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Propspeed Unveils New Product for Underwater Lights
Marine coatings company Propspeed will launch its new product, Lightspeed, at the Auckland on Water Boat Show in late September. The first transparent foul-release coating specifically formulated for underwater lights will be distributed worldwide.
Following the success of Propspeed, the industry-leading foul-release system for propellers and running gear, the company adapted its proprietary coating technology to maximize the long-term performance of underwater lights. Like Propspeed, Lightspeed is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional antifouling, which has recently come under regulatory scrutiny due to its toxic biocidal content.
With practical applications including underwater photography, fishing, nighttime navigation and security, underwater lights have become a highly desirable feature on boats, both inland and in coastal communities. Lightspeed offers an easy and affordable way for marine enthusiasts to reduce maintenance, protect their investment, and maintain lighting system performance.
“I already use Propspeed on my 43-foot launch and save countless hours in unnecessary maintenance,” said boat owner Geoff Smith. “So when I found out that Propspeed was releasing Lightspeed, I knew exactly the kind of product I would get and the extended performance I should expect.”
Unlike current competitors, which are opaque and use toxic chemicals to kill marine growth, Lightspeed repels growth by creating a nontoxic, “super-slick” transparent coating that prevents barnacles and algae from colonizing on underwater surfaces in first place.
“Underwater lights have been one of the marine industry’s fastest-growing sales categories over the last three years,” says Propspeed President of International Development, Clint Jones. “Off the back of the success of Propspeed, we’ve created Lightspeed to meet that huge market demand. Lightspeed is the only high-performance product that keeps these boating assets in great condition.”
Propspeed will launch Lightspeed in the U.S. at the 2018 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 31. Lightspeed has been shown to save three times its retail value in maintenance costs on top of the unquantifiable damage to marine ecosystems caused by traditional antifouling products. Each Lightspeed kit includes 15 mL of clear coat, Lightclean cleansing wipes and a brush and can coat four standard-sized underwater lights.
The global market for marine coatings is expected to surpass USD $15 billion by 2024 at approximately 7 per cent annual growth, and antifouling in particular is projected at 13 per cent annual growth. Similarly, the market for underwater lights has accelerated due to their range of uses for marinas, commercial fisheries, and recreational boaters alike.


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Samsung isn’t the only electronics giant with overheating battery woes. HP is recalling about 101,000 lithium-ion batteries used in its notebook computers, the company announced Wednesday.
Wednesday’s recall is in addition to the 41,000 batteries recalled last summer.
“This expanded recall involves lithium-ion batteries containing Panasonic cells that are used in HP notebook computers,” according to an HP statement. “The batteries are compatible with HP, Compaq, HP ProBook, HP ENVY, Compaq Presario, and HP Pavilion notebook computers. HP as expanded the number of recalled batteries, which were shipping with notebook computers sold between March 2013 and October 2016.”
These black batteries measure 8 to 10.5 inches long, 2 inches wide, and about an inch high, according to HP. The battery bar code is printed on the back of the battery with HP Notebook Battery and the model number printed on the battery itself. The bar codes included in the expanded recall start with 6BZLU, 6CGFK, 6CGFQ, 6CZMB, 6DEMA, 6DEMH, 6DGAL, and 6EBVA.
HP says it received an additional report of a battery overheating, melting, and charring, causing about $1,000 in property damage ahead of this most recent recall.
The company advises customers to immediately stop using the recalled batteries, remove them from the notebook computers, and contact HP for a free replacement battery. Consumer can use their notebooks by plugging them into an AC power supply.
You can learn more about the recall here.

domain: news


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Kanye West reveals the Yeezy 700 V2 Grey Gum colourway.
After leaking images of the Yeezy 700 Blush earlier this week, 'Ye unveils the next generation Wave Runner, set to launch for Fall Winter 18.
Equipped with a chunky dark grey midsole underfoot, along with a gum outsole, the upper combines suede and synthetic materials throughout, showcasing grey tones on the overlays.
We anticipate that this will be yet another sellout Yeezy release, as Kanye continues to dominate the footwear game alongside the German retailer.
There's no official release date for the Yeezy Wave Runner 700 V2 just yet, stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks and expect to see the sneak arrive in the later months of this year.


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COVID-19 Adds $105B to US Ecommerce in 2020, Alibaba Victim of Huge Data Leak and Out-of-Stocks Cost Chewy Approximately $40M in Sales
COVID-19 Adds $105B to US Ecommerce in 2020
Ecommerce was growing fast before COVID-19 hit. However, the pandemic pushed even more U.S. consumers online, contributing an additional $105 billion in U.S. online revenue in 2020 and accelerating ecommerce by two years, Digital Commerce 360 estimates. Online sales hit $791.70 billion in 2020, up 32.4% from $598.02 billion in the prior year, according to Commerce Department figures. That’s the highest annual online sales growth of any year for which data is available. Ecommerce thrived in 2020 because of store closures and shoppers’ fear of contracting the coronavirus in public. Figures from Q1 2021 show that the coronavirus is still making an impact on retail spending. Online sales increased 39% year over year in Q1 2021, nearly triple the 14% increase in Q1 2020, and faster than Q3 2020 and Q4 2020.
What stood out to us? What else were we going to do?
Alibaba Victim of Huge Data Leak
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. was the victim of a months-long web-scraping operation by a marketing consultant that siphoned up sensitive data including usernames and phone numbers, according to a court case that wrapped in June. A central Chinese court ruled that an employee of a consultant that helps merchants on Alibaba’s Taobao online mall was guilty of dredging up more than a billion data items on Taobao users since 2019, using that to serve clients. The court imposed jail terms of more than three years on the staffer and his employer, alongside fines totaling $70,260. None of the customer data was sold and Alibaba’s users didn’t incur financial losses from the episode, the company said in a statement. The incident, however, coincides with Beijing’s widening effort to tighten the ownership and handling of troves of information that internet giants from Alibaba to Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Meituan hoover up daily from hundreds of millions of users. “Taobao devotes substantial resources to combat unauthorized scraping on our platform, as data privacy and security is of utmost importance. We have proactively discovered and addressed this unauthorized scraping,” a Taobao spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to work with law enforcement to defend and protect the interests of our users and partners.”
What stood out to us? Rub the bottle and ask for another wish.
Out-of-Stocks Cost Chewy Approximately $40M in Sales
Out-of-stock issues resulted in Chewy experiencing an estimated $40 million in missed sales in the most recent quarter, CEO Sumit Singh said on an earnings call last week. Chewy's inventories were down almost 5% from the beginning of 2021 to reach nearly $490.9 million, which is a 9% increase year over year, according to the company's financial filings. Net sales for the company were up nearly 32% in the same time period. Singh said the company doesn't have perfect visibility into the situation, but it has heard from suppliers that extra capacity should come online in the second half of the year to help mitigate the inventory issues. "Since the end of the second storm in mid-February, we've seen ... strong bounce back and shipments consumption, retail availability and our production levels," Freshpet CEO Billy Cyr said.
What stood out to us? Its a dog’s life.
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Our call to industry to unite to promote hospitality to secondary school children across the UK
We are leading an industry alliance urging hospitality ambassadors to step forward and promote the industry to young people. The ‘Choose Hospitality Pledge’ has been created by Nestle Professional, Choose Hospitality, CareerScope, Springboard, and a growing number of hospitality and industry leaders.
More than 40% of hospitality businesses now face skilled worker shortages1, Over the next 5 years, the situation is expected to get worse, with experts forecasting a 13-14 million talent gap for positions suitable for hospitality graduates2. To understand why the hospitality sector is finding it particularly hard to recruit talent, we commissioned MMR Research to speak to young jobseekers, young hospitality professionals and industry influencers from across the UK.
The research, available in our new insight report, Opening Doors: Improving hospitality career perceptions among young people, reveals that, although some young job seekers are interested in the industry, they’re unaware of the breadth of roles and progression opportunities available. With exposure limited to less ‘skilled’ roles in hospitality, this could explain why many young people view it as a ‘back-up career’, with long hours and hard work. Furthermore, the research revealed that these perceptions are also the result of insufficient information and a lack of ambassadors to relate to. When it comes to advice, more than 1 in 4 young people ask people working in the industry, valuing their advice over that of their teacher or careers advisers. Fortunately, 62% of the young people working in hospitality say they love their role, indicating an untapped pool of potential ambassadors.
To address this, the ‘Choose Hospitality Pledge’, encouraging hospitality businesses and rising industry stars to put themselves forward as industry ambassadors. Hospitality leaders including Whitbread, Compass, Sodexo, Elior and PACE have already pledged support, plus industry organisations such as Bridging the Skills Gap and the Institute of Hospitality. These will be promoting the scheme and providing ambassadors to send out to schools in each region. Ambassadors will be given specially developed materials, speaking aids and opportunities at their local schools to help them engage youngsters and promote a career in the industry.
Katya Simmons, Nestle Pro Managing Director says:
“Hospitality businesses are more than twice as likely as other industries to experience challenges filling vacancies3. We were keen to understand why, in order to highlight ways in which our industry could come together to deal with these issues.”
“We learned that a lack of clear information and advice from key influencers has led to a serious image problem for the industry. Yet at the same time we have an untapped resource of bright, young individuals from within the industry who could be inspiring and educating young people on hospitality careers.
“Given the severity of current recruitment challenges, it’s important that we act now. The Choose Hospitality Pledge is all about inspiring the next generation of hospitality superstars. Helping us to get young people excited about our industry again, and showcasing hospitality as an incredibly rewarding career with a wide array of roles and progression opportunities.”


