to enter the entrepreneurial sector; not out of necessity but as a means to fulfil a life-long career. One such company that has been successfully empowering millions of women globally for over a 100 years, is Avon.
With the aim of further expanding on the professional possibilities available to the brand’s female leaders, Avon South Africa has launched its first-ever exclusive beauty pop-up store last week in Sandton City Shopping Centre. This beauty pop-up store was the first of a series to be rolled out over the next three months across South Africa.
According to Precilla Kalogeropoulos, Head of Integrated Marketing Communications at Avon, the implementation of these exclusive beauty pop-up stores is to increase the accessibility and awareness of our brand to a wider target audience, so that we can further provide representatives with a platform to gain new customers and grow their businesses. “Customers are also given an occasion where they can find out as much information about the brand and experience Avon’s premium range of products,” says Precilla.
She adds that while staying true to the brand’s business model, they implemented a selection process whereby representatives and sales leaders were able to apply to take part in these exciting events. “At this stage the Avon beauty pop-up stores are only in selected locations, but should they prove to be a success, will be roll out in more stores nationally to help empower more women to become an entrepreneur and live a life of financial freedom.
Avon Beauty Pop-Up Stores will be available exclusively at selected malls, markets and business parks in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban. Selected make-up, skincare and fragrance products will be available for purchase. All other items that are not at the Beauty Pop-up store can be ordered from the brochure and through a representative.


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As has been rumored for days, the special committee of Dell board members in control of the proposed private takeover deal put together by company founder Michael Dell has put off the shareholder vote for the deal. The ceremony to give the thumbs up or thumbs down to the $24.4bn deal put together by Dell, the man, Silver Lake …
"what El Reg really wants to know is what Michael Dell plans to do with the company that bears his name, whether or not he prevails in the takeover."
Gary Hart -> B.C. Comic Strip -> Wiley"s Dictionary -> Entrepreneur: someone who will do whatever is necessary for as long as possible to keep from having to get a job
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The nova-Institut, which conducts research in an effort to advance the use of renewable raw materials, expects production of the material to increase to around 800,000 tonnes per year by 2020.
However, managing director of the nova-Institut, Michael Carus told FoodProductionDaily.com that, taking into account the emergence of new players in the market, PLA production capacity is likely to be closer to 1m tonnes by 2020.
PLA production capacity currently stands at around 180,000 tonnes per year, of which food and beverage packaging currently accounts for around 70% of demand.
According to Carus, demand for PLA bioplastics will increase in coming years as the material becomes cheaper and improvements in packaging properties lead to an increase in the number of possible applications.
Production increase, price decrease
“In terms of food and beverage packaging, there are currently only a certain number of firms using PLA bioplastics – mainly because it is more expensive than polypropylene (PP),” said Carus.
But as production capacity and PLA supply increases in coming years, the materials will become cheaper. This will coincide with an increase in the price of fossil-based materials such as polypropylene (PP).
“In future, many, many more companies will begin using this material in packaging as PLA becomes cheaper,” he said.
Technological improvements made to the material will also increase the applicability of PLA.
“PLA has good oxygen barrier properties, so it is great for food packaging. But the heat resistance of it is currently limited to around 50 or 60 degrees – so it can’t be used to produce coffee cups for instance. But new, improved versions of PLA have been tested up to 250 degrees,” said Carus.
“This could lead to an increase in the number of applications PLA can be used for.”
“Fifty years ago, nobody though that polypropylene could be used on such a large scale. But after years and years of development, it is now pretty much used for everything. So it is realistic to say that PLA can do the same. In 30 years it could be in the same position as polypropylene,” he added.
According to the nova-Institut, there are currently 25 companies at 30 sites across the world producing PLA.
Global PLA production capacity currently stands at around 180,000 tonnes per year, of which US-based NatureWorks accounts for 140,000 tonnes. Other smaller producers account for the rest with capacities of between 1,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes per year.
By 2020, however, the nova-Institute expects there to be at least seven sites in the world with a production capacity of over 50,000 tonnes per year.
But NatureWorks is still likely to reign over the PLA market despite the emergence of other producers, said the nova-Institut MD.
“In the future we expect more producers with bigger capacities. Naturework will have more competition in terms of production, but it will still be number one for the next 20 to 30 years in the PLA bioplastics market,” he said.


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LicensingSource chats to co-founder Ashley Holman about his ambitious aims for the new company.
The deals reflect a buoyant year for the company’s consumer products business, with the
Source chats to Venetia Davie, vp UK & Ireland at ViacomCBS Consumer Products, about
Sharon Weisman gives her view on what went down across the four-day show.
Ambitious company to open London showroom in October, while it has welcomed a new sa
Success has been fuelled by perennially popular programming such as Peppa Pig and PAW Patr
Brands including Hey Duggee, Bing and Baby Shark among others feature in the new pyj
Licensee’s calendar and diary portfolio is larger than ever before incorporating innovative formats and propert
Shark-shaped multigrain breakfast cereal now available at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Aldi.


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Guatemala: Inflation comes in at highest level since November 2008 in October
Inflation came in at 9.7% in October, which was up from Septembers 9.0%. October’s figure was the highest inflation rate since November 2008. The figure was largely due to rising prices for food and alcoholic beverages. In addition, price pressures for clothing and footwear increased at a stronger pace.
Annual average inflation rose to 5.8% in October (September: 5.3%).
Finally, consumer prices increased 0.98% in October over the previous month, accelerating from September’s 0.36% increase.


