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CBS turned down the chance of an Apple TV deal
Speaking on his company’s earnings call, CBS CEO Les Moonves said that CBS had turned down the Apple TV as a platform for its content. The revelation was revealed in response to a question about CBS’s appetite toward striking deals with new streaming providers that may not have the cash to pay up front for its content. Moonves claimed that CBS had turned down Apple and its Apple TV platform because the offer was based on an ad split revenue source.
This seems to confirm rumors that Apple is trying to secure some sort of Apple TV subscription service however it looks like it is going to be much harder than Apple had hoped. Apple has been slowly adding additional media content to the Apple TV platform; the recent iOS 5 update brought Wall Street Journal Live and NHL content. Hulu Plus is also rumored to be ready to go on the Apple TV but political reasons are cited as holding it back from launch.
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UK editor at iMore, mobile technology lover and air conditioning design engineer.


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Wi-Fi moves forward with connected vehicle certification program
The United States Department of Transportation has issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the next stage of the Wi-Fi Alliance's connected vehicle certification program.
Wi-Fi Alliance announced that the United States Department of Transportation has issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the next stage of the consortium's connected vehicle certification program.
Wi-Fi contends that the initiative promises to advance the United States towards wide-scale implementation of both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure capabilities aimed at improving traffic safety and efficiency. The consortium contends that the success of its connected vehicle certification program "will hinge on delivering interoperable products and solutions that governments, industry, and consumers can depend on."
According to Wi-Fi Alliance, the standards for connected vehicles cover a range of protocol layers and functionality. IEEE 802.11 and 1609 reside at the lowest levels – the foundation levels for the full set of functions – and the consortium's experience developing interoperability programs for 802.11-based and higher layer products can be used to advantage within the connected vehicle certification programs, speeding the time to commercialization for these technologies and to lay a solid groundwork for the upper levels.
Wi-Fi Alliance encourages all potential respondents to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RFA to leverage its certification capabilities in their responses. By engaging Wi-Fi Alliance, the consortium contends that the government eliminates the need to develop a redundant forum, infrastructure, and process foundation to certify these elements of connected vehicle technology.
Read the U.S. Department of Transportation's full Request for Applications (RFA) regarding Wi-Fi's connected vehicle certification.
Additional information about Wi-Fi Alliance can be found at www.wi-fi.org/who-we-are.

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Buy now pay later companies greeted with IOUs
Buy now, pay later companies want their money — but they’re finding it harder and harder to collect.
Where’s my money? — every BNPL company
Now, consumers are beginning to see the actual price of BNPL programs, with 43% of Gen-Zs missing a BNPL payment at least once (Piplsay survey). Investors are also realizing the true cost of a BNPL investment:
- Affirm (NASDAQ:AFRM) — is down nearly 90% from its all-time highs.
- Sezzle (ASX:SZL) and Zip (ASX:ZIP) — Australian BNPL firms — are down over 91% from their highs.
In 2021, Block (then Square) acquired BNPL company Afterpay for $29B — a questionable purchase. For the second half of 2021, Afterpay reported a $345M loss compared to a $60M profit forecast — impacted by rising marketing costs and bad debts.
Block lowered Afterpay’s growth expectations from 70% to 25-30% in February. A grim outlook for both the BNPL industry and Affirm — expected to report earnings tomorrow, May 12.
Expect more regulations for the industry
Marisabel Torres, Director of California Policy at the Center for Responsible Lending (SFGATE), is concerned consumers are amassing large debt balances without understanding the terms.
One Afterpay exec even referred to its product as a “budgeting tool.” But according to a 2021 Ascent survey — 45% of U.S. adults used BNPL on a purchase that didn’t fit their budget.
- In the U.K., Klarna — the world’s largest BNPL player — will report BNPL usage to credit agencies, impacting credit ratings.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau started an investigation into BNPL firms over debt accumulation worries in the U.S.
Trouble ahead: 2022 has been difficult for the consumer spending-reliant BNPL industry. Consumer spending has fallen on inflation and recession concerns — with supply chain issues and product shortages a constant problem.
Investors: Future of BNPL
Regulations, lower spending and aversion from unprofitable, high-growth tech stocks continue to drag down BNPL stocks. For Affirm, here’s one path out of its nightmare:
- Byrne Hobart of The Diff sees the possibility for a larger company like Shopify, Amazon or a large financial institution acquiring Affirm.
- Jason Mikula, former Goldman VP — thinks Affirm would make a good acquisition target for Goldman and its consumer division, Marcus.
The alternative: Grind it out. Affirm’s CEO Max Levchin has experience surviving the dot-com bubble as PayPal’s CTO. Hobart believes this makes him the right person to carry Affirm through a downturn.


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Smartphones – and young people – have led to a phenomenal rise in the amount people use electronic devices on daily basis
If right now you’re stuck behind a screen when you should really be tucked up in bed, don’t worry – we have proof you’re not the only one.
A new study by communications watchdog Ofcom has shown that Britons spend more time using their smartphones and tablets, as well as enjoying TV and radio, than they do sleeping.
The research revealed that these devices take up 11 hours and 7 minutes of an average person’s day in the UK – a jump of more than two hours since 2010.
Ofcom said many people make phone calls and surf the web at the same time as they watch TV or listen to the radio, so the total amount is squeezed into 8 hours 41 minutes, or an average of 20 minutes longer than we sleep.
Smartphones, which are now used by more than 6 in 10 of us, and tablet computers were behind the rise.
Adam Morland, 15, a student from Golders Green in London, said: “My smartphone means I can now access a large number of useful apps and social media platforms while on the move.
“It’s getting harder to imagine a world without technology.”
Chloë Chiew, a 16-year-old from St Albans, added: “I love using my phone to connect with family and friends easily. I use just before I go to bed and again as soon as I wake up.”
The survey of nearly 2,000 adults and 800 kids also found that the most tech-saavy people are teenagers.
It said we reach a peak of digital understanding at 14-15 years, while children at age six show the same knowledge of new technology as the average 45-year-old.
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards commented: “Our research shows that a ‘millennium generation’ is shaping communications habits for the future.
“While children and teenagers are the most digitally-savvy, all age groups are benefitting from new technology.”
According to the regulator’s Communications Market Report, watching television has remained the most popular individual activity, consuming nearly three hours of the average adult’s day.


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Not even a year after cutting the price to just under $100, the Nintendo 2DS is getting another price drop. Beginning May 20, Nintendo's entry-level handheld will be $79.99, the company announced this morning.
The new $79.99 offering will still include a download code for Mario Kart 7, as past SKUs have. The Nintendo 2DS debuted in October 2013 at $129.99 and its price dropped to $99.99 in August 2015. It's meant to be a lower-cost introduction to the 3DS line of games, and more usable for younger gamers.
The Nintendo 2DS handheld plays all of the 3DS and DS libraries, just without the 3D effect of its 3DS siblings. It's also a single "slate" as opposed to the unfolding clamshell of the 3DS lines. It still has two screens, a touch screen, and all the other controls of a 3DS.
The 2DS price drop comes about three weeks before the launch of Kirby: Planet Robobot for 3DS. Go here for our impressions of that game from PAX East.


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Lionsgate Films of Hunger Games and Divergent fame and GoCoin, processor of digital currency payments are collaborating with one another that will bring digital currency to the forefront of one of the most recognized industries of the world, Hollywood.
The announcement first came from the CEO of GoCoin, Steve Beauregard in New York’s Inside Bitcoin conference and was later confirmed by the senior vice president, Peter Wilkes of Liongates Films. Wilkes confirmed that the company is planning to integrate the digital payment processing gateway into their online store as well as other planned events in the future. He also explained that their decision to accept Bitcoins for payment was their intrigue for new technology that Bitcoin brings to the media space as well as for connecting the new generation consumers with their bright possibilities.
GoCoin to follow into the film studios too
Beauregard further elaborated on the announcement in Follow the Coin, a Bitcoin blog that they plan to take other filming studios also under their fold. This is going to be the customer acquisition strategy followed by GoCoin as their expansion plan. By getting big studios onboard, they will be able to create more places where the bitcoin becomes an accepted form of payment and thus propelled into the mainstream.
GoCoin, Pioneers of Digital Currency Payment Gateway
GoCoin was established in the year 2013 and allows the merchants to take payments in Bitcoin, litecoin, Tether and Dogecoin. Their responsibility is to not just to provide a secure payment gateway to these merchants but to also maintain the risk of volatility by issuing payouts in top currencies like US dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros and Singapore Dollars.
The strategy to get the Hollywood studios in line for creating a market for Bitcoin will prove to be an effective way of getting the common people’s attention towards their currency that has so far been used only amongst the technology enthusiasts. Apart from that, with big solid names backing a payment structure that is outside of the conventional systems will lend a sense of legitimacy and also be extension some trust in the system that so far is missing.
Lionsgate can spur a trend that can prove highly beneficial for the growth of digital currency and also promote the use of GoCoin as the payment gateway for processing the payments securely.


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Breaking news in the world of candy today!
Cadbury creme egg has brought on a crisis with changing the recipe for their popular creme egg. Sour taste buds are in the UK confectionery consumers mouths. In 2010 Cadbury was brought out by the multinational food manufactuer, Kraft Foods, admitted to a British tabloid they have secretly stopped using Dairy Milk within the eggs, instead the recipe now uses a standard mix chocolate.
British consumers united on Twitter to vent their anger over the change.
Read Candy Crash Test review on Cadbury Creme Egg, however I’m not sure how long the new recipe has been used. This review was written around a year ago.


