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From its headquarters in Atlanta, paper products giant Georgia-Pacific makes and markets brands known not only to consumers (Brawny paper towels, Quilted Northern toilet paper and others) but also brands familiar to office suppliers and home builders.
While Georgia-Pacific is an unqualified economic success, the Koch Industries property is far less successful when it comes to ensuring the safety of its more than 40,000 workers, according to a recent report. Despite investing billions in modernizing equipment, the company continues to see steadily increasing numbers of workplace accidents and worker injuries at its facilities.
Georgia-Pacific is a profits juggernaut, Fortune and ProPublica report, earning more than $1 billion per year.
Starting in 2013, the company began to an upward trend in worker fatalities and on-the-job injuries. The company’s CEO at the time said, “There is nothing worse than getting a phone call at 2 in the morning and saying somebody has been seriously injured or killed in one of our facilities. And that is something we cannot let happen.”
And yet the accidents and injuries rose 30 percent between 2010 and the end of 2017, according to internal company data. Amputations, burns, fatalities and days lost to injuries all rose.
ProPublica and Fortune state, however, that “it is unclear what exactly is making the company more dangerous.” Koch and Georgia-Pacific both stress worker safety, and yet the employee injury and fatality rates continue to trail the rest of the paper and pulp industry.
No matter which line of work you are in, or who you work for, an on-the-job injury often means that you need both time off to recover and Georgia workers’ compensation benefits in order to keep meeting your financial obligations. Contact a Jonesboro attorney experienced in workers’ comp appeals who can help you get the benefits you need and deserve.


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Why entrepreneurs are being viewed as social smugglers
What led to a land that once celebrated vysyas to look down upon them? The latter’s generosity solely towards monks could have contributed.
Sensex slumps 271 pts; Nifty below 9,850 as Sikka’s exit spoils mood
Nifty IT bled the most, plunging 2.11 per cent to end the session at 10,...
7 smart ways to cut down your wedding costs
Weddings can cost a bomb. So if you're short of cash, among other things, these smart hacks can h...
How Marico’s digital crusader Mukesh Kripalani is fueling growth with digital innovation
Realizing this lofty vision will likely prove a long row to hoe. If it has to grow as intended, Marico needs to balance efficiency’s yin with innovation’s yang.
Budget 2017: Aim to create more capacity to increase speed of trains, says Suresh Prabhu
Most of funds will go towards modernisation and safety heads. Station development is big on our agenda.
Marketplaces take top sellers into confidence ahead of big sale
The business model, started by Amazon India under its ‘Seller Flex’ programme last year, is being adopted by other marketplaces ahead of the festive season.
Pranav Pandya refused to accept nomination to Rajya Sabha
Pranav Pandya, head of All World Gayatri Pariwar, who was on Wednesday nominated to Rajya Sabha by the Modi government.
Innovative ideas will continue to get funded even as entrepreneurs hunker down to seek out paths to profits
Some of the valuation exuberance in the past moved the focus away from value differentiation and demonstrating sustainable business metrics to solely fundraising.
How fat Indian weddings are going on a crash diet to cope with demonetisation
For those who do not want to scrimp on costs in the time of a cash crunch, wedding planners who have tied up with banks is an option.
Here are 10 myths about yoga debunked
Yoga can be practised irrespective of religion, race, age, gender, profession, state, conditions, problems and sufferings.
Wipro, iGate-Patni, LG, Godrej, Sutra, MTS peg incentives for executives to nurture skills
Senior executives' compensation are no longer limited to targets and employee satisfaction is linked to their variable and incentives.
River sutra: A cruise on the Nile
The author had a sense of floating down the centuries as she took a cruise on the Nile on her first evening in Cairo.
Rail Budget 2016: Suresh Prabhu earmarks Rs 50 crore innovation grant, ropes in Ratan Tata
Railways would be launching innovation challenge administered by an Innovation Committee comprising reputed investors including 'Kayakalp' headed by Ratan Tata.
Startups spending big bucks on creative agencies to improve brand value
The results, entrepreneurs said, are manifold ranging from increasing customer base, attracting investor attention and better recall value in respective fraternities.
Start-up e-commerce cos' hiring rises sharply
Hiring by start-up companies across the country's entrepreneurial sector is rising sharply, driven by the upsurge of new firms in the e-commerce and online retail segments.

domain: news


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August 20, 2016 – Pictures & Video: Floyd Mayweather Orders $2.5Million Kode57 Enji Supercar Designed By Ken Okuyama From Nigerian Car Dealer
Check out this extremely rare car American boxing champ Floyd Mayweather just ordered from a popular Nigerian car dealer in the US.
Yesterday, Mayweather saw the insanely rare car for the very first time at a car show in Pebble Beach California. He immediately ordered it.
Obi Okeke is the only representative in North and South America authorised to sell this expensive car designed by Japanese Industrial designer Ken Okuyama.
See photos and video of Kode57 Enji below


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SoftBank, Toyota's Self-driving Car Venture to Add Five Additional Automakers: Sources
【Summary】The self-driving car joint venture of SoftBank Corp and Toyota Motor will receive investment from an additional five Japanese automakers, two sources familiar with the matter said, broadening backing for the all-Japan effort.
TOKYO (Reuters) - The self-driving car joint venture of SoftBank Corp and Toyota Motor will receive investment from an additional five Japanese automakers, two sources familiar with the matter said, broadening backing for the all-Japan effort.
Mazda Motor Corp, Suzuki Motor Corp, Subaru Corp, Isuzu Motors and Toyota unit Daihatsu will each take a stake of a few percent in the venture, the sources said.
With the move to autonomous driving and electric vehicles creating ructions across the industry and spawning once unlikely partnerships, the venture, Monet, which is developing an on-demand self-driving service platform, hopes to help Japan's auto industry ride the shift.
Monet, announced in October, added investment from Honda Motor Co and Toyota's truck making subsidiary Hino Motors in March, leaving SoftBank Corp the largest shareholder with a 40.2% share and Toyota owning 39.8%.
When Honda and Hino joined in March, the total investment in Monet was 2.5 billion yen ($23.20 million). It was not immediately clear how much the five new partners are investing in the venture.
Monet declined to comment on the investment, which was first reported by Nikkei. Mazda, Suzuki, Subaru, Isuzu and Daihatsu also declined to comment.
The venture's head told Reuters earlier this month it was planning to expand its investor base. Monet hopes to export a basic version of the service to Southeast Asia in 2020 and aims to roll out on-demand bus and car services in Japan in the next year.
resource from: Reuters
Chinese Automaker BAIC Buys a 5% Stake in Daimler
Ford to Upgrade Chicago Plant to Produce SUVs, Hiring 450 Workers
Toyota to Team Up with China’s CATL to Develop Batteries for Electric Vehicles
Toyota Begins Autonomous Driving Tests on Public Roads in Europe
Tesla Drops its Lower-Priced Model S, X Variants, Cuts Price of Model 3 Sedan
BMW China and Beijing-based Mapping Company NavInfo to Develop HD Maps for Autonomous Driving
Electrify America to Offer Free Charging to Buyers of Harley Davidson’s Electric Livewire Motorcycle
Ford, Volkswagen Promise Details on Electric & Autonomous Vehicle Partnership
- General Motors Officially Developing an Electric Pickup Truck
- Lidar Startup Luminar Raises $100 Million in Latest Funding Round, Is Working with 12 of the World’s Largest Automotive Companies
- Intel’s Responsibility-Sensitive Safety Program Aims to Make Autonomous Cars More Assertive
- China's Neolix Begins Producing Autonomous Delivery Vans
- Continental AG to Showcase a Low-Voltage 48V Full-Hybrid Solution
- Electrify America Unveils its EV Charging Smartphone App Designed to Make Charging Easy
- Ford to Upgrade Chicago Plant to Produce SUVs, Hiring 450 Workers
- Uber Sets its IPO Terms, is Aiming for a Valuation up to $91.5 Billion
- Lyft, Aptiv Pass 50,000-Trip Mark With Autonomous Vehicles
- Uber Off to a Rocky Start in Stock Market Debut as Stock Slips 7%


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Apple is slashing the price of its smart watch and introducing smaller versions of its iPhone and iPad Pro.
At a town hall event held at the company's headquarters on Monday, Apple executives announced several new versions and upgrades to its line of products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the popular Apple Watch will now start at $299, which is a $50 drop from its previous cost. Cook also unveiled several new bands for the Apple Watch.
The company also announced the return of an iPhone with a 4-inch screen, which was last seen on the iPhone 5. Greg Joswiak, head of iPhone marketing, said the new iPhone SE is "the most powerful 4-inch phone ever."
The new iPhone SE will sell for $399 with 16GB of storage and $499 with 64GB. The device will hit stores on March 31.
A smaller, lighter version of the iPad Pro was also announced. A 9.7-inch iPad Pro will join its 12.9-inch counterpart on March 31.
The smaller iPad Pro will sell for $599 with 32GB of storage, $749 with 128GB and $899 with 256GB. A 256GB version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will also be introduced at a cost of $1,099.
Apple also announced a free software upgrade that will be available to users of its mobile products and Apple TV on Monday. The new iOS 9.3 will add features to popular apps including Notes, News, Health, CarPlay and others.
Read full details from the company's special announcement below.
Clint Davis is a writer for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.