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Stories Below come from our Media Partner 3BL Media - Click their logo or any of the stories for more information
News & Updates
European national consumer agencies plan joint action to seek compensation for Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) drivers who bought emissions-cheating diesel cars on the strength of their green credentials, the European Commission said on...
March 8, 2017 Fiat Chrysler CEO won't close door on GM mergerSource: USA Today
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne is questioning General Motors' decision this week to sell most of its European operations and said that he may still seek a tie-up with the rival automaker
China unexpectedly posted its first trade gap in three years in February as a construction boom pushed imports much higher than expected and as increasing U.S. protectionist rhetoric casts a spotlight on the export giant's trade...
Source: USA Today
NEW YORK -- One of the investment world's larger players said Tuesday that it plans to use its considerable influence to compel companies to put more women on their boards of directors
A five-year investigation found ZTE conspired to evade U.S. embargoes by buying U.S. components, incorporating them into ZTE equipment and illegally shipping them to Iran
March 7, 2017 How the Fed's rate hike will affect you - text/videoSource: Channel 9 NBC
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Friday the Fed will likely resume raising interest rates later this March to reflect a strengthening job market.
Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil producer, said on Monday it would invest $20 billion through 2022 to expand its chemical and oil refining plants on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
March 7, 2017 Oil prices entrenched in tight range; eyes on dataSource: Reuters
Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday, trading in a tight range as rising U.S. shale output offset OPEC crude production cuts, with investors seeking clearer direction from upcoming inventory data and comments from senior oil...
March 7, 2017 Can Uber be saved from itself?Source: The Verge
The week began with a terribly embarrassing video of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick being a jerk to one of his drivers, and ended with a bombshell report about a secret and legally questionable program used by Uber to evade government...
March 7, 2017 IBM, Salesforce Strike Global Partnership on Cloud, AISource: Fortune
The two Fortune 500 companies on Monday afternoon revealed a sweeping global strategic partnership that aligns one iconic company's multiyear turnaround effort with another's staggering growth ambitions. According to the terms of...
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Outdoor specialist Rohan has pushed the button on aggressive expansion plans and is eyeing a 50% increase in sales during the next year.
The 48-store chain, which has opened six stores during the past two months, will grow to between 75 and 80 stores in the next year, encouraged by strong trading and a “re-energised” board of directors. Its portfolio includes six franchises.
It sells men’s and women’s wear ranging from a retail price of £15 for underwear to £300 for its Pinnacle jacket. Total sales were £18m for the year to June 30, up from £15.5m the year before. Like-for-like sales were up 11% during the year. The chain would not disclose profits.
Retail and HR director Ian Palmer said the appointment of the chain’s former owner Philip Parkinson 18 months ago as finance director had created a new focus.
He said: “We had the internal resources for growth before but not the momentum. Now the enthusiasm of the board drives growth.”
Future store openings will be split equally between Rohan-owned stores and franchise stores. The new stores will feature a refreshed format, aimed at broadening the retailer’s appeal.
Palmer said the previous store format focused too heavily on graphics associated with international travel. “[Clothing associated with] travel is one small part of what we do,” added Palmer.
Palmer said the new store format would feature imagery which explained the technical benefits of the products. “People will be encouraged through the door using bright colours, which will bring energy and excitement to stores,” he said. “We’re not going to be overpowering on graphics.”
The retailer will take on 75 to 100 new staff to support the expansion.


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businesses report brisk sales
For a host of reasons and nothing specific to point at, businesses throughout Plumas County are reporting that sales have been good and in some cases very good this holiday season. For example, Charlotte Smith, owner of Ayoobs in Quincy, told us Black Friday and Small Business Saturday were her best retail sales days in four years!
So, THANK YOU Plumas County residents — and guests — for doing your part to help bolster our local economy.
Remember our challenge: If each of our newspaper readers each spent $100 this holiday season locally it would pump more than $1.8 million into our local coffers. There are only 10 more shopping days before Christmas, this newspaper is packed full of ads offering great ideas and super deals!
the $100 challenge!
With the holidays just around the corner and given the state of our economy, this special shop at home message — or challenge, if you will — from a year ago certainly warrants repeating.
If each of our newspaper readers spent just $100 each shopping at home this holiday season, it would pump over $1.8 million into the Plumas County economy — and that’s based on a conservative average of just two readers per newspaper sold each week. And it’s worth noting: For every $100 spent with a local business, $68 is returned to the community.
free oil changes for seniors
Once again, in the true spirit of Thanksgiving, The Twenty Garage in Chester is honoring Senior Citizens (62 and older) and their caretakers by giving them (limited to the first 20) a free oil change. It happens on Nov. 20, so be sure you are the first in line. Ken Anthony’s shop is behind the Kopper Kettle restaurant and provides complete automotive service for cars and light trucks, both foreign and domestic.
crescent country winners
As always, Barbara and Lisa said their annual Holiday Open House was a huge success. Visitors enjoyed delicious appetizers and hot mulled cider. Three of them — Inez Robbins and Sandy Condon from Quincy and Diane Long from Chester — were especially happy, each winning a $50 gift certificate.
wildwood seniors fundraiser
Gamboni’s Peninsula Grill is hosting “The Artists Of Wildwood” fundraiser Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Owner John Gamboni said there will be a silent auction featuring the work of several local artists, along with a table of assorted homemade crafts offered for sale that were created by some of the talented Wildwood residents. Donations of $10 will be accepted, which includes appetizers. Proceeds will benefit the Wildwood senior activities department.
Francis joins Chester Dentist
Dr. Eric Dunbar is pleased to announce that Vicki Francis, RDA, has joined his dental team. Vicki is excited to share her expertise with her new teammates and said she looks forward to the challenge of learning new aspects of dentistry such as orthodontics. Vicki has lived in the Chester area for 30 years and has seven years experience working in the dental field. Dr. Dunbar has been practicing for 19 years and is closing in on his fifth year at their Almanor location. The office provides most aspects of dental care — from children's dentistry to dentures and implants.
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Last week, Amazon launched a new streaming music service and tried to differentiate itself from the competition by using lower prices.
Now it’s using Garth Brooks.
Amazon Music Unlimited — the service Amazon sells for $10, $8 and $4 a month — will be the only service streaming songs from the country star, who until today was one of the last big music acts who didn’t stream their work.
You won’t be able to stream all of Brooks’s music today — just his new single, “Baby, Let’s Lay Down and Dance” and two greatest hits albums. Amazon says Brooks’s upcoming album “Gunslinger” will also stream on the service, as well as future projects like a Christmas album with his wife, Trisha Yearwood.
Amazon will also be the only digital service to sell digital downloads of Brooks’s music. It says almost all of Brooks’s back catalog will be for sale via its Amazon music store.
Amazon isn’t announcing the terms of the deal, but it appears to be a long-term one; the company will also sponsor a Brooks concert tour next year.
Earlier this month, I asked Amazon music boss Steve Boom whether his company was interested in signing up artists for exclusive deals, as rival services Tidal and Apple Music had done.
“For us, the jury is out,” he said, which in retrospect seems to be not entirely truthful. That one goes in the ledger, Steve.
We don’t know whether this deal will be the first of many for Amazon or a one-off. But we do know that it’s different from the Tidal and Spotify exclusives with acts like Beyoncé and Drake, because it’s with an artist that hit his commercial peak a couple decades ago.
But Brooks is still a very big deal with a very large fan base — he has sold more albums in the U.S. than anyone except the Beatles — and Amazon may be correct in betting that many Garth Brooks fans have yet to sign up for a streaming music service.
So his presence on Amazon may be an effective marketing tool.
The deal is also a reminder of the rare leverage a handful of music acts enjoy when they, rather than a music label, own the rights to their music. Brooks controls the rights to almost all of his back catalog, except for “Man Against Machine,” a 2014 album he put out with Sony Music’s RCA label.
That control had previously allowed him to keep his music off of Apple’s iTunes store. And two years ago, that control allowed him to launch GhostTunes, an online store that has been the exclusive place to buy his music online.
That store doesn’t appear to have been a giant success, but it was his, at least until now. Amazon says GhostTunes will remain open, but says it intends to eventually operate the site itself.
Which means Brooks found a way to sell both his music and his store to the web’s biggest retailer.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.