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In In re Sonic Corp. Customer Data Breach Litig. Fin. Insts., No. 1:17-md-02807-JSG, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 204169 (N.D. Ohio Nov. 2, 2020), Judge Gwin certified a data breach class. The facts were as follows:
Between April 7, 2017, and October 28, 2017, hackers used malware installed on point-of-sale systems at 762 Sonic restaurants to steal sales transaction payment card data. Sonic required franchise restaurants to use only certain types of point-of-sale systems. In 2017, many Sonic restaurants used obsolete technology that was vulnerable to hacking. The hackers targeted Sonic franchises that used a particular point-of-sale system and were able to obtain cardholder data. Plaintiffs claim the industry standard requires encryption of stored credit card data, but Sonic’s franchisees used outdated technology-mandated by Sonic corporate policy-and did not encrypt the stolen card data. A following investigation revealed that the stolen data had been sold online. The hackers were able to steal credit card data with impunity for more than six months because Sonic had set up security alerts using an invalid e-mail address. 9 Five million payment cards’ data were sold online. 10 Plaintiffs allege that “Visa and other card brands determined” that the compromised cards had all been used at Sonic restaurants.
The District Court certified the class.
Here, Plaintiffs’ negligence claims all grow out of Sonic’s alleged failure to secure its point-of-sale systems, an alleged failure that made the data breach possible. Further, Plaintiffs argue that they and the other potential class members all suffered injury because they had to respond to the security breach alert. Defendants respond that the named Plaintiffs’ claims are not typical. Even though the class’s negligence claims may all arise out of Sonic’s conduct leading to one event, Defendants maintain that each class member will have to prove that they suffered some fraud, had to replace a card, or other injury. 49 Defendants underscore this argument by noting that some of the cards exposed in the Sonic breach were exposed in other breaches that gave rise to 2017-2019 alerts, so damages could have resulted from other exposures. Essentially, Plaintiffs argue that receiving an alert results from a common cause and creates a common class injury. 51 Defendants argue that it does not. To Defendants, there will need to be “individualized inquiries to investigate how the thousands of class members responded to the breach.” But how potential class members responded to the breach alert speaks more to damages than it does to Defendants’ liability. Still, the Court will define the class more narrowly than Plaintiff’s proposal. The Court will only include those financial institutions that received notice and took action to reissue credit cards or reimbursed a compromised account. Similar to other courts in similar data breach cases, the Court


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EU official: relaxing competition rules would slow economic recovery
Easing competition rules during the coronavirus pandemic is a short-term trade-off that would cause a slower economic recovery, a senior official at the European Commission said today.
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What is the “cash for clunkers” program?
Even though unemployment numbers are higher than they’ve been in over twenty years, and people are watching their investments lose value faster than ever before, consumers may just get a huge break from the US government when they go to buy their next car.
It may seem counterintuitive to offer consumers a break on an item that the media would have us believe no one is buying, but let’s be real. People will always have a need for a new vehicle. To spark that interest, the Obama administration has invented an incentive, known as “cash for clunkers”, that would give consumers anywhere from $3,500 to $4,500 off the purchase of a new car — if they meet a few guidelines.
The United States House of Representatives has just approved the “cash for clunkers” legislation. This is great news, but not all that surprising — Democrats far outnumber Republicans in the House, and the legislation was expected to pass, even though Republicans seem to be doing all they can to take Obama out at the ankles. The “cash for clunkers” legislation will offer new car buyers up to $4,500 in incentives if they are willing to trade in their old model gas guzzlers for new environment friendly high mileage cars. The House voted 298-118 in favor of the bill — this represents a “yes” vote from all but nine Democrats, as well as “yes” votes from a measly 59 Republicans. It is difficult for political pundits to answer the question “Why did Republicans not back this legislation?” with anything but an anti-Obama position. However, with control of both the House and the Senate, Democrats shouldn’t have trouble passing just about whatever they want this term.
For consumers to earn “cash for clunkers”, the trade in vehicle must be rated at no more than 18 mpg in order to qualify, meaning “cash for clunkers” will benefit truck, SUV and van owners more than passenger car owners. What’s hilarious to many liberal bloggers is this — wouldn’t you say that most people who own low mileage SUVs are probably conservatives, represented in the House by the same people who attempted to keep “cash for clunkers” down? Regardless of your political opinion on the issue, you have to be optimistic about car dealers have the opportunity to churn up some business.
Further qualifications exist. If you’re buying a car that gets at least 4 mpg more, you’ll instantly get a $3,500 voucher — but it gets better. Pick a car that averages 10 mpg more than your old clunker, and you’ll earn an additional $1,000 credit. The total — $4,500 towards the purchase of your new gas sipping car.
The measure will now move directly to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. If the legislation passes the Senate, it will head back to President Barack Obama for his approval and signature. Obama has been all but a cheerleader for “cash for clunkers”. The program is expected to go into effect within 30 days of Obama’s anticipated signature, but will not be retroactive for car purchases made before that 30 days begins later this year.
There are some restrictions built into “cash for clunkers”. Trade-in cars must have been under insurance at some point during this past year, and trade in cars that are 25 years old or older are not eligible. In part, this will keep people from attempting to trade in any old rust trap they have sitting on cinder blocks in the front yard. The cash for clunkers program is not permanent — the current language clearly designates the program to last for exactly one year from the time of its inception, or “until Federal funding runs out”.
The House says it will spend about $4 billion that had been expected to be allocated toward a now unncessary war supplemental spending bill, rather than using previously allocated dollars. This could be the cause of conservative uproar — unfortunately, the money that was intended to move toward the military’s supplemental spending bill has been made obsolete by the approaching end to major Iraqi occupation.
Don’t worry about dealing with unwilling or scam happy car dealers, either. Dealers will be required to participate in the program by the government, and will also be required to prove that traded in vehicles have been crushed or shredded, and not resold to consumers.


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Marketers are now experimenting to see whether film can be crowdsourced for viral success. The venture has an opportunity to be a breakthrough, but the corporate-sponsored gambit also faces challenges in a new media world that demands grassroots authenticity.
At this year’s South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals (SXSW), Taco Bell is letting music fans submit their own images and videos to create a “Rockumentary” of the bands Passion Pit and Wildcat! WildCat! from their live show on March 11. That begs the question: Will the industry embrace participatory content?
Fans at SXSW can tweet their footage of the bands' March 11 performance by using the hashtag #FeedtheBeat, which documentarian Sam Jones will incorporate into a Rockumentary to be released this summer.
The Texas capital has long held the slogan “Keep Austin Weird” and SXSW, which runs from March 8 to 18, describes itself as a “unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies”.
Crowdsourcing has traditionally been used to either lower costs or to find the right designer among the masses to build an optimal product or website. We live in a rapidly changing world of social marketing and indie artists trying to get millions of views on YouTube.
Since 2006, Taco Bell has operated a Feed The Beat program that has provided more than 500 singers and bands with $500 in gift cards and opportunities to be featured in advertisements and events across the country. It’s a sophisticated ground game that features characteristics of grassroots activism, reality TV, and guerilla marketing.
What’s in it for the artists? Publicity. Artists can leverage Taco Bell’s massive social media presence (its online community boasts over 10 million fans) and get free exposure that they otherwise would not have gotten.
What’s in it for the company? It allows marketers to reach out to social influencers at relatively lower cost than, say, paying millions to Rihanna or Justin Bieber to promote their brand and products.
(Come to think of it, the Bieb was discovered on YouTube.)
Taco Bell’s guerilla campaign may seem like a charitable nod aimed at starving artists trying to make it big. In reality, it’s an innovative partnership for standing out in a world of new media masses, smartphones, and participatory content.
For years, Internet marketers have reached out to social influencers as a means of going viral. These days, influence is shifting away from print publication and radio and moving online.
For corporate entities, a tweet from a popular celebrity is the equivalent of free advertising that otherwise would have cost thousands of dollars in traditional outlets such as television. Good luck spending $4 million for a 30-second spot at the Super Bowl. Especially in this economy.
New media is low cost, but the impact can be bigger. If content goes viral, the returns can be outrageously positive. For artists, it can be life-changing.
Documentarian Sam Jones wants to see if fans providing crowdsourced material will help a film go viral. Participatory content adds an element of authenticity. That’s why reality television, which is cheaper to produce, has partially displaced professional productions which are viewed as byproducts of artificial scripts.
Doubtless, lots of amateur footage will be discarded. But the advantage of crowdsourcing is that, due to the high number of participants, you get more than enough material to enable producers to select and choose.
With over 330 million mobile devices in the U.S., anyone can be a cameraman or photographer. Technology has seemingly placed the American Dream in everyone’s hands. YouTube symbolizes the hope of every artist wanting to validate their life’s work overnight.
A slogan for “Feed The Beat” reads:
We're not making an experimental fan-made Rockumentary at SXSW. You are.