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Herbalife Feud Raises Questions About Transparency
While Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman take the main stage, a debate about trading disclosures also rages on.
Carl Icahn of Icahn Enterprises and activist investor Bill Ackman, founder of hedge fund firm Pershing Square Capital Management, revived their public feud over nutritional supplement maker Herbalife this week. The sparring made for good TV, but it also highlighted a lingering debate over what investors actually must disclose about a trade — and when.
The fireworks between Icahn and Ackman, which have been erupting intermittently for several years, began again last Friday when the Wall Street Journal reported that Icahn was preparing to exit his Herbalife stake. In 2013 Ackman claimed that the Los Angeles–based multilevel marketing company is a pyramid scheme and took a $1 billion short position in its stock. Icahn, who believes Herbalife’s business is legitimate, responded to Ackman’s claims by buying a stake several months later and has since built his share of the company to more than 18 percent. Herbalife contends that its business is legitimate. In July, the Federal Trade Commission determined that the company’s compensation structure was unfair, and Herbalife agreed to pay $200 million in penalty charges and change some of its practices.
Last Friday Ackman told CNBC that Icahn had approached him through investment bank Jefferies Group about buying some or all of Icahn’s more than 17 million shares, essentially surrendering his long position on Herbalife. “This is a confidence game,” Ackman said on Sqawk Box. “I know he thinks this is toast.”
Icahn, who will appear at Delivering Alpha this month, responded hours later by not only denying the rumor but also purchasing 2.3 million additional Herbalife shares.
The feud continued throughout the week, devolving into a back-and-forth about who was more “boxed in” by their strategy on Herbalife. Ackman claimed Icahn felt trapped in his investment in Herbalife and was purchasing shares to help keep the company afloat; Icahn countered by arguing that Ackman is the one who is boxed in by his short position.
Amid the drama, legal experts and other observers noted the opportune timing of Icahn’s purchase — just after the stock dipped on news that he might be selling — and some questioned his lack of warning to investors that he was about to buy 2.5 percent more of Herbalife.
“The law on when shareholders in Mr. Icahn’s position are required to go public is murky, to be sure, but even if it doesn’t require such disclosure, it should,” wrote Ronald Barusch, a corporate attorney and a Wall Street Journal columnist, on Monday. Barusch argued that Herbalife investors would have benefited from more transparency regarding Icahn’s “apparent 360” on the stock.
Investors are required to file a Schedule 13D, also known as a beneficial ownership report, with the Securities and Exchange Commission within ten days of acquiring more than 5 percent of a company’s shares. Filers are required to disclose whether they have any plans to buy or sell more shares in the near future, and if any facts about the trade change after the 13D is filed, it must be amended “promptly.” The questions this raises — what really counts as a “plan” or proposal, as covered under this regulation, and what counts as “promptly” — have long had legal experts at odds.
Icahn filed his initial 13D back in 2013, when he first became a major shareholder in Herbalife. At the time, Icahn noted vaguely on the form that he might someday buy or sell more shares in Herbalife — or he might not. Last Friday’s trade constituted 2.5 percent of Herbalife’s outstanding shares, and Icahn added an amendment to his 13D the same day.
Barusch argues in his column that although that amendment is likely good legal coverage for Icahn’s actions — noting that Icahn’s motivations are unknown — he should be more forthcoming in the future, especially considering that he recently obtained approval to bump his ownership of Herbalife from about 18 percent to 35 percent. After his most recent purchase, Icahn’s stake is 20.8 percent.
Icahn responded with a letter to the editor refuting Barusch’s comments and suggesting that anyone concerned about lack of transparency look more closely at Ackman’s actions. “We do not know why he made these statements, but in light of the fact that he admittedly has a massive short position and holds put options on Herbalife’s stock, we can sure make an educated guess,” Icahn wrote.
It’s unclear whether regulators will show interest in allegations by both Icahn and Ackman of potential manipulation. Regardless, not all legal experts agree on what level of transparency is actually required for this type of situation or what would constitute manipulation.
Christopher Hewitt, a corporate attorney with Tucker Ellis in Cleveland, argues that requiring advance notice of an opportunistic trade like Icahn’s most recent Herbalife buy would not be in keeping with the spirit of the regulation. If a 13D is meant to protect shareholders from any material trade that could affect the company, he says, such reporting would more likely benefit traders looking to capitalize on the movements of big-name investors like Carl Icahn than anyone who might truly be hurt by such a move.
“I don’t believe you have to disclose the intention on a day-to-day basis, buying on a dip and selling on a spike,” says Hewitt. “Why is that information the market should have? Why does anyone owe it to day traders to make more money on these short-term movements?”
Herbalife stock dipped briefly after news of Icahn’s rumored offer to sell on Friday, spiking back up after he made his purchase, to $63.30 per share on Monday. The price has since leveled out, to about $61 a share. In the end, while Ackman and Icahn threw barbs, the market is no closer to an answer as to the worth of Herbalife itself.
Carl Icahn will be appearing at the Delivering Alpha conference, hosted by Institutional Investor and CNBC, on September 13 at the Pierre hotel in New York.


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Consumer confidence hits 10-month low, pessimists outnumber optimists
Consumer confidence has fallen to a 10-month low in March, with pessimists now outnumbering optimists.
The Westpac - Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment has now fallen 10.9 per cent from its recent post-election high of 110.3 to read 99.5 in March.
A reading below 100 means that pessimists outnumber optimists in the consumer survey.
Westpac's senior economist Matthew Hassan says initial falls in the index appeared related to the rapid end of the Abbott Government's honeymoon period, but recent falls seem to reflect employment worries.
"The initial declines in December-January looked to be mainly the unwinding of the election-related sentiment boost," he noted in the report.
"More recent falls though have had a very clear theme centring on a sharp loss of confidence in the economic outlook and escalating job-loss fears."
The main area dragging the overall index down has been a steep slide in expectations about the economy over the next 12 months, which dropped 4 per cent this month after a 7.1 per cent slide last month.
Westpac says the result on this question is the weakest since December 2011, when the European sovereign debt crisis was at its peak.
It seems consumers were particularly rattled by recent news of job losses at Qantas, car makers and other major firms, with 45 per cent recalling employment-related news items.
The survey also showed a 5.5 per cent rise in unemployment expectations, to a level only eclipsed by readings during the height of the global financial crisis, and the recessions of the early 1980s and '90s.
However, Matthew Hassan says these concerns about the economic situation have not yet been reflected in most survey respondent's personal finances.
"The forward view on family finances and 'time to buy a major item' have been resilient throughout the decline since November suggesting that, while people are more concerned about the economy and jobs, so far these concerns are not seen to be directly impacting their own finances," he observed.
There are signs in the survey that households are moving towards more conservative financial positions, however, with "paying down debt" becoming a more popular savings option, and shares becoming less attractive.
Households are also increasingly wary of the housing market, which Matthew Hassan says is likely due to the recent jump in prices and worries that interest rates may rise within the next year.
"The 'time to buy a dwelling' index dropped 6.7 per cent in March and is now down 16.8 per cent from its September high," he observed.
"The sharp drop has taken the index below its long run average for the first time since August last year."