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SolarEdge Technologies, global smart energy technology company, announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a major stake in Kokam Co., Ltd.
Headquartered in South Korea, Kokam is a provider of Lithium-ion battery cells, batteries and energy storage solutions.
Moreover, founded in 1989, Kokam has been manufacturing Lithium-ion cells and providing reliable, safe, high-performance battery solutions for the past twenty-nine years. Kokam provides battery solutions for a wide-variety of industries, including ESS (energy storage systems), UPS, electric vehicles (EV), aerospace, marine and more.
The acquisition of approximately 75% of outstanding equity shares of Kokam reflects an aggregate investment of approximately $88 million, including related transaction expenses. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the coming weeks. Over time, the Company intends to purchase the remaining outstanding equity shares of Kokam that are currently listed on the Korean over the counter exchange through open-market purchases and otherwise, eventually resulting in Kokam becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of SolarEdge.
“The acquisition of Kokam will enable us to grow our offering, adding already proven battery storage to our product portfolio,” said Guy Sella, CEO, Chairman and Founder of SolarEdge. “Our technological innovation combined with Kokam’s world-class team and renowned battery storage solutions, will enable seamless integration with our current solutions, taking us a further step toward making solar installations smarter and more beneficial.”


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Tv personality, model and make-up mogul Kylie Jenner has posted a recent video of her car collection on her verified Instagram page.
The 22-year-old mogul shared her car collection and she focused his new brand Bugatti.
In that video, There are also Range Rover, Lamborghini, and Ferrari like a lot of luxury vehicles behind Bugatti. Jenner opens Bugatti’s door and showed off us inside the car.
See the Instagram video below.


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COUNCIL chiefs have explained why spaces at two Huddersfield town centre car parks are out of use at the same time.
About 70 spaces are unavailable at the bus station car park because of repairs.
Long-running work on concrete parapets is set to finish by the first week of November.
Further parking spaces were lost this week when three out of six levels were sealed off for maintenance work at the multi- storey next to Queensgate market hall.
Some shoppers asked why both schemes had to be carried out together.
A Kirklees Council spokeswoman said: "The work being carried out at the market hall car park is waterproofing.
"This had to be done now in order to complete it before winter arrives.
"We wanted everything to be in order for the university graduation week and the start of the Christmas shopping period."


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TAZEWELL, VA (WVNS)–Infant formula shortages are plaguing the nation and even hits home in the two Virginias.
It’s getting harder and harder to find grocery shelves stocked with baby formula. And there are different factors that are in play when it comes to the situation. It’s a supply chain issue and one large manufacturer was forced to close its doors due to contamination at the facility.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said he and 30 other Senators wrote a letter urging the manufacturer to reopen and increase formula production.
“Since that letter has gone; three bits of good news. First, the company whose plant was shut down reached an agreement yesterday where they will reopen their plant with the safety concerns resolved within the next couple of weeks,” Kaine said.
Senator Kaine said the federal government even resorted to looking to other countries for help.
“The Biden Administration has announced they will allow importation of baby formula, safe baby formula from other countries to help deal with the short-term supply challenge,” Kaine said.
Virginia Senator Mark Warner said the federal government is also looking at ways to help mothers who are on public assistance programs such as WIC. That legislation is already in the House.
“My friend Bobby Scott has got legislation in the House that would allow particularly those moms who are on any kind of public assistance to be able to buy any baby formula they want,” Warner said.


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We have found some free disney couture videos and pictures.
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina is one of Disney’s latest undertakings. The resort has been designed by Walt Disney Imagineers in cooperation with local Hawaiians to ensure an authentic Hawaiian experience for guests. Its full name ... Source: Examiner
PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 21, 2011 – Insiderslab.com issues new research reports that highlight large insider trades found in for Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, State Street, Walt Disney, Aruba, & Dendreon. Read our research reports with Interactive ... Source: PRLog (free press release)
ORLANDO — Walt Disney World says a new indoor roller coaster and a new place to interact with Disney princesses will be part of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. Disney announced details of the plans Tuesday that will double the size of the ... Source: Naples Daily News
The new Disney Channel Original Movie “ Lemonade Mouth ” is set to premiere on the Disney Channel on March 25th at 8pm ET/PT. The movie is based on the book by Mark Peter Hughes. In “Lemonade Mouth” five students with a passion for music create a ... Source: DisneyDreaming.com
Children have become very conscious of what they wear. Also, merchandise is a good opportunity and we have tie-ups with Disney for Ishaan," said Vohra. Lilliput has tied up with children's TV channel Nick India to launch a spring-summer collection of ... Source: MENAFN
But before the fashion world has a chance to recover from the long, sleepless weeks, Paris' rarified haute couture displays start up Monday. Soaked in old school Parisian decadence, Dior was tailor-made for aimless, world weary nobles circa about 1975. Source: YAHOO!
It is very important to learn how to cut back. There are some times when you shouldn't buy everything you like. For instance, having too many cars is definitely a bad thing. But if you deny yourself everything that you enjoy, however, you will actually ... Source: Zimbio
Just days after CBS expressed a "high level of concern" regarding Charlie Sheen's recent bender in Las Vegas, Denise Richards says she's had enough of his wild ways. "I think a lot of people are concerned about Charlie and my concern is obviously…what ... Source: msnbc.com
Paul Getty Center and REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater. The store, in essence, will be the stage — so get ready to get up close and personal with the dancers. The choreography will start in the storefront windows, moving into the fitting ... Source: Los Angeles Times
Logan Couture and Dany Heatley each had a goal and an assist in San Jose's second victory in a rows. Joe Thornton's empty-net goal with 48 seconds left sealed it. "Really," Thornton said, "if your best players aren't your best players, you probably don't ... Source: Philadelphia Daily News