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The first three Everlast stores will open this summer in Florida at The Westside Country Mall in Clearwater
the Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation and the Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines
The new Everlast stores will showcase boxing and MMA gear, along with a new line of fitness apparel for men and women and a wide assortment of fitness, yoga, cycling and running accessories.
“We’re very excited to launch our first Everlast stores in the United States,” says Neil Morton, chief executive officer and president, Everlast. “The Everlast brand has been one of the most recognized global sports brands for over 100 years, and we’re evolving as a company. A brick-and-mortar presence is a great way for us to help tell our new brand story.”
“We could not be more thrilled to bring this innovative concept to the U.S.,” says Abraham Garzon, head, Everlast stores. “We are now able to tap into our rich heritage of fight sports and
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Fashion and homewares brand Cath Kidston has created digital versions of its prints and made them available for download in the popular Animal Crossing: New Horizons video game.
The prints can now be embedded into the Nintendo social simulation game, with gamers able to personalise their virtual homes using these traditional designs from the British brand.
It is a novel digital marketing exercise by Cath Kidston, which closed its store estate earlier this year as part of a pre-pack administration. The move has resulted in the company leaving store-based retail to focus on its digital and wholesale platforms.
PR and digital agency Rise at Seven’s creative team supported the in-house Cath Kidston digital division in bringing the Animal Crossing designs to life.
To access the prints on the game, consumers will first need to download the Nintendo Switch Online app which is available on Android and iOS operating systems. Then, once logged into their Nintendo account, users can access NookLink, which allows them to import and use custom design QR codes.
Cath Kidston now has its own QR codes which can be scanned in order to store the brand’s prints on the user’s gaming account.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched in March this year, and it has risen in popularity during the coronavirus-prompted lockdown. Nintendo said from launch date on 20 March to 31 March it sold 11.77 million units, and it went on to sell 13.41 million units in its first six weeks.
The game has a range of customisable features, allowing players to personalise their characters’ outfits and house interiors. Cath Kidston’s Button Rose, Strawberry Gingham, and Wheel and Wings Cadet prints are available for use in the game.


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As Expo 2020 Dubai eagerly awaits to bring together the world under the common banner of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (PDTI) officially declares the 100 per cent completion of its ‘Bangkóta’ pavilion.
PDTI Assistant Secretary for the Trade Promotions Group and PH Expo 2020 Dubai Alternate Commissioner General Rosvi C. Gaetos highlighted that the Bangkóta has successfully been completed ahead of the scheduled Expo opening on October 1, 2021, through the collaborative and unwavering efforts of various work teams.
Following the full completion of the Bangkóta, technical rehearsals have started to ensure the delivery of a breathtaking, imaginative spectacle of scientific and humanistic data about the Philippines and its people from the works of art of carefully selected ensemble of performing, visual and digital artists, over the course of the six-month global event.
To attract key investors from various sectors including food, tourism, hospitality, logistics, information technology, halal, amongst others, Yalong said they will roll out dedicated forums, delegations, and series of events including the upcoming Philippine Food Festival, Philippine National Day, participation in the Global Business Forum ASEAN (GBF ASEAN) and Gulfood 2022.
As foreign travel is still a challenge, PTIC said they will supplement business engagements virtually by organising business-to-business matching events held via Zoom, and creating online trade shows through Hopin.
Filipino groups vow full support
A number of Filipino organisations in the UAE have expressed their full support by encouraging their ‘kababayans’ to be brand ambassadors of the ‘Bangkóta’.


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The Instagram live videos they have been extended to a maximum duration of 4 hours. The platform also adds a live video file.
Post longer on Instagram
In a Tweet, Instagram outlined a series of updates that it is rolling out to Live. But perhaps the most exciting change coming to Live is its extended length limit.
🌟3 updates about Live🌟
🎥You can now go Live for up to 4 hours
🎞You can save your Lives for 30 days before they delete
📺 You’ll start seeing a “Live Now” section in the IGTV app and on Explore so you can discover more Lives pic.twitter.com/0wipQJXr1F
– Instagram (@instagram) October 27, 2020
Now, you can record live video for up to four hours, which is a big jump from the previous limit of just one hour.
An extended live duration gives users the opportunity to create longer videos without having to chain multiple lives one after another. Users all over the world can take advantage of this extension; they just need to have a violation-free record on the platform.
In addition to the new extensive live time period, Instagram has also created a live video archive. Whenever you record a live video, Instagram will automatically save your video for 30 days after it is broadcast.
You can find this private archive the same way you access your Old Stories and Posts. Just go to your profile, press the three bars in the upper right corner of the screen, and then select Archive.
From here, choose Live Archive from the drop-down menu at the top of the screen and you will be able to see all your previous Lives. If you want to keep any of your videos, Instagram offers you the option to download them or post them on other social networking sites.
Finally, Instagram also announced that Live is coming to IGTV.. This means that you will now see a Live Now section in the IGTV app. Furthermore, Instagram is also adding the same Live Now tab to Instagram’s Explore page.
These three updates may seem minor, but they definitely show Instagram’s dedication to live content. A longer maximum live duration allows users to host longer virtual classes and gives them more time to connect with followers.
Instagram prioritizes live broadcasts
Although Instagram already has a large host and live viewer base, updates to the platform can lead to more virtual experiences on Instagram.
With the explosion of virtual classes, concerts, shows, and other types of live content online, it appears that Instagram is competing to compete with other social platforms that offer live broadcasts. After all, big names like TikTok, YouTube and Twitch already provide users with the ability to host their own live broadcasts.
That said, Instagram’s extended live videos will likely keep users on Instagram for longer and may even attract creators looking to expand their fan base.


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Watch out, Netflix. Hulu is coming for you.
The US streaming service, which has been a distant third in the streaming wars behind global juggernauts Netflix and Amazon, is making a play for America’s TV-loving streamers.
With the fall 2017 TV season kicking off in earnest this week, Hulu slashed the price of its ad-supported package from $7.99 a month to $5.99 for new and returning customers. The offer—available through January and good for the first year of service—was part of a bid to draft more subscribers while fresh TV shows were premiering and returning to the air.
But it also undercut Netflix, which just raised the price of its most popular monthly plan by $1 in the US and hiked the rate for its premium package a week earlier. It’s now priced at $7.99 for the basic tier, $10.99 for the standard, and $13.99 for the premium.
Netflix built its brand on the backs of licensed TV shows and movies, but has since focused more on producing original content to set itself apart from the stiffening competition. Netflix’s loss has been Hulu’s gain; it has picked up many of the TV greats that used to be on Netflix, like 30 Rock, The Bernie Mac Show, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as beloved shows like Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, and How I Met Your Mother.
This year, Hulu bought the streaming rights to more than 3,000 episodes of TV, including past hits like 30 Rock and current shows like ABC’s Black-ish, Bloomberg reported.
Many of these shows were also produced or carried by Hulu’s owners—Walt Disney, Comcast, 21st Century Fox, and Time Warner. Hulu has been willing to work with them by promoting their networks, like NBC, during episodes of the shows it carries, such as This Is Us, and sharing a slice of the ad revenue it earns during those programs, the publication reported. That’s something the networks can’t get on Netflix, which pays more for series upfront but doesn’t have ads.
Hulu still has a ways to go to catch up to Netflix, however. The global behemoth had 104 million subscribers as of June, while Hulu, which does not disclose paying subscriber numbers, had 47 million US unique viewers as of May.
Yet last month, Hulu leapfrogged both its larger rivals to become the first streaming service to win a best series award at the primetime Emmys with The Handmaid’s Tale—a production both Netflix and Amazon previously passed on. If it can build on that momentum with new original series, of which it has a slate lined up, and its growing catalog of oldies but goodies, it could score new subscribers turned off by the more expensive Netflix packages.
Read this next: In a world without TV sets, what do we call TV?
And this, too: The cord-cutter’s guide for what TV to watch this fall 2017