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Why not use lamp posts to charge electric cars?
With off-street parking a rarity in towns, lamp posts may well hold the solution to charging electric cars
Sometimes, the solution to a problem can be right in front of your eyes. For those who live in towns and cities and want an electric car, the solution might be right at their front door.
Because while electric cars make a great deal of sense in town, charging their batteries relies upon either a) having access to off-street parking or b) taking your chances with a public charging station.
There may, however, be a third way. Although still in the early stages of development, a number of councils and private companies are investigating how easily lamp posts could be turned into charging points for electric cars.
Assuming this solution works, it could herald a significant step forward for the UK’s charging infrastructure. At the moment, around a third of residents have no access to off-street parking and the vast majority of those nine million or so households live in our towns and cities.
But it’s in towns and cities where electric cars make the most sense, for two main reasons: firstly, pollution is most keenly felt in the urban environment. Westminster Council has recently announced it’ll start charging diesel drivers more to park in Marylebone, for example, while poor air quality looks set to bring a reduction in the motorway speed limit around Sheffield.
Secondly, while more expensive electric cars – like the Tesla Model S and BMW i3 – can travel roughly 300 miles between charges, more affordable electric cars often have a significantly shorter range, meaning they’re better suited to town driving than cross-country commutes.
Urbanites have found themselves in a bit of a Catch 22 situation until now: electric cars make sense in town, but where to charge them? Public charging stations are becoming more and more numerous but these can’t be reserved and they’re still not that common a sight.
The other option is to charge your electric car at home, but this relies on having access to off-street parking – otherwise, how do you get the power cable from your home to your car? Trailing leads across the pavement are a big no-no, while companies that fit ‘wall boxes’ – which can cut a car’s charge time by as much as two-thirds – simply won’t install them if your home doesn’t have a driveway or garage.
A recent survey by Carbuyer found poor charging infrastructure is the biggest barrier to electric car ownership, with the lack of available charging points being seen as a more significant problem than electric cars’ limited range, which was the next biggest issue.
For these reasons, new solutions are required – and one looks to have arrived. Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Council “are planning to trial adapting existing street infrastructure for electric vehicle charging points” as part of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ ‘Go Ultra Low Oxford’ project – and lamp posts are the most obvious target.
Adapting a lamp post into a charging point for electric vehicles can cost as little as £2,000. This is roughly half the cost of a conventional charging point, depending on technology, and the councils say it’s “potentially one of the more cost-effective charging solutions” they’ve ever seen.
In the capital, meanwhile, a collection of boroughs has teamed up with Transport for London to investigate a range of charging solutions, one of which is installing ‘socket networks’ – adapting lamp posts and other items of street furniture into charging points.
Part of this scheme would involve slow ‘trickle’ chargers (which take around 10 hours to completely replenish an electric car), but a prototype charger in Chiswick has left Hounslow seeking “approval to expand the trial.” Ubitricity, the Berlin-based technology provider behind some of the London trials, says “in principle it would be achievable to have a charging socket on every streetlight” at a cost of just £389 per device.
It’s not just councils that consider lamp posts may hold the solution to the city charging conundrum: Rolec EV, a specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of electrical connection and distribution equipment, has recently launched its ‘EV StreetCharge’ lamp post. This, says Rolec’s chief executive, has been “well received” by councils, supermarkets, car showrooms and private car parks as it’ll “help them resolve a number of difficulties they were having in getting EV charging on the street”.
As a nascent technology, there are difficulties to overcome when installing these charging posts: Oxford and other councils, for example, often move old lamp posts to the back of the pavement when they need replacing in order to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and disability groups. This means such charging points would require trailing leads across the pavement, effectively negating their installation. Earthing arrangements are another potential issue, as this complex area can present difficulties when new infrastructure is installed.
If solutions for these issues can be found, however, residents in towns and cities across the UK could soon benefit from an elegant, cost-effective and logical solution to the problem posed by charging electric cars.
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“Demilec is honored to receive CPI’s innovation award for 2018, and we are excited Heatlok® HFO has continued to redefine the standard of excellence in the closed-cell spray foam industry”
WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) October 03, 2018
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) today announced Demilec (USA) Inc. as the winner of the 2018 Polyurethane Innovation Award. Demilec’s winning entry, one of three finalists, was announced during the closing session of the 2018 Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Atlanta.
“CPI’s Innovation Award is a top honor in the polyurethanes industry,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI. “Demilec embodies the spirit of innovation and pioneering that will help our industry flourish for years to come. Demilec, together with the rest of this year’s conference attendees, is helping to pave the way for a bright future.”
Demilec’s winning entry is Heatlok® HFO, which the company describes as delivering a zero ODP, ultra-low GWP and high renewable/recyclable closed-cell foam for the insulation industry. This year’s winner stated that Heatlok® HFO High Lift, with its R-7.5/inch, provides breakthrough alternatives for the residential builder and Heatlok® HFO Pro, at R-7.4/inch, creates an air barrier, vapor retarder, water barrier and thermal insulation at 1 inch, ideal for commercial buildings.
“Demilec is honored to receive CPI’s innovation award for 2018, and we are excited Heatlok® HFO has continued to redefine the standard of excellence in the closed-cell spray foam industry,” said Doug Brady, vice president of strategic marketing. “Thank you to the American Chemistry Council, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry, the nominating committee and everyone who voted for Demilec.”
This year’s Polyurethane Innovation Award finalists also included ICL-IP America Inc., for their VeriQuel™ R100, which the company describes as a phosphorus-based, reactive flame retardant that uniquely addresses the building and construction market’s desire for chemistries that provide fire safety and eliminate exposures during product use. ICL-IP states that VeriQuel™ R100 leaves no foot print and helps alleviate concerns about exposure to people and potential harm to the environment. SWD Urethane was named a finalist for Quik-Shield® 108YM, the “Yield Monster,” which the company explains is an ultra-low-density open-cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation product, which is the first 0.36 pcf density spray foam and provides up to 39 percent more yield.
“Each year, the CPI Innovation Award finalists shine a spotlight on our industry-wide goal of creating new products and technologies that benefit consumers around the world,” Salamone said. “I am always inspired by how hard the members of the polyurethanes industry work to improve upon decades of achievements.”
The 2018 Polyurethanes Technical Conference also featured 15 technical sessions, 22 posters, 78 papers and 55 exhibitors, as well as the Professional Development Program.
Be sure to follow CPI on LinkedIn and on Twitter at @ACCpolyurethane and #PolyCon2018 for conference updates and industry news.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®; common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues; and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $768 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is among the largest exporters in the nation, accounting for fourteen percent of all U.S. goods exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure.


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Powell River’s newest grocery store, FreshCo, is stocked and ready for its June 11 opening.
Steve Wadsworth, owner/operator of Powell River’s FreshCo, said the grocery store has come a long way since the closure of Safeway last year.
Renovations on the store started at the end of November, so there were a few weeks of demolition. Wadsworth said all of the old equipment was taken out and since after Christmas, construction has taken place in the facility. This included new floors, new cases, all new aisles and all new LED lighting, plus an extensive redesign of the store.
“We basically finished construction just last week,” said Wadsworth.
Customers will notice a difference. Safeway had 15 aisles; FreshCo has eight.
“It’s quite an open concept,” said Wadsworth of the new store. “It’s brighter, there’s plenty of room and it’s not too congested. It makes for an easy shopping experience.”
The store is price conscious, said Wadsworth. FreshCo wants to give a choice between national brands and the store’s line, which is Compliments, he added.
“Any Compliments products you found in the Safeway, you will likely find in the FreshCo,” said Wadsworth. “There’s a good variety of selection and pricing for our customers.”
Wadsworth said the store has tried hard to find a local bakery to bake products for the store but has so far been unsuccessful. He said, however, the day may come where they can have that relationship, so if there is anyone out there, to approach the store.
Effort will be made to source BC products wherever possible and Vancouver Island products when available.
Also, in terms of community involvement, FreshCo Powell River has made a donation of $2,500 to Powell River Action Centre Food Bank to provide emergency relief for food bank clients.
In the COVID-19 era, the store has a soft opening planned on June 11, rather than a big, formal grand opening. Wadsworth said opening now is about getting employees back to work and another grocery store open to relieve the pressure on other stores.
“I think it will be great for everyone,” he said.
In order to operate the new store, Wadsworth has hired 120 staff members. He has 24 returning staff members from Safeway, which is “excellent.”
“They were able to maintain their economic terms of employment with Safeway, so they brought back their same wages, vacations and benefits,” said Wadsworth. “Doing this could not be done without them.”
He added that he and his department managers are fortunate to work in Powell River and have been able to put their finishing touches on how the store looks.
“We have a lot of experience with the department managers that I’ve hired,” said Wadsworth. “Three of the four have returned to me from Safeway in department manager roles.”
The pharmacy has remained open throughout the renovation and will carry on in its location with the new store opening.
In order to accommodate customers, the store has eight tills set up for COVID-19 with plexiglass shields; there are no self-checkouts.
“A very important thing for me, and probably my number one focus, my vision for the store, is having the best customer service in town,” said Wadsworth. “Being able to connect with a cashier, and that cashier being able to connect with the customer, is really important. It will go a long way, learning from the customers and seeing what they want in our store and having that interaction.”
Store hours will be 7 am to 10 pm. The first hour will be seniors shopping hour. FreshCo is also staying open an hour later than Safeway did.
“This will help spread it out for everyone and alleviate pressures in the store as well,” said Wadsworth, who has been in the grocery business for 29 years, since he was 16 years old. He started with Safeway in 1991 in Courtenay, where he pushed buggies and bagged groceries.
“Now, I’m still pushing buggies and bagging groceries,” he said. “I’m very customer oriented and find that when you’re on the sales floor and you’re listening to your customers, you can find out what they are looking for and it makes the connection that much easier.
“When you start shopping here it will be a very enjoyable experience. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in the store on June 11.”