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A notice outside a Park Street cellphone shop. (Sayantan Ghosh)
“Boys will be boys! AR Rahman and I playing with the iPhone5 :)”
— Shekhar Kapoor on Twitter on Friday
For once, Calcutta too is playing with the latest iPhone.
“iPhone 5 1st lot sold out!!!!!!” says a notice put up outside a mobile phone store on Park Street last week. What it does not say is that the second lot has already been booked even though it is yet to arrive.
From Sarat Bose Road to Salt Lake, the scene is the same in shops selling the newest version of the Apple smartphone: the first lot flew off the shelves — in the bigger stores, within 48 hours of the November 2 launch — and customers have made advance payments for the entire second lot, which might arrive only on Diwali-eve.
“We started selling the iPhone 5 on November 3 and exhausted our stock the next day,” said the manager of iStore, an exclusive Apple reseller on Park Street. Over 400 people had signed up at the shop in October to receive information about the launch date and price of the phone in India.
All six versions of the iPhone have set sales record across the globe but such demand for the pricey tech tool — sticker shock starts at Rs 45,500 for the basic 16GB model — is unprecedented in Calcutta.
“It had taken us about 10 days to sell the first lot of the iPhone 4S (the last version of the phone) last November,” said the manager of the iStore.
The two Apple distributors, Redington India and Ingram Micro, are tight-lipped about the number of units supplied to the stores. Sources said it was in hundreds, far behind the thousands of units supplied to Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Mobile retailers in the city, however, are ready to vouch for the “unprecedented” demand for the latest iPhone. “The last two iPhones, 4S and 4, too had created buzz but that did not translate into sales,” said one of them.
iStore has been receiving about 50 enquiries a day and at least six of those dropping in are offering to pay an advance. There is also “healthy” demand for the 32GB and 64GB models, priced at Rs 52,500 and Rs 59,500, respectively. These have not been released in the market yet.
According to retailers, the timing of the launch — two weeks before Diwali — has helped sales. The ad campaign did not hurt either.
Jal Balsara, a businessman who gifted an iPhone 5 to his wife the day it was released, said: “I thought an iPhone would be a much better and more innovative Diwali present than jewellery.”
The iFanatic has also found in Dhanteras, when it is a custom to buy metal products, the perfect occasion to get an iPhone. “What could be a better Dhanteras purchase than the new iPhone, which has an all-aluminium body,” said Aman Arora, who owns a mobile store in Chandni Chowk.
However, those who have not made advance booking stand slim chance of making a festive purchase. Distributors said fresh stock would reach stores on Saturday but retailers said they weren’t expecting it before Monday.
The delay is because demand has outstripped supply. With Foxconn, the Taiwanese company that manufactures the phone, struggling to cope with the demand, distributors have received fewer phones than they expected.


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Both Mahindra and Peugeot also build scooters, under in-house operations that carry slightly different names to their respective carmaking businesses.
So it’s effectively Mahindra Two Wheelers looking to purchase a stake in Peugeot Motorcycles, but each is owned by Mahindra & Mahindra and PSA Peugeot Citroen respectively.
A report by Business Standard quotes a 13 million euro (AU$18.9 million) offer from Mahindra for the 51 percent stake, along with a 15 million euro (AU$21.8 million) commitment for future product development.
Mahindra’s likely motivation for acquiring a majority stake in Peugeot would be to access the latter’s arguably superior technology and styling skills, while also giving Mahindra a vastly-improved market ‘reach’.
The Indian bike-builder is currently in a loss-making phase business-wise - as is Peugeot Motorcycles - but Peugeot is current debt-free.
The new-look board for the combined scooter company would feature two members from Peugeot and a majority three from Mahindra, but Peugeot would be responsible for running the business.
Peugeot’s models would continue as is and form the ‘upmarket’ part of a two-tier sales plan, with Mahindra focusing on more affordable models.
Mahindra has reportedly stressed that it is not looking to expand beyond a 51 percent stake in Peugeot at this stage, but whether this new arrangement will ever expand into the business of carmaking or not is unclear.
Peugeot scooters were once sold locally via an importer but have not been offered for several years, while Mahindra’s two-wheeled vehicles have never officially been sold in Australia.
- Interested in buying MAHINDRA ? Visit our MAHINDRA showroom for more information.


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Calls for the State Government provide a clear path for the industry, out of stage four lockdown
The technology industry in the Australian state of Victoria, want the government to articulate a clear roadmap out of current restrictions to boost confidence in the sector, revealed Australia’s industry representative body for innovation technology, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA).
The call comes from the AIIA’s survey it conducted recently with its Victorian based members. The survey results have been released following a meeting with the Victorian Minister for Employment, Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister Jaala Pulford, as part of a discussion on the road to recovery for the tech sector.
The survey confirmed that Victoria’s Stage four lockdown has had a dramatic impact on the local technology sector.
The survey shows that for 70 per cent of AIIA members, the Victorian Government has not clearly articulated a clear roadmap out of the current restrictions that gives their businesses confidence.
It showed that 65 per cent of tech companies in the State, many of whom are SMEs and professional services companies, were worse off under current restrictions compared to only a few months ago with revenue reduction (69 per cent) the largest area of impact followed by business continuity (41 per cent) while 25 per cent stated that the viability of their business was being impacted.
On the critical issue of jobs, the survey data is concerning with 38 per cent stating that the current Stage four restrictions will result in workforce reductions with another 28 per cent unsure. State border closures were also cited as impacting business.
AIIA CEO Ron Gauci said, there was frustration with the lack of a clear roadmap, consultation and engagement and exit strategy for Victorian business.
“What these AIIA data shows is that this is in fact the case and it also suggests that jobs have been lost and the adverse impact on businesses will continue long after restrictions are relaxed,” he said. “The survey results and its messages are clear, we are pleased that in Minister Pulford we have an active and engaged Minister who has committed to working with the AIIA and the sector to delivery targeted policies that support the local economy and jobs.”
According to AIIA, it was no “no surprise that our members see that accelerating digital investment to aid recovery in Victoria is vital with 85 per cent agreeing”.
The main area of focus suggested by members was Victorian Government invest in much needed digitisation projects (81 per cent), noted Gauci.
The AIIA is a not-for-profit organisation aimed at fuelling Australia’s future social and economic prosperity through technology innovation.