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With the world's population expanding rapidly and industrialisation taking hold in new corners of the globe, competition for raw materials is intensifying, triggering concerns about resource scarcity and the environmental 'footprint' of the planet's population (EURACTIV 29/10/08).
The 2008 Living Planet Report, by the Global Footprint Network, WWF and the Zoological Society of London, said growing populations are putting so much pressure on Earth's natural resources that two planets will be required by the early 2030s if current lifestyles are to be maintained (EURACTIV 25/09/09).
Considering the uneven distribution of natural resources, the report suggest that most nations have become ecological debtors, covering their excess demand by importing resources from other countries.
In the EU, the total ecological footprint is twice the size of the region's biocapacity, with the UK and Spain, for example, running ecological deficits greater than 150%.
Critical list of raw materials
This surging demand for raw materials has put unprecedented pressure on commodity prices, and has in some cases led to concerns over their availability.
"A strong and unforeseen surge in demand, essentially driven by strong growth in emerging economies, led to a tripling of metal prices between 2002 and 2008," the Commission underlined in its 2008 raw materials initiative.
"In particular, China accounted for more than 50% of the growth in world consumption of industrial metals between 2002 and 2005."
In addition, geographical distribution of natural resources is uneven across the globe, with extraction activities often limited to a number of countries which sometimes lack political and economic stability, the Commission said.
High-tech raw materials are of particular concern as they are increasingly the basis of innovative 'green technologies' associated with renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gases, the Commission pointed out.
For example, China produces 95% of all rare earth concentrates (needed for hand-held consumer electronics, LCD displays and high performance magnets), Brazil 90% of all niobium (needed for steel alloys in gas pipelines and super alloys in high-performance jet aircraft) and South Africa produces 79% of all rhodium (needed for car catalysts), the Commission said.
The EU executive's 2008 assessment contained a preliminary list of twenty raw materials considered to be potentially critical for the EU economy. These include niobium, platinum and titanium (see annex of Commission's raw materials initiative).
Platinum and palladium, for instance, are used in the fuel cells that power hydrogen cars, while silicon, gallium and silver are used in solar cells. Cu-Indium-Gallium-Selenium (CIGS) alloys are used in 'thin-film' photovoltaic technology for solar cells. Indium is used to manufacture microprocessors and the next generation of ultra-small RFID chips, which can be embedded in all sorts of consumer products.
A 2008 report by the US National Research Council listed five non-energy raw materials considered to be 'highly critical': indium, manganese, niobium, rare earths and the platinum group metals.
A French study identified short to medium-term risks to supply of a number of materials: antimony, chromite, cobalt, germanium, gallium, indium, lithium, magnesium, molybdenum, platinum, palladium, rhodium, rare earths, rhenium, titanium and tungsten.
The Commission said the list could be expanded to take in five more materials (chromite, manganese, niobium, tantalum and vanadium) targeted by the US report and Japanese stockpiling policy, "and for which there is a high degree of concentration of producing countries".
EU to test raw materials' 'criticality'
At the invitation of EU industry ministers, an expert group was set up by the European Commission to refine the draft list. In December 2009, the group expanded the list to include nineteen new substances, bringing the total to thirty-nine (EURACTIV 01/12/09).
A first batch of raw materials – cobalt, lithium and rare earths – was examined by the group during its first meeting in November 2009, with the objective of testing the Commission's proposed methodology on the raw materials' level of 'criticality'. The expert group has already identified three types of risk:
Import risk, where raw materials are imported from a politically instable region or from a country where the market economy does not work. "That is relatively easy to do as the World Bank has put together governance indexes which measure the political and economic stability index of countries," said an EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the methodology is still being adjusted.
Production risk within the EU, with potential problems such as land access. "If we are in a country for example where the population density is very high, where urbanisation is very high, obviously access will be weak," the EU official said.
Environmental risk, based on indicators such as air or soil pollution, where the impact of raw materials use is measured from an environmental point of view. "This is innovative compared to other studies," the EU official said. "We have just launched a life-cycle analysis to determine what the environmental impact is for each raw material in terms of exploitation, use, treatment, recycling, etc., for air or soil pollution as well as emissions of greenhouse gases."
The three types of indicator are then aggregated to determine risk. "For example, a given raw material may be used in 40% by the automotive sector and 30% by the aerospace sector," the official said. "And so we can utilise these percentages to aggregate the economic importance of these raw materials for the sectors that use them."
"The economic importance will be determined either by the employment or the added value of the sector," the official said.
A key factor will be whether or not the raw material can be easily substituted. "If it can be substituted in full by another raw material, in this case of course the risk is easy to avoid," the official explained.
Concern over Chinese rare earths
Of particular worry to Europeans are rare earths, collections of metals and elements found in a wide range of gadgets and consumer goods, including batteries used in electric cars.
Among the rare earths where shortages are likely is neodymium. Neodymium is the key component of an alloy used to make the high-power, lightweight magnets used in electric motors of hybrid cars, such as the Prius, Honda Insight and Ford Focus, as well as in generators for wind turbines, Reuters reported.
The problem is that 95% of global production and about 60% of consumption currently originates from China, according to the US geological survey. "We have already identified access difficulties, with China obviously being one of the countries where we have identified access difficulties," said the EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Some rare earths can be found in Europe, the official added, saying geological information is "relatively precise" on this point. "So this is very important to know because if we find that rare earths are critical and that there is an import risk from China, then there is a first recommendation that goes without saying: let us try to exploit these earths in Europe if that is possible."
However, they may be located close to urban areas, complicating their exploitation by the mining industry. Moreover, there is no comprehensive geological map of Europe available yet, making predictions more difficult.
Raw materials 'diplomacy': EU-China trade disputes
Discussing the Commission's proposal in May 2009, European ministers in charge of industry called for an EU "raw materials diplomacy," and invited the EU executive to "reinforce the dialogue with all relevant third countries and raise the issue in all appropriate trade and other fora".
Shortly afterwards on 23 June, the United States and the EU filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), accusing Beijing of unfairly favouring its steel, chemicals and other industries by restricting access to nine types of key raw materials, despite a pledge to eliminate export taxes and charges made when it joined the WTO in 2001 (EURACTIV 24/06/09).
According to the European Commission, China imposes "quantitative restrictions on the export of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, silicon carbide and zinc," increasing supply issues for Europe's industries. Products concerned are used by the steel, aluminium and chemical industries, the Commission said, and serve a multitude of sectors, including the automotive sector, which has been hit badly by the economic recession.
This hurts foreign "downstream producers" of goods, such as aluminium producers and steelworkers, since the export restraints limit their access to raw materials and raise world market prices for the materials while lowering the prices that domestic Chinese producers have to pay, US officials said.
In September 2009, Chinese media reported that Beijing would start applying quotas on exports of rare earths and other exotic metals of which it is the only major supplier, citing environmental reasons.
Other major suppliers of rare earths include the United States, but it has become dependent on Chinese imports because production prices there are lower, according to the US geological survey.
Scrap metal: Waste or usable product?
In Germany, the EU's largest exporter of manufactured goods, enterprises have already warned of a looming raw materials gap, singling out scrap metal as an issue.
Ulrich Grillo, chairman of the commodities group at BDI, the German business lobby, said China alone restricted trade of raw materials and semi-finished products with some 373 export duties (EURACTIV 26/08/09).
Grillo, who is also chief executive of German zinc producer Grillo-Werke, said China planned to refund value added tax on imports of scrap metal from 2010. When China made such refunds in the past, they had a "vacuum cleaner impact on the scrap market and sucked the world scrap metal market empty," he said, according to Reuters.
Germany needed such scrap metal as about 50% of German metal production involved scrap, Grillo said. European exports of secondary raw materials had risen strongly in past years, he said. "Such exports are often illegal," he said. "Waste is often exported as usable goods or false declarations of material type are made."
"The central problem is the boundary between waste and usable products."
Under half of automobiles sent for scrap in Germany were recycled into metal, he said. He estimated that 40% of German automobiles sent for scrap were sent abroad without notification as exports.
Over a third of global steel production now comes from recycled scrap material, but recycling rates vary a lot across the globe, according to a report by the WorldWatch Institute (EURACTIV 7/09/09).
Michael Renner, senior researcher at the institute, explains that rapid growth of the Chinese economy has pulled up production since the late 1990s and that China's steel production "skyrocketed from 66 million tons in 1990 to 500 million tons in 2008, accounting for 38% of the world's total".
Recycled steel currently amounts to some 35% of total steel output and is said to save up to 75% of the energy needed to produce virgin steel.
Concentration in the mining industry
German industry was also worried about the increasing concentration of global commodities supplies in the hands of a small number of powerful companies, such as the iron ore joint venture formed in June by mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.
There was also concern about increasing Chinese purchases of shareholdings in nickel mines in Canada and South America.
The BDI's Grillo called for greater political attention to be paid to European commodity supplies. Germany and the European Union should develop a unified commodities strategy involving more energetic action to tackle international trade distortions which disrupt commodity trade, he said, according to Reuters.


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MotoCorp the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycle and scooters, has
launched the new Pleasure+ ‘XTec’. The new LED projector headlamp- a first-ever
feature in the 110cc segment - enhanced aesthetics and a new vibrant paint in jubilant
yellow bring a fresh appeal to the scooter.
comes with enhanced technology features such as Hero’s revolutionary i3S Technology,
(Idle-Stop-Start System), digital analog speedometer with Bluetooth
connectivity with call and SMS alerts, side-stand engine cut off and metal
Pleasure+ 110 will be available at a starting price of Rs 61,900 for LX variant
and Pleasure+ 110 XTec starts at Rs 69,500m (Ex-Showroom, Delhi).
new Pleasure+ XTec comes with first- in-segment projector LED headlamp. The new
headlamp provides 25% more light intensity with a longer and wider road reach
and anti-fog advantage that offers maximum on-road visibility in all driving
Pleasure+ XTec takes forward the retro design theme and premium chrome
additions on mirrors, muffler protector, handle bar, seat backrest and fender
stripe. Additionally, the dual tone seat and colored inner panels further
enhance its overall style.
a branded seat backrest for the pillion, whether it’s a long journey, or your
daily city route, the Pleasure+ XTec keeps its promise when it comes to
high-quality comfort. The scooter now has an added advantage of a metal front
fender that further enhances its durability.
digital analog speedometer with Bluetooth connectivity displays incoming and
missed call alerts, new message alerts along with the phone battery status. Available
in seven exciting colors, the Jubilant Yellow specially created for the
Pleasure+ XTec ensures even further enhanced exclusivity.
Pleasure+ XTec comes with a 110cc BS-VI compliant engine producing a remarkable
power output of 8bhp@7000rpm and torque on demand of 8.7Nm@ 5500 for a high
performance ride. Delivering the brand promise of performance and comfort, the
new Pleasure+ XTec comes with the i3S patented technology for the highest
possible fuel efficiency. The scooter
has a side-stand visual indication and a ‘Side-stand Engine cut-off’.
Bolt, India’s largest EV charging network, announced the launch of Bolt Lite, India’s first safest, smartest and most affordable universal EV charging socket.
Renon India, one of India’s leading energy storage companies, has launched its swappable smart batteries, Groot, for electric 2-wheelers. The Li-ion battery pack for low and medium speed EVs is built ...
MG Motor India introduced ‘MG Service on Wheels’ initiative to provide customers with car repair and maintenance services from the comfort of their homes. This service outreach programme reinforces th...