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DENVER - About three million people a year are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S. every year. One of them is Heather Sabatier.
"I would very often, burn, peel and then start again," said Sabatier.
She said she didn't think about sunscreen in the past at all.
"I mean i wasn't one of those crazy people who put on the baby oil and the tin foil to try to get tan, but I didn't pay much attention to how much sun exposure I had when I was younger," Sabatier said.
Those years added up and that's why Heather wears a hat and sunglasses any time she's outdoors.
"A year ago, right here on my forehead and then another one six months ago right here on my cheek," Sabatier said as she pointed out her two scars. The one on her cheek is still visible.
Doctors diagnosed Sabatier with basal cell carcinoma.
"It's a slow growing tumor and over time it can get larger," said Dr. Joel Cohen with AboutSkin Dermatology.
The cancer can start as small as a dot on your hand. While not deadly like Melanoma, Dr. Cohen said it can cause damage.
"Basil cell carcinoma destruction is usually local where that penetration into muscle and down to the bone can occur. It could threaten the eye in other areas," said Dr. Cohen.
"Believe me, you don't want to end up with scars," warned Sabatier.
To make sure her kids don't go through what she has gone through, she makes them put on sunscreen anytime they're outdoors.
"The greatest gift I could give them is to teach them about skin care and the greatest gift they can give me is to stay healthy," said Sabatier.
Some parents have asked when is it safe to start applying sunscreen on their kids. Dr. Cohen said sunscreen isn't recommended for babies under six months but there are products out there specifically made for kids. He said the ingredients in them can be found in makeup among other things and they're FDA approved.
For more skin protection tips, AboutSkin Dermatology


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This story has been updated and can be viewed here.
Read Robinson’s statement on the lawsuit here.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against mega-broker C.H. Robinson after farmers claim the company engaged in illegal business practices by misleading the farmers on what the actual freight charges were.
The group of farmers filed the lawsuit in federal court in Minnensota mid-January seeking a total of $1.1 billion for reportedly overcharging shipping costs while pocketing the additional profits and underpaying farmers for various types of produce from both North and South America.
The farmer’s alleged “freight topping,” saying that C.H. Robinson and subsidiary Robinson Fresh, regularly overcharged freight costs, pocketed the profits and failed to disclose those profits which violates the federal Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and then underpaid them for their produce.
Congress enacted PACA in 1930 “to provide a practical remedy to small farmers and growers who were vulnerable to the sharp practices of financially irresponsible and unscrupulous brokers in perishable commodities” (Chidsey v. Guerin). Essentially put, Robinson is to provide a full transparency into what the shipping and selling price were to its clients, the farmers.
Instead, according to the complaint the company allegedly tracked profits from freight topping in a separate, internal accounting system while presenting incomplete figures from a separate system to farmers and grocers. Because grocers (Robinson’s resale customers) pay the cost of freight and produce in one transaction, overcharged shipping often times leads to undervalued produce.
According to the complaint Robinson allocation of the customer delivered invoiced amount between freight and product components as above resulted in additional profit to Robinson between the actual cost of the transport charged by the trucker and the amount Robinson allocated to the cost. This secret profit was only accounted for in Navisphere or Compass accounting systems and was not auditable by the USDA’s PACA branch in the case of a regulatory audit of CHR Inc. by the USDA.” The complaint alleges these “ unauthorized freight profits exceeded $1,000 per load of produce” and this profit was not reported to the farmers. Because grocers pay the cost of freight and produce in one transaction, overcharged shipping can lead to undervalued produce
Robinson had an incentive to self-deal at the expense of its growers, according to the complaint. If Robinson had merely passed through the cost of transportation without a hidden, unauthorized transportation profit, it would have received only the agreed upon percentage of the true sales price as commissions—the same as its honest competitors—the remainder of the customer purchase price above the charge by the trucker would be proceeds payable to the grower, the complaint alleges.
Texas Public Radio recently spoke to attorney Andrew Thomasson. “This multi-billion dollar company — we know through their internal memos — have deliberately sought to steal money from the most vulnerable segment of society — our backbone. [Farmers] are the salt of the earth — as American as you can get,” Thomasson said. “And that [C.H. Robinson] would steal from them is beyond me. I don’t think there’s any class of person that Robinson is not willing to deceive or take money from in the name of profit.”
Due to the size of Robinson, if this class action is certified, hundreds of farmers could join the suit, making this one of the largest of its kind.
Freight Broker Live will continue to follow this story


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TuneIn Teams Up With Bonneville
TuneIn makes another alliance, adding Bonneville International's stations in four major markets to its streaming service, which reaches listeners all over the world. TuneIn CEO John Donham said, "We are thrilled to make the varied programming that Bonneville International broadcasts available to our 40 million monthly active listeners. This alliance is another step in our journey to make all the best stations and programming accessible to everyone, no matter where they are."
Bonneville has stations in Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, and Sale Lake City, and Bonneville President/CEO Jeff Simpson said, "Through this partnership with TuneIn, and as we expand our reach into the digital realm, we're giving our dedicated listeners almost unlimited ways to hear our programming and uniquely produced content."
TuneIn programming is available through more than 200 platforms, including smartphone apps, connected dashboards, Internet home entertainment systems, and online at www.tunein.com.
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The 30 best bars of India 2022 were announced yesterday and it seems India is on the forefront of a cocktail revolution. Pune is showing the way with radically hyperlocal drinks while it's all about class and cutting edge equipment in Delhi. So, it's not a bad idea at all to scan the top bar trends across major cities India, even as you sip your latest favourite.
Glasses clinking, subtle lighting, artsy décor, vigorous bartenders and cocktails have been defining bars for centuries but now the focus has started to shift. The 30 best bars of India 2022 were announced yesterday, January 17 — based on a poll of over 250 bar enthusiasts, beverage influencers, and industry experts — that highlighted India as the new and emerging market for the bar industry.
India’s bar industry in the global eye
“India is a market of creativity in innovation and cocktail making and it is indeed a focus market,” said Thomas Mayr, Marketing and CCM Director Asia, Campari Group.
In fact, the market of pubs, bars, clubs and lounges (PBCLs), as part of the organised food service industry across India, has been rapidly growing. As per data from statistics website Statista in 2014, the market value of pubs, bar cafes and lounges in India amounted to about Rs 10,000 crore. Meanwhile, as per data by market research company IMARC group, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.3 percent during 2023-2028.
As per Greogorie Verdin, AVP, Head of Marketing at Sula Vineyards, India is the emerging wine market with immense potential for creativity.
According to a report by Reuters quoting data by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, India's $20-billion (€20.5 billion) alcohol market is set to grow by 7 percent annually in the 2021-25 period, with whisky and spirits among favourites. However, the bar industry did see a dip due to the pandemic, where consumption dropped nearly 12 percent.
But there has been a steady recovery, with bars emerging in tier 2 and 3 cities. “In the ranking from 21 to 30, we saw a diversity with bars from eight cities, and in our list of Top 50 bars we did see bars from Jaipur, Pune and Guwahati,” said Vikram Achanta, Co-Founder of 30BestBarsIndia.
Here’s a look at the bar trends in India:
Mumbai dominates, Pune prefers hyperlocal drinks
Mumbai made the most significant strides in new bar openings and the strength of beverage programmes, with eight bars making it to the Top 30. Meanwhile, four bars from Pune ran away with awards in individual categories.
Mayur Marne, owner of Cobbler and Crew, Pune, which focuses on hyperlocality in its drinks — with shrikhand, khakra and thecha flavoured cocktails — has seen immense growth in business with revenue growing from Rs 55 lakh per month to Rs 70 lakh in the span of three months, spurred by demand for hyperlocal flavours.
What Delhi demands
As per industry experts from Delhi, customers here are aware of what they want. “Sustainability, prioritising quality, hospitality and catering to customer needs is the trend that will dominate 2023,” said Minakshi Singh, Co-Founder, Sidecar, Delhi, the bar which ranked first in the list of top 30 bars.
Meanwhile, as per the best bartender of 2022, Santanu Chanda, Group Beverage Manager, The Home, New Delhi, the city wants to see new innovations; and machinery is the next big thing for the industry. “Customers want to experience hospitality, conceptualised menus, minimalistic drinks and simplicity which comes out as ultimate efficiency. With this evolution (comes the need for) new machinery,” he added.
Bengaluru is all up for sustainability and the story!
Garden city and India's silicon valley, Bengaluru, has been dubbed ‘beer capital’ of the country, but the demand for cocktails is rapidly rising in the city. As per Sarath Nair, Beverage Manager at Copitas, Four Seasons Hotel, the ‘Bengaluru experience’ is the trend here.
The bar sells 800-900 cocktails per month, which are based on local experience, indigenous spirit and hyperlocalisation, aiming towards a greener future.
“All bartenders get ingredients from their hometown and drinks inspired by that are made because it’s all about how you make the customer feel,” he added.
The guests receive re-plantable “seed bombs” as takeaways after their evening of cocktails, and are also encouraged to carry home the coasters used to place their glasses on, as they are made from holy basil seeds, making for meaningful gifts in themselves.
Kolkata is evolving while and Goa's goes back to past
Kolkata has been a city of restaurants, bars and nightclubs but now the customers have been moving towards pubs and microbreweries. “Cocktails are coming to Kolkata,” said Tanmoy Roy, Corporate Head, F&B division, of Grid Kolkata.
Roy, who has been in the business for the past 22 years, believes that a little combination of everything is what makes a bar standout in Kolkata.
Meanwhile in Panjim, Goa, the old school culture vibe is making a return. Dhruv Tutja, Co-Founder of Miguel's Panjim, has been seeing a rousing response from customers for the bar's vinyl records, where guests can listen to music while sipping on local brews.
Also read: 10 top bars in Delhi that you shouldn't miss
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Multiple retailers have added a listing for Mass Effect Trilogy Remastered to their websites, only to yank them a few days later. Now we have yet another retailer who wants in on the action.
Czech retailer Herni-Svet has added a listing for the game, complete with the Oct. 15th, 2020 release date we've seen floating around already. This retailer has a different cover art from other listings thought. It certainly looks like a legit cover art, but that's just speculation for now.
If this package really is coming out Oct. 15th, 2020, then EA has to be revealing it in the very near future!