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WIDESPREAD rain across North Queensland has reinvigorated the region's cattle producers with a new sense of optimism and a desire to set the industry on the path to meet its full potential, industry body AgForce claims.
AgForce will host a forum in Charters Towers next month to discuss how to build a strong and profitable future for the north's beef industry.
Producers are being urged to attend the Advancing Beef Forum, which is being sponsored by MLA.
Organisers say the event will be important in setting the national agenda moving forward.
AgForce's North Queensland regional president Matt Bennetto said the forum would discuss a range of issues central to the northern industry's development including profitability, sustainability, regenerative practices, and supply chain issues.
"The northern herd is starting to rebuild after the devastating floods last year and, with pastures in many regions now recovering after several years of dry, this is the right time to plan for the future," Mr Bennetto of Virginia Park Station, said.
"The beef industry up here has some significant opportunities and competitive advantages over producers elsewhere in Australia, but we also have our own unique challenges."
He said the forum would feature a line-up of experienced and respected players from across the beef supply chain.
They include MLA's Mick Crowley, who will talk about increasing value across the supply chain.
Michele Lally will draw on her experience with boutique supplier Australian Micro Abattoir when discussing the importance of reducing the gap between producers and consumers.
"With more consumers demanding ethically produced red meat, sustainability and animal welfare will be a focus of discussions," Mr Benetto said.
"NQ cattle legend Peter Hall will discuss animal pain relief from a producer's perspective, while Sam Skeet from NQDT Grazing will lead local producers in a discussion about the emerging concept of regenerative agriculture."
He said AgForce Partners FTI Consulting and Acumentis would lead sessions on improving farm viability and rural property valuation trends.
Mr Bennetto said a networking function the evening prior to the forum would provide an opportunity for producers to share ideas and build connections throughout the industry.
"I hope the social element, as well as the best practice focus, will encourage producers who have not been to an AgForce event - especially the next generation of graziers - to get involved in their industry's success," Mr Bennetto said.
The forum will be held at the Charters Towers Golf Club on Friday, March 6 from 8.30am with a meet and greet the previous evening at the same location from 5pm.
Those interested in attending should RSVP via the AgForce website by Friday, February 28 to secure a place.


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The light bulbs from the Bethlehem Star on South Mountain have never been thrown away. Sometimes they were used in exit signs, but not much else. At 25 watts, they aren't very bright.
But a new use has been found for these used bulbs that will keep the symbol of the Christmas City shining brite. The bulbs are being turned in to Christmas ornaments that serve as keepsakes and a fund-raiser to keep the city's Christmas lights shining.
The Star Light ornaments were the bright idea of retired city electrician Maurice "Moe" McNeely, who spent the past 42 years decorating the Christmas City.
McNeely, whose idea it was earlier this year to recycle the bulbs and sell them, received the first of the limited-edition ornaments. It is prominently displayed in his living room.
"I'm real happy with the way it turned out," said McNeely, 61. "I bought one each for my daughters."
And now anybody can buy a piece of the star from the Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce at 509 Main St. for $10.
So far more than two dozen have been sold, and Citizen's Christmas City Committee member Bud Berge said sales have been good before the official start of the holiday shopping season.
Simple in design, the bulbs are surrounded by a blue or white wooden Moravian star-shaped frame. Each ornament comes with a certificate listing the statistics associated with the star.
The ornaments are limited and numbered, and only 246 are available. The proceeds of their sale will benefit the Citizen's Christmas City Committee, which pays for the holiday decorations in Bethlehem.
McNeely's original idea was to recycle the bulbs into desk paperweights, but Robert W.A. and Lucille "Sis" Smith, who were asked to produce the paperweights, came up with the idea to make them star ornaments.
Smith said designing the ornament as a star seemed logical. "These bulbs are coming out of the star, so why not have a star?"
"I think it was an excellent idea," McNeely said of the finished product.
Most of the bulbs still work but are at the end of their lifespans, McNeely said. The lights on the star are replaced every two years in the spring. Each bulb will stay lit for about 2,000 hours, so after two years they are replaced to prevent having burned out bulbs on the star.
McNeely said the 92-foot-tall steel star sways in the wind on the mountaintop, making it challenging to change all the bulbs in the two days allotted for the job. "It's quite an experience," he said. "You keep your eyes on the structure and hope for nice, sunny days."
And now those maintaining the star will have a new challenge: finding replacement bulbs. The kind used have been discontinued, he said.
McNeely saw that problem coming. So, before retiring, he traveled as far as the Midwest to buy up as many as he could for the star. He said the committee has enough to keep the star burning for the next four years. After that, he said the committee will have to come up with another solution.
In addition to the sale of ornaments, the committee accepts donations to keep the lights shining. Mail donations to the Citizens' Christmas City Committee, 509 Main St., Bethlehem 18018.