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My Lords, I beg leave to repeat as a Statement an Answer to an Urgent Question given by my right honourable friend in another place:
“This morning the boards of General Motors and PSA Group announced plans for PSA to acquire GM’s Vauxhall-Opel operations. The proposed deal is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The Prime Minister and I have been engaged in discussions with both GM and PSA, and with the French and German Governments, to ensure that the terms of the agreement can give confidence to Vauxhall’s UK workforce now and for the future. Vauxhall is an iconic, important and successful British car manufacturer. Vauxhall cars have been made in Britain for 113 years, and we are determined that that should continue to be the case for many years to come.
The car plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton have a proud record of being among the most efficient in Europe, with workforces that are skilled, committed and flexible. Both PSA and GM have confirmed to the Prime Minister and me a number of important commitments, including that the company will honour its agreements with the Vauxhall workforce; that Vauxhall pensioners will be in at least as good a position as they are today; that the treatment of the UK division will be equal to that of other countries in the Vauxhall-Opel group; that the identity of Vauxhall will continue to be distinct and prominent; that the strategy of the new company will be one of building on existing strengths and commitments, not on plant closures, taking opportunities to increase sales around the world; and that the company will work with me and the rest of the automotive sector to ensure that it can participate in a substantial programme of research and investment for innovation in areas such as electric vehicles and battery technology, which is part of our industrial strategy.
This morning I had a further conversation with my French counterpart, the industry Minister, and the Minister of State spoke again to his German counterpart to agree a consistent approach. I speak frequently with Len McCluskey, the general secretary of the largest trade union in Vauxhall and I have kept, and will keep, colleagues with particular constituency interests up to date at all times.
It is in everyone’s interests that Vauxhall can look forward to a successful future. A generation ago, the car industry was one that epitomised our economic woes. Today that industry is a beacon of success. Companies invest in Britain because our automotive sector has a high-quality workforce and world-class efficiency, and is part of one of the most exciting places for innovation and research in new technology anywhere in the world. The future of the motor industry is bright in Britain, and we will be active at all times in doing everything we can to make it brighter still”.
My Lords, that concludes the Statement.
I am obliged to the Minister for repeating the Statement from the Business Secretary. GM has shown great resilience over the years with the Opel and Vauxhall brands, and reported a loss of $257 million from its European operations in 2016. That is the 16th consecutive loss-making year for GM in Europe, bringing losses on the continent since 2000 to more than $15 billion.
GM chairman and chief executive Mary Barra said that the business would have broken even in 2016 had it not been for the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, which caused a sharp drop in the value of sterling. We should congratulate the excellent workers in the UK who have done a great job to turn around GM’s performance, but unfortunately they will gain little credit for it. The factories at Ellesmere Port and Luton employ about 4,500 people, and a supply chain of at least another 7,000. We hope that this transaction provides them with a secure future, restores growth to these brands and creates a long-term and growing future for Ellesmere Port and Luton.
I would be grateful if the Minister told us a little more about the nature of the assurances the Government received from the PSA group during their discussions. What specifically have they learned about safeguarding the plants? What have they learned about the PSA group’s plans to invest to upgrade capability to meet the specifications and scale of the facilities they have been committed to over recent times? What assurances have they received about the development of the Vauxhall brand and its sales in overseas markets beyond the EU? What assurances have they received about investment to retool the plants in the UK to develop other brands? Does the PSA group remain committed to the current Astra model in Ellesmere Port up to 2020-21 and the production of a new model there, and will Luton be able to fulfil its plans deep into the 2020s?
Secondly, I would be grateful if the Minister addressed the problem of the scale of the UK supply chain. Speaking after the announcement, the chairman of the PSA’s management board, Carlos Tavares said that tough terms for leaving the EU could be an opportunity for Vauxhall and PSA to develop a supplier base in the UK to give the whole operation a “pound cost structure”. Not only do they harbour concerns about the general state of the UK parts ecosystem; it is clear—and Vauxhall sales are 80% EU—that their consideration of how we handle not just the negotiation of withdrawal, the single market and the customs union but the industrial strategy will play a very important part.
This is a wider concern. In evidence to a Select Committee in the other place, Colin Lawther, Nissan’s senior vice-president of manufacturing supply chain, denied that the Government had agreed to any deal or received any particular assurances. He said that Nissan and the automotive industry had made a “strong request” for government support for £100 million to £140 million of investment for a supply development fund to “repower the supply base” and build an indigenous, high-tech car components sector in the UK. Nissan, too, is looking to increase content from British suppliers and says that this opportunity alone is worth £2 billion.
The future of PSA’s investment in Vauxhall and other parts of the car industry is about the importance of developing the supply chain, in addition to the measures the Government are already implementing. It is clear that the Government’s current approach is inadequate, so I would be grateful if the Minister assured us that a meaningful new strategy to develop the UK supply chain is under way.
I thank the noble Lord for those questions. To pick them up in turn, Carlos Tavares, the chief executive of PSA, has given assurances that he is keen to see this business develop and grow. He made the point that since becoming chief executive of PSA, he has not closed a single plant.
Regarding future models, post the Astra at Ellesmere Port, clearly, we will have to compete with other factories within the PSA group, as would have been the case had it remained part of General Motors. We are all very confident that we have the competitiveness and effective abilities, and the quality and brand at Ellesmere Port and Luton, to compete on a fair basis with any plant in Europe. PSA is absolutely committed to the Astra brand. There will be no need for a new model post 2020-21 for Ellesmere Port, and the Navara will continue to be produced at the Luton factory for longer still.
The noble Lord is absolutely right about the supply chain: it was an issue with Nissan as well as PSA. Carlos Tavares made the point that there are opportunities and risks on leaving the European Union. One of the opportunities will be to make the new models in the UK more of a sterling player, as the noble Lord put it. That means having a higher proportion of sterling-sourced components going into the Astra or indeed into any new model. We are committed to working with the automotive sector to try to boost the supply chain in the UK to ensure that more sterling-based components go into these cars.
My Lords, Vauxhall is our longest surviving car maker and has some of the most efficient plants in Europe. Like others, we commend the workforce for having achieved that.
I want to pursue one issue with the Minister. He will be aware that some 75% of the Astra’s components come from continental Europe, and that the supply chain stretches right across the free market and the customs union. Components travel across borders without any difficulty whatever. However, surely the imposition of a hard Brexit, which the Government are pursuing, could lead to tariffs, quotas and the end of the free movement of components across borders. That would place our plants at a real disadvantage.
In a climate in which we know that Nissan is now unsure about its long-term commitment to the UK, BMW is thinking of making the quintessentially British Mini in Germany, and we can get no long-term guarantees from the new owners of Vauxhall, should not the Government acknowledge that the unnecessary pursuit of a hard Brexit is putting the revival of our British car industry in jeopardy?
It is worth making the point that this transaction between General Motors and PSA is as a result not of Brexit but of a longer-term strategy on the part of GM, and, of course, GM is becoming a shareholder in PSA. This is not a Brexit-related issue. The noble Lord is laughing but this transaction has not come about because of Brexit.
The noble Lord says that the Government are pursuing a hard Brexit. We must get the terminology right. The Government are not pursuing a hard Brexit. The Prime Minister has made it absolutely clear that we are trying to negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union that is as friction free as possible. That is the Government’s objective. Carlos Tavares, the chief executive of PSA, has said that there are opportunities whether it is a soft Brexit or a hard Brexit.
The noble Lord’s point about the supply chain is important. Given that it is so integrated across Europe, if there are tariffs or non-tariff barriers and more inspections, conformities and the like, that will disrupt the supply chain. That is why we are keen to negotiate a relationship that is as friction free as possible.
My Lords, the Ellesmere Port plant is in my diocese and its closure at any time would be a disaster for that area on the banks of the Mersey. I recognise that that is not in immediate prospect, but can the Minister say more about the strategy to make the long-term loss-making Vauxhall-Opel group more profitable? If GM could not do it, how does Peugeot Citroën plan to do it?
The right reverend Prelate makes an interesting point, which the noble Lord, Lord Mendelsohn, made earlier—that Opel-Vauxhall has made a loss every year for the past 15 years. But that rate of loss has come down, and the new chief executive of GM embarked on a turnaround plan for both Opel and Vauxhall, which was beginning to work. The projection given by Carlos Tavares—I may get the years wrong—is that he is expecting an operating profit of 2% next year, with a target operating profit of 5% within five years from the combined business of Vauxhall and Opel in Europe. So that is his plan. He went out of his way to say that, since he became chief executive of PSA, not a single plant within PSA has closed. There are grounds for cautious optimism.


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EQT Partners has scored one of the biggest exits in Europe this year with the sale of Securitas to Bain Capital and Hellman & Friedman.
The pair will pay SEK 21 billion (€2.3 billion) for the alarm company, with an additional payment of up to SEK 0.9 billion conditional on the company’s future performance, EQT said in a statement.
The sale price is more than twice what EQT paid for the company in 2008, when it de-listed the business from the Stockholm Stock Exchange in an SEK 10.1 billion deal.
Bain and Hellman & Friedman reportedly fought off stiff competition from a number of peers understood to include Carlyle Group, Clayton, Dublier & Rice, both bidding with trade player Stanley Black & Decker, and Apax Partners, according to press reports.
The sale by Stockholm-headquartered EQT is its third sizeable disposal this year, following its sale of Kabel BW to US group Liberty Global for €3.2 billion in March, and the sale of Gambro subsidiary CaridianBCT to Japanese medical technology company Terumo Corporation. EQT owns 51 percent of Gambro, with Nordic peer Investor holding 49 percent. EQT's share of that disposal was about €940 million.
Bain and Hellman & Friedman financed their bid for Securitas with debt provided by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Nomura and Nordea. Goldman advised the private equity firms on their bid, while Morgan Stanley and Nordea managed the auction process for EQT.
During its period of ownership, Securitas Direct sales grew on average by 13 percent, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rising by 20 percent per year in the period 2007 to 2011, EQT said. In 2010 sales were SEK 5.51 billion and EBITDA SEK 1.45 billion, it said.
Peter Nilsson, Securitas chairman, said: “In spite of the global financial crisis and ensuing recession in the past few years we successfully managed to implement an ambitious growth and development plan which boosted both the size of the customer portfolio and sales during our ownership period.”


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Third in our series of what auto people have in their garages. Here’s what Bob Boniface has inside
Kia grows its lineup of crossovers with a subcompact and provides it with tech so that it isn’t a vehicle that people buy wishing that they could afford something better.
GM, no stranger to electric vehicles, is getting ready for an extensive build—and will start next year
Plenty of the vehicles on the list of the top 10 are made in the U.S. But not by the traditional companies.
The first in a wave of new EVs GM plans to launch worldwide in coming years
The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study proves cars are more dependable than ever, even though they also keep getting more complicated.
Brands are forever jockeying for superiority over their rivals.
NVH issues outweigh fuel efficiency gains for some customers
The rumor is that General Motors is going to bring back the Hummer.
The EPI finds there have been millions of people put out of work in the U.S. due to competition with China—most in manufacturing
Production applications for Level 2+ highway systems to start this year in Asia
General Motors reports its sales in China skidded 15% to 3.09 million cars and trucks. The company expects further erosion in 2020.
Canada’s Unifor union is hoping to somehow resurrect the Canadian assembly plant General Motors closed this week in Oshawa, Ont., after 112 years of operation.
The naysayers are changing their tune about U.S. car sales for 2019. Now it looks like sales once again will reach at least 17 million units.
Buick will drop the Regal, the only conventional sedan in its U.S. lineup, at the end of the 2020 model year to focus exclusively on SUV/crossovers.
Jerry Hirshberg, the multi-talented founder of Nissan Design International in southern California, has died at age 80.
General Motors Co. has promoted the head of its Chevrolet brand to a newly created position as vice president of dealer operations and innovation.
General Motors Co. has renamed and added capabilities to its OnStar-based fleet management tool.
Starting in 2020 new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles will include Alexa integration as a feature in the infotainment system.November 05, 2019 at 11:45 AM
Starting in 2020 new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles will include Alexa integration as a feature in the infotainment system.
General Motors Co. reports it sold 689,500 cars and light trucks in China in July-September, down 18% from the same period in 2018.