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The problems have affected BlackBerry smartphone manufacturers
The recent announcement of BlackBerry withdrawal from the market of consumer mobile devices have a negative impact on the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer. In the second quarter, the Canadian company has suffered losses totaling nearly $ 1 billion.
According to the publication DigiTimes, ODM / OEM-manufacturer Wistron waiting for the reduction of orders from the Canadian company half due to the removal from the lineup of the two BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry plans to leave in his four smartphone portfolio with two top models and two entry-level models, said a source.
Wistron is not the only company from Taiwan, have felt the restructuring program BlackBerry. Among the victims were also component suppliers Silitech and Ichia. The last was done less damage because they started to get rid of dependence to the orders of the company from Waterloo two years ago. Orders BlackBerry occupy only 10 percent of the total supply of each of the two companies mentioned above.
Sources familiar with the situation, meanwhile, reported that the BlackBerry began to take delivery of its first 5-inch smartphone BlackBerry Z30. However, the initial orders for the most powerful smartphone in the BlackBerry portfolio were lower orders for the model of BlackBerry Z10 (first smartphone based on BlackBerry 10) in the I quarter.
These events will certainly affect the operating system, BlackBerry 10, which once predicted success. His first fablet BlackBerry unveiled last week.
Back # interview | Steve Wozniak on new phones you, ‘smart’ watches and Google Glass
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17th Nov 2023 09:03
(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London opened higher on Friday, despite weaker-than-expected October retail sales figures for the UK.
The FTSE 100 index opened up 50.90 points, 0.7%, at 7,461.07. The FTSE 250 was up 156.88 points, 0.9%, at 18,508.36, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.87 points, 0.4%, at 716.16
The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 744.69, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.9% at 15,997.34, and the Cboe Small Companies was up 0.2% at 13,360.34.
In European equities, the CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.5%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was up 0.4%.
UK retail sales declined last month despite expectations of a month-on-month increase, and declined faster than expected on an annual basis, official numbers on Friday showed.
According to the Office for National Statistics, retail sales volumes declined 2.7% year-on-year in October, quickening from a 1.3% decline in September. The September figure was revised from a previous 1.0% decline.
The October read also came in worse than feared, with market expectations of a 1.5% decline, according to FXStreet-cited consensus.
Retail sales declined 0.3% in October from September, falling short of consensus. A monthly increase of 0.3% was forecast, according to FXStreet. In September, retail sales had fallen 1.1% from August, revised from a previous 0.9% decline.
"The Bank of England's attempts to whittle down inflation back to its target of 2% is perhaps finally feeding through into consumers' pockets with this month's data reinforcing September's cliff-face drop," said Ebury analyst Phil Monkhouse.
"Whilst this may be good news for some, retailers – particularly smaller businesses - are now well on their way to becoming patient zero of sticky interest rates as shoppers turn a blind eye to Christmas festivities and prioritise winter heating costs and mortgage repayments."
The pound was quoted at USD1.2392 early on Friday in London, lower than USD1.2417 at the equities close on Thursday. The euro stood at USD1.0842, lower than USD1.0855. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JPY150.06, lower than JPY150.54.
In London's FTSE 100, AstraZeneca rose 1.5%.
The pharmaceutical firm said its Truqap treatment for patients with advanced hormone receptor positive breast cancer, in combination with Faslodex, has been approved by the US Food & Drug Administration.
This follows the results from its CapItello-291 phase 3 trial published earlier this year, which showed reduced risk of disease progression or death by 50% compared to Faslodex alone.
AstraZeneca Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit Dave Fredrickson commented: "The rapid US approval of Truqap reinforces the important role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in HR-positive breast cancer and the critical need to test patients at the time of diagnosis, as up to fifty per cent have tumours with these alterations. As a first-in-class medicine, this approval provides a critical new option for patients in the US with this specific type of disease and we look forward to bringing Truqap to the many breast cancer patients who can benefit across the globe."
Oil majors were up despite recent falls in oil prices, as oil prices improved slightly. BP rose 1.1%, while Shell was up 0.2%.
Brent oil was quoted at USD77.52 a barrel early in London on Friday, higher than USD77.44 late Thursday.
In London's FTSE 250, FirstGroup rose 3.2%.
The transport company said it agreed to a strategic decarbonisation partnership with Hitachi, forming a new 50:50 joint venture called NextGen AssetCo.
NextGen AssetCo will purchase up to 1,000 electric bus vehicles valued at around GBP100 million as part of First Bus' expanding electric bus fleet.
FirstGroup anticipates this will contribute around GBP3 million annually to its adjust earnings by its financial 2026 before any operational benefits.
FirstGroup CEO Graham Sutherland commented: "The pioneering alliance with Hitachi is a major strategic partnership for the group as we progress towards our ambitious 2035 decarbonisation target for our bus fleet. It will allow us to continue the electrification of our fleet and depots with increased efficiency and greater visibility of our financial commitment, and unlike other possible arrangements, we will retain much of the residual value in the batteries as they are taken off our buses."
Among London's small-caps, Record lost 10%.
In the six months that ended September 30, the currency and derivatives manager said pretax profit fell 16% to GBP6.3 million from GBP7.5 million a year earlier.
This tracked revenue falling 2.7% to GBP21.5 million from GBP22.1 million, although it still upped its interim dividend by 4.9% to 2.15 pence per share from 2.05p.
Record also said CEO Leslie Hill will retire in March after 31 years at the company and four years as CEO. Jan Witte will succeed Hill and be appointed onto the board as CEO-elect on January 1, with the intention of being formally appointed as CEO on April 1.
Witte is currently CEO of two Record subsidiaries Record Currency Management and Record Asset Management.
On AIM, Jersey Oil & Gas surged 14%, after it noted that it and NEO Energy, the owners of the Buchan field licences, have agreed to acquire the Western Isles floating production, storage and offloading vessel, which will be used as the processing facility for the planned redevelopment of the Buchan field.
Jersey Oil & Gas said it will receive a USD9.4 million cash payment from NEO under the terms of its farm-out transaction announced in April regarding a milestone payment on finalisation of the Greater Buchan Area development solution.
In Asia, the Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo closed up 0.5%. In China, the Shanghai Composite closed up 0.1%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong closed down 2.1%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney closed down 0.1%.
In the US on Thursday, Wall Street ended muted, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both ending up 0.1%
Gold was quoted at USD1,986.71 an ounce early in London on Friday from USD1,983.48 late Thursday.
Still to come on Friday's economic calendar, a eurozone inflation reading is released at 1000 GMT.
By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News senior reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


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Motus Holdings Limited has released its short-form summarised consolidated results for the year ended June 30, 2023. Despite facing headwinds in a global economy marked by inflation, rising interest rates, and consumer confidence challenges, the company demonstrated sustained strategic progress and a strong trading performance.
Motus showcased its resilience by delivering positive financial results despite a challenging economic environment. Key financial highlights include:
- Revenue Growth: The company’s revenue surged by 16% to R106,321 million, up from R91,978 million in 2022. This growth was achieved through increased contributions from various segments, including new vehicle sales, parts sales, pre-owned vehicle sales, and services.
- EBITDA Improvement: Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 19% to R8,083 million, compared to R6,785 million in the previous year.
- Operating Profit: Operating profit saw a 14% increase to R5,723 million, up from R5,029 million in 2022. This improvement was driven by positive contributions from Aftermarket Parts, Retail and Rental, and Mobility Solutions segments.
- Dividends: Motus declared a total dividend per share of 710 cents, consistent with the previous year. An interim dividend of 300 cents per share was paid, and a year-end dividend of 410 cents per share will be paid in October 2023.
- Net Asset Value: Net asset value per share grew by 25% to 10,189 cents per share, indicating the company’s value creation and asset growth.
- Earnings per Share: Earnings per share (EPS) increased by 6% to 2,008 cents per share, demonstrating the company’s ability to generate profitability even in challenging conditions.
Motus operates across various segments, including Import and Distribution, Retail and Rental, Mobility Solutions, and Aftermarket Parts. Despite the economic challenges, all segments contributed positively to the company’s overall performance:
- Aftermarket Parts: This segment showed significant growth, with a 52% increase in revenue. It played a crucial role in reducing the company’s dependency on vehicle sales and strengthening its integrated business model.
- Retail and Rental: The Retail and Rental segment recorded a 14% growth in revenue, indicating steady recovery in the automotive and vehicle rental sectors.
- Mobility Solutions: Despite the challenges, Mobility Solutions achieved a 9% increase in revenue, driven by value-added products and services (VAPS).
- Import and Distribution: While this segment experienced a more moderate growth of 3%, it remained a solid contributor to the company’s overall performance.
Global Economic Challenges
Motus acknowledged the global economic challenges it faced, including the slowdown in economic growth, high inflation, rising interest rates, and increased fuel and energy costs. The company also highlighted the impact of consumer and business confidence on the market.
South African Market
The South African automotive industry, a vital contributor to the country’s economy, confronted its own set of challenges, including rising interest rates, high inflation, a weaker currency, power supply outages, and supply chain disruptions. Despite these hurdles, the industry showed resilience and growth. According to naamsa, the South African new vehicle market experienced strong growth, with new vehicle sales exceeding expectations. Motus achieved a retail market share of approximately 19.8% for the 12-month period.
United Kingdom and Australia
Motus operates internationally in the United Kingdom and Australia. Both markets faced economic challenges, including increasing living costs, higher interest rates, and accelerating inflation. However, the UK new vehicle market displayed resilience and grew by 12.1% for the 12 months to June 2023. Australia’s automotive industry remained competitive, with the market growing by 10.3% for the same period.
Motus attributed its success to strategic initiatives that focus on scale, integration, differentiation, and entrepreneurial leadership. The company’s diversified portfolio, international expansion, and innovation have contributed to its ability to weather economic challenges and maintain a leading position in the market.
Outlook and Prospects
Despite the ongoing economic challenges, Motus anticipates delivering revenue growth and stable operating profit for the six months ending December 2023. The company expects its strong financial position, generated through healthy operating profits and effective cost management, to support its growth ambitions.
Motus also announced changes to its board of directors during the year. These changes reflect the company’s commitment to governance, diversity, and ethical leadership. The board’s role in guiding the company’s strategy and ensuring accountability remains crucial to its continued success.
Motus Holdings Limited’s financial results for the year ending June 2023 underscore its resilience and adaptability in the face of challenging economic conditions. The company’s strategic focus on diversification, internationalisation, and innovation has positioned it for sustainable growth and value creation, both in South Africa and on the global stage. Despite the uncertainties, Motus remains committed to its mission of providing automotive mobility solutions while enhancing shareholder value.