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At the tail end of last year, EA Games announced it is remastering the famous Mass Effect trilogy. This is a great opportunity for new players to jump in for the first time. It is also an excellent time for veterans to return and relive their favorite parts of the series. Until now, the release date has been a nebulous, early 2021 timeframe, but now we have more concrete info regarding the Mass Effect Legendary Edition release date.
The official Mass Effect Youtube dropped a new reveal video today. The video includes a preview of the updated graphics and gameplay to come. Watching it brings back memories of playing each game for the first time. That is not all that the video provides, though.
It also brought fans the highly awaited Legendary Edition release date. The remastered Mass Effect saga will be available on May 14, 2021. It will be released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Are you looking forward to it? Let us know in the comments.
Read more: FFXIV: YouTuber Suggestions To Get Started


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09/08/05 (Bloomberg) -- Palm oil futures may rise as much as 19 percent inthe next 12 months, as India and China buy more cooking oil and recordpetroleum prices boost demand in Europe for substitute fuels, analystsincluding Christine Salim said.
``I see palm oil rising to $425 a ton,'' said Salim, head of research atPT Samuel Asset Management, who counts oil palm plantation companies suchas PT Astra Agro Lestari among $5.1 million of stocks she helps manage.
Prices of palm oil, the world's second-biggest vegetable oil crop, havefallen 3.4 percent this year in Kuala Lumpur to 1,340 ringgit ($357) ametric ton, compared with a 14 percent gain in soybean oil, the biggest,in Chicago.
More than a third of imports are by China and India, where food companiestypically blend edible oils in generic packaging, making it easier toincrease the proportion of cheaper products. A recovery in prices wouldbenefit companies such as Astra Agro and IOI Corp. that have plantationsin Malaysia and Indonesia, where 85 percent of the world's oil palms grow.
``There's growing demand in both India and China, and other parts of theworld for palm oil,'' said Leo Tameeris, Singapore- based regionaldirector for strategy of Noble Grain Asia, a unit of the Hong Kong-basedtrading company, which gets more than a quarter of its sales from China.He said palm oil prices may exceed $400 a ton in the next year.
Palm oil for October delivery was unchanged at 1,340 ringgit a ton on theMalaysia Derivatives Exchange today. Soybean oil for December deliveryfell by 0.04 cent, or 0.2 percent, to 23.69 cents a pound on the ChicagoBoard of Trade.
More than a quarter of world soybean oil production is in the U.S.,according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Consumption of palm oil in China and India will rise 5.7 percent in theyear ending September 2006, USDA figures show.
In developed countries such as the U.S. and Europe, per capita consumptionof vegetable oils was about 50 kilograms last year, while developingcountries such as China and India consumed 18 to 19 kilograms, relying oncheaper animal fats, said P.R. Thakore, vice-president of marketing forPan-Century Edible Oils, a trader in Malaysia.
Global per capita consumption will rise 16 percent in the next 10 years,he said.
In India, producers use soybean oil and palm oil for blending withmustard, peanut or rapeseed oil into edible fats such as vanaspati orghee. India is among the world's top producers of peanut oil and rapeseedoil.
Prices of some vegetable oils, including rapeseed, have risen because theyare being used increasingly as an alternative to diesel fuel which hasbecome more expensive as a result of record world petroleum prices.
Europe plans to replace 2 percent of its fuel with bio- diesel this year,and as much as 5.75 percent by 2010, according to the European parliamentweb site.
Demand in Europe for rapeseed oil as a fuel substitute has helped push upprices of rapeseed, or canola, by 5.9 percent to $288.60 a ton on theWinnipeg Commodities Exchange this year.
``Demand in Europe for bio-diesel is very strong,'' Samuel Asset's Salimsaid.
The pineapple-like fruit bunches of the tropical oil palm may increase inimportance as a motor fuel additive because the trees yield more oil perhectare than other oilseeds, Thakore said. The palms produce 20 tons ofoil per hectare, compared with about 2.3 tons for soybeans, he said.
``Palm oil, as the highest yielding oilseed, should be the naturalchoice'' as a bio-diesel fuel, he said.
Demand for palm oil ``will be accelerated by the increasing use of palmoil for energy, especially in Europe, which creates a whole new area ofdemand,'' Noble's Tameeris said.
Palm oil acids and alcohol are also used in shampoos, soaps and industriallubricants.
An increase in prices would probably boost the shares of plantationcompanies, said Jason Chong, who helps manage $600 million in equities atUOB-OSK Asset Management Sdn Bhd.
``Palm oil stocks in Malaysia move very much in tandem with palm oilprices,'' Chong said in Kuala Lumpur. ``The move toward bio-fuel in Europewill augur well for long-term fundamentals.''
Shares of IOI Corp., Malaysia's largest oil-palm plantation group, haverisen 17 percent since the year started to 11.1 ringgit. Astra Agro,Indonesia's biggest, has increased 35 percent in the same period to 4,200rupiah.
Growing incomes in China and India are helping demand for palm oil, whichis preferred by makers of products such as instant noodles because it hasa longer shelf life than most alternatives.
``We are eating more oils now simply because we are cooking and eatingmore dishes,'' said Han Jun, rural economy director at the Beijing-basedDevelopment Research Center of China's State Council, on July 29. ``Ourstandard of living has risen. When we go to a restaurant, we have 12dishes.''


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The 'Most Interesting Man in the World' tells a San Antonio bar to 'stay thirsty, stay healthy'
Wurzbach Ice House recently got a shout-out from that debonair character of the popular Dos Equis commercials, the Most Interesting Man in the World.
As per his usual, the most interesting man told the team at the icehouse to "Stay Thirsty." But, he also wants them to "stay healthy," considering the current coronavirus pandemic.
READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio
"Stay well and the best is yet to come," he signed off on a video clip sent to the team as part of a morale boosting effort by management. "Go get 'em, be well."
The bar's management said a request was made to Jonathan Goldsmith, the original actor who played the Most Interesting Man until 2016, to boost the morale of employees, who they say are "a very tight family."
Goldsmith was provided with the dialogue, which also introduced the icehouse's newly designed T-shirts for sale, according to management.
Most Interesting Man says, *Our Groovy new designed T-shirts are available* also our 2020 Fiesta medals Limited quantity = ORDER TODAY for pickup https://my-site-104023-108316.square.site/shop/2Posted by Ken Mohundro on Tuesday, May 5, 2020
"We will come back strong, my friends," Goldsmith says in the video. "Please remember, we are going to get through this, we are a team, we are going to come back stronger than ever. We will pull together, think together and nurture each other and love together."
Goldsmith has some history with San Antonio. In 2014, he served as the Grand Marshal for San Antonio's Fiesta Flambeau Parade.
The Good Newsletter: A weekly dose of inspiring San Antonio stories, delivered to your inbox
Wurzbach Ice House says they are "eager" to reopen once given the go ahead from the state government and are hoping to welcome patrons back before the end of May. Once able to reopen, the bar will implement social distancing and safety measures for staff and customers.
Until then, the business at 10141 Wurzbach Road is offering these curbside pickup of drinks and snacks. The T-shirts Goldsmith mentioned in his cameo can be purchased here. All proceeds generated from sales of Wurzbach Ice House-branded merchandise benefit staff members "in most need," according to the management.
Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | firstname.lastname@example.org | @maddyskye