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Economy Watch: Are Millennials Key for the Recovery of the Single-Family Market?
The single-family market is improving, but at a slow pace. Could Millennials aid in the recovery?
By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor
It’s been a long slog for new single-family housing market since the bubble burst, and the industries that depend on a healthy housing market, such as construction and many retailers (and to a lesser extent, the distribution facilities that retailers use). The Census Bureau and HUD had a bit of good news on Tuesday: sales of new U.S. single-family houses in December came in at an annualized rate of 481,000 units. That’s 11.6 percent above the November rate; 8.8 percent above the December 2013 rate; and in fact the highest rate since December 2007, when the air was gushing out of the market.
That’s certainly an improvement, but it’s also sobering to realize that the current sales rate is about the same as it was during the 1960s, when the U.S. population had yet to break 200 million (which it did just before 1970; these days, it’s more than 318 million). During the years of 1970s, ’80s, ’90s and even the earlier years of the 2000s, housing sales were never so low, except during periods of recession. So it could be that housing, while back from the Great Recession abyss, has slipped into a walking-dead state. No one wants it to bubble back to the million units sold during the high of the 2000s mania, but a sustained rate of 600,000 or so would be nice.
What’s the holdup to a full recovery, which hasn’t come despite low interest rates? A number of factors have been suggested. The Realtors are fond of citing tight lending standards, though too loose isn’t a good thing either. Another explanation is that Millennials and others aren’t as likely to buy houses as their parents. If true—and they’re young yet—that’s an indirect factor, since relatively young homebuyers buy relatively few new houses, opting for existing properties. But it might slow things down for owners who want to trade up to a new house, if it’s harder to seller one’s house. Also, there’s simply the fact that in a bifurcated economy, the large majority whose incomes are stagnant simply have less wherewithal to devote to what’s arguably a luxury good, a new house.
That isn’t to say that there won’t be further recovery in the rate of new-home sales. Prices, while fairly high, aren’t bubbling again. Millennials are aging, and they are a very large generation, so some of them will be able to afford houses—and they’ll want them. Also, builders are getting wise to the bifurcation of the economy, and have started offering less expensive options. For example, D.R. Horton’s Express brand of houses—which it describes are “lower priced/fewer amenities”—represented 13 percent of the company’s orders in the fourth quarter of 2014, up from 3 percent a year earlier.


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New Honda motorcycle prices become effective
Stay tunned with 24 News HD Android App
It is learnt that the new price of Honda CD70 will be Rs102,900 after an increase of Rs3,000.
The new price of Honda CD Dream will be Rs 109,500 after an increase of Rs3,000.
The new price of Honda Pridor will be Rs139,900 after an increase of Rs3,000.
Similarly, the price of Honda CG125 has been increased by Rs4,000 to Rs 163,500.
The Honda CG125 Special will be of Rs193,500 after an increase of Rs4,000.
The Honda CB125F will be of Rs244,900 after an increase of Rs8,000.
The Honda CB150F will be of Rs299,900 with an increase of Rs8,000.
The Honda CB150F Silver will be of Rs303,900 with an increase of Rs8,000.
Reporter: Habib Khan


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Submitted by: CSX Corporation
Posted: Dec 14, 2012 – 01:00 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 14 /CSRwire/ - Victims of Hurricane Sandy will receive $1 million worth of new clothing from Dignity U Wear according to Barbara Truncellito, Executive Director. Dignity U Wear is a nonprofit headquartered in Jacksonville, FL that focuses on restoring the dignity to Americans in need by providing new clothing.
“As a resident of both NYC and South Jersey, I have personally witnessed the ashen and stunned faces of so many friends and neighbors. Through our partnerships with leading clothing manufacturers and retailers, we were able to mobilize quickly and consolidate shipments valued at over $1 million of new clothing for men, women, and children. Two truck containers, which are being shipped pro bono by Dignity’s sponsor CSX, are packed with basics—underwear, socks, pants, long-sleeved shirts, jackets and winter gear. These important items that all of us take for granted, will help people in New York and New Jersey get back on their feet” said Truncellito. “We could not make this happen without the support of CSX and their generous shipping donation. Their involvement has been the key to our successful disaster relief efforts.”
Clothing is being sent to FEGS, an 86-year-old Jewish organization based in Manhattan, with outreach to the five boroughs, as well as the Stafford Storm Relief center in South Jersey, reaching half of Ocean County. Many of Dignity’s corporate sponsors including Destination Maternity Corporation, who is providing 4,000 units of maternity clothing valued at $60,000, are contributing special donations. “We believe supporting this effort is the right thing to do,” said Ed Krell, CEO of Destination Maternity Corporation. “Especially during the holiday season, we hope we can provide comfort and relief to women affected by Sandy. We are proud to partner with Dignity U Wear, and commend the way they continue to efficiently mobilize their partners and resources to help those in need.”
About Dignity U Wear
The mission of Dignity U Wear is to positively impact the lives of children and their families in need throughout the United States by providing brand new clothing at no cost to the recipients. Dignity U Wear partners with the apparel industry to provide the supply of clothing and then works through a network of social service agencies to deliver the clothing based on specified needs. Founded by philanthropist and Holocaust survivor, Henri Landwirth in 2000, the organization has provided more than 6.6 million pieces, valued at $125 million, to more than 450,000 people. In addition, Dignity U Wear has achieved charity evaluator Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. For more information about Dignity U Wear, visit www.dignityuwear.org or www.facebook.com/dignityuwear.
For more information, please contact:
For more from this organization:CSX Corporation


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Domino's drive throughs could be coming to Norfolk with 200 new stores to open
- Credit: GoogleMaps
Drive through Domino's sites could be coming to Norfolk after the chief executive of the pizza chain confirmed it was looking at 450 sites to roll out the service.
As well as launching the drive through option the business has also announced it is looking to open 200 stores in the "medium term".
The news comes after years of friction between franchisees and the company, with chief executive Dominic Paul saying this strategy was an "attempt to reset".
On drive throughs, he said: “We’re doing it in stores that have a car park or are very near a car park. You order on the app. You drive to the store and then someone will deliver the pizza to your car.”
This could include sites such as Norwich's Colman Road, Wymondham, and Dereham - all of which have parking availability nearby.
The 200 store expansion will be with old and new franchisees and Mr Paul hopes it will help Domino’s hit sales of £1.6 billion to £1.9 billion over the medium term.
The comments come as the company said it has seen a strong start to the current trading year, particularly over the new year period as celebrations were cancelled and households were forced to stay in.
- 1 Dereham coach firm closes after more than 50 years in business
- 2 Delays ease on A47 near Dereham after four-vehicle crash
- 3 Council fighting not to have to publish details of golf club talks
- 4 'Not a lot of spending' - Dereham traders report footfall decline
- 5 Could you help to monitor standards inside this Norfolk prison?
- 6 Drivers face delays after two crashes near Dereham
- 7 Canaries legends to feature in match for brave four-year-old Kayla
- 8 Biggest 'shooting star' meteor shower to peak this week
- 9 Dog owners urged to take 'five-second test' before walking pets in heat
- 10 Norfolk man's relatable videos earn him millions of views and celeb fans
The company said this period saw Domino’s record its highest ever sales week.
Overall, sales jumped 11.4% to £1.35 billion in the 12 months to December 27, with pre-tax profits jumping to £56.4 million compared with £18.6 million a year earlier.


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NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the leading global cruise company which operates NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, and RSSC-Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, announced it is providing US$10 million cash support to 6 Alaska port communities that are severely impacted by the ongoing cruising suspension.
~60% of all tourism in Alaska is generated via cruises, which have been halted for over a year, continuing to impact families and small businesses.
In addition, as part of the BuyAlaska and Voyij.com initiative, NCLH joined the ‘Shop Local Alaska’ programme and is encouraging people to support Alaska small businesses devastated by the crisis.
Cruise travel is vital to the extensive tourism economy of Alaska and the ongoing suspension of sailings is having a devastating ripple effect. Prior to the pandemic, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) estimated that ~1.4M passengers visited the region on a total of 577 cruises in 2019.
Alaska's Government estimates the cancellation of both the 2020 & 2021 cruise season would result in a US$3.3 billion impact, including US$2.2 billion of lost revenues for local business. Port and Cruise Line-related communities have seen 22,000+ collective job losses, representing US$300+ million of lost wages.
The US$10 million cash donation of NCLH will go directly to the port communities of Hoonah (Icy Strait Point), Juneau, Ketchikan, Seward, Sitka, and Skagway, to provide much-needed humanitarian relief from the economic hardship these communities are facing from the cruise suspension.