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By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If you’ve filled up your tank lately, you don’t need us to tell you that gas prices are back on the rise.
This week, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline rose 14 cents over the past week and 46 cents over the past month to $3.78 per gallon. Winter isn’t typically a time when demand rises at the gas pumps, but prices have climbed since late January. AAA credits a perfect storm of factors that started with Superstorm Sandy, and tightened supply. Nancy White, AAA Spokeswoman says, “We have about a quarter of the nation’s refineries going through their annual maintenance right now and you combine all of that with a lot of refineries doing their switchover to winter to summer blends.”
Spikes in gas prices usually send consumers looking for alternatives like public transportation or car pools. But if less time behind the wheel isn’t an option, try some basic gas-saving advice. According to White, “Driving smart. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Make sure you drive the speed limit. Get rid of the junk in the trunk and avoid those jack-rabbit starts and stops.”
The good news? If gas prices follows last year’s pattern, White says, “When you look back at 2012 as we approached April and may the start of spring break driving and summer driving season, prices started to fall.”
This week, AAA addressed some common fuel claims:
Claim: Additives boost fuel efficiency.
AAA says: FALSE. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tested “mixture enhancers” and found that few resulted in any fuel economy benefits. Consequently, AAA auto experts do not endorse such products.
Claim: Over-inflate tires and replace compressed air with nitrogen.
AAA says: FALSE. While too-low tires will decrease gas mileage, some people think over-inflating will do the opposite. All it will help, however, is to reduce your car’s handling and make your tires wear more quickly. Keep tires inflated to the recommended pressure listed on the inside of the driver’s side door. Save money by monitoring tire pressure monthly.
Claim: Open windows cause drag.
AAA says: FALSE. According to Consumer Reports, who tested out this theory, the air conditioner taxes fuel consumption more than the aerodynamic drag caused by open windows. Consumer Reports tested using a Honda Accord’s air conditioner while driving at 65 mph and found that it reduced the vehicle’s gas mileage by more than 3 miles per gallon. The effect of opening the windows at 65 mph (with the AC off), however, was not measurable. Technically, it’s more fuel-efficient to leave your windows open.
Claim: A “gas out” or boycotts will force stations to lower prices.
AAA says: FALSE. You’ll occasionally see plans to boycott gas stations to help reduce prices. While there indeed was a daylong boycott in 2007 that garnered national media attention, the resulting claim that prices dropped 30 cents overnight did not actually happen. Even if drivers avoid buying gas on a certain day, they’ll have to fill up in the days before or after. A station doesn’t make or break itself over a single day.


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March 4, 2022
Original article published in Kingstonist
Kingston Economic Development Corporation (Kingston EcDev), has announced that Li-Cycle, an industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery and the leading lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, is expanding in Kingston with a Centre of Excellence to be established in Kingston’s Clogg’s Road Business Park.
“I’m thrilled that Li-Cycle, a company recognized for its world changing technology, has chosen Kingston as home for their new Centre of Excellence,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson. “Li-Cycle is the industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery. This innovative company, with their emphasis on environmental sustainability, is exactly the kind of business we want to see grow in Kingston. That’s why City Council moved to facilitate this development by expediting the new Clogg’s Road Business Park. We’re excited to see this new facility move ahead, and the new jobs and growth that will accompany Li-Cycle’s forward-thinking vision.”
Founded in 2016, Li-Cycle has developed technologies that can recover up to 95 per cent of all the materials in lithium-ion batteries in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner. According to a release from Kingston EcDev, the city has played an essential role in Li-Cycle’s growth, partnering with Green Centre Canada and Kingston Process Metallurgy to move its patented Spoke & Hub Technologies™ from concept to commercialization. Kingston is home to Li-Cycle’s first commercial Spoke that has a processing capacity of 5,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery material per year.
“We’ve always had a strong and collaborative working relationship with Kingston, with a great appreciation for the expertise that exists within the community,” said Tim Johnston, Li-Cycle’s co-founder and Executive Chairman. “Our new Centre of Excellence at Clogg’s Road Business Park will be conveniently located between the Ontario and Quebec markets, where there’s a significant electric vehicle penetration and large quantities of electronic waste. Ultimately, that puts us in a great position to continue scaling, while also supporting our global expansion using our sustainable Spoke & Hub Technologies – which is something the planet needs now more than ever.”
According to Li-Cycle, the Centre of Excellence will bring both the local warehouse as well as the Spoke facility, currently in two separate locations, together, alongside administrative offices. The company said it will gather their high-functioning Kingston team together under one roof.
“Kingston Economic Development is proud to see the continued growth and investment from Li-Cycle in Kingston,” stated Donna Gillespie, CEO, Kingston Economic Development. “Li-Cycle continues to achieve significant milestones and accomplishments including being listed on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2021. We expect Li-Cycle’s Centre of Excellence to attract new clean tech companies to the region.”
The City of Kingston has expedited the development for Clogg’s Road Business Park to facilitate the growth of Li-Cycle and future clean tech companies, according to the release. Kingston is dedicated to, and has a long history of, clean technology that gives the region strong and established roots in this sector, EcDev stated, noting that Li-Cycle’s work and investment in Kingston is a great example of sector capacity.
“Li-Cycle is a global leader in clean technology and the Kingston Centre of Excellence speaks to the opportunity and talent available in the region,” said Shelley Hirstwood, Director of Business Development. “This new opportunity shows the impact of working together as Team Kingston alongside our City colleagues.”


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July 13, 2023: Stellantis and LG Power Answer (LGES) proceed building of their NextStar Power EV battery plant in Canada beneath a deal value as much as C$15 billion ($11.4 billion) in tax breaks for the venture, the Ontario provincial authorities confirmed on July 6.
Battery companions are urgent provincial and federal authorities leaders to extend assist for NextStar in step with what is accessible within the US beneath the Inflation Discount Act.
Now Ontario will present C$5 billion in tax breaks for the venture with an extra C$10 billion coming from the federal authorities.
The manufacturing of the plant is deliberate to begin in 2024 with an annual manufacturing capability of greater than 45GWh.
An announcement issued by Ontario premier Doug Ford (pictured) and different ministers mentioned the incentives had been a direct response to these supplied by the US authorities – however warned they could possibly be will probably be decreased or canceled if the US has to drop its assist for battery makers.
Ford mentioned the settlement additionally extends to a venture by Volkswagen and its subsidiary PowerCo SE to construct the auto big’s first abroad EV battery cell manufacturing plant in Ontario. Volkswagen may obtain as much as C$13 billion in efficiency incentives.
Nevertheless, the incentives are linked to the quantity of batteries produced and bought by Stellantis, in accordance with the situations of the settlement for the Volkswagen battery cell manufacturing plant.
NextStar Power is one in every of eight battery crops LGES has acquired in North America in response to the rising EV market.


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2020 Skoda Kamiq SUV spied in India
All new 2020 Skoda Kamiq SUV spied in India for the first time. It will be a rival to the likes of 2020 Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos once launched.
The upcoming Skoda Kamiq mid-size SUV was spied on Indian roads for the first time. Skoda Auto India is gearing up for its India 2.0 business strategy and plans to launch quite a few products in a few years time. The Skoda Kamiq could be the first product und
It’s time to compare and apply for the best loan offers at Afinoz. We are a leading online financial marketplace for Personal Loans
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The declining competitiveness of the eurozone's second-biggest economy underscores the squeeze companies face from record crude oil prices and a stronger euro. The trade shortfall for the first 11 months already exceeds the record 29.2 billion euros achieved in 2006.
``We're asking, in part with a certain number of our European partners, to re-establish a good currency balance in order to reduce volatility and for currencies to reflect the real strength of economies,'' Lagarde told reporters in Paris. That will ``absolutely'' be her message at the next Group of Seven meeting in Japan in February.
Imports climbed 1.5 percent to 38.1 billion euros, led by an increase in energy products. Crude oil has climbed 74 percent in the past 12 months. The stronger euro, which reached a record $1.4967 on Nov. 23, also makes foreign goods cheaper, leading to more purchases of consumer and industrial goods.
Exports dropped 1.8 percent to 33.3 billion euros, with sales to Asia and the U.S. declining. Shipments of food, consumer goods and industrial products all fell. Airbus SAS shipped 21 planes for 895 million euros in the month.


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Taylor Swift covers GQ
Superstar singer Taylor Swift has made her debut on popular fashion and lifestyle magazine, GQ.
The Style singer dressed up in a skintight brown dress and bikini for the beach-side photo shoot, photographed by Michael Thompson for the magazine’s November edition.
More photos from the shoot, as well as her interview, where she talks about her career, Kanye West and more, are scheduled to be released next week.
Check the cover out below!


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|Dragon fruit prices drastically fall in the Mekong Delta (Photo:SGGP)|
Early this year, a kilogram of white-flesh dragon fruit was sold at VND20,000-22,000 while the price of red-flesh variety was double, said the fruit grower Truong Van Tan from Cho Gao District, Tien Giang Province.
In addition to the price fall, it is not easy for farmers to sell products and they are suffering heavy losses.
It is peak harvest time of the dragon fruit and other fruits also in the Mekong Detla, said Vo Chi Thien, chairman of the My Tinh An Dragon Fruit Cooperative in Cho Gao.
Besides, 80 percent of the dragon fruit output has been exported to China, where the dragon fruit is amidst peak harvest season at the same time. Adding to the worse, litchi from the northern region has also flooded the neighboring market, causing difficulties in dragon fruit consumption.
Vietnam should expand export markets to the Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the USA to reduce the dependence on Chinese market, Thien said.
Dragon fruit prices usually reduce in the Dragon Boat Festival that falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year. This year, it has decreased drastically and quickly.
The most concern is that several areas in Tien Giang, Long An, Tra Vinh, and Vinh Long Provinces have widened the fruit farming areas.