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Qualcomm and Apple’s tit for tat legal battle continues yet again this week with a series of new filings from Qualcomm, one of which seeks to ban some iPhone X sales in the US.
Three new lawsuits allege that Apple is infringing 16 Qualcomm patents with the iPhone 7, 8, and X, as well as their Plus models. Many of the patents cover technology that improves battery life, but others focus on additional smartphone tech. In one case, Qualcomm says Apple is relying on its patented technology to create the iPhone’s Portrait Mode effect.
The lawsuits ask for unspecified payments from Apple for the alleged patent infringement and for the court to make Apple stop using those technologies. Qualcomm goes further in a claim with the US International Trade Commission, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune, where it asks for imports of iPhone Xs using modems from its rival, Intel, to the banned, which would prevent the device from being sold on AT&T and T-Mobile (that is, unless Apple started buying modems for those phones from Qualcomm).
In particular, Qualcomm points to the iPhone X’s multitasking interface and its similarities to the interface webOS used to use. Qualcomm apparently now owns patents covering that interface, as well as other technology first developed at Palm. “All of these Palm inventions — owned by Qualcomm — have vastly improved the functionality of mobile devices and the user experience, and all of them are widely found in Apple products without license or permission,” Qualcomm writes in one of its lawsuits.
Qualcomm already filed a series of similar claims against Apple back in July, again asking for payments and for a ban on iPhones. But this week, it’s updating those claims to include the iPhone X, which wasn’t out when the legal battle first began.
The filings were issued yesterday, shortly after Apple filed its own patent infringement lawsuit against Qualcomm. In that suit, Apple said Qualcomm’s behavior was akin to “a common patent troll.”
Qualcomm pointed to its filings when asked for comment. Apple also referred us to yesterday’s filings when asked for comment.
This legal dispute started at the beginning of the year after the Federal Trade Commission accused Qualcomm of anti-competitive behavior. Apple then filed a lawsuit making similar accusations and continued to make those claims in courts around the world. Qualcomm has fired back, and we’ve been watching the volleying play out over the last several months.
These patent lawsuits are more of a sideshow. They’re largely a defensive maneuver for Qualcomm, which has already been fined by regulators in other countries for similar behavior to what it’s now under attack for in the US. The real battle to watch is the one around whether Qualcomm will have to change its overall patent licensing behavior, which could mean the company will earn far less money off the sales of its modems.


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Brits face a tea shortage - just as boffins have revealed drinking it helps folks live longer.
Shoppers threatened a "revolution" after being warned they may struggle to find one of the nation's favourite drinks on the shelves due to `supply issues' facing supermarkets. Sainsbury's announced there are nationwide' problems which could impact the availability of black tea.
Tesco shoppers said they could not get their own brand teabags. Imports from the East have been hit by Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea forcing vessels to head round southern Africa instead of cutting through the conflict-hit Suez Canal – adding up to a fortnight to trips.
Check out more of the latest news stories from the Daily Star.
UK-bound ships are particularly vulnerable after RAF airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen. Brit cargo vessel Morning Tide was hit by a missile as it tried to navigate the Red Sea last week. The Houthis claimed responsibility.
A sign posted in a Sainsbury's store read: “We are experiencing supply issues affecting the nationwide supply of black tea. We apologise for any inconvenience and hope to be back in full supply soon.”
Any shortage would be particularly hard to swallow for Brits who down 100 million cups of tea-a-day – 36 billion-a-year – making it second only to coffee as the nation's best-loved popular beverage.
Tesco had recently warned supplies of tea - along with wine, meat and fish – could be hit by the crisis. Professor Tim Benton, director of the Environment and Society Centre at think-thank Chatham House, said diverting ships around South Africa would double supply times and costs – triggering shortages and price rises.
“There'll be some things – spices or teas – where the market will be quite difficult to replace,” he has warned.
Tea is largely produced in Asia and East Africa, with China, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya turning out around three-quarters of global supplies. Freight shipments from these regions have faced major disruption over the past two months due to Red Sea attacks.
Sparsh Agarwal, owner of several tea gardens in Darjeeling in India and founder of Dorje Teas, warned in December tea shipments were being stalled due to the disruption. “We sent shipments to the US and Europe two weeks ago but they are still in Bombay port and have not been picked up yet,” he said at the time.
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “There is temporary disruption to some black tea lines but the impact on consumers will be minimal as retailers are not expecting significant challenges.”
A Sainsbury's spokesman said it was an “industry wide issue”. Tesco has not responded to a request for comment.
The news came as boffins revealed in medical journal The Lancet new research suggests drinking three cups of tea-a-day could reduce the ageing process and help people live longer. Scientists at Sichuan University analysed the tea-drinking habits of nearly 14,000 adults living in China and the UK.
Assessments of biomarkers such as blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat were taken to determine their biological age – an estimate of how well they are ageing at a cellular level as opposed to their chronological age. Daily drinkers of black and green tea showed signs of slower biological ageing – and among those supping three cups-a-day the benefits were marked.
“The exposure-response relationship suggested that consuming around three cups of tea, or 6-8g of tea leaves per day, may offer the most evident anti-ageing benefits,” the researchers wrote.
“Moderate tea consumption exhibited the strongest anti-aging benefits among consistent tea drinkers.”
Alex Ruani, a researcher in nutrition science at University College London said: “Black and green tea are by far the richest source flavan-3-ols, a subgroup of the healthy plant compounds found in many foods, which can lower the chances of diet-related problems such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
“These compounds work in various ways, such as improving blood pressure, blood flow, cholesterol and even blood sugar levels, but they also help to safeguard our cells from ageing-related.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.