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PCs. cell phone, and video games. Winners every year. Rock solid growth driving remarkable industry earnings.
Nokia (NOK), RIM (RIMM), and PALM (PALM) have destroyed the hope that 2009 will be a strong year for cell phone sales. Now new research shows that PCs are going the way of all flesh as well
According to Reuters, IDC, a top research firm, cut its forecasts for 2009 personal computer sales, expecting shipment volume to drop 5.3 percent as the weak economy discourages some buyers and tight credit thwarts others. The company "previously forecast that global PC shipments would rise 4.5 percent next year."
Since Dell (DELL) has been the most pessimistic about its prospects for next year and Wall St. believes that the company has a long way to go to improve operations, it will likely be the hardest hit by the trend. HP (HPQ), which has proved adroit at marketing its desktops and laptops here and abroad, will probably do better,. It it now No.1 in global PC market share.
The big question mark is Apple (AAPL). Many IT departments are nervous about the cost of supporting its OS along with Microsoft (MSFT) Windows, but Mac sales have had a life of their own, defying gravity for the last several quarters. If Mac can keep that up, it will be a miracle. But, Apple has produced miracles before.
Douglas A. McIntyre


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Delta Air Lines said that a cybersecurity breach involving an online chat vendor may have put some personal customer information at risk.
The Atlanta-based airline said “certain customer payment information” may have been accessed, but “no other customer personal information, such as passport, government ID, security or SkyMiles information was impacted.”
The company said federal law enforcement and forensic teams confirmed that the incident was resolved in October and “only a small subset of our customers would have been exposed.”
Delta said they will directly contact customers they believe were affected by the data breach. They will also be launching a website at noon on Thursday with more information and regular updates regarding the incident.
The website is delta.com/response.


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But will the tribal partnerships affect the Connecticut Lottery’s choice of partners? Maybe.
The issue is specific wording in Connecticut’s 2021 sports betting law that allows the Connecticut Lottery to operate retail and online sports betting off-reservation once sports betting licenses have been granted for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut — each of which runs one of the state’s two casinos.
Parsing Connecticut’s New Law
The new law allows both tribes to be licensed to offer retail and online sports betting on their tribal lands — including their casinos — once an amended tribal-state gaming compact with both tribes receives federal approval. Each license will come with one skin for online sports betting, run by the tribes and their sports betting partners.
The Connecticut Lottery, which will be allowed to accept sports wagers outside tribal lands at 15 retail sites and online, will also get one skin for online sports betting under the law.
The catch? State law says the lottery’s online sportsbook cannot be branded with a company or brand “that operates a physical casino in any jurisdiction” which, in Connecticut, would be on tribal lands. But could that affect the Connecticut Lottery’s ability to partner with online sportsbooks giants FanDuel or DraftKings in particular?
FanDuel is a partner with MGE (Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment), which recently formed Mohegan Digital to handle new gaming options at the Mohegan Sun casino. DraftKings has a partnership with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, which is planning to open a DraftKings at Foxwoods sportsbooks at the tribe’s Foxwoods Resort Casino.
What Is The Future Of Online Sportsbooks In Connecticut?
Questions about whether there could still be an online sportsbook partnership between the Connecticut Lottery and the two sportsbooks giants will hopefully be answered once the regulatory process gets underway later this year.
If a partnership with FanDuel or DraftKings is out of the question, the lottery still has plenty of prospects — including other sportsbooks operating in Connecticut’s tribal casinos. Per the law: “The corporation may contract with an entity that operates in a physical casino in any jurisdiction.”


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AIRY unique aerated chocolate has supplemented AVK chocolate bar line
3 October 2019
The company started manufacturing aerated chocolate for the first time in its long history. Thanks to the innovative approach, AVK technologists have created a unique product, surpassing existing counterparts in the world.
The special feature of the product is its texture. The density of AVK aerated chocolate bubbles is 0.59 g/cm³, when this is usually 0.8 g/cm³. This is what gives the sweets exceptional tenderness and gives them delicate chocolate taste.
The aerated chocolate line is presented with two traditional and two original flavors:
- DARK - aerated dark;
- MILK - aerated milk;
- CARAMEL - aerated white;
- LIME - aerated white.
LIME aerated white chocolate is the exclusive in the Ukrainian market.
The new aerated chocolate collection is also a real blast of color. Bright product design stands it out on store shelves, attracting the attention of consumers.
“Ukrainians are fond of aerated chocolate. Nowhere else in the world people consume it in such quantities. The aerated chocolate segment occupies 25% of the national chocolate bar market share and shows high growth dynamics. Following the trend, we have released a line of aerated chocolate, surprising the consumer with not only the shape and texture, but also the unusual flavors. We are convinced that a unique novelty will take special place in hearts of Ukrainians” – says category manager Yevheniia Savytska.
The groundbreaking novelty is already on sale.


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26 years after its founding, the GO! & Express continues in its mission of delivering honest and reliable news to the BCM community.
The current name, “GO! & Express”, was adopted after aquiring the now-defunct Kei Express.
Even with the ongoing lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the GO! & Express continues to work hard at providing news to as many people in BCM as possible.
According to figures provided by the Audit Bureau of Circulations of SA (ABCSA), a total of 42,500 copies were printed each week between October and December 2020, with 37,350 being delivered door-to-door and a further 4,968 being delivered to stores.
Net distribution was 42, 318, an increase from the Oct-Dec 2019 period of 42,263 copies.
Copies are delivered to both East London and Qonce (former King William’s Town) as well as the surrounding areas, making it a perfect place to advertise your products and services to a ready audience.
Our closest competitor started off as a weekly community title, but recently changed to a bi-monthly edition. The Rising Sun ABCSA net distribution for Oct-Dec 2020 period dropped to 13,334 compared to 42,448 the previous year.
GO! & Express claims the top spot as the biggest Community newspaper in the BCM area, providing our advertisers maximum reach for their target market.
To advertise with the GO! & Express, contact the sales team at 043-702-2031 or 043-702-2122. For news, call 043-702-2125 or 043-702-2046. Alternatively, email us at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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The relationship between marketing and journalism in the United States dates back to 1704. According to Ad Age, the first newspaper advertisement was an announcement seeking a buyer for an Oyster Bay, Long Island estate, which was published in the Boston News-Letter. Since then publishers had a wall between editorial and advertising to avoid confusion among readers. As the barrier of entry in online publishing has fallen, the lines between the two have blurred. There has also been a resurgence of “yellow journalism” and worse yet, “fake news.” This disruption in the marketplace has shown why marketing needs credible journalism.
The era of fake news has given marketers pause. As Jim Cramer of CNBC said, “Special K can’t run an ad next to KKK.” The risk of any brand showing up beside content that can hurt its reputation is a legitimate concern. While marketers wrestle with new standards from publishers regarding autoplay and pop-up ads, they want more transparency in return. Determining where an ad is placed is fundamental to marketers and critical to brands.
The state of U.S. politics has only served to muddy the waters with daily tweets from President Trump that anything he perceives as contrary to his agenda is fake news. While some of it, by his own admission, is hyperbole, fake news has become a broader epidemic. According to Christi Eubanks of Gartner for Marketers, fake news generated more total engagements in the 2016 election cycle than the 19 major news organizations combined. Which begs the question, how do readers separate fact from fiction? Alerts such as the Op-Ed, opinions posted opposite editorial, have disappeared while the blending of native advertising with editorial has become prevalent. All the while nefarious third parties have been manipulating stories for their own gains, creating disorder among readers, journalists and marketers alike.
Facebook and Twitter Support Why Marketing Needs Credible Journalism
While politics have brought fake news to the forefront, it’s marketers that have moved publishers and platforms to take action. Facebook has taken steps to allow logos to appear next to articles in its news feed to help attribute the source. It has also put in measures to preserve the integrity of original posts by not allowing third parties to make changes to original content and republish it as authentic. As Facebook’s massive revenue is derived from marketing budgets, its CEO and founder has a lot to lose if marketers and readers distrust his platform.
On September 27, 2017, Mark Zuckerberg issued a statement in response to President Trump’s tweet that Facebook has always been against him. Zuckerberg writes, “After the election, I made a comment that I thought the idea misinformation on Facebook changed the outcome of the election was a crazy idea. Calling that crazy was dismissive and I regret it. This is too important an issue to be dismissive.”
On the same day as Zuckerberg’s post, Ad Age reported, Bloomberg Stresses Brand Safety to the First Advertisers for Its Twitter News Network. The article reads, “With the rise of fake news, bot saboteurs and a Twitter-fueled political environment, many brands are wary of inserting themselves into its particular breed of conversation.” To combat this, the Twitter and Bloomberg partnership will emphasize journalistic integrity. This has resulted in 50 new hires by Bloomberg for its channel including an editorial lead. Early results may support why marketing needs credible journalism. The Bloomberg channel has secured a reported $1.2 – $2.5 million in newsfronts and its views have increased fourfold from 3.2 million to 13.5 million in eight months.
The relationship between marketing and journalism in the U.S. has endured 313 years. While publishing has become more democratic, the need for transparency has not eroded, rather it has reasserted its importance in a mutually beneficial relationship. Facebook and Twitter see the impact of fake news on marketers’ confidence and the value of editorial in restoring it. In this regard, the old has become new again.