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Twitter has just sent a minor update to both its iPhone and Android apps showcasing a new Tweet composer.
They have simplified the process of composing a tweet. For example, in the iPhone app, you just get three options – attach location, take a photo or choose a photo. You then get to choose filters for your photos and you’re done.
On iPhone, the Twitter app is much wider now, taking up full space. That can be a considerable improvement for readability. Also, the app notifies you when a friend of you joins Twitter (which is confirmed by checking contacts in your E-mail, I guess).
On the other hand, Twitter for Android now takes full advantage of Android’s powerful notifications system and groups multiple notifications into one. You get to see user’s display picture in the notification itself and they are expandable too.
The folks at Twitter even made a vine post showing off how you can tweet in less than six seconds using the new mobile apps.
Both the app updates are available now. Go, update, and enjoy.


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Mumbai-headquartered retail pharmacy chain Wellness Forever on Monday announced that it has raised Rs 130 crore in funding led by UAE-based Allana Group and Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla. Existing investors including banker and renowned investor Rajiv Dadlani and venture capitalist Sajid Fazalbhoy also participated in this round.
According to the official statement, funds will be utilised for store expansion, strengthening their highly profitable private label brands which are under its 100 percent subsidiary Amore — which focuses on wellness and health products and invests more in ecommerce. The company has an existing online-to-offline strategy via omni-channel, hyperlocal delivery which it plans to leverage off ecommerce and tele-commerce. The company already claims to be inculcating them into its sales mix.
Clocking revenues of over Rs 1,000 crore for the current fiscal year, Wellness Forever has swiftly expanded its footprint to over 200 stores in Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. The company aims to add over 150 more stores in the next year and 1,000 retail outlets in the next three years.
It was founded in 2008 by entrepreneurs Gulshan Bakhtiani, Ashraf Biran, and Mohan Chavan who come with a collective experience of over 100 years of operating profitable pharmacies. Since inception, the company claims to witness 35 percent growth y-o-y with over 4,000 employees, of which 800 are qualified pharmacists. It claims to have over one million loyal paid customers.


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February 26, 2006 Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR rider Sebastien Charpentier started his championship defence in the best fashion possible by winning the first race of the World Supersport Championship at the Losail circuit in Qatar yesterday, scoring pole position, leading every one of the race's 18-laps and setting a new lap record on the way. The Frenchman ran out a five second winner over Kevin Curtain who debuted Yamaha’s ride-by-wire 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6. Perhaps the most promising aspect of the race was that despite the speed of the well-sorted Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, the new Yamaha was very fast and competitive though it is sill very early in its development. The third generation YZF-R6 looks like it has the goodies to take the race to the dominant Ten Kate team and the talents of Charpentier.
February 26, 2006 The World Superbike and Supersport Championships got underway on Saturday at the Losail circuit in Qatar, and already the indications are that both championships will see a much closer result than last season. Troy Bayliss returned to the Ducati Xerox superbike team after three years in MotoGP, and after the first two races of the year he leads the title with 40 points (two second places) from 2005 Champ Troy Corser’s Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra and James Toseland’s Winston Ten Kate Honda which both scored a win and a fourth place for 38 points. Had it not been for a first race crash by Yamaha Motor Italia rider Noriyuki Haga, who took out Corser’s Suzuki teammateYukio Kagayama with both riders battling for the win, the vastly improved Yamaha might have taken the win. With at least four makes capable of winning, the 13-round, 26-race series looks set for yet another year of spectacular racing. In the Supersports class Yamaha’s ride-by-wire 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6 debuted with a second place and promises a realistic threat to dominant Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR rider Sebastien Charpentier as the season unfolds
February 23, 2006 Ducati’s ability to make performance motorcycles that are easy to ride is uncanny. It’s original mid-range L-twin, the Pantah 500, was both an ideal learners machine yet the basis for many a sweet-handling racebike. Now the newly announced Ducati 695 represents a unique offering in the world of motorcycles and in the Ducati Monster family in much the same way; it is a motorcycle that is welcoming to novice riders but, at the same time, is capable of delivering a level of performance that can thrill far more advanced riders. While becoming the new entry point to the Monster family, Ducati claims the Monster 695 will transform a motorcyclist into a Ducatista, a member of the Ducatisti tribe of fans whose motorcycle looks, feels and sounds like no other. The Monster 695, a preview of the Model Year 2007, replaces the 620, and is a quantum leap forward in terms of handling, riding pleasure and performance. The potent new 695 cc L-Twin delivers much greater horsepower and torque – the highest output per cc of any Ducati air-cooled engine – while producing smoother and more fluid power, making every twist of the throttle exciting and satisfying.
February 22, 2006 A Suzuki Hayabusa-engined motorcycle – the “Ack Attack” – will attempt to break the 16-year-old FIM land speed record at South Australia’s Lake Gairdner in early March. With conditions at the spiritual home of land speed racing (Bonneville USA) not up to scratch in 2005, Californian-based Mike Akatiff has decided to shoot for the record in Australia, with the initial run planned at first light on March 6. The record attempt will be the highlight of the 2006 Lake Gairdner Speed Trials
, which runs from March 6-10. The streamliner, designed by Akatiff and constructed at the Akatiff-owned ACK Technologies (an avionics emporium) in San Jose, is powered by two turbo-charged 1300cc Hayabusa engines producing around 900 horsepower, which are ensconced in chrome moly tubing and a predominantly carbon-fibre skin.
February 21, 2006 Any motorcyclist embarking on worldwide travel or riding in difficult conditions has a tough decision to make when it comes to their choice of protective rider clothing. It's easy for a clothing manufacturer to claim that their products are good enough to wear for riding around the world or even competing in events such as the infamous Dakar rally. However it is far better to let those who actually wear them in these situations to comment on their effectiveness. Perhaps it is no coincidence that last year saw many adventure and competition motorcyclists choose to wear BMW Motorrad's Rallye 2 suit. It is an uncompromising item of equipment for serious riding and is designed to resist and beat climatic adversity, physical abuse and extreme terrain. Now, BMW Motorrad has launched the brand new 2006 Rallye 2 Pro suit – a direct replacement for the popular Rallye 2, and the first BMW textile suit to offer enhanced body armour across the shoulder, elbow, back, knee and hip areas.
February 18, 2006 The Motorcycle Design Association, a group of designers and professionals from within the two-wheel industry worldwide, has voted the Ducati Hypermotard
, designed by Pierre Terblanche, as the best overall motorcycle design trophy winner for 2005. In winning the best overall design award, the Hypermotard scored 50% more votes than the runner-up, the Yamaha MT-0S
concept bike. The MT-OS won the concept bike category with Honda’s DN-01
and the Victory Vision
tieing for second place. The Hypermotard’s award follows on from the ‘Best of Show’ award it won at the EICMA Show in Milan last November, one of the most important shows worldwide for the motorcycle industry. The Hypermotard also won the Open bike category, from Bimota's Delirio
and BMW's HP2
. Yamaha's R6
won the supersport category from the Motocycsz C1.
February 15, 2006 Reports emanating from informed sources suggest Honda is about to release its first turbocharged motorcycle in a quarter of a century with a turbocharged version of the VTX Concept 2 (pictured) which debuted at the Chicago Show in 2004. Designed by HRA (Honda R&D Americas) in Torrance, California, the bike is reported to have use a turbocharged version of the existing Honda VTX motor, which would give it a power output of 110 to 120 kW and brutal acceleration. We loved the existing VTX 1800 when we rode it,
describing it as “capable of thunderous acceleration”, and that was with the standard 75 kW motor – imagine how the bike will accelerate with 110+ kW! No doubt the new bike is a reaction to the extraordinary success of the Triumph Rocket III, and quite clearly, the new VTX would offer similar mid-range grunt to the big British triple, with an all-important bigger top end.
February 11, 2006 BMW Motorrad released a very interesting statement this week. The statement came with an accompanying image of a high powered motorcycle which BMW has developed to test a number of areas at the outer limits of motorcycle performance, encompassing research into lightweight construction, high performance aerodynamics and the “highly dynamic processes in engine and driving dynamics management under extreme conditions.” Examples of the latter include traction control systems which “will be introduced for powerful motorcycles in serial production in the years to come” according to BMW. BMW says the traction control and BMW’s Anti Lock Braking (ABS) system “will form part of an integrated concept to increase active safety.” BMW says that, “by conducting in-house development such as this, engineers benefit from the expertise derived from Formula 1 and BMW’s technology leadership in the field of electronics.”
January 31, 2006 The official colours of the various MotoGP teams are beginning to emerge with Kawasaki unveiling its new 2006 Ninja ZX-RR machinery in official colours at Phillip Island today during the opening day of the three-day official MotoGP test at the Australian circuit. Almost a year in development, the new Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine has been designed from the ground up by Kawasaki's engineers, based on the lessons learnt since the Japanese factory returned to top flight competition at the end of 2002. The new bike features a 990cc, inline four-cylinder engine that is significantly more compact than previous versions, housed in a chassis that Shinya Nakano declared a major step forward in terms of handling when he tested it at Sepang.
January 30, 2006 In the recent Dakar Rally, which is surely the toughest and most dangerous motorsport event regularly held in the world
, KTM motorcycles won for the sixth consecutive time, filling the first eight placings. Less than a month later, KTM has unveiled its new 990 Adventure – a motorcycle derived directly from the Africa-conquering experiences of the marque over the last six years, but with all the roadgoing niceties you’d like to have if you were travelling say, from Paris to Peking overland. Indeed, if wherever you’re going is a long way and very rough, the KTM Adventure and its Dakar-dimensioned Adventure S (35mm more ground clearance and 35mm taller seat) are now the most likely candidates for the job. The Adventure was unveiled to the world press yesterday. Our favourite quote from the release goes to the winner of the 2006 Dakar event, Cyril Despres: "At 190 km/h through knee-deep sand you have to feel confident on your bike. After more than 10,000 kilometers the 990 Adventure is practically a part of you."