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Lillian Hochstein leaves the bustle of Seattle’s historic Park Place Market behind her and steps outside. She surveys Elliott Bay in the distance, raising her voice to be heard above traffic racing north and south on the double-deck Alaskan Way Viaduct that impedes the view of the waterfront.
The executive director of the Pike Place Market Foundation describes a strikingly different vista to come with a $73 million expansion that will add nearly 50 new stalls for farmers and artists, 12,000-square-feet of retail space, 40 new low-income senior housing units, 300 underground parking spaces and a 30,000-square-foot plaza with a viewing deck. The new MarketFront is also the first step in the City’s vision to create a dynamic connection between downtown and the waterfront.
“Right now, we have visitors who want to get to the water and don’t go because it’s difficult to figure out how to get there,” Hochstein said. “So they don’t do it. We get 10 million visitors a year and we want more of them to visit the waterfront.”
On Monday, March 23, the Seattle City Council approved a $34 million investment toward expanding the Market. The State of Washington will contribute $6 million, and the rest will come from loans and private donations.
The Market Foundation’s $9 million capital campaign dubbed Pike Up! will provide vital funds for the Pike Place Market expansion with Starbucks becoming the first major company to announce its support, pledging $500,000 toward the effort.
“The Pike Place Market is where it all began for Starbucks, and our customers from around the world visit this iconic store because it is where our values, our spirit for community and connection come from,” said John Kelly, Starbucks senior vice president of Global Responsibility and Public Policy. “The MarketFront project will allow more people to come together in appreciation of everything that Seattle has to offer, and we are proud to be part of the Pike Place Market’s history and future.”
Starbucks support of the Pike Place Market Foundation
Over the years Starbucks partners (employees) have volunteered with the Foundation's charitable causes, and they will lead community service projects during Starbucks Global Month of Service in April.
In addition to service, every year the Starbucks Chorus raises money for the Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition fundraiser, which benefits the Pike Place Market Senior Center and Food Bank. To date, the chorus has raised nearly $400,000. Starbucks has also donated approximately three million servings of coffee to the food bank and supports the Pike Place Market Foundation’s annual Sunset Supper event.
Hochstein, who joined the Market Foundation three years ago, appreciates the strong link between Pike Place Market and Starbucks.
“We grew up together. Starbucks got a lot bigger than we did,” she said with a laugh. “We love the fact that Starbucks is so integrated into Pike Place Market history. When we go out to ask the public to participate, they always ask if Starbucks is involved. We’re inextricably linked in their minds.”
The roots of Pike Place Market reach back to the early 20th century when money from the Klondike gold rush helped pay construction costs. The market hit hard times in the 1960s and came close to being demolished. Voters came to the rescue and passed a “Save the Market” initiative in 1971, seven months after the first Starbucks became a neighborhood hub.
The City of Seattle created the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority in 1973 with a wide-ranging charter encompassing preservation, supporting farmers, incubating small businesses and providing housing and services to low-income people.
Creating a 'dynamic' new public space in Seattle
Ben Franz-Knight is the executive director of the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. “With the MarketFront, we are reclaiming and completing the last piece of the historic district, and fulfilling a 40-year vision of those who fought to save the Market. The removal of the Viaduct gives us the unique opportunity to complete an important chapter in the market’s past, and create a new one, with dynamic public space and a pedestrian connection to the waterfront.”
Franz-Knight said that attempts to get the current project off the ground date back to the ‘70s, but “because of the costs to build over the BNSF train tunnel below the site, it has never penciled out.” The pending removal of the elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct, however, created an opening to finally make the expansion a reality.
The first phase of construction could begin as early as May and is expected to last about 18 months. The public is also invited to participate in this transformation and to be a part of Market history. Find out how by visiting http://pikeup.org.


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The trend towards working from home is likely to breed a more productive and liberated international workforce, according to a recent survey.
The survey of 941 remote and mobile workers from Canada, the United States, Australia, Asia Pacific, Japan and Europe, found that 76 per cent of employees believe that working remotely aids productivity and 61 per cent think their managers agree with them.
Respondents said the chief attraction of working remotely was the ability to maintain a flexible schedule. For some, this included eating and drinking outside of standard times (35 per cent) listening to music (45 per cent) and watching TV (28 per cent). Only 21 per cent admitted to sneaking in an afternoon nap.
The laid-back approach helps keep tempers on an even keel, with more than 80 per cent of respondents saying they have never lost their temper with support staff trying to help them fix a problem.
Only 22 per cent of workers used a cell phone or PDA to work from home, but respondents said they expected to take advantage of these technologies in the coming year.
Security is a problem for remote workers, the survey found. Eight-eight per cent of respondents admitted to storing passwords in easily discovered locations and only 12 per cent used encrypted files to store and manage login data.
The survey was conducted by online marketing firm Insight Express and Internet security company SonicWALL.


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FRANKFURT, July 29 (Reuters) – Bayer (BAYGn.DE) said on Thursday it would book an additional provision of $4.5 billion related to litigation which alleges that its weedkiller Roundup can cause cancer.
Bayer made the announcement in an update to investors on how it plans to deal with Roundup-related lawsuits that have dogged the company since it acquired the brand as part of its $63 billion purchase of Monsanto in 2018.
The decision comes after a U.S. judge in May rejected Bayer’s plan to try to limit the cost of future class action over claims that Roundup causes cancer. read more
Thousands of users have alleged Roundup caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but Bayer has said decades of studies have shown Roundup, and key ingredient glyphosate, are safe for human use.
Bayer said it would file in August a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a review of a lower court ruling that went in favour of Roundup user Edwin Hardeman.
The German company said a ruling in its favour by the Supreme Court would effectively end Roundup litigation. But it set aside the new provision for its base case that the court declines to hear the matter or ends up favoring the plaintiff.
The sum comes on top of $11.6 billion it was factoring for future settlements and litigation.
“We believe that the U.S. Supreme Court should give strong consideration to accepting our petition to review the Hardeman case and render a positive ruling,” Chief Executive Officer Werner Baumann said.
In addition, Bayer said that it was working on replacing glyphosate-based products with alternative ingredients starting in 2023 for its U.S. residential customers.
It said glyphosate formulas would remain the same for U.S. professional and agricultural markets.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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The Mississauga Mid-Summer Night Music & Food Festival happens this weekend July 29-30 at the Mississauga Chinese Centre. The event, organized by the Chinese Cuisine & Hospitality Association of Canada in partnership with the Mississauga Chinese Centre and the Mississauga Chinese Business Association, had its inaugural run last year as the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival and Night Market.
This year, the event will feature over 80 food vendors, non-stop music created by both DJs and live performers, a summer night market comprised of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Caribbean and Filipino dishes and more.
Both food vendors and performance will put on sale and display different Asian styles.
According to festival organizers, there will be “endless amounts” of music and food. They also say the festival will work to celebrate Canada’s multiculturalism and its Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino and South Asian communities.
If you are a foodie or just simply love Chinese food, here is your chance to enjoy a traditional Szechuan cuisine, Toronto’s famous Morals Village Hot Pot, Taiwanese stinky tofu, Korean Fried Chicken, fresh juice, Italian specialties and many other great eats.
The festival will also feature chefs who will showcase traditional meat slicing skills and demonstrate the most efficient ways to peel oysters. Chefs will also show attendees how to create nine different types of hand-made ramen.
There will also be prizes, carnival games and travel rewards.
The festival will kick off on Saturday, July 29 at 12:00 p.m. and opening ceremonies will commence at 6:00 p.m. The event will wrap up on Sunday, running from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
So here is something to look forward to this weekend if you don’t have any plans or if you do, try squeezing in a bit of time to take in this experience. -CINEWS


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Is Ulta getting Fenty Beauty?
“Bout to be in my ULTA bag!!” the singer-entrepreneur’s caption read. “Dats right, I can finally confirm that @fentybeauty is officially joining the @ultabeauty fam!!
Is Fenty no longer at Sephora?
We carry a variety of Fenty Beauty by Rihanna makeup products at Sephora.
Which countries have Fenty Beauty?
On February 17, 2022, Rihanna announced that Ulta Beauty stores would begin carrying Fenty Beauty products beginning March 6, 2022. On May 10, 2022, Rihanna announced that Fenty Beauty would be available in 8 African countries, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe on May 27, 2022.