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HACKER FINDS PAYMENTS FEATURE HIDDEN IN MESSENGER APP: Facebook's Messenger app contains payment capabilities hidden within its code, a Stanford computer science student has found, according to TechCrunch. The feature seems to let users send payments to Facebook contacts using a debit card as payment. What gives this story credibility is that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicated earlier this year that payments would be integrated into Messenger eventually, though he suggested the rollout would take time. Facebook also confirmed recently that it's working with Stripe on a Buy button.
Facebook is betting on messaging as part of its strategy to become an entrenched utility in people's lives. This survival strategy is important given the increased competition in the digital social marketplace. Already, Facebook Messenger has been downloaded 500 million times since the company released it as a standalone app this summer. Facebook also just closed its deal to buy WhatsApp, the current No. 1 messaging app that has 600 million monthly active users (see chart below).
FACEBOOK ACQUISITION OF WHATSAPP WONT 'HAMPER COMPETITION': Facebook's acquisition of mobile messaging app WhatsApp was finalized in the US yesterday after European regulators closed their review of the deal late last week. The European Union antitrust authority was concerned that Facebook's ownership of user data would erode users' privacy and hinder other online advertisers' businesses in the marketplace. Ultimately the group found that the privacy issues were out of its jurisdiction and that the purchase wouldn't hamper competition, The Wall Street Journal reports.
YAHOO LAUNCHING MULTIMEDIA BRANDING CAMPAIGN: Yahoo has asked several creative agencies to pitch ideas for large TV and multimedia consumer advertising campaigns, Ad Age has learned. Over the past two years, Yahoo has been busy transforming and selling itself to advertisers as a digital content company. Now, the company appears to be ready to market its new identity to consumers as well. Yahoo has launched several "digital magazines" and dedicated news apps as part of its content-focused strategy.
STAT OF THE DAY: Since Yahoo acquired Tumblr last year, the number of global monthly unique visitors to Tumblr's "dashboard and the blog network" has grown about 33% to 400 million, the company confirmed to us via email, correcting numbers first reported by Fortune. Of that number, 150 million monthly unique visitors are from the US, according to Tumblr. This self-reported number is almost twice what comScore told us – it tracked 81 million unique visitors to Tumblr's sites in August. We're watching Tumblr carefully because it's an important part of Yahoo's native ad strategy; the internet giant reuses Tumblr posts from brands as sponsored content on other Yahoo sites, and Tumblr serves as a distribution channel for Yahoo's various ad products.
AMAZON TO HELP LAUNCH NEW WASHINGTON POST APP: The Washington Post has been working on a new mobile app that is expected to launch later this quarter on Amazon's new Kindle Fire tablet first, Bloomberg has learned. The app will be free for owners of the larger Fire tablet at least initially, and available to users of other mobile devices at a monthly cost. Since Amazon's chief executive Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post last year, many have speculated that he would find ways to integrate the paper's content with his massive e-commerce business. It's unclear if the upcoming app will be completely new or a reboot of its existing iOS and Android app.
LINKEDIN LETS YOU SEE WHAT ACTIONS LED TO PROFILE VIEWS: In addition to showing you who has looked at your profile and when, LinkedIn now shows you why they looked at your profile – for example, if they clicked to view your profile because you posted a status update, title, or job change. LinkedIn says it wants to help members use the platform to get more professional results, be it more emails from job recruiters or introductions for sales leads.
REDBOX INSTANT VIDEO SERVICE SHUTS DOWN: Redbox Instant, which is Verizon and Redbox's joint shut down tonight 18 months after launching. The -esque platform was intended to be an add-on for Redbox's DVD kiosk business, according to GigaOM, but was unable to compete with Netflix and other streaming video sites because it didn't spend enough on getting new content, and the subscriber base never grew substantially.video service, will
BI Intelligence research analyst John Greenough contributed to this brief.
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Yahoo announced on Monday it acquired startup SkyPhrase to make finding what you want online easier, without using disjointed words and phrases in the search form.
The company said via a blog post SkyPhrase will be joining its Yahoo Labs team in New York. The four-person startup gained popularity earlier this year for its software that turns inquiries written in natural language into something the database understands.
The platform will allow Yahoo web users to get more personalized search results when entering various queries, such as "Find an American Airlines flight next week from New York to Los Angeles."
"In Yahoo, we have found a company that not only shares our vision, but delivers a rich collection of information and services to a massive user base. We are excited to join Yahoo Labs to continue to work on our shared vision of making computers deeply understand people's natural language and intentions," SKyPhrase said in a statement. "We can’t wait to take things to the next level together."
Yahoo hasn't revealed financial details related to the deal.
SkyPhrase joins the long list of startups acquired this year by Yahoo, from Tumblr to app maker Lexity and media aggregator Summly.
Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images


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New Delhi, October 14: Business in India that have been severely affected by COVID-19 this year, have been limping back to normalcy over the past one month or so. Reports inform that India is believed to emerge as one of the top three choices for overseas investments in the next 2-3 years, a CII-EY FDI survey report showed on Tuesday. According to the survey, India is the first choice for future investments for more than two-thirds of the MNC respondents. The CII-EY FDI survey also showed that 25 percent of the respondents, who represent non-Indian HQ MNCs, view India as the first choice for future investments.
The report said more than 80 percent of all the respondents and 71 percent of the non-Indian headquartered respondents plan to make investments globally in the next 2-3 years. Moreover about 30 percent of companies are planning to invest more than $500 million. About 50 percent of the respondents see India among the top three economies or leading manufacturing destinations of the world by 2025.
According to a report by IANS, the respondents have picked market potential, skilled workforce and political stability as the top three reasons to make India their favoured destination. The other key factors which contribute to the attractiveness of India as an investment destination include cheap labour availability, policy reforms, and availability of raw materials, the report said.
"Recent reforms in the country such as corporate tax cuts, ease of doing business measures, simplification of labour laws, FDI reforms, and focus on human capital have emerged as the top drivers for fresh investments," the report said. "Non-Indian HQ MNCs have also opined that major investment in infrastructure and 100 Smart cities as well as financial sector reforms will also help establishing India as a favourable destination for FDI," it said.
The survey brought out some key recommendations sought by the respondents. The report said infrastructure development, faster clearances, and proper implementation of the improved labour laws and labour availability as the top three issues that the companies want the government to focus on, followed by R&D and innovation, and tax reforms. "In terms of trade policy reforms, investors would like to see a faster turnaround time for exports and imports, improved cargo handling, and trade facilitation measures to be in place”, it added.


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Max Payne going mobile
Max Payne will be available in HD on mobile devices in early 2012.
Video game news headlines delivered to your inbox daily. Click here to subscribe.
|From Rockstar Games:|
Available for the first time on mobile, Max Payne will have connectivity to the Rockstar Games Social Club and boast the same features as its PC counterparts -- including HD graphics and high-resolution textures, taking full advantage of the latest mobile technologies, including incredibly customizable controls.
The original Max Payne was released over 10 years ago, and its stylish presentation broke new ground in video games. Max's immersive story made him one of the genre's first multi-dimensional characters, attracting loyal fans worldwide. We are happy to release this iconic, award-winning game on mobile platforms before the launch of Max Payne 3 in March 2012.


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(This story has been updated to reflect that the products are now available for purchase in the United Kingdom.)
Village Farms International has sent its first shipment of two cannabis brands to the growing United Kingdom market.
The Vancouver, British Columbia-headquartered company said Wednesday that the brands – Pure Sunfarms and The Original Fraser Valley Weed Co. – will be distributed by 4C Labs, a privately held Canadian medical cannabis company with import and distribution licenses in the U.K.
A Village Farms spokesperson told MJBizDaily the products are now available for pharmaceutical purchase by medical patients in the U.K.
“Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Pure Sunfarms, we are now exporting our preferred Canadian-grown cannabis products to four international medical markets, including Germany, Australia and Israel, which together with the UK, represent a population of more than 185 million,” Village Farms CEO Michael DeGiglio said in a statement.
The U.K. is the company’s fourth overseas medical cannabis market.
The spokesperson didn’t indicate how large the shipment was or how much it expects to ship in the future.
International sales represent a fast-growing segment for its Canadian division.
The company reported international sales of 5.1 million Canadian dollars ($4 million) for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2023, a sharp increase from the CA$1.9 million recorded in the same period in 2022.
The U.K. market has experienced meaningful growth in recent years, in particular since the government started allowing imports in bulk in 2020.
Previously, imports were supplied through patient-specific approvals.
In 2020, there were approximately 4,469 privately prescribed medical cannabis items in England, according to data from the NHS Business Services Authority.
However, in the first nine months of 2022 – the most recent data – that figure had grown to 182,010.
Unlike Canada, the U.K. does not publish national medical cannabis sales data.
Shares of Village Farms trade as VFF on the Nasdaq.