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FRANCE: French gov't targets binge drinking
The French government will launch its first anti-binge drinking campaign this week.
The TV, radio and cinema spots will feature adolescents enjoying a "paradise-like universe", which turns into a nightmare after they drink too much.
The campaign, set to launch tomorrow (17 July), is aimed at under-25 year-olds and forms part of a raft of new anti-drink laws due to be in place by next year.
Other measures will include a total ban on alcohol sales to underage drinkers from bars, cafes or supermarkets as well as a ban on so-called 'open bars', where students pay a nominal amount for a night's drinking. The legal age to buy any type of alcoholic drink will also be raised from 16 to 18.
The moves follow increasing concern in France about binge drinking - known as a 'bonne cuite' or a 'good cooking' - amid recent incidents of adolescents found with alcohol poisoning in the country, one of whom died.
Detoxing is as much part of the holiday ritual as the excesses that make it necessary and, Annette Farr writes, today's soft drinks market provides a plethora of products claiming restorative health b...
Not surprisingly perhaps it is the effects of the global economic downturn that have dominated the wine pages of just-drinks over the past year. Richard Woodard reviews a difficult year for the intern...
Pernod Ricard's unexpected move for Absolut in March set the tone for a year in which Diageo eschewed any significant acquisitions in favour of joint deals with existing brand owners. Olly Wehring rev...
Christmas is naturally a time when alcohol retailers, pubs and restaurants do well but it is also a time of aggressive price promotion among retailers. Chris Losh bemoans the damage being done to the ...
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Demand for home brewing kits has reached unprecedented levels in the UK thanks to celebrity endorsements and the recession, suppliers say....
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text:
Check out the latest news from the world of skiing
Uber introduced a new service called Uber Sk on Wednesday, It is designed for the riders who want to get up to the slopes.[…]
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has officially opened a new ski resort and mountain spa to boost tourism in the South Pyongan Province. […]
The City Council voted to give the financially struggling Spirit Mountain $235,000on Monday night, though the decision stimulates calls for discussions about th […]
A Park City man is facing charges after attacking a 17-year-old girl at Utah ski resort. It was the incident that happened on 27th November of last month. […]
Copyright 2019 by Schneemenschen GmbH. All Rights Reserved.


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“The logo will change, but the tool is the same. That was the message from Henrico County school officials, who said yesterday that they hope for a smooth transition next year in the switch from Apple iBooks to Dell laptops for all high school teachers and students,” Olympia Meola reports for The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“Dell Inc. and Apple Computers Inc. were neck and neck until the home stretch, according to school officials. But a combination of factors — including a $4 million price difference — gave Dell the advantage,” Meola reports. “Dell offered the county 15,800 machines at $1,131 a piece compared with Apple’s $1,386 per-unit cost. The four-year, $17.9 million deal with Dell will still push the School Board over budget by about $250,000.”
Meola reports, “Meredyth Hoggatt, a history teacher and selection-committee member, said the move to Dell should be more of a transition than an attempt to reinvent the wheel… Adam Hall, a sophomore at Hermitage High School, said he is pleased with the planned switch to Dell, because it has a better operating system. ‘They’re better than what we have now,’ he said.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Amazing Ignorance Alert! “The logo will change, but the tool is the same.” A Dell with Windows XP “has a better operating system” than they would with Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger.
We’d say that these dolts deserve what they’re going to get for the next four years, except it’s the students and the teachers who will suffer instead of the morons who were snowed by Dell and made this deal without looking past the initial sticker price.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Henrico school board dumps Apple Macs, picks Dells with Windows – April 29, 2005
PC World review gives Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger 4.5 stars out of 5 – April 30, 2005
Ars Technica: Mac OS X Tiger ‘at least twice as significant as any single past update’ – April 28, 2005
CNET: ‘If you’re tired of Microsoft’s promises, Mac OS X Tiger may be your best incentive to switch’ – April 28, 2005
BusinessWeek: ‘Tiger bolsters Mac OS X’s edge as the best personal-computer operating system around’ – April 28, 2005
Associated Press: Mac OS X Tiger ‘provides another excellent incentive to switch from Windows’ – April 28, 2005
Mossberg: Apple’s Tiger ‘the best, most advanced personal computer operating system on the market’ – April 28, 2005
InformationWeek columnist: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘a compelling upgrade’ – April 28, 2005
NY Times: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger is the most secure, stable and satisfying OS on earth – April 28, 2005
Wired News: Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger ‘full of welcome surprises’ – April 27, 2005


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Localbitcoins recently implemented the know-your-customer and anti money laundering processes obviously in a bid to comply with the regulatory pressure on cryptocurrency exchanges. The platform has before now been the favorite of users who prefer anonymity.
It surprisingly announced that users who access the platform through Tor stand the risk of losing their cryptocurrencies. Even though it is not yet clear the basis for the warning, many users of the platform are already looking towards Bisq, another peer to peer network.
Some users of the Localbitcoins platform are of the opinion that the company is gradually falling out of favor by its inclination towards openness in the bid to meet expectations of central authorities.
Dash for Anonymity
A post at the Dash blog stated that the fact that Bisq supports Dash is an added advantage since the Dash network is privacy supportive. It seems to point to Dash adoption as a channel to anonymity in the increasingly regulated crypto space.
Localbitcoins used to be an anonymous peer to per platform before it started demanding KYC and with its belligerent stance against Tor, one of the biggest anonymous exchanges has shown that it is now against anonymous user of cryprocurrencies.
In a tweet responding to Richard Bensberg who is a transaction compliance expert, Wix wrote:
“Warning to all LocalBitcoins users: LocalBitcoins requires KYC and monitors all transactions.
Meanwhile, the Bisq P2P network is 100% routed over Tor to protect the privacy of all its users. To accept a trade offer your computer connects directly to the maker’s computer over Tor.”
Aside Bisq, other Dash supporting exchanges that operate on peer to peer basis are Wall of Coins, CoinCola and Bitcoin.de.
The concern is rising among crypto users who love anonymity, but as long as Bitcoin adoption is still at a low level, the regulators still have a say.


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Foodstuffs have version numbers now. That's the world we live in.
Or at least one consumable has a version number: Soylent, which has just been revved to 1.1. The latest formulation of the crowdfunding-born meal replacement promises less sweetness — they've taken out some of the sucralose, so users can more easily "customize" the flavor to their liking. Perhaps more importantly, it adds an "enzyme blend" that promises to reduce "digestive issues" experienced by some users of the original (myself included).
The company behind Soylent still hasn't caught up to demand; many buyers still have orders that have been outstanding for months, but it would appear that some of that delay is chalked up to work on the new formulation. There's also a new, smaller shipping box (the old one was enormous), redesigned oil bottles to reduce leakage, and a new package for daily servings that's designed to reduce the amount of loose powder that flies everywhere.
Regardless, you're still drinking a beige nutrition paste.


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Apple will announce the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models next week on Tuesday at its 'Wonderlust' event. We have previously heard that the 'Pro' models would launch with a major price hike this time around all thanks to a new titanium build and a new camera system. It was also coined that the base storage on the 'Pro' models would be increased from 128GB to 256GB. Well, a last-minute report suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro models will stick to 128GB of base storage but increase 8GB of RAM.
Apple will stick to 128GB of base storage capacity on the iPhone 15 Pro models with 8GB of RAM
In a series of reports, we have heard that Apple is planning to increase the price of the entire iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineup. The standard models would come with a minor price increase, potentially $50 for both models but the 'Pro' models would adhere to a major price hike. It was noted that the price hike could be between $100 to $200. In a new research note by TrendForce (via 9to5mac), Apple will keep the storage capacity the same for the base model while increasing the price by $100.
If the news has any heft to it, the iPhone 15 Pro could be available at $1,099 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available at $1,199. The report also mentions that Apple will stick to its 1TB storage option in contrast to the rumored 2TB storage option on the 'Pro' models. The main reason for the bump in price is the new titanium build which is more expensive than stainless steel and the new periscope camera lens in the bigger 'Pro' model.
It makes sense for the company to increase the prices as the material gets more expensive due to the ongoing inflation. Currently, Apple's 256GB option for the iPhone 14 Pro Max adds an extra $100 to the final price. What this means is that if the company does plan to increase the price of the iPhone 15 Pro models by $200, only then can it consider offering 256GB of storage capacity.
The research notes also mention that the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature an increased 8GB of RAM, a jump up from 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 14 Pro models. The extra RAM could offer better multitasking capabilities while maintaining a fluid user experience without stutters and lags. Numerous reports suggest that the price increase would be $100 instead of $200. If the company aimed to increase the price by $200, it would surely hurt demand for an 'S' year upgrade.Continue Reading


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Mealbreaker (n.): a nasty, non-edible surprise found in food while it is being eaten; often lawsuit-provoking, sometimes fabricated, always disgusting.
If you think Mealbreakers are bad in America, just wait til you hear the disgusting story of the Shiju family's trip to the KFC in Thiruvananthapuram, a city of 750,000 near the southern tip of India.
According to the Deccan Chronicle, the Shijus went to KFC, ordered a dinner of fried chicken and sat down to eat on Monday evening. They then began to feed some of one of the chicken sandwiches to their 18-month-old child when the child's mother noticed something moving in the food.
It was a worm. They inspected the sandwich further. They found still more worms. They complained to the manager of the KFC, and warned him that they were willing to call food safety authorities. The manager offered to give them fresh chicken and begged them not to call the authorities.
But the Shijus were adamant. The KFC manager got angry at them, and ordered them to leave the store. Once outside, they called the authorities, who came to the KFC and, finding its sanitation inadequate, shut down the location. They seized some chicken that was allegedly as much as five months old. They are also investgating nearby branches, out of fear that the worms got into the food at a central plant in the region.
KFC has had a rough few weeks in South Asia. The Yum Brands-owned chain temporarily closed all its Pakistan stores in late September after anti-American protests rocked several outposts. Between that and the worms, KFC franchise owners must be looking with serious envy at their wildly successful comrades across the Chinese boarder right about now.
Curious to see how this Mealbreaker compares with those in America? Click through the slideshow below.