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Kitchen 17 to Open Vegan Pizza Factory in Former Indiana Newspaper Building
Kitchen 17, known for its award-winning vegan deep dish pizzas (voted #2 in the nation in VegOut Magazine’s 2021 awards) is expanding by moving its nationwide shipping operation to Indiana.
Vegan Deep Dish Pizza That Ships Nationwide
2020 was a tough year for the restaurant industry and Kitchen 17 owner Jennie Plasterer, a pioneer in vegan food, creatively found a way to not only save her restaurant and keep her staff employed, but also to pivot and expand her business by transforming the Chicago eatery into a full-fledged production facility, launching “the original vegan deep dish frozen pizza.”
Plans for the Future
Plasterer unveiled the plans for expansion with the launch of an IndieGoGo campaign—in collaboration with Smiley Face Media, a full-service media production company founded by her sister Lorry Plasterer-Amieva and brother-in-law Rick Amieva.
Kitchen 17 will renovate the historical Herald Press building in Huntington, IN, equipping it with a food production and distribution facility, a new rooftop, urban farming solutions, a prep kitchen, photo and video production studios, and a restaurant, bar, and special events space in the old newsroom. The 25,000 square foot facility will house the company’s headquarters, creating more than 64 jobs for the city, and will feature a retail tasting room, complete with outdoor dining and more.
A Mission-Driven Business
Plasterer’s passion for animals and the environment runs deep (she went vegan at six years old) and her vision has never been limited to pizza, with a master plan to bring healthy, fresh, delicious plant-based foods to all the hard-to-reach places (small towns, public schools, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.).
How You Can Help
Kitchen 17 is also giving their foodie fans an opportunity to be a part of this expansion by donating to the campaign in exchange for perks like vegan cheesecake, gourmet vegan charcuterie, frozen vegan pizza packs, and even custom artwork by Plasterer herself.
Mohini, a born and raised vegetarian from Chicago, initially went vegan when faced with a health issue, but stayed vegan for the animals. Whole food plant-based eating (inspired by traditional Indian culture) is her optimal diet. An advocate for mental health and lifestyle changes, she has a degree in Health Sciences from DePaul University.
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From heart-shaped donuts and cakes to chocolate-covered strawberries and pretzels, this list covers it all!
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Schrems Ruling: Renewed Scrutiny of Standard Contractual Clauses for EU-US Personal Data Flows
October 18, 2017
Earlier this month, in the latest ruling to emerge from the privacy campaign initiated by activist Max Schrems, the Irish High Court cast fresh doubt on the legitimacy of so-called Standard Contractual Clauses (“SCCs”, also commonly referred to as Model Contracts) as an approved method of ensuring lawful personal data transfers from the European Economic Area (“EEA”) to the United States.
In this case, Mr. Schrems, joined by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (“DPC”), objected to Facebook Ireland Ltd. transferring personal data to its parent company in the U.S., Facebook Inc.
Click here, to continue reading on the Cleary Cyber Security and Privacy Watch blog.


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2021 Toyota Supra Gets $8K Price Cut Thanks to New Four-Cylinder Model
Photo credit: Toyota
From the car and driver
The new 2021 Toyota Supra 2.0 with four-cylinder engine starts at $ 43,945.
Other 2021 models will rise between $ 500 and $ 1,000 compared to the previous year.
The 2021 Supra should arrive at US dealers from autumn.
The new four-cylinder model Supra 2.0 for 2021 starts at $ 43,945 and lowers the base price of the sports car by $ 8,000 compared to the six-cylinder model 2020. 2021 Supra 3.0 models with inline six-drive, which is a slight increase in performance receive, depending on the trim level, between $ 500 and $ 1000.
The Supra 2.0 is available in a single trim level that is less well equipped than the 3.0 models. It comes with manually adjustable seats, 18-inch wheels and an audio system with four speakers (a JBL system with 12 speakers is optionally available as part of a $ 3485 security and technology package). Nitro Yellow paint is also a $ 425 option. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter in-line four engine delivers 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Toyota expects the four-cylinder model to account for around 20 percent of Supra sales in the United States.
The Supra 3.0 remains available in three trim levels. Base 3.0 starts at $ 51,945, an increase of $ 1,000. The 3.0 Premium starts at $ 55,445, an increase of $ 500. Last year's Launch Edition will be replaced with a new A91 2021 special, starting at $ 56,945, an increase of $ 740. All Supra 3.0s receive an improved 3.0-liter turbo inline six-cylinder with 382 hp and an output of 47 hp. An eight-speed automatic transmission remains the only choice for all 2021 Supras.
According to Toyota, production of the 2021 Supra was delayed to early August, which means that these models should arrive at US dealers later in the fall
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Open house tonight Toro Bravo is celebrating their ten-year anniversary with a remodel. The Spanish inspired restaurant has always placed at the top of our "Best Restaurant in Portland" list, and is so popular I frequently advise people asking about it to get there by 5pm, or be prepared to wait. Toro Bravo would like to extend our gratitude to the Portland community for the … [Read more...] about Toro Bravo Announces 10 Year Anniversary with Remodel
Lincoln Restaurant will be closing March 18th, but will reopen as "Ray", on March 24th, which will focus on Israeli cuisine. Award winning chef and author Jenn Louis, has announced she will be closing Lincoln restaurant, a N. Williams fixture since 2008. PDX.Eater says she will be opening a new restaurant, "Ray" in the same space, which will focus on the cuisine of … [Read more...] about Lincoln Restaurant Closing
The Gorhams of Toro Bravo Inc., owners of Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons/Alder, Pollo Bravo, Shalom Y'all etc., have quite a bit of news today.First, Shalom Y'all, which takes up one corner of Pine Street Market at 126 SW 2nd Ave, will be moving to the current location of Pollo Bravo at 1128 SW Alder in Portland. We are excited for Shalom Y’all Chef/Co-owner Kasey Mills to have … [Read more...] about Shalom Y’all, Pollo Bravo eshuffling, BYH Burgers Coming to Toro Bravo Inc.
When I was listening to the latest episode of the popular podcast, Right at the Fork, I was struck by a similarity between some of the most successful restaurateurs in Portland - John Gorham of Tasty n Sons/Alder, Toro Bravo, MEC and Greg Denton of OX and the upcoming Kask and Superbite. They both place a huge focus on customer service. This is not to say other restaurants are … [Read more...] about Latest Turn Right at the Fork Makes a Point
Shalom Y’all brings Israeli Street Food to the Pine Street Market John Gorham has announced that in partnership with Ron Avni and Mediterranean Exploration Company executive chef Kasey Mills, they will be opening a new restaurant to the upcoming Pine Street Market. Shalom Y’all will feature Israeli street food, with a focus on vegetarian dishes, salads, and a breakfast focus … [Read more...] about John Gorham to Open Shalom Y’all at Pine Street Market


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Celebrating the Best of Scotland at Perth Racecourse
Friday, September 6th, 2013
on behalf of Sodexo Prestige
Sodexo Prestige, the official catering and hospitality provider at the Racecourse, will serve the finest local produce to 600 hospitality guests on Monday 9 September, as well as hosting the Perthshire Farmers Market and other local exhibitors in the main forecourt.
Scotland Food and Drink’s mission is to build Scotland’s international reputation as a land of food and drink. Supported by the Scottish government, they are tasked with growing the value of Scotland’s food and drink sector.
The Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight will run from Saturday 7 – Sunday 22 September and will feature a vibrant program of events from farmers markets and cookery demonstrations, to foraging sessions and butchery lessons.
Great Food and Racing
The Scotland Food and Drink Race Day will offer samples of local produce from local suppliers to celebrate the start of the fortnight, it will also be a chance to see a great days worth of racing at Perth.
Tracey Quin, “We are delighted to be hosting a Scotland Food and Drink themed race day this year, especially as Perthshire has so much to offer in terms of produce and suppliers.
“We saw that our event tied in with the start of the fortnight so with our shared commitment to all things locally sourced we thought it would be a great showcase event.
“These days people are becoming more and more interested in where their food is sourced from, whether that’s for environmental, health, or economic reasons.
“With that in mind, at Sodexo Prestige we are fully committed to using the best locally sourced produce whenever possible. It is also very rewarding to promote local suppliers because we have world beating produce right on our doorstep.”
Commitment to the Best Produce
By partnering with Scotland Food and Drink, Sodexo Prestige is confirming its commitment to using the very best of Scottish local produce in all of its menus and all of its events across Scotland.
Its team of executive chefs work with local suppliers such as Campbell Brothers based in Bonnyrigg who provide quality cuts of meat from local farmers, Fresh Direct local fruit and vegetable suppliers based in Glasgow and Kilmarnock based Braehead Foods who provide a host of quality indigenous Scottish produce such as cheese and dairy products and wild game.
The team has cultivated lasting relationships with each of these suppliers to ensure quality food and drink is served every time.
Most recently this expertise and commitment was showcased at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence awards, where Sodexo Prestige created a menu using produce from the top Scottish food and drink supplier as part of a five course menu, for 400 of the industry’s top names.
Stephen Frost, Executive Chef of Sports, Leisure and Events at Sodexo Prestige said: “This is going to be a great showcase of Scottish produce, especially that of Perthshire and the surrounding area.
“The hospitality menu has been created to reflect the best of Scotland, from top quality meats and fish, to vegetables, fruit and herbs as well as dairy products from local farmers.
“Examples from the menu include smoked venison from the Rannoch Smokery, pork from Kirkliston Farm just a few miles away and late season Perthshire berries to accompany the pavlova dessert.
“We are proud to support Scotland’s food and drink and are particularly keen to highlight the world class produce we have on our doorstep.
“We find it very rewarding to use the best of Scottish. All of our ingredients come from exceptional suppliers, the Perthshire berries being a particular favourite of mine, as well as being renowned the world over.”
Tickets for the Scotland Food and Drink Race Day are still available from the Racecourse and cost from £85 – £275 for hospitality or £15 entrance fee. More information can be found at www.perth-races.co.uk
Sodexo Prestige is the corporate dining, hospitality and events division of Sodexo and partners with 17 top class venues in Scotland – and 50 across the UK – including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Hampden Park Stadium and Perth Racecourse. It also provides catering hospitality for The Open Championship, one of the world’s biggest golfing events.
Public relations on Scotland for Sodexo Prestige is handled by the expert PR team at Holyrood PR, providing strategic communication advice and media relations.
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Public Relations Officer for Aggrieved MenzGold Customers Amankwa Baffour has stated that founder and owner of defunct gold dealership firm MenzGold Nana Appiah Mensah (NAM 1) is not above the laws of the country and must be arrested.
He said the laws of Ghana must be enforced to trigger Nana Appiah Mensah to refund all accrued debts to his 600,000 customers in the Country lamenting that about fifty-five of his colleagues have passed away due to poverty.
Nana Appiah Mensah is said to have signed a new musician with a huge amount and this has triggered the anger of his customers.
According to the customers although government has freezed some properties belonging to Nana Appiah Mensah he is still operating some companies and creating new once in the country.
“NAM 1 was not defrauding Ghanaians because how can a fraud company sponsor Ghana premier league, supporting first lady Mrs. Rebecca Akuffo foundation, he also won the best entrepreneurs award” he told Host Of Obuoba Fm’s Morning Show Nana Darkwa.
Mr. Amankwah Baffour said they are appealing to the government of Ghana to execute the rule of law and order Mr. Appiah to pay them with immediate effect.
Source: Obuobafm.com, Ghana
Story: Kwasi Minta
Editor: Kofi Boahen Dankwa