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Microsoft announces Surface Book laptop starting at $1,499
Microsoft brings a new device the Surface line up from today, introducing the new ‘Surface Book’ their own beast laptop, their first laptop! It doesn’t limit itself to be called a laptop, you can smoothly unplug the screen and use it as a tablet or just turn it all around to 180º.
The specs of the Surface Book sport a 13.5 inches display boarding a pixel density of 267PPI. The display is manufactured in a way that it is conjoined with the glass optically and brings the best-in-class display according to Microsoft
The new Surface Book is claimed to be for the people who want more productivity, a larger display and “the perfect typing experience” that a laptop can provide. Microsoft is a lot excited about this new keyboard they were able to invent, they call it the “perfect” keyboard.
This isn’t all! There’s a lot lovely news that we just covered! Go and read all those crazy good stuff talked by Microsoft! Or click here: http://true-tech.net/lumia15
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Laura clothing chain files for creditor protection
Store closures possible, but retailer says it will continue operating as it restructures
Canadian women's fashion retailer Laura's Shoppe, which owns Laura, Laura Petites and Melanie Lyne, has filed for creditor protection.
The company, with more than 150 stores across the country, said it expects to close some underperforming stores but plans to keep doing business as usual while it restructures.
Laura admits it experienced large losses in 2012 and 2013, but president Kalman Fisher said sales have since rebounded.
A filing under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act protects the retailer from claims by creditors while it revamps its operations.
"We fully expect to reorganize the business, emerge as a strong and well-financed retailer and continue to serve our customers for many years to come," Fisher said in a news release.
"We continue to fill very important needs in the marketplace. Our customers have shown incredible loyalty to us, and have responded well to our redoubled efforts to please them during these difficult economic times."
He did not specify how many stores might close.
The women's fashion segment in Canada is very competitive, with several casualties over the last two years, including big department stores such as Sears, which is closing stores, and Target, which pulled out of Canada altogether.
A flood of newcomers to the marketplace and the rise of online sales has hurt fashion retailing.
Laura was founded by Laura Wolstein with a shop in Montreal in 1930 and grew into a Canada-wide chain in the 1990s on sales of quality clothing for women in the workplace. It is still family owned.


text: Indonesian poultry integrator Widodo Makmur Unggas (WMU) claims that the rising price of local feed corn does not significantly affect its business performance. CEO Ali Mas’adi said its production and revenue contribution are bigger in processing rather than in farming. “The corn price increase doesn’t really affect our business. We can control the cost,” he added. Elsewhere, WMU sees a 300% sales growth this year driven by growing capacity utilization and market distribution. Its H1 2021 net sales jumped 157.66% to USD 91.23 million year-on-year.


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Since appearing on Shark Tank and securing an investment from Mark Cuban, sustainable beauty and personal care technology company Nohbo has expanded its global footprint and entered into the direct-to-consumer, hospitality, and consumer product goods industries.
WHO: Nohbo was founded by Benjamin Stern and is pioneering the research and development of podded personal care products. Nohbo is combating excess plastic bottle waste with single-use, dissolvable personal care drops for shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and shaving creams by encapsulating an innovative formulation of high-performance beauty products in a water-soluble membrane. Today the company sells its Drops directly on its website, and plans to offer subscription-based offerings later this year.
WHY: The capital, which will enable Nohbo to scale its manufacturing and produce 15 million units per month, comes at a pivotal time in the company’s growth trajectory.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “There is a disturbing global addiction and dependence on single use plastics. For personal care products alone, the US market consumes nearly 1,200 football stadiums worth of shampoo bottle waste annually,” said Ben Stern, Nohbo founder & CEO. “The mantra of reducing, reusing and recycling simply isn’t enough anymore. Nohbo replaces the need for plastics outright in a novel format that we are all familiar with; pods. We’re thrilled to partner with investors like Mark Cuban, Material Impact, and Safer Made who individually and collectively possess the insight, experience and wherewithal to grow our business, all while making a substantial impact in the process.”
“We are excited to join Nohbo’s mission to change the paradigm of how the hospitality industry and how individual consumers use personal care products in the 21st century,” said Adam Sharkawy, co-founder and Managing Partner of Material Impact. “Single use plastics are a menace to our environment. This is truly a material science innovation that is making a big impact on one of the largest culprits of plastic waste in our land and waterways.”
“Ben is global now, and that’s just the beginning,” said Mark Cuban in Nohbo’s Shark Tank Update that aired on ABC this past January. “Now that the product is ready for primetime, we are going to add consumer subscriptions. This literally could be a $100 million dollar enterprise over the next five to six years built around sustainability. There is nothing better than doing well by doing good!”
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Kickstarter: Double Fine campaign has had “blockbuster effects”
Double Fine’s successful campaign brought in 60,000 new users to the crowd funding website.
In a blog post, crowd funding website Kickstarter has outlined the effect Double Fine’s adventure game project has had on its growth.
The most telling statistic is the number of pledges the site received – in the video game category, the site averaged 629 pledges per week. After Double Fine’s campaign, the number increased to 9,755 pledges per week, excluding pledges to Double Fine itself.
“Double Fine brought a lot of new people — more than 60,000 first-time backers — to the site,” Kickstarter said. “Did that activity extend to other Video Games projects? To measure this, we calculated the average number of pledges per week to projects in the Video Games category before and after the launch of Double Fine. The dotted line marks Double Fine’s launch; pledges to Double Fine itself are excluded.”
The effect has been similar monetary wise, as well:
- $1,776,372 was pledged to the Video Games category in Kickstarter’s first two years. In the six weeks after Double Fine, $2,890,704 was pledged ($6,227,075 counting Double Fine).
- Before Double Fine, one video game project had exceeded $100,000. Now, nine have.
- Wasteland 2, a million-dollar game project that launched after Double Fine, has received nearly $400,000 in pledges from Double Fine’s first-time backers.


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Now, players of the regular PC version and Steam users will be able to fight side by side in the immersive PvP battles the legendary F2P strategic shooter is known for. The Steam version is available to new accounts only but will feature everything World of Tanks PC has to offer.
World of Tanks has thrilled millions of players around the world, introducing unique armoured warfare across dozens of detailed maps – releasing thousands of features, unleashing hundreds of events, whilst launching 11 nations and 600 vehicles.
For more information, check out the Steam page.
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