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This is just shameful.
TimesOnline is reporting that workers from U.N ‘s World Food Programme (WFP), an effort to get food to millions starving in Somalia, are selling emergency foodstuffs right out of the U.N warehouses to blackmarketers. These are staples (wheat, corn, oil) intended to be distributed free, and yet U.N. personnel are turning a tidy profit by selling the emergency goods to traders who also make a profit by selling the goods in marketplaces in Mogadishu. According to one trader, the scam is blatant:
“They take us to the warehouses used by the WFP and let us load our lorries. The goods are freely available and you can buy as much as you like, but we usually buy no more than 500 to 1,000 sacks at a time. Just a tonne or half a tonne a day can be shifted more discreetly.”
Of course, this is food that is desperately needed by refugees–those for whom it was initially intended. With civil war and drought, Somalia is one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world, ranking right beside Darfur. The WFP is supposed to be feeding 3.5 million Somalis (almost half the Somali population). Instead, it seems U.N workers are selling these supplies, making an already dire situation that much worse.
Sadly, many of the supply bags being black-marketed, are, in fact marked:
Many of the sacks for sale are marked: “A gift from the American people”, with the US government’s aid agency, USAID, providing $274 million last year in food and in humanitarian assistance for Somalia.
Some gift. This, of course, also reflects poorly on the United States. How many starving folks see that and wonder why the U.S. is forcing them to pay for something they thought would be freely given?
However, for the United Nations, it’s the same old same old. It seems to be the culture of corruption under which the U.N. operates:
- Remember the U.N. Oil for Food program in Iraq?
- Remember all the U.N. “peacekeepers” with a taste for rape?
- Remember the UNIFIL station on the Israeli/Lebanese border flying the Hezbollah flag–above the U.N. flag?
The United States spends tens of billions of dollars (taxpayers’ dollars) on U.N. activities each year, subsidizing 22% of the U.N.’s regular budget, and 25% of its peacekeeping budget. Most nations (including the billion dollar oil-rich Arab states) pay between .0001% and 3%.
With the all the corruption, all the waste, all the crime, all the stupidity… why are we still a member of this organization?


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Rumor: 150,000 plus HTC Incredibles are heading towards a Verizon warehouse, expect an April availability
April 1, 2010 | by Robert Nelson
Last we heard, it was being rumored that the HTC Incredible would appear with Verizon in two weeks. Unfortunately that has not yet come true, but it would appear as if it still may. According to the most recent details, 150,000 plus Incredibles have made their way to a Verizon warehouse as
we speak I type. The details are coming courtesy of a screenshot of an internal inventory system which claims to show that Verizon Wireless has 156,709 Incredibles “On Order.” According to the tipster that posted the details, that On Order comment actually means the phones are in the warehouse, which would lead one to believe that we should be seeing an official announcement from Verizon before long. Here is to hoping this is accurate. The HTC Incredible sounds like a good match for Verizon.


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December saw an average of 42 homes for sale per branch according to NAEA Propertymark, up from 35 in November as sellers continue to look for buyers.
Demand for properties to purchase also grew during the last month of the year, but not as steeply as the number of sellers.
House hunters registered per estate agent branch increased by eight per cent, from 282 in November to 304, with year-on-year demand up 13 per cent, from 268 in December 2017.
Sales to first-time buyers increased marginally to total 24 per cent of all sales in December, from 23 per cent in November.
However, the year-on-year figures were less encouraging with the proportion of sales made to this group down from 32 per cent in the final month of 2017.
People want to move
NAEA Propertymark chief executive Mark Hayward (pictured) said: “This month’s findings prove that despite the current political climate, people still want to move.
“There is movement in the market with demand from house hunters up 13 per cent year-on-year, and the supply of available properties also rising.
“While many are adopting a wait and see strategy until there’s further clarity over what Brexit might mean for the market, there is choice for those who want to buy now, and there are people on the market looking for new homes.”
The number of sales agreed hit a 12-month low in December although Hayward acknowledged this was a typical seasonal trend with figures broadly in line with those last year.


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How much is a “charged” hatchback Hyundai Veloster N 2020?November 7, 2019
Hyundai’s North American office has announced that there are special offers for the high-performance Veloster N 2020 model year hatchback.
The South Korean hatchback Hyundai Veloster in the “charged” N-version can be called a truly worthy choice if you need a truly powerful and at the same time inexpensive car. According to the official price list for the model, the initial price for a novelty in the 2020 model year is $ 27,400. Prices are fair for the US car market.
It turns out that buying a completely new instance of the high-performance hatchback Hyundai Veloster N can be even more profitable – the South Korean brand offers discounts, as well as a rather profitable loan program. The network turned out to be “scans” of the model newsletter, which is intended for car dealers. According to this document, when purchasing a Hyundai Veloster N 2020 model year, a discount of $ 500 is provided.
Hyundai’s other incentive is a 2.9% financing rate for up to five years plus an initial $ 500 discount. It should be noted that special offers apply to the upgraded Veloster N with a capacity of 275 horsepower.
All those who drove the new Veloster N unanimously say that this car has exceptionally good performance for its price segment.
Often, automakers announce various discounts and special offers for those of their models that sell poorly, but the Veloster hatchback is clearly an exception. According to the results of October 2019, 11,220 units of cars were sold, while last year only 8,857 units were sold.
- BMW officially confirmed the release of the BMW i4M in 2021
- BMW to start production of battery modules in 2021
- New Maserati Grecale SUV showed on renders
- BMW unveils new superbike BMW M 1000 RR
- Volvo electric cars will be built on the new Geely platform


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Maisha Microfinance Bank has partnered with Airtel Money and BlueSky Consultants to launch M-Fanisi – a savings and loan mobile money solution that offers registered Airtel Money subscribers a better, more affordable way to access cash while receiving the most competitive interest rates for money saved.
Maisha is the first telco-backed microfinance to roll out a mobile money savings and loan product in the market and the fourth financial institution in the market alongside heavy hitters such as CBA, KCB and Equity.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Habil Olaka, Chief Executive Officer Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), congratulated the bank in its role in developing the industry in an innovative manner and indeed being the first microfinance bank in Kenya to rollout a mobile savings and lending solution in partnership with Airtel Kenya and Blue sky consultants ltd.
“I note with delight the synergies created by the telcos in delivery of financial services apart from traditional voice and data services,” he said.
He added that despite a progressive economic growth of nearly 7% in Africa, according to a World Bank report, only 25% of the population has bank accounts an issue highly attributed to the fact that the mainstream banking remained out of reach for most of the African populace due to factors such as infrastructure, cost, and lack of financial literacy and compatible products. Those able to access mainstream banking services are also under-banked in most cases, accessing only basic services.
“The unbanked millions constitute an enormous potential for banks and microfinance banks. Notwithstanding the challenges, Africa’s most utilized technology, the mobile handset, is providing a platform to extend financial services further than previously envisioned as well as enhancing the savings culture of our population,” he added.
On the other hand Prasanta Das Sarma, Managing Director, Airtel Kenya said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Maisha Bank in the launch of M-Fanisi. Our joint efforts are geared towards empowering Kenyans by enhancing financial inclusion through the launch of M-Fanisi which is available to all our Airtel money customers and will allow them to not only get loans but to also invest and save.”
He added that through the partnership, Kenyans across the nation will enjoy great benefits through the easy access of finances through loans whilst inculcating a saving and investing culture.
“As such this partnership underscores this commitment and our vision of becoming Kenya’s most preferred mobile service provider. The future of financial inclusion amongst the public is through mobile money services and we are glad to be part of the team that is revolutionizing this landscape with innovative value offerings and strategic partnerships,” added Mr Sarma.
Explaining how the product works Maisha Microfinance Bank CEO Mr. Ireneus Gichana said, “Maisha promises to make finances accessible to all by launching a host of innovative banking solutions for our customers, created around our customers’ needs and embracing technological advances. The product we are launching today, M-Fanisi, is testament to our commitment to this promise and is true to the importance that we place on understanding what our customers need.”
In a 45-day pilot period, during which Maisha Microfinance in partnership with Airtel Money and Blue Sky Consultants, tested the system, the platform made great strides. To date the bank has opened over 50,000 new accounts through M-Fanisi and over 20,000 of these have accessed loan facilities through Mfanisi. The product has also seen up to 2000 loan applications made on a daily basis through the platform.
Much of the credit given to the uptake of M-Fanisi so far can be attributed to the attractive product offerings that make up M-Fanisi. These are specifically:
- Access loans repayable within 7 days, 14 days and 30 days at attractive one-off facility fees of 3%, 5% and 7.5% respectively with excise duty applicable on the fees.
- Open a fixed deposit account for a period of 1 to 12 months and earn attractive interest of between 8.50% p.a. to 11.25% p.a. depending on period.
- Open a savings account and earn interest of 7% p.a.
- Transfer money in and out of the M-Fanisi to Airtel Money for FREE.
Write to us firstname.lastname@example.org


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hoolah, a Singapore-based ‘buy now pay later’ startup, has finalized an investment for an eight-figure Series A investment round, led by Allectus, a venture capital firm that is part of private equity firm, ICM.
Joining the round are Singapore based iGlobe Ventures, who participated in hoolah’s seed round, and others such as Genting Ventures, former Lazada group CEO, Max Bittner, and FNZ CEO, Tim Neville – a global FinTech firm responsible for over £330 Billion of assets under administration.
Founded in 2018, hoolah has been actively working to provide a fuss-free
shopping experience while partnering with a wide variety of merchants such as Sennheiser, HipVan, and Skin Inc. Their aim is to bring an installment-based payment concept to Singapore to tackle cart abandonment issues and to grow their sales. This concept also allows consumers to get what they need via hassle-free monthly installment plans.
hoolah’s newly acquired Series A funds will help the startup to double down on their recently announced launch in Malaysia, and to fuel further expansion. Another core investment will also focus on enabling the team to build an omnichannel solution – allowing customers to shop both online and in-store.
While market expansion is critical to the growth of the business, the team at hoolah is committed to continue delivering a great experience for their users. In essence, this means fuss-free shopping with full transparency.
At the moment, the startup is hiring across sales, marketing and technology functions with new roles being posted in Malaysia as well.