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Putting Our Steel to Work in the Automotive Industry
In the UK car sales continue to rise, which like the construction sector is another positive sign that the economy is slowly but surely recovering. In 2012 there was a 5.3% increase in new car registrations with 2 million new cars sold. That’s the highest since 2008. In 2013 this got even better, with 2.26 million new cars registered, a 10.8% increase on 2012 figures.
With over two years of solid growth the UK is the second largest car market in Europe, after Germany. Many European countries have only experienced slower growth, or a stagnant market, still shaking off the effects of the recession.
Consumers are opting for smaller, more fuel efficient models than in the past. Car manufacturers are feeling the benefits of this increased demand, with more cars being produced in the UK than were made before the recession.
So far manufacturing is up to 1.5 million, as of the latest figures, from 2013. This represents a six year high. Half a million of those were made at the Nissan plant, in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) this growth is largely export led, with 80 percent of cars made in the UK shipped overseas. Primarily our cars are bought by Chinese, Russian, American and European consumers.
Jaguar Land Rover is leading the group of domestic manufacturers contributing to positive export figures. They had a record year in 2013, with Jaguar up 40% and Land Rover up 11%, according to SMMT figures.
We at HTSS have personally felt the effects of this continued warmth in the UK car manufacturing sector. Demand has increased dramatically. We have had orders and repeat business indirectly from Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Renault, and others. Our consignment software is being introduced to customers in this sector, to see if they can gain as much from its deployment as other manufacturers.
The SMMT, basing their excitement on AutoAnalysis research, suggests the country is on track to beat the record set in 1972, when 1.92 million cars were produced. It is predicted this will happen in 2017, when an estimated 2 million will be manufactured in this country, depending of course on global demand.
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Archive for the ‘Ghana’ category
Coca-Cola recognises the benefit of empowering women in Africa.
Report projects growth in number of M&A between companies in different African countries.
African Leadership Network head encourages Africans to be proud of being African.
The Sino-Africa Centre of Excellence is focused on improving relations between Africa and China.
Poultry industry operators need the right business strategies to thrive in Africa.
With the land and water resources, Africa has the potential to meet the world’s food needs.
Professor Lemma Senbet urges African economies not to base growth only on natural resources.
The luxury car maker has plans to expand across sub-Saharan Africa.
EY report highlights foreign direct investment into sub-Saharan Africa, particularly South Africa.
African leaders are no different from leaders in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
“We choose people who are really passionate about starting software development companies.”
First-mover Leti Arts is developing computer and mobile games inspired by African folklore.
Kosi Yankey shares her advice with agribusiness entrepreneurs in Ghana.
“Funds participating in the survey provided effective capital preservation and outperformed equity markets in the region.”
Lonely Planet says Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve offers an uncrowded game viewing experience.


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The jewellers, which was founded in 1856 and operates more than 100 UK stores, has appointed digital agency Underwired to develop an online customer engagement programme, so that it can collect better quality information from its customers and develop more effective marketing.
The jeweller wants to extend the close relationship it enjoys with in-store customers online and will emphasise its family heritage in its marketing communications to differentiate itself from rival high street jewellers H Samuel and Ernest Jones, both owned by the Signet group.
Andrew Hinds, director of the jewellery retailer and the fifth generation of the Hinds family that has worked in the chain, says: “We want to start being more sophisticated [with data] and build more personal relationships. We want to cut out what’s not relevant and offer what is relevant, but we don’t want to make the decisions for our customers and we don’t want to dictate to them.”
He adds it will also make more of its family’s personal involvement in selecting the ranges it sells such as diamond rings.
F Hinds reported an 11% fall in pre-tax profit to £2.85m in the full year to 27 March on a 9% rise in sales.


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Mourning In America
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
I Hate Wal-Mart ... as a store. But it's very, very hard not to be impressed with them as a company. The NY Times has the scoop this morning on how quick action by the chain's executives, starting the day after Thanksgiving, bailed out what might otherwise have been a crushingly disappointing holiday season for the nation's largest retailer.
As you read it, think about the scenario: The president of the stores division is planning to spend the day in a store in Atlanta helping to stock shelves and load customers' cars. By 6:30 a.m., by looking around, he knew sales were slow, and went to check out his competitors' parking lots, too. In three days, the chain had re-structured its entire Christmas merchandising strategy.
That's impressive -- starting from the executives who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and stretching to a culture with an institutional memory long enough to recognize the early warning signs of slow sales. There's a reason they're the biggest retailer (and Lord knows it isn't the quality of their products, the layout of their stores, or that annoying animated smiley face).
Monday, January 03, 2005
Waiting for Pataki The New York Post reports that Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long is calling on "Gov." Pataki to clarify whether he plans to run for re-election in 2006. Apparently, Mr. Long missed this commercial during last night's Giant game. Lessee:
Seems pretty clear he's running, Mike!