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Last modified: Friday, March 23, 2012
Vera Bradley co-founder Patricia Miller speaking at IU Entrepreneurial Connection Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Patricia R. Miller, a 1960 Indiana University graduate and co-founder of Vera Bradley, will be the keynote speaker at this year's Entrepreneurial Connection Day at the IU Kelley School of Business on Friday, March 30.
The event is sponsored by the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Kelley School. Miller also will receive the William L. Haeberle Entrepreneurial Legacy Award, which is given to those who have made an indelible impact on the Indiana entrepreneurship culture.
Miller, who earned a bachelor's degree in education from IU, will share her story of creating Vera Bradley with her business partner. The program will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 3059/65 of the Godfrey Graduate and Executive Education Center, 1275 E. 10th St.
Upon graduating from IU Bloomington, Miller began a teaching career in Indiana, unaware that her business acumen and fashion sense would take her far beyond the classroom. She and fellow Fort Wayne resident Barbara Bradley Baekgaard started Vera Bradley with an investment of $250 each. Today, their Fort Wayne-based company is an internationally recognized brand. Vera Bradley's fiscal 2011 sales were $366 million.
The company's stock is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under VRA. Chances are you've seen their handbags, travel bags and accessories on top-rated television programs such as "Desperate Housewives," "The Apprentice," "Entourage" and "Modern Family," as well as in more than 20 feature films. More than 3,300 specialty stores and 42 Vera Bradley company stores sell their products -- which now also include paper and gift items.
Miller served as Vera Bradley's co-president until recently; she now serves as Vera Bradley's national spokeswoman and company director. In 2005-06, she took a leave of absence from the company to serve as Indiana's first secretary of commerce and CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. at the request of Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Miller also will speak of the responsibility of giving back to the community. Baekgaard and Miller established the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer in June 1998. The foundation has pledged $20 million to endow a chair in oncology at the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Miller also sits on numerous philanthropic boards and foundations.
The entrepreneurial-focused event is for IU and Kelley alumni and current students. The program includes a networking session and reception. Kelley alumni with entrepreneurial experience are invited to participate by giving "elevator" pitches about their companies, their services, hiring or internships availabilities, or mentoring interests. The students are asked to pitch their business ideas and needs.
"This unique networking format encourages our alumni to interact in an open venue where everyone can benefit by their appearance. We want the entrepreneurial alumni of the Kelley School of Business to know that they are genuinely important to us and that they can be a conduit to the future successes of our entrepreneurship program," said Donald F. Kuratko, executive director of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
For more information, call 812-855-4248 or visit www.kelley.iu.edu/jcei.


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Fresh research finds that up to seven million Brits might want to buy an iPhone when it ships - even though the device won't be available in the U.K. until the end of the year.
The research emerges as reports claim Apple is facing challenges finding a network willing to carry the device in Europe, with both Vodafone and Orange variously mooted as most-likely candidates to secure a European deal for the device.
According to research group M:Metrics, pre-launch publicity surrounding the device means that 56 percent of U.K. people and 64 percent of U.S. folk as "aware of the iPhone."
The research also confirms the device should experience strong demand when it first ships in the U.S. on June 29. "14 percent of (U.S. people) who had heard about the iPhone reported they would be highly interested in buying one," M: Metrics claims. That equates to 19 million highly-tempted U.S. consumers.
"This data confirms that the iPhone has sparked the imaginations of consumers and is not merely a topic of conversation among insiders and technology enthusiasts," said Mark Donovan, senior vice president and senior analyst, M:Metrics.
He added that the potentially already converted 19 million U.S. consumers is an impressive figure: "When you consider that the installed base of most high-end devices rarely approaches one million and respondents were informed of the price point as well as of the AT&T exclusive."
AT&T has a five-year exclusive deal to carry the iPhone. According to M:Metrics, the mobile network seems set to attract a new wave of users when the device ships, because, "67 percent of those who were most inclined to purchase an iPhone are subscribers on other carrier networks," the researchers claimed.
In the U.K., 30 percent of mobile phone users - 7 million people - reported strong interest in buying an iPhone.
M: Metrics analyst Paul Goode observed: "We expected that mobile users in the U.K. would be more inclined to buy an expensive device, since smartphones are twice as popular in the U.K. as in the U.S. These figures are very impressive, although respondents in the U.K. were not presented with a launch price or any restriction of mobile phone carrier as in the U.S."
The research also shows that 64 percent of users with a strong interest in investing in the Apple mobile already own an MP3 player, causing the researchers to speculate some consumers will replace their music players with an iPhone.
Despite the good news, the research also revealed that 28 percent of mobile phone users were aware of the iPhone, but unlikely to purchase one.
"While other devices - some of them already on the market - have features equal or better than the iPhone, such as 3G, superior cameras, and the like, the iPhone has been the first mobile device to create widespread consumer excitement around a mobile phone," said Donovan. "This has the potential to increase consumer demand for more expensive, full-featured phones across the board as OEMs and other operators respond to AT&T/Apple's marketing juggernaut."


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LOUISVILLE, KY — Rev-A-Shelf, the Louisville, KY-based supplier of kitchen cabinet storage, organization and lighting accessories, has opened a 125,000+-sq.-ft. plant in Juarez, Mexico, corporate officials announced.
“With this facility, we’ve diversified our manufacturing capabilities to support our customers and continue our mission of designing and introducing innovative wood products to the market,” said Rev-A-Shelf General Manager David Noe.
Rev-A-Shelf currently produces 54 wood products, including drop-in drawer inserts, dovetail pantry drawers and various wood components, and plans to expand by another 30 SKUs by early 2024, according to the company, which also produces polymer and wire products for baths, closets, kitchens, laundry rooms, and pantries, and a full line of safety-tested LED products for the residential and commercial markets under the Tresco Lighting brand.
“As we continue to accelerate our product offerings, the Juarez facility presents Rev-A-Shelf with big potential,” said Mike Brown, director, Wood Manufacturing. “The opening of this plant is another example of our commitment to providing cost-effective and quality products made in North America.”


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BetOnline has posted a cross-sport Super Bowl prop surrounding the video gaming retailer GameStock.
What will be higher?
GameStop Price close Friday Feb 5th -120
Tom Brady Passing Yards Super Bowl LV -120
The struggling video game retailer’s stock has been making stupefying moves this month with the frenzy hitting new heights Thursday when several trading platforms limited their customers from making certain trades with GameStop.
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH GAMESTOP’S STOCK?
It’s been maniacal this month. After sitting around $18 three Fridays ago, it doubled in four days. It kept shooting higher, before nearly doubling on Tuesday and then more than doubling again on Wednesday to $347.51. On Thursday, it gave back a chunk of those gains and finished the day at $193.60, down 44%. But it’s still up an amazing 928% through the first few weeks of 2021.
Enthusiasm has grown for GameStop’s prospects after the company said earlier this month that a co-founder of Chewy, the online seller of pet supplies, was joining its board. Investors see Ryan Cohen helping GameStop’s digital transformation. But analysts still expect GameStop to keep losing money in its next fiscal year.
– Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com


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Rockstar’s set to launch the Nichlson Electroplating arson case on June 21, if a redeeming page its set up is correct.
The page, spotted, by X360A, enables those who got a code for the DLC when attending a midnight launch for the game at Best Buy to redeem it.
“Enter the Rockstar Games Redemption Code you received from Best Buy’s L.A. Noire midnight launch event to get a unique downloadable content code for the Nicholson Electroplating DLC case – available June 21st for download on Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network,” reads the website.
“Check back and enter your Rockstar Games Redemption Code on June 21st to generate your downloadable content code. If you would like to be notified via email when downloadable content codes become available, please enter your email address below.”
Rockstar told VG247 on Monday when asked about the DLC it had no comment to make at the time.
LA Noire launches in the UK tomorrow for PS3 and 360 following a US launch earlier this week.


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A new PwC report, commissioned by JDA Software, found fewer than one in five companies have profitable omni-channel fulfillment processes, likely due to a focus on providing multiple, but expensive delivery options.
Squamish dock was used to handle forest products, steel.
Swissport, Scoular Co., Saddle Creek, Purolator, and CPG announce executive and director appointments.
Chicago-based SEKO has expanded in recent years into a full-service logistics provider with transportation, warehousing, supply chain, home delivery and e-commerce capabilities.
Announced on the heels of a port driver labor strike, Eco Flow will use "free-flow" to move containers out of terminals to off-dock yards.
Such an alliance could have a "competitive edge," according to industry consultant Drewry.


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Domino's has announced a new initiative to deliver pizzas using self-driving cars.
Over the next few weeks, randomly-selected Domino's customers in the US city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, will have the opportunity to receive their delivery order from a Ford Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle, equipped with an on-board warming oven.
During the trial, these vehicles will be manually-driven by Ford safety engineers and staffed with researchers. However, the idea is that they will eventually be able to deliver pizzas autnonmously.
Customers who agree to participate in the trial will be able to track the delivery vehicle through GPS, using an upgraded version of Domino’s Tracker app on their phones.
They will also receive text messages as the self-driving vehicle approaches that will guide them on how to retrieve their pizza using a unique code to unlock the warming oven - known as the Domino's Heatwave Compartment.
"We're interested to learn what people think about this type of delivery," said Russell Weiner, president of Domino's USA.
"The majority of our questions are about the last 50 feet of the delivery experience. For instance, how will customers react to coming outside to get their food?
"We need to make sure the interface is clear and simple. We need to understand if a customer’s experience is different if the car is parked in the driveway versus next to the curb.
"All of our testing research is focused on our goal to someday make deliveries with self-driving vehicles as seamless and customer-friendly as possible."
Domino's has been exploring the use of robot and drone technologies for delivery for some time, and has set up a dedicated Domino's Robotic Unit (DRU) to carry out testing.
In March, the popular pizza chain teamed up with Starship Technologies , which is building a fleet of autonomous robots designed to deliver goods locally.
The robots, which travel along the pavement on six wheels, were used to deliver pizzas within a 1 mile radius around Domino's outlets in selected German and Dutch cities.
"Robotic delivery units will complement our existing delivery methods, including cars, scooters and e-bikes, ensuring our customers can get the hottest, freshest-made pizza delivered directly to them, wherever they are," said Don Meij, chief executive of Domino's at the time.
"With our growth plans over the next five to 10 years, we simply won't have enough delivery drivers if we do not look to add to our fleet through initiatives such as this."