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Britain's town centres are rapidly becoming indistinguishable, losing all sense of local identity as they are taken over by global and national chain stores, economists warned today.
A report from the New Economics Foundation estimated how far the nation's high streets had been taken over by a phenomenon it called "clone town Britain".
It found 42 of the 103 towns it surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales had become clones, with few local businesses supplied from the surrounding area and a diminished range of specialist outlets.
In these towns, independent butchers, greengrocers, pet shops and dry cleaners had been driven out by national supermarket retailers, fast food chains, mobile phone shops and global fashion outlets.
The most extreme example of a clone town was Exeter in Devon, the foundation said. On a scale awarding points for the number of independent outlets and range of specialist shops, it scored 6.9 out of 60.
At the other end of the scale, Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire scored 48.6. This was the best example of what the foundation called a "home town" - one retaining its individual character. Others included Peebles, Lewes, Whitley Bay and Monmouth.
Inspectors assessed a run of 50 shops in Hebden Bridge and found only three were chain stores.
The foundation said 34 of the 103 high streets it surveyed could still be described as home towns. Another 37 were "border towns" where colonisation by the clones was not fully established.
Andrew Simms, the foundation's policy director, said: "Clone stores have a triple whammy on communities. They bleed the local economy of money, destroy the social glue provided by real local shops and steal the identity of our towns and cities. Then we are left with soulless clone towns.
"The argument that big retail is good because it provides consumers with choice is ironic, because in the end it leaves us with no choice at all."
Local people might be excited at first by the arrival of US retailers such as Gap and Starbucks. But they soon tired of "Latte-chino blandness".
The report added: "Banality has taken root like a relative from abroad invited to stay because their foreignness seemed interesting, before realising they were tiresome and refused to leave."
In Exeter, most independent shops had been driven off the high street by huge rents and business rates. It was left with little more than clothing retailers, electronics shops, stationers and bookstores.
"Yet for Exeter city council, it seems to be a case of a clone not far enough. After six years of heated debate, preliminary work has commenced on a £175m project to redevelop the town's centre, due to complete in autumn 2007."
It included demolition of Britain's first fully pedestrianised shopping mall to make way for even larger chain store developments.
The foundation also assessed 27 high streets across London and found 13 were clones, nine were home towns that retained their identity, and five were border towns. Wimbledon, Hammersmith and Clapham Junction were the most extreme of the clones, while Shepherd's Bush, Deptford and Bethnal Green scored highest for individuality.
Mr Simms said: "Britain doesn't have to become a nation of clone towns. Just as regulatory changes have allowed it, the right changes can begin to turn back the tide."
Planning law could be used to require developers to guarantee affordable premises for locally owned stores.
There should be a moratorium on further retail takeovers and a requirement that leading supermarkets reduce their market share to 8%, above which they damaged the retail supply chain.
Britain should adopt tactics used by towns in the US to resist invasion by the clone corporations, including community impact assessments of big retail developments and bans on "formula businesses".
Best and worst
Top 10 clone towns with least local identity
Top 10 home towns with most local identity
Normanton, West Yorkshire


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(Bloomberg) -- A Nigerian startup backed by private-equity firm Lightrock LLP is looking to deploy electric vehicles in about eight African countries by next year as demand grows for investment in low-emission transport.
Metro Africa Xpress Inc. raised $31 million last year to develop an EV market on the continent, a challenging task due to the chronic power shortage in the region. The firm plans to enter nations including Egypt, Cameroon and Uganda by 2023 compared with just Nigeria and Ghana now, according to Chief Executive Officer Adetayo Bamiduro.
The investment will expand the company’s number of cars to 100,000 by next year from 8,000 currently, with the percentage of electric vehicles rising to 20% from 4%, Bamiduro said in an interview. The company is aiming to have a fleet entirely made up of EVs in the next 10 to 15 years, he said.
“For African economies to be productive, it’s important for people and goods to be able to move around efficiently and safely,” he said.
Max has partnerships with vehicle producers such as Yamaha Corp. and ride-hailing platform Bolt Technology OU as well as financial services firms to link cars to drivers. Although only a small percentage of the fleet is currently electric due to inadequate charging infrastructure and a shortage of power on the continent, the business has the potential to grow as African governments encourage investment in renewables to curb emissions.
The company is investing in charging points in Nigeria and Ghana, Bamiduro said. Max previously raised more than $70 million to finance its drivers from investors including Lightrock and Global Ventures, a UAE-based international venture-capital firm.
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.


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L-R Ifeoma Agu, Marketing Manager International Premium Spirits & Reserve Brands, Guinness Nigeria; Viola Graham-Douglas, International Premium Spirits, Reserve and Modern Trade Director, Guinness Nigeria; Winner World Class Nigeria, Mr Seth Awesome Jhan; Ope Makinwa, National Sales Reserve Manager Guinness Nigeria and Adenike Adebola, Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria.
By Juliet Ebirim
Johnnie Walker hosted the finale of its National Bartender Competition- “World Class” last Friday, 13th of March, 2021 in Lagos in a 4-day cocktail week event, showcasing the amazing flavours of the finest of Diageo Premium spirits.
In its second edition, the bartending competition saw hundreds of talented bartenders from across Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja slug it out for a chance to make it to the top finals for Nigeria. After the preliminaries, four regional finalists emerged; Mr Seth Awesome Jhan, Mr Babalola Temitope Gideon, Mr Aliyu Abdullah and Mr Adama Augustine. These four bartenders went on to compete for the position of the World Class Nigeria Bartender of the Year title over the weekend.
Finalists were awarded points based on dexterity, creativity, and quality of cocktails by a distinguished panel of judges including Ms Lara Rawa, Mr Oyindamola de-Medeiros, Mr Ali Mattar, Ms Jenny Ademola, Ms Lola Pedro and Chef Benedict. Each bartender showcased their personality and expressed themselves through their signature cocktail serves. In the end, Mr Seth Awesome Jhan emerged winner of World Class Nigeria Finale, 2021.
Ifeoma Agu, Marketing Manager International Premium Spirits, Guinness Nigeria, stated: “This has been an amazing experience, we are proud to showcase and celebrate the very best of cocktail culture and the bartenders who make it happen. Expect to see the pinnacle of bar-tending innovations, inspiring new trends which will set the future of cocktails for months and years to come.”
“It’s been an exceptional and inspiring journey. We can’t wait for the global finals in Madrid happening on the 5th-8th of July this year where Mr Seth will put Nigeria on the map for our diverse and innovative drinks culture” Ope Makinwa, National Sales Reserve Manager stated.
As the biggest bartending stage worldwide, World-Class aims to give Nigerians an opportunity to showcase their skills on a grand stage and reshape the culture of drinking. Mr Seth Awesome Jhan will contest at the global World Class 2021 bartender competition in Madrid, Spain, this July.


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National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)
Washington, DC – Paul Taylor, chief economist, National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) sat down with Lou Ann Hammond, CEO, www.carlist.com.
We talked about dealerships going under and which states will be hurt the most, for the longest.
What happens when real estate goes down, car sales go down and the state’s tax base goes down?
Which auto manufacturers can make it back the quickest?
Will consumers have to start saving and be more responsible?


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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) stated on Monday that it will prolong the free usage of the 5G test bed facility for startups and MSMEs recognized by the government by one year, from January 2023 to January 2024. In order to strengthen the 5G ecosystem in India and advance the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Made in India, the government stated in August of last year that anybody may utilize the test bed for free for six months starting in January.
In software testing, a “test bed” is a controlled environment where programmers may test their modules without affecting live servers.
The DoT emphasized that this facility is also available to all 5G stakeholders, including businesses, academia, service providers, R&D organizations, governmental agencies, equipment makers, etc., albeit for a “very modest charge.” “This is being launched to promote test bed utilization and support the creation of homegrown technology and goods in keeping with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal. The test bed is already being used by a number of entrepreneurs and businesses to test their goods and services, according to a statement from the DoT.
Also Read: A guide to AI Marketing tools for SMEs and start-ups
To create the test bed and assist in the deployment of 5G in India, the government authorized a cash grant of Rs 224 crore in March 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi established the test bed facility in May of last year to enable businesses to assess their 5G-related goods and solutions. The test bed is now accessible at five locations, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, and the Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technologies (CEWiT) at IIT Madras.
Although IIT Hyderabad offers gNB Testing, UE Testing, end-to-end interoperability testing, and NB-IoT testing, CEWiT offers an end-to-end test bed with a variety of testing services for RAN Level, PHY Level, etc., and other test equipment. In contrast, the V2X and 5G open-source test beds are hosted by IISc Bangalore, the base-band test bed by IIT Kanpur, and the NB-IoT and VLC test beds by IIT Delhi, according to the DoT.
In addition, it stated that “the test bed provides the facilities of 5G networks for testing and proving applications/use cases of value to Indian society, such as rural broadband, smart city applications, and intelligent transport system (ITS)”.
It’s important to note that the DoT tweeted in June of last year that 43 startups and MSMEs had been approved for grants totaling more than Rs 50 crore to develop technologies like 5G core, RAN, NMS, IMS, chipsets, devices, and ICT solutions and applications for the roll-out of 5G services in the nation.
Also Read: The Scope of Business and Investment Opportunities for Indian SMEs and Manufacturers