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Ola Electrical Mobility is in line for an preliminary public providing before its founder beforehand imagined, reflecting the Indian startup’s whirlwind tempo of progress because it began promoting electrical scooters in late 2021.
“I believed it will take me 4 to 6 years of income to go public,” Founder and Chief Government Officer Bhavish Aggarwal stated in an interview whereas sipping iced Vietnamese espresso in New Delhi’s bustling Connaught Place. “Now I can really feel that will probably be a lot earlier. Ola Electrical has grown and matured sooner than I had initially deliberate as a result of the market response has been very sturdy.”
The corporate, whose backers embrace SoftBank Group and Tiger World Administration, has change into chief in India’s electric-scooter market with a 38 p.c share. It has bought greater than 239,000 electrical scooters since December 2021, in line with knowledge from the Society of Producers of Electrical Automobiles.
Whereas demand initially got here from first-time scooter consumers, most of Ola Electrical’s prospects now are already fully-fledged converts, stated 37-year-old Aggarwal, wearing a black Nehru jacket, popularized by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and later, The Beatles.
Aggarwal has ambitions to develop, with plans to unveil a motorcycle by the top of this 12 months and a battery-powered automobile in 2024, although the timelines could change. He additionally continues to think about exporting scooters to Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe, a proposition that obtained waylaid as a result of demand at dwelling was so sturdy, in line with Aggarwal, whose first startup, ANI Applied sciences, runs Ola ride-hailing operations.
Ola Cabs obtained so far as deciding on banks for a $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8,217 crore) IPO in Mumbai, Bloomberg Information reported in August 2021, however that by no means materialized. The corporate, which competes towards Uber Applied sciences Inc., is a “worthwhile enterprise for us now,” Aggarwal stated in final week’s interview in Delhi. He did not touch upon any renewed makes an attempt to listing, nor did he point out a date for a attainable Ola Electrical IPO.
Aggarwal is constructing a 115-acre battery manufacturing unit in southern India, pitting him towards billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, with the goal of creating lithium-ion cells primarily for Ola Electrical automobiles, in addition to doubtlessly providing vitality storage and residential vitality options.
Manufacturing EV parts in-house will assist Ola Electrical promote vehicles on a much bigger scale and improve margins, stated Aggarwal, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Know-how in Mumbai. Designing automobiles from scratch will give the corporate extra management of high quality and prices in a market the place most EVs are transformed from gasoline fashions, he stated.
Reaching success in electrical vehicles will not be simple. Combustion-engine automobiles stay the favored mode of non-public transport in India and dominate the nation’s roads. EVs have been held again by the nation’s lack of charging services and their excessive value tags. Nationwide gross sales reached 49,800 final 12 months, simply 1.3 p.c of the three.8 million passenger automobiles bought, in line with BloombergNEF.
Bengaluru-based Ola Electrical is up towards extra skilled producers comparable to market chief Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and even Elon Musk’s Tesla, which is contemplating investing in India.
Bumps in street
Ola Electrical’s scooter enterprise has additionally been affected by supply delays as a consequence of chip shortages, and points with high quality and fireplace. Gross sales slid 39 p.c in June from earlier month to 17,590 models, a development that affected different automakers too after the federal government trimmed subsidies that had been provided underneath its Quicker Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electrical Automobiles program.
Nonetheless, higher know-how has shortened timelines for getting a product to market, in line with Aggarwal. Ola Electrical makes use of digital simulation and synthetic intelligence in manufacturing to save lots of time. “I am constructing a technology-focused group of corporations,” he stated. “One other huge know-how theme of our era shall be computing and AI. So we’ll do one thing.”
Being a so-called flat group additionally quickens the manufacturing course of, stated Aggarwal, who’s concerned in every day decision-making at his enterprise, which employs about 7,000 individuals.
“What would take a month in an organization, we get it accomplished in a day,” he stated. “Our philosophy on execution is that we need to do issues as finest as attainable with none compromises on high quality or security. And do it on the lowest price attainable and the quickest velocity attainable.
Aggarwal believes his technique to take management of assorted levels of the EV provide chain will scale back prices and enhance product efficiency and design.
“Tesla is for the West, Ola is for the remainder,” he stated.
© 2023 Bloomberg LP
Will the Nothing Cellphone 2 function the successor to the Cellphone 1, or will the 2 co-exist? We talk about the corporate’s lately launched handset and extra on the newest episode of Orbital, the Devices 360 podcast. Orbital is offered on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Tesla is releasing a new feature called "Dog Mode" that will aim to keep pets safe, cool and comfortable while left unattended in the vehicle.
The electric car maker introduced "Dog Mode" via Twitter Wednesday night. Tesla says that activating "Dog Mode" results in setting "a cabin temperature to keep your dog comfortable while letting passersby know they don't need to worry."
Introducing Dog Mode: set a cabin temperature to keep your dog comfortable while letting passersby know they don't need to worry pic.twitter.com/xFU6MGZT53— Tesla (@Tesla) February 14, 2019
If someone walks by a dog in the car and doesn't realize that the AC is on, it could create a worrying situation. With "Dog Mode," not only is the temperature kept nice and cool for the pup, but it also includes a display screen with the temperature inside the vehicle so that people passing by can see that the pets are safe.
The new feature is one of several software updates Tesla is introducing that aims to improve both safety and security. The company has also announced plans to push its new "Sentry Mode," which aims to protect against theft and break-ins. It monitors the car's surroundings while it's parked and locked, detects threats and then sends alerts to the Tesla owner's mobile app if an incident occurs.
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Imagine being able to order a machine in a factory to make you a personalized product, all from the comfort of your own home. That is just one of the possibilities offered by so-called Industry 4.0 – the world’s fourth industrial revolution.
German chancellor Angela Merkel has opened the world's biggest industrial fair. Poland is the partner nation of the fair that also seeks to allay fears from technological advances associated with Industry 4.0.
Robots have descended upon the world's largest industrial fair by the hundreds. But the big question that reverberates through the trade floor is this: Will fellow robots steal my job?
Ukraine still dealing with Chernobyl aftermath - Germany to subsidize electric cars - How factories are getting smarter
Is this innovation at the Hanover Fair, Germany's high-tech industrial trade fair? It's bums in skirts and beards in suits in every hall. The sexual stereotypes are looking very tired, let alone the exhibits.
© 2017 Deutsche Welle |
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Ten years ago, the digital revolution was safely contained in a few niche areas. Digital technology showed up in the film industry, movies and online banking. But it was all pretty obvious stuff.
But since then, it’s oozed out into other areas you might not expect. What about taxi services and hotel bookings? How about 3D printing for heaven’s sake? You can’t get a much more obvious example of the digitisation of the world than that.
Because the digital world is enveloping everything, manufacturers need to get prepared. In many ways, manufacturing has always been at the forefront of technology. And so when new tools arrive, like new software, it should use them alongside existing tech like Mills CNC machines.
So what changes are we likely to see?
Manufacturers Will Become Service-Based
It seems ridiculous to suggest that manufacturing could ever become service-based. But it is likely that in the future that is where the real value will lie. Manufacturers won’t be all about churning out as many units en masse as possible. They’ll be about taking data from the environment and using that to the best of their ability.
It seems strange, but it is plausible. Consider this: by 2020 there’s going to be around 20 billion internet connected devices. There will be sensors of all kinds everywhere in the environment. And all those sensors will be generating massive data streams that need to be processed. Those data won’t be useless. Instead, they’ll provide critical information on how next-gen products should be designed.
Sensors will also be embodied in the products themselves. This will mean that cars will detect rain and feed that data to local weather stations. Tennis racquets could have gyros to detect problems with a tennis player’s swing.
Manufacturers Will Become Platforms, Like Everything Else
We all know about the concept of a platform from the tech worlds. It’s a service, like eBay or YouTube, where certain types of information goods can be exchanged. The race is now on among manufacturers to develop the next manufacturing platform. Many envision this as being a repository where people can download and share product design files. But it could be any number of things. One idea being pursued right now by the German government is “Industrie 4.0.” The idea here is to get manufacturers to go high-tech and launch software platforms.
One idea is to provide a platform that helps manufacturers run their equipment more smoothly.
The big obstacle to these changes appears to be cultural. There’s no technical reason why these new systems can’t be immediately applied to the manufacturing sector. But the sector is used to a certain mode of operation. It’s used to taking raw materials, processing them, and shipping them out to customers. It’s not used to the idea of a platform or trying to connect markets together in the digital space. In many respects, it simply doesn’t have the expertise.
But the industry will change, even if the change is forced from the outside. Somebody will come along, make a killer platform, and manufacturing will never be the same again.
If you get any value from this post be free to comment or share. Also feel free to connect with me on Facebook or Twitter!
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Bottomline Technologies (NASDAQ:EPAY) was upgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday. The brokerage presently has a $44.00 target price on the technology company’s stock. Zacks Investment Research‘s price target would indicate a potential upside of 12.27% from the stock’s previous close.
According to Zacks, “Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. provides collaborative payment, invoice and document automation solutions to corporations, financial institutions and banks around the world. The company’s solutions are used to streamline, automate and manage processes involving payments, invoicing, global cash management, supply chain finance and transactional documents. It’s Paymode-X settlement network as a technology solution to expand the banks’ treasury management offerings both domestically and around the globe. Paymode-X enables financial institutions to offer comprehensive payables solutions for their corporate customers to convert their paper-based payments to electronic payments quickly and easily. Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. deep experience in cyber fraud risk management solutions to launch a new payment fraud solution for members of the SWIFT payment network. “
Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on Bottomline Technologies to $45.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. BidaskClub upgraded Bottomline Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Bottomline Technologies has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $36.80.
Bottomline Technologies (NASDAQ:EPAY) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The technology company reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, topping the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.26 by $0.05. Bottomline Technologies had a positive return on equity of 7.20% and a negative net margin of 3.67%. The company had revenue of $95.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $92.51 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.26 earnings per share. Bottomline Technologies’s revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. analysts anticipate that Bottomline Technologies will post 0.53 EPS for the current year.
In other Bottomline Technologies news, CFO Richard Douglas Booth sold 5,660 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.67, for a total value of $218,872.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 97,243 shares in the company, valued at $3,760,386.81. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Robert A. Eberle sold 9,078 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.25, for a total value of $338,155.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 347,341 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,938,452.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 29,863 shares of company stock valued at $1,135,740 in the last 90 days. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Bottomline Technologies by 14.9% in the fourth quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,937,549 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $67,194,000 after purchasing an additional 250,730 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Bottomline Technologies by 4.3% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 986,721 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $25,348,000 after purchasing an additional 40,256 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its position in Bottomline Technologies by 169.0% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 894,947 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $31,037,000 after purchasing an additional 562,273 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in Bottomline Technologies by 32.0% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 758,542 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $26,306,000 after purchasing an additional 183,700 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Westfield Capital Management Co. LP bought a new stake in Bottomline Technologies in the third quarter valued at approximately $20,396,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.44% of the company’s stock.
About Bottomline Technologies
Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc is engaged in providing a set of cloud-based business payment, digital banking, fraud prevention, payment and financial document solutions. The Company helps businesses pay and get paid. It offers hosted or Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions, as well as software designed to run on-site at the customer’s location